Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Cooperative Learning Versus Traditional Classroom Instruction On Cognitive Achievement, Critical Thinking, And Attitudes Toward Learning In Teams In A Physician Assistant Program, Scott L. Massey

Dissertations

Problem. Physician assistants are required to possess critical thinking skills and excellent intellectual skills to achieve the level of autonomy expected by supervising physicians. No scientific research has been identified to determine the most effective means of educating the physician assistant students. The purpose of the research study was to determine whether a statistical difference exists between students educated in a cooperative learning environment versus a traditional lecture environment. The dependent variable utilized in this study included critical thinking skills, cognitive achievement, and attitudes towards learning in teams. Using an experimental research design, students were educated in a cooperative learning …

Intention To Pursue Post-Secondary Education, And Related Factors, Among Jamaican Senior High School Students, Teran T. Milford

Dissertations

Purpose of the Study. The proportion of female students in post-secondary schools in Jamaica is approximately twice that of their male counterpart. This is in contrast to the observation that the proportion of male and female students in elementary and secondary schools is about the same. Little or no studies have been conducted to examine factors related to the disproportion of male and female students in tertiary institutions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the perception of senior high school students regarding their intention to pursue post-secondary education, and to determine the extent to which the value …

Job Satisfaction And Its Relationship To Organizational Commitment And Religious Commitment For Andrews University Employees, Ralph Schroder

Dissertations

Problem. Relatively few studies have examined job satisfaction and its intrinsic and extrinsic facets for religious private universities. Andrews University seems to benefit from an identification of factors contributing to job satisfaction, and a measurement of its employees’ organizational and religious commitment. This study can clarify whether religious commitment has a potentially mediating effect on the relationship between job satisfaction and organizational commitment.

Method. As part of this quantitative research study a survey questionnaire was mailed out to all 976 Andrews University employees’ which measured levels of overall, intrinsic, and extrinsic job satisfaction as well as organizational and religious commitment. …

An Examination Of Employees' Understanding And Implementation Of The Information Security Program At Xyz Engineering Center, Dale J. Mancini

Dissertations

Purpose of Study. Due to an increase in global competition and employee dishonesty, the need for information security is on the rise. Consequently the XYZ Engineering Center faces an ever-increasing threat of industrial espionage and information theft. Employees of the Center have been given the product-security policy and have been encouraged to secure confidential information. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the level at which employees at the XYZ Engineering Center understand, value, and practice information security. Additionally, the study also examined employee views on physical safety while at work.

Methodology. The study used analysis of variance and a …

Leadership In Reaching Global Consensus On Technologicl Standardization, Carol Oak Tierney

Dissertations

Problem. Today there is an environment in our organizations represented by “islands” of information. Information cannot be exchanged easily. The information is stored in computers that cannot talk to each other. Archaic paper processes, lack of non-proprietary international standards, and computer interoperability deficiencies have created cumbersome industry productivity problems. The purpose of the study was to determine whether differences exist between organizations in the acceptance and implementation of non-proprietary international standards and the required processes for change. This purpose was addressed through an examination of one example of a model for the exchange of data-The Standard for the Exchange …

Geochemical And Isotopic Characteristics Associated With High Conductivities In A Shallow Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Aquifier, Franklyn D. Legall

Dissertations

In-situ vertical resistivity probes (VRPs) deployed at a hydrocarboncontaminated site in SW Michigan showed high soil conductivities within the contaminated zone. Within this zone, different phases of hydrocarbon impact were recognized, namely, zones with residual and dissolved phase hydrocarbons (RDH) and zones where these phases coexist with free product (RDFH). Bulk soil conductivities were highest ( 12 to 30 mS/m) in the zone with RDFH compared to the RDH zone (10 to 25 mS/m). Groundwater chemistry and stable carbon isotope data from closely spaced vertical samples within the anomalous conductive zones were used to provide evidence for biodegradation and to …

Geoelectrical Response Of An Aged Lnapl Plume: Implications For Monitoring Natural Attenuation, Douglas D. Werkema Jr.

