Building Bridges: Connecting to the Classics with Young Adult Literature

This study examined the effects of intertextual study using young adult literature and classic literature on both student reading attitudes and student achievement with 10th- grade high school English students in a suburban high school in North Carolina. The convergent parallel mixed methods action research study used qualitative data in the form of an anonymous survey and anonymous open-ended journal responses as well as qualitative data from achievement results on required benchmark tests. The survey results were analyzed in terms of responses, and open-ended responses were analyzed and coded for themes. Multiple themes emerged from the survey responses and open-ended journal responses, including a dislike of classic literature, a preference for young adult literature, and a lack of reading for enjoyment. Benchmark data were analyzed using paired t-tests. The results of the paired t-tests did not show a significant change in student achievement for any of the reading of literature standards tested. Recommendations for future study are given

Applications of Fibonacci numbers in economy - Elliott Wave Principle

Elliottov vlnový princíp, ako technika na predpovedanie cenových pohybov, skĺbuje poznatky o Fibonacciho číslach, zlatom reze a psychológii davu. Metóda nahrádza cenové fluktuácie vlnami, medzi ktorými vyhľadáva súvislosti s pomerom zlatého rezu. V úvode tejto bakalárskej práce sa pozrieme na Fibonacciho, jeho číselnú postupnosť a teoretický popis Elliottovho vlnového princípu. Jadrom práce je výklad základnej stratégie na päť-vlnovom vzorci a neskôr stratégií prelomenia a troj-vlnového vzorca. Všetky tieto stratégie sú prezentované na príkladoch z praxe s vysvetlením analógie a jemných rozdielov. Tieto stratégie boli vysvetlené ako konkrétne použiteľné algoritmy s objasnením všetkých náležitostí. Stratégia prelomenia je naviac doplnená o koncept algoritmu pre jej aplikáciu a vývojový diagram. Po nich nasleduje náhľad do problematiky špirál, ako metódy odhaľujúcej ďalšie možnosti využitia pomeru zlatého rezu, pri analyzovaní cenových pohybov.The Elliott wave principle, as a technique for prediction of price movements, combines knowledge of Fibonacci numbers, golden ratio and crowd psychology. This method replaces price fluctuations with waves, amongst which it is finding relation to the golden ratio. In the introduction of this bachelor thesis, we are going to have a look at Fibonacci, his integer sequence and theoretical description of the Elliott wave principle. The core of this thesis is explanation of basic strategy on five-wave pattern and later, swing breakout strategy and 3-swing pattern. All of these strategies are presented on real-world examples with explanation of analogy and nuances. These strategies were explained as factual usable algorithms with clarification of all properties. Concept of algorithm for the application of breakout strategy and its flowchart is included in matching chapter. After that follows insight into problematic of spirals as a method uncovering another options for use of the golden ratio for analysing price movements.

Традиційні ЗМІ як актори процесу політичного конструювання суспільства

The essence and possibilities of the influence of mass media on the formation of political consciousness, values, culture of society, public opinion are clarified. The current media trends that affected the media have been identified. The institutional conditions of activity of traditional mass media (press, radio, television) in Ukraine, the potential of their influence on the political construction of society and the perception of the media by the latter are studied. Emphasis is placed on the stage of active convergence and digitalization of old media, which is due to global information and communication processes and changing requirements of the media market. It was stated that the development of new media did not lead to the destruction of the established media system, but influenced the preferences and choices of the audience.З’ясовано сутність та можливості впливу засобів масової інформації на формування політичної свідомості, цінностей, культури суспільства, громадської думки. Визначено сучасні медіа-тенденції, які торкнулися ЗМІ, – а комерціалізація, трансформація та криза. Досліджено інституціональні умови діяльності традиційних ЗМІ (преса, радіо, телебачення) в Україні, потенціал їхнього впливу на політичне конструювання суспільства і сприйняття медіа останнім. Наголошено на етапі активної конвергенції та діджиталізації старих ЗМІ, що зумовлено глобальними інформаційно-комунікаційними процесами і мінливими вимогами медіа-ринку. Констатовано, що розвиток нових медіа не зумовив руйнацію усталеної системи мас-медіа, однак вплинув на уподобання і вибір аудиторії

Automatic analysis of treadmill running to estimate times to fatigue and exhaustion in rodents

