This study examines Black students’ perceptions of their campus climate for perspective taking and how their perceptions influence their participation in high impact practices. Using ordinary least squares regression, I analyzed how the psychological climate, behavioral climate, and institutional structural diversity predict Black students’ perceptions and engagement in comparison to their Asian American, Hawaiian, Latinx, Multiracial, Native American, and White peers. Results from this study revealed that Black students have a positive perception of their campus climate for perspective taking. For the most part, Black students’ perceptions of campus climate were not significantly associated with participating in high-impact practices. However, Black students that had more positive perceptions of sources of support for engaging with diverse perspectives participated in high impact practices like study abroad programs and capstone projects. There were significant differences between Black students and Latinx and Asian American students in their perceptions of the general campus climate for perspective taking. Latinx students have a more positive perception than Black students, while Asian American students have a less positive perception than Black students. Black students were also more likely to participate in study abroad and required diversity courses than were Multiracial students. Among all students, there was a relationship between perceptions of the general campus climate and engagement in several high impact practices.

An ongoing conversation in the Information Systems literature addresses the concern, "How can we conduct research that makes a difference?" A shortage of high-impact research will, over time, challenge the identity and weaken the viability of IS as an academic discipline. This paper presents the systematic high-impact research model (SHIR), an approach to conducting high-impact research. SHIR embodies the insight gained from three streams of high-impact research programs spanning more than 50 years. The SHIR framework rests on the proposition that IS researchers can produce higher-impact contributions by developing long-term research programs around major real-world issues, as opposed to ad hoc projects addressing a small piece of a large problem. These persistent research programs focus on addressing the entirety of an issue, by leveraging multidisciplinary, multiuniversity research centers that employ a breadth of research methods and large-scale projects. To function effectively, SHIR programs must be sustained by academic and practitioner partnerships, research centers, and outreach activities. We argue that SHIR research programs increase the likelihood of high impact research.

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<div> <div> <div> <p>In today’s global environment, agricultural students need the skills to thrive among a workforce made up of individuals with diverse experiences and perspectives. One promising way to prepare students is through the development of intercultural competence (IC). This thesis addresses several different methods of developing IC in undergraduate students. Chapter 2 addresses incorporation of intercultural interventions into a short-term study abroad program coupled with and a follow-up semester-long on-campus companion course to specifically target empathy development. The study found that overall students did not increase significantly on the IDI, but did show positive growth in empathy development throughout the semester. Chapter 3 describes differences in IC of students completing intercultural learning (ICL) assignments throughout a face-to-face introductory animal agriculture course compared with students not completing ICL assignments. The intervention group showed significant increase according to the IDI and increased on average 9.46 points. In addition, the intervention group increased significantly more than the control group (87.54 ± 2.09 vs. 94.76 ± 1.67) (p <0.004; df=1; f=13.23). </p> <p>Studies described in Chapter 4 build on those of methods followed a similar approach to the methods discussed in Chapter 3 but examine the impact of including reflection based ICL assignments using global animal agriculture as a medium. Notably, the course also occurred in an emergency remote learning setting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from the study discussed in Chapter 4 showed that the intervention group increased significantly more than the control group (86.75 ± 2.11 vs. 95.29 ± 2.35; p < 0.004). In addition, the intervention group also showed positive results in developing the specific skill of empathy throughout the semester. </p> <p>The last study discussed in this thesis (Chapter 5) details the process of creating and validating a scale to specifically measure the competence levels in level of undergraduates’ essential skills in undergraduates. Cronbach’s alpha was reported for each skillset that was being evaluated and deemed acceptable.</p></div></div></div><div><div><div> <p>Each of the studies discussed was designed to fill gaps in the literature regarding skill development in animal science undergraduate students. The development of such skills, and IC in particular, is necessary for all students whether they pursue careers with as possible the opportunity to develop these skills, not just those who participate in international elements. As such, developing validate means to provide students opportunities to hone such skills is necessary to student future success. Toward this end, the studies described here seek to measure the efficacy embedding intercultural learning into undergraduate agricultural curriculum at providing such opportunities. </p> </div> </div> </div>

