Thesis (M.S.)--University of Akron, Dept. of Biology, 2007. / "December, 2007." Title from electronic thesis title page (viewed 02/23/2008) Advisor, Francisco Moore; Co-Advisor, Brian Bagatto; Committee members, Peter Niewiarowski, Joel Duff; Department Chair, Bruce Cushing; Dean of the College, Ronald Levant; Dean of the Graduate School, George R. Newkome. Includes bibliographical references.

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The purpose of this study is to determine whether each of the nine introduced tales in Pickwick Papers was written at the same time as the main narrative of the number in which the tale appears.

In this research study, the feasibility of using one of the Hybrid Permanent Magnet (HPM) machine topologies acting as a generator with a passive rectification stage is considered. The primary application area is in the power-train of a series hybrid electric vehicle where the concept will be considered as an alternative to brushless PM machines interfacing to the vehicle power-train via active power electronic converters. The electro-magnetic design of the two main parts in the selected HPM generator topology and their individual system behaviour at normal and rated conditions will be studied. Prediction of the transient and steady state temperature in some of the HPM machine parts will be conducted based on commercial thermal analysis software. Two HPM machine stator winding configurations; 3-phase and 9-phase, with their relevant passive rectification stages will be analysed in terms of their terminal and DC-link output power along with the quality of the generated DC output voltage. An investigation of the operational characteristic of the HPM generator when delivering a fixed power at a fixed speed into a dynamic DC voltage source typical of a hybrid electric vehicle power-train subject to urban driving regimes will be presented. The research work will be a mixture of simulation studies using electro-magnetic finite element analysis (FEA), transient machine and system analysis via SimPower, a Matlab/Simulink toolbox set, along with test validation via a representative prototype HPM generator configuration and its interface to an experimental electrical system evaluation platform.

Four populations of nine-banded armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus, were investigated in the south-central United States in order to assess genetic variation in an isolated population (Electric Island, Lake Hamilton, Garland County, Arkansas); a semi-isolated population (Arkansas Post, Arkansas County, Arkansas), and two free ranging populations (southern Arkansas and central Texas). A 233 basepair sequence of the D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA was sequenced in individuals from each population. Individuals and populations were compared to assess relatedness among populations and individuals. Higher sequence diversity was detected in the semi-isolated population, while lower sequence diversity was observed in the isolated and free ranging populations. Overall, all populations exhibited low genetic variation when compared to genetic variation for other mammals. The results support the hypothesis that rapid range expansion combined with the organism's unique reproductive strategies have promulgated low genetic variation in the North American populations of nine-banded armadillos.

The aim of this thesis is to search for the diagrammatic potency of the &ldquo / nine square grid&rdquo / (9SG) in architectural design. The thesis refers to the diagram as a tool for bringing order to the essential elements of architecture (i.e. program, structure and context). It highlights the potential relationships among these elements. In this study, the 9SG is approached as a diagram that has the potential to generate different spatial relations. The thesis investigates different uses of the 9SG in reference to the selected projects from the architectural history and recent architectural practice. This investigation allows understanding the creative use of the 9SG as a design tool for bringing order to the essential elements in architecture.

The purpose of the study is to investigate factors of 7th graders learning attitude in mathematics. According to the result of this study, the research provides some suggestions for the education authorities, the schools and future study. The approaches used in this research are Questionnaire on Mathematics Learning Attitude. 168 7th graders were randomly sampled at a Junior High School in Kaohsiung City. The feedback undergoes a descriptive statistics, two-sample independent Student t test, Pearson Correlation among other statistical methods. The following are conclusions of the research: 1. Factors of influencing 7th graders Attitude in Mathematics are the following eight elements. They are confidence of learning, influence of teachers, concept about value of mathematics, influence of the art of teaching, efficacy of self-learning, effect of learning, pressure of learning, and fearlessness. 2. Confidence of learning, influence of teachers, concept about value of mathematics, efficacy of self-learning, effect of learning, fearlessness, and grades in mathematics have moderate related. 3. Concept about value of mathematics, effect of learning, influence of teachers, efficacy of self-learning, fearlessness, confidence of learning demonstrate significantly different degrees of respect on students whose grades between above 70 and under 70. 4. Confidence of learning, influence of teachers, concept about value of mathematics, efficacy of self-learning, effect of learning, fearlessness can forecast learning grades in mathematics. Ultimately, based up on the above findings, the researcher of this study proposed 3 suggestions for the authorities concerned and official staffs.

