Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'GPWA'

This study is a qualitative examination of the potential use of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) techniques in the context of federally-mandated strategic planning. Facilitators with strategic planning experience were selected from a large government agency to receive training and provide their insights about the utility of SFBT in their work place. Study participants received a training class in which they were familiarized with SFBT. Prior to the training session, a survey instrument was administered to identify the facilitation approaches favored by the participants. A follow-up survey was administered to the participants immediately following the training. This questionnaire contained both closed- and open-ended items. One week after the training, a small group session was conducted to gather additional feedback from the participants. Results from the questionnaires and the small group session demonstrated that there was unanimous agreement that SFBT techniques would be useful in a federal strategic planning setting and that they would be likely to use the techniques themselves. The participants showed a strong preference for using the Miracle Question, though all of the techniques presented in training had support. When asked to match SFBT techniques with various planning phases, Action Descriptions was the selection most often made. Overall, participants described SFBT as being applicable in a number of work settings, specifically those that required delineation of work processes, outcomes and measures. Some concerns were noted regarding credibility of the model if therapeutic terms, such as "Miracle Question," were used with senior executives in the agency and there was some concern regarding the lack of a conflict-resolution model in the SFBT framework as presented. There was agreement that additional training would be useful before the participants implemented SFBT in their facilitation activities.
Master of Science

The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between a students Grade Point Average (GPA) and a student's proximity to campus. There were also two other independent variables studied, the students gender and the number of roommates the student has. The results showed that there is no correlation between GPA and proximity to campus or GPA and number of roommates. The only correlation found, which was slight, was between GPA and gender.

Abstract Improving the academic success and graduation rates of African-American males has been a major focus of both scholars and practitioners in the United States. Locally, African-American males at an urban Title 1 school were experiencing the lowest grade point averages, American College Test scores, and graduation rates in the district. In response to these academic declines, this study focused on the tenets of Bechtol's sports participation theory, which holds that students who play sports experience greater academic achievement and adult success in life. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between total hours of high school athletics participation and earned GPAs for African-American male students at the school under study for 1 academic year and across each term (4) of the school year. A correlational research design was used to identify if a relationship existed between hours of sports participation and the GPAs of African-American male student-athletes from the 2012 ' 2013 school year (N = 36). The results of the 5 Pearson correlation analyses indicated no statistically significant relationship between the total hours African-American male student-athletes spent participating in sports and their GPAs. The sample size was a limitation of the study design, therefore it was recommended to conduct the investigation with a larger sample size. The results of the study prompted the design of a professional development program for local administrators, faculty, and staff called Championing Higher Achievement Matriculation, Preparation, and Success for Student Athletes (CHAMPS). The CHAMPS program prepares school personnel to more effectively mentor, coach, tutor, and teach African-American male student-athletes. The program can improve the quality of education that can serve as the stimulus for social change through improved educational outcomes for African-American male student athletes.

Thesis (M.S. in Ed.)--Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 2005.
"Department of Educational Psychology and Special Eduation." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-62 ). Also available online.

The goal of this research was to examine the effects, if any, the programs available from an Academic Support Services unit of a small, private, liberal arts college might have on the grade point averages of students admitted on probation over two major semesters. The assumption was that the students who utilized the services of the Academic Center for Excellence would demonstrate more increases in GPA than students who did not utilize the services. The literature review of this study found that, although there were many factors and student characteristics that could predict and explain student achievement in course work, GPA was a good predictor and the only real measure of a student's performance. The programs designed to offer support are demonstrated to aid students in improving their academic achievement. The results of this study suggest that GPA is a good predictor of a student's academic achievement and a primary method of assessing student academic achievement. However, there was no apparent impact of the support services unit on the grade point averages of the students admitted on probation. Suggested uses for the study included the development of freshman orientation programs that integrate the student into academic life and a retooling of counseling and advising programs.
Ed.D.
Department of Educational Research, Technology and Leadership
Education
Educational Leadership

This study investigated the strategies academically successful college student athletes use to do well in their class work, where academic success was defined as a 3.5 GPA for 12 or more credits for the two semesters preceding the study. Data were transcriptions of individual interviews with five male and five female athletes in seven sports at an NCAA Division I university in the western United States. Independent coders analyzed the data and agreed upon themes related to challenges to academic success and strategies to meet those challenges. Findings add to the literature by detailing self-regulatory habits that academically underprepared athletes can adopt from their successful peers. Academic advisors can use these findings as they help athletes increase academic success and learn valuable life skills.

This study shows that Arabidopsis thaliana WRKY45 gene has an important role in limiting green peach aphid (GPA; Myzus persicae Sülzer) infestation. WRKY45 belongs to the WRKY family of transcription factors, which is one of the largest transcription factor family in plants. In response to GPA infestation, expression of WRKY45 was systemically upregulated in leaves and roots, with highest expression in the vascular tissues, which are the site of aphid feeding. GPA colonization was better on the wrky45 mutant compared to the wild-type (WT) plant. In contrast, GPA poorly colonized plants that were overexpressing (OE) WRKY45, thus confirming an important role for WRKY45 in plant defense to the GPA. A WRKY45-dependent process adversely impacted the reproductive rate of GPA and feeding from the sieve elements. RNA-seq experiments indicated a major impact of WRKY45 overexpression on expression of genes associated with dehydration and abscisic acid biosynthesis and signaling. In agreement with the RNA-seq data, ABA content was also higher in WRKY45-OE plants. However, genetic studies with an ABA-insensitive mutant (abi2-2) indicates that the WRKY45-OE conferred resistance to GPA is mediated through an ABA-independent mechanism. WRKY45-OE plants showed enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stresses. Genetic studies indicate that ABA signaling is critical for WRKY45's involvement in promoting plant tolerance to drought. Taken together, these results demonstrate that WRKY45 acts as a positive regulator of plant responses to GPA infestation, and drought and salt stress responses.

