Digital Commons Network^™

An Esl Instructor's Guidebook For Reducing Test Anxiety At The Community College Level Through Exploring Alternatives In Assessment, Allison D. Grant

Master's Projects and Capstones

The purpose of this project is to decrease test anxiety within ESL community college students by providing their instructors with a guidebook for implementing alternatives in assessment. Chapter one dives right into the problem of ESL students experiencing test anxiety. At the community college level, there are added pressures from family needs, work, legal issues, adjusting to a new culture, and more. Teachers could offset this external anxiety by eliminating test anxiety in their classrooms.

Chapter two outlines much of the relevant literature dealing with the topics of test anxiety, foreign language anxiety, ESL testing practices, ESL at the community …

The Role Of The Unusual Threonine String In The Conversion Of Prion Protein, Romany Abskharon, Fei Wang, Kayla J. Vander Stel, Kumar Sinniah

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

The conversion of normal prion protein (PrP) into pathogenic PrP conformers is central to prion disease, but the mechanism remains unclear. The α-helix 2 of PrP contains a string of four threonines, which is unusual due to the high propensity of threonine to form β-sheets. This structural feature was proposed as the basis for initiating PrP conversion, but experimental results have been conflicting. We studied the role of the threonine string on PrP conversion by analyzing mouse Prnpa and Prnpb polymorphism that contains a polymorphic residue at the beginning of the threonine string, and PrP mutants in which threonine 191 …

Input Parameters In Discrete Element Modeling, Seyedali Yousefi

Civil Engineering ETDs

The discrete element method (DEM) is employed to study complex behaviors of particulate media. Input parameters may greatly affect the response of DEM models and should therefore be selected carefully. Scaling techniques are employed to enlarge prohibitively small time-steps. To study these techniques, dimensionless input parameters were defined. Responses of models in the dimensionless scale were invariant with choice of density, elastic modulus, and characteristic length if the dimensionless parameters were kept constant. Hence, density scaling is equivalent to use of a higher strain-rate, and stiffness scaling results in a higher strain-rate and an elevated stress state in the dimensionless …

Math Tutor, Jim Hilbert

Negotiation Teaching Materials

No abstract provided.

Improving Power In Group Sequential, Randomized Trials By Adjusting For Prognostic Baseline Variables And Short-Term Outcomes, Tianchen Qian, Michael Rosenblum, Huitong Qiu

Johns Hopkins University, Dept. of Biostatistics Working Papers

In group sequential designs, adjusting for baseline variables and short-term outcomes can lead to increased power and reduced sample size. We derive formulas for the precision gain from such variable adjustment using semiparametric estimators for the average treatment effect, and give new results on what conditions lead to substantial power gains and sample size reductions. The formulas reveal how the impact of prognostic variables on the precision gain is modified by the number of pipeline participants, analysis timing, enrollment rate, and treatment effect heterogeneity, when the semiparametric estimator uses correctly specified models. Given set prognostic value of baseline variables and …

Improved Aquatic Stream Passage, Elise Emil, Jess Wilson

Community Engaged Research Reports

The Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District (AVSWCD) expressed a need for the research and development of a semi-quantitative metric that can be used to determine priority stream barriers (eg. culverts; dams) to remove in Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Counties in Maine. In conjunction with a representative from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alex Abbott, the AVSWCD provided data about various stream sites within these two counties that had been recently surveyed. This included information about the aquatic ecological features of various stream habitats containing barriers and information about the physical characteristics of the barriers themselves.

Our proposed solution …

Energy-Climate-Manufacturing Nexus: New Insights From The Regional And Global Supply Chains Of Manufacturing Industries, Murat Kucukvar, Bunyamin Canseva, Gokhan Egilmez, Nuri C. Onat, Hamidreza Samadi

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

The main objectives of this research are to improve our understanding of energy-climate-manufacturing nexus within the context of regional and global manufacturing supply chains as well as show the significance of full coverage of entire supply chain tiers in order to prevent significant underestimations, which might lead to invalid policy conclusions. With this motivation, a multi region input–output (MRIO) sustainability assessment model is developed by using the World Input–Output Database, which is a dynamic MRIO framework on the world’s 40 largest economies covering 1440 economic sectors. The method presented in this study is the first environmentally-extended MRIO model that harmonizes …

