Digital Commons Network^™

Body Image And Quality Of Life: A Comparative Study Between Black And White Females, Chrissy Mitchell

Theses

This research examines the relationship between body image avoidance behaviors and quality of life for black an white females. The subjects in this study included 39 black females and 24 white females in St. Louis County. The ages of participants ranged from 14 to 20 years old. In order to examine the relationship between these two variables the mean, standard deviation, and an independent t-test was performed. There was a strong positive correlation between BIAQ and QOL Importance subscale for Black and White females. A discussion of limitations of this study and implications for future research will be discussed later.

A Critique Of The Role Of Women In Shakespeare's Plays As Interpreted In The Production Of Shakespeare's Women, Yu-Hsing Lin

Theses

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Marital Satisfaction And Caregiver Burden In Parents Who Care For Adult Children With Development Disabilities, Jujuane M. Easter

Theses

This study examines the relationship between marital satisfaction and caregiver burden in parents of individuals with mental disabilities. Eighteen couples (18 women and 18 men) completed a demographic questionnaire, the Index of Marital Satisfaction (IMS), and the Caregiver's Burden Scale (CBS). It was hypothesized that there would be a negative correlation between marital satisfaction and caregiver burden. The correlations between the IMS scale and CBS scale were calculated for men and women separately. Findings indicate that the correlation for the IMS scale with the CBS scale for men was not statistically significant (.246). Also, the correlation for the IMS scale …

Teaching Critical Reading To Deaf College Students, Maureen Barry

Theses

Not provided.

Cultural Sensitivity In Visual Communication, Yih-Chi Wang

Theses

Not Included

The Broadband Impact: Asymmetric Regulations Restrict Growth, Brent P. Thurn

Theses

Though the growth of broadband has increased dramatically in the last decade, asymmetric government regulations are impeding its continued growth. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has placed additional regulations on advanced telecommunications capability services (broadband). This report will show that asymmetric government regulations have limited the future growth of broadband by local exchange carriers (LECs1). Broadband technology has had a significant impact on today's Internet culture because it has changed the way that we work and use the Internet as a means for communicating. Most of the broadband regulations only apply to the telephone incumbents as compared to cable, satellite, …

Best Practices For Integration Of Iso 14001 Environmental Management Systems Into Small To Medium Size Businesses, Najib Hakim

Theses

Small to Medium size Businesses (SMBs) are now confronted with a new challenge; "Would it be appropriate to implement and incorporate a strategic Environmental Management System (EMS) into their business?" SMBs have to live up to certain environmental responsibilities similar to large corporations. Major corporations are starting to favor suppliers that have a certified ISO 14001 environmental management system, so the question for many SMBs is, "Is it feasible to incorporate such a system?" Industries currently face a certain degree of challenge when it comes to the environment, environmental performance, and demands by society for cleaner, more efficient processes. In …

Manifestations Of Desire, Angela Duron

Theses

Bisexuality is not the exclusion of heterosexuality or homosexuality. In fact, on the surface it may seem like a combination of both. Although it may be comforting to see ourselves as having fixed gender identities, preferring the same or opposite sex and performing according to expectations associated with these preferences in our culture, bisexuality transcends the contemporary hetero-homo bipolarization and expresses a distinct and separate reality. It is proposed that this thesis project will examine the phenomenon of the bisexual female through the scripting, filming and editing of a short 16mm experimental documentary film. This documentary will work with notions …

Workplace Violence Prevention And Systems Management, Megan Ahn

Theses

Violence in the workplace has become a major concern to labor, business, and government. In the past ten years, between 600 and 1000 work related deaths have been attributed to homicide. The repercussions of non-fatal aggression and violence in the workplace are not yet clear. What is clear is that all organizations are at some degree of risk and that regulatory and legal requirements dictate that preventive action be taken to protect employees, other stakeholders and the public from workplace violence. This thesis posits that by using a systems management approach along with the techniques of quality management, instances of …

