Digital Commons Network^™

Senior Wellness Prescription, Theresa Schnabel James

Theses

The St. Joseph Health Center and St. Joseph Hospital West mission statement commissions the Hospital to be an advocate for, and agent of change in the community health-care system, and to provide a holistic health-care philosophy to the community. The Hospital's goal is to promote the health and well-being of the community by delivering effective institutional services.

Service to the community is at the philosophical core of St. Joseph Health Center and St. Joseph Hospital West. The Hospital will serve by becoming a leading provider of health-care. It will meet the needs of the patients and the community by providing …

Hotel Front Desk Management And The Role Of Information Technologies, Michael A. Jarzewiak

Theses

This thesis will focus on Hotel Front Desk Management and the role of Information Technologies.

Recently, with the advancement of information systems, the hotel industry is changing as necessary. Property Management Systems--known in the hospitality field as PMS--have changed the way hotels operate.

Other technologies discussed are keyless lock systems, and computerized time card systems, along with other high-tech systems.

The major concern of this thesis is to research various Property Management Systems and to see what is the most important criteria hotel executives or operators seek before implementation.

The Significance Of Adult Day Care, Jacqueline Crittenden Tisdale

Theses

This paper discusses the significance of adult day care. Adult day care services are greatly under-publicized. The need to recognize and promote this service is the focus of this paper. Adult day care provides an invaluable service to the elderly and caregivers of the elderly. The literature supports the importance, benefits, and justification of adult day care. Types of models and various services are described. Results of a survey conducted to determine strengths, concerns in management of programs, fees, etc., and activities observed at four adult day care centers are discussed.

Managing The Diverse Workforce, Kevin W. Williamson

Theses

This thesis will focus on the changes that are occurring in the composition of the population of the U.S. - how diverse it has become - and diversity's impact on the U.S. business entity.

Research has indicated that the largest percentage of new growth in the labor market will minorities and women. By the year 2000 the workforce will become more heterogeneous from a race, skill and experience standpoint. With the population of the U.S. shrinking, the pool from which employers have to select prospective employees from is also shrinking. The issue is employer demand. Companies that strive to remain …

A Study Of The Effects Of A Career Counseling Seminar On Self-Efficacy In Displaced Homemakers, Mary B. Knopf

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate issues relevant to divorced displaced homemakers and to measure the effects of a career counseling seminar (Seminar for Success) on levels of self-efficacy. The design was Quasi-experimental pretest-post test with a nonequivalent control group. The control group consisted of 30 adult female students attending Lindenwood College (Masters of Counseling Program) in June, 1994. Levels of self-efficacy were tested and re-tested with a one week interval between testings with no intervention. The experimental group included 30 adult females attending "Seminar for Success" at Florissant Valley and Meramac Community Colleges in St.Louis, Missouri in …

Age And Gender Differences In The Effect Of Divorce On Children, Maureen P. Knox

Theses

The differences in the effect of divorce on children were examined. The researcher specifically looked at the difference in the two variables of age and gender to determine if parental divorce had more of an impact on one sex than the other, and/or on a child of one age group compared to a child of a different age group. Seventy-nine divorced, un-remarried mothers completed a forty-two item questionnaire which assessed if the parental divorce impacted the child and if so in what manner. The children discussed in the questionnaire responses ranged in age from three to seventeen years old. There …

Home Health Care, Tracy L. Kustermann

Theses

This thesis will focus on the level of understanding the public has concerning home health care and the utilization of its services.

Home health care is a rapidly growing field and is expanding to include more and more people in the United States. However, there are an alarming number of people who do not understand what home health care is and the services it provides.

With all the changes that might occur in the future concerning health care in the United States, it is important to recognize home health as a major and vital component within this system. Home health …

An Investigation Into The Design And Effectiveness Of Interactive Multimedia Interfaces, Tara Ann Holod

Theses

"Human abilities should be amplified, not impeded, by using computers" -- Mark T. Maybury In an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of various screen interfaces utilized in interactive multimedia, an interactive thesis project was prepared to conduct tests. Walt Disney anima tion was chosen for the theme. The project was duplicated so that there were three identical copies - each representing different styles of interface navigation, button feedback, and "Help" systems. The multimedia projects were displayed on neighboring computers simul taneously so that a person could move directly from one to another with ease and no disrup tions. Each person …

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 …

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 …

Pregnancy Loss Support Groups: A Comparison Of Therapeutic Factors For Men And Women, Leslie Williams Beitch

Theses

Parents who experience a miscarriage, stillbirth, or newborn death often find themselves feeling profound grief with limited support or understanding from the community. Support groups for this population have emerged and gained in popularity throughout the country. This research will focus on specifically on the miscarriage, stillbirth, and newborn death experience and how the support group can meet these parents needs.

