Texas A&M University-Kingsville: AKM Digital Repository
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Preparation of the public school budget in Texas
No full textOne of the first major problems that confronts every beginning superintendent in the state is, “The Preparation of The Public-School Budget.” Few superintendents have had particular training in college for budget making, as few college courses are offered in the field. In many instances those offered are so general in scope that they are of little practical value to the beginner who must meet the problem. Frequently he starts in a small school district. Usually no trained financial accountant is available, and few pertinent permanent records are kept. It is here that the beginner needs some text, or bulletin of information on budget making. It is with this need in mind that the writer has prepared the following pages. Where available data could be secured it has been presented. Where data was not available the writer has relied upon his experiences as an administrator
Modeling and simulation of a control system for an octocopter
No full textAdvancement in micro-controllers, sensors, and embedded technologies has resulted in a huge number of developments in multi-rotor ariel vehicles enabling them to perform a wide range of tasks. Multi rotor ariel vehicles with eight rotors, also known as, octocopters, have gained huge popularity in commercial and research applications.
Octocopters are inherently unstable dynamic systems since they have six-degrees of freedom and eight rotor inputs. The purpose of this thesis is to carry out an applied research to study the dynamics of an octocopter, model the non-linear dynamics of the system, and to design a control scheme to achieve stability of the ariel vehicle during operation.
In this thesis, a non-linear mathematical model is formulated to study the dynamics of the octocopter. The control scheme will be modeled and simulated using MATLAB and SIMULINK. The goal of this research is to develop a suitable control scheme for an octocopter which will improve its stability and reduce the feedback error
Interaction between peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in an agriculture intercropping system
No full textPeanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an agricultural leguminous crop consumed worldwide but can be used in crop rotation because of its natural nitrogen-fixing ability. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is also a widely grown crop and ranks high in world production and consumption. The selected two species were intercropped in a greenhouse condition to study the effects and benefits of legume-Solanaceae interaction in the growth and development of two species. Comparable growth, development and yield of unfertilized peanut-tomato interaction in intercropping agriculture relative to these growth parameters, obtained from individual cropping of the species in regular cropping practices would reduce fertilizer use in agriculture as well as the environmental consequences associated with fertilizers in the soil. Measurements of peanut chlorophyll content, seedling height, shell, kernel, seed, root, and shoot dry biomass were collected. Also, measurements of tomato root, and shoot dry biomass were collected. The collected data was statistically analyzed using SAS software version 9.4. Analysis which is done for the tomato treatments in all the replications did not have significant difference suggesting that no external fertilizer was needed. And for the peanut statistical analysis there is a significant difference for shoot and seed dry biomass (p= 0.0018 and p= 0.005) respectively, this is because the plants can interact both negatively and positively with each other, and there will be competition for limited resources between plants
Innovations in electricity markets: applications of probability theory, information theory, and game theory to wholesale markets and prosumer markets
No full textThe field of energy systems is currently undergoing rapid changes with increasing penetration of renewable energy resources (RES) and retiring power plants. These changes have given rise to concerns over inadequate generation resources, grid reliability, and efficient competitive markets. This thesis investigates resource adequacy issues of wholesale electricity markets, and market gaming and pricing problems of distribution-level electricity markets. The wholesale electricity market of Texas, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) implements an operational reserve demand curve (ORDC), a price adder, to solve resource adequacy problems. However, there was a lack of suitable literature on the long-term evaluation of the ORDC and its validation. Taking this up as our first problem, we proposed a dynamic simulation model. Using the proposed model, our results revealed that ORDC was efficient in stabilizing reserve margins above 11% during the 50-year simulation period. However, using the proposed model, we found that the original assumption of the shape of Loss of Load Probability (LOLP), a variable used in the construction of ORDC, is invalid. Progressing to the second problem in our thesis, we investigated the unique set of issues presented by prosumers (consumers who also produce renewable energy) at distribution level electricity markets. Some of the issues posed by prosumers are behavioral problems such as inattention to market prices and joint profit-maximizing (collusion). To address this, the thesis