Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of Kohonen Neural Network Application As A Pattern Recognition System For An Electronic Nose, Lori Lynn Evesque

Masters Theses

Electronic noses are used to identify and characterize unknown odors in industry. Chemometrics and neural network algorithms are used as pattern recognition systems for these devices. Experimentation with Kohonen clustering as the pattern recognition system for electronic noses was not noted prior to 1997. [BEG] This thesis investigated the use of a Kohonen neural network algorithm as a clustering algorithm for electronic nose data using the chemometrics algorithms built into the electronic nose as a performance standard. A secondary aim was to improve the clustering and identification capabilities of the Kohonen network.

The unsupervised Kohonen network was not able to …

The Nonprofit Sector In Saudi Arabia: A Descriptive Study, Abdulrahman Al-Othaimeen

Masters Theses

As Saudi Arabia's economic and social environments have become more complex, the role of the nonprofit sector has grown in importance. At the same time, the sector faces the challenges of technology changes, shifting demographics, global influences, and increasing connectedness to the private and government sectors. In past decades, charitable services depended on individuals. It has, however, moved from individual services to charitable organizations. This study describes the work of hundreds of private and community organizations and agencies that practice the charitable work. They provide similar service and programs: human service, childcare, education, health care, and consulting. Philanthropic agencies influence …

Evaluation Of The Systems Theory Based Interdisciplinary Patient Safety Practice Guideline On Restraint Reduction And Fall Prevention, Steven D. Eberth

Masters Theses

Patient safety remains one of the most profoundly complex and important issues in healthcare systems especially regarding the use of restraint and the prevention of falls. Current topic guidelines suggest a "systems approach." These guidelines, however, oriented toward solution application using analytical problem-based approach. The development of this practice guideline was in response to a desire for theory-based practice that could guide outcomes. This practice guideline transforms systems theory into a guide for use by a leader/manager and a tool for the practitioner to rethink patient safety in a more holistic manner. This study was conducted in critical care, older …

Future Housing In The United States: Senior’S Housing Demand, Sandeep Singh

Masters Theses

In the United States, persons born between 1942 and 1964 are within 10 to 15 years of traditional retirement age and are identified as baby boomers. The data shows that the number of persons aged 65 years and older have grown from 10 percent of the population in 1970 to nearly 13 percent in 1996. Furthermore, the population that is 65 years old or older is projected to be 20 percent of the population in 2030. As a result, the demographic change nurtures a demand for senior’s housing.

On the other hand, the concern is for the elderly living in …

Right Hemisphere Effects On Language Processing: Suppression Or Activation Deficit, Sarah A. Orjada

Masters Theses

This study was designed to add to the body of research that examines the possibility of semantic activation or suppression deficits as underlying right hemisphere communication disorders. Modified treatment techniques for activation and suppression deficits proposed by Myers (1999) were used as stimuli for the experimental tasks. A total of four RHD participants and four control participants matched in age, gender, and level of education were included in the study. The study aimed to answer the following questions. Do RHD or control participants have higher scores on the suppression tasks? Do RHD participants have longer reaction times? Do RHD or …

Identifying The Function Of Aberrant Behavior: Comparing Variations Of The Experimental Functional Analysis, Kathryn M. Potoczak

Dissertations

The advent of the experimental functional analysis has had a significant effect on the field of behavior analysis in shifting the focus from topography-based interventions for aberrant behavior to treatment based on function. The original method developed by Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, and Richman in 1982 utilized attention, demand, alone, and play conditions in a multielement design. Its effectiveness in determining the function of aberrant behavior using both antecedents and corresponding contingencies of reinforcement is well established, and it is the most prevalent method of functional assessment used today.

