High School Coastal Monitoring Program Year 2: A Pilot Project in Education, Public Awareness, and Coastal Mangagement - Ball High School, Galveston, Texas, 1998/1999

The Texas Coastal Monitoring Program engages people who live along the coast in the study of their natural environment. High school students, teachers, and scientists work together to gain a better understanding of dune and beach dynamics on the Texas coast. Scientists from The University of Texas at Austin (UT) provide the tools and training needed for scientific investigation. Students and teachers learn how to measure the topography, map the vegetation line and shoreline, and observe weather and wave conditions. By participating in an actual research project, the students obtain an enhanced science education. Public awareness of coastal processes and the Texas Coastal Management Program is heightened through this program. The students' efforts also provide coastal communities with valuable data on their changing shoreline. This report describes the program and our experiences during the second year at Ball High School on Galveston Island, Texas (Fig. 1). Discussions of the data collected by the students and recommendations for future high school projects are also included. A manual with detailed field procedures, field forms, classroom exercises, and teaching materials was prepared during the first year and revised during the second year. A full-color poster describing the project was also developed during the first year and revised during the second year.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Laboring under an Illusion: Aligning Method and Theory in the Archaeology of Plantation Slavery

A rich body of thought—developed by archaeologists and others—points the way toward dynamic understandings of who humans are, yet archaeology struggles to be more than a handmaiden. Arguably, the problem is one of method rather than theory: what counts as data, how we archaeologists categorize things, and what our problems are. This paper examines labor relations in the early Virginia colony via locally made clay tobacco pipes. These artifacts, often treated as emblems of ethnic identity, are here used to understand a society in the process of transforming its pluralities into the categories that we take for granted

