The Impact of ESL Funding Restrictions on Student Academic Achievement

ESL instruction is an important issue in Canada due to the large number of immigrants and has potentially impacts on both student academic progress and educational expenditures. In 1999, the province of British Columbia limited funding for ESL to five years per student but increased the annual ESL supplement. We explore the educational impact of these reforms using the results of standardized tests of numeracy, reading and writing proficiency for Grade 7 students. We compare differences in test scores, both before and after the policy change, among the following groups of Grade 7 students in the GVA: students with 5 or more years of ESL (those constrained by the new policy); students with one to four years of ESL; non-ESL students with a non-official home language; and non-ESL students with an official home language. No group of students experiences large changes in test scores due to the reform. The changes we do observe are usually increases for ESL students, and the few decreases are very small. Moreover, both before and after the reform, score differences between groups of students with different experiences of ESL, different neighbourhood socio-economic characteristics, and different home languages are modest in size.English Second Language; Educational Funding

Policy Brief No. 11 - British Columbia ESL Policy Reform: Reduces Costs and Maintains Student Outcomes

English as a Second Language (ESL) reform in British Columbia (BC) has led to a slight increase in standardized tests reading scores of students from Kindergarten to Grade12, while also reducing costs. ESL is a program aimed at helping young immigrants whose home language is not English to improve their language skills in order to do better at school. Students\u27 relative standings in standardized tests in the province were compared before and after the implementation of the reform. The prediction that the reform would have adverse effects was not supported. The reform, implemented in 1999 in BC, limited supplementary funding to five years per student and increased the value of the annual funding supplement for ESL students. The reform was found to have a dramatic impact on the exit rate of ESL programs at the end of the fifth year

Geological reservoir modelling for Whicher Range Field tight gas sand

A poor understanding of the reservoir properties within the Whicher Range area has led to unsuccessful exploration and appraisal strategies. A key driver for this research is to develop a geological reservoir model on the tight gas sand Permian section in the southern Perth Basin that contribute to the development and production of the field by integrating core, well logs and analogue data within a sequence stratigraphic framework and generating a plausible depositional model that constrained the reservoir architecture and facies distribution over the field

Flexible TPU pneumatic actuator simulation

Actuators are devices that provides a controlled change in a physical system. They can operate manually, electrically, or by various fluids. Among them, pneumatics actuators have advantages of working with compressible fluids that provides safety and efficient limitations. These are very critical parameters for soft robotics. Rigid actuators are not suitable to substitute muscle functions, hence flexible actuators are appealing. Yet the process to fabricate soft actuators have long iteration until the final product is manufactured and is difficult to design and control due to their natural flexible behavior. 3D printing could be a possible solution. Researchers are exploring feasible solutions with 3D printing material. However, since it’s a new area of research, there is not a large and deep characterization of these materials. This study will focus on the simulation of a hyperelastic TPU model based on experimental data. Simulations were done utilizing the software ANSYS to characterize the behavior on mentioned model for a soft actuator usage. The results were consistent when the printing orientation of actuators was parallel (0°) to the strain direction of the actuators. Results were less consistent when utilizing a printing orientation of 45° or higher

Symbolic Runtime Verification for Monitoring under Uncertainties and Assumptions

Runtime Verification deals with the question of whether a run of a system adheres to its specification. This paper studies runtime verification in the presence of partial knowledge about the observed run, particularly where input values may not be precise or may not be observed at all. We also allow declaring assumptions on the execution which permits to obtain more precise verdicts also under imprecise inputs. To this end, we show how to understand a given correctness property as a symbolic formula and explain that monitoring boils down to solving this formula iteratively, whenever more and more observations of the run are given. We base our framework on stream runtime verification, which allows to express temporal correctness properties not only in the Boolean but also in richer logical theories. While in general our approach requires to consider larger and larger sets of formulas, we identify domains (including Booleans and Linear Algebra) for which pruning strategies exist, which allows to monitor with constant memory (i.e. independent of the length of the observation) while preserving the same inference power as the monitor that remembers all observations. We empirically exhibit the power of our technique using a prototype implementation under two important cases studies: software for testing car emissions and heart-rate monitoring

El faisán plateado (Lophura nycthemera) introducido en la Patagonia: Abundancia, estructura de los grupos, patrones de actividad y asociación con el disturbio humano

