Digital Commons Network^™

Collegiate Athlete's Psychological Perceptions Of Adhesive Ankle Taping : A Qualitative Analysis, Erika J. Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Internet And Political Campaign Advertising : A Content Analysis, Anita L. Herold

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Development Of An Automatic Instrument For Rapid Analysis Of Selenium In Food Grains, Sathyendra K. Ghantasala

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Diffusion And Remediation Of Organic Chemicals In Softwood, Nidhi Jalan

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Planning For Cultural/Heritage Tourism For East Grand Forks, Minnesota, Sharon M. Grzeskowiak

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of Refractory Corrosion By Flowing Slag, Hong Xi

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Characteristics Of Imagery Use : A Comparison Among Skill Levels, Rebecca Lynn Fischer

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Gambling And Sensation Seeking Among Native Americans And Non-Native Americans, Angelique A. Gillis

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Daubechies And Quadratic B-Spline Wavelets For Automated Early Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's Disease, Genevieve Jacques

Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder characterized by nerve degeneration and neuronal death. The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease at an early stage is a major concern due to the lack of a standard and effective diagnosis procedure available to community healthcare providers, as well as the increasing numbers of the elderly population affected. Clinical evaluation, the standard AD diagnostic procedure conducted at major university hospitals and research clinics, achieves, on average, a positive predictive value of 93%, with a sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 55% and an overall accuracy of 75%. An effective and objective tool for early diagnosis of …

Automated Evaluation Of Radiodensities In A Digitized Mammogram Database Using Local Contrast Estimation, Min Taek Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Mammographic radiodensity is one of the strongest risk factors for developing breast cancer and there exists an urgent need to develop automated methods for predicting this marker. Previous attempts for automatically identifying and quantifying radiodense tissue in digitized mammograms have fallen short of the ideal. Many algorithms require significant heuristic parameters to be evaluated and set for predicting radiodensity. Many others have not demonstrated the efficacy of their techniques with a sufficient large and diverse patient database. This thesis has attempted to address both of these drawbacks in previous work. Novel automated digital image processing algorithms are proposed that have …

Representations Of Anglo-Saxon England In Children's Literature, Kirsti A. Bobo

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis surveys the children's literary accounts of Anglo-Saxon history and literature that have been written since the mid-nineteenth century. Authors of different ages emphasize different aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture as societal need for and interpretation of the past change. In studying these changes, I show not only why children's authors would choose to depict the Saxons in their writing, but why medievalists would want to study the resulting literature.

My second chapter looks at children's historical fiction and nonfiction, charting the trends which appear in the literature written between 1850 and the present day. I survey the changes made …

An In Vitro Evaluation Of Chitosan As A Biomaterial Focusing On The Effects Of The Degree Of Deacetylation, Virginia Hamilton

Theses and Dissertations

The material characteristics play a role in the suitability of chitosan for biomedical applications. This is not surprising since the degree of deacetylation of chitosan influences antimicrobial activity, degradation rate, immune reaction and mechanical properties such as strength and elongation. This study examines chitosans of variable material characteristics for wound and bone healing applications. Chitosan films of 76, 78, 80, 87, 91, 92, and 95% degree of deacetylation were tested in vitro for cellular responses by fibroblast and bone cell lines. The in vitro responses were compared to the material characteristics of molecular weight, degree of deacetylation, swelling index, and …

Towards A Methodology For Interactive Virtual Design Assessment, Kang Li

Theses and Dissertations

Complex interactive behaviour involves cognitive, sensation and motor behaviour and may consist of several sub interactive behaviours. It needs to be examined from different points of view. Although explaining everything in one model is not currently possible, it is possible to connect information from different sources to get a better understanding of the interaction to benefit product design. The long-term objective of our study is to develop a methodology for interactive virtual design assessment to study the interactive behaviour and achieve compatibility. This study summarized two experiments which covered many aspects of interactive behaviours in seated posture. Experiment one addressed …

Imposing Cyclic Strain On Osteogenic Stem Cells: The Effects Of Strain Levels And Repetition Of Cyclic Strain In An Implant Environment, Daniel Henlee Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Bone and bone cells have been shown to respond to mechanical forces placed upon them. Particularly, strain plays an important role in osteogenic differentiation of marrow cells around artificial implants in bone. These strains, depending on their magnitude, duration, and repetition, can alter the proliferation and matrix synthesis of osteoblasts. To test how strain parameters influence osteoblast behavior, a four-point bending apparatus was used to impose cyclic strain on osteogenic stem cells isolated from rats and seeded on titanium plates. Cells were stimulated at 1 Hz for 15 minutes daily and compared to an unstrained control. Stimulation occurred at two …

