The third voice: Do enhanced e-books enhance the benefits of shared story reading with preschoolers?

This study from which this paper draws examined the benefits of reading plain e-books (with parental instruction) compared to enhanced e-books (with limited parental direction) with 3- to 5-year-old children. Interaction was measured through parent-child verbal communication and eye contact. Engagement was measured through time spent visually focused on the story, and retention was measured through open-ended story event recall questions and multiple-choice story vocabulary questions. There were no differences between the enhanced and plain e-book conditions in children’s qualitative engagement with the story, or in the amounts of vocabulary or story events they retained. While enhanced e-books resulted in more time spent gazing at the device, parents and children were significantly more interactive when reading plain e-books. These findings suggest that while both plain and enhanced e-books are effective in aiding children’s retention of words and story events, plain e-books read by a caregiver are better at promoting meaningful conversation

Latitude and longitude vertical disparities

The literature on vertical disparity is complicated by the fact that several different definitions of the term “vertical disparity” are in common use, often without a clear statement about which is intended or a widespread appreciation of the properties of the different definitions. Here, we examine two definitions of retinal vertical disparity: elevation-latitude and elevation-longitude disparities. Near the fixation point, these definitions become equivalent, but in general, they have quite different dependences on object distance and binocular eye posture, which have not previously been spelt out. We present analytical approximations for each type of vertical disparity, valid for more general conditions than previous derivations in the literature: we do not restrict ourselves to objects near the fixation point or near the plane of regard, and we allow for non-zero torsion, cyclovergence, and vertical misalignments of the eyes. We use these expressions to derive estimates of the latitude and longitude vertical disparities expected at each point in the visual field, averaged over all natural viewing. Finally, we present analytical expressions showing how binocular eye position—gaze direction, convergence, torsion, cyclovergence, and vertical misalignment—can be derived from the vertical disparity field and its derivatives at the fovea

Chandra observations of the interacting galaxies NGC 3395/3396 (Arp 270)

In this paper we present the results of a 20-ks high-resolution Chandra X-ray observation of the peculiar galaxy pair NGC 3395/3396, a system at a very early stage of merging, and less evolved than the famous Antennae and Mice merging systems. Previously unpublished ROSAT High-Resolution Imager data are also presented. The point-source population and the hot diffuse gas in this system are investigated and compared with other merging galaxy pairs. 16 X-ray point sources are detected in Arp 270, seven of which are classified as ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs, LX>= 1039 erg s-1). From spectral fits and the age of the system it seems likely that these are predominantly high-mass X-ray binaries. The diffuse gas emits at a global temperature of ~0.5 keV, consistent with temperatures observed in other interacting systems, and we see no evidence of the starburst-driven hot gaseous outflows seen in more evolved systems such as The Mice and The Antennae. It is likely that these features are absent from Arp 270 as the gas has had insufficient time to break out of the galaxy discs. 32 per cent of the luminosity of Arp 270 arises from the diffuse gas in the system, this is low when compared with later stage merging systems and gives further credence that this is an early-stage merger. Comparing the ULX population of Arp 270 to other merging systems, we derive a relationship between the star formation rate of the system, indicated by LFIR, and the number [N(ULX)] and luminosity (LULX) of its ULX population. We find N(ULX) ~L0.18FIR and LULX~L0.54FIR. These relationships, coupled with the relation of the point-source X-ray luminosity (LXP) to LK and LFIR+UV (Colbert et al. 2003), indicate that the ULX sources in an interacting system have contributions from both the old and young stellar populations.Peer reviewe

'This degrading and stealthy practice': accounting, stigma and indigenous wages in Australia 1897-1972

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to make visible the relationship between accounting and stigma in the absence of accounting. This research examines how failure to implement mandatory accounting and auditing requirements in the management of Indigenous wages contributed to stigmatisation of Indigenous Australians and led to maladministration and unchecked financial fraud that continued for over 75 years. The accounting failures were by those charged with protect the financial interests of the Indigenous population. Design/methodology/approach: An historical and qualitative approach has been used that draws upon archival and contemporary sources. Findings (mandatory: Prior research has examined the nexus between accounting mechanisms and stigma. This research suggests that the absence of accounting mechanisms can also contribute to stigma. Research limitations/implications: This research highlights the complex relationship between accounting and stigma, suggesting that it is simplistic to examine the nexus between accounting and stigma without considering the social forces in which stigmatisation occurs. Social implications: This research demonstrates decades of failed accounting have contributed to the ongoing social disadvantage of Indigenous Australians. The presence of accounting mechanisms cannot eradicate the past, or fix the present but create an environment where financial abuse does not occur. Originality/value: This research demonstrates that stigma can be exacerbated in the negative space created by failures or absence of accounting. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to make visible the relationship between accounting and stigma in the absence of accounting. This research examines how failure to implement mandatory accounting and auditing requirements in the management of Indigenous wages contributed to stigmatisation of Indigenous Australians and led to maladministration and unchecked financial fraud that continued for over 75 years. The accounting failures were by those charged with protect the financial interests of the Indigenous population. Design/methodology/approach: An historical and qualitative approach has been used that draws upon archival and contemporary sources. Findings: Prior research has examined the nexus between accounting mechanisms and stigma. This research suggests that the absence of accounting mechanisms can also contribute to stigma. Research limitations/implications: This research highlights the complex relationship between accounting and stigma, suggesting that it is simplistic to examine the nexus between accounting and stigma without considering the social forces in which stigmatisation occurs. Social implications: This research demonstrates decades of failed accounting have contributed to the ongoing social disadvantage of Indigenous Australians. The presence of accounting mechanisms cannot eradicate the past, or fix the present but create an environment where financial abuse does not occur. Originality/value: This research demonstrates that stigma can be exacerbated in the negative space created by failures or absence of accounting

