Showing papers by "University of Kentucky published in 1986"

Staff Development and the Process of Teacher Change

Abstract: This article presents a model that describes the process of teacher change, particularly through staff development programs. The model suggests a temporal sequence of events that is hypothesized to typify the process front staff development to enduring change in teachers’ perceptions and attitudes. Research evidence supporting the model is summarized and the conditions under which change might be facilitated are described. Several principles for enhancing the change process to improve staff development efforts are also outlined.

Monoclonal antibody technology

Abstract: The development, production, limitations, and uses of monoclonal antibody (MoAb) technology are presented. The first MoAbs were developed in 1975 using a process whereby the antibody-producing spleen cells of mice that had been immunized against sheep red blood cells were fused with the cells of a mouse myeloma cell line, producing hybridomas. These hybridoma cells are used to produce MoAbs, which are antibodies that will bind to only one specific target site on an antigen. Large quantities of MoAbs are grown, either in cell cultures or in the peritoneum of mice, and harvested. Although large quantities of MoAbs can be produced, these techniques are limited because of the potential for contamination by mouse viruses and the inability of the hybridomas to yield sufficient quantities of MoAbs. MoAbs are currently used in diagnostic techniques, including pregnancy tests and drug assays, as well as in tests for detecting viral and bacterial infections and cancer. MoAbs, coupled with dyes or radioactive isotopes, can be used in imaging techniques. Other possible applications of MoAbs include tissue typing, purification, therapy of cancer and autoimmune diseases, and treatment of drug toxicities. As the use of MoAbs in health care increases, pharmacists will need to have a good understanding of the functions and applications of these agents.

Porous microspheres for drug delivery and methods for making same

Abstract: Controlled release drug delivery systems comprised of spherical microporous polymeric network of interconnecting channels containing pore incorporated drugs or other agents wherein the drugs or agents are confined within the pore channel are described. Also disclosed are processing parameters in connection with the novel method of the invention for obtaining drug delivery systems especially suited for parenteral as well as oral administration.

Designing approximation schemes for stochastic optimization problems, in particular for stochastic programs with recourse

Abstract: Various approximation schemes for stochastic optimization problems involving either approximates of the probability measures and/or approximates of the objective functional, are investigated. We discuss their potential implementation as part of general procedures for solving stochastic programs with recourse.

Rate Making for Farm-Level Crop Insurance: Implications for Adverse Selection

Abstract: This research identifies two problems in the new Federal Crop Insurance that may cause adverse selection: (a) the relationship between rate making and expected yields for individual farmers, and (b) the bias introduced in coverage protection when trends are not used to establish expected yields. A theoretical investigation using the normality assumption demonstrates the potential severity of these problems, and empirical results from farm-level data lend further support. As crop insurance changes to individualized methods of protection, these issues will be particularly important for developing rates.

A Region-Based Approach to Digital Image Registration with Subpixel Accuracy

Abstract: Automatic registration of images with translational, rotational, and scaling differences is discussed. To register two images from the same scene, first, the images are segmented and closedboundary regions in the images are extracted. Next, centers of gravity of closed-boundary regions are taken as control points and correspondence is established between the control points. Using this correspondence, the original images are then revisited and the segmentation process is refined in such a way that the obtained corresponding regions become optimally similar. This enables determination of centers of gravity of the regions up to subpixel accuracy. Finally, registration parameters are determined by the least squares error criterion.

Judging Inflation and Unemployment: The Origins of Retrospective Evaluations

Abstract: In recent years, a great deal of evidence has been generated regarding the impact of retrospective evaluations of the economy on vote choice. Yet little attention has been focused on the actual process whereby such evaluations are formed. This paper employs panel data to test a model of retrospective evaluations of inflation and unemployment. Our findings suggest, first, that retrospective evaluations are influenced by personal economic circumstances and knowledge about national economic conditions. And second, our findings indicate that the lag times in the public's learning of economic trends differs significantly for inflation and unemployment, with the public reacting more quickly to changes in unemployment. The reasons for such findings and their political implications are discussed.

