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The Influence Of Departmental Affiliation And Pedagogical Training On Faculty Adoption Of Innovative Pedagogical Methods In Georgia Technical Colleges, Linda G. Grisham

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This quantitative study used factorial design and survey research to examine the influence of departmental affiliation and pedagogical training on full-time faculty members’ (n = 2193) working in the Technical College System of Georgia. The tool for data collections was a web-survey instrument, modified with permission from the Faculty Survey on Teaching, Learning and Assessment” (Matney, 2001).

Two independent variables (departmental affiliation and level of pedagogical training in active learning practices) and three dependent variables (participation in the scholarship of teaching and learning, introduction of new teaching techniques, and active learning practices) were measured by responses on a 5-point Likert-scale. …

Costs Of Implementing Collective Action And Capacity Building Among Pastoralists In Southern Ethiopia, D. Layne Coppock, Seyoum Tezera, Solomon Desta

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Since 2000, the PARIMA project has implemented risk-management activities among semi-settled pastoralists in southern Ethiopia. The goal has been to improve human welfare via collective action and capacity building. Outcomes include progress in income generation, asset conservation, and livelihood diversification. Fifty-nine collective-action groups were created. Dominated by women, they included over 2,000 founding members and groups have recently merged to form 37 cooperatives, consistent with government policy. Creating sustainable impacts via collective action and capacity building requires many inputs. Taking raw, illiterate volunteers and transforming them into sustainable groups took up to three years, on average. Costs of implementing this …

On The Accuracy And Stability Of A Variety Of Differential Quadrature Formulations For The Vibration Analysis Of Beams, C. H. W. Ng, Yibao Zhao, Y. Xiang, G. W. Wei

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The occurrence of spurious complex eigenvalues is a serious stability problem in many differential quadrature methods (DQMs). This paper studies the accuracy and stability of a variety of different differential quadrature formulations. Special emphasis is given to two local DQMs. One utilizes both fictitious grids and banded matrices, called local adaptive differential quadrature method (LaDQM). The other has banded matrices without using fictitious grids to facilitate boundary conditions, called finite difference differential quadrature methods (FDDQMs). These local DQMs include the classic DQMs as special cases given by extending their banded matrices to full matrices. LaDQMs and FDDQMs are implemented on …

An Isomorphism Theorem For Graphs, Laura Culp

Theses and Dissertations

In the 1970’s, L. Lovász proved that two graphs G and H are isomorphic if and only if for every graph X , the number of homomorphisms from X → G equals the number of homomorphisms from X → H . He used this result to deduce cancellation properties of the direct product of graphs. We develop a result analogous to Lovász’s theorem, but in the class of graphs without loops and with weak homomorphisms. We apply it prove a general cancellation property for the strong product of graphs.

A Study Of Land Use Planning Practices And The Relationship Between Population Distribution And Transportation Infrastructure In Kathmandu, Nepal., Walter Suwal

Theses and Dissertations

This particular paper is meant to investigate planning in Kathmandu, Nepal specifically land use planning practices and the implications on the transportation network(s). Very early on in the research including existing land use (if any), and current transportation networks, it was clear that investigations must be made into the political and planning situation leading up to the modern era in Nepal. The overview of past political events is necessary to explain current planning trends and techniques, and also the mindset of the people of Kathmandu towards planning. Of course universal planning truths can be applied in various international contexts, but …

Some New Problems In Changepoint Analysis, Jonathan Woody

All Dissertations

Climatological studies have often neglected changepoint effects when modeling
various physical phenomena. Here, changepoints are plausible whenever a station location moves or its instruments are changed. There is frequently meta-data to
perform sound statistical inferences that account for changepoint
information. This dissertation focuses on two such problems in changepoint analysis.
The first problem we investigate involves assessing trends
in daily snow depth series. Here, we introduce a stochastic storage model. The model allows for seasonal features, which permits the
analysis of daily data. Changepoint times are shown to greatly influence estimated trends in one snow depth series and are accounted …

