Digital Commons Network^™

Supplemental Home-Based Exercise During Cardiac Rehabilitation, Addison Pica

Master's Theses

In this study, the effects of supplemental, home-based walking on resting systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and quality of life (QoL) in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients were evaluated. Twelve patients wore pedometers during the last four weeks of their 12-week CR program. Resting systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and QoL were measured at weeks 1, 8, and 12. After data collection, participants were categorized into low, moderate, and high volume groups based on their average number of steps taken per week. There was significant improvement in QoL during the 12-week CR program (F(2,9) = 10.940, p < .001). Participants rated their QoL better at weeks 8 (p = .02) and 12 (p < .001) than at week 1. However, the amount of supplemental walking during the final four weeks of the CR program did not affect QoL scores (F(2,9) =.165, p > .05). Although there were …

The Effects Of Anti-Price Gouging Legislation On Supply Chain Dynamics, Jason Edward Maynard

Master's Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to model the effects of anti-price gouging (APG) legislation on the costs to businesses during the recovery period of a disaster. A system dynamics model of a business’s replenishment procedures is used to simulate the effects of APG legislation on business performance. Economists have published expansive research on the effects of price ceilings on supply and demand, but there is little research evidence on the operational consequences of price ceiling legislation on business costs. APG legislation increases consumer’s forward buying and shortage gaming after a disaster by removing price incentives to be frugal. Forward …

Policy Appears Upon The Scene, Hand In Hand With Poverty: An Analysis Of The Moderating Effects Of Teacher Attitude On The Relationship Between Professional Development And Student Achievement., Kristen Beth Adler

Master's Theses

Massive deficits in local, state and national education budgets are forcing schools to adapt their spending to align with these reductions. Rather than merely increasing or decreasing resources, the effectiveness of resource allocation is demanding renewed attention at all levels of educational expenditure. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of teacher professional development across five campuses at Chicago International Charter School. It is the goal of this project to examine how teacher professional development directly impacts student performance, as well as to evaluate whether this relationship is moderated by teacher attitude towards professional development activities. It …

Body Image And Body Mass Index: An Investigation Of Preadolescent Low-Income, Urban Ethnic Minority Girls, Amanda K. Ward

Master's Theses

Utilizing a sample of low-income, urban preadolescent African American and Latina girls, this study examined ethnic differences in two aspects of body image (i.e., body dissatisfaction and weight descriptions), and determined if this relation varied as a function of age. This study also examined the relation between the body image variables and self-esteem and BMI and self-esteem, and determined if these relations differed depending on age or ethnicity. Participants were recruited from 3rd through 5th grade at five Chicago Public Schools, and completed measures of body dissatisfaction, weight descriptions, self-esteem, and had their anthropometric measurements taken. Results showed that Latina …

The Uses Of Expertise: Science, Medicine And Body/Self-Fashioning, Amanda J. Counts

Master's Theses

This paper draws on empirical evidence collected from pro-anorexia websites and qualitative interviews with dieters to develop an analysis of the uses of medical and scientific expertise in processes of body- and self-fashioning. It builds on previous work by examining how `lay publics' refashion expertise in order to use it for new purposes, sometimes contradictory to the purposes of medicine itself. Four distinct groups are analyzed: Women diagnosed with anorexia; women diagnosed with EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified); dieters using traditional methods of caloric restricting; and dieters using a new method called Primal Dieting. Overall, respondents indicated an ambivalence …

The Influence Of Supportive Parenting And Racial Socialization On Internalizing And Externalizing Behaviors Among African-American Youth, Corinn Elmore

Master's Theses

The current study examined the additive and interactive effects of racial socialization on internalizing and externalizing behaviors. One hundred and thirty-six youth (mean age = 11.49, SD = 1.71) in fourth through eighth grade and parents of children these ages (n = 150) from 3 three locations of a community based family support agency reported on the youth's internalizing and externalizing behaviors, parental behavior, and racial socialization experiences. Correlational analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between study variables. Consistent with hypotheses, supportive parenting was associated with fewer maladaptive outcomes. Racial pride messages showed a trend level association to outcomes. …

Emotional Exhaustion, Work-Family Conflict, And Marital Satisfaction Among Professional Psychologists., Alisha Oscharoff

Master's Theses

While a wealth of research has examined how the occupational role affects family domain functioning, there is limited research investigating these issues among mental health professionals. Using a sample of 160 professional psychologists, this study examined the relationships between emotional exhaustion at work, work-family conflict (WFC), and marital satisfaction as well as gender differences in the strengths of these relationships. Analyses indicated that increased emotional exhaustion was associated with increased WFC and that both emotional exhaustion and WFC were negatively associated with marital satisfaction. However, WFC did not emerge as a significant mediator of the relationship between emotional exhaustion and …

Predictors Of Academic Achievement And Failure Among Low-Income Urban African American Adolescents: An Ecological Perspective, Israel Moses Gross

Master's Theses

Predictors of academic achievement among urban low-income African American adolescents have primarily been investigated by examining "main effects," or limited interactions with conventional statistical techniques. This paper adds to the literature by examining the factors that influence academic outcomes among this population within an ecological systems framework. This allowed for a comprehensive understanding of how numerous protective and risk factors, across ecological settings, interact to influence academic outcomes.

