Digital Commons Network^™

Supporting Hispanic Mothers With Preschool Children With Speech And/ Or Language Delays Via Dialogic Reading And Coaching Within The Home, Natalie Elizabeth Dopson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Young children who are Hispanic, from low-income homes and have developmental delays are at a disadvantage for not having the basic early literacy foundation to become successful readers later in school (Ballantyne, Sanderman, D‘Emilio, & McLaughlin, 2008; Hammer, Farkas, & Maczuga, 2010; Ezell & Justice 2005; McCardle, Scarborough, & Catts, 2001). These challenges can be addressed in several ways. Early intervention including parent education and collaboration along with shared book reading are considered best practices and critical to improving child outcomes (NELP, 2008). In addition, children who have a solid foundation in early literacy skills including vocabulary development in their …

Towards Calibration Of Optical Flow Of Crowd Videos Using Observed Trajectories, Iman K. Elbadramany

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The need exists for finding a quantitative method for validating crowd simulations. One approach is to use optical flow of videos of real crowds to obtain velocities that can be used for comparison to simulations. Optical flow, in turn, needs to be calibrated to be useful. It is essential to show that optical flow velocities obtained from crowd videos can be mapped into the spatially averaged velocities of the observed trajectories of crowd members, and to quantify the extent of the correlation of the results. This research investigates methods to uncover the best conditions for a good correlation between optical …

Genetically Modified Es Cells Enhance Cardiac Repair And Regeneration In The Infarcted Heart, Carley E. Glass

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transplanted embryonic stem (ES) cells following myocardial infarction (MI) contribute to limited cardiac repair and regeneration with improved function. Therefore novel strategies are still needed to enhance the efficacy by which ES cells differentiate into cardiac cell types and inhibit adverse remodeling in the infarcted myocardium. Our studies evaluate whether genetic manipulation of transplanted ES cells employing miR- 1, a pro-cardiac microRNA, and TIMP-1, an anti-apoptotic and anti-fibrotic protein, will enhance cardiac myocyte differentiation, inhibit native cardiac apoptosis, and reduce fibrosis in the infarcted myocardium. Furthermore, we assess levels of associated pro- (caspase-3, PTEN) and anti-(Akt) apoptotic proteins as well …

The Relative Recoverability Of Dna And Rna Profiles From Forensically Relevant Body Fluid Stains, Charly Parker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biological material (fluids or tissues) whether from the victim or suspect is often collected as forensic evidence, and methods to obtain and analyze the DNA found in that material have been well established. The type of body fluid (i.e. blood, saliva, semen, vaginal secretions, and menstrual blood) from which the DNA originated is also of interest, and messenger RNA typing provides a specific and sensitive means of body fluid identification. In order for mRNA profiling to be utilized in routine forensic casework, RNA of sufficient quantity and quality must be obtained from biological fluid stains and the methods used for …

Emotional Regulation At Walt Disney World Deep Acting Vs. Surface Acting, Anne Reyers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study is to examine the emotional regulation strategies used by Walt Disney World on-stage employees as a way to fulfill requirements set forth by the company. Ten Disney on-stage employees were interviewed off-property in Orlando. The emotional regulation framework was divided into several categories: (1) a distinction between deep acting and surface acting, (2) emotional deviance, and (3) emotional exhaustion. “Surface acting” is a strategy by which employees display company-imposed emotions not genuinely felt, whereas “deep acting” occurs when employees do feel the emotions that they are required to express (Hochschild, 1983). Throughout the data reduction …

Investigating The Optimal Presentation Of Feedback In Simulation-Based Training An Application Of The Cognitive Theory Of Multimedia Learning, Wendi Van Buskirk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There are many different training interventions that can be used in simulation based training systems (e.g., cueing, hinting, highlighting, deliberate practice, etc.). However, the most widely used training intervention in the military is feedback, most often presented in the form of a debrief. With advances in technology, it is possible to measure and diagnose performance in real-time. Thus it is possible to provide immediate feedback during scenarios. However, training systems designers should not consider the timing of feedback in isolation. There are other parameters of feedback that must also be considered which may have an impact on performance. Specifically, feedback …

Predicting Intentions To Donate To Human Service Nonprofits And Public Broadcasting Organizations Using A Revised Theory Of Planned Behavior, Bobbie Brinkerhoff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Different types of nonprofit organizations including human service nonprofits like homeless shelters, public broadcasting organizations, and the like thrive on donations. Effective fundraising techniques are essential to a nonprofit’s existence. This research study explored a revised theory of planned behavior to include guilt and convenience in order to understand whether these factors are important in donors’ intentions to give. This study also examined the impact of two different kinds of guilt; anticipated guilt and existential guilt to determine if there was any difference between the types of guilt and the roles that they play as predicting factors in a revised …

