Digital Commons Network^™

Integration Of Multi Lifecycle Assessment And Design For Environment Database Using Relational Moddel Concepts, Bhagyashree Suratran

Theses

Multi-lifecycle Assessment (MLCA) systematically considers and quantifies the consumption of resources and the environmental impact associated with a product or process. Design challenges posed by a multi-lifecycle strategy are significantly more complex than traditional product design. The designer must look forward in time to maximize the product's end-of-life yield of assemblies, parts and materials while looking backward to the world of existing products for feedstock sources for the current design. As MLCA and DEE share some common data items, such as, part geometry, material and manufacturing process, it is advantageous to integrate the database for MLCA and DEE. The integration …

A Study Of Factors Affecting Cardiovascular Reactivity, Andrew Gill Ventura

Theses

This pilot study was conducted to determine what affects the cardiovascular reactivity of different people. Variables such as the order of stress-inducing and relaxing activities, performing multiple tasks on different days, personality, familial history of diseases, and general health were investigated as to their effects, if any, on cardiovascular reactivity.

Ten healthy, normal male subjects, aged 18 - 33 years, volunteered to be subjected to studies on three experimental days, the first one being for gathering information. On the second and third days, the subjects performed the following activities: mental arithmetic, numeric repetition, 10 breaths-per-minute (bpm) paced-breathing, and normal breathing, …

To Who Or What Do We Owe Sustainable Development? A Search For An Ethical Framework For Sustainable Development, Mia Soderlund

Theses

This thesis focuses on the ethical dimension of sustainable development as described in the Bruntland report. According to this report, we do have certain moral obligations to future generations. This thesis asks whether traditional moral philosophy, such as utilitarian and contractarian theories, can justify moral obligations to future generations, and if they can serve as ethical frameworks for sustainable development.

The basic idea with sustainable development is to create a balance between society, the environment and the economy. If the environment is ascribed instrumental value, which is the case with traditional moral philosophy then there is no balance, because its …

From The One-Room Schoolhouse To The One-Person School Communication Office, Monica A. Faulkenbery

Theses

Definition: School community r elations is effective communication between the school district, the individual schools and the public. Good school public relations seeks to gain the public's favorable attention by building goodwill and understanding about the work, mission and activities of the school district.

The Issue: Today's school communicator wears many hats. Unlike some corporate public relations offices that are segmented by tasks and talents such as media coordination, publications and development, the school communications office, even when that office consists of one person, must be expert in all areas.

Many of today's school communication offices now work in …

The Personality Trait Of Hardiness As It Relates To Bereavement, Janice Dianne Davis

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between one personality factor concerning the beliefs about one's world to the resolution of grief. The question to be studied was whether unresolved grief was related to levels of hardiness. Thirty individuals served as subjects for this study. They completed the Resolution of Grief Instrument and the Hardiness Scale. Results of the Pearson product-moment correlation showed that a negative relationship exists between hardiness levels and the resolution of grief

The Molecular Characterisation Of Selected Epidemic Associated Gram Negative Pathogens In Southern Ireland, Mairéad Daly

Theses

This study was undertaken to evaluate various molecular techniques for the analysis of Gram negative bacterial associated epidemics. The first investigation dealt with bovine mastitis outbreaks, where the causative agent was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Epidemiological findings, suggested that all herds were infected from teat wipes that were contaminated with this organism. Initial investigations using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), indicated a possible clonal relationship between all outbreak linked strains, with one exception. This finding was confirmed following pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and ribotype analysis. PCR was again employed to study a rather unusual epidemic, involving Salmonella tel-el-kebir over a …

Whole Genome Sequencing Of L.Monocytogenes And L.Innocua : A Basis For Comparative Genomics Of The Genus Listeria, Rachel Purcell

Theses

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive, food-borne human and animal pathogen. L.innocua is a non-pathogenic species the most closely related to L. monocytogenes. Comparative genomics between a pathogenic and a closely related non-pathogenic species is a powerful approach for identifying genes or regions on the chromosome, which might be involved in virulence. Therefore whole genome sequencing of these two organisms was undertaken. The strategy used was based on a random approach combined with end-sequencing of a medium insert library for the finishing phase. Based on the available sequence data for these two species an in silico analysis for the presence of …

The Death Of Privacy, Darren W. Bax

Theses

This thesis will focus on the issue of personal privacy and the growing threat to its existence in a technological society.

