Retention and Graduation Rates as Performance Indicators in 2-Year and 4-Year Postsecondary Institutions

The focus of this dissertation is on performance indicators – specifically, retention and graduation indicators - that impact allocation of the ever-dwindling public sources of money. Decreasing revenue trends make understanding the performance indicators that are often used to fund postsecondary institutions very important. There is a significant amount of literature on funding, types of funding, and performance indicators used in funding; however, there is very little literature on quantitative differences on standard performance indicators in 2-year and 4- year postsecondary institutions. The purpose of this study is to look at retention and graduation rates for part-time and full-time students in public institutions of higher education in the United States. Retention and graduation rates for first-time full and part-time students from the Integrated Postsecondary Educational Data Systems (IPEDS), within the National Center for Educational Statistics, for the years 2005, 2006, and 2007, will be examined to determine if there are differences between two-year and four-year post secondary institutions

Rhythms of Locomotion Expressed by Limulus polyphemus, the American Horseshoe Crab: II. Relationship to Circadian Rhythms of Visual Sensitivity

In the laboratory, horseshoe crabs express a circadian rhythm of visual sensitivity as well as daily and circatidal rhythms of locomotion. The major goal of this investigation was to determine whether the circadian clock underlying changes in visual sensitivity also modulates locomotion. To address this question, we developed a method for simultaneously recording changes in visual sensitivity and locomotion. Although every animal (24) expressed consistent circadian rhythms of visual sensitivity, rhythms of locomotion were more variable: 44% expressed a tidal rhythm, 28% were most active at night, and the rest lacked statistically significant rhythms. When exposed to artificial tides, 8 of 16 animals expressed circatidal rhythms of locomotion that continued after tidal cycles were stopped. However, rhythms of visual sensitivity remained stable and showed no tendency to be influenced by the imposed tides or locomotor activity. These results indicate that horseshoe crabs possess at least two biological clocks: one circadian clock primarily used for modulating visual sensitivity, and one or more clocks that control patterns of locomotion. This arrangement allows horseshoe crabs to see quite well while mating during both daytime and nighttime high tides

Studies of grazing behaviour by lactating cows during winter, spring and summer : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Animal Science at Massey University

The work outlined in this thesis was intended to study the grazing behaviour of lactating cows during winter, spring and early summer, and the effects of maize silage supplementation during winter. It also derived monthly rising plate meter equations over the period of the experiments, in order to assist with the estimation of cow intake and sward characteristics. Supplementation influenced the quantity and relative proportions of grazing, ruminating and idling times. Total grazing times were 546 vs. 615-min./day, and total rumination times 403 vs. 333-min./day for supplemented and non-supplemented cows respectively. Substitution of pasture for maize silage occurred, with reductions in grazing time averaging 26-minutes per kg DM eaten as maize silage. Rumination values per kg of total DM eaten were similar at 29-minutes (supplemented) and 27-minutes (non- supplemented). Intake rate of pasture was not affected by offering maize silage as a supplement, but grazing time was reduced. Cows preferred to graze during daylight hours, spending 47-57% of daylight hours grazing irrespective of daylength. Grazing activity peaked after milkings, and before dusk. Autumn and spring calved cows were grazed together in two experiments in the spring and summer of 1998. Stage of lactation had no effect on bite rate, bite weight, and intake rate ot herbage. Grazing times were related to metabolic requirements, and grazing behaviour was similar for cows which had calved in autumn or in spring. Times for ruminating and grazing were similar for heifers and mature cows, with similar components of day and night-time grazing. Heifers have a lower intake rate (23 vs. 27-g DM/min), and smaller bite weights (423 vs. 507-mg DM/bite) without a faster bite rate (58 vs.56-bites/min). Heifers also ruminated for longer per kg DM eaten, with similar ruminating times to mature cows (380 vs. 380-min/cow/day), despite their smaller daily pasture intake (12.9 vs. 15.3-kg DM/cow). It is suggested that the grazing behaviour of heifers is influenced by social factors, such as their dominance position in a herd. Monthly rising plate meter equations were derived between July 1998 and February 1999. When used to rank pastures for grazing order, the importance of the slope rather than the intercept was demonstrated. However when the rising plate meter was being used to compare pasture with required target values (such as average farm pasture cover, and post-grazing herbage mass), the intercept was also important, to give an accurate pasture mass value

Exploring the Psychometric Properties of the Acceptance of Modern Myths about Sexual Aggression (AMMSA) Scale

