The Tweet Heard 'Round The World

The Texas Orato

Relationship between Classroom Climate, Student Self-Efficacy, and Achievement in the High School Math Classroom

There is a variety of past research regarding the relationship between the mathematics classroom climate and student learning. More specifically, many studies look at how the classroom climate may influence student self-efficacy in math. Furthermore, another quantity of research supports that there is a link between student math self-efficacy and the student’s achievement in the particular subject. The goal of this study is to see if students’ perceptions of their math classroom climate are related to their self-efficacies towards the subject, which therefore affects their achievement in math. It is hypothesized that there is a relationship between the classroom environment and student self-efficacy; furthermore, it is hypothesized this relationship contributes to student achievement in math. Participants were 83 high school students attending a public suburban school outside of Boston in the winter of 2014. Students completed Fast’s measure assessing classroom climate, math self-efficacy and achievement. A significant relationship was found between classroom climate and student self-efficacy, with mastery goal structure being the most significant aspect of classroom climate that contributes to this relationship. A significant relationship was found between self-efficacy and achievement, but boys had higher self-efficacies while girls had higher achievement

Investment in High Frequency Trading Technology: A Real Options Approach

This paper derives an optimal timing strategy for a regular slow trader considering investing in a high-frequency trading (HFT) technology. The market is fragmented, and slow traders compete with fast traders for trade execution. Given this optimal timing rule, I then char- acterise the equilibrium level of fast trading in the market as well as the welfare-maximising socially optimal level. I show that there is always a unique cost of investment such that the equilibrium level of fast trading and the socially optimal level coincide. Finally I discuss potential policy responses to addressing equilibrium and social optimality misalignment in HFT

Austin ISD Bond Election Forges Unlikely Alliances

The Texas Orato

Analyzing Avoidance: Judicial Strategy in Comparative Perspective

Courts sometimes avoid deciding contentious issues. One prominent justification for this practice is that, by employing avoidance strategically, a court can postpone reaching decisions that might threaten its institutional viability. Avoidance creates delay, which can allow for productive dialogue with and among the political branches. That dialogue, in turn, may result in the democratic resolution of—or the evolution of popular societal consensus around—a contested question, relieving the court of its duty. Many scholars and judges assume that, by creating and deferring to this dialogue, a court can safeguard its institutional legitimacy and security. Accepting this assumption arguendo, this Article seeks to evaluate avoidance as it relates to dialogue. It identifies two key factors in the avoidance decision that might affect dialogue with the political branches: first, the timing of avoidance (i.e., when in the life cycle of a case does a high court choose to avoid); and, second, a court’s candor about the decision (i.e., to what degree does a court openly acknowledge its choice to avoid). The Article draws on a series of avoidance strategies from apex courts around the world to tease out the relationships among timing, candor, and dialogue. As the first study to analyze avoidance from a comparative perspective, the Article generates a new framework for assessing avoidance by highlighting the impact of timing on the quality of dialogue, the possible unintended consequences of candor, and the critical trade-offs between avoidance and power

The impact of Paradise shelducks (Tadorna variegata) on pastoral communities and their role as reservoirs af agricultural diseases : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Conservation Ecology, Massey University, Auckland

