A Multiple Case Study on the Identities of Immigrant College Students in a Filipino Language Club

M.Ed.M.Ed. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 201

"HENDERSON: FROM CHAOS TO CLARITY"

"HENDERSON: FROM CHAOS TO CLARITY

THE OPPOSING FORCES IN ALBEE'S 'THE ZOO STORY"

Introduction : placing The Zoo Story into the category ofAbsurd plays

Influence of Tundra Polygon Type and Climate Variability on CO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e and CH\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e Fluxes Near Utqiagvik, Alaska

Arctic tundra has the potential to generate significant climate feedbacks, but spatial complexity makes it difficult to quantify the impacts of climate on ecosystem-atmosphere fluxes, particularly in polygonal tundra comprising wetter and drier polygon types on the scale of tens of meters. We measured CO2, CH4, and energy fluxes using eddy covariance for 7 yr (April to November, 2013–2019) in polygonal tundra near Utqiagvik, Alaska. This period saw the earliest snowmelt, latest snow accumulation, and hottest summer on record. To estimate fluxes by polygon type, we combined a polygon classification with a flux-footprint model. Methane fluxes were highest in the summer months but were also large during freeze-up and increased with the warming trend in August–November temperatures. While CO2 respiration had a consistent, exponential relationship with temperature, net ecosystem exchange was more variable among years. CO2 and CH4 exchange (June–September) ranged between −0.83 (Standard error [SE] = 0.03) and −1.32 (SE = 0.04) μmol m−2 s−1 and 13.92 (SE = 0.26)—23.42 (SE = 0.45) nmol m−2 s−1, respectively, and varied interannually (p ≤ 0.05). The maximum-influence method effectively attributed fluxes to polygon types. Areas dominated by lowcentered polygons had higher CO2 fluxes except in 2016–2017. Methane fluxes were highest in low-centered polygons 2013–2015 and in flat-centered polygons in subsequent years, possibly due to increasing temperature and precipitation. Sensible and latent heat fluxes also varied significantly among polygon types. Accurate characterization of Arctic fluxes and their climate dependencies requires spatial disaggregation and long term observations. Plain Language Summary We measured carbon dioxide and methane fluxes for 7 yr (April to November, 2013–2019) in polygonal tundra near Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska using eddy covariance (EC). The EC method provides the measurements of vertical flux of transported air parcels by correlation of the fluctuations in carbon dioxide or methane concentration with fluctuations in the vertical wind speed. The ice wedge polygonal tundra area is covered by ponds, drained lake basins, and wetter and drier polygon types on the scale of tens of meters across. This period saw the earliest snowmelt, latest snow accumulation date, and hottest summer on record. To estimate fluxes by polygon type, we combined a polygon classification with a flux-footprint model. The model represents the field of view of the EC system and allows the user to extract the location of the peak contribution. The site was a net carbon sink between June and September in each of the seven years. Areas dominated by low-centered polygons had higher carbon dioxide fluxes except in 2016–2017, while methane fluxes were highest in low-centered polygons 2013–2015 and in flat-centered polygons in subsequent years. This is possibly due to increasing temperature and precipitation. Not only were methane fluxes highest in the summer months but also large during freeze-up and increased with the warming trend in August–November temperatures

Design thinking as driver for innovation in the chemical industry

In a time of increasing market pressure, managers value innovations as a precious currency. While shifting the focus away from incremental innovations at the level of molecules, companies in the chemical industry should consider a more systematic approach to the development of ideas during the innovation processes. However, solely aligning all research activities with the upcoming megatrends for the industry is not sufficient. This article empirically demonstrates the strategic relevance of Design Thinking as a method to not only overcome typical barriers in the innovation process but also to guide stakeholders through all iterative stages required for innovation

Impact of chronic inflammation, assessed by hs-CRP, on the association between red cell distribution width and arterial cardiovascular disease: the Tromso Study

Red cell distribution width (RDW), a measure of variability in size of circulating erythrocytes, is associated with arterial cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the impact of chronic inflammation as measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) on this relationship, and explore whether RDW could be a mediator in the causal pathway between inflammation and arterial CVD. Baseline characteristics, including RDW and hs-CRP, were obtained from 5,765 individuals attending a population-based cohort study. We followed up participants from inclusion in the fourth survey of the Tromsø Study (1994/1995) until December 31, 2012. Multivariable Cox-regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for incident myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic stroke across quintiles of hs-CRP and RDW. Subjects with hs-CRP in the highest quintile had 44% higher risk of MI (HR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.14–1.80), and 64% higher risk of ischemic stroke (HR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.20–2.24) compared with subjects in the lowest quintile. RDW mediated 7.2% (95% CI: 4.0–30.8%) of the association between hs-CRP and ischemic stroke. Subjects with RDW in the highest quintile had 22% higher risk of MI (HR: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.98–1.54) and 44% higher risk of ischemic stroke (HR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.06–1.97) compared with subjects in the lowest quintile. These risk estimates were slightly attenuated after adjustments for hs-CRP. Our findings suggest that chronic inflammation is not a primary mechanism underlying the relationship between RDW and arterial CVD

