Digital Commons Network^™

Relationship Between Pre-Service Physical Education Teachers’ Value Orientation In Curriculum Decisions And Attitudes Towards Teaching Students With Disabilities, Wing Yin Tai

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between pre-service teachers' value orientation in making curriculum decisions and their attitudes toward teaching students with disabilities. Results of this study will provide suggestions for current teacher education curricula and help pre-service teachers meet the demands in inclusive settings. Participants in this study included 49 volunteer junior and senior students at the University of Northern Iowa majoring in Physical Education (Teaching). Data collection in this study was achieved through a questionnaire that included the Value Orientation Inventory (VOi-SF) and the Physical Educators' Attitudes toward Individuals with Disabilities III (PEATID-III). The …

Development Of A Nonlinear Estimator-Based Model Of Pilot Performance During Brownout Conditions, Karl Ulrich Schultz

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

During conditions of visual occlusion, pilots are forced to rapidly adapt their scan to accommodate the new observable states via instruments rather than the visual environment. During this transition, the provision of aircraft state information via other than visual modalities improves pilot performance presumably through the increase in situational awareness provided immediately following the visual occlusion event.

The Tactile Situational Awareness System (TSAS) was developed to provide continuous position information to the pilot via tactile rather than visual means. However, as a low-resolution display, significant preprocessing of information is required to maximize utility of this new technology.

Development of a …

Self-Esteem, Locus Of Control, Conformity, And The Psychology Behind Body Modification, Brianne Renae Arends

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The current study examined the psychological characteristics of individuals with and without tattoos and body piercings, along with their perceptions of cosmetic surgery as either positive or negative. Psychological characteristics measured included: self-esteem, locus of control, conformity, and fear of negative evaluation. Participants were ninety-seven individuals who completed paper-and-pencil measures encompassing the various psychological characteristics as well as a demographic and risk assessment questionnaire. Participants were recruited through the PSPM system established by the University of Northern Iowa and did not significantly vary on demographic information provided. The current study's hypotheses based upon similar research were: (1) individuals who approve …

Internet Reference Sources For Computing And Computer Science: A Selected Guide, Michael Knee

University Libraries Faculty Scholarship

Computing and computer science bibliographic databases, bibliographies, dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, and guides, along with finding aids for technical reports, online books, and book reviews are listed and described. Subscription-based sources as well as free alternatives are covered. Resources are listed for all levels of computing ability including faculty and professionals, graduate students, undergraduates, and general users.

Fedcor: An Institutional Cordra Registry, Giridhar Manepalli, Henry Jerez, Michael L. Nelson

Computer Science Faculty Publications

FeDCOR (Federation of DSpace using CORDRA) is a registry-based federation system for DSpace instances. It is based on the CORDRA model. The first article in this issue of D-Lib Magazine describes the Advanced Distributed Learning-Registry (ADL-R) [1], which is the first operational CORDRA registry, and also includes an introduction to CORDRA. That introduction, or other prior knowledge of the CORDRA effort, is recommended for the best understanding of this article, which builds on that base to describe in detail the FeDCOR approach.

The Challenges Of Itil Implementations, Jason Gray

Theses : Honours

Originating from the UK, the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is an IT Service Management framework whose adoption is rapidly spreading throughout Canada, Netherlands, South Africa, India, USA, and Australia. Promoted as a collection of "Best Practices" in IT service management, ITIL is gaining a reputation as a "silver bullet" to IT Service Management woes and is now .gaining popularity amongst IT vendors and leaders of best practices worldwide. Increased IT productivity, IT accountability, increased compliance and reduced IT costs, are just some of the promised list of benefits. More and more organisations are plam1ing to embark on ITIL implementations as …

Radio Frequency Enabled Soil Redox Potential Sensor Networks, Chris Holme

Theses : Honours

There is a need for' cost effective tools and data collection methods for field measurements; to increase both productivity and volumes of collected data in the quest for enhanced understanding and management of environmental systems. To such end, various technologies that may be combined into a cost effective soil redox sensor network were explored. Suitability of each technology, as a component of said network was evaluated. A prototype soil redox sensor network was constructed and basic laboratory and field testing was completed. Results indicate that the prototype sensor network functions correctly within bounds. Both laboratory and field testing show that …

Enrolled Nurses' Attitudes, Subjective Norms, Intentions And Behaviour Related To Independent Medication Administration, Donna Sayers

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this quantitative descriptive research study was to investigate Enrolled Nurses' attitudes, intentions and behaviour in relation to independent medication administration (IMA). This research was necessary as a significant number of Enrolled Nurses (ENs) are now able to administer medications up to Schedule Four level, without supervision when they have completed a medication administration programme (MAP). This change in the scope of practice for the EN will eventually be introduced nationally as recommended by the National Review of Nursing Education (2002). Anecdotal reports suggest that IMA is causing concern for the EN but little or no research has …

