Broadcast News Directors’ Perceptions of Race: A Survey of Psychological and Sociological Measures

In theory, socially responsible newsrooms should accurately cover and portray all of America’s distinct communities. However, mechanisms to achieve coverage of all communities have often fallen short. Often times, racial minority groups are depicted utilizing stereotypes, controversy, crime, drama, conflict, and deviancy as the greatest selling and focal points. This study attempted to “empirically examine that which is deliberately concealed and distorted,” and to document whether discrimination: 1) exists 2) adversely affects ethnic and racial minorities; and 3) is founded on a set of social relations and practices that sustain it” (Marvasti& McKinney, 2007, p. 68). Thus, the central thrust of this thesis is a psychological and sociological perception study of news directors’ implicit and explicit perceptions of race when creating news content. The aim is to discover whether an implicit or explicit racial bias can be found amongst some news directors when covering racial minority groups. A better understanding of bias provides valuable insights on what media practices to utilize when covering diverse groups

Flat tensile specimen design for advanced composites

Finite element analyses of flat, reduced gage section tensile specimens with various transition region contours were performed. Within dimensional constraints, such as maximum length, tab region width, gage width, gage length, and minimum tab length, a transition contour radius of 41.9 cm produced the lowest stress values in the specimen transition region. The stresses in the transition region were not sensitive to specimen material properties. The stresses in the tab region were sensitive to specimen composite and/or tab material properties. An evaluation of stresses with different specimen composite and tab material combinations must account for material nonlinearity of both the tab and the specimen composite. Material nonlinearity can either relieve stresses in the composite under the tab or elevate them to cause failure under the tab

Broadcast News Directors\u27 Perceptions of Race: A Survey of Psychological and Sociological Measures

Understanding the role of media in the lives of consumers has been a longstanding concern of various scholars. Although the news media do not tell consumers what to think explicitly, they do imply what consumers should think, via the contexts in which news is presented. The central thrust of this thesis is a psychological and sociological perception study of news directors’ implicit and explicit perceptions of race when creating news content. The aim is to discover whether an implicit or explicit racial bias can be found amongst some news directors when covering racial minority groups. A better understanding of bias provides valuable insights on what media practices to utilize when covering diverse groups. Results lacked support that news directors exhibited any form of racial bias. Although the general assumption of the study was unsupported, the study provided possible realms for future research to study the history of negative perceptions of mass media content in terms of racial minority groups. This study has contributed and provided substantial support that broadcast news directors at network affiliate stations do not exhibit implicit or explicit racial bias

Thermomechanical Fatigue Behavior of Three Cfcc's

The thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) behavior of three continuous-fiber ceramic composites (CFCC's) was examined. The three matrices consisted of two different glass-ceramics and silicon carbide, respectively. The matrices of some of the specimens with the silicon carbide matrix were enhanced to improve oxidation resistance. All three were reinforced with Nicalon fibers with various fiber architectures. The thermoelastic properties of the matrix relative to the fibers, the elastic moduli and coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE), were different in each composite, providing a comparison of the effects of these critical properties. The specimens were tested under in-phase (IP) and out-of-phase (OP) cyclic loadings with respect to thermal cycling between 600 C and 1100 C. One of the glass-ceramic composites had greatly increased TMF lives compared to the other glass-ceramic matrix composites. This was probably caused by the reversal of the CTE mismatch between the fibers and the matrices and caused by the different oxidation resistances of the composites. For the same TMF lives a cross-ply reinforced composite had a maximum cyclic stress half as great, as that of unidirectionally reinforced composite. This indicated that the (0 deg) ply fibers had a strong influence of TMF life. Both the glass ceramic matrix composites had shallow-slope stress-life plots that indicated sensitivity to damage and therefore low damage tolerance. The composites with an unenhanced silicon carbide matrix experienced the shortest TMF lives of all the CFCC's tested. However, the enhanced composite had the longest. Also, the enhanced composite demonstrated the best damage tolerance as evidenced by a stress-life curve that curves sharply upward to the left. In all the composites, out-of-phase cyclic loading was worse than in-phase cyclic loadings despite the CTE mismatch between fiber and matrix. A damage investigation and a preliminary analysis of the stresses in the fibers and matrices taking into account their respective thermoelastic properties provided insight into the relative behavior of the glass-ceramic matrix composites under IP and OP TMF

Observations and simulation of a bottom Ekman layer on a continental shelf

A numerical model was used to simulate the bottom Ekman layer of a continental shelf region. The basis for the model was the Mellor and Yamada level 2 « turbulence closure scheme. Conservation equations for momentum, turbulent kinetic energy, and turbulent length scale were utilized in the model. The model was used to simulate data taken from a Cyclesonde mooring on the Peruvian continental shelf in May 1976 as part of the Joint II Coastal Upwelling Ecosystems Analysis program. The Cy-clesonde provided mean horizontal velocity, temperature, salinity, and pressure data. An intense pole-ward undercurrent drove the bottom flow regime. The most striking feature of the data was the clockwise Ekman veering of velocity vectors as the bottom was approached. A 48-hour period was chosen for the model simulations. The vertical profile of speed (48 hours mean) simulated by the model fell within the error bars of the data. The corresponding Ekman spiral display of the model results also showed good agreement with the observati. ons

“Warm Handoff” to Increase Enrollment in a Maternal Infant Health Program

Introduction: In a Midwest Health Department’s (HD) Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP), infant death rate has been on a steady incline at 4.8 deaths per 1,000 in 2019 (Michigan Department of Community Health, 2020). Implementation of a “warm handoff” between the local HD and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) was created to increase enrollment and visits. During warm handoffs, health care providers work together within the same setting to provide evaluation and care to patients and clients (Musselman et al., 2018). Methods: This program evaluation reviewed data retrospectively from March 31 to September 30, for 2019 and 2020. Data were analyzed using percentage change calculations, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, and common themes from a staff survey. Results: A total of 946 records were reviewed between three groups: 2019, 2020 “warm handoff” pilot program, and 2020 cold calling. Data percentage change calculations showed a 1.3% decrease in enrollment from 2019 to 2020, and 26% less clients enrolled in the pilot program compared to cold calling. Data Percentage Change calculations also resulted in a 24.0% increase in completion of three or more visits from 2019 to 2020, and 23.2% less clients completing three or more visits in the cold calling group compared to enrollment in the pilot program. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test resulted in a Z score of -2.20 and a p-value of 0.028. Staff survey responses stated the “warm handoff” was successful in enrolling clients, but not subsequent visits. Barriers were present within the program, including telehealth, lack of client knowledge of services, and commitment to the pilot program by staff. Conclusions: Implementation of a “warm handoff” is an instrumental tool for organizations to incorporate within their MIHP programs which may increase enrollment, subsequent visit, and revenue

Interview with Quay Worthem, church musician

Interviewer and Recordist: Jamison Hollister. Recorded at the Church of the Living God (Toccopola, Miss.) There is a woman walking around in the room for a brief moment (32:44

Interview with Mary H. Worthem, church musician

Interviewer and Recordist: Stephanie E. Little. Recorded at the Church of the Living God (Toccopola, Miss.) Some unavoidable background noise, one interruption and recording not stoppe