Worldview, Ideology, And Ceramic Iconography A Study Of Late Terminal Formative Graywares From The Lower Rio Verde Valley Of Oaxaca, Mexico, Jeffrey S. Brzezinski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates worldview and ideology during the late Terminal Formative period (A.D. 100 – 250) in the lower Río Verde Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, through an analysis of iconography found on grayware ceramic serving vessels. The sample includes 457 vessels and sherds from 17 lower Verde sites obtained through excavations and surface collections between 1988 and 2009. Drawing upon theories of semiotics and style, this thesis identifies a suite of icons suggesting that ceramics were a medium for expressing regionally shared beliefs. Chatino potters carved common Formative period Mesoamerican themes into the walls of graywares, such as depictions of …

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy For Detection Of Organic Residues Impact Of Ambient Atmosphere And Laser Parameters, Christopher G. Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is showing great potential as an atomic analytical technique. With its ability to rapidly analyze all forms of matter, with little-to-no sample preparation, LIBS has many advantages over conventional atomic emission spectroscopy techniques. With the maturation of the technologies that make LIBS possible, there has been a growing movement to implement LIBS in portable analyzers for field applications. In particular, LIBS has long been considered the front-runner in the drive for stand-off detection of trace deposits of explosives. Thus there is a need for a better understanding of the relevant processes that are responsible for …

The Effects Of Age On Reproduction In A Citrus Root Weevil Diaprepes Abbreviatus, Heather R. Chasez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the factors influencing mate choice is a major focus of sexual selection. Many factors are potentially involved, including age of the individual. The good genes model and the youth advantage model both make predictions about the effect of age on mate choice. Under the good genes model older mates would be the more preferable due to their proven high survivability. The “youth advantage” model, predicts that young to intermediate age males would be more advantageous as mates because of a decrease in sperm quality and the possibility of increased germ-line mutations in older animals. I examined the effects of …

Glial Differentiation Of Human Umbilical Stem Cells In 2d And 3d Environments, Hedvika Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During differentiation stem cells are exposed to a range of microenvironmental chemical and physical cues. In this study, human multipotent progenitor cells (hMLPCs) were differentiated from umbilical cord into oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Chemical cues were represented by a novel defined differentiation medium containing the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE). In traditional 2 dimensional (2D) conditions, the hMLPCs differentiated into oligodendrocyte precursors, but did not progress further. However, in a constructed 3 dimensional (3D) environment, the hMLPCs differentiated into committed oligodendrocytes that expressed MBP. When co-cultured with rat embryonic hippocampal neurons (EHNs), hMLPCs developed in astrocytes or oligodendrocytes, based on presence of growth …

The Vegetarian Social Movement An Analysis Of Withdrawal And Backsliding, Jaime Deborah Hecht

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The vegetarian social movement is a “new” social movement based in lifestyle and cultural change. New social movements hold a strong emphasis on collective identity and social networks as a means to sustain participation. The majority of the social movement literature remains focused on movement engagement and mobilization while a large gap exists regarding disengagement. This project explores the barriers to vegetarian maintenance. The primary question answered is, why do some vegetarians and vegans backslide and withdraw from the practice? Fourteen individuals were interviewed to discover the social and cultural factors inherent in vegetarian instability. Over the course of the …

The Lived Experience Of Young-Onset Dementia, Debra A. Hunt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The lived experiences of dementia in older persons have been well studied, but the unique experiences of persons between ages 35 and 65 years who are living with young-onset dementia have not been closely examined. The purpose of the research was to explore the experiences of middle-aged individuals living with young-onset dementia. Van Manen‘s (1990) approach to interpretive phenomenological inquiry was used to answer the research question. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 9 people between 42 to 61 years of age who had received a formal diagnosis of mild or early-stage dementia. Participants were prescreened for the ability to …

The Origins Of Lactase Persistence And Ongoing Convergent Evolution, Beth A. Keller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a primary factor in human evolution, natural selection is an important component of genetic research. Studies of lactase persistence suggest that positive selection has played a powerful role in the adaptation to a lifelong consumption of fresh milk. Using multiple research studies of lactase persistence and suspected corresponding single nucleotide genetic polymorphisms, this study combines data sources to determine whether evidence exists for natural selection of a specific cytosine-to-thymine genetic mutation located 13,910 base pairs (T-13910) upstream from the lactase gene. This polymorphism has potential to be a causal element for lactase persistence, and data suggest that natural selection …

