Shieldmaiden

Shieldmaiden is a poem that examines J.R.R. Tolkien\u27s Lord of the Rings series from a feminist perspective, focusing on the character of Éowyn and her influence on female readers of Tolkien\u27s novels

Telling Stories Together: A collaborative technology-based curriculum project for an endangered language community

Language revitalization efforts are enhanced not only when the language is brought to new users, but also when it is brought into new domains of use. This project creates a template for computer-assisted language learning that aims to maximize L2 learning through task-based, constructivist uses of free Web 2.0 tools. This template includes two sets of parallel activities. For each set, students work together to brainstorm, illustrate, write, edit, and publish a story, conducting all activities in the L2. One set directs students to record native speakers retelling stories they know in their language, while the second develops a new story from the students’ own life experiences or imaginations. Each step of the writing process will be completed using a specific open-access online tool: • Stage 1: Pre-write – This stage uses SoundCloud, a free web-based audio recording and streaming tool which can upload files from a computer, or record directly into the website. • Stage 2: Story development and illustrations – This stage uses Flickr, a free photography and image hosting site, to find images that illustrate or relate to the stories. • Stage 3: Collaborative writing – This stage uses Google Docs. The first team transcribes a known story recorded from an elder while the second develops and elaborates its new story. • Stage 4: Editing and revising – This stage employs Google Tasks to complete revising and editing. • Stage 5: Publishing – This final stage uses Lulu, an internet-based self-publishing service. These tools accommodate special circumstances faced by many indigenous communities. Many communities who fit this intended design have a very small pool of potential language learners, and such small numbers make it difficult to teach separate classes for students at varying proficiency levels; this template accommodates this by employing activities in which learners at every level (beginning, intermediate, advanced, and native speakers) can take leading roles. Additionally, having the entire story-building process take place via low cost web tools means that students can participate and collaborate remotely, if geography or other factors make a physical language classroom impractical. At the end of this project, the learners will have potentially produced two new texts, one based on a traditional story and one based on in-language creative writing. This project, therefore, empowers young learners to be active language revitalizers, not just through their own language acquisition, but also through development of materials that contribute to the literary corpus of their community

Incivility in the Workplace: The Experiences of Female Sport Management Faculty in Higher Education

Access to higher education for women has dramatically increased in the United States during the past 50 years. Female college graduates have reversed the figures and gone from being outnumbered by their male counterparts 3 to 2 in the 1970s, to now outnumbering male college graduates 3 to 2. Women also graduate from masters and doctoral programs at a higher rate than men. However, increases in the number of women obtaining college and advanced degrees has not translated to comparable representation in faculty positions or leadership roles in higher education. This lack of women in leadership positions, as well as perceived discrimination against female faculty, may be even more of a concern in sport management programs. Sport is considered a male domain, and women are often seen as intruders in this realm. The purpose of this study was to examine the manifestation of incivility from colleagues and superiors experienced within a sample of female sport management faculty members utilizing social identity theory as a guiding framework. Incivility was conceptualized for the current study as deviant behavior that is not necessarily intended to physically harm the target (e.g., belittling others, showing disdain to someone while they are talking, engaging in outside tasks during meetings)

Deep 2MASS Photometry of M67 and Calibration of the Main Sequence J-Ks Color Difference as an Age Indicator

