Focusing on increasing student diversity, special education teacher preparation programs must work towards developing preservice special education teachers’ ability to address culture, language, and disability in meeting the educational needs of students from socio-culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds with disabilities during the field-based experiences (Cloud, 1993, 2002; Garcia & Malkin, 1993; Kushner, 2008). Field-based experiences provide preservice special education teachers an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned at the university while receiving guidance from teacher educators. Expanding on what has been reported in the literature, this study focused on what the Higher Education Consortium for Special Education (HECSE) member institutions are reporting about the preparation of preservice special education teachers to use culturally responsive teaching (CRT) with students from CLD backgrounds with disabilities during the field-based experience. The purpose of this non-experimental, mixed-methods study was to explore what coordinators of special education teacher preparation programs with specific knowledge of the field-based experience component are currently reporting about the preparation of preservice special education teachers to be culturally responsive in their work with students from CLD backgrounds with disabilities during the field-based experience. The following were addressed as a part of the survey: (a) demographic information (b) program preparation for addressing diversity, (c) incorporation of diversity standards, (d) conceptualization of how teachers learn to teach, (e) selection of field-based experiences, (f) supervision of preservice special education teachers, (g) facilitated reflection, and (h) outcomes. The survey yielded a response rate of 50%. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis. The findings provided a more thorough understanding of the practices currently being reported by the HECSE member institutions to prepare preservice special education teachers to meet the educational needs of students from CLD backgrounds with disabilities during the field-based experience including: (a) incorporation of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) skills standards for multicultural competence (b) implementation of the components of CRT, and (c) facilitated reflection opportunities. Implications for the preparation of preservice special education teachers and future research are discussed. / text

The purpose of this study was to better understand the nature of the contribution of the mentor teacher and the methods instructor in the development of professional knowledge of pre-service teachers (PSTs) to teach elementary science. The PSTs' conceptions of teaching science were also explored to see if there were changes in their ideas about teaching science and what influenced these changes during the methods semester of a field-based elementary teacher preparation program. Specifically, this study examined the perceptions of the PSTs regarding the nature of mentorship that they received for the teaching of elementary science. Participants were 144 PSTs from five field-based elementary methods sites, their mentor teachers, and their methods instructor from a university program in a large urban area. Of interest in this study was examining the extent to which PSTs actually observed science teaching in their mentor teachers' classrooms during the methods semester. Analysis of an end-of-semester survey revealed that more than one-third of the PSTs never observed their mentor elementary teachers teach science. On an encouraging note, 62% of PSTs who observed at least some science teaching reported that they perceived their teachers as modeling inquiry science teaching strategies. Regarding the perceived quality of mentor support for learning to teach science, more than 90% of PSTs reported that they felt supported by mentor teachers in their growth of science teaching even if the mentor teachers did not incorporate science lessons into their school day. In addition, half of the PSTs' conceptions of teaching science changed over the methods semester, with the methods course and the elementary classroom as the two most influential factors.

No description available.

