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Accessibility of information and credibility of source as they affect school choice
(2014-08-18) Rodgers, Lauren Tiernan; Jos, Phillip; Murray, Kent
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) incorporates four principles that provide a framework through which families, educators, and communities can work together to improve teaching and learning, the most important of which is the expansion of school choice opportunities. The intense ideological debate surrounding school choice has often obscured a realistic assessment of what school administrators can and cannot do to overcome constraints on parental choice. Many of these constraints are rooted in durable social, political, and economic realities not addressed by NCLB and yet school administrators must nonetheless do what they can to expand the capacity for meaningful parental choice. This research reviews these constraints along with parental consumption of information and evaluates current practices and methods for providing information to parents. It underscores the need for credible sources in a school district's attempt to provide accessible information about the educational opportunities available to children attending Title I schools, outlining six predictors of school district credibility.
Age, growth and reproduction of speckled hind, Epinephelus drummondhayi, off the Atlantic coast of the southeast United States
(2014-08-18) Ziskin, Gabriel Lee; Harris, Patrick; Reichert, Marcel; Sancho, Gorka; Wyanski, David
This study provides life history and population data for speckled hind off the Atlantic coast of the southeast United States. A total of 1,365 speckled hind were sampled utilizing fishery-dependent and -independent sampling. The age of individuals was estimated by counting increments on sectioned sagittal otoliths. Sex and reproductive state were assessed by histological analysis of sectioned gonads. Data from two periods during the study (1977-93 and 2004-07) were compared to assess the effectiveness of a regulation put in place in 1994 by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Speckled hind ranged in total length (TL) and age from 164 to 973 mm and 1 to 35 years. Marginal increment analysis indicated that annulus formation occurs between June and August. Mean TL, mean age and length at age of speckled hind have decreased since the 1977-1993 period. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters calculated for both periods indicated that the growth rate was slower during the 2004-07 period. Length and age at 50% maturity has increased since the 1977-93 period, but length and age at 50% transition has decreased. The male:female ratio in the speckled hind population from 1977-93 was 1:1.5 and from 2004-07 was 1:3.8. Spawning females were observed from May through October; however, none were sampled during the 2004-07 period. Catch curve analysis indicated that total mortality and fishing mortality have increased since 1977- 1993. The results of the present study indicate that speckled hind continue to be over-exploited, despite the 1994 regulation, and may not be reproductively resilient enough to recover from depressed population levels. A new management strategy is necessary to improve the status of the population.
Assessment of the Flounder (Paralichthys Spp.) Gig Fishery in South Carolina
(2014-08-18) Hiltz, Eric M.; Reichert, Marcel; Wenner, Charles A.; Sancho, Gorka; Bell, Mel
This thesis examines the behaviors and harvest/effort of flounder giggers in South Carolina from March to October 2007 using on-site interviews, a mail survey, and an aerial survey. The results were compared with data from the hook and line flounder fishery in South Carolina to estimate the relative importance of gigging in the recreational flounder fishery. Flounder giggers are most active between June and September on nights when low tide is between 22:00 and 0:00 EST and wind speeds are less than 5 mph (8 km/hr). Most gigging takes place in Georgetown County around Murrells Inlet and North Inlet. Participants gigged a median of 1 to 3 flounder per trip depending on experience, significantly more than the average number of flounder caught per trip by hook and line fishers in South Carolina (0.5 flounder/person/trip). Gigged flounder averaged 410 mm (}3 SE) (16 inches) TL, significantly larger than those taken by hook and line (395 mm (}3 SE) or 15.5 inches). Flounder gigged in Horry and Georgetown counties were larger than those in other coastal counties. Only one gigged flounder examined during this study was identified as a summer flounder; all others (374) were southern flounder. Although they account for 13% of all participants in the SC recreational saltwater fishery, giggers may have harvested 55% of the recreational flounder catches in South Carolina in 2007. In the past 4 years, the number of giggers has increased by 47%, suggesting that in the near future, this fishery could account for an even greater proportion of the recreational flounder harvest in South Carolina. This study indicates that the number of flounder harvested by giggers in South Carolina is significant. Therefore, it is essential this understudied portion of the fishery be monitored and taken into account in future flounder stock assessments and management decisions.
