Effects of cooperative versus individualized instruction on student prosocial behavior, attitudes toward learning, and achievement.

Compared the effects of structuring classroom learning cooperatively and individualistically on student ability to take the affective perspective of others, altruism, attitudes toward classroom life, and achievement. 30 White, working-class 5th graders matched on previous achievement in language arts were assigned to cooperative and individualized conditions for learning language arts for 45-60 min/day for 17 days. Results indicate that cooperative, compared to individualized, learning resulted in greater ability to take the affective perspective of others, more altruism, more positive attitudes toward classroom life, and higher achievement. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The punitive beliefs and behaviors of adolescent delinquent boys.

In a study with 22 institutionalized male delinquent and 22 matched high school students, delinquents were found to have very punitive beliefs relative to previously tested populations. The delinquents tended to have more punitive beliefs and did have more punitive behavior than the controls. Responses to Piagetian interview stories that represented 3 relationships between thief and victim (adolescent to mother, teacher, or peer) were significantly different with the mother story eliciting the most number of punitive responses. In a subsequent rat-training procedure the delinquent boys used punishment as their predominant response to the "misbehaving" rat showing cooccurrence of punitive belief and behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preservation of cross-modal transfer of a rate discrimination in the bushbaby (Galogo senegalensis) with lesions of posterior neocortex.

Assessed the effect of lesions of posterior neocortex, using a test method that permits the demonstration of cross-modal transfer in intact bushbabies. Eight Ss were trained to discriminate light flashes of 18/sec and 3/sec in a go-no-go shock avoidance task. On completion of training, 4 Ss received lesions of posterior neocortex by aspiration. After 6 wks both lesion and intact Ss were returned to training in the visual discrimination. On the day following criterion performance on the visual test, auditory clicks of the same rate and contingencies were substituted and maintained to criterion. All 8 Ss demonstrated rapid transfer, and the lesion Ss were not retarded as compared with intact Ss. The cross-modal transfer of a specific rate discrimination was thus preserved in the absence of posterior intersensory neocortex. Results are discussed in terms of a hypothetical subcortical system capable of the amodal coding of simple stimulus dimensions. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chemical Characterization and Catalytic Activity of Pd-Supported Catalysts on Ce0.39Zr0.61O x /SiO2

The catalytic activity of Pd-supported catalysts over Ce_0.39Zr_0.61O _x /SiO₂ was studied by using methane combustion reaction. UV–visible and TPR results showed the presence of large PdO particles. CO/Pd ratio decreased with the increase of metal load. The light-off temperatures indicated that high Pd loading favored the reaction. The reduction treatment decreased the activity suggesting loss of the active phase.     

Functional Polycarbonates from Carbon Dioxide and Tailored Epoxide Monomers: Degradable Materials and Their Application Potential

Aliphatic polycarbonates synthesized from carbon dioxide (CO₂) and epoxides are resource‐saving, highly biocompatible and biodegradable polymers. Since the discovery of the copolymerization of epoxides and CO₂ in 1969 by Inoue et al., this has become an important and useful technology for the large‐scale utilization of CO₂ in chemical synthesis, employing mainly propylene oxide, and cyclohexene oxide (CHO). Only in recent years, functionalized polycarbonates have become an emerging topic with a broad scope of potential applications. This review summarizes synthetic routes and properties of numerous functionalized polycarbonates synthesized from CO₂ and functional epoxide monomers. Implications for new materials and possible applications, for instance for pharmaceutical purposes and membranes are reviewed. Besides polycarbonates based on oxirane and CHO derivatives, particular emphasis is placed on the manifold synthetic approaches and postpolymerization modifications of glycidyl ether based polycarbonates. Not only functionalized linear polycarbonates are presented but also a variety of novel polycarbonate architectures, e.g., star and hyperbranched polymers.