A Comparison Of Two Methods Of Teaching Senior High School Grammar And Composition: Unit Contract Method And Conventional Method

This study was made to determine whether the conventional method of teaching high school grammar and the contract unit plan of teaching bring results which are appreciably different. The three-fold objective of making the study was (1) to improve the methods used by the writer herself, (2) to aid other teachers in discovering and using more effective methods of instruction in English grammar and composition, and (3) to aid college teachers in training more effectively prospective English teachers

Individuals in same-gender couples’ experiences of outness in adult romantic relationships: the impact of the “closet” on connection

By virtue of living in an inherently heterosexist/heteronormative and cisgenderist/cisnormative society (Bornstein, 1998; Infanti, 2016; Rich, 1980), lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or queer (LGBTQ) individuals must deal with outness, the disclosure of sexual orientation unique to those who do not identify as heterosexual (Bradford et al., 1997) or the disclosure of gender identity unique to those who do not identify as cisgender (Dentato, Craig, Messinger, Lloyd, & McInroy, 2014). As an inevitable component of identity formation to those who do not identify with the heterosexual or cisgender societal norm, one’s level of outness is likely to shift and change based on environment, social location, and surrounding influences, whether they be people, social groups, legal structures, or matters of safety (Klein, Holtby, Cook, & Travers, 2015). Relatedly, as common as the experience of outness may be, little is known about the influence of outness on same-gender romantic relationships, specifically in the arena of relationship satisfaction (Knoble & Linville, 2012). Although some researchers have found increased levels of outness to positively correlate with relationship satisfaction (Berger, 1990; Caron & Ulin, 1997; Jordan & Deluty, 2000), others have found no relationship between outness and relationship satisfaction (Beals & Peplau, 2001; Todosijevic, Rothblum, & Solomon, 2005). Thus, through use of a photovoice methodology, the purpose of this study was to (a) gain depth in understanding the experience of outness in various social arenas among people in same-gender intimate relationships as it relates to relationship satisfaction within their relationship; (b) understand themes in the meanings that participants ascribe to visual depictions of outness in various settings (i.e., familial, social, religious, legal, work, etc.); and (c) support participants in engaging with policymakers through community advocacy efforts presenting findings in whatever ways the participants see fit. Participants who are engaged in same-gender romantic relationships took photographs depicting their experiences of outness as they relate to relationship satisfaction and provided titles and captions to describe selected photographs. After participants engaged with photographs during a structured focus group, the researcher utilized Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to summarize common themes within the focus group discussion, photographs, and captions and provided counselors, counselor educators, supervisors, and researchers increased insight and depth into the role of outness regarding relationship satisfaction in same-gender romantic relationships

Value orientations of elementary classroom teachers toward physical activity for themselves and for the children they teach

Attitudes of elementary teachers were examined toward physical activity for themselves and for the children they teach. Using information developed from the Purpose-Process Curriculum Framework, perceived values were measured by responses from two inventories, and from personal interviews. In Phase One, 150 teachers of grades K-5 were given two inventories, a SELF-Personal Purposes and Meanings in Movement Inventory and a CHILD-PPMMI. Both inventories were completed by 120 teachers. In Phase Two 10 teachers from a selected school were interviewed for comments on their responses. Mean scores were calculated for the 22 purpose statements on each inventory according to the following independent variables: 1) age, 2) grade taught, 3) years of teaching experience, and 4) number of preparatory courses in physical education. A Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to show the relationship between the items of the inventories; the two inventories were shown to be distinct assessments. Profiles for the ten interview teachers were developed from the inventory responses and interview data were content analyzed to identify factors that teachers reported to influence their value orientations toward physical activity

Linking research and practice to address domestic and sexual violence: Lessons learned from a statewide conference with researchers and practitioners

Purpose - There is a growing emphasis on the need to integrate research and practice in the fields of domestic and sexual violence. However, additional research is needed to identify strategies for key stakeholders to use to bridge research and practice in these areas. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach - The current study analyzed qualitative data collected during a statewide conference for researchers and practitioners whose work addresses domestic and/or sexual violence.Findings - The findings provide information about building effective researcher-practitioner collaborations, developing methodologically sound studies that address practice-relevant research questions, and identifying steps that funders, state coalitions, researchers, and practitioners can take to advance the integration of research and practice.Research limitations/implications - Additional research is needed to evaluate specific approaches to better integrating research and practice related to domestic and sexual violence.Practical implications - Researcher-practitioner collaborations offer numerous benefits to advancing research and practice related to domestic and sexual violence. Additional guidance and tangible support is needed to foster these collaborations.Originality/value - This study used data collected during an innovative conference that brought together researchers and practitioners. The data have implications for furthering the integration of research and practice related to domestic and sexual violence

