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A Comparison of Performance for 3rd Through 8th Grade Students on the 2014 NJ ASK and 2015 End-Of-Year PARCC Assessments
No full textState-mandated standardized testing comprises a significant component of student outcome measures utilized by the state and federal government to assess school district performance. Failure to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on standardized assessments can result in negative consequences for districts both systemically and financially. The current study analyzes the transition from the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJ ASK) to the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) for the 2014-2015 school year. Among the differences between the two assessments is a change in modality, with students completing their PARCC English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics assessments via computer rather than the traditional paper-pencil administration on the NJ ASK. Outcome data for students from Vernon, New Jersey indicate that students performed significantly better on the NJ ASK than the PARCC for both ELA and Mathematics both in terms of score and proficiency level for the overall sample as well as a subset of students with disabilities. Familiarity with computer-based assessment from a cohort of students provided individual laptops for the duration of the school year did not improve student performance
Ethnic Identity Salience, Socioeconomic Status, and Attitudes toward Seeking Mental Health Treatment as Predictors of Receptivity to Community-Based Psychoeducation among African American Men
No full textProblem: Distrust and socioeconomic barriers are widely recognized as contributors to disparities in the healthcare system, particularly as it relates to mental health care (Lindinger-Sternart, 2015; National Alliance on Mental Illness, n.d.). African Americans continually experience societal pressures to disassociate with African American culture and to assimilate into mainstream culture. Perhaps accessing mental health services via a counselor is an extension of that pressure. In this way, the traditional counseling model for mental health intervention is a culturally counterintuitive approach for developing mental health among African American men. Men are a subset of the African American community that tends to engage in mental health treatment at a significantly lower rate than the general population. Conversely, research suggests that their distress is as significant if not more so than that of majority groups (Mental Health America, n.d.; Roberson & Fitzgerald, 1992; Snowden, 2012). Research shows that cultural and systematic factors drive the underuse of mental health services among African American men (particularly counseling). Community-based psychoeducation spread by community members may be a means of making mental health information more accessible to this population in culturally congruent and enfranchised ways. Method: A quantitative, non-experimental survey design was employed to examine the relationship between 1) ethnic identity salience, 2) socioeconomic status (the exogenous variables), and 3) attitudes toward seeking mental health treatment (both endogenous and exogenous) as predictors of receptivity toward community-based psychoeducation (the dependent/endogenous variable) among African American men. ANOVA and Structural Equation Modeling were employed to consider the relationship between variables and the latent construct. Convenience sampling was used to recruit a nationally representative sample of 461 African American men from across the country through the employment of Qualtrics data collection servicer. Following data collection, data were screened and analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software programs to ensure valid interpretation. Results: The results indicated that African American men are most receptive to discussing/receiving mental health information with counselors, friends, and family, and in the corresponding settings (in counseling, social settings, or at home, respectively). Receptivity in those settings had no significant difference, which conveys comparable openness to discussing/receiving mental health information (i.e., psychoeducation). Such findings are indicative of community-based psychoeducation as an alternative to counseling. Overall, respondents were somewhat receptive to a variety of identified settings/individuals; however, barbershops/barbers were the least preferred option for discussing/receiving mental health information. Further, the original structural equation model poorly fit the collected data, so it was adjusted as informed by theory and supported by the literature. The final, good-fitting model explained only 18% of the variance in the dependent variable though it yielded unique insight into the relationship of the variables. Ethnic Identity Salience and Socioeconomic Status were meaningful predictors of Receptivity to Community-based Psychoeducation. Help-seeking Propensity was the only assessed Attitude toward Seeking Mental Health Treatment that was meaningful in the empirical model. Conclusions: The findings support the existing research that African American men are receptive to community-based psychoeducation when administered through the appropriate channels. Given issues with feasibility and access, community-based psychoeducation dispersed through families and friends at home and in social settings may be preferable to counseling as a means of increasing mental health literacy among the general U.S. population of African American men. Future studies should strive to conceptualize mental health intervention in culturally congruent ways, develop community-based intervention modalities, and study African Americans in novel exploratory ways to generate practical mental health advancement. They should also consider how the changing zeitgeist, individual attitudes, and meaningful personal relationships impact the discussion of mental health and utilization of services among African American men
Safer Alternatives for Disinfection: Improving Safety and Optimizing Disinfection Methods for Non-Critical Surfaces
