Search

Meteoroids of sub‐milligram sizes burn up high in the Earth's atmosphere and cause streaks of plasma trails detectable by meteor radars. The altitude at which these trails, or meteors, form depends on a number of factors including atmospheric density and the astronomical source populations from which these meteoroids originate. A previous study has shown that the altitude of these meteors is affected by long‐term linear trends and the 11‐year solar cycle related to changes in our atmosphere. In this work, we examine how shorter diurnal and seasonal variations in the altitude distribution of meteors are dependent on the geographical location at which the measurements are performed. We use meteoroid altitude data from 18 independent meteor radar stations at a broad range of latitudes and investigate whether there are local time (LT) and seasonal variations in the altitude of the peak meteor height, defined as the majority detection altitude of all meteors within a certain period, which differ from those expected purely from the variation in the visibility of their astronomical source. We find a consistent LT and seasonal response for the Northern Hemisphere locations regardless of latitude. However, the Southern Hemisphere locations exhibit much greater LT and seasonal variation. In particular, we find a complex response in the four stations located within the Southern Andes region, which indicates that the strong dynamical atmospheric activity, such as the gravity waves prevalent here, disrupts, and masks the seasonality and dependence on the astronomical sources. Plain Language Summary: Small meteoroids burn up high in the Earth's atmosphere producing trails of plasma detectable by ground‐based meteor radar instruments. The altitude at which these trails occur depends on a number of factors including atmospheric density and the astronomical source populations from which these meteoroids originate. Previous work demonstrated that the altitude at which the majority of these meteoroids burn up (termed "peak meteor altitude") is affected by long‐term atmospheric changes, such as those related to greenhouse gas emissions and the 11‐year solar cycle. Here, we focus on shorter timescales and analyze meteoroid altitude data from 18 geographically diverse meteor radars to examine the local time (LT) and seasonal variation in the peak meteor altitudes on a latitude basis. We find a consistent LT and seasonal response among the six Northern Hemisphere meteor radar station locations irrespective of latitude. However, we find a more complex response among the 12 Southern Hemisphere stations with much greater LT and seasonal variation. In particular, we found a complex response in the four stations located within the Southern Andes region, a geographic region known for intense atmospheric gravity wave activity, which acts to mask and disrupt the seasonality and dependence on the astronomical sources. Key Points: Local time (LT) and seasonal variations in the peak meteor height exist, which differ from those expected from astronomical variation aloneThere is a consistent LT and seasonal response in the Northern Hemisphere locations regardless of latitudeA complex response in the Andes region where a strong gravity wave component acts to mask seasonality and dependence on astronomical sources [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT, 80–100 km) region is an important boundary between Earth's atmosphere below and space above and may act as a sensitive indicator for anthropogenic climate change. Existing observational and modeling studies have shown the middle atmosphere and the MLT is cooling and contracting because of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. However, trend analyses are highly sensitive to the time periods covered, their length, and the measurement type and methodology used. We present for the first time the linear and 11‐year solar cycle responses in the meteor ablation altitude distributions observed by 12 meteor radars at different locations. Decreasing altitudes were seen at all latitudes (linear trends varying from −10.97 to −817.95 m dec−1), and a positive correlation with solar activity was seen for most locations. The divergence of responses at high latitudes indicates an important and complex interplay between atmospheric changes and dynamics at varying time scales. Plain Language Summary: High up in our atmosphere lies the mesosphere/lower thermosphere region (80–100 km); an important transition zone between the atmosphere below and space above. Existing studies indicate that this region is changing (cooling and contracting) in response to increasing greenhouse gas emissions, quite unlike the net warming we see near the surface. However these trend studies are often highly sensitive to choice and length of time period covered, and the methodology and type of measurements used. Here we present for the first time a self‐consistent methodology applied to 12 different meteor radar station datasets located at a diverse range of latitudes. We looked at changes in the mean peak altitude of individual meteoroid detections, and found decreasing peak altitudes at all locations examined (linear trends varying from −10.97 to −817.95 m decade−1) consistent with a global cooling and contracting of the upper atmosphere. We also examined the response to the 11‐year solar cycle and found a positive correlation with solar activity (i.e., increased meteoroid peak altitudes during solar maximum, and vice versa) for low and mid‐latitude locations. However we found an anti‐correlation at high latitudes suggestive of an important and complex interplay between atmospheric changes and dynamics at varying time scales. Key Points: Use of geographically diverse meteor radar peak detection altitudes to assess long‐term and 11‐year solar cycle (SC) trends in mesopause regionThe altitude of observed peak meteor height has decreased over time at all locations, regardless of latitude and data setPositive correlation at low‐ and mid‐latitude locations with the 11‐year SC, but more complex response at high‐latitudes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies suggest linkages between anomalously warm temperatures in the winter stratosphere, and the high-latitude summer mesopause. The summer temperature anomaly is manifested in the decline of polar mesospheric clouds. The 2-day wave is a strong-amplitude and transient summer feature that interacts with the background state so as to warm the high-latitude summer mesopause. This wave has been linked to a low-latitude phenomenon called inertial instability, which is organized by breaking planetary waves in the winter stratosphere. Hence, inertial instability has been identified as a possible nexus between the disturbed winter stratosphere, and summer mesopause warming. We investigate a sustained occurrence of inertial instability during 19 July–8 August 2014. During this period, stratospheric winter temperatures warmed by about 10 K, while a steep decline in polar mesospheric clouds was reported between 26 July and 6 August. We present, for the first time, wave driving associated with observed inertial instability. The effect of inertial instability is to export eastward momentum from the winter hemisphere across the equator into the summer hemisphere. Using a primitive equation model, we demonstrate that the wave stresses destabilize the stratopause summer easterly jet. The reconfigured wind profile excites the wavenumber-4 component of the 2-day wave, leading to enhanced warming of the summer mesopause. This work supports previous numerical investigations that identified planetary wave–driven inertial instability as a source of the 2-day wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three tests of grammatical ability (Carrow Elicited Language Inventory, Test of Language Development, and Clinical Evaluation of Language Functions) were evaluated for content-oriented test construction. Content domains were found deficient when judged against an external standard as well as when examined according to their own content specifications. (Author/CL)