The Evaluation of the Whole Curriculum Projects of the Schools in the Nine-Year Compulsory Curriculum--Examples of the Elementary Schools at Kaohsiung City. Meng-Ho Shih Abstract This study aims at evaluating the whole curriculum projects of the elementary schools which put Nine-Year Compulsory Curriculum into practice at Kaohsiung City. The subjects of this study contain the whole curriculum projects of eighty-six elementary schools at Kaohsiung City in 90 academic years. The collective data are analyzed by qualitative and quantitative methods. And the methods of this study are the analysis of documents, the analysis of subjects and interviews. The results of this study include the following and here also propose some concrete suggestions according to the results. 1.Investigating the process that Bureau of Education of Kaohsiung City examinates and executes the whole curriculum projects of the elementary schools. 2.Establishing the criterions of evaluating the whole curriculum projects of the elementary schools which put Nine-Year Compulsory Curriculum into practice. 3.Evaluating the whole curriculum projects based on Nine-Year Compulsory Curriculum Guideline. 4.Investigating the problems of learning objectives and competence indicators within the curriculum projects for the elementary schools. 5.Investigating the problems of the integrated curriculum within the curriculum projects for the elementary schools. 6.Investigating the version of textbooks which each learning area use and the implementation of the curriculum projects for the elementary schools. 7.Proposing suggestions for improving the whole curriculum projects and Nine-Year Compulsory Curriculum to the authorities of education and schools according the findings of this study. Keywords¡GCurriculum Evaluation Nine-Year Compulsory Curriculum Curriculum Project

Academic underachievement potentially redirects the future of adolescents. The specific sample for this research was Grade nine learners. Grade nine is when subject choices are made and the last year of compulsory education. Academic underachievement during Grade nine becomes a barrier to career enhancing subject choices. Subject choice is a first step to greater specialisation of skills and a future career path. This study focused on the investigation of factors that could possibly contribute to the academic underachievement of Grade nine learners to the extent that they would fail. The findings will make teachers more aware of the influence that the internal and external fields of Grade nine learners have on their academic achievement. From the results it was found that academic underachievement is influenced by peer acceptance, parental involvement, cognitive development, the ability to handle examination anxiety, the Grade nine learner's perception of academic identity as well as other factors. A mixed method approach was used. Interviews with underachieving Grade nine learners, Grade nine teachers and Grade nine parents, as well as questionnaires completed by a cluster sample of the general Grade nine population of this study indicated the influence of the underachievers' external and internal fields on academic performance. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Academic underachievement potentially redirects the future of adolescents. The specific sample for this research was Grade nine learners. Grade nine is when subject choices are made and the last year of compulsory education. Academic underachievement during Grade nine becomes a barrier to career enhancing subject choices. Subject choice is a first step to greater specialisation of skills and a future career path. This study focused on the investigation of factors that could possibly contribute to the academic underachievement of Grade nine learners to the extent that they would fail. The findings will make teachers more aware of the influence that the internal and external fields of Grade nine learners have on their academic achievement. From the results it was found that academic underachievement is influenced by peer acceptance, parental involvement, cognitive development, the ability to handle examination anxiety, the Grade nine learner's perception of academic identity as well as other factors. A mixed method approach was used. Interviews with underachieving Grade nine learners, Grade nine teachers and Grade nine parents, as well as questionnaires completed by a cluster sample of the general Grade nine population of this study indicated the influence of the underachievers' external and internal fields on academic performance. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.