Spatial Distribution Of Debitage At A Chert Procurement Site And A Cultural History Assessment On Orange Lake In North Central Florida

This project evaluated a 90 acre parcel of property located on the southern shore of Orange Lake in NCFL (North Central Florida). A cultural resource management style survey was conducted to determine what archeological evidence for prehistoric activity was present. In addition to this general assessment, this research was conducted in order to identify specific settlement patterns in the area and determine if they corresponded with the settlement strategies already identified for wetland environments within the area of north central Florida. Further, after a tool stone procurement zone was identified a study examining debitage size grade drop-off trends was conducted in an effort to separate quarrying and non-quarrying activity areas. The field work was conducted by excavating shovel test units 50 by 50 centimeters square and one meter deep. These were completed with a two person crew utilizing a shovel and quarter inch screen. Observations during each shovel test were recorded, artifacts bagged, and the unit location was recorded using a GPS unit. In the lab, artifacts were sorted based on sets of characteristics for each artifact type. Particular interest was awarded to debitage by sorting it into one of four screen size categories. Further separation was based on chert type and thermal alteration. These data were evaluated in terms of a distance drop-off model using correlation to explore proximity to local chert sources. The results of these tests proved there was not a sole quarry location in the northwest corner of the property as originally speculated but instead that raw tool stone had once outcropped along the entire length of the shore line. The drop-off tests reinforced the knowledge that chipped stone refuse generated at a quarrying site is unique to this site type. This means that the proportion of debitage size grades and frequency of thermally altered material changes in a predictable manner the further a shovel test is from the original stone source, as do the types of stone tools. In conclusion, raw tool stone acquisition and the manufacturing of tools from this source was of great importance for the prehistoric people of the area. The discovery of solid evidence for habitation beginning in the Early Archaic and growing in intensity forward into the Mississippian also shoOrange Lake was exploited throughout prehistory for the access to tool quality chert as well as fresh water and the ecotone environment of hardwood hammocks and prominent wetlands

Toward an appropriate religious education for future teachers of religious education: principles for a theological education approach

This study considers what constitutes an appropriate religious education for student teachers of religious education in the second-level sector in the Republic of Ireland. The research adopts an interpretive approach to relevant documentary sources and traces the evolution of how the State and the Catholic Church, given its prominent role in that society, understand the term religious education. This analysis suggests that how the nature and purpose of religious education is understood is a significant context in developing an appropriate religious education for teachers of religious education. It is argued that religious education is best conceived of as a conversational activity that is hermeneutical in nature. How the religious educator is prepared to lead such a conversation is crucial. This concept of religious education is developed by drawing on Thomas Groome’s theological vision of appropriation and Robert Jackson’s educational concept of edification. The argument considers how the study of theology, an essential requirement in the initial teacher education of teachers of religious education according to the Teaching Council of Ireland, can contribute to the religious education of these students. The tradition of theological education, with its focus on how theology is taught, emerges as a significant foundation for a religious education that is appropriate for the students in question. Six principles for such a theological education arise from this research indicating essential elements for an appropriate religious education for future teachers of religious education in the Republic of Ireland and beyond

Perceptions of Community and Risk Behavior Exposure for Youth in At-Risk Environments

This paper highlights an examination of the relationship between perceptions of community and risk behavior exposure for youth in at-risk environments. Data were collected from 133 youth enrolled in after-school programs in two communities over a three-year period. The Youth Involved in Community Issues (YICI) survey assessed youth perceptions of community on four subscales measuring support, involvement, connectedness, and environment. The Social Behavioral Questionnaire (SBQ), with subscales of access, frequency of use, social behaviors, and neighborhood, asked participants to report risk behaviors that they saw occurring within their local area. Linear regression analysis indicated that youth community (overall score) predicted risk exposure in the areas of perceived friend behaviors and behaviors seen within their community. The results of this study indicate the importance of youth awareness of community in relation to risk behaviors observed within their communities

Self-Esteem Assessment of Adolescents Involved in Horsemanship Activities

The study reported here was designed to determine if participation in horsemanship activities is associated with change in self-esteem and other developmental competencies. The study examined 122 adolescents, aged 12-18 years, who participated in the Florida 4-H Horsemanship School during summer 2005. The results found a small but significant change in self-esteem after the adolescents participated in the 6-day residential horsemanship program. It is important to consider the findings of the study when designing a horsemanship school curriculum for adolescents. Equine activities also may provide beneficial results to youth, including increased self-esteem, physical exercise, and positive youth development

A Comparison of 4-H and Other Youth Development Organizations in the Development of Life Skills

The article briefly describes the results of a study on the influence of 4-H and other youth development programs on the development of 36 life skills including critical thinking, goal setting, communication, decision-making and community service. Respondents (n=223) were high achieving 4-H alumni who participated it the Oklahoma 4-H Program between the years 1969 and 1998. Results suggest that while respondents credited 4-H with influencing the development of the majority of the identified life skills, other youth organizations were also identified as having some influence on the development in different life skills. Recommendations for 4-H programming are offered

