Digital Commons Network^™

Cultural Impacts Of Tourism: The Case Of The “Dogon Country” In Mali, Mamadou Ballo

Theses

Cultural tourism began to be recognized as a distinct product category in the late 1970s when tourism marketers and tourism researchers realized that some people traveled specifically to gain a deeper understanding of the culture or heritage of a destination (Tighe, 1986). In most regions of the world, particularly in Europe and North America, cultural attractions have become important in the development of tourism. At the global level, cultural attractions are usually perceived as being icons of important streams of global culture (Richards, 2001). Unfortunately, in developing countries, in which much of the earth's magnificent heritage is located, the preservation …

Models Of Faith And Reason, Peter Holmes

Theses

In his excellent work The Assurance of things Hoped For ¹ surveying the development of the understanding of “faith” in the context of the Christian religion, Avery Dulles provides a concise sketch of the historical development and current manifestation of seven 'models' of faith which still have some contemporary influence. This thesis takes each of the models of faith Dulles presents and gives a brief description of the model; offers some preliminary observations about the relationship between faith and reason in the respective models; and, by examining the Church's teaching on faith and reason in Fides et Ratio, discusses …

Individual, Behavioural And Environmental Pathways To Adolescent Obesity, Paola Teresa Chivers

Theses

The longitudinal investigations of the contributions of obesogenic variables to developmental pathways of adolescent obesity were examined. Key obesogenic variables were examined from the extensive database of the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. The data set included variables collected in utero (18-20 weeks), at birth, and at ages 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, and 14 years.

The key research question was: How do individual, behavioural and environmental factors in childhood contribute to weight status at early adolescence? Investigation of this key question examined how factors change over time and their respective influence on obesity, identified critical points in …

Parents' Perceptions And Parental Stress Related Obesity Of Children In United Arab Emirates, Salma Omar Sbait Ai-Nuaimi

Theses

Aim: This study aims to explore parents’ perception of obesity in children and stress related to obesity during childhood period in Emirate of Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates.

Background: The prevalence of excess weight among children is increasing in both developed and developing countries. Overweight and obesity are leading cause of the most common health problems in children. The degree of parents’ perception about their child’s weight is likely to play a critical role in the development and management of childhood obesity. Greater parental perception and involvement is likely to encourage more active monitoring and controlling of child’s dietary …

Re-Evaluating California’S Greenhouse Gas Emission Law: Is It Rational Under The Current Economic Situation?, Hassan Algadi

Theses

This research evaluates the impact of the economic recession on the California Air Resource Board (CARB) strategy for reducing current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from motor vehicles. The principle potential contribution of this work is that it evaluated whether the rationale behind the CARB strategy is or is not valid under the current, unanticipated economic recession.

Does Increasing Metacognitive Awareness Alleviate Retrieval-Induced Forgetting Effects, Lauren W. Jones

Theses

No abstract provided.

A Project-Based Learning Approach To Applied Craft Calculations Within Apprenticeship Education: An Action Research Study, Kevin Furlong

Theses

Using an Action Research methodology, this study was based in Technologicl University Dublin and conducted with the cooperation of three groups of Phase Six Plumbing apprentices over a ten-month period (three cycles). The main aim of the research project was to establish if a deeper understanding and application of Building Services Applied Calculations could be achieved through the implementation of Project-Based Learning within Apprenticeship Education? Research literature shows that not only in Ireland but also abroad, third level education is experiencing what is described as a ‘maths problem’. With applied calculations and mathematics being a fundamental and essential part of …

The Effect Of Visfatin And Adiponectin On Metabolic Parameters Of An Animal Model Of Type 2 Diabetes, Thuraya Saeed Ali Alshamisi

Theses

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common exocrine disorders affecting more than 6% of the world’s population. The incidence and prevalence of this chronic disease are on the rise in many parts of the world including the Middle East. DM is caused by defective Insulin production, release and/or function. The causes and nature of abnormal insulin metabolism is less than clear. While defective insulin secretion is observed in type 1 diabetes, insulin resistance is predominant in type 2 diabetes, which affects more than 94% of the diabetic patients.

Materials and Methods: Rats between the age of two …

Internet Economy: Should The Federal Government Intervene, Sha’Kera Bumbray

Theses

Global citizens choose to engage in electronic business every second of the day. The Internet has allowed for businesses to remain constantly open. All over the world people are able to conduct business quickly and cost effectively. Although the use of the Internet has significant benefits, there are also a number of risks. Most importantly there is a risk of the breach of personal security. This paper will use a patchwork design that consists of a case study and survey techniques to collect data on the use of business technologies by faculty and students at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). …

Imagining The Imaginary: Finding Mr. Marmalade, Brian Kappler

Theses

Unavailable.

My Family, My Open, Deborah A. Herzog

Theses

This collection of poems and non-fiction work focuses on self-reflection and family with all its perfections and imperfections. I believe this collection mirrors the essence of the writer and gives insight to the loved ones who shaped that life. It is a tapestry of emotional revelation derived from introspection and observation of the world.

