Digital Commons Network^™

A Preliminary Investigation Of The Acceptability And Effectiveness Of Computer-Based Adjunctive Parent Training For Child Noncompliance, Dwayne M. Munneke

Dissertations

Noncompliance with parent requests is a commonly reported behavior problem for clinic-based child referrals. Parent skills training has been empirically demonstrated as an effective treatment for helping parents increase positive child behaviors and decrease negative behaviors. Unfortunately, many therapists and agencies are unable to implement parent-training programs due to limited therapist training, limited economic resources, or long waiting lists.

Adjunctive, computer-based, treatment programs have become increasingly popular in both research and clinical settings for facilitating psychological assessment and intervention. This project involved the development and preliminary investigation of the effectiveness and acceptability of a computer-based program designed to supplement therapist-delivered …

Utah Jazz, A Novel, Darren Defrain

Dissertations

This novel concerns a young Mormon who has fallen away from his religion and his family and juxtaposes his struggles with his faith, belief and heritage with those of a drifter deliberately distancing himself from a much darker past. The novel is also acutely interested in place and landscape as powerful originations of any contemporary sense of paradise and perdition we may hang onto.

The episodic setting of the novel, in conjunction with the narrator’s story, concurrently traces the National Basketball Association’s Utah Jazz’s 1996 play-off appearance. The novel uses this setting to examine the ways in which the basketball …

Affective Responses To Television Newscasts: Have You Heard The News?, Jessica Purtan Harrell

Dissertations

This study examined the impact o f television news viewing on affective responses in viewers. Participants watched a 10-minute newscast that contained only negative, only positive, or both negative and positive news stories at either 8:00 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. Negative news viewers showed elevations in anxiety and negative affect, while positive news viewers showed decreases in anxiety and negative affect. Watching a combined newscast resulted in no mood changes. Affective changes caused by watching the news were not maintained 3 hours after viewing, and morning versus evening viewing had no impact on mood responses to that news. While news …

Multimedia Modeling Of Organic Contaminants In The Passaic River Watershed, Lansana Coulibaly

Dissertations

A dynamic fate and transport multimedia environmental model was developed and applied to assess the release of five priority contaminants in the Passaic River Watershed, including: napthalene, toluene, trichloroethylene, 1-1-1 trichloroethane and xylene. The model uses the current releases of contaminants as well as cross-boundary advection to determine the fate and environmental distribution of these chemicals in the watershed. The model was developed using a dynamic fugacity approach in order to allow for scenario analysis such as source reductions and no-action alternatives. This modeling effort is expected to achieve a comprehensive assessment of contaminants not only in the proximity of …

Time Domain Measurement Of The Nonlinear Refractive Index In Optical Fibers And Semiconductor Film, Hernando Garcia

Dissertations

A new technique to measure the nonlinear refractive index n₂ in optical fibers and semiconductor films has been developed. It is based on the time delay two-beam coupling of very intense picosecond laser pulses that have been self-phase modulated in the nonlinear optical medium. The two beams are coupled in a slow responding medium that is sensitive to time dependent phase distortions. We determine that the amount of phase distortion experienced by the pulse is proportional to the nonlinear refractive index of the medium, This time domain approach can also be applied to optical fiber amplifiers in the presence …

Endotoxin Removal From Protein Solutions By Immobilized Metal Ion Affinity Chromatography, Yun Kang

Dissertations

In the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry, the removal of endotoxins from final protein product has always been a challenge. A novel method for endotoxin removal from protein solutions, immobilized metal (ion) affinity chromatography (IMAC) has been developed in this study. Fe³⁺ was charged to a chelating gel that contains iminodiacetic acid (IDA). The IDA- Fe³⁺ IMAC column was exploited to remove endotoxin from protein solutions. This method involves the adsorption of the endotoxin on IMAC column. More than 99% endotoxin is removed and protein yield is higher than 90%. IDA-Fe³⁺ IMAC has proved to be an economical and efficient …

Video Traffic Modeling And Delivery, Hai Liu

Dissertations

Video is becoming a major component of the network traffic, and thus there has been a great interest to model video traffic. It is known that video traffic possesses short range dependence (SRD) and long range dependence (LRD) properties, which can drastically affect network performance. By decomposing a video sequence into three parts, according to its motion activity, Markov-modulated self-similar process model is first proposed to capture autocorrelation function (ACF) characteristics of MPEG video traffic. Furthermore, generalized Beta distribution is proposed to model the probability density functions (PDFs) of MPEG video traffic.

It is observed that the ACF of MPEG …

Fluidization And Soot Filtration In A Rotating Fluidized Bed, Gui-Hua Qian

Dissertations

A horizontal rotating fluidized bed (RFB) has been investigated for the removal of soot from diesel engine exhaust. This requires necessitating an understanding of the nature of fluidization, particle mixing and filtration in the RFB.

