The problem of this study was to determine patterns of response of Texas schools in implementing the Texas Education Agency mandate to phase out below grade level courses. High schools were instructed to phase out these courses, using one of four options outlined by the Texas Education Agency. The study was conducted in two parts with both a telephone survey and a mail survey. The data collected from the telephone survey was used to construct and validate the mail survey instrument. The mail survey was sent to a stratified sample of Texas high schools based on school size, district wealth, and geographical location.

A study of the biology of Tropisternus lateralis, a hydrophilid beetle, was conducted during the flood period of a single playa on the Southern High Plains of Texas from early June 1995 through early September 1995. Mechanism of colonization, tolerance/avoidance to drought, larval density, and secondary production were analyzed. T. lateralis colonized playas from surrounding aquatic habitats and avoided drought through aerial dispersion. Once in the playa, larval density increased over time. Secondary production was 1.31 g/m2/.25 yr. In addition, aquatic Coleoptera diversity was studied in seven playas on the Southern High Plains of Texas. A total of twenty three species were identified from the study region. Nine species not reported in playa literature were identified.

Changes in trophic status are often related to increases or decreases in the allocthonous inputs of nutrients from changes in land use and management practices. Lake and reservoir managers are continually faced with the questions of what to monitor, how to monitor it, and how much change is necessary to be considered significant. This study is a compilation of four manuscripts, addressing one of these questions, using data from six reservoirs in Texas.

A life history study of Callibaetis floridanus was conducted over the wet cycle of a playa on the Southern High Plains of Texas from June through September 1995.

Allozyme frequencies and general protein patterns were surveyed among selected Texas marine fishes and shellfishes to illustrate the application of biochemical genetic techniques to stock and species identification in fisheries management.

This investigation sought to identify linkages between the Texas Supreme Court and public opinion through 1) a matching of written decisions with scientifically conducted public opinion polls; 2) direct mention of public opinion and its synonyms in Texas justices' decisions; 3) comparison of these mentions over time; and 4) comparison of 10 personal attributes of justices with matched decisions. The study moved the unit of analysis from the U.S. Supreme Court to the state court level by using classification schemes and attribute models previously applied to the U.S. Supreme Court. It determined that linkages exist between the Texas Supreme Court's written decisions and public opinion from 1978 to July 1994.

This dissertation deals with one aspect of how city officials respond to community needs. It is about the decisions of governments on how to secure the financial resources needed to fulfill their obligations to the public. The study explores the factors that influence officials' decisions to issue debt. It is different from other municipal bond studies in that it focuses on the behavior of bond issuers rather than bond investors and the rating agencies.

The problem of this study concerns the role and functions of diversity affairs centers' chief personnel officers at public universities in Texas. Because of the political and evolving nature of diversity affairs offices, it is important to understand the functions and types of services these centers provide with respect to institutional goals, missions, and student retention at public universities in Texas.

Between February 1986 and October 1988, 863 amphibians and reptiles were collected in northcentral Texas and examined for coccidial parasites. Thirteen percent of amphibians <26% salamanders, 11% frogs and toads) and 28% of reptiles (54% turtles, 25% snakes) harbored 20 previously described and 16 new species of coccidia; overall prevalence of infection was 176/863 < 20%). Sixteen Ambvstoma texanum were infected with Eimeria ambystomae which represents new host and geographic locality records for the coccidium. Forty anurans were found to be passing coccidia, including Pseudacris streckeri. Bufo valliceos and Gastrophryne olivacea. Four new species of coccidia were described from anurans and include Eimeria flexuosa. E. streckeri. Isospora dellcatus and I_. fraaosum. However, oocysts found in B. v.. valliceps were determined experimentally to represent pseudoparasites. Sixty-eight turtles were infected with coccidia, including Chelvdra serpentina, Kinoeternon flavescens. Pseudemvs texana. Terrapeng ornata and Trachemvs scripta eleoans. Fourteen eimerians (5 of which are described as new species) were found in turtles. The new species from turtles include Eimeria cooteri, E. ornata, E. Btvlosa. E. texana and E. trachemvdis. Interestingly, all 96 lizards examined were negative for coccidia. Fifty-three snakes including 11 colubrids and 1 viperld harbored coccidia of the genera Caryospora. Cryptosporidium. Eimeria and Sarcocystis: prevalence of infection was highest in 3 species of North American water snakes <Nerodia spp.). Seven new species of Eimeria were described from snakes, including E. conanti. E. lnfirmus. E. papillosum. E. rhombifera. E. serpenticola. E. striatula and E. tenuis. There was no preference for coccidia between the sexes of any hosts. Based on limited data from a single anuran host, prevalence was higher during wetter months of spring than in summer. In addition, prevalence was higher in aquatic and semiaquatic snakes than in truly terrestrial species. Preliminary data suggested that using host specificity data of coccidia may be a method of studying host phylogeny and coevolutionary relationships in thamnophiine snakes.

"What's on Tap, Texas?" is an exploration of the interrelated worlds of the home brewer and the craft brewer in Texas.