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Older Adults And A Writing Workshop: A Phenomenological Study, Jennifer Lynn Alex

Dissertations

This study examines how older adults experience the phenomenon of participating in a writing workshop and how older adults interpret their experiences, understandings, and realities of writing. Ten older adults, ranging in age from 62 to 83 with varying degrees of experiences in writing, participated in this study. Through a semi-structured interview, each participant related his or her experience first as a writer and then as a member of a writing workshop offered through a Community Literacy Center in a mid-sized Appalachian city.

A phenomenological analysis method was used to identify and analyze themes of meaning that emerged in the …

Regulation Of Biofilm And Antibiotic-Resistance By The Modulator Of Sara (Msa) In Staphylococcus Aureus, Antony Schwartz

Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen that is the causative agent of life-threatening diseases such as endocarditis and osteomyelitis. The ability of S. aureus to thrive as a successful pathogen can be partially attributed to its ability to form biofilm. Biofilm is an extracellular polysaccharide, protein, and DNA-based slime layer that protects the bacterial community. The global regulator sarA is essential for biofilm formation. Since the modulator of sarA (msa) gene regulates several virulence factors and is required for the full expression of sarA, the capacity of the msa mutant to form a biofilm was examined. The mutation of …

Toxicogenomics Analysis Of Non-Model Transcriptomes Using Next-Generation Sequencing And Microarray, Arun Rawat

Dissertations

With the advent of next generation technologies like Roche/454 Life Sciences that require low cost and less time for sequencing will help in providing a workable draft of non-model species genomes. Availability of high throughput microarray technologies for gene expression profiling provides low-cost tools for investigation of highly-integrated responses to various stimuli. These advancements along with bioinformatics processing have led to an increasing number of non-model species having well-annotated transcriptomes. The project focuses on the life cycle of development, functional annotation, and utilization of genomic tools for the avian wildlife species to determine the molecular impacts of exposure to munitions …

Student Persistence In Associate Degree Nursing Programs At Mississippi Community Colleges, Kathryn Lee Fleming

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine factors of student persistence and attrition in addition to strategies that may help students persist in associate degree nursing programs at community colleges. Data were collected from nursing students enrolled in first-year associate degree nursing programs at participating Mississippi community colleges and analyzed using multiple regression and repeated measures ANOVAs. Tinto’s Classic Model and Bean & Metzner’s Nontraditional Model of Student Attrition were utilized in this study. This mixed methods convenience sample yielded 564 participants, and the results were as follows: environmental factors and demographic factors of student persistence were found to …

An Examination Of Potential Moderators In The Relations Between Mothers' And Fathers' Parenting Practices And Children's Behavior, Michelle Rae Gryczkowski

Dissertations

Research suggests that ineffective parenting practices play a central role in the development of children’s antisocial behavior. However, there is a lack of studies that relate parenting practices to positive child outcomes, examine the role of fathers’ parenting in the socialization of children, and test for potential moderators. Thus, the current study aimed to address these limitations by examining the relations between mothers’ and fathers’ parenting practices and child externalizing and prosocial behavior, and to determine whether the child’s sex, age, or ethnicity moderate these relations. Participants included 131 couples with a child aged 6 to 17. Data were collected …

A Separation Of Church And Growth? The Intersections Of Seventh-Day Adventism And Economic Development In Puerto Rico, Josefer Montes

Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the intersections of religion and economics, specifically the Puerto Rican economy and the Puerto Rico Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA). Chapter II investigated the relationship between an economy that exports its currency and one that imports its currency by researching how United States monetary policy impacts the Puerto Rican economy. Through the perspective of the Optimal Currency Area (OCA) framework as posited by Mundell (1961) and employing a vector autoregression (VAR) model, the impact of U.S. monetary shocks was investigated by regressing those effects against Puerto Rican employment data. While the Puerto Rican business cycle generally follows that …

Examining The Effect Of A Year Of Service In Americorps On Members' Attitudes Toward Attending College, Jessica Lucky Roberts

Dissertations

This study had two purposes. First, this study sought to determine how a year of service in the America Reads-Mississippi (ARM) AmeriCorps program impacted members’ perceptions and attitudes toward the non-monetary value of earning a college degree, the importance of earning a college degree in obtaining employment, and the influence of service in the ARM AmeriCorps program on members’ motivation to attend college. Second, this study sought to determine if a year of service in the ARM AmeriCorps program impacted members’ decisions to use the Segal Education Award they earn upon the successful completion of their year of service. Through …

The Effects Of Early Intervention On The Cognitive And Social Development Of Kindergarteners, Jennifer Foster Pope

