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A biomimetic cellulose-based composite material that incorporates the antimicrobial metal-organic framework HKUST-1
No full textThe synthesis and characterization of a biomimetic composite material composed of cellulose acetate embedded with a copper-based metal-organic framework, MOF-199 (HKUST-1), is reported and has been investigated for use as an adsorbent material in water remediation. Incorporation of MOF-199 into cellulose acetate enhances the stability of the metal-organic framework in water allowing for a flexible and tunable polymeric material. The adsorption of methylene blue to the cellulose-MOF199 composite was tracked spectroscopically over time and is best described by a mixed Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm adsorption model. The total remediation of methylene blue to the cellulose-MOF199 composite is comparable to that of pure cellulose, however, it is shown herein that incorporation of MOF-199 into cellulose acetate inhibits the growth of the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli
Addressing Women and Minorities on Social Media by the 2016 U.S. Presidential Candidates
Get PDFDonald Trump’s bombastic statements regarding women and minorities were a constant theme in the 2016 presidential election and attracted attention from both the mainstream media and his opponent, Hillary Clinton. Given the increasing use of social networking sites among political actors and the public, as well as the focus given to women and minorities in the 2016 election, we utilize a content analysis of presidential candidates’ social media activity in the months preceding the election in order to better understand how the candidates addressed women and minorities. We ultimately find that Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton out-posted Trump in both positive and negative content in the categories of women’s issues; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues; race; and immigration. However, this is not the case with issues involving crime and police, which was a lens through which Trump was more likely to approach race-related issues. In many instances, the candidates also appeared to strategically target content-specific posts to the social media platforms where they would be most likely to be seen by women or the minority group most closely related to the post’s content
Tweeting about Race: An Analysis of U.S. Senatorial Twitter Activity Regarding Issues Impacting Blacks and Latinos
No full textThis study examines U.S. Senators’ social media use by content analyzing senatorial Twitter activity in the two months preceding the 2014 midterm elections. Specifically, we analyze more than 17,200 tweets by sitting senators to assess frequency of Twitter usage and to address how frequently senators tweet about issues relating to race. We find that senators are generally willing to microblog about issues relating to racial/ethnic minorities and that senators seeking reelection are not actively avoiding these issues, although we may expect them to do so out of a fear of alienating voters. Unlike previous research, however, we do not find that Republicans use social media more frequently than Democrats, or that electoral competition affects the propensity to tweet. Finally, this study reveals that senators representing large minority populations are more likely to tweet about race than those from less diverse states, though these senators tweet more about other topics, too
A patient portal push toward acceptance and utilization of the technology
Get PDFCertified electronic health record technology (c-EHRT) has the capacity to enhance person-centered care through online engagement between providers and patients. A driver to portal use is the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Meaningful Use (MU) benchmarks. Currently, many health care centers and providers fall short in attracting patients to register and utilize online patient portals thus influencing optimal utilization of the EHR. Barriers cited in the literature include lack of stakeholder interest, multiple government policy and mandates, and lack of resources to implement standards for health information technology (HIT) standards in daily professional workflow. This program evaluation focused on a 90-day “Portal Push” marketing and re-education initiative at a federally qualified health center (FQHC). The theoretical foundation for this program evaluation was the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).1 Goals for this program evaluation included: enhanced marketing and re-education of stakeholders towards portal utilization; assessment of portal MU benchmark attestation numbers pre/post the marketing and education initiative; and evaluation of patients, providers, and clinical staff on portal use as related to “ease of use”, “usefulness”, and “organizational support” through quantitative surveys. Results found enhanced marketing and re-education efforts increase portal registration numbers and use as well as provider CMS MU benchmark attestation. Data reflected an increase in portal user registration and an increase in provider CMS MU benchmark attestation post the Portal Push initiative. Patient, provider/staff survey results indicate a positive relationship between portal use and “ease of use”, portal use and “usefulness”, and portal use and “organizational support”. Results reflect portal marketing efforts by health centers, individualized education of patients, providers, and staff, and continued organizational support with c-EHRT are key drivers in portal acceptance and utilization
Gay and Lesbian Candidates, Group Stereotypes, and the News Media: an Experimental Design (LGBTQ Politics: A Critical Reader)
