Digital Commons Network^™

Biomedical Data Interpolation For 3-D Visualization, Ming-Chung Chen

Theses and Dissertations

Medical imaging devices that produce three-dimensional data usually produce the data in the form of image slices. In such images, the resolution in z direction is lower than in x and y directions. Before extracting and displaying objects in such images, an interpolated 3-D gray-scale volume image can be generated via image interpolation techniques to fill in the missing information. The subject of this thesis is the applying three different interpolation techniques to generate intermediate slices and comparing their qualities. The three interpolation techniques are linear interpolation, cubic spline interpolation, and Fourier interpolation. We also apply the CT image matching …

Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling Of Skin Absorption Using Dermal Subcompartments, Richard L. Bookout Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Dermal penetration of chemicals and drugs is important to both toxicologists and pharmacologists. Drug developers try to enhance and environmental professionals try to limit penetration of chemicals through the skin. Both can use predictive biologically-based mathematical models to assist in understanding the processes involved. When these models are based on physiological and biochemical parameters which can be measured in the laboratory, they can be extremely useful. Appropriately validated models based on first principles can be predictive of human exposures when the processes involved are adequately understood. In this thesis we develop four new physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models to predict blood …

A Study Of The Effect Of Desktop Publishing In Writing Instruction Versus Traditional Pencil And Paper On The Length And Detail Of Students' Compositions, Christine Sonsini

Theses and Dissertations

This study was based on the following question: Could it be that first grade students who receive primary writing instruction using The Children's Writing and Publishing Center computer software program compose longer and more detailed texts than those first grade students who receive traditional primary writing instruction using pencil and paper?

One group of students received primary writing instruction using a desktop publishing software program, while the other group received primary writing instruction using pencil and paper. After receiving an equal amount of instructional and individual writing time, both groups were given the same writing assignment. The students' compositions were …

De-Institutionalized Skills: Utilized Or Useless, Linda Golden

Theses and Dissertations

My thesis was on the topic of de-institutionalized skills. My goal was to discover if my subjects had gained, lost, or maintained skill areas since they have left the institutional setting. These subjects, a total of 11 male adults with mental retardation, now reside in two group living facilities. Their ages range from 31 - 62 years and their Intelligence Quotients range from 63 - 68.

Two test booklets were used to gather raw score means for functioning levels. Four main skill areas were assessed: Communication, Daily Living, Socialization, and Motor. Results exhibited growth for most domain and subdomain skill …

Correlational Study On Reading Readiness And Reading Achievement Test Scores, Josephine A. Morales

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between Reading Readiness and Reading Achievement Test scores. Reading Readiness was associated with higher Reading Achievement.

Three schools in a low socio-economic section of an inner city school district provided the sample used in this study. The sample consisted of thirty-five Limited English Proficient Students (17 boys and 18 girls). All children were of Hispanic heritage.

The Reading Readiness and Reading Achievement Test scores were compared and analyzed. A Spearman's rho correlational coefficient was used to measure and describe the relationship between both reading test scores.

The analysis …

Comparison Of Two Approaches In Teaching Reading To Limited English Proficient Students And Their Academic Achievement, Gloria Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine which of two instructional approaches. Whole-Language or Distar (Direct Instruction), was more effective in producing higher levels of academic achievement in bilingual first grade students. It was predicted that the bilingual students receiving instruction through the Whole-Language approach would demonstrate higher academic achievement than those receiving instruction through the Distar approach.

A Pre and Post District Skills Inventory Test for reading (Communication Arts) was administered to the students in each instructional approach group. There were nine students in each group. The resulting scores were analyzed statistically using a t test design for …

Computer Science Curriculum In The Community College: An Evaluative Study, Rosemary R. Boiano

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess the sufficiency of the Computer Studies curriculum at Camden County College in meeting the needs of its local job market.

A questionnaire was distributed to 106 computer-based businesses in southern New Jersey, northern Delaware, and the greater Philadelphia area. The purpose of the survey was twofold. it was first necessary to ascertain whether or not these businesses would hire individuals possessing an associate's degree in Computer Science and if so, how many such positions might they have available in any given year. The survey then questioned respondents about the individual needs of …

The Nikolai Spafarii Calamity : The Dismal Failure Of Russia's First Ambassadorial Mission To China (1675), Heidi M. Stark

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Social Skills For An Inclusive First Grade, Terri Brouillard

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Study To Determine The Effects That Concrete Manipulatives Have On Mathematics Anxiety And Achievement, Nicholas R. Brian Simione

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this five week study was to test any effects that concrete manipulatives had on mathematics anxiety and achievement. Two groups of high school freshmen were selected. A control group (n = 23) was taught using traditional teaching methods of lecture-homework-review-test. An experimental group (n = 20) used concrete manipulatives to reinforce a lesson after it was introduced. Manipulatives replaced worksheets as the sole source of review.

