Digital Commons Network^™

Connecting Places: Writing About And With Portal, Victoria L. Avery

English

Shannon Carter's pedagogy of rhetorical dexterity involves students using a familiar literacy at a meta-level to make sense out of an unfamiliar one. I used her pedagogy, as well as insights from James Paul Gee and John Dewey, in designing a 213x course on writing technologies. The writing prompt for the second unit asked students to write about their inquiry into the game space and reflect on how their experiences met up with research about video games in American society in general. The unit was sequenced with the intention that students would look at their own familiar literacies, understand them …

Volume 52, Number 18: December 17, 2014, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Temperature On The Phenology Of Chilo Partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae); Simulation And Visualization Of The Potential Future Distribution Of C. Partellus In Africa Under Warmer Temperatures Through The Development Of Life-Table Parameters, N. Khadioli, Z. E.H. Tonnang, E. Muchugu, G. Ong'amo, T. Achia, I. Kipchirchir, J. Kroschel, B. Le Ru

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Maize (Zea mays) is a major staple food in Africa. However, maize production is severely reduced by damage caused by feeding lepidopteran pests. In East and Southern Africa, Chilo partellus is one of the most damaging cereal stem borers mainly found in the warmer lowland areas. In this study, it was hypothesized that the future distribution and abundance of C. partellus may be affected greatly by the current global warming. The temperature-dependent population growth potential of C. partellus was studied on artificial diet under laboratory conditions at six constant temperatures (15, 18, 20, 25, 28, 30, 32 and 35 °C), …

Effect Of Filling Methods On The Forecasting Of Time Series With Missing Values, Mingyuan Cheng

Mathematics and Statistics

The Gulf of Alaska Mooring (GAK1) monitoring data set is an irregular time series of temperature and salinity at various depths in the Gulf of Alaska. One approach to analyzing data from an irregular time series is to regularize the series by imputing or filling in missing values. In this project we investigated and compared four methods (denoted as APPROX, SPLINE, LOCF and OMIT) of doing this. Simulation was used to evaluate the performance of each filling method on parameter estimation and forecasting precision for an Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model. Simulations showed differences among the four methods in …

A Validity Study Of The Reasons For Life Scale With Emerging Adult College Students, Daniel B. Curns

Psychology

This study examined the validity of the Reasons for Life Scale (RFLS) with emerging adult college students. The RFLS measures "reasons for life." It was developed for use with Alaska Native youth as a way to assess potential risk of suicide without directly questioning about suicidal ideation or history of suicide attempts. This study sought to adapt the RFLS for use with emerging adult (age 18-25) college students, and to examine its factor structure and convergent validity with this population. First, a focus group was conducted to assist in rewording two Alaska Native-specific items from the RFLS for non-Natives. Then, …

The Influence Of Higher Education On Promotional Outcomes In The New Jersey State Police, David D. Costantino

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the strength of four predictor variables (i.e., level of education, seniority, gender and race) found in the archival data provided by the New Jersey State Police to predict the likelihood of promotional outcomes for five separate and distinct participant groups (i.e., Sergeant, Sergeant First Class, Lieutenant, Captain, and Major). Five separate participant group analyses were conducted using binary logistic regression modelling. The participant data examined in this study, which represents a total population sample, pertained to 3,515 enlisted members of the New Jersey State Police considered for promotion during one, or both, of the promotional events held …

Penny For Your Thoughts? The Protective Effect Of Youths’ Attitudes Against Drug Use In High-Risk Communities, Emily M. Wright, Abigail A. Fagan, Gillian M. Pichevsky

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Individual-level attitudes about drugs are strong predictors of substance use among adolescents, and aggregate-level community norms regarding deviancy and drug use may influence youth attitudes as well as their drug use. This study examined the direct effects of neighborhood norms about deviance, disadvantage, immigrant concentration, and residential stability on youths’ attitudes about drug harmfulness as well as their variety of past month substance use. The moderating effect of community norms on the relationship between youth attitudes and drug use was also examined. Results suggest that community norms favorable to deviance and drug use reduced youth’s attitudes that drugs were harmful. …

A Transformational Leadership Program: A Necessity In Today’S Healthcare Environment, Kristin J. Pickerell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

A Transformational Leadership Program: A Necessity in Today’s Healthcare Environment

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to enhance the transformational leadership capabilities of the nursing leaders in a small community hospital by implementing a leadership development course.

