Digital Commons Network^™

The Evolution Of Text Formatting Languages, Dirk Herr-Hoyman

Masters Theses

Text, as seen in books and magazines, can take on three forms: string, graphic (two-dimensional), and image (digitized pictures). Text formatting processes text into a representation suitable for printing. Since a printer is really a computer, this representation is machine code for the printer. ASCII is one such code.

Six historically significant text formatting languages are surveyed: Runoff, Troff, TeX, Bravo, Scribe, and Postscript. The emphasis is on the text types available and the code generated. The main evolutionary forces are the changes in printers. Comparisons are made with programming languages.

Each of the six languages has ASCII as its …

A Report Of A Review And Synthesis Of Findings Of Research Studies About Academic Achievement Of Ethnic Minorities In K-12 Education, Harold C. Wheeler

Masters Theses

The purpose of this report is to review and synthesize findings of research studies about academic achievement of ethnic minorities in K-12 education.

In this paper, the literature in Chapter I is related to findings about children as a result of school desegregation. Specifically it focuses on the effects which desegregation has had on motivation, and social-psychologic development of black and white children.

The second chapter begins with a historical background and discusses the life of economic and political oppression and the attitudes toward education that have shaped black school achievement over time.

In Chapter III, race and academic performance …

The Effects Of Music Videos On Adolescent Females Self-Concept And Body-Image, David Scott Eggli

Masters Theses

Music videos are a phenomenon of the 1980s. Their striking imagery, flashy choreography, sexy clothing, and quick cuts have attracted a huge audience of adolescents and changed the face of the fashion industry. If rock stars and music videos can attract millions of teenage viewers and change the style of clothes worn, they may also affect a teenager's self-concept and body-image.

The subjects in this research project were 18 adolescent females between the ages of 12 and 17. The subjects viewed either music videos or G-rated movies. The Piers Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale served as the dependent variable for pretest …

The Mexican American Elderly And Barriers To The Utilization Of Health Care Services, Kathleen Anne Hoekstra

Masters Theses

The utilization of health care services by the Mexican American elderly is low compared to the severity of their health problems. This thesis examines the sociocultural factors which affect the interaction of the Mexican American elderly and mainstream health professionals. Included is a brief history detailing discriminatory practices, a description of traditional Mexican cultural practices and attitudes, and an exploration of the cultural barriers which limit access to health care.

The Effects Of Oil Well Sites On Forest Species Of Birds, Wendy J. Baker

Masters Theses

Fifty censuses were taken in 9 transects adjacent to 8 oil well openings. It was found that 2 species, the red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus), and the ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilus) were significantly affected in spatial distribution. These forest species had significantly lower numbers near the oil well site than in the forest. Two other forest species suggested the same pattern. The effect of the oil well site reaches well into the forest.

Other possible effects of the oil well sites are competition with edge species and brood parasitism by the brown-headed cowbird. Noisier sites may also affect the bird community within …

The Evolution Of Turkey's Foreign Policy: The Truman Doctrine And Turkey's Entry Into Nato, Sinan Toprak

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the historical development of Turkey's foreign policy up to the period immediately following World War II, and its decision to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The study begins with a survey of Turkey's geopolitical importance. The narrative highlights political conditions from the Ottoman period to the years following World War II. Domestic political developments, as well as foreign relations of Turkey in the Republican period, are analyzed.

Turkey's current foreign policy was established during the initial years following World War II. The thesis discusses the reasons for the shift in Turkey's foreign policy, from peaceful …

An Examination And Analysis Of Effective Leadership Styles And The Skills Necessary To Successfully Lead A School District, Jerome S. Goosen

Masters Theses

The analysis of leadership styles provided an indepth view of the many roles and responsibilities of the position of principal and superintendent. The opportunity to observe and interact with more than one person helped to draw comparisons. Several instruments, used nationally to assess leadership styles, were also observed for the first time.

