Exploring the Black White Achievement Gap: The Connection Between Upward Bound, Oppositional Culture, and the Multicultural Navigator Concept

Racial equality in the United States educational system has long been and continues to be a source of debate. Specifically, the disparities between whites and other minority groups have been increasingly more critical. Blacks and Latinos consistently score lower than whites on standardized tests and academic course work. There have been several explanations given for poorer school performance by certain minority groups than whites. In this dissertation, I explore the black white achievement gap through the examination of one widely known explanation, oppositional culture theory. This research investigates the major tenets of oppositional culture theory and the contemporary multicultural navigator concept. Using a grounded theory method of analysis, I examine the connections between suppositions of the theory and black students in the Upward Bound academic achievement program

Native and invasive inoculation sources modify fungal community assembly and biomass production of a chaparral shrub

Feedbacks between plants and surrounding soil microbes can contribute to the establishment and persistence of invasive annual grasses as well as limit the success of restoration efforts. In this study, we aim to understand how three sources of soil inocula – native, invasive (from under Bromus diandrus) and sterile – affect the growth response and fungal community composition in the roots of a chaparral shrub, Adenostoma fasciculatum. We grew A. fasciculatum from seed in a greenhouse with each inoculum source and harvested at six months. We measured above- and below-ground biomass, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization and conducted targeted-amplicon sequencing of the 18S and ITS2 loci to characterize AMF and general fungal community composition, respectively. Native inoculum resulted in roots with richer communities of some groups of AMF and non-AMF symbionts, when compared to roots grown with invasive or sterile inoculum. Seedlings grown with invasive and native inoculum did not have different growth responses, but both produced more biomass than a sterile control. These findings suggest that inoculation with soil from native species can increase the diversity of multiple groups of fungal symbionts and inoculation with live soil (invasive or native) can increase seedling biomass. Moreover, future work would benefit from assessing if a more diverse community of fungal symbionts increases seedling survival when planted in field restoration sites

Predictors Patterns and Processes of Extinction Risk in Porgies and Seabreams (Family: Sparidae)

A variety of human-induced changes are having profound impacts on the marine environment, and no area on the planet remains unaffected by the detrimental effects of our activities. These stressors can potentially lead to synergistic effects, causing accelerated biodiversity loss and diminished ecosystem functioning. Identification and understanding of the factors that drive species to heightened risk of extinction are important goals in conservation. The Sparidae are commercially important and ecologically complex marine fishes; global extinction risk assessments using the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species methodology show that 9% (13 species) have increased vulnerability to population declines from intense fishing pressure and habitat destruction, These threatened species exhibit biological correlates such as: large body size, slow life history, complex reproductive strategy, limited distributional ranges, and specialized habitat requirements that contribute to its elevated risk of extinction. The majority of these threatened species are valuable components of commercial fisheries, achieve highest concentrations in southern Africa, and occur in regions with low coverage of marine Protected Areas. Additionally, 12 (7%) species are listed as Near Threatened and share ecological characteristics similar to species in higher extinction risk levels. The majority of the sparids (70%) listed as Least Concern have smaller body sizes, widespread distributions, and shorter life spans. The rest of the sparids, 21 species (14%) are listed as Data Deficient. Predictive models of extinction risk are important for informing present and future science-based conservation actions. Despite this recognized role in conservation, relevant models have not yet been developed in earnest for marine fishes. Here we used a machine-learning tool to identify correlates of extinction risk in the Sparidae using 34 biological and threat variables, The Random Forest model indicates six major predictors of extinction risk: population trend, generation length, longevity, area of occupancy, maximum size, and rocky reef habitat. This model provides tor the first time, a robust and systematic method to identify the intrinsic and extrinsic traits that correlate to a higher risk of extinction in this important group of marine fishes. This type of predictive modeling can provide a systematic method to improve conservation prioritization, and has the potential to identify and mitigate threats impacting similar groups of high-valued and ecologically important marine fishes

