External Ends Research Articles

Dialectical vs. Experimental Method: Marcuse's Review of Dewey's <em>Logic: The Theory of Inquiry</em>

This introduction contextualizes and evaluates Herbert Marcuse’s the accompanying, previously untranslated review of John Dewey’s Logic: The Theory of Inquiry . Marcuse’s critique of pragmatism is indebted to Max Horkheimer’s claim that pragmatism is an example of “traditional” theory and reduces thought to mere instrument in service of external ends. Unlike Horkheimer, Marcuse concedes that Dewey, unlike the logical positivists, attempted to develop a material logic of ends. However, he concludes that the attempt was ultimately unsuccessful. I place this conclusion in the context of Marcuse’s critique of technological reason. Lastly, I defend Dewey from the charge of crude instrumentalism and delineate Marcuse’s and Dewey’s critical disagreement on science’s capacity for self- reflection.

Requirements for Integrity in an Era of Accountability

In his provocative essay, Peter Nelsen addresses a central question critical to our times: Can educators working within the currently dominant educational paradigm of the accountability movement maintain integrity? Nelsen and I both find this question critical. Nelsen suggests that the notion of students seen as a means to external ends is a critical part of what he calls “instrumental rationality” — a form of thinking dominant in accountability policy. I agree completely. Viewing students merely as people whose test scores need to be improved on a yearly basis does significant violence to one’s moral commitments to educate them fully. Having a duty merely to raise one’s students’ test scores without honoring one’s personal commitment to developing these students as critical thinkers, caring persons, and democratic citizens confronts creates what Nelson describes as a “tension that can pull at teachers’ senses of moral integrity.”

Rethinking Aristotle’s <i>Poetics</i>: The Pragmatic Aspect of Art and Knowledge

When pragmatism first gained favor in the early twentieth century, some British philosophers like Russell regarded it as evidencing their perception of America’s crude and enterprising spirit.1 The Imperial jab lay in this: that just as business indicates the exchange of products and services to meet basic needs as well as others, for the pragmatist, knowledge is tied to social practices and instrumentality (that is, being able to effect changes in the world). The slight lies in attributing to pragmatists, rightly or wrongly, the view that instrumentality is the ultimate purpose of knowledge. Thinking that knowledge and art are independent of instrumental ends can be traced back to at least Aristotle’s separation of theory from practice. For Aristotle, knowledge was superior to experience (Metaphysics, 1.1, 982b10) and art to history.2 For him, knowledge and art are not concerned with “individuals” (Metaphysics, 1.1, 981a16), which pertain to external ends related to actions. Knowledge and art yield “universals” (Metaphysics, 1.1, 981a16) that are internal ends in themselves, relating to specific cognitive changes. Yet for some time, Aristotelians have been attempting to elucidate the ethical, and hence practical, dimensions of art.3 Generally, it is little remarked

Macrotransposition and other complex chromosomal restructuring in maize by closely linked transposons in direct orientation.

Several observations indicate that compatible ends of separate, yet closely linked, transposable elements (TEs) can interact in alternative transposition reactions. First, pairs of TEs cause chromosome breaks with frequencies inversely related to the intertransposon distance. Second, some combinations of two TEs produce complex rearrangements that often include DNA adjacent to one or both elements. In pairs of TEs in direct orientation, alternative reactions involving the external ends of the two TEs should lead to the transposition of a macrotransposon consisting of both elements plus the intervening chromosomal segment. Such macrotransposons have been hypothesized previously based on deletions, but no macrotransposon insertions have been recovered. To detect macrotransposition, we have analyzed heritable chromosomal rearrangements produced by a chromosome-breaking pair of Ac and Ds elements situated 6.5 kb apart in direct orientation in a part of the maize (Zea mays) genome dispensable for viability. Here, we show that the postulated macrotransposon can excise and reinsert elsewhere in the genome. In addition, this transposon pair produces other complex rearrangements, including deletions, inversions, and reshuffling of the intertransposon segment. Thus, closely linked TE pairs, a common transposition outcome in some superfamilies, are adept at restructuring chromosomes and may have been instrumental in reshaping plant genomes.

