Digital Commons Network^™

The Purposeful Use Of An Object In The Development Of Skill With A Prosthesis, Hon Keung Yuen

Masters Theses

Theoretically, perceptual information from the interaction with an object and its surfaces (an affordance) facilitates the development of motor skill. This study investigated the use of an affordance in learning control of flexion and extension of an above-elbow training prosthesis. Fifty-two male college students were randomly assigned to two training procedures: two, 1.5-minute periods of a joining dots activity with a flashlight attached to the hook of the prosthesis (affordance group), and practice moving the prosthesis at the elbow joint (no-affordance group) for the same amount of time. To assess generalization of skill to a different task, each subject traced …

Energy Considerations In Stock Preparation Refining Modified By Recycling, Rajendra D. Deshpande

Masters Theses

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of refining on virgin fibers as well as on recycled fibers. Interaction effects of recycling and type of treatment of virgin fibers on characteristics of secondary fiber were studied. A significant reduction in drainage properties of the furnish for both hardwood and softwood pulps were observed. This reduction in properties was found proportional to the amount of refining. It is necessary to achieve required strength properties at higher freeness values, if fibers are to be recycled. This can be done by improvement in uniformity or homogeneity of refining and by gentler and less …

Effects Of Student Attitudes And Student Time On Achievement Gains In College Developmental Reading, Kathryn K. Welsch

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to provide a new focus on college-level developmental reading programs by examining course content (i.e., instructional activities) in a developmental reading class.

Attitudes and time spent on instructional activities were monitored for 47 students in three sections of college level developmental reading. Multiple regression analyses were used to relate these data to vocabulary and comprehension gains on the Nelson Denny Reading Test (J. Brown, Nelson, & Denny, 1976).

Students made significant gains in vocabulary and in comprehension. Student attitudes predicted gains in both vocabulary and comprehension. Because of reliability problems, the time data do …

Productivity And Affective Responses To Work Tasks And Leisure Activities In Type A And Type B Individuals, Susan Jean Paske

Masters Theses

The Type A Personality Index, a measure of whether an individual tends to be a Type A or a Type B personality, was given to 30 male and 30 female college students who then participated in a planting activity, presented as either a work task or a leisure activity. Productivity was measured by number of pottings, and affective responses to the activity in the areas of evaluation, power, and action were determined by Osgood's 12-scale short form semantic differential (OSD). No significant correlations were found between personality type and productivity or OSD scores in either the work or leisure conditions. …

A Seismic Analysis Of Reefs In The Traverse Limestone Of Allegan County, Michigan, William Charles Henderson

Masters Theses

A seismic reflection study was performed across the Diamond Springs oil field in Allegan County, Michigan. The horizon of interest was the Middle Devonian Traverse Limestone located 1,700 feet in the subsurface. Within the Traverse Limestone are scattered patch reefs which characterize a targeted reservoir. The use of high-resolution, shallow seismic reflection techniques are useful for defining detailed subsurface porosity zones within the patch reef reservoirs.

Common source-offset profiling utilizing high-frequency sources and proper determination of field parameters are important in obtaining the desired optimum reflection. Also, the use of synthetic seismograms for modeling waveforms is essential for identifying the …

Community Education Plan For North Kent Consortium, Charlene M. Bunnell

Masters Theses

The purpose of this project was to design a working document which could be used by the four-school community education consortium in its management practices. The underlying question was whether it was possible to design a document which would be simple and complete, by still address the many needs of four different school systems.

The completed project includes a document which addresses the many facets of administering a multi-district consortium. It outlines the duties and responsibilities of each district at the present time while allowing for the realigning of those duties and responsibilities at a later date.

As a result …

Micellar Catalyzed Hydrolysis Of Hydroxamic Acids By Perfluorooctanoic Acid, Mohammad Hashem Akhavan Tafti

Masters Theses

The work reported herein demonstrated that a perfluorocarboxylic acid does indeed behave as a reactive counterion surfactant exhibiting micellar catalysis, this conclusion was further verified by subsequent experimentation.

Rates of acidic hydrolysis of octano-, phenylaceto-, and 4-bromo phenylacetohydroxamic acid have been determined in aqueous perfluorooctanoic acid--a reactive counterion surfactant system. Typical micellar catalysis was observed for the hydrolysis of octanohydroxamic acid but not for the arylacetohydroxamic acids.

Further investigation into finding a more water soluble surfactant which has reactive counter ions is suggested in order to test the theoretical equation (based on the pseudo phase model) appropriate for this surfactant …

An Analysis Of The Lithic Material From The Late Woodland Component Of The Draper Park Site (20sc40) In Port Huron, Michigan, Fran Seager

Masters Theses

This research examines the lithic assemblage of the Draper Park site, which consists of over seventeen thousand specimens including detrital material, implying on-site manufacturing techniques. Artifact attributes are analyzed and correlated within the context of the site and compared with known Late Woodland fishing sites. The intensive use of the site and strategic location suggest that it was a fishing station located at the headwaters of the St. Clair River. The site was seasonally occupied from A.D. 600 through A.D. 1300.