Antibacterial Aluminum Surfaces

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) is a serious public health problem that results in the death of 8,000-12000 Canadians each year. Besides antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral therapies, one potential strategy for breaking the chain of HCAI transmission is via the modification of frequently touched surfaces with antibacterial characteristics, called Antibacterial touched surfaces. This is particularly so, given that most pathogenic microbes survive on frequently touched surfaces including doorknobs, over bed tables and countertops, for days, weeks and even months. Thus, frequently touched surfaces can become reservoirs for subsequent direct and indirect cross contamination events. However, problems associated with existing antibacterial coatings such as lack of durability, uncontrolled release of antibacterial agents, lack of standardized testing protocols and antibacterial resistance issues, have necessitated the need for a novel and durable antibacterial surfaces, in addition to appropriate cleaning regime for decontamination of frequently touched surfaces. In this research project, surfaces of AA6061-T6 aluminum alloy (Al-Mg-Si alloy) have been transformed into durable antibacterial surface via four different novel strategies. The first strategy consists of fabrication of superhydrophobic silver-polymethylhydrosiloxane (Ag-PMHS) modified aluminum surface by anodization of aluminum, which provides nano-rough, porous, and stable oxide of aluminum, followed by modification with Ag-PMHS nanocomposites, which delivers a second degree of nanorough patterns from the presence of Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), as well as renders the surface superhydrophobic due to the passivation of low surface energy PMHS. Ag-NPs were used to ensure longevity of antibacterial properties even after eventual possible loss of superhydrophobicity in the long-term. These surfaces presented a bacterial adhesion reduction of 99.0 %, 99.5 %, and 99.3 % for the bacteria of interest, namely, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.A.), Escherichia-coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S.A.), respectively. The second strategy involves the fabrication of novel superhydrophobic aluminum surface with tunable antibacterial and anti-biofouling properties by chemical etching and octyltriethoxysilane (OTES)–quaternary ammonium salt (QUATs) passivation. The superhydrophobic properties of the OTES passivated aluminum was monotonically tuned by optimizing the quantity of QUATs molecules by varying the molar ratios of QUATs/OTES from 0 to 54 × 10-4. An antibacterial property with a zone of inhibition of 34 ± 1.6, 22 ± 1.4, and 25 ± 0.9 against S.A, P.A., and E. coli, respectively were obtained for the solution form of OTES-QUATs, while an anti-biofouling property of 99.9, 99 and 99% for same bacteria respectively, were obtained for the OTES-QUATs coated aluminum surface. The third strategy aimed at utilizing a two-step electrochemical deposition of silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) on anodized aluminum surfaces to obtain durable antibacterial properties. In this technique, ionic silver (Ag+ ion) was first reduced to metallic Ag0 on anodized aluminum oxide surface, followed by oxidation of the metallic silver (Ag0) in an electrolyte of sodium orthophosphate to electrochemically precipitate Ag3PO4 in situ on anodized aluminum surface. The Ag3PO4 coated anodized aluminum exhibited a remarkably high coating adhesion and a 100% antibacterial property against E. coli bacteria. Finally, an additional one-step hard aluminum anodization process was also employed to fabricate novel antibacterial aluminum surface. Controlling the concentration of different electrolytes, current density and anodization time, optimized surface morphology with diameters 151 ± 37 nm was found to provide excellent antibacterial properties, efficiently killing 100% E. coli bacteria. Results of this dissertation demonstrate that the utilization of novel surface engineering strategies such as anodization, low surface energy passivation and electrochemical surface modification on AA6061-T6 aluminum alloy, proves to be efficient in antibacterial activities as well as in robustness and durability. These novel surfaces have shown the ability of reducing microbial burden of clinically relevant and HCAIs implicated pathogens, namely, S.A., P.A., and E. coli. Les infections nosocomiales (associées à soins de santé, IAS) constituent un important problème de santé publique et sont à l’origine d’environ 8000 à 12000 décès par an parmi les Canadiens. Outre les thérapies antibactériennes, antifongiques et antivirales, une stratégie potentielle pour briser la chaîne de transmission des IAS consiste à modifier les surfaces fréquemment touchées ayant des caractéristiques antibactériennes, appelées surfaces touchées antibactériennes. Ceci est particulièrement vrai, étant donné que la plupart des microbes pathogènes survivent pendant des jours, des mois, voire des années sur les surfaces fréquemment touchées, incluant les poignées de porte, les tables de lit et les comptoirs, des semaines et même des mois. Ainsi, les surfaces fréquemment touchées peuvent devenir des réservoirs de contamination croisée directe et indirecte. Cependant, les problèmes associés aux revêtements antibactériens existants tels que la durabilité du revêtement, la libération incontrôlée d'agents antibactériens, l’absence de protocoles pour des tests standardisés et les problèmes de résistance antibactérienne, imposent le besoin de disposer de surfaces antibactériennes nouvelles et durables, en plus d'un régime de nettoyage approprié pour la décontamination des surfaces fréquemment touchées. Dans ce projet de recherche, les revêtements d’alliage d'aluminium AA6061-T6 (alliage Al-Mg-Si) ont été transformées en surface antibactérienne durable via quatre stratégies nouvelles. La première stratégie consiste en une modification de la surface d’aluminium anodisée par argent-polyméthylhydrosiloxane (Ag-PMHS) superhydrophobe, ce qui fournit un oxyde stable d'alumine poreux et nano-rugueux. Cette première modification est suivie d’une seconde modification avec des nanocomposites Ag-PMHS, générant un deuxième degré des motifs nanométriques à partir des nanoparticules d'Ag (Ag-NPs), et rendant la surface superhydrophobe grâce à la passivation d’une surface de faible énergie PMHS. Les Ag-NP ont été utilisés pour assurer la longévité des propriétés antibactériennes, même après une éventuelle perte de superhydrophobicité à long terme. Ces surfaces présentaient une réduction d'adhérence bactérienne de 99,0%, 99,5% et 99,3% pour les bactéries d'intérêt, à savoir, respectivement, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.A.), Escherichia-coli (E. coli) et Staphylococcus aureus (S. A.). La deuxième stratégie implique la fabrication d'une surface originale en aluminium superhydrophobe avec des propriétés antibactériennes et anti-bio-encrassement accordables par gravure chimique et passivation d’octyltriéthoxysilane (OTES) / sel d'ammonium quaternaire (QUAT). Les propriétés superhydrophobes de l'aluminium ayant un revêtement passif d’OTES ont été accordées de manière monotone en optimisant la quantité de molécules QUATs par variation des ratios molaires QUATs / OTES de 0 à 54 × 10-4. Une propriété antibactérienne ayant une zone d'inhibition de 34 ± 1,6, 22 ± 1,4 et 25 ± 0,9 contre S.A, P.A. et E. coli, respectivement, ont été obtenues pour la solution d’OTES-QUAT, tandis qu'une propriété anti-encrassement biologique de 99,9, 99 et 99% pour les mêmes bactéries respectivement, a été obtenue pour la surface d’aluminium revêtue d'OTES-QUAT. La troisième stratégie visait à l’utilisation d’un dépôt de phosphate d’argent (Ag3PO4) sur les surfaces d’aluminium anodisées à deux étapes, afin d’obtenir des propriétés antibactériennes durables. Pour cette technique, l’ion d’argent (Ag+) était premièrement réduit en argent métallique (Ag0) sur surface d’oxyde d’aluminium anodisée, suivi d’une oxydation de Ag0 dans un électrolyte d’orthophosphate de sodium pour former un précipité électrochimique Ag3PO4 in situ sur surface d’aluminium anodisée. L’aluminium anodisée recouvert d’Ag3PO4 a une adhérence de recouvrement très élevée et une propriété antibactérienne à 100% contre E Coli. Finalement, un procédé supplémentaire d'anodisation de l'aluminium dur en une étape a également été utilisé pour fabriquer une surface originale d'aluminium antibactérienne. En contrôlant la concentration des différents types d’électrolytes, la densité de courant et le temps d'anodisation, une morphologie de surface optimisée avec des diamètres de 151 ± 37 nm s'est avérée fournir des propriétés antibactériennes excellentes, tuant efficacement 100% des bactéries E. coli. Les résultats de cette thèse démontrent que l'utilisation de nouvelles stratégies d'ingénierie de surface telles que l'anodisation, la passivation à faible énergie de surface et la modification de surface électrochimique sur l'alliage d'aluminium AA6061-T6 s'avère efficace dans les activités antibactériennes ainsi que dans la robustesse et la durabilité. Ces nouvelles surfaces ont montré la capacité de réduire la charge microbienne des pathogènes cliniquement pertinents et impliqués dans les IAS, à savoir, S.A., P.A. et E. coli

