Perceptions of Basic Communication Texts: Factors in Student Learning and Textbook Adoption Decisions

The purpose of this study is to assess existing pedagogical assumptions about basic communication course textbook features. Two separate surveys were administered to students (N= 1,379) and instructors (N= 118) in basic communication courses at 15 colleges and universities. The findings of the study are twofold. First, students and teachers differ in their perceptions of usefulness of textbook pedagogical features. Second, students perceive basic course texts to be less difficult and less theoretical though more interesting, enjoyable, relevant, and practical than other introductory course texts. When making publication and text selection decisions, the findings help authors and teachers better choose and present textbook materials

Magic Numbers for the Photoelectron Anisotropy in Li-Doped Dimethyl Ether Clusters

Photoelectron velocity map imaging of Li(CH$_3$OCH$_3$)$_n$ clusters (1 $\leq$ n $\leq$ 175) is used to search for magic numbers related to the photoelectron anisotropy. Comparison with density functional calculations reveals magic numbers at n=4, 5, and 6, resulting from the symmetric charge distribution with high s-character of the highest occupied molecular orbital. Since each of these three cluster sizes correspond to the completion of a first coordination shell, they can be considered as 'isomeric motifs of the first coordination shell'. Differences in the photoelectron anisotropy, the vertical ionization energies and the enthalpies of vaporization between Li(CH$_3$OCH$_3$)$_n$ and Na(CH$_3$OCH$_3$)$_n$ can be rationalized in terms of differences in their solvation shells, atomic ionization energies, polarizabilities, metal-oxygen bonds, ligand-ligand interactions, and by cooperative effects

3D integrated superconducting qubits

As the field of superconducting quantum computing advances from the few-qubit stage to larger-scale processors, qubit addressability and extensibility will necessitate the use of 3D integration and packaging. While 3D integration is well-developed for commercial electronics, relatively little work has been performed to determine its compatibility with high-coherence solid-state qubits. Of particular concern, qubit coherence times can be suppressed by the requisite processing steps and close proximity of another chip. In this work, we use a flip-chip process to bond a chip with superconducting flux qubits to another chip containing structures for qubit readout and control. We demonstrate that high qubit coherence ($T_1$, $T_{2,\rm{echo}} > 20\,\mu$s) is maintained in a flip-chip geometry in the presence of galvanic, capacitive, and inductive coupling between the chips

Ocean Chlorophyll Studies from a U-2 Aircraft Platform

Chlorophyll gradient maps of large ocean areas were generated from U-2 ocean color scanner data obtained over test sites in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The delineation of oceanic features using the upward radiant intensity relies on an analysis method which presupposes that radiation backscattered from the atmosphere and ocean surface can be properly modeled using a measurement made at 778 nm. An estimation of the chlorophyll concentration was performed by properly ratioing radiances measured at 472 nm and 548 nm after removing the atmospheric effects. The correlation between the remotely sensed data and in-situ surface chlorophyll measurements was validated in two sets of data. The results show that the correlation between the in-situ measured chlorophyll and the derived quantity is a negative exponential function and the correlation coefficient was calculated to be -0.965

Developmental and tissue-specific expression of NITRs

Novel immune-type receptors (NITRs) are encoded by large multi-gene families and share structural and signaling similarities to mammalian natural killer receptors (NKRs). NITRs have been identified in multiple bony fish species, including zebrafish, and may be restricted to this large taxonomic group. Thirty-nine NITR genes that can be classified into 14 families are encoded on zebrafish chromosomes 7 and 14. Herein, we demonstrate the expression of multiple NITR genes in the zebrafish ovary and during embryogenesis. All 14 families of zebrafish NITRs are expressed in hematopoietic kidney, spleen and intestine as are immunoglobulin and T cell antigen receptors. Furthermore, all 14 families of NITRs are shown to be expressed in the lymphocyte lineage, but not in the myeloid lineage, consistent with the hypothesis that NITRs function as NKRs. Sequence analyses of NITR amplicons identify known alleles and reveal additional alleles within the nitr1, nitr2, nitr3, and nitr5 families, reflecting the recent evolution of this gene family

