Teaching empathy: Examining the relationship between state political environment and social studies curriculum

In the age of partisan divide in America, education plays a pivotal role in overcoming social and political barriers––bridging these divides by creating a shared understanding of core values and beliefs that promote the tolerance and acceptance of the diversity of others and the recognition of the inequities that exist in society. Although there are number of factors that have contributed to our nation’s division, this paper specifically investigates how public education might play a role in mitigating social and political tension, and the political factors that might facilitate or hinder the implementation of valuable curriculum goals. The purpose of this paper is to examine state political factors to determine if there are associations between the political division or homogeneity of a state––or the dominant political party in a state––and its statutes and laws pertaining to social studies curriculum that promote civic engagement, civil discourse, and diverse cultural values (multiculturalism and social inequality). Data were gathered from blank sources and collated in a single database, which allowed for nonparametric correlation analyses to determine association. A binomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to ascertain the effects of political culture, population size, and median household income on statistically significant variables. Despite most states having majority-Democratic populations in terms of voter registration, there are Republican majorities in most state legislatures. All states mention civic engagement in their statutes related to social studies curriculum, but only nine mention ideas regarding social inequality. Majority-Democratic states appeared to be associated with the promotion of diverse cultural values in social studies curriculum. Majority-Democratic state legislatures were associated with a greater likelihood of promoting social inequality. State legislatures that were more divided appeared to have an association with a greater likelihood of promoting civil discourse. Increasing population sizes were associated with an increased likelihood of promoting civil discourse curriculum goals as well. Although the factors that contribute to our nation’s partisanship and lack of understanding extend beyond what we learn in the classrooms, examining certain political and social factors of a state might give us some insight into how party values and political factors might influence curriculum goals

Drug use monitoring in Australia: An expansion into the Pilbara

The relationship between alcohol, illicit drugs and offending is complex and dynamic. Substance misuse both nationally and internationally has been found to be prevalent in detained populations (Bennett & Holloway 2007, Pernanen, Cousineau, Brochu & Sun 2002, Sweeney & Payne 2012). With the cost of crime in Australia estimated to be $36 billion per annum (AIC 2009), it is important to establish some of the links that, if addressed, may reduce the level of commissions of crime and increase the wellbeing of Australians

How to make a traversable wormhole from a Schwarzschild black hole

The theoretical construction of a traversable wormhole from a Schwarzschild black hole is described, using analytic solutions in Einstein gravity. The matter model is pure phantom radiation (pure radiation with negative energy density) and the idealization of impulsive radiation is employed.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Can a wormhole generate electromagnetic field?

We have considered the possibility of a slowly rotating wormhole surrounded by a cloud of charged particles. Due to slow rotation of the wormhole, the charged particles are dragged thereby producing an electromagnetic field. We have determined the strength of this electromagnetic field and the corresponding flux of radiation.Comment: 9 pages, typos fixe

Traversable wormholes from massless conformally coupled scalar fields

The massless conformally coupled scalar field is characterized by the so-called "new improved stress-energy tensor", which is capable of classically violating the null energy condition. When coupled to Einstein gravity we find a three-parameter class of exact solutions. These exact solutions include the Schwarzschild geometry, assorted naked singularities, and a large class of traversable wormholes.Comment: 11 Pages, plain LaTeX2e, uses graphics.sty, three *.eps figure

Volume Integral Theorem for Exotic Matter

We answer an important question in general relativity about the volume integral theorem for exotic matter by suggesting an exact integral quantifier for matter violating Averaged Null Energy Condition (ANEC). It is checked against some well known static, spherically symmetric traversable wormhole solutions of general relativity with a sign reversed kinetic term minimally coupled scalar field. The improved quantifier is consistent with the principle that traversable wormholes can be supported by arbitrarily small quantities of exotic matter.Comment: 7 page

Division of labour and sharing of knowledge for synchronous collaborative information retrieval

Synchronous collaborative information retrieval (SCIR) is concerned with supporting two or more users who search together at the same time in order to satisfy a shared information need. SCIR systems represent a paradigmatic shift in the way we view information retrieval, moving from an individual to a group process and as such the development of novel IR techniques is needed to support this. In this article we present what we believe are two key concepts for the development of effective SCIR namely division of labour (DoL) and sharing of knowledge (SoK). Together these concepts enable coordinated SCIR such that redundancy across group members is reduced whilst enabling each group member to benefit from the discoveries of their collaborators. In this article we outline techniques from state-of-the-art SCIR systems which support these two concepts, primarily through the provision of awareness widgets. We then outline some of our own work into system-mediated techniques for division of labour and sharing of knowledge in SCIR. Finally we conclude with a discussion on some possible future trends for these two coordination techniques

