Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Early Adolescent Self-Esteem And Peer Relationship Problems, Nancy L. Woods

Theses

Peer relationships and self-esteem among early adolescents, as well as the relationship between the two, have been studied by various researchers in the past. The purpose of this correlational study was to determine the strength of the relationship between early adolescents' peer relationship problems and self: esteem. Specifically, this research studied early adolescents in grades five through eight in one suburban, White, middle class elementary school and three suburban, White, middle class junior high schools. Students completed the Self-Esteem Index and the Index of Peer Relations. Pearson correlations that were performed to analyze the data suggested a negatively-associated, linear, and …

Pro-Aging Vs. Anti-Aging: A Comparative Study Of Attitudes Toward Older Adults, Vanessa Lee Benavidez

Theses

A comparative study was conducted on the attitudes toward older adults between Counselors and Non Counselors. The participants included 50 Licensed Professional Counselors from the state of Missouri, who are registered members of the American Counseling Association (ACA), and 33 Graduate students from Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Missouri, who are enrolled in graduate programs unrelated to professional counseling. The participants completed a demographic questionnaire and the Facts on Aging Quiz' (FAQl). The demographic questionnaire contained personal data, and the FAQ 1 measured attitudes and knowledge in five areas: correct answer, negative bias, positive bias, neutral, and don't know. The …

Model Based Effective Cell Volume Calculation In Ultrasound Tissue Characterization, Di Lai

Theses

In reflective ultrasonic imaging, some statistical parameters can be extracted from the backscattered RF signal. Applying Rayleigh statistics or non-Rayleigh statistics to these parameters, the underlying tissue parameters such as effective scatterer number density that characterize the tissues can be further estimated. However, if the statistical processing is applied to the time domain signal, narrow band excitation pulse needs to be used when we consider the frequency dependency of the backscattered signal. The scattering resolution volume is also difficult to estimate. Chen, et al proposed a different method to determine the frequency-dependent effective scatterer number density, which is the actual …

Development Of Amperometric Enzyme Electrodes For Glucose And Hypoxanthine., Eilish Broderick

Theses

This thesis is concerned with the immobilisation of enzymes on electrosynthesised poly (o- phenylenediamine) membranes for use on amperometric electrodes. The thesis opens with a discussion of the basic principles of enzymology and a review of a diverse range of biosensors, followed by a consideration of amperometry as governed by the Cottrell equation.

Glucose oxidase and horseradish peroxidase were co-immobilised in poly (o-phenylenediamine) on platinum electrodes at + 0.6 V versus Ag/AgCl. Using this approach the enzymes are entrapped in a strongly adherent, highly reproducible thin membrane, of thickness approximately 10 nm. This one-step procedure produces a glucose sensor with …

Assessment Of Metals Pollution In Sediments Of The Coastal Area, U.A.E, By Nawal Mubarak Al Qubaisi

Theses

The present study aims at the quantifying and assessment of heavy metals concentrations and pollution in the offshore sediments, off Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. Thirty three samples were collected and subjected to grain size analysis, organic carbon and total carbonate determinations, mineralogical analysis and heavy metals (leachable and residual phasis) determination.

The contents of organic carbon of the study areas vary within a wide range. The maximum was recorded at Abu Dhabi and the minimum at Dubai. There is a trend of increasing organic carbon with the decrease of grain size. In contrast to organic carbon, carbonate contents in …

Cleaner Production Among Multinational Corporations In Southeast Asia, Nguyen Phan Duy Nguyen

Theses

Cleaner Production (CP) represents the change from a conventional end-of-pipe treatment attitude to a proactive approach to pollution prevention and increased production efficiency. CP has been successfully implemented in developing countries, including the countries of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN). ASEAN is becoming an economic development center in Asia, attracting a large amount of foreign direct investments from multinational corporations during the last two decades. However, success in economic development has been accompanied by environmental problems. Understanding the level of CP practices among ASEAN's multinational corporations (MNCs) and National Cleaner Production Centers/Cleaner Production (NCPCs/CP) organizations is important to …

The Effect Of Adhesive Coatings On The Microbial Barrier Properties Of Porous Medical Packaging Materials, Alison M. Kayser

Theses

The most important characteristic for porous medical packaging is the ability to keep devices free from microorganisms from the point of sterilization to the point of use. Downstream converting processes can affect the properties of a package material. One of the most common converting steps is the addition of an adhesive coating. The current test standard for measuring the ability of a porous barrier material to serve as a microbial barrier is ASTM 1608-95. This test method was used to measure the microbial barrier properties of a wide selection of packaging materials in both their coated and uncoated forms. The …

Ephemera, Terri Whitlock

Theses

Not provided.

