Multilingual Writers in the Mexican Sociocultural Context: Towards Improved Pedagogical Practices in the U.S.

Currently, the education of Latina/o students in the United States for higher education and future careers comprises multiple moving parts. As the U.S. educational system, in particular the Pre-K-12 years of schooling, struggles despite efforts to address the needs of all students, both native English speakers as well as English language learners (ELLs), to better prepare them to enter institutions of tertiary education and succeed in careers, various organizations and consortiums articulate more rigorous educational standards (WIDA and the Common Core Standards as two examples). These recent proposals focus on academic literacy skills, in particular on reading and writing skills development from the earliest years of elementary school. Further evidence in both print and radio media of the emphasis on academic skills and high stakes testing appear in the public statements of the new CEO of the College Board. David Coleman, for example, has articulated his vision of a new SAT writing section that requires test takers base their writing samples on sources provided by the test developers. Mr. Coleman explains that the test takers should be asked to write a source-based paper in line with contemporary writing practices rather than an opinion-based, five-paragraph essay, a reminder of dated Anglo-American composition traditions. He even goes so far as to claim that SAT test questions will include questions on the mechanics of writing such as punctuation, citations, and paragraphing conventions

Reducing Falls Related to Toileting

Practice Problem: The practice problem for the medical-surgical unit is a high rate of falls associated with toileting activities, despite universal fall precautions for all patients. The current fall rate is an average rate of 4 falls per 1,000 patient days. PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: Among adult patients in the inpatient medical-surgical unit (P), what is the effect of adding a toileting care plan (I) to the current practice of universal fall precautions (C) to reduce the severity and incidence of falls (O) within an 8-week period (T)? Evidence: Nine high-quality articles supported a toileting care plan encompassing patient-centered fall interventions could decrease falls and falls with injuries. Interventions: Staff education on risk for patient falls, individualized risk assessments for falls, individualized toileting care plan, and effective handoff communication to all bedside staff about risks for falls. Outcome: The desired reduction in the rate of falls was not achieved during the intervention period; however, the project highlighted organizational challenges related to coordination of change, staffing, and unit participation. Further increased knowledge and utilization of the Morse fall risk assessment tool, resource allotment for fall reduction programming, and reprioritization for organization review of skills related to toileting plans was achieved. Conclusion: Clinical significance was achieved with this EBP project, even without the overall goal achievement of a reduction in fall rates on the pilot unit. The project highlighted the need for organizational readiness for change, effective strategy for concurrent priorities, and agility for unanticipated confounders, such as significant staffing concerns

Plagiarism and Academic Writing of Learners of English

Incidents and anecdotal evidence accrue of learners’ resorting to plagiarism in their essays and research papers. There seem to be three possible reasons that plagiarism is common among students writing in English as a second language. First is the desire to cut corners. Second, there are differences in cultural practices. Third, the learners have a lack of skills and/or language proficiency. We wanted to begin to document the actual situation in Japan. Therefore, we decided to conduct an ethnographic type of study in which we would seek evidence from a variety of sources. Although we focused our attention on written assignments of learners within the classroom context, specifically examining plagiarising the work of others, we also examine the broader social context

LOCAL FIELD POTENTIAL ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIORAL TASK INDUCED PLASTICITY IN HIGHER-ORDER AUDITORY CORTEX

Previous studies have shown attention related transient changes induced during auditory discrimination behavioral tasks in primary auditory cortex (A1). This study involved awake, behaving ferrets performing similar auditory tasks with negative reinforcement; however, recordings were focused on higher-order cortical areas to understand what, if any, plastic effects exist and how they compare with A1. Although neurons in the posterior ectosylvian gyrus (PEG) exhibit similar tuning properties and conform to a tonotopic mapping consistent with prior findings, these areas enhance selectivity to target stimuli. The neurophysiological recordings from A1, PEG, and frontal cortex were then compared using the local field potential (LFP). This analysis focused on the response-power changes within these recordings and findings were consistent with single unit trends

Vegetação urbana de Centenário do Sul (PR) : métodos de levantamento em campo e por aerofotogrametria

