Gene-environment contributions to the development of infant vagal reactivity: the interaction of dopamine and maternal sensitivity

This study investigated dopamine receptor genes (DRD2 and DRD4) and maternal sensitivity as predictors of infant respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and RSA reactivity, purported indices of vagal tone and vagal regulation, in a challenge task at 3, 6, and 12 months in 173 infant-mother dyads. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) revealed that at 3 and 6 months, RSA withdrawal in response to maternal separation was greater (suggesting expected physiological regulation) in infants without the DRD2 risk allele than those with the risk allele. At 12 months, infants with the risk allele who were also exposed to maternal sensitivity showed levels of RSA withdrawal comparable to infants who were not at genetic risk. Findings demonstrate the importance of developmental analysis of gene-environment interaction.     

Scaling of attitudes toward population problems

An attitudinal scale on population problems is constructed. Although the determination of attitudes of Americans toward population problems is meaningful in itself, an additional effort is made to demonstrate the empirical validity of acknowledged variables. Data were collected in the Tulsa Oklahoma Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area using a stratified proportionate sample. The 372 respondents representing a 1% sample do not differ significantly from the population of the total Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area. The interview schedule consisted of items designed to elicit standard socioeconomic information on the respondents along with their attitudes toward population problems. Using the Guttman technique of scalogram analysis, a population problems scale containing 6 items was developed. After validation of the original set of attitudinal items by factor analysis, the scale scores of the respondents were compared with selected socioeconomic variables in an attempt to empirically validate the scale. Using the Student's "t" associated with the Apearman rank correlation coefficient value and the Kruskal-Wallis 1-way analysis of variance, only the variables of education, number of children, and occupation proved to be associated with the population problems scale scores. It was learned that these variables were significant in other studies and do help to establish the empirical validity of the scale. The lack of association of variables of marital status, income, religion, race, and age suggest that the empirical validity of such relationships requires additional examination.     

Meeting global deaf peers, visiting ideal deaf places: deaf ways of education leading to empowerment, an exploratory case study

In a flemish case study, deaf role models revealed a moment of awakening, indicated by the Flemish sign WAKE-UP Contact with deaf cultural rhetoric made them wake up, and deconstruct and reconstruct their lives, a process represented by a circle of deaf empowerment. Flemish deaf leaders mentioned acquiring this rhetoric during visits to deaf dream worlds (in Flemish Sign Language, WORLD DREAM): places with ideal conditions for deaf people. Such global deaf encounters (Breivik, Haualand, & Solvang, 2002) lead to the "insurrection of subjugated [deaf] knowledges" (Pease, 2002, p. 33). Whereas deaf education had never provided them with deaf cultural rhetoric and was depositing upon them oppressive societal conventions (Jankowski, 1997), a common sign language (Mottez, 1993) and global deaf experience (Breivik et al., 2002; Murray, in press) in barrier-free environments (Jankowski, 1997) provided deaf ways of deaf education (Erting, 1996; Reilly, 1995).     

Accuracy of sequential sub-field synchronization of multiple digital camcorders through numerical optimization

The use of digital camcorders in biomechanical analyses can introduce errors due to inter-camera time offsets. The faster the motion being recorded the greater the error. A sequential synchronization method was developed in this study to achieve sub-field camera synchronization for multiple camcorders through numerical optimization. A recreational golfer performed ten drives while being recorded with four digital camcorders (60-Hz sampling rate). Video signals were sampled at 10,000 Hz to determine the actual inter-camera time offsets. The optimized inter-camera time offsets were computed based on three markers placed on the shaft, each separated by 200 mm. The inter-camera time offset error was computed as the difference between the optimized and actual inter-camera time offsets. The inter-camera time offset error reduced on average from 0.518 to 0.019 fields (1 field = 16.7 ms) or less due to sequential optimization. The optimized global reconstruction errors were less than 19% of the unadjusted values. It was concluded that the ability to synchronize multiple (two or more) cameras using a sequential sub-field optimization strategy promises to extend the use of relatively inexpensive digital camcorders to motions considered too fast for the low field rates of such cameras. The sequential approach presented provides a balance between computation time and reconstruction accuracy.