A Silent Crisis: The Misidentification of English Language Learners as Students with Learning Disabilities

As more people immigrate to the United States, more students who speak languages other than English enter the U.S. school system, and since English language learners (ELLs) have unique strengths and challenges, they must be educated according to their needs. Unfortunately, many educators do not have the knowledge or training on how to effectively educate ELLs. ELLs may display lower achievement in academics because of ineffective accommodations in their education or because of the difficulties and demands of second language acquisition. Therefore, numerous ELLs are misidentified as students with learning disabilities and thus placed into special education. While special education may seem like a solution that tends to the needs of ELLs, placing students into the program may actually worsen the situation and neglect the students from receiving the education that they deserve. While various solutions have been offered as a means to eradicate the issue of misidentification, each set of solutions comes with its own advantages and shortcomings. Moreover, two solutions, education and awareness, stand above the rest. Education is the training of teachers and other educators so that they are able to fully tend to the educational needs of ELLs, and awareness consists of the general public’s understanding and knowledge of the issue of misidentification as a whole. Together education and awareness offer a real sense of hope for ending misidentification

Parametric entry corridors for lunar/Mars aerocapture missions

Parametric atmospheric entry corridor data are presented for Earth and Mars aerocapture. Parameter ranges were dictated by the range of mission designs currently envisioned as possibilities for the Human Exploration Initiative (HEI). This data, while not providing a means for exhaustive evaluation of aerocapture performance, should prove to be a useful aid for preliminary mission design and evaluation. Entry corridors are expressed as ranges of allowable vacuum periapse altitude of the planetary approach hyperbolic orbit, with chart provided for conversion to an approximate flight path angle corridor at entry interface (125 km altitude). The corridor boundaries are defined by open-loop aerocapture trajectories which satisfy boundary constraints while utilizing the full aerodynamic control capability of the vehicle (i.e., full lift-up or full lift-down). Parameters examined were limited to those of greatest importance from an aerocapture performance standpoint, including the approach orbit hyperbolic excess velocity, the vehicle lift to drag ratio, maximum aerodynamic load factor limit, and the apoapse of the target orbit. The impact of the atmospheric density bias uncertainties are also included. The corridor data is presented in graphical format, and examples of the utilization of these graphs for mission design and evaluation are included

Efficacy of Two Common Methods of Application of Residual Insecticide for Controlling the Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), in Urban Areas

After its first introduction in the 1980's the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), has spread throughout Southern Europe. Ae. albopictus is considered an epidemiologically important vector for the transmission of many viral pathogens such as the yellow fever virus, dengue fever and Chikungunya fever, as well as several filarial nematodes such as Dirofilaria immitis or D. repens. It is therefore crucial to develop measures to reduce the risks of disease transmission by controlling the vector populations. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of two application techniques (mist vs. stretcher sprayer) and two insecticides (Etox based on the nonester pyrethroid Etofenprox vs. Microsin based on the pyrethroid type II Cypermetrin) in controlling adult tiger mosquito populations in highly populated areas. To test the effect of the two treatments pre- and post-treatment human landing rate counts were conducted for two years. After one day from the treatment we observed a 100% population decrease in mosquito abundance with both application methods and both insecticides. However, seven and 14 days after the application the stretcher sprayer showed larger population reductions than the mist sprayer. No effect of insecticide type after one day and 14 days was found, while Etox caused slightly higher population reduction than Microsin after seven days. Emergency measures to locally reduce the vector populations should adopt adulticide treatments using stretcher sprayers. However, more research is still needed to evaluate the potential negative effects of adulticide applications on non-target organisms

A new time dependent density functional algorithm for large systems and plasmons in metal clusters

A new algorithm to solve the Time Dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT) equations in the space of the density fitting auxiliary basis set has been developed and implemented. The method extracts the spectrum from the imaginary part of the polarizability at any given photon energy, avoiding the bottleneck of Davidson diagonalization. The original idea which made the present scheme very efficient consists in the simplification of the double sum over occupied-virtual pairs in the definition of the dielectric susceptibility, allowing an easy calculation of such matrix as a linear combination of constant matrices with photon energy dependent coefficients. The method has been applied to very different systems in nature and size (from H2 to [Au147] 12). In all cases, the maximum deviations found for the excitation energies with respect to the Amsterdam density functional code are below 0.2 eV. The new algorithm has the merit not only to calculate the spectrum at whichever photon energy but also to allow a deep analysis of the results, in terms of transition contribution maps, Jacob plasmon scaling factor, and induced density analysis, which have been all implemente

Theoretical description of photoabsorption spectra: TDDFT development and applications

