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Relationship Marketing Elements In Radio Station Websites, Mark L. Atkinson Dec 2003

Relationship Marketing Elements In Radio Station Websites, Mark L. Atkinson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not radio station website designers effectively use relationship marketing to achieve the goals of the stations and their websites. The study is a comparison/content analysis of the websites of 150 radio stations, in three different formats, in the top 50 U.S. population centers. This study compared the results of a content analysis with the results of a 2000 Edison/Arbitron survey which asked respondents to rank 14 website features according to what those replying considered important. This study sought to determine whether the more popular features actually appeared on more websites …

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Ersatz, George M. Horton Jr. Dec 2003

Ersatz, George M. Horton Jr.

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

My work attempts to develop the relationship between optical and formal painting traditions in modernism via the literal surface of the painting and the object or objects represented. They are arranged to create an effect of simultaneous emergence and dissolution. They represent the falsely temporal aspects of the perceived world, the concretization of which only exists in the mind of the viewer. This thesis statement will address issues of surface and illusionism in modern pictorial theory and the importance of perception verses objectification. In addition I will discuss the subject matter, composition, and techniques employed to create the works. I …

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Comparison Of Classification Methods For Perspiration-Based Liveness Algorithm, Sujan T. V. Parthasaradhi Dec 2003

Comparison Of Classification Methods For Perspiration-Based Liveness Algorithm, Sujan T. V. Parthasaradhi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the modern world there is a need for security. Biometric technologies provide a means for providing this security. Of the many different available biometric technologies, fingerprint recognition is the most popular. As with all security measures, biometric devices may be subject to attacks on the system. Fingerprint scanners may be susceptible to spoofing using artificial materials, or in the worst case, dismembered fingers. Liveness, i.e. to determine whether the introduced biometric is coming from a live source, has been suggested as a means to circumvent attacks that use spoof fingers. It has been shown that water based casting materials …

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Teachers' Views Of The Impact Of The Good Start, Grow Smart Early Childhood Initiative On Head Start Programs In A Western Maryland Community, Fannie L. Boayue Dec 2003

Teachers' Views Of The Impact Of The Good Start, Grow Smart Early Childhood Initiative On Head Start Programs In A Western Maryland Community, Fannie L. Boayue

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As the call for accountability increased, President George W. Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act in January 2002 to reform the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that was reauthorized in 1994. The Good Start, Grow Smart Early Childhood Education Initiative, followed in April 2002. Both of these reform measures have significant implications for school success and achievement of all children in both childcare and public school settings as well as accountability for teachers and administrators.;The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze the views of Head Start teachers on the impact of the Good …

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Influence Of Live -Load Deflections On Superstructure Performance Of Slab On Steel Stringer Bridges, Haiyong Wu Dec 2003

Influence Of Live -Load Deflections On Superstructure Performance Of Slab On Steel Stringer Bridges, Haiyong Wu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

High performance steel (HPS), specifically HPS 70W, was introduced to the bridge market in the United States in the late 1990s. With its added strength, greater durability, and improved weldability, HPS allows engineers to design longer and shallower spans, which may increase the live-load deflections. The AASHTO Standard Specification limits live-load deflections to L/800 for ordinary bridges and L/1000 for bridges in urban areas subjected to pedestrian use. Bridges designed by the AASHTO LRFD Specification have an optional deflection limit. Previous research focused on evaluating AASHTO live-load deflection limits showed that the justification for existing deflection limits was not clearly …

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Examining Predictors Of Marital Satisfaction Among Age-Similar And Age-Discrepant Older Couples, Kristi A. Barnes Dec 2003

Examining Predictors Of Marital Satisfaction Among Age-Similar And Age-Discrepant Older Couples, Kristi A. Barnes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sociocultural and demographic trends suggest the importance of examining the marital experience among older adults, and those who are in non-traditional marriages in particular. The current study examined the marital experiences of middle-aged and older individuals who are involved in long-term (15 yrs. or longer) age-similar (n = 35) and age-discrepant marriages (n = 35). All information was gathered through telephone interviews. Analysis of variance tests examined mean differences as a function of type of marriage (2; ADM and AS) and gender (2). These analyses revealed no differences between marriage types on a number of measures of marital satisfaction. However, …

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Dietary Feedback Effects And Gender Differences In Stages Of Change For Fat And Fiber Intake Behavior, Janis M. Boury Dec 2003

Dietary Feedback Effects And Gender Differences In Stages Of Change For Fat And Fiber Intake Behavior, Janis M. Boury

