Moment Method analysis of complex structures containing cavity-backed apertures

Sharpe, Robert Milton UMI 1992 국내박사

Examining the Costs and Benefits of Technology Pathways for Reducing Fuel Use and Emissions from On-road Heavy-duty Vehicles in California

Sharpe, Benjamin Rodriguez University of California, Davis 2013 해외박사(DDOD)

In California and many places around the world, exhaust from heavy-duty (HD) diesel vehicles accounts for a major fraction of criteria pollutant emissions such as particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), and HD vehicles are a significant consumer of petroleum-based fuels and a growing contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. California has been a leader in implementing a broad range of policy measures that promote the development and deployment of fuels and technologies to reduce fuel consumption and emissions from HD vehicles. This dissertation formulates an analytical method to investigate the costs and benefits of various technology pathways for HD vehicles that result in drastic reductions in criteria pollutant and GHG emissions. Though there are several studies that estimate the fuel use and emissions contribution of HD vehicles in California and the implications of accelerated advanced technology adoption over time, no studies investigate both the end-user and externality cost impacts of these sweeping technology changes to the HD fleet. This dissertation begins to fill this research gap. Taken together, private and external costs represent an approximation of total societal costs, which is used in a cost-benefit framework to explore the impact of various scenarios for introducing advanced fuel and technologies in the HD vehicle fleet out to 2050. The primary objective of this research is to examine the comparative emissions, fuel use, and total societal costs of six discrete technology adoption scenarios for California HD vehicles between 2010 and 2050. The results indicate that, compared to the Baseline, the five remaining scenarios provide net present value (NPV) savings between roughly 5% and 10% and significant reductions in emissions and fuel use. Total costs are dominated by vehicle retail, fuel, and maintenance expenses, and monetized externalities generally account for less than 5% of total costs. Compared to the Baseline, reduced petroleum-based fuel use makes up roughly 90% or more of the cost savings for each of the non-Baseline scenarios. For the HD fleet, reaching an 80% reduction in GHG emissions versus 1990 levels by 2050 requires that vehicle sales shift almost completely to zero tailpipe emission technologies by 2030, annual fuel consumption reductions in new vehicles are between 2% and 4% per year, and fuel feedstocks transition to low-carbon pathways. Results from this research suggest that if California is to dramatically transform the HD vehicle fleet over such a short timeframe, a combination of strong incentive programs and technology-forcing regulations are required.

Gene expression profiling in single cell C4 and related photosynthetic species in Suaedoideae

Sharpe, Richard Matthew Washington State University 2014 해외박사(DDOD)

Slightly over a decade ago Suaeda aralocaspica, a higher land plant species that performs C4 photosynthesis in a single cell was discovered. Subsequent to this discovery three additional species in the Bienertia genus, a sister clade to the Suaeda genus, were reported that perform the C4 photosynthetic function in a single chlorenchyma cell. Since the discovery of these plants with a novel form of anatomy associated with photosynthesis, the genetic resources required for the advancement of knowledge of this phenomenon have been lacking. The goal of providing the genetic resources required to advance the knowledge of how these species attain the capability to perform C4 photosynthesis in a single cell has been the focus of this research. The advent and maturing of High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) technologies has allowed for the generation of the massive amount of genomic and transcriptomic sequence information required to provide the resources required to investigate the unique genetic landscape of these single cell C4 (SCC4) species. The state of current knowledge about the SCC4 species is provided as well as the use of HTS technologies to elucidate the transcriptomic landscape of the developing Bienertia sinuspersici leaf and a photosynthesis-centric transcriptome comparison between the different structural C4 and C3 type photosynthetic species in the Suaedoideae subfamily is detailed. The B. sinuspersici developmental profile indicates that the young leaf tissue devotes the majority of the transcriptional energy in cell division, transcription and regulation whereas the transcriptional energy in the mature tissue is focused towards maintenance of the photosynthetic processes. Differential translational and chloroplast import components between the tissues are quite evident as well. Species level photosynthetic comparisons indicated differential isoform recruitment into the various pathways. The identification and characterization of the induction and regulation of genes required to develop dimorphic chloroplasts in a single cell will enable efforts to instill C4 traits into C3 species.

