Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

Environmental challenges, though daunting, present an important area for psychologists to apply their knowledge. Psychological theories, research methods, and interventions are essential for examining the questions about human impacts, tendencies, and capacities that are integral to constructing effective responses to these challenges. Although a great deal of relevant research has been done, there is scope for psychologists to be more extensively involved. Following a brief review of existing research, we outline some important new directions. We also highlight 2 key divergences, arguing that psychological research needs to expand beyond a traditional, theory-based and decontextualized approach to environmental issues to incorporate a contextualized or "place-based" approach and a willingness to collaborate in interdisciplinary research teams that focus on specific environmental problems. Suggestions for promoting such interdisciplinary collaborations are reviewed. We encourage psychologists to expand their engagement with important environmental issues through multiple research approaches in order to further their understanding of human behavior, contributions to human well-being, and relevance to other disciplines and to society.

Abstract In this paper, I explore the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning through the lens of transformative learning theory and critical theory. In doing so, I expand the notion of a Scholarship of Teaching so as to go beyond the solving of practical problems in teaching and the improvement of teaching effectiveness. I focus on an emancipatory Scholarship of Teaching that centres on critical reflection and action on the contexts of teaching: the discipline, the institution, the community and the state and society in which we practice. Keywords: contexts of teachingcritical reflectioncritical theoryScholarship of Teaching and Learningtransformative learning

Positive behavior support is an effective and proactive approach for resolving serious problem behaviors that has been recommended by a growing number of professionals, advocates, policies, and laws. Building the capacity of educators and other professionals to provide positive behavior support is a vital concern as schools and community agencies serve increasingly diverse populations that include children and youth with disabilities and problem behaviors. This article describes issues and essential elements for building such capacity through inservice training. A core curriculum is outlined, and a national exemplar of comprehensive inservice training is described. Essential features of training that are needed for the development of practical skills are discussed.

In the course of educational expansion, ‘gender differences in access to higher education have decreased substantially in many European countries. In Germany women are currently over-represented in upper secondary education and more frequently attain a general qu1alification for university entrance. Despite those advantages, women still enrol in higher education less frequently. Even where they apply to higher education, their field of study choices differ from those of men. Drawing on recent data on upper secondary graduates, we seek to understand which factors account for both phenomena. Our findings suggest that the growing gender gap in the transition to higher education can be largely ascribed to differential perceptions of labour market outcomes. In addition, the more risk-averse assessment of study costs and success probabilities are more important for women's decision not to enter higher education. Furthermore, the gender gap in the choice of a technical field can be explained by differences in the subjectively perceived comparative advantage in technical skills and by differences in educational motivations and conceptions of life and career plans. These results lead to the conclusion that gendered educational choices are the consequence of effects that have their provenance much earlier in life.

This study uses data from two waves of the Dating Violence Among Latino Adolescents (DAVILA) study and focuses on the 1) rates of dating violence victimization by gender, 2) risk of experiencing dating violence victimization over time, 3) association of dating violence victimization with other forms of victimization, and 4) association of immigrant status, acculturation, and familial support with dating violence victimization over time. A total of 547 Latino adolescents, from across the USA, aged 12-18 at Wave 1 participated in both waves of the study. Rates of dating violence were around 19% across waves. Dating violence at Wave 1 and non-dating violence victimization were associated with an elevated risk of dating violence during Wave 2. Cultural factors did not distinguish between dating violence trajectories, except for immigrant status and familial support being associated with no dating violence victimization. Overall, dating violence affects a large number of Latino teens and tends to continue over time.

Abstract Much has been written of accreditation and assessment, yet many college faculty and administrators lack a basic understanding of what they are, how they operate, how they came about, and how they relate.

Tracer diffusion coefficients of 14C isobutyric acid in mixtures of isobutyric acid–water have been measured over the entire concentration range at ε = 3.9 × 10−4 above the critical point using the diaphragm cell technique. No anomaly was detected. The temperature dependence of the shear viscosity coefficient for mixtures of critical composition was determined over the temperature range 6.7 × 10−6 < ε < 2.8 × 10−2 by a closed capillary viscometer. These data were carefully analyzed in terms of a general power law equation. This analysis suggests that the excess viscosity may not diverge as the critical point is approached from the one-phase region. Severe rounding occurs for ε < 5 × 10−5.

Shear viscosity coefficients for a mixture of 3-methylpentane—nitroethane of critical composition were determined over the temperature range 6×10−6≤ ε ≤ 2×10−2 by an improved capillary viscometer. The data were analyzed by alternate procedures both of which give strong support to the view that the viscosity singularity is indeed very weak over a wide temperature range.

