Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Object-Oriented Gis For Watershed Resource Management, Nalishebo Nally Kaunda

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The adoption of object-oriented programming for spatial technological advancement is an emerging trend in GIS. This research seeks to explore Object-Oriented GIS (OOGIS) and its potential application in watershed resource management. OOGIS provides a more intuitive and realistic abstraction of real world features as intelligent objects. The ability to embed behavior, geometry, and attribution with the objects provides considerable advantages in the processing and analysis of geospatial data. The main objective of this research was to design a prototype OOGIS for watershed resource management using the object relational Arclnfo 8.1 Geodatabase. The study builds on the OOGIS concepts of inheritance, …

Manager Characteristics And Support For Worksite Health Promotion Programs That Target Women In Small, Blue-Collar Worksites, Leigh Wiley Belton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the relationship between manager support for health promotion programs and perceived benefits of health promotion activities, organizational health climate, and personal health behaviors among managers in small, blue-collar textile and light manufacturing worksites in eastern North Carolina. Ninety-eight managers completed a self-administered questionnaire that assessed levels of support for, and interest in, employee health promotion programs, perception of organization climate, and perceived benefits of health promotion activities. Demographic data was also collected. Chi-square and correlation analyses were used to assess statistical significance. No significant associations were found between level of manager support and demographic characteristics, perceived benefits …

Friendship Characteristics Associated With Adolescent Friendship Maintenance And Dissolution, Rebecca A. Owens

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the association between early adolescents' friendship features and friendship outcomes (maintenance vs. dissolution and overall quality) following friendship problems. Also of interest was whether the reported causes of friendship problems and friendship dissolution differed. Early adolescents' (mean age = 12.45 years; 118 girls, 82 boys) experiences with their friends were assessed through several written questionnaires. Six friendship features were used to predict friendship outcomes following problems: length of friendship, closeness, common experiences, balance of costs and rewards, personal characteristics, and expected ease of finding a new friend. Length of friendship and approval of a friend's personal characteristics …

Parent-Infant Interactions During Acute Painful Procedures, Catherine Bradford Mcclellan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Despite the current recognition of infant procedural pain and distress, there is a dearth of research, both in the assessment and treatment literature, of infant procedural distress. This study examined how specific parent behaviors relate to infant procedural distress and whether this relation is mediated by birth order. Results indicated that females were rated as more distressed than were males, and that birth order did not prove to be a distinguishing factor in infant distress. Finally, while some behaviors appear to have a similar influence on both preschoolers' and infants' behaviors, parents' behavior during infants' distressing procedures were found to …

Elderly Narrative Reflections On The Contradictions In Turkish Village Family Life After Migration Of Adult Children, Roberta L. Coles

Social and Cultural Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

International and domestic labor migrations are changing the face of many countries. Those economic and demographic transitions collide with cultural expectations and ways of conducting intergenerational relations. This paper is a narrative analysis of some of those changes from the perspective of the elderly who remain behind in a small village in central Turkey. In particular, their narratives focus on filial expectations of sons and daughters, the status of mothers-in-law, health and economic well-being, and the future of village life. While these “left behind” elderly feel a loss of status and control and fear for their futures as their children …

Fuzzy Logic Cost Estimation Method For High Production Volume Components, Shirley Jean Copen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this research is to develop fuzzy logic cost models that estimate the cost of a component based on the component's geometric shape, size, material and manufacturing process. The research is focused on components made from high production quantity processes i.e. stamping, injection molding, rolling and extrusion. However, the method may also be used for other types of manufacturing processes. The method is useful to both engineers and cost estimators whenever an estimated cost is desired. Engineers and cost estimators may use the method to obtain the cost of components or products of similar design without a detailed …

New Catalysts For Syngas Production From Carbon Dioxide And Methane, Mahesh Venkataraman Iyer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The performance of cobalt tungsten carbide material was investigated for CH4/CO2 reforming. The catalyst was found to convert to a very stable, very active, form when heated in CH4/CO 2 at 850°C and 5 atm. Even after 90 hours on stream, CH4 and CO2 rates of 1.3 and 1.25 mmol/min/g respectively are obtained, with CO yields of 76% and H2/CO ratio close to unity. XRD patterns suggest a phase transformation to WC+Co+C. SEM images suggest formation of encapsulated carbon and whisker carbon.;The kinetics of CH4/CO2 reforming was studied under differential conditions over 500--600°C. The observed rates seem to follow a …

Simulation Of Heavy-Duty Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Anjali Devi Nennelli