Addressing School Safety through a Student Support Lens

This presentation is designed to provide an overview of the The UNCP School Safety Training Program. The UNCP School Safety Training Program, developed by UNCP Social Work and Counseling faculty and funded through the NC DPI School Safety Grant, provides a variety of trainings related to addressing school safety from a student support standpoint. Data from training participants' workshop evaluations will also be highlighted

High-energy Neutrino Astronomy: The Cosmic Ray Connection

This is a review of neutrino astronomy anchored to the observational fact that Nature accelerates protons and photons to energies in excess of $10^{20}$ and $10^{13}$ eV, respectively. Although the discovery of cosmic rays dates back close to a century, we do not know how and where they are accelerated. Basic elementary-particle physics dictates a universal upper limit on their energy of $5\times10^{19}$ eV, the so-called Greisen-Kuzmin-Zatsepin cutoff; however, particles in excess of this energy have been observed by all experiments, adding one more puzzle to the cosmic ray mystery. Mystery is fertile ground for progress: we will review the facts as well as the speculations about the sources including gamma ray bursts, blazars and top-down scenarios. The important conclusion is that, independently of the specific blueprint of the source, it takes a kilometer-scale neutrino observatory to detect the neutrino beam associated with the highest energy cosmic rays and gamma rays. We also briefly review the ongoing efforts to commission such instrumentation.Comment: 83 pages, 18 figures, submitted to Reports on Progress in Physic

RNA delivery by extracellular vesicles in mammalian cells and its applications.

The term 'extracellular vesicles' refers to a heterogeneous population of vesicular bodies of cellular origin that derive either from the endosomal compartment (exosomes) or as a result of shedding from the plasma membrane (microvesicles, oncosomes and apoptotic bodies). Extracellular vesicles carry a variety of cargo, including RNAs, proteins, lipids and DNA, which can be taken up by other cells, both in the direct vicinity of the source cell and at distant sites in the body via biofluids, and elicit a variety of phenotypic responses. Owing to their unique biology and roles in cell-cell communication, extracellular vesicles have attracted strong interest, which is further enhanced by their potential clinical utility. Because extracellular vesicles derive their cargo from the contents of the cells that produce them, they are attractive sources of biomarkers for a variety of diseases. Furthermore, studies demonstrating phenotypic effects of specific extracellular vesicle-associated cargo on target cells have stoked interest in extracellular vesicles as therapeutic vehicles. There is particularly strong evidence that the RNA cargo of extracellular vesicles can alter recipient cell gene expression and function. During the past decade, extracellular vesicles and their RNA cargo have become better defined, but many aspects of extracellular vesicle biology remain to be elucidated. These include selective cargo loading resulting in substantial differences between the composition of extracellular vesicles and source cells; heterogeneity in extracellular vesicle size and composition; and undefined mechanisms for the uptake of extracellular vesicles into recipient cells and the fates of their cargo. Further progress in unravelling the basic mechanisms of extracellular vesicle biogenesis, transport, and cargo delivery and function is needed for successful clinical implementation. This Review focuses on the current state of knowledge pertaining to packaging, transport and function of RNAs in extracellular vesicles and outlines the progress made thus far towards their clinical applications

Fact of Fiction: Sifting Through the Falsehoods of the 2012 Presidential Campaigns

Fact or Fiction: Sifting Through the Falsehoods of the 2012 Presidential Campaigns, is a content analysis of 20 advertisements from the official campaigns of President Obama and Governor Romney during the 2012 presidential election. The advertisements were analyzed based on three criteria: focus, style and claims. The focus and styles of each advertisement were compared. The campaigns had similar focuses including taxes, jobs, welfare, and success. There were also several contrasting focuses including: Planned Parenthood, PBS funding, college funding, energy plans, voting, and President Obama's record. There were also similarities in the style of campaigns including: disapproval, uplifting, comparison, testimonial and sarcasm. The claims made by each campaign were checked on FactCheck.org, a nonpartisan nonprofit website. Compared to FactCheck.org, the claims made by the political campaigns were all classified as misleading or partially true