The author has experienced the joy of reading for over forty years and spent many hours journaling throughout her life. The empty nest syndrome was the catalyst to pursue studies in creative writing. It became a cathartic exploration of life that blossomed into a work that …

The Correlation Between Financial Fraud And Economic Downturn, Karen Alyse Hyink

Theses

Throughout the 20th century, researchers studied financial fraud in order to better understand the factors, motives and environments that increase the occurrences of fraud. By studying these historical trends, modern governmental agencies and public organizations are able to more effectively detect and prevent financial fraud.

Economic climate directly influences the occurrence of fraud; specifically, it is during periods of economic downturn when organizations are more vulnerable to fraudulent attacks. While it has always been assumed that recessionary periods lead to an increase in fraudulent activities, the direct correlation between the two has been greatly understudied by researchers. This thesis is …

The Understudy, Linda Denise Harris

Theses

This story is a first person true account of love and loss between two sisters. The sisters are separated by seven years and other siblings, yet the bond formed in childhood is strengthened through the trials and tribulations of life. When the older sibling learns that she has terminal cancer she wants her sister by her side.

From the perspective of the younger sister, the story weaves from past to present, back and forth, as each substantial scene unfolds. Through her eyes, the younger sibling sheds light on the early years and the reader learns what it was like growing …

Eternal Note Of Sadness, Pyra Intihar

Theses

This collection of poems and short stories is an attempt to answer what Matthew Arnold calls "the eternal note of sadness." The thesis contains poems, two short stories, and one personal narrative. While each of these can be read with different interpretive slants, I choose here to show how each work in this collection is a response to the eternal note of sadness. The poems and personal narrative in the first part of this collection are concerned with the writer's quest, and l will go into depth discussing each of these poems and the narrative because I think they directly …

Temporal Awareness And Rhythmic Performance, Daniel J. Colombo

Theses

The objective of this research was to study the conditions under which rhythmic behavior arises and its effects on task performance and mental workload. It has been demonstrated that temporal awareness (TA) in dynamic systems draws on high-level mental resources and contributes to superior performance on some task elements but not others. Elsewhere it has been demonstrated that TA in environments with high predictability can lead to superior task performance and reduced mental workload. This research sought to examine the behavior and subsequent performance that arises under highly predictable vs. dynamic conditions. Using a computer-based time-sharing task, we analyzed task …

God In The Midst Of Human Warfare, Joseph C. Udeze

Theses

No abstract provided.

Psyche + Physique, Janet Winkie

Theses

Through this thesis I explore how human perceptions are made regarding masculinity and the impact that apparel and environment have on the male psyche and physique. I perceive the function of men's apparel as providing a hinge, or entry point into the male identity, ultimately examining themes such as gender roles, sexuality, social class and age. In this thesis exploration, I intend to examine the male physique and embody it using male and female byproducts, found objects and accessories.

Incorporating themes such as space and place, this practice of assemblage and installation offers the "staging" of male-themed spaces, providing dialogue …

Effect Of The Internet On Reading Fiction Books For Enjoyment And Potential Interest In The Integration Of The Two Media, Jessica S. Cole

Theses

As the Internet grows in popularity, interest in the potential harmful effects that it will have on other media increases. The current study assesses the impact that the Internet has had on the leisure reading of fiction books and attempts to determine whether integrating Internet features with fiction books increases the appeal of reading them. An online survey was completed by 162 college students, which measured reading rates, Internet use, preferred Internet and book features, as well as interest in reading books that integrate Internet features. Findings show no indication that the Internet has affected leisure reading rates, that the …

Design For Invisibility: Designing A Placing System Through The Study Of User-Object Relationships In Everyday Life, Gahyung Song

Theses

The world we live in is a place where people are influenced by designed objects, often without noticing their presence or the fact that they have been designed at all. Although these objects are taken for granted their impact on our everyday life is immeasurable. By examining designed objects with regard to their relationship to users, this thesis attempts to rediscover the meaning of design in everyday life by encouraging a fluid user-object relationship, rather than a passive consumer-product relationship. It is important to understand the everyday phenomena by which designed objects become invisible when they fit one's environment well. …

In Dreams, Jesse Bickel

Theses

Dreams are a nightly phenomenon that everyone experiences. They are full of vivid imagery, imagination, and emotion. Using dreams as a rich source of inspiration I created wooden objects and furniture for the bedroom, the place where dreams occur. Even though dreams vary from person to person, there are common themes that can be found regardless of culture or gender. I tried to combine those themes with unique and specific imagery from my own dreams. Capturing the intangible quality of dreams proved to be difficult. A dream is like a memory, at times clear and intense, or contrastingly brief and …

Extending The Body: A Niche Design For Seamstresses, Brandon Mckean

Theses

As consumers, we are faced with a glut of products, the source of which we are dimly aware. Being unaware of the source of products, we are also unaware of the conditions under which they are produced. Designers often have an analogous relation with users. Unless we are directly involved with field research or user testing, we have an indirect relationship with our audience; hence, the conditions under which the products designed are actually used. To add to the gulf between users and designers, we are often tasked with designing mass-produced items meant to serve the needs of a vast …

