Bringing a Culturally Sustaining Lens to Reading Intervention

This study explores the possibilities and tensions that emerged when a literacy specialist brought a culturally sustaining lens to her work in a reading intervention setting with five emergent bilinguals. Utilizing a case study methodology, the study draws on data from class transcripts, interviews, student writing and artwork, and fieldnotes collected over 2 years. During data analysis, three themes, “get proximate,” “get connected,” and “get moving,” were constructed. Findings illustrate the complex relationship between practices designed to bring students’ linguistic and cultural resources into the classroom (“get proximate” and “get connected”) within a context designed to facilitate measurable growth in students’ reading skills ("get moving"). Findings contain seeds for further exploration related to engaging students’ languages and lived experiences to build foundational skills. The study suggests that more cohesive incorporation of culturally sustaining practices would require a (re)consideration of monolingualism and narrow definitions of literacy within interventions and assessments.

GLOBAL TRENDS IN EDUCATIONAL POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND THE COMPLEXITY OF QUALITY IN EDUCATION: A CAMEROONIAN PERSPECTIVE

This article argues that effective policy implementation strategies based on the concepts of equity, flexibility, accountability, creativity and innovation can raise students’ learning and bring about a significant economic and social development. Cameroon is an example of an education system that has over the years developed very important policies in the hope of raising the quality of knowledge that students learn in schools. The country’s education sector strategy for 2020/2030 has a good number of policies which are aimed at developing skills and promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship in the learners from the primary through the secondary to higher levels. However, most of these policies have either failed or have taken a far longer time to attain their set objectives. Cameroon like many other countries in Africa, Asia, and the rest of the world seem to present a mismatch between their educational policy objectives and what is implemented in the field. This situation is very much unlike the case in many other countries where effective educational reforms have brought about measurable growth in their economies. As a result of the numerous and diverse challenges involved in this process, very few systems attain a significant level of success in these policies. Thus, they fail because of their inability to handle the various challenges that come with the struggle for quality in education reform. This study focuses on some of those challenges that are likely to be faced by any educational system, in their struggle to achieve quality in their education; why these challenges arise and how some systems have overcome them to attain their objectives. Based on the case study of Cameroon, the study comes up with a number of factors of failures in most systems. It is built on the idea that challenges are always part of the process of education, and success can only be achieved by braving them

Internal ammonium excess induces ROS-mediated reactions and causes carbon scarcity in rice

Background: Overuse of nitrogen fertilizers is often a major practice to ensure sufficient nitrogen demand of high–yielding rice, leading to persistent NH4+ excess in the plant. However, this excessive portion of nitrogen nutrient does not correspond to further increase in grain yields. For finding out the main constraints related to this phenomenon, the performance of NH4+ excess in rice plant needs to be clearly addressed beyond the well-defined root growth adjustment. The present work isolates an acute NH4+ excess condition in rice plant from causing any measurable growth change and analyses the initial performance of such internal NH4+ excess. Results: We demonstrate that the acute internal NH4+ excess in rice plant accompanies readily with a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and initiates the downstream reactions. At the headstream of carbon production, photon caption genes and the activity of primary CO2 fixation enzymes (Rubisco) are evidently suppressed, indicating a reduction in photosynthetic carbon income. Next, the vigorous induction of glutathione transferase (GST) genes and enzyme activities along with the rise of glutathione (GSH) production suggest the activation of GSH cycling for ROS cleavage. Third, as indicated by strong induction of glycolysis / glycogen breakdown related genes in shoots, carbohydrate metabolisms are redirected to enhance the production of energy and carbon skeletons for the cost of ROS scavenging. As the result of the development of these defensive reactions, a carbon scarcity would accumulatively occur and lead to a growth inhibition. Finally, a sucrose feeding cancels the ROS burst, restores the activity of Rubisco and alleviates the demand for the activation of GSH cycling. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that acute NH4+ excess accompanies with a spontaneous ROS burst and causes carbon scarcity in rice plant. Therefore, under overuse of N fertilizers carbon scarcity is probably a major constraint in rice plant that limits the performance of nitrogen.

The Concept of Governance

This section of the book presents the second dimension of the AGG model (the governance realm). It discusses why it is necessary to understand the concept of governance in a general sense, as well as in the corporate and in the information technology senses. If this book argues that an enterprise's observable architectural characteristics determine its governance issues, and that the governance agenda of the enterprise determines its measurable growth conditions, then it is imperative that the concept of governance should be specified. This chapter deals with the concept of governance in a general sense, highlighting those aspects that are necessary for a proper understanding of the operation of market architectures, as well as those aspects related to governance at the enterprise level. The chapter also discusses a special case of governance, the concept of “bazaar governance,” a form of governance structure that has emerged with the growth of the open source movement for the development of software production.

