Improved methods of forming monolithic integrated circuits having complementary bipolar transistors

Two new processes form complementary transistors in monolithic semiconductor circuits, require fewer steps /infusions/ than previous methods, and eliminate such problems as nonuniform h sub FE distribution, low yield, and large device formation

Effects of Experience and Certification on Teacher Perceptions of the Arkansas Teacher Excellence and Support System

Teacher evaluations have been a facet of the education sector throughout history. Meaningful teacher evaluations entail an accurate assessment of teacher effectiveness. Of late, States have implemented evaluation mandates that called for a more comprehensive teacher evaluation approach when assessing the effectiveness of teachers. In 2011, Arkansas adopted the Teacher Excellence Support System (TESS), which standardized the evaluation system to support licensed and non-licensed educators. Teachers’ perceptions are critical in understanding an evaluation system that assesses for teacher effectiveness. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the effects of experience and certification on teachers’ perceptions related to the effectiveness of TESS. The related literature recognizes a strong correlation between teacher effectiveness and student achievement. The researcher sought to determine teachers’ perceived beliefs about the new evaluation system compared to the previous system, on the effect of professional development received, and the effectiveness of the new system. The targeted population consisted of 236 licensed teachers from three school districts in Central Arkansas. Data were collected through the use of Rutgers University Graduate School of Education Teacher Survey. Factorial analysis of variance revealed that no evidence was found that years of experience interacting with certification specialty or main effects of experience and certification had an effect on teachers’ perceptions considering the three hypotheses. Based on these findings, recommendations for improved results are discussed, and suggestions are included for future research

Habitat Fragmentation in Western North Dakota after the Introduction of Hydraulic Fracturing

Western North Dakota has seen the largest boom in U.S. domestic oil production in recent history, starting just after the turn of the millennium. This study quantifies the amount of habitat fragmentation experienced since the introduction of hydraulic fracturing in the state, using the Little Missouri National Grasslands as a study area. All development in and immediately surrounding the Grasslands were digitized for successive years between 2003 and 2016, using available National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) data as a primary resource. The populations of grassland bird species were used as a proxy for measuring the effects of development within the Grasslands during these same years. Results show hydraulic fracturing has had a measurable but small impact on the Grasslands overall; large portions of the Grassland have not yet seen large-scale oil development, while the northernmost portion of the Grassland has seen a substantial increase in fragmentation. Of the thirteen bird species investigated, two grassland bird species – the Sprague’s pipit (Anthus spragueii) and the vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) – decreased in average population as habitat fragmentation increases. An additional two species – western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) and brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) – had significant regression models, but regional population trends were more significant than the amount of habitat fragmentation. Hydraulic fracturing combined with horizontal drilling is a unique form of oil development, as oil can be extracted from surrounding areas up to two miles from each well pad; hydraulic fracturing thus can create a smaller footprint on the landscape than more conventional forms of oil extraction. This study concludes by considering the possible impact on oil development if the entirety of the Little Missouri National Grassland was designated as a roadless area, concluding the effect of a such a designation would only minimally affect the ability to extract oil from within National Grassland boundaries, while preserving important habitat

Evaluation of Citizen Police Academies as an Effective Tool to Improve Citizens' Relations with Law Enforcement

Examines the effectiveness of citizen police academies

LILAC and Citation Project Workshop

The LILAC Project (Learning Information Literacy across the Curriculum) is a multi-institutional study of student information-seeking behaviors (lilac-group.blogspot.com). This year we join forces with the Citation Project, a study of how students use the information they find (CitationProject.net), to consider what both studies may have to tell us about students’ information literacy “habits of mind.” Participants will gain hands-on experience with the research-aloud protocol (RAP) video captures used as part of this study and identifying and coding subject behaviors. We will demonstrate coding and analysis of information-seeking behaviors of both native speakers of English and multilingual writers in composition courses, share preliminary findings of a project examining the information literacy of multilingual writers, and discuss its relevance in composition classes, ESL academic writing classes, and content courses in different disciplines. In both large- and small-group discussions, we will consider what we are learning from results of these studies and what we can do with the information, sharing our experience in data analysis and results interpretation, and inviting participants to discuss how to consider the framing of LILAC projects from different disciplinary perspectives. The addition of citation context analysis like that done by the Citation Project allows participants to explore both the research process and the products of that research. The triangulation of data made possible by this combined research provides deeper and more nuanced understanding of information literacy in general and use and misuse of sources in particular

Alcohol consumption as a risk factor for sarcopenia - a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia, a loss of muscle strength and mass, has serious implications for older adults. Some risk factors for sarcopenia are well established. The role of other factors such as alcohol consumption is less certain. The main aim of this study was to explore the relationship between sarcopenia and alcohol consumption in people over 65 years old. METHODS: Four electronic databases were searched to identify potentially relevant papers. Demographics and information on sarcopenia and alcohol consumption were extracted from relevant papers. The relationship between sarcopenia and alcohol consumption was described using odds ratios (ORs). RESULTS: Of 214 papers identified as potentially relevant, 13 were ultimately included in the meta-analyses. The papers provided data from 13,155 participants. The OR (95 % CI) for sarcopenia among alcohol drinkers was 0.67 (0.54–0.83) for males, 0.89 (0.73–1.08) for females, and 0.77 (0.67–0.88) for the overall population. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this meta-analysis do not support alcohol consumption as a risk factor for sarcopenia

Comparison of walking performance over the first 2 minutes and the full 6 minutes of the Six-Minute Walk Test

BackgroundAlthough the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), as recommended by the American Thoracic Society, is widely used as a measure of functional endurance, it may not be applicable in some settings and populations. We sought to examine, therefore, performance over the first 2 minutes and the full 6 minutes of the 6MWT. Specifically, we investigated completion rates, distances walked, test-retest reliability, and the relationship between distances walked over the first 2 and the full 6 minutes of the 6MWT.MethodsCommunity-dwelling children and adults age 3-85 years (n = 337) were asked to walk back and forth on a 15.24 meter (50 ft) course as far as possible without running over a 6 minute period. Test completion and the distance covered by the participants at 2 and 6 minutes were documented. The reliability of distances covered at 2 and 6 minutes was determined by retesting a subsample of 54 participants 6 to 10 days later. The relationship between distances covered at 2 and 6 minutes was determined for the 330 participants completing the 6MWT.ResultsAll 337 participants completed at least 2 minutes of walking, but 7 children less than 5 years of age ceased walking before 6 minutes had elapsed. For the remaining 330 participants the mean distance walked was 186 meters at 2 minutes and 543 meters at 6 minutes. The distances covered at 2 and 6 minutes were reliable between sessions (intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.888 and 0.917, respectively). The distances covered over 2 and 6 minutes were highly correlated (r = 0.968).ConclusionsThe completion rate, values obtained, test-retest reliability, and relationship of the distances walked in 2 and 6 minutes support documentation of 2 minute distance during the 6MWT. The findings also provide support for use of a Two-Minute Walk Test as the endurance component in the Motor Battery of the NIH Toolbox