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Over the past decades many teaching strategies have been proposed by various educators to improve education of all students including students with special needs. No single one of these proposed teaching strategies meets the needs of all students. The new Every Student Succeeds Act, successor to No Child Left behind Law, which transfers oversight from federal level back to states, could be a benefactor for constructivism and special education. Educators are also optimistic that the new Every Student Succeeds Act will be better for vulnerable students in special education because it will introduce more flexibility in how individual states carry out evaluation of students and teachers. In addition, it will provide more flexibility on testing and adapt the curriculum to student's needs. It would further reduce time and energy for students preparing for standardized tests or statewide exams. It will also end "Adequate Yearly Progress"--a measure that required schools to show test score gains. Constructivist teaching philosophy is all about accepting student autonomy where student thinking drives the lessons, where dialogue, inquiry, and puzzlement are valued and assessing student learning is in the context of teaching. It helps teachers to draw on new ideas as they make decisions about which teaching techniques are most appropriate for all students to learn. Now is the time to revisit the great debate of constructivism versus teacher-centered instruction and special education. Time has come to effectively explore our educational system and examine the core unit of the whole enterprise, the textbook, the classroom, a setting that is often dominated by teacher talk and students listen.

Educators and caregivers now have the opportunity to individualize and differentiate instructions with many technological devices never before available. Assistive Technology is being introduced in the classroom at all levels as a tool for teachers to help deliver instruction to all students. Assistive Technology is widely used to ensure appropriate educational opportunities to all students, including ELL students, students at risk, and students being considered as gifted and talented. The purpose of this article is to describe various assistive technology devices as mathematics tools to help all struggling students, not just students with disabilities, overcome math difficulties.

The role of methane (CH4) in the 21st century presents a critical dilemma. Its abundance and clean-burning nature make it a promising energy source, while its potent greenhouse effect threatens climate stability. Despite its potent greenhouse gas (GHG) nature, CH4 remains a crucial energy resource. However, advancements in CH4 capture, utilization, and emissions mitigation are rapidly evolving, necessitating a critical assessment of the advances, their potential, and challenges. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the current state of the art in these advancements, particularly focusing on the emissions trends, with corresponding global warming potentials of projected CH4 emissions, and a discussion on the advances that have been made towards reducing the impacts of CH4 emissions. The areas of these advances include measurement, computational, numerical modeling, and simulation studies for CH4, emerging technologies for CH4 production, management and control, the nexus of CH4 –X, and case study applications in countries. This study reports on these advances, which involves a technical review of studies, mainly from the last decade, discussing the technical feasibility, economic viability, and environmental impact of these advancements. Our trend analysis reveals that even though the share of CH4 in the GHG mix has been around 19% compared with carbon dioxide (CO2), still, CH4 reduction would need to be highly subsidized because of the high global warming potential it has, compared with CO2. We conclude that while significant progress has been made, further research and development are essential to optimize the performance, scalability, and affordability of these advancements. Additionally, robust policy frameworks and international collaborations are crucial to ensure widespread adoption and maximize the potential that comes with the advancements in the mitigation of the impact of CH4 emission. This study contributes to the ongoing dialogue on balancing the potentials of CH4 with its environmental footprint, paving the way for a future where this versatile resource can be utilized sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, solar energy has become one of the largest available sources of renewable energy at our disposal. However, the design of highly efficient solar cells is increasingly becoming crucial as there has been a surge for economically viable alternative energy sources with the lowest cost. Significant advances have been made through different routes to make photovoltaic (PV)/solar technologies economically viable, eco-friendly and consequently scalable. As a result, cellulose nanomaterials have become one of the emerging technologies in this regard because of the advantages of high-value bio-based nanostructured materials, such as their abundance and sustainability. Nanocellulose-based photoactive nanocomposite materials can be made by integrating conducting photoactive and electroconductive materials with hydrophilic biocompatible cellulose. Inorganic nanoparticles, such as graphene/reduced graphene oxide cadmium sulphide quantum dots, amongst others, can be introduced into the nanocellulose matrix and can be applied either as charge transporters or photoactive materials in different types of solar cells. Thus, in this review, we highlight the optoelectronic properties of different photoactive materials, particularly nanocellulose-based graphene nanocomposites; their efficiencies and drawbacks were X-rayed. The effect of doping each PV material on the PV performance is also discussed. It is anticipated that the novel material would result in a reduction in the cost of solar cells, jointly enhancing their efficacy in generating environmentally friendly electricity. Since the fabrication techniques and equipment play a crucial role in the development of solar cells, the fabrication techniques of bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) cells containing a nanocellulose-based graphene composite and case studies of already fabricated BHJ PV cells with nanocellulose-based graphene composite are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite enormous improvements in AT devices and services in American classrooms, the number of students with special needs, and the complexity of needs that they and their families experience continues to be sky rocketed nationwide. In response to these urgent needs, more advanced and specialized assistive technologies have been developed that educators can use to revamp and redefine education of individuals with special needs, multiple learning styles, and physical challenges. AT helps students with special needs develop independent thinking skills, maintain self-reliance, increase autonomy, develop problem-solving skills, facilitate a sense of continuity in living conditions as much as possible, and become more actively involved in their educational activities at home, schools and communities. It allows teachers to reach out to all children at home, in the classroom, workplace, and community through outreach programs. AT, both high and light provide enormous potential for students with special needs to capitalize on their strengths and by bypassing, or compensate for loss of function, making the most out of their educational experiences. This article investigates the potential of AT to revamp education of students with special needs. In addition, this paper will help make educators and the learning community aware of AT availability and the use of and benefits afforded by AT devices.