Ethnic Identity During Adolescence And Adulthood: A Review ; The Impact Of Becoming A Parent On Ethnic Identity: Adult Migrant Mothers' Experiences, Abby Taylor

Theses : Honours

Developing a positive ethnic identity has often been linked to the psychological well-being of immigrants living in culturally diverse societies. Ethnic identity development theories have primarily concentrated on identity development during adolescence. As a result there are significant gaps in the literature and little is known about ethnic identity during adulthood. However, significant life transitions during adulthood, such as becoming a parent, may be influential in the development of ethnic identity. Intergenerational conflict and an increased desire to be ethnically oriented may relate to the experience of becoming a parent and influence ethnic identity. A means to achieving generativity has …

Examination Of Different Levels Of Restorative Behaviour Utilising The Affect, Affirmation And Action Model, Jessica Sumner

Theses : Honours

The present paper reviews the relevant literature to determine whether there is support for the Affirmation, Affect and Action Model of Apology and True Sorriness (AAA model) that was developed by Slocum, Allan and Allan (2006). The chronological review of the literature examines how the constructs of apology and true sorriness evolved. Initially, apologetic types were perceived on a continuum, however, with time researchers' acknowledged different components of apologetic behaviour. These components were later named affirmation, affect and actions in the development of Slocum's et al. AAA model. In further research, such components were quantified for manipulation in experimental research …

The Psychological Implications Of Breast Cancer: A Review Of The Literature ; Shattered Motherhood: Young Mothers Living With Breast Cancer, Kelly Gibson

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical review regarding the psychological implications of breast cancer, with a particular focus on younger women. In general due to their life stage, it appears that younger women have more problems with psychological adjustment to breast cancer compared to their older counterparts. Specifically, younger women appear to be more psychologically vulnerable to greater disruption to their daily lives due to the untimely nature of a breast cancer diagnosis, and have greater unmet practical needs, such as childcare. Limitations of the research literature are explored with specific attention to sample characteristics. Suggestions …

The Relationship Between Daytime Experiences And Nighttime Marital Behaviour ; Spillover Of Daytime Emotions On Marital Interactions, Katherine J. Fitzsimmons

Theses : Honours

This review outlines literature on the influence of daytime experiences on nighttime marital behaviour. Researchers propose that experiences at work and home spillover into and influence the other domain. Factors affecting spillover included gender, job characteristics, role satisfaction, negative affect and marital satisfaction. Outcomes of spillover included withdrawn and angry marital behaviour. Results of the current research suggest that husbands tend to withdraw, whilst wives tend to display anger during marital interactions following a negatively arousing day. Individual differences and situational theories have been proposed to explain this gender difference. Limitations ofthe studies include the focus on married individuals living …

Older Adults' Perspective On Engaging In Physical Activity After The Age Of 65 : An Exploratory Study, Amanda Kathleen England

Theses : Honours

The increasing number of older Australians who are living sedentary lifestyles is of great concern due to the significant implications of increasing health risks for these people and the increasing pressure on the nation's welfare services as well as its health care systems. To alleviate the pressure, factors that motivate or inhibit older adults' engagement in physical activity should be identified. The purpose of the current review is to examine the literature that is relevant to the engagement in physical activity past the age of 65. Issues of prevalence, benefits, risks, deterrents and attractions of physical activity in older adulthood …

Anglo-Australians' Attitudes Towards Multiculturalism And Beliefs About Ethnic Groups, Tina Charles

Theses : Honours

Australia's policy of multiculturalism was adopted in 1978. However, recent events in Australia have suggested some public dissent concerning multiculturalism, particularly among members of the dominant Anglo-Australian culture. Previous research in the Netherlands has found that essentialist beliefs about ethnic minority groups are related to negative attitudes towards multiculturalism within the dominant culture. This study was designed to qualitatively explore Anglo-Australians' attitudes towards multiculturalism and their beliefs about ethnic minority groups. A total of 11 participants were interviewed. Results showed that the participants expressed both positive and negative attitudes towards multiculturalism, and essentialist and non-essentialist beliefs about ethnic groups. The …

Water Stress Vulnerability Of Four Banksia Species In Contrasting Ecohydrological Habitats On The Gnangara Mound, Western Australia, Caroline Canham

Theses : Honours

The distribution of obligate and facultative phreatophytic vegetation reflects the gradient of ecohydrological habitats in a landscape. Preliminary investigations of Banksia vulnerability to xylem embolism have reported that obligate phreatophytes are more susceptible to water stress than facultative phreatophytes (Froend & Drake 2006). A quantitative measure of plant susceptibility to water stress is vital when establishing environmental water requirements. This study investigated interspecific differences in vulnerability to water stress for two facultative phreatophytes (B. attenuata and B. menziesii) and two obligate pln·eatophytes (B. ilicifolia and B. littoralis) at the same position along an ecohydrological gradient on the Gnangara Groundwater Mound, …