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The stages of change (SOC) model has addressed changes people make to important habits such as smoking or diet. This study had three purposes (a) examining the influence of cultural role expectations for males and females on decisional balance (DB), (b) examining changes in stage assignment following feedback for the hidden nutrients of fat and fiber, (c) comparing the effects of feedback and tailored messages on change in fat and fiber intakes.;This study was an experimental control group design with 273 participants at baseline, 235 at intervention, and 197 at post-intervention. Most participants had some college. Baseline included general and …

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National Survey Of Psychological Practices Across Rural And Urban Communities, Craig M. Helbok Dec 2003

National Survey Of Psychological Practices Across Rural And Urban Communities, Craig M. Helbok

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to examine potential differences in the practice of psychology across urban and rural communities. The review of the rural literature suggests that psychologists in rural areas are likely to encounter numerous ethical dilemmas and problems that are related specifically to the characteristics of such communities. To date, however, much of this literature has been based on theory and the individual experiences of practitioners. This study sought to quantify any differences in the practice of psychology across communities for such ethical issues as multiple relationships, competency, burnout, confidentiality, and visibility in the community. A survey …

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Empirical Development Of A Scale Of Patience, Kenneth C. Dudley Dec 2003

Empirical Development Of A Scale Of Patience, Kenneth C. Dudley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Patience is a construct not directly studied in the literature. Studies in the psychological literature have typically spoken of patience only as the converse of impatience. The assumption of these studies is that patience exists in the absence of impatience. However, other research proposes a multidimensional model of patience based on qualitative studies. It follows from the multidimensional model that patience exists on a continuum with the potential for different levels or amounts of patience across different situations. The purpose of this study was to develop an objective measure of patience.;To develop a measure of patience an item pool was …

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Temporal Control And Response Strength In A Free -Operant Psychophysical Procedure, Lori M. Lieving Dec 2003

Temporal Control And Response Strength In A Free -Operant Psychophysical Procedure, Lori M. Lieving

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of the present experiments was to examine the relation between timing and response strength. Pigeons responded on a two-component multiple schedule consisting of the free-operant psychophysical procedure, in which trials lasted 50 s. During the first 25 s of each trial, responding on the left key was reinforced according to a variable interval (VI) schedule of reinforcement. During the second 25 s of each trial, responding on the right key was reinforced according to a VI schedule of reinforcement. In Experiment 1, responding in one component was maintained by a VI 30-s schedule (rich component) and responding in …

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Sport Psychology Strategies, Types Of Social Support, And Adherence To Injury Rehabilitation Among University Student -Athletes, Kenneth Tubilleja Dec 2003

Sport Psychology Strategies, Types Of Social Support, And Adherence To Injury Rehabilitation Among University Student -Athletes, Kenneth Tubilleja

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present study examined differences between levels of adherence to athletic injury rehabilitation (SIRAS; Brewer, Van Raalte, Petitpas, Sklar, & Ditmar, 1995) among injured student-athletes on their use of sport psychology strategies (TOPS; Thomas, Murphy, & Hardy, 1999) and their perceived social support (SSS-C; Richman, Rosenfeld, & Hardy, 1993). Relationships between adherence to athletic injury rehabilitation and sport psychology strategies and perceived social support were also investigated. In addition, participants' use and training in sport psychology strategies was explored. The sample consisted of 35 student-athletes from 1 NCAA Division I and 3 Division II institutions who sustained athletic injuries that …

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Comparing Math Self-Efficacy In Middle School Girls, Anagloria Rodriguez Dec 2003

Comparing Math Self-Efficacy In Middle School Girls, Anagloria Rodriguez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There have been no previous studies in the self-efficacy or single-sex schools literature that have looked at the possible relationship between self-efficacy expectations and type of school. This study compared mathematics self-efficacy of sixth, seventh, and eighth grade girls in a single-sex and a co-educational school. Four measures, including a personal background questionnaire, were used to collect data. Results showed a correlation for type of school and importance of mathematics. Contrary to assumptions made by the researcher, girls in the co-educational school scored consistently higher on all measures used. The results of this research suggest that it will take more …

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Non-Native Esl Teachers' Reactions To Students' Different Cultural Backgrounds In Classroom Interaction, Livia Silva Lirio Aug 2003

Non-Native Esl Teachers' Reactions To Students' Different Cultural Backgrounds In Classroom Interaction, Livia Silva Lirio