Self-Other Agreement on Performance Ratings as a Predictor of Individual Longitudinal Outcomes and Future Agreement

Sharpe, Melissa Sue ProQuest Dissertations & Theses University of Minn 2017 해외박사(DDOD)

Performance appraisals have come under fire recently in the field of Industrial-Organizational Psychology, sparking some debate as to whether the field should continue the practice. The primary goal of this dissertation is to suggest that performance appraisals, within the lens of feedback, are a valuable tool and have some meaningful implications for individuals within organizations. The results from a 5-year archival longitudinal study suggest that (1) individuals tend to disagree initially from their manager's rating of their performance, but converge with time; (2) the initial and longitudinal agreement in these ratings predicts individual outcomes (e.g. salary, organizational level, promotions) in predictable ways; and (3) that participation in another form of feedback procedure (i.e. a 360º feedback program) does not impact individual performance rating trajectories, but does influence the manager's ratings of that performance in negative ways.

Patterns of wetland plant species richness across estuarine river gradients

Sharpe, Peter James University of Maryland, College Park 2009 해외공개박사

It is widely accepted that in coastal wetlands a negative relationship exists between plant species richness (number of species) and salinity. However, the distribution of species richness across estuarine salinity gradients has not been closely examined. I hypothesized that plant species richness in coastal marshes (i.e., wetlands dominated by herbaceous plants) would follow a non-linear pattern with increased distance (salinity) downriver (Chapter 2). To test this hypothesis I conducted detailed marsh vegetation surveys along ≈ 50 km estuarine river gradients of the Nanticoke and Patuxent Rivers, MD/DE. I further hypothesized that the observed patterns of plant species richness on the Nanticoke and Patuxent Rivers could be accurately predicted by a mid-domain effect (MDE) model independent of measured abiotic factors using RangeModel 5.0 (Chapter 3). Lastly, I theorized that Marsh mesocosms subjected to intermediate salinity and inundation would exhibit significantly higher biomass and plant species richness compared to mesocosms subjected to extreme salt/fresh and flooding regimes utilizing a controlled greenhouse experiment (Chapter 4). I found that plant species richness can vary in both a linear (Patuxent River) and non-linear (Nanticoke River) pattern along an estuarine gradient. The MDE model did not explain a high proportion of the observed richness patterns for either river system compared to abiotic factors like porewater salinity. The controlled marsh mesocosm experiment supported the non-linear pattern of plant species richness observed along the Nanticoke River gradient, but did not show a significant difference in plant biomass or richness/diversity between purely fresh and low-salinity marsh mesocosms (alpha = 0.05). The results of this research suggest that tidal marsh plant richness/diversity patterns do not always conform to a simple linear relationship with increasing salinity and that the MDE is not as important of a mechanism in these communities compared to porewater salinity or flooding frequency. Furthermore tidal low salinity marshes exposed to elevated salinity and flooding frequencies are likely to see a shift in their plant community structure to more salt tolerant plants and less rich/diverse communities assuming they can accrete at a rate equal to or exceeding the present rates of sea-level rise in the Chesapeake Bay.

Cultural intelligence and self-directed learning in the lives of leaders: An exploratory sequential mixed methods research study

Sharpe, Ramona Teresa Teachers College, Columbia University 2016 해외박사(DDOD)

As the American workforce and workplace become more diverse, the need for skilled leaders who are culturally intelligent and able to maximize diversity has become crucial. The purpose of this exploratory sequential mixed methods research study was to identify patterns of Self-Directed Learning (SDL) that were found in a sample also assessed on cultural intelligence, as well as understanding how SDL was leveraged by individuals with above average cultural intelligence. This study had two research questions: • Are cultural intelligence and self-directed learning related, and if so, in what ways? • What patterns of self-directed learning can be identified in individuals with above average cultural intelligence?. A criterion sample used to obtain the study participants (N=52) consisted of individuals currently in specific leadership development programs. The population was invited to participate by completing two online assessments. Each subject provided basic demographic information, completed the LPA (also known as the SDLRS) and the Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS). The test scores were analyzed to see if any patterns emerged. From this sample of 52, a subset of 12 volunteers was interviewed using the interview protocol. The quantitative data revealed a moderate positive relationship between SDLRS and CQS results. The qualitative data revealed nine themes/findings, which collapsed into two distinct categories: participant attributes and approaches. The researcher found: A moderate positive correlation exists between SDLRS and CQS, grounded in above average metacognitive capabilities, Common attributes were shared by study participants who possessed both above average SDLRS scores and above average CQS scores: o Intrinsic appreciation for difference o High adaptability without fear o Acceptance of ambiguity of norms, SDL was leveraged by study participants (who possessed both above average SDLRS scores and above average CQS scores) through the utilization of their metacognitive strengths to establish heuristics/approaches for effective management of cultural differences. The researcher concluded that desirable characteristics of a leader stem from above average metacognitive capabilities. Organizations may need to revamp their current approaches utilized for identification and cultivation of leaders. Organizations should focus their leadership training on items that develop metacognitive capabilities and highlight the importance of context.

