EL APRENDIZAJE DE LAS CIENCIAS SOCIALES Y LAS DIFERENCIAS BASADAS EN EL GÉNERO EN AICLE. UN ESTUDIO PRELIMINAR

This article shows the preliminary results of a longitudinal study that aims to (i) determine the impact of bilingual education on the acquisition of contents related to social sciences, and (ii) its effect on the reduction of gender-based achievement differences. To this end, the results of students in the 4th year of primary education (n = 119) of one bilingual and one non-bilingual school located in an urban area were compared. It was guaranteed that the groups were homogeneous in terms of socio-economic level, that they had received a similar teaching methodology and same amount of social science teaching hours (3 hours a week). The results showed (i) the students who received the subject of social sciences in English had acquired knowledge in a similar manner to those who had received it in their mother tongue and (ii) the bilingual education levelled the gender differences observed in the non-bilingual school in favour of males.En este artículo se muestran los resultados preliminares de un estudio longitudinal que se dirige a (i) determinar el impacto de la enseñanza bilingüe en la adquisición de los contenidos relativos a las ciencias sociales, y (ii) su efecto en la reducción de las diferencias de logro basadas en el género. Para ello se compararon los resultados de alumnos de 4º de educación primaria (n=119) de una escuela bilingüe y otra no bilingüe situadas en una zona urbana. Se garantizó que los grupos eran homogéneos en términos de nivel socio-económico, que habían recibido una metodología docente similar y el mismo número de horas de ciencias sociales (3 horas semanales). Los resultados mostraron (i) los alumnos que recibieron la asignatura de ciencias sociales en inglés habían adquirido conocimientos similares a los que la habían recibido en su lengua materna y (ii) la enseñanza bilingüe niveló las diferencias de género observadas en la escuela no bilingüe en favor de los varones.This article shows the preliminary results of a longitudinal study that aims to (i) determine the impact of bilingual education on the acquisition of contents related to social sciences, and (ii) its effect on the reduction of gender-based achievement differences. To this end, the results of students in the 4th year of primary education (n = 119) of one bilingual and one non-bilingual school located in an urban area were compared. It was guaranteed that the groups were homogeneous in terms of socio-economic level, that they had received a similar teaching methodology and same amount of social science teaching hours (3 hours a week). The results showed (i) the students who received the subject of social sciences in English had acquired knowledge in a similar manner to those who had received it in their mother tongue and (ii) the bilingual education levelled the gender differences observed in the non-bilingual school in favour of males.

Social science learning and gender-based diferences in CLIL. A preliminary studio.

This article shows the preliminary results of a longitudinal study that aims to (i) determine the impact of bilingual education on the acquisition of contents related to social sciences, and (ii) its effect on the reduction of gender-based achievement differences. To this end, the results of students in the 4th year of primary education (n = 119) of one bilingual and one nonbilingual school located in an urban area were compared. It was guaranteed that the groups were homogeneous in terms of socio-economic level, that they had received a similar teaching methodology and same amount of social science teaching hours (3 hours a week). The results showed (i) the students who received the subject of social sciences in English had acquired knowledge in a similar manner to those who had received it in their mother tongue and (ii) the bilingual education levelled the gender differences observed in the non-bilingual school in favour of males.En este artículo se muestran los resultados preliminares de un estudio longitudinal que se dirige a (i) determinar el impacto de la enseñanza bilingüe en la adquisición de los contenidos relativos a las ciencias sociales, y (ii) su efecto en la reducción de las diferencias de logro basadas en el género. Para ello se compararon los resultados de alumnos de 4º de educación primaria (n=119) de una escuela bilingüe y otra no bilingüe situadas en una zona urbana. Se garantizó que los grupos eran homogéneos en términos de nivel socio-económico, que habían recibido una metodología docente similar y el mismo número de horas de ciencias sociales (3 horas semanales). Los resultados mostraron (i) los alumnos que recibieron la asignatura de ciencias sociales en inglés habían adquirido conocimientos similares a los que la habían recibido en su lengua materna y (ii) la enseñanza bilingüe niveló las diferencias de género observadas en la escuela no bilingüe en favor de los varones

Qualification of a Null Lens Using Image-Based Phase Retrieval

In measuring the figure error of an aspheric optic using a null lens, the wavefront contribution from the null lens must be independently and accurately characterized in order to isolate the optical performance of the aspheric optic alone. Various techniques can be used to characterize such a null lens, including interferometry, profilometry and image-based methods. Only image-based methods, such as phase retrieval, can measure the null-lens wavefront in situ - in single-pass, and at the same conjugates and in the same alignment state in which the null lens will ultimately be used - with no additional optical components. Due to the intended purpose of a Dull lens (e.g., to null a large aspheric wavefront with a near-equal-but-opposite spherical wavefront), characterizing a null-lens wavefront presents several challenges to image-based phase retrieval: Large wavefront slopes and high-dynamic-range data decrease the capture range of phase-retrieval algorithms, increase the requirements on the fidelity of the forward model of the optical system, and make it difficult to extract diagnostic information (e.g., the system F/#) from the image data. In this paper, we present a study of these effects on phase-retrieval algorithms in the context of a null lens used in component development for the Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) mission. Approaches for mitigation are also discussed

Developing Hyperpolarized 13C Spectroscopy and Imaging for Metabolic Studies in the Isolated Perfused Rat Heart

Hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance is a powerful tool for the study of cardiac metabolism. In this work, we have implemented protocols for the real-time hyperpolarized 13C investigation of Langendorff-perfused rat hearts using both non-selective non-localized spectroscopy and fast spectroscopic imaging. Following [1-13C] pyruvate infusion, we observed both catabolic and anaplerotic metabolic processes resulting in a number of metabolites, including bicarbonate, carbon dioxide, lactate, alanine and aspartate. Employing fast spectroscopic imaging, we were able to observe regional variations in pyruvate perfusion as well as in lactate and bicarbonate productio

