Impact of Living Learning Communities on Underserved Minority Students at a Regional Comprehensive University

As access to higher education for underserved minority (USM) students has consistently increased over the past 20 years, college and university campuses across the United States have observed an achievement gap between USM students and their white counterparts (Brown, 2019; Doan, 2015; Flores, Park & Baker, 2017; Pope, 2002; Ramos; 2019). This achievement gap is acute and carries significant consequences if not addressed. As campuses seek to find solutions to close this achievement gap, it is essential to identify strategies that meet the needs of USM students instead of waiting for students to adapt to higher education and campus culture (Aries, 2008; Gross, 2017). Utilizing the theoretical framework Astin’s (1984) Theory of Student Involvement, Astin’s (1993) I-E-O Model and Critical Race Theory, this qualitative study explored the impact of living learning communities (LLCs) on the college success of underserved minority (USM) students at Southern Regional University. Through individual semi-structured interviews, this study provides insight into the lived experiences of five underserved minority USM students who live on campus and are members of an LLC and four USM students who live in campus housing but are not members of an LLC. The findings from this study suggest the benefits of living on campus, regardless of LLC participation and stress the importance of having a sense of belonging, establishing relationships with faculty or staff and self-efficacy

2013-2014 New Music Festival

Eighth Annual New Music Festival Shirley J. Thompson, Composer-in-Residence Lisa Leonard, Director Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 7:30 pm Spotlight: Faculty Concert Sunday, February 24, 2014 at 7:30 pm Contemporary Music Forum - Post Modernism: Contemporary Influences in Art Music Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 7:30 pm Spotlight: Young Composers Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 7:30 pm Spotlight: Shirley J. Thompson Commissioned Work Tequesta Song for Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano by Shirley J. Thompson. The full score is displayed in the Creative Works collection.https://spiral.lynn.edu/conservatory_newmusicfest/1011/thumbnail.jp

Escape from model-land

Both mathematical modelling and simulation methods in general have contributed greatly to understanding, insight and forecasting in many fields including macroeconomics. Nevertheless, we must remain careful to distinguish model-land and model-land quantities from the real world. Decisions taken in the real world are more robust when informed by estimation of real-world quantities with transparent uncertainty quantification, than when based on “optimal” model-land quantities obtained from simulations of imperfect models optimized, perhaps optimal, in model-land. The authors present a short guide to some of the temptations and pitfalls of model-land, some directions towards the exit, and two ways to escape. Their aim is to improve decision support by providing relevant, adequate information regarding the real-world target of interest, or making it clear why today’s model models are not up to that task for the particular target of interest

A New System for the Rapid Collection of Large Numbers of Developmentally Staged Zebrafish Embryos

The zebrafish is an excellent genetic and developmental model system used to study biology and disease. While the zebrafish model is associated with high fecundity, its reproductive potential has not been completely realized by scientists. One major issue is that embryo collection is inefficient. Here, we have developed an innovative breeding vessel designed to stimulate the natural reproductive behavior of the fish. This novel apparatus allows us to collect large numbers of developmentally synchronized embryos in brief and defined windows of time, and with minimal investments in labor and space. To demonstrate the efficacy of this approach, we placed three separate groups (n = 180) of fish in the vessel and allowed them to spawn for 10-minute intervals. During these trials, which were repeated three times, the fish produced 86006917, 84006794, and 680061997 embryos, respectively. This level of embryo production is nearly twice what we were able to achieve when using conventional crossing equipment with some of the same fish, and it required significantly less room and time to set up and break down. This system overcomes major space and labor restrictions inherent in spawning equipment currently used in the field, and will greatly accelerate efforts to improve the scale and throughput of experiments.Stem Cell and Regenerative Biolog

Anaemia in early childhood among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children of Far North Queensland: a retrospective cohort study

