Digital Commons Network^™

Perceptions Of Masculinity And Career Specific Gender Stereotypes, Brian A. Golden

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Career gender bias is the tendency for men or women to resist work in careers that tend to be dominated by individuals of a specific gender (nursing, public relations, elementary education, child-care, police, fire, manufacturing). This study posits that current university students exhibit career gender bias and classify certain Bureau of Labor Statistics job classifications as male, female or unisex occupations. Furthermore, with use of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (Bem, 1974) scale, this study attempted to understand if masculinity, femininity, or androgyny gender identity influences college students’ perceptions of career gender stereotypes and ultimately their view about the growing or …

Diet Of Three Mormoopid Bats (Mormoops Blainvillei, Pteronotus Quadridens, And Pteronotus Portoricensis ) On Puerto Rico, Ashley K. Rolfe

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study used visual analysis to determine the percent volume and percent frequency of orders of insects in the guano of the Antillean ghost-faced bat (Mormoops blainvillei), sooty mustached bat (Pteronotus quadridens), and Puerto Rican mustached bat (Pteronotus portoricensis). The most common orders for all three species were Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera, although the relative proportions of these orders differed among species. Variation in diet was primarily due to species, but season, habitat, and sex also affected the composition of insects in the feces. In addition, species-level identification of prey was achieved through molecular techniques …

Final Offer Arbitration And Major League Baseball, Michael L. Miller

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

In 1974 Major League Baseball implemented the use of Final Offer Arbitration (FOA) to settle contract disputes for those players who were not yet eligible for free agency. Final Offer Arbitration was chosen because of its design to have parties reach settlement before the actual arbitration hearing. The purpose of this research is to evaluate if this system is the best method for settling contract disputes by analyzing whether Major League Baseball and its Players Association are using the system correctly, whether the system is fair and consistent, whether FOA has an effect on player performance, and also whether there …

The Impact Of Breast Cancer Educational Workshops On Knowledge And Breast Self-Examination Practice Among Korean-American Women, Corinne Lee

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Among Korean-American women, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death. Although their incidence is lower than that of Caucasian women, Korean-American women are more likely to be diagnosed at more advanced stages of breast cancer. One of the suggested methods in breast cancer prevention is early detection and routine screenings. The present study was conducted to explore the impact of breast cancer educational workshop on breast cancer knowledge and breast self-examination practices among Korean-American women. The knowledge of breast cancer and the health beliefs (perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and perceived self-efficacy) was examined before and after the educational …

Comparison Of Standard Impedance Spectroscopy Response To Aqueous Metal Ions Using Plain Vs. Surface Derivatized Gold Interdigitated Electrodes, Sindhu Yalamanchili

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract Recent work has provided evidence that 5-amino-1, 10 –phenanthroline can react with CS2 to anchor on the gold surface of an interdigitated electrode (IDE) through a dithiocarbamate linkage, resulting in significant changes in impedance response in the presence of Cu2+ solutions. However, questions regarding the stability of the primary amine-based dithiocarbamate self-assembled monolayer, reproducibility of the raw impedance and phase angle data, and possible variation of the background response for the gold IDE array in solutions of different metal ions remain an issue. Primary experimental emphasis is on the reproducibility of standard impedance and phase angle data for the …

Entrepreneurial Factors For The Fitness Industry, Steven M. Herrmann

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The following work examines the different aspects of opening an exercise-based business and identifies factors of the competitive environment that are conducive to opening a recreational and athletic strength training facility. Questions were answered regarding what type of exercise-based business could feasibly compete against the other exercise-based businesses and related non-profit organizations and what the existing exercise-based businesses and related non-profit organizations located within a 30-mile radius of southwest Dearborn, Michigan, were doing to survive in the current competitive economy. Information was gathered from100 fitness facility websites and 30 survey interviews from the managers and owners of the exercise-based businesses …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between School Climate And Student Growth In Select Michigan Charter Schools, Benjamin P. Jankens

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine what relationship exists between school climate and student growth in Michigan charter schools. Data were collected through the use of a school climate survey and standardized assessment results. The Organizational Climate Descriptive Questionnaire for Elementary Schools (OCDQ-RE) developed by Hoy, Tarter, and Kottkamp (1991) was used to assess teacher perceptions of school climate. Student growth data were calculated using the fall and spring reading and math results from the Performance Series test by Scantron, and the MAP test by NWEA.

