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Where are all the Latinas in Information Technology? Understanding and Engaging La Fuerza Potente of a Powerful Demographic
Full text linkThis study was inspired while I was researching other studies on employee motivational factors for non-profit organizations. I stumbled across the employment factors of Latinas in IT. This led me down a path of researching numbers, facts, organizational campaigns, and employment statistics. Latinas represent only 1% of the IT workforce, despite educational and organizational hiring campaigns and efforts. This led me to further inquire: What are the obstacles, what are the motivators, what is the solution and finally how would the resolutions be implemented? With many qualitative and quantitative studies that identify the deficiency, there has been little done to move the needle on improving that 1%. My desire is this study is to provide answers to the Why so we can then move to the How. Relevant theories that influence the issue will be briefly reviewed and later expanded upon and compared to the findings. As applied to Latinas, the theories and concepts that influence motivators and obstacles are Bandura’s self-efficacy, Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, and marianismo. Other theories that are considered to influence Latinas’ way of thinking are Chicana feminist epistemology, which encompasses many of the predominant concepts in Latinas’ ways of knowing. By comprehending the distinctions of how Latina self-efficacy is achieved within the challenges of culture and gender, work programs can better formulate their hiring campaigns to meet and engage this growing demographic where they are, potentially increasing qualified and educated Latinas in their talent pool. With regard to how we can motivate Latinas to enter IT, if we do not adapt to them, we will not attract them
The Relationship Between Leadership Style and Faculty Members’ Job Satisfaction at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Full text linkResearch Focus. My research focused on examining the relationship between leadership style and faculty members’ job satisfaction at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The main objective of this research was to analyze the connection in the styles of leadership and job satisfaction in the higher education sector in Saudi Arabia. My study aimed to provide insights necessary to help Saudi Arabian higher education institutions increase employee satisfaction.
I was guided in this research by the following research questions: (1) What is the prevailing leadership style of the heads of departments as perceived by their faculty members at the College of Economics and Administration, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia? (2) Is there a relationship between the leadership styles of the heads of departments, as perceived by their faculty members, and the overall job satisfaction of faculty members at the College of Economics and Administration, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia? (3) To what extent does the leadership style of the heads of departments, as perceived by their faculty members, predict faculty members\u27 overall job satisfaction after controlling the effect of other demographic variables at the College of Economics and Administration, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia?
I tested these hypotheses: H20: There is no statistically significant relationship between the perceived leadership style of the heads of departments and the overall job satisfaction of their faculty members at the College of Economics and Administration, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, H2a: There is a statistically significant relationship between the perceived leadership style of the heads of departments and the overall job satisfaction of their faculty members at the College of Economics and Administration, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, H30: The perceived leadership style of the heads of departments does not predict the overall job satisfaction of their faculty members at the College of Economics and Administration, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, H3a: The perceived leadership style of the heads of departments predicts the overall job satisfaction of their faculty members at the College of Economics and Administration, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
I identified various leadership theories in my research. Effective leadership is influenced by factors such as the nature of the organization, its goals, and the people who follow the leader. The aim of my study was to provide insights into applicable leadership theories to help Saudi Arabian higher education institutions increase employee satisfaction.
I used a quantitative, non-experimental correlation methodology in this study that aimed to examine whether the leadership styles of the chairs of the department heads (independent variables) correspond with faculty job satisfaction (dependent variable). I conducted the study at the University of King Abdul Aziz in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, among the faculty of the College of Economics and Administration, targeting all faculty members in the college from all departments in the college. The data for the study were collected through two closed-ended, cross-sectional surveys using SurveyMonkey.
Research Methods. I used a correlational research design because it was the best choice for achieving the study’s objectives of assessing the relationship between department heads’ styles of leadership and job satisfaction among faculty at a university. The study’s independent variables were Transformational Leadership (TF), Transactional Leadership (TA), and Passive/Avoidant Leadership (P/A), and the dependent variable was faculty job satisfaction. Regression analysis was also used to determine whether the independent variables could predict the dependent variable.
