Showing papers by "University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee published in 2005"

Qualitative Studies in Special Education

Abstract: An overview of the many types of studies that fall into the qualitative design genre is provided. Strategies that qualitative researchers use to establish the authors' studies as credible and trustworthy are listed and defined. So that readers will recognize the important contribution qualitative studies have made in the field of special education, a range of well-known and lesser known examples of qualitative research are reviewed. The quality indicators that are important in conducting and evaluating qualitative research are identified. Finally, as an example of the evidence that can be produced using qualitative methods, the authors provide a summary of how 3 studies have provided important information that can be used to inform policy and practice.

Information Processing View of Organizations: An Exploratory Examination of Fit in the Context of Interorganizational Relationships

Abstract: This study uses Galbraith's information processing theory to examine the fit between information processing needs and information processing capability in an interorganizational supply chain context and to examine its effect on performance. Information processing needs are assessed based on various characteristics of the product and procurement environment and information processing capabilities are assessed by the level of information technology support for various activities in the procurement life cycle. A taxonomy of information processing needs and information processing capabilities is developed. The effect of the fit between information processing needs and capabilities on procurement performance is examined. The study collected data on 142 products through personal interviews and surveys, used cluster analytic techniques to develop taxonomies, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test the fit between needs and capability, modeled as an interaction effect. The results reveal two clusters for information processing needs and three clusters for information processing capability. ANOVA results show that the interactive effect of information needs and capability has a significant effect on performance, supporting our fit theory.

Blurring Boundaries? Linking Technology Use, Spillover, Individual Distress, and Family Satisfaction

Abstract: Information technology is entrenched in everyday life; yet, scholars have not firmly established whether this use blesses or vexes individuals and their families. This study analyzes longitudinal data (N =1,367) from the Cornell Couples and Careers Study to assess whether increases in spillover explain changes in distress and family satisfaction associated with technology use. Structural equation models indicate that cell phone use over time (but not computer use) is associated with increases in negative forms of spillover (positive spillover is not significant) and is linked to increased distress and lower family satisfaction. Overall, the evidence suggests that technology use may be blurring work/family boundaries with negative consequences for working people.

A Mechanistic Explanation for Global Patterns of Liana Abundance and Distribution

Abstract: One of the main goals in ecology is determining the mechanisms that control the abundance and distribution of organisms. Using data from 69 tropical forests worldwide, I demonstrate that liana (woody vine) abundance is correlated negatively with mean annual precipitation and positively with seasonality, a pattern precisely the opposite of most other plant types. I propose a general mechanistic hypothesis integrating both ecological and ecophysiological approaches to explain this pattern. Specifically, the deep root and efficient vascular systems of lianas enable them to suffer less water stress during seasonal droughts while many competitors are dormant, giving lianas a competitive advantage during the dry season. Testing this hypothesis in central Panama, I found that lianas grew approximately seven times more in height than did trees during the dry season but only twice as much during the wet season. Over time, this dry season advantage may allow lianas to increase in abundance in seasonal forests. In aseasonal wet forests, however, lianas gain no such advantage because competing plants are rarely limited by water. I extend this theory to account for the local, within-forest increase in liana abundance in response to disturbance as well as the conspicuous decrease in liana abundance at high latitudes.

Complete genome sequence of the acetic acid bacterium Gluconobacter oxydans

Abstract: Gluconobacter oxydans is unsurpassed by other organisms in its ability to incompletely oxidize a great variety of carbohydrates, alcohols and related compounds. Furthermore, the organism is used for several biotechnological processes, such as vitamin C production. To further our understanding of its overall metabolism, we sequenced the complete genome of G. oxydans 621H. The chromosome consists of 2,702,173 base pairs and contains 2,432 open reading frames. In addition, five plasmids were identified that comprised 232 open reading frames. The sequence data can be used for metabolic reconstruction of the pathways leading to industrially important products derived from sugars and alcohols. Although the respiratory chain of G. oxydans was found to be rather simple, the organism contains many membrane-bound dehydrogenases that are critical for the incomplete oxidation of biotechnologically important substrates. Moreover, the genome project revealed the unique biochemistry of G. oxydans with respect to the process of incomplete oxidation.

Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS): initial psychometric results and examination of the premonitory urge phenomenon in youths with Tic disorders.

