Digital Commons Network^™

Hazelwood School District V. Kuhlmeier: The Battle For First Amendment Freedom, Robert J. Dirksen

Theses

The Spectrum, the student newspaper of Hazelwood East High School, St. Louis, Missouri, was censored on May 13, 1983, by Principal Robert Reynolds. Reynolds deemed two articles unsuitable for the younger students, especially fourteen year old freshmen: one an article describing the experiences of three teenage pregnant students at Hazelwood East, which did not in Reynolds' view sufficiently disguise the identity of the three students; and a second article, which identified by name (later deleted pre-publication) students who had made derogatory remarks concerning their parents' divorce and alcohol problems. The staff of the Spectrum was not apprised of the deletion …

Service Measurement Of Rit Co-Op Program, Veeramol Maneeratanasarn

Theses

This is a continuation of project in service measurement in RIT cooperative education program developed by Amynah Virani in 1993. This study is testing a SPSS (the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) program that analyze statistical data for the evaluation process in School of Food, Hotel, and Travel management. The t-test is done in 3 years from 1993 through 1995 in gender and major of students and gender of employers. The questionnaire is already in use. The data is obtained from employers and student forms and it has to be paired to use in the research. There were 37 …

Concepts Of Career Planning, Stephanie G. Venable

Theses

This thesis study consists of general information and historical perspectives on vocational guidance. Vocational guidance is researched and the problems of managing one's own career. This study introduces major writers and summarizes their contributions of work in vocational guidance. Specifically the research of what organizations and schools are doing to help individuals manage their careers. The most important research to this focus is job hunting and in-depth discussion on various topics related to this focus.

The Role Of Non-Verbal Communication In The Maintenance Of Stratification By Gender And Race In America, Barbara Ann Dulaney

Theses

The research goal of the following culminating project is to identify the role of non-verbal communication in the maintenance of social stratification based on gender and race in America.

The first chapter seeks to clarify the two main components: social stratification and non-verbal communication. Social stratification is defined and a summary is given of several theories regarding stratification and of how, in various religious, political and social movements, it is a significant factor. The constituents of non-verbal communication are identified.

The second chapter reviews literature on the subject of general social stratification. In order to present a concise look at …

A Comparison Of Depression In Males And Females After The Loss Of A Spouse, Thomas N. Dejong

Theses

The purpose of this research was to explore differences in depression between males and females after the loss of a spouse. After a review of the literature, a twenty-one item inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory was given to thirty nine surviving spouse's (17 males and 22 females). AT-test of difference between means of the three factors of the Beck Depression Inventory, (negative self-attitudes, physiological symptoms, and sadness) was performed and the hypothesis that there were differences in depression between males and females after the loss of a spouse was not supported.

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Identity, Style, And Locus Of Control In Later Adolescent Development, Polly A. Sharp

Theses

This study investigates the psychosocial crisis of later adolescence Berzonsky's ISl2 and Levenson's I. P, and C Scales were correlated. The I, P, and C Scales measure locus of control. The I Scale measures internal locus of control. The P and C Scales describe external locus of control. The P Scale measures a belief that powerful others control event outcomes. The C Scale measures the belief that things happen due to chance or fate. The Identity Style Inventory - Revised (1512) measures an individual's identity style. Identity style 1s the characteristic pattern of behaviors most often used by an individual …

Value Comparison Among Native American Indians And Non-Native American Counseling Students, Marion Hardin

Theses

This study examines the value differences and similarities between Native American Indians and non-native American graduate students who have had multi cultural training. The Rokeach Value Survey, which ranks 18 Terminal values and 18 Instrumental values, was administered to 22 non- Native American students enrolled in a counseling program at Lindenwood College in St. Louis, Mo. and 21 Native American Indians who are studying at Haskell College for Indians in Lawrence, Kansas. For this study, Kendall's coefficient of concordance was used to rank values and determine agreement between values and Chi Square analysis was performed to more accurately determine results. …

Family Rituals And Adolescence: A Study Of The Relationship Between And Adolescent's Race, Gender, Parental Marital Status, And The Amount Of Ritual In His/Her Family, Kim Hunziker

