Your search

To study the effect of teaching decision-making to inmates in a maximum security facility on locus of control 19 adult male inmates who were incarcerated at a community correctional center were pre- and posttested on the Rotter Internal-External Locus of Control Scale. In this preliminary study there was no statistically significant difference at pretest or posttest so teaching decision-making skills in group settings versus teaching in a group combined and one-to-one contact did not affect locus of control as measured. This personality trait appears stable over time and a more thorough means of intervention is required to effect change.

A total of 28 Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) and 30 Red-tailed Hawk (B. jamaicensis) nests were found in Cache Valley. Utah, during the summers of 1992 and 1993. All nests were in trees, but only Red-tailed Hawks nested in dead trees (30%). In the intensive study area, nesting densities were 0.10 nests/km2 for Swainson's Hawk and 0.08 nests/km2 for Red-tailed Hawk. Nearest-neighbor nest distances were significantly shorter among Swainson's Hawks (1.74 km) than among Red-tailed Hawks (2.83 km). Congeneric nearest- neighbor distances were significantly shorter than conspecific distances for Red-tailed Hawks (1.59 vs. 2.83 km) but not for Swainson's Hawks (1.52 vs. 1.74 km). GIS analysis of habitat types was made for 2-km radii around nest sites. Cropland was the dominant land cover type of nest sites of both species and no significant difference was found between species. Swainson's Hawk nest sites contained significantly more pasture, whereas Red-tailed nest sites contained significantly more juniper, maple, and sagebrush. Only Red- tailed Hawk nests (n=8; 27%) were found on the periphery of the valley at the base of foothills of the Cache Mountains. This preference resulted in a significantly higher elevation for Red-tailed Hawk nest sites. Swainson's Hawk nests occurred only on the valley floor on level terrain. Distance to the nearest paved road and building was very similar for both species, implying that little difference exists in tolerance levels for human activities. Overall, multivariate niche overlap for habitat was high (0.89), indicating a lack of habitat partitioning between these 2 Buteos in Cache Valley.

The social interactions of a wintering population of Northern Harriers (Circus cyaneus) were studied in the Hackensack Meadowlands tidal marshes in New Jersey. Juvenile harriers were numerically dominant in the population and participated in hunting groups significantly more often than adult males or females. Group sizes varied from 2-4 birds (total groups observed = 66 duets, five trios and two quartets). The occasional inclusion of adults in a foraging group was usually the result of juveniles following the adult, presumably for the parasitic benefits of grabbing flushed prey or exploiting high yield foraging patches. Our observations suggested a non-territorial wintering harrier population documented by observations of 3-6 different individuals frequently hunting the same 12-ha area each day as well as random use of our study quadrats (3-ha) by individuals of all sexes and ages. Territorial defense was observed in only one adult female, which infrequently attempted to defend a territory. Overall, the prevalence of group-foraging behavior is consistent with the general lack of winter territory in this population.

This study breaks from traditional adult-centered models of interpersonal conflict by privileging children’s experiences. As part of an assessment for establishing a school-based peer mediation program, focus group interviews were conducted with second graders through high school students. Analysis focuses on the sites (causes), signs, and aftermath (or responses) of conflict. Children’s impressions regarding fairness and gender differences are also addressed. With respect to the sites and signs of conflict, the main themes that were found include conflict as a product of the spoken word and conflict as a dirty look. Additionally, a symbolic representation of these intrusions emerged in the metaphor of conflict as an explosion. Analysis of the children's discussions concerning the aftermath of conflicts revealed four general themes: confronting, seeking involvement of third parties, ignoring others, and treating others with kindness. Differences in the children’s perceptions of gender-based differences are explored as are their perceptions of the construct of “fairness” and its associated dictates in favor of equality of treatment, struggles with inferiority/superiority, and expression of conflict as a betrayal. © 1996, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

Five types of depersonalization experiences based on scales developed by Jacobs and Bovasso (1992) were used to cluster subjects into six groups. Four relatively small groups which had regular depersonalization experiences were identified: the Derealized, the Self-negating, the Body-detached, and the Profoundly Depersonalized. The fifth group, the Fleetingly Depersonalized, and the sixth group, the Non-depersonalized, constituted 25% and 50% of the population, respectively. A profile analysis indicated qualitative differences between the six groups in their pathological traits, which fell along a continuum of pathological severity. The results support the validity of a multidimensional depersonalization construct which may clarify some of the contradictions and inconsistencies in the literature on depersonalization. Further, the results may facilitate clinicians' differentiation of their patients along a continuum of pathological severity based on the type and frequency of depersonalization experiences which they report.

Athletic trainers have assumed several roles and responsibilities over the years, but perhaps there is no more important role than that of a counselor. Are they prepared to do so? One hundred and thirty-two modified Revised Wylie Inventories were mailed to college/university athletic trainers to examine their educational preparation and experiences with counseling in various areas. Most athletic trainers surveyed reported that they were predominantly counseling in the areas of injury prevention, injury rehabilitation, and nutrition, and felt academically prepared to do so. However, it was reported that preparation to counsel in other less common areas (eg, family matters, financial matters, etc) was not adequately addressed in academic programs. The athletic trainers surveyed sought continuing education in order to meet the other counseling needs of student-athletes. Although they used several psychological referral services, it was apparent that most athletic trainers frequently served as counselors on many nonorthopedic topics. We suggest that athletic training educators consider incorporating both academic knowledge and clinical experience in a wider variety of counseling areas into their curricula.

