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Language Profiles Of Children Who Have Experienced Complex Trauma And Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Christel G. Ciolino

Masters Theses

Children who experience maltreatment and children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) have similar neurological differences and are at risk for language impairments. However, limited research has been conducted to analyze their specific skill sets. To address this limitation, retrospective data from the Children’s Trauma Assessment Center of Southwest Michigan were analyzed. The linguistic profiles of 79 children with histories of varying numbers of traumatic experiences and comorbid FASD statues are compared in the areas of semantics, syntax, pragmatics, and social communication. Individuals had high pass rates on the CELF-5 Screening Test and high overall scores on the Pragmatic Protocol-Revised …

Assessment For Mild Cognitive Impairment: Striving For Best Practice, Julie Leigh Dalmasso

Dissertations

This dissertation is a series of three studies aimed at determining the best assessment practices for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) that can employed by speech-language pathologists (SLPs). The first study was non-experimental and descriptive examining whether three commonly used assessment instruments yielded similar categorical results. The data were analyzed to determine whether the Eight-Item Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia (AD8), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Cognitive-Linguistic Quick Test (CLQT) identified the same participants from a neurotypical sample as having cognitive deficits. Very little agreement was found amongst the three tools.

Study two was modified to include two …

Web-Based Stimulus Preference Assessment And Reinforcer Assessments For Videos, Hugo Curiel

Dissertations

Stimulus preference assessments and reinforcer assessments are integral components of positive reinforcement-based interventions. Web-based brief multiple-stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessments have recently been shown to be effective in identifying preference hierarchies for videos (Curiel, Curiel, Li, Deochand, & Poling, 2018). The purpose of the current studies was to replicate Curiel et al.’s web-based MSWO assessment and assess the reinforcing function of the highest and lowest identified stimuli using novel web-based reinforcer assessments. Study 1 employed single-operant arrangements (SOAs) and Study 2 employed concurrent-operants arrangements (COAs) to assess the absolute and relative reinforcing function of the identified stimuli, respectively. The …

Examining The Impact Of A Criminal Background In Social Work Education, Amy S. Vliek

Dissertations

Many returning citizens want to access higher educational institutions (HEIs) to access desired professions and increase employability. However, many HEIs and profession education programs have restrictions in place for returning citizens. An MSW is the most sought-after degree for returning citizens. However, social work education has restrictions in place for returning citizens. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the lived experiences of MSW returning citizen students considering these restrictions. The dissertation attempts to answer the following research questions: How did applicants who disclosed a criminal background at the time of application experience the MSW application process? Did the …

Comparison Of Religious Problem-Solving Styles On The Use Of Problem-Focused And Maladaptive Emotion-Focused Coping Related To Financial Strain And Stress, Kirk A. Vander Molen

Dissertations

Poverty negatively impacts individuals and society as a whole in various ways, including emotional and physical health, relationships, education, crime, stress, and the economy (Adler & Ostrove, 1999; Anakwenze & Zuberi, 2013; Caplan & Schooler, 2007; Yoshikawa, Aber, & Beardslee, 2012). How people cope with the stress of poverty and engage with its causes and potential solutions impacts their capacity to survive, manage, and work toward improving their situation (Caplan & Schooler, 2007; Cohen & Wills, 1985; Santiago, Etter, Wadsworth, & Raviv, 2012). Problem-focused coping involves a person’s engagement to make plans, mobilize resources, and take action to manage or …

Statistical Models For Correlated Data, Xiaomeng Niu

Dissertations

Correlated data arise frequently in many studies where multiple response variables or repeatedly measured responses within subjects are correlated. My dissertation topic lies broadly in developing various statistical methodologies for correlated types of data such as longitudinal data, clustered data, and multivariate data.

Multiple response variables might be relevant within subjects. A univariate procedure fitting each response separately does not take into account the correlation among responses. To improve estimation efficiency for the regression parameter, this study proposes two estimation procedures by accommodating correlations among the response variables. The proposed procedures do not require knowledge of the true correlation structure …

Denoising Large Neuroimage Mri Data Using Spatial Random Effect Models, Leonard Chukuma Johnson

Dissertations

Spatial smoothing in Magnetic Resonance image (MRI) involves applying a filter to remove high frequency information and consequently improves signal-to-noise ratio that can greatly aid neurosurgeons in pre-surgical planning stages of tumor resection. This immensely reduces the time spent on Electrical stimulation mapping (ESM) prior to surgery. MRI's three-dimensional data provides voxel intensities with complex spatial relationship. The standard de facto spatial smoothing method, Gaussian Kernel smoothing, is satisfactory since a uniform smoothing is done for the whole brain. Secondly, the kernel smoothing technique assumes normality for the voxel intensity, but there is ample evidence in current research that indicates …

