Showing papers by "Georgia College & State University published in 2003"

Generalized eta and omega squared statistics: measures of effect size for some common research designs.

Abstract: The editorial policies of several prominent educational and psychological journals require that researchers report some measure of effect size along with tests for statistical significance. In analysis of variance contexts, this requirement might be met by using eta squared or omega squared statistics. Current procedures for computing these measures of effect often do not consider the effect that design features of the study have on the size of these statistics. Because research-design features can have a large effect on the estimated proportion of explained variance, the use of partial eta or omega squared can be misleading. The present article provides formulas for computing generalized eta and omega squared statistics, which provide estimates of effect size that are comparable across a variet yo f research designs. It is often argued that researchers can enhance the presentation of their research findings by including an effect-size measure along with a test of statistical significance. An effect-size measure is a standardized index and estimates a parameter that is independent of sample size and quantifies the magnitude of the difference between populations or the relationship between explanatory and response variables. Two broad

Coping with paradox: Multistakeholder learning dialogue as a pluralist sensemaking process for addressing messy problems

Abstract: A notable feature of paradox is recognition that seemingly contradictory terms are inextricably intertwined and interrelated—holding out the hope that something new can be learned from the cognitive tension contained within. Aram has characterized the central concern of the business and society field as the paradox of interdependent relations. Our study argues that this and related paradoxes can be addressed by engaging with others and trying to gain shared insight via an interactive, developmental, exploratory sensemaking process that can inform the governance of stakeholder networks. We advocate multistakeholder learning dialogues (MSLDs) as a means for both scholars and practitioners to construct meanings that can guide joint efforts to cope with messy problems that help shape complex, paradoxical relationships within stakeholder networks.

An empirical evaluation of US bank customer perceptions of the impact of technology on service delivery in the banking sector

Abstract: The instalment of customer friendly technology (such as menu driven automated teller machines, telephone and Internet banking services) as a means of delivering traditional banking services has become commonplace in recent years as a way of maintaining customer loyalty and increasing market share. Traditional brick and mortar banks are using technology to meet the competitive challenge posed by online banks, as well as a method of reducing the cost of providing services that were once delivered exclusively by bank personnel. The present research investigates some of the various roles technology plays in the US banking sector and how technology in general impacts the delivery of banking service. The authors developed a grid that might prove useful to bank managers when making decisions concerning the priority of implementation of service‐oriented technology. Key strategic implications are discussed to include ways banks can improve the level of technology‐based service they provide to their customers.

Efficient data mining for maximal frequent subtrees

Abstract: A new type of tree mining is defined, which uncovers maximal frequent induced subtrees from a database of unordered labeled trees. A novel algorithm, PathJoin, is proposed. The algorithm uses a compact data structure, FST-Forest, which compresses the trees and still keeps the original tree structure. PathJoin generates candidate subtrees by joining the frequent paths in FST-Forest. Such candidate subtree generation is localized and thus substantially reduces the number of candidate subtrees. Experiments with synthetic data sets show that the algorithm is effective and efficient.

The effect of communication on nursing student outcomes in a Web-based course.

Abstract: This study compared the effectiveness of different instructional communication methods in a Web-based course on students' cognitive learning, satisfaction, and motivation to complete the course A total of 174 undergraduate nursing students were selected randomly and assigned to experimental or control groups Instruments included a demographic data form, two examinations on course material, a course satisfaction scale, and calculation of completion rates All students received identical didactic Web-based instructional materials However, type of communication varied among groups No significant group differences were found for cognitive learning or motivation to complete the course A significant group difference was found for student satisfaction with the course, indicating carefully planned communication strategies can improve satisfaction A need for technical support also was evident More research is needed to determine the best strategies to enhance student learning outcomes and decrease student attrition in Web-based courses

Opening the Manager's Door: State Probation Officer Stress and Perceptions of Participation in Workplace Decision Making