Interpersonal Communication Training At The Cia, Jerry Fischetti

Theses

The purpose of this research is to present and evaluate an educational intervention strategy developed at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to enhance the interpersonal communication skills of Associate Degree students. Specifically, a class in interpersonal communications with unique behavioral objectives was introduced into the Associate Degree programs in January 2001 to improve the preparation of these students as managers and facilitators in the industry. Utilizing some core concepts of learning theory and the theory of cognitive dissonance, as well as theories of organizational change and resistance to change, an ethnographic study was conducted to assess the extent to …

Comparative Performance Analysis Of Texture Characterization Models In Dirsig, Neil W. Scanlan

Theses

The analysis and quantitative measurement of image texture is a complex and intriguing problem that has recently received a considerable amount of attention from the diverse fields of computer graphics, human vision, biomedical imaging, computer science, and remote sensing. In particular, textural feature quantification and extraction are crucial tasks for each of these disciplines, and as such numerous techniques have been developed in order to effectively segment or classify images based on textures, as well as for synthesizing textures. However, validation and performance analysis of these texture characterization models has been largely qualitative in nature based on conducting visual inspections …

The Integration Of Si-Based Resonant Interband, Stephen Sudirgo

Theses

eports the first demonstration of the integration of CMOS and Si/SiGe resonant interband tunnel diode (RITD). In Si-based material, recent breakthrough in Si/SiGe RITD grown using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) made the integration with CMOS possible. The resultant devices enabled the realization of RITD CMOS circuitry, and a NMOS-RITD MOBILE latch was demonstrated in Si, all enabling digital and ternary circuit design for density storage

The Behaviour Of Long-Span Reinforced Concrete Beams Under Various Loading Conditions., Ciaran O'Leary

Theses

The relative ease of design and construction of simple reinforced concrete beams provides an attractive option for structural engineering designers. However, where longer spans are involved it is more likely that prestressed concrete or possibly some form of steel beams will be preferred.

The primary cause of failure of longer span reinforced concrete beams is likely to be bending. However, the excessive deflection that might be associated with such beams must also be considered. When designing these beams, structural engineers make considerable use of span/effective depth ratios to select trial sections and check deflection limits. Such ratios are provided in …

Marketing Ireland In The Face Of Adversity., Angela Wright

Theses

This study is an examination of the factors which influence the success or failure of the tourism industry in Ireland. This research incorporates the views, opinions, and commentaries of leading figures in each sector of importance for this key industry within the Irish economy. An examination of various bodies charged with the management of the Irish tourism industry, since its inception as a recognised commercial entity, is included in this study. This research highlights the confusion that has surrounded the constitution, mandate, and nomenclature of these national management bodies in recent times.

A significant finding of this study is that, …

Analysis Of Phycotoxin And Mycotoxin, Contaminants In Foods, Using Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry Techniques, Ana Brana Magdalena

Theses

The impact of phycotoxins and mycotoxins on human and animal health are of important concern for worldwide authorities and the scientific community. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) techniques have been developed, optimised and validated for the analysis of these toxins.

Phycotoxins are potentially toxic substances, which are produced by marine phytoplankton and which may accumulate in shellfish or finfish. Azaspiracid poisoning (AZP) is a recently discovered syndrome that has been implicated in several incidents of human intoxications. A study was undertaken to examine the distribution of azaspiracids (AZA) in scallops {Pecten maximiis) and mussels {Mytiliis edulis). Domoic acid (DA) is an …

Interactive Multimedia In The Teaching Of The Irish Language In Primary School : Design, Implementation And Development., Máire Lynch

Theses

This thesis focuses on interactive multimedia use specifically in the area of vocabulary acquisition in a second language. It addresses the language learning requirements of third class (nine year olds) language learners, in Primary school. The study is based on existing second language acquisition research, computer - assisted language learning and the design and development of educational multimedia and it delivers an interactive application based on them. The study is firmly rooted in the foundations of the Revised Curriculum for Irish Primary Schools most especially in the language teaching methods it recommends and its emphasis on the use of information …

Balancing The 'E' With Learning And Teaching Skills, Áine O'Brien

Theses

Many lecturers today want to move past passive learning to active learning, to find better ways of engaging students in the learning process. Since most groups of individuals have a variety of learning styles, the lecture material needs to be presented in a variety of ways. With the introduction of web-based learning and e-leaming, lecturers can use a variety of teaching methods with their students.

