Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Elementary Education / Marjorie Hancock / A portion of the 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004), Response to Intervention (RtI), aims to prevent unnecessary student placement in special education. The intent of RtI is to provide all students with effective classroom instruction first and afford low-performing students with increasingly intensive, individualized interventions (Fuchs, Fuchs, & Vaughn,2008). Although there is considerable information available in regard to the effectiveness of the multi-tiered model of the Response to Intervention approach to deliver intervention services to struggling readers (Speece & Walker, 2007), very little is known about implementing RtI in the schools (Allington, 2009). This qualitative, exploratory, collective case study was conducted during the fall/spring semesters of the 2009/2010 school year between November 16, 2009 and February 26, 2010. This study investigated how three kindergarten classroom teachers, located in two elementary schools, delivered Tier 2 literacy instruction to kindergarten struggling readers within the Response to Intervention model in the classroom setting. Multiple data sources were gathered from interviews with administrators and teachers, guided conversations with students, classroom observations and field notes, and documents/artifacts. Data were collected and analyzed during three phases of the study. This study’s findings established that in the new era of Response to Intervention (RtI), teachers were able to apply literacy instructional approaches and pedagogy based on their teaching philosophy to address the needs of at-risk struggling readers within the kindergarten classroom environment. However, data analysis revealed dissimilar perceptions of the three case study teachers regarding their roles and responsibilities teaching literacy within the Response to Intervention approach which influenced how they delivered Tier 2 intervention instruction. The three classroom teachers utilized the modeled, shared, and guided approaches to literacy instruction and provided lessons in phonemic awareness and phonics during Tier 2 small group literacy interventions. In addition, the data collection and analysis identified three pedagogies which occurred during Tier 2 instruction: 1) monitoring of learning; 2) encouraging and supportive learning environments; and 3) feedback and reinforcement. Data analysis also revealed the student participant benefits included positive attitudes towards reading, students’ perception of themselves as self-confident and motivated readers, development of an emerging love of reading, and enjoyment of practicing their reading skills in small groups.

ITC/USA 2005 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-First Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 24-27, 2005 / Riviera Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / The ARTM Tier 1 waveforms include two versions of Feher patented QPSK (FQPSK-B and FQPSK-JR) and a version of shaped offset QPSK (SOQPSK-TG). In this paper we examine three common detector architectures for the ARTM Tier 1 modulations: a symbol-by-symbol detector, a cross correlated trellis coded modulation (XTCQM) detector, and a continuous phase modulation (CPM) detector. We show that when used to detect Tier 1 modulations, these detectors perform well even without knowledge of the modulation used by the transmitter. The common symbol-by-symbol detector suffers a loss of 1.5 dB for SOQPSK-TG and 1.6 dB for FQPSK-JR in bit error rate performance relative to the theoretical optimum for these modulations. The common XTCQM detector provides a bit error rate performance that is 0.1 dB worse than optimum for SOQPSK-TG and that matches optimum performance for FQPSK-JR. The common CPM detector achieves a bit error rate performance that is 0.25 dB worse than optimum for SOQPSK-TG and that approximately matches optimum for FQPSK-JR. The common XTCQM detector provides the best bit error rate performance, but this detector also has the highest complexity.

The prevalence of multi-core processors with recent advancement in virtualization technologies has enabled horizontal and vertical scaling within a physical node achieving economical sharing of computing infrastructures as computing clouds. Through hardware virtualization, consolidated servers each with specific number of core allotment run on the same physical node in dedicated Virtual Machines (VMs) to increase overall node utilization which increases profit by reducing operational costs. Unfortunately, despite the conceptual simplicity of vertical and horizontal scaling in virtualized cloud environments, leveraging the full potential of this technology has presented significant scalability challenges in practice. One of the fundamental problems is the performance unpredictability in virtualized cloud environments (ranked fifth in the top 10 obstacles for growth of cloud computing). In this dissertation, we present two case studies in vertical and horizontal scaling to this challenging problem. For the first case study, we describe concrete experimental evidence that shows important source of performance variations: mapping of virtual CPU to physical cores. We then conduct an experimental comparative study of three major hypervisors (i.e., VMware, KVM, Xen) with regard to their support of n-tier applications running on multi-core processor. For the second case study, we present empirical study that shows memory thrashing caused by interference among consolidated VMs is a significant source of performance interference that hampers horizontal scalability of an n-tier application performance. We then execute transient event analyses of fine-grained experiment data that link very short bottlenecks with memory thrashing to the very long response time (VLRT) requests. Furthermore we provide three practical techniques such as VM migration, memory reallocation, soft resource allocation and show that they can mitigate the effects of performance interference among consolidate VMs.

