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• 351. [Article] Behavior of Prestressed Concrete Beams with CFRP Strands

  The high cost of repairing reinforced or prestressed concrete structures due to steel corrosion has driven engineers to look for solutions. Much research has been conducted over the last two decades to ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Behavior of Prestressed Concrete Beams with CFRP Strands Author: Saeed, Yasir Matloob Year: 2016 The high cost of repairing reinforced or prestressed concrete structures due to steel corrosion has driven engineers to look for solutions. Much research has been conducted over the last two decades to evaluate the use of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) in concrete structures. Structural engineering researchers have been testing FRP to determine their usability instead of steel for strengthening existing reinforced concrete structures, reinforcing new concrete members, and for prestressed concrete applications. The high strength-to-weight ratio of FRP materials, especially Carbon FRP (CFRP), and their non-corrosive nature are probably the most attractive features of FRPs. In this study, an experimental program was conducted to investigate the flexural behavior of prestressed concrete beams pre-tensioned with CFRP strands. The bond characteristics were examined by means of experimentally measuring transfer length, flexural bond length, and bond stress profiles. A total of four rectangular beams pre-tensioned with one 0.5-in. diameter CFRP strand were fabricated and tested under cyclic loading for five cycles, followed by a monotonically increasing load until failure. In investigating bond properties, the experimental results were compared to the equations available in the literature. The results from the four flexural tests showed that the main problem of CFRP strands, in addition to their liner-elastic tensile behavior, was lack of adequate bonding between FRP and concrete. Poor bonding resulted in early failure due to slippage between FRPs and concrete. As a result, a new technique was developed in order to solve the bonding issues and improve the flexural response of CFRP prestressed concrete beams. The new technique involved anchoring the CFRP strands at the ends of the concrete beams using a new "steel tube" anchorage system. It was concluded that the new technique solved the bond problem and improved the flexural capacity by about 46%. A computer model was created to predict the behavior of prestressed beams pre-tensioned with CFRP. The predicted behavior was compared to the experimental results. Finally, the experimental results were compared to the behavior of prestressed concrete beams pre-tensioned with steel strands as generated by the computer model. The CFRP beams showed higher strength but lower ductility. Title: Behavior of Prestressed Concrete Beams with CFRP Strands Author: Saeed, Yasir Matloob Year: 2016 The high cost of repairing reinforced or prestressed concrete structures due to steel corrosion has driven engineers to look for solutions. Much research has been conducted over the last two decades to evaluate the use of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) in concrete structures. Structural engineering researchers have been testing FRP to determine their usability instead of steel for strengthening existing reinforced concrete structures, reinforcing new concrete members, and for prestressed concrete applications. The high strength-to-weight ratio of FRP materials, especially Carbon FRP (CFRP), and their non-corrosive nature are probably the most attractive features of FRPs. In this study, an experimental program was conducted to investigate the flexural behavior of prestressed concrete beams pre-tensioned with CFRP strands. The bond characteristics were examined by means of experimentally measuring transfer length, flexural bond length, and bond stress profiles. A total of four rectangular beams pre-tensioned with one 0.5-in. diameter CFRP strand were fabricated and tested under cyclic loading for five cycles, followed by a monotonically increasing load until failure. In investigating bond properties, the experimental results were compared to the equations available in the literature. The results from the four flexural tests showed that the main problem of CFRP strands, in addition to their liner-elastic tensile behavior, was lack of adequate bonding between FRP and concrete. Poor bonding resulted in early failure due to slippage between FRPs and concrete. As a result, a new technique was developed in order to solve the bonding issues and improve the flexural response of CFRP prestressed concrete beams. The new technique involved anchoring the CFRP strands at the ends of the concrete beams using a new "steel tube" anchorage system. It was concluded that the new technique solved the bond problem and improved the flexural capacity by about 46%. A computer model was created to predict the behavior of prestressed beams pre-tensioned with CFRP. The predicted behavior was compared to the experimental results. Finally, the experimental results were compared to the behavior of prestressed concrete beams pre-tensioned with steel strands as generated by the computer model. The CFRP beams showed higher strength but lower ductility. Close