Abstract: Stress can be costly not only to individuals but also to organizations Participatory management has been recommended as a means for reducing probation officer stress This article via self-report surveys of probation personnel in a southern state considers the relationship of a number of demographic variables with employee perceptions of participation in workplace decision making, job satisfaction, and organizational and physical stress levels Construction of a structural model revealed that employee perceptions of participation in workplace decision making was an important variable in relation to job satisfaction and its influence on both reported organizational and physical symptoms of stress The results lend further credence to the use and development of participatory management schemas within probation organizations

Review of "Dark fiber: Tracking critical internet culture by Geert Lovink." The MIT Press 2002

Abstract: Now, we come to offer you the right catalogues of book to open. dark fiber tracking critical internet culture is one of the literary work in this world in suitable to be reading material. That's not only this book gives reference, but also it will show you the amazing benefits of reading a book. Developing your countless minds is needed; moreover you are kind of people with great curiosity. So, the book is very appropriate for you.

Methodological issues in the social cost of gambling studies.

Abstract: The appropriate way to classify and measure the “social costs” of gambling is a very important, unresolved methodological issue that has been addressed by Collins and Lapsley (2000); Thompson, Gazel, and Rickman (1999); and Walker and Barnett (1999), among others. What should be included and excluded from social cost studies continues to be a controversial issue, as illustrated in the literature and recent conferences. This paper is an attempt to explain the “economics” conception of social costs in accessible language. By using a simple economic model and everyday examples, it shows that the economics methodology is better than the other methodologies currently available. There are four specific goals of the paper: (1) Discuss the importance of the social cost methodological debate and the state of research in the area; (2) Explain the Walker–Barnett definition of social cost in the context of a simple production possibilities frontier and indifference curve model; (3) Use simple illustrative examples to show why many of the alleged social costs should not be classified as such; and (4) Suggest a new method for analyzing the social costs and effects attributable to pathological gambling.

A Grounded Look at the Debate Over Prison-Based Education: Optimistic Theory Versus Pessimistic Worldview

Abstract: Debate over prison-based education continues to divide scholars. Central to this debate are two contradictory perspectives on prison education. These perspectives are (a) an idealistic/optimistic view regarding prison education and (b) a pessimistic reaction to prison education. We located the debate on the contemporary political context (prison-based education Pell Grants). Until its elimination in 1993/1994 with the passage of the Crime Bill, Pell Grants were the primary sources of funding for postsecondary, correctional-education programming in America. This recent, external, environmental change on our penal systems has profound political, economic, and social implications that might be too important and too costly to ignore.

African american adolescents’ experiences with unplanned pregnancy and elective abortion

Abstract: Abortion is a controversial topic in American society, yet abortion experiences have not been studied in great detail. We used a focused ethnographic method to interview 12 adolescents (ages 15–18 years) as they awaited elective abortion. Two follow-up interviews were conducted 6 and 8 months after the elective abortion. Major domains included relationships with partners, confiding in others and finding support, unselfish decision for self, and resolution of the crises. Empowerment was the integrating theme that unified the four domains.

Multiwavelength Insights into Mixed-Morphology Binary Galaxies. I. ISOCAM, ISOPHOT, and Hα Imaging*

Abstract: We present Hα and ISO mid- and far-IR observations for a sample of mixed-morphology galaxy pairs that reveal both the stellar and nonstellar signatures of the interaction process. A mixed-morphology pair is perhaps the simplest form of galaxy-galaxy interaction because it is expected to involve only a single rapidly rotating gas-rich component paired with a gas-poor elliptical or lenticular galaxy. A primary assumption that we address is whether spirals are the only IR emitter in these mixed (E+S) pairs. Our observations reveal that many of the early-type galaxies exhibit weak (low equivalent width) emission, as often observed in field elliptical galaxies. These are the classical mixed-morphology pairs. However, some of the early-type components, especially the lenticular galaxies, show evidence for significant star formation, with Hα equivalent widths and 15 μm luminosities comparable to or exceeding those of their often much larger spiral companions. Our sample contains five Seyfert 2 nuclei, of which three can be described as companions on the end of a spiral arm. The Seyfert nucleus is often accompanied by a starburst region, while other such companions currently show only the starburst component. These pairs are among the best candidates for direct interaction fuelling of both starbursts and active galactic nuclei.

