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Storm Deposition Of Pisoids In The Humboldt Oolite Member Of The Gilmore City Formation (Mississippian), North-Central Iowa, Shawn C. Thomas, John R. Groves

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Pisoids (concentrically laminated carbonate grains, > 2 mm in diameter) are abundant in the upper Humboldt Oolite Member of the Gilmore City Formation (Mississippian). Their cortices are isopachous and nuclei include both intraclasts and fragments of preexisting

pisoids. They occur both as floating grams m a fine grainstone matrix and concentrated at the bases of distinct layers that may be crudely graded beds. Sorting characteristics and the presence of broken and abraded pisoids suggest not only their origin as primary free grams, but also storm influence in the deposition of local pisolite layers. Regionally, the upper Humboldt Oolite is characterized by …

A Reflective Essay About Philosophy Of Education, James Dostal

Graduate Research Papers

People are the essence of education. In the education and athletic professions people were and are the source of my ideas about leadership qualities. Educational leadership is significant to the organization of schools as well as school districts. This writing will reflect on qualities of leaders and my philosophy of leadership.

Every Waking Moment: A Young Adolescent Novel Exploring The Effects Of Sleep Deprivation, Jeff Dyer

Graduate Research Papers

Human behavior can be dramatically affected by sleep deprivation (Peretz, 1996). The author gained an extensive understanding of sleep deprivation through a literature review by discovering the answers to questions such as: Does the loss of sleep have an impact on an adolescent's performance and behavior in school? Is this a problem that our nation's educators and parents should be concerned about? If sleep deprivation is in fact a problem for adolescents, how widespread is it?

Information learned during this process was then incorporated into the fictional novel, Every Waking Moment in order to disseminate the data in an entertaining …

Preventing Childhood Depression By Building Resiliency In Children, Sarah Carroll

Graduate Research Papers

This review of literature is a report of the success of programs designed to prevent childhood depression by building resiliency. Research results indicate that prevention programs focused on teaching children and parents coping skills, changing negative thought patterns, social problem solving, teaching the symptoms of childhood depression and how to discuss it with children, and fostering resiliency have reduced the incidence of depression in children (Comer, 1985; Gladstone & Beardslee, 2000; Seligman, 1995).

Additional research needs to address the following questions: a) How does building resilience differ for children from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds? b) . What are the …

When The Wildebeest Gets Your Berries : Adolescent Anger Management, Patresa A. Hartman

Graduate Research Papers

This study presents a review of literature regarding adolescent anger management. Problematic anger is defined as externalizing or internalizing behaviors that occur frequently enough and at a high enough level of intensity to: (1) disrupt one's everyday functioning at school, home, and/or in the community; and (2) impair one's relationships with others and one's own self-concept. The causes can be traced to a myriad of possible sources: cognitive problems; developmental problems; chronic irritability, agitation, volatility, or mood instability; or environmental stressors.

This review of studies regarding adolescent anger management programs leads to the following suggestions for school psychologists: (1) understand …

The Portrayal Of Grandparents In Young Adult Fiction, Sherri L. Imoehl

Graduate Research Papers

This study used content analysis to examine contemporary young adult fiction to see how the grandparent-grandchild relationship was portrayed. The titles were randomly chosen books taken from the American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults annual lists 1990-2000. Simple perceptions of grandparents as older adults who see their grandchildren on special occasions are no longer realistic. There is statistical evidence that many grandparents have a significant effect on the lives of young adults. Grandparents are becoming more active in the family household. Novels read by young adults may not mirror these new changes. Findings revealed that in the majority …

School-Based Prevention Of Adolescent Substance Abuse, Kristina Lorenzen

Graduate Research Papers

Because of the prevalence and serious consequences of adolescent substance abuse, it is necessary to review programming for prevention. Progress has been made in identifying effective prevention methods. However, there is a gap between what research has shown to be effective and the methods commonly used in most schools.

The purpose of this paper is to review existing literature and research on substance abuse prevention for adolescents. The following research questions were addressed: How prevalent is adolescent substance abuse? What specific factors put an adolescent at risk for substance abuse? Why are some programs considered ineffective? What components make an …

Emergence And Mortality Of Native Prairie Forbs Seeded Into An Established Stand Of Grasses, Dave Williams

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Thousands of hectares of warm-season grass plantings in Iowa have few to no native forbs. Diversifying these species poor plant communities with native prairie forbs could result in increased resistance to climatic extremes, increased biodiversity, reduced noxious "weedy" plant invasion, and reduced geographic isolation between existing native prairie remnants.

