Land of the Free – Why not ‘Sea of the Free?'

2014 W. Keats Sparrow Writing Award, Third Place WinnerCommercial whaling has become an increasing problem in countries such as Norway, Iceland, and Japan. Since the placement of the moratorium by the International Whaling Commission in 1986, countries have been required to halt whaling with few legal exceptions. For various traditional and economic reasons, however, whalers have been able to use these loopholes as a means of continuing whaling at alarming rates. The whaling industry, as a whole, has been declining recently, and yet, these nations continue to do a disservice to the whales. Since the whaling industry is declining anyway, how can whalers be convinced to stop killing whales? How are whales an important part of the ocean’s ecosystem and national economies, and what benefits would arise if whaling came to a halt, allowing whales to live freely in the oceans

Effectiveness and Efficiency of MATH 0045 at East Carolina University

At East Carolina University, students who do not place into a college-level mathematics course are required to enroll in a remedial course and master material before continuing with their mathematics studies. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness and efficiency of the remedial mathematics program, with a particular focus on the MATH 0045 course offered in conjunction with Pitt Community College. Over the years, the delivery method for course content has changed. To examine the effectiveness of the remedial mathematics program, student success in college-level mathematics courses was compared to their success in remedial mathematics courses, and by an evaluation of drop-withdraw-fail (DWF) rates. The efficiency of the course was examined by the analysis of test scores on a question-by-question basis, and data on students who successfully completed one or more recovery units. The results of this study will help to determine the program’s ability to remediate students and aim to improve the effectiveness of the program

Engaging with Empathy: Mapping the Path to Insightful Instruction

Empathy, or cultivating a shared understanding and experience with others, has emerged as a central component of communication, collaboration, and problem solving - skills all librarians rely on to craft successful instruction experiences for students, negotiate teaching relationships with faculty members, and cooperate with colleagues to create cohesive and effective instruction programs. In this session, attendees will explore a creative approach to developing an empathetic perspective as part of their professional teaching identity. After a brief introduction to the history and importance of empathy as a concept, attendees will practice using the User Experience (UX) method of Empathy Mapping as a tool to develop empathy in their instruction practice. This is a hands-on session, so come prepared to map a path to insightful instruction

Doctoral Student Career Preparation: An Institutional Response

This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) examines the issue of institutional support for doctoral students in preparing for careers inside and outside the academy. While discussions about the purpose of the doctorate are not new, the conversation about preparing PhDs for diverse careers is an emergent one, occupying space inside and outside academic circles. At the heart of the conversation is a debate about the purpose of the doctorate and the institution’s role in employability beyond the professoriate. The traditional academic culture at the institution adheres closely to the notion that the PhD is solely preparation for an academic career. This position contradicts an increasing amount of internal and external evidence that supports a broadening of the definition of the doctorate’s purpose, and by extension increasing internal and external support for the need to change how institution’s prepare doctoral students for careers. Indeed, changes in the academic labour market, changing social and political expectations about the nature of doctoral students’ contributions, and the changing career interests of students suggest that the time for change has come. A change implementation plan that introduces a transitional competency and career engagement program that will result in a focus on helping students prepare for both academic and non-academic careers is proposed. The approach to change and the change implementation draws on tenets of adaptive leadership, two separate frameworks for leading change, and a leadership approach rooted in situational and transformational leadership styles. The OIP articulates specific approaches that will help articulate the need for change, monitor the success and challenges of the change plan, and identify future considerations for subsequent change cycles

Assessment of the Use of Non-Pharmacological Methods for Managing Depression in Patients with Myotonic Dystrophy (DM) and Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD)

