Educational applications of achievement goal theory

In the past two decades, achievement goal theory has been found particularly useful in explaining student motivation (Kaplan & Maehr, 2007; Kaplan, Middleton, Urdan, & Midgley, 2002). The purpose of this study was to analyze differences between the achievement goals espoused by middle school and elementary teachers. A mixed-method approach was utilized that required teachers in an urban, eastern Iowa school district to complete a survey regarding their motivational beliefs. Select teachers were then identified based on survey results to be observed and interviewed in an attempt to further analyze instructional practices as they related to student motivation. Results of this study provide significant findings regarding how elementary and middle school classroom environments and instructional practices differ and are especially relevant considering recent middle school reformation

The interdependence of the thermal and hydrologic processes of an Arctic watershed and their response to climatic change

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1990The heat and mass transfer processes which comprise the thermal and hydrologic regimes were monitored continuously from March 1985 until September 1989 in a small watershed on the North Slope of Alaska. Through these intense measurements, a better understanding of the physical processes which determine the character of an arctic watershed have been developed. The state of the hydrologic regime is a product of the thermal regime. The hydrologic and thermal regimes interact to such an extent that neither can be fully understood without considering the other. The consequences of a manmade or environmentally induced alteration in the thermal regime can have dramatic and perhaps dire effects on the hydrologic regime and vice versa. The implications of global warming reach beyond warmer air temperatures, milder winters and longer summers. The potential effects of climatic warming on the hydrologic regime of an arctic watershed were explored with respect to physical changes in the active layer and the resultant changes in the components of the annual water balance and the nature of the hydrologic cycle. With the advent of climatic warming, the annual depth of thaw in the permafrost will increase, affecting the amount of soil moisture storage, the depth to the water table, even the shape of the runoff hydrograph. The gradual thawing of the active layer was simulated using TDHC, a finite element heat conduction model which incorporated phase change. The results of four possible scenarios of climatic warming were input into HBV, a hydrologic model to elucidate the effects on the hydrologic regime. The results indicate an earlier, but less intense spring melt event, greater evaporation, greater soil moisture storage, and a potential for severe moisture stress on current vegetation types in early summer unless the precipitation pattern changes

DISRUPTIONS IN THE REGULATION OF EXTRACELLULAR GLUTAMATE IN THE RAT CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AFTER DIFFUSE BRAIN INJURY

Glutamate, the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, is involved in almost all aspects of neurological function including cognition, motor function, memory, learning, decision making, and neuronal plasticity. For normal neurological function, glutamate signaling must be properly regulated. Disrupted glutamate regulation plays a pivotal role in the acute pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI), disrupting neuronal signaling, initiating secondary injury cascades, and producing excitotoxicity. Increases in extracellular glutamate have been correlated with unfavorable outcomes in TBI survivors, emphasizing the importance of glutamate regulation. The aim of this thesis was to examine disruptions in the regulation of extracellular glutamate after experimental TBI. In these studies, we used glutamate-sensitive microelectrode arrays (MEAs) to examine the regulation of extracellular glutamate two days after diffuse brain injury. First, we examined which brain regions were vulnerable to post-traumatic increases in extracellular glutamate. We detected significant increases in extracellular glutamate in the dentate gyrus and striatum, which correlated to the severity of brain injury. Second, we examined the regulation of extracellular glutamate by neurons and glia to determine the mechanisms responsible for post-traumatic increases in extracellular glutamate. In the striatum of brain-injured rats, we detected significant disruptions in release of glutamate by neurons and significant decreases in the removal of glutamate from the extracellular space by glia. Third, we examined if a novel therapeutic strategy, a viral-vector mediated gene delivery approach, could improve the regulation of extracellular glutamate. Infusion of an adeno-associated virus expressing a glutamate transporter into the rat striatum produced significant improvements in glutamate clearance, identifying a novel strategy to reduce excitotoxicity. Lastly, we examined the translational potential of MEAs as novel neuromonitoring device for clinical TBI research. Overall, these studies have demonstrated the translational potential of MEAs to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of TBI survivors

Climatic and physiographic drivers of peak flows in watersheds in the North Slope of Alaska

