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Ferritin-Based Photo-Oxidation Of Biomass For Nanoparticle Synthesis, Bioremediation, And Hydrogen Evolution, Oscar Petrucci

Theses and Dissertations

The cell is the basic unit of all living organisms. It is an amazing machine capable of self-replicating, growing, and synthesizing and shuttling thousands of compounds. To perform all of these activities the cell needs energy. The original source of energy for all living beings is the Sun. The energy of the sun is collected by the autotrophs (mostly plants) through photosynthesis and stored in the chemical bonds of carbohydrates and lipids through carboxylic acid intermediates; animals use these compounds to obtain the energy for their cells. Most of the energy extracted by the cell comes from the citric acid …

The Effect Of Age On Interhemispheric Transfer Time: An Event Related Potential Study, Amy Boyson

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The present study sought to investigate the effects of aging on interhemispheric transfer time (IHTT). Poffenberger (1912) devised a behavioural paradigm thought to be a measure of IHTT. In this paradigm IHTT is estimated by calculating the crossed-uncrossed difference (CUD); the difference in speed of response between responses made in response to stimuli contralateral to responding hand (crossed) and those made by hands ipsilateral to the stimuli (uncrossed). IHTT can also be estimated through event related potentials (ERPs) by calculating latency differences between the waveforms over the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres. Results from previous experiments comparing younger and older participants …

Algorithms For The Implementation Of A Dynamic Energy Pricing Policy, Manek Biswas

Theses - ALL

In the upcoming smart grid era, dynamic pricing using primarily data collected from smart meters installed in homes and businesses is a virtual certainty. The possibilities this feature may offer are many, and we examine in this study how subunits of the electricity grid may implement load scheduling given a model for predicting ever-changing energy prices over a day. We present a realistic linear model that utilities may use for implementing dynamic pricing, and argue how accurate prediction of this model by its customers may be profitable both for the utilities and their customers.

The thesis provides algorithms for achieving …

Nature Of Science Conceptions, Attitudes Towards Evolution And Global Climate Change, And Course Achievement In An Introductory Biology Course, Benjamin Elijah Carter

Theses - ALL

Many researchers have studied student attitudes toward and knowledge of evolutionary science, attitudes towards global climate change (GCC), conceptions about the nature of science (NOS), and course success. However, at the time of this writing, no studies explicitly link these topics.

It is overwhelmingly acknowledged by the scientific community that evolution and global climate change (GCC) are undeniably supported by physical evidence. And yet, both topics remain very politically contentious in the United States. Efforts to mitigate the disconnects between the scientific community and the general public on these issues are imperative to science education. Such undertakings need to examine …

Reducing Digestible Tidbits From Meaty Stock: Satisfying Varied Tastes With An Attractive Instructional Assessment Menu, Erika Bennett, Jennie Simning, Kim Staley

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2011

Do you collect streams of data that never see the light of day? Libraries are more frequently being held accountable for metrics via scorecards, dashboards, and other short snapshots of performance. Information Literacy practitioners have meanwhile moved away from tick-marks to a learning outcome assessment culture. This means that the full array of evaluative, formative and summative approaches-- competencies, tests, self-reports and rubrics-- can leave new librarians' heads spinning.

Learning outcomes data are hard to wrangle, let alone, in a digestible format, but fresh assessment approaches can fully illustrate the benefits of our varied media and modes of instruction. Instead …

The Ase Process Model: An Evidence-Based Approach To Information Literacy Instruction, Don Latham, Melissa Gross

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2011

This presentation will describe an innovative approach to information literacy instruction developed through an IMLS National Leadership Research Grant. The instruction is driven by data gathered from first-year college students with below-proficient information literacy skills. Session participants will be introduced to the ASE Process Model. ASE is an acronym for both the process itself (Analyze, Search, Evaluate) and the means by which it was developed (Asking Students about their Experiences). Participants will also be shown how they can implement the ASE Process Model in various types of information literacy instruction in their home institutions.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words: How Do Special Education Administrators Prevent And Resolve Conflict With Families?, Tracy Gershwin Mueller, Shawn Piantoni

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Conflict between parents of children with disabilities and school district members has been an ongoing issue for decades. Special education administrators are often designated to address conflict with the intent to find an amicable resolution. Otherwise, conflict can lead to due process hearings that move valuable time and money away from general district funds. Understanding how administrators informally address such conflict can guide leaders as they promote collaboration between the home and school. This paper presents a qualitative interview study of special education directors’ experiences with conflict prevention and resolution. Seven key action-based strategies that prevent and resolve conflict with …

