Learning from Turnaround Middle Schools: Strategies for Success

In New York City and around the nation, there is intense interest in the question of what it takes to turn around a low-performing school. This study focused on two sets of initially low-performing NYC middle schools. The first group (the "turnaround schools") exhibited significant growth in academic performance between 2006 and 2010, while the other group saw minimal growth or remained stagnant during the same period. To gain an understanding of how the turnaround schools improved, researchers conducted in-depth interviews with principals and focus groups with teachers in both sets of schools. This report presents a rich picture of the conditions and strategies that enabled the turnaround schools to boost student achievement. Specifically, it identifies three interrelated "essential conditions" that were largely principal driven: aligning needs with goals, creating a positive work environment, and addressing student discipline and safety. These essential conditions, in turn, set the stage for implementing specific strategies to improve teaching and learning: developing teachers internally, creating small learning communities, targeting student sub-populations, and using data to inform instruction. The report also describes several ongoing challenges faced by all the schools. Finally, it draws on the study's findings to make recommendations for improving the effectiveness of middle schools here in New York City and around the country. The study is part of an ongoing focus on the middle grades for the Research Alliance

Practitioner Interview

Phone interview with Walter Grayman from Walter Grayman Cons. by Meghna Babbar-Sebens and Marcio Giacomoni. Interview questions asked inquired about (i) practitioner’s professional background, (ii) practitioner’s personal experience with systems analysis techniques and software in their job, (iii) role, benefits, and challenges in using systems analysis concepts in the water resources engineering profession, and (iv) recommendations for improving education of environmental and water resources systems analysis in universities

Socioeconomic indicators of underweight children during Indonesia's economic crisis

Master of ArtsCenter for Southeast Asian StudiesUniversity of Michiganhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149072/1/013852784.pd

Safeguarding The Security Of Public Water Supplies Using Early Warning Systems: A Brief Review

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73482/1/j.1936-704X.2004.mp129001007.x.pd

Humanitarian Encounters in Post-Conflict Aceh, Indonesia

In “Humanitarian Encounters in Post-Conflict Aceh, Indonesia,” I examine the humanitarian involvement in Aceh, Indonesia following two momentous events in Aceh’s history: the earthquake and tsunami on 26 December 2004 and the signing of the Helsinki Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that brought a tentative, peaceful settlement to the Free Aceh Movement’s (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka, GAM) separatist insurgency against Indonesia on 15 August 2005. My research focuses on the international humanitarian engagement with Aceh’s peace process but frequently acknowledges the much larger and simultaneous tsunami recovery efforts along Aceh’s coasts that preceded and often overshadowed conflict recovery. Using ethnographic data based on five years working with four different international humanitarian organizations concerned with post-conflict recovery in Aceh, I address two main topics in my dissertation. The first is an insider’s perspective on the anthropology of humanitarianism. From one chapter to the next, I recreate and situate a particular humanitarian world’s relation to local structures of power and suffering that expands upon and complicates some of the prevailing debates in the anthropological literature on humanitarianism. From the unique vantage point within various humanitarian organizations, stories of Aceh’s post-conflict recovery filter through with selective and idiosyncratic ethnographic clarity. The accumulation of these stories reveals, by way of mosaic example, a logic of humanitarian intervention. The second topic I address in my dissertation is the story of Aceh’s peace process within the larger context of Indonesia’s post-New Order transition to democracy. I situate my data within a rapidly growing literature of insightful histories and critiques of Aceh’s conflict and subsequent transformations since the tsunami and the formal end of hostilities between GAM and Indonesian security forces. My focus on the ethnographic details in each chapter is set against some of the broadly taken-for-granted histories that have come to define Aceh’s recent successes and failures in its transition to peace.Anthropolog

Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management

Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management builds on Haestad Press’ Water Distribution Modeling book. Addressing the modeling process from data collection to application, Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management adds extensive material from an international team of experts from both academia and consulting firms and includes topics such as: In-depth coverage of optimization techniques for model calibration, system design, and pump operations. Advanced water quality modeling topics including tank mixing, water quality solution algorithms, sampling techniques, tracer studies, tank design, and maintenance of adequate disinfectant residuals. Integration of SCADA systems with water distribution modeling for estimating model demands, initial conditions, and control settings; forecasting system operations; calibrating extended-period simulation models; streamlining water quality analysis; and estimating water loss during a main break. The essentials of transient analysis including the causes and sources of transients, as well as the potential effects of transients on water distribution systems. Application of GIS technology for skeletonization, demand allocation, and pipe break analysis; discussion of the technological issues that arise when integrating GIS and water distribution modeling; and the current state of the technology. Use of models to assess water system vulnerability and security, respond to emergencies in real-time, simulate contamination events, prioritize physical security improvements, and unravel past contamination events

