Digital Commons Network^™

Renewing The Christian Contemplative Dimension Of Spirituality Through An Ancient Tradition Known Today As Centering Prayer, Joan Marie Young Bretthauer

Theses

The purpose of this paper and documentary video is to present one particular aspect of the Christian contemplative tradition known today as centering prayer.

The topic is addressed by a brief review of ancient contemplation and meditative life styles as practiced by some of the major religions of the world. The focus is then narrowed to view the topic from the Roman Catholic perspective.

In the early Christian church (Roman Catholic) contemplation was the common goal of lay and religious life. 'This approach fell into disuse around the time of the Reformation, but has undergone a renewal in the last …

The Normal Physiological Aspects Of Aging As They Relate To Nurse Aid Care, Michele Corinne Allen

Theses

The education of caregivers is essential to proper care. The retention of nurse aids in long-term care of the elderly can be enhanced by specific instruction in the physical aspects of aging as it relates to the required care. The educational level of nurse aids may not give them the perspective needed to interpret the changes they see taking place in the elderly. This paper provides some of that additional perspective.

Aging changes begin at the cellular level Cell tasks are specific and functional Aging effects changes in cell function and response with subsequent visible and experienced signs and symptoms …

Gestures And Expressions, Allen G. Arpadi

Theses

Not available.

The Impact Of Outplacement On A Corporation's Reduction Of The Workforce, Betty E. Wendland

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of outplacement in the corporate world. Global businesses in the decade of the nineties have been faced with increasing their profits and providing stock holders with an increase in dividends. In this situation the answer is often to decrease personnel.

The purpose of the study is to investigate how companies handle restructuring and downsizings. It will show that companies should have a transition plan in place to handle such circumstances . Outplacement is a key to smoothly handle the process of the terminations that inevitably happen . This study examines the issues relating …

Meeting The Spiritual Needs Of Older Adults: A Successful Presbyterian Model, Andrea Leihser Scandrett

Theses

This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the motivations for and benefits of church attendance in the aged population. A survey of the active older members of a particular church was conducted in conjunction with a review of previous research on related subjects. These methods revealed that the primary and secondary motivations for church attendance were to worship and to fellowship, respectively. It was also found that church attendance plays a major role in the adjustment of the aged. However, attendance and participation are sometimes inadvertently discouraged by youth-oriented clergy. Churches can greatly contribute to the satisfaction of both the …

Valley Wide Health Services, Inc. Fy 93/94 Marketing Plan Development, Jan C. Vest

Theses

This culminating project develops a marketing plan for a Community and Migrant Health Center in southern Colorado. The need for marketing plans for large multi-specialty group practices is becoming more and more evident. Increased competition for patients and the anticipated national and state health care reform suggests that the provision of physician services will continue to become more competitive in the future.

Community and Migrant Health Centers have not traditionally had to compete for patients. They have occupied a special niche in most markets, they were created to provide services to the medically underserved, and they very often are the …

The Profile Of A Pedophile: Are Age And Marital Status Of Child Molesters Related To The Choice Of Gender Of The Victim, Bernadine A. Mcnabb

Theses

The characteristics of adults who sexually abuse children are reviewed by accessing current definitions and related research literature. The variable of the age and marital status of the sex offender and the gender of the victim is examined. The subjects of the study were incarcerated inmates in a state prison who have been convicted of sexual assault. Research data was extracted from their files. The hypothesis is that marital status and age of the offender is independent of the gender of the victim. The findings of this study revealed that age of the offender is independent of the selection of …

A Comparison Of Role Stress In Stepmothers With Residential Stepchildren And Stepmothers With Nonresidential Stepchildren, Helena A. Marsh

Theses

The goal of this research was to test a psychological attitude measure intended to compare the stress experienced by stepmothers whose stepchildren are residential with the stress experienced by stepmothers whose stepchildren are nonresidential and only visit. After a review of the literature a thirty-one item survey, the Role Strain Index for Stepparents (RSIS) was given to the stepmothers of sixty-three children enrolled in grades 6 through 12, at four schools in the St. Louis/St. Charles metropolitan area. A T-test of difference between means was performed and the hypothesis that there was a difference in stress between stepmothers with residential …

Dealing With Culture Shock: International Adoption And Cultural Adjustment, Sandra Vanegas

Theses

Psychological stress is commonly experience.cl by any individual traveling in foreign countries. This is particularly true in areas where customs, social structures, and languages are unfamiliar. Culture shock is characterized by any notable change in thinking, or behavior which can be attributed to exposure to an unfamiliar environment and/or separation from a familiar one. Visiting another culture during the process of adopting children from other countries is, most of the time, a requirement for those parents who decided to adopt internationally instead of completing a domestic adoption.

