Environmental Justice: Challenges of Contaminated Site Cleanup in Rural AK

A shorter version of this article appeared on pp. 1–4 of the Summer 2018 print edition.Efforts to clean up contaminated sites from military installations and other sources have been ongoing in Alaska since the 1980s, and new sites continue to be identified. Most Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) properties are in remote locations, placing a disproportionate impact on Alaska Native communities that depend upon environmental resources for their livelihood. Cleanup projects that are begun may take many years to complete due to the complicated nature of each site. Since 1990, over 5,300 sites have been cleanup up; more than 2,200 sites remain open, including military installations (both abandoned and active), bulk fuel storage and gas stations, airports and airfields, maintenance facilities, and oil exploration, transport, and refining facilities.Superfund and FUDS / Multiple projects and parties / FUDS closure but site still open / DEC closed sites vs. open sites / Assessing risk / [Sidebar:] Cleanup in rural Alaska is expensive and complicated / Liability and costs of cleanup / Financing assessment and remediation / Federal funds / Reference

Making the Grade: An Exploration of Secondary Teacher Grading Practices and Equity Implications for High School Students

Much has been written in the grading literature regarding the continued use of traditional teacher grading practices that impede effective teaching and learning, yet teachers continue to assign grades using a mixture of factors. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore secondary teacher perceptions of their grading practices, the evolution of their grading behaviors, and the alignment of these grading practices with equitable grading principles. Using a teacher decision-making theoretical framework and a conceptual framework focused on pillars of grading equity, this study sought to investigate how teachers perceive their grading practices and how they develop their grading behaviors and to examine how these practices may impact the ability of students to demonstrate their learning. The study was conducted in a large South Carolina school district with certified ninth- through 12th-grade teachers using quantitative survey data and individual interviews. An analysis of study results revealed that grading variability continues to exist among teachers, they typically develop their grading behaviors in the absence of evidence-based training, and many of their inequitable grading behaviors may be placing students at academic risk. The impact of these findings and recommendations for achieving a vision of equitable grading are shared

The Importance of Screening for Sleep Apnea in the Heart Failure Population

Background: Sleep disordered breathing occurs in over half of the estimated 5.1 million people in the United States diagnosed with heart failure. Aim and Methods: The purpose of this integrative review is to find evidence for the routine use of a sleep apnea screening protocol in patients with heart failure. Results: Several useful tools are described including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the STOP BANG questionnaire and the Berlin questionnaire. Using one of these tools along with an overnight pulse oximetry is a cost effective way to screen patients before the more costly sleep studies. Conclusions: Evidence shows that treatment of sleep apnea in this population decreases not only morbidity and mortality rates, but the overall cost burden of the disease as well

Self-Mentoring: Discovering the Mentor Within

This professional learning module (PLM) was created to help educators, including classroom teachers, administrators, and instructional support staff learn about self-mentorship. The module will describe the concept of self-mentoring as a process for engaging in self-directed professional and personal growth. Districts may find it beneficial to use this PLM to train educators on how self-mentoring can be used as a leadership development tool for improving their professional and instructional practices. View professional learning module.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/improve/1037/thumbnail.jp

The Scout Launch Vehicle System

SCOUT, a four-stage, solid-rocket launch vehicle originally developed by LTV Missiles and Electronics Group, is completing its third decade of service. NASA-Langley started the program in 1958 with the intent of providing a simple, low-cost, reliable launch vehicle for orbital, probe and re-entry missions. On July 1, 1960, the first SCOUT vehicle was launched. Since SCOUT became operational in 1963, there have been 88 launches of which 84 were successful, representing a reliability record of 95.5 percent successful flights. In addition, over the past 20 years the reliability rate is an excellent 98.2 percent. The role of the SCOUT launch vehicle has varied from Earth and space science missions to engineering experiments in communications, re-entry materials, and spacecraft technology, to navigation aids. Major customers have been NASA, the Department of Defense, and the European Space Agency, as well as cooperative programs with Italy, Great Britain, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. SCOUT launch capability has been increased throughout the life of the program. In 1960, 55 kg could be placed into a 555 km circular orbit. Today, SCOUT can place 219 kg in a 555 km circular, equatorial orbit. Current plans are to increase future capability to 450 kg for the same orbit. A joint development program with SNIA BPD of Italy and LTV Missiles and Electronics Group for this purpose is under consideration. Increased capability would be achieved by attaching two of SNIA BPD\u27s solid-rocket boosters to the current vehicle and replacing its upper stage with a SNIA BPD Mage 2 solid-rocket motor

Pasting of G-Irradiated Proteins from Vigna Subterranea in Native Starch Models and the Surface Functional Properties of the Proteins

This research was carried out to evaluate the surface functional properties of gamma irradiated Bambara groundnut protein isolates and to study the pasting characteristics of the modified protein in native starch models using the Brabender Viscoamylograph. Irradiation was done at five levels: 2.50, 5.00, 7.50, and 10.00 kGy; while the pasting of the Proteins (P) was run in Starch (S) models of three combinations; 30P:70S, 50P:50S, 70P:30S. The results showed significant (p<0.05) effects of increasing irradiation doses on protein related surface functional properties, while pasting characteristics of the irradiated protein in the experimental range showed no significant dose-dependent (p<0.05) changes. There was characteristic starch paste behaviour on the other hand with increasing starch:protein ratios. Conclusively, correlation studies suggested that the pasting properties depended solely on the starch concentration within the admixture models indicating the insignificant contribution of modified Bambara groundnut proteins to the pasting properties in the models. Enhanced surface functional properties of the gamma irradiated proteins make them potential foaming and emulsifying agents in food applications. The starch-protein admixture models may also serve as a potential protein based thickening agents for foods that require various degrees of viscosity modifying effects. Key words: Bambara groundnut protein, modified protein, gamma irradiated protein