• 352. [Article] De Gaulle and Franco-German relations, 1945-1965

  The dismemberment and reparations policy France followed at the end of World War II as an occupying power in Germany was a traditional approach of the victor to the vanquished. The Saar, the Ruhr, and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: De Gaulle and Franco-German relations, 1945-1965 Author: Shumway, Mary Ann Year: 1967 The dismemberment and reparations policy France followed at the end of World War II as an occupying power in Germany was a traditional approach of the victor to the vanquished. The Saar, the Ruhr, and the Rhineland were the borderlands long in dispute. One new element was the idea that while demanding these territories, an attempt at national rapprochement could be carried on through educational measures. For many Germans the University at Mainz did not balance the dismantled factories. This postwar period was characterized by European economic ills. The 1947 Marshall Plan, an American approach to restore Europe to economic health through cooperative effort, was inaugurated. It stimulated the European integration movement which flourished during the 1950’s. The 1948 Council of Europe had not lived up to expectations, in the eyes of European federalists, but the next try, the European Coal and Steel Community, (1952) proved a lusty child of the functionalist movement. When the European Defense Community died, (1954) it embittered Franco-German relations for a while. The European Atomic Energy Community and the European Economic Community completed the European Community in 1958. Through the organizations for economic integration, France and Germany have, in spite of disputes and crises, been able to compromise many divergent drives in the interest of restoring Europe to full economic capacity. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, (1949) which originated as a joint military defense and symbolized Western unity in the face of Soviet aggression, became a seedbed of discord between France and German. When General de Gaulle became president in 1958, he pursued an active policy of rapprochement with Adenauer’s Federal German Republic seeking to establish a Paris-Bonn axis on which to base French leadership in the European Community. As leader of a West European bloc independent of the United States, France would hold that place in the first rank of nations that de Gaulle believed she must have. Chancellor Adenauer cooperated with the French president because he believed a tightly knit European group would benefit German interests. The high point in Franco-German rapprochement occurred in 1962 during the summer exchange of state visits, but by the time the Treaty was signed and ratified, (1963) the tone of Franco-German relations and changed. Disagreements on military policies in NATO, on political developments in the European Community, and on agricultural policies in EEC, all reached serious proportions at the time that Chancellor Erhard took office in 1963. The Erhard government’s shift of emphasis from a Europe focused on France to the Atlantic alliance focused on the United States led President de Gaulle to consider a new policy to replace Franco-German rapprochement which had been his primary strategy until 1963. Franco-Russian relations became noticeably warmer after the extension of long term credits by France to the Soviet Union. Germany protested this new turn in French policy. A closer French-Russian relationship may add to the discord which cooled the Franco-German accord of 1962. Title: De Gaulle and Franco-German relations, 1945-1965 Author: Shumway, Mary Ann Year: 1967 The dismemberment and reparations policy France followed at the end of World War II as an occupying power in Germany was a traditional approach of the victor to the vanquished. The Saar, the Ruhr, and the Rhineland were the borderlands long in dispute. One new element was the idea that while demanding these territories, an attempt at national rapprochement could be carried on through educational measures. For many Germans the University at Mainz did not balance the dismantled factories. This postwar period was characterized by European economic ills. The 1947 Marshall Plan, an American approach to restore Europe to economic health through cooperative effort, was inaugurated. It stimulated the European integration movement which flourished during the 1950’s. The 1948 Council of Europe had not lived up to expectations, in the eyes of European federalists, but the next try, the European Coal and Steel Community, (1952) proved a lusty child of the functionalist movement. When the European Defense Community died, (1954) it embittered Franco-German relations for a while. The European Atomic Energy Community and the European Economic Community completed the European Community in 1958. Through the organizations for economic integration, France and Germany have, in spite of disputes and crises, been able to compromise many divergent drives in the interest of restoring Europe to full economic capacity. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, (1949) which originated as a joint military defense and symbolized Western unity in the face of Soviet aggression, became a seedbed of discord between France and German. When General de Gaulle became president in 1958, he pursued an active policy of rapprochement with Adenauer’s Federal German Republic seeking to establish a Paris-Bonn axis on which to base French leadership in the European Community. As leader of a West European bloc independent of the United States, France would hold that place in the first rank of nations that de Gaulle believed she must have. Chancellor Adenauer cooperated with the French president because he believed a tightly knit European group would benefit German interests. The high point in Franco-German rapprochement occurred in 1962 during the summer exchange of state visits, but by the time the Treaty was signed and ratified, (1963) the tone of Franco-German relations and changed. Disagreements on military policies in NATO, on political developments in the European Community, and on agricultural policies in EEC, all reached serious proportions at the time that Chancellor Erhard took office in 1963. The Erhard government’s shift of emphasis from a Europe focused on France to the Atlantic alliance focused on the United States led President de Gaulle to consider a new policy to replace Franco-German rapprochement which had been his primary strategy until 1963. Franco-Russian relations became noticeably warmer after the extension of long term credits by France to the Soviet Union. Germany protested this new turn in French policy. A closer French-Russian relationship may add to the discord which cooled the Franco-German accord of 1962. Close

• 353. [Article] Use of Media Technologies by Native American Teens and Young Adults: Evaluating their Utility for Designing Culturally-Appropriate Sexual Health Interventions Targeting Native Youth in the Pacific Northwest

  American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth are disproportionally burdened by high rates of sexually transmitted infections and teen pregnancy, heightening their need for sexual health interventions ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Use of Media Technologies by Native American Teens and Young Adults: Evaluating their Utility for Designing Culturally-Appropriate Sexual Health Interventions Targeting Native Youth in the Pacific Northwest Author: Craig Rushing, Stephanie Nicole Year: 2010 American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth are disproportionally burdened by high rates of sexually transmitted infections and teen pregnancy, heightening their need for sexual health interventions that are aligned to their unique culture and social context. Media technologies, including the Internet, cell phones, and video games, offer new avenues for reaching adolescents on a wide range of sensitive health topics. While several studies have informed the development of technology-based interventions targeting mainstream youth, no such data have been reported for AI/AN youth. To fill this gap, I: a) quantified media technology use in a select group of AI/AN teens and young adults living in Pacific Northwest tribes and urban communities; b) identified patterns in their health information-seeking and media preferences; and c) worked with local tribes and partners to develop recommendations for designing culturally-appropriate technology-based interventions targeting Native adolescents. This research included: a) an anonymous, paper-based survey of over 400 AI/AN youths age 13-21 years; b) a systematic review of technology-based sexual health interventions; and c) a variety of community-based participatory research strategies to analyze findings, prioritize options, and generate recommendations for designing interventions that align with the culture, needs, and organizational capacities of the tribes in the Pacific Northwest. Technology use was exceptionally common and diverse among survey respondents, mirroring patterns reported by teens in the general population. Seventy-five percent of AI/AN youth reported using the Internet, 78% reported using cell phones, and 36% reported playing video games on a daily or weekly basis. Thirty-five percent reported that they would feel most comfortable getting sexual health information from the Internet, and 44% reported having done so in the past. Youth expressed interest in a wide array of interactive media features, and culturally-specific content that holistically encompassed their wide-ranging health interests and concerns. Tribal health educators expressed particular interest in adapting Internet-based skill-building modules and informational websites, and teens expressed interest in websites and videos. These findings are now being used by the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board to inform the development and adaptation of culturally-appropriate interventions targeting AI/AN youth in the Pacific Northwest. Title: Use of Media Technologies by Native American Teens and Young Adults: Evaluating their Utility for Designing Culturally-Appropriate Sexual Health Interventions Targeting Native Youth in the Pacific Northwest Author: Craig Rushing, Stephanie Nicole Year: 2010 American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth are disproportionally burdened by high rates of sexually transmitted infections and teen pregnancy, heightening their need for sexual health interventions that are aligned to their unique culture and social context. Media technologies, including the Internet, cell phones, and video games, offer new avenues for reaching adolescents on a wide range of sensitive health topics. While several studies have informed the development of technology-based interventions targeting mainstream youth, no such data have been reported for AI/AN youth. To fill this gap, I: a) quantified media technology use in a select group of AI/AN teens and young adults living in Pacific Northwest tribes and urban communities; b) identified patterns in their health information-seeking and media preferences; and c) worked with local tribes and partners to develop recommendations for designing culturally-appropriate technology-based interventions targeting Native adolescents. This research included: a) an anonymous, paper-based survey of over 400 AI/AN youths age 13-21 years; b) a systematic review of technology-based sexual health interventions; and c) a variety of community-based participatory research strategies to analyze findings, prioritize options, and generate recommendations for designing interventions that align with the culture, needs, and organizational capacities of the tribes in the Pacific Northwest. Technology use was exceptionally common and diverse among survey respondents, mirroring patterns reported by teens in the general population. Seventy-five percent of AI/AN youth reported using the Internet, 78% reported using cell phones, and 36% reported playing video games on a daily or weekly basis. Thirty-five percent reported that they would feel most comfortable getting sexual health information from the Internet, and 44% reported having done so in the past. Youth expressed interest in a wide array of interactive media features, and culturally-specific content that holistically encompassed their wide-ranging health interests and concerns. Tribal health educators expressed particular interest in adapting Internet-based skill-building modules and informational websites, and teens expressed interest in websites and videos. These findings are now being used by the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board to inform the development and adaptation of culturally-appropriate interventions targeting AI/AN youth in the Pacific Northwest. Close