A bonding process between grains in mechanically disaggregated snow

Collections of disaggregated snow particles were examined in a temperature-controlled microscope stage. In addition to necks that appeared to sinter in a manner congruent with the two-particle model, there also appeared unanticipated dendritic growth, which developed on some grains and grew into the pore space. These branches developed preferentially only on part of, and in different directions on, individual grains. Some of these grew enough to join with adjacent grains that were in close proximity but not initially in contact, while the surface of the adjacent grains did not show measurable growth or loss. Growth orientation is hypothesized to be due to crystal habit dependence on temperature. Columnar growth was observed at –5˚C and plate-like at –15˚C. The random growth orientation is in contrast to observed source and sink development aligned with a temperature gradient imposed using a gradient stage. In this case, a source-to-sink directionality across the pore was apparent in which faceted crystals grew at the expense of neighboring source grains. The process of mechanically disaggregating snow produces numerous broken shards and sharp-edged fracture surfaces. We hypothesize that it is the sublimation of these high-surface-energy regions that provides the excess vapor to facilitate the diffusion-limited dendritic growth observed in this ‘equitemperature’, mechanically processed snow.

Copper-Induced Inhibition of Growth of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G20: Assessment of Its Toxicity and Correlation with Those of Zinc and Lead

ABSTRACT The toxicity of copper [Cu(II)] to sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) was studied by using Desulfovibrio desulfuricansG20 in a medium (MTM) developed specifically to test metal toxicity to SRB (R. K. Sani, G. Geesey, and B. M. Peyton, Adv. Environ. Res. 5:269–276, 2001). The effects of Cu(II) toxicity were observed in terms of inhibition in total cell protein, longer lag times, lower specific growth rates, and in some cases no measurable growth. At only 6 μM, Cu(II) reduced the maximum specific growth rate by 25% and the final cell protein concentration by 18% compared to the copper-free control. Inhibition by Cu(II) of cell yield and maximum specific growth rate increased with increasing concentrations. The Cu(II) concentration causing 50% inhibition in final cell protein was evaluated to be 16 μM. A Cu(II) concentration of 13.3 μM showed 50% inhibition in maximum specific growth rate. These results clearly show significant Cu(II) toxicity to SRB at concentrations that are 100 times lower than previously reported. No measurable growth was observed at 30 μM Cu(II) even after a prolonged incubation of 384 h. In contrast, Zn(II) and Pb(II), at 16 and 5 μM, increased lag times by 48 and 72 h, respectively, but yielded final cell protein concentrations equivalent to those of the zinc- and lead-free controls. Live/dead staining, based on membrane integrity, indicated that while Cu(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II) inhibited growth, these metals did not cause a loss of D. desulfuricans membrane integrity. The results show that D. desulfuricans in the presence of Cu(II) follows a growth pattern clearly different from the pattern followed in the presence of Zn(II) or Pb(II). It is therefore likely that Cu(II) toxicity proceeds by a mechanism different from that of Zn(II) or Pb(II) toxicity.

610 Evaluation of Sawmill Residue as a Component of Nursery Potting Mix

The standard mix used by most nurseries consist of a 9 pine bark: 1 sand. With the ever-increasing cost of bark, nurseries are looking for an alternative. Sawmill residue may hold potential utility as part of a potting mix. Although sawmill residue is highly variable, it can serve as soil bulk as well as an organic medium. The purpose of this study was to determine if old sawmill residue not treated by pathogen-free requirement procedures could be used “as is” as part of a nursery soil mix. For this study, a sample, a typical conglomerate of undetermined wood chips, bark, and soil particles, was obtained from an “old pile” (just how old is not known) of sawmill residue. To determine how this sample would function in a nursery bark/sand mix, tests were run on its physical properties of pore space and water-holding capacity. The sawmill residue had the following characteristics: a mean 44.2% porosity capacity, 23.4% air space, and 20.8% water holding capacity. A standard fertilizer and lime amendment package was added to the sawmill residue in the same rates as a regular nursery mix. The sawmill residue and the standard nursery mix were then blended according to the treatment percentages. The treatments were sawmill residue/standard nursery mix 0/100, 10/90, 30/70, 60/40, and 100/0. The Ilex crenata `Compacta' liners were planted into standard 1-gallon nursery pots filling to just below the rim. The pots were randomly placed on a well-drained rock surface in full sun. No additional fertilizer was used and watering was done as needed. Plants were grown for 1 year. Visual assessments were made throughout the growing period and at harvest. There was no visible difference in any of the treatments as far as overall growth was discerned. The plants were of uniform height and width showing consistent, even growth and good leaf color. Root system growth and development were evaluated visually and over all treatments were uniformly good. No root problems were noted. There was not any plant loss in any treatment over the entire study. Each plant was cut at the soil line and dried for 24 hours at 1150 °C. Dry weights were taken after the plant material had cooled for 4 hours. Results were based on four plants per treatment times four replications for a total of 16 plants per treatment. There was not any measurable growth difference in dry weight among treatments 1, 2, 3, and 4 [sawmill residue/standard nursery mix 0/100 (41.03 g dry weight), 10/90 (39.83 g dry weight), 30/70 (38.98 g dry weight), 60/40 (37.42 g dry weight)]. However, treatment 5 [100/0 (31.03 g dry weight)] was significantly lower when compared to the remaining four treatments. The lower dry weight may be attributed to the 100% sawmill residue being too heavy and not well-drained enough. However, the roots did not show any damage from being too wet. Further work is being done with the sawmill residue.

