East Stroudsburg University

Plant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives.

OBJECTIVES: To update the Society of Critical Care Medicine's guidelines for ICU admission, discharge, and triage, providing a framework for clinical practice, the development of institutional policies, and further research. DESIGN: An appointed Task Force followed a standard, systematic, and evidence-based approach in reviewing the literature to develop these guidelines. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The assessment of the evidence and recommendations was based on the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. The general subject was addressed in sections: admission criteria and benefits of different levels of care, triage, discharge timing and strategies, use of outreach programs to supplement ICU care, quality assurance/improvement and metrics, nonbeneficial treatment in the ICU, and rationing considerations. The literature searches yielded 2,404 articles published from January 1998 to October 2013 for review. Following the appraisal of the literature, discussion, and consensus, recommendations were written. CONCLUSION: Although these are administrative guidelines, the subjects addressed encompass complex ethical and medico-legal aspects of patient care that affect daily clinical practice. A limited amount of high-quality evidence made it difficult to answer all the questions asked related to ICU admission, discharge, and triage. Despite these limitations, the members of the Task Force believe that these recommendations provide a comprehensive framework to guide practitioners in making informed decisions during the admission, discharge, and triage process as well as in resolving issues of nonbeneficial treatment and rationing. We need to further develop preventive strategies to reduce the burden of critical illness, educate our noncritical care colleagues about these interventions, and improve our outreach, developing early identification and intervention systems.

This article describes a substring search algorithm that is faster than the Boyer-Moore algorithm. This algorithm does not depend on scanning the pattern string in any particular order. Three variations of the algorithm are given that use three different pattern scan orders. These include: (1) a “Quick Search” algorithm; (2) a “Maximal Shift” and (3) an “Optimal Mismatch” algorithm.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of different methods to calculate vertical jump height in men and women. Fifty men and 50 women performed three countermovement vertical jumps for maximal height on a force platform, the highest of which was used in the statistical analyses. The peak displacement attained by the center of mass (COM) during flight was obtained from three different calculations: (1) using the time in the air (TIA), (2) using the vertical velocity of the COM at take-off (TOV), and (3) adding the positive vertical displacement of the COM prior to take-off to the height calculated using TOV (TOV+s). With all calculations, men produced significantly greater jump heights than women (p < 0.05). TIA produced significantly greater jump heights than TOV in men and women, while TOV+s produced significantly greater jump heights than both TIA and TOV in men and women (p < 0.05). Despite these differences, the methods produced consistent results for both men and women. All calculation methods have logical validity, depending upon the definition of jump height used. Therefore, the method used to calculate jump height should be determined by the equipment available to the practitioner while giving consideration to the sources of error inherent in each method. Based upon the present findings, when using a force platform to calculate vertical jump height, practitioners are encouraged to use the TOV method.

Obesity is a major public health crisis among children and adults.[1,2] The range of weights for individuals if greater than the ideal weight, which is considered healthy for the particular height, is termed as either overweight or obese. Childhood-related obesity is an increasing concern with respect to the health and well-being of the child. Body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight with relation to height, is not only used as an outcome measure to determine obesity but also as a useful anthropometric index for cardiovascular risk.[3] For children between 2 and 19 years, BMI is plotted on the CDC growth chart to check for the corresponding age and sex related percentile. Childhood obesity is defined as a BMI at or above 95th percentile for children of same age and sex.[4] Classifications of obesity in children depend upon the body composition of the child, as it varies with respect to age and sex of the child.[4]1.2 MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEMThe prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing in developed and underdeveloped countries.[5] The development in reducing the problem of obesity and overweight is monitored nationally by using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The report presented by NHANES for the year 2007-2008 estimated that 16.9% of children and adolescent in the age group of 2-19 years were obese.[6] Childhood obesity prevalence among preschool children between age group of 2-5-yearold girls and boys has increased from 5.0 to 10% between 1976-1980 and 2007-2008 and it has increased from 6.5 to 19.6% among age group of 6-11 year olds.[6] The data collected for the same period shows that the adolescent (age group 12-19 years) obesity has increased from 5.0 to 18.1% [Figure 1, Table 1].[6]TABLE 1: Prevalence of obesity among US children and adolescents aged 2-19, for selected years 1963-1965 through 2007-2008[6]Healthy people 2010 have ranked obesity as number one health problem showing that prevalence of childhood obesity has increased over theyears.[7] Increased prevalence of childhood obesity may have adverse morbidity and mortality implications in the adult life of the child.[8] Childhood obesity concern has increased worldwide. There has been increased prevalence of childhood obesity in England, especially among school children over last few decades.[9] Childhood obesity is common in United Kingdom and according to the health survey conducted in 2004, obesity among 2-10-year olds was 14% and among 11-15-year olds was 15%.[5]1.3 METHODSIn order to collect materials for this review a detailed search of CINAHL, MEDLINE, ERIC, Academic Search Premier databases was carried out for the time period 1999-2011. A Boolean search strategy where the key words entered for search were “factors” and “childhood obesity” “interventions” and “governmental actions” and “economic problems” in differing orders were used to extract studies for this narrative review.