Cyclic Olefin Copolymer: An Alternative Plastic Film For Pharmaceutical Blister Packages, Kurt Trombley

Theses

This thesis paper will provide data to show that cyclic olefin copolymer blister film can be used as a beneficial alternative to polyvinyl chloride film which is more commonly used in the pharmaceutical market today. Polyvinyl chloride continues to be a highly controversial packaging material due to potential environmental concerns. Cyclic olefin copolymer is shown to have properties which result in fewer environmental concerns and also can provide the added benefit of an improved barrier to moisture permeation when compared to polyvinyl chloride film. This paper documents a summary of the data on both sides of the polyvinyl chloride environmental …

An Enzymatic Method For The Measurement Of Magnesium, Joseph Murphy

Theses

Magnesium is quantitatively the most important intracellular divalent cation (4), and has been found to serve in a wide range of enzymatic reactions (2). Studies have shown that up to ten percent of hospital patients may have hypomagnesaemia (6).

Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) under highly specified conditions is the de facto reference method for magnesium measurement but only about ten per cent of laboratories routinely use this method (4). This is because AAS is time-consuming, requires specialised equipment and a certain level of expertise, and may be hazardous due to the use of inflammable gases. Colourimetric methods e.g. calmagite are …

Desired Absence: A Woman's Perspective, Heather Dominick

Theses

Humans are born either male or female depending on their sexual organs. While there are specific biological functions connected to those organs, it is society that assigns distinct, opposite behavioral standards, mores, and roles for each gender. These are portrayed as outgrowths of biological differences and considered normal. However, gender roles are socially constructed not biologically determined. My thesis work Desired Absence: A Woman's Perspective explores the themes of gender and violence using photography and video. The body of work includes two components; a series of seven silver gelatin mural sized photographs of the human face, and a single channel …

Eye Movements And Natural Tasks In An Extended Environment, Roxanne Canosa

Theses

Eye movements can be thought of as a window onto pre-conscious thought. Patterns of visual fixations over time as well as space can reveal cognitive strategies that are not amenable to conscious control or verbalization. A spatial analysis of an eye movement trace usually emphasizes the role that eye movements have in moving the retinal image of an object of interest from the periphery to the fovea for closer inspection. It is generally believed that a sequence of fixations across a region of space builds up the perception of a high-resolution field of view everywhere. Recent studies have shown that …

Atmospheric Compensation For Seawifs Images Of Lake Superior Utilizing Spatial Information, Kirk Knobelspiesse

Theses

Several assumptions are made with the established atmospheric compensation algorithm for images from the SeaWiFS remote sensing platform. One of these assumptions, the existence of Case I (optically clear) ocean water, cannot be made for images of Lake Superior. A modification to the established atmospheric compensation algorithm is presented, where empirical information and external spatial data are utilized to compensate for the atmosphere in all regions of the lake. The established SeaWiFS atmospheric compensation algorithm uses a form of the Dark Object Subtraction (DOS) method. SeaWiFS has two Near-Infrared (NIR) bands used for atmospheric compensation. At these wavelengths, Case I …

Nanofiltration-Based Diafiltration Process For Solvent Exchange In Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Jignesh P. Sheth

Theses

Commercially available solvent stable polymeric nanofiltration membranes were used to study the nanofiltration and diafiltration operations in the context of the pharmaceutical industry. Experimental results are presented for a two-step operation involving the preconcentration of a feed solution via nanofiltration followed by the replacement of the first stage solvent with a second solvent via diafiltration in two stages. Membranes MPF-50 and MPF-60, having molecular weight cut-offs of 700 and 400 respectively, were used in the present study. A solution of erythromycin (MW 734) in ethyl acetate was preconcentrated via nanofiltration followed by replacement of ethyl acetate with methanol via batch …

Autonomic Activity In Gulf War Veterans Using Heart Rate And Systolic Blood Pressure Variability, Maryann S. Fam