Implementation of a two-equation k-omega turbulence model in NPARC

The implementation of a two-equation k-omega turbulence model into the NPARC flow solver is described. Motivation for the selection of this model is given, major code modifications are outlined, new imputs to the code are described, and results are presented for several validation cases: an incompressible flow over a smooth flat plate, a subsonic diffuser flow, and a shock-induced separated flow. Comparison of results with the k-epsilon model indicate that the k-omega model predicts simple flows equally well whereas, for adverse pressure gradient flows, the k-omega model outperforms the other turbulence models in NPARC

Differences in Dopamine Function in Fibromyalgia

poster abstractObjective: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a debilitating pain disorder that affects 2% of the population. Many of the drugs prescribed to fibromyalgia sufferers are highly addictive, have limited clinical efficacy, and do not treat the cognitive symptoms of fibromyalgia. The neurobiological substrates of fibromyalgia are unknown, but there is evidence for involvement of altered dopaminergic transmission in pain disorders. Given that dopamine is essential for proper cognitive function, it is possible that fibromyalgia symptoms are partly mediated by abnormal dopaminergic functioning. However, the in vivo dopamine system in fibromyalgia patients has not been assessed. Thus, the objective of the current study was to ascertain how the dopamine system in fibromyalgia differs from healthy controls. Methods: [18F]-Fallypride (FAL) PET scanning was used to assess DA changes during a working memory task relative to a baseline task. Twelve patients with FM and twelve controls completed study procedures. Subjects received one FAL PET scan during a 2-back working-memory condition and one during a 0-back (attentional control) task. Results: Fibromyalgia subjects had higher baseline FAL binding potential (BPND) in the right amygdala and ventral pallidum relative to controls. FM subjects had lower baseline FAL BPND in frontal, temporal, and cingulate cortices. Voxel-wise paired t-tests were used to infer increases or decreases in FAL BPND (indicative of decreases or increases in dopamine, respectively) during 2-back performance. Fibromyalgia subjects had significant dopamine release in the ACC, left insula, OFC, and bilateral hippocampus during the 2-back task. Conversely, decreases in DA were detected in the posterior parietal cortex and vmPFC. In controls, dopamine appeared to decrease in the posterior parietal lobe, left hippocampus, and vmPFC during the 2-back task. No significant DA release was detected in controls. Self-reported pain ratings in fibromyalgia subjects were significantly associated with baseline FAL BPND in the ACC, bilateral ventral pallidum, amygdalae, and PAG. Conclusion: These data suggest that in fibromyalgia, abnormalities in dopamine function may be associated with both working memory and pain perception. Further studies are needed to further explore the potential associations between dopamine and cognitive performance and pain perception in FM

Calculation of Turbulent Subsonic Diffuser Flows Using the NPARC Navier-Stokes Code

Axisymmetric subsonic diffuser flows were calculated with the NPARC Navier-Stokes code in order to determine the effects various code features have on the flow solutions. The code features examined in this work were turbulence models and boundary conditions. Four turbulence models available in NPARC were used: the Baldwin-Lomax algebraic model, the Baldwin-Barth one-equation model, and the Chien kappa-epsilon and Wilcox kappa-omega two-equation models. The three boundary conditions examined were the free boundary, the mass flux boundary and the subsonic outflow with variable static pressure. In addition to boundary condition type, the geometry downstream of the diffuser was varied to see if upstream influences were present. The NPARC results are compared with experimental data and recommendations are given for using NPARC to compute similar flows

Adoption Process for the Model Aquatic Health Code: An Example

In 2014 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the first edition of the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC). This document represented the inaugural introduction of a federal policy guideline with a direct focus in the area of aquatic venue operation and maintenance with the sole purpose of improving the nature of public health in the field. The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) began the review and adoption process soon after the policy’s release. The ISDH process is proposed as one method for others to consider. The background and history of the MAHC are presented in this manuscript along with an overview of the adoption process to date that has been employed by the State of Indiana. In addition, information is provided on the Diffusion of Innovations Theory (DIT) as a possible method for assessing the long-term adoption of the MAHC on a national level