College-aged women are within the highest risk group of women (18 to 25 years old) to experience sexual assault. Nineteen percent of college women report experiencing attempted or completed sexual assault during their four years of college (Krebs, Linquist, Warner, Fisher, & Martin, 2009). It is estimated that 20 to 25% of college women will experience an attempted or completed sexual assault during college (American College Health Association, 2008). The primary sexual assault prevention method on college campuses has been in the form of education (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004) with an emphasis on debunking commonly held false attitudes and beliefs about rape, or “rape myths,” that historically blame victims and vindicate perpetrators of sexual assault (Brownmiller, 1975; Burt, 1980). The use of rape myth acceptance (RMA) measures has played an important role in sexual assault research. Measurement problems in older RMA measures, however, have been noted, (Gerger, Kley, Bohner, & Siebler, 2007) making it unclear how accurately older RMA measures are capturing RMA levels. The Acceptance of Modern Myths about Sexual Aggression (AMMSA) scale, a newer measure, offers more robust psychometric properties than older RMA measures that may serve to improve the efficacy of campus sexual assault prevention interventions. The primary purpose of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the AMMSA scale with a Southeastern U.S. college sample. The secondary purpose of the study was to compare levels of RMA between female sexual assault victims and non-victims and to examine whether the associations between RMA and sociocultural attitudes depend upon victimization status. Participants in the study included 367 undergraduate students who anonymously completed an online survey. Results indicated that the AMMSA scale demonstrates good psychometric properties. Female victims and non-victims scored similarly in RMA and sociocultural attitudes. Multiple regression analyses indicated that the relationships between the AMMSA scale and the sociocultural variables did not depend upon victimization status. This study provides important implications for researchers conducting sexual assault prevention research and for clinicians working with victims and their families

MSFC Engineering Overview

No abstract availabl

Alternative Discipline Structures: A Comprehensive Approach to Changing Behavior

School violence and poor morale is prevalent in many schools. Although Zero Tolerance policies and character education have become every day practices, schools still struggle with student behavior.   Research points to disproportionate discipline consequences among racial groups therefore new approaches to intervention are needed.  A high performing elementary school in Central California has taken a comprehensive approach to addressing student behavior with promising results.  With the implementation of a combined structure of socio emotional learning, school-wide positive behavioral supports, character education and leadership structures, one diverse campus of kindergarten-6th grade students has kept it positive in lieu of a punitive only discipline model.  Valley Oak has developed an alternative discipline system, choosing to use suspension and punitive measures as a last resort, not a first response

Motorcycle rider safety project: summary report

Motorcycle trauma is a serious issue in Queensland and throughout Australia; the fatality rate per 100 million kilometres travelled for motorcycle riders in Australia is nearly 30 times the rate for drivers of other vehicles (Australian Transport Safety Bureau, 2002). In 2009, the then Queensland Transport (later the Department of Transport and Main Roads or TMR) appointed CARRS-Q to provide a three-year program of Road Safety Research Services for Motorcycle Rider Safety. Funding for this research originated from the Motor Accident Insurance Commission. This program of research was undertaken to produce knowledge to assist TMR to improve motorcycle safety by further strengthening the licensing and training system to make learner riders safer by developing a pre-learner package (Deliverable 1), and by evaluating the Q-Ride CAP program to ensure that it is maximally effective and contributes to the best possible training for new riders (Deliverable 2), and identifying potential new licensing components that will reduce the incidence of risky riding and improve higher-order cognitive skills in new riders (Deliverable 3)

Motorcycle safety research project: Interim summary report 3: training and licensing interventions for risk taking and hazard perception for motorcyclists

Motorcycle trauma is a serious road safety issue in Queensland and throughout Australia. In 2009, Queensland Transport (later Transport and Main Roads or TMR) appointed CARRS-Q to provide a three-year program of Road Safety Research Services for Motorcycle Rider Safety. Funding for this research originated from the Motor Accident Insurance Commission. This program of research was undertaken to produce knowledge to assist TMR to improve motorcycle safety by further strengthening the licensing and training system to make learner riders safer by developing a pre-learner package (Deliverable 1), and by evaluating the QRide CAP program to ensure that it is maximally effective and contributes to the best possible training for new riders (Deliverable 2). The focus of this report is Deliverable 3 of the overall program of research. It identifies potential new licensing components that will reduce the incidence of risky riding and improve higher-order cognitive skills in new riders

Motorcycle safety research project interim report 2 : review of the Consistent Assessment Process (CAP)

Motorcycle trauma is a serious road safety issue in Queensland and throughout Australia. In 2009, Queensland Transport (later Transport and Main Roads or TMR) appointed CARRS-Q to provide a three-year program of Road Safety Research Services for Motorcycle Rider Safety. Funding for this research originated from the Motor Accident Insurance Commission. This program of research was undertaken to produce knowledge to assist TMR to improve motorcycle safety by further strengthening the licensing and training system to make learner riders safer by developing a pre-learner package (Deliverable 1), and by evaluating the Q-Ride CAP program to ensure that it is maximally effective and contributes to the best possible training for new riders (Deliverable 2), which is the focus of this report. Deliverable 3 of the program identified potential new licensing components that will reduce the incidence of risky riding and improve higher-order cognitive skills in new riders. This report provides a summary of Deliverables 2.1 through to 2.4

Spacelab Data Processing Facility (SLDPF) quality assurance expert systems development

Spacelab Data Processing Facility (SLDPF) expert system prototypes were developed to assist in the quality assurance of Spacelab and/or Attached Shuttle Payload (ASP) processed telemetry data. The SLDPF functions include the capturing, quality monitoring, processing, accounting, and forwarding of mission data to various user facilities. Prototypes for the two SLDPF functional elements, the Spacelab Output Processing System and the Spacelab Input Processing Element, are described. The prototypes have produced beneficial results including an increase in analyst productivity, a decrease in the burden of tedious analyses, the consistent evaluation of data, and the providing of concise historical records