The development of all organs of the plant depends on the activity of the meristems and adjacent areas. Monocarpic plants show only one reproductive cycle before they senescence and die. The senescence and death of these plants is preceded by a global proliferative arrest of meristems (GPA). That way, the number of fruits/flowers that they produce during their lives depends on the proliferative activity of apical meristems of the branches and on the time GPA occurs. The study of the mechanisms that control GPA, as well as a better knowledge of genes involved in the maintenance of merismatic cells during this process, can provide useful tools for crop breeding programs in order to obtain more productive varieties. The GPA is a phenomenon described more than a century ago for some monocarpic plants. Different hypothesis have been set out about the factors that trigger it. Among the factors than might be involved, the existence of source-sink relationships or the regulation of the meristem activity by the reproductive organs in development have been proposed. Regarding reproductive organs, a signalling role of developing seeds is well established, as in sterile plants or in plants where fruits are continuously pruned the GPA is significantly delayed. In our group, it has been recently described the first genetic pathway proposed to regulate the longevity of the meristem in monocarpic plants. This pathway includes transcription factors such as FRUITFULL (FUL) and APETALA2 (AP2) to control the temporal onset of this process in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our model proposes that levels of expression of miR172 and FUL increase with the age of the plant as consequence of the decrease of miR156 and the upregulation of SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPLs) transcription factors. The increase of the expression of FUL and miR172 causes the downregulation of AP2, which causes the progressive decrease of WUSCHEL (WUS) expression, and therefore, the cessation of meristematic activity and appearance of GPA. In the first chapter of this PhD thesis, we have aimed to gain further knowledge in the study of longevity control of the meristems by the FUL-AP2 pathway, identifying molecular targets or interactors of AP2. In the second chapter, we have screened different mutagenized populations for mutants that show early GPA while been sterile, as a starting point to the identification of factors potentially involved in the signalling mechanism between developing seeds and the apical meristem, one the proposed pathways for GPA regulation. In the third chapter, we have developed several biotechnological strategies to increase the production of fruits and seeds in Arabidopsis thaliana. These strategies aim to apply the knowledge we have gained about the FUL-AP2 pathway for the control of meristem activity to delay GPA. All the strategies converge in increasing AP2 expression specifically in the SAM. For this, specific promoters of this tissue have been used to either to silence FUL or to impair miR172 activity. Through these strategies, we have achieved to increase fruit production in Arabidopsis up to 40%. Finally, in the fourth chapter we have analysed the functional conservation of FUL in Pisum sativum. After the characterization of the fula and fulb mutants, we have observed that in fulb mutant, GPA is delayed, increasing the production of reproductive nodes and therefore of pods without any additional developmental defects. Our results show the conservation of FUL role in GPA regulation between brassica and legumes.
El desarrollo de todos los órganos de la planta depende de la actividad de los meristemos y regiones adyacentes. Las plantas monocárpicas presentan un único ciclo reproductivo antes de su senescencia y muerte. La senescencia y muerte de estas plantas está precedida por una parada global de la proliferación de sus meristemos (GPA). De este modo, el número de flores/frutos que producen durante su vida depende de la actividad proliferativa de los meristemos apicales de las ramas y de cuando se produzca el GPA. El estudio de los mecanismos que controlan el GPA, así como un mayor conocimiento de los genes implicados en el mantenimiento de las células meristemáticas durante este proceso, proporcionaría herramientas muy útiles en los programas de mejora de cultivos para la obtención de variedades más productivas. EL GPA es un fenómeno descrito hace más de un siglo para varias plantas monocárpicas, y se han planteado diferentes hipótesis sobre los factores que lo desencadenan. Entre los factores propuestos se encuentran la existencia de relaciones fuente-sumidero o la regulación de la actividad meristemática por parte de los órganos reproductivos en desarrollo. Respecto al papel de los órganos reproductivos está bien definido un papel señalizador de las semillas en desarrollo, ya que la esterilidad de la planta o la poda de los frutos retrasan considerablemente el GPA. Por otro lado, en nuestro grupo se ha desvelado recientemente la que es probablemente la primera ruta genética propuesta de regulación de la longevidad del meristemo en plantas monocárpicas, y que incluye a los factores transcripcionales FRUITFULL (FUL) y APETALA2 (AP2) en el control temporal de este proceso en Arabidopsis thaliana. Esta ruta propone que con la edad los niveles de expresión del miR172 y de FUL aumentan como consecuencia de la reducción del miR156 y aumento de los factores de transcripción SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPLs), que regulan la expresión de FUL. El aumento de la expresión de FUL y del miR172 produce la reducción de los niveles de AP2, que ocasiona la progresiva disminución de la expresión del gen de mantenimiento meristemático WUSCHEL (WUS), y por tanto, el cese de la actividad meristemática y aparición del GPA. En el capítulo 1 de esta tesis doctoral se ha pretendido profundizar en el estudio del control de la longevidad de los meristemos mediante la ruta FUL-AP2, identificando dianas moleculares o interactores de AP2. En el capítulo 2 hemos llevado a cabo el rastreo de diferentes poblaciones mutagenizadas buscando mutantes que a pesar de ser estériles tuvieran un GPA temprano, como punto de partida a la identificación de factores implicados en la vía de señalización entre semillas en desarrollo y meristemo apical, otra de las posibles rutas de regulación del GPA. En el capítulo 3 hemos desarrollado una serie de estrategias biotecnológicas que permiten aumentar la producción de frutos y semillas en Arabidopsis thaliana. Estas estrategias tratan de aplicar el conocimiento sobre la ruta FUL-AP2 de mantenimiento de la actividad meristemática para retrasar el GPA. Todas las estrategias convergen en elevar el nivel de expresión de AP2 únicamente en el SAM. Para ello, se han empleado promotores específicos de este tejido, dirigiendo el silenciamiento de FUL o la desregulación de la actividad del miR172. Mediante estas estrategias hemos conseguido incrementar la producción de frutos en la inflorescencia principal de Arabidopsis hasta en un 40%. Por último en el capítulo 4 hemos analizado la conservación funcional de FUL en Pisum sativum. Tras la caracterización de los mutantes fula y fulb, observamos como en el mutante fulb se retrasa el GPA, incrementando la producción de nudos reproductivos, y por tanto de vainas sin que estas muestren defectos en su desarrollo. Los resultados obtenidos indican una clara conservación del papel de FUL en el GPA entre brásicas y leguminosas.
El desenvolupament de tots els òrgans de la planta depèn de l'activitat dels meristems i regions adjacents. Les plantes monocàrpiques presenten un únic cicle reproductiu abans de la seua senescència i mort. La senescència i mort d'aquestes plantes està precedida per una parada global de la proliferació dels seus meristems (GPA). D'aquesta manera, el nombre de flors/fruits que produeixen durant la seua vida depèn de l'activitat proliferativa del meristem apical de la tija i de quan es produeix el GPA. L'estudi dels mecanismes que controlen el GPA, així com un major coneixement dels gens implicats al manteniment de les cèl·lules meristemàtiques durant aquest procés, proporcionaria eines molt útils en els programes de millora de cultius per a l'obtenció de varietats més productives. EL GPA és un fenomen descrit fa més d'un segle per a diverses plantes monocàrpiques, i s'han plantejat diferents hipòtesis sobre els factors que el desencadenen. Entre els factors proposats es troben l'existència de relacions font-sumider o la regulació de l'activitat meristemàtica per part dels òrgans reproductius en desenvolupament. Pel que fa al paper dels òrgans reproductius està ben definit un paper senyalitzador de les llavors en desenvolupament, ja que l'esterilitat de la planta o la poda dels fruits retarda considerablement el GPA. D'altra banda, en el nostre laboratori s'ha revelat recentment la que és probablement la primera ruta genètica proposta de regulació de la longevitat del meristem en plantes monocàrpiques, i que inclou els factors transcripcionals FRUITFULL (FUL) i APETALA2 (AP2) en el control temporal d'aquest procés en Arabidopsis thaliana. Aquesta ruta proposa que amb l'edat els nivells d'expressió del miR172 i de FUL augmenten com a conseqüència de la reducció del miR156 i augment dels factors de transcripció SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPLs), que regulen l'expressió de FUL. L'augment de l'expressió de FUL i del miR172 produeix la reducció dels nivells de AP2, que ocasiona la progressiva disminució de l'expressió del gen de manteniment meristemàtic WUSCHEL (WUS), i per tant, el cessament de l'activitat meristemàtica i aparició del GPA. En el capítol 1 d'aquesta tesi doctoral s'ha pretès aprofundir en l'estudi del control de la longevitat dels meristems mitjançant la ruta FUL-AP2, identificant dianes moleculars o interactors de AP2. En el capítol 2 hem dut a terme el rastreig de diferents poblacions mutageneizadas buscant mutants que tot i ser estèrils tingueren un GPA temprà, com a punt de partida a la identificació de factors implicats en la via de senyalització entre llavors en desenvolupament i meristem apical, una altra de les possibles rutes de regulació del GPA. En el capítol 3 hem desenvolupat una serie d'estratègies biotecnològiques que permeten augmentar la producció de fruits i llavors en Arabidopsis thaliana. Aquestes estratègies intenten aplicar el coneixement sobre la ruta FUL-AP2 de manteniment de l'activitat meristemàtica per retardar el GPA. Totes les estratègies convergeixen en elevar el nivell d'expressió de AP2 únicament en el SAM. Per açò, s'han emprat promotors específics d'aquest teixit, dirigint el silenciament de FUL o la desregulació de l'activitat del miR172. Mitjançant aquestes estratègies hem aconseguit incrementar la producció de fruits en la inflorescència principal d'Arabidopsis fins un 40%. Finalment en el capítol 4 hem analitzat la conservació funcional de FUL en Pisum sativum. Després de la caracterització dels mutants fula i fulb, observarem com en el mutant fulb es retardava el GPA, incrementant la producció de nusos reproductius, i per tant de baines, sense que aquestes mostraren defectes en el seu desenvolupament. Els resultats obtinguts indiquen una clara conservació del paper de FUL al GPA entre brasicas i lleguminoses.
Martinez Fernandez, I. (2017). La ruta FUL-AP2 y la longevidad de los meristemos en Arabidopsis thaliana. Bases moleculares y potencial biotecnológico [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/88394
TESIS