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Microsoft Excel and ADvanced VehIcle SimulatOR (ADVISOR) were used to simulate the driving conditions of heavy-duty hybrid electric vehicles over various driving cycles in an attempt to optimize their design and control. The fuel economy data thus obtained were compared with those of the in-use heavy-duty hybrid electric vehicles. For this the drive cycles are modified to represent realistic expectations of the dynamic performance of vehicles. The cycles used are "Central Business District" cycle (CBD), "Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule" cycle (UDDS), "Manhattan" cycle and "City Suburban Heavy Vehicle Cycle" (CSHVC). The vehicle considered for simulations was a transit bus, which …

Women And Physical Culture In Modern Poland, Nameeta Mathur

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examines the interaction between the various forces of Polish "nationalism" and "feminism" in the construction of women's physical culture in modern Poland from the late nineteenth century until the end of the twentieth century. The basic premise of this work is that unlike most western countries where sportswomen have typically been marginalized in their athletic endeavors, Polish female athletes have earned far greater respect and recognition in the development of their physical culture. On many occasions, women's athleticism in Poland was a source of immense pride and prestige for both the state and society, albeit for varied reasons …

Effects Of Concept Mapping On Learning Anatomy And Transfer Of Anatomy Knowledge To Kinesiology In Health Sciences Students, Frances E. Huber

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of concept mapping on academic achievement in anatomy and transfer of anatomy knowledge to kinesiology and to describe the participants' experience with this new study strategy. Methods. Thirty-eight junior physical therapy and occupational therapy students volunteered to participate in this study in the fall of 2000. Thirty students matriculated into the spring semester and completed the study. All participants signed informed consents. Participants were randomly assigned to a control group or concept mapping group. The concept mappers were instructed with concept mapping. Members of the concept mapping group were …

Manual Handling Workload And Musculoskeletal Discomfort In Nursing Personnel, Nancy Nivison Menzel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nursing staff members (registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing aides) have one of the highest incidence rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) of all occupations. Ergonomic research has identified patient handling and movement tasks that put the caregiver at high risk for a WMSD each time they are performed. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the frequency of performing the highest risk tasks, as well as certain other risk factors affecting physical workload, were related to the frequency of musculoskeletal discomfort. Also investigated was whether the manual handling workload varied by job category. The cross-sectional study …

Risk Mapping For Northern Kenya And Southern Ethiopia, D. Layne Coppock

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

We used results from 120 group interviews collected in 1998 to quantify how inhabitants across northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia perceive and rank various risks to their livelihoods. We also mapped risk patterns using Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates. Respondents recognized 15 sources of risk overall, with the most common being reliable access to food and water. Other risks were not mentioned by a majority of respondents and reflected diversity in local situations. Country of residence, wealth class, gender, and predominant means of food production (pastoralism, agro-pastoralism, and farming) influenced risk ranking. For example, wealthy males were most concerned about …

Pain State As A Mediator In The Psychological And Behavioral Assessment Of Migraine And Tension Headache Sufferers, Jennifer L. Sippel

Theses and Dissertations

While research has suggested there is a possibility that headache assessment tools may be affected by the pain state of the individual, only one study to date has examined pain-state differences in assessment results for individuals diagnosed with a headache disorder. Holroyd, France, Nash & Hursey (1993) showed that most differences between headache sufferers and control groups on psychological symptom reports were an artifact of pain state. The present study examined the influence of headache pain state on self-reported psychological and behavioral variables. Undergraduate male and female subjects between the ages of 18 and 30 were selected based on their …

The Effect Of Cultural Affiliations On Attitudes, Beliefs, And Reactions To The Fighting Sioux Nickname Issue Between Northern Plains American Indian And Majority Culture College Students, Angela Larocque

Theses and Dissertations

The main puqjo.sc of this study was to compare the effect of cultural affiliation on altitudes, beliefs, and reactions to the Fighting Sioux Nickname and logo issue for 60 Nonhem Plains American Indian college students and 61 non-Indian college students at the University of North Dakota. Subjects completed a demographic questionnaire and the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux Nickname Attitudes, Beliefs, and Reactions (UNDFSNABR) survey. In addition, American Indian subjects completed the Nonhem Plains Bicuhuralism Inventory (NPBI), Using the Northern Plains Biculluralisin Inventory (NPBI) to identify cultural identification among American Indian participants, the hypotheses of the current study were;: …

Effect Of Monounsaturated Fat Rich Almonds On Hemostatic And Inflammatory Factors In Healthy Adults, Kristianne M. Connell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: The frequent consumption of nuts is inversely associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Nuts are known to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing serum total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Markers of inflammation including C-reactive protein, E-selectin and interleukin-6 have been proposed to be newer risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, the influence of nuts such as almonds on markers of inflammation and hemostasis that influence cardiovascular disease risk is not currently known.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of almond consumption on markers of inflammation and hemostatic factors in healthy …

