Digital Commons Network^™

Induction Into Academia: The Experiences Of New Occupational Therapy Faculty, Catherine R. Acre

Theses and Dissertations

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) estimates the number of therapists in the nation's occupational therapy workforce at 46,357. Silvergate (1994) estimates a 71% shortage based on the actual vacancies for occupational therapy personnel currently exists. In response to the growing demand for occupational therapists, the number of academic programs in occupational therapy has increased. Currently there are 85 accredited occupational therapy programs and 30 developing programs in the United States. In addition, for every newly available student space in professional-level programs, there were a reported 3.4 applicants. With only five doctoral programs in occupational therapy in the United States, …

Self-Reported Teacher Stress And Perception Of Administrative Support, Janice Lyn Sjostrand

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine the existence of a relationship between levels of teacher occupational stress and perception of administrative support. Six secondary schools were chosen from six randomly selected school districts stratified by size and geographic location. The predictor variable was administrative support; the criterion variable was level of stress. Instrumentation included the Teacher Stress Inventory (TSI) and the Leadership Behavior Description Questionnaire Form XII (LBDQ Form XII). Ten factors of stress were measured: five were manifestations of stress, and five were sources of stress. The subjects, the majority of whom were females, did not exhibit …

Teachers Of The Lost Year, 1958-1959: Little Rock School District, Sondra Hercher Gordy

Theses and Dissertations

The Little Rock Central High Crisis of 1957 has been examined by numerous scholars from a variety of perspectives. Much less research has been devoted to the following year--the Lost Year, 1958-59--when Little Rock high schools were closed to all students, black and white. The entire period surrounding these two academic years found this Southern American community electrified with racial conflict, societal disruptions, and political machinations. Though all people in the community were affected by such unsettling times, no lives were more disrupted than those of teachers. Closed schools meant the interruption of professional careers. The confusion within the community …

Physical And Chemical Stability Of Spray Dried Sugars And Protein-Sugar Molecuiar Mixtures For Inhalation, Venkatesh Naini

Theses and Dissertations

The feasibility of producing inhalable microparticles of sugars and protein-sugar molecular mixtures using spray drying was investigated as an alternative to conventional micronization techniques. Four sugars; lactose (L), trehalose (T), sucrose (S) and mannitol (M) were spray dried using a commercial bench-top spray dryer and their physicochemical stability, with respect to particle size, moisture uptake and crystallinity changes, investigated after storage at 23%, 52%, 75% and 93% relative humidity (RH) and 25 °C for 30 days. Two crystalline size fractions (“coarse” = 125-212 μm and “fine” = 44-74 μm) of each sugar, were also characterized, as possible replacements for lactose …

Determinants Of The New Entry Of Hmos Into A Medicare Risk Contract: A Resource Dependence-Diversification Model, Chih-Wen Pai

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the determinants of the new entry of an HMO into a Medicare risk contract using a resource dependence—diversification model. This study is conducted through a non-experimental, panel design With one year time lag. An HMO’s market is defined as the service area. The primary sample for this study is composed of 440 HMOS that do not have a Medicare risk contract as of January 1994.

Data for the variables are extracted from the 1994 and 1995 InterStudy and Group Health Association of America (GHAA) directories, the 1996 Area Resource File, the 1994 …

Pharmacokinetics And Pharmacodynamics Of Ethanol In Healthy Volunteers: Effects Of Input-Rate And Degree Of Ethanol Exposure On Subjective And Objective Measures Of Impairment, Vijay A. Ramchandani

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this project was to investigate the effect of input-rate (oral and intravenous) and degree of exposure on the pharmacokinetics of ethanol and on subjective and objective measures of impairment, as well as on the development of acute tolerance to the effects of ethanol in young, healthy volunteers.

The primary objective of this research was to test the following hypotheses: 1) the rate and degree of ethanol exposure (oral and intravenous) in normal healthy males and females affect the pharrnacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynarnics (PD) of ethanol in a non-linear fashion; 2) the EEG changes after ethanol administration correlate …

Evaluation Of Cannabinoid Receptor Interaction Of Anandamide, The Endogenous Cannabinoid Receptor Ligand, Irma Bateman Adams

Theses and Dissertations

Recent evidence implicates anandamide as the endogenous ligand for the cannabinoid receptor. One purpose of this study was to determine the structural requirements for anandamide's receptor interaction and the influence of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), an enzyme inhibitor, on receptor affinity. A second objective was evaluation of the correlation between affinities of the analogs and in vivo pharmacological activities. The ability of anandamide and analogs to displace [3H]- CP 55,940 was determined by a filtration assay. Displacement curves for anandamide in the presence of PMSF produced a Ki of 89 ± 10 nM; without PMSF the Ki increased to 5400 ± …

