The Role of the School Administrators in Supporting Teachers in the Integration of Educational Technology Into K-12 Classrooms

While the role of the administrator has been regarded as significant in school improvement activities, little information exists which describes the specific roles and responsibilities of the administrator as a technology leader. This study is based on the premise that the role of the school administrator is crucial to the successful introduction and use of technology in the K-12 classroom. The purpose of the study was to examine relationships that may reflect the influence school administrators have on teachers’ technology integration competencies. The study used transformational leadership theory, specifically Kouzes and Posner’s (1985) five leadership practices, to examine the leadership by school administrators. Data obtained from a U.S. Department of Education Technology Literacy Challenge Project was used in this study. The sample consisted of the K-12 teachers and administrators who participated in the North Dakota Teaching with Technology Initiative (ND TWTi). Participants included 89% of the K-12 teachers and administrators from 423 public and private schools throughout North Dakota. Data was collected using the Professional Competency Continuum surveys for both teachers and administrators developed by the Milken Exchange and the North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium. Data from the administrative competency ratings of administrators and teachers’ technology integration competency ratings were tested using the Pearson correlation. The administrative competency indicators were (a) modeling effective use; (b) leading professional development; (c;) leading and managing systemic change; and (d) maintaining a knowledge base. The teacher competencies included: (a) core technology skills; (b) curriculum, learning, and assessment; (c) professional practice; and, (d) classroom and instructional management. The correlations were significant beyond the .001 level between all administrative competencies and teachers’ core technology skills and between teachers’ professional practices. The correlations were significant at the .05 level between administrative competencies and teachers’ curriculum, learning, and assessment, and teachers’ classroom and instructional management. The correlations indicate that the administrative competencies of school administrators are likely determinants in the technology integration competency ratings of teachers under their leadership. As a result of the study, 14 recommendations for further study were made. Five recommendations for practical applications of the study were also provided

Electronic properties of Fabre charge-transfer salts under various temperature and pressure conditions

Using density functional theory, we determine parameters of tight-binding Hamiltonians for a variety of Fabre charge transfer salts, focusing in particular on the effects of temperature and pressure. Besides relying on previously published crystal structures, we experimentally determine two new sets of structures; (TMTTF)$_2$SbF$_6$ at different temperatures and (TMTTF)$_2$PF$_6$ at various pressures. We find that a few trends in the electronic behavior can be connected to the complex phase diagram shown by these materials. Decreasing temperature and increasing pressure cause the systems to become more two-dimensional. We analyze the importance of correlations by considering an extended Hubbard model parameterized using Wannier orbital overlaps and show that while charge order is strongly activated by the inter-site Coulomb interaction, the magnetic order is only weakly enhanced. Both orders are suppressed when the effective pressure is increased.Comment: 12 pages, 16 figure

“Exploring the Basement of Social Justice Issues”: A Graduate Upon Graduation

Photograph of rides building up, taken J. Stevens' Fair, 20 June 1961 whole general view, looking West. See Leeson's notebook 9, pages 92-95 for notes

Multiferroic FeTe2_2O5_5Br: Alternating spin chains with frustrated interchain interactions

A combination of density functional theory calculations, many-body model considerations, magnetization and electron spin resonance measurements shows that the multiferroic FeTe$_2$O$_5$Br should be described as a system of alternating antiferromagnetic $S=5/2$ chains with strong Fe-O-Te-O-Fe bridges weakly coupled by two-dimensional frustrated interactions, rather than the previously reported tetramer models. The peculiar temperature dependence of the incommensurate magnetic vector can be explained in terms of interchain exchange striction being responsible for the emergent net electric polarization.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

PlexinA3 restricts spinal exit points and branching of trunk motor nerves in embryonic zebrafish

The pioneering primary motor axons in the zebrafish trunk are guided by multiple cues along their pathways. Plexins are receptor components for semaphorins that influence motor axon growth and path finding. We cloned plexinA3 in zebrafish and localized plexinA3 mRNA in primary motor neurons during axon outgrowth. Antisense morpholino knock-down led to substantial errors in motor axon growth. Errors comprised aberrant branching of primary motor nerves as well as additional exit points of axons from the spinal cord. Excessively branched and supernumerary nerves were found in both ventral and dorsal pathways of motor axons. The trunk environment and several other types of axons, including trigeminal axons, were not detectably affected by plexinA3 knock-down. RNA overexpression rescued all morpholino effects. Synergistic effects of combined morpholino injections indicate interactions of plexinA3 with semaphorin3A homologs. Thus, plexinA3 is a crucial receptor for axon guidance cues in primary motor neurons

Differences between female suicidal patients with family history of suicide attempt and family history of completed suicide