The population of this study consisted of 355 teachers from 11 participating …

Development Of Thermo-Regulating Fabric Using Phase Change Material (Pcm), Prasad S. Bhatkhande

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This research study concentrates on use of phase change material (PCM) in textiles which can produce thermo-regulating characteristics to control body temperature useful for various daily wear and technical textiles. The latent heat which is released or absorbed during the process of phase change is studied and discussed in this research. The PCMs are encapsulated into tiny microcapsules to protect from washing out or abrasion. These microcapsules are bounded onto the fabric surface by using a binder. The microcapsules and their effectiveness are tested by using SEM, Optical Microscope, DSC and Comfort tester. The testing is further extended to the …

Relationship Between Nursing Home Size And Their Dietetic Support Effort, Kyla Bacon

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background: While nursing homes in Oklahoma are required to utilize a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Qualified Nutritionist, there are no specifications for minimum utilization. Objectives: Investigate how Oklahoma nursing homes determine RD utilization and whether a relationship exists between resident census and RD availability. Design: Questionnaires focused on RD work patterns were sent to 150 Oklahoma nursing homes.

Results: Nursing homes with a resident census of 50, 51-100, and 101 employed a RD for approximately 7. 9, 7.3, and 56.3 hours/month, respectively. The RD is the primary decision maker in determining hours worked, followed closely by corporate staff and governmental …

Examination Of Factors Contributing To The Achievement Gap Of Native American Students In Select School Districts In Michigan, Thomas R. Harwood

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Most of the studies on student achievement gaps involve the Black-White achievement gap due to the availability of significant sample populations in order to draw scientific conclusions from the analysis of the student achievement data. However, there are few empirical quantitative studies that analyze a similar gap in achievement between the Native American student and their White cohort. Such studies have been limited due to a small and isolated Native American population in regions across the nation. In Michigan, less than 1% of the student population in the schools is Native American. This study identified 20 select school districts (both …

Factors Associated With Fruit And Vegetable Consumption Among Caribbean Immigrants In The United States, Claudia Martin-Ayoade

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background: There are limited data available on the fruit and vegetable consumption of Caribbean immigrants in the United States.

Purpose: To assess changes in intakes of fruits and vegetables in Caribbean immigrants while assessing knowledge of the recommended servings and barriers to intake.

Method: A cross sectional Internet questionnaire was conducted for Caribbean-born members of the social network website Cariblifecentral.com. Data were analyzed using descriptive frequencies, Pearson’s chi-square, and the Student’s t-test.

Results: Of 113 respondents, 37 reported consuming less vegetables since emigrating (p<0.10) while 29 reported eating more. However, 10.8% of respondents did not know the recommended servings for vegetables. Access to fresh produce was no barrier to consumption.

Conclusions: As this population continues to grow, it becomes necessary to tailor nutrition and disease prevention …

Study Of The Effectiveness Of Animations Used In High School Chemistry Classes, Elli Spitery

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This chemistry education research study explores the role of computer animations in a secondary chemistry classroom setting. This study examines the effects of animation among secondary science students regarding chemical concepts and focuses on the nature of matter, atomic structure, and classes of chemical reactions. This project observes the effectiveness of animation usage in a secondary science classroom setting, which was measured through student opinions and impressions as well as performance. It was hypothesized that students would retain more information through the use of animations in the classroom. The concepts covered included linking the macroscopic world of chemistry associated with …

Investigating Trait Attribution Through Gendered Avatar Play: An Analysis Of The Sims 3, Erika M. Behrmann

