Digital Commons Network^™

An Evolving Change In Public Schools: An Assessment Of Teachers' And Administrators' Perceptions And Classroom Changes Concerning High-Stakes Testing., Selena Marie Kiser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this study was to investigate changes in the curriculum caused by high-stakes testing mandates within 3 Southwest Virginia school systems to find best practices for instructional application in classrooms. This qualitative study was comprised of indepth interviews and observations with elementary school teachers and administrators. High-stakes testing has impacted the nation in myriad ways. The mandates from the government presented teachers and administrators with conditions that must be met according to the No Child Left Behind Act and individual state's standards. Teachers' perceptions of curriculum changes, Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP), testing mandates according to high-stakes testing, and …

A Comparison Of The Academic Achievements Of Intermediate Students Based On Socioeconomic Status And Participation In An After-School Program., Anthony Fayne Maxwell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine what, if any, associations exist between students' academic success on achievement tests and the predictor variables of students' socioeconomic status, participation in an after-school program, and gender. Middlesboro Intermediate School contains a high number of students who participate in the federal free- or reduced-price school meals program, as well as attend the after-school program. This study factored in the student's academic success on the Kentucky Core Content Test and the socioeconomic status of students based on their qualification for the federal free- or reduced-cost school meals program, their participation in the after-school …

Beverage Consumption And Hypertension: Findings From The Third National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey., Vishal Arunbhai Mandge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study sample was comprised of 18,953 subjects aged 18 years and older who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Preference for diet soda over regular soda was higher in females as compared to males and in Caucasians as compared to other races. Mean alcohol consumption was almost three times higher in males than in females. Undiagnosed hypertension was more common in males than in females, in 65-90 than in 50-64 year olds, and in people with less than high school education compared to those with higher education. Diastolic pressure was correlated with the level of …

Constructing Subdivision Rules From Rational Maps, J. W. Cannon, W. J. Floyd, W. R. Parry

Faculty Publications

This paper deepens the connections between critically finite rational maps and finite subdivision rules. The main theorem is that if f is a critically finite rational map with no periodic critical points, then for any sufficiently large integer n the iterate f is the subdivision map of a finite subdivision rule. This enables one to give essentially combinatorial models for the dynamics of such iterates.

Effectively Combining Independent 2 X 2 Tables For Valid Inferences In Meta Analysis With All Available Data But No Artificial Continuity Corrections For Studies With Zero Events And Its Application To The Analysis Of Rosiglitazone's Cardiovascular Disease Related Event Data, Lu Tian, Tianxi Cai, Nikita Piankov, Pierre-Yves Cremieux, L. J. Wei

Harvard University Biostatistics Working Paper Series

No abstract provided.

August 13, 2007 Reporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Non-Natural Nucleotides To Probe Template-Independent Dna Synthesis, Anthony J. Berdis, David Mccutcheon

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The vast majority of DNA polymerases use the complementary templating strand of DNA to guide each nucleotide incorporation. There are instances, however, in which polymerases can efficiently incorporate nucleotides in the absence of templating information. This process, known as translesion DNA synthesis, can alter the proper genetic code of an organism. To further elucidate the mechanism of template-independent DNA synthesis, we monitored the incorporation of various nucleotides at the “blunt-end” of duplex DNA by the high-fidelity bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase. Although natural nucleotides are not incorporated at the blunt-end, a limited subset of non-natural indolyl analogues containing extensive π-electron surface …

August 13, 2007 Aasu Faculty Meeting Minutes, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Armstrong Faculty Senate: Minutes (Archived)

August 13, 2007 Armstrong Atlantic State University Faculty Meeting Minutes

President's Weekly Perspective, 8/13/2007, David Schmidly

President Schmidly's Administration

No abstract provided.

Gis Aided Archaeological Research Of El Camino Real De Los Tejas With Focus On The Landscape And River Crossings Along El Camino Carretera., Jeffrey M. Williams

Faculty Publications

Many generations of indigenous pathways through the forests of eastern Texas have their origins obscured in antiquity. Utilized by early European explorers, these pathways became modified through heavy use and the expansions and improvements needed to accommodate easy passage of European horses and carts and finally the heavy wagons of Anglo-American settlers. The first road through Texas, El Camino Real de Los Tejas, utilized portions of these early trails.

