Continued Progress: Promising Evidence on Personalized Learning

The findings are grouped into four sections. The first section on student achievement finds that there were positive effects on student mathematics and reading performance and that the lowest-performing students made substantial gains relative to their peers. The second section on implementation and the perceptions of stakeholders finds that adoption of personalized learning practices varied considerably. Personalized learning practices that are direct extensions of current practice were more common, but implementation of some of the more challenging personalized learning strategies was less common. The third section relates implementation features to outcomes and identifies three elements of personalized learning that were being implemented in tandem in the schools with the largest achievement effects. Finally, the fourth section compares teachers' and students' survey responses to a national sample and finds some differences, such as teachers' greater use of practices that support competency-based learning and greater use of technology for personalization in the schools in this study with implementation data

Age, growth and aspects of reproduction of the mackerel Scomber Japonicus in South African waters (Pisces: Scombridae)

The age and growth of the mackerel were determined from 1742 otoliths collected from commercial catches. The time of annulus formation was established from otolith edge examinations. Two zones. one opaque and one hyaline, are laid down during a year. The distance of each annulus from the nucleus of the otolith was measured. Mean measurements were substituted in a linear regression equation which describes the relationship between otolith radius and fish length to obtain back-calculated length at age values. Growth in length and in mass are expressed by the von Bertalanffy growth equation. Length and age at first maturity were established by macroscopic examination of mackerel gonads. All mackerel were found to mature during their fourth year of life, at 42 cm standard body length. Spawning takes place during the period June to September

Academic Study and the Phenomena of Dialogue

To what extent is the academic study of religion interested in Hindu-Christian dialogue, and to what extent can it handle the phenomena of dialogue within the limitations of its method

Metal-oxide-metal point contact junction detectors

The detection mechanism(s) and design of a mechanically stable metal-oxide-metal point contact junction detector are considered. A prototype for a mechanically stable device has been constructed and tested. A technique has been developed which accurately predicts microwave video detector and heterodyne mixer SIM (semiconductor-insulator-metal) diode performance from low dc frequency volt-ampere curves. The difference in contact potential between the two metals and geometrically induced rectification constitute the detection mechanisms

Characterising and Testing Deep UV LEDs for Use in Space Applications

Deep ultraviolet (DUV) light sources are used to neutralise isolated test masses in highly sensitive space-based gravitational experiments. An example is the LISA Pathfinder charge management system, which uses low-pressure mercury lamps. A future gravitational-wave observatory such as eLISA will use UV light-emitting diodes (UV LEDs), which offer numerous advantages over traditional discharge lamps. Such devices have limited space heritage but are are now available from a number of commercial suppliers. Here we report on a test campaign that was carried out to quantify the general properties of three types of commercially available UV LEDs and demonstrate their suitability for use in space. Testing included general electrical and UV output measurements, spectral stability, pulsed performance, temperature dependence as well as thermal vacuum, radiation and vibration survivability

The influence of heading back on bud performance of one year-old apple shoots

Pruning is one of the oldest and most universally practiced orchard operations. (1) The fundamental objectives of pruning are to improve the quality and quantity of fruit and to lower the cost of production. There is no horticultural practice on which there is greater diversity of opinion or application of procedure. (7) The average grower, when asked why he does or does not prune, generally will reply that it is good or not good for the tree. (?) Some of the specific objectives assigned to pruning are (1) to open the tree for more fruit color, (2) train to a desired form, (3) remove dead and diseased parts, (4) remove water sprouts and cross-branches and (5) to thin fruit. (7) Pruning may vary in three respects; (1) the amount of wood removed, or severity, (2) the kind or position and (3) the season. There are two methods of pruning; thinning out and heading back. Thinning out is a method that removes whole shoots or branches. Heading back removes a portion of a shoot. The lateral buds of most species of plants are formed in the axil of each leaf. They seldom grow immediately, but tend to remain dormant during the season in which they are formed. Failure of the newly formed lateral buds to grow immediately is commonly attributed to apical dominance. If the terminal bud is removed, one or more of the lateral bids may begin to grow. Inhibition of the lateral buds by the terminal bud seems to be a polar phenomenon influenced by gravity. It has been shown, using indoleacetic acid on the cut surface following removal of the terminal bud, that the lateral buds remain quiescent as if the terminal bud were present. This suggests that an auxin might be produced by the terminal bud or in the region of the terminal bud. It is interesting to speculate on the reasons why the terminal bud, which is considered as the site of auxin production, continues to grow actively when buds behind it are inhibited. Apple flowers are usually borne terminally on short shoots known as spurs. Occasionally flowers are borne terminally on shoots. Some varieties produce flowers rather commonly in this fashion. Individual spurs seldom bear annually, although the spurs of some varieties are more likely to do so than others. Heavy annual production depends on the formation of numerous new spurs and the maintenance of old spurs in a vigorous condition. Spurs are usually produced from lateral buds of the preceding season\u27s growth, rarely on old wood from either latent or adventitious buds. Previous studies have been done to determine the effect of severity of pruning on trees as a whole, but not on the effect of bud performance on shoots. The objectives of this investigation were to determine the effect of heading back one-year-old wood on the establishment of the spur system, the production of new shoots, and the forcing of buds which are expected to remain dormant or latent