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2017The failure to accurately predict peak discharge can cause large errors in risk analysis that may lead to damage to structures and in some cases, death. Creating linear regression (LR) equations that accurately predict peak discharges without historic data provides a method to estimate flood peaks in ungauged watersheds on the North Slope of Alaska. This thesis looks at the independent variables that drive, or are significant in predicting snowmelt peak discharge in the North Slope watersheds. The LR equations created use independent variables from meteorological data and physiographic data collected from four watersheds, Putuligayuk River, Upper Kuparuk River, Imnavait Creek and Roche Moutonnée Creek. Meteorological data include snow water equivalent (SWE), total precipitation, rainfall, storage, length of melt. Physiographic data summarize watershed area (2.2 km2 to 471 km2) and slope (0.15:100 to 2.7:100). This thesis compared various Flood Frequency Analysis techniques, starting with Bulletin 17B, multiple USGS regional methods and finally created LR equations for each watershed as well as all four watersheds combined. Five LR equations were created, three of the LR equations found SWE to be a significant predictor of peak flows. The first equation to estimate peak flows for all watersheds used only area and had a high R2 value of 0.72. The second equation for all watersheds included area and a meteorological independent variable, SWE. While the evidence presented here is quite promising that meteorological and physiographic data can be useful in estimating peak flows in ungauged Arctic watersheds, the limitations of using only four watersheds to determine the equations call for further testing and verification. More validation studies will be needed to demonstrate that viable equations may be applied to all watersheds on the North Slope of Alaska.Chapter 1 Introduction -- 1.1 The Importance of estimating peak discharge -- 1.2 Users of information on peak flows -- 1.3 Current gaps in peak flows knowledge -- 1.4 Research questions. Chapter 2 Background and study area -- 2.1 Common features -- 2.2 Imnavait Creek -- 2.3 Upper Kuparuk River -- 2.4 Putuligayuk River -- 2.5 Roche Moutonnée River. Chapter 3 Data and data collection -- 3.1 Streamflow -- 3.2 Precipitation -- 3.3 Storage. Chapter 4 Methods -- 4.1 Flood frequency analysis for gauged watersheds --4.2 Ungauged watersheds -- 4.3 Linear regression model equations -- 4.3.1 Single variable linear regression comparison -- 4.3.2 Multiple linear regression -- 4.3.3 Landscape characteristics. Chapter 5 Results -- 5.1 Hydrographs and peak flows -- 5.2 Flood frequency analysis -- 5.2.1 Upper Kuparuk River -- 5.2.2 Putuligayuk River -- 5.2.3 Imnavait Creek -- 5.2.4 Roche Moutonnée Creek -- 5.2.5 Comparison of FFA methods between watersheds -- 5.3 Linear regression analysis --5.3.1 Simple linear regression analysis -- 5.3.1.1 Upper Kuparuk River -- 5.3.1.2 Putuligayuk River -- 5.3.1.3 Imnavait Creek -- 5.3.1.4 All watersheds -- 5.3.1.5 SWE frequency analysis -- 5.3.2 Simple or multiple linear regression equations -- 5.3.2.1 Upper Kuparuk River -- 5.3.2.2 Putuligayuk River -- 5.3.2.3 Imnavait Creek -- 5.3.2.4 All watersheds -- 5.3.3 Multiple linear regression. Chapter 6 Discussion -- Chapter 7 Conclusions -- Literature cited -- Appendix

Growth and reflectance characteristics of winter wheat canopies

A valuable input to crop growth and yield models would be estimates of current crop condition. If multispectral reflectance indicates crop condition, then remote sensing may provide an additional tool for crop assessment. The effects of nitrogen fertilization on the spectral reflectance and agronomic characteristics of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were determined through field experiments. Spectral reflectance was measured during the 1979 and 1980 growing seasons with a spectroradiometer. Agronomic data included total leaf N concentration, leaf chlorophyll concentration, stage of development, leaf area index (LAI), plant moisture, and fresh and dry phytomass. Nitrogen deficiency caused increased visible, reduced near infrared, and increased middle infrared reflectance. These changes were related to lower levels of chlorophyll and reduced leaf area in the N-deficient plots. Green LAI, an important descriptor of wheat canopies, could be reliably estimated with multispectral data. The potential of remote sensing in distinguishing stressed from healthy crops is demonstrated. Evidence suggests multispectral imagery may be useful for monitoring crop condition

