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Is The Universe Expanding?: An Historical And Philosophical Perspective For Cosmologists Starting Anew, David A. Vlosak

Masters Theses

This study addresses the problem of how scientists ought to go about resolving the current crisis in big bang cosmology. Although this problem can be addressed by scientists themselves at the level of their own practice, this study addresses it at the meta-level by using the resources offered by philosophy of science.

There are two ways to resolve the current crisis. Either cosmologists can continue working on big bang theory or they can start anew. For those who choose to start anew, this study argues it would be a mistake for them to assume any new cosmological theory would have …

A Philosophic Inquiry Into Causation Comparing Diverse Metaphysical Systems, Jane Fisher

Masters Theses

Causation is a problem for philosophers because in explaining causation one must explain reality itself. Since the metaphysical systems of history are carefully reasoned claims concerning reality, they will be employed in this discussion of causation. We will examine the foundational posits of four metaphysical positions -- Buddhism, Platonism, Nominalism, and Realism -- and review the meaning each assigns for causation. We can then observe how the meaning of causation is altered depending on the system of metaphysics that serves as its context.

An Assessment Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Psychology And Physical Health Comorbidity Among Law Enforcement Officers, Terri L. Belville

Masters Theses

A qualitative survey was employed to gather descriptive information on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and collateral psychological and physical health conditions among law enforcement officers. Three diagnostic assessment instruments for PTSD were utilized including a self-report traumatic stress questionnaire to screen for PTSD, as well as provide information on the range of personal and on-the-job traumatic events experienced by officers. At a structured clinical follow-up interview the C-DIS-R and MCMI-III were used to verify a diagnosis of PTSD and establish psychological comorbidity on Axis I and Il, respectively. A self-report physical health questionnaire was also used to assess for physical …

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In Adolescents And Risk For Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection, Margo A. Adams

Masters Theses

The adolescent population has been identified as the age group most quickly increasing in HIV transmission. Specific subpopulations of adolescents may be more at risk than others due to their unique situations. Characteristics commonly discussed in the literature describing individuals with attention deficits and hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) are similar to those that put individuals at risk for HIV infection (i.e., impulsivity, overactivity, drug use). This anonymous survey study investigated several hypotheses suggesting that ADHD adolescents may be more at risk than controls for HIV infection. Undergraduates at a midwestern university completed the sexual behavior survey. Eight male subjects reported a …

Job Satisfaction Of West Michigan Certified Nurse-Midwives: A Qualitative Study Of Autonomy And Empowerment In The Provision Of Health Care, Martha M. Shafer-Thyen

Masters Theses

Certified Nurse-Midwifery provides optimal health care service to women through all stages of the reproductive cycle. In order to ensure continued growth of this field of health care, prospective students must see it as an occupation which can offer them high levels of job satisfaction, and certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) must be satisfied in their job or they will not continue to practice. In this qualitative study of West Michigan CNMs, two main factors are identified that determine high levels of job satisfaction: (1) The ability to autonomously care for a woman, with recourse to supportive comanagement of the woman's care …

Some Aspects Of The Evolution Of The Medieval Tournament Up To The Reign Of Maximilian I: An Introduction, Kathryn L. Woodruff

Masters Theses

An introductory exploration of the evolution of the medieval tournament up to the reign of Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519) is the subject of this study. This exploration begins with the eleventh-century origins of the tournament in northern France as a military training exercise and continues with a discussion of the evolution of the tournament, by the sixteenth century, into a sporting event and public spectacle with a number of variations including the melee, behourd, round table, and passage of arms.

Some of the influences of the Church and of chivalric literature upon the tournament and upon the knightly class …

The Effect Of Manganese Peroxidase On Peroxide Bleaching Of High Yield Pulps, Cyril Vusani Simelane

Masters Theses

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of adding a pretreatment stage in conventional hydrogen peroxide bleaching of high yield pulps. To achieve this, three main variables considered crucial in the effectiveness of manganese peroxidase on the oxidation of lignin substructures, were chosen to evaluate the effect of this enzyme on high yield pulps. The responses to evaluate this effect were brightness, brightness reversion, pulp viscosity, and yield. Other properties included opacity, scattering and absorption coefficients, and the Hunter Lab values.

The pulps were bleached using two sequences Q(MnP), and Q(MnP)QP, to assess the effect of …

The Effect Of Age And Recycling On Paper Quality, Zhuang Wu

Masters Theses

The effects of recycling paper that has undergone aging for different periods on paper and fiber properties like strength, weighted average fiber length, and water retention value were investigated in this study. Old Newspapers (ONP) with different periods of natural aging (between 1 to 10 months) were recycled repeatedly for up to six times. Another goal was the study of aging effects on paper properties using accelerated aging at high temperatures (105±2) °C. Four different aging times (24, 48, 72, and 144 hours) were employed.

