A Most Amazing Conversation: The Social Contexts of Wonder-Telling and the Development of Paradoxography

Wonder-telling thrived as an abiding element in Greek and Roman convivial gatherings. The burgeoning book culture of the Hellenistic period witnessed the emergence of paradoxographical works—compilations of reports on “marvels”—that offered another medium through which to experience wonder. This study surveys evidence that situates wonder-telling in the social sphere and suggests that the new genre adapted one of the joys of sympotic discourse in order to delight the solitary reader

Gifted Culturally Linguistically Diverse Learners: A School-Based Exploration

The purpose of this case study was to explore educators’ perceptions of characteristics, needs, and practices relating to gifted culturally linguistically diverse learners. The research questions guiding the study included the following: What are educators’ perceptions of the characteristics, needs, and practices related to gifted culturally linguistically diverse learners? How do educators describe gifted culturally linguistically diverse learners? How do educators describe their understanding of culturally responsive teaching as it relates to diverse gifted learners? What are school-based practices for gifted culturally linguistically diverse learners that support or hinder learning? This study focused on an elementary school within Colorado. Seventeen educators (administrators and teachers) voluntarily participated in the study. One 30 minute semi-structured interview as well as one 60 minute classroom observation was conducted at the research site. The classroom observation tool was developed using culturally responsive pedagogical tenets (Gay, 2014) as well as gifted multicultural competencies (Ford and Trotman, 2001). Artifacts were also collected. Using the frameworks of Critical Race Theory and Constructivism as a guide, data was analyzed and coded to determine emerging themes. Results showed educators had positive perceptions of gifted culturally linguistically diverse learners; however, the practices related to gifted culturally linguistically diverse learners were inconsistent and showed differences between espoused theory and actual practice (Fullan, 2006; Argyris, 2000). The author proposes a new theoretical framework, GiftedCrit™ to examine gifted education. Lastly, a conceptual model is proposed highlighting the intersection of culturally responsive pedagogy and multicultural gifted competencies through which to view gifted classrooms

Multichannel cold collisions between metastable Sr atoms

We present a multichannel scattering calculation of elastic and inelastic cold collisions between two low-field seeking, metastable ^{88}Sr [(5s5p) ^3P_2] atoms in the presence of an external magnetic field. The scattering physics is governed by strong anisotropic long-range interactions, which lead to pronounced coupling among the partial waves of relative motion. As a result, nonadiabatic transitions are shown to trigger a high rate of inelastic losses. At relatively high energies, T > 100 mkK, the total inelastic collision rate is comparable with the elastic rate. However, at lower collisional energy, the elastic rate decreases, and at T ~ 1mkK, it becomes substantially smaller than the inelastic rate. Our study suggests that magnetic trapping and evaporative cooling of ^{88}Sr [(5s5p) ^3P_2] atoms, as well as ^{40}Ca [(4s4p) ^3P_2], in low-field seeking states will prove difficult to achieve experimentally.Comment: 4 pages, Latex, Submitte

Behavior and development of red-eyed treefrogs during metamorphosis [poster]

Anuran metamorphosis is an extreme transformation from tadpole to frog that involves tremendous morphological and behavioral change. During this transition (Gosner stages 42-46), metamorphs are exposed to both aquatic and terrestrial selective pressures (e.g., predators, desiccation). Their behavior may be crucial for survival, but it is not well studied. Our goal was to describe morphological and behavioral patterns during metamorphosis in red-eyed treefrogs, Agalychnis callidryas. We first quantified development through metamorphosis by measuring and staging 25 wild-caught individuals every 8 h. We then conducted field behavioral observations of 37 metamorphs, at various developmental stages, that had emerged from a pond in Gamboa, Panama. Emerging metamorphs crawled rapidly out of the pond, usually during Gosner stage 43, and then remained relatively inactive. Tail absorption was non-linear; 80% of the tail absorbed in ~24 h while the remainder took 4 days. After tail fin absorption, frogs moved away from the pond and upwards in the vegetation. The most commonly observed postures were sitting alert and water conserving, but metamorphs also exhibited less common behaviors including back flexing, limb stretching, reaching, and head bobbing. We also surveyed diel timing of emergence from a mesocosm experiment, in which tadpoles were reared in 400 L tanks either with no predators, a giant water bug, or a fishing spider. Few metamorphs emerged during daylight; most (\u3e60%) emerged after dusk, by 9pm. There was some indication of later emergence from spider tanks suggesting behavioral plasticity during metamorphosis could improve survival during this vulnerable life stage. Abstract from conference program at http://www.sicb.org/meetings/2011/schedule/abstractdetails.php3?id=701

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Siegert pseudostates: completeness and time evolution

Within the theory of Siegert pseudostates, it is possible to accurately calculate bound states and resonances. The energy continuum is replaced by a discrete set of states. Many questions of interest in scattering theory can be addressed within the framework of this formalism, thereby avoiding the need to treat the energy continuum. For practical calculations it is important to know whether a certain subset of Siegert pseudostates comprises a basis. This is a nontrivial issue, because of the unusual orthogonality and overcompleteness properties of Siegert pseudostates. Using analytical and numerical arguments, it is shown that the subset of bound states and outgoing Siegert pseudostates forms a basis. Time evolution in the context of Siegert pseudostates is also investigated. From the Mittag-Leffler expansion of the outgoing-wave Green's function, the time-dependent expansion of a wave packet in terms of Siegert pseudostates is derived. In this expression, all Siegert pseudostates--bound, antibound, outgoing, and incoming--are employed. Each of these evolves in time in a nonexponential fashion. Numerical tests underline the accuracy of the method