Digital Commons Network^™

Bone Density Testing As An Early Detection Devise For Anorexia Nervosa And Osteoporosis In Pre-Adolescent And Adolescent Girls, Kelle L. Brooks

Masters Theses

Osteoporosis has become one of the leading health problems for postmenopausal women in the United States, however, it has been shown that preadolescent and adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa are at an unusually high risk for early on-set osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Bone density testing has already proving itself as an accurate form of detection in post-menopausal women and the elderly and is widely used at medical institutions, clinics, and pharmacies throughout the United States as an inexpensive, non-invasive, and accurate technique for detecting low bone mass.

This research aims to examine anorexia nervosa and its long-term effects on the …

Introduction The Importance Of Mentee-Mentor Relationships: A Qualitative Study That Examines Students Of Color In Academic Settings, Candace Dixon

Masters Theses

Given the importance of mentoring, this study will explore mentor relationships in academic settings (Waldeck, Orrego, Plax, & Kearney, 1997). Participants were both undergraduate and graduate students with and without mentors. The goal of this thesis study was to understand whether students of color with formal mentors become more successful than similar students who do not have mentor relationships. This research also explored how students who lack formal mentors get important information. In addition, this study explored many differences between men and women of color who seek or utilize mentoring relationships. Mentor and mentee characteristics, students of color in formal …

The Effects Of Brain Gym® Activities On Second-Grade Students' Academic Performance And Handwriting Skills, Kristen Keinath

Masters Theses

Objective: The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the effects of Brain Gym® activities on second-grand students' academic performance and handwriting skills.

Method: Results were obtained by administering the Test of Handwriting Skills (THS) to two classrooms in a Northern Michigan Elementary School and having both teachers complete a self-developed Academic Performance Form on each student participating in the study. The data from was analyzed using a t-test for the THS and mean scores for the self-developed Academic Performance Form.

Results: Findings suggest a significant difference (p < .05) in the number of letters produced in 20 seconds and spacing of letters. Non-standardized testing showed a decrease in attention to task scores between pre- and post-testing.

Conclusion: Brain Gym® activities were shown to positively effect handwriting …

Patterns Of Cortical Growth As Indicators Of Population Health: An Exploratory Analysis Of Subadult Remains From The Tell Abraq Site, Uae, Jessica L. Rhodes

Masters Theses

The analysis of children in archaeological contexts is a relatively new field of study that emerged largely as a result of feminist and gender studies in the social sciences. Thus, methodologies that are typically employed in bioarchaeological analyses of children have yet to be refined and standardized. The commingling of subadult remains in archaeological contexts further confounds this issue by eliminating the ability of the researcher to establish reasonable age-at-death distributions.

This study seeks to explore the utility of analyzing patterns of cortical growth-for-diaphyseal length in commingled subadult remains. Specifically, commingled subadult remains excavated from the Tell Abraq site (UAE, …

Not Knowing What You're Missing: Autoethnographical Explorations And Reflections Of The Potential Effects Of Fatherlessness, Melodi A. Everett

Masters Theses

This study explored the potential effects of fatherlessness through the book, Whatever Happened to Daddy's Little Girl, by Jonetta Rose Barras (2000). While examining the text, the author used an autoethnographical method to reflect on her own experiences in relation to the text. This autoethnography examined the potential effects of fatherlessness on women to help understand why they communicate and interact interpersonally in specific ways that may help or hinder them in their adult romantic relationships. Through dialectical theory, specific dialectical tensions were identified to be experienced in father-daughter as well as adult romantic relationships. The tensions that were …

A Survey Of Music Therapy Business Owners, Julie M. Guy

Masters Theses

An invitation to participate in a survey was emailed or sent to 503 self-employed/ private practice music therapists. As this study focused on describing current music therapy business practices, only music therapy business owners were asked to participate. Responses were received from 29% (n= l47). Results indicated that the typical business owner is a Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) with a bachelor's degree who has most likely owned a sole proprietorship for less than 9 years. They typically work 30-39 hours each week and maintain 10-19 hours of contracts (primarily consisting of individual sessions). Most of the respondents work in …

Successful Superfund Site Restoration: A Case Study Of Independence Grove Forest Preserve, Linnea E. Hruska

Masters Theses

The United States Superfund program has been quite controversial since it was established under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act in 1980. Several people feel that the enormous amounts of time and money invested in the Superfund program are not worthwhile because so many sites remain far from being cleaned up. Nevertheless, some successful site restorations have been achieved under this program. The Petersen Sand & Gravel site is one of these success stories. This thesis examines why the Petersen Sand & Gravel site was able to experience such success under the Superfund program by taking history, economics, …

The Learning Styles Of Health And Physical Education Students Using The Capsol Style Of Learning Assessment, Erin D. Palpant

Masters Theses

Students in a classroom all receive the information the same way, however, those students most likely learn and process information quite differently. Therefore the format in which it is received can make a large impact on the effectiveness of the instruction. The purpose of this study was to determine the learning styles of health and physical education students using the CAPSOL Styles of Learning Assessment. One hundred ten undergraduate PE students in the college of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) from Western Michigan University participated in this study during February 2005.

