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This study investigated how at-risk kindergarten students respond to the identification of letters and sounds using an embedded picture mnemonic intervention. The problem addressed was that kindergarten students face challenges in developing letter-name knowledge, letter-sound knowledge, and their reciprocal relationship (i.e., grapheme-phoneme correspondence), which are key precursors to reading. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine the effects of an additional Tier 2 intervention using embedded picture mnemonics on at-risk kindergarten students' gains in these knowledge measures in comparison to a control group that did not receive the intervention. Dual Coding Theory served as the theoretical framework as the embedded picture mnemonics intervention provided dual codes through the visual picture representation embedded into the letter shape and the auditory production of each letter's sound. The participants were 38 first-semester kindergarten students at risk for reading failure at an urban, Title I public elementary school in Pennsylvania. The control and intervention groups were assessed prior to the eight-week intervention and again at the end of the implementation. A mixed multivariate analysis of variance was conducted. The students exposed to a small group embedded picture mnemonic intervention had statistically significant gains in all measures. However, the control group outperformed the intervention group in letter-sound knowledge acquisition. The implication of the results includes that assessing and targeting small group instruction early in the school year is an effective means of addressing the struggles of at-risk students. Future research should expand letter-name and letter-sound knowledge acquisition by collecting pretest and posttest data on individual letter names and sounds. The data analysis should identify specifically which letters and sounds were acquired. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

Cross-cultural communicators may have knowledge of India’s culture but struggle to communicate at the level that colleagues and trainees understand. This study has sought to seek out cultural skills and intelligence (CI) for the purpose of successful communication in teaching, preaching, and training leaders in India. The author assumed that it is possible for a person to gain cultural intelligence through experience and education. To acquire CI for teaching and preaching relevantly in India three questions were asked: (1) what are scripturally accepted leadership principles practiced by church leaders in India; (2) how do foreigners teach leadership principles considering the differences of culture influencing the church in India; and (3) how have foreigners that understand the culture and the practiced leadership principles impacted leaders in the church in India? During sixteen interviews, these questions and twelve interview questions were discussed. The participants in the interviews were from North, Central, and South India, each with diverse cultures. The literature and data from the interviews conclude that it is possible to gain CI for ministry in India. The CI for communication should begin before going to India. Pre-field orientation and training in speaking through an interpreter are strongly recommended. The pre-field training would incorporate the data in this study. Training in speaking through an interpreter can be incorporated into pre-field training or as a separate seminar. Four areas for future research are recommended and discussed. The four areas are (1) security issues, (2) Eastern thought processes, (3) effects of other religious cultures in India on Hindu culture, and (4) disparities. Keywords: culture, cultural intelligence, student-centric, teacher-centric, power distance, church leader, servant leader, team, integrity, foreigner, cross-cultural guest, indigenous, India, Hinduism, Hindu