While no significant differences were found for sixth-graders' (N=30) performance on the Fullerton Test for Adolescents, Test of Adolescent Language, and the Clinical Evaluation of Language Functions, significantly fewer students were identified as needing further evaluation by the Screening Test of Adolescent Language than by the other three tests. (Author/CB)

Policy makers and funders working to address best practices for residential care and treatment require evidence for the effectiveness of residential interventions, particularly related to maintenance of effects post-discharge. With support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Building Bridges Initiative and providers of residential interventions partnered with Chapin Hall to study the feasibility of a method for collecting follow-up data on the functioning of young people who were recently discharged from residential treatment. This paper describes the implementation and findings regarding the feasibility of (1) identifying the location of youth 6 months post-discharge, (2) contacting the caregivers of these youth for the purpose of administering a follow-up survey, and (3) administering a brief (10-min) survey inquiring about youth functioning in key domains. The results of this research provide guidance for measuring youth progress and outcomes after residential interventions. This study also lays the groundwork for a larger post-discharge outcomes study that includes linkage to administrative data, baseline data on youth functioning, and assessment of the services received in the context of residential interventions. Data and information obtained from the feasibility study provide evidence for the viability of a brief, telephone-administered post-discharge survey with caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Observations by the Cloud Imaging and Particle Size (CIPS) instrument on the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) satellite show an anomalous decline in Northern Hemisphere polar mesospheric clouds (PMCs) from 26 July to 6 August 2014. The decline is attributed to local warming associated with the quasi‐two‐day wave and interhemispheric coupling (IHC) triggered by planetary wave breaking in the Antarctic (winter) stratosphere. The results indicate that the IHC in 2014 occurred via a pathway that previous studies have not emphasized. Based on observations from the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and reanalyses from both the Modern‐Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA‐2) and the Navy Global Environmental Model (NAVGEM), we argue that a strengthening of the summer easterly jet gave rise to enhanced meridional and vertical shear along its equatorward flank, which supported growth of the two‐day wave. The two‐day wave led to enhanced meridional mixing in northern midlatitudes and a weakening of the northern branch of the mesospheric residual circulation, reducing ascent and warming the polar summer mesopause. In 2014, the five‐day planetary wave modulated the response to IHC such that PMCs persisted in its cold phases even though zonal mean temperatures were too high to support PMCs, and were absent in the warm phases when zonal mean temperatures were low enough to support PMCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Name writing is one aspect of emergent writing that has been used to understand emergent literacy development. Name-writing skills and the relationship of name writing to other emergent literacy skills have not been studied extensively in children with specific language impairment (SLI). Children with SLI consistently demonstrate delays in phonological awareness (PA), alphabet knowledge (AK), print awareness, and emergent writing. The purpose of this study was to examine the contributions of PA, AK, and letter writing to name writing in children with SLI and typically developing (TD) children. Method: Participants were 65 children (22 SLI, 43 TD) with an average age of 53 months. Participants completed the Assessment of Literacy and Language (Lombardino, Lieberman, & Brown, 2005), a letter-writing task, and a name-writing task. Results: Data were analyzed using correlation and mediation modeling. Mediation modeling, a more sophisticated analysis, revealed that PA, AK, and letter writing, in serial, were mediating variables for language status on name writing. Conclusion: Phonemic awareness, AK, and letter writing help to explain the relationship between language status and name writing. These skills should be integrated during treatment, using a horizontal approach with developmentally appropriate activities, particularly for children with SLI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research shows that many preschool children with specific language impairment (SLI) have difficulty acquiring literacy skills including phonological awareness, print concepts, and alphabet knowledge. Limited research suggests that preschool children with SLI also have difficulty with emergent writing tasks such as name writing and word writing. In typically developing children, research indicates that emergent writing skills are acquired in a developmental sequence: (1) linearity, (2) segmentation, (3) simple characters, (4) left-right orientation, (5) complex characters, (6) random letters, and (7) invented spelling. This study compared the emergent writing skills of 4-year-old children with SLI (n = 22) to their age- and gender-matched peers (n = 22). Results indicated that children with SLI demonstrate difficulty with a variety of writing tasks, including letter writing, name writing, word writing, and sentence writing when compared to their typically-developing peers. Children with SLI followed the same developmental sequence in acquiring writing skills as their typically-developing peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ramdoss, S., Lang, R., Mulloy, A., Franco, J., O’Reilly, M., Didden, R., & Lancioni, G. (2011). Use of computer-based instructions to teach communication skills to children with autism spectrum disorders: A systemic review.Journal of Behavioral Education,20, 55–76. Sources of Funding and Declaration of Interests: No source of funding was reported and no conflicts of interests were reported. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the treatment review by Piasta, S. B., & Wagner, R. K. (2010). Developing early literacy skills: A meta-analysis of alphabet learning and instruction.Reading Research Quarterly, 45, 8–18. Source of funding and disclosure of interest:This study was supported by a Pre-doctoral Interdisciplinary Research Training Grant from the Institute of Education Sciences; the original authors of this research report no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]