The third voice: Do enhanced e-books enhance the benefits of shared story reading with preschoolers?

This study from which this paper draws examined the benefits of reading plain e-books (with parental instruction) compared to enhanced e-books (with limited parental direction) with 3- to 5-year-old children. Interaction was measured through parent-child verbal communication and eye contact. Engagement was measured through time spent visually focused on the story, and retention was measured through open-ended story event recall questions and multiple-choice story vocabulary questions. There were no differences between the enhanced and plain e-book conditions in children’s qualitative engagement with the story, or in the amounts of vocabulary or story events they retained. While enhanced e-books resulted in more time spent gazing at the device, parents and children were significantly more interactive when reading plain e-books. These findings suggest that while both plain and enhanced e-books are effective in aiding children’s retention of words and story events, plain e-books read by a caregiver are better at promoting meaningful conversation

Chandra observations of the interacting galaxies NGC 3395/3396 (Arp 270)

In this paper we present the results of a 20-ks high-resolution Chandra X-ray observation of the peculiar galaxy pair NGC 3395/3396, a system at a very early stage of merging, and less evolved than the famous Antennae and Mice merging systems. Previously unpublished ROSAT High-Resolution Imager data are also presented. The point-source population and the hot diffuse gas in this system are investigated and compared with other merging galaxy pairs. 16 X-ray point sources are detected in Arp 270, seven of which are classified as ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs, LX>= 1039 erg s-1). From spectral fits and the age of the system it seems likely that these are predominantly high-mass X-ray binaries. The diffuse gas emits at a global temperature of ~0.5 keV, consistent with temperatures observed in other interacting systems, and we see no evidence of the starburst-driven hot gaseous outflows seen in more evolved systems such as The Mice and The Antennae. It is likely that these features are absent from Arp 270 as the gas has had insufficient time to break out of the galaxy discs. 32 per cent of the luminosity of Arp 270 arises from the diffuse gas in the system, this is low when compared with later stage merging systems and gives further credence that this is an early-stage merger. Comparing the ULX population of Arp 270 to other merging systems, we derive a relationship between the star formation rate of the system, indicated by LFIR, and the number [N(ULX)] and luminosity (LULX) of its ULX population. We find N(ULX) ~L0.18FIR and LULX~L0.54FIR. These relationships, coupled with the relation of the point-source X-ray luminosity (LXP) to LK and LFIR+UV (Colbert et al. 2003), indicate that the ULX sources in an interacting system have contributions from both the old and young stellar populations.Peer reviewe

Black violence and the politics of representation: selected readings in the twentieth century American novel

PhDThis thesis argues that the representation of black violence in the twentieth century American novel is shaped by two principal rhetorical strategies, which I term denial and demonisation. Denial refers to modes of literary discourse which seek to refute the possibility of black violence, or to circumscribe it as an exclusively intraracial phenomenon. Demonisation denotes textual strategies which figure a racially determined form of violence as a natural element of black character. These strategies may appear antithetical, but they are rarely deployed in isolation. Rather, they appear in complex combinations in most representations of black violence in American literature, as I demonstrate using a range of novels by black and white authors which span the twentieth century. These strategies have their roots in racist ideologies which seek to obliterate any connection between the impact of racism upon African Americans and black violence. Hence they are most noticeable in literary texts which reflect and contribute to racist ideology. However, texts which seek to expose social and cultural causes of black violence are also unavoidably influenced by these modes of literary discourse, and this includes the work of African American authors. They have to negotiate the racist tropes and assumptions encoded within the language and literary forms of hegemonic American culture, because they have no alternative, completely separate resources for cultural production. External pressures experienced by any author representing black violence compound these difficulties. These include the demands of black community leaders and white liberals not to represent African Americans in ways which may hinder the cause of racial equality, and the demands of publishers to represent black violence in ways with proven commercial potential. Furthermore, despite the retreat of racism in modern America, certain images and fantasies of blackness retain a hold over the American cultural imaginary, and continue to influence literary discourse. As my thesis demonstrates, this ensures that denial and demonisation can still be detected in contemporary American novels

Latitude and longitude vertical disparities

The literature on vertical disparity is complicated by the fact that several different definitions of the term “vertical disparity” are in common use, often without a clear statement about which is intended or a widespread appreciation of the properties of the different definitions. Here, we examine two definitions of retinal vertical disparity: elevation-latitude and elevation-longitude disparities. Near the fixation point, these definitions become equivalent, but in general, they have quite different dependences on object distance and binocular eye posture, which have not previously been spelt out. We present analytical approximations for each type of vertical disparity, valid for more general conditions than previous derivations in the literature: we do not restrict ourselves to objects near the fixation point or near the plane of regard, and we allow for non-zero torsion, cyclovergence, and vertical misalignments of the eyes. We use these expressions to derive estimates of the latitude and longitude vertical disparities expected at each point in the visual field, averaged over all natural viewing. Finally, we present analytical expressions showing how binocular eye position—gaze direction, convergence, torsion, cyclovergence, and vertical misalignment—can be derived from the vertical disparity field and its derivatives at the fovea