The results showed that naturally aged ONP loses little in strength properties up to 7 …

The Effect Of Wet End Operations On Sizing Loss In Alkaline Papers, Suresh B. Cherukuri

Masters Theses

Changes in wet end of alkaline papermaking affect the size development as well as sizing loss. These changes include pH, alkalinity and type of filler used. Precipitated and ground varieties of carbonate fillers and the alkalinity associated with · them are believed to be the causes for the gradual sizing loss in alkaline papers due the accelerated hydrolysis reaction of sizing chemicals at higher alkalinity.

Precipitated and ground calcium carbonate fillers are used as fillers and compared to non carbonate filler such as kaolin clay for their response to size development and sizing loss at lower and higher alkalinity ranges …

The Effects Of Specific Teacher Training Program Components On The Self-Assessment Skills Of Western Michigan University Physical Education Interns, Jerry G. Bergsma

Masters Theses

The effects of an undergraduate self-assessment training program on the accuracy of self-assessment during physical education intern teaching was the focus of this study. Fourteen subjects enrolled in Intern Teaching at Western Michigan University and a university in central Michigan were studied.

The groups were compared on accuracy of self-assessment in selected teacher behaviors, teacher feedback rates, and student behaviors. Subjects were video-taped during intern teaching sessions and asked to complete the Self-Assessment Form (Hawkins & Wiegand, 1989). Estimates of percent time spent engaged in selected behaviors and feedback rates were compared to actual times and rates collected from the …

Validation Of The Original And Modified Ymca Cycle Ergometer Tests, Joel V. Blakeman

Masters Theses

The problem of the study was to determine if a 3-point estimation procedure for the YMCA cycle ergometer submaximal test (YMOD) provided a more valid predictor of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) than the recommended 2-point estimation YMCA procedure for male and female college students ages 18 to 25 years. Apparently healthy subjects (n = 21 females; n = 25 males) completed the ACSM maximal cycle ergometer test, the YMCA test, and the YMOD test. The reliability estimates of modified YMCA max scores, R = .39, was higher than the reliability estimate from the YMCA, R = -.80. ANOVA results …

The Introduction Of E-Mail And Its Effect On The Expanded Use Of Computers Among Teachers In The La Porte Schools, David M. Randall

Masters Theses

Despite a major investment in technology by the LaPorte, Indiana school district, some teachers were not using the computers installed in their buildings and classrooms. Consequently, they were not using instructional applications. This project is intended to demonstrate that where building level e-mail had been introduced, there was an increase in the number of teachers using computers and instructional applications.

Data were collected with a survey of teachers to determine the extent to which computers, computer applications, and other technology were being used in the district. Extent of use was analyzed for two groups: (1) teachers who had e-mail, and …

A Comparison Of The Physical Activity, Body Composition And Self-Esteem Levels Of 5th And 6th Grade Students In Southwest Michigan, Rebevva C. Coady

Masters Theses

The problem of this study was to compare the physical activity levels, body fat percentage and self-esteem levels for children 1 O to 12 years of age. Subjects were 5th and 6th grade students who attended Schoolcraft or Lawton Middleschools in Southwest Michigan. The instruments used for this study consisted of the Lohman 2-site skinfold test, the Harter "What I am Like" self-esteem questionnaire, and a physical activity checklist. Subjects were grouped according to body fat percentage and physical activity level. Significant differences were found for males body fat groups for 4 of the 6 subscales of self-esteem: (1) . …

The Relationship Between Musical Behavior, Holistic Living, And Perceived Delinquency In Adolescents, Janice S. Schreibman

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between musical behavior, holistic living, and self-perceived delinquency in adolescents. One hundred thirty-seven ninth-grade students from two Detroit area high schools were selected for this study. All participants completed two surveys — an adapted version of the Holistic Living Inventory (HLI) (Stoudenmire, Batman, Pavlov & Temple, 1985), and surveys developed by the researcher to measure involvement in music and self-perceived level of delinquent behavior.

A three-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed there were no significant differences between the adolescents' level of involvement in music, the degree to which they practiced …

Using An Evolutionary Strategy To Solve Frequency Allocation Problems, Min Chen

Masters Theses

Frequency allocation problem (F AP) is to assign radio frequencies to a number of stations subject to a number of constraints, so that the minimum interference is suffered. FAP is NP-complete. In order to solve FAPs, there are interference constraints to be satisfied. There are two constraints of FAP which were the focus of this study: (1) co-channel interference, (2) adjacent channel interference.

Evolutionary Strategies (ESs) are very efficient optimization algorithms based upon the principles of adaptive selection found in nature. In this study, a (μ,A)ES algorithm was implemented to solve instances of FAP.