Projectile Electron Capture And Loss Accompanying Target Ionization For Highly-Charged Oxygen Ions Colliding With Helium, Reynold N. Price

Masters Theses

Cross sections for electron capture and loss associated with target ionization are measured for highly charged 0^q+ (q=5,6,7,8+) ions colliding with helium at energies of 0.25 to 2.5 MeV/u. Experimentally, charge changed projectile ions are detected in coincidence with specific target recoil-ion charge states. The fraction of transfer ionization (TI) relative to total electron capture is measured and compared to previous studies. The results show that TI is responsible for a significant percentage of the total single-electron-capture cross sections even at high velocities. Ratios of double- to single-target ionization are determined when simultaneous ionization of the projectile also occurs. …

Geometry And Kinematics Of The Central Snowcrest Range: A Rocky Mountain Forehand Uplift In Southwestern Montana, Barry Christopher Mcbride

Masters Theses

The Snowcrest Range forms the southeastern limb of the Late Cretaceous Blacktail-Snowcrest uplift. The northeast-trending uplift is bounded by the northwest-dipping Snowcrast-Greenhom thrust system which consists of seven thrust zones which merge and flatten at depth along a regional detachment horizon within the Archean basement.

The structures forming the Snowcrest Range are concave westward with trends varying from N 55° E in the southern region to north-south in the northern region. Calcite twin lamellae and fracture orientations indicate that the principal shortening direction was oriented S 85° E during late Cretaceous time. This orientation requires that a significant component of …

Recidivism And The Self Concept Of Male Juvenile Delinquents, Mary B. Stelma

Masters Theses

It is a common belief that a low self concept is related to deviant behavior. The purpose of this study was to compare the self concepts of juvenile recidivists with those of non-recidivists.

A sample of 162 subjects was taken from juveniles who had been treated at a Michigan detention facility. Measures of self concept, using the Tennessee Self Concept Scale (Fitts, 1965), were taken both prior to and following treatment. Point-biserial correlations were computed for pre-test scores, post-test scores, and changes in scores from pre-test to post-test.

The results showed some significant positive correlations between self concept and recidivism …

Pentylenetetrazol-Induced Seizures In Pigeons And The Effects Of Ethosuximide Thereon, James J. Jakubow

Masters Theses

Previous research has shown that ethosuximide in high enough doses will disrupt operant responding in pigeons. Whether or not these same doses will protect against seizure activity in this species has not been previously tested.

To test this question a system for scoring pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in pigeons was developed and the effects of ethosuximide on such seizures were evaluated. In Experiment 1 pentylenetetrazol at 15, 27 and 47 mg/kg reliably induced seizures. In Experiment 2 non-behaviorally active and behaviorally active doses of ethosuximide were tested for their seizure controlling effectiveness.

Doses of 20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 mg/kg ethosuximide …

A Study Of The Development Of A Second Language Program Proposal For Decatur Public Schools, Linda L. Iciek

Masters Theses

The development of a second language proposal for Decatur, Michigan, Public Schools, was undertaken as a result of an established board goal for the 1985-86 school year. Chairing the committee which investigated the possibility of implementing such a program was undertaken to fulfill the requirements of a Specialist in Education degree through the Department of Educational Leadership, Western Michigan University.

The committee met on a weekly basis to study and develop the proposal by completing the following tasks: (a) identify and visit schools within the state implementing such programs; (b) research the effects of immersion language programs; (c) survey the …

The Law In Galatians: A Comparison Of Bruce And Paul, Greg A. Couser

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Preliminary Report Of Investigations At The Kline 1 Site (20sj29), St. Joseph County, Michigan, Dale W. Quattrin

Masters Theses

The Kline 1 site, located in Mendon Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan, is a multi-component site situated on the eastern shore of Portage Lake. While the projectile points recovered during surface collecting suggest interm ittent presence on this site from late Paleo-Indian to Late Woodland times, the occupation offering the most substantial cultural and subsistence data is attributed to the Late Woodland period. Radiocarbon assays received on two features gave dates of 830 + 70 B.P. and 810 + 50 B.P. calibrated to be A.D. 1215 and A.D. 1223 respectively. The importance of this site relates to its spatially intermediate …

Recidivism After Youth Imprisonment In Relationship To Criminal Career: A Twenty Year Follow Up Study, Helmut F. Janssen

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of early biographical factors on the future development of the juveniles and focusses on recidivism and factors influencing the development of a criminal "career." It includes a twenty year follow-up period, studying 500 juveniles released from two juvenile prisons of West Germany in 1961.