ITC/USA 2011 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Seventh Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 24-27, 2011 / Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada / Multi-H Continuous Phase Modulation is a highly bandwidth efficient constant amplitude modulation scheme. Because of these qualities it was selected as the Advanced Range Telemetry (ARTM) tier II waveform. In the past, two demodulation techniques have widely been proposed, coherent detection and non-coherent detection. This paper presents a receiver design that implements a hybrid, partially coherent detection scheme that takes advantage of the positive aspects of both coherent and non-coherent detection. Because complete phase recovery is not required, the hybrid receiver performs better in environments with fast fading, strong phase noise, and multi path when compared to the traditional coherent receiver. The hybrid receiver can also acquire and reacquire signals much faster than conventional coherent receivers. The hybrid receiver design implements a partial carrier detection scheme that utilizes phase information that performs much better in AWGN environments than typical non-coherent receivers. Simulation results show that the hybrid receiver has low implementation loss compared to the optimal Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation (MLSE) receiver.

The surest way to increase the capacity of a wireless system is by getting the transmitters and receivers closer to each other, which creates the dual bene¯ts of higher quality links and more spatial reuse. In a network with nomadic users, this inevitably involves deploying more infrastructure, typically in the form of microcells, hotspots, distributed antennas, or relays. Compared to these deployments, a less expensive alternative for cellular operators is the recent concept of femtocells { also called home base-stations { which are end consumer installed data access points in the desire to get better indoor voice and data coverage. A two-tier network consisting of a conventional macrocell overlaid with shorter range wireless hotspots o®ers poten- tial capacity bene¯ts with low upfront costs to cellular operators. This dissertation addresses the key technical challenges inherent to a femtocell-aided cellular network, speci¯cally managing radio interference and providing reliable coverage at either tier, for di®erent physical layer technologies. Speci¯c contributions include 1) an uplink capacity analysis and interference avoidance in two-tier networks employing Code Di- vision Multiple Access (CDMA), 2) a decentralized power control scheme in two-tier networks with universal frequency reuse, 3) a coverage analysis of multi-antenna two- tier networks, and 4) spectrum allocation in two-tier networks employing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). The goal of this research is to inspire and motivate the use of decentralized interference management techniques requir- ing minimal network overhead in ongoing and future deployments of tiered cellular architectures. / text

<p>In Chapter 1, I review the existing literature on the investor and contracting usefulness of other comprehensive income (OCI) components. In Chapter 2, I perform empirical tests focused on one aspect of investor usefulness of accounting information: risk-relevance. I examine whether OCI component volatilities are associated with investors' returns volatility using a sample of bank holding companies from 1998 to 2012. The results indicate that the volatilities of unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale (AFS) securities and cash-flow hedges, typically deemed beyond managers' control, are negatively associated with risk, while volatilities of OTTI losses, over which managers have relatively more control, are positively associated with risk. The results are consistent with investors perceiving the volatility of non-OTTI AFS unrealized gains and losses as relatively less important, less risky, or less risk-relevant, than the volatility of OTTI losses, and perceiving the volatility of OTTI losses as an informative signal about risk. In Chapter 3, I find that Tier 1 Capital including more components of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI), as stipulated by Basel III, is no more volatile than pre-Basel-III Tier 1 Capital, and that the volatilities of the AOCI components new to Tier 1 Capital are not positively associated with risk. In Chapter 4, I discuss future research.</p> / Dissertation

The diploma thesis deals with a regulation of the monistic structure of a joint- stock company. This type of governance of a Czech joint-stock companies is introduced by the new Trade Corporations Act ("Act"), which is a part of an extensive recodification of the Czech private law. Introduction of this corporate governance system is not only consequence of this recodification, it is also largely a logical consequence of the statute shopping trend in Europe. The regulation of a monistic joint- stock company as introduced by the Act is not the first monistic company governance regulation in the Czech Republic. This option was already brought by the European Company Act in 2004. The first introductory part of the paper compares the two basic corporate governance systems and introduces the statutory bodies of the companies that distinguish these systems. Consequently, the study compares and evaluates the pros and cons of the two. Next part basically outlines the regulation of the European Company - Societas Europaea (SE). Main focus area of the study is the description of the monistic structure of a joint-stock company as introduced by the Act. The most important part is the description of the Board of Directors. Attention is paid to the membership in the Board, its convening and its conduct and also...

