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Title
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Academic achievement of black males in a rural middle school.
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Author
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Bozeman, Tonya Dukes
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Abstract/Description
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Educational statistics have consistently recorded low academic performance for Black male students, particularly those in high-poverty settings. Research studies have documented that very few Black male students can perform at the level of their counterparts from other racial categories. Circumstances such as poverty, deprivation, and lack of mentorship affect Black males' academic achievement and underachievement. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive study was to explore the lived...
Show moreEducational statistics have consistently recorded low academic performance for Black male students, particularly those in high-poverty settings. Research studies have documented that very few Black male students can perform at the level of their counterparts from other racial categories. Circumstances such as poverty, deprivation, and lack of mentorship affect Black males' academic achievement and underachievement. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive study was to explore the lived experiences of select Black male students who have been academically successful at a high-poverty rural middle school in the Southern United States. I used, per Bandura's (1977) social cognitive theory (SCT), the framework of the study, human learning and development occur through personal experiences and examination of the actions of others. I explored how behavioral, personal, and environmental factors interact to affect the selfefficacy of 12 Black male students in the school setting. Findings revealed participants perceived positive family support, positive friend or peer network, positive teacher influence, and positive self-image as supportive factors that contributed to their academic success. This study shifts the focus from Black male deficiencies to emphasizing their achievements and how internal factors such as self-perception, attitude, and self-confidence outweigh external factors such as low socioeconomic factors and lack of mentors that could reduce opportunities for success. Study participants' desires for academic achievement created a transformative bridge between their self-efficacious beliefs and their drive for education. Future research should continue to focus on understanding the contributing factors to young Black males' school success and giving them positive voices.
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Identifier
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1298604350, WFE0000790
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Side channel attacks and device vulnerabilities: methodologies of attack and prevention.
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Author
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Easley, Ronda Rae
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Abstract/Description
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Side channel attacks are methods by which the encrypted data on a device or network can be obtained through observation and manipulation of the unintended outputs of the device such as power or electromagnetic radiation fluctuations, timing variances, or even discrepancies in sound or acoustic levels while the device is processing cryptographic functions. These attacks have become more prevalent as internet-of-things (IoT) devices have become more commonplace. Often the priorities in the...
Show moreSide channel attacks are methods by which the encrypted data on a device or network can be obtained through observation and manipulation of the unintended outputs of the device such as power or electromagnetic radiation fluctuations, timing variances, or even discrepancies in sound or acoustic levels while the device is processing cryptographic functions. These attacks have become more prevalent as internet-of-things (IoT) devices have become more commonplace. Often the priorities in the manufacture of such devices are compact size and low power consumption. Meeting these design parameters leads builders to insert less security measures into both the device hardware and the encryption software. Prior research details both the attack methods and countermeasure strategies that can be deployed during the design phase to offer higher security to the device. The research within this thesis defines and details the known methods of side channel attacks and identifies the intrinsic vulnerabilities of specific device types and encryption methods. This work further offers a tabular representation of the research which can be utilized by builders to identify vulnerabilities and recognize appropriate countermeasures.
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Identifier
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1298604408, WFE0000789
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Evaluating critical initiatives related to climate at a high-poverty middle school.
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Author
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Taylor, Douglas Anthony
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Abstract/Description
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McMillan Public Schools (MPS) is a public school system in the southeastern part of the United States that serves approximately 28,000 students. Gregory Middle School (GMS) is one of 52 schools within MPS that serves 985 students. I used MPS and GMS as pseudonyms to anonymize the school system and school. In July 2019, I was appointed as the principal of GMS, and I quickly implemented critical initiatives related to the climate. School climate is defined as the prevailing atmosphere within...
