Digital Commons Network^™

A Secondary Analysis Of Twelfth Grade Students And Their Engagement In Risk Behaviors, Dana L. Morton

Masters Theses

This study was a secondary analysis of data from a national survey of 135 high schools throughout the nation, including both rural and urban settings. A sample of 14,056 twelfth grade students participated in the survey. This study explored the relationships between religious attendance, perceived importance of religion, and smoking and consumption of alcohol in adolescents. Very little research was found on the relationship between religion and adolescent health, indicating a need for more investigations. This study found that the greater number of times an individual attended religious services the less they reported engaging in smoking and drinking. Future intention …

Does Mutual Goal Setting Make A Difference In Level Of Self-Efficacy For Patients With Congestive Heart Failure Receiving Home Care, Avis A. Rogers

Masters Theses

This secondary analysis evaluated the effect of a mutual goal setting nursing approach on the level of self-efficacy to manage disease in general in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). The conceptual frameworks utilized were King's theory of goal attainment and Bandura's theory of self-efficacy. The primary study used a convenience sample of 54 patients who had been admitted to two home healthcare agencies with the primary diagnosis of CHF. Data were collected at baseline, 3-months and 6-months. The data collection tool was the Self-Efficacy Tool, which was from Outcome Measures for Health Education and other Health Care Interventions (Lorig, …

Adaptive Web Sites By Web Usage Mining, Mario Rodney Creado

Masters Theses

The World Wide Web has become a very popular marketing medium during the recent years. Many businesses use it extensively to publicize their products. Initially it began with static web sites. However as web sites got bigger and better, their maintenance became problematic. Just as business strategies change, so also will the orgainization of their web sites change. Hence the need of the hour is an adaptive web site (i.e. a web site that can organize itself based upon its usage). For this purpose, web usage mining techniques are used. The characteristics of the user's activity on the web site …

Constraining The Crystallization And Post-Crystallization History Of The Wallamatogus Pluton, Maine, Using Compositional Data From Garnet, Biotite And Muscovite, Joy Kathleen Drake

Masters Theses

"The Wallamatogus Pluton, Maine, exhibits systematic variation in grain size, mineralogy, and phenocryst abundance (alkali-feldspar) from the margin to the center of the pluton. Three facies are recognized: 1) outermost, seriate, coarse-grained (Owe), 2) porphyritic medium- to fine-grained (Dwp ), 3) innermost, fine-grained equigranular (Dwf). These facies are concentrically arranged and their contacts are gradational. Muscovite and biotite occur in all facies; the outer two facies contain garnet, and tourmaline. Muscovite and biotite grains within micaceous enclaves compositionally overlap primary muscovite, suggesting that they are early-crystallized accumulations. Muscovite in multiphase clusters and secondary muscovite compositionally overlap, suggesting formation during post-crystallization …

Eustasy Determination From Borehole Data, Onshore New Jersey: New Boreholes And New Porosity Estimates, William Alan Van Sickel

Masters Theses

Backstripping analysis of detailed stratigraphic data from the Bass River and Ancora boreholes on the New Jersey Coastal Plain (Ocean Drilling Project Leg 17 4AX) was conducted to test and refine previous eustatic estimates (Kominz et al., 1998) and provide new Upper Cretaceous estimates. Porositydepth relationships required by the backstripping method were estimated to supplement those from the Cost B-2 well (Rhodehamel, 1977). Sand and mud porosity at shallow depths (<500 m) obtained here are higher than was seen at the Cost B-2 well.

The Bass River and Ancora boreholes targeted older sequences of the Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene. This new data allow for more accurate estimate of the magnitude of long-term sea-level …

Small Below-Endurance-Limit Cycle Damage Contributions In Variable Sequence Loading For 2024-T351 Aluminum Alloy, Christopher M. Ngiau

Masters Theses

It is a common practice in industry today to totally discard the presence of small below-endurance/fatigue limit cycles while calculating damage accumulation using the Palmgren-Miner rule. However, it was experimentally found in a number of studies that small cycles with stress amplitudes below the fatigue/endurance limit do in fact contribute significantly to the damage accumulation in all types of materials. There was a need to investigate cases where small cycles would only be present for a certain percentage of the material's life. An experimental study was done on 2024- T351 aluminum alloy. Loading was done in low and high cyclic …

