The Effectiveness of the Teaching Interaction Procedure for Young Children with Developmental Delay

Developmental Delay (DD) is an IDEA classification for young children who fail to meet developmental milestones at typical times. Young children with delays in social or emotional development may show deficits in social skills. Noting the importance of early intervention, identifying effective social skills interventions for children aged 3-5 is essential. Kopp et al. (1992) note the differences in social skills between preschoolers with DD and typically developing peers. This study investigated the effects of the Teaching Interaction Procedure on skill acquisition and generalization to a free play activity in the general education classroom

Modelling the near-IR spectra of Jupiter using line-by-line methods

We have obtained long-slit, infrared spectra of Jupiter with the Anglo Australian Telescope in the K and H bands at a resolving power of 2260. Using a line-by-line, radiative transfer model with the latest, improved spectral line data for methane and ammonia, we derive a model of the zonal characteristics in the atmosphere of this giant planet. We fit our model to the spectra of the zones and belts visible at 2.1 {\mu}m using different distributions of cloud opacities. The modeled spectra for each region match observations remarkably well at K band and in low pressure regions at the H band. Our results for the upper deck cloud distribution are consistent with previous models (Banfield et al.1998) fitted to low resolution, grism spectra. The ability to obtain and model high resolution planetary spectra in order to search for weakly absorbing atmospheric constituents can provide better constraints on the chemical composition of planetary atmospheres.Comment: Accepted by MNRAS on the 7th February 201

Effects of Insulin Delivery Pumps on Diabetic Adherence to Treatment in Children and Adolescents

Abstract Effects of Insulin Delivery Pumps on Diabetic Adherence to Treatment in Children and Adolescents Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease characterized by the inability of the body to create and release its own insulin to lower blood sugar. Automatic insulin delivery pumps are a substitute for glucose finger sticks and multiple daily injections to treat DM. These pumps measure patients\u27 glucose levels and administer insulin as needed which may lead to better overall treatment adherence for children and adolescents diagnosed with DM. Objective: This systematic review aimed to compare the effectiveness of insulin pumps on increased adherence to treatment in children and adolescents diagnosed with DM. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using the online databases PubMed and CINAHL to identify relevant studies. Articles were chosen using distinct inclusion and exclusion criteria. In total, six articles were retrieved and examined using this search strategy. Results: Results from these studies showed an overall higher adherence to treatment in children and adolescents who used insulin pumps compared to those who used multiple daily injections. In addition, patients overall had better control of their diabetes while utilizing an insulin pump. However, one study revealed that adolescents using insulin pumps had a slight decline in treatment adherence due to increased age and newfound independence from parental assistance. Conclusion: Most studies found the use of insulin pumps led to an increased adherence to treatment for children compared to patients who use multiple daily injections and blood glucose strips; however, adolescents who used insulin pumps demonstrated a decline in overall treatment adherence. These results reveal a need for further research on individual factors influencing adherence to treatment for children and adolescents with DM. Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, children, adolescents, treatment adherence, insulin pump

Applying proximity sensors to monitor beef cattle social behaviour as an indicator of animal welfare

There are currently no approved monitoring programs in the beef industry that use paddock based behaviour as an indicator of animal welfare. Current animal welfare assessments are conducted at a single point in time, such as supplying food and water and treating illnesses as these needs arise. These aspects comply with the five freedoms that animals should have when addressing animal welfare, however, the assessments are infrequent. Of the five freedoms, the freedom to express normal behaviour can be a subjective measure, due to differences in the way individual animals express certain behaviours. There is a need for continual monitoring of welfare indicators in modern animal assessment methods to objectively measure behaviour and address public concerns about the welfare state of animals. The experiment commenced in June 2017 to assess changes in cattle social interaction patterns in response to social stress created by regrouping four groups of eight heifers. Previous research with cattle has provided evidence that social contact and spatial behaviour differ when novel individuals are introduced (Patison et al., 2010b), and re-grouped animals continue to experience stress until the social hierarchy is re-established after regrouping (Kondo and Hurnik, 1990). Proximity sensors that record the frequency and duration of close proximity contacts (<4 m) will be used to remotely collect animal association data, while blood cortisol concentrations will be used as an independent measure of stress. Responses to stress will be compared with a group of heifers where re-grouping does not occur. This paper outlines the background and methodology to explore the potential for proximity sensors as a continual welfare monitoring device, related to an animal’s freedom to express normal behaviour. Preliminary results of the project will be presented at The International Tri-Conference for Precision Agriculture held in New Zealand in October, 2017

Radiative Tau Lepton Pair Production as a Probe of Anomalous Electromagnetic Couplings of the Tau

We calculate the squared matrix element for the process e+ e- --> tau+ tau- gamma allowing for anomalous magnetic and electric dipole moments at the tau tau gamma vertex. No interferences are neglected and no approximations of light fermion masses are made. We show that anomalous moments affect not only the cross section, but also the shape of the photon energy and angular distributions. We also demonstrate that in the case of the anomalous magnetic dipole moment, the contribution from interference involving Standard Model and anomalous amplitudes is significant compared to the contribution from anomalous amplitudes alone. A program to perform the calculation is available and it may be employed as a Monte Carlo generator.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures submitted to Nuclear Physics

VLTI/VINCI observations of the nucleus of NGC 1068 using the adaptive optics system MACAO