INTRODUÇÃO: os principais aspectos clínicos da esquistossomose mansônica (EM) são determinados pelas lesões vasculares e suas repercussões na hemodinâmica portal. O acesso não-invasivo a essas alterações tem importância fundamental na avaliação da morbidade da doença e na identificação de pacientes com maior risco de complicações. Este estudo de campo realizado em três áreas com níveis distintos de endemicidade, objetivou: a) verificar a viabilidade da USDoppler em estudos de campo; b) identificar os sinais de morbidade relacionados à EM e correlacioná-los com a endemicidade das áreas estudadas; c) determinar os valores dopplervelocimétricos do sistema vascular esplâncnico na EM; e d) determinar as alterações hemodinâmicas na EM. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: foram examinados por meio da US-Doppler, 554 pacientes esquistossomóticos, divididos em três grupos, de acordo com o local de realização do exame: área de baixa endemicidade (n=109); área de média endemicidade (n=255) e área de alta endemicidade (n=190). Avaliaram-se o fígado, o baço, a vesícula biliar, os vasos portais, as artérias hepática e esplênica, as veias hepáticas e os vasos colaterais. Para análise da morbidade da doença, foi utilizado o protocolo do Niamey Working Group (2000). O protocolo Doppler foi elaborado para fins específicos desta pesquisa. RESULTADOS: houve correlação estatisticamente significante entre as frequências de: espessamento periportal, esplenomegalia, espessamento da parede da vesícula biliar, aumento do calibre dos vasos portais, redução do lobo direito e o nível de endemicidade das áreas. Não houve relação significativa entre a hipertrofia do lobo esquerdo e a endemicidade das áreas. Considerando-se os achados ultrassonográficos de espessamento periportal e/ou esplenomegalia, os pacientes foram alocados em quatro grupos de acordo com a forma de apresentação da doença. As formas hepatointestinal e hepatoesplênica foram mais frequentes na área de alta endemicidade, demonstrando associação significativa entre o nível de endemicidade e a gravidade da doença. A velocidade máxima de fluxo da veia porta apresentou valores normais na maioria dos casos. O fluxo hepatofugal, a trombose portal e a circulação colateral foram pouco frequentes e identificados apenas na área de alta endemicidade. A veia gástrica esquerda foi a colateral prevalente. As veias hepáticas apresentaram padrão de fluxo alterado em 1/4 dos casos, alteração essa relacionada à presença e à intensidade de espessamento periportal. A artéria hepática não apresentou alterações significativas nos parâmetros avaliados. As alterações da artéria esplênica (aumento do calibre, da velocidade de pico sistólico e do índice de resistividade) foram mais frequentes na área de alta endemicidade e na forma hepatoesplênica, com diferença significativa entre os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: a US-Doppler mostrouse viável e adequada para avaliação das alterações hemodinâmicas da EM em estudos de campo. Os sinais de morbidade detectados ultrassonograficamente são parâmetros fidedignos do nivel de endemicidade da EM, e, as informações funcionais do sistema portal obtidas pela US-Doppler, contribuem para o diagnóstico mais preciso das formas clínicas da doença nas áreas endêmicas / INTRODUCTION: The main clinical aspects of schistosomiasis mansoni (SM) are determined by vascular lesions and their effects on the portal hemodynamic. The non-invasive access to these alterations has fundamental importance in assessing the morbidity of the disease and in identifying patients at higher risk of complications. This field study, carried out in three areas with different levels of endemicity, aimed to: a) assess the feasibility of Doppler ultrasound (US) in fieldbased studies; b) identify the signs of morbidity related to SM and correlate them with the endemicity of the studied areas; c) determine the dopplervelocimetric values of the splanchnic vascular system in SM; and d) determine the hemodynamic changes in SM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Doppler US was performed in 554 patients with SM, divided into three groups according to the local of the examination: low endemicity area (n=109), medium endemicity area (n=255), and high endemicity area (n=190). The liver, the spleen, the gallbladder, the portal vessels, the hepatic and splenic arteries, the hepatic veins and collateral vessels were evaluated. The Niamey Working Group (2000) protocol was used for the disease morbidity analysis. The Doppler protocol was developed for the specific purposes of this study. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant correlation between the frequency of: periportal thickening, splenomegaly, gallbladder wall thickening, dilatation of the portal vessels, right lobe atrophy and the endemicity level of the areas. No significant correlation between the left lobe hypertrophy and the endemicity level was observed. Taking into account the US findings of periportal thickening and/or splenomegaly, the patients were allocated in four groups according to the form of the disease. The hepatointestinal and hepatosplenic forms were more frequent in the high endemicity area, showing a significant association between the endemicity level and the disease severity. The maximum flow velocity in portal vein showed normal values in most cases. The hepatofugal flow, portal vein thrombosis and collateral vessels were infrequent and identified only in the area of high endemicity. The left gastric vein was the prevalent collateral. The hepatic veins flow pattern was abnormal in 1/4 of the cases, with significant relation to the presence and intensity of periportal thickening. The hepatic artery had no significant alterations in the evaluated parameters. The splenic artery changes (increase of its diameter, peak systolic velocity and resistive index) were more frequent in the high endemicity area and in the hepatosplenic form, with significant difference between the analysed groups. CONCLUSION: Doppler US proved to be feasible and appropriate for the evaluation of the SM hemodynamic changes in field-based studies. The morbidity signs detected by ultrasound are reliable parameters of the endemicity level of SM, and the functional information of the portal system obtained by Doppler US, contributes to a more accurate diagnosis of clinical forms of the disease in endemic areas