The role of Governing Board under Czech legal regulation and the role of Board of Directors under English law This Diploma Thesis deals with the position and role of Governing Bodies of joint-stock companies under Czech and English law. In the first part, the author sets theoretical and economical reasons behind the management of a joint-stock company via Governing Body by way of descriptive and explanatory method, and concludes, that a Governing Body should be an instrument which mitigates the agency costs and provides for a flexibile system of governance. In the second part of the Thesis, the author deals with structure, position and role of a Governing Board and related interpretation problems of Czech regulation by way of description, analysis and synthesis. The author summarises the second part with a definition of czech Governing Board as a sui generis body with supervisory and managerial powers, whose position stands somewhere between Managing Board and Supervisory Board. The third part of the Thesis makes an excursion into English law through descriptive, analytic and synthetic method, where the author deals with history, structure, position and role of a Board of Directors as an english counterpart of czech Governing Board. The author defines Board of Directors through historical and...

Esta tese tem por objetivo analisar três filmes do cineasta brasileiro Glauber Rocha realizados no exterior: O leão de sete cabeças (Congo/Itália/França, 1970), Cabeças cortadas (Espanha, 1970) e História do Brasil (Cuba/Itália, 1972-74, co-dirigido por Marcos Medeiros). Parte-se do entendimento que a produção de significados da obra cinematográfica (as escolhas estéticas e a manipulação da linguagem) expressa as determinações e as influências do processo histórico (das relações sociais e econômicas, da produção da cultura e da experiência pessoal do cineasta). A atuação internacional de Glauber Rocha, entre 1969 e 1974, foi delineada pela realização destes filmes, a publicação de artigos e entrevistas em periódicos europeus e latino-americanos e, finalmente, a participação em festivais, encontros e congressos de cinema. Estas formas de ação consolidaram as idéias e os anseios do cineasta, bem como explicitaram as fronteiras e os impasses as suas expectativas. Acreditamos que os filmes analisados constituem o núcleo dinamizador de um projeto formulado por Glauber Rocha de integração política e estética das cinematografias dos países pobres dos três continentes (América Latina, África e Ásia). O cineasta denominou este projeto de Cinema Tricontinental, inspirado no internacionalismo revolucionário de Che Guevara. Nossa tese pretende demonstrar que o Cinema Tricontinental fez convergir um programa político de unidade do Terceiro Mundo, uma criação estética pautada na incorporação da religiosidade popular e uma perspectiva de revolução social - simultaneamente, utópica e redentora. / Cette thèse a pour but d\'analyser trois films que le cinéaste brésilien Glauber Rocha a réalisés à l\'étranger: O leão de sete cabeças (Congo/Italie/France, 1970), Cabeças cortadas (Espagne, 1970) et História do Brasil (Cuba/Italie, 1972-74, co-réalisation de Marcos Medeiros). Nous partons de l\'idée selon laquelle la production des significations de l\'oeuvre cinématographique (les choix esthétiques et la manipulation du langage) exprime les déterminations et les influences du processus historique (des rapports sociaux et économiques, de la production de la culture et de l\'expérience personnelle du cinéaste). La présence internationale de Glauber Rocha, entre 1969 et 1974, a été circonscrite par la réalisation de ces films, la publication d\'articles et d\'interviews dans des périodiques européens et latino-américains et, finalement, la participation aux festivals, aux rencontres et aux congrès de cinéma. Ces formes d\'action ont consolidé les idées et les aspirations du cinéaste, de même qu\'elles ont fini par expliciter les frontières et les impasses de ses expectatives. Nous sommes en mesure de croire que les films analysés constituent le noyau dynamique d\'un projet formulé par Glauber Rocha: celui qui est tourné vers l\'intégration politique et esthétique des cinématographies situées dans des pays pauvres (en Amérique Latine, en Afrique, en Asie). Le cinéaste a nommé ce projet de Cinéma Tricontinental, inspiré de l\' internacionalisme de Che Guevara. Notre thèse prétend démontrer que le Cinéma Tricontinental établit la convergence d\'um programme politique de l\'unité du Tiers Monde, d\'une création esthétique marquée par l\'incorporation de la réligiosité populaire et d\'une perspective de révolution sociale - simultanément utopique et rédemptrice.

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is an accepted way of promoting an individual’s resilience, which is the ability to overcome challenging life circumstances to lead a fulfilling life. SEL is traditionally taught in schools as a universal, classroom-wide intervention. However, there is currently a gap in using SEL curricula as secondary, Tier II interventions. Strong Start, a SEL program, was evaluated as a Tier II intervention with 35 2nd grade students using a randomized-control trial design. Data were collected from students on their content knowledge of social-emotional constructs as well as from teachers on ratings of student problem behaviors and prosocial behaviors. Findings suggest improvements in student knowledge, teacher ratings of problem behaviors, and teacher ratings of prosocial behaviors for all students over time, with no significant group by time interaction. Limitations and future directions are discussed.