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EXPLORING STUDENTS’ BARRIERS TO TRANSFER IN A COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP
No full textAbstract
Purpose: This qualitative single case study aimed to explore the barriers students indicated as contributing to their lack of transfer. In addition, this study acknowledged the suggestions that students who chose not to transfer had to improve the transfer process. Research Method: In this qualitative, single case study, interviews were conducted with 12 community college students who had indicated an interest in transferring and had opted into their community college and University partnership at an urban district in Texas. Findings: The theme of support encompassed both barriers to transfer and suggestions to improve the transfer process. With respect to barriers to
transfer, the themes of financial issues, support, and change study focus area emerged. Suggestions from students to improve the transfer process included the two themes of support and content with the program. Conclusion: The main barriers for students in successfully transferring to a university from a community college are financial issues and the lack of support. The results also strengthen the conceptual framework of transfer student capital by supporting themes in transfer barriers, such as students who lacked the
advising or capital to understand the transfer process
A Photovoice Study of Work-Life Balance for Faculty in Higher Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Get PDFThe findings of this study have theoretical implications for both work-family border theory (Clark, 2000) and COR (Hobfoll, 1989). First, the findings showed that the permeability and flexibility of faculty members’ work-life changed after their homes became their new work environment. As evidenced through photovoice, at-home offices became physical work boundaries at faculty's homes and permeability challenges occurred with the interruptions and distractions from personal responsibilities (i.e., child care, relatives). Faculty who managed to maintain effective work-life balance redefined their weak border strength boundaries with autonomy, flexibility, and self-agency. Those who redefined boundaries also set clear temporal and physical boundaries and expectations concerning the use of communication technology. Thus, during the COVID-19 pandemic, those who were able to successfully cross work-life borders within their own home spaces maintained their sense of work-life balance. Our findings extend Hobfoll's (1989) COR theory by expanding the meaning of the type of resources that were gained or lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adjusting to new working conditions impacted the faculty's work and life experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the high levels of uncertainty, faculty performance was, at times, dependent on their knowledge of new technologies. Faculty who were given sufficient resources and support overcame uncertainty better than those without support from their institutions, and those who knew videoconferencing technologies before the pandemic had a resource gain advantage over those with no competency in using these technologies.The mass transition to online delivery in higher education at the beginning of the pandemic put a strain on many faculty members in higher education. Although the subsequent semester went much smoother as faculty had more time to prepare and were able to adjust, it has been suggested that faculty should be able to provide richer educational experiences moving forward as a result of the necessary evolution and development they underwent to meet the challenges of teaching during the pandemic. However, faculty may still feel strained if they are increasingly expected to supplement face-to-face delivery with online materials. The current study explored the early implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for faculty work-life balance in higher education using a photovoice approach through the frameworks of work-family border theory and conservation of resources theory, offering both theoretical and practical implications
The Effect Financial Incentives, Mentor Programs, and Grow Your Programs Have on Teacher Retention in Texas Rural School Districts
Get PDFPurpose: The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify effective teacher retention strategies in rural school districts in Texas. The study collected superintendents' use of three categories of commonly employed retention strategies and their effectiveness ratings for reducing teacher turnover. Research Methods: This quantitative study employed a retrospective, exploratory design to describe trends and test four hypotheses linking data from a researcher-constructed survey about district retention strategy use and perceived effectiveness to Texas Education Agency (TEA) data on teacher turnover rates. Data on economic disadvantage students, teacher salaries, and English Language Learner populations were also examined mediating the effects of retention initiatives. Results: Rural school district superintendents who participated in the survey indicated the retention strategies implemented were effective. Overall research indicated financial incentives were somewhat effective for teacher retention. Implications: None of the most commonly used strategies had clear and consistent effects on teacher retention. While financial incentives had the most effect of the three broad categories of programs studied, the effects mentor programs and Grow Your Own initiatives were mediated by declines in the percent of economic disadvantaged and English Language Learner students
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND IMMERSION FREEZING ACTIVITIES OF AEROSOL PARTICLES IN THE EUROPEAN ARCTIC
