abstract: Emergent processes can roughly be defined as processes that self-arise from interactions without a centralized control. People have many robust misconceptions in explaining emergent process concepts such as natural selection and diffusion. This is because they lack a proper categorical representation of emergent processes and often misclassify these processes into the sequential processes category that they are more familiar with. The two kinds of processes can be distinguished by their second-order features that describe how one interaction relates to another interaction. This study investigated if teaching emergent second-order features can help people more correctly categorize new processes, it also compared different instructional methods in teaching emergent second-order features. The prediction was that learning emergent features should help more than learning sequential features because what most people lack is the representation of emergent processes. Results confirmed this by showing participants who generated emergent features and got correct features as feedback were better at distinguishing two kinds of processes compared to participants who rewrote second-order sequential features. Another finding was that participants who generated emergent features followed by reading correct features as feedback did better in distinguishing the processes than participants who only attempted to generate the emergent features without feedback. Finally, switching the order of instruction by teaching emergent features and then asking participants to explain the difference between emergent and sequential features resulted in equivalent learning gain as the experimental group that received feedback. These results proved teaching emergent second-order features helps people categorize processes and demonstrated the most efficient way to teach them. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Psychology 2015

A infecção crônica do trato respiratório é responsável pela grande morbidade e mortalidade em pacientes com fibrose cística (FC). P. aeruginosa, S. aureus e bactérias do complexo Burkholderia cepacia (CBc) estão entre os patógenos mais encontrados em pulmões de pacientes com FC, mas também são encontradas outros bacilos gram-negativos não fermentadores (BGN-NF) emergentes como Achromobacter sp., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Ralstonia sp., Pandoraea sp., entre outros. A correta caracterização desses patógenos impacta na sobrevida e qualidade de vida desses pacientes, e é um dos grandes desafios para laboratórios de microbiologia clínica devido à similaridade fenotípica entre eles. Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar e propor estratégias e esquema de identificação acessível à maioria dos laboratórios para a identificação de BGN-NF emergentes e listar bactérias isoladas de pacientes com FC atendidos no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - USP (HCFMRP-USP), com ênfase nos BGN-NF emergentes. Foram utilizados meios de cultura seletivos, reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR), análise de polimorfirmos (RFLP). Foram coletadas 264 amostras clínicas de 107 pacientes com FC no HCFMRP-USP entre julho/2011 a setembro/2012. Inicialmente, para selecionar os BGNNF dos pacientes com FC, deve ser realizada triagem fenotípica (coloração de Gram, teste da oxidação/fermentação de glicose e produção de oxidase). Devido à dificuldade de identificação dos BGN-NF emergentes por provas bioquímicas, deve ser realizada PCR com DNA destes microrganismos para identificação de gênero e/ou espécie, utilizando os primers específicos, nas condições estabelecidas pela padronização, a qual foi realizada para aumentar a especificidade de alguns primers que apresentaram amplificação de produtos inespecíficos. Provas bioquímicas convencionais devem ser realizadas para confirmar gêneros e identificar algumas espécies não detectadas por PCR, e para resultados fenotípicos diferente da PCR deve ser realizado API® - NE. Para identificação das bactérias do CBc, deve ser realizado análise de polimorfismo, o qual se mostrou mais efetivo do que PCR para identificação de espécies e genomovares. Dos 107 pacientes, 17 estavam colonizados por bactérias do CBc, 13 colonizados por Achromobacter sp., 10 colonizados por S. maltophilia, 2 colonizados por Ralstonia sp. e um paciente colonizado por Cupriavidus sp. e Pandoraea sp., com um isolamento de cada gênero. Os genomovares mais prevalentes foram B. cenocepacia IIIB, seguido de B. vietnamiensis, B. pyrrocinia, B. cepacia e B. multivorans. A maioria dos BGNNF esteve presente em crianças com idade até 17 anos. Os meios de cultura seletivos foram extremamente necessários por permitir o isolamento de vários BGN-NF, não isolados em outros meios de cultura utilizados. A metodologia de identificação empregada foi capaz de identificar todos BNG-NF isolados e pode ser muito útil e acessível à maioria dos laboratórios clínicos. / Chronic infection of the respiratory tract accounts for the high rate of morbidity and mortality of patients suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF). P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and bacteria of the Burkholderia cepacia (BCc) complex are among the pathogens most commonly found in the lungs of CF patients, but other emergent non-fermenting gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB), such as Achromobacter sp., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Ralstonia sp., Pandoraea sp., among others, are found as well. The correct identification of these pathogens affects the survival rate of patients and, due to their phenotypic similarity, presents itself as one of the great challenges that clinical microbiology laboratories face. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and propose strategies and methods that are accessible to the majority of laboratories for identifying emergent NFGNBs and listing isolated bacteria (with a focus on emergent NFGNB) in CF patients receiving routine care at the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo - USP (HCFMRPUSP). The study employed selective culture media, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). From July 2011 to September 2012, 264 clinical samples were gathered from 107 CF patients at the HCFMRP-USP. A phenotypic screening (Gram staining, oxidase production and oxidation/fermentation of glucose) should be conducted as the first step to select the NFGNBs of CF patients. Due to the difficulty in identifying emergent NFGNBs via biochemical tests, a PCR using the DNA of these microorganisms should be carried out to identify their genus and/or species. The PCR should utilize the specific primers, at conditions established by this study, which was performed to increase the specificity of some primers that showed nonspecific amplification products. Conventional biochemical tests should be conducted to confirm genera and identify some species that the PCR failed to detect, and, in the case of phenotypic results that differ from those of the PCR, an API bacterial identification test should be conducted. RFLP analysis proven more effective than PCR in identifying species and genomovars, should be conducted to identify BCc bacteria. Of the 107 patients, 17 had positive cultures for BCc, 13 for Achromobacter sp., 10 for S. maltophilia, two for Ralstonia sp. and one patient had positive culture for Cupriavidus sp. and Pandoraea sp., with the genera isolated from each other. The most prevalent genomovar was the B. cenocepacia IIIB, followed by B. vietnamiensis, B. pyrrocinia, B. cepacia and B. multivorans. The majority of the NFGNBs were present in children up to age 17. Selective culture media were extremely necessary to allow the isolation of various NFGNBs that could not be isolated via alternative culture media. The identification methodology employed enabled the identification of all isolated NFGNBs and can be very useful and accessible to the majority of clinical laboratories.

