Study of Sand Seatrout of the Galveston Bay Area

Sand seatrout (Cynoscion arenarius Ginsberg) were studied in the Galveston Bay area to provide information on seasonality, population composition, food items, growth, and spawning. Tagging efforts resulted in 518 tagged fish and a return of 16 tags during the 1968-70 period. Tag recovery data suggest a migration from the upper bay to the lower bay and Gulf waters in December and return in March. Electrophoretic analysis of multiple hemoglobin protein types were studied from 96 sand seatrout blood samples. Five protein types were observed without discernible differences that could be attributed to population heterogeneity. Analysis of stomach content revealed crustacea and fish as primary food items. Gonad development stages indicate a spawning period from March through August

Food Insecurity and Health of International Students

International college students may be at risk for suffering from food insecurity and poor health. The purposes of this study were to: 1) determine if the household adult food security status (HAFSS) differs between undergraduate and graduate international students (INSTUD) attending the University of Mississippi (UM); 2) establish if a statistically significant relationship exists between health (physical functioning (PF) , role limitations due to physical health (RLPH), role limitations due to emotional problems (RLEP), energy/fatigue (EF), emotional well-being (EWB), social functioning (SF), pain (P), and general health (GH) and HAFSS; 3) assess if health differs between INSTUD living in food secure and food insecure households at UM; and 4) determine if health predicts HAFSS in INSTUD attending UM. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Methods included sending a fifty-eight-question survey questionnaire assessing current food insecurity status and health to 750 randomly-selected INSTUD via university email. This survey included questions to assess basic demographic information, the USDA’s HFSSM Six-Item Short Form and the RAND 36-Item Short Form. To determine the differences in HAFSS in undergraduate and graduate INSTUD, a Pearson Chi-square test was performed. A Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to identify if a statistically significant relationship exists between health and HAFSS. When assessing the difference in health status between food secure and food insecure INSTUD, a two-tail independent samples t-test was used. When identifying if health predicts HAFSS, an ordinal logistic regression with proportional odds test was performed. Participants (n=94, 12.5% response rate) were from thirty-five different countries were primarily male (n=48, 51.1%), graduate students (n=50, 53.2%), that received funding (n=82, 87%). INSTUD were categorized by high food security (n=27, 28.7%), marginal food security (n=12, 12.8%), low food security (n=24, 25.5%), and very low food security (n=31, 33%). The majority of participants were characterized as being non-OECD member countries (n=75,80%), with noted differences in food security by students from non-OECD and OECD countries. No differences in HAFSS were observed between undergraduate and graduate students (p=.344). Significant relationships between RLPH (p\u3c.05), EF (p\u3c.001), EWB (p\u3c.05), SF (p\u3c.001), P (p\u3c.05), and GH (p\u3c.001) and food security status were noted. RLPH (p=.043), SF (p\u3c.001), and GH (p\u3c.001) differed between food secure and food insecure INSTUD. Health scores in these areas were higher in food secure INSTUD. Essentially, as health scores decreased, food security worsened. Analysis also found decreased odds of living in a food insecure household for individuals with good SF (OR=.95) and GH (OR=.96). To conclude, INSTUD at UM may suffer from poor health and experience food insecurity. Better SF and better GH promote food security among INSTUD