The Determinants of New Venture Success: Strategy, Industry Structure, and the Founding Entrepreneurial Team

Abstract: New ventures are an important part of a healthy economy (Birch [1979]; Birley [1986]; Cooper Willard, and Woo [1986]). They are vital to the U.S. economy, with most of the net new jobs created by new ventures (Birch [1979]; Timmons [1994]). The formation of new ventures in the United States is increasing (U.S. Small Business Administration [1986]). However, the failure rate of new ventures is substantial, with the majority of the ventures failing prior to their third year (Ibrahim and Goodwin [1986]).

Nebraskophis Holman from the Late Eocene of Georgia [USA], the oldest known North American colubrid snake

Abstract: An extinct colubrid snake of the genus Nebraskophis is reported on the basis of a trunk vertebra from the Late Eocene (36.0-34.2 Ma) of central Georgia, USA. The fossil represents the oldest record of the family Colubridae in North America, and is equivalent to, or slightly older in age than the previously oldest known colubrid remains from the Late Eocene of Thailand. The age and remarkable similarity of the fossil to living colu- brid vertebrae suggest that the origin of colubrid snakes considerably predates the Late Eocene. The presence of Nebraskophis in Georgia supports the hypothesis of an early Ce- nozoic biogeographic connection between the Great Plains and southeastern region of the United States for at least some early colubrids. The genus probably evolved auto- chthonously on the continent rather than arriving as a Eurasian immigrant.

Insurance customers’ assessment of service quality: a critical evaluation

Abstract: Increased competition from their traditionally, “non‐insurance” partners in the financial services industry has forced “insurance only” companies to enter areas once considered exclusively part of the financial services market. The melding of the insurance, banking, and brokerage industries into one composite financial service industry has created confusion in the minds of many customers who were once able to delineate neatly company product lines. In order to remain competitive in a deregulated industry that has more or less encroached on all financial service providers, insurance companies and their sales representatives have had to reevaluate their traditional methods of attracting and keeping customers. To be successful in this endeavor, agents must take a closer look at just how they treat their customers. Therefore, examines a model proposed as an instrument to assess some of the possible determinants of customer loyalty. The model is based on agents’ ability to deliver on factors related to service quality. The measurement scale used in the study is based on the importance/performance paradigm. The results, somewhat surprisingly, indicate that respondents believe their individual agent is performing at an above average level. Provides conclusions and recommendations.

Effect of an individualized treatment protocol on restoration of competency in pretrial forensic inpatients.

Abstract: In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of individualized treatment on restoration of competency in patients adjudicated incompetent to stand trial. Treatment groups included deficit-focused remediation (six individual sessions and four group sessions; n = 8), legal rights education (control group; six individual sessions and four group sessions; n = 10), and standard hospital treatment (control group; four group sessions; n = 8). There were no significant baseline differences among groups. All groups differed significantly on competency measures obtained before and after testing. The deficit-focused remediation and the legal rights education groups both demonstrated significantly higher post-treatment scores on competency measures than the standard hospital treatment group. Both groups demonstrated approximately 50 percent more improvement on the competency measures than the standard hospital treatment group. There were no significant differences between the deficit-focused remediation and legal rights education groups on post-test competency scores, suggesting that focus on individual deficits may not be a useful treatment strategy. Results demonstrate, however, that more frequent legal rights education is a worthwhile endeavor in treatment of incompetency.