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Bruno Luiz Domingos De AngelisTese (doutorado em Geografia) - Universidade Estadual de Maringá, 2020RESUMO: O presente trabalho contou com a análise da vegetação arbustivo-arbórea, pública (situada em ruas, praças, escolas e hospistais) e privada (localizada em quintais e jardins frontais de residências), de uma cidade de pequeno porte, localizada no norte do estado do Paraná: Centenário do Sul. O estudo apresentou a aplicação de dois métodos de análise, avaliação da vegetação in loco e fotos aéreas. O levantamento em ambos os métodos, compreendeu a realização do censo arbustivo-arbóreo de espécimes presentes em todas as ruas e praças e, em lotes públicos e privados da cidade de acordo com a amostra obtida pelo software R Statistic. Os levantamentos permitiram caracterizar a vegetação em termos de distribuição espacial, existência de conflitos com os equipamentos constituintes da urbe e determinação de índices arbóreos. O estudo analisou ainda um comparativo da evolução da vegetação local por meio de imagens de satélites e amparado no censo arbustivo-arbóreo desenvolvido em 2016. Com base nos dados do levantamento in loco, constata-se que Centenário do Sul possui uma arborização diversa (R = 13,69), porém com abundância excessiva de indivíduos representados pela espécie Licania tomentosa (Benth.) Fritsch (oiti) (41,04%). A espécie L. tomentosa juntamente com a Paquira aquatica Aubl. (monguba) são responsáveis por 46,2% dos conflitos com o calçamento e 43,4% dos conflitos com a fiação. Em termos de índices arbustivo-arbóreos, Centenário do Sul conta com 105,1 indivíduos por quilômetro estimado, valor 13,8% maior que o registrado na área em 2016. O índice de cobertura arbórea (ICA), levantado pelas imagens aéreas, demonstra cobertura de copas com representação de 9,69%, valor abaixo do calculado para a cidade na década de 1980. Com relação ao comparativo entre os métodos verificou-se que o método convencional de diagnóstico da arborização resulta na obtenção mais precisa de dados quanto à identificação de espécies, levantamentos quantitativos e índices que dependem destes fatores, sendo indicado para locais com menor área disponível. O método de análise da vegetação com uso de Veículo Aéreo Não Tripulado (VANT) possibilita o levantamento de forma ágil, com precisão na obtenção de imagens e visualização de lotes privados, sendo importante ferramenta para cidades com maiores malhas urbanas ou para avaliação da vegetação em áreas de acesso restrito. Constata-se que os métodos se complementam entre si, permitindo a identificação da vegetação como um todo. Nessa perspectiva, alicerçado nos dados obtidos recomenda-se o uso dos dois métodos de forma paralela a fim de se potencializar o levantamento de dados em campo e maximizar os resultados pretendidosABSTRACT: This work included the analysis of shrub-tree vegetation, public (located in streets, squares, schools and hospitals) and private (located in backyards and front gardens of residences), of a small city, located in the north of Paraná: Centenário do Sul. The study presented the application of two methods of analysis, assessment of vegetation in loco and aerial photos. The survey in both methods comprised the carrying out of the shrub-tree census of specimens present in all streets and squares and in public and private lots in the city according to the sample obtained by the software R Statistic. The surveys allowed to characterize the vegetation in terms of spatial distribution, the existence of conflicts with the equipment constituting the city and determination of tree indexes. The study also analysed a comparison of the evolution of local vegetation through satellite images and supported by the shrub-tree census developed in 2016. Based on the data from the on-site survey, it appears that Centenário do Sul has diverse afforestation (R = 13.69), but with an excessive abundance of individuals represented by the species Licania tomentosa (Benth.) Fritsch (oiti) (41.04%). The species L. tomentosa together with Paquira aquatica Aul. (monguba) are responsible for 46,2% of conflicts with paving and 43,4% of conflicts with wiring. In terms of shrub-tree indexes, Centenário do Sul has 105.1 individuals per estimated kilometer, a value 13.8% higher than that recorded in the area in 2016. The Tree Coverage Index (TCI), raised by aerial images, shows canopy coverage with 9.69% representation, a value below the one calculated for the city in the 1980s. Regarding the comparison between the methods, it was found that the conventional method of diagnosis of afforestation results in more accurate data regarding the identification of species, quantitative surveys and indexes that depend on these factors, being indicated for places with less available area. The vegetation analysis method using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) makes it possible to survey in an agile manner, with precision in obtaining images and viewing private lots, being an important tool for cities with larger urban networks or for assessing vegetation in restricted access areas. It appears that the methods complement each other, allowing the identification of the vegetation as a whole. In this perspective, based on the data obtained, it is recommended to use both methods in parallel in order to enhance the data collection in the field and maximize the intended results215 f. : il. (algumas color.)

