The Influence of Identity on Academic Performance for Latinx Students

The Latinx population within the United States of America is growing and their academic gap is expanding which impacts the school system. Although various support systems in public schools assist Latinx students’ academic performance, many of them continue to underperform in comparison to other non-Latinx students. The literature also revealed that identity has a significant impact on academic performance. There is a direct relationship between Latinx students’ perceptions and values influencing their academic performance. By analyzing a focused range of Latinx student perspectives, this study examines whether and to what magnitude Latinx student’s identity is influences their academic performance. This phenomenological study was informed by a constructivist worldview and followed a qualitative design by asking open-ended interview questions of 3 Latinx males who did not complete high school and two experienced teachers from Northern California Findings suggest Latinx students developed the identity of being “the other” that has led them to believe that school is not meant for them, which was reinforced by the I lack of transitional support for Latinx students leaving an E.S.L programs. The purpose of this work is to lead to better academic outcomes for Latinx student and in order to improve the academic performance of Latinx students, school systems must cultivate and create better communities and systems of support within their district

Building Tribal Economies: Linking Asset Building Strategies

Building Tribal Economies: Linking Asset Building Strategie

Successful Aging Through The Eyes Of Alaska Native Elders: What It Means To Be An Elder In Bristol Bay, Alaska

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2009Alaska Natives view aging from a holistic perspective, an approach not typically found in the existing literature on successful aging. There is little research on Alaska Native (AN) Elders and how they subjectively define a successful older age. The lack of a culturally specific definition often results in the use of a generic definition that portrays AN Elders as aging less successfully than their non-Native counterparts. This research explores the concept of successful aging from an AN perspective and what it means to age well in AN communities. An Explanatory Model (EM) approach was used and adapted to focus on the health and well-being of AN Elders and to gain a sense of their beliefs about aging. Qualitative, in-depth interviews were conducted with 26 Elders in six participating communities to explore the concept of successful aging and the role of their community in the aging process. Focus groups were held in specific communities to present the findings and receive feedback; this ensured the findings and report would be reflective of the unique perspectives of the communities and region. This study highlights four domains of successful aging, or "Eldership": emotion, spirituality, community engagement, and physical health. One aspect of successful aging seen in each of these four domains is optimism, or having a positive outlook on life. These four domains serve as the foundation of how communities define who is an Elder and what is important when considering whether someone has aged successfully or not. Research findings also indicate that aging successfully is based on local understandings about personal responsibility and making the conscious decision to live a clean and healthy life. Most Elders stated that Elder status is not determined by reaching a certain age (e.g., 65 years), but instead is designated when an individual has demonstrated wisdom because of the experiences he or she has gained throughout life. This research seeks to inform future studies on rural aging that will prioritize the perspectives of Elders to impact positively on the delivery of health care services and programs in rural Alaska

Expansion Theorem for the Linearized Fokker‐Planck Equation

The linearized Fokker‐Planck kinetic equation for each component of a homogeneous, nondegenerate, fully ionized plasma is separated by means of a spherical harmonic expansion into an infinite set of singular intergo‐differential equations. Each equation is shown to generate a continuous set of eigen‐functions, for which asymptotic high‐speed forms are found. By extending the theory of singular differential equations an expansion formula is developed, which is shown to be complete with respect to functions square integrable in velocity space.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70618/2/JMAPAQ-8-4-791-1.pd

Combinatorial synthesis and high-throughput photopotential and photocurrent screening of mixed-metal oxides for photoelectrochemical water splitting

A high-throughput method has been developed using a commercial piezoelectric inkjet printer for synthesis and characterization of mixed-metal oxide photoelectrode materials for water splitting. The printer was used to deposit metal nitrate solutions onto a conductive glass substrate. The deposited metal nitrate solutions were then pyrolyzed to yield mixed-metal oxides that contained up to eight distinct metals. The stoichiometry of the metal oxides was controlled quantitatively, allowing for the creation of vast libraries of novel materials. Automated methods were developed to measure the open-circuit potentials (Eoc), short-circuit photocurrent densities (Jsc), and current density vs. applied potential (J–E) behavior under visible light irradiation. The high-throughput measurement of Eoc is particularly significant because open-circuit potential measurements allow the interfacial energetics to be probed regardless of whether the band edges of the materials of concern are above, close to, or below the values needed to sustain water electrolysis under standard conditions. The Eoc measurements allow high-throughput compilation of a suite of data that can be associated with the composition of the various materials in the library, to thereby aid in the development of additional screens and to form a basis for development of theoretical guidance in the prediction of additional potentially promising photoelectrode compositions

Determined by the Community: CBPR in Alaska Native Communities Building Local Control and Self-Determination

Objectives: Past research conducted with Alaska Native communities involved researchers entering the community to gather data then leaving with that data never being returned or presented or the researchers to be heard from again. The communities were not made aware of the findings, how the data was used, or where the information was published. This method of research resulted in significant mistrust of researchers by tribal communities. This article will briefly describe the context and history of research with Alaska Native people; provide an overview of the complex approval process for research through two case studies; highlight the relevant principles of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) when working with tribal communities; and our own experiences with the tribal approval process. Methods: Using a case study format, the authors provide a guide to the complex approval process in working with tribal communities and the relevance of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR). This is based on their experiences with the approval processes in a dissertation study and a community-based Elder Needs Assessment project. Results and Conclusions: Drawing from their personal experiences and understanding of the tribal approval process, the authors discuss the benefits and challenges associated with conducting research with tribal communities in rural Alaska. They also provide recommendations for future researchers on how to work effectively with tribal communities, from entry into the community through dissemination and publication of information