The role of gender, handwriting automaticity, reading proficiency, and verbal working memory in grade 4 and 5 students‟ (N = 42; 23 boys) performance on a curriculum-based measure of narrative writing was examined. Three outcomes were measured: total words written, correct minus incorrect word sequences (accurate production of spelling and grammar in-text), and composition quality. Gender (girls > boys) and handwriting automaticity were significant predictors of total words written, and gender (girls > boys), reading proficiency, and grade (5 > 4) significantly predicted correct minus incorrect word sequences scores. Total words written was the only significant predictor of composition quality. The results suggest that reading proficiency and handwriting automaticity should be assessed alongside written expression in order to identify children at risk for writing difficulties and to inform instructional recommendations for these individuals.

The role of gender, handwriting automaticity, reading proficiency, and verbal working memory in grade 4 and 5 students‟ (N = 42; 23 boys) performance on a curriculum-based measure of narrative writing was examined. Three outcomes were measured: total words written, correct minus incorrect word sequences (accurate production of spelling and grammar in-text), and composition quality. Gender (girls > boys) and handwriting automaticity were significant predictors of total words written, and gender (girls > boys), reading proficiency, and grade (5 > 4) significantly predicted correct minus incorrect word sequences scores. Total words written was the only significant predictor of composition quality. The results suggest that reading proficiency and handwriting automaticity should be assessed alongside written expression in order to identify children at risk for writing difficulties and to inform instructional recommendations for these individuals.

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of titrated levels of wheat-based dried distillers grains on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics and rumen fermentation parameters of cattle fed wheat-based dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). In trial 1, a barley grain-based diet (0% DDGS) was used as a control. It was formulated to 12% CP and 1.52 and 0.93 Mcal kg-1 net energy of maintenance (NEm ) and net energy of gain( NEg) respectively, during the backgrounding period and to 13% crude protein (CP) and 1.90 and 1.26 Mcal kg-1 NEm and NEg respectively, during finishing. Wheat-based DDGS replaced on a dry matter basis (DM) barley grain at levels of 8, 16, 24 and 32% during backgrounding and 6, 12, 18 and 23% during finishing. During backgrounding dry matter intake (P = 0.02), ADG (P = 0.04), and ultrasounded (US) longissimus. dorsi gain (P = 0.02) exhibited a cubic response to DDGS inclusion level with theoretical minima at 6.9, 8.1 and 6.9% DDGS respectively, and theoretical maxima responses at 27.2, 30.8 and 23.9% DDGS, respectively. Feed efficiency exhibited a quadratic response (P = 0.02) to DDGS inclusion level with a theoretical poorest response at 13.1% DDGS. Similar responses were noted during the first 56 d of the finishing period, however over the course of the finishing period no effect of DDGS inclusion level was noted on average daily gain (ADG), DMI, feed efficiency (FE), ultrasound measurements or on any carcass traits. <p>Trial 2 examined the effects of graded levels of wheat-based DDGS (0, 7, 14, 21% DM basis) on rumen fermentation characteristics using rumen cannulated heifers. Rumen pH measurements indicated that the pH mean at or below 5.8 and 5.5 decreased as DDGS inclusion level increased to 14% DM. The highest values (P<0.05) for pH area between the benchmarks of 5.5 and 5.2, pH area below 5.2 and time below pH 5.2 were found at the 14% DDGS inclusion level, pointing to rumen fermentation characteristics associated with severe rumen acidosis. Ammonia nitrogen levels, percent acetate, percent butyrate and the acetate: propionate ratio increased linearly (P < 0.0001) with DDGS. Propionate concentration decreased linearly (P = 0.006) as the level of DDGS increased. In situ rumen degradation kinetics showed that the DM and CP soluble fraction of DDGS to be significantly higher than that of rolled barley, however effective degradability of dry matter (EDDM) and effective degradability of crude protein (EDCP) were greater for barley. The results of this trial indicate that wheat-based DDGS has an energy value at least equal to that of barley grain with no adverse effects on cattle performance or carcass quality. Furthermore, since all treatments showed equal susceptibility to sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) and therefore, wheat-based DDGS as a dietary ingredient is unable to mitigate rumen fermentation conditions associated with SARA.

