The Academic Mobility of Students for Whom English is Not a First Language: The Roles of Ethnicity, Language, and Class

This study uses extant data to examine the roles of ethnicity, social class, and linguistic proficiency in predicting the participation and performance of students for whom English is not a first language (ENFL) from the class of 2002 in a provincially examinable grade 12 subject areas in a large urban British Columbia school district (n=4,075). Descriptive statistics show similar performance levels, but variable participation rates among ENFL and native English-speaking (NES) baseline students. However, these results mask differences between ethnolinguistic subgroups of ENFL students. Linear and logistic regressions show that although social class and linguistic proficiency significantly affect outcomes, participation and performance advantages to Chinese- and Korean-speaking students over their ENFL and NES peers hold across the sciences. Smaller performance advantages to Chinese speakers hold across the humanities.Cette étude puise dans des données d’examens provinciaux de la 12e année de 4 075 élèves en 2002 pour examiner les rôles que jouent l’ethnicité, la classe sociale et la compétence linguistique comme prédicteurs de la participation et la performance d’élèves dont l’anglais n’est pas la langue maternelle (ENFL) et provenant d’un grand district scolaire en Colombie britannique. Les statistiques descriptives ont révélé des performances similaires, mais des taux de participation différents, pour les élèves dont l’anglais n’est pas la langue maternelle et les élèves témoins anglophones. Toutefois, ces statistiques masquent les différences entre les sous-groupes ethnolinguistiques des élèves ENFL. Des régressions linéaires et logistiques ont révélé que si la classe sociale et la compétence linguistique affectent légèrement les résultats, la supériorité en matière de participation et de performance chez les élèves d’expression chinoise et coréenne par rapport à leurs pairs anglophones est constante pour les sciences. Les élèves d’expression chinoise ont également démontré une supériorité, moins grande, dans leur performance en lettres et sciences humaines

La réussite scolaire des élèves issus de l’immigration : une question de classe sociale, de langue ou de culture?

Dans cet article, les auteurs présentent successivement deux études de cas basées sur une utilisation originale des banques de données administratives produites par les ministères de l’Éducation de la Colombie-Britannique et du Québec. Les deux études sont différentes, tant en ce qui concerne l’indicateur retenu (la performance scolaire aux examens versus la diplomation au secondaire) que la définition du groupe cible (les élèves allophones versus les élèves noirs). Toutefois, une lecture croisée de leurs résultats révèle des tendances largement convergentes en ce qui concerne l’importance des différences intergroupes en matière de réussite scolaire ainsi que les facteurs qui l’influencent. À cet égard, l’origine des élèves et leur maîtrise de la langue s’avèrent plus significatives que leur appartenance socio-économique. De plus, certains facteurs jouent différemment de chez l’ensemble de la population : le déficit des garçons et des élèves arrivés en retard au secondaire est, en effet, moins important.In this article, the authors successively present two case studies based on an original use of administrative data banks produced by the Québec and British Columbia Departments of Education. The studies differ both in terms of the indicator used (school performance in exams versus the high school graduation rate), and the definition of the target group (allophone students versus black students). However, a comparison of their results reveals largely converging trends on school success and factors that influence it in relation to the importance of inter-group differences. In this respect, the students’ origins and their mastery of the language is more significant than their socio-economic group. Certain factors have a different effect than for the overall population. The boys’ deficit and arriving at secondary school late are, in fact, less important.En este artículo, los autores presentan sucesivamente dos estudios de caso basados en la utilización original de bancos de datos administrativos hechos por los ministerios de la Educación de Colombia Británica y de Quebec. Se trata de dos estudios diferentes, tanto en lo que concierne al indicador retenido (el resultado escolar en los exámenes versus la obtención del diploma en secundaria) que la definición del grupo seleccionado (los alumnos alófonos versus los alumnos negros). Sin embargo, una lectura comparada de los resultados muestra tendencias ampliamente convergentes en lo que concierne la importancia de diferencias entre los grupos en materia de logro escolar así como en los factores que lo influencian. Al respecto, el origen de los alumnos y su dominio de la lengua aparecen más significativos que su pertenencia socioeconómica. Además, ciertos factores actúan de manera diferente al conjunto de la población: el déficit de los jóvenes y de los alumnos que ingresaron tardíamente en secundaria es, efectivamente, menos importante

WIYN Open Cluster Study. XXXIX. Abundances in NGC 6253 from HYDRA Spectroscopy of the Li 6708 A Region