A clinico-pathologicalanalysis of uterine leiomyomata in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Uterine leiomyoma (UL) is the commonest benign tumour of the female genital tract in the reproductive age group. There is little or no literature on the histopathological study of the disease in Nigeria. This may be the first study to serve as a baseline data in Maiduguri. Objective: To analyse the frequency of occurrence, age and parity of the patients, clinical presentation, degenerative changes, diseases associated with uterine leiomyomata and the treatment modalities of the tumour in Maiduguri. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all cases of uterine leiomyomata histologically diagnosed in the Histopathology Department of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria between January 1994 and December 2003 inclusive. Results: A total of 501 cases of uterine leiomyomas were examined in this study, representing 4.5% of all disease conditions histopathologically diagnosed within the study period. The mean age of patients was 36.3 (±8.3SD) and the th peak age incidence was in the 4 decade of life. The symptoms are presented in the following order of frequency: lower abdominal pain, 187 (87.8%); menstrual pain and irregularity, 164 (77.0%); urinary frequency/hesitancy/urgency, 68 (31.9%); infertility/subfertility, 42 (19.7%) and constipation 24 (11.3%). Multiparous women accounted for 64.9% of all cases. There were 121 cases of uterine leiomyoma coexisting with adenomyosis (30), ovarian cysts [Non-neoplastic (41), Neoplastic [benign (12), malignant (8)] and cervical inflammatory diseases (30). The commonest mode of treatment was myomectomy in 367 (73%) and hysterectomy in 134 (27%) cases, with mean age of 33.9 and 46.7 years respectively There were 104 cases of degenerative changes: hyaline (92), cystic (12), calcification (9) and red degeneration(6) Conclusion: Uterine leiomyoma is common, especially in the reproductive age group and is often associated with degenerative changes, and coexistent with ovarian cysts, adenomyosis and chronic cervicitis. There is need to find the aetiological relationships of the disease in order to reduce its incidence as well as the frequent exposure of women to operations that are necessitated by the disease and its associated complications

Marks of a humanistic business leader: The case of Rey-Mic Enterprise and its women workers

For a long time, Thelma Tayna Reyes-Miclat has understood not just the plight, but equally the value, of women in the Philippine workplace. According to a gender equality study by the Asian Development Bank (2013), women in the Philippines experience gender inequality in several key areas: labor force participation, human capital, unpaid domestic and care work burden, vulnerable employment, wage employment, decent work, and social protection. Since the Philippines has a family- oriented culture, women often quit work after getting married or having children, particularly during the typical childbearing ages of 25 to 29 (World Economic Forum, 2019). When women do find work, they are limited to certain occupations and denied male counterparts\u27 opportunities for wider employment

Vignettes: Social Media Practices of Selected Social Enterprises in the Philippines

Social media enable firms to engage their consumers at a lower cost and at a higher level of efficiency than traditional communication tools. Using the typology for social media marketing of Coursaris et al (2013), we illustrate how two Philippine social enterprises, namely Human Nature and HOPE, utilize social media, specifically their Facebook brand pages, to promote their social and economic objectives. Our exploratory study shows that social enterprises adopt different approaches in crafting the messages they release on social media. Their choice of highlighting either their products or their advocacies are influenced by the nature of their products and services and also by how the messaging in one platform such as Facebook fits into the overall communication strategy. Our findings also reveal that social enterprises can be either product-driven or advocacy-driven in their social media posts; that they can formulate single-layered or multi-layered messages; and that they have the option of occasionally highlighting their partners’ advocacies on top of their own. Given the skillful crafting of social media messages, it is possible for social enterprises to support both economic and social objectives, especially if they choose to utilize multi-layered communication that send both explicit and subtle messages. We conclude that social media platforms offer social enterprises a level playing field in the competitive business landscape. By taking advantage of social media, social enterprises can build brand equity, gain a larger consumer base, and achieve social, economic, and environmental objectives

Online Financial Education Programs: Theory, Research, and Recommendations

Technological advances have created unprecedented opportunities for online financial education that can be used to improve financial literacy and money management practices. While online financial education programs have become popular, relevant research and theoretical frameworks have rarely been considered in the development of such programs. This article synthesizes lessons from literature and theories for the development of an effective online financial education program. Drawing from literature on financial literacy education and online education, implications and recommendations for integrating technology into online financial education programs for adults are discussed

Connecting with Computer Science: Electronic Textile Portfolios as Ideational Identity Resources for High School Students

The development of student identities—their interests in computer science, perceptions of the discipline, and sense of belonging in the field—is critical for broadening participation of underrepresented groups in computing. This paper reports on the design of portfolios in which two classes of high school students reflected on the process of making electronic textile projects. We examine how students expressed self-authorship in relation to computer science and how the use of reflective portfolios shaped students’ perceptions of computer science. In the discussion we consider how reflective portfolios can serve as ideational resources for computer science identity construction