How (and Why) NCLB Failed to Close the Achievement Gap:Evidence from North Carolina, 1998-2004

Recent state and national policy changes for public education are premised upon the idea that high-stakes tests can improve student outcomes and close achievement gaps. Opponents maintain that such policies fail on both counts. Using a unique longitudinal dataset from North Carolina, we find that high-stakes tests have failed to close achievement gaps associated with social class and race, and that the persistence of these gaps is related, at least in part, to academic tracking. Such findings add to the questions being raised about such policies as No Child Left Behind

Discrete Event Simulation Implemented in a Virtual Environment

Virtual reality (VR) technology provides a human-computer interface that allows participants to interact naturally with digital objects which are represented as three-dimensional images that occupy positions in a three-dimensional world. Related to problems of engineering design and manufacturing, this new technology offers engineers the ability to work with computer models in a three-dimensional, immersive environment. This paper describes a virtual reality application where the results of a discrete event simulation of a manufacturing cell are integrated with a virtual model of the cell to produce a virtual environment. The program described in this paper, the VRFactory, combines results from a commercial discrete event simulation program, SLAM II, with a virtual environment. This allows the user to investigate, using three-dimensional computer models, how various changes to the manufacturing cell affect part production. This investigation is performed while immersed in a computer-generated three-dimensional representation of the cell. Existing discrete event programming software allows only two-dimensional views of the factory as the parts progress through the simulation. Parts are shown only as primitive geometric shapes on the computer monitor and instantaneously move from one station to the next. The virtual environment implementation of the SLAM II results allows users to experience the simulation in a fully immersive three-dimensional digital environment. The virtual environment used here is a CAVE™-like projection screen-based facility called the C2, which is located at Iowa State University. This paper describes the creation of the VR model of the manufacturing cell, the animation of the environment and the implementation of the results of the discrete event simulation

Religious Education Teachers and Character: Personal Beliefs and Professional Approaches

The research goals of this report are: 1) How do RE teachers’ personal beliefs and worldviews relate to their professional motivations? 2) How do RE teachers negotiate religious diversity? 3) What do RE teachers think about RE and pupils’ character development? 4) What differences in beliefs about pupils’ character development are there between RE teachers holding different worldviews? How was this study completed? This study explored the lives of RE teachers using a mixed-method design, comprising an interview phase followed by a survey. This approach allowed for inductive inferences to be made from the interviews, which could be then substantiated through the deductive testing of preliminary hypotheses with the construction of the survey instrument. For each phase, a separate non-probabilistic sample of practising RE teachers who taught RE as their main specialism was recruited through professional organisations and advertisements, including social media. The first, qualitative phase of the study was inspired by the narrative identity paradigm (McAdams, 1996; 2013; McAdams and Guo, 2015). This uses semi-structured interviews to explore participants’ self-understandings of the development of the course of their lives. In addition to standard questions used in this paradigm, the interview schedule also included questions about teachers’ perspectives on RE and character development. The second, quantitative phase, was designed drawing on initial analyses of the interviews and employed measures of religious practice and style, as well as individual items about RE teachers’ perceptions of character education. The data generated from these questions allowed for analyses of the relationships between RE teachers’ worldviews, their perspectives on character education and their professional motivations. There were four key findings. These are: 1) Personal worldviews informed RE teachers’ approaches in the classroom: RE teachers working in faith and non-faith schools were found to have a diverse range of personal worldviews – from atheism to theism, and all positions in between – but each kind of worldview supports a particular vision of what RE should be, and therefore generates an individual’s motivation to be an RE teacher. 2) RE teachers were found to have fair and tolerant views of other religions and worldviews: RE teachers who did or did not have a religious faith, in faith and non-faith schools, were found to have a fair and tolerant approach to religious diversity. However, this study’s findings suggest that RE teachers that have a religious faith were more open to interreligious dialogue and learning from other religions. 3) There was strong agreement among teachers with a religious faith that RE contributes to character education, and RE teachers should act as role models for their pupils. 4) RE teachers that have a religious faith were more likely to think religions promote good character: There were significant differences in perspectives between RE teachers who reported belonging to a religion, and those who did not. The former were found to be more likely to think that religious traditions provide a source of good role models; they were also more likely to care about their impact on pupils’ religious beliefs and to believe pupils emulate their religious views. The reference for this research report is: Arthur, J.; Moulin-Stożek, D.; Metcalfe, J. and Moller, F. (2019) Religious Education Teachers and Character: Personal Beliefs and Professional Approaches, Research Report, Birmingham: University of Birmingham. This report is freely available for download

Quasars Probing Quasars II: The Anisotropic Clustering of Optically Thick Absorbers around Quasars

