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All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Theses/Dissertations

2011

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Assessing Transfer Student Performance, Hyderhusain Shakir Abadin Jan 2011

Assessing Transfer Student Performance, Hyderhusain Shakir Abadin

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Higher educational institutions place a high priority on the retention and timely graduation of students. Previous literature and research studies have identified transfer students to have a vital role in the success of four year universities. The university in the study enrolls a high percentage of transfer students, primarily from two year community colleges within the state of Minnesota. To understand transfer students performance, the study used multiple measures of transfer student success, including (1) cumulative GPA, (2) one year retention rate, and (3) one year graduation rate. The comparison of transfer students and native students is examined, showing that …


Best Practices For Treating Co-Occuring Disorders In A Chemical Dependency Treatment Setting, Michelle Dick Jan 2011

Best Practices For Treating Co-Occuring Disorders In A Chemical Dependency Treatment Setting, Michelle Dick

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to identify best practices for treating co-occurring disorders that could be utilized with adult males being treated for chemical dependency at the House of Hope, Inc. Identification of these practices will more effectively meet the needs of the clients served at House of Hope, Inc. and allow the agency to increase their capacity to better service clients with co-occurring disorders.


The Effects Of Invasion By Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris Arundinacea) On Avian Communities And Nesting Success In Minnesota Wetlands, Emily J. Hutchins Jan 2011

The Effects Of Invasion By Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris Arundinacea) On Avian Communities And Nesting Success In Minnesota Wetlands, Emily J. Hutchins

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Invasive plants are a primary contributor to loss of biodiversity worldwide. In southern Minnesota, many wetlands have been invaded by reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea). The current perception among ecologists and resource managers is that these wetlands are of little value to wildlife, yet little is known about the effects on birds of the widespread conversion of diverse wetlands to apparent monocultures of P. arundinacea. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of P. arundinaceamediated changes in the wetland plant community on avian communities and nesting success. During 2006 and 2007, I studied four diverse sedge wetlands paired …


A Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of Distractors Identified Through Stimulus Preference Assessment Versus Caregiver Opinion, Jonathan Steele Jan 2011

A Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of Distractors Identified Through Stimulus Preference Assessment Versus Caregiver Opinion, Jonathan Steele

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The effect of a distraction-based intervention on positive affect and aggressive and distress-related behaviors during morning activities of daily living in an elderly dementia patient was tested. Concurrently, the effectiveness of distractors chosen by staff and family report as compared to those chosen through a stimulus preference assessment (SPA) was tested. An alternating treatment design was used to implement identified distractors and a direct observation system was used to measure outcomes. Though staff reported increases in positive affect when using an edible chocolate distractor, no significant changes in positive affect or distress related behaviors were noted by the end of …


Application Of The Tdma Technique Toward The Size And Charge Distribution Measurement Of Graphite, Gold, Palladium, And Silver Aerosols, Matthew Paul Simones Jan 2011

Application Of The Tdma Technique Toward The Size And Charge Distribution Measurement Of Graphite, Gold, Palladium, And Silver Aerosols, Matthew Paul Simones

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The knowledge of charge distributions among aerosol particles has been an important topic for many years because of the strong electrostatic interactions which can greatly influence aerosol transport and evolution. Theoretical models have been developed although experimental verification has been limited because of the difficulty in measuring charged aerosols. Recently a method utilizing a tandem differential mobility analyzer (TDMA) has been shown to be applicable toward measuring both the size and charge distributions of nanosized combustion aerosols. The goal of this work is on further exploration of this method toward the measurement of non-combustion aerosols and in particular those associated …


Addicted Youth: The Understanding Of Smoking-Related Health Risks In Female College Students, Rebekah Agnes Ann Morris Jan 2011

Addicted Youth: The Understanding Of Smoking-Related Health Risks In Female College Students, Rebekah Agnes Ann Morris

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Young adults are at the greatest risk for initiation of smoking or becoming daily smokers. Smoking has a unique history in the United States and is associated with health risks beyond heart disease and lung cancer, many specifically affecting women. Although the majority of people are aware of the risks for heart disease and lung cancer, many other risks are not recognized. By evaluating the known knowledge of smoking-related health risks beyond and including heart disease and lung cancer in the high risk population of female college students, education programs and cessation teaching can be altered, potentially resulting in lower …