Moment resistance and flexural rigidity of lapped connections in multi-span cold-formed Z purlin systems

This paper reports an experimental investigation on the structural behavior of lapped connections over the internal supports in multi-span cold-formed steel Z purlin systems. The moment resistance and effective flexural rigidity of two typical connection configurations, i.e. web bolts plus self-drilling screws at both flanges or at the top flange only, are considered. In the moment resistance test, a total of 30 specimens with different connection configurations and connection lengths are tested, from which, after careful calibration, the assessment of moment resistance of such lapped connections as well as several useful design suggestions are proposed. In the effective flexural rigidity test, full-scale two-spanned purlins, with two external pin ends and one lapped connection over the internal support, are adopted. Lapped connections with different configurations and two practical connection lengths of 10% and 20% of span are concerned. Based on test results, the effective flexural rigidities of lapped connections studied in this paper are proposed, respectively, for the stress analysis and deflection analysis.

A critical review of research on questioning in education: limitations of its positivistic basis

In spite of its prevalence and importance, questioning in education has been underestimated and misconceptualized. The major reason for this has been that most studies on questioning have been heavily dependent on the paradigm of positivism. The present study critiques the limitations of those studies on four specific issues: 1) the narrow conceptualization of the purpose of teacher’s questioning, 2) the unwarranted assumption that objectively effective types of questions exist, 3) the assumption that the meaning of the text is explicit and fixed, and 4) the belief that the learner’s question functions as a means for external ends.

Sustaining Community Participation: What Remains After the Money Ends?

SUSTAINING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION: WHAT REMAINS AFTER THE MONEY ENDS? – A major concern confronting development specialists in the education sector is the sustainability of project activities and outcomes, that is, their ability to persist once external funding ends. The increased attention of international development-assistance organizations to sustainability reflects the greater recent focus on outcome-based funding. The present study investigates differences between six communities in Ghana that varied in their ability to sustain externally initiated community-participation activities beyond the life of the external development-assistance project that promoted those activities. It was hypothesized that high- and low-sustaining communities differ in eight managerial and socio-cultural dimensions suggested by earlier research to be important for sustainability of community-level activities: planning, transparency, leadership, and participation, on one hand, and, on the other, social cohesion, resources, community skills, and valuing of education. Findings indicate that leadership and social cohesion are the two most vital elements in the sustainability of organizational structures intended to promote community participation in the oversight of local schools. Other factors suggested by the model are largely subsumed under leadership, so that the model can be simplified.

Historical legacies: A model linking Africa's past to its current underdevelopment

Recent studies have found evidence linking Africa's current under-development to colonial rule and the slave trade. Given that these events ended long ago, why do they continue to matter today? I develop a model, exhibiting path dependence, which provides one explanation for why these past events may have lasting impacts. The model has multiple equilibria: one equilibrium with secure property rights and a high level of production and others with insecure property rights and low levels of production. I show that external extraction, when severe enough, causes a society initially in the high production equilibrium to move to a low production equilibrium. Because of the stability of low production equilibria, the society remains trapped in this suboptimal equilibrium even after the period of external extraction ends. The model provides one explanation why Africa's past events continue to matter today.

CYTOPLASMIC AND FRUSTULAR ULTRASTRUCTURE AND MORPHOLOGY OF PLAGIOTROPIS TRISTIS SP. NOV. (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)

During a screening of pennate diatoms for species capable of producing domoic acid, a previously undescribed species of Plagiotropis, P. tristis sp. nov., was found. The culture was isolated from a plankton sample off Tromsø, Norway. Plagiotropis tristis is distinguished from other species of Plagiotropis by the lack of a valve fold, the low raphe ridge, the type and distribution of areolae and the internal and external polar raphe ends. The raphe structure resembles two hands grasping each other by the fingers in transverse thin sections. With regard to ultrastructure, many of the features of P. tristis are common to pennate diatoms, and the pyrenoid is transversed by two thylakoid-like membranes. Plagiotropis tristis is found to produce mucilage, and several vesicles filled with fibrillar material that might be involved in mucilage production were observed. This is the first report on the ultrastructure of a Plagiotropis species. A culture of P. tristis was screened for domoic acid, and was not found to produce the toxin in a detectable amount.

