Digital Commons Network^™

Habitat And Exposure Modelling For Ecological Risk Assessment: A, T. Edwin Chow, Karen F. Gaines, Michael E. Hodgson, Machelle D. Wilson

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Contamination has a dramatic impact on the health of ecosystem and habitat suitability for the inhabited flora and fauna. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates an ecological risk assessment (ERA) that evaluates the potential adverse impact of any anthropogenic activities on the ecosystem (US Environmental Protection Agency, 1997. Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund: Process for Designing and Conducting Ecological Risk Assessment. EPA/630/R-021011, Washington, DC). This study provides a general framework and specific procedures to predict the contaminant exposure of midsized mammals using a geographical information system (GIS)-based Monte Carlo simulation model. The model was applied to the raccoons (Procyon …

Trehalose Loading Through The Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore Enhances Desiccation Tolerance In Rat Liver Mitochondria, Xiang-Hong Liu, Alptekin Aksan, Michael A. Menze, Steven C. Hand, Mehmet Toner

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Trehalose has extensively been used to improve the desiccation tolerance of mammalian cells. To test whether trehalose improves desiccation tolerance of mammalian mitochondria, we introduced trehalose into the matrix of isolated rat liver mitochondria by reversibly permeabilizing the inner membrane using the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP). Measurement of the trehalose concentration inside mitochondria using high perfOrmance liquid chromatography showed that the sugar permeated rapidly into the matrix upon opening the MPTP. The concentration of intra matrix trehalose reached 0.29 mmoVmg protein (-190 mM) in 5 min. Mitochondria, with and without trehalose loaded into the matrix, were desiccated in a …

The Relationship Between Community Diversity And Exotic Plants: Cause Or Consequence Of Invasion?, Scott J. Meiners, Mary L. Cadenasso

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Invasion ecology has suffered from the artificial separation of invasibility and impact processes in understanding the ationship between diversity and plant invasion. By studying these independently functioning stages of invasion in concert, we can gain great insight into the biological causes and consequences of invasions, and develop crucial information for the generation of adequate management strategies. Our conceptual framework provides a structure to synthesize the current body of research, suggests research needed to fill the gaps in understanding and to organize results from future research. The framework is a powerful tool to guide ecological understanding of the relationship between invasion …

42nd Street, Little Theatre On The Square

2005 Programs

No abstract provided.

A Spatially Explicit Model Of The Wild Hog For Ecological Risk Assessment Activities At The Department Of Energy's Savannah River Site, Karen F. Gaines, Dwayne E. Porter, Tracy Punshon, I. Lehr Brisbin Jr.

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

In North America, wild hogs (Sus scrofa) are both sought after as prime game and despised due to their detrimental impacts to the environment from their digging and rooting behavior. They are also a potentially useful indicator species for environmental health for both ecological- and human-based risk assessments. An inductive approach was used to develop probabilistic resource selection models using logistic regression to quantify the likelihood of hogs being in any area of the Department of Energy’s 805 km2 Savannah River Site (SRS) in west-central South Carolina. These models were derived by using available SRS hog hunt data from 1993–2000 …

The Development Of A Spatially Explicit Model To Estimate, Karen F. Gaines, C. Shane Boring, Dwayne E. Porter

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

A spatially explicit model of raccoon (Procyon lotor) distribution for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) in west-central South Carolina was developed using data from a raccoon radio-telemetry study and visualized within a Geographic Information System (GIS). An inductive approach was employed to develop three sub-models using the ecological requirements of raccoons studied in the following habitats: (1) man-made reservoirs, (2) bottomland hardwood/ riverine systems, and (3) isolated wetland systems. Logistic regression was used to derive probabilistic resource selection functions using habitat compositional data and landscape metrics. The final distribution model provides a spatially explicit probability …

Rodents As Receptor Species At A Tritium, Angel Kelsey-Wall, John C. Seaman, Charles H. Jegoe, Cham E. Dallas, Karen F. Gaines

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

New methods are being employed on the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site to deal with the disposal of tritium, including the irrigation of a hardwood/pine forest with tritiated water from an intercepted contaminant plume to reduce concentrations of tritium outcropping into Fourmile Branch, a tributary of the Savannah River. The use of this system has proven to be an effective means of tritium disposal. To evaluate the impact of this activity on terrestrial biota, rodent species were captured on the tritium disposal site and a control site during two trapping seasons in order to assess tritium exposure resulting from …