Floristic And Environmental Characteristics Of Sub-Boreal Peatlands Of Minnesota And Western Wisconsin, Kevin Douglas Clement Jan 2011

Floristic And Environmental Characteristics Of Sub-Boreal Peatlands Of Minnesota And Western Wisconsin, Kevin Douglas Clement

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Peatland communities in the sub-boreal region of Minnesota and western Wisconsin were characterized by floristic composition, structure and environmental characteristics to determine the natural variation among peatland communities in the region and their shared associations with the boreal and temperate peatlands of North America. Floristic classification revealed five, distinct peatland community types, identified as Sphagnum Bogs, Herbaceous Fens, Forested Fens, Rich/Calcareous Fens and Phalaris anrundinacea dominated peatlands. Differences among sub-boreal peatlands largely reflected changes in the significant indicator and dominant plant species identified, which were found to exhibit high fidelities to a particular peatland community type. Floristic variations among sub-boreal …


Analysis Of The Genetic Structure Of Bithynia Tentaculata Snail Populations In Wisconsin And Minnesota, Sarah J. Whalen Jan 2011

Analysis Of The Genetic Structure Of Bithynia Tentaculata Snail Populations In Wisconsin And Minnesota, Sarah J. Whalen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In recent years, there have been tens of thousands of waterfowl mortalities in Wisconsin and Minnesota. An invasive species of snail, Bithynia tentaculata, is a host for the trematode parasites (Cyathocotyle bushiensis and Sphaeridiotrema globulus) that have caused these deaths. A microsatellite-enriched genomic library was detected using DNA from a B. tentaculata specimen from Lake Onalaska (Pool 7 of the Upper Mississippi River). Seven polymorphic microsatellite loci were used to genotype snails collected from Lake Butte des Morts, Shawano Lake, and Lake Onalaska in Wisconsin, as well as Lake Winnibigoshish in Minnesota. The genetic diversity of each population was measured …


A Web Based Fuzzy Data Mining Using Combs Inference Method And Decision Predictor, Shajia Akhter Sharmin Jan 2011

A Web Based Fuzzy Data Mining Using Combs Inference Method And Decision Predictor, Shajia Akhter Sharmin

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Fuzzy logic has become a very popular method of reasoning a system with approximate input system instead of a precise one. When qualitative variables are used to determine the decisions then we have to create some specific functions where the membership values of the input can be any number between 0 to 1 instead of 1 or 0 which is used in binary logic. When number of input attribute increases it the combinatorial rules increases exponentially, and diminishes performance of the system. The problem is generally known as “combinatorial rule explosion”. The Information Technology Department of Minnesota State University, Mankato …


Fractured Identity - The Jagged Path Of Diaspora In Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's The Mistress Of Spices, Lisa Lamor Jan 2011

Fractured Identity - The Jagged Path Of Diaspora In Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's The Mistress Of Spices, Lisa Lamor

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Representation of fractured identity issues is a thematic element powerfully present in the work of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Although identity is a commonly explored theme in general, it is through fragmentation in her novels that struggles are often identified and trauma is illustrated. Complex, fragmenting experiences of persons living in the Indian diaspora are frequently present in novels by Divakaruni along with continual employment of fracturing in terms of structure, imagery, plot, language, and character. In order to illustrate the presence of fracturization in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's literature, in this thesis I do an extensive textual examination of her first …


Defining Success: Examining What It Means To Be Good In Forensics, David J. Brennan Jan 2011

Defining Success: Examining What It Means To Be Good In Forensics, David J. Brennan

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

For decades college students have been competing in forensic activity (forensics), spending countless hours researching, writing, and performing speeches. Forensic scholars have never created an overarching definition of what it means to be successful in forensics. A survey was created and sent out on the individual events listserv, asking competitors and coaches to define success. Analysis reveals both competitors and coaches believe success in forensics is a combination of competitive achievement, building communication skills, and personal growth.


