Learning to Teach Physics : Exploring Teacher Knowledge, Practice, and Identity

Urban and rural high schools in the United States often struggle in regard to the staffing of their physics classrooms with qualified teachers. Some states have responded to this challenge with education policy as a means of addressing the critical shortages of physics teachers by permitting inservice teachers to attain physics certification through endorsement programs. Although research on alternative certification typically evaluates and compares diverse models, this study focuses on teachers’ own perceptions of their experience in the aforementioned program, as well as their learning and development in and beyond preparation for physics endorsement. In this qualitative multiple case study, informed by social constructivist and feminist epistemological perspectives, the participants included teachers of various discipline specializations: mathematics, history, biology and Earth science. The study’s design included purposeful sampling and three data collection methods: interview, a questionnaire, and classroom observations in regard to the teaching of physics. The teachers underwent a series of semi-structured interviews that focused on the examination of their experiences in context by inviting them to share personal and professional details about themselves, including their physics preparation, and their subsequent professional development and teaching experiences with respect to physics. The results with respect to the above noted indicate that all four of the teacher participants felt well prepared to teach physics. The curricular materials from the certification program offered teachers support in subject matter content knowledge and pedagogy, particularly during their first two years. In some cases, the participants’ physics identity was both stable and enduring over time and context. This study finds that the participants’ beliefs about the nature of physics (which encompass sources of knowledge or how physics knowledge is acquired), exerted a far greater influence on teacher practices than even the participants themselves recognized

Small Ruminant Community Breeding Program in Indonesia

This paper outlines the principles of community breeding programs, reviews similar programs that have been conducted in Indonesia, as well as proposing improvements. Community breeding programs (CBP) are a method for genetic improvement of livestock, with voluntary participation of farmers, using animals belonging to the farmers, by defining breeding objectives and selection criteria or traits, selecting the best males of the group, performance testing and distributing males to the farmers. Farmers have the ownership of the program and contribute to the sustainability of the program, marketability of the products according the needs of the farmers, as well as strengthening farmers institutions. There are breeding scehemes of one tier, two tier and three tier that can be implemented to achieve the goals of genetic improvement. Several CBP has been carried out scatteredly, however improvements have to be made such as by long term financial support, strong commitment from breeders, mentoring by academias, data management and analysis as well as economic assessment. Therefore, a more masive and sustainable CBP should be conducted to improve the genetic quality of  sheep and goat in Indonesia

Common fare: an example of “blanket” rates in Hawai’i waterborne trade

Blanket” rate structures apply uniform rates to a geographical region in spite of differences in the costs of carrying the goods. They are generally utilized by carriers to achieve some strategic objective, whether rate simplification, to be more competitive, or to meet some political objectives. While blanket rates are common in land transportation, the Hawai’i waterborne trade offers a unique example of this pricing mechanism. Further, given new and potential competitive factors in this trade, this is a unique case study for those interested in transportation pricing and the economic impacts of changes in the competitive struct ure in an isolated market

A widely distributed metalloenzyme class enables gut microbial metabolism of host- and diet-derived catechols.

Catechol dehydroxylation is a central chemical transformation in the gut microbial metabolism of plant- and host-derived small molecules. However, the molecular basis for this transformation and its distribution among gut microorganisms are poorly understood. Here, we characterize a molybdenum-dependent enzyme from the human gut bacterium Eggerthella lenta that dehydroxylates catecholamine neurotransmitters. Our findings suggest that this activity enables E. lenta to use dopamine as an electron acceptor. We also identify candidate dehydroxylases that metabolize additional host- and plant-derived catechols. These dehydroxylases belong to a distinct group of largely uncharacterized molybdenum-dependent enzymes that likely mediate primary and secondary metabolism in multiple environments. Finally, we observe catechol dehydroxylation in the gut microbiotas of diverse mammals, confirming the presence of this chemistry in habitats beyond the human gut. These results suggest that the chemical strategies that mediate metabolism and interactions in the human gut are relevant to a broad range of species and habitats

Recent Trends and Treatments Associated with Non-native Insects Intercepted with Imported Wood Articles

KEYWORDS: Wood-boring insects, Invasive pest

Mapping the complete glycoproteome of virion-derived HIV-1 gp120 provides insights into broadly neutralizing antibody binding