Fears In Children With Chronic Constipation: Reliability And Validity Of The Defecation Anxiety Scale, Elizabeth Page Clawson

Theses and Dissertations

Pediatric constipation can lead to various negative emotional and physical consequences including abdominal pain, painful defecation, toileting fears, anxiety about pain and intestinal dysfunction. In addition, constipation can lead to socially compromising and embarrassing situations due to associated overflow incontinence. These unpleasant physical and emotional symptoms may in tum lead to conditioned avoidance behaviors, which serve to further maintain the cycle of stool retention and constipation. Presently, there have not been any studies directly addressing the role of conditioned aversion in the etiology and maintenance of constipation. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Defecation Anxiety Scale (DAS)- a …

Computer Modeling Of Anatomical Structure: A Representative Example Of Modeling The Inguinal Canal, Jason Michael Highsmith

Theses and Dissertations

As computers become an increasingly important part of medical education, a proper understanding of the techniques and applications of computer aided modeling is vital. An initial overview of medical imaging and the techniques of computer modeling is presented. Construction of three-dimensional models of anatomical structures is then discussed in great detail with specific focus on modeling structures like the inguinal canal. The inguinal canal is one region where computer modeling efforts should be directed because it presents a special challenge. Understanding the walls, borders and layering of the inguinal canal is especially difficult but vital to accurate clinical diagnoses of …

The Development Of The New Thai Shopping Center From A Blending Of American And Thai Influences, Amornrut Chaiwanichkit

Theses and Dissertations

The study focuses on how American and Thai shopping centers have evolved and concludes with an example for future Thai retailing: the one-stop shopping center, which is currently enjoying much success in the United States, but which has not yet been introduced to Thailand.

The information about the history and development of American and Thai shopping centers, including types and trends, provides directions for a new Thai shopping center development. In addition to the history, Thai and American cultural and social issues must be considered as well. The study looks at American consumers and their behavior reflected in the space …

A New Device For Performing Simultaneous Sterno-Thoracic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Sst-Cpr), Deepak S. Gupta

Theses and Dissertations

There are two different physiological mechanisms that cause blood to circulate around the human body during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The "cardiac pump" generates blood flow by squeezing blood out of the heart as the sternum is depressed. The "thoracic pump" generates flow by forcing blood out of the heart and the great vessels as the intrathoracic pressure rises due to chest compression.

To date, all CPR techniques try to circulate blood during cardiac arrest by exploiting elite; the cardiac pump or the thoracic pump mechanism of blood flow. No mechanical CPR device thus far invented has tried to exploit both mechanisms …

Towards Non-Tendentious Humor And Non-Violent Rebellion, Gayatri Devi

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an investigation into the relation between humor and authority based on the distinction first articulated theoretically by Freud between tendentious and non-tendentious cases of humor. The first chapter is a fairly detailed introduction to the historical and theoretical issues that have preoccupied studies of humor. Though my study makes occasional use of linguistic insights on humor, my critical thrust is not on a linguistic analysis of humor, but to demonstrate how humor may be used successfully or unsuccessfully as an alternate idiom to aggression. The second chapter discusses the relationship of aggression to authority fundamental to the …

Play As A Learning Tool In An Inclusive Kindergarten Classroom, Catherine J. Draper

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Ammonium Perchlorate On The Thyroid Hormone Levels Of The Sprague-Dawley Rat, James H. King Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine the threshold dose for ammonium perchlorate (AP) in the Sprague-Dawley rat. No dose response data exist for AP and the EPA has studied literature on the subject of perchlorates to determine a provisional reference dose. The Perchiorate Group, a consortium of DoD and industry representatives, believes this provisional reference dose is too conservative. This experiment was executed to provide dose response data on which to base a more accurate reference dose. The study consisted of eight groups of 12 Sprague-Dawley rats, six male and six female, which were exposed to incremental doses …

Applications Of Nonlinear Control Using The State-Dependent Riccati Equation, David K. Parrish

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the relatively new theory of nonlinear control using state dependent coefficient factorizations to mimic linear state space systems. The control theory is a nonlinear quadratic approach, analogous to linear quadratic regulation. All implementations examined in this thesis are done strictly numerically. This thesis is meant to provide a proof of concept for both satellite control and for an artificial pancreas to regulate blood glucose levels in diabetics by automatic insulin injection. These simulations represent only a first step towards practical use of the NQR method, and do not address noise rejection or robustness issues.

