Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking: Measuring APA Goal 2 Student Learning Outcomes

Goal 2 of the APA Goals for Undergraduate Major in Psychology, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking, addresses the development of scientific reasoning and problem-solving, including effective research methods, in undergraduate psychology students. These skills serve as the foundation of not only introductory courses but also the entire psychology curriculum. In this article, we address why these skills are critical to help students interpret information and assess claims and review the current practice of measuring student reasoning in this domain. The reach of Goal 2 is broad, including the application of scientific reasoning to interpret psychological phenomena, the demonstration of psychology information literacy, the interpretation and execution of basic psychological research, and an understanding of sociocultural influences in scientific inquiry. We discuss the value of both formative and summative assessments in this area, offer examples of assessment tools currently in use, and provide a list of nationally normed assessments in critical thinking and scientific reasoning. We conclude with a discussion of limitations in current assessment practices and suggest possible future directions.
Optimization of cultural practices to reduce the development of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, causal agent of the bacterial canker of kiwifruit

BACKGROUND: The bacterial canker of kiwifruit, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), affects several cultivated Actinidia species, including A. chinensis and A. deliciosa. Its development is related to permissive environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, presence of entry points, genetic and physiological features of the host plant. Moreover, also cultural practices influence, directly or indirectly, the disease development. OBJECTIVE: The role of agricultural practices on disease development and spread was studied. METHODS: Irrigation, pruning and training systems were tested in the field according to conventional orchard management. Experiments on mineral nutrition, use of bio-regulators and rootstock susceptibility were performed in controlled conditions. Bacterial growth, symptom development and disease incidence were assessed in relation to the different practices. RESULTS: High nitrogen fertilization, iron deficiency and water stress were related to more severe symptoms. Open canopies allow a better irradiation, aeration, and penetration of phytosanitary treatments. Synthetic gibberellins reduced disease incidence and severity in controlled conditions. Fruits from diseased plants showed a lower quality and storability. CONCLUSIONS: Dense canopies are harder to manage and more exposed to bacterial canker. Pruning tools and irrigation water are relevant for the bacterial spread.
THE GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

This chapter will explore the dynamic interplay between environmental and genetic factors in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. A latitudinal gradient for the prevalence of MS has long been recognized, with the disease increasing from south to north in the Northern Hemisphere and from north to south in the Southern Hemisphere. Migration studies also imply an environmental factor and will be discussed. The implications of clusters of MS and an epidemic in the Faroe Islands will be considered. Despite strong indications of a significant role for environmental factors, genetic influences are also clearly important. Concordance rates in monozygotic twin pairs, as well as recurrence rates among first-degree family members, establish the importance of genetics. Current views consider MS to be a complex genetic disorder in which several, as yet underdetermined, genes are likely to play a role.
Vertical transmission of pathogens and of immunity in salmonids

Bacterial kidney disease (BKD) in salmonids is caused by Renibacterium salmoninarum (Rs) which can be transmitted vertically through salmonid eggs. This study investigated various phenomena in salmonid eggs relating to the control of this salmonid pathogen. First, it was shown that exposure of coho salmon at the egg stage to Rs (and certain of its antigens) induces at least partial immunosuppression. Coho salmon eggs were injected with various Rs antigens. The eggs were fertilized and the progeny were challenged with live, virulent Rs. Fish that had been injected, as eggs, with a 57 kDa protein of Rs (p57) demonstrated a significantly higher cumulative l5ercent mirtality (50%) than the saline-injected controls (14%). A decreased proportion of phagocytic cells isolated from fish exposed, as eggs, to 100 ng p57, showed respiratory burst activity (0.4%) compared with the proportion of cells isolated from the saline-injected group (16.5 %) that showed respiratory burst activity. Second, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol to detect DNA from Rs within individual salmonid eggs was developed, the intent being to devise a detection system that would permit fish culturists to avoid the pathogen. Using two primers that were designed to amplify a 501 base-pair fragment of the gene encoding p5’7, the reaction was shown to be sufficiently sensitive to detect DNA from as few as two Rs cells per egg. The results indicate that the PCR is a more sensitive and specific method of
Morphometric Assessment of the Monodelphis brevicaudata Group (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) in Venezuela

