Digital Commons Network^™

A No Free Lunch Result For Optimization And Its Implications, Marisa Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The No Free Lunch (NFL) theorems for optimization tell us that when averaged over all possible optimization problems the performance of any two optimization algorithms is statistically identical. This seems to imply that there are no "general-purpose" optimization algorithms. That is, the NFL theorems show that, mathematically, any superior performance of an optimization algorithm on one set of problems is offset by inferior performance of that algorithm on the set of all other problems. In this thesis we consider the seemingly negative implications of the NFL theorems. We first extend a previous NFL theorem to get a new NFL result. …

An Examination Of The Factors Underlying The Motivation And Learning Strategies Of Generation 1.5 Korean American Students, Rosa Cho Stoffa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Comprehensive research into student learning has established that the effective use of learning strategies will enable students to take responsibility for their own learning, enhance their motivation in the learning process, and improve their academic success (Sternberg & Grigorenko, 2001). However, little research has investigated the learning strategies used by immigrant students and how these strategies relate to academic excellence. While survey instruments currently exist for assessing these constructs in the general population, the construct validity of theses scales has yet to be examined within immigrant populations.

The subjects who participated in this study were randomly selected from the Korean …

A Submaximal Test To Assess Back Muscle Capacity: Evaluation Of Construct Validity, Christian Larivière, Denis Gravel, Phillip Gardiner, A. Bertrand Arsenault, Denis Gagnon, Patrick Loisel

Études primaires

No abstract provided.

Efficacy Of A Behavioral Intervention To Decrease Medication Transcription Errors Among Professional Nurses, Kathleen Ann Becker

Dissertations (1934 -)

The purpose of this study, guided by Donabedian's structure-process-outcome model, was to evaluate if a cognitive-behavioral education intervention would decrease medication transcription errors among professional nurses when admitting patients 65 years of age or older on 5 or more prescribed medications to a hospital. The conceptual framework for this study is derived from Donabedian's structure-process-outcome health model. The premise suggests improving the structure or process of a system can improve health outcomes. My intervention (cognitive behavioral education), specifically influences the process of medication history obtainment which improved medication error score. In this study, a randomized intervention design was used where …

Depression Among The Oneida: Case Studies Of The Interface Between Modern And Traditional, Mark R. Powless

Dissertations (1934 -)

Depression, defined by a EuroAmerican biomedical diagnostic criterion, using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition, Text Revision is prevalent among First Nations peoples. However, some studies suggest that the term depression may hold little heuristic value outside of its EuroAmerican conceptualization. This study utilized qualitative methods to understand how depressive symptoms are conceptualized and experienced by traditional Oneida people. A vignette was presented and in-depth interviews of seven traditional healers, culture and Oneida language experts were conducted to: (1) gain a basic understanding of traditional views of mental health, (2) acquire multiple conceptualizations of someone who presents …

"Ordinary Talents And Extraordinary Perseverance": The Life Of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, David Bruce

Dissertations (1934 -)

Born into a gentry family with roots in the Society of Friends, the evangelical social conscience of Thomas Fowell Buxton (1786-1845) was developed as he operated a brewery in Spitalfields, perhaps London's poorest parish. He was instrumental in raising funds for poor relief and establishing soup and bread kitchens there during the winter of 1816-1817. His interest and research on penal discipline brought him national prominence and led to a parliamentary seat which he held for nearly two decades. Buxton's association with noted activist William Wilberforce (1759-1833) led to his own involvement in the anti-slavery movement, a cause he fiercely …

Is A School Based Educational Program Effective In Changing Knowledge Regarding The Prevention Of Shaken Baby Syndrome?, Margaret Kay Stelzel

Dissertations (1934 -)

Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) involves physiological and neuropsychological sequelae secondary to parental or caregiver handling of an infant or young child (Goldberg & Goldberg, 2002). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) (2001), non-accidental head injuries are the leading cause of traumatic death and cause of child abuse fatalities. The prognosis is extremely poor with a death rate of 26-36% and up to 78% of the survivors suffer long-term disability (Barlow & Minns, 2000). According to Prevent Violence Against Children Act, 2005 Wisconsin Act 165; SECTION 7.121.02(1)(L)6 educational SBS requirements are mandated, effective school year 2007-2008. Two instrument development …