A generalization of a third irreducibility theorem of I. Schur

Abstract: is irreducible over the rationals. I. Schur (in [10]) obtained this result in the special case that an = ±1 and used it to establish the irreducibility of H2n(x) where Hm(x) is the mth Hermite polynomial. The result stated above is best possible in the sense that, for any integer n > 1, if |an| = 2n − 1, then there are values of a0, a1, . . . , an with a0 = ±1 such that the polynomial f(x) in (1) is reducible. Indeed, if |an| = 2n − 1 and a0 = ±1, then one can take an−2 = an−3 = · · · = a1 = 0 and an−1 to be one of the four numbers ±u2n−2 ± 1 to deduce that f(x) is divisible by x2 − 1 (or, if desired, by x2 + 1). There are other examples of reducibility that can occur when |an| = 2n−1. The polynomial f(x) defined by u12f(x) = 11x12 + 1188x8 + 6930x4 + 10395 = 11(x4 + 3)(x8 + 105x4 + 315)

The Mediating Effects of Attachment to Social Structure and Psychosocial Resources on the Relationship Between Marital Quality and Psychological Distress

Abstract: All marital relationships are not alike. The quality of the marital relationship may be an important determinant of health outcomes. The authors suggest that low marital quality is stressful for married people and that resources (i.e., self-esteem, mastery, and social support) may mediate the effects of relationship quality on distress. Using data from the “Americans’ Changing Lives (ACL): Wave 1” data set, they examine a series of path models to determine the mediating effects of these resources on distress. Marital harmony is more strongly associated with psychological distress than other relationship characteristics. Self-esteem and mastery account for much of the mediating effects, with and without the inclusion of support resources. No gender differences in relationship quality, resources, or social support were found at the multivariate level. The results reflect the importance of self-esteem and mastery for health and well-being over and above the effects of relationship quality and social support.

Analyzing power measurement for the 14 N(p-vector,γ) 15 O reaction at astrophysically relevant energies

Abstract: S O Nelson, M W Ahmed, B A Perdue, K Sabourov, A L Sabourov, A P Tonchev, R M Prior, M Spraker, and H R Weller Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Duke Station, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA Department of Physics, North Georgia College and State University, Dahlonega, Georgia 30597, USA (Received 18 August 2003; published 18 December 2003)

Capillary electrophoresis as a probe of enantiospecific interactions between photoactive transition metal complexes and DNA.

Abstract: Recently, we have demonstrated the capacity to separate chiral transition metal (TM) complexes of the type [M(diimine)(3)](n+) using CE buffers containing chiral tartrate salts. In separate work, several chromium(III)-tris-diimine complexes in particular have been shown to bind enantioselectively with calf-thymus (CT) DNA, and a qualitative assessment of the relative strength and enantiospecificity of this interaction is of significant interest in the characterization of these complexes as potential DNA photocleavage agents. Here, we describe two convenient approaches to investigate such binding behavior using chiral CE. For complexes with lower DNA affinities exhibiting primarily surface binding, DNA itself is used as the chiral resolving agent in the electrophoretic buffer. In this approach, resolution of the TM complexes into their Lambda and Delta isomers is achieved with the isomer eluting later exhibiting superior binding affinity toward DNA. For more strongly bound TM complexes containing ligands known to intercalate with DNA, the [Cr(diimine)(3)](3+) complexes are preincubated with oligonucleotide and subsequently enantiomerically resolved in a dibenzoyl-L-tartrate buffer system that facilitates analysis of the unbound TM species only. Differences in isomer binding affinity are distinguished by the relative peak areas of the Lambda- and Delta-isomers, and relative binding strengths of different complexes can be inferred from comparison of the total amount of unbound complex at equivalent DNA/TM ratios.

E-Business Application in the Hospitality Industry: A Case Study

Abstract: This paper describes some recent development of e-business application in the hospitality industry (e.g., travel industry, and recreational entities) and illustrate with two case studies. One is about a local hotel industry’s effort to use the Internet to boost its local market. Another describes the operations and its competitive strategy of an emerging online travel agency. The research objective is to investigate the trends and level of prevalence of application of the Internet in the hospitality industry focusing on some emerging issues and challenges. Managerial implications are discussed with suggestions for future research.

