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Electrical Charge Method for Balancing, Quantifying, and Defining Redox Reactions
Full text linkRedox reactions are important in both theoretical studies and practical uses. The concept is also one of the most difficult to teach and learn (Goes, Nogueira & Fernandez, 2020). In general chemistry textbooks, the oxidation number method is a fundamental approach for counting the number of transferred electrons and understanding redox reactions (Tro, 2020; Chang & Goldsby, 2013). Without knowing oxidation number, redox reactions cannot be defined and balanced. Algebraic methods, such as linear simultaneous equations method (Porter, 1985; Olson, 1997; Kolb, 1979) and matrix method (Blakley, 1982; Risteski, 2011), can balance redox reactions, but they cannot define them chemically. The relationships among oxidation number, transferred electrons, and electrical charge, can also be confusing for students (Garnett & Treagust, 1992; Brandriet & Bretz, 2014). In response to the limitations of the oxidation number method and the algebraic methods, the electrical charge method for balancing and defining redox reaction is developed in this article. This method does not require calculation of oxidation number nor use of electron. It only requires balancing of atoms and electrical charges by using two half reactions in a redox reaction. The key parameter is electrical charge, which acts as a concept to balance, quantify, and define redox reactions. By using simple arithmetic operations, the electrical charge method is appliable for balancing both ionic and molecular chemical equations
The Impact Of Counseling Demographic, Job Related And Professional Factors On Disciplinary Outcomes
Full text linkCounselors interact with every student on their campus and impact student outcomes. The researcher examined the predictable relationship between counselors’ demographic factors, job-related and professional-related factors (Texas Counseling Association, 2018), and student discipline outcomes (Texas Education Agency, 2021). The researcher used secondary data in the form of discipline frequencies, counselor gender and race of counselors, the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation status of the counselor’s master’s program, counseling licensure, counselor ratios, and the time counselors spend providing services within the Comprehensive School Counseling Program. This correlational research design allowed the researcher to examine the relationship between variables (Gay et al., 2012), using correlational statistics. The predictable relationship between the time counselors spent working in the service delivery domains of Comprehensive School Counseling Programs and Discipline Outcomes was examined (TEA, 2021). The researcher used multiple regression to analyze secondary data. The investigator used counselor demographics, School Counselor Use of Time Analysis (SCUTA) Reports, and Discipline Reports. The amount of time counselors spent working in the service delivery domains was acquired from the target ISD. SCUTA, an evidence-based school counseling program, identified the amount of time, work, and activities of counselors. Senate Bill 179, was passed by Governor Abbot in alignment with The American School Counselor Association (ASCA, 2019) National Model, required school counselors to spend a minimum of 80% of their work time on duties within the components of a comprehensive school counseling program (TCA, 2018)
Operational Analysis of the Flipped Left Diamond Interchange Design
Full text linkInterchanges are critical elements of modern transportation networks. A new design called the Flipped Left-Turn Diamond Interchange (FLDI) has been proposed to enhance efficiency and increase the capacity of traditional diamond interchanges. The FLDI design features left-turn lanes in opposing directions, eliminating conflicts between opposing left-turn movements. One of the key benefits of FLDI is its ability to be easily implemented within the existing right of way, without the need for major construction or the elimination of direct connectivity between frontage roads or access to corner properties, unlike other innovative designs such as the Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) and Continuous Flow Intersections (CFI). The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether implementing the FLDI design can reduce vehicle delay, queue length, and the number of stops compared to a conventional diamond interchange. Additionally, the study aims to determine the applicable conditions for implementing the FLDI design and develop signal timing strategies to optimize its performance. To achieve this objective, various data types, including turning movement counts, travel time, and signal timing data, were collected at a diamond interchange in Fort Worth, Texas. Microscopic traffic models were then developed for the existing condition (conventional diamond interchange) and the FLDI design in PTV VISSIM. The base model was calibrated based on travel time and traffic count data to ensure that the developed model accurately represents the existing condition. In addition, a new signal timing plan was developed for FLDI to improve operational performance at the interchange. This phasing plan provides the traffic progression time between the two intersections at the diamond interchange and prevents the green starvation problem at the downstream intersection. The study found that FLDI is more robust than the conventional diamond interchange when subjected to heavy traffic conditions. The traffic simulation results showed that the implementation of FLDI may reduce vehicle delay, queue length, and the number of stops at the entire interchange by 30% to 40%, 30% to 50%, and 30%, respectively. The main reason for this improvement is that FLDI can allow more traffic flows to move simultaneously in one phase. Furthermore, it was found that the performance of FLDI was almost the same as the conventional diamond interchange when the interchange experiences low and medium traffic. To address traffic safety concerns, it is recommended that FLDI have a dedicated U-turn lane between the frontage roads. This study proposes that FLDI can be a viable design option for diamond interchanges with heavy traffic volume conditions due to its ability to reduce travel delays, stops, and queue lengths. Its feasibility should be evaluated carefully based on local traffic conditions and engineering judgment before implementation. This study can assist traffic engineers and transportation planners in the operational analysis of diamond interchanges
The Gifted Gap and Advance Placement: A Comparison of Placement and Advancement of African American Males Compared to other Ethnicities in Gifted and Advanced School Programs.
