Digital Commons Network^™

Re-Locating Recycling: A Contextual Analysis Of Recycling Behavior In The Usa And Germany, Tsai-Shiou Hsieh

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

While recycling remains a common research topic within environmentally responsible behavior studies, it is little known how contextual factors such as physical environments, social interactions, and cultural backgrounds influence people's attitudes and behavior. This research adopts an ecological framework and conducts a mixed-method qualitative inquiry of whether and how relocation has impacts on people's ecological thinking and behavior in their everyday life. Semi-structured interviews were conducted within two groups of people: Americans who moved to Munich and Germans who moved to New York City. Interviews were conducted in participants' homes or workplaces. Pictures were taken inside the apartments, in common …

Getting Into Character: Cultivating Identities In A Teen-Theatre Peer-Education Program, Valerie A. Futch

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study investigated the role of community theatre participation on adolescent and young adult identity development. The theatre program, known as The SOURCE, focuses on sex-education through a peer-education model. The experiences of young adults, who are now aged 18-34, were examined through interviews (N=20), identity maps (N=9), and a survey (N=64) in order to understand how participation in this group influenced their development. While much of the literature documents the successes of such programs while youth participate, few document the longer-term impacts of such participation (Saldaña, McCammon, Omasta, & Hines, 2011). Data reveal how such involvement informed the youths' …

Genetic, Morphological And Ecological Relationships Among Populations Of The Clam Shrimp, Caenestheriella Gynecia, Jonelle Orridge

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Little is known about the ecology of the clam shrimp, Caenestheriella gynecia. Caenestheriella gynecia was first discovered in 1939 in a single pool in Oxford, Ohio. Schmidt and Kiviat (2007) reported four new localities of C. gynecia in New York and New Jersey, three within the Hudson Valley of New York and one in northeastern New Jersey. Caenestheriella gynecia may have originated from a very small founder population due possibly to unusual dispersal vectors from its natural range to the west, in Ohio. Egg samples and hatched individuals were obtained from all study sites and specimens were raised in …

The United States Of The World: Human Rights, Political Entrepreneurship, And U.S. Foreign Policy Via Affective And Rational Politics, Marriah Star

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study examines how Political Entrepreneurs in the United States Congress responded to human rights abuses in six countries during the 1970s and 1980s: Cambodia, El Salvador, South Africa, the Soviet Union, Taiwan, and Uganda. It presents a four-point model for approaching the study of United States human rights policy. The key element in all the cases is bonding social capital, also called affective politics. American policy towards the Soviet Union and Uganda both demonstrate the integration of international, transnational, and domestic politics. Taiwan receives special attention because U.S. Taiwan policy continues to exemplify the integration of international relations, transnational …

Phenomenology As Eschatological Materialism, Neal Deroo

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Methods For The Analysis Of Rare Variants In Sequence Data, Alexander Luedtke, Scott Powers, Ashley Petersen, Alexandra Sitarik, Airat Bekmetjev, Nathan L. Tintle

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

A number of rare variant statistical methods have been proposed for analysis of the impending wave of next-generation sequencing data. To date, there are few direct comparisons of these methods on real sequence data. Furthermore, there is a strong need for practical advice on the proper analytic strategies for rare variant analysis. We compare four recently proposed rare variant methods (combined multivariate and collapsing, weighted sum, proportion regression, and cumulative minor allele test) on simulated phenotype and next-generation sequencing data as part of Genetic Analysis Workshop 17. Overall, we find that all analyzed methods have serious practical limitations on identifying …

Inflated Type I Error Rates When Using Aggregation Methods To Analyze Rare Variants In The 1000 Genomes Project Exon Sequencing Data In Unrelated Individuals: Summary Results From Group 7 At Genetic Analysis Workshop 17, Nathan L. Tintle, Hugues Aschard, Inchi Hu, Nora Nock, Haitian Wang, Elizabeth Pugh

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

As part of Genetic Analysis Workshop 17 (GAW17), our group considered the application of novel and standard approaches to the analysis of genotype-phenotype association in next-generation sequencing data. Our group identified a major issue in the analysis of the GAW17 next-generation sequencing data: type I error and false-positive report probability rates higher than those expected based on empirical type I error levels (as high as 90%). Two main causes emerged: population stratification and long-range correlation (gametic phase disequilibrium) between rare variants. Population stratification was expected because of the diverse sample. Correlation between rare variants was attributable to both random causes …