An Exploration Of The Impact Of An Online Mba Course On Intercultural Sensitivity Development, Suzanne Scaffidi Warell

Dissertations (1934 -)

While research on online MBA courses is growing rapidly, teaching specific skills using online delivery formats is a relatively new stream of research in graduate business education. In this study, adult learning methods such as experiential activities, discussion, teamwork, and action learning were used in a seven-week online MBA course to explore in what ways intercultural sensitivity could be developed. A two-trial, pretest-posttest research mixed methods design was implemented in the summers of 2004 and 2005 at a Midwestern Jesuit university.

Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered and analyzed from thirty-eight participants (N=38). First, quantitative analysis of pretest-posttest scores from …

Beyond Stewardship: Toward An Agapeic Environmental Ethic, Christopher J. Vena

Dissertations (1934 -)

This dissertation is a work in theological anthropology and environmental philosophy. It seeks to provide a conceptual framework for a Christian environmental ethic rooted in love.

The heart of the crisis of ecological degradation is found in human attitudes and behaviors. In the late 1960's it was suggested that Christianity was a key source of the problem because it promoted the idea of human "dominion" over creation. This spurred a variety of responses designed to show that Christian faith was compatible with environmental care. A key theme emerging from this debate was the image of humans as Stewards of God's …

Wisc-Iv And Iva+Plus Pattern Analysis: Assessment Of Attention-Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder, Kevin K. Tsang

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a challenging practice with no definitive diagnostic test. This study sought to evaluate the use of a pattern of performance method of inference in ADHD assessment that examines an individual's general intellectual ability in comparison to his or her own attention skills. WISC-IV scores, IVA+Plus quotients, and basic demographic information were collected from patient files of children previously evaluated by the Eastern Virginia Medical School Neuropsychology Clinic. Children with and without ADHD were compared by analyzing the following difference or delta score discrepancies: (a) WISC-IV General Ability Index (GAI) minus WISC-IV Working Memory Index, …

A Model Of Responses To Race-Based And Gender-Based Stereotype Threat In Computer Science, Lara Tedrow

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The perception of stereotype threat among computer science students was examined at two universities. A model of stereotype threat was developed and tested among students enrolled in three undergraduate computer science courses at two universities. The goal of this model was to provide an understanding of the underlying mechanisms through which stereotype threat works.

The study tested relationships among the following variables: race-based stereotype threat, gender-based stereotype threat, goal orientation, CS self-efficacy, active coping, behavioral disengagement, effort, and performance. Structural equation modeling was used to test the measurement model and a series of nested structural models. Findings supported the proposed …

Biogenic Tracers Through The Holocene On The Alaskan Shelf, Carie A. Curry

OES Theses and Dissertations

Dramatic environmental changes in the Arctic Ocean have been observed for the last two decades including changing the amount of sea ice thickness and extent, and increased river discharge. In order to put these and other current day observations into historical context and perhaps reveal mechanisms controlling them, a suite of paleo-proxies were used to analyze two high resolution cores collected on the 2005 HOTRAX expedition. The goals of this research were: (1) develop an analytical method for determining biogenic calcite, (2) identify the major sources of biogenic matter into the system over the Holocene, and (3) assemble the history …

Efficacy Of Dual Enrollment In Rural Southwest Virginia, Karen Glass Carter

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

The intent of this dissertation was to determine if enrollment into a career and technical education dual enrollment program encouraged students to continue their education into postsecondary education and if workplace readiness skills were increased. This study completed a factorial analysis of student demographic and factorial data as associated with the enrollment of career and technical education dual enrollment in rural, southwest Virginia. Specifically, the study explored secondary students (N = 221) currently enrolled during the academic school year 2008-2009 within a Virginia approved career and technical education dual enrollment course. These students attended one of four career and …

Molecular Dynamics Study Of Single Stranded Peptide Nucleic Acids, Anna K. Manukyan