A Study Of The Impact Of The Mississippi Writing Project Summer Institute On Teacher Efficiency In Writing, Susan Gregory Dillard

Theses and Dissertations

In order to provide evidence of the worth of the Summer Institute of the National Writing Project, this study sought to determine whether participation in the professional development would increase feelings of teacher efficacy in writing. The Summer Institute professional development is consistent with recommendations of researchers in teacher efficacy and in professional development. Albert Bandura?s social cognitive theory provides a contextual framework for both teacher efficacy and the Summer Institute. The study compared the pre- and posttest scores on the Teacher Efficacy Scale for Writing and Writing Orientation Scale (Graham, S., Harris, K. R., Fink, B. & MacArthur, C., …

Hispanic Students' Beliefs Regarding Emergent Literacy: A Case Study, Jacqueline L. Breland Worley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the beliefs of the participants with regards to emergent literacy. Another purpose was to identify literacy practices employed by the participants while teaching preschool children. An additional purpose was to determine if participation in the course entitled ?Emergent Literacy? changed any beliefs of the participants regarding emergent literacy and subsequent literacy practices employed while teaching preschool children. The final purpose of this study was to determine the beliefs of the participants regarding emergent literacy and subsequent literacy practices employed while teaching preschool children, three years after completing the course entitled ?Emergent Literacy.? …

Effects Of Video Modeling On Skill Acquisition In Learning The Golf Swing, Joshua L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of video modeling on skill acquisition in learning the golf swing. One-hundred-eight college students participated in this study. All participants were pre-tested via videotaping to determine initial skill level. The pre-test videotaping was analyzed using DartTrainer software. Each participant was randomly assigned to one of three groups (1) control (2) single-view or (3) multi-view. Participants in the control group viewed a compact disc (CD) with a putting demonstration repeated 40 times. The participants in the single-view group viewed a CD with a front view only demonstration repeated 40 times of …

A Biomechanical Analysis Of Sprinters Vs. Distance Runners At Equal And Maximal Speeds, Tyler D. Bushnell

Theses and Dissertations

In the sport of track and field, sprinting and distance running represent two major categories of athletes. Sprinting is associated with power and speed, whereas distance running focuses on the economy of movement. With distance running there are elements of sprint technique that overlap. With distance events, there comes a time near the end of the race where economy gives way to speed. If the distance runners knew how to alter their technique in a way to become more sprint-like, this process could possibly be more successful. PURPOSE: This study compared the differences in technique between sprinters and distance runners …

Access To Learning: A Handbook For Parents, Teachers, And Paraeducators For Preschool Children With Visual Impairments, Mariah D. Thiel

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Reducing The Use Of Seclusions And Restraints In A Residential Treatment Center For Children, Stephanie L. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

Fourteen children participated in this study to examine if specific or clusters of interventions are able to reduce the ultimate outcome of the use of seclusion and restraint in a residential treatment center. The purpose of this study was also to develop an increased knowledge in alternative treatment methods for reducing the use of seclusion and restraint. A modified single subject research design, utilizing multiple baselines across behaviors and individuals was used to examine least restrictive and restrictive interventions. The results indicated that the utilization of least restrictive interventions increased by the time children were discharged and the use of …

Career Commitment And Overall Job Satisfaction Of The Clinical Laboratory Scientists And Clinical Laboratory Technicians In North Dakota, Marcia L. Olson

Theses and Dissertations

Today’s critical shortage of clinical laboratory professionals has presented a tremendous challenge for many laboratory managers. To recruit and retain laboratory professionals, managers must succeed iI1 creating an environment where laboratory professionals want to be employed. Maintaining overall satisfaction of these laboratorians is key to their retention. This study had three purposes. First, the researcher determined the levels of career commitment, satisfaction with benefits, and overall job satisfaction of the North Dakota licensed CLSs (Clinical Laboratory Scientists) and CLTs (Clinical Laboratory Technicians) currently employed. Secondly, the researcher investigated the relationships among career commitment, satisfaction with benefits, and overall job satisfaction …

Hydrogeologic Model Of A Leachate Plume In An Unconfined Coastal Plain Aquifer And Chemical Transport Mechanisms Of Metals And Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids, Thomas Lindblad

Theses and Dissertations

Groundwater contamination is of increasing environmental concern as many aquifers across the globe have experienced a decrease in water quality in recent time. The growth of the world's population over the last couple of decades has caused a dramatic increase in the rate of groundwater use. One potential source of groundwater contamination is waste material in landfills. The 1 st Division Road Sanitary landfill at Fort Benning Military Reservation was studied to evaluate the potential effect on local groundwater and a leachate plume was recognized using data from 16 groundwater monitoring wells located around the facility. The study site is …