The Dirty Work Of Law Enforcement: Emotion, Secondary Traumatic Stress, And Burnout In Federal Officers Exposed To Disturbing Media, Amanda Harms Jan 2011

The Dirty Work Of Law Enforcement: Emotion, Secondary Traumatic Stress, And Burnout In Federal Officers Exposed To Disturbing Media, Amanda Harms

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The present study adds to past research on exposure to disturbing media as a driver of burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Research has shown that exposure to this type of media can lead to secondary traumatic stress (STS), burnout, as well as other negative outcomes (Burns, Bradshaw, Morley, & Domene, 2008; Divine, 2010; Krause, 2009; Perez, Jones, Englert, & Sachau, 2010; Stevenson, 2007). In addition, I discuss this type of work as a form of "dirty work" (Ashforth & Kreiner, 1999). I examined the role of various emotional responses and stigma as mediators and moderators of the relationship between exposure …


Cultural Intelligence And Collective Efficacy In Virtual Team Effectiveness, Pei See Ng Jan 2011

Cultural Intelligence And Collective Efficacy In Virtual Team Effectiveness, Pei See Ng

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study explores the relationships between cultural intelligence, collective efficacy, and virtual team effectiveness. Data was collected from 110 students at a mid-western university. Participants were randomly selected to be in the same- or diverse-cultural dyad teams, and they are asked to work on a personnel selection task through a computer-mediated communication tool. It was hypothesized that cultural intelligence and collective efficacy would be positively correlated with virtual team performance and satisfaction. Another hypothesis was that collective efficacy would mediate the relationship between cultural intelligence and diverse virtual team performance and satisfaction. It was also hypothesized that the same results …


Relationship Type Determines The Target Of Threat In Perceived Relational Devaluation: Organizational Self Vs. Interpersonal Relationships, Peter Sanacore Jan 2011

Relationship Type Determines The Target Of Threat In Perceived Relational Devaluation: Organizational Self Vs. Interpersonal Relationships, Peter Sanacore

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Perceptions of relational devaluation (RD) are perceived threats to an interpersonal relationship which imply that the self has diminished in "closeness, value, or importance" to a specific other (Leary, Springer, Negel, Ansell, & Evans, 1998). This perceived RD results in shifts in thoughts and cognitions, with the nature of the shifts differing between personal and professional relationships (O'Farrell, 2005). This retrospective study sets out to determine where the differences between responses to perceptions of RD in personal and professional relationships derive from, looking at the relationship with the individual and with the organization (in professional relationships). Asked to recall either …


Hiking, Haiku, Or Happy Hour After Hours: The Effects Of Need Satisfaction And Proactive Personality On The Recovery-Strain Relationship, Paige Woodruff Jan 2011

Hiking, Haiku, Or Happy Hour After Hours: The Effects Of Need Satisfaction And Proactive Personality On The Recovery-Strain Relationship, Paige Woodruff

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The primary purpose of the current study was to improve understanding of the process of recovery from work stress by examining need satisfaction as a mediator of the recovery experience-strain relationship and by examining proactive personality as a moderator of the recovery experience-strain relationship. Study findings provided support for the mediating role of need satisfaction and the moderating role of proactive personality; however, these relationships appeared to depend on the type of recovery experience. Mediation analysis of survey data from a sample of professionals (N=123) revealed that the need for competence and need for autonomy fully mediated the mastery-strain relationship …


A Duality Theory For The Algebraic Invariants Of Substitution Tiling Spaces, Jeffrey Myers Ford Jan 2011

A Duality Theory For The Algebraic Invariants Of Substitution Tiling Spaces, Jeffrey Myers Ford

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

We present here a method for computing the homology of a substitution tiling space. There is a well established cohomology theory that uses simple matrix computations to determine if two tiling spaces are dierent. We will show how to compute Putnam's homology groups for these spaces using simple linear algebra. We construct a Markov Partition based on the substitution rules, and exploit the properties of this partition as a shift of finite type to construct algebraic invariants for the tiling space. These invariants form a chain complex, of which we can compute the homology. In our examples we will demonstrate …


Class Discovery And Prediction Of Tumor With Microarray Data, Bo Liu Jan 2011

Class Discovery And Prediction Of Tumor With Microarray Data, Bo Liu

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Current microarray technology is able take a single tissue sample to construct an Affymetrix oglionucleotide array containing (estimated) expression levels of thousands of different genes for that tissue. The objective is to develop a more systematic approach to cancer classification based on Affymetrix oglionucleotide microarrays. For this purpose, I studied published colon cancer microarray data. Colon cancer, with 655,000 deaths worldwide per year, has become the fourth most common form of cancer in the United States and the third leading cause of cancer - related death in the Western world. This research has been focuses in two areas: class discovery, …


Utilization And Maintaining The Spirit Of Motivational Interviewing In Sageplus Lifestyle Interventions, Joan Y. Grotewold Jan 2011

