title: Matching-to-sample and stimulus-pairing-observation procedures in stimulus equivalence: The effects of number of trials and stimulus arrangement

authors: Kinloch, Jennifer May

subjects: stimulus equivalence

abstract: Studies comparing the effectiveness of the stimulus-pairing-observation and matching-to-sample procedures in facilitating equivalence relations have reported conflicting findings. This study compared the effectiveness of these procedures and examined the effect of stimulus arrangement and the number of training trials completed prior to each exposure to tests for symmetry and equivalence. Overall, the matching-to-sample procedure resulted in a greater percentage of participants demonstrating equivalence, and with fewer training trials, than did the stimulus-pairing-observation procedure. The one-to-many stimulus arrangement was more effective than the many-to-one and linear arrangements, overall. However, there was an interaction between the type of training procedure and stimulus arrangement. Participants who completed 120 training trials prior to each test were more likely to demonstrate equivalence than participants who completed 60 trials. This appeared to be the result of completing a greater number of trials prior to each test rather than of the number of training trials completed overall.

text: Matching-to-sample and stimulus-pairing-observation procedures in stimulus equivalence: The effects of number of trials and stimulus arrangement Studies comparing the effectiveness of the stimulus-pairing-observation and matching-to-sample procedures in facilitating equivalence relations have reported conflicting findings. This study compared the effectiveness of these procedures and examined the effect of stimulus arrangement and the number of training trials completed prior to each exposure to tests for symmetry and equivalence. Overall, the matching-to-sample procedure resulted in a greater percentage of participants demonstrating equivalence, and with fewer training trials, than did the stimulus-pairing-observation procedure. The one-to-many stimulus arrangement was more effective than the many-to-one and linear arrangements, overall. However, there was an interaction between the type of training procedure and stimulus arrangement. Participants who completed 120 training trials prior to each test were more likely to demonstrate equivalence than participants who completed 60 trials. This appeared to be the result of completing a greater number of trials prior to each test rather than of the number of training trials completed overall.

year: 2013

title: Xanthan gum capped ZnO microstars as a promising dietary Zinc supplementation

authors: Ebrahiminezhad, Alireza

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Zinc is one of the essential trace elements, and plays an important role in human health. Severe zinc deficiency can negatively affect organs such as the epidermal, immune, central nervous, gastrointestinal, skeletal, and reproductive systems. In this study, we offered a novel biocompatible xanthan gum capped zinc oxide (ZnO) microstar as a potential dietary zinc supplementation for food fortification. Xanthan gum (XG) is a commercially important extracellular polysaccharide that is widely used in diverse fields such as the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, due to its nontoxic and biocompatible properties. In this work, for the first time, we reported a green procedure for the synthesis of ZnO microstars using XG, as the stabilizing agent, without using any synthetic or toxic reagent. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the structure, morphology, and size of the synthesized ZnO structures. The results showed that the synthesized structures were both hexagonal phase and starlike, with an average particle size of 358 nm. The effect of different dosages of XG-capped ZnO nanoparticles (1–9 mM) against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus sphaericus) bacteria were also investigated. Based on the results, the fabricated XG-capped ZnO microstars showed a high level of biocompatibility with no antimicrobial effect against the tested microorganisms. The data suggested the potential of newly produced ZnO microstructures for a range of applications in dietary supplementation and food fortification.

