Digital Commons Network^™

An Analysis Of Beginning Counselor Education Master's Degree Candidate's Ability To Make Ethical Decisions Based On The American Counseling Association's Ethical Standards After Having Completed A Course In Professional Ethics, Richard Joseph Behun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There are many arguments on the best methods to instruct the professional counseling candidate on the ethical implications they are most likely to encounter. This study examined a professional counselor candidate's ability to apply the information in a course in professional and ethical practices and their ability to make ethical decisions based on the American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics

Assessing College Students Readiness To Change Alcohol Use Behavior Related To Perceptions Of Alcohol Effects On Sexual Assault, Patricia Pasky Mcmahon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The incidence of sexual assault on the college campus has not declined for women despite a national decline in violent crime. Binge drinking continues to be an issue on college campuses and has been directly associated with the increased the risk of sexual assault. The lack of programming effectiveness by institutions of higher education to deter the incidence of sexual assault related to alcohol use on college campuses continues to be a major issue across the nation. Legislation such as the Clery Act which requires all institutions of higher education receiving federal funds to make public all reported sexual assaults …

African American And Latino Relations: A Case Study Of Philadelphia Neighborhoods, Yasmeen Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines African American and Latino relations using Philadelphia as a case study. It analyzes how factors such as the urban landscape's rising Latino population, socioeconomic status, media depictions of African Americans and Latinos, language barriers, and residential segregation affect inter-group relations. The study used interviews to assess the current relationship of African Americans and Latinos in Philadelphia. Seven interviews were conducted with community leaders and government representatives who worked in African American and Latino communities. The study hypothesized that incidences of African American and Latino conflict will rise as the Latino population increases in formerly African American neighborhoods. …

Caribbean-China Relations: Foreign Policy And Small State Economic Adjustment, Dana Marie Morris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years the relationship between Caribbean states and China has intensified. This dissertation argues that the Caribbean's increased engagement with China is an important component of their economic adjustment strategy that was necessitated after changes in the orientation of the international economic system that they must operate within, particularly in relation to the loss of trade preferences and the sharp decline in official development assistance.

Despite the seemingly homogenous nature of these Caribbean states there is in fact significant foreign policy variation seen vis-à-vis engagement with China. Some Caribbean states have consistently recognized China, while others have vacillated between …

Development And Construct Validation Of The Pharmacists' Care Of Migraineurs Scale, Neel Shah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To develop and determine construct validity of the pharmacists' care of migraineurs scale (PCMS) an initial set of domains and items were derived from a review of the literature and from the results of focus groups with community pharmacists and migraineurs. Results from a nationwide sample of community pharmacists yielded a seven-factor solution including the following domains: empathy, prospective drug utilization review for newly diagnosed migraineurs, medication counseling, non-pharmacologic treatment plan, headache sufferer triage, dissemination of public health information and maintenance of knowledge on migraine. Evidence supported the construct validity and reliability of the PCMS. The PCMS may be used …

Influence Of A Collaborative Norming Process On Teacher Perceptions Of Middle Level Team Structure And Development, Brian Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The teaming concept has served as a cornerstone of middle level philosophy and education since the middle school movement began in the 1960s. The literature on teaming is quite extensive and the interpretations of that research often differ among schools. For the purpose of this study, teaming is defined as a small group of teachers with different content responsibilities who work with the same group of students in a school-within-a-school structure. Described as a signature practice in the middle school movement, teaming provides an organizational framework that allows schools to design and deliver effective learning to every student (Crow and …

The Influence Of Technology On Adolescent Development: An Eco-Cultural Analysis Of Cybersocial Activity, Stephanie Helsel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The introduction of new technologies into society inevitably results in culture-wide changes that affect the way people work, learn, and experience leisure time. For those American adolescents with access to technology, the use of the Internet to develop and maintain relationships is quickly becoming ubiquitous, especially through social network sites; the most popular network site, MySpace, has grown exponentially since its creation in 2003. Adolescents are the primary users of such sites and many of them maintain blogs, or online chronicles that are available for public viewing and comment, along with their profile pages and friend networks. This qualitative study …

Lived Experiences Of Widows In Botswana: An Ethnographic Examination Of Cultural Rituals Of Death, Loss, Grief, And Bereavement: Implications For Counseling, Sithandazile Hope Msimanga-Ramatebele

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to examine experiences of widows in Botswana regarding the performance of cultural rituals, as they mourned their husband's deaths. The study sought to find out aspects of the rituals that enhanced or hindered healing; and how insights and knowledge gained from the results of the investigation can inform culturally relevant and sensitive psychosocial interventions. The study involved two focus group discussions and seven key informants from two villages in the Northern and Central districts of Botswana. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data through focus group discussions which were video-recorded; data from …