This thesis considers outdoor education as a pedagogical approach which enables students to explore the natural world and learn its value when guided by an adult, be they teacher or community member. In order to provide a full account of this distinctive pedagogy, the thesis critically examines three approaches to outdoor education: a discipline-based approach used in a course on phenology at Capital Normal University in Beijing; a multidisciplinary approach currently utilized at the Outdoor School in Saskatoon; and a place-based approach as exemplified in the CO-SEED project (Community-Based School Environmental Education project) in the United States. The theoretical framework used throughout the thesis is the philosophy of education of Alfred North Whitehead coupled with concepts from his philosophy of organism. It is within this framework that each approach is interpreted and its strengths and weaknesses explained.<p> Based on consideration of the three examples and on an analysis of the literature concerning outdoor education, I argue that outdoor education is not fully recognized by educators as a way for students to learn to appreciate their connection with nature. The educational value of outdoor education has yet to be acknowledged, and as a result students with little or no regular outdoor experience tend to feel alienated from nature, and are losing any sense of connectedness and rootedness to the places where they live. By way of contrast, outdoor education has the potential to restore students appreciation of nature.<p> I propose that a place-based approach to outdoor education is the most inclusive and adequate of the three approaches. At the same time, this approach would benefit from a full understanding and integration of Whiteheads key concepts of the rhythmic cycles of growth, internal relations, wisdom, value, and the art of life. Together they would strengthen place-based education, making it an effective approach to outdoor education.

Analyzer crystal based imaging techniques such as diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI) and multiple imaging radiography (MIR) utilize the Bragg peak of perfect crystal diffraction to convert angular changes into intensity changes. These X-ray techniques extend the capability of conventional radiography, which derives image contrast from absorption, by providing a large change in intensity for a small angle change introduced by the X-ray beam traversing the sample. Objects that have very little absorption contrast may have considerable refraction and ultra small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) contrast thus improving visualization and extending the utility of X-ray imaging. To improve on the current DEI technique this body of work describes the design of an X-ray prism (XRP) included in the imaging system which allows the analyzer crystal to be aligned anywhere on the rocking curve without moving the analyzer from the Bragg angle. By using the XRP to set the rocking curve alignment rather than moving the analyzer crystal physically the needed angle sensitivity is changed from ìradians for direct mechanical movement of the analyzer crystal to milliradian control for movement the XRP angle. In addition to using an XRP for the traditional DEI acquisition method of two scans on opposite sides of the rocking curve preliminary tests will be presented showing the potential of using an XRP to scan quickly through the entire rocking curve. This has the benefit of collecting all the required data for image reconstruction in a single fast measurement thus removing the occurrence of motion artifacts for each point or line used during a scan. The XRP design is also intended to be compatible with combined imaging systems where more than one technique is used to investigate a sample. Candidates for complimentary techniques are investigated and measurements from a combined X-ray imaging system are presented.

The Saskatchewan farm sector is a dynamic system that is faced with the reality of farm consolidation and other structural adjustments. While structural adjustment may result in increased productivity at the farm-level, the declining farm population has a direct impact on rural regions. Given the economic difficulties now inherent in many rural regions, there has never been a more important time to improve our understanding of the structural dynamics of the farm sector. <p> By utilizing agent-based methods, competition that exists between farm households in land markets is modelled in a dynamic framework. By modeling land markets in this manner, structural adjustments that occur due to the re-allocation of land among farm household becomes endogenous to the model. The farming simulation was validated by evaluating its ability to replicate actual structural shifts that occurred during the period of 1960-2000. The results obtained from the simulation were found to mirror historic shifts, which gives the author confidence that the parsimonious assumptions made are robust, yet still characteristic of farm level behaviour in the region. Other scenarios were simulated in order to estimate a counterfactual structural evolution of the modelled region, in the absence of government stabilization and support programs. Significant deviations are observed between the base and zero transfer scenarios with regards to the consolidation of farm assets among a declining number of farm households. Most significantly, the decline in farm numbers accelerated significantly in the late 1980s in the zero transfer scenario compared to the base simulations. <p>The application of an agent-based framework allowed for the study of regional structure with an emphasis on the behaviour and actions of the primary decisions makers within the system. While structural change is driven by a number of factors, the ability of a farm household to fully employ their labour resource was an important factor in the simulations. This contrasts with the finding that productive efficiency, and purchasing and market power at the farm level is not a necessary condition for the observed consolidation of farm assets.