Meiosis is a specialized cell division, producing unique daughter cells containing half the chromosome number of the parental cell. In the hermaphroditic nematode C. elegans, meiotic mutants can be recognized by embryonic lethality (Emb) and high incidence of males (Him) phenotypes due to chromosome missegregation. In search of new meiotic mutants, we isolated vv33 in an EMS-based "Green eggs and Him" screen (Kelly et al. 2000; Tom Nolis, unpublished data). DAPI stainings of vv33 mutant gonads reveal unusually large nuclei and micronuclei throughout the germline. Characterization suggests that defects in cell division and chromosome segregation in mitotic germ cells are transmitted through the meiotic cell cycle, resulting in 80% Emb and 7% Him. Cloning of vv33 identified it as a novel allele of gpa-16, a Gα protein with known functions in mitosis in the early embryo (Gonczy 2002). Based on our observations, we hypothesize that there is a germline-specific requirement for GPA-16.
La méiose est une division cellulaire spécialisée qui produit des cellules filles haploides à partir de cellules parentales diploides. Chez le nématode hermaphrodite C. elegans, des anomalies de ségrégation des chromosomes lors de la méiose donnent lieu à des phénotypes de létalité embryonnaire (Emb) et d'augmentation du nombre de males (Him). Lors d'un crible génétique basé sur la recherche de nouveaux mutants him (Tom Nolis, non publié), nous avons isolé l'allèle vv33. Une analyse cytologique par coloration DAPI des gonades du mutant vv33 à révélé la présence de noyaux de tailles irrégulières. De plus, des études ont mis en évidence des défauts de ségrégation des chromosomes dans les cellules mitotiques de la lignée germinale. Les anomalies chromosomiques sont ensuite héritées par les cellules méiotiques et génèrent 80% de létalité embryonnaire. Le clonage de vv33 à permit d'identifier une mutation dans le gene gpa-16, qui code une sous-unité alpha d'une protéine G précédemment décrite pour son rôle dans la mitose embryonnaire (Gonczy 2002). Nos résultats nous permettent donc d'envisager une nouvelle fonction spécifique pour GPA-16 dans la lignée germinale.