El Camino Carretera (known as the cart road) is an early segment of El Camino Real de los Tejas that crossed the Sabine River at the boundary between Texas and Louisiana. …

Clemson Commencement Program, August 2007, Clemson University

Clemson Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Commencement Convocation Program, Usf, August 11, 2007, University Of South Florida

USF Graduation and Convocation Programs

King O'Neal Scholar - Stanislaw Wlaoyslaw Bukowski; Honorary Doctor of Engineering - Jacob Israelachvili; Distinguished Citizen Award - Hal Mullis; Outstanding Senior Award - Arlene Brown

Monsters In The Cosmic Sea: Black Holes And Einstein's Astrophysical Legacy, Shane L. Larson

Public Talks

No abstract provided.

Validity And Reliability Of Dynamic Virtual Interactive Design Methodology, Renran Tian

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on testing the validity and reliability of dynamic Virtual Interactive Design (VID) methodology with dynamic ergonomics analysis. Virtual Interactive Design methodology has been introduced and applied on practical problems in several previous studies, and initially validated with posture-based static ergonomics analysis tools. Although most results have proved the validity and reliability based on static information considered, such validation processes is not sufficient since risks for performing certain tasks can not be fully examined without examining dynamic aspects. But the dynamic virtual interactive design environment has not been validated sufficiently. In my subsequent study, a dynamic ergonomics analysis …

Artificial Neural Network Modeling Of Flow Stress Response As A Function Of Dislocation Microstructures, Osama Yousef Abuomar

Theses and Dissertations

An artificial neural network (ANN) is used to model nonlinear, large deformation plastic behavior of a material. This ANN model establishes a relationship between flow stress and dislocation structure content. The density of geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs) was calculated based on analysis of local lattice curvature evolution. The model includes essential statistical measures extracted from the distributions of dislocation microstructures, including substructure cell size, wall thickness, and GND density as the input variables to the ANN model. The model was able to successfully predict the flow stress of aluminum alloy 6022 as a function of its dislocation structure content. Furthermore, …

Free-Form Deformation For Computer-Aided Engineering Analysis And Design, Amy Lynn Ladner

Theses and Dissertations

Toward support of the use of geometry in advanced simulation, a freeorm deformation (FFD) tool was designed, developed, and tested using object oriented (OO) techniques. The motivation for creating this FFD tool in-house was to provide engineers and researchers a cost efficient, quick, and easy way to computationally manipulate models without having to start from scratch while readily seeing the resulting geometry. The FFD tool was built using the OO scripting language, Python, the OO GUI toolkit, Qt, and the graphics toolkit, OpenGL. The tool produced robust and intuitive results for two-dimensional shapes especially when multiple point manipulation was utilized. …

The Use Of Geospatial Technologies To Quantify The Effect Of Hurricane Katrina On The Vegetation Of The Weeks Bay Reserve, Adam Wayne Murrah

Theses and Dissertations

This study looks at the changes to NDVI value in the Weeks Bay Reserve following the impact by Hurricane Katrina. Four Landsat images from March 24, 2005 (Pre-Katrina), September 16, 2005/ April 26, 2006 (Post-Katrina) and August 7, 2002 (Control) were classified into different landcover types and run with the NDVI vegetation index. Those images were compared against each other and showed that the September image had a NDVI value drop of 49% and the April image had a 47% drop as compared to the previous March. The emergent vegetation surrounding the shoreline was most susceptible to changes in NDVI …

A Wavelet-Based Approach To Primitive Feature Extraction, Region-Based Segmentation, And Identification For Image Information Mining, Vijay Pravin Shah

Theses and Dissertations

Content- and semantic-based interactive mining systems describe remote sensing images by means of relevant features. Region-based retrieval systems have been proposed to capture the local properties of an image. Existing systems use computationally extensive methods to extract primitive features based on color, texture (spatial gray level dependency - SGLD matrices), and shape from the segmented homogenous region. The use of wavelet transform techniques has recently gained momentum in multimedia image archives to expedite the retrieval process. However, the current semantic-enabled framework for the geospatial data uses computationally extensive methods for feature extraction and image segmentation. Hence, this dissertation presents the …

