Parental Involvement and Access: A Phenomenological Study of Urban High School Communities

In an urban school district, four high schools were studied in an effort to assess how Epstein’s (2001) six types of involvement were currently being experienced by parents. In a phenomenological study, this research gathered data on how parents of secondary students are currently experiencing their involvement with the high school. The research gathered quantitative and qualitative data from 443 parents through the use of a survey and focus group sessions over the course of 4 weeks. Parents expressed their current experiences with how they engage with the school concerning parenting practices, communication, learning at home, volunteering, decision-making, and collaborating with the community. Data exhibited schools in the setting have a strength in communicating noninstructional activities such as plays, musicals, and sporting events; however, recommendations were made on how these high schools could implement a more holistic approach to establishing Epstein’s (2001) School-Family-Community Partnership Model. Data from this setting, along with the findings and recommendations, are applicable to other urban school districts that are seeking to strengthen their communication and collaboration with outside stakeholders

A Test Methodology for Evaluating Cognitive Radio Systems

The cognitive radio field currently lacks a standardized test methodology that is repeatable, flexible, and effective across multiple cognitive radio architectures. Furthermore, the cognitive radio field lacks a suitable framework that allows testing of an integrated cognitive radio system and not solely specific components. This research presents a cognitive radio test methodology, known as CRATM, to address these issues. CRATM proposes to use behavior-based testing, in which cognition may be measured by evaluating both primary user and secondary user performance. Data on behavior based testing is collected and evaluated. Additionally, a unique means of measuring secondary user interference to the primary user is employed by direct measurement of primary user performance. A secondary user pair and primary user radio pair are implemented using the Wireless Open-Access Research platform and WARPLab software running in MATLAB. The primary user is used to create five distinct radio frequency environments utilizing narrowband, wideband, and non-contiguous waveforms. The secondary user response to the primary user created environments is measured. The secondary user implements a simple cognitive engine that incorporates energy-detection spectrum sensing. The effect of the cognitive engine on both secondary user and primary user performance is measured and evaluated

Sparse non-negative super-resolution -- simplified and stabilised

The convolution of a discrete measure, $x=\sum_{i=1}^ka_i\delta_{t_i}$, with a local window function, $\phi(s-t)$, is a common model for a measurement device whose resolution is substantially lower than that of the objects being observed. Super-resolution concerns localising the point sources $\{a_i,t_i\}_{i=1}^k$ with an accuracy beyond the essential support of $\phi(s-t)$, typically from $m$ samples $y(s_j)=\sum_{i=1}^k a_i\phi(s_j-t_i)+\eta_j$, where $\eta_j$ indicates an inexactness in the sample value. We consider the setting of $x$ being non-negative and seek to characterise all non-negative measures approximately consistent with the samples. We first show that $x$ is the unique non-negative measure consistent with the samples provided the samples are exact, i.e. $\eta_j=0$, $m\ge 2k+1$ samples are available, and $\phi(s-t)$ generates a Chebyshev system. This is independent of how close the sample locations are and {\em does not rely on any regulariser beyond non-negativity}; as such, it extends and clarifies the work by Schiebinger et al. and De Castro et al., who achieve the same results but require a total variation regulariser, which we show is unnecessary. Moreover, we characterise non-negative solutions $\hat{x}$ consistent with the samples within the bound $\sum_{j=1}^m\eta_j^2\le \delta^2$. Any such non-negative measure is within ${\mathcal O}(\delta^{1/7})$ of the discrete measure $x$ generating the samples in the generalised Wasserstein distance, converging to one another as $\delta$ approaches zero. We also show how to make these general results, for windows that form a Chebyshev system, precise for the case of $\phi(s-t)$ being a Gaussian window. The main innovation of these results is that non-negativity alone is sufficient to localise point sources beyond the essential sensor resolution.Comment: 59 pages, 7 figure

Time-Stressed Decision-Making in the Cockpit

Forty-one commercial airline pilots executed flight scenarios that varied the time available for deciding whether and when to divert to an alternate airport. Pilots with the most flight experience were the most responsive to variance in available decision time: they diverted relatively early when time was short, and later or not at all when time was plentiful. Greater experience was also associated with efforts to fill gaps in the available information and test assumptions. A framework is proposed that predicts these effects as a function of (1) skill at situation recognition and rapid response, (2) metacognitive skill at detecting and handling uncertainty, and (3) sensitivity to the opportunities to switch between these two skill sets

Interlimb Comparison of Electromyographic and Mechanomyographic Amplitude Responses of the Vastus Medialis to Submaximal and Maximal Isometric Contractions