This multi-article dissertation explores the potential for the undergraduate peer mentoring experience to contribute to transformative learning for those who serve in peer mentoring or peer leadership roles. While past research has established that peer mentors experience a variety of positive outcomes associated with their leadership experience, there are gaps in the literature with regard to how the peer mentor experience can be intentionally designed as a high-impact practice for student leaders. Through three qualitative studies, as well as a comprehensive literature review, this dissertation addresses this gap by exploring what peer mentors report learning through their mentoring experiences (Article #1), the types of experiences that contribute to transformative learning (Articles #2 and #3), and how transformative learning can be facilitated through a particular designed training intervention (Article #4). Based on the findings of these four studies, an emerging framework is proposed to describe the characteristics of high-impact and transformative PM learning environments. This framework suggests that transformative PM learning is most likely when (a) the learning of PMs themselves is an explicit objective of the program or initiative, (b) PMs are engaged in purposeful routines and structured practices that facilitate learning, (c) PMs are exposed to unfamiliar and challenging situations in their mentoring practice, (d) theoretical and conceptual understandings (e.g., selected readings) are integrated into PM development; (e) PMs are provided with frequent and structured opportunities for reflection on their experiences, and (f) PMs are part of a supportive mentoring community. Recommendations for the design of high-quality PM learning environments are made based on the elements of this framework. Additionally, directions for future research on peer mentoring as a high-impact practice are made.

In recent years, response analysis of complex structures under impact loads has attracted a great deal of attention. For example, a collision or an accident that produces impact loads that exceed the design load can cause severe damage on the structural components. Although the AASHTO specification is used for impact-resistant bridge design, it has many limitations. The AASHTO specification does not incorporate complex and uncertain factors. Thus, a well-designed structure that can survive a collision under specific conditions in one region may be severely damaged if it were impacted by a different vessel, or if it were located elsewhere with different in-situ conditions. With these limitations in mind, we propose different solutions that use smart control technology to mitigate impact hazard on structures. However, it is challenging to develop an accurate mathematical model of the integrated structure-smart control systems. The reason is due to the complicated nonlinear behavior of the integrated nonlinear systems and uncertainties of high impact forces. In this context, novel algorithms are developed for identification, control and monitoring of nonlinear responses of smart structures under high impact forces. To evaluate the proposed approaches, a smart aluminum and two smart reinforced concrete beam structures were designed, manufactured, and tested in the High Impact Engineering Laboratory of Civil and Environmental Engineering at WPI. High-speed impact force and structural responses such as strain, deflection and acceleration were measured in the experimental tests. It has been demonstrated from the analytical and experimental study that: 1) the proposed system identification model predicts nonlinear behavior of smart structures under a variety of high impact forces, 2) the developed structural health monitoring algorithm is effective in identifying damage in time-varying nonlinear dynamic systems under ambient excitations, and 3) the proposed controller is effective in mitigating high impact responses of the smart structures.

University branch campuses play a vital role in today’s higher education field. Branch campuses help facilitate the delivery of knowledge, development, and learning opportunities to populations that may not have any other prospect in regard to pursuing their educational goals. Branch campuses have also become a new way for institutions of higher education to collaborate and work together to serve students’ interests. Yet, despite enrollment growth across thousands of higher education branch campuses that exist in the United States, the literature on branch campuses is scant. Furthermore, branch campuses, like their main campus counterparts, have a responsibility to ensure that their students are successful and reach their learning objectives. One of the ways in which branch campuses are promoting student persistence is through the use of High Impact Practices (HIPs). HIPs have helped shape education policy at colleges and universities since they were first introduced a decade ago. While there is still active debate on their effectiveness, they have become an established part of the curriculum as colleges and universities invest in resources to implement and institutionalize these practices. Given the lack of literature examining HIPs at university branch campuses, this phenomenological study sought to examine what branch campus students experience in relation to HIPs, and how these experiences influence student persistence. Additionally, this study uncovered other experiences that influence the persistence of branch campus students and assists in providing a fuller understanding of the branch campus student experience.

