Placebo Expectancies as a Mechanism in the Psychological and Physiological Benefits of Physical Exercise

The present research is designed to examine the potential role of the placebo effect in the benefits of physical exercise. To this end, 64 healthy non-exercising young adults were randomly assigned to a positive expectancy, negative expectancy, or no-information control group. Participants in the positive expectancy group received feedback that their daily level of activity indicated that they were living an active lifestyle and should be receiving the corresponding physical and psychological benefits. Participants in the negative expectancy group were informed that they were not meeting minimum standards of daily activity, and thus were not receiving the benefits of an active lifestyle. The no information control group did not receive feedback regarding their level of activity. It was hypothesized that participants receiving the positive expectancy manipulation would show improved scores on psychological and physiological measures, whereas the negative expectancy and control groups would show little or no change in outcomes. Results revealed that participants in the positive expectancy group reported significant increases in perceived level of daily activity and benefits of current level of physical activity on psychological wellbeing. However, these changes in participant perceptions did not correspond with significant effects on any of the psychological or physiological outcome measures

Predator And Environmental Effects On The Polymorphic Egg Masses Of Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum)

Polymorphisms may be maintained if selection intensity and gene flow vary across a species’geographic range. Jelly coats of amphibian eggs are under many different selective forces,such as predators and external environment interactions. Spotted salamanders (Ambystomamaculatum) have polymorphic egg masses that are either clear or opaque depending on the presence or absence of hydrophobic protein crystals in the outer egg layer. This study investigated how different predator communities and environmental parameters influence the distribution of the polymorphic egg masses in high and low elevations of North Carolina. I conducted surveys of A. maculatum clutches in breeding ponds and recorded numbers of clear and opaque egg masses, as well as the presence of predator and water chemistry in seven North Carolina counties. I found that egg masses at high elevation sites were predominately opaque (~82%), whereas egg masses at low elevation sites were predominately clear (~98%). Although water chemistry (pH, conductance) varied greatly between high and low elevation locations, water chemistry was correlated with egg polymorphism only in the mountains. At both elevations, locations with greater predator occupancy tended to have higher proportions of opaque egg masses. These results suggest the selective forces shaping the distribution of A. maculatum egg masses include both predator and physiochemical forces, but the additive effects of both stressors may drive the high ratios of opaque egg masses

Beyond extended techniques: fundamental techniques in Viola Spaces of Garth Knox

Viola Spaces are often seen as interesting extra projects rather than valuable pedagogical tool that can be used to fill where other material falls short. These works can fill various gaps in the violist’s literature, both as pedagogical and performance works. Each of these works makes a valuable addition to the violist’s contemporary performance repertoire as a short, imaginative, and musically satisfying work and can be performed either individually or as part of a smaller set in a larger program (see Appendix A). They all also present interesting technical challenges that explore what are seen as extended techniques but can also be traced back to work on some of the fundamentals of viola technique. Etudes for viola are often limited to violin transcriptions mostly written in the eighteenth, nineteenth, or early twentieth centuries. Contemporary etudes written specifically for viola are valuable but are usually not as comprehensive or as suitable for performance etudes as are Viola Spaces. Few performance etudes cover the technical varieties that are presented in these works of Garth Knox. In this paper I will discuss the historical background of the viola and etudes written for viola. Many viola etudes written in the earlier history of the viola have not continued to be published; this study will also look at why some survived and others are no longer used. Compared to literature for the violin there are large gaps in the violists’ repertoire that Viola Spaces does much to fill; furthermore many violinists have asked for transcriptions of these works. In the main body of this study, I will examine each individual etude in Viola Spaces and discuss its pedagogical use, for studying both contemporary techniques as well as fundamental techniques of viola

Toward the development of a programmatic language for social studies curriculum and instruction

The purpose of this study was to examine the problem of confusion over the meaning of social studies curriculum terminology, as well as to systematically develop, apply and validate an original conceptual framework for the field in an effort to bring clarity to selected terms. The conceptual framework consisted of a discussion of relevant curriculum considerations for each of five discrete "focal points" or traditions in the field of social studies curriculum: (1) factual subject matter, (2) the child, (3) the reflective inquiry process, (4) the structure of the social science disciplines and (5) socio-political involvement. The conceptual framework was used to generate sets of hypothetical definitions for perhaps the two most commonly used terms in the field of social studies curriculum: citizenship and inquiry. All definitions were discrete, and philosophically and pedagogically consistent with the identified premises of their respective "focal points" or traditions

A study of the effects on achievement of supplemental computer-aided instruction versus supplemental reading in the instruction of micro-economics

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effectiveness of computer aided instruction in the achievement of students in undergraduate microeconomic classes. The procedures were to use a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest, non-equivalent control group design. Two forms of the Test of Understanding of College Economics and a questionnaire were administered to the students in order to test three hypotheses dealing with differences in achievement among the groups based on type of instruction, keyboard familiarity, GPA, socioeconomic background and teacher effects. The analysis of data confirmed the hypotheses that there would be a significant difference between the posttest scores of the control groups and the treatment groups. The hypothesis that the CAI group would score significantly higher than the reading group was not confirmed. The chosen variables to explain the differences in achievement were not significant although GPA, family income, and number of prior economic classes displayed a trend towards significance. The trend of the data analysis appeared to confirm the beneficial effects of CAI and the theory of operant conditioning

An investigation and analysis of ninth grade academic profiles and plans after high school