Frequencies and percentages were figured for the students …

Perception And Prevalence Of The Hostile Environment In Athletic Training, Leah S. Gagnon

Masters Theses

The profession of athletic training has continued to emerge as a profession for both men and women over the last 50 years. The nature of the profession and the environment in which it exists may lead to sexual harassment by coaches, athletes/clients, administration, or other certified athletic trainers (ATC's). The purpose of this study was to determine the perception of sexual harassment, the prevalence of sexual harassment, and mechanisms in place to prevent sexual harassment in three professional environments of athletic training: college/university, high school, and sports medicine clinic.

The Modified VELMAC Sexual Harassment Questionnaire was distributed via email to …

Fright At The Improv: The Fear Of Public Speaking As A Social Phobia, Patrick J. Bishop

Masters Theses

Clinically speaking, fear is a phobia and the medical field has identified more than 530 phobias that humans suffer from. The fear of public speaking has long been ranked as the number one fear of Americans, placing higher than the fear of sickness or death. Within the spectrum of public speaking, many experts believe that improvisational speaking is one of the most difficult styles of public presentation.

Although anxiety caused by the fear of public speaking can diminish through tactics and training, this study attempts to demonstrate that a moderate-to-extreme fear of public speaking is linked to the condition of …

Black River Watershed Management Plan, Erin M. Fuller

Masters Theses

The Black River Watershed encompassses 287 square miles in Allegan and Van Buren Counties in southwestern lower Michigan. The confluence of the North, Middle, and South branches is approximately 2.5 miles upstream of the City of South Haven, where the river empties into Lake Michigan. The Black River Watershed Management Plan was created with input from a variety of stakeholders, from local organizations to state agencies. Input from these stakeholders, field work, and previous water quality studies all helped determine water quality concerns in the Black River Watershed. Stakeholders input also was used to determine goals and objectives that would …

Assessment Of Sediment And Nutrient Loadings In The Davis Creek Watershed, Southwestern Michigan Using The Swat Model, Peter Kibowen Kimosop

Masters Theses

The Davis Creek Watershed has been impaired for many years by nonpoint source pollution. A recent modeling research on the watershed simulated both nutrient and sediment movements for the single storm events. This study simulates the movement of sediments and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) in the watershed continuously using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for assessing water quality in the watershed. Multiple databases for climate, soil types, DEM, land use and agricultural management practices were used to derive inputs for the SWAT. Subsequently, the SWAT model was run for the period of 1998-2004. The simulated results show that …

An Examination Of Claims Concerning College Student Credit Card Issues, Michael J. Macaluso

Masters Theses

This research project empirically examines claims and counterclaims regarding the matter of college students credit cards issues from a social constructionist perspective through a contextual qualitative examination of public data. First, I first focus on social and historical factors that have brought about claims and counterclaims concerning college student credit card issues. Next, I examine the structure of these public issues through the claims and counterclaims from a purposeful sample made from three specific "owners" or claims-makers of college student credit card issues, including the credit card industry, consumer interest groups, and sociologists. The specific claims examined in this research …

The Detection Of Common Concrete Bridge Deck Defects Using The Thermography, Impact Echo, And Ground Penetrating Radar, Saleh Z. Nabulsi

Masters Theses

The transportation infrastructure in the United States is deteriorating and will require significant improvements. A recent report by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave an overall grading of D⁺ to the nation's infrastructure. Approximately 162,000 of the nation's bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The total estimated cost to bring conditions to acceptable levels over the next two decades would exceed $1.9 trillion. Consequently, innovations in the area of transportation infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation are key to the health and wellness of this valuable national asset.

A major component of maintenance and rehabilitation is the ability …

Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Relations And The Social Production Of Space In Isabella County, Michigan, Bryan Thomas Swanson

Masters Theses

This thesis focuses on how the historical and cultural geography of the Saginaw Chippewa tribe of Mount Pleasant, Michigan and specifically on through their Soaring Eagle Casino reshaped the physical and cultural landscape of Isabella County. For this research I utilized documentary/archival evidence such as local histories, newspapers, plat maps and I also conducted field surveys. The research findings indicated that through the Soaring Eagle Casino the Saginaw Chippewa tribe has changed Isabella County, as well as their own social standing. Since 1993 the tribe has used casino revenues to purchase 1185 acres of land to add to the Isabella …

Survey Of Current Occupational Therapist Practice In The Emerging Field Of Home Modification And Barrier Free Design, Christian Michael Petrovich

Masters Theses

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a national survey of occupational therapists to ascertain what current trends are taking place in the field of home modification and barrier-free design and to examine how occupational therapists view their role in the practice of home modification and barrier free design.