• 354. [Article] Thermodynamic Effects of 5' and 3' Single Strand Dangling Ends on Short Duplex DNA

  Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) melting analysis was performed on 27 short double stranded DNA duplexes containing 15 to 25 base pairs and short single stranded overhangs from one to 10 bases, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Thermodynamic Effects of 5' and 3' Single Strand Dangling Ends on Short Duplex DNA Author: Dickman, Rebekah Year: 2010 Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) melting analysis was performed on 27 short double stranded DNA duplexes containing 15 to 25 base pairs and short single stranded overhangs from one to 10 bases, on both ends. Molecules have two 5' dangling ends or one 5' and one 3' dangling end. For these molecules the duplex region was incrementally reduced from 25 to 15 base pairs with increased length of the dangling ends from one to 10 bases. A third set of molecules contained 21 base pair duplexes with a four base dangling end on either the 5' or 3' end. Blunt ended duplexes from 15 to 25 base pairs were also examined and served as control duplexes. DSC melting curves were measured in solution containing 85 mM, 300 mM or 1.0 M Na+. From these measurements, thermodynamic parameters for 5' and 3' dangling ends as a function of end length were evaluated. Results showed the 5' ends were slightly stabilizing, and this stability was essentially constant with end length, while the 3' ends were generally destabilizing with increasing length of the end. This finding of lower stability for the 3' ends is consistent with results of published studies that have found 5' dangling ends to be more than or equally as stabilizing as 3' dangling ends. Our finding that 3' dangling ends are actually destabilizing for duplex DNA contrasts with published results. The 3' ends also display a stronger dependence on the [Na+]. In the lower Na+ environment the 3' ends are more destabilizing than at the higher salt environments. Analysis of the thermodynamic parameters of the dangling-ended duplexes as a function [Na+] indicated the 3' dangling end molecules behave differently compared to 5' dangling ended and blunt ended duplexes. The net counterion release per phosphate upon melting the molecules having one 5' and one 3' end was approximately 15% smaller as a function of end length compared to the duplex having two 5' ends. Further analysis of the DSC evaluated thermodynamic transition parameter, ΔHcal, and its relationship to the measured transition temperatures of the DNA molecules, provided an estimate on the excess heat capacity differences, ΔCp, between duplex and melted single strands for the dangling-ended molecules. The analysis revealed the molecules with one 5' and one 3' dangling end had very different ΔCp values compared to the blunt-ended molecule; while the molecules with two 5' ends have ΔCp that are essentially the same as the blunt-ended duplex. These observations are interpreted as differences in the interactions with Na+, solvent and the terminal base pairs of the duplex for the 5' versus 3' dangling ends. Title: Thermodynamic Effects of 5' and 3' Single Strand Dangling Ends on Short Duplex DNA Author: Dickman, Rebekah Year: 2010 Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) melting analysis was performed on 27 short double stranded DNA duplexes containing 15 to 25 base pairs and short single stranded overhangs from one to 10 bases, on both ends. Molecules have two 5' dangling ends or one 5' and one 3' dangling end. For these molecules the duplex region was incrementally reduced from 25 to 15 base pairs with increased length of the dangling ends from one to 10 bases. A third set of molecules contained 21 base pair duplexes with a four base dangling end on either the 5' or 3' end. Blunt ended duplexes from 15 to 25 base pairs were also examined and served as control duplexes. DSC melting curves were measured in solution containing 85 mM, 300 mM or 1.0 M Na+. From these measurements, thermodynamic parameters for 5' and 3' dangling ends as a function of end length were evaluated. Results showed the 5' ends were slightly stabilizing, and this stability was essentially constant with end length, while the 3' ends were generally destabilizing with increasing length of the end. This finding of lower stability for the 3' ends is consistent with results of published studies that have found 5' dangling ends to be more than or equally as stabilizing as 3' dangling ends. Our finding that 3' dangling ends are actually destabilizing for duplex DNA contrasts with published results. The 3' ends also display a stronger dependence on the [Na+]. In the lower Na+ environment the 3' ends are more destabilizing than at the higher salt environments. Analysis of the thermodynamic parameters of the dangling-ended duplexes as a function [Na+] indicated the 3' dangling end molecules behave differently compared to 5' dangling ended and blunt ended duplexes. The net counterion release per phosphate upon melting the molecules having one 5' and one 3' end was approximately 15% smaller as a function of end length compared to the duplex having two 5' ends. Further analysis of the DSC evaluated thermodynamic transition parameter, ΔHcal, and its relationship to the measured transition temperatures of the DNA molecules, provided an estimate on the excess heat capacity differences, ΔCp, between duplex and melted single strands for the dangling-ended molecules. The analysis revealed the molecules with one 5' and one 3' dangling end had very different ΔCp values compared to the blunt-ended molecule; while the molecules with two 5' ends have ΔCp that are essentially the same as the blunt-ended duplex. These observations are interpreted as differences in the interactions with Na+, solvent and the terminal base pairs of the duplex for the 5' versus 3' dangling ends. Close