Purification and Fluorescent Labeling of the Human Serotonin Transporter

To establish a purification procedure for the human serotonin transporter (hSERT) we expressed in Sf9 insect cells an epitope-tagged version of the transporter containing a FLAG epitope at the N-terminus and a polyhistidine tail at the C-terminus (FLAG-hSERT-12H). For purification, the transporter was solubilized in digitonin followed by nickel affinity and subsequent concanavalin A chromatography. Using this procedure we were able to obtain an overall purification of 700-fold and a yield of approximately 0.1 mg/L of cell culture. The purified transporter displayed pharmacological properties similar to those of hSERT expressed in native tissues and in transfected cell lines. Fluorescent labeling of the purified transporter with the thiol-reactive fluorophore nitrobenxoxadiazol-iodoacetamide (IANBD) and Texas Red bromoacetamide preserved the pharmacological profile of FLAG-hSERT-12H. Collisional quenching experiments revealed that the aqueous quencher iodide was able to cause marked quenching of the fluorescence of the IANBD labeled transporter with a K(SV) of 3.4 +/- 0.10 M(-)(1). In a mutant transporter with five cysteines mutated (5CysKO) we observed a significant reduction in this quenching (K(SV) = 2.1 +/- 0.16 M(-)(1), p < 0.01). This reduction was most likely due to labeling of (109)Cys since mutation of this cysteine alone resulted in a reduction in collisional quenching that was similar to that observed with 5CysKO (K(SV) = 2.2 +/- 0.15 M(-)(1)). These data suggest that labeling of (109)Cys contributes substantially to the overall fluorescence of IANBD labeled FLAG-hSERT-12H. On the basis of these data we infer that (109)Cys is embedded in a mixed hydrophobic/hydrophilic environment at the external ends of transmembrane segments 1 and 2. Further use of fluorescent techniques on purified hSERT should prove useful in future studies aimed at understanding the molecular structure and function of Na(+)/Cl(-)-dependent neurotransmitter transporters.

Computer Analysis of Anthropometric Measurements on Photographs for Facial Identification of Adult Egyptian Males

Attempts to recognize the Egyptian photographs by computer programs are less frequent than those of the recognition of some other phenomena in everyday life. The purpose of the present study was to identify the adult Egyptian face by tracing facial features mid computer analysis of anthropometric measurements from the photographs. Two hundred sets of photographs (two photographs for each individual, the duration between the first and second photograph ranged from 3-5 years) showing facial features of Egyptian male volunteers aged from 28 10 62 years were obtained by standard photographic technique and scanned onto computer diskette. fifteen different facial features were examined. Also, fourteen anthropometric measurements assessing the social dimensions were measured by CorelDraw program (version 6) and compared between the two photographs of each individual. The morphological results showed that the fair hair and asymmetrical external eyebrow ends were the powerful discriminators between two photographs. Computer analysis of the objective data revealed 10 significant differences between the two photographs in all anthropometric measurements. No differences were observed between the two photographs in both interpupillary distance and width of one eye. while, the highest differences between two photographs were obvious in the mouth width on oral fissure line, followed by length of forehead but still. insignificant. The present study demonstrated the benefit of computer programs 10 forensic field. At the same time, is illustrated that anthropometric measurements were the most accurate method of comparison between no photographs of the same person. Finally, this study suggests that photographs may be used as physical evidence when compared will known photographs of « suspect as they form somewhat of signature of the suspect that is left behind on the evidence.

Aid for Self-Help Effort? : A Sustainable Alternative Route to Basic Education in Northern Ghana

Northern Ghana presents an interesting case of the limitations of the conventional school system in reaching underserved and deprived populations with basic education. Due to the peculiar nature of its demographic characteristics and the socio-economic challenges that confront this area of Ghana, conventional school systems are unable to thrive and make an impact in remote areas. Many of these communities are sparsely populated and scattered making distance a hindrance to school. attendance. A major barrier to access and participation is also the cost. In poor deprived communities whether or not children attend school usually depends on the direct or indirect costs to families. Direct costs arises from schooling accessories such as uniforms, books and writing materials whilst the indirect costs are largely in the form of income lost from the child’s potential employment or contribution to household income through direct labor. Yet another obstacle is the official school calendar which usually conflicts with families’ economic activities to which the child is a crucial contributor. A growing number of NGOs and civil society organizations are introducing basic education initiatives that have been adjusted to reflect these demographic and socio-economic realities. Many of the NGOs try to promote the spirit of self-help efforts among poor rural people using strategies that encourage community participation and ownership of the basic education initiative. This paper describes and analyses the effort of one such NGO education programme known as the “School for Life” (SFL) in Northern Ghana. The paper examines the extent to which the activities of this organization are actually promoting self-help efforts in sustaining an aid initiated basic education programme. The acid test for aid effectiveness is what happens when it phases out - in that case is the initiative sustainable? The paper argues that for true sustainability to be achieved there is the need for a concerted working relationship between the aid programme provider and local government institutions because of the potential benefits that this relationship can bring in sustaining the programme once external support ends. Finally, using the SFL programme as an example, it argues that the key to promoting greater participation and commitment among rural communities towards basic education, is by showing that it can actually open up access to higher levels of education without conflicting with the socio-cultural and economic activities of the society.