On The Testing And Estimation Of High-Dimensional Covariance Matrices, Thomas Fisher

All Dissertations

Many applications of modern science involve a large number of parameters. In
many cases, the number of parameters, p, exceeds the number of observations,
N. Classical multivariate statistics are based on the assumption that the
number of parameters is fixed and the number of observations is large. Many of
the classical techniques perform poorly, or are degenerate, in high-dimensional
situations.
In this work, we discuss and develop statistical methods for inference of
data in which the number of parameters exceeds the number of observations.
Specifically we look at the problems of hypothesis testing regarding and the
estimation of the covariance …

Metal Oxide And Mercuric Sulfide Nanoparticles Synthesis And Characterization, Xin Xu

All Dissertations

Increasing applications of nanoparticles (NPs), such as metal oxide and mercuric sulfide NPs, lead to heightened environmental concern. Challenges to the study of natural and engineered NPs include the physical and chemical characterizations.
Commercially available and laboratory-synthesized metal based NPs, iron oxide (Fe2O3), copper oxide (CuO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO) and mercuric sulfide (HgS) were studied by comprehensive characterizations methods. The general synthesis process was modified sol-gel method. The size and morphology of NPs could be influenced by temperature, sonication, calcination, precursor concentration, pH and types of reaction media. In the synthesis of nZnO in ethanol, the essential …

Decoding Of Multipoint Algebraic Geometry Codes Via Lists, Nathan Drake

All Dissertations

Algebraic geometry codes have been studied greatly since their introduction by Goppa . Early study had focused on algebraic geometry codes CL(D;G) where G was taken to be a multiple of a single point. However, it has been shown that if we allow G to be supported by more points, then the associated code may have better parameters. We call such a code a multipoint code and if G is supported by m points, then we call it an m-point code. In this dissertation, we wish to develop a decoding algorithm for multipoint codes. We show how we can embed …

Atom Scattering From Metals, William Hayes

All Dissertations

In the initial portion of this dissertation studies of Ar
scattering from Ru(0001) at thermal and hyperthermal energies are
compared to calculations with classical scattering theory. These
data exhibited a number of characteristics that are unusual in
comparison to other systems for which atomic beam experiments have
been carried out under similar conditions. The measured energy
losses were unusually small. Some of the angular distributions
exhibited an anomalous shoulder feature in addition to a broad
peak near the specular direction and quantum mechanical
diffraction was observed under conditions for which it was not
expected. Many of the unusual features observed …

Characterization Of Escherichia Coli Related To Construction Site Sediment Basins, Calvin Sawyer

All Dissertations

Large construction sites can have significant temporary and permanent impacts on the physical landscape. Excess sediment is frequently deposited into nearby surface waters, altering benthic habitat, reducing water clarity and transporting other pollutants such as enteric bacteria. To capture eroded soil and attenuate storm discharge peaks, many permitted construction projects larger than 10 acres in South Carolina require the installation of a sediment basin. Sediment-laden runoff is routed to a newly excavated impoundment, where larger particles settle out of suspension. Thus an entirely new hydrologic feature designed to concentrate eroded sediment and water is introduced into the landscape.
Eight construction …

A Partnership Based Approach To Professional Learning: Pre-Service And In-Service Teachers Working Together To Teach Primary Science, John Kenny

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This paper reports on a partnership based approach for preparing pre-service primary teachers to teach science. It involved forming three-way or "triadic" partnerships, consisting of a final year pre-service primary teacher and an in-service colleague, to teach science in the colleague teacher’s classroom, with the support of a teacher-educator. The pre-service teachers had to collaboratively plan, develop and deliver a sequence of science lessons and take major responsibility for teaching a 90 minute science lesson, at least once a week over a six week period. The data was collected during 2007 and 2008. The pre-service teachers kept a reflective journal …

