“Quasi-Governmental Power”: Examining Litigation Between the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities

In the United States, higher education accreditation is the process through with regional and specialized accreditors extend seals of approval to institutions and programs that meet specific standards for education quality and institutional stability. Regional accreditors, such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), exercise significant authority over the institutions they accredit. This authority has been termed “quasi-governmental power” because accreditors work on behalf of the government to ensure education quality and determine access to federal aid. Accrediting organizations are also the final authority for accreditation decisions. If an institution disagrees with an accreditation outcome and has exhausted its options, litigation is its last resort. This essay investigates how Bennet College and Paine College, which are two Historically Black Colleges and Universities, sued SACSCOC after it removed their accreditation for failure to comply with a financial stability standard. Litigation is rarely successful for institutions, but Bennett College successfully demonstrated that SACSCOC did not follow its own procedures when it removed its accreditation. Although SACSCOC no longer accredits either institution, their cases against SACSCOC demonstrate that litigation is an important tool for checking accrediting organizations’ quasi-governmental authority. Additionally, the cases reveal that HBCUs rely on litigation to survive because automatic preliminary injunctions allow them to maintain their funding throughout litigation and pursue alternative accreditation in the event the cases are not resolved in their favor

Pulling Back the Carpet on the Non-Tenure Track Faculty Experience: Perceptions of Support in Postsecondary Education

This dissertation explores the perceptions of part-time and full-time non-tenure track (NTT) faculty at a Midwestern university with a focus on teaching. As NTT faculty are increasingly utilized to instruct a majority of the undergraduate courses in U.S. postsecondary education understanding their experience is essential to their integration into the institutions they represent. Little is known about the perceptions of NTTs regarding their views of preparedness and support to fulfill the expectations of their positions. This dissertation uses a qualitative grounded theory design to give voice to this new majority and in turn, provides insight to assist university campuses in developing and retaining NTT faculty. This study provides a holistic view of the experiences of both full and part-time NTT faculty from three distinct departments and includes perspectives from administrators, union representatives, and faculty developers. The findings not only affirm what is currently known in the literature but also provide new insight into the world of NTT faculty. The author argues that universities must consider a new model to support the changed professoriate, one with collaboration and support for and with both professional NTT and TT faculty

The Impact of Vein Mechanical Compliance on Arteriovenous Fistula Outcomes

© 2016 Elsevier Inc. Background Arteriovenous fistulae (AVFs) are the preferred access for hemodialysis but suffer a high early failure rate. The aim of this study was to determine how venous distensibility, as measured in vitro, relates to early outcomes of AVF formed with the sampled vein. Methods Ethical approval was obtained for all aspects of this study. During AVF formation a circumferential segment of the target vein was sampled. Mechanical stress testing of the venous segments was undertaken using a dynamic mechanical analyzer, with progressive stress loading at 2 N/min to a maximum of 10 N or until sample disruption. Stress-strain curves were obtained for vein samples and Young's modulus (YM) calculated. Duplex assessment of the fistulae was undertaken at 30 days. Results Thirty patients consented to participate with 29 samples obtained for analysis. Statistical comparison of YM demonstrated no relationship with common cardiovascular risk factors or dialysis status. Subject age greater than 65 was the only patient factor which showed a significant difference in YM (P = 0.05). Furthermore, a negative correlation was confirmed between age and YM (Pearson's r = -0.465, P < 0.05). Nine of the 29 subjects suffered an early AVF failure. Mann-Whitney U testing for differences in distribution reported that YM was significantly higher in those fistulas which failed (P < 0.005). Conclusions Reduced venous compliance appears to result in higher failure rates of AVFs. With the advancement of clinical tools such as speckle tracing ultrasound identification of vessel compliance in vivo may produce valuable additional information for clinicians planning AVF surgery

DNA looping by two-site restriction endonucleases: heterogeneous probability distributions for loop size and unbinding force

Proteins interacting at multiple sites on DNA via looping play an important role in many fundamental biochemical processes. Restriction endonucleases that must bind at two recognition sites for efficient activity are a useful model system for studying such interactions. Here we used single DNA manipulation to study sixteen known or suspected two-site endonucleases. In eleven cases (BpmI, BsgI, BspMI, Cfr10I, Eco57I, EcoRII, FokI, HpaII, NarI, Sau3AI and SgrAI) we found that substitution of Ca(2+) for Mg(2+) blocked cleavage and enabled us to observe stable DNA looping. Forced disruption of these loops allowed us to measure the frequency of looping and probability distributions for loop size and unbinding force for each enzyme. In four cases we observed bimodal unbinding force distributions, indicating conformational heterogeneity and/or complex binding energy landscapes. Measured unlooping events ranged in size from 7 to 7500 bp and the most probable size ranged from less than 75 bp to nearly 500 bp, depending on the enzyme. In most cases the size distributions were in much closer agreement with theoretical models that postulate sharp DNA kinking than with classical models of DNA elasticity. Our findings indicate that DNA looping is highly variable depending on the specific protein and does not depend solely on the mechanical properties of DNA