Abstract: Although motor tics and/or vocal tics are the defining features of chronic tic disorder (CTD) and Tourette syndrome (TS), older youths and adults often report their tics to be preceded by an unpleasant sensation or "premonitory urge." While premonitory urge phenomena may play an important role in behavioral interventions for CTD/TS, standardized assessments for premonitory urges do not exist. The current study of 42 youths with TS or CTD presents initial psychometric data for a new, brief self-report scale designed to measure tic-related premonitory urges. Results showed that the Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS) was internally consistent (alpha = .81) and temporally stable at 1 (r = 0.79, p < .01) and 2 (r = 0.86, p < .01) weeks. PUTS scores were also correlated with overall tic severity as measured by the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS; r = 0.31, p < .05) and the YGTSS number (r = 0.35, p < .05), complexity (r = 0.49, p < .01), and interference (r = 0.36, p < .05) subscales. Finally, an examination of the psychiatric correlates of the premonitory urge phenomenon yielded significant correlations between the PUTS and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) anxiety/depression (r = 0.33, p < .05), and withdrawal (r = 0.38, p < .05) subscales as well as the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CYBOCS; r = 0.31, p < .05). However, a cross-sectional examination of the data showed that the psychometric properties of the PUTS were not acceptable for youths 10 years of age and younger. Likewise, significant correlations found between the YGTSS subscales, CBCL subscales, CYBOCS, and the PUTS did not emerge in this younger age group. The clinical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

Fundamental transmitting properties of carbon nanotube antennas

Abstract: Fundamental properties of dipole transmitting antennas formed by carbon nanotubes are investigated. Since carbon nanotubes can be grown to centimeter lengths, and since they can be metallic, the properties of carbon nanotubes as antenna elements are of fundamental interest. In this paper, dipole carbon nanotube antennas are investigated via a classical Hallen's-type integral equation, based on a quantum mechanical conductivity. The input impedance, current profile, and efficiency are presented, and the radiation pattern is discussed, as are possible applications.

Job satisfaction and gender segregation

Abstract: Using data from the US, the determinants of overall job satisfaction are estimated as part of explaining 'the paradox of the contented female worker'. Confirming earlier studies women report higher job satisfaction than men and higher job satisfaction in workplaces dominated by women workers. The US data allow us to demonstrate that men and women value job flexibility differently and that once differences in the extent of job flexibility are accounted for, the gender composition of the workplace plays no role in determining the job satisfaction of women. Thus, women in female dominated workplaces may report higher job satisfaction because they value job flexibility and so choose to dominate the workplaces that provide job flexibility. Copyright 2005, Oxford University Press.

The role of outcome expectations and attitudes on decisions to seek professional help

Abstract: Two studies examined the predictors of seeking psychological services. Study 1 examined the role of attitudes in mediating the relationship between 11 psychological factors and intent to seek help for 3 psychological problems. The results demonstrated that (a) the psychological factors and attitudes predicted 62% of the variance in intent to seek help for interpersonal problems and 18% of the variance for drug problems and (b) attitudes toward counseling mediated most of the relationships between the different psychological factors and help-seeking intent. Study 2, in turn, demonstrated that (a) anticipated outcomes of talking with a counselor were associated with the use of psychological services and (b) anticipated risks of disclosing emotions were salient for those having experienced a distressing event.

Competitive pricing of mixed retail and e-tail distribution channels

Abstract: In addition to regular retail distribution channels, a firm nowadays can avail themselves of such information technology (IT) as the Internet to distribute products directly “on line” (referred to as an “e-tail” distribution channel). The mix of retailing with e-tailing has added a new dimension of competition to the firm's distribution channels. The central issue of this competition is the competitive pricing policies between retail and e-tail distribution channels. In this paper, we consider the price competition between these two channels under two market game settings: the Bertrand and the Stackelberg price competition models. In the Bertrand competition, the manufacturer and retailer simultaneously select e-tail and retail price, respectively, while in Stackelberg competition, the manufacturer as a leader selects the e-tail price, then the retailer selects retail price. We obtain both the Bertrand and Stackelberg equilibrium pricing policies, and compare the profit gains under these two competitions. Based on our results, we propose an appropriate strategy for the manufacturer to adopt when adding an e-tail channel. We also show that an optimal wholesale price exists under a different market structure that could be used to encourage the retailer to accommodate the additional e-tail channel.

Testosterone-mediated immune functions and male life histories.