• 355. [Article] The Longterm Psychosocial Impacts of Caregiving on the Caregivers of Persons with Stroke

  This study is a Time 4 (T4) follow-up interview of ninety-three caregivers of persons who experienced a first stroke between 2 to 4 years (mean = 36 months) prior to the T4 interview. The first wave of ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Longterm Psychosocial Impacts of Caregiving on the Caregivers of Persons with Stroke Author: Scannell, Alice Updike Year: 1989 This study is a Time 4 (T4) follow-up interview of ninety-three caregivers of persons who experienced a first stroke between 2 to 4 years (mean = 36 months) prior to the T4 interview. The first wave of data collection occurred within two months after the stroke. The second and third waves occurred six and twelve months, respectively, after the first interview. The caregivers were identified by the person with stroke as being the person closest to him/her who would be responsible for care after the stroke. Data were gathered at all four interviews using reliable and valid measures for depressive symptomatology (CES-D; Radloff, 1977), psychological well-being (IPWB; Berkman, 1971), and caregiver burden (Zarit, 1980). The contribution of social support to caregiver well-being was also investigated. Additional areas of investigation at T4 included coping strategies (F-Copes; McCubbin, Larsen, and Olson, 1981), caregiver adjustment, and the respondents' perception of themselves as "caregivers". The mean scores of depressive symptomatology, perceived burden, negative well-being, and positive well-being did not change significantly over the four points in time. However, the percentage of the sample having CES-D levels of 16 and above (indicating potential diagnosis of clinical depression) decreased by ten percent between T1 and T4. About ten percent of the respondents who were at risk for clinical depression at T4 reported high levels of depressive symptoms at all four interviews. Respondents who specifically thought of themselves as "caregivers" (sixty-two percent) were significantly more likely to report high levels of depressive symptoms, to experience high levels of strain and caregiver burden, and to be caring for persons who were more severely impaired by the stroke than those who did not. Caregiver characteristics contributed more to the variance in depressive symptoms and psychological well-being than did characteristics of the stroke. However, depressive symptomatology and perceived burden were significantly associated with both the functional capacity of the person with stroke and with an index of stroke severity comprised of communication impairments and negative personality/behavior changes since the stroke. The findings from this study have implications for stroke management programs, caregiver intervention planning, and health care policy. Title: The Longterm Psychosocial Impacts of Caregiving on the Caregivers of Persons with Stroke Author: Scannell, Alice Updike Year: 1989 This study is a Time 4 (T4) follow-up interview of ninety-three caregivers of persons who experienced a first stroke between 2 to 4 years (mean = 36 months) prior to the T4 interview. The first wave of data collection occurred within two months after the stroke. The second and third waves occurred six and twelve months, respectively, after the first interview. The caregivers were identified by the person with stroke as being the person closest to him/her who would be responsible for care after the stroke. Data were gathered at all four interviews using reliable and valid measures for depressive symptomatology (CES-D; Radloff, 1977), psychological well-being (IPWB; Berkman, 1971), and caregiver burden (Zarit, 1980). The contribution of social support to caregiver well-being was also investigated. Additional areas of investigation at T4 included coping strategies (F-Copes; McCubbin, Larsen, and Olson, 1981), caregiver adjustment, and the respondents' perception of themselves as "caregivers". The mean scores of depressive symptomatology, perceived burden, negative well-being, and positive well-being did not change significantly over the four points in time. However, the percentage of the sample having CES-D levels of 16 and above (indicating potential diagnosis of clinical depression) decreased by ten percent between T1 and T4. About ten percent of the respondents who were at risk for clinical depression at T4 reported high levels of depressive symptoms at all four interviews. Respondents who specifically thought of themselves as "caregivers" (sixty-two percent) were significantly more likely to report high levels of depressive symptoms, to experience high levels of strain and caregiver burden, and to be caring for persons who were more severely impaired by the stroke than those who did not. Caregiver characteristics contributed more to the variance in depressive symptoms and psychological well-being than did characteristics of the stroke. However, depressive symptomatology and perceived burden were significantly associated with both the functional capacity of the person with stroke and with an index of stroke severity comprised of communication impairments and negative personality/behavior changes since the stroke. The findings from this study have implications for stroke management programs, caregiver intervention planning, and health care policy. Close

• 356. [Article] Identifying Factors that Influence Perceptions of Teacher Efficacy as a Means of Building Capacity for Restructuring Schools: a Case Study Approach

