In this thesis, the geometry of curved surfaces is studied using the methods of differential geometry. The introduction of manifolds assists in the study of classical two-dimensional surfaces. To study the geometry of a surface a metric, or way to measure, is needed. By changing the metric on a surface, a new geometric surface can be obtained. On any surface, curves called geodesics play the role of "straight lines" in Euclidean space. These curves minimize distance locally but not necessarily globally. The curvature of a surface at each point p affects the behavior of geodesics and the construction of geometric objects such as circles and triangles. These fundamental ideas of manifolds, geodesics, and curvature are developed and applied to classical surfaces in Euclidean space as well as models of non-Euclidean geometry, specifically, two-dimensional hyperbolic space.

Educational research indicates that integrating computers and other technologies into the curriculum, enhances student interest in learning. However, many teachers disregard these tools citing lack of time, equipment, or experience. Based on this information, the researcher designed a project which uses computers and other technologies to stimulate middle school language arts students' interest in learning. An initial survey of 166 middle school students determined that English grammar and usage is the least enjoyed portion of the language arts curriculum. The researcher then created ten computer and technology assisted learning activities which reinforce grammar-related content and skills. A seventh grade language arts class field tested the activities. They also completed several types of follow up instruments, and participated in personal interviews, which helped the researcher conclude that careful utilization of computers and other technologies to deliver unappealing portions of the curriculum may improve students interest in those areas.

A model of managerial control and an instrument-The School Managerial Control Questionnaire was developed by Bogotch (1989). These were tested using a sample of elementary, middle, and high school teachers in the nation's fourth largest school district. A study by Williams (1990) used the same model and instrument with a sample of elementary school teachers from the same school district. This study used the same model and instrument to measure control processes exercised by principals in small, rural school districts in North Florida. The model reflects two managerial behavior styles: Discretionary and ministerial; four managerial control processes: Standards, information, assessment, and incentives; and four selected tasks of curriculum and instruction: Teacher evaluation, staff development, curriculum development, and selection of texts and instructional materials. In addition to the dependent variables studied, five independent variables related to the demographical responses from the high school teachers were measured along the managerial behaviors, control processes and the selected curriculum and instructional tasks. This study validated Bogotch's model and his instrument as they relate to rural high school principals.

This case study was a qualitative investigation to describe the nature of teachers' involvement in school based management (SBM), and to describe how this involvement affected teachers' worklives. The review of related literature provided the historical background that led to SBM restructuring, examined what the literature has revealed on SBM, and investigated organizational commitment in the context of SBM. A semi-structured interview was the instrument used to gather the data. The participants of this case study were a random sample of teachers, a sample of teachers selected by their principals, and the principals currently employed at each of the three elementary schools in a single county school district in Florida. A total of 33 educators were interviewed and their responses were tape recorded to assist in the authentication of the transcribed data. The data were then compiled and analyzed. Themes and patterns were identified and placed into a matrix for purposes of assessing the interrelationships of responses offered in the context of the three elementary schools. The analysis and interpretation of data revealed that restructuring with SBM was implemented to a minimal degree at the elementary schools of Florida County. The results showed that the effects of restructuring were varied and included both positive and negative findings. For some teachers, involvement enhanced commitment to the organization and spurred them on to further efforts, while for most respondents restructuring activities were perceived as impositions that made it difficult to balance classroom and SBM responsibilities. Respondents also revealed that they doubted the potential of SBM as a means to improve the quality of education at Florida County Schools or as a process for producing significant academic achievements. Recommendations were made for practical application and for future research.

This study of the lyric poetry of William Butler Yeats concentrates on his ideas about nature and art, with a focus on the imagery of the wind. Though each of Yeats's poems may be read and enjoyed individually, a study of the body of Yeats's lyric poems gives the reader a better understanding of a symbol such as the wind. As a whole, the poems form a narrative of the development of Yeats's mind; by looking closely at the single symbol of the wind, we gain insight into the development of Yeats's ideas about art and nature. In Yeats's early poetry wind imagery, as well as other nature imagery, is prominent, but as Yeats's poetic career evolves, nature imagery--including that of the wind--becomes less frequent. By the last phase of Yeats's career, his source of inspiration has shifted from nature to art. Nature signifies change, but art for Yeats symbolizes the eternal and the unchanging. This paper explores Yeats's use of the wind as symbol including the shift in focus from nature to art.

