A Case Study of the Development of a Career Academy: Good Intentions Not Enough?

The purpose of this study was to explore how a career academy featuring an information technology (IT) theme approached the adoption of the model and the particular curricular focus. We used a case study design to explore the experiences of school personnel and community partners associated with the implementation of the career academy. We found that growing enrollment in the local district was a major driver to pursue small school designs as an alternative to the traditional high school comprehensive model. The small school size associated with small learning communities was valued by stakeholders and used to adopt and implement a career academy around a technology curricular theme. Another factor in the adoption decision was the availability of existing building infrastructure in the community. While the premises of the career academy model appeared to be a good fit in the district and community, we also found that good intentions are not enough to guarantee consistent fidelity throughout the career academy implementation. When new crises arise, input from all stakeholders may be shortchanged and decisions can turn into a top-down approach

Promoting Active and Sustained School-Business Partnerships: An Exploratory Case Study of an IT Academy

In support of the national push for promoting career readiness, school-business partnerships have been noted as an important support strategy. However, there is limited research in the context of career academies. Thus, we sought to explore the nature of a partnership between an information technology (IT) career academy and local business partners. We found that the development of social capital is required to keep the network of partners bonded toward a common goal, bridged through a Business Advisory Council to facilitate planning and related supports, and linked by a local web of connecting relationships. Study findings add to the limited literature on the interface of school-business partnerships, career academies, and the promotion of career readiness in particular occupational contexts such as IT

Bottom quark mass and QCD duality

The mass of the bottom quark is analyzed in the context of QCD finite energy sum rules. In contrast to the conventional approach, we use a large momentum expansion of the QCD correlator including terms to order alpha(S)(2)(m(b)(2)/q(2))(6) with the upsilon resonances from e(+)c(-) annihilation data as main input. A stable result m(b)(m(b)) = (4.19 +/- 0.05) GeV for the bottom quark mass is obtained. This result agrees with the independent calculations based on the inverse moment analysis

This Is My Neighborhood: An Exploration of Culturally Relevant Agency to Support High School Latinx Students in an Urban Career Academy

The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives and strategies internal and external stakeholders used to support students in a career academy serving a predominately Latinx community. Within this case study, the principal of the school was Latinx, grew up within the same community as the school, and therefore shared the same culture as his students. Thus, we wondered how effective the principal would be in overcoming the cultural, political, and social barriers of students in the predominately Latinx school. We found the school leaders had a heightened awareness of organizational, cultural, and political complexities because of their own personal investment as well as their lived experiences of living and growing up in the community. The identities of the school leaders, then, led to a collective sense of agency and transformational leadership practices that facilitated a change in the grim situations and prospects of their students, and motivated them to become role models and community leaders providing resources and supports to ensure the high academic performance of students in the academy. However, we also realized that cultural understanding may sometimes lead to parochial views on what is best for students, leading to practices that prevent the exploration of student options beyond high school

Tendencias y respuestas de la fenología de la superficie terrestre a la variabilidad climática en la Pampa Argentina

