Video-based Education Ethnography Project

This article chronicles the development of a video-based ethnography project documenting daily life in a Kansas elementary and a secondary classroom. The project, which took nearly two years of planning, allows a direct link to two classrooms approximately 250 miles away to provide a virtual field experience for undergraduates and a wide array of research possibilities for faculty. Since its first semester in spring 2016, it now enables students to see the daily actions of an elementary teacher and a secondary math teacher in a live classroom setting, and various faculty and graduate student research projects are currently under way

Negative Differential Conductance and Hot Phonons in Suspended Nanotube Molecular Wires

Freely suspended metallic single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) exhibit reduced current carrying ability compared to those lying on substrates, and striking negative differential conductance (NDC) at low electric fields. Theoretical analysis reveals significant self-heating effects including electron scattering by hot non-equilibrium optical phonons. Electron transport characteristics under strong self-heating are exploited for the first time to probe the thermal conductivity of individual SWNTs (~ 3600 Wm-1K-1 at T=300 K) up to ~700 K, and reveal a 1/T dependence expected for Umklapp phonon scattering at high temperatures.Comment: PRL, in pres

Examining 'window dressing' : the views of black police associations on recruitment and training

In a previous issue of this journal, Ellis Cashmore (2002 Cashmore, E. 2002. ‘Behind the window dressing: minority ethnic police perspectives on cultural diversity’. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 28(2): 327–41. [Taylor & Francis Online], [CSA], [Google Scholar] ) discussed two key issues currently confronting police constabularies in England and Wales: the recruitment of minority ethnic officers and civilian staff, and the impact of diversity training now in place for all police officers. Cashmore argued that not only are these policies ineffective in enhancing cultural diversity within constabularies, but that they are harmful, presenting a false outward image of effective action. This article examines Cashmore's arguments and develops them in light of findings from recent research on Black Police Associations (BPAs) in England and Wales. Our findings firstly suggest that, because of heavy involvement with these initiatives and the close relationship BPAs have developed with senior management (in comparison to non-BPA members), they must be considered in any discussion of minority ethnic recruitment and diversity training. In addition, the majority of the officers we interviewed were supportive of current recruitment and training programmes. Secondly, we argue that BPAs are helping to change the nature of the overall police culture to a certain extent. Many minority ethnic officers no longer feel they must downplay their ethnicity as members of constabularies

Developing the Next Generation of Distance Supervision

Student teaching has long been an essential component of teacher education programs, and effective supervision is essential for successful internship experiences. Pre-service students’ needs must be weighed against the limitation of time and access for the university supervisor, often a full-time faculty member who has a formidable teaching load and other responsibilities. Additionally, direct, in-person observations can create observer effect, altering the reality of what is actually being observed. This article examines one university’s use of distant supervision utilizing technology to aid in the virtual classroom observations and conferencing to allow an elementary education major to student teach in a rural southwest Kansas school

Improving Reflection during Student Teaching with Technology

​The process of tapping into the power of reflection is a difficult process for many student teachers to accomplish. Multiple factors hinder the process of reflection in novice teachers. Video recorded lessons provide a contextualized focus for reflection on specific pedagogical skills. This study conducted by an undergraduate student during the student internship demonstrates the value of utilized video recorded lesson to assist in the development of one student’s journey toward becoming a reflective practitioner through the use of video recorded teaching episodes

Disk formation by asymptotic giant branch winds in dipole magnetic fields

This is the final version. Available from American Astronomical Society via the DOI in this recordWe present a simple, robust mechanism by which an isolated star can produce an equatorial disk. The mechanism requires that the star have a simple dipole magnetic field on the surface and an isotropic wind acceleration mechanism. The wind couples to the field, stretching it until the field lines become mostly radial and oppositely directed above and below the magnetic equator, as occurs in the solar wind. The interaction between the wind plasma and magnetic field near the star produces a steady outflow in which magnetic forces direct plasma toward the equator, constructing a disk. In the context of a slow (10 km s-1) outflow (10-5 M⊙ yr-1) from an asymptotic giant branch star, MHD simulations demonstrate that a dense equatorial disk will be produced for dipole field strengths of only a few Gauss on the surface of the star. A disk formed by this model can be dynamically important for the shaping of planetary nebulae.NS