Monotonic Plasticity-Damage And Fatigue Life Model Correlations On Aisi 4140 Steel, Rodolfo Andres Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

A microstructure-based plasticity-damage model is used to predict the mechanical behavior of commercially available AISI 4140 steel. Monotonic tension, compression and torsion tests were performed to obtain the set of plasticity and damage constants required for model calibration. Then, tension tests on Bridgman notched specimens were undertaken to study the damage-triaxiality dependence. Three different notch radii generated different levels of triaxiality at the notch. The modeled triaxiality-damage correlation was validated with SEM fracture surface analysis. Stress-strain correlations under different strain rate and temperature testing conditions were also studied. Little influence of the strain rate was observed. A preliminary study in …

Multifunctional Voltage Source Converter For Shipboard Power Systems, Konstantin A. Borisov

Theses and Dissertations

Multifunctional voltage source converters (VSCs) are desired for shipboard power systems. The opportunity to extend the functionality of a particular VSC on demand, combined with power system reconfiguration strategies may provide desired redundancy to back up power electronic converters that might be destroyed as a result of a battle damage or material casualty. The space for power electronics may be downsized if the VSCs are capable of performing multiple functions. In addition, the flexibility of the energy management can be enhanced in shipboard power systems if a single VSC can perform multiple functions. The functionality of a VSC in many …

Optimizing The Use Of Public Transit System In No-Notice Evacuations In Urban Areas, Fatemeh Sayyady

Theses and Dissertations

Natural or man-made disasters result in unfortunate events around the nation every year. Such extreme events necessitate the short-notice or no-notice evacuation of a large population from the stricken area. This research presents an optimization modeling technique to develop an evacuation plan for transit-dependent residents during no-notice disaster situation. The proposed plan relies on the application of existing public transit system of an urban area. The public transit routing plan (PTRP) problem is formulated as a mixed integer linear program. The PTRP identifies the optimal routes for transit vehicles to move evacuees from the danger zone to designated safe destinations. …

Egocentric Depth Perception In Optical See-Through Augmented Reality, James Adam Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Augmented Reality (AR) is a method of mixing computer-generated graphics with real-world environments. In AR, observers retain the ability to see their physical surroundings while additional (augmented) information is depicted as simulated graphical objects matched to the real-world view. In the following experiments, optical see-through head-mounted displays (HMDs) were used to present observers with both Augmented and Virtual Reality environments. Observers were presented with varied real, virtual, and combined stimuli with and without the addition of motion parallax. The apparent locations of the stimuli were then measured using quantitative methods of egocentric depth judgment. The data collected from these experiments …

An Impact Study Of Dc Protection Techniques For Shipboard Power Systems, Hymiar Hamilton

Theses and Dissertations

The need for DC power at continuous uninterrupted rates is a reality for ship survival during highly intense combat and regular travel. The new proposed distribution system on the all-electric ship is designed using a DC distribution method (zones) in which the use of transformers and frequency issues/manipulation can be eliminated with the use of power electronics. These power electronic devices can greatly simplify the system and provide more available space, possible cost reduction, and variable control. One key feature is to make sure that the DC buses/systems and converters/rectifiers are protected from faults, transients, and other malicious events that …

An Analysis Of The Keetch-Byram Drought Index As A Predictor Of Forest Fire Potential, John Andrew Morris

Theses and Dissertations

Forestry management relies on combating the challenges posed by fire. Knowledge of fire risk helps in the planning for and reacting to forest fires. One method used is the mapping of the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI). Though it was not specifically designed to be a fire risk assessment tool it is used to highlight areas with a high potential of fire due to climactic factors. A statistical analysis is performed to determine the relevance of the use of this drought index to measure fire potential. Analysis is performed by testing the relationship of KBDI to the number of fires and …