Examining Co-Teaching Through A Socio-Technical Systems Lens, Robert S. Isherwood, Richael Barger-Anderson, Matthew Erickson

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Qualitative research was conducted in a large suburban school district implementing co-teaching as a new service delivery model for special education. Researchers examined the changes that resulted from the new service delivery model using a socio-technical systems lens. This framework views schools as open systems that contain a structural, task, human, and technical subsystem. The intent of the study was to document the changes in each of these subsystems resulting from the implementation of co-teaching and to provide educators with strategies to implement co-teaching in a seamless and effective manner. Unanticipated challenges included scheduling, teacher work ethic, personality compatibility, classroom …

No Teacher Left Behind: Educating Students With Asd And Adhd In The Inclusion Classroom, Michaela N. Jones, Kimberly P. Weber, T.F. Mclaughlin

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a token economy on on-task behaviors by two seventh grade boys with varying disabilities within a public school inclusion classroom setting. At the end of the study, the participant identified with ASD increased his on-task behaviors approximately 52%. The participant identified with ADHD increased about 59% and decreased an average of 3.3 talk-outs per minute, although there were environmental limitations that impacted the design and confounded the ability to determine an educational effect. One specific limitation was the lack of support for the general education teacher to influence …

Teacher Needs For Educating Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders In The General Education Classroom, Kim Finch, Robert Watson, Cynthia Macgregor, Natalie Precise

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

The purpose of this study was to gather information on experiences of general education teachers concerning inclusion practices for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In this case study third, fourth, and fifth grade general education teachers in a rural Southwest Missouri school district provided the data source to keep a narrowed focus on the needs of education teachers for inclusion. The sample accounted for 16 elementary education teachers. Surveys were sent to all third, fourth, and fifth grade general education teachers in the district. Perceptions of general education teachers on proper inclusion training were identified as necessary for the …

Knox Street And The Complete Streets Initiative: A Comparative Analysis Of Complete Street Implementation In The City Of Dallas, Kelsey Berry

Planning Masters Professional Reports - Archive

The Knox Street district, located just a few miles north of downtown Dallas, Texas, offers a variety of high-end retail, residential, and commercial use options. The increased popularity of downtown Dallas development and the Knox / Henderson neighborhood has drawn attention to the community situated on the edge of Highland Park and Dallas. This study examines Dallas' Complete Street best practices and their implementation on the Knox Street project. It asks: how effective has the implementation of this demonstration project been? It aims to answer this question by first comparing the City of Dallas' Complete Streets Manual draft with nationally …

Wet Ponds As A Stormwater Management Tool And An Alternative Water Source For Irrigating Parks In Arlington, Texas, Cassandra Marie Harashe, Yekang Ko

Planning Masters Professional Reports - Archive

A growing population in the Dallas - Fort Worth area will lead to water shortages if alternative water sources are not utilized. This reports looks into the aspects of utilizing wet ponds as a source of water for irrigating public playing fields in Arlington, Texas. It covers the benefits of reducing stormwater and utilizing this water for irrigation. It also covers different pond types, design aspects, the site selection process, potential cost savings, and the policy implications of utilizing this type of Low Impact Development. This study demonstrates that wet ponds are a viable option for treating stormwater to be …

Shared-Use Bus Priority Lanes On City Streets: Approaches To Access And Enforcement, Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Todd Goldman, Nancy Hannaford

Journal of Public Transportation

This paper examines policies and strategies governing the operations of bus lanes in major congested urban centers where the bus lanes do not completely exclude other uses. The two key questions addressed are: 1. What is the scope of the priority use granted to buses? When is bus priority in effect, and what other users may share the lanes during these times? 2. How are the lanes enforced? To answer these questions, the study developed detailed cases on management strategies in seven cities that currently have shared-use bus priority lanes: Los Angeles, London, New York City, Paris, San Francisco, Seoul, …

The Modern Streetcar In The U.S.: An Examination Of Its Ridership, Performance, And Function As A Public Transportation Mode, Jeffrey Brown

Journal of Public Transportation

Seven U.S. cities reported operating streetcar service to the National Transit Database in 2012, and many other cities are building or planning streetcar investments. Yet despite the increased popularity of streetcar investments, there is a lack of information about how these investments function as transportation modes, as opposed to urban development tools. This paper examines the streetcar as a public transit mode by examining ridership, service, service productivity, cost effectiveness, and other indicators of the streetcar’s performance and function in the carriage of transit passengers. There is considerable variation in all of these measures, with the variability a function of …

Bike-And-Ride: Build It And They Will Come, Robert Cervero, Benjamin Caldwell, Jesus Cuellar