Sex Of Spouse Abuse Offender And Directionality Of Abuse As Predictors Of Personal Distress, Interpersonal Functioning, And Perceptions Of Family Climate, Lisa M. Taylor, Joe F. Pittman

Faculty Research & Creative Activity until 2018 (FCS)

This study examines perceptions of personal distress, interpersonal functioning and family climate reported by men and women involved in unidirectional versus bidirectional spouse abuse. Participants were 7253 offenders treated by the USAF Family Advocacy Program from 1988 to 1996. Over a quarter of the sample is female and included among them were both undirectional and bidirectional offenders. Grouping factors for the analysis are gender, directionality of aggression, history of abuse in childhood, history of recidivism, and severity of aggression. Females and offenders raised in abusive homes reported more negative perceptions across the measured spheres. Unidirectional abusers reported more personal distress, …

November 14, 2005, College Of Education And Professional Studies Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Family Mealtime Practices On Household Inhabitants, Lindsay A. Schwarz, Melanie Burns

Faculty Research & Creative Activity until 2018 (FCS)

The purpose of this study was to determine how various family mealtime practices influence family dynamics. The objectives were to determine the frequency of meals per week consumed as a family, which meal was typically consumed together, influencing factors on why families do or do not choose to eat together, and the extent to which the participants perceived that family meal time strengthens the family unit. Participants (n=50) in the study completed a self-administered survey that consisted of questions regarding current family mealtime practices, as well as general questions about the family unit. Results indicated that family meals have the …

Childcare Practices In Three Asian Countries, Shamah Md-Yunus

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Childcare practices such as feeding, toilet training, sleeping arrangement and discipline in three Asian countries (Chinese, Japan, and India) are compared. These countries differ from each other in culture, religion, language and ethnic makeup from Euro-American culture. The differences in childcare practices are broadly related to the differences in family values, traditions, and religions among these countries. Educational implications of sensitivity to cultural differences are also discussed.

2005 Nca Self-Study Site Visit Report, Higher Learning Commission

Primary Documents of Eastern Illinois University

No abstract provided.

Eiu Graduate Catalog 2003-2005, Eastern Illinois University

EIU Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Illinois Work-Based Learning Programs: Worksite Mentor Knowledge And Training, Julie A. Chadd, Marcia A. Anderson

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Teacher-coordinators and worksite mentors of high school work-based learning programs throughout Illinois were the subjects of this study which described worksite mentors' knowledge of teaching work skills to students participating in work-based learning programs and the nature of the training provided to these worksite mentors. There were no statistically significant differences in knowledge of teaching among worksite mentors based on attendance at training. Informal training was offered to worksite mentors most often to acquaint them with work-based learning program procedures. Worksite mentors who did not attend training stated it was not offered while those who attended formal training rated it …

Letters To Home...Vietnam Soldiers Letters, Diana Garner, Historical Administration

Propaganda, Patriotism, and Protest - Docs

Diana Garner was a student at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana when she began to write to soldiers stationed in Vietnam during 1968-1969. A friend encouraged her to place her name in the Sea Tiger, a magazine published by the military. Diana began receiving letters from the soldiers shortly after placing her address in the magazine. She continued to write to a few of the soldiers for some time but eventually lost contact with all of her soldier pen-pals. The letters mostly focus on the mundane activities in the life of a soldier but occasionally glimpses of the fear …

Molecular Identification, Distribution And Ecology Of Larval Malaria Mosquitoes In Carrasco/Chapare Valleys, Bolivia, Reema Paudel

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to address the ecological differentiation of anopheline mosquitoes at the level of breeding sites in an area where species diversity is high, malaria is endemic, and the ecology of the area is complex. Fifty six sampling sites in the Carrasco/Chapare Valleys, Bolivia were sampled in May 2003 for mosquito larvae and pupae, water quality parameters, breeding water habitat type, vegetation, and altitude. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction of up to 50 samples from each collection site identified six species in the subgenus Nyssorhynchus, comprising 62% of all samples (n = 2,708): A. triannulatus (18%), A. …

