Master of Science

thesisA comprehensive study on cold season inversion fog at Salt Lake City, Utah, has been performed. First, the connection between stable valley airmasses and fog events was investigated using soundings and reported automated surface observing system (ASOS) data from Salt Lake International Airport (KSLC) for eighteen cold seasons (October to March, during 1997-2015). A chi-square test of independence was performed on identified stable valley airmasses and fog events to determine whether the two are correlated. Conditional probabilities were then computed to investigate the occurrence of fog, given the presence of a stable valley airmass. These probabilities are compared against that of random fog generation in mid-winter. It was concluded that the dependence between stable valley airmasses and fog events is statistically significant and that the presence of such airmasses makes the formation of fog more likely in mid-winter

The Age Context of Performance Evaluation Decisions

Organizational demography contends that demographic characteristics of individuals, examined at individual, dyadic, group, and organizational levels of analysis, exert significant effects on organizational processes. The purpose of this paper was to test the contextual effects created by the interaction of work group age composition and supervisor age on supervisor evaluations of subordinate performance. Two competing models of age demography were tested. The similarity model predicts that supervisors similar in age to the work group they supervise will issue generally higher performance ratings. The dissimilarity model developed in this paper predicts the opposite. Support was indicated for the dissimilarity model. Implications of the results are discussed

Communication Satisfaction of Charismatic Leaders in Virtual Teams

Over the last 2 decades of advances in technology, organizations have used virtual teams (VTs) as one way to expand globally. Strong leadership and communication skills with followers are essential qualities for successful VTs. It is important to conduct research related to charismatic leadership and communication satisfaction of team members as many organizations now use VTs. The purpose of the survey study was to examine the relationship of perceived charismatic leadership qualities in VT leaders and communication satisfaction in VT members. The research questions examined the association between charismatic leadership qualities and the subdimension of communication satisfaction. Charismatic leadership was the theoretical framework for the study, which posits that leadership and communication are contributing factors to successful VTs. Data were collected from property managers of a major student housing management company (n = 111) using convenience sampling. The Conger-Kanungo Charismatic Leadership Questionnaire and Communication Satisfaction Survey were e-mailed to the property managers through Survey Monkey. Multiple regression analysis showed that a number of charismatic leadership qualities were statistically associated with communication satisfaction. Inspiring strategic and organizational goals explained the most variance in conflict resolution (p \u3c 0.001). The results may contribute to the body of knowledge on VTs, as the results suggest that a leadership-focused approach can transform VTs into highly communicative teams. Implications for positive social change are that management awareness of charismatic leadership qualities can have a positive effect on the enhancement of communication satisfaction and employee productivity

Anti Mullerian Hormone Concentrations as a Predictor of Superovulation Response and Conception Rate in Beef Females

The primary objective of this study was to determine the relationship of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) to ova production in various breeds of cattle in an embryo transfer program. Factors evaluated included breed type, age, weight, body condition, and previous response to flush history. Cow superovulation regimen included insertion of a CIDR (Controlled Internal Drug Release) and a 2 cc injection (IM) of Combo (25 mg and 1.25 mg/mL injectable) on Day 0. On Day 4, FSH treatments were initiated in both morning and afternoon with decreasing amounts over the next three days (five injections). Day 6, prostaglandin was also administered (IM) in both the AM and PM. On Day 7, AM final FSH injection and CIDR removal were performed. This resulted in estrus and AI on day 8 and collection of ova on day 15. Results were based on analysis of 369 animals; Angus (n = 25), Black Brangus (n = 43), Red Brangus (n = 53), , Brahman (n = 103), Beefmaster (n = 112), and Wagyu (n = 33). Age of donors ranged from 1.6 years to 15.4 years at collection with an average age of 7.2. Age had a significant (P0.05). Total ova production was positively associated (P<0.05) with AMH concentration (the greater the AMH concentration, the greater number of ova per flush). Secondary studies evaluated the use of AMH as a predictor of conception rate following timed artificial insemination. and tracked the concentration both over 9 consecutive months in heifers and a superovulatory regimen in donors

An evaluation of the Sam Houston State Teachers College Business Administration Department by 1950 to 1960 Bachelor of Business Administration graduates