Adverse Advertising: The Impact Advertisements Have On Webpage Content Retention, David P. Keppel

Theses

This study examined the effect of Web-based advertising on Webpage content retention. A single-factor experiment was conducted on three groups of subjects (n=105). Each of the three groups differed only regarding the absence or presence of advertisements and the congruity of these advertisements to the thematic design of the Webpage and the informative content. A post-experimental questionnaire assessed the subject's retention of Web page content as well as the subject's retention of any present advertisements. The results suggest advertisement presence significantly reduces a subject's ability to retain informative content. The results do not suggest the congruity of the advertisement to …

In Memory Of Trauma, Amber Johnston

Theses

This thesis delves into the psyche of a survivor of sexual molestation, exploring defense mechanisms, PTSD, and elusive memory in an audio and visual context. Three photographic gazes appear in this work, the dissociative gaze, the experiential gaze and the metaphoric gaze. These gazes are shown in the series In Memory of Trauma which consists of ten large Photographic prints on the gallery wall. Disarticulation is a book of images that discuss the dissociation between mind and body happening after a traumatic experience. There is also a confrontational sound installation, Confessional, that speaks to denial and self-hatred. Work by artists …

Gestural Interaction Of In‐Vehicle Tasks: Audio And Climate Controls, Chongyoon Chung

Theses

I thought if in-vehicle interaction were as easy and spontaneous as our language, it would ensure safe driving. Through this research, I found drivers preferred gestural language to voice language when the control was simple and repetitive. This study investigates gestural interaction of secondary in-vehicle tasks while driving. I researched

functions that were most distractive to drivers and applied those to my new interaction. According to Paul Green, the most distractive in-vehicle interaction was audio and climate controls. Based on this research, I then applied audio and climate controls gestures as input for the interactions. The best eyes and hands …

Eganwo: The Graphic Novel’S Escape To Digital Media, Brian P. Kowalczyk

Theses

Comics are beginning to rise in popularity today, but there is still a significant portion of society that rejects comics as an art form. The main objective of this project was to develop a product for the comic book industry with which they could tap into and benefit from a broader online audience. This project attempts to further what recent success the comic book has had in other forms of media other than that of print, such as movies, videogames, and motion graphics. Reaching out to new demographics on the World Wide Web and combining the comic book experience with …

Hide & Seek: Objects Of Meaning, Amy Maguire Chidiac

Theses

This thesis project is to design a philosophy to create mindfulness in the user of an object. To exemplify the philosophy, the secondary goal is to design objects with these attributes. Objects that encourage mindfulness will be meaningful to the user. Meaningful objects will increase the enjoyment of everyday life. Research on psychology, cultural anthropology, brain function, Taoism, and Zen Buddhism help form the philosophy. The design philosophy developed consists of three criteria that when met will make an object encourage mindfulness in its user. The objects designed are a 5 Inch Utility Knife, a Hemisphere Mixing Bowl, and a …

Time Delays And System Response Times In Human-Computer Interaction, Noah Stupak

Theses

This study sought to determine a type of graphical representation of system response time that would be most beneficial to the user in terms of task performance. Specifically, I examined which type of progress bar would allow the user to return to working with the system most efficiently while performing other concurrent tasks, and how well the user performed these tasks. The different types of progress bars studied included segmented and continuous progress presentations, and linear, accelerating, and decelerating progress behaviors. The results indicate that different representations of system response time affected performance on the two tasks, with the continuous …

Nostalgia, Pavel Romaniko

Theses

The visual part of this project has revolved around ideas that have been in the process of forming themselves for a few years. But if I could assign a topic or a totalizing theme to the project, I would be limiting it in a very particular way. I see Nostalgia as a beginning and in no way something that has come to fruition or to a speci!c resolution. If anything I consider it as a still evolving subject; it is very youthful and fresh for me. The project also rejects a new way of working for me from creating the …

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd) And Gender Differences, Christina A. Carducci

Theses

Few studies investigate gender differences concerning Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Hinshaw, 2002). Further, studies that examine self-report ratings of ADHD in females are lacking. Self-reports are crucial to identifying ADHD in females who have been found to have more internalizing symptoms of ADHD (Quinn, 2005). Current models suggest that executive function, rather than attention, is the core deficit of ADHD and that it may serve as a neurobehavioral domain that differentiates individuals with ADHD based on subtype and gender (Wodka et al., 2008). This study examined gender differences on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning- Adult Version (BRIEF-A) …

An Examination Of Scent-Marking, Individual Odors, And Individual Discrimination In The Raccoon (Procyon Lotor)., Laura Alice Kent

Theses

This study had three objectives: 1) to characterize the patterns of scent-marking in captive raccoons; 2) to determine if wild-trapped raccoons can discriminate individual differences in the odors of urine, feces or anal sac secretions; 3) to analyze the variation in chemical composition of urine samples among individuals. I observed five raccoons living in a semi-natural enclosure at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska and recorded all behaviors related to scent-marking. For the studies on individual differences and discrimination through odors, I used the familiarization-discrimination technique with raccoons housed in conditions that approximated their natural environment. In the chemical …