Unified Field Theory from Enlarged Transformation Group. The Consistent Hamiltonian

Abstract: A theory has been presented previously in which the geometrical structure of a real four-dimensional space time manifold is expressed by a real orthonormal tetrad, and the group of diffeomorphisms is replaced by a larger group. The group enlargement was accomplished by including those transformations to anholonomic coordinates under which conservation laws are covariant statements. Field equations have been obtained from a variational principle which is invariant under the larger group. These field equations imply the validity of the Einstein equations of general relativity with a stress-energy tensor that is just what one expects for the electroweak field and associated currents. In this paper, as a first step toward quantization, a consistent Hamiltonian for the theory is obtained. Some concluding remarks are given concerning the need for further development of the theory. These remarks include discussion of a possible method for extending the theory to include the strong interaction.

Snakes of the Pliocene Taunton Local Fauna of Adams County, Washington with the Description of a New Colubrid

Abstract: Recently discovered snake fossils from the Pliocene (Blancan, approximately 2.85–2.95 MYBP) Taunton local fauna, Adams County, Washington, consist of eight genera and at least nine species representing one boid, seven colubrids, and one viperid. Two of the colubrids are extinct (Elaphe pliocenica and a new genus and species). Tauntonophis morganorum is described as a new genus and species. Biogeographically the Taunton snake assemblage is most similar taxonomically to the Recent snake fauna from the Klamath Mountains Province of southwestern Oregon. From a paleoclimatic stand point, the Taunton snakes suggest that this area of the Columbia Basin had a milder, moister climate approximately 2.85–2.95 MYBP.

A New Species of Predaceous Diving Beetle, Heterosternuta phoebeae (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), from the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas

Abstract: Heterosternuta phoebeae, new species, is described, illustrated, and discussed in the context of other members of the genus. The bizarre, large, trifid aedeagus of this species is unique in Heterosternuta Strand.

Local Lobbying for State Grants: Evidence from Georgia's Hope Scholarship

Abstract: Georgia's HOPE Scholarship is a merit-based aid program intended to provide educational resources for qualified Georgia residents who attend college within the state. The sole determinant of HOPE eligibility is high school grade point average (GPA), which may differ by school district (county). The subjective nature of GPAs gives localities the ability to increase the consumption of education subsidies by lowering academic standards. Consistent with this analysis, the authors find systematic differences in grade assignments across counties, and proxies for local interest group pressure for grade manipulation are associated with greater HOPE eligibility.

The B-10((p)over-right-arrow, gamma)C-11 reaction at astrophysically relevant energies

Abstract: The $^{10}\mathrm{B}(\stackrel{P\vec}{p},\ensuremath{\gamma})^{11}\mathrm{C}$ reaction was studied by detecting the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-rays produced when 100-, 130-, and $160\text{\ensuremath{-}}\text{keV}$ polarized protons were stopped in a thick $^{10}\mathrm{B}$ target. Polarized and unpolarized incident beams were used to measure the cross section and vector analyzing power as a function of angle and energy for capture to the ground $({J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}=3∕{2}^{\ensuremath{-}})$, the second $(E=4319\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{keV},{J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}=5∕{2}^{\ensuremath{-}})$, and the fifth $(E=6478\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{keV},{J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}=7∕{2}^{\ensuremath{-}})$ excited states of $^{11}\mathrm{C}$. The data were analyzed to obtain the amplitudes and phases of the contributing transition-matrix elements at each measured energy for all three transitions. Values of the astrophysical $S$ factors were obtained from the cross section data and are compared to previous results. A direct capture plus resonance model calculation was performed in an attempt to account for all measured quantities. It was found that the large $(\ensuremath{\sim}32%)$ value of ${A}_{y}(90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{})$ observed in the case of capture to the ground state could be accounted for by including the sub-threshold resonance at $8420\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{keV}$.