Abstract: Recent advances in human life history theory have provided new insights into the potential selection pressures that were instrumental in the evolution of human and non-human primate males However, gaps remain in our understanding of how primate males regulate and allocate energetic resources between survivorship and reproductive effort Defense against parasitic infection is an important force shaping life history evolution Proper performance of immunological responses against infection is influenced by many physiological systems, including metabolic, reproductive, and stress hormones Because androgens influence and modulate immune, reproductive, and somatic metabolic functions, assessing changes in testosterone and immune factors during infection may yield insight into male physiological ecology In this review, we examine male life history trade-offs between immune and reproductive endocrine functions as well as provide a comprehensive review of testosterone–immunocompetence relationships Emphasis is placed on testosterone because it is a primary hormone shown to be crucial to energy-allocation processes in vertebrates Non-primate species have been used more extensively in this research than humans or non-human primates, and therefore this extensive literature is organized and reviewed in order to better understand potential parallel relationships in primates, especially humans Furthermore, we attempt to reconcile the many inconsistent results obtained from field studies on immune–endocrine interactions as well as detail various methodologies that may be used to forward this research in evolutionary anthropology Am J Hum Biol 17:527–558, 2005 © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Levels of Culture and Individual Behavior: An Investigative Perspective

Abstract: In an organizational setting, national culture is not the only type of culture that influences managerial and work behavior. Rather, behavior is influenced by different levels of culture ranging from the supranational (regional, ethnic, religious, linguistic) level through the national, professional, and organizational levels to the group level. The objective of this study is to integrate these different levels of culture by explicitly recognizing that individuals’ workplace behavior is a function of all different cultures simultaneously. It is theorized that the relative influence of the different levels of culture on individual behavior varies depending on the nature of the behavior under investigation. Thus, for behaviors that include a strong social component or include terminal and moral values, supranational and national cultures might have a predominant effect. For behaviors with a strong task component or for those involving competence values or practices, organizational and professional cultures may dominate. These propositions are illustrated with examples from the IS field. This paper is a conceptual study and therefore extends theory and the current understanding of how culture is examined by not only explicitly recognizing that behaviors are simultaneously influenced by multiple levels of culture but by also specifying conditions under which certain levels of culture dominate. Such an approach has the potential to inform researchers and practitioners about the generalizability or universality of theories and techniques across national, organizational, and professional borders.

Post-Newtonian constraints on f(R) cosmologies in metric and Palatini formalism

Abstract: We compute the complete post-Newtonian limit of both the metric and Palatini formulations of $f(R)$ gravities using a scalar-tensor representation. By comparing the predictions of these theories with laboratory and solar system experiments, we find a set of inequalities that any lagrangian $f(R)$ must satisfy. The constraints imposed by those inequalities allow us to find explicit bounds to the possible nonlinear terms of the lagrangian. We conclude that in both formalisms the lagrangian $f(R)$ must be almost linear in $R$ and that corrections that grow at low curvatures are incompatible with observations. This result shows that modifications of gravity at very low cosmic densities cannot be responsible for the observed cosmic speed-up.

The Gravity Lagrangian According to Solar System Experiments

Abstract: In this work we show that the gravity Lagrangian $f(R)$ at relatively low curvatures in both metric and Palatini formalisms is a bounded function that can only depart from the linearity within the limits defined by well-known functions. We obtain those functions by analyzing a set of inequalities that any $f(R)$ theory must satisfy in order to be compatible with laboratory and solar system observational constraints. This result implies that the recently suggested $f(R)$ gravity theories with nonlinear terms that dominate at low curvatures are incompatible with observations and, therefore, cannot represent a valid mechanism to justify the cosmic speedup.

CEO Tenure And Company Invention Under Differing Levels of Technological Dynamism

Abstract: Following from research on firms' upper echelons, this article examines the previously unstudied issue of how technological dynamism moderates the relationship between a CEO's time in office and co...

Fundamental transmitting properties of carbon nanotube antennas

Abstract: P.J. Burke et al. (see http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/cond-mat/0408418) considered carbon nanotube dipole antennas based on a transmission-line model. This paper investigates fundamental properties of dipole antennas formed by carbon nanotubes using a Halle/spl acute/n's-type integral equation. The input impedance, radiation pattern, and current profiles are presented and compared to those of ordinary metallic antennas of the same size and shape. Possible applications of carbon nanotube antennas are discussed. The carbon nanotube is accounted for using a semi-classical conductivity derived explicitly for infinite carbon nanotubes (Maksimenko, S.A. et al., Phys. Rev. B, vol.60, p.17136-49, 1999). At the frequencies of interest, this semi-classical conductivity is equivalent to the more rigorous (and complicated) quantum mechanical conductivity also derived by Maksimenko et al. Thus, the integral equation method utilized can be considered as a semi-classical technique, since the quantum-mechanical nature of the CN conductivity is accounted for, yet the classical Maxwell's equations are used. This formulation should be accurate through THz frequencies.

