Digital Commons Network^™

A Qualitative Analysis Of Graduate Sport Administration/Management Curricula Offered At Private And Public Institutions In Comparison To Cosma Requirements, Kristin E. Brown

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The evolution of sport and the factors that are influencing it, such as industry standards and external conditions, have challenged curricula in the area of sport. The number of sport administration/management programs has increased over the years to over 500 (North American Society for Sport Management, n.d.), which, in turn, has contributed to variation among higherEducation programs (Eagleman & McNary, 2010). Sport administration/management programs vary in core content, specializations,Educational philosophies, and ideologies (Eagleman & McNary, 2010; Jones, Brooks, & Mak, 2008). Ideologies underpinning the curricular structure are uncertain among graduate programs in sport administration/management. The information in this study was …

Measuring School Accountability: Perceptions From Teachers, Principals, And Superintendents, Keith Thomas Bush

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the multiple factors that are utilized by accountability models and to identify the perceptions of Indiana educators in regard to what these professional educators believe should be utilized to assess school accountability. No Child Left Behind and the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) accountability model frameworks have had an impact on all public schools in the United States. Under AYP, high stakes testing results are utilized to provide acknowledgement to schools that meet pre-established thresholds, as well as to provide consequences for schools that fail to meet these requirements. This study is significant …

Teacher Involvement In Implementing State Personal Finance Mandates, Deanna Franklin

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined strategies teachers are implementing for personal finance instruction in answer to the state financial-literacy mandates in Central Texas. One-on-one interviews, focus groups, and document analysis found that teachers are relying on personal experience, community resources, and Internet resources to instruct in personal finance in absence of personal finance curricula. No data emerged that school districts were providing resources; however, administrators are willing to provide resources if they were available. Teachers are using a variety of creative methods to enhance personal financial literacy in the classroom. Sporadic in-service/professional-development opportunities were available to train teachers in personal financial-literacy instruction; …

Parent Involvement And Science Achievement During Students’ Transition Years From Elementary School To Middle School: A Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis Using Ecls-K, Letao Sun

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

Transitioning from elementary school to middle school can be a difficult time for many adolescents. It is a period often correlated with a decline in students’ academic achievement, perceptions of performance, potential, and value in schooling. Research has shown evidence that parents’ involvement in their children’s education significantly influences children’s academic achievement. However, there are many conflicting findings regarding this relationship.

The primary purpose of this study is to extend existing research on academic achievement by examining the causal relationship between parent involvement and science achievement during the transition years, using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class …

Exploring The Significance Of Social Influences On Epistemic Beliefs, David D. Gatsos

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

This document proceeds from an interest in applying theories of student development to higher education policy. The process sobered me from idealistic expectations of profundity to focus on adding relevant building blocks to the established foundation of epistemological development. Progress was found in moving toward clarifying what happens during the change process as a student moves from naïve to mature beliefs. Lead forth out of this ambiguity, unearthing the nature of social influences as a player in the developmental process became a target of this work.

Moving toward a deeper understanding of how concepts of attachment, naiveté, authority, and potential …

Rise Of The Administrator In Higher Education: Focus On Professionalization Of The Registrar At The University Of Kentucky From 1910 To 1937, Nancy D. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

The decades following the Civil War saw a tremendous growth in the number of colleges and universities, both public and private, due in large part to funds provided by federal legislation under the Morrill Act of 1862 and a surge in philanthropy on the part of wealthy industrialists. In the early colleges and universities, administrations were typically run by the president alone. With increased enrollment and the demand for expanded services, one man could no longer handle all the administrative functions, and thus was born the administrative professional in higher education. Due to the increased demand for record-keeping, one of …

Success After Failure: An Examination Of Credit Recovery Options And Their Effect On College- And Career-Readiness, Kathryn B. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

More than ever before, educators and researchers are keeping a keen eye on student college- and career-readiness. The widely adopted Common Core State Standards were written with the explicit goal of helping students to be college- or career-ready by the time they graduate from high school. However, many students experience setbacks, such as course failure, within their educational career placing them at risk for not reaching this goal. Because the ACT can predict student success in college, states often use benchmark scores from the exam to measure student college- and career-readiness. A student who fails to learn fundamental concepts in …

Transformative Participation In A Professional Community: A Holistic Case Study Of One Experienced Teacher’S Evolving Practice, Kim Zeidler-Watters

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

This descriptive, holistic, single case study focuses on how an experienced teacher with 21 years of teaching was able to negotiate participation in a community of practice (CoP). The study applies Wenger’s (1998) Community of Practice framework as a lens through which to gain insight into the subject’s professional transformation. Wenger’s multilayered theoretical approach, including the four components of his social learning model, provides a common language to describe participation.