Researchers have suggested that the college student population in the United States is evolving and the number of nontraditional students is rising. New student retention and academic success were ongoing concerns at a college in the southern United States and the association of those outcomes with instructional delivery model and student type was not known. In an effort to improve new student outcomes, this study examined differences in first-quarter student retention and academic success, as measured by GPA, for courses taught strictly online or on campus, and for traditional versus nontraditional students. Guided by Bean and Metzner's conceptual model of nontraditional student attrition, this quasi-experimental study used data from 1,304 first-quarter students divided into 4 equal groups (n = 326). Groups were compared for GPA using 2x2 factorial ANOVA and for retention using chi-square tests of association. Findings showed no significant differences in retention or in the interaction between instructional delivery model and student type for GPA. A significant difference in GPA between traditional and nontraditional students, with the latter earning higher grades, was found. In addition, a bimodal grade distribution was identified in all 4 sample groups indicating the highest frequencies of students earning As and Fs, suggesting that new students either do very well or very poorly academically. Based on these findings, a white paper and presentation for campus officials was developed. The implementation of rubrics in all campus-based courses along with continuous evaluation of student performance was recommended. Positive social change may result from the use of rubrics with the new student population by increasing consistency of grading and improving understanding of expectations which may lead to better student outcomes over time.

Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) is a granulomatous inflammatory disease. It is generally described as a systemic disorder which can present with a localized presentation like the orbit. Orbital GPA can be the initial manifestation of GPA where over time the disease may progress and become severe, involving vital organs. This study aimed to look for biomarkers in orbital GPA biopsies that could indicate diagnosis and be a predictor for the progression of the disease. To identify GPA patients, retrospective examination of patients’ medical records, who had undergone orbital biopsies for orbital inflammatory disease (OID), over a 21 year period, was performed. Long term outcomes of these patients were studied. Further subjective and objective histology analyses were done on haemotoxylin and eosin (H&E) tissue preparations. Comparison of cellular activity in biopsies of GPA and other OID were performed. Further T cells, B cells and macrophage phenotypes and their cytokines, were investigated with immunohistochemistry (IHC). IHC cell count comparisons were performed between GPA, sarcoidosis and idiopathic inflammatory orbital diseases (IIOD) biopsies. Results showed that in patients who presented with orbital GPA with no systemic manifestations, the disease remained localised and did not progress to systemic form, over time. H&E tissue biopsies examination showed that GPA tissues had a higher cellular activity compared to OIDs. Vasculitis and necrosis were found to be independently associated with the diagnosis of orbital GPA but these features were unreliable for diagnosis as a number of the biopsies did not exhibit these features. In immunohistochemistry staining, T cells, B cells and macrophage subtypes counts were comparable between GPA, sarcoidosis and IIOD. Nonetheless cytokines IL-17, IL-23 and BAFF-receptor (BAFF-R), were found significantly more in GPA compared to sarcoidosis and IIOD. This suggests that these cytokines possibly have a role in the pathogenesis of GPA and may have diagnostic value.

Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Maryland, College Park, 2005.
Thesis research directed by: Counseling and Personnel Services. Title from t.p. of PDF. Includes bibliographical references. Published by UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Mich. Also available in paper.

The latest U.S. government surveys indicate that one in six Americans suffer from food insecurity, which means they have trouble affording adequate food. Previous research has shown that food insecurity affects adult cognitive ability, energy levels, ability to concentrate as well as child academic success. Food insecurity has been studied in college students at 4-year institutions; however, research on the community college population is sparse. This study aimed to better understand the extent and implications of food insecurity among community college students attending two community colleges in Maryland.

The research was carried out using a survey that collected data related to student food insecurity, demographics, along with self-reported Grade Point Average (GPA), energy, and concentration levels in 301 community college students. Approximately half of the students attended a suburban community college (n=151) and half of the students attended an urban community college (n=150). Data from each school were compared to examine issues affecting students attending each institution.

The study revealed that over half of the community college student respondents were food insecure and that food insecurity was slightly less prevalent among respondents at the suburban community than those from the urban community college. African American students and multiracial students were more likely to experience food insecurity than White students. Students who lived alone, with roommates or with spouses/partners were more likely to experience food insecurity than students who lived with parents or relatives. Single parents were also more likely to be food insecure than students who were not single parents.