Teaching Out-Of-Field In Western Australia, Andrew Mcconney, Anne Price

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

A former head of the American Federation of Teachers, Albert Shanker, once called out-of-field teaching education’s “dirty little secret” (Ingersoll, 2003, p. 5). The practice of allowing or assigning teachers to teach subjects or year levels for which they do not have any formal qualifications has lead to considerable debate within the educational community. Such concerns over the possible negative impact of out-of-field teaching on students, teachers and the broader school community led the Western Australian College of Teaching (WACOT) to commission an exploratory empirical study of the extent of the phenomenon in Western Australia. This paper presents the main …

Error Estimation For An Integrated Gps/Ins System Using Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Technique, Salam A., Ahmed M. Hassan, Ali F. Lutfy

Iraqi Journal of Computers, Communications, Control and Systems Engineering

Global Positioning System (GPS) and Strap down Inertial Navigation System (SDINS) can be Integrated Together To Provide A Reliable Navigation System. In This Paper, A Technique For Error Estimation In A GPS/INS System Based On A Low-Cost Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) Is Offered. This Technique Is Composed Of Wavelet Transform (WT) And Adaptive Fuzzy System (AFS). The Wavelet Decomposition Is Used To De-Noise The Position And Velocity Components Of The GPS And INS Outputs. An AFS Is Introduced In This Paper To Estimate The Position And Velocity Errors In The Integrated System In Order To Provide Accurate Navigation Information About …

A Lab View Based Data Acquisition System For Radial Temperature Distribution, Ahmed Mudher, Hazem I. Ali, Ali Farooq Lutfi

Iraqi Journal of Computers, Communications, Control and Systems Engineering

Lab VIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench) is gaining its popularity as a graphical programming language especially for data acquisition and measurement. This is due to the vast array of data acquisition cards and measurement systems which can be supported by LabVIEW as well as the relative ease by which advanced software can be programmed. One area of application of LabVEW is in the measuring and analyzing of radial temperature distribution. This paper describes a LabVIEW based data acquisition and analysis developed specifically for radial temperature distribution. The temperature is simultaneously measured and displayed.

Design Of A Stochastic Re-Configurable Artificial Neural Networks Using Fpga, Mutaz S., Hannan A. R. Akkar, Manal H. Jassim

Iraqi Journal of Computers, Communications, Control and Systems Engineering

This paper uses the theory of stochastic arithmetic as a solution for the FPGA implementation of a complex feed forward, multi layered neural network. Compared with the traditional digital implementations, the stochastic approach simplifies the computation inVolved and saves digital resources. The architecture combines stochastic computation techniques with a novel Look Up-Table-based that fully exploits the Look Up-Table structure of many FPGAs. Basic operations of simple ANN are mapped into a modular design. The system control module, random pulse generating module , bit stream generating module , LFSR_32(Liner Feedback Shift Register) sub module, modulator sub module, neuron module and bit …

Implementation Of Genetic Algorithm Using Fpga With Applications, Hanan A., Omar Arif Abdul-Rahman

Iraqi Journal of Computers, Communications, Control and Systems Engineering

This paper presents a design of a general purpose GA. It is described using the Very high speed integrated circuits Hardware Description Language (VHDL), which is one of the Hardware Description Languages (HDLs). The complete system is implemented in a single Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) platform using the Foundation 2.1i, which is a software tool from XILINX. The feasibility of the purposed FPGA-based GA (FPGAGA) is demonstrated by testing it using two case studies. The objective of the first test is to maximize mathematical functions (f(x) = 2x, f(x) = x+5 and f(x) =2x3 -45x2 +300x) over the domain …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Metallic, Core-Shell And Composite Nanoparticles, Amar Kumbhar

All Dissertations

ABSTRACT
Silver nanoparticles exhibit size, shape and the surrounding dielectric medium dependent optical properties (scattering and absorption) in the visible spectral region. These optical properties can be explained in terms of the collective oscillation of the 'free conduction band electrons' or 'surface plasmons' induced by an external electromagnetic field. Dipole and Quadrupole Plasmon resonances have been observed for silver particles less than 100nm in diameter prepared using various synthetic techniques. However higher order resonances have been elusive due to lack of experimental techniques to prepare colloidal solutions of large silver nanoparticles in the size range above 100nm. Controlled hydrogen reduction …