Purpose: It was the purpose of this study to secure information which can be utilized to improve the aims of the business administration department at Sam Houston State Teachers College and thereby provide added opportunities for future graduates of that department. Special consideration has been given to (1) the comments and data furnished by the 105 S.H.S.T.C. 1950-1960 B.B.A. graduates replying to the questionnaire; (2) the existing program of the business administration at Sam Houston; (3) the history of Sam Houston and the business administration department; and (4) the recommendations for improvement of the business administration department made by the graduates. Methods: The methods used to obtain data for this study were (1) written questionnaires to 685 S.H.S.T.C. 1950-1960 B.B.A. graduates; and (2) the examination of books and business periodicals. Findings: From the data contained in this study the following recommendations appear to be in order: 1. More accounting courses should be offered and preparatory courses for the Certified Public Accountant examination should be included. 2. The business administration department should be improved by placing more emphasis upon better equipment, more space, higher standards of achievement, improved methods of instruction, and more rigid qualifications of instructors. 3. English grammar and spelling should be emphasized. 4. More students should be encouraged to obtain teaching certificates. 5. Students should be aided in choosing a minor that is complementary to their major that will help them in future employment. 6. More emphasis should be placed on the skills needed in teaching courses common to high school curriculum such as typing, shorthand, and bookkeeping

Exploration Technologies for Operations

Although the International Space Station (ISS) assembly has been completed, the Operations support teams continue to seek more efficient and effective ways to prepare for and conduct the ISS operations and future exploration missions beyond low earth orbit. This search for improvement has led to a significant collaboration between the NASA research and advanced software development community at NASA Ames Research Center and the Mission Operations community at NASA Johnson Space Center. Since 2001, NASA Ames Research Center has been developing and applying its advanced intelligent systems and human systems integration research to mission operations tools for several of the unmanned Mars missions operations. Since 2006, NASA Ames Research Center has also been developing and applying its advanced intelligent systems and human systems integration research to mission operations tools for manned operations support with the Mission Operations Directorate at NASA Johnson Space Center. This paper discusses the completion of the development and deployment of a variety of intelligent and human systems technologies adopted for manned mission operations. The technologies associated with the projects include advanced software systems for operations and human-centered computing. Human-centered computing looks to the processes and procedures that people do to perform any given job, then attempts to identify opportunities to improve these processes and procedures. In particular, for mission operations, improvements are quantified by specifically identifying how a tool can increase a persons efficiency, enhance a persons functional capability, andor improve the assurance of a persons decisions. The Ames development team has collaborated with the Mission Operations team to identify areas of efficiencies through technology infusion applications in support of the Plan, Train, and Fly activities of human-spaceflight mission operations. The specific applications discussed in this paper are in the areas of mission planning systems, mission operations design modeling and workflow automation, advanced systems monitoring, mission control technologies, search tools, training management tools, spacecraft solar array management, spacecraft power management, and spacecraft attitude planning. We discuss these specific projects between the Ames Research Center and the Johnson Space Centers Mission Operations Directorate, and how these technologies and projects are enhancing the mission operations support for the International Space Station. We also discuss the challenges, problems, and successes associated with long-distance and multi-year development projects between the research team at Ames and the Mission Operations customers at Johnson Space center. Finally, we discuss how these technology infusion applications and underlying technologies might be used in the future to support on-board operations of the crew and spacecraft systems as human exploration expands beyond low earth orbit to destinations in the solar system where communications delays will require more on-board autonomy and planning by the crew. Longer communications delays will require that the ground mission operations support will be primarily strategic in nature, while the tactical level of planning, systems monitoring and control, and failure analysisisolationrecovery will be the responsibility of both the spacecraft autonomous systems and the crew. Our expectation is that the technologie

Occupant productivity and office indoor environment quality : a review of the literature

The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature to draw an understanding of the relationship between indoor environmental quality and occupant productivity in an office environment. The study reviews over 300 papers from 67 journals, conference articles and books focusing on indoor environment, occupant comfort, productivity and green buildings. It limits its focus to the physical aspects of an office environment. The literature outlines eight Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) factors that influence occupant productivity in an office environment. It also discusses different physical parameters under each of the IEQ factors. It proposes a conceptual model of different factors affecting occupant productivity. The study also presents a review of the data collection methods utilised by the research studies that aim to investigate the relationship between IEQ and occupant productivity. The study presents a comprehensive discussion and analysis of different IEQ factors that affect occupant productivity. The paper provides a concise starting point for future researchers interested in the area of indoor environmental quality