From a data set originally created in 1966, which included 290 variables, 29 variables, including individual and social characteristics as well as variables dealing with prior experiences with sanctioning, were ultimately used for this study. In addition, some new variables were created from the variables of …

Choice Responding In Pigeons Exposed To Sequences Of Fixed-Ratio Schedules: Effects Of Multiple Components, Susan Goeters

Masters Theses

The present study used a discrete-trials procedure to examine choice in pigeons presented with two- to five-component sequences of fixed-ratio schedules of reinforcement. Results of the first phase indicate that the majority of choice responses were allocated to the schedule containing the shorter initial fixed-ratio component regardless of the number of components assayed. These findings support the notion that temporally prior reinforcers minimize the effects of subsequent reinforcers and overall response requirements. Phase two findings indicate, however, that under some conditions, fixed-ratios other than the first, lawfully, although weakly, influence choice.

An Analysis Of Four Empathy Variables As Predictors Of Marital Satisfaction, Teck Seong Chee

Masters Theses

The objective of this study was to determine if empathy was predictive of marital satisfaction, and which, if any, of the four empathy variables from Davis' Interpersonal Reactivity Index (1980), would serve as predictors of marital satisfaction. Correlation and regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationships of fantasy, empathic concern, perspective taking and personal distress with marital satisfaction. Variables of secondary interest included those of sex. birth order, length of marriage and age married. Both Individuals and couples were used as units of analysis.

Empathic concern and perspective taking were found to be predictors of marital satisfaction. No significant …

Recoil Corrected Continuum Shell Model Form Factor Calculations For 4He(E,E’)4He(0+), Jiang Yu

Masters Theses

Charge form factor calculations for the electroexcitation of the ⁴He, 0⁺ state have been performed within the context of the recoil corrected continuum shell model. A pure Os⁴ ground state structure is assumed and full internal coordinate recoil corrections are made. The result is compared with available data. It is demonstrated that the 0+ state may be described in a 1p -1h shell model context. Inclusion of nsOs^-1 ground state correlations is suggested for further research.

Establishing Interagency Communication Among K-12 School Districts And Government Agencies Through An Intermediate School District, Gary R. Campbell

Masters Theses

The proposed procedure for a local school administrator to establish direct interagency communication between local, K-12 school districts and other government agencies who deal with troubled youth was to: (a) examine the function and organization of the intermediate school district, (b) evaluate the role of its superintendent, and, (c) assist the superintendent in establishment of an interagency discussion group. the This group would meet regularly to discuss mutual concerns in helping troubled youth.

This experience focused on gaining an understanding of the organization and function of a Michigan intermediate school district, the role of its superintendent, and the other non-school, …

A Study Of Alkaline Sodium Sulfite Pretreatment Of Spruce During Thermomechanical Pulping, Nagaraju Dendukuri

Masters Theses

A review of literature relating sodium sulfite pretreatment during thermomechanical pulping to pulp physical properties revealed many contradictions. Thermomechanical pulping variables were studied for their effect on pulp physical properties. An improvement in pulp physical properties was observed above 1% sodium sulfite treatment. Regression analysis and analysis of variance showed that there was a significant effect of sodium sulfite on the reduction of shive content, pulp brightness, and tear index. Fiber length, tensile, burst, and density were not found to be significantly affected by the amount of sodium sulfite. Sodium sulfite treatment during thermomechanical pulping showed a negative relationship with …

Fission-Track Geochronology And Geothermometry Of Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary Epizonal Plutons, In And Adjacent To The Lombard Thrust Fault, Southwestern Montana, Jean Talanda

Masters Theses

Thrusting occurred in the central portion of the central Montana salient where the timing of movements is somewhat obscured by the multiple deformations from Archean time to the present. The relationship of this thrusting to the associated plutons has not been established in every case. Fission-track geochronology was employed in dating several plutons associated with the Lombard thrust fault, consequently, defining a time range in which movement along the thrust occured.

Seven plutons with known structural relationships to the Lombard thrust have ages which suggest that movement along the fault occurred 73.2 +/- 6.7 Ma. Fission-track length distributions suggest that …

The Relationship Of Pore Volume And Pore Size Distribution To The Development Of Gloss And Scattering Coefficient, John A. Cook

Masters Theses

This study describes in a quantitative manner the relationships between coating structure and optical properties. Gloss, scattering coefficient and void volume were measured after applying different blends of polystyrene spheres to mylar film. Each coating was modeled using large spherical particles of the same size ratios to measure pore size distribution. The coating structure followed well with theoretical packing characteristics of spheres. Optical properties were related to changes in coating structure. Scattering coefficient and gloss correlated better with pore size distribution than particle size. Gloss increased when total void volume was reduced, while the scattering coefficient decreased.

