Digital Commons Network^™

State Differences In Achievement Among Secondary School Students In Australia, Gary Marks, John Cresswell

Dr John Cresswell

A number of recent national studies of student achievement in secondary school have reported differences between the Australian states and territories. State differences are often viewed as insubstantial or as simply reflecting sociodemographic factors, or differences between the states in the grades or ages of the students sampled. In this article, the authors show that state differences are larger than generally assumed and cannot be attributed to socioeconomic and demographic factors. Generally, student achievement in reading, mathematics and science are higher in New South Wales than the other states, once demographic and grade differences are taken into account. Of concern, …

Optimization Of Electrode Alignment For Electrochemical Detection In Capillary Electrophoresis Using A Scanning Electrochemical Microscope, David Roach, Stephanie Hooper, Mark Anderson

Mark R. Anderson

Electrochemical detection in capillary electrophoresis requires decoupling the voltage applied to the working electrode from the separation voltage applied across the capillary. End-capillary electrochemical detection achieves this by placing the electrode just outside the ground end of the separation capillary. Obtaining adequate signal-to-noise in this arrangement requires using small inner diameter capillaries. Decreasing the inner diameter of the separation capillary, however, increases the difficulty of aligning the microelectrode with the open end of the capillary. Using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), the position of the capillary opening is determined while electroactive material is continuously emerging from the end of the capillary. …

Developmental Biology. Encountering Micrornas In Cell Fate Signaling., Xantha Karp, Victor Ambros

Victor R. Ambros

Comment on: LIN-12/Notch activation leads to microRNA-mediated down-regulation of Vav in C. elegans. [Science. 2005]

Transgender Theory: Reprogramming Our Automated Settings, Marybeth Herald

Marybeth Herald

Over the course of the last few decades, both law and society have struggled to deprogram unhelpful and downright destructive gender stereotypes that are ubiquitous in our everyday existence. It has not been an easy task, nor entirely successful on either the legal or cultural front. Laws that prohibit gender discrimination, such as Title VII, have helped end overt discrimination. The next phase involves the challenging problem of unconscious bias, which often effectively keeps us treading the same mental paths while bypassing any roads not traveled.

It is not surprising then that when the validity of even the basic categories …

Expression Profiling Of Arabidopsis Stigma Tissue Identifies Stigma-Specific Genes, Rob Swanson, T Clark, D Preuss

Rob Swanson

Plants discriminate among pollen grains that land on the stigma surface, providing compatible pollen with the nutrients and signals required to proceed in pollination, and in many species, recognizing and inhibiting foreign pollen adhesion, hydration, germination and invasion. Much of the stigma machinery involved in these processes remains unknown. It is likely that the expression of a stigma-specific gene program confers specialized structural and functional properties. Here we used microarray technology and cDNA subtraction to build a profile of candidate stigma genes that facilitate early pollination events. Of over 24,000 Arabidopsis genes probed, we identified 11,403 genes expressed in stigma …

Evaluation Of The Federal Government's Human Health Preparedness Plan Developed In Response To The H5n1 Threat., Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Dr. Hsu reacted to President Bush's Avian Flu Preparedness and Response Plan in a media briefing panel at the National Press Club, Washington DC.

Short- And Long-Term Cause-Specific Survival Of Patients With Inflammatory Breast Cancer, Patricia Tai, Edward Yu, Ross Shiels, Juan Pacella, Kurian Jones, Evgeny Sadikov, Shazia Mahmood

Edward Yu

Background: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) had been perceived to have a poor prognosis. Oncologists were not enthusiastic in the past to give aggressive treatment. Single institution studies tend to have small patient numbers and limited years of follow-up. Most studies do not report 10-, 15- or 20-year results. Methods: Data was obtained from the population-based database of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program of the National Cancer Institute from 1975-1995 using SEER*Stat5.0 software. This period of 21 years was divided into 7 periods of 3 years each. The years were chosen so that there was adequate follow-up information to …

Rupture Of Two-Dimensional Alkane Crystal, Ali Dhinojwala

Ali Dhinojwala

We have studied the breaking of a two-dimensional alkane crystal above the disordered melt using an oscillating bubble rheometer. Surface tension changes abruptly during the expansion and contraction cycle. We postulate that this is due to rupture of the 2D crystal at grain boundaries. The magnitude of the abrupt change in surface tension decreases with a decrease in the rate of change of bubble surface area with a power law exponent of 0.8. The interfacial area formed after rupture decreases with a decrease in rate. These results provide new insights in understanding defect-mediated rupture in confined geometry.