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

A PNA molecule is a DNA strand where the sugar-phosphate backbone has been replaced by a structurally homomorphous pseudopeptide chain consisting of N(2-aminoethyl)-glycine units. PNA binds strongly to both DNA and RNA. However, an analysis of the X-ray and NMR data show that the dihedral angles of PNA/DNA or PNA/DNA complexes are very different from those of DNA:DNA or RNA:RNA complexes. In addition, the PNA strand is very flexible. One way to improve the binding affinity of PNA for DNA/RNA is to design a more pre-organized PNA structure. An effective way to rigidify the PNA strand is to introduce …

Probabilities, Planning Failures, And Environmental Law, Dave Owen

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Usu Mild/Moderate Distance Degree And Licensure Program: Where We’Ve Been And Where We’Re Going, Nancy K. Glomb, Benjamin Lignugaris / Kraft, R. R. Menlove

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

Providing access to quality special education teacher training programs for all qualified applicants is particularly pertinent in light of the national shortage of special education teachers. In addition, there are increasing numbers of students enrolling in Utah schools, and a percentage of that increased enrollment includes students with disabilities. The Mild/Moderate Distance Degree and Licensure Program at Utah State University began in 1995 to help address this shortage. Initially, the program was designed to recruit and prepare qualified mild/moderate special education teachers in one rural area of the state that includes two school districts. Over time, the program expanded to …

Here Tunggë Made Here Slayn: Dangerous Speech Acts In Four Exempla From Robert Mannyng Of Brunne’S Handlyng Synne, Emily Russell

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

In this project, I consider four exempla from Robert Mannyng of Brunne’s Handlyng Synne: “The Tale of the Bloody Child,” “The Tale of the Sacrilegious Carolers of Colbek,” “The Tale of the Midwife Who Christened the Child Wrongly,” and “St. Gregory’s Tale of the Nun Who Spoke Naughty Words.” I read these exempla through the theoretical texts of Georges Bataille, Jacques Derrida, Julia Kristeva, and Mary Douglas, as well as others, and conclude that speech acts, whether deviant or sanctioned, make identity at any level (de)constructable. I hope to show that while this is particularly noticeable against the historical …

Effect Of Pelvic Stabilization And Hip Position On Trunk Extensor Activity During Back Extension Exercises On A Roman Chair, Rubens A. Da Silva, Christian Larivière, A. Bertrand Arsenault, Sylvie Nadeau, André Plamondon

Études primaires

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of pelvic stabilization and hip position on the electromyographic activity of trunk extensors during Roman chair exercise. A secondary objective was to compare genders. DESIGN: Repeated measures.

SUBJECTS: Eleven men and 11 women volunteers.

METHODS: Five trunk flexion-extension cycles for 3 Roman chair conditions: (i) pelvis unrestrained; (ii) pelvis restrained; and (iii) hip at 40 degrees flexion. Electromyographic signals were recorded on the back muscles, as well as on the gluteus maximus and biceps femoris. The percentage of electromyographic amplitude relative to the maximal activity was used to assess the level of muscular activation of …

Problem Definition And Hypothesis Generation By Recent Family Nurse Practitioner Graduates, Kerry Risco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Little is known about the effect of problem definition on hypothesis-generation accuracy in recent family nurse practitioner (FNP) graduates. The hypotheticodeductive-reasoning model served as the theoretical framework for the study. An alternating-treatment single-subject experimental design was used to examine the effects of problem definition on 8 recent FNP graduates' ability to generate hypotheses to diagnose patient problems. Diagnostic-reasoning software provided web-delivered simulated-patient scenarios that described patient problems that were either ill defined or well defined. The independent variable was problem definition (ill-defined versus well-defined problems). The dependent variables were accuracy of the final diagnosis, the total number of diagnostic hypotheses …

Examining The Association Between Depressive Symptoms And Performance On Executive Function Measures In Children, Hillary A. Mangis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A variety of cognitive deficits have been linked to depression. In particular, data exists to suggest that persons with depression are subject to poorer executive function compared to normal controls. Establishing the connection between depression and impaired executive function is particularly important in childhood as a child's daily functioning, including social interactions and academic performance, may be impacted. The purpose of this study was to explore if children with significant symptoms of depression displayed deficits on tasks designed to measure the executive functions of attentional control, information processing and cognitive flexibility (Anderson, 2002) compared to a clinical control group. A …