Dissertations

Research has, for years, linked early intervention with student achievement. Students coming from an appropriate developmental preschool program are at an advantage and are readily able to face the rigor of elementary school (Campbell & Ramey, 1994). This study investigated whether there were statistically significant relationships among preschool attendance, gender, free/reduced status, and ethnicity and the cognitive development of kindergarten students as measured by AIMSweb Progress Monitoring and Response to Intervention System. This study also investigated the relationship between social skills competence and the cognitive development of kindergarten students as measured by the School-age Social and Emotional Adaptive Skills Inventory. …

Life History And Habitat Use Of The Juvenile Alabama Shad (Alosa Alabamae) In Northern Gulf Of Mexico Rivers, Paul Fraser Mickle

Dissertations

The Alabama shad, Alosa alabamae, is an anadromous species that is in decline and has seen extirpations from impoundments as well as decreased water quality. Alabama shad live in the Gulf of Mexico and ascend Northern Gulf of Mexico Drainages to reproduce early in the year (January-May). The juveniles spend the majority of the year in these freshwater systems before emigrating out to the Gulf of Mexico as late as December.

This dissertation focuses on the juvenile life stages that occur within the Northern Gulf of Mexico drainages. Spawning conditions of the river, as well as the habitat and diet, …

A Psychometric Investigation Of The Young Adult Social Behavior Scale (Yasb), Michelle Rene Augustin

Dissertations

Aggressive behavior is a serious public health concern that has resulted in several problems in contemporary society. Despite a considerable body of literature on human aggression, both popular and scientific, a focus on overt physical aggression has obscured other forms of aggression. As a result, considerably less is known about other, more subtle forms of aggression, such as relational aggression. Moreover, research on relational aggression, particularly among older adolescents and adults, has been hindered by the lack of psychometrically sound measures. Research in this area would be enhanced by the availability of such a measure, facilitating comparison of data across …

Depth And Time Related Variations Of Microbial Communiites In An Emergent Freshwater Wetland, Amy Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations

Soils, and the microbial communities contained within them, are vital for most chemical, physical, and biological processes. This study investigated how microbial community structure responded to environmental changes, such as hydrology, across vertical space (depth) and time in an emergent fresh water wetland. Research was conducted in a non-tidal freshwater wetland along the James River (Charles City County, Virginia) by establishing plots in two areas that experienced different hydrologic regimes and plant communities. Soil cores (30 cm) were collected monthly from January 2008 to February 2009, and then every two to three months thereafter until October 2009, for a total …

Legal Reading And Success In Law School: The Reading Strategies Of Law Students With Attention Deficit Disorder (Add)., Leah M. Christensen

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

The new reality in legal education is that a certain percentage of our students will come to us with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or with another learning disability, either disclosed or undisclosed. Yet there has been little empirical research on how law students with learning disabilities read and understand the law. This study examines how three law students with ADD read a judicial opinion. The results suggest a relationship between successful law school performance and the use of problematizing and rhetorical reading strategies, and between less successful law school performance and the use of default reading strategies. Further, the results …

Taking Texas Back: A Voter Turnout Analysis Of South Texas., Emily Cadik, Dori Glanz

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

For the Texas Democratic Party (TDP), the ability to win statewide elections hinges on the ability to raise turnout in South Texas. Voter turnout in South Texas is consistently lower than the state average in general elections. Impediments to voting, like a lack of resources in the region, complicated voting logistics, and more traditionally emphasized barriers to turnout (such as socioeconomic status) contribute to low turnout. The South Texas region, however, reported exceptionally high performance in primary elections, where incentive structures and competition operate well. Nonetheless, the typically cited problems cannot on their own explain low voter turnout in general …

Secrets And Lies: The Intelligence Community's Don't Ask, Don't Tell., Andrew Olivo

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Defining Violence On The Blackboard: An Overview Of The Texas Education Code's Approach To Teen Dating Violence., Jessica Ramos

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

Abstract Forthcoming.

Lords Of The Manor: Fighting California Slumlords With Private Multi-Plaintiff Implied Warranty Of Habitability Litigation., Christina Sosa

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

Abstract Forthcoming.

The Cycle Of Violence: Domestic Violence And Its Effects On Children., Rosie Gonzalez, Janice Corbin

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

Abstract Forthcoming.

