Post Borders: Informal Bilingual Blogging and Iintercultural Ccommunication Competence

This paper describes an informal bilingual blogging environment that was created to develop intercultural communicative competence. After a consideration of ICC, the paper explores the opportunities for development of ICC that were created by three features of this blogging activity. A descriptive analysis shows that the design features of informality of topic, and intentional lack of strict language protocol, as well as attention to cultures of use of blogging\ud were associated with users’ display of ICC

Basal Reading Instruction and E.S.L. Students

The number of English as a Second Language (ESL) students enrolled in schools across North America is increasing (Cummins, 1981). The increase means that more are enrolled in mainstream classrooms where they are taught to read using materials and programs designed for native English speakers

High school may not be enough: An investigation of Asian students’ eligibility for post-secondary education

Post-secondary education has increased in importance as the world’s economies become more knowledge-based. Employment trends suggest that a high school diploma may be insufficient in some jurisdictions to meet the skills and demands of the 21st century workplace (HRSDC, 1998). In addition, immigration trends are resulting in more ethnic and cultural diversity in North American schools (cf., Goldenberg, 2006). The problem is that little research has been conducted to explore the participation of students from a variety of language or ethnic groups in Post- Secondary Education Programs (PSEPs) or to explore factors that may influence their eligibility to participate. According to Statistics Canada, by 2031, one in four Canadians will have been born in another country. Immigrants from Asia make up the largest group moving to urban centres around North America (CBC, 2010). This trend has implications for teachers who need to know how to meet these learners’ needs. While participation rates in PSEPs in Canada are steadily increasing (Shaienks, Gluszynski, & Bayard, 2008), it is unclear how immigrant student groups are faring. The goal of this exploratory study was to explore factors that influence Asian students’ eligibility for PSEPs.L'importance de l'éducation post-secondaire a augmenté en parallèle avec les économies mondiales qui deviennent de plus en plus des sociétés de la connaissance. Les tendances en matière d'emploi suggèrent qu'un diplôme d'études secondaires peut être insuffisant dans certaines juridictions pour répondre aux compétences et aux exigences du monde du travail au XXIème siècle (RHDCC, 1998). En outre, l'évolution de l'immigration se traduit par une plus grande diversité ethnique et culturelle dans les écoles nord-américaines (cf Goldenberg, 2006). Le problème est que peu de recherches ont été menées afin d'étudier la participation des étudiants ayant des antécédents culturels et linguistiques différents dans les programmes de l'éducation post-secondaire (PEPSs), ou pour étudier les facteurs qui peuvent influer sur leur admissibilité. Selon Statistique Canada, en 2031, un Canadien sur quatre sera né dans un autre pays. Les immigrants en provenance d'Asie forment le groupe le plus important se déplaçant vers les centres urbains à travers l'Amérique du Nord (SRC, 2010). Cette tendance a des implications pour les enseignants qui doivent savoir comment répondre aux besoins de ces apprenants. Bien que le taux de participation dans les PEPSs au Canada est en constante augmentation (Shaienks et coll., 2008), il est difficile de savoir comment les groupes d'étudiants immigrants se débrouillent. L'objectif de cette étude exploratoire était d'analyser les facteurs qui influent sur l'admissibilité des étudiants asiatiques dans les PEPSs

The Graph Pencil Method: Mapping Subgraph Densities to Stochastic Block Models

In this work, we describe a method that determines an exact map from a finite set of subgraph densities to the parameters of a stochastic block model (SBM) matching these densities. Given a number K of blocks, the subgraph densities of a finite number of stars and bistars uniquely determines a single element of the class of all degree-separated stochastic block models with K blocks. Our method makes it possible to translate estimates of these subgraph densities into model parameters, and hence to use subgraph densities directly for inference. The computational overhead is negligible; computing the translation map is polynomial in K, but independent of the graph size once the subgraph densities are given

Topical application of ice-nucleating-active bacteria decreases insect cold tolerance