Journal of Public Transportation

Converting park-and-ride to bike-and-ride trips could yield important environmental, energy conservation, and public-health benefits. While cycling in general is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, it still makes up a miniscule portion of access trips to most rail transit stations. At several rail stations of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, 10 percent or more of access trips are by bicycle, up considerably from a decade earlier. This paper adopts a case-study approach to probe factors that have had a hand in not only cycling grabbing a larger market share of access trips to rail stops, but also …

Simulation-Based Regression Models To Estimate Bus Routes And Network Travel Times, Yaser E. Hawas

Journal of Public Transportation

This paper presents an approach to estimate bus route and network travel times using micro-simulation. This can be used in predicting the effectiveness of bus route designs using some network traffic measures or indicators. The used indicators are average network traffic intensity, posted speeds, route length, frequency of bus operation, and average passenger loadings (boarding and alighting). Regression models are calibrated to predict both route and overall network travel times. The prediction errors of these models were investigated and analyzed, and regression models were validated. Results indicated the validity of the calibrated regression models. Conclusions are made on how the …

Ridership And Revenue Implications Of Free Fares For Seniors In Northeastern Illinois, Paul Metaxatos

Journal of Public Transportation

This paper reports on the ridership and revenue impacts for transit providers of a short-lived Seniors Free Ride Program in the Chicago metropolitan area. The discussion presents survey-free and survey-based approaches specifically developed to capture such effects during the program implementation. The analysis shows that instituting a free fare policy for seniors expectedly increased the demand for and associated costs of providing the service. In particular, the program had attracted approximately 75 percent additional senior rides at an associated cost of between $26.1 and $78.6 million. The Illinois legislature modified the program in 2011 to run as a means-tested program …

Full Issue 16(4)

Journal of Public Transportation

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Caffeine On Neurocognitive Testing, B. I. Esianor, C. M. Cullum, L. Khan, D. Blueitt, M. Schneider, R. Azmar, C. Shubet, J. Wilson, J. E. Resch

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

INTRODUCTION: Baseline assessments using computerized neurocognitive testing (CNT) has been advocated for the management of sport related concussion (SRC) The ImPACT is a commonly used CNT used in SRC management protocols. A potential extraneous variable, which may influence baseline ImPACT test performance, is caffeine. Caffeine ingestion is prevalent amongst children and adolescents due to the need to increase or boost energy levels. Sources of random error such as caffeine may limit the clinical utility of the baseline ImPACT assessment following a SRC. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine the effect caffeine on computerized neurocognitive testing, using ImPACT, …

The Effects Of Creatine Supplementation On Anaerobic Power Performance, Dominic Igbaji Ugar

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

INTRODUCTION: Creatine is one of the most popular dietary supplements in the field of sport worldwide and is the most popular and widely researched natural supplements. Creatine is one of the few sport supplements that have not been banned and is used by athletes at various levels. Creatine is commercially available in different forms, but regardless of its form, supplementation with creatine has consistently shown to increase strength, fat free mass, muscle morphology and the synthesis of muscle contractile proteins. Scientific studies by: Stone et al.(2003), McGuine et al.(2002) and Zuniga JM et al.( 2012) have shown that creatine supplementation …

The Effects Of Caffeine On Blood Lactate Levels During Submaximal Exercise, Sara Cleveland

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

INTRODUCTION: Blood lactate concentration reflects the balance between lactate production and clearance. It is considered a marker of exercise intensity and muscle glycolysis. It is expressed in mmol/L of lactate found in the plasma of blood. Research shows that caffeine, a stimulant with ergogenic properties, increases blood lactate levels. It is also shown to improve aerobic performance and increase time to exhaustion during exercise. The physiological underpinnings of caffeine-provoked endurance performance gains are not yet fully understood but may be related to enhanced calcium availability, adenosine receptor antagonism and consequential reductions in pain and perceived exertion, and augmented lipolysis and …

Physical Stress On The Body Using A Vo2 Max Test And Its Effects On Short-Term Memory In Male Students, Kimberly Alvarez

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

Introduction. Research shows that rhythmic exercise changes in serotonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine and acetylcholine levels all affect cortical arousal and cognitive function (Potter & Keele, 2005). There are many reasons why the brain is affected during exercise. Some of these include: increased glucose, oxygen and nutrient levels to the brain. Exercise has been shown to enhance cognitive function in both short and long term memory. However, when the body is put under a large amount of physical stress, less oxygen is left in the brain due to the fact that the muscles require more of that oxygen and glucose. Does this …

The Effects Of Caffeine Consumption On The Blood Lactate Levels In Recreationally Active College-Aged Males, James S. Hoerig