Development of "in vitro-in vivo" correlation/relationship modeling approaches for immediate release formulations using compartmental dynamic dissolution data from "Golem" : a novel apparatus

Different batches of atorvastatin, represented by two immediate release formulation designs, were studied using a novel dynamic dissolution apparatus, simulating stomach and small intestine. A universal dissolution method was employed which simulated the physiology of human gastrointestinal tract, including the precise chyme transit behavior and biorelevant conditions. The multicompartmental dissolution data allowed direct observation and qualitative discrimination of the differences resulting from highly pH dependent dissolution behavior of the tested batches. Further evaluation of results was performed using IVIVC/IVIVR development. While satisfactory correlation could not be achieved using a conventional deconvolution based-model, promising results were obtained through the use of a nonconventional approach exploiting the complex compartmental dissolution data

Be on TRAQ – Cross-cultural adaptation of the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ 5.0) and pilot testing of the German Version (TRAQ-GV-15).

Objective: Transfer from pediatric care into the adult health care system is known to be a vulnerable phase in the lives of youth with special health care needs (YSHCN). Recommendations from the literature favor assessment of transition readiness rather than simply pass over YSHCN from pediatric to adult-centered care by the age of 18. Nevertheless, no validated and disease neutral assessment instrument in German exists to date. Hence, our aim was to cross-culturally adapt and to pilot-test a German version of the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ 5.0). We wanted to provide a tool that can be applied broadly during the health care transition (HCT) process of YSHCN. Methods: The development included translating and adapting TRAQ 5.0 to German and conducting a pilot-study with 172 YSHCN between the ages of 14 and 23. Results: Cross-cultural adaptation resulted in the TRAQ-GV-15. Exploratory factor analysis led to a 3 factor-structure. Internal consistency for the overall score was good with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.82. Age, in contrast to sex, had a significant effect on the TRAQ scoring. The administration of the TRAQ-GV-15 was well received and demonstrated good feasibility. Conclusion: The TRAQ-GV-15 is an easily applicable and clinically usable instrument for assessing transition readiness in German speaking YSHCN prior to HCT

Self-Esteem and Feelings of Community Connectedness of At-Risk Adolescents Attending Community-Based Afterschool Programs

This research investigated the relationship between adolescent afterschool program attendance, self-esteem and feelings of community connectedness. Thirty-nine of the 61 at-risk adolescents enrolled in two federally funded, community based afterschool programs participated in the study. Participants completed a 10-item self-esteem questionnaire and a 5-item section of the Youth Involved in Community Issues Survey (YICI) to measure perceptions of community connectedness. Attendance records were also collected from the sites. Data were analyzed using Pearson Correlations. Results indicated that there was not a significant relationship between the total variables. The individual item analysis, however, did find a significant relationship between adolescent community connectedness and self esteem items. Findings suggest that there is a relationship to be explored and strengthened through means of community outreach for adolescents. Conclusions from this study have important implications for youth practice. Specifically, program leaders need to help adolescents get involved in the community as contributing members

Adolescent Perceptions of Animation Violence as an Indication of Aggressive Attitudes and Behaviors

This reported study was designed to examine the beliefs and perceptions of adolescents on whether or not viewing violence on television contributes to an increase in adolescents’ abilities to learn aggressive attitudes and behaviors. It also explored the effects humor and satire used in the animated television series The Simpsons has on adolescents’ abilities to learn aggressive attitudes and behaviors. Finally, it examined to what extent the violence portrayed in The Simpsons was believed to be realistic and justified by adolescents viewing the show. Results indicate that adolescents were not affected by the violence they observed in The Simpsons animation: Further, they did not feel that it was acceptable for their favorite characters to use violence to solve problems. Youth did not have reactions to viewing the series that were violent, nor did they report becoming aggressive in response to viewing the violence on the The Simpsons. While the majority of the youth also reported that they did not use violence to solve a problem, 3.3% reported that they did. Overall, the study concluded that adolescents’ exposure to violent content by viewing it in animation in The Simpsons did not affect adolescents’ perceptions of their abilities to learn aggressive attitudes and behaviors. Youth did not perceive that the violence portrayed was realistic

At-Risk Youth in After-School Programs: How Does Their Use of Media for Learning About Community Issues Relate to Their Perceptions of Community Connectedness, Community Involvement, and Community Support?

This paper highlights a study examining the impact of various media formats on at-risk youth to identify forms of media technology that might impact their community connectedness, community involvement, and community support. Over a three-year period, a sample of 133 youth enrolled in after-school programs in two communities completed a questionnaire annually consisting of the following areas: community support, community involvement, community connectedness, and media use for learning. Linear regression analysis indicated media use for learning about community issues was a predictor of student’s perceptions of community support, community connectedness, and community involvement. The media format most identified for gaining knowledge about community issues by the youth was the Internet, while the use of print media increased over the course of the study. The most significant relationships were found between media use and perceptions of community overall with the most significant gains in media use during Y2, where youth knowledge of community issues increased