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The Influence of Government and Private Assistance on Refugee Labor Force Participation in the United States
Get PDFRefugee policy in the United States is decentralized, providing individual states with the power to implement different policies with various levels of private and government assistance. Previous research analyzing state policy has often focused on one policy and providing suggestions for improvement. Using the 2020 data provided from the Office of Refugee Resettlement, this study looks to provide a comprehensive review of how government or private assistance influences refugee labor force participation across the United States. The findings are then used to provide recommendations for policy makers, based on the three policies already offered in the United States — State-Administered Programs, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and Privately Administered Programs (also known as Replacement Designee). The key findings include that, while both government assistance and private assistance are positively correlated to labor force participation, only private assistance is significantly correlated. Keeping in mind certain limitations and factors not accounted for in this study, this paper recommends States choose a policy option that provides the most access to private assistance, as well as making more assistance available to the wider refugee population
Utilizing Drones to Determine Detention Basin Capacity
No full textThe object of this study is to compare the capabilities of a relatively low budget drone to the effectiveness of traditional topographic surveying methods when determining the as-built elevations of a detention basin. Topographic surveying is a well established process to determine horizontal distances, directions, angles, and elevations of a site utilizing either total stations or high-accuracy GPS systems. However, as new technology emerges, typical methods of land surveying are being revisited. For example, a drone can easily fly over a site and collect a number of stereo referenced images in a short amount of time. These images can be processed by advanced, commercial software (such as Correlator 3D) to create a 3D surface model of a site. This study aims to determine if a $1000-2000 commercial drone, such as a DJI Air 2S or DJI Air 3, can be used to map drainage basins to the same degree of accuracy as more traditional topographic surveying. If so, site surveying could be streamlined by simply flying a drone over the site for less than half an hour, rather than using traditional methods for multiple hours. In addition, the drone process offers a visual depiction of the site which can easily be shared with clients, cities, and other users
Real vs. Animated? When teaching about development does video format matter?
No full textLanguage develops prenatally and throughout childhood and can significantly impact children’s abilities to produce and understand language throughout their life. The goal of this study is to find accessible ways to equip caregivers with resources to set their child up for future success in the comprehension and production of language. Parent’s understanding of childhood development is related to their child’s efficiency in moving through developmental stages, specifically in relation to the acquisition of language (Booth, 2018). Thus, we are creating a remote video-training process to teach parents about language development. Existing literature has shown the power of video-training such that parents who received training over video could implement new activities with their children, leading to an increased development of language-related skills (Blom-Hoffman, 2008). Current research about video formats, with college students, has found that participants learn best from combined audio and visual aspects that included social cues from footage of the instructor speaking (Brünken, 2002; Kizilcec, 2015). These features are able to be present in both live-action and animated formats. Therefore, this study focuses on finding out what video format is most beneficial to teach caregivers facts and activities related to children\u27s language development. We compare learning outcomes from videos of a real person presenting information compared to those with an animated character. Findings from this research will give insight to what could be a more efficient way of equipping parents to support their child in the process of being able to understand and produce language
Light and Prayer in Icons
No full textIn the Orthodox Christian religion, icons are essential to the Orthodox faith and devotion. Icons are found in churches, homes, and prayer rooms. Many believe icons are just ordinary works of art depicting Christ and other Saints, yet icons are items of devotion and prayer to God. Icons invite viewers into relation with the Creator and are windows to the spiritual realm. The icons are painted by believers of God and are devoted to God with paint colors, depictions of Holy figures, and where light is exemplified. Instead of ordinary works of art, icons are textual art that tell a spiritual story through aspects of divine light. This poster investigates interaction of prayer and light in icons. Two icons in particular, “The Transfiguration” and “The Virgin of the Vladimir” invite viewers into prayer and use immaculate aspects of light to represent divinity. Both icons exhibit colors of gold and white pigments that depict the divine nature and unnatural light of Christ and the Virgin Mary. These aspects of light are intentionally honoring God and His divine power. They invite viewers into a spiritual fellowship with the Creator and they are a call to prayer. Icons ultimately provide divine communication to the spiritual realm by leading viewers to prayer and repentance
Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis and Characterization in an Undergraduate Lab
No full textGold nanoparticles are useful for a variety of biomedical purposes and are particularly interesting due to their unique optical properties. Gold nanoparticles have strong absorbance bands between about 500 and 600 nm, and an absorbance peak that varies based on nanoparticle size. The objective of this research is to develop an accessible, cost-effective protocol for gold nanoparticle synthesis and evaluate how changing synthesis parameters impact nanoparticle size and optical properties. The goal is for the protocol to be implemented into an undergraduate lab course, allowing students to explore nanoparticle synthesis and characterization methods. Gold nanoparticles were first synthesized by mixing hydrogen tetrachloroaurate and citrate for 30-60 minutes at boiling. Synthesis parameters like citrate concentration, reaction time, and temperature were varied, and the optical properties of the resulting nanoparticles were monitored using a SpectroVis spectrophotometer. The impact of particle aggregation on optical properties was also investigated. Particle size can also be measured using a Horiba LA960 particle size analyzer, allowing further comparison of measured size to absorbance trends
Iconicity of Images in the Most Circulated Children’s Books from Three Counties
No full textParents are encouraged to read to their children, but little is known about the content in children’s books aimed towards children age 5 and below. Children have an easier time generalizing the images in books to the real world when the pictures are highly iconic (Ganea et al., 2008). In the current study, we investigate the degree of iconicity in the most checked out books in one rural and one urban county in Indiana.
Based on 2023 circulation data from Starke, Porter, and St. Joseph county libraries, the top 100 picture books from each library were analyzed. Books were coded as simple lines, basic drawings, detailed drawings, photographs, or mixed, based on Wagner (2017).
We found that the majority of books in the sample included basic drawings , followed by detailed drawings), with few books having simple lines, mixed use of images, and photographs . Thus, children are not being exposed to many picture books with the highest levels of iconicity, but are exposed to some books that make use of some iconicity with detailed drawings. We know that iconicity is an important factor in helping children generalize from books to the real world, therefore childrens books should utilize highly iconic images more than they currently are
Leadershift Today: Balancing Ego and Altruism
Get PDFThis article addresses a behavioral dichotomy that seems to be a prerequisite in proper leadership performance in today’s world, especially in organizational settings that cultivate a culture of wellness and reciprocal progress. While the involved concepts - ego and altruism - are generally familiar human traits, the need for a shift from one to the other once leadership has been attained, has not been discussed as such before. This article therefore aims to evoke within leaders the awareness of the need to shift their mindset, and therefore their behavior, from ego-driven to collective-focused once elevated into a leadership position. The content of this article was garnered through an introspective review, whereby the author reflected on internally and externally observed leadership experiences as a guiding factor toward substantiating or rectifying existing notions. Leadershift has thereby been interpreted as a phenomenon with egoism and altruism as the edges of the leadership continuum. What gets us into leadership is often not the same as what successfully keeps us there. Understanding the balance between the qualities that get us in the leadership position and the ones that will make us stay there - and do so in a satisfactory way - is a critical strategy in today’s leadership. This article emphasizes an intuitive contrast that will only become easier to implement as leadership experience mounts and mindfulness is maintained. It confronts leaders with the need to understand and be receptive to paradigm shifts and behavioral adjustments as they transition toward higher career echelons
Germanic Heroes, Courage, and Fate: Northern Narratives of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Legendarium (2024) by Richard Z. Gallant
Get PDFBook review, by Andrew Higgins, of Germanic Heroes, Courage, and Fate: Northern Narratives in J.R.R. Tolkien\u27s Legendarium (2024) by Richard Z. Gallan