text: Xanthan gum capped ZnO microstars as a promising dietary Zinc supplementation Zinc is one of the essential trace elements, and plays an important role in human health. Severe zinc deficiency can negatively affect organs such as the epidermal, immune, central nervous, gastrointestinal, skeletal, and reproductive systems. In this study, we offered a novel biocompatible xanthan gum capped zinc oxide (ZnO) microstar as a potential dietary zinc supplementation for food fortification. Xanthan gum (XG) is a commercially important extracellular polysaccharide that is widely used in diverse fields such as the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, due to its nontoxic and biocompatible properties. In this work, for the first time, we reported a green procedure for the synthesis of ZnO microstars using XG, as the stabilizing agent, without using any synthetic or toxic reagent. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the structure, morphology, and size of the synthesized ZnO structures. The results showed that the synthesized structures were both hexagonal phase and starlike, with an average particle size of 358 nm. The effect of different dosages of XG-capped ZnO nanoparticles (1–9 mM) against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus sphaericus) bacteria were also investigated. Based on the results, the fabricated XG-capped ZnO microstars showed a high level of biocompatibility with no antimicrobial effect against the tested microorganisms. The data suggested the potential of newly produced ZnO microstructures for a range of applications in dietary supplementation and food fortification.

year: 2019

title: Māori and Pacific traditional caregiving practices: Voices from the community

authors: Glasgow, Ali

abstract: Increasing numbers of Māori and Pacific infants are enrolled in early childhood services in Aotearoa/New Zealand. This phenomenon is part of a larger societal trend in which mother return to the workforce within months of their infant’s birth. This development has significant impacts on early childhood service provision, particularly in relation to addressing the cultural needs of infants. A major concern is that Māori and Pacific infants are at risk of cultural deprivation within these services. According to the research reported in this chapter, there is a call within Māori and Pacific communities for Māori and Pacific infants to be raised in culturally responsive ways in early childhood services children’s home language, culture and identity are promoted and maintained. In Aotearoa/ New Zelanad, infant caregiving theory is largely based on Western European theory and principles that promote individualism and independence, and this will be elaborated upon in the chapter. This chapter outlines findings from a nationwide Aotearoa/ New Zealand online survey conducted with Māori and Polynesian Pacific “language nest” teachers on traditional cultural practices for Māori and Polynesian infants. The language nest philosophies and programmes promote culture, language and traditional practices. Respondents expressed the desire for autonomy in providing culturally authentic caregiving practices, and frustration with educational theory and government policies that did not align, or ran contrary to, modern cultural practice. Research findings revealed Māori and Polynesian Pacific traditional cultural values, beliefs and practices, and from this common base is an emerging Polynesian theoretical model of infant caregiving practices. It is anticipated that a Polynesian theory of infant caregiving will guide Aotearoa/ New Zealand’s early childhood education services and government policy, ensuring culturally responsive practices for Māori and Polynesian Pacific infants and their families.

text: Māori and Pacific traditional caregiving practices: Voices from the community Increasing numbers of Māori and Pacific infants are enrolled in early childhood services in Aotearoa/New Zealand. This phenomenon is part of a larger societal trend in which mother return to the workforce within months of their infant’s birth. This development has significant impacts on early childhood service provision, particularly in relation to addressing the cultural needs of infants. A major concern is that Māori and Pacific infants are at risk of cultural deprivation within these services. According to the research reported in this chapter, there is a call within Māori and Pacific communities for Māori and Pacific infants to be raised in culturally responsive ways in early childhood services children’s home language, culture and identity are promoted and maintained. In Aotearoa/ New Zelanad, infant caregiving theory is largely based on Western European theory and principles that promote individualism and independence, and this will be elaborated upon in the chapter. This chapter outlines findings from a nationwide Aotearoa/ New Zealand online survey conducted with Māori and Polynesian Pacific “language nest” teachers on traditional cultural practices for Māori and Polynesian infants. The language nest philosophies and programmes promote culture, language and traditional practices. Respondents expressed the desire for autonomy in providing culturally authentic caregiving practices, and frustration with educational theory and government policies that did not align, or ran contrary to, modern cultural practice. Research findings revealed Māori and Polynesian Pacific traditional cultural values, beliefs and practices, and from this common base is an emerging Polynesian theoretical model of infant caregiving practices. It is anticipated that a Polynesian theory of infant caregiving will guide Aotearoa/ New Zealand’s early childhood education services and government policy, ensuring culturally responsive practices for Māori and Polynesian Pacific infants and their families.

year: 2016