Digital Commons Network^™

Influence Of A Three-Week Wildlife Education Curriculum On Knowledge And Attitudes Of South Carolina's Marlboro County High School Ninth And Tenth-Grade Biology Students, Diane M. Krishon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of a three-week wildlife education curriculum on knowledge and attitudes of ninth and tenth-grade biology students in South Carolina. A three-week wildlife curriculum was incorporated into three high school biology classes in the same semester. The students were pre-tested and post-tested for knowledge and attitudes. The results indicate that the three-week curriculum had a positive influence on knowledge but did not influence wildlife attitudes. However, a substantial correlation occurred between the post-test attitude and knowledge scores, indicating that as students' knowledge increased, their attitudes towards wildlife and environmental education became …

Local And Regional Impairment Of Fish Assemblages In A Mined Appalachian Watershed, Jason Gregory Freund

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

I used the Cheat River watershed, West Virginia, as a model system to examine the regional impacts of extensive localized stream impairment. Acid mine drainage (AMD) in the Cheat River watershed provided a unique opportunity to test the hypothesis that regional biological condition can be impacted through multiple local sources of degradation. Acid mine drainage is the result of the interaction among pyrite-rich coal, oxygen, and water. This interaction produces a solution that is generally low in pH and buffering capacity and high in heavy metals and sulfate and is toxic to aquatic life. Acid mine drainage also has the …

Predictability Of Equity Returns And Conditional Asset Pricing, Ou Hu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this dissertation, I investigate the applicability of some asset-pricing models by exploiting the predictive power of structural variables and accommodate the characteristic of predictability of stock returns in a theoretical conditional asset-pricing framework.;In the first chapter of the dissertation, I briefly review the relevant literature on the predictability of stock returns, and discuss the motivations for my research, and finally present my contributions to the existing literature while providing some discussions for future research. Chapter 2 examines the ability of the Fama-French three-factor model and the CAPM in estimating portfolios' returns. Instead of using historical average of risk premiums …

Three Essays On Trade And *Development, Abhra Roy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the first essay of this dissertation, we analyze the role of education subsidies on child labor in a situation where parents choose the quantity of children to have as well as their educational attainment. We find that lump sum education subsidies may increase (decrease) the equilibrium level of education and child labor depending on whether parents attach more weight on education (quality) or on school enrollment. Marginal education subsidies, in general, have the exact opposite effect. Some authors have found that a rise in the cost of schooling decreases child labor in some countries while increasing it in others. …

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Stacks, Brian J. Hetzer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) is applied to a small, four cell Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack to examine the stack response as the load current changes. The measured stack response is compared to a simulated response generated by a stack model that has been developed using MATLAB. The results show that the model predicted well the behavior of the VI curve for currents less than 50 Amps. The model also qualitatively predicted the impedance response as a function of current and frequency. Because of apparent model incompleteness, it was not able to predict accurately the shape of the …

Itt Tutoring System, Scott Richards

Masters Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

This report details the process of designing and developing a tutor system for the ITT Technical Institute located in Norwood, Ohio. A system request was initiated by the administrative Dean, Mike Traina (See Appendix A). The proposed system is to create a tutoring website. Within this system, tutees will be able to obtain additional information about tutoring; search for available times, courses and tutors; and rate tutoring sessions. Tutors will be able to log tutoring sessions and access training materials. The system will provide many intangible goals. Faculty will be able to devote more of their time to their classes …

Evidence Based Decision Making In Healthcare, Karen J. Hildebrand

Masters Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

The Regional Health Authority - Central Inc. provides healthcare services to a population of approximately 98,000 people in a geographically diverse area. The region is looking to understand the current information environment in which it operates in specific regards to Emergency Room visits. This study looks to understand what is currently available, how this existing info-structure can be better utilized, and what the future information systems goals of the region should be. In order to accomplish these goals three sites were chosen as representative of the regions' facilities, Boundary Trails Health Centre, Altona Health Centre and Rock Lake Health District …

Armstrong Academics August 2004, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Armstrong State University Collections: Armstrong Academics (Archived)

No abstract provided.

Efficacy Of A Social Skills Training Procedure Used On A Child Having Moderate Mental Retardation, Anestacio Quintana Jr.

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This single subject multiple baseline study tested the efficacy of a social skills training procedure. The subject for this study was an eight-year-old female having Down Syndrome. The subject was diagnosed as having moderate mental retardation. Using an A-B-A-B design, the investigator and two observers collected data on off task behavior, during baseline phases. During intervention phases, the Subject was introduced to a social skills training program addressing the off-task inappropriate behaviors. The results of the study illustrated a positive effect of the social skills training procedure on the Subject. There was an established relationship between the implementation of the …

Letter To The Editor: Response To Covey, Brian Hitsman, Bonnie Spring, Belinda Borrelli, Dennis E. Mcchargue, Raymond Niaura

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Dr. Covey asserts that our meta-analysis of the association between history of major depression and smoking treatment outcome (Hitsman, Borrelli, McChargue, Spring, & Niaura, 2003) was flawed because we did not limit our analysis to participants randomized to placebo or alternative least intensive treatment condition.

