A Comparison of Greek vs. Non-Greek Living on College Adjustment During the Sophomore Year

Though research with living environment and student adjustment as their focus have been conducted, the majority have focused on academic adjustment and cognitive growth. This study was conducted to determine if a relationship existed between certain living environments (Greek and Non-Greek housing) and a student\u27s adjustment to college in 5 areas corresponding to the scales that comprise the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ). The SACQ is composed of five scales: Academic Adjustment, Social Adjustment, Personal-Emotional Adjustment, Attachment subscale, and an Overall scale of adjustment. Results indicated that Non-Greek students were significantly better adjusted on the psychologically-oriented scale (the Personal-Emotional subscale) than their peers in Greek housing. Also notable were results that showed that Greeks were significantly more likely to have parents with intact marriages

A 3,000-yr high-resolution reconstruction of forest disturbances in the Cascade Range, Oregon

Current outbreaks of Dendroctonus bark beetles across the Pacific Northwest are widely regarded as unprecedented with the increased scale and severity of such outbreaks attributed to anthropogenic warming over the 19th and 20th Centuries. Despite such severe outbreaks observed in recent years, very little is known of historic occurrence of these forest pests. Much of the historic reconstructions of forest disturbance in this region are focussed on the Coastal Mountain Range and Willamette Valley, Oregon, and southwestern Washington. This thesis aimed to address important knowledge gaps associated with forest disturbances by producing a high-resolution fire history reconstruction at three sites within the crest of the Cascade Range, Oregon, along with the development of sedaDNA-methodologies for the direct detection of several key forest pests, including the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), the Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae), and the genus of budworm Choristoneura. The fossil charcoal records identified a period of heighted fire activity pre-700 yr BP, attributed to the Medieval Climate Anomaly, followed by a period of suppressed fire activity between 700 yr BP and present, associated with the effects of the Little Ice Age. DNA-based methods revealed the presence of D. pseudotsugae and Choristoneura occidentalis within lake sediments during periods of known outbreaks as inferred by aerial detection survey data. These results increase our understanding of fire dynamics within the Pacific Northwest and further emphasise the potential role of DNA-based methods in the field of palaeoecology

An investigation into effective methods for teaching social sustainability within product design in British and Irish Universities

Consideration of sustainability in product and industrial design courses is becoming more common and relevant within higher education in the UK. However little is known about how widespread the teaching is and what is actually understood as sustainable design with discrepancies in the definitions used in different institutions. Literature highlights that many universities now engage with the tangible environmental aspects of sustainable design, whilst the intangible social aspects are left unaddressed. This thesis explores methods for encouraging and enabling students to address the social aspects within sustainable product design (SPD) education. The first research stage presents the results of a nationwide survey, which investigated how widely SPD is taught, which social aspects are addressed, how SPD is taught and assessed and the attitudes and awareness of it amongst academics. The second research stage presents further research into best practice in SPD through detailed interviews with leading academics in the field. A third research stage built upon the findings from both these studies, and sought to address a perceived weakness in SPD education; the lack of understanding and consideration of the social aspects in sustainable product design in teaching and project outcomes. Three Rethinking Design workshops were developed and tested at five universities in the UK and Ireland. These workshops were designed to introduce students to the wider social aspects of SPD, through the use of audio visual group based workshops. The design of the workshops enabled a learning environment where a deep understanding of the social aspects of Sustainable Product Design could be developed through; group work, discussion and critical reflection, which led to students exploring design thinking responses, suggesting that deep learning, had occurred

CCD QE in the Soft X-ray Range

e2v has previously provided back-illuminated CCDs for several solar observation projects, resulting in a number of key articles on CCD QE in the soft X-ray region. To update these, e2v has arranged for tests on X-ray optimised EMCCDs at a synchrotron. These have shown QE of at least 45% from 40 eV to 2000 eV, with Enhanced process devices having significantly higher QE than Basic process. The measured values were similar to data published from the SDO SXI mission, showing that the e2v process has been stable over many years. The soft X-ray QE measurements show a reasonable fit to the simple layer model for energies > 600 eV. For energies < 100 eV, measurements show slightly lower QE than the model prediction for both Basic and Enhanced processes. For energies 100 eV to 600 eV, measurements show a reasonable fit to the model for the Basic process, but less improvement from the Enhanced process than the model predicts. Comparing the ~80% typical QE for UV-optimised CCDs at 385 nm with the 45% QE measured at 120 eV in this study, there is a discrepancy in QE for two photon energies with the same absorption length measured on CCDs from the same back-thinning process (one type with AR coating, one type without)