A post-positivism frame served as the foundation for this work. I used a quantitative technique to collect data because it was more effective than a qualitative approach in addressing the research questions. Additionally, statistical analysis could lead to a more general conclusion.
The population of the study included all faculty members in the College of Economics and Administration at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, available during the academic year of 2022-2023. I contacted all population members through the university research center. However, only faculty members that were available and accessible during a 2-month window were included in the study. The study population included only faculty members who had worked for at least 1 academic year to ensure that they had spent enough time to form an opinion about the department head leadership style.
The study used the demographic survey, the MLQ, and the MSQ as the three tools to administer an online survey using SurveyMonkey. Combining data collection methods increased the variety of information offered for generalizability and useful recommendations. The study conducted a G*power study to determine the required number of participants for correlation tests and the analysis of multiple regression. An average of 84 participants were required to meet the G-minimum power’s sample size requirement.
Research Results/Findings. The analyzed results showed that Transformational was the most often used leadership style (M = 1.914, SD =.390), followed by Transactional (M = 1.87, SD =.44), and that Passive/Avoidant conduct was rarely utilized (M = 1.84, SD = .40). According to the study\u27s findings, department heads at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah generally employ the Transactional and Transformational leadership styles. The Faculty of Economics and Administration\u27s department heads did not regularly employ the Passive/Avoidant leadership style. The study indicated that overall job satisfaction among faculty members was just more favorable to satisfaction than to dissatisfaction.
Conclusions from Research. According to the study’s findings, department heads’ leadership practices have a big influence on how satisfied faculty members are at work. The results indicate that the most common leadership Transformational and Transactional styles are used. The application of these leadership styles is consistent with earlier research that has shown the superior efficacy of Transformational and Transactional leadership styles in the higher education sector. Passive/Avoidant leadership style was not widely adopted, which may have an impact on faculty members’ job satisfaction. According to research, leadership style can increase employee happiness by setting clear objectives and goals. The lack of a Passive/Avoidant leadership style may be a result of institutional and cultural tendencies to value teamwork and collectivism over individual success. According to the study\u27s findings, faculty members are generally content with their jobs, which is in line with findings from earlier studies in the higher education field. There is still potential for growth, and the study’s findings show that department heads should concentrate on leadership styles that support worker satisfaction and wellbeing
Challenging the Known. 16th Annual Research Week: Event Proceedings
Full text linkPresentations of completed and ongoing research activity conducted by graduate students, undergraduate students, and faculty at University of the Incarnate Word. Includes poster, podium, visual arts, interactive demo, and creative and performing arts presentations. Coordinated and presented by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A Case Report
Full text linkBackground: Optic nerve head edema is a serious finding for which multiple etiologies need to be considered. When optic nerve head edema is observed bilaterally, among the top differentials is idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), also known as primary pseudotumor cerebri. An emergent magnetic resonance image with and without contrast as well as venography and lumbar puncture with opening pressure measurement must be performed to diagnose and determine management. Case Report: This case specifically features a 30-year-old Caucasian female with bilateral optic disc edema secondary to IIH. In addition to discussing the details regarding this patient’s case, this report highlights pertinent imaging, visual testing, and co-management. Conclusion: Important caveats to treatment and management of the condition, and other underlying complications of IIH are discussed. Close monitoring of papilledema, visual acuity, and visual field, along with co-management with neurology and neuro-ophthalmology will provide optimum care
Anxiety Screening at a Psychiatric Inpatient Facility: A Quality Improvement Project