We present an analysis of Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) calibration photometry of the old open cluster M67 (NGC 2682). The proper motion-cleaned color-magnitude diagram (CMD) resulting from these data extends ~3 magnitudes deeper than one based on data from the point source catalog. The CMD extends from above the helium-burning red clump to a faint limit that is more than 7 magnitudes below the main sequence turnoff in the Ks band. After adopting a reddening of E(B-V) = 0.041 +/- 0.004 and a metal abundance of [Fe/H] = -0.009 +/- 0.009 based on a survey of published values, we fit the unevolved main sequence of M67 to field main sequence stars with 2MASS photometry and Hipparcos parallaxes. This analysis yields distance moduli of (m-M)Ks = 9.72 +/- 0.05 and (m-M)o = 9.70 +/- 0.05, which are consistent with published values. We compare the theoretical isochrones of Girardi et al. and Dotter et al. to the CMD of M67 and comment on the relative merits of each set of models. These comparisons suggest an age between 3.5 and 4.0 Gyr for M67. The depth of the M67 data make them ideal for the calibration of a new age indicator that has recently been devised by Calamida et al.- the difference in (J-Ks) color between the main sequence turnoff (TO) and the point on the lower main sequence where it turns down (TD) and becomes nearly vertical [D(J-Ks)]. Coupled with deep 2MASS photometry for three other open clusters, NGC 2516, M44, and NGC 6791, we calibrate D(J-Ks) in terms of age and find D(J-Ks) = (3.017 +/- 0.347) - (0.259 +/- 0.037)*Log Age (yrs).Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Demographic profile of 266 mother-infant dyads presenting to a multidisciplinary breast-feeding clinic: a descriptive study

Worldwide, sustained breastfeeding rates are lower than optimal. Mothers and infants with suboptimal breastfeeding present to a wide variety of practitioners to assist their goal of total breastfeeding. To support these mother-infant dyads, a multi-disciplinary chiropractic and midwifery feeding clinic was opened alongside a chiropractic teaching clinic in England. To improve understanding of the presentation and clinical needs of these nursing dyads, a descriptive study was developed. This paper provides an overview of the cases that presented to this clinic over nine months, with a focus on feeding difficulties, birth and musculoskeletal problems in the infant. Mothers frequently reported more than one type of feeding problem, which most commonly included difficulty attaching, painful feeding, and a one sided feeding preference. Birth intervention was more common in this population than the national averages, particularly forceps deliveries. Musculoskeletal problems were prevalent in the babies presented to the feeding clinic, most commonly of the thoracic spine, cervical spine and sternocleidomastoid. Although causation cannot be established from this type of study, intervention at birth, feeding difficulties and musculoskeletal problems frequently coexisted in these infants. Therefore, including musculoskeletal care for infants as part of support for suboptimal breastfeeding may be appropriate

Improving WIC Retention in Vermont: Beneficiary attitudes toward co-location in medical homes

Introduction: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a national program aimed at improving the nutrition and health of pregnant women and children. Those eligible for Vermont WIC include anyone pregnant or with children under 5 that has an income below 185% of federal poverty level or is enrolled in Vermont Medicaid. WIC has been shown to improve birth outcomes1, breast feeding rates2, infant growth and development, and consumption of important nutrients. Those enrolled in WIC report high levels of satisfaction Despite the benefits of WIC, retention rates of eligible families remain low. Studies have shown that mandatory bi-annual recertification appointments pose logistical problems. Rescheduling missed appointments and long waiting times at the WIC offices were also barriers. Other states have found that integration of WIC recertification appointments with the family’s primary care medical visits may improve retention. A limited scale co-localization of WIC and the medical home in Vermont showed some promise.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1213/thumbnail.jp

Increasing Transit Ridership: Lessons from the Most Successful Transit Systems in the 1990s, MTI Report-01-22

This study systematically examines recent trends in public transit ridership in the U.S. during the 1990s. Specifically, this analysis focuses on agencies that increased ridership during the latter half of the decade. While transit ridership increased steadily by 13 percent nationwide between 1995 and 1999, not all systems experienced ridership growth equally. While some agencies increased ridership dramatically, some did so only minimally, and still others lost riders. What sets these agencies apart from each other? What explains the uneven growth in ridership

Supporting breastfeeding: it takes a whole community

In collaboration with the Anglo-European Chiropractic College (AECC), the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at Bournemouth University hosted a conference in July 2015 to raise awareness of the Joint Chiropractic and Midwifery Newborn Feeding Clinic. The interprofessional approach to facilitating a student-led, newborn infant feeding clinic is an innovative and unique opportunity to provide a positive learning environment for students as well as improve sustained breastfeeding rates for women; a current public health challenge. Learning from skilled, qualified practitioners in a real time practice environment has the ability to enrich the student educational experience. It was felt that a one day interprofessional conference to share good practice from the clinic and listen to the views of women and students would provide a springboard to ensure the clinic continued to meet the needs of those using the facilities