In an RFB, particles are subject to a centrifugal force which can be much larger than the force of gravity. Therefore the Geldart classification for conventional fluidized beds must be modified for rotating fluidized beds. A theoretical analysis shows that group A particles (minimum bubbling velocity U_mb > minimum fluidization velocity U_mf can shift to group B U_mb = U_mf and group …

An Integrated Membrane-Based Chromatographic Process For Biomolecule Isolation And Purification, Xiaoping Dai

Dissertations

Biomolecules obtained from fermentation and cell-culture processes are present in low concentrations in a complex medium/broth. For intracellular products, cells are first harvested. Subsequently, cell lysis and homogenization are undertaken to produce a homogenate. The biomolecules are next separated from the cell debris by lysate clarification. For extracellular products, the biomolecules are separated from the whole cells by clarification. The overall yield is reduced with each additional step. As the cost of bioseparation process accounts for 50-80% of the final product cost, innovations in and improvement of bio-downstream processing are greatly needed.

In this research, a cyclic process integrating a …

Applications Of Agent Architectures To Decision Support In Distributed Simulation And Training Systems, Plamen V. Petrov

Dissertations

This work develops the approach and presents the results of a new model for applying intelligent agents to complex distributed interactive simulation for command and control. In the framework of tactical command, control communications, computers and intelligence (C₄I), software agents provide a novel approach for efficient decision support and distributed interactive mission training. An agent-based architecture for decision support is designed, implemented and is applied in a distributed interactive simulation to significantly enhance the command and control training during simulated exercises. The architecture is based on monitoring, evaluation, and advice agents, which cooperate to provide alternatives to the …

Numerical Study Of Particle Dynamics In A Falling-Ball Viscometer, Peiwen Hou

Dissertations

The falling-ball viscometer is a device where a spherical particle falls along the axis of a circular cylinder filled with viscous fluid. The various classical results for this device are developed under the assumption that the Reynolds number of the flow is zero, i.e., Stoke's flow. Inertial effects are not taken into account. To better understand the dynamics of the particle sedimentation process and the role of inertia in this process, we implemented a numerical simulation.

The ADI (Alternating Direction Implicit) scheme is widely used to solve the vorticity-stream function formulation of the Navier-Stokes equation in axisymmetric geometries. However, a …

Cultural Factors Influencing Japanese Female College Students' Perceptions Of Learning In A Web-Based Environment: Implications For Web-Based Instructional Designers, Theresa L. Lally Edd

Dissertations

The burst of the Japanese bubble economy in 1992 brought about many reforms in Japanese education. One example of these reforms is the recent introduction of web-based instruction into Japanese classrooms. Since traditional Japanese education has been greatly influenced by elements of Confucianism, many educators are concerned about the integration of web-based instruction with traditional Japanese teaching methods. The purposes of this study were to investigate Japanese female junior college students' attitudes and/or perceptions of learning in a web-based environment, and to measure performance between students in a traditional teacher-centered course with another group of students learning via web-based instruction. …

African-American And White Female Homicide Offenders: Women Who Kill Intimate Partners Versus Non-Intimate Partners In Chicago Between 1980-1995, Shauntey James

Dissertations

The research that examines female homicide offenders goes little further than investigating whether or not offenders were previously victimized by those whom they kill. This research project is designed to contribute to this extant body of literature and theory in two ways. The first is to add and provide a comprehensive picture of African-American and white female homicide offenders in intimate versus non-intimate relationships in homicidal events. The second manner of contribution lies in the testing of a creative and integrative theoretical model. This model addresses race, underclass context, alcohol use, social disorganization and prior arrest record of female homicide …

The Perceived Economic, Social, And Cultural Impacts Of Gaming On A Michigan Indian Tribe, Maureen Elizabeth Myers

Dissertations

The economic, social and cultural effect of tribal gaming on a Michigan Indian tribe is the focus of this study. Twelve individuals, identified as knowledgeable informants, were interviewed on how the tribal community has been impacted by the successful gaming operations and whether the nature of the gaming enterprises was an important factor.

During the interview process, the members of the community defined the changes in their lives resulting from the large amount of income that was benefiting this previously impoverished community. The participants were asked to describe, in their own words, important changes that had occurred in their personal, …

A Socio-Cultural Comparative Study Of Freshmen Of Mexican Descent Attending Western Michigan University, Diane M. Ariza

Dissertations

Institutional racism, encouraged assimilation, and ignorance of Latino/a values are current barriers to the academic success and leadership development of students of Mexican descent in higher education. This study examined the lives and personal stories of 22 college freshmen of Mexican descent from Texas and Michigan and how they transitioned and adapted their first year at Western Michigan University. This study used interviews and participant observation to examine the individuals in each cohort in order to construct their life stories.