With close pairs of quasars at different redshifts, a background quasar sightline can be used to study a foreground quasar's environment in absorption. We used a sample of 17 Lyman limit systems with column density N_HI > 10^19 cm^-2 selected from 149 projected quasar pair sightlines, to investigate the clustering pattern of optically thick absorbers around luminous quasars at z ~ 2.5. Specifically, we measured the quasar-absorber correlation function in the transverse direction, and found a comoving correlation length of r_0=9.2_{+1.5}_{-1.7} Mpc/h (comoving) assuming a power law correlation function, with gamma=1.6. Applying this transverse clustering strength to the line-of-sight, would predict that ~ 15-50% of all quasars should show a N_HI > 10^19 cm^-2 absorber within a velocity window of v < 3000 km/s. This overpredicts the number of absorbers along the line-of-sight by a large factor, providing compelling evidence that the clustering pattern of optically thick absorbers around quasars is highly anisotropic. The most plausible explanationfor the anisotropy is that the transverse direction is less likely to be illuminated by ionizing photons than the line-of-sight, and that absorbers along the line-of-sight are being photoevaporated. A simple model for the photoevaporation of absorbers subject to the ionizing flux of a quasar is presented, and it is shown that absorbers with volume densities n_H < 0.1 cm^-3 will be photoevaporated if they lie within ~ 1 Mpc (proper) of a luminous quasar. Using this simple model, we illustrate how comparisons of the transverse and line-of-sight clustering around quasars can ultimately be used to constrain the distribution of gas in optically thick absorption line systems.Comment: 14 pages of emulateapj, 7 figures, submitted to Ap

Kinetics and Product Yields of the OH Initiated Oxidation of Hydroxymethyl Hydroperoxide

Hydroxymethyl hydroperoxide (HMHP), formed in the reaction of the C1 Criegee intermediate with water, is among the most abundant organic peroxides in the atmosphere. Although reaction with OH is thought to represent one of the most important atmospheric removal processes for HMHP, this reaction has been largely unstudied in the laboratory. Here, we present measurements of the kinetics and products formed in the reaction of HMHP with OH. HMHP was oxidized by OH in an environmental chamber; the decay of the hydroperoxide and the formation of formic acid and formaldehyde were monitored over time using CF3O- chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) and laser induced fluorescence (LIF). The loss of HMHP by reaction with OH is measured relative to the loss of 1,2-butanediol [k1;2-butanediol+OH = (27:0 5:6) 10- exp12 cm3 molecule-1s-1]. We find that HMHP reacts with OH at 295 K with a rate coefficient of (7.1 1.5) 10-12 cm3 molecule-1s-1, with the formic acid to formaldehyde yield in a ratio of 0:880:21 and independent of NO concentration (31010 1.51013 molecule cm-3). We suggest that, exclusively, abstraction of the methyl hydrogen of HMHP results in formic acid while abstraction of the hydroperoxy hydrogen results in formaldehyde. We further evaluate the relative importance of HMHP sinks and use global simulations from GEOS-Chem to estimate that HMHP oxidation by OH contributes 1.7 Tg yr-1 (1-3%) of global annual formic acid production

Genomic-Bioinformatic Analysis of Transcripts Enriched in the Third-Stage Larva of the Parasitic Nematode Ascaris suum

Differential transcription in Ascaris suum was investigated using a genomic-bioinformatic approach. A cDNA archive enriched for molecules in the infective third-stage larva (L3) of A. suum was constructed by suppressive-subtractive hybridization (SSH), and a subset of cDNAs from 3075 clones subjected to microarray analysis using cDNA probes derived from RNA from different developmental stages of A. suum. The cDNAs (n = 498) shown by microarray analysis to be enriched in the L3 were sequenced and subjected to bioinformatic analyses using a semi-automated pipeline (ESTExplorer). Using gene ontology (GO), 235 of these molecules were assigned to ‘biological process’ (n = 68), ‘cellular component’ (n = 50), or ‘molecular function’ (n = 117). Of the 91 clusters assembled, 56 molecules (61.5%) had homologues/orthologues in the free-living nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans and C. briggsae and/or other organisms, whereas 35 (38.5%) had no significant similarity to any sequences available in current gene databases. Transcripts encoding protein kinases, protein phosphatases (and their precursors), and enolases were abundantly represented in the L3 of A. suum, as were molecules involved in cellular processes, such as ubiquitination and proteasome function, gene transcription, protein–protein interactions, and function. In silico analyses inferred the C. elegans orthologues/homologues (n = 50) to be involved in apoptosis and insulin signaling (2%), ATP synthesis (2%), carbon metabolism (6%), fatty acid biosynthesis (2%), gap junction (2%), glucose metabolism (6%), or porphyrin metabolism (2%), although 34 (68%) of them could not be mapped to a specific metabolic pathway. Small numbers of these 50 molecules were predicted to be secreted (10%), anchored (2%), and/or transmembrane (12%) proteins. Functionally, 17 (34%) of them were predicted to be associated with (non-wild-type) RNAi phenotypes in C. elegans, the majority being embryonic lethality (Emb) (13 types; 58.8%), larval arrest (Lva) (23.5%) and larval lethality (Lvl) (47%). A genetic interaction network was predicted for these 17 C. elegans orthologues, revealing highly significant interactions for nine molecules associated with embryonic and larval development (66.9%), information storage and processing (5.1%), cellular processing and signaling (15.2%), metabolism (6.1%), and unknown function (6.7%). The potential roles of these molecules in development are discussed in relation to the known roles of their homologues/orthologues in C. elegans and some other nematodes. The results of the present study provide a basis for future functional genomic studies to elucidate molecular aspects governing larval developmental processes in A. suum and/or the transition to parasitism

