Digital Commons Network^™

Assessment Of Data Collection Techniques And White-Nose Syndrome Effects On Bat Communities Of South Carolina, Katherine Dennie Teets

All Theses

White-nose syndrome (WNS), an infectious disease that has caused massive declines in bat populations since its discovery in 2006, may be indirectly affecting bat community structure. As WNS-susceptible species populations decline, WNS-resistant species may be taking over foraging niches formerly occupied by WNS-susceptible species. We hypothesized that bat communities located in WNS-positive areas in South Carolina have experienced niche partitioning relaxation. First, because some pre-WNS acoustic data were collected using different methods than those primarily used today, we examined if sampling method affected detection probabilities and our interpretation of habitat use of bats. We collected data using passive and active …

Exploring How Teachers Are Assisted By Tie To Cope With Teaching And Learning Process During The Transition Period Of Curriculum Change, Godfrey Emeran Mishomari

Master of Education

Teaching during the transition period of curriculum change is a very challenging activity. Teachers need to be assisted by Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) through the intended curriculum, manifested curriculum as textbooks and supported curriculum such as teacher’s guides on one hand and through provision of continuous professional development on the other hand. This should be done in order to improve their teaching efficiency on the intended curriculum and the implemented curriculum during this period and far much better improving learner’s performance as an attained curriculum by the students. This is pivotal if we are to improve the quality of …

Spatial And Temporal Structure Of A Canid Community In Nebraska, Lucia Corral Hurtado

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Understanding patterns of space-use by individuals, their distribution, and how they coexist with ecologically similar species is crucial to address various issues in ecology, evolution, conservation biology, and wildlife management. However, the study of such patterns challenging because the relationship among species and their environment is shaped by multiple ecological processes, many of which are acting at different scales, often in a hierarchical manner. In the Canidae family, for instance, where interference competition appears critical, larger species such as coyotes (Canis latrans), can often affect smaller species, such as red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and swift fox …

2018 Winter Graduate & Undergraduate Commencement, Lindenwood University

Commencement Programs

Lindenwood University Commencement program.

High-Energy Laser Weapons: Overpromising Readiness, Ash Rossiter

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of The Relationship Between High School Seniors And High School Seniors Participating In A Multi-Year, Looping, School-Based Mentoring Program, Devon Alaine Lassetter

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers have indicated that secondary school students were more likely to be truant than primary school students which lead to students dropping out of school and becoming less productive citizens as adults. Researchers have also shown that participation in a school-based mentoring program can positively influence the students and help them make better life decisions. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent a multi-year, looping, school-based mentoring program has on the attendance data, behavioral data, achievement data, and graduation rate of high school seniors at a rural high school in west Georgia. The researcher conducted a …

The Impact Of Foreign Aid On Extreme Poverty: A Case Study Of Liberia’S Development Complexities (1980-2018), Roosevelt Seedee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many countries in West Africa, including Liberia, remain trapped in extreme poverty and dysfunctional social services amid continued increase in foreign aid. This study examines complexities influencing decisions of government donors in determining the kind of development assistance needed in Liberia and nation states in West Africa. This research explains the ways in which aid perpetuates poverty instead of alleviating it using interdisciplinary research approaches. Although aid is critical to Liberia’s development agenda, aid implementation faces numerous challenges because of extant poverty and rampant corruption.

Part of the problem in Liberia is not solely the failure of aid to meet …

About Men: A Retrospective Into The Evolution Of The Male Form Through The Female Gaze, Laura Briseño

Theses and Dissertations

It is philosophized that subjectivity is founded on subjection, a subjection based on the view point of the viewer. Through the centuries the idea of the male form has been transformed through various representations from the context of art, architecture, and culture from Ancient Greece (Classical period of 5th and 4th centuries BC) to Contemporary art (1946–present).

The purpose is to create an exhibition that provides a female gaze on the representations of the male form through or in art. Examining how and why male forms are represented in the content we know them as of current curation. Which brings …

Combining Faithfulness With Learning: Avoiding The Path Of Secularization At Brigham Young University, J. Gordon Daines Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Most research universities in the United States began as religiously affiliated institutions. Beginning in the late 19th century and continuing over the course of the 20th century, the vast majority of these institutions engaged in a process of secularization through which faith moved from the center of academic life to the periphery. This paper elucidates a conceptual framework for understanding how and why Brigham Young University did not follow the path of secularization that so many research universities, originally religious in nature, pursued. It examines the steps that the university and its sponsoring institution (The Church of Jesus Christ of …

Retrospective: A Historiographical Aesthetic In Contemporary Singapore And Malaysia, Kian Chow Kwok

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

In an interview published a month before his passing, Hayden Whitesuggested historical studies had finally arrived at an “era of the image,” givenhow long it took for historians to recognize the potentialities of photographyand subsequently cinema and post-cinema as not just historical objects butalso modes of doing history. White cited queer history as an example ofcomplicating the binary between the object and method of historical study,enabling new approaches to understanding history and historiography(Ethan Kleinberg and Hayden White on the Practical Past, Part 2, published onYouTube, February 5, 2018).