Get PDFThe Arctic region is sensitive to climate change, and aerosols play an important but poorly constrained role in climate in this region. A subset of aerosols that act as ice-nucleating particles (INPs) can impact cloud radiative properties and precipitation, consequently impacting weather, and climate in the Arctic region. However, our understanding of the role of chemical composition on ice formations in the Arctic region is still limited. This study reports the chemical composition of ambient aerosol particles and the INP concentration measured offline for the particles collected on polycarbonate filters at the Gruvebadet observatory in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard islands, from October 2021 to February 2022. More than 6000 individual particles were analyzed using Computer-Controlled Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray (CCSEM-EDX) to get the chemical composition. High-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy with near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (STXM-NEXAFS) were used to investigate the coating of the particles. To calculate the atmospheric INP concentration (nINP) and assess the immersion freezing as well as the heat sensitivity of INPs, an offline droplet-freezing instrument West Texas Cryogenic Refrigerator Applied to Freezing Test system (WT-CRAFT) was used. The CCSEM-EDX analysis of ambient particles indicates a variation in size-resolved chemical composition among the samples. The major classes of particles identified include Na-rich, Sulfate, and Carbonaceous. The immersion freezing assay for some particulate samples before and after heating (for 20-min at ≤ 100 °C) shows a substantial decrease in IN activity at ≥ -20 °C, suggesting the presence of a biogenic contribution in the particles. Combining chemical composition and IN results of the same samples, we observed that the heat-sensitive IN population is richer in Na-rich particles. From the results of TEM and STXM-NEXAFS, those particles appear to be coated with organic and possibly originated from the sea surface microbiological activity. We further study the ageing of salt particles by investigating chlorine depletion. This study will help improve the understanding of ice cloud formation over the Arctic
Elementary Teacher Perceptions of the Role and Function of the Professional School Counselor: Experiences and Collaboration
No full textThe data collection was completed using a qualitative process. Interviews were conducted, transcribed, and verified for accuracy. Transcripts were then analyzed using Nvivo and verified by counselor educators in the field as well as the primary investigator (author).Professional School Counselors (PSC) have battled role ambiguity and a lack of professional identity since the profession was created (Beesly, 2004; Burnam & Jackson, 2006; Gysbers & Henderson, 2012). With the increase of mental health awareness initiatives and new calls for mental health interventions, PSCs who are trained and qualified to address these issues are finding themselves burdened by numerous non-counseling duties as outlined by the American School Counseling Association (2012). This qualitative study explored elementary school teachers perceptions of PSC engagement in counseling and non-counseling activities and examined collaborative efforts between these two invaluable educational stakeholders. Though previous studies exist that explore teacher perceptions of PSC role (Reiner, 2007), few are qualitatively based and none explored elementary teachers exclusively. A grounded theory approach was selected to address the study’s main point of inquiry. Theoretical and convenience sampling was utilized to select and interview 15 elementary teachers. Interview transcripts were analyzed utilizing constant comparative analysis that revealed five main themes: 1) PSCs address student needs, 2) PSCs face systemic barriers, 3) PSCs are viewed as collaborative partners, 4) teachers see clear benefits to students when PSCs engage in counseling activities, and 5) there is limited familiarity and training regarding the PSC role and comprehensive school counseling program. Based on the results of the study, a Professional School Counselor Role Ambiguity Model was created and recommendations for future research are provided. Results of this study may have an institutional policy implication by promoting change in the school counseling profession and strengthen the knowledge of the role of the school counselor among teachers, administrators, and other educational stakeholders
Development of Improved Targeted Liposomal-Based Chemotherapeutics to Treat Metastatic Breast Cancer
Get PDFVarious experimental methodologies to include but not limited to western blots and corresponding software for band quantification (i.e. image J), various extrusion and sonication techniques, size-exclusion chromatography, tissue culture, and all techniques associated with whole cell ELISA.Worldwide, breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death amongst women [1, 2], and therefore improved chemotherapeutics are desperately needed. We have previously demonstrated selectivity of our novel targeted liposomal-based drug towards metastatic breast cancer cells. However, the necessary addition of PEG-2000 to the drug surface prior to in vivo use has previously shown to limit the overall drug incorporation into metastatic breast cancer cells and therefore presumably decrease the overall efficacy of the drug. Therefore, in this study we are currently working on the co-encapsulation of dual-drugs into our targeted formulation in order to recapture some of the presumed loss of overall drug efficacy attributed to the necessary pegylation prior to in vivo use. Specifically, we propose the co-encapsulation of the chemosenitizer drug dihydromyricetin (DMY) and the cytotoxic agent doxorubicin. DMY is used as a chemosensitizer because it is known to competitively bind sorcin [3], which is a protein known to be upregulated in metastatic breast cancer, and also known to bind to doxorubicin which limits its overall cytotoxic effect
Resveratrol Affects Ganglioside Remodeling and Inflammatory Markers in Glioblastoma Multiforme
