Test Anxiety and Nursing Students.

Test anxiety has been a problem for many individuals not only in the workforce, but also in many schools and colleges (Driscoll, Evans, Ramsey & Wheeler 2009). According to Driscoll et al., when compared to high school students and the general public (17%), nursing students are shown to have over double (55-60%) the rate of moderately high to high test anxiety. Cognitive test anxiety can account for a 7 to 8% drop in test grades, which can drop test score’s an entire letter grade (Cassady & Johnson, 2001). The purpose of this research is to explore the level of test anxiety in East Tennessee State University (ETSU) nursing students using the Cassady Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale. This study, “Test Anxiety and Nursing Students” was conducted at a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program for students at a large regional university. The Cassady Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale was administered to 220 nursing students one week prior to a major test at the end of the class period. All of the students completing the surveys volunteered to do so. After collection, data was analyzed using IBM Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 18.0.2. This study confirmed the findings of Driscoll et al. (2009) and Cassady et al. (2001), that nursing students have a higher occurrence of test anxiety. Intervention has the potential to improve test scores. This allows for ETSU students to have a better first-pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and improve student retention rates. In addition, it provides the opportunity for further research interventions to reduce test anxiety for nursing students

Doctrinal and applied TQM in relation to dominant models of organisation: A comparative study

Total Quality Management (TQM) is examined in five organisations in light of the assumption that its implementation is an ongoing negotiated order rather than an objective reality as often accepted by the literature. Guided by a theoretical framework identified by Spencer (1994) and a qualitative methodology suggested by Miles and Huberman (1994), the perceptions of a cross section of organisational members in five organisations are used to establish the nature of applied TQM in terms of mechanistic and organismic \u27mental models\u27 of organisation and the degree to which applied TQM varies from the basic doctrine. It is argued that both .models influence the way in which TQM is applied in organisations, and the research aims to identify the strength and direction of the influence exerted towards a more mechanistic or a more organismic implementation. Further, this research is intended to make a positive contribution to the presently limited amount of empirical evidence on the implementation of TQM upon which theory building in the literature is based. The results of the research indicate that TQM in three of the organisations studied is being implemented in generally organismic ways although in two organisations, strong influences by the mechanistic model were detected. Further, major differences between the basic doctrine of TQM, as identified in the literature, and the practical experience of TQM as applied in organisations were identified. These differences relate to organisational goal orientation, conceptions of quality and, to a lesser extent, the direction and pattern of organisational communication. Several possible explanations for these results are put forward, especially in the light of themes emerging from the evidence collected, although this exploratory research does not attempt to develop theory or propose explanatory relationships between possible variables. It is argued that these results have significant implications, and recommendations for further research on a number of key themes indicated by this research are made. In particular, longitudinal research using the same or similar organisations is called for, as the application of TQM is an ongoing process and its full evolutionary nature can only be captured over time

Substance Use and Depression Symptomatology: Measurement Invariance of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) among Non-Users and Frequent-Users of Alcohol, Nicotine and Cannabis

Depression is a highly heterogeneous condition, and identifying how symptoms present in various groups may greatly increase our understanding of its etiology. Importantly, Major Depressive Disorder is strongly linked with Substance Use Disorders, which may ameliorate or exacerbate specific depression symptoms. It is therefore quite plausible that depression may present with different symptom profiles depending on an individual’s substance use status. Given these observations, it is important to examine the underlying construct of depression in groups of substance users compared to non-users. In this study we use a non-clinical sample to examine the measurement structure of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) in non-users and frequent-users of various substances. Specifically, measurement invariance was examined across those who do vs. do not use alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis. Results indicate strict factorial invariance across non-users and frequent-users of alcohol and cannabis, and metric invariance across non-users and frequent-users of nicotine. This implies that the factor structure of the BDI-II is similar across all substance use groups

Effects of a noncoplanar biphenyldiamine on the processing and properties of addition polyimides

