Trapped by Credit: Racial Disparities in Financial Well-Being and Opportunity in Illinois

This report examines an important aspect of economic racial disparity -- disparity in credit scores. The relationship between credit scores and minority presence illustrates a clear racial disparity in credit in Illinois. Though many related factors help to explain some variability in credit scores, even when controlling for them, racial differences in credit persist.Having a credit score is important for gaining access to things like education, better jobs, homeownership -- the very things that feed financial and social opportunity. While credit disparities exist in large measure due to the same historic policies that have limited access to broader financial opportunities for minorities, credit scores are particularly important to consider because they also impact individuals' future financial opportunities.In effect, credit scores can create a trap, one that minorities are more likely to fall into, thereby feeding the continued growth of income and wealth disparities

Assessing the uncertainty of emergy analyses with Monte Carlo simulations

Crop production systems were used to show the presence and propagation of uncertainty in emergy analyses and the effect of source variance on the variance of the yield unit emergy value (UEV). Data on energy/masses and UEVs for each source and yield were collected from the emergy literature and considered as inputs for the Monte Carlo simulation. The inputs were assumed to follow normal, lognormal, or uniform probability distributions. Using these inputs and a tabular method, two models ran Monte Carlo simulations to generate yield UEVs. Supplemental excel files elucidate the Monte Carlo simulations' calculations. The nitrogen fertilizer UEV and net topsoil loss energy were the inputs with the largest impact on the variance of the yield's UEV. These two sources also make the largest emergy contributions to the yield and should be the focus of a manager intent on reducing total system uncertainty. The selection of a statistical distribution had an impact on the yield UEV and thus these analyses may need to remain system- or even source- specific

Geochemical Attributes of Hydraulically Active Fractures and Their Influence on Groundwater Quality

This study utilized discrete interval diffusion sampling of a fractured bedrock well completed in schist to investigate if a natural weathering signal can be used to identify hydraulically active fractures. The open borehole well MFS-1, is the focus of the study, which is in close proximity to the recharge zone making it ideal for testing the hypotheses of this study. The hydraulically active fractures of Well MFS-1 were identified, and the dominant mixing force of the water column of the well was determined to be thermal convection in the upper portion of the well and upward gradients. The isotopic data collected from the well concludes that these forces are sufficient to fully mix the water in Well MFS-1 over the one month diffusion sampler deployment period. Iron in groundwater is in the reduced form while flowing through the fractured system, and becomes oxygenated when it enters the well, resulting in a significant amount of iron hydroxide precipitate. The best signal of natural weathering and the systems response to changes in recharge is shown by the changes in silicon concentration in solution. The highest silicon concentrations measured in the groundwater samples were related to waters recharged during the highest precipitation period of the year. The greatest response to system perturbations were observed at the hydraulically active fractures, as shown in the changes in measured concentrations in this portion of Well MFS-1. Even though in-well mixing causes the concentrations of natural weathering products to be measureable throughout the water column, the signal and response to changes in system chemistry are greatest at the hydraulically active fractures. Studying the rock core collected from the fractured bedrock well showed that the hydraulically active fractures are all associated with red staining on the fracture surface and in the matrix of the rock adjacent to the fracture, but the data does not support the conclusion that iron oxide is currently being precipitated. Other observations about the rock, such as the presence and nature of garnet crystals show that the current zone of advective flow in Well MFS‑1 was previously active during a period of hydrothermal activity

Cultural Resource Assessment and Archival Research for the Proposed Galveston-Bolivar Causeway Galveston County, Texas

In 2008, following a cultural resources remote-sensing survey for the Proposed Galveston-Bolivar Causeway Project, PBS&J was contracted by the Texas Department of Transportation to perform three studies as supplements to the original investigation. These studies comprised a hydraulic probing investigation at the Old Port Bolivar slip in the area of a charted historic shipwreck; a review of historic maps and aerial photography of the Area of Potential Effect (APE); and an assessment of a collection of abandoned hulks at the northwestern tip of Bolivar Peninsula. All three studies were completed between June and August 2008. The hydraulic probing investigation at the Old Port Bolivar slip located the remains of a potential submerged shipwreck site measuring approximately 40 x 11 feet at a depth of 17–18 feet below the water surface. PBS&J also examined over 40 historic maps from the collections of the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The investigation of historic maps isolated at least 12 shipwrecks within the APE. Historic Tobin aerial photos of the APE acquired by PBS&J were limited to the sets available from 1930 and 1956. One shipwreck anomaly discovered during the 2007 Galveston-Bolivar Causeway remote-sensing survey was captured in the 1956 aerial. The incomplete coverage area of the 1930 photography prevented a review of other known targets. An investigation of the abandoned hulks at Bolivar Peninsula determined that 16 barges are arranged in three primary groups. These barges have either ferrous or wooden hulls; most of the hulks are submerged. Research did not discover parallels for the types of barges examined by PBS&J, but review of barge construction history indicates many of these hulks could likely predate World War II

