19354 research outputs found
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Field Notes in Professional Development: Lets Read
Full text linkThis article explores the evolving landscape of reading education through a blend of personal reflection and systemic critique by Bob Gallagher, Student Teaching Supervisor at Buffalo State University and a veteran educator with decades of experience as a teacher and administrator in Buffalo Public Schools, Coordinator of Professional Development at Sweet Home Schools, and Assistant Superintendent for Instruction at Niagara Wheatfield Schools. Drawing from his journey as an educator thrust into teaching reading without training in the 1960s, Gallagher examines the persistent challenges in fostering literacy amidst a declining cultural emphasis on reading. Highlighting the tension between illiteracy and aliteracy—where capable readers opt out—he critiques the one-size-fits-all approach to teaching reading, rooted in age-based grouping and skill-focused curricula that stifle joy. The piece underscores reading’s multifaceted benefits, from mental stimulation to societal enrichment, and laments its reduction to a chore in schools, as echoed in Daniel Pennac’s *Better Than Life*. Proposing a teacher-driven reform model, “Success Connections,” Gallagher advocates for a collaborative redefinition of reading’s goals—balancing phonics, comprehension, and pleasure—to restore its value. With literacy proficiency waning, he calls for a present-focused, systemic shift to ensure reading remains a vibrant, lifelong pursuit
Freezing-Induced Dye Adsorption on Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs)
No full textGold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are renowned for their unique optical properties driven by localized surface plasmon resonance, making them valuable in sensing, imaging, and therapeutic applications. My research explores an innovative approach to enhancing surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals using quick freezing techniques to aggregate citrate-capped AuNPs into stable structures known as quick freezing-induced AuNP aggregates (QFIAAs). These aggregates exhibit strong, reproducible SERS activity, especially in the near-infrared (NIR) region.
Using Raman and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, the adsorption behavior of various dyes on QFIAAs were investigated. Co-freezing AuNPs with positively charged dyes, like Rhodamine 6G, significantly improved dye adsorption and enhanced SERS signals at higher concentrations, while results were mixed with negatively charged dyes. These findings highlight the importance of electrostatic interactions, freezing dynamics, and laser excitation wavelengths in analyte detection. Selective SERS enhancement was achieved depending on whether 532 nm or 780 nm lasers were used, with resonance effects playing a key role in spectral dominance.
This work demonstrates how controlled freezing processes can tune nanoparticle surface chemistry and improve the detection sensitivity of charged analytes, offering implications for biosensing and environmental monitoring
DES230
No full textExploration of materials and processes in jewelry making, emphasizing creative design
ENT445
No full textThe operation of modern, high-power electronic devices as applied to controls, electric machines, and power systems; power diodes, thyristors, BJTs, MOSFETs, and IGBTs as electronic switches; analysis of uncontrolled and controlled rectifiers, inverters, and DC-DC converters; perform laboratory experiments using electrical instrumentation and computer analysis tools
FAR361
No full textInvestigates revolutionary themes and practices in seventeenth-century Italian art, including the treatment of sexuality, ethnicity, class, the model, nature and the imagination. Considers new cohorts of artists, including women like Artemisia Gentileschi, who forged professional careers. Examines the affinities of modern and contemporary artists with those of this period
MUS619
No full textSeminar course in theoretical and applied concepts of vocal pedagogy for music educators. Vocal anatomy, process, and practical teaching practice will be examined, discussed, analyzed and researched
The effect of Great Lake thermal gradients on pollinating Hymenoptera and Diptera
Full text linkAbstract
Thermal gradients created by large water bodies can significantly influence ectothermic insect behavior and community structure. This study examined the effect of Lake Ontario’s springtime thermal gradients on the distribution and abundance of two key pollinator taxa—Hymenoptera and Diptera—within an agricultural landscape. Blue vane traps were deployed at ground level and 1-meter height across 24 plots along three inland transects in a Lake Ontario coastal orchard. More than 14,000 insects were collected between April and June 2024, including 2,245 Diptera and 1,137 Hymenoptera. Maximum temperatures increased with distance from the lake and with trap height, whereas Dipteran abundance increased more sharply with warming than did Hymenopteran abundance. Diptera were more abundant overall, especially nearer to the lake, suggesting greater cold tolerance as well. Both taxa exhibited higher abundance in elevated traps, indicating possible avoidance of colder microclimates near the soil surface. Pollinator richness increased later in the season and was greater at higher trap heights, but did not differ between Diptera and Hymenoptera. These findings suggest that thermal moderation near coastal regions may extend foraging opportunities for Diptera in early spring and that vertical thermal microgradients influence pollinator activity. As springtime pollination services become increasingly sensitive to climatic variability, understanding the thermal niches of different pollinator taxa is critical in temperate regions