Background

Effective nurse leaders are critical in today’s fast-changing and uncertain healthcare environment. Competent leaders positively influence the nursing work environment, staff retention, patient safety, financial viability and quality outcomes. The development of a transformational skill set needed for a nurse leader to successfully lead a team to high-quality patient care.

Methods

Pre/post intervention design, using the Leadership Practices Inventory with …

Memory On Trial: The Manhunt For Alaska's Most Elusive Mass Murderer, Brittany A. Retherford

Arctic and Northern Studies

The fallibility and malleability of human memory played a confounding and troublesome role in the investigation of the 1982 murder of eight people on a fishing boat, the Investor, in Craig, Alaska, and subsequent trials of law enforcements' only suspect, John Kenneth Peel. Human memory -- including its inherent subjectivity and susceptibility to coercion and change -- ultimately resulted in an unsatisfactory resolution for victims' families and friends, law enforcement, witnesses, and others associated with the events, investigation and legal proceedings. This thesis utilizes trial records, police investigation files, newspaper stories, and personal interviews to provide a summary view of …

Alaska Native Perceptions Of Food, Health, And Community Well-Being: Challenging Nutritional Colonialism, Melanie Lindholm

Arctic and Northern Studies

Alaska Native populations have undergone relatively rapid changes in nearly every aspect of life over the past half century. Overall lifestyles have shifted from subsistence-based to wage-based, from traditional to Western, and from self-sustainability to reliance on Outside sources. My research investigates the effects of these changes on health and well-being. The literature appears to lack concern for and documentation of Native peoples' perceptions of the changes in food systems and effects on their communities. Additionally, there is a lack of studies specific to Alaska Native individual perceptions of health and well-being. Therefore, my research aims to help identify social …

The Bg News December 17, 2014, Bowling Green State University

BG News (Student Newspaper)

The BGSU campus student newspaper. December 17, 2014. Volume 94-Issue 50.

A Qualitative Study Exploring The Perceptions Of Social Workers Concerning Independent Living Programs In Conjunction With Post-Secondary Education After New Jersey Foster Youth "Age-Out" Of The Foster Care System, Patrick L. Beatty

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this research study is to investigate the perceptions of New Jersey social workers regarding potential barriers that may exist with foster care youth maturity development, independent living programs emphasizing foster care alumni post-secondary education achievement, and social worker departmental training relating to their understanding of independent living programs.

The design of this qualitative study focused on New Jersey Division of Children & Family volunteer participants consisting of three district office manager interviews, and three social worker focus group discussions from specific geographic locations throughout New Jersey. The interview and focus group questions were developed after comprehensive research …

Migrant Construction And Domestic Workers In The Arab Gulf States: Modern - Day Slaves?, Omaya Chidiac

LLM Theses

This thesis examines the conditions of migrant construction and domestic workers in the Arab Gulf. I explore literatures on migrant labour, precariousness, and slavery. I also look at international and domestic legal instruments as well as data produced by several human rights organizations. This thesis shows how the mechanisms involved in the migration of migrant construction and domestic workers exacerbate vulnerability and precariousness. I examine the ways in which social locations including gender and race play a role in discrimination against migrant construction and domestic workers in the Arab Gulf, thus assisting conditions of slavery to arise. My aim is …

Fine Arts Professor Will Deliver Commencement Address On Dec. 20, Winthrop University

Winthrop News 2014

• Dufresne's message will be heard by December and August graduates and their guests attending the 11 a.m. Commencement on Dec. 20 at Winthrop Coliseum. There are more than 270 students set to receive their degrees.
• Winthrop will recognize its December graduate students at a separate ceremony on Dec. 18. At that 7 p.m. event at Winthrop Coliseum, 80 students will receive their master’s or specialist degrees.
• Both the Dec. 18 and 20 ceremonies may be viewed by computer via a live stream found on the Winthrop homepage.

