Digital Commons Network^™

Activism, Public Relations, And The Internet: A Case Study Of Moveon.Org, Erich Sommerfeldt

Masters Theses

This thesis explores how an activist organization, MoveOn.org, is using the Internet to meet its public relations needs. MoveOn.org's Web site was analyzed to the extent that MoveOn engaged in three basic functions of public relations. Accordingly, this inquiry asked how MoveOn.org engaged in relationship-building with publics via email action alerts; agenda-stimulation through online information subsidies (press releases); and how MoveOn mobilized organizational resources on its Web site. Results show that MoveOn.org regularly engages in rhetorical relationship building through action alerts with its publics, mainly through Burke's identification by antithesis identification strategy. Keywords from MoveOn's press releases were used in …

Security Printing: Towards Hologram Printing, Sachin Ravindra Agate

Masters Theses

Today we are facing many situations where the genuineness of the products and documents is questioned. Counterfeiting the original products has become a business of few people, which result in the degradation of quality of products, loss of money and loss of faith of end user. To prevent such malicious act, security features are added in the final product. Security printing is one of those methods that help in preventing counterfeit products and treachery. There are many different security features, which can be added in the security printing. Apart from those features, an embossed hologram is also included in prints …

Health Monitoring Of Concrete Bridges Utilizing Sensor Technology, Ammar Zalt

Masters Theses

Structural health monitoring using sensor technology is a promising way to provide excellent means for protecting important structures such as bridges, dams, and nuclear reactors. These sensors provide real-time information about structural conditions, They work together as a nervous system to provide timely information for emergency and risk mitigation. The information obtained from these sensors can later be analyzed and compared to the design data so that the problem can be detected and fixed before it develops into a serious and costly hazard.

Throughout the course of this thesis the feasibility and performance of two types of sensors will be …

From Sandbox To Altar: What I Didn’T Know, Thought I Knew, And Discovered About Learning And Relationships, Cherilyn L. Gardner

Masters Theses

In this theoretically-based thesis, I metacognitively explore the transactional relationship between critical inquiry and literacy development. Throughout the writing, I reveal my own learning in studying these concepts. Embedded in the discussion of research, readers will engage with my personal reflections, confessions, and applications of what I learned (and am still learning).

Through countless dialogues (academic and otherwise) and my study of literature and self, I found that literacy is much more than what it has been carved out to be by programs promising to raise standardized test scores. Additionally, by breaking the mold, I found that critical inquiry provides …

Nitrogen Heterocyclic Compounds As Receptors In Nanosensors For Nerve Gas Agent Analogs, Swapna Katram

Masters Theses

The research is focused on developing nanosensors consisting of different components that are chemically linked, namely, nanoparticle, fluorescent monomer, and receptor (NMR sensors) and nanoparticle, monomer, nanomolecule, and receptor (NMNR sensors) for the sensitive and selective detection of nerve gas agents. These sensors detect the target toxins by fluorescence change which is amplified by signal transduction. Model nerve gas toxins (DCP) and (DMMP) and HCl were employed as analytes, and the nitrogen heterocyclic compounds, 5-aminoindazole and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz) as receptors in the NMR and NNMR nanosensors. The monomers were (E)-4-(4- formylstyryl) benzoic acid (NMR sensor) and 2-mercaptosuccinic acid (NNMR sensor). …

In Relation: Marguerite De Provence And Her Many Roles, 1221-1295, Cristina Dawn Moody

Masters Theses

This thesis uses a body of letters between Marguerite de Provence, a thirteenth-century French Queen, and others to discuss her role as a link between several European courts, assisting the French crown to be free of major wars in this period. It investigates Marguerite's attempts to reverse the will of her father, which gave Provence to her youngest sister, Beatrice. Marguerite's life speaks to a variety of topics and themes, including but not limited to, queenship, monarchy, political discourse, letter-writing, and the social construction of gender. Since relatively little work has been done on her life, this thesis seeks to …

An Eco-Philosophical Ecofeminist Critique Of Victimology: Examining The Anthropocentric And Speciesist Borders And Boundaries Of Victimology, Angela K. Simon

Masters Theses

This work is a critique of the anthropocentric and speciesist borders and boundaries of victimology. Essentially I challenge victimology for failing to incorporate the victimizations of non-human animals and the environment, and instead focusing narrowly on only specific forms of human victimization. I do this by examining the history of victimology and exploring how its boundaries became what they are today. Focusing on the role criminology has had in the general development of victimology. I then go on to juxtapose the limited presence of animals and the environment within criminology with their relative absence in victimology. In conjunction with this …

The Influence Of Pedometers And Heart Rate Monitors On Academic Learning Time In Physical Education, Jeffrey E. Kingma