In this work, we describe our recent efforts aimed at determining the mechanism of signal change for a diffraction-based sensor (DBS) system. The DBS detects analyte-binding events by monitoring the change in diffraction efficiency that takes place when analyte molecules adsorb to target molecules that have been patterned onto a surface. The exact parameters that affect the intensity of the diffraction intensity are currently not well understood.<p>In this work, the formalism used to describe the behaviour of volume-phase holography is used to understand the parameters that effect the diffraction intensity. It is hypothesized that the major factors that effect the diffraction intensity are the differences in optical path length between the wave trains that reflect off the diffraction grating and those that reffect off the substrate surface. Also key is the difference in refractive index between the two media. Two approaches were developed to investigate this hypothesis; the first was to develop a series of gratings of varying thickness using polyelectrolyte multilayers. The indices of refraction of these gratings were adjusted by the incorporation of charged gold nanoparticles. Since DBS systems operate by monitoring the binding of analyte molecules, a second series of experiments were developed to investigate the changes in diffraction intensity as micometer sized carboxylated beads were loaded onto an avidin grating. The first aspect that was investigated was the effect of adding more particles onto the grating surface on diffraction intensity. Second, the extent to which the particles reduced the periodicity of the diffraction grating, and the effect on the observed intensity of the diffraction signal were also investigated. Finally, this work shows the first use of a DBS system to extract the rate of and the maximum surface coverage of a specific binding reaction.

Abstract Title: Innovation and its influence of LBS company: Jiepang in China Level: Final assignment for Master of Business Administration   Author: Yang OU, Zijian LI   Supervisor: Maria. Fregidou-Malama   Date: 2012-June   Aim: Chinese firms desire to win the market, and they should consider innovation. The aim of the study is to explore the effects of innovation for LBS firm to gain success in China. Method: The main research method is case study. Jiepang as our case company is a LBS firm in China. And we interview two persons from different department, and one is its co-founder. Result &amp; Conclusions: Innovative action and behavior must cover whole organization, all employees should be participant. In China, LBS is a rising industry, but LBS firms face to many threats from competitors and substitutes too. Thereby in order to survive in the market and gain success, innovation is a very important strategy for LBS firm, but not the unique method.       Suggestions for future research: Open innovation process is becoming a hot topic currently, so how to innovate with customer or user, how to cooperate with them? And if the data collection can take from multi-cases, it would be make research result more convincing.         Contribution of the thesis: In this study, we introduce and popularize a new industry, LBS in China. And we give a deeper understanding of the importance of innovation and how innovation can improve the competitiveness of the company in this industry.

This study investigates the applicability of node.js for developing web services.Node.js is a software platform for developing event-driven networking applicationsusing JavaScript. Moreover, the language JavaScript is discussed regardingfeatures that facilitate development of event-driven software.Node.js’s selling point is to be a solution to the problem of massive amount ofconcurrent network connections. In addition, it tries to avoid scalability issuesthat may appear in large web applications. To verify and investigate if this holds,an evaluation of the platform was conducted by developing an HTTP boot serverfor Motorola Mobility. The boot server, named Wellington, is used to manageconfiguration and distribution of set-top box software.Furthermore, an investigation and comparison between event based and threadedconcurrency models has been made. Lastly, the maturity of node.js and its ecosystemof libraries and frameworks are discussed.In conclusion, node.js is an interesting piece of technology and it was suitableas development platform for Wellington. JavaScript is a powerful language andworks well to write event-driven server-side software. When learning to buildnetworking applications, node.js is a good start to do so using an event-drivenparadigm.

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