Thirty Years Of Instrument Research: What Have We Learned And Where Are We Going?, Michael Howlett, Ishani Mukherjee, J.J. Woo

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Anyone interested in policy studies, policy analysis, policy evaluation and policymanagement should be aware of, and knowledgeable about, the origins, nature andcapabilities of different policy tools. They are a critical part of policy-making, providingthe ‘means’ by which to achieve policy ‘ends’ but also often becoming ends-inthemselves. Policy instruments are and have been the subject of inquiry in many policyrelated fields, including public administration and ‘governance’ studies, but also variousbroader disciplines such as political science and economics. Additionally, they have beena research topic in various policy-specific areas of study such as policy analysis andpolicy studies, as well as in sector-specific areas …

Cultural Naturalism And The Market God, David Timothy Denenny

Theses

This work employs John Dewey's cultural naturalism to explore how and why the orthodox economic tradition functions as a religious faith.Scholars such as the theologian Harvey Cox and others now view orthodox economic practice as a religion. Other scholars such as Max Weber, Alasdair MacIntyre, and numerous others view modern economic practice as exemplifying a particular ethic. The focus in this work is placed upon the destructive consequences of practicing the Market faith. This work argues that much of contemporary economic practice maintains a view of science that is incompatible with the kind of naturalism found in Classical American Pragmatism. …

The Relationship Between Secondary Teachers’ Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge And Technology Integration Factors, Randal Cody Raper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research in educational technology has led to the discovery of factors for successful technology integration into the classroom—technology access and support, professional development, attitudes toward technology, technology use by students, and technology use by teachers. Additionally, using the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) theoretical framework, a teacher’s understanding of the knowledge required to effectively implement technology can be measured. This study attempted to examine the relationship between teachers’ TPACK score and the key indicators of technology integration using the TPACK survey and the Survey of Technology Integration and Related Factors (STIR). Using a nonexperimental, correlational design, participants were selected from …

Influence Of Environmental Variables On Survival Rates Of Pronghorn (Antilocapra Americana) Neonates Across Idaho, Brett R. Panting

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was completed to better understand pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) populations found throughout Idaho. Antelope were studied in three separate and distinct study areas. The Big Desert, Camas Prairie, and Little Lost and Pahsimeroi valleys were all selected as study sites. Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is concerned with current pronghorn populations found throughout Idaho. Pronghorn are a valued big game species found in Idaho. Increasing pronghorn populations in Idaho is a focus of IDFG.

We captured and VHF-collared pronghorn fawns found in our three study areas. Fawns were monitored daily with telemetry equipment for …

Effective Measures Of Weight Gain Five Years Post-Kidney Transplantation, Tara Calico Cherry

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

BACKGROUND: Weight gain is commonly observed post-kidney transplantation and is associated with unfavorable health outcomes, such as graft loss, new onset diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the most effective measure for assessing body composition after kidney transplantation.

DESIGN: The study was a descriptive correlational follow-up study from a single kidney transplant site.

SUBJECTS: A total of 45 eligible patients from a 2007-2011 parent study were selected, ages of 37 to 78.

MEASUREMENTS: Body composition was obtained 5–8 years posttransplant via anthropometric measures (waist circumference, body mass index, and dual energy X-ray …

U.S. Millennials And The Hook-Up Culture: An Online Descriptive Survey Of Hook-Up Attitudes, Beliefs, And Experiences, Allyson S. Maida

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this online survey study was to collect and analyze the attitudes and experiences of 18-24-year-old U.S. millennials. Previous studies have focused exclusively upon hook-up attitudes and experiences among college students using mostly paper-and-pencil surveys or interviews, this study described hook-up experiences and attitudes using a sample of U.S. millennials who were not enrolled full-time in college. Using a Qualtrics panel, 106 respondents (54 males and 52 females), 66 with prior hooking-up experience and 40 with no prior experience, completed an online demographic survey and The Millennial Hook-Up Attitudes and Beliefs Survey. The results revealed more than half …