An Investigation Of The Relationships Between Motivation, Worker Role Conflicts And Worker Outcomes, Robert C. Kennedy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the relationships between several work motivational process variables and work-life-conflict (WLC) and how these variables contribute to job related outcomes such as work performance, job satisfaction and life satisfaction. This survey study identified several correlations which suggest that a more comprehensive model of motivation should include variables such as energy pool and direction toward organizational objectives. Results also suggest that WLC contributes to the amount of energy pool available to workers and the amount of motivation exhibited by workers. WLC also impacts important job and life attitudes directly and through the above mentioned motivation process variables. The …

In The Process Of Becoming The Organizational Culture Of The Metropolitan Academic Library, Michael Jason Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Organizational culture may be defined as the shared norms, values, and beliefs of an organization. The culture expresses itself through symbols and sagas. Organizational culture shapes the behavior of those within the organization and provides a lens through which its members can interpret reality. This study sought to define the organizational culture of the Metropolitan Academic Library. The study was guided by Schein‘s five levels of cultural assumptions: assumptions about external adaptation issues; assumptions about internal integration; assumptions about the nature of truth and reality; assumptions about the nature of time and space; and assumptions about human nature, activity, and …

Water Politics In The Middle East A Multicase Approach To Regional Water Shortage, Holly Mulholland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Water shortage is a salient issue in the Middle East commonly overshadowed by more sensational topics such as the oil crisis and the Arab-Israeli Conflict. There is a debate among scholars as to whether water shortages in the Middle East will destabilize the region into armed conflict. Realists argue that non sustainable water sources will be the catalyst which will inevitably lead states to fight one another in a zero-sum game over limited water resources. Liberal Functionalists argue that there are precedents for multilateral cooperation and a technical approach may hold the key to providing solutions to the current water …

An Analog Experiment Comparing Goal-Free Evaluation And Goal Achievement Evaluation Utility, Brandon W. Youker

Dissertations

Goal-free evaluation (GFE) is the process of determining the merit of an evaluand independent of the stated or implied goals and objectives, whereas goal achievement evaluation (GAE), as the most rudimentary form of goal-based evaluation, determines merit according to the evaluand’s level of accomplishment with regard to its goals. This study examines the utility of GAE and GFE from the perspective of the evaluation’s intended users. In the study, two evaluation teams, goal achievement and goal-free, independently and simultaneously evaluate the same human service program. Each team produced a final evaluation report, which was read by the evaluation’s users, who …

Estimation Of Dariy Particulate Matter Emission Rates By Lidar And Inverse Modeling, C. C. Marchant, Kori D. Moore, Michael D. Wojcik, Randy S. Martin, R L. Pfeiffer, K H. Prueger, J L. Hatfield

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Particulate matter (PM) emissions from agricultural operations are an important issue for air quality and human health and a topic of interest to government regulators. PM emission rates from a dairy in the San Joaquin Valley of California were investigated during June 2008. The facility had 1,885 total animals, including 950 milking cows housed in free-stall pens with an open-lot exercise area, and 935 dry cows, steers, bulls, and heifers housed in open lots. Point sensors, including filter-based aerodynamic mass samplers and optical particle counters (OPC), were deployed at select points around the facility to measure optical and aerodynamic particulate …

Internet Law Reader, Eric Goldman

Historical and Topical Legal Documents

No abstract provided.

Structural Characterization Of Water-Soluble Atmospheric Organic Matter By Ultrahigh-Resolution Mass Spectrometry, Jeffrey P. Leclair

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Isolated water-soluble analytes extracted from fog water collected during a radiation fog event near Fresno, CA were analyzed using collision induced dissociation and ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry. Tandem mass analysis was performed on scan ranges between 100-400 u to characterize the structures of nitrogen and/or sulfur containing species. CHNO, CHOS, and CHNOS compounds were targeted specifically because of the high number of oxygen atoms contained in their molecular formulas. The presence of 22 neutral losses corresponding to fragment ions was evaluated for each of the 1308 precursors. Priority neutral losses represent specific polar functional groups (H2O, CO2, CH3OH, HNO3, SO3, etc., …

Understanding Michigan Nonindustrial Private Forest Landowners Attitudes And Knowledge About Forest Management, Tõnis Tõnisson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Approximately one-fourth of the non-industrial private forestland (NIPF) owners in the state of Michigan, who collectively own approximately 50% of the private forested land, have conducted commercial timber harvest in recent years. Previous studies indicated that NIPFs preferred to manage their forest for a sustained yield of high-quality timber, but were limited to even-aged regeneration treatments or conversion for uneven-aged silviculture due to previous cuttings. Improved knowledge about NIPF’s intentions and forest management behavior could be useful for successful implementation of sustained yield management. This study’s objective was to identify more active NIPF’s attitudes towards timber management, their forest management …

Peer Influence In Nipf Landowner Decision Making In The Western Upper Peninsula, Michigan , Jillian R. Schubert

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Non-industrial private forest (NIPF) owners hold the largest amount of privately owned forest in the United States. Activities undertaken by NIPF owners have the potential to drastically impact the forested landscape of the United States, along with its associated biodiversity and ecological services. Many government sanctioned programs are in place to discourage the conversion of forest to other uses as well as to ensure sustainable management and a continuous supply of timber. Reaching NIPF owners with information about these programs and other management information is therefore important to the forests of the United States.