This thesis has demonstrated that …

The Assessment Of The Effectiveness Of Three Bibliographic Instructional Tools At Teaching Basic Library Skills, Julie M. Liew

Masters Theses

Three library instructional tools/guides. were compared to evaluate their effectiveness at teaching basic library skills to undergraduate students. A step-by-step scoring sheet was the main data collection tool used to measure subjects' stepwise responses as they interacted with computers and the library to find answers to test questions. Pretest, posttest, and follow-up test consisting of three basic library utilization questions were administered. The three experimental groups were trained with one of the following tools: · a computer self-instructional tool (Hypermedia Group), printed handouts (Handout Group), and computer help-screens (Helpscreen Group). Test scores at each of the assessment points showed no …

A Study Of The Chemical And Physical Interactions Between A Wetland And A Shallow Aquifer In Cass County, Michigan, Lisa Marie Anderson

Masters Theses

A study of the ground-water chemistry and flow direction adjacent to a wetland was performed in a major hog producing area. Nested piezometers, consisting of wells 7 to 18 feet deep, were installed around the wetland to determine the vertical distribution of hydraulic head and water-quality parameters. Piezometer elevations were surveyed to determine precise ground-water elevations to delineate the ground-water flow regime around the wetland. Water samples were taken at three different times to analyze water quality and seasonal variations. Analytical parameters included major ions, redox sensitive parameters (DO, nitrate-N, ammonia, iron, and sulfate), and total organic carbon.

Water level …

The Effects Of Chromium Picolinate Supplementation On Body Fat, Lean Body Mass, And Respiratory Exchange Ratio, Matthew K. Beaty

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects, on college-age males, of ingesting chromium picolinate over a 6-week period when administered as a supplement to their diet. Fifty males, ages 18 to 25 years, had their respiratory exchange ratio (R), body fat percentage, and lean body mass measured prior to and following a 6-week supplementation period. Subjects were randomly placed into a chromium, placebo, or control group. All subjects were instructed to maintain daily activities. Analysis of variance revealed no significant differences in R values, body fat percentage, or lean body mass among the chromium, placebo, or control …

An Emg Comparison Of Muscle Recruitment Associated With The Wide Grip Pull-Up And The Lat Pull-Down Exercise, Marla S. Bauermeister

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the prime mover muscles used in the wide grip pull-up and lat pull-down exercises. Ten Western Michigan University students performed the 2 exercises, using a resistance equal to their body weight for 3 sets of 3 repetitions, with 2 min rest between sets. The 2nd repetition of each set was analyzed for each exercise. Research variables included phases (concentric, coupling, and eccentric), exercises, trials, and muscles. The dependent variables were relative time to peak recruitment, peak recruitment, and phase time. Findings revealed that the concentric and eccentric phases were slower …

A Study Of Kanban Based Production System In Cellular Manufacturing Environment, Sanjay Bhargava

Masters Theses

The study of effects of production data variabilities on Kanban based cellular manufacturing system is vital before its design and implementation because it would give better understanding of their uncertain behavior.

In this research, a detailed analysis of a Kanban system, with subcell scenario, under dynamic operating conditions is performed. The Control variables considered were number of Kanbans, processing time variability, demand variability and machine breakdown. The performance parameters considered were profit, production lead time, machine utilization and material processing lead time.

Approximately 200 simulation runs were made with 3 replications each by varying one control variable at a time. …

The Effectiveness Of A Call-In Number In Telephone Surveys, Robert J. Moore

Masters Theses

Answering machines are now more frequently encountered in telephone studies than just a few years ago. Researchers must devise new techniques to compensate for the increased use of answering machines. The main point of the Michigan Higher Education Institute (MHEI) 800 number study was to establish if leaving an 800 call-in number on an answering machine would increase response rates and lower the number of interviewer initiated call-backs for call attempts resulting in an answering machine disposition. The MHEI study provided a chance to look at how an 800 number could improve response rates in a panel telephone study. The …

Effects Of Insulin And Insulin-Mimetics On Mrna Levels Of C-Fos And C-Jun In Primary Rat Hepatocytes In Culture, Guangmin Li

Masters Theses

Insulin is capable of regulating cellular and metabolic processes as well as gene expression. Selenate and vanadate are two compounds that have been found to mimic the action of insulin in several tissue and cell types. cFos and cJun are the products of immediate early responsive genes c-fos and c-jun. They are members of the family of the AP-1 (Activator Protein-1) transcription factors. AP-1 transcription factors bind as cJun.cJun homodimer or cJun.cFos heterodimer to the TRE found in the promoter regions of several genes. AP-1 is characterized by its ability to alter gene expression in response to various peptide …