Optimal Data Analysis (ODA) was employed to create prediction models for mathematic and reading achievement. ODA allowed for the examination of a vast number of variables in one statistical model without increasing …

The Melting Pot Versus The Salad Bowl: American Attitudes Toward Acculturation Of Middle Eastern Immigrants, Hannah M. Alarian

Master's Theses

Since the formation of the United States of America the debate over the environment of America as a melting pot in which immigrants assimilate or as a salad bowl in which immigrants acculturate rages on. Acculturation in its conceptual definition is dualistic, meaning it affects not just the immigrating group but also the host culture group (Berry, 1990). In most research, however, acculturation only refers to the change in the acculturating group and not to the host culture group. This study examined the multidimensionality of attitudes toward Middle Eastern immigrants through an investigation of intergroup relations (threat, perceived group permeability) …

Accountability And Political Tolerance: "Sober Second-Thought" Or Knee-Jerk?, Erika D. Price

Master's Theses

This thesis explores the cognitive underpinnings of political tolerance. Past research suggests that political elites are more tolerant than the general population, regardless of political orientation. Survey results suggest that political expertise, interest, and attention to politics foster increased political tolerance, regardless of ideology, party, or the extent to which tolerance is carefully considered by the respondent.

Prosocial Behavior And Teamwork In Online Computer Games, Julia Elizabeth Fredrickson

Master's Theses

The use of technology for training purposes is a growing field. Many of the traits for successful team building are shared by a variety of video games, overcoming the limitations of traditional team-building exercises. The goal of this research project was to study social and teamwork oriented behaviors within the settings of online computer games. One hundred and eighty-one individuals completed an online survey in which they were asked questions regarding team-work behaviors. These individuals also participated in a game scenario which measured their social orientation. The hypotheses for this research were that individuals who play online computer games will …

The Ends Determine The Means: Activated Goals Explain The Decision To Confront, Kala Jean Melchiori

Master's Theses

Women believe that they would confront perpetrators of sexual harassment, but when put in a sexually harassing situation they rarely confront (Woodzicka & LaFrance, 2001). Women may overestimate their likelihood of confronting because they think they would be concerned with fairness, but in actuality the need to belong strongly dissuades women from confronting harassers. I tested this idea by randomly assigning women to be primed with a belonging, fairness, or no goal, and then had them predict how they would respond to sexually harassing or surprising interview questions. Women who viewed the sexually harassing interview questions predicted more confrontational behavior …

An Attack On One Is An Attack On All: Factors That Influence Responses To Witnessing Discrimination, Hilary E. Slover

Master's Theses

Witnessing discrimination against a racial minority should be threatening to both racial minority and majority group members, but for different reasons. One's racial group membership and one's relationship with the perpetrator could both serve as sources of threat to a third party observer. Ninety-two participants identified as racial majority group members (i.e., White) and 48 identified as racial minority group members (i.e., Asian, Black, and other). Each participant was asked to report one instance of discrimination perpetrated by a close other and one by a distant other. Some differences between minority and majority group members' responses emerged. For example, compared …

Global Influences And Resistance Within: Inclusive Practices And South Africa's Apartheid Government, Jean Marie Fagin

Master's Theses

South Africa's racially segregating apartheid government officially lasted for over forty years, from 1948 to 1994. Black South Africans were the victims of established oppression resulting in poverty, poor health care, and limited educational opportunities. Black South Africans with disabilities faced even greater exclusion from society due to their physical and cognitive challenges. Education for black students was neither compulsory nor free, and few black students with disabilities received services.