Cyrus in Cyprus: Cyrus Vance and crisis management in the Cyprus crisis of 1967
(2014-08-18) Rummell, Nicholas Lee; Wright, Christopher; Gigova, Irina; Neulander, Joelle
As the situation in Cyprus became volatile near the end of 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson sent Cyrus R. Vance as his personal envoy to broker a peace between Greece and Turkey, and prevent a possible war between the NATO allies. Vance's Mission, while very important at the time, has been often overlooked by scholars, and by creating a synthesized narrative of what occurred, Vance's procedures and techniques can be examined to show the impact of his mission on the area and why he was successful. By examining and compiling notes and documents from Vance's personal archives at Yale University, State Department Archives, and United Nations Archives, a thoroughly detailed narrative of what Vance faced and accomplished is compiled. This narrative can be used to gain a better understanding of the Cyprus situation itself, and also can be used to examine the life and work of Cyrus Vance at a deeper level. Finally, this narrative provides a formula for future diplomats and international negotiators to preserve peace and prevent war while handling a volatile crisis situation.
Desegregation Not Integration: Charleston County Schools and the Struggle Over Consolidation, 1963-1980
(2014-08-18) Jenkins, Katherine; Hopkins, George; Cox, Marcus; Powers, Bernard
This thesis examines the 1968 consolidation of the eight school districts of Charleston County into one school district. Consolidation was implemented by the state legislature as a financial and administrative means to equalize the schools in the county, but it also had significant implications for the ongoing desegregation of the county's public schools. The primary sources used were the records of the lawsuit, US & Ganaway, et al., v. Charleston County School District & State of South Carolina, which tested the constitutionality of the Act of Consolidation in 1980 as well as the archives of the Charleston County School District. Unusually in cases of county consolidation, Charleston County maintained its eight previous school districts as constituents of the new county district. Responsibility for attendance and teacher assignments was left with the constituent districts, making it easier for the school district to avoid countywide desegregation. The only monograph on Charleston County schools during this period, R. Scott Bakers Paradoxes of Desegregation, blames the racism of the legislators who wrote the Act for its segregative effect. In the final analysis, however, the Act of Consolidation cannot be blamed for the failure of the Charleston County school board to successfully achieve an integrated school system. Instead, the school administrators narrow interpretation of the Act allowed them to guide the school district along their preferred course, that of minimal desegregation, rather than true integration.
Effect of increased CO2 on dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) lyase activity in the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi
(2014-08-18) Rudisill, Jamie; DiTullio, Giacomo R.; Lee, Peter; Van Dolah, Frances M.; Doucette, Gregory J.
Emiliania huxleyi is an important component of the global carbon and sulfur cycles, yet little is known about the potential impacts of increasing pCO2, particularly on the relevant dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) lyase enzyme. DMSP lyase activity (DLA) was measured on a transect during the North Atlantic spring bloom in June 2005. DLA was quantified using gas chromatography and found to vary from 0 ‚Äì 26.35 nmol L-1 min-1. No significant hydrographic trends were found, however, DLA was generally highest near the surface and decreased with depth. Phytoplankton pigment analysis suggested that coccolithophorids were a large source of the DLA. A shipboard continuous culture experiment analyzed the effects of pCO2 and temperature in a two by two pCO2 (380, 750 ppm)/temperature (12 ¬∫C, 16 ¬∫C) matrix. Various parameters were significantly increased by either high temperature or high pCO2. A significant temperature/CO2 interaction was found with DLA, but there were no differences with normalized DLA. Biomass normalized DMSP was significantly increased at high temperature. A laboratory based semi-continuous culture experiment analyzed the effect of pCO2 (150, 350, 750 ppm) on E. huxleyi (non-calcifier). Cell density was significantly higher in the 750 ppm treatment in the first two dilutions, and in the third dilution cell density was significantly higher in the 150 ppm treatment. This suggests an inhibitory effect at high pCO2 due to acidification. There were no treatment differences with cell normalized DMSP or DLA, which were highest at the time of dilution and decreased over the growth cycle. Light levels within the cultures decreased with growth. Our results are consistent with the accepted idea that DLA may be involved in oxidative stress protection, particularly at high light levels, but further investigations are warranted to improve our understanding of DMSP-lyase in coccolithophorids.