Elucidation Of The Toxicity Of Anthropogenic Nanoparticles In Environments Containing Heavy Metals, Chartanay Bonner

Dissertations

The design, synthesis, and applications of anthropogenic nanoparticles continue to rise as technologies utilizing the unique chemical and physical properties of materials with nanoscale dimensions emerge. Engineered silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) possess antimicrobial properties toward several strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The manufacturing and use of Ag NPs have led to their increased presence in the environment as pollutants. The interaction of Ag NPs with other pollutants influence their surface properties, aggregation state, stability and consequently, their toxic response toward microbial pathogens. In the present study, we examined the interaction of heavy metal ions (Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, and …

Using Agent-Based Implementation Of Active Data Bundles For Protecting Privacy In Healthcare Information Systems, Raed M. Salih

Dissertations

Sharing healthcare information—including electronic health/medical records (EHRs/EMRs)—among healthcare information systems is necessary for improving the quality of healthcare. However, facilitating data exchange increases privacy threats—due to easier copying and dissemination of healthcare information.

We propose a solution that provides privacy protection for patients’ EHRs/EMRs disseminated among different authorized healthcare information systems. Our solution builds upon the existing construct named an Active Data Bundle (ADB). In the proposed solution, ADBs keep EHRs/EMRs as sensitive data; include metadata describing sensitive data and prescribing their use; and encompass a policy enforcement engine (called a virtual machine or VM), which …

University Leaders’ Experiences In Advancing The Development And Transformation Of Emerging Saudi Public Universities, Abdulrahman Hamed Alsulami

Dissertations

For several decades, Saudi higher education comprised seven to eight public universities concentrated in the main cities of the country. Since the beginning of the new millennium, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has heavily invested in the higher education sector. Thus, it witnessed a remarkable rate of expansion from 8 to 28 higher education institutions during a relatively short period between 2003 and 2013. This renaissance in the sector involved several different processes, including transforming, merging, restructuring, and establishing new colleges and/or programs, administrative posts, and key components for inclusive and modern campuses.

From a contextual perspective, there is a …

Further Exploration Into The Coma Recovery Scale - Revised And The Music Therapy Assessment Tool For Awareness In Disorders Of Consciousness, Alika D. Seu

Masters Theses

Due to the high rate of misdiagnosis of individuals with disorders of consciousness (DOC) it has been a priority to develop clinical tools to accurately diagnose and assess these individuals (Seel et al., 2010). The Coma Recovery Scale – Revised has been regarded as the gold standard assessment for this population, however, a recent pilot study has shown that the Music Therapy Assessment Tool for Awareness in Disorders of Consciousness (MATADOC) may have increased sensitivity in several assessment domains (auditory, visual, arousal, and verbal commands) in relation to the overall diagnostic outcome. The data sets from this pilot study were …

Spatial And Temporal Changes In Halal Food Sales And Consumption A Case Study Of The City Of Dearborn, Michigan, Sam Roodbar

Masters Theses

With a population of 3.2 million and growing in the US, Arab Americans are an integral part of the economy and culture of the United States and the world. The southeast portion of the state of Michigan is home to more than 300,000 Arab Americans. One of the main agents of cultural maintenance and support for the Arab American community are their ethnic food traditions, specifically Halal food. Since the introduction of Halal food in the United States, the sales and consumption of Halal products has increased immensely. This research seeks to answer four related questions focused on the entrance …

A Comparison Of Alternative Route Alignments For The North Country Trail Through Calhoun County, Mi, Whitney K. Lambert

Masters Theses

Recreational hiking trails are a popular destination for local residents and tourists, offering health, educational, and social benefits. The North Country Trail (NCT) provides a unique hiking experience because of the many landscapes through which it travels. Because it spans across seven states in the Midwest, a hiker can travel through the mountains of New York, the hardwood forests of upper Michigan, and the plains of South Dakota along one route. When completed, the NCT will be about 4,600 miles; however, there are currently 1,900 miles of undeveloped connector routes during which the route is often located along the road. …

Characterization Of Pinitol Catabolism In Sinorhizobium Meliloti And Its Role In Nodule Occupancy, Angela Irene Kennedy-Mendez