Photoreception And Eye Regeneration Mechanisms In Planarians, Taylor R. Birkholz

Dissertations

Although humans lack the ability to regenerate complete organs and limbs following amputation or injury, there are many other species (both vertebrates and invertebrates) that can. Significant advances have been made in understanding the genetic mechanisms that regulate organ regeneration in these species, including regeneration of eye tissues such as the lens and retina. Planarians are an established historical model used to study regeneration due to their ability to regenerate any organ, including the eye. With recent advances in molecular genetic analyses, planarians are now an emerging model for the specific study of eye regeneration mechanisms. Furthermore, regeneration of the …

Working-Class Graduates’ Perceptions Of The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens Training And Its Impact On Their Life Choices And Future Success, Andrew Kenneth Ashley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine working-class graduates’ perceptions of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens training. This purpose was accomplished through a qualitative analysis of data. The data was collected from interviews of graduates and teachers. Following the coding process, graduate data was then reduced to the following categories: social awareness, relationship development, teamwork, communication skills, empathy, self-awareness, and self-confidence which created the themes of interpersonal skills and intrapersonal skills. Four additional graduate themes were created from decision-making data: weighing pros and cons, prioritizing outcomes, thinking long-term, and real-life applications. Additional graduate data was provided …

Segregation Academies Then And School Choice Configurations Today In Deep South States, Marilyn Grady, Sharon C. Hoffman

Contemporary Issues in Educational Leadership

In the following article, we present a brief historical review of segregation academies and their impact on students and public schools. Based on the review, we provide a portrait of the vestiges of segregation academies that appear to be currently re-emerging in different educational configurations throughout the U.S. and particularly in Deep South states.

The purpose of a historical study is to provide a descriptive overview of specific social problems confined within a predetermined timeframe (Danto, 2008). This historical review’s purpose was to address the following inquiry: What were the characteristics of Deep South segregation academies designed to circumvent Brown …

The Historiography Of Black Workers In The Urban Midwest: Toward A Regional Synthesis, Joe William Trotter, Jr.

Studies in Midwestern History

Focusing on Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis, and Milwaukee, this article explores the transformation of research on black workers in the urban Midwest from the foundational years of the early 20th century through recent times. While much work remains to be done, a century of innovative research on different time periods, topics, and themes provides an excellent opportunity to craft a regional Midwestern synthesis of black labor and working class history.

This article is based upon Professor Trotter's keynote address, "Toward a Regional Synthesis of the Black Working Class: The Urban Midwest from the American Revolution to the Postindustrial Age," …

The Nexus Between Digitization, Preservation And Access In The Context Of Selection Of Materials For Archives, Tolulope Balogun

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The purpose of the paper is to examine the nexus between digitization, preservation and access in the context of selection of archival materials for digitization in Nigeria. In this paper, the author reviewed literature on the importance of archival materials, connection between digitization, preservation and access and the selection of materials for digitization at the National Archives of Nigeria. The study was carried out to understand the phenomenon in a local context and this anchored upon a previous study and preliminary observation by the researcher which revealed that the materials at the National Archives of Nigeria are fast deteriorating and …

Constructing A Data-Based Mortality Profile For Avian Tower Kills At Telecommunication Towers In Illinois, Rachel Dipietro

Theses and Dissertations

During spring and fall seasons, Neotropical migratory passerines travel nocturnally across the Western Hemisphere between their wintering and breeding grounds, often encountering man-made threats. One hazard that has gained considerable publicity in recent decades is the communication tower. While there have been many tower kill studies recorded, there has been no attempt at predicting the risk of towers based on their different attributes (e.g., height, type of light, landscape placement) spatially on a regional scale. The objective of this study was to create seasonal mortality profile maps in GIS for Illinois, based on tower attributes combined with key factors such …

"I Do Not Speak French": Cruising, Magic, And Proust's Queer Sociability, Finn Turner

University Honors Theses

The composition of Marcel Proust’s, À la recherche du temps perdu, unfolded in a fin de siècle Paris rife with public sex, much of it between men. Queer desire and public space intersect repeatedly in the novel and, in light of the theorization of cruising during the last two decades, deserve special attention. While cruising may not be the key to understanding the Recherche, its entanglement with the novel’s more famous themes (time, memory, society, etc.) facilitates innovative readings and contributes to a growing conversation about the role of eroticism in Proust. With a minor passage in Sodom and …