Better Together – Maximising Group Creativity Through Co-Design
Full text linkThe complexity and systems-level nature of organisational and societal challenges have called for engaging team creativity, benefiting from differing perspectives and experiences to drive impactful solutions. Surveying the co-design and group creativity literature, it is suggested that creative potential of a group is only realised when several polarities are leveraged by facilitators and orchestrators of the process. This concept was validated and extended through conducting a thematic analysis of a series of exploratory interviews, resulting in the identification of interdependent themes comprising stacks of polarities and a key problem to solve. The themes identified were: Determining Whether Co-Design is Appropriate, Organisational Agility, Deliberate Collaboration Design, Adaptive Facilitator, Impactful Process and Meaningful Engagement. These stacks of polarities and one problem to solve formed the basis of the Better Together for Collective Creativity systems model. This model enables facilitators to identify where to focus their attention to benefit the system at large to maximise group creativity. Further research and practice opportunities are outlined
Divergence Tackle Box: Materials and activities to improve scholastic outcomes for neurodivergent students, their teachers, and their peers
Full text linkAbstract of Project
DIVERGENCE TACKLE BOX: MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE SCHOLASTIC OUTCOMES FOR NEURODIVERGENT STUDENTS, THEIR TEACHERS, AND THEIR PEERS
Divergence Tackle Box: Materials and activities to improve scholastic outcomes for neurodivergent students, their teachers, and their peers proposes a set of activities and resources for helping students with ADHD self-regulate while in mainstream classroom settings while cultivating divergent thinking skills. The tasks draw from academic literature and informal interviews regarding current common practices for addressing ADHD in schools. Also explored are potential misalignment between common approaches and evidence-based interventions, and potential opportunities for further advocacy and development regarding ideal outcomes for ADHD students, their teachers, and their classmates
Comparative analysis of tax typologies and relative impact on GDP growth: Focus on Albania, Greece, Poland, Estonia, and Switzerland
No full textABSTRACT
This paper presents and analyzes a comparative case study of progressive and flat tax systems with an emphasis on the economies of Albania, Greece, and Estonia while incorporating Poland and Switzerland for added understanding. As a transitional economy that was isolated under communism for many years, Albania faces problems in its ability to levy taxes and collect revenues, raising concerns over the flat tax proposed by the government. Even now, as an EU member, Greece struggles with high personal income tax rates, tax evasion, and fiscal deficit problems, while Estonia has implemented a smart and effective tax structure that has positioned the country well economically. By employing multiple regression models to analyze tax rates, unemployment rates, inflation business expansions, and FDI, the study reveals a highly sensitive relationship between taxation systems and GDP growth. Net FDI emerged as the dominant variable, with a 1 percent increase in FDI leading to a 0.3 percent increase in GDP growth, most evident in Albania and Estonia. Unemployment significantly and negatively correlates with GDP growth, with the worst correlation observed during the Greek crisis. Tax systems displayed varied effects: the flat tax in Albania showed moderate growth prospects, while Estonia’s taxation system demonstrated balance. Budget deficits were destructive to the Greek economy but had minimal impact on the more pragmatic Estonian one. An important factor in GDP growth was business enlargement, underscoring the importance of favorable business environments, particularly in Estonia. The results suggest that flat tax structures provide simple, certain taxation regimes but may offer limited solutions for equity and revenue generation in transitional environments like Albania. On the other hand, progressive tax systems are fair, ensuring that everyone pays according to their ability, but they can become very complicated to manage. Based on Albania\u27s fiscal environment, this study proposes enhancing FDI, addressing unemployment through structural changes, improving tax efficiency, and implementing policies for business enlargement. These findings contribute valuable insights into sound macroeconomic development and broader fiscal policy reform debates in transitional and developing countries