Theses

Heart rate variability (HRV) describes variations of heart rate and is attributed to cyclic fluctuations in autonomic tone. The different methods of heart rate variability analysis allow for a non-invasive assessment of autonomic activity. This study analyzes the heart rate variability through both frequency domain methods and joint time-frequency domain methods which were executed through the LabVJEW graphical programming language. These algorithms were utilized to assess autonomic nervous system activity in Gulf War veterans with no health complaints versus Gulf War veterans with chronic fatigue syndrome. The heart rate variability analysis was obtained from acquired measurements of heart rate and …

Nanoporous Sio2/Vycor Membranes For Air Separation, Mihir Tungare

Theses

Porous Vycor tubes with 40Å initial pore diameter were modified using low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) of silicon dioxide N0₂). Diethylsilane (DES) in conjunction with nitrous oxide (N₂O) was used as a precursor to synthesize these SiO₂ films. The aim of this study was to obtain a considerable selectivity between species of comparable size and hence N₂O was used. The use of N₂O was believed to make the process self-limiting. DES was allowed to flow through the tube and N₂O on the outside in the chamber at 550°C …

Using A Multiple Intelligence Checklist In Determining Multiple Intelligence, Rebecca Vee Ralston

Theses

Multiple Intelligence Theory was introduced in 1983 by Howard Gardner in his book Frames of Mind. Since the book was introduced. many educators who were searching for new methods to reach their students have utilized the theory of Multiple Intelligences in their classes. To assist in determining students' areas of strength in Multiple Intelligence. The Multiple Intelligence Checklist (MJC) was used in this study. Students, seven hundred seventy-seven, from a suburban elementary school were asked to complete the MIC. Data was collected from students in grades 2 through 5. A factor analysis was completed to determine if the checklist would …

Bipolar Disorder And Locus Of Control: Implications For Treatment Compliance, Linda J. Ryan-Cox

Theses

Theoretically, a paradigm shift in the 1960s made community-based care and out-patient treatment an acceptable alternative to institutionalization of the chronically mentally ill. Utilizing the Levenson Multidimensional Locus of Control Scale for Psychiatric Patients, the author conducted a causal-comparative study to determine if a link exists between having bipolar disorder, a chronic mental illness, and an external locus of control, a link which might explain the inability of this population to maintain their optimal level of mental health utilizing the out-patient treatment model. Though the study failed to demonstrate any significant differences in external measures of loci of control between …

Solid Phase Organic Synthesis: Investigation Of Resins And Linkers For Phenols, Laurie Seifert

Theses

A loading and cleaving study was performed on solid phase to determine the optimal linkers and conditions for phenols, a key functional group in photographic couplers. Fourteen different commercially available resins were analyzed. Of these, ArgoGel Wang CI was determined the best for loading and cleaving the model phenol coupler. Yields of 95% for both loading and cleaving were achieved as determined by MAS Nanoprobe NMR and HPLC respectively. A few others gave great loading (90- 100%) such as Merrifield, Brominated Wang, Bromo PPOA, and TentaGel COOH, however poor cleavage ability rendered these resins insufficient for phenols.

The Purification And Characterization Of Threonine Dehydrogenase From Klebsiella Pneumoniae And Enterobacter Aerogenes, Laith Ali

Theses

Threonine dehydrogenase has been purified to apparent homogeneity from Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter aerogenes. Purification was achieved by sequential chromatography on DEAE ion exchange, Blue Sepharose affinity gel, and Toyopearl HW-55s gel filtration. The amino-terminus for the enzyme in both organisms has been sequenced and placed the enzyme from K. pneumoniae with a class of long chain alcohol dehydrogenase family. The subunit molecular mass was estimated as 38.8 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, while an apparent native molecular mass of 154 kDa was shown by gel filtration chromatography, suggesting a tetrameric structure. As for the enzyme from E. …

The Relationship Between Homophopia And Fear-Of-Intimacy In Heterosexual College Students, Bonnie S. Wilke

Theses

This thesis explores the relationship between homophobia and fear-of-intimacy in heterosexual college students, with a focus on gender differences. The study builds upon existing research suggesting that men often display higher levels of homophobia and fear-of-intimacy, potentially due to gender role socialization, cultural expectations, and psychosocial development patterns. Using Erikson's theory of psychosocial development and various social and psychological frameworks, the author hypothesizes that homophobia may act as a barrier to intimacy, especially in men.