Utilization And Maintaining The Spirit Of Motivational Interviewing In Sageplus Lifestyle Interventions, Joan Y. Grotewold

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Utilizing a descriptive quantitative design to guide data collection and analysis, 11 of the 14 clinics in the State of Minnesota that participate in the SagePlus program were selected by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to participate in this study. The population for this study was the 22 healthcare professionals who were providing the lifestyle interventions in those clinics. The purpose of this study was to determine if the SagePlus healthcare professionals who are providing lifestyle counseling interventions were using Motivational Interviewing (MI) with SagePlus clients and if the healthcare professionals were maintaining the spirit of MI throughout these …


Evaluation Of Health Newsletter Effectiveness On Dietary Habits In Low-Income Middle-Aged Women, Nichole Jennifer Hassebroek Jan 2011

Evaluation Of Health Newsletter Effectiveness On Dietary Habits In Low-Income Middle-Aged Women, Nichole Jennifer Hassebroek

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

There is little known about the effectiveness of the SagePlus newsletters at motivating dietary habit changes. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the SagePlus newsletter in motivating low-income, middle-aged women who are participating in the SagePlus program to adopt healthier eating habits, specifically to eat more fruits and vegetables. A nonexperimental, descriptive correlational design was used in this study. Phone calls were placed to current SagePlus participants who had been enrolled in the program between six and 12 months. Forty English-speaking participants were contacted and agreed to participate in the telephone survey from a potential …


Gender Perceptions In Rheumatic Disease: A Secondary Analysis, Jean Heise Jan 2011

Gender Perceptions In Rheumatic Disease: A Secondary Analysis, Jean Heise

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Problem: Rheumatoid arthritis affects approximately 1.3 million people in the United States. A chronic disease with a variable course leaves affected individuals in a state of uncertainty. Many individuals experience joint and muscle pain, a major symptom of the disease. Current literature provides varying information of gender perceptions and management of joint and muscle pain in rheumatic diseases. Purpose: The purpose of this secondary analysis was to explore (1) gender perception of seriousness of joint and muscle pain in rheumatoid arthritis, (2) gender perception of joint and muscle pain interference with daily life, (3) gender perception of controllability of joint …


Motivational Interviewing Training And Provider Proficiency, Jeremy Jay Waldo Jan 2011

Motivational Interviewing Training And Provider Proficiency, Jeremy Jay Waldo

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine if there was a relationship between the amount and type of Motivational Interviewing (MI) training a SagePlus provider receives, motivation to utilize MI training, and the proficiency of the provider in using MI in lifestyle counseling in clinical practice. This study was comprised of 16 healthcare professionals who provide SagePlus lifestyle counseling interventions in clinics that participated in the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) funded SagePlus program. A demographic questionnaire, modified Preventative Medicine Attitudes and Activities Questionnaire (PMAAQ) and Behaviour Change Counseling Index tool (BECCI) were utilized to assess provider's amount …


The Role Of Medical Training Background In Patient Satisfaction, Mariam Zia Qureshi Jan 2011

The Role Of Medical Training Background In Patient Satisfaction, Mariam Zia Qureshi

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The number of international medical graduates (IMG) is increasing and their ability to satisfy patients has never been studied. The purpose of this study is to examine if there is a difference between the patient satisfaction scores of US medical graduates (USMGs) and IMGs. This is a retrospective study in which 2627 returned patient experience surveys of 55 physicians working in Medical Practice in South Western Mayo Health System were evaluated. These surveys were returned from August 2009 to August 2010. An independent t-test and t-inverse test was conducted with significance level of 0.05. The results of t-test lead to …


Adolescent Substance Use: Perceptions Of Parents And Teenagers, Anthony Stadtherr Jan 2011

Adolescent Substance Use: Perceptions Of Parents And Teenagers, Anthony Stadtherr

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Drug use among Minnesota youth is a leading health risk behavior. This study examined rural adolescents' and parents'/guardians' perceptions of teens' substance use. An electronic survey was administered to high school students (n = 62; adjusted response rate = 84.9%) and sent by email to 79 parents/guardians (n = 22; adjusted response rate = 27.8%). Analyses included descriptive statistics, independent and paired sample t-tests, and chi-square. 56.5% of teens reported using alcohol in the past 12 months whereas 12.9% reported using marijuana. During the past 30 days teens reported using alcohol 1.1 days and using marijuana 1.2 days. When teenage …