What Would I Know About Mercy? Faith and Optimistic Expectancies Among African Americans

A small body of research has begun to explore the association between faith and optimism among African Americans. However, missing from the extant work is an examination of the extent to which traditional indices of religious commitment work together with beliefs about God to shape optimism. The present study examines the utility of indices of social location, religious commitment (i.e., early and current religious service attendance, subjective religiosity), belief about the quality of one’s relationship with God (i.e., a belief that one is connected to a loving God), and beliefs about being the recipient of divine forgiveness for predicting dispositional optimism among a sample of community residing African American adults (N = 241). Age, subjective religiosity, and organizational religiosity were positively related to optimism in bivariate analyses. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated a significant association between age, subjective religiosity, and optimism; however, those associations were eliminated once relationship with God and belief in one’s forgiveness by God were entered into the model. Only belief in God’s love predicted optimism in multivariate analyses. Serial mediation analyses revealed that beliefs about the quality of one’s relationship with God and belief in divine forgiveness fully mediated the relationship between subjective religiosity and optimism, but that the relationship is driven largely by relationship with God. Implications of these findings are discussed

Aplicaciones de los modelos de calidad en la simulación de las redes de distribución de agua potable

[ES] Ante la evidencia de que la calidad del agua potable se deteriora durante su recorrido a través de la red de distribución, es conveniente analizar su seguimiento mediante la utilización de sistemas de simulación y monitorización. En el presente artículo se revisan las causas de tal deterioro y se hace repaso a los métodos de cálculo, tanto estáticos como dinámicos, empleados por los modelos de calidad propuestos en los últimos años en la bibliografía, y que en el momento actual incorporan ya muchos programas de análisis de redes. A lo largo de la exposición se analizarán los aspectos relativos al cálculo de procedencias de diversas fuentes, mezclas de aguas de diferentes calidades, tiempos de retención del agua en la red, y propagación de sustancias contaminantes, tanto reactivas como no reactivas. Finalmente, se presenta el caso de la ciudad de Valencia, donde se está desarrollando un proyecto de telegestión de la cloración en la red de distribución. Para definir con exactitud los puntos de ubicación de los analizadores en continuo, así como para localizar las futuras estaciones de tratamiento "satélites" en la siguiente fase del proyecto, se ha hecho uso del programa EPANET al objeto de simular el comportamiento hidráulico de la red y la evolución de calidad del agua en la misma.Vidal, R.; Martínez, F.; Ayza, M. (1994). Aplicaciones de los modelos de calidad en la simulación de las redes de distribución de agua potable. Ingeniería del Agua. 1(3):55-68. https://doi.org/10.4995/ia.1994.2644SWORD556813Aguas de Valencia, S.A. (1994). Control del Cloro Residual en la Red de Distribución de Agua Potable. Proyecto en trámite de aprobación por el Ayuntamiento de Valencia. Junio 94.Biswas, P.; Lu, Ch.; Clark, R.M. (1993). A Model for Chloríne Concentration Decay in Pipes. Water Resources. Vol. 27, nº 12.Burgess, P.; Vitanage, D.C.; Price, G. (1993). Application of a First Order Equation to Predict Chloríne Decay in a Water Distríbution System. Conferencia en Integrated Computer Application in Water Supply. Univ. Monfort, UK.Boulos, P.F.; Alunan, T.; Bowcock, R.W.; Dhingra, A.K.; Collevati, F. (1994). An explicit algoríthm for modeling Distríbution System Water Quality with Applications. 2nd International Conference on Water Pipeline Systems. Edinburgh, Scotland.Clark, R.M. (1991). Water Quality Modeling in Distríbution Systems. Conferencia en Water Quality Modeling in Distribution Systems. AWWA/EPA. Cincinnati, Ohio.Clark, R.M. (1993). Development of Water Quality Models. Conferencia en Computer Modelling of Free-Surface and Pressurized Flows. NATO Advanced Study Instituto. Pullman, Washington.Clark, R.M.; Smalley, G.; Goodrich, J.A.; Tull, R.; Rossman, L.A. (1993). Managing Water Quality in Distríbution Systems: Minimizing Chemical and Microbial Risk. Annual Conference American Water Works Association.Clark, R.M. (1994). Modeling Water Quality Changes in Distríbution Systems: A U.S. perspective. Conferencia en Improving Efficiency and Reliability in Water Distribution Systems. UIMP, Valencia.Cohén, J. (1990). The