A model for assessing organizational culture in intercollegiate athletics

Beyer and Hannah (2000) have suggested that a major barrier to the reform of intercollegiate athletics is its cultural significance in higher education. Even leaders within the National Collegiate Athletic Association have acknowledged the need for culture change in intercollegiate athletics (Brand, 2001; Dempsey, 2000). Yet major culture change has not occurred and few studies have examined culture within intercollegiate athletic departments (Ridpath, 2008). This gap may be due, in part, to the lack of a framework with which to analyze athletic departments as organizational cultures. Schein’s (2004) model of organizational culture is the most frequently cited perspective in the literature, but it applies primarily to corporate cultures (Hatch, 2000). Several frameworks have been developed to assess college and university cultures, but intercollegiate athletics occupies a unique space between sport and education (Beyer & Hannah, 2000). Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to offer a model for assessing the cultures of intercollegiate athletic departments. The four elements of the model— institutional culture, external environment, internal environment, and leadership/power—are presented and followed by an explanation of their interaction. The paper concludes with a case study demonstrating the use of the model to define one athletic department’s culture

Student and faculty perspectives of a scalable, sustainable, higher education, learning-rich classroom

This article profiles the development of a sustainable, learning-rich room and provides student and faculty perspectives on its effectiveness. The room features mobile furniture and instructional technology - interactive whiteboard, student response systems and FLIP camcorders. Three faculty members were selected to use the classroom for instruction. Data was collected via student surveys and videos as well as faculty meetings, videos, surveys, and reports. Faculty made extensive use of the classroom infrastructure by employing a wide variety of active teaching methods. The success of the Learning Lab resulted has given administration new opportunities to explore innovative teaching through building learning rich classrooms

Chromosomal in situ suppression hybridization of human gonosomes and autosomes and its use in clinical cytogenetics

DNA libraries from sorted human gonosomes were used selectively to stain the X and Y chromosomes in normal and aberrant cultured human cells by chromosomal in situ suppression (CISS-) hybridization. The entire X chromosome was stained in metaphase spreads. Interphase chromosome domains of both the active and inactive X were clearly delineated. CISS-hybridization of the Y chromosome resulted in the specific decoration of the euchromatic part (Ypter-q11), whereas the heterochromatic part (Yq12) remained unlabeled. The stained part of the Y chromosome formed a compact domain in interphase nuclei. This approach was applied to amniotic fluid cells containing a ring chromosome of unknown origin (47,XY; +r). The ring chromosome was not stained by library probes from the gonosomes, thereby suggesting its autosomal origin. The sensitivity of CISS-hybridization was demonstrated by the detection of small translocations and fragments in human lymphocyte metaphase spreads after irradiation with 60Co-gamma-rays. Lymphocyte cultures from two XX-males were investigated by CISS-hybridization with Y-library probes. In both cases, metaphase spreads demonstrated a translocation of Yp-material to the short arm of an X chromosome. The translocated Y-material could also be demonstrated directly in interphase nuclei. CISS-hybridization of autosomes 7 and 13 was used for prenatal diagnosis in a case with a known balanced translocation t(7;13) in the father. The same translocation was observed in amniotic fluid cells from the fetus. Specific staining of the chromosomes involved in such translocations will be particularly important, in the future, in cases that cannot be solved reliably by conventional chromosome banding alone

To honor and glorify God\u27: The role of religion in one intercollegiate athletic culture

Numerous events have provided evidence that the cultural values and assumptions of intercollegiate athletic departments are often incongruent with those of their host institutions. This discrepancy has even been evident in Christian institutions which seek to integrate faith into the learning experience. Using the organizational culture perspective, this study sought to determine how religion influenced the culture of one intercollegiate athletics department. The study took place at a highly selective evangelical Christian college with a nationally competitive athletic department. Data were collected through interviews with 19 campus leaders, observation of cultural events and document analysis. Analysis occurred qualitatively through a process of theorizing. The results indicate that evangelical Christianity played a significant role in the athletic department\u27s culture by constraining its membership, influencing its pedagogy and guiding department decisions. As a result, its values and assumptions were consistent with those of the overall campus culture. The reasons underlying this cultural integration offer coaches and administrators of all institutional affiliations the possibility that the organizational culture perspective can be used to create athletic programs that are more consistent with institutional values

A Model for Assessing Organizational Culture in Intercollegiate Athletic Departments

