1941 research outputs found
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Characterization Of Multi-Drug Resistant Enterobacter SPP. In Camp Creek, IA
No full textPramod Mahajan (Mentor)Antibiotics are vital in fighting bacterial infections and are necessary in effectively raising livestock
in close quarters and high numbers. They are widely used and relatively little restrictions are placed on their use. Misdiagnosis and overuse has led to bacteria evolving resistance mechanisms to avoid the effects of the antibiotics. These bacteria propagate easily and transfer their resistance genes to other, antibiotic sensitive bacterial strains in certain aquatic systems. Such inter- and intraspecies transfer of antibiotic resistance is a major environmental and health risk. Therefore, we investigated the Camp Creek in Iowa to determine (i) the extent of antibiotic resistance in Enterobacter spp. and (ii) beef cattle ranching as a potential source contributing to the antibiotic resistant bacteria at this site. Greater bacterial loads were identified in samples from upstream of the cattle ranch suggesting they are not contributing bacteria or selective pressures for antibiotic resistance to the creek. We tested Enterobacter spp. for resistance against tetracycline, penicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, and streptomycin and found resistance to all except the last two drugs. All isolates tested also exhibited multidrug resistance. Further research is needed to determine specific mechanisms of the multidrug resistant phenotype. Samples stored in liquid broth in the absence of any antibiotic lost resistance to tetracycline after 12 weeks, suggesting an extrachromosomal location for this trait. We conclude that reducing effluent levels of antibiotics would be necessary and sufficient
to control such plasmid borne tetracycline resistance in Enterobacter spp.Drake University, Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedical & Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Health Science
Examining School Board Members' Expectations For District Superintendents Using The Iowa Standards For School Leaders
Full text link127 pagesThe relationship between a superintendent and the school board is a key element in
determining the tenure of the superintendent (Barth, 2003; Hoyle, English, & Steffy, 1998; Glass
& Franceschini, 2007; Hess, 2002; Mountford, 2008), and superintendent tenure often
determines the ability of school districts to make necessary improvements (Caplan, 2010; Myers,
2011; Waters & Marzano, 2006). Tenure is often determined by the expectations that school
boards have for their superintendents, with new hires often surprised by those after they are
given the job.
The purpose of this study was to determine if the expectations of board members could
be predicted based upon certain characteristics of age, sex, level of education, years of service on
the board, and district enrollment. Hierarchical regression analysis indicates that female school
board members place greater importance on the standard shared vision than male board
members. Additionally, age was a positive predictor for the importance placed upon the standard
family and community, while years of service on the board was a negative predictor for the
importance placed on family and community. Qualitative responses indicate that school board
members strongly favor superintendents with high integrity, ranking the standard on ethics as the
most important standard. Recommendations for practice are provided for superintendents, school
board members, professional organizations, and preparatory programs
Generating Interest In Computer Science Through Middle-School Android Summer Camps
Full text linkWe conducted a week-long summer camp to promote interest in computer science
among middle-school students. The camp primarily used self-paced video tutorials to
teach programming concepts using the App Inventor for Android programming
environment. Based on strong interest from students and parents as well as positive
survey feedback, we conclude that the camp was very successful. We have made the
camp resources, including 36 video tutorials, freely available at
http://artsci.drake.edu/mathcs/appcamp, and they may be used in future camps at any
institution
A Study Of Connective Leadership In Five Midwestern School Districts
Full text link92 leavesExtending the work of Lipman-Blumen (1996) in the field of leadership, this study focused on the operationalization of connective leadership in school superintendents. The question pursued in this study concentrated on how school superintendents operationalize the achieving styles of Lipman-Blumen’s (1996) connective leadership model.
This qualitative, phenomenological research centered on educational leadership in a Midwestern state. The central research question, “How are the three main achieving styles of Connective Leadership (direct, instrumental, and relational) operationalized in school superintendents?” guided my study. Data were collected from five semi-structured interviews of school superintendents in a Midwestern state. These school leaders were specifically selected through an identification process with School Administrators of Iowa. Data analysis was conducted through the process of using predetermined themes, searching for additional themes through coding; triangulation; member checking and data interpretation.
This study found that connective leadership and the operationalization of the achieving styles exists in these five participants. The participants utilized each achieving style as they maneuvered through their leadership responsibilities on a daily basis. Participants accessed the achieving styles differently and some felt more comfortable in specific achieving styles than others. The participants felt that the direct achieving styles were the most difficult to access but did acknowledge their relevancy in their work as educational leaders. From local issues with teachers or community members to working with local and state leaders, the achieving styles were important for each district leader.