Dissertations

The geoelectric stratigraphy at a site impacted with light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) is investigated for its link to natural biodegradation, its contribution to the conductive model for aged (i.e. mature) LNAPL contaminated sites, and the relationship to the natural hydrologic regime. The highest conductivities (lowest resistivities) were observed in portions o f soils where LNAPL was in residual and free phase. Corroborating evidence from bacteria enumeration from soil close to the vertical resistivity probe (VRP) installations show orders-of-magnitude increase in both heterotrophic and oil degrading microbes at the depths where the conductivity was at a maximum. The coincidence o …

Perceptions Of A Prejudiced Campus: Institutional Antecedents And Personal Consequences For African-American Students, Brenda Taylor King

Dissertations

The present research consists of two studies designed to (a) identify those institutional characteristics that African-American students, themselves, consider to evaluate the campus environment of predominately White colleges and universities (PW'CUs). and (b) examine the relationship between African-American students' perceptions o f the campus environment at a PWCU (based on institutional characteristics) and their expectations of quality of life and academic achievement In Study One. African-American and White students at Western Michigan University and high school seniors at two public high schools completed the Campus Climate Survey, designed to identify the institutional characteristics to which African- American students spontaneously attend …

Economic Development And Social Diversity: The Origin And Composition Of A Systemic Growth Regime In Louisville, Kentucky, 1897-1933, John W. Mctighe

Dissertations

Between the years 1897 and 1933, a systemic growth regime controlled the urban development of Louisville, Kentucky. The city’s growth regime was created in response to changing national patterns of production resulting from industrialization, and was dedicated to both urban economic expansion, as well as internal political and social control. The growth regime functioned in an informal manner through the formal organizations of the city by co-opting selective representatives from the various economic, ethnic, and racial leadership pools of the city. As an informal entity, the growth regime achieved a high degree of urban hegemony and was a structural hierarchy …

New Statitstical Methods For The Estimation Of The Mean And Standard Deviation From Normally Distributed Censored Samples, Abou El-Makarim Abd El-Alim Aboueissa

Dissertations

The main objective of this dissertation is to estimate the mean /x and standard deviation cr of a normal population from left-censored samples. We have developed new methods for calculating estimates for the mean and standard deviation of a normal population from left-censored samples. Some of these methods based on traditional estimating procedures. A new method of obtaining the Cohen maximum likelihood estimates for fx and cr without the aid of an auxiliary table will be introduced. This new method will be used to extend Cohen table of estimating the Cohen A-parameter that is required for calculating the maximum likelihood …

The Effects Of Group Size On Incentive Effectiveness: A Meta-Analysis, Angelica C. Grindle

Dissertations

A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the effects of group size on incentive effectiveness using data obtained from incentive systems implemented in 13 companies. Other predictor variables included the organizational level targeted for improvement, long/short-term profitability type, company number, and length of exposure to the incentive system. The main dependent variable was the monthly score for each measure of performance. Three types of meaningful comparisons were defined for these data: (1) Between-Group - Within-Company comparisons in which a performance measure was in place in two or more units of an organization; (2) Between-Group - Across-Company comparisons in which a performance …

Examining The Similarities And Differences In Benefits Of School-To-Work As A Workforce Development Strategy: A Study Of Key Stakeholder Involvement Using A Multiple Case Study Approach, Alton Leon Alford

Dissertations

As we enter the new millennium, there is considerable evidence which indicates that in the 1990's many U.S. business were experiencing rapid growth and expansion resulting from a robust American economy. As a result, business activity in most employment sectors has shown many signs of future growth with projections of continued growth well into the 21st century. This growth in the new economy has resulted in a critical need for highly skilled entrants into the workforce whose working life times will extend toward the mid-twenty-first century (Judy & D'Amico, 1997). With an identified skills shortage looming over many U.S. corporations …

Adaptive Ds-Cdma Multiuser Detection For Time Variant Frequency Selective Rayleigh Fading Channel, Xin Tang

Dissertations

The current digital wireless mobile system such as IS-95, which is based on direct sequence Code Division Multiple Access (DS-CDMA) technology, will not be able to meet the growing demands for multimedia service due to low information exchanging rate. Its capacity is also limited by multiple accessed interference (MAI) signals.

