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Perceived Efficacy Of Support Mechanisms In Higher Education: A Comparison Of Traditional And Nontraditional-Age Female Students., Susan L. Neste Oct 1998

Perceived Efficacy Of Support Mechanisms In Higher Education: A Comparison Of Traditional And Nontraditional-Age Female Students., Susan L. Neste

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of nontraditional age female students at the University of North Dakota in regard to support mechanisms that have, or have not, enhanced the likelihood of success in their efforts to secure a college degree. Research questions focused on several issues including support mechanisms provided by the University of North Dakota as well as support mechanisms outside the University (i.e., family, job, church, community support). Additionally, the research questions focused on those obstacles which may or may not have impeded students' academic success and on nontraditional age female students' perceptions of …

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Determinants In The Carboxyl Terminus Of The Type I(Alpha) Regulatory Subunit Of Camp-Dependent Protein Kinase That Influence Cyclic Nucleotide Binding., Mark Allen Kapphahn Sep 1998

Determinants In The Carboxyl Terminus Of The Type I(Alpha) Regulatory Subunit Of Camp-Dependent Protein Kinase That Influence Cyclic Nucleotide Binding., Mark Allen Kapphahn

Theses and Dissertations

The carboxyl terminal 19 amino acids of the type $\rm I\alpha$ regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase were investigated to determine their contribution to cAMP selectivity. The parent $\rm RI\alpha$ subunit contained an Ala-to-Thr mutation at position 334 so that it would bind both cAMP and cGMP with high-affinity. Stop codons were introduced into the parent cDNA construct at positions corresponding to Val-375, Asn-372, Gln-370, and Cys-360. The proteins were expressed in E. coli and purified by affinity chromatography, as were all other proteins in this study. Truncation mutants were initially characterized for cAMP and cGMP dissociation properties. This was …

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The Epic Gilgamesh: A Pedagogical Study., Della Vanhuss Sep 1998

The Epic Gilgamesh: A Pedagogical Study., Della Vanhuss

Theses and Dissertations

Legends began to surface about Gilgamesh some two hundred years after he reigned as King of Uruk. Of Gilgamesh little is known except what was found in the Sumerian King's List, five or six poems, and in the Gilgamesh Epic itself. The epic has raised scholarly interest among those who would know more about this ancient and enigmatic character. The study developed out of a desire to explore the story in greater detail, and out of a curiosity as to how one would teach a class on the subject.I divided the study into three parts. Part one describes the background …

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A Qualitative Study Of Educational Values Of Parents And Educators In An American Indian Community., Ann Regina Brummel Sep 1998

A Qualitative Study Of Educational Values Of Parents And Educators In An American Indian Community., Ann Regina Brummel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the educational values convergence and disparity of parents and educators in an American Indian community. It assumes that any effective educational reform is based on community values. This study explores whether the Indian community school's personnel and parents of students share values, and to what extent these values resemble those of a more Eurocentric model or more traditional Indian values.Qualitative research methods were used in the study involving a triangulated approach: (1) participant observation; (2) in-depth interviews based on a semi-structured checklist of open-ended questions; and (3) collection of archival documentation. Data …

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The Glucose-6-Phosphatase System: Structural Integrity And Physiologic Function., Bartholomew Adam Pederson Sep 1998

The Glucose-6-Phosphatase System: Structural Integrity And Physiologic Function., Bartholomew Adam Pederson

Theses and Dissertations

The enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase (Glc-6-Pase) (E.C. 3.1.9.3) plays a major role in the maintenance of blood glucose levels. Besides its classical role of hydrolyzing Glc-6-P, Glc-6-Pase also hydrolyzes mannose-6-phosphate (Man-6-P) and phosphorylates glucose via its biosynthetic activity. The enzyme is routinely studied in rat liver microsomes in the presence and absence of an activating/disrupting agent. The activator histone II-A reportedly increases Glc-6-Pase activity without destroying the microsomal membrane (St.-Denis et al. (1995) Biochem. J. 310, 221-224). We examined whether histone II-A disrupts microsomes by using the inhibitor N-bromoacetylethanolamine phosphate (BAEP). This compound inhibits Glc-6-Pase only in native microsomes. We found that …

