Using Cost-effectiveness Analysis to Select Mathematics Screening Measures in Middle School

This study examined the utility of using cost-effectiveness analysis to select universal mathematics screening measures in middle school. Participants (n=1586) were students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 at two suburban middle schools in Wisconsin. Screening data, including previous year criterion-measure (Wisconsin Forward Exam) scores, fall Measures of Academic Progress scores, and curriculum-based measurement scores were collected in the fall of 2016. Multiple imputation was used to account for missingness, and linear combinations of screening scores were created using receiver operator curve analyses. Costs were calculated based on published standards, the CostOut® Toolkit, and the experience of content experts. Results reveal that the single most cost-effective screening method studied was using students’ previous year criterion-measure scores to predict current year risk. The most cost-effective linear combination of screening methods was the Wisconsin Forward Exam and Measures of Academic Progress. An analysis of coefficients of variance revealed that using cost-effectiveness analysis produced more variability among screening methods than when using diagnostic accuracy alone, potentially helping stakeholders select from among multiple screening approaches. Finally, the results of this study were tested for robustness to changes in cost assumptions. Analyses revealed that the results of this study were very robust, even when costs were changed significantly. Implications of this study suggest that cost-effectiveness analysis could prove useful in selecting universal academic screening measures, that schools and districts may be able to utilize criterion-measure data in place of other screening approaches, and that combinations of screening measures, although more expensive than individual measures, may indeed be more cost-effective

Sam Greer Papers - Accession 569

This collection consists of records from the Rock Hill United Way Campaign and records of the State of South Carolina Board of Education collected by Dr. Samuel Maurice Greer (1932-1997) who was a former president of the Rock Hill United Way and represented the 16th Judicial Circuit on the State of South Carolina Board of Education. Dr. Greer was also a professor (and later Dean) in the School of Consumer Science at Winthrop University from 1971-1996. The collection consists of constitution and bylaws, campaign records, financial records, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and publications related to the Rock Hill United Way. The collection also contains reports, minutes, budget and financial records, correspondence, and other records related to the South Carolina State Board of Education.https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/manuscriptcollection_findingaids/1683/thumbnail.jp

Onset of solid-state mantle convection and mixing during magma ocean solidification

©2017. American Geophysical UnionThe energy sources involved in the early stages of the formation of terrestrial bodies can induce partial or even complete melting of the mantle, leading to the emergence of magma oceans. The fractional crystallization of a magma ocean can cause the formation of a compositional layering that can play a fundamental role for the subsequent long‐term dynamics of the interior and for the evolution of geochemical reservoirs. In order to assess to what extent primordial compositional heterogeneities generated by magma ocean solidification can be preserved, we investigate the solidification of a whole‐mantle Martian magma ocean, and in particular the conditions that allow solid‐state convection to start mixing the mantle before solidification is completed. To this end, we performed 2‐D numerical simulations in a cylindrical geometry. We treat the liquid magma ocean in a parameterized way while we self‐consistently solve the conservation equations of thermochemical convection in the growing solid cumulates accounting for pressure‐, temperature‐, and, where it applies, melt‐dependent viscosity. By testing the effects of different cooling rates and convective vigor, we show that for a lifetime of the liquid magma ocean of 1 Myr or longer, the onset of solid‐state convection prior to complete mantle crystallization is likely and that a significant part of the compositional heterogeneities generated by fractionation can be erased by efficient mantle mixing. We discuss the consequences of our findings in relation to the formation and evolution of compositional reservoirs on Mars and on the other terrestrial bodies of the solar system.DFG, 276817549, Kristallisation des irdischen Magmaozeans: Thermo- und Geodynami

Lignocellulosic feedstocks: research progress and challenges in optimising biomass quality and yield