Full text linkFor decades systemic inequalities in advanced placement courses in education have been a continued driving force to reduce opportunities for African American males compared to other ethnicities. This research provides a statistical analysis of the Gifted Gap in school districts within the United States serving an expanding metropolitan region with limited educational opportunities to grow due to gender, racial, and socioeconomic disproportions. The purpose of this quantitative non-experimental study was to investigate the differences between African American male students compared to other ethnic male students, which may pose a Gifted Gap due to racial and gender factors in gifted and advanced school programs. Two separate archival datasets were obtained through the US Department of Education. To answer the three research questions, a series of independent samples t-tests, ANOVAs, and chi-squared tests was conducted on each of the two datasets
The Efficacy of Neuroleptics on Mental Health Disorders
Full text linkMental health disorders affect a lot of people in the world and can be triggered by a wide variety of reasons. The treatment of mental health disorders varies based on the type of disorder one is dealing with, as well as the symptoms that each portrays. While history has changed how people view mental health disorders, it also shows that the models of treatment used have not always been beneficial to the wellness of human beings. Research shows that there are different ways in which mental health disorders affect the brain, which means that a study of the different parts of the brain as well as the volume they occupy, helps one understand what type of disorder one is dealing with. Two main methods of treatment are addressed, pharmacology and pharmacotherapy, both of which are often used at the same time. Giving patients the right type of care makes sure individuals are able to enjoy a higher quality life. The purpose of this thesis project is to explain the efficacy of neuroleptics on mental health disorders. Neuroleptics can also be referred to as antipsychotic medications. I will also explain what mental health is and how it affects everyday lifestyle. The overview of psychiatric diseases also known as mood disorders. The main types of affective disorders are major depressive disorders (MDD), bipolar affective disorder (BPAD), and anxiety disorders. Lastly, I will discuss the treatments for these disorders and how the medications affect the patient and their lifestyle
Black Fatherhood: A Critical Component for Urban African American Student Success
Full text linkA multitude of studies express that father involvement has an impact on student achievement and learning outcomes for urban African American students (Palm & Fagan, 2008). Although biological fathers are extremely vital to our community, a biological connection between a parental figure and their student is not essential to these correlational outcomes. The absence of fathers in the urban African American community has had a negative impact on students\u27 self-esteem, academic efficacy, and general livelihood. Realistically, it is not a viable solution to place fathers in homes or force them to stay and remain active participants in their child\u27s K-12 matriculation. However, those that encompass the 2% of Black male educators in this country, including myself and other males within our community, must accept the responsibility of becoming a father to the sons and daughters we serve within the four walls of America\u27s public schools and/or encounter on the streets of this country. Based on my own observations and the findings of other scholars in the field of urban education, I argue that Black fatherhood is a critical component for the academic achievement of urban African American students. This narrative analysis contributes significantly to the understanding of the essential elements and importance of Black men\u27s or fathers\u27 involvement and being held responsible for raising, caring for, and educating our students.