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Chromatin Structure Of The Simian Virus 40 Late Promoter: A Deletional Analysis., Michael James Friez Sep 1998

Chromatin Structure Of The Simian Virus 40 Late Promoter: A Deletional Analysis., Michael James Friez

Theses and Dissertations

Simian Virus 40 (SV40) chromosomes possess chromatin structures very similar to eukaryotic chromatin, including the presence of a nucleosome free region (NFR) over their promoter in a fraction of the chromosomes. SV40 domains of the promoter region include the information necessary for defining the NFR although the specific sequences involved in generating NFR's have not been identified. The goal of this study was to determine the minimal sequence within the late promoter region, nucleotides 255-424, of SV40 capable of phasing nucleosomes as measured by its ability to confer the greatest endonuclease sensitivity on adjacent DNR sequences. The degree of nuclease …

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Identification Of Simian Virus 40 Early Promoter Sequences Capable Of Nucleosome Phasing., Raejean Leigh Hermansen Sep 1998

Identification Of Simian Virus 40 Early Promoter Sequences Capable Of Nucleosome Phasing., Raejean Leigh Hermansen

Theses and Dissertations

A large fraction of simian virus 40 (SV40) chromosomes found in lytically infected cells have been shown to contain a large nucleosome-free region (NFR) over the promoter. Despite the importance of this NFR in transcription, little is known about what actually controls its formation. Recently, it has been shown that specific, short DNA sequences may act as organizing centers for nucleosome phasing in other eukaryotic systems. The primary goal of this study was to determine if specific SV40 early promoter sequences existed that were capable of phasing nucleosomes and thus directing the formation of a NFR.In order to identify specific …

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A Comparative Immunocytochemical Analysis Of The Secretory Profiles Of Bovine Retinal Pericytes And Glomerular Mesangial Cells In Vitro., Julie Carol Rutherford Sep 1998

A Comparative Immunocytochemical Analysis Of The Secretory Profiles Of Bovine Retinal Pericytes And Glomerular Mesangial Cells In Vitro., Julie Carol Rutherford

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships which may exist between retinal microvascular pericytes and renal glomerular mesangial cells regarding their secretory profiles and their resulting potential functional roles in vivo. The following working hypothesis was proposed: Retinal microvessel pericytes and renal glomerular mesangial cells share common morphological and ultrastructural features, reside in similar extracellular matrix environments in vivo, and express similar secretory profiles of extracellular matrix molecules in vitro.The methodology of the study included cell culture, Western blot analysis of the cell layer and matrix, light microscopic immunocytochemistry, ultrastructural analysis of intact and acellular tissues, and immunohistochemistry …

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Establishment And Succession Of Epiphyllic Bryophyte Assemblages On The Fronds Of The Neotropical Understory Palm Geonoma Seleri., James Daniels Sep 1998

Establishment And Succession Of Epiphyllic Bryophyte Assemblages On The Fronds Of The Neotropical Understory Palm Geonoma Seleri., James Daniels

Theses and Dissertations

Plant succession has classically been portrayed as an orderly, directional, and predictable process of species turnover through time. Unfortunately most of the studies from which these conclusions have been drawn have been poorly replicated owing to the practical difficulties involved in following the development of an assemblage throughout its existence.The current study has examined change over time in species cover and composition in the assemblage of epiphyllic bryophytes growing upon the fronds of the neotropical understory palm Geonoma seleri in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve of northern Costa Rica. The assemblage was examined in two ways. First, change in the …