Satisfaction and Commitment in Homosexual and Heterosexual Relationships

Abstract: Rusbult's (1980, 1983) investment model was utilized to explore the determinants of satisfaction with the commitment to maintain romantic relationships among male and female homosexuals and male and female heterosexuals. The study employed a questionnaire designed to obtain both specific and global measures of rewards, costs, alternatives, and investments, and to obtain global measures of satisfaction and commitment. Women, both lesbians and heterosexuals, reported that they had invested more in their relationships and were more committed to maintaining their relationships than did men. Heterosexuals, male and female, reported greater costs and marginally greater investments in their relationships. In general, the investment model effectively predicted satisfaction and commitment for the sample as a whole and for all four groups of respondents. Greater satisfaction with relationships was associated with higher levels of rewards and lower levels of costs. Greater commitment was associated with greater sati...

Determinants and Consequences of Exit, Voice, Loyalty, and Neglect: Responses to Dissatisfaction in Adult Romantic Involvements

Abstract: A survey of adult romantic involvements was conducted to test hypotheses regarding the determinants and consequences of four characteristic responses to dissatisfaction: exit, voice, loyalty, and neglect. In general, greater prior satisfaction with relationships and greater investment of resources in relationships were associated with stronger tendencies to react to problems constructively, with voice and loyalty, and lesser tendencies to react destructively, with exit and neglect. Higher quality alternatives promoted exit and inhibited loyalty. Greater problem severity encouraged exit and voice and discouraged loyalty. Voice and loyalty resulted in more favorable outcomes, better immediate consequences and greater later satisfaction and commitment, whereas exit and neglect produced less favorable consequences. The relationship between a variety of demographic characteristics and each category of response were also examined.

The Poisson Function of Finite Elasticity

Abstract: The Poisson function is introduced to study in a simple tension test the lateral contractive response of compressible and incompressible, isotropic elastic materials in finite strain. The relation of the Poisson function to the classical Poisson’s ratio and its behavior for certain constrained materials are discussed. Some experimental results for several elastomers, including two natural rubber compounds of the same kind studied in earlier basic experiments by Rivlin and Saunders, are compared with the derived relations. A special class of compressible materials is also considered. It is proved that the only class of compressible hyperelastic materials whose response functions depend on only the third principal invariant of the deformation tensor is the class first introduced in experiments by Blatz and Ko. Poisson functions for the Blatz-Ko polyurethane elastomers are derived; and our experimental data are reviewed in relation to a volume constraint equation used in their experiments.

Six-month study of the effects of a chlorhexidine mouthrinse on gingivitis in adults

Abstract: The effects of a chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse on plaque and gingivitis were studied among 430 adults in a six-month clinical trial. Subjects were divided in two comparable treatment groups matched for age, sex, and initial gingivitis severity. Following a thorough oral prophylaxis, they were instructed to rinse twice a day for 30 seconds with 15 ml of a 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse or a placebo mouthrinse. After three and six months of mouthrinse use, the chlorhexidine group had significantly less gingivitis, gingival bleeding, and plaque accumulation compared to the placebo group. As expected, accumulation of dental calculus and extrinsic dental stain increased in the chlorbexidine group. No significant differences in adverse oral soft tissue effects were observed between the two groups. Since use of oral antimicrobial agents has been reported to produce tooth and tongue stain, gingivitis examinations were done with and without tooth covers to eliminate the potential for examiner bias. Comparable reductions in the Gingival Index scores and gingival bleeding were obtained when the evaluations were conducted with or without the tooth covers. It was concluded that a 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse can provide an important adjunct to the prevention and control of gingivitis when used with regular personal oral hygiene procedures and professional care.

A Critical Theory of Organization Science

Abstract: Critical theory is presented as a general method for analyzing an organization science based on either a natural science or interpretive paradigm. This is accomplished by introducing epistemic inquiry into organization science methodology. Specifically, critical theory provides a means of examining the socio-political interplay among the researcher, the research enterprise, the practitioner, and the organization members. Such an analysis requires the examination of ideology, technology, and praxis.