This article presents the theoretical underpinnings of critical literacy and related principles. It also provides ideas for creating environments to promote reading from a critical stance, teaching strategies, sample classroom applications, and annotated lists of theme‐related texts. When engaging in critical literacy, readers move beyond traditional beliefs about reading comprehension to read not only the word but also the world. Raising questions about whose voices are represented in the text, whose voices are missing, and who gains and who loses by the reading of the text helps readers understand the text's purpose and avoid being manipulated by it. A number of essential understandings and beliefs about the power relationship between the reader and the author underpin critical literacy. These principles include focusing on issues of power and promoting reflection, transformation, and action; focusing on the problem and its complexity; understanding that critical literacy strategies are dynamic and adapt to the contexts in which they are used; and examining multiple perspectives.

The recent literature delineates resistance training in children and adolescents to be effective and safe. However, only little is known about the transfer of achieved strength gains to athletic performance. The present meta-analysis revealed a combined mean effect size for motor skill types jumping, running, and throwing of 0.52 (95% CI: 0.33-0.71). Effect sizes for each of aforementioned skill types separately were 0.54 (95% CI: 0.34-0.74), 0.53 (95% CI: 0.23-0.83), and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.19-1.79) respectively. Furthermore, it could be shown that younger subjects and nonathletes showed higher gains in motor performance following resistance training than their counterparts and that specific resistance training regimes were not advantageous over traditional resistance training programs. Finally, a positive dose response relationship for "intensity" could be found in subgroups using traditional training regimens. These results emphasize that resistance training provides an effective way for enhancing motor performance in children and adolescents.

PURPOSE: To compare the physiological and performance adaptations between periodized and nonperiodized resistance training in women collegiate tennis athletes. METHODS: Thirty women (19 +/- 1 yr) were assigned to either a periodized resistance training group (P), nonperiodized training group (NV), or a control group (C). Assessments for body composition, anaerobic power, VO2(max), speed, agility, maximal strength, jump height, tennis-service velocity, and resting serum hormonal concentrations were performed before and after 4, 6, and 9 months of resistance training performed 2-3 d.wk (-1). RESULTS: Nine months of resistance training resulted in significant increases in fat-free mass; anaerobic power; grip strength; jump height; one-repetition maximum (1-RM) leg press, bench press, and shoulder press; serve, forehand, and backhand ball velocities; and resting serum insulin-like growth factor-1, testosterone, and cortisol concentrations. Percent body fat and VO2(max) decreased significantly in the P and NV groups after training. During the first 6 months, periodized resistance training elicited significantly greater increases in 1-RM leg press (9 +/- 2 vs 4.5 +/- 2%), bench press (22 +/- 5 vs 11 +/- 8%), and shoulder press (24 +/- 7 vs 18 +/- 6%) than the NV group. The absolute 1-RM leg press and shoulder press values in the P group were greater than the NV group after 9 months. Periodized resistance training also resulted in significantly greater improvements in jump height (50 +/- 9 vs 37 +/- 7%) and serve (29 +/- 5 vs 16 +/- 4%), forehand (22 +/- 3 vs 17 +/- 3%), and backhand ball velocities (36 +/- 4 vs 14 +/- 4%) as compared with nonperiodized training after 9 months. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrated that periodization of resistance training over 9 months was superior for enhancing strength and motor performance in collegiate women tennis players.

