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Celebrating the Texas Centennial: A National Register Nomination for the Stone Fort Museum
Get PDFIn the 1920s, the idea of commemorating one hundred years of Texas independence sparked an interest in Texas history. Texas boosters held meetings leading up to the 1936 Texas Centennial and planned how to celebrate and bring public awareness to Texas history. In addition to the exposition in Dallas, many towns and cities across the state celebrated the 1936 Texas Centennial with smaller fairs, erected monuments, museums, restored historic buildings, and completed other projects. As a testament to local and state history, the Stone Fort Museum has lacked the national recognition it deserves as a representation of early Nacogdoches history and as a memorial building commemorating the 1936 Texas Centennial. The Stone Fort Museum’s nomination to the National Register of Historic Places documents the building’s history and broader connections to the past while it continues to be a venue for educating Stephen F. Austin State University students, local citizens, and tourists alike
Defining Recomposition Through the Works of Gregson, Richter, and Peck: Creating a Dialogue with Vivaldi and Bach to Compose New Music.
Get PDFRecomposition has been a commonly utilized compositional method for hundreds of years, yet there is no universally accepted definition in the musical community. The existing literature on the subject is limited, so this project will examine various sources to define this term more accurately. This research analyzes successful recompositions for string ensemble, Peter Gregson’s Bach - The Cello Suites Recomposed (2018) and Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons Recomposed (2012), and my two new compositions, Air on the G String Recomposed and Vivaldi Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Minor Recomposed. My compositions incorporate the recompositional methods of Gregson and Richter while maintaining my artistic identity. This project bridges the existing research gap in the field of recomposition and motivates other composers to further explore and produce recompositions
INVESTIGATION OF RESIDUAL MINERAL CONTENT OF BAUXITE STOCKPILES, SALINE MINING DISTRICT, ARKANSAS, U.S.A.
Get PDFThe former mining town of Bauxite is in the Saline County Mining District, in central Arkansas. Bauxite is located approximately 40 km (25 mi) southwest of Little Rock just east of Benton, Arkansas. This area contains extensive deposits of bauxite ore and nepheline syenite previously mined by Aluminum Company of America using open pit and subsurface mining techniques. This study incorporates five bauxite stockpiles (SP1, Clay, SP2, SP3, SP4) with varying amounts of alumina content situated on approximately 10 acres of land within an area of the former mine recognized as Section 20. Over the past several years, there has been renewed economic interest in minerals that can be derived from bauxite and related residues due to the rapid evolution in modern technologies including batteries, alloys, lasers, and much more. There have been investigations on bauxite ore and residue around the world, but the minerals within each setting where bauxite forms may vary depending on parent material, dissolution patterns, and time, potentially yielding elements that may have economic value.
One-hundred twenty-eight (128) rock samples were collected from five stockpiles and analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Laser Ablation – Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Several samples had elements that were determined to be enriched using XRF and/or LA-ICP-MS with respect to background concentrations in the Earth’s upper continental crust and/or a NIST-698 sample (Jamaican bauxite standard), including some which are on the 2022 List of Critical Minerals. Comparing XRF and LA-ICP-MS results, Si, Ca, Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb, and Mo had very strong correlations. A table showing correlations among elements tested in XRF and LA-ICP-MS compared to Fe, Ti, and Al was created to assess for elemental relationships.
In addition to element information, volume analyses of each stockpile were completed using both open source (QGIS) and commercial (ArcGIS Pro) GIS software for processing. A programmed flight with a DJI Mavic Pro 2 drone was used to complete the survey and obtain images to create maps of the study area. For all stockpiles, QGIS and ArcGIS had a statistically significant difference in mean volume calculations. The largest percent difference between each software for the averaged stockpile volumes was 4.2%. Mean volumes were consistently higher in ArcGIS for each stockpile. Maps depicting the spatial distribution of elements (Sr, Zr, Nb, Si, Ca, and Mo) were generated using ArcGIS Pro to assess mobility by evaluating changes in element concentrations of the five stockpiles. Higher values of Sr, Zr, Nb, and Ca were noted in stockpiles with higher alumina (Al2O3) content. The hydrolysates (Zr and Nb) with the exception of Mo, mobilized around the base and slope of SP2, the tallest stockpile among the five in this study.
