The Technical College Image in South Carolina

ABSTRACT This dissertation seeks to understand the perceptions of key constituencies (legis¬lators, private and public college and university presidents, and technical college presidents) about technical colleges in South Carolina. It explores the impact of technical colleges in the state and the difficulties that technical colleges face in achieving that impact and adapting to future needs. Survey instruments were distributed to these key constituencies. Data were reduced via factor analysis, and MANOVA procedures were used to analyze differences among constituencies on the factor scores. Open-ended questions and interviews with select participants illuminated, expanded, and validated the quantitative findings. There were several key findings. The factor analysis identified five categories of perceptions, the most important of which was quality of students and faculty. This factor covers the heart of educational quality--academic reputation, faculty performance, articulation and cooperation with other colleges and universities. The MANOVA analysis revealed that private and public presidents who responded to the survey hold a much less favorable view of the quality of students and faculty than do the technical college presidents. Further, most of the weaknesses cited in the open-ended questions refer to poor qual¬ity of faculty, too many part-time faculty, and the perceived lack of ability to provide transfer education. All three groups cite poor articulation with the four-year universities. A majority of the public and private college and university presidents agree that the technical colleges comply with the same accreditation requirements, and yet less than half of those presidents agree that the technical colleges have well-qualified faculty. Legislators and other presidents have mixed opinions as to the possible change of name of the South Carolina technical colleges to \u27community colleges.\u27 Many of those opposed to the change fear the change would reduce the emphasis on technical education, an attribute cited by all three groups

Disclosure and Discovery in Criminal Cases: Where Are We Headed?

In this period of emerging emphasis on criminal law and criminal law procedures, the concept of a fair trial emerges slowly along the lines of the due process of law requirements of our Federal Constitution

Listening Strategies for English Language Learner Comprehension, a Teacher Resource Guide

This capstone examines listening strategies for English Language Learners in grades 3-5 and includes a teacher resource guide to help support students in the listening language domain. There are very few resources for elementary teachers to support students in listening comprehension strategies. The teacher resource guide includes think-aloud, focus questions, journaling and interactive listening strategies. Lesson templates and examples are included

Long-lived metallized tips for nanoliter electrospray mass spectrometry

Sheathless electrospray at nL/min flow rates combined with Fourier-transform mass spectrometry has made possible high resolving power (> 50,000) mass spectra of subattomole samples of > 8 kDa proteins separated by capillary electrophoresis (Valaskovic, G. A.; Kelleher, N. L.; McLafferty, F. W. Science, 1996, 273, 1199–1202). However, for this new method the mechanical stability of the thin (35 to 100 nm) gold film electrodes has limited tip lifetime to 15 to 30 min. A technique for SiOx coating of the gold is described that provides a steady ion current (± 10 pA) for 1 to 2 h, even with arcs or interruptions of the electrospray voltage

Analyzing spatial aggregation error in statistical models of late-stage cancer risk: a Monte Carlo simulation approach

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>This paper examines the effect of spatial aggregation error on statistical estimates of the association between spatial access to health care and late-stage cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Monte Carlo simulation was used to disaggregate cancer cases for two Illinois counties from zip code to census block in proportion to the age-race composition of the block population. After the disaggregation, a hierarchical logistic model was estimated examining the relationship between late-stage breast cancer and risk factors including travel distance to mammography, at both the zip code and census block levels. Model coefficients were compared between the two levels to assess the impact of spatial aggregation error.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that spatial aggregation error influences the coefficients of regression-type models at the zip code level, and this impact is highly dependent on the study area. In one study area (Kane County), block-level coefficients were very similar to those estimated on the basis of zip code data; whereas in the other study area (Peoria County), the two sets of coefficients differed substantially raising the possibility of drawing inaccurate inferences about the association between distance to mammography and late-stage cancer risk.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Spatial aggregation error can significantly affect the coefficient values and inferences drawn from statistical models of the association between cancer outcomes and spatial and non-spatial variables. Relying on data at the zip code level may lead to inaccurate findings on health risk factors.</p

Collective Survival Strategies and Anti-Colonial Practice in Ecosocial Work

Oppressed communities have long used strategies of caring for and protecting each other to ensure their collective survival. We argue for ecosocial workers to critically interrogate how agency, history, and culture structure environmental problems and our responses to them, by developing a resilience-based framework, collective survival strategies (CSS). CSS consider power, culture and history and build upon the strengths of oppressed communities facing global environmental changes. We challenge the dominant narrative of climate change as a “new” problem and connect it to colonization. We discuss implications by examining a social work program explicitly built on Indigenous knowledges and anti-colonial practice

New ring shear deformation apparatus for three-dimensional multiphase experiments: First results

Multiphase deformation, where a solid and fluid phase deform simultaneously, play a crucial role in a variety of geological hazards, such as landslides, glacial slip, and the transition from earthquakes to slow slip. In all these examples a continuous, viscous or fluid-like phase is mixed with a granular or brittle phase where both phases deform simultaneously when stressed. Understanding the interaction between the phases and how they will impact deformation dynamics is essential to improve hazard assessments for a wide variety of geo-hazards. Here, we present the design and first experimental results from a ring shear deformation apparatus capable of deforming multiple phases simultaneously. The experimental design allows for three dimensional observations during deformation in addition to unlimited shear strain, controllable normal force, and a variety of boundary conditions. To impose shear deformation, either the experimental chamber or lid rotate around its central axis while the other remains stationary. Normal and pulling force data are collected with force gauges located on the lid of the apparatus and between the pulling motor and the experimental chamber. Experimental materials are chosen to match the light refraction index of the experimental chamber, such that 3D observations can be made throughout the experiment with the help of a laser light sheet. We present experimental results where we deform hydropolymer orbs and cubes (brittle phase) and Carbopol&reg; hydropolymer gel (fluid phase). Preliminary results show variability in force measurements and deformation styles between solid and fluid end member experiments. The ratio of solids to fluids and their relative competencies in multiphase experiments control deformation dynamics, which range from stick-slip to creep. The presented experimental strategy has the potential to shed light on multi-phase processes associated with multiple geo-hazards.</p