First Steps Toward Change in Teacher Preparation for Elementary Science

Unless introductory undergraduate science classes for prospective elementary teachers actively incorporate the philosophy of inquiry-based learning called for in K-l2 science education refom little will change in elementary science education. Thus, at James Madison University, we have developed a new integrated science core curriculum called Understanding our World [1]. This course sequence was not only designed to fulfill general education science requirements. but also to focus on content areas our students will need to know as teachers. The objectives of these courses are based on the National Science Education Standards and Virginia’s Science Standards of Learning, including earth and space science, chemistry, physics, life sciences, and environmental science [2,3]. As an integrated package, this course sequence addresses basic science content, calculation skills, the philosophy and history of science, the process of how science is done, the role of science in society, and applications of computers and technology in science. Keeping in mind that students tend to teach in the same way they were taught, Understanding our World core classes embrace the concepts associated with reform in elementary math and science

Knowledge of and attitudes to sports drinks of adolescents living in South Wales, UK

Background: The UK sports drinks market has a turnover in excess of £200M. Adolescents consume 15.6% of total energy as free sugars, much higher than the recommended 5%. Sugar sweetened beverages, including sports drinks, account for 30% of total free sugar intake for those aged 11-18 years. Objective: To investigate children’s knowledge and attitudes surrounding sports drinks. Method: 183 self-complete questionnaires were distributed to four schools in South Wales. Children aged 12 - 14 were recruited to take part. Questions focussed on knowledge of who sports drinks are aimed at; the role of sports drinks in physical activity and the possible detrimental effects to oral health. Recognition of brand logo and sports ambassadors and the relationship of knowledge to respondent’s consumption of sports drinks were assessed. Results: There was an 87% (160) response rate. 89.4% (143) claimed to drink sports drinks. 45.9% thought that sports drinks were aimed at everyone; approximately a third (50) viewed teenagers as the target group. Over 2/3rds recognised the brand logos, yet less than a 1/3rd could identify brand ambassadors. About half were aware that dental erosion may result from consumption and approximately 2/3rds knew that they were linked to dental caries and energy provision. Despite this the majority claimed to drink them. As previously reported most of those drinking sports drinks did so because of the taste. Conclusion: Whilst most of the respondents had some understanding of the detrimental effects on health the majority of them were drinking them regularly despite this knowledge. Work is therefore needed at a macro level, with soft drink manufacturers, to consider marketing and reformulation of products for adolescent consumers who appear to enjoy them

Chromophore-bearing NH_2-terminal domains of phytochromes A and B determine their photosensory specificity and differential light lability

In early seedling development, far-red-light-induced deetiolation is mediated primarily by phytochrome A (phyA), whereas red-light-induced deetiolation is mediated primarily by phytochrome B (phyB). To map the molecular determinants responsible for this photosensory specificity, we tested the activities of two reciprocal phyA/phyB chimeras in diagnostic light regimes using overexpression in transgenic Arabidopsis. Although previous data have shown that the NH_2-terminal halves of phyA and phyB each separately lack normal activity, fusion of the NH_2-terminal half of phyA to the COOH-terminal half of phyB (phyAB) and the reciprocal fusion (phyBA) resulted in biologically active phytochromes. The behavior of these two chimeras in red and far-red light indicates: (i) that the NH2-terminal halves of phyA and phyB determine their respective photosensory specificities; (ii) that the COOH-terminal halves of the two photoreceptors are necessary for regulatory activity but are reciprocally inter-changeable and thus carry functionally equivalent determinants; and (iii) that the NH_2-terminal halves of phyA and phyB carry determinants that direct the differential light lability of the two molecules. The present findings suggest that the contrasting photosensory information gathered by phyA and phyB through their NH_2-terminal halves may be transduced to downstream signaling components through a common biochemical mechanism involving the regulatory activity of the COOH-terminal domains of the photoreceptors

Factors Affecting Clergy-Psychologist Referral Patterns

Recent research on clergy-psychologist collaboration has resulted in helpful principles for clergy and psychologists working together, but very little is known about what specific characteristics in clergy are appealing to psychologists and vice versa. Two experimental survey studies are reported, both exploring characteristics that enhance or hinder collaboration. In Study 1, Southern Baptist pastors rated the likelihood of referring to a counselor who was identified as either a Biblical Counselor or a Christian Psychologist, and was identified as either being excellent in interpersonal skills or as using scripture and prayer in counseling. Pastors demonstrated a preference for counselors using scripture and prayer in counseling over those described as having excellent interpersonal skills. In Study 2, psychologist respondents rated the likelihood of referring to a clergyperson who was identified either as a Baptist or a Unitarian universalist, and was identified either as seminary trained or as having a doctoral degree from a prestigious divinity school. Psychologists demonstrated a preference for those with a doctoral degree. The weak effect sizes and comments offered on the surveys suggest that the individual relationship between clergy and psychologist is much more salient than particular demographic characteristics when considering the possibility of collaboration