Antibody Levels in Beef Calves (Birth through Weaning) Following \u3ci\u3eClostridium perfringens \u3c/i\u3eType C Toxoid and/or Antitoxin Administration

According to National Cattlemen\u27s Association data, there are approximately 35 million beef cows and 10 million dairy cows in the United States. Combining pre-calving, pre-weaning, yearling, breeding bulls and replacement heifer vaccination opportunities to utilize Clostridial immunization programs, it is estimated that well in excess of 100 million doses of various Clostridial containing products are used each year. Knowing which products stimulate satisfactory antibody levels and their duration of response is an essential part of making informed recommendations to producers for controlling disease. Presently, non-industry, controlled field studies assessing Clostridial products are not available. Specifically, Clostridium perfringens Type C is a common cause of neonatal calf diarrhea. Although histopathological diagnoses of this disease are made, these cases are frequently difficult to confirm. They are often referred to as sudden/unknown death in calves. From 18 veterinary diagnostic laboratories across the United States contributing to the USDA:APHIS:VS DxMONITOR (summer, 1992), 237 suspected cases of Clostridium perfringens Types C were tested during the period January 1, 1992 to March 31, 1992, but only 22 cases were confirmed. As such, Veterinary Clinicians must rely on gross necropsy results and frequently make recommendations with limited confirmatory information. Anecdotal information from several veterinary clinicians suggests that the incidence of these non-confirmed diagnoses diminished greatly with the use of Clostridium perfringens C&D products prophylactically. Various opinions abound as to whether the best response to controlling Clostridium perfringens Type C or sudden death in young beef calves is achieved with the use of toxoid, antitoxin, or both, and whether an acceptable response is achieved by administration at birth, two-weeks, or at two-months-of-age. Lack of definitive information regarding optimum protection afforded by the use of these products and their timing leads to possible ineffective use. This, therefore, results in increased cost of the production by both product purchase and labor, and possible increased tissue damage as observed by several Beef Quality Assurance Programs using 7-way Clostridial products

Antibody Levels in Beef Calves (Birth through Weaning) Following \u3ci\u3eClostridium perfringens \u3c/i\u3eType C Toxoid and/or Antitoxin Administration

According to National Cattlemen\u27s Association data, there are approximately 35 million beef cows and 10 million dairy cows in the United States. Combining pre-calving, pre-weaning, yearling, breeding bulls and replacement heifer vaccination opportunities to utilize Clostridial immunization programs, it is estimated that well in excess of 100 million doses of various Clostridial containing products are used each year. Knowing which products stimulate satisfactory antibody levels and their duration of response is an essential part of making informed recommendations to producers for controlling disease. Presently, non-industry, controlled field studies assessing Clostridial products are not available. Specifically, Clostridium perfringens Type C is a common cause of neonatal calf diarrhea. Although histopathological diagnoses of this disease are made, these cases are frequently difficult to confirm. They are often referred to as sudden/unknown death in calves. From 18 veterinary diagnostic laboratories across the United States contributing to the USDA:APHIS:VS DxMONITOR (summer, 1992), 237 suspected cases of Clostridium perfringens Types C were tested during the period January 1, 1992 to March 31, 1992, but only 22 cases were confirmed. As such, Veterinary Clinicians must rely on gross necropsy results and frequently make recommendations with limited confirmatory information. Anecdotal information from several veterinary clinicians suggests that the incidence of these non-confirmed diagnoses diminished greatly with the use of Clostridium perfringens C&D products prophylactically. Various opinions abound as to whether the best response to controlling Clostridium perfringens Type C or sudden death in young beef calves is achieved with the use of toxoid, antitoxin, or both, and whether an acceptable response is achieved by administration at birth, two-weeks, or at two-months-of-age. Lack of definitive information regarding optimum protection afforded by the use of these products and their timing leads to possible ineffective use. This, therefore, results in increased cost of the production by both product purchase and labor, and possible increased tissue damage as observed by several Beef Quality Assurance Programs using 7-way Clostridial products