To assess changes in mathematics anxiety in the experimental group, the adolescent version of the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS-A) was administered. The researcher used dependent t test procedures to determine …

Spontaneous Luteolysis In The Cyclic Golden Hamster: Evidence For Mediation Through Inflammation And Apoptosis, Mark W. Rodacker

Theses and Dissertations

Mammalian corpora lutea (CL) are transient ovarian glands which function to support pregnancy by secretion of progesterone (P). Sustained P secretion during pregnancy in the hamster requires gonadotrophic support, i.e., follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (Prl). Infertile cycles require CL regression. In luteolysis, CL first regress functionally (FL) and then structurally (SL). FL permits the next estrous. Estrous occurs every fourth day in the hamster such that CL form, function briefly, and then regress rapidly and completely. With only one generation of CL present in each ovary at any one time, the hamster is an ideal model for studying …

Effect Of Computer Assisted Instruction On Written Expressive Language Of Mildly Mentally Retarded Students, Vicki R. Newman

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of computer assisted instruction on the written expressive language of mildly mentally retarded students was investigated. The quality of written work samples produced using paper and pencil was determined and compared to the quality of the expressive language samples produced on the computer after computer assisted instruction was implemented. Attitude toward writing with both modes of expression was measured. The results indicated that computer assisted instruction improved the quality of written expressive language in the areas of product length, legibility and mechanical construction. It did not significantly improve the content, complexity or thematic maturity of ideas produced on …

The Development Of A Unit On Fractal Geometry Appropriate For The High School Student, Ira A. Fine

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a three week fractal geometry unit plan and analyze its success at the high school level. The researcher evaluated the research and literature related to fractal geometry and fractal geometry education suitable for the high school student. A fractal geometry unit plan was constructed. Topics covered in the unit plan included introductory concepts, the Koch curve, Sierpinski's triangle, coastline length, the chaos game, complex numbers, the Mandelbrot set and computer generated fractal images.

The unit plan was taught to three tenth grade honors geometry classes at Washington Township High School in Southern …

Interactions Between Enzymes Metabolizing Oxaloacetate And Phosphoenolpyruvate In Rabbit Liver Cytosol., Joseph John Provost

Theses and Dissertations

Dynamic protein-protein interactions may be a basis for regulation of enzymes that share cross-road metabolites. This type of control could direct metabolites through different pathways depending on which groups of enzymes are associated. Enzymes at the point of convergence of gluconeogenesis, glycolysis and the aspartate-malate shuttle were investigated for interactions. Phosphoenolpyruvate is a product of enolase and a substrate for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and pyruvate kinase. Oxalacetate is shared with malate dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Guanine nucleotides are shared between nucleoside diphosphate kinase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase.The rabbit liver cytosolic enzymes mentioned above were either purified or commercially purchased to …

Demographic Study Of Science Topics And Instructional Media In Early Childhood Special Education Settings., Bonni Schmiess Gourneau

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was acquiring direction for developing science instructional material for early childhood special education teachers. The collateral problems were determining what science topics are preferred, what the impediments are for science teaching, and in what format the instructional material should be prepared.This study also assessed the needs and availability of science instructional material for early childhood special education teachers. Other concerns included the influence of years of teaching experience and geographic region on the choices of science topics, impediments for science teaching, and format desired for the needed instructional material.Surveys were sent to 525 early childhood …

Characterization Of A Sinu-Naso-Bronchovascular Reflex., Penny Renee Kuhn

Theses and Dissertations

This study characterizes bronchovascular and lower airway responses elicited by chemical stimuli applied to the frontal sinus or nasal mucosa of sheep, and evaluates the role of a sinu-nasal-bronchiolar neural reflex in the lower airway responses.In 18 adult sheep anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium, the frontal sinuses were trephined. After a left thoracotomy bronchial artery blood flow (Q$\rm\sb{br}$) was measured with an electromagnetic flow probe. Histamine or capsaicin was applied to the left or right frontal sinus mucosa, or the nasal mucosa, and alterations in Q$\rm\sb{br}$ and tracheal airflow measured. Airflow was measured with a pneumotachometer. Sheep were respired mechanically (5 …

