The construction of an instrument for the evaluation of student teachers.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

A Comparison of Secondary Dropout Rates in Rural and Urban Costa Rica

This study examined the issue of secondary school abandonment in Costa Rica. It took the national percentage of dropouts as well as the evident problem of regional disparities in terms of high school completion into consideration while it analyzed the opinions of high school aged students in both a rural and urban area. There were four participant groups in total, two in each location. The groups consisted of 5 enrolled and 5 previously enrolled subjects in both areas and each participant was asked open ended questions about their education, future, opinion on high school in general, and attitudes in regards to dropping out in order to obtain trends and differences on school abandonment in the two distinct areas. The findings offer insight into the topic at the national level as well as the discrepancies that are evident when comparing the locations. The conclusions confirm what has been posited in past research in general and in Costa Rica while highlighting the perspective of the students and allowed for recommendations for areas of improvements to be put forth with the hope of aiding in increasing the high school completion rate overall at the national level

Alien Registration- Flynn, Mary A. (Portland, Cumberland County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/23182/thumbnail.jp

Dielectrophoretic characterisation and manipulation of sub-micron particles following surface modification

The aim of this thesis is to dielectrophoretically characterise sub-micron particles on the basis of their surface properties and to devise a DEP technique suitable for the fractionation and manipulation of particles on this scale. Polystyrene particles are modified by the attachment of biological ligands using various established localisation techniques and their DEP response observed using micro-electrodes with well defined high and low field regions, corresponding to a previously utilised design and modified in the course of this project for multiple sample handling. The results of these observations are modelled for the first time using a charge relaxation mechanism pertaining to a structured interfacial charge distribution and, through fitting the data to this model, fundamental parameters of the system - the surface conductance and electrokinetic charge - are predicted. The model viability is assessed with reference to both comparisons with alternative measurements and the technical limitations of the data fitting procedure, and corresponding surface charge transport mechanisms are discussed in the light of the DEP response following surface modification. Investigations are made into the possibility of a DEP based device suitable for the transport/fractionation of sub-micron particles. Given the essentially dissipative nature of sub-micro particle ensembles, a Brownian ratchet principle is chosen. A Brownian ratchet is a generic system wherein a net directional drive is effected by biasing Brownian diffusion on a periodically activated anisotropic structure. Without need of thermal gradients or net macroscopic forces Brownian ratchet pumps could be an interesting alternative in many microfluidic applications. Simulated fields and corresponding particle transport rates are compared for two basic electrode structures in order to assess their viability for use as DEP Brownian ratchets and a new design proposed, based on the simultaneous juxtaposition of positive and negative DEP forces. This device is built on the necessary scale using multi-layer fabrication techniques with a silicon elastomer moulded channel. The existence of stochastic transport on the device is investigated experimentally by means of processed video sequences and resulting possibilities for particle separation on the basis of size and surface properties inferred

A Critical Review of the Requirements of Quantity Surveyors for Collaborative BIM Engagement and Success

This paper sets out to critically review the requirements of Quantity Surveyors (QSs) for collaborative BIM engagement and success. The paper has been set in the context of the Irish QS and his reluctance to actively and collaboratively engage in the 5D QS BIM process (5D –the fifth Dimension designated to QSs). A literature review was undertaken to establish the reasons for this lack of QS engagement. The data from these reviews was collected and analyzed and distilled into the main chal-lenges that required resolution to engage QS participation in the 5 D BIM process. A mixed research methodology based on the principles of Fourth Generation Evaluation was em-ployed as this allowed for both Quantative and Qualitative Analysis. The Focus group members was carefully chosen for “haven been through the mill” haven experienced first-hand knowledge of the bar-riers faced by QSs as well as for their pro-active interest in engaging and advocating 5D BIM to the highest standards. Different stakeholders were chosen to get different perspectives and views on the problems which were mainly identified as people, process and technology as well as proposals on how the problems might be rectified and by whom. The results were encouraging, none of the issues were considered insurmountable given time and resources and BIM maturity. The findings were summarized as a lack of a Government Mandate, lack of awareness and upskilling, cultural and collaboration issues. Lack of understanding of the different disciplines, QSs lack of ICT skills and lack of fully functioning and integrated 5D QS BIM software. The BIM world for the QS’s is changing rapidly through the impact of emerging technologies and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This will be accelerated by the imminent Irish Government Mandate An-nouncement of Office of Public Procurement (OGP) Mandate on Band 5 Projects from Q2 2019 followed by OGP Band 3 in Projects Q2 2020. The implementation of NBC” Roadmap to Digital Transition For Ireland’s Construction Industry 2018-2021” will seek to collaboratively resolve many of the issues and challenges facing the Irish QS. However, a key challenge still remains specifically around 5D QS MVD (Model View Definition). There is no universal QS MVD as this would require the adoption of an industry standard approach to costing and different countries, disciplines and segments have their own unique approach to costing. The Irish QS needs to collaborate with other designers and software vendors to develop a QS MVD to harvest the full benefits of what BIM Can offer. The future is full of new opportunities for the QS’s who become 5D BIM enabled, they can deliver new services such as carbon & energy costing , cost data analytics, extend QS reach into new areas spanning complete asset lifecycle