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A Comparison Of Experimental Measurements And Numerical Calculations Of Ignition Delay In Lean Premixed H(2)/O(2)/N(2) Turbulent Combustion: A Unique Approach To Modeling Turbulent Combustion., Dong Ho Lee Sep 1998

A Comparison Of Experimental Measurements And Numerical Calculations Of Ignition Delay In Lean Premixed H(2)/O(2)/N(2) Turbulent Combustion: A Unique Approach To Modeling Turbulent Combustion., Dong Ho Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the complex interaction of turbulence and chemical reactions, detailed analysis of turbulent flames have never been successfully accomplished. In this work, a simple approach to modeling the interaction of turbulence and chemical kinetics in a lean premixed $\rm H\sb2/O\sb2/N\sb2$ combustion system using SANDIA Premixed Laminar Flame Code and SENKIN Code is described.In order to account for turbulence transport characteristics and accompanying heat transfer effects, a multiplication factor to laminar transport is introduced to the SANDIA Laminar Flame Code. This model has been exercised to determine ignition delay time in pseudo one dimensional flow reactor for 1, 3, 6 …

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Can Visuospatial Ability Predict Body Size Estimation Accuracy?, Paulette Marie Stronczek Sep 1998

Can Visuospatial Ability Predict Body Size Estimation Accuracy?, Paulette Marie Stronczek

Theses and Dissertations

The present study tested to see if there were relationships between the ability to estimate body size and other visual-spatial abilities. Fifty female undergraduates at the University of North Dakota who did not have eating disorders (as tested by the Eating Disorders Inventory (Garner, 1990)) were tested. They were asked to estimate the width of their shoulders, waist, hips, and thighs; the width of the shoulders, waist, hips, and thighs of a mannequin; the width of a file cabinet; and the width of a soup can. They did this with the Askevold method of estimation (1975) and the Ruff and …

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The Uncertainty Principle And Certain Uncertain Writers: Melville, Dickinson, Woolf, Atwood And Others., Catherine Ann Pavlish Sep 1998

The Uncertainty Principle And Certain Uncertain Writers: Melville, Dickinson, Woolf, Atwood And Others., Catherine Ann Pavlish

Theses and Dissertations

In the 1920s, a major paradigm shift occurred in the world of physics toward a more subjective view of the universe. Werner Heisenberg's 1927 Uncertainty Principle was especially important in this shift because he demonstrated that, in any experiment, the observer always has some kind of effect upon or "interference" with the thing being observed; thus, he complicated the boundaries that had been drawn between scientific objectivity and personal subjectivity, a position that has lead to a more uncertain knowledge of our world.This "uncertainty" has not gone unnoticed by literary critics and writers. Indeed, one of the more recent moves …

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Measuring The Long-Term Effects Of Action Workouts, Jonathan D. Malone Sep 1998

Measuring The Long-Term Effects Of Action Workouts, Jonathan D. Malone

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed aircraft inspection data to determine if quality enhancements were realized after an Action Workout (AWO) was accomplished. Pretest and post-test assessment data from three separate units were analyzed to determine whether overall quality improvements were made. This study operationally defined quality in terms of Quality Verification Assessment ratings compiled before and after each AWO event. Comparisons were made to determine if overall quality improved, declined, or remained unchanged. Parametric t-tests and nonparametric chi-square analyses were used to determine the significance of any differences between the pretest and post-test data sets. The results provide plausible evidence that quality …

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A Return On Investment Model For Air Force Technology Transfer, Bradley W. Mcdonald Sep 1998

A Return On Investment Model For Air Force Technology Transfer, Bradley W. Mcdonald

Theses and Dissertations

Air Force policy states the fundamental reason for participating in technology transfer is to maximize the return on investment (ROI) on research and development (R&D) funds. Public law dictates that federal agencies, including the Air Force, are to spend no less than 0.5% of their overall R&D budget in the pursuit of technology transfer. However, there is currently no ROI model available to the decision maker in the evaluation of alternative transfer opportunities. This research effort develops a model that measures the ROI of individual cooperative research and development agreements (CIWAs) on the basis of the objective and subjective benefits …