Lignocellulosic biomass derived from energy crops and agri-cultural residues is a promising renewable source for the pro-duction of transportation fuels and bio-based materials. Plants exhibiting C4 photosynthesis are amongst the most promising dedicated energy crops as they possess tremendous intrinsic effi-ciency in converting solar energy to biomass. Van der Weijde et al. (2013) provide an excellent overview of the potential of five C4 grasses from the Panicoideae clade (maize, Miscanthus, sorghum, sugarcane, and switchgrass) as lignocellulosic feedstock for the production of biofuels. The authors discuss yield poten-tial, biomass quality and genetic improvement of dual-purpose food and energy cultivars and dedicated energy cultivars through plant breeding and also highlight several research needs. Perennial growth habit provides a number of environmental advantages over annuals as bioenergy crops, including the requirement o

Influence of human resource and financial factors on implementation of drought management strategies in Kenya

Drought is a complex, pervasive natural hazard. Reducing the impacts will require a more strategic approach to drought planning. Such plans will need to emphasize on the effectiveness of drought management strategies in reducing drought. For successful implementation of the strategies in organizations, the employees must be equipped with the required skills, knowledge, tact and abilities throughout continuous training and in-service courses. However, the human capital development as a drought mitigation strategy has not received sufficient research attention despite it being variable over different contexts. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the influence of human capital development on the implementation of drought management strategies in Taita Taveta County, Kenya by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA). The study was guided by the Human Capital Development theory. A total of 64 respondents participated in the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive analysis methods. The study found that human capital development significantly influenced the implementation of drought management strategies. However, there were gaps in human resourcing that needed to be filled through professional initiatives other than formal training. The study, therefore, recommended that the NDMA should further emphasize continuous training of employees and also apply other professional initiative apart from formal training so as to implement drought management strategies in the area. Finally, the study was also able to demonstrate the first aspect of the human capital theory by underscoring the importance of human capital development through training for skill acquisition. Keywords: Human capital, Development, Drought management, Strategies, Implementatio

Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment Growth: Kenya’s Manufacturing Sector

The FDI indicators in Kenya show a mixed signal and although institutional indexes for Kenya have been worsening over the years, foreign direct investment inflows (FDI) though sluggish has been on the rise. While many theories of FDI have been put forward, mostly ownership, location and internationalization (OLI), the extent to which institutional determinants influence growth of FDI in the Kenyan manufacturing sector has not gotten adequate attention. The combination of institutional determinants and OLI framework in determining flows of FDI has been avoided in this sector. This study using FDI inflows in the Kenyan manufacturing sector and governance indicators data performed a cross-sectional analysis for the period 2009-2013. The findings indicated significant positive relationship between governance and FDI growth which implies that governance determines growth of FDI in the Kenyan manufacturing sector. The evidence presented confirms that a good political climate and good corporate governance are important for foreign investment to flow into a Country. Keywords: foreign direct investment; corporate governance; political risk; manufacturing secto

Online entrepreneurship teaching and learning approaches: A South African conceptual perspective

This conceptual paper reviewed literature on the importance of entrepreneurship education, the constructivism theoretical framework that explains how entrepreneurship education can be offered through online teaching, the effectiveness, and the design of online teaching for entrepreneurship education, as well as studies conducted on elements of constructivist theory and entrepreneurship education. The paper used a conceptual analysis methodology. A library search was also conducted, and previous pertinent literature on the online entrepreneurship education subject matter was evaluated. The findings of the paper indicate that online entrepreneurship education should be grounded in constructivism as a learning theory. Thus, there should be applicability of constructivism in online teaching of entrepreneurship. The findings suggest that, during online entrepreneurship learning, lecturers should introduce and explain new concepts using knowledge that students already possess. The findings also show that online activities should allow learners to interpret and assimilate new knowledge, online entrepreneurship modules should incorporate learning by doing and experiential learning. Lecturers should also provide feedback as part of online entrepreneurship learning. The findings further suggest that at the end of online entrepreneurship learning, lecturers should post online questions that provide opportunity for learners to outline the elements of entrepreneurship process that they are competent on