Development of a Dynamic Calculation Model for Drínking Water Networks. Agua. Vol. 39, nº 3Cohén, J.; Van der Drift, C.G. (1991). Further Development of a Dynamic Calculation and Simulation Model for Water Distríbution. Agua. Vol. 40, nº 4.Cohén, J.; De Visser, P. (1992). The Development and Application of Monitoríng Systems for the Distríbutíon ofDrínking Water. Journal of Water SRT-AQUA. volumen 41Chaudhry, M.H.; Islam, M.R. (1994). Water Quality Modeüng in Pipe Networks. Conferencia en Improving Efficiency and Reliability in Water Distribution Systems. UIMP, Valencia.EPA (1993). Safe Drinking Water Act Highlights. James M. Montgomery, Consulting Engineers Inc.Geldreich, E. (1991). Investigating the Outbreak in Cabool, Missouri for a Water Supply Connecúon. Conferencia en Water Quality Modeling in Distribution Systems. AWWA/EPA. Cincinnati, Ohio.Grayman, W.M.; Clark, R.M. (1993). Using Computer Models to Determine the Effect of Storage on Water Quality. Journal AWWA. July, 1993Kennedy, M.S.; Sarikelle, S.; Suravallop, K. (1991). Calibrating Hydraulic Analyses of Distribution Systems Using Fluoride Tracer StudiesJourmí AWWA. July, 1991.Kennedy, M.S.; Moegling, S.; Sarikelle, S.; Suravallop, K. (1993). Assessing the Effects of Storage Tank Design on Water Quality. Journal AWWA. July, 1993Le Chevallier, M.W. (1991). Microbial Processes within the Distribution System. Conferencia en Water Quality Modeling in Distribution Systems. AWWA/EPA. Cincinnati, Ohio.Lee, R.G.; Becker, W.C.; Collins, D.W. (1989). Lead at the Tap: Sources and Control. Journal AWWA. July, 1989.Lee, B.H.; Deininger, R.A. (1992). Óptimal Locations of Monitoríng Stations in Water Distribution Systems. Journal of Environmental Engineering. Vol. 118, nº l.Liou, C.P.; Kroon, J.R. (1987). Modeling the Propagation of Waterbome Substances in Distribution Networks. Journal AWWA. Nov, 87.Males, R.M.; Clark, R.M.; Wehrman, P.J.; Gates, W.E. (1985). Algorithm for Mixing Problems in Water Systems. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering. (ASCE), Vol. 111, nº 2.Martínez, F. (1994). Elaboración del Modelo Matemático de la Red Arterial de Distribución de Agua Potable de la Ciudad de Valencia. Convenio suscrito entre Aguas de Valencia y la U.D. Mecánica de Ruidos. UPV. Valencia, Abril 1994.Martínez, F. (1994). Desarrollo de un Modelo de Simulación Dinámica para el Abastecimiento de Agua Potable a la Ciudad de Valencia. Convenio suscrito entre Aguas de Valencia y la U.D. Mecánica de Fluidos. UPV. Valencia. En curso.Ormsbee, L.E; Wood, D.J. (1991). Identification of Supply Source Percentages and Water Age Using KYPIPE andKYFSL Conferencia en Water Qualitv Modeling in Distribution Systems.AWWA/EPA. Cincinnati, Ohio.Ostfeld, A.; Shamir, U. (1993). Óptima! Operation of Multiquality Networks. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management. Vol. 119, n%.Rossman, LA. (1993). EPANET User's Manual. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Cincinnati, Ohio.Rossman, L.A.; Boulos, P.F. (1993). Diséñete Volume-Element Method for Network Water-Quality Models. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management (ASCE), Vol. 119, N9 5.Rossman, L.A.; Clark, R.M. Modeling Chlorine Residuals in Drinking Water Distribution Systems. A la espera de publicación en Journal Environmental Engineering.Selleck, R.E.; Marinas, B.J. (1991). Analyzing the Permeation of Organic Chemical through Plástic Pipes. Journal AWWA. July, 1991.Segura Segura, B. (1993). La Modelización de la Calidad del Agua en las Redes de Distribución de Madrid. Tecnología para Gestión de las Redes de Distribución. Canal Isabel U. MadridSinai, G.; Shina, G.; Kitai, E (1987). Physical and Computer Models of Multiquality Networks. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management Vol. 113, nº 6.Tansley, N.S.; Brammer, L.F. (1993). Chlorine Residual Modelling in Distribution - The Improvement of Taste and the Maintenance of Effective Disinfection. Conferencia en Integrated Computer Applications in Water Supply. Univ. Monfort, UK.U.D. Mecánica de Fluidos (1994). Sistemas Hidráulicos a Presión. Aspectos Prácticos de su Diseño y Explotación Generalitat Valenciana. ValenciaU.D. Mecánica de Fluidos (1994). EPANET Manual del Usuario. Revisión l.lb. Noviembre, 1994. (Traducción de la correspondiente versión inglesa)Vidal, R. (1994). Modelos de Calidad del Agua, en Curso de Análisis. Diseño y Operación de Redes Hidráulicas a Presión. U.D. Mecánica de Fluidos. Proyecto Euroform 93. Univ. Politécnica de Valencia, 25-28 Enero 94Wable, O; Dumoutier, N.; Duguet, J.P.; Jarrige, P.A.; Gelas, G.; Depierre, J.F. (1991). Modelling Chlorine Concentrations in a Network. Conferencia en Water Ouality Modeling in Distribution Systems. AWWA/EPA. Cincinnati, Ohio