The Spread and Utility of Social Network Analysis across a Group of Health Behavior Researchers

Social network analysis (SNA), both as theory and methodology, is a powerful framework for delimiting and studying health behaviors. Using SNA allows scholars to answer new research questions, innovatively investigate the social and systemic contexts of health and behavior, and collaborate on multi- or inter-disciplinary projects. As a result, SNA is growing in popularity within health behavior research and practice. Despite SNA’s contribution and appeal, few health behavior researchers and practitioners have access to formal SNA education; much of the current training efforts occur outside degree-granting curricula. Therefore, the aims of this paper were to: 1) assess the diffusion of SNA, over time, among scholars presenting at AAHB annual meetings; and 2) determine whether AAHB can function as a professional venue for fostering development of SNA-related skills, especially by capitalizing on mentoring relationships. To assess the “spread” of SNA among AAHB scholars, we conducted a network analysis to capture the connections among those presenting research posters between 2016 and 2019. Results indicated sizeable increases in adoption of, and exposure to SNA within this network. Based on these findings, we recommend responding to the growing trends of SNA use by providing conference-based training and education in SNA. We also propose utilizing mentorship ties as leverage points in diffusing SNA within a system of professional scholars and, as a result, advancing health behavior research and practice

Scattering of g-process longitudinal optical phonons at hotspots in silicon

Transistors with gate lengths below 100 nm generate phonon hotspots with dimensions on the order of 10 nm and peak power densities of about 50 W/mum(3). This work employs molecular dynamics to investigate the impact of lattice energy density on phonon scattering at the hotspot. The hotspot studied in this work consists of longitudinal optical phonons involved in the g-type intervalley scattering of conduction electrons in silicon. A comparison of the decay modes in hotspots with high and moderate energy densities reveals that the decay mechanisms are the same but the relaxation rates differ. Scattering occurs through a three phonon process of the form LO-- \u3e LA+TA, involving the zone-edge transverse acoustic modes. An increase in the energy density from a moderate value of 5 to 125 W/mum(3) changes the relaxation time from 79 to 16 ps, approximately proportional to the the maximum initial amplitude of the phonons. This work improves the accuracy of the scattering rates of optical phonons and helps in advancing the electro-thermal modeling of nanotransistors

Furthering alternative cultures of valuation in higher education research

The value of higher education is often implicit or assumed in educational research. The underlying and antecedent premises that shape and influence debates about value remain unchallenged which perpetuates the dominant, but limiting, terms of the debate and fosters reductionism. I proceed on the premise that analyses of value are not self–supporting or self-referential but are embedded within prevailing cultures of valuation. I contend that challenging, and providing alternatives to, dominant narratives of higher education requires an appreciation of those cultures. I therefore highlight some of the existing cultures of valuation and their influence. I then propose Sayer’s concept of lay normativity as a culture of valuation and discuss how it translates into the practices of research into higher education, specifically the practice of analysis. I animate the discussion by detecting the presence of lay normativity in the evaluative space of the capability approach

Increasing smoking intensity is associated with increased disease activity in axial spondyloarthritis.

A history of ever-smoking appears to be associated with a more severe disease phenotype in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). However, evidence is sparse for the effect of increased smoking exposure on disease outcomes or whether smoking reduction or cessation improves outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore whether a dose-response relationship exists between pack-years and disease activity and functional impairment in axSpA. Consecutive patients meeting ASAS criteria for axial SpA were recruited from a spondyloarthritis service. The associations between pack-years of smoking and: (1) disease activity (BASDAI/ASDAS), (2) spinal pain, (3) functional impairment (BASFI) and (4) inflammatory markers were explored using multivariable linear models, adjusted for age, gender and use of TNF inhibition (TNFi) therapy. Pack-years were categorised into four groups (40) and analysed with light smoking (40, β = 2.6 (0.54, 3.56)), higher BASFI (21-40, β = 2.1 (0.42, 4.80); >40, β = 3.2 (0.76, 5.71)), and higher ASDAS (21-40, β = 0.82 (0.14, 1.51)). This cross-sectional study demonstrated that smoking is associated with increased axSpA severity markers in a dose-response manner. Particular effort should be made to restrict smoking exposure early before accruing a significant number of pack-years