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Experience has shown that the quality of instruction depends on the occupational competency of the teacher. The overall purpose of this project is to develop occupational competency examinations for nationwide use in evaluating trade and industrial education teachers. This first phase of the two-phase project involves: (1) surveying the state of the art, (2) preparing a handbook with guidelines and basic principles, (3) developing and pilot testing written and performance tests in electronics-communications and the machine trades, and (4) developing the structure for a consortium of states to implement the program. Test validity and reliability will be established in the second phase. The survey of the state of the art shows excessive duplication of effort, lack of coordination, and deficient data, all of which point out the need for a national consortium. Lists of resource materials and organizations are appended. (BH)

Occupational competency evaluation through written and performance tests assures that prospective vocational teachers possess the level of competence essential for effective teaching. The overall purpose of this project is to develop occupational competency examinations for nationwide use in evaluating trade and industrial education teachers. This second phase of a two-phase project involves: (1) directions for area test center coordination, (2) actual test development by procedures field tested in phase one, and (3) administration of written and performance tests. Each section includes the function of the individuals involved, sequence of the procedures, specific examples that show results of the various steps, and sample work sheets. Several illustrations and worksheets are provided throughout the publication. Related documents are available as ED 051 378, and VT 014 260 in this issue. (GEB)

Much effort has been directed toward the evaluation of human characteristics and abilities. This handbook is an outgrowth of an extensive study of occupational competency testing and is intended to assist in the development, administration and evaluation of written and performance tests wherever occupational competency evaluation may be fundamental to employment, upgrading or promotion. This report: (1) provides the historical background and philosophical concepts of occupational competency testing, (2) outlines test development procedures, (3) discusses test administration, (4) considers the evaluation of occupational competency tests and test results, and (5) presents findings concerning national occupational competency testing. This is an outgrowth of the report on "The state of the art" and the experiences gained in pilot testing of two tests. List of resources, references and a bibliography complement this report. Related documents are available as ED 051 378, and VT 014 261 in this issue. (GEB)

THE PROJECTS SELECTED FOR REVIEW WERE FUNDED BY THE DIVISION OF COMPREHENSIVE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION RESEARCH AND BEAR ON ANY ASPECT OF PROGRAM PLANNING, ORGANIZATION, DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, INNOVATION, AND EVALUATION FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS WITH EDUCATIONAL NEEDS BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL. TEN ITEMS ARE REVIEWED UNDER THE TOPICS--ASSESSIBILITY TO AREA PROGRAMS, EVOLVING CURRICULUMS AND LEVELS, AND FORCES INFLUENCING QUALITY STANDARDS. FOURTEEN ADDITIONAL REVIEWS PERTAINING TO THE AREA "HIGH SCHOOL AGE YOUTH," PRESENTED IN THE PRECEDING ISSUE, ARE INCLUDED. "PLAIN TALK," A CONTINUING COLUMN BY THE AUTHOR, DISCUSSES GUIDELINES RELATING TO CRITICAL DECISIONS IN RESEARCH AND PROGRAM PLANNING. A BIBLIOGRAPHY LISTS 60 OTHER PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES COMPLETED AND IN PROCESS. THIS ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED IN THE "AMERICAN VOCATIONAL JOURNAL," VOLUME 42, NUMBER 10, OCTOBER 1967. (EM)

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLICATION SERIES IS TO GIVE VISIBILITY TO SIGNIFICANT (1) EXPERIMENTAL, DEMONSTRATION, AND PILOT PROGRAMS, (2) UPGRADING INSTITUTES, SEMINARS, AND WORKSHOPS, AND (3) OTHE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES FOR TEACHERS, SUPERVISORS, AND ADMINISTRATORS. THIS DISSEMINATION PROJECT IS COOPERATIVELY FINANCED BY THE AMERICAN VOCATIONAL ASSOCIATION AND A VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ACT OF 1963 GRANT ENTITLED "SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION." THE PRIMARY FOCUS THROUGH MAY 1968 WILL BE ON THE NINE MAJOR AREAS OF RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE PANEL OF CONSULTANTS ON VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. THE AREA COVERED IN THIS ISSUE IS HIGH SCHOOL AGE YOUTH, AND 10 COMPLETED PROJECTS ARE REPORTED UNDER THE TOPICS--(1) PROGRAMS FOR TALENTED OR SPECIAL STUDENTS, (2) MAINTAINING QUALITY STANDARDS, (3) CURRICULUM PLANNING AND CORRELATION, (4) PROGRAM CHANGES TO MEET EVOLVING NEEDS, AND (5) PROGRAM GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. "PLAIN TALK," A CONTINUING AUTHOR'S COLUMN, PROVIDES OBSERVATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR A PLAN OF ACTION TO STRENGTHEN VOCATIONAL AND PRACTICAL ARTS EDUCATION THROUGH A STRENGTHENED AND EXPANDED RESEARCH EFFORT. A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF COMPLETED AND ONGOING PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDES 79 OTHER ITEMS. WHEN POSSIBLE, CITED DOCUMENTS WILL BE GIVEN THEIR EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) NUMBER OF THEIR ERIC CLEARINGHOUSE FOR VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION NUMBER AS WELL AS AN INDICATION OF AVAILABILITY AND PRICE. THE WORK OF THE PANEL OF CONSULTANTS AND RESEARCH PROVISIONS OF THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ACT OF 1963 ARE DISCUSSED. THIS ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED IN THE "AMERICAN VOCATIONAL JOURNAL," VOLUME 42, NUMBER 9, SEPTEMBER 1967. (EM)