This paper is a narrative research analysis, and the purpose for the research is to (1) propose essential elements of Black fatherhood; (2) understand the effect of Black fatherhood as a driving force for urban African American student achievement and educational outcomes; and (3) provide a tentative solution to an ongoing dilemma within the Black community: absent Black fathers and urban African American children who sorely need Black fatherhood figures through the implementation of the essential elements in our nation’s urban public schools. The theoretical underpinning for this narrative research analysis was social ecological theory. Bronfenbrenner\u27s (1979) theory provided a useful framework for investigating interactions between students and their social ecological surroundings. The findings of the narrative analysis have implications for the development of four essential elements of Black fatherhood: defining discipline, expecting excellence, guiding gracefully, and sacrificing silently. The analysis concluded that the elements of Black fatherhood, established through this analysis, if instilled in urban African American students, should result in a shift in seriousness for learning and a boost in overall self-esteem. As I continue my education, I plan to expand on this work by creating a program to replace the status quo in urban educational institutions, apply these ideas on a broader scale, and then evaluate the results in te1ms of their impact on students\u27 learning outcomes
The Career Project: An Intervention to Facilitate Career Development
Full text linkStudents face substantial challenges in readying for their professional lives. They must select a field, find a suitable job within that field, and lay a foundation for their career. To aid with this, we present the career project, an efficient career- and self-exploration assignment. The project comprises a resume assessment, identifying short-term and long-term career goals, backup plans, personal strengths and selling points, conducting organizational research, an informational interview with someone in their desired field, and a market assessment by a knowledgeable professional. We tested the project efficacy with 803 students (two treatment groups and two controls) during an ‘Introduction to Management’ undergraduate course, using a between- and within-subject quasi-experimental design. The results strongly demonstrate the effectiveness of the project for accomplishing those goals. We note that the project can increase placement rate and salaries at graduation, which are major components of business school rankings and AACSB accreditation
Environmental Justice and Low-Income Residents of Houston Texas: The Inequities of Catastrophic Weather Event Recovery Left Out and Expendable - Again
Full text linkThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Coastal Management, from 2017-2021, the United States has averaged 17.2 annual climate/weather disasters. In 2021 alone, the U.S. experienced 20 billion-dollar disasters and since 1980, the U.S. has experienced 341 climate/weather disasters which in toto, resulted in 25.89 billion budget with an additional 125 billion (USD 2017) over a 4 day period. The findings reveal the inequality of financial recovery after a catastrophic weather event. Pre-disaster political and economic conditions created unequal vulnerability to natural and anthropogenic hazards (Fussell, 2015). The study also revealed gaps in the knowledge of how populations financially recover after a disaster caused widespread destruction to urban infrastructure, housing and workplaces, and how embedded racism support mechanisms that produce unequal social, spatial, and financial recovery. The conclusions reveled by the research indicate that the current financial recovery distribution process favors individuals who have the assets and financial flexibility to sustain themselves after a catastrophic weather event whereas low-income individuals struggle to submit the application for financial assistance and acquire basic living necessities after a catastrophic weather-based event. Specifically, young, white adults and wealthy adults move away from zones with higher risk of storm damage while more vulnerable populations groups, specifically, the elderly, African Americans, and poor move not due to weather events but from gentrification.
Abstract (Spanish)
Según la Oficina de Gestión Costera de la Administración Nacional Oceánica y Atmosférica (NOAA), entre 2017 y 2021, Estados Unidos ha promediado 17,2 desastres climáticos/meteorológicos anuales. Solo en 2021, Estados Unidos experimentó desastres por valor de 20 mil millones de dólares y desde 1980, Estados Unidos ha experimentado 341 desastres climáticos/meteorológicos que, en total, resultaron en pérdidas por 2,155 billones de dólares. La Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA) está autorizada en virtud de la Ley Stafford para ser la principal agencia federal encargada de ayudar a las personas después de desastres, específicamente inundaciones, huracanes, terremotos e incendios forestales. En previsión de un aumento de los desastres provocados por el clima, para el año fiscal 2021, el Comité de Asignaciones de la Cámara de Representantes de los EE. UU. asignó a FEMA un presupuesto de 771,3 millones adicionales solicitados por la Administración Biden. Mi investigación examina cómo se distribuyó la asignación de FEMA de 2017 después del huracán Harvey. Utilizando dos códigos postales con marcadas diferencias demográficas, este estudio utilizó datos de FEMA para determinar si las personas más ricas se benefician de eventos climáticos catastróficos y si reciben más dinero federal de recuperación. Esta investigación examina cómo FEMA distribuyó el dinero federal de recuperación después del huracán Harvey, que tocó tierra como huracán de categoría 4 el 25 de agosto de 2017 y se disipó entre el 29 y el 30 de agosto de 2017 (Servicio Meteorológico Nacional), dejando caer 40 pulgadas de lluvia y dejando $125 mil millones ( USD 2017) durante un período de 4 días. Los hallazgos revelan la desigualdad de la recuperación financiera después de un evento climático catastrófico. Las condiciones políticas y económicas previas al desastre crearon una vulnerabilidad desigual a los peligros naturales y antropogénicos (Fussell, 2015). El estudio también reveló lagunas en el conocimiento de cómo las poblaciones se recuperan financieramente después de que un desastre causó una destrucción generalizada de la infraestructura urbana, las viviendas y los lugares de trabajo, y cómo el racismo arraigado apoya los mecanismos que producen una recuperación social, espacial y financiera desigual. Las conclusiones reveladas por la investigación indican que el actual proceso de distribución de la recuperación financiera favorece a las personas que tienen los activos y la flexibilidad financiera para mantenerse después de un evento climático catastrófico, mientras que las personas de bajos ingresos luchan por presentar la solicitud de asistencia financiera y adquirir las necesidades básicas de vida después de un evento climático catastrófico. un evento catastrófico causado por el clima. Específicamente, los jóvenes, los adultos blancos y los adultos ricos se alejan de zonas con mayor riesgo de sufrir daños por tormentas, mientras que los grupos de población más vulnerables, específicamente los ancianos, los afroamericanos y los pobres, se mudan no debido a eventos climáticos sino a la gentrificación
