THE IMPACT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA FUTURE READY CORE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS ON HIGH SCHOOL MATHEMATICS COURSE ENROLLMENT PATERNS, COLLEGE MATHEMATIC READINESS, AND POST HIGH SCHOOL INTENTIONS

The study examined high school mathematics course enrollment patterns, college mathematic readiness, and post high school intentions during the planning and implementation of the Future Ready Core high school graduation requirements in North Carolina public school systems. Quantitative methodologies were utilized to describe the impact of the increased, uniformed high school graduation requirements with proportions and averages of graduates in the state of North Carolina of graduates completing three or more college preparatory math courses, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) math scale scores, and graduates indicating intent to attend a two or four-year college. Additionally, the study looked at the proportions and averages by district sized based subgroups (small, mid-sized, and large) for each indicator. The data sources included the entire population of North Carolina public high school graduates between 2008 and 2013. The study’s findings presented two major findings for school leaders. The implementation of the more uniform, rigorous Future Ready Core graduation requirements positively impacted the proportion of graduates completing three or more college preparatory course more immediately than previous new policies’ implementation; however, the substitution option was selected 16.39% of the time at the state level in 2013 with higher percentages in small and mid-size school districts. Additionally, the decrease in student performance on the SAT math assessment even with increases in college preparatory coursework requires school leaders to examine the quality of teaching and learning as well as potential unofficial tracking methods that may be occurring in the more uniform graduation requirements. Further research studies on the impact of the Future Ready Core graduation requirements could include analysis of total math coursework, repeating a similar study using ACT math composite scores after three graduating classes under the new requirements, or conducting a case study of districts who have had positive trend data while implementation the Future Ready Core graduation requirements as an exemplar for other school districts to follow

Modification, Degradation, and Stability of Polymeric Surfaces Treated with Reactive Plasmas

The degradation, modification, and stability of polymeric surfaces exposed to chemically reactive O2 and H2O-vapor plasmas were investigated. Specifically, the effects of these plasmas on etching rate, surface morphology, wetting instability, and fluid-holding capability were studied. Wetting instability is reflected by hydrophobic recovery and can be examined by the Wilhelmy balance method. Although hydrophobic recovery is usually attributed to surface configuration change, there are actually two types: reversible and permanent. Reversible hydrophobic recovery is caused by surface configuration change, whereas permanent hydrophobic recovery is caused by the creation of oxidized surface oligomers. This study distinguishes the two by identifying differences in the shapes of the corresponding Wilhelmy force loops and in the fluid-holding parameter. The presence of surface oligomers was most detrimental to wetting stability and fluid-holding capability but could be controlled via the type of reactive gas, the discharge conditions, and the polymer substrate. In general, polymers most susceptible to O2-plasma etching had the least surface oligomers and vice versa, whereas H2O-vapor plasma suppressed surface oligomers on polymers less susceptible to etching

Understanding the Mechanisms through Which an Influential Early Childhood Program Boosted Adult Outcomes

A growing literature establishes that high quality early childhood interventions targeted toward disadvantaged children have substantial impacts on later life outcomes. Little is known about the mechanisms producing these impacts. This paper uses longitudinal data on cognitive and personality skills from an experimental evaluation of the influential Perry Preschool program to analyze the channels through which the program boosted both male and female participant outcomes. Experimentally induced changes in personality skills explain a sizable portion of adult treatment effects

Genetically directed production of recombinant, isosteric and non-hydrolyzable ubiquitin conjugates

We describe the genetically directed incorporation of aminooxy functionality into recombinant proteins by using a mutant Methanosarcina barkeri pyrrolysyl‐tRNA synthetase/tRNA(CUA) pair. This allows the general production of nonhydrolysable ubiquitin conjugates of recombinant origin by bioorthogonal oxime ligation. This was exemplified by the preparation of nonhydrolysable versions of diubiquitin, polymeric ubiquitin chains and ubiquitylated SUMO. The conjugates exhibited unrivalled isostery with the native isopeptide bond, as inferred from structural and biophysical characterisation. Furthermore, the conjugates functioned as nanomolar inhibitors of deubiquitylating enzymes and were recognised by linkage‐specific antibodies. This technology should provide a versatile platform for the development of powerful tools for studying deubiquitylating enzymes and for elucidating the cellular roles of diverse polyubiquitin linkages

