Digital Commons Network^™

Woody Plant Communities Of The Iowa Loess Hills: Expansion From 1855 To 2000, Extant Composition, And Ecological Succession., Melanie I. Trecek-King

Student Work

The Loess Hills of western Iowa are a unique geologic landform historically covered by scattered bur oaks in a matrix of mixed-grass prairie. Since European settlement, however, woody plant encroachment has altered the ecosystem and presently endangers the last substantial prairies remnants in Iowa. Aerial photographs from 2000 and General Land Office field survey notes from the 1850s documented an increase in woody Plant cover from 7% in 1855 to 25% in 2000 for three centuries in the Loess Hills region of western Iowa. Woody Plant species composition along a lowland-ridge-top coenocline on both north and south aspects in centrally …

Intimacy In Relationships: A Content Analysis Of Dialogue In Romance Novels., Susan K. Scheef

Student Work

Shelby met Alan at a party. They spoke briefly, mostly out of convenience. From their conversation thought, it would seem to others that they were old friends. It would not be the last time Shelby would see Alan. They would continue to meet, even though they had different ideas about wanting a relationship. They would talk about their past, but Shelby would not feel comfortable revealing part of hers. Eventually as they spent more time together, their family and friends began voicing their opinions on how Shelby and Alan should pursue their relationship. Even with all the pressure, it was …

Uncovering The Storytelling Power Of Communication: Applying Walter Fisher's Narrative Theory To Three Presidential Crisis Speeches, Sharon Dowell

Student Work

This study applies Walter Fisher’s narrative theory of communication to a rhetorical analysis of three presidential crisis speeches: President George W. Bush’s speech on September 20, 2001 after the terrorist attacks, President Franklin Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor speech on December 8, 1941 and President Bill Clinton’s Oklahoma City bombing speech on April 23, 1995. The speeches were analyzed to discover the accuracy of the theory, why the speeches were successful and if they supported the case for a presidential crisis communication genre. Three main conclusions resulted from this rhetorical analysis. First, the theory was verified as accurate because it defined the …

The Classic, Winter 2003-2004, Public Relations

The Classic, 2000-2009

The seven distinctives of Northwestern; Choir to tour in Europe; Planning for new library begins; Reviewers give education department thumbs up; Students attend jury trial; Curtain rises for new theatre; 9/11 drama opens Northwestern's new theatre; Group assists Guatemalan children; Experts speak to Kin audience; Sophomore elected city councilman; Koster closes file on 19 years of service; Academic dean resigns; Faculty/staff news; Teaching Trust: Smits model faith in the face of adversity: Parents of the Year; A Reformed Mennonite: Faculty profile Mike Yoder; A Savory Legacy: Prof impacts students in classroom and kitchen: Alumni profile Virg Muilenburg; Deep-Sea Adventure: Alumni …

Interactive Topographic Web Mapping Using Scalable Vector Graphics, Peter Pavlicko

Student Work

Large scale topographic maps portray detailed information about the landscape. They are used for a wide variety o f purposes. USGS large scale topographic maps at 1:24,000 have been traditionally distributed in paper form. With the advent of the Internet, these maps can now be distributed electronically. Instead of common raster format presentation, the solution presented here is based on a vector approach. The vector format provides many advantages compared to the use of a raster-based presentation. This research shows that Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is a promising technology for delivering high quality interactive topographic maps via the Internet, both …

Constructing Identity In Place : Celia Thaxter And The Isles Of Shoals, Deborah B. Derrick

Student Work

This study explores rhetorical constructions of place and self in the non-fiction narratives and letters of Celia Laighton Thaxter. Thaxter was a 19th century poet, journalist and writer who grew up on the Isles of Shoals off the coast of New Hampshire. Widely published in her day, Thaxter was one of the foremothers of American nature writing. This study considers the significance of place in relation to Thaxter’s development as an individual and as a writer. The study finds that the Isles o f Shoals provided a foundation for Thaxter’s personal and professional identities. Thaxter’s relationship with the Shoals was …

