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The Effects of Teachers Communicating the Value and Importance of Concepts: A Single Case Experimental Multiple Baseline Design
No full textThe purpose of this experimental multiple baseline study was to determine the relationship between teacher discourse that emphasizes the value and importance of classroom language and student motivation. The researcher developed an intervention to train teachers to emphasize the class work, and then gathered data to assess the impact of the intervention as well as the impact of the teacher’s language practices.
Six teachers from a rural school in the Southwest United States participated in this study. All teachers gathered pre-test and post-test data using the Multiple Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, and the experimental group participated in a five-week intervention to recognize and alter its discourse regarding the value of class work. The experimental group teachers each recorded their class weekly for language analysis, using a discourse analysis method based on Gee’s (2014a) approach, and had their students take the Situational Motivation Scale weekly on the day of the recording to analyze the relationship between each day’s language practices and the students’ reported motivations.
Pre- and post-test data were measured with an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and revealed that students whose teachers participated in the intervention showed a significant increase in their beliefs about their own abilities to control their learning. Additionally, bivariate correlations were run between the language analysis results and the weekly motivation surveys. Value and importance language correlated positively with student behavior. Additionally, when teachers more frequently participated in face-threat mitigation or student validation, their students also reported higher external regulation for their learning. Overall, the intervention did prove to be effective, but would likely be more effective over a greater period for emphatic language about the value of class work to become habitual. Additionally, teachers who altered their language for this purpose positively affected their students’ motivation to learn
ANALYSIS OF THE FUNCTIONAL ROLE OF NON-MUSCLE MYOSIN ON DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER TUMORIGENESIS
No full textMyosin is a motor protein and belongs to a diverse family of distinct classes. Myosin II is composed of a light chain (Spaghetti squash) and a heavy chain (Zipper). In Drosophila melanogaster, actin-myosin contraction occurs through phosphorylation of the myosin light chain Spaghetti squash (Sqh); the enzyme that catalyzes this phosphorylation is a myosin light-chain kinase called Stretchin-Mlck (Strn-MLCK). Yorkie (Yki) is a transcriptional coactivator that promotes target gene transcription through binding the transcription factor Scalloped (Sd). Yki interaction with Sd is regulated through inhibitory phosphorylation by the Hippo pathway kinase Warts (Wts).
In normal cells, Strn-MLCK makes a complex with cytoplasmic Yorkie (Yki) which leads to inhibition of the Wts activating kinase Hippo (Hpo). Inhibition of Hpo leads to activation of Yki dependent gene expression thus the upregulation of myosin activation plays an important role in growth. Independently, actin-myosin contraction is well known as a key regulator promoting tumor growth. However, the mechanisms by which actin cytoskeletal tension is regulated in tumors are poorly characterized. In this project, my goal was to determine if the interaction between Strn-MLCK and Yki also occurs in tumor cells and if the upregulation of non-muscle myosin levels and activity in tumors are important for Yki/Sd-dependent tumor development.
The results clearly show that Sqh and Zipper (the myosin heavy chain ortholog) levels are upregulated throughout the tumor in the imaginal discs of genetically induced invasive tumors in Drosophila melanogaster larvae, consistent with other published results in Drosophila tumors. Strn-Mlck is also upregulated in tumors, bmost strongly and uniformly at the boundaries of the tumor and not uniformly throughout the tumor. Although knockdown of sqh, zip, and Strn-MLCK did not affect tumor size and growth, they decreased the invasiveness. Knockdown of scalloped (sd), a transcription factor of the Hippo signaling pathway that is critical to tumor development, shows that Sd activity is required for Strn-MLCK and Zip upregulation in subsets of tumor cells. Future work with assess the regulation of Sqh by Sd and if Yki/Sd transcription requires myosin activation in tumors
Prison Capital: Convict Leasing in Texas
No full textAfter the termination of the Ward-Dewey lease, and following a short-term agreement with John H. Burnett, a Galveston cotton merchant, the state entered into a new long-term agreement with the firm of Ed. H. Cunningham and L. A. Ellis, founders of the Imperial Sugar Company, in December 1877. Two dynamic businessmen, Cunningham and Ellis saw the economic potential of leasing out convict labor on a grand scale. Over the course of the next five years, the duo engaged in the mass subletting of inmates to private farmers and small industries. This new industry proved to be financially successful, and because of this, the two were able to make substantial improvements to the prison facilities and administration buildings, even constructing a new branch penitentiary at Rusk. However, Cunningham and Ellis’s success ironically proved to be part of their undoing, because in spring 1883, as a result of increasing public outcry over the prison lease, the Texas legislature opted to cancel their lease, once again returning