Precision cluster mass determination from weak lensing

Weak gravitational lensing has been used extensively in the past decade to constrain the masses of galaxy clusters, and is the most promising observational technique for providing the mass calibration necessary for precision cosmology with clusters. There are several challenges in estimating cluster masses, particularly (a) the sensitivity to astrophysical effects and observational systematics that modify the signal relative to the theoretical expectations, and (b) biases that can arise due to assumptions in the mass estimation method, such as the assumed radial profile of the cluster. All of these challenges are more problematic in the inner regions of the cluster, suggesting that their influence would ideally be suppressed for the purpose of mass estimation. However, at any given radius the differential surface density measured by lensing is sensitive to all mass within that radius, and the corrupted signal from the inner parts is spread out to all scales. We develop a new statistic ϒ(R; R0) that is ideal for estimation of cluster masses because it completely eliminates mass contributions below a chosen scale (which we suggest should be about 20 per cent of the virial radius), and thus reduces sensitivity to systematic and astrophysical effects. We use simulated and analytical profiles including shape noise to quantify systematic biases on the estimated masses for several standard methods of mass estimation, finding that these can lead to significant mass biases that range from 10 to over 50 per cent. The mass uncertainties when using the new statistic ϒ(R; R0) are reduced by up to a factor of 10 relative to the standard methods, while only moderately increasing the statistical errors. This new method of mass estimation will enable a higher level of precision in future science work with weak lensing mass estimates for galaxy cluster

Declarations of ‘Self‐Reliance’: Alternative Visions of Dependency, Citizenship and Development in Vanuatu

ABSTRACT: This article discusses how dependency's antonym, ‘self‐reliance’ expresses and shapes aspirations for development, and ideas about citizenship in Vanuatu. This ‘keyword’ was popularized in the process of decolonization and nation‐building in Vanuatu, and influenced by Dependency Theory, Pan‐Africanism, Black Internationalism, and trans‐Pacific visions of decolonization and development. But vernacular ideas of ‘self‐reliance’ also articulate different aspirations for development at ‘grassroots’ community level, as will be shown in two case studies. The first is a community with a high degree of engagement in New Zealand's seasonal worker programme. The second is around the cultivation of kava — a plant with relaxant and soporific properties — for burgeoning domestic and export markets

A Qualitative Descriptive Analysis of Erowid Gabapentinoid Forum Posts

Purpose/Background: With increased controls on opioid prescribing, the CDC has suggested prescribing gabapentinoids as a first-line alternative to opioids for pain. However, there have been an increasing number of reports of gabapentinoid misuse. Drug use forums are online spaces where individuals can anonymously post about their drug use experiences and may provide insight on gabapentinoid misuse. The purpose of this study was to extract and analyze posts from the drug use forum, Erowid, to examine reports of gabapentinoid misuse. Methods: Data for the study was drawn from 53 pregabalin forum posts and 89 gabapentin forum posts by unique usernames. In order to be considered for this analysis, the poster had to report recreational gabapentinoid use. Posts were thematically analyzed by gender, age, gabapentinoid source, concomitant substances, and subjective experiences. Results: Forum posts were created by 117 men, 19 women, and 6 users of undisclosed genders. The majority of forum posts were by 18-24 year olds. Erowid users reported obtaining gabapentinoids by stealing, misreporting symptoms to providers, and purchasing from a dealer. Erowid users reported taking gabapentinoids simultaneously with benzodiazepines, cocaine, alcohol, opiates, and heroin among a myriad of other drugs. Erowid users had varying subjective experiences while taking gabapentionoids, including: increased sociability, euphoria, hallucinations, dissociation, painlessness, and numbness. Conclusions: Erowid users who report gabapentinoid misuse report obtaining the gabapentinoids in various ways and mixing them with potentially harmful substances. Medical professionals should be aware of the abuse potential of gabapentinoids and their increasing popularity within the drug use community.https://ir.library.louisville.edu/uars/1013/thumbnail.jp

Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Screening/Diagnosis Outcomes

Purpose We reviewed how Social Determinants of Health relate to health inequities and disparities for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs. Then, we examine links between specific sociodemographic factors (maternal age, maternal education, ‘race’/ethnicity) and hearing screening and diagnostic audiology follow-up for newborns in the U.S. and its territories. Methods Maternal demographic, hearing screening and diagnostic data extracted from publicly available Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) records were reported to CDC by personnel responsible for EHDI programs. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using analysis of variance and multiple regression techniques. Results Results showed no significant differences in screening follow-up outcomes for maternal age, education, or ‘race’/ethnicity. There was a significant difference for maternal education and \u27race\u27/ethnicity for diagnostic follow-up outcomes, but not for age. Conclusion Results of this study are consistent with the findings of previous studies regarding hearing screening follow-up and diagnostic audiologic follow-up outcomes. Maternal education and ‘race’/ethnicity were linked to hearing diagnostic audiologic follow-up for newborns in the US and its territories. Suggestions for future research, policy, and practice to improve the effectiveness of EHDI efforts are provided