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Measuring The Effect Of Rfid Technology On Movement Of U.S. Army Resupply Cargo, Leigh E. Method Sep 1998

Measuring The Effect Of Rfid Technology On Movement Of U.S. Army Resupply Cargo, Leigh E. Method

Theses and Dissertations

This research is an analysis of the effect that the added in-transit visibility (ITV) associated with applying Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to Army resupply cargo makes on total cycle time (from entry into to exit from the system) within the Air Mobility Command (AMC) portion of the Defense Transportation System. Although information technology applications are known to contribute to ITV, there has been no attempt to quantify it despite a perception held by at least part of the DoD community that ITV initiatives will reduce logistics response time by improving cycle time. This study was aimed at quantifying RFID …

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Data Storage Devices For Air Force Space Command: A Comparative Analysis, Darryl E. Mosley Sep 1998

Data Storage Devices For Air Force Space Command: A Comparative Analysis, Darryl E. Mosley

Theses and Dissertations

Two of Air Force Space Command's primary missions are ballistic missile warning and global navigation, accomplished by commanding and controlling Defense Support Program and Global Positioning System satellites respectively. The computerized ground control system, called the satellite command and control system (CCS) used to perform command and control of the satellites currently uses antiquated peripheral storage devices. These storage devices are critical components, but are often prone to failure, possibly resulting in adverse mission impact. The Air Force must choose an alternative storage device for use in conjunction with CCS in order to accommodate planned operations tempo increases. This thesis …

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U.S. Air Force Information Resources Management: An Exploratory Study Of Policy, Brian S. Munoz Sep 1998

U.S. Air Force Information Resources Management: An Exploratory Study Of Policy, Brian S. Munoz

Theses and Dissertations

Information superiority and dominance is identified as Department of Defense and US Air Force critical success factors for mission effectiveness. Thus, effectively managing information and the resources which support it is a concept in which the Federal Government has a keen interest. Information Resources Management (IRM) was established within the Department of Defense (DoD) in 1983 as a tool for better managing its information in the wake of automated information processing and sharing. Over the past 15 years, numerous changes to law, policy, and other directive or guidance material have made the task of implementing an effective IRM program difficult. …

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Full Integration Of Women In The Air Force: Myth Or Possibility?, Helen M. Newell Sep 1998

Full Integration Of Women In The Air Force: Myth Or Possibility?, Helen M. Newell

Theses and Dissertations

The full integration of women in the military, particularly the United States Air Force, has been an ongoing effort. Based on the definition of "full integration" as allowing all qualified military personnel the opportunity to hold any position and accomplish any mission, given that they are in possession of the required capabilities and training, without restriction, certain issues have arisen during the course of the integration process. These issues include sex, as defined by gender and function, the capability of women to accomplish the same tasks as men, and the combat issue. To support and establish the full integration of …

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The Interaction Of Fema With Air Force Stateside Contingency Contracting Operations, Jeffrey A. Merchant Sep 1998

The Interaction Of Fema With Air Force Stateside Contingency Contracting Operations, Jeffrey A. Merchant

Theses and Dissertations

Natural disasters can strike the U.S. at any time without warning. When an Air Force base is struck with disaster, the base as well as the surrounding area must interact with FEMA to initiate and sustain emergency relief operations. Policies and procedures must be in effect to ensure that affected personnel know what agencies to coordinate with to conduct relief efforts. This research explores how the Air Force interacts with FEMA in a natural disaster situation that affects an Air Force base. A case study investigates how FEMA interacted with Grand Forks AFB during the 1997 flooding to determine the …

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A Forecasting Approach To Improve Logistics Planning In The Colombian Air Force, Daniel A. Melendez Sep 1998