<p>Polymers are subjected to physical and chemical changes during their processing, service life, and further recovery, and they may also interact with impurities that can alter their composition. These changes substantially modify the stabilisation mechanisms and mechanical properties of recycled polymers. Detailed knowledge about how the different stages of their life cycle affect the degree of degradation of polymeric materials is important when discussing their further waste recovery possibilities and the performance of recycled plastics. A dual-pronged experimental approach employing multiple processing and thermo-oxidation has been proposed to model the life cycle of recycled high-impact polystyrene (HIPS). Both reprocessing and thermo-oxidative degradation are responsible for coexistent physical and chemical effects (chain scission, crosslinking, apparition of oxidative moieties, polymeric chain rearrangements, and physical ageing) on the microstructure and morphology of polybutadiene (PB) and polystyrene (PS) phases; these effects ultimately influence the long-term stability, and the rheological and mechanical behaviour of HIPS. The PB phase has proved to be the initiation point of HIPS degradation throughout the life cycle. Thermo-oxidation seems to have more severe effects on HIPS properties; therefore, it can be concluded that previous service life may be the part of the life cycle with the greatest influence on the recycling possibilities and performance of HIPS recyclates in second-market applications. The results from the life cycle degradation simulation were compared with those obtained from real samples from a large-scale mechanical recycling plant. A combination of different analytical strategies (thermal analysis, vibrational spectroscopy, and chromatographic analysis) is necessary to obtain a detailed understanding of the quality of recycled HIPS as defined by three key properties: degree of mixing, degree of degradation, and presence of low molecular weight compounds.</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T17:19:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pre-textuais.pdf: 212246 bytes, checksum: 2486f89cad1425c52e00eedff44e22a0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Among the treatment options for polymers surface modifications, the plasma technology has showed a wide potential due to its efficiency and low waste generation. Conventional chemical treatments by means of sulfochromic solutions and other solvents present risks to factory workers and additional costs with residues disposal.In this study, polypropylene and high impact polystyrene were treated with nitrogen and atmospheric air cold plasmas in different voltages and treatment times. The remaining parameters (process current and gas pressure) were kept constant. Surface tensions up to 89% higher than the untreated state were observed for polypropylene and up to 57 % for high impact polystyrene. The presence of nitrogen and oxygen based polar groups was detected by means of photoelectrons spectroscopy (XPS). In addition, physical changes on polymers surfaces were observed by scanning electrons spectroscopy (SEM).The adhesion tests carried out by means of pull-off technique on painted polypropylene treated with atmospheric air during 10 minutes showed an increase of 516% in pull-off pressures after activation treatments. / Entre as opções de tratamentos para a modificação de superfícies de polímeros, a tecnologia de plasmas é promissora pela eficiência e baixa geração de resíduos. Tratamentos químicos convencionais através de soluções sulfocrômicas e outros solventes representam riscos relacionados à segurança de operadores de fábrica e custos adicionais com o descarte de resíduos.Neste trabalho, amostras de polipropileno e poliestireno de alto impacto foram tratadas com plasmas de ar atmosférico e nitrogênio em diferentes voltagens (320 e 400V) e tempos de tratamentos (5; 10; 40, 70 minutos). Os demais parâmetros (corrente de processo e pressão de gás) foram mantidos constantes.Foram observados aumentos nos valores das tensões superficiais de até 89% para o polipropileno e 57% para poliestireno de alto impacto após os tratamentos. A presença de grupamentos polares a base de nitrogênio e oxigênio foram detectadas através de espectroscopia de fotoelétrons (XPS). Modificações físicas na superfície dos polímeros foram também observadas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Os testes de aderência conduzidos em amostras de polipropileno tratadas com ar atmosférico durante 10 minutos através da técnica pull-off, demonstraram aumentos nas pressões de arrancamento dos filmes de tinta da superfície do material de até 516% vezes após os processos de ativação.