Underwater Endoscopic Mucosal Resection of Large Duodenal Adenomas (Video)

AbstractBackground and aimsEndoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a well-established method for the removal of neoplastic polyps throughout the GI tract. EMR typically involves insufflation of the lumen using air or CO2, followed by submucosal lifting of a polyp to minimize the risk of deep tissue injury and perforation, followed by hot-snare polypectomy. Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) is a new technique that uses water to enable lesion visualization in a lumen that is not distended by air or CO2, followed by piecemeal hot-snare resection of large mucosally-based neoplasms. UEMR does not require submucosal injection to create a fluid cushion. Very few published examples of UMER in the duodenum exist. This video case series describes the use of UEMR for the resection of several large duodenal adenomas.ProcedureUnderwater endoscopic mucosal resection was utilized for the removal of several large duodenal adenomas.ResultsThree duodenal lesions ranging from 1.8cm to 5cm were successfully resected by UEMR. The mean time for resection was 18min. There were no adverse events.ConclusionsUEMR is an efficacious technique for the resection of large mucosally-based neoplasms of the duodenum

Assessment of Obesity and Fear of Fatness Among Inner-City Dublin Schoolchildren in a One-Year-Follow-Up Study

Background: Positive secular trends in adolescent obesity and an increased prevalence of fear of fatness, particularly among girls, have been documented world-wide. There is a lack of consensus about assessment criteria for childhood obesity and no standard exists for assessing Irish children. In 1990, the Irish National Nutrition Survey used body mass index (BMI) $26 kgm22 to describe the prevalence of overweight among Irish adolescents. Objectives: (1) To examine the range in classification of Dublin schoolchildren as overweight according to four standard assessment methods; (2) to assess changes in weight status, prevalence of fear of fatness and accompanying slimming practices in a one-year follow-up; and (3) to compare the prevalence of overweight with that documented in 1990 among adolescents of similar age. Design: A one-year follow-up study of 199 healthy schoolchildren (90 boys and 109 girls; mean age of 11 years at baseline) attending seven fee-paying (six single- and one mixed-sex) and eight non-fee-paying (four single- and four mixed-sex) primary schools in Dublin city centre. Measurements: Weight, height, waist circumference and triceps skinfold were measured and used in five definitions of overweight, including published cut-off points of BMI-for-age (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention BMI-for-age charts for boys and girls; BMI reference curves for the UK 1990; International Obesity Task Force age- and sex-specific BMI cut-offs), actual relative weight and BMI$ 26 kgm22. Assessment of body image perceptions and satisfaction (using figure line drawings) was reported in a questionnaire specifically designed for this study. Results: The prevalence of overweight within the total group differed between the four standard definitions of weight status, by 9% at baseline and 8% at follow-up. Accordingly, increasing trends over the year ranged from zero to 3%. Using the criterion BMI $ 26 kgm22, 6% of Dublin schoolchildren were overweight, compared with 1.9% of schoolchildren in 1990. Significantly more girls than boys were affected by fear of fatness and were trying to lose weight. Conclusion: A standard method for assessment of weight status is urgently needed for the evaluation of obesity prevention initiatives among Irish schoolchildren. Such initiatives need to be sensitive to the pervasiveness of fear of fatness among adolescent girls

Correlates of Staff Nurse Work Satisfaction in Hospitals with Shared Governance

Lack of staff nurse participation in hospital decision-making has been cited as a major reason for the dissatisfaction in nursing. Shared governance has been proposed as an organizational model that provides staff nurses with both the structure and the mechanism for having increased decision-making authority. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of organizational culture, perceived importance of involvement and actual involvement in decision-making, the discrepancy between importance and involvement, staff nurse years of involvement in shared governance, control over nursing practice, and work satisfaction among staff nurses working in hospitals with shared governance. A descriptive, correlational design was used to investigate 188 full-time RN staff nurses from three hospitals with shared governance. Organizational culture was eliminated from analysis because of the large amount of missing data. Three multiple regression models were tested. In the final prediction model, control over nursing practice was the strongest predictor of work satisfaction, accounting for 40% of the explained variance. The next most significant predictors were involvement in decision-making, years in shared governance, and years in nursing, for a total of 43% of the variance. Since the variables in the model only explained 43% of the variance, other factors need to be identified to further predict work satisfaction. Based on the findings in this study, staff nurse participation in shared governance is a vehicle for control over nursing practice and work satisfaction

Rhys Matters: New Critical Perspectives

Nicole Flynn is a contributing author, Clockwork Women: Termporality and Form in Jean Rhys\u27s Interwar Novels. , pp.41-65. Rhys Matters, the first collection of essays focusing on Rhys\u27s writing in over twenty years, encounters her oeuvre from multiple disciplinary perspectives and appreciates the interventions in modernism, postcolonial studies, Caribbean studies, and women\u27s and gender studies.https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/english_book/1011/thumbnail.jp