Requiem for a Doll

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Cross-Correlation of Planck CMB Lensing with DESI-Like LRGs

Cross-correlations between the lensing of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and other tracers of large-scale structure provide a unique way to reconstruct the growth of dark matter, break degeneracies between cosmology and galaxy physics, and test theories of modified gravity. We detect a cross-correlation between DESI-like luminous red galaxies (LRGs) selected from DECaLS imaging and CMB lensing maps reconstructed with the Planck satellite at a significance of $S/N = 27.2$ over scales $\ell_{\rm min} = 30$, $\ell_{\rm max} = 1000$. To correct for magnification bias, we determine the slope of the LRG cumulative magnitude function at the faint limit as $s = 0.999 \pm 0.015$, and find corresponding corrections on the order of a few percent for $C^{\kappa g}_{\ell}, C^{gg}_{\ell}$ across the scales of interest. We fit the large-scale galaxy bias at the effective redshift of the cross-correlation $z_{\rm eff} \approx 0.68$ using two different bias evolution agnostic models: a HaloFit times linear bias model where the bias evolution is folded into the clustering-based estimation of the redshift kernel, and a Lagrangian perturbation theory model of the clustering evaluated at $z_{\rm eff}$. We also determine the error on the bias from uncertainty in the redshift distribution; within this error, the two methods show excellent agreement with each other and with DESI survey expectations.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures, 6 tables; final version accepted for publicatio

Preparing to Teach, Committing to Learn: An Introduction to Educating Children Who Are Deaf/Hard of Hearing

Preparing to Teach is an open-source eBook on deaf education for students and faculty in professional preparation programs, practitioners in deaf education, and families of children who are DHH. Although the focus is on deaf-education teachers who are providing services to students who are DHH, the text is useful to students and faculty in related fields including speech-language pathology, audiology, and special education. Because the text is introductory in nature it covers a broad range of topics and does not replace texts that go into more depth on a particular aspect of deaf education. The text includes references and additional recommended readings and resources for further study. The text addresses the range of communication options used by students in deaf education with an emphasis on listening and spoken language approaches and strategies that have often been only minimally addressed in introductory texts. References and resources for further study of approaches that are primarily visual are included.https://griffinshare.fontbonne.edu/oer-books/1000/thumbnail.jp

Collecting Diverse Natural Language Inference Problems for Sentence Representation Evaluation

We present a large-scale collection of diverse natural language inference (NLI) datasets that help provide insight into how well a sentence representation captures distinct types of reasoning. The collection results from recasting 13 existing datasets from 7 semantic phenomena into a common NLI structure, resulting in over half a million labeled context-hypothesis pairs in total. We refer to our collection as the DNC: Diverse Natural Language Inference Collection. The DNC is available online at https://www.decomp.net, and will grow over time as additional resources are recast and added from novel sources.Comment: To be presented at EMNLP 2018. 15 page

Indigenous Experiences of Social Services

Native, Aboriginal, and First Nations individuals experience higher rates of homelessness, food insecurity, sexual violence, and other social inequalities than people of other races (Christensen et al., 2017; Shoemaker et al., 2020; Du Mont et al., 2017; Wahab & Olson, 2004; McCarron et al., 2018; Moullin et al., 2019; Myhra et al., 2015; Stevens et al., 2015; Cueva et al, 2020), and there is a distinct lack of resources for these individuals. However, when individuals do access available resources, they often experience anti-Native sentiment (Hoss & Blum, 2019; Pedersen et al, 2006). Thus, we hope to learn about Indigenous peoples’ perceptions of social services and how they can be improved to best meet their needs. This study involves a qualitative survey of Indigenous people about their experiences accessing social services. Preliminary findings indicate limited available resources and social services, especially those led by Natives; what is available often does not address specific cultural needs

Harnessing Technology Schools Survey 2009: analysis report

The Harnessing Technology schools survey (HTSS) report presents the key survey findings from the academic year 2008-09 set out according to the five system outcomes against which impact of the strategy was measured. The HTSS was an annual national survey of ICT in primary, secondary and special schools. (The data report that accompanied this analysis provides further details of the sample and the characteristics of respondents and is listed separately.