The specific research questions that frame this inquiry are: 1) How did an experienced secondary mathematics teacher, involved in an ongoing and dual-faceted professional development project, negotiate meaningful participation in …

The Use Of Contrastive Analysis In Code-Switching From Appalachian English Dialect To Standard English Dialect, Shayla D. Mettille

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

This study examined the use of an intervention, Contrastive Analysis (CA), with fourth-graders’ writing in a Central Appalachian elementary school. The purpose was to improve the use of Standard English in students’ writing in Appalachia by decreasing the number of vernacular features typically used in the writing. The researcher collected data through Consent and Assent Forms, interviews with the fourth-grade teacher, classroom observations and an accompanying CA observation evaluation rubric, pre- and post-writing prompts, selected writings and Writer Self-Perception Scale (WSPS), as well as communication data. Data analysis was accomplished for both the prompts, writing pieces and the WSPS scores. …

A Study Of Teacher And Principal Perceptions Of Professional Learning Communities, Jeffrey C. Stamper

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Throughout the post-modern or post-professional age (2000-present), high stakes testing and accountability of public schools forced educational organizations to improve their professional practices to work collaboratively (Little, 2003). As a result, professional learning communities (PLCs) have been found to improve student learning among educational organizations (DuFour, 2007; Hord, 2004). During the past 20 years, a significant amount of research has been conducted, which describes PLCs in the educational settings (Vescio, Ross, & Adams, 2008) Researchers note a lack of empirical research which focuses on teacher and principal perceptions of PLCs (Hord & Sommers, 2008).

The central focus of this study …

Geotechnical Statistical Evaluation Of Lahore Site Data And Deep Excavation Design, Aiza Malik

Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's Project Reports

Geotechnical characterization for foundation design is critical during preliminary planning, designing and feasibility studies of various engineering projects. In this research, an effort has been made to develop a geotechnical database for the city of Lahore, Pakistan. This database would aid geologists and engineers involved in the geotechnical design and planning of engineering projects in Lahore. The project area has been divided into zones geographically. Soil profiles have been developed for all zones, which provide ranges of soil properties and SPT-N values at regular intervals. Furthermore, the research also focuses on deep excavations in urban areas of Lahore, Pakistan and …

Parametric Study Of Rocking Shallow Foundations Under Seismic Excitation, Benjamin I. Herdrich

Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's Project Reports

Conventional design of structures relies on incorporating a certain level of inelastic deformation into select components to provide seismic energy dissipation, while ensuring the foundation remains relatively stationary. However, this inelasticity comes at the cost of severe damage to the structure, which often is no longer suitable to occupancy after a seismic event. In contrast with conventional structures, structures with rocking foundations shift the ductility demands away from the structure itself, and onto the underlying soil, which may result in less damage and greater stability. The purpose of this study is to explore the behavior and performance of a simple …

Habitat Preferences Of Adult Spotted Seatrout, Cynoscion Nebulosus, In Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, Noelle Marie Bramer

LSU Master's Theses

Spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) are a highly sought after sportfish, making up over 90% of the recreational fishery in Louisiana. As a significant portion of every life history stage is spent within its natal estuary, it is an ideal bio-indicator of estuarine health. As one of the largest estuaries in Louisiana, Lake Pontchartrain represents one such supporting ecosystem. From November 2012 to April 2014 acoustic tagging of individual fish, a lake-wide receiver array, and ArcGIS mapping software were utilized to determine the spatial distribution of spotted seatrout within the lake. Receivers were placed in representative locations including man-made and natural …

Pytracks: A Tool For Visualizing Fish Movement Tracks On Different Scales, Ross Fossum

LSU Master's Theses

A fundamental problem in conservation biology and fisheries management is the ability to make educated decisions based on the data collected. Fish populations and their spatial distributions need to be represented accurately for conversation efforts and management decisions. Methods such as modeling, surveying, and tracking can all be used to collect data on a particular fishery. To include the movement patterns in conservation and management, one needs to work with and process fish tracking data or data exported from fish movement simulation models. This data can often be difficult to process. This topic is becoming increasingly popular as technology to …

Increasing Student Engagement In The Secondary Math Classroom, Chantell Holloway Walker

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis reports on a professional development package developed by the author to help three teachers increase the level of student engagement in their math classrooms. There were three phases: 1) initial presentation of strategies and sample lessons, 2) classroom implementation, 3) reflection and evaluation. As a result of the professional development, the Louisiana Compass Teacher Evaluation Rubric scores of the teachers improved in the area of student engagement. This thesis can be used as a guide for principals or instructional specialists who wish to provide professional development for small groups of teachers, with a focus on increasing student engagement.