the prison system to state control. Alongside the economic incentives of lessees and their private benefactors, the practice of convict leasing was used as a mechanism of social control to maintain a strict racial and labor hierarchy, one that was prevalent throughout the Southern United States. Unlike those before it, this study will reconceptualize the practice of convict leasing in Texas as a form of racialized labor coercion and economic modernization, cementing the idea that these means are intertwined in practice, and cannot simply be analyzed as two separate aspects. Instead, this study will argue that during the successful lease era, convict leasing transformed into a systemic form of economic modernization and financial success for the prison system, the state, and those who implemented and profited off the coercion of primarily black convicts and their labor. Under Cunningham and Ellis, convict leasing was perceived as a socioeconomic and political necessity, fueling a highly profitable system of coerced labor. On the backs of laboring convicts, the Texas State Penitentiary was reorganized into a capital producing, labor commanding state-owned enterprise, an infant conception of what is known today as the sprawling Texas prison-industrial complex
Incentivizing for Recruitment and Retention
No full textIn 2023, law enforcement agencies across the nation are experiencing problems with the recruitment of new officers, and the ability to retain current officers within their respective agencies. Several different methods and ideas have been addressed to overcome the current shortages and to help decrease future shortages of qualified individuals. Incentivizing has become one method to make up for the lack of officers. No matter the size of the agencies, whether they are small, medium, or large, urban, or rural, as a law enforcement family, they are obligated to provide quality police services to all citizens in their communities. Incentivizing and utilizing a modern approach for recruitment should be done by all law enforcement agencies to help combat the decline of qualified individuals. It has been predicted that the need for law enforcement officers will continue to rise to meet the demands of the growing populations within our communities. The incentive programs may not be sustainable for long periods, due to agencies trying to step up their incentive programs to facilitate their needs over all others, with the result of officers leaving from one agency to another for better salary, benefits, or incentives. The results are no guarantee that this will be a viable long-term solution; however, it is a start that should not be ignored. It is expected and demanded that our officers strive to be the best at what they do. Perhaps it is time for the law enforcement community to consider the needs of those who choose the most noble profession.LEMI
How Funding, Compensation, and Benefits Affect Law Enforcement Practices
Get PDFLaw enforcement agencies are becoming increasingly harder to staff. Negative publicity in social media circles has resulted in fewer applicants willing to enter the profession. Many employers in the private sector have become more competitive with pay, benefits, and other attractions such as remote work, which is not a viable option for law enforcement. Even jobs that used to be considered entry-level, such as fast-food establishments, are paying significantly more than in years past. Applicants considering a career in law enforcement are hesitant to attempt to gain employment in a sector where injury or death is a high likelihood when they can make a similar salary elsewhere without the danger. To attract a more diverse and educated applicant pool, many factors should be considered as the practice of both hiring and retaining qualified individuals becomes increasingly difficult. This Leadership White Paper will attempt to address some key elements to be considered by identifying areas of compensation and benefits that affect how the role of a law enforcement officer is fulfilled. Hopefully, by identifying these areas, a law enforcement agency will be able to overcome these obstacles. All law enforcement agencies should be provided with adequate funding and resources to protect the community they serve. Law enforcement agencies should be viewed as investments in the community.LEMI
Mastering De-Escalation: Crucial Techniques for Law Enforcement
Get PDFUtilizing de-escalation techniques within contemporary law enforcement has become a crucial asset for officers. Inevitably, officers encounter verbal conflicts, and their adeptness in managing these situations can significantly impact their career trajectory and the overall reputation of their department. On a day-to-day basis, officers are confronted with uncooperative individuals, a challenge that has become increasingly prominent due to the heightened scrutiny following high-profile officer-involved shootings. This scrutiny has led certain community members to question the integrity of their local law enforcement agencies. Consequently, it is of paramount importance for law enforcement agencies to enhance the training provided to their officers, equipping them with the self-assurance necessary for handling challenging individuals. While many officers possess the skills to effectively de-escalate volatile situations, there exist those who lack these skills and make ill-advised decisions when faced with such challenges. Departments that invest in comprehensive training programs and establish clear, unequivocal policies empower officers to approach these interactions with confidence. This approach not only diminishes officer grievances but also curtails the incidence of use-of-force situations. Despite the commendable work undertaken by officers nationwide, the spotlight on a fraction of cases that have garnered widespread attention has eroded the faith and trust individuals once had in the overarching mission that police officers have pledged to uphold.LEMI