Masters Theses

This study looked at pedometers and heart rate monitors, to see if they influence academic learning time in physical education (ALT-PE). ALT-PE is a behavioral measurement of quality analyzing the percentage of time students are motor engaged during the physical education class. The study used two physical education classes each participating in a basketball and a soccer unit. Video was taken and analyzed of the two week baseline and experimental units. During the experimental unit, one third of the class received pedometers, one third heart rate monitors and one third no device. Each class day students rotated through each condition. …

Women And Hostile Sexism: Effect Of Identification With The Humor Target On Women's Responses To Sexist Jokes, Jessica R. Edel

Masters Theses

This study was designed to contribute to the literature on sexist humor by attempting to establish identification with the humor target as a critical variable mediating the relationship between hostile sexism and women's amusement with sexist humor. Past research has shown a positive relationship between hostile sexism - antagonism towards women (Glick and Fiske, 1996) - and amusement with sexist humor (Ford, 2000; Greenwood & Isbell, 2002). It is possible, however, that this relationship is more complicated for women, who are both the recipient and target of the sexist joke. This study attempted to provide an explanation for why this …

The Effect Of Auditory-Motor Synchronization On Physiological Responses And Perceived Exertion During Treadmill Running, Tracy J. Kiel

Masters Theses

Synchronous, asynchronous, and no music were compared to determine the effect of synchronization of musical tempo and running cadence on physiological and perceptual responses to exercise. Eight subjects, three males and five females, participated in one assessment trial and three experimental trials. During the assessment trial, subjects performed a VO_2max test, and researchers then calculated running cadence at a velocity approximating 70 percent of VO_2max.

During the three experimental trials, subjects ran for 20 minutes at approximately 70 percent of VO_2max on a motorized treadmill with synchronous, asynchronous, and no music, where the order of trials …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Doped Core/Shell Quantum Dots, Elizabeth J. Sodt

Masters Theses

The central theme of the research performed is the systematic modification of the optical properties of quantum dots by the formation of a shell of another quantum dot of a different band gap energy. Core/shell quantum dots such as CdS:Mn/CdS, CdS:Mn/ZnS, and ZnS:Mn/CdS with various concentrations of dopant Mn²⁺ in the core and shell concentrations have been synthesized under mild conditions in the aqueous phase using stoichiometric amounts of the surfactant stabilizer dodecyl sulfate. These quantum dots exhibit UV-vis, emission, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectral behavior that is dependent on the concentration of the shell and the dopant …

The Role Of The Interteach In Interteaching, Thorhallur Orn Flosason

Masters Theses

Interteaching is a relatively new instructional method, based on behavioral approaches to education, that has been offered as an alternative to the traditional lecture format in the college classroom. The present study examined the role of the cooperative learning component of interteaching in an undergraduate statistics class. An alternating treatments design, with conditions counterbalanced across two sections of the course, was used to determine whether or not the effectiveness of interteaching depends on the interteach (cooperative learning) component. Weekly exams were administered to measure student learning and social validity was assessed via a questionnaire that required students to rate their …

Police Misconduct And Early Warning Systems; An Exploratory Examination Of Influential Variables, Lisa B. Andre

Masters Theses

The purpose of this exploratory research was two-fold: 1) an extensive literature review was conducted to discover what “police misconduct variables” have previously been researched and identified; 2) an existing early warning system (EWS) at Battle Creek Police Department (BCPD) was examined to analyze the correlation between influential variables and case outcomes. The BCPD secondary data set examined consisted of all officers involved in use of force actions, firearm discharge towards a person, vehicle pursuits, and/or citizen complaints combined, which were reported and received between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2006 (n = 1099). The findings demonstrated statistical significance …

The Leadership Style Of An Administrator: Influence On Teachers' Willingness To Implement Selected Instructional Strategies, Brenda Lopez Martinez

Masters Theses

This project examined an elementary public school principal with regard to their leadership style and how it influences classroom culture or climate. A 45- questionnaire was administered to one principal in a public school setting and a classroom survey instrument was administered to nine teachers in his building.

Significant findings based on literature in this project indicated a transformational leader was more inclined to support teachers and utilize different instructional modalities than a principal whose leadership style is transactional. The teacher survey collected data from teachers' perception about their administrator across different instructional domains. The researcher utilized statistical means to …

Adolescents’ Perceptions Of Their Roles In Decision-Making In The Oral Cleft Clinic, Rebecca Ann Hague

Masters Theses

Background: The literature suggests adolescents have the cognitive abilities equivalent to an adult for health related decisions. Adolescents should participate in treatment planning at a level equivalent to their cognitive abilities and the extent they desire. Little is known regarding adolescents' perceived and desired level of involvement in decision making in an oral cleft clinic.

Purpose: To describe adolescents' perceptions of their roles and desired level of involvement in decision-making in an oral cleft clinic.

Methods: Four adolescents completed a questionnaire and participated in focus groups.