This work focuses on the development of adaptive algorithms for multiuser detection (MUD) and interference suppression for wideband direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) systems over time-variant frequency selective fading channels. In addition, channel acquisition and delay estimation techniques are developed to combat the uncertainty introduced by the wireless …

Multicast Outing Protocols And Architectures In Mobile Ad-Hoc Wireless Networks, Beongku An

Dissertations

The basic philosophy of personal communication services is to provide user-to-user, location independent communication services. The emerging group communication wireless applications, such as multipoint data dissemination and multiparty conferencing tools have made the design and development of efficient multicast techniques in mobile ad-hoc networking environments a necessity and not just a desire. Multicast protocols in mobile adhoc networks have been an area of active research for the past few years.

In this dissertation, protocols and architectures for supporting multicast services are proposed, analyzed and evaluated in mobile ad-hoc wireless networks. In the first chapter, the activities and recent advances are …

Synthesis And Enzymatic Resolution Of Amino Acid Esters In "Green" Solvents -- Ionic Liquids, Hua Zhao

Dissertations

Chiral separation has attracted tremendous attention in pharmaceutical and chemical fields, especially in the area of chiral drug development. Chiral amino acids are among the most important intermediates in the asymmetric synthesis of modem drugs. This research has developed an effective method for obtaining optically pure amino acids by enzymatic resolution using a "green" solvent, named an ionic liquid.

Ionic liquids, a new type of "green" solvents, have been used in many organic reactions and other chemical processes (such as liquid-liquid extraction) with improved performance. This is mainly due to their favorable properties for chemical applications, such as low vapor …

Em-Based Iterative Channel Estimation And Sequence Detection For Space-Time Coded Modulation, Zbigniew Baranski

Dissertations

Reliable detection of signals transmitted over a wireless communication channel requires knowledge of the channel estimate. In this work, the application of expectationmaximization (EM) algorithm to estimation of unknown channel and detection of space-time coded modulation (STCM) signals is investigated. An STCM communication system is presented which includes symbol interleaving at the transmitter and iterative EM-based soft-output decoding at the receiver. The channel and signal model are introduced with a quasi-static and time-varying Rayleigh fading channels considered to evaluate the performance of the communication system. Performance of the system employing Kalman filter with per-survivor processing to do the channel estimation …

Resonances Of Periodic Metal-Dielectric Structures At The Infrared Wavelength Region, Oren Sternberg

Dissertations

Metal meshes have been used as reflectors in radar receivers for wavelength much longer than the periodic constant of the conducting wires and as optical reflectors in a FabryPerot in the far infrared. Cross shaped metal meshes can be used as band pass filters but the design theory and near field properties have not been known.

Transmittance of thin, single-layer and multiplayer metal meshes has been investigated using Micro-Strips, yielding numerical solutions of Maxwell's equations. The near field effect was studied for two alignment configurations of cross shaped metal meshes, both free standing and with dielectrics, and transmission line theory …

Thermal Treatment Of Organic Contaminated Solids And Waste : Experiment, Model And Mass Balance, Hsien-Tsung Chern

Dissertations

A number of processes can be used to remediate contaminated soils. The thermal technologies for remediation of contaminated soils are summarized in this study. Each of these treatment process along with their system components are identified and described. Waste applicability is included for each treatment technology. A detailed list of feasible treatment processes is presented with descriptions of site demonstration results to aid ill selection of a given process. Technology status is summarized to provide current information on the processes.

