The Influence of Student Absences on Grade Point Average in High School

iii, 35 leaves. Advisor: Susan Kovar.The problem. This study was undertaken (1) to examine the extent that high school attendance level affects grade point averages, (2) to examine the interaction between the effects of intelligence and attendance levels on grade point averages. Procedure. A two way ANOVA was performed using grade point average as the dependent variable and attendance levels and intelligence as the independent variables. The grade point average was figured on a ratio scale and the independent variable of intelligence and attendance were categorized so ANOVA could be used. Findings. This study clearly shows that the number of days absent from school has a detrimental effect on grade point average. Across all intelligence categories, grade point averages steadily decrease as absences increase. There is no interaction between the effects of attendance levels and intelligence scores on grade point averages. Conclusions. This study shows that students can effectively improve their grade point averages by making a consciencious effort to attend school regularly. Recommendations. There is a need to improve students' attendance levels and for students to recognize the relationship between attendance levels, grade point averages and achievement of educational excellence in their high school years, Students, parents and educational staff need to be made more aware of how absences contribute to the problem of lower educational achievement

A new record of Percursaria percursa (Ulvaceae, Ulvales) on the North Island, New Zealand

The filamentous green alga Percursaria percursa (Ulvaceae, Ulvales) was recorded for the first time on the North Island of New Zealand at mokoroa Estuary, Tauranga Harbour. This species is previously known within New Zealand from only two records, both from the South Island. In Tauranga Harbour, this species was restricted to anoxic estuarine sediments where mangrove forests had been mulched, and mulchate left in situ. Percursaria percursa was found intertwined with Ulva spp. and Rhizoclonium spp. Surveys of other North and South Island estuaries suggest that this alga, although occurring as part of nuisance green algal blooms in Tauranga Harbour, has only colonized human-impacted locations, and has not yet been observed in natural' estuarine ecosystems in New Zealand. As this species was found intertwined with other mat-forming filamentous green algae, it can easily be misidentified in the field, leading to both over- and under-reporting of species occurrence

Midwestern Artists\u27 Responses to the Demands of Entrepreneurial Management

Artists have the potential to achieve higher levels of success in business management, leadership roles, and entrepreneurial endeavors if equipped with the proper knowledge. Although artists may have a creative perspective and could possess many of the attributes sought after by organizations and communities in need of innovative leaders, their approaches to entrepreneurial management differ from traditional business managers or community leaders. The problem was poor understanding of how artists in Midwestern regions of the United States respond to the demands of entrepreneurial management. The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to understand how 20 individuals who self-identified as artists and living or working in a specific county located in the Midwestern United States responded to entrepreneurial management demands. The key research question involved how these self-identified artists perceived and dealt with the demands of entrepreneurship through the lens of aesthetic leadership. Data from interviews, field notes, and observations were coded and categorized using NVivo to assist in identifying patterns and themes. Findings indicated that the self-identified artists indicated a need for entrepreneurial support, educational systems, and business development support from state and local community service programs that recognize and support their creative entrepreneurial endeavors. Understanding the intrinsic motivations that influence artists can help educators and contribute to business development that incorporates their unique circumstances. Art is transformational on many levels and benefits individuals, communities, organizations, and societies by promoting a more humanistic vision of the world

Injury Reporting in Collegiate Soccer Players and the Impact of Non-Reporting

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine injury reporting rates of collegiate soccer players and explore possible consequences of not reporting these injuries. Methods: Soccer players (male and female) from eight Division II and III schools were surveyed about their injury history during college, injury reporting behavior, and the consequences of their worst non-reported injury. The head coach of each soccer team was also surveyed about their perception of player injury reporting on their team. Results: Of the 232 athletes surveyed, 171 had been injured during their college career and 67 (39.2% of those injured, 28.8% of all surveyed) had not reported one of their injuries at some point during their college career. Coaches perceived that the rate of non-reporting on their team would be on average 16.6%. Eighty-seven percent of non-reporters reported that due to their injury they had to lower intensity of playing, 20.9% missed playing/practice time, and 92.5% self-treated while they were injured. 43.3% percent were re-injured and 12 of those athletes missed more time because of the re-injury. 59.7% percent would choose to not report an injury again. Conclusion: Approximately 40% of all soccer players who had been injured during their collegiate career sustained an injury that they did not report. This unreported injury in many cases led to negative consequences such as decreased intensity of play or re-injury. College athletic trainers and coaches must be aware of this non-reporting and determine the best practice for creating a better environment for openness about injury discussion and reporting

