Writing about accessibility

In this forum we celebrate research that helps to successfully bring the benefits of computing technologies to children, older adults, people with disabilities, and other populations that are often ignored in the design of mass-marketed products. --- Juan Pablo Hourcade, Editor </jats:p

Floral imagery

This thesis includes the work of Vicki L. Clarke for a Masters in Fine Arts

Preparation of surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering-active substrates: applications to heme-containing proteins

Surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) spectroscopy combines the advantages unique to resonance Raman scattering (RRS) with those of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Although much of the initial studies concentrated on elucidating the mechanism (s), considerable attention has recently been directed at exploiting the enormous potential of the technique for analytical and biological purposes. However, the practical applicability of SERRS to many investigations remains limited because experimental conditions corresponding to the effect have not been fully characterized;This problem is especially apparent when SERRS is used for the study of biological systems. In many cases, the biomolecule species is perturbed upon adsorption onto a SERRS-active metal substrate. Hence, SERRS is not a viable method if the resulting spectra correlate to perturbed biological structures. It is the aim of our research to develop procedures for preserving the native structure and activity of proteins at SERRS-active substrates including, silver island-films, electrochemically-roughened silver electrodes, and citrate-reduced sols. In particular, our work has focused on the heme-containing proteins, cytochrome c, cytochrome P-450[subscript] b, myoglobin, and cytochrome c[subscript]3. Depending upon the biomolecule, the native state of the protein can be retained by choosing the appropriate adsorption conditions;Another aspect of our research has been concerned with optimizing and characterizing the experimental parameters in the preparation of SERRS/SERS-active silver-island films. Our results show that for both SERS and SERRS, the intensity of the observed signals is dependent upon the evaporation rate used in the preparation of the silver-island film. The optical densities of the films as well as the resulting surface morphologies were also studied as a function of deposition rate. Specific applications of silver-island films as SERRS-active substrates included Raman microprobe SERRS investigations and the characterization of covalently modified electrodes by using the SERRS technique

The essential leadership and management skills of mid-level managers in non-profit organizations

The role of the middle manager in organizations is evolving. As organizations shift from strictly hierarchical structures to ones that are increasingly horizontal and interconnected through team-based collaborations, middle managers are being asked to assume more leadership responsibilities in addition to their traditional management duties. While there is agreement that both leadership and management skills are required for organizations to be successful, there is limited information on the specific skills that are required to both manage and lead from the middle. Mid-level managers who successfully develop both skill sets are well positioned for future leadership positions. Preparing middle managers for senior level responsibility is of particular importance to non-profit organizations which are currently facing a significant deficit in the leadership pipeline. To fully develop their human capital, senior level executives in non-profit organizations need to have a good understanding of the management and leadership skills they desire in their middle managers. The purpose of this study was to explore, with senior level executives in non-profit organizations, the management and leadership skills they value in their middle managers. The study was designed using the Delphi Method approach of identification, shared evaluation and re-evaluation, and finally consensus among the executives, to determine the most desired and essential management and leadership skills. At the conclusion of the process, 11 senior level executives identified 11 management and leadership skills they believe are essential for effective mid-level management. 4 management skills were considered to be critical: (a) focused on the mission, (b) organized, (c) communication, and (d) accountability. 7 leadership skills were identified as essential: (a) authenticity, (b) promotes healthy organizational culture, (c) values human capital, (d) takes responsibility, (e) creates alignment, (f) provides senior level support, and (g) relationship building. Recognizing that organizations are stronger and healthier when both skill sets are present, the findings in this study may be used to identify current strengths and weaknesses within the management structure of a non-profit organizations so that training and hiring adjustments can be made, and to create training programs to better prepare mid-level managers for future executive positions in order to build a strong leadership pipeline

Letter: Vicki Wengrow to Dr. C. Earl Cooper

Letter from Vicki Wengrow - Representative for Alliance for Ratification of the ERA to Dr. Cooper - Pastor, Riverside Baptist Church inviting the Jacksonville Ministerial Alliance to participate in the effort to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Local participation in state and national issues: Alliance for Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment / Jacksonville Coalition for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), 1972-1975?