Maxwell's Paradox: Classical Electrodynamics And Its Time Reversal Invariance, Valia Allori

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

In this paper, I argue that the recent discussion on the time - reversal invariance of classical electrodynamics (see (Albert 2000: ch.1), (Arntzenius 2004), (Earman 2002), (Malament 2004),(Horwich 1987: ch.3)) can be best understood assuming that the disagreement among the various authors is actually a disagreement about the metaphysics of classical electrodynamics. If so, the controversy will not be resolved until we have established which alternative is the most natural. It turns out that we have a paradox, namely that the following three claims are incompatible: the electromagnetic fields are real, classical electrodynamics is time-reversal invariant, and the content of …

Disaggregating Student Outcomes By Race And Income: Educational Equity In Oregon, Anne Sinkey, Ann Curry-Stevens

Center to Advance Racial Equity Publications and Reports

This research seeks to answer an emerging question in public school debates: whether race is just a proxy for income when it comes to disparities in educational outcomes among Oregon’s K-12 students. This research set out to respond to this question, and draws from public school data records to answer the question. We investigated student test scores across three different environments: elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. We also investigated student graduation rates from high school. The pattern of findings is absolutely clear: regardless of the site or type of disparities, when we compare how low-income students fare, all …

Biofuel Production From Chinese Tallow Tree Seeds Using Microwave Technology, Mohamad Barekati Goudarzi

LSU Master's Theses

In-situ transesterification (simultaneous extraction and transesterification) of Chinese tallow tree seeds into methyl esters using two microwave systems were investigated in this study. In the first part, utilizing a batch system, parameters tested were catalyst concentration (1-4 wt.%), solvent ratio (2-6 v/w), reaction time (15-60 min) and temperature (50-70°C). A high degree of oil extraction and efficient conversion of oil to biodiesel were found in the proposed range. The process was further optimized in terms of product yields and conversion rates using Dohlert optimization methodology. Based on the experimental results and statistical analysis, the optimal production yield conditions for this …

Design And Validation Of A Prototype Collimation System With Reduced Applicator Weights For Elekta Electron Therapy Beams, Garrett Michael Pitcher

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The objective of this study was to design an electron collimation system for Elekta Infinity accelerators with significantly reduced applicator weights, while maintaining acceptable in-field beam flatness and out-of-field leakage dose. The design was restricted to 6-20 MeV beams for 6x6 to 25x25 cm2 applicators at 100 cm SSD with the MLCi2 treatment head. In Aim1, measured off-axis profiles showed that the current Elekta collimation system met dose flatness (4%) and IEC leakage dose specifications in the patient plane for custom 7, 13, and 20 MeV beams at MBPCC. Also, Monte Carlo (MC) calculations based on MBPCC beam models sufficiently …

Microtopographic Ecohydrology Of A Forested Wetland In Louisiana, Yu-Hsin Hsueh

LSU Master's Theses

Coastal wetland forest ecosystems rely on the intimate interactions of hydrology, salinity, and coastal forest vegetation. The boundary between marsh and forest is often where hummock-swale terrain exists. It remains unknown as to the degree to which trees may experience varied salinity level within hummocks provided with freshwater flux. This study examined the hydrological regime of the hummock-swale terrain that resulted in salinity variation and whether freshwater source exists for baldcypress. Natural tracers of stable isotopes of water and salinity were applied to understand the sources of water. To better examine the tracers used, we conducted several experiments to gain …

The Effect Of Bmi On Oxygen Saturation At Rest And During Mild Walking, Jerrold S. Petrofsky, Michael S. Laymon, Iman Akef Khowailed, Stacy Fisher, Andrew Mills

College of Health & Human Services (TUN) Publications and Research

Eighty one subjects were examined for the relationship between BMI, body fat, arterial oxygen saturation and arterial PO2 with the subjects at rest and after 5 minutes of walking on a treadmill ergometer at 3 mph at a 3% grade. They had BMIs between 19 and 50. All subjects were free of cardiovascular disease and had normal blood pressure making it safe for them to participate in mild exercise. They were all able to walk for at least 10 minutes without cardiovascular complications and were not taking any medications that altered the autonomic nervous system. The age was between 22 …

The Extraordinary Voyage Of Kamome; A Tsunami Boat Comes Home, Lori Dengler, Amya Miller, Amy Uyeki

Trade & Scholarly Monographs

This sweet story, intended for lower elementary grades, is intended to provide a window for discussing earthquakes, tsunamis, marine debris, preparedness and cultural awareness in the classroom and within families.