However, an alternative to the Iwata et al. (1982) procedure exists. …

Assessing The Acceptance Of The New Environmental Paradigm In Kalamazoo County, Michigan, Jaclyn Rose Burke

Masters Theses

Since the first Earth Day in 1970, there has been an expanding popular movement to protect the environment and a growing consciousness that humans are an integral part of nature. The New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) is a worldview that emphasizes the relationship that exists between humans and the environment. The purpose of this Master's Thesis is to assess Kalamazoo County, Michigan residents' attitudes on the environment based on their acceptance of the NEP. The acceptance of the NEP by Kalamazoo County residents was evaluated by residents' responses on a survey developed to measure their environmental attitudes. Kalamazoo County was found …

The Immediate Effects Of Vestibular Stimulation On The Language Performance Of A Child With Autism, Jennifer L. Sova

Masters Theses

There is a proposed link between sensory processing abilities and language performance in children with autism. Research evaluating such a relationship is limited. This study sought to evaluate the hypothesis that language expression is facilitated by the application of vestibular stimulation in a child with autism. The purpose of the present study was to implement language interaction techniques and measure the outcome of language performance in a 4-year-old child with autism and sensory integration dysfunction. The child was evaluated in regards to vestibular stimulation and its facilitative effect on language production for social communicative purposes. Direct observation was used to …

Soil Survey Enhancement Of Landsat Thematic Mapper Delineation Of Wetlands: A Case Study Of Barry County, Michigan, Rosemary Ann Anger

Masters Theses

The Landsat Thematic Mapper Satellite system has provided a unique platform for the study of natural and man-made features since 1972. This suite of sensors has become an important tool in assessing vegetation type and health over large areas of the earth. This paper reviews the Landsat Thematic Mapper’s ability to categorize wetlands using an unsupervised classification scheme. A preliminary exploration of an unsupervised classification of wetlands using soil engineering characteristics from the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s soil survey as a pseudo bandwidth is described. The result of this project suggests that when compared to the National Wetlands Inventory, a …

Stream Bank Erosion And Land Use/Land Cover Along The Gun River, Allegan County, Michigan, Kenneth James Sexton

Masters Theses

The Gun River, located in Allegan County, MI, is experiencing profound erosion and sedimentation due to past channel modifications and current land use activity. The Gun River historically has been dredged and straightened to drain water faster and more effectively for agricultural production. Additionally, human land use activities in the watershed influence the current land cover and riparian vegetation. The purpose of this study was to determine if variations in land use (residential, agricultural, and forested) and vegetative cover along the banks of the Gun River influence erosion. Additionally, the study provided a unique opportunity to compare the upper portion …

Wmu Board Of Trustees Regular Formal Session, March 28, 2003, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Minutes of the WMU Board of Trustees meeting include appendices:

• Remarks by the Chair
• Remarks by the Interim President
• Acceptance of the Agenda
• Approval of the Minutes of the January 2003 Annual Formal Session
• Honorary Degree Recommendation
• Academic and Student Affairs Committee Recommendations
• Grant Report
• Personnel Report
• Approval of New Programs
• Budget and Finance Committee Recommendations
• Gift Report
• Personnel Report
• Unsecured Line of Credit
• Approval of Sale of Property
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Regulations: Compliance Actions
• Communication Antenna Leases
• Mama Maria, Inc. Lease Agreement
• KC’s Budget Auto Lease Agreement
• Resolution re Series 2003 General Revenue Bonds …

Western News, March 27, 2003, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: WMU shares grant for research on sensors that detect chemical, biological weapons, Litynski will detail impact of budget cuts for state legislators, Trustees slated to meet Friday, U.S. government tapping WMU physics professor’s knowledge of Iraq, March madness includes MAC honors for Bronco hoopsters, HPER's Frauenknecht; Liu made fellows in research consortium, Cobb back from Portugal visit, Che plans to present ecotourism research at Rutgers conference, Food industry executives to meet on campus, APA calls for nominations for annual awards; accepting applications for $500 scholarship, WMUK scores Keillor, 'Prairie Home Companion' visit, set for June 21, Week of …

Western News, March 13, 2003, Western Michigan Univeristy

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Govenor’s budget proposals could lead to $12.5 million cut in funding for WMU, Annual campus event features world of food, fashion, fun, Free tickets available for Desmond Tutu speech, Impact of Granholm budget on WMU, Budget measures implemented at WMU, Aviation college blends international, U.S. units in new program, French and German diplomats give their nation’s Iraq views, Seiler joins elite group of flight instructors with 'master' status, Faculty member premiers film at famed African film festival, Animation expert to talk about subtitles, Alumni staff seeks help in designing single WMU ring, Spring Staff Service Excellence winners named, …