Show moreMcMillan Public Schools (MPS) is a public school system in the southeastern part of the United States that serves approximately 28,000 students. Gregory Middle School (GMS) is one of 52 schools within MPS that serves 985 students. I used MPS and GMS as pseudonyms to anonymize the school system and school. In July 2019, I was appointed as the principal of GMS, and I quickly implemented critical initiatives related to the climate. School climate is defined as the prevailing atmosphere within the school, which encompasses physical, academic, and social dimensions (McGiboney, 2016). Based on data from the 2018-2019 school term, it was clear that the school's climate required immediate attention. All available data sources were reviewed, including student discipline reports (MPS, 2020a), stakeholder surveys (Cognia, 2019), and the school report card (State Department of Education, 2019). Each area of concern contributed to a negative school climate and created an environment that was not conducive for teaching and learning. The leadership team implemented critical initiatives in the areas of (a) human resources, (b) student discipline, (c) student safety, (d) school operations, and (e) school facilities. This program evaluation identified (a) the strengths, (b) the weaknesses, (c) the opportunities, and (d) the threats (SWOT) of the critical initiatives implemented at GMS related to the school's climate during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school terms. After conducting a literature review, I adopted the learning organization evaluation (LOE) conceptual framework paired with SWOT analysis, which provided a formal structure for conducting my program evaluation. The LOE is composed of four major steps, including (a) focusing the evaluative inquiry, (b) carrying out the inquiry, (c) implementing inquiry activities, and (d) applying learning (Preskill & Torres, 1999). Collaborative learning and evaluative inquiry guide the LOE conceptual framework. The LOE model facilitates success for organizations that wish to study internal processes or procedures. The LOE model is a systematic series of steps that should be followed when conducting a program evaluation (Preskill & Torres, 1999). I paired the LOE with a convergent parallel design (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2018). Next, I invited the current faculty and staff employed during the 2019-2020 school term to participate in the program evaluation. A coinvestigator conducted the qualitative focus group interviews on two separate occasions. The coinvestigator ensured employee anonymity. Twenty-one faculty and staff members participated in the focus group interviews. I utilized deductive content analysis to analyze the focus group interviews. Additionally, I distributed the quantitative research instruments via Qualtrics, and I received 31 responses. The small sample size was a limitation. As a result, inferential statistics were not possible. Because qualitative and quantitative research represent data differently, I developed joint display matrices to merge the information from both data sources. To sufficiently answer the evaluation questions, I created four main categories based on the (a) strengths, (b) weaknesses, (c) opportunities, and (d) threats of the critical initiatives related to the change in the school's climate. Based on each main category, I created categories in alignment with the definition of school climate. Despite the recent improvement in the climate of the school, it remains an area of concern. While I noted improvement in many areas, the results revealed a need for further intervention in some areas. To further school improvement efforts, I developed a continuous improvement plan (CIP) based on the results of the SWOT analysis. The CIP will include critical initiatives for each area in order to facilitate success. I will communicate the results to the faculty and staff of GMS and school system administrators in a series of future round table discussions and professional development sessions.
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Identifier
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1298604390, WFE0000791
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Air traffic control specialists' perceptions of simulation for developing job-related competencies.
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Author
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Harris, Colin Alwin
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Abstract/Description
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Inexperienced and poorly trained Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCSs) contribute to aircraft accidents and other serious aviation mishaps, which negatively impact human safety, the environment, government and personal property, and the efficient and smooth operation of the National Airspace System (NAS). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can help remedy this problem by ensuring that ATCSs receive academic and simulator competency-based training. The purpose of this qualitative...
Show moreInexperienced and poorly trained Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCSs) contribute to aircraft accidents and other serious aviation mishaps, which negatively impact human safety, the environment, government and personal property, and the efficient and smooth operation of the National Airspace System (NAS). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can help remedy this problem by ensuring that ATCSs receive academic and simulator competency-based training. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to understand how ATCSs at an air traffic facility in the southeastern region of the United States (U.S.) described their experiences with the ATCoach simulation training (ATCoach) in developing job-related competencies. I employed Bloom et al.'s (1956) taxonomy of the cognitive domain and its six classifications (knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation) to frame and align the study's research questions and interview questions to determine if five ATCSs perceived simulation as a valuable instructional method. Participants revealed that the ATCoach experiences is a valuable instructional method for enhancing ATC professionals' knowledge and skill levels by preparing them to transfer previous knowledge to practice in dayto-day ATC operations and improve their judgment, critical thinking, and decision-making skills--not their self-confidence. However, the simulator's physical fidelity limitations had an adverse influence on participants' learning experience. The findings, therefore, indicate ATC knowledge does not necessarily occur during the ATCoach but instead during previous classroom learning or experience. Future research should evaluate the entire ATC training program taking a learner from Certified Professional Controllers in Training (CPC-IT) status to Certified Professional Controllers (CPC).
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Identifier
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1298604671, WFE0000793
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Stem field preparedness: comparing the effects of early learning environments.
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Author
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Piper, Kareem David
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Abstract/Description
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Minority underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) perpetuates the income inequality that minorities experience and leads to a lack of diversity in STEM. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to examine the effect of student demographics, STEM, science technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM), and traditional middle school learning environments on student preparedness for the STEM fields as measured by student test scores on the...
Show moreMinority underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) perpetuates the income inequality that minorities experience and leads to a lack of diversity in STEM. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to examine the effect of student demographics, STEM, science technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM), and traditional middle school learning environments on student preparedness for the STEM fields as measured by student test scores on the eighth-grade Florida Standards Assessment in math (EGFSAM), in an urban school district in South Florida. I adopted Bandura's (1977) social cognitive theory (SCT), consisting of reciprocal causation elements that stimulate learning as follows: "action" school designation, "interpersonal factors," student test scores and demographics, and "environment" type of learning environment. A hierarchical multiple linear regression analyzed the data (n = 597). Four major results are female students outperform male students by 5.309 points, t(1) = 2.967, p = .003; STEM middle school students underperform traditional middle school students (TPMS) with -10.481 points, t(1) = - 4.838, p < .00; STEM middle school students demonstrate the highest unique variance on the DV, (-.195)2 = 4%, p = .000; and only STEM middle school students demonstrate a statistically significant underperformance. Overall, Model 2 (i.e., all triadic elements) is a better indicator of 21stcentury preparedness. The results indicate minority students' 21st-century preparedness occurs at traditional public middle schools, which makes minority students' mathematical aptitude regardless of school type critical. Future research should examine the relationships between minority students' math self-efficacy and actual STEM field preparedness.
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Date Issued
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2021
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Identifier
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1298604580, WFE0000792
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Thermal tolerances and preferences of adolescent Louisiana alligators (Alligator mississippiensis).
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Author
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Lawrence, Tyler James
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Abstract/Description
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With global temperatures achieving new extremes each year, it is not immediately clear the effect these temperatures will have on American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). Thermal tolerances have been estimated on American alligators before, but a full thermal niche has never been determined. An eccritic temperature, thermal preference, has been estimated for alligators, but results have varied. I used standardized thermal methodologies to estimate acclimation ranges, upper and lower...
Show moreWith global temperatures achieving new extremes each year, it is not immediately clear the effect these temperatures will have on American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). Thermal tolerances have been estimated on American alligators before, but a full thermal niche has never been determined. An eccritic temperature, thermal preference, has been estimated for alligators, but results have varied. I used standardized thermal methodologies to estimate acclimation ranges, upper and lower acclimation response ratios, thermal niche areas, and the eccritic temperature in adolescent alligators. Alligators had an upper chronic limit of 39.1°C and a lower chronic limit of 16.2°C. Alligators exhibited a larger gained cold tolerance zone in their niche than anticipated at 131.6°C 2 and an intrinsic tolerance and gained heat tolerance zones of 509.7°C 2 and 61.4°C 2 , respectively. Cold acclimation response ratio was roughly twice that of the heat response, with alligators losing or gaining 0.5°C or 0.2°C heat tolerance per every 1°C change in acclimation temperature. Alligators expressed an eccritic temperature of 32°C with little variation between animals. Evidence suggested there is an undescribed physiological process that allows alligators to acclimatize to lower temperatures. Comparing thermal niche and eccritic temperature data to temperature trends in alligator's natural habitat suggested that alligators could be affected by changing temperatures.
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Identifier
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1298604066, WFE0000788
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Freedom for hire: free black apprenticeship in New Orleans.
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Author
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Crain, Maggie Eleanor
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Abstract/Description
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During the early 1700s and into the early 1800s in Louisiana, a unique community of free black people created a fluid political and cultural identity within New Orleans. Surrounded by plantation slavery, free black people living in this important urban port city accumulated a degree of wealth, property, and agency that free and enslaved people of color did not have access to in other areas of the South. Though this community faced many obstacles and limitations due to their precarious place...
Show moreDuring the early 1700s and into the early 1800s in Louisiana, a unique community of free black people created a fluid political and cultural identity within New Orleans. Surrounded by plantation slavery, free black people living in this important urban port city accumulated a degree of wealth, property, and agency that free and enslaved people of color did not have access to in other areas of the South. Though this community faced many obstacles and limitations due to their precarious place within a hostile and rigid racial system, free black people, as individuals and as a community, used the often confusing and fluid nature of their racial identity to bolster their agency and place in New Orleans. One such way free black people accomplished this was through the extensive practice of apprenticeship, a labor practice that allowed young people to learn a skill from an artisan, who in exchange for their training, used the free or low wage labor from their apprentice. Using over four hundred contracts between free children of color, local artisans, and a sponsor, this research explores how apprenticeship was in part a formal educational opportunity for black youth. The role that family members, especially black mothers and white fathers, played in acquiring and sponsoring apprenticeships for their children attests to the importance of education and establishing relationships with local artisans and business owners in New Orleans. Using the data collected from these documents, as well as supporting public records, this research reveals the complex and interconnected ways that the free community navigated their material and cultural environment to survive, and often thrive, in the face of increased racial hostility and threats to free black agency in the decades leading up to the Civil War.
