Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-80).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Reformed Theological Sesminary, 2002. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 220-225).

The reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) in 2004 states that a local education agency (LEA) may use a process that determines whether a child responds to scientific, research-based intervention as part of the evaluation procedures to identify the child as having a specific learning disability and as eligible to receive special education services. One such process that LEAs are using is response to intervention (RTI). Typically, RTI has been conceptualized and implemented as a multitiered prevention and intervention instructional support system for struggling learners. The implementation of RTI requires practitioners’ knowledge and skill in the planning, development, and execution of its innovative, scientifically based research methods. Rogers’s (2003) diffusion of innovation model served as the framework for this study. Rogers’s 5 main steps in the innovation-decision process were examined: (a) knowledge, (b) persuasion, (c) decision, (d) implementation, and (e) confirmation. Through this lens, how the innovation-decision process influences educators and schools to adopt or not adopt multitiered instruction defined as RTI was examined. The study explored whether practitioners did adopt RTI; whether all 5 stages were implemented by the educators; and, if so, whether they were sequenced. The study also examined whether adoption occurred and all aspects of RTI were being adhered to. Despite an abundance of research and writings on the pedagogical implications related to RTI, largely due to recent federal policy, there is a paucity of research on RTI regarding the organizational complexity related to implementing RTI. This lack of inquiry of organizational processes and effects of RTI affects both general and special educators, and consequently students of all ages. / text

The transition from high school into college is a critical period in the life course, reflecting past history and forecasting future prospects. How this transition unfolds can influence who persists in college and who does not, as it is a time of socioemotional vulnerability as well as a foundation of the highly cumulative path through higher education. The aim of this study was to look at variation in emotional adjustment during the transition from high school into college and how relates to the match/mismatch of academic context and pathways from high school to college as well as parental support. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), latent growth curve and growth mixture modeling were used to estimate trajectories of emotional distress and identify basic categories of trajectories among college goers. Aspects of high school and college context and performance variables—as well as combination among them—were then used to predict the types of trajectories individual college students followed. The results revealed significant heterogeneity in how college-goers fared emotionally, with some experiencing increased depressive symptomatology and others experiences declines. Those who appeared to fare the worst emotionally during the transition to college had consistently low academic demands from high school into college and lacked support social support from their parents. / text

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The research involves the testing of Overall and Experimental Hypotheses concerning the nature of design activity and the relationship between designers' cognition and their use of CAD systems. In particular, a lack of understanding of the design process was perceived together with a need to utilize aspects of designers internal problem solving capabilities in the specification of electronio design aids. A multidisciplinary approach is used in review and experimental methods in order to associate theoretical aspects of design behaviour with the measurement of practice. The social, economic and industrial implications of new technology are reviewed in the light of their e~~ects upon intellectual industrial tasks, such as designing within the textile and other industries. Also considered are the theoretical aspects o~ designing and in particular the designers' cognitive activity is described in behavioural terms. Such theories are tested in experimental situations where the problem solving aspects are elicited from designers in relation to their internal schematic representation o~ design problems. Speci~ic conclusions in the area o~ person-system interaction concern both Hypotheses. Adaptation was ~ound to be best considered as another aspect of the holistio representation that a designer has of his task. This resulted ~rom a recognition o~ the individuals own methods o~ problem solving within the con~ines of the task. The use o~ repertory grid techniques ~or the investigation of designing did not prove however that a designer's internal spaoe is completely measurable. Indeed, it resulted that some phenomena associated with design appear ~undamentally subjective although it was £ound that identi~iable and individual oriteria are used by designers. The particular contribution that this work makes is in the assooiation o~ psychological, sociologioal and industrial aspects o~ designing in an approach to the adaptive behaviour of designers in their use of CAD "systems

The in vitro and in situ immune responses of carp Cyprinus carpio to Ichthyophthirius multifiliis were investigated in order to characterise the immune mechanisms involved in protection. 'O' group and adult carp were immunised against I.multifiliis by controlled infection procedures. Sterile immunity was not achieved; theronts were observed to penetrate the skin of immunised fish, although in the majority of cases this did not lead to successful trophozoite establishment. It was concluded that most parasites prematurely exited the epidermis of immunised fish within two hours of penetration as an active survival strategy. Trophozoites remaining in immunised fish beyond two hours post infection were able to complete normal development. Serum from carp immunised against I.multifiliis displayed specific in vitro theront immobilising activity, and antibody was detected against parasite ciliary membranes and mucocyst organellae; similar activity was not detected in cutaneous mucus. Significant amounts of antibody could not be located at the immediate host/parasite interface of trophozoites in situ in immune skin; prevention of antibody binding may be achieved by means of a mucocyst-derived "sheath" around the parasite and the formation of a layer of necrotic host tissue debris. Parasite development in immunised fish initiated a localised cellular infiltration, predominated by type III granulocytes ("basophils'') and mast cell-like cells, the activity of which may augment further cellular and humoral infiltration. Sites of premature parasite exit from the epidermis of immunised fish were infiltrated by actively phagocytic cells, predominantly macrophages, probably in response to localised antibody/antigen complex deposition. Pronephric leucocytes of immunised fish displayed greater in vitro non-specific phagocytic activity than cells of carp naive to I.multifiliis; the relevance of this to enhanced antigen uptake in immunised fish is discussed. Based on results of the present study, a model for the Mode of protection in fish against I.multifiliis is proposed.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.