The increasing prevalence of multiprocessor and distributed systems in modern society is making it imperative to introduce the underlying principles of parallel/distributed computing to students at the undergraduate level. In order to meet the needs of our students for training in this critical area, the Computer Science Department at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) is currently in the process of implementing a curricular and laboratory development project that integrates key concepts and practical experiences in parallel computing throughout the undergraduate curriculum. The goal of this project is to build a strong foundation in parallel computing which would optionally culminate in advanced, senior-level specialized courses in parallel computing and/or senior research projects. This paper describes the laboratory facility we developed to support instruction in parallel and distributed computing and the parallel computing modules which were incorporated into three of our core undergraduate courses: data structures, operating systems, and programming languages. The laboratory facility enables us to provide our students with "hands-on" experiences in shared memory, distributed memory, and network parallelism. The modules and laboratory exercises give students the opportunity to experiment with a wide array of software and hardware environments and to gain a systematic exposure to the principles and techniques of parallel programming.

Let q be a prime number. The number of subgroups of order qk in an abelian group G of order qn and type λ is a polynomial in q, [kλ′]q. In 1987, Lynne Butler showed that the first difference, [kλ′] - [k - 1λ′], has nonnegative coefficients as a polynomial in q, when 2k ≤ |λ|. We generalize the first difference to the rth difference, and give conditions for the nonnegativity of its coefficients. © 1995.

A 37-year-old male ruptured the distal biceps brachii tendon performing a gymnastics routine. At Week 8 postsurgery, a bilateral isokinetic test demonstrated a 64 and 50% (at 60° • s-1and 300° • s-1) peak torque deficit between uninjured and injured arms during elbow flexion. The subject participated in a concentric isokinetic exercise program 3 days a week for 4 months. At 1 year postsurgery a bilateral test demonstrated a 14% deficit in peak torque at 60° • s-1, and faster test velocities of 180° • s-1and 300° • s-1indicated higher torques for the injured biceps muscle. The rehabilitation program returned the ruptured biceps to a level of concentric strength nearly equivalent to the contralateral limb at the velocities tested. © 1995 National Strength & Conditioning Association.

Data from an open-ended questionnaire and the comments section of a structured questionnaire were combined and ana-lyzed to determine the challenges faced and alterations in usual daily activities required by mothers caring for a young child at home in a body cast. The sample consisted of 35 mothers who identified themselves as the primary care givers of a child in a body cast. The challenges of caring for a child in a body cast required major adjustments in almost every aspect of the mothers' lives, including household activities, social and community activities, child care activities, personal care activities, occupational activities, and educational activities. © 1995 National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses.

This exploratory investigation relates traditional theories on resistance to change to privatization of the Romanian economy. The authors identified several “inhibitors” which have served to stall Romania’s attempts to achieve a free-market economy. While a lack of practical training in western-style management practices may be a limiting factor, Romanian managers are generally open to change. However, they are still deeply rooted in the thought processes instilled during Romania’s command economy and a belief that the size and economic importance of their firms will serve as buffers against the “agents of change”. To the extent that change is viewed as a threat to their personal interests, resistance can be expected. The question, “what is in it for me?”, must be satisfactorily addressed if Romanian managers are expected to become active partners in implementing necessary changes. © 1999, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH und Co. All rights reserved.

Let X and Y be varieties over a field k; π : X → Y is a quadruple cover of Y if π*script O signX is a locally free, rank 4 script O signY-algebra. If char k ≠ 2, we see that π*script O signX splits as script O signY ⊕ε where ε is a locally free rank 3 sheaf over script O signY, which is locally the "trace zero" module. For each y ∈ Y, we therefore have a rank 4 associative, commutative algebra over script O signY,y. We find that these algebras are parametrized by an affine cone over the Grassmanian G(2, 6) with vertex corresponding to the algebra k[x, y, z]/(x, y, z)2. We then show that a quadruple cover with trace zero module ε over a variety Y is determined by a totally decomposable section η ∈ H0(∧2S2 E* ⊗ ∧3 E). We then examine the case in which the section η has no zeros. Here, each rank 4 algebra may be associated to a pencil of conics. As a special case of this, we look at the work of G. Casnati and T. Ekedahl on Gorenstein covers, and we show that their analysis is the subcase where the pencil of conics has length 4 base locus. Finally, we study the case in which the trace zero module ε is split. In this context, Galois covers, which are covers induced by the action of a group of order 4 on the covering variety X, are also studied.

A group of children was identified as 'late talkers' who were slow in expressive language development (SELD) on the basis of small expressive vocabulary size at 20-34 months of age. The subjects were followed yearly throughout the preschool and early school-age periods in order to track growth in language and related skills. When the subjects were in second grade, their expressive language skills, as indexed by the Developmental Sentence Score, were measured. This measure was used as the outcome variable in regression and discriminant function analyses. Predictor variables included those gathered when the subjects entered the study at age 2. They included measures of early expressive and receptive language by parent report, nonverbal cognitive performance, Bayley Mental Scale score (a combined verbal and nonverbal cognitive measure), phonological skill, motor skills, maladaptive behaviors, social skills, birth order, socioeconomic (SES) level, and gender. Only SES and early expressive language skills predicted expressive language outcome in second grade. Discriminant function analysis revealed these two factors were significant in predicting success (scores above the tenth percentile), along with a contribution of early gross motor skills. The implications of these findings for understanding early language delays are discussed.