THE PREDICTIVE VALIDITY OF THE DIAL-4 WITH A DIVERSE PRESCHOOL POPULATION

School readiness refers to continuous, multi-faceted, abilities that develop during early childhood and encapsulate how prepared children are to learn as they enter their first formal school experience (Howard, 2011; Romano et. al., 2010; Stormont et. al., 2015). Children who exhibit greater school readiness skills, such as cognitive, language, and fine and gross motor abilities, prior to the start of kindergarten are more likely to succeed academically throughout their later school years (Ricciardi et. al., 2021; Schachter et. al., 2019; Williams & Lerner, 2019), while children who lack school readiness skills are more likely to demonstrate difficulties throughout elementary school (Linder et. al., 2013; Russo et. al., 2019, Welsh et. al., 2010). Research has also shown that socio-economic status and familial background play a significant role in a child’s school readiness skills (Borre et. al., 2019; Cameron et. al., 2012; Linder et. al., 2013; Williams & Lerner, 2019). Kindergarten screening has been an increasing practice in school districts throughout the United States to assess for school readiness abilities (Howard, 2011; Romano et. al., 2010; Stormont et. al., 2015; Williams & Lerner, 2019). Children who score lower on screening measures in kindergarten are more likely to exhibit later reading and mathematics difficulties throughout elementary school (Jordan et. al., 2010; McNamara et. al., 2011). In the current study, the relationship between results from the kindergarten screening, using the Developmental Indicator for the Assessment of Learning, Fourth Edition (DIAL-4), and later academic achievement, as measured by Fountas & Pinnell (F & P) Benchmark Assessment System, Second Edition Reading Levels and New York State test scores, was examined. The aim of this study is to add to the existing literature regarding the predictive ability of kindergarten screening measures on subsequent academic achievement, while also examining the role that socio-economic status and ethnicity play on kindergarten readiness skills and later academic success. The findings of the study supported the DIAL-4 as a valid and accurate kindergarten screening measure of later academic achievement, while also providing new findings regarding school readiness skills for children of ethnically diverse backgrounds and from economically disadvantaged families. Limitations and directions for further research are discussed as well as practical implications for the practice of school psychology

Entire solutions of singular elliptic inequalities on complete manifolds

We present some qualitative properties for solutions of singular quasilinear elliptic differential inequalities on complete Riemannian manifolds, such as the validity of the weak maximum principle at infinity, and non-existence results

Structural and biochemical characterization of a new type of lectin isolated from carp eggs.

A previously unidentified glycoprotein present in the eggs of the carp (Cyprinus carpio) was isolated and structurally characterized. The protein binds to a Sepharose 4B matrix and can be eluted with 0.4 M N-acetylglucosamine. The protein has an apparent molecular mass of 26686.3 Da. On the basis of gel-filtration chromatography, the protein appears to be present in solution as a monomer. The sequence of its 238 amino acids, the position of its four disulphide bridges and the composition of its single N-linked carbohydrate chain were determined. The lectin shows a very low agglutinating activity for human A-type erythrocytes and interacts with both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. These latter interactions are inhibited by N-acetylglucosamine. A database search shows that its amino acid sequence is similar to that of the members of an invertebrate lectin family that includes tachylectin-1. Tachylectin-1 is present in the amoebocytes of the horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus, and plays a role in the innate defence system of this species. Homologous genes are also present in other fish, having 85% identity with a gene expressed in the oocytes of the crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) and 78% identity with a gene in the cDNA library of the zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Resonant modes in strain-induced graphene superlattices

We study tunneling across a strain-induced superlattice in graphene. In studying the effect of applied strain on the low-lying Dirac-like spectrum, both a shift of the Dirac points in reciprocal space, and a deformation of the Dirac cones is explicitly considered. The latter corresponds to an anisotropic, possibly non-uniform, Fermi velocity. Along with the modes with unit transmission usually found across a single barrier, we analytically find additional resonant modes when considering a periodic structure of several strain-induced barriers. We also study the band-like spectrum of bound states, as a function of conserved energy and transverse momentum. Such a strain-induced superlattice may thus effectively work as a mode filter for transport in graphene