The Return On Investment For Undergraduate Degrees In Hospitality And Tourism Management, Asli D. Tasci, Abraham Pizam, Robertico Croes, Po-Ju Chen

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Increasing concerns regarding the value of higher education in the USA have motivated several organizations to calculate the return on investment (ROI) for college education by employing diverse methodologies. This study evaluates these methodologies by using data from a survey of alumni of Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. The results reveal that the highly publicized low ROI for college education might be inaccurate, confusing and misleading for several reasons, among which is the assumption of zero income while studying, causing debt to be the total of a student’s expenses. Data reveal that Rosen College …

Usa V. Robert Stinson, Jr.

2014 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

An Empirical Investigation Of Factors Influencing It Professionals’ Knowledge Sharing Behavior In Organizations, Prasad Shambulinga Rudramuniyaiah

Dissertations

Knowledge management is important for competitive advantage in knowledge-based organizations. A critical aspect of managing knowledge is the knowledge sharing behavior of organizational members. A positive relationship between knowledge sharing and organizational performance has been widely supported in prior literature. The vast body of extant literature on knowledge sharing behavior has identified that individuals possess specialized knowledge which can be valuable to the organization, specifically when it is shared. Knowledge sharing behavior however is influenced by several factors which either facilitate or inhibit knowledge sharing among individuals in an organizational context. A better understanding and management of these factors would …

Impact Of The Serotonin Transporter Polymorphism On Emotion Identification In Healthy Older Adults, Staci Erin Scott

Dissertations

Older adults exhibit reduced accuracy and efficiency for identifying facial emotion expressions yet it is unclear how genetic or cognitive variables influence these findings. This study examined the impact of serotonin transporter polymorphism 5-HTTLPR on patterns of explicit emotion identification accuracy and reaction time (RT) in healthy older adults. The impact of 5-HTTLPR on measures of processing speed, attention, and executive function as well as correlations between cognitive measures and emotion identification measures were also examined. Methods: Forty-one individuals over the age of 50 were genotyped for bi-allelic and tri-allelic variants of 5-HTTLPR and administered an emotion recognition paradigm and …

Schisms In Schooling: Domains Of Power As Seen From Our Students, Kristen Michelle Taylor

Dissertations

This study investigated the dynamics of power available to students who are assigned to participate in small group instruction as an intervention to low academic scores. It proposes that student experiences of the phenomenon of small group instruction are not currently present in the research literature concerning low student performance in public education, and therefore the research literature is incomplete. A case study was conducted at a public school in St. Louis, Missouri, which resulted in a case of two teachers and five students recruited to participate. Through document analysis, classroom observations, and participant interviews, the participants provided data from …

Usa V. Robert Stinson, Jr.

2014 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Meeting The Youthful Inmate Standard: Addressing Operations, Finding Promising Practices And Knowing The Law, Brenda V. Smith, Elissa Rumsey, Carmen Daugherty

Presentations

No abstract provided.