The surface envelope glycoprotein (SU) of Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), gp120SU plays an essential role in virus binding to target CD4+ T-cells and is a major vaccine target. Gp120 has remarkably high levels of N-linked glycosylation and there is considerable evidence that this “glycan shield” can help protect the virus from antibody-mediated neutralization. In recent years, however, it has become clear that gp120 glycosylation can also be included in the targets of recognition by some of the most potent broadly neutralizing antibodies. Knowing the site-specific glycosylation of gp120 can facilitate the rational design of glycopeptide antigens for HIV vaccine development. While most prior studies have focused on glycan analysis of recombinant forms of gp120, here we report the first systematic glycosylation site analysis of gp120 derived from virions produced by infected T lymphoid cells and show that a single site is exclusively substituted with complex glycans. These results should help guide the design of vaccine immunogens

Low survival of strongly footed pheasants may explain constraints on lateralization

This is the final version. Available from Springer Nature via the DOI in this record.Brain lateralization is considered adaptive because it leads to behavioral biases and specializations that bring fitness benefits. Across species, strongly lateralized individuals perform better in specific behaviors likely to improve survival. What constrains continued exaggerated lateralization? We measured survival of pheasants, finding that individuals with stronger bias in their footedness had shorter life expectancies compared to individuals with weak biases. Consequently, weak, or no footedness provided the highest fitness benefits. If, as suggested, footedness is indicative of more general brain lateralization, this could explain why continued brain lateralization is constrained even though it may improve performance in specific behaviors.This work was supported by a European Research Council Consolidator Award (616474) awarded to JRM

Implementation-effectiveness trial of an ecological intervention for physical activity in ethnically diverse low income senior centers.

BackgroundAs the US population ages, there is an increasing need for evidence based, peer-led physical activity programs, particularly in ethnically diverse, low income senior centers where access is limited.Methods/designThe Peer Empowerment Program 4 Physical Activity' (PEP4PA) is a hybrid Type II implementation-effectiveness trial that is a peer-led physical activity (PA) intervention based on the ecological model of behavior change. The initial phase is a cluster randomized control trial randomized to either a peer-led PA intervention or usual center programming. After 18 months, the intervention sites are further randomized to continued support or no support for another 6 months. This study will be conducted at twelve senior centers in San Diego County in low income, diverse communities. In the intervention sites, 24 peer health coaches and 408 adults, aged 50 years and older, are invited to participate. Peer health coaches receive training and support and utilize a tablet computer for delivery and tracking. There are several levels of intervention. Individual components include pedometers, step goals, counseling, and feedback charts. Interpersonal components include group walks, group sharing and health tips, and monthly celebrations. Community components include review of PA resources, walkability audit, sustainability plan, and streetscape improvements. The primary outcome of interest is intensity and location of PA minutes per day, measured every 6 months by wrist and hip accelerometers and GPS devices. Secondary outcomes include blood pressure, physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning. Implementation measures include appropriateness & acceptability (perceived and actual fit), adoption & penetration (reach), fidelity (quantity & quality of intervention delivered), acceptability (satisfaction), costs, and sustainability.DiscussionUsing a peer led implementation strategy to deliver a multi-level community based PA program can enhance program adoption, implementation, and sustainment.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, USA ( NCT02405325 ). Date of registration, March 20, 2015. This website also contains all items from the World Health Organization Trial Registration Data Set

The impact of a randomized controlled trial of a lifestyle intervention on postpartum physical activity among at-risk hispanic women: Estudio PARTO

AIMS: To assess the impact of a culturally modified, motivationally targeted, individually-tailored intervention on postpartum physical activity (PA) and PA self-efficacy among Hispanic women. METHODS: Estudio PARTO was a randomized controlled trial conducted in Western Massachusetts from 2013-17. Hispanic women who screened positive for gestational diabetes mellitus were randomized to a Lifestyle Intervention (LI, n = 100) or to a comparison Health and Wellness (HW, n = 104) group during late pregnancy. Exercise goals in LI were to meet American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists guidelines for postpartum PA. The Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) and the Self-Efficacy for Physical Activity Questionnaire were administered at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year postpartum. RESULTS: Compared to baseline levels, both groups had significant increases in moderate-to-vigorous PA at 6 months and one year postpartum (i.e., LI: mean change = 30.9 MET-hrs/wk, p = 0.05; HW: 27.6 MET-hrs/wk, p = 0.01), with only LI group experiencing significant increases in vigorous PA (mean change = 1.3 MET-hrs/wk, p = 0.03). Based on an intent-to-treat analysis using mixed effects models, we observed no differences in pattern of change in PA intensity and type over time between intervention groups (all p \u3e 0.10). However, there was the suggestion of a greater decrease in sedentary activity in the LI group compared to the HW group (beta = -3.56, p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: In this randomized trial among high-risk Hispanic women, both groups benefitted from participation in a postpartum intervention