Full text linkBackground. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by persistent anxiety and uncontrollable worry occurring more days than not for a minimum of 6 months (Patriquin & Mathew, 2017). Presently, anxiety screening and evidence-based practice treatment for adults are suboptimal. It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in patients. Purpose. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) screening tool, a validated, evidence-based instrument, in a psychiatric inpatient facility to improve early detection and treatment of anxiety disorders in patients. Methods. Staff members were educated in the use of the GAD-7 screening tool. Patients who were 18 years of age and older were screened for anxiety upon admission to the general adult inpatient psychiatric unit using the GAD-7 screening tool. Patients were given treatment by providers and staff based on the clinical practice guidelines. Results. All new patients admitted to the general adult inpatient psychiatric unit were screened using the GAD-7. Of the 23 patients screened, 52.2% of patients scored 15 or higher, which triggered further assessment by the provider. Implications for Practice. The GAD-7 screening tool is used to assist and guide providers in diagnosing and treating generalized anxiety disorder. Ultimately, the implementation of the GAD-7 will address the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of the disease by improving the assessment, rate of diagnosis, and care for patients experiencing severe anxiety
Optic Disc Drusen Resulting in Disqualifying Field Loss
Full text linkBackground: Optic nerve (or disc) drusen is the presence of hyaline bodies at the optic nerve head. The drusen may be visible upon funduscopic examination or may present as buried. Timely diagnosis and responsible imaging may help inform the patient of the potential for future concerns. The long-term prognosis is good for most patients, however, they may experience progressive peripheral vision loss that may reduce the patient’s quality of life. Neuroprotective options have previously been discussed with minimal clinical effectiveness, however, new medications may aid in future treatment.
Case Report: A patient presenting with mild and slowly progressing vision loss was examined and found to have optic disc drusen. Visual fields were done to quantify the extent of vision loss and revealed the patient no longer met the criteria for his commercial driver’s license. Findings, imaging, and treatment options are discussed.
Conclusion: While no effective treatments exist currently, the potential benefit of brimonidine as a neuroprotective agent is discussed along with other future potential options. An assessment of the viability of the patient’s cost benefit ratio is discussed
Impact of Career and Technical Education Among High School Students in Texas
Full text linkExisting research documents the importance and relevance of career and technical education (CTE) throughout American history. Beginning with the passage of the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917 to the passage of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century in July of 2018, federal and state legislation continue to shape vocational education within our public-school systems. The literature provides strong evidence between student success, in terms of high school graduation rate and post-secondary educational attainment, and the participation in career and technical education during the high school years. This dissertation analyzes whether dual credit career and technical education classes improve the overall academic high school performance of students who enroll in these classes, with a specific focus on Dallas Independent School District (ISD). This analysis fills the gap in existing research by identifying the specific benefits of dual credit career and technical education coursework on graduating grade-point averages of individual students. This quantitative study sought to validate the improved academic performance by analyzing the relationship between the graduating grade-point average (GPA) of students who earned dual credit by completing at least one CTE course as compared to their peers who did not take any dual credit CTE courses. For this research, a causal-comparative design was selected to examine the relationship between the student’s graduating GPA and the CTE courses they have taken during high school. Four distinct groups of recent high school graduates were included in this study, students who had been identified and received Special Education Services (SPED), students who had been identified and received Gifted and Talented Services (GT), students who had been identified and received English Language Learner Services (ELL), and remaining students who did not fall under any of these categories. The population for this study consists of May 2021 and May 2022 high school graduates from Dallas ISD, Texas. De-identified secondary data from a total of 16,043 students was obtained from the ISD. Employing STATA, a multivariate linear regression estimate was generated to test whether the GPA of the students was impacted by their enrollment in CTE classes, controlling for their sex, ethnicity, and group (SPED, GT, ELL, Other). Non-parametric Chi-square tests of Independence were performed using the binary variables to test whether CTE enrollment impacted GPA for all groups. The student’s graduating GPA was the single dependent variable being researched. While the overall results of the linear regression show that the impact of the CTE variable on GPA is statistically significant, the magnitude is small. The results do confirm that students who earned