The Two-Stage Life Cycle of Cultural Replicators

Other complex life cycles that include specialized memes, such as those seen in the copy-the-instructions life cycle, are thought to be worthy of further study. Multiple opportunities for memes to add specialized components to their life cycles exist, and meme specialization may find use in explaining certain aspects of linguistic and cultural behavior that currently seem puzzling. One example of such behavior is religious rituals performed in secret. Such rituals contribute little to the associated memes propagation, but can be seen to benefit the activation of an individuals associated i-memes, offering a potential adaptive advantage. Specialized memes are far easier to study as part of a multiple stage life cycle model as the relationship between different meme forms can be clearly defined. A final direction of future work is the investigation of meme replication strategies in relation to replication costs at replication and learning stages. Where meme production is relatively cheap (i.e. language use) it is expected that the sorts of replicators that succeed will differ systematically from those that succeed where production is more expensive. The life cycle model is useful in this investigation due to its implicit separation of production and learning costs, and the greater variety of reproduction strategies it can differentiate

Systemic educational reform in Massachusetts : teacher perspectives on standards, assessment and school based decision making in underperforming schools.

The Massachusetts Education Reform Act (MERA), which impacts most aspects of K--12 education in the Commonwealth, was officially signed into law in June of 1993. This systemic Act called for changes in funding, curriculum, school governance, teacher licensure, time on learning, as well as district, local and individual accountability. After over a decade of reform there are schools that have not been able to increase academic achievement as measured by the state assessment system. The populations affected most are minority and socio-economic disadvantaged students. If unable to boost academic achievement these low performing schools face sanctions, such as restructuring and state takeover. The purpose of this study is to examine public school elementary teachers about their implementation of, perceptions, and attitudes towards MERA. Specifically, it focuses on curriculum, assessment, and school based decision-making within low performing schools. Qualitative research methods are used in this study. The major data source are interviews with teachers focusing on curriculum, assessment and school-based decision-making. Grounded Theory methods developed by Strauss and Corbin (1998) are employed to manage and analyze data. The study examines how key pieces of reform efforts are implemented in schools that are struggling increase the academic performance of students. Analysis shows that some components of the reform effort are not implemented adequately and may explain low academic achievement in the schools under examination

Linguistic politeness from an ethological perspective: Theoretical questions and empirical issues

Linguistic politeness (LP) refers to the set of “linguistic features mediating norms of social behaviour, in relation to such notions as courtesy, rapport, deference and distance” (Crystal 2008). Although researchers (e.g. Eelen 2001, Watts 2003) agree that it is intimately connected to normativity, group hierarchy and cooperation – the core questions of human ethology and human behavioural ecology – linguistic politeness has largely been neglected from those perspectives (Eibl-Eibesfeldt 1989 being a notable exception). In this paper we spell out the significance of a naturalistically oriented study of LP, outline a research agenda, and identify a number of methodological problems whose resolution is a prerequisite for such an approach.

Left ventricular non-compaction: clinical features and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging

Background: It is apparent that despite lack of family history, patients with the morphological characteristics of left ventricular non-compaction develop arrhythmias, thrombo-embolism and left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS: Forty two patients, aged 48.7 +/- 2.3 yrs (mean +/- SEM) underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for the quantification of left ventricular volumes and extent of non-compacted (NC) myocardium. The latter was quantified using planimetry on the two-chamber long axis LV view (NC area). The patients included those referred specifically for CMR to investigate suspected cardiomyopathy, and as such is represents a selected group of patients. RESULTS: At presentation, 50% had dyspnoea, 19% chest pain, 14% palpitations and 5% stroke. Pulmonary embolism had occurred in 7% and brachial artery embolism in 2%. The ECG was abnormal in 81% and atrial fibrillation occurred in 29%. Transthoracic echocardiograms showed features of NC in only 10%. On CMR, patients who presented with dyspnoea had greater left ventricular volumes (both p < 0.0001) and a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (p < 0.0001) than age-matched, healthy controls. In patients without dyspnoea (n = 21), NC area correlated positively with end-diastolic volume (r = 0.52, p = 0.0184) and end-systolic volume (r = 0.56, p = 0.0095), and negatively with EF (r = -0.72, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Left ventricular non-compaction is associated with dysrrhythmias, thromboembolic events, chest pain and LV dysfunction. The inverse correlation between NC area and EF suggests that NC contributes to left ventricular dysfunction