Sex Differentiation And Sexually Dimorphic Disease, Emily A. Jefferson

Theses : Honours

Sexual dimorphism of the central nervous system is a still widely debated and an area of much research. Conclusive evidence that anatomical and physiological differences in the CNS exist has been reported by post-mortem studies and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This present study seeks to contribute to the understanding of the differences in the brain between genders and to ascertain reasons as to why the literature is so varied. A number of structures such as the cerebral cortex, hypothalamic nuclei and the amygdala have proven to be significantly larger within males as opposed to females. The nuclei of the hypothalamus …

Determining Carbon And Nitrogen Stable Isotope Discrimination For Marine Consumers, Emily N. Gates

Theses : Honours

The application of stable isotope ratios to food web studies is increasing, and the use of generalised discrimination values (0.4±1.4%₀ for δ¹³C and 3.4±1.1%₀ for δ¹⁵N), which are being widely applied to many studies, may not be valid. The broad objective of this study was to evaluate the assumption that these discrimination values are applicable to a range of benthic marine consumers, and therefore appropriate to be used in trophic analyses using carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stable isotopes in marine food webs. The first aim was to determine if there were differences in …

Interhemispheric Modulation Of Corticomotor Excitability Following I-Wave Periodicity Transcranial Magnetic Brain Stimulation (Itms), Lucy Catherine Millar

Theses : Honours

AIMS: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has been recently demonstrated to have potential therapeutic benefits by promoting cortical plasticity through modulation of corticospinal excitability. We have previously shown in healthy adult subjects that paired-pulse TMS (1.5ms ISI) applied over Ml at 0.2Hz for 15min (known as iTMS), can raise corticospinal excitability for a period (~10min) that outlasts the intervention. Since interhemispheric changes in corticomotor excitability are considered to have fundamental importance in the control of voluntary movement, and recovery of motor function following unilateral damage, importance is placed on understanding the mechanisms involved. The aims of the current study were therefore …

The Relationship Between Body Image And Self-Esteem In Older Adulthood, Lucie Guegan

Theses : Honours

Purpose: Given the global trend of population ageing and the fact that Australia will experience a significant increase in the proportion of older adults, research into ageing issues has become a National priority. Whilst body image and self-esteem have been empirically linked, the relationship among older adults has been neglected. The present study investigated several body image variables and their relationship to self-esteem in a sample of older adults. Design and Methods: Questionnaires consisting of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire were administered to 148 adults aged between 65 and 85 years, living independently in the …

The Determination Of Probes For The Indirect Detection Of Anions In Capillary Zone Electrophoresis Using Light Emitting Diode Detection, Peter Ashley Balding

Theses : Honours

This study investigated the potential of a number of compounds to act as probes for the indirect detection of inorganic and organic anions separated by capillary zone electrophoresis and using light emitting diodes (LED) as the light source. Desirable characteristics of the probe anion included: high molar absorptivity, moderate to high electrophoretic mobility, and having a wavelength of maximum absorbance near the maximum emission wavelength of a LED. A preliminary study led to the evaluation of eleven possible compounds. Two of these, p-nitrophenol and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid were selected for further study as they fulfilled the criteria previously mentioned. The optimised …

The Functional Significance Of Multiple Pax7 Isoforms, Chantel L. Burchill

Theses : Honours

The Pax7 gene is critical for specification of both neurons in the mid-brain and skeletal muscle satellite cells. Several alternate transcripts are transcribed from the single gene. Previous studies have shown that the resultant alternate Pax7 isoforms differ in the structure of their paired domain (a DNA-binding domain that influences target gene selection), yet the functional significance of each isoform for specification of neurogenic and myogenic cell types remains unknown. Although previous studies have identified the presence of multiple alternate Pax7 transcripts in both neurogenic and myogenic cell lines, more research is necessary to understand the functional significance of the …

The Effectiveness Of A Home-Based, Patient-Specific, Functional Exercise Program On Patients With Inclusion Body Myositis (Ibm), Liam Johnson

Theses : Honours

Previous research has shown exercise to be beneficial in the treatment of myositis-affected patients. However, the potential of functional exercises to improve muscle strength and function in the absence of disease progression markers in patient's with Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) is not well understood. It is believed that the initial exercise dose and patient specificity is of paramount importance in the successful use of this modality in the routine management and long term treatment of such patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a home-based, patient-specific functional exercise programme, including aerobic exercise and resistance training, …

Pollen Characteristics Of Grevillea Species Determined By In Vitro Germination, Rebecca Parsons

