A statewide examination of attitudes toward science among Illinois students in grades 5-12

The present study investigated precollege students' perceptions and attitudes about science, as well as their intentions regarding the continued study of science in the future. The central research questions were: "What is the landscape of Illinois students' attitudes toward science across their school experience?" and "To what extent do school characteristics, including the attributes of classroom teachers, influence student attitudes toward science across the state of Illinois?" To address these research questions, the first phase of this study involved the refinement and validation of a self-report student instrument, the US-ASSASS, which assessed student attitudes toward science based on a theoretical framework drawn from the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior. In the second phase of the study, a representative statewide sample of 1,442 students in grades 5-12 were surveyed about their attitudes toward science using a cross-sectional design. Cross-sectional design was ideal because it allowed data to be collected from students of various ages, and over a large geographical area yielding a wide variance among respondents (e.g., in terms of socioeconomic status). In an effort to allow for equal representation of students across the state, participant schools were selected randomly from each of six geographic regions identified in Illinois. Students completed the 59-item US-ASSASS, along with background items, online. Confirmatory factor analysis was computed using the 1,291 responses collected from students in grades 5 through 10. A five factor structure was refined that was consistent with the underlying theoretical model and the finalized 30-item instrument that demonstrated acceptable statistical fit with a RMSEA of 0.04, a CFI of 0.95, and a non-normed index of 0.95. In addition to student data, information was obtained from 65 of a total of 78 classroom sections and respective schools from which student data were collected. Teachers’ responses to the Science Teacher Survey, along with data compiled from the Illinois Report Card and the National Center for Educational Statistics, allowed for the consideration of several group-level variables (e.g., teacher education, school funding, and community type). These variables were systematically explored and used to create a multivariate multilevel model to characterize students' attitudes toward science and related factors. Inferential statistics, coupled with descriptive statistics, revealed that students’ attitudes toward science declined as they went up their grade levels. A final statistical model was computed from responses collected from students in grades 5-10 that portrays significant declines and other effects. However, the students in the sample who persisted in science until grades 11 and 12 reported high attitudes toward science according to the descriptive statistics presented. It is also positive to note that students' who reported high frequency of talking with family about school and/or a high self-perception of science ability, had improved scores on all US-ASSASS factors. Illinois students' decline in attitudes toward science, through grade 10, is consistent with prior literature, and suggests the need for future research to ascertain whether this decline is disproportionate for science, compared to other core subjects (e.g., language arts). Additionally the present study gives some legitimacy to the constructs proposed by the theories of reasoned action and behavior, and it is prudent for future efforts to establish the extent and consistency between students' intention to pursue science in the future and their future decisions to engage in science

Cleft Palate Is Caused by CNS Dysfunction in Gad1 and Viaat Knockout Mice

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that disruption of GABA signaling in mice via mutations in the Gad1, Gabrb3 or Viaat genes leads to the development of non-neural developmental defects such as cleft palate. Studies of the Gabrb3 and Gad1 mutant mice have suggested that GABA function could be required either in the central nervous system or in the palate itself for normal palatogenesis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To further examine the role of GABA signaling in palatogenesis we used three independent experimental approaches to test whether Gad1 or Viaat function is required in the fetal CNS for normal palate development. We used oral explant cultures to demonstrate that the Gad1 and Viaat mutant palates were able to undergo palatogenesis in culture, suggesting that there is no defect in the palate tissue itself in these mice. In a second series of experiments we found that the GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol could rescue the cleft palate phenotype in Gad1 and Viaat mutant embryos. This suggested that normal multimeric GABA(A) receptors in the CNS were necessary for normal palatogenesis. In addition, we showed that CNS-specific inactivation of Gad1 was sufficient to disrupt palate development. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results are consistent with a role for Gad1 and Viaat in the central nervous system for normal development of the palate. We suggest that the alterations in GABA signaling lead to non-neural defects such as cleft palate as a secondary effect due to alterations in or elimination of fetal movements

