A Pulse on Language Equity in First-Grade Urban Classrooms

Students of color are the majority in many U.S. urban public schools, yet U.S. education policy and practice continue to be centered largely on White, middle-class, monocultural, and monolingual norms of educational achievement (Alim & Paris, 2017). The purpose of this phenomenological study was to learn more about the teacher decision-making process and the extent to which first-grade mainstream teachers include culturally and linguistically sustaining practices during literacy instruction. Evidence using the foundations of the critically conscious teacher framework (Joseph & Evans, 2018) and of the role of language and culture as a medium in teaching and learning (de Jong & Harper, 2008) were used to analyze the progress in teacher development and practice during literacy instruction. Three findings emerged from the data: (a) Teacher decision making was oriented in a variety of self-selected professional growth experiences; (b) Teachers leveraged the online setting to enhance a culturally sustaining learning environment; (c) Teachers sought validation for decision making in their work with culturally sustaining practices. The findings of this study inspired the development of the Teacher Habits of Culturally Sustaining Practice Model, which contributes to research focused on the education and support of teachers’ effective literacy practices in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms

A Comparison of the Effects of an Aquatic Therapy Program Versus a Combined Aquatic/Land Program on Functional Reach Measurements in the Elderly

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of an aquatic exercise program with a combination land/aquatic program on functional reach measurements in the elderly. Twenty volunteers, aged 65 and older, were selected and assigned to either an aquatic or a combination exercise group. Subjects participated in 4 weeks (12 classes) of exercise. Functional reach (FR) measurements were taken prior to exercise and weekly thereafter. To determine significant differences in overall and weekly FR measurements, a t-test for independent samples, the Mann-Whitney U-Wilcoxon Rank Sum W Test, and a t-test for paired samples were used. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in overall and weekly FR (p\u3c.05), however no difference was found between groups. Due to the limitations of this study, conclusions cannot be made for the general population. This study serves as a pilot study for future research regarding the optimal exercise program for the elderly

Nonlinear normal modes, modal interactions and isolated resonance curves

The objective of the present study is to explore the connection between the nonlinear normal modes of an undamped and unforced nonlinear system and the isolated resonance curves that may appear in the damped response of the forced system. To this end, an energy balancing technique is used to predict the amplitude of the harmonic forcing that is necessary to excite a specific nonlinear normal mode. A cantilever beam with a nonlinear spring at its tip serves to illustrate the developments. The practical implications of isolated resonance curves are also discussed by computing the beam response to sine sweep excitations of increasing amplitudes.Comment: Journal pape

The Mark 3 Haploscope

A computer-operated binocular vision testing device was developed as one part of a system designed for NASA to evaluate the visual function of astronauts during spaceflight. This particular device, called the Mark 3 Haploscope, employs semi-automated psychophysical test procedures to measure visual acuity, stereopsis, phoria, fixation disparity, refractive state and accommodation/convergence relationships. Test procedures are self-administered and can be used repeatedly without subject memorization. The Haploscope was designed as one module of the complete NASA Vision Testing System. However, it is capable of stand-alone operation. Moreover, the compactness and portability of the Haploscope make possible its use in a broad variety of testing environments

Cohesive Autonomous Navigation System: Image Processing and Data Management

The ability of a robotic system to fully and autonomously interact with its environment is key to the future of applications such as commercial package delivery services, elderly robotic assistants, agricultural monitoring systems, natural disaster search and rescue robots, civil construction monitoring systems, robotic satellite servicing, and many more. An architecture that is conducive to Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), path planning, and mission planning is a critical element for a system to be robust enough to handle such applications with true autonomy. In this work, an architecture that lends itself to cohesive operation of all the aforementioned goals is presented. The key components of this architecture are the data management, image processing, SLAM, and path planning. The architecture works through the implementation of a common core database to represent the environment. The database management tools use k-vector search techniques. Image processing techniques are evaluated in a trade study where a graph-based approach is selected. An outline of the SLAM approach and a description of the path planning algorithm employed are briefly discussed. The Cohesive Autonomous Navigation System (CANS) is successfully implemented at slower than real-time speeds and future work is outlined to achieve a real-time system

The baboon (Papio anubis) extracranial carotid artery: An anatomical guide for endovascular experimentation

BACKGROUND: As novel endovascular strategies are developed for treating neurological disease, there is an increasing need to evaluate these techniques in relevant preclinical models. The use of non-human primates is especially critical given their structural and physiological homology with humans. In order to conduct primate endovascular studies, a comprehensive understanding of the carotid anatomy is necessary. We therefore performed a detailed examination of the vessel lengths, lumen diameters and angles of origin of the baboon extracranial carotid system. METHODS: We characterized the extracranial carotid system often male baboons (Papio anubis, range 15.1–28.4 kg) by early post-mortem dissection. Photographic documentation of vessel lengths, lumen diameters, and angles of origin were measured for each segment of the carotid bilaterally. RESULTS: The common carotid arteries averaged 94.7 ± 1.7 mm (left) and 87.1 ± 1.6 mm (right) in length. The average minimal common carotid lumen diameters were 3.0 ± 0.3 mm (left) and 2.9 ± 0.2 mm (right). Each animal had a common brachiocephalic artery arising from the aorta which bifurcated into the left common carotid artery and right braciocephalic artery after 21.5 ± 1.6 mm. The vascular anatomy was found to be consistent among animals despite a wide range of animal weights. CONCLUSIONS: The consistency in the Papio anubis extracranial carotid system may promote the use of this species in the preclinical investigation of neuro-interventional therapies