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigates whether the life-simulation videogame, The Sims 3, enables the deconstruction of the gender binary. The Sims 3 permits its players the capability to attribute similar traits to male or female avatars. In doing so, players can experiment with taboo trait attributions and potentially defy a male-female binary. A group of 82 The Sims 3 players was surveyed to determine their overall male and female Sims trait selections during gameplay. Participants were questioned on how their trait selection related to their personal identities. Results indicated that players tend to select traits that maintain a gender binary. This …

The Relationship Of Interpersonal Sensitivity, Identity Impairment, And Binge Eating Disorder Among College Women, Rachel M. Sienko

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study explored the association of identity impairment and interpersonal sensitivity (IPS) with binge eating disorder (BED). A convenience sample of 295 female undergraduate psychology students from a large Midwestern university was recruited to complete an online survey. Three primary hypotheses were tested: (1) IPS (high fear of negative evaluation and selfconsciousness) would be associated with binge eating; (2) Identity impairment (few total and positive possible selves, many negative possible selves, and a high ratio of negative to total possible selves) would be associated with binge eating; and 3) There would be a significant interaction between identity impairment and IPS …

The Socialization Of African American Women As Faculty Members In Religiously-Affiliated Universities, Sheryl L. Mcgriff

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Research on experiences of faculty-of-color generally, and on African American women particularly, in religiously-affiliated universities is embryonic. Studying faith-based colleges as a synonymous group is a complex process because of different institutional types (e.g., 2-year, 4-year, and seminary); divergent missions; church affiliations (e.g., Lutheran, Baptist, and Roman Catholic) and Carnegie classifications (Smith & Jackson, 2004). This study’s purpose was to understand how African American women interpret and respond to their formal/informal socialization as faculty members in Jesuit universities. Jesuits have a distinct heritage that influences their institutional mission (Tierney, 1997). Perpetuation of religious tenets and ideals is a primary focus …

A Retrospective Study To Evaluate The Efficacy Of Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (Tmp/Smx) Compared To Daptomycin Or Linezolid For The Treatment Of Infections Due To Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (Mrsa), Aparna Lakshmi Murari

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is still considered one of the most significant human pathogens in terms of morbidity, mortality, and costs. Vancomycin should be avoided if possible for the treatment of MRSA when the Minimum Inhibiting Concentration (MIC) to Vancomycin is 2μg/mL, as it poses a therapeutic challenge. Main therapeutic options include Daptomycin and Linezolid, two new, expensive drugs, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole(TMP/SMX), an old, inexpensive agent. Study aims were to compare the clinical efficacy and potential cost savings associated with TMP/SMX use.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Detroit Medical Center. For calendar year 2009, unique adult patients (>18 years) …

Emancipatory Education And Democratic Politics: An Analysis Of The Sociological Imagination In A First Grade Classroom, Ellen Lin

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This autoethnographic research follows my personal and professional experiences as an elementary teacher reflecting upon the travails and joys that come with journeying toward a more liberating pedagogy and democratic experience along with first grade students. Braced with Freire’s 1970 summoning to resist dehumanization in society and education, I have pursued with disappointment existing democratic and humanizing trails in schools. Excited to exit one district and move to another known as “exceptional” in the region, I found myself even more limited by a tightly controlled system. Unwilling to give up hope, I began in my second year to infuse more …

Clinical Use Of Probiotics: A Survey Of Physicians’ Beliefs And Practice Patterns, Anastasia Ensminger

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Probiotics have the potential to be used as a preventive agent or adjuvant therapy for various medical conditions, and recent research is beginning to illuminate some of the associated benefits. Some clinicians currently prescribe probiotics in practice. Understanding physicians’ beliefs and practice patterns regarding the use of probiotics will help identify current practices, barriers preventing their acceptance, and the sources of information that impact clinical practice.

Objective: To identify and describe physicians’ beliefs and practice patterns regarding the use of probiotics.