Probing The Novelties Of Alkalilimnicola Ehrlichii Strain Mlhe-1 With Genomic And Proteomic Approaches, Christine Richey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alkalilimnicola ehrlichii strain MLHE -1T is a gram negative haloalkaliphilic gammaproteobacterium isolated from Mono Lake, CA. It has the unique ability to grow both aerobically as a heterotroph (with oxygen and acetate) and anaerobically as a chemolithoautotroph by coupling arsenite oxidation to nitrate reduction. Its genome (3.276 MB, 67.53% mole GC) has been sequenced to closure and annotated (2883 putative ORFs). The pathways involved in nitrogen (e.g., denitrification, assimilation), sulfur, and carbon metabolism (glycolysis, gluconeogenesis), carbon fixation, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and motility (flagella, pili) are described herein. Though no homolog for arsenite oxidase was found, two putative arsenate reductases (arr) …

Developing Higher Consciousness: The Effects Of Mantra Meditation On The Development Of Self-Actualizing Qualities In Teachers, Lisa M. Klein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study focuses on teachers ranging from the elementary to secondary level who have practiced mantra meditation for at least three years while also teaching. By utilizing the methodology of portraiture, this study endeavored to determine if the practice of mantra meditation creates self-actualizing qualities in teachers, how teachers who practice mantra meditation perceive their response to stress and conflict in the classroom, and how teachers who practice mantra meditation perceive the effects of meditation on their personal and professional lives. The methodology of portraiture was chosen because according to Lawrence-Lightfoot, "with its focus on narrative, with its use …

Culture Care Education And Experiences Of African American Students In Predominantly Euro American Associate Degree Nursing Programs, Lana Marie Deruyter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this ethnonursing study was to discover the cultural care education and experiences of African American students in predominantly Euro American Associate Degree Nursing Programs. Leininger's Culture Care Diversity and Universality Theory was used as a framework to describe the worldview, beliefs, values, and meanings of their lifeways. Interviews were conducted with nine key informants and nineteen general informants from eight associate degree nursing programs located in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey. Analysis of the taped interviews revealed fourteen categories from which eight patterns were identified. From the eight patterns, three themes emerged. These themes were (a) …

A Comparison Of Coping Responses To Stress Among Counselor Education Students At The Beginning Stage, Practicum Stage, And Graduating Stage From Their Program Of Studies, Jill Maloney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in coping responses to stress among students in a Master's level counselor education program. The study was an investigation of the difference between three nonequivalent groups: Group A- Beginning counseling students, Group B- Practicum counseling students, and Group C- Graduating counseling students. Data was obtained through a demographic sheet developed by the examiner and a self report measure. The COPE inventory was administered to 65 graduate counselor education students to assess 15 different coping styles. The study had 15 hypotheses based on the 15 scales of the …

Perceived Character Development In A Mentoring Relationship From The Voices Of Students And Their Student Affairs Mentors, Gregory Ochoa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the perceived effects of a mentoring relationship between a student and a student affairs professional on the student's character development from the perspective of both the student and the student affairs professional. The purpose of this study was to add to the body of literature and to inform the field of student affairs regarding this phenomenon. A hermeneutic phenomenological methodology best suited the epistemological philosophy chosen to understand the perceptions of the participants regarding the role of the mentoring relationship on character development.

A literature review was conducted from the fields of student affairs, higher education, …

Tissue Engineering The Motoneuron To Muscle Segment Of The Stretch Reflex Arc Circuit Utilizing Micro-Fabrication, Interface Design And Defined Medium Formulation, Mainak Das

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The stretch reflex circuit is one of the most primitive circuits of mammalian system and serves mainly to control the length of the muscle. It consists of four elements: the stretch sensor (muscle spindle/ intrafusal fiber lie parallel between extrafusal, contractile musculature), extrafusal muscle fiber, sensory neuron and motoneuron. The basic principle of the stretch reflex arc circuit is as follows: whenever there is a sudden stretch in a muscle, it needs to compensate back to its original length so as to prevent any kind of injury. It performs this compensation process using a simple negative feed back circuit called …

Producing A Measure For Assessing Motivating Career Influencesfor Counselors-In-Training, Tyson Kuch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe an appropriate protocol for developing a psychometrically sound instrument to assess perceived influences motivating graduate students to enter the counseling profession. The self-report, 124-item inventory was administered to a sample of 347 graduate students pursuing counseling as a profession. All participants responded to the inventory anonymously. A factor analysis from responses grouped scale items into six different factors, and helped condense the scale into a shorter, more psychometrically sound instrument by identifying those items with low or ambiguous factor loadings, suitable for removal. A factor analysis also identified those items most relevant …