Reclaiming Inuit governance: planning for a sustainable future in Nunatakavut

In a global world, systems of governance remain integral to establishing and ensuring order. In Canada, the nature of our governance systems often reflects the values, perspectives and will of Western European society. Throughout history, colonists have played a dominant role in decision making with respect to law and order and as a result, governance has reflected the values and perspectives of colonists themselves. This has oppressed, marginalized, and negated Indigenous peoples’ knowledges and values and, by extension, their very systems of governing themselves. This study affirms the collective desire and will of NunatuKavut Inuit to govern on their lands as they engage in self-determined efforts to ensure the sustainability of their communities and culture by privileging local knowledge and expertise throughout the research. This dissertation explores the multifaceted interconnections between research and Inuit community sustainability planning and governance. Best practices in Inuit research governance guided a community governance and sustainability initiative (CGSI) in three pilot communities in NunatuKavut. The CGSI illustrates relationships between local knowledge holders and their expertise in planning for a self-determined and sustainable future. Further, this research study identifies key Inuit governance priorities and practices that reflect the values, perspectives and interests of NunatuKavut Inuit themselves. As a result, this study offers an alternative discussion to state led governance methods in Canada, while critically analysing the colonial legacy of the Canadian state on Inuit still today. Finally, the role of Inuit in this study illustrates continued adaptation to an ever-changing world, with continued resolve to reclaim and rebuild Inuit pathways to sustainable self-determination grounded in Inuit knowledge and tradition

The effects of the loss of the middle school team planning period on student discipline, grades, achievement

The middle school concept provides recommendations for schools that teach adolescents. One of the components of this philosophy is the common team planning period, which is in addition to the teacher's individual planning period. This planning period was designed to have team teachers meet together to discuss curriculum, students, and interdisciplinary units. The common team planning period was removed from the middle school studied, during the 2003-2004 school year due to budgetary constraints. This quantitative study explores the effects on student disciplinary infractions, achievement test scores in mathematics and reading, and grade point averages for two years with the common team planning period and then three years after the elimination of this practice.The literature review addresses the components of the middle school concept, including the importance of the common team planning period. It also outlines past research on the common team planning period and the effects that this planning time for teachers has had on student achievement and disciplinary infractions. This study provides information for district leaders when contemplating whether or not to provide the common team planning period for their schools.Five years of middle school data were analyzed on student disciplinary infractions, student achievement scores in mathematics and reading, and grade point averages. The data collected were from seventh and eighth graders at a suburban middle school during the 2002-2006 school years. The results found that the models were statistically significant in discipline infractions, student achievement scores in mathematics and reading, or grade point averages; however, this was not related to the loss of the common team planning period.This research does not suggest that the middle school team planning period is not beneficial or irrelevant for adolescent students. It does reinforce the need for districts to have a clear plan and purpose for implementing the common team planning period and ensuring that teachers understand their specific roles during that time period. This is important information for district leaders so that they can provide guidance in professional development opportunities regarding the purpose of the common team planning period and how it can benefit students academically, behaviorally, and socially.Future research is suggested to determine if similar results will be found in another school district that has lost the common team planning period. A qualitative study that includes teacher interviews that have experienced the loss of the common team planning period would also assist district leaders in the decision-making process of whether to eliminate or retain the common team planning period

Modified Cooper Harper scales for assessing unmanned vehicle displays

Unmanned vehicle (UV) displays are often the only information link between operators and vehicles, so their design is critical to mission success. However, there is currently no standardized methodology for operators to subjectively assess a display's support of mission tasks. This paper proposes a subjective UV display evaluation tool: the Modified Cooper-Harper for Unmanned Vehicle Displays (MCH-UVD). The MCH-UVD is adapted from the Cooper-Harper aircraft handling scale by shifting focus to support of operator information processing. An experiment was conducted to evaluate and refine the MCH-UVD, as well as assess the need for mission-specific versus general versions. Participants (86%) thought that MCH-UVD helped them identify display deficiencies, and 32% said that they could not have identified the deficiencies without the tool. No major additional benefits were observed with mission-specific versions over the general scale.U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Cente

Open Textbooks and Increased Student Access and Outcomes

This study reports findings from a year-long pilot study during which 991 students in 9 core courses in the Virginia State University School of Business replaced traditional textbooks with openly licensed books and other digital content. The university made a deliberate decision to use open textbooks that were copyrighted under the Creative Commons license. This decision was based on the accessibility and flexibility in the delivery of course content provided by open textbooks. More students accessed digital open textbooks than had previously purchased hard copies of textbooks. Higher grades were correlated with courses that used open textbooks

How are patients with rare diseases and their carers in the UK impacted by the way care is coordinated? An exploratory qualitative interview study.

BACKGROUND: Care coordination is considered important for patients with rare conditions, yet research addressing the impact of care coordination is limited. This study aimed to explore how care coordination (or lack of) impacts on patients and carers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 patients and carers/parents in the UK, representing a range of rare conditions (including undiagnosed conditions). Transcripts were analysed thematically in an iterative process. RESULTS: Participants described a range of experiences and views in relation to care coordination. Reports of uncoordinated care emerged: appointments were uncoordinated, communication between key stakeholders was ineffective, patients and carers were required to coordinate their own care, and care was not coordinated to meet the changing needs of patients in different scenarios. As a result, participants experienced an additional burden and barriers/delays to accessing care. The impacts described by patients and carers, either attributed to or exacerbated by uncoordinated care, included: impact on physical health (including fatigue), financial impact (including loss of earnings and travel costs), and psychosocial impact (including disruption to school, work and emotional burden). Overall data highlight the importance of flexible care, which meets individual needs throughout patients'/carers' journeys. Specifically, study participants suggested that the impacts may be addressed by: having support from a professional to coordinate care, changing the approach of clinics and appointments (where they take place, which professionals/services are available and how they are scheduled), and improving communication through the use of technology, care plans, accessible points of contact and multi-disciplinary team working. CONCLUSION: This study provides further evidence of impacts of uncoordinated care; these may be complex and influenced by a number of factors. Approaches to coordination which improve access to care and lessen the time and burden placed on patients and carers may be particularly beneficial. Findings should influence future service developments (and the evaluation of such developments). This will be achieved, in the first instance, by informing the CONCORD Study in the UK