Satisfaction and Importance Analysis of Features and Services to Nontraditional Students: A Mixed Methods Approach

The study examined the importance and satisfaction to nontraditional students (NTS) with features and services offered at Eastern Illinois University (EIU). Participants included students over age 25 who were currently or recently enrolled at the university at the time of data collection. A triangulation mixed-methods approach was utilized; a 40-item instrument was created to measure NTSs\u27 EIU experience. Findings indicated that Instructors\u27 knowledge of course content, Overall quality of instruction, Relevancy of subject matter taught in classes I attend, Cost of tuition to attend EIU, and Clarity of degree requirements were the most important to NTS at EIU. Participants were most satisfied with: Interactions with instructors in class, Instructors\u27 knowledge of course content, Instructors\u27 ability to manage the classroom effectively, Relevancy of subject matter taught in classes I attend, and Overall quality of instruction. NTS identified a need for class times that fit their busy schedules and flexibility in deadlines and course offerings. Most chose to attend EIU for its location, the cost of attending, the program or major offered, and the reputation of the school. They were motivated to remain enrolled due to an interest in reaching their goal of graduation, the instructors (they are knowledgeable, friendly, inspiring, and understand NTS), and the university\u27s location. This study found a practical and significant difference between satisfaction and importance of features and services to NTS at EIU. A recommendation for student affairs professionals is to address areas that were identified as highly important with low satisfaction (Cost of tuition to attend EIU, Perceived ability to secure a job after completing educational goals, Variety of classes within my major, Availability of online or distance learning courses for me to attend, and Times that classes are offered)

Satisfaction and Importance Analysis of Features and Services to Nontraditional Students: A Mixed Methods Approach

The study examined the importance and satisfaction to nontraditional students (NTS) with features and services offered at Eastern Illinois University (EIU). Participants included students over age 25 who were currently or recently enrolled at the university at the time of data collection. A triangulation mixed-methods approach was utilized; a 40-item instrument was created to measure NTSs\u27 EIU experience. Findings indicated that Instructors\u27 knowledge of course content, Overall quality of instruction, Relevancy of subject matter taught in classes I attend, Cost of tuition to attend EIU, and Clarity of degree requirements were the most important to NTS at EIU. Participants were most satisfied with: Interactions with instructors in class, Instructors\u27 knowledge of course content, Instructors\u27 ability to manage the classroom effectively, Relevancy of subject matter taught in classes I attend, and Overall quality of instruction. NTS identified a need for class times that fit their busy schedules and flexibility in deadlines and course offerings. Most chose to attend EIU for its location, the cost of attending, the program or major offered, and the reputation of the school. They were motivated to remain enrolled due to an interest in reaching their goal of graduation, the instructors (they are knowledgeable, friendly, inspiring, and understand NTS), and the university\u27s location. This study found a practical and significant difference between satisfaction and importance of features and services to NTS at EIU. A recommendation for student affairs professionals is to address areas that were identified as highly important with low satisfaction (Cost of tuition to attend EIU, Perceived ability to secure a job after completing educational goals, Variety of classes within my major, Availability of online or distance learning courses for me to attend, and Times that classes are offered)

Nutritional evaluation of novel ethanol co-products for poultry

The objective of the first study was to evaluate the nutritional value of Glutenol™, a new coproduct of the ethanol industry. Glutenol™ was produced by Quality Technology International in a modified wet-milling plant using a hybrid process, NextGenFrac™, which fractionates the corn kernel components prior to fermentation without the use of sulfur dioxide. Glutenol™ was analyzed to contain 52.3% CP, 1.7% Met + Cys, 1.32% Lys, 1.69% Thr, and 2.23% Val on a DM basis. Two precision-fed rooster assays with conventional and cecectomized roosters were conducted to determine TMEn and amino acid digestibility, respectively. The TMEn of Glutenol™ was determined to be 3256 kcal/kg DM. Standardized digestibility values for Lys, Met, Cys, Thr and Val were 80.1%, 90.4%, 74.1%, 81.1% and 84.9% respectively. In addition, a three-week broiler chick assay was conducted with increasing levels of dietary Glutenol™. Diet 1 was a standard corn/soybean meal diet with 0% Glutenol™. Diets 2, 3 and 4 had increasing levels of Glutenol™ at 4%, 8% and 12% respectively. As the level of Glutenol™ increased, the level of SBM in the diet decreased from 35.77% in Diet 1 to 29.42% in Diet 4 to keep the protein levels equal among treatments. The diets were fed to Ross 308 male broilers housed in battery cages from 3 to 22 days post hatch. All diets were formulated to be equal in ME and digestible amino acids. Weight gain, feed intake and gain/feed ratio were measured. No significant differences in growth performance were observed among dietary treatments, leading to the conclusion that Glutenol™ can be fed up to at least 12% in the diet of broiler chickens if diets are formulated to be equal in ME and digestible amino acids. In the second study, a series of 48-hour precision-fed rooster assays were conducted to determine TMEn using conventional roosters and/or amino acid digestibility using cecectomized roosters for distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) produced from human food waste at high solids content (FWDDGS), DDGS produced from two mutant corn hybrids containing either increased protein or increased levels of select dietary indispensable amino acids such as lysine, arginine, and tryptophan, and an increased-protein ethanol co-product that is produced by a process which separates a high concentration protein and yeast fraction from ethanol stillage (Still Pro™, Fluid Quip Process Technologies, Cedar Rapids, IA). The original raw materials for the FWDDGS consisted mainly of, mashed potatoes, sweet corn, and white bread. The results of the rooster assays indicated that the digestibility of the amino acids in the FWDDGS was similar to typical DDGS (e.g., 61% for lysine), whereas the TMEn for the FWDDGS was higher than for typical DDGS. The DDGS produced from the high protein mutant corn hybrid was shown to have a higher protein content of 34% compared with DDGS from its control corn hybrid, which contained 28% protein. Using Lys as an example, there was a large difference in Lys content between the two samples; the high protein mutant DDGS contained 1.60% Lys versus 1.05% for the control DDGS. The digestibility of amino acids was generally similar for the mutant DDGS and the control DDGS. Similar results were observed for Lys, Arg, and Trp for the DDGS produced from the second mutant corn hybrid. The Still Pro™ sample was analyzed to contain 53% protein on a dry matter basis with 2.22 % Lys, 1.05% Met, 0.90% Cys, and 2.06% Thr. The digestibility values for these amino acids were 84%, 92%, 87%, and 86% respectively. The TMEn of the Still Pro™ sample was determined to be 3372 kcal/kg on a dry matter basis. The results of the two studies indicate that the nutritional value of the four novel ethanol coproducts is generally superior to the nutritional value of conventional DDGS

