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Fossil bone microanalyses reveal the ontogenetic histories of extinct tetrapods, but incomplete fossil records often result in small sample sets lacking statistical strength. In contrast, a histological sample of 50 tibiae of the hadrosaurid dinosaur Maiasaura peeblesorum allows predictions of annual growth and ecological interpretations based on more histologic data than any previous large sample study. Tibia length correlates well (R2 u3e 0.9) with diaphyseal circumference, cortical area, and bone wall thickness, thereby allowing longitudinal predictions of annual body size increases based on growth mark circumference measurements. With an avian level apposition rate of 86.4 µm/day, Maiasauraachieved over half of asymptotic tibia diaphyseal circumference within its first year. Mortality rate for the first year was 89.9% but a seven year period of peak performance followed, when survivorship (mean mortality rate = 12.7%) was highest. During the third year of life, Maiasauraattained 36% (x = 1260 kg) of asymptotic body mass, growth rate was decelerating (18.2 µm/day), cortical vascular orientation changed, and mortality rate briefly increased. These transitions may indicate onset of sexual maturity and corresponding reallocation of resources to reproduction. Skeletal maturity and senescence occurred after 8 years, at which point the mean mortality rate increased to 44.4%. Compared with Alligator, an extant relative, Maiasaura exhibits rapid cortical increase early in ontogeny, while Alligator cortical growth is much lower and protracted throughout ontogeny. Our life history synthesis of Maiasaura utilizes the largest histological sample size for any extinct tetrapod species thus far, demonstrating how large sample microanalyses strengthen paleobiological interpretations

Prior to 1997, ABET evaluators focused on inputs to engineering education. Responding to a four decade trend in quality management systems used in manufacturing and service industries, ABET began measuring outputs instead, and focused on continuous improvement. Students, professors, program coordinators, and department chairs must answer three questions: [1] what are we doing well, [2] what are we not doing well, and [3] how do we improve? In some cases, we can use graphical data presentation techniques to answer these questions. Scatter graphs show relationships between variables that are not evident in tables, and they show changes in variables with respect to time. A student may ask “why is my grade lower than I would like?” We can use graphs to show the studentu27s progress in real time as the semester advances, then predict the final course grade based on alternate hypotheses (e.g., “I will earn 90% on all remaining assignments”; “I will barely pass the remaining assignments”). As a professor, I asked why the failure rate in Strength of Materials is so high, then used a variety of graphs and tables to determine the indicators for success and failure. As a consequence, my department made a curriculum change in Fall 2014; we should see results starting in Fall 2015. This paper shows how I used graphical data presentation techniques in undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Technology classes such as Materials u26 Processes, to improve student success, teaching effectiveness, and curriculum

Nursing faculty are sometimes challenged when leading students to successful completion of nursing exams including the NCLEX. It is essential that faculty identify specific learning barriers for students who are challenged with nursing exams. Nursing faculty have reported various methods of remediation to enhance students’ readiness for taking nursing exams in preparation for the NCLEX. Although test review sessions, guided imagery, and assessments of learning styles are common strategies reported by faculty to provide remediation for students who are preparing for nursing exams, the literature reveals minimal evidence to support these strategies. Nursing faculty at IPFW have expanded on common remediation strategies. Test review sessions using a model to analyze sample test questions, emphasis on students practicing online exams, and scheduled advising sessions with faculty are examples of remediation tools used by faculty IPFW to strengthen students’ preparation for taking nursing exams. In addition, students newly admitted to the program who earn marginal entrance exam scores agree to a contract for close monitoring and collaboration with faculty to assure nursing program success. Incorporating standardized proctored and non-proctored standardized tests are also included throughout the undergraduate nursing curriculum at IPFW. Graduating nursing students have provided positive feedback after attending a focused NCLEX Review session offered in their last semester. With these strategies in place, nursing students at IPFW earn standardized proctored exams and NCLEX scores that have remained consistently above the percentile ranks for national and similar programs

Unlike Computer Science students, Computer Engineering majors typically have weaker background and limited training in programming. However, lots of Computer Engineering graduates enter the professional fields as software engineers or test engineers. Data Structures course teaches the fundamental techniques of organizing information efficiently. Therefore, enhancing the learning and practice in the Data Structure course is essential for Computer Engineering majors. Throughout the past two years, innovative strategies have been adopted to improve the Data Structures course at Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne in the following two areas: i) using web-based visualization tools for better illustration of different data structures and associated algorithms, and ii) employing the client-server prototype in programming projects. The first helps the students better understand the theory of data structures; whereas the second helps them practice the skills of managing data structures efficiently in real applications. Both these practices will prepare them better to enter the targeted workforce. This paper goes through the detailed design of the web-based visualization and client-server prototype based programming in the Data Structures course. Specifically, a set of online visualization tools have been collected to demonstrate the operations for various data structures. Online questions for each demo have also been designed and implemented. Students must visit the given links, perform certain tasks for each data structure or algorithm, and answer a set of online questions. Those visualization tools also help in teaching the material and delivering ideas during lecture time. In addition, new programming assignments are added or updated. With the prototype model and the client-server software development environment embedded in the design of such programming assignments, students are required to follow the incremental programming procedure and the object-oriented programming model. Assessment results show that the above tools were effective and helped students understand and apply the concepts of the data structures and associated algorithms in practical applications. Some suggestions for further improvement are also included. The course redesign can serve as a first step towards offering this course in a hybrid mode. For example, the class can be implemented in flipped mode where the web-based visualization tools can help student learn course content at home; thus they have more time in class discussing and solving problems. The course also can be offered through distance learning for working adults who only come to campus for exams and problem-solving sessions