Lo scopo principale di questa tesi \ue8 la simulazione teorica e quindi l\u2019interpretazione di spettri di fotoassorbimento. Questo progetto pu\uf2 essere suddiviso in due argomenti: il calcolo di spettri Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) a livello DFT per molecole in fase gassosa e lo sviluppo di un nuovo algoritmo per il calcolo di spettri di fotoassorbimento a livello TDDFT per sistemi di grandi dimensioni (>100 atomi). Gli spettri NEXAFS C1s e XPS in fase gassosa di due idrocarburi policiclici aromatici (fenantrene e coronene) sono stati calcolati, interpretati e confrontati con i dati sperimentali. Gli spettri calcolati a livello \u394KS considerando solo le transizioni elettroniche presentano delle differenze significative rispetto all\u2019esperimento, in particolare per quanto riguarda la distribuzione delle intensit\ue0. L\u2019inclusione dell\u2019accoppiamento vibronico a livello Frank-Condon nel modello di calcolo migliora fortemente l\u2019accordo della distribuzione dell\u2019intensit\ue0 rispetto all\u2019esperimento. Inoltre sono stati calcolati e interpretati gli spettri NEXAFS in fase gassosa a livello \u394KS per una serie di tiofeni (tiofene, ditiofene e tertiofene), i dati teorici sono in buon accordo con i dati sperimentali. La seconda parte di questa tesi verte sullo sviluppo di un nuovo algoritmo TDDFT per il calcolo di spettri di fotoassorbimento che superi i limiti intrinseci degli attuali codici che utilizzano l\u2019algoritmo di Casida e quindi la diagonalizzazione di Davidson. Infatti quando si studiano sistemi di grandi dimensioni (>100 atomi) come ad esempio cluster metallici la densit\ue0 degli stati \ue8 molto elevata e di conseguenza con algoritmi che utilizzino la diagonalizzazione di Davidson \ue8 possibile il calcolo di una regione limitata di spettro, il nuovo algoritmo risolve le equazioni TDDFT nello spazio del set di base ausiliaria delle funzioni di fitting della densit\ue0, questo metodo estrae lo spettro punto per punto dalla parte immaginaria della polarizzabilit\ue0. L\u2019idea principale che rende praticabile questo metodo \ue8 la semplificazione della doppia somma occupato-virtuale per il calcolo della suscettibilit\ue0 dielettrica, rendendo il calcolo di questa matrice una combinazione lineare tra matrici costanti e coefficienti dipendenti dall\u2019energia. Questo metodo \ue8 stato applicato per lo studio di diversi sistemi per natura e dimensioni (da H2 a [Au147]-) e presenta un buon accordo con calcoli effettuati utilizzando il codice ADF (massima differenza di 0.2eV). Inoltre \ue8 stata implementata la possibilit\ue0 di analisi dei risultati tramite la Transition Contribution Maps, il fattore di scala di Jacob e l\u2019analisi della densit\ue0 indotta. Il nuovo algoritmo \ue8 stato infine applicato allo studio di diversi sistemi di cluster metallici, simulando i fenomeni di risonanza plasmonica e gli andamenti rispetto alle dimensioni e alla natura dei leganti. In particolare \ue8 stata studiata una serie di icosaedri di argento e oro (M13, M55, M147, M309), una serie di cluster di Au30 con diversi leganti tiolici (terbutiltiolo, feniltiolo, nitrofeniltiolo), inoltre \ue8 stato possibile studiare sistemi di grandi dimensioni e a bassa simmetria come Au144(SH)60

Generazione dei riferimenti per algoritmi di motion cueing basato su MPC

Scopo dei simulatori dinamici di veicolo è quello di riprodurre in modo più fedele possibile gli stimoli di guida che un pilota avrebbe in un abitacolo reale e che vengono percepiti attraverso il sistema vestibolare collocato sull’orecchio. In questo lavoro di tesi si descrive un algoritmo innovativo di motion cueing basato su MPC. Sono stati risolte due delle principali problematiche legato all’utilizzo di tale tecnica di controllo nel contesto in questione: l’abbattimento dei tempi di calcolo utilizzando un procedimento di decimazione della predizione e la generazione real time dei riferimenti per la predizione basata su una strategia di matching con una telemetria ideale. I risultati ottenuti sono molto incoraggianti e offrono prospettive concrete per l’implementazione sulla piattaforma reale del controllo propostoopenMotivi di segretezza e/o di proprietà dei risultati e informazioni di enti esterni o aziende private che hanno contribuito alla realizzazione del lavoro di ricerca relativo alla tes

Efeito de terapias compressivas no tempo de cicatrização de úlceras venosas : uma revisão integrativa

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Fatores Correlacionados à Gestação de Risco e Parto Prematuro em Adolescentes

