Overcoming Financial Barriers to Expanding High-Quality Early Care and Education in Southeastern Pennsylvania

High-quality early care and education (ECE) programs have been proven to create positive outcomes for children -- especially among those living in poverty. Yet many children from low-income families have a hard time accessing high-quality child care and miss the critical developmental growth and foundation needed for academic and life success. Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) released a new report that examines the financial challenges program providers face, and offers recommendations about actions to increase access to quality care. The report is based on NFF's work with more than 147 nonprofit child care centers in Southeastern Pennsylvania

Hazardous Waste Reduction Continuation

A silicone manufacturing process yields two-phase wastewater, of which the aqueous phase flashes at 2°C primarily due to hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). To be classified as non-hazardous and immediately disposable, it must flash above 60°C. Project objectives entailed identifying a method and then designing a prototype for on-site aqueous phase treatment, removing enough HMDSO for non-hazardous disposal. The previous team’s proposal was gravity separation, NaCl extraction, and feeding through an activated carbon packed bed. Extraction proved ineffective, packed bed outlet samples flashed at 52°C, and HMDSO quantification methodology was incorrect. From titration, wastewater was determined to be 3.3 ± 0.2 wt.% aqueous ammonia. This ammonia concentration was used to spike water samples prepared with variable HMDSO concentrations with the target of determining HMDSO concentrations in the treated water that would flash above 60°C. Without ammonia, 36 ppm HMDSO passed the flash point test. Adding ammonia expanded the tolerance to \u3e50 ppm HMDSO. Waste was subjected to various treatment method combinations: adsorption on activated carbon, reaction with bleach, and semi-batch gas stripping with nitrogen in column packed with ceramic saddles. Flash point results are given below. The process very nearly satisfies the 60°C flash point goal, with some variation. To correctly quantify HMDSO, standard addition was used with GC. Consequently, the proposed treatment process is gravity phase separation, activated carbon packed bed treatment, and then semi-batch stripping with nitrogen. Recommendations for future work are to explore amendments to the proposed procedure, including time-dependent mass transfer analysis, counter-current gas stripping through a packed bed, and implementation of automated sample preparation and testing.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/capstone/1154/thumbnail.jp

Aspects of Quadratic Gravity

We discuss quadratic gravity where terms quadratic in the curvature tensor are included in the action. After reviewing the corresponding field equations, we analyze in detail the physical propagating modes in some specific backgrounds. First we confirm that the pure $R^2$ theory is indeed ghost free. Then we point out that for flat backgrounds the pure $R^2$ theory propagates only a scalar massless mode and no spin-two tensor mode. However, the latter emerges either by expanding the theory around curved backgrounds like de Sitter or anti-de Sitter, or by changing the long-distance dynamics by introducing the standard Einstein term. In both cases, the theory is modified in the infrared and a propagating graviton is recovered. Hence we recognize a subtle interplay between the UV and IR properties of higher order gravity. We also calculate the corresponding Newton's law for general quadratic curvature theories. Finally, we discuss how quadratic actions may be obtained from a fundamental theory like string- or M-theory. We demonstrate that string theory on non-compact $CY_3$ manifolds, like a line bundle over $\mathbb{CP}^2$, may indeed lead to gravity dynamics determined by a higher curvature action.Comment: 24 pages, 2 figures, revised version contains additional references plus corrected typo

Vocabularies of Legitimation: Understanding Normative Killings

This paper argues that while criminal forms of homicide have been the focus of extant research, little attention has been given to normative forms of killing. We argue that this omission is unfortunate and precludes a complete understanding of the contexts and consequences of killing. In this paper, we refer to three metaphors that are called into play when legitimizing certain forms of killing: Differential Life Value, Conservatism, and Justification. We call these "vocabularies of legitimation" and suggest that such normalization may serve to increase the prevalence of violence within society. Finally, we recommend some promising avenues for continuing research and possible directions for public policy

Space Solar Power for Agriculture

As the global population increases, it\u27s becoming more important for nations to be able to feed themselves. Unfortunately, while some developing nations may be able to produce large amounts of fruits and vegetables, they may lack access to facilities for food preservation. This problem is at the heart of food security issues across Asia and Africa. Working in consultation with Peter Garretson, an International Affairs Fellow in India, our Ohio University student team has designed a space-based solar power solution that addresses this need, with the potential to provide many secondary benefits. While our project targets the Indian subcontinent and its government, the ideas are broadly applicable globally and can offer insights for other nations seeking to meet critical food needs. Advisors: Peter Garretson, Prof. Don Flournoy, John Bowditch Intro from Brian Woods on Vimeo

Simulações históricas e aprendizagem de conceitos: construindo ferramentas de análise da aprendizagem histórica em jogos eletrônicos

O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar o desenvolvimento da pesquisa A história como jogo: simulações históricas em jogos eletrônicos, em desenvolvimento no âmbito da Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia (UFOB), e que tem por objetivo maior destacar as formas de representação da consciência histórica específicas dos jogos eletrônicos. Embora a pesquisa se encontre ainda em uma fase inicial, esperamos conseguir compartilhar aqui o potencial que vem se desenhando para a construção de ferramentas teórico-metodológicas que possibilitem uma análise do tipo de aprendizagem mobilizada nos jogos de simulações históricas, relacionando a linguagem procedimental dos jogos eletrônicos com o uso de conceitos específicos da consciência histórica dos/as jogadores/as por meio de sua competência narrativa

Simulações históricas e aprendizagem de conceitos: construindo ferramentas de análise da aprendizagem histórica em jogos eletrônicos

O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar o desenvolvimento da pesquisa A história como jogo: simulações históricas em jogos eletrônicos, em desenvolvimento no âmbito da Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia (UFOB), e que tem por objetivo maior destacar as formas de representação da consciência histórica específicas dos jogos eletrônicos. Embora a pesquisa se encontre ainda em uma fase inicial, esperamos conseguir compartilhar aqui o potencial que vem se desenhando para a construção de ferramentas teórico-metodológicas que possibilitem uma análise do tipo de aprendizagem mobilizada nos jogos de simulações históricas, relacionando a linguagem procedimental dos jogos eletrônicos com o uso de conceitos específicos da consciência histórica dos/as jogadores/as por meio de sua competência narrativa