  Recent efforts to restructure schools through increased teacher involvement are likely to fail without a corresponding redesign of the underlying organizational and political structure of schools. Because ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Identifying Factors that Influence Perceptions of Teacher Efficacy as a Means of Building Capacity for Restructuring Schools: a Case Study Approach Author: Sommer, Deborah Year: 1995 Recent efforts to restructure schools through increased teacher involvement are likely to fail without a corresponding redesign of the underlying organizational and political structure of schools. Because the current structure of most schools actually prohibits the collaboration necessary to effect change and promotes professional isolation instead, staff members faced with the tasks of restructuring experience frustration more often than success. The changes that do occur are often superficial and cosmetic while the basic hierarchy and mechanisms of control remain intact. Allowing teachers to redesign their schools, specifically to develop new models that promote interdependence and the sharing of professional expertise, provides an opportunity to explore the reasons teachers might choose to forego the relatively safe world of the self-contained classroom to participate in the often stressful and time consuming development and implementation of new approaches to teaching and learning. Exploring those factors which motivate teachers to attempt innovation and determining the attributes and beliefs of those teachers about school change is the focus of this study. The study investigates the concept of teacher efficacy, the teacher's belief that his/her actions affect student achievement or that he/she has the "ability to have a positive effect on student learning" (Ashton, 1984; Ashton & Webb, 1986). The perceptions of efficacy among selected teachers in an urban elementary school in the Northwest involved in implementing an Accelerated School model are examined in an effort to determine which factors influence those feelings. Identifying the issues which confront teachers engaged in innovation and the conditions they feel contribute to their success or failure is also an outcome. Increased efficacy, the perceived ability to "make a difference," is critical to classroom effectiveness and efforts to restructure schools. Data were obtained during the 1993-1994 school year by means of an efficacy scale based on the model developed by Gibson and Dembo (1984), structured interviews with selected teachers, an open-ended questionnaire, and observations during a sharing session with teachers in a nearby district considering a similar innovation. Title: Identifying Factors that Influence Perceptions of Teacher Efficacy as a Means of Building Capacity for Restructuring Schools: a Case Study Approach Author: Sommer, Deborah Year: 1995 Recent efforts to restructure schools through increased teacher involvement are likely to fail without a corresponding redesign of the underlying organizational and political structure of schools. Because the current structure of most schools actually prohibits the collaboration necessary to effect change and promotes professional isolation instead, staff members faced with the tasks of restructuring experience frustration more often than success. The changes that do occur are often superficial and cosmetic while the basic hierarchy and mechanisms of control remain intact. Allowing teachers to redesign their schools, specifically to develop new models that promote interdependence and the sharing of professional expertise, provides an opportunity to explore the reasons teachers might choose to forego the relatively safe world of the self-contained classroom to participate in the often stressful and time consuming development and implementation of new approaches to teaching and learning. Exploring those factors which motivate teachers to attempt innovation and determining the attributes and beliefs of those teachers about school change is the focus of this study. The study investigates the concept of teacher efficacy, the teacher's belief that his/her actions affect student achievement or that he/she has the "ability to have a positive effect on student learning" (Ashton, 1984; Ashton & Webb, 1986). The perceptions of efficacy among selected teachers in an urban elementary school in the Northwest involved in implementing an Accelerated School model are examined in an effort to determine which factors influence those feelings. Identifying the issues which confront teachers engaged in innovation and the conditions they feel contribute to their success or failure is also an outcome. Increased efficacy, the perceived ability to "make a difference," is critical to classroom effectiveness and efforts to restructure schools. Data were obtained during the 1993-1994 school year by means of an efficacy scale based on the model developed by Gibson and Dembo (1984), structured interviews with selected teachers, an open-ended questionnaire, and observations during a sharing session with teachers in a nearby district considering a similar innovation. Close

• 357. [Article] The electronic instrumentation for atmospheric laser propagation studies