O presente artigo relata pesquisa sobre os fatores relacionados à gestação de risco e parto prematuro em adolescentes. Foram analisados os dados trazidos por oito gestantes de alto-risco, obtidos através de entrevista semidirigida, Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI) e Inventário de Sintomas de Stress para Adultos de Lipp (ISSL). Dentre os resultados, o BDI revelou que 62,5% das pacientes encontravam-se com sintomas mínimos de depressão e 37,5% leve. Os achados apontam uma prevalência de 100% de sintomas de depressão em graus mínimo e leve. No Inventário de Stress, 12,5% da amostra encontra-se na fase de Alerta; 62,5% de Resistência; 25% de Quase Exaustão. As evidências apontam para a prevalência de stress na fase de Resistência, que quando não tratado pode levar a um estado de Quase Exaustão, etapa mais avançada do stress que pode causar maior debilidade orgânica e psíquica na gestante. Concluí-se que o stress durante a gestação de alto risco é um dos fatores que incidem no parto prematuro, uma vez que a angústia presente nesse período é responsável por alterações psicossomáticas que afetam a saúde do indivíduo

Modelo de simulação de governança de passivo atuarial de um fundo de pensão brasileiro

Este trabalho propõe um modelo para a simulação do passivo atuarial de um fundo de pensão brasileiro. As principais fontes de incertezas que influenciam a avaliação do passivo atuarial foram especificadas como variáveis aleatórias e parâmetros do modelo. Diversos cenários são gerados utilizando a técnica de simulação de Monte Carlo e a microssimulação no intuito de determinar o status de cada participante do fundo de pensão modelo para períodos futuros em diferentes nós de uma árvore de cenários. A situação de vida de cada participante, simulada individualmente a cada nó, está condicionada ao seu estado no nó imediatamente antecessor. O resultado é um modelo flexível, que permite a configuração de parâmetros a níveis individuais e possibilita trabalhar com diversas tábuas biométricas, mostrando-se capaz de gerar cenários consistentes, realistas e variados, capturando a essência da incerteza inerente às entidades de previdência complementar e produzindo não só valores únicos e determinísticos de reservas matemáticas e fluxos de caixa atuariais, mas intervalos de valores possíveis com distribuições conhecidas, importantes para a gestão eficiente de um fundo de pensão. A metodologia proposta serve como alternativa ao cálculo atuarial tradicional, que utiliza diretamente as probabilidades das tábuas biométricas, fixas por idade e sexo, para a mensuração dos fluxos de caixa previdenciários e reservas matemáticas. Os dados gerados a partir das simulações servem como dados de entrada para um modelo estocástico completo de Asset-Liability Management (ALM).This study proposes a model to simulate actuarial liabilities from a pension fund in Brazil. The main uncertainties that affect the liabilities have been specified as random variables and parameters of the developed model. Many scenarios are generated using Monte Carlo simulation and micro-simulation techniques in order to determine the status of each member of the pension fund for future periods in different nodes of a scenario tree. The future of each participant, simulated individually at each node, is conditioned to its status in the immediately predecessor node. The result is a flexible model which allows the parameters configuration at individual levels and that can work with several actuarial tables, showing to be itself able to generate consistent, realistic and sorted scenarios, capturing the uncertainty inherent in pension funds environment and producing not only single and deterministic values for actuarial liabilities and cash flows, but ranges of possible values with known distributions, becoming an important tool for the efficient management of the pension fund. The methodology applied is an alternative to the classic actuarial techniques, that use directly the probabilities from actuarial tables, fixed by age and gender, to calculate the liabilities and the cash flow of the pension fund. The data generated by this model were thought to be inputs for a full multistage stochastic Asset-Liability Management (ALM) model

Magnon-phonon interactions enhance the gap at the Dirac point in the spin-wave spectra of CrI3_3 2D magnets

Recent neutron-diffraction experiments in honeycomb CrI$_3$ quasi-2D ferromagnets have evinced the existence of a gap at the Dirac point in their spin-wave spectra. The existence of this gap has been attributed to strong in-plane Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya or Kitaev (DM/K) interactions and suggested to set the stage for topologically protected edge states to sustain non-dissipative spin transport. We perform state-of-the-art simulations of the spin-wave spectra in monolayer CrI$_3$, based on time-dependent density-functional perturbation theory (TDDFpT) and fully accounting for spin-orbit couplings (SOC) from which DM/K interactions ultimately stem. While our results are in qualitative agreement with experiments, the computed TDDFpT magnon gap at the Dirac point is found to be 0.47~meV, roughly 6 times smaller than the most recent experimental estimates, so questioning that intralayer anisotropies alone can explain the observed gap. Lattice-dynamical calculations, performed within density-functional perturbation theory (DFpT), indicate that a substantial degeneracy and a strong coupling between vibrational and magnetic excitations exist in this system, providing a possible additional gap-opening mechanism in the spin-wave spectra. In order to pursue this path, we introduce an interacting magnon-phonon Hamiltonian featuring a linear coupling between lattice and spin fluctuations, enabled by the magnetic anisotropy induced by SOC. Upon determination of the relevant interaction constants by DFpT and supercell calculations, this model allows us to propose magnon-phonon interactions as an important microscopic mechanism responsible for the enhancement of the gap in the range of $\approx 4$~meV around the Dirac point of the CrI$_3$ monolayer