Presented at the opening general session of the American Vocational Association 1971 annual meeting. (MU)

Cites lessons gained from activities of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the United States Agency for International Development. (SB)

To investigate the mechanism of the increased plasma estradiol levels in spontaneous hyperthyroidism, the contribution, by peripheral conversion, of androstenedione and testosterone to the circulating estrogens was determined. The conversion ratio of androstenedione to estrone was significantly increased in both males and females (0.0396 and 0.0256, respectively). The conversion ratio of androstenedione to estradiol was increased in the male (0.0094) but not in the female (0.0051) patients. The conversion ratio of testosterone to estrone was increased in both males (0.0072) and females (0.0070). The conversion of testosterone to estradiol, however, was not increased in either sex. The plasma concentration of androstenedione was significantly increased (0.34 μg/100 ml) in the male patients with hyperthyroidism. However, the production rate of androstenedione was increased in both sexes (8.59 and 6.72 mg/day). The contribution of testosterone and androstenedione to plasma estrone and estradiol (pro...

The rapidly converging iterative method outlined in a former article3) is used to determine the parameters defining an angular distribution. The data was collected using two separate detecting configurations, and furthermore there was a small uncertainty in the origin of the angular scale. As a result two extra parameters were included in the fitting function, which contained as well the usual Legendre polynomial terms. The “best” estimates of the parameters, together with a discussion of the relevance of the appropriate standard deviations as obtained from the error matrix are presented.

Oral administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate to 4 normal male and 3 normal female subjects was found to produce a significant increase in the metabolic clearance rate of testosterone in 6 of the 7 subjects. The plasma levels and production rates of testosterone decreased markedly in the males. The females tended to show a decrease in the plasma concentration of testosterone with no change in the production rate of the steroid. Although there was an over-all decrease in the percentage binding of testosterone for the group, individual responses were variable in degree and did not necessarily correlate with the alterations in the metabolic clearance rate of the steroid. Plasma LH levels fell during the administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate in 6 of the 7 subjects. Plasma FSH, however, decreased in only 1 subject (postmenopausal female). Medroxyprogesterone acetate increased rat hepatic testosterone A-ring reductase activity almost 4-fold. Moreover, the drug interfered with the growth-pr...

The crystal polarised spectra of some pseudotetrahedral CoII complexes having chromophores [CoS2Cl2] and [CoP2X2](X = Br–, I–), have been recorded. The spectra may be assigned assuming an effective C2ν symmetry and spin–orbit coupling is found to be less important than the low-symmetry ligand field in modifying the electronic structure derived from Td symmetry. The sequence of components derived from Td symmetry is found to be: 4T1(F) : B1 < A2 < B2; 4T1(P) : B2 < A2 < B1. Crystal-field calculations fit the observed spectra only if parameters of the low symmetry components are treated as merely empirical parameters. Qualitative σ- and π-bonding parameters for the different donor ligands are derived and compared.

The synthesis by Bruni and Levi, modified by Fackler and Coucouvanis, from aldehydes and ammonium polysulfide has been extended to aliphatic aldehydes, and perthiopivalate (CH 3 ) 3 CCSSS − has been prepared. This ligand forms 1:2 Zn(II) and Ni(II) complexes, analogous to the already known complex perthiobenzoates and perthio- p -toluates. The properties and electronic spectra of all these complex perthiocarboxylates are reported; the 5-membered chelate ring in Ni perthiobenzoate and presumably also in the other perthiocarboxylates, is planar with SNiS angle of 95°. Although the coordination of the Ni(II) complexes is quadratic, their spectra are strikingly different from those of most common [NiS 4 ] chromophores in having high intensity visible bands and very low ligand field v 1 (∼ 12 kK); possible factors causing the low value of v 1 are reviewed, and the importance of the bond angle at the coordinated sulfur atoms on the extent of in-plane π ∗ effects is stressed.

