Life Cycle of \u3ci\u3eIsoperla Lata\u3c/i\u3e (Plecoptera: Perlodidae) in a Central Wisconsin Trout Stream

Monthly qualitative samples of Isoperla lata Frison were made from January 1992 to June 1993 in Ripley Creek, a small second order trout stream in Lincoln County Wisconsin. Additional collecting and an in-stream hatching experiment were conducted in 1994. This species exhibited an S1 (slow) univoltine life cycle. Emergence was synchronous and occurred in late April through early May when stream temperatures in the field were approximately 9-14° C and laboratory stream temperatures were 7-17° C. Laboratory longevity was 2-25 (x = 18.2 ± 4.51) days for males and 7-39 (x = 21.7 ± 5.35) days for females. Mean fecundity of dissected females was 322 ± 122 eggs/female. Females did not deposit egg masses in the laboratory until being held together with males inside modified screened plastic containers. Field-collected females did not have eggs. The egg shape was ovoid and circular in cross section. Mature eggs were light brown and measured 371.7 ± 12.6 mm and 260.7 ± 10.2 mm in length and width respectively. Eggs required a 40-46 day in-stream incubation period and first instar nymphs hatched syn- chronously over a two day period when stream temperature reached 20°C. Nymphal growth was nearly exponential from June to January and then declined until emergence. The greatest growth increment occurred between June and October and the average maximum size attained occurred in February. Males and females had approximately 18 and 19 instars respectively. Nymphs were primarily carnivorous throughout development and fed on larval Chironomidae, Ephemeroptera, and Plecoptera

Should we campaign against sex robots?

In September 2015 a well-publicised Campaign Against Sex Robots (CASR) was launched. Modelled on the longer-standing Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, the CASR opposes the development of sex robots on the grounds that the technology is being developed with a particular model of female-male relations (the prostitute-john model) in mind, and that this will prove harmful in various ways. In this chapter, we consider carefully the merits of campaigning against such a technology. We make three main arguments. First, we argue that the particular claims advanced by the CASR are unpersuasive, partly due to a lack of clarity about the campaign’s aims and partly due to substantive defects in the main ethical objections put forward by campaign’s founder(s). Second, broadening our inquiry beyond the arguments proferred by the campaign itself, we argue that it would be very difficult to endorse a general campaign against sex robots unless one embraced a highly conservative attitude towards the ethics of sex, which is likely to be unpalatable to those who are active in the campaign. In making this argument we draw upon lessons from the campaign against killer robots. Finally, we conclude by suggesting that although a generalised campaign against sex robots is unwarranted, there are legitimate concerns that one can raise about the development of sex robots

Redefining the Apartheid of American History: A Middle School History Curriculum

After more than half a century of efforts to address the historical educational chasm between marginalized groups it has become obvious that the need for culturally sensitive and inclusive curriculums need to be developed. This project is intended to assist educators take the first steps into the multicultural arena or provide a vehicle for curriculum incorporation. Sample curriculum is provided as an illustration of classroom practice and cultural inclusion. Student and educator roles are defined as well as activities, and assessment methods are described and outlined with links to curriculum content, Washington State\u27s Essential Academic Learning Requirements and Classroom Based Assessments

Acute Effects of Antagonist Stretching on Jump Height and Knee Extension Peak Torque

A great deal of research has shown decrements in force and power following static stretching. There has been little research investigating the acute effects of static stretching of the antagonist on the expression of strength and power. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of static stretching of the antagonist muscles on a variety of strength and power measures. Sixteen active males were tested for vertical jump height and isokinetic torque production in a slow knee extension (KES) at 60°/s and a fast knee extension (KEF) at 300°/s. Electromyography was taken during knee extension tests for the vastus lateralis and the biceps femoris muscles. Participants performed these tests in a randomized counterbalanced order with and without prior antagonist stretching. All variables for stretching and non-stretching treatments were compared using paired t tests at an alpha of .05. Paired samples t tests revealed a significant (p = .034) difference between stretch KEF and non-stretch KEF conditions. There was no significant (p \u3e .05) difference between KES stretch and non-stretch conditions. Vertical jump height was significantly (p = .011) higher for the stretching treatment than the non-stretching treatment. Vertical jump power was also significantly higher (p = .005) in the stretch versus the non-stretch condition. Paired samples t test indicated no significant (p \u3e .05) difference between testing conditions for electromyography, represented as a percentage of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). These results suggest that stretching the antagonist hamstrings prior to high speed isokinetic knee extension increases torque production. It also demonstrated that stretching the hip flexors and dorsi flexors may enhance jump height and power. Practitioners may use this information to acutely enhance strength and power performances

Modeling the relationship between women’s perceptions and future intention to use institutional maternity care in the Western Highlands of Guatemala

Background Despite global gains, women in hard-to-reach areas are at a relatively higher risk of death and disability related to childbirth. Traditional methods of measuring satisfaction may mask negative experiences (such as disrespect and abuse) that can drive down demand for institutional care. Better measurement of women’s perceptions of care quality, especially among marginalized populations with historically low utilization of institutional care, are needed to inform how to improve services and foster greater utilization of (potentially life-saving) clinical care. Methods A population-based household survey was conducted in 15 purposively selected villages in the rural Western Highlands of Guatemala among women who gave birth to a child within the last 5 years. Demographic and health information including experiences and perceptions of maternity care were collected. Two sets of nested multivariate logistic regression models were estimated to identify factors associated with future intention to give birth in a health facility, separately among women who gave birth to their last child at home and women who gave birth to their last child in a facility. The independent variables of interest were access to care, perceived need for maternity care, and two measures of perceived quality: satisfaction with last birth and disrespect and abuse (perceived or experienced). Thematic analysis was performed on open-ended responses. Results Perceived need for facility-based childbirth services and satisfaction with last childbirth experience, either at home or in a facility, emerged as the key factors influencing intention to give birth in a health institution in the future. Among the facility birth group, reporting disrespect and abuse is a deterrent to seeking facility-based care in the future. However, select perceptions of disrespect and abuse did not have an association with future intention (among the home birth group). Conclusions Women’s perceptions of care quality influence care-seeking. Women who feel they were mistreated in health facilities are more likely to avoid or delay seeking care in the future. Health systems need to reinforce trust and positive perceptions of respectful care. Developing better measures of women’s perceptions of maternity care experiences among indigenous populations in Guatemala can inform improvements in care provision

How American Children Spend Their Time

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73393/1/j.1741-3737.2001.00295.x.pd

Periodic Motion Planning for Virtually Constrained (Hybrid) Mechanical Systems

The paper presents sufficient and almost necessary conditions for the presence of periodic solutions for zero dynamics of virtually constrained under-actuated Euler-Lagrange system. This result is further extended to detect periodic solutions for a class of hybrid systems in the plane and analyze their orbital stability and instability. Illustrative examples are given