Engagement experiences: Adult English language learner students in advanced manufacturing at a midwestern community college

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the day-to-day lived engagement experiences of six adult ELL students enrolled in an advanced-manufacturing program at a midwestern community college. Specifically, this study collected the rich engagement stories andmeaning participants assignedto their stories and experiences. The essence of these experiences was solicited by asking two questions: (a) What are the perceived on-campus engagement experiences and social networks that support and promote success amongadult ELL students in advanced manufacturing and(b) Are there perceived engagement experience issues and barriers for adult ELL students? Two theories, Alexander Astin’s student involvement theory and Malcolm Knowles’adult learning theory, provided theoretical lenses for the study. A constructivist epistemological foundation, postmodernist perspective, and qualitative phenomenology methodological approach guided the collection and analysis of the data. During one-on-one semistructured interviews, participants were asked to describe their interaction experiences with program faculty, peers, and staff and how they perceivedthese experiences. Based on participants’feedback and my in-class and lab observations, four major themes emerged as meaningful orbarriers for students’engagement: (a) multiple life roles,(b) language, (c) faculty and employer partnerships, and (d) online technology. Given that students placeda high value on interaction with and between faculty and employers, thatstudents benefited from the use of online technology due to their limited English skills, and that positive interactions seemedto increase the likelihood for student success, three recommendations to enhance student interaction emerged. xCommunity colleges seeking to build robust programs to support adult ELL students in advanced manufacturing programs should consider: (a) forming partnerships with local and regional employers;(b) providing ongoing professional development for faculty andstaff;(c) forming partnerships with local nonprofit organizations;and (d) exploringthe use of technology to engage students,thereby expanding and supporting adult ELL students in higher education. Recommendations for future research include conducting additional investigations into the engagement experiences of (a) adult female ELL students in advanced manufacturing,(b) ELL students in degree programs that adopt a distance learning platform (c) ELL students in the K–12 system, and (d) faculty perceptions of adult ELL students.xCommunity colleges seeking to build robust programs to support adult ELL students in advanced manufacturing programs should consider: (a) forming partnerships with local and regional employers;(b) providing ongoing professional development for faculty andstaff;(c) forming partnerships with local nonprofit organizations;and (d) exploringthe use of technology to engage students,thereby expanding and supporting adult ELL students in higher education. Recommendations for future research include conducting additional investigations into the engagement experiences of (a) adult female ELL students in advanced manufacturing,(b) ELL students in degree programs that adopt a distance learning platform (c) ELL students in the K–12 system, and (d) faculty perceptions of adult ELL studen

Bioenergy: Biodiesel from Freshwater Green Microalgae and a Cyanobacterium Occurring in Ghana

Biodiesel from freshwater green microalgae, and cyanobacteria holds promise as an alternative to replace petroleum diesel to meet the energy demands for transportation, industry and domestic use. In this study, three green freshwater microalgae (Closterium acerosum Ehrenberg ex Ralfs, Oedogonium ciliatum Pringsheim ex Hirn, and Spirogyra africana (F.E.Fritsch) Czurda), and a freshwater cyanobacterium (Chroococcus turgidus (Kützing) Nägeli) occurring in Ghana, were assessed to verify their suitability for biodiesel production. Samples of the species were collected from the Weija Lake; and the green freshwater microalgae were cultured in Bold’s Basal Medium while the cyanobacterium was cultured in BG-11 (Blue-Green Medium) medium, in photo-bioreactors for 14 days. Algal lipids were extracted from dry biomass of the species with hexane and diethyl ether, and biodiesel produced from the lipids by base-catalysed transesterification. The amount of lipid extracted from the species varied from 20.3 in Spirogyra to 38.2% dry wt. in Oedogonium. Biodiesel produced also varied from 6.7 in Spirogyra to 22.3% dry wt. in Closterium, and the values fell well within the range reported for such organisms around the world. We suggest that many more microalgae occurring in Ghana should be sampled for their lipid content in future work on biodiesel production and development in the country

3層グラフェン/LiNbO3界面における音波伝搬特性

第40回超音波エレクトロニクスの基礎と応用に関するシンポジウム/The 40th Symposium on UltraSonic Electronics (USE2019), 2019年11月25日～27日, 明治大学, 東

Lipids from Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn Seeds by Supercritical CO2: Extraction and Optimization of Parameters by Response Surface Methodology

Supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) was employed to extract lipids from Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn seeds in semi–batch process at various operating conditions to optimize extraction process. The extraction processes were carried out at 40 – 60 oC and 20 – 40 MPa with 2 – 4 ml min–1 CO2 flow rates. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with 33 factorial design combined with statistical was used to optimize variables in the process of Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn seeds lipids extraction with supercritical CO2. The FT–IR spectra indicated that the Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn seeds components were extracted by supercritical CO2. The SEM images also indicated that the physical changes in the surface of the Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn seeds occurred after supercritical CO2 extraction treatment. The maximum of extracted lipids was 0.47 g/g–sample when the extraction was conducted at a temperature of 80 oC and pressure of 40 MPa with CO2 flow rate of 3 ml min–1. The GC–MS analysis showed that the extracted lipids mainly composed of palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1), and linoleic acid (C18:2). The analysis of experimental design demonstrated that pressure and temperature were the influential variables on the lipids extraction

Characterisation and identification of local kaolin clay from Ghana: A potential material for electroporcelain insulator fabrication

The aim of this work was to evaluate two kaolin clays from the southern part of Ghana, Assin-Fosu and Kumasi clays, as source clays for the fabrication of electroporcelain insulators. X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, chemical analyses and scanning electron microscopy observations showed the fired clay minerals have broadly similar characteristics, but with significant differences in their chemical composition. The alumina contents were determined to be 35 ± 2 wt% and 22 ± 2 wt% respectively for the two kaolins and the silica contents 49 ± 3 wt% and 58 ± 3 wt% respectively. It is concluded that Assin-Fosu kaolin is a reliable local source material for electroporcelain fabrication, while Kumasi kaolin is more suitable for making wall and floor tiles.Part of this work was undertaken at the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy at the University of Cambridge under the Cambridge-Africa Fellowship programme, for which AY and KMK acknowledge the Cambridge African Partnership for Research Exchange (CAPREx) for funding this study. AY and EKT also acknowledge support from the Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID), University of Ghana, Grant #URF/7/029/2013-2014

A study of polybromide chain formation using carbon nanomaterials via density functional theory approach

\ua9 2016 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license. We use a density functional theory approach under the local density approximation (DFT/LDA) to describe the formation of polybromide chain structures, their stretching frequency modes and charge transfer induced by the interaction of these molecules with a graphene sheet. In many cases, we find polybromides to be more thermodynamically stable than the equivalent Br2 molecular structures adsorbed on graphene sheet. This results in lower frequency stretch modes at around 170–190 cm−1. We propose that these are rarely observed experimentally due to the bromination techniques used, which introduces molecular Br2 into the carbon host material. Charge transfer with their host material means that these molecules and their associated hole charge in the neighbouring carbon materials, are then coulombically repelled from other bromine molecules which acts as a barrier to combination into polybromides. Our calculated barrier for polybromide formation (2Br2→Br4) on a graphene sheet was 0.35 eV which is an exothermic process with an enthalpy value of −0.28 eV. Therefore, thermodynamically, chain polybromide formation seems to be favourable but kinetically, is unlikely, since there is an activation barrier that needs to be overcome to give stable bromine chain structures

Seasonal Changes in the Plant Growth-Inhibitory Effects of Rosemary Leaves on Lettuce Seedlings

Plant biodiversity has been studied to explore allelopathic species for the sustainable management of weeds to reduce the reliance on synthetic herbicides. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L., syn Salvia rosmarinus Spenn.), was found to have plant growth-inhibitory effects, and carnosic acid was reported as an allelochemical in the plant. In this study, the effects of seasonal variation (2011–2012) on the carnosic acid concentration and phytotoxicity of rosemary leaves from two locations in Tunisia (Fahs and Matmata) were investigated. The carnosic acid concentration in rosemary leaves was determined by HPLC, and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was used as the receptor plant in the phytotoxicity bioassay. The highest carnosic acid concentration was found in rosemary samples collected in June 2011, which also had the highest inhibitory activity. Furthermore, a significant inverse correlation (r = −0.529; p < 0.01) was found between the inhibitory activity on lettuce hypocotyl and the carnosic acid concentration in rosemary leaves. Both temperature and elevation had a significant positive correlation with carnosic acid concentration, while rainfall showed a negative correlation. The results showed that the inhibitory effects of rosemary leaf samples collected in summer was highest due to their high carnosic acid concentration. The phytotoxicity of rosemary needs to be studied over time to determine if it varies by season under field conditions.Peer Reviewe