Effects of plastic mulch, row cover, and cultivar selection on growth of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculerntum Mill.) in high tunnels

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on May 11, 2009)Thesis advisor: Dr. David Trinklein.Includes bibliographical references.M.S. University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Horticulture.Tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were grown to: 1) evaluate their early season yield characteristics when grown using different mulch types with and without row cover; and 2) evaluate yield potential among different cultivars when grown in high tunnels. Row covers did not significantly increase total, or US number 1 yield of high tunnel tomatoes. Clear plastic mulch significantly increases early yield of grade 1 fruit over all other treatments. Total early yields from BHN 543, and Merced were significantly greater than all other cultivars. Due to early fruit ripening characteristics, BHN 543 could fit into a double cropping system for growers wanting to replant their high tunnels with a fall crop. Full season yield of grade 1 and 2 fruit combined was significantly greater for Merced than any other cultivar. The heirloom tomato cultivar Brandywine produced significantly less early total and grade 1 fruit per plant than Merced or BHN 543

Malaria-filaria coinfection in mice makes malarial disease more severe unless filarial infection achieves patency

Coinfections are common in natural populations, and the literature suggests that helminth coinfection readily affects how the immune system manages malaria. For example, type 1–dependent control of malaria parasitemia might be impaired by the type 2 milieu of preexisting helminth infection. Alternatively, immunomodulatory effects of helminths might affect the likelihood of malarial immunopathology. Using rodent models of lymphatic filariasis (Litomosoides sigmodontis) and noncerebral malaria (clone AS Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi), we quantified disease severity, parasitemia, and polyclonal splenic immune responses in BALB/c mice. We found that coinfected mice, particularly those that did not have microfilaremia (Mf), had more severe anemia and loss of body mass than did mice with malaria alone. Even when controlling for parasitemia, malaria was most severe in Mf coinfected mice, and this was associated with increased interferon-g responsiveness. Thus, in Mf mice, filariasis upset a delicate immunological balance in malaria infection and exacerbated malaria-induced immunopathology. Helminth infections are prevalent throughout tropical regions where malaria is transmitted [1–5]. Interactions among infections commonly alter disease severity [6, 7], and malaria-helminth coinfection can either exac

XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer Observations of the Prototypical Starburst Galaxy M82

We present results from XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer observations of the prototypical starburst galaxy M82. These high resolution spectra represent the best X-ray spectra to date of a starburst galaxy. A complex array of lines from species over a wide range of temperatures is seen, the most prominent being due to Lyman-alpha emission from abundant low Z elements such as N, O, Ne, Mg and Si. Emission lines from Helium-like charge states of the same elements are also seen in emission, as are strong lines from the entire Fe-L series. Further, the OVII line complex is resolved and is seen to be consistent with gas in collisional ionization equilibrium. Spectral fitting indicates emission from a large mass of gas with a differential emission measure over a range of temperatures (from 0.2 keV to 1.6 keV, peaking at 0.7 keV), and evidence for super-solar abundances of several elements is indicated. Spatial analysis of the data indicates that low energy emission is more extended to the south and east of the nucleus than to the north and west. Higher energy emission is far more centrally concentrated.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, MNRAS accepte

Robert Fland, or Elandus Dialecticus?

ISBN 978-0-88844-680-0In the late 1970s, Paul Spade edited three treatises, on Consequences, Insolubles and Obligations, which he attributed to an otherwise unknown fourteenth-century logician whom he named as Robert Fland. We question this reading of the name and argue that his real name was Robert Eland. Moreover, we suggest that he should be identified with Eland the dialectician, whose Sophismata is mentioned in an account book at Merton College in 1367, and whose renown as a logician was disdainfully recorded some two hundred years later by the bibliographer John Bale.PostprintPeer reviewe

Defining abnormal slow EEG activity in acute ischaemic stroke: delta/alpha ratio as an optimal QEEG index

Objective: Quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) indices sensitive to abnormal slow (relative to faster) activity power seem uniquely informative for clinical management of ischaemic stroke (IS), including around acute reperfusion therapies. However these have not been compared between IS and control samples. The primary objective was to identify the QEEG slowing index and threshold value which can most accurately discriminate between IS patients and controls