Sustainable energy development (SED) is a crucial component of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), aiming to maintain economic and social progress while protecting the environment and mitigating climate change's effects. SED serves as a transition paradigm for sustainable development, providing a blueprint for energy peace and prosperity for people and all uses. This article presents the history of SED and then uses a critical discourse approach to summarize existing review studies in SED. Ten interlinked themes of SED are identified, with two of them considered to be among the least studied in existing SED reviews and in the current global discussion around climate change. This study explores these two themes, which include energy financing and the need for 100% renewable energy (RE), a sub-theme of decarbonization strategy working towards the 1.5–2.0 °C scenario. The study suggests that the current G20 countries' contributions, if maintained continuously per annum, in addition to 80% more funding from private investment compared to the amount in the 1.5 °C scenario financial requirements for clean energy, are sufficient to limit global warming. In addition to the present drive for 100% RE, the article also discusses emerging issues, such as energy storage options with an indication of hydrogen as the most promising, other energy-related development agendas, and the need for regional security stability to prevent energy wars. Selected SED decarbonization strategies are presented across the power, transport, building, and industrial sectors. The study concludes with progress and directions for future research, mainly the need for re-defining nationally determined contribution (NDC) through an emissions budgeting and centralized global or regional emissions stock-taking strategy working towards the 1.5 °C scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the challenges facing recent graduates, or those looking for a new job, is writing an eye-catching resume that encapsulates and unveils their qualifications and accomplishments to potential employers. Several factors contribute to this challenge, such as the explosive rate of unemployment for recent graduates, increases in graduation rates, and the emergence of new curricula, the new technologies, and a weak resume. If applicant is unique, his or her resume should reflect this uniqueness. An effective resume should tell a story about applicant qualifications and prior experience for a job. This paper explains what a good resume should look like and how it can open the door for the applicant to be interviewed as well as reducing the stress that comes with the job hunt. The authors have over fifty years of experience interviewing in areas of business, education, and government.