This study will focus on what is required to balance the ‘E’ with the ‘learning’ skills and ‘teaching’ skills. Too often there is more emphasis placed on the ‘E’ aspect with little consideration given to …

Measuring Software Size For Continuous Process Improvement, Claire O'Sullivan

Theses

This thesis looks at how the size of a software product can be measured. It looks at current software sizing methods (LOC and FPA) and shows that they are not sufficient in today’s rapidly changing environment. The COSMIC-FFP method is introduced and an overview of how it works is given. The hypothesis to be tested in this thesis is whether COSMIC-FFP is an accurate, repeatable sizing method that when applied to any type of software project produces a size measure that can be used to predict the effort required to complete the project.

This thesis investigates the use of the …

Thermal Assessment Of Silicon-Based Composite Materials Used In Photovoltaics, Pavlos K. Bataglannis

Theses

Photovoltaics are devices that convert sunlight directly to electricity. It is well established that the conversion efficiency of mono and poly-crystalline silicon-based photovoltaic modules is inversely related to their temperature. Substantial improvements in operational performance can thus be achieved if the thermal energy accumulating in the material can be effectively dissipated.

Accurate modelling of modules would allow possible methods of thermal dissipation to be evaluated, and as a crucial component of the model, the thermal properties of the constituent materials of PV modules needed to be known. Special consideration needed to be given to the interfaces between dissimilar materials and …

Development Of An Automated Thiopurine Methyltransferase (Tpmt) Genotyping Assay, Mary Corcoran

Theses

Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyses the S- methylation of aromatic and sulphydryl compounds known as the thiopurines. These therapeutic agents are used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease and organ transplant recipients.

Erythrocyte TPMT activity is polymorphic and patients with intermediate or deficient TPMT are at significant risk for excessive toxicity after receiving ‘standard’ doses of thiopurine medications. The activity of TPMT is inherited as an autosomal co-dominant trait. Several mutations in the TPMT gene have been described that correlate with a low activity phenotype. Three mutations G238C, G460A and …

Sip Message Compression Technique For Efficient Multimedia Services In 3g Wireless Communications, Valerie Kenneally

Theses

The direction of the global cellular industry is primarily determined by two standardisation bodies, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) (in Europe and Asia) and 3GPP2 (in North America). Both of these standardisation bodies are currently specifying a core network to deliver IP based multimedia services over 3G wireless networks. One of the fundamental building blocks of this IP based multimedia core network is the use of SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) as the control protocol. The radio resource, that is the available frequency spectrum, in wireless communication systems remains a limiting factor in terms of the bandwidth available to an …

Multiple Model Control With Intelligent Switching To Ensure Robustness To Process Variations., Peter Cunningham

Theses

One of the most popular approaches for dealing with process that undergo large variations with time, of late, is the multiple model approach. This method has considerable intuitive appeal and has received widespread dissemination in academia. Numerous successful simulations have been reported although few real-time results have been published. The principal contribution of this thesis is the application of the multiple model control scheme in real-time.

A number of practical concepts that enable the use of multiple model control in real-time are discussed. Many of these issues arose when the multiple model control scheme was applied to a laboratory scale …

Modern Control Techniques For Induction Machines In High-Performance Adjustable-Speed Drives, Pat Cronin

Theses

Induction Motors (IM’s) are increasingly being considered for and used in high-performance motor drive (HPMD) systems. Their application has only gained acceptance since the 1970’s with the advent of vector control, microprocessors and improvements in power converter technology. D.C. motors were traditionally the preferred choice in HPMD systems. The main reasons for IM acceptance in HPMD systems are ruggedness, durability, low maintenance, cost, and small size by comparison with D.C. motors.