Food insecurity was significantly associated with student GPA, energy, and concentration in the overall student sample. Food insecure students were more likely to fall into a lower GPA category than they were to fall into the highest GPA category. Food insecure students were also more likely to report lower energy and concentration levels and the degree of food insecurity appeared to affect the probability of low energy or difficulty concentrating. When considering each community college separately, food insecurity was significantly associated with GPA at the suburban community college but not at the urban community college. Also, food insecurity had a stronger association with energy and concentration at the urban community college than at the suburban community college.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments are reported at up to 30.5 GPa of pressure using radiofrequency (RF) micro-coils with anvil cell designs. These are the highest pressures ever reported with NMR, and are made possible through an improved gasket design based on nano-crystalline powders embedded in epoxy resin. Cubic boron-nitride (c-BN), corundum (α-Al2O3), or diamond based composites have been tested, also in NMR experiments. These composite gaskets lose about 1/2 of their initial height up to 30.5 GPa, allowing for larger sample quantities and preventing damages to the RF micro-coils compared to precipitation hardened CuBe gaskets. It is shown that NMR shift and resolution are less affected by the composite gaskets as compared to the more magnetic CuBe. The sensitivity can be as high as at normal pressure. The new, inexpensive, and simple to engineer gaskets are thus superior for NMR experiments at high pressures.

Despite the continued research into Career and Technical Education (CTE) program expansion in public schools and the relationships surrounding student success, educational leaders are in growing need of empirical evidence to justify the continued funding of such programs and to support reform movements associated with educational policies. The main hypotheses included testing for statistical significance in the predictive relationships between final high school cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) and both, “Instructional” and “Non-Instructional” factors related to Science-based CTE courses completed while enrolled in high school. The study population was comprised of high school graduates in the years of 2013 -2017 from a single participating school district in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The quantitative research method included a predictive correlational design using Likert-type survey instrument, administered through SurveyMonkey, to collect numeric data from 97 participating subjects. The results of the study showed that a moderately negative predictive relationship exists between graduates’ perception of instructional factors related to Science-based CTE courses and their final cumulative high school GPA. A predictability of 4.1% between the criterion and the predictor variable, identified as the “Instructional Factor”, while no statistically significant relationship was found to exist between the criterion and the predictor variable, identified as the “Non-Instructional Factor”. Implications from the findings of the study suggested that educational leaders should pay more attention to promoting a positive perception among students towards CTE course instruction, rather than non-instructional factors related to their educational experience.

The intent of this study was to examine the relationship between media multitasking orientation and grade point average. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach to investigate the research questions. In the quantitative section of the study, the primary method of statistical analyses was multiple regression. The independent variables for the study were media multitasking orientation, gender, age, and income. The dependent variable for the study was grade point average. Three out of four independent variables, namely, media multitasking orientation, gender and age were statistically significant predictors of grade point average. In the qualitative section of the study, seven participants were interviewed to determine how individual differences in media multitasking orientation manifest themselves in academic settings.

Tématem této práce je komparativní analýza burz střední Evropy, tzn. Burzy cenných papírů Praha, a.s.; Burzy cenných papierov Bratislava; Gieldy papierów wartościowych ve Varšavě; Budapesti Értéktözsde v Budapešti a Wiener Börse ve Vídni. Záměrem bylo ucelené srovnání jednotlivých trhů zejména z pohledu realizace IPO a likvidity jednotlivých burz. Teoretická část popisuje obchodní systém a systém vypořádání obchodů. Při analýze trhu IPO ve střední Evropě jsem se zaměřil hlavně na faktory rozvinutosti jednotlivých trhů IPO a počtu realizovaných IPO na jednotlivých trzích. Analýza likvidity na středoevropských burzách je rozdělena na likviditu akciových částí burz a dluhopisových částí burz. Na jednotlivých trzích byl analyzován podíl pěti nejlikvidnějších emisí na celkovém objemu obchodů. Práce by měla poskytnout obraz konkurenční pozice českého burzovnictví v porovnání se středoevropskou konkurencí.

The educational plight of the urban student athlete is often associated with academic underachievement. This study researched the effects of minimum academic standards on athletes to increase their academic success, attendance rates, reduce discipline infractions and subsequently, increase graduation rates. Vidal- Fernandez (2011) conducted a study on the effect minimum academic requirements to participate in sports had on high school graduation. Students who were involved in a sport had significantly higher grade point averages during their sport season compared to their grade point averages when the students were not in season. Schools invest large amounts of resources into sports activities under the well-supported assumption that these activities increase levels of student outcomes. If engagement in athletics significantly improves the likelihood of academic success, then school leaders should choose to target resources and efforts at increasing participation, especially for at-risk and failing students (Vidal-Fernandez, 2011). In this quantitative study to determine what impact athletics have on the student's academic performance, the researcher collected existing data on the high school football teams for two semesters prior to a system wide 2.0 GPA policy to play and two semesters after the implementation of the 2.0 GPA play policy. Independent variables (attendance, discipline and GPA) and dependent variables (participation in football, academic coach or no academic coach, and athletic coach) were collected, and these variables were then measured and analyzed using relevant statistical procedures. Many of the student athletes in this study increased their accountability for their academic achievement in order to achieve higher GPAs in order to participate in athletics. Although not statistically significant, the data showed there was an increase in the overall district GPA for football players in the division after the implementation of the 2.0 GPA rule. Another important finding, student mobility (transiency) was notable at each high school during the three-year span of the study. While the present study only analyzed a district sample of athletes, the results could assist parents, coaches, and school administrators in monitoring the academic success of the school system's athletes.
Ed. D.