The chemical characteristics of each stockpile may provide understanding to elemental patterns and metal affinities within bauxite ores. The relationship between bauxite stockpile aluminum concentrations and the presence of elements associated with critical minerals could potentially lead to a future economic supply of important resources
Digital Records Management: The History of Your City
Get PDFAs technology rapidly advances, city governments face the challenge of preserving the past and preparing for the future. This article explores digital records management, outlining the background of historical records and their significance in understanding a city’s history. Crucial digitization steps include gathering the right team, following records retention policies, identifying documents, and efficiently managing data. The challenges of preservation efforts, technical and training concerns, workflow management, and compliance with open records laws are addressed. The City of Kilgore’s digitization process reveals how managing records is key to forming a city’s identity and linking the community to its history. This includes discussing the methods used to digitize the records, the benefits of making them available to the public, and how these digital records help preserve the city’s heritage for future generations
The Impact of Dual Credit on Student Success: A Mixed Methods Study at a Texas University
Get PDFIn 2015, the number of students enrolled in dual credit coursework in United States (U.S.) schools had reached over 1.4 million, a 68% increase over the previous few years (Field, 2021). By this year, 88% of U.S. high schools offered dual credit programs, and 34% of students enrolled in dual credit coursework, indicating a steady growth in dual credit programming (Rhine, 2022). Furthermore, 27% of public high school students in Texas earned credit for dual credit coursework (Villarreal, 2017). Despite significant growth in dual credit coursework offerings, limited knowledge of the effectiveness of these programs in preparing students for post-secondary success remains limited (Struhl & Vargas, 2012). This mixed methods study explored the relationships between various components of dual credit programs and the experiences of first-time undergraduate students. Specifically, the study explored the relationships between the setting and modality of dual credit coursework, student demographic factors, and the number of dual credit transfer hours and first-year undergraduate grade point average (GPA). A qualitative follow-up explored student perceptions regarding the influence of dual credit coursework on their choice of institution and major, as well as their adaptability to the college experience.
The results of a multiple regression indicated that there were no statistically significant relationships between the number of transfer hours, the modality of dual credit coursework, or the setting of dual credit coursework and students’ first-year undergraduate GPAs. Furthermore, these results did not indicate statistically significant differences in the mean GPAs of students based on student demographic factors, including gender, race, and first-generation college student status. A thematic analysis of a virtual focus group interview transcript using inductive coding revealed several themes related to students’ perspectives on the influence of dual credit course enrollment on their college experience. Among these themes were academic preparation, academic support and guidance, burnout, non-academic support and guidance, access, affordability, academic and career choices, and college transition
Simulation Study on Confidence Interval Estimation for Standard Deviation with Non-Normal Distributions
Get PDFThis study explores innovative approaches to constructing confidence intervals for the population standard deviation, σ, in non-normal data scenarios. While the sample standard deviation, s, is widely used, its reliability is compromised when dealing with skewed or heavy-tailed distributions and exhibits sensitivity to outliers. Our research addresses these limitations by investigating alternative estimation methods that offer greater robustness and accuracy
An Analysis of the Logging Sector in East Texas: Current Status and Future Prospects
No full textThe logging sector plays a critical role in the wood supply chain and in forest management. It connects forest resources with mills, who consequently use that wood to manufacture a multitude of products. A better understanding of the state of logging businesses among policymakers is crucial in sustaining this industry. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the economic contribution (2021) and economic contribution trend (2012-2021) of the logging sector in East Texas using Impact Analysis for Planning (IMPLAN). Furthermore, this study determined the current status of this sector using online and mail surveys. IMPLAN results showed that the logging sector contributed 3,860 total jobs, 216 million in total value added, and 62 million in labor income, 165 million in output. Based on the surveys data, 87% of respondents were the owners of logging businesses, with an average age of 54 years and 77% had been in the business for more than 20 years. Logging business owners were not able to operate at their full capacity due to various constraints such as equipment breakdowns, mill quotas, trucking availability. Further, 51% of the harvested volume came from corporate owned forests and 62% used own trucks to transport their harvested volume. The results will be useful to provide an update to the sector’s economic data and a baseline for gathering additional information about logging businesses in East Texas.