proposed a model to address inattention to market prices, and a tool, for the distribution system operator to screen the colluding prosumers. The model is designed for effective pricing of RES under the constraint of inattentive prosumer using information theory models, while the tool is based on game theory models and the SA-Q learning algorithm. Using the proposed model, we found that social welfare was maximum with net metering when constrained by inattentive prosumer, compared to feed-in tariff and net purchases and sales. The proposed tool was effective in speeding up the prosecution process due to collusion. In essence, our models and tools were found to be an effective solution to the problems caused by high levels of renewable energy integration to the grid. The thesis also lays a foundation block for further research in the future, as more renewable energy sources are added, and a whole new set of problems arise
A study of intervention math labs and STAAR math growth scores in a south Texas rural middle school
No full textThe Texas Education Agency (TEA) has implemented a student accountability system that measures students’ performance on State of Texas Assessment for Academic Readiness (STAAR) in several content areas. How students perform determines the accountability ratings that will be assigned to every school district in Texas. Therefore, teachers and administrators all over the state are always seeking ways to ensure that students are academically well prepared. Unfortunately, not all students will be prepared, especially in mathematics. Every school year a number of middle school students struggle with mathematics. Teachers then try to provide the assistance needed to help those students close the gaps in their learning through the Response to Intervention (RTI) system. Sometimes, additional measures are taken to provide that assistance, such as incorporating intervention math labs into a school day and offering that class to struggling students. A student will either do better on the state mandated test or regress in their growth performance, as a result of taking a math intervention lab. The goal for a school district is always for a student to do better. It is about finding ways to reach struggling students to help them grow. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the difference of taking a math lab over a period of three years, and whether or not it aided in improving students STAAR math growth performance scores from grades sixth through eighth. The sample for the study included 30 students who were enrolled consecutively for three school calendar years from 2016-2019. The selected students’ STAAR math growth performance data was examined closely from year to year. The data included students who took a math intervention lab and students who did not take a math intervention lab. The data of both groups were compared, as well. After the study was concluded, it was found that there was a statistically significance difference between students STAAR math performance growth data from sixth through eighth grade. Students in both groups showed gains in their assessments, but students who were enrolled in a math intervention lab demonstrated more growth, therefore, indicating that those students benefitted from taking a math intervention lab. The findings of this study will inform other administrators, educators, and future researchers about the STAAR math performance when students are given an additional math class in order to receive targeted interventions. It will, in turn, help them decide on whether or not intervention math labs should be implemented into the school daily schedule.
Keywords: STAAR, mathematics, RTI, math lab, growth performance, intervention, achievement ga
Perceptions of first-generation college sophomores of dual enrollment
No full textAcross the U.S the number of secondary school students taking college courses, is increasing. Texas law mandates that high schools offer a minimum of 12 college credit hours that can be earned before a student completes high school. With this mandate, educational attainment in Texas should be high. However, in Texas, the average rate of persons who graduate by the age of 24 is lower than the national average. This qualitative study explored the perceptions of firstgeneration college sophomores regarding dual credit courses. Framed by the three dimensions of Mezirow’s transformative learning theory, the researcher interviewed 9 first-generation college sophomores who completed dual enrollment courses during high school. Research questions asked how participants perceived psychological changes in their understanding of self, convictional revisions about their belief systems, and behavioral changes in their lifestyle. Participants’ responses were coded using inductive thematic analysis. Overall, three themes capture the findings of the study. Participants felt a change in themselves of being more aware of how they now process information, stated the greatest change in their own belief systems was their capability to learn, and now feel positive changes in their lifestyle to achieve educational goals. Findings can inform students, parents, faculty, and administrators about the impacts of dual enrollment from the perceptions of first-generation college sophomores
Use of recycled materials to enhance the removal of nutrients from recycled materials to enhance the removal of nutrients from synthetic wastewater effluent under anammox conditions