We reviewed the systematics of the Monodelphis brevicaudata species group in Venezuela using morphometric analyses. Results revealed that M. b. orinoci showed significant differences when compared to the other two Venezuelan forms of M. brevicaudata ( brevicaudata and palliolata ) and supported recognizing M. orinoci as a species. We find M. brevicaudata represented in Venezuela by two subspecies: M. b. brevicaudata , distributed south of the Orinoco River, and M. b. palliolata , found in northern Venezuela. M. orinoci is a small sexually monomorphic species, inhabiting lowland savanna. M. brevicaudata is a large sexually dimorphic species that occurs in forest habitats ranging up to elevations of 1,500 m above mean sea level.
Virulence factors and resistance profile of Shigella isolated during infectious diarrhea in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

5 Abstract: The aim of the study was isolation and characterization of species of Shigella genus in the cases of diarrhea in Abidjan. Shigella species were isolated from 1566 stool samples and characterized by serotyping, antibiotyping, determination of virulence genes and plasmid profile. A total of 41 (2.6% ) strains of Shigella were isolated. S. flexneri was the most frequent serogroup (52.8 %), followed by S. boydii (22.2%), S. sonnei (19.4%) and S. dysenteriae serotype 1 (5.6%). The ipaH gene was detected in 37 (90.2%) strains and the ial gene in 19 (46.3%). The strains show a high resistance to Ampicillin and Tetracyclin (90%), to Sulphamide (85%) and to a lesser extent to Cotrimoxazole (65% ). The analysis of the plasmid profile revealed 75% of the strains harbour plasmids whose size vary from 0.5 (0.8 kb) to 10.4 MDa (16.2 kb). The plasmids of size 1.7 MDa, 2.4 MDa and 3.6 Mda are frequent and are found in several species, whereas the plasmids of more than 10 MDa are rare. The analysis of the plasmid profile and the detection of the virulence factors can serve as tools in the characterization of strains and the control of infections associated with Shigella.
Memória de trabalho em paralisia cerebral: primazia, recência e consolidação

Two experiments assessed the degree of working memory development and the nature of the rehearsal underlying consolidation. An illiterate, non-vocal 15y3m old cerebral-palsied boy, who had used a computerized alternative communication system for two years, participated. Experiment 1 used a variation of the free-recall procedure in which after listening to each of several word-series, the subject selected from the system monitor, via touch-screen, the pictures corresponding to the names spoken by the examiner. A typical serial-position curve resulted, with primacy and recency effects. Primacy indicates consolidation which was based on some sort of rehearsal. Experiment 2 analyzed the nature of the rehearsal, whether overt or covert, and whether visual or subvocal. The procedure was replicated but the monitor was shaded in half of the trials. Shading suppressed primacy and highlighted recency whereas, in the absence of shading, primacy was as strong as recency. Thus, consolidation was an artifact of overt rehearsal based on visual search. The inability to perform covered rehearsal (both visuo-spatial and subvocal) is in accordance with the literature.
Functional morphology of Cardiomya cleryana (d'Orbigny, 1842) (Bivalvia: Anomalodesmata: Cuspidariidae) from Brazilian waters: new insights into the lifestyle of carnivorous bivalves

Of the more than 800 Recent species of Anomalodesmata only 16 have been studied alive. The Septibranchia, comprising a number of carnivorous bivalve superfamilies, are no exception to this generalization and, until recently, no living member of this group has been studied since the 1980s. Collected from the shallow, shelf seabed off Brazil, Cardiomya cleryana is one of only a few species to have its morphology described in recent years and the first ever anomalodesmatan to be filmed alive. Important anatomical features such as a greatly extensible foot to secure itself in the sediment with a single byssal thread, exhalant siphon inter-tentacular projections and micro-papillae on the surface of the siphonal tentacles are described. Observations on the species’ behaviour have revealed a lifestyle hitherto not recorded for any septibranch, indeed any anomalodesmatan. The anchoring mechanism of C. cleryana using an extraordinarily long byssal thread is described for the first time. The life position of C. cleryana is at 45° to the sediment-water interface whereas other cuspidariids have been considered to orient themselves vertically. An anatomical comparison between Cardiomya and Bathyneaera has revealed close affinities. This study thus provides new insights into the morphology and behaviour of the Cuspidariidae.
Shyness, Masculine Ideology, Physical Attractiveness, and Emotional Inexpressiveness: Testing a Mediational Model of Men's Interpersonal Competence.