'This degrading and stealthy practice': accounting, stigma and indigenous wages in Australia 1897-1972

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to make visible the relationship between accounting and stigma in the absence of accounting. This research examines how failure to implement mandatory accounting and auditing requirements in the management of Indigenous wages contributed to stigmatisation of Indigenous Australians and led to maladministration and unchecked financial fraud that continued for over 75 years. The accounting failures were by those charged with protect the financial interests of the Indigenous population. Design/methodology/approach: An historical and qualitative approach has been used that draws upon archival and contemporary sources. Findings (mandatory: Prior research has examined the nexus between accounting mechanisms and stigma. This research suggests that the absence of accounting mechanisms can also contribute to stigma. Research limitations/implications: This research highlights the complex relationship between accounting and stigma, suggesting that it is simplistic to examine the nexus between accounting and stigma without considering the social forces in which stigmatisation occurs. Social implications: This research demonstrates decades of failed accounting have contributed to the ongoing social disadvantage of Indigenous Australians. The presence of accounting mechanisms cannot eradicate the past, or fix the present but create an environment where financial abuse does not occur. Originality/value: This research demonstrates that stigma can be exacerbated in the negative space created by failures or absence of accounting. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to make visible the relationship between accounting and stigma in the absence of accounting. This research examines how failure to implement mandatory accounting and auditing requirements in the management of Indigenous wages contributed to stigmatisation of Indigenous Australians and led to maladministration and unchecked financial fraud that continued for over 75 years. The accounting failures were by those charged with protect the financial interests of the Indigenous population. Design/methodology/approach: An historical and qualitative approach has been used that draws upon archival and contemporary sources. Findings: Prior research has examined the nexus between accounting mechanisms and stigma. This research suggests that the absence of accounting mechanisms can also contribute to stigma. Research limitations/implications: This research highlights the complex relationship between accounting and stigma, suggesting that it is simplistic to examine the nexus between accounting and stigma without considering the social forces in which stigmatisation occurs. Social implications: This research demonstrates decades of failed accounting have contributed to the ongoing social disadvantage of Indigenous Australians. The presence of accounting mechanisms cannot eradicate the past, or fix the present but create an environment where financial abuse does not occur. Originality/value: This research demonstrates that stigma can be exacerbated in the negative space created by failures or absence of accounting

The purgatorial shadows of war: accounting, blame and shell shock pensions, 1914–1923

This research is a qualitative analysis of the role of accounting in British disablement pensions awarded to men who sustained shell shock during their Army service in the First World War. It suggests that accounting classification of shell shock for pension determination purposes supported a view of shell shock which made men with shell shock scapegoats of a system that was often unsupportive. Accounting classification contributed to the lack of support by distancing pension decision-makers from the moral consequences of pension determinations. This was able to occur because the British government used accounting classification as part of a mechanism to avoid blame for its pension determination choices. This research contributes to an ongoing debate about the role of government by suggesting that the functions of government provide opportunities for accounting to simultaneously serve a neutral role as mere inscription while being a social and moral construct

Effects of plastic mulch, row cover, and cultivar selection on growth of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculerntum Mill.) in high tunnels

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on May 11, 2009)Thesis advisor: Dr. David Trinklein.Includes bibliographical references.M.S. University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Horticulture.Tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were grown to: 1) evaluate their early season yield characteristics when grown using different mulch types with and without row cover; and 2) evaluate yield potential among different cultivars when grown in high tunnels. Row covers did not significantly increase total, or US number 1 yield of high tunnel tomatoes. Clear plastic mulch significantly increases early yield of grade 1 fruit over all other treatments. Total early yields from BHN 543, and Merced were significantly greater than all other cultivars. Due to early fruit ripening characteristics, BHN 543 could fit into a double cropping system for growers wanting to replant their high tunnels with a fall crop. Full season yield of grade 1 and 2 fruit combined was significantly greater for Merced than any other cultivar. The heirloom tomato cultivar Brandywine produced significantly less early total and grade 1 fruit per plant than Merced or BHN 543

Realising the inclusive potential of online teaching and learning for marginalised students

Online teaching and learning can contribute to inclusive and accessible teaching and learning. By prioritising inclusion, accessibility and careful planning we will find the potential in online platforms and resources and our most marginalised students will benefit most