On April 7, 2013, a little over two years after the magnitude 9 Tohoku-oki Japan earthquake triggered a massive tsunami off the coast of northeastern Japan, a lone boat washed up on the shores of Crescent City, California. The confirmation of the boat as belonging to a high school in Rikuzentakata was first step in an amazing story that has linked two tsunami-vulnerable communities on opposite sides of the Pacific …

Brochure: Reducing The Costs Of University Education Is A Priority For Psu, Portland State University Library, Office Of Academic Innovation

Reducing Student Costs Initiative

This brochure was developed by the Portland State Library and the Office of Academic Innovation under the direction of the university's "Reducing Student Cost" working group. It provides tips for reducing the cost of textbooks.

A Shifting Terrain: A Brief History Of The Adaptive Landscape, Michael Dietrich, Robert A. Skipper Jr.

Dartmouth Scholarship

This volume brings together prominent historians of science, philosophers, ecologists, and evolutionary biologists, with the aim of discussing the state of the art of the Adaptive Landscape from several different perspectives.

Robust, Low Power, Discrete Gate Sizing, Anthony Joseph Casagrande

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ultra-deep submicron circuits require accurate modeling of gate delay in order to meetaggressive timing constraints. With the lack of statistical data, variability due to the mechanical manufacturing process and its chemical properties poses a challenging problem. Discrete gate sizing requires (i) accurate models that take into account random parametric variation and (ii) a fair allocation of resources to optimize the solution. The proposed GTFUZZ gate sizing algorithm handles both tasks. Gate sizing is modeled as a resource allocation problem using fuzzy game theory. Delay is modeled as a constraint and power is optimized in this algorithm. In GTFUZZ, delay is …

Computational Investigations Of Potential Energy Function Development For Metal-Organic Framework Simulations, Metal Carbenes, And Chemical Warfare Agents, Christian R. Cioce

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are three-dimensional porous nanomaterials with a variety of applications, including catalysis, gas storage and separation, and sustainable energy. Their potential as air filtration systems is of interest for designer carbon capture materials. The chemical constituents (i.e. organic ligands) can be functionalized to create rationally designed CO2 sequestration platforms, for example. Hardware and software alike at the bleeding edge of supercomputing are utilized for designing first principles-based molecular models for the simulation of gas sorption in these frameworks. The classical potentials developed herein are named PHAST -- Potentials with High Accuracy, Speed, and Transferability, and thus are designed …

The Continuum Of Ethno-Racial Socialization: Learning About Culture And Race In Middle-Class Latina/O Families, Maria D. Duenas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the discursive messages and specific practices that Latino families use to transmit messages about culture, race, and racism. Scholars have not fully explored the complexity and range of practices and discourses that are involved in Latinos’ ethno-racial socialization. The use of the phrase “ethno-racial socialization” is important because it combines the concepts of racial socialization and ethnic socialization in an effort to account for how the lived experiences of Latinos who mostly think of themselves as a racial group, are treated as one race, and thus, discuss race with family members. This research explores this process using …

Mmv Malaria Box Activity Screening In Dormant Plasmodium Falciparum Phenotypes, Sandra Galusic

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The causative agent of malignant tertian malaria, Plasmodium falciparum undergoes an arrested growth phenotype of its erythrocytic stage when under drug-stress. Recent artemisinin treatment failures seem to be indicative of such induction followed by recrudescence rather than actual therapeutic failure. Likewise, P. vivax hypnozoites are the prototypic dormants and the latent infections for which they are responsible prove most difficult to treat. Dihydroartemisinin, an artemisinin-derivative, can be used to exploit this mechanism by inducing a dormant state in ring-stage P. falciparum parasites and in turn, their recovery may be used as a screening period for compounds that inhibit or foster …

A Numerical And Experimental Investigation Of Flow Induced Noise In Hydraulic Counterbalance Valves, Mutasim Mohamed Elsheikh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this study is to explore the complex fluid flow phenomena that result in the generation of a high frequency noise in counterbalance valves through an experimental and numerical investigation of the flow. Once the influence of the different components involved in noise generation is established, a secondary objective is the introduction of design modifications that eliminate the undesired effect without altering the operation envelope or the performance of the valve.

A hydraulic test bench was used to carry out an experimental investigation of the noise generation process. A computer based data acquisition system was used to …

Comparison Of Isotope-Based Biomass Pathways With Groundfish Community Structure In The Eastern Gulf Of Mexico, Sheri Ann Huelster

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study compared traditional community analysis with stable-isotope trophic analysis to define process-based trophic elements of community structure in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and developed a predictive capability regarding changes to fish community structure that would be expected from increasing eutrophication. Specifically, it used an existing trawl survey program (SEAMAP) to compare invertebrate herbivore (sponge and sea urchin) isotopes with groundfish isotopes, and then compared the resulting spatial patterns with spatial variation in community structure, as identified by cluster analysis. The comparison was applied to seven NMFS survey zones that extended offshore from the Caloosahatchee River, FL northwest to …