Freedom and Normalization: Poststructuralism and the Liberalism of Michael Oakeshott

This paper discusses “normalization” as a problem for the liberal order through a detailed examination of the liberal political theory of Michael Oakeshott. Oakeshott links the poststructuralist normalizing problematic with the “existential” dilemma of human finitude. In liberalism, he argues, selves become disciplined and normalized when they respond to finitude with an overemphasis on instrumentality. They understand freedom as an instrumental good, a means to external ends. Oakeshott reformulates liberalism based on another response when selves appreciate experience as a self-sufficient or intrinsic good. They understand freedom as a first-order good valuable for itself and this lessens the normalizing pressure. I argue that F. A. Hayek's theory of liberalism confirms Oakeshott's warning about an overemphasis on instrumentality. I show the importance of Oakeshott's work in that he restates the distinction between the public and the private and demonstrates the limits of contemporary liberal theories insofar as they neglect the problem of normalization.

Effects of external cavities on laser spectra: application to a fibre laser

Laser spectra are strongly modified by the optical feedback which is provided by external cavities; here we give a preliminary experimental result describing the optical spectrum of a fibre laser having two identical end cavities, which appear between the external mirrors and fibre ends. One observes a channelled spectrum including mode clusters separated by empty regions. We use the optical Airy function defined in the pure frequency domain to study these spectra. An optical Vernier effect allows the description of this structure. The linewidth of each mode is calculated as a function of the gain, by using the same Airy function.

PSAMMOCOCCONEIS, A NEW GENUS OF BACILLARIOPHYTA FROM BRAZILIAN SANDY BEACHES

The new genus is characterised by the presence of a valvocopula with straight and smooth margins and by round and transapically elongated pores on its surface. The valvocopula fits beneath the raphe valve and covers the valve areolae and even sometimes the raphe. The internal and external raphe ends are simple. The areolae are occluded by fine porous hymenes on the raphid valve and they are coarser on the araphid valve. Two types of areolae are present around the margin of the araphid valve. The new genus is described from Brazilian sandy beaches (Porto Belo, Brazil) and Cocconeis disculoides Hustedt is transferred to Psammococconeis, establishing a new combination.

Structural probing of a microdomain in the dopamine transporter by engineering of artificial Zn2+ binding sites.

Previously, we have identified three Zn(2+) binding residues in an endogenous Zn(2+) binding site in the human dopamine transporter (hDAT): (193)His in extracellular loop 2 (ECL 2), (375)His at the external end of transmembrane segment (TM) 7, and (396)Glu at the external end of TM 8. Here we have generated a series of artificial Zn(2+) binding sites in a domain situated around the external ends of TMs 7 and 8 by taking advantage of the well-defined structural constraints for binding of the zinc(II) ion. Initially, we found that the Zn(2+)-coordinating (193)His in ECL 2 could be substituted with a histidine inserted at the i - 4 position relative to (375)His in TM 7. In this mutant (H193K/M371H), Zn(2+) potently inhibited [(3)H]dopamine uptake with an IC(50) value of 7 microM as compared to a value of 300 microM for the control (H193K). These data are consistent with the presence of an alpha-helical configuration of TM 7. This inference was further corroborated by the observation that no increase in the apparent Zn(2+) affinity was observed following introduction of histidines at the i - 2, i - 3, and i - 5 positions. In contrast, introduction of histidines at positions i + 2, i + 3, and i + 4 all resulted in potent inhibition of [(3)H]dopamine uptake by Zn(2+) (IC(50) = 3-32 microM). These observations are inconsistent with continuation of the helix beyond position 375 and indicate an approximate boundary between the end of the helix and the succeeding loop. In summary, the data presented here provide new insight into the structure of a functionally important domain in the hDAT and illustrate how engineering of Zn(2+) binding sites can be a useful approach for probing both secondary and tertiary structure relationships in membrane proteins of unknown structure.