  The use of laser radiation in atmospheric communication systems is revealing new forms of signal degradation not previously encountered with lower frequency transmitting sources. The coherence and directivity ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The electronic instrumentation for atmospheric laser propagation studies Author: Brown, Clyde Manford Year: 1968 The use of laser radiation in atmospheric communication systems is revealing new forms of signal degradation not previously encountered with lower frequency transmitting sources. The coherence and directivity of the laser which is responsible for its increased signal capacity is degraded by the effect of atmospheric distortion. Random fluctuations in the index of refraction (turbulence), Rayleigh scattering, aerosol scattering and other atmospheric effects create fluctuations (boiling, breathing, dancing, attenuation, transit-time dispersion, etc.) within the beam cross section, which when received produce random fluctuations in the receiver output signal. The two systems which are described, are designed to investigate the effect of atmospheric distortions on the amplitude and phase (or transit time) of the laser beam. The Scintillation System was designed for real-time determination of amplitude scintillation statistics. The system will be incorporated into a multi-wavelength, multi-range experiment for comparison of theoretical and experimental meteorological and optical data. The system includes a laser transmitter, an atmospheric path over which the beam is allowed to diverge to a three-foot cross section, a pair of photomultipliers with variable spacing and small sampling apertures, an analog "scintillation computer," and a recording device. The scintillation computer is a real time, special purpose, analog computer designed to compute the variance and covariance of log amplitude, the probability distribution of log amplitude, and the frequency spectrum of the amplitude scintillation. The system permits the recording of these data as a function of transmitter and receiver aperture, and time. The Short Pulse Distortion System is designed to detect pulse distortion due to transit-time dispersion of the laser beam. The system includes a mode-locked laser (i.e., the optical short pulse generator), a large transmitting aperture (a Cassegrainian telescope), the atmospheric path, a wideband receiver, a sampling oscilloscope, the "Pulse Distortion Analyzer," and a high-quality tape recorder. The Pulse Distortion Analyzer is designed to compare the transmitted pulses to recorded reference pulses and to detect differential area due to time dispersion. The analyzer includes a novel, feed forward, automatic gain control circuit which utilizes a linear photo detector and an analog divider to smooth a 300Hz signal with a 100 microsecond response time. This is necessary to smooth out the signal amplitude fluctuations due to atmospheric turbulence effects. Both systems have been set up and tested on a one-mile path between the Oregon Graduate Center and Skyline Drive in Portland Oregon, using a 6328Å He-Ne Laser. The ultimate use of the scintillation computer will be in a multi-wave-length experiment conducted for the Office of Naval Research, and will utilize a uniform, meteorologically instrumented path for comparison with theoretical predictions. The Pulse Distortion System will be incorporated into a joint experiment with the Electro-optic Organization of Sylvania Electronic Systems, Inc., Mountain View, California, to be conducted over a seven-mile path. Title: The electronic instrumentation for atmospheric laser propagation studies Author: Brown, Clyde Manford Year: 1968 The use of laser radiation in atmospheric communication systems is revealing new forms of signal degradation not previously encountered with lower frequency transmitting sources. The coherence and directivity of the laser which is responsible for its increased signal capacity is degraded by the effect of atmospheric distortion. Random fluctuations in the index of refraction (turbulence), Rayleigh scattering, aerosol scattering and other atmospheric effects create fluctuations (boiling, breathing, dancing, attenuation, transit-time dispersion, etc.) within the beam cross section, which when received produce random fluctuations in the receiver output signal. The two systems which are described, are designed to investigate the effect of atmospheric distortions on the amplitude and phase (or transit time) of the laser beam. The Scintillation System was designed for real-time determination of amplitude scintillation statistics. The system will be incorporated into a multi-wavelength, multi-range experiment for comparison of theoretical and experimental meteorological and optical data. The system includes a laser transmitter, an atmospheric path over which the beam is allowed to diverge to a three-foot cross section, a pair of photomultipliers with variable spacing and small sampling apertures, an analog "scintillation computer," and a recording device. The scintillation computer is a real time, special purpose, analog computer designed to compute the variance and covariance of log amplitude, the probability distribution of log amplitude, and the frequency spectrum of the amplitude scintillation. The system permits the recording of these data as a function of transmitter and receiver aperture, and time. The Short Pulse Distortion System is designed to detect pulse distortion due to transit-time dispersion of the laser beam. The system includes a mode-locked laser (i.e., the optical short pulse generator), a large transmitting aperture (a Cassegrainian telescope), the atmospheric path, a wideband receiver, a sampling oscilloscope, the "Pulse Distortion Analyzer," and a high-quality tape recorder. The Pulse Distortion Analyzer is designed to compare the transmitted pulses to recorded reference pulses and to detect differential area due to time dispersion. The analyzer includes a novel, feed forward, automatic gain control circuit which utilizes a linear photo detector and an analog divider to smooth a 300Hz signal with a 100 microsecond response time. This is necessary to smooth out the signal amplitude fluctuations due to atmospheric turbulence effects. Both systems have been set up and tested on a one-mile path between the Oregon Graduate Center and Skyline Drive in Portland Oregon, using a 6328Å He-Ne Laser. The ultimate use of the scintillation computer will be in a multi-wave-length experiment conducted for the Office of Naval Research, and will utilize a uniform, meteorologically instrumented path for comparison with theoretical predictions. The Pulse Distortion System will be incorporated into a joint experiment with the Electro-optic Organization of Sylvania Electronic Systems, Inc., Mountain View, California, to be conducted over a seven-mile path. Close

• 358. [Article] Identifying Best Quality Management Practices for Achieving Quality and Innovation Performance in the Forest Products Industry

  In many business sectors today, the focus on quality as a competitive tool is being replaced by a focus on innovation. Research exploring connections between quality management, innovation, and company ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Identifying Best Quality Management Practices for Achieving Quality and Innovation Performance in the Forest Products Industry Author: Leavengood, Scott A. Year: 2010 In many business sectors today, the focus on quality as a competitive tool is being replaced by a focus on innovation. Research exploring connections between quality management, innovation, and company performance suggests that quality is 'necessary but insufficient' in today's business environment. In short, the question facing managers, particularly those in small firms, is how to adapt their quality management practices to achieve innovation performance in addition to quality performance. To answer this question, West Coast U.S. forest products manufacturers were surveyed about quality management practices and performance with respect to both quality and innovation. Quality management practices were assessed following the systems perspective articulated by the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Data envelopment analysis was used to identify companies efficiently using quality management practices to lead to quality and/or innovation performance. Survey responses from the efficient firms were then analyzed via cluster analysis to identify two categories of firms: those achieving primarily quality outcomes and those achieving both quality and innovation outcomes. Executives from two firms in each category were interviewed to provide detail on the management practices used by the companies. Interview transcripts were examined to identify similarities and differences in practices between the two categories of firms. Results suggest several specific areas of focus for firms wanting to adapt their quality management practices to achieve both quality and innovation performance. For example, firms focused on innovation proactively seek to identify and meet customers' needs whereas quality-focused firms primarily emphasize reacting to customer complaints. More specifically with respect to 'customer focus', firms focused on innovation emphasize convenience for their customers through practices such as standardizing product lines and providing product specifications on their websites. In contrast, neither quality-focused firm had a website. These firms were at their production capacity (at least prior to the recession) and viewed websites strictly as a means to attract new business rather than as a service to existing customers. Also with regards to customer focus, firms focused on innovation sought to generate new business - not just for their company, but for their customers as well. Beyond customer focus, firms focused on innovation provide employees with opportunities to help the organization implement changes. With respect to benchmarking, firms focused on innovation actively sought to measure their performance against the 'best practice' in the industry; firms focused primarily on quality performance demonstrated little if any emphasis on benchmarking. Finally, there were apparent overarching and hence cultural differences between the two categories of firms - firms focused on innovation were more proactive, strategic, and willing to take risk; in addition, these firms discussed innovation as the means to improve product quality, reduce costs, or attract new customers. By contrast, the quality-focused firms were reactive, conservative, and risk-averse; these firms discussed innovation primarily as 'technology' without reference to potential linkages to company performance. Title: Identifying Best Quality Management Practices for Achieving Quality and Innovation Performance in the Forest Products Industry Author: Leavengood, Scott A. Year: 2010 In many business sectors today, the focus on quality as a competitive tool is being replaced by a focus on innovation. Research exploring connections between quality management, innovation, and company performance suggests that quality is 'necessary but insufficient' in today's business environment. In short, the question facing managers, particularly those in small firms, is how to adapt their quality management practices to achieve innovation performance in addition to quality performance. To answer this question, West Coast U.S. forest products manufacturers were surveyed about quality management practices and performance with respect to both quality and innovation. Quality management practices were assessed following the systems perspective articulated by the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Data envelopment analysis was used to identify companies efficiently using quality management practices to lead to quality and/or innovation performance. Survey responses from the efficient firms were then analyzed via cluster analysis to identify two categories of firms: those achieving primarily quality outcomes and those achieving both quality and innovation outcomes. Executives from two firms in each category were interviewed to provide detail on the management practices used by the companies. Interview transcripts were examined to identify similarities and differences in practices between the two categories of firms. Results suggest several specific areas of focus for firms wanting to adapt their quality management practices to achieve both quality and innovation performance. For example, firms focused on innovation proactively seek to identify and meet customers' needs whereas quality-focused firms primarily emphasize reacting to customer complaints. More specifically with respect to 'customer focus', firms focused on innovation emphasize convenience for their customers through practices such as standardizing product lines and providing product specifications on their websites. In contrast, neither quality-focused firm had a website. These firms were at their production capacity (at least prior to the recession) and viewed websites strictly as a means to attract new business rather than as a service to existing customers. Also with regards to customer focus, firms focused on innovation sought to generate new business - not just for their company, but for their customers as well. Beyond customer focus, firms focused on innovation provide employees with opportunities to help the organization implement changes. With respect to benchmarking, firms focused on innovation actively sought to measure their performance against the 'best practice' in the industry; firms focused primarily on quality performance demonstrated little if any emphasis on benchmarking. Finally, there were apparent overarching and hence cultural differences between the two categories of firms - firms focused on innovation were more proactive, strategic, and willing to take risk; in addition, these firms discussed innovation as the means to improve product quality, reduce costs, or attract new customers. By contrast, the quality-focused firms were reactive, conservative, and risk-averse; these firms discussed innovation primarily as 'technology' without reference to potential linkages to company performance. Close