Development Of Real-Time Drinking Water Distribution Systems (DWDS) Modeling Technology Using The EPANET Extended Period Simulation (EPS) Modeling Toolkit

Real-time hydraulic and water quality modeling involves the modification of the EPS network model every few minutes to reflect the SCADA data, and this paper shares how this type of real-time modeling framework, HydroTrek, was built on top of the EPS foundation provided by the EPANET toolkit. The real-life applications of HydroTrek posed some interesting modeling challenges when the hydraulic time-step was reduced to match the SCADA time-step of one to five minutes. For example, a physical pump usually does not instantaneously, but a model pump does. In a sensitive network, that can mean a significant mismatch between the SCADA and model tank demands, and consequently in the modeled tank levels. If the real-time model is updated by discarding ‘all model rules’ and strictly run on the basis of the SCADA component status values, then the tank level discrepancies can get further exacerbated through the opening or closing of valves that influence these tanks . Some systems also operate multiple valves in parallel in a lead-lag configuration and switch the active configuration in a manner that can’t be represented in an EPS model. Increasing the hydraulic time-step can reduce the ‘hydraulic’ problems but has the unfortunate consequence of masking the water quality spikes which are important for anomaly detection and for reduction of false positives in contaminant warning systems. Also, an EPS model may represent a battery of pumps with a single pump curve and may include simple tank mixing, and those may not be sufficient for real-time modeling. The authors conclude that although the EPS toolkit behaves well through the major portion of the real-time simulation, further hydraulic and water quality modeling advances and refinements are needed to improve the match with SCADA data

Climate Change Adaptation in Post-Disaster Recovery Processes: Flood-Affected Communities in Cambodia and Fiji

By adopting an integrated and participatory action-research approach, this project explores how rural communities living in flood-prone river basins of Cambodia and Fiji respond to increasing variability of flood incidences and other natural hazards under the influence of climate change and other risk factors, such as hydro-electric power development, forest conversion and environmental degradation. Particular emphasis is placed on risk perceptions and adaptive strategies of individuals, families and social groups with regard to regular and catastrophic floods and how the livelihoods of vulnerable groups are affected by floods and other disasters. Our research approach integrates the food, water and energy security nexus with the rural livelihood framework. The objectives of the project are to (1) identify the spatial extent and dynamics of flood hazards as a result of multiple risk factors; (2) determine the various factors that can enhance resilience and adaptive capacities of flood-affected communities in a changing environment, and (3) provide examples of successful community-based flood management and climate change adaptation that can serve as best-practice models for other flood affected communities in the Asia-Pacific region