Fulminant Endogenous Anterior Uveitis due to Listeria monocytogenes

Purpose: To report an unusual case of fulminant anterior uveitis, confirmed as endogenous Listeria monocytogenes infection. Subject: A 67-year-old man with multiple comorbidities acutely developed a severe endogenous anterior uveitis. Results:L. monocytogenes, a ubiquitous Gram-positive bacillus, was directly indicated by culture and PCR. Early and aggressive treatment with intravenous antibiotics likely prevented the endophthalmitis which most cases on record experienced. Our patient regained satisfactory visual acuity. Conclusions: Prompt antimicrobial therapy is paramount when severe endogenous uveitis develops in a patient with comorbidities, especially with systemic immunosuppression. Treatment solely with corticosteroids should be avoided

Contingency Management in an Athletic Study Hall

A contingency management system, cooperatively developed in NTSU's School of Community Service and the Athletic Department was implemented to increase the amount of time student athletes (with GPAs below 2.0) spent studying. Repeated reversals were used to demonstrate effectiveness of the contingencies used-i.e., students' on-task study behavior (looking at books, underlining or making notes, memorizing with book open) resulted in early release from study hall. Data takers observed individual students every 7 seconds and those meeting a 90% on-task criterion left study hall 30 minutes early. Data are included that demonstrate the effectiveness of this early-release contingency on proportion of time spent studying. Increasing numbers of students were released on-task ov er time. Additionally, data were collected on numbers choosing to remain in study hall after given permission to leave

Analytical Interference by Contrast Agents in Biochemical Assays

Objective. To provide a clinically relevant overview of the analytical interference by contrast agents (CA) in laboratory blood test measurements. Materials and Methods. The effects of five CAs, gadobutrol, gadoterate meglumine, gadoxetate disodium, iodixanol, and iomeprol, were studied on the 29 most frequently performed biochemical assays. One-day-old plasma, serum, and whole blood were spiked with doses of each agent such that the gadolinium agents and the iodine agents reached concentrations of 0.5 mM and 12 mg iodine/mL, respectively. Subsequently, 12 assays were reexamined using 1/2 and 1/4 of these CA concentrations. The results were assessed statistically by a paired Student’s t-test. Results. Iodixanol produced a negative interference on the bicarbonate (p=0.011), lactate dehydrogenase (p<0.0001), and zinc (p=0.0034) assays and a positive interference on the albumin (p=0.0062), calcium (p<0.0001), ionized calcium (p=0.0086), iron (p<0.0001), and potassium (p=0.0003) assays. Iomeprol produced a negative interference on the bicarbonate (p=0.0057) and magnesium (p=0.0001) assays and a positive interference on the calcium (p<0.0001) and potassium (p=0.0012) assays. Gadoxetate disodium produced a negative interference on the iron (p<0.0001) and zinc (p<0.0001) assays and a positive interference on the sodium (p=0.032) assay. Conclusion. CAs cause analytical interference. Attention should be given to the above-mentioned analyte-CA combinations when assessing laboratory blood test results obtained after CA administration

COMPORTAMENTO INDIVIDUAL, CULTURA E MUDANÇA SOCIAL

The principle of operant selection is examined as a prototype of cultural selection, and the role of the social environment is suggested as the critical element in the emergence of cultural phenomena. Operant contingencies are compared to cultural selection contingencies, designated as metacontingencies. Both of these types of contingency relations result in evolving lineages of recurrences that can become increasingly complex in the number and organization of their elements. In addition to its role in the recurring interlocking behavioral contingencies that constitute cultural organization, operant behavior plays another role in cultures. Although the operants of individuals are functionally independent of one another, the behavior of each person may contribute to a cumulative effect that is relevant to the well- being of many people. Similarly, the outcomes of metacontingencies may also contribute to a cumulative effect. The relation between independently evolving operant lineages, or between independently evolving cultural lineages, and their cumulative effect is identified as a macrocontingency. Macrocontingencies do not involve cultural-level selection per se. Effective cultural engineering requires identifying the macrocontingencies that produce less than desirable effects and altering the relevant operant contingencies or metacontingencies to produce change in the cumulative effects. Key words: operant contingencies, macrocontingencies, metacontingencies, cultural selection, operant selection. O princípio da seleção operante é examinado como um modelo para a seleção cultural e o papel do ambiente social é sugerido como o elemento crítico na emergência de fenômenos culturais. Contingências operantes são comparadas com contingências de seleção cultural, denominadas metacontingências. Esses dois tipos de relações de contingência resultam em linhagens de recorrências que evoluem e que podem tornar-se cada vez mais complexas em termos do número e da organização de seus elementos. Além do papel nas contingências comportamentais entrelaçadas recorrentes que constituem a organização cultural, o comportamento operante desempenha outro papel nas culturas. Apesar dos operantes dos indivíduos serem funcionalmente independentes uns dos outros, o comportamento de cada pessoa pode contribuir para um efeito cumulativo relevante para o bem-estar de muitas pessoas. Similarmente, os produtos de metacontingências também podem contribuir para um efeito cumulativo. A relação entre linhagens operantes que evoluem independentemente, ou entre linhagens culturais que evoluem independentemente, e seu efeito cumulativo, é identificada como uma macrocontingência. Macrocontingências não envolvem seleção cultural per se. Uma engenharia cultural efetiva requer a identificação de macrocontingências que produzem efeitos indesejáveis e a alteração de contingências operantes ou metacontingências relevantes de modo a produzir mudanças nos efeitos cumulativos. Palavras-chave: contingências operantes, macrocontingências, metacontingências, seleção cultural, seleção operante.