A model was tested in which emotional inexpressiveness fully mediates the relation of shyness, gender identity, and physical attractiveness with men's interpersonal competence. Structural equation modeling of the results of Study 1 showed that fully and partially mediated (i.e., direct and indirect paths) models fit the data equally well. Study 2 modifications to the model included replacing gender identity with masculine ideology and conducting a multidimensional assessment of competence. Results indicated that the partially mediated model was better in explaining the data; however, the model was replicated in that emotional inexpressiveness mediated the relations of shyness and masculine ideology with interpersonal competence. Implications of the results for modification of the model and for counseling practice are discussed.
Effects of growth temperature on the response of lupin stomata to drought and abscisic acid

To assess how growth temperature affects stomatal responses to xylem-transported abscisic acid (ABA), leaf conductance (g), the concentrations of ABA and calcium ions, and the pH of the xylem sap were measured in well-watered and water-stressed Lupinus albus L. plants grown under two thermal regimes: 10/15°C and 20/25°C, night/day temperature. Moderate water deficit was imposed, at the same thermal time, and induced a significant reduction in g regardless of temperature. In the morning, g was higher in plants grown at 20/25°C than in cooler conditions, and these differences could not be explained by dissimilarities in shoot water status or xylem ABA concentration. At midday, the apparent stomatal sensitivity to xylem-carried ABA was increased and the effect of temperature on the relationship between g and xylem ABA was no longer observed. A positive effect of higher temperature on stomatal aperture was also evident when artificial sap containing ABA was fed to leaves of well-watered plants. In response to exogenous ABA, stomata closed to the same extent as observed in the morning in water-stressed plants. However, exogenous ABA feeding could not mimic the relationship between g and xylem ABA determined at midday in intact plants. The pH and the concentration of calcium in xylem were not affected by temperature. At midday, however, the calcium concentrations were higher in water-stressed than in well-watered plants. These changes in the concentrations of calcium or other xylem components, such as ABA conjugates, together with possible changes in the ability of the leaves to degrade and/or to compartmentalise ABA, may partly explain the midday increase in the apparent stomatal sensitivity to xylem ABA.
Einfluss der Temperatur auf die Embryonal- und Larvalentwicklung bei verschiedenen Grillenarten (Insecta: Orthoptera)

Influence of temperature on the embryogenesis and larval development of various cricket species (Insecta: Orthoptera). The present contribution follows the question, if various crickets show a certain dependence of their embryonal and larval development on the environmental temperature. For the investigation, animals of the four species Teleogryllus commodus, Gryllus assimilis, Gryllus bimaculatus, and Acheta domesticus were used. The environmental temperature in the climate chamber was set to 23 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C, respectively. As the results of the study show, both the embryogenesis and the larval development are significantly shortened with rising temperature. Within the investigated temperature range, the duration of embryogenesis is decreased between 30 and 50 %, depending on the observed cricket species. The duration of the larval development is uniformly decreased between 40 and 50 %. This is expressed by a remarkable shortening of the timespan between single larval moults and a decrease of the number of larval instars. For all investigated cricket species the average number of instars is decreased by 2, when rising the environmental temperature from 23 °C to 30 °C. The results of this contribution correlate very well with the habitat preferences of the crickets in their natural environment. All investigated species prefer warm temperatures and therefore live in mediterranean regions. Acheta domesticus lives in most parts of Europe, but surviving the cold season is only possible in heated habitats. For all species embryogenesis and larval development are mainly limited to the warmer seasons.
Removal of wind-dispersed pine seeds by ground-foraging vertebrates

Nine treatments involving three species of pine (Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi ponderosa pine, P. ponderosa; and lodgepole pine, P. contorta) seeds were used to test five hypotheses concerning the determinants of seed removal by animals in the field. Each treatment comprised 100 seeds. Winged seeds were tethered so they could not be blown away. Seeds were checked daily for up to 16 d. Animals (primarily chipmunks) removed most seeds within a few days. Winged Jeffrey pine seeds (large) disappeared significantly faster than ponderosa pine seeds (medium) which disappeared faster than lodgepole pine seeds (small) (.)
The impact of translational studies in the current management of osteoporosis