Identification Of Genetic Association Of Multiple Rare Variants Using Collapsing Methods, Yan V. Sun, Yun Ju Sung, Nathan L. Tintle, Andreas Ziegler

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Next-generation sequencing technology allows investigation of both common and rare variants in humans. Exomes are sequenced on the population level or in families to further study the genetics of human diseases. Genetic Analysis Workshop 17 (GAW17) provided exomic data from the 1000 Genomes Project and simulated phenotypes. These data enabled evaluations of existing and newly developed statistical methods for rare variant sequence analysis for which standard statistical methods fail because of the rareness of the alleles. Various alternative approaches have been proposed that overcome the rareness problem by combining multiple rare variants within a gene. These approaches are termed collapsing …

Evaluating Methods For Combining Rare Variant Data In Pathway-Based Tests Of Genetic Association, Ashley Petersen, Alexandra Sitarik, Alexander Luedtke, Scott Powers, Airat Bekmetjev, Nathan L. Tintle

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Analyzing sets of genes in genome-wide association studies is a relatively new approach that aims to capitalize on biological knowledge about the interactions of genes in biological pathways. This approach, called pathway analysis or gene set analysis, has not yet been applied to the analysis of rare variants. Applying pathway analysis to rare variants offers two competing approaches. In the first approach rare variant statistics are used to generate p-values for each gene (e.g., combined multivariate collapsing [CMC] or weighted-sum [WS]) and the gene-level p-values are combined using standard pathway analysis methods (e.g., gene set enrichment analysis or …

Innovative Education In Agroecology: Experiential Learning For A Sustainable Agriculture, C.A. Francis, N. Jordan, P. Porter, T.A. Breland, G. Lieblein, L. Salomonsson, N. Sriskandarajah, M. Wiedenhoeft, Robert Dehaan, I. Braden, V. Langer

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

The transdisciplinary field of agroecology provides a platform for experiential learning based on an expanded vision of research on sustainable farming and food systems and the application of results in creating effective learning landscapes for students. With increased recognition of limitations of fossil fuels, fresh water, and available farmland, educators are changing focus from strategies to reach maximum yields to those that feature resource use efficiency and resilience of production systems in a less benign climate. To help students deal with complexity and uncertainty and a wide range of biological and social dimensions of the food challenge, a whole-systems approach …

Towards Reducing Traffic Congestion Using Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control On A Freeway With A Ramp, George Arnaout, Shannon Bowling

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Purpose: In this paper, the impact of Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) systems on traffic performance is examined using microscopic agent-based simulation. Using a developed traffic simulation model of a freeway with an on-ramp - created to induce perturbations and to trigger stop-and-go traffic, the CACC system’s effect on the traffic performance is studied. The previously proposed traffic simulation model is extended and validated. By embedding CACC vehicles in different penetration levels, the results show significance and indicate the potential of CACC systems to improve traffic characteristics and therefore can be used to reduce traffic congestion. The study shows that …

Social Justice And Common Good: What Are They For?, Thomas Hughson

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

David Bentley Hart And Pope Benedict: Atheist Delusions, The Regensburg Lecture, And Beyond, Ralph Del Colle

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Could Self-Efficacy Relate To Workforce Issues For Rural Physiotherapists With A Specialist Paediatric Caseload? A Literature Review, Monica Minisini, Lorraine Sheppard, Anne Jones

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Rural physiotherapists may need to extend their skills to address the lack of allied health service provision in rural areas but will do so based on their perceived self-efficacy. This narrative review aims to understand self-efficacy amongst rural physiotherapists and contributing factors to self-efficacy, especially in the specialised area of paediatrics.Method: A search of the literature was undertaken to understand the self-efficacy of rural physiotherapists who are expected to undertake specialist paediatric cases. Databases searched included CINAHL, PEDro, Informit, Proquest, PubMed, and Ovid. Articles were assessed for quality in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) evidence …

Development Of An After-School Wellness Club To Promote Physical Activity And Healthy Lifestyle, Eric M. Lamberg, Raymond F. Mckenna

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Childhood overweight and obesity is a serious national health problem that can lead to overweight and obesity in adulthood. Many programs have been developed to “treat” children already classified as overweight or obese. However, they represent reactionary strategies to a preventable problem. This paper describes the development of a school-based program to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyle to all students regardless of weight. Results from the initial pilot are presented, and barriers and methods to overcome these barriers are discussed. Methods: Move your Feet! is an elementary-school-based after-school club that promotes physical activity and healthy lifestyle. Attendance was recorded, …