Productivity Measurement for Home Health Care Registered Nurses

The purpose of this study is to develop a productivity measurement applicable to home health registered nurses (RNs) by identifying and quantifying the knowledge and ability variables that define productive nurse practice. A preliminary set of knowledge and ability variables was identified based on content analysis of interviews with local nurse managers and round I of a three round Delphi procedure, using a purposive sample of nurse managers from nationally preeminent agencies. A randomized national sample of 337 nurse managers was then surveyed to determine the relative value and rank of the knowledge and ability variables. These variables were refined during Delphi round II and III. Based on the three Delphi rounds, the interviews and the responses to the national survey, a profile was developed, using factor analysis, consisting of 35 important knowledge and ability variables. These variables clustered into seven constructs: Practice Management, Knowledge/Skill Maintenance, Written Documentation, Home Health Care Knowledge, Communication, Nursing Process, and Client/Family Management. Within these seven constructs, the following individual variables were considered most important: skill in health assessment and hands on technical skill, documentation, independent decision making, communication, organizational ability, and a foundation in teaching/learning principles and home care rules and regulations. Qualitatively identified associations among variables were statistically supported. Nonparametric tests, including the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test, were used to identify differences in the importance of specific knowledge and ability variables among governmental, hospital based, proprietary, and VNA agencies, and between hospice and non-hospice agencies. No significant differences were found among agency types. However, among agencies considered preeminent, intellectual skills appeared to be of greater importance to productive practice than direct care skills. Results of this study suggest a profile of productivity dimensions which provides (1) a theoretical basis for understanding the knowledge and ability variables associated with RN productivity in the home health setting, (2) a description of nurse inputs in a home health services productivity model, and (3) a reality based measurement tool that has utility in understanding and managing RN productivity in home health care

Sale Price, Marketing Time, and Limited Service Listings: The Influence of Home Value and Market Conditions

Local markets for real estate brokerage services typically exhibit fairly strict pricing. Increased popularity of limited service brokerages provides an opportunity to study any loss in utility by sellers using these firms. Anecdotal evidence suggests that sellers experience a decreased selling price or an increased marketing time when utilizing limited service brokers, but there has been little prior empirical work. This study finds that limited service listings sell for significantly more and spend significantly less time on the market than traditional listings. The price and marketing time impacts vary by home value and local market conditions.

Working with Metal: The Stylistic Characteristics of the Swedish Band Meshuggah and an Original Composition Inspired by Their Work

I have long been fascinated by music that is created through the amalgamation of more than one style of music. As a composer, this has led to me exploring paths that combine elements of contemporary, classical, jazz, world, film, and video game music. In this thesis I explore elements of progressive metal band Meshuggah. More specifically I examine their use of polymeter, polyrhythm, and other rhythmic devices used in six of their songs. I then demonstrate how I applied those same components to an original composition, Armageddon, scored for flute, Bb clarinet, C trumpet, trombone, percussion, piano, violin, viola, cello, and double bass. I used these techniques both in similar and different ways. I also explain how I employed a few techniques of my own

Space Shuttle 2 advanced space transportation system, volume 2

To determine the best configuration from all candidate configurations, it was necessary first to calculate minimum system weights and performance. To optimize the design, it is necessary to vary configuration-specific variables such as total system weight, thrust-to-weight ratios, burn durations, total thrust available, and mass fraction for the system. Optimizing each of these variables at the same time is technically unfeasible and not necessarily mathematically possible. However, discrete sets of data can be generated which will eliminate many candidate configurations. From the most promising remaining designs, a final configuration can be selected. Included are the three most important designs considered: one which closely approximates the design criteria set forth in a Marshall Space Flight Center study of the Shuttle 2; the configuration used in the initial proposal; and the final configuration. A listing by cell of the formulas used to generate the aforementioned data is included for reference

Space Shuttle 2 Advanced Space Transportation System. Volume 1: Executive Summary

An investigation into the feasibility of establishing a second generation space transportation system is summarized. Incorporating successful systems from the Space Shuttle and technological advances made since its conception, the second generation shuttle was designed to be a lower-cost, reliable system which would guarantee access to space well into the next century. A fully reusable, all-liquid propellant booster/orbiter combination using parallel burn was selected as the base configuration. Vehicle characteristics were determined from NASA ground rules and optimization evaluations. The launch profile was constructed from particulars of the vehicle design and known orbital requirements. A stability and control analysis was performed for the landing phase of the orbiter's flight. Finally, a preliminary safety analysis was performed to indicate possible failure modes and consequences