A Forecasting Approach To Improve Logistics Planning In The Colombian Air Force, Daniel A. Melendez

Theses and Dissertations

The Colombian Air Force recently installed a logistics operating system to improve the logistics system. However, the inventory cost and turnover have not stopped growing; subsequently, the operational readiness has been affected. The purpose of the study was to compare the performance of several forecasting techniques to improve the current planning process of aircraft parts in the CAF. The research used five phases. The first phase identified the relevant factors and the forecasting techniques selected for the experiment. The factors were repairability, demandability and uniqueness. The forecasting methods were single and double exponential, moving average, autoregression and linear regression. The …

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An Investigation Of The Reliability Of The Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (Cpars), John C. Odum Sep 1998

An Investigation Of The Reliability Of The Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (Cpars), John C. Odum

Theses and Dissertations

An Industry trend is to establish long-term relationships with reliable suppliers. One of the criteria used to pick these "reliable suppliers" is past performance. The Department of Defense is also attempting to capitalize on this logical trend to the maximum extent possible by using past performance as an evaluation factor in source selections. Air Force Material Command (AFMC) employs the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). This thesis examines the reliability of the CPARS. This thesis found, despite the fact that policy mandates color ratings be based on period objective measures, the cost color ratings were more consistent with cumulative …

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An Examination Of Information Technology Valuation Models For The Air Force, Todd A. Peachey Sep 1998

An Examination Of Information Technology Valuation Models For The Air Force, Todd A. Peachey

Theses and Dissertations

Information technology investment has become a significant part of the Department of Defense's budget. The Information Technology Management Reform Act requires that government quantitatively evaluate future information technology investments. Quantitative evaluation of IT investments present special problems for agencies that do not generate incoming cash flows. This thesis is designed to examine models that are currently being used in the public and private sector of the economy to evaluate Information Technology investments to learn which ones might serve the needs of the United States Air Force. The methodology is an exploratory study based on Criterion based Congruence Analysis. This technique …

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Information Resource Management: An Analysis Of The Importance Of Critical Skills As Perceived By Air Force Communications And Information Commanders, Susan E. Phillips Sep 1998

Information Resource Management: An Analysis Of The Importance Of Critical Skills As Perceived By Air Force Communications And Information Commanders, Susan E. Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores what Information Resource Management skills are required in the Communications Information career field as perceived by the Air Force commanders. A previous study polled junior officers, and this study furthers the research by sampling commanders who represent the leadership of the Communication Information career field. The following questions were addressed: (1) What are the skills commanders perceive as most important to the IRM mission? (2) Of those skills, where do the commanders perceive their organization's members' weaknesses? (3) What are the primary sources of training for commanders in the career field? (4) What expectations do commanders have …

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The Demographic And Behavioral Patterns Of Visitors To The Usaf Museum, Charlene V. Purtee Sep 1998

The Demographic And Behavioral Patterns Of Visitors To The Usaf Museum, Charlene V. Purtee

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force Museum, located at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, provides an overview of the Air Force's aviation history, free to the public. In 1996, the Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial support for the display of the aviation memorabilia, attempted to determine the demographic representation of the Foundation membership. In their analysis the Foundation found that the membership represented only a small portion of the actual population that visited the Museum annually. In 1997, a second survey was accomplished to establish a cursory demographic breakout and answer a variety of questions from the visitors at the …

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A History Of The Developments Of Fraternization Policies, Jeffrey C. Russell Sep 1998

A History Of The Developments Of Fraternization Policies, Jeffrey C. Russell

Theses and Dissertations

Criticisms of the Air Force's fraternization policy predominantly conclude that the prohibition of fraternization is based upon a caste system, which evolved from the class divisions of the Middle Ages and is designed to maintain those social divisions. The Air Force maintains that fraternization policies are necessary because fraternization adversely affects morale and discipline. This study uses qualitative research methods, ethnography and grounded theory, to consider the impacts of military customs, military structure, and societal structure to analyze the evolution of fraternization policies through Western military history as they relate to the development of the current Air Force policy. This …