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There have been research studies done in the area of cross-cultural analysis that discuss the necessity of culture-oriented examiners or assessors as well as "culture-free testing" when assessing students from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Despite evidence that "culture-bias" is present in oral examinations, few of the studies found directly approach the instructors' reactions to students' different cultural and backgrounds in classroom interaction. Therefore the purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate teachers' perspectives on teaching in a multicultural classroom. The findings of this study conducted in an American language institute with non-native ESL teachers reveal a mismatch between …

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Assessment Of Students' Motivation To Use Computer Tools In A Web -Enhanced Counseling Course, Ying-Ying Kuo Aug 2003

Assessment Of Students' Motivation To Use Computer Tools In A Web -Enhanced Counseling Course, Ying-Ying Kuo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Increasing numbers of professional counseling educators recognize the importance of information technology in counselor education, but the majority of members in the counseling community still lack interest in using computer tools for their professional development. How to motivate them to acquire these necessary skills is a problem in counselor education. This study provided a motivating web-based instructional (WBI) design for a web-enhanced course and examined counseling students' motivation to use computer tools in the course. It focused on four research questions that examined (1) how students' use of computers changed; (2) the impact of web-based instructional (WBI) features on their …

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Three Essays On Stock Market Anomalies, Behavioral Finance, And Financial Econometrics, Ding Du Aug 2003

Three Essays On Stock Market Anomalies, Behavioral Finance, And Financial Econometrics, Ding Du

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation studies two important stock market anomalies, the correlation between stock returns and inflation and the predictability of stock returns. Chapter 1 is an introduction. Chapter 2 investigates why the stock return-inflation relation changes over time. Kaul (1987) considers changes in the monetary policy regime, while Hess and Lee (1999) propose changes in the composition of structural shocks. I show in Chapter 2: (1) different from Kaul (1987) and Hess and Lee (1999), both changes in the monetary policy regime and changes in the composition of structural shocks can in principle cause changes in the stock return-inflation relation; (2) …

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Treatment Outcome For Male Adolescents In Residential Placement, Taji Tortorello Aug 2003

Treatment Outcome For Male Adolescents In Residential Placement, Taji Tortorello

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of the study was to assess archival data to determine what variables are related to successful discharge from a residential treatment program for adolescents with behavioral disorders. The records of 120 residents of a Northern Virginia residential treatment program were reviewed from January 1999 to January 2001. The researcher was interested in determining what predictor variables, such as: intake demographic and intake assessments relate to outcome, such as: discharge assessments, discharge planning, and discharge GPA. Results indicated that students who are successfully discharged from this program at intake are typically: (1) older, (2) less oppositional, (3) engage in …

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Effect Of Computer Practice Of Component Gait Training Facts On Choice Of Ambulation Aid And Gait Pattern By Physical Therapist Assistant Students, Beverly R. Born Aug 2003

Effect Of Computer Practice Of Component Gait Training Facts On Choice Of Ambulation Aid And Gait Pattern By Physical Therapist Assistant Students, Beverly R. Born

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Health care educational programs are challenged to provide efficient and effective instructional strategies to teach students both the foundation knowledge and problem solving skills that they need to provide quality health care services. In the present study, computer-based text passages and quizzes were used to teach physical therapist assistant (PTA) students the component facts and principles needed for the higher level skill of choosing ambulation aids and gait patterns for patients in described clinical scenarios. The research questions were (a) whether learning component gait training skills would result in better ability to choose ambulation aids and gait patterns for patients …

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Evaluation Of A Whole-Class Token Economy To Manage Disruptive Behavior In Preschool Classrooms, Holly A. Filcheck Aug 2003

Evaluation Of A Whole-Class Token Economy To Manage Disruptive Behavior In Preschool Classrooms, Holly A. Filcheck

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The behavior of children in a preschool classroom was assessed to evaluate the effectiveness of two classroom management approaches: (a) strategies already employed by the teachers, and (b) the Level System. Strategies already employed by the teachers were those that they currently used in their preschool classroom. This phase was considered the baseline or "A" treatment phase. The Level System is a new program that utilizes strategies including a token economy, stimulating rewards, strategic attention, and labeled praise to manage a range of behaviors exhibited by children in the classroom. This was considered the "B" treatment condition. These two approaches …

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Contextual Variability In Early Adolescents' State Masculinity, Femininity And Peer Interaction Goals, Jennifer Kristen Pickard Aug 2003