• 359. [Article] Family variables which are associated with achievement of community tenure by persons released from psychiatric hospitalization

  The pattern of frequent discharges and readmissions which characterizes most psychiatric hospitalization in this country today was described, and it was argued that the costs of this “revolving door” outweigh ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Family variables which are associated with achievement of community tenure by persons released from psychiatric hospitalization Author: Chambers, Thomas Mack Year: 1973 The pattern of frequent discharges and readmissions which characterizes most psychiatric hospitalization in this country today was described, and it was argued that the costs of this “revolving door” outweigh such benefits as might be derived from it. An alternative stepwise progression model of aftercare was proposed. This model identified community tenure as the most appropriate goal for initial aftercare efforts. Attempts to identify correlates of the establishment of community tenure by mental hospital releasees were reviewed. It was found that the ex-patient's ability to remain in the community is not highly correlated with the extent to which he manifests deviant behavior. This finding was interpreted as an indication that environmental factors may play significant part in ex-patients’ avoidance of rehospitalization. Data were presented which indicated that a clear majority of mental hospital releasees take up residency immediately with family members. It was hypothesized, then, that measurable family variables are correlated with the ability of the ex-patient to achieve community tenure. An attempt was made to examine this hypothesis in the light of relevant research. Studies of the issue which contained substantive empirical support were categorized into four topic areas: family tolerance of the ex-patient's symptomatic behavior, kin role which the family affords to the ex-patient, familial expectations of the ex-patient's performance, and family attitudes and personality characteristics. After reviewing the studies of authors who attempted to assess the degree of correlation between the capacity of the ex-patient’s family to tolerate symptomatic behavior on the part of the ex-patient and the ex-patient’s ability to avoid rehospitalization, it was concluded that the linear correlation between the two variables which would be predicted logically may not exist. A review of studies of the relationship between the kin role which the ex-patient's family affords to him and the ex-patient's ability to achieve community tenure yielded a tentative conclusion that returning to the social biological role of “child” (son or daughter) as opposed to the kin role of spouse was positively correlated with remaining in the community. After examining studies which attempted to explore the relationship between familial expectations of instrumental performance on the part of the ex-patient and the ability of the ex-patient to avoid rehospitalization, it was concluded that little support was provided for the hypothesis that the two variables are related. A survey of attempts to identify family attitude and personality characteristic correlates of ex-patient achievement of community tenure resulted in arrival at the conclusion that such efforts, as a whole, have met with little success, although significant correlations between two general family attitudes toward mental illness and ex-patient avoidance of rehospitalization were found. Considering the findings which were reviewed as a whole, it was concluded that little support was provided for the hypothesis that measurable family variables are correlated with the ability of the ex-patient to achieve community tenure. The rather limited aftercare practice applications which could be drawn from the few correlations that have been discovered were described, and implications of the over-all finding for future research were discussed. Title: Family variables which are associated with achievement of community tenure by persons released from psychiatric hospitalization Author: Chambers, Thomas Mack Year: 1973 The pattern of frequent discharges and readmissions which characterizes most psychiatric hospitalization in this country today was described, and it was argued that the costs of this “revolving door” outweigh such benefits as might be derived from it. An alternative stepwise progression model of aftercare was proposed. This model identified community tenure as the most appropriate goal for initial aftercare efforts. Attempts to identify correlates of the establishment of community tenure by mental hospital releasees were reviewed. It was found that the ex-patient's ability to remain in the community is not highly correlated with the extent to which he manifests deviant behavior. This finding was interpreted as an indication that environmental factors may play significant part in ex-patients’ avoidance of rehospitalization. Data were presented which indicated that a clear majority of mental hospital releasees take up residency immediately with family members. It was hypothesized, then, that measurable family variables are correlated with the ability of the ex-patient to achieve community tenure. An attempt was made to examine this hypothesis in the light of relevant research. Studies of the issue which contained substantive empirical support were categorized into four topic areas: family tolerance of the ex-patient's symptomatic behavior, kin role which the family affords to the ex-patient, familial expectations of the ex-patient's performance, and family attitudes and personality characteristics. After reviewing the studies of authors who attempted to assess the degree of correlation between the capacity of the ex-patient’s family to tolerate symptomatic behavior on the part of the ex-patient and the ex-patient’s ability to avoid rehospitalization, it was concluded that the linear correlation between the two variables which would be predicted logically may not exist. A review of studies of the relationship between the kin role which the ex-patient's family affords to him and the ex-patient's ability to achieve community tenure yielded a tentative conclusion that returning to the social biological role of “child” (son or daughter) as opposed to the kin role of spouse was positively correlated with remaining in the community. After examining studies which attempted to explore the relationship between familial expectations of instrumental performance on the part of the ex-patient and the ability of the ex-patient to avoid rehospitalization, it was concluded that little support was provided for the hypothesis that the two variables are related. A survey of attempts to identify family attitude and personality characteristic correlates of ex-patient achievement of community tenure resulted in arrival at the conclusion that such efforts, as a whole, have met with little success, although significant correlations between two general family attitudes toward mental illness and ex-patient avoidance of rehospitalization were found. Considering the findings which were reviewed as a whole, it was concluded that little support was provided for the hypothesis that measurable family variables are correlated with the ability of the ex-patient to achieve community tenure. The rather limited aftercare practice applications which could be drawn from the few correlations that have been discovered were described, and implications of the over-all finding for future research were discussed. Close

