Digital Commons Network^™

An Evaluation Of Appearance, Fitness, Health, Illness, And Body Satisfaction Levels Plus Overweight Preoccupation Of Female Fitness Instructors In Cedar Falls And Waterloo, Ia, Catherine M. Zubrod

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to compare the researcher's results to published norms. This study investigated appearance, fitness, health, illness, and body satisfaction levels plus overweight preoccupation of female fitness instructors in Cedar Falls and Waterloo, IA. The respondents for the study were 41 female group fitness instructors. They responded to the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (Godin & Shephard, 1985) to determine leisure-time activity levels, the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ; Cash, 2000) to determine appearance levels, fitness levels, health levels, illness levels, body satisfaction levels, and overweight preoccupation, and a self-developed questionnaire to acquire demographic data. The study …

Life Threatening Communication: Assessing Suicide Threat And Its Relation To Psychological Factors In Adolescent Inpatient Sample, Jennifer Bailey

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Suicide is currently the third leading cause of death for children ages 10 to 14 years and adolescents ages 15 to 19 years. Numerous studies have identified factors such as gender, exposure to suicide, psychosocial stressors, and psychological factors as potential predictors for suicide related behavior. In comparison to individuals who attempt suicide, individuals who threaten suicide generally do so to friends and relatives. Given that adolescents who threaten suicide are least likely to come to the attention of mental health care professionals than those who attempt suicide, it is important to understand some of the specific factors that differentiate …

The Environmental Implications Of Aggradation In Major Braided Rivers At Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, Scott Robert Beason

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study is to quantify the historic rate of river bed filling, and to the extent possible, evaluate the factors that control sedimentation in river channels at Mount Rainier National Park. Mount Rainier is the tallest and the most glaciated of the Cascade volcanoes, located in southwestern Washington State. Steep, glacially-fed braided rivers radiate outward from the volcano in all directions and transport materials varying from fine sediment to cobbles and large boulders. As the gradient in the channels decreases downstream, sediment is no longer entrained and accumulates in the river bed. Over time, the river bed …

The Use Of Aflp To Create A Genetic Linkage Map For Fusarium Graminearum, Eric Von Berns

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat and barley has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. FHB in the United States is mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum within the Fusarium species complex. Current methods such as crop rotation and the use of fungicides to control outbreaks have been poor at best. Knowledge of the organism's genome could focus and further research for new methods to control this pathogenic fungus. This study seeks to create a genetic linkage map from an intraspecific cross of the isolates Z-3939 and Z-4243, both isolated from the fields of Kansas. Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLP) …

Modeling Network Traffic On A Global Network-Centric System With Artificial Neural Networks, Douglas K. Swift

Doctoral Dissertations

"This dissertation proposes a new methodology for modeling and predicting network traffic. It features an adaptive architecture based on artificial neural networks and is especially suited for large-scale, global, network-centric systems. Accurate characterization and prediction of network traffic is essential for network resource sizing and real-time network traffic management. As networks continue to increase in size and complexity, the task has become increasingly difficult and current methodology is not sufficiently adaptable or scaleable. Current methods model network traffic with express mathematical equations which are not easily maintained or adjusted. The accuracy of these models is based on detailed characterization of …

Electron Beam Characterization Of Carbon Nanostructures, Eric Samuel Mandell

Doctoral Dissertations

"Atom-thick carbon nanostructures represent a class of novel materials that are of interest to those studying carbon's role in fossil fuel, hydrogen storage, scaled-down electronics, and other nanotechnology. Electron microscope images of "edge-on" graphene sheets show linear image features due to the projected potential of the sheets. Here, intensity profiles along these linear features can measure the curvature of the sheet, as well as the shape of the sheet (i.e. hexagonal, triangular). Also, electron diffraction powder profiles calculated for triangular graphene sheet shapes show a broadening of the low frequency edge of diffraction rings, in comparison to those calculated for …

Incipient Continental Rifting: Insights From The Okavango Rift Zone, Northwestern Botswana, Baraka D. Kinabo

Doctoral Dissertations

"In this dissertation aeromagnetic, gravity, and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model (SRTM DEM) data from the Okavango Rift Zone in northwest Botswana are used to map the distribution of rift and basement structures. The distribution of these structures provide useful insights into the early stages of continental rifting. The objectives of this study are (1) assessing the role of pre-existing structures on rift basin development, (2) characterizing the geometry of the nascent rift basins, (3) documenting fault growth and propagation patterns, and (4) investigating the border fault development"--Abstract, page iv.

