Factors Affecting the Winning Percentages of Division III Football Teams

We study factors affecting the winning percentages of Division III football teams. Using data from the NCAA for the 2014 through 2016 seasons, we find that both offensive and defensive outcomes equally affect winning percentages. Our results suggest that when it comes to winning, there is no statistically significant difference between the impact of having a more prolific offense or having a solid defense

The Development of Graphic Art In Missouri

The development of the art of a people is closely inter-woven with the history and society of that group; the histories and societies of communities are very nearly parallel in the steps of human progress - even taking into consideration the complex cumulative character of progress and the subsequent advantages of later civilizations over old; so that, viewed as a whole or in sections, each normal development of art goes through fundamental states true alike in every other normal art-development. Art reflects in its development the society which produces it. For example, the evolution of art in the state of Missouri reflects the society which produced it, subject, of course, to the influence of previous art-evolution and the contemporary art with which it has had contacts. World art reflects the society of mankind throughout the ages. Each civilization, or segment thereof, in its turn - or simultaneously with another - produces and offers to the world its art. Through its art a civilization gives of its individuality and, if another art in its evolution has reached a point at which it can be sensitive to it, the essence of that individuality given may act upon that art which may, as a result, be enriched

Forb Counts in Grassland Are Sensitive to Analytical Method

An analysis of forbs from 9 years of Plant Census protocol (NRI 2019) is compared to data from the Line Point Intercept (LPI) protocol. Both protocols were conducted on the same geospatially separate macroplots (N=1230). The macroplots locations were stratified by NRI based on a land hierarchy which has had long-term use in the United States (Salley etal 2015). This ties vegetation and land together in the data. The analysis showed that the 15-minute plant census method increased forb species data by 29 percent over the LPI method which takes 40-60 minutes. Both methods captured similar total ratios and rank of all functional groups inventoried. The inventory, measured from a uniform plot size, allows plant census forb data to be further analysed by constancy at various land scales. Results provide examples of the forb data used to help identify character species affinity for land hierarchical sites, regional floristics, functional-structural group composition, and assist in future plant identification and awareness training. The Plant Census protocol increases data with very little time investment. Ecological studies with deeper forb focus would benefit by adding the Plant Census protocol

Metal-oxide-metal point contact junction detectors

The detection mechanism(s) and design of a mechanically stable metal-oxide-metal point contact junction detector are considered. A prototype for a mechanically stable device has been constructed and tested. A technique has been developed which accurately predicts microwave video detector and heterodyne mixer SIM (semiconductor-insulator-metal) diode performance from low dc frequency volt-ampere curves. The difference in contact potential between the two metals and geometrically induced rectification constitute the detection mechanisms

The Sparta/White County Experience: An Attempt to Unify Governments

This report is an account of the unification efforts between the governments of the City of Sparta and White County, Tennessee. The compilation of records and the documentation of events leading up to and through the consolidation attempt in White County inc1uding the election results of the referendum is the basis of this report

