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 …

Differences In Trait Competitiveness Between Girls’ Basketball Starters And Non-Starters At The Junior High And High School Level, Julie Ann Kemp

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences ln trait competitiveness between girls' basketball starters and non-starters at the junior high and high school level. The study was designed to test the hypotheses that high school girls' basketball players would have higher levels of competitiveness than junior high school basketball players; that there would be no difference in the trait competitiveness scores between girls' basketball starters and non-starters; and, that there would be no difference in the trait competitiveness scores of starters and non-starters at either the junior high or high school level.

The subjects (N …

The Incidence Of Elevated Total Cholesterol Levels In Elementary School Aged Children In The Absence Of Familial Cardiovascular Disease, Nancy C. Fauser

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of elevated blood cholesterol levels of fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students in four schools in Cedar Falls, Iowa and to determine the relationship between total cholesterol level and family history of cardiovascular disease in this population. A total of 645 students were invited to participate in the blood cholesterol screening research project. Of this target population, 215 children whose parents gave consent for their participation became subjects for the research project. A cardiovascular family health questionnaire was sent home with each student which was completed by the parents of …

Comparison Of 6 Versus 15 Second Intervals For Heart Rate Measurement Immediately Postexercise, Camila Kae Frey

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to compare heart rate assessed by electrocardiogram (ECG) immediately postexercise in phase 3/phase 4 cardiac rehabilitation program participants using two different counting intervals (6 and 15 seconds) with heart rate assessed by ECG during exercise. The 6 and 15 second postexercise heart rates were compared with the exercise heart rates to determine if there was a significant difference. Comparisons were also performed on those taking and not taking beta blocker medication to determine if there was a difference between the groups. Subjects consisted of 17 male participants, ages 49- 77, (7 taking and 10 …

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 …

A Comparison Of Two Tracks Of Certification For Athletic Trainers, Cindy Lea Gentz

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to compare the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) approved athletic training education program (curriculum program) to the NATA approved internship program in terms of their adequacy in preparation of individuals for the NATA certification examination. A self-reporting questionnaire was developed in an effort to identify the educational background of each subject and their viewpoints concerning their educational preparation for the NATA certification examination. The subjects for this study were composed of 177 NATA certified athletic trainers who were certified between January 1, 1985 and October 31, 1989. The collected data were tabulated by hand …

An Analysis Of Reinforced Concrete Composites Utilizing Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Thermoplastic, Jaroslav V. Vaverka

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Removing plastic from landfills does not solve the solid waste problem entirely. Plastic products are difficult to recycle because, unlike aluminum or glass, the plastics used in food packaging cannot be reused for the same purpose. Among the commonly used plastic resins, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has been widely adopted by the packaging industry. This research study was concerned with recycling of PET thermoplastic in concrete as a way to reduce the volume of solid waste.

Current surveys of recycling efforts reveal that existing PET recycling approaches have become inadequate. Solid waste management is stressing the eminent need for new recycling …

A Study Of Peer Involvement In The Formative Evaluation Of Instruction In Higher Education, Larry W. Keig

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine faculty attitudes toward methods of peer review in the formative evaluation of instruction in higher education, and toward selected variables that may affect the willingness of faculty members to avail themselves of these methods. The methods investigated were direct classroom observation, videotaping of classes, evaluation of course materials, and evaluation of instructor-graded student assignments. The variables examined included detractors (i.e., factors having potential to take away from the value of the evaluation methods), enhancers (i.e., factors having potential to add to the effectiveness of the methods of evaluation), and individual/institutional improvement variables …

The Relationship Between Locus Of Control And Self-Concept As A Learner: Does A Relationship Exist?, David B. Wood

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Before locus of control (LOC) and self-concept as a learner can be separately used in personality measurement, their construct independence must be established. Randall (1989) and Schmidt (1990) found moderate (.-49 and -.25) overlap between the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children (NSLOC) (Nowicki & Strickland, 1973) and Waetjen's (1967) Self-Concept As a Learner Scale (SCAL). Since Randall and Schmidts' data came from differently sized school districts, the exploration of district size as a variable seemed warranted.

Interest in LOC and self-concept has been studied extensively since Rotter's (1966) comprehensive review. Joe (1971) did a comprehensive review. Strickland (1972) …

A Descriptive Study Of The Academic And Professional Backgrounds Of Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurses In Iowa, Paulette M. Herold

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to describe the professional backgrounds, experience, roles and responsibilities, and selected attitudes and opinions of cardiac rehabilitation nurses in the state of Iowa. Nurses were identified through the membership lists of the Iowa Association of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (IACPR) and the American Association of Cardiovascular Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). Additional programs were identified through the Iowa Blue Cross/Blue Shield approved list of Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs in the state. A total of 100 surveys were mailed. The data results, based on the responses of 71 (71%) of these nurses, are summarized below.