Mesa, A Novel Fungal Protein Required For The Stabilization Of Polarity Axes In Aspergillus Nidulans, Claire L. Pearson, Kaimei Xu, Kathryn E. Sharpless, Steven D. Harris

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

The Aspergillus nidulans proteome possesses a single formin, SepA, which is required for actin ring formation at septation sites and also plays a role in polarized morphogenesis. Previous observations imply that complex regulatory mechanisms control the function of SepA and ensure its correct localization within hyphal tip cells. To characterize these mechanisms, we undertook a screen for mutations that enhance sepA defects. Of the mutants recovered, mesA1 causes the most dramatic defect in polarity establishment when SepA function is compromised. In a wild-type background, mesA1 mutants undergo aberrant hyphal morphogenesis, whereas septum formation remains unaffected. Molecular characterization revealed that MesA …

Hybrid Stochastic Models For Remaining Lifetime Prognosis, Steven M. Cox

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force is developing its next generation aircraft and is seeking to reduce the risk of catastrophic failures, maintenance activities, and the logistics footprint while improving its sortie generation rate through a process called autonomic logistics. Vital to the successful implementation of this process is remaining lifetime prognosis of critical aircraft components. Complicating this problem is the absence of failure time information; however, sensors located on the aircraft are providing degradation measures. This research has provided a method to address at least a portion of this problem by uniting analytical lifetime distribution models with environment and/or degradation …

Crocodylia, Alligator Mississippiensis (American Alligator): Homing And Site Fidelity, John W. Woolard, Richard M. Engeman, Henry T. Smith, Mark Nelson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Crocodylia, Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator): Homing and Site Fidelity

Delta-S Entropy Variation System: A Novel Biophysical Approach To Treat Chronic-Degenerative Processes. The Challenge Of Liver Cirrhosis, Giuseppe Marineo, Francesco Marotta

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Pentasaccharides. The New Anticoagulants, Hikmat Abdel-Razeq

Saudi Medical Journal

Venous thromboembolism VTE remains a common but preventable disease. The last decade has witnessed major advances in VTE treatment and prophylaxis. Low molecular weight heparins LMWH became the agents of choice in the treatment of deep venous thrombosis DVT and are increasingly used in the treatment of stable pulmonary embolism PE. Increasing focus on simplicity and efficacy has led to the discovery of the synthetic pentasaccharides, substances that specifically inhibit factor Xa activity, producing an antithrombotic effect without affecting other coagulation factors or platelets. Fondaparinux, the first pentasaccharide introduced into the market, was first tried as a prophylactic agent against …

Plasma Copper And Zinc Levels In Chronic Viral Hepatitis, Iclal Meram, Fatma Sirmatel, Sibel Ahi, Mehmet Tarakcioglu

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between chronic hepatitis and trace metals has not been understood clearly. Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are essential trace elements for several metabolic processes. Overload or deficiency of these elements can lead to metabolic disorders and some other diseases. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between chronic hepatitis and plasma Cu and Zn levels. METHODS: Forty-three patients with chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) and 30 healthy controls were included in this study. The patients were consecutively admitted to the Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Turkey, between January 2000 …

Effect Of Preventive Applications On Prevalence Of Hepatitis B Virus And Hepatitis C Virus Infections In West Turkey, Serhan Sakarya, Serkan Oncu, Barcin Ozturk, Selcen Oncu

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are community health problems in developing countries and the most common causative agents of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This study investigates the prevalence and the effect of preventive applications on prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in blood donors. METHODS: Blood donors enrolled to the University and State Hospital Blood Banks in Aydin region of Turkey through the years 1993 to 2002 were retrospectively analyzed. Blood donors were investigated in 2 groups, Group I (1993-1997) and Group II (1998-2002) to compare the prevalence difference in 10-years period. …

Relationship Of Leptin Concentration To Gender, Body Mass Index And Age In Saudi Adults, Rowyda N. Al-Harithy

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: Leptin concentrations are highly correlated with body fat storage and exhibit sexual dimorphism, with women having higher concentrations at every level of relative or absolute adiposity. To test whether or not this relation is consistent across the Saudi population. This study aims to investigate the effect of gender, obesity related parameters, and age on leptin levels from representative samples of Saudi women and men. METHODS: This study was carried out at King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the year 2003. Fasting leptin concentrations were determined after an overnight fast in 122 healthy subjects (57 women, 65 …

Changing Survival Statistics Among Extreme Premature Infants In Oman, Shabih Manzar, Arun K. Nair, Mangalore G. Pai, Saleh M. Al-Khusaiby

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Postoperative Wound Infection In Surgical Procedures, Ahmed M. Al-Hashemy, Mohamed I. Seleem, Zaka-Allah A. Khan, Seif M. Nowry

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Daily Iron Supplementation Versus Intermittent Dose, Anila Jaleel, Mohamad A. Urrahman

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Psychometric Testing Of The Self-Care Of Heart Failure Index, Barbara Riegel, Beverly Carlson, Debra K. Moser, Margaret Sebern, Frank D. Hicks, Virginia Roland

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Self-care is believed to improve outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients. However, research testing this assumption is hampered by difficulties in measuring self-care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a revised instrument measuring self-care in persons with HF, the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI). The SCHFI is a self-report measure comprised of 15 items rated on a 4-point response scale and divided into 3 subscales.