Nurses Alumni Association Bulletin, Fall 1995

1995-1996 Meeting Dates Calendar 1996 Annual Luncheon-Meeting Notice Officers and Committee Chairs Bulletin Publication Committee 1995-1996 Meeting Dates Calendar The President\u27s Message Financial Report What\u27s New Fiftieth Anniversary Resume of Minutes of Alumni Association Meetings Scholarship Funds at Work CAHS Alumni Board/Diploma School Alumni Office News Jefferson Health System Oldest Veteran Dies 1OOth Anniversary Pearl Harbor Remembered Memories Janet Hindson Retires Happy Birthday Scholarship Fund donors for 1994 Committee Reports By-Laws Development Bulletin Relief Fund Satellite Social Scholarship In Memoriam, Names of Deceased Graduates Class News Luncheon Photos Jefferson Alumni Identification Card The Diploma School of Nursing Alumni Association-Mabel C. Prevost Letter of Appreciation Tribute To a Mother An End Must Come Stuff For Senior Citizens to Chuckle Over Membership Application Relief Fund Application To Order: A Chronological History and Alumni Directory From TJU Bookstore Scholarship Fund Application Pins, Transcripts, Class Address List, Change of Address Forms, Alumni Identification Card Campus Map Picture - Class of 1893-189

Highly selective and solvent-dependent reduction of Nitrobenzene to N-phenylhydroxylamine, azoxybenzene, and aniline catalyzed by phosphino-modified polymer immobilized ionic liquid-stabilized AuNPs

Gold nanoparticles stabilized by phosphine-decorated polymer immobilized ionic liquids (AuNP@PPh2-PIILP) is an extremely efficient multiproduct selective catalyst for the sodium borohydride-mediated reduction of nitrobenzene giving N-phenylhydroxylamine, azoxybenzene, or aniline as the sole product under mild conditions and a very low catalyst loading. The use of a single nanoparticle-based catalyst for the partial and complete reduction of nitroarenes to afford three different products with exceptionally high selectivities is unprecedented. Under optimum conditions, thermodynamically unfavorable N-phenylhydroxylamine can be obtained as the sole product in near quantitative yield in water, whereas a change in reaction solvent to ethanol results in a dramatic switch in selectivity to afford azoxybenzene. The key to obtaining such a high selectivity for N-phenylhydroxylamine is the use of a nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature as reactions conducted under an inert atmosphere occur via the direct pathway and are essentially irreversible, while reactions in air afford significant amounts of azoxy-based products by virtue of competing condensation due to reversible formation of N-phenylhydroxylamine. Ultimately, aniline can also be obtained quantitatively and selectively by adjusting the reaction temperature and time accordingly. Introduction of PEG onto the polyionic liquid resulted in a dramatic improvement in catalyst efficiency such that N-phenylhydroxylamine could be obtained with a turnover number (TON) of 100 000 (turnover frequency (TOF) of 73 000 h–1, with >99% selectivity), azoxybenzene with a TON of 55 000 (TOF of 37 000 h–1 with 100% selectivity), and aniline with a TON of 500 000 (TOF of 62 500 h–1, with 100% selectivity). As the combination of ionic liquid and phosphine is required to achieve high activity and selectivity, further studies are currently underway to explore whether interfacial electronic effects influence adsorption and thereby selectivity and whether channeling of the substrate by the electrostatic potential around the AuNPs is responsible for the high activity. This is the first report of a AuNP-based system that can selectively reduce nitroarenes to either of two synthetically important intermediates as well as aniline and, in this regard, is an exciting discovery that will form the basis to develop a continuous flow process enabling facile scale-up

Effects of a recombinant gene expression on ColE1-like plasmid segregation in Escherichia coli

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Segregation of expression plasmids leads to loss of recombinant DNA from transformed bacterial cells due to the irregular distribution of plasmids between the daughter cells during cell division. Under non-selective conditions this segregational instability results in a heterogeneous population of cells, where the non-productive plasmid-free cells overgrow the plasmid-bearing cells thus decreasing the yield of recombinant protein. Amongst the factors affecting segregational plasmid instability are: the plasmid design, plasmid copy-number, host cell genotype, fermentation conditions etc. This study aims to investigate the influence of transcription and translation on the segregation of recombinant plasmids designed for constitutive gene expression in <it>Escherichia coli </it>LE392 at glucose-limited continuous cultivation. To this end a series of pBR322-based plasmids carrying a synthetic human interferon-gamma (hIFNγ) gene placed under the control of different regulatory elements (promoter and ribosome-binding sites) were used as a model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Bacterial growth and product formation kinetics of transformed <it>E. coli </it>LE392 cells cultivated continuously were described by a structured kinetic model proposed by Lee et al. (1985). The obtained results demonstrated that both transcription and translation efficiency strongly affected plasmid segregation. The segregation of plasmid having a deleted promoter did not exceed 5% after 190 h of cultivation. The observed high plasmid stability was not related with an increase in the plasmid copy-number. A reverse correlation between the yield of recombinant protein (as modulated by using different ribosome binding sites) and segregational plasmid stability (determined by the above model) was also observed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Switching-off transcription of the hIFNγ gene has a stabilising effect on ColE1-like plasmids against segregation, which is not associated with an increase in the plasmid copy-number. The increased constitutive gene expression has a negative effect on segregational plasmid stability. A kinetic model proposed by Lee et al. (1985) was appropriate for description of <it>E. coli </it>cell growth and recombinant product formation in chemostat cultivations.</p