Colombia's Rural Communities: Displacement, Plan Colombia And Alternative Models, Jasney Cogua

Student Work

The objective of this thesis is to determine whether or not Plan Colombia effectively addresses the problems and needs of rural Colombia. The classical views of Marx, Lenin and Chayanov, the Theories of Development and the postulates of neoliberal ideology are discussed as the theoretical context within which Plan Colombia emerged. This thesis was derived through a process of archival research, interviews (N=8) and direct observation and participation in peasant demonstrations, which occurred primarily during the summer of 2002. A general review of Colombian rural development models (haciendas, plantations, Import Substitution Industrialization, agrarian reform, Export Promotion Stragies and neoliberal postulates) …

Terrorist Attacks Of September 11,2001: Examination Of The Visual Agenda Set By Time And Newsweek, Paula Hoffman Hall

Student Work

This study examines the visual agenda relevant to the attacks of September 11, 2001, presented by media sources; Time and Newsweek magazine. Photographs immediately following the attack, six months later, one year later, and eighteen-months later, were observed in this study. The research produced a total of 493 photographs. Images were coded for the primary subject, portrayal, perspective, topic, and location. Crosstabs and Chi-square tests were run, and the data collected was used to answer the central research question and sub-questions developed with the assistance of past research. Significant differences in the visual agenda between Time and Newsweek magazine were …

News Fit For Teens?: A Content Analysis Of Channel One, Mary Mcnamara Coyle

Student Work

The purpose of this study was to analyze the content and style of the 12-minute Channel One broadcasts seen by 8 million teenagers in their classrooms each day. Following a review of relevant literature concerning Channel One, the researcher recorded 163 shows aired during the 2000-2001 school year. From these shows, the researcher chose a sample of 46 Channel One broadcasts from which 150 stories were analyzed according to type of story, topic of story, source occupation, the ethnicity and gender of the anchor and reporter, location of the report and the use of file tape and/or photos or maps. …

Creating A Virtual Store Image, P. Katerattanakul, Keng Siau

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

A study was conducted to describe some of the factors that needed to be considered for a virtual store. It was revealed that the growth of e-commerce and online businesses has made it essential to understand the critical attributes of image for a virtual store. Store image was described as the way in which the store was defined by customers and several studies. The study compiled 77 designs and features into a list used to construct a survey. Four hundred and twenty-seven potential customers were requested to rate the significance of each item on the list. The information gathered identified …

A Causal-Comparative Study To Determine Differences In Levels Of Awareness Of Racism Among Graduate Counseling Students, Sarah C. Wiegman

Student Work

The present study examined the differences in levels of awareness of racism among graduate counseling students. The researcher examined the hypotheses that there would be a significant difference in levels of awareness of racism between those who completed the Counseling Multicultural and Diverse Populations class and those who did not, as well as, there would be a significant relationship between levels of awareness of racism and number of credit hours completed in the counseling education program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. One hundred and six participants (91 female and 15 male) ranging in age between 22 and 57 …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Technology Professional Development In A Suburban School District, Victoria Ann Kaspar

Student Work

The purpose of this survey study was to explore teachers' perceptions of technology professional development. Data were gathered by using an online survey sent out electronically to randomly selected teachers in a suburban school district. Statistically significant differences in teacher's perceptions of technology professional development were found between middle and high school teachers and among the teachers with varied technology experience. Some of the other demographic variables studied included age, gender, school subject taught, years of teaching experience, and technology course topic.

Changes In Student Teachers' Perceptions Of Stress During The Student Teaching Semester, Connie L. Schaffer

Student Work

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in the perceptions of stress during the student teaching semester. The pervasive theory regarding the changing stress of student teachers was developed by Fuller (1969). Fuller's developmental conceptualization theory involved three stages of concern or stress: (1) pre-teaching, non-concerns, (2) early-teaching phase, self-concerns and task concerns, and (3) late concerns, impact concerns. This study examined self-concerns, task concerns, and impact concerns and expanded the Fuller (1969) model to also include personal and career concerns.