The majority of overwintering insects avoid lethal freezing by lowering the temperature at which ice spontaneously nucleates within their body fluids. We examined the effect of ice-nucleating-active bacteria on the cold-hardiness of the lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens, a freeze-intolerant species that overwinters by supercooling to ca. −16°C. Topical application of the ice-nucleating-active bacteria Pseudomonas syringae increased the supercooling point to temperatures as high as −3°C. This decrease in cold tolerance was maintained for at least 3 days after treatment. Various treatment doses (108, 106, and 104 bacteria per ml) and modes of action (bacterial ingestion and topical application) were also compared. At the highest concentration of topically applied P. syringae, 50% of the beetles froze between −2 and −4°C. After topical application at the lowest concentration, 50% of the individuals froze by −11°C. In contrast, beetles fed bacteria at this concentration did not begin to freeze until −10°C, and 50% were frozen only at temperatures of −13°C or less. In addition to reducing the supercooling capacity in H. convergens, ice-nucleating-active bacteria also significantly reduced the cold-hardiness of four additional insects. These data demonstrate that ice-nucleating-active bacteria can be used to elevate the supercooling point and thereby decrease insect cold tolerance. The results of this study support the proposition that ice-nucleating-active bacteria may be used as a biological insecticide for the control of insect pests during the winter

Biomineralisation in the Palaeozoic oceans: evidence for simultaneous crystallisation of high and low magnesium calcite by phacopine trilobites

The chemical composition and microstructure of the calcite cuticles of eleven species of phacopine trilobites have been investigated by electron beam imaging, diffraction, and microanalysis, and results reveal that the lenses of their schizochroal eyes differed significantly in chemical composition from the rest of the cuticle in vivo. Apart from the eye lenses, most cuticles are inferred to have escaped extensive recrystallisation because their constituent crystals are sub-micrometre in size and have a preferred orientation that is consistent between species. Their current compositions of ~1.4 to 2.4 mol% MgCO3 are likely to be close to original values, although as they commonly luminesce and contain detectable manganese and iron, some diagenetic alteration has taken place. The associated lenses have a microstructure that is suitable for focusing light, yet are optically turbid owing to the presence within calcite of micropores and crystals of microdolomite, apatite, celestite and pyrite. The microdolomite indicates that lenses recrystallised from an original high-Mg calcite composition and this is supported by the presence of nanometre-scale modulated microstructures in both the calcite and dolomite. These lenses currently contain ~1 to 6 mol% MgCO3, and by comparison with the proportion of magnesium lost from echinoderm stereom in the same thin sections, may have contained ~7.5 mol% MgCO3 in vivo. In some samples, more extensive diagenetic alteration is evidenced by recrystallisation of the cuticle including lenses to coarse equant calcite or enrichment of the cuticle, but not necessarily the lenses, in magnesium accompanying replacement by a Mg–Fe phyllosilicate. The phacopine trilobites had to modify partition coefficients for magnesium considerably in order to grow lenses with contrasting compositions to the rest of their cuticles, and such a strong vital effect on biomineralisation suggests that incorporation of magnesium was essential for functioning of their calcite optical s

What counts in the development of young children's number knowledge?

Prior studies indicate that children vary widely in their mathematical knowledge by the time they enter preschool and that this variation predicts levels of achievement in elementary school. In a longitudinal study of a diverse sample of 44 preschool children, we examined the extent to which their understanding of the cardinal meanings of the number words (e.g., knowing that the word “four” refers to sets with 4 items) is predicted by the “number talk” they hear from their primary caregiver in the early home environment. Results from 5 visits showed substantial variation in parents’ number talk to children between the ages of 14 and 30 months. Moreover, this variation predicted children’s knowledge of the cardinal meanings of number words at 46 months, even when socioeconomic status and other measures of parent and child talk were controlled. These findings suggest that encouraging parents to talk about number with their toddlers, and providing them with effective ways to do so, may positively impact children’s school achievement