Evaluating The Sex Discrimination Argument For Lesbian And Gay Rights, Edward D. Stein

Articles

The sex discrimination argument for lesbian and gay rights analyzes laws that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in terms of sex discrimination. For example, sodomy laws that prohibit only same-sex sexual activities are analyzed as discriminating on the basis of sex because they prohibit women from doing something men are permitted to do, that is, have sex with women. This argument has been championed by some scholars and litigators, and it has persuaded some judges. Edward Stein shows that there are sociological, theoretical, moral, and practical problems facing the sex discrimination argument. He suggests that there are better …

Challenges For The New West: Economic Impacts Of Wilderness In Nevada's Rural Counties, Lesley Regina Argo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Public lands designated as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System are removed from multiple-use management for protection of their natural condition. Opponents argue that "locking up" the natural resources on these lands through designation will undermine the rural economies in the west that are dependent upon extractive industries such as mining and logging. Proponents argue that the "Old West" reliance on extractive industries is declining and, in the "New West", wilderness promotes economic development in rural communities by preserving the amenity values that draw population and employment to the region. Characteristics of Nevada's economy, population and land challenge the …

From Common Law To Civil Law Jurisdictions: Court Adr On The Move In Germany, Nadja Alexander

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In Australia today, ADR processes are recognised not only as a distinct system of dispute resolution, but also as a system that interacts interdependently with the legal system. This is most clearly demonstrated in the context of court-related mediation, which is increasingly seen as an effective way to increase access to, participation in, and satisfaction with the way legal disputes are resolved. Cappelletti categorises ADR as the third wave in the worldwide access-to-justice movement. ADR provides a different approach and a different sort of justice for solving disputes — what Cappelletti labels ‘co-existential justice’.

Accommodating Pedestrian And Bicycle Access On Parkers Mill Road From New Circle Road To Man O War Boulevard In Lexington, Lisa Aultman-Hall, Eric Jackson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In the fall of 2000 the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) began a planning study on behalf of the Kentucky Transporta tion Cabinet (KYTC) to investigate the bicycle and pedestrian access on KY 1968 (Parkers Mill Road) from Man O War Boulevard to New Circle Road in Lexington. The 1-mile section has a rural design with two 9-foot lanes, limited 3-foot earth shoulders and adjacent objects in the clear zone making travel on this road uncomfortable for pedestrians and cyclists. Yet this section of Parkers Mill Road represents a line of desired non-motorized travel due to parks, neighborhoods, a local high …

Factors Influencing Puberty Attainment In Gilts And Policies That Can Improve Mating Efficiency In Replacement Gilts, Padet Tummaruk, Wichai Tantasuparuk, Mongkol Techakumphu, Annop Kunavongkrit

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The objective of this study is to review the information regarding the development of puberty in gilts and how it influences subsequent reproductive performance such an understanding can be used to improve mating efficiency in gilts. The percentage of gilts in a herd strongly influences overall productivity. The first management decision that has to be made about gilts entering the breeding herd, is the timing of the first breeding. This largely depends on when puberty develops. Puberty in gilts is defined as the time when the first oestrus and ovulation occurs followed by regular oestrous cycles. On average, gilts attain …

Immunohistochemical Detection Of Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis In A Cat, Nopadon Pirarat, Yumi Une, Yasuo Nomura

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

A female, 10-month old, mixed breed cat showed clinical signs of severe dehydration, purulent nasal discharge, dyspnea, severe crepitating lung sounds and no response to antibiotic treatment. Upon necropsy, histopathology revealed severe, diffuse, fibrinopurulent pleuropneumonia and numerous, homogeneous, amphophilic, intranuclear inclusion bodies in the pulmonary alveolar macrophages, bronchial and alveolar epithelium and bronchial glandular epitheliums. Immunohistochemical studies using 3 different monoclonal, anti-Feline Herpesvirus type 1 antibodies, revealed immunoreactivity of viral antigen in the lung that was associated with the histopathological changes. Monoclonal, anti-glycoprotein B, antibody showed the strongest immunoreactivity.

Ultrasound Diagnosis, Phiwipha Kamonrat

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

No abstract provided.