Bibliography: Women And Medicine, No.35 2003 , Monica Green

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 30, No. 1 (March 2003)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Special Issue on Institutional Enthnography: Theory and Practice

• DOROTHY SMITH AND KNOWING THE WORLD WE LIVE IN - Marie Campbell
• TURNING THE KALEIDOSCOPE: TELLING STORIES IN RHETORICAL SPACES - Bonnie M. Winfield
• "ARE YOU BEGINNING TO SEE A PATTERN HERE?" FAMILY AND MEDICAL DISCOURSES SHAPE THE STORY OF BLACK INFANT MORTALITY - Elaine R. Cleeton
• "FOR THE FAMILY": ASIAN IMMIGRANT WOMEN'S TRIPLE DAY - Kamini Maraj Grahame
• CHRONIC ILLNESS AND ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATION: MEETING DISABLED STUDENTS' "UNIQUE NEEDS" AND PRESERVING THE INSTITUTIONAL ORDER OF THE UNIVERSITY - Karen E. Jung
• A CHILD'S DEATH: LESSONS FROM HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS' …

Transformation Of The Welfare State. Neil Gilbert.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Neil Gilbert, Transformation of the Welfare State. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. $29.95 hardcover.

Turning The Kaleidoscope: Telling Stories In Rhetorical Spaces, Bonnie M. Winfield

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

In this essay, I reflect on the work of Lorraine Code on Rhetorical Spaces and the work of Dorothy Smith on Institutional Ethnography to explore how stories are translated and seen as though looking through the different turns of a kaleidoscope. The stories I am referring to here are intake stories in human service agencies. The question is how do the front line human service workers translate the noise of everyday/night life of the "client" into the human service jargon/forms. I also explore the issues of how the front line worker with the intention of being professional. disembodies herself and …

What Works? Evidence Based Policy And Practice In Public Services. Huw T.O. Davies, Sandra M. Nutley And Peter C. Smith (Eds.).

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Huw T.O. Davies, Sandra M. Nutley and Peter C. Smith (Eds.). What Works? Evidence Based Policy and Practice in Public Services. Bristol, UK: Policy Press, 2001. $81.00 hardcover, $32.50 papercover.

"Are You Beginning To See A Pattern Here?" Family And Medical Discourses Shape The Story Of Black Infant Mortality, Elaine R. Cleeton

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Postmodern and poststructuralist theorizations of the interrelations of the particular and the universal have identified women's bodies to be the last frontier for scientific discovery leading to and satisfying the modern compulsion to stabilize and control life from birth to death. This institutional ethnography of one city's response to an elevated infant mortality rate among the babies of African American urban, impoverished women explores their discursive transformation from single mothers who cannot begin prenatal care before the second trimester because too few physicians will treat Medicaid patients, into sexually-immoral, illegaldrug- using women who deliberately harm their babies. The study locates …

"For The Family": Asian Immigrant Women's Triple Day, Kamini Maraj Grahame

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article examines how Asian immigrant women manage the demands of family,job training, and paid work in their new society. Using institutional ethnography, a feminist research strategy developed by Dorothy Smith, the study begins with the women's experiences to explore the extended social relations which give shape to them. The study argues that among those extended relations are the organization of the labor market in the contemporary period, immigration legislation, and the ideological practices embedded in developing, managing, and administering public policies such as job training. A critical eye is turned to social science discourses on family which penetrate the …

Chronic Illness And Academic Accommodation: Meeting Disabled Students' "Unique Needs" And Preserving The Institutional Order Of The University, Karen E. Jung

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

People with disabilities are just one of the groups designated for special attention in relation to equity in postsecondary education. This paper explores the way in which policies that provide academic accommodation for students disabled by chronic illness unfold in practice. As part of the administrative regime of the university, these policies are typically designed to reconcile the interests and relevances of the law with the interests and relevances of the academy. When a disabled student "activates" the policy, regardless of whether or not services and assistance are provided or are useful, the student becomes situated within social relations that …

A Child's Death: Lessons From Health Care Providers' Texts, Nancy M. Bell, Marie L. Campbell

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article originates from a research study that explores 'what happened' to a 10-year-old child with Rett syndrome, who died from "severe malnutrition" according to a Coroners Service inquest jury. The inquest evidence analyzed, using institutional ethnography, shows that approximately one week prior to this child's death three health care providers (an emergency physician, a hospice volunteer and a home care nurse) conducted individual assessments of the child. Child protection workers were also involved. Textual analysis of the health care providers' records shows how the child was officially and textually constructed as 'dying from a terminal illness' in contrast to …

Understanding Poverty. Sheldon H. Danziger And Robert H. Haveman (Eds.).

