Government Recognition and Acquisition of Patent Rights

The status and value of patent rights owned by private enterprise may be materially affected by the procurement policies and practices of the Federal Government. The most publicized and controversial policies are found in the rules and regulations of the Department of Defense, the Atomic Energy Commission and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is the purpose of this article to delineate the major differences being promulgated by these three governmental agencies

Lay Down Your Arms

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/4267/thumbnail.jp

Privacy Regulation of Computer-Assisted Testing and Instruction

Using computers to assist in testing and instruction creates privacy concerns that were absent or less consequential prior to the computer age. Not only does computer-assisted testing and instruction (CATI) threaten to invade privacy insidiously, its use with young schoolchildren poses the additional threat of arresting development of their privacy expectations. In light of the significance of reasonable expectations of privacy in constitutional and tort law, as well as privacy\u27s role in resisting totalitarianism, widespread and routine use of CATI may profoundly alter the balance between public and private realms

Privacy Regulation of Computer-Assisted Testing and Instruction

Using computers to assist in testing and instruction creates privacy concerns that were absent or less consequential prior to the computer age. Not only does computer-assisted testing and instruction (CATI) threaten to invade privacy insidiously, its use with young schoolchildren poses the additional threat of arresting development of their privacy expectations. In light of the significance of reasonable expectations of privacy in constitutional and tort law, as well as privacy\u27s role in resisting totalitarianism, widespread and routine use of CATI may profoundly alter the balance between public and private realms

Dream Chasers: An Exploration of How Role Identity is related to Career Development Attitudes among African American Male Collegiate Athletes

In order to develop an identity, individuals undergo the process of role-taking. During this process, they slowly develop an identity as they gain greater comprehension of social meanings in the culture. The individual is able to assume the group culture or perspective as they interact with others and better understand their role in those interactions (Johnson & Migliaccio, 2009). In particular for collegiate student-athletes, sport may play a tremendous role in shaping identity. For African American males, there may be a unique relationship between identity and participation in basketball. In 2010, sixty percent of male student-athletes participating in Division I basketball were African American (Zgonc, 2010). Since there are a high percentage of African Americans participating in college basketball, it is vital for college administrators to explore their experiences and attitudes to create appropriate career programming. Studies have demonstrated that people who have achieved a stable identity tend to use rational and systematic career decision strategies. In contrast, those with foreclosed identity status tend to rely on dependent strategies (Schultheiss, 2000). Donald Super’s original developmental approach to career choice and attitudes focuses on the life span-life space approach to careers. This perspective characterizes career development as an attempt to implement a person’s self-concept in educational and occupational decisions (Hartung & Niles, 2000). Researching role identity can help college administrators identify possible strengths of African American male college student-athletes, which may promote empowerment. This study was designed to explore how role identity is related to career development attitudes among African American male collegiate student-athletes. I implemented a mixed methods case study design to gather data. The underlying worldview driving this study is a constructivist theoretical approach. Data was collected from African American males who were student-athletes on a NCAA Division I basketball team. Qualitative interviews were dominant, while scales such as the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS), Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity (MIBI), and the Career Development Inventory (CDI) were used as descriptive data. The qualitative and quantitative data collection occurred in a parallel form. The findings of study indicate that there are a range of influences that shape the role identity of the participants in the study. The student-athletes were introduced and had access to sport at an early age. They were influenced by recognition from family and community members. Direct and indirect role models helped shape their worldview. Many of the student-athletes completed tasks associated with the growth and exploration stages of career development, while others exhibited career immaturity. Some of the student-athletes exhibited foreclosed athletic identities, which hindered their career aspirations for professions outside of playing basketball

Novel Hybrid Materials And Their Applications

The development of novel hybrid materials of cellulose fibres and substrates with nanoparticles, conducting polymers and quantum dots, opens up novel application for new packaging materials and paper based products for the ‘smart packaging’ and ‘functional products’ areas that are emerging in the paper and packaging industries. Examples of these materials which have been developed here include cellulose fibres and substrates functionalised with magnetic nanoparticles, electrically conducting polypyrrole, and photoluminescent zinc sulfide quantum dots. Such materials were synthesised and then characterised using Alternating Gradient Magnetometry (AGM), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AA), Cotec Profilometer Measurements, DC Conductivity Measurements, Photoluminescence Spectroscopy (PL), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), SQUID Magnetometry, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Vibrational Sample Magnetometry (VSM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Ferrimagnetic magnetite nanoparticles (particle size 12-26 nm) were synthesised by a simple aqueous precipitation method and had a magnetic saturation of approximately 60 emu g⁻¹, a coercive field of approximately 12-120 Oe, and a remnant magnetisation of approximately 11 emu g⁻¹. Magnetite coated Kraft fibres (1.2 – 3.15 wt. % Fe) were synthesised by adding a colloidal suspension of magnetite nanoparticles to a suspension of Kraft fibres. The fibres retained their inherent properties, such as tensile strength and flexibility, but inherited the magnetic properties of the magnetic nanoparticles. The nanoparticles remained unchanged on bonding - presumably through hydrogen bonding between the surface hydroxyl groups of the cellulose and the oxygen present in the magnetite. Newsprint, Kraft Board and Cotton fabric were coated with polypyrrole using a chemical polymerisation method. SEM shows a complete coating, whereby the fibres are completely encapsulated by the polymer, including individual fibrils. Again, bonding is facilitated through hydrogen bonding between the surface hydroxyl groups of the cellulose and the lone pairs of the nitrogen in the polypyrrole backbone. Samples were doped with p-toluenesulfonic acid to increase conductivity, of which up to 4 S cm⁻¹ was achieved. The samples were coated with magnetite nanoparticles using a starch binder, and tested for their application in EMI shielding. A maximum shielding effectiveness of 43 % in the 1-18 GHz range and 47 % in the 16-40 GHz range was obtained using cotton fabrics coated with both polypyrrole and magnetite. A synergistic effect is observed on using a polypyrrole and magnetite coating. Photoluminescent ZnS quantum dots, synthesised using an aqueous precipitation method, were doped with Mn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ to achieve emissions at approximately 600 nm (Mn²⁺) and 530 nm (Cu²⁺) on irradiation with UV light. The quantum dots had a particle size of approximately 2 nm, and were present in the zinc blende phase. Doped ZnS-coated Kraft fibres (5 – 30 wt. % Zn) were synthesised by a number of methods, the most successful being the ‘in-situ’ method, in which a uniform and complete coating was afforded. The fibres retained their inherent properties, such as tensile strength and flexibility, but inherited the photoluminescent properties of the ZnS quantum dots. The quantum dots remained unchanged on bonding - presumably through hydrogen bonding between the surface hydroxyl groups of the cellulose and the sulfur present in the ZnS quantum dots. ZnS quantum dots doped with Mn² and Cu²⁺ were successfully formulated for inkjet printing by capping with mercaptosuccinic acid. Upon irradiation with UV light, emissions at approximately 600 nm (Mn²⁺-doped) and 530 nm (Cu²⁺-doped) were observed. These were successfully inkjet printed in intricate patterns onto a number of substrates, including photographic quality inkjet paper, cotton, and wool