Validation Of The Suicide Resilience Inventory-25 (Sri-25) With African American High School Students, Stephanie Elizabeth Gantt

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Suicide is the cause of death for nearly 30,000 deaths per year in the United States (Henkel, 2005). Studies show that rates of suicide have increased dramatically among African Americans ages 10-19 years, yet the overall suicide rate of African American adolescents is still lower than that of their Caucasian counterparts (Gould & Kramer, 2001 ; Greening & Stoppelbein, 2002). Some researchers have begun to study protective factors, particularly resilience, as one of the factors that should be maximized to reduce the rate of adolescent suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In particular, resiliency is an adaptive, stress-resistant personal quality that allows …

Assessment Of The Source And Transformation Of Nitrate In The Cedar River Watershed By Using Stable Isotopes Of Nitrogen, Sushil Gautam

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Stable isotopes of nitrogen were used to assess the source and fate of nitrate in the Cedar River Watershed, Iowa. Ground water samples from 20 private wells and surface water samples from 10 sites in the Cedar River and its tributaries were collected. A total of 90 samples were collected during the growing season from May through September 2006. In 35% of the wells, nitrate concentration exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 45 mg/1 (as NO3-) for drinking purposes. Eight (8) out of 10 samples exceeded MCL for nitrate in the first set of …

Quantifying Kinematics Of Purposeful Movements To Real, Imagined, Or Absent Functional Objects: Implications For Modelling Trajectories For Robot-Assisted Adl Tasks, Kimberly J. Wisneski, Michelle J. Johnson

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Robotic therapy is at the forefront of stroke rehabilitation. The Activities of Daily Living Exercise Robot (ADLER) was developed to improve carryover of gains after training by combining the benefits of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) training (motivation and functional task practice with real objects), with the benefits of robot mediated therapy (repeatability and reliability). In combining these two therapy techniques, we seek to develop a new model for trajectory generation that will support functional movements to real objects during robot training. We studied natural movements to real objects and report on how initial reaching movements are affected by …

Sexual Minority Youth In The Research Literature: The Invisible Students, Kelly J. Beck

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research examines the topics addressed in the School Psychology literature and specifically looks at the amount of coverage the topic of sexual minority youth has received in the research literature in the last 15 years. A content analysis of research articles published in two prominent school psychology journals, School Psychology Review and School Psychology Quarterly, from 1990 to 2005 was conducted. The topics that received the most coverage included: (1) intervention, (2) assessment, and (3) ethical, legal and professional issues. Nine articles out of 901, less than 1 %, included the topic of sexual minority youth. The sub-groups, such …

Addressing The School Psychologist Shortage : Past Trends And Implications For The Future, Erin Delaine Mccoy

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis begins with a brief history of the field of school psychology, starting with the Hybrid years and continuing through to the present day. Research on the trends that have occurred in the field of school psychology are reviewed. Past trends discussed include: demographics, personnel needs, function and roles, employment conditions, and job satisfaction. This study examined reasons why school psychologists in Iowa left their positions and, specifically, what effect job satisfaction played in their decision to leave. Results indicated two reasons Iowa school psychologists left their positions: role restrictiveness and lack of building support. School psychologists in Iowa …

Sexual Minority Youth In The Research Literature : What Kind Of Coverage Is The Field Of School Psychology Providing?, Jill Hayes White

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The amount of coverage sexual minority youth have received in the research literature over the past 15 years was examined. A content analysis of all research articles published in Psychology in the Schools and The Journal of School Psychology from 1990 to 2005 was conducted. Comparisons were made between the topic areas receiving the most coverage in 1990 versus 2005. Results revealed that issues related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth were discussed in only 0.4% of the articles. Topic areas receiving the most coverage included assessment, intervention, ethical and professional issues as well as race and diversity issues, …

High School Dropout : Educators' Knowledge Of And Perceived Role In Dropout Prevention, Dustin Reese

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The reasons behind high school dropout have been examined for years. Previous research has focused primarily on understanding student characteristics in relation to high school dropout. However, teachers play an important role in preventing school dropout. Their beliefs about dropout may influence the way in which they interact with students, especially those they believe are at risk for dropout. Because of the critical influence teachers can have on students' educational decisions, this research sought to answer the following questions: (1) What factors do educators believe contribute to students' decision to drop out of school? and (2) What type of influence …

Geometric Reasoning In Four-Year-Old Children, Christina Eyres Sales

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study addresses the curriculum issues of young children's geometric knowledge and how they can learn about geometry in early education. To investigate, I designed a pattern block frame activity that was the focus of a seven-week intervention with four-year-old children in a constructivist classroom. All children were considered at-risk for school failure. The investigation is rooted in my unsatisfying experiences with pattern blocks in my preschool classrooms.