Theses

This study explores the relationship between an adolescent's gender, race, parental marital status, and the self-reported level of ritual in his or her family. Participants included 37 White, and African American youth from age 13 to 18, who were active in either a suburban church youth group or an urban community center. Each participant completed a demographic profile and the Family Routine Questionnaire. AT-Test and a chi-square were performed to compare a number of the independent variables (gender, race, and parental marital status) to the dependent questionnaire scores. The results of the T-Test indicate a statistically significant difference in the …

A Study Of Relationship Between The Symptomatology Of Trauma And Chemical Dependency In Two Outpatient Samples Of Women, V. Michela Bailey

Theses

This research tests for independence between the symptomatology of chemical dependency and trauma in two self referred outpatient samples of women. Subjects are 18 years or older, and samples of convenience from the St. Louis metropolitan area. Five symptom clusters common to both groups are identified from the literature: avoidance and intrusion, depression, dissociation , anxiety , and chemical dependency. A series of correlational studies were performed on the results of five corresponding self report inventories to test for independence . Of the five symptom clusters tested, one statistically significant relationship was found for symptomatology consistent with chemical dependency . …

A Comparison Of Hiv/Aids Prevention Knowledge Between Students Receiving Mandated And Non-Mandated Aids Prevention Education, Constance Mogg Davis

Theses

The HIV Prevention Behaviors Knowledge Test for Teenagers was given to two samples of high school students to determine their knowledge about HIV prevention. The samples were taken from a high school in a state where AIDS prevention is recommended and the other sample was from a high school 1n a neighboring state where AIDS prevention education is mandated by state law This testing was done to see if a difference in knowledge would exist between these two groups. As measured by a t-test of the two sample means there was no significant difference in HIV/AIDS knowledge between the two …

An Examination Of A Juvenile Rehabilitation Model: Effects Of Length Of Stay On Depression, Anxiety, And Self-Esteem Scores, Joseph B. Worth

Theses

This paper is an investigation of the relationship between length of stay in a Missouri based juvenile rehabilitation program on self-esteem, anxiety, and depression levels. A critical analysis of studies that support the fostering or purging of these variables as beneficial toward the rehabilitation process will be conducted.

The results of the research indicate no significant correlations between length of stay and self-esteem scores on the Culture Free Self-Esteem Inventory. Furthermore, scores on the Depression and Anxiety in Youth Sub-Scale (DAYS) yielded no correlations with length of stay within the program. A Chi-square procedure found length of stay and scores …

An Evaluation Of Needleless Intravenous Therapy Devices, Tina Jones

Theses

As the number of persons infected with bloodborne diseases continues to increase, it is paramount that all health care workers exhibit behaviors reflecting unerring compliance with universal precaution.

The majority of occupational exposures to potentially infectious blood and body fluids occur via needlestick injury. The morbidity and mortality from these exposures is significant. A review of research examining work practices mandated by the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard challenges their effectiveness. Principles identified provide insight into why work practice may not prevent needlesticks.

Several industries are developing new products to address this situation, but there are few data on how well these …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Coping Effectiveness In Stepmothers And The Length Of Their Marriage, Bonnie M. Rudden

Theses

The relationship between coping effectiveness of step-parenting and length of marriage was examined for 30 stepmothers. Participants included stepmothers in St. Louis and St. Louis County who volunteered to complete the Coping Response Inventory and a cover/survey letter that contained demographic questions. Where it was predicted that there would be no relationship between coping effectiveness and length of marriage, it was found that length of time remarried does affect coping effectiveness in stepmothers in that the type of coping style used changes with length of time remarried.

Use Of Conductance Technology To Determine The Bioactivity Of Oxytetracycline-Hydrochloride, Michael Mc Donagh

Theses

The biological activity of oxytetracycline-hydrochloride was investigated using the indirect conductivity method which is based on the measurement of metabolically generated CO2. A number of laboratory strains and a fresh natural inoculum were exposed to oxytetracycline in the presence and absence of 12% sterile sediment. Results comparing sediment and sediment free systems for all test cultures revealed elevated minimum inhibitory concenrations (MIC) of the agent in the presence of sediment; percentage bioactivity results ranged between 0.50 and 2.07%. pH differences betw'een sediment and sediment-free systems were found not to effect MIC results, and the use of different buffers resulted in …