We present the first near-infrared K-band long-baseline interferometric measurement of the prototype Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068 with resolution lambda/B \~ 10 mas obtained with the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) and the two 8.2m Unit Telescopes UT2 and UT3. The adaptive optics system MACAO was employed to deliver wavefront-corrected beams to the K-band commissioning instrument VINCI. A squared visibility amplitude of 16.3 +/- 4.3 % was measured for NGC 1068 at a sky-projected baseline length of 45.8 m and azimuth angle 44.9 deg. This value corresponds to a FWHM of the K-band intensity distribution of 5.0 +/- 0.5 mas (0.4 +/- 0.04 pc) at the distance of NGC 1068) if it consists of a single Gaussian component. Taking into account K-band speckle interferometry observations (Wittkowski et al. 1998; Weinberger et al. 1999; Weigelt et al. 2004), we favor a multi-component model for the intensity distribution where a part of the flux originates from scales clearly smaller than about 5 mas (<0.4 pc), and another part of the flux from larger scales. The K-band emission from the small (< 5 mas) scales might arise from substructure of the dusty nuclear torus, or directly from the central accretion flow viewed through only moderate extinction.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics Letter

The Near-IR Spectrum of Titan Modeled with an Improved Methane Line List

We have obtained spatially resolved spectra of Titan in the near-infrared J, H and K bands at a resolving power of ~5000 using the near-infrared integral field spectrometer (NIFS) on the Gemini North 8m telescope. Using recent data from the Cassini/Huygens mission on the atmospheric composition and surface and aerosol properties, we develop a multiple-scattering radiative transfer model for the Titan atmosphere. The Titan spectrum at these wavelengths is dominated by absorption due to methane with a series of strong absorption band systems separated by window regions where the surface of Titan can be seen. We use a line-by-line approach to derive the methane absorption coefficients. The methane spectrum is only accurately represented in standard line lists down to ~2.1 {\mu}m. However, by making use of recent laboratory data and modeling of the methane spectrum we are able to construct a new line list that can be used down to 1.3 {\mu}m. The new line list allows us to generate spectra that are a good match to the observations at all wavelengths longer than 1.3 {\mu}m and allow us to model regions, such as the 1.55 {\mu}m window that could not be studied usefully with previous line lists such as HITRAN 2008. We point out the importance of the far-wing line shape of strong methane lines in determining the shape of the methane windows. Line shapes with Lorentzian, and sub-Lorentzian regions are needed to match the shape of the windows, but different shape parameters are needed for the 1.55 {\mu}m and 2 {\mu}m windows. After the methane lines are modelled our observations are sensitive to additional absorptions, and we use the data in the 1.55 {\mu}m region to determine a D/H ratio of 1.77 \pm 0.20 x 10-4, and a CO mixing ratio of 50 \pm 11 ppmv. In the 2 {\mu}m window we detect absorption features that can be identified with the {\nu}5+3{\nu}6 and 2{\nu}3+2{\nu}6 bands of CH3D.Comment: Accepted by Icarus, 30 pages, 10 figure

Solvolyses of diarylmethyl chlorides. A comprehensive stability scale for diarylcarbenium ions

Eleven donor substituted diarylmethyl chlorides have been solvolyzed in ethanol. The rate constants, determined at 25°C, and additional ethanolysis data taken from the literature have been connected with solvolvsis rate constants, determined in other solvents, to construct a stability scale for 74 diarylcarbenium ions, covering a rate range of> 1012. Correlation equations are given which allow the calculation of solvolysis rates in other solvents, of equilibrium constants, and of rate constants for reactions involving diarylcarbenium ions

Atmospheres from very low-mass stars to extrasolar planets

Within the next few years, several instruments aiming at imaging extrasolar planets will see first light. In parallel, low mass planets are being searched around red dwarfs which offer more favorable conditions, both for radial velocity detection and transit studies, than solar-type stars. We review recent advancements in modeling the stellar to substellar transition. The revised solar oxygen abundances and cloud models allow to reproduce the photometric and spectroscopic properties of this transition to a degree never achieved before, but problems remain in the important M-L transition characteristic of the effective temperature range of characterizable exoplanets.Comment: submitted to Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italian

Effects of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation on cardiorespiratory fitness: A meta-analysis of UK studies

Background Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation can promote meaningful improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (fitness) but the magnitude of such improvements varies according to local characteristics of exercise programmes. We aimed to determine if cardiac rehabilitation (CR), as practised in the United Kingdom (UK), could promote meaningful changes in fitness and to identify programme characteristics which may moderate these changes. Methods Electronic and manual searches to identify UK CR studies reporting fitness at baseline and follow up. Change in fitness (Δfitness) was expressed as mean difference (95% CI) and effect size (ES). A random effects model was used to calculate the mean estimate for change in Δfitness. Between-group heterogeneity was quantified (Q) and investigated using planned sub-group analyses. Results We identified n = 11 studies containing 16 patient groups (n = 1 578) which used the incremental shuttle walking test (ISWT) (distance walked) to assess fitness. The overall mean estimate for Δfitness showed a significant increase in distance walked (ES = 0.48, P  12 exercise sessions compared with those receiving n ≤ 12 sessions. Conclusion We found significant increases in fitness (based on ISWT) in patients attending exercise-based CR in the UK. However, UK studies provide approximately one-third of the exercise “dose”, and produce gains in fitness less than half the magnitude reported in international studies