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Showing papers by "Saint Anselm College published in 2004"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Using micro-video cameras attached to the heads of 2 dogs, it is confirmed that dogs use the same viewer-based navigational heuristics previously found with baseball players, and a common interception strategy that extends both across species and to complex target trajectories.
Abstract: Using micro-video cameras attached to the heads of 2 dogs, we examined their optical behavior while catching Frisbees. Our findings reveal that dogs use the same viewer-based navigational heuristics previously found with baseball players (i.e., maintaining the target along a linear optical trajectory, LOT, with optical speed constancy). On trials in which the Frisbee dramatically changed direction, the dog maintained an LOT with speed constancy until it apparently could no longer do so and then simply established a new LOT and optical speed until interception. This work demonstrates the use of simple control mechanisms that utilize invariant geometric properties to accomplish interceptive tasks. It confirms a common interception strategy that extends both across species and to complex target trajectories.

122 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is argued that type-2 topoisomerases have evolved to act at "hooked" juxtapositions of strands (where the strands are curved toward each other) which is a natural consequence of entangled long strands.

106 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Making visible the experience of adolescent females living with type 1 diabetes has implications for practice, education, and research in diabetes education.
Abstract: PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of what it means for adolescent females to live with type 1 diabetes. METHODS Van Manen's phenomenological framework was used to guide the project of inquiry. Adolescents were recruited from a diabetes camp. A purposive sample of 10 adolescent females, aged 16 and 17 years, volunteered to participate in the study. Unstructured, one-on-one interviews were conducted and participants' accounts were transcribed and analyzed for themes. RESULTS Five themes were identified: (1) blending in with the adolescent culture, (2) standing out and being watched, (3) weighing the options and making choices, (4) being tethered to the system and to diabetes, and (5) struggling with conflicts. These adolescent females struggled with several conflicts and choices they were forced to make on a daily basis. They felt tethered to a disease that would never go away and to the healthcare system. Yet, they adopted ways to handle their disease so that it was manageable within the context of their lives. Fitting in with their peers was often more important than diabetes management. CONCLUSIONS Making visible the experience of adolescent females living with type 1 diabetes has implications for practice, education, and research in diabetes education.

77 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Morphometric analyses indicate that although chondrocranial shape differs consistently among samples from three localities, patterns of ontogenetic allometry are conserved, suggesting the hypothesis that these allometries may represent a general pattern in larval anurans.
Abstract: Available descriptions of chondrocranial morphology among larvae of Bufo species are inconsistent, the range of variation in chondrocranial structure is not well defined, and no detailed quantitative descriptions of cranial ontogeny currently exist for any species of the genus. This study describes chondrocranial morphology in larval Bufo americanus based on three samples of tadpoles and provides comparisons with other species of Bufo. Additionally, this study provides the first data on ontogenetic allometry of the chondrocranium in Bufo and demonstrates fine-scale intraspecific shape variation among samples of B. americanus larvae. Chondrocranial morphology in B. americanus is overall similar to that reported for larvae of other members of the genus. Morphometric analyses indicate that although chondrocranial shape differs consistently among samples from three localities, patterns of ontogenetic allometry are conserved. Common principal components analysis of the chondrocranial measurements indicates a mixture of allometric and isometric scaling. Measurements associated with the oral region, braincase, and otic capsule tend to scale with negative allometry, whereas those associated with the posterior palatoquadrate and insertion sites for the major jaw and buccal muscles scale with isometry or positive allometry. These data provide further evidence that the anuran chondrocranium is not a static structure during premetamorphic stages. Furthermore, these patterns are similar to those previously reported for Rana sylvatica, suggesting the hypothesis that these allometries may represent a general pattern in larval anurans.

31 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Two groups of male Japanese quail were trained to discriminate cocaine from saline in a conditioned approach procedure maintained by sexual reinforcement; however, during extinction trials, both groups responded more under the drug condition that predicted the female than to the conditions that predicted no female.
Abstract: Two groups of male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) were trained [corrected] to discriminate cocaine from saline in a conditioned approach procedure maintained by sexual reinforcement. For 1 group, cocaine (10 mg/kg ip) was administered prior to a conditioned stimulus (CS) that predicted copulation; saline followed by a CS predicted no copulation. A second group underwent the opposite training regimen. Results revealed apparent between-group differences in the rates of acquisition of the discrimination; however, during extinction trials, both groups responded more under the drug condition that predicted the female than to the condition that predicted no female. The results suggested that a drug discrimination may be maintained by sexual reinforcement. The findings are discussed with regard to interactions of cocaine and sexual reward, as well as to Pavlovian conditional stimulus control.

27 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A phase change in flexibility is demonstrated beyond which more flexibility adds very little entanglement, which provides the maximal tensile strength for materials that need to pack tightly.
Abstract: Entanglement is essential to the function of many physical systems. Flexibility and length determine the extent to which the system can become entangled. Given a perfectly flexible unit-radius tube, several researchers have studied the minimum length needed to tie different types of knots. Can one obtain the same configurations with less flexible tubing? Does more flexibility always yield tighter knots? We demonstrate a phase change in flexibility beyond which more flexibility adds very little entanglement. This level of flexibility is surprisingly low and appears to have a global bound. Since tensile strength and flexibility act inversely, this level of flexibility provides the maximal tensile strength for materials that need to pack tightly. This is a basic design principle that should be observable in nature.

14 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The development of a program involving a psychoeducational group curriculum incorporating Orlando’s nursing theory is described, which was found to be very helpful in providing structured content and promoting greater comfort, active involvement, and learning by registered nurses and patients.

7 citations