Influencing the School Leadership Pipeline: The Attributes and Readiness of Principals to Mentor Their Assistant Principals

Despite the complexities and challenges faced by principals on a daily basis, the literature posits that mentoring can be impactful to the individual mentee, as well as the potential benefits to the system in which they serve (Gross, 2009). While the benefits of mentoring are reviewed from the perspective of psychosocial development (Mertz, 2004), professional development (Gray et al., 2007), career development (Williams et al., 2009), the topic of readiness for principal mentoring is lacking in the literature. This study is a qualitative interview study conducted with five middle school principals and five middle school assistant principals in South Carolina. The study explores the attributes of principals who demonstrate readiness for mentoring, their self perceptions, and the perceptions of assistant principals. My research goal is to contribute to developing and enhancing the principalship pipeline for local and state education agencies through on-the-job support and mentoring. As many schools and communities struggle to staff schools with highly qualified school leaders, this study seeks to serve as an impetus for intervention through mentoring relationships between assistant principals and principals. In response to Title II, Part A of The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states have the option of setting aside a discretionary 3% of Title II, Part A funds as outlined in ESSA to support the professional growth and development of principals, in order to retain them in schools while supporting their leadership skills in order to provide high quality instructional programming for students (U.S. Department of Education, 2016). This study will provide research, practice, and policy recommendations for a mentoring framework to support in-service and aspiring principals at district and state level

Parent-child relationship in student with and without difficulties of development

La forma de responder de los padres ante un niño con necesidades específicas de apoyo educativo, cuyas características son diferentes al resto, puede diferir de unos padres a otros. Este proceso de afrontamiento de la dificultad del niño es importante ya que la relación que los padres establezcan con sus hijos va a estar influenciada en parte por las reacciones y sentimientos que éstos desarrollen ante la dificultad de sus hijos pudiéndose producir tendencia al rechazo, indiferencia, percepciones alteradas de las cualidades y capacidades del hijo, problemas matrimoniales o injustificadas reacciones hacia la comunidad, sin olvidar el sentimiento de culpa (Nazir y Naz, 2012). Desde esta perspectiva, los objetivos que se plantean en el presente estudio son conocer las actitudes más frecuentes de los padres hacia sus hijos en términos de aceptación-rechazo y estilo educativo en función de las diferentes tipologías de sus hijos siendo estas: necesidades educativas especiales, otras necesidades específicas de apoyo educativo y sin dificultades de aprendizaje ni desarrollo y establecer una comparación entre ellas. Para ello, 75 familillas de alumnos de las diferentes tipologías han respondido al cuestionario Parental Acceptance-Rejection/Control Questionnaire (Rohner y Khaleque, 2005). Los resultados muestran diferencias en los sentimientos de aceptación-rechazo de los padres y sus estilos de control en función de las características tipológicas de sus hijos.How to respond to parent a child with special educational needs whose characteristics are different from the rest, you may differ from other parents. This process of coping with the difficulty of the child is important because the relationship that parents establish with their children will be influenced in part by the reactions and feelings they develop given the difficulty of their children being able to produce trend of rejection, indifference, altered perceptions of the qualities and abilities of the child, marital problems or unjustified reactions to the community, not to mention the guilt (Nazir and Naz, 2012). From this perspective, the objectives proposed in this study are to know the most common attitudes of parents towards their children in terms of acceptance-rejection and educational style based on the different types of children which are: special educational needs, other specific educational support and without learning and development and make a comparison between them. To do this, 75 students familiars of different types have responded to the questionnaire Parental Acceptance-Rejection / Control Questionnaire (Rohner and Khaleque, 2005). The results show differences in feelings of acceptance and rejection of parents and their styles of control depending on the typological characteristics of their children