Addition curing polyimides, prepared from noncoplanar 2,2'-bis(trifluoromethyl) 4,4' diaminobiphenyl (BTDB) with various dianhydrides were evaluated as high temperature polymer matrix materials. T sub g of these polymers were measured by mechanical methods as well as by thermal mechanical analysis. Physical and mechanical properties as well as the thermo-oxidative stability of neat resins and the corresponding G40-600 graphite fiber reinforced composites were compared to that of PMR-II-50 and V-CAP-75

Identifying sub-tropical grass seedlings

There is considerable interest in growing sub-tropical (or warm season) perennial grasses for out-of-season green feed, especially on the south coast and in the northern agricultural region (NAR). They consist of two types: creeping grasses, which spread by either above ground runners (stolons) or below ground runners (rhizomes) and bunch grasses, which are tufted and do not spread by runners. The main species sown include Panic grass, Rhodes grass, Kikuyu, Setaria, Signal grass, Digit grass, and Bambatsi panic and are often sown as a mixture, comprising 2 or more species. This bulletin describes how to identify these grasses at the seedling stage.https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/bulletins/1203/thumbnail.jp

An Execution Model for Fine-Grained Parallelism in Ada

20th International Conference on Reliable Software Technologies - Ada-Europe 2015 (Ada-Europe 2015), 25 to 29, Jun, 2015. Madrid, Spain. Best Paper Award.This paper extends the authors earlier proposal for providing Ada with support for fine-grained parallelism with an execution model based on the concept of abstract executors, detailing the progress guarantees that these executors must provide and how these can be assured even in the presence of potentially blocking operations. The paper also describes how this execution model can be applied to real-time systems

Block 2 SRM conceptual design studies. Volume 1, Book 1: Conceptual design package

The conceptual design studies of a Block 2 Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) require the elimination of asbestos-filled insulation and was open to alternate designs, such as case changes, different propellants, modified burn rate - to improve reliability and performance. Limitations were placed on SRM changes such that the outside geometry should not impact the physical interfaces with other Space Shuttle elements and should have minimum changes to the aerodynamic and dynamic characteristics of the Space Shuttle vehicle. Previous Space Shuttle SRM experience was assessed and new design concepts combined to define a valid approach to assured flight success and economic operation of the STS. Trade studies, preliminary designs, analyses, plans, and cost estimates are documented

X-33 Metallic TPS Tests in NASA-LaRC High Temperature Tunnel

Conclusions The first series of metallic TPS tests in the NASA-LaRC Mach 7 High Temperature Tunnel has been completed. Additional testing is 'in progress and shall provide data for off-design configurations for the metallic TPS. The available data are being analyzed and being used to correlate analytical models to be used for X-33 flight design analysis. The final paper shan present additional data from these tests and comparisons between the data and analytical predictions

Research into the cause of brackish marsh recession in the Fraser River estuary

At least 160 ha (30%) of the brackish marsh on Sturgeon Bank in the Fraser River estuary have disappeared since 1989. A collaborative effort between the provincial and federal governments and industry aims to determine the cause(s) of the recession to inform future restoration efforts. Three adjacent low-elevation brackish marshes along the delta front have also receded to varying degrees. River training structures and regular dredging of the Fraser River divert sediments and fresh water, and thus alter sediment and salinity patterns along the delta front. Lesser snow geese (Anser c. caerulescens) preferentially grub bulrush, and the Fraser-Skagit population has increased 2-3 fold over the last three decades. Investigation of the marsh recession to date includes (1) describing historical rates and patterns of recession, (2) assessing the present environment (e.g., sediment accretion rates and salinity regimes), and (3) conducting inferential experiments to identify factors that contribute to marsh loss and prevent recovery. No single recession hypothesis we tested singularly explains the recession. The anticipated effects of climate change, especially sea-level rise, pose additional threats to all tidal marshes in the Fraser River estuary