2005 Warbler, Eastern Illinois University

The Warbler

The 2005 Warbler, yearbook of Eastern Illinois University

Assessing The Accuracy Of The Differential Assessment Of Autism And Other Developmental Disorders (Daadd) As A Screening Tool, Christine Jurgens

Masters Theses

Professionals are encountering children with developmental disorders more often and with more diversity than ever before. Disorder labels are being introduced increasingly early in a child's life in order to qualify them for services. However, characteristics of developmental disorders overlap significantly in young children, with features beginning to differentiate as the child enters formal education at kindergarten age. Debate continues on whether the autistic spectrum is being over-diagnosed, based on increasing incidence and prevalence statistics.

Research has suggested that developmental disorders impact multiple developmental areas, including language, socialization, sensory, motor, and medical/physical aspects and skills. Therefore, distinguishing one developmental disorder …

Influence Of A Short Exercise Program On Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment, Kaori Mitsui

Masters Theses

The influence of a 4-week exercise program on older adults with mild cognitive (MCI) impairment was measured in the study. Six older adults from a long-term care facility met the criteria for participation. After taking the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the participants were then randomly assigned to either an exercise group or a non-exercise group. All participants from the two groups attended a game of Bingo before and after the 4-week exercise program, and their positive and negative behaviors were recorded. Three participants in the exercise group participated in music-based physical exercise (a combination of chair-seated aerobic exercise and strength …

Religiosity, Role Theory, And Self-Esteem, Melissa R. Mccarthy

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between religion, religiosity, archetypal roles and self-esteem. The sample consisted of 61 students at a Midwestern university. The participants completed a series of surveys including two measures of religiosity, a self-esteem measure, and a Female Archetype Scale. The findings indicated that religions differ on levels of religiosity and female archetypes. In addition, there were correlations between religiosity and archetype, and self-esteem and religiosity. The significant correlations for the feminine archetypes were that were that Sekhmet was positively correlated with intrinsic religiosity, and negatively correlated with extrinsic religiosity and Connectedness; Demeter …

Land-Use Changes And Stream Productivity: Effects On Stream Communities And Food-Chain Length, Christopher A. North

Masters Theses

In recent years stream ecologists have come to realize that in order to better understand the processes that occur within streams it is important to incorporate some knowledge of the surrounding landscape into their studies. Previous work on Hurricane Creek indicated that agricultural activities and the proportion of cropland has an impact on stream water chemistry and community metabolism within Hurricane Creek, Illinois. Thus, this study examined stream community composition and food-chain length to ascertain the effects of water quality differences resulting from agricultural land-use practices. The four sites chosen for this study on Hurricane Creek were sampled four times …

An Assessment Of Speech-Language Pathologists, ' Special Educators, ' And Elementary Teachers' Language Knowledge Related To Reading Instruction, Jessica Catto

Masters Theses

An assessment was designed from Louisa Cook Moats' (1996, 2000) research and questions to assess the knowledge of elementary education teachers (grades 1-3), special education teachers, and speech language pathologists in regard to several areas of reading instruction including phonemic awareness, phonics, and vocabulary/morphology.

Subjects consisted of a total of 57 educational professionals, 19 subjects in each group. Results revealed that speech-language pathologists scored significantly higher on the phonemic awareness portion of the assessment as well as total test score, when compared with elementary and special education teachers. Mean scores on the total test ranged from 78-89% accuracy. Mean scores …

The Effectiveness Of The Alcohol Response-Ability Judicial Sanction At A Mid-Sized Comprehensive University, Nancy Ann Betzel Mathewson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the Alcohol ResponseAbility Program (ARP) that is currently used by the Health Education Resource Center at a mid-sized comprehensive university of 11,500 students. A review of literature revealed that individualized feedback and motivational interviewing seem to be more effective than other alcohol prevention methods. Literature also suggested that challenging students' perceptions of campus drinking norms could effectively reduce binge drinking rates on campus. The Alcohol Response-Ability Program, a combination of motivational interviewing and an online educational program including online feedback, incorporates a challenge to students perceptions of campus drinking …

On Campus Non-Traditional Student Use Of And Satisfaction With Support Services At Eastern Illinois University, Nancy J. Crone

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of student support services by the on-campus non-traditional student population at Eastern Illinois University and to determine the students' satisfaction with the services they received. This study attempted to increase university awareness of the needs of this particular student population.