ENGLISH: Title: In-vitro study on the influence of commercially available toothpastes on the closure of dentine tubules. Aim: This in-vitro study analyses the influence of different, commercially available toothpastes on human dentine. The aim is to find out if toothpastes are able to seal dentine tubules. The influence of hydroxyapatite is in the focus. The comparison of two toothpastes with hydroxyapatite and two without hydroxyapatite define the structure of this analysis. Materials and methods: Quadrate, human, dentine specimens were produced for this in vitro study. The surface of a specimen was eroded by phosphorous acid for 15 s to ensure opened dentine tubules. The preliminary water-based test was required to find the adequate cleaning time (10 sec, 1 min or 1 h), cleaning method of the specimens after brushing (multifunctional syringe or laboratory squeeze bottle) and dilution ratio (1:3 or 1:10) for the main experiment. 1 min, 1:3 dilution and laboratory squeeze bottle were subsequently chosen for the saliva-based test. For the main experiment the specimens were brushed for 1 minute in a brushing machine supplying constantly toothpaste reagent. Four, with filtered saliva at a ratio of 3:1 diluted, toothpastes were tested respectively on 8 specimens. These toothpastes were: toothpaste containing hydroxyapatite (Apatit-Paste), toothpaste containing hydroxyapatite and fluoride (Apatit-Fluorid-Paste), toothpaste containing fluoride (Fluorid-Paste) and toothpaste free of hydroxyapatite and fluoride (Basispaste). Further 8 specimens were brushed only with saliva as control group. Afterwards the specimens were quantitatively analyzed by a SEM and EDX. The degree of tubule closure was assigned to five categories (1 = open; 2 = partly open, 3 = partly open and partly closed, 4 = partly closed, 5 = closed) by visual consideration of the respective REM-photographic images (magnification 1000x) and the Median of every reagent group was determined. Qualitative analysis was possible by EDX (magnification 5000x). Results: According to the preliminary water-based test a cleaning time of 1 minute, the specimen cleaning by laboratory squeeze bottle and a dilution ratio of 1:3 were determined for the saliva-based experiment. The pictures of the SEM analysis in the main experiment showed in all toothpaste reagents opened or almost closed tubules. The Apatit-Paste had the highest degree of tubule closure on cleaned surfaces (Median Score 3,5). Cleaning with Saliva (Speichel) didn´t have any effect on the tubules (Median Score 1). Fluorid-Paste had different degrees of tubule closure that fixed the Median Score on 2. The Median Score of Apatit-Fluorid-Paste and Basispaste was 1,5. The EDX revealed that in closed tubules calcium and phosphate concentrations were high or silicon concentration was high instead. Apatit-Paste had the highest P- (9,8 Gew.-%) und Ca- (18,7 Gew.-%) values, Si (6 Gew.-%). (Apatit-Fluorid-Paste: P = 5,3; Ca = 8,5; Si 8,9 Gew.-%; Fluorid-Paste: P = 2; Ca = 3,8; Si 14,4 Gew.-%; Basispaste: P = 7,3, Ca = 12,2, Si 2,2 Gew.-%). The high P- (11,9 Gew.-%), Ca- (21,4 Gew.-%) value of Saliva test samples were the result of meassurement of the naked tubule walls, the tubules were empty (Median Score 1). The results of the EDX-analysis and the existence of silicon as toothpaste ingredient show that toothpaste substances are enclosed into dentine tubules. Conclusion: The toothpastes do not seal dentine tubules completely. The toothpastes are different concerning the degree of tubule closure. The elevatation of the portion of hydroxyapatite in toothpaste enforces the inclusion of hydroxyapatite into dentine tubules.

Jet travel and the widespread availability of recordings are factors that have led to an increasingly homogenous sound concept in American trumpet playing; this is a stark contrast to the unique regional sounds that existed in the United States in the middle of the twentieth century. Despite the growing dissipation of these regional sound concepts from the mid-century, it is important to understand the styles and pedagogy associated with these schools. In this paper, six player/teachers are associated with specific regional playing styles: Vincent Cichowicz in Chicago, Louis Davidson in Cleveland, Armando Ghitalla in Boston, John Haynie in the Southwest, James Stamp on the West Coast, and William Vacchiano in New York City. Each of these players made a notable impact on the trumpet world through their performances, recordings, and unprecedented legacy of students. It would be difficult for many modern American trumpet players to trace their “trumpet lineage” without one of these individuals in the picture. Not only are these players an important part of the modern trumpeter’s heritage, but the vast success of their students warrants that their pedagogical methods are still relevant today. This study is unique due to this comprehensive and categorical comparison of pedagogical techniques, and this paper additionally examines the distinct sounds of each player’s regional style through the use of spectrograms. Ultimately this paper provides a myriad of teaching strategies from some of the most influential American trumpet players, which will aid trumpet teachers in negotiating the diverse needs of their students.

The Baroque Era can be considered the “golden age” of trumpet playing in Western Music. Recently, there has been a revival of interest in Baroque trumpet works, and while the research has grown accordingly, the implications of that research requirefurther examination. Musicians need to be able to give this factual evidence a context, one that is both modern and historical.The treatises of Cesare Bendinelli, Girolamo Fantini, and J.E. Altenburg are valuable records that provide insight into the early development of the trumpet. There are also several important modern resources, most notably by Don Smithers and Edward Tarr, which discuss the historical development of the trumpet. One obstacle for modern players is that the works of the Baroque Era were originally played on natural trumpet, an instrument that is now considered a specialty rather than the standard. Trumpet players must thus find ways to reconcile the inherent differences between Baroque and current approaches to playing by combining research from early treatises, important trumpet publications, and technical and philosophical input from performance practice essays.This thesis seeks to construct a paradigm by which trumpet players can make informed performance decisions.

