A three step strategy for training a beginning teacher to use positive social reinforcement in the classroom

The purpose of the study was to measure the effectiveness of a three-step strategy designed to modify a classroom teacher\u27s consequating behavior. In Step 1, a group contingency game was introduced into the classroom to reduce talk-outs and out-of-seats. In Step 2, the game was supplemented by observer instructions and feedback to the teacher concerning her consequating behavior. The purpose of the feedback was to increase teacher approval for appropriate behavior and to decrease teacher disapproval for inappropriate behavior. In Step 3, the group contingency game was removed but the teacher continued to receive feedback on her consequating behavior. Therefore, in this condition, classroom discipline became dependent on the teacher\u27s skill in administering social reinforcement. Results showed that the greatest increase in teacher approval and the greatest decrease in teacher disapproval occurred in the game plus feedback conditions. Student talk-outs and out-of-seats were reduced considerably in each condition in which the group contingency game was played. Follow-up showed that the positive effects of training were not maintained in the teacher\u27s post-intervention behavior. These results indicate that the strategy may be an effective way of helping a troubled teacher to gain control of his/her classroom through the use of positive social reinforcement. However, methodological changes are needed to increase the long-term effectiveness of the training procedure

Sampling for Global Epidemic Models and the Topology of an International Airport Network

Mathematical models that describe the global spread of infectious diseases such as influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and tuberculosis (TB) often consider a sample of international airports as a network supporting disease spread. However, there is no consensus on how many cities should be selected or on how to select those cities. Using airport flight data that commercial airlines reported to the Official Airline Guide (OAG) in 2000, we have examined the network characteristics of network samples obtained under different selection rules. In addition, we have examined different size samples based on largest flight volume and largest metropolitan populations. We have shown that although the bias in network characteristics increases with the reduction of the sample size, a relatively small number of areas that includes the largest airports, the largest cities, the most-connected cities, and the most central cities is enough to describe the dynamics of the global spread of influenza. The analysis suggests that a relatively small number of cities (around 200 or 300 out of almost 3000) can capture enough network information to adequately describe the global spread of a disease such as influenza. Weak traffic flows between small airports can contribute to noise and mask other means of spread such as the ground transportation

Porous silica spheres as indoor air pollutant scavengers

Porous silica spheres were investigated for their effectiveness in removing typical indoor air pollutants, such as aromatic and carbonyl-containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and compared to the commercially available polymer styrene-divinylbenzene (XAD-4). The silica spheres and the XAD-4 resin were coated on denuder sampling devices and their adsorption efficiencies for volatile organic compounds evaluated using an indoor air simulation chamber. Real indoor sampling was also undertaken to evaluate the affinity of the silica adsorbents for a variety of indoor VOCs. The silica sphere adsorbents were found to have a high affinity for polar carbonyls and found to be more efficient than the XAD-4 resin at adsorbing carbonyls in an indoor environment

Method and device for determining bond separation strength using induction heating

An induction heating device includes an induction heating gun which includes a housing, a U-shaped pole piece having two spaced apart opposite ends defining a gap there between, the U-shaped pole piece being mounted in one end of the housing, and a tank circuit including an induction coil wrapped around the pole piece and a capacitor connected to the induction coil. A power source is connected to the tank circuit. A pull test machine is provided having a stationary chuck and a movable chuck, the two chucks holding two test pieces bonded together at a bond region. The heating gun is mounted on the pull test machine in close proximity to the bond region of the two test pieces, whereby when the tank circuit is energized, the two test pieces are heated by induction heating while a tension load is applied to the two test pieces by the pull test machine to determine separation strength of the bond region

Antimicrobial Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Proceedings of the STAR Sexually Transmitted Infection-Clinical Trial Group Programmatic Meeting.

The goal of the Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinical Trial Group's Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) meeting was to assemble experts from academia, government, nonprofit and industry to discuss the current state of research, gaps and challenges in research and technology and priorities and new directions to address the continued emergence of multidrug-resistant NG infections. Topics discussed at the meeting, which will be the focus of this article, include AMR NG global surveillance initiatives, the use of whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics to understand mutations associated with AMR, mechanisms of AMR, and novel antibiotics, vaccines and other methods to treat AMR NG. Key points highlighted during the meeting include: (i) US and International surveillance programs to understand AMR in NG; (ii) the US National Strategy for combating antimicrobial-resistant bacteria; (iii) surveillance needs, challenges, and novel technologies; (iv) plasmid-mediated and chromosomally mediated mechanisms of AMR in NG; (v) novel therapeutic (eg, sialic acid analogs, factor H [FH]/Fc fusion molecule, monoclonal antibodies, topoisomerase inhibitors, fluoroketolides, LpxC inhibitors) and preventative (eg, peptide mimic) strategies to combat infection. The way forward will require renewed political will, new funding initiatives, and collaborations across academic and commercial research and public health programs

A Parameterization Invariant Approach to the Statistical Estimation of the CKM Phase α\alpha

In contrast to previous analyses, we demonstrate a Bayesian approach to the estimation of the CKM phase $\alpha$ that is invariant to parameterization. We also show that in addition to {\em computing} the marginal posterior in a Bayesian manner, the distribution must also be {\em interpreted} from a subjective Bayesian viewpoint. Doing so gives a very natural interpretation to the distribution. We also comment on the effect of removing information about $\mathcal{B}^{00}$.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, minor revision; to appear in JHE

The Effects of Combined Aquatic and Occupational Therapy in Stroke Patients: A Retrospective Study

The purpose of this retrospective pilot study was to determine if aquatic therapy (AT) intervention concurrent with occupational therapy (OT) yielded greater functional gains in stroke patients than OT treatment alone. A retrospective chart review was conducted evaluating subjective data from an inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Morgantown, WV. Thirty-nine stroke survivor charts were examined. Patients who received OT with or without concurrent aquatic therapy were included. Differences in the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores in stroke patients who received (a) AT plus conventional OT or (b) conventional OT alone. Discharge bed/chair transfer (p = 0.009) and locomotion (p = 0.01) scores were higher for people who received OT and AT versus patients only receiving OT. Linear regression indicated that use of AT treatment predicted discharge bed/chair transfer FIM score (p = 0.02), discharge locomotion FIM score (p = 0.002), discharge stairs FIM score (p = 0.04), and change in bed/chair transfer FIM score (p = 0.02). These findings indicate that AT, combined with OT, may predict success on specific FIM outcomes (e.g., bed/chair transfer FIM score, locomotion [walking] FIM score) in stroke patients

EAGLE multi-object AO concept study for the E-ELT

EAGLE is the multi-object, spatially-resolved, near-IR spectrograph instrument concept for the E-ELT, relying on a distributed Adaptive Optics, so-called Multi Object Adaptive Optics. This paper presents the results of a phase A study. Using 84x84 actuator deformable mirrors, the performed analysis demonstrates that 6 laser guide stars and up to 5 natural guide stars of magnitude R<17, picked-up in a 7.3' diameter patrol field of view, allow us to obtain an overall performance in terms of Ensquared Energy of 35% in a 75x75 mas^2 spaxel at H band, whatever the target direction in the centred 5' science field for median seeing conditions. The computed sky coverage at galactic latitudes |b|~60 is close to 90%.Comment: 6 pages, to appear in the proceedings of the AO4ELT conference, held in Paris, 22-26 June 200