An evaluation of pupil preferences in language arts activities in grades six and seven

Thesis (M.Ed.)--Boston Universit

A fast-initializing digital equalizer with on-line tracking for data communications

A theory is developed for a digital equalizer for use in reducing intersymbol interference (ISI) on high speed data communications channels. The equalizer is initialized with a single isolated transmitter pulse, provided the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is not unusually low, then switches to a decision directed, on-line mode of operation that allows tracking of channel variations. Conditions for optimal tap-gain settings are obtained first for a transversal equalizer structure by using a mean squared error (MSE) criterion, a first order gradient algorithm to determine the adjustable equalizer tap-gains, and a sequence of isolated initializing pulses. Since the rate of tap-gain convergence depends on the eigenvalues of a channel output correlation matrix, convergence can be improved by making a linear transformation on to obtain a new correlation matrix

Restoring the Economic Interest Standard in the Taxation of Mineral Resources

In Restoring the Economic Interest Standard in the Taxation of Mineral Resources, Hortenstine, Hoffman, and Miller provide an important analysis of the U.S. Fifth Court of Appeals\u27 2022 decision in Exxon Mobil Corp. v. United States. They argue that the Fifth Circuit failed to adhere to the most basic historical precedent established for the concepts defining the economic interest in a mineral property. The authors examine the development of the federal taxation of natural resources, focusing on the interdependence and interaction of the concepts of economic interest and percentage depletion. The first part of the book focuses on the economic interest standard as it was first established by the U.S Supreme Court in Palmer v. Bender and later applied by the Fifth Circuit in tis Exxon decision. The second part surveys the oil, gas, and mineral law pertaining to both the economic interest standard and the depletion rules. The final part pinpoints the problematic aspects of the Exxon decision and explores whether sale or lease characterization should be the proper path for taxpayers in the wake of the decision.https://scholar.smu.edu/rowlingbooks/1000/thumbnail.jp

Passive Retention/Expulsion Methods for Subcritical Storage of Cryogens

Development of passive retention/expulsion system for subcritical storage of cryogenic material during low gravity situation

Pulse Wave Velocity in Korean American Men and Women

Arterial stiffness is an important clinical marker of cardiovascular diseases. Although many studies have been conducted on different racial groups, less is known about arterial stiffness in Asian Americans. Korean Americans constitute the fifth largest subgroup in the Asian American population and reportedly have a noticeably high prevalence of hypertension. The aims of this study were to assess arterial stiffness and blood pressure and to examine the effect of age and gender on arterial stiffness and blood pressure in 102 Korean American men and women aged 21 to 60 years. The values of arterial stiffness for Korean Americans in this study were compared to published reference values for other racial and ethnic groups. Arterial stiffness was measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, which is the gold standard for determining arterial stiffness. Findings indicated that aging was an important determinant of arterial stiffness, which increased linearly with age. Although there was no gender difference observed in arterial stiffness, the effect of age on arterial stiffness was greater in women than in men. After adjusting for covariates including age, body mass index, and smoking, multiple regression models showed that arterial stiffness and gender were significant predictors of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The comparisons of these findings to those from several other studies that used the same method to measure arterial stiffness showed that Korean Americans may have levels of arterial stiffness that are similar to or slightly higher than those of other racial groups. Considering that arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of future development of hypertension, more studies are required to examine cardiovascular risk of this understudied group

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI): Information for academic nursing

AbstractAs part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, the U.S. Congress created the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Its goal is to fund research that will assist patients, caregivers, clinicians, and others in making informed health decisions. Because nurses play a critical role in engaging patients in health care, they are valued participants in setting the institute's agenda and carrying out its programs. In this article, we provide an overview of PCORI and describe how nurses can participate in institute activities and apply for research grants

Declaration of Principles & Aims

Report by special Kentucky Educational Association committee charged to draft a Declaration of Principles or a statement of the aims and purposes of the educational forces of the State of Kentucky. The report was adopted unanimously at the annual meeting of KEA.https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/exhibit_2015/1015/thumbnail.jp

Feasibility and Informative Value of Environmental Sample Collection in the National Children\u27s Vanguard Study

Background: Birth cohort studies provide the opportunity to advance understanding of the impact of environmental factors on childhood health and development through prospective collection of environmental samples. Methods: We evaluated the feasibility and informative value of the environmental sample collection methodology in the initial pilot phase of the National Children\u27s Study, a planned U.S. environmental birth cohort study. Environmental samples were collected from January 2009–September 2010 at up to three home visits: pre-pregnancy (n¼306), pregnancy (n¼807), and 6-months postnatal (n¼117). Collections included air for particulate matter r2.5 mm (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbonyls; vacuum dust for allergens/endotoxin; water for VOCs, trihalomethanes (THMs), and haloacetic acids (HAAs); and wipe samples for pesticides, semi-volatile organics, and metals. We characterized feasibility using sample collection rates and times and informative value using analyte detection frequencies (DF). Results: Among the 1230 home visits, environmental sample collection rates were high across all sample types (mean¼89%); all samples except the air PM2.5 samples had collection times o30 min. Informative value was low for water VOCs (median DF¼0%) and pesticide floor wipes (median DF¼5%). Informative value was moderate for air samples (median DF¼35%) and high for water THMs and HAAs (median DF¼91% and 75%, respectively). Conclusions: Though collection of environmental samples was feasible, some samples (e.g., wipe pesticides and water VOCs) yielded limited information. These results can be used in conjunction with other study design considerations, such as target population size and hypotheses of interest, to inform the method selection of future environmental health birth cohort studies

FDEMS Sensing for Automated Intelligent Processing of PMR-15

The purpose of this grant was to develop frequency dependent dielectric measurements, often called FDEMS (frequency dependent electromagnetic sensing), to monitor and intelligently control the cure process in PMR-15, a stoichiometric mixture of a nadic ester, dimethyl ester, and methylendianiline in a monomor ratio

UA3/1/4 Declaration of Principles & Aims

Report by special Kentucky Educational Association committee charged to draft a Declaration of Principles or a statement of the aims and purposes of the educational forces of the State of Kentucky. The report was adopted unanimously at the annual meeting of KEA