Crime And Delinquency In Haiti: A Study Of Crime In A Developing Country, Gerard Mauze

Masters Theses

The primary intent of this study was an attempt at describing, understanding and analyzing the most common types, incidences and forces that produce crime and delinquency in Haiti. A secondary concern of this work was to do the ground work which would enable the formulation of testable hypotheses about the causes of crime and delinquency in Haiti.

Even though a number of developing nations face a rapid growth in their crime and delinquency rates, Haiti appears to maintain a relatively low crime rate.

The law-abiding behavior of Haitian youths is due to a number of factors: (a) the strong family …

The Discriminative Stimulus Properties Of Ethosuximide In The Pigeon, Rodney D. Clark

Masters Theses

After initial exposure to 80 mg/kg ethosuximide, pigeons trained in a two-key drug discrimination procedure rapidly learned to discriminate 120 mg/kg ethosuximide from saline. When 40 to 160 mg/kg doses of ethosuximide were administered during generalization tests, the percentage of the responses directed to the ethosuximide-appropriate key varied directly with dose. Time-effect determinations revealed that the discriminable properties of ethosuximide were evident as early as 15 min after, and as late as 2 hrs after, intramuscular injection. The discriminative stimulus properties of ethosuximide failed to generalize to the anticonvulsant compounds clonazepam (0.5-4 mg/kg), methsuximide (25-200 mg/kg), and phenytoin (5-15 mg/kg). …

Single-Electron Capture And Loss Cross Sections Vs. Target Z For 1 Mev/U Oxygen Ions Incident On Gases, Scott Avery Boman

Masters Theses

Cross sections for 1 MeV/u oxygen projectile ions which have gained or lost an electron after passing through a gas target were measured as a function of target Z for several incident projectile charge states. The targets used were D_2, He, Ne, Ar and Kr, and the projectiles had charges of 5+, 6+, 7+ and 8+.

The electron capture measurements are generally in reasonable agreement with existing theoretical and empirical scaling rules. The electron loss cross sections differ appreciably from predictions of the PWBA, particularly for the heaviest targets studied. Empirical scaling relationships are derived for the present capture …

A Pilot Plant Evaluation Of Selected Hardwood Pulps For Supercalendered Grade B Paper, Devendra Kumar Srivastava

Masters Theses

The proliferation of wood free printing and writing papers suggests the evaluation of hardwood kraft and chemithermomechanical pulps for the manufacture of uncoated rotogravure paper. In this study 100% aspen kraft, 100% eucalyptus kraft, and 50% aspen chemithermomechanical with 50% kraft pulps were used to produce rotogravure paper on as 32" trim Fourdriner paper machine under alkaline papermaking condition.

The machine runnability was smooth using 100% hardwood furnish for the production of rotogravure paper. The paper produced was found suitable for supercalender grade B applications, such as Sunday magazines, inserts, and flyers. The tensile index and tear index values were …

Sonic Sculptures For Flute, Cello And Computer Processed Sounds, Randy S. Rowan

Masters Theses

Sonic Sculptures is a musical work for flute, cello and computer processed sounds. The processed sounds are different samples taken from the following sources: piano, flute, and cello. The samples consist primarily of special effects created by the three instruments. A description of the processed sounds can be found in the explanation of sounds. All together there is a total of 52 digital samples; 22 samples are taken from the inside of a grand piano, 18 are created by a cello and 12 by the flute.

There are three pieces in Sonic Sculptures. The first consists of a jaunty melodic …

Repeated Acquisition With The Developmentally Disabled, Jeannie Madsen

Masters Theses

Repeated-acquisition data were obtained from four developmentally disabled adults. The task was selecting the poker chip with the sticker on its underside in a sequence of sets of chips. When a sequence was mastered (four consecutive errorless runs) the subjects were given a new sequence to learn. Money was reinforcement for correct sequence completion. Total errors before mastery was the dependent variable.

In Phase 1 the subjects completed as many sequences as possible during each 15-minute session. Errors per sequence was a reasonably stable dependent variable within subjects, and between-subject differences were what would be expected on the basis of …

Utilizing Daily Repertoire Behavior To Facilitate The Acquisition Of Generalized Imitation In Profoundly Mentally Retarded Adults, Scott A. Kremser

Masters Theses

Two procedures were compared in teaching the skill of generalized imitation. One procedure incorporated some of the subject's daily behavior repertoire into the imitation training paradigm. Another similar procedure utilized non-repertoire responses during training. Two male profoundly mentally retarded adults were trained with each procedure. Overall, the acquisition of generalized imitation was facilitated by incorporating daily repertoire behaviors into the imitation training packages. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in levels of generalized imitation as a function of training condition. Results were variable across subjects however, and it is questionable whether the difference is clinically significant. Further and more refined …