The purpose of this research is to determine if gender had an impact …

The Difference Between The Academic Performance Of Disadvantaged Youth Involved In Extracurricular Activities And The Academic Performance Of Disadvantaged Youth Not Involved In Activities, Michael R. Baer

Theses

The purpose of this research was to perform a comparative study of disadvantaged high school youth who participated in extracurricular activities and disadvantaged high school youth who were not involved in any activities. The sample was drawn from students enrolled at East St. Louis Sr. High School. The subjects in the study were 141 disadvantaged/at risk high school students. These 141 students were asked to fill out a student survey form. The survey was coded by student I.D. number and then administered by one instructor to nine classrooms. The results indicated that participation in extracurricular activities was related to overall …

How To Reduce The Incidence Of Premature Births, And Their Associated Costs, Via A Fivefold Corporate Wellness Program, Carley Brunner Alves

Theses

This thesis will focus on the incidence of premature births and how to reduce the frequency and costs associated with premature delivery. The emphasis is towards the development of a wellness program within a corporation which will accomplish these objectives within its population of female employees.

Research has shown that many of these premature births could be prevented if five major factors were controlled through health education and lifestyle changes. The five risk factors that increase the possibility of delivering prematurely are: lack of exercise prior to pregnancy, alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, increased stress levels, and use of harmful drugs, …

Women In The Workforce: The Voice Of Change, Susan J. Cerny

Theses

This study presents a review of the current literature that pertains to the experiences of women in the male dominated working world. The specific focus of this study is the barriers that prevent women from advancing where men succeed.

When. women enter the workforce they tend to be naïve about the organizational culture that surrounds them. Women bring with them their natural feminine instincts and behaviors, which are not considered as valuable in the corporate world as male instincts and behaviors.

Because they are entering a "man's world," women are unaware of the subtle and underlying rules of the corporate …

Color In Computing, Thomas G. Leahy

Theses

Color in the computing environment, once considered a luxury, is becoming more available compared to being just the occasional exception. As the number of users exploring the uses of color through displayed and printed images increases, the problems associated with its use are becoming widely known. What worked in black and white is not easily translated into color. The use of color needs to begin with the basic understanding of what is color, its terminology and its utilization as an enhancement to communications tool. Only after the basic terminology and effective means of communication are understood will color flourish as …

Nutritional Risk Status Of The Non-Institutionalized Older Adult Population In Monroe County, New York, Susan A. Best

Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify the number of older adults who were at high nutritional risk in Monroe County and to determine what risk factors or nutritional problems are most prevalent. Another goal was to assess the relationship between the demographics and risk factors.

The Nutrition Screening Initiative's (NSI) "Determine Your Nutritional Health" Checklist contains 10 risk factors that have been shown to be associated with nutritional risk. Regular routine nutrition screening is promoted by the NSI and other health professionals to help identify individuals at nutritional risk and to initiate the appropriate intervention. Early intervention may …

Dreams Of Desire And Demise, Ann Mcallister

Theses

Not Included

The Labyrinthine Path, Shur-Tzy Hou

Theses

None provided.

Opening Of The Way Through Dreams--An Inner Journey, Rose Felin Holt

Theses

The author and a female client use dreams as the vehicle in counseling, following theoretical and practical considerations outlined by C.G. Jung. Included are discussions of theory, the function of dreams and dream symbols, selected dreams, and the content of some of the sessions. The author and the client met for one hour per week over a period of three months for a total of twelve sessions. Both recorded their impressions and experiences in journals during this period. The results of the counseling sessions validate Jung's thesis--that work with dreams leads to a cooperative alliance between conscious and unconscious psychic …

Attitudes Toward Counseling: A Study Of The Older Adult Population, Judith Reiter Tarkington

Theses

This study investigates the attitudes of older adults toward counseling and professional psychological help, a topic of growing importance as populations age and mental health needs evolve. Using the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help (ASPPH) scale, the research examined responses from 43 community-dwelling participants aged 51 to 84. The sample included 23 women and 20 men, with varying levels of previous counseling experience. The study sought to determine whether older adults generally hold favorable or unfavorable views of counseling and whether factors such as gender or prior counseling experience significantly affect these attitudes.

Results revealed that the group as …

A Correlation Study Of Locus Of Control And Depression In Individuals Experiencing Job Loss, Robert H. Ramsey Jr.

