Digital Commons Network^™

Motivation For Leisure Reading : A Model Camp Adventure Curriculum, Nicole Beth Geopfert

Graduate Research Papers

Much research has consistently revealed that the percentage of young children choosing to engage in leisure reading is declining. Instead, potential young readers are consumed many other forms of leisure activity such as video games, Internet, computer games, movies, and more. To become lifelong learners, children ought to be motivated to read. The questions explored in this paper are: what are the obstacles to developing avid independent readers and how can we help young children become engaged, recreational readers? This paper presents a review of the literature on reading motivation, reading attitude, and the gender gap in reading.

The information …

Adult Learners : Who Are They, And What Do They Need To Succeed?, Antoinette Givens

Graduate Research Papers

The unique learning needs of adults are important. Adult education as identified by the literature is a change of knowledge, attitude, or skill of an individual that performs ,, social roles assigned to the adult population. This literature review addresses the question: (a) who is the adult learner? (b) What are the learning needs of adult learners? (c) What are effective strategies for teaching adult learners?

The adult learner is not fully understood without examining education, andragogy and pedagogy, instructional strategies, motivation, and barriers to learning in adults. This area of research is important to the development of effective adult …

Reading Aloud To Children : Is There A Relationship To Reading Achievement?, Stephanie Gierstorf

Graduate Research Papers

This qualitative participant research paper focuses on the importance of reading aloud to children at a young age. Results indicated that being read to at an early age was not enough, in and of itself, to predict reading achievement. However, the amount of parental interaction between the parent, child, and text can affect a child's reading achievement. Children who were exposed to dialogic read-alouds tended to become more independent readers, who chose to read on their own, later in elementary school. It is hoped that educators and parents will understand the importance of including children in a dialogic reading approach …

Using High Interest Reading Material To Motivate Struggling And Reluctant Readers, Nicoles C. Hoover

Graduate Research Papers

One of my great challenges as a second grade teacher is getting students who struggle with reading to become engaged, motivated, and enthusiastic about reading. This paper will look at different literature findings about using strategies that involve high interest reading materials to motivate readers. It will seek to determine the values of these practices for all students, but especially those who struggle as readers. It will also look at different types of high interest materials that could potentially motivate readers. This paper will provide resources to others looking to use high interest materials to motivate readers.

Using Powerpoint Created Talking Books For Reading Fluency Instruction, Gretchen R. Lawyer

Graduate Research Papers

This paper describes action research integrating Microsoft PowerPoint with reading fluency instruction in a group of 6 first grade students. Included is a literature review examining multimedia, hypermedia and reading fluency. Students used CD-ROM storybooks as models for reading fluency, received direct fluency instruction, and wrote stories they developed into "talking storybooks" with Microsoft PowerPoint. Results showed students improved overall reading fluency, except reading rate. Expression and prosody were most positively affected.

A rating scale measured student attitudes towards the instruction. Results showed a positive reaction. In addition, it was found that students might have been indirectly motivated by the …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Physics

No abstract provided.

An Evolutionary Model Of Parabolic Dune Development: Blowout To Mature Parabolic, Padre Island National Seashore, Texas, Winston Mckenna

LSU Master's Theses

The Texas barrier islands have been studied and well documented in relation to barrier island evolution and morphology (Leatherman, 1979; Morton, 1994; White and Weise, 1980). The detailed analysis and mapping of various dune types and systems that comprise Padre Island National Seashore, specifically parabolic dunes, is the focus of this research. Dune surveys and doqq’s, along with wind and weather records were used to develop an improved morphodynamic model for parabolic dunes. The wind records were provided by the Padre Island National Seashore, the National Data Climate Center, and the Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network. Individual dune surveys were …

Mechanism Of Intraspecific Toxin Inhibition In Aspergillus Flavus, Changwei Huang