Results: Participants reported that they perceive they are involved in decision-making processes, are knowledgeable …

Cross Platforms Display Calibration And Profiling Mac Os And Windows, Reem El Asaleh

Masters Theses

The monitor is an important part in many digital applications including graphic design, digital photography and prepress proofing. In fact, designers and prepress personnel rely on their monitor for good color decision for a printed job.

The aim of this research is to achieve a consistent color across platform using the same hardware (CPU, monitor video controller, etc.). Also to describe the main issue that affects the accuracy of monitor profiles. ICC profiles were generated for monitor in Windows and Mac OS platform using GretagMacbeth ProfileMaker Pro version 5.0 and X-Rite MonacoPROFILER ICC profiling softwares. In the laboratory environment, we …

Teaching Children With Autism To Mand For Information Using Video Modeling, Courtney Dillon

Masters Theses

Skinner's taxonomy of verbal operants defines language in functional terms specifying the relevant controlling variables in terms of antecedent and consequent influences. A mand for information is a request for a specific verbal response that has momentarily high reinforcing value due to the presence of an establishing operation. Contrived establishing operations have been used for teaching mands for information, however, researchers have not yet investigated the effects of using video modeling to teach mands for information to children with autism. This study investigated the effects of video modeling with a contrived establishing operation for teaching two children with autism to …

Ending Conflict: Raising The Costs Of Defection In African Failed States, Brian Crisher

Masters Theses

This paper views the civil conflicts in African failed states through the lens of game theory. From the numerous peace agreements and cease-fires that have been broken in these conflicts, it is clear that defecting from such agreements,is often more profitable than abiding by them. Why is this so? Furthermore, what can be done to raise the costs of defection and therefore promote cooperation amongst the fighting parties? This paper proposes that the international community has the ability to do just this through one-sided intervention.

Transceiver Design And Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits Evaluation Via Electronic Design Automation, Yu Ming Chen

Masters Theses

This thesis study presents the theory and design methodology of Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits (RFIC) and analyzes a RF frond-end receiver and down-conversion mixers using circuit evaluation tools. The theory of RF is described on both architectures and circuit levels with respect to monolithic implementation in integrated semiconductor technologies. The design methodology provides an efficient and practical way to approach ·the theoretical values by using an Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tool called Cadence Virtuoso custom design platform Based on the libraries provided by the Cadence Virtuoso, a Heterodyne receiver and two Gilbert mixer circuits have . been evaluated through the …

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Deinking And Dewaxing, Suraboon Hoontrakool

Masters Theses

The main purpose of this project is to study how the supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO₂) fluid can be used to extract sticky compounds and commercial printing inks. This study will focus on the upscale unit operation that Western Michigan University had recently installed supercritical fluid extraction system. This also includes determination of extraction efficiency, optimizing operating condition, the effect of ScCO₂ on the fiber tensile strength for recycling paper after the sticky compounds are removed and the effect of ScCO₂ to the fiber physical strength property at different temperatures.

The investigation of supercritical fluid extraction equipment …

Self-Reported Health And Fitness Habits Of Certified Athletic Trainers, Jessica J. Groth

Masters Theses

The purpose of our study was to analyze the health and fitness habits of ATCs. One thousand participants from the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association (GLATA District 4) were invited to participate in the study. Two-hundred and seventy-five ATCs completed the questionnaire. The questionnaire was a 23-item health habits and activity questionnaire divided into four sections: fitness, nutrition, alcohol and tobacco and demographics. It was pilot tested before administration with a reliability coefficient of .73. Participants were sent an email invitation with a link to the questionnaire and were given five weeks to complete the questionnaire. Analyses were run on …

Towards A Better Understanding Of The Hydrology Of The Tigris- Euphrates System And Its Marshlands, Christopher K. Jones

Masters Theses

Rising demands for fresh water supplies are leading to water management practices that are altering natural flow systems world-wide. One of the most devastated of these natural systems is the Tigris-Euphrates watershed that over the past three decades has witnessed the construction of over 60 engineering projects that eliminated seasonal flooding, reduced natural flow and dramatically reduced the areal extent (1966: 11000 km² ; 2002: 750 km²) of the Mesopotamian Marshes downstream. We constructed a continuous (1964 to 1998) catchment-based rainfall runoff model for the entire Tigris-Euphrates watershed (area: one million km²) using the SWAT …

Data Fusion Technique For Measuring Intersection Delay Using Gps-Enabled Probe Vehicles, Byung-Hee Han

Masters Theses

Intersection control delay is considered a primary measure for determining the level of service at signalized intersections. This thesis develops a technique estimating intersection delay using GPS data from GPS-enabled vehicles. First, this study analyzes existing methods that estimate control delays using GPS data and proposes an improved technique in response to the weakness of those methods. The proposed method estimates the control delay well with better accuracy covering the weaknesses. However, the control delay from the GPS data has a sample size problem for determining the level of service at signalized intersections. Therefore, this thesis proposes a data fusion …