Participants responded to an online survey that asked about their use of and satisfaction with student support services. The survey also provided the respondents an opportunity to make suggestions regarding current services and recommendations for new services.

The overall findings of this study suggest that the on-campus non-traditional student population …

A Formative Evaluation Of The Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority's National Recruitment Program In Its Inaugural Year, Colleen Elizabeth Coffey

Masters Theses

This study was conducted as a formative evaluation of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority's national recruitment program. The researcher sought to determine the effectiveness of all aspects of the program over the course of the last year, to discover any perceived needs among undergraduate members and chapters that were not met over the course of the last year, and to create recommendations for the program to be implemented during the 2006-2008 biennial term. Through a mixed method design the study evaluated the program using qualitative and quantitative survey data, focus groups, and existing data on membership intake from the National …

Condom Use And College Students: The Relationship Of Condom Use Between Condom Club Members And Non-Condom Club Members At A Comprehensive Midwestern University, Jerilyn Jean Reed

Masters Theses

Risky sexual behavior is prevalent on campuses across the nation. Due to an increase in sexually transmitted infections among individuals 25 and under, unsafe sex puts the college population at great risk. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether Condom Club Members demonstrated more knowledge regarding condoms, had been tested more for STIs, used condoms more frequently when engaging in sexual activity than Non-Condom Club Members, and whether Condom Club Members selfreported more, the same, or fewer sexual partners or sexual relations than did NonCondom Club Members at a comprehensive state university in the Midwest.

A posttest-only …

Perceptions Of Governance In Higher Education: Comparing Two-Year College Full-Time And Part-Time Faculty, Karissa Kay Patefield

Masters Theses

Community colleges in the United States serve many student populations and purposes. In order to be successful, these institutions of higher education have hired both full-time and part-time faculty members. Between 1970 and 1993, the number of parttime faculty members hired increased by 355 percent (Morphew, 1999). The present study examined the differences in perceptions between full-time and part-time faculty members in regards to their view on shared governance. In order to study these differential perceptions, faculty members at a Midwestern community college were surveyed. A total of 225 full-time faculty members and 395 part-time faculty members were surveyed via …

Crime, Punishment, And Prevention: An Economic Approach, Jeff Arthur

Masters Theses

Gary Becker's seminal paper laid the foundation for the economic analysis of crime. Using this framework, the government has attempted to increase the costs of crime to a level that effectively deters individuals from criminal activity. Despite the relative lack of discussion in economics, Becker's model suggests alternatives to deterrence. Instead of focusing exclusively on increasing the costs of crime, society can increase the benefits of lawful behavior. Rather than punish the crook, reward the citizen. The purpose of this research is to compare the relative effectiveness of prison and police expansion with prevention programs. Prevention programs aimed at increasing …

Poverty And Income Distribution In The Transition Economies Of Central And Eastern Europe And Central Asia, Andreea Chiritescu

Masters Theses

For the transition economies of Eastern and Central Europe and Central Asia, this study reveals that poverty and income distribution move in the same direction. Following a low income inequality and a target of zero poverty before 1989, the transition caused a worsening of distribution of income and wealth, and an increase in absolute poverty.

Using simple trend analysis, some factors that have a positive influence on poverty in these transition economies are the external debt ratio and the population growth rate, and some factors that have a negative influence on poverty are foreign aid, external debt, foreign direct investment, …

Trends Of Employment-Based Health Insurance: Why Did The Coverage For Private-Sector Workers Decrease During Economic Boom, Yan Ni

Masters Theses

After a decade of erosion of employment-based health insurance coverage in the American population, the overall employment-based health insurance coverage increased beginning in the mid-1990s when the strong economy occurred. According to the previous studies, the labor market and health insurance premium are primary determinants of the coverage rate. However, in spite of the tight labor market and non-existent health care cost inflation (the growth of health insurance premiums is close to the growth of wages), the health insurance coverage of private-sector workers continued to decline. Since the private sector workers are the bulk of the population who benefit from …