Incorporating Evidence In Clinical Education; Barriers And Opportunities In Allied Health, Clare Delany, Andrea Bailocerkowski

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Clinical education is a key component of health professional education. Clinical educators, like clinicians, are increasingly expected to access and apply evidence from clinical education theories to inform their teaching methods and approaches. Purpose: This study evaluated personal and organizational factors that influenced the ability to access and apply clinical education research evidence into clinical teaching in a group of allied health practitioners at one large metropolitan hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Method: A Cross-sectional survey based on a previously published survey of clinical physiotherapists was custom-designed to examine the factors that influence evidence based practices (EBP) of a range of …

Providing Care To Patients With Aids: How Prepared Are Nigerian Physiotherapists, Adetoyeje Y. Oyeyemi, Adewale L. Oyeyemi, Stanley M. Maduagwu, Abubakar Umar

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Adequate knowledge and core affective traits are important for effective management of patients with contagious diseases or conditions like AIDS. This study aimed to assess Nigerian physiotherapists’ cognitive and affective traits in providing care to patients living with AIDS (PWA). Methods: Physiotherapists across Nigeria (N=132) were surveyed using a 43-item questionnaire that elicited information on their demographic characteristics, knowledge of transmission, universal precaution and pathophysiology on AIDS, their feeling of preparedness, comfort, ethical disposition to care for PWA and their willingness to assess and provide intervention to PWA in different clinical scenarios.Results: The physiotherapists’ knowledge of AIDS pathophysiology was unsatisfactory, …

Students Provide Accurate, But Not Always Detailed, Feedback To A Peer Performing An Orthopedic Assessment Skill, Melissa Marty, Jolene M. Henning, John T. Willse

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Athletic training students often practice psychomotor skills with their peers when learning skills and often assess one another and provide feedback. There is limited research examining the accuracy of the assessment and quality of the feedback athletic training students provide. Purpose: To examine the accuracy of the assessments and the quality of the feedback students provide to a peer performing an orthopedic special test (i.e., psychomotor skill). Design: Non-experimental repeated measures. Setting: Entry-level master’s athletic training program. Participants: First year (n = 6) and second-year (n = 5) graduate students. Main Outcome Measures: During two separate sessions, subjects evaluated ten …

The Effect Of A Hybrid Continuing Education Course On Outpatient Physical Therapy For Individuals With Low Back Pain, Gilbert M. Willett, Grace C. Johnson, Katherine Jones

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

This study used an augmented version of Kirkpatrick’s four-level model of training criteria as a theoretical framework to evaluate a hybrid teaching approach to continuing education (CE) for physical therapists who treat patients with low back pain. This model provides a framework for relating changes in practitioner knowledge to changes in practice. Forty-three orthopedic physical therapists who attended a CE course on evidence-based practice participated in the study. The hybrid CE course consisted of online (reading assignments and quizzes) and onsite components (traditional lecture and skill review laboratory). It addressed evidence for application of a clinical prediction rule to identify …

Use Of A Human Patient Simulator To Improve Physiotherapy Cardiorespiratory Clinical Skills In Undergraduate Physiotherapy Students: A Randomised Controlled Trial, Anne Jones, Lorraine Sheppard

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

To investigate whether additional training with a human patient simulator improves cardiorespiratory physiotherapy practice in undergraduate physiotherapy students. Method: A randomised controlled trial was undertaken with 50 third year physiotherapy students from James Cook University, Queensland Australia. Participants in the intervention group underwent two four hour sessions of patient simulator training in addition to their normal cardiorespiratory physiotherapy training prior to attending clinical placements. Participants in both the intervention and control groups were assessed weekly for six weeks on their clinical ability whilst on clinical placement. Results: Mann-Whitney was used to compare the training group with the control group. No …

Management Of Decubitus Ulcer Using Gentamycin Sulphate Iontophoresis - A Case Study, Ayodele Teslim Onigbinde, Kehinde Foyeke Olafimihan, Adesola Ojoawo, Joyce Mothabeng, Olufemi Opeyemi Ogundiran

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Most infective organisms have developed resistance against antibiotics. There is need to find other means to deliver antibiotics locally. There appears to be limited studies on the use of gentamicin sulphate iontophoresis in wound management. The participant in this study was a subject diagnosed with mild head injury secondary to motor vehicle accident who later developed a unilateral pressure sore on the left gluteal region. The subject received 15-minutes of gentamicin sulphate iontophoresis (Interrupted Direct Current) three times a week for five weeks. The case report showed that there was a 65.7% reduction in wound surface area of the decubitus …

Review Of: The Therapeutic Electrophysical Agents: Evidence Behind Practice, 2nd Edition, Cindy Laporte

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

No abstract provided.