Clinical study of cervicogenic headache

The cervicogenic headache was studied to get a deeper insight into the pathogenetic mechanisms, and clinical presentation forms. Material and Methods. Eleven female patients, ranging from 34 to 81 years-old, with cervicogenic headaches, were studied and correlated with NMR images of the cervical spine. Results. Intense neck pain irradiated to parietal, occipital, temporal regions, and shoulders were correlated with NMR images of the degenerated cervical spine. Also, lumbar spine pathology, osteoporosis, gallstones, and cholecystitis were found. The following associated neurological, neurobehavioral, and metabolic diseases comorbidities were observed, such as blood hypertension, diabetes, obesity, hypothyroidism, partial epilepsy, tremor, familial stress, memory, sleep disorders, and dizziness. Also, we found mixed cervicogenic headaches and migraines in 50% of cases studied. Conclusion. The headache and the associated images of cervical pathology have been clinically interpreted as cardinal signs of cervicogenic headache. A mixed cervicogenic mixed type was observed

Nuclear Reaction Rates in a Plasma

The problem of determining the effects of the surrounding plasma on nuclear reaction rates in stars is formulated ab initio, using the techniques of quantum statistical mechanics. We derive a result that expresses the complete effects of Coulomb barrier penetration and of the influence of the surrounding plasma in terms of matrix elements of well defined operators. We find that possible "dynamical screening" effects that have been discussed in the literature are absent. The form of our results suggests that an approach that relies on numerical calculations of the correlation functions in a classical Coulomb gas, followed by construction of an effective two body potential and a quantum barrier penetration calculation, will miss physics that is as important as the physics that it includes.Comment: 66 pages, revtex, Errors Fixed, Explanation Adde

Locational preferences and spatial arrangement in the barrow landscape of Serra do Barbanza (North-western Iberia)

As anywhere else around the world, GIS is an essential tool in Galician Archaeology (NW Spain) when examining and analysing spatial data. This is also true for the study of mounds in that area, since spatial analysis and statistics have become increasingly used for contrasting hypotheses regarding the locational preferences of these monuments, usually inferred from observations made during fieldwork or taken from studies conducted elsewhere. Drawing on this basis, in this paper, we have analysed the locational patterns of the tumuli of the upper tracts of the Serra do Barbanza (Galicia, NW Spain). Using a site-predictive modelling approach, several environmental covariates were analysed in order to explore their potential role in explaining the distribution of prehistoric mounds in the area. Subsequently, we studied the clustering of these monuments via second-order modelling. Our results suggest that tumuli in the Serra do Barbanza tended to cluster on a very local scale, a trend that can only be explained by intended site spacing strategies that may have taken place over millennia. Finally, by using significance testing via Monte Carlo Simulation, we have modelled both the effect of possible preferences regarding the location of mounds and the potential impact of tradition, with pre-existent megaliths possibly fostering the construction of more monuments in the nearby areas

Diversidad de mariposas (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) y su relación con el paisaje de alta montaña en los Andes nororientales de Colombia