An Analysis Of The Woodland Ceramics From Galum Crossing (Site 21c4-29): An Early Late Woodland Occupation In The Southern Illinois Interior, Gabrielle Aberle

Masters Theses

Situated on upper Galum Creek at the northwest margin of the Big Muddy River drainage basin, the primary occupation at Gal um Crossing consisted of an early Late Woodland habitation dating from approximately A.D. 450 to the early A.D. 700s. The cultural-historical affiliation of the Woodland occupation and the relationship of Galum Crossing to local and regional contemporaneous sites were assessed using radiocarbon dating and an attribute-based analysis of the Woodland ceramic assemblage. This provided data for examining the designation of the proposed Jamestown phase (Moffat 1991, 1992) as a transitional unit between the Middle Woodland Crab Orchard Tradition and …

Spatial Analysis Of Great Lakes Ferry Transit Systems, Joe Lane

Masters Theses

This thesis will explore the feasibility of a cross-lake ferry on Lake Michigan between Metropolitan Chicago and Southwestern Michigan. Two potential origins have been chosen in Northeastern Illinois (Evanston and Downtown Chicago) and two potential destinations have been chosen in Southwestern Michigan (St. Joseph/ Benton Harbor and South Haven).

The introduction includes historical information on Great Lakes Ferry Systems, information about Great Lakes ports, routes and locations along with the operation requirements for a ferry system. The Methodology includes In-Depth interviews that were done with maritime experts of the Michigan Department of Transportation. This is in order to illustrate a …

"Bird In A Cage:" Exploring Transnational Immigrants' Identity Negotiations, Ewa Urban

Masters Theses

Recent research demonstrates that the experience of contemporary immigrants is largely defined by their continued efforts to maintain symbolic and/or physical connections with their homelands ( e.g., Levitt, 1998). This study explored how these transnational connections affect the negotiation of immigrants' multiple identities. To explore the fluidity and the multilayered nature of transnational identities, the communication theory of identity was utilized as a theoretical lens. This theory allowed for an understanding how immigrants enact salient aspects of their multiple identities across contexts and situations. Phenomenological methodology was used to explore immigrants' lived experiences and hear their voices both individually and …

An Unequal Consumption? Sex And Gender Differences In Tuberculosis, Sarah K. W. Avink

Masters Theses

In the developing world today, tuberculosis (TB) accounts for 26% of avoidable deaths (Holmes et al 1998). Poverty is considered to be a main risk factor for TB, and since some estimates show that women make up 70% of the world's poor (Thorson and Diwan 1998:11), one might conclude that the incidence of TB worldwide would be much higher for women than men. However, reports reviewed in this thesis show the reverse to be true, with an adult annual male notification ratio for TB at 1.5 to 2.1 times higher than that of females. Both biological reasons and social factors …

The Effects Of Differential Reinforcement Of Unprompted Responding On Skill Acquisition Of Children With Autism, Amanda M. Karsten

Masters Theses

The common recommendation to reserve the most potent reinforcers for unprompted responses during acquisition programming, sometimes referred to as differential reinforcement of independent responding, has little published empirical support for its purported benefits (enhanced rate of acquisition, decreased likelihood of errors and prompt dependence). The purpose of the current investigation was to compare the delivery of high-quality reinforcers exclusively following unprompted responses (differential condition) with the delivery of high-quality reinforcers following both prompted and unprompted responses (non-differential condition) on the rate of skill acquisition for two children with autism. Participants were taught multiple· pairs of target skills (picture sequencing, tacting) …

Evaluation Of An Outpatient Training Service For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders And Their Families, Britt Winter

Masters Theses

Autism spectrum disorders have a substantial impact on the lives of families and can result in a variety of enrichments to the family environment as well as certain specific stressors (Hecimovic & Gregory, 2005; Tidmarsh & Volkmar, 2003). One service that has proven effective for treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorders as well as improvement in family dynamics is parent training (Schreibman, 1988). The current study examined 46 individual client files from an outpatient parent training clinic serving children with autism spectrum disorders. Parents were taught to implement interventions for skill acquisition with their children using a behavioral skills …

Functional Assessment Of Problem Behavior In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review Of 32 Cases, Jessa R. Love

Masters Theses

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among children aged 4 to 17 years is approximately 5.5 to 5.7 out of 1000 children (Centers for Disease Control, 2006). It is not uncommon for children with these disorders to display a wide range of problem behavior (e.g., Farrar-Schneider, 1992; Oswald et al., 1992). While a number of studies have reported aggregated data on the reinforcement functions of such problem behavior, none have reported the distribution of functions with a sample comprised solely of individuals on the autism spectrum. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine individual client data from an …