Energy components are discussed for cost requirement and safety considerations in thermal treatment applications. It is determined that the heat …

A Microfabricated Microconcentrator For Sensors And Chromatography, Minhee Kim

Dissertations

The detection and quantitative measurement of trace components is a challenging task. The key component in such an instrument is the concentration step where the analytes are accumulated before the analysis. In this research, simple and inexpensive processes for the microfabrication of microconcentrator that can be used with sensors and as an injector in GC were developed. Analytes are selectively concentrated in the microconcentrator. Rapid electrical heating of the microconcentrator releases the adsorbed species as a 66 concentration pulse", which serves as an injection for the detection system. The relatively small size of the microconcentrator allows it to be heated …

Remediation Of Chromium Contaminated Soils With Colloidal Silica, Netnapid Yossapol

Dissertations

The low-viscosity stabilizer, colloidal silica, is extensively used as a grouting material in the construction of grout curtains. It has low viscosity and is non-toxic, which is suitable for injection to stabilize fine-grained soils. It is also applied as a stabilizer in the in-situ treatment of hazardous waste. Once the colloidal silica solution is injected into contaminated soil, it moves through the pores inside the soil matrix, initiating the stabilization process. The viscosity of the colloidal silica mixture increases while it moves until solidifications. This process is called gelation and results in the creation of a gel barrier around contaminated …

Development Of Membrane Extraction Techniques For Water Quality Analysis, Dawen Kou

Dissertations

This research involved the development of membrane-based analytical techniques as applied to various aspects of water quality analysis. Gas injection membrane extraction was developed for fast on-line analysis of volatile organic compounds in water. Gas injection of aqueous samples increased the speed of membrane extraction. The aqueous boundary layer effects encountered during water elution was reduced. Axial mixing of the sample with a gaseous eluent was minimal, and this eliminated the tailing in the permeation profiles. The overall effect was significantly faster penneation. The overall diffusion coefficient during gas injection was found to be seven times the value during aqueous …

Catalytic Reduction Of Nitric Oxide By Solid Carbonaceous Material Under Lean Condition, Shan Xiao

Dissertations

The reactions of O₂, NO_x and soot from Diesel exhaust over Cu containing catalysts can significantly reduce soot and NO_x emissions while producing N₂ and CO₂. The author has evaluated the performance of Cu ion exchanged ZSM-5 and Cu adsorbed on Granulated Activated Carbon (Cu-GAC) using GAC as a surrogate for soot in a packed bed reactor. CO, formed primarily by the oxidation of GAC with O₂, appears to be a stable intermediate in the reduction of NO. With experimental parameters chosen to simulate Diesel exhaust conditions, Cu-GAC is much more …

Knowledge Discovery And Modeling In Genomic Databases, Michael M. Yin

Dissertations

This dissertation research is targeted toward developing effective and accurate methods for identifying gene structures in the genomes of high eukaryotes, such as vertebrate organisms. Several effective hidden Markov models (HMMs) are developed to represent the consensus and degeneracy features of the functional sites including protein-translation start sites, mRNA splicing junction donor and acceptor sites in vertebrate genes. The HMM system based on the developed models is fully trained using an expectation maximization (EM) algorithm and the system performance is evaluated using a 10-way cross-validation method. Experimental results show that the proposed HMM system achieves high sensitivity and specificity in …

Numerical Studies Of Transition For Flows Around Multi-Element Airfoils, Fengjun Liu

Dissertations

The transition of flows around a multi-element airfoil has been numerically studied using RANS with a k - e two-equation transition model, LST and DNS. The transition model uses an effective eddy-viscosity by coupling an intermittence-like correction to a turbulence eddy-viscosity that can be obtained via solving a parent k - e turbulence model. The transition model is truly predictive in that it is able to predict transition onset locations without having to specify prior knowledge of the targeted transition process. The predicted transition onset locations for all the cases studied were compared with the measured data. The results suggest …

An Analysis Of Student Progress In Beginning Flight Training: Performance Prediction, Performance Measurement, And Performance Improvement, Ryan Olson