Alternating current asynchronous motors of the IM type are considered to be the universal workhorses of the manufacturing industry. It has been estimated that they are used in seventy …

Use Of Date Pits As An Energy Source For Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis Niloticus, Maitha Mohammed Sultan Al-Darmaki

Theses

The present study was conducted to evaluate date pits as an energy source of Nile tilapia fingerlings and adults, in two consecutive experiments. In the first experiment, five isocaloric (450 kcal/100g)-isonitrogenous (35% crude protein) diets containing of date pits as a replacement for wheat bran (energy source) 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels were prepared. The diets were fed to duplicate groups of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings and adults, with average initial weights of 10 and 50g, respectively twice a day, for 70 days. The culture system consisted of 70-L, fiberglass tanks connected together in a closed system. …

Regaining Control Through Digital Rights Management (Drm): What's In Store For The Music Industry?, Gregory J. Romania

Theses

This paper, as part of the final requirement for the completion of a Master of Science in Information Technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology, will examine the current state of digital media content and its inherent problems with regard to rendering and distribution. Discussions will focus on the protection and sales of digitalized intellectual property through Digital Rights Management (DRM) while also concentrating on how these technologies can be employed to acquire copyright protection. Though much of the discussion may apply to a wide range of media types, e.g. - movies, software and digital books, the primary focus will …

Chinese Cellular Telecommunications In The Past And The 21st Century, Hao Xu

Theses

Cellular telecommunication technology is one of the hottest topics of the last two decades. The annual rate of user growth is more than 30 percent. It began with the first generation (1G) networks and bloomed with second generation (2G) of cellular technologies. New third generation cellular (3G) technologies aim at offering high-speed, superior-quality information service to mobile subscribers. [2]

The Chinese cellular market is developing with unbelievable speed. China launched its first cellular network in 1987. At the end of 2002, it was the biggest wireless market in the world, with more than 200 million subscribers. [56] Technologies used in …

Optical Properties Of Materials For 157 Nm Lithography, Anatoly Bourov

Theses

A survey of optical properties of sputtered materials in the spectral range of 145 nm to 800 nm has been performed. The optical constants n and k have been measured using ellipsometric techniques. Four combination materials have been created with the properties suitable for application in Attenuated Phase Shift Mask (APSM) manufacturing. The four combination materials have also been characterized, with the results presented.

Best Practices In Implementing Operational Controls Of Iso 14001 Environmental Management Systems Into Small And Medium Businesses, Kuldeep Khalsa

Theses

Studies show that many small and medium businesses (SMBs) that have implemented environmental management systems (EMSs) and got certified to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard experienced obstacles along the way. For SMBs the standards appear unnecessarily bureaucratic, and represent a way of working that fits poorly into their organizational cultures and decision-making structures of small companies. Studies also show that environmental management systems such as ISO 14001 provide a framework for organizations that wish to effectively manage their environmental affairs. Implementing an EMS that conforms to the ISO 14001 standard helps businesses integrate environmental values into their operations.

This …

Passage, Brian Andrew Vogt

Theses

Not Included

Unsupervised Skin Lesion Classification And Matching, Paula Yandow-Reilly

Theses

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), since 1973, the mortality rate for melanoma has increased by 44%. The number of serious skin cancers diagnosed has also more than doubled in that same period. Even though serious skin cancers (melanoma) account for only 4% of skin cancer diagnoses (and skin cancer is the most common cancer) it is responsible for almost all (79%) cancer deaths. The ACS reports about 7,300 people in the United States are expected to die of melanomas in 2002, other sources put the number as high as 7,800. There are about 130,000 cases of melanoma worldwide, …