SARDSRN: A NEURAL NETWORK SHIFT-REDUCE PARSER

Simple Recurrent Networks (SRNs) have been widely used in natural language tasks. SARDSRN extends the SRN by explicitly representing the input sequence in a SARDNET self-organizing map. The distributed SRN component leads to good generalization and robust cognitive properties, whereas the SARDNET map provides exact representations of the sentence constituents. This combination allows SARDSRN to learn to parse sentences with more complicated structure than can the SRN alone, and suggests that the approach could scale up to realistic natural language

How does the structure of a college chemistry examination affect pedagogy

This study examines variations of assessment and connections to active learning methods, which may enhance both the accuracy of assessment, engagement and retention. Correlation data relating instruction and assessment in a multiple dimensions are presented. Multiple choice (MC) and free response (FR) exams were provided and students were also given the option to provide FR answers to the MC items. This study suggests there is little overall difference in mean or median student scores on the MC vs. FR portions of the exam, but that there is some evidence to believe that student scores on MC portions are more variable than their corresponding scores on FR portions. Some students may exhibit a difference in their abilities to answer MC vs. FR questions, but these preferences do not appear to be widespread and exhibit no biases towards one particular type of assessment

\u3ci\u3eIsospora californica\u3c/i\u3e (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) in \u3ci\u3ePeromyscus maniculatus\u3c/i\u3e (Cricetidae) from White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

Isospora californica (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) in Peromyscus maniculatus (Cricetidae) from White Sands National Monument, New Mexico This report constitutes a new geographic record for Isospora californica and adds a micrograph of the coccidium, which the original description did not include. The latter is important because to correctly identify coccidia, a photograph as well as a drawing is at times necessary

\u3ci\u3eIsospora californica\u3c/i\u3e (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) in \u3ci\u3ePeromyscus maniculatus\u3c/i\u3e (Cricetidae) from White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

Isospora californica (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) in Peromyscus maniculatus (Cricetidae) from White Sands National Monument, New Mexico This report constitutes a new geographic record for Isospora californica and adds a micrograph of the coccidium, which the original description did not include. The latter is important because to correctly identify coccidia, a photograph as well as a drawing is at times necessary

Production functions of NCAA men and women water polo matches

Previous research has adapted the use of economic production functions to estimate the scoring production of teams in professional sports. Most of these studies have focused on professional male team sports, most notably, US baseball, basketball, and association football. This study adds to the literature by utilizing a new and distinctive data set of shooting statistics from 88 men’s and 38 women’s NCAA water polo contests to estimate production functions for United States’ collegiate water polo games and identify the most important variables for predicting margin of victory in such competitions. The results show that shots on goal, average shot distance, number of counterattacks, quick shots, and efficiency in power play conversions are all significant predictors of goal differentials in men’s contests while shots on goal, average shot distance, counterattacks, and center shots are significant predictors in women’s matches. Previous season win percentage, rebounds, exclusions, and missed shots were not significant predictors in the models. These conclusions confirm and extend previous discriminatory studies of elite international water polo contests

The Evolution of Professional Nursing Culture in Italy: Metaphors and Paradoxes

We explored the perceptions of Italian nurses regarding their developing culture as a health profession. We sought to understand the ongoing evolution of the nursing profession and the changes that were central to it becoming an intellectual discipline on par with the other health professions in Italy. In 2010, the Regulatory Board of Nursing established a center of excellence to build evidence-based practice, advocate for interdisciplinary health care, and champion health profession reforms for nursing. In this study, focus groups—involving 66 nurse participants from various educational, clinical, and administrative backgrounds—were utilized to better ascertain how the profession has changed. Six themes, three of them metaphors—“vortex,” “leopard spots,” and “deductive jungle”—explain nurses’ experiences of professional change in Italy between 2001 and 2011 and the multiple dimensions that characterize their professional identity and autonomy

Prevalence of macropod progressive periodontal disease ("lumpy jaw") in wild western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus)

Macropod Progressive Periodontal Disease (MPPD), colloquially referred to as “lumpy jaw”, is a commonly observed disease in captive macropods. However, the prevalence of this disease in the wild is largely unknown. A systematic study of MPPD in wild macropods would provide an indication of the endemic presence of this disease in wild populations, and could assist those managing disease in captive populations, by highlighting potential risk factors for disease development. Utilising kangaroos culled as part of a population management program, this study used visual observation and computer tomography (CT) of skulls to investigate the prevalence of MPPD in wild western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) from the Perth metropolitan region, Western Australia. The sample suitable for visual and CT analysis comprised 121 specimens, 71 (58.7%) male and 50 (41.3%) female, with the mean age for all 121 specimens being 4.5 years (±2.63 SD). No evidence of MPPD was detected in any of the specimens examined. Overabundance may not be associated with the development of MPPD, as previously considered, and age-related factors should not be eliminated. This results may reflect low susceptibility to MPPD in western grey kangaroos, given low prevalence is reported in this species in captive populations. Further investigation into species-specificity is recommended, and should include samples with soft tissue to improve sensitivity of disease detection. Surveillance of MPPD in wild populations of macropods helps to improve our understanding of the biological significance, development and potential spread of this disease. Notably, this information may assist in the management of MPPD in captive populations, and may have a positive impact on both the welfare and conservation of macropods in captivity