Neurobiological Foundations Of Stability And Flexibility

In order to adapt to changing and uncertain environments, humans and other organisms must balance stability and flexibility in learning and behavior. Stability is necessary to learn environmental regularities and support ongoing behavior, while flexibility is necessary when beliefs need to be revised or behavioral strategies need to be changed. Adjusting the balance between stability and flexibility must often be based on endogenously generated decisions that are informed by information from the environment but not dictated explicitly. This dissertation examines the neurobiological bases of such endogenous flexibility, focusing in particular on the role of prefrontally-mediated cognitive control processes and the neuromodulatory actions of dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems. In the first study (Chapter 2), we examined the role of frontostriatal circuits in instructed reinforcement learning. In this paradigm, inaccurate instructions are given prior to trial-and-error learning, leading to bias in learning and choice. Abandoning the instructions thus necessitates flexibility. We utilized transcranial direct current stimulation over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to try to establish a causal role for this area in this bias. We also assayed two genes, the COMT Val158Met genetic polymorphism and the DAT1/SLC6A3 variable number tandem repeat, which affect prefrontal and striatal dopamine, respectively. The results support the role of prefrontal cortex in biasing learning, and provide further evidence that individual differences in the balance between prefrontal and striatal dopamine may be particularly important in the tradeoff between stability and flexibility. In the second study (Chapter 3), we assess the neurobiological mechanisms of stability and flexibility in the context of exploration, utilizing fMRI to examine dynamic changes in functional brain networks associated with exploratory choices. We then relate those changes to changes in norepinephrine activity, as measured indirectly via pupil diameter. We find tentative support for the hypothesis that increased norepinephrine activity around exploration facilitates the reorganization of functional brain networks, potentially providing a substrate for flexible exploratory states. Together, this work provides further support for the framework that stability and flexibility entail both costs and benefits, and that optimizing the balance between the two involves interactions of learning and cognitive control systems under the influence of catecholamines

Ignatian Information Literacy: Applying the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm to Library Instruction

Instruction librarians in higher education specialize in information literacy, which is the set of skills needed to interact effectively with information. The guiding document for library instruction, the Association of College and Research Libraries’ (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy, calls for imparting the foundational wisdom and self-awareness which underlie these skills. Unfortunately, most library instruction is delivered in 50- or 75-minute “one-shots” focusing on the technical skills of searching library resources, which makes deeper information literacy instruction a challenge. One way to meet this challenge is to utilize the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP), which shares with the ACRL Framework the aim of not merely imparting facts but holistically transforming the student. This article details the use of the IPP’s repeating cycle of five elements (context, experience, reflection, action, and evaluation) to guide the creation of a flipped library instruction module which provides more foundational information literacy instruction than is typically possible in a “one shot” library session

A Newlywed Soundtrack

Graduate winner: 2nd place, 2022, 35th Annual Carl Neureuther Student Book Collection Competitio

Social Contexts of the School Closures in West Philadelphia

Background Information: This paper discusses the social contexts of the 2013 school closures in Philadelphia, specifically focusing on University City High School. This paper explores the notion that the school closings in West Philadelphia are connected to urban renewal or gentrifying processes. In this paper, “contexts” refers to the relevant history leading up to the school closings, information about the School District of Philadelphia, community perceptions of the closings, and quantitative data in some West Philadelphia neighborhoods. Methodology: Fieldwork at University City High School took place from January-April 2013, during the time the school closures were being announced, to collect information on stakeholders’ opinions of the school closings and the motivations behind them. Quantitative data was collected from the School District of Philadelphia and United States Censuses. Results: The data did not provide conclusive evidence as to whether there were ulterior motives behind the school closings; however, many community members shared the belief that there were, highlighting the need for increased transparency

Alien Registration- Tardiff, James (Van Buren, Aroostook County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/32387/thumbnail.jp

Evaluation of Silica Hydride Based Amide Stationary Phase for High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Aqueous Normal Phase Separations

