The LAIR at East Texas A&M
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Analysis of Predator Avoidance Behavior in California Valley Quail
No full textQuail populations have been in decline across the U.S., primarily due to habitat loss and climate. For remedy, landowners and game managers have attempted to restore populations by releasing captive-reared quail. These releases were largely unsuccessful, presumably due to high predation losses. Recently, there has been an increased interest in quail translocations, which tend to have lower mortality rates than captive-reared bird releases. Translocations are expensive, unpredictable, and require many person-hours; releasing captive-reared quail would be more efficient if the practice were successful. We compared predator avoidance behavior between captive-reared and wild-translocated California quail in an aviary using simulated predator attacks (raptorial and mammalian). We recorded predator detection time, anti-predator response time, and anti-predator response type. Anti-predator response type (run, flush, or freeze) frequencies were different, where captive-reared quail ran more frequently than wild- translocated quail when encountering a simulated predator. Predator detection time between captive-reared and wild-translocated quail was not different. However, anti-predator response time was quicker for captive-reared quail than wild-translocated quail when subjected to simulated raptorial and mammalian attacks. The differences in anti-predator response time and response type may be due to the lack of predator interaction experience of captive-reared birds and offers insight into observed differences in post-release mortality between captive-reared and wild-trapped quail
Methods of Neural Network Analysis to Identify Weapons in Augmented Reality
No full textAugmented reality (AR) is a technology being utilized to help give an individual insightwhile doing their job by overlaying information on the real world in real-time. The military is working on using AR to help soldiers on the battlefield to make more informed decisions. The battlefield is a dynamic environment and requires real-time, clear, and effective ways of getting information to the soldier. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) are used in this study to classify images of weapons in videos. The YouTube8M video dataset was explored and another hand-picked image dataset was created based on image content and then used in training three ImageNet pre-trained models, Xception, ResNet50, and MobileNet using transfer learning. The effectiveness of this dataset and models were evaluated for speed and accuracy. We found that ResNet50 was more accurate but slightly slower than MobileNet. The Xception pre-trained base was overfitting even though it performed well on the test data. Further research is discussed
Compromise and Issues of Self-Efficacy in the Lives of Working Rural Women in Texas
No full textWomen in rural areas experience different issues than women in urban areas, which may be the result of living in rural communities. Specifically, women who are part of rural communities are likely to have unique encounters in their vocational development due to the patriarchal structure as well as the geographical isolation of the rural communities in which they live (Stoltz-Loike, 1992). Due to unique factors, such as gender role beliefs, lack of privacy, access difficulties, emphasis on family, self-reliance, and isolation (Slama, 2004) that rural women face in the United States, compromises and self-efficacy issues that are ingrained in these women are not likely to even be questioned. I utilized a transcendental phenomenological approach to gain insight into and a better understanding of the lived experiences of rural women in Texas. Participants’ perceptions of their experiences will aide in identifying themes individually and collectively as a group
A Phenomenological Investigation into Agricultural Education Teacher Preparation Student and Early Career Teaching Experience
No full textTeacher burnout can be attributed to several factors including, teacher pay, career related stress, demoralization, and a lack of effective professional development, training, and mentoring (Garcia & Weiss, 2019). The reality of the teacher shortage means more importance should be placed on teacher preparation and retention (Tippens, Rickets, Morgan, Navarro, & Flanders, 2013). Teacher preparation programs need evidence to support what works when developing effective teachers. This study recognizes the role higher education plays in the recruitment, preparation, and retention of teachers, as such the purpose of this study was to investigate the experience(s) of alumni during their time as undergraduates in the agricultural education teacher certification program at a Texas university and to examine how those pre-service teacher experiences influenced the participants’ early career teacher experience. This study used two broad, open-ended questions to frame the study: What are the lived experiences of alumni of the agricultural education teacher certification program at a northeast Texas university, and how have those experiences influenced transition to and through early career teaching? Phenomenological methodology was employed in data collection and analysis and revealed four themes: Experience With Pedagogy Varied, Confidence with AFNR Content Knowledge, Language Barriers Affect the Early Career Experience, and Complex Understanding of Stakeholder Relationships. Understanding the preparation experience of pre-service teachers and how those experiences influence the early career teaching experience is vital to increasing the retention of agricultural science teachers in Texas. This study illuminated some of the less understood barriers to that retention, such as lack of practical understanding of pedagogy, language barriers, and misunderstanding of how to orchestrate a successful agricultural science program at the secondary level that meets the standards of district, state, and national stakeholders
Effects of Supplementing Stock-Type Horses with Dietary Antioxidants