Effect of Temperature on the Vertical Movement and Swimming Behavior of Larval Southern Flounder (Paralichthys Lethostigma) and Implications for Inshore Migration
(2014-08-18) Hanson, Claire T.; Reichert, Marcel; Hughes, Melissa; Sancho, Gorka; Whitaker, David
Southern flounder off the coast of the Southeastern United States are particularly vulnerable to recruitment variability because of the complex ecological and morphological transformation that occurs early in their life history cycle. The effect of increasing temperature and development of metamorphosing larval southern flounder was investigated to test the hypothesis that temperature serves as a cue and a mechanism for recruitment of larvae to estuarine nursery grounds. Fish in early, mid and late stages of metamorphosis were observed in 4-hour long laboratory trials during which the temperature was raised from 13 to 23C to include a range of offshore and estuarine temperatures that larvae potentially encounter. Observations consisted of recording fish location in the water column and fish swimming behavior to determine how larvae responded to warmer temperatures while advancing in their development. Experimental results contrasted with results from control trials that kept the temperature constant at 13C which validated the significance of the data. The major findings are that 1) early-larvae responded to warmer temperatures with an overall downward movement while late-larvae did not respond at all, 2) early-larvae were significantly more active than late-larvae, 3) behavioral changes were temperature- and stage-dependent, 4) fish location and behavior was extremely variable during metamorphosis, and 5) relative locations of early- vs. late-larvae in the artificial water column corresponded to vertical positions of larvae observed in the field. The downward shift in location of early-larvae in warmer temperatures suggests that, prior to metamorphosis, fish may facilitate their onshore transport by moving deeper in the water column. This study indicated that temperature, among other factors, affects larval flounder behavior and may serve as a cue aiding in migration into nursery areas.
Effects of simple management techniques on microbial community dynamics within biofloc-based culture systems and the relationship to shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) production
(2014-08-18) Ray, Andrew J.; Leffler, John; Browdy, Craig; White, David; Wilde, Sudan
Biofloc-based aquaculture is an environmentally friendly approach to growing shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) that is reliant on dense microbial communities for nutrient cycling and system stability. This study examined the impact of three management techniques on microbial community structure and the resultant effect on shrimp production. Each management technique had two variations; high and low protein feeds, high and low shrimp stocking density, and suspended solids removal (cropping) versus no solids removal. The combination of management variations led to eight unique treatments that were each replicated four times and randomly assigned to 32, 6.3m3 tanks. The changes in microbial dynamics were documented using light microscopy with relative quantification assessments, differential epifluorescence imaging with image analysis quantification, and fatty acid biomarker profiling. Overall shrimp performance was measured by individual mean weight, total biomass, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and survival. Changes in system dynamics caused differences in water quality parameters among treatments. Protein level (carbon/nitrogen ratio of nutrient inputs) did not detectably alter microbial abundance. Increased shrimp density (overall nutrient input) led to increased bacteria and zooplankton abundance while cyanobacteria were reduced. Cropping (light availability and selective organismal removal) caused a decrease in bacteria, zooplankton, and cyanobacteria. Low density treatments had increased growth, increased survival, and lower FCRs, but less end biomass. Low protein treatments had slightly better growth but reduced survival and there was a trend towards improved shrimp performance in cropped treatments. This project demonstrated the direct impact that changes in management protocols have on the function of aquaculture systems as a whole and the implications this may have for commercial applications.
Effects of temperature on dimethylsulfoniopropionate concentration in Symbiodinium (Freudenthal 1962)
(2014-08-18) Miller, Juliana Rose; DiTullio, Giacomo R.; Lee, Peter A; Janech, Michael G.; Dustan, Phillip
Coral reefs are ecologically and economically important in many locations throughout the tropical oceans. However, corals are sensitive to various environmental stressors such as increases in sea surface temperature (SST). Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and related biogenic sulfur compounds are believed to be involved in alleviating intracellular oxidative stress and on a larger scale can function as part of a negative feedback loop to global warming. It has been hypothesized that the breakdown of DMSP into the volatile compound DMS can combat intracellular oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals in cells. The majority of research on DMSP has focused on pelagic phytoplankton; however, more recently there has been an increase in the study of DMSP production in coral reefs. This study measured change in DMSP and glutathione (GSH) in the coral symbiotic algae, Symbiodinium spp.. Holobiont experiments using the coral Anthelia sp., did not show an increase in DMSP concentration with increased temperature. However, Symbiodinium spp. culture experiments using two different unialgal strains showed that increased temperatures led to increased levels of DMSP and the known antioxidant glutathione (GSH). The results from this investigation supports the hypothesis that DMSP functions as an antioxidant and that heat stress increased the cellular quota of DMSP and GSH. Negative results seen in the holobiont experiment may be due to different antioxidant defenses, eurythermal properties of Anthelia, or high DMSP turnover.