How Texas Can Better Protect Seniors From Financial Abuse And Mismanagement Associated With Alzheimer's Disease., Hayden Colby

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

Alzheimer’s Disease is a prominent terminal ailment affecting a vast number of the world’s senior citizens. The Disease causes a cognitive deterioration in brain cells which results in limited or no ability to do basic activities. Texas has seen a disproportionate amount of Alzheimer’s cases due to senior citizens relocating upon retirement. Alzheimer’s Disease costs American citizens thousands of dollars in healthcare services every year. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, one loses his or her ability to manage their finances. This leads to a lack of independence and a greater susceptibility to financial abuse by those wanting to take …

Determining Characteristics That Increase Success On The National Asthma Educator Certification Exam, Karen Kain

Dissertations

The National Asthma Educator Certification Board, Inc. (NAECB) is a voluntary health certifying board created in 2001 to evaluate the professional competence of asthma educators. The primary purpose of the NAECB is to prepare and conduct examinations to test the qualifications of candidates for certification as asthma educators. Certification is voluntary and is not required by law for employment in the field, although some agencies may use AE-C® certification as a basis for employment, job promotions, salary increases, or other considerations. The mission of the NAECB is to promote optimal asthma management and quality of life among individuals with asthma …

Editorial, C Nayak

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

No abstract provided.

Tylophora Indica- A Multicentric Clinical Verification Study, C Nayak, Vikram Singh, Krishna Singh, P Chakraborty, Subhash Kaushik, R Ray, R Yadav, M Rai, Darshan Singh

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

No abstract provided.

An Approach To Acute Diarrhoeal Disorders Through Sector And Constitutional Homoeopathic Treatment In Tribal Children Attending Balwadis, Patel Manoj, Navin Pawaskar, Pradeep Mundra, Prashant Tamboli, Gandhali Kothare

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

No abstract provided.

Evidence Based Clinical Study To Assess The Usefulness Of Homoeopathic Medicines In Patients Of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Girish Gupta, J Singh, Salil Tandon, Santosh Singh, C Nayak, Hari Singh, Ch Raveendar, K.R.J Nair, Praveen Oberai

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

No abstract provided.

Paths To Upper Level Positions In Public Relations, Patrick J. Bishop

Dissertations

Preparation for a career in the field of public relations (PR) is based on a set of unique core competencies typically found in liberal arts. Though PR professionals rarely gain business degrees, they acquire knowledge, skills, perspectives, and strategies wellsuited to executive-level positions in business. Additionally, managerial positions in PR offer greater potential for influence than task-oriented roles with limited strategic opportunity.

This study examines the advancement of PR practitioners into upper-level management positions in business. The purpose of this research is to identify factors and behaviors that contribute to, or hinder, PR professional’s attainment of top-management positions. This study …

An Examination Of The Leadership Practices Of Effective Rural Superintendents: A Multiple Case Study, Mark Forner

Dissertations

This research examined the leadership practices of rural superintendents who have led their districts to significant improvement in student academic achievement. The overall research goal was to examine how Waters' and Marzano's six correlates of effective superintendent leadership practice have been applied by school leaders who have successfully pursued academic reform in their rural school districts. A multiple case study approach was used to examine the work practices of seven superintendents leading rural school districts in Michigan where student academic performance was on the rise.

A criterion-based selection methodology was used to identify the superintendent subjects and their districts. A …

High Flow Air Sampling For Field Detection Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Jacolin Ann Murray

Theses and Dissertations

The ability to rapidly detect and identify hazardous analytes in the field has become increasingly important. One of the most important analytical detection methods in the field is gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In this work, a hand-portable GC-MS system is described that contains a miniature toroidal ion trap mass analyzer and a low thermal mass GC. The system is self-contained within the dimensions of 47 x 36 x 18 cm and weighs less than 13 kg. Because the instrument has a small footprint, it was used as the detector for an automated near-real-time permeation testing system. In permeation testing, materials …

Mandatory Arrest For Misdemeanor Domestic Violence: Is Alaska’S Arrest Statute Constitutional?, Paul A. Clark

Alaska Law Review

No abstract provided.

One Company, Two Worlds: The Case For Alaska Native Corporations, Travis G. Buchanan

Alaska Law Review

No abstract provided.

The John And Mable Ringling Museum Of Art Foundation, Jennifer Rebuck

Arts Administration Master's Reports (1984-2016)

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that operates the Ringling Museum of Art, Ca d’Zan, the Circus Museum, and the Historic Asolo Theater. My internship position was within the Registration office, which oversees the objects, both permanent and loaned, housed in these buildings. Throughout the internship it was my responsibility to assist in overseeing the management of the wide collection. This included monitoring the environment, preparing for exhibits, and helping with rights and reproductions. My primary project was working on photographing, cataloging, and storing the museum's Cypriote collection, which had …

Dance Theater Workshop, Jenny Howell

Arts Administration Master's Reports (1984-2016)

The following report documents the internship performed by Jenny Howell at Dance Theater Workshop (DTW) in New York, New York from January 11, 2010 to April 16, 2010. Since 1965, DTW has existed as a non-profit organization devoted to presenting and supporting contemporary dance and the artists who create it. DTW currently operates from its building located at 219 West 19th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Chelsea district. During this time with DTW, I worked closely with the Marketing and Development Departments as the Audience Engagement intern responsible for the organization and execution of the audience engagement …