Este trabalho traz a aplicação de alta pressão e alta pressão/temperatura (4.0 GPa e 400º C), em amostras de nanotubos de carbono de paredes múltiplas (NTCPM) comerciais para a obtenção de amostras compactas. Os NTCPM foram funcionalizados com ácido nítrico e ácido nítrico/ácido sulfúrico e, também foram usados nanotubos de carbono dopados com nitrogênio. Foram também processadas amostras contendo nanotubos de carbono de paredes múltiplas incorporados em matriz de zircônia obtida pelo método sol-gel. Para aplicação da alta pressão foi usado um sistema com câmaras do tipo toroidal, utilizando grafite como meio transmissor de pressão. Foram obtidas amostras macroscópicas autossuportadas e com resistência ao manuseio principalmente nas amostras de nanotubos de carbono funcionalizados com ácido nítrico/ácido sulfúrico incorporados em zircônia. Para a caracterização das amostras foram utilizadas as técnicas de Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão, Espectroscopia Raman, Difração de Raios X e isotermas de adsorção/dessorção de nitrogênio com as quais foi possível determinar que mesmo após a aplicação de alta pressão/temperatura os nanotubos de carbono não sofrem significativas modificações na sua estrutura e nas suas propriedades morfológicas e texturais, confirmando então que os NTCPM mantém suas características originais, apresentando condições para aplicações em dispositivos. As amostras macroscópicas contendo nanotubos de carbono de paredes múltiplas incorporados em zircônia apresentaram ainda resistência à carga de milhares de vezes o seu peso e comportamento de materiais semi-condutores.
This work presents the application of high pressure and/or high pressure/temperature (4.0 GPa and 400 ° C), on different samples of commercial multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) to obtain compacted samples. MWCNT were functionalized with nitric acid and nitric acid/sulfuric acid, and also carbon nanotubes doped with nitrogen. MWCNT incorporated in a zirconia matrix obtained by sol-gel method were also processed. For high pressure application it was used a system with the toroidal-type chamber, using graphite as a pressure transmitting medium. Self-supported macroscopic samples were obtained, easy to handle, especially in samples of functionalized carbon nanotubes with nitric and sulfuric acid and also incorporated in zirconia. To characterize the samples it was used Transmission Electron Microscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsoption/desorption isotherms and it was determined that even after application of high pressure/temperature carbon nanotubes do not suffer significant changes in their structure and in their morphological and textural properties, confirming that the CNT keeps its original characteristics and providing conditions for device applications. The macroscopic samples containing MWCNT incorporated in zirconia also exhibited resistance to load of thousands times its own weight and behavior like semiconductor materials.

While substantial literature exists regarding the neurocognitive sequelae of concussion and return to play determinations for student-athletes who have suffered a concussion, there is a paucity of research that has conceptualized the impact of concussion on common academic outcomes. This study examined these topics in an attempt to evaluate the impact of concussion on GPA and school attendance, the association of preinjury neurocognitive performance to changes in academic achievement following a concussion, as well as the relationship between baseline neurocognitive performance and academic outcomes. The change in monthly assignment GPA and attendance were analyzed for three comparison groups (concussion, other sport-related injuries, control) regarding their differences pre and post injury. Second, whether a student-athlete's performance on a computerized baseline neuropsychological assessment (ImPACT) moderated the change in monthly assignment GPA for a group of concussed student-athletes identified as either short recovery or long recovery was investigated. Lastly, the association between baseline ImPACT scores and cumulative GPA/standardized achievement measures was examined for the entire group of student- athletes. Results of this study indicated no systematic differences between comparison groups (concussion, control, and injury) with the change in pre and post injury monthly assignment GPA and daily attendance rates, although academic declines were evident among all student-athletes. Further analysis revealed that more athletes who experienced concussions evidenced a significant drop in GPA (> .5) than would be expected by chance. Contrary to expectations, baseline ImPACT assessment scores did not moderate the degree of academic decline for concussed student-athletes within the short or long recovery groups. Finally, baseline ImPACT composite scores were significantly related to general academic achievement outcomes. Specifically, the ImPACT Visual Memory, Visual Motor and Reaction Time Composite scores significantly predicted GPA. Standardized academic achievement scores as measured by the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (math, reading, writing and science) were all significantly predicted by the baseline ImPACT Visual Motor Composite score. This study highlights the risk factors that may lead to diminished academic performance for student-athletes and the pre-injury neurocognitive variables measured by ImPACT that predict academic performance for student-athletes.

The JROTC program is one of service and commitment. Its mission is to build better citizens and give them a sense of pride in service to their fellow man. Today these core principles are still needed, but with the increase in the student dropout rate, the JROTC program can be one of many alternatives needed to help public education reach today's youth who are struggling to stay in school. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the impact of the Air Force JROTC Leadership Program on the grade point average (GPA), attendance rate, disciplinary referrals, and dropout rate of JROTC students at an urban high school in southeastern Virginia. The study also addressed the perceptions of school administrators, Air Force JROTC instructors, teachers, JROTC students and their parents on students enrolled in the program during the 2005-2009 school years. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the means, standard deviations and frequency distributions for the groups in the study. Three independent sample t-tests and seven one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA's) were used to determine where there was a statistically significant difference for each group. The Tukey post hoc procedure was used to determine where the difference occurred in the variables. There were three major findings revealed in this study. The first finding indicated that students who participated in the JROTC program had lower grade point averages (M =2.47, SD = 1.17) than non-JROTC participants (M = 3.00, SD = 0.94). Second, administrators had higher levels of agreement (100%) than AFJROTC instructors, teachers, JROTC students and parents that leadership skills were developed in the AFJROTC program. Third, JROTC students (12%) and parents (7%) had lower levels of agreement than administrators, AFJROTC instructors and teachers that the AFJROTC program is used as a recruitment tool. Focus groups results showed strong support for the program from administrators, teachers, JROTC students and parents. These findings suggest that if school districts and educational leaders are to benefit from implementing the AFJROTC program they must understand that the program is not designed to impact academics. The program is designed to develop leadership skills along with helping students become better citizens. Educational leaders in school districts should read the findings and consider utilizing the program as a possible alternative to help students to develop skills to keep them from dropping out of school.
Ph. D.