A qualitative study of Western Australian women's perceptions of using a Snoezelen room for breastfeeding during their postpartum hospital stay

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is limited evidence on the use of the Snoezelen concept for maternity clients. Snoezelen, a Dutch concept, initiated in the 1970s as a leisure activity for severely disabled people, involves creating an indoor environment using controllable stimuli to enhance comfort and relaxation. These specially designed rooms expose the user to multiple sensory stimulations combining vision, touch, sounds and aromas. The aim of this study was to provide insight into breastfeeding women's experience of using a Snoezelen room during hospitalisation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A qualitative exploratory design was chosen to reveal women's perceptions of using the Snoezelen room. Osborne Park Hospital, the study setting is the second largest public provider of obstetric services in Western Australia. A purposive sample was drawn from breastfeeding women who used the Snoezelen room during their postpartum stay from March 2006 to March 2007. Saturation was achieved after eleven breastfeeding women were interviewed six weeks post discharge. Data analysis involved the constant comparison method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Participants entered the room feeling tired and emotional with an unsettled baby and breastfeeding issues aggravated by maternal stress and anxiety. All women indicated they were able to achieve relaxation while in the room and would recommend its use to other breastfeeding mothers. Two key themes revealed how the Snoezelen room facilitated maternal relaxation, which ultimately enhanced the breastfeeding experience. The first theme, "Finding Relaxation for the Breastfeeding Mother" incorporates three subthemes: 'Time out' for mother; Control in own personal space; and a Quiet/calm environment with homelike atmosphere. The second theme, "Enabling Focus on Breastfeeding", occurred after relaxation was achieved and involved four subthemes: Able to get one-on-one attention; Not physically exposed to others; Away from prying, judgemental eyes and Able to safely attempt breastfeeding alone knowing help is nearby.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Insight into how the Snoezelen room promoted relaxation also highlights what contributes to maternal anxiety during breastfeeding experiences in hospital. The findings offer health professionals the opportunity to consider adopting strategies such as a Snoezelen room in their hospital or being innovative in modifying the postpartum setting to promote relaxation for breastfeeding women.</p

An Image-Free Opto-Mechanical System for Creating Virtual Environments and Imaging Neuronal Activity in Freely Moving Caenorhabditis elegans

Non-invasive recording in untethered animals is arguably the ultimate step in the analysis of neuronal function, but such recordings remain elusive. To address this problem, we devised a system that tracks neuron-sized fluorescent targets in real time. The system can be used to create virtual environments by optogenetic activation of sensory neurons, or to image activity in identified neurons at high magnification. By recording activity in neurons of freely moving C. elegans, we tested the long-standing hypothesis that forward and reverse locomotion are generated by distinct neuronal circuits. Surprisingly, we found motor neurons that are active during both types of locomotion, suggesting a new model of locomotion control in C. elegans. These results emphasize the importance of recording neuronal activity in freely moving animals and significantly expand the potential of imaging techniques by providing a mean to stabilize fluorescent targets

A simple, robust flow cytometry-based whole blood assay for investigating sex differential interferon alpha production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Central to sex differences observed in outcome from infection and vaccination is the innate immune response, and specifically production of type I interferons by plasmacytoid dendtiric cells (pDCs), the main producers of IFN-α. Evaluation of IFN-α production by pDCs is therefore critical for studies of innate immune function. However, reliable measurement of pDC IFN-α is hampered by reduced cell yields and cytokine production after cryopreservation or after even short delays in stimulating freshly isolated cells. We here describe a simple yet robust method for measuring IFN-α production in pDCs that preserves cell activation and cytokine production through immediate stimulation of whole blood and subsequent maintenance at 37 °C