A Note on Properties of Discrete Composition Operators

We derive properties and a characterization of discrete composition matrices which are useful in the field of numerical computation of shape correspondences

Quaternary global change: review and issues(Special issue in memory of Hugues Faure)

The French National Committee of INQUA, the IGCP Project n° 459 (Carbon Cycle and Hydrology in the Paleo Terrestrial Environments),the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), the CCGM (Commission de la Carte Géologique du Monde), the IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), and the BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières) have organized in June 2004 a special International Colloquium dedicated to the memory of Hugues Faure who passed away in May 2003. It was the occasion to make a review and to emphasize new results and issues on the different topics initiated by Hugues and his collaborators. It was also a chance for all his colleagues and friends to remember a rare human being and a great scientist, passionately involved in the observation and understanding of the planet, which he called “the real world”, and assuming his destiny up to the end. The Scientific committee of this colloquium has decided to publish a special issue of Global and Planetary Change with some selected papers presented during this colloquium. This GPC special issue includes some of the papers presented at this colloquium and some invited papers from scientific personalities who wished to contribute to this special volume. The general theme of the special publication in honour to Hugues Faure is the Quaternary and the Global Changes. It will focus on the global cycles and Quaternary climate (3 papers), sea-level fluctuations, tectonics and climate variations (3 papers), climate changes in terrestrial records (9 papers), and man, environment and global change (4 papers). A total of 20 contributions, including a foreword on Hugues Faure, are proposed by the participants of this colloquium

Opto-Mechanics of deformable Fabry-Perot Cavities

We investigated the opto-mechanical properties of a Fabry-Perot cavity with a mirror mounted on a spring. Such a structure allows the cavity length to change elastically under the effect of light induced forces. This opto-mechanical coupling is exploited to control the amplitude of mechanical fluctuation of the mirror. We present a model developed in the classical limit and discuss data obtained in the particular case for which photo-thermal forces are dominant.Comment: 26 pages, 7 figure

Effects of an Anticipatory Reading Guide on Third Grade Struggling Readers’ Comprehension

With relatively stagnant levels of reading achievement in the last twenty years, it is paramount that educators not only teach content but also comprehension strategies to struggling readers. Though there are innumerable strategies available to teachers, this eight-week investigation explores the use of an anticipatory reading guide on third grade struggling readers’ performance on comprehension and vocabulary questions derived from a standardized state test. Results from the quasi-experiential designed study indicate that when struggling readers have practice opportunities to use and create anticipatory reading guides for thinking about what will be asked of them after reading, they perform at higher levels than their classmates not using this strategy. Findings are relevant to reading professionals working with struggling readers in the elementary grades

Characteristics of four highly-regarded literacy teachers in rural and urban elementary schools

How does geography play a role in student learning and teacher instruction? Limited research efforts reveal that the needs of students in rural areas are quite distinct from other settings (Muijs & Reynolds, 2003; Rice, 2003). It is not until exclusive qualities are determined in both rural and urban environments that instructional plans can be geared to each student body. Addressing these sociocultural issues is crucial with an increasingly diverse population of students nationwide. Spradley’s (1980) Developmental Research Sequence and ethnographic interviews of four classroom teachers within rural and urban schools are the primary methods utilized throughout this inquiry. The participants are selected based on their school-wide reputation for being highly regarded literacy teachers. Several instructional techniques found are unique to rural and urban areas. Administrators, specialists, and classroom teachers should find the results of this investigation useful. Implications reach across grade levels as models of effective literacy instruction can be developed

Curtailing the Reading Difficulties of International Students Through an Online Eye Training Interventions

Eye training interventions have been shown to improve reading skills of students. Investigators pondered about its effectiveness with developmental reading students in college who completed 122 online modules related to word reading speed and comprehension. Students not only increased their word reading speed to a statistically significant rate, but they also increased their comprehension rates of passages regardless of factors such as instructor of record, course time, or module completion time. Findings further depict the considerable relationship between eye movements and reading, prompting teachers to incorporate known eye training techniques to prepare struggling readers to be more efficient readers