Major Problems Associated With The West Virginia Forest Sector As Perceived By West Virginia Division Of Forestry Service Foresters, Michael Allen Westfall Ii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study was designed to identify problems facing the forest sector in West Virginia as perceived by West Virginia Division of Forestry Service Foresters.;The descriptive method of research using questionnaire techniques was utilized in the study. Data were obtained from 48 service foresters (73% response).;Overall means were determined for each statement. The population was assumed a sample of service foresters at a point in time, thus the use of inferential statistics. Statistical procedure used for analyzing the data was analysis of variance statistical tests.;The results show that 4 of the 48 problem statements were rated as severe problems with a …

Development Of Instrumentation For The Investigation Of Surface Regeneration For Candle Filters, Sean Patrick Gregory

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Two methods of improving efficiency of coal based power generation are integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) and pressurized fluidized-bed combustion (PFBC). Both of these options require high-temperature gas stream particle cleanup for optimum efficiency. Candle filters in a pressurized vessel have received the greatest amount of attention in dealing with this topic, but problems still persist and there does not seem to be clear-cut answer to the problem. This research is an investigation of the candle filter cleaning process, a process known as surface regeneration.;The objective of this research program has been to develop the instrumentation necessary to investigate the surface …

Development Of Environmental Health And Safety Database For Small Communities, Ragava S. Nadig

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The National Environmental Services Center (NESC) is a group of programs, national in scope, that provide a variety of environmental services directly to small community officials, engineers, technicians, regulatory officials, and private citizens.;The primary mission of each of the NESC programs is to protect public health and the environment of America's small and rural communities-those communities of less than 10,000 people. The NESC programs provide information, technical assistance, and training to help small communities deal with their wastewater, drinking water, and solid waste treatment issues.;Thousands of informational materials pass through the organization each year. This material ranges from manufacturing product …

Detection Of Subsurface Anomalies In Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (Frp) Wrapped Timber Bridge Components Using Infrared Thermography, William Edward Steele Iii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis presents the results of an experimental study on the use of Infrared Thermography technique for detection of subsurface anomalies in fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) wrapped timber bridge components. An extensive literature review on the application of various nondestructive evaluation techniques to composite structures has also been presented.;Simulated subsurface delaminations were constructed in the laboratory in timber piles wrapped with FRP composite fabric. The delaminations varied in size, thickness, and severity. These delaminations were placed between the 1/8&inches; thick FRP wrap and timber surface. The thermal images from the delaminated specimens were compared with thermal images from undamaged specimens …

Dutch Women In New Netherland And New York In The Seventeenth Century, Michael Eugene Gherke

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The European settlers who emigrated to America in the seventeenth century were decidedly patriarchal. Nevertheless, significant cultural differences in expressions of patriarchy among them existed. Specifically, the Dutch of New Netherland defined the gendered roles of women differently than did other European cultures. More than deputy-husbands, but less than full partner, seventeenth-century Dutch women in New Netherland were integral to the survival and promotion of their families' interests and preservation of the colony. English expropriation of New Netherland in 1664 and permanent acquisition in 1674 inaugurate a process of patriarchal acculturation that over time submerged the roles of Dutch women. …

Psychometric Properties Of The Social Interactions Questionnaire (Siq) In An Older Adult Sample, Kimberly Debra Kalish

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Social Interactions Questionnaire (SIQ; Kalish & Edelstein, 1996), a quick and efficient tool to measure negative social interactions. Overwhelming evidence has emerged over the past decade indicating that negative social interactions (NSIs) are strongly related to measures of mental and physical health. A critique of existing measures of NSIs reveals long and cumbersome interviews that are comprised of some, but not all, of the critical elements of NSIs. The SIQ efficiently measures these critical elements, which include (a) perceived versus structural components of NSIs, (b) seven different types of NSIs, (c) overall …

Pharmacological Regulation Of C-Myc Gene Expression In Human Breast Cancer Cells, Zaroui Karlen Melkoumian

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Previous studies demonstrated that quinidine causes G1/G0 cell cycle arrest and inhibition of proliferation in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line (Woodfork, K. et al., 1995). The goal of studies reported here was to understand the molecular mechanisms of c-myc gene regulation by quinidine. C-myc is one of the most common oncogene aberrations in breast cancers (Deming, S. L. et al., 2000). C-myc functions include regulation of cell cycle, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The results of these studies demonstrated that quinidine causes rapid (within 1 hour) suppression of Myc protein and mRNA levels that precedes the quinidine-induced G1 cell cycle …

Rates Of Adoption In A University Course Management System, David Russell Feeney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research focuses on diffusion of an education innovation in a large, traditional University. In March 1999, the Blackboard digital course management system was installed for enterprise-wide availability at Temple University, the 39th largest university in the United States. The web-enabled database of Temple Blackboard logs the adoption date, course ID, and course title for every Blackboard course, unobtrusively, twenty-four hours a day. Temple Blackboard serves as 4 digital approximation of the cumulative recorder pioneered by B. F. Skinner, recording more than 2800 course adoptions across 30 months, in real time. Temple Blackboard course records provide unprecedented quantity and quality …