Digital Commons Network^™

Design Of Covalently Dynamic Films And Coatings: Analysis Of Biocatalyzed Kinetic Behavior In Soft Condensed Matter, Pirro Cipi

Dissertations

Reversibly adjusting surface and bulk properties of materials is advantageous to many applications and will vastly expand current polymer capabilities. A novel strategy was developed to render materials capable of “smart” surface and bulk properties with the aid of embedded biocatalyst and latent functional groups that are selectively activated in the presence of biocatalyst to undergo chemical transformation. The research presented herein focused on systematically characterizing the activity of lipase catalysts embedded in poly (alkyl methacrylate)s simultaneously with functionalized components, either as diffusing within the polymeric matrix or tethered to the matrix. Lipase activity, ester forming (synthetic) or ester breaking …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Acceptor: Donor Block Copolymers For Organic Photovoltaics, Brandon Cory Achord

Dissertations

Mankind needs sources of clean power. Photovoltaic (PV) cells, in use since 1839, have proven reliable and practical for certain applications. PV cell efficiency has changed over the years from 1-2% to ultra-high efficiency cells operating at efficiencies greater than 40%. Organic photovoltaics are a potential transformative technology platform. The potential for cell use, efficiency and cost are all parts of the research and development focus at the time this document was written. This research was initiated with a focus on the synthesis and understanding of the variables effecting acceptor-donor block copolymer. The self-assembled morphology resulting from varying volume ratios …

Movement Ecology Of An Intercontinental Migratory Bird During Spring Stopover, Emily Beth Cohen

Dissertations

Movement ecology is a component of nearly all aspects of animal behavior and an animal’s decision to move is likely influenced by a complex combination of exogenous and endogenous factors. Therefore, an examination of the causes and consequences of organismal movement provides a conceptual framework for understanding complex behavioral strategies. My dissertation research is focused on the movement ecology of an intercontinental migratory songbird during spring migration. I adopted experimental approaches to study the factors influencing how a songbird migrant, red-eyed vireos (Vireo olivaceus), makes decisions in unfamiliar landscapes from the initiation of spring stopover.

I simulated the …

The Effects Of Simplified Schema-Based Instruction On Elementary Students' Mathematical Word Problem Solving Performance, Houbin Lewis Fang

Dissertations

This study is an evidence-based mathematical intervention in word problem solving for elementary students. One of the purposes of teaching mathematics is to help students apply mathematics to real life situations. As we know, teaching word problem solving is a very suitable format for this purpose. Schema-based instruction (SBI) is one of the most supported methods for teaching word problem solving. In the current literature, there are four steps in SBI: identifying the problem type, applying corresponding method, determining an operation, and solving the problem. The problem with the current SBI is that there are no agreed-upon definitions for word …

Causal Attributions Of Nontraditional Students In A Developmental Mathematics Course At A Two-Year College, Jacob Dasinger

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship existed between exam grades and students' causal attributions of their grades in a developmental mathematics course at a community college. Also investigated were differences in causal attributions of grades between Traditional and Nontraditional students. In addition, among Nontraditional students, differences based on gender were examined. The sample consisted of 331 completed questionnaires from 24 sections at a southern community college in the Spring 2010 semester.

The instrument used was a self-report questionnaire consisting of four parts: (a) demographic data section; (b) seven questions to determine students' classification; (c) short …

Closing The Gap Between Teacher Perception And Response To Intervention (Rti) Student Achievement, Melissa A. Hyatt Bouchér

Dissertations

Many communities rely on public schools to educate and properly train students who become the future members of society. So with educational groundwork constantly changing, districts are charged with excelling in various areas like Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and Quality of Distribution Index (QDI). One area within that concern focuses on student behavior prevention programs by improving student achievement and increasing state test scores. Educational leaders reexamine teacher qualifications, rigor and relevance in classroom instruction, class size reduction, and providing effective professional development sessions aligning in accordance to each school’s vision and goals.

The purpose of this study was to …

Heinzelmännchen Oder Schoko-Kuchen? Practicing The (Nearly) Lost Art Of Translation In The Business German Classroom, Sandra L. Summers

Global Business Languages

In today’s foreign language curriculum, translation exercises (once a staple of language instruction) have been neglected, if not completely dropped. However, German employers who hire American interns expect them to regularly translate business correspondence or even interpret for visitors. In this article I make a case for reincorporating translation training into the business language curriculum and offer suggestions and examples on how to enhance lesson plans with effective exercises.

Review: Working Portuguese For Beginners. Monica Rector, Regina Santos, Marcelo Amorim, With M. Lynne Gerber. Washington Dc: Georgetown University Press, 2010, Orlando R. Kelm

Global Business Languages

No abstract provided.

Exploratory Study In Pilot Communications: Verbal Versus Texting Communication, Lauren J. Steele

Aviation Technology Graduate Student Publications

Text messaging has been the cause of numerous vehicle accidents, and studies have been done in simulated driving tests to support this. The use of iPads in the cockpit has increased since the technology has been introduced and the proposed research seeks to investigate whether an iPad causes distraction for pilots. This study explored the differences in two different forms of communication – verbal and texting. Primary errors were in altitude deviations during text communication. Text messaging in the cockpit is not necessarily a distraction for pilots, but takes away from the scan of instruments resulting in errors.

List Of Contributors, Allen G. Wood

Global Business Languages

No abstract provided.