I hypothesized that frequent mowing in the first one or two years after broadcasting forb seed into an established stand of warm-season grasses can increase forb emergence and reduce forb mortality. I further hypothesized that fall seeded forbs would establish better that those seeded in spring.

To test my hypothesis, I …

Piagetian Developmental Reasoning Levels Of High School Students In Differentiated First Year Chemistry Courses, Pamela Kay Brewer-Michael

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research studied the developmental reasoning levels of students in three different first year high school chemistry courses as related to achievement defined by cumulative grade point average and course selection. The Lawson Test of Formal Operations modified by Roy Unruh and Bruce Perry at the University of Northern Iowa was used to determine cognitive developmental level of subjects. A consumer type chemistry course, a traditional high school chemistry course, and an honors course under consideration with Marshalltown Community College for credit status were the three courses utilized in this study. Data was collected in a classroom group setting over …

Identifying And Comparing Misconceptions Held By American And Russian University Students In Mechanics, Alexandra Sokolova

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This paper reports on a study of misconceptions held by undergraduate students completing an introductory physics course at the University of Northern Iowa and first-year undergraduate students taking a mechanics course at the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia. Existence of misconceptions in mechanics among Russian and American students was investigated prior to instruction and at the completion of the one-semester course. Different teaching approaches were used to introduce the students to mechanics. An activity-based approach was emphasized at UNI and a traditional lecture-lab approach was used at Herzen University. The emphasis of the study was placed on identifying misconceptions …

Organophosphorous Insecticide Contamination In Streams: Insects As Bioindicators, Brian M. Andersen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Organophosphorous (OP) insecticides are widely used around the world to control pests. These insecticides can enter streams and rivers and impact nontarget aquatic organisms by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (ACE), a nervous system enzyme necessary for normal behavior and survival. However, these contamination events are usually brief and often missed by chemical analyses attempting to detect OP insecticides. Although ACE activity has been used as a bioindicator of OP insecticide exposure in humans and wildlife for many years, few studies have investigated using aquatic insect ACE activity as a potential bioindicator of OP insecticide contamination in streams. This study used the mayfly …

Application Of Artificial Neural Networks To Sensitivity Analysis And Modeling Of Small Office Buildings, Quan Tang

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Sensitivity analysis and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) are the most extensively used techniques in studying the input-output relationship in building thermal systems. However, both MLR and most methods for sensitivity analysis do not account for nonlinear components embedded in building energy systems. Thus, their results might be distorted.

In this study, the Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) technique was applied to sensitivity analysis and modeling of an imaginary small office in order to (a) examine how the annual energy consumption responded to 40 building design parameters and evaluate relative contributions of these parameters to the variation of the building energy performance, …

Emergence And Mortality Of Native Prairie Forbs Seeded Into An Established Stand Of Grasses, Dave Williams

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Thousands of hectares of warm-season grass plantings in Iowa have few to no native forbs. Diversifying these species poor plant communities with native prairie forbs could result in increased resistance to climatic extremes, increased biodiversity, reduced noxious "weedy" plant invasion, and reduced geographic isolation between existing native prairie remnants.

I hypothesized that frequent mowing in the first one or two years after broadcasting forb seed into an established stand of warm-season grasses can increase forb emergence and reduce forb mortality. I further hypothesized that fall seeded forbs would establish better that those seeded in spring.

To test my hypothesis, I …

A Christian Parent’S Guide To Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’S Stone, Gina Louise Burkart

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A Christian Parent's Guide to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone provides parents with a variety of activities and opportunities for discussing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone through the Christian lens. The guide is founded and supported by educational theorists such as Kohlberg and Piaget and is built on the principle that parents can help their children sort out fantasy and reality and moral issues by discussing literature with their children. Each chapter is broken down into four sections: Bridging the Gap, Talking About It at Home, Scripture Connection, and Activities. Bridging the Gap allows parents and children to …

The Importance Of Behavioral Interventions And Stimulant Medication Effects On Reducing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Elizabeth Alvarez