Template-Induced Enhanced Ordering Under Confinement, Mesfin Tsige

Mesfin Tsige

We report a surprisingly strong ordering of Si-(CH(3))(2) groups upon confinement between two surfaces, an oxidized poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS(ox)) elastomer and a methyl-terminated self-assembled monolayer (octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS)) on sapphire substrates. This enhanced ordering is induced by the template of ordered methyl groups of OTS and is not observed for other surfaces (fluorinated monolayers and sapphire substrates). This strong ordering is reminiscent of layering observed for confined symmetric molecules between two mica surfaces but was expected to vanish between rough macroscopic surfaces. These results provide new insights on confined structure at the interface between two solids and are important in the …

Confinement-Induced Ordering Of Alkanes Between An Elastomer And A Solid Surface, Ali Dhinojwala

Ali Dhinojwala

We have studied the molecular structure of liquid alkanes confined between a flexible elastomeric poly(dimethyl siloxane) lens and a rigid sapphire substrate using surface-sensitive infrared-visible sum frequency generation spectroscopy. The reduction in the gauche defects suggests ordering of liquid alkanes under confinement. The cooling of confined liquid below the freezing temperature leads to crystallization with alkane molecules lying on the substrate with the symmetry axis parallel to the surface normal. This structure is very different from the bulk alkane crystals next to sapphire or air interfaces.

Meaningful Work As Due Inducement, Charles Weijer

Charles Weijer

No abstract provided.

Factor Shares From Household Survey Data, Rodrigo Garcia-Verdu

Rodrigo Garcia-Verdu

Digital Preservation In Action: Toward A Campus-Wide Program, Richard Fyffe, Deborah M. Ludwig, Beth F. Warner

Deborah M. Ludwig

Numb3rs: The Intersection Between Mathematics And Hollywood Is Not Empty, Ron Buckmire

Ron Buckmire

No abstract provided.

Defect Structure Of Sb2−Xmnxte3 Single Crystals., Jaromír Horák, Petr LošŤÁK, Čestmír Drašar, Jeffrey Dyck, Zengzua Zhou, Cterid Uher

Jeffrey Dyck

Incorporation of the transition metal elements in the tetradymite structure of Sb2Te3 has a strong influence on electronic properties. Recent studies have indicated that Mn substitutes on the Sb sublattice increases the carrier concentration of holes. However, the doping efficiency of Mn appears rather low in comparison to what it should be based on the measurements of magnetization, structural analysis, and transport properties. In this paper we address this issue by making detailed studies of the Hall effect and electrical resistivity and we explain the results with the aid of a model that takes into account interactions of the Mn …

Finding Hidden Value Through Mixed-Methodology: Lessons From The Discovery Program’S Holistic Approach To Truancy Abatement, Holly Miller, J. Miller

Holly Ventura Miller

Policy makers often bemoan the shortcomings and inefficiency of youth development and similar social work programs whose effectiveness cannot be demonstrated by quantifiable performance indicators. This study argues, through illustration of the Odyssey Learning Center’s Discovery Program (an alternative school serving rural Southern youth in an abject poverty context), that program value can only be evidenced through a mixed-methodological evaluation design. Reasons precluding traditional statistical analysis and effectiveness determinations are discussed and alternative conceptualizations of program value are considered.

Japan's Quandary Over East Asia Summit, Kori Urayama

Kori Urayama

No abstract provided.

Contract Law Resources, Ruth Stevens

Ruth Stevens

No abstract provided.

Unraveling The Mechanism Of A Potent Transcriptional Activator, Brian Brennan, Zhen Lu, Steven Rowe, Sarah Davis, Renee Metzler, Johnathan Nau, Chinmay Majmudar, Anna Mapp, Aseem Ansari

Brian B. Brennan

Despite their enormous potential as novel research tools and therapeutic agents, artificial transcription factors (ATFs) that up-regulate transcription robustly in vivo remain elusive. In investigating an ATF that does function exceptionally well in vivo, we uncovered an unexpected relationship between transcription function and a binding interaction between the activation domain and an adjacent region of the DNA binding domain. Disruption of this interaction leads to complete loss of function in vivo, even though the activation domain is still able to bind to its target in the transcriptional machinery. We propose that this interaction parallels those between natural activation domains and …

The Reef Fish Assemblage Of The Outer Los Angeles Federal Breakwater, 2002–2003, John Froeschke, Larry Allen, Daniel Pondella

Daniel Pondella

The conspicuous and cryptic fish assemblage of the Los Angeles Federal Breakwater was assessed from 2002 to 2003. Thirty-five species were observed or collected during the study period. The assemblage of cryptic fishes was composed primarily of a mix of Oregonian and San Diegan, species including snubnose sculpin (Orthonopias triacis), coralline sculpin (Artedius corallinus) and blackeye goby (Rhinogobiops nicholsii). The species composition of conspicuous fishes was approximately equal between taxa from these two provinces. Blacksmith (Chromis punctipinnis), black perch (Embiotoca jacksoni) and kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus) dominated the assemblage of conspicuous fishes. Species composition reflects the localized cool temperature regime …

Are There National Patterns Of Teaching? Evidence From The Timss 1999 Video Study, Karen Givvin, James Hiebert, Jennifer Jacobs, Hilary Hollingsworth, Ronald Gallimore

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

Why do teachers today teach as they do, and why has teaching evolved in the way that it has evolved? In order to improve teaching, it is important to understand why teaching looks the way that it now does and how its general form can be explained. One way to address this question is at the classroom level. In this article we build on ethnographic research by using the 1999 Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) video archives. Here we consider two possible explanations for the general patterns that have developed in school teaching. One explanation is that there …