METHODS

A 16-question survey was developed and included two hundred and fifty US licensed and or registered occupational therapists randomly selected from the AOTA membership listing.

CONCLUSIONS

The role of occupational therapy in the emerging practice of home modification and barrier -free design is regarded as important by occupational therapists in the United States. Many …

An Investigation Of The Interlobate Area West Of Three Rivers, Michigan And Its Relationship To The Late Wisconsinan Glaciation Of Southwest Michigan, Scott J. Kendzierski

Masters Theses

A detailed investigation of selected mineralogical and textural characteristics of glacial deposits was conducted in order to explore the complex relationships between the Lake Michigan and Saginaw Lobe ice-margins and associated depositional regimes during the deglaciation of southwest Michigan. Various analytical methodologies were applied to the characterization of glacial materials, glacial and post-glacial environments in order to infer a chronology of lobate activity.

The Sturgis Moraine, located in St. Joseph County, Michigan, is a major recessional moraine owing to the processes of both the Lake Michigan and Saginaw Lobes. Analysis of geologic materials and examination of subsurface data along with …

Any Given Tuesday: Performance Of Law During Small Claims Court, Michael E. Muhme

Masters Theses

Building on Hasian's examination of Jurisprudence as performance and Nolan's research of performance in drug courts, this study looks at Small Claims Court as cultural performance through the examination of face-to-face interactions in the courtroom. They are evaluated through the metaphoric lens of Tumer's social drama as well as integrating the legal metaphors of law as grid, energy, and perspective. This study found that the court uses scripts to limit issues and that claimants are rewarded more for following the rules of the court rather than resolving the conflict. Additionally, Small Claims Court exacerbates conflict between low-income tenants and the …

Effect Of Antioxidants On Cadmium Induced Oxidative Stress And Signal Transduction, Deepti Goel

Masters Theses

A study was done to establish if reactive oxygen species (ROS) participate in the signal transduction pathway through which cadmium induces gene transcription. Cadmium has become a concern in the health care community in the past few years as evidence suggests that cadmium can induce the development of tumors, influence cell signaling and cause damage to organs, tissue, cells and DNA. The mechanism by which cadmium exerts its action on cellular processes or induces toxicity is however unclear although there is evidence to suggest that ROS play a role. Our laboratory is interested in understanding the mechanisms of differentially regulated …

Molecular Identification, Distribution And Ecology Of Larval Malaria Mosquitoes In Carrasco/Chapare Valleys, Bolivia, Reema Paudel

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to address the ecological differentiation of anopheline mosquitoes at the level of breeding sites in an area where species diversity is high, malaria is endemic, and the ecology of the area is complex. Fifty six sampling sites in the Carrasco/Chapare Valleys, Bolivia were sampled in May 2003 for mosquito larvae and pupae, water quality parameters, breeding water habitat type, vegetation, and altitude. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction of up to 50 samples from each collection site identified six species in the subgenus Nyssorhynchus, comprising 62% of all samples (n = 2,708): A. triannulatus (18%), A. …

Assessing The Accuracy Of The Differential Assessment Of Autism And Other Developmental Disorders (Daadd) As A Screening Tool, Christine Jurgens

Masters Theses

Professionals are encountering children with developmental disorders more often and with more diversity than ever before. Disorder labels are being introduced increasingly early in a child's life in order to qualify them for services. However, characteristics of developmental disorders overlap significantly in young children, with features beginning to differentiate as the child enters formal education at kindergarten age. Debate continues on whether the autistic spectrum is being over-diagnosed, based on increasing incidence and prevalence statistics.

Research has suggested that developmental disorders impact multiple developmental areas, including language, socialization, sensory, motor, and medical/physical aspects and skills. Therefore, distinguishing one developmental disorder …

Influence Of A Short Exercise Program On Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment, Kaori Mitsui

Masters Theses

The influence of a 4-week exercise program on older adults with mild cognitive (MCI) impairment was measured in the study. Six older adults from a long-term care facility met the criteria for participation. After taking the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the participants were then randomly assigned to either an exercise group or a non-exercise group. All participants from the two groups attended a game of Bingo before and after the 4-week exercise program, and their positive and negative behaviors were recorded. Three participants in the exercise group participated in music-based physical exercise (a combination of chair-seated aerobic exercise and strength …

