Program document for Energy Systems Optimization Program 2 (ESOP2). Volume 1: Engineering manual

The Energy Systems Optimization Program, which is used to provide analyses of Modular Integrated Utility Systems (MIUS), is discussed. Modifications to the input format to allow modular inputs in specified blocks of data are described. An optimization feature which enables the program to search automatically for the minimum value of one parameter while varying the value of other parameters is reported. New program option flags for prime mover analyses and solar energy for space heating and domestic hot water are also covered

Four-H leadership inservice training needs of Tennessee County Extension Agents

In this study the self-perceived training needs of Tennessee County Extension Agents were compared with the training needs as per-ceived by the district supervisors in the areas of adult and junior leadership training. Factors considered in this study were: (1) super-visory district, (2) sex, (3) percent of time devoted to 4-H work, and (4) years of tenure with the Tennessee Extension Service. Questionnaires were completed by 345 Tennessee county Extension agents and by 15 district supervisors on 11 adult and 6 junior leader-ship training needs. The data collection instrument was developed by The University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Education Department in collaboration with the 4-H Department and the 1969-70 Committee on 4-H Inservice Training Needs. The part of the questionnaire which was used in the study dealt with how well-trained the agents considered themselves to be in the areas of adult and junior leadership training. Also, district super-visors indicated how well-trained they felt their agents were as a whole on each of the adult and junior leadership items. The agents and super-visors were asked to indicate three priority training needs to be chosen from the entire survey. Data obtained from the completed questionnaire were tabulated according to a weighted value basis. Average ratings were calculated. Numbers and percents were calculated separately in certain categories. Percentages were based on the total number responding to each item. Findings disclosed that the district supervisors gave lower ratings for their agents on all adult and junior leadership training items than the county Extension agents gave themselves. In all cases the men and women district supervisors\u27 ratings of their agents in the areas of adult and junior leadership training were more similar than different. The data indicated that there was only a slight degree of disagreement concerning the self-perceived adult and junior leadership training needs when the county Extension agents were compared on district and sex bases. However, with respect to junior leadership training the men agents more frequently rated themselves not very” well-trained than did the women agents. The 0 to 25 percent of time devoted to 4-H group more frequently ranked both adult and junior leadership training needs as being more critical than was true for the 25 to 75 percent” or the “75 through 100 percent groups. The data indicated little difference in training needs of agents in the areas of adult and junior leadership training needs on the basis of tenure with the Tennessee Extension Service. The district supervisors\u27 perception of the agents\u27 priority training needs indicated that the supervisors, in general, selected more priority needs in the adult leadership training area than agents selected in this area. On the other hand, the county Extension agents felt that the junior leadership priority needs were of greater importance than did the district supervisors. The data indicated that, as the percent of time devoted to 4-H work increased, so did the proportion of agents indicating adult leadership priority needs. Recommendations for use of the findings and for further study were made

Representation of Terror and Terrorism in Two Arab Films: \u3cem\u3eParadise Now\u3c/em\u3e (2005) by Hany Abu-Assad and \u3cem\u3eHorses of God\u3c/em\u3e (2012) by Nabil Ayouch

Middle Eastern violence and terrorism are not novel subjects in world cinema, especially American cinema. The Arab or Muslim other in these films is always presented as someone who epitomises a culture of violence, directed mostly against innocent civilians. Against the backdrop of Hollywood’s stereotypical representation of Middle-Easterners as advocate of indiscriminate terror and terrorism, Arab filmmakers have turned in recent years to the representation of terror and religious extremism. Paradise Now (Abu Assad 2005) and Horses of God (Ayouch 2012) address the controversial issue of suicide bombing with the same motivation: to examine the choice of suicide bombing within its immediate socio-economic and politico-religious milieu. Both works have raised eyebrows in the Arab world as well as in the West as to their unorthodox cinematographic representation of terrorism. For a reason. Both films tend to demystify the idea of martyrdom while still granting the suicide bombers their humanity

A Study of the Influence of Birth Order and Other Variables on Student Perceptions of School Effectiveness in a Southwestern Michigan County