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Identifier
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1294639545, WFE0000775
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Control of hybrid generation microgrids based on consensus algorithm.
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Author
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Albaz, Rakan Khaled Kamal
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Abstract/Description
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Utility grid companies are currently facing many challenges. These challenges include energy management, efficiency, and power quality issues. It is well known that improving power systems' management, control, and quality results in better economic benefits, increased electronic device lifetime, and reduced power interruptions, leading to the satisfaction of utility and consumer. Many research efforts were done in the past decades focusing on power systems control, quality, and management....
Show moreUtility grid companies are currently facing many challenges. These challenges include energy management, efficiency, and power quality issues. It is well known that improving power systems' management, control, and quality results in better economic benefits, increased electronic device lifetime, and reduced power interruptions, leading to the satisfaction of utility and consumer. Many research efforts were done in the past decades focusing on power systems control, quality, and management. The need for more green energy resources has inspired these researchers to find ways to integrate renewable energy resources into the grid. The current grid is facing issues due to a number of reasons such as increased Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) types and number, increased loads' types and number, and the increased distance between the DERs, loads, and the grid. The study of this thesis aims at finding creative energy management and control solutions through observing and understanding the characteristics of the utility grid and implement these solutions in a simulation software called MATLAB/Simulink. Consensus-based control will be implemented in a hybrid generation microgrid which will support the grid and work on restoring voltage and frequency levels with optimum power sharing between the DER.
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Identifier
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1295678222, WFE0000777
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Characterizing reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico using environmental DNA metabarcoding.
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Author
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Giraldo-Meneses, Juliana
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Abstract/Description
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A wide range of environmental pressures and anthropogenic stressors, such as overfishing, climate change, and coastal development, have negatively affected fish communities in the Gulf of Mexico, specifically reef fish inhabiting natural or artificial reefs. Fish communities in the Gulf of Mexico vary both spatially and temporally due to movements in the water column, migrations, and environmental pressures making conventional survey sampling challenging to perform. Conventional methods can...
Show moreA wide range of environmental pressures and anthropogenic stressors, such as overfishing, climate change, and coastal development, have negatively affected fish communities in the Gulf of Mexico, specifically reef fish inhabiting natural or artificial reefs. Fish communities in the Gulf of Mexico vary both spatially and temporally due to movements in the water column, migrations, and environmental pressures making conventional survey sampling challenging to perform. Conventional methods can often be costly, time-consuming and invasive to the target organism. A possible resolution to overcome these challenges to inventory reef fish species lies with environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. Water samples were collected from artificial and natural reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. The 12s rRNA mitochondrial gene was amplified using elasmobranch and MiFish primers. Only elasmobranch primers were able to provide valuable reads. Amplicon libraries generated by PCR were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq. Environmental DNA metabarcoding revealed 4 reef-associated species out of 12 detected species, the Rough scad (Trachurus lathami), Sand diver (Synodus intermedius), Pearly razorfish (Xyrichtys novacula) and the invasive Lionfish (Pterois spp.). Fish species detections across nine sites were grouped by habitat and IUCN status. Surface and benthic fish detections were grouped by temperature and salinity. A generalized linear model and linear regression were used to test for correlation. This project demonstrates the utility of eDNA and metabarcoding as a valuable tool for characterization of reef fish species in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Identifier
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1295644282, WFE0000776
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Characterizing the effects of atypical antipsychotics on the neutrophil model cell line, PLB-985.
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Author
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Robbs, Emily J.
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Abstract/Description
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Atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) are a class of drug used to treat several mental diseases like bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. However, these substances are also known to cause a rare, yet severe and sometimes fatal syndrome known as neutropenia. Neutropenia (and its more acute form, agranulocytosis) is characterized by a significant decrease in an individual's circulating neutrophils--the most abundant white blood cell. Neutrophils are essential for proper...