The purpose of this research study was to ascertain the relative level of adoption of the use of web-based media by undergraduates, the results of which will be considered in the creation of health promotion messages and campaigns that are distributed through electronic means to a campus audience. The primary research conducted was a web-based survey of UVM undergraduates, inquiring about the extent to which they consume web delivered media programming, of both news and entertainment, and how they communicate with their peers. Through the use of descriptive statistics, it was learned that more than half of UVM undergraduates (58.7%) watch between one to five minutes of web-based video on a weekly basis, suggesting that the creation of video-based health promotion programming might indeed prove to be an effective approach to raising awareness and promoting behavior change for this population. Additional data reveals how much time respondents do a variety of media activities, as well as their most used means of communication with peers when not with them in person. The study concludes that there is a high enough adoption of the use of web-based media by undergraduates to warrant creating health promotion messages and campaigns that are distributed through electronic means to a campus audience.

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which measures of ego strength, as conceived by Erikson (1963a) and operationalized by Markstrom, Sabino, Turner and Berman (1997), contribute to the prediction of academic achievement of high school students. At issue was whether the ego strength variables enhance prediction beyond that provided by selected demographic variables and two measures of religiosity: faith participation and faith importance. Participants included 121 Black and 131 White students of Virginia. They were in the ninth through twelfth grades and were attending a single high school in the Tidewater area of Virginia. They were administered a questionnaire that included several demographic questions, two questions regarding religion in their lives, and five subscales from the Psychosocial Inventory of Ego Strength (PIES) developed by Markstrom et al. (1997). These variables were used in a series of hierarchical regression analyses to predict grade-point-average (GPA) which was obtained from the permanent school records of each student. Significant relationships were found between and among the five psychosocial ego strengths. Several relationships were found between students’ psychosocial ego strength attributes and parents’ educational levels. A positive significant relationship was found between the total ego strength and academic achievement. Some differences were found between race and the Hope subscale, faith participation, and faith importance. Race was also found to be a significant influence on the predictive relationships between psychosocial total ego strength and academic achievement. Total ego strength was found to be a significant predictor of academic achievement. The essential finding of the study was that ego strength measures explained approximately 10% of the variance in GPA above that already accounted for by the demographic variables and the two religiosity variables. The items measuring the importance of faith and participation in faith activities did not contribute to the prediction of GPA, except for faith participation among Black students.
Ph. D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Maryland, College Park, 2008.
Thesis research directed by: Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Title from t.p. of PDF. Includes bibliographical references. Published by UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Mich. Also available in paper.

The most widely used and accepted composition for the Martian mantle in experimental petrology is the Dreibus and Wänke (1985) proposed composition based on only eight SNC meteorites. This composition is enriched in iron with respect to the Earth, which follows what we see from samples of Mars. The magnesium number (Mg#=Mg/Mg+Fe) of the Dreibus and Wänke (1985) composition is Mg#75, which is iron rich compared to Earth’s Mg# of around 90. However, when experimentally melted as a source for generating Martian basalts, the melt concentrates iron further, higher than the Mars basalt compositions, and requires melting a large percentage of the mantle to reach a composition that is comparable to known Martian basalts. Partial melting experiments of an Mg# 80 mantle composition produced shergottite-like melts with a lower percentage of partial melting than with the Mg#75 compositions. This would be more likely since the Martian mantle would have cooled considerably by the time it would have produced the shergottites, which was only approximately 180 million years ago. The reprised composition is Mg#80 and less iron rich than the DW composition, but more iron-rich than Earth.

This thesis studies the shock deformation of zircon in porous rocks. The significance of the findings are that during shock deformation porosity causes variations in shock pressure and temperature at a microstructural scale, forming shock metamorphic features at lower than expected pressures. This has implications for the study of shocked zircon in the field of impact cratering processes where zircon is hosted in porous sandstones.

Course grades, which often include non-achievement factors such as effort and behavior and are subject to individual teacher grading philosophies, suffer from issues of unreliability. Yet, course grades continue to be utilized as a primary tool for reporting academic achievement to students and parents and are used by most colleges and universities as an admissions measure. High-stakes assessment results are also used by schools to convey student achievement, and several states now require students to pass an exam to receive a diploma. What is less clear, however, is the relation between these two measures, GPA and high-stakes assessment results. One purpose of this study was to examine the predictive relation of mathematics GPA to student performance on high-stakes assessments. Multiple regression models were used to analyze the predictive relation between mathematics GPA and performance on the ACT and the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS), two high-stakes assessments. In addition, the regression analyses were used to examine the influence of other student-level variables such as talented and gifted status and math courses taken prior to testing on the relation between mathematics GPA and performance on the two high-stakes assessments. In all, 299 high school students from a single grade-level enrolled in one Oregon suburban school district participated in the study. Results indicate that GPA is a significant variable in a high-stakes assessment outcome. Additionally, results of the multiple regression reveal significant student-level effects on assessment outcomes that reduce explained common variance in both the ACT and OAKS models. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed.

