Challenges associated with ensuring the accuracy and reliability of cost estimation of highway bid items, especially during the conceptual phase of a project, are of significant interest to state highway agencies. Even with the existing research undertaken on the subject, the problem of inaccurate estimation of highway bid items still exists. A systematic literature review was performed to determine research trends, identify, categorize the factors influencing highway unit prices, and assess the performance of conceptual cost prediction models. This research proposes a geographic information system (GIS)?based methodology that leverages vast historical bid data for unit-price estimation and the robust GIS capabilities with consideration of the effects of project-specific location and variations due to cost escalation on different bid items. A comparison of the three spatial interpolation techniques operationalized in this research revealed that disjunctive and empirical Bayesian kriging models led to more accurate cost prediction than ordinary kriging algorithms.

Assistive technology allows students with disabilities opportunities for greater independence, improved productivity, and increased functional capabilities. It removes obstacles, helps students overcome disabilities, and holds great promise for enriching educational outcomes and affecting the lives of students. However, for over 90% of special education students, assistive technology is not part of their education. One reason for not applying assistive technology to help students is the lack of a clear vision of what assistive technology is, what it can help students accomplish, and how to appropriately access it through individualized education programs (IEPs). In this study a comprehensive concept analysis clarified key assistive technology concepts, and identified critical relevant and critical irrelevant attributes of assistive technology. Multiple focus groups and a survey of 191 special educators validated the concept analysis. The survey also provided valid and reliable data about the relevant and irrelevant critical attributes identified in the concept analysis. The survey identified discrepancies between understanding of the concepts and actual applications of assistive technology. The study applied a unique combination of concept analysis, focus group research, and survey research methods. The appropriate application of assistive technology considers (a) the role of technology, (b) how technology meets students' unique functional needs, (c) the appropriateness of assistive technology applications, and ( d) the use of technology to expand the environment of the student. Although special educators agree these concepts are critical, they seldom apply them. Other irrelevant, misconceived attributes often dictate the nonapplication or misapplication of assistive technology. Although the IEP is the programmatic method whereby students with disabilities access special education services, 86% of IEPs do not consider possible technology applications. This oversight occurs because IEP participants lack valid information, do not have assistive technology assessments available, perceive funding as a major obstacle, lack training, and/or there are not polices and procedures in place concerning assistive technology . Recommendations for special education providers, local education agencies, and parents are included.

The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of a scalable concept map based navigation system for a digital textbook. A literature review has been conducted to identify possible methods to promote conceptual understanding in the context of a digital textbook, and these hypothesized solutions will be evaluated through a prototype tool. The primary method that has been selected for this study to promote conceptual understanding in textbooks is the concept map. When concept maps are used as advance organizers or navigation aids for hypermedia documents, they have been shown to promote conceptual understanding. Issues with scalability exist, however. When maps become too large or complicated, a phenomenon labeled "map-shock" occurs. Map-shock is a result of cognitive overload that nullifies the positive effects the concept map has on learning. In order to eliminate map-shock, one needs to manage the cognitive load imposed on the learner. This project proposes using information visualization techniques leveraged from the computer science domain to develop an interactive concept map based navigation system that will retain the positive effects of concept maps, and also present the visuals in a way that does not cognitively overload the user. This study seeks to answer the research question: "How can a large-scale concept map visualization tools be realized in a way that promotes conceptual understanding and manages cognitive load?" To answer the research question, a prototype tool, labeled the "Adaptive Map tool", was developed and populated with engineering statics content. This prototype contains content that is similar to the material in a traditional statics textbook, but the information is accessed through the proposed adaptive concept map visualization. The tool was then given to students in engineering statics class to be used as a supplemental textbook. The effects of the Adaptive Map tool were evaluated through a multiple case study approach that allowed researchers to understand how this tool fit into the larger learning context of a class. Results indicated that some students did integrate the Adaptive Map tool into the learning process, and furthermore that the tool did promote meaningful learning behaviors that lead to better conceptual understanding of the material. / Ph. D.