The areas most associated with privacy loss include increased government intrusions, legislation, workplace, healthcare industry, Internet, and identity theft. Chapter one provides a historical perspective beginning with primitive culture and their struggle to maintain privacy in the lives. Interesting enough, privacy protection was not mentioned by the judicial system until 1880 when privacy was defined as the "right to be left alone." To address concerns about privacy reform the Supreme Court cited this right of privacy as having " …

Tactile Hazardous Material Information System (Thmis), Alejandro Ruiz

Theses

In today's work environment, many dangers exist around that can harm workers who are not aware of the hazards in their environment. If these workers happen to be visually impaired, then identifying those hazards with the present labeling systems would be difficult. The Hazardous Material Information System (HMIS) was chosen to be adapted with tactile patterns and numbers. The tactile patterns and numbers would not change the layout and intent of the HMIS, but enhance its effectiveness.

Five tactile patterns and five tactile numbers were designed to be recognizable and simple. The patterns and numbers were tested and observed to …

Transformation Of The Urban Fabric In Siena During Fascism : Sventramento And Risanamento Of Salicotto, Formerly Known As The Jewish Getto, Joanna Szymanska

Theses

The subject of this thesis is the transformation of the urban fabric in Siena at the time of early 20th century Italian Fascism. The investigation focuses on the transformation of the neighborhood of Salicotto, formerly known as the Jewish Ghetto, that began with the removal of inhabitants to the periphery of the city, the neighborhoods of Ravacciano and Valli and subsequent Sventramento, 'disembowelment' demolition of housing and urban fabric. The rubble from the demolished housing was transported to Campo del Rastrello and used as fill for a new stadium. The process continued with the replacement of the original housing …

Is There A Relationship Between Perceived Spousal Support And Marital Satisfaction Of Female Graduate School Students?, Kelle M. Mccallum

Theses

Deciding to return to graduate school as an adult student creates another role for an individual to fulfill Studies have shown that women. especially. feel role strain or conflict more than men when returning to school Little research has been done on the role the woman's spouse plays in her attempts to complete her degree. This correlational study examined perceived spousal support and marital satisfaction among female graduate school students. Thirty-nine female students volunteered for this study. The volunteers completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and the Student Relationships Questionnaire The results suggest there is a significant relationship between perceived spousal …

Relationship Between Locus Of Control And Self-Esteem As Well As Locus Of Control And Life Satisfaction In Persons Who Are Physically Disabled, Patricia Kaye Mitchell

Theses

Although various aspects of adjustment to disability have been addressed in current research literature, little empirical and specific data has been gathered in the areas of locus of control, self-esteem and life satisfaction. This study furthered recent research by addressing the relationship between these variables. Disabled adults who are mobility impaired were selected from various organizations in the St. Louis, Denver and eastern regions of the United States. Sixty subjects in this study completed the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Tennessee Self-Concept Scale-Second Edition (TSCS:2) and the Levenson's Internal, Powerful Others and Chance Scale (1, P and C scale). The …

Effects Of Father-Absence On Male Sex Role, Terri L. Portrell

Theses

This study explored the effects that the presence or absence of a father living in the household has on the sex-role development of male children. With an increasing number of males being reared in fatherless, mother-headed families, it is important to understand this phenomenon. Seventy-two male college students, ages 18 to 25, were subjects. Thirty-six were raised in father-present households, while thirty-six were raised in father-absent, mother-headed households. The Bern Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) was employed to assess each subject's sex-role. Past research suggests that males reared without fathers in the home develop a less masculine sex-role orientation and are far …

A Comparison Of Behavior Of Children Of Two Parent Families And Children Of Single Parents And Divorced Parents In The Elementary Classroom Setting, Fran Marlene Sprous

Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the classroom behavior of students from single and divorced homes to behavior of students from intact two parent homes. The study was designed to examine students' delinquent/problem behaviors. In this study four third grade classes were randomly selected from a Midwestern public school district. The teachers were instructed to observe their students (n=90) for one month. Of the 90 students, 48 were males and 42 were females. After one month the teachers were asked to complete the Behavior Scale-2 on the 90 students. Results suggest that there is a significant …

Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity, And Depression, Jeanne Marie Goacher

Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of depression that is going untreated in adolescents with an Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis. This study included high school age students (grades 9-12) who either had a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD, had never been diagnosed with depression, and who have never been treated for depression and another group who did not have a diagnosis of either ADD/ ADHD or depression. After obtaining parental permission, through a questionnaire format, the students were given the Beck Depression Inventory. A Chi-Square was performed to …

The Effect Of Binaural Auditory Beats On The Anxiety And Psychological Hardiness Levels Of Graduate Students, Terry L. Moore

Theses

Three graduate students from a Midwestern urban university were selected from a pool of volunteers based on elevated levels of anxiety. The students were initially tested using the Self-Evaluation Questionnaire and Hardiness Scale. Students were provided with audio tapes using binaural beats. Each Self-Evaluation Questionnaire score was tracked for the purpose of determining the affect of the audio tapes on levels of anxiety and hardiness. All three students showed reduced levels of anxiety after using the tapes, with either a similar or higher level of Hardiness.

The Relation Of Job Satisfaction To Degree Of Disclosure About One's Sexual Orientation For Gay, Lesbian, And Bisexual Educators, Jane Ellen Miles

Theses

The threat of discrimination and job loss causes many gay, lesbian, and bisexual (g/ I/ b) Americans to keep their sexual orientation a secret at work. The decision to keep one's personal life hidden increases the level of stress experienced and can coincide with lower levels of job satisfaction. The fear of discrimination is even greater for g/1/b individuals working in K - 12 educational settings due to the more socially conservative environment of schools. This study examined the relationship between degree of disclosure about one's homosexual orientation and one's level of job satisfaction. It was hypothesized that there would …

Correlates Of Offenders Among Individuals With Severe Emotional Disturbances, Jaimie Peoples

Theses

Mental illness, in the context of severe and enduring mental illness, is a growing problem particularly among incarcerated individuals and is likely to have implications for the way mental health services are utilized in local jails, state prisons, and federal prisons. The goal of the current study was to determine a relationship between persons suffering from mental illness among individuals with a criminal background.

As the prison populations increase, so do the number of mentally ill individuals involved in the criminal justice system. Many criminals suffer from homelessness and health-related concerns (e.g., substance abuse, HIV infection), these individuals may alternate …

Abusive Relationships: Hidden Crimes, Neidra V. Banton

Theses

Domestic violence is a crime, and the first step toward addressing the problem is through communication. Making society aware that there is a problem starts the process. Once communication of the problem is known then education is the next step. Educating society and all individuals affected by domestic violence whether as a victim or as a community helper is crucial toward stopping the crime.

Research of this social problem comprises the first three chapters of the graduate paper. Chapter one addresses the thoughts and reasons behind the belief that domestic violence is criminal through the research gathered from the social …

A Study Of The Correlation Between Coping Strategies And Locus Of Control, Joyce Everett

Theses

This study explores the relationships between gender, locus of control and coping strategies. The Ways of Coping Questionnaire and Levenson's IPC scale were distributed to employees at a social service agency and at a graduate school in the Midwestern United States. The study consisted of 26 males and 26 females who volunteered to participate by returning the completed instruments. At-test was conducted. and gender differences in locus of control and coping strategies were analyzed. No significant differences were found between locus of control and gender and gender and coping strategies. A Pearson r correlation was completed to determine a direct …

The Redesignment Of An Acute Inpatient Dual Diagnosis Unit, Irene Harris Griggs

Theses

This project will focus on the study of mental illness and chemical abuse/dependence as it has progressed into the entity of dual diagnosis or what experts consider co-existing or co-occurring disorders.

Research has revealed the increase in the number of individuals suffering from co-occurring illnesses since the early 1980's. Because this condition has become the norm rather than the exception, it becomes necessary to focus more clearly on individuals that are diagnosed with this illness and on the most effective treatment in order to assist the individual in recovery.

Individuals have had co-existing or co-occurring disorders prior to the early …

Intensity Of Grief And Belief In Personal Control, Diana M. Alferink

Theses

Much research has focused on stress and its consequences. Some studies have indicated personal control helps an individual handle stress better and remain healthier. Little research, however, has examined the role personal control plays in bereavement as a stressful life event. This correlational study examined the relationship between belief in personal control and grief intensity experienced from losing a loved one to death. Volunteer subjects primarily from Grief Support Groups completed the Belief in Personal Control Scale and the Texas Revised Grief Inventory Results demonstrated some instances when higher belief in personal control resulted in lower intensity of grief in …

The Effect Of The Environment On Office Worker Productivity And Creativitiy, Karen D. Clark

Theses

This paper will explore the effect of the physical and human environment on office worker creativity and productivity.