Comprender la interacción entre los procesos de la superficie terrestre y la atmósfera es fundamental para predecir los efectos del cambio climático futuro sobre el funcionamiento de los ecosistemas y la dinámica del carbono. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron analizar las tendencias en métricas de la fenología de la superficie terrestre derivadas de sensores remotos, y revelar su relación con la precipitación y el fenómeno ENSO en la región pampeana de Argentina. A partir de una serie temporal de imágenes del Índice de Vegetación de Diferencia Normalizada (NDVI) de MODIS para el período 2000-2014, se obtuvo para la región pampeana de Argentina el inicio de la estación de crecimiento (SOS), la integral anual del NDVI (i-NDVI, estimador lineal de la productividad anual), el tiempo del máximo anual del NDVI (t-MAX) y el rango relativo anual de NDVI (RREL, estimador de la estacionalidad). Posteriormente, se analizaron las relaciones espaciales y temporales con el Índice Multivariado del ENSO (MEI) y la precipitación. Los resultados mostraron una tendencia negativa en la productividad anual en un 53,6% del área de estudio asociado a zonas de pastizales naturales y semi-naturales, mientras que un 40,3% de la Pampa Argentina mostró una tendencia positiva significativa en la estacionalidad de las ganancias de carbono. Este estudio también revela que la variabilidad climática tiene un impacto significativo en la fenología de la superficie terrestre de la región pampeana, aunque este impacto es heterogéneo. SOS y t-MAX mostraron una correlación negativa significativa con la precipitación, lo que indica una ocurrencia más temprana. El 23,6% y 28,4% del área de estudio mostró una correlación positiva de la productividad anual con el MEI y la precipitación, respectivamente, asociado a pastizales (en el primer caso) y sobre pastizales y áreas agrícolas en el segundo caso. La variabilidad climática no explicó la variabilidad en la estacionalidad de la fenología. Las relaciones encontradas entre las métricas de la fenología de la superficie terrestre y la variabilidad climática podrían ser importantes para la implementación de estrategias para el manejo de los recursos naturales.Understanding the interaction between land surface and atmosphere processes is fundamental for predicting the effects of future climate change on ecosystem functioning and carbon dynamics. The objectives of this work were to analyze the trends in land surface phenology (LSP) metrics from remote sensing data, and to reveal their relationship with precipitation and ENSO phenomenon in the Argentina Pampas. Using a time series of MODIS Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data from 2000 to 2014, the start of the growing season (SOS), the annual integral of NDVI (i-NDVI, linear estimator of annual productivity), the timing of the annual maximum NDVI (t-MAX) and the annual relative range of NDVI (RREL, estimator of seasonality) were obtained for the Argentina Pampas. Then, spatial and temporal relationships with the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI) and precipitation were analyzed. Results showed a negative trend in annual productivity over a 53.6% of the study area associated to natural and semi-natural grassland under cattle grazing, whereas a 40.3% of Argentina Pampas showed a significant positive trend in seasonality of carbon gains. The study also reveals that climate variability has a significant impact on land surface phenology in Argentina Pampas, although the impact is heterogeneous. SOS and t-MAX showed a significant negative correlation with the precipitation indicating an earlier occurrence. 23.6% and 28.4% of the study area showed a positive correlation of the annual productivity with MEI and precipitation, respectively, associated to rangelands (in the first case) and to both rangeland and croplands, in the second case. Climate variability did not explain the seasonal variability of phenology. The relationships found between LSP metrics and climate variability could be important for implementation of strategies for natural resource management.Fil: Lara, Bruno Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento Ciencias Básicas Agronómicas y Biológicas. Laboratorio de Investigación y Servicios en Teledetección de Azul; ArgentinaFil: Gandini, M.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento Ciencias Básicas Agronómicas y Biológicas. Laboratorio de Investigación y Servicios en Teledetección de Azul; ArgentinaFil: Gantes, P.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Instituto de Ecología y Desarrollo Sustentable; ArgentinaFil: Matteucci, Silvia Diana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo. Grupo de Ecología del Paisaje y Medio Ambiente; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

QCD sum rule determination of the charm-quark mass

QCD sum rules involving mixed inverse moment integration kernels are used in order to determine the running charm-quark mass in the MS¯ scheme. Both the high and the low energy expansion of the vector current correlator are involved in this determination. The optimal integration kernel turns out to be of the form p(s)=1−(s0/s)2, where s0 is the onset of perturbative QCD. This kernel enhances the contribution of the well known narrow resonances, and reduces the impact of the data in the range s≃20−25GeV2. This feature leads to a substantial reduction in the sensitivity of the results to changes in s0, as well as to a much reduced impact of the experimental uncertainties in the higher resonance region. The value obtained for the charm-quark mass in the MS¯ scheme at a scale of 3 GeV is m¯c(3GeV)=987±9MeV, where the error includes all sources of uncertainties added in quadrature

Polimorfismo do alelo HLA-B27 no desenvolvimento das espondilartropatias

A associação da molécula HLA-B27 com a espondilite anquilosante (AS) e outras espondilartropatias (SpA), permanece como uma das mais fortes verificada entre moléculas HLA e doenças humanas. Desde que foi descrita, em 1973, tem sido alvo de intensa investigação na tentativa de compreender o mecanismo patogénico que lhe está subjacente. Este artigo tem como objectivo fazer uma revisão dos conhecimentos actuais relativos à estrutura e polimorfismo da molécula HLA-B27, bem como descrever os modelos propostos para explicar o seu papel no desenvolvimento das espondilartropatias.The association of HLA-B27 with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and other spondyloarthropathies (SpA), remains as one of the strongest between HLA molecules and human disease. Since it was reported, in 1973, it has been extensively studied in order to understand the underlying pathogenic mechanism. The objective of this article is to review the current knowledge on the structure and polymorphism of HLA-B27 molecule, as well as describe the main pathogenic hypotheses trying to explain its association with AS.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

REPORTE DE MIGRACIÓN ALTITUDINAL DE CORAPIPO ALTERA (HELLMAYR, 1906) EN PUNTA SANTA BÁRBARA, PARQUE NACIONAL DARIÉN, PANAMÁ

During a study that sought to determine the presence and prevalence of blood parasites in resident and migratory birds in Punta Santa Bárbara, Darien National Park, during the 2015-2016 year, two individuals of Corapipo altera were captured during the sampling on November 20, 2015 at a height of 27msnm with coordinates 08 ° 02'24.0 "N, 78 ° 25'29.7" O. Since the literature locates this species mainly in foothills and lower part of highlands (450 - 1200 msnm) and there are some few records in the lowlands it is important to make the reports to know about their altitudinal migrations.Durante un estudio que buscaba determinar la presencia y prevalencia de parásitos sanguíneos en aves residentes y migratorias en Punta Santa Bárbara, Parque Nacional Darién, durante el año 2015-2016, se capturaron dos individuos de Corapipo altera durante el muestreo del 20 de noviembre de 2015, a una altura de 27msnm con coordenadas 08° 02´24.0” N, 78° 25´29.7” O. Dado que la literatura ubica a esta especie principalmente en estribaciones y parte inferior de tierras altas (450 – 1200 msnm) y hay unos pocos registros en tierras bajas es importante hacer los reportes para conocer sobre sus migraciones altitudinales