Redefining the Converted Jewish Self: Race, Religion and Israel's Bene Menashe

The Bene Menashe stem from a number of Christian groups of the Indo-Burmese borderland, some of whom back in the 1950s declared their descent from the Lost Tribes of Israel. In this article, I will use the example of the Bene Menashe migration to Israel to cast analytical light on different ways in which race and religion co-constitute each other in processes of transnational migration. To do so, I will focus on one specific aspect of the Bene Menashe migration—the way the community has to construct and enact their religious affiliation to be able to become Israeli citizens and to be considered part of the Jewish people by their “hosts.” I argue that, in the case of the Bene Menashe, race and religion co-produce each other in ways that reinforce racialized understandings of Judaism and Jewishness, and I suggest that what accounts for this phenomenon is that the opportunities that the Bene Menashe immigrants had in defining their religiosity in Israel were limited by the conditions of their migration, which developed against the backdrop of multiple colonial contexts. [Judaism, Israel, racialization, migration, religion

Chemical Ubiquitination for Decrypting a Cellular Code

The modification of proteins with ubiquitin (Ub) is an important regulator of eukaryotic biology and deleterious perturbation of this process is widely linked to the onset of various diseases. The regulatory capacity of the Ub signal is high and, in part, arises from the capability of Ub to be enzymatically polymerised to form polyubiquitin (polyUb) chains of eight different linkage types. These distinct polyUb topologies can then be site-specifically conjugated to substrate proteins to elicit a number of cellular outcomes. Therefore, to further elucidate the biological significance of substrate ubiquitination, methodologies that allow the production of defined polyUb species, and substrate proteins that are site-specifically modified with them, are essential to progress our understanding. Many chemically inspired methods have recently emerged which fulfil many of the criteria necessary for achieving deeper insight into Ub biology. With a view to providing immediate impact in traditional biology research labs, the aim of this review is to provide an overview of the techniques that are available for preparing Ub conjugates and polyUb chains with focus on approaches that use recombinant protein building blocks. These approaches either produce a native isopeptide, or analogue thereof, that can be hydrolysable or non-hydrolysable by deubiquitinases. The most significant biological insights that have already been garnered using such approaches will also be summarized

How is the New Public Management applied in the occupational health care system? - decision-makers' and OH personnel's views in Finland

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In many countries occupational health care system is in change. Occupational health studies are mainly focused on occupational health substance and content. This study offers new perspectives on municipal OHS and its operations from management perspective.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>The aim of this study is to analyse how New Public Management (NPM) doctrines are applied in the Finnish occupational health care system (OHS). The main focus is to describe and compare the views of decision-makers' and OH workers within the framework of NPM.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The data were collected by semi-structured interviews from 17 municipal decision-makers' and 26 municipal OH workers. Data was analyzed by examining coded data in a theory-driven way according to Hood's doctrine of NPM.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The doctrines were not as compatible with the OH personnel view as with the decision-makers' view. Decision-makers and OH personnel highlighted the strict criteria required for operation evaluation. Moreover, decision-makers strongly accentuated professional management in the public sector and the reorganization of public sector units. These were not equally relevant in OH personnel views. In OH personnel views, other doctrines (more attention to performance and accomplishments, emphasizing and augmentation of the competition and better control of public expense and means test) were not similarly in evidence, only weak evidence was observed when their importance viewed as medium by decision-makers. Neither of the respondents group kept the doctrine of management models of the private sector relevant.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The NPM and Hoods doctrine fitted well with OH research. The doctrine brought out view differences and similarities between decision-makers and OH personnel. For example, policymakers highlighted more strongly the structural change by emphasizing professional management compared to OH personnel. The need for reorganization of municipal OH, regardless of different operational preconditions, was obvious for both decision-makers and OH personnel. The adaptation of more clarify management to a municipal context is not trouble-free. The municipality systemic structure, complex operational environment, and reconciliation of political and officer authority set challenges to management of municipalities.</p