Victimization In The Peer Group And Children’S Academic Functioning, David Schwartz, Andrea Hopmeyer Gorman, Johnathan Nakamoto, Robin Toblin

Andrea Hopmeyer Gorman

This short-term longitudinal investigation focused on associations between victimization in the peer group and academic functioning over a 1-year period. The authors used a multi-informant approach to assess peer victimization, symptoms of depression, and academic outcomes for 199 elementary school children (average age of 9.0 years; 105 boys, 94 girls). Frequent victimization by peers was associated with poor academic functioning (as indicated by grade point averages and achievement test scores) on both a concurrent and a predictive level. Additionally, the authors' analyses provided some evidence that peer group victimization predicts academic difficulties through the mediating influence of depressive symptoms. Taken …

Smooth Pursuit Neck Torsion Test In Whiplash Associated Disorders - Relationship To Self Reports Of Neck Pain And Disability, Dizziness And Anxiety, Julia Treleaven, Gwendolen Jull, Nancy Low Choy

Nancy Low Choy

Objective:
The smooth pursuit neck torsion test is thought to be a measure of neck afferent influence on eye movement control and is useful in assessing subjects with whiplash, especially those complaining of dizziness. Nevertheless, it is not known whether impairments identified relate only to abnormal cervical afferentation or are influenced by levels of anxiety or neck pain.

Design:
A prospective, 3-group, observational design.

Subjects:
One hundred subjects with persistent whiplash (50 complaining of dizziness, 50 not complaining of dizziness) and 50 healthy controls.

Methods:
The smooth pursuit neck torsion test was performed and analysed taking into account subjects' reported …

Review Of Assisted Suicide And The Right To Die The Interface Of Social Science, Public Policy, And Medical Ethics By Barry Rosenfeld, Matthew Pianalto

Matthew Pianalto

Barry Rosenfeld nicely captures the central virtue of his book Assisted Suicide and the Right to Die in the final paragraph: "Although this book began as a summary of what we know and do not know, it has resulted in a litany of opportunities for contributing to this important and still-evolving social and legal policy issue" (175). Rosenfeld's work canvasses the territory of assisted suicide, euthanasia, and other means of "hastened death" by providing both an historical account of these practices as well as a critical overview of some of the most recent studies on end-of-life issues. Through careful examination …

The Air Is Always Cleaner On The Other Side: Race, Space, And Ambient Air Toxics Exposures In California, Manuel Pastor, Rachel Morello-Frosch, James Sadd

James Sadd

Environmental justice advocates have recently focused attention on cumulative exposure in minority neighborhoods due to multiple sources of pollution. This article uses U.S. EPA’s National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) for 1996 to examine environmental inequality in California, a state that has been a recent innovator in environmental justice policy. We first estimate potential lifetime cancer risks from mobile and stationary sources. We then consider the distribution of these risks using both simple comparisons and a multivariate model in which we control for income, land use, and other explanatory factors, as well as spatial correlation. We find large racial disparities in …

Are These Victims Worthy?, Erik Ugland, Karen Slattery

Erik Ugland

No abstract provided.

The Timing Of Cabinet Reshuffles In Five Westminster Parliamentary Systems, Indridi Indridason, Christopher Kam

Indridi H Indridason

Despite their political prominence, cabinet reshuffles have not attracted a great deal of scholarly attention. We provide a theory of cabinet reshuffles that emphasizes both systematic and time-varying causes. In particular, we argue that prime ministers employ cabinet reshuffles to retain power in the face of both intraparty and electoral challenges to their leadership. We use repeated-events duration models to examine the timing of cabinet reshuffles in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom in the period 1960–2001, and find support for several of our hypotheses.

Minimum Follow-Up Time Required For The Estimation Of Statistical Cure Of Cancer Patients: Verification Using Data From 42 Cancer Sites In The Seer Database, Patricia Tai, Edward Yu, Gábor Cserni, Georges Vlastos, Melanie Royce, Ian Kunkler, Vincent Vinh-Hung

Edward Yu

Background: The present commonly used five-year survival rates are not adequate to represent the statistical cure. In the present study, we established the minimum number of years required for follow-up to estimate statistical cure rate, by using a lognormal distribution of the survival time of those who died of their cancer. We introduced the term, threshold year, the follow-up time for patients dying from the specific cancer covers most of the survival data, leaving less than 2.25% uncovered. This is close enough to cure from that specific cancer. Methods: Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database were …

Integrating Resources Cataloging Workshop, Steven Miller, Wendy Robertson

Wendy C Robertson

This pre-conference covered the first four sessions of the Serials Cataloging Cooperative Training Program’s Integrating Resources Cataloging Workshop, focusing on electronic resources. Steven Miller defined integrating resources and how to identify them. He then explained initial decisions to make when cataloging these resources. He covered the MARC fields and AACR2 rules that are unique for integrating resources and new to people accustomed to cataloging e-journals. Miller discussed how records should be updated to reflect changes in the resources, including how to update records created before the new rules. He concluded by discussing the difficulties of maintaining records for these resources. …

A Death In The Family: Reflections On The Terri Schiavo Case, Charles Weijer

Charles Weijer

No abstract provided.