Part-time Special Education Predicts Students’ Reading Self-concept Development

The academic self-concept changes from childhood to early adulthood in relation to experiences of capability in different school tasks and comparison with peers. Students in special education have a lower academic self-concept than their peers do, but it is unclear how part-time special education affects self-concept development. In Finnish schools, part-time special education is learning support that is usually provided for 1–2 h/week in small groups. The main aim of this study was exploring the effects of participation in part-time special education and gender on the level and change in three academic self-concept domains (General School, Mathematics and Reading) between the ages of 11 and 13 years (N = 669). Use of the multilevel growth curve model revealed negative linear development in all three self-concept domains from Grades 5 to 7, but participation in part-time special education had a statistically significant positive effect on the development of the Reading self-concept

Multi-frequency VLBA study of the blazar S5 0716+714 during the active state in 2004: I. Inner jet kinematics

We observed the blazar \object{0716+714} with the VLBA during its active state in 2003-2004. In this paper we discuss multi-frequency analysis of the inner jet (first 1 mas) kinematics. The unprecedentedly dense time sampling allows us to trace jet components without misidentification and to calculate the component speeds with good accuracy. In the smooth superluminal jet we were able to identify and track three components over time moving outwards with relatively high apparent superluminal speeds (8.5-19.4 $c$), which contradicts the hypothesis of a stationary oscillating jet in this source. Component ejections occur at a relatively high rate (once in two months), and they are accompanied by mm-continuum outbursts. Superluminal jet components move along wiggling trajectories, which is an indication of actual helical motion. Fast proper motion and rapid decay of the components suggest that this source should be observed with the VLBI at a rate of at least once in one or two months in order to trace superluminal jet components without confusion.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, Astronomy & Astrophysics Letter, language corrections adde

Shuntchirurgie in Europa und den USA: Ein kritischer Vergleich

Zusammenfassung: Nach einem anfänglich gemeinsamen Weg in der Fistelchirurgie begann in den USA ab etwa 1975 der bevorzugte Einsatz von Prothesenshunts. In bis zu 80% wurden bei Erstoperationen Gefäßprothesen implantiert, mit entsprechend hoher Komplikationsrate und hohen Folgekosten. Europa pflegte, mit lokalen Unterschieden, das Konzept der vorzugsweisen Verwendung von arteriovenösen Fisteln weiter (AVF). Der Prothesenanteil war nie höher als 40%. Unterstützt von Richtlinien, versuchen die USA seit 1997 einen deutlichen Umschwung herbeizuführen. Der Anteil primärer AVF ist seither angestiegen, bei allerdings wohl erhöhter initialer Versagerquote im internationalen Vergleich. Über Richtlinien hinaus sollte für beide Kontinente als vordringliche Aufgaben die interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit aller beteiligten Fachgebiete gelten: Durchführung zertifizierter, interdisziplinärer Kurse mit konsensfähigen Inhalten, Einrichtung von Referenzzentren mit einheitlicher, umfassender Dokumentation, Aufbau von Datenbanken zur Qualitätskontrolle mit abrufbaren Komplikations- und Funktionsraten, Standardisierung der Überwachung von Gefäßzugängen im Dialysezentru

Towards the completion of speciation : the evolution of reproductive isolation beyond the first barriers

y Speciation, that is, the evolution of reproductive barriers eventually leading to complete isolation, is a crucial process generating biodiversity. Recent work has contributed much to our understanding of how reproductive barriers begin to evolve, and how they are maintained in the face of gene flow. However, little is known about the transition from partial to strong reproductive isolation (RI) and the completion of speciation. We argue that the evolution of strong RI is likely to involve different processes, or new interactions among processes, compared with the evolution of the first reproductive barriers. Transition to strong RI may be brought about by changing external conditions, for example, following secondary contact. However, the increasing levels of RI themselves create opportunities for new barriers to evolve and, and interaction or coupling among barriers. These changing processes may depend on genomic architecture and leave detectable signals in the genome. We outline outstanding questions and suggest more theoretical and empirical work, considering both patterns and processes associated with strong RI, is needed to understand how speciation is completed. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards the completion of speciation: the evolution of reproductive isolation beyond the first barriers'.Peer reviewe