Assessment Of Uncertainty In Flow Model Parameters, Channel Hydraulic Properties, And Rainfall Data Of A Lumped Watershed Model, Jairo Nelvedir Diaz-Ramirez

Theses and Dissertations

Among other sources of uncertainties in hydrologic modeling, spatial rainfall variability, channel hydraulic variability, and model parameter uncertainty were evaluated. The Monte Carlo and Harr methods were used to assess 90% certainty bounds on simulated flows. The lumped watershed model, Hydrologic Simulation Program FORTRAN ? HSPF, was used to simulate streamflow at the outlet of the Luxapallila Creek watershed in Mississippi and Alabama. Analysis of parameter uncertainty propagation on streamflow simulations from 12 HSPF parameters was accomplished using 5,000 Monte Carlo random samples and 24 Harr selected points for each selected parameter. Spatial rainfall variability propagation on simulated flows was …

Continuous Simulation Of Groundwater Use And Effluent Discharge In Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus) Ponds At Five Locations In The Southeast U.S, Sugeng Triyono

Theses and Dissertations

Long-term climatological data were used to evaluate the effectiveness of a drop/add management strategy to reduce groundwater use and effluent discharge in catfish ponds in the southeast U.S.. A drop/add approach is based on the creation of a storage volume in the pond for rainfall collection. The storage volume is created by allowing water level in the pond to decrease until some minimum level is reached. When the minimum level is reached, the pond is partly refilled, leaving the remaining volume available to capture incident precipitation. In this way, the role of precipitation in the water budget is increased. In …

Tafoni Caves In Quaternary Carbonate Eolianites: Examples From The Bahamas, Athena Marie Owen

Theses and Dissertations

Tafoni have been confusingly defined in many ways: variations in size, rock type, and forming mechanisms. This study addresses tafoni in Quaternary eolian carbonates to help better define the term. Large tafoni were differentiated from other coastal caves in the Bahamas, specifically flank margin and sea caves, using morphometric analyses. The differentiation is important as all three cave types form in the same area, but flank margin and sea caves can be used as paleo-sea level indicators, while tafoni cannot. Small tafoni show a growth rate of 0.022 m3/yr; and may amalgmate to form larger tafoni, which grew at 0.65 …

A Comparison Of Traditional Instruction And Standards-Based Instruction On Seventh-Grade Mathematics Achievement, Manika Deshawn Kemp

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if method of instruction, standards-based or traditional, had an impact on student mathematics achievement. More specifically, this study sought to determine if students taught using the JBHM Achievement Connections® standards-based method of instruction would show higher academic gain than students taught using a traditional method of instruction through the use of Mathematics: Applications and Connections, Course 2® in seventh-grade. The research design was a quasi-experimental design, with 65 students participating. Group A received a traditional method of instruction through the use of Mathematics: Applications and Connections, Course 2 and Group B received …

Central Mississippi Teachers' Perceptions Of Effective Behaviors Of Principals Trained Using The Orientation For School Leaders Training Module (Osl), Spurgeon Banyard

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers perceptions of administrators who completed Mississippi's Orientation for School Leaders Training (OSL) Module. This study was conducted with an emphasis on determining whether school administrators who have been trained using OSL were implementing the knowledge gained from the training to be deemed effective in the areas of school governance, instructional leadership, and school culture and climate. Participants in this study consisted of a population of 109 teachers from Central Mississippi. This study used a causal comparative research design to examine differences among teachersâ?? perceptions of the principalsâ?? leadership qualities. The instrument …

Characterization Of Blood Flow In A Capillary Tube, Tammy Lynn Ladner

Theses and Dissertations

To better understand how platelets behave when exposed to high shear stress, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models for single-layer (uniform and constant) viscosity flow and two-layer (two distinct regions of different viscosities) viscosity flow were developed. The single-layer model, which represents common standard practice, did not predict the pressure drop correctly; the error produced from using the single-layer model was approximately 95%. However, the two-layer model produced results that were within 6% of the experimental results. Experimental results used to validate CFD models were obtained from data gathered by researchers at University Medical Center (UMC) in Jackson, MS. Using Fluent …