Show moreAtypical antipsychotics (AAPs) are a class of drug used to treat several mental diseases like bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. However, these substances are also known to cause a rare, yet severe and sometimes fatal syndrome known as neutropenia. Neutropenia (and its more acute form, agranulocytosis) is characterized by a significant decrease in an individual's circulating neutrophils--the most abundant white blood cell. Neutrophils are essential for proper innate immunity, and depletion can result in higher risk of developing life-threatening illnesses. How atypical antipsychotics induce neutropenia is not well-understood, though research is ongoing. In this study, we aim to characterize the effects of four AAPs--clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine and aripiprazole--on PLB-985 cell viability, as assessed by the XTT Cell Viability Assay. We found that only aripiprazole is able to significantly decrease dPLB-985 cell viability after 48-hour treatment. We hypothesized that aripiprazole's negative effect on cell viability is through its unique mechanism of action as a partial dopamine agonist; however, our results suggest that aripiprazole's effects are independent of dopamine receptor agonism.
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Identifier
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1294639220, WFE0000774
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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The relationship between test-taker characteristics and initial teacher certification examination performance.
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Author
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Stevenson, Nathan James
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Abstract/Description
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Basic teacher certification examinations serve as the primary tool for assessing the academic readiness of candidates to enter teacher education programs in many parts of the United States. However, data indicate that teacher examinations disproportionately hinder diverse individuals. Current research has linked Florida's General Knowledge, Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) with the stagnation of qualified teacher education applicants but has failed to investigate the...
Show moreBasic teacher certification examinations serve as the primary tool for assessing the academic readiness of candidates to enter teacher education programs in many parts of the United States. However, data indicate that teacher examinations disproportionately hinder diverse individuals. Current research has linked Florida's General Knowledge, Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) with the stagnation of qualified teacher education applicants but has failed to investigate the examination specifically. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between test-taker characteristics and the number of attempts test-takers required to pass the General Knowledge FTCE at a Southeastern U.S. public university. Astin's (1993) input-environment-outcome (I-E-O) model guided the study by suggesting test-taker characteristics may be related to the test-taker outcome of passing the General Knowledge FTCE. I utilized Spearman's rank-order correlation and Pearson's chisquare test to analyze the relationship between academic and demographic characteristics of the sample (N = 623) and the number of General Knowledge FTCE attempts. The study did not find a statistically significant relationship or difference between grade point average (GPA), firsttime-in-college (FTIC) status, transfer status, or gender and the number of General Knowledge FTCE attempts. A small negative monotonic relationship between age and the number of General Knowledge FTCE attempts and a statistically significant difference between race and the number of test attempts were found. I discuss implications pertaining to the need for further research on the relationship between age and teacher certification examination success, alternative teacher certification assessments, and General Knowledge FTCE score reporting.
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Identifier
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1298717951, WFE0000794
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Teaching students living in poverty: perceptual experiences about training, strategies, and resources.
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Author
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Gibson, Paul Dennard
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Abstract/Description
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Many American children live in poverty in the United States and struggle daily with seven basic resource deprivations that represent the constructs of this study. The constructs are: "health and nutrition, vocabulary, effort and energy, mindset, cognitive capacity, relationships, and stress" (Jensen, 2013a, p. 8). The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was to explore the perceptual experiences of elementary school teachers working with students who live in poverty...
Show moreMany American children live in poverty in the United States and struggle daily with seven basic resource deprivations that represent the constructs of this study. The constructs are: "health and nutrition, vocabulary, effort and energy, mindset, cognitive capacity, relationships, and stress" (Jensen, 2013a, p. 8). The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was to explore the perceptual experiences of elementary school teachers working with students who live in poverty and attend a low-SES elementary school in the Southeastern United States. This study used the framework of Jensen's brain-based learning theory to explore the phenomenon of students living in poverty, which was the impetus for development of Jensen's theory (Jensen, 2013a). The findings support Jensen's theory regarding academic engagement influences relative to the constructs. Using an IPA , the findings reveal that participants felt students living in poverty faced challenges in academics that more affluent students did not encounter but still had the capacity to learn at some level and were academically responsive to strategic, personal attention from the participant teacher. Participants revealed parental feelings of responsibility for the care and nurturing of students, which often grew out of a lack of parental involvement from students' parents or guardians. Participants discussed feelings of responsibility to procure needed resources for students when available and to provide resources personally when unavailable. Finally, participants expressed feelings of love and ministry for students and believed that positive influences in the lives of students living in poverty could change students' lives in a beneficial manner.
