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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Case-Control Study: Past Chemical Exposures And The Measurement Of The Red Blood Cell Acetylcholinesterase Reactivity In Vitro When Challenged At Various Dosages By Chlorpyrifos-Oxon, Naomi J. Bienfang

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to analyze the red blood cell acetylcholinesterase (RBC AChE) reactivity levels among persons with amyothropic lateral sclerosis (PALS) (cases) and their controls when challenged with the oxon form of the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos. The ultimate objective was to determine if a correlation exists between the RBC AChE reactivity level and the participants' disease status and/or exposure to toxins through occupations and hobbies.

Cases in this study were individuals diagnosed by a neurologist with sporadic ALS. Controls were individuals who were not genetically related to the PALS and were neuromuscular disease free. Controls were a …

The Developmental Process Of Reflection In Youth Ministry, Laura Bowers

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The research of applied developmental practice of reflection is inconsistent and its theoretical framework changes depending on the disciplinary perspective. The variability is illustrative of reflection's complexity and its inconsistency as an ideal. This research attempts not only to define reflection within the context of the Prairie Lakes youth ministry program but also to highlight specific programmatic elements that are involved in the process. Through text analysis by the Minnesota Contextual and Content Analysis program and the theoretical guidance of Kohlberg, Mayer and Dewey insight into an applied reflective practice is formed.

A Descriptive Study Of The Frequency And Intensity Of Physical Activity Among Incoming First-Year Students At Luther College, Kristi Leonard

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Young adults are not as active as they should be in comparison to national standards. They are more overweight than is healthy. The purpose of this study was to describe the physical activity volume (frequency + intensity) of incoming first-year students at an Iowa liberal arts college. Did certain demographic characteristics, such as gender; projected major area of study; age; native language; religious preference; ethnic background; and past high school and projected college athletic, theater/drama, and music participation of these students make a difference in their volume of physical activity? This study focused on the examination of exercise behaviors of …

Examination Of Amount Of Time Spent In Heart Rate Zone During A Cup Stacking Unit In 4th-Grade Students, Kimberly Jo Boelke

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

One of the most influential places a young person learns exercise patterns is through the physical education program at school. Schools have the potential to improve the health of youth by providing instruction, programs, and services that promote enjoyable lifetime physical activity (Centers for Disease Control, 1997). During physical activity time in physical education class, a student should remain within the target heart rate zone, as to gain cardiovascular benefits. Students also develop motor skills during physical education class, and to help students become proficient and comfortable with these motor skills, hand-eye coordination needs to be developed. Development of hand-eye …

The Influence Of Caffeine On The Hydration Status Of College-Aged Females, Carissa Shima

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

It is commonly believed that caffeine negatively effects hydration status by acting as a diuretic agent. However, previously reported findings on the effects of caffeine on hydration status are controversial. These studies predominantly used healthy college-aged males. Researchers have suggested that females may respond differently to caffeine than males. Some of these differences may be attributed to menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive steroid (OCS) use. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a 365 mg dose of caffeine would alter urine output (volume) and hydration status (urine specific gravity) in college-aged females while controlling for the menstrual cycle …

The Relationship Between Time Spent In Physical Activity During Daily Physical Education And Selected Physical Fitness Components Among Elementary And Secondary Students, Shelley Mccumber

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a correlation between the time spent in physical activity in the physical education classroom and the scores on the Fitness gram battery tests of the mile walk/run, sit-ups, flexed arm hang, trunk lift, and the sit and reach in elementary and secondary students. Two sub-problems were also investigated: (1) were there differences in the total amount of time spent in physical activity between elementary students and secondary students; and (2) were there differences in the percent of total class time spent in physical activity between elementary students and secondary …

Agricultural Pollution Of Ground Water Near Gilbertville, Iowa, Paula Frost Even

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The transport of nutrients and contaminants from farm fields to the aquifer surrounding Gilbertville, Iowa, was monitored over a six-month period. The Gilbertville city water supply is obtained from the Silurian-Devonian aquifer, which has been determined to be highly susceptible to contamination because of the hydraulic characteristics of the aquifer and the overlying materials that allow contaminants to move to the aquifer fairly quickly. Monthly water samples were collected from April through September of 2004 from 26 private wells and 8 surface water sites within the source water protection area of the town's three wells. Each sample was tested for …

From Craft To Art: A Philosophy Of Jazz Pedagogy Developed From Performance, Educational And Personal Experiences, Thomas Lawrence Giampietro

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Am I an artist? Many jazz musicians and educators are afraid to ask that question, and many may not even be sure of what it means to be an artist. Is artistry vital to the survival and evolution of the music? It is this writer's position that it is and that the very nature of jazz music demands artistry from its participants. If artistry is the jazz musician's goal, then the logical goal of jazz educators is to help facilitate artistry in their students. This goal should remain the same regardless of the level of the student. The level of …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Rhodium And Iridium Complexes With The Bis(Dimethylsilylcyclopentadienyl) Ligand, Gordon J. Hunter

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The synthesis of transition-metal complexes ( n5 -C5H3SiMe2)2[Rh(CO)2]2 and ( n5- -C5H3SiMe2)2[Rh(CO)2]2, both featuring the bis( dimethylsilylcyclopentadienyl) ligand, is reported. Preparation of the rhodium complex yielded a cis:trans ratio of 1 :2, while the iridium analogue generated a 2: 1 ratio. Thermal reaction of cis-( n5- - C5H3SiMe2)2[Rh(CO)2]2 yields cis-( n5 -C5H3SiMe2)2Rh2(CO)3, which features an asymmetrically bridging carbonyl ligand. Reaction of I2with cis-( n5- - C5H3SiMe2)2[Ir(CO)2]2 yields cis-( n5 -C5H3SiMe2)2[Ir(CO)I2]2 Synthesis of ( n5- - C5H3SiMe2)2[Ir(cyclooctadiene)h in a cis:trans ratio of 1 :2.5 is also reported.