Fuzzy Attitude Control Of Solar Sail, Joshua Baculi

Mechanical Engineering Master's Theses

This study presents various fuzzy type controllers for a solar sail. First, a Twin Parallel Distributed Compensator (TPDC) is built for a Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model of the solarsail. The T-S fuzzy model is constructed by linearizing the existing nonlinear equations fo motion of the solar sail. The T-S fuzzy model is used to solve a set of linear matrix inequalities to derive state feedback controller gains. The TPDC controls the solar sail using a combination of reaction wheels and roll stabilizer bars for attitude control and trim masses for disturbance rejection. The TPDC tracks and stabilizes the solar sail to …

Robert Polsky V. United States

2016 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Seaweed And Seagrass Mapping In Thailand Measured Using Landsat 8 Optical And Textural Image Properties, Satomi Kakuta, Wataru Takeuchi, Anchana Prathep

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Seaweed and seagrass beds are an important ecosystem in coastal zones. However, they are degrading because of various causes, such as the anthropogenic impacts of coastal development, aquaculture, overharvesting, and climate change. To contribute to the research related to coastal blue carbon and marine biodiversity as well as conservation and sustainable management of natural resources in coastal regions, the spatial distribution of benthic cover derived from satellite images can be the most practical tool for monitoring seaweed and seagrass beds. This study aimed at mapping the latest distribution of seaweed and seagrass in Thailand using Landsat 8 images. Thus, we …

The Persuasive Power Of Video Game Narratives: Addressing Empathy And Attitudes Toward People With Mental Illness, Kristy M. Najarian

Master of Arts in Communication

Many college students find themselves struggling with mental health problems (ACHA, 2015). Individuals with mental illness not only battle with the disease, but with the stigma society has developed toward them, leading to a diminished quality of life. Education and contact are two antistigma approaches utilized in this study (Corrigan & Watson, 2002). This thesis aims to understand players’ involvement in the video game narrative (i.e., narrative engagement and transportation) and its relationship with empathy and attitudes toward people with mental illness. As a way to alleviate stigma, college students (N = 97) were surveyed after playing the video game …

Instantaneous Shoreline Mapping From Worldview-2 Satellite Images By Using Shadow Analysis And Spectrum Matching Techniques, I-Chieh Lee

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Shoreline mapping and monitoring are crucial in heavily eroding coastal areas. Frequently monitoring shoreline changes in eroding areas can help government agencies to understand the causes and formulate plans to protect the shoreline; however, the cost of data sources and human labor involved can be prohibitive. To address this problem, this research proposes a cost-effective and semiautomatic shoreline delineation procedure that uses WorldView-2 satellite images as the data source. The advantages of the proposed procedure are the use of shadow and spectrum information, as well as the application of objectoriented classification. The classification process incorporates new bands from WorldView-2 to …

Global Surface And Subsurface Geostrophic Currents From Multi-Mission Satellite Altimetry And Hydrographic Data, 1996-2011, Chi-Hung Chang, Chung-Yen Kuo, C.K Shum, Yuchan Yi, Ashraf Rateb

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Climate indices have been shown to be correlated with changes of absolute ocean current velocities. Yet there has been a lack of available estimates of accurate surface and subsurface current velocities with adequate data span to afford a detailed study. Here, we combined multiple mission satellite altimetry alongtrack sea surface heights (SSHs), the Gravity field and steadystate Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) time-wise solution generated geoid model, and in situ hydrographic data, to estimate global surface and subsurface absolute geostrophic currents, 1996-2011. We used the profile approach to process satellite altimetry data, mitigating the negative impact of omission errors resulting from …

Predictive Modeling With The Soil And Water Assessment Tool (Swat2012) Prior To Design Development In Landscape Architecture: Learning From The Southwestern Medical District In Dallas, Texas, Layal Bitar Ghanem

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

Landscape Architecture has recently seen a significant rise in evaluative studies among the scientific and professional community, perhaps as a result of growing concerns related to rapid urbanization, climate change, and environmental degradation (LAF, 2016; Ozdil, 2014). Several methods adopted in evaluative landscape architecture research have typically focused on landscape performance in post implementation conditions, with a relatively superficial use of technology to address contemporary urban problems. However, with the advancement of computer technologies, opportunities to assess and predict environmental landscape performance prior to design development in the site planning process have emerged. The purpose of this research is to …

Winter Commencement: December 15-16, 2016, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Winter Commencement program from December 15-16, 2016.