Research on interlimb differences in neuromuscular recruitment patterns is limited. If interlimb differences exist, future exercise studies may have to reason for which limb (dominant vs. nondominant) to choose when examining muscle activation and contraction characteristics. PURPOSE: To investigate interlimb differences in normalized electromyographic (EMG) and mechanomyographic (MMG) amplitude responses of the vastus medialis muscle during submaximal and maximal isometric leg extension muscle actions. METHODS: Fourteen recreationally trained females (mean age ± SD = 22.3 ± 2.0 y) performed isometric leg extension muscle actions at 10-100% (10% increments) of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) for their dominant (determined by kicking preference) and nondominant limbs. The muscle actions were performed unilaterally in the seated position of an isokinetic dynamometer. Subjects performed maximal isometric leg extension muscle actions for both limbs to determine each limb\u27s MVIC; then, they performed the submaximal isometric leg extension muscle actions in a random order of intensity. A bipolar surface EMG electrode arrangement and an accelerometer were placed over the vastus medialis muscle to detect EMG and MMG signals, respectively. The amplitudes of the EMG and MMG signals were expressed as root mean square (RMS) and normalized to their highest recorded value (% max). Two separate 2 (limb) × 10 (intensity) repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted to determine interlimb differences in normalized EMG and MMG RMS. RESULTS: There were no significant interactions for normalized EMG (p = 0.550) or MMG (p = 0.513) RMS. A main effect for limb was also not significant for normalized EMG (p = 0.653) or MMG (p = 0.490) RMS; however, a significant main effect for intensity was present for normalized EMG (10-90 \u3c 100, 10-80 \u3c 90, 10-60 \u3c 80, 10-50 \u3c 60 & 70, 20-30 \u3c 50, 20 \u3c 30 & 40% MVIC; p \u3c 0.001) and MMG (10-90 \u3c 100, 10-60 \u3c 90, 10-40 \u3c 70 & 80, 20 \u3c 60% MVIC; p \u3c 0.001) RMS. CONCLUSION: There were no interlimb differences in EMG or MMG RMS at submaximal and maximal isometric leg extension muscle actions. As they provided comparable information, either limb may be used for examining muscle activation and contraction characteristics in exercise studies using healthy, recreationally trained participants

The Effects of Eight Weeks of Leucine/Whey Protein Supplementation and Resistance Training on Isokinetic Peak Torque

Resistance training can lead to significant increases in muscle size and strength. Supplementing the diet with leucine and whey protein purportedly increases protein synthesis, potentially accelerating the processes involved with hypertrophy and strength increases. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of leucine and whey protein supplementation during 8 weeks of unilateral dynamic constant external resistance (DCER) training on isokinetic peak torque. METHODS: Thirty-five men (mean age ± SD = 22.3 ± 2.3 y) volunteered to participate in this investigation. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: supplement (SUPP), placebo (PLA), or control (CON). The SUPP and PL participants then trained the leg extensors of the dominant limb (based on kicking preference) three times per week for eight weeks. Leg extension peak torque was determined for all participants pretraining and post training at 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300°.s-1 using an isokinetic dynamometer. RESULTS: The results indicated there was no significant time × velocity × group interaction (p = 0.55). There was, however, a significant time × group interaction. Both the SUPP group (p \u3c 0.001) and the PLA group (p = 0.02) demonstrated significant increases in peak torque from pretraining to post training, while the CON group did not (p = 0.59). There was no difference in the magnitude of the gain in isokinetic peak torque between the SUPP and PLA groups (p = 0.62). CONCLUSION: Isokinetic peak torque increased significantly following 8 weeks of DCER training. However, the increase in peak torque was not augmented by leucine and whey protein supplementation

Assessing the relationship between attitudes toward chemistry, chemistry self-efficacy beliefs, and career aspirations of undergraduate chemistry students

Science education is of profound importance in the society today, hence a great deal of effort is being put on research in order to provide interventions aimed at enhancing the quality of teaching and learning of science courses in both basic and higher institutions of learning. Most of the research activities have tried to establish connection between various variables such as learners’ attitudes toward science subjects, self-efficacy beliefs and career aspirations, deemed to affect the quality of science education. Most of these research has focused on science education in secondary school thereby presenting an opportunity for more of such studies focused on tertiary learning institutions. This study therefore seeks to investigate potential associations between undergraduate students’ attitudes toward chemistry, their self-efficacy beliefs, career aspirations and learning outcomes in three countries. The study also aims at developing various interventions that will be informed by the findings of the questionnaire surveys and interviews