During the apartheid regime (1948-1994), disability issues were being address globally. The United Nations issued declarations, conventions, and a programme of action devoted to people with disabilities. In the early …

Role For Histone Deacetylases In Glucocorticoid Receptor Mediated Transpression Of Natural Killer Cell Activity, Kristin Bush

Master's Theses

During periods of psychosocial distress glucocorticoids (GCs) are known to reduce the lytic activity of natural killer cells (NKCA). Glucocorticoid treatment also reduces acetylation of histone residues; however, the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) lacks deacetylase activity. GR is known to interact with histone deacetylases (HDACs) and with corepressors that mediate gene transrepression. In this investigation, GC induced histone deacetylation was demonstrated to be due to GR recruitment of HDAC1 and the corepressor complex SMRT. These data show that reduced acetylation of immune functional genes associated with NKCA is likely due to histone deacetylation by HDAC1 and transrepression of those genes by …

Resistance And Accommodation To Racism Among Early Seventh-Day Adventist Missionaries In The American South: A Case Study On Relating To Oppressive Cultural Practices In Missions, Kessia Reyne Bennett

Master's Theses

Topic and Method. A basic task of the missionary is to negotiate the complex social codes of the foreign territory; for early Seventh-day Adventist missionaries in the American South this meant negotiating a culture of racism which oppressed the Black population. The present study investigated how early Adventist missionaries to the South related to the racism they encountered. Using data drawn from books, periodical literature, personal letters, and denominational minutes, the expressions and recorded actions of the missionaries were analyzed to determine how the missionaries’ attitudes and behaviors were related to the cultural racism. Three categories of relationship were utilized …

Academic Writing Development Through Dialogues Between Tutors And Second-Language Learners, Fabio De Oliveira Coelho

Master's Theses

This thesis presents an analysis of dialogues between writing tutors and second-language learners in a writing center setting. The analysis includes a discussion about session appropriation by tutors, the validity of addressing sentence-level mistakes during writing conferences, and strategies that tutors may use to make the sessions beneficial to second-language learners. Among the literature covered throughout the study are studies on Educational Psychology, L1 and L2 Composition, and Cognitive Linguistics (Situated Learning). Collected data include measurements of dialogical patterns in the sessions and qualitative data extracted from session recordings and interviews with interlocutors. Study results suggest that a) sentence-level correction …

Connecting Children And Families: Expectations And Experiences Of Professional Foster Parents, Samantha A. Goodrich

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Heart And Mind At Work: The Effects Of Implicit And Explicit Reasoning On Performance Appraisal, Scott Ryan

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Delayed Auditory Feedback On Young Infants’ Crying, Sarah M. Sanborn

Master's Theses

Neural control of newborn crying has typically been considered to originate primarily in the lower brain centers, although support for this assumption is limited. To address this, the present study manipulated newborn infants’ perceptual experience during a cry bout through use of delayed auditory feedback (DAF). Atypical cry productions during DAF would suggest that newborn crying is under higher levels of cortical control than previously assumed. Infants’ spontaneous crying was recorded for 2 minutes at 4 weeks of age (n=16) and again at 8 weeks of age (n=17) using an ABA design, alternating synchronous feedback with DAF. Standard repeated-measures 2 …

Effects Of Embodiment On Perceptual And Affective Responses To Infant Crying, Jennifer B. Bisson

Master's Theses

Three experiments were conducted to investigate how changes in bodily states might be related to perceptions of infant vocalizations. In Study 1, participants were asked to hold a pencil between their lips, mimicking a smile, while listening to infant crying. Although there were no embodied effects for perceptual ratings, results indicated that this manipulation decreased participants’ self-reported, negative affect. In Study 2, participants were played both infant crying and birdsong while exposed to similar embodied manipulations, including activation of muscles related to approach and withdrawal behavior. There were no embodied effects for ratings of crying or for affect. Comparing Study …

Artificial Skin Tactile Sensor For Prosthetic And Robotic Applications, Ross James Miller

Master's Theses

To solve the problem of limited tactile sensing in humanoid robotics as well as provide for future planned mechanical prostheses, an innovative tactile sensor system was created and embedded into two realistic-looking artificial skin gloves. These artificial skin tactile sensors used small piezoelectric ceramic disks to measure applied force at multiple points on each glove. The gloves were created using silicone rubber to simulate both the texture and look of human skin, while maintaining both flexibility and durability. The sensor outputs were buffered by high-impedance voltage-following operational amplifiers, and then read sequentially using a multiplexing scheme by a microcontroller. Sensor …

Development And Validation Of A Light Weight, Energy Dense, Ready To Eat (Rte) Bar, Jacob Wilhelm-Maria Heick

Master's Theses

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A LIGHT WEIGHT, ENERGY DENSE, READY TO EAT (RTE) BAR

Jacob Wilhelm-Maria Heick

Providing additional calories in the form of an RTE bar to endurance athletes will increase performance and muscle re-synthesis, reduce muscle breakdown, and shorten recovery time. An RTE bar containing a blend of dairy proteins and carbohydrates will create a product with superior functionality, including bioactive and immunity enhancing properties from dairy derived ingredients. The protein will provide benefits in the form of easily digestible calories, essential amino acids and physical satiate.