Get PDFData was collected via microscopic images of cells, measurement of cell viability by hemacytometer, gene expression by quantitative PCR (qPCR), and ganglioside expression via glycolipid isolation and HPTLC.Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a grade IV astrocytoma, is the most aggressive form of brain cancer with a 15 - 18 month survival rate. Challenges to its successful treatment include the invasive growth of tumor cells into surrounding healthy tissue. Studies have attributed GBM progression partly to inflammation created through communication with tumor-invading microglia cells. Studies have also shown that gangliosides, a family of glycolipids known for their involvement in specific neuropathologies, play a role in tumorigenesis, metastasis, angiogenesis, and the immune response. GBM stem cells are known to over-express ganglioside GD3 and its synthetic enzyme, GD3 synthase. Targeting of GD3 synthase has therefore become a focus of GBM intervention. Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural polyphenol known for its potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. RSV has also demonstrated ganglioside-altering effects, as well as powerful antitumor effects on GBM including inhibition of tumor growth, invasiveness and the sphere-forming ability of GBM stem cells, and activation of p53. This study sought to examine the influence of RSV on ganglioside remodeling and tumor cell immune response in GBM and evaluate its potential as a co-therapeutic in GBM intervention. GBM and Adult Pigmented Retinal Epithelial cells (ARPE-19) were treated with RSV for 24h and assayed for viability and ganglioside profiles by HPTLC. Expression of ganglioside synthetic enzymes was evaluated by qPCR using gene specific primers and RT2 Profiler Arrays were used to evaluate inflammatory response and cancer markers. Expression of selected genes was validated by qPCR. RSV had a significant effect in reducing cell viability in GBM without negatively affecting ARPE control cells. RSV also significantly down-regulated expression of all four ganglioside synthetic enzymes. HPTLC analysis showed an effect of RSV treatment on ganglioside profiles however this was less robust. qPCR Arrays yielded more than forty immuno-regulating factors that were either up- or down-regulated by RSV and more than twenty genes involved in cell proliferation and cell death pathways were also affected by RSV treatment. An important consideration in oncology is to maximize efficacy while minimizing toxicity. These data suggest that RSV is effective in reducing viability of GBM cells, without adversely effecting normal cells. Down-regulation of ganglioside synthetic enzymes, specifically GD3 synthase suggests it may be an effective complementary intervention in GBM treatment. Co-recruitment of immune factors may provide both additional anti-tumor assistance and cytoprotective support for healthy cells
HABITAT USE BY MAMMALS IN THE NORTHWEST TEXAS PANHANDLE
No full textCamera trapping technology is a non-invasive and growing tool for collecting wildlife management data for a wide variety of applications. Camera trapping technology is particularly useful for detecting rare, elusive, and threatened/endangered animals. In the northwestern Texas Panhandle, one such species of concern is the swift fox (Vulpes velox) which the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department considers a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the state. I used 30 camera traps on the Rita Blanca National Grassland (RBNG) to conduct a community-level study to assess mammal usage of the grassland. I documented 24 species of mammals across the property and a total of 4.5 million images were collected from August 2019 to January 2022. I compared mammal community metrics across the 30 camera locations. I did not detect statistically significant differences between the different camera sites for the standard community metrics of total mammal abundance or indices of species richness, diversity, and evenness. Habitat variables (n=12) were digitized from aerial photography at each camera location and processed through fragmentation statistics. Elevation contour lines were calculated for each camera location using LIDAR aerial photography to assess whether elevation changes had any effect on mammal activity. To assess whether environmental variables had an effect on the mammal community, a permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) was used to look at the relationships between the environmental variables (independent variables) and the activity indexes’ for each camera as the dependent variables. I used a PERMANOVA for analysis due to the constraints of a traditional multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The small mammal, meso-mammal, and large mammal communities were analyzed separately. The three models only contained species that were detected at a majority of the camera locations and were considered native animals. The activity abundance of the coyote species was used as an independent variable in the small mammal and meso-mammal models. Three environmental variables were statistically significant in the small mammal model: coyote activity, prairie dog town habitat, and standard deviation of elevation. Four environmental variables were statistically significant in the meso-mammal model: coyote activity, agriculture habitat (ha), Shannon patch habitat diversity, and distance to center pivot. For the large mammal model, number of patches was statistically significant. The 24 species of mammal I documented all use habitats differently. The relationships I observed between wildlife species and agriculture habitats give insight into the remaining value and use of these fragmented and disturbed areas to some mammal species. However, species like the swift fox exhibited a negative association with agriculture habitat and coyote activity index. The influence of anthropogenic areas on wildlife should be analyzed in more detail to assess the impact they have on native species. Longer, finer-scale monitoring is needed to better understand how the mammal community responds to environmental changes and interspecies interactions. My study demonstrates how habitat composition influences mammal presence in a grassland ecosystem
Entrevista a Leon Mendoza
No full textInterview with Leon Mendoza conducted by Dr. Alex Hunt as part of the Oral History Project "Forgotten Frontera."
