Re-using features of English as a foreign language (EFL) materials for special needs students of the same age group

This paper identifies a lack of age-appropriate literacy software for dyslexic teenagers in Irish classrooms and investigates the features of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) software that could be helpful to dyslexic students. There are often two distinct special learner groups within the same classroom: special needs students with reading difficulties in their native language and EFL students. While there are clear differences between these two groups, there is some overlap in their linguistic difficulties, e.g. spelling. There is a lack of age-appropriate software aimed at dyslexic teenagers; most software used is aimed at dyslexic children. However, a lot of materials are available for teenage EFL students. The paper discusses a survey of teenage dyslexic students and teachers/tutors of dyslexic teenagers, which identified student needs and desired features/exercises for curriculum-focused Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) software for dyslexic students that the author is developing. Results show overlap of features and exercises present in existing EFL software

Exact treatment of ℓ≠0\ell \neq 0 states

Using the basic ingredient of supersymmetry, a general procedure for the treatment of quantum states having nonzero angular momenta is presented.Comment: 7 pages article in LaTEX (uses standard article.sty). No Figures. Accepted by Chinese Physics Letters (2004, vol 21. No.9

Testing the presence of multiple photometric components in nearby early-type galaxies using SDSS

We investigate two-dimensional image decomposition of nearby, morphologically selected early-type galaxies (ETGs). We are motivated by recent observational evidence of significant size growth of quiescent galaxies and theoretical development advocating a two-phase formation scenario for ETGs. We find that a significant fraction of nearby ETGs show changes in isophotal shape that require multi-component models. The characteristic sizes of the inner and outer component are $\sim 3$ and $\sim 15$ kpc. The inner component lies on the mass-size relation of ETGs at $z \sim 0.25-0.75$, while the outer component tends to be more elliptical and hints at a stochastic buildup process. We find real physical differences between the single- and double-component ETGs, with the double-component galaxies being younger and more metal-rich. The fraction of double component ETGs increases with increasing $\sigma$ and decreases in denser environments. We hypothesize that double-component systems were able to accrete gas and small galaxies until later times, boosting their central densities, building up their outer parts, and lowering their typical central ages. In contrast, the oldest galaxies, perhaps due to residing in richer environments, have no remaining hints of their last accretion episode.Comment: resubmitted to ApJ after referee's repor

Development and Analysis of the Automated Object Reentry Survival Analysis Tool Parametric Study Wrapper

The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) studies all aspects of spacecraft end-of-life and orbital debris measurement, modeling, and mitigation. The reentry safety group within the ODPO uses the Object Reentry Survival Analysis Tool (ORSAT) to calculate the casualty risk due to reentry of spacecraft and other types of orbital debris. ORSAT models spacecraft as a collection of fragments that break apart from the parent object at a pre-defined breakup altitude. It then calculates the trajectory and aero-heating of these fragments to determine which fragments are completely destroyed and which survive to the ground and pose a risk to human population. Because of the historically high computational cost of these calculations, many simplifying assumptions have been made in the traditional calculation and analysis process used by the ODPO, some of which have been shown by recent research by the ODPO and others to be incorrect. Improvements to the ORSAT code and advancements in computer technology have vastly decreased the programs processing time, and have allowed the ODPO to develop a capability for large-scale parametric studies and Monte Carlo reentry simulations that can aid in both the initial spacecraft design and provide more detailed and accurate risk analysis to spacecraft operators

Green's Functions and the Adiabatic Hyperspherical Method

We address the few-body problem using the adiabatic hyperspherical representation. A general form for the hyperangular Green's function in $d$-dimensions is derived. The resulting Lippmann-Schwinger equation is solved for the case of three-particles with s-wave zero-range interactions. Identical particle symmetry is incorporated in a general and intuitive way. Complete semi-analytic expressions for the nonadiabatic channel couplings are derived. Finally, a model to describe the atom-loss due to three-body recombination for a three-component fermi-gas of $^{6}$Li atoms is presented.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, 2 table