Background: Family history of suicidal behavior and suicide are both risk factors for suicide. However, the effects of family history of suicide versus suicide attempts on patient suicidal behavior remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to understand if family history of suicide as compared to family history of suicide attempts or no family history of suicidal behavior evidences different associations with suicidal behavior among psychiatric patients. Method: Participants included 157 female patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years admitted at the Dr. Braulio A. Moyano Neuropsychiatric Women's Hospital. Results: Seventy-nine patients (50.3%) reported no family history of suicidal behavior (NFHSB), while 78 patients (49.7%) reported a family history of suicidal behavior. Specifically, 41 patients (26.1%) reported a family history of suicide attempt (FHSA) and 37 patients (23.6%) reported a family history of suicide (FHS). These groups showed significant differences between family history of psychopathology and number of previous suicide attempts. Patients with an FHSA were more likely to present with a greater number of previous suicide attempts as compared to patients with NFHSB and FHS. Conclusion: There is an association between the number of suicide attempts and family history of suicide attempts in female patients hospitalized for suicidal behavior.Fil: Rodante, Demián. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Rojas, S. M.. University of Arkansas; Estados UnidosFil: Feldner, M. T.. University of Arkansas; Estados Unidos. Laureate Institute for Brain Research; Estados UnidosFil: Dutton, C.. University of Arkansas; Estados UnidosFil: Rebok, Federico. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Hospital Neuropsiquiátrico “Dr. Braulio A. Moyano”; ArgentinaFil: Teti, Germán Leandro. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Hospital Neuropsiquiátrico “Dr. Braulio A. Moyano”; ArgentinaFil: Grendas, Leandro Nicolás. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Fógola, Agustina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Daray, Federico Manuel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Infusing disability equity within rehabilitation education and practice: A qualitative study of lived experiences of ableism, allyship, and healthcare partnership

BackgroundAddressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has become central in implementing inclusive and socially responsible rehabilitation education and clinical practice. Yet, the constructs of disability and d/Deaf identity and culture, as well as ableism and allyship are often overlooked. Or, these concepts are approached using outdated philosophical perspectives that pathologize disability and fail to prioritize the lived experiences, expertise, intersectionality, and self-identified needs of people with disabilities. A Critical Disability Studies (CDS) framework may provide a background for better understanding and responding to these issues through allyship.PurposeThis study employed a CDS framework to understand the lived experiences of ableism and allyship from faculty, staff, and students on University of Washington (UW) campuses who identify as d/Deaf, disabled/with a disability, or as having a chronic health condition.MethodsDuring 2020–2021, we conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 22 diverse undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff with disabilities, one third who also identified as people of color. Encounters were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded using constant comparison until themes emerged.ResultsFour major themes that emerged from the data are: (1) Ever-present ableism in healthcare, (2) Ableism at the intersections, (3) COVID: Surfacing ableism and expanding access, and (4) Disability allyship and healthcare partnership building. Experiences of ableism and allyship were identified at individual, group/unit, and institutional/systemic levels, though participants reported significantly fewer instances of allyship compared to experiences of ableism. Participants identified intersections between disability and other marginalized identities and juxtaposed the benefits of widespread adoption of many access-increasing practices and technologies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while also highlighting ways in which the pandemic created new obstacles to inclusion.ConclusionsThis analysis provides insights into ways of implementing inclusive practices in rehabilitation education, practice, and beyond. Rehabilitation students, faculty, and staff may not be aware of how ableism affects their disabled peers or underpins their professional education. It is important to cultivate opportunities within professional education and clinical training to explicitly address our collective role in creating inclusive and accessible academic and healthcare experiences for our diverse community post COVID-19. Drawing on a CDS framework, the research team devised the mnemonic TRAC, which includes Training, Recognition and Representation, Attendance and Action, and Calling to account as strategic guidelines for operationalizing such opportunities

Emergence of magnetism in graphene materials and nanostructures

Magnetic materials and nanostructures based on carbon offer unique opportunities for future technological applications such as spintronics. This article reviews graphene-derived systems in which magnetic correlations emerge as a result of reduced dimensions, disorder and other possible scenarios. In particular, zero-dimensional graphene nanofragments, one-dimensional graphene nanoribbons, and defect-induced magnetism in graphene and graphite are covered. Possible physical mechanisms of the emergence of magnetism in these systems are illustrated with the help of computational examples based on simple model Hamiltonians. In addition, this review covers spin transport properties, proposed designs of graphene-based spintronic devices, magnetic ordering at finite temperatures as well as the most recent experimental achievements.Comment: tutorial-style review article -- 18 pages, 19 figure

The use of transvaginal synthetic mesh for anterior vaginal wall prolapse repair: a randomized controlled trial

The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of transvaginal trocar-guided polypropylene mesh insertion with traditional colporrhaphy for treatment of anterior vaginal wall prolapse.This is a randomized controlled trial in which women with advanced anterior vaginal wall prolapse, at least stage II with Ba a parts per thousand yenaEuro parts per thousand+1 cm according to the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) classification, were randomly assigned to have either anterior colporrhaphy (n = 39) or repair using trocar-guided transvaginal mesh (n = 40). the primary outcome was objective cure rate of the anterior compartment (point Ba) assessed at the 12-month follow-up visit, with stages 0 and I defined as anatomical success. Secondary outcomes included quantification of other vaginal compartments (POP-Q points), comparison of quality of life by the prolapse quality of life (P-QOL) questionnaire, and complication rate between the groups after 1 year. Study power was fixed as 80 % with 5 % cutoff point (p 0.05).Trocar-guided transvaginal synthetic mesh for advanced anterior POP repair is associated with a higher anatomical success rate for the anterior compartment compared with traditional colporrhaphy. Quality of life equally improved after both techniques. However, the trial failed to detect differences in P-QOL scores and complication rates between the groups.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sect Urogynecol & Vaginal Surg, Dept Gynecol, BR-04534000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Sect Urogynecol & Vaginal Surg, Dept Gynecol, BR-04534000 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc