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Using McCarthy's "All the Pretty Horses" as Culturally Relevant Literature for Hispanic English Language Learners
Get PDFTeachers of adolescent, Hispanic English Language Learners can use "All the Pretty Horses" to provide culturally relevant literacy instruction. Teachers can implement the instructional activities suggested in the manuscript to provide students with instruction in the five fundamental areas of adolescent literacy: word parts, fluency, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and motivation.While Hispanic English Language Learners comprise 7.7% of the total public-school population, adolescent, Hispanic English Language Learners earn significantly lower reading test scores compared to their White and Asian counterparts. Research indicates that a dearth of culturally representative literature for Hispanic students exists and that teachers often fail to assign high-interest literature for their adolescent students. To address the issue, the present article describes how Cormac McCarthy’s "All the Pretty Horses" could offer both an engaging and culturally relevant narrative for adolescent, Hispanic English Language Learners. In addition to explaining the novel's cultural relevance, the article provides several research-proven, instructional activities related to the novel
Are Social Media Use Related to Self-efficacy for Healthy Eating among Activity Tracker Users?
Get PDFActivity trackers are a growing market and a global phenomenon. In health promotion, activity tracker users became important subjects for healthy behavioral changes. To achieve a healthy lifestyle, both physical activity and a balanced diet should be combined, but there is lack of research in the healthy eating habits of activity tracker users in the literature. Bandura (1971) argues that people learn new behaviors by observing and mirroring others. Scholars suggest social media is an effective tool for behavioral changes due to its function as an extended world of people’s real life. This study employs quantitative research to examine possible correlations between social media use and self-efficacy for healthy eating. Activity tracker users completed a total of 321 surveys, answering questions about social media usage patterns and healthy eating. Research questions seek to examine different variables of social media usage patterns for healthy eating. Chi-squared tests show there is a significant relationship between viewing others’ healthy food photos and eating five portions of fruits and vegetables. Posting personal food photos and seeking nutritional information were not associated with self-efficacy for healthy eating. Among variables, ethnicity and gender emerged as significant in relation to activity tracker users’ social media usage patterns. An independent t-test showed that women were more likely to view others’ healthy food photos compared to men. The discovery of significant variables offers evidence for developing specific strategies for behavioral changes by using social media in health promotion
CATTLE GRAZING AND PROFITABILITY IN A DRYLAND WHEAT SORGHUM-FALLOW ROTATION WITH AN EL NINO - LA NINA DECISION VARIABLE
Get PDFThe gradual decline of the Ogallala Aquifer has partially led to an overall
decrease in the number of irrigated acres within the Texas High Plains. With the decline of sub surface water resources, producers are looking to alternative enterprises such as
dryland production systems. A common dryland production system is the wheat sorghum-fallow (WSF) rotation. This system can also be varied to include livestock grazing. The two primary objectives within this study are (i) evaluate the profitability of the WSF production system when coupled with alternative cattle grazing systems, and (ii) provide an analysis of the profitability of incorporating El Nino - La Nina predictive information as a decision variable with the grazing decision. From 1999-2009, WSF
rotational phases were established in duplicate ungrazed and grazed plots in three replicated paddocks in Bushland, Texas. A target stocking rate of 725 kilograms per hectare was established, which yielded an approximate 0.38 head per hectare. Average monthly cattle prices were generated by compiling and averaging sale data from 2015 to 2017 for the Amarillo, Dalhart, and Tulia Livestock Auctions. Results indicate that when comparing contracting versus owning cattle on the WSF system, the most profitable is to
own the cattle that are grazing, though it was less risky to contract them. The El Nino -La Nina decision variable assumed grazing in El Nino years and no grazing in La Nina years. Overall, yields in sorghum and wheat were not found to be statistically different between the grazing and non-grazing years. A significant difference was not found in the profitability between the grazing and non-grazing years. The difference in profitability between using the decision variable and not using the decision variable was numerically
different, with the estimated profit per hectare being 489.74 per hectare for owned grazing
Virtual Manipulatives in Mathematics Interventions for Students with Mathematics Difficulties
No full textThe data will be collected until June and the findings will be presented in the 2020 Annual Conference (Council for Learning Disabilities) and published in the Learning Disabilities Research & Practice. Expected findings: Researchers will implement virtual manipulatives as a form of virtual manipulative-based explicit instruction and investigate the intervention effects on quantitative reasoning beyond accuracy for multiplying fractions word problems.Using a multiple-probe single-case research design, this study will investigate the effects of virtual manipulative-based explicit instruction on the accuracy and quantitative reasoning of multiplying fractions word problems of middle school students with mathematics difficulties. A total of five middle school students who meet the following inclusion criteria will be invited to participate in this study: (a) be in middle school, (b) provide parental consent and child assent for the study, (c) perform below the 25th percentile (Cirino, Fuchs, Elias, Powell, & Schumacher, 2015) on the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement (WJ-III ACH) Applied Problems (Woodcock, McGrew, & Mather, 2007), (d) perform below the 25th percentile on the easy CBM benchmark assessment (Alonzo, Tindal, Ulmer, & Glasgow, 2006), and (e) demonstrate a deficit relative to the target skill, by earning a score below 30% on a researcher-developed screening test of word problems involving multiplication with fractions
ESSAYS ON THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF PRODUCER RESPONSES TO DECLINING WATER AVAILABILITY FROM THE OGALLALA AQUIFER
No full textWith withdrawals from the Ogallala Aquifer continuing to exceed the recharge rate, water conservation is of great importance in the Texas High Plains. In this area, producers must continuously reexamine their production decisions as groundwater availability diminishes. Two studies were conducted which evaluate the economic effects of producer responses to declining water availability from the Ogallala Aquifer.
Study one provides the dynamically iterative results from a MATLAB-based economic intertemporal allocation model that combines the economic decisions faced by producers, influenced by groundwater availability, and the changes in the available resources which affect future decision-making regarding groundwater use in the Palo Duro and Double Mountain Fork Watersheds. The temporal allocation results reflect how the conditions that producers face will change over the planning horizon under six scenarios including the status quo, a 10 and 25 percent acreage reduction, an increase of energy prices, and an increase and decrease in precipitation.
In both watersheds, an increase in precipitation results in an increase in both producer profit and value added. In Hartley County within the Palo Duro Watershed, a 10 percent acreage reduction results in the lowest decline in the sum of projected producer profit (371 per hectare), a discounted payback period of 4.9, 9.0, and 6.3 years is required for corn, cotton, and sorghum/wheat, respectively. As the cost per hectare to convert an existing center pivot drops to $185 per hectare, the payback period also drops to 2.3, 4.2, and 3.0 years, respectively. Thus, producers growing higher water use crops are able to recover the costs of the conversion to MDI through increased water use efficiency quicker than producers growing medium and lower water use crops
An observation of tenderness, yield, and carcass composition in serially slaughtered steer carcasses implanted with Revalor-XS
No full textTenderness, carcass composition estimates using the 9-10-11th rib sections, and the current USDA yield grading equation were observed and evaluated in serially slaughtered beef steers. These comparisons were made in an effort to better understand evaluations of steers in current marketing processes in the United States. Charolais x Angus steers (n=80) were randomized to implant treatments (REV: Revalor-XS on d-0 and d-190 or CON: no implant) and harvest date in a 2 x 10 factorial design. Four pairs of steers were randomly allocated to one of 10 harvest dates and harvested in 42d intervals (0, 42, 84, 126, 168, 210, 252, 294, 336, and 378 days on feed).
Growth promotants are commonly administered to increase rate of weight gain and improve feed efficiency, but in some instances may increase the incidence of tough beef. One objective of this study was to investigate objective mechanical tenderness of serially harvested steers with and without exogenous growth promotant administration. Samples of the M. longissimus dorsi from the 13th rib section were obtained from the left side of each carcass, aged for 14d, and frozen at -29⁰C. Frozen samples were cut into 2.54-cm-thick steaks for Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and sliced shear force (SSF) measurements, and vacuum packaged. Samples were thawed for 24h at 2⁰C, initial weight was obtained prior to cooking, and steaks were cooked to an internal temperature of 71°C. After a 5 min cooling period, cooked weights were recorded; WBSF samples were cooled 24h at 2⁰C prior to coring and shearing. Slice shear force samples were taken immediately following attainment of cooked weight. All samples were sheared according to AMSA protocol with a texture analyzer and peak shear force data were analyzed via Pearson correlation and mixed models. There were no TRT x DOF interactions (P ≥ 0.51) observed for objective tenderness determined via WBSF or SSF. Peak force values did not differ between REV and CON for WBSF (P = 0.10) or SSF (P = 0.83). Peak force did not differ (P ≥ 0.17) across DOF. Moderate correlation was observed between WBSF and SSF (r = 0.41). Results from this study indicate that growth promotion had little effect on objective tenderness.