Introduction: Partnerships And New Alliances, Allen G. Wood

Global Business Languages

As we go to press, Greece is poised on the brink, yet again it seems, of defaulting on its massive debt, with predictions and fears of local, regional, and perhaps ultimately global dire consequences. The interconnectedness of economies around the globe has come into sharp focus as the prospects of financial crisis, perhaps even collapse, in the eurozone threatens to drag down the weak economic recovery in the United States, and adversely affect Asian economic stability. The past few years have shown all too clearly that globalization has a very real downside. Yet we hope to avoid a major crisis, …

Retaining Engineering Students Through A January Term German Immersion Study Tour, Sigrid Berka

Global Business Languages

Retention of engineering students is a national and international concern, since a globalizing world needs ever more culturally competent and technically adept graduates to fulfill the work force demands of companies operating globally. The data on retention of engineering students agrees that the freshman year is of critical importance; we fi nd that only about 40 to 50% of the students graduate with an engineering degree. The International Engineering Program (IEP) organizes a 10 to 14-day German Study Tour during January break, which is an effective retention tool for students enrolled in The University of Rhode Island’s demanding five-year dual …

On The Cover

Sci-Tech News

No abstract provided.

Engineering Division, Kathryn Breininger

Sci-Tech News



Science-Technology Division, Joseph R. Kraus, Sarah K. Oelker, Emily Kasuto, Cynthia M. Cohen

Sci-Tech News

No abstract provided.

Web Reviews: Qr Codes For Sci-Tech Libraries, Lisa Johnston

Sci-Tech News

QR Codes are popping up everywhere…classroom walls, conference posters, and even T-shirts (http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/09shirt.html). These “Quick Response” Codes are essentially 2D barcodes that work with your mobile phone’s built-in camera and a reader application ( like “Google Goggles”) to easily point to a web-site or application with one click…rather than typing in a full URL. They also can add a bit of excitement or tech savvy to your promotion materials, such as displays and signs in the library and are very easy to implement.

Recently a group of librarians in my library got together to brainstorm how we can …

Sci-Tech Book News Reviews, Susan Fingerman

Sci-Tech News

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Cost-Effectiveness Of Roadside Culvert Treatments, Francisco Daniel B. De Albuquerque, Dean L. Sicking, Ronald K. Faller, Karla A. Lechtenberg

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Roadside cross-drainage culverts have been found to affect vehicle accident injury levels. As a result, highway designers have commonly used three safety treatments to protect errant motorists from striking culvert openings. These safety treatments have included: culvert extension, guardrail installation, and the application of safety grating. However, the identification of the most appropriate safety treatment for roadside culverts may be challenging; accident costs may dramatically change under different road and traffic characteristics. The purpose of this study was to estimate accident costs for a wide range of road and traffic scenarios and then define the safest treatment (i.e., treatment with …

Technologies Enabling Sustainability In The Built Environment, Mahmoud Alahmad, Muhammad Zulfiqar, Hosen Hasna Hh, Timothy Wisnieski, Nasser Aljuhaishi, Hamid Sharif

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Energy conservation is among society’s greatest challenges, and the built environment has a concentrated impact on our natural environment, economy, and health. Fundamental understandings of how energy is consumed, monitored, and controlled are key prerequisites for an energy conservation process. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of real-time energy monitors (RTM) to influence behavior change in residential consumers. A methodology for remote identification of load types along the electrical circuitry where they (load) are being consumed is also presented. The load type and status (on, off, standby) are determined both remotely and in a non-intrusive manner using Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring Methods. …

And They Were There: Reports Of Meetings -- 2010 Charleston Pre-Conference And Conference, Sever Bordeianu

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Trends In Health Sciences And Biomedical Sciences Information Provision, Ramune K. Kubilius

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Publisher Profile: Springer

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

If Rumors Were Horses, Katina Strauch

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

@Brunning: People & Technology: At The Only Edge That Means Anything / How We Understand What We Do, Dennis Brunning

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Op Ed -- The Death Of The Bookless Library, S. David Mash Ph.D.

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Atg Interviews Springer, Tom Gilson, Katina Strauch

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

The Challenge Of Transcultural Competence: Background Reading Of Target Culture Current Events Articles, Norbert Hedderich

Global Business Languages

At the lower and intermediate-levels of language instruction, students do not have sufficient language proficiency to inform themselves about current events in the target language. Knowledge of current events is an important part of cultural competence and should not be absent from instruction because of linguistic restrictions. This article proposes to remedy this problem, by creating out-of-class reading assignments of current events articles from US and international English language news sources. The article provides practical information on selection criteria for articles, suggests news sources, and gives examples of assignments.

Full Page Ads

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Correlation Among Library Facilities: An Analytical Study, Srinavasa Rao

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Libraries are hub of knowledge mines. They are central and integral part of academic life; they are the heart of a university (Balaram, 2001). The primary function of the academic libraries is to serve users for meeting their best academic commitments. They are the channel for academicians to imparting education through means of teaching, learning and research. The education can also fundamentally be developed through optimal utilization of libraries and information services (Magara and Batambuze, 2009). The mode of education becomes liberal, affordable, universal and easy interface through the library system. Users able to search, access, retrieve and disseminate educational …

Education For Information Professionals In Bangladesh: A Case Study Of The University Of Dhaka, A.I.M. Jakaria Rahman, Momena Khatun, Dr. Mohammed Mezbah-Ul-Islam

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Professional competence is achieved through University education. University is the place where the root of knowledge in a field of study is fabricated. It is also the forum where research and professional queries begin. As such, the curriculum is not only for the forming of knowledge but also for the forming of attitudes, academic and professional approaches. The impact of a departmental curriculum is far greater than the mere transfer of knowledge. Syllabus or courses of studies are one-dimensional document that embody the subjects and contents outline with broad time allocation. Curriculum is three-dimensional, and takes into account the needs …