Adhd And Stop-Signal Behavioral Inhibition: Is Mean Reaction Time Contaminated By Exposure To Intermittent Stop-Signals?, Robert Alderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study investigates two recently identified threats to the construct validity of behavioral inhibition as a core deficit of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) based on the Stop-signal task: calculation of mean reaction time from go-trials presented adjacent to intermittent stop-trials, and non-reporting of the stop-signal delay metric. Children with ADHD (n=12) and typically developing children (TD) (n=11) were administered the standard stop-signal task and three variant stop-signal conditions. These included a No-Tone condition administered without the presentation of an auditory tone; an Ignore-Tone condition that presented a neutral (i.e., not associated with stopping) auditory tone; and a second Ignore-Tone condition …

Diagnosing Anencephaly In Archaeology: A Comparative Analysis Of Nine Clinical Specimens From The Smithsonian Institution Nation, Stevie Mathews

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The inclusion of human fetal skeletons in the archaeological record can reveal much about past cultures' perception of life and death. The preservation of fetal remains in the archaeological record is a rarity, and the discovery of pathological skeletons is even rarer. A fetal skeleton from a Roman period cemetery (c. 31BC - 303AD) in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, displays what are thought to be classic skeletal indicators of the neural tube defect, anencephaly. The published literature concerning the skeletal diagnosis of anencephaly is scant so in order to diagnose this individual it is pertinent to create a diagnostic standard. …

Developmental Trajectory Of Aggressive Behavior In Clinically Referred Boys: A Rasch Analysis, Scott Lafond

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A majority of research investigating aggression and its development in children has relied upon the use of rating scales such as the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). These scales are typically developed using a conventional factor analytic approach for the selection and retention of scale items, but may not contain sufficient numbers of items to adequately assess the unidimensional construct or developmental trajectory of aggressive behavior in youths. The present study evaluates specific psychometric properties of CBCL Aggressive and Delinquency Problems clinical syndrome scale items to determine the degree to which they reflect the breadth and established developmental trajectory of aggressive …

Improving Business Performance Through The Integration Of Human Factors Engineering Into Organizations Using A Systems Engineeri, Monica Philippart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Most organizations today understand the valuable contribution employees as people (rather than simply bodies) provide to their overall performance. Although efforts are made to make the most of the human in organizations, there is still much room for improvement. Focus in the reduction of employee injuries such as cumulative trauma disorders rose in the 80 s. Attempts at increasing performance by addressing employee satisfaction through various methods have also been ongoing for several years now. Knowledge Management is one of the most recent attempts at controlling and making the best use of employees knowledge. All of these efforts and more …

Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of Alternative Ferrate (Vi) Synthesis Formulas As Disinfectants For Wastewater And River Water, Rachelle Ginart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ferrate (VI) has been studied as an alternative chemical to disinfect water and wastewater in recent years. The disinfection effectiveness of two different wet oxidation ferrate (VI) synthesis formulas in wastewater and Econlockhatchee River water was evaluated. Ferrate (VI) is synthesized by addition of ferric chloride to a mixture of sodium hydroxide and calcium hypochlorite (refer to U.S. Patent 6,790,429). One ferrate (VI) synthesis formula uses below the stoichiometric requirement of hypochlorite (Low Chlorine Formula) while the other ferrate (VI) synthesis formula uses more than the stoichiometric requirement of hypochlorite (Standard Chlorine Formula). For applications requiring low chlorine residual effluent …

An Integrated Model Of Work Climate, Maribeth Kuenzi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Management scholars have become increasingly interested in the role of organizational context. As part of this trend, research on work climates has thrived. This contemporary climate research differs from traditional approaches by concentrating on facet-specific climate types like service or innovation, rather than general, global conceptualizations of climate. Consequently, the climate literature has become fragmented and disorderly. I seek to remedy this in my dissertation. Specifically, I propose and test an integrated model of work climate that examines both molar and facet-specific climates. Chapter 1 is a review of the organizational work climate literature. This review seeks to review, reorganize, …

Design And Fabrication Of Chemiresistor Typemicro/Nano Hydrogen Gas Sensors Usinginterdigitated Electrodes, Peng Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hydrogen sensors have obtained increased interest with the widened application of hydrogen energy in recent years. Among them, various chemiresistor based hydrogen sensors have been studied due to their relatively simple structure and well-established detection mechanism. The recent progress in micro/nanotechnology has accelerated the development of small-scale chemical sensors. In this work, MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) sensor platforms with interdigitated electrodes have been designed and fabricated. Integrating indium doped tin dioxide nanoparticles, these hydrogen sensors showed improved sensor characteristics such as sensitivity, response and selectivity at room temperature. Design parameters of interdigitated electrodes have been studied in association with sensor characteristics. …