Influence of Staff Development Programmes on Staff Job Performance in Colleges of Education in North Eastern Nigeria

The study was carried out to investigate staff development programmes on staff job performance in Colleges of Education in North Eastern Nigeria Two objectives were stated to guide the study which was translated into two research questions and two null hypotheses The study adopted a survey research design where the populations of the study were 9 847 academic and non-academic staff of Federal and State Colleges of Education A sample of 384 staff was sampled for the study using Taro Yamen s formula for sample size determination Multistage sampling technique which involves purposive random sampling technique and proportionate stratified sampling techniques were used to sample the staff respectively to avoid bias and to ensure fairness in sampling A self-structured questionnaire titled Staff Development Programmes and Staff Job Performance Questionnaire SDPSJPQ was used for data collection The data was collected by the researcher and the research assistan

Impact of parenting practices on national security in Benue state, Nigeria

Introduction: Insecurity in Nigeria has become something of grave concern to all well-meaning citizens most of who continue to wonder how this dastardly situation came about; and worse still rather than abate, the problem is escalating and now seems to be totally out of control. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate impact of parenting practices on national security. Methodology:  The study adopted descriptive survey design. The population consisted of 363,547 married males and females in Benue State. A sample of 170 spouses was selected. Multi-stage sampling method was adopted which comprised proportionate and purposive sampling method. ‘Parenting Practices and National Security Questionnaire PPNSQ’ was validated and used to elicit information from the respondents. Cronbach alpha method yielded a reliability coefficient of .89. Mean scores and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. Any mean score of 2.50 and above were accepted as having desired impact while anything contrary is rejected. Results: The result revealed that adoption of good ethical values, proper child upbringing, proper parental monitoring are among parental practices that enhance national security while use of autocratic parenting style, poor parental guidance, lack of parental love and use of drugs and alcohol by family members escalate national insecurity. The study also found that parenting practices have both positive and negative impact on national security. Recommendations: The study recommended that parents should endeavour to adopt parenting practices that enhance national security rather than those that escalate national insecurity

Community Engagement in Archaeology (Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology)

Pre-production proof of: Agbe-Davies A.S. (2014) Community Engagement in Archaeology. In: Smith C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Springer, New York, NY. Online ISBN 978-1-4419-0465-

Tolerance of Abelmoschus esculentus (L. Moench) to diesel oil polluted soil

The effect of diesel oil polluted soil on the growth and yield of Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench was studied at the Department of Botany experimental garden, University of Uyo, Nigeria for sixteen weeks. The pollution levels of 40, 80 120, 160 and 200ml per 4kg of sandy loam soil were used, and 0ml (unpolluted soil) was used as control. Three (3) plants were maintained per poly bag, and each level of treatment was replicated three times using randomized complete block design. Significant (P < 0.05) reductions were obtained in plant height, leaf area, root length, fresh weight, dry weight, moisture content, fruit number and fruit weight of the crops in diesel oil polluted soil. No yield was recorded at 120and 160ml level of diesel oil pollution, while 200ml concentration did not support any growth of the crop. All treatment levels gave significant (P<0.05) decrease in nutrient elements in leaves of A. esculentusbelow that of the control, except at 40ml of diesel oil for calcium and sodium contents. Therefore, Abelmoschus esculentus is not a suitable species for cultivation where diesel oil pollution occurs