Role Of Dopamine D4 Receptor In The Genomic And Behavioral Effects Of Psychostimulants: Relevance To Schizophrenia, Bina Garimella

Masters Theses

The role of dopamine D4 receptors in the induction and expression of behavioral sensitization to amphetamine, cocaine and PCP was investigated in this study. Behavioral changes and genomic responses accompanying sensitization were examined using a highly selective D4 receptor antagonist, PNU-101387G. Induction and expression of behavioral sensitization to cocaine was blocked by PNU-101387G. However, the D4 antagonist did not modulate the induction and expression of behavioral sensitization to PCP. Neuroadaptive genomic responses accompanying acute and chronic effects of amphetamine and their modulation by PNU-101387G was examined by looking at alterations in the expression of two immediate-early genes: c-fos and NGFI-A. …

Allosteric Tuning Of Ruthenium 2,2’-Bipyridyl Luminescent Sensor Systems, Daqing Gan

Masters Theses

A series of new ruthenium bipyridyl crown supramolecular sensor systems containing two binding sites were synthesized. The crystal structure and photophysical properties of the developed sensor systems were thoroughly studied using x-ray, nuclear magnetic resonance and photoscopy methods. It turned out that the chelation of transition metal on the remote sites of the bipyridyl crown ligands greatly reduced the reactivity of the crown cavity. It is believed that the chelation of transition metal on the nitrogen atoms forces the bipyridyl function towards coplanarity and restricts the conformational freedom of the crown ring. The conformational rigidity in turn influences the binding …

Photophysical Study Of Linked 1,4,7-Triazacyclonane Cr (Iii) Complexes, Weizhen Tu

Masters Theses

A series of mono and bimetallic Cr(III) complexes based on the 1,4,7- triazacyclonoane(TACN) were prepared. Complexes of the Cr(TACN)X₃ , and Cr₂(DTNE)X₆ demonstrated marked difference of photophysical properties on the nature of X. In cases where X is more easily oxidized, enhanced extinction coefficient in the ⁴A₂ ➔ ²T, absorption and larger quantum yield of emission at 77K were observed in the dimer complexes. Shorter lifetime and enhanced decay rate were also found in the dimer complexes suggests that there might exists weak coupling behavior between the two Cr(III) metal cents in the …

The Benefits Of Observational Learning On The Mathematics Achievement Of Fourth Grade Students Involved In Peer Tutoring Sessions, Trisha R. Parish

Masters Theses

Many students struggle with mathematical concepts and operations. This leads educators to search for the most effective and efficient means of improving their academic performance. The present investigation sought to determine if a triadic peer-tutoring program would increase the acquisition of basic multiplication facts for fourth grade students. Secondly, this investigation assessed the extent to which students would benefit from observational learning opportunities within the peer tutoring sessions. A multiple baseline design across two peer-tutoring triads was utilized with student performance being assessed by measuring responses to flashcard presentations and completion of three types of mathematics probes. The first type …

Reaction Of Caffeic Acid With Amino Acids, Yonggang Wang

Masters Theses

The reaction of caffeic acid with tryptophan was studied as a model for the reaction of caffeic acid with amino acids in the aquatic environment. Although the autoxidation reaction of caffeic acid in aqueous solution with subsequent dimerization had been previously studied, it was examined as well for comparison purposes. The present studies demonstrate that oxidized caffeic acid would react with tryptophan. The reaction, like the dimerization reaction, was catalyzed by the presence of iron(III) ions at low pH ( <4) and by hydroxide ions at high pH (10). The reaction of caffeic acid with itself yielded six products, four of which were identified by mass spectroscopy as dimers, with the other two being trimers. The reaction of caffeic acid with tryptophan yielded three product peaks. Two of the product peaks had similar retention times to the dimers from the self-reaction of caffeic acid; the third was a new product resulting from the reaction of caffeic acid with the tryptophan.