La mise au point d'un systeme d'analyse thermique sous hautes pressions hydrostatiques a permis de determiner l'evolution des temperatures de fusion des chalcogenures mercuriques hgx (x=s, se, te) et des alliages hg#0#,#9#9fe#0#,#0#1te, hg#0#,#8#3fe#0#,#1#3te dans la gamme de pressions 0-2 gpa. La ligne d'equilibre solide/solide correspondant a la transition polymorphique de type blende/cinabre a pu etre mise en evidence pour le sulfure mercurique. La connaissance des courbes de fusion a rendu possible l'elaboration de ces materiaux sous haute pression: la methode de croissance utilisee est de type gradient-freeze. Leur caracterisation physique a ete effectuee a l'aide des techniques de diffraction des rayons x et de microscopie a balayage electronique, leurs caracteristiques electriques ont ete determinees par des mesures de transport

This study explored whether the effects of student-faculty interaction on various outcomes - degree aspiration, college GPA, satisfaction with faculty contact, and satisfaction with the college experience - vary by student gender, ethnicity, social class, and first-generation status. The study used data on 95,537 students attending nine colleges who took the 2011 administration of the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) survey. The findings revealed differences in the frequency of student-faculty interaction by social class and ethnicity, differences in the level of satisfaction with advising and access to faculty by social class, and positive relations between degree aspiration and specific interaction behaviors. The findings provide implications for educators, administrators, and others charged with maximizing the benefits of student-faculty interactions for all students to positively affect college persistence and retention.

Student retention rates and graduation rates currently play a major role in measuring the success of institutions of higher education. To contribute to the likelihood of this success many institutions offer programs designed to increase the academic performance of their students especially those classified as incoming freshmen. Others are more focused and target those who are from underrepresented populations. Nonetheless not many programs have been designed to aid those students in the subsequent years that follow freshman year. The purpose of this research project was to determine if there are significant differences in the success of those students who participate in a multi-year program as opposed to those who participate in a program specifically designed for incoming freshmen. Additionally these 2 groups were compared with students who did not participate in either program. The participants in this study were classified within 3 groups: Quest for Success, Student Support Services, and nonprogram participants. Archival data were used to examine grade point averages, retention rates, and graduation rates. A random sample of 125 students from each of the 3 groups (375 total) was examined for the purposes of comparing mean grade point averages. For the purposes of comparing retention rates and graduation rates, however, the population was examined due to the manner in which data were provided. Additionally the use of the population provided more precise retention rates and graduation rates in this study. Findings of the study are congruent with the literature in terms of the role that outreach programs play in the success of underrepresented students. These results revealed that students in the multi-year program, Student Support Services, had significantly higher grade point averages, retention rates, and graduation rates when compared to Quest for Success (a 1-year incoming freshman program). Student Support Services also had significantly higher grade point averages and retention rates than nonprogram participants from underrepresented student populations. Furthermore there were no significant differences found in comparisons between Quest for Success and nonprogram participants.

L'objectif de ce travail de these consistait a etudier le comportement dynamique de l'etain, materiau possedant plusieurs phases solides et un bas point de fusion, dans la gamme de 0 a 100 gpa par des impacts de plaques avec mesure de vitesse d'interface par interferometrie visar. Dans ce cadre, nous nous sommes interesses plus particulierement aux changements de structure cristalline, appeles egalement transformation polymorphique, ainsi qu'au changement de phase solide-liquide qui surviennent dans l'etain pour certaines conditions de temperature et de pression. Les resultats experimentaux obtenus ont permis de mettre en evidence les effets de la transformation polymorphique directe et inverse de la phase a la phase bct de l'etain ainsi que le passage en fusion en detente de l'etain. Une methode analytique d'exploitation de ces resultats experimentaux a ete developpee afin de determiner le diagramme de phase de l'etain, en particulier de localiser la courbe de fusion a haute pression et la frontiere entre les phases solides et bct de l'etain. L'application de cette methode a montre l'existence d'un phenomene d'hysteresis lors de la transformation polymorphique -bct directe et inverse et a revele le caractere gradue de cette transformation. Elle a egalement permis de raisonnablement envisager l'existence d'un hysteresis lors du passage en fusion en detente de l'etain. Dans le cadre de ce travail, un modele d'equation d'etat tri-phasique de l'etain a ete elabore pour permettre de reproduire a la fois la transformation polymorphique de la phase a la phase bct ainsi que la fusion de l'etain. Ce modele repose sur la definition d'une loi de melange coherente thermodynamiquement entre les trois phases de l'etain (, bct, liquide). Integre dans un code unidimensionnel lagrangien aux differences finies, il permet de reproduire de facon satisfaisante les resultats experimentaux obtenus.

Research for the past decade has examined academic performance gaps among students from the perspective of sex, race and ethnicity groups, and low socio-economic status. Across those studies school attendance has been identified as a primary correlate with academic success. I used a descriptive non-experimental design to investigate the relationship of student academic outcomes (i.e., GPA, credits earned toward graduation) among student groups (i.e., sex, race, and special education status) on attendance type of unexcused or excused absences. This study included two cohorts of 9th grade high school students (n = 2,262) from the Eugene 4J School District during the 2013 to 2016 school year. I calculated Chi-square tests, Independent t-tests, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient to examine the relationship of attendance with student academic outcomes for GPA and credits earned toward graduation and to further compare attendance type (i.e., unexcused or excused absences) among student groups. Findings indicated statistically significant differences for unexcused and excused absences and for GPA and credits earned by specific demographic subgroups – males v. females, white v. minority, special education v. not special education. There were also statistically significant correlations for GPA and credits earned based on unexcused and excused absences among demographic subgroups. In addition, there were statistically significant differences by academic and attendance variables for students who remained in comparison to students who left Eugene 4J.

This study was an investigation of academic outcomes for student athletes who did or did not participate in an athlete-specific freshman Summer Bridge program in a private Division I university in the western United States. Analysis of data across five years yielded results regarding fall, winter, and cumulative GPA; and progress toward degree for special admit and general admit student athletes. Data indicate significant differences between groups in terms of GPA and progress toward degree for the first year. However, there were no significant main interaction between time and group as measured by differential slopes over time according to group membership in terms of semester GPA. The discussion includes application for practice and further research.