Beyer and Hannah (2000) have suggested that a major barrier to the reform of intercollegiate athletics is its cultural significance in higher education. Even leaders within the National Collegiate Athletic Association have acknowledged the need for culture change in intercollegiate athletics (Brand, 2001; Dempsey, 2000). Yet major culture change has not occurred and few studies have examined culture within intercollegiate athletic departments (Ridpath, 2008). This gap may be due, in part, to the lack of a framework with which to analyze athletic departments as organizational cultures. Schein’s (2004) model of organizational culture is the most frequently cited perspective in the literature, but it applies primarily to corporate cultures (Hatch, 2000). Several frameworks have been developed to assess college and university cultures, but intercollegiate athletics occupies a unique space between sport and education (Beyer & Hannah, 2000). Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to offer a model for assessing the cultures of intercollegiate athletic departments. The four elements of the model— institutional culture, external environment, internal environment, and leadership/power—are presented and followed by an explanation of their interaction. The paper concludes with a case study demonstrating the use of the model to define one athletic department’s culture

Vertical Distribution, Persistence, and Activity of Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae) in Alfalfa Snout Beetle- (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Infested Fields

The vertical movement, persistence, and activity of four isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Oswego), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (NC), Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) (NY001),and an undescribed Steinernema species (NY008-2E), were evaluated for 24 mo at field locations in northern New York. Nematodes were released into three alfalfa fields naturally infested with alfalfa snout beetle, Otiorhynchus ligustici (L.). Each field differed in soil type and soil textural composition: silt loam, sandy loam, and loamy sand. Nematodes were recovered from soil using trap insects, Galleria mellonella larvae, and their vertical distribution was monitored at 5-cm intervals to depths of 20 cm for Steinernena species and 35 cm for Heterorhabditis species. All nematodes persisted (no significant reduction in percentage of infection of G. mellonella) for 6 mo after the initial application in all soil types. However, by the end of the second growing season (17 mo after application), all nematodes showed significant reductions in infection rates of G. mellonella except H. bacteriophora (Oswego) which showed high levels of infection for 24 mo. Nematode vertical movement was affected by soil type and varied by isolate. S. carpocapsae (NY00l)and Steinernema sp. (NY008-2E) remained primarily in soil depths <15 cm, whereas both heterorhabditids dispersed to soil depths of 35 cm. Vertical movement of H. bacteriophera (Oswego) was greatest in loamy sand and vertical movement of Steinernema sp. (NY008-2E) was greatest in sandy loam. Percentage of infection of G. mellonella by H. bacteriophora (Oswego) and S. carpocapsae (NY00l)was significantly correlated with rising soil temperatures in early spring. H. bacteriophora (Oswego) and S. carpocapsae (NYOOl)infected G. mellonella larvae in the field at soil temperatures between 15 and 18°C. Steinernema sp. (NY008-2E)infected G. mellonella larvae in the field at soil temperatures between 13 and 15°

Optimizing the best play in basketball using deep learning

In a close game of basketball, victory or defeat can depend on a single shot. Being able to identify the best player and play scenario for a given opponent’s defense can increase the likelihood of victory. Progress in technology has resulted in an increase in the popularity of sports analytics over the last two decades, where data can be used by teams and individuals to their advantage. A popular data analytic technique in sports is deep learning. Deep learning is a branch of machine learning that finds patterns within big data and can predict future decisions. The process relies on a raw dataset for training purposes. It can be utilized in sports by using deep learning to read the data and provide a better understanding of where players can be the most successful. In this study the data used were on division I women’s basketball games of a private university in a conference featuring top 25 teams. Deep learning was applied to optimize the best offensive play in a game scenario for a given set of features. The system is used to predict the play that would lead to the highest probability of a made shot

Kinetic Roughening in Deposition with Suppressed Screening

Models of irreversible surface deposition of k-mers on a linear lattice, with screening suppressed by disallowing overhangs blocking large gaps, are studied by extensive Monte Carlo simulations of the temporal and size dependence of the growing interface width. Despite earlier finding that for such models the deposit density tends to increase away from the substrate, our numerical results place them clearly within the standard KPZ universality class.Comment: nine pages, plain TeX (4 figures not included

The Alternative for Germany’s radicalization in historical-comparative perspective

This article chronicles the AfD’s rightward repositioning and compares it with the programmatic development of three postwar German parties on the ideological wings. By highlighting factors that tilt the balance of power away from moderate reformers towards hardliners, this comparative analysis sheds light on the conditions that lead a relatively successful party on the ideological wings, such as the AfD, to radicalize its programme. Four variables stand out: whether party hardliners take the blame for the recent election loss; whether they offer a convincing programmatic and strategic alternative to the reformers; whether changes in party composition strengthen hardliners; and whether external factors enhance their weight within the party. The essay concludes that the AfD’s radicalization was unusual, but not exceptional. It is however too early to conclude that the Federal Republic’s distinctive institutions and political culture no longer impose significant costs on parties that shift their programmes away from the centre