AbstractWhile an historical glance through the sport psychology literature reveals an interest in performance excellence since its beginning, a focus of personal excellence has been a more recent trend. This review will address the relationships between performance and personal excellence. More specifically, we question whether performance excellence in high-level sport, by virtue of the exceptional demands on the elite athlete, occurs at the expense of development in personal excellence or whether performance excellence is possible only through personal excellence. Furthermore, we propose that the field may reconcile these ideals in the future through an athlete-centered sport model. This model is defined by the philosophy that developmentally appropriate sport can be used as a vehicle for enhancing overall well-being and the acquisition of lifelong skills. Performance excellence, therefore, co-exists in the same environment as personal excellence. The implications of implementing an athlete-centered sport system for athletes and coaches and for the research and practice of those in sport psychology will be addressed.

The purpose of this systematic review was to critically analyze the literature to determine the effectiveness of plyometric training on athletic performance in youth soccer athletes. A total of 7 studies were included in this review after meeting the following criteria: (a) used plyometric training programs to assess athletic performance, (b) subjects were soccer athletes aged preadolescent up to 17 years, and (c) were published from 2000 to January 2014. Study methods were assessed using the PEDro scale with scores ranging from 4 to 6. Results showed similarities and differences in methodologies and procedures among the included studies. Athletic performance consisting of kicking distance, speed, jumping ability, and agility significantly improved because of plyometric training interventions. The current evidence suggests that plyometric training should be completed 2 days per week for 8-10 weeks during soccer practice with a 72-hour rest period between plyometric training days. The initial number of foot contacts should be 50-60 per session and increase to no more than 80-120 foot contacts per session for this age group to prevent overuse injuries. A total of 3-4 plyometric training exercises should be performed 2-4 sets for 6-15 repetitions per training session. The evidence and the literature suggest that plyometric training for this age group should only be implemented using recommended safety guidelines such as those published by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology and the National Strength and Conditioning Association and under appropriate supervision by trained personnel.

Machine learning is of rising importance in cybersecurity. The primary objective of applying machine learning in cybersecurity is to make the process of malware detection more actionable, scalable and effective than traditional approaches, which require human intervention. The cybersecurity domain involves machine learning challenges that require efficient methodical and theoretical handling. Several machine learning and statistical methods, such as deep learning, support vector machines and Bayesian classification, among others, have proven effective in mitigating cyber-attacks. The detection of hidden trends and insights from network data and building of a corresponding data-driven machine learning model to prevent these attacks is vital to design intelligent security systems. In this survey, the focus is on the machine learning techniques that have been implemented on cybersecurity data to make these systems secure. Existing cybersecurity threats and how machine learning techniques have been used to mitigate these threats have been discussed. The shortcomings of these state-of-the-art models and how attack patterns have evolved over the past decade have also been presented. Our goal is to assess how effective these machine learning techniques are against the ever-increasing threat of malware that plagues our online community.

(1995). Building Bridges Between Cooperative and Collaborative Learning. Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning: Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 35-40.

The goals of this study were (a) to explore beliefs about appropriate or normative pain responses among college students in the United States and India and (b) to examine differences in pain tolerance and intensity ratings and the role beliefs play in predicting pain tolerance. Scales to assess beliefs about appropriate pain responses in males and females were completed by college students in both countries. Ratings of pain intensity were then obtained following the cold pressor test. Results indicated that participants in India were less accepting of overt pain expression than those in the United Cross-Cultural Research, Vol. 34 No. 2, May 2000 135-151 States. Females believed that overt pain expression was more appropriate than did males. Consistent with their beliefs, Indian participants had higher pain tolerance than those in the United States, and males had higher pain tolerance than females. Reported pain intensity predicted 28% of the variance in pain tolerance, whereas beliefs predicted an additional 5%.

Recent theories suggest alternatives to the commonly held belief that the sole role of gestures is to communicate meaning directly to listeners. Evidence suggests that gestures may serve a cognitive function for speakers, possibly acting as lexical primes. We observed that participants gestured more often when describing a picture from memory than when the picture was present and that gestures were not influenced by manipulating eye contact of a listener. We argue that spatial imagery serves a short-term memory function during lexical search and that gestures may help maintain spatial images. When spatial imagery is not necessary, as in conditions of direct visual stimulation, reliance on gestures is reduced or eliminated.

As an addition to the managerÆs set of tools, performance-importance analysis can provide insight into tourist evaluations on critical issues. On a performance-importance grid, the interaction of performance perceptions with the importance for an evaluation criteria permits managers to grasp the relative success of tour features. An illustration is used plotting tourist pre-trip expectations, post-trip satisfactions, and importances of each on a performance-importance grid to consider potential decisions for escorted tours design. Changes in evaluations (expectations-to-satisfactions) demonstrated the flexibility of the grid in adapting to different measures.