education credits by completing dual credit CTE classes are likely to have a higher graduating GPA as compared to their counterparts, in all groups regardless of gender and ethnicity. The literature provides robust evidence between student success and the participation in CTE. This dissertation confirms and echoes the previous findings with the use of Dallas ISD data and supports the ongoing attention towards the growth of CTE course offerings in high schools and beyond. This research aims to help administrators of school districts, specifically in Texas, which have a different ethnic composition than a lot of the other districts in the country. The results can help administrations by arming them with the information they might need to make more specific choices in providing a larger variety and encouraging higher participation for dual credit CTE courses offered at public high schools
C-7 Functionalization and Preparation of Analogues of Artemisinin
No full textWhile malaria has been around for centuries, there is yet to be a cure. An estimated US 18 billion, in the efforts to control malaria with no end in sight. The human burden is also enormous, as malaria impacts 3.3 billion people in over 100 of the most impoverished countries annually and over a half a million people die each year, the majority being children under the age of five. Currently, artemisinin is the gold standard for the treatment of malaria used in conjunction with other therapeutics, but there have been reports of the parasite Plasmodium falciparum being partially resistant to the effects of artemisinin in the Greater Mekong subregion of southeast Asia. Furthermore, the most current malaria report from the World Health Organization reports partial artemisinin resistance in the WHO African region which has not originated from the Greater Mekong subregion. Due to the heavy reliance on artemisinin combination therapies in these regions there is a great need for improvement to these therapies. In an effort to develop new anti-malarial therapies we subjected artemisinin to a known biotransformation by Cunninghamella elegans 9245 in order to activate carbon number 7 on its structure for the preparation of a totally new set of derivatives. Biotransformation reactions are notoriously low-yielding processes, and, by conducting a multi-factorial study that involved manipulating pH, spin rate, morphology of the initial fungal inoculate, as well streamlining the work-up process, yields were improved by up to 15% for a total yield of 35% of the desired C-7 hydroxy metabolite on average. This highly valuable metabolite served as the key intermediate for our medicinal chemistry campaign which sought to improve the biological activity and favorable physicochemical properties associated with artemisinin through a series of iterative drug design cycles. Preliminary results from our studies show improved anti-malarial activity, which could translate potentially into the development of a novel artemisinin derivative for better therapy, which could combat the emerging number of drug resistant cases reported in the medical literature
Sagging Eye Syndrome--an Overlooked Diagnosis
Full text linkAbstract
Background: Sagging Eye Syndrome (SES) is a relatively unknown cause for binocular distance diplopia. SES presents with an acquired comitant or non-comitant small angle esotropia and/or hypotropia commonly occurring in the elderly population. Inferior displacement of the lateral rectus secondary to age-related degeneration of orbital connective tissue and extraocular muscles appears to be responsible for the ocular misalignment. SES patients often present with new onset or progressively worsening distance diplopia, typically warranting neuroimaging. However, through understanding SES, eye care practitioners may identify these cases, avoiding unnecessary imaging studies. Case Report: A 90-year-old male presented with complaints of intermittent horizontal diplopia at distance despite being prescribed prism for presumed decompensating phoria at his most recent eye exam. The patient noted progressing diplopia which appeared worse in right gaze. Full binocular examination revealed a non-comitant esotropia worse at distance than near. External exam revealed prominent deep superior sulci, blepharoptosis, and orbital fat loss bilaterally. Due to the progressive nature and incomitancy of the diplopia, a neuro-ophthalmology consult was obtained, and the patient was diagnosed with SES. A clinical diagnosis was made based on history, adnexal features, and motility patterns distinct to SES, obviating the need for confirmatory imaging. Conclusion: Patients presenting with new onset diplopia secondary to undiagnosed SES may prompt expensive and time-consuming investigations. It is critical that eye care practitioners accurately recognize the signs, symptoms, and clinical features of SES to avoid unwarranted imaging and patient anxiety. This case report reviews the clinical presentation, exam findings, and distinct picture of SES required for diagnosis and necessary to differentiate this condition from more serious neurologic conditions. Treatment and management will be discussed.
Note: No identifiable health information was included in this case report. Written informed consent was obtained for patient images