Effects Of Temperature On Activity Of Aquatic Hyphomycetes: A Microcosm Study, Kyra Harrington‌‌

Honors Theses

Predicted increases in temperature under climate change scenarios are expected to affect not only atmospheric and water temperatures, but also the rate of heterotrophic activity and carbon dynamics and retention in ecosystems. The magnitude of the increase in metabolic activity of living organisms with increased temperature can be predicted by the Metabolic Theory of Ecology, however, multiple factors can cause deviations from simple predictions. The goal of this study is to assess the temperature sensitivity of aquatic hyphomycetes and fungi-mediated leaf litter decomposition by following responses to temperature of fungal biomass accrual, respiration and decomposition rates in laboratory microcosms simulating …

An Increased Remote Sensing Observation By Goci Daily Composite Image, Hyun Yang, Wonkook Kim, Kwangseok Kim, Young-Je Park, Hee-Jeong Han, Joo-Hyung Ryu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Opaque masses (e.g., cloud and haze) are the main obstacles interrupting remote observations of ocean color using optical sensors. We performed a statistical analysis for 1 year of ocean color data derived from the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI), which performs eight observations per day. We discovered that the valid ranges of the data vary depending on the local times and the seasonal characteristics and are related to the pattern of solar altitudes to a certain degree. Here, it is shown that multiple ocean color scenes observed on a given day can be merged to recover the contaminated areas. However, …

A High Level Framework For Solver Independent Model Manipulation And Generation Of Hybrid Solvers, Daniel Fontaine

Doctoral Dissertations

Many critical real world problems, including problems in areas such as logistics, routing and scheduling are very difficult to solve computationally (often NP-hard). Various programming and algorithmic paradigms have been developed to deal with these problems, including Constraint Programming (CP), Integer Programming (IP) and Local Search (LS). These technologies are largely declarative in nature and rely on vastly different underlying mathematical and algorithmic approaches. Hence, each paradigm has inherent strengths and weaknesses making it more or less suitable to a given problem. For particularly difficult problems, it can often be beneficial to leverage a sophisticated “hybrid solver” technique. Such techniques …

Slavery, Migration, And Local Development In The Western Us, Colin Q. Sharpe

Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines the effects of migration from eastern slave states in the 19th century on the subsequent development of counties in the Western US. I find that increased migration from slave states has a large, statistically significant negative effect on 2010 income, and no significant effect on racial inequality or overall income inequality. These findings are robust to a variety of specifications, including controls for geographic factors, state fixed effects, and various county level social and economic conditions. Data on individual migrants suggest that the cause of the negative income effect is the lower average human capital endowment of …

The Comment, December 15, 2016, Bridgewater State University

The Comment

No abstract provided.

Warning: Stop-And-Frisk May Be Hazardous To Your Health, Josephine Ross

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

No abstract provided.

The Flawed Reasoning Behind Johnson V. United States And A Solution: Why A Facts-Based Approach Should Have Been Used To Interpret The Residual Clause Of The Armed Career Criminal Act, Jake Albert

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

No abstract provided.

Biogenetically Inspired Total Synthesis Of Lingzhiol. Design And Synthesis Of Axially Chiral N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysts., Krishna Sharmah Gautam

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

A stereo- and enantio-selective synthesis of lingzhiol has been achieved, mimicking a proposed biogenetic pathway via Brønsted acid-catalyzed semipinacol rearrangement of a 2,3-epoxy alcohol. A new and improved method was developed for alkylation of anilines using a domestic microwave oven. The resulting racemic chiral anilines were resolved via classical resolution and transformed into axially chiral thiazolylidene-based NHC organocatalysts, which were applied to asymmetric benzoin condensation.