Teacher educators need to develop better teaching methods in order to, ultimately, serve future students in classrooms that are increasing in diversity. It is vital that education majors do more than hear and read about social justice issues facing their prospective students; for them to both understand it and retain it, they need deeper interaction with the issues and alternative strategies for resolving them. This model for using teaching cases may enable teacher educators to demonstrate the relevance of their coursework to their midlevel education students, ultimately enhancing learning gains. Of equal importance to their professional development, prospective teachers need to not only be prepared, but to know they are prepared. The model developed from this research may provide the venue to increasing their teacher efficacy. The model engages all four efficacy-building elements (Bandura, 1995), mastery, verbal, physiological and vicarious. Efficacy is developed verbally as participants discuss possible alternative solutions to the teaching cases. This discussion also affords both physiological development when responses enter Bakhtin's (1983) interstitial spaces, spaces of disagreement, argument, discomfort, and vicarious development of efficacy as students experience the teaching dilemmas of experienced teachers but experiences they realize are likely to be in their own futures. Perhaps the most challenging developer of efficacy through this model is mastery. Mastery can be developed during the "rehearsals" of seminar discussions of teaching cases (Cambourne, 1995), or it may develop within the internship-assigned classroom; for some it may require extensive classroom experience to achieve. This study's participants were a midlevel preservice teacher cohort divided between urban and suburban settings for their field-based internships. Intrinsic to the study was critical literacy and the recursive use of teaching cases focused on underlying social justice issues. Pretest and posttest scores from the Ohio State Teacher Efficacy Scale confirmed significant gains in teacher efficacy but could not validate the teaching cases as the causality. Qualitative data, however, did confirm the validity of using teaching cases with this specific study.

Based on the importance of implementing effective environmental education has been asserted to a sustainable solution to the environmental problems, this study aimed to (1) investigate the pre-service science teachers&rsquo / processes of construction of explanations regarding environmental problems, and (2) provide an environment for researchers to understand the dispositions of participants in terms of how using environmental explanations for answering the questions. The research has been realized within the context of an elective course titled &ldquo / Laboratory applications in environmental education&rdquo / in the Department of Elementary Education throughout 2008-2009 Spring semesters. The 21 pre-service science teachers attended the course and participated the environmental learning activities including five different environmental problems / biological diversity, surface waters, drinking water, waste water and air pollution with in a small group. Field trip activities, group discussions and whole class discussions were conducted through the course. Data were collected through audio and video recorders from one small group and through pre, post-tests. Analyses of data revealed that pre-service science teachers could not aware of the complex and multidisciplinary nature of environmental knowledge, so they mostly interpreted environmental problems through the everyday knowledge that they derived from everyday experiences. Through peer collaboration in fields and student-facilitator collaboration in discussions weeks, the pre-service science teachers have a chance to analyze different perspectives and ideologies about the causes and solutions of environmental problems. The pre-tests and post-test results revealed that in the field-based collaborative inquiry activities the participants&rsquo / nature of explanations shifted from descriptive to formal and scientific explanations.

Classification of the agricultural fields using remote sensing images is one of the most popular methods used for crop mapping. Most recent classification techniques are based on per-field approach that works as assigning a crop label for each field. Commonly, the spatial vector data is used for the boundaries of the fields for applying the classification within them. However, crop variation within the fields is a very common problem. In this case, the existing field boundaries may be insufficient for performing the field-based classification and therefore, image segmentation is needed to be employed to detect these homogeneous segments within the fields. This study proposed a field-based approach to segment the crop fields in an image within the integrated environment of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing. In this method, each field is processed separately and the segments within each field are detected. First, an edge detection is applied to the images, and the detected edges are vectorized to generate the straight line segments. Next, these line segments are correlated with the existing field boundaries using the perceptual grouping techniques to form the closed regions in the image. The closed regions represent the segments each of which contain a distinct crop type. To implement the proposed methodology, a software was developed. The implementation was carried out using the 10 meter spatial resolution SPOT 5 and the 20 meter spatial resolution SPOT 4 satellite images covering a part of Karacabey Plain, Turkey. The evaluations of the obtained results are presented using different band combinations of the images.

Thesis (M.A.)--Miami University, Dept. of Psychology, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 37-40).