An additional purpose was to critically examine the role of the researcher who was highly involved in the recruitment and …

Adolescent Perceptions Of Parent-Adolescent Communication And Adolescent Pregnancy, Susan L. Tohm Lloyd Phd, Ms, Rn

Dissertations

Identification of adolescent perceptions of parent-adolescent communication, a significant factor in family functioning and connectedness, is important if effective interventions are to be provided by health care professionals related to decreasing the number as well as the adverse effects of adolescent pregnancy in the United States. The purpose of this descriptive, non-experimental, triangulated study was to examine the relationship between the perceived quality and effectiveness of parent-adolescent communication and pregnancy from the perspective of pregnant adolescent women in the Banning/Beaumont area of southern California. The theoretical framework for this study was based on adolescent and family developmental theories, family communication …

A Comparison Of Learning In Adult Accelerated And Non-Accelerated Courses, Donald J. Green

Dissertations

The focus of this study w as a comparison of learning acquired by adult students in two accelerated sections and one nonaccelerated section o f a college-level course in diversity held at a private school in the Midwestern United States. The course was identical in title, instructor, course materials, examinations, and course outcomes. To measure other potential differences in the experience of the three sections, student participants were asked to complete a precourse survey, postcourse survey, and postcourse classroom environmental assessment instrument called the College and University Classroom Environment Instrument (CUCEI; Treagust & Fraser, 1986).

Upon completion of the course, …

Development And Application Of Dynamic Models For Predicting Transit Arrival Times, Yuqing Ding

Dissertations

Stochastic variations in traffic conditions and ridership often have a negative impact in transit operations resulting in the deterioration of schedule/headway adherence and lengthening of passenger wait times. Providing accurate information on transit vehicle arrival times is critical to reduce the negative impacts on transit users. In this study, models for dynamically predicting transit arrival times in urban settings are developed, including a basic model, a Kalman filtering model, link-based and stop-based artificial neural networks (ANNs) and Neural/Dynamic (ND) models. The reliability of these models is assessed by enhancing the microscopic simulation program CORSIM which can calculate bus dwell and …

Multi-User Detection For Multi-Rate Ds/Cdma Systems, Jinwen Ma

Dissertations

Wireless cellular communication is witnessing a rapid growth in market, technology and range of services. Current and future demands for wireless communication services motivate the need for handling multi-media traffic types. In a multimedia communication system, users with different and even time-varying rates and quality of services (QoS) requirements, such as voice, image and data, must be accommodated. The use of Spread Spectrum modulation with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology is an attractive approach for economical spectrally efficient and high quality cellular and personal communication services. This dissertation explores the technologies of applying different interference cancellation techniques to multi-rate …

Finite Fraction Method For Tracking Desinfection By-Product Precursors In Water Treatment, Doanh Van

Dissertations

Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) has been the subject of recent regulatory activities and agenda. Among them are the Infonnation Collection Rule (ICR), the Disinfectants/Disinfection By-Product Rule (D/DBPR) and the Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (ESWTR). Both the latter two have provisions to limit the formation of disinfection by-products (DBP) by controlling reactivity and removal of DOM or both. Brief regulatory review of these rules was given.

Although the topic of DBP formation potential and DBP precursor removal have been studied by many researchers since Rooks (1974), the efficacy of methods that have been developed to date has been handicapped …

Data Hiding In Multimedia - Theory And Applications, Mahalingam Ramkumar

Dissertations

Multimedia data hiding or steganography is a means of communication using subliminal channels. The resource for the subliminal communication scheme is the distortion of the original content that can be tolerated. This thesis addresses two main issues of steganographic communication schemes:

1. How does one maximize the distortion introduced without affecting fidelity of the content?

2. How does one efficiently utilize the resource (the distortion introduced) for communicating as many bits of information as possible? In other words, what is a good signaling strategy for the subliminal communication scheme?

Close to optimal solutions for both issues are analyzed. Many techniques …

An Historical Case Study: The Pregnant Minor Program At Garfield High School, 1975–1999, William E. Law Edd

Dissertations

The researcher conducted an historical case study of the Garfield High School Pregnant Minor Program (1975–1999) which is one of three pregnant minor programs in the San Diego Unified School District. The primary purpose of this study was to provide data about the history and background of this program which may be significant to the decision makers who develop policies regarding pregnant minor programs in the district. The second purpose of the study was to provide data which may be helpful to community members, educators, policy makers, and student-parents about the issues and problems faced by students-parents which would, hopefully, …

Career And Family: A Qualitative Study Of Working Mothers, Barbara Crummer Lincoln Edd