Since its habitat expansion, due to human land clearance for farmland, paradise shelducks (Tadorna variegata) have established a firm foothold in the New Zealand agricultural environment. Paradise shelducks feed primarily on agricultural pasture and consequently compete directly with livestock for resources. As a result many farmers consider paradise shelducks to be a pest. In addition, it is a common perception that paradise shelducks contaminate agricultural land with their faeces. Although there is a wealth of information on the impacts of waterfowl on agricultural industries and diseases associated with waterfowl, no studies have specifically looked at the potential impact paradise shelducks pose on New Zealand's agricultural practices. The aims of this study were to 1) determine the presence and prevalence of pathogenic micro-organisms in paradise shelduck faeces and their associated environment, 2) evaluate the findings in terms of transmission routes and the relative risk to livestock and humans, 3) determine whether paradise shelducks have an affect on primary pasture production and composition, and 4) estimate the daily food intake rates of paradise shelducks. This study was based on a population of paradise shelducks in Tawharanui Regional Park over each of four seasons from 2006-2007. The prevalence of pathogenic micro-organisms was determined by paradise shelduck faecal surveys for selected bacteria and parasites. Surveys were conducted for flock birds and breeding pairs Additionally, faecal samples of sympatric species and water troughs were analysed. The impacts of paradise shelducks on pastoral communities was assessed by means of an exclusion experiment, consisting of two types of exclosure; a 'closed' exclosure to exclude all animals including paradise shelducks, and an 'open' exclosure to exclude livestock, but to allow access for paradise shelducks. Daily food intake rates for paradise shelducks were estimated from observational foraging data and necropsies ot paradise shelducks. Results show that no isolates of Salmonella. Campylobacter Yersinia. Cyrptospordium or Giardia were found. Relatively low prevalences of non haemolytic and alpha haemolytic Streptococci. Enterococcus, Bacillus, Clostridium perfringens, Proteus mirablis, strongyle eggs and Coccidia eggs were found. Additionally. E. coli was consistently isolated from the faecal samples throughout the sampling period. However, the serotypes of the micro-organisms isolated were not determined, so no conclusions could be drawn in relation to their pathogenicity. Furthermore, no significant correlations were found between the number of accumulated faeces sampled and the presence or prevalences of the micro-organisms isolated. It also appears that sampling during the driest times of the year will yield the highest presence of micro-organisms in paradise shelduck faeces. An array of micro-organisms, similar to those found in paradise shelduck faeces, were found in pukekos and house sparrow faeces as well as high contamination levels of faecal indicators in troughs. No conclusive transmission routes for the micro-organisms were found. Paradise shelducks were found to have a significant impact on pasture production and to selectively graze white clover (Trifolium repens). Furthermore, it was estimated that the paradise shelducks had a foraging intake rate of 104±15g/day of pasture dry matter. The results confirmed that paradise shelducks can have an affect on agricultural land. A more long term study in different regions is required to evaluate the full extent to which paradise shelducks affect agricultural production in New Zealand

Hoffmeister in his Proving Ground: Sicily, July–August 1943

Lieutenant-Colonel Bert Hoffmeister established his reputation as an able battlefield commander in Sicily. In the Campaign to wrest the Italian island from the Axis Powers, he fought with skill and courage. Both were important; commanders not only have to be technically competent at managing the men and resources under their command, they also have to able to do it when shells are falling and soldiers are dying. In the combat crucible of Sicily, Hoffmeister demonstrated his ability to do both

Female reproductive strategies and mother-calf relationships of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Zoology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

This study reviewed the habitat use, social organisation and behaviour of common dolphin groups categorised by their youngest member, as well as the behaviour of common dolphin calves of different age classes. Most newborn calves were sighted over late spring and early summer, and in water temperatures warmer than for other groups. The water depths at which common dolphin groups were found did not vary according to the age class of their youngest member. However, only groups containing newborns or infants were sighted under 20 metres of water depth. A high percentage of groups encountered contained calves (82.5%). suggesting the importance of the Hauraki Gulf for common dolphins' reproduction. Groups of common dolphins containing calves were found to be of larger size than any other group type. All groups proved to be similarly involved in different behavioural states and showed comparable patterns of association with other species, although groups including newborns were significantly less likely to be seen associated with whales and birds. Groups of common dolphins as a whole did not show a differential reaction to the boat according to the age class of their youngest member. However, mothers and their young calves kept greater distances to the boat than mothers and older calves did. suggesting that the boat may be perceived as a threat during the newborn period. Most of the behaviours that characterise mother-calf relationships varied according to calf age class. The occurrence, frequency, duration and distance of separations increased with older aged calves. A similar increase was found in the time spent without the mother, in the occurrence of association with non-mother dolphins, in the time spent in 'echelon position', and in both mothers' and calves' dive time. Mothers also had longer dive times than calves. Older aged calves tend to present the lowest proportion of synchronous breaths. These changes are likely to represent a gradual increase in calves' independence. Results from this study have extended our knowledge of common dolphins' reproductive ecology, demonstrated that studies of mother-calf relationships in pelagic species of dolphins can he achieved, and allowed future research needs to he identified and management recommendations to be made