Calculation of the Anisotropic Coefficients of Thermal Expansion: A First-Principles Approach

Predictions of the anisotropic coefficients of thermal expansion are needed to not only compare to experimental measurement, but also as input for macroscopic modeling of devices which operate over a large temperature range. While most current methods are limited to isotropic systems within the quasiharmonic approximation, our method uses first-principles calculations and includes anharmonic effects to determine the temperature-dependent properties of materials. These include the lattice parameters, anisotropic coefficients of thermal expansion, isothermal bulk modulus, and specific heat at constant pressure. Our method has been tested on two compounds (Cu and AlN) and predicts thermal properties which compare favorably to experimental measurement over a wide temperature range.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, 1 tabl

Feasibility of Implementing Community Partnerships to Provide Diabetes Prevention Services to Youth

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in youth has increased as a result of the obesity epidemic. Diabetes prevention programming is needed for youth, at risk for T2D, and their families. However, there is a lack of diabetes prevention services for this population. There is evidence for the benefit of lifestyle modification for decreasing diabetes risk, however there are barriers for youth to access these services in a traditional clinical setting. Our Youth Diabetes Prevention Clinic (YDPC) created partnerships within the community to increase access to diabetes prevention services for at risk youth. YDPC personnel approached community organizations who had the expertise and capacity to partner in needed areas. These partnerships allowed for the development and facilitation of a community-based diabetes prevention group. Youth and their families participated in a 12 week diabetes prevention group. We measured attendance and participant satisfaction with the program. Families attended an average of 5.1 sessions from January to October 2016. Participant satisfaction was collected five times. Physical activity was rated as “awesome” or “good” by 88% of the respondents. The nutrition activities were rated as “awesome” or “good” by 97% of respondents. Physicians and families express a desire for diabetes prevention services, however barriers make it difficult for families to fully participate. Creating partnerships within the community allows for increased access to diabetes prevention services for high-risk, underserved families

Tentative Detection of the Rotation of Eris

We report a multi-week sequence of B-band photometric measurements of the dwarf planet Eris using the {\it Swift} satellite. The use of an observatory in low-Earth orbit provides better temporal sampling than is available with a ground-based telescope. We find no compelling evidence for an unusually slow rotation period of multiple days, as has been suggested previously. A $\sim$1.08 day rotation period is marginally detected at a modest level of statistical confidence ($\sim$97%). Analysis of the combination of the $Swift$ data with the ground-based B-band measurements of \citet{2007AJ....133...26R} returns the same period ($\sim$1.08 day) at a slightly higher statistical confidence ($\sim$99%).Comment: Accepted to Icarus 2008-Aug-19. 19 pages total, including 4 figures and 1 tabl

Sociological Research on Higher Education in English Canada 1970-1980: A Thematic Review

Sociological research on higher education in Canada is in an infancy state at best. How- ever, this article explores some main ideological and empirical themes which are emerging in the relevant sociological literature on higher education in English Canada, concentrating primarily on the growing number of studies dealing with inequality of access to education beyond the high school, and particularly the search for the sources of inequality in socio- economic status, region and sex. Some attention is also given to the limited body of socio- logical research on higher education organizations, on student attitudes, values and behaviour, and on the academic profession in English Canada. The greater part of the English language literature is shown to emanate from Ontario and the major ideological thrust in this literature is noted as being a conflict perspective which emphasizes the role of conflict in the process of change within universities and colleges, and which perceives these institutions as agencies for the reinforcement of the status quo rather than for the moderation of existing social inequalities. Various suggestions are offered for future research priorities, emphasizing particularly the need for the employment of a developmental comparative perspective.La recherche sociologique traitant de l'enseignement supérieur au Canada est encore dans un état embryonnaire. Cet article explore les principaux thèmes idéologiques et empiriques en voie d'émergence dans la littérature produite par le Canada anglais et fait état du nombre croissant d'études ayant trait à l'accessibilité à l'enseignement postsecondaire et particu-lièrement aux sources d'inégalité reliées au statut socio-économique, la région et le sexe. L'auteur traite également de l'aspect sociologique des organisations en enseignement supérieur, des attitudes des étudiants, de même que de leurs valeurs et comportement et de la profession académique au Canada anglais. L'article indique que la majorité des études provient de l'Ontario et que la ligne directrice de ces études décèle les situations conflictuelles qui interviennent lorsque des changements s'opèrent dans les universités et collèges. Dans ce même contexte, les institutions sont perçues comme des agents de renforcement du statu quo plutôt que comme des catalystes visant à amoindrir les inégalités sociales existantes. Des suggestions sont offertes quant aux priorités de recherche et aux perspec-tives à envisager pour l'établissement de bases comparative