ENDOPARÁSITOS EN AVES RESIDENTES Y MIGRATORIAS DE PUNTA SANTA BÁRBARA, PARQUE NACIONAL DARIEN, PANAMÁ

In order to determine the presence and prevalence of blood parasites in resident and migratory birds in Punta Santa Bárbara, Darién National Park, 271 blood samples taken from 126 birds of 43 species were collected. With a total of 24 smears or 19.05% of positive samples for some type of blood parasite, it was determined that the most common of these parasites found was Haemoproteus (11.90%), Plasmodium (5.56%), followed by Leucocytozoon (4.76%) and microfilariae belonging to helminths with (0.79%) prevalence. Using the Shannon-Wiener index, it was determined that the diversity of parasites in the rainy season is similar to that recorded in the dry season. Using a Chi-square test, it was determined that Haemoproteus sp., Is the parasite most frequently in positive samples, while microfilariae are recorded less frequently. The frequency of parasitized and non-parasitized birds was evaluated according to the mass of the individual by means of a Chi-square test, finding for this study a significant difference in the number of birds parasitized according to the mass of the individual, birds with parasites have greater weight This study is the first on parasitology for the birds of the province of Darien, therefore, everything that we report here is new for this side of the country. So far there are only 4 previous studies of blood parasites in birds for all of Panama.Con el objetivo de determinar la presencia y prevalencia de parásitos sanguíneos en aves residentes y migratorias en Punta Santa Bárbara, Parque Nacional Darién, se colectaron 271 muestras de sangre extraídas de 126 individuos de aves de 43 especies. Con un total de 24 frotis o 19.05% de las muestras positivas para algún tipo de parásito sanguíneo, se determinó que el más común de estos parásitos encontrados era el Haemoproteus (11.90%), Plasmodium (5.56%), seguido de Leucocytozoon (4.76%) y microfilarias pertenecientes a los helmintos con (0.79%) de prevalencia. Mediante el índice de Shannon-Wiener se determinó que la diversidad de parásitos en época lluviosa es similar a la registrada en la época seca. Mediante una prueba de Ji cuadrado, se determinó que Haemoproteus sp., es el parásito con mayor frecuencia en las muestras positivas, mientras que las microfilarias se registran con menor frecuencia. Se evaluó la frecuencia de aves parasitadas y no parasitadas de acuerdo a la masa del individuo mediante una prueba Ji cuadrado, encontrando para este estudio una diferencia significativa en el número de aves parasitadas de acuerdo a la masa del individuo, aves con parásitos presentan mayor peso. Este estudio es el primero en tema de parasitología para las aves de la Provincia del Darién, por lo tanto, todo lo que aquí reportamos es nuevo para este lado del país. Hasta el momento sólo hay 4 estudios previos de parásitos sanguíneos en aves para todo Panamá

Relationship between damage and mortality in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: Cluster analyses in a large cohort from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry (RELESSER)

Objectives: To identify patterns (clusters) of damage manifestation within a large cohort of juvenile SLE (jSLE) patients and evaluate their possible association with mortality. Methods: This is a multicentre, descriptive, cross-sectional study of a cohort of 345 jSLE patients from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry. Organ damage was ascertained using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index. Using cluster analysis, groups of patients with similar patterns of damage manifestation were identified and compared. Results: Mean age (years) ± S.D. at diagnosis was 14.2 ± 2.89; 88.7% were female and 93.4% were Caucasian. Mean SLICC/ACR DI ± S.D. was 1.27 ± 1.63. A total of 12 (3.5%) patients died. Three damage clusters were identified: Cluster 1 (72.7% of patients) presented a lower number of individuals with damage (22.3% vs. 100% in Clusters 2 and 3, P < 0.001); Cluster 2 (14.5% of patients) was characterized by renal damage in 60% of patients, significantly more than Clusters 1 and 3 (P < 0.001), in addition to increased more ocular, cardiovascular and gonadal damage; Cluster 3 (12.7%) was the only group with musculoskeletal damage (100%), significantly higher than in Clusters 1 and 2 (P < 0.001). The overall mortality rate in Cluster 2 was 2.2 times higher than that in Cluster 3 and 5 times higher than that in Cluster 1 (P < 0.017 for both comparisons). Conclusions: In a large cohort of jSLE patients, renal and musculoskeletal damage manifestations were the two dominant forms of damage by which patients were sorted into clinically meaningful clusters. We found two clusters of jSLE with important clinical damage that were associated with higher rates of mortality, especially for the cluster of patients with predominant renal damage. Physicians should be particularly vigilant to the early prevention of damage in this subset of jSLE patients with kidney involvement