The Influences Of Consumer Attitudes And Perceptions About Pesticides And Produce Quality On Technology Transfer, William Mclaren Pool

Theses

Consumers have expressed concern about the human health and environmental consequences resulting from the use of agrichemicals by growers to produce food. This paper reports the results of a 1995 survey of consumer attitudes and perceptions about pesticides and fresh fruit and vegetable quality. While there is widespread concern about the human health hazards presented by pesticide residues in food at the time of consumption, this survey population reports greater consumer concern about environmental contamination from agrichemical use. Once familiar with the process of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the respondents of this survey indicate they would prefer to purchase fruits …

Retention And Separation Behaviour Of Chloropyrifos And Other Water Pollutants Using Polyurethane Foams, Rashed Saleh Al-Mehrazi

Theses

Heavy metals and pesticides represent a class of man-made environmental pollutants which also occur naturally in the environment. The presence of these pollutants in the industrial and agricultural wastewaters often represents a risk to the environment. Investigation of these species in the water is an important aspect of environmental pollution as human activities contributed to the progressive increase in the concentration of these compounds in the environmental as well as aquatic systems. Therefore, identification and removal (or reduction) of these species to an acceptable concentration are of prime importance.

The analytical utility of unloaded open-cell polyurethane foams and foams immobilizing …

Acidic Marine Biotoxins Implicated In Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning, Eoin P. Carmody

Theses

An okadaic acid (OA) etiology has been demonstrated for most outbreaks of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in Europe, An isomer of OA, dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX-2), has recently been found in Irish waters and, in 1991 and 1994, was the major toxin during prolonged infestations in cultivated mussels (Mytilus edulis) along the south-west coast of Ireland.

The OA class of DSP toxins have been analysed by HPLC using modified versions of three established fluorescent derivatisation methods. A ‘dual tag’ method for the confirmation of specific toxins has also been developed.

Survey work has been carried out over the past four years on …

Development Of A New Hydroseeding Process For Soil Stabilisation And Vegetation, Eileen T. Keane

Theses

A variety of mechanical and chemical extraction procedures were used to produce crude alginate gels from 3 seaweed species. These viscous hydrocolloidal substances had excellent adhesive properties but did however prove phytotoxic to germinating seeds. Experimental gels were subsequently refined and germination trials were carried out to determine optimum gel types. Pilot field trials were set up to compare the 2 most favourable gels with existing commercial hydroseeding products imported from Norway and Sweden. These tests involved the use of experimental plots on loam and sand substrates with slopes of 0^, 22^ and 45^. A number of biodegradable organic substances …

Development Of A Synthetic Polymer Film As A Replacement For Cellophane, Sam Chebeir

Theses

This study evaluates the feasibility of Styrene-Butadiene, also known as SBS copolymers, as an excellent substitute for cellophane in packaging hard candy. Packaging hard candy presents an excellent potential for the plastics industry. The study will consider the problems inherently existent with cellophane, be they environmental, of a use of resources nature, or simply the physical properties. The methodology followed describes the various stages that led to the development of a product code named TA-1010, a blend of SBS copolymer and other polymers. This revolutionary product simulates the excellent packaging properties of cellophane, but without the above mentioned disadvantages. Furthermore, …

Exploring The Human Frontier, Kevin Olsson

Theses

The primary purpose of the study is to explain using text and illustration the sexual differentiation and development of the human embryo. The thesis will explain in detail known aspects of crucial and intermediate events that occur during the development of an indifferent human embryo to a sixteen week male fetus. Specific attention will be given to molecular events that occur at week seven and the results of those processes on a gross level. It is the aim of this thesis to define and address all known and relevant aspects in a manner that enables the most complicated events to …

Content-Based Image Retrieval And Its Benefits For The Stock Photography Market, Romano Padeste

Theses

The development of powerful low-cost desktop computer systems has changed the pre-press business where tight deadlines must be met per sistently. An increasing number of newspapers and magazines are acquiring, handling, and storing images digitally while the use of hardcopies and slides decreases. Today's computers and high capacity storage-media enable stock pho tography agencies to build digital image databases, giving users fast access to large numbers of images. However, the transition from analog to digital image archives imposes new problems: with thousands of images at hand, the search for a particular image may turn into the search for the needle …

Non-Steady Time Series Analysis In The Developing Embryo, Daniel Kettles

Theses

Cardiovascular diseases with origins in early fetal development are a serious health concern in the United States. Presently, there are few, if any, diagnostic tools available for doctors to determine the overall health of the early fetal cardiovascular system in a non-invasive manner. This thesis is a step toward the development of a non-invasive system for the detection of cardiovascular malformations in the early human fetus. The computer algorithms presented in this work dovetail with other algorithms to represent embryonic /fetal cardiovascular output and variability data in the frequency domain. Algorithms in this thesis allow the capability to edit external …

Safer Sex, Fay Pattee

Theses

None provided.