Linguistic politeness from an ethological perspective: Theoretical questions and empirical issues

Linguistic politeness (LP) refers to the set of “linguistic features mediating norms of social behaviour, in relation to such notions as courtesy, rapport, deference and distance” (Crystal 2008). Although researchers (e.g. Eelen 2001, Watts 2003) agree that it is intimately connected to normativity, group hierarchy and cooperation – the core questions of human ethology and human behavioural ecology – linguistic politeness has largely been neglected from those perspectives (Eibl-Eibesfeldt 1989 being a notable exception). In this paper we spell out the significance of a naturalistically oriented study of LP, outline a research agenda, and identify a number of methodological problems whose resolution is a prerequisite for such an approach.

A trans-disciplinary conceptualisation of Chinese international student perspectives of academic integrity

Using a trans-disciplinary conceptual framework to interpret qualitative data derived from in-depth interviews, literature and policy documents this research focuses on what influences Chinese International Student (CIS) perspectives of academic integrity. Specifically, this study examines the impact of Confucianism, collectivism, mobility, personal factors and technology, including the commoditisation, digitisation and globalisation of higher education on CIS perspectives. To gather data this research employed two rounds of semi-structured, in-depth interviews with eight undergraduate CIS studying business related subjects, separated by a minimum of six months. Interspersed amongst these student interviews was a single round of in-depth interviews with six lecturers of CIS from the same college but different schools. To analyse and conceptualise data derived from these interviews a trans-disciplinary framework combining a modified version of Glaser and Strauss&#039;s Grounded Theory with an interpretation of Harr&amp;eacute; and van Langenhove&#039;s Positioning Theory was developed. Using an adaptation of grounded theory, this framework overcomes concerns of ambiguity in relation to traditional grounded theory techniques. Similarly, through an interpretation of positioning theory this framework models qualitative data to identify not only what participants think but also how and why they obtained their views. Literature concerning what causes CIS to violate academic integrity often attributes cause to individual factors like imitation of the educator. However, this research shows that although it is possible for individual influences to cause CIS to violate academic integrity it is more likely that multiple interconnected factors shape student perspectives. In fact, deep analysis provided by the trans-disciplinary framework reveals catalysts are not mutually exclusive and operate in a hierarchical manner. For example, philosophical and religious beliefs are likely to precipitate collectivistic desires to assist peers in the presence of personal mobility. Therefore, if a student relocates overseas away from family to study in a demanding and unfamiliar educational environment they will likely assist culturally similar peers. However, if a student is located in their home country then personal influences, including demand for a short supply of university places surpasses cultural expectations to assist. In this case, hierarchical influences on student perspectives work in reverse as personal factors override cultural and institutional drivers. This study is important because it has the potential to contribute to administrator, educator and policy maker understandings of CIS perspectives and international student experiences in host institutions today. Specifically, this study demonstrates a need for consistency amongst individuals and institutions in relation to educating students about or dealing with violations of academic integrity. This study identifies how student attitudes towards academic integrity may be evolving due to the ubiquity of copyright violation driven by technological change. This study demonstrates that today more than Confucian principles alone influence CIS during their educational sojourn. Issues of mobility, increased independence and home country peers studying in Australia all influence CIS and warrant consideration by administrators, educators and policy makers when developing inductions and materials aimed at curtailing violations of academic integrity