Design of flexible ultrahigh-Q microcavities in diamond-based photonic crystal slabs

We design extremely flexible ultrahigh-Q diamond-based double-heterostructure photonic crystal slab cavities by modifying the refractive index of the diamond. The refractive index changes needed for ultrahigh-Q cavities with $Q ~ 10^7$, are well within what can be achieved ($\Delta n \sim 0.02$). The cavity modes have relatively small volumes $V<2 (\lambda /n)^3$, making them ideal for cavity quantum electro-dynamic applications. Importantly for realistic fabrication, our design is flexible because the range of parameters, cavity length and the index changes, that enables an ultrahigh-Q is quite broad. Furthermore as the index modification is post-processed, an efficient technique to generate cavities around defect centres is achievable, improving prospects for defect-tolerant quantum architectures.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures (1 in colour

Entomology research in southeast Missouri 1960.

Cover title.This report summarized research on crop pest control conducted by the Agricultural Experiment Station in southeast Missouri during 1960.Cotton insect research / Keith Harrendorf -- Corn insects / Armon J. Keaster, Mahlon L. Fairchild, B. Dean Barry -- Nematode control / Lee Jenkins

Modeling Micro-Porous Surfaces for Secondary Electron Emission Control to Suppress Multipactor

This work seeks to understand how the topography of a surface can be engineered to control secondary electron emission (SEE) for multipactor suppression. Two unique, semi-empirical models for the secondary electron yield (SEY) of a micro-porous surface are derived and compared. The first model is based on a two-dimensional (2D) pore geometry. The second model is based on a three-dimensional (3D) pore geometry. The SEY of both models is shown to depend on two categories of surface parameters: chemistry and topography. An important parameter in these models is the probability of electron emissions to escape the surface pores. This probability is shown by both models to depend exclusively on the aspect ratio of the pore (the ratio of the pore height to the pore diameter). The increased accuracy of the 3D model (compared to the 2D model) results in lower electron escape probabilities with the greatest reductions occurring for aspect ratios less than two. In order to validate these models, a variety of micro-porous gold surfaces were designed and fabricated using photolithography and electroplating processes. The use of an additive metal-deposition process (instead of the more commonly used subtractive metal-etch process) provided geometrically ideal pores which were necessary to accurately assess the 2D and 3D models. Comparison of the experimentally measured SEY data with model predictions from both the 2D and 3D models illustrates the improved accuracy of the 3D model. For a micro-porous gold surface consisting of pores with aspect ratios of two and a 50% pore density, the 3D model predicts that the maximum total SEY will be one. This provides optimal engineered surface design objectives to pursue for multipactor suppression using gold surfaces

Spectral Adaptation: A Reason to Use the Wavenumber Scale

Chromatic adaptation refers to the ability of the human visual system to adjust to the color of the illumination, or other prevailing stimuli, such that perceived object colors vary far less with changes in illumination than would be expected from simple radiometry or colorimetry. Models of chromatic adaptation are generally formulated as extensions of the von Kries hypothesis of some sort of independent gain control mechanisms operating on the three types of cone signals. This paper introduces a new way to model the phenomenon with no requirement for the first stage chromatic processing. This model is referred to as a spectral adaptation model since it acts upon spectra rather than chromatic signals such as tristimulus values. The spectral adaptation model was compared with other models of adaptation both computationally and through limited psychophysical data. It is shown to have reasonable, and flexible, performance and could be of practical value in applications such as spectral image reproduction. A limiting case of the spectral model, a model of perfect color constancy, is also described and compared with traditional chromatic adaptation models

The Geographic and Social Mobility of Slaves: The Rise of Shajar al’Durr, A Slave-Concubine in Thirteenth-Century Egypt

Large numbers of outsiders were integrated into premodern Islamic society through the institution of slavery. Many were boys of non-Muslim parents drafted into the army, and some rose to become powerful political figures; in Egypt, after the death of Ayyubid sultan al-Salih (r. 1240–49), they formed a dynasty known as the Mamluks. For slave concubines, the route to power was different: Shajar al-Durr, the concubine of al-Salih, gained enormous status when she gave birth to his son and later governed as regent in her son’s name, converting to Islam after her husband’s death and then reigning as sultan in her own right. She emerges as a figure both unique and typical of the pathways to assimilation and mobility