A Web-Based Intelligent Spatial Decision Support System For Planning Snow Removal Operations, Shriram Ilavajhala

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Providing speedy and cost-effective snow removal management during winter months proves to be an overwhelming task for the local and government personnel. Considering the importance and the massive costs involved in snow removal operations, it is essential that the snowplowing operations be carefully and efficiently planned, so as to minimize the costs and provide a quick response. However, the existing methods for snowplowing planning operations are mostly handled manually. For example, the resource allocation and management is done manually without using any analytical tool for optimization, and the routing is done often times without considering the least costly route to …

Implementation Of The Student Services Center: A Case Study Of The University Of Northern Iowa, Jana Lynne Chmelar

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Every student who attends a college or university will use at least one of the following offices in student service before they graduate: academic advising, admissions, the business office, career services, financial aid, or the office of the registrar. The literature has shown that a number of colleges or universities found through assessment that their services were organized in a way that was cumbersome for the students. A new approach to student services, referred to as an integrated student service center (ISSC), or a "one-stop" shop, is designed to allow students to access answers, solutions, and knowledge from a central …

Perceived Importance Of National Occupational Cadd Skill Standards Among Faculty Of Nait Accredited Institutions, Ronald Shava

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study presents a descriptive survey that examined the importance and relevance of National Occupational CARD Skills based on the perceptions of faculty teaching at National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT) accredited institutions. The major goal of the study was to determine what National Occupational CADD Skill Standards are relevant and important to faculty teaching CARD courses. The study was also designed to determine ratings of the perceived importance and relevance of National Occupational CADD Skill Standards by faculty teaching CADD courses at NAIT accredited institutions based on their area of specialization, professional ranking, and teaching experience. This study provided …

An Exploration Of Academic Advising Care Groups At An Iowa Private College, Kendra Williams-Perez

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Care Group advising, as it was institutionally developed, is an academic advising method intended to improve the first year experience of undergraduate college students. The purpose of this study was to explore student perceptions of their participation in Care Group advising, as well as faculty and administrative perceptions. The overarching research question was: "How are academic advising Care Groups perceived by students, faculty, and administrators?" From the perspectives of students, faculty, and administrators, the following sub-questions served to guide this study:

1. Are academic advising Care Groups serving their intended purpose?
2. What are the perceived benefits of academic advising Care Groups, …

Teacher Perceptions Of Cross-Cultural Adaptability And Instructional Practices In International Locations, Debra S. Lee

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the study was to investigate differences in cross-cultural effectiveness between classroom teachers in international settings and classroom teachers in Iowa, and to examine, within a multicultural education framework, instructional practices of international teachers.

It is well documented that in American schools today, classrooms are becoming more diverse in regard to socio-economic status, ethnicity, race, intellectual ability, language, and religious heritage. School children today represent an incredibly diverse population. Conversely, the teacher population continues to be primarily female, White and from a monocultural background. This creates a mismatch between student and teacher backgrounds, perspectives, and cultural understanding, which …

Inventory Simulation And Optimization Using System Dynamics, Structural Modeling Equations And Genetic Algorithms In The Drivetrain Division Of An Automotive Manufacturer, Marco Sisfontes-Monge

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Strategic planning and control are among the most critical activities that modern enterprises require to succeed in the global economy. This research is an original study that investigated the combination of tools and methodologies in order to apply them to a midwestern tractor manufacturer. The current study identified the constraints applicable to a polishing line in the Drivetrain Division of a major tractor manufacturer interested in exploring alternative techniques to improve its worldwide manufacturing operations.

The specific questions that this project tried to respond are stated as follows:

1. What were the most important variables that affected inventory levels of an …

Effects Of A Skilled Videotape Model With Or Without Attention-Focusing Cues On The Performance Of A Basketball Foul Shot, Steven Edward Beard

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a skilled videotape model with or without attention-focusing cues on the performance of a non-dominant hand basketball foul shot. It was hypothesized that attention-focusing cues of a skilled videotape model would have no significant effect on the non-dominant hand basketball foul shot performance of adolescents. Thirty participants (22 male, 8 female) were randomly assigned and stratified by gender into one of two groups: skilled videotape model with cues and skilled videotape model without cues. Each participant completed 22 blocks of 50 trials each, with the first and last block …

Food Preferences Between Diverse Ethnic Groups In A College Population, Enrique Gallegos Covarrubias

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Obesity and its psychosocial and medical consequences are costing the United States billions of dollars per year. Many factors such as lack of physical activity, changing lifestyles, and unhealthy eating behaviors contribute to the increasing prevalence of obesity. In the present study, food preferences among college-aged students were measured from two different geographical locations (Texas and Iowa). Gender (men vs. women), ethnicity (Hispanic vs. Caucasian), and Body Mass Index scores (normal vs. overweight) were utilized as dependent variables to measure food preferences. Participants were required to rate four menus, which included important nutritional information. Ratings were obtained to measure how …

The Spring Break Effect: The Relationship Between Individual Self-Objectification And Physical Fitness Behavior, Brett Dobesh

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Research findings focusing on the theoretical foundation for self-objectification suggests that women are more likely to have high levels of objectification for a variety of reasons. To extend this body of research the purpose of this investigation is two-fold: (1) to assess the influence that spring break attendance may have on levels of self-objectification for fraternity and sorority members, and (2) to observe the connections between SO levels and increased levels of physical fitness. This study consisted of (n = 153) college students actively involved in the Greek System at two Mid-west universities. The students were asked to complete three …