Moral Mental States: Four Methods In Metaethics, Christopher Alen Sula

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Metaethics has traditionally focused on the meaning of moral statements, the referents of moral terms, and the justification of moral claims. This dissertation focuses on the thoughts in virtue of which our moral statements have their meaning and our moral claims have their content. These "moral mental states," as I call them, are best understood as having both intentional and volitional aspects and, corresponding to each aspect, as having satisfaction conditions involving both correctness and success in action. Put simply, our moral mental states are not only responsible for changing the world; they are responsible for changing the world in …

Education Policy And The Mathematics Curriculum In New York City Middle Schools, 1958 To 2002, Joseph Valley

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study investigates how mathematics education policy and curriculum in New York City changed over the period from 1958 through 2002. It looks at the events leading up to the 퉌new math era, the back to basics movement, and the Standards movement initiated by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) in 1989. Since this period is bounded by two important pieces of legislation, the National Defense Education Act (NDEA),1958, and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) 2001 an assessment of the arguments for and against the federal intervention in education is essential.

The research methodology used for …

Cooperative Learning And Peer Tutoring To Improve Third-Grade Students’ Test Scores On Grade-Level Assessment, Francina Y. Thurston

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to utilize learning strategies that emphasized small-group instructions where students work together cooperatively and with peers to achieve mastery. Traditionally, the classroom practices used in this school lent themselves primarily to whole-class instructions that emphasized competitive and individualistic goals rather than small groups and cooperative practices. The multistrategy used in this study sought to shift the focus of classroom instructions away from what was traditional. However, the introduction of the multistrategy that called for small group teaching required training for teachers and students.

The writer developed several solution strategies that trained students and teachers in …

Teaching Interactively Using Web-Conferencing: The Student Perspective, Pilar Pazos, Holly Handley, Shannon Bowling, Charles B. Daniels, Kim Sibson, Patrick Hester

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department (EMSE) of Old Dominion University (ODU) Batten College of Engineering and Technology (BCET) has employed distance-learning technologies for well over three decades. Although the current technologies provide a valuable service for many geographically dispersed students, the faculty continues to explore additional distance learning tools, technologies and methods to promote more student participation and active learning. The goal of this paper is to describe and evaluate an innovative instructional approach using interactive web conferencing in hybrid courses. This paper will explore the use of web conferencing to teach graduate-level courses and explore the impact …

The Role Of Conflict Management On Virtual Team Performance And Satisfaction, Pilar Pazos, Anil Ustun, Rolando Delaguila

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The role that input factors from project planning processes play on conflict emergence and conflict resolution in virtual teams is not well understood. Of particular interest for this paper is the role that factors during planning stages play in preventing interpersonal conflict, supporting conflict resolution and ultimately enhancing team outcomes in virtual team settings. This study examines the relationships among commitment to team goals, conflict management and team outcomes in virtual teams. First we provide an in depth review of relevant empirical findings. Next, we describe a study examining the relationships between three sets of variables: 1) goal commitment, 2) …

A Systematic Review Of The Literature On The Effects Of School Bullying From The Framework Of Jurgen Habermas’S Theory Of Communicative Action, Gabriel Cohen

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This project is a systematic review of the US quantitative, empirical studies on the effects of school bullying for the purpose of determining the degree to which Jurgen Habermas’s social theory, the theory of communicative action, can be used to understand the constellation of measured effects. School bullying is defined as a systematic abuse of power: the empirical literature on school bullying, therefore, provides a large data set on the abuse of power. The review finds strong consistency between the theory and the results of selected studies suggesting that Habermas’s theory of communicative action can explain and predict the mechanisms …

The Vocal Behaviors Of North American River Otters (Lontra Canadensis) Individual Differences And Shared Repertoires, Carla Almonte

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The current information on the vocal repertoire of the North American River Otter is very limited. To date there have been no direct studies conducted on their repertories. In this study, I examined the vocal behavior of 12 captive river otters. The discriminant function analysis suggests that river otters have 4 distinct call types with 7 sub-call types and one call the whistle is unique to one group of pups. The results of the Kruskal-Wallis comparing acoustical structures shows strong evidence for the presence of individuality with some individuals showing greater differences in comparison to the others. I also examined …

Judgmental Heuristics And News Reporting, Sharon Dunwoody, Robert J. Griffin

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.