LSU Master's Theses

Atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus was demonstrated by others as a promising biocontrol agent to minimize preharvest aflatoxins in susceptible crops. But the mechanism was unclear. A filter insert-well plate system was used to study the mechanism in lab. There was no inhibition when toxigenic A. flavus isolate 53 and inhibitory atoxigenic isolates were separated by 0.4 µm membrane, approximately 50% inhibition occurred when separated by 12 µm membrane, and complete inhibition occurred when a 74 µm membrane was used. This result suggested that touching or close physical interaction is needed for toxin inhibition and the nutrient competition hypothesis was not supported. …

Nbpts Portfolio Option, Cindy L. Borske

Graduate Research Papers

My lesson that I have taught provides evidence of active scientific inquiry. Students are observing phenomena; formulating working hypotheses; gathering, recording and analyzing data; and expressing the significance of their findings. My learning goals for this lesson are for students to:

1. develop an understanding of the interdependence of organisms and population growth, and

2. demonstrate the ability to solve complex problems to enhance students' analytical and problem solving skills.

National Board Of Teaching Standards Portfolio Option, Karen Koenig

Graduate Research Papers

The entries that I used for this portfolio are entries one, two, and four. Entry one is Designing Science Instruction. In this entry, I demonstrate how I link instructional activities together to promote students' understanding of an important scientific concept along with the development of one or more related process goals. The students chosen represented different types of challenges for me. I included three instructional activities, related instructional materials, two student responses to each activity, and a written commentary.

Discovering Dna, Melisa Reilly

Graduate Research Papers

Three years ago I was approached by a member of the Upward Bound Staff informing me that they needed a Biology teacher for there summer program. At that time I was a substitute teacher and needed a pay check for the summer. Since I had wonderful prior experience tutoring and mentoring for the program I applied and got the job. The problem I faced was that there was no set curriculum. Although it allows for a lot of freedom, it was overwhelming to me as a new teacher.

National Board Of Professional Teaching Standards (Nbpts) Portfolio Option, Dawn Marie Posekany

Graduate Research Papers

Our school is a small community that lies between two major cities in a Midwest state. Many of the parents of our students work in the science, math, technology, health, or medical fields in these larger cities. Our location often results in students "open enrolling" into our district. One of the challenges for our school is cultural diversity. Our population includes only three non-Caucasian students. My colleagues and I must work hard at extending our classrooms outside the walls to explore diversity. Of our 375 students in the high school, sixteen receive free or reduced cost lunch.

The Female Adolescent Experience: Barriers To Physical Activity, Roberta Katherine Parsons

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Acupuncture For Labor Pain Management A Review Of The Literature, Saraj Brainard

Graduate Research Papers

The process of giving birth is one of the most natural and instinctual processes in the animal world. Although natural, it is often a painful experience that the explanation for differs from culture to culture. Women have been giving birth naturally all over the world since the beginning of time even though there have been methods of pain management for many years. In Western society, we have used biomedical methods such as anesthesia and epidurals to relieve this pain since at least the 1960s (Rooks, 2000). Although the most generally accepted method of pain management, epidurals may not be the …

Using Picture Books To Enhance Content Area Reading, Tamra C. Foster

Graduate Research Papers

A child's academic success in the intermediate grades relies heavily on how well he or she can read and understand content area material (Abadiano & Turner, 2002; Allington, 2000; Harvey & Goudvis, 2000; Neufeld, 2005). This study examined the effect of using picture books as a pre-reading activity to enhance students' content area comprehension, vocabulary development, and interest level. Four students performing above grade level, one student performing at grade level, and three students performing below grade level participated in this study. Social studies curriculum was presented to the students via a textbook for two units. Picture books were added …

I Met You, Momoko Kimura

LSU Master's Theses

My goal for the work documented in this paper was to create and install an immersive multimedia environment, using animation and interactivity to express and communicate ideas drawn from personal experience of how people may meet, influence each other and enrich each other’s lives. With my projects over the past few years, I learned that sharing personal stories is a powerful tool for communicating with others. The I MET YOU piece provided the perfect opportunity for me to pull together all my thoughts and tell people who have made difference in my life “I’m so glad I met you.” I …

Playing The Third Man (Midas' Servant, Ceyx, Morpheus As Ceyx, Orpheus, Apollo, A, Philemon) In Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses: A Production Thesis, Ronald Ludlow Reeder

LSU Master's Theses

The role of Third Man in Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses was performed in the Fall of 2006 and elected as a thesis role at that time. This thesis is a written record of the actor’s interpretation of the character. This thesis includes background information on the production, reflections on acting in water, a character analysis, a five column score, reflections on performance issues, and photos.

