773 research outputs found
The mass of the black hole in GRS 1915+105: new constraints from IR spectroscopy
GRS 1915+105 has the largest mass function of any Galactic black hole system,
although the error is relatively large. Here we present spectroscopic analysis
of medium-resolution IR VLT archival data of GRS 1915+105 in the K-band. We
find an updated ephemeris, and report on attempts to improve the mass function
by a refinement of the radial velocity estimate. We show that the spectra are
significantly affected by the presence of phase-dependent CO bandhead emission,
possibly originating from the accretion disc: we discuss the impact this has on
efforts to better constrain the black hole mass. We report on a possible way to
measure the radial velocity utilising apparent H-band atomic absorption
features and also discuss the general uncertainty of the system parameters of
this well-studied objectComment: 7 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of
the Royal Astronomical Society Main Journa
Teacher Training for LRE Mainstreaming and Diverse Classrooms
Since the enactment of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, classrooms in the United States have changed over the years. These laws have added numerous responsibilities for teachers, especially the Least Restrictive Environment mandate that places more students with disabilities in the general education classrooms. A review of the literature shows that even though more skills are required to teach in more diverse classrooms, teacher training programs have not changed in response to this need. A second problem related to insufficient teacher training is the increase in students being referred to special education programs because the regular education teachers haven\u27t learned how to successfully teach students with special needs. There is a dire need to modify teacher training programs from separate general and special education departments to more integrated, collaborative programs. An overhaul of teacher training programs will be a time-intensive endeavor; therefore, other short term solutions for teachers need to be considered. Preparing competent, effective teachers will ensure that laws affecting the classrooms will be carried out in the way they were intended so that all students receive the best education possible in the environment best suited to their needs. There is a need for continued research to determine the best training strategies to fulfill the needs of all teachers, which in turn will result in the best outcomes for all students
Communications to children about mental illness and their role in stigma development: an integrative review
Background
Limited literature on the stigma of mental illness has examined the socio-cultural processes involved in the development of stigma around mental health in children, which emerges in middle childhood (7-11 years). Greater understanding might inform preventative interventions.
Aims
This review aims to integrate disparate theoretical and empirical research to provide an overview of social communications to children aged 7-11 years about mental illness across four key socio-cultural contexts (the media, school, peers, parents) of relevance to childrenās development, and to consider their role in the development of stigmatized views.
Method
Systematic literature searches were conducted within electronic databases and abstracts were scanned to identify relevant studies. Fifteen papers were selected for the review.
Results
The review found few studies have directly examined communications about mental illness to children. Available evidence suggests messages across childrenās socio-cultural contexts are characterized by silence and stigma, which may shape childrenās developing views. Specific theoretical frameworks are lacking; possible mechanisms of transmission are discussed.
Conclusions
This review suggests overcoming stigma will require efforts targeting young children, explicitly tackling mental illness, and spanning multiple social spheres: further research is warranted
Parentsā communication to primary school-aged children about mental health and ill-health: a grounded theory study
Purpose ā Stigma around mental health problems is known to emerge in middle childhood and persist into adulthood, yet almost nothing is known about the role of parents in this process. This paper aims to develop a model of parental communication to primary school-aged children around mental health and ill-health, to increase understanding about how stigma develops.
Design/methodology/approach ā Semi-structured interviews were performed with ten UK-based parents of children aged 7-11 years. Analysis followed an exploratory grounded theory approach, incorporating quality assurance checks.
Findings ā Parentsā communications are governed by the extent to which they view a particular issue as related to āThemā (mental ill-health) or to āUsā (mental health). In contrast to communication about āUsā, parental communication about mental āillnessā is characterized by avoidance and contradiction, and driven by largely unconscious processes of taboo and stigma.
Originality/value ā This study was the first to explore parentsā communications to their 7-11 year old children about mental health and mental illness, and proposes a preliminary theoretical model that may offer insight into the development of stigma in childhood and the intergenerational transmission of stigmatized attitudes
Observations of the X-ray Nova GRO~J0422+32: II: Optical Spectra Approaching Quiescence
We present results obtained from a series of 5~\AA\ resolution spectra of the
X-ray Nova GRO~J0422+32 obtained in 1993~October, when the system was
approximately 2 magnitudes above quiescence, with . The data
were obtained in an effort to measure the orbital radial velocity curve of the
secondary, but detection of the narrow photospheric absorption lines needed to
do this proved elusive. Instead we found wide absorption bands reminiscent of
M~star photospheric features. The parameters determined by fitting accretion
disk line profiles (Smak profiles) to the H line are similar to those
found in several strong black-hole candidates. Measurements of the velocity of
the H line are consistent with an orbital period of 5.1~hours and a
velocity semi-amplitude of the primary of ~\kms. These measurements,
when combined with measurements of the velocity semi-amplitude of the secondary
made by others, indicate that the mass ratio . If the secondary
follows the empirical mass-radius relation found for CVs, the low implies a
primary mass of \mo, and a rather low (face-on) inclination. The
H EW is found to be modulated on the orbital period with a phasing that
implies a partial eclipse of the disk by the secondary, but simultaneous R~band
photometry shows no evidence for such an eclipse.Comment: Accepted for ApJ, plain latex, 5 figures available as self-extracting
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