Tracer diffusion coefficients of 3-methylpentane in mixtures of 3-methylpentane–nitroethane have been measured over the entire concentration range above the critical temperature in the range 0.04° ≤ T − Tc ≤ 9.5°C using the diaphragm cell technique. No anomaly was detected. The shear viscosity coefficients were measured across the concentration range for temperatures 0.004°C ≤ T − Tc ≤ 13.5°C by a capillary viscometer. The excess viscosities are compared with the predictions of the Fixman theory and the theory of Kadanoff and Swift. Very close to the critical point the weak divergence predicted by the second theory is observed while at larger values of ΔT Fixman's prediction seems adequate.

The complex dielectric behavior of ice doped with HCl has been measured in the concentration range 2 × 10−6 to 2 × 10−4M. The dissociation of HCl in ice was calculated as a function of temperature for ice doped at 2 × 10−6M. The results at 1 × 10−5M and below conform to the Debye model with a single relaxation time. The data suggest that, in a limited concentration range, HCl is substitutionally incorporated into the ice lattice.

The separation between uncoupled ν3 and ν1 frequencies of water symmetrically bound in both nonaqueous solvents and hydrates has been shown to vary linearly with the HOD stretching frequency of water, for both H2O and D2O. This relation, the FS correlation, has been explored theoretically and it has been shown to be useful for estimating geometry changes of water in hydrates, upon deuteration. It is also useful in determining the effect of cation coordination on the stretching frequencies of water molecules. A method is also developed, using this relation, for systematically analyzing the origin of the stretching bands of water in condensed systems.

Abstract When a drilling rig takes a kick or experiences lost circulation it is both dangerous and expensive. The earlier these events are detected the sooner the crew can take critical corrective action, minimizing both the danger and cost associated with the event. Detecting these events early allows the crew to take corrective action early thus minimizing both the danger and the cost associated with the event. Early detection of these events requires the crew to notice subtle changes in mud volumes and flow rates on the surface. As a kick enters the well bore and begins making its way to the surface it shows up as a gain in the volume of mud at surface and also an increase in mud flow rate out of the well. Conversely lost circulation occurs when some of the drilling mud is lost down hole. This shows up as a decrease in surface mud volume and a decrease in flow rate out of the well. These increases and decreases can be subtle when compared to the normal fluctuations in the mud system during drilling operations. The mud system undergoes significant changes in volume and flow rate as connections are made, as pipe is moved in and out of the hole, as pump rates change, and even as more depth is drilled. Traditional alarm systems that trigger on simple changes in mud volume and flow rate generate a large number of false alarms. Standard mud system alarms are not effective at detecting these dangerous events. The signature of the event can be lost in the normal variance of the data. Even if a traditional alarm sounds the crew is unlikely to take it seriously due to the large number of false alarms they have encountered leading up to the event. This paper describes a system that utilizes machine learning algorithms to maintain an accurate estimate of what mud volumes and flow rates should be during all phases of the drilling process. Alarm thresholds are calculated and adapt in real time to the current rig activity. False alarms are dramatically reduced even while enforcing tight alarm bounds that enable early detection. Since the crew is left only with meaningful alarms, they are more likely to take corrective action in a timely manner.

The dielectric behavior of ice doped with different NaOH concentrations was investigated in the 0° to − 25°C temperature range. In the lower concentration range of 1–4 × 10−6M NaOH, the conductivity behavior was similar to pure ice. At higher concentrations in the range of 7 × 10−6M NaOH, significantly higher conductivities were observed with the low-frequency conductivity being about 5 × 10−8 (Ω·cm)−1 and exhibiting only a slight temperature dependence. At lower temperatures the static dielectric constant was found to decrease with increasing NaOH concentration. The dielectric relaxation times and corresponding activation energies were about the same as for pure ice. The over-all behavior is distinctly different from that of HF, HCl, and NH3-doped ice. The model postulated to explain the observed results involves the interstitial incorporation of Na bonded to an (OH) site in its normal lattice position. It is postulated that this mode of incorporation causes lattice distortion that increases either the concentration or mobility of the OH-ionic defects which in turn accounts for the increased conductivity.

Batterer intervention programs (BIPs) constitute the primary treatment for perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). Systematic evaluations of BIPs, however, have yielded modest results in terms of these programs' ability to reduce perpetration. Descriptive studies, which can provide information on the contexts and process associated with BIPs, can provide insights into the underlying mechanisms that might promote change among BIP clients, and as such are important to improving efficacy measures for BIPs. To date, however, limited research exists on what challenges BIPs encounter in working with clients, and how those challenges present barriers to behavioral change among perpetrators at the intervention level. As part of a 2-year ethnographic study, we conducted 36 individual semistructured interviews with professionals working with BIPs. We identified six themes related to challenges to promoting behavioral change among men who perpetrate violence: (a) social acceptance of IPV, (b) hypermasculine attitudes, (c) emotional problems, (d) childhood exposure to violence, (e) co-morbid mental health issues, and (f) denial, minimization, and blame. Our results have implications for thinking about some of the contextual factors that may impede BIPs ability to produce desired outcomes and for identifying areas in which programs can be tailored to improve the overall client experience. Our results also point to the need for a more coordinated community response to IPV, and in particular to helping provide resources that support BIPs sustained, safe, and as effective as possible work.