In The Footsteps Of Gordon Kahl?, Ronald Eldon Spreng

Theses and Dissertations

In the early 1980s five northern Minnesota men were arrested and convicted of an assortment of criminal offenses including possession of illegal or unregistered firearms, conspiring to rob the bank in Dunseith, North Dakota, and threatening the life of an Internal Revenue Service employee. These men were the core of a right-wing militant tax protest and anti-government movement in the Bemidji, Minnesota area.This study, drawn from personal and telephone interviews, court and other public records, and the literature written and disseminated by the men themselves, helps clarify the ideological, political, financial, and religious motivations of the protesters, and explains how …

Acquiring Consistent Knowledge For Bayesian Forests, Darwyn O. Banks

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops a methodology and a tool for knowledge acquisition with the new probabilistic knowledge representation-the Bayesian Forest. It establishes the structure of the Knowledge Acquisition and Maintenance module of the Probabilities. Expert Systems, Knowledge and Inference (PESKI) architecture. The tool, MACK, is designed to be used directly by the domain expert(s) rather than by knowledge engineer(s), and thus supports automated knowledge acquisition. This research determines and implements the constraints necessary to ensure the consistency of Bayesian Forest knowledge bases as data is both acquired and subsequently maintained. The impact to the PESKI architecture of time-dependent information and default …

A Decision Model For Environmental Assessment Of Process Waste Products, Kyle F. Byard

Theses and Dissertations

Environmental managers must compare the potential impacts of waste products when deciding upon courses of action. The estimation and comparison of these impacts is a subjective process, and few methods of comprehensive, quantitative comparison of waste products currently exist. The intent of this study is to develop a decision methodology to evaluate the environmental impacts of waste products and to score them for comparison. The method will follow established system design principles and incorporate significant characteristics of the waste material. Scores derived to represent the environmental impacts of materials will then he analyzed employing statistical and probabilistic methods to assess …

How The New Jersey State Aquarium Was Promoted, Beth J. Rose

Theses and Dissertations

This study determines how public relations was used to promote the New Jersey State Aquarium to persuade a skeptical public to overcome their hesitancy to come to Camden to visit the facility.

During its first year of operation, the New Jersey State Aquarium attracted more than one (1) million visitors, surpassing its projected goal.

The public relations plan was analyzed in nine different categories. The strategies included marketing, public relations, creativity, media, promotional membership, pricing, facility rental and group sales. The public relations campaign strategies included magazines, billboards, radio, television and a pre-opening press preview. The target market for each …

The Role Of Cd8+ T Cells In African Trypanosomiasis, Sandyhya Subramanian

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Glutathione Content In Rat Nb2 Lymphoma Cells, Timothy Edward Meyer

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Dietary Boron Modifies The Effects Of Vitamin D Nutriture On Energy Metabolism And Bone Morphology In The Chick, Naomi Bakken

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Emergence Of Nonverbal And Verbal Communication In A Child Adopted From Romania : A Case Study, Claudia F. Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Oxidatively Modified Red Cell Plasma Membranes From Copper Deficient Rats, Thomas P. Laberge

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Prey Selectivity By Naticid Gastropods From Tertiary Sediments Of The United States Coastal Plain, Robert N. Sickler

Theses and Dissertations

Previous studies have shown that naticid gastropod predators are highly selective of prey species in accordance with the Kitchell et al. (1981) cost-benefit model. In addition, earlier studies have demonstrated selectivity of drillhole siting and intraspecific prey size. This study focuses on prey selectivity by Oligocene naticid gastropods and is used to test Vermeij's (1987) hypothesis of escalation. The hypothesis of escalation states that biologic hazards have increased during the Phanerozoic and that organisms have either had to adapt to these hazards or face possible extinction (Vermeij, 1987). Naticid predation on molluscan assemblages is one of several examples used to …

Expert Testimony About Statement Validity Assessment : Does It Usurp Or Enlighten?, Lynelle Kay Vondergeest

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Lost Souls : Wandering Mongolia, Brian Baumann

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Salinity, Radon, And Radon Precursors In The Soils Of Grand Forks County, North Dakota, Kevin L. Solie

Theses and Dissertations

High levels of indoor radon have been observed in many areas of the Red River Valley and particularly in Grand Forks County of North Dakota. Data from the University of North Dakota (UND) Radon Monitoring Facility indicated more than 80% of the dwellings tested had radon levels greater than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) action limit of 4 pCi/l. High radon levels may pose a health threat (USEPA, 1986) to valley residents.

A review of existing data indicates that areas of the Red River Valley in North Dakota with elevated soil salinity also exhibit higher equivalent uranium (eU) …

Canada's Tainted Blood Scandal : The Framing Of A Crisis In The Toronto Globe And Mail, Deborah L. Steele

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.