Graduate Research Papers

Overall, various avenues of research state that ADHD is a complex disorder that requires treatment by multiple modalities. Most research states that a combination of medication and behavior therapy is necessary to resolve the symptoms. It should be noted that the dose of stimulant medication prescribed to a child with ADHD should be adjusted based on the child's response to a behavioral intervention, as well as the combination of the behavioral and pharmacological treatments. Rapport et al. (1982), as well as others, have found that medication alone will not "cure" ADHD. But with multiple methods of treatment the symptoms will …

Health Promotion Evaluation And Needs Assessment In The Transylvania Region Of Romania, Bryan C. Byrd

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Since the revolution of 1989, Romania has been undergoing wide ranging changes affecting all aspects of the country including health promotion. As common to many newly independent states (NIS) the changes in socio-economics, on-going poverty, unemployment status, and the overall culture shock of political transition, has resulted in health characteristics and indicators improving in some areas but suffering in others. This project was initiated as a descriptive study of the health promotion practices of Transylvania, Romania. The goal of the research was to describe and discover the philosophical practices driving current Romanian health promotion practices, as well as to conduct …

Representations Of Motherhood: A Feminist Criticism Of Indian Post-Colonial Novels, Baishakhi Banerjee

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

A Study Of The Validation Of The Constructive Inquiry Science Reasoning Skills Test, Matthew John Stier

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The development of student's science reasoning abilities is a central goal of science education. To meet this goal researchers have investigated the development of science reasoning abilities using a variety of instruments, Classroom Test of Formal Reasoning, Objective Referenced Evaluation in Science, clinical interviews or laboratory process tests. However, while many of these instruments have been designed to test logical thinking, scientific reasoning, and inquiry skills, problems with them include restriction of student choices, guidance, encouragement of guessing, content dependence, testing of cognitive level only, decontextualized questions, developmental inappropriateness, and time/monetary expense. A novel instrument was developed to fill a …

Suitability Of Hsp70 As A Biomarker For Pesticide Contamination Of Aquatic Systems: A Laboratory Investigation Using Chironomus Tentans As A Model, Lori Rae Covington

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Though the use of pesticides has resulted in increased crop production and other benefits, concerns have been raised about potential adverse effects on the environment, especially the hydrologic system which supports aquatic life. To chemically analyze for all possible contaminants at all at-risk sites would not only be costly, but practically infeasible and would yield no information about biological effects. Therefore, a significant portion of the scientific community has turned their investigative focus to biomarkers as a measurement of sublethal contaminant exposure and effect. A biomarker that has been the recent focus of much research is the family of heat …

A School Psychologist's Role In Decreasing Eating Disorder Prevalence In School-Aged Children, Natalie Muth

Graduate Research Papers

Eating disorders have dramatically increased over the last 20 years, resulting in prevalence rates exceeding other high-incidence medical conditions treated in the educational setting. Chapter 2 presents a review of literature covering eating disorder identification, history, prevalence and epidemiological data. Theoretical perspectives, risk and protective factors, symptoms, and medical complications are also reviewed. Current assessment measures used for screening and diagnosing anorexia and bulimia is additionally presented along with a summary of school-based primary prevention programs. The second chapter concludes with a brief overview of eating disorder treatment.

A summary is presented in chapter 3 along with implications for school …

Aggression In The Classroom, Heid Reaman

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined how aggression in the classroom influenced the learning climate. Types of aggression and causal factors were discussed. Guidelines for teachers on the successful management of student aggression were presented. Also, conclusions were drawn from the literature, and recommendations were made to help teachers in the classroom by improving their skills concerning student aggression.

Effect Of Tio₂-Mediated Photocatalytic Degradation On The Toxicity Of Orange Ii, Arnaud Eric Nicolas Goutard

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

C.I. Acid Orange 7 (15510) is the sodium salt of p-[(2-hydroxy-1-naphtalenyl)azo] benzenesulfonic acid. This azo dye is commonly known as Orange II and has been used to dye soaps, shoes, wood and paper (Ramchandani et al., 1994). In the United States and Europe, this dye is not allowed in foodstuffs. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficiency of a TiO2-mediated photocatalytic oxidation process to degrade Orange II and to determine if Orange II is cytotoxic to certain types of cells. The role of UV radiation and TiO2 particles were examined, as well as the importance of oxygen …

Acculturative Stress Experienced By International Students At The University Of Northern Iowa And Their Coping Options, Mmamiki Gaolatlhe Kamanakao