Participation in the Court of Protection: A search for purpose

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (‘the Act’) (UK) and associated rules and guidance aim to support the person with impaired decision-making to participate in decisions about their life. More than a decade after the Act came into force, there is uncertainty about what it means for the person (‘P’) who is the subject of proceedings in the Court of Protection (‘CoP’) to participate in court hearings. This paper reviews the law and guidance on participation of P as well as the limited published research on P’s participation. The authors identify gaps in the current legal framework and conclude that research which captures the views of judges, practitioners, and not least, P and their families and carers, is a necessary step towards improved CoP guidance and practice promoting the participation of P

A review of sustainability within product and industrial design courses in British universities

This paper presents preliminary research from a doctoral study which is investigating effective sustainable product design education in British universities, with respect to how social aspects are incorporated. The findings detailed and discussed in this paper relate to an online survey of academics that teach on undergraduate and postgraduate Product and Industrial design courses within the UK, undertaken between October and December 2009. The results show that the teaching of sustainability is more widespread than previous reports have suggested, with most respondents evidencing the consideration of social, environmental and economic considerations in their teaching. The respondents’ attitude towards sustainability within design education is also shown to be strong. This paper finishes by outlining further work to be undertaken by investigating best practice in the teaching of sustainable product design

Developing Critical Thinking Within A Master of Science in Leadership Program

Critical thinking involves an important set of competencies, skills, and behaviors that can be systematically developed and cultivated. Critical thinking is fostered within the Master of Science in Leadership Program to help students achieve higher levels of thinking through the program and also to help them improve their leadership acumen. The paper describes critical thinking, provides background on the Paulian view of critical thinking used within the program, and presents the approach used to infuse critical thinking into the curriculum. The Master of Science in Leadership Program introduces critical thinking in the first required course and weaves critical thinking concepts and exercises throughout the entire program. Program administrators and course developers incorporated desired learning points into the curriculum through conceptual frameworks, active learning activities, targeted instructional techniques, and intellectual moves. Each of those components is part of a schema that ensures students engage concepts at the highest analytical levels within their individual contexts as leaders

The Electronic Passport and the Future of Government-Issued RFID-Based Identification

Passports and other identification documents may be enhanced using recent advancements in technology. Various national and international bodies are pursuing machine-readable approaches with biometric information. In particular, the international civil aviation organization (ICAO) has adopted standards whereby passports can store biometric identifiers. Countries that participate in the visa waiver program (VWP) began issuing electronic passports in 2006. However, the selection of technologies remains questionable due to privacy and security concerns. This paper examines policy regarding these electronic approaches and developments toward electronic data storage and transmission. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices for electronic passports and other existing identity documents are discussed

Do as I do, not just as I tell you: taking students on a research journey

This paper explores four key case studies involving 2nd and final year BSc Product Design students in academic research projects, engaging with the public, industrial clients, and the public sector on live externally funded research projects. Undergraduate students are often taught how to undertake research or required to engage in meaningful primary research on their own projects. However, the opportunity for students to engage on real live projects working alongside academics is explored in this paper alongside the benefits and pitfalls of engaging in such projects as active design researchers. The case studies range from 2018 to the present day and concern two Road Safety projects and a Circular Economy study. Students were led through a research process as apprentices collecting and analysing their own research alongside academics, receiving guidance and support from a range of qualitative research techniques including interviews, observations and focus groups. A key benefit of conducting research collaboratively is that students gain a genuine appreciation and understanding of the rigour required in research. The inclusion of undergraduate students also demystifies the research process for the students and has benefits for the academics and external agencies involved.</p