A Comparative Study of 8th and 9th Grade Algebra Students at Clayton Junior High School

With the inclusion of algebra in the eighth grade in the curricula of Clayton Junior High School there has been created a need for some means of identifying students who are likely to be successful in algebra at this level. For the most part, it has only involved, in the past, advising students with very low grades in arithemetic not to take algebra

Hybrid hegemony: rethinking Gramsci in the contemporary Italian context

http://www.ester.ee/record=b5145520*es

Deep-turbulence Phase Compensation Using Tiled Arrays

Tiled arrays use modulo-2π phase compensation and coherent beam combination to correct for the effects of deep turbulence. As such, this paper uses wave-optics simulations to compare the closed-loop performance of tiled arrays to a branch-point-tolerant phase reconstructor known as LSPV+7 [Appl. Opt. 53, 3821 (2014) [CrossRef] ]. The wave-optics simulations make use of a point-source beacon and are setup with weak-to-strong scintillation conditions. This setup enables a trade-space exploration in support of a power-in-the-bucket comparison with LSPV+7. In turn, the results show that tiled arrays outperform LSPV+7 when transitioning from weak-to-strong scintillation conditions. These results are both encouraging and informative for those looking to tackle the branch-point problem in adaptive optics

A validity study of three diagnostic screening and assessment instruments for autistic symptomatology.

This study primarily examined the criterion-related, and construct validity, as well as the program planning usefulness of three widely used diagnostic screening and assessment instruments for autistic symptomatology. The instruments under study included Rimland\u27s Diagnostic Checklist (Form E-2), the Autism Behaviour Checklist (ABC) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scales (CARS). Sixteen subjects, nine females and seven males, ranging in age from three years, nine months to thirteen years, comprised the research sample. All subjects had received a psychiatric diagnosis of Infantile Autism. The degree of correspondence between the three assessment instruments under study and DSM-III criteria was assessed using chi square, analysis of variance, and content analysis. The correspondence between the DSM-III and the CARS, unlike Form E-2 and the ABC is significant at the.05 level of significance. The results of this study lend further support for the criterion related and construct validity of the CARS. The interrater reliability of the CARS was also found to be quite high. The ABC relative to Form E-2 and the CARS was found to provide the most useful data base for program planning. All three instruments contribute to the clarification and quantification of the autism syndrome. Further investigations into the psychometric properties of all three assessment instruments are warranted. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1989 .S645. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 30-03, page: 0468. Chairman: J. C. Powell. Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1989

Mechanical Characterization of the Small Intestine for In vivo Robotic Capsule Endoscope Mobility

The state-of-the-art in enteroscopic surgery and therapeutic care continues to minimize invasiveness, cost, surgery time, and patient trauma. To this end, a new class of medical device, called the robotic capsule endoscope, is being pursued by multiple research groups. These potentially swallowable devices will radically expand the capabilities of natural orifice surgery by performing non-invasive tasks within the gastrointestinal tract that are now only possible with enteroscopic, laparoscopic, or open surgery. It is necessary for a robotic capsule endoscope to possess active, controlled mobility, which involves interactions between gastrointestinal tissue and engineering materials. Design challenges stem from the nonlinear and variable mechanical and physiological response of tissue and organs to the robot and from poor understanding of interfacial properties. In this work we initiate a study of the mechanical properties of the small intestine with the goal of accelerating the development of in vivo robotic capsule endoscopes for the gastrointestinal tract. To this end, four investigative devices and testing methods are presented: 1) A novel tribometer that measures the in vivo coefficient of friction between the mucosa and the robot surface; 2) An in vitro biaxial test apparatus and method for characterizing in-plane biomechanical properties of the bowel wall; 3) An in vitro test protocol to characterize the adhesive properties of mucosa; and 4) A novel manometer and force sensor array that measure the in vivo myenteric contact force against a solid bolus. Using these devices and test methods, the tribometry, passive biomechanics, mucosal adhesivity, and contractile response of the small intestinal tissue from multiple porcine models are measured. The results of this study offer crucial yet previously unknown biomechanical properties of the small intestine and have provided a foundation for the development of a unified and comprehensive model of the interactions between a robotic capsule endoscope and the intraluminal environment

Thermal properties of Rhea's Poles: Evidence for a Meter-Deep Unconsolidated Subsurface Layer