Recent technological and scientific advancements have changed the way through which knowledge is acquired through research. Until the early 1980s, research that was not hypothesis-oriented was considered an “anathema” within the scientific world. With the advent of high throughput methodologies in the early 1990s, a new approach to scientific research was created, namely “discovery-driven” research. These “opposite” approaches produced another discipline, named “translational research” (TR). In this sense, the investigation of diseases, such as osteoporosis, changed drastically. Osteoporosis is characterized by decreased bone mass and a deterioration of bone microarchitecture, leading to enhanced fragility and a subsequent increase in fracture risk. Osteoporosis is also known with the term “silent disease”, since it is often undetected until a low-energy fragility fracture occurs, which triggers further diagnosis and therapy. High throughput methodologies, combined with in vitro and in vivo studies have the potential to lead us to new prognostic and therapeutic targets of osteoporosis management. In the present work we review some of the important concepts of TR in the treatment and the future of osteoporosis. We have emphasized on the description of genomics and the use of in vitro and in vivo systems towards the understanding of osteoporosis pathogenesis and treatment.
Protection and provisioning: the role of parental behaviour in terms of chick growth and survival in a pelagic seabird

Long-lived organisms maximise lifetime reproductive output by shifting the negative effects of temporal environmental variability onto their offspring while maintaining adult survival. Amongst seabirds, chick growth and survival could be influenced by a range of factors, including prey delivery and parent behaviour as well as predation and exposure to adverse weather conditions. In this study, an automated method of recording adult Cape gannet Morus capensis timeactivity budgets by means of new generation VHF technology was used to relate their behaviour to chick growth and survival at Bird Island, Algoa Bay, South Africa, across 2 breeding seasons (2011−2012 and 2012−2013). Using one of the most comprehensive datasets of breeding seabird foraging effort, we showed that, although chick growth was predominantly associated with age, parents which made shorter foraging trips clearly raised chicks which grew faster. Chick survival varied greatly between the 2 seasons (40 versus 97%), which was explained by different levels of nest non-attendance by parents. Chicks in the 2011−2012 season which were exposed to longer periods of non-attendance were particularly vulnerable to unseasonal storms and they were also more vulnerable to kelp gull Larus dominicanus predation while young. In contrast to Cape gannets in the declining west coast populations, chick survival at Bird Island was primarily related to parental protection rather than food provisioning rate, which probably reflects favourable foraging conditions along the southern coast of South Africa. This study highlights the importance of understanding the interplay between factors affecting chick growth and survival for the effective conservation of threatened seabird populations.
Growth of nestling Grey-Crowned Babblers, with notes on determination of age in juveniles

Parameters of a curve describing growth of nestling Grey-crowned Babblers Pomatostomus ternporalis were estimated by a new trial-and-error least-squares method with the aid of a computer from weights of fledgelings and nestlings. For a passerine of the temperate zone, growth rate and percentage of adult weight at fledging are unusually low and the nestling period is unusually long. These features are correlated with nest structure, mode of foraging, and perhaps with social organization. Criteria for determination of approximate age in juveniles were developed using banded wild birds. Criteria include colour and length of bill, colour of gape and characteristics of plumage.
State Policy and Classroom Performance: Mathematics Reform in California

In the early 1990's many states tried to devise more robust and coherent instructional policies, in efforts to make teaching and learning more thoughtful and demanding. Policymakers and reformers pressed teachers to help students understand mathematical concepts, to interpret serious literature, to write creatively about their own ideas and experiences, and to converse thoughtfully about history and social science. But these efforts to reform instruction encountered skepticism about the link between policy and pedagogy. Skeptics ask if it is reasonable to expect state policies to steer teaching and learning sharply away from long-established conventional practice, noting that previous efforts to change practice on a large scale had failed. As instructional policy moved to the top of many state education agendas in the late 1990s, interest in the relations between policy and practice has grown. In this issue of CPRE Policy Briefs, we report encouraging findings from an important study that addresses these relationships. We use data from a 1994 survey of California elementary school teachers to probe the classroom effects of state efforts to reform mathematics teaching and learning in California. We report that policy changes did lead both to changed classroom practice and to improved student performance. In this brief, we develop a rudimentary model of the relationship between policy and practice. Student achievement is the ultimate dependent measure; teachers’ reported classroom practice in mathematics is an influence on achievement, but practice also is a measure of the effects of teachers’ learning opportunities about new math curriculum. We present results which show that teachers’ learning opportunities influenced their practice, and that both teachers’ learning opportunities and their practice influenced students’ mathematics achievement. The results suggest that teachers’ practice can change in ways that favorably influence student achievement, and that policy can play an important role in making those changes possible. We begin with a review of the California reform, briefly describe the research approach, and then discuss the major findings. Disciplines Curriculum and Instruction | Educational Methods | Education Policy | Elementary Education and Teaching | Science and Mathematics Education Comments View on the CPRE website. This policy brief is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn. edu/cpre_policybriefs/10