Accelerated Mathematics and High-Ability Students Math Achievement in Grades Three and Four.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the use of a computer-managed integrated learning system entitled Accelerated Math (AM) as a supplement to traditional mathematics instruction on achievement as measured by TerraNova achievement tests of third and fourth grade high-ability students. Gender, socioeconomic status, and grade level were also considered. The population consisted of 624 students who were third and fourth grade high-ability students during the 2009-2010 school year. Data were gathered that covered a 1-year period for high-ability third and fourth graders. A series of independent samples t-tests were used to identify relationship among variables. The researcher\u27s investigation of the relationship between AM and mathematics achievement might assist educators in planning for use of technology as a supplement to the normal mathematics curriculum. The findings indicated measurable differences in the performance of high-ability third and fourth grade students who qualified for free and reduced priced lunch and participated in AM compared to high-ability students who qualified for free and reduced priced lunch and did not participate in the program. High-ability students who participated in the AM program and who qualified for free and reduced lunch scored significantly higher on the TerraNova math achievement test than students who did not participate in AM and who qualified for free and reduced lunch. There were also measurable differences in the performance of high-ability fourth grade students who participated in the AM program compared to those who did not participate in the program. Fourth grade high-ability students who participated in the AM program scored significantly higher on the TerraNova math achievement test than fourth grade students who did not participate in the program. This study indicated no significant findings among gender, students in grade 3, and students who did not qualify for free and reduced price lunch who did and did not participate in the AM program

Characterizing the University of California's tenure-track teaching position from the faculty and administrator perspectives.

Teaching faculty are a potential mechanism to generate positive change in undergraduate STEM education. One such type of faculty is the Lecturer with Potential Security of Employment (L(P)SOE), a tenure-track faculty line within the University of California (UC) system. As a foundation for future studies, we sought to characterize individuals in the L(P)SOE position in terms of their background training, job expectations, and resources available for their success. Data were collected through an online survey completed by over 80% of STEM L(P)SOEs across the UC system, as well as interviews with over 20 deans and chairs in STEM departments at three UC campuses. From this work, we found that the majority of current L(P)SOEs were formally trained within their disciplines and not in an education field; however, they possessed substantial education experience, such as classroom teaching or participation in professional development opportunities. Expectations for time spent on teaching, research, and service are aligned between individuals within varying ranks of the L(P)SOE faculty and between L(P)SOEs and administrators. L(P)SOEs and administrators are also in agreement about what constitutes acceptable professional development activities. Interestingly, we identified differences that may reflect changes in the position over time, including increased start-up funds for more recently hired L(P)SOE faculty and a differing perspective on the role of discipline-based education research and scholarly activities between non-tenured and more senior L(P)SOEs. Overall, these data provide a snapshot of the L(P)SOE position that will aid in future work to identify the potential institutional impact of these individuals

The effectiveness of bilateral versus unilateral task retraining using the saeboflex orthosis in individuals with subacute and chronic stroke [abstract]

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the SaeboFlex orthosis, comparing unilateral versus bilateral task training with the device in patients with subacute and chronic stroke. This study addresses the question as to whether unilateral or bilateral task training is more beneficial for upper extremity motor and functional recovery after stroke while using the SaeboFlex, a relatively low-cost, client-driven orthotic device. The sample population consists of individuals who are greater than 6 months post-stroke and meet the specific qualifications for use of the device. Each participant is randomly assigned to the unilateral task training group (3-6 participants) or bilateral task training group (3-6 participants). The protocol for our study consists of six assessments for pre- and post-testing along with a five-day training session in the use of the device, if needed. This is followed by a four-week home program and outpatient training, where the program is completed six days a week, twice a day for 60 minutes and is upgraded as appropriate. We hypothesize that the bilateral task training group will result in a greater increase in motor function, performance satisfaction, and quality of movement as compared to the unilateral task training group, based on pre-test and post-test data. The study is currently in progress; thus far there are some promising observable and measurable results including decreased muscle tone, increased range of motion, and increased quality of movement in both the unilateral and bilateral task training groups. The majority of data collection and analysis will be completed by the beginning of November

A Survey of Capital Budgeting Methods Used by the Restaurant Industry

The purpose of this study was to determine what capital budgeting and cost of capital procedures are being used in the food service segment of the hospitality industry and to compare the responses, where possible, with those reported in the previous studies of capital budgeting techniques in the hospitality industry. The most popular primary capital budgeting techniques selected were the sophisticated or discounted cash flow methods, such as net present value and internal rate of return. The payback method was selected as a secondary technique

P1_9 Can You Get Into Space for Peanuts?