Keywords: Timber harvesting, input-output model, location quotient, occupational data, COVID-19, logger survey
WISE BLOOD THROUGH THE LENS OF READER RESPONSE THEORY
Get PDFFlannery O’Connor’s 1952 novel, Wise Blood, is a frequently misunderstood classic. While O’Connor is very rarely associated with reader response theory, its framework offers a way to more fully appreciate O’Connor as an author and Wise Blood as a novel while addressing aspects of critics’ confusion. The objective of this study is to consider a previously under-researched area of O’Connor scholarship while offering greater clarity to Wise Blood. By considering O’Connor’s personal nonfiction writing and the text of her first novel through the lens of reader response scholars such as Wolfgang Iser, this study offers a call towards viewing the works of O’Connor through a greater methodology
Chinese Tallow Long-Term Impact on Stand Dynamics in a Bottomland Hardwood Forest Following Vegetation Management
Get PDFChinese tallow (Triadica sebifera (L.) Small) is an invasive tree known to have negative impacts on bottomland hardwood forests. Chinese tallow is proficient in reproducing and surviving in bottomland hardwood forests because it is more flood and shade tolerant than most native trees. The long-term effectiveness of Chinese tallow control is an important topic to research as only a few long-term studies of Chinese tallow control have been conducted. A 10-year re-measurement of 22 paired plots installed in 2012 on the Pineywoods Mitigation Bank near Diboll, Texas following herbicide treatments examined Chinese tallow and native tree stand structure. Each native and Chinese tallow plot included three sets of nested subplots. The nested subplots include one overstory, one sapling, and four seedling subplots. R (v4.3.3) software was used to run repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), simple linear regressions, and other summary statistics. Chinese tallow density did not differ between years and herbicide treated and non-herbicide treated plots (p = 0.414). Relative density of Chinese tallow had a correlation between years and herbicide treated and non-herbicide treated plots (p = 0.040). Chinese tallow had a significant decrease in herbicide treated plots from 2012-2013 to 2022 (81.46% decrease from 2012). Native stand structure metrics did not differ between years and herbicide treated and non-herbicide treated plots (density p = 0.883, basal area p = 0.843, quadratic mean diameter p = 0.851, relative density p = 0.901). Diversity and evenness differed in all sapling plots from 2022 data to 2012-2013 data (diversity 2022-2012 p = p = p = 0.797, basal area p = 0.335, quadratic mean diameter p = 0.544, stand density index p = 0.272). This suggests that there is no difference in stand metrics between 6 and 10 years. Observational study on top-killed Chinese tallow likely killed from the 2021 freeze that occurred in East Texas showed that only 12.4% of Chinese tallow were top-killed from the freeze. All of the top-killed Chinese tallow were observed having sprouts growing out of the snag. There was no correlation between snag diameter at breast height and maximum sprout height (p = 0.172). I found no support for my hypotheses that Chinese tallow and native tree densities responded to herbicide application. Overall forest structure also did not respond to herbicide, although I found that relative density of only Chinese tallow was affected in Chinese tallow plots treated with herbicide. It was also found that the number of years since the last herbicide treatment did not correlate to the magnitude of changes in Chinese tallow and native tree densities. The observational study on top killed Chinese tallow from the 2021 freeze showed no correlation between maximum seedling sprout height relating to tree diameter at breast height (dbh). With updated 10-year maximum stand density index results we found that stand density index in bottomland hardwoods is substantially greater than upland hardwood stands reported in the central hardwoods region (Schnur 1937). Our results follow the pattern of another long-term Chinese tallow control study (Norman 2020), where change in Chinese tallow density was not correlated with the treatment type. Reduction in diversity metrics followed the same trend from invasive plant studies (Hart and Holmes 2013; Hejda et al. 2009; Zedler and Kercher 2004) that biodiversity will reduce over time when an area is invaded. Future long-term studies are needed to provide important information regarding biodiversity reduction to land managers
Nappy, Loc’d or Straight, it Still Gets Hate: A Collaborative Autoethnography Examining Black Hair in K-12 Education and Beyond
Get PDFThe purpose of this study is to examine the impact that Black hair discrimination has on Black girls in K-12 educational settings. Black hair has long been tied to Black girls and women’s cultural identities. However, Black girls often fall victim to discrimination based on their hair texture and style, which can often impact their relationship with their hair through adulthood. Utilizing collaborative autoethnography, we provide our hair experiences during our K-12 educational experiences and how this has impacted our current relationships with our hair. Additionally, within the findings, we identify three themes common among our experiences: dress codes as political, perceptions and representations of beauty in schools, and active resistance. Finally, we provide recommendations for K-12 institutions to consider when working with Black girls