Design, Fabrication, Processing, And Testing Of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Chemical Sensors, Brian S. Freeman

Theses and Dissertations

Chemical microsensors are a new field integrating chemical thin film technology with solid-state fabrication techniques to make devices capable of detecting chemicals in the environment. This thesis evaluated commercially available fabrication processes and numerous sensor designs for working chemical sensors. The commercial processes used were MUMPS for surface micromachined devices and MOSIS for bulk micromachined devices. Overall, eight fabrication runs and 29 different designs were made. Of these designs, two were shown to work effectively. Other designs failed due to fabrication problems and design errors that caused release problems. One design that worked was a surface micromachined chemoresistor with interdigitated …

Determining Types Of Health Effects To Persian Gulf Veterans Due To Exposure To Occupational Hazards, Rebecca A. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

Persian Gulf Veterans' Illnesses (PGVI) consists of multiple illnesses with overlapping symptoms and causes. This research examined health effects literature concerning several occupational chemicals, to identify significant adverse health trends and assess research quality, completeness, and relevance. After compiling this knowledge base, the research focus was narrowed to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), solvents, and pyridostigmine bromide (PB). The existing data was analyzed and compared to PGVI health data using the nonparametric statistical method of contingency table analysis to prove or disprove a link between the substance and PGVI. The results of the contingency table analysis were used to make inferences …

Modified Model For Transient Response Of Mrna Synthesis To Magnetic Field Exposure, Timothy W. Crosnoe

Theses and Dissertations

It is a well-known fact that high frequency, or radio frequency, radiation can be directly harmful to biological tissue. The radiation frequencies to which humans are most exposed, however, are the extremely low frequencies, or ELFs. To date there has been no definitive measure for predicting the ability of low frequency electromagnetic radiation to cause adverse biological effects. Two specific measures, average magnetic field and kinetic index, have been used in studies to determine if they are useful predictors of adverse effects, specifically leukemia. Unfortunately, both have shown only marginal results. This thesis analyzed and improved the kinetic index measure …

Atmospheric Transport And Diffusion Modeling Of Rocket Exhaust, Chad A. Burel

Theses and Dissertations

Space launches at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) and the Cape Canaveral Air Station (CCAS) produce exhaust from the solid rocket boosters and liquid hypergolic fuels containing several toxic substances including hydrogen chloride and hydrazine. In order to estimate the health risk that would be imposed upon the public by proposed launches, range safety officials rely on the Rocket Exhaust Effluent Diffusion Model to predict where the exhaust chemicals will go after the launch and how strong the concentrations will be. The original REEDM program averaged the meteorological parameters (wind speed, wind direction, shear, etc.) across the entire mixing level …

Bioremediation: Factors Influencing Metal Ion Toxicity In A Toluene Selected Bacterial Population, Scott D. Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

This research was a general phenomenalistic overview of the effects of metals on the respiration rates of a toluene selected microbe culture. The metals studied were copper, zinc, cobalt, manganese and iron. Relative inhibition, Cu>Fe>Zn=Co>Mn, corresponded to hydrogen phosphate binding strengths. Inhibition was found to be pH dependent; it increased with increasing pH and was shown to correlate to an increased adsorption of metal onto the cell. Zn, Cu, and Co toxicities were shown to decrease with increasing magnesium concentrations. This decrease was linked to increased magnesium adsorption and decreased metal adsorption. The magnitude of effect was …

Systems Analysis Of Gps Electrical Power System Redesign, Kevin J. Walker

Theses and Dissertations

A systematic analysis is applied to the electrical power subsystem of the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system. Results determined the most appropriate power source and conversion system Options. Photovoltaic solar arrays, the current power system, were not included in the analysis. The best electrical power subsystem options found in the analysis include a solar power source with either a dynamic or direct conversion technique, and a direct conversion nuclear source. The two solar options are designed, at a low level of detail, to provide the same level of power the current GPS photovoltaic solar array system provides. These two designs …

The Effect Of Meteorological Data Averaging Times On Plume Concentrations From Explosive Ordnance Disposal Open Burning Operations, Ida L. Widmann

Theses and Dissertations

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Open Burning (OB) operations are performed to treat and dispose of unserviceable munitions in the Department of Defense (DOD) inventory. Air pollution modeling of OB operations is an Environmental Protection Agency requirement for permit issuance at OB sites. Specific OB regulation is still in its infancy; therefore, establishment of OB modeling techniques is still in the early stages. This thesis effort sought to develop a computer model, based upon the Gaussian Puff Equation. The model varies from standard plume modeling practices by not making the assumption that the wind direction, wind speed and turbulence are uniform …

A Comparison Of Remediation Priorities Developed By The Defense Priority Model, The Relative Risk Evaluation Method, And A Quantitative Risk Assessment Approach, David M. Hunter