Contextual Variability In Early Adolescents' State Masculinity, Femininity And Peer Interaction Goals, Jennifer Kristen Pickard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of the study was to investigate how early adolescents' gender-typed behaviors (i.e., masculinity, femininity, goals for interacting with peers) changed as a function of the social context. Eighty early adolescents (40 boys and 40 girls, 7th--8th graders; Mean age = 13.14; SD = .65) worked with both a same- and an other-sex peer on a collaborative or a competitive block building task. Individual attributes such as participant sex, and contextual features such sex of partner affected early adolescents' reported masculinity, femininity, and their goals for a peer interaction. Boys reported greater femininity when interacting with an other-sex peer …

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Evaluation Of Techniques For Disseminating Parent -Child Interaction Therapy, Amy D. Herschell Aug 2003

Evaluation Of Techniques For Disseminating Parent -Child Interaction Therapy, Amy D. Herschell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Considerable advancements have been made in the last decade in developing, identifying, and evaluating empirically supported treatment programs (ESTs). Less progress has been made in the dissemination of these promising programs. This trend may be due, in part, to a lack of systematic studies investigating methods to distribute ESTs successfully so that both skills and knowledge are acquired. More information is needed regarding the effectiveness of existing treatment dissemination modalities (e.g., treatment manuals, workshops) as well as therapist characteristics that might impact training success.;The purposes of the current investigation were to: (a) evaluate a treatment manual as a method for …

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Effects Of Fear Of Dental Pain And Information Type On Fear And Pain Responding During Endodontic Treatment, John T. Sorrell Aug 2003

Effects Of Fear Of Dental Pain And Information Type On Fear And Pain Responding During Endodontic Treatment, John T. Sorrell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fear of pain is an important factor within dental settings. Information is an effective method of enhancing predictability about aversive events during dental and medical procedures and can decrease fear and pain during treatment. Therefore, the effects of fear of dental pain and information type on fear and pain responding during endodontic treatment were examined. Experiment 1 included 268 undergraduate students to develop an informational videotape and a knowledge inventory designed to enhance predictability about root canal treatment and measure dental knowledge across 3 domains (oral hygiene, root canal procedure, and pain during root canal treatment). Results suggest that videotape …

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Instructors' Message Variables And Students' Learning Orientation/Grade Orientation And Affective Learning, Leeanne M. Bell Aug 2003

Instructors' Message Variables And Students' Learning Orientation/Grade Orientation And Affective Learning, Leeanne M. Bell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among instructors' message variables and students' learning orientation (LO), grade orientation (GO), and affective learning. Participants were 193 students (109 men, 83 women) enrolled in introductory communication courses at a large eastern university. Participants completed the Revised Self-Disclosure scale (Wheeless, 1978), the Humor Orientation scale (Booth-Butterfield & Booth-Butterfield, 1991), a narrative scale created for this study, the LOGO II scale (Milton, Pollio, & Eison, 1986) and the Instructional Affect Assessment Instrument (IAAI) (McCroskey, 1994). Results indicated instructors' message variables were not significantly related to students LO/GO, no significant differences among …

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Reinforcement And Punishment During Programmed Instruction, Stephen C. Scherer May 2003

Reinforcement And Punishment During Programmed Instruction, Stephen C. Scherer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Recommendations for improving answer accuracy during programmed instruction have included the use of punishment to decrease the rate of students' responding and to prevent careless mistakes. The effects of punishment during programmed instruction, however, have not been clearly identified. There is evidence that punishment increases attention and decreases response rates during learning tasks, but other effects on student responding, including escape from the learning task, have not been systematically examined. The present study was designed to systematically examine the effects of punishment as well as extinction during programmed instruction. Four college students were recruited to earn money while working on …

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Effects Of Artificial Neural Networks Characterization On Prediction Of Diesel Engine Emissions, Azadeh Tehranian May 2003

Effects Of Artificial Neural Networks Characterization On Prediction Of Diesel Engine Emissions, Azadeh Tehranian

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

More than a century after its invention, diesel remains the fuel of choice for buses and freight trucks. Diesel exhaust contains three gases that are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as particulate matter (PM). There is a societal need both to lower emissions and to predict or model emissions more accurately for inventory purposes. Engine modeling, and real time control are the most indispensable steps towards lowering engine emissions, and it is argued that this modeling can be achieved by implementation of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Effects of ANN design, architecture, and learning parameters …

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Loss Count, Sonya Corin Russomanno May 2003

