A review of the history and structure of public speaking at Nevada Power Company: A case study

The author reviews the history and structure of public speaking at Nevada Power Company. It seeks to: (1) determine whether the principles of public speaking as described in college text books are applied in corporate training, and (2) determine the level of support given by Nevada Power to its speakers; Findings indicate that the corporations studied utilize most aspects of Neo-Aristotelian model. Much of the training deals with delivery, style, motivation and arrangement, with some attention to language. However, heavy emphasis is also placed on evidence and reasoning, with relatively little attention to speaker credibility development or emotional appeal; Corporate management demonstrates minimal support for public speaking as evidenced by inconsistent funding of speakers bureau activities at Nevada Power

Poly(ionic liquid)s for Magnetic, Ionic, and Electrical Stimuli-Responsive Applications

Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) are a fascinating subclass of strong polyelectrolytes formed from polymerizable ionic liquids. As a result of their unique properties and counterion exchangeability, PILs can exhibit conformation structure or material property changes in response to external stimuli such as changes in pH/ionic environment, magnetic fields, and electric potentials. In Chapter 1, a comprehensive review of PILs design as well as their stimuli-responsive behavior is provided. Additional motivation for each dissertation chapter is also discussed. In Chapter 2, magnetically responsive PILs (MPILs) are developed from complexing paramagnetic salts with a random PIL copolymer containing a metal-coordinating co-monomer, acrylamide. A systematic spectroscopic investigation (FTIR, UV-Vis, Raman, XPS) was performed to analyze the influence of the acrylamide comonomer on the paramagnetic transition metal complex and its binding to the polymers. A preliminary investigation into its room temperature magnetic properties through AC susceptometry and magnetic attraction to handheld magnets is also provided. In Chapter 3, self-assembly of these random copolymers is induced through complexation with the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate to form magnetically responsive polyelectrolyte-surfactant micellular solutions and films. Micellular self-assembly is examined as a function of surfactant concentration through DLS and ZP measurements for both a cobalt-based MPIL and the corresponding non-magnetic PIL copolymer. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and FTIR characterizations provide additional insight into the self-assemble structure. Applied magnetic stimuli responsive is investigated of both the solution structures and drop-cast films, with and without the presence of weak (~0.6 T) magnetic fields, through optical microscopy, AFM, and GISAXS. Chapter 4 completes the investigation of select MPIL copolymers and their polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes through a thorough vibrating sample magnetometry study as a function of magnetic field strength and temperature. Additional FTIR, DLS, ZP, SEM, and DSC characterizations provide insight into the observed magnetic behavior. In Chapter 5, an all-polyelectrolyte block copolymer comprised of a poly(ionic liquid) block and a weak tertiary amine polyelectrolyte block is synthesized and characterized through a Cu(0) mediated atom transfer radical polymerization. NMR and FTIR spectroscopies confirm the synthesis and provide insight into intermolecular interactions, specifically electrostatics and hydrogen bonding, of the novel block copolymer in dry and solution states. DLS measurements indicate the block copolymer exhibits an expanded network like structure in pure dimethyl sulfoxide solution that collapses on addition to potassium nitrate (KNO3) salt, demonstrating salt responsive behavior. Self-assembly of the block copolymer as a drop-cast film was analyzed with a new technique to PIL systems, namely, a hybrid AFM-IR characterization. The films exhibited different morphology depending on film thickness. Chapter 6 examines the electrical stimuli responsive nature of the block copolymer and its corresponding homopolymer in ionic electro active polymer actuator composites. Ionic liquid was combined with the homo- and block copolymer PILs to decrease glass transition temperature and increase ion conductivity. Key parameters for ionic actuation were investigated, including glass transition temperature (DSC), thermal stability (TGA), ion conductivity (EIS), chemical interactions (FTIR), Young’s modulus (AFM force curves), film morphology (AFM), and actuation behavior to small, applied voltage

Poly(ionic liquid)s for Magnetic, Ionic, and Electrical Stimuli-Responsive Applications

Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) are a fascinating subclass of strong polyelectrolytes formed from polymerizable ionic liquids. As a result of their unique properties and counterion exchangeability, PILs can exhibit conformation structure or material property changes in response to external stimuli such as changes in pH/ionic environment, magnetic fields, and electric potentials. In Chapter 1, a comprehensive review of PILs design as well as their stimuli-responsive behavior is provided. Additional motivation for each dissertation chapter is also discussed. In Chapter 2, magnetically responsive PILs (MPILs) are developed from complexing paramagnetic salts with a random PIL copolymer containing a metal-coordinating co-monomer, acrylamide. A systematic spectroscopic investigation (FTIR, UV-Vis, Raman, XPS) was performed to analyze the influence of the acrylamide comonomer on the paramagnetic transition metal complex and its binding to the polymers. A preliminary investigation into its room temperature magnetic properties through AC susceptometry and magnetic attraction to handheld magnets is also provided. In Chapter 3, self-assembly of these random copolymers is induced through complexation with the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate to form magnetically responsive polyelectrolyte-surfactant micellular solutions and films. Micellular self-assembly is examined as a function of surfactant concentration through DLS and ZP measurements for both a cobalt-based MPIL and the corresponding non-magnetic PIL copolymer. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and FTIR characterizations provide additional insight into the self-assemble structure. Applied magnetic stimuli responsive is investigated of both the solution structures and drop-cast films, with and without the presence of weak (~0.6 T) magnetic fields, through optical microscopy, AFM, and GISAXS. Chapter 4 completes the investigation of select MPIL copolymers and their polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes through a thorough vibrating sample magnetometry study as a function of magnetic field strength and temperature. Additional FTIR, DLS, ZP, SEM, and DSC characterizations provide insight into the observed magnetic behavior. In Chapter 5, an all-polyelectrolyte block copolymer comprised of a poly(ionic liquid) block and a weak tertiary amine polyelectrolyte block is synthesized and characterized through a Cu(0) mediated atom transfer radical polymerization. NMR and FTIR spectroscopies confirm the synthesis and provide insight into intermolecular interactions, specifically electrostatics and hydrogen bonding, of the novel block copolymer in dry and solution states. DLS measurements indicate the block copolymer exhibits an expanded network like structure in pure dimethyl sulfoxide solution that collapses on addition to potassium nitrate (KNO3) salt, demonstrating salt responsive behavior. Self-assembly of the block copolymer as a drop-cast film was analyzed with a new technique to PIL systems, namely, a hybrid AFM-IR characterization. The films exhibited different morphology depending on film thickness. Chapter 6 examines the electrical stimuli responsive nature of the block copolymer and its corresponding homopolymer in ionic electro active polymer actuator composites. Ionic liquid was combined with the homo- and block copolymer PILs to decrease glass transition temperature and increase ion conductivity. Key parameters for ionic actuation were investigated, including glass transition temperature (DSC), thermal stability (TGA), ion conductivity (EIS), chemical interactions (FTIR), Young’s modulus (AFM force curves), film morphology (AFM), and actuation behavior to small, applied voltage

Reframing Teacher Education: Preparing Teachers for Inclusive Education

Inclusive education is increasingly common in K-12 schools, yet teacher preparation for inclusive education has been lagging. In the present study, interviews of teacher candidates, mentor teachers, university faculty, and fieldwork supervisors were completed to determine experiences of, and preparation for, inclusive education. Results indicate that teacher candidates received very mixed, and often contradictory, messages about inclusive education in their coursework and fieldwork experiences. Recommendations for building capacity for inclusive fieldwork and inclusive teacher preparation are proposed. Further, the need for teacher educators to reframe teacher preparation, from the traditional model of preparing teachers for largely segregated roles, to providing the skills and techniques necessary for working and succeeding in inclusive settings, is discussed

Building and Maintaining Sanctuary Spaces through Face to Face Writing Assessment

Seasoned secondary and college instructors discuss successful face-to-face assessment, especially in virtual settings. F2F assessment frees educators to co-create equitable literacy learning experiences with students, encourages agency, demystifies the grading process, develops the classroom community, and brings meaningful inquiry about writers’ own skills and practices, ultimately disrupting inequities and inequalities of traditional grading and creating “sanctuary spaces” for all writers

Perception, aesthetics and culture in new media

Thesis (M.S.V.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1988.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-100).by Kimberly Ann Foley.M.S.V.S

The Geology of Basement Rocks in the Southeastern Tararua Range, North Island, New Zealand