Microglia - mediated immunity partly contributes to the genetic association between Alzheimer's disease and hippocampal volume

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) suggest that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is partly explained by a burden of risk alleles (single nucleotide polymorphisms; SNPs) with relatively small effects. However, the mechanisms by which these loci cumulatively confer susceptibility remain largely unknown. Accumulating evidence suggests an association between increased AD risk allele burden (measured via a polygenic risk profile score; AD-RPS) with reduced hippocampal volume (HV) across a number of independent cohorts. These lines of research suggest that the reduced HV may be a causal mechanism of risk in the development of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, as RPS assesses broad, cumulative genetic risk, little is known about the biological processes which may explain this observation. Here, we leverage GWAS data from i) 17,008 late onset AD cases & 37,154 controls and ii) hippocampal volume (N = 12,147; N = 9707) to explore putative pathways that may explain this association. We first demonstrate an association between whole genome AD-RPS and HV (PT < 0.5, Z = −2.07, P = 0.038), confirming previous associations. Second, we restrict our analysis to SNPs within AD genes within a microglia mediated immunity network (NGENES = 56). A microglia AD-RPS was further associated with HV (PT < 0.01; Z = −2.152, P = 0.031). Last, using a competitive, permutation based approach, we show that the common variation within this candidate gene-set is associated with HV, controlling for SNP set-size (P = 0.024). Together, the observations suggest that the relationship between AD and HV is partially explained by genes within an AD-linked microglia mediated immunity network

Recognizing People by Body Shape Using Deep Networks of Images and Words

Common and important applications of person identification occur at distances and viewpoints in which the face is not visible or is not sufficiently resolved to be useful. We examine body shape as a biometric across distance and viewpoint variation. We propose an approach that combines standard object classification networks with representations based on linguistic (word-based) descriptions of bodies. Algorithms with and without linguistic training were compared on their ability to identify people from body shape in images captured across a large range of distances/views (close-range, 100m, 200m, 270m, 300m, 370m, 400m, 490m, 500m, 600m, and at elevated pitch in images taken by an unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV]). Accuracy, as measured by identity-match ranking and false accept errors in an open-set test, was surprisingly good. For identity-ranking, linguistic models were more accurate for close-range images, whereas non-linguistic models fared better at intermediary distances. Fusion of the linguistic and non-linguistic embeddings improved performance at all, but the farthest distance. Although the non-linguistic model yielded fewer false accepts at all distances, fusion of the linguistic and non-linguistic models decreased false accepts for all, but the UAV images. We conclude that linguistic and non-linguistic representations of body shape can offer complementary identity information for bodies that can improve identification in applications of interest.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, 4 table

Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): stellar mass estimates

This paper describes the first catalogue of photometrically derived stellar mass estimates for intermediate-redshift (z < 0.65; median z= 0.2) galaxies in the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) spectroscopic redshift survey. These masses, as well as the full set of ancillary stellar population parameters, will be made public as part of GAMA data release 2. Although the GAMA database does include near-infrared (NIR) photometry, we show that the quality of our stellar population synthesis fits is significantly poorer when these NIR data are included. Further, for a large fraction of galaxies, the stellar population parameters inferred from the optical-plus-NIR photometry are formally inconsistent with those inferred from the optical data alone. This may indicate problems in our stellar population library, or NIR data issues, or both; these issues will be addressed for future versions of the catalogue. For now, we have chosen to base our stellar mass estimates on optical photometry only. In light of our decision to ignore the available NIR data, we examine how well stellar mass can be constrained based on optical data alone. We use generic properties of stellar population synthesis models to demonstrate that restframe colour alone is in principle a very good estimator of stellar mass-to-light ratio, M*/Li. Further, we use the observed relation between restframe (g-i) and M*/Li for real GAMA galaxies to argue that, modulo uncertainties in the stellar evolution models themselves, (g-i) colour can in practice be used to estimate M*/Li to an accuracy of ≲0.1 dex (1σ). This 'empirically calibrated' (g-i)-M*/Li relation offers a simple and transparent means for estimating galaxies' stellar masses based on minimal data, and so provides a solid basis for other surveys to compare their results to z≲0.4 measurements from GAMA

Assessment of the Draft AIAA S-119 Flight Dynamic Model Exchange Standard

An assessment of a draft AIAA standard for flight dynamics model exchange, ANSI/AIAA S-119-2011, was conducted on behalf of NASA by a team from the NASA Engineering and Safety Center. The assessment included adding the capability of importing standard models into real-time simulation facilities at several NASA Centers as well as into analysis simulation tools. All participants were successful at importing two example models into their respective simulation frameworks by using existing software libraries or by writing new import tools. Deficiencies in the libraries and format documentation were identified and fixed; suggestions for improvements to the standard were provided to the AIAA. An innovative tool to generate C code directly from such a model was developed. Performance of the software libraries compared favorably with compiled code. As a result of this assessment, several NASA Centers can now import standard models directly into their simulations. NASA is considering adopting the now-published S-119 standard as an internal recommended practice

JWST Near-Infrared Detectors: Latest Test Results

The James Webb Space Telescope, an infrared-optimized space telescope being developed by NASA for launch in 2013, will utilize cutting-edge detector technology in its investigation of fundamental questions in astrophysics. JWST's near infrared spectrograph, NIRSpec utilizes two 2048 x 2048 HdCdTe arrays with Sidecar ASIC readout electronics developed by Teledyne to provide spectral coverage from 0.6 microns to 5 microns. We present recent test and calibration results for the NIRSpec flight arrays as well as data processing routines for noise reduction and cosmic ray rejection