It was determined that administration requires many skills to handle the numerous tasks and situations that arise. Each one of the field supervisors demonstrated the ability to fit his/her personality to different situations. Each was different in his/her basic styles but yet shared several common traits. Finally, it …

A Report Of An Internship At The Ottawa Area Center Ottawa County, Michigan, Donna Sue Angell

Masters Theses

The internship was completed at the Ottawa Area Center in Ottawa County, Michigan during the late spring and summer of 1986. It developed in two main areas: (1 ) the design and implementation of an offcampus community based educational experience for trainable mentally impaired (TMI) students and (2) the development of a computer based data system to maintain and examine student records.

Major experiences included the development of a curriculum which would optimally use the resources of the City of Holland, personal contacts with community leaders to explain and gain acceptance for the program, coordination of other activities at the …

A Report Of An Internship In The Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools, Galesburg, Michigan, Robert C. Cretsinger

Masters Theses

This report is a summary of a 9-month internship in the Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools, Galesburg, Michigan. The experience began in May of 1985 and concluded in January of 1986.

The objective of the internship was to introduce the intern to the roles and responsibilities of the school superintendent. The length of the internship was designed to provide a more extensive picture of the position of superintendent.

This report contains a log of activities and experiences. Examples of technical material produced during the internship are also provided. An evaluation is made regarding the attainment of objectives.

An Otopathological Assessment Of Dogs Exposed To Excessive Dietary Fluoride And/Or Suspected Water Borne Toxins, Barbara Ann Hannah

Masters Theses

In 1970, a once very productive Allegan, Michigan dog kennel began experiencing a rash o£ unexplained perinatal deaths and reproductive anomalies in Shetland pups. Anomalies including cleft palate and lip, kinked tails, twisted feet and convulsions immediately before death plagued the neonates. The adult dogs were reported to have tooth mottling, exostoses and auditory and vestibular problems.

Because the dogs had been on high fluoride diets and because the kennel well water was suspected of harboring toxins, a group of 20 Shetland dogs was used to try to find if there was any correlation between the reproductive problems and the …

The Effect Of Well Efficiency On In-Situ Permeability Test Results, Scott T. Dennis

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine what effect well efficiency has upon the results of in-situ permeability tests.

Several in-situ permeability tests were performed on wells during various stages of their development. The well efficiency was determined each time an in-situ test was performed. An accurate value of permeability was determined by performing local aquifer pumping tests. The accuracy of the results of the in-situ tests with respect to the aquifer pump test results were then compared to the efficiency of the well at the time of the test.

Test results showed that a linear relationship exists between …

A Comparison Of Wais-R Scores With Wais-R Scores For Mentally Handicapped Students With Iqs Below 70 And For Regular Education Students, Kimberly A. Brennan

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the utilization of WISC-R scores as a basis for placement and continuation of services for mental retardates in special education classes throughout their school careers. A comparison of the WISC-R Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQs with the WAIS-R counterparts and a statistical analysis was conducted. Regular education students were also tested to determine if the two scales were equal.

The WAIS-R was found to yield higher Verbal and Full Scale IQ scores, but comparable Performance IQ scores. These results suggest that the differences between the two instruments for children of …

A Cultural Study Of The Hispanic Population In Kalamazoo, Michigan, Diane M. Rodriguez

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to detail the cultural diversity of the Hispanic population in Kalamazoo, Michigan, so as to enhance the efforts of social and government agencies in dealing with the social and economic needs of these people.

While other studies have been conducted on Hispanics, this project was unique in that (a) data were collected while the researcher was in the role of advocate as an employee of the Hispanic-American Council, and (b) emphasis was placed on the cultural components of each Hispanic group in Kalamazoo. The discussion centers on the Mexican-Americans, Cubans, and Panamanians, with briefer …

The Church In China And Contemporary Christian Strategy, Samuel Fang

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Drug Addict And Non-Addict Offenders: A Comparison Of The Disparity In The Types Of Crimes, Sentencing Recommendations, And Formal Dispositions Of Each Group, Scott B. Courtney

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between the type and severity of a crime and the offender's known history (past or present) of controlled substance abuse.

A random sample of federal cases between the years 1980-1985 was used to see if the offender's known problem with substance abuse had any impact on the severity of the recommended and actual sentence imposed on the offender.