Entrevista a Leon Mendoza realizada por Dr. Alex Huntcomo parte del Proyecto de Historia Oral "Forgotten Frontera."Center for the Study of the American Wes
ASSOCIATION OF LIVER ABSCESS PRESENCE AND EPITHELIAL INTEGRITY OF THE HINDGUT IN FEEDLOT CATTLE TO SALMONELLA CARRIAGE IN SUBILIAC LYMPH NODES
No full textSalmonellosis is the leading cause of bacteria foodborne illness in the United States with over 1 million illnesses annually (Scallan et al., 2015). Salmonella colonizes in the intestines and stress can cause disruptions of the tight junctions (Boyle et al., 2006) allowing for infection of other tissues such as the lymph nodes and liver (Ring, 1985). The objective of this study was to quantify the prevalence and concentration of Salmonella in liver, colon, and subiliac lymph nodes (SLN). Feedlots (n=6) were surveyed, from the Texas Panhandle, quarterly across one year for differences in management. Liver (n=8), colon (n=8), and SLN (n=16) were sampled from cattle from each feedlot, quarterly. Liver samples were organized into severely abscessed (n=4) and edible (n=4). Colon samples were organized into #1 score (n=4) and #2 score (n=4) colons; categorization was based on the integrity of the epithelial cell layer, #1 colon layers resembled a very ridged surface and #2 colon surfaces were free of ridges and smooth. Weather data was collected from the Texas Tech University Mesonet. Salmonella was uncommon in the winter months of quarter 1 (1.70% prevalence) and quarter 2 (0% prevalence). In the warmer months, Salmonella prevalence increased dramatically with quarter 3 having 90.63% prevalence and quarter 4 having 20.45% prevalence. Overall, the greatest prevalence of Salmonella was in SLN from carcasses with a #2 colon (27.59%); the lowest prevalence of Salmonella was in the tissue from edible livers (18.75%). The greatest concentration of Salmonella was detected in #2
colons (2.16 logCFU/g); the lowest prevalence of Salmonella was detected in edible liver tissue (0.1logCFU/g). Feedlot B had the highest average prevalence of Salmonella (29.35%) whereas Feedlot A had the lowest average prevalence (17.19%) among all quarters and sample types. Of the liver and colon samples, roughly 19% of samples were positive for Salmonella whereas 25% of the SLN samples were positive for Salmonella. The relative risk of a SLN being positive for Salmonella when associated with a #1 colon or #2 colon was 0.77 (P = 0.37) and 0.71 (P = 0.22), respectively. The relative risk of a SLN being positive for Salmonella when associated with an edible or abscessed liver was 0.75 (P = 0.30) and 0.83 (P = 0.49), respectively. We hypothesize, samples taken during quarter 3 demonstrated the greatest prevalence of Salmonella likely due to an increase in precipitation and temperature. These data suggest that Salmonella proliferation is strongly associated to local climatic conditions. This would suggest that as temperature and precipitation increase during warmer months strategies need to be developed to minimize Salmonella. Though Salmonella is of notable risk in lymph nodes, these data illustrate other edible products such as the liver are also of concern