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[EN] This thesis dissertation reflects on the complex effects of the re-signification of the film image in contemporary art, and its impact the aesthetic consideration of the resulting product. In this reflection, the relevance of conceptual art in the artistic re-signification is defended, as well as the process played by the concept of appropriation in contemporary art. Based on the consideration of "ready-made" of Marcel Duchamp as inexcusable point of emergence of the "appropriationism", in this thesis are reviewed and studied the different forms of appropriation of film images in contemporary art. Structurally, the thesis, which was entitled "The Film Image in Contemporary Art", assumes a theoretical and practical condition. In the early chapters, are exposed the conceptual and historical foundations that will backbone the artistic proposal that will be detailed in the second part of this research. Furthermore, the research was developed according to a deductive methodology, since initially is started from general aspects and theoretic/practical positions to reach particular inferences. Specifically, first the concept of "appropriationism" is defined within the visual art; then, the research particularizes in the analysis of different forms of appropriation in the aesthetic sphere and, more precisely, in the use of the film image within the context of contemporary visual arts. Finally, in this thesis an artistic proposal is presented from the theoretical postulates investigated. This artistic proposal is formed by eight series of works, using different formats and techniques, which are made during a period of seven years. / [ES] La tesis doctoral de Eduardo Ceballos, reflexiona sobre los complejos efectos de re-significación de la imagen fílmica en el arte contemporáneo, y su incidencia en la consideración estética del producto resultante. En esta reflexión, se defiende la relevancia que tiene el arte conceptual en la re-significación artística, así como el proceso que ha desempeñado el concepto de apropiación en el arte contemporáneo. Partiendo de la consideración del ready made de Marcel Duchamp como punto inexcusable del surgimiento del apropiacionismo, se revisan y estudian de forma concreta las diferentes formas de apropiación de imágenes fílmicas en el arte contemporáneo. Estructuralmente, "La Imagen Fílmica en el Arte Contemporáneo", asume una doble condición teórico-práctica. En los primeros capítulos del mismo, se asientan los fundamentos conceptuales e históricos que vertebrarán una propuesta artística que será detallada en la segunda parte de esta investigación. Asimismo, la investigación que se ha llevado a cabo se decanta por una metodología de corte deductiva, ya que se parte de los aspectos y posiciones teórico-prácticos generales para llegar a lo particular. Es decir, se comienza por definir el concepto de apropiacionismo dentro de las artes visuales para, después, particularizar la investigación en el análisis de las diferentes formas de apropiación en la esfera estética y, de manera más concreta, en la utilización de la imagen fílmica dentro del contexto de las artes visuales contemporáneas. Para terminar con una propuesta artística a partir de los postulados teóricos investigados y que consistió en la realización de ocho series de obras en diferentes formatos y técnicas, hecha en un período de 7 años. / [CA] La Tesi Doctoral d'Eduardo Ceballos, reflexiona sobre els complexos efectes de re-significació de la imatge fílmica en l'art contemporani, i la seua incidència en la consideració estètica del producte resultant. En esta reflexió, es defèn la rellevància que té l'art conceptual en la re-significació artística, així com el procés que ha exercit el concepte d'apropiació en l'art contemporani. Partint de la consideració del ready made de Marcel Duchamp com a punt inexcusable del sorgiment de l'apropiacionisme, es revisen i estudien en concret les diferents formes d'apropiació d'imatges fílmiques en l'art contemporani. Estructuralment, "La Imatge Fílmica en l'Art Contemporáni", assumix una doble condició teòrico-pràctica. En els primers capítols del mateix, s'assenten els fonaments conceptuals i històrics que vertebraran una proposta artística que serà detallada en la segona part d'esta investigació. Així mateix, la investigació que s'ha dut a fi es decanta per una metodologia d'estil deductiva, ja que es parteix dels aspectes i posicions teòrics-pràctics generals per a arribar al particular. És a dir, es comença per definir el concepte d'apropiacionisme dins de les arts visuals per a, després, particularitzar la investigació en l'anàlisi de les diferents formes d'apropiació en l'esfera estètica i, de manera més concreta, en la utilització de la imatge fílmica dins del context de les arts visuals contemporànies. Per a acabar amb una proposta artística a partir dels postulats teòrics investigats i que va consistir en la realització de huit sèries d'obres en diferents formats i tècniques, feta en un període de set anys. / Ceballos Silva, E. (2016). "La Imagen Fílmica en el Arte Contemporáneo" Una Revisión Estética: Entre la Imagen Fílmica y la Imagen Materia [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/62410

This thesis has as the main objective to investigate how to mitigatenegative impacts of urban environments and industrial agriculturethrough architectural design. The applied methodology is based inSynergetic Building Integrated Agriculture (SBIA) in combinationwith strict sustainability requirements (ecological, economical andsocial). Through the qualitative study of SBIA and built case studies it waspossible to identify the common factors and state-of-art technologyto be integrated in the design. This synergetic design proposal thus highlights the importance of amultidisciplinary approach for a successful future implementation ofsustainable SBIA design.