Methods: A cross-sectional online questionnaire was administered to 130 physicians employed by or affiliated with Danville …

Norms, Attitudes, Perceptions, And Intentions For Benzodiazepine Prescription Drug Abuse Among Adolescents, Angela K. O'Neill

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

A cross-sectional, quantitative study was utilized to test the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) regarding the prediction of adolescents’ behavioral intentions for benzodiazepine abuse. Subjective norms, perceived harm, and perceived behavioral control were measured to predict intentions to abuse such drugs. Similar measures for alcohol and marijuana also were assessed for comparison purposes. A survey was administered to 371 students in 8^th, 10^th, and 12^th grades from the Chelsea School District (CSD) in March 2011. Inferential statistics, including binary logistic regression, chi-square, and repeated measures ANCOVA were used to test the null hypotheses. It was …

The Lived Worlds And Life Experiences Of Residents In University Linked Retirement Communities: A Qualitative Approach, Ramona B. Meraz Lewis

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores the important role that University-Linked Retirement Communities (ULRC) can play in helping older adults negotiate retirement transitions and develop post-retirement identities. Utilizing life course theory as the theoretical framework, the dissertation explores residents‘ attraction to and experiences in ULRCs. One of the innovative ways that learning in retirement is being addressed is through the practice of ULRCs. ULRCs are designed and built for retirees who want to enjoy living near or on a college campus, offering a retirement living experience focused on the scholarly and the social; the concept is one to meet the needs of both …

Sensory Discrimination Testing With Children, Karen Melissa Garcia

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Literature concerning children’s performance in sensory discrimination methods is not as extensively published as performance with adults. Therefore, in this dissertation children’s performance in discrimination methods was investigated. First, performance in the triangle and 3-AFC methods was explored with children 6 to 12 years old. The paradox of discriminatory non-discriminators states that the proportion of correct responses in the 3-AFC method will be higher than that of the triangle. However, Thurstonian theory predicts that despite the difference in proportions of correct responses the degree of difference between the stimuli will be similar. The paradox and the Thurstonian predictions were challenged …

Making Transitions: A Multiple Case Study Of Mathematics Classroom Teaching Reform In China, Lianfang Lu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The main purpose of this study is to investigate how teachers implemented teaching reform in secondary mathematics classrooms in China, and to understand the context of teaching transformation in general. Two groups of mathematics teachers were included in this study. One group was involved in a leadership project led by university-based mathematics teacher educators, and the other was engaged in a school teaching experiment led by teacher educators from local education department. In this study, classrooms are viewed as social systems in which the teacher and students are interrelated through communication networks. This study examines the structures, patterns of social …

"The Bald Knobbers Of Southwest Missouri, 1885-1889: A Study Of Vigilante Justice In The Ozarks.", Matthew James Hernando

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Bald Knobbers of Southwest Missouri were a vigilante organization that originated in Taney County, Missouri, in 1885, before spreading to adjacent Christian and Douglas counties in ensuing years. They began as a group dedicated to protecting life and property, aiding law enforcement officials in the apprehension of criminals, opposing corruption in local government, and punishing those who violated the social and religious mores of their community. In some places, the vigilantes gained much political influence, occupied key offices, and became effectively the ruling faction in local politics. They made many enemies, however, with whom they had several violent, sometimes …

Arbovirus Phenotype Alters Transmission Potential, Rebecca C. Christofferson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Extrinsic and environmental factors are known to affect the transmission of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), including variations in the arthropod vector populations. Differences among these factors have been associated with differential transmission and are sometimes used to control the spread of an arbovirus through a vertebrate population in an effort to prevent or disrupt an outbreak. However, diversity in intrinsic viral populations, such as genetic and phenotypic variability, is not often accounted for when considering alterations in transmission. Presented in this dissertation are four experimental studies that explore the contribution of viral intrinsic factors, especially phenotypic variability, to the transmission potential …