The growing human population threatens the many of the earth’s biological systems. In the last 600 years extinction rates risen from 1 extinction per million species per year (E/MSY) in the 1400’s to 50 E/MSY today. During this time period 1.5% of all known birds have gone extinct, because they could not adapt quickly enough to human mediated changes. The goal of this dissertation was to determine how urbanization and anthropogenic services needed to support urban areas impact cypress dome wetland aquatic insect and migratory bird populations that depend on them. In Central Florida cypress dome hydroperiods are driven by seasonal rainfall conditions and fill June and July with the onset of the Florida rainy season then begin drying beginning in October with the onset of the dry season. Some wetlands were strongly influenced by groundwater pumping and dried out quicker than others, a characteristic that reduced annual insect emergence. Decreased adult insect populations were associated with lower emergence rates early in the dry season led to lower utilization by insectivorous birds. Winter migratory birds significantly related with adult insect abundance during winter months (r = 0.578, p=0.049), and utilized this region at the peak in adult insect populations. Conversely, Neotropical migrants travel through the region during spring when insects are scarce, and adult insects began sharp decline suggesting that Neotropical migrants depleted populations possibly leading to interspecies competition. Neotropical migrants strongly avoided urban areas and declined by 70% in urban areas, which may contribute to declining Neotropical migratory bird populations as a lack in adequate stopover sites may limit entire species. If they are not able to adapt foraging patterns that utilize urban areas in Central Florida where urban development is increasing rabidly populations may continue to decline.

Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, numerous groups emerged to address recovery related needs in Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes. The phenomenon of emergent groups is widely noted in the disaster literature, but there has been little empirical research focusing on these groups. And, the existing literature discusses emergent groups primarily in the context of response. This study sought to explore the factors related to formation of emergent recovery groups (ERGs) and allow ERGs to have an extended lifespan. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews with founders of twenty ERGs that formed to work in Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes. It was found that the factors related to group formation were the same factors that contributed to the continued existence of the ERG including post-event community situational context, unmet needs, a group driver/leader, ability to network, level of integration, and resources.

Early childhood teachers attend in-service trainings to continue their education after entering the workforce. The effectiveness of in-service training is being studied by many researchers. Some researchers postulate that adding modeling of the behavior and follow-up feedback to in-service trainings increases the ability of early childhood teachers to implement newly learned behaviors. The study investigated the effects of an instructional package (explicit teaching, modeling, and feedback) on early childhood students' implementation of vocabulary behaviors during shared storybook reading. The three vocabulary behaviors studied were selecting and stressing words, explaining and relating words, and repetition. Two case studies were completed with early childhood students, using a single-subject multiple-probe design across behaviors. Participants were baselined across all three behaviors. The behaviors were taught individually using explicit teaching and modeling. When criterion was reached, a new behavior was trained and modeled. Participants were given feedback on their performance, as well. Results showed the participants were able to implement selecting and stressing words and repetition during shared storybook reading after explicit training and modeling. The implementation of explaining and relating behaviors required additional feedback and reteaching for the participants to reach criterion. The study supports the research indicating that modeling and feedback improve early childhood students' abilities to implement newly learned skills.