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Date Issued
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2021
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Identifier
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1293882251, WFE0000764
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Barriers and benefits of implementing athletic training programs on Native American reservations.
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Author
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Little, Marisha Ruth
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Abstract/Description
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Social determinants of health refer to the environment surrounding an individual and how it affects quality of life and plays a role in the presence of health disparities. A key factor to eliminate disparities is to increase the number of health care professionals who belong to a minority population (Institute of Medicine, 2003). The National Athletic Trainers' Association reported there were only 221 members who were Native American in 2017. There is also no data showing athletic training...
Show moreSocial determinants of health refer to the environment surrounding an individual and how it affects quality of life and plays a role in the presence of health disparities. A key factor to eliminate disparities is to increase the number of health care professionals who belong to a minority population (Institute of Medicine, 2003). The National Athletic Trainers' Association reported there were only 221 members who were Native American in 2017. There is also no data showing athletic training programs established on American Indian reservations. This study investigated the barriers and benefits of implementing athletic training programs on Native American reservations from the perspectives of Native American athletic trainers. Results showed implementing athletic training programs would show improvements to the healthcare system, students' lives, and to the community. Barriers of implementing athletic training programs would result from barriers shared with the athletic training profession, barriers from the healthcare system, socioecological, geographic, and socioeconomic barriers related to the reservation. The participants believe athletic training will impact the reservation in a positive manner through improvements made to the reservation health care system, to individual students, and the community. More data needs to be completed to support healthcare innovations for the Native American population.
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Date Issued
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2021
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Identifier
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1293876442, WFE0000759
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Development of a new unreacted equation of state for LX-17 with a genetic algorithm and a semiparametric model.
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Author
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Ginoza, Reid Rikio
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Abstract/Description
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Modeling the detonation of high explosives requires accurate simulations of shock propagation within the material of interest. The shock behavior is largely captured with the Hugoniot curve of an equation of state model, which describes the thermodynamic behavior of the unreacted material. While there are parametric forms for these models, such as linear and quadratic fits, that can be fit to shock data, in this work, a semiparametric Hugoniot curve was developed with cubic b-splines to allow...
Show moreModeling the detonation of high explosives requires accurate simulations of shock propagation within the material of interest. The shock behavior is largely captured with the Hugoniot curve of an equation of state model, which describes the thermodynamic behavior of the unreacted material. While there are parametric forms for these models, such as linear and quadratic fits, that can be fit to shock data, in this work, a semiparametric Hugoniot curve was developed with cubic b-splines to allow more flexibility in fitting the shock data. In order to optimize the fit, a genetic algorithm that respects convexity constraints performed a global search. In two test cases, the spline Hugoniot model was fit to artificial experimental data and resulted in good agreement with the known truth. Finally, we examined the existing Hugoniot, pop plot, and overdriven data for LX-17, an insensitive TATB-based explosive, and fit a new equation of state to this expanded data set with our semiparametric form. While previously published parameterizations of models did not satisfy all constraints, this new model was fit to all the collected data and respected all the constraints.
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Date Issued
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2021
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Identifier
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1293880214, WFE0000760
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Thermal acclimation dynamics of Atlantic stingrays.
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Author
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Morris, Alexandra Anne
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Abstract/Description
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Acclimation dynamics are an important, but little studied, aspect of fish thermal ecology, that quantify the pattern and speed with which fish readjust to acute changes in water temperature. When exposed to an acute temperature shift, fish implement a sequence of behavioral, physiological and/or molecular changes to ameliorate adverse temperature and restore homeostasis. Homeostatic changes due to temperature change can be tracked by monitoring shifts in critical thermal maximum values....
Show moreAcclimation dynamics are an important, but little studied, aspect of fish thermal ecology, that quantify the pattern and speed with which fish readjust to acute changes in water temperature. When exposed to an acute temperature shift, fish implement a sequence of behavioral, physiological and/or molecular changes to ameliorate adverse temperature and restore homeostasis. Homeostatic changes due to temperature change can be tracked by monitoring shifts in critical thermal maximum values. Acclimation dynamics have been determined for several species of bony fish but are unknown in other fish groups. In this study acclimation dynamics were determined for three groups of Atlantic stingrays (Hypanus sabinus) acutely transferred to higher temperatures. Atlantic stingrays acutely transferred from 15 to 23°C, 23 to 30°C, or 30 to 34°C, accrued heat tolerance relatively quickly, with most of the acclimation process completed between 2 and 3 days. Atlantic stingrays acclimate more quickly to temperature change than teleost fishes. For example, guppies (Pocillia reticulata) require 15 days to fully acclimate. Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) took 15-20 days to reach full acclimation. Sheepshead minnow -- a hyperthermic specialist capable of enduring temperatures of nearly 45° - took 17 days to reach full acclimation (Fangue et al., 2014). Atlantic stingrays are regularly exposed to rapid, unexpected temperature shifts and the ability to acclimate quicklyr allows stingrays to exploit shallow thermally variable habitats.