Background: Myotonic dystrophy (DM) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) are two types of muscular dystrophies with multi-system manifestations. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine 1: the prevalence of depression in patients with myotonic dystrophy (DM) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and 2: which non-pharmacological methods DM and FSHD patients are using to manage their depression. Methods: A survey was conducted using the online system, Qualtrics. The voluntary and anonymous survey was emailed to 1,205 eligible patients from the National Registry for DM and FSHD Patients and Family Members at the University of Rochester. Participants were at least 18 years old, a member of the registry, and diagnosed with DM or FSHD. The 65 question survey included questions on basic demographic information, depression diagnosis, medication use and effectiveness, and non-pharmacological management. Surveys were collected between May 2017 and August 2017 and the responses were analyzed and compared to the general population. The study was approved by the St. John Fisher College Institutional Review Board and the Registry Scientific Advisory Committee. Results: Of the 1,205 surveys that were sent, 466 patients responded. A total of 46 percent of patients had DM (DM1 30 percent, n=138/460 and DM2 16 percent, n=75/460) and 48 percent (n=223/460) of respondents had FSHD. Of the study respondents, 34 percent (n=150/436) reported being diagnosed with depression, while 8 percent (n=24/294) feel depressed, but haven’t been diagnosed. Non-pharmacological techniques used by patients who were diagnosed with depression or feel that they are depressed included: exercise (33 percent, n=57/150), relaxation techniques once per week (51 percent, n=50/98), and visiting a counselor or therapist once per week (11 percent, n=4/37). The most common type of relaxation technique used was meditation (52 percent, n=77/147) followed by yoga (18 percent, n=24/147). In conclusion, 32 percent (n=34/107) stated that relaxation techniques helped them, and 49 percent (n=52/107) stated that relaxation techniques may have helped them. Conclusion: Patients with both DM and FSHD have been diagnosed with depression. To manage their depression, and similar to what occurs in the general population, DM and FSHD patients are using a combination of both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies. DM and FSHD patients also believe that these non-pharmacologic methods, which include exercise, counseling, and relaxation techniques are helpful in their managing depression

The Dynamics of Collaboration in Universal Pre-K Counties of West Virginia

West Virginia Senate Bill 247 mandated that local school systems develop and implement universal preschool programs for all four-year-old children and three-year-old children as mandated by federal law. This mandate was the impetus for West Virginia Policy 2525: West Virginia\u27s Access to a Quality Early Education System. Within policy, local school systems are mandated to collaborate with licensed childcare providers and Head Start to make up at least 50% of the preschool classrooms. This descriptive qualitative case study investigated how the experience of compulsory collaboration required by WV policy 2525 is described by early education providers. The description of the experience by participants of collaboration among county school systems, local licensed childcare providers, and Head Start in counties in the state of West Virginia was studied. Through purposeful and criterion based sampling, and utilizing interviews, direct participant observations and a review of relevant documents a descriptive qualitative case study was researched. The findings rendered a highly descriptive picture of how these teams experience their work. This study includes detailed information from licensed childcare workers, Head Start, local school administrators, and community members to provide an in depth understanding of the collaborative sites. Yin (2009) wrote that ...high quality analysis requires attending to all the evidence collected (p. 126). Results from the study can be used to inform policymakers, school superintendents, universal preschool program stakeholders, and early childcare providers

Understanding the relation between adverse events, patient characteristics, and risk factors among home care patients

Purpose: Explores the relations among patient characteristics, risk factors and adverse events of adult home care patients in Southwestern Ontario. Significance: Adverse events which occur in home care are different from those that occur in an institutional setting. Methods: This descriptive study utilized retrospective chart review of 500 episodes of care. Results: The incidence of adverse events was 9.4%. New emergency room visits, new hospital admissions and new falls were the most common type of adverse events. A decline in physical function and polypharmacy with a history of cognitive impairment were the most frequent risk factors. Self-care and length of stay were significantly associated with adverse events. Patients with acute illness were at decreased risk of falling. Conclusions: This study identified factors that increase the risk of adverse events, allowing for targeted interventions and contributing to our knowledge and understanding of adverse events in this unique setting

Employee Benefits

This paper discusses how group benefits have changed over the past ten years, what corporations are offering their employees such as medical insurance, employee assistance programs, wellness training programs, child care programs, flexible compensation plans, continuing education benefits and retirement benefits and how each one of these benefits is set up . Employers want not only to implement benefit programs which will help them meet their organizational goals, but also to attract, retain and motivate employees. In order to succeed in these efforts they must install a program of benefits that is both cost effective and will meet organizational profit goals. The purpose of the study is to investigate what companies are offering their employees and how the employees felt about benefits being offered . One hundred employees from different corporations participated in the study, sixty-two male subjects and thirty-eight female subjects. The results of the study concluded that corporations must offer a benefits program to retain and motivate employees