Characteristics of first-antler growth in reindeer and their association with seasonal fluctuations in steroid and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels

Growth and development of the pedicles and first antlers were monitored in seven reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) calves (three males, four females) from birth to 1 year of age. Calves were weighed, blood was sampled, and antler observations and (or) measurements were taken on the day of birth and days 2, 4, and 7 and then at weekly intervals for the remainder of the year. Prior to measurable growth, the frontal lateral crest was carefully palpated for evidence of pedicle initiation, starting on the day of birth. Calves were born between April 8 and 26, 1994. Pedicle initiation occurred in all reindeer by day 7. Velvet skin first appeared when calves were 4-6 weeks old, when estimated pedicle height was 3.5 ± 0.9 cm (mean ± SD). Antler growth in both sexes followed a sigmoidal pattern, producing a mean antler length of 33.5 ± 4.2 and 46.7 ± 13.8 cm in females and males, respectively. Antler growth was complete by week 18 in females and week 21 in males. Velvet cleaning was associated with a significant increase in plasma testosterone levels in males and estradiol-17beta (but not testosterone) levels in females. Insulin-like growth factor 1 levels were significantly higher in males than in females and were positively correlated with the period of most rapid antler growth in both sexes. Casting occurred between March 14 and April 17, when steroid levels were at a minimum, and was immediately followed by growth of the second antler.

Development and Significance of Dicarboximide Resistance in Sclerotinia minor Isolates from Commercial Lettuce Fields in California

Three growth stages of each of 20 Sclerotinia minor isolates were tested for resistance to iprodione. Sclerotia and both vegetative and mature mycelium of each isolate were plated on potato-dextrose agar (PDA) amended with 0, 1, 5, 10, 25, and 100 µg of the fungicide per ml, and radial growth was measured. All wild-type field isolates were initially sensitive and did not grow in the presence of iprodione. However, fungicide resistance arose readily in vitro. All 20 isolates produced measurable growth (≥2 mm) on iprodione at 5 µg/ml after 2 weeks when started from mature mycelium, and 18 of 20 isolates produced measurable growth after 4 weeks when started from vegetative mycelium. In general, fungicide-resistant growth arose more frequently and mean colony diameters were significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) with mature mycelium than with vegetative mycelium at all times and concentrations. In sclerotial germination tests, at least 1% of sclerotia germinated in 18 of 20 isolates after 2 weeks on iprodione at 5 µg/ml, and in 19 of 20 isolates after 5 weeks on 100 µg/ml. Of growth produced on 79 plates containing iprodione, 73 remained viable on PDA after 5 months, and 71 retained resistance to 5 µg/ml. Seventy of these also exhibited cross-resistance to vinclozolin, another dicarboximide fungicide. Pathogenicity of five fungicide-resistant strains was tested in greenhouse, microplot, and field experiments, with and without iprodione. Two months after in vitro production, one of the five resistant strains was avirulent, but disease incidence for the other four ranged from 40 to 75%, compared with 40% for the wild-type isolates. However, the virulence of the fungicide-resistant strains declined over time. Ten months after their production, two of the isolates were avirulent and disease incidence for the others ranged from 3 to 17%, compared with 40 to 90% for the wild-type isolates. The strains that remained virulent 5 and 7 months after in vitro production were not significantly controlled by iprodione sprayed according to labeled rates, although disease was significantly controlled by the fungicide in treatments inoculated with wild-type field isolates (P > 0.05). In experiments in commercial fields to determine the efficacy of fungicide sprays on the wild-type S. minor population, there was no evidence that fungicide resistance was the cause of lack of lettuce drop control observed in many coastal California fields. Application of fungicides at a less than optimal time may account for some incidents of control failure.

Effect of different rates and timing of soil applications of paclobutrazol on the growth of sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.)

The response of sweet cherry trees (butt circumference, canopy volume, yield) to different rates of the growth-inhibiting chemical paclobutrazol applied at various times during each year was studied on red podsolic soils in the Mount Lofty Ranges of South Australia Two experiments were conducted: one used a regression design with 16 rates of paclobutrazol; the other was a randomised block experiment with paclobutrazol treatments applied in spring, autumn, or half in autumn and half in spring. Butt circumference growth of the variety Sam grafted on Mahaleb rootstocks tended to reduce with inceased rates of paclobutrazol in the first year of application. The lowest rate of paclobutrazol to reduce butt growth sigdicantly below that of control trees was 1.2 g a.i./tree. Canopy growth showed a delayed response in measurable growth inhibition in the season after treatment; however, no significant differences were measured for rate of canopy growth in any year for any treatment in the regression experiment. Despite this, final canopy volumes of trees treated with 1.6 g paclobutrazol in spring were half those of control canopies. Variability in butt growth response to the range of rates applied was attributed largely to localised differences in soil properties which influenced paclobutrazol movement and uptake. This variability was gradually reduced over the 3-year period with continued paclobutrazol applications. In 1987, crop level ratings made before harvest showed significantly higher levels of fruit on trees treated with 1.6 g paclobutrazol in spring, indicating that fruit numbers could be increased by applications of paclobutrazol.