High-dispersion spectra of 89 potential members of the old, super-metal-rich open cluster, NGC 6253, have been obtained with the HYDRA multi-object spectrograph. Based upon radial-velocity measurements alone, 47 stars at the turnoff of the cluster color-magnitude diagram (CMD) and 18 giants are identified as potential members. Five turnoff stars exhibit evidence of binarity while proper-motion data eliminates two of the dwarfs as members. The mean cluster radial velocity from probable single-star members is -29.4 +/- 1.3 km/sec (sd). A discussion of the current estimates for the cluster reddening, derived independently of potential issues with the BV cluster photometry, lead to an adopted reddening of E(B-V) = 0.22 +/- 0.04. From equivalent width analyses of 38 probable single-star members near the CMD turnoff, the weighted average abundances are found to be [Fe/H] = +0.43 +/- 0.01, [Ni/H] = +0.53 +/- 0.02 and [Si/H] = +0.43 (+0.03,-0.04), where the errors refer to the standard errors of the weighted mean. Weak evidence is found for a possible decline in metallicity with increasing luminosity among stars at the turnoff. We discuss the possibility that our turnoff stars have been affected by microscopic diffusion. For 15 probable single-star members among the giants, spectrum synthesis leads to abundances of +0.46 (+0.02,-0.03) for [Fe/H]. While less than half the age of NGC 6791, NGC 6253 is at least as metal-rich and, within the uncertainties, exhibits the same general abundance pattern as that typified by super-metal-rich dwarfs of the galactic bulge.Comment: 5 Tables, 9 figures, 45 page

Sentinel-based Surveillance of Coyotes to Detect Bovine Tuberculosis, Michigan

Coyotes could be used as sentinels to detect Mycobacterium bovis in the wild

Continuous Glucose Monitors and Automated Insulin Dosing Systems in the Hospital Consensus Guideline.

This article is the work product of the Continuous Glucose Monitor and Automated Insulin Dosing Systems in the Hospital Consensus Guideline Panel, which was organized by Diabetes Technology Society and met virtually on April 23, 2020. The guideline panel consisted of 24 international experts in the use of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and automated insulin dosing (AID) systems representing adult endocrinology, pediatric endocrinology, obstetrics and gynecology, advanced practice nursing, diabetes care and education, clinical chemistry, bioengineering, and product liability law. The panelists reviewed the medical literature pertaining to five topics: (1) continuation of home CGMs after hospitalization, (2) initiation of CGMs in the hospital, (3) continuation of AID systems in the hospital, (4) logistics and hands-on care of hospitalized patients using CGMs and AID systems, and (5) data management of CGMs and AID systems in the hospital. The panelists then developed three types of recommendations for each topic, including clinical practice (to use the technology optimally), research (to improve the safety and effectiveness of the technology), and hospital policies (to build an environment for facilitating use of these devices) for each of the five topics. The panelists voted on 78 proposed recommendations. Based on the panel vote, 77 recommendations were classified as either strong or mild. One recommendation failed to reach consensus. Additional research is needed on CGMs and AID systems in the hospital setting regarding device accuracy, practices for deployment, data management, and achievable outcomes. This guideline is intended to support these technologies for the management of hospitalized patients with diabetes

Methodological challenges in collecting social and behavioural data regarding the HIV epidemic among gay and other men who have sex with men in Australia

©2014 Zablotska et al. Background: Behavioural surveillance and research among gay and other men who have sex with men (GMSM) commonly relies on non-random recruitment approaches. Methodological challenges limit their ability to accurately represent the population of adult GMSM. We compared the social and behavioural profiles of GMSM recruited via venue-based, online, and respondent-driven sampling (RDS) and discussed their utility for behavioural surveillance. Methods: Data from four studies were selected to reflect each recruitment method. We compared demographic characteristics and the prevalence of key indicators including sexual and HIV testing practices obtained from samples recruited through different methods, and population estimates from respondent-driven sampling partition analysis. Results: Overall, the socio-demographic profile of GMSM was similar across samples, with some differences observed in age and sexual identification. Men recruited through time-location sampling appeared more connected to the gay community, reported a greater number of sexual partners, but engaged in less unprotected anal intercourse with regular (UAIR) or casual partners (UAIC). The RDS sample overestimated the proportion of HIV-positive men and appeared to recruit men with an overall higher number of sexual partners. A single-website survey recruited a sample with characteristics which differed considerably from the population estimates with regards to age, ethnically diversity and behaviour. Data acquired through time-location sampling underestimated the rates of UAIR and UAIC, while RDS and online sampling both generated samples that underestimated UAIR. Simulated composite samples combining recruits from time-location and multi-website online sampling may produce characteristics more consistent with the population estimates, particularly with regards to sexual practices. Conclusion: Respondent-driven sampling produced the sample that was most consistent to population estimates, but this methodology is complex and logistically demanding. Time-location and online recruitment are more cost-effective and easier to implement; using these approaches in combination may offer the potential to recruit a more representative sample of GMSM

A Surprising Prevention Success: Why Did the HIV Epidemic Decline in Zimbabwe?

Daniel Halperin and colleagues examine reasons for the remarkable decline in HIV in Zimbabwe, in the context of severe social, political, and economic disruption