 Developing low cost space travel is a key issue since the retirement of the Shuttle. This paper looks at the feasibility of a mixture of toffee and peanuts in a low cost solid fuel rocket. It is found that this fuel mixture would lead to a mass ratio of about 54 which corresponds to a rocket consisting of 98% fuel and 2% remaining for the rocket structure and payload

P1_4 Could Bruce Willis Predict the End of the World?

This article is a follow-â€up to the paper Could Bruce Willis Save the World? where the feasibility of splitting an asteroid with a nuclear weapon is studied. In this article the possibility of spotting the asteroid with the Hubble Space Telescope upon a lucky image was researched. It was found the asteroid could have been spotted as far as away as 1.3210^14ð‘š

P1_7 Medical Nanobot Locomotion Methods within a Fluid

The following paper discusses the motion and mechanisms behind the motion of a nanoscale robot within a fluid and compares it to that of a larger object moving through the same fluid by considering the impeding forces to motion that the nanobot has to overcome. The fluid considered is water and it is found that the apparent viscosity of a fluid is highly dependent on the length scale of the object attempting to move through it with a nanoscale object experiencing a much larger viscosity compared to a macro scale object in the same fluid

A Comparison of Molecular and Histopathological Changes in Mouse Intestinal Tissue Following Whole-Body Proton- or Gamma-Irradiation

There are many consequences following exposure to the space radiation environment which can adversely affect the health of a crew member. Acute radiation syndrome (ARS) involving nausea and vomiting, damage to radio-sensitive tissue such as the blood forming organs and gastrointestinal tract, and cancer are some of these negative effects. The space radiation environment is ample with protons and contains gamma rays as well. Little knowledge exists to this point, however, regarding the effects of protons on mammalian systems; conversely several studies have been performed observing the effects of gamma rays on different animal models. For the research presented here, we wish to compare our previous work looking at whole-body exposure to protons using a mouse model to our studies of mice experiencing whole-body exposure to gamma rays as part of the radio-adaptive response. Radio-adaptation is a well-documented phenomenon in which cells exposed to a priming low dose of radiation prior to a higher dose display a reduction in endpoints like chromosomal aberrations, cell death, micronucleus formation, and more when compared to their counterparts receiving high dose-irradiation only. Our group has recently completed a radio-adaptive experiment with C57BL/6 mice. For both this study and the preceding proton research, the gastrointestinal tract of each animal was dissected four hours post-irradiation and the isolated small intestinal tissue was fixed in formalin for histopathological examination or snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen for RNA isolation. Histopathologic observation of the tissue using standard H&E staining methods to screen for morphologic changes showed an increase in apoptotic lesions for even the lowest doses of 0.1 Gy of protons and 0.05 Gy of gamma rays, and the percentage of apoptotic cells increased with increasing dose. A smaller percentage of crypts showed 3 or more apoptotic lesions in animals that received 6 Gy of gamma-irradiation compared to mice receiving only 2 Gy of protons. Tissue of the gastrointestinal tract was also homogenized and RNA was isolated for cDNA synthesis and real-time PCR analysis. Inspecting apoptotic lesions of the duodenum of the small intestine as an endpoint of damage did not reveal a radio-adaptive response in C57BL/6 mice at the four hour time point. Results of gene expression changes showed consistent up or down regulation of a number of genes for all of the exposure doses that may play a role in proton-induced apoptosis. Preliminary results of gene expression alterations as a result of gamma-irradiation revealed a wealth of genes involved in oxidative stress and antioxidant defense processes being up- or down-regulated only at the highest exposure dose of 6 Gy and the combined dose of 5 cGy with 6 Gy. Those animals undergoing only 5 cGy of gamma-irradiation showed very little modification of gene expression. Taken together these results lead us to conclude that protons cause more severe morphologic damage to the duodenum of the small intestine at a dose of 2 Gy than a higher dose of 6 Gy of gamma rays to the same organ. Both protons and gamma rays lead to significant variation in gene expression at high doses in the small intestine and these changes may provide insight into the mechanism of injury seen in the gastrointestinal tract following radiation exposure. Astronauts experiencing prolonged exposure to protons in the low Earth orbit and in deep space, and experiencing acute exposure to protons from solar particle events, may face biological consequences that will impact a mission s success. We will continue this work by studying, quantifying, and comparing damage due to protons and gamma rays in the small intestine as well as other organs in a time-dependent manner