A review of new and existing non-extractive techniques for monitoring marine protected areas

Publication history: Accepted - 23 June 2023; Published - 19 July 2023.Ocean biodiversity loss is being driven by several anthropogenic threats and significant efforts are required to halt losses and promote healthy marine ecosystems. The establishment of a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can help restrict damaging activities and have been recognised as a potential solution to aid marine conservation. When managed correctly they can deliver both ecological and socio-economic benefits. In recent times, MPA designations have increased rapidly while many countries have set future MPA targets for the decades ahead. An integral element of MPA management is adequate monitoring that collects data to assess if conservation objectives are being achieved. Data acquired by monitoring can vary widely as can the techniques employed to collect such data. Ideally, non-destructive and non-invasive methods are preferred to prevent damage to habitats and species, though this may rule out a number of traditional extractive sampling approaches such as dredges and trawls. Moreover, advances in ocean observation technologies enable the collection of large amounts of data at high resolutions, while automated data processing is beginning to make analyses more logistically feasible and less time-consuming. Therefore, developments to existing marine monitoring techniques and new emerging technologies have led to a diverse array of options when choosing to implement an MPA monitoring programme. Here, we present a review of new and existing non-extractive techniques which can be applied to MPA monitoring. We summarise their capabilities, applications, advantages, limitations and possible future developments. The review is intended to aid MPA managers and researchers in determining the suitability of available monitoring techniques based on data requirements and site conditions.This research was funded through the Marine Protected Area Monitoring and Management (MarPAMM) project, which is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) with matching funding from the Government of Ireland, the Northern Ireland Executive, and the Scottish Government. This research was also carried out with the support of the Marine Institute under the Marine Research Programme with the support of the Irish Government

Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

A search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu decay channel, where l = e or mu, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV is presented. The data were collected at the LHC, with the CMS detector, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. No significant excess is observed above the background expectation, and upper limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section. The presence of the standard model Higgs boson with a mass in the 270-440 GeV range is excluded at 95% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to JHE

Search for New Physics with Jets and Missing Transverse Momentum in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

A search for new physics is presented based on an event signature of at least three jets accompanied by large missing transverse momentum, using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 inverse picobarns collected in proton--proton collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC. No excess of events is observed above the expected standard model backgrounds, which are all estimated from the data. Exclusion limits are presented for the constrained minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model. Cross section limits are also presented using simplified models with new particles decaying to an undetected particle and one or two jets

Solar Thermal Processing to Disinfect Human Waste

Almost half of the world&rsquo;s population is living without access to sanitation services that are safe, reliable, and minimize public health risk of human waste exposure. Modern flush-based sanitation networks are unsustainable: substantial resources, namely water and fuel, are required to bring human waste to centralized treatment facilities. Moving toward sustainable sanitation requires the implementation of innovative renewable energy technologies for stabilization and disinfection of waste, at the local or household scale, where minimal inputs of water, electricity or chemicals are required. A novel solar thermal disinfection toilet prototype has been constructed and is assessed for overall solar to receiver efficiency in treating waste without electrical, chemical, or water inputs from municipal supply. The measured solar to receiver efficiency is 28%, incorporating the capturing and concentration of sunlight and transmission of the energy to the receiver. For a typical sunny day, the current system can achieve thermal treatment of 0.8 kg human waste in roughly 100 min. The novel toilet is available for any location in the world with sufficient sunlight and irradiance data, and is scalable by adding solar collectors for sizes from single dwellings to communities. &nbsp;</p