Cassini's Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) observed both of Rhea's polar regions during two flybys on 2013/03/09 and 2015/02/10. The results show Rhea's southern winter pole is one of the coldest places directly observed in our solar system: temperatures of 25.4+/-7.4 K and 24.7+/-6.8 K are inferred. The surface temperature of the northern summer pole is warmer: 66.6+/-0.6 K. Assuming the surface thermophysical properties of both polar regions are comparable then these temperatures can be considered a summer and winter seasonal temperature constraint for the polar region. These observations provide solar longitude coverage at 133 deg and 313 deg for the summer and winter poles respectively, with additional winter temperature constraint at 337 deg. Seasonal models with bolometric albedos of 0.70-0.74 and thermal inertias of 1-46 MKS can provide adequate fits to these temperature constraints. Both these albedo and thermal inertia values agree (within error) with those previously observed on both Rhea's leading and trailing hemispheres. Investigating the seasonal temperature change of Rhea's surface is particularly important, as the seasonal wave is sensitive to deeper surface temperatures (~10cm to m) than the more commonly reported diurnal wave (<1cm). The low thermal inertia derived here implies that Rhea's polar surfaces are highly porous even at great depths. Analysis of a CIRS 10 to 600 cm-1 stare observation, taken between 16:22:33 and 16:23:26 UT on 2013/03/09 centered on 71.7 W, 58.7 S provides the first analysis of a thermal emissivity spectrum on Rhea. The results show a flat emissivity spectrum with negligible emissivity features. A few possible explanations exist for this flat emissivity spectrum, but the most likely for Rhea is that the surface is both highly porous and composed of small particles (less than approximately 50 um)

School Roles: A Way to Investigate Participation

Students who are more engaged in school have higher academic achievement, lower dropout rates, and increased involvement in activities during early adult-hood. Unfortunately, children with disabilities participate less than children without disabilities, thus increasing their risk for depression and anxiety. This study investigated the lack of school participation from a roles perspective. Roles refer to clusters of meaningful activities that are expected of, and assumed by, in-dividuals in various contexts of their lives. Fifteen teachers from Southern Ontario, Canada, were interviewed about the roles in which children participate in school and 24 students in grades 4 through 7 were observed in order to deter-mine the roles in which they engaged. Overall, students with disabilities engaged in less positive roles (Challenged Learner; Victim; Bully), while students without disabilities engaged in more positive roles (Independent Learner; Nurturer; Friend). Ideas for improving participation through role identity and engagement are discussed

Small and mighty: adaptation of superphylum Patescibacteria to groundwater environment drives their genome simplicity.

BackgroundThe newly defined superphylum Patescibacteria such as Parcubacteria (OD1) and Microgenomates (OP11) has been found to be prevalent in groundwater, sediment, lake, and other aquifer environments. Recently increasing attention has been paid to this diverse&nbsp;superphylum including &gt;&nbsp;20 candidate phyla&nbsp;(a large part of the candidate phylum radiation, CPR) because it refreshed our view of the tree of life. However, adaptive traits contributing to its prevalence are still not well known.ResultsHere, we investigated the genomic features and metabolic pathways of Patescibacteria in groundwater through genome-resolved metagenomics analysis of &gt; 600 Gbp sequence data. We observed that, while the members of Patescibacteria have reduced genomes (~ 1 Mbp) exclusively, functions essential to growth and reproduction such as genetic information processing were retained. Surprisingly, they have sharply reduced redundant and nonessential functions, including specific metabolic activities and stress response systems. The Patescibacteria have ultra-small cells and simplified membrane structures, including flagellar assembly, transporters, and two-component systems. Despite the lack of CRISPR viral defense, the bacteria may evade predation through deletion of common membrane phage receptors and other alternative strategies, which may explain the low representation of prophage proteins in their genomes and lack of CRISPR. By establishing the linkages between bacterial features and the groundwater environmental conditions, our results provide important insights into the functions and evolution of this CPR group.ConclusionsWe found that Patescibacteria has streamlined many functions while acquiring advantages such as avoiding phage invasion, to adapt to the groundwater environment. The unique features of small genome size, ultra-small cell size, and lacking CRISPR of this large lineage are bringing new understandings on life of Bacteria. Our results provide important insights into the mechanisms for adaptation of the superphylum in the groundwater environments, and demonstrate a case where less is more, and small is mighty