Development Of A Fluorescent Probe For Determination Of Water Transport In Subcellular Organelles, Adriana Chaurra-Arboleda

All Dissertations

Water transport has been widely studied in a variety of cells and isolated membranes. However, the intrinsic complexity related with the study of intracellular processes has delayed the development of an analytical technique for the study of water transport in subcellular compartments of living cells. This study represents the development and application of a ratiometric fluorescent probe to study water transport in endocytic organelles of intact living cells. The probe is based on the use of a D₂O-sensitive fluorophore, Lucifer yellow dextran (LY-dex), together with a D₂O-insensitive fluorophore, Alexa fluor 546 dextran (AF546-dex), used as an …

An Approach Designed For Reginal Prospective Human Health And Ecological Risk Assessment And Its Application To Mercury Risks From A Coal-Fired Power Plant, Pathratipa Sansayavichai

All Dissertations

A large and/or long-term released source of a toxic chemical(s) can cause adverse effects to humans and non–human species inhabiting all over the region. The overall goal of this dissertation was to improve practices in risk assessment concerning a regional risk posed by a prospective source. A generic conceptual framework for performing regional prospective human health and ecological risk assessment was developed. The formulation of a priori considerations was used to identify the possible sources of uncertainties in the prospective risk assessment. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling was utilized to reduce uncertainty in a toxicologically safe dose used in risk …

Exploring T. Brucei Hexokinase Biology: Localization And Inhibition Studies, Todd Lyda

All Dissertations

Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of the disease African sleeping sickness
in humans and nagana in animals, is a scourge of sub-Saharan Africa. There is a
desperate need for more efficacious therapies for the disease; here we describe research
validating T. brucei hexokinase 1 (TbHK1) as a drug therapeutic target for T. brucei
infection and the identification and characterization of novel inhibitors of the enzyme by
both low throughput and high throughput means. Additionally this thesis introduces
efforts at characterizing a second T. brucei hexokinase, focusing mostly on cell biology
and the determination of localization.
The small molecule quercetin (QCN) …

Polymeric Carbon Nanocomposites - Preparation, Characterization, And Properties, Lucia Veca

All Dissertations

Excellent thermal properties of carbon nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and newly discovered graphene make them the filler of choice for the development of thermal management materials. Graphene has been viewed as “ unrolled single-walled carbon nanotube and as a wonder material with many superlatives to its name ” thus there is an excessive interest in developing new synthetic routes towards large scale production of high quality graphene nanosheets.
In this dissertation, we report different methods that could further exfoliate the commercially available expanded graphite to nanometer sized carbon structures, “carbon nanosheets ”, for their use in highly thermal conductive …

Wide Area Monitoring And Control, Manish Patel

All Dissertations

Today's interconnected power system is deregulated for wholesale power transfers. In 1996 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission provided open access of the transmission network to utilities. Since then utilities are transferring power over long distances to bring reliable and economical electric supply to their customers. As the number of wholesale power transactions taking place over an interconnected system are increasing, system operators in control areas are forced to monitor the grid on a large scale to operate it reliably. Before scheduling such a large scale power transactions, it is necessary to make sure that such transaction will not violate system operating …

Computational Environment For The Development Of An Faa Compliant Level 6 Flight Training Device, Steven Mullins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A flight simulator can successfully achieve its purpose only if equipped with adequate mathematical models of the aircraft, its sub-systems, and the environment. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has instituted stringent regulations to ensure that flight simulators used for pilot training reach desirable levels of accuracy and fidelity. The purpose of this thesis is to present the development and application of a design strategy and the computational environment associated to it for building an aircraft simulation model that meets the FAA regulations for flight simulator performance. The proposed methodology is based on using flight test data in combination with …

Eleven Years Of Parima Activities In North-Central Kenya: Impacts On Egerton University And Neighboring Communities, D. Layne Coppock, Abdillahi Aboud, Mark Mutinda, Stellamaris Muthoka