Constitutional Empiricism: Quasi-Neutral Principles And Constitutional Truths, Timothy Zick

Faculty Publications

The absence of neutrality and objectivity in constitutional decision-making has vexed scholars and courts. In this Article, the author describes and analyzes "constitutional empiricism," a trend instituted by the Rehnquist Court, which is characterized by judicial reliance in constitutional review on empirical and scientific conventions and processes. Courts have generally relied upon traditional sources, such as text and history, to interpret consititutional powers and rights. In its search for neutrality and objectivity, however, the Court has recently turned not only to social science and other data, which are fast becoming common sources of interpretation, but also to the precepts and …

Buck Creek Watershed Management Plan, Annis Water Resources Institute

Watershed Management Plans and Reports

The water quality goals are based on improving or restoring the designated uses of the Watershed and attaining compliance with the E. coli TMDL established in Buck Creek. The following long-term goals for the Watershed have been determined:

● Improve or restore the coldwater and coolwater fisheries
● Improve and protect the safety and enjoyment of fishing, canoeing, and swimming
● Improve or restore the warmwater fishery
● Improve and protect the habitats for other indigenous aquatic life and wildlife
The short-term objectives to reduce sediment in the Watershed are:

● Stabilize stream flows to moderate hydrology and increase base …

Preliminary Watershed Assessment: Mona Lake Watershed, Alan Steinman, Rick Rediske, Xuefeng Chu, Rod Denning, Lori Nemeth, Don Uzarski, Bopi Biddanda, Mark Luttenton

Scientific Technical Reports

The Mona Lake watershed, located in Muskegon and Newaygo Counties in west Michigan, is relatively small in area (~ 200 km2 or 48,000 acres), but faces a large number of environmental challenges. An ecological assessment of the watershed was conducted to provide a new baseline of information, in the hope that this effort would catalyze actions to improve the health of the watershed.

Inmate And Prison Gang Leadership., Sandra H. Fortune

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Almost 2,000 males, who have been convicted of crimes covering the gamut of criminal activities, are institutionalized in the state prison in Johnson County, Tennessee. These inmates, housed in the confines of a few concrete buildings, represent a society that is dissimilar from the free-world society.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine the characteristics of an inmate leader. Research data were collected through interviews with 20 prisoners located in the Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City, Tennessee. Inmate leaders, selected for the study, included gang leaders and non-gang leaders. Interviews were tape recorded and transcribed for the …

December 2003 Commencement Program, Bowling Green State University

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Service Learning Models Connecting Computer Science To The Community, Carol Traynor, Maria Mckenna

Service Learning, General

Service learning is an educational experience that enables students to apply material learned in the classroom by volunteering in a real-world situation. This paper provides a brief review of service learning and describes two models that the computer science department at Saint Anselm College implemented successfully.

Employee Reductions In Force: A Comparative Study Of French And U.S. Legal Protections For Employees Downsized Out Of Their Jobs: A Suggested Alternative To Workforce Reductions, Bruce D. Fisher, Francois Lenglart

Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review

No abstract provided.

Non-Governmental Organizations At United Nations-Sponsored World Conferences: A Framework For Participation Reform, Jeffrey Andrew Hartwick

Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review

No abstract provided.

Breaking Singapore's Regrettable Tradition Of Chilling Free Speech With Defamation Laws, Cassandra Chan

Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review

No abstract provided.

Jefferson Alumni Bulletin – Volume 53, Number 1, December 2003

The Bulletin (formerly the Jefferson Medical College Alumni Bulletin)

Jefferson Alumni Bulletin – Volume 53, Number 1, December 2003 The Dean’s Column by Thomas J. Nasca ’75, Page 4 Early Anesthesia Research and Jeffersonians, Page 6 Grunwald Appointed Chair of Anesthesiology, Page 7 Marone Honored for His Involvement in Establishing the Spinal Cord Injury Center, Page 8 Alumni Are Involved in the Search for the Next University President, Page 9 The Fortunate Beneficiaries of Our Education, by Richard Wenzel ’65, Alumni Achievement Award Winner, Page 14 Reunions, Clinic Talks, the Alumni Banquet, Pages 15–32

2003 December, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Morehead State University press releases for December of 2003.