This thesis presents research on how …

Using Water Balance Models To Approximate The Effects Of Climate Change On Spring Catchment Discharge : Mt. Hanang, Tanzania , Randall E. Fish

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

This project addresses the potential impacts of changing climate on dry-season water storage and discharge from a small, mountain catchment in Tanzania. Villagers and water managers around the catchment have experienced worsening water scarcity and attribute it to increasing population and demand, but very little has been done to understand the physical characteristics and hydrological behavior of the spring catchment. The physical nature of the aquifer was characterized and water balance models were calibrated to discharge observations so as to be able to explore relative changes in aquifer storage resulting from climate changes.

To characterize the shallow aquifer supplying water …

"The Need Obliged Us" : Culture As Capacity During The Hurricane Stan Emergency Response. A Case Study From Tectitan, Huehuetenango, Guatemala , Jesse Silverman

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

A major deficiency in disaster management plans is the assumption that pre-disaster civil-society does not have the capacity to respond effectively during crises. Following from this assumption a dominant emergency management strategy is to replace weak civil-society organizations with specialized disaster organizations that are often either military or Para-military and seek to centralize decision-making. Many criticisms have been made of this approach, but few specifically addresses disasters in the developing world. Disasters in the developing world present unique problems not seen in the developed world because they often occur in the context of compromised governments, and marginalized populations. In this …

Incorporating Environmental Engineering And Science Topics Into Elementary Education , Jessica G. Billings

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of The Effects Of Inquiry-Based Cooperative Learning And Demonstrations In Science Education , John Asiala

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The reported research project involved studying how teaching science using demonstrations, inquiry-based cooperative learning groups, or a combination of the two methods affected sixth grade students’ understanding of air pressure and density. Three different groups of students were each taught the two units using different teaching methods. Group one learned about the topics through both demonstrations and inquirybased cooperative learning, whereas group two only viewed demonstrations, and group three only participated in inquiry-based learning in cooperative learning groups.

The study was designed to answer the following two questions:

1. Which teaching strategy works best for supporting student understanding of air …

Effects Of Instructional Changes On Student Learning Of Electrochemistry In An Ib Chemistry Course , Deborah Corriveau

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

This study investigated the effectiveness of incorporating several new instructional strategies into an International Baccalaureate (IB) chemistry course in terms of how they supported high school seniors’ understanding of electrochemistry. The three new methods used were (a) providing opportunities for visualization of particle movement by student manipulation of physical models and interactive computer simulations, (b) explicitly addressing common misconceptions identified in the literature, and (c) teaching an algorithmic, step-wise approach for determining the products of an aqueous solution electrolysis. Changes in student understanding were assessed through test scores on both internally and externally administered exams over a two-year period. It …

Is Virtuality Close Enough To Reality? A Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of Simulations With Traditional Laboratory Activities In A High School Biology Class , Wendelien K. Benya

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Some schools do not have ideal access to laboratory space and supplies. Computer simulations of laboratory activities can be a cost-effective way of presenting experiences to students, but are those simulations as effective at supplementing content concepts? This study compared the use of traditional lab activities illustrating the principles of cell respiration and photosynthesis in an introductory high school biology class with virtual simulations of the same activities. Additionally student results were analyzed to assess if student conceptual understanding was affected by the complexity of the simulation. Although all student groups posted average gain increases between the pre and post-tests …

Comparing Remote Sensing And Ground-Based Methods Of Quantifying Cover Type And Carbon Storage In An Urban Forest, Christine L. Jones

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Understanding the canopy cover of an urban environment leads to better estimates of carbon storage and more informed management decisions by urban foresters. The most commonly used method for assessing urban forest cover type extent is ground surveys, which can be both timeconsuming and expensive. The analysis of aerial photos is an alternative method that is faster, cheaper, and can cover a larger number of sites, but may be less accurate. The objectives of this paper were (1) to compare three methods of cover type assessment for Los Angeles, CA: handdelineation of aerial photos in ArcMap, supervised classification of aerial …