A mechanism for the reaction of caffeic acid with tryptophan has been proposed. This mechanism was based on the analysis …

A Comparative Analysis Of Walking Patterns Between Genu Varum And Normal Subjects, Nerline Varda Maurisseau

Masters Theses

The problem was to compare angular and linear kinematics, ground reaction forces (GRF), temporal changes, and electromyography (EMG) of selected muscles while walking one gait cycle to a metronome set at 100 beats per minute (bpm) between genu varum and normal men, ages 20-25 years. Results indicated: (a) the Normal Group had a lower stride time than the Genu Varum Group, although the results were not significantly different; (b) the Normal Group showed greater range of motion in the ankle, knee, hip rotation, and tibial rotation angles-however, the results were not significantly different; (c) there was no significant difference in …

Proposition 48: Knowledge, Attitude And Appreciation In High School Student-Athletes, Robin Salters

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge, attitude, and appreciation of high school student-athletes toward National Collegiate Athletics Association bylaw 14.3, commonly known as Proposition 48. The subjects completed a questionnaire inquiring about their knowledge of Proposition 48 as well as knowledge of its qualifying criteria. Those subjects that acknowledged having heard of the bylaw were then asked questions pertaining to their attitude towards Proposition 48 as a standard for intercollegiate athletics eligibility and the effect of their knowledge of Proposition 48 on their study habits in preparing for the pressures of being an intercollegiate athlete.

The …

Control And Data Acquisition For An Electron Spectrometer System, Stanislav Rumega

Masters Theses

An electron spectrometer system, installed on one of the beam lines in the WMU Van de Graaff accelerator laboratory, consists of two 45^o parallel-plate electrostatic analyzers, a decelerating grid, and a channeltron. It allows the energy analysis, angular analysis, and the detection of continuum electrons ejected following the bombardment of a target with accelerated ions or electrons. First, the principles of operation of the spectrometer itself are discussed with emphasis on the energy analysis. Next, the electronics and computer interfacing required for control of the spectrometer functions and for acquisition of data are described. Finally, the control and data …

Learning Reinforced Concreyte Design Principles Using A Java-Vrml Based Design Studio, Amarneethi Vamadevan

Masters Theses

Dynamics involving reinforced concrete design are the first real engineering course encountered by the undergraduate construction engineering students. Quite often its associated rigorous theories makes it an uninteresting academic hurdle for many below mediocre students. However when the theory is exemplified with multimedia, interaction and visualization techniques, the conceptual understanding is enhanced. The teaching methodology presented in this thesis is based on presenting students with an individualized, interactive and guided learning environment. The main elements of this approach are: a means of assimilating the student's interactive learning knowledge and behavior (user model), representation of the instructor's guidance and assessment knowledge …

Photodegradation Of Pcbs In Natural Waters, Adriana R. Nicolaescu

Masters Theses

PCBs are widely distributed in the environment and they are biologically refractory and toxic compounds. There is great interest in understanding their fate in the environment, and also for finding safe and effective degradation methods.

This study is concerned with the photodegradation of four PCB congeners: PCB 5, PCB 18, PCB 77, PCB 128 in natural waters. Natural waters contain humic substances which can greatly influence the environmental fate of the PCBs. The different degradation of the four congeners was studied in standardized systems and in humic acid or nitrate solutions, under environmental conditions. DMDE and Methoxyclor (whose environmental half-lifetimes …

Superstring Cosmology: An Investigation Into Low Temperature Effective Gauss-Bonnet Corrections To The Einstein Field Equations In An Inflationary Scenario, David Dressel

Masters Theses

Several problems with the inflationary cosmological model and the force coupling constants are addressed in the context of superstring theory. In order to simplify the field equations slightly, vacuum solutions are attempted. The solutions for several field equations are analyzed in order to obtain an inflationary universe that leads to a nearly static internal space. A solution is found when Gauss-Bonnet terms, as well as the Einstein terms, are used in the field equations, along with an exponential radii function for a ten dimensional product space. The solutions lead to a three-phase universe that might describe our very early universe. …

Self-Selection Vs. Writing Prompts: A Study To Examine The Effects Topics Have On Elementary Students' Writing, Julie Ann Hall

Masters Theses

The purposes of this study were: 1) to evaluate the quality of writing in first, second, and third graders who were given a writing prompt, 2) to evaluate the quality of writing in first, second, and third graders who self-selected their own writing topic, and 3) to determine if there were any differences in the quality of writing between the two groups.