Effects of Urbanization on Nekton Abundance and Food Web Structures in Southeastern Tidal Creeks
(2014-08-18) Jones, Sara Elizabeth; DiDonato, Guy; Sanger, Denise; Plante, Craig; Roumillat, William
Tidal creek systems serve as sentinel habitats, areas where the effects of human impacts may be seen before adverse affects are detectable in the larger ecosystem. Patterns of abundances of nekton in southeastern tidal creeks draining four land use classes were determined. Lower abundances of Palaemonetes shrimp species were found in headwater tidal creeks with higher levels of human impact. The pinfish Lagodon rhomboides was found in higher abundances in larger creeks having increased levels of human impact in the watersheds. A simplified food web of small nekton in six South Carolina tidal creeks was studied to illuminate one possible pathway for land use to affect the abundances of nekton. Food web analysis showed that the diets of shrimp in the more highly impacted creeks shifted from being dominated by particulate organic matter in the reference creeks to more varied diets in urban creeks, thus suggesting that alterations in the food web are one possible cause for the alteration in abundances of nekton with increasing levels of human impact.
Fluoxetine in the marine environment: Effects on sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) serotonin activity and locomotor behavior
(2014-08-18) Winder, Virginia Louise; Wirth, Ed; Pennington, Paul; Hurd, Mark; Meyer-Bernstein, Elizabeth
Fluoxetine (FLX), the active ingredient in the prescription antidepressant drug Prozac (TM), is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and is among the top 100 drugs prescribed yearly in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Fluoxetine has been found in sewage treatment plant effluent and surface waters where it has the potential to cause changes in behavior, reproduction and species interactions that can result in significant damage to aquatic ecosystems. Methods were developed to detect and quantify FLX, norfluoxetine, serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), tryptophan and melatonin in fish tissues and water using LC/MS/MS. Juvenile sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) were exposed to FLX with paired control groups. Fish were sacrificed at the end of the trials, and tissues were analyzed for changes in 5-HT and other neurotransmitters. Significant changes in neurotransmitter levels and activity due to treatment were observed in juvenile sheepshead minnows using repeated measures ANOVA and regression analyses. Behavioral trials were used to quantify fish locomotor activity following FLX exposure. Fluoxetine was shown to produce a significant reduction in locomotor activity at 0.3 mg L-1 at time points 1, 25, 32, 49 and 56 h post-dose. A 32-h EC50 for FLX effect on locomotor activity was calculated at 0.1549 mg L-1; an EC25 calculated for the same time point was 0.0023 mg L-1. The sublethal effect of decreased locomotor activity as related to FLX exposure could potentially result in decreased survival in fish populations in natural ecosystems. This work characterizes the acute toxicological effects of fluoxetine on the sheepshead minnow from lethal, sublethal, physiological and behavioral perspectives.
Habitat Effects on Chytridiomycosis Infection in The Critically Endangered Agalychnis Moreletii.
(2014-08-18) Lawson, Tyler; Welch, Allison; Jones, Martin; Komar, Oliver; Rothermel, Betsie
Recent times have seen amphibian populations around the world vanishing at an alarming rate due to factors such as habitat destruction, pollution, and infectious diseases. During the summer of 2008 I examined how factors such as these are affecting the critically endangered black-eyed treefrog, Agalychnis moreletii (Hylidae), in shaded coffee plantations, technified coffee plantations, and natural areas in the country of El Salvador. Nocturnal surveys of calling adult males were conducted to estimate relative abundance. Larvae were screened with a hand lends to look for indications of infection with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a lethal amphibian fungus that causes chytridiomycosis. Subsamples of inspected tadpoles were preserved for PCR analysis to determine the effectiveness of hand lens screening for presence of B. dendrobatidis and to determine if there was a difference in B. dendrobatidis prevalence among habitats. Results showed that only two of thirteen sites sampled for B. dendrobatidis were heavily infected. Statistical analysis indicated that the odds of infection were lower for technified plantations than for non-technified sites. However, these results were influenced by the two heavily infected sites. Nocturnal surveys showed weak evidence that A. moreletii populations in shaded plantations are larger than technified plantations and natural areas. Hand lens analysis of external mouthpart abnormalities was found to predict presence of chytrid infection with relatively good success across a large spatial scale. Intriguing questions remain as to the effects of habitat on chytrid infection. Future studies should investigate if chytridiomycosis is as critical a factor in decline of A. moreletii as previously thought.