Understanding Culture Through Traditional Chinese Fairy Tales: A Study On The Effects Of Chinese Fairy Tale Characters On Audience Perception Of Culture, Bochuan Li

Theses

Classic of Mountains and Seas is probably one of the most ancient books about geography. The history of this book dates back to the Zhou Dynasty (1134 BC to 256 BC) or even earlier. Classic of Mountains and Seas is structured with 18 fascicles and has remained generally unaltered since the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368). This book is not a narrative; it details descriptions of locations in the mountains, seas, lands, and wilderness. The descriptions are usually about medicines, monsters, and geological features. Many of the descriptions are very mundane. Chapters follow the same pattern, and the whole book consists of …

Access To Humanities Scholarship Through Public Search Engines, Jody C. Fagan, Malia Willey

Libraries

While research has shown search engine coverage of science and social science scholarship rivals traditional library databases, the coverage or utility of public search engines for the humanities needs further exploration. This presentation will report results from at least two empirical research studies that investigated access to humanities scholarship via public search engines (e.g. Google, Google Scholar, Google Books, Microsoft Academic). We will propose additional research ideas that we hope will inspire future studies.

Evaluation Of Spatial Generalization Characteristics Of A Robust Classifier As Applied To Coral Reef Habitats In Remote Islands Of The Pacific Ocean, Justin J. Gapper, Hesham El-Askary, Erik J. Linstead, Thomas Piechota

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

This study was an evaluation of the spectral signature generalization properties of coral across four remote Pacific Ocean reefs. The sites under consideration have not been the subject of previous studies for coral classification using remote sensing data. Previous research regarding using remote sensing to identify reefs has been limited to in-situ assessment, with some researchers also performing temporal analysis of a selected area of interest. This study expanded the previous in-situ analyses by evaluating the ability of a basic predictor, Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), trained on Depth Invariant Indices calculated from the spectral signature of coral in one location …

British Family Structure: Expressions Of Power And Conceptions Of Family, Chloe Chaplin, Kathy Callahan Dr.

Posters-at-the-Capitol

The goal of this research is to examine family structure in early modern Scotland and England though the use of written communication. The primary focus will be on aristocratic families with a secondary look at upper-middle class families. This is due primarily to availability of records, and also why I will mainly be using written correspondence rather than secondary analyses, as this field is still relatively new. By exploring the development of key familial relationships (e.g. parent-child, husband-wife, and in-law interactions) through private correspondence, larger insights can be drawn about gender and the nuclear family. Also, these central relationships guide …

Creating Great Expectations: Strategic Communications And American Airpower, Conrad C. Crane Dr.

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

Americans have always been uniquely attracted to airpower, a fact that has been successfully exploited by generations of U.S. Air Force leaders in information campaigns. But as a result, the nation has often entered conflicts with exorbitant expectations about what airpower could actually accomplish, creating unique challenges in strategic communications when promises did not match reality, especially in recent conflicts. Adaptive enemies have also become very adept at using their own carefully crafted information campaigns to counter what is America’s greatest asymmetric advantage on the battlefield.

Student Perceptions Of Enhancing The Internship Experience For Online Principal Preparation Programs, Bob Nicks, Tilisa Thibodeaux, Gary Martin

School Leadership Review

Principal preparation programs understand the need for relevant internship activities that bridge the gap between theory and practice (Anast-May, Buckner, & Geer, 2011; Darling-Hammond, LaPointe, Meyerson, Orr, & Cohen (2007). Principal preparation programs utilizing distance technology are also charged with meeting this expectation and the electronic learning technologies have changed learning from restrictive to flexible, accessible, and innovative (Tseng & Gardner, 2016). The internship is a widely accepted program component of principal preparation that provides the student with actual administrative experience during the certification process; however, despite the mandates from national accreditation organizations and state certification agencies, the literature is …

A Biographical Study Of Bernard Lafayette, Jr. As An Adult Educator Including The Teaching Of Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation, Rozelia Maria Kennedy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the life and work of LaFayette, nonviolence and conflict reconciliation from an adult education perspective. This study explores LaFayette’s life from an early age through his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, his contributions to adult education, and his current views on social change. The nonviolence conflict reconciliation LaFayette teaches is based on the philosophy and strategies of Martin Luther King, Jr. During the last 50 years, LaFayette has been kidnapped, threatened, and survived ventures into hostile environments in his effort to teach nonviolence philosophy, strategies, and methods.

This historical/biographical study used …