Literate Vocabulary in the Written Language Samples of Seventh-Graders

Purpose - To analyze written persuasive language samples of seventh-graders to add to the local normative database by examining the use of literate vocabulary. Literate vocabulary refers to words that have a low frequency of natural occurrence in language, however, tend to appear in formal writing. Specifically, we will be examining the use of adverbial conjuncts (e.g., in conclusion, personally, technically), abstract nouns (e.g., freedom, enjoyment, opinion), and metacognitive/metalinguistic verbs (e.g., persuade, decide, imagine). Through examination of written persuasive essays we will gain further insight into literate vocabulary norms of seventh-graders. Methods - Written language samples were collected from seventh-grade students from a middle school in Missoula, Montana. All students were prompted to write a persuasive essay on a common topic. Each student’s essay was keyboarded into the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts computer program. Each vocabulary variable was coded as either [AC] (adverbial conjuncts), [MTVL] (metalinguistic/metacognitive verbs), [ABN] (abstract nouns). Each writing sample was coded by two separate investigators. Reliability for coding each vocabulary variable reached at least 95%. A correlation analysis will be used to determine whether there is a relationship between literate language usage and standardized reading scores. Originality - Language sample analysis is under-utilized when assessing older students, since few language norms for this age group have been established. Significance - Language sample analysis is a widely known preferred clinical practice for speech-language pathologists according to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, but is seldom used with school-aged clients in the upper elementary grades and beyond. It is important to regularly collect and analyze language samples because language development is continual throughout childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Few studies have used language sample analysis to determine developmental milestones in adolescent language, so this study will contribute to the gap in the literature regarding adolescent language norms. With this information we hope to obtain an understanding of the average productivity and usage of literate vocabulary for adolescents in 7th grade. These writing samples can be used to create a normative database in regards to these measures. Additionally, if literate vocabulary usage is significantly correlated with reading scores, this will further strengthen the argument for language sample analysis in the upper grades

Exploring Impact Philanthropy, Altruistic, Hedonic, and Egoistic Motivations to Support Animal Causes

Due to unpredictable economic turbulence, it is imperative that nonprofit organizations understand and implement segmentation practices to better target donors to maintain continual growth in donations. While such strategies are well implemented in for-profit arenas, non-profit organizations still lag behind in the implementation of segmentation and targeting practices. The targeting of donors by nonprofit organizations tends to be unfocused and sporadic at best. Early research on the practice of segmenting potential donors suggest that nonprofit firms should resist profiling their existing donors based upon demographic characteristics alone and should rely on examining demographic variables in relation to meaningful motivational forces. This study addresses a gap in the literature by examining altruistic, hedonic, impact philanthropy, and egoistic motives in an exploratory fashion to investigate which motivational are the strongest among animal sanctuary supporters. These motivational dimensions are also examined relative to past visitation behavior and membership. In addition, gender and age are examined in the study. A cross-sectional sample of 109 animal sanctuary supporters is obtained from an avian sanctuary in the Southeastern United States and paired sample t-tests were used to examine the relative effects of the motivational dimensions. Results indicate that impact philanthropy was a stronger motivational force than hedonic, altruistic, and egoistic motives. No substantial difference was found between hedonic and altruistic motives while both hedonic and altruistic motives were substantially greater than egoistic motives. In addition, hedonic motives were found to have a substantial relationship with sanctuary membership while past visitation was strongly associated with both impact philanthropy and hedonic motives. As shown in past research women rated higher on altruistic motives while no difference in motives was found based upon age. The results of this study indicate that impact philanthropy may be a major motivational force for donating to animal causes. This finding suggests that animal causes should focus on appeals attractive to impact philanthropists, individuals motivated by the desire to make a difference

A Novel Technique for the Simultaneous Collection of Reflection and Transmission Data from Thin Films in the Extreme Ultraviolet

Studies of thin films in the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) are difficult given that most materials readily absorb photons of these energies. By depositing a thin film of the material of interest on a silicon photodiode, transmission measurements can be made throughout the EUV. If the measurements are made in a range of low absorption, the extinction coefficient, k, can be found with relative ease. However, if the material’s absorption is considerable, reflection measurements are needed to supplement the transmission data in order to find the optical constants n and k. The technique developed allows for reflection and transmission measurements to be taken simultaneously, which combined, account for all of the measurable photons from the original beam: (those which cannot be counted are photons absorbed into the thin film material). Also, the technique presented allows for data to be collected from practically all angles of incidence. This technique has been applied to a thin film of scandium oxide (d=65 nm), with measurements taken over wavelengths from 2.5-25 nm, and at angles of incidence 12 degrees from grazing to normal

Symmetry of re-entrant tetragonal phase in Ba1-xNaxFe2As2: Magnetic versus orbital ordering mechanism