No full textNoncritical surfaces like households and school hallways do not need to be disinfected, however in many cases disinfectants are used on these surfaces in addition to or instead of general purpose cleaners. The concern about excessive exposure to disinfectants is increasing, especially during the current pandemic of COVID-19. Traditional cleaning and disinfecting (C&D) products have been associated with respiratory, dermal, and environmental side effects and bacterial resistance is increasing. Identifying an effective C&D method is also imperative. Following the manufacturer's instructions for C&D products, from ventilation to applying the contact time or dwell time, will enhance the performance and the safety of the C&D product. However, many users fail to follow the instructions properly potentially leading to unnecessary exposure and ineffective disinfection. Therefore, safer disinfectants and optimized disinfection methods are needed. This project's overarching goal is to reduce the use of hazardous traditional disinfectants on noncritical surfaces and replace them with safer alternatives. We tested different C&D products and methods and then applied those methods in female restrooms. Using a less hazardous C&D product such as an all-purpose cleaner and enhancing the mechanism with applying longer contact time, and increasing the wiping cycle strokes is recommended to replace a more hazardous C&D product with one of lesser hazards
The Relation among Employee Alignment, Perceived Organizational Support, and Employee Engagement
No full textAs organizations struggle to become and remain competitive, the engagement of employees may be a critical enabler in achieving organizational goals, enhancing organizational competitiveness, and improving employee well-being. To this end, scholars have identified a continuing need for research focused on organizational factors within the purview of managers to improve the engagement of employees (Alagaraja & Shuck, 2015; Coyle-Shapiro & Shore, 2007; Eldor & Vigoda-Gadot, 2017; Oswick, 2015; Whittington et al., 2017; Whittington & Galpin, 2010). Using the employee engagement framework proposed by Shuck and Reio (2011), this research examined the relation among employee alignment, perceived organizational support, and employee engagement in an organizational context. The research site was the human resources department of a not-for-profit health care organization located in the southern region of the United States. Census sampling was used to identify the actual sample (Fritz & Morgan, 2010) of 109 full-time nonsupervisory employees whose data was used in the analysis. Three self-report survey instruments were used: (a) the Employee Engagement Scale (Shuck, Adelson, et al., 2017), (b) the Stringer Strategic Alignment Scale (Stringer, 2007), and (c) the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support (Eisenberger et al., 1986). Bivariate correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to test the research hypotheses. The results provided evidence of partial support for the researcher’s hypotheses, with four of the seven hypotheses supported. Evidence was found for a positive relation among employee alignment, perceived organizational support, and employee engagement, as well as the statistically significant contribution of employee alignment in explaining unique variance in employee engagement (i.e., 23.4%). Contrary to expectations, the results did not provide evidence that perceived organizational support had a statistically significant direct effect on employee engagement. Additionally, the results did not provide statistically significant evidence of either a moderation or mediation effect of perceived organizational support on the relation between employee alignment and employee engagement. This study provides preliminary evidence that suggests that employee alignment, and to a lesser extent perceived organizational support, are two factors within the purview of managers that can be useful in creating the requisite organizational environment in which engagement may thrive
A Southern Backcountry Mystery: Uncovering the Identity of a Northern Shenandoah Valley Cabinetmaking Shop
No full textUrban American Indian Students Negotiating Civic Identity
No full textThis critical participatory ethnographic study examines the negotiation of civic identity by urban Indigenous students in public high school social studies classes, a Native youth council, and the civic environment of a school in Washington State, where the Since Time Immemorial curriculum is mandated in social studies classes. Using Safety Zone and Tribal Critical Race theories to understand the experiences of students, stories from observations, participant interviews, and focus groups are employed as data. This study found that connections between students’ land/s and Nation/s, participation in service and activism with other Nation/s, a caring teacher, family civic connections, curricula that centers American Indian history and current events, and school were vital to these negotiations. These spaces were zones of sovereignty (Lomawaima & McCarty, 2014) forwarding survivance and self-determination for students. Student understanding of the Indigenous civic constructs of sovereignty, self-determination, dual citizenship and an understanding of federal Indian policy are explored as sites where they created and sustained their own civic identities inside and outside of school
Prompt Fission Gamma-Ray Measurements at University of Massachuestts Lowell Research Reactor
No full textNeutron-induced fission of 235U is studied at the thermal column of the UMass Lowell 1-MW Research Reactor. A collimated, 2.25-inch diameter beam of thermal neutrons with a flux of ~5x105 n/s/cm2 induced fission reactions in a plate of low enriched Uranium with an areal density of ~25 mg/cm2 of 235U. A prompt fission-neutron tagging method is used to identify the fission reaction in the off-line analysis. The method employs the pulse-shape discrimination of neutrons and gamma-ray events in Stilbene scintillator and enables identification of coincidence events of prompt fission gamma-rays and prompt fission neutrons in coincidence time intervals less than 20-30 ns. Prompt gamma-ray radiation is detected using two co-linear NaI(Tl) detectors. The measured spectra of prompt-fission gamma rays between 150 keV and 6 MeV are presented, with subtracted background radiation. The results from these initial measurements demonstrate the feasibility of the experimental method and future measurements with extended arrays of detectors are planned