Hepatocytic expression of human sodium-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide enables hepatitis B virus infection of macaques

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global health concern, and the development of curative therapeutics is urgently needed. Such efforts are impeded by the lack of a physiologically relevant, pre-clinical animal model of HBV infection. Here, we report that expression of the HBV entry receptor, human sodium-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (hNTCP), on macaque primary hepatocytes facilitates HBV infection in vitro, where all replicative intermediates including covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) are present. Furthermore, viral vector-mediated expression of hNTCP on hepatocytes in vivo renders rhesus macaques permissive to HBV infection. These in vivo macaque HBV infections are characterized by longitudinal HBV DNA in serum, and detection of HBV DNA, RNA, and HBV core antigen (HBcAg) in hepatocytes. Together, these results show that expressing hNTCP on macaque hepatocytes renders them susceptible to HBV infection, thereby establishing a physiologically relevant model of HBV infection to study immune clearance and test therapeutic and curative approaches

Continuous increase of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and non-HIV related cancers as causes of death in HIV-infected individuals in Brazil: An analysis of nationwide data

Introduction: After antiretroviral therapy (ART) became available, there was a decline in the number of deaths in persons infected with HIV. Thereafter, there was a decrease in the proportion of deaths attributed to opportunistic infections and an increase in the proportion of deaths attributed to chronic comorbidities. Herein we extend previous observations from a nationwide survey on temporal trends in causes of death in HIV-infected patients in Brazil. Methods: We describe temporal trends in causes of death among adults who had HIV/AIDS listed in the death certificate to those who did not. All death certificates issued in Brazil from 1999 to 2011 and listed in the national mortality database were included. Generalized linear mixed-effects logistic models were used to study temporal trends in proportions. Results: In the HIV-infected population, there was an annual adjusted average increase of 6.0%, 12.0%, 4.0% and 4.1% for cancer, external causes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM), respectively, compared to 3.0%, 4.0%, 1.0% and 3.9%, in the non-HIV group. For tuberculosis (TB), there was an adjusted average increase of 0.3%/year and a decrease of 3.0%/year in the HIV and the non-HIV groups, respectively. Compared to 1999, the odds ratio (OR) for cancer, external causes, CVD, DM, or TB in the HIV group were, respectively, 2.31, 4.17, 1.76, 2.27 and 1.02, while for the non-HIV group, the corresponding OR were 1.31, 1.63, 1.14, 1.62 and 0.67. Interactions between year as a continuous or categorical variable and HIV were significant (p <0.001) for all conditions, except for DM when year was considered as a continuous variable (p = 0.76). Conclusions: Non HIV-related co-morbidities continue to increase more rapidly as causes of death among HIV-infected individuals than in those without HIV infection, highlighting the need for targeting prevention measures and surveillance for chronic diseases among those patients. © 2014 Paula et al

Secondary cytogenetic abnormalities in core-binding factor AML harboring inv(16) vs t(8;21)

Patients with core-binding factor (CBF) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), caused by either t(8; 21)(q22;q22) or inv(16)(p13q22)/t(16;16)(p13;q22), have higher complete remission rates and longer survival than patients with other subtypes of AML. However, similar to 40% of patients relapse, and the literature suggests that patients with inv(16) fare differently from those with t(8;21). We retrospectively analyzed 537 patients with CBF-AML, focusing on additional cytogenetic aberrations to examine their impact on clinical outcomes. Trisomies of chromosomes 8, 21, or 22 were significantly more common in patients with inv(16)/t(16;16): 16% vs 7%, 6% vs 0%, and 17% vs 0%, respectively. In contrast, del(9q) and loss of a sex chromosome were more frequent in patients with t(8;21): 15% vs 0.4% for del(9q), 37% vs 0% for loss of X in females, and 44% vs 5% for loss of Y in males. Hyperdiploidy was more frequent in patients with inv(16) (25% vs 9%, whereas hypodiploidy was more frequent in patients with t(8;21) (37% vs 3%. In multivariable analyses (adjusted for age, white blood counts at diagnosis, and KIT mutation status), trisomy 8 was associated with improved overall survival (OS) in inv(16), whereas the presence of other chromosomal abnormalities (not trisomy 8) was associated with decreased OS. In patients with t(8;21), hypodiploidy was associated with improved disease-free survival; hyperdiploidy and del(9q) were associated with improved OS. KIT mutation (either positive or not tested, compared with negative) conferred poor prognoses in univariate analysis only in patients with t(8;21)

Transient binding of an activator BH3 domain to the Bak BH3-binding groove initiates Bak oligomerization

Interaction between the hydrophobic Bak BH3-binding groove and the BH3 domain of activator proteins is a key step in initiating Bak oligomerization and activation