The Venezuelan vole mouse, Akodon urichi venezuelensis, is a small South American cricetid which can be reared in the laboratory. Their somatic chromosomes have been morphologically and statistically investigated. The chromosome number is 2n = 18. The eight pairs of autosomes are metacentric; four pairs are similar in size and arm ratio, but the others are easy to identify. In males there is an XY sex-chromosome pair; the X is a submetacentric and duplicate type. Polymorphism has been found in the small-sized Y chromosome; in two out of six individuals it was an acrocentric and in the remaining four, a fully telocentric chromosome. In the females, the two X chromosomes are slightly heteromorphic; there is an X! quite similar to the male X chromosome and a longer X2, which differs also from the X1 in arm ratio. The risk of reversals of order in similar chromosomes is discussed.

Summary A Touch Adjective List, the Tactual Reactivity Scale of the SPI, and the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale were administered to male and female college students in an effort to evaluate relative ability to predict affective response to tactile materials on the Tactile Experience Task. Mean scores for the sexes did not differ significantly. Intercorrelations among predictors were similar for both sexes, however MAS and TRS correlated significantly with TET for females only. In a multiple linear regression analysis, TAL was found to be a good predictor of TET for males and even better for females. MAS and TRS contributed substantially to the prediction of TET for females only.

Testosterone (T) and androstenedione (A) metabolism was studied in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) before and after bilateral wedge resection of the ovaries. In addition, studies of the percentage binding of testosterone in plasma are presented in the PCOS and in normal subjects. The plasma concentrations (PCT), metabolic clearance (MCRT) and plasma production rates (PRT) of testosterone in the PCOS were significantly increased. The PCA and PRA also increased in the PCOS, although the MCRA was within the normal range. The conversion ratios of testosterone and androstenedione and the rate transfer constants of these steroids were not significantly different from the normal group. Plasma androstenedione was the precursor of 14% of plasma testosterone in the PCOS, indicating that the major portion of plasma testosterone arose either from direct glandular secretion or by interconversion from a precursor other than androstenedione. Bilateral ovarian wedge resection resulted in an appreciable fall...

1. When tissue of sugar-cane nodes is submerged for a few minutes in boiling water, a substance is released which suppresses the action of indoleacetic acid in the Avena test (fig. 2). The substance is soluble in water and diethyl ether but not in petroleum ether. It is therefore extracted together with auxin, and for this reason heating of such plant material-and perhaps of plant material in general-prior to ether extraction is an undesirable step in auxin extraction technique. 2. In the course of ether extraction, there is during the first half hour a gush of auxin (fig. 3), but soon the rate slows down to a mere trickle, which continues for many months (20). 3. When the auxin of the upper and lower halves of horizontal hypocotyls of bean seedlings is extracted, using only the auxin yielded rapidly during the early part of the extraction, 33% is obtained from the upper side and 67% from the lower (table 2). This is precisely the average auxin distribution found for free auxin as determined by the diffus...

The plasma concentration, metabolic clearance (MCRT) and plasma production rates of testosterone, the metabolic clearance rates of androstenedione (MCRA), the conversion ratios and rate transfer constants of these steroids were studied in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. In hyperthyroidism there occurred a significant decrease in both the MCRT and conversion ratio of testosterone to androstenedione. These changes were associated with an increased plasma level of testosterone in both sexes resulting in a normal plasma production rate of the androgen. The MCRA and MCRA/m2 in hyperthyroidism was not significantly different from normal. However, the conversion ratio of androstenedione to testosterone was significantly increased in this disorder. The rate transfer constants of testosterone and androstenedione were unchanged from normal. Following return to the euthyroid state the values returned to normal. Hypothyroidism was associated with an increased MCRT, MCRT/m2 and conversion ratio of testost...

The purpose of this paper is to promote the establishment of standards and basic requirements to direct development of preliminary orientational studies for the organic and financial structure, in the incipient period, of a Latin-American Aeronautical Industry, which is urgently needed to be incorporated into the integration plans of the Latin-American Common Market. Immediate action is recommended in view of statistical data analyzed for Mexican import and export values, for aircraft and its spare parts, that give $122 091 000 (U. S. currency) in the period from 1957 to 1964, with an average value of $6.55 per pound. Indices are also given for modern flight equipment in the range of $40 to $60 per pound, with a tendency to increase to the range of $80 to $90 per pound in the next five years.

Medroxyprogesterone acetate was administered to six patients with the polycystic ovary syndrome. The drug resulted in a significant reduction in serum LH, plasma concentration and plasma production rate of testosterone in each patient. In addition, five of the six patients showed a significant increase in the metabolic clearance rate of testosterone. This study also confirms previous findings by others of an increase in serum LH in the syndrome.