Masters Theses

Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is the nitrogen fixing symbiont of Medicago sativa (alfalfa), was used to test the hypothesis that D-chiro-inositol is an intermediate of pinitol catabolism and that pinitol catabolism plays a role in S. melilot s ability to compete for nodule occupancy. An analytical method, involving gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GCMS), was developed to detect and separate pinitol and D-chiro-inositol. The S. meliloti wild type, and three isogenic mutant strains (idhA, mocD, and mocE) were grown in minimal medium with pinitol and pinitol plus glycerol. The S. meliloti wild type can utilize pinitol as a sole carbon source, …

Professional Preparedness: A Satisfaction Survey For Music Therapists In The United States, Xueyan Hua

Masters Theses

This study investigates the satisfaction level among undergraduate or equivalency students, who have completed their degree program, in regards to their professional education and preparedness for professional practice in the United States. Out of a sample of 7,183 Board- Certified Music Therapists (MT-BC) invited to complete an online research survey, 777 (n=777) MT-BCs completed the survey. Due to time limitations, qualitative data was not analyzed.

Major findings include: (1) 8.79% of respondents completed no more than two preinternship clinical practica; (2) 88.46% of respondents were satisfied with their clinical practicum settings; (3) 92.72% of respondents were satisfied with the relevancy …

Exploring The Relevance Of Art Therapy In Public Education, Brandy A. Jarrell

Masters Theses

This thesis will explore art education as a therapeutic tool in a public education system. This topic will serve as a continuation of research that I conducted previously but will bring more focus upon bringing a certified art therapist into public school districts in West Virginia. Data will be collected through student surveys, interviews of professional art therapists, and administrative officials. Data will also be collected through a review of the literature surrounding the benefits of art therapy to children and adolescents. Through these sources I will explore the attitudes, beliefs, and practices of educational professionals, art therapists, administrators and …

Effect Of Social Feedback On Emotions And Preferences In Music, Megan Dillon

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research project was to investigate whether social feedback had an effect on individuals’ emotional ratings of and preferences in music. The current study recruited 173 participants and was based on a study by Egermann, Grewe, Kopiez, and Altenmüller (2009a) that surveyed individuals on their reactions to music when presented with falsified social feedback. The research hypothesis was that participants who were exposed to manipulated social feedback would report emotional ratings and preferences more closely aligned with the social feedback than when not exposed to the feedback. Results showed significant differences in participants’ reported ratings of music …

A Survey Of Perceptions And Professional Boundaries Between Music Therapy And Speech-Language Pathology, Jennifer Rose Fromius

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between music therapists and speech-language pathologists in order to gain a better understanding of professional boundaries within each profession, frequency of co-treatment between the two professions, and perceptions of referral in clinical practice. Data for this research were collected through two online questionnaires with parallel sets of questions, which were distributed to a sample of boardcertified music therapists (MT-BC) and speech-language pathologists (CCC-SLP). Quantitative and qualitative data collected from the survey (N= 283; n = 45 MT-BC, n = 238 CCC-SLP) are analyzed to determine if there are correlations and …

An Evaluation Of Domestic Violence Shelter Programs And Research Best Practices, Katherine Brown

Masters Theses

Domestic violence is a prevalent social problem occurring all over the world. The numerous ways society addresses domestic violence programs varies causing further complications. This study aims to better understand some of the domestic violence research best practices, programs, and policies available through a national study examining innovative residential shelter programs. A content analysis of interviews, tour photos, shelter pamphlets/websites, and training materials suggested four themes. The main finding, however, suggested trauma-informed care should be implemented within safe housing for survivors of domestic violence.

The Role Of Arts Education In Closing The Achievement Gap In High Poverty Schools, Deanne Basse

Masters Theses

This paper will review research that identifies different types of poverty and how brain development may be affected as a result of living in poverty. Although research reflects support and understanding by the American people that arts education is important to the well roundedness of youth and, in fact, correlates with higher standardized test scores, arts programs continue to be cut especially in areas of poverty. There is an achievement gap in educational success when it comes to students that live in poverty and that of students in higher socioeconomic situations. Students of poverty are working with increased internal and …

Teaching The Soft Skills Through The Arts: A Supplementary Art Curriculum, Brittany Boverhof

Masters Theses

Soft skills are the ability to work with, for, and among other people, yet we can no longer expect students to develop these skills organically. This research builds on the knowledge that if we want the students we are educating to be successful in employing their own soft skills, then they must be taught. This paper defines soft skills, shows their importance, and introduces practices that are proven to build soft skill ability. I have constructed twelve lesson plans that teach the soft skills through experientialism, working in groups, art, critique, classroom management, and problem solving. This supplementary curriculum provides …