Parents attending SHARE pregnancy loss support groups participated in the study. Questionnaires were given to SHARE group leaders from all regions of the United States to distribute at their meetings. Fourteen men and twenty women completed questionnaires anonymously that …

Managing Change Driven By Environmental Regulations: Can Industries In The United States Eliminate The Use Of Chloroflurocarbons (Cfcs) In Insulating Foam Plastic Products And Maintain Global Competiveness?, M. Boake-Danquah

Theses

Chemicals emitted into the atmosphere which contain chlorine have been identified as ozone-depleting compounds for several years. These chemicals generally described as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and chlorinated solvents, are used in a wide variety of applications. International agreements and government regulations in the United States are mandating a ban, and requiring industries to seek CFC and chlorinated solvent replacements. The substitutes which are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), contain less or no chlorine, and hence, are less damaging to the earth's ozone layer.

The provisional chemicals are not drop-in replacements for existing products and processes which employ CFCs. There …

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 …

Successfully Investing In Renovation Real Estate, Linda J. Weaver

Theses

In order to successfully invest in real estate, investors must become the basics that govern real estate investments. It is important to become familiar with the target market and its upward and downward trends. Also, evaluation of the neighborhood area is imperative in order to determine the desirability of the overall area. The investment property itself also needs to be evaluated for marketability, potential repairs and resale. Once, these basic evaluations are performed, the cost analysis of investment and potential profitability must be reviewed. A combination of all of these items will enable an investor to make sound investment choices. …

An Overview Of Alternative Medicine: Past, Present, And Future, Pearl A. Guy

Theses

This thesis will discuss the role of alternative medicine in the United States. It will look at the history of various forms of medicine, the evolution of these practices, as well as their current role in our society.

With rising health care costs and the failure of mainstream medicine to cure diseases such as cancer and HIV, it becomes all the more important to look beyond the traditional system.

One in three people surveyed, reported using at least one form of unconventional medicine in 1990. This is a significant figure. There are very few studies currently available that focus on …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Settlement Process In The Securities Industry, Woody D. Johnson

Theses

This thesis will focus on the settlement process in the securities industry and the different methods and frequencies by which securities firms disburse payments to their customers.

Many brokerage firms have realized the value of technological advancements in cash management services and have invested large dollars in their systems capabilities to remain competitive . Other firms do not have the resources to invest in such systems. To stay competitive, many firms are now looking at customer service, focusing on customer payments as a marketing tool.

Historically, securities firms exploited the financial success in their customers' accounts to offset the lack …

A Plan To Integrate Cockpit Resource Management Into Training Programs Of Non-Automated, Transport Category Aircraft, C. H. Meyerholtz Jr.

Theses

Pilot error has been listed frequently as the probable cause of aircraft accidents. In most cases this does not refer to an error in piloting skills, but rather an error in judgment or inept use of resources available to the pilot. Researchers found that the skills required to effectively use all resources and encourage a team spirit in the cockpit had not been sufficiently developed. Further, according to the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, these resource management skills are just as necessary as flying skills in order to effect safe flight. In the mid-1970's, cockpit resource …

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 …

The Need For A Specialized Treatment Center For The Elderly Population In St. Charles County, Sandi Klein

Theses

A most recent trend in the field of psychiatric health care has been to provide services for the elderly on highly specialized "geropsychiatric units" located within the confines of a general hospital and operated as a new component of the psychiatric treatment divisions.

Four local hospitals were surveyed regarding their in-patient mental health services for the elderly. The goal was to identify where geropsychiatric services were currently being offered and if their services were located on a special geropsychiatric unit, specific only to those patients over 65 years of age. Each hospital was surveyed as to the types of staff …

America's Hospitality Industry: A Leadership Profile, Jong Young Lee

Theses

The Hospitality industry in America is getting more attention than before, but is still regarded not as important as the manufacturing industry, and so there is a real need to find what kind of individuals are leading America's profitable hospitality industry and their background, education, and so on. Numerous studies have been done about the individuals leading the America's manufacturing industry, however, very little attention has been given to the profile of the leaders in the hospitality industry.