The study will begin with a discussion of creativity, addressing questions such as: Why do we want creative employees? What value to they bring to an organization? Can the elements that enhance creativity in office workers also enhance productivity? How is creativity enhanced? Why is it that many organizations successfully stifle creativity, thus hampering employee morale and productivity?

Research has shown that the physical environment affects workers' ability to think and function effectively. There is a basic need for aesthetics as a …

Water From The Moon, Christopher A. Duggan

Theses

During the scalding, dry summer of 1988, it would appear 23-year-old Dennis Dearbome is at a crossroads. More accurately, he is not on a road of any kind. The only child of affluent parents in suburban Minneapolis, Dennis finds his carefree existence at home unceremoniously ended when, after a string of lost jobs on his part, his parents decide to evict him from their house. At the same time, his father, an influential bank president, lands him a position as an illustrator for a small greeting card company. Dennjs can handle the technical demands of the job because of a …

Intimacy In Men: The Androgynous Male, Melissa Jane Hillig

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between intimacy and masculinity in men. Subjects completed the Bern Sex Role Inventory (BSRI). The scores were then correlated with levels of intimacy, as measured by the Miller Social Intimacy Scale (MSIS). The scores were determined for sixty-two male. middle class, volunteers, aged eighteen and above. The outcome of the study showed a significant inverse correlation between intimacy and masculinity, and a modest positive correlation between femininity and intimacy. Androgynous individuals reported a significantly higher degree of intimacy than masculine individuals.

Secondary Traumatic Stress In Law Enforcement Personnel, William Carl Heusler

Theses

This study was designed to add to the body of empirical knowledge about law enforcement occupational stress utilizing the compassion fatigue/compassion satisfaction model developed by Figley and Stamm. The predictions that intimate contact with trauma victims will increase the risk for compassion fatigue and burnout was evaluated yielding results that established no difference between law enforcement personnel with direct contact and those that had little or no contact with trauma victims. The suggestion that secondary trauma has a cumulative effect on persons exposed over time was also investigated showing that in this population of police officers, a cumulative impact did …

Effects Of Nonstandard Work Schedules On Marital Satisfaction Among Law Enforcement Officers, Annette Marie Jansen

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in level of marital satisfaction among police officers who worked standard hours (day shift) and those who worked nonstandard hours (afternoon/midnight shifts). Thirty police officers employed during standard hours, and 33 police officers employed during nonstandard hours were administered a demographic questionnaire and the Index of Marital Satisfaction Inventory. Scores were tabulated and it was concluded that there was not a significant difference in marital satisfaction among the two groups (t = -.483; p = .631).

The Relationship Between Burnout Among Secondary School Counselors And Selected Personal And School Variables, Paula P. Johnson

Theses

The purpose of the study was to: (1) assess the level of burnout and stress of public school counselors, (2) detem1ine if public school counselors differed in the reported level of burnout based on selected personal variables, and selected school variables. A convenient, volunteer sample was used from 42 public school counselors in a suburban area of St. Louis, Missouri. The instruments used for the study were the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Form Educational) and a demographic questionnaire.

The findings suggested that that level of burnout in the sample was in the moderate range on the Emotional Exhaustion subscale and in …

Differences In Attitude Between Black And White Women Towards Domestic Violence, Paula Ellis

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the similarities and/or differences between African American and White women in their level of acceptance and personal experience regarding domestic violence. This study compared 62 women, 31 African American and 31 White women, ages ranging from 18 to over 58, employed at an area hospital in St. Louis. The study addressed their experiences and attitudes toward domestic violence. The data was analyzed through descriptive statistical comparisons between the two groups, using the Chi-Square procedure. The results of the study indicate no significant difference in the level of acceptance of violence between the …

A Study Of Death Anxiety And The Near Death Experience, Wanza J. Borgmeyer

Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the level of death anxiety displayed by people who have experienced Near Death Experiences (NDEs) to the level of death anxiety displayed by people who have not experienced NDEs. The Near Death Experiencers were drawn from members of the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS) and others contacted through mutual acquaintances. The subjects were requested to complete the Near-Death Experience scale developed by Dr. Bruce Greyson as well as the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS) developed by Donald I. Templer. Completing the Near Death Experience Scale helped to identify subjects for the …