Specific control variables such as race, age, educational level, and marital status of the offenders were also incorporated.

Teaching Paragraph Construction To Second Grade Students Using A Structured, Sequential Instructional Program, Sheryl Ann Miller

Masters Theses

The present study proposed that specific methods of teaching writing could be implemented through the application of established principles of behavioral, educational technology. A group of eight second grade students took part in a five week sequential writing program designed to teach them to construct a paragraph incorporating the following components: title, name, introductory sentence, three explanatory sentences, and a conclusion sentence.

Samples of the student's writing were obtained at the beginning and end of the program. Changes in writing style were analyzed for the absence or presence of each component. Every child demonstrated some improvement regarding one or more …

A Study-Support Program For High-Risk, Black College Freshman Enrolled In A General Psychology Course, Angela Michelle Williams

Masters Theses

As a replication of Jackson's (1984) work, this research compared the performance of three groups of college freshmen. The groups consisted of black, high-risk students who voluntarily enrolled in a study-support group because of their initial quiz scores. The support program required the students to study each week's psychology objectives in four smaller segments, rather than studying all the week's material at once. The assumption was that this would increase the students' contact with the study material and improve their performances. An ABA design was used. The participants in the support program received higher quiz scores and final grades than …

The J-Curve: An Empirical Investigation Of The Trade Balance And Balance Of Payments In Seven European Countries, Sabine Beate Bomke

Masters Theses

The effects of exchange-rate changes on the trade balance and the balance of payments of selected European countries is examined in this paper. Of particular interest are estimates of the existence and length of the J-curve effect, which describes the curve the trade balance may follow over time after devaluation. Contrary to popular expectations, the trade balance may deteriorate further after devaluation before "turning around" and improving.

Quarterly data from 1973 to 1985 for Belgium, Denmark, France, West Germany, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands were used in this study. Out of a total of 84 realignments the J-curve was observed …

Performance Predictions For Oil Reservoirs Under Water Influx, Briareus Mitchell Wilkinson

Masters Theses

"The intent of this thesis is to develop a program that will give reasonable recovery predictions for oil reservoirs under water influx. The main advantage is to avoid the massive storage and computational requirements of numerical simulators while achieving roughly comparable results. There are many methods already in existence that have not received their full benefit, mainly because they were developed prior to the recent advances of the computer age. This thesis therefore brings some already proven methods together with new techniques in a program which, with the aid of the computer, stimulates new life in these methods. The main …

Site Characterization Of Riverfront Park, Kansas City, Missouri, For The Purpose Of Hazardous Waste Site Remediation, Helen Hudson Scannell

Masters Theses

"Riverfront Park, Kansas City, Missouri is located on a point bar along the Missouri River. Portions of the site have historically been used (1950 - 1973) as a municipal landfill receiving residential, commercial and industrial wastes. Relatively high concentrations of elemental lead have been found in small areas of the surface soil within the limits of the Park. Chemicals that may be present in the landfill wastes create a potential for groundwater contamination. A Remedial Investigation, including a series of groundwater monitoring wells is necessary to characterize groundwater geochemistry and flood-induced changes in groundwater flow direction, and to assess any …

Mechanical And Neutronic Properties Of Neutron Absorbing Materials, Donald James Buth

Masters Theses

“The primary neutron absorbing material examined in this project was Boraflex™, which consists of a silicone polymer with boron carbide acting as the neutron absorber. Two aluminum based neutron absorbers, Boral™ and Al-B-Ten, were also examined. Both X-ray and neutron radiography were used to examine the Boraflex™. The neutron radiography gave better resolution in detecting fluctuations in the boron carbide distribution; however, X-ray radiography did perform better in detecting flaws in the base material. Tensile tests were performed to determine the uniformity of Boraflex™'s tensile properties. The average tensile strength was calculated to be 303 ± 15 psi. A small …

