Trajectories, Transformations, and Transitions: A Phenomenological Study of College Students in Recovery Finding Success

The research on college students in recovery from substance abuse issues and on campus programs designed to support them is a relatively new field of inquiry. The primary question this study addresses is how students in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction find success in the recovery-unfriendly environment of contemporary college and university culture. The participants for this study are comprised of 21 alumni from two post-secondary higher education institutions who were members of Collegiate Recovery Programs at their respective institutions. This study approached this question by examining three dimensions of these participants’ experiences, namely, their respective trajectories through college, their experiences with transformation, and, their experiences with the transition to post-college life. A Qualitative, Phenomenological Inquiry comprises the essential research framework for this study. Data gathering consisted of a convenience sampling method for recruiting participants all of whom took part in semi-structured, in-depth, audio-recorded interviews. Data analysis entailed Phenomenological research methods of thematic investigation by reviewing transcripts and identifying salient themes. Analysis also employed coding the data in Dedoose and conducting qualitative code co-occurrence features. Theoretical validation involved innovative application of Chaos and Complexity Theory, Constructive Developmentalism, and Transformative Learning Theory to the data findings. The basic findings revealed that successful trajectories employed effective use of a myriad of supports and learning sufficient internal self-control. Transformation occurred as a synergistic dynamic of individual recovery commitment combined with connection to positively-influencing peers. Successful transitional experiences entailed finding new life balance as well as reconfigured recovery support in post-college life

What Does Written Reflection Reveal About Novice Teachers’ Knowledge, Beliefs, and Skills Related to Literacy Assessment?

Assessment of literacy learning has been a long-standing focus for future teachers in elementary education. Teacher educators use ongoing written reflection to promote learning before, during, and after coursework and field experiences. In this study, the researchers examined the effects of ongoing written reflection on two groups of novice teachers’ knowledge, beliefs, and skills about literacy assessment in a semester-long graduate-level literacy assessment course with embedded fieldwork. First, the researchers conducted qualitative and descriptive analyses to examine what novice teachers reflected about in their ongoing written reflections. Second, they conducted comparative analyses to examine the extent to which the two groups differed in what they reflected about. Qualitative and descriptive analysis of written reflections revealed four prominent categories in which novice teachers reflected: (a) content knowledge related to literacy assessment, (b) beliefs about literacy assessment, (c) empathy and perspective-taking in the literacy assessment and instruction process, and (d) instructional planning and decision making. Comparative analyses revealed significant differences between the two groups of novice teachers in all four categories

The Impact of Dispersion on Amplitude and Frequency Noise in a Yb-fiber Laser Comb

We describe a Yb-fiber based laser comb, with a focus on the relationship between net-cavity dispersion and the frequency noise on the comb. While tuning the net cavity dispersion from anomalous to normal, we measure the amplitude noise (RIN), offset frequency (f_CEO) linewidth, and the resulting frequency noise spectrum on f_CEO. We find that the laser operating at zero net-cavity dispersion has many advantages, including an approximately 100x reduction in free-running f_CEO linewidth and frequency noise power spectral density between laser operation at normal and zero dispersion. In this latter regime, we demonstrate a phase-locked f_CEO beat with low residual noise

Operational Considerations of Passing Zones for Two-lane Highways: Spanish Case Study

[EN] The U.S. Highway Capacity Manual (HCM 2010) methodology is used in Spain to evaluate traffic operation and quality of service. In two-lane undivided highways, the effect of limiting where drivers could pass slower vehicles, or passing restrictions, is considered through the percentage of no-passing zones. This measure does not account for how passing opportunities are distributed along the road. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect percentage of no-passing zones and average passing zone length on two-lane, and incorporate them in the analysis methodology, if significant. The TWOPAS microsimulation program was calibrated and validated to the Spanish conditions. Passing restrictions had little effect on average traffic speed (ATS), with differences lower than 6 km/h between a segment of road with no passing restrictions and a segment of a road with 100% of length with passing restriction. Conversely, passing restrictions can increase percent time spent following (PTSF) up to 30%. Increasing the passing zone length beyond 2,000 m does not improve PTSF. The new models could be used to better estimate traffic operation on Spanish two-lane highways.The research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [TRA2013-42578-P], and has been partially developed as a result of a mobility stay at the University of Florida funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [EEBB-I-15-09970]. The research was completed with the support of the FPI Research and Teaching Fellowship of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [BES-2011-044612] and the TUM University Foundation Fellowship (TUFF) for international postdocs. We would like to thank Dr. Lemke from the Bundesanstalt fur Strassenwesen (Federal Highway Research Institute) for providing the final report of the research project FE 16.0015/2009 (23). This work was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in the framework of the Open Access Publishing Program.Moreno Chou, AT.; Llorca Garcia, C.; Washburn, S.; Bessa Jr., JE.; García García, A. (2018). Operational Considerations of Passing Zones for Two-lane Highways: Spanish Case Study. PROMET - Traffic&Transportation. 30(5):601-612. https://doi.org/10.7307/ptt.v30i5.2776S60161230

Macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity in two ten-year-old created wetlands

The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history

MAARSS: Magnet Architectures and Active Radiation Shielding Study

Protecting humans from space radiation is a major hurdle for human exploration of the solar system and beyond. Like on Earth, large magnetic fields surrounding a spaceship would deflect charged particles away from the habitat region and reduce the radiation dose to acceptable limits. The objective of this study is to determine the feasibility of current state of the art (SOA) high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets as a means to protect crew from space radiation exposure on long duration missions beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The study will look at architecture concepts to deflect high energy Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) and Solar Proton Events (SPEs). Mass, power, and shielding efficiency will be considered and compared with current passive shielding capabilities. This report will walk the reader through several designs considered over the one year study and discuss the multiple parameters that should be evaluated for magnetic shielding. The study team eventually down-selects to a scalable light weight solenoid architecture that is launchable and then deployable using magnetic pressure to expand large diameter coils. Benefitting from the low temperature and high vacuum environment of deep space, existing high-temperature superconductors make such radiation shields realistic, near-term technical developments

Modification of the Highway Capacity Manual two-lane highway analysis procedure for Spanish conditions

[EN] The US Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) methodology is used in Spain to evaluate traffic operation and quality of service. The effect of passing manoeuvre on two-lane highway operational performance is considered through adjustment factors to average travel speeds and percent time spent following. The procedure is largely based on simulations in TWOPAS and passing behaviours observed during US calibrations in the 1970s. It is not clear whether US driving behaviour and vehicles' performance are comparable with Spanish conditions. The objective of this research is to adapt the HCM 2010 methodology to Spanish driver behaviour, for base conditions (i.e. no passing restrictions). To do so, TWOPAS was calibrated and validated based on current Spanish passing field data. The calibration used a genetic algorithm. The case study included an ideal two-lane highway with varying directional traffic flow rate, directional split and percentage of trucks. The updated methodology for base conditions is simpler than the current HCM 2010 and does not rely on interpolation from tables.The research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (TRA2013-42578-P) and has been partially developed as a result of a mobility stay at the University of Florida funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (EEBB-I-15-09970). The research was completed with the support of the FPI Research and Teaching Fellowship of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (BES-2011-044612) and the TUM University Foundation Fellowship (TUFF) for international postdocs. We would like to thank Dr Lemke from the Bundesanstalt fur Straaenwesen (Federal Highway Research Institute) for providing the book from Brannolte and Holz [13] and the final reports of the research projects FE-Nr. 02.155G92 [12] and FE 16.0015/2009 [11].Moreno Chou, AT.; Llorca García, C.; Washburn, S.; Bessa Jr., JE.; Hale, DK.; García García, A. (2016). Modification of the Highway Capacity Manual two-lane highway analysis procedure for Spanish conditions. Journal of Advanced Transportation. 50(8):1650-1665. https://doi.org/10.1002/atr.1421S1650166550

Operational Considerations of Passing Zones for Two-lane Highways: Spanish Case Study

The U.S. Highway Capacity Manual (HCM 2010) methodology is used in Spain to evaluate traffic operation and quality of service. In two-lane undivided highways, the effect of limiting where drivers could pass slower vehicles, or passing restrictions, is considered through the percentage of no-passing zones. This measure does not account for how passing opportunities are distributed along the road. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect percentage of no-passing zones and average passing zone length on a two-lane highway and, if significant, incorporate them in the analysis methodology,. The TWOPAS microsimulation program was calibrated and validated to the Spanish conditions. Passing restrictions had little effect on average traffic speed (ATS), with differences lower than 6 km/h between a road segment with no passing restrictions and a road segment with a passing restriction on 100% of its length. Conversely, passing restrictions can increase the percent time spent following (PTSF) up to 30%. Increasing the passing zone length beyond 2,000 m does not improve PTSF. The new models could be used to better estimate traffic operation on Spanish two-lane highways. Document type: Articl