Los fasiánidos son uno de los grupos de aves introducidas con mayor impacto en los ecosistemas nativos. En la Patagonia varias especies de fasiánidos están establecidas o en proceso de establecimiento, por lo que es relevante conocer sus impactos sobre los ecosistemas. El Faisán Plateado (Lophura nycthemera) fue introducido en Isla Victoria en la década de 1950 y se estableció exitosamente en toda la isla. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar la población de esta especie en Isla Victoria en términos de abundancia y su asociación con el disturbio humano como un primer paso para conocer su impacto potencial en el ecosistema. Se realizaron capturas fotográficas mediante fototrampeo y observaciones directas en transectas lineales ubicadas en áreas con niveles alto y bajo de disturbio humano. Con los datos de las capturas fotográficas se estimó un índice de abundancia relativa para comparar el uso de hábitat entre las dos áreas. Se utilizó la técnica de muestreo a distancia para estimar la densidad poblacional a partir de las observaciones directas. El Faisán Plateado usó más las áreas con un alto nivel de disturbio, lo que sugiere que la presencia de hábitats modificados podría facilitar su establecimiento y dispersión en la Patagonia. Las densidades poblacionales, tanto en las áreas con alto como con bajo nivel de disturbio, fueron mayores que las reportadas en su área de distribución nativa, mostrando que esta especie ha tenido un gran éxito en Isla Victoria. La alta abundancia, junto con características distintivas tales como el gran tamaño, los hábitos de alimentación y el comportamiento social, pueden moldear las interacciones con las especies nativas e influenciar su impacto sobre las comunidades nativasPhasianids are one of the groups of introduced birds with highest impact on native ecosystems. In Patagonia several phasianids are established or in process of establishment, thus it is relevant to know their impacts on ecosystems. The Silver Pheasant (Lophura nycthemera) was introduced to Isla Victoria in the 1950’s and successfully established all over the island. The aim of this work is to study the population of this species on Isla Victoria in terms of abundance and association to human disturbance as a first step to know its potential impact in the ecosystem. We conducted camera-trapping and direct observations in linear transects located in highly disturbed and in lowly disturbed areas. Using camera-trapping data we estimated an index of relative abundance to compare habitat use between areas. We used the distance-sampling approach to estimate population density with the data from direct observations. The Silver Pheasant used much more frequently areas with a high level of disturbance, suggesting that the presence of disturbed habitats could facilitate establishment and spread of this species in Patagonia. Population densities in areas with high and with low levels of disturbance were higher than those reported from the native distribution area, showing that the Silver Pheasant had a great success on Isla Victoria. The high abundance, together with distinctive characteristics such as a large body size, foraging habits and social behaviour can shape the interactions with native species and influence its impact on native communitiesFil: Martin Albarracin, Valeria Leticia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche. Laboratorio de Ecotono; ArgentinaFil: Amico, Guillermo Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche. Laboratorio de Ecotono; ArgentinaFil: Nuñez, Martin Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentin

Assessment of photovoltaic generation, supply, and sustainability: a case study of municipalities in São Paulo state

Energy consumption has been increasing together with population growth and the consequences for energy production widely generate discussions under the aspect of environmental outcome and supply reliability and quality. This paper proposes a methodology that allows the estimation of the potential for cities to be more independent in terms of centralized generation and distribution of electricity considering photovoltaic sources. Sustainability and environmental performance are also discussed. The methodology aims to assess some municipalities in the São Paulo state. The results showed high potential for photovoltaic supply in those municipalities under the considered conditions indicating the possibility for structuring a decentralized generation model where cities would be more independent in electricity supply. Implementing the required photovoltaic systems would return the energy consumed during their life cycle in a relatively short period compared to their expected lifetime.Energy consumption has been increasing together with population growth and the consequences for energy production widely generate discussions under the aspect of environmental outcome and supply reliability and quality. This paper proposes a methodology that allows the estimation of the potential for cities to be more independent in terms of centralized generation and distribution of electricity considering photovoltaic sources. Sustainability and environmental performance are also discussed. The methodology aims to assess some municipalities in the São Paulo state. The results showed high potential for photovoltaic supply in those municipalities under the considered conditions indicating the possibility for structuring a decentralized generation model where cities would be more independent in electricity supply. Implementing the required photovoltaic systems would return the energy consumed during their life cycle in a relatively short period compared to their expected lifetime.Energy consumption has been increasing together with population growth and the consequences for energy production widely generate discussions under the aspect of environmental outcome and supply reliability and quality. This paper proposes a methodology that allows the estimation of the potential for cities to be more independent in terms of centralized generation and distribution of electricity considering photovoltaic sources. Sustainability and environmental performance are also discussed. The methodology aims to assess some municipalities in the São Paulo state. The results showed high potential for photovoltaic supply in those municipalities under the considered conditions indicating the possibility for structuring a decentralized generation model where cities would be more independent in electricity supply. Implementing the required photovoltaic systems would return the energy consumed during their life cycle in a relatively short period compared to their expected lifetime.Energy consumption has been increasing together with population growth and the consequences for energy production widely generate discussions under the aspect of environmental outcome and supply reliability and quality. This paper proposes a methodology that allows the estimation of the potential for cities to be more independent in terms of centralized generation and distribution of electricity considering photovoltaic sources. Sustainability and environmental performance are also discussed. The methodology aims to assess some municipalities in the São Paulo state. The results showed high potential for photovoltaic supply in those municipalities under the considered conditions indicating the possibility for structuring a decentralized generation model where cities would be more independent in electricity supply. Implementing the required photovoltaic systems would return the energy consumed during their life cycle in a relatively short period compared to their expected lifetime