Medial Axis Transform Using Ridge Following, Richard Mark Volkmann

Masters Theses

"The intent of this investigation has been to find a robust algorithm for generation of the medial axis transform (MAT). The MAT is an invertible, object centered, shape representation defined as the collection of the centers of disks contained in the shape but not in any other such disk. Its uses include feature extraction, shape smoothing, and data compression. MAT generating algorithms include brushfire, Voronoi diagrams, and ridge following. An improved implementation of the ridge following algorithm is given. Orders of the MAT generating algorithms are compared. The effects of the number of edges in the polygonal approximation, shape area, …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Golf Performance And Depth Perception, Arm/Hand Steadiness, Grip Strength And Dynamic Balance, Charles W. Ruot

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Variability Of Heart Rate Response To A Submaximal Bicycle Test Given On Three Consecutive Days, Jacqueline Marie Dacey

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Regular Aerobic Exercise On Cholesterol And Triglyceride Values In An Adult Population, Lisa Einheuser

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Norm-Referenced, Traditional, And Computer-Assisted Language Assessments, Michel P. Helmke

Masters Theses

Current literature in the field of communication disorders suggests that traditional norm-referenced tests may yield erroneous or misleading information regarding a child's level of language acquisition. Additional research suggests that the most valid and reliable technique for determining a client's level of linguistic expertise is language sampling and analysis. Language sampling and analysis has traditionally been rejected as a means of evaluation, especially for the school-age child, due to the length of time necessary to complete such analyses. In recent years, language sampling and analysis techniques have been redesigned as computer software application programs. Computer software application programs may significantly …

Antibiotic Effects On Coliform Enumeration, Keith Leonard Wozniak

Masters Theses

The inhibitory effects of Bacillus polymyxa on Escherichia coli were studied. Significant coliform inhibition was observed. The inhibitory agent (presumably polymyxin) was active against coliforms after a one hour holding time. Different suspending menstrua were analyzed for their effects on coliform inhibition. It was observed that Peptone water provided the highest recovery of coliforms while phosphate buffer provided less protection. Two methods of enumeration were also studied as to their ability to quantify coliforms inhibited by B. polymyxa. Comparable inhibition was shown using both methods. No significant differences exist between the Standard Plate Count and Membrane Filter techniques. Overall, …

Evaluation Of The Language Arts Curriculum In Cerro Gordo Community Unit School District #100, Keith Ashcraft

Masters Theses

Cerro Gordo Community Unit School District #100 in Cerro Gordo, Illinois has a student population of approximately 700 pupils. The schools are located within Cerro Gordo, a village of 1600 residents, but gain students from surrounding areas in the ninety-nine square mile district. Most of the parents are employed in farming or in Decatur which is twelve miles to the east.

During the 1985-86 school year teachers were surveyed as to what academic area needed evaluation. The teachers selected language arts as the subject for study. A committee of volunteers was formed and began meeting.

The researcher served as committee …

Educational Leadership: A Study Of Graduates Of Eastern Illinois University's Educational Administration Program, Elizabeth L. Smith

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to investigate the perceptions of graduates from Eastern Illinois University’s Educational Administration program as to how effective their preparation was in preparing them for the role as instructional/educational leader.

A survey was developed and distributed to 214 Educational Administration students who graduated between 1982 and 1986. The data collected was broken down into three different categories to study: Female and Male Graduates, Teacher and Administrative Graduates and Graduates before 1983 and after 1985. A response rate of 42% was obtained.

An independent t test was utilized to compare the mean scores for the Foundations …

Personal, Professional, And Educational Characteristics Of Illinois Women Superintendents In 1987, Joyce Simpson Kaufman

Masters Theses

This study reviewed the personal, professional, and educational characteristics of the Illinois women superintendents in 1987. A questionnaire was mailed to the twenty-two women superintendents. Eighteen of them replied.

The three specific problems addressed by the study were:

1. What are the personal, professional, and educational characteristics of Illinois women superintendents in 1987?

2. What are the special problems encountered by women superintendents?

3. What advice do the present women superintendents in Illinois offer to women aspiring to become superintendents?

The responses were based on the perceptions of the eighteen women superintendents who replied. The questionnaire results were reported in …