Hail Columbia! Happy land!: Southerners in Europe and American nationalism, 1830-1860
(2014-08-18) Smith, Miles, IV; Advisor; Gleeson, David; Gigova-Ganaway, Irina; Speelman, Jennifer
This thesis examines the opinions of seven southerners who visited Europe between 1830 and 1860. Europe was experiencing the great nationalist upheavals of the nineteenth century, and these seven southerners (five men, two women) recorded their own thoughts and opinions about Europe. At the end of the same period, the United States was dividing along sectional lines. This work explores whether there really was a southern nationalism, an idea proposed to explain the southern states‚Äô motivation for secession. Using the diaries, journals, and letters of the seven studied here, it is clear that they viewed themselves as Americans first and foremost. When these southern men and women were exposed to the aspirations of oppressed nationalities in Europe, they were sympathetic but they did not see any commonality between the oppressed minorities and the South. They were not reminded of a southern need for liberty. Instead, they gloried in their freedoms they had as Americans. As late as 1859, a South Carolina Methodist minister visiting Europe extolled his American nationality by writing "Hail Columbia! Happy land!" in contrast to the unhappy and divided "Old World."
Invertebrate endofauna associated with sponge and octocoral epifauna at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Georgia
(2014-08-18) Greene, Anna Kjellin; Hyland, Jeff; Balthis, Len; Crow, Stacie; Sotka, Erik
A study was conducted to characterize the assemblages of invertebrate endofaunal organisms that live in association with the sessile epifauna inhabiting live-bottom reefs at the Gray‚Äôs Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS) off the coast of Georgia. Epifaunal hosts were collected in May 2005 from areas described previously as containing densely colonized, live-bottom habitat. A subset of 24 hosts, consisting of three individuals from each of three sponge species (Ircinia felix, Ptilocaulis walpersi, and Axinella polycapella) and five individuals from each of three octocoral species (Leptogorgia hebes, L. virgulata, and Titanideum frauenfeldii), were selected for analysis in the present study. The 24 hosts examined contained a total of 132,056 solitary and 61 colonial associates, belonging to 115 taxonomic groups. Densities of endofauna were very high as compared to endofaunal densities in other areas. An analysis of similarity indicated that the composition of endofaunal associates between the two host groups were significantly different and a cluster analysis revealed further endofaunal differences among host species and morphological types. It is clear from this study that epifaunal sponges and octocorals at GRNMS provide important habitat for abundant and diverse assemblages of associated endofauna. Also, as these assemblages appear to vary among hosts, it is apparent that a thorough characterization of these endofauna for a specific ecosystem would benefit from the analysis of multiple host species.
John Steinbeck's American Dreams
(2014-08-18) Lopez, Jessica C.P.; Hutchisson, James M.; Heuston, Sean; Carlson, Larry A.
Americans have long held notions about the American Dream, and John Steinbeck's works illustrate the successes and failures of the Dream within society. In particular, The Long Valley collection of short stories contains many different experiences of the American Dream. Each of the characters in the stories experiences a different version of the Dream based upon their ethnicity, economic position, and gender. Steinbeck used his observational abilities and concise writing style to portray the complex experience of the American Dream, which can be recognized and understood through detailed investigation of the characters. Investigation also reveals that the characters are limited in their potential and often struggle to find their place in America, a promised land of opportunity, which often provided little opportunities, if any, to those not already firmly established within American society. The study of The Long Valley also highlights the importance and influence that these stories have on Steinbeck's writing, as the stories provided the foundational beginning for many of his later works.
Life history and population structure of Beryx decadactylus (Teleostei: Berycidae) in the western North Atlantic
(2014-08-18) Friess, Claudia; Sedberry, George R.; Harris, Patrick; Chapman, Robert W.; Strand, Allan E.
Beryx decadactylus (red bream) is a deep-sea benthopelagic fish with a circumglobal distribution on insular and continental slopes and seamounts. It is commercially exploited together with its congener B. splendens, and catch rates for both species have declined. Limited biological information for management of red bream is available from a few studies conducted around the Azores and, where species data are unavailable for management, biological parameters are assumed to the similar to those of B. splendens. In the United States, red bream is caught incidentally in the wreckfish (Polyprion americanus) fishery which operates off the southeast coast. The aim of this study was to determine the life history parameters of the local red bream population and investigate its genetic stock structure in the North Atlantic. Specimens sampled from the wreckfish fishery ranged from 410 to 630 mm fork length, and were all determined to be mature through gonad histology. Females in spawning condition were observed from June - September, while males were found to be in spawning condition year-round. Sectioned otoliths were difficult to interpret, but age estimates were much higher than previously reported from whole otoliths. Ages ranged from 9 to 69 years, with a mean age of 30 years, and ages of some older fish were verified by bomb radiocarbon analysis. These new insights into the longevity of red bream signify higher vulnerability to overfishing than previously assumed. Analysis of the mtDNA control region showed that eastern and western North Atlantic populations are genetically identical (Œ¶ST = -0.003), suggesting that there is transatlantic gene flow occurring through passive drift of larvae or adult migration. The potential of a shared stock between the eastern and western North Atlantic will need to be considered if a directed fishery for red bream should develop in the United States.