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Outsourcing: An Historical Review For The Projection Of Future Savings, Leslee J. Saleck Sep 1998

Outsourcing: An Historical Review For The Projection Of Future Savings, Leslee J. Saleck

Theses and Dissertations

Because of continuing budget and personnel limitations and the need to fund weapons modernization, the Department of Defense has increased its emphasis on outsourcing support activities. Recent studies have suggested that aggressive outsourcing of support activities by the DoD could produce billions of dollars in savings. The overriding purpose behind this research was to determine to what extent projected savings can be substantiated. To explore the potential for savings, this thesis examines the evolution and impact of outsourcing and privatization in both the private and public sectors. Next it looks at the experiences of private and public sectors to identify …

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Student Assessment Selection Behavior Analysis Of Institutions Conducting Distance Education, Clayton W. Sammons Sep 1998

Student Assessment Selection Behavior Analysis Of Institutions Conducting Distance Education, Clayton W. Sammons

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis discovers issues universities use when deciding what types of exams will be used for distance education students. Many universities conduct distance education courses electronically but do not conduct the evaluation instruments electronically. Universities across the country, diversified by academic rankings, tuition, and student population were interviewed. Results generally revealed security concerns as the most prevalent reason for universities avoiding electronic exams. However, some universities have created evaluation methods to mitigate the security risks and perform electronic assessments such as projects or exams that are tailored to reduce the possibility of cheating. Examples of the tailored exam questions include …

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An Analysis Of Information Technology Training Effectiveness: The Impact On Trainee Reactions, Learning, And Performance, Joseph H. Scherrer Sep 1998

An Analysis Of Information Technology Training Effectiveness: The Impact On Trainee Reactions, Learning, And Performance, Joseph H. Scherrer

Theses and Dissertations

Through its "Global Reach", the Air Force operates globally and in environments that are potentially dynamic, competitive, and lethal. "Information Dominance" has assumed a central role in such environments. In order to achieve Information Dominance, the Air Force must have trained and skilled personnel able to perform highly intensive activities using information technologies. Therefore, it is crucial that information technology training be able to deliver the requisite skills personnel need to attain and sustain performance on these systems. The importance of training gives rise to the need to determine how information technology training can be continually improved to maximize return …

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The Factors That Motivated American Ground Forces To Fight During Combat In Vietnam, William A. Schum Sep 1998

The Factors That Motivated American Ground Forces To Fight During Combat In Vietnam, William A. Schum

Theses and Dissertations

Many people debate the policies of the United States government with respect to the conduct of the Vietnam War. The war was unpopular, at best, and many argued that our military should not have fought for South Vietnam. So, what compelled American ground forces to fight an atypical enemy? This thesis explores the motivational factors that influenced the military ground forces on a daily basis. Past research conducted on previous wars serves as the guideline for the methodology used. Combat narratives are the data sources and references to motivational factors by the authors are the data. As a whole, the …

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A Comparison Of 8-Hour Vs. 12-Hour Shifts On Performance, Health And Safety In A Usaf Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Kelly J. Scott Sep 1998

A Comparison Of 8-Hour Vs. 12-Hour Shifts On Performance, Health And Safety In A Usaf Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Kelly J. Scott

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of converting a large USAF aircraft maintenance squadron from an 8- hour shift system to a 12-hour shift system. In 1996, the squadron converted its 24-hour operations from three 8-hour work shifts, to two 12-hour work shifts with compressed work weeks. The squadron maintained 12-hour shifts for 19 consecutive months. A comparison was made of organizational performance, worker health and safety measures before, during and after 12-hour shift implementation. Findings indicated that changing from 8- to 12-hour shifts resulted in a slight increase in aircraft Mission Capability rates. However, this benefit appears to have come …

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