Two experiments examined processing of "near-nonsense" noun-noun combinations (e.g., dictionary treatment, olive signals). In the first experiment, readers’ eye movements were monitored as they read sentences containing such combinations, or control sentences containing easy-to-interpret adjective-noun combinations. A preceding context sentence either did or did not support a specific interpretation of the critical noun-noun combination. The earliest measures of processing difficulty were not modulated by the context manipulation, but on later measures, the potentially helpful context did alleviate difficulty. In the second experiment, participants provided detailed interpretations of the critical combinations, with and without the potentially helpful context sentence; the results confirmed that the context sentences encouraged specific interpretations of these combinations. The results suggest that a noun-noun combination is initially interpreted without taking into account the immediate context, but that this context may ultimately play a critical role.

Yes

Interventionsstudien undersökte förståelse om månens faser i årskurs 2. Inom området finns det mycket forskning om digitala 3D-modeller som visar en positiv effekt på elevers förståelse om astronomiska fenomen. Däremot finns det inte lika mycket forskning om fysiska modeller, därav vill vi undersöka om en fysisk 3D-modell kan stödja eleverna i deras förståelse om månens faser och se om den hjälper till att förhindra elevers missuppfattningar som tidigare forskning nämner att elever kan ha. Studiens frågeställningar är: (1) Hur kan tillämpning av en fysisk 3D-modell stödja elevers förståelse av månens faser i åk F-3? samt (2) Vilka tecken på förståelse av månens faser visar elever före och efter en intervention? I interventionen arbetade eleverna med en 3D-modell som representerade solen, månen och jorden. Under genomförandet var de indelade i grupper om 3–4 personer där de demonstrera och diskutera frågor om månens faser. Det teoretiska ramverket för studien är conceptual change. Interventionen inkluderade ett för- och eftertest för att synliggöra kognitiva processer och elevers konceptuella förändring. Bearbetning och analys av datamaterialet har genomförts utifrån en tematisk analys samt conceptual change teorin. I studien visade eleverna flera tecken på förståelse för månens faser i tillämpningen av 3D-modellen. Exempelvis demonstrerade de olika månfaser och vart månen skulle vara placerad i förhållande till jorden och solen. Trots visad förståelse vid arbetet med 3D-modellen gick det att urskilja missuppfattningar i eftertestet.

This dissertation reports on the secondary analysis of data obtained in 2013 about first-year university student’s conceptual understanding of concepts related to simple DC-circuits. The aim was to investigate the nature of conceptual understanding of students entering first-year physics at a South African university, and to explore how their conceptual understanding relates to contextual factors. Data collected from 815 participants comprise contextual data about each participant and responses in the DIRECT-instrument (Determining and Interpreting Resistive Electric Circuits Concepts Test). The conceptual framework for this study was based on a combination of the model about the effectiveness of science teaching and the critical outcomes related to electricity and electric circuits, which involve aspects of current, energy, potential difference and the physical aspects of circuits. The contextual data included information at personal, classroom and school level. Data were analysed using Rasch analysis. The study found that students entering a first-year physics module at a South African university have poor conceptual understanding about simple DC-electric circuits. The analysis of the DIRECT-instrument revealed that students had difficulties understanding concepts relating to parallel circuits, confusing terms such as voltage and current, and current and energy. They also struggled to relate a circuit diagram to an actual circuit and issues regarding short circuits were prominent. The analysis of the contextual data revealed that students’ degree of exposure to practical work does not imply conceptual understanding of DC-electric circuits. Factors that relate with conceptual understanding included students’ attitudes towards science, gender and previous achievement in Science, Mathematics, and English. Key terms: Conceptual understanding, DC-electric circuit, Misconception, Aptitudes / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2021. / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / MEd / Unrestricted