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Date Issued
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2021
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Identifier
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1293874302, WFE0000758
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Predicting middle-achieving students' achievement in eighth-grade algebra 1.
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Author
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Jacobson, Jennifer Swann
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Abstract/Description
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Eighth-grade students who are placed into Algebra 1 but fail end-of-course exams may experience lowered grade point averages (GPAs) and loss of motivation for math or avoid taking advanced mathematics courses in high school. Middle-achieving students present challenges in terms of mathematics placement. Self-efficacy theory and locus of control theory suggest the noncognitive traits mathematics self-efficacy (MSE) and academic locus of control (ALOC) are associated with mathematics...
Show moreEighth-grade students who are placed into Algebra 1 but fail end-of-course exams may experience lowered grade point averages (GPAs) and loss of motivation for math or avoid taking advanced mathematics courses in high school. Middle-achieving students present challenges in terms of mathematics placement. Self-efficacy theory and locus of control theory suggest the noncognitive traits mathematics self-efficacy (MSE) and academic locus of control (ALOC) are associated with mathematics achievement and could predict achievement in eighth-grade algebra. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine whether MSE, ALOC, and prior-year State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) mathematics score predict achievement in eighth-grade algebra among middle-achieving students in South Texas more accurately than prior-year STAAR mathematics scores alone. The sample included 111 eighth-grade algebra students in a large suburban school district in South Texas, whose scores on the previous year's STAAR mathematics exam fell between the 25th and 75th percentiles. MSE predicted meeting grade-level standards (R 2 = .229), performance category (R 2 = .327), and percent score on the NEISD Algebra 1 Benchmark exam (R 2 = .317). ALOC was not associated with achievement on the NEISD Algebra 1 Benchmark exam. These results suggest that predictions of achievement in eighth-grade algebra for middle-achieving students were improved with the addition of measures of MSE, but not ALOC. Suggestions for future research include developing a mathematics locus of control instrument and broader studies exploring the relationship between MSE and achievement in eighth-grade Algebra 1.
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Date Issued
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2021, 2021
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Identifier
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1293881341, WFE0000763
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Elementary teachers' experiences with social studies professional development in Alabama.
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Author
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Landry, Nicole Andress
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Abstract/Description
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Limited professional training regarding elementary social studies content and pedagogy contributes to the reduction of elementary social studies instruction. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore how the experiences of elementary educators during the 2018 Alabama Bicentennial Summer Institutes held in Mobile, Alabama, have contributed to their professional development in social studies instruction. This study sought to understand how the experience of a social...
Show moreLimited professional training regarding elementary social studies content and pedagogy contributes to the reduction of elementary social studies instruction. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore how the experiences of elementary educators during the 2018 Alabama Bicentennial Summer Institutes held in Mobile, Alabama, have contributed to their professional development in social studies instruction. This study sought to understand how the experience of a social studies professional development for elementary teachers contributed to instructional methods, instructional planning decisions, collaboration, and the use of primary sources. Transformative learning theory (TLT) provided the theoretical perspective for understanding how changes in adult learners may occur in a professional development setting such as the 2018 Alabama Bicentennial Summer Institute. Learning in TLT transpires during critical reflection and rational discourse resulting in changes in the frame of reference (Mezirow, 1996, 1997). Principles of phenomenology guided me to realize interrelated themes. I purposefully selected six participants to represent the experiences of Grades 3-5 teachers from multiple districts and systems. The process included professional development, analysis of lesson plans, purposeful selection of participants, observations, interviews, data triangulation, and intense interaction. Data collection and analysis for emergent themes occurred cyclically during the 2018 Alabama Bicentennial Summer Institute activities, classroom observations, lesson plan analysis, and semi-structured interviews. Emerging themes suggested a transformative influence of the 2018 Alabama Bicentennial Summer Institute experience on the participants' classroom instruction, instructional planning, and use of primary sources.
