Cruel and Unusual Punishment: Reproductive Inequity among Incarcerated Black Women

In my thesis, I will argue that Black incarcerated women face increased reproductive disparities as a result of their multiple marginalized identities. Even though Black women have the fastest growth rate of incarceration there is minimal evidence on how imprisonment affects their already inadequate reproductive health care. I begin by providing a history of mass incarceration in the United States and explain how it disproportionately affects the Black community. I then document Black women’s history of gynecological and reproductive abuse, starting with slavery and closing with present-day inequalities such as forced sterilization and disproportionate rates of infant and maternal mortality. After explaining Black women’s reproductive history, I depict stories of the detestable health care afforded to women in prison. Finally, I close with a call to action. I analyze examples of prison reproductive interventions in the hope that the interventions mentioned will be used as a jumping-off point for more large-scale change. It is crucial that the unique reproductive inequity Black incarcerated women face is met with extensive empirical research and documentation in order to effectively bring an end to these injustices

Integrating the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics in a Secondary School

The problem that anchored this study was district leaders\u27 and administrators\u27 lack of clarity regarding teacher concerns about the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) implementation in high school math. The purposes of the study were to (a) examine the perception of high school math teachers regarding the barriers for successfully implementing the CCSSM, and (b) to elicit recommendations for teacher preparation. Ely\u27s theory of change was utilized to relate the entity of the CCSSM to this new shift in education. To better understand this phenomenon, 2 research questions accompanied this study. The research questions were geared to not only understanding teacher perceptions but also discovering strategies to assist educators with implementing the new CCSSM. Using purposeful sampling, 5 participants participated in this case study; the data collection components were an open-ended survey, interviews, and field notes. Data were analyzed by hand, using inductive reasoning and the process of coding to determine themes. The results indicated that teachers needed to know more about the standards and needed the time to gain this efficacy. Based on the themes of the study, a professional development was chosen to represent the project. Implications for positive social change are to bring awareness to teachers who are implementing the CCSSM in secondary schools, by ensuring teachers articulate consistent conversations with stakeholders, gain a form of self-efficacy, and think not only procedurally but conceptually to implement the standards. Teachers will acquire knowledge and skills to effectively educate students to become thinkers and problem solvers. This outcome will contribute to the development of college and career ready individuals

Affects of the Cold Water Pipe Depth in Ocean Thermal Energy Converter Plants with respect to Power Generation Efficiency

The Ocean provides an extensive renewable energy source. It is the exploitation of the thermal gradient between the warmed surface water and the deep cold water. A heat engine was developed to use the surface water as a heat source and the deep water as a cold source in order to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy and generate electricity. This process is called Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). This paper presents the three different types of OTEC power plants: closed-cycle, open-cycle and hybrid-cycle, showing real and conceptual examples of each. All three systems are analyzed in terms of gross power, net power, efficiency and size. Furthermore, the depth of the cold water pipe is discussed and related to the net power generation of the OTEC plant. The power generation efficiency of the plant increases as the gross power production increases. This is due to the depth of the cold water pipe and amount of power used by the cold water pipe pump