The researcher was the instructor for all the students who participated in the study. Included in the study were first, second, and third grade students who were present on the day the researcher visited. Approximately half of the …

Characterization Of Cosmic Microwave Background Temperature Fluctuations For Cosmological Topologies Specified By Topological Betti Numbers, Troy Gobble

Masters Theses

The cosmic microwave background explorer, COBE, and the Balloon Observations of Millimetric Extragalactic Radiation and Geophysics, BOOMERanG, have collected data from the universe and detected relic anisotropies indicative of one of the earliest events of the universe, decoupling. Hidden in the correlation between these temperature fluctuations is the signature of the global shape, or topology, of the early universe. It is possible to calculate the temperature fluctuations as due to primeval adiabatic density temperature fluctuations from the Sachs-Wolfe effect, which contains a topological term. Here we investigate some of the spaces and how they affect the microwave background.

A large …

Current Trends In Psychological Testing, Kimberle L. S. Crawford

Masters Theses

Discussions about the adequacy of psychological measurement and assessment can quickly become controversial therefore; I expect some strong reaction to portions of this manuscript. Debates about the usefulness of criticism of psychological testing are longstanding: Even early psychologists such as Cattell and Jastrow disagreed on this issue. To be clear, I do not believe that use of contemporary tests should cease. I share the view that "psychological tests often provide the fairest and most accurate method of making important decisions" (K. R. Murphy & Davidshoffer, 1988, p. xii).

My first purpose, then, is to provide a historical survey of relevant …

Intuition: Theory And Application In Counseling And Psychotherapy, Neva S. Calvert

Masters Theses

This is a comprehensive literature review rendering over 300 references to articles, books, lectures, and websites that pertain to the subject of intuition and its relationship to human consciousness. The scope of this review includes (1) statistical overviews of intuition/intuitive-related websites, book publishing and professional documents; (2) overview of professional intuition/intuitive and counseling/psychotherapy-related documents; and (3) historical and current review of (a) women's, (b) children's, (c) religious, (d) delusional, (e) mathematical, and (f) scientific intuition studies. The author reviews intuition in relationship to (1) Husserlian phenomenology in modem science and psychology; (2) savant syndrome; (3) gaia theory and Native American …

A Comparison Of Greek Vs. Non-Greek Living On College Adjustment During The Sophomore Year, Matthew Watkins

Masters Theses

Though research with living environment and student adjustment as their focus have been conducted, the majority have focused on academic adjustment and "cognitive growth." This study was conducted to determine if a relationship existed between certain living environments (Greek and Non-Greek housing) and a student's adjustment to college in 5 areas corresponding to the scales that comprise the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ). The SACQ is composed of five scales: Academic Adjustment, Social Adjustment, Personal-Emotional Adjustment, Attachment subscale, and an Overall scale of adjustment. Results indicated that Non-Greek students were significantly better adjusted on the psychologically-oriented scale (the Personal-Emotional …

Emergence And Reproductive Patterns In The Japanese Beetle, Popillia Japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Steven J. Van Timmeren

Masters Theses

Sex-biased emergence patterns are common in insects resulting in either protandry (males emerging before females) or protogyny (females emerging before males). The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, has been shown to exhibit protandry but shows some characteristics of a protogynous species. For example, females mate and oviposit multiple times and this species displays last male sperm advantage. This study investigated the emergence and egg laying patterns of Japanese beetles in east-central Illinois. Although variation existed among study sites none showed protandry and overall they displayed protogyny. Females did not initiate oviposition until several days after emergence and the number of …

Validation Of The Thermochemical Cycle Used In Computing Absolute Gas Phase Acidities And A Molecular-Orbital Study Of Protonated Ammonia-Water Cluster Ions, Jeremiah Aeschleman

Masters Theses

This work is comprised of two separate computational projects, an evaluation of the validity of an assumption made when computing absolute gas phase acidities with a thermochemical cycle and a molecular-orbital study of protonated ammonia-water clusters ions.