Submitted by FLÁVIA FLORENTINO DE ALMEIDA null (flavialm_1@hotmail.com) on 2017-10-09T15:23:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Flavia Final rev 09. ...02.10.17_word2010.pdf: 3209005 bytes, checksum: c3164cf910a07e38e30d2c81a62eb29f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Monique Sasaki (sayumi_sasaki@hotmail.com) on 2017-10-09T18:53:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 almeida_ff_me_bauru.pdf: 3209005 bytes, checksum: c3164cf910a07e38e30d2c81a62eb29f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-09T18:53:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 almeida_ff_me_bauru.pdf: 3209005 bytes, checksum: c3164cf910a07e38e30d2c81a62eb29f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Uma das alternativas para a destinação de Resíduos de Equipamentos Eletroeletrônicos (REEE), termo adotado no Brasil e tradução literal do inglês Waste Eletronic and Electrical Equipament (WEEE), é a reciclagem. Em geral os metais presentes nesses resíduos apresentam maior interesse para as recicladoras, porém as carcaças dos equipamentos constituídas por polímeros acabam sendo destinadas a aterros. O presente trabalho apresenta uma forma simples e barata de se agregar valor a esse resíduo, tornando-o mais vantajoso financeiramente. Um estudo do comportamento do concreto com adição de polímeros fracionados provenientes de carcaças de equipamentos eletroeletrônicos descartados em substituição a parte do agregado graúdo é apresentado. Para isso foi feita a caracterização dos polímeros proveniente do REEE e foi estudado o comportamento de corpos de prova produzidos com adição de 5%, 8%, 10%, 15% e 20% em massa desse resíduo, mantendo um traço sem incorporação para comparação. O agregado graúdo obtido a partir dos polímeros advindos do REEE tem predominância da sua granulometria na faixa dos 6,3 mm, são identificados como sendo constituídos por HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene), e apresentam-se como material hidrofílico possibilitando boa interação com argamassa de cimento e água. Os concretos obtidos com até 20% de incorporação desse resíduo apresentam densidade superior a 2,0g/cm3, permitindo classifica-los como um concreto estrutural normal. O aumento da porcentagem de incorporação de REEE ao concreto leva a uma diminuição da resistência a compressão, porém esse valor é sempre superior a 20 MPa, identificando-o como um concreto de resistência média. A incorporação desse resíduo, devido ao seu formato, contribui com uma característica semelhante a de utilização de fibras em concreto impedindo o rompimento completo dos corpos. Esses resultados evidenciam a viabilidade de se incorporar REEE ao concreto, possibilitando uma valorização desse resíduo como agregado graúdo para concreto. / One of the alternatives for the disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), is recycling. In general, the metals present in these wastes are of greater interest to recyclers, but the carcasses of equipment made of polymers end up being destined to landfills. The present paper presents a simple and inexpensive way to add value to this waste, making it more advantageous financially. A study on the behavior of concrete with addition of fractionated polymers from carcasses of discarded electro-electronic equipment replacing part of the large aggregate is presented. For this, was done the characterization of the polymers from WEEE and analyzed the behavior of test specimens produced with addition of 5%, 8%, 10%, 15% and 20% in mass of this residue, maintaining a trace without incorporation for comparison. The large aggregate obtained from the WEEE polymers has a predominance of their granulometry in the range of 6.3 mm. They are identified as HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) and are presented as a hydrophilic material allowing a good interaction with cement and water. The concretes obtained with up to 20% of incorporation of this residue present density superior to 2,0 g / cm3, allowing to classify them like a normal structural concrete. The increase in the percentage of incorporation of WEEE into the concrete leads to a decrease in the compressive strength, but this value is always higher than 20 MPa, identifying it as a medium-strength concrete. The incorporation of this residue, due to its shape, contributes with a characteristic similar to the use of fibers in concrete preventing the complete rupture of the bodies. These results demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating WEEE into the concrete, allowing a valorization of this waste as a large aggregate for concrete.