A Validation Of Target Heartrate Formulas Used In Swimming, Tasha Kay Litwinski

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore whether procedures used to establish target heart rates (THRs) for running are applicable to front crawl swimming. Eight male and 22 female fitness swimmers from Western Michigan University participated in this study. Their exercise durations under three experimental conditions were compared. The conditions were: (a) Condition 1, a treadmill run at an intensity equal to a THR of 85% of heart rate reserve (HRR); (b) Condition 2, a front crawl swim at an intensity equal to 85% of HRR; and (c) Condition 3, a front crawl swim at an intensity equal to …

Volunteer Fire Departments: A Neglected American Voluntary Association, Michelle C. Akers

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the social and cultural dimensions of volunteer fire departments (VFDs) in West Michigan. Through interviews and observations of four VFDs, important dimensions of social cohesion and variability within and between the departments and communities are revealed. An emphasis is placed upon the gender relations within the departments and their effect upon the relations in the larger community. From these companies, a sketch of a small West Michigan community is derived. If used as a companion with other research of Midwestern communities of a greater scope and sample size, an understanding of social organization and social structure may …

An Evaluation Of Methods To Determine The Thickness Of Free Product In A Shallow Water Table Aquifer, Ross B. Wagner

Masters Theses

Estimates of the volume of recoverable free phase petroleum product in soils are frequently based on poorly understood empirical methods. These methods, in the form of field tests and/or equations, require simplifying assumptions and apparent product thickness to calculate the thickness or specific volume of free phase product. The purpose of this study was to compare the available methods against each other to cross validate them.

The field methods evaluated at a well with an apparent product thickness of 1.69 feet were: Yaniga's bailer test, split-spoon soil sampling, a test pit excavation and a new tool developed for direct measurement …

Public And Private Differences In Gender Role Identity Presentation, Peter R. Stevenson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to assess public and private differences in gender role identity presentation. It was hypothesized that in both public and private, males should generally present themselves as more masculine (instrumental) and females should present themselves as more feminine (expressive) as traditional gender norms would suggest. Also, public and private situational differences in gender identity presentation are hypothesized. Males and females who are high in public self-consciousness should design their gender related presentations to meet the normative expectations of public situations because these individuals are highly aware of social expectations.

The results of the study supported …

The Efficacy Of Guided Imagery And Music (Gim) On Life Satisfaction And Self-Esteem In The Elderly, Barbara Ann Steenrod

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) on life satisfaction and self-esteem in the elderly. Twenty-two elderly people took part in the experimental study with 11 subjects in the experimental condition and 11 subjects in the control condition.

The Life Satisfaction Index-A (Neugarten, Havighurst, & Tobin, 1961) was used to measure life satisfaction and the Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965) was used to measure self-esteem. Data collected from these instruments revealed a significant increase at the alpha level of .05 on Life Satisfaction Index-A scores in the subjects who received GIM. Self-esteem …

Study Of Periodic Gust Loads On Airfoils, Tatsuya Nakajima

Masters Theses

The wings on aircraft can experience unsteady loads due to atmospheric disturbances; e.g., wind, the wakes of other aircraft, structural vibrations, or some combination of these sources. In some cases flow unsteadiness can be beneficial by augmenting the lift and reducing the drag; under different circumstances temporal variations in the flow can induce stall or cause structural failure.

In this study, the response of isolated (and tandem) NACA 0012 airfoil(s) to time-periodic unsteadiness have been investigated. The sources of unsteadiness include a time-varying free stream flow angle, a time varying free stream velocity magnitude, and an oscillating airfoil.

The predicted …

The Role Of Nitric Oxide In The Modulation Of The Leukocyte-Endothelial Cell Interactions During Ischemia And Reperfusion, Fernando López-Neblina

Masters Theses

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in several metabolic pathways and physiological phenomena. The role of NO in inflammation after ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) is controversial. The early phases of inflammation include the leukocyte-endothelial (L/EC) cell interactions which have been divided in rolling, activation, adhesion and migration.

The first experiment was to demonstrate the role of NO in a model of renal I/R. We demonstrated that exogenous NO improves survival and renal function tests after renal I/R, while endogenous NO does not appear to be an important contributor to renal I/R. We also demonstrated that NO modulate the infiltration of neutrophils …

The Effects Of Tutor Age On Academic Performance In Reading Accuracy And Fluency, David D. Manson

Masters Theses

Many studies have demonstrated that the use of peer tutoring or peer assistance in the classroom is effective 0 (Ezell, Kohler, & Jarzynska, 1992; Fantuzzo, Riggio, Connelly, & Dimeff, 1989; Greenwood et al., 1984; Knapczyk, Johnson, & McDermott, 1983; Stern, Fowler, & Kohler, 1988; Trapani & Gettinger, 1989). Although this research appears to be fundamentally sound, several questions have been left unanswered. First, what has peer tutoring been compared to when it has been shown to be effective? Second, which variable or variables of peer tutoring made it effective? This study provided a partial answer to these questions, through the …