• 360. [Article] Engaging a Systems Approach to Evaluate Domestic Violence Intervention with Abusive Men: Reassessing the Role of Community

  The domestic violence movement has had remarkable success illuminating the scope, prevalence and consequences of battering, but has been more limited in its ability to successfully intervene and prevent ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Engaging a Systems Approach to Evaluate Domestic Violence Intervention with Abusive Men: Reassessing the Role of Community Author: Wallpe, Courtenay Silvergleid Year: 2010 The domestic violence movement has had remarkable success illuminating the scope, prevalence and consequences of battering, but has been more limited in its ability to successfully intervene and prevent abuse of women by their intimate male partners. Surprisingly, there has been little research directed at understanding why intervention strategies with perpetrators are only minimally effective. Studies have focused on assessing the degree to which and for whom individual components such as arrest, prosecution and psycho-educational programs for abusive men are successful, but few explorations have attempted to describe limitations and challenges to the domestic violence intervention 'system as a whole'. Employing a systems approach, a process-oriented evaluation of the domestic violence intervention system in Portland, Oregon was conducted. Ten focus groups were facilitated with key stakeholders in the coordinated community response. Participants included police and probation officers, victim advocates, victim/survivors, batterer intervention program providers, and batterer intervention program participants. The focus group discussions were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory and emergent themes were identified. Based on stakeholder testimony, it appears as though seven interacting features may limit the effectiveness of domestic violence intervention strategies with abusive men: 1) attempting to simultaneously punish and rehabilitate perpetrators, 2) dominance of a "one size fits all" approach, 3) insufficient accountability within the system for abusive men, 4) rampant victim blaming, 5) barriers to effective collaboration, 6) confusion created by complex domestic violence dynamics, and 7) reactivity instead of activism and prevention. These and other findings are discussed in light of their capacity to illuminate fundamental tensions associated with relying so heavily on the criminal justice system to intervene in domestic violence (e.g., the contradictions that surface when attempting to protect and empower victims, the difficulty of balancing consistency with an individually tailored response when sanctioning perpetrators). Despite these and other challenges, complete dismissal of the criminal justice system's role in holding abusive men accountable seems unwise. Instead, it will be important for movement activists, practitioners, and researchers to critically reflect upon its limitations and work to redress and refine its use, while simultaneously developing new strategies that engage a wider range of community resources. Title: Engaging a Systems Approach to Evaluate Domestic Violence Intervention with Abusive Men: Reassessing the Role of Community Author: Wallpe, Courtenay Silvergleid Year: 2010 The domestic violence movement has had remarkable success illuminating the scope, prevalence and consequences of battering, but has been more limited in its ability to successfully intervene and prevent abuse of women by their intimate male partners. Surprisingly, there has been little research directed at understanding why intervention strategies with perpetrators are only minimally effective. Studies have focused on assessing the degree to which and for whom individual components such as arrest, prosecution and psycho-educational programs for abusive men are successful, but few explorations have attempted to describe limitations and challenges to the domestic violence intervention 'system as a whole'. Employing a systems approach, a process-oriented evaluation of the domestic violence intervention system in Portland, Oregon was conducted. Ten focus groups were facilitated with key stakeholders in the coordinated community response. Participants included police and probation officers, victim advocates, victim/survivors, batterer intervention program providers, and batterer intervention program participants. The focus group discussions were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory and emergent themes were identified. Based on stakeholder testimony, it appears as though seven interacting features may limit the effectiveness of domestic violence intervention strategies with abusive men: 1) attempting to simultaneously punish and rehabilitate perpetrators, 2) dominance of a "one size fits all" approach, 3) insufficient accountability within the system for abusive men, 4) rampant victim blaming, 5) barriers to effective collaboration, 6) confusion created by complex domestic violence dynamics, and 7) reactivity instead of activism and prevention. These and other findings are discussed in light of their capacity to illuminate fundamental tensions associated with relying so heavily on the criminal justice system to intervene in domestic violence (e.g., the contradictions that surface when attempting to protect and empower victims, the difficulty of balancing consistency with an individually tailored response when sanctioning perpetrators). Despite these and other challenges, complete dismissal of the criminal justice system's role in holding abusive men accountable seems unwise. Instead, it will be important for movement activists, practitioners, and researchers to critically reflect upon its limitations and work to redress and refine its use, while simultaneously developing new strategies that engage a wider range of community resources. Close