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) and cyclooxygenases (COXs) metabolize poly-unsaturated fatty acids into inflammatory signaling molecules. Modulation of the activity of these enzymes may provide new approaches for therapy of inflammatory diseases. In this study, we screened novel anacardic acid derivatives as modulators of human 5-LOX and COX-2 activity. Interestingly, a novel salicylate derivative 23a was identified as a surprisingly potent activator of human 5-LOX. This compound showed both non-competitive activation towards the human 5-LOX activator adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and non-essential mixed type activation against the substrate linoleic acid, while having no effect on the conversion of the substrate arachidonic acid. The kinetic analysis demonstrated a non-essential activation of the linoleic acid conversion with a KA of 8.65 μM, αKA of 0.38μM and a β value of 1.76. It is also of interest that a comparable derivative 23d showed a mixed type inhibition for linoleic acid conversion. These observations indicate the presence of an allosteric binding site in human 5-LOX distinct from the ATP binding site. The activatory and inhibitory behavior of 23a and 23d on the conversion of linoleic compared to arachidonic acid are rationalized by docking studies, which suggest that the activator 23a stabilizes linoleic acid binding, whereas the larger inhibitor 23d blocks the enzyme active site.

Abstract Encouraging women students and faculty to aspire to leadership could be a common activity on most campuses.

The possible utility of Wechsler's Deterioration Index (WDI) in analyzing children's Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) results was explored in this study. Clinical records of children with learning disabilities (LD) and children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were reviewed to determine if the WDI predicted the presence or severity of the disorders. The ages of the children ranged from 6 to 14. In two independent samples of children with LD (n = 35 and n = 26), the WDI did not predict LD status or severity. The LD samples were mostly male--85% and 57%, respectively. However, the WDI scores did significantly distinguish children with ADHD (n = 10) from nondisabled children (n = 10). The results were cross-validated on an independent sample of children with ADHD (n = 17) when compared to non-ADHD children (n = 22) who experienced significant behavioral difficulties. The ADHD samples were also mostly male--90% and 89%, respectively. The WDI classified only 59% of the children with ADHD and 86% of the non-ADHD children correctly. It is recommended that the WDI be considered a developmental index rather than a deterioration index in children. It is also recommended that significant WDI elevation (greater than .20) be considered to raise the question of ADHD, rather than simply yielding a diagnosis of ADHD.

A calculation is described for determining water molecule Frr force constants from observed HOD, H2O, and D2O vibrational frequencies. The calculations for water in the vapor and in the hydrates MnCl2·2H2O, FeCl2·2H2O, CoCl2·2H2O, and CuCl2·2H2O indicate a large increase in Frr with hydrogen bonding. Various contributions to Frr are considered, and its increase is attributed to an enhancement of the effective charge on water hydrogens with increased hydrogen bonding.

Abstract Clear associations exist between religiousness and conservative sexual attitudes, but there is a paucity of research on spirituality's interaction. In this study, the authors examined the link between 297 male and 642 female college students' reports on sexual attitudes coupled with multidimensional measures of intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects of spirituality and religiousness. Results indicated significant links between private religious practices, daily spiritual experiences, and conservative sexual attitudes for all respondents. However, for male but not female participants, self-reported spirituality had significant inverse correlation with permissive sexual attitudes. Further, spiritual disclosure and self-reported extent of religiousness were related to female participants' reports of more conservative sexual attitudes. Finally, hierarchical regression analyses found that spirituality provided unique variance toward conservative sexual attitudes for male but not female participants. Implications of these findings are discussed. Notes This research was supported by a Research Council Grant provided by Penn State Harrisburg. We thank Amina Gilyard, Megan Fulmer, and Michele Robinson for their tremendous support as research assistants over the past few years. *p < .01. **p < .001. *p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Abstract This article examines the neglected role of women in mining, long believed to be the most ‘masculine’ of industries. The authors probe how the gendered nature of mining work evolved over time and in different parts of the world. Since the nineteenth century, colonialism, capitalism and cultural traditions have shaped gender roles for women and men in the world's mining communities. The article examines how even as men and women joined in militant protests against capital and the state, they struggled over appropriate roles in work, family and community.