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the acculturative stressors of international students at the University of Northern Iowa and determine what services or programs they access or use as their coping options. Also included in the study was a description of differences in the extracted factors of acculturative stress by gender, age, marital status, residence type, place of origin, length of study at UN[, length of stay in the US, and number of working hours per week. A random sample of 98 international students (45% female, and 54% male) responded to a 50-item acculturative stress and coping …

Academic Attribution Style Of Tenth Grade Students With Attachment Problems, Kimberly Conrad

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between attachment and attribution in adolescents. The question that will be answered in this study is is there a relationship between attachment (as measured by the Adolescent Attachment Questionnaire) and attribution ( as measured by the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Questionnaire). There is not enough data in the literature at the present time to clearly support that there is a relationship. Data were collected by using two instruments, Adolescent Attachment Questionnaire (AAQ), (West, Rose, Spreng, Sheldon-Keller, & Adam, 1998), and Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Questionnaire (Crandall, Katkovosky, & Crandall, …

School Readiness: Characteristics, Viewpoints, And Guidelines For Developing An Effective Kindergarten Program, Vicki A. Zweibohmer

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined the recent literature on the subject of school readiness. Positive viewpoints, as well as negative viewpoints, associated with school readiness were discussed. Guidelines were presented for developing an effective kindergarten program with regard to school readiness. Also, conclusions were drawn from the current literature and recommendations were made for future kindergarten programs

The Effects Of Using Computer-Assisted Learning To Teach Multiplication, Brian Unruh

Graduate Research Papers

This case study investigated the effects of using computer-assisted learning (CAL) while teaching multiplication facts to 32 third-graders. This quasi-experimental study spanned a six-week period and was analyzed using a variety of qualitative and quantitative techniques. Among these qualitative techniques were participant observation and formal and informal interviews. The quantitative component included document analysis of three separate instruments. This study demonstrated a low correlation between the use of CAL and recall skills. However, students felt comfortable and enthusiastic working with the computer. In addition to the excitement, students felt significantly more confident and successful using the computer. There was evidence …

The Quality Of Child Care, Toranna Wermes

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined the effects of child care environments on children. Benefits, as well as problems, were discussed and were associated with how children are affected by the quality of child care environments. Guidelines were presented for establishing quality child care environments for children. Also, conclusions were drawn from the literature and recommendations were made for the future of child care in our state and nation.

Effectively Treating Conduct Disorder Through Therapy, Angie Wittstock

Graduate Research Papers

This research paper examined four types of treatment. Functional Family Therapy, Multisystemic, Parent Management Training and Problem-Solving Skill Training, for youth with Conduct Disorder. It looked at the core of how each treatment was facilitated along with some of the strengths and weakness of the different therapies. This paper also explored the cost-effectiveness rate for the different therapies. It suggested that less severe cases might benefit from some fom1 of Parent Management Training or Functional Family Therapy. Cases that are more difficult may require Multisystemic Therapy (Brosnan & Carr, 2000). Problem-Solving Skills Training should be used with Parent Management Training …

A Descriptive Analysis Of Sexuality Education In The State Of Iowa : What Content Is Being Delivered To Secondary Students?, Brian Poncy

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The present study investigated what content in the area of human sexuality was being delivered to secondary students in the state of Iowa. The study was a descriptive study, which investigated the lesson plans used by the teacher(s) who delivered the participating school's sexuality education component. Specifically, the study compared what information schools cited that they were delivering to secondary students with a preset coding system developed by Ogletree, Rienzo, Drolet & Fetro (1995) to evaluate sexuality education curricula. Three areas were looked at which included sexually related content, skill building strategies, and teaching strategies. Results indicated that the participating …

Monitoring Of Prairie Bushclover (Lespedeza Leptostachya) In South-Central Iowa, Paul J. Bockenstedt

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Prairie bushclover Lespedeza leptostachya is listed as threatened by both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of Iowa. Found within the tallgrass prairie region only in four midwestern states, prairie bushclover is considered a midwestern endemic. The federal recovery plan includes the goal to stabilize populations through proper management techniques and long-term management plans.

In 1989, three permanent plots were established for long-term monitoring at Madison Prairie in Clarke County, Iowa to examine population trends under the influences of fire and grazing. Fifty prairie bushclover plants were randomly selected within the three plots and square meter sampling …