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the lives of working mothers. The dramatic increase of mothers in the workforce in the past 40 years has led to an increasingly common lifestyle: women filling the roles of mother and professional concurrently. This dissertation used the personal narrative qualitative methodology to examine the lives of working mothers. Ten female graduates of the University of San Diego's Law School (JD), Business School (MBA) and Educational Administration Programs were interviewed by the researcher. These women have been in the workplace for an extended period of time, are currently raising at least one …

On The Edge Of The Envelope. A Case Study Of The Children's Initiative: An Inquiry Into Collaboration And Shared Vision, Laurie Coskey Edd

Dissertations

While there are many collaborative efforts throughout the country, few have the breadth or the scope of the San Diego Children's Initiative. The general purpose of this research study was to analyze and develop an interpretive case study describing the initial collaborative process of the Strategic Action Committee of the San Diego Children's Initiative. The study focused on the initial phase of the collaboration which took place from November of 1993 through April of 1995. This study sought to determine some factors that may influence the potential success of a large-scale, multi-sector, private-public collaborative effort. The research analyzed the success …

Educational Brain Research As Compared With E.G. White's Counsels To Educators, Linda Bryant Caviness

Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this study was threefold: to review current, education-relevant brain research; to review the educational writings of Ellen G. White for major emerging themes/principles; and to compare these findings for similarities and differences.

Method and Results. Using an inductive process, the synthesis and comparison revealed 15 themes from brain research and 12 principles from White's writings from the middle 1800s and early 1900s.

Comparison of the two lists revealed alignment on eight themes/principles, nonalignment on three themes/principles, and partial-alignment on seven themes/principles.

Aligned themes/principles included: body and mind function as one; exercise and movement are vital …

A Study Of The Out-Of-Class Experiences Of Saint Mary's College Students Studying In Maynooth, Ireland, Carolyn S. Langley

Dissertations

Problem Statement. The purpose of this study is to describe the out-of-class experiences of 21 students who studied in the Saint Mary's College Ireland Program in Maynooth, Ireland, during the 1998-1999 academic year. It examines (1) how the program orientation influenced students' desire to become involved in out-of-class activities, (2) how out-of-class experiences fostered students' learning of the Irish culture, and (3) how the experiences influenced students' attitudes toward cultures other than their own.

Methodology. This study employed descriptive qualitative research. Focus groups were conducted to gather data used in developing questions for long interviews, and these long interviews …

The Role Of The Academic Physical Therapy Department Chair As Perceived By Physical Therapy Teaching Faculty And Chairs, Wayne Louis Perry

Dissertations

Problem

The purpose o f this study was to determine the roles, responsibilities, and characteristics o f the physical therapy department chair as perceived by physical therapy unit administrators and teaching faculty in accredited, entry-level physical therapy programs.

Method

The research population consisted o f current administrators and teaching faculty who work at least half time in accredited physical therapist education programs. The data were analyzed utilizing descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, and ANOVAs with post hoc tests where appropriate.

Results

The results o f this study indicate that physical therapy unit administrators tend to be older, more experienced, carry higher …

Implementing Organizational Change In A Public Agency, David E. Freed

Dissertations

A major challenge that faces most institutions is that of adapting to and managing change. The leadership of an organization is a key focal point for analyzing how change is accomplished.

This study examines both a theoretical and practical approach to the study of organizational and cultural change. The focus is a public agency and the actions and decision processes of the top leadership relating to organizational and cultural change during the period 1992 to 1995.

From the theoretical perspective, Karl Weick’s approach called sensemaking is examined and a model is created. Sensemaking is an activity that is an explanatory …

Symbolic Politics: Government's War Against The Working Class, Warren Charles Gregory

Dissertations

Symbolism and substance are essential parts of any political system. In our system of government, we typically think of symbolism as serving substantive ends. Using a triangulation of _methods (Participant Observation, Archival Data, and Documentary Evidence), the paper examines two cases (Social Security and criminal justice) and concludes that the mix between substance and symbolism has changed dramatically in recent years with symbolism now assuming the central role.

The current debates over Social Security funding and criminal justice sanctions, for example, are less about the concerns of old-age security or making the public safer as much as they reflect a …

Site-Based Management And Student Achievement, Roxana Marie Hopkins

Dissertations

The question that this study seeks to answer is. Does site-based management increase student achievement? Researchers believe that when a school can function more like a closed system, involved in site-based decision making, the culture of the organization may be more conducive to higher student achievement. This study has attempted to determine if there is a basis for this belief.

Supporting the study are three organization theories. Bureaucracy Theory, Systems Theory, and Human Resource Development Theory. These three theories run like threads in a tapestry throughout the research and legislation upon which this research is developed.

Researchers, up to this …