Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Scheduling On Criterion-Referenced Assessments In Arkansas High Schools, Sheila Marie Trinkle

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in achievement on the end of course assessment in Geometry and the Grade 11 Literacy exam administered to students in Arkansas during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school years. The three main types of scheduling are the traditional schedule with seven or eight periods; the A/B, or the alternating block; and the 4 x 4, or accelerated block. The traditional was utilized by 90% of schools in Arkansas during this time frame. The A/B block and 4 x 4 block were used almost equally, each representing approximately 5% of Arkansas schools. …

Returning The Ticket: Rejecting God In Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov And Hardy's Jude The Obscure, Molly Throgmorton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fyodor Dostoevsky and Thomas Hardy both explored the intricacies of the burgeoning spiritual crisis of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in their works. The two most prominent of these works, Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov and Hardy's Jude the Obscure, show the stories of two characters, Ivan and Jude respectively, that choose to reject God. This thesis explores the connection between these two characters, specifically as they represent the two authors' outsider characters. It looks at the reasons behind their rejection, the ways that their rejection plays out in their lives, and the novels' alternatives, namely Christianity and selfless …

The Adult Workers' Perceptions Of The Residual Effects Of Secondary Career Technical Education, Rosa Michele Henehan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The current research, The Adult Workers' Perceptions of the Residual Effects of Secondary Career Technical Education, asks the question: Are adult workers in the implementation and stabilization stages of career development influenced by their former experiences in the secondary career technical education (CTE) centers? Based on the theoretical foundations of Super's theory of career development and Mezirow's theory of transformative learning, the purpose of this sequential, mixed-methods relational study was to investigate the adult worker's perceptions of prior engagement in career technical educational opportunities. Examining the relationships between the CTE experiences and the adult worker's progression through the career …

Earthworms Of Arkansas And Contributions Of Earthworm Evolutionary Origin And Ecological Group To Nitrogen Cycling In A Model Soil And Tall Fescue System, Peter John Tomlinson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Evolutionary origin and ecological niche may impact how earthworm species affect N cycling. Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb) S. J. Darbysh) infection with the toxic endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum Glenn, Bacon & Hanlin (E+) may influence earthworm communities in soil compared to non-toxic endophyte (NE+) infected tall fescue. Conversely, different earthworms may contribute different amounts of N to E+ vs. NE+ tall fescue. A field survey was conducted from January 2007 to January 2008 to determine the impact of E+ and NE+ tall fescue, planting date, and seasonal variables, e.g. soil temperature and moisture, on earthworm species, abundances, and population …

Sublime Beauty & Horrible Fucking Things - The Finer Worlds Of Warren Ellis, William James Allred

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work constitutes an in-depth discussion of the muted postmodern characteristics of contemporary comics writer and novelist Warren Ellis, highlighting his major long-form works within comics, Planetary, Transmetropolitan, StormWatch, and The Authority, as well as several shorter works such as Ocean, Orbiter, and Global Frequency. In addition, Ellis is situated within the British science fiction tradition, specifically, the British Boom movement which contains other comics writers such as Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore.

Effect Of Supplemental Trace Mineral Source (Organic Versus Inorganic) On Bull Semen Quality, Matt Rowe

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Studies indicate that organic forms of trace minerals can improve cow reproductive performance, particularly during periods of stress. However, limited information is available on the effects of organic trace mineral supplementation on bull fertility. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic versus inorganic trace mineral supplementation on bull semen quality before and after freezing, as measured by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Angus and Balancer bulls were assigned to inorganic (n = 9) and organic (n = 10) trace mineral treatments, based on initial semen quality, breed, body weight, and age. The bulls were maintained in …

Gender Equity And Differences In Support In The Vocational Rehabilitation System, Jennifer Faye Featherston

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Women with disabilities have different vocational rehabilitation (VR) experiences than men with disabilities. When they enter the VR system, they tend to be older, divorced, primary caregivers, more dependent on public assistance, and have less education and less work experience than their male counterparts. Given these differences, women may need to receive different treatment than men, yet the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Pub.L. 88-352, 78 Stat. 241, July 2, 1964) and the Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment state that men and women must be treated equally within the state-federal vocational rehabilitation system. Because they have been out …

Modeling Of Sic P-Channel Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (Igbts), Mahmood Saadeh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A new physics-based IGBT compact model has been developed for circuit simulation of silicon (Si) or silicon carbide (SiC) devices. The model accurately predicts the steady-state output, transfer and switching characteristics of the IGBT under a variety of different conditions. This is the first IGBT model to predict the behavior of p-channel SiC IGBTs. Previous work on IGBT models has focused on Si n-channel IGBTs [1-3]. This unified model is not limited to SiC p-channel IGBTs; the user has the option to select between Si or SiC, and n-channel or p-channel, making it the first IGBT model that captures the …

State Mandated Disability Insurance As Salve To The Consumer Bankruptcy Imbroglio, Alena Allen

