The rise of social ereading : interactive ebook platforms and the development of online reading communities : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in English at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand

Ebooks have caused a revolution in how people read fiction. Ereading devices and apps now integrate interactive features which have led to the development of digital reading communities populated by millions of readers from around the world, with a resurgence of social reading practices in new forms. Two of the biggest social reading communities in existence today are hosted by Amazon’s Kindle and Wattpad. This thesis offers an analysis of how these platforms’ readers are using the interactive technology within the pages of their ebooks to participate in these online reading communities. Original research into popular texts on Wattpad reveals that while only a small percentage of users are actively engaging with the ebooks and other readers during the process of reading, all active and passive interactions have a significant influence on the reading experience. Thus, the infrastructure of such communities ‘rewards’ serialised books which encourage higher levels of reader interactivity with greater recognition within the community, but this reward is short-lived. The application of Genette’s paratextual theory to the interactive features of these ereading platforms reveals new processes of authorisation and readers-as-writers. New paths for the evolution of digital paratextual theory see paratexts developing from ‘thresholds’ into ‘vectors’. The statistical notations of reader interactions are now informational paratexts attached to each ebook, and these online reading communities may be considered paratexts themselves, operating through the new paratextual phenomenon of digital marginalia. Furthermore, the existence of these reading communities on free platforms such as Wattpad is supported by commercial paratexts found within the ebook pages. These new paratexts are iii having a significant impact on social ereading and reading communities - such as how they operate and judge the ‘value’ of ebooks - but historical precedents suggest these paratexts will be readily accepted by most readers, leading to an increase in the incidence and influence of such digital paratexts. These new interactive technologies and paratexts will potentially lead to significant changes in how fiction is read. Exactly how these technologies may develop, and how public, industrial, and academic stakeholders might take advantage of these opportunities, requires further research

Supporting Success: Why and How to Improve Quality in After-School Programs

This report examines the program improvement strategies, step-by-step, that allowed The James Irvine Foundation's CORAL initiative to achieve the levels of quality needed to boost the academic success of participating students. And, it makes specific policy and funding suggestions for improving program performance. Communities Organizing Resources to Advance Learning (CORAL) is an eight-year, $58 million after-school initiative to improve educational achievement in low-performing schools in five California cities

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Senior Project submitted to The Division of Arts of Bard Colleg

Class Certification Issues: In Re: National Football League Concussion Injury Litigation

This paper will discuss whether the prerequisites of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 23, were properly applied in the certification of the class in the NFL Concussion Injury Litigation, with an emphasis on typicality. Discussion will begin with the general rule of class actions and drafter’s intent when the rule was enacted. It will then discuss the major amendment to the rule and the purpose of the amendment with a focus on typicality, and clarify the standard for the typicality requirement with a discussion of the United States Supreme Court decision in Amchem v. Georgine. The discussion then narrows the application of typicality with the Third Circuit’s Baby Neal test. It discusses the Eastern District Court of Pennsylvania’s misapplication of typicality with an analysis of where the court erred. A brief comparison between the class action of Amchem and the NFL Concussion Injury Litigation is also discussed. In closing, the paper concludes with a summation of the writer’s analysis of the District Court’s holding

I am Elizabeth Gaskell: The Literary Evolution of Elizabeth Gaskell throughout Mary Barton, North and South, and Wives and Daughters

An overview of the literary evolution of Elizabeth Gaskell throughout Mary Barton, North and South, and Wives and Daughters is reviewed in this thesis. Gaskell’s novels contain a plethora of themes and concerns, ranging from the plight of the Industrial working class, to the developing romance of young lovers, and even to the social implications of the developments of rural life. Throughout the three novels, Gaskell’s personal evolution and her struggle to develop a complete female consciousness within her writing can be tracked. As the female characters in her books grow into an understanding of working class life or learn to balance different attachments while realizing their identities as women, Gaskell’s own consciousness seems to be coming into a more independent existence. This thesis concludes that Gaskell’s works are not just a few sentimental calls to take action against poverty, or a few witty observations about the absurdity of rural life. Instead, they are a literary map of the progression of the female consciousness in light of vital social issues and concerns. As her characters struggle with these concerns, and allow their true selves to be realized, they come together to represent the development of Gaskell herself