Data were obtained from a pre and posttest assessment administered to ascertain the effects of the intervention on all children in the classroom and from observations of children's behavior as they engaged …

The Effects Of The Nutriactive Healthy Experience Intervention On Nutrition Knowledge In Kindergarten And First Grade Students, Jennifer Marie Bruss

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Over the past 30 years obesity in elementary school age children has gone from almost non-existence to common place. With obesity on the rise, the occurrence of diseases associated with it such as Type II diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia have also risen for children. These diseases are often carried into adulthood since overweight children are more likely to become overweight or obese adults. This will create another generation of obese children, continue to strain a failing health system, and add additional problems to our economy as the current obese generation heads into retirement.

Poor eating habits and insufficient physical activity …

An Analysis Of Intuitive Eating Among College Students, Danielle Marie Vsetecka

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In response to the world's increasing obesity rates, the use of traditional dieting and weight loss techniques is at an all time high. Although dieting rates have rapidly increased, the world's rising obesity rates show no sign of slowing and the effectiveness and effects of dieting have long been questioned. As an alternative to dieting and exercise, a non-dieting approach to weight regulation has emerged. Intuitive eating is one of its main tenants and is defined by allowing individuals to listen to internal body cues to determine hunger and fullness levels to meet nutritional and physical needs. However, few studies …

Differences In Junior High, High School, And College Coaches’ Self-Perceptions Of Behavior, Scott D. Salthun

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine coaches' self-perceptions of their competence in (a) training and instruction, (b) positive feedback, and (c) social support. Also, differences in coaches' gender, competitive level, leadership style, gender of athletes, age, and number of years coaching were investigated in relation to their self-perceptions. A modified questionnaire from Ipinmoroti (2002) was used as the instrument in this study. The questionnaire included three of the five subscales of the leadership scale for sport: (a) training and instruction, (b) positive feedback, and (c) social support. A total of 85 coaches participated in this study. A series …

An Analysis Of Students' Perceptions Of Online Multimedia Tutorials To Assist Classroom Instruction, Alex A. Goerdt

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Multimedia has become the new learning environment. As technology advances and becomes more prominent, traditional education needs to adapt and utilize all the benefits that can be achieved with computer-assisted instruction. Awareness of students' attitudes toward multimedia-based education is critical in the evaluation of multimedia courses and development of multimedia-based curriculum. The purpose of this study was to examine students' perceptions of multimedia-based instruction. Educational institutions are faced with the challenges of delivering valuable training options to meet the varying needs of students and staff; computer technology has become and will continually be integrated into the classroom to make learning …

Significance Of The General Public For Public Relations: A Study Of The Blogosphere's Impact On The October 2006 Edelman/Wal-Mart Crisis, Sergei Golitsinski

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The focus of this study is the general public and its significance in a public relations context. The study questions one of the fundamental principles of public relations, according to which organizations communicate only with those publics which have the potential to cause them negative consequences. The general public, according to -this principle, is considered insignificant and even nonexistent. This study's hypothesis is that new communication technologies have given the general public the power to cause direct negative consequences for organizations. To evaluate this hypothesis, the study examines the October 2006 Edelman/Wal-Mart crisis caused by the "Wal-Marting Across America" blog. …

Tree Species Identification In An Urban Environment Using A Data Fusion Approach, Matthew A. Voss

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis explores a data fusion approach combining hyperspectral, LiDAR, and multispectral data to classify tree species in an urban environment. The study area is the campus of the University of Northern Iowa.

In order to use the data fusion approach, a wide variety of data was incorporated into the classification. These data include: a four-band Quickbird image from April 2003 with 0.6m spatial resolution, a 24-band AISA hyperspectral image from July 2004 with 2m spatial resolution, a 63-band AISA Eagle hyperspectral image from October 2006 with lm spatial resolution, a high resolution, multiple return LiDAR data set from April …

An Examination Of Group Agreement Among Functional Ankle Instability Participant Inclusion Criteria, Shantelle A. Howe Weichers

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Functional ankle instability (FAI) has been commonly identified in the literature as a cause of ankle injury and dysfunction. However, the participant selection criteria for FAI research have not been consistent. Numerous authors have used various selection criteria, with seemingly no two criteria being alike. Although these inconsistencies in FAI research participant selection criteria may explain the contradictions that have been reported in FAI research, the true nature of these selection criteria differences is unknown. It is uncertain exactly if, and to what magnitude, these selection criteria differed. The purpose of this study was to examine group agreement regarding selection …

School Psychology Shortage And Urban/Rural Differences, Melissa Marie Hickman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

There is a documented shortage of school psychologists. Various factors contribute to this shortage including: (a) attrition, (b) the public's lack of knowledge about the profession, and ( c) stressors on the job. A continued shortage could have negative implications for the profession as well as students and schools by lowering standards for credentialing school psychologists. This paper will review literature on several factors that may influence the shortage. Historical trends and demographics of school psychologists will also be addressed. In particular, research and speculations concerning differences between the practice of rural and urban school psychologists will be discussed.