Science educators and school administrators are reexamining the educational value of animal dissection in the nation's schools and are focusing on simulation as an instructional alternative. One implication of the debate is that simulations can lead to equivalent learning to hands-on dissection. The second implication is whether dissection is immoral or unethical. Recent research findings revealed that students who use simulation to dissect a frog outperformed those who dissected a frog conventionally. This research compared the achievement, attitudes toward dissection, computer, science and school between simulation conditions versus conventional conditions. Results of the study indicated that on the achievement test, both the computer simulation and the conventional dissection classrooms experienced statistically significant improvement from pretest to posttest. When comparing results across classes, the simulation class and the conventional did not have significantly different pretest means. However, the simulated dissection group significantly outperformed the conventional dissection group on the posttest. The conventional class had a significant drop in the attitude scores on the post test. (Contains 1 figure and 7 tables.)

Reports on a study that examined the prior use of simulation on frog dissection in improving students' actual dissection performance and learning of frog anatomy and morphology. Finds that students who performed the simulation before dissection performed significantly better than students who performed dissection before using the simulation or students who did not use the simulation. Contains 50 references. (Author/WRM)

One of the challenges facing recent graduates, or those looking for a new job, is writing an eye-catching resume that encapsulates and unveils their qualifications and accomplishments to potential employers. [...]

Metabolic diseases are associated with impaired renal function which accelerates chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 16-week honey supplementation on renal function, metabolic acidosis and renal abnormalities in Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Wistar rats were fed a HFD and sucrose (30%) solution and randomly grouped and treated. Group 1 was fed rat chow and treated with drinking water while groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were fed a HFD and treated with drinking water, 1, 2 and 3 g/kg body weight (BW) of honey, respectively, once daily for 16 weeks. After the rats were sacrificed, the serum samples were obtained and used for the analysis of total cholesterol, urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, calcium, bicarbonates and chloride ions. Histopathological examinations of the kidneys were performed. The serum creatinine and anion gap levels were significantly (p < 0.01) higher while the levels of serum total calcium and ionized fraction were significantly (p < 0.01) lower in HFD-fed control rats than in chow-fed rats. The kidney of HFD-fed control rats was characterized by tubular necrosis, glomerular atrophy, hemorrhage and severe focal aggregate inflammatory (FAIC) cells. Honey treatment (1, 2 or 3 g/kg BW) prevented elevations in serum creatinine while it restored serum levels of total calcium and ionized calcium towards those in rats fed chow only. All the three doses of honey also significantly (p < 0.01) reduced anion gap and ameliorated renal lesions. Honey treatment (2 g/kg BW) significantly (p < 0.05) increased bicarbonate and chloride ion in HFD-fed rats compared with HFD-fed control rats. Sixteen-week honey supplementation ameliorates renal dysfunction, metabolic acidosis and renal morphological abnormalities in HFD-fed Wistar rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Salacial lehmbachii stem bark is used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its associated complications. Treatment of diabetes is necessary to reduce these complications. Methods: In this study, the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic potential of S. lehmbachii ethanol stem bark extract was evaluated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats at a dose of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg p.o. daily for 21 days. Blood glucose levels, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) were assessed in the animals. Results: Treatment of alloxan-induced diabetic rats with S. lehmbachii stem bark extract showed significant (p<0.01) reduction in blood glucose levels when compared with diabetic control. The elevated levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL were significantly (p<0.01) reduced by S. lehmbachii stem bark extract, while the level of HDL significantly (p<0.01) increased. Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that S. lehmbachii stem bark extract has the potential to treat diabetes condition and hyperlipidemic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Icacina senegalensis root bark is traditionally used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in Nigeria. To date, no scientific study has substantiated or refuted this claim. Methods: The antidiarrheal and antimicrobial activities of the ethanol root bark extract were investigated in rats and against some selected diarrhea-causing microorganisms. Results: The extract significantly decreased the frequency of castor oil-induced diarrhea, and inhibited the masses and volumes of intestinal fluid accumulation in the castor oil-induced enteropooling method. The distance travelled by the charcoal meal was also decreased by the extract gastrointestinal transit method. The extract also strongly inhibited the growth of some selected microorganisms. Conclusions: The ethanol extract of the I. senegalensis root bark showed antidiarrheal activity, thus justifying its long folkloric use in diarrhea treatment. The extract also demonstrated antimicrobial activity against selected diarrheal causing organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]