No full textThe use of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) (lower oxygen requirement) to treat wastewater with high strength ammonia content, play a key role as a sustainable approach over conventional nitrification-denitrification treatment processes. Despite the efficient removal of ammonia and nitrite, the anammox based process is reported to increase nitrate and phosphate loads in the treated effluent. Recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and rice husks (RH) have shown their potential in removing these nutrients from storm-water runoff. This research work used RCA and RH as filter media to reduce the total nutrient loading from an anammox wastewater effluent. Anammox wastewater effluent were passed through two single-stage columns containing RCA and RH, and one two-stage column (50% RCA, 50% RH). The nutrient concentrations were measured using ion chromatography and hach spectrophotometer. The average mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) of the reactor was 7.81 g/L and measured by standard method. RH showed apparent maximum nitrite and nitrate adsorption capacities of 0.063 mg/g and 0.023 mg/g, respectively. RCA showed maximum phosphate adsorption capacity, 0.0739 mg/g. This research presents the applicability of recycled materials as filtering media to treat relatively high concentration of nutrients
Mitigating cascading threat from natural hazards using input-output data
No full textThere are sectors that are classified as critical infrastructures due to their importance in the daily operations of our modern society. The interdependency between these sectors leads to a cascading threat in the event where one or more sectors is struck by a natural hazard. In this research, a network-based optimization model is proposed to minimize total loss due to hazard damage and mitigation cost. The interdependency between these sectors is calculated using data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The aggregate threat on the sectors would be calculated using a predetermined hazard scale and the interdependency that exists between them. We developed both deterministic and stochastic models which assumes natural hazards to directly strike certain sectors, these sectors are referred to as source sectors. We studied the optimal mitigation effort while minimizing the total loss from damage and mitigation cost. The stochastic model considers the uncertainty of natural hazards in which each sector can be struck by a natural hazard following a binary probability distribution. The objective function of the stochastic model was solved by minimizing the expected value of damage, variance of damage, and the mitigation cost. We analyzed the sensitivity of hazard scale, unit cost, budget, and uncertainty of hazards on the allocation of mitigation effort
Comparative habitat use of Montezuma Quail in the Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos ecoregions of Texas
No full textMontezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) are a secretive and understudied bird species inhabiting the southwestern United States (Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico), and populations have been declining for the past century. Two populations of Montezuma quail are found in Texas, and they occupy the Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos Mountains and Basins ecoregions. A common vegetation characteristic found in both ecoregions is juniper, with Ashe (Juniperus ashei) and alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana) being the dominant juniper species in the Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos, respectively. Ashe juniper has increased over the past several decades and created dense stands of woody cover leading to a decline in usable space for Montezuma quail, while alligator juniper occurs throughout the western portion of the Montezuma quail’s geographic distribution. Comparisons of Montezuma quail use of juniper species between these 2 ecoregions have not been conducted. I compared Montezuma quail habitat use at the micro-scale (16-m radius) for both ecoregions and at the macro-scale (350-m radius) for the Edwards Plateau. During 2018–2020, I collected vegetation data at used locations of quail in the Edwards Plateau (n = 24) and the Trans-Pecos (n = 13), as well as at random locations (n = 41 and n = 29, respectively). Resource selection analyses indicated avoidance of areas with ≥ 20‒30% Ashe juniper cover at both scales in the Edwards Plateau and a selection/indifference to alligator juniper cover (≥ 8% to ≤ 50%) in the Trans-Pecos at the micro-scale. Land managers in should reduce dense stands of Ashe juniper to create usable space for Montezuma quail in the Edwards Plateau but no management may be necessary in the Trans-Pecos
A proposed plan for reorganization of public schools, Calhoun county, Texas
No full textSince Texas is largely an agricultural state, there have existed, for a number of years, many small rural schools whose purpose has been to give educational opportunities to the children of the parents occupied in farming, dairying, and raising of livestock. Due to the sparsity of the rural population, the poor roads, and limited financial resources, these hundreds of small one-teacher and two-teacher schools have been handicapped in fulfilling their purpose. Many teachers in these rural are inefficient and over worked. In addition, crowded classrooms, a limited curriculum, and, oftentimes, seasonal drops in attendance are undesirable factors that mark the small rural schools of Texas