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

INTRODUCTION: Caffeine has become the most widely used drug in the world. This xanthene derivative causes an increase in catecholamines circulating throughout the blood, and is commonly used by athletes looking for an increase in athletic performance. Besides having a stimulating effect on the cardiovascular and nervous system, many report a decrease in their levels of perceived exertion while performing exercise in conjunction with the drug. Blood lactate is a common way to quantify objectively the levels of exertion an athlete may be experiencing during exercise, as it is shown to increase linearly with perceived exertion and muscular fatigue. Additionally, …

A Brief Study Of Cognition, Alfred Brown

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

BACKGROUND: The goal of this experiment was to determine the relation between cognition and fitness in the senior citizen population. METHODS: For the purpose of obtaining cognitive abilities, 41 participants completed a written exam called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) in a quiet location. No more than one participant was allowed to be in the testing area at a time. Before beginning the exam, participants were asked to complete a consent document. Participants were then asked to complete a series of questions pertaining to visual spatial awareness, memory, naming, attention, language, abstraction, delayed recall, and orientation. After completion, no participant …

The Effects Of C4 During A Graded Exercise Treadmill Test To Max, Donna Khounvivongsy

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

INTRODUCTION: C4 is a pre-workout supplement which is a type of ergogenic aid. Ergogenic aids helps to enhance athletic performance, energy use, and recovery time. There are different types of pre-workout supplement ingredients such as caffeine, creatine, and nitric oxide precursors that all claim to work together to promote energy and improve performance. These supplements are used increasingly in the regimen of many athletes. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of C4 during a graded exercise treadmill to maximal exercise levels on college males. METHODS: Six men (age 21.17 + 1.79 yrs) of the UTA …

Effects Of Caffeine On Anaerobic Power During Wingate, Javier Plascencia

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

Introduction: The ergogenic effect of caffeine on short-term, high intensity exercise has been shown to be controversial throughout the literature. Some studies have shown little to no effect on anaerobic power with caffeine supplementation while a select few have shown significant gains. Anaerobic power is the energy that is stored in muscles that is readily available at any time and can be accessed without the use of oxygen. It may be expressed as an absolute value in Watts (S) or as a relative rate in Watts per Kilogram (/Kg). Anaerobic power has long been an integral part of sports that …

The Association Between Muscle Contraction Ratings From Manual Muscle Testing Performed By Pre-Physical Therapy Students And Electromyography Readings Obtained From Isometric Contractions, Jason Ngu

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

INTRODUCTION: Manual muscle testing (MMT) is utilized in different fields like physical therapy and other fields that require diagnosis of a person’s muscular strength and progression over time. MMT involves stabilization of a certain part of the body while external resistance is provided by the manual muscle tester. Muscular activity is graded on a 0 to 5 scale. Another way to measure muscle activation is by electromyography (EMG). EMG uses electrodes to record electrical activity produced by a muscle. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between ratings of muscular activity by pre-physical therapy students and …

The Effect Of Post Activation Potentiation On An Isometric Bicep Contraction, Nickesh Mistry

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

INTRODUCTION: Post activation Potentiation (PAP) is a new concept that has a need for further research. The performance of a muscle depends on the historic activity of that muscle. The concept of PAP is activating the muscle prior to maximal contraction. This concept works on the basis that the muscle has history of activating and, in turn, will be able to produce a greater force and torque. This idea was utilized with a biceps isometric contraction. An isometric contraction is a contraction where the joint angle as well as the muscle length is not going to change during the contraction. …

The Effects Of An Energy Drink Containing Caffeine On Maximal Exercise Performance, Kandice Reed

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

INTRODUCTION: Consuming energy drinks before exercising has become popular among young adults. Most people consume energy drinks to increase their exercise intensity and duration. Investigations have been performed to analyze the effects of the caffeine from various energy drinks on exercise performance. During maximal exercise performance, heart rate, Rate of Perceived Exertion, and systolic blood pressure increase linearly with exercise time and workload. Diastolic blood pressure generally, changes very little with increasing exercise intensity. PURPOSE: The purpose of this research study was to examine the effect that caffeine in an energy drink has on maximal exercise performance. METHODS: Five male, …

The Comparison Of Vertical Jump Height Between Gender And Body Fat Percentage, Allison Jack

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

INTRODUCTION: Vertical jump height is seen as a muscle performance test that indicates power and force production. It is a kinematic measure used to determine the differences between males and females based on their frontal plane hip angle. Along with different hip angles, males also have greater leg girths than females that could be an anthropometric measurement that influences power production. Males generally have a greater vertical jump height than females with arm swing because of their upper body strength, which influences power production. This is an important factor when determining training program and types of exercises because males and …