Diversitat de papallones (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) i la seva relació amb el paisatge d’alta muntanya als Andes nord-orientals de Colòmbia La regió andina es caracteritza per acollir una gran varietat d’ecosistemes entre els quals es compten les característiques zones d’alta muntanya, que mostren processos de transformació del sòl accelerats que han convertit els boscos natius en zones agrícoles i ramaderes, la qual cosa ha ocasionant un declivi de la diversitat biològica regional. L’ús d’indicadors de diversitat és adequat per avaluar els canvis en els paisatges d’alta muntanya i les papallones són un dels grups més importants per determinar els canvis que es produeixen en els diferents tipus d’ambients. A l’àrea d’estudi es van establir dotze punts de mostreig als complexos d’erms d’Almorzadero, Santurbán i Tamá de la regió nord-oriental de Colòmbia. Durant la fase de mostreig es van practicar captures d’individus adults de papallones en transsectes de 100 x 4 m en un gradient altitudinal de 500 m. Es van registrar 69 espècies, pertanyents a cinc famílies. Els valors de diversitat de la comunitat de papallones diürnes van variar a les diferents cobertures vegetals associades a cada transsecte. Així, les àrees amb cobertura vegetal conservada (per exemple, bosc dens, arbustos i matolls i erm i suberm) van presentar els valors més alts de diversitat, mentre que les zones amb cobertura alterada (per exemple, bosc fragmentat, pastures i àrees agrícoles) van presentar els valors de diversitat més baixos. Les anàlisis d’estructura de comunitats evidencien que les espècies de papallones endèmiques estan associades a àrees fragmentades a les zones d’alta muntanya. Aquest estudi és el primer del seu tipus que estableix canvis en la diversitat de les papallones en zones d’alta muntanya del nord-est de Colòmbia i s’ha fet amb el propòsit de generar estratègies de conservació en llocs que presenten un alt grau d’endemisme i diversitat.Diversity of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) and their relationship with the highlands’ landscape in the northeastern Andes of Colombia The Andean region harbors a great variety of ecosystems, including the characteristic high mountain zones. The biological diversity in these zones, however, is declining as the result of changes in land use, particularly the introduction of agriculture and cattle ranching. Changes in the high mountain landscape can be appropriately monitored using diversity indicators such as butterflies, one of the most important indicator species. We chose twelve sampling points in the paramo (high altitude moor) complexes Almorzadero, Santurbán and El Tamá, located in the northeastern region of Colombia to collect adult butterflies within transects of 100 x 4 m, along an altitudinal gradient of 500 m. We recorded 69 species, from five families. Diversity values of the diurnal butterfly communities varied among  the different areas of vegetation coverage associated with each transect. Conserved vegetation coverage (i.e. dense forest, scrublands and scrublands, and paramo and subparamo) showed the highest values of diversity, while  perturbed coverage (i.e. fragmented forests, pastures and agriculture areas) presented the lowest values of diversity. Analysis of the community structure showed that endemic butterfly species were associated with fragmented areas in the high mountains. Findings from this study, the first of its kind to determine changes in butterfly diversity in highlands in northeastern Colombia, may help to generate conservation strategies in places where there is high endemism and diversityLa región andina se caracteriza por albergar una gran variedad de ecosistemas entre los que se cuentan las características zonas de alta montaña, que muestran acelerados procesos de transformación del suelo que han convertido los bosques nativos en zonas agrícolas y ganaderas ocasionando un declive de la diversidad biológica regional. El empleo de indicadores de diversidad es adecuado para evaluar los cambios en los paisajes de alta montaña, siendo las mariposas uno de los grupos más importantes para determinar los cambios que se producen en los diferentes tipos de ambientes. En el área de estudio se establecieron doce puntos de muestreo en los complejos de páramos del Almorzadero, Santurbán y Tamá de la región nororiental de Colombia. Durante la fase de muestreo se realizaron capturas de individuos adultos de mariposas en transectos de 100 x 4 m en un gradiente altitudinal de 500 m. Se registraron 69 especies, pertenecientes a cinco familias. Los valores de diversidad de la comunidad de mariposas diurnas variaron en las diferentes coberturas vegetales asociadas a cada transecto. Así, las áreas con cobertura vegetal conservada (por ejemplo, bosque denso, arbustos y matorrales y páramo y subpáramo) presentaron los valores más altos de diversidad, mientras que las zonas con cobertura alterada (por ejemplo, bosque fragmentado, pastos y áreas agrícolas) presentaron los valores de diversidad más bajos. Los análisis de estructura de comunidades evidencian que las especies de mariposas endémicas están asociadas a áreas fragmentadas en las zonas de alta montaña. Este estudio es el primero de su tipo que establece cambios en la diversidad de las mariposas en zonas de alta montaña del nordeste de Colombia y se ha realizado con el propósito de generar estrategias de conservación en lugares que presentan un alto grado de endemismo y diversidad

A fully automated flow injection atomic absorption system for the determination of copper traces in waters with on-line pre-concentration in an ion-exchange column

The paper describes the development of an automatic on-line column pre-concentration technique using a time based-flow injection atomic absorption spectrometry system. A manifold incorporating a micro-column containing 25 mg of Dowex 50W-X8 was used with a time-based injector for the pre-concentration and determination of copper in natural and drinking waters. The system features depend on the alternate positions of a solenoid valve. The 3σ detection limits, enrichment factors, sampling frequency, relative standard deviations and linear calibration graphs were, respectively, in the range 0.6-1.5 μg/l, 25-60, 15-30 measurements/h, 1.0-3.1% and 1-65 μg/ml for pre-concentration times of 1 min. The procedure was successfully applied to a range of water samples and the accuracy was assessed through recovery experiments, the analysis of certified reference water samples and by independent analysis by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization

Deciphering past and present atmospheric metal pollution of urban environments: The role of black crusts formed on historical constructions

Construction materials affected by black crusts (BCs) can be subjected to restoration, demolition, recycling or even to their management as waste products. Therefore, the determination of their chemical features should be considered a crucial step before undertaking any action. In this work, we present the development of an analytical methodology useful to be implemented as a routine screening tool to detect recent and past atmospheric emissions of heavy metals, nowadays superficially deposited or even encapsulated in BCs. For its development, BCs together with the underneath original substrate/construction material were sampled from the historical construction Punta Begona Galleries (Getxo, Basque Country, North of Spain). In order to detect quickly and in a cost-effective way the stratification of the metallic deposits in the BCs over time (surface or external/recent and internal/past), thin sections were analyzed by elemental spectroscopic imaging techniques (SEM-EDS and mu-ED-XRF). In the external part of the BCs, iron particles were mainly identified, whereas in the inner areas (past deposition events) of the most exposed BCs to the atmosphere, lead accumulations together with zinc and copper were identified. Additional Raman imaging studies allowed to perform the molecular speciation study of lead, identifying mainly laurionite (PbClOH) together with hydrocerussite (Pb-3(CO3)(2)(OH)(2)). The presence of the mentioned lead chloride hydroxide confirms the role of the marine aerosol (chloride input) in the formation of the metallic compounds. These experimental evidences were used to assist the chemical equilibrium models developed to explain the reactivity pathway, which lead to the formation of the identified compounds. Through ICP-MS and lead isotopic ratio analysis, more than 3000 mg kg(-1) of lead were quantified in the BCs, probably coming from the old emissions conducted by the old power station close to the construction,. That lead content can be high enough to consider those crusts as a source of metallic contamination and a possible risk to the environment and human health

Shale Water Desalination: Multistage membrane distillation considering different configurations and heat integration

This work introduces a simultaneous synthesis of membrane distillation systems with heat exchanger networks (HENs) for desalinating shale gas flowback and produce water. The direct contact and vacuum membrane configurations are the best options for desalination. Moreover, multistage membrane distillation systems usually have higher efficiencies than single-stages processes. For this reason, two different mathematical models for synthetizing multistage direct contact membrane distillation (MSDCMD) and multistage vacuum membrane distillation (MSVMD) are developed and optimized to achieve zero liquid discharge (ZLD) conditions. To this aim, brine discharges are considered to be near to the salt saturation conditions. The multi-stage superstructures are implemented in GAMS and optimized by SBB solver. The mathematical model is formulated via generalized disjunctive programming (GDP) and mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP), to minimize the total annualized cost.This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No. 640979

Dietary intake in adults on hemodialysis compared with guideline recommendations

Background: Clinical practice guidelines of dietary management are designed to promote a balanced diet and maintain health in patients undergoing haemodialysis but they may not reflect patients’ preferences. We aimed to investigate the consistency between the dietary intake of patients on maintenance haemodialysis and guideline recommendations. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of the DIET-HD study, which included 6,906 adults undergoing haemodialysis in 10 European countries. Dietary intake was determined using the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN) Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and compared with the European Best Practice Guidelines. Consistency with guidelines was defined as achieving the minimum daily recommended intake for energy (≥ 30 kcal/kg) and protein (≥ 1.1 g/kg), and not exceeding the maximum recommended daily intake for phosphate (≤ 1000 mg), potassium (≤ 2730 mg), sodium (≤ 2300 mg) and calcium (≤ 800 mg). Results: Overall, patients’ dietary intakes of phosphate and potassium were infrequently consistent with guidelines (consistent in 25% and 25% of patients, respectively). Almost half of the patients reported that energy (45%) and calcium intake (53%) was consistent with the guidelines, while the recommended intake of sodium and protein was consistent in 85% and 67% of patients, respectively. Results were similar across all participating countries. Intake was consistent with all six guideline recommendations in only 1% of patients. Conclusion: Patients on maintenance haemodialysis usually have a dietary intake which is inconsistent with current recommendations, especially for phosphate and potassium