INTRODUÇÃO: os principais aspectos clínicos da esquistossomose mansônica (EM) são determinados pelas lesões vasculares e suas repercussões na hemodinâmica portal. O acesso não-invasivo a essas alterações tem importância fundamental na avaliação da morbidade da doença e na identificação de pacientes com maior risco de complicações. Este estudo de campo realizado em três áreas com níveis distintos de endemicidade, objetivou: a) verificar a viabilidade da USDoppler em estudos de campo; b) identificar os sinais de morbidade relacionados à EM e correlacioná-los com a endemicidade das áreas estudadas; c) determinar os valores dopplervelocimétricos do sistema vascular esplâncnico na EM; e d) determinar as alterações hemodinâmicas na EM. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: foram examinados por meio da US-Doppler, 554 pacientes esquistossomóticos, divididos em três grupos, de acordo com o local de realização do exame: área de baixa endemicidade (n=109); área de média endemicidade (n=255) e área de alta endemicidade (n=190). Avaliaram-se o fígado, o baço, a vesícula biliar, os vasos portais, as artérias hepática e esplênica, as veias hepáticas e os vasos colaterais. Para análise da morbidade da doença, foi utilizado o protocolo do Niamey Working Group (2000). O protocolo Doppler foi elaborado para fins específicos desta pesquisa. RESULTADOS: houve correlação estatisticamente significante entre as frequências de: espessamento periportal, esplenomegalia, espessamento da parede da vesícula biliar, aumento do calibre dos vasos portais, redução do lobo direito e o nível de endemicidade das áreas. Não houve relação significativa entre a hipertrofia do lobo esquerdo e a endemicidade das áreas. Considerando-se os achados ultrassonográficos de espessamento periportal e/ou esplenomegalia, os pacientes foram alocados em quatro grupos de acordo com a forma de apresentação da doença. As formas hepatointestinal e hepatoesplênica foram mais frequentes na área de alta endemicidade, demonstrando associação significativa entre o nível de endemicidade e a gravidade da doença. A velocidade máxima de fluxo da veia porta apresentou valores normais na maioria dos casos. O fluxo hepatofugal, a trombose portal e a circulação colateral foram pouco frequentes e identificados apenas na área de alta endemicidade. A veia gástrica esquerda foi a colateral prevalente. As veias hepáticas apresentaram padrão de fluxo alterado em 1/4 dos casos, alteração essa relacionada à presença e à intensidade de espessamento periportal. A artéria hepática não apresentou alterações significativas nos parâmetros avaliados. As alterações da artéria esplênica (aumento do calibre, da velocidade de pico sistólico e do índice de resistividade) foram mais frequentes na área de alta endemicidade e na forma hepatoesplênica, com diferença significativa entre os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: a US-Doppler mostrouse viável e adequada para avaliação das alterações hemodinâmicas da EM em estudos de campo. Os sinais de morbidade detectados ultrassonograficamente são parâmetros fidedignos do nivel de endemicidade da EM, e, as informações funcionais do sistema portal obtidas pela US-Doppler, contribuem para o diagnóstico mais preciso das formas clínicas da doença nas áreas endêmicas / INTRODUCTION: The main clinical aspects of schistosomiasis mansoni (SM) are determined by vascular lesions and their effects on the portal hemodynamic. The non-invasive access to these alterations has fundamental importance in assessing the morbidity of the disease and in identifying patients at higher risk of complications. This field study, carried out in three areas with different levels of endemicity, aimed to: a) assess the feasibility of Doppler ultrasound (US) in fieldbased studies; b) identify the signs of morbidity related to SM and correlate them with the endemicity of the studied areas; c) determine the dopplervelocimetric values of the splanchnic vascular system in SM; and d) determine the hemodynamic changes in SM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Doppler US was performed in 554 patients with SM, divided into three groups according to the local of the examination: low endemicity area (n=109), medium endemicity area (n=255), and high endemicity area (n=190). The liver, the spleen, the gallbladder, the portal vessels, the hepatic and splenic arteries, the hepatic veins and collateral vessels were evaluated. The Niamey Working Group (2000) protocol was used for the disease morbidity analysis. The Doppler protocol was developed for the specific purposes of this study. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant correlation between the frequency of: periportal thickening, splenomegaly, gallbladder wall thickening, dilatation of the portal vessels, right lobe atrophy and the endemicity level of the areas. No significant correlation between the left lobe hypertrophy and the endemicity level was observed. Taking into account the US findings of periportal thickening and/or splenomegaly, the patients were allocated in four groups according to the form of the disease. The hepatointestinal and hepatosplenic forms were more frequent in the high endemicity area, showing a significant association between the endemicity level and the disease severity. The maximum flow velocity in portal vein showed normal values in most cases. The hepatofugal flow, portal vein thrombosis and collateral vessels were infrequent and identified only in the area of high endemicity. The left gastric vein was the prevalent collateral. The hepatic veins flow pattern was abnormal in 1/4 of the cases, with significant relation to the presence and intensity of periportal thickening. The hepatic artery had no significant alterations in the evaluated parameters. The splenic artery changes (increase of its diameter, peak systolic velocity and resistive index) were more frequent in the high endemicity area and in the hepatosplenic form, with significant difference between the analysed groups. CONCLUSION: Doppler US proved to be feasible and appropriate for the evaluation of the SM hemodynamic changes in field-based studies. The morbidity signs detected by ultrasound are reliable parameters of the endemicity level of SM, and the functional information of the portal system obtained by Doppler US, contributes to a more accurate diagnosis of clinical forms of the disease in endemic areas