The Impact Of “Wellness Factors” And “Psychological Factors” On Perceived Stress Among Licensed Professional Counselors
Full text linkThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between “wellness factors” and “psychological factors” on perceived stress among Licensed Professional Counselors. This study was concerned with the predictability of “wellness factors”, specifically self-care, other-care, and “psychological factors,” including self-esteem, anxiety, and resilience on counselor perceived stress. Counselors in this study are defined as Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Professional Counselor Associates (LPC-Associates), and Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisors (LPC-S). The population of this investigation consisted of counselors at various licensure status’ including LPCs, LPC-Ss, and LPC-As that are current and active members of the Texas Counseling Association, Texas School Counseling Association, and urban Counselor organizations in Texas. Counselors were generally clustered in the major metropolitan cities of Texas and surrounding counties. Counselors were contacted via social media, private practice phone calls, and email. A total of 250 counselors participated in this study. The data analysis contained the examination of three null hypotheses tested for this study. Testing of the three hypotheses was accomplished by using the Standard Multiple Regression Statistical Procedure. All hypotheses were tested at the .01 level or better. All three hypotheses were found to be significant at the .001 level. Regarding hypothesis one, the wellness factors of self-care and other-care were found to be significantly linearly related to perceived stress. The variable self-care was found to be an independent predictor of perceived stress. Regarding hypothesis two, the psychological factors self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and resilience were found to be linearly related to perceived stress. The variables self-esteem and depression were found to be independent predictors of perceived stress. Regarding hypothesis three, the combined wellness and psychological factors of self-care, other-care, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and resilience were found to be statistically linearly related to perceived stress. The variables self-esteem and depression were found to be independent predictors of perceived stress. The following recommendations are offered to counselors regarding perceived stress. As counselors continue to expand on various strategies of self-care and work-life balance, counselors may find that some attention given to their current levels of perceived stress, identifying which factors may be contributing to such stress levels, and evaluating coping strategies may be of professional and personal benefit. While counselors are still traditionally trained on the critically supportive nature of counselor-to-client relationships, further interpersonal research relating to the counselor themselves may provide additional support for counselor-related mental health. Continued research of statistically relevant variables relating to counselor perceived stress may provide a further knowledge base for counseling training programs, and continuing education opportunities to discuss and encourage counselor self- introspection toward perceived stress throughout the career of the practicing counselor. Additionally, personality cluster studies may also give insight into the types of interpersonal work counselors could be naturally inclined towards or excel in, thereby assisting in the strategic allocation of resources and professional development opportunities. Work done by Kim et al. (2023) highlights that Edwards & Bess, (1998) and McAuliffe & Lovell (2006) find that “counselors’ self-awareness of personal traits and their potential impact on the counseling process with clients are considered crucial” (pg. 2). To this end, specifically in relation to counselor, Kim et al. (2023) identified a four-profile model for counselor burnout and personal and professional self-discrepancy in counselor qualities. Further personality profile modeling may assist counseling in identifying similar patterns for perceived stress. The implications for research in counseling regarding counselor perceived stress is ongoing. It is essential to continue encouraging and informing counselors through ongoing research on stress-related issues. This research equips them with the tools to assess their professional and personal qualities, identify areas in which they may need support, all with the overarching goal of enhancing their self-awareness, well-being, and effectiveness in counseling. Further research is needed to expand on the concepts of counselor self-awareness, how, and what may motivate counselors to this end. Additionally, further research may help counselors identify which interpersonal and wellness factors are critical to their mental health and work lives
Analyses Of Mybl1 In Triple Negative Breast Cells And Validation Of Genes Colocalized To Chromosome 8q Loci
Full text linkFifteen percent of breast cancer are characterized as the triple negative breast cancer subtype. The cancers are recognized as negative for estrogen, progesterone and ErRB2 receptors, genes that function as transcription and growth factor functions, respectively. Previous data show the MYBL1 transcription factor is over-expressed in some triple negative breast cancers-suggesting dysregulation of the gene in the cancers. MYBL1 gene is a strong transcriptional regulator associated with regulation of cell cycle proliferation which is a key event in cancer progression. To determine genes either directly or indirectly associating with MYBL1 in these cancers we knocked the gene down, performed microarray analyses and identified a list of genes effected by MYBL1 knockdown (some up-regulated and others down regulated). MYBL1 gene is localized to chromosome region 8q.13.1 and bioinformatic analyses show a substantial number of genes either at the same loci or colocalized to the 8q loci. For this study, based on the knockdown, microarray and subsequent bioinformatic analyses, 14 genes were initially identified as possible candidates for validation using bioinformatic based approaches, and polymerase chain and western blotting experimental analyses. Data presented here are a summary of our results which include analysis of the 14 genes and selection of a final subset of 4 genes as final candidates for this study