Religiosity, Role Theory, And Self-Esteem, Melissa R. Mccarthy

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between religion, religiosity, archetypal roles and self-esteem. The sample consisted of 61 students at a Midwestern university. The participants completed a series of surveys including two measures of religiosity, a self-esteem measure, and a Female Archetype Scale. The findings indicated that religions differ on levels of religiosity and female archetypes. In addition, there were correlations between religiosity and archetype, and self-esteem and religiosity. The significant correlations for the feminine archetypes were that were that Sekhmet was positively correlated with intrinsic religiosity, and negatively correlated with extrinsic religiosity and Connectedness; Demeter …

Land-Use Changes And Stream Productivity: Effects On Stream Communities And Food-Chain Length, Christopher A. North

Masters Theses

In recent years stream ecologists have come to realize that in order to better understand the processes that occur within streams it is important to incorporate some knowledge of the surrounding landscape into their studies. Previous work on Hurricane Creek indicated that agricultural activities and the proportion of cropland has an impact on stream water chemistry and community metabolism within Hurricane Creek, Illinois. Thus, this study examined stream community composition and food-chain length to ascertain the effects of water quality differences resulting from agricultural land-use practices. The four sites chosen for this study on Hurricane Creek were sampled four times …

An Assessment Of Speech-Language Pathologists, ' Special Educators, ' And Elementary Teachers' Language Knowledge Related To Reading Instruction, Jessica Catto

Masters Theses

An assessment was designed from Louisa Cook Moats' (1996, 2000) research and questions to assess the knowledge of elementary education teachers (grades 1-3), special education teachers, and speech language pathologists in regard to several areas of reading instruction including phonemic awareness, phonics, and vocabulary/morphology.

Subjects consisted of a total of 57 educational professionals, 19 subjects in each group. Results revealed that speech-language pathologists scored significantly higher on the phonemic awareness portion of the assessment as well as total test score, when compared with elementary and special education teachers. Mean scores on the total test ranged from 78-89% accuracy. Mean scores …

The Effectiveness Of The Alcohol Response-Ability Judicial Sanction At A Mid-Sized Comprehensive University, Nancy Ann Betzel Mathewson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the Alcohol ResponseAbility Program (ARP) that is currently used by the Health Education Resource Center at a mid-sized comprehensive university of 11,500 students. A review of literature revealed that individualized feedback and motivational interviewing seem to be more effective than other alcohol prevention methods. Literature also suggested that challenging students' perceptions of campus drinking norms could effectively reduce binge drinking rates on campus. The Alcohol Response-Ability Program, a combination of motivational interviewing and an online educational program including online feedback, incorporates a challenge to students perceptions of campus drinking …

On Campus Non-Traditional Student Use Of And Satisfaction With Support Services At Eastern Illinois University, Nancy J. Crone

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of student support services by the on-campus non-traditional student population at Eastern Illinois University and to determine the students' satisfaction with the services they received. This study attempted to increase university awareness of the needs of this particular student population.

Participants responded to an online survey that asked about their use of and satisfaction with student support services. The survey also provided the respondents an opportunity to make suggestions regarding current services and recommendations for new services.

The overall findings of this study suggest that the on-campus non-traditional student population …

A Formative Evaluation Of The Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority's National Recruitment Program In Its Inaugural Year, Colleen Elizabeth Coffey

Masters Theses

This study was conducted as a formative evaluation of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority's national recruitment program. The researcher sought to determine the effectiveness of all aspects of the program over the course of the last year, to discover any perceived needs among undergraduate members and chapters that were not met over the course of the last year, and to create recommendations for the program to be implemented during the 2006-2008 biennial term. Through a mixed method design the study evaluated the program using qualitative and quantitative survey data, focus groups, and existing data on membership intake from the National …

Condom Use And College Students: The Relationship Of Condom Use Between Condom Club Members And Non-Condom Club Members At A Comprehensive Midwestern University, Jerilyn Jean Reed

Masters Theses

Risky sexual behavior is prevalent on campuses across the nation. Due to an increase in sexually transmitted infections among individuals 25 and under, unsafe sex puts the college population at great risk. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether Condom Club Members demonstrated more knowledge regarding condoms, had been tested more for STIs, used condoms more frequently when engaging in sexual activity than Non-Condom Club Members, and whether Condom Club Members selfreported more, the same, or fewer sexual partners or sexual relations than did NonCondom Club Members at a comprehensive state university in the Midwest.

A posttest-only …

Perceptions Of Governance In Higher Education: Comparing Two-Year College Full-Time And Part-Time Faculty, Karissa Kay Patefield

Masters Theses

Community colleges in the United States serve many student populations and purposes. In order to be successful, these institutions of higher education have hired both full-time and part-time faculty members. Between 1970 and 1993, the number of parttime faculty members hired increased by 355 percent (Morphew, 1999). The present study examined the differences in perceptions between full-time and part-time faculty members in regards to their view on shared governance. In order to study these differential perceptions, faculty members at a Midwestern community college were surveyed. A total of 225 full-time faculty members and 395 part-time faculty members were surveyed via …