Basement rocks within the southeastern Tararua Range belong to two associations: a sedimentary association (greywacke, argillite, calcareous siltstone, conglomerate and olistostrome) and a volcanogenic association (metabasite, chert, red argillite and limestone). Rocks of the sedimentary association are more abundant and have been deposited by turbidity currents and debris flows in a deep water, marine environment. Three turbidite and two intercalated non-turbidite lithofacies are recognized. Sedimentological data suggest that the sediment was deposited in a submarine fan system (mid-fan environment), probably in a trench. The alternating greywacke-argillite beds have detrital compositions which are essentially quartzo-feldspathic. Framework mode and geochemical analyses indicate that the sediment was derived from an active continental margin that was shedding detritus of mainly acid-volcanic and metamorphic origin. Rocks of the volcanogenic association, although volumetrically minor, are widely distributed. Geochemical analyses of metabasites suggest that they were erupted in an oceanic environment, both at a mid-ocean ridge and an intra-plate setting. The presence of radiolaria skeletons in red argillite and chert indicates a hemiplagic depositional environment for these rocks. Rocks of the volcanogenic association often have conformable contacts. These rocks have a related depositional environment and represent seafloor material. Where observed, contacts between rocks of the two associations are always faulted. Deformation in the field area is characterized by development of the following types of structures: several generations of folds, faults at both a low angle and high angle to bedding, shear foliation and melange. The region has undergone the following deformational events, outlined from oldest to youngest: 1) folding with at least two fold generations present. 2) fragmentation and disruption of the beds by faults. Low-angle to bedding faults and high-angle to bedding faults have disrupted the bedding. Where these structures have occurred to a great extent, a chaotically disrupted unit, melange, has formed. 3) post-melange folding. 4) recent faulting related to the present strike-slip regime in New Zealand. Rocks have undergone prehnite-pumpellyite facies metamorphism. The rock types, their field relationships and the deformation that the area has undergone is consistent with accretion at a convergent plate margin. Radiolaria were extracted from two red chert samples. In the study the radiolaria define a Middle Jurassic age, which indicates that the sediments in the southeastern Tararua Range must be of Middle Jurassic in age or younger (possibly Cretaceous). A similar sample from the Manawatu Gorge to the north of the study area contained radiolaria of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous age. Sediments in both areas therefore belong to fossil zone 5 (Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous) of MacKinnon (1983)

The Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type I (HTLV-I) X Region Encoded Protein p13II Interacts with Cellular Proteins

AbstractInteractions between the Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) gene product p13II and cellular proteins were investigated using the yeast two-hybrid system. Variant forms of p13II were derived from two HTLV-I molecular clones, K30p and K34p, that differ in both virus production and in vivo and in vitro infectivity. Two nucleotide differences between the p13 from K30p (p13K30) and K34p (p13K34) result in a Trp-Arg substitution at amino acid 17 and the truncation of the 25 carboxyl-terminal residues of p13K34. A cDNA library from an HTLV-I-infected rabbit T-cell line was screened with p13K30 and p13K34 as bait. Products of two cDNA clones, C44 and C254, interacted with p13K34 but not with p13K30. Interactions were further confirmed using the GST-fusion protein coprecipitation assay. Sequence analysis of C44 and C254 cDNA clones revealed similarities to members of the nucleoside monophosphate kinase superfamily and actin-binding protein 280, respectively. Further analysis of the function of these two proteins and the consequence of their interaction with p13 may help elucidate a role for p13 in virus production, infectivity, or the pathogenesis of HTLV-I

Low Income Urban Forestry Program in Tucson, Arizona, USA

Tucson is located in the Sonoran Desert, 117 km north of the US-Mexico border. The borderland region is an area experiencing increased temperatures and changing precipitation patterns caused by the combustion of greenhouse gases. Planting drought-tolerant trees to provide cooling shade has been an important mitigation strategy for Tucson and other arid cities. From 2007 to 2013, the Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc. (SERI) collaborated with Trees for Tucson (TFT) to distribute drought-resistant trees to low income families in south metropolitan Tucson. The Pima Association of Governments has found that this area has significantly less green spaces than other areas of Tucson. SERI conducted an extensive bilingual community outreach to recruit families, and presented tree stewardship information to families in both English and Spanish. Chilean mesquite (Prosopis chilensis and Prosopis chilensis hybrid), red push pistache (Atlantica X Integerrima), and blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida) had the highest survival rates while willow acacia (Acacia salicina) and sweet acacia (Acacia farnesiana) had the lowest survival rates. Acacia salicina is less cold tolerant, and a severe frost in February of 2011 may have contributed to its higher mortality