Estimates of beef carcass cutability are determined via the USDA yield grade (YG) equation, which has remained unchanged for over 55 years. Previous studies have shown that variables used for predicting YG do not adequately reflect changes in genetics and composition of the current fed beef population. Carcass yields were determined by fabricating carcasses and separating lean, fat, and bone components and weighing to the nearest 0.05 ± 0.005 kg. Linear models were developed to compare predictive red meat yield of steers to the original USDA boneless closely trimmed rib-loin-chuck-round (BCTRLCR) equation and actual BCTRLCR yield. Additionally, ribeye area (REA) to hot carcass weight (HCW) relationship was compared to the standard expected when beef carcasses are graded according to USDA methods. Carcasses less than 317.5 kg in this study had larger REA than required from the USDA REA standard, whereas carcasses greater than 317.5 kg had smaller REA than required. In comparison to HCW, REA trended in a quadratic manner, differing from the original YG equation which is represented in a linear fashion. Yields of BCTRLCR were analyzed without trim fat using a forced intercept of 51.34 from the original USDA YG equation, in order to generate new coefficients for the carcass parameters used to estimate carcass cutability. Additionally, correlations were calculated between four individual parameters (HCW; REA; fat thickness in inches, (FAT); and percentage kidney pelvic and heart fat, (KPH)) previously determined by the USDA equation, and BCTRLCR outcomes. Calculations of BCTRLCR were strongly correlated (r = -0.86, -0.72, -0.64, -0.82 to HCW, REA, FAT, and KPH respectively) to all individual parameters, indicative of a shift from the original USDA BCTRLCR equation. The new equation would reflect the four original parameters with adjusted coefficients; BCTRLCR = 51.34 – 2.71 (FAT) – 0.848 (KPH) – 0.678 (REA) – 0.0043 (HCW). An updated equation would improve the accuracy in estimating beef carcass cutability.
The third objective was to compare separable lean, fat and bone of samples taken from the ninth-tenth-eleventh rib section to those of the carcass, as well as proximate analysis from each component. Carcass yields were determined by fabricating the right side of each carcass and separating lean, fat, and bone components and weighing to the nearest +/- .05 kg. Ninth-tenth-eleventh rib sections were collected from the left side of each carcass, dissected into lean, fat, and bone, and weighed to the nearest +/- .005 g. Regression models were created to determine linear associations between rib sections and carcass parameters. Carcass fat and lean were strongly correlated (r = 0.87 and 0.80 respectively) to 9-10-11 fat and lean, however carcass bone was only moderately correlated (r = 0.59) to 9-10-11 bone. Correlations between whole carcass parameters and rib sections were more closely correlated when weights of each respective method were compared. Proximate analysis of carcass and rib section components produced varying levels of correlation. A REV × DOF interaction was detected for carcass ash, moisture, and bone (P = 0.04; and 0.05; and < 0.01, respectively) and rib section ether extract (P = 0.05). Both carcass components and rib section differed across DOF (P < 0.01) for ether extract, crude protein, moisture, lean, fat, and bone. No treatment effects (P ≥ 0.13) were observed in rib section components, however ash and ether extract differed (P < 0.01) between treatments for carcass components. Results from proximate analysis indicated differences between the 9-10-11th rib and whole carcass parameters
Flipped Classroom Activities' Effect on Student Self-Efficacy for AAC
No full textData Collection Methodology: Mixed: quantitative using instructor questionnaires pre and post-course; qualitative using comments from questionnaires and course evaluations.