Prospectus, August 17, 2005

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2005/1030/thumbnail.jp

The Luminosity, Colour and Morphology dependence of galaxy filaments in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release Four

We have tested for luminosity, colour and morphology dependence of the degree of filamentarity in seven nearly two dimensional strips from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release Four (SDSS DR4). The analysis is carried out at various levels of coarse graining allowing us to address different length-scales. We find that the brighter galaxies have a less filamentary distribution than the fainter ones at all levels of coarse graining. The distribution of red galaxies and ellipticals shows a higher degree of filamentarity compared to blue galaxies and spirals respectively at low levels of coarse graining. The behaviour is reversed at higher levels of coarse graining. We propose a picture where the ellipticals are densely distributed in the vicinity of the nodes where the filaments intersect while the spirals are sparsely distributed along the entire extent of the filaments. Our findings indicate that the regions with an excess of ellipticals are larger than galaxy clusters, protruding into the filaments. We have also compared the predictions of a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation (the Millennium Run galaxy catalogue) against our results for the SDSS. We find the two to be in agreement for the $M^{*}$ galaxies and for the red galaxies, while the model fails to correctly predict the filamentarity of the brighter galaxies and the blue galaxies.Comment: 14 Pages, 2 tables, 11 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRAS, new section added for a comparison with semi analytical models of galaxy formation, substantial revisio

Surface analysis of semiconductors and simulation using Python

Reflection High Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED) is a real time in situ analysis technique for the characterisation of semiconductor surfaces. RHEED involves a beam of electrons, between 8 and 20KeV, incident upon the surface of a crystal substrate at a glancing angle. The electrons are diffracted and caught on a phosphor screen, where a diffraction pattern is formed. RHEED patterns are typically just a series of adjacent streaks or spots. The sample surface can be characterised by extracting the position and shape of the streaks. A charge-coupled device (CCD) camera captures the pattern, upon which, the pattern can be processed and analysed. This project uses the programming language, Python, to perform data analysis on the RHEED images. The program digitises the experimental images, stores pixel intensity data and utilises this data to extract the distance between streaks using a number of methods. By conducting analysis on the distance between streaks, information on the in-plane lattice constant of the sample can be obtained. Through monitoring the evolution of streak spacing for the experimental image patterns over time, information is provided on the variation of the in-plane lattice constant over growth time. Image processing methods were implemented to clarify the streaks. This eased the process of extracting the streak intensity profiles and pixels representing the streaks. This report discusses the development of the program step by step, the results, the issues encountered and proposed future work related to the project.Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Health related quality of life of head & neck cancer patients in the state of Sabah

Cancer of head and neck (HNC) has profound functional, cosmetic and emotional impact on patients. Both the disease and the treatment affect critical functions such as speech, swallowing and emotional wellbeing etc. In nasopharyngeal carcinoma, there is improved local control of the disease with higher survival rates with higher radiation dosage. The frequency and severity of complications such as pituitary hypofunction and otitis media with effusion are however increased. Our research project was started in June 2005. We surveyed a total number of 117 HNC patients, out of which 95 cases have nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The EORTe (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer) Quality of life QLQ-C30 (Core Questionnaire) and EORTC QLQ-H&N35 (supplementary disease specific module) were used for the survey. The mean score for the different fimctional domains are physical function 74.8 (SE=1.8), role function 67.1(SE=2.5) • emotional function 66.8 (SE=2.4), cognitive function 67.7 (SE=2.2), social fimction 71.2 (SE=2.7)and overall quality of life 61.5 (SE=2.3). Compare to other studies, our patients show lower overall level of quality of life function. The emotional function in female is significantly lower than that of male; this is in accordance to that observed in studies from other countries. For head and neck specific module, the mean score for pain. swallowing, social eating and social contact are better than senses, speech and sexual function. Because majority of our patients suffered from nasopharygeal carcinoma, a relatively rare entity in western country series, and also most of our patients, i.e. 94% underwent radiotherapy, the results are difficult to compare. There were significant differential effects of ethnic group on the role function, emotional function. cognitive function and pain in our model. The differential effect is mainly due to the differences between Chinese and Kadazandusun. The Chinese fare better in terms of role function, emotional function. cognitive function and are less disturbed by pain when compared to the Kadazandusun. The present study has highlighted the effects of head and neck cancer on patient's quality of life. At present improvement of survival of patient remains the most important outcome in most clinical research. The results of our study also indicate the possibility of using quality of life parameters to assess treatment outcomes. Rather than just survival alone. quality of life parameters should also be included in selecting and deciding appropriate therapy for patients