Methods and Results: Psychometric testing was done using data from 760 HF patients (age 70.36 ± 12.3 years, 51% male) from 7 sites in the United States. …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of A Multimodality Approach On Sentence Production Using Response Elaboration Training With A Reading Component On Aphasic Patients., Sara E. Mccarthy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The effects of a multimodality treatment were investigated using a single subject experimental design across behaviors in two patients with different severity levels of Broca's aphasia. We hypothesized that Response Elaboration Training and an oral reading task would improve accuracy of sentence production, information content, and mean length of utterance. Results indicated that this treatment approach elicited significant improvement in the accuracy of sentence production and information content in the participant with very mild Broca's aphasia. Furthermore, the participant with severe Broca's aphasia demonstrated a very significant improvement in information content and mean length of utterance. The improvements support the …

Creating Inclusive 4-H Environments For People With Disabilities, Mitzi Stumpf-Downing, Karla Henderson, Karen Luken, Deb Bialeschki

Journal of Extension

The purpose of a 4-year 4-H Inclusion Project conducted in North Carolina was to create intentionally inclusive 4-H environments and engage communities to address the needs of people with disabilities. In year one an experiential curriculum, "Shine Up and Step Out," was developed for youth ages 9 to 12 years. In the next 3 years, selected counties used the curriculum and developed training and resource opportunities. A summative evaluation showed how the county projects were successful and offered recommendations about the curriculum, statewide inclusion opportunities, program and policy, community involvement, and ongoing implementation and evaluation.

Profiling Economic Capacity, David J. Connell, Ellen Wall

Journal of Extension

This article presents a method for creating economic capacity profiles based on assessing the resources available to support local economic development. Each profile incorporates four features of the local economy: entrepreneurship, infrastructure, human resources, and business environment. These four variables are evaluated through 20 indicators related to location. Both qualitative and quantitative scoring methods are used for representing the indicators, which become the basis for creating the profile. The outcome is a "snapshot" of the economic capacity of the area under investigation. These profiles are highly useful to Extension professionals wanting to improve economic development in local areas.

Cooperative Extension Responding To Family Needs In Time Of Drought And Water Shortage, Kathy R. Bosch

Journal of Extension

This article examines the impact of drought on family relationships and how Extension has responded to the needs of farm, ranch, and rural families. Information was based on a literature review and interviews with farmers, ranchers, and professionals working with rural issues. Rural families who experience economic hardships have been found to suffer stress and relationship tensions. However, more research is needed to understand how families cope in drought conditions. Extension has responded to the drought issue using various delivery methods to gather and disseminate information to provide support to farmers, ranchers, and professionals working with rural families.

Enhancing Public Understanding Of Water Resources Issues: A Community-Based Short-Course For The Pacific Northwest, Kevin Laughlin, Ariel Szogi, Frank Burris, Robert L. Mahler

Journal of Extension

A "hands on" 15-hour "community based" water quality and monitoring short-course was delivered to citizen groups at six locations in the Pacific Northwest in 2000. The University of Idaho, Washington State University, and Oregon State University Cooperative Extension Systems, USDA-CSREES, and the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (IWRRI) partnered in design, development, and delivery. This short-course increased participant understanding, awareness of water issues, and improved water-monitoring skills. A 17-module guide and an evaluation model were developed. This learning experience dramatically improved learners' understanding of complex water resource issues and prepared them to plan, monitor, and assess local water issues.

Looking Beyond The Empirical Data: A Discussion About Out-Of-School Youth-Centered Tobacco Prevention Programs, Cynthia Gibbons, Cynthia Mark

Journal of Extension

4-H Extension launched an out-of-school smoking cessation initiative aimed at high-risk youth in Michigan. Adults and youth were given educational tools and resources to help prevent smoking in their communities, and youth were offered "hands on" programs to make better decisions about their use of tobacco products. While there were no significant differences in youth knowledge from start to end of select pilot programs, programs reached a large number of people at a relatively low cost and were well received within communities. Of particular importance were the "lessons learned" and subsequent discussions about best practices for future programming.

Measuring Impacts With Young Audiences: Adapting A Life-Skills Instrument For Use With Third- To Fifth-Grade Youth, Doris M. Loeser, Sandra J. Bailey, Rae Lynn Benson, Mary Y. Deen

Journal of Extension

Capturing the impacts Extension programming has on younger school-age audiences is often difficult, yet staff are increasingly asked to document program effectiveness. The limited literacy skills and concrete reasoning of young school age children make the use of written evaluations challenging, yet observations and interviews are time consuming and costly for programs. This article discusses how an evaluation instrument was adapted for use with third to fifth grade 4-H youth. The system was piloted with 65 youth who attended a 4-H camp. Implications and suggestions for others adapting written evaluation instruments are offered.