Predicting Single Cell Division from ERK and Akt Dynamics
No full textRas-ERK and PI3K-Akt are two key signaling pathways that regulate mammalian cell cycle progression and completion. At the single cell level, clonally derived cells often display substantial cell-to-cell variability in cell division fate. Previous work showed that single-cell ERK dynamics have some predictive capacity for whether a cell enters S-phase, and very recent results suggest that, in cells that do divide, post-S-phase ERK activity can influence cell cycle progression of daughters. However, the extent to which single-cell ERK and Akt dynamics are predictive of cell division is not well understood. How does ERK and Akt activity contribute to cell cycle progression beyond S-phase? Are features of single cell ERK and Akt signaling dynamics informative and predictive of cell division decisions? To answer these questions, we use live cell imaging to pair kinase dynamics and cell division fate. Understanding how ERK and Akt dynamics drive cell division at the single cell level requires a robust cell imaging and analysis pipeline. Using kinase translocation reporters, along with image analysis software, we established an automated imaging pipeline that quantifies ERK and Akt dynamics paired to cell division. Surprisingly, in the non-transformed model MCF10A cell line, we found that single-cell ERK and Akt activity dynamics provide some predictive insight of cell division, which suggests that accurate predictions of single-cell division likely require measurements of multiple factors in addition to ERK and Akt activities. In contrast to single-cell dynamics, we found that population median ERK and Akt activities are higher throughout the entire cell cycle in dividing cells, suggesting that elevated ERK and Akt activity beyond the S-phase interval contributes to cell cycle completion. Measurements of ERK and Akt activities in the same single cell shows that they are less correlated in dividing cells as compared to non-dividing cells. Since network reconstruction experiments show no crosstalk between ERK and Akt activities in this system, the differences in correlation likely arise from dividing cell-specific upstream factors such as greater intrinsic capacity to activate ERK or Akt and/or increased pathway-biased interpretation of stimuli. Overall, these findings support roles for ERK and Akt throughout the cell cycle, where elevated ERK and Akt activity contribute to cell cycle completion and offer predictive insight into cell division decisions. From a network perspective, we found that ERK and Akt do not appreciably interact and that ERK and Akt exhibit different degrees of correlation across dividing and non-dividing cells. These findings form a basis to subsequently understand how transformation alters the ERK/Akt network and its control of cell cycle progression
Relationship Between Attending STEM Extracurricular Programs and Aspiration Toward STEM Careers
No full textEnhancing students’ aspiration toward STEM-related careers is of a great importance for many communities that seeks the transformation to the knowledge-based economy. The problem this study explored was the literature gap in the relationship between Qatar students’ attendance in STEM-related extracurricular programs and their aspiration to pursue STEM-related specializations and careers. The purpose of this quantitative, pre-experimental study was to investigate the relationship between attending STEM extracurricular programs and change in students’ aspiration toward STEM careers. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate if the change in students’ aspiration depends on students’ gender and age group. Social cognitive career theory framed three research questions that examined 254 Qatari student aspirations toward STEM-related specializations and careers before and after attending STEM extracurricular programs in 36 schools. Students aspiration toward STEM careers was measured by the STEM Career Interest Survey (STEM-CIS). Repeated-measure ANOVAs were used to examine differences in students’ overall aspirations, males and female aspirations, and middle versus high school aspirations. Findings indicated that attending a 4-week STEM-related extracurricular program elicited a significant increase in students’ aspiration towards STEM-related careers and specializations. However, the change in students’ aspiration was not dependent on gender or age group. Findings may drive positive social change in Qatar STEM education by informing educators and policymakers regarding the benefits of STEM-related extracurricular programs in encouraging students to enroll in STEM- related degrees and pursue STEM careers
Use of Capnography during Resuscitation of Patients in Intensive Care Units
No full textCapnography is an essential tool for assessing self-efficacy of chest compression and the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).Capnography was not being used during CPR at the project site despite recommendations and guidelines that supported its use. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if the implementation of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care would impact nurses’ knowledge of capnography and impact the rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) among ICU patients experiencing cardiac arrest in a hospital in urban New Jersey over four weeks. Tanner’s model of clinical judgement and Lewin’s change theory were the theoretical underpinnings for this project. Nurses’ knowledge (n = 13) of capnography was measured by the Nurses’ Knowledge of Capnography Test (NKCT). Results of NKCT revealed a statistical and clinically significant improvement from pre (M = 67.4, SD = 5.8) to postimplementation (M = 92.1, SD = 6.2), t(12) = −10.65, p = .000. Data on ROSC were obtained from facility records on 22 patients. A Fisher’s exact test indicated no statistical significance pre (n = 12, 25%) to post-implementation (n = 10, 20%) p = .999. Therefore, NKCT scores improved, but ROSC rate declined suggesting a clinically significant impact of the intervention on knowledge. Recommendations include continuation of the project for a longer period of time with a larger sample size