It is the conclusion of this study that in order to achieve all of the different areas of educational leadership, adopting a leadership model and being reflective in one’s leadership is essential. Quality leadership in the field of education requires a multi-leveled leadership approach that involves all stakeholders from multiple leadership styles
Effect Of Pharmacological Manipulation Of Nucleus Subpretectalis On Figure-Ground Discrimination In Pigeons
No full textOlga F. Lazareva (Mentor)Our earlier research has shown that nucleus rotundus (Rt), a thalamic nucleus processing visual information in pigeons, together with its inhibitory complex, nucleus subpretectalis/interstitio-pretectosubpretectalis (SP/IPS), had significantly higher activity than control after figure-ground discrimination (Acerbo et al., 2012). In a follow-up study, we also found that bilateral lesion of SP selectively 28 impairs figure-ground discrimination. Here, we conducted bilateral microinjections of GABAergic receptor antagonist (bicuculline), GABAergic receptor agonist (muscimol), and glutamatergic receptor antagonists (CNQX) to further clarify a role of SP in figure-ground discrimination. Preliminary results showed that both bicuculline and muscimol had a detrimental, dose-dependent effect on accuracy on background trials while leaving figure trials relatively intact. It is therefore possible that inhibitory projections from SP might be suppressing activity of neurons in nucleus rotundus responding to features belonging to background regions. In contrast, the injections of CNQX mostly affected figure trials, suggesting that the excitatory input from the optic tectum may be critical for accurate performance on figure trials but not on background trials.Drake University, Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Science
Examining The Effects Of Student And Teacher Absence On Elementary Student Reading Proficiency
Full text link148 pagesPrior research indicates a relationship between chronic student absenteeism and chronic teacher
absenteeism with regard to student achievement. However, those two potential predictors are
rarely explored in the same study. In addition, building or district absence rates are often utilized
instead of examining individual absences which can lead to an underestimation of the results.
Using attachment theory to guide the conceptual framework and formulation of research
questions, possible predictors of K-3 elementary student reading achievement were explored.
The factors in this study included gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, student absence (both
annual and cumulative), and teacher absence (both annual and cumulative). One-Way ANOVA
results indicated that differing levels of teacher absence had no effect on spring reading scores at
any grade level. Sequential regression analyses indicated that socioeconomic status was a
significant predictor of reading scores at all grade levels and that cumulative student absences
were a significant predictor of Iowa Assessment reading scores in third grade. The results of this
study provide information on the connection among variables and suggestions on how to
positively impact student attendance and performance, especially for students living in poverty
2013 National Student Advertising Competition: "Glidden Gets You Going"
No full textBlue, Inc. is composed of the following students: Alex Noonan, Anna Spencer, Megan Stein, Dominic Johnson, Nehwoen Luogon, Shauna Spenser, Hanna Bartholic, Molly Critchon, Carter Oswood, Sanela Mrvoljak, Elyssa Yesnes, Sarah Laughllin, Jessica Leoh, Derek Nipper, Emma Roller, Jackie Ignmand, Mike Frahm, Ying Ying Lee, Darcy Dodge, Emily Gadient, Caitlin Angel, Laura Engel, Morgan Werch, Halli Kubes, Paige Freidhof ; Faculty advisors: Sandy Henry and Dorothy Pisarski.This Journalism and Mass Communication's class shows the presentation from Drake University competing in the National Student Advertising Competition. Students from college and university A.A.F. chapters competed in creating an advertising and marketing campaign for the contest sponsor, Glidden. The students were challenged to create an integrated marketing campaign emphasizing a unique product.Jasper Winery, Des Moines Buccaneers, Drake Diner, Jethro's BBQ, Blank IMAX Dome Theater, Campus Cleaners, Allspice, Des Moines Playhouse, Blank Park Zoo, Holiday Inn Express, Starbucks Coffee Company, HAIKU, Vitae Design Collective, Van Ginkel Athletic Co., Climb Iowa, Drake Garage, Sodexo, P.F. Chang's, The Funny Bone, Fashions by Hall Tree, Iowa Cubs, Drake University Book Store, RCC-part of the Boot Barn Family, Fit to Be Tied, Des Moines Metro Opera, Isabel Bloom
Mitigation Of Primate Crop Raiding In Gishwati Forest Reserve, Rwanda
No full textKeith Summerville (Mentor) ; Michael Renner (Mentor)Conservation efforts are sometimes undermined by human-animal conflicts near protected areas, such as wildlife raiding crops from local farms. Since 2007, crop raiding conflict has been observed between humans and non-human primates, including a small population of chimpanzees, near the Gishwati reserve in the Kivu region of western Rwanda. The purpose of this study is to address the problem crop raiding poses to protected areas and human-utilized space along forest boundaries so that a healthy relationship can be maintained with local farmers. Our hypothesis is that crop raiding will only occur as far out from the forest edge as the animals can see. Primary data was collected every 10m along an approximately 1 km stretch of the boundary of the forest where crop raiding had been observed. A sightline map was created using three coordinated sighting methods with GPS point mapping, integrated through the use of GIS. We have predicted that chimpanzees will not raid crops growing in areas where they cannot see back to the forest boundary. Data collection is ongoing and will be complete at the end of the current growing season in late March, and will be presented.Drake University, Environmental Science & Policy Program, Department of Biology, College of Arts & Science