Magneto-structural phase transitions in Ba1-xAxFe2As2 (A = K, Na) materials are discussed for both magnetically and orbitally driven mechanisms, using a symmetry analysis formulated within the Landau theory of phase transitions. Both mechanisms predict identical orthorhombic space-group symmetries for the nematic and magnetic phases observed over much of the phase diagram, but they predict different tetragonal space-group symmetries for the newly discovered re-entrant tetragonal phase in Ba1-xNaxFe2As2 (x ~ 0.24-0.28). In a magnetic scenario, magnetic order with moments along the c-axis, as found experimentally, does not allow any type of orbital order, but in an orbital scenario, we have determined two possible orbital patterns, specified by P4/mnc1' and I4221' space groups, which do not require atomic displacements relative to the parent I4/mmm1' symmetry and, in consequence, are indistinguishable in conventional diffraction experiments. We demonstrate that the three possible space groups are however, distinct in resonant X-ray Bragg diffraction patterns created by Templeton & Templeton scattering. This provides an experimental method of distinguishing between magnetic and orbital models

The Effects of Oxidation on the Refractive Index of Uranium Thin Films in the Extreme Ultraviolet

We measured the transmittance and reflectance of two samples in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) at the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The samples were prepared with approximately 20 nm of UOx with one reactively sputtered onto a diode, and one allowed to oxidize naturally on an identical diode. Fitting the reflectance data to the Parratt model yielded a more precise thickness of the UOx film. This thickness combined with a simple analysis of the transmission measurements provides estimates for the imaginary part of the index of refraction for UOx at approximately every tenth of a nanometer from about 3 nm to 30 nm with emphasis in the 12- to 13-nm range. Using these values, a first approximation for the real part of the refractive index has also been calculated. These values provide researchers with information for modeling, design, and fabrication of optical systems in the extreme ultraviolet

Separation of Piperylene Concentrate via Metathesis Catalysis

Diolefin metathesis, using a Re2O7 catalyst, failed to show a reactivity difference due to conjugation of double bonds. However, the same system allows reaction of pentadiene while not affecting cyclopentene yielding a successful reaction ΓÇô separation scheme for a piperylene concentrate mixture

The Radiated Energy Budget of Chromospheric Plasma in a Major Solar Flare Deduced From Multi-Wavelength Observations

This paper presents measurements of the energy radiated by the lower solar atmosphere, at optical, UV, and EUV wavelengths, during an X-class solar flare (SOL2011-02-15T01:56) in response to an injection of energy assumed to be in the form of nonthermal electrons. Hard X-ray observations from RHESSI were used to track the evolution of the parameters of the nonthermal electron distribution to reveal the total power contained in flare accelerated electrons. By integrating over the duration of the impulsive phase, the total energy contained in the nonthermal electrons was found to be $>2\times10^{31}$ erg. The response of the lower solar atmosphere was measured in the free-bound EUV continua of H I (Lyman), He I, and He II, plus the emission lines of He II at 304\AA\ and H I (Ly$\alpha$) at 1216\AA\ by SDO/EVE, the UV continua at 1600\AA\ and 1700\AA\ by SDO/AIA, and the WL continuum at 4504\AA, 5550\AA, and 6684\AA, along with the Ca II H line at 3968\AA\ using Hinode/SOT. The summed energy detected by these instruments amounted to $\sim3\times10^{30}$ erg; about 15% of the total nonthermal energy. The Ly$\alpha$ line was found to dominate the measured radiative losses. Parameters of both the driving electron distribution and the resulting chromospheric response are presented in detail to encourage the numerical modelling of flare heating for this event, to determine the depth of the solar atmosphere at which these line and continuum processes originate, and the mechanism(s) responsible for their generation.Comment: 14 pages, 18 figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysics Journa

LaRC design analysis report for National Transonic Facility for 304 stainless steel tunnel shell. Volume 4S: Thermal analysis

For abstract, see N76-33552

Ungulate preference for burned patches reveals strength of fire–grazing interaction

The interactions between fire and grazing are widespread throughout fire-dependent landscapes. The utilization of burned areas by grazing animals establishes the fire–grazing interaction, but the preference for recently burned areas relative to other influences (water, topography, etc.) is unknown. In this study, we determine the strength of the fire–grazing interaction by quantifying the influence of fire on ungulate site selection. We compare the preference for recently burned patches relative to the influence of other environmental factors that contribute to site selection; compare that preference between native and introduced ungulates; test relationships between area burned and herbivore preference; and determine forage quality and quantity as mechanisms of site selection. We used two large ungulate species at two grassland locations within the southern Great Plains, USA. At each location, spatially distinct patches were burned within larger areas through time, allowing animals to select among burned and unburned areas. Using fine scale ungulate location data, we estimated resource selection functions to examine environmental factors in site selection. Ungulates preferred recently burned areas and avoided areas with greater time since fire, regardless of the size of landscape, herbivore species, or proportion of area burned. Forage quality was inversely related to time since fire, while forage quantity was positively related. We show that fire is an important component of large ungulate behavior with a strong influence on site selection that drives the fire–grazing interaction. This interaction is an ecosystem process that supersedes fire and grazing as separate factors, shaping grassland landscapes. Inclusion of the fire–grazing interaction into ecological studies and conservation practices of fire-prone systems will aid in better understanding and managing these systems