Using information readily available in a student's cumulative folder, this study provides a practical model to assist schools in identifying, early in high school, the educational/career path an individual student is likely to pursue immediately after graduation. Knowing the possible postsecondary plans of students would assist schools in planning additional relevant information and experiences so each student might maximize his chance of making wise decisions about postsecondary plans. Ninth grade information from the cumulative folders of 242 high school graduates and a survey of their postsecondary plans taken approximately a month after graduation were analyzed using discriminant function analysis. The study includes a detailed discussion of results when using five ninth grade variables (California Achievement Test language scale score [CAT-V], number of ninth grade absences, grade point average at the end of the ninth grade [GPA], gender and race) to determine which of the four categories of postsecondary plans a student is likely to choose. The four groups include those who plan to: (1) attend a four-year college/university; (2) attend a technical, community, or junior college, trade or business school; (3) pursue no further education (now working or looking for work, or have entered the military); or (4) pursue no further education (not working, want more education but have taken no action, or are undecided about further education)

The use of the accelerotor in developing an accelerated abrasion test to predict fabric serviceability

This study was undertaken as a project related to the Southern Regional Research Project, SM-18. The purpose of this regional project was to obtain a means of selecting cottons for specific end-uses by studying the relationship of fiber properties. This study was designed to use the Accelerotor in developing an accelerated abrasion test to predict fabric serviceability. The four types of cotton sheetings distributed to the North Carolina station for use in Phase I of the Regional Project were sampled (1) to determine the bursting strength after wear and laundering, and (2) to develop an accelerated abrasion test using the Accelerotor

Role of Barium Swallow in Diagnosing Clinically Significant Anastomotic Leak following Esophagectomy

Background Barium swallow is performed following esophagectomy to evaluate the anastomosis for detection of leaks and to assess the emptying of the gastric conduit. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the barium swallow study in diagnosing anastomotic leaks following esophagectomy. Methods Patients who underwent esophagectomy from January 2000 to December 2013 at our institution were investigated. Barium swallow was routinely done between days 5–7 to detect a leak. These results were compared to clinically determined leaks (defined by neck wound infection requiring jejunal feeds and or parenteral nutrition) during the postoperative period. The sensitivity and specificity of barium swallow in diagnosing clinically significant anastomotic leaks was determined. Results A total of 395 esophagectomies were performed (mean age, 62.2 years). The indications for the esophagectomy were as follows: malignancy (n=320), high-grade dysplasia (n=14), perforation (n=27), benign stricture (n=7), achalasia (n=16), and other (n=11). A variety of techniques were used including transhiatal (n=351), McKeown (n=35), and Ivor Lewis (n=9) esophagectomies. Operative mortality was 2.8% (n=11). Three hundred and sixty-eight patients (93%) underwent barium swallow study after esophagectomy. Clinically significant anastomotic leak was identified in 36 patients (9.8%). Barium swallow was able to detect only 13/36 clinically significant leaks. The sensitivity of the swallow in diagnosing a leak was 36% and specificity was 97%. The positive and negative predictive values of barium swallow study in detecting leaks were 59% and 93%, respectively. Conclusion Barium swallow is an insensitive but specific test for detecting leaks at the cervical anastomotic site after esophagectomy

The variability of song variability in zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) populations

Birdsong is a classic example of a learned social behaviour. Song behaviour is also influenced by genetic factors, and understanding the relative contributions of genetic and environmental influences remains a major goal. In this study, we take advantage of captive zebra finch populations to examine variation in a population-level song trait: song variability. Song variability is of particular interest in the context of individual recognition and in terms of the neuro-developmental mechanisms that generate song novelty. We find that the Australian zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata castanotis (TGC) maintains higher song diversity than the Timor zebra finch T. g. guttata (TGG) even after experimentally controlling for early life song exposure, suggesting a genetic basis to this trait. Although wild-derived TGC were intermediate in song variability between domesticated TGC populations and TGG, the difference between domesticated and wild TGC was not statistically significant. The observed variation in song behaviour among zebra finch populations represents a largely untapped opportunity for exploring the mechanisms of social behaviour

Light to moderate coffee consumption is associated with lower risk of death: a UK Biobank study

Aims: To study the association of daily coffee consumption with all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality and major CV outcomes. In a subgroup of participants who underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, we evaluated the association between regular coffee intake and cardiac structure and function.Methods: UK Biobank participants without clinically manifested heart disease at the time of recruitment were included. Regular coffee intake was categorized into 3 groups: zero, light-to-moderate (0.5-3 cups/day) and high (>3 cups/day). In the multivariate analysis, we adjusted for the main CV risk factors.Results: We included 468,629 individuals (56.2 ± 8.1 years, 44.2% male), 22.1% did not consume coffee on a regular basis, 58.4% had 0.5-3 cups per day and 19.5% had >3 cups per day. Compared to non-coffee drinkers, light-to-moderate (0.5-3 cups per day) coffee drinking was associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality (multivariate HR = 0.88, 95%CI : 0.83-0.92; p < 0.001) and CV mortality (multivariate HR = 0.83, 95%CI : 0.74-0.94; p = 0.006), and incident stroke (multivariate HR = 0.79, 95%CI : 0.63-0.99 p = 0.037) after a median follow-up of 11 years. CMR data were available in 30,650 participants. Both light-to-moderate and high coffee consuming categories were associated with dose-dependent increased left and right ventricular end-diastolic, end-systolic and stroke volumes, as well as greater left ventricular mass. Conclusion: Coffee consumption of up to 3 cups per day was associated with favorable CV outcomes. Regular coffee consumption was also associated with a likely healthy pattern of CMR metrics in keeping with the reverse of age-related cardiac alterations