Climate change and shifts in spring phenology of three horticultural woody perennials in northeastern USA

Abstract: We evaluated spring phenology changes from 1965 to 2001 in northeastern USA utilizing a unique data set from 72 locations with genetically identical lilac plants (Syringa chinensis, clone “Red Rothomagensis”). We also utilized a previously validated lilac-honeysuckle “spring index” model to reconstruct a more complete record of first leaf date (FLD) and first flower date (FFD) for the region from historical weather data. In addition, we examined mid-bloom dates for apple (Malus domestica) and grape (Vitis vinifera) collected at several sites in the region during approximately the same time period. Almost all lilac sites with significant linear trends for FLD or FFD versus year had negative slopes (advanced development). Regression analysis of pooled data for the 72 sites indicated an advance of −0.092 day/year for FFD (P=0.003). The slope for FLD was also negative (−0.048 day/year), but not significant (P=0.234). The simulated data from the “spring index” model, which relies on local daily temperature records, indicated highly significant (P<0.001) negative slopes of −0.210 and −0.123 day/year for FLD and FFD, respectively. Data collected for apple and grape also indicated advance spring development, with slopes for mid-bloom date versus year of −0.20 day/year (P=0.01) and −0.146 (P=0.14), respectively. Collectively, these results indicate an advance in spring phenology ranging from 2 to 8 days for these woody perennials in northeastern USA for the period 1965 to 2001, qualitatively consistent with a warming trend, and consistent with phenology shifts reported for other mid- and high-latitude regions.

A Theoretical Approach to Web Design in E-Commerce: A Belief Reinforcement Model

Abstract: Effective website design plays a critical role in attracting and maintaining customers' interest. Despite the importance of websites as the major and, at times, sole channel of communication in e-business, little theoretical knowledge is available about how websites may influence online shoppers' attitudes and behavior. In this paper, we develop a conceptual framework for measuring the impact of Web-design elements on the beliefs and behavior of Web customers. In developing the theoretical model (called the belief reinforcement model, or BRM), we synthesize the theory of planned behavior with theories in social psychology, consumer behavior, and management to categorize Web-design elements and conceptualize the salient aspects of Web shoppers' behavior. The empirical examination of BRM indicates that various categories of Web-design elements reinforce Web customers' beliefs, which in turn positively impact attitudinal constructs that lead to changes in their purchase intentions. BRM and its results provide an initial guideline for a rigorous approach to designing websites for e-business and testing their effectiveness before their full deployment.

Urban School Failure and Disproportionality in a Post-Brown Era Benign Neglect of the Constitutional Rights of Students of Color

Abstract: The decision in the Brown v Board of Education (1954) case was one of the most significant events in American history in general and specifically in the educational system Brown is so highly regarded because it held promise of placing America on the path toward equitable treatment of all of its citizens and laid the foundation for the civil rights and disabilities rights movements Fifty years after Brown, however, it is very clear that many of the promises of Brown have not been fulfilled with regard to students of color living in urban settings, students who live in poverty, and students with disabilities This article will discuss (a) the state of urban schools in the post-Brown era, (b) special education in the post-Brown era, (c) disproportionality and resegregation of African American students, (d) the double jeopardy of disproportionality and urban school failure, (e) the reasons why Brown is not working from the perspectives of urban community leaders, and (f) recommendations for fufilling the p

Cultural Context of Career Choice: Meta-Analysis of Race/Ethnicity Differences.

Abstract: The authors focus on career counseling from a cultural perspective, using the proxy construct of race/ethnicity. They briefly describe traditional career counseling and critique the degree to which the myriad cultural contexts that shape clients' career development are incorporated into vocational theories and practice. They conducted a meta-analysis of research that has investigated the relationship between culture and vocational choice variables and concluded (a) that race/ethnicity differences do not greatly affect career aspirations but (b) that there are differences among racial/ethnic groups in perceptions of career-related opportunities and barriers.

Disentangling above- and below-ground competition between lianas and trees in a tropical forest

Abstract: 1 Light is thought to be the most limiting resource in tropical forests, and thus aboveground competition is commonly accepted as the mechanism that structures these communities. In many tropical forests, trees compete not only with other trees, but also with lianas, which compete aggressively for below-ground resources and thus may limit tree growth and regeneration. 2 Using a replicated experiment, we tested the relative strengths of above- and belowground competition from lianas on tree saplings in a disturbed forest in Cote d?Ivoire with a heterogeneous canopy and relatively high light penetration. We planted seedlings of three tree species and subjected them to below-ground competition with lianas (BGC), above- and below-ground competition with lianas (ABGC), or a liana-free control treatment. After 2 years, we harvested the saplings and compared the amount of above-ground biomass and its relative allocation among the three experimental treatments and different tree species. 3 Lianas competed intensely with saplings in this tropical forest, substantially limiting sapling growth. Saplings grown in the ABGC and BGC treatments had only 18.5% and 16.8% of the above-ground dry biomass of those grown in the liana-free control treatment. 4 Sapling biomass did not differ significantly among the ABGC and BGC treatments, suggesting that below-ground competition was the driving force behind liana vs. tree competition in this forest. Above-ground competition with lianas, however, did affect the allocation of biomass in saplings, resulting in shorter, thicker stems and a poorly developed crown. 5 Collectively, our findings suggest that below-ground competition with lianas plays a substantial role in limiting the growth of saplings in disturbed and secondary tropical forests, and above-ground effects may be due to a combination of above-ground competition and mechanical stress. 6 Disentangling above- and below-ground competition between lianas and trees is critical for a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of naturally regenerating tropical forests, as well as formulating successful management plans for sustainable timber harvest. Key-words: above-ground, below-ground, competition, Cote d?Ivoire, forest regeneration, lianas, trees, tropical forest