Loss Count, Sonya Corin Russomanno

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

My prints encompass themes of loss of past experiences, poetics, repetition, and feeling. By remembering facts from past experiences, one can recall how a particular moment felt. My intention when producing a piece of work is to generalize themes of loss, time, and memory by using visual features of pattern, space, and repetition of forms to exemplify feelings in relation to loss, time, and memory. This thesis statement will first address themes of loss, time, memory, and the visual devices that are employed with one intention, that they exemplify features crucial in my work. In addition, I will address the …

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Measurement Of Attitude Toward Educational Use Of The Internet In An English Composition Course With A Comparison Of Traditional -Aged And Non-Traditional-Aged Students, Diana Gail Duran May 2003

Measurement Of Attitude Toward Educational Use Of The Internet In An English Composition Course With A Comparison Of Traditional -Aged And Non-Traditional-Aged Students, Diana Gail Duran

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Attitude is tied to behavior, and writing behaviors seem to be affected by using a computer. Technological advances have forever changed the way educators view the process of writing, including the way students learn, how they feel about the way they are learning, and their subsequent behaviors. Numerous studies have indicated that using computers to write changes the way students write, what they write, and the quantity and quality of that writing. However, studies disagreed about how these changes occur, whether they are positive or negative (or neither), and what psychological dynamics, such as attitude, are involved, to what degree, …

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Economics Of Breast Cancer Preventive Strategies In A Medicaid Program, Rohit D. Borker May 2003

Economics Of Breast Cancer Preventive Strategies In A Medicaid Program, Rohit D. Borker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The primary objective of the study was to estimate the long-term benefits and costs of chemopreventive tamoxifen and mammography screening in women who are otherwise healthy but at high risk of developing breast cancer. Three hypothetical cohorts of high-risk women were initiated at age forty. The first cohort consumed chemopreventive tamoxifen and underwent routine mammography screening. The second cohort also consumed chemopreventive tamoxifen but underwent mammography screening at real-world rates. The third cohort (control cohort) did not consume chemopreventive tamoxifen and underwent mammography screening at real-world rates. The study also assessed the proportion of women in the West Virginia Medicaid …

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Evaluating The Cost-Effectiveness Of St. John's Wort Versus Fluoxetine For The Treatment Of Mild To Moderate Depression, Lee Ann Thayer May 2003

Evaluating The Cost-Effectiveness Of St. John's Wort Versus Fluoxetine For The Treatment Of Mild To Moderate Depression, Lee Ann Thayer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of St. John's Wort compared to fluoxetine from a third party perspective for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Fluoxetine 20 mg daily was compared to St. John's Wort 300 mg thrice daily in a decision tree modeling depression management in the outpatient setting. Probabilities were obtained from a Medline search as well as input from an expert panel. Direct medical costs were obtained from medical offices in the Connecticut area with drug and herb cost based on 2002 published data. Several sensitivity analyses were performed. The cost-effectiveness ratio …

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Recreational Opportunities And Health Status In West Virginia, Yoav Sneh May 2003

Recreational Opportunities And Health Status In West Virginia, Yoav Sneh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Over half of all Americans are considered to be physically inactive and/or obese, leading to significant individual and societal costs. This study investigates the link between recreational supply and health status for West Virginia. Using spatial econometric techniques, this study provides solid evidence that the demand for health care is positively associated with physical inactivity rates, and that physical inactivity rates are inversely related to the supply of recreational opportunities. When promoting the importance of physical activity as preventative health care, policy makers should consider the provision of recreational opportunities as a means to overcome sedentary behaviors.

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Dietary Factors Influencing Iron Status Among Wic Participants Ages 6--24 Months, Marci Stayner Cannon May 2003

Dietary Factors Influencing Iron Status Among Wic Participants Ages 6--24 Months, Marci Stayner Cannon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Iron deficiency is a nationwide concern. Dietary strategies issued by national organizations, aim to help prevent childhood iron deficiency. This study examined the relationship of dietary factors with iron status in WIC participants 6--24 months. This was a cross-sectional study of 50 rural infants and toddlers.;Iron deficiency was determined from one blood sample analyzed for serum ferritin (SF) and transferrin saturation (TS). Iron deficiency was defined as SF ≤ 15 ug/dL and TS ≤ 15%. Two, 24-hour dietary recalls were collected. Stepwise logistic regression was used to evaluate factors predictive of iron status.;Thirteen children (26%) were iron deficient. Iron status …

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