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Date Issued
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2021
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Identifier
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1293882707, WFE0000765
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Andragogy of workplace essential skills in a community college in south Florida.
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Author
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Smith, Nayrie Lashawn
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Abstract/Description
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Adult learners are returning to school to acquire and enhance workplace essential skills needed to meet changing job market expectations. Adequately preparing adult learners for the workforce necessitates understanding their views and experiences. The problem explored in this study was the lack of research regarding business school stakeholders' perceptions of the andragogy of workplace essential skills in a community college setting. The purpose of this qualitative instrumental case study...
Show moreAdult learners are returning to school to acquire and enhance workplace essential skills needed to meet changing job market expectations. Adequately preparing adult learners for the workforce necessitates understanding their views and experiences. The problem explored in this study was the lack of research regarding business school stakeholders' perceptions of the andragogy of workplace essential skills in a community college setting. The purpose of this qualitative instrumental case study was to explore the perceptions of business school stakeholders of the andragogy of workplace essential skills in a community college in South Florida. Participants were six adult students enrolled in business courses, three professors, and a business department chair. The five key assumptions (self-directedness, valuable past experiences, readiness and willingness to learn, problem-centered and practical interests to learning, and intrinsic motivation) and four principles (adult students' involvement in the learning process, integration of past experiences and new knowledge, relevance and impact of the adult learning experience, and incorporating problem-centered instruction) of Knowles's theory of andragogy guided the formulation of the research question. Although adult learners acquired and enhanced workplace essential skills within a positive learning environment incorporating andragogical strategies, adult learners desired enhanced workplace essential skills, such as technological, written, and oral communication, to adequately prepare for the workforce. Participants described andragogy strategies as an effective model of how they learn, supporting the key principles of Knowles's theory of andragogy. Suggestions for future research include exploring workplace essential skills related to other majors and disciplines and including a larger, diverse sample.
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Date Issued
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2021
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Identifier
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1293883939, WFE0000766
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Beyond the guacamole: a history of how drug organizations became involved in the avocado industry.
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Author
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Rudo, Jessica Lynne
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Abstract/Description
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The avocado has picked up several nicknames, but its most recent is "Green Gold." The avocado has blossomed into a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry, with 77 percent of the world's avocados imported into the United States. From avocado toast to Superbowl guacamole, Americans hunger for the fruit labeled a superfood. After President Bill Clinton signed NAFTA, the border was open to avocados from Mexico. The Mexican state of Michoacán was the only state permitted to ship to the United States...
Show moreThe avocado has picked up several nicknames, but its most recent is "Green Gold." The avocado has blossomed into a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry, with 77 percent of the world's avocados imported into the United States. From avocado toast to Superbowl guacamole, Americans hunger for the fruit labeled a superfood. After President Bill Clinton signed NAFTA, the border was open to avocados from Mexico. The Mexican state of Michoacán was the only state permitted to ship to the United States because they met all the required sanitary conditions. The booming avocado business increased the Michoacán farmer's profit from two and a half pesos per kilo to eighty pesos. Not surprisingly, the increased revenue attracted a growing workforce. It also drew the attention of local drug cartels. But why would a successful drug cartel need to encroach into other markets? The short answer is that cartel involvement in the avocado industry is an unintended consequence of the fight against drugs. The avocado has become a cash crop for both legal and illegal markets.
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Date Issued
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2021
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Identifier
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1293881200, WFE0000762
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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South Springs.
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Author
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Brehm, Faith Danielle
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Abstract/Description
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When South Springs resident Allison Cooper is found dead at the local dam, it sparks a frenzy in the usually quiet small town as residents speculate on what exactly happened to her the last night of her life. A murder? Accident? Suicide. No one seems to know and the police are out of their depth. South Springs follows the lives of those closest to Allison in the months following her death. As they struggle to come to terms with her loss, they find themselves under the increased scrutiny and...
Show moreWhen South Springs resident Allison Cooper is found dead at the local dam, it sparks a frenzy in the usually quiet small town as residents speculate on what exactly happened to her the last night of her life. A murder? Accident? Suicide. No one seems to know and the police are out of their depth. South Springs follows the lives of those closest to Allison in the months following her death. As they struggle to come to terms with her loss, they find themselves under the increased scrutiny and fascination of the rest of the town. Each manages their grief through different facets as they attempt to reestablish their lives without her
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Date Issued
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2021
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Identifier
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1293880388, WFE0000761
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Format
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Document (PDF)
Pages