Relative gas phase acidities are measured experimentally and then adjusted using Hess' law to align them with an absolute scale. In the Hess' law calculation it is assumed that the electron affinity of A• and the ionization energy of H• are independent of temperature. To test this assumption, absolute enthalpies were computed for the anion (A^-) and the radical (A•) at …

A Neural Network Methodology For Path Planning And Coordination Of Car-Like Robots, Prasanna Venkatesan Sadagopan

Masters Theses

"A car-like indoor mobile robot is a kinematically constrained robot that can be modeled as a 2D object translating and rotating in the horizontal plane among well- defined obstacles. The kinematic constraints impose that the linear velocity of the robot is along its main axis (no sideways motion is possible) and restrict the range of admissible values for the steering angle. The goal of this study is to combine neural network techniques and motion planning algorithms to create a new methodology for coordinating the motion of multiple car-like robots avoiding collision with polygonal obstacles in a work environment. An incremental …

A Time Resolved Laser Spectroscopy Study Of Resonance Energy Transfer Between Tb(Iii) And An Organic Dye: 6-Hydroxy-5-[(2-Methoxy-5-Methyl-4-Sulfophenyl)Azo]-2-Naphthalenesulfonic Acid Disodium Salt, Ronald Wesley Tennis

Masters Theses

Intermolecular energy transfer is a process of crucial importance to photochemistry and photophysics. Complexed lanthanide ions are well suited as energy transfer donors because they display dependable absorption and luminescence qualities with narrow rare-earthion emission in addition to relatively long excited-state lifetimes.

This project used a pulsed nitrogen laser and high speed digital techniques to study energy transfer dynamics between excited state Tb(acac)₃ and an ionic organic dye called Red 40. Luminescence decay profiles of excited terbium atoms in the presence of the quencher were measured in both high and low viscosity solvents. The effects of solvent viscosity and …

Equilibrium And Kinetic Studies Of Isomerization Of (Co)5w[Η1-Pph2ch2p(P-Tol)2] And (Co)5w[Η1-P(P-Tol)2ch2pph2], Deliang Chen

Masters Theses

Unsymmetrical diphosphine tungsten complexes, (CO)₅W[η¹-PPh₂CH₂P(p-tol)₂] and (CO)₅W[η¹-P(p-tol)₂CH₂PPh₂], were prepared from (CO)₅W(NH₂Ph) and Ph₂PCH₂P(p-tol)₂. Two approaches were successfully used to synthesize Ph₂PCH₂P(p-tol)₂. The first utilized PPh₂CH₂Cl, prepared from PPh₂H, CH₂Cl₂, and KOH under phase transfer conditions, from which Ph₂PCH₂P(p-tol)₂ was …

Investigations Into The Synthesis And Transformations Of An Epoxy Β-Lactone, John Farrell

Masters Theses

In connection with the continuing interests in the stereoselective rearrangements of β-lactones, an investigation of the synthesis and transformations of the epoxy β-lactone 4-(1,2-epoxypentyl)-3-trimethylsilyloxetan-2-one was undertaken. Two synthetic strategies to the desired epoxy β-lactone were studied. The first route was a two-step reaction sequence involving the aldol reaction of trimethylsilylacetic acid with (2R,3S)-epoxyhexanal, followed by lactonization of the resulting β-hydroxy acid with benzenesulfonyl chloride. Complications in preparing the requisite β-hydroxy acids under typical aldol reaction conditions rendered this route unworkable. The complexity and intractability of the aldol reaction mixtures was attributed to the multiple possibilities of …

Degradation Of Trazine Compounds Via Metallic Iron Under Acidic Conditions, Tracy Dombek

Masters Theses

The degradation of dissolved dimethoxyatrazine (2-chloro-4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazine), terbutylazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-terbutylamino-1,3 ,5-triazine) and deisopropylatrazine (2-amino-4-chloro-6-ethylamino-1,3,5-triazine) via metallic iron was studied as a function of solution pH. Generally, degradation was more rapid the lower the solution pH and higher the compound pKa. For dimethoxyatrazine k_SA (k_SA= k' (min^-1)* V (L) / M (g) I SA(m²/g)) was found to be 1.33 (± 0.07) E-4 min^-1 m^-2 L at pH 2, 6.1 (± 0.6) E-5 min^-1 m^-2 L at pH 3 and 4.4 (± 0.6) E-5 min^-1 m^-2 L at pH 4. For …

Parental Influence On Career Development Among College Students, Michael W. Ladd

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between students' perceptions of parental influence on their college and career choices and their emotional independence from parents. The relationship between satisfaction with career/major choice (as demonstrated by vocational commitment) and parental influence was also examined. In addition, relationships between emotional independence from parents and commitment to a career field were explored.

To meet the research objectives, four research questions were addressed. First, is the Perceived Parental Influence scale, developed for this study, a reliable and valid scale? Second, is there a significant relationship between students' perceptions of parental influence …