Dissertations

The current project was designed to explore potential strategies for reducing the risk of accidents and incidents with beginning flight students (V = 28) by: (a) evaluating the CogScreen™ Aeromedical Edition (CogScreen-AE) test as a predictor of performance, (b) investigating patterns in student performance using expanded data collection procedures, including more extensive measurement of landings, and (c) evaluating the effects of early supplemental training on a personal computer-based aviation training device (PCATD). The experimental manipulation employed a matched pairs research design and exposed a treatment group (rt = 14) to six trials of “skill pattern” practice on a PCATD, with …

A New Type Of Particle Detector For Nuclear Scattering Experiments, Philip Ugorowski

Dissertations

A new detector was needed for counting recoil protons resulting from proton-proton (pp) elastic scattering during pion production experiments by the Polarized Internal Target Experiments (PINTEX) group at Indiana University Cyclotron Facility (IUCF). The previous silicon detectors were only usable forincoming protons up to 9 MeV, and a stopping power of at least 40 MeV was needed. In addition, the detector had to operate in nanotorr vacuum, and near strong varying magnetic fields, ruling out standard organic plastic scintillators and photomultiplier tubes. We needed to find the most suitable inorganic scintillator and another method of detecting the photons produced when …

Why Religious People Believe What They Shouldn't: Explaining Theological Incorrectness In South Asia And America, D. Jason Slone

Dissertations

Cross-cultural descriptions of religious thought and behavior in South Asia and America show that people commonly hold ideas and perform actions that seem to be not only conceptually incoherent but also “theologically incorrect” by the standards of their own traditions. For example. South Asian Theravada Buddhists are taught that the historical Buddha is unavailable because he attained enlightenment and achieved parinirvana (“complete extinction”) and yet conceptually and ritually represent him as if he is present and available for petition. Similarly, American Protestants represent the Christian God as having absolute divine sovereignty and yet reveal confidence in an inner locus of …

The Structure Of The Leadership Construct: A Test Of Factorial Invariance Using Structural Equation Modeling, Liliana Rodriguez-Campos

Dissertations

Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used in this dissertation to investigate the factorial invariance (i.e., equivalence) of the leadership construct as perceived by different groups of people in education. Specifically, the author focuses on three groups (364 teachers, 419 principals, and 369 superintendents) from a statewide survey, where the central concern is whether components of the measurement model of leadership are invariant across those particular groups. In seeking evidence of multigroup invariance, the author was interested in finding the answer to the following research questions: (1) to what extent do some leadership factorial structures fit a group better than others? …

Ideology Or Insanity? Media Presentation Of Ted Kaczynski And Tim Mcveigh, Matthew P. Sheptoski

Dissertations

This dissertation explores mainstream media presentation of two convicted murderers: Theodore J. Kaczynski, otherwise known as "The Unabomber," and Timothy J. McVeigh, found guilty of the 1995 destruction of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. More specifically, I analyze The New York Times's and Time's presentation of these two actors in order to assess whether their acts were attributed to political and ideological motivation or psychological abnormality and mental illness. Quantitative and qualitative findings indicate that Kaczynski's crimes were more likely to be attributed to psychological abnormality and mental illness, while McVeigh's crimes were more likely to be …

Bi-Axially Loaded Slender Reinforced Concrete Columns Subjected To Sustained Loads, Song Gu

Dissertations

A generalized analytical approach is presented in this research to predict the behavior both of slender and short reinforced concrete columns under sustained biaxial eccentric load.

The present analysis proposes equations established at a cross section of a reinforced concrete column by combining force equilibrium, constitutive law, and compatibility conditions. The strain and curvature of each section and the deflection of the column can then be obtained and resolved.

The established creep computation models, recommended separately by American Concrete Institute (ACI) 209R-92 and the Comite' Euro-International du Be'ton (CEB)-FIP 1990 Model Code have been used to calculate creep and shrinkage …