English Literacy Development for English Language Learners: Does Spanish Instruction Promote or Hinder?

In this brief, the authors consider whether instruction in a child\u27s native language (particularly Spanish) hinders or promotes learning of literacy in English. The authors conduct a four-step process for identifying research on this topic, examining this literature, and then determining the answer to this clinical question. The results suggest that supporting a child\u27s home/native language promotes rather than hinders development of English literacy skills

Profiling Movement Quality Characteristics of Children (9-11y) During Recess

Introduction. Frequency spectrum characteristics derived from raw accelerometry, such as spectral purity, have the potential to reveal detailed information about children’s movement quality, but remain unexplored in children’s physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate and profile children’s recess physical activity and movement quality using a novel analytical approach. Materials and Methods. A powered sample of twenty-four children (18 boys) (10.5±0.6y, 1.44±0.09m, 39.6±9.5kg, body mass index; 18.8±3.1 kg.m2) wore an ankle-mounted accelerometer during school recess, for one school-week. Hierarchical clustering, Spearman’s rho and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to assess relationships between characteristics, and to assess inter-day differences. Results. There were no significant inter-day differences found for overall activity (P>0.05), yet significant differences were found for spectral purity derived movement quality (P<0.001). Overall activity was hierarchically clustered, and positively correlated, with spectral purity (P<0.05). Discussion. This is the first study to report spectral purity derived movement quality of children’s physical activity in an uncontrolled setting and our results highlight potential for future research

OPTIC: Orbiting Plutonian Topographic Image Craft Proposal for an Unmanned Mission to Pluto

The proposal for an unmanned probe to Pluto is presented and described. The Orbiting Plutonian Topographic Image Craft's (OPTIC's) trip will take twenty years and after its arrival, will begin its data collection which includes image and radar mapping, surface spectral analysis, and magnetospheric studies. This probe's design was developed based on the request for proposal of an unmanned probe to Pluto requirements. The distinct problems which an orbiter causes for each subsystem of the craft are discussed. The final design revolved around two important factors: (1) the ability to collect and return the maximum quantity of information on the Plutonian system; and (2) the weight limitations which the choice of an orbiting craft implied. The velocity requirements of this type of mission severely limited the weight available for mission execution-owing to the large portion of overall weight required as fuel to fly the craft with present technology. The topics covered include: (1) scientific instrumentation; (2) mission management; (3) power and propulsion; (4) attitude and articulation control; (5) structural subsystems; and (6) command, control, and communication

Ionization state, excited populations and emission of impurities in dynamic finite density plasmas: I. The generalized collisional-radiative model for light elements

The paper presents an integrated view of the population structure and its role in establishing the ionization state of light elements in dynamic, finite density, laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. There are four main issues, the generalized collisional-radiative picture for metastables in dynamic plasmas with Maxwellian free electrons and its particularizing to light elements, the methods of bundling and projection for manipulating the population equations, the systematic production/use of state selective fundamental collision data in the metastable resolved picture to all levels for collisonal-radiative modelling and the delivery of appropriate derived coefficients for experiment analysis. The ions of carbon, oxygen and neon are used in illustration. The practical implementation of the methods described here is part of the ADAS Project

Draft Genome Sequence of Rhodococcus sp. Strain ATCC 49988, a Quinoline-Degrading Bacterium.

We report here the 4.9-Mb genome sequence of a quinoline-degrading bacterium, Rhodococcus sp. strain ATCC 49988. The draft genome data will enable the identification of genes and future genetic modification to enhance traits relevant to heteroaromatic compound degradation