Ecological Worldview and Environmental Knowledge: The “New Environmental Paradigm”

Abstract: With the increased societal awareness of environmental issues, social scientists have expanded their examination of environmentally related topics. One component of this expansion has been the generation and growth of social theory which has the human-environment relationship at its core. This study is a further test of one of these theories, the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP). Using survey data, the relationship of the NEP to knowledge of environmentally relevant issues is examined. The results show ecological worldview as measured by the NEP scale has an independent influence on net environmental knowledge of other sociodemographic characteristics.

Density dependence of the dielectric constant of rare-gas crystals.

Abstract: A local-density approximation scheme is proposed to compute, from first principles, the in-crystal polarizabilities of rare-gas atoms. The scheme is applicable to condensed, closed-shell systems in general, ordered or disordered. The method is illustrated by computing the density dependence of the dielectric constant of crystalline Ar. Excellent agreement with experimental results is found.

Perceived vulnerability to crime, criminal victimization experience, and television viewing

Abstract: Survey data were utilized to examine the relationship between television viewing and perceptions of personal vulnerability to crime The analyses revealed that the strength and direction of such associations were contingent upon: (a) the viewer's predominant modality or source of criminal victimization experience (mediated, interpersonal, or direct); (b) the type of primetime television program viewed (crime‐related or noncrime‐related); and (c) the contextual nature of the perception of personal vulnerability to crime being considered Discussion of the implications of these findings for future research focused on the relationship between television viewing and social perceptions

Studies on the Photoactivation of the Water-Oxidizing Enzyme II. Characterization of Weak Light Photoinhibition of PSII and Its Light-Induced Recovery

Abstract: Inactivation of the water splitting enzyme complex in leaves or isolated chloroplasts results in increased susceptibility of photosystem II (PSII) to damage by light. Photoinhibition under this condition occurs in very weak light. The site of damage is exclusive of the water splitting complex yet still on the oxidizing side of PSII, as the QB locus is unaffected while photoreduction of silicomolybdate is inhibited. The kinetics of loss in PSII activity are more complex than apparent first-order, and the quantum efficiency is low. We observe no evidence of deletion from thylakoid membranes of any PSII polypeptide as a consequence of photoinhibition, although recovery from the photoinhibition is dependent upon both light and 70S protein synthesis. Enhanced synthesis of two proteins occurs during recovery, only one of which (D2) appears to be causally related to the recovery. We present a model which describes the relationship of weak light photoinhibition and its recovery to photoactivation of the S-state water oxidizing complex.

Locus of inhibition effects in the priming of lexical decisions: pre- or postlexical access?

Abstract: The lexical decision task has been employed to investigate the effects of semantic context on word recognition. A frequent finding from the task is that “word” responses are slower when the target is preceded by an unrelated word than when it is preceded by a neutral stimulus. This inhibition effect has been interpreted as indicating that the unrelated prime interferes with word-recognition processes operating on the target. In three experiments, the effects of unrelated primes were compared for a lexical decision and word naming task. Although large inhibition effects were found for the lexical decision task in all experiments, no inhibition effects were observed for the naming task. The results are interpreted as demonstrating that inhibition effects in the lexical decision task are not on recognition processes; rather they are located at processes operating after recognition of the target has occurred.

A Model of Sales Supervisor Leadership Behavior and Retail Salespeople's Job-Related Outcomes:

Abstract: Retail salespeople play an important role in a retailer’s marketing mix, yet little empirical research has examined how retail managers might assist sales personnel in the performance of their jobs. This paper reports the results of a study that explored a causal model of sales supervisor “leadership behavior” and seven job-related outcomes of retail salespeople. Implications for retailers and researchers are provided.

Preparation of biodegradable microspheres useful as carriers for macromolecules

Abstract: A method for preparing biodegradable microspheres having a three-dimensional network in which biologically active macromolecular agents are physically entrapped therein. The microsphere is able to degrade and release the macromolecular agent at a controlled rate. The method involves emulsifying a vinyl derivative of a biodegradable hydrophilic polymer, a water-soluble monovinyl monomer and a biologically active macromolecule in water, and copolymerizing the biodegradable hydrophilic polymer and the water-soluble monovinyl monomer such that the biologically active macromolecule is entrapped therein.