Problem. There is an increasing demand for quality education. In his initiative for education reform, U.S. President George W. Bush promoted the concept of no child left behind, in which he calls for more accountability. It is useful to examine student perceptions of how well the education system functions. Instead of a monolithic view, their perceptions were analyzed by birth order, gender, and ethnicity. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent student perceptions differed by their birth order, gender, and ethnicity. Method. This study utilized a 4 x 2 x 2 (birth order by gender by ethnicity) factorial design with a survey as the method for data collection. The instrument used in collection of data was the School Effective Questionnaire (SEQ). It is an instrument consisting of 48 items on school effectiveness to which 412 respondents used a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1, strongly disagree, to 5, strongly agree, to evaluate their schools. The instrument has seven scales. The statistical analysis was performed using a 4 x 2 x 2 ANOVA. Results. The results of this study indicated that birth order was not a significant discriminating factor. There was no significant difference in student perceptions on any of the seven dimensions in this study based on birth order. The one small exception was on the dimension, maximum opportunities for learning for African American females. Firstborn African American females had significantly higher mean scores than the last-born counterparts. There was a slight increase in the number of variables with significant difference between males and females. Males had a significantly higher mean than females on the dimension, positive school climate. On the dimension, maximum opportunities for learning, middle-born and last-born males had significantly higher means than middle-born and last-bom females. On five of the seven dimensions, Caucasians had significantly higher mean scores than African Americans. Even though African Americans had higher mean scores than Caucasians on the dimension, emphasis on basic skills, it was not significant. Conclusions. Birth order was not a significant factor in this study, except in one small sector of the population. Gender, as an independent variable, was more discriminating than birth order, but did not overwhelmingly influence student perceptions. Ethnicity, as the literature suggested, played the greatest role in influencing student perceptions

Growing a Sustainable City: The Question of Urban Agriculture

This presentation examines urban agriculture in Philadelphia and highlights the challenges of institutionalizing this historically informal urban activity into formal city policy over the last two decades. Urban agriculture has become a symbol of Philadelphia’s economic revitalization, sustainability, and increasingly, its gentrification. Often characterized by advocates as an urban panacea, gardening and farming seem to promise solutions to many different urban problems, such as blighted vacant lots, food insecurity, stormwater runoff, and neighborhood decline. However, questions of land tenure, the use of economic resources, and the long-term viability of urban agriculture shape the political discourse about the future of growing in the city and its role in promoting urban sustainability. Through archival research, a media content analysis, and interviews with urban farmers, gardeners, and city officials, this research examines urban agriculture’s role in Philadelphia’s transition to economic and environmental sustainability

The Effects of Symbols and Inclusion on Performance

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Kristi J. Hamil on June 22, 2011

Structural Equation Modeling of Attitudes Toward Employment Testing

This research investigated the relationships among past testing experiences, testing attitudes, perceptions of test performance, race, and gender. In addition, the effects of testing information on testing attitudes were studied. Two hundred and twelve applicants to a variety of positions in a large telecommunications company were asked to complete a series of questionnaires before and after employment testing. The questionnaires included measures of testing experience, general and specific testing attitudes, and perceptions of test performance. Scores on the employment test were also obtained as a measure of cognitive ability. Of the 212 participants, half were given a brochure to read that explained the reasons why the company uses employment testing. The remaining half of the participants did not receive the brochure. It was hypothesized that general testing attitudes would influence specific testing attitudes and that testing experience. general testing attitudes. and cognitive ability would be related. Testing experience and cognitive ability were expected to influence perceptions of test performance. Further, it was hypothesized that race and gender would be related to perceptions of test performance with whites and males perceiving higher levels of performance than African Americans and females. Race was also expected to be related to cognitive ability, testing experience, and general testing attitudes. Perceptions of test performance were also hypothesized to influence specific testing attitudes. Finally, it was expected that participants who received information about testing and corporate testing policy would have more positive post-test testing attitudes than those who do not receive the information. Relationships among the latent variables were tested via structural model analysis. The results of this analysis yielded support for most of the hypotheses. General testing attitudes were found to influence specific testing attitudes. Also, testing experience was related to general testing attitudes and cognitive ability. Testing experience and cognitive ability were also found to influence perceptions of test performance. In addition, perceptions of test performance influenced specific testing attitudes. Finally, participants who read the testing information brochure had more positive ratings on the beliefs about testing scale than those participants who did not receive the brochure