Leadership orientation of graduate medical education program directors and residency training program effectiveness in teaching hospitals: An exploratory study

Sharpe, Shushawna S Central Michigan University 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

The purpose of this study is twofold; the first is to examine the relationship between the leadership orientation of Graduate Medical Education (GME) program directors (independent variable) and residency training program effectiveness (dependent variable) in teaching hospitals. The second purpose is to identify the leadership styles of program directors and their relationship to residency training program effectiveness. Two survey instruments were sent to 67 program directors and 320 graduating residents. Bolman and Deal's Leadership Orientation and Cameron's tool for organizational effectiveness were sent to 387 participants. Forty-one program directors and 201 graduating residents responded to the survey. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, t test, ANOVA, MANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and canonical analysis were used to analyze data. The major findings included: (1) program directors used the structural frame the most frequently, followed by the human resource, political, and symbolic frames; (2) program directors were more likely to use no leadership frame style (46%), followed by the single (16%), multi-frame (13%) and paired frame style (16%); (3) demographic variables (domain, size, chairs' gender, length of tenure) had a significant influence on program directors' use of leadership frames; (4) program directors' use of all four leadership frames were significantly correlated with program effectiveness domains (extra, moral, academic and extracurricular); (5) program directors' leadership styles (no, single, paired, and multi-frame) were significantly associated with technical and administrative support; chairs using multiple frames were more likely to provide these two kinds of support for faculty use of domains of effectiveness; (6) program directors' use of leadership frame patterns was also associated with the moral domain of program effectiveness, program directors' use of the structural frame, a combination of the structural and political frames, or a combination of the structural, human resource, and political frames being more helpful for program directors' use of the domains of effectiveness; and (7) size and program directors' length of tenure along with their leadership styles were associated with the moral domain of program effectiveness. These findings suggest that program directors should use the multi-frame leadership style to run an effective residency training program.

Nitrogen cycling in sediments with the seagrass Halodule wrightii in a south Texas estuary

Sharpe-Aparicio, Elizabeth Deirdre Texas A&M University 2000 해외박사(DDOD)

The productivity of estuaries depends on the availability of nutrients, particularly nitrogen [N]. Decomposition of organic matter and the subsequent release of mineral nutrients, is largely a function of benthic bacterial. To better understand benthic N cycling in Baffin Bay, we studied populations of N-transforming bacteria and rates of nitrification, denitrification, and N₂ fixation in sediments from sites with and without the seagrass <italic> Halodule wrightii</italic> Aschers. Total bacteria and N-transforming bacteria were enumerated using direct counts and most probable number methods. Ammonium [NH₄<super>+</super>] disappearance was used to measure nitrification rates, denitrification was measured using the acetylene block technique, and the acetylene reduction assay (AR) was used to measure N₂ fixation in sediment slurries. Total counts of bacteria in the water column ranged from 1.6 × 10<super>7</super>–1.0 × 10<super>8</super> cells mL<super>−1 </super> and rose in the summer. This trend was not observed in the sediments where total numbers ranged from 9.7 × 10<super>8</super>–3.0 × 10<super>10</super> g<super>−1</super>. Ammonifiers ranged from 1.3 × 10<super>4</super>–3.6 × 10<super>10</super> cells g<super> −1</super>, NH₄<super>+</super> oxidizers from 5.7 × 10<super>1</super>–4.3 × 10<super>5</super> cells g<super>−1 </super>, NO₂<super>−</super>-oxidizers from not detectable to 2.9 × 10<super>5</super> cells g<super>−1</super>, denitrifiers from 1.3 × 10<super>1</super>–2.81 × 10<super>6</super> cells g<super>−1</super>, and N₂ fixers ranged from not detectable to 1.5 × 10<super>4</super> cells g<super>−1</super>. Numbers of all N-transforming bacteria peaked during the summer except the nitrifiers, which decreased during this period. Nitrifying bacteria were active in NH₄<super>+</super>-amended sediment slurries in which concentrations of NH₄<super>+</super> decreased at an average rate of 1.6 mg g<super>−1</super> d<super>−1 </super>. Denitrification rates ranged from 0.01 to 1.83 nmol N₂O g<super>−1</super>d<super>−1</super> in unamended sediments except Alazon Bay, which showed rates of 12 nmol g<super>−1</super> in March 1999. Seasonal variation was only observed in Alazon Bay. Denitrification increased significantly after amendment of sediment slurries with glucose and nitrate. Acetylene reduction rates in unamended vegetated and nonvegetated sediments were very low (0–4 nmol ethylene g<super>−1</super> d<super>−1</super>) and no seasonal variation was observed. Substantial increases were observed after glucose addition. Results indicated that bacteria mediating the major N transformations were abundant year round. Nitrification was active in sediments of Baffin Bay. Denitrification was NO₃<super>−</super> and C limited at all sites and all seasons except in the spring of 1999 in Alazon Bay. Nitrogen fixation was C limited in sediments.