Blended Learning Format for Pediatrics Clinical Rotation, Student Perspective

Introduction. Traditional medical educational models are shifting to incorporate learning technologies and online educational activities. Combining online and blended learning with the more traditional face-to-face clinical instruction appears to provide opportunity to engage leaners at remote clinical training sites. Objective. The purpose of this research study is to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of the blended-learning format for 3rd year medical students who participated in the pediatric blended learning supplement by investigating post-exercise survey responses, end-of-rotation examination (COMAT) scores and final course grades. Methods. Of the 264 third year students who completed the four-week clerkship in the 2014/15 academic year, 78 (29.5%) participated in the blended learning supplement and 186 (70.5%) participated in the traditional face-to-face course. Students in the study group were provided opportunity to complete a post-exercise survey regarding their experience with the blended learning format. The survey instrument included items specifically related to the online components of the course: 38 Likert-type items arranged in 10 sections with opportunity to provide open-ended comments for each section, as well as a 15-item adjective checklist. In addition, end-of-rotation examination (COMAT) scores and final course grades were compared between groups. Results. Overall students valued the blended learning experience. Of the 78 students in the study group, 53 completed the post-exercise survey (67.9% response rate). Of respondents, 88% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “This was a practical learning experience,” and 85% agreed or strongly agreed with “The integration of eLearning and face-to-face learning helped me learn pediatrics.” Of respondents, 50% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “I prefer this hybrid learning format to traditional face-to-face clinical rotations,” and 73% reported “The amount of work required for this course was appropriate.” Overall, 85% reported “I was satisfied with the overall learning experience.” A large number of comments (7/19 regarding “course format,” 8/19 regarding “overall experience,” and 3/14 regarding “open comments”) addressed desire to increase the amount of clinical exposure and face-to-face time with patients. Using a two-tailed t-test for analysis, no statistical differences were seen between control (traditional) and sample (blended learning) groups with regard to COMAT scores (p=0.321). Using a test for independence (using a chi squared distribution), final grades between groups were significantly different (p=0.015). Compared to the control group, more students in the blended learning group received a final grade of Honors. Conclusion. Results of this study support the use of blended learning in a clinical training environment. Students valued the blended learning approach, and while their end-of-rotation examination scores were not improved, they may have benefited from the blended learning supplement by receiving higher course grades. As more medical educators utilize blended learning, it is important to investigate the best balance between learning with technology and learning in a face-to-face setting. Online activities may enhance but should never fully replace face-to-face learning with real patients

An Analysis of Pedestrian-Vehicular Crashes Near Public Schools in the City of Baltimore, Maryland

In previous research, children have been shown to be involved in pedestrian-vehicular crashes in high numbers due to improper pedestrian behaviors. Little research has been conducted to examine the relationship between schools and pedestrian crashes. This study analyzes pedestrian-vehicular crashes in the City of Baltimore, Maryland to determine any relationships that may exist between crashes near public schools and the physical and social attributes of these schools. It was found that the presence of a driveway decreases crash occurrence and severity. A setback from the road will decrease crash occurrence but increase the severity of the crashes. The presence of off-street parking was shown to increase the severity of a crash, particularly for children ages 16-18. Recreational facilities are shown to increase the crash occurrence and severity of crashes. This study however, is limited as it does not include pedestrian demand data and the results should be interpreted as such

The Developement of an Educational Program in Iowa State Parks

The first state park was created in 1918; consequently the state park educational program is of recent development. Although the educational program and the development of a park system by the state is relatively new, the idea of state-owned lands for recreational purposes is almost as old as our statehood. T. S. Parvin, registrar of lands back in the fifties, advocated in one of his reports that the state should buy a large tract of land in Des Moines to preserve the statehouse ground, for in time the state would need it for recreational purposes. It is evident now that Parvin was at least a half century ahead of his time, because the act providing for the establishment of state parks was passed by the Thirty-seventh General Assembly in 1917

The Role of Epistatic Interactions in the Evolution of New Enzyme Functions in the Enolase Superfamily

The factors that enable enzymes to evolve new functions and specificities are not well understood. Two factors that influence enzyme evolution are enzyme promiscuity and epistasis. Enzymes are said to be promiscuous if their active site has the ability to catalyze more than one reaction. Epistasis occurs when amino acid substitutions have different effects when placed in different sequence contexts. Understanding the role that factors like enzyme promiscuity and epistasis play in the evolution of new enzyme functions will enable scientists to design enzymes with new functions. Here, I seek to understand how promiscuity and epistasis have influenced the evolution of enzymes within the enolase superfamily. I examine the differing roles that the conserved residues G254 and R128 play in two enzymes in the OSBS family, T. fusca and E. coli OSBS. I also examine the role that a conserved second shell amino acid, R266, played in the evolution of racemase and epimerase activities in the enolase superfamily