The crystal polarised spectrum of the title compound has been recorded. The spectrum contains more bands than those predicted for a mononuclear diamagnetic square planar NiII complex, a series of five bands with different polarisation characteristics being observed between 13 and 18 kK(1 kK= 1000 cm–1). It is suggested that the spectra are indicative of substantial overlap of the d orbitals between the two nickel(II) atoms in the molecule, and an assignment of the spectrum in D4 symmetry (for the dimeric [Ni2S8] chromophore) put forward.

1. 1. Receptors which provide the imput to the foot withdrawal reflex in the razor clam have been studied using controlled mechanical stimulation. Recording were made from various nerves innervating the foot. 2. 2. The root mechanoreceptors are highly phasic; each receptor typically generates a single impulse at the beggining of a prolonged displacement and another impulse when the displacing probe is withdrawn. The receptors require a stimulus of rapid rise rate (critical velocity approximately 10 mm/sec) and will not follow a rapidly repeated stimulus. This will respond to stimulation perpendicular or parallel to the foot surface with equivalent thresholds (displacements of 60–100 μ). Vibratory stimuli are not generally effective, and neither the mechanoreceptors studied nor any other receptors evidently respond to muscle contraction. 3. 3. Receptive fields are a few mm in diameter, but a receptor will respond to intense mechanical stimuli delivered outside its primary receptive field. Intensity is likely to be coded by the number of units responding. 4. 4. Receptors in the mantle and collar have characteristics similar to those in the foot. It is probable that all mechanoreceptors in exposed tissues function as alarm receptors. 5. 5. The force with which the tissue resists a prolonged displacement was measured with a force-sensing probe. The force declines rapidly after onset of displacement, reaches a static plateau and exhibits a negative peak and gradual return to baseline if the displacing probe is rapidly withdrawn. 6. 6. The receptors' phasic properties and requirement for rapid displacements may be largely explained by a conventional visco-elastic model of mechanoreceptor adaptation. Measurements of force during prolonged displacements also are in accord with the model.

Results of studies of the percentage binding of testosterone in plasma and the fractional distribution of 3H-testosterone among the plasma proteins are given in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism before and after return to the euthyroid state. The percentage binding of testosterone was significantly increased and decreased in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, respectively. The in vitro testosterone saturation curves showed a remarkable increase in testosterone binding capacity of plasma in hyperthyroidism with a decrease in hypothyroidism. The fractional distribution of 3H-testosterone among the plasma proteins revealed an increase and decrease in the radioactivity associated with the β-globulins (peak II) in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, respectively. These measurements returned to or toward normal following return to the euthyroid state. This study demonstrates that the state of thyroid function has a significant effect on the binding of testosterone in plasma and provides an explanatio...

Testosterone A-ring reductase activity was measured in human liver obtained from 6 normal volunteers by aspiration liver biopsy. The base line enzyme activity varied between 62 and 132 nmoles of testosterone metabolized per hr per mg liver protein. Administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate resulted in a 200–500% increase in reductase activity. This was associated with a 28–58% rise in the metabolic clearance rate of testosterone. Medroxyprogesterone acetate appears to increase the metabolic clearance rate of testosterone by raising the A-ring reductase activity.

1. 1. The central nervous pathways in the razor clam which integrate reflex activity during foot withdrawal were studied by recording activity from the nerves and connectives in the pathway. Reflex activity was evoked by applying brief, controlled mechanical stimuli which excited mechanoreceptors in the foot and collar. 2. 2. Sensory activity from the foot and collar is conducted without intervening synapses to the ipsilateral cerebral ganglion. In the cerebral ganglion, post-synaptic activity is generated which is sent to the contralateral cerebral ganglion, to the pedal ganglia and to the muscles of the anterior mantle and collar. The contralateral cerebral ganglion generates parallel activity which is sent to the pedal ganglia and to the (contralateral) mantle and collar. 3. 3. Activity from the cerebral ganglia arriving at the pedal ganglia excites motor centers which generate prolonged efferent motor sequences; these sequences are sent to the musculature of the foot. 4. 4. Whenever two parallel sections of the reflex pathway simultaneously carry reflex activity, the bursts in each section are equivalent in their overall magnitude and time course, but not in the pattern of impulses within each burst. 5. 5. Evidence is presented for a short-latency retracting reflex which is evoked by stimulating the foot; this reflex apparently involves only the pedal ganglia. A foot-extension reflex is also described which is evoked by stimulating the mantle margins.

Virilizing luteoma of pregnancy with maternal and fetal virilization is reported in a 19 year old woman. Antepartum steroid determinations in the mother revealed an elevated urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion and markedly increased plasma testosterone levels. The percentage binding of testosterone in plasma was lower than expected for normal pregnancy. Surgical removal of the tumor resulted in complete regression of the signs of virilization in the mother and partial regression of the clitoral hypertrophy in the infant. These changes were associated with a return of the biochemical findings to normal.