Methane emissions from bottomland hardwood wetlands in Francis Marion National Forest, SC
(2014-08-18) Renaud, Ludivine; Trettin, Carl C.; Callahan, Timothy; Vulava, Vijay; Wiseman, Reid
Wetlands contribute an estimated 25% of the global annual methane (CH4) emissions. However, delineation of the processes responsible for the large variations in emission rates found within and across wetland types has been challenging. Field measurements were collected in Francis Marion National Forest in correlation with water table levels and other environmental parameters in order to quantify the contribution of bottomland hardwood wetlands. The study included three mineral sites and a peat-based site that were sampled over a two year period. Methane emission rates ranged from -7.3 to 137.8 mg C m -2 day -1 ; negative rates represent methane oxidation in the soil. The highest rates were detected from a low depression in Turkey Creek site that remained inundated for several months when soil temperature increased in spring. However, CH 4 emissions and soil temperature were strongly correlated (R 2 : 0.8) only when inundation persisted. When natural and agricultural soils were incubated in a laboratory experiment, the potential methane production (PMP) was poorly correlated with the soil characteristics we investigated, but the best correlation was with the chemically labile organic matter (CLOM) fraction (r: 0.467). Potential nitrous oxide production (PNOP) was also quantified and the dissolved total nitrogen (DTN) and the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were both good indicator (r: 0.534 and r: 0.555 respectively). The large variation in PMP and PNOP from the laboratory incubations and in fluxes from the field suggests that a given wetland must be fully characterized in order to quantify its contribution. Extrapolation of our field data to an estimate of the total annual CH 4 emission will only be accurate once the microtopography of the study sites is precisely defined. Long term studies will most likely be the only beneficial approach to investigate how environmental parameters affect methane emissions, with modeling as a companion tool.
Parental involvement: Attitudes and experiences of urban parents
(2014-08-18) Brannon, Hannah Elizabeth; Edwards, Linda Carol; Bartel, Virginia B.; Moore, Mishawna
The purpose of this study was to better understand the attitudes and experiences of parents of children living in poverty about being involved in their child's education. The literature review identified three possible causes of the lack of parental involvement in schools educating children of poverty: life contexts, parent's beliefs about their involvement in their child's education, and parent's personal experiences. For the purpose of this study, one-on-one interviews were used as the method of data collection. Eleven parents of children attending a local Title I school were interviewed. The results of the study showed that the participants had a firm understanding of their responsibilities in regards to their child's education, but they were lacking the time and energy to actually follow through with those activities. Information gained from the study could be used by educators to help encourage parents to become more involved in their child's education.
Plain Folk of Color: Rural Free People of Color in the Antebellum Charleston District
(2014-08-18) Dangerfield, David William; Gleeson, David T.; Powers, Bernard E.; Taylor, Kerry
This thesis examines rural free people of color and neighboring white plain folk in the antebellum Charleston District of South Carolina. Utilizing the population census, agricultural census, wills, and other materials, this discussion compares rural free people of color and white plain folk through their experiences in rural society and their economic prospects. In the end, free people of color’s many commonalities with their white neighbors break down the distinctions between the two groups and blur the barriers that have separated plain folk and free people of color historiography. While undoubtedly constrained by their race, but economically and socially similar to their non-elite white neighbors, Charleston’s rural free people of color merit their own place as plain folk of color.
Plane application of orbifold classification
(2014-08-18) Baynard, William Thorn, III; Jurisich, Elizabeth; Cox, Ben; Johnston-Thom, Kathy; Smirnov, Oleg; Mitchener, William Garrett
The classification of objects and tilings of the plane through symmetry is an algebraic application used in chemistry, physics, and mathematics. In 1992, John H. Conway and William P. Thurston formulated a classification system based on the geometric notion of an "orbifold". The sophisticated orbifold approach to analyzing symmetry resulted in an elegant, more simplified classification scheme. The following is an exposition of the orbifold classification system with application to the well known 17 plane crystallographic groups.

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