The purpose of this study was to describe the behaviors and beliefs of secondary general physical education (GPE) teachers relative to inclusion and teaching of students with disabilities. Participants were nine experienced high school GPE teachers from suburban school districts in California, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The research method was naturalistic inquiry. Qualitative data were collected using observer field notes and interview schedules. Findings were presented using descriptive summaries and thematic narratives. These teachers regularly verbally interacted with and expressed mostly favorable beliefs about teaching students with disabilities. Teacher interviews revealed three recurring themes: (a) teachers were positively disposed to inclusion as an educational philosophy, (b) teachers had differential efficacy in achieving successful inclusion, and (c) teachers encountered challenges to establishing inclusive practice. Despite their mostly favorable beliefs about inclusion, several teachers felt inadequately prepared or lacked support and resources to effectively teach students with more severe disabilities.

Data collection and management are often neglected subjects of qualitative research. Qualitative data collection, management, and analysis are complex and challenging for researchers especially for early career and doctoral students. These processes involve anticipating for ethical issues and developing means and methods for collecting, recording, and storing data securely. Approaches to data analysis include organizing, reading, coding, and organizing themes, representing, and interpreting the data. The unanticipated issues in accomplishing these steps and corresponding solutions are presented. Recommendations for training and mentoring of novices in qualitative research are discussed.

This chapter describes the diversity of the Auchenorrhyncha, for which the authors apply the common name "true hoppers" as shorthand for leafhoppers, planthoppers, treehoppers, froghoppers, and cicadas, and as a parallel appellation for "true bugs" commonly used for Heteroptera. The Auchenorrhyncha are a suborder of Hemiptera, along with the Heteroptera (true bugs), Sternorrhyncha (aphids, scale insects, psyllids, and allies), and Coleorrhyncha (moss bugs). The true hoppers include two lineages, the Cicadomorpha (cicadas, leafhoppers, treehoppers, spittlebugs, and allies) and the Fulgoromorpha (planthoppers). The true hoppers are especially important as vectors of plant pathogens. At present, apparent patterns of diversity may be strongly influenced by irregularities in taxonomic investigations, but they accurately represent the current state of knowledge. The influence of the Auchenorrhyncha on all types of ecosystems is significant. Tight ecological associations between the Auchenorrhyncha and their hosts may make them useful as indicators of ecological health.

A prospective, single-centre, randomized controlled study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of Graftjacket, a human acellular regenerative tissue matrix as a treatment option for chronic non healing lower extremity wounds. Twenty-eight diabetic patients with full-thickness wounds that had been present for at least 6 weeks were treated with sharp debridement and randomized to a single application of Graftjacket tissue matrix plus mineral oil-soaked fluff compression dressing or to a control treatment of wound gel with gauze dressings. All patients were seen weekly. By week 16, 12 of 14 patients treated with Graftjacket tissue matrix demonstrated complete wound closure compared with 4 of 14 patients in the control group. Patients treated with Graftjacket tissue matrix showed a statistically significant higher percentage of wound healing with respect to wound area, and clinically significant differences in wound depth and wound volume. This comparison is not performed to demonstrate that the application of the Grafjacket is more effective than sharp debridement. This study is done to help assign a role to the use of Graftjacket matrix in lower extremity wound care.

The theory of emotional intelligence has elicited great interest both in the academic and the nonacademic world. Therapists, educators, and parents want to know what they can do to help children develop their emotional intelligence. However, most of the research in this field has investigated adults’ emotional intelligence. This study reviews the scarce research literature in the area of children’s emotional intelligence. It also reviews the way in which parenting styles and practices predict children’s emotional intelligence in similar or different ways that they predict other developmental outcomes. Based on the parenting literature, four main dimensions of parenting are identified that are relevant to the study of emotional intelligence: parental responsiveness, parental positive demandingness, parental negative demandingness, and parental emotion-related coaching. Parental responsiveness, parental emotion-related coaching, and parental positive demandingness are related to children’s higher emotional intelligence, while parental negative demandingness is related to children’s lower emotional intelligence. Additionally, social—emotional intervention programs used in schools have succeeded in improving children’s emotional skills. Implications for practitioners are discussed.