Diseño e implementación de un sistema de control y monitoreo de manejo de lotes para los procesos de: almacenaje, transporte y despacho de materias primas en los predios de una planta de elaboración de cerveza

El sistema de manejo de granos constituye la primera fase en el proceso de elaboración de cerveza y desempeña un papel muy importante en la dosificación de materias primas. El siguiente articulo presenta la implementación de un sistema de control capaz de manejar los procesos de recepción, transporte, almacenaje y despacho de dos tipos de productos: arroz y malta (cebada malteada), este último utilizado en diferentes variedades. Se considera el control de lotes y dosificación de materias primas con la utilización de un software de manejo de recetas de producción para lo cual se diseña un nuevo modelo de proceso que incluye sus respectivas: unidades, fases y variables de operación. Para el monitoreo y control del proceso se implementa un sistema SCADA (Sistema de control y adquisición de datos) instalado en varios computadores. El control lógico de rutinas de funcionamiento se programa en un PLC principal que integra varios módulos remotos de adquisición de señales mediante la utilización de una red industrial Profibus DP

An unusual new archosauriform from the Middle-Late Triassic of southern Brazil and the monophyly of Doswelliidae

Until now the Doswelliidae was considered a monospecific family including Doswellia kaltenbachi from the Late Triassic of North America. The phylogenetic position of this taxon remained enigmatic until recently, when a sister-group relationship with the Proterochampsidae was suggested. In the present contribution we describe the new doswelliid species Archeopelta arborensis gen. et sp. nov. from the Middle-Late Triassic of Brazil. A cladistic analysis recovered Archeopelta, Doswellia, and Tarjadia within a monophyletic group of basal archosauriforms, the Doswelliidae. The monophyly of this family is supported by the presence of osteoderm ornamentation that is coarse, incised, and composed of regular pits and the presence of an unornamented anterior articular lamina. Archeopelta is more closely related to Doswellia than to other archosauriforms by the presence of basipterygoid processes anterolaterally orientated, dorsal centra with a convex surface, width of the neural arch plus ribs of the first primordial sacral that are three times the length of the neural arch, and iliac blade laterally deflected, with strongly convex dorsal margin, and a length less than three times its height. The phylogenetic analysis indicates that Doswellidae is the closest large monophyletic entity to Archosauria, which achieved a wide palaeolatitudinal distribution during the late Middle and Late Triassic time span.Fil: Desojo, Julia Brenda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Ezcurra, Martin Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Schultz, Cesar. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasi

Impact of the Glancing Angle Deposition on the Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Growth and Their Thermal Barrier Coating Properties

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is the most common material used as a thermal barrier in several engineering applications. The majority of films produced by physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques use normal incidence and lead to the columnar growth normal to the substrate. The typical columnar structure of sputter-deposited films is largely influenced, among other parameters, by pressure, temperature, thickness, and the ion-to-atom ratio incident at the substrate or substrate bias voltage. Another important experimental parameter used to modify the film properties is the direction of the incident flux of the depositing species with respect to the substrate surface. In this chapter an oblique angle deposition (OAD) approach was used to grow YSZ with tilted columnar structures, to study the impact of this deposition technique on the microstructure, morphology, and, correspondingly, the thermal conductivity of YSZ films, in order to improve the insulator potential of these thin films. Additionally, in the chapter, we present a detailed description of the oblique angle deposition (OAD) technique and double-layer model used for determination of the effective thermal conductivity of YSZ samples grown over thick substrates