The Effects of an lntensive Reading Program on the Test Scores of Middle Level Students Who Read Below Grade Level

Some students enter the middle school each year reading below grade level. This researcher saw a need to study the effects of a special language arts based reading class on the reading skills of those students. Nineteen students took part in this study. Nine were in the experimental group which attended the special reading class in addition to their regular classes. Ten were in the control group who attended only their regular classes. Both groups of students were given the Gates MacGinitie Reading Test made up of a vocabulary and a comprehension section. The test was given to both groups before and after the experimental group attended the special class. The class itself was language arts based. In order to help improve the students reading scores, this researcher taught many skills including phonics, word recognition, writing, speaking, and thinking skills. Although a t-test showed no significant difference between the post-test scores of both groups, there was a significant difference between the pre and post-test scores of the experimental group. The control group\u27s pre and post-test scores showed no significant difference

The relationship between unwanted sexual experiences, psychological well-being, substance abuse and high-risk sexual behaviour among adolescent

The interaction between unwanted sexual experiences during childhood and an adolescent’s psychological well-being, use of substances and involvement in high-risk sexual behaviour was explored in this study. Unwanted childhood sexual experiences, such as sexual abuse, are major societal concerns and have been widely researched. However, much of the research was done using individuals presenting for help with the effects of this trauma. This excludes those individuals who experienced sexual abuse, but did not suffer any visible consequences as a result. Previous research therefore presents half a picture. South African literature on this phenomenon is also limited. As a result, this study looks at childhood sexual abuse or unwanted childhood sexual experiences within a South African context using a sample from the general population in order to obtain a more accurate picture. The Cognitive Behavioural Theory and the Theory of Reasoned Action will be used to attempt to explain how exposure to unwanted sexual experiences may contribute to certain psychological, emotional and behavioural outcomes. The Cognitive Behavioural Theory postulates that there is a relationship between an individual’s thoughts or cognitions and their emotions and behaviour. Cognitions are formed through the individual’s previous experiences and are the basis upon which the individual will act in future experiences. The Theory of Reasoned Action states that it is not only one’s own attitudes and beliefs that influence one’s behaviour, but also the perceived attitudes of others around oneself. By incorporating these two theories into the study, one can hypothesise why, and how, certain effects may or may not result in sexually abused individuals. From previous research, it can be concluded that childhood sexual abuse can lead to poor psychological well-being, increased participation in the use/abuse of substances and increased involvement in high-risk sexual behaviour. By using a general sample of the population (a sample that includes both sexually abused and non-sexually abused individuals) this study attempted to investigate interactions between these four variables and explore factors that interfere with or promote the relationship between these variables. It appears that there is, in fact, an interaction between the four variables. There is a positive relationship between unwanted sexual experience and adolescent substance-use behaviour, specifically drug abuse and between unwanted sexual experience and adolescent high-risk sexual behaviour. No relationship was found between unwanted sexual experience and psychological well-being. If and how these variables interact is dependent on the specific individual. It is problematic to assume that each individual reacts to a trauma, such as unwanted sex, in the same way. Other factors, such as the details around the abuse as well as the previous experiences and functioning of the child, need to be considered.Dissertation (MA (Clinical Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007.Psychologyunrestricte

Non-biomedical aspects of Alzheimers Disease and related disorders : a comprehensive bibliography, 1960-1988

This bibliography includes references to over 1600 books, articles, theses and dissertations published in English from 1960 to 1988. Emphasis is given to works dealing with non-biomedical aspects of dementia, particularly to research concerned with the development and evaluation of programs, facilities and services designed to enhance the functional status and quality of life of Alzheimer\u27s victims and their caregivers. Bibliography Arrangement: Following an overview chapter concerned with review articles(Chapter 1), references are arranged topically into twelve subject groupings: Symptoms, Assessment and Diagnosis (Chapter 2); Stages of Deterioration (Chapter 3); Case Studies (Chapter 4); Epidemiology (Chapter 5); Pre-Dementia History (Chapter 6); Etiology (Chapter 7); Health Care System (Chapter 8); Treatment and Management (Chapter 9); Environmental Design (Chapter 10); Caregiver Support (Chapter 11); Education (Chapter 12); and Legal, Ethical and Research Issues (Chapter 13)

Expanding the Envelope of UAS Certification: What it Takes to Type Certify a UAS for Precision Agricultural Spraying

One of the key challenges to the development of a commercial Unmanned Air-craft System (UAS) market is the lack of explicit consideration of UAS in the current regulatory framework. Despite recent progress, additional steps are needed to enable broad UAS types and operational models. This paper discusses recent research that examines how a risk-based approach for safety might change the process and substance of airworthiness requirements for UAS. The project proposed risk-centric airworthiness requirements for a midsize un-manned rotorcraft used for agricultural spraying and also identified factors that may contribute to distinguishing safety risk among different UAS types and operational concepts. Lessons learned regarding how a risk-based approach can expand the envelope of UAS certification are discussed

Trends in peri-operative performance status following resection of high grade glioma and brain metastases: The impact on survival

Objectives: Maximal surgical resection of high grade brain tumours is associated with improved overall survival (OS). It carries the risk of neurological deterioration leading to worsening performance status (PS), which may affect overall survival and preclude patients from adjuvant therapy. We aim to review the changes in performance status of patients undergoing resection of high grade tumours and metastases and the impact of changes on overall survival. Patients and methods: A prospective study of the perioperative performance status of 75 patients who underwent primary resection of malignant primary brain tumour or solitary metastasis in a single centre. Data on patients’ demographics, tumour histology and overall survival were also collected. WHO performance status was recorded pre-operatively and at intervals following surgery. Results: Of the 75 patients (35 males, 40 females, median age 61 years at diagnosis), 50 had primary malignant brain tumours, 25 had metastasis. Although PS dropped at postoperative day 1 in 14 patients (18.7%), 28% improved by day 5 and there was significant improvement by day 14 (41%, p=0.02). The number of patients with PS 3 or worse changed from 4% pre-operatively (n=3) to 8% (n=6). Overall survival is better in those whose PS remained improved or unchanged at 2 weeks after surgery compared to those whose PS deteriorated; high grade glioma median survival 15.67 vs. 2.4 months (p=0.005) and metastasis median survival 8.53 vs.2.33 months (p=0.001). Conclusion: Our data demonstrates that although PS may deteriorate immediately after surgery, the majority of patients regain their baseline PS or improve by 2 weeks postoperatively; decisions on fitness for adjuvant treatment should therefore be delayed until then. In those patients whose PS declines following surgery overall survival is poor

Spin-photon interface and spin-controlled photon switching in a nanobeam waveguide

Access to the electron spin is at the heart of many protocols for integrated and distributed quantum-information processing [1-4]. For instance, interfacing the spin-state of an electron and a photon can be utilized to perform quantum gates between photons [2,5] or to entangle remote spin states [6-9]. Ultimately, a quantum network of entangled spins constitutes a new paradigm in quantum optics [1]. Towards this goal, an integrated spin-photon interface would be a major leap forward. Here we demonstrate an efficient and optically programmable interface between the spin of an electron in a quantum dot and photons in a nanophotonic waveguide. The spin can be deterministically prepared with a fidelity of 96\%. Subsequently the system is used to implement a "single-spin photonic switch", where the spin state of the electron directs the flow of photons through the waveguide. The spin-photon interface may enable on-chip photon-photon gates [2], single-photon transistors [10], and efficient photonic cluster state generation [11]