With many modern chromatographic advancements, silica hydride based columns (also known commercially as Type-C) represent yet another evolutionary step in stationary phase development. Type-C silica hydride columns have the ability to retain both polar and nonpolar analytes and have the ability to behave in either RP or ANP modes of separation depending on mobile phase composition. A consequence of this increased stability is that Type-C columns can be used over a wide range of mobile phase compositions, from purely aqueous to purely nonpolar organic solvents, and any combination of the two. While the retention behavior of Type-C columns depends highly on the mobile phase environment, it can also be influenced by the organic moiety attached to the surface. This project encompasses the evaluation of a silica hydride-based column with amide functionalities to be used in high performance liquid chromatography. A series of separations were performed using reference standards of varying analyte sizes, functionalities, and polarities. This project assesses the specific column selectivity and identifies classes of compounds which show high potential for effective retention, resolution, and efficiency when using amide functionalized silica hydride columns for RP and ANP separations

Towards an Expansion of the Salt City Harvest Farm: Exploring a Community Farm’s Impact, Challenges, and the Agricultural Ways and Aspirations of its New American Farmers

The Salt City Harvest Farm (SCHF) is a community farm located in Kirkville, NY cultivated by and for New Americans living in Syracuse who wish to expand gardening beyond their backyards and community gardens. While the farm has been operational for two growing seasons, it is an all-volunteer project with limited capacity, and concerns about long-term sustainability. This research was designed to be pragmatic; it seeks to inform the future structure and programming of the SCHF by identifying its projectspecific challenges, drawing on the agricultural aspirations of its New American participants, and investigating how other refugee farming projects in the United States function. To this end, primary qualitative data was collected (primary research methods included an oral survey and focus group with the farm\u27s New American participants, semi-structured interviews with the farm\u27s owners and facilitators, and participant observations of the previous growing season), and relevant background research conducted. As an urban-fringe agricultural site providing access to greenspace, supplemental produce, and the opportunity to socialize, the SCHF hosts a wide range of benefits for its New American participants. While the majority of refugee farming projects in the United States are farmer-training, or incubator, programs, the SCHF stands apart in its unique emphasis on communal cultivation and cross-cultural exchange. Results reveal that the Salt City Harvest farmers have rich agricultural backgrounds and extensive botanical knowledge. The farm would best suit their interests by continuing to be a place to grow their own food (rather than transitioning into an incubator model), incorporating identified culturally significant crops, and perhaps connecting them with resources for identifying more wild edible plants, especially those with medicinal properties. Some organizational recommendations for best practices include clearly defining roles, integrating New Americans into the farm’s decision-making processes, investing in interpreting services, forging mutually beneficial partnerships, and considering alternative forms of fundraising

Bis(1-adamantyl)(2-morpholinophenyl)phosphine (Mor-DalPhos)

(ligand employed in transition metal-catalyzed reactions) Alternate Name: di(1-adamantyl)-2-morpholinophenylphosphine. Physical Data: mp 219–224 °C. Solubility: soluble in most polar organic solvents. Form Supplied in: White to pale yellow powder or crystals. Also commercially available as preformed Au-ligand complexes such as (MeCN)(Mor-Dalphos)Au(I) SbF_6 and [Mor-Dalphos]Au(I)Cl. Analysis of Reagent Purity: NMR, Elemental Analysis. Preparative Method: Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling of N-(2-bromophenyl)morpholine and diadamantyl phosphine. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: the phosphine is not particularly sensitive to air or moisture although precautions, such as storage under inert atmosphere in a cool place, should be taken during long-term storage. Bis(1-adamantyl)(2-morpholinophenyl)phosphine (Mor-DalPhos) is a phosphine ligand that has been employed in Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions and Au-catalyzed hydroamination and [3+2] annulations. This ligand, when combined with an appropriate Pd-source, is particularly effective for promoting selective monoarylation processes between aryl electrophiles and nucleophiles such as ammonia, hydrazine, and acetone

Alien Registration- Tardiff, Alice (Van Buren, Aroostook County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/33309/thumbnail.jp