Artificial Intelligence to Combat School Shootings
Get PDFThe advancements in technology offer the potential to prevent or mitigate school shootings. It may seem incredulous, but there exists a method to detect potential threats in schools before a violent act occurs, utilizing a system seamlessly integrated into existing infrastructures. An autonomous system that eradicates the impact of human errors and operates independently of human monitoring. This system consistently monitors children, teachers, and personnel, identifying potential threats and promptly notifying first responders of emergencies at an unprecedented pace. With the capability to detect weapons with over 99.9% accuracy, it remains vigilant 24/7, 365 days a year, whether objects are in plain view or concealed by a potential attacker (Zahn, 2023). This comprehensive system monitors school perimeters, detects intruders, and identifies propped-open doors. This system continuously analyzes vehicles in parking lots, distinguishing between the familiar and unfamiliar, and learns to recognize every student, faculty, and staff member, alerting them to the presence of newcomers on campus. Additionally, it is designed to monitor air quality, and temperature changes, and detect smoke or gas on a school campus. Finally, a system that, if an active alert is detected, protocols for active shooter responses can be deployed to protect students, faculty, and staff before the first shot is ever fired. Artificial intelligence is such a system. With 115,576 schools in the country, artificial intelligence should be used by all school districts to combat school shootings (Staff, 2023).LEMI
Officer Wellness Programs in Law Enforcement
Get PDFThe law enforcement profession plays a crucial role in ensuring public safety and upholding the rule of law. However, the demanding nature of the profession places a significant physical, mental, and emotional strain on these dedicated individuals. The strain that officers encounter often leads to misconduct and suicide. To overcome these challenges, law enforcement agencies should establish an officer wellness program. This will ensure that law enforcement agencies offer consistent and effective support to officers, regardless of the size of their resources.
Establishing a program provides supportive resources to officers that will be impactful to agency culture to reduce suicide and officer misconduct. Implementation of a program will also build agencies that are resilient and better prepared to care for themselves and the community they serve.LEMI
Incorporation of Organizational Justice into Police Professional Development Programs and Leadership Training
Get PDFOrganizational justice refers to an employee’s perceptions of the overall fairness of both the employee’s supervisor and the organization as a whole (Colquitt, 2001). Organizational justice is deficient in law enforcement (Reynolds & Hicks, 2015). Furthermore, extant police professional development and leadership training do not incorporate organizational justice. Police professional development programs and leadership training should include organizational justice in their curriculum. Organizational justice has many benefits, both internal and external, to the agency, including increased officer job satisfaction, quality of work, and trust in citizens (Haas et al, 2015; Ivkovic et al., 2020; Rosenbaum & McCarty, 2017). This paper will examine the current state of organizational justice in law enforcement, describe the benefits documented by research, explore possible negative outcomes, and offer a pathway forward for an organization ready to take steps to enhance both relationships with line level officers and the publicLEMI
Social Media in Law Enforcement: Does Free Speech Protect It?
Get PDFSocial media websites such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter are common across entire populations, including police officers. As a result, departments are enforcing significant disciplinary measures among law enforcement professionals across the United States. The discipline can be as little as a verbal warning or as severe as termination. When discussing social media and law enforcement employees, several questions arise: 1) does free speech protect them? 2) Can their actions be governed by policy? and 3) Does the legality of social media use make it okay? This is an important and relevant topic to ensure that officers' rights are not infringed upon and that the reputations of police departments are not being harmed by social media activity. Law enforcement personnel must be keenly aware of the impact that negative, disrespectful, and racist comments on social media can have on a police department's reputation. With anti-police rhetoric at an all-time high, officers must be more vigilant and deliberate in conducting business to improve community relations. With a clear and concise social media policy, officers and citizens can be better protected from the fallout of a poorly constructed one. With the growth of social media, police officers must be held to a standard of respectful and appropriate use of such technology. Though it is imperative to have policies and training regarding the proper use of social media, it is equally important to have policies that govern this behavior when employees fail to do so. Police departments should have a clear and concise social media policy to ensure the community's safety and the department's reputation.LEMI