Technical and Structural Experimentation in Dave Eggers\u27 A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and Jonathan Safran Foer\u27s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

This thesis discusses the experimental writing techniques of two contemporary American authors, Dave Eggers and Jonathan Safran Foer, in their works A Heartbreaking Work o f Staggering Genius and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, respectively. These authors’ narrative experiments are examined and contextualized through the lens of trauma theory, a practice of literary analysis that relies upon studies of the effects of trauma, most specifically the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Branin posits that Eggers’ and Foer’s experimental narrative choices—e.g. shifts in form and narrator, the use of circuitous and non-chronological narratives, typographical experiments, and the use of images instead of words—are not only shaped by the trauma the characters in each work have experienced, but are also necessary to accurately and fully convey the experience of trauma. Experimental narratives linguistically and aesthetically reflect the cognitive realities of their traumatized subjects

Shifting Boundaries: Managing Research Library Collections at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century

In this paper I would like to take the reader on a whirlwind review of collection management practices and issues in research libraries in the United States. Although I will greatly compress and oversimplify the contemporary history of collection management, the brevity is not as extreme as it may at first appear, for it was not until the 1950s that collection development in the United States began to emerge as a coherent management science. Over a period of about thirty-five years, from roughly 1950 through the mid-1980s, collection building in research libraries in the United States was professionalized and codified. In the first part of this paper I will review three significant issues-the rapid expansion of education, scholarship, and library collections; the shift from collection development to collection management; and attempts at cooperative collection developmcnt that influenced the evolution of collection management during this formative perio

Laser scanning aggregates for real-time property identification

The strength of concrete and asphalt is provided by the aggregate stone within it, and as such maintaining a high standard for these materials is crucial in ensuring that these materials meet their projected design lives. One key factor to consider for an aggregate\u27s long-term strength is its mineralogy, which can affect the strength and long-term performance of these materials. Conventional chemical testing techniques and petrographic examination methods presently exist which can be used to identify and/or quantify problematic minerals, however these tests are typically costly, time consuming, and/or require significant sample preparation and a controlled lab environment. The purpose of this study is to develop a portable, reliable system to determine traits of aggregate stone in the field and compare the results to New Jersey state standards as a means of quality control. This research presently focuses on quantifying the chemical composition and mineralogy of aggregates, with focus on minerals such as mica and limestone which can cause rapid degradation of aggregate stone in asphalt and concrete. Chemical composition testing is performed via Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), which involves firing a laser pulse at a sample and predicting its composition based on the spectrum of light emitted by the resulting plasma. Predictive models are generated via Partial Least Squares Regression Analysis

Developing, implementing and evaluating the effectiveness of a code of conduct

The purpose of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of one approach to discipline, a code of conduct. The population used for the study by the intern was the population of B.C.I.T. The participants were selected through the convenience sampling method using both the quantitative and qualitative research approach. The quantitative research design includes summary reports of monthly discipline infractions beginning in September 2003 and ending in January 2004. The qualitative research design consists of two surveys administered to teachers, secretaries, guidance counselors, child study team members and administrators. The initial survey focused on the discipline policy for the 2002-2003 school year and the final survey focused on the Code of Conduct. Analysis of the surveys yielded an underlying theme concerning any discipline procedure. The discipline procedure should be clearly stated and consistently enforced not only by administrators but also by staff members. This resounding theme should be an integral part of the success of any discipline procedure. The intern concludes that there is no one solution to a successful and effective discipline procedure. Each school district has a unique population with a different set of discipline needs, therefore no one discipline policy will work as a solution for all schools

The Implementation of the Integrated Information Center at the University of Minnesota

The implementation and operation of the Integrated Information Center (IIC) can be divided into three, relatively distinct phases corresponding roughly to the 3 years of the grant, from October 1990 to September 1993. This article presents the story of each phase of the implementation.Phase I: October 1990-August 1991; Phase II: August 1991-May 1992; Phase III: May 1992-September 199