Expected Findings: Preliminary analyses indicate: 1) flipped classroom activities have significant impact on student self-efficacy in treatment but not assessment; and 2) easily accessible content such as podcasts for homework activities have greater impact than professional conferences.Self-efficacy is positively correlated with clinical performance. There are few studies investigating if specific pedagogical approaches influence speech-language pathology graduate students' self-efficacy in a particular domain of service provision or strategy use. This study investigated if a flipped classroom's activities increased student reported self-efficacy for augmentative-alternative communication clinical skills across several subdomains using pre- and post-course questionnaires developed by the instructor. Preliminary analysis indicates that students' self-efficacy improved for treatment skills but not in assessment and foundational knowledge. Also, qualitative analysis indicates that pair-explore-share activities using podcasts made a greater impact than a formal professional conference in a particular AAC approach
A Novel Air Purification Technology: Assessment on the Reduction of Aeroallergen, Dander and Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5)
Get PDFThe unit was tested to evaluate the quality of performance resulting in the removal of PM 2.5 in a fiberglass chamber. In this experiment, we used dust containing Particulate Matters (PM) with an average size of 2.75micrometers (ISO 12103-1 Ultrafine Dust Particle, PTI Powder Tech., Minnesota) in order to measure particle concentration. The i-Adapt unit was placed into a fiberglass chamber to exert its effects on the circulating dust. We measured the natural rate of decay and compared that to the i-Adapt unit to assess the proficiency of this newly developed air purification unit. After the fans ran for 24 hours the unit i-Adapt was turned on and reading of PM 2.5 representing the air quality was taken at 24, 72, and 120 hours with a Temtop M2000C air quality meter. The average PM 2.5 count was 51.2 after spreading and saturating the air in the chamber using four fans in the corners of the fiberglass chamber. The count went down to 17 after the first 24 hours on running the i-Adapt air purifier. The PM 2.5 counts were down to 9.3 and 4.3 after 72 and 120 hours of running the unit. The gradual reduction of the PM 2.5 count revealed the high efficiency of the i-Adapt air purifier. In the next part of the experiment, we exposed the petri-plates prepared with Brain Heart Infusion Agar (DIFCO) in a room with a size of 100sq. ft. (NSB 215). The exposure periods were 48hrs. 72hrs. and 120hrs. We found the development of colonies of fungi and bacteria distributed on the petri plates on incubation for 24 hours in the incubator at 37oC. In the next step, we ran the i-Adapt for 48hrs. 72 hrs. and 120 hrs. and placed the petri plates for exposure in the closed room. We restricted the entrance in the room to avoid any external contamination into the room. We found development of no colonies after the stated exposures. AHPCO and Bi-polar ionization technology proved to be very efficient in sanitizing the indoor air, reducing the PM2.5 and the mold concentration. This Ionization nanotechnology could be promising to decrease the incidence of allergic rhinitis, asthma and other more extensive lung conditions in the future. Our evaluation and assessment with aeroallergen like pollen and molds, fibers and dander showed that the i-Adapt air purifier stands in the front of the world’s air purification system involving a hybrid technology to improve the indoor air quality. Further studies should be conducted to establish the applications of the i-Adapt Unit to the various facets of our lives.One of the top environmental concerns of the world today is air pollution. It is affecting our health every day. There is a gradual rise in allergy and asthma cases all over the world. Particulate matter of size 2.5 microns are a major health concern of the present decade since when inhaled they can reach deep into our lungs and tissues via the bloodstreams. PM 2.5 stands for the Particulate Matter 2.5 floating in the air that is the size of 2.5 microns. In this study, we analyzed the aeroallergen and the PM 2.5 in the Texas panhandle and conduct studies with AHPCO nanotechnology to reduce the aeroallergen. There are a high number of fibers coming from the feedlots. Pollen is not the only microscopic aeroallergen that affects humans; there are fibers, Trichrome (plant hair), insect parts and more. All of these PM 2.5 aeroallergens can affect human health. Humans spend most of their time indoors; bio analyzing PM 2.5 and using air purifiers inside can help maintain cleaner air indoors. I used a Leica DM-750 Digital microscope with LAS V4.9 to analyze the PM 2.5 and the aeroallergen that are prevalent in the Texas panhandle. Allergies, asthma and hospitalizations for respiratory diseases are rising worldwide caused by air pollution of aerosols in the form of Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) in correlation with other aeroallergens. The PM 2.5 is largely responsible for air pollution all over the world, which leads to serious health hazards and death because of its size. Studies on improvement of outdoor air quality are extremely important for everyone’s health. There are many reports of poor air quality measuring above the prescribed safe level found in Beijing in China, Delhi in India, Istanbul in Turkey, Hanoi in Vietnam, Southeastern Brazil, Los Angeles and New York in the U.S. In some locations like Beijing, wearing a mask during commutes is common practice because of high pollution concentration of PM 2.5. Advances have been made in the air purification system by using the Advanced Hydrated Photocatalytic Oxidation (AHPCO) and Plasma-technology used in the unit called i-Adapt developed by Air Oasis in Amarillo, Texas. We measured the natural rate of decay and compared that to the i-Adapt unit to assess the proficiency of this newly developed air purification unit. After the fans ran for 24 hours the unit i-Adapt was turned on and reading of PM 2.5 representing the air quality was taken at 24, 72, and 120 hours with a Temtop M2000C air quality meter. Our evaluation and assessment with aeroallergens like pollen and molds, fibers and dander showed that the i-Adapt air purifier stands in the front of the world’s air purification system involving a hybrid technology to improve the indoor air quality. Further studies should be conducted to establish the applications of the i-Adapt Unit to the various facets of our lives
Trauma Type and Suicide Risk: Mediating Role of Mental Contamination and Stress
Get PDFSuicide is a pervasive issue among different ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, and ages. Trauma, mental contamination, and posttraumatic stress may provide new insights related to identifying and treating individuals at high risk of suicide. This study aimed to understand the serial indirect effect of trauma type (i.e., non-interpersonal trauma, interpersonal sexual trauma, and interpersonal physical trauma) on suicide risk as mediated by posttraumatic mental contamination (PMC), posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms, and the factors from the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS). It was hypothesized that sexual and physical trauma would have a significant serial indirect pathway on suicide risk through the respective variables. Moreover, it was hypothesized that non-interpersonal trauma would not be significantly related to suicide risk as mediated by the above-mentioned variables. Data was gathered from a student sample at a master-level regional university. Each participant completed several self-report measures and open-ended questions via Qualtrics. Using a serial indirect effect model with a multicategorical antecedent (i.e., trauma type), several significant relative direct effect pathways were found while none of the mediation outcomes were significant. Specifically, these models suggest physical trauma, perceived burdensomeness, and pain tolerance are directly related to suicide risk. Additionally, sexual trauma was directly related to posttraumatic mental contamination. This project suggests that trauma type is an important factor to consider when conducting trauma research as sexual trauma appears to impact mental health constructs differently than physical and non-interpersonal traumas. It also suggests a novel way of researching trauma by categorizing trauma into specific groups. While no serial indirect effect was found, the direct effect findings could provide clinicians with important information to help guide treatment of trauma survivors
THE CONTENT AND SIGNIFICANCE OF FLETA IN THE CONTEXT OF ROYAL JUSTICE: A TEXTUAL HISTORY OF LATE THIRTEENTH-CENTURY ENGLISH COMMON LAW
No full textMedieval historians and legal scholars who study early English common law generally cite the late-thirteenth century legal treatise known as Fleta as a corollary to Bracton and/or a text that, as M.T. Clanchy has suggested, supplanted Bracton as a compendium of statutes. Historians, however, have not given Fleta extensive consideration since G.O. Sayles and H.G. Richardson’s mid to late-twentieth century translation of this text. This thesis offers a reconsideration of Fleta through the lens of Brian Stock’s textual community to reveal that Fleta shared a common discourse and language with other similar legal treatises as well as appropriated other similar texts to some considerable extent. Furthermore, Fleta came about in the context of Edward I’s significant legislative actions embodied, for instance, in the Westminster I (1275) and Westminster II (1285) statutes therefore making it plausible that the author was responding, in some way, to these reforms. Fleta emerged from a thirteenth-century legal textual community, and this treatise helped lay a foundation for legal thought as well as potentially influenced political philosophies of the enlightenment and, notably, Thomas Hobbes’s theories of kingship