Cystic Fibrosis in two Ghanaian Children

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a severe life-limiting genetic disorder resulting from mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene and is reported to be more prevalent among Caucasians than people of African descent. The past three decades have seen a gradual increase in the reporting of CF in non-European populations with CF in all regions including Africa. We report on the first two known Ghanaian children diagnosed with CF presenting early in infancy. The first patient presented with severe acute malnutrition and persistent diarrhea resulting from severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. In the second patient, there were recurrent wheeze and recurrent pneumonia, severe dehydration with metabolic alkalosis. Diagnosis of CF in Ghana is challenging due to the absence of diagnostic tools such as sweat testing equipment. In the first patient, sweat testing and genetic testing were done in South Africa. In the second patient, sweat testing was not done but diagnosis was confirmed by genetic testing. Both patients presented with classical CF symptoms including Pseudomonas aeruginosa airway infection before age 6 months. Both children are currently alive and healthy on appropriate treatment. These case reports highlight the growing evidence of CF occurring in people of African descent and the diagnostic challenges faced in Africa

Involvement of Carnosic Acid in the Phytotoxicity of Rosmarinus officinalis Leaves

Weeds are rapidly developing resistance to synthetic herbicides, and this can pose a threat to the ecosystem. Exploring allelopathic species as an alternative weed control measure can help minimize the ecological threat posed by herbicide-resistant weeds. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the contribution of some polyphenols to the allelopathy of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). The phytotoxic effects of rosemary (leaves, roots, inflorescences, and stems) crude extracts were tested on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Soils incorporated with dried rosemary leaves were also tested on test plants. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was used to determine the content of some polyphenols (caffeic, ferulic, gallic, rosmarinic, carnosic, and chlorogenic acids) in rosemary. The specific activity and total activity of crude extracts and individual compounds were evaluated using lettuce. The crude extract of rosemary leaves showed the highest growth inhibitory effect among the rosemary organs tested. Soil amended with rosemary leaf debris reduced the dry matter and seed emergence of lettuce. Carnosic acid was the main compound detected in rosemary leaves and had a high specific activity when tested on lettuce. During the seed germination period, there was observed filter paper coloration among the test plants treated with carnosic acid (250 μg/mL). The high concentration and strong inhibitory effect of carnosic acid could explain the inhibitory activity of the rosemary leaf extract. Hence, we conclude based on the total activity estimation that carnosic acid among the other tested compounds is the major allelochemical in rosemary leaves

Engagement experiences: Adult English language learner students in advanced manufacturing at a midwestern community college

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the day-to-day lived engagement experiences of six adult ELL students enrolled in an advanced-manufacturing program at a midwestern community college. Specifically, this study collected the rich engagement stories andmeaning participants assignedto their stories and experiences. The essence of these experiences was solicited by asking two questions: (a) What are the perceived on-campus engagement experiences and social networks that support and promote success amongadult ELL students in advanced manufacturing and(b) Are there perceived engagement experience issues and barriers for adult ELL students? Two theories, Alexander Astin’s student involvement theory and Malcolm Knowles’adult learning theory, provided theoretical lenses for the study. A constructivist epistemological foundation, postmodernist perspective, and qualitative phenomenology methodological approach guided the collection and analysis of the data. During one-on-one semistructured interviews, participants were asked to describe their interaction experiences with program faculty, peers, and staff and how they perceivedthese experiences. Based on participants’feedback and my in-class and lab observations, four major themes emerged as meaningful orbarriers for students’engagement: (a) multiple life roles,(b) language, (c) faculty and employer partnerships, and (d) online technology. Given that students placeda high value on interaction with and between faculty and employers, thatstudents benefited from the use of online technology due to their limited English skills, and that positive interactions seemedto increase the likelihood for student success, three recommendations to enhance student interaction emerged. xCommunity colleges seeking to build robust programs to support adult ELL students in advanced manufacturing programs should consider: (a) forming partnerships with local and regional employers;(b) providing ongoing professional development for faculty andstaff;(c) forming partnerships with local nonprofit organizations;and (d) exploringthe use of technology to engage students,thereby expanding and supporting adult ELL students in higher education. Recommendations for future research include conducting additional investigations into the engagement experiences of (a) adult female ELL students in advanced manufacturing,(b) ELL students in degree programs that adopt a distance learning platform (c) ELL students in the K–12 system, and (d) faculty perceptions of adult ELL students.xCommunity colleges seeking to build robust programs to support adult ELL students in advanced manufacturing programs should consider: (a) forming partnerships with local and regional employers;(b) providing ongoing professional development for faculty andstaff;(c) forming partnerships with local nonprofit organizations;and (d) exploringthe use of technology to engage students,thereby expanding and supporting adult ELL students in higher education. Recommendations for future research include conducting additional investigations into the engagement experiences of (a) adult female ELL students in advanced manufacturing,(b) ELL students in degree programs that adopt a distance learning platform (c) ELL students in the K–12 system, and (d) faculty perceptions of adult ELL student</p