Theses and Dissertations

The Superfund, established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, seriously underestimated both the number of severely contaminated sites and the associated cleanup cost. The magnitude of projected cleanup costs, coupled with shrinking federal budgets, necessitated the development and use of risk-based prioritization models among some federal agencies. Among these tools, the DOD prioritization models are meant to give priority to sites posing the greatest threat to human health. Their failure to properly rank sites could incorrectly shift the focus from those that pose substantial risk to sites of lesser risk. The DOD site ranking …

Follow-Up Study Of The Graduates Of An American Indian Tribally Controlled Community College, Gerald "Carty" Monette

Theses and Dissertations

This study obtained demographic data and information concerning the academic experiences, transfer experiences, and employment experiences of Turtle Mountain Community College (TMCC) students who graduated from 1980 to 1990, as determined by responses to a questionnaire which was developed for this specific purpose. There were 278 respondents to the survey, and they represented 55.2% of the total number of student graduates.

The data were analyzed utilizing the t test and Chi-square techniques to determine significant differences of variables between graduates on the basis of gender and by year of graduation. The testable hypotheses were stated in the null form, and …

Three Dimensional Localization Of Lesions From Digitized Mammograms, Amy L. Magnus

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes new algorithms to localize regions-of-interests (ROIs) three dimensionally from a pair of digitized mammograms. This work is intended to add a layer of sophistication to computer aided diagnosis by putting to use the fixed and measurable parameters of mammographic imaging. The fixed parameters are the source to film orientation and the podium-image distance. Measurable parameters are the rotation angle of the x-ray tube from the horizontal and the compression depth (the distance from compression paddle to contact podium distance) at the time of imaging. As an additional benefit, three dimensional localization algorithms alleviate the confusion radiologists may …

An Analysis Of 1994 Air Force Toxic Release Inventory Reporting, Brian A. Pollock

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to analyze the Air Force's 1994 Toxic Release Inventory data. Statistical tests were used to meet the following research objectives: (1) review the CY 94 data to determine which chemicals were most often reported and which bases and major commands had the most releases in terms of the number of chemicals reported and the amount of chemicals reported and (2) investigate factors which could influence the reporting status of a facility. An analysis of the TRI data showed that dichloromethane was the chemical released in the largest amount while methyl ethyl ketone was the …

Program Evaluation Of The University Of North Dakota Department Of Physical Therapy: A Case Study., Renee L. Rud Mabey

Theses and Dissertations

Program evaluation to measure and enhance educational quality has only recently been promoted within physical therapy (PT) education. Program evaluation is now part of Accreditation Standards.The University of North Dakota Department of Physical Therapy (UND-PT) has instituted program evaluation research via the graduate survey. A three-part questionnaire was mailed to graduates from 1970 through 1992. Five hundred forty-seven questionnaires were returned, for a response rate of 77.5%.Seventy percent of respondents were female, with a mean age of 35.1 years. Fifty percent of respondents live in the Upper Midwest. The remaining practice in 37 states and Canada. The majority practice in …

Perspectives Of Therapist Impairment In Women Psychologists., Fawz E. Schoup

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored women psychologists' perspectives of therapist impairment, including their definitions and personal experiences; considerations they believed were unique to women which could contribute to impairment; and coping strategies they used to protect against impairment.Sixteen women psychologists from North Dakota and Northwestern Minnesota were asked a series of questions in a structured interview format. Their responses were analyzed and presented according to commonly occurring themes.Definitions of impairment included considerations such as decreased competence; lack of competence; duration, frequency and severity of the impairment; failure to help clients; and loss of boundaries. A comprehensive definition of impairment based on the …

Relationships Between Early Parent-Child Variables And Later Psychological Adjustment Among Female Adult Children Of Alcoholics And Controls., Bette Bakke-Jumper

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the quality of the early child-parent relationship as predictors of adult psychological adjustment of women raised in alcoholic and non-alcoholic homes. While alcoholic family systems are generally recognized as a major source of stress to a large segment of our society, few studies have been successful in identifying the essential factors which may account for the wide variability in the responses of children and adults to the early experiences of family alcoholism. It was predicted that parental alcoholism and increased levels of conflict and violence would contribute significantly to adjustment difficulties and that early positive parent …

The Occurrence Of Mosquitoes In The Central Red River Valley Area In 1992 And 1993., Wayne A. Deckert

Theses and Dissertations

The main objectives of the study were to make a current mosquito species tabulation and assess the habitat as well as the daily and seasonal variations of the extant species as well as the number of potential vector species in the area.The trapping was conducted from 20 May to 31 July 1992 and 2 July to 22 September 1993 in Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, North Dakota. Mosquitoes were collected morning and evening, every 4 days, from the same 5 sites both years in 4 urban localities and 1 rural location using combination CO$\sb2$ and light traps. Twenty-six species of …