WORKING TO LIVE IN HAIDA GWAII: THE PARADOXES OF LIFE IN A REMOTE, AMENITY-RICH REGION

My Master’s thesis explores the importance of the natural environment for the non-Indigenous residents of Haida Gwaii, British Columbia (BC). During the summers of 2015 and 2016 Dr. Loring and I conducted 40 interviews with non-indigenous residents. On Haida Gwaii, as with many coastal, natural resource-dependent communities, the marine environment is central to quality of life and community well-being. Local non-indigenous residents I interviewed were concerned with issues pertaining to survival strategies on Haida Gwaii; access to environmental resources, employment stratagems, and governance. My research focused on the experiences and beliefs of non-indigenous residents and how control over natural resources have impacted their well-being and community cohesion. The issues of control and power are inextricably linked to the other major issues that local people experience: food security, transportation, employment, and sustainability of the environment and their community. It is widely argued that for coastal peoples and communities, marine health and human health are intrinsically linked through the social, economic, and cultural ties. Yet, how local people understand those relationships, and think about them with respect to outcomes such as environmental and social sustainability, is not always straightforward, and differences can drive conflict among stakeholders over preferred policy and management strategies. My thesis looks at the connections of environmental health, local governance, employment, and community wellbeing for non-indigenous residents on Haida Gwaii. The Reflection on My Art-Based Approach to Analysis chapter is focused on my visual interpretations of main concerns interviewees discussed with me. The Haida are historically renowned as artists and the non-indigenous residents of Haida Gwaii are also uniquely artistic. Haida Gwaii is a beautiful and inspiring place and I believe that is what lead me to attempt to explain local concerns through the medium of linocuts. The five images I created were direct responses to the topics and issues raised by non-indigenous interviewees and my own personal experiences on the islands. The purpose of the linocuts was to explain my research findings through a visual and emotional form

Love Between Worlds: Edward Burne-Jones and the Theology of Art

This dissertation explores the theological formation of Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898) and argues that his artistic vision was shaped by and became a practice of theology. Burne-Jones was drawn to the controversial Oxford ‘Tractarian’ Movement and pursued education at the University of Oxford to become an Anglican priest. He was inspired by John Henry Newman, who lived and preached in Birmingham during Burne-Jones’s adolescence. Contrary to most scholarship, I argue for the continuing prevalence of the Tractarian theological perspective in his art, even after he decided not to preach or practise conventional religion. His art is deeply informed by the complex theological principles he studied. This becomes what I identify as a theology of art that considers and presents theological ideas not in words but in art. I have conducted archival research into Burne-Jones’s personal history and education, and the theological figures, debates, and controversies that shaped him. This included letters and diaries of mentors and friends of Burne-Jones which have been scarcely accessed. Furthermore, Burne-Jones’s own university notebooks and letters have shown direct evidence of Burne-Jones’s theological knowledge. I have also pursued extensive research into theology and church history, particularly of Anglicanism before and in the nineteenth century. To understand how this translates into his artistic practice, I have researched and interpreted various works and projects of Burne-Jones, emphasising his methods of design. This has led to a wide-ranging assessment of his drawings in print rooms across Britain. Ultimately, I argue for the recurrence of the theological and artistic theme I call love between worlds, a concept connecting Burne-Jones’s study of the Tractarian notions of incarnation, sacramentality, and God’s love expressed through the economy of salvation in Christ, and the subject of the pursuit of romantic love that pervades Burne-Jones’s artistic projects

Arctic–CHAMP: A program to study Arctic hydrology and its role in global change

The Arctic constitutes a unique and important environment that is central to the dynamics and evolution of the Earth system. The Arctic water cycle, which controls countless physical, chemical, and biotic processes, is also unique and important. These processes, in turn, regulate the climate, habitat, and natural resources that are of great importance to both native and industrial societies. Comprehensive understanding of water cycling across the Arctic and its linkage to global biogeophysical dynamics is a scientific as well as strategic policy imperative