Supporting Home-School Partnerships during Stage 6 in the New England Region

Stage 6, Year 11 and 12, are the last two years of secondary school in New South Wales. It is a challenging time for students and for those who live with them. This project and its associated program 'Senior Success' is designed to facilitate a strong home-school partnership, a partnership which can scaffold a young person as they complete their school education and take their first steps into the world beyond. This project is about a three way partnership Home-School-Student. It is about valuing the equal communication of information to all stakeholders and facilitating a scaffolding of the student which recognises and values the contribution of home and the emerging adult student to successful school completion. This project focusses upon effective communication of the expectations of Stage 6; the challenges of Stage 6 and strategies to maximise academic and social outcomes

Sex differences in vascular endothelial function and health in humans: Impacts of exercise.

This brief review presents historical evidence for the purported impacts of male and female sex hormones on the vasculature in humans, including effects on macro- and micro-vascular function and health. Impacts of aging on hormonal changes and artery function are considered in the context of the menopause. Physiological data are presented alongside clinical outcomes from large trials, in an attempt to rationalise disparate findings along the bench-to-bedside continuum. Finally, the theoretical likelihood that exercise and hormone treatment may induce synergistic and/or additive vascular adaptations is developed in the context of recent laboratory studies that have compared male and female responses to training. Differences between men and women in terms of the impact of age and cardiorespiratory fitness on endothelial function are addressed. Ultimately, this review highlights the paucity of high quality and compelling evidence regarding the fundamental impact, in humans, of sex differences on arterial function and the moderating impacts of exercise on arterial function, adaptation and health at different ages in either sex. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Cardiac T1 Mapping and Extracellular Volume (ECV) in clinical practice: a comprehensive review.

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance is increasingly used to differentiate the aetiology of cardiomyopathies. Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE) is the reference standard for non-invasive imaging of myocardial scar and focal fibrosis and is valuable in the differential diagnosis of ischaemic versus non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy. Diffuse fibrosis may go undetected on LGE imaging. Tissue characterisation with parametric mapping methods has the potential to detect and quantify both focal and diffuse alterations in myocardial structure not assessable by LGE. Native and post-contrast T1 mapping in particular has shown promise as a novel biomarker to support diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic decision making in ischaemic and non-ischaemic cardiomyopathies as well as in patients with acute chest pain syndromes. Furthermore, changes in the myocardium over time may be assessed longitudinally with this non-invasive tissue characterisation method

The impact of age on vascular smooth muscle function in humans

Aim: Advanced age is associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction, characterized by reductions in the endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the conduit and resistance arteries, in part, from decreased nitric oxide bioavailability. Although vascular smooth muscle function (SMF), assessed by responsiveness to an exogenous nitric oxide donor, is typically reported to be intact, many of these studies are limited by a small sample size. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-analysis is to systematically review and determine whether vascular SMF is different between older versus young healthy individuals. Design: We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE, Cochrane and Scopus, since their inceptions until January 2014, for articles evaluating SMF in the brachial artery and/or resistance arteries (BASMF and RASMF, respectively), as assessed by the endothelium-independent vasodilator response to exogenous nitric oxide donors in older (≥60 years) and young (<30 years) groups of healthy individuals. Meta-analyses were performed to compare the mean difference in BASMF and the standardized mean difference in RASMF between older and young groups. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify sources of heterogeneity. Results: Fifteen studies assessing BASMF and 20 studies assessing RASMF were included, comprising 550 older and 516 young healthy individuals. After data pooling, BASMF and RASMF were lower in older compared with the young groups (mean difference = −1.89%, P = 0.04; standardized mean difference = −0.46, P = 0.0008, respectively). Significant heterogeneity was observed in the BASMF (I2 = 74%, P < 0.00001) and the RASMF (I2 = 57%, P = 0.0008) meta-analyses. Subgroup analyses revealed that studies with (predominantly) men showed similar SMF responses between the older and the young groups. Conclusion: On the basis of the current published studies, vascular SMF is reduced in conduit and resistance arteries of otherwise healthy older individuals, particularly in women