Evolution Of Structural And Physical Properties Of Transition Metal Oxide Sr₃(Ru₁₋Xmnx)₂O₇ (0 <̲ X >̲ 0.7) With Mn Concentration, Biao Hu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Correlated Electron Materials (CEMs) have attracted the attention of the materials community because the strong coupling between charge, lattice, orbital, and spin degrees of freedom produces exotic phenomena. Transition metal oxide series Srn+1RunO3n+1 (n = 1 to ∞) is a prototype of CEMs. The n = 2 member of this family Sr3Ru2O7 is the subject of this dissertation. It has a paramagnetic (PM) metallic ground state, which can be driven into an antiferromagnetic (AFM) insulator with a partial substitution of Ru by Mn. The focus of this research is to understand the role of chemical doping as the driving force …

Using Curriculum-Based Measures To Predict Math Performance On A Statewide Assessment, Keri F. Menesses

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

One hundred forty-six students in third, fourth, and fifth grades completed two types of curriculum-based measurement (CBM) math probes, math computation and math concepts/ applications, in the winter and spring. The relationship between scores on the math probes and scores on the math portion of the Louisiana statewide assessments were analyzed by computing correlation coefficients and conducting multiple regression analyses. Both types of probes were significantly correlated with test outcomes, yet the concepts/applications probes were stronger predictors of test performance. The diagnostic accuracy of the probes was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, which established cut scores that …

The Emergence Of Challenging Behaviors In At-Risk Toddlers With And Without Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Sectional And Risk Factor Study, Jill Cherie Fodstad

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Challenging behaviors including aggression, property destruction, stereotypy, and self injury occur at a high prevalence in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). These behaviors are pervasive and chronic. Despite an increased probability and negative consequences, one area which has received little attention is the presence of challenging behaviors in infants and toddlers with ASD. Furthermore, there is a dearth of information identifying early age trends in the emergence of challenging behaviors and associated risk factors. The purpose of this investigation was to utilize a validated measure, the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits - Part 3, to …

Detection Of The Timing And Duration Of Snowmelt In The Hindu Kush-Himalaya Using Quikscat, 2000-2008, Prajjwal K. Panday, Karen E. Frey, Bardan Ghimire

Geography

The Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region holds the largest mass of ice in Central Asia and is highly vulnerable to global climate change, experiencing significant warming (0.21 ± 0.08 °C/decade) over the past few decades. Accurate monitoring of the timing and duration of snowmelt across the HKH region is important, as this region is expected to experience further warming in response to increased greenhouse gas forcing. Despite the many advantages and applications of satellite-derived radar scatterometer data shown for capturing ice and snow melt dynamics at high latitudes, similar comprehensive freeze/thaw detection studies at lower latitudes (including the HKH region) are …

A Synthesis Of The Long-Term Paleoclimatic Evolution Of The Arctic, Matthew O'Regan, Christopher J. Williams, Karen E. Frey, Martin Jakobsson

Geography

Since the Arctic Ocean began forming in the Early Cretaceous 112-140 million years ago, the Arctic region has undergone profound oceanographic and paleoclimatic changes. It has evolved from a warm epicontinental sea to its modern state as a cold isolated ocean with extensive perennial sea ice cover. Our understanding of the long-term paleoclimate evolution of the Arctic remains fragmentary but has advanced dramatically in the past decade through analysis of new marine and terrestrial records, supplemented by important insights from paleoclimate models. Improved understanding of how these observations fit into the long-term evolution of the global climate system requires additional …

Perceptions Of Faculty And Staff Of The Positive Behavior Process Utilizing Team Process And Staff Satisfaction Survey, Kara L. Hill

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

There is a great need in education to find innovative ways to increase the amount of instructional time spent in classrooms. One way this can be accomplished is by improving the school climate through the use of Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS). Teachers can improve upon their own behaviors towards students, so that student problem behaviors do not escalate to the point of suspensions and expulsions. The PBIS philosophy embraces the idea that while humanistic values should not replace empiricism, these values should inform empiricism. Science tells us how we can change things, but values tell us what is …