A sample of 65 heterosexual undergraduate and graduate students (23 males and 43 females) from a Midwestern private university participated in the study. Participants completed …

A Cross Culture Comparison Of Learning Styles, Yamit Massachi

Theses

This study examined differences in learning styles between African-American and Caucasian students while also taking into consideration students' gender. Students in grade 9th through 12th grade completed the Silver-Hanson Learning Preference Inventory (Hanson, Silver & Gulkus, 1984). This inventory is a 125-item questionnaire, which assesses students' preferences for different learning conditions, modes, and areas of interest. The sample included the results of the Learning Style inventory obtained from 95 African-American students and 95 Caucasian-Students. This study found that there is substantial evidence that gender has an affect on learning style. However, this study found marginal evidence that ethnicity affects learning …

Gait Development For Use In Dynamic Gait Optimization Of Qudrupedrobot Walking, Mark Will

Theses

The ability of walking robots to operate in areas that are inaccessible to wheeled robots has lead to significant research in the field of gait development and optimization for these robots. In this particular study, a catalog of gaits for use in a dynamic gait optimization system to optimize the walking speed of the quadruped Arturo robot on flat terrain is developed. This catalog of robot gaits was developed using a genetic algorithm formulation; various combinations of the selection, mutation, and crossover operators were analyzed.

The Arturo robot was modified so that physical verification of the developed gaits could be …

Development And Characterization Of Techniques For Neuro-Imaging Registration, Carlo Ciulla

Theses

Three automated techniques were developed for the alignment of Neuro-Images acquired during distinct scanning periods and their performance were characterized. The techniques are based on the assumption that the human brain is a rigid body and will assume different positions during different scanning periods. One technique uses three fiducial markers, while the other two uses eigenvectors of the inertia matrix of the Neuro-Image, to compute the three angles (pitch, yaw and roll) needed to register the test Neuro-Image to the reference Neuro-Image. A rigid body transformation is computed and applied to the test Neuro-Image such that it results aligned to …

Lead Exposure And Physiological Enzymes Among Industrial Versus Non-Industrial Workers In Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates., Fatima Rashid Mattar Said Al-Neamy

Theses

Lead, which is considered to be as a toxic metal without any useful physiological or biochemical function in human body was widely used since the evolution of the industrialized era as a chemical part of much machinery and commodities. Lead containing gasoline, lead paints, lead-soldered cans, lead-glazed earthenware and tobacco are examples of sources of lead. Therefore, lead continues to be a significant public health concern globally.

Nowadays it is particularly impossible to find a person with blood lead level lower than 0.48μmol/L (100 μg/ dL) especially in city areas. Changes in neurobehavioral, cardiovascular, hematological, and renal functions are found …

Vernacular Letterforms: An Expression Of Cultural And Social Values, Georgiana Leite

Theses

This thesis investigates similar problem-solving processes used in the fields of graphic design and engineering, revealing an underlying relationship between the two disciplines. It shows the principles these two disciplines share and how they employ a common creative process. By comparing these two vastly different disciplines, an understanding of the methodology of thought is constructed.

A Feminist Creation Myth, Evelyn Zehraoui

Theses

None provided.

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

Theses

Not available.

Effect Of Adult Attachment On The Resiliency Of Youth In Behavior Disordered Classrooms, Rachel R. Henson

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that adult attachment has on the resiliency of at-risk youth . The Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment was revised to measure the degree of attachment to a significant adult and was administered along with the Children' s Resiliency Attitudes Scale to students in behavior disordered classrooms (n = 41). The assessments were given during one class period in six behavior disordered classrooms at one school. The results found that those students who feel strong attachments to at least one adult were also more resilient and able to deal with …

Development And Testing Of A Simulated Closed Loop Drug Delivery System For Chf Patients Under Milrinone Administration, Runa Shah

Theses

The purpose of this thesis project is the development and testing of a simulated closed loop drug delivery (CLDD) system that consists of a pharmacokinetic, physiological, and feedback-controlling model. The focus of this study is on the control of milrinone inflision to maintain cardiac output at desired setpoint range for patients suffering from congestive heart failure (CHF). The simulated CLDD system is written in VisSim dynamic simulation language for an IBM-compatible PC.

Milrinone pharmacokinetics are represented by a three compartment model. The physiological model consists of the cardiovascular system model linked to the pharmacodynamic submodel of milrinone. The feedback-controlling model …