Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Homework Assignments Effective At Increasing Student Homework Completion

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory research study with a phenomenological research design was to gain an understanding of the phenomenon regarding which homework assignments, as perceived by middle school teachers, most effectively resulted in students submitting completed assignments. This study fills a gap and helps explain which homework assignments are more effective at increasing homework assignment completion for middle school students. The constructivist theory guided the conceptual framework. Data analysis was conducted on data collected though surveys, in-depth interviews with middle school teachers, and a review of archival homework samples. Through this phenomenological study four themes emerged regarding teacher perceptions of which homework assignments are more effective: routine homework, homework with clear expectations, homework that students see as achievable, and homework assignments that considered the executive functioning of students. It was found that middle school teachers’ perceptions about increasing student homework assignment completion reflect the value of structural supports, ongoing homework development, and the assignment of the homework itself. Persons in educational administrative leadership, middle school teachers, and teachers in general may find this study useful

Twisted algebra R-matrices and S-matrices for bn(1)b_n^{(1)} affine Toda solitons and their bound states

We construct new $U_q(a^{(2)}_{2n-1})$ and $U_q(e^{(2)}_6)$ invariant $R$-matrices and comment on the general construction of $R$-matrices for twisted algebras. We use the former to construct $S$-matrices for $b^{(1)}_n$ affine Toda solitons and their bound states, identifying the lowest breathers with the $b^{(1)}_n$ particles.Comment: Latex, 24 pages. Various misprints corrected. New section added clarifying relationship between R-matrices and S-matrice

On Estimating the High-Energy Cutoff in the X-ray Spectra of Black Holes via Reflection Spectroscopy

The fundamental parameters describing the coronal spectrum of an accreting black hole are the slope $\Gamma$ of the power-law continuum and the energy $E_{cut}$ at which it rolls over. Remarkably, this parameter can be accurately measured for values as high as 1 MeV by modeling the spectrum of X-rays reflected from a black hole accretion disk at energies below 100 keV. This is possible because the details in the reflection spectrum, rich in fluorescent lines and other atomic features, are very sensitive to the spectral shape of the hardest coronal radiation illuminating the disk. We show that fitting simultaneous NuSTAR (3-79 keV) and low-energy (e.g., Suzaku) data with the most recent version of our reflection model RELXILL, one can obtain reasonable constraints on $E_{cut}$ at energies from tens of keV up to 1 MeV, for a source as faint as 1 mCrab in a 100 ks observation.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJL, 6 pages, 5 figure

The Transition State in a Noisy Environment

Transition State Theory overestimates reaction rates in solution because conventional dividing surfaces between reagents and products are crossed many times by the same reactive trajectory. We describe a recipe for constructing a time-dependent dividing surface free of such recrossings in the presence of noise. The no-recrossing limit of Transition State Theory thus becomes generally available for the description of reactions in a fluctuating environment

When do followers perceive their leaders as ethical? A relational models perspective of normatively appropriate conduct

In the aftermath of various corporate scandals, management research and practice have taken great interest in ethical leadership. Ethical leadership is referred to as “normatively appropriate conduct” (Brown et al. in Organ Behav Hum Decis Process 97(2):117–134, 2005), but the prescriptive norms that actually underlie this understanding constitute an open question. We address this research gap by turning to relational models theory (Fiske in Structures of social life: the four elementary forms of human relations, Free Press, New York, 1991), which contextualizes four distinct moralities in four distinct interactional norms (i.e., the relational models). We expect that the norms inherent in each model dictate the type of leader relationship that followers deem ethical. Specifically, we hypothesize that, for each norm, followers will perceive leaders as less ethical the more discrepant, i.e., the more incongruent, followers’ ideal relational norm is with the perceived norm that they attribute to their actual leader–follower interaction. We tested the respective incongruence hypothesis in a cross-sectional survey of 101 Dutch employees. Polynomial regression and surface response analyses provide support for the hypothesized incongruence effects in each of the four relational models, suggesting that normatively appropriate conduct should not be limited to caring (i.e., community-oriented) behaviors. Indeed, all four relational models can predict ethical leadership perceptions. We discuss the implications in the context of ethical leadership research and managerial practice

Stochastic Transition States: Reaction Geometry amidst Noise

Classical transition state theory (TST) is the cornerstone of reaction rate theory. It postulates a partition of phase space into reactant and product regions, which are separated by a dividing surface that reactive trajectories must cross. In order not to overestimate the reaction rate, the dynamics must be free of recrossings of the dividing surface. This no-recrossing rule is difficult (and sometimes impossible) to enforce, however, when a chemical reaction takes place in a fluctuating environment such as a liquid. High-accuracy approximations to the rate are well known when the solvent forces are treated using stochastic representations, though again, exact no-recrossing surfaces have not been available. To generalize the exact limit of TST to reactive systems driven by noise, we introduce a time-dependent dividing surface that is stochastically moving in phase space such that it is crossed once and only once by each transition path

Das Beschlussverfahren in der strafprozessualen Revision

Die Beschlussverwerfung gemäß § 349 II StPO ist die dominierende Entscheidungsform im aktuellen strafprozessualen Revisionsverfahren. Mit der ausufernden Anwendung dieser ursprünglich als Ausnahmeregelung konzipierten Vorschrift sind jedoch zahlreiche Probleme verbunden. Insbesondere die weite Auslegung des Begriffs der „offensichtlichen Unbegründetheit“, der regelmäßig vorliegende Antrag der Revisionsstaatsanwaltschaft und die häufig begründungslos ergehenden Beschlüsse stehen in der Kritik. Auch über die Art und Weise der gerichtlichen Entscheidungsfindung im Beschlussverfahren besteht keine Einigkeit. Diese Arbeit zieht die Existenzberechtigung der §§ 349 ff. StPO generell in Zweifel und geht der Frage nach, unter welchen Voraussetzungen die Durchführung einer Revisionshauptverhandlung im Interesse einer funktionsfähigen Strafrechtspflege entbehrlich ist, ohne die Beschuldigtenrechte zu beeinträchtigen. Auf Grundlage der gewonnenen Erkenntnisse wird ein Reformentwurf erarbeitet.<br