The basic nursing education of …

Multivariate Analysis Of The Carex Brevior Group In Iowa, Scott C. Zager

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In Iowa, the most troublesome sedges to identify are Carex brevior, C. festucacea, C. molesta, C. normalis, C. tenera, and C. tenera var. echinodes. These taxa form the C. brevior group--part of an even larger aggregate of species associated with C. straminea. Their morphological features are indistinct and intergrade into one another. Botanists have had difficulty classifying members of this aggregate for nearly 200 years. Some authors have viewed the taxa as separate species, others as polymorphic forms of a single species. Much of the contention has centered upon the variation of taxonomic characters used to delimit and distinguish species. …

An Investigation Of The Instructional Management Behaviors Of Principals In Mid-Sized Public High Schools In Iowa, Marcus J. Haack

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The major purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of superintendents, principals, and teachers regarding the instructional management behaviors of principals in mid-sized public high schools in Iowa when applied to 10 job functions of instructional management behavior. The study utilized the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS) instrument, developed by Dr. Philip J. Hallinger, to assess perceptions of instructional management behaviors of principals.

A total of 165 individual assessments were included in the analysis. Completed survey instruments were received from 55 superintendents, 55 high school principals, and 55 high school teachers in mid-sized pubic high schools in …

Sociological Implications Of Technology: The Historical Treatment Of Technology In Sociological Theory And A Proposal For Empirical Research, Martin E. Hansen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Technology, as a form of knowledge, can be an important explanatory variable in empirical sociological investigations. In this thesis the macrohistorical concept of technology within the discipline of sociology is traced and critiqued, with special attention given to analytical misconceptions and reifications, e.g., confusing technology with its processes, products, and social consequences. An analytical model is initially presented which attempts to facilitate a better understanding of the dialectical interrelationships between technological, social, and natural (scientific) phenomena. Recent attempts to measure the effects of technology on social relationships are critiqued, particularly in their inadequate conceptualization and operationalization, confusion of cause and …

Toward The Optimization Of Cell Operator Productivity In Computer Integrated Manufacturing, David Leonard Gobeski

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) has been seen as the answer to maintaining the lead in American productivity. The cell operator was seen as being critical to the success of CIM. The design of the operator's job was seen as very important. As manufacturing engineers design cell jobs, including the roles and tasks, with the operators, it was believed important for the engineer to know what motivated the cell operator. However, past studies of supervisors and their subordinates have shown that supervisors are unable to predict the importance of the elements of job enrichment of the subordinates. It was questioned whether …

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 …

The Effects Of The Use Of A Color Code In Graphic Presentation And Assessment On The Reader's Immediate Recall And Delayed Retention, Peggy Ann Posekany Pruisner

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The study investigated the effects of the use of a color code in graphic presentation and assessment of verbal material on the reader's immediate recall and delayed retention. Nine seventh-grade classes, containing a total of 132 students, were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: (a) color-coded graphic presentation with a color-coded graphic assessment, (b) color-coded graphic presentation with a black/white graphic assessment, (c) black-white graphic presentation with a color-coded graphic assessment, and (d) black/white graphic presentation with a black/white graphic assessment. The research design was a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial; the independent variables were the graphic …

The Wechsler Preschool And Primary Scale Of Intelligence And Wechsler Preschool And Primary Scale Of Intelligence-Revised: How Comparable Are The Iq Scores, Laura Christine Griggs Bealles

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The IQ scores on the WPPSI and the WPPSI-R of 35 subjects were examined, and the differences of the subjects' scores were compared. _over a 2-year period, 10 graduate students identified four students each, and administered the WPPSI and the WPPSI-R to each of them, in a counterbalanced order. Group mean scores on the Verbal, Performance, and Full Scales on the two tests were compared. Correlations were computed, and t tests were done to compare the Scales on the tests. Consistent with the findings cited in the WPPSI-R Manual, the group mean Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQ scores on …

Factors Influencing Preparation Needed Of Future Industrial Technology Department Leaders In Higher Education, Rajendra L. Desai

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The object of this study was to help future industrial technology department leaders in higher education develop effective planning strategies and prioritize their preparation before they sought leadership positions in industrial technology. Two hundred fifty-four industrial technology department leaders in higher education from all over the United States were asked to respond to a questionnaire. A five point Likert-type scale was used to rate the importance of 58 statements identified from Marshall's (1984) study. One hundred sixty (62.99%) usable responses formed the basis of this study.

Mean values and standard deviations were determined for all the statements. The grand mean …

A Descriptive Study Of Perceived-Effective Rural Superintendents In The State Of Iowa, Bonnie Korver Baum

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The nature of the superintendent's responsibilities has changed significantly since the first school superintendent in the United States was hired in the 1830s. Superintendents today have a great influence on education. That influence is felt in rural schools as well as urban and suburban districts. Rural schools have certain unique administrative problems. Solving those problems depends on the vision, leadership, and effectiveness of the administration.

The purpose of this study was to identify selected characteristics of effective rural superintendents. Five rural Iowa superintendents, identified as effective by their peers, were studied in depth. The qualitative dissertation identified characteristics in four …

Teacher Perceptions Of Rsds, Laura Lynn Bone

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study examined fourth grade teachers' perceptions of the Renewed Service Delivery System (RSDS). The subjects were 111 fourth grade regular education teachers from public schools in Iowa. Participants were from schools in four Area Education Agencies. The participating teachers completed a questionnaire consisting of demographic data and 21 declarative statements. Responses to the declarative statements were chosen using a Likert-type scale. No follow-up mailing was initiated. The results of the questionnaire were analyzed using frequency distributions. Further inquiry may reveal the results possibly indicated teachers perceive the premise of RSDS to be headed in the right direction, but felt …