Reverse Osmosis As A Pretreatment Of Ion Exchange Equipment At Pse & G'S Hudson Generation Station, Steven Leon

Theses

Public Service Electric and Gas Company's Hudson Generating Station has historically had problems providing sufficient high quality water for its two once through, supercritical design boilers. The station requires over 60 million gallons annually to compensate for system losses.

The stations' ion exchange demineralizers proved to be costly to operate and overall inefficient in performance. Drawbacks include: short service cycles, periodic contamination of storage tanks due to premature breakthrough, prohibitively high chemical regenerant costs, excessive labor requirements, frequent resin replacement, and overall unreliable plant operations.

A reverse osmosis unit was installed as a pretreatment to the demineralizers to offset these …

Investigation Into Fracture Behavior And Longevity Of Pneumatically Fractured Fine-Grained Formations, Heathe Ann Hall

Theses

This study investigates volume changes in fine-grained soil formations and their effect on pneumatically induced fractures. Pneumatic fracturing is an enhancement technology for in situ remediation of hazardous waste sites, which increases the formation permeability by creating fractures. A number of formation properties and environmental conditions which affect fracture aperture were identified in this study.

Laboratory experiments were performed with control devices to investigate idealized fracture flow under linear and radial flow geometries. These tests exhibited cubic law behavior, and gas compressibility was seen as a measurable effect. A horizontal infiltrometer device was successfully developed to induce and control volume …

Effectiveness Of Sediment Control Structure : Reducing Nonpoint-Source Pollution Entering A Rural Housing Development Lake In Mercer County, Pennsylvania, Elaine K. Brenner

Theses

For the past two decades, water quality of both natural and man-made lakes has been a major environmental concern. Numerous studies suggest that land use patterns and/or storm water runoff are major factors in nutrient loading and bacterial contamination of freshwater lakes. In 1986, the Property Owners Association at Lake Latonka in Jackson Center, Pa., installed three sediment control structures in an attempt to reduce the amount of nonpoint-source pollution entering the lake. The Association installed a fourth structure in 1988. It has yet to be determined if any improvement in the water quality has occurred due to the control …

Factors Effecting Calcification Of Bioprosthetic Heart Valves, Sumei Yu

Theses

Calcification is the most frequent cause of clinical dysfunction of glutaraldehyde treated bioprosthetic heart valves. In this study, we compared calcification of bioprostheses of the No-ReactTM and the conventional glutaraldehyde treated pericardium by both in-vivo and in-vitro methods, and to further delineate the role of the host's inflammatory response in implant degeneration.

In the in-vitro study, the two types of pericardial samples were placed in individual polystyrene tubes containing physiological concentrations of calcium and phosphate and incubated for 21 days at 37°C. In the in-vivo study, the two types of pericardial samples were implanted subcutaneously in rats and subsequently retrieved …

Marvin's Marine Adventures, Deanna L. Scinta

Theses

None provided

Academy Retzor: Teaching Social Skills Through Computers, Cynthia Stilwill

Theses

None provided.

Neural Network For Optimization Of Binary Computer-Generated Hologram With Printing Model, Guo Li

Theses

Hopfield neural nets are used to optimize point-oriented binary computer-generated holograms (CGHs). It can be considered as a parallel and iterative 'halftoning' process in the spatial frequency domain. The results are comparable to other iterative methods but require shorter computation times. In this process, the generation of the CGH by FFT, binarization, and IFFT is viewed as a "black box" with inputs and outputs consisting of 512 arrays containing an object of size 64 . The neural-network optimization feeds back the Fourier transform of the reconstruction error to update the neuron states, which correspond to the samples of the continuous …