Reinventing The Sword: A Cultural Comparison Of The Development Of The Sword In Response To The Advent Of Firearms In Spain And Japan, Charles Edward Ethridge

LSU Master's Theses

Swords have been used throughout history as weapons of war, as symbols of power and wealth and as national and religious icons. Unlike other weapons however, the sword did not simply fade into the background as technological improvements caused the martial value to lessen. The primary purpose of this paper is to look at the development of the sword as an object of art, specifically in the countries of Spain and Japan, after the invention of the firearm. A brief history of the development of the sword from the earliest manifestations through the Iron Age is provided as way of …

Biodegradation And Characterization Of A Bio-Based Polyester, Benjamin Edward Stevens

LSU Master's Theses

Anaerobic biodegradation in sewage sludge and aerobic biodegradation in compost of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) were investigated to determine degradation kinetics and identify changes in polymer properties. To determine the impact of a natural plasticizer on biodegradation, tributyl citrate (TBC) was blended with some test specimens. For comparison to another bioplastic, polylactic acid (PLA) was biodegraded in the anaerobic study. Evolved gaseous carbon was measured to assess biodegradability according to ASTM standards D5210 and D5338. Mass loss experiments were performed to facilitate determination of degradation kinetics. Melt-pressed plates of the bioplastic with five different initial mass-to-surface-area ratios (plate thicknesses of 0.24, 0.5, …

Acoustic Tagging Of Black Drum On Louisiana Oyster Reefs: Movements, Site Fidelity, And Habitat Use, Gerald James George

LSU Master's Theses

The black drum, Pogonias cromis (Sciaenidae), is a molluscivorous, coastal/estuarine species, often associated with oyster reefs, that is sought in recreational and commercial fisheries. I used a radio-acoustic positioning system and an array of moored receivers to monitor movements of 34 black drum around oyster reefs in Barataria Bay, Louisiana from March 2006 to February 2007. Residence time was variable; five fish were detected almost daily for more than 60 days, but others only on the day of release. Daily movements exceeded spatial coverage, and home range sizes could not be determined. Short-term site fidelity to reefs was higher in …

Identificaton Of Molecular Markers Associated With Resistance To Aspergillus Flavus In Maize, Sreedhar Alwala

LSU Master's Theses

Aflatoxin contamination of maize (Zea mays L.) grain caused by Aspergillus flavus is a serious health hazard to animals and humans. Resistance to infection by A. flavus is poorly understood. The objectives of this investigation were to identify potential candidate markers associated with resistance in maize kernels and pollen grains to A. flavus using a mapping population derived from a cross between Mp313E (resistant) and SC212m (susceptible) inbred lines. The parents, F₁, and F₂ plants were planted in the field in 2005. Each F₂ plant was selfed to produce F_2:3 seed. Fresh pollen collected from …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Biology

No abstract provided.

Maternal Transfer Of Photoperiodic Information Regulates The Postnatal Reproductive System Development Of The Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones Unguiculatus), Alper Karakaş, Bülent Gündüz

Turkish Journal of Biology

We investigated whether photoperiodic information is transferred from mother to young and whether the pineal gland and its hormone, melatonin, are involved in this transfer in Mongolian gerbils. Adult female gerbils were paired with males and housed in photoperiods of 12L:12D or 8L:16D. Three groups of pregnant gerbils in each photoperiod were prepared: one group was the sham-operated control, one group consisted of pinealectomized gerbils, and one group consisted of pinealectomized gerbils that were treated with melatonin. Pinealectomy was performed before pairing the animals and melatonin injections were applied to the pinealectomized group from day 8 of gestation until parturition. …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Biology

No abstract provided.