I wrote a poetry book consisting of forty-nine pieces, using various styles and formats. I read other poets while I was completing the work and some books on writing for inspiration and have included my reading list with this project. I also wrote a seven-page introduction to my work that speaks to my influences and meanings behind the work as a whole, and of the various themes found in my work. The book itself has themes of memory and dreams, along with the very human concerns of religion, death, and love.

Ultrasonic metal welding (UMW) is a solid-state joining process in which materials are held together under moderate forces while applying localized high frequency shear vibrations, creating a true metallurgical bond. While ultrasonics have been applied extensively to joining soft materials, such as copper and aluminum, applications for joining more advanced materials are limited. UMW has generally not been considered for more advanced materials due to poor tooling life and inadequate ultrasonic power levels. In a relatively short period of time, developments in UMW equipment and potential tool materials, may allow UMW to be applied to these more advanced metals. Using commercially-available ultrasonic spot welding equipment, the ultrasonic weldability of 304 and 410 stainless steel, commercially pure and 6Al-4V titanium, and Nickel-base superalloys 625 and 718 was investigated. Tool materials developed for friction-stir weld tooling were used to develop new ultrasonic tools. Tool textures and designs were also evaluated.

The purpose of this study is to determine the total economic impact created in the state of Oklahoma by the clients of the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center and to determine how much of that impact is attributed to the center through the use of a survey and IMPLAN multipliers. Also, this study determines the willingness-to-pay value of four different services provided by the center through the use of a contingent valuation survey.The clients of the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center employ over 8,800 employees and have about $1.9 billion in annual sales for the year of 2006. The total economic impact of these firms have on the state of Oklahoma are over 52,000 employees and over $6.3 billion in annual sales for the year of 2006. Using a logistic regression model it was calculated that the entrepreneurial workshop was on average valued at $286.97, the laboratory services were on average valued at $582.97 per day the service was used, the on-site technical assistance was valued at $654.34 per day the service was used, and the technical services were valued at $527.31 per day they utilized the service.

Although the impact of the [epsilon]4 allele of the Apolipoprotein E gene (APOE-[epsilon]4) on cognitive functioning in adults has been widely studied, researchers have produced little information regarding the nature of this relationship in children. Broadly, the current studies aimed to explore APOE-related differences in cognitive functioning in early life. Study 1 explored the relationship between APOE genotype and educational attainment in a sample of elderly adults. Results indicated that even after accounting for Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnostic status and gender, [epsilon]4- positive individuals attained fewer years of education relative to [epsilon]2-positive individuals. Studies 2, 3, 4 and 5 examined APOE-related differences in cognitive and achievement test performances in a sample of school-aged children. Scores on group achievement tests and on a measure of visuospatial functioning were compared between the genotype groups in Study 2, and results indicated significantly worse performance among [epsilon]2-positive children relative to [epsilon]3/3 homozygotes and [epsilon]4-positive children on a test of visuospatial functioning. Notably, an increased prevalence of left- handedness was also observed among [epsilon]2-positive individuals in both Studies 1 and 2. Study 3 examined achievement test data from multiple time points, and results indicated generally stable and equivalent performances over time across APOE genotype. Study 4, which is based on findings of atypical hemispheric asymmetries in normal-functioning young adults, investigated the extent to which the [epsilon]4 allele is associated with cognitive discrepancies in school-aged children. Findings indicated that APOE genotype is associated with cognitive asymmetry in early life, but that gender is a significant moderator of this association. Finally, Study 5, a preliminary study, explored whether APOE genotype interacts with a family history of AD to further impact the development of cognitive reserve. Remarkably, results showed a synergistic effect of APOE-[epsilon]4 status and family history of AD such that children with both risk factors showed the lowest test scores. Taken together, these studies suggest that APOE genotype is associated with early life brain and cognitive functioning. Results are discussed within the context of antagonistic pleiotropy, which suggests that APOE genotype may be associated with different effects at different developmental stages

, no.446. 1938. 210p.