In forensic anthropology, laboratory-based (LBM) and field-based (FM) models can be used to develop new methods and to research the stability and rate at which bio-molecules degrade. In this study, both these methods were used to investigate the effects that temperature, time after death (TAD) and other environmental factors had on the concentration of and change in molecular structure (increase in free pyrrole content, ninhydrin reactive nitrogen (NRN) and iron). of collagen, haemoglobin (Hb) and DNA in porcine teeth For the LBM, porcine teeth were heated at 900C for 0-4 hours, 1 hour intervals, (total number of teeth n=35). A porcine FM was established at the Miertjie Le Roux Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria. From the decomposing pigs, teeth were collected at TAD intervals of 20 days (n=35). The morphology of the teeth were evaluated and recorded. Methods for collagen and DNA isolation, quantification of protein, collagen, haemoglobin (Hb), free pyrrole content (FPC), ninhydrin reactive nitrogen (NRN), total iron, Fe2+ and Fe3+ as well as a real-time PCR method for the detection of mitochondrial cytb gene in porcine teeth were established. These methods were used to determine the concentration and structural integrity of these molecules in the LBM and FM teeth. The morphology of the LBM teeth was regular with only minor changes in colour with time heated. The collagen and Hb concentration did not change with time. A decrease in total iron (not statistically significant) and Fe3+ (p=0.014; R2=0.74) was found and was associated with an increase in Fe2+ (p=0.014; R2=0.965). No change in free pyrolle content was found. The total protein concentration determined using the Biuret method showed a decrease with time (p=0.009; R2=0.99). For DNA, a linear decrease in concentration (p=0.00; R2=0.93) was found. This DNA could still be used for the successful amplification of the cytb gene. As for DNA a similar decrease in NRN (p=0.00; R2=0.99) was also found whether this is related to protein or DNA degradation is unknown. From this data the total protein, DNA and NRN showed a definite time related change in concentration. For the field model the teeth were brown, cracked, weathered and corroded. As for LBM, there were no time related changes in mass and collagen content. A significant decrease in total protein concentration (p=0.00; R2=0.52) and FPC (p=0.01; R2=0.98) was observed. Hb, FPC and iron levels (total iron, Fe3+ and Fe 2) did not change with time but concentrations FPC and iron were higher than those found in the LBM. Also total protein concentration although it decreases with time was also increased when compared to the LBM (sentence is awkward, re-word). This could be due to increase bacteria activity that results in an increase in protein biomass, iron accumulation and pyrolle synthesis. In contrast Hb levels were the same as LBM and are species specific and not related to increased bacterial activity. NRN showed a time related decrease in concentration (p=0.09; R2=0.99) and was also twice that found in the LBM. This is related to decomposition of porcine protein and DNA as well as that derived from bacteria. A decrease in DNA concentration with time was found (p=0.00; R2=0.88). DNA from all samples and could be used for the amplification of cytb. In conclusion the LBM allows for rapid method development and the investigation of the effect of single factors on the integrity of bio-molecules such as protein and DNA. The FM can then be used to further investigate the effect of many additional environmental factors on the concentration and structure of the same bio-molecules. Using both models, it was found that total protein, DNA and NRN showed a time related change in concentration while the concentration of collagen and Hb remained constant. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Anatomy / unrestricted