Style Shifting In First-Encounter Conversations Between Japanese Speakers, Kenichi Shinkuma

Dissertations and Theses

This study examines style shift between formal and informal styles in first- encounter conversations between Japanese native speakers and demonstrates how the speakers shifted the speech style in the context. Many researchers have studied this type of style shift and demonstrated that style shifts occur within a single speech context where social factors, such as differences in age, status, and formalness remain constant (e.g., Cook, 2008; Geyer, 2008; Ikuta, 1983; Maynard, 1991; Okamoto, 1999). This study contributed support to these previous studies. In this study, both quantitative and qualitative analyses focusing on Japanese native speakers' use of style shifting in …

Understanding Connections Between Rural Communities And Family Well-Being, Cynthia Fletcher

Carsey Publications

In this report, author Cynthia Needles Fletcher explores the role of "place" in shaping rural residents'-and in particular low-income residents'-futures. The analysis draws from interviews with residents and community key informants in Hampton, Iowa in an original study in 1997 and again in 2012-13

Engaging Fyc Students With Quality Work Design, Candace Deal

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Students learn at deeper levels when engaged with their work; however, engaging students in writing is one of the biggest challenges all composition teachers face. This qualitative study asked Kennesaw State University students to describe the work in English 1101 and English 1102 that they found meaningful and engaging. The data collected was then aligned with research about engaging students in grades K-12 based on the work of Phillip Schlechty. Results from this study reveal that many of the same engagement qualities identified by Schlechty have application in the FYC classroom for engaging students and improving learning.

Professional Learning And Lean Manufacturing, Parker Grant

Doctoral Dissertations

Global competition and a down-sized labor force require manufacturers to use lean manufacturing practices. Current professional development models, however, are suboptimal in guiding efforts of first line supervisors to help workers improve their skills in solving manufacturing problems. This study employed an interpretive qualitative research methodology to explore what supervisors and workers experienced as the key factors that helped workers learn how to use lean manufacturing practices. Eight individuals who worked in an aerospace manufacturing plant located in the northeast United States participated in the study. Six of the participants were first line supervisors and two were first-line workers. Data …

Streams In The Wilderness, Miranda Beale

The Kabod

Miranda Beale analyzes two award-winning novels by Marilynne Robinson, Gilead (2004) and Home (2008), identifying their major themes as the necessity of balancing parental responsibility and God's loving guidance and redemptive power in raising children.

Examining The Association Between Variability In Classroom Interaction Quality And Problem Behavior In Head Start Children, Veronica A. Fernandez

Open Access Dissertations

The present study examined the role of variability in observed classroom interaction quality (as assessed by the CLASS) in a sample of Head Start children (N = 965 children, within 54 classrooms and across 8 centers). First, the psychometric properties of the typically used classroom quality mean scores were examined to test whether the levels (mean differences) and rank ordering (reliability) of the scores varied across activity settings (Free Play, Whole Group, Small Group, Meals or Routines/Transitions). Then, variability scores were calculated for each of the three classroom quality domains to examine the unique association between variability in classroom interaction …

Transferential Poetics, From Poe To Warhol, Adam Frank

Literature

Transferential Poetics presents a method for bringing theories of affect to the study of poetics. Informed by the thinking of Silvan Tomkins, Melanie Klein, and Wilfred Bion, it offers new interpretations of the poetics of four major American artists: Edgar Allan Poe, Henry James, Gertrude Stein, and Andy Warhol. The author emphasizes the close, reflexive attention each of these artists pays to the transfer of feeling between text and reader, or composition and audience— their transferential poetics. The book’s historical route from Poe to Warhol culminates in television, a technology and cultural form that makes affect distinctly available to perception. …

Byham Gift Increases Graduate Support For Industrial Organizational Psychology, Ohio University College Of Arts & Sciences

All Forum Articles

No abstract provided.

Personal Reflections / 12.15.14, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

We are nearing the completion of IMSA’s fall semester and, as the upcoming holidays approach and 2014 nears its end, I am moved to reflect on my accomplishments and share them with you.

Since I’m expanding the reach of my reflections to our students, parents and alumni I’d like to first welcome our newest readers—and also express my gratitude for everyone’s dedication and hard work. We’ve had a good year.

My previous Personal Reflections capture my thoughts from my first 90 days and after reading a recent email message exclaiming, “we can’t wait for day 91!,” I decided that on …