Profiling Movement Quality Characteristics of Children (9-11y) During Recess

Introduction. Frequency spectrum characteristics derived from raw accelerometry, such as spectral purity, have the potential to reveal detailed information about children’s movement quality, but remain unexplored in children’s physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate and profile children’s recess physical activity and movement quality using a novel analytical approach. Materials and Methods. A powered sample of twenty-four children (18 boys) (10.5±0.6y, 1.44±0.09m, 39.6±9.5kg, body mass index; 18.8±3.1 kg.m2) wore an ankle-mounted accelerometer during school recess, for one school-week. Hierarchical clustering, Spearman’s rho and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to assess relationships between characteristics, and to assess inter-day differences. Results. There were no significant inter-day differences found for overall activity (P>0.05), yet significant differences were found for spectral purity derived movement quality (P 0.05), sin embargo, se encontraron diferencias significativas para la calidad del movimiento derivado de la pureza espectral (P <0.001). La actividad global se agrupó jerárquicamente y se correlacionó positivamente con la pureza espectral (P <0,05). Discusión. Este es el primer estudio que informa la pureza espectral de la calidad del movimiento derivado de la actividad física de los niños, en un entorno no controlado y nuestros resultados destacan el potencial para la investigación futura

Dusting Elephants

Elephants, like all animals, rely on behavioral adaptations in order to protect themselves from seasonal variations in the environment. Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus), in particular, inhibit topical biomes, which requires their performance of unique, voluntary behaviors to combat the intense climate. One such behavior includes the act of dust bathing, in which elephants use their trunk to gather substrate into a pile, grasp the material, and flinging it abruptly overhead or use air to propel the material onto its underside. Performing dusting can prevent the transmission of diseases through parasites, the development of infections in open wounds, and the spike of elephant body temperature. In previous studies, factors such as increased environmental temperature have been known to influence the frequency of the performance of elephant dust bathing. Additionally, individual exhibition of dusting may cause other elephants to perform the same behavior in a group setting. These findings present important implications for cultural transmission of Asian elephant dusting behavior. Four subjects, home to the Columbus Zoo, were observed over a period of fifteen weeks. Several factors that could influence the frequency of elephant dusting were measured. I hope my findings will better our understanding of captive animal behaviors, the influence of different environmental factors on dust bathing, and explain the triggers and necessity of its performance

Influence of Sex and Ambient Temperature on Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Dusting Behavior

Previous studies indicate that elephant dusting behavior can be promoted by several factors including environmental temperature and social interaction. We hypothesized that (1) if dusting serves as a voluntary thermoregulatory function, then increased ambient temperature would result in increased dusting performance, and (2) if dusting is influenced by social interactions, then male and female elephants will exhibit dusting at similar rates in a group setting. Preliminary data indicated no significant relationship between temperature and the rate of dustings performed. Contrary to our predictions, females exhibited a greater rate of dusting than males in a social environment. The current study reexamines the relationship between ambient temperature, elephant sex, and dusting performance. Understanding behavioral adaptations and striving to maintain natural instincts are key to facilitating a healthy captive environment. If we understand environmental factors that influence elephant behavior, perhaps we can identify aspects of their natural environment that need to be preserved in order to protect the species

Kass v. Kass, Blazing Legal Trails in the Field of Human Reproductive Technology

The decision in Kass illustrates a situation where well-founded common law contract principles were applied to a novel reproductive issue in order to respond to rapidly evolving technological progress. However, this legal dilemma presents a variable that warrants special attention. The parties involved in the case at hand struggled for control of a possible human life; Mrs. Kass hoped to preserve the pre-zygotes for future implantation attempts, and Mr. Kass sought to avoid the tribulations associated with compulsory parenthood. This Comment will evaluate the decisions rendered by both the Supreme Court of New York and the New York Court of Appeals. Part II discusses the relevant facts considered by the court in determining the disposition of the Kass\u27s five frozen pre-zygotes. Part III reviews the decision of the Supreme Court of New York, which held that a woman has the ultimate decisional authority with respect to frozen genetic material, because it implicates her constitutional rights to privacy and bodily integrity. Part IV analyzes the plurality opinion delivered by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, which reversed the court\u27s initial holding. Part V examines the decision of the New York Court of Appeals that reinforced the ruling of the Appellate Division. Finally, Part VI analyzes the holdings set forth by the New York courts and suggests alternative methods to resolve dispositional disputes in the future