This project addressed the following question: How can teachers promote positive attitudes in a culturally pluralistic classroom? The review of related literature revealed a shortage of both research and practical applications regarding multicultural approaches in the classroom. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to develop a curriculum which incorporated appropriate learning activities and strategies designed to enhance positive attitudes toward cultural differences in the elementary classroom. The project was developed for third graders and goals which promoted a multicultural perspective were outlined. An attitudinal survey was developed and administered as a pre test to establish entry level attitudes toward diversity. Activities designed to facilitate the goal of the project were implemented during a six-week period. The attitudinal survey was readministered as a post test to assess potential changes in students' attitudes. The data gathered was analyzed using comparisons of pre and post test responses. Positive movement occurred regarding each statement on the survey and ranged from negligible to significant. It was therefore determined that the unit of instruction fostered the development of more positive attitudes in a culturally pluralistic classroom. Other conclusions and recommendations were also included.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a powerful emerging technology widely used for asset tracking, supply chain management, animal identification, military applications, payment systems, and access control. Over the years, RFID has emerged as a popular technology in various industries because of its ability to track moving objects. As RFID is becoming less expensive and more robust, many companies and vendors are developing tags to track objects. Multiple vendors manufacture RFID tags worldwide. Therefore, it is quite possible that they manufacture tags with the same identification code (ID) as vendor ID code data sets may not be synchronized or may be subject to tag id errors. Due to this drawback, there is the possibility that non-unique tags exist along with unique tags in the same RFID system. As existing implementations optimize the performance of RFID systems performance based on the assumption of unique tags, it is important to study the effect of non-unique tags on RFID systems. This thesis focuses on a formal analysis of the Basic Frame Slotted ALOHA (BFSA) Muting RFID system with non-unique tags. An RFID network was modeled with OPNET Modeler 14.5. An evaluation model was built to measure the total census delay, optimal frame size, and network throughput for an RFID network based on a BFSA protocol for non-unique tags and support for muting. The evaluation results are in agreement with results obtained from the evaluation of a similar model for unique tags [Kang08]. Comparing total census delay for unique and non-unique tags for variable frame sizes showed an increase in total census delay with an increase in the number of tags. Comparing minimum network throughput, mean network throughput, and maximum network throughput for unique and non-unique tags for variable frame sizes showed a decrease in network throughput with an increase in the number of tags.

Many hydrophobic environmental pollutants have been shown to bioaccumulate and biomagnify at high levels in sharks due to their high liver lipid content, high trophic level, and life history characteristics. Studies have demonstrated that the levels of pollutants present in shark tissues can not only exceed the recommended levels for human consumption, but that, in some cases, they are also greater than the threshold for physiological effect in other aquatic species. However, few studies to date have investigated the biological effect of environmental exposure to contaminants in sharks. Therefore, the goal of this study was to investigate, through the use of biomarkers, if sharks are experiencing physiological effects due to exposure to 1) methylmercury (MeHg) and 2) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results of the first part of the study indicated that total mercury (THg) concentrations (μg/g w.w.) in Sphyrna tiburo muscle tissue were positively correlated with size of the animals, but that metallothionein (MT), a commonly used biomarker for toxic metal exposure, was not a valid biomarker for Hg exposure in this species, as no correlation between MT in muscle or liver and THg was found. The later portion of the study demonstrated that sharks off the coast of Alabama that were exposed to oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DHOS) in 2010 are exhibiting biochemical effects in the form of induced activity of the Phase I biotransformation enzyme, cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1). Further research on the effects of both MeHg and PAH exposure in sharks should focus on the effects experienced by larger species and those at higher trophic levels, which are known to harbor higher levels of contaminants, and therefore be affected to a greater extent, than the species analyzed in this study (i.e. small species occupying lower trophic levels).

This study was designed to compare midlife male graduate students with midlife female, early adulthood male, and early adulthood female graduate students in terms of their motivations for returning to higher education and their academic self-concept as returning students. Data were gathered, using Boshiers's Education Participation Scale (1995) and Drummond's Academic Self-Concept Scale (1984), from graduate students at a comprehensive, urban, southeastern, public university of approximately 10,000 students. The 426 graduate student participants were enrolled in three colleges (Business, Education, and Health) at the university. Multivariate analysis of variance (MAN"OVA), univariate analysis of variance, and multiple comparison tests results indicate significant motivational and academic selfconcept differences. Midlife males' mean scores were significantly lower in the motivation category of Professional Advancement than the other three age/gender groups. Midlife males' and females' academic self-concept mean scores were significantly higher than early adulthood females in the category of Extraversion, and higher than early adulthood males in the category of Academic Skills. These findings may be useful in educational recruitment and curriculum programming. Implications for practice and recommendations for research are provided.

This paper addresses the problem of the minimal presence of activity-based science in the intermediate grades. The author presents a project integrating a hands-on science curriculum. Students at the fourth-grade level were given demonstrations and activities in the area of science. Discussions, written assignments, readings, listening activities, and reports were correlated with hands-on activities in the development of an integrated curriculum. This qualitative study lasted the school year and was evaluated by use of the teacher's ongoing journal and student-submitted evaluations of the curriculum at the close of the study. The author found the project produced positive results in stimulating discussion, critical thinking, and student involvement. The author concludes that such a curriculum is beneficial because it elevates an often neglected, yet stimulating, curriculum and integrates it into the language arts curriculum which occupies a great deal of student/teacher time and effort.