Objective: Early childhood anaemia affects health and neurodevelopment. This study describes anaemia among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children of Far North Queensland. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used health information for children born between 2006 and 2010 and their mothers. We describe the incidence of early childhood anaemia and compare characteristics of children and mothers where the child had anaemia with characteristics of children and mothers where the child did not have anaemia using bivariate and multivariable analysis, by complete case (CC) and with multiple imputed (MI) data. Results: Among these (n=708) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children of Far North Queensland, 61.3% (95%CI 57.7%, 64.9%) became anaemic between the ages of six and 23 months. Multivariable analysis showed a lower incidence of anaemia among girls (CC/MI p<0.001) and among children of Torres Strait Islander mothers or both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers (CC/MI p<0.001) compared to children of Aboriginal mothers. A higher incidence of anaemia was seen among children of mothers with parity three or more (CC/MI p<0.001); children born by caesarean section (CC/MI p<0.001); and children with rapid early growth (CC/MI p<0.001). Conclusion: Early childhood anaemia is common among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children of Far North Queensland. Poor nutrition, particularly iron deficiency, and frequent infections are likely causes. Implications for public health: Prevention of early childhood anaemia in ‘Close the Gap’ initiatives would benefit the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children of Far North Queensland – and elsewhere in northern Australia

Electrochemical, H2O2-Boosted Catalytic Oxidation System

An improved water-sterilizing aqueous-phase catalytic oxidation system (APCOS) is based partly on the electrochemical generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This H2O2-boosted system offers significant improvements over prior dissolved-oxygen water-sterilizing systems in the way in which it increases oxidation capabilities, supplies H2O2 when needed, reduces the total organic carbon (TOC) content of treated water to a low level, consumes less energy than prior systems do, reduces the risk of contamination, and costs less to operate. This system was developed as a variant of part of an improved waste-management subsystem of the life-support system of a spacecraft. Going beyond its original intended purpose, it offers the advantage of being able to produce H2O2 on demand for surface sterilization and/or decontamination: this is a major advantage inasmuch as the benign byproducts of this H2O2 system, unlike those of systems that utilize other chemical sterilants, place no additional burden of containment control on other spacecraft air- or water-reclamation systems

A validation study of a modified Bouchard activity record that extends the concept of 'uptime' to Rett syndrome

Aim - The aim of this study was to investigate the validity of using a Bouchard activity record (BAR) in individuals with Rett syndrome to measure physical activity, as compared with pragmatic criterion standard measures of walking status and step counts recorded using the StepWatch activity monitor (SAM). Method - During the waking hours of 1 day, 43 females (mean age 21y, SD 9y) wore a SAM whilst a proxy completed a modified BAR. Responses to the BAR were compared among participants, who were grouped according to walking status, using the Mann–Whitney two-sample rank-sum test. Relationships were sought between BAR responses and step counts using linear regression. Results - According to the proxy-reported BAR responses, those who needed assistance with walking spent more time sitting (median [interquartile range] 9h 15min [8h 8min–10h 30min] vs 6h 15min [4h 15min–8h 30min]; p<0.001) and less time standing (1h [38min–1h 30min] vs 2h 15min [45min–3h 45min]; p=0.04) than those who could walk independently. In those who could walk independently, time classified as ‘uptime’ (standing and walking) using the BAR was associated with increased step count (r2=0.58; p<0.001). Interpretation - These data support the validity of proxy-reported BAR responses. In those who could walk independently, uptime, classified using the BAR, could be used to estimate daily step count. This tool offers an inexpensive method for clinicians to gain insights into physical activity levels in individuals with Rett syndrome

The Lantern Vol. 23, No. 1, December 1954

• Afternoon Interview • The Other Side of the Sun • Heorot Revisited • The Man of Shadows • Observation • Time • Perfection • Country Road • Night Rider • Elegy • The Unspoken • To Byron • A Star • Now Showing • Turning the Pages • The Strange Success of the Peculiar John Wellington Finchleyhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1064/thumbnail.jp

First Results from the Swarms Survey. SDSS 1257+5428: A Nearby, Massive White Dwarf Binary with a Likely Neutron Star or Black Hole Companion

We present the first results from SWARMS (Sloan White dwArf Radial velocity data Mining Survey), an ongoing project to identify compact white dwarf (WD) binaries in the spectroscopic catalog of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The first object identified by SWARMS, SDSS 1257+5428, is a single-lined spectroscopic binary in a circular orbit with a period of 4.56 hr and a semiamplitude of 322.7+-6.3 km/s. From the spectrum and photometry, we estimate a WD mass of 0.92(+0.28,-0.32) Msun. Together with the orbital parameters of the binary, this implies that the unseen companion must be more massive than 1.62(+0.20,-0.25) Msun, and is in all likelihood either a neutron star or a black hole. At an estimated distance of 48(+10,-19) pc, this would be the closest known stellar remnant of a supernova explosion.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, ApJ in pres