Spatial Effects Of Foreign Direct Investment (Fdi) On Poverty Reduction In Colombia: A Mixed Methods Approach, Mayra Alejandra Yat Aguilar

Masters Theses

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been identified as an important factor in stimulating economic growth and decreasing poverty. In particular, the relationship between FDI and economic growth has been extensively debated in the academic literature but with mixed results. Meanwhile, considerably less work has been done towards investigating the effects of FDI on poverty reduction. Evidence from the limited research linking on FDI and poverty levels is also mixed. Through a more comprehensive survey-based multi-scale method of assessing poverty, this empirical study investigates the contribution of FDI with respect to concurrent quantitative and qualitative assessment of changes in living standards …

Experiences Of Underrepresented Minority Students In Health Professions Programs, And Their Journeys To The Programs, Alisha L. Davis

Dissertations

Classified as a public health concern, the lack of underrepresented minorities (URMs) in the U.S. health care workforce is still prominent today, even with the increase of URM groups having reached historic numbers of representation within the United States. It is projected that by 2050, URM groups will replace Whites as the majority, yet Whites currently make up the majority of the health care workforce. URM health professionals are more likely to provide accessible and culturally competent health services, and practice in racially and ethnically diverse communities. This helps to eliminate health care disparities, and reduces inequities found in …

A Study Of The Effect Of Socio-Cultural Demographics, Health Status, And Use Of Music On Music Preferences, Kaitlin Mckinley

Masters Theses

There have been varying studies seeking to find links between a wide range of individuals’ personality, gender, age, or well-being on one’s musical preferences. These studies have brief suggestions of some characteristics, however, the amount of studies are scarce and have limited results to show substantial influence of specific demographics on music preferences. The present study aimed to explore possible similarities between one’s music preferences and the sociocultural background, their use of music in daily life, and their health status. 173 respondents participated in a brief online survey which consisted of rating seven music samples and then followed by 12 …

Organocatalyzed Synthesis Of Epoxides From Chalcones Utilizing Amino Acids, Sabrina N. Kegeler

Masters Theses

The epoxide functional group is important throughout the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in nature. In the chemical industry, epoxides are present in resins and fragrances. In the pharmaceutical industry, epoxide-containing compounds are used as intermediates in the manufacturing of drugs. In nature, many natural products contain epoxide groups and are used for medicinal purposes, and for models to create synthetic molecules.

One approach to epoxide synthesis involves the use of an alkene precursor, a base, and an oxidizing agent. This is where my investigations began. The first step was to optimize the epoxidation reaction, examining substrate scope, …

Western News, March 29, 2018, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Event marks Phi Beta Kappa chapter’s 20th year; Discussion to focus on richness, wisdom of diversity; Input sessions slated for South Neighborhood; WMed’s inaugural class celebrates big day, prepares for next step; On Campus with the Gobeil brothers.

20th Annual Respecting Differences Event: Salsa, Soul And Spirit In A Multicultural Age, Edward Montgomery

WMU President Edward Montgomery

As members of the Western Michigan University community, we carry a collective responsibility for creating an environment where every person can be respected, appreciated and have an opportunity to succeed.

Ambassadors Distinguished Scholars Program

Distinguished Lectures on Africa

No abstract provided.

Measuring Intercultural Competency Of Wmu Study Abroad Students, Lee Penyak, Ryan Rounds

Assessment Grants

Using the Global Perspective Inventory (GPI), this project employs pre- and post-tests to measure the extent that study abroad programs influence the development of intercultural competency, if and how students move from monocultural to multicultural frames of mind, and the impact that international travel experiences have on fortifying the University’s third pillar of global engagement. This information will 1) be shared with current faculty directors to build intercultural learning objectives into program curriculum, 2) help WMU SA revise initial and final study abroad proposals by prospective faculty directors, and 3) be used to restructure pre-departure orientations provided by WMU SA …

Examination Of Student Outcomes In Hsv 3650: Information Literacy, Betty D. Dennis, Debra K. Lindstrom

Assessment Grants

Prior to 2014, faculty from the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) had observed that students in upper-level health sciences courses did not have the Information literacy skills needed to succeed in upper level-courses and graduate school curricula. To remedy this, faculty from the University Libraries and CHHS developed and implemented a program that requires students to either (a) successfully pass an information literacy pre-assessment examination, or (b) enroll in a two-credit information literacy course (HSV 3650: Information Literacy in Health Sciences). The purpose of this study was to examine how effective HSV 3650 has been in teaching students …