A series of cores drilled to a depth of ~400 ft from lower Kope Fm. (mid Katian) downward to the High Bridge Group (Sandbian) in the Cincinnati, Ohio area are a link between the Lexington Limestone and the Utica Shale in the Sebree Trough. One 300 foot interval was studied petrographically with 200 thin sections. Preliminary analysis suggests five microfacies: 1) organic, laminated, brown shale with 0.5-1 cm depositional units separated by single layer dalmanellid pavements; 2) calcareous shale to micrite with fine silt and 2-20 cm units; 3) Stacked dalmanellid pavements with siliciclastic mud and calcisiltite matrix, horizontally oriented, unbroken shells with spar or matrix filled articulated valves, units 0.5 – 20 cm thick; 4) Packstones showing a diversity of partially fragmented, randomly oriented brachiopods, bryozoans, and trilobites, some nonskeletal phosphate particles, infiltration structures and erosive bases; and 5) Grainstones, consisting of comminuted shells of a variety of fossils, with high phosphate content, and erosive bases. The 30 foot Logana (~260 – 290 ft) consists mostly of facies 1 with facies 2 and 3. The packstones and grainstones are largely restricted to the Curdsville (u3e290 ft) and the Grier (u3c260 u3eft).There is no evidence of long distance transport of any clasts larger than silt sized, but packstones and grainstones appear to have been increasingly reworked in place with phosphate enrichment, reflecting longer exposure on the seafloor before burial. Hence, petrographic work permits distinguishing beds that record longer term reworking. Further work may permit delineation of small-scale cycles

My name is Brandon Perry, and I am a secondary education major with a focus in history. I aim to become a high school teacher who hopefully teaches a subject focusing on the 20th century. Whether the subject matter is strictly American history or extended to the world, the 20th century has always struck prominent to me. My interests expand to cross country running and cycling. I have participated in cross-country running since the 7th grade. Ever since my first competitive race, I developed the runneru27s high and fused that into my personality today. Since my days of high school, I had signed 4 death waivers, two for skydiving and two for an obstacle race known as Tough Mudder. History is tied with thrill and excitement, as it is never filled with a dull moment. Rash decisions and impulsive motives pollute every century. For the unknown never being predictable, history will always keep my attention

This special project is a handbook with strategies for beginning college students with disabilities for the successful college experience. These students with disabilities do not need to learn through trial and error. This handbook can help guide them as they go through the difficult change college brings. In order to create this handbook, an extensive literature review was conducted and research was done through a survey. The purpose of this survey was to determine what college students with disabilities know about strategies and information that will assist them as they strive to have a successful college experience. The survey covered the following: self-advocacy, self-determination, campus and community resources, and laws related to college students with disabilities. The results of the survey found that a majority of students with disabilities are unaware of their rights under the law and do not speak up when their rights are violated. They also are unaware of community resources and did not know how to advocate for themselves before beginning college. This information was then used to create a handbook titled: Survival Guide for College Students with Disabilities. This handbook gives an overview of the results of the survey. It covers self-advocacy, self-determination, laws related to college students with disabilities, and campus and community resources. The goal is to give them the information they need to assist them as they go through college

Reptile species and populations are declining globally (Gibbons et al., 2000). Some of the main factors leading to this decline are habitat destruction and degradation, so delineation of key habitat for reptiles for protection and restoration is particularly important for reptile conservation. Long-term efforts to monitor populations are also critical if declines are to be noticed and their causes determined. One such effort involves monitoring the Northern population segment (NPS) of Copper-bellied Watersnakes, Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta, which is geographically isolated from other populations and is listed as federally threatened by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Copperbellies are also endangered in three states in which NPS occurs (MI, OH, and IN). The objective of the current study was to use occupancy modeling as part of ongoing monitoring efforts for the NPS and build upon previous studies of habitat preferences of copperbellies. I also estimated abundance and density of copperbellies at a portion of sites in the Northern population segment’s range, and compared population parameter estimates for copperbellies to those of its more common sympatric congener, the Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon). There were very few detections of copperbellies over the course of this 2 year study, resulting in low sample sizes and difficulty in ascertaining habitat effects on occupancy of copperbellies. Abundance estimates, density estimates, and occupancy estimates for copperbellies were all low, especially compared to estimates for Northern Watersnakes. Furthermore, estimates of wetland colonization rates were very low for copperbellies, but extinction rates were high. These results are alarming, but consistent with findings of previous occupancy studies done in the area (Lee u26 Kingsbury, 2014). Model assumptions are discussed, and recommendations for future studies and management are given