Motor unit number estimation, isometric strength, and electromyographic measures in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Pathologic progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) results from motor neuron death, while the clinical expression also reflects the compensatory effects of collateral reinnervation consequent to lower motor neuron loss. In a cross-sectional study of ALS subjects, we made comparisons between motor unit number estimation (MUNE) values and several measures reflecting collateral reinnervation, including isometric strength, compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude, surface motor unit action potential (S-MUAP) amplitude, fiber density (FD), macro-EMG potential amplitude, turns-to-amplitude (T/A) ratio, and amplitude and recruitment pattern of low threshold voluntary motor units in elbow flexor muscles. Before comparisons were made, testretest reproducibility of these measures was assessed in ALS subjects, and is highest for isometric strength, and lower but similar for EMG measures. When the effects of multiple comparisons are considered, borderline significant correlations are found between MUNE values and isometric strength. Neither MUNE values nor isometric strength are significantly correlated with macro-EMG amplitude, FD, T/A ratio, or amplitude and recruitment rate of low threshold voluntary motor units. There are significant correlations of CMAP and S-MUAP with MUNE values, but these are statistical artifacts with no independent interpretation. We conclude that collateral reinnervation prevents isometric strength and EMG measures from accurately reflecting lower motor neuron death in ALS. MUNE measurements are better suited to provide insight into the true natural history of the disease process and may be clinically useful to follow progression and response in drug trials. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/50155/1/880161111_ftp.pd

Gene therapy for monogenic liver diseases: clinical successes, current challenges and future prospects

Over the last decade, pioneering liver-directed gene therapy trials for haemophilia B have achieved sustained clinical improvement after a single systemic injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV) derived vectors encoding the human factor IX cDNA. These trials demonstrate the potential of AAV technology to provide long-lasting clinical benefit in the treatment of monogenic liver disorders. Indeed, with more than ten ongoing or planned clinical trials for haemophilia A and B and dozens of trials planned for other inherited genetic/metabolic liver diseases, clinical translation is expanding rapidly. Gene therapy is likely to become an option for routine care of a subset of severe inherited genetic/metabolic liver diseases in the relatively near term. In this review, we aim to summarise the milestones in the development of gene therapy, present the different vector tools and their clinical applications for liver-directed gene therapy. AAV-derived vectors are emerging as the leading candidates for clinical translation of gene delivery to the liver. Therefore, we focus on clinical applications of AAV vectors in providing the most recent update on clinical outcomes of completed and ongoing gene therapy trials and comment on the current challenges that the field is facing for large-scale clinical translation. There is clearly an urgent need for more efficient therapies in many severe monogenic liver disorders, which will require careful risk-benefit analysis for each indication, especially in paediatrics

Development of timber construction in the Alpine region

Abweichender Titel nach Übersetzung der Verfasserin/des VerfassersDer Holzbau blickt vor allem bei landwirtschaftlichen Gebäuden im Alpenraum auf eine lange Tradition zurück. Die regionale Verfügbarkeit, vorteilhafte bauphysikalische Materialeigenschaften sowie die Möglichkeit der einfachen Bearbeitbarkeit, machten den Baustoff Holz zur ersten Wahl für das Bauen am Berg. Mit Aufkommen des Alpinismus und der Erschließung der Gebirge durch die Alpenvereine, begann der Bau von Schutzhütten. Nach einer Vielzahl von Hüttenbauten mit unterschiedlichen Materialien, setzte auch hier die Erkenntnis ein, dass Holz mit seinen guten Transporteigenschaften bestens für die extremen Lagen geeignet ist und dabei auch unter ökologischen Gesichtspunkten zur umweltbewussten Philosophie der Alpenvereine passt. Ein hoher Vorfertigungsgrad ermöglicht kurze Bauzeiten im rauen Klima des Hochgebirges. In urbaneren Gebieten spielt der Holzbau bislang eine untergeordnete Rolle, wobei er auch hier dank neuer Holzbautechnologien und einem gestiegenen Umweltbewusstsein immer mehr Beachtung findet. Im Zuge der Diplomarbeit werden die grundsätzlichen Wesenszüge des Holzbaus beschrieben und anhand von repräsentativen Projekten exemplarisch dargestellt. Als Arbeitsmittel dient die Videodokumentation. In dieser werden durch Interviews mit Nutzern, Planern und Bauherren verschiedene Blickwinkel auf Gebäude dargestellt. Das gewählte Medium erlaubt es, neben den technischen Eigenschaften der Holzbauweise, auch emotionale Verbindungen zum Material zu beschreiben. Ziel der Arbeit ist es, einen umfassenden Überblick über die Qualitäten des Holzbaus im Alpenraum zu erhalten und eine Verbindung zu den zukünftigen Anforderungen der Bauwirtschaft herzustellen.Timber construction has a long tradition, especially for agricultural buildings in the Alpine region. The regional availability, advantageous material properties in terms of building physics and the possibility of simple workability made wood the construction material of choice for building in the mountains. With the emergence of alpinism and the development of the mountains by the Alpine clubs, the construction of mountain huts began. After a large number of huts had been built with different materials, the realization set in that wood, with its good transport properties, is ideally suited for extreme locations and also fits in with the environmentally-conscious philosophy of the Alpine clubs from an ecological point of view. A high degree of prefabrication enables short construction times in the harsh climate of the high mountains. In more urban areas, timber construction has so far played a subordinate role, although thanks to new timber construction technologies and increased environmental awareness, it is attracting more and more attention here as well. In the course of the diploma thesis, the fundamental characteristics of timber construction are described and exemplified by means of representative projects. Video documentation serves as a working tool. Through interviews with users, planners and builders, different perspectives on buildings are presented. The chosen medium makes it possible to describe not only the technical characteristics of timber construction but also emotional associations with the material. The aim of the thesis is to provide a comprehensive overview of the qualities of timber construction in the Alpine region and to establish a link to the future requirements of the building industry.12