Digital Commons Network^™

Change And Continuity In German Relations With The East, Brian L. Kessel

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

This paper will look at the history of German relations with the East in an attempt to gain insight into the future of German-East European relations. Change and continuity in German relations with the East from the original German colonization of Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages until the present will be examined. Special attention will be paid to the historical, geographical, and economic factors that have influenced German behavior. The paper will attempt to show that the East has always held an attraction and fascination for the Germans, an attraction that has often led to German efforts to dominate …

The Use Of Selected Economic Indicators In Regression Analysis To Test Semi-Strong Market Efficiency Of Asset Pricing, Kevin E. Pearson

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

The concept of market efficiency is a widely known and researched concept. The profit motive present in the market combined with advancements in trading technology and company knowledge have practically eliminated mispricing in equity markets. However, the limited number of hours of trading present in stock exchanges of the United States generates the potential for a certain amount of inefficiency. This inefficiency results from the inability of various stock markets to process certain types of public information because of the timing of its arrival in relation to the operating hours of the market. This paper will outline the process followed …

A Role For Fibronectin In The Development Of Beat In Chick Embryo Cardiogenesis, W. Kimryn Rathmell

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Fibronectin is believed to play a directional role in the migration of precardiac mesodermal cells and m~y be involved in other aspects of cardiogenesis. In this study we investigated the role of fibronectin in the development development of heart beat by employing a chick precardiac explant culture system. Fibronectin is recognized by an integrin receptor molecule via an RGD amino acid sequence. Using a synthetic RGD peptide we have blocked the ability of any existing receptor molecules to interact with fibronectin in an attempt to break communication of the mesodermal cells with the extracellular environment. Explanted tissues treated with this …

Actuarial Computation Of Multiemployer Pension Plan Withdrawal Liability, Kelly A. Renze

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

This project helps to demonstrate how pension actuaries must keep a constant eye on new laws. The pension industry is constantly bombarded with new laws which force them to alter policies and procedures. Because of the huge number of laws, it is difficult for all employees to fully understand every law. During my stay at the Principal, I discovered that many passages are interpreted differently by different people. I also uncovered some details through my research that other employees were not aware of.

Because of this complexity, it is often necessary to assign to one person, such as myself, the …

Russian Nationalism And Pamiat, Brian Granger

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

More than seventy years after the October Revolution a crisis in the Soviet Union has caused its citizens to suffer a loss of faith. This disillusionment seemingly stems from the lack of success in economic reform and the chaos of the democratization policy implemented since the rise to power of M.S. Gorbachev in March 1985. The following reaction has not merely condemned Horbachev's "experimentation" with the Pandora's box of perestroika and glasnost'; the first years of the 1990s have also seen the increasing tendency to blacken the whole of Soviet History, to trace the root of all the ills of …

Implementing A Neural Network In The Smalltalk Graphical Environment, John M. Damgaard

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Interest in artificial neural networks has grown rapidly over the past few years. The technology is intriguing and the potential applications of the technology are exciting and diverse. Another area of growing interest in the computer science field is that of object-oriented programming. The object-oriented paradigm is a very powerful tool which can improve software quality and streamline the development process. The most common object-oriented language is Smalltalk. I feel that Smalltalk is an excellent platform on which to implement artificial neural networks.

Laryngeal Compensation And Linguistic Stress In Children With Velopharyngeal Dysfunction, Ann Kathryn Lundberg

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Analysis of the durational data of the hypernasal subjects revealed that these subjects produced significantly longer primary stressed syllables. This result may indicate a type of laryngeal compenstation on the part of these speakers. Since they did not rely on an increase in frequency when producing stress, they may have used an increase in duration to compensate. Therefore, a deviance in the upper vocal tract may be causing differences in the physiology of the lower vocal tract for this population.

Further research is needed in this area to substantiate the present study. More information should be obtained in the area …

Public Policy Towards Unemployment: 1937-1941, Jill M. Hemphill

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

The following essay will examine what type of public policy, if any, was pursued to combat the high levels of unemployment that plagued the American economy from early 1937 until the signing of the Lend Lease Act in 1941. The writer will attempt to explain why Roosevelt failed to bring unemployment to a more acceptable level during these years. The following chapters include detailed analysis of federal relief programs, the isolationist movement, fiscal and monetary policy, all vital components of public policy towards unemployment.

Study Of Entrepreneur-Customer Communication, Bradley F. Williams

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

My project consisted of an analysis of the communication process that occurs between an entrepreneur and their customers. The project research was primarily exploratory, since this topic has received very little attention in terms of academic study. Thus, my goal was to provide some insights into an important, yet overlooked, area in the field of marketing and entrepreneurship.

Traditional business communication models depict a predominantly unilateral flow of communication from a business (usually a corporation) to its customers. An example of this kind of one-direction communication would be an advertising promotion. A feedback loop is usually included in the model …

Generally Accepted Accounting Standards: A Standards Overload For Small Business?, Michelle L. Morgan

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

The purpose of this paper is to explore the issue of the alledged standards overload problem. This exploration can be accomplished by breaking the topic down into several key areas of discussion. To fully comprehend the nature of the problem, it is necessary to have some background on current generally accepted accounting standards (GAAP): what is the nature of current accounting standards and where do they get their authority?; what is the purpose of current accounting standards, and is this purpose served for both smal 1 and/or privately held companies as wel I as for large, public companies? It is …

Computer Crime: The Abuse Of Accounting Information Systems, Darin J. Anderson

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

This thesis will explore the impact of computer crime on accounting information systems. Specifically, it will address the different types of crimes committed, the types of people who commit them, and the controls to deter them. The paper will then close by focusing on who should take responsibility for detection of such crimes.

A Study Of The Personality Types Of Presidential Scholars At The University Of Northern Iowa, Jennifer C. Miller

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

As a Presidential Scholar, became interested in how those people who were awaded the scholarship differed in their personality types from those equally intelligent and involved people who did not. Thus, I decided to compare the personality types of the University of Northern Iowa Presidential Scholars to those members of Omicron Delta Kappa, which is the highest academic honorary society on campus. I chose to compare Presidential Scholars to ODK members because the ODK society emphasizes many of the same qualities as the Presidential Scholars Program: academics, leadership, and service. To become a member of ODK, a student must have …

Patterns Of Hydroxyproline Excretion In Ovariectomized And Estrogen Treated Rats, Gregg Horras

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

If nuclear binding sites for estrogens exist in bone cells, then the origin of estrogen-deficiency-induced osteopenia may be at the level of bone matrix protein synthesis. Since collagen is the most abundant protein in the bone matrix, and since hydroxyproline is an imino acid nearly exclusive to collagen, a monitoring of the metabolism of hydroxyproline in ovariectomized and estrogen treated rats may provide insight into the patterns of estrogen-deficiency-induced osteopenia. The purpose of our study was to test the hypothesis that ovariectomy will increase urinary hydroxyproline excretion in the rat and that this increase will be reversed by estrogen treatment …