From Hieron and Oikos: The religious and secular use of Hellenistic and Greek Imperial bronze statuettes

Sharpe, Heather Fiona Indiana University 2006 해외박사(DDOD)

In contrast to abundant scholarly literature dedicated to the study of Archaic and Classical Greek bronze statuettes, there has been relatively little interest in the bronze figurines found in Greece from the Hellenistic and Imperial periods. In this study, recent archaeological examples of Hellenistic and Greek Imperial bronze statuettes are examined in combination with notable finds from the late 19th and early 20th centuries to further understand unresolved questions regarding their function, manufacture and appearance. This dissertation focuses on the bronze statuettes found in domestic and religious contexts dating from the fourth century BC to approximately the third century AC. During this period, it is possible to trace the changing purpose and setting of bronze statuettes from a purely religious, i.e. votive, function to their subsequent utilization for domestic religious and decorative needs. With this change there is a corresponding shift in the iconography and general appearance of bronze statuettes to better suit the needs of Hellenistic and Imperial Greek patrons. Not surprisingly, deities that offered personal comfort and salvation were especially popular as were figures from the realms of Aphrodite and Dionysos, two gods whose spheres of influence naturally touched upon domestic activities. During Roman rule, the inhabitants of Greece may have adopted some aspects of Roman domestic religious practices, yet clear indicators of Roman domestic religion, e.g. genius and lares, are surprising rare among the bronze figurines of the period. Apparently, Greek religious traditions remained strong. During the same period, there was a marked decrease in their traditional use as votives at public sanctuaries and shrines. Overall it has been noted that there was a decline in activity at many sanctuaries during the Late Hellenistic and Greek Imperial periods, but this may not be the only reason why so few post-Classical bronzes have been found at public religious sites. The bronze-making industry in Greece was certainly still very active, producing works to suit new demands both domestic and abroad. It is probable that the production of bronze statuettes was directed towards this burgeoning market.

The role of reflection in teachers' professional development: An ethnographic case study of an ESL methods course

Sharpe, Amy E The University of Wisconsin - Madison 2006 해외박사(DDOD)

This study focuses on the reflective practices of experienced teachers enrolled in an English as a Second Language (ESL) Methods course to investigate how teachers' engagement in the reflective process affects their professional development as ESL teachers. Teachers in the Methods course need to shift their current teaching practices to implement effective language pedagogies, so the course promotes reflection as a tool to change teachers' beliefs and practices. Findings show that as teachers engaged in the reflective process, via the class listserve and class discussions, they formed a community of learners, where teachers interact and develop a common knowledge base. Teachers also used the reflective process to help change their beliefs and practices about effective language pedagogies in the course. The final set of findings reveals the resistance teachers exhibited to the reflective process, and the variety of ways that teachers resisted. A number of implications for teacher education can be drawn from this ethnographic case study. A community of learners provides ESL teachers support as they encounter new theories and methodologies during the course, but it is important to determine ways to sustain the community after the course ends. Designing a course that promotes reflection and scaffolding by the instructors can be valuable for some teachers as they change their thinking and practice. Other teachers may benefit from more explicit approaches to the reflective process, or alternative methods such as action research. This study adds to research in the field of second language acquisition about teacher communities, reflection as a tool for change, and resistant behavior. More studies should look at how courses promote teachers' reflective practices that lead to change in thinking and implementation of effective language pedagogies. Teachers' resistance to reflection should be examined to help identify causes.