Jessica Leigh Welsh, Piano

Bagatelles, Op. 126 / L.v. Beethoven; Oiseaux tristes , from Miroirs / Maurice Ravel; Feuilles mortes , from Préludes, Book II / Claude Debussy; Barcarolle No. 1 in A minor / Gabriel Fauré; Ballade No. 2 in F major / Frédéric Chopin; Variations on a Theme by Schumann, Op. 9 / Johannes Brahms; Down by the Riverside , from North American Ballads / Frederic Rzewsk

Assessment of stink bug feeding damage in Louisiana soybean: use of a no-choice feeding field protocol

Numerous arthropods are pests of soybean in the subtropical environment of Louisiana. The most important pod-feeding guild includes a complex of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). One of these species, redbanded stink bug (Piezodorus guildinii [Westwood]), has emerged as a significant pest in Louisiana soybean. Currently, limited information is available describing soybean plant injury from this pest in the United States or compares injury relative to native stink bugs. Therefore, a field protocol was modified to assess injury to soybean seeds. Studies conducted in Louisiana during 2009-2011 used procedures to isolate the effects of infestation duration (24-96 h after infestation [HAI]) on seed injury at selected pod stages (R5-R6.5). In addition to redbanded stink bug; seed injury from brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say); and E. quadrator (Rolston) also was evaluated. For the infestation duration experiments, all injury to immature seed was significant between treatments (non-infested and infested pods). Injury to immature seed in R5.5 stage pods peaked (P=0.0102) by 72 HAI for redbanded stink bug. Injury to immature seed in R5 stage soybean pods peaked (P=0.0084) by 96 HAI for brown stink bug. For mature seed injury and weights significant differences (P\u3c0.0001) between non-infested and infested pods were detected for all species. A second experiment evaluated seed injury among pod stages (R5-R6.5). Immature and mature seed injury was not significantly different (P\u3e0.05) among pod stages for any species. Weights of mature seed were significantly lowest for redbanded stink bug (P=0.0177) and E. quadrator (P=0.0261) infestations during the R5 and R5.5 stages. Based upon mature seed weights similar levels of injury were produced by native infestations and caged stink bugs. Non-injured seed did not compensate for injured seed within the same pod. These results add to our understanding of stink bug-induced seed injury during selected pod stages and will allow further improvement to Louisiana soybean IPM recommendations

Discovering Park History and Natural Resources through Interpretive Geocaching

Since its invention in 2000, geocaching is enjoyed by enthusiasts who wish to combine technology with a love for the outdoors. Geocachers use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) receivers and satellite data to search for latitude and longitude coordinates all over the world. Upon locating the coordinates, participants can find anything from a hidden object to a scenic viewpoint. Aside from fostering outdoor recreation, geocaching can serve as a useful tool to promote learning about the natural resources and history of the area being explored. It was proposed that those who participated in geocaching at Wild River State Park in Minnesota had the potential to develop an enhanced understanding of park history and natural resources through hands-on, self-guided interpretation. Wild River State Park set up their caches to foster learning, as participants were required to solve clues and puzzles relating to the park\u27s history, flora, and fauna in order to find a cache. Using qualitative research, participants were surveyed and interviewed about their geocaching experiences. Results were derived via quantitative data analysis (surveys) and qualitative data analysis (interviews). Findings indicate that 71 % of survey participants and 100% of interviewees believed their knowledge of Wild River State Park\u27s natural resources and history increased as a result of geocaching. Motivations including travel, spending time with family and friends, and enjoyment were cited as the top reasons to participate in geocaching by interviewees

The Wounded Healer: A Phenomenological Study of the Experiences of Counselors-In-Training With Complex Trauma Histories