University E-Newsletters: The Implementation Of Best Practices, Paula Helen Naumann Jan 2011

University E-Newsletters: The Implementation Of Best Practices, Paula Helen Naumann

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

My purpose for this research was to examine the use of best practice guidelines for e newsletters published by university alumni associations and to recommend additional best practice guidelines for alumni e newsletters. For this study I reviewed 20 current alumni association e newsletters. I based my research on the following questions: 1. Which best practices described in the literature about e newsletters are evidenced in university e newsletters? 2. Which practices, if any, are not common in the literature but are evidenced in university e newsletters? 3. Which additional practices evidenced in the alumni e newsletters should be considered …


Ethic Of Responsibility: Teaching Communication Students The Importance Of Ethics, Jennifer Lynn Scarry-Garthwaite Jan 2011

Ethic Of Responsibility: Teaching Communication Students The Importance Of Ethics, Jennifer Lynn Scarry-Garthwaite

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This paper focuses on the need for ethics instruction in technical communication classes in technical communication programs.


Rhetorical Analysis Of Public Policy Rhetoric: Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act Of 2004 And 2010, Julie Ann Stella Jan 2011

Rhetorical Analysis Of Public Policy Rhetoric: Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act Of 2004 And 2010, Julie Ann Stella

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In this research, I employed content analysis using the constant comparative method to examine and comment on the rhetoric of public policy and its audiences of specialists and generalists in the context of participative government. I examined the specific case of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act (CNR) by comparing technical report texts from 2004 and 2010 to reveal and contrast their specialist and generalist features. Unique attributes of the rhetoric of public policy are discussed, particularly authorship and recursion. I organized the research findings into physical features, affective features, and cognitive features according to Carliner's framework of information design (2000). …


An Evaluation Of Writing Samples By English Learners In Special Education, Brett Patrick Frayseth Jan 2011

An Evaluation Of Writing Samples By English Learners In Special Education, Brett Patrick Frayseth

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate if there was any pattern in the types or frequencies of errors made within writing samples produced by English Learners (ELs) in special education and whether those patterns differentiated them from ELs not in special education or whether there was commonality between the types or frequencies of errors made by ELs in special education and native-English speakers in special education. The intent is that once a pattern is recognized that the written work of ELs can help aid in determining placement in special education. The quantitative method was applied in this study. …


A Study Of Turkish And English Refusal Speech Acts With A Secondary Examination For Bi-Directional Language Transferrals, Morgan Jerome Moody Jan 2011

A Study Of Turkish And English Refusal Speech Acts With A Secondary Examination For Bi-Directional Language Transferrals, Morgan Jerome Moody

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

It has been found that when students learn new languages, certain aspects of their native language can transfer to their L2 in usage and the L2 may alter the usage of the native language. One method used to examine the possibility of transfers between languages, or compare languages, is the discourse completion task (DCT). The present study examines the linguistic past of Turkey. The current study had monolingual Turkish speakers, monolingual English speakers of North America and bilingual Turkish/English individuals in Turkey as participants. The results of the present study show differences as well as similarities in the way that …


Community Down: The Loss Of Sergeant Joe Bergeron, John Edward Helcl Ii Jan 2011

Community Down: The Loss Of Sergeant Joe Bergeron, John Edward Helcl Ii

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

What local government officials, administrators, and staff can expect and how to can help in the aftermath of a peace officer’s line-of-duty death within their community.


Effective Trauma Assessment Tools For Women With Severe Mental Illness, Heather A. Bangu Jan 2011

Effective Trauma Assessment Tools For Women With Severe Mental Illness, Heather A. Bangu

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Minnesota Security Hospital (MSH) serves individuals under civil commitment as Mentally Ill and Dangerous by the State of Minnesota. MSH is evaluating its practices to ensure the treatment environment encompasses a recovery oriented, person-centered, and trauma-informed program. Understanding and assessing trauma will assist clinicians in providing patients with the most effective and efficient treatment (Carlson, 1997). Long term negative outcomes exists for individuals with severe mental illness who have experienced trauma including more severe psychiatric symptoms, substance abuse, and homelessness (Mueser, Salyers, Rosenberg, Ford, Fox, & Carty, 2001). The purpose of this Capstone project was to identify and recommend evidence-based …