No description available.

East Tennessee State University, Southern Regional Educational Board, Greeneville City Schools, and Kingsport City Schools formed the Greene-King Partnership to redesign principal preparation in Tennessee. This paper tells the story of that redesign and implications for the future of principal preparation.

Syftet med studien äratt synliggöra förskollärares tankar kring arbetet med barns litteracitet i rutinsituationer. Vi användeross av en kvalitativ metod med semistrukturerade intervjuer med fokuspåbarns litteracitetsutvecklingi förskolan. I vår studie utgårvi från ett sociokulturellt perspektiv. I resultatet framgårdet att förskollärarna ser litteracitet som ett brett begrepp som kan vara svårt att definiera. Det framgåratt förskollärarna lägger stort fokus på barns utveckling i det verbala språket. De använder sig av olika strategier som bildstöd, tecken och språkbadningför att hjälpa barnsutveckling av litteracitet. En slutsats vi kanredogöraför äratt förskollärarna harolika förståelse för vad litteracitet är ochatt förskollärarna tycker att litteracitet är en stor del i arbetet i förskolan.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur förskollärare beskriver hur de arbetar med högläsning för att främja barns litteracitetsutveckling. Vi valde att undersöka detta, eftersom vi efter våra verksamhetsförlagda utbildningsperioder, hade delade tankar om hur förskollärare arbetar med högläsning i förskolan. Därför valde vi att undersöka detta för att skapa oss en förståelse för hur det ser ut i verksamheten, det vill säga hur förskollärare beskriver sitt arbetssätt med högläsning, och inte bara hur vi ser det som utomstående. De teoretiska utgångspunkterna vi använder oss av i studien är litteracitetsperspektivet, begreppet framväxande litteracitet och begreppet multimodalitet. Studien bygger på en kvalitativ forskningsmetod med semistrukturerade intervjuer där fyra förskollärare intervjuades. Intervjuerna genomfördes digitalt via en digital app som heter Zoom och vi använde oss av 10 intervjufrågor. Resultatet i studien visar utifrån förskollärarnas beskrivningar att de arbetar med en regelbunden högläsning. Förskollärarna beskriver att de använder sig av olika strategier för att strukturera upp en högläsningsstund som skapar förutsättningar för barnens litteracitetsutveckling. De olika strategier som förskollärarna beskriver att de använde sig av var att dela in barngrupperna i mindre grupper. Resultatet visar utifrån förskollärarnas beskrivningar att deras arbete med högläsning stärker barnens språk. Förskollärarna beskriver att deras arbete med högläsning kan stärka barnens ordförråd, läsförståelse och förståelse för nya ord och begrepp. Vidare visar studiens resultat utifrån förskollärarnas beskrivningar att de hela tiden använder sig av en multimodal kommunikation när de läser för barnen, men att barnen också använder sig av en multimodal kommunikation tillbaka.Nyckelord: Emergent literacy, förskollärare, högläsning, literacy, multimodalitet

Vi har valt att göra en studie kring olika förskollärares arbete med barns språkutveckling. Anledningen till att vi valde att göra den här studien är för att vi lagt märke till att förskolorna vi arbetat/praktiserat på har haft varierande arbetssätt kring barns språkutveckling. Fokus ligger framförallt på högläsning. Hur förskollärares uppfattning av högläsning är men studien undersöker även andra språkliga metoder och förskollärares uppfattning om effekter av dessa. Följande frågeställningar tas upp i studien: Vad är förskollärares uppfattningar om högläsning i förskolan? Vilka funktioner anser förskollärarna att högläsningen fyller för barns språkutveckling? Vad innebär en lyckad högläsning, enligt förskollärarna? Vilka metoder använder förskollärare sig av i förskolan för att stimulera barnens språkutveckling? Undersökningarna har genomförts på 6 olika förskolor. Samtliga deltagare i studien är förskollärare som jobbat minst 3 år. De flesta värdesätter läsning och vikten av det betonas även i förskolans läroplan. Vi ville dock ta reda på om förskollärare märkt att det påverkat barns språk på något sätt. Med hjälp av förbestämda frågor intervjuades förskollärare för att få deras perspektiv på saken. Resultatet av studien visar att högläsning är en vanlig metod på förskolorna för att utveckla barns språkutveckling. Högläsning sker både som en spontan och planerad aktivitet i förskoleverksamheten. Oftast kombineras läsning med andra slags språkmetoder för att stärka barns språk. Samtliga förskolor planerar aktiviteter av olika slag som på något sätt enligt förskollärarna ska verka positivt på barns språkutveckling.