Administrators\u27 Understanding of the Federal Special Education Mandate: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

With the passage of the Education for all Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142) in 1975, the United States Congress sought to provide educational opportunity to all children. In 1990, with added amendments, the law was renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Turnbull reported in 1993 that Congress had found approximately one-half of the nation\u27s eight million children with disabilities were not receiving an appropriate education and about one million were receiving no education at all. Clearly, in the past two decades since the passage of the Education for all Handicapped Children Act school administrators have, on a daily basis, made decisions that either uphold or violate the rights of students With disabilities as they are set forth in the IDEA. The purpose of this study was to assess the status of administrators\u27 understanding of this important federal mandate, specifically administrators-in-training at three universities. The critical role of the school administrator in the lives of children with special needs was the impetus of this investigation. How well are they prepared for decision-making? How well do they understand the mandates they are required to fulfill

Dan River, Inc. v. Icahn: Disclosure Violations - Relief for Subject Management?

The heightened level of takeover activity during recent years has provoked many innovative responses from the management of subject companies that wish to remain independent. Since successful acquisition of a company usually involves the termination of its existing management, that management will often seek to mobilize the resources of the subject corporation to oppose the takeover attempt. As a result, litigation initiated by management now plays a part in virtually every takeover contest. The case of Dan River, Inc. v. Icahn, a recent Fourth Circuit decision, illustrates the use of litigation to forestall a takeover attempt

Characterizing the gut microbiome in trauma: significant changes in microbial diversity occur early after severe injury.

Background:Recent studies have demonstrated the vital influence of commensal microbial communities on human health. The central role of the gut in the response to injury is well described; however, no prior studies have used culture-independent profiling techniques to characterize the gut microbiome after severe trauma. We hypothesized that in critically injured patients, the gut microbiome would undergo significant compositional changes in the first 72 hours after injury. Methods:Trauma stool samples were prospectively collected via digital rectal examination at the time of presentation (0 hour). Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (n=12) had additional stool samples collected at 24 hours and/or 72 hours. Uninjured patients served as controls (n=10). DNA was extracted from stool samples and 16S rRNA-targeted PCR amplification was performed; amplicons were sequenced and binned into operational taxonomic units (OTUs; 97% sequence similarity). Diversity was analyzed using principle coordinates analyses, and negative binomial regression was used to determine significantly enriched OTUs. Results:Critically injured patients had a median Injury Severity Score of 27 and suffered polytrauma. At baseline (0 hour), there were no detectable differences in gut microbial community diversity between injured and uninjured patients. Injured patients developed changes in gut microbiome composition within 72 hours, characterized by significant alterations in phylogenetic composition and taxon relative abundance. Members of the bacterial orders Bacteroidales, Fusobacteriales and Verrucomicrobiales were depleted during 72 hours, whereas Clostridiales and Enterococcus members enriched significantly. Discussion:In this initial study of the gut microbiome after trauma, we demonstrate that significant changes in phylogenetic composition and relative abundance occur in the first 72 hours after injury. This rapid change in intestinal microbiota represents a critical phenomenon that may influence outcomes after severe trauma. A better understanding of the nature of these postinjury changes may lead to the ability to intervene in otherwise pathological clinical trajectories. Level of evidence:III. Study type:Prognostic/epidemiological

A framework for parametric design optimization using isogeometric analysis

Isogeometric analysis (IGA) fundamentally seeks to bridge the gap between engineering design and high-fidelity computational analysis by using spline functions as finite element bases. However, additional computational design paradigms must be taken into consideration to ensure that designers can take full advantage of IGA, especially within the context of design optimization. In this work, we propose a novel approach that employs IGA methodologies while still rigorously abiding by the paradigms of advanced design parameterization, analysis model validity, and interactivity. The entire design lifecycle utilizes a consistent geometry description and is contained within a single platform. Because of this unified workflow, iterative design optimization can be naturally integrated. The proposed methodology is demonstrated through an IGA-based parametric design optimization framework implemented using the Grasshopper algorithmic modeling interface for Rhinoceros 3D. The framework is capable of performing IGA-based design optimization of realistic engineering structures that are practically constructed through the use of complex geometric operations. We demonstrate the framework’s effectiveness on both an internally pressurized tube and a wind turbine blade, highlighting its applicability across a spectrum of design complexity. In addition to inherently featuring the advantageous characteristics of IGA, the seamless nature of the workflow instantiated in this framework diminishes the obstacles traditionally encountered when performing finite-element-analysis-based design optimization