Substantive Representation Of Women And Its Consequences: The Passage Of A Gender-Based-Violence Law In Rwanda, Joan Marshall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

How can the increased political participation of traditionally excluded groups, particularly women, impact policymaking on issues that affect those groups? Using the passage of legislation on gender-based violence (GBV) in Rwanda as a case study, this thesis examines how increased women's "descriptive representation" can lead to "substantive representation" in the context of a political and social environment supportive of women's political inclusion. In addition to the increased political presence of women in parliament as a result of the gender-quota laws, the support of an executive government committed to the political inclusion of women and expansion of women's rights and an …

Total Spanish: The Politics Of A Pan-Hispanic Grammar, José Del Valle

Publications and Research

This article presents an analysis of the 2010 grammar of Spanish jointly published by Spain´s language academy and the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language. It places this grammatical project in the context of Spain´s geopolitical interests in Latin America.

Derrida's Daughter: A Dialogue Postmortem On Love., Heather D. Zias

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As the illegitimate daughter of one of the twentieth century’s most intriguing philosophers, at least to literary folk affiliated with universities of some repute, the author’s life has been suspended in the interstices of celebrity and ignominy, erudition and erethism, Stanford University Press and Sinclair Community College, and so much so, that her life seemed to be nothing but this conjunction, that is—and. Unwilling to cite her famous father (who, though absent, was nevertheless present to her mind as a wish or a hope) so that she might make her own name, the author moved about incognito in literary circles …

Case Study: Implementation Of The Top Five Freedom Of Information Act Cases Into Media Law Of The Republic Of Tajikistan, Muhabbat Yakubova

Communication

The purpose of this study is to explore and study the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in five cases. The study will analyze the importance of FOIA for the growth of media for developing countries like Tajikistan. The study conducts a comparative analysis of the FOIA cases. The study will examine FOIA adoption history in the United States of America's legislative system; the reasons, purposes, and the implementation of FOIA by media personnel; and current media law of the Republic of Tajikistan. Also the study will discuss where certain aspects of FOIA could fit in Media Law of Tajikistan that …

Defining Empirical Frames Of Reference In Constitutional Cases: Unraveling The As-Applied Versus Facial Distinction In Constitutional Law, David L. Faigman

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Technology And Uncertainty The Shaping Effect On Copyright Law, Ben Depoorter

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Sclerotinia Of Canola, Samuel G. Markell, Hans Kandel, Luis Del Rio

PP Series – Plant Pathology

No abstract provided.

Houseplants: Proper Care And Management Of Pest Problems, Janet J. Knodel, Kasia Kinzer, Ron Smith

PP Series – Plant Pathology

No abstract provided.

The Clash Of Commitments At The International Criminal Court, Tom Ginsburg

Chicago Journal of International Law

On July 10, 2008, International Criminal Court ("ICC") Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo informed members of the UN Security Council that he would be issuing an indictment against Sudanese President Omar Hassan al Bashir on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity for events in Darfur. The indictment, issued July 14, brought into stark relief the consequentialist debate over international criminal justice. Opponents of impunity celebrated the possibility that the international community might at last be willing to take concrete steps toward ending the Darfur genocide. On the other hand, aid groups on the ground feared retaliation and expulsion, and diplomats argued …

Breaking Up Doesn't Have To Be So Hard: Default Rules For Partition And Secession, Nathan Richardson

Chicago Journal of International Law

The creation of smaller new states by partition or secession from larger ones is among the most notable trends in the postwar international system. This trend has often been peaceful-as in the former Czechoslovakia-but conflict and discord seem to be the norm, with the breakup of and resulting war in the former Yugoslavia as perhaps the most tragic example. To the extent that the purpose of international law is, among other things, to promote peaceful relations and mutually beneficial agreements between international actors, it has largely failed to achieve this goal in cases where new states are created. This is …