Cosmological Parameters from the Comparison of the 2MASS Gravity Field with Peculiar Velocity Surveys

We compare the peculiar velocity field within 65 $h^{-1}$ Mpc predicted from 2MASS photometry and public redshift data to three independent peculiar velocity surveys based on type Ia supernovae, surface brightness fluctuations in ellipticals, and Tully-Fisher distances to spirals. The three peculiar velocity samples are each in good agreement with the predicted velocities and produce consistent results for \beta_{K}=\Omega\sbr{m}^{0.6}/b_{K}. Taken together the best fit $\beta_{K} = 0.49 \pm 0.04$. We explore the effects of morphology on the determination of $\beta$ by splitting the 2MASS sample into E+S0 and S+Irr density fields and find both samples are equally good tracers of the underlying dark matter distribution, but that early-types are more clustered by a relative factor b\sbr{E}/b\sbr{S} \sim 1.6. The density fluctuations of 2MASS galaxies in $8 h^{-1}$ Mpc spheres in the local volume is found to be \sigma\sbr{8,K} = 0.9. From this result and our value of $\beta_{K}$, we find \sigma_8 (\Omega\sbr{m}/0.3)^{0.6} = 0.91\pm0.12. This is in excellent agreement with results from the IRAS redshift surveys, as well as other cosmological probes. Combining the 2MASS and IRAS peculiar velocity results yields \sigma_8 (\Omega\sbr{m}^/0.3)^{0.6} = 0.85\pm0.05.Comment: 11 pages, ApJ accepte

Observations on the Prospects for a Private University Sector in Ontario

Unlike the United States, the Canadian provinces have established public monopolies of degree-granting institutions to which there are few private exceptions. This paper offers a case-study of challenges to the public monopoly in university education in one province—Ontario. Recently, the Ontario Council on University Affairs has been hearing the opinions of a number of interest groups and private colleges which have challenged the regulations limiting broad degree-granting privileges to the existing publicly-funded universities and their affiliates. Following a brief historical account of the development of the public monopoly, the arguments of these proponents of private universities are reviewed and evaluated under the headings of their proposed benefits of "accessibility", "diversity" and "quality". It is concluded that, from a sociologist's perspective, the arguments for the establishment of private universities in the province are not strong. However, given the current emphasis on privatization, the pressure for private universities will probably continue to grow in all Canadian provinces. Thus, a recommendation is made for improvement of Ontario's current inadequate affiliation arrangements.Au contraire des États-Unis, les provinces canadiennes ont établi des monopoles publics d'institutions qui accordent des diplômes, auxquelles il y a peu d'exceptions privées. Ce rapport représente une étude de dossier des défis au monopole public en éducation universitaire dans une province—l'Ontario. Récemment, le Conseil des affaires universitaires de l'Ontario a entendu les opinions de plusieurs groupes intéressés et de collèges privés qui ont reven-diqué les règlements limitant les pleins privilèges des universités actuelles financées par le public et de leurs fdiales à accorder des diplômes. A la suite d'un bref rappel de l'évolution du monopole public, les arguments de ces défenseurs des universités privées sont révisés et évalués sociologiquement sous les rubriques des avantages proposés de "/'accessibilité", de "la diversité" et de "la qualité". L'auteur voit peu d'arguments sociologiques valables pour l'établissement des universités privées dans la province. Cependant, étant donné l'emphase actuelle sur la privatisation, la pression sur les universités privées va sans doute continuer à augmenter dans toutes les provinces canadiennes. Ainsi, on recommande une amélioration des arrangements insuffisants d'affiliation en Ontario