Herding Cats: Governance Models for the Care and Feeding of Enterprise Resources Planning Systems in Higher Education Institutions

Enterprise Resources Planning systems (ERPs) have revolutionized the manner in which higher education institutions manage its resources. ERPs provide the mechanism to aggregate disparate data across the institution and deliver reports and facilitate analysis on the institution as a whole. ERPs provide a single source of truth for institutional data enabling an institution-wide view of expenditures and are powerful tool for decision support. Institutions choosing to invest in implementing ERPs will enter into a long term relationship with continual maintenance of the systems. Key to the success of maintaining ERPs effectively is the governance model an institution adopts for managing the system. This study surveyed over 300 members of higher education institutions to determine what are the prevalent governance models currently being used and to rate the perceived effectiveness of the models. Additionally the study seeks to identify what governance models will effectively maintain the enterprise resource planning systems of Binghamton University. The findings reveal the most prevalent model is centralized governance team with representation from both information technology services (ITS) and functional individuals. In terms of perceived effectiveness a centralized governance model managed by ITS alone is perceived to be most effective. However, based on literature review and the findings it is recommended that Binghamton University adhere to a centralized governance team with representation from both information technology services (ITS and functional individuals

Comparing Web-Based Content Delivery and Instructor-Led Learning in a Telecommunications Course

This study compares the achievement of students enrolled in two sections of an undergraduate telecommunications course. One class was conducted in an instructor-led classroom and the other utilized a web-based content delivery method. Students were unaware of the difference in delivery methods at the time of registration. Identical pre- and post-tests were administered to the students and a statistical analysis was performed. While in a practical sense, the instructor-led classroom generated much higher average performance, the difference between the two methods was not statistically significant

Showing up for the self: A heuristic study exploring the meaning of self-care through the lens of Drama Therapy

This heuristic research study aims to unearth the experiences of discovering self-care through the spaces given in drama therapy. Heuristic research has the unique ability of exploring the researcher’s own experiences with the topic, while searching and promoting the possibility of new connections and meanings. The purpose of this study is to gather information on the researcher’s own journey of coming to better understand self-care while attending drama therapy sessions as well as studying as a drama therapy student. I (Stephanie) will share my own personal discoveries of how the heuristic research process is a unique method for an individual to share research in a creative realm. I will present my research using the six-stages of the heuristic process and illuminate the findings and the possibilities for future studies. Key Words: Heuristic Research Method, Self-care, drama therap

Results from a Multi-Site Survey of Course-Embedded/Peer-to-Peer Writing Support Programs

Although course-embedded programs (such as writing fellows, writing center fellows, or writing associates) have been examined at single institutions in terms of training, faculty support, and assessment, writing center researchers have rarely studied these programs across multiple sites. Our panel provides results from a large-scale multi-institution survey of students, faculty, and staffers in classes with course-embedded writing support programs, at four SWCA institutions that differ in terms of size and mission. This project and research results showcase the perceived value and impact of course-embedded, peer-to-peer writing support

The Fine-Grained Complexity of Multi-Dimensional Ordering Properties

We define a class of problems whose input is an n-sized set of d-dimensional vectors, and where the problem is first-order definable using comparisons between coordinates. This class captures a wide variety of tasks, such as complex types of orthogonal range search, model-checking first-order properties on geometric intersection graphs, and elementary questions on multidimensional data like verifying Pareto optimality of a choice of data points. Focusing on constant dimension d, we show that any k-quantifier, d-dimensional such problem is solvable in O(n^{k-1} log^{d-1} n) time. Furthermore, this algorithm is conditionally tight up to subpolynomial factors: we show that assuming the 3-uniform hyperclique hypothesis, there is a k-quantifier, (3k-3)-dimensional problem in this class that requires time ?(n^{k-1-o(1)}). Towards identifying a single representative problem for this class, we study the existence of complete problems for the 3-quantifier setting (since 2-quantifier problems can already be solved in near-linear time O(nlog^{d-1} n), and k-quantifier problems with k > 3 reduce to the 3-quantifier case). We define a problem Vector Concatenated Non-Domination VCND_d (Given three sets of vectors X,Y and Z of dimension d,d and 2d, respectively, is there an x ? X and a y ? Y so that their concatenation x?y is not dominated by any z ? Z, where vector u is dominated by vector v if u_i ? v_i for each coordinate 1 ? i ? d), and determine it as the "unique" candidate to be complete for this class (under fine-grained assumptions)