The Characteristics Of Effective Fund Raising In Higher Education, Elizabeth Morken Tollefson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Annotation Manager: An Automated Web-Based Content Management System For Digital Libraries With Annotated Bibliographies, Frenny Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

With the expansion of the World Wide Web in the 90s, individuals (especially students) are always on a quest for information resources especially in the form of Web sites. Yet many of them are overwhelmed when faced with deciding which site will best suit their research needs. As a result, these individuals may select a resource for less than optimal reasons. To ease some of the burden, libraries have made great advances to provide a place to organize information resources. Such places are called library portals, and they typically provide a gateway to web resources by categorizing and annotating them …

The Long Term Effects Of Short-Wave Diathermy And Long-Duration Static Stretch On Hamstring Flexibility, Daniel Joseph Graham

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To compare changes in hamstring flexibility from treatments of pulsed short- wave diathermy and prolonged stretch versus sham diathermy and prolonged stretch and control and to observe how long those changes last.

Background: Heat and stretch techniques have been touted for years. To date, the effect of short-wave diathermy and hamstring stretching has not been thoroughly studied. Because diathermy heats a large area and penetrates deep into the muscle, use of this device prior to or during hamstring stretching may increase flexibility and these gains may last longer.

Study Design: A randomized, counterbalanced 3x2x6 repeated measures design. The 3 …

A Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment For Depression In Native American Middle-School Students, Lori B. Listug-Lunde

Theses and Dissertations

Depression and suicide are serious conditions among Native American adolescents. Despite the need for effective treatment approaches in this population, there continues to be a dearth of empirical research in this area. Intervention studies examining Native American adults at risk for depression and Native American youth at risk for suicide have found effectiveness utilizing group skill-based interventions. Group cognitive-behavioral therapy has demonstrated effectiveness among Caucasian adolescents; however, its effectiveness has never been examined with Native American youth experiencing depressive symptoms.

The current study modified, implemented, and evaluated a cognitive-behavioral intervention for depression among Native American middle-school students. A modification of …

Wisc-Iii Performance Differences Between Non-Referred Native American And Euro-American Children, Kandi Burr-Selle

Theses and Dissertations

The appropriateness of using standardized intelligence tests with minority populations has become a controversial topic for both researchers and practitioners. It has been suggested that the validity of such instruments is compromised due to biases in content and failure to consider culturally based learning style differences. A number of Familial variables such as socioeconomic status (SES) and cultural identification are also believed to impact performance.

Native American children typically score lower on the verbal scales of the Wechsler tests than non-Native children. Conversely, Native American children have demonstrated average or slightly superior perceptual skills that allow them to score higher …

Transitioning From Graduate Nurse To Professional Nurse, Jan M. Kamphuis

Theses and Dissertations

Just as the world is facing many changes and transitions, nursing care delivery systems and nursing education systems continue to struggle with significant transitions in nursing practice. New, or novice nurses, find it increasingly difficult to transition from the role of the graduate nurse to professional nurse. It is, therefore, not surprising that the most stressful time during a nurse's career is the first three months of initial employment or that 35% to 60% of nurse graduates change jobs during the first year of employment. Many of these new nurses suffer from early disillusionment with the profession and often leave …

Predictive Variables For Success On Licensure Examinations For Practical And Registered Nursing Education Graduates, Mary Anne Marsh

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to examine the relationships of demographic and academic variables to student performance in a laddered practical nursing (PN) and registered nursing (RN) education program. The information gained may be utilized to establish research-based admission, progression and graduation criteria to promote students successful completion of the program and pass the nurse licensure examination.

Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data related to the variables that were measured. Pearson correlations and regression analyses were used to examine various relationships and determine which of the admission demographic and academic variables were related to, or predictive of …

The Effects Of Exposure To Images Of The Male Muscular Ideal On Body Image And Muscularity Concerns In Men, Jason Alan Mccray

Theses and Dissertations

Though body-image has been well-researched in women for more than 40 years, theoretical discussions and empirical investigations addressing male body-image have only recently began to emerge. Work by Pope, Phillips and Olivardia (2000) has begun to identify the dynamics of male body-image distortions and the role media depictions of muscular men may play in their pathogenesis. The empirical literature is curiously devoid of experimental investigations of male responses to media and advertising depictions of muscular men.

The present study was designed to parallel the well-established literature examining women’s responses to fashion images in terms of changes in body-image and mood …