The impact of school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) on the organizational health of elementary schools.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a universal, school-wide prevention strategy that is currently implemented in over 7,500 schools across the nation to reduce disruptive behavior problems through the application of behavioral, social learning, and organizational behavioral principles. PBIS aims to alter school environments by creating improved systems and procedures that promote positive change in student behavior by targeting staff behaviors. The present study examined the impact of PBIS on school organizational health using data from a large randomized controlled trial of PBIS conducted in 37 elementary schools. Longitudinal multilevel analyses on data from 2,507 staff revealed a significant effect of PBIS on staff reports of the schools' overall organizational health, resource influence, and staff affiliation over a 3-year period. This study indicated that changes in school organizational health are important consequences of the PBIS whole-school prevention model, and might in turn be a potential mediator of the effect of PBIS on student performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A multilevel study of predictors of student perceptions of school climate: The effect of classroom-level factors.

A positive school climate is an important component of successful and effective schools and thus is often an aim of schoolwide initiatives. Climate has traditionally been conceptualized as a school-level factor and is often assumed to be related to other school-level factors (e.g., school size). The current study examines variation in perceptions of climate based on individual-, classroom-, and school-level factors to determine the influence of predictors at multiple levels. Data come from 2,468 5th graders from 37 public elementary schools. Two aspects of students' perception of school climate, order and discipline, and achievement motivation are examined. Multilevel analyses in hierarchical linear modeling indicate that individual-level factors (race and sex) accounted for the largest proportion of variance in perceptions of school climate. School-level factors (e.g., school size and faculty turnover) and several classroomlevel factors (e.g., characteristics of the teacher, class size, and the concentration of students with behavior problems) were also significant predictors of perceptions of climate. These findings suggest that characteristics of the classroom environment are important to consider when aiming to improve school climate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Eigenschaften hochtemperaturhydrolytisch hergestellter Kieselsäuren und Metalloxide für Katalysatoren

Catalytic properties of silicic acids and metal oxides prepared hydrolytically at high temperatures . The physical and chemical properties of silicic acids and metal oxides (Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ P25) prepared hydrolytically at high temperatures are described, insofar as they might be of interest to catalyst producers. A highly topical literature survey reveals areas of interest in the fields of research and practical applications. The experimental section deals with the preparation of catalyst supports made of highly dispersed silica gel products. Their characteristics are tabulated.     

Low-temperature processable Sn-doped ZnO films as electron transporting layers for perovskite solar cells

Charge-transporting processable layers at a low temperature is a challenge for fabricating novel, highly stable and flexible optoelectronic devices. In fact, the crystallization of metal oxide usually needs to be processed under a high-temperature to obtain excellent semiconducting properties. In this work, Sn-doped ZnO (TZO) thin films, as electron transporting layers (ETLs) in perovskite solar cells, were prepared via sol–gel method at a temperature of less than 180 °C. The effects of annealing temperature on the properties of TZO thin films were investigated. It was found that the electrical properties of the TZO films were improved with increasing annealing temperature. In addition, an elemental composition analysis revealed that a temperature of only 140 °C sufficed for converting the precursor gel film into TZO film. The perovskite solar cell, which utilized a low-temperature TZO thin film, yielded a better power conversion efficiency than one with high-temperature ETLs (180 °C). These results imply that discovering low-temperature ETL processing for sol–gel enables good-quality metal oxide ETL, which can also be used in flexible solar cell applications.

     

Experimental peri-implantitis in consecutively placed, loaded root-form and plate-form implants in adult Macaca mulatta monkeys

This study is part of an on-going project describing the character of round- and plate-form implants placed in a primate model. In this paper 20 loaded plate-form and 23 root-form implants were connected to prostheses and experimental peri-implantitis was induced by ceasing scaling procedures and placing braided silk ligature around the implants. Twenty-four prostheses utilizing natural teeth were studied for comparison. Clinical measurements were carried out monthly for 6 months and radiographic measurements at 3 and 6 months post-ligature placement and cessation of scaling. Both root-form implants and plate-form implants showed a significant loss of crestal bone height at 3 and 6 months after ligature placement (P < .001 after 6 months). The difference in bone loss between plate- and root-form implants, however, was not significant.     

Effects of γ-irradiation on antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and color of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ecklonia cava</Emphasis>

Ecklonia cava (EC) was irradiated with γ-rays at doses of 3, 7, and 20 kGy. The extraction yields, total polyphenol content (TPC), DPPH radical scavenging activity, antimicrobial activity, and color of the EC extracts were assessed. The results showed that irradiation caused an increase in the extraction yields of ethanol and water. TPC was found to be significantly increased when EC powder was subjected to irradiation, followed by ethanol and water extraction. However, DPPH radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities were stable under all irradiation conditions. In the heat and pH stability tests, the DPPH radical scavenging activities of EC ethanol extracts were not influenced by irradiation. Irradiation caused an increase in the lightness and redness of EC extracts and decreased the yellowness. In conclusion, γ-irradiation increased the extraction yield and TPC and brightened the color, while maintaining the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.