Learning About Modeling in Teacher Preparation Programs

This study explores opportunities that secondary mathematics teacher preparation programs provide to learn about modeling in algebra. Forty-eight course instructors and ten focus groups at five universities were interviewed to answer questions related to modeling. With the analysis of the interview transcripts and related course materials, we found few opportunities for PSTs to engage with the full modeling cycle. Examples of opportunities to learn about algebraic modeling and the participants’ perspectives on the opportunities can contribute to the study of modeling and algebra in teacher education

Journal Staff

The aluminum–zinc-vacancy (Al Zn −V Zn ) complex is identified as one of the dominant defects in Al-containing n -type ZnO after electron irradiation at room temperature with energies above 0.8 MeV. The complex is energetically favorable over the isolated V Zn , binding more than 90% of the stable V Zn ’s generated by the irradiation. It acts as a deep acceptor with the (0/− ) energy level located at approximately 1 eV above the valence band. Such a complex is concluded to be a defect of crucial and general importance that limits the n -type doping efficiency by complex formation with donors, thereby literally removing the donors, as well as by charge compensation

Re-Inventing Public Education:The New Role of Knowledge in Education Policy-Making

This article focuses on the changing role of knowledge in education policy making within the knowledge society. Through an examination of key policy texts, the Scottish case of Integrated Children Services provision is used to exemplify this new trend. We discuss the ways in which knowledge is being used in order to re-configure education as part of a range of public services designed to meet individuals' needs. This, we argue, has led to a 'scientization' of education governance where it is only knowledge, closely intertwined with action (expressed as 'measures') that can reveal problems and shape solutions. The article concludes by highlighting the key role of knowledge policy and governance in orienting education policy making through a re-invention of the public role of education

Multi-objective optimization of RF circuit blocks via surrogate models and NBI and SPEA2 methods

Multi-objective optimization techniques can be categorized globally into deterministic and evolutionary methods. Examples of such methods are the Normal Boundary Intersection (NBI) method and the Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm (SPEA2), respectively. With both methods one explores trade-offs between conflicting performances. Surrogate models can replace expensive circuit simulations so enabling faster computation of circuit performances. As surrogate models of behavioral parameters and performance outcomes, we consider look-up tables with interpolation and Neural Network models

Boilerplate and Party Intent

In this work we examined optical and defect properties of as-grown and Ni-coated ZnO nanowires (NWs) grown by rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition by means of optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR). Several grown-in defects are revealed by monitoring visible photoluminescence (PL) emissions and are attributed to Zn vacancies, O vacancies, a shallow (but not effective mass) donor and exchange-coupled pairs of a Zn vacancy and a Zn interstitial. It is also found that the same ODMR signals are detected in the as-grown and Ni-coated NWs, indicating that metal coatings does not significantly affect formation of the aforementioned defects and that the observed defects are located in the bulk of the NWs

Evaluation of GEOS-5 Sulfur Dioxide Simulations During the Frostburg, MD 2010 Field Campaign.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a major atmospheric pollutant with a strong anthropogenic component mostly produced by the combustion of fossil fuel and other industrial activities. As a precursor of sulfate aerosols that affect climate, air quality, and human health, this gas needs to be monitored on a global scale. Global climate and chemistry models including aerosol processes along with their radiative effects are important tools for climate and air quality research. Validation of these models against in-situ and satellite measurements is essential to ascertain the credibility of these models and to guide model improvements. In this study the Goddard Chemistry, Aerosol, Radiation, and Transport (GOCART) module running on-line inside the Goddard Earth Observing System version 5 (GEOS-5) model is used to simulate aerosol and SO2 concentrations. Data taken in November 2010 over Frostburg, Maryland during an SO2 field campaign involving ground instrumentation and aircraft are used to evaluate GEOS-5 simulated SO2 concentrations. Preliminary data analysis indicated the model overestimated surface SO2 concentration, which motivated the examination of mixing processes in the model and the specification of SO2 anthropogenic emission rates. As a result of this analysis, a revision of anthropogenic emission inventories in GEOS-5 was implemented, and the vertical placement of SO2 sources was updated. Results show that these revisions improve the model agreement with observations locally and in regions outside the area of this field campaign. In particular, we use the ground-based measurements collected by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) for the year 2010 to evaluate the revised model simulations over North America

Quenched mesonic spectrum at large N

We compute the masses of the $\pi$ and of the $\rho$ mesons in the quenched approximation on a lattice with fixed lattice spacing $a \simeq 0.145 \ \mathrm{fm}$for SU($N$) gauge theory with$N = 2,3,4,6$. We find that a simple linear expression in$1/N^2$correctly captures the features of the lowest-lying meson states at those values of$N$. This enables us to extrapolate to$N = \infty$the behaviour of$m_{\pi}$as a function of the quark mass and of$m_{\rho}$as a function of$m_{\pi}$. Our results for the latter agree within 5% with recent predictions obtained in the AdS/CFT framework.Comment: Reference added; typos corrected; version to appear on JHE