Thirty percent of the general population report one or more traumatic experiences (National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, 2019), and samples of mental health professionals report rates of traumatic experience as high as eighty percent (Pearlman & Mac Ian, 1995). Research on the neurobiological effects of trauma highlights the possibility of a trauma history uniquely impacting counselors-in-training (CITs) in their professional development and counseling work. This study focused on understanding the experiences of counselors-in-training (CITs) with complex trauma histories. Complex trauma is defined as a form of trauma that is chronic in nature and/or timing- specifically, an event perceived as threatening or deadly that occurs repeatedly to the individual and is often perceived as or is inescapable for that individual (Ford & Courtois, 2013). The symptoms of complex trauma may include those listed above, but also often include neurobiological changes that influence interpersonal symptoms such as withdrawal from social supports, distrust in others or the world, and maladaptive attachment patterns (Perry & Szalavitz, 2006). Across the helping professions (e.g. counseling, social work, psychology, and nursing) researchers have considered the impact of helper trauma history on client care (Ghahramanlou & Brodbeck, 2000; Ortlepp & Friedman, 2005). The correlation between trauma history and risk for vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout has been examined in several studies (Boscarino, Figley, & Adams, 2004; Conrad & Kellar- Guenther, 2006; Ghahramanlou & Brodbeck, 2000; Jenkins, Mitchell, Baird, Whitfield, & Meyer, 2011; Ortlepp & Friedman, 2005).While many researchers hypothesize a connection between a history of trauma and risk for impairment (Jenkins et al., 2011; Michalopoulos & Aparicio, 2012), only a few of the studies show a significant positive correlation between the two. Despite these mixed findings, researchers have not further examined counselors with trauma histories from another lens, and the counselor education and supervision literature does not specifically examine trainees. The literature is currently lacking exploration of such topics as counselors’ perception of their experiences in counselor training as survivors of trauma, their perceived challenges and strengths, and how they believe supervisors can assist them in the process of their development as counselors. In this phenomenological study of counselors-in-training with complex trauma histories, participants (N = 9) described four core groupings of characteristics that define the experience of these CITs: Experiencing Complex Trauma, Healing from Complex Trauma, The Impact of Complex Trauma on the Person of the Counselor, and the Education Experience. In experiencing complex trauma, participants described themes of Trauma is Never Done, Continued Contact with the Trauma System, Trauma and Part of the Personal and Professional Self, Questioning Normalcy and Effectiveness, and Feeling Alone. In Healing from Complex Trauma, participants described Meaning-Making and Attending Individual Counseling. In describing the Impact of Complex Trauma on the Person of the Counselor, participants identified the Desire to Provide Clients What One Did/Did Not Receive Emotionally, The Desire to Work with Clients Who Have Experienced Trauma, the Use of a Humanistic Orientation/Humanistic Characteristics in Approach, the Use of or Valuing of a Holistic/Somatic Approach, and Perceptivity/Empathy as Strengths Attributed to Traumatic Experiences. The Education Experience was marked by themes of Interactions with Faculty, Instructors, and Site Supervisors, Interactions with Colleagues, Influential Courses, Influential Assignments, and the sub-grouping of Considering Disclosure. Implications for Counselor Educators include the incorporation of trauma-informed approaches to education and supervision, modeling clear communication and boundaries for trainees, and advocating for CITs with complex trauma histories in the institution

Evidence for Age-Dependent Selection in Iguana Delicatissima: Does Inbreeding Depression shape Population Dynamics?

Inbreeding depression has alarming impacts on threatened species with small population sizes. Assessing inbreeding depression has therefore become an important focus of conservation research. In this study, heterozygosityitness correlations (HFCs) were measured in adult and hatchling Lesser Antillean Iguanas, Iguana delicatissima, from a sampling site at Batali Beach in Dominica to assess the role of inbreeding depression on hatchling fitness and recruitment to the adult population in this endangered species. HFCs in hatchlings revealed no significant correlations and no general effects, suggesting that inbreeding depression may not be affecting hatchling fitness. Further, there were no significant differences in heterozygosity between the adult and hatchling groups suggesting that inbreeding depression may not be an important factor in shaping the population dynamics of I. delicatissima in Dominica. HFCs in the adults, however, revealed a significant negative correlation between heterozygosity and snout-vent length, which is more consistent with outbreeding depression in the population