Mass Spectrometry And Protein Analysis: Structure, Oligomerization And Interaction, Hanliu Wang

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Protein aggregation is common in biological processes including neurodegenerative diseases, as well as artificial development in biopharmaceutical production and protein storage. Therefore, understanding proteins involved in aggregation systems is important. It is generally difficult for high resolution structural methods, such as X-ray or NMR, to interrogate proteins possessing aggregation propensities. On the other hand, techniques that tolerate solution heterogeneities, such as circular dichroism, only provide global or low-resolution information. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods are appropriate and powerful in such applications because they can deal with mixtures. Additionally, primary sequence, post-translational modification, and structural information can be obtained at low sample …

Epigenomics Of Cell Fate In Development And Disease, Rebecca Faith Lowdon

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Epigenetic features at regulatory elements provide instructive cues for transcriptional regulation during development. However, the particular epigenetic alterations necessary for proper cell fate acquisition and differentiation are not well understood. This dissertation explores the epigenetic dynamics of regulatory elements during development and uses epigenome annotations to document inappropriate transcriptional regulation in disease. First, I summarize my contributions to developing a new algorithm for detecting differential DNA methylation, M&M. I report the application of the M&M algorithm to identify distinct classes of DNA methylation dynamics in surface ectoderm (SE) progenitor cells and SE-derived lineages: epigenome alterations, and differential DNA methylation in …

The Dynamic Brain In Action: Cortical Oscillations And Coordination Dynamics, Mahmood Hoseini

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Cortical oscillations are electrical activities with rhythmic and/or repetitive nature generated spontaneously and in response to stimuli. Study of cortical oscillations has become an area of converging interests since the last two decades and has deepened our understanding of its physiological basis across different behavioral states. Experimental and modeling work has taught us that there is a wide diversity of cellular and circuit mechanisms underlying the generation of cortical rhythms. A wildly diverse set of functions has pertained to synchronous oscillations but their significance in cognition should be better appraised in the more general framework of correlation between spike times …

Explicit Bases Of Motives Over Number Fields With Application To Feynman Integrals, Yu Yang

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1 contains background material on higher Chow groups, KLM formula and Feynman integrals. In Chapter 2, we construct explicit bases for these extension classes mapping to zeta values. In Chapter 4, we study the Feynman integral of the three spoke wheel graph, reinterpret it as an image of regulator using higher Abel-Jacobi maps and theoretically prove that it is a rational multiple of zeta three. In Chapter 5, a reflexive graph polytope based on the graph polynomial is constructed. In Chapter 6, to generalize the results beyond wheel with three spokes, a criterion is given on the vanishing of …

Courtly Love And Its Counterparts In The Medieval Mediterranean, Robin William Girard

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

At least since Stendhal's De l'Amour, scholars have argued that the theories of courtly love expressed in the Old French literature of the High Middle Ages were inspired by or drew upon elements of Islamicate culture. In this dissertation, I explore the theories of love represented in works of literature, lover's manuals and medical treatises composed in and around the late twelfth–century court of Marie de Champagne, which I read in conjunction with contemporaneous works from the Islamicate world, ranging from Al‑Andalus to Persia, in order to show how these works reflect the common cultural orientation of the medieval Mediterranean. …

Structure, Dynamics, And Regulation Of Collective Cell Migration, Andrew J. Loza

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Collective migration is the process by which cells organize individual motions to productively migrate as a group and plays a fundamental role in organism development, tissue regeneration, and cancer invasion. In development, coordinated migration facilitates the formation of complex organ structures and is required for proper dissemination of neural crest cells throughout an organism. After injury, this process allows breaches in epithelial layers to be repaired while maintaining tissue integrity, and in cancer, collective behavior enhances invasion of tumor cells into the surrounding tissue. Chapter 1 provides an introduction for the role of collective migration across an organism’s lifespan, the …

Modern Assessment Of The High-Energy Background Environment At Small Atmospheric Depths Using The X-Calibur X-Ray Polarimeter And Its Implications, Rashied Baradaran Amini

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Since the discovery of cosmic rays, Earth's upper atmosphere at depths of 1-10 g cm2 has been used for balloon-borne observations probing the high-energy universe. However, the interaction of cosmic rays with the earth atmosphere generates numerous particles, each with their own flux and interaction physics that contribute to instrument background. In Fall 2014, the X-Calibur X-ray polarimeter designed and built at Washington University in St. Louis was launched from Ft. Sumner, New Mexico. While no astrophysical observation was performed as a result of a failure in telescope mechanisms, X-Calibur was able to record hours of instrument background with an …