Producing A Short Film, John Wiedenheft

Honors Program Theses

One reason is that the project provides a creative outlet for all of the different skills and knowledge learned through my Electronic Media and Film Studies courses. Such learned skills include the process of adapting a previously written short story into a screenplay, directing actors and a production crew through the various stages of producing a short film, and researching various modes of film distribution. A large portion of my Film Studies minor incorporates theory on the aesthetics of filmmaking, i.e. how storytelling in film is different from poetry or novels. My project will elucidate some of those aesthetics, such …

Georges De La Tour's Flea-Catcher And The Iconography Of The Flea-Hunt In Seventeenth-Century Baroque Art, Crissy Bergeron

LSU Master's Theses

This essay performs a comprehensive investigation of the thematic possibilities for Georges de La Tour's Flea-Catcher (1630s-1640s) based on related artworks, religion, and emblematic, literary, and pseudo-scientific texts that may have had a bearing on it. The results of my research are grouped into two categories that embrace the range of interpretations for the work: religion and sexuality. While religious iconography characterizes most of La Tour's extant creations, the hypothetically religious content of his Flea-Catcher is difficult to discern. However, it is possible to analyze the iconography, as well as some of the ancillary motifs found in La Tour's painting, …

The Uses Of Enchantment, Anna Belenki

LSU Master's Theses

This work begins with the decorative arts. It is inspired by the seductive color and line of Iznik tile from the Ottoman Empire and the ornate decorative flourishes of 18th. Century Chinoiserie wall paper that depicts fantastic landscapes and fanciful animals. The bears, cats, birds, snakes, and dogs and people dressed in costumes that appear in the tiles are the protagonists of a fairy tale yet to be written. The uses of enchantment are endlessly fascinating. Enchantment fulfills our need for fantasy, beauty, meaning and reassurance. It connects us to the past and equips us to face the present, secure …

Low Crude Protein, Amino Acid-Supplemented Diets, And The Glycine Requirement In Low Crude Protein Diets For Broilers, April Marie Waguespack

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this research was to determine the optimal level of crystalline amino acid (AA) supplementation that supports maximum growth performance in broilers, and to determine the Gly requirement in broilers. Treatments were replicated with a minimum of 7 pens with 6 broilers per pen. Experiments (Exp.) were conducted from 0- to 18- days (d) post-hatching in brooder batteries. Three Exp. were conducted to determine the maximum level of L-Lys•HCl that could be supplemented to corn-soybean meal (C-SBM) diets without negatively affecting growth performance of broilers. The results of these Exp. indicate that broilers can achieve maximum growth performance …

Best Management Practices Adoption Rates And Alternative Land Usage Among Southwest Louisiana Rice Producers, Heidi Landry

LSU Master's Theses

The EPA has identified agriculture to be a major contributor of nonpoint source water pollution. The production of rice poses two major water quality issues: the application of a large amount of water that is held on the field for long periods of time during the growing season and the disposal of that water at a later time in the production cycle. Louisiana has developed the voluntary adoption of Best Management Practices (BMPs). These practices have been promoted through educational programs such as the Master Farmer program. This program, developed by the LSU AgCenter, targets conservation practices that are both …

Comparative Phylogeography Of Four Montane Bird Species In Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, Cheryl Leigh Haines

LSU Master's Theses

Because of a dearth of modern quantitative studies of the ecology and evolution of birds, our understanding of the biogeography of the Bornean avifauna is rudimentary. Although paleogeographic evidence provides a well known mechanism for speciation in the lowlands of Borneo (i.e., repeated colonization and isolation of populations on Sunda islands caused by sea level changes), the process of speciation in montane areas is less easily explained. Knowledge about the processes responsible for montane speciation in Borneo is desirable because mountains clearly have played a key role in the evolution of the island’s avifauna, as evidenced by the relatively large …