Introduction: The determination of fatigue and exhaustion in experimental animals is complicated by the subjective nature of the measurement. Typically, it requires an observer to watch exercising animals, e.g. rats running on the treadmill, and to identify the time of the event. In this study, we hypothesized that automatic analysis of the time-averaged position of a rat on a treadmill could be an objective way for estimating times to fatigue and exhaustion. To test this hypothesis, we compared these times measured by a human observer to the results of an automated video tracking system. Methods: Rats, previously familiarized to running on the treadmill, ran at a fixed speed with zero incline, until exhaustion. The experiments were performed at either room temperature (24 °C) or in a hot environment (32 °C). Each experiment was video recorded. A trained observer estimated the times to fatigue and exhaustion. Then, video tracking software was used to determine the position of the animals on the treadmill belt. The times to fatigue and exhaustion were determined, based on the position on the treadmill using predefined criteria. Results: Manual scores and the average position on the treadmill had significant correlation. Both the observer and the automated video tracking determined that exercise in a hot environment, compared with the exercise at room temperature, results in shorter times to exhaustion and fatigue. Also, estimates of times made by the observer and the automated video tracking were not statistically different from each other. Discussion: A similarity between the estimates of times to fatigue and exhaustion made by the observer and the automated technique suggests that video tracking of rodents running on a treadmill can be used to determine both parameters in experimental studies. Video tracking technique allows for a more objective measure and would allow for an increased performance in experimentation. The Supplemental information to this manuscript contains an Excel file, which includes the code in Virtual Basic with freeware license, to process and visualize running data and automatically estimate the times to fatigue and exhaustion. Instructions for the software are also included

The effect of carrier gas pressure on vapor phase nucleation experiments using a thermal diffusion cloud chamber

Recent measurements of critical supersaturations for the vapor phase homogeneous nucleation of several substances using a diffusion cloud chamber technique exhibit a dependence on the pressure of the carrier gas used in the experiments. A model of droplet growth and motion in a diffusion cloud chamber, combined with the density and temperature profiles of the chamber is presented to explain the pressure dependent results. The model demonstrates that at higher carrier gas pressures the growth of the droplets is retarded and the optical scattering signal from the particles is reduced. It is concluded that the observed effect may not result from a pressure dependence of the nucleation rate, but from a pressure dependence of the droplet growth and motion

Treadmill running restores MDMA-mediated hyperthermia prevented by inhibition of the dorsomedial hypothalamus

The contribution of exercise to hyperthermia mediated by MDMA is not known. We recently showed that inhibiting the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) attenuated spontaneous locomotion and hyperthermia and prevented deaths in rats given MDMA in a warm environment. The goal of this study was to confirm that restoring locomotion through a treadmill would reverse these effects thereby confirming that locomotion mediated by the DMH contributes to MDMA-mediated hyperthermia. Rats were randomized to receive bilateral microinjections, into the region of the DMH, of muscimol (80pmol/100nl) or artificial CSF followed by a systemic dose of either MDMA (7.5mg/kg, i.v.) or saline. Immediately after the systemic injection, rats were placed on a motorized treadmill maintained at 32°C. Rats were exercised at a fixed speed (10m/min) until their core temperature reached 41°C. Our results showed that a fixed exercise load abolished the decreases in temperature and mortality, seen previously with inhibition of the DMH in freely moving rats. Therefore, locomotion mediated by neurons in the DMH is critical to the development of hyperthermia from MDMA

Inhibition of the dorsomedial hypothalamus, but not the medullary raphe pallidus, decreases hyperthermia and mortality from MDMA given in a warm environment.

The central mechanisms through which MDMA mediates life-threatening hyperthermia when taken in a warm environment are not well described. It is assumed that MDMA alters normal thermoregulatory circuits resulting in increased heat production through interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) and decreased heat dissipation through cutaneous vasoconstriction. We studied the role of the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) and medullary raphe pallidus (mRPa) in mediating iBAT, tail blood flow, and locomotor effects produced by MDMA. Rats were instrumented with guide cannulas targeting either the DMH or the mRPa-brain regions involved in regulating iBAT and cutaneous vascular beds. In all animals, core temperature and locomotion were recorded with surgically implanted telemetric transmitters; and additionally either iBAT temperature (via telemetric transmitter) or tail artery blood flow (via tail artery Doppler cuff) were also recorded. Animals were placed in an environmental chamber at 32°C and microinjected with either control or the GABA agonist muscimol (80pmol) followed by an intravenous injection of saline or MDMA (7.5 mg kg-1). To prevent undue suffering, a core temperature of 41°C was chosen as the surrogate marker of mortality. Inhibition of the DMH, but not the mRPa, prevented mortality and attenuated hyperthermia and locomotion. Inhibition of either the DMH or the mRPa did not affect iBAT temperature increases or tail blood flow decreases. While MDMA increases iBAT thermogenesis and decreases heat dissipation through cutaneous vasoconstriction, thermoregulatory brain regions known to mediate these effects are not involved. Rather, the finding that inhibiting the DMH decreases both locomotion and body temperature suggests that locomotion may be a key central contributor to MDMA-evoked hyperthermia

Fluoroalcohols as nucleating agents in supersaturated vapors: Efficient clustering with water in the vapor phase

Fluoroalcohols in small concentrations in the vapor phase display striking enhancing effects on homogeneous nucleation of supersaturated aliphatic alcohols, and on the formation of water clusters by supersonic expansion. The enhanced nucleationeffects are attributed to the surfactant properties of fluoroalcohols, which lower the surface tension of the growing droplets, and therefore lower the barrier to nucleation