The Extratropical Transition Of Tropical Cyclones: Forecast Challenges, Current Understanding, And Future Directions, Sarah C. Jones, Patrick A. Harr, Jim Abraham, Lance F. Bosart, Peter J. Bowyer, Jenni L. Evans, Deborah E. Hanley, Barry N. Hanstrum, Robert E. Hart, Francois Lalaurette, Mark R. Sinclair, Roger K. Smith, Chris Thorncroft

Applied Aviation Sciences - Prescott

A significant number of tropical cyclones move into the midlatitudes and transform into extratropical cyclones. This process is generally referred to as extratropical transition (ET). During ET a cyclone frequently produces intense rainfall and strong winds and has increased forward motion, so that such systems pose a serious threat to land and maritime activities. Changes in the structure of a system as it evolves from a tropical to an extratropical cyclone during ET necessitate changes in forecast strategies. In this paper a brief climatology of ET is given and the challenges associated with forecasting extratropical transition are described in terms …

Law, Share Price Accuracy, And Economic Performance: The New Evidence, Merritt B. Fox, Randall Morck, Bernard Yeung, Artyom Durnev

Michigan Law Review

Mandatory disclosure has been at the core of U.S. securities regulation since its adoption in the early 1930s. For many decades, this fixture of our financial system was accepted with little examination. Over the last twenty years, however, mandatory disclosure has been subject to intensifying intellectual crosscurrents. Some commentators hold out the U.S. system as the standard for the world. They argue that adoption by other countries of a U.S.-styled system, with its greater corporate transparency, would enhance their economic performance. Other commentators, in contrast, insist that the U.S. mandatory disclosure regime represents a mistake, not a model. These crosscurrents …

Recent Books, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

A list of books recenlty received by Michigan Law Review.

Apologies And Legal Settlement: An Empirical Examination, Jennifer K. Robbennolt

Michigan Law Review

It is often said that U.S. legal culture discourages apologies. Defendants, defense counsel, and insurers worry that statements of apology will be admissible at trial and will be interpreted by jurors and judges as admissions of responsibility. In recent years, however, several legal commentators have suggested that disputants in civil lawsuits should be encouraged to apologize to opposing parties. They claim that apologies will avert lawsuits and promote settlement. Consistent with this view, legislatures in several states have enacted statutes that are intended to encourage and protect apologies by making them inadmissible. In addition, some commentators argue that defendants might …

American Poverty As A Structural Failing: Evidence And Arguments, Mark R. Rank, Hong-Sik Yoon, Thomas A. Hirschl

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Empirical research on American poverty has largely focused on individual characteristicst o explain the occurrence and patternso f poverty. The argument in this article is that such an emphasis is misplaced. By focusing upon individual attributes as the cause of poverty, social scientists have largely missed the underlying dynamic of American impoverishment. Poverty researchers have in effect focused on who loses out at the economic game, rather than addressing the fact that the game produces losers in the first place. We provide three lines of evidence to suggest that U.S. poverty is ultimately the result of structural failings at the …

Shift Work And Negative Work-To-Family Spillover, Blanche Grosswald

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A representative sample of the U.S. workforce from 1997 National Study of the Changing Workforce data (Families & Work Institute, 1999) was examined to study the relationship between shift work and negative workto- family spillover. Negative spillover was measured by Likert-scale frequency responses to questions concerning mood, energy, and time for family as functions of one's job. Statistical analyses comprised t-tests, ANOVAs, and multiple regressions. Among wage earners with families (n = 2,429), shift work showed a significant, strong, positive relationship to high negative work-to-family spillover when controlling for standard demographic characteristics as well as education and occupation. Distinctions among …