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

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

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

Dynamical polarization of graphene under strain

We study the dependence of the plasmon dispersion relation of graphene on applied uniaxial strain. Besides electron correlation at the RPA level, we also include local field effects specific for the honeycomb lattice. As a consequence of the two-band character of the electronic band structure, we find two distinct plasmon branches. We recover the square-root behavior of the low-energy branch, and find a nonmonotonic dependence of the strain-induced modification of its stiffness, as a function of the wavevector orientation with respect to applied strain.Comment: Phys. Rev. B, accepte

Surgical approaches to adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction: the Siewert II conundrum.

BACKGROUND: The Siewert classification system for gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma has provided morphological and topographical information to help guide surgical decision-making. Evidence has shown that Siewert I and III tumors are distinct entities with differing epidemiologic and histologic characteristics and distinct patterns of disease progression, requiring different treatment. Siewert II tumors share some of the characteristics of type I and III lesions, and the surgical approach is not universally agreed upon. Appropriate surgical options include transthoracic esophagogastrectomy, transhiatal esophagectomy, and transabdominal extended total gastrectomy. PURPOSE: A review of the available evidence of the surgical management of Siewert II tumors is presented. CONCLUSIONS: Careful review of the data appear to support the fact that a satisfactory oncologic resection can be achieved via a transabdominal extended total gastrectomy with a slight advantage in terms of perioperative complications, and overall postoperative quality of life. Overall and disease-free survival compares favorably to the transthoracic approach. These results can be achieved with careful selection of patients balancing more than just the Siewert type in the decision-making but considering also preoperative T and N stages, histological type (diffuse type requiring longer margins that are not always achievable via gastrectomy), and the presence of Barrett\u27s esophagus