Theses

This study examined the correlation between Levenson's Locus of Control (LLOC) scale and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in individuals experiencing job loss . The seventeen subjects studied were employees that chose not to relocate with the company, but rather stayed with the company until it had successfully relocated, and then began searching for their next employment opportunity. At the end of their contracted stay, the subjects completed a demographic questionnaire, the Levenson Locus of Control scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. The results for the most part confirmed previous research with regard to the positive relationship between LLOC Internality …

The Heart Of The Dragon, Lilly Chen

Theses

None provided.

Matching Respite Training With Family Needs, Gregory Andrew Roeback

Theses

The thesis Matching Respite Training with Family Needs by Gregory Andrew Roeback evaluates a respite training program designed for caregivers assisting families with children who have developmental disabilities and severe emotional disorders. The study gathers feedback from both families receiving respite services and the respite workers to determine if training aligns with family needs. Findings indicate general agreement on training priorities, though time allocation did not always match perceived importance. The study highlights the significance of communication between providers and families, recommending adjustments to enhance training effectiveness. Results support the continued development of respite programs to better serve families.

The Aesthetics Of Healing: Joining Feminism, Autobiography, And Landscape, Patricia Elaine Chandler

Theses

None provided.

Inshade: The Structure Of A Synergistic Approach To Product Design, James Read

Theses

The objective of this thesis is to demonstrate a synergistic approach to the design of a consumer product, INshade.

Classification Of Patterns In Eeg Recordings : A Comparison Of Back-Propagation Networks Vs. Predictive Autoencoder Networks, Brian Armieri

Theses

Recent research exploring the use of neural networks for electro-encephalogram (EEG) pattern classification has found that a three-layer back-propagation network could be successfully trained to identify high voltage spike-and-wave spindle (HVS) patterns caused by epileptic seizures (Jando et. al., in press). However, there is no reason to predict that back-propagation is the best possible network architecture for EEG classification. A back-propagation neural network and a predictive autoencoder neural network were compared to determine which network was better at correct classifying both HVS and non-HVS patterns.

Both networks were able to classify 88%-89% of all patterns using a limited set of …

Modern Techniques Used To Improve A Hearing Conservation Program In A Power Generating Plant, Eilyn Fabregas

Theses

A noise survey was conducted on the pump floor of a power generating plant, which included measuring noise levels at 261 areas of the floor (6,000 square feet) and the employees' noise doses, or 8-hour time-weighted average (TWAs). The noise levels of the 261 areas were recorded using a Sound Level Meter, and the noise doses (i.e., TWAs) were measured using a noise Dosimeter. It was found that both noise levels and TWAs were higher than the OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 90 dBA and the action level of 85 dBA. According to the data gathered, it was determined …

Study Of Emg Frequency Behavior, Mark Steven Fiedorowicz

Theses

It has previously been determined that the power spectral density of an electromyogram shifts towards lower frequencies over time during an isometric contraction. In this study the power spectral density curve was examined to see if changes would occur over a period of time as a subject walked on a treadmill at various speeds. The shapes of the power spectral densities recorded from the soleus shifted to the lower frequencies over time. The parameters associated with the curves showed trends. One of the parameters, zero crossing, demonstrated adaptation and fatigue in all four patients, for the first portion of the …

The Design Thing : A Study Of Design In Practice And Theory, Magd Donia

Theses

The main purpose of this study was to present an overview of design practices and theories in different domains that would enrich the perspective of architectural design. To achieve this purpose, the study presented the initial purpose of architectural design which is providing an adequate shelter for different human activities. Positive and negative aspects of shelter were briefly discussed to trace the evolution of the concept of shelter. Change, as an essential aspect of design was presented in the context of problem formulation and problem resolution.

A presentation of design practices followed. It started by presenting design practices that are …

Recursive Soft Morphological Filters, Padmaja Puttagunta

Theses

Mathematical morphology which is based on set-theoretic concept, extracts object features by choosing a suitable structuring shape as a probe. Morphological filters are set operations that transform an image into a quantitative description of its geometrical structure: Appropriately used, they can eliminate noises or irrelevancies while preserv¬ing the details of the original image. The applications of morphological filters in image processing and analysis are numerous, which include shape recognition, industrial parts inspection, nonlinear filtering, and biomedical image processing.

Soft morphological filters are used for smoothing signals with the advantage of being less sensitive to additive noises and to small variations …

Trophies From A Wandering Soul: A Study Of Visual Texture, Westy Caswell

Theses

None provided.

Experiential Design, Laurel Sisson

Theses

None provided.