No full textFrom Harvey Milk to ACT UP to Proposition 8, no political change in the last two decades has been as rapid as the advancement of civil rights for LGBTQ people. As we face a critical juncture in progressive activism, political science, which has been slower than most disciplines to study the complexity of queer politics, must grapple with the shifting landscape of LGBTQ rights and inclusion.LGBTQ Politics analyzes both the successes and obstacles to building the LGBTQ movement over the past twenty years, offering analyses that point to possibilities for the movement’s future. Essays cover a range of topics, including activism, law, and coalition-building, and draw on subfields such as American politics, comparative politics, political theory, and international relations.LGBTQ Politics presents the full range of methodological, ideological, and substantive approaches to LGBTQ politics that exist in political science. Analyses focused on mainstream institutional and elite politics appear alongside contributions grounded in grassroots movements and critical theory. While some essays celebrate the movement’s successes and prospects, others express concerns that its democratic basis has become undermined by a focus on funding power over people power, attempts to fragment the LGBTQ movement from racial, gender and class justice, and a persistent attachment to single-issue politics.A comprehensive, thought-provoking collection, LGBTQ Politics: A Critical Reader will give rise to continued critical discussion of the parameters of LGBTQ politics.https://digitalcommons.lewisu.edu/politicalscience_fac-books/1001/thumbnail.jp
Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation: written by Duncan Tonatiuh
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to use Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation, by Duncan Tonatiuh, along with other materials on school segregation to address the question, is separate ever equa? Students compare and contrast segregated schooling using a Venn diagram, then research other instances of school segregation, paying attention to the time periods, geographic locations, and impact on segregated individuals. In pairs, students identify these locations on a US map and create a class timeline of the instances of segregation they uncover. Using their research, the class then discusses segregation and its impact on the segregated groups and individuals. Afterwards, students compare their school to the schools researched to determine if segregation exists in their school, and form a class position statement on the importance and benefits of school desegregation. Students will build an understanding of the importance and benefits of school desegregation and the negative impact of segregation. This lesson plan brings together multiple texts that illustrate the impact of segregation on various cultures in America
The Twitter Election: Analyzing Candidate Use of Social Media in the 2016 Presidential Campaign (Chapter from The Internet and the 2016 Presidential Campaign)
No full textOn January 13, 2017, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump took to the social media platform Twitter to attack his recent opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Trump microblogged, “What are Hillary Clinton’s people complaining about with respect to the F.B.I. Based on the information they had she would have never been allowed to run – guilty as hell… [sic]” Aside from the obvious concerns about a president who will be appointing judicial candidates assigning guilt to a political opponent, this tweet generally illustrates the overall negative tone perceived throughout the 2016 Presidential Election campaigns and more specifically illustrates the way in which social media are revolutionizing American elections. This election cycle saw both major-party nominees with underwater favorability numbers and each candidate was dogged by scandals that called into question their character and suitability for office. With no shortage of potentially damning information on either side, Twitter became a forum for 140-character (or less) personal attacks from candidates that could be characterized as having itchy Twitter fingers. This chapter investigates candidates’ use of social media broadly as well as its use as a vehicle of negativity in this contentious election by looking across platforms. Specifically, we 2 content analyze the official candidate social media account activity in the months preceding Election Day 2016 from the three most-prominent social media platforms, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. In addition to major party candidates Donald Trump (the Republican nominee) and Hillary Clinton (the Democratic nominee), we also investigate the social media use of Libertarian candidate, Gary Johnson.https://digitalcommons.lewisu.edu/politicalscience_fac-books/1000/thumbnail.jp
Higher Education and the Lasallian Mission in an Age of Inequality
Get PDFIn this paper we propose that institutions like the Schools of the Christian Brothers play an important role as a counterweight to free market inequalities. First we explore the free market mechanism and draw attention to its negative externalities. Then we highlight the resemblance between these negative externalities and the context that inspired Jean Baptiste de La Salle to found the Schools of the Christian Brothers. We show how the Christian Brothers organization is inspired by ideals that are sharply distinct from those that govern a strictly capitalist system. The governing principles of the Schools of the Christian Brothers are ethical rather than market-based. This tradition should be maintained and solidified going forward for economic and moral reasons. We argue for ethical restrictions on the influence of market-based rationality in determining the future of Lasallian organizations. This can be achieved by (i) leveraging the international network of Lasallian schools and programs (ii) targeting advancement initiatives and (iii) maintaining Lasallian mission formation efforts
Addressing Ableism in the Common Core State Standards
No full textThe authors describe a process for critical examination of curricular implications of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for children and youth with disabilities from a Disability Studies (DS)/anti-ableism frame. While the CCSS have been adopted by 44 states as well as the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity, the authors fear that academic standards built around a set of core abilities creates a risk of marginalizing children and youth with disabilities who may access, process, express, and demonstrate their knowledge and skills in an academic setting in non-traditional ways. This DS/anti-ableist frame was developed for use with pre-service and in-service teachers and teacher-educators in order to provide an accessible, workable way of thinking about standards and curriculum and identifying and addressing potential barriers within the CCSS that may serve to exclude and otherwise negatively impact children and youth with disabilities