Mental Health Services In Schools: School Psychologists' Current Practices And Perspectives, Nicole Carlson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

It is estimated that approximately 7 .5 to 9 million children and adolescents are in need of mental health services, but that only 20% of these youths actually receive the services they need (National Association of School Psychologists [NASP], 2002). Because of this, schools across the nation have begun to take preventative measures, specifically school-based mental health services. School psychologists are uniquely prepared to provide these services, but little attention has been paid to their needs and concerns regarding such services. Therefore, members of NASP were given a survey to assess current practices and perspectives regarding mental health services in …

Parental Divorce, Family Conflict, And The Well-Being Of College Students: Forgiveness As A Protective Factor, Kimberly Jorgensen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Current literature cites that children with divorced parents are susceptible to maladjustment. This outcome is especially likely when family conflict exists. One purpose of the current study was to examine and clarify the relationships between parental divorce, interparental and parent-child conflict, and the health and well-being of children as they reach college age. Extant literature also supports the notion that interpersonal forgiveness has a special association with divorce, parent-child relationships, conflict, and mental health. This study therefore purported to examine the role of state and trait forgiveness with respect to the associations between parental divorce status, family conflict and college …

International Distributions: Divergence Of Co-Ownership Laws, Goldie Gabriel

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

United States copyrighted works are exploited internationally--or at least artists hope for them to be exploited internationally. The Berne Convention ("Berne"),' to which the U.S. became a member on March 1, 1989, is the primary regulator of international copyright issues. Berne's purpose is to "protect, in as effective and uniform a manner as possible, the rights of authors in their literary and artistic works." To achieve this purpose, Berne mandates that its parties provide equal treatment and minimum levels of protection to members of the Berne Union. Berne does not, however, require new laws to provide those protections. Instead, Berne …

Changing Seasons, Changing Times: The Validity Of Nontraditional Sports Seasons Under Title Ix And The Equal Protection Clause, Jane Hefferan

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

Part I addresses the historical and legal significance of Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as applied to female athletics. Part II then provides an overview of the landmark litigation in the continuing legal saga of Communities for Equity v. MHSAA, detailing the claims presented by the plaintiffs and the defenses offered by the MHSAA in justification of its policy. Part III then examines the recent trend of Title IX litigation in federal courts in light of this most recent Sixth Circuit ruling. After almost ten years of litigation, the combination of holdings in the …

A Reason For Musicians To Fret: Copyright Infringement In Online Guitar Tablature, Laura E. Gary

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

Part I of this note will specifically address guitar tablature and how it differs from more traditional methods of copying musical works. Part I will also discuss derivative works and fair use in detail, setting out the statutory provisions and the relevant case law establishing and analyzing both these claims. Part II addresses the lack of legal precedent for copyright infringement in guitar tabs and devises a possible solution to the question of whether or not guitar tabs infringe copyrighted musical works. Specifically, this note concludes that the appropriate answer to that question is that guitar tabs are infringing derivative …

All In, But Left Out: How The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act Seeks To Eradicate Online Gambling In The United States, Benjamin C. Wickert

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

In recent years, gambling on the Internet has evolved into a multi-billion dollar enterprise. The industry has been particularly entrenched in the United States, whose citizens at one time accounted for up to one-half of all Internet gambling revenues. However, the landscape of Internet gambling in the United States changed drastically in 2006, when President George W Bush signed into law the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The crucial provision of the UIGEA is its prohibition of the acceptance of payments, made by United States banks and creditors, to purveyors of unlawful Internet gambling enterprises. By targeting United States …

Calling All Angles: Perspectives On Regulating Internet Telephony, Melissa Winberg

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

In 1996, Congress passed the Telecommunications Act, substantially revising the Communications Act of 1934 to reflect technological advances, including the Internet, and Congress's deregulatory goals. Currently, however, new technologies are challenging the viability of the statutory definitions and regulatory schemes of the statute. Internet telephony, commonly called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is both a replacement for traditional telephone service and a new web-based technology. Given the current competitive political climate and the magnitude of the interests involved, Congress is unlikely to succeed in altering the telecommunications regime. Thus, the Federal Communications Commission, which has the authority to regulate interstate …