BYU Law Review

From Main Street to Wall Street, Americans are hurting. In 2009, over 1.4 million families filed for bankruptcy. Researchers examining the causes of bankruptcy discovered that as many as sixty-two percent of all bankruptcies were precipitated by a medical crisis. Because many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and lack disability insurance, when a medical crisis strikes, bank accounts are quickly depleted by the amalgam of high medical bills and lost wages. Disability insurance provides needed wage replacement when a worker is unable to work due to an illness or injury. This Article presents the case for statemandated disability insurance …

Adverse Publicity By Administrative Agencies In The Internet Era, Nathan Cortez

BYU Law Review

Nearly forty years ago, Ernest Gellhorn documented the potentially devastating impact that can occur when federal agencies issue adverse publicity about private parties. Based on his article, the Administrative Conference of the United States recommended that courts, Congress, and agencies hold agencies to clear standards for issuing such publicity. In the decades since, some agencies have adopted standards, but most have not, and neither the courts nor Congress has intervened to impose standards. Today, agencies continue to use countless forms of publicity to pressure alleged regulatory violators and to amplify their overall enforcement powers—all without affording due process or other …

Moral Mandate Or Personal Preference? Possible Avenues For Accommodation Of Civil Servants Morally Opposed To Facilitating Same-Sex Marriage, Matthew Chandler

BYU Law Review

No abstract provided.

Regulation, "Republican Moments," And Energy Policy Reform, David B. Spence

BYU Law Review

No abstract provided.

Hydraulic Fracturing And "Spotty" Regulation: Why The Federal Government Should Let States Control Unconventional Onshore Drilling, Matt Willie

BYU Law Review

No abstract provided.

Humanitarian Law Project And The Supreme Court's Construction Of Terrorism, Wadie E. Said

BYU Law Review

No abstract provided.

Letting The Legislature Decide: Why The Court's Use Of In Loco Parentis Ought To Be Praised, Not Condemned, Tyler Stoehr

BYU Law Review

No abstract provided.

The New Resident Evil? State Regulation Of Violent Video Games And The First Amendment, James Dunkelberger

BYU Law Review

No abstract provided.

Bird Life On A 38-Hectare Plot In Brazos County With Comparison To Publications On Bird Life In The County, John Hale

Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society

Over a one-year period, I conducted weekly avian surveys on a 38-ha plot in southern Brazos County. The land was typical of the rural and suburban post oak savannah of the area. The survey resulted in 84 species in six different categories. Results were compared to Davis (1940) resulting in 9 changes in status and 11 additions.

Toxic Marine Microalgae And Shellfish Poisoning In The British Isles: History, Review Of Epidemiology, And Future Implications, Sl Hinder, Gc Hays, Cj Brooks, Ap Davies, Et Al

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The relationship between toxic marine microalgae species and climate change has become a high profile and well discussed topic in recent years, with research focusing on the possible future impacts of changing hydrological conditions on Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) species around the world. However, there is very little literature concerning the epidemiology of these species on marine organisms and human health. Here, we examine the current state of toxic microalgae species around the UK, in two ways: first we describe the key toxic syndromes and gather together the disparate reported data on their epidemiology from UK records and monitoring procedures. …

Dove Density In The Rio Grande Delta: 2007-2008, Michael F. Small, Margaret L. Collins, John T. Baccus, Jared B. Timmons

Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society

We used a grid sampling method to estimate Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) and White-winged Dove (Z. asiatica) densities in south Texas via distance sampling. We sampled over summers in 2007 and 2008 and calculated mean estimated density across years as well. Time (between years) did not affect density estimates for Mourning Doves but was significantly different for White-winged Doves. Species’ distribution and a separate banding study suggest a possible reason for the difference between years in White-winged Dove density estimates.

Habitat Use By Great-Tailed Grackles (Quiscalus Mexicanus) In Urban And Peri-Urban Habitats Of San Marcos, Hays County, Texas, Corey M. King, Thomas R. Simpson, John T. Baccus, M. Clay Green

Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society

Great-tailed Grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) are habitat generalists occupying a wide variety of environments except dense forests and prairies lacking nearby water sources. Golf courses, campuses, lawns, parks, and avenue rights-of-way are inhabited in urban and suburban areas. However, examination of seasonal use of habitats in urban environments is limited. We documented seasonal use of urban and peri-urban habitats in San Marcos, Hays County, Texas. We compared habitat use by program Presence to apply the best fit model explaining occupancy within habitats. Principal components analysis suggested differences in woody vegetation among study sites. The best fit model incorporated occupancy, colonization, and …

Influence Of Invasive Tanglehead Grass On Northern Bobwhite Nesting And Habitat Use In South Texas, Michael C. Buelow, Leonard A. Brennan, Fidel Hernández, Timothy E. Fulbright

Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society

Tanglehead grass (Heteropogon contortus; hereafter tanglehead) has historically occurred in small, isolated patches across south Texas. During the past 10–15 years, however, tanglehead has undergone a rapid expansion in south Texas similar to the spread of other introduced exotic grasses. Tanglehead can form extensive and exceptionally dense stands of grass that may result in reduced usable habitat space for the Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter bobwhite) in south Texas. Our objectives were to assess how the presence of vast and dense areas of tanglehead influenced nesting and general habitat use by bobwhites on south Texas rangelands. We monitored bobwhite nesting …

Colonial Waterbird Survey, Brent Ortego, Marc Ealy, Greg Creacy, Larry Lebeau

Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff and volunteers conducted ground and air surveys of inland colonial waterbird nest sites at 584 locations in Texas from 1973 through 2004. There was an average of 472,466 nesting pairs sighted per year at all colonies. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea), Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) and Great Egret (Ardea alba) were the most abundant species. The Oaks and Prairie Bird Conservation Region (BCR 21) had the most colonies with 171 and 269,210 nesting pairs. The total for the average densities for each colony from ground surveys from 1981-1990 in …

The Conduit, Volume 11, No. 2, December 2011, Annette Summers Engel

The KWI Conduit

Contents: Welcome to The Conduit -- Upcoming 2012 Karst Award Banquet -- Wilson Scholarship Funding Available -- KWI Happenings -- Upcoming Karst-Related Conferences and News -- A Karst Session at the Fall AGU meeting -- 2013 KWI Conference: Carbon and Boundaries in Karst Recent KWI Conference: “Carbonate Geochemistry” -- Photo mosaic from “Carbonate Geochemistry” conference

Special Index To Volume 82, 2011, Tennessee Ornithological Society

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Minutes Of Board Of Directors 2011 Fall Meeting, Cyndi Routledge

The Migrant - Tennessee Ornithological Society

No abstract provided.

Does Responding On Progressive Ratio Schedule Of Reinforcement Vary As A Function Of Phase In Estrous Cycle?, Armandina M. Sanchez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual and estrous cycle have been found to influence a variety of behavioral and physical responses in humans and animals, respectively. Impulsive behavior has been associated with the luteal phase of the cycle. Progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement has been widely used to assess the strength of reinforcers. In the present study, a comparison was made between the rate of motor activity, lever pressing, of early and late estrous groups. Differences between the groups were not statistically significant. Further analysis explored subjects individually. Visual examination of the data reveal extreme variability in responding, which coupled with …

Probabilistic Framework For Image Understanding Applications Using Bayesian Networks, Mustafa Jaber

Theses

Machine learning algorithms have been successfully utilized in various systems/devices. They have the ability to improve the usability/quality of such systems in terms of intelligent user interface, fast performance, and more importantly, high accuracy. In this research, machine learning techniques are used in the field of image understanding, which is a common research area between image analysis and computer vision, to involve higher processing level of a target image to "make sense" of the scene captured in it. A general probabilistic framework for image understanding where topics associated with (i) collection of images to generate a comprehensive and valid database, …

Captain Pierce's Fight: An Investigation Into A King Philip's War Battle And Its Remembrance And Memorialization, Lawrence K. Lacroix

Graduate Masters Theses

On March 26, 1676 Native Americans from southern New England overran a company of Plymouth Colony militia, handing the English one of their worst defeats during King Philip's War. This study was concerned with the reconstruction of the Pierce Battle, as it has come to be known, and its eventual memorialization. The study's two main research questions were: First, to what extent did a complete and critical examination of the primary and secondary sources change, support, or add to the commonly accepted battle perspective? Second, in what ways did a contextual analysis of King Philip's War monuments in Rhode Island …

An Emptying Village: Transformations In Architecture And Spatial Organization At Streamstown Village, Co. Galway, Meagan K. Conway

Graduate Masters Theses

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Ireland was a country of instability. The population rose rapidly, and traditional farming practices shifted to accommodate the rapidly changing population in addition to incorporating and almost entirely depending on a new crop, the potato. A spattering of famine years culminating in the Great Famine of 1847-1850 created an unstable environment for rural Irish farmers and factored into massive depopulation of the western counties. Abandonment of the western counties created dozens of empty villages across the landscape, the majority of which are comprised of stone structures located in farmland and in varying degrees of …

The Marketplace Of Boston: Macrobotanical Remains From Faneuil Hall, Ciana Faye Meyers

Graduate Masters Theses

Residents of Boston in the eighteenth century utilized a wide range of botanical materials in their daily lives, navigating complex urban marketing systems and utilizing their own individual ingenuity to procure botanical resources. The one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three botanical remains recovered from a "community midden" underneath the present-day Faneuil Hall represents a diverse collection of taxa which encodes information not only about the localized dietary practices of colonial urban residents, but also helps to illuminate the more subtle ramifications of Boston's participation in the Atlantic economy on the lives of its residents. These botanical remains represent taxa from …