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Sheldon H. Danziger and Robert H. Haveman (Eds.), Understanding Poverty. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2001. $55.00 hardcover, $24.95 papercover.

Welfare Racism: Playing The Race Card Against America's Poor. Kenneth J. Neubeck And Noel Cazenave.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Kenneth J. Neubeck and Noel Cazenave, Welfare Racism: Playing the Race Card Against America's Poor. New York: Routledge, 2001. $19.95 papercover.

Western News, Feb. 20, 2003, Western Michigan Univeristy

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: VDDI gets patent rights, will open local office, ‘State of the U' address online, Sobriety organization honored, Gullickson committee releases groundbreaking student evaluation book, Trustees meeting rescheduled, Latino issues being addressed on campus at afternoon forum, Malcolm signs on to tongue-in-cheek resolution on evolution, Films of French-speaking world featured at fest, College of Arts and Sciences honors 12 for outstanding work, Service excellence nominations due tomorrow, Private gift funds study abroad scholarship, Board of Trustees approves structural changes, Physical plant team making strides in energy efficiency, saving money, asking for your help.

Western News, Feb. 6, 2003, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: WANTED: ‘passionate’, ‘progressive’ president, Klohs, Anthony elected to lead Board of Trustees during 2003, Gullickson, Havira are recipients of 2002 Distinguished Service Awards, Canidates for education dean post to present, Board of Trustees approves several appointments, promotions.

Physics Department News, February 2003, College Of Arts And Sciences

Physics Newsletter

Contents from Volume 2, Issue 1:

• A Word From the Present Chair
• A Word From the Past Chair
• What’s New at the University
• Faculty Highlights
• PhysTEC
• New Faculty
• Alumni News
• Alumni Achievement Awards
• Annual Student Awards
• Recent Graduates
• Recent Guests
• Department Roster
• Photo Gallery
• Feedback/Update Reply Form

The Importance And Use Of Student Self-Selected Literature To Reading Engagement In An Elementary Reading Curriculum, Denise Johnson, Anne Blair

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

The purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of student self-selecting literature and reading engagement in an elementary reading curriculum. The article discuses the use of self-selected reading in the context of child development, book difficulty, independent reading time accountability, and a supportive environment. The successful use of self-selected reading by the Children's Choices Project is also discussed.

The Use Of Humor In Vocabulary Instruction, Charles Aria, Diane H. Tracey

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

We investigated the effects of humor on vocabulary instruction in a study with 84 seventh grade students from an ethnically mixed, middle-class, Northeastern, suburban school district. The experimental group received a series of lessons for vocabulary words for which we provided humorous contexts. The control group received a series of vocabulary lessons for the same words in typical, non-humorous contexts, based on guidelines from a standard reading textbook. Following each lesson, we administered identical assessment tests to each group. An examination of pre- and post-test scores revealed that students in the experimental group significantly outperformed their control group counterparts on …

Wmu Board Of Trustees Annual Formal Session January 24, 2003, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Minutes of the WMU Board of Trustees meeting include appendices:

• Remarks by the Vice Chair
• Remarks by the Interim President
• Acceptance of the Agenda
• Approval of the Minutes of the December 12, 2002 Regular Meeting
• Election of Officers
• Recommendation re Trustee Emeritus Richard Chormann
• Recommendation re Trustee Emeritus Richard St. John
• Recommendation re Presidential Position Specification
• Authorization to Confer Degrees
• Academic and Student Affairs Committee Recommendations
• Grant Report
• Personnel Report
• Departmental Name Change – Department of Paper and Printing Science and Engineering to Department of Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Imaging
• Departmental Name Change – Department o Foreign Languages and …