Early Attachment Stress, Attentional Control Dysfunction And Problems With Self-Regulation, Joshua David Bernstein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Development of the self-regulatory elements of executive control is one of the most critical and significant developmental achievements of early childhood. Executive control and self-regulation are constructs that lie at the nexus of developmental, neuropsychological, and clinical investigations. Effortful Control (EC) is a construct representing a hybridization of these separate but intertwined notions. It describes the self regulatory aspects of the executive control system. The construct is of special interest and use, because, despite the traditional practice of conceptualizing cognitive and emotional processes independently of one another, the construct of EC places emotional, cognitive, and behavioral self-regulatory capacities together. EC …

Health Seeking Behaviors: Life Histories Of African Americans Who Are Older, Have A Low Income, And Live In Rural South Alabama, Leigh Ann Chandler Poole

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study provides information on health-seeking behaviors across the lifespan of African Americans who are older, have a low income, and reside in rural south Alabama. A qualitative naturalistic inquiry was conducted utilizing de Chesnay's (2005) life history methodology. The aim of the study was to produce knowledge that could be utilized in developing age, race, and socio-economically appropriate health promotion intervention strategies for this population.

Participation was voluntary and confidentiality was protected. Participants (N=7) were informed on the purpose of the study, methods of data collection, and their right to withdraw. Inclusion criteria was utilized to purposefully select study …

Barriers To Parental Involvement In The Seneca Valley School District, Jeffrey Fuller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The involvement of parents in the educational programs of their children has been shown to have a significant impact on both student achievement and the family. While both educators and parents are accountable for the development of the partnership between the home and the school, teachers and school administrators have the greatest responsibility for opening the lines of communication and making schools and classrooms welcoming. By identifying and overcoming those factors that parents perceive to be barriers to their involvement in their child's educational program, educators will have a significant positive impact on the future success of the children in …

Delay Sensitive Routing For Real Time Traffic Over Ad-Hoc Networks, Dipika Darshana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wireless ad hoc network consists of inexpensive nodes that form a mobile communication network. Due to limitations of the transmission range, the nodes rely on each other to forward packets such that messages can be delivered across the network. The selection of the path along which a packet is forwarded from the source node to the destination node is done by the routing algorithm. Most commonly used routing algorithms, though effective for non-real time applications, cannot handle real-time applications that require strict delay bounds on packet delivery. In this thesis, we propose a routing protocol that ensures timely delivery of …

Impact Of Corrosion Inhibitor Blended Orthophosphate On Water Quality In Water Distribution Systems, Abdulrahman Alshehri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The impact of blended orthophosphate (BOP) inhibitor addition on the corrosion of iron, copper, and lead in drinking water distribution systems was studied under changing water quality environment. Release of iron, copper, and lead were monitored at varying inhibitor doses and changing blends of source waters (groundwater, surface water, and desalinated water). Solid corrosion products on pipe surfaces under BOP treatment were evaluated with surface characterization techniques. Performance of the BOP inhibitor was compared to other corrosion control strategies. Iron scales for iron and galvanized steel coupons incubated in different blended waters in the presence of BOP inhibitor were analyzed …

Nutrient Removal From Stormwater By Using Green Sorption Media, Fahim Hossain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High nitrogen and phosphorus content in storm water runoff has affected groundwater, springs and surface water by impacting ecosystem integrity and human health. Nitrate may be toxic and can cause human health problem such as methemoglobinemia, liver damage and even cancers. Phosphorus may trigger the eutrophication issues in fresh water bodies, which could result in toxic algae and eventually endanger the source of drinking waters. Sorption media with mixes of some recycled materials, such as sawdust and tire crumb, combined with sand/silt and limestone, becomes appealing for nutrient removal in environmental management. This paper presented is a specific type of …

Removal Of 2, 4-Dinitrophenol By Ferrate, Gianna Cooley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ferrate (molecular formula, FeVIO42-) has been studied increasingly since the 1970s as a disinfectant and coagulant for domestic wastewater and also as an oxidant for industrial wastewaters (Murmann and Roginson, 1974, Gilbert et al., 1978, Kazama, 1994, Jiang et al., 2002, and Sharmaet al., 2005). This research was performed to explore whether ferrate could possibly be used as chemical treatment for industrial wastewaters from plastic, chemical, dye, soap, and wood stain producing plants that contain 2, 4-Dinitrophenol (DNP). DNP is listed on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL). This list includes compounds which …

The Effectiveness Of Specifically Designed Filter Media To Reduce Nitrate And Orthophosphate In Stormwater Runoff, Mikhal Moberg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Throughout Central Florida surface water and ground water are decreasing in quantity and quality in part because of excess Nitrate and Phosphorus nutrients. Stormwater runoff serves as a medium for transport of Nitrate and Phosphorus to surface water and ground water. The goal of this experiment is assess the Nitrate and Phosphorus removal in stormwater using select media. The results of a literature search, batch test experimentation and column test experimentation are used to determine an optimal media blend that may be implemented in detention ponds to reduce Nitrate and Phosphorus. The extensive literature search revealed 32 different media that …