Skeletal microstructures of hyoliths from the Early Cambrian of Siberia

Phosphatised conchs and opercula of various hyoliths, 1–2 mm in size, retaining original skeletal microstructures have been extracted with dilute acetic acid from Lower Cambrian carbonates of northern Siberia. The conchs grew by deposition of new lamellae on the inner side of the aperture. Two microstructural types are recognised among the conchs assigned to the Allathecidae, namely with a simple or composite inner layers. The conchs are built of inner and outer layers of mineralised fibre bundles. In the outer layer the bundles are longitudinally oriented. Their external ends are inclined toward the apex of conch. Each bundle contains a channel. Transverse bundles of the inner layer commonly run around the conch but may branch toward the aperture and produce an orthogonal network. The inner layer in this case is composite and consists of two sublayers. In the outer sublayer the bundles are situated transversely around the conch, and in the inner sublayer the bundles are directed longitudinally. Channels between the bundles of the inner layer were possibly connected to those of the outer layer and reflect a system of tubules. The latter possibly participated in biomineralisation and provided a framework, which reinforced the skeleton. The tubules do not penetrate the outermost portion of the outer layer. Septa display radially arranged fibrous microfabric with the evidence of a centripetal growth from the inner surface of conch. The opercula consisted of series of growth lamellae each containing fibres, oriented radially, and tubules. The tubules were almost normal to the growth surfaces and concentrated in the opercular limb. The hyolith skeleton probably contained organic fibres mineralised by aragonite and commonly fused into bundles. The affinity of the Hyolitha to a separate phylum may be supported by this microstructural investigation.

Use of percutaneous transpedicular external fixation pins to measure intervertebral motion.

Direct measurement of intervertebral motion was compared to motion determined by measuring the position of the exposed ends of the external fixation pins. To verify the accuracy of this technique, so that this protocol can be used to study intervertebral motion in the clinical setting. The transpedicular external fixation test has been shown to be a test that can predict the outcome of spinal fusion. In patients who are candidates for this test, intervertebral motion can be calculated from motion at the external ends of these pins. Six fresh cadaveric spinal segments from L2 to L5 were instrumented with titanium Schanz screws. Reflective markers were placed on the tips of the pins, and intervertebral motion was measured using a noncontacting camera system. Computed tomography data were used to determine the position of the vertebra relative to the reflective markers. Intervertebral distances were calculated and compared with direct measurements obtained using a three-dimensional digitizing arm. There was an excellent correlation (r2 = 0.931) between the directly measured intervertebral motions and those that were indirectly calculated from measurements of motion at the end of the Schanz screws. Intervertebral motion can be measured by monitoring motion of the ends of transpedicular external fixation pins. Motion of anatomic landmarks on the vertebrae can be calculated from the pin end's motion if computed tomography data are used to determine the geometric relation between the vertebrae and the external fixation pins. This validation study supports the use of this method in clinical investigations of intervertebral motion in patients with low back pain and external fixation.

VALIDATING THE COMPETING VALUES MODEL AS A REPRESENTATION OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURES

The competing values model (CVM) describes organizational culture in terms of what appear to be mutually exclusive value dimensions: structural control vs. flexibility, focus on internal vs. external stakeholders, and means vs. ends. The apparent paradox in simultaneously expressing competing values has implications for a variety of organizational phenomena, including leadership, decision making, and strategic management. The CVM thus offers promise for providing a common metric for multi‐level, trans‐organizational, and cross‐cultural analyses. To date, however, underlying assumptions regarding the competing values framework as a characterization of culture have not been fully validated. This research provides a test of the competing values model with methodology that is conceptually consonant with the paradoxical nature of the theory. Using a sample drawn from 10 U.S. organizations, a Qsort and multidimensional scaling analysis produce qualified support for a structure of organizational cultural values consistent with the CVM. Further, this study elaborates the CVM by suggesting a mechanism whereby the apparent paradox of competing values might be more effectively managed.

Korn's Inequalities for Junctions of Spatial Bodies and Thin Rods

The dependence on the small parameter e of constants in Korn's inequalities is investigated for domains which are obtained by joining thin rods to an elastic spatial body. The external ends of the rods are clamped. The asymptotic accuracy of the derived inequalities is achieved by certain distribution of weight multipliers and powers of in L 2 -norms of displacements and their derivatives while the introduced weights differ for longitudinal and transversal components of displacement fields in the rods.