Using Disability Studies in Education (DSE) and Professional Development Schools (PDS) to Implement Inclusive Practices

This article highlights ways in which disability studies in education (dse) and professional development school (pds) partnerships can be used to provide students with disability labels more access to inclusive classrooms. The authors of this qualitative exploratory case study interviewed 16 teacher and administration pds steering committee members to better understand how students with disability labels could be supported through the development and implementation of dse-informed inclusive practices. The findings indicate that instituting proactive communication structures, providing ongoing dse-informed professional development to teachers, administration, and staff, and teachers taking inclusive action increased the number of students with disability labels accessing general education classrooms. These findings, while a work in progress, show how members of one pds steering committee took steps to resist deficit models of disability and questioned traditional segregated approaches to special education at their school

Barreiras de impermeabilização: configurações aplicadas em aterros sanitários

With the growth of cities and expansion in the generation of municipal solid waste are becoming increasingly common the presence of landfills. These landfills must be made with waterproof barriers (liners) able to contain leachate, thereby preventing scattering of contamination plumes. In this sense, this study aims to list the major liners found in landfills, presenting their features, in addition to exposing examples applied in landfills across the country. To this end, it conducted a literature finding the different existing liners and their respective peculiarities. With the study we observed the presence of waterproof barriers consist of: geosynthetics, sludge, active barriers, municipal solid waste, benthic geocomposite, soil cement or compacted soils. It was also found that some Brazilian cities, as the case of Belo Horizonte, use to disposal landfill waste with the presence of alternative waterproofing layers. As a whole, the liner with the highest security among the classes studied were the geosynthetic liners combined with compressed ultisols, thus presenting lower permeability.Com o crescimento das cidades e ampliação na geração de resíduos sólidos urbanos tornam-se cada vez mais comuns à presença de aterros sanitários. Estes aterros devem ser elaborados com barreiras impermeabilizantes (liners) capazes de conter lixiviados, evitando assim espalhamentos de plumas de contaminação. Neste sentido, o presente estudo visa elencar os principais liners encontrados em aterros sanitários, apresentar suas características, além de expor exemplos aplicados em aterros pelo país. Para tanto, foi realizado um levantamento bibliográfico constatando os diferentes liners existentes e suas devidas peculiaridades. Com o estudo observou-se a presença de barreiras impermeabilizantes constituídos por: geossintéticos, lodos, barreiras ativas, resíduos sólidos urbanos, geocomposto bentônico, solo cimento ou solos compactados. Verificou-se ainda que algumas cidades brasileiras, como o caso de Belo Horizonte, utilizam para disposição de resíduos aterros sanitários com a presença de camadas impermeabilizantes alternativas. Como um todo, o liner que apresentou maior segurança entre as classes estudadas foram os liners de geossintéticos combinados a argissolos compactados, apresentando assim menor permeabilidade

Ongoing studies on the bats of Danum Valley Borneo

Here we provide an update on the batting activities of the James Cook University's biannual undergraduate field trip to Danum Valley Field Centre in Borneo. The 2013 trip focussed on various bat surveying techniques, with an emphasis on the use and effectiveness of the EM3 full-spectrum and Anabat II ZCAM ultrasonic detectors. We captured a total of thirty-three individuals of 12 different species in harp traps and mist nets, three species of which had not been encountered on previous surveys. We collected an additional 16,500 call files and in total, we now have a call library of 43 microbat species (of which 28 can be allocated to individual species) along with high-quality photographs of 20 micro- and megabats. It will be no surprise that Terry Reardon also took dynamic photographs of individuals in flight upon release, and generously donated his flash-setup to the staff of Danum Valley. Future field trips will continue to build the call and photo library as well as collect tissue samples for collaborative studies with scientists in Malaysia and Australia. We plan to make the calls and photos available via an open-access WWW page