A formulation was developed and optimized, resulting in a final product …

Art Out Of Tragedy - How The Children Of Terezin Coped With Crisis Through Art, James A. Kaiser

Master's Theses

This thesis is the culmination of the two-year process of researching, lesson planning, rehearsing and producing the Celeste Raspanti play, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, as a staged production with high school students. As the teacher and director, my guiding questions for this process were: Does creating a work of art have a psychological benefit for a child who has or will face a crisis? Does the process of creation help them cope better with the outcome of the crisis? What gave these children the will to survive in such terrible conditions day after day? Will the study of the …

Physiologic, Psychologic, And Oxidative Stress Responses To Multimodal Exercise In An Endometrial Cancer Survivor Undergoing High-Dose Chemotherapy: A Case Study, Lauren E. Dinsmore

Master's Theses

Exercise training, as a rehabilitative strategy, may be a vital factor in combatting the noxious toxicities related to cancer treatment. Research employing mixed modality exercise consistently demonstrates health benefits ranging from enhanced aerobic capacity and muscular strength to attenuated psychological distress. The primary aim of this case study was to examine the effects of exercise training on physiological and psychological parameters in an endometrial cancer survivor undergoing high-dose chemotherapy. Secondly, believed to play a role in toxicity development and progression, oxidative stress has yet to be studied in cancer survivors. The second aim of this case study was to determine …

Examining Relationship Interactions Of Adult Children Of Alcoholics, Diana I. Loera

Master's Theses

The following study explores the factors associated with security of romantic attachment in Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs). ACOAs are more vulnerable to inconsistent parenting and consequently are more likely to develop negative internal models of self, a stable construct that affects romantic attachments (Bowlby, 1982; Ainsworth et al, 1989; Bartholomew, 1990). This study examined associations between parent, and peer relationships as possible resiliencies. It was hypothesized that ACOAs will report less secure attachments with their parents (as measured by the IPPA), less romantic attachment anxiety and avoidance (as measured by the ECR-R), and no significant difference in peer attachment …

Assessing Potential Industry Growth For Economic Development In Oakland, Ca, Sonia Aery

Master's Theses

This study prepares a set of career ladders for the population of Oakland. Career ladders are long-term progression pathways to help individuals advance, particularly in high wage, high growth careers. Career ladders combine different statistics on the demographics of a population with statistics about the area’s economic vitality and potential. This combination helps to identify the potential to strengthen an area’s economy and enhance individuals’ qualifications and wages.

One of the main reasons that people and large firms are attracted to a given city is the potential for economic stability. A stable economy is the result of the availability of …

An Investigation Into The Use Of Color As A Device To Convey Memes During The Little Ice Age, Peter Allen White

Master's Theses

Color is used as a tool in visual communication to express ideas in a symbolic fashion. It can also be used as a guide to assist the viewer in the visual narrative. Artwork created in the period of time between 1300 to 1850 in northern and central Europe provides a comprehensive perspective in the use of color as symbol and color as an elucidative devise. This period of time is known as the Little Ice Age, the duration of which spans European history between the Medieval period and the Romantic era. The extreme climatic conditions of this era caused profound …

Improving Public Health Through Urban Design: The Case Of Delano, California, Adriana C. Neal

Master's Theses

Emerging research shows a clear relationship between urban design and public health. Major issues effecting public health include cardiovascular disease, high rates of obesity, and associated diseases like Type 2 diabetes. These conditions can be attributed, in a large part, to personal habits, including diet and physical activity. Certain elements of urban design have an impact on personal habits and therefore affect health. This report explores the relationship between urban design and public health, first broadly, and then at a micro-scale, examining the relationship in the context of the City of Delano, California.

This exploratory study begins with an in-depth …

Application Of Check In-Check Out As A Targeted Intervention To Increase Appropriate Behavior In At-Risk High School Students, Lauren Lestremau Harpole

Master's Theses

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Check In-Check Out (CICO) in increasing appropriate behavior and decreasing disruptive behavior of three students in south Mississippi who were referred for behavioral problems, a multiple baseline across students design was employed. Target students' levels of appropriate behavior and frequency of disruptive behavior over time were compared through evaluation of daily behavior report card (DBRC) point data and rates of office discipline referrals (ODRs). Treatment integrity was assessed. The current study serves as one of the few studies in the CICO literature to (a) implement ClCO in a …