1,1′-Diketone and 1,1′-dinitrile Derivatives of 2,2′-biimidazole

The crystal structures of 2,2′-biimidazole-1,1′-diacetone, C12H14N4O2, and 2,2′-biimidazole-1,1′-diacetonitrile, C10H8N6, have been determined. Both molecules crystallize with coplanar rings having substituents in a trans disposition with a center of inversion located midway between the bridging C atoms

Towards optimisation of surface enhanced photodynamic therapy of breast cancer cells using gold nanoparticle-photosensitiser conjugates

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs; ca. 4 nm) were synthesised and functionalised with a mixed monolayer of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and one of two zinc phthalocyanines (ZnPcs), the difference between the two molecules was the length of the carbon chain that connects the Pc to the gold core. The chain was composed of either three (C3Pc) or eleven (C11Pc) carbon atoms. The C11Pc photosensitiser displayed higher fluorescence emission intensity than the C3Pc in solution. By contrast, the C3Pc photosensitiser exhibited higher fluorescence when bound to the surface of the AuNPs than the C11Pc, despite the shorter carbon chain which was expected to quench the fluorescence. In addition, the C3Pc nanoparticle conjugates exhibited an enhancement in the production of singlet oxygen (1O2). The metal-enhanced 1O2 production led to a remarkable photodynamic efficacy for the treatment of human breast cancer cells

Factors and common conditions associated with adolescent dietary supplement use: an analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Little is known about the prevalence of dietary supplement (DS) use in American adolescents. We conducted this study to analyze the prevalence of DS use and factors associated with this use in a national population-based sample.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used data from the 1999 – 2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) for adolescents age 11 to 19. Using weighted logistic regression, we identified demographic and clinical factors associated with the use of any DS, vitamins or minerals, herbs and other DS.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among the 5,306 responses representing approximately 36 million Americans 11–19 years old, 27% reported use of one or more DS in the prior month. The most commonly used DS were: multivitamins (16%) and vitamin C (6%). In the multivariable analysis, African American [adjusted odds ratio 0.40 (0.31–0.50) 95% CI] and Mexican American [0.55 (0.44–0.69)] adolescents were less likely to use DS compared with non-Hispanic whites. DS use was more common in those who used prescription medications [1.37 (1.10–1.72)] and among those who had a diagnosis of chronic headaches [1.25 (1.04–1.50)]. DS use was less common among those reporting fair or poor health status [0.59 (0.40–0.88)].</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Twenty seven percent of American adolescents use DS. DS use is higher among teens that use prescription medications; physicians and pharmacists should be aware of this, ask patients, and check for potential interactions.</p

Decline in Health for Older Adults: 5-Year Change in 13 Key Measures of Standardized Health

Introduction The health of older adults declines over time, but there are many ways of measuring health. We examined whether all measures declined at the same rate, or whether some aspects of health were less sensitive to aging than others. Methods We compared the decline in 13 measures of physical, mental, and functional health from the Cardiovascular Health Study: hospitalization, bed days, cognition, extremity strength, feelings about life as a whole, satisfaction with the purpose of life, self-rated health, depression, digit symbol substitution test, grip strength, ADLs, IADLs, and gait speed. Each measure was standardized against self-rated health. We compared the 5-year change to see which of the 13 measures declined the fastest and the slowest. Results The 5-year change in standardized health varied from a decline of 12 points (out of 100) for hospitalization to a decline of 17 points for gait speed. In most comparisons, standardized health from hospitalization and bed days declined the least while health measured by ADLs, IADLs, and gait speed declined the most. These rankings were independent of age, sex, mortality patterns, and the method of standardization. Discussion All of the health variables declined, on average, with advancing age, but at significantly different rates. Standardized measures of mental health, cognition, quality of life and hospital utilization did not decline as fast as gait speed, ADLs, and IADLs. Public health interventions to address problems with gait speed, ADLs, and IADLs may help older adults to remain healthier in all dimensions