The Rest Frame Ultraviolet Spectra of UV-Selected Active Galactic Nuclei at z ~ 2-3

We present new results for a sample of 33 narrow-lined UV-selected active galactic nuclei (AGNs), identified in the course of a spectroscopic survey for star-forming galaxies at z ~ 2-3. The rest-frame UV composite spectrum for our AGN sample shows several emission lines characteristic of AGNs, as well as interstellar absorption features seen in star-forming Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs). We report a detection of NIV]1486, which has been observed in high-redshift radio galaxies, as well as in rare optically-selected quasars. The UV continuum slope of the composite spectrum is significantly redder than that of a sample of non-AGN UV-selected star forming galaxies. Blueshifted SiIV absorption provides evidence for outflowing highly-ionized gas in these objects at speeds of ~ 10^(3) km/s, quantitatively different from what is seen in the outflows of non-AGN LBGs. Grouping the individual AGNs by parameters such as Ly-alpha equivalent width, redshift, and UV continuum magnitude allows for an analysis of the major spectroscopic trends within the sample. Stronger Ly-alpha emission is coupled with weaker low-ionization absorption, which is similar to what is seen in the non-AGN LBGs, and highlights the role that cool interstellar gas plays in the escape of Ly-alpha photons. However, the AGN composite does not show the same trends between Ly-alpha strength and extinction seen in the non-AGN LBGs. These results represent the first such comparison at high-redshift between star-forming galaxies and similar galaxies that host AGN activity.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, accepted by Ap

Bouncing and cyclic string gas cosmologies

We show that, in the presence of a string gas, simple higher-derivative modifications to the effective action for gravity can lead to bouncing and cyclic cosmological models. The modifications bound the expansion rate and avoid singularities at finite times. In these models the scale factors can have long loitering phases that solve the horizon problem. Adding a potential for the dilaton gives a simple realization of the pre-big bang scenario. Entropy production in the cyclic phase drives an eventual transition to a radiation-dominated universe. As a test of the Brandenberger-Vafa scenario, we comment on the probability of decompactifying three spatial dimensions in this class of models.Comment: 35 pages, LaTeX, 9 figures. v2: additional references. v3: comments on Einstein frame, version to appear in PR

Ultrafast dynamics in the presence of antiferromagnetic correlations in electron-doped cuprate La2−x_{2-x}Cex_xCuO4±δ_{4\pm\delta}

We used femtosecond optical pump-probe spectroscopy to study the photoinduced change in reflectivity of thin films of the electron-doped cuprate La$_{2-x}$Ce$_x$CuO$_4$ (LCCO) with dopings of x$=$0.08 (underdoped) and x$=$0.11 (optimally doped). Above T$_c$, we observe fluence-dependent relaxation rates which onset at a similar temperature that transport measurements first see signatures of antiferromagnetic correlations. Upon suppressing superconductivity with a magnetic field, it is found that the fluence and temperature dependence of relaxation rates is consistent with bimolecular recombination of electrons and holes across a gap (2$\Delta_{AF}$) originating from antiferromagnetic correlations which comprise the pseudogap in electron-doped cuprates. This can be used to learn about coupling between electrons and high-energy ($\omega>2\Delta_{AF}$) excitations in these compounds and set limits on the timescales on which antiferromagnetic correlations are static

Observing the Geometry of Warped Compactification via Cosmic Inflation

Using DBI inflation as an example, we demonstrate that the detailed geometry of warped compactification can leave an imprint on the cosmic microwave background (CMB). We compute CMB observables for DBI inflation in a generic class of warped throats and find that the results (such as the sign of the tilt of the scalar perturbations and its running) depend sensitively on the precise shape of the warp factor. In particular, we analyze the warped deformed conifold and find that the results can differ from those of other warped geometries, even when these geometries approximate well the exact metric of the warped deformed conifold.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. v2: References and clarifications adde