Theses : Honours

Germination of pollen in vitro is a common technique used to assess the ability of pollen to germinate under a variety of conditions. The ability to determine the viability of a pollen grain, and optimal conditions for maximum germination and storage are important for hybridisation. A means of storing pollen, while maintaining viability, enables inter-species hybridisation between species that are spatially and temporally (flowering time) separated. The ultimate aim of hybridisation is seed set and in order to increase this in a genus renowned for a very low fruit to flower ratio, maximum pollen germination must be obtained. Therefore, by …

The Role Of Implicit Memory In Visual Word Recognition: Principles And Processes Of Long- And Short-Term Repetition Priming, Matthew Robert Merema

Theses : Honours

This review examines the role of long- and short-term repetition priming research in the theoretical debate between episodic and abstractionist accounts of implicit memory. The empirical research and theoretical accounts of priming reviewed indicate that neither episodic or abstractionist theories alone can successfully account for the processes of long- and short-term repetition priming. The major variations between studies in experimental methods used to measure repetition priming are also examined, providing a possible explanation for contrasting results obtained within repetition priming research and a reason for why the episodic versus abstractionist debate persists. Finally, research examining the underlying mechanisms responsible for …

The Experience Of The Transition To An Aged-Care Facility: A Qualitative Exploration, Jenny M. Smith

Theses : Honours

The transition from one's place of residence to an aged-care facility may be a daunting prospect, with many factors relevant to the degree of ease in which this change occurs. Whilst this is a significant life event, qualified information about older adults' experience of it is limited, with little found about Australia. Much of what is available focuses on the caregivers' and relatives' viewpoints or their interactions with staff and do not pertain to the transition period itself, but to aged care in general. The main findings from the available literature suggest that the way a new resident perceives their …

Evaluating The Impact Of Peer Review And Participation Awareness In An Online Collaborative Document Authoring Environment, Greg Baatard

Theses : Honours

Online Learning Environments (OLEs) have been widely adopted by higher education facilities, offering distance education with the potential to support the social and collaborative aspects deemed crucial to modern constructivist pedagogy. Groupware, a form of software which aims to facilitate group work, has been the subject of much research, from both educational and enterprise perspectives. This research introduced Reportal, an online groupware system designed to facilitate the collaborative authoring of a document. Reportal's peer review and participation awareness features were the focus of this research, and their impact was measured against the elements of online collaboration, a typology established by …

Electoral Professionalism And The 2004 Australian Federal Election Campaign, Ryan Boyd

Theses : Honours

Electoral professionalism, a. term first coined by Panebianco (1988), explains the changing organisational structure of modern political parties and changes to the way parties engage with the electorate. This thesis demonstrates the extent to which electoral professionalism was prevalent during the 2004 Australian federal election campaign. Australian democracy has undergone a process of professionalisation in recent decades. The Liberal Party and the Labor Party's ability to adapt to these changes has enabled Australia's two major parties to remain relevant and come to dominate Australia's political system. Campaign professionals skilled in areas such as polling, marketing, media management, computer technologies, direct …

Discovering The Self: An Enquiry Into Spiritual Seekers Journeys Towards Self-Realisation, Marianne Batenburg

Theses : Honours

This thesis explores the notion that a spiritual search for meaning can lead to the discovery of one's true nature, known in the Eastern tradition as Realisation of the Self. The necessity of a teacher to assist the seeker on this spiritual journey is also investigated. Three questions in particular are raised that will facilitate the analysis of this journey of discovery: 1) Is the longing for a sense of completeness, Beingness, awakened by a particular experience or is it in fact inherent in each human being? 2) Do spiritual seekers need to go out into the world to find …

The White Death: Representations Of Salt Affected Landscapes In The Wheatbelt, Grant Currall

Theses : Honours

This exegesis examines the significance of salt-affected landscapes in Western Australia's Wheatbelt, particularly sites affected due to pastoral settlement. It explores ways in which landscape imagery has been constructed and controlled by cultures to represent a particular relationship between settlement and the land. A focus on both American and Australian photographic practitioners and their understanding of landscape aesthetics will be incorporated to reveal how unconventional subject matter like dryland salinity can be re-presented to provide an alternative perspective of cultures relationship with nature in the Wheatbelt. Finally, an enquiry into the impact of national identity on landscape will also explore …

The Influence Of Genetics And The Environment On Human Personalities, Relationships And Experiences, Patrice Smith

Theses : Honours

It's no mystery that our genetic make-up plays an integral part in the outcome of our lives, but to what extent exactly are our personalities, relationships and experiences pre-determined by this genetic code? There are two forces that contribute to the outcome of these aspects of our lives. Genetics and Environment. The significance of the environment, i.e., our upbringing, lifestyle and the world around us is often emphasized by psychologists as the more dominant force, however our genes are just as, if not more, influential on our lives. My choreographic process is directly in relation to the group of artists …