In this analysis of 121 CEOs leading the America's hospitality industry, it analyzes their age, area of birth, education, place of education, …

Meeting Customer Expectations In The Foodservice Industry: A "Mystery Diner" Program, Michele L. Bailey

Theses

Not Included

Dreams Of Desire And Demise, Ann Mcallister

Theses

Not Included

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 …

The Simulated Bread Board Imaging System: A Study Of Computer Simulation As An Engineering Tool, Gregory R. Conway

Theses

A software system was developed to aid in the translation of customer print quality requirements into formal design specifications during the development of new printers and copiers. The system is designed to allow the user to generate a series of prints with various deviations, or visual artifacts, introduced into them. These artifacts simulate the effects of design considerations on the expected output at the image output terminal. The resulting prints can be used to incorporate customer feedback and requirements early in the development cycle. In so doing, it is expected that the need for hardware prototyping can be reduced …

Design And Implementation Of An Asynchronous Version Of The Mips R3000 Microprocessor, Kevin Johnson

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to show some of the advantages for the asynchronous implementation of a major synchronous structure. Three people were involved with the design of an asynchronous microprocessor modeled after the MIPS R3000 microprocessor. This microprocessor implemented all of the MIPS reduced instruction set, while eliminating the need for synchronous clocking throughout the chip. Paul Fanelli modeled the asynchronous processor using VHDL (hardware description language). Kevin Johnson created circuit level designs and layouts of the arithmetic logic unit and supporting hardware. Scott Siers created circuit level designs and layouts of the instruction fetch, write back, memory …

Spectral Analysis Of Multi-Spindle Machining Heads, Allan R. Wells

Theses

Vibration analysis can be extremely useful in predictive/ preventative maintenance. In this investigation, multi-spindle machining heads were analyzed using equipment from Technology for Energy Corporation. A spectral analysis program was also written in order to better understand black box results provided by commercial software. Three case studies indicate that gear mesh frequencies, bearing noise, and the natural frequencies of spindles and shafts represent the majority of the peaks found in the frequency spectrum for multi-spindle heads. These frequencies were calculated analytically and then identified in each frequency spectrum. The results show that in many cases the gear mesh frequencies are …

Airgun Pellet Performance Using Computational Fluid Dynamics, Kenneth P. Corey

Theses

Very little formal analysis has been done with respect to flow around small scale projectiles. In late 1991, a local manufacturer of airgun pellets and related equipment approached RIT to investigate the flow characteristics of two particular airgun pellet geometries. Initial work was completed with the RIT wind tunnel through the use of scaled up models of the pellets. The conclusions of this work showed many interesting results, even though only the low speed velocity range of the pellets was studied. In order to study the actual operating velocity range of the pellets, the use of a Computational Fluid Dynamics …

Nonlinear System Identification, Edward H. Ziegler

Theses

The prediction of a single observable time series has been achieved with reasonable accuracy and duration for the nonlinear systems developed by Rossler and Lorenz. Based on Takens' Delay-vector Space, an artificial system has been generated using a polynomial least squares technique that includes all possible fifth order combinations of the vectors in the delay space. Furthermore, an optimum shift value has been shown to exist, such that any deviation decreases the accuracy and stability of the prediction. Additionally, an augmented form of the autocorrelation function, similar to the delay vector expansion, has been investigated. The first inflection of this …

Stability Of Parametrically Forced Linear Systems, Andrew J. Leccese

Theses

The stability analysis of constant-coefficient linear systems is extended to systems with periodically-varying coefficients. Although this theory is mathematically well-understood, little work has been done regarding its application to physical problems. All previous results are based on asymptotic analysis. A review of the theory of parametrically-forced linear systems will be presented, followed by a detailed stability analysis of a pendulum with a harmonically moving base.

Practical Application Of Random Vibration Signal Analysis On Structural Dynamics, Yu-Chin L. Allen

Theses

The use of random signal analysis in vibration and structural analysis is discussed and documented. The need to minimize product performance and durability risks due to competitive pressure in the marketplace has forced industry to streamline methods of product design, processing, and evaluation. Engineers need to be experienced in much more advanced techniques than they did even a decade ago. Random vibration signals are used to simulate real world environments and are another tool in structural analysis. This investigation outlines the basics of random vibrations, frequency analyzers, data analysis, along with associated noise and errors problems. A case study using …