Getting Honest About Grad Rates: How States Play the Numbers and Students Lose

This report sharply criticizes the way states calculate and report graduation statistics. The analysis also rebukes the U.S. Department of Education for failing to exert leadership by demanding that states get honest about graduation rates. The Ed Trust analysis reveals disturbing patterns: Some states rely on ludicrous definitions of graduation rates. Others make little effort to accurately account for students who drop out of school. And others still provide no data at all. The final result: Extremely unreliable graduation-rate information that erodes public confidence in schools and their leadership and threatens to undermine the important work of high school reform

Photon waiting time distributions: a keyhole into dissipative quantum chaos

Open quantum systems can exhibit complex states, which classification and quantification is still not well resolved. The Kerr-nonlinear cavity, periodically modulated in time by coherent pumping of the intra-cavity photonic mode, is one of the examples. Unraveling the corresponding Markovian master equation into an ensemble of quantum trajectories and employing the recently proposed calculation of quantum Lyapunov exponents [I.I. Yusipov {\it et al.}, Chaos {\bf 29}, 063130 (2019)], we identify `chaotic' and `regular' regimes there. In particular, we show that chaotic regimes manifest an intermediate power-law asymptotics in the distribution of photon waiting times. This distribution can be retrieved by monitoring photon emission with a single-photon detector, so that chaotic and regular states can be discriminated without disturbing the intra-cavity dynamics.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

The relation between time of presentation and the sleep disturbing effects of nocturnally occurring jet aircraft flyovers

The research describes the sleep disturbing effects of jet aircraft flyover noise as it occurs at different times during the night. The results indicate that individuals respond statistically more, in terms of greater cortical desynchronization, during the first and last thirds of the night. During the middle third, while there is still a significant amount of cortical desynchronization in response to the jet aircraft noise, this is always less than that which occurs earlier or later in the night. The implications of this data are that it might be possible to reduce the disruptive effects of at least certain extrinsic sonic stimulation by appropriate scheduling

Investigating Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Through Critical Discourse Analysis

This paper addresses the large-scale sexual violence that has taken place (and still continues) within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) using critical discourse analysis. Disturbing statistics have resulted in the identification of the DRC as the rape capital of the world, and a variety of national, regional, and international actors have employed sexual violence as a weapon of war. Victims frequently receive little assistance, perpetrators act without fear of serious repercussions, and the government of the DRC fails to successfully implement relative legislation. Through an investigation of the discourse surrounding victims, perpetrators, and political institutions respectively, I will develop an understanding of how specific language portrays each of these participants in multiple reports and publications, and how this discourse can shape one\u27s perspective of the complex situation the DRC faces involving sexual violence

A New Vaccum Type Mercury Still

The still consists of a compact single unit of Pyrex glass embodying a boiler, a water cooled condenser, and a receiver. Mercury can be poured from the receiver as required without disturbing the contents of the boiler

The Americans with Disabilities Act at 25: Cause for Celebration and Renewed Resolve

In this report, we review the progress our nation has made since the historic enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. We highlight the critical role that P&As have in enforcing the ADA integration mandate, protecting and advocating for people with disabilities still trapped in institutions and ensuring those now living in their community of choice are able to access the supports and services they need to be successful. Our report calls attention to disturbing national trends that threaten to distort and weaken the promise of full community integration. Among them: Moving from Large Facilities to Smaller but Equally Isolating Settings A Proliferation of Intentional "Disability-only" Settings. Outsized Influence of A Small Minority of Individuals Over Olmstead Enforcement Activities Public Demand for Increased Use of State Psychiatric Hospitals and Involuntary Outpatient Commitment. School System Reluctance to Move away from Segregated Classrooms. Finally, the report provides recommendations for federal and state action to mitigate these threats and to vigorously promote community-based services and supports for Americans with disabilities