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

The PARIMA project was created to improve the well-being of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia via risk-management research, training, and outreach. The project began to collaborate with Egerton University’s Department of Natural Resources in 1998 and many joint activities were undertaken over the next 11 years. Among them were regional household research on pastoral risks and their management, a training program for Egerton teaching staff to obtain post-graduate degrees, facilitation of Egerton faculty and staff to attend professional meetings, and provision of computer hardware and software that led to the creation of a GIS teaching and …

Simple Cooling Method Improves The Quality Of Marketed Camel Milk In Northern Kenya, D. Layne Coppock, A. O. Adongo, F. Wayua, I. J. Sagalla, H. K. Walaga, C. Amboga

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Milk marketing is important for many pastoralists to generate income, especially poor households with little else to sell. Milk is accumulated at pastoral settlements and transported to local markets on foot, by pack animals, or in vehicles. Despite challenges of heat and long-distance travel, pastoralists or traders do not attempt to cool marketed milk and possibly reduce risk of spoilage. Milk spoilage is an important problem that limits urban consumer demand. Our research objective was to determine effects of water-soaked hemp (burlap), wrapped around plastic jerry cans, on reducing milk temperature and enhancing quality of marketed camel milk, a key …

Can Pastoral Linkages To Livestock Markets Be Sustained In Southern Ethiopia?, D. Layne Coppock, Getachew Gebru, Solomon Desta, Seyoum Tezera, Zewdu Edea

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

The PARIMA project has facilitated collective action, empowerment of women, and increased involvement in livestock marketing among pastoralists on the Borana Plateau since 2001. Fifty-nine collective-action groups formed by PARIMA and her partners have been recently merged into market-oriented cooperatives, consistent with government policy. We used focus groups and participatory appraisals to assess the extent that market linkages have been sustained since previously reported in 2006. The markets have been growing, but are volatile. Members report they need access to early warning and livestock market-information systems, as well as more capital, to promote trade. Export firms have imposed added conditions …

The Role Of School Leadership In Student Achievement In Kenya, Renson Muchiri Mwangi

Student Scholarship

Despite ample documentation that mathematics mastery can affect national development and notwithstanding long instituted formal government initiatives to improve it, student mathematics performance at the secondary school level in Kenya has deteriorated. Studies on mathematics achievement in Kenya have primarily focused on teachers’ classroom practices neglecting the potential influence of school leadership. We conducted a qualitative study involving Kenyan school principles and other administrative and instructional staff to construct an account of how school leadership is enacted and experienced in the day-to-day practices and how it affects student mathematics mastery. Our findings suggest that principals’ leadership and engagement, demonstrated commitment, …

Fuzzy Linear Programming Problems, Marwan Abdul Hameed Ashour

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Optimize to improve decision-making in uncertain situations by using an Integrated Optimization Framework combining fuzzy and probabilistic constraints in line with linear programming methods (on analytical examination of fuzzy programming formulations by using their corresponding mathematical form and Approach). Through this use of fuzzy linear programming, the paper has helped to solve actual (real-world) production planning/scheduling problems experienced by The Iraqi Furniture Manufacturing Company. Predicting product demand through statistical time series forecasting Methods and modeling those forecasts as a probabilistic demand constraint (chance-constrained demand) form within the linear programming formulation. The use of this new Hybrid Approach allows for the …

Analysis Of The Theoretical Framework Of The Rea Accounting Model Used In The Design Of Accounting Information Systems, Salman Hussein Abdullah

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Researchers often equate database accounting models in general and the Resources-Events-Agents (REA) accounting model in particular with events accounting as proposed by Sorter (1969). In fact, REA accounting, database accounting, and events accounting are very different. Because REA accounting has become a popular topic in AIS research, it is important to agree on exactly what is meant by certain ideas, both in concept and in historical origin. This article clarifies the analyzing framework of REA accounting model and highlights the differences between the terms events accounting, database accounting, semantically-modeled accounting, and REA accounting. It also discusses potentially productive directions for …