Neighborhood Context, Personality, and Stressful Life Events as Predictors of Depression Among African American Women

Abstract: The neighborhood contexts in which people live affect many aspects of their lives, including their daily stress level, personal safety, and available resources. Contextual effects have been hypothesized for development in general and for mental health in particular (Bronfenbrenner, 1979a, 1979b, 1986; Jessor, 1992, 1993). The MacArthur Foundation issued a set of recommendations calling for systematic consideration of the role of context in the etiology of psychopathology (Boyce, Frank, Jensen, Kessler, Nelson, & Steinberg, 1998). However, to date, neighborhood contexts have received relatively little attention as a factor in mental health. Considerably more work has been done on the effects of neighborhood context on delinquency, crime, physical health, and parenting practices (e.g., Anderson, Sorlie, Backlund, Johnson, & Kaplan, 1997; Brody et al., 2003; Jencks & Mayer, 1990; Jessor, 1992; Jones & Duncan, 1995; LeClere, Rogers, & Peters, 1997; Robert, 1998; Sampson, 1992; Sampson, Raudenbush, & Earls, 1997). A key question is the extent to which community context affects people’s mental health beyond the effects of individual-level demographic characteristics, personality, and stressors. In the current study, we tested the extent to which neighborhood context was associated with diagnosable depression in a large sample of African American women, both directly and through interaction with personal risk variables. The personal risk variables we examined were negative life events and the personality trait of negative affectivity. We reasoned that an adverse neighborhood environment would amplify the effects of these known risk factors for depression. In other words, we predicted that women with these individual-level risk factors who reside in impoverished and/or dangerous neighborhoods would be more likely to experience episodes of major depression than would those who reside in more affluent, safe neighborhoods.

Values, Framing, and Citizens' Thoughts about Policy Issues: Effects on Content and Quantity

Abstract: This study examines how frames invoking a core value shape the content and quantity of citizens’ thoughts about a policy issue. An experimental study showed that exposure to a pro-school voucher equality frame increased the probability that participants would invoke equality in their open-ended survey responses. Exposure to an anti-school voucher equality frame produced the same effect, as did exposure to both frames. At the same time, participants who received either frame or both frames provided fewer open-ended responses. Thus, the frames appeared to focus participants’ thoughts on one value while reducing the overall extent to which they thought about the issue. In broader terms, value framing may have implications for the nature and quality of public deliberation about policy issues—a point that scholars should keep in mind when considering how to define and study framing effects.

Fish and chips: various methodologies demonstrate utility of a 16,006-gene salmonid microarray.

Abstract: We have developed and fabricated a salmonid microarray containing cDNAs representing 16,006 genes. The genes spotted on the array have been stringently selected from Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout expressed sequence tag (EST) databases. The EST databases presently contain over 300,000 sequences from over 175 salmonid cDNA libraries derived from a wide variety of tissues and different developmental stages. In order to evaluate the utility of the microarray, a number of hybridization techniques and screening methods have been developed and tested. We have analyzed and evaluated the utility of a microarray containing 16,006 (16K) salmonid cDNAs in a variety of potential experimental settings. We quantified the amount of transcriptome binding that occurred in cross-species, organ complexity and intraspecific variation hybridization studies. We also developed a methodology to rapidly identify and confirm the contents of a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library containing Atlantic salmon genomic DNA. We validate and demonstrate the usefulness of the 16K microarray over a wide range of teleosts, even for transcriptome targets from species distantly related to salmonids. We show the potential of the use of the microarray in a variety of experimental settings through hybridization studies that examine the binding of targets derived from different organs and tissues. Intraspecific variation in transcriptome expression is evaluated and discussed. Finally, BAC hybridizations are demonstrated as a rapid and accurate means to identify gene content.