No full textAntioxidants, such as quercetin, have been observed as naturally occurring healing and anti-inflammatory agents that can aid in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and various other diseases. There have been few studies conducted examining the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of Quercetin. To illustrate this, in our experiment Quarter Horses (n = 8) were used in a completely randomized design with a switchback replication scheme, and were randomly assigned into two treatments, control group (CON) and Quercetin treatment group (QR). Horses were allowed ad libitum pasture and water access and given 10.5 oz of grain twice daily with 12.45 g of mineral premix. Horses designated to QR had 10 mg/kg of body weight added to the diet. Horses consumed the designated diets for two weeks and then switched to the alternate treatment group after a two-week wash period between treatments. On d 0, 7, and 14 of each round, horses underwent pre-exercise and recovery protocol, which included assessment of external Color Doppler ultrasonography of the distal limb artery, heart rate monitor application and collection, and blood collection. The exercise protocol included heart rate collection and a series of various gates in both directions with blood collection between gate transitions and directional changes. Data were analyzed using a mixed model ANOVA in SAS 9.4. Statistical significance was declared at P ≤ 0.05 and tendencies determined at 0.06 ≤ P ≤ 0.10
Landscape Performance of Ebony Crepe Myrtle Cultivars in Low-input Landscapes in North-central Texas
No full textThe Ebony series of crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) cultivars includes several (Ebony Embers, Ebony Fire, Ebony Flame, Ebony Glow, and Ebony and Ivory), marketed today under the Black Diamond® brand. These are relatively new crepe myrtle cultivars unique for their dark foliage, but with little information concerning their performance in north-central Texas, especially in low-input landscapes. The study was conducted from 2014 to 2017 at three locations in north-central Texas with three soil types, an acidic fine sandy loam, a neutral pH silt loam, and an alkaline heavy clay. Although soils and environmental conditions caused variations between sites, overall performance among cultivars was consistent across all study sites, with Centennial Spirit having better landscape performance than any of the Ebony cultivars tested. ‘Ebony and Ivory’ and ‘Ebony Blush’ had the overall lowest landscape performance. Ebony cultivars grew more slowly, had fewer blooms, and were more susceptible to powdery mildew than Centennial Spirit. While the trees may perform better in more intensively managed landscapes, the Ebony cultivars did not perform as well as Centennial Spirit in low-input landscapes in north-central Texas
Methodist Church, Commerce, Texas, Front
No full textFront side of a black and white postcard of the Methodist Church in Commerce, Texas. Three workers are constructing the sidewalks around the church. [caption, bottom border] Methodist Church, Commerce, Texashttps://lair.etamu.edu/scua-crim/1032/thumbnail.jp
Predictors of Preparedness in Gatekeeping Among Doctoral Counselor Education and Supervision Students
No full textThe purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which professional counseling experiences, leadership qualities, value-based decision making, and action-oriented advocacy predict preparedness of doctoral counselor and education students for gatekeeping masters level counselors in training. Exploring doctoral student preparedness for gatekeeping will be explored using a quantitative correlational design; specifically using a multiple regression. Preparedness is the criterion variable that will be measured using the Gatekeeper Behavior Scale. The combination of variables may be able to predict the inclination of doctoral counselor education and supervision students toward engagement in the gatekeeping function. Researcher will use Qualtrics to assess the following variables (a) demographics, (b) professional counseling experience, (c) leadership qualities, (d) value-based decision making and action-oriented advocacy
Instructional Specialists’ Self-Perceptions of Attributes for Coaching: Case Studies in a Coaching Program
No full textThis study contributes to the knowledge and planning that impacts the efforts and staffing of instructional specialists. This investigation contributes to having a better understanding of what an instructional specialist possesses in terms of qualities when interacting with teachers. Further implications can help determine how to shape and develop a coaching program. Professional development can focus on specific qualities that lead to advancing the capacity of instructional specialists. The case studies collected offer a deep understanding of the self-perceptions instructional specialists hold about their responsibilities in their role. Coaching is influenced by factors that are driven by district requirements, state mandates, and program initiatives. The purpose of this study was to take into account what an instructional specialist perceived in terms of attributes as they are the ones who are in the day-to-day work of balancing demands from all stakeholders. Drawing on information from interviews, coaching documents, and a focus group, I analyzed data as to what attributes lent themselves to coaching experiences. Based on the self-perceptions from the participants I was able to conclude on five attributes that were representative of the views of instructional specialists within a coaching program. Instructional specialists expressed notions that represented attributes that included being personal, dutiful, servant, flexible, and having a growth mindset. Keywords: instructional specialist, professional development, coaching
A Quantitative Ex-Post Facto Study of Elementary Teachers’ Stages of Concerns About the New English Language Arts and Reading Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
No full textIn this quantitative, ex-post facto study, the researcher explored kindergarten through 5th-grade teachers’ stages of concerns about the 2019–2020 implementation of the new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading and Skills by years of teaching experience, by hours of professional development taken before implementation of the new standards, and by instructional practices used during the 1st year of implementation. This study used a quantitative ex-post facto analysis of teacher responses to a standard instrument. Participants included kindergarten through 5th-grade teachers from urban, suburban, and rural school districts throughout the state.Keywords: content standards; English language arts, instructional strategies, implementation, literacy, professional development