Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Grade Configuration On The Academic Achievement Of Special Needs Students: The Case Of New Jersey, Derrick E. Nelson

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Style And Substance: Isabel Archer As A New Type Of "Lady", Sandra Gulbicki

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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The Correlation Of Repeat Sprint Measures To Predicted Vo2 In Recreationally Active Males, Matthew R. Miltenberger

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Nurse Manager Caring And Workplace Bullying In Nursing : The Relationship Between Staff Nurses' Perceptions Of Nurse Manager Caring Behaviors And Their Perception Of Exposure To Workplace Bullying Within Multiple Healthcare Settings, Lynda Diana Olender

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the relationship between staff nurses’ perception of nurse manager caring behaviors and their perceived exposure to workplace bullying within multiple healthcare settings. It was based on the theoretical position that caring promotes reciprocal caring and healing for each other and for the larger universe as informed by Watson’s theory of human caring (1979, 2006, 2008). Results indicated a statistically significant, negative, linear relationship between the CFS-CM and the NAQ-R (r = -.534, p < .001), meaning that as staff nurses’ perceptions of their nurse manager caring increased, their perception of exposure to negative acts (meeting the definition of workplace bullying) significantly decreased. The sample consisted of primarily older, more experienced, staff nurses who worked 10 years or longer within their work environment. Data analysis also revealed that staff nurses who were females and those who worked in Medical/Surgical settings were significantly more likely to perceive their managers as caring (p < .05 respectively) and that a high workload significantly influenced the staff nurses perception of exposure to workplace bullying (p < .05). In view of the predicted nursing shortages as baby-boomer nurses retire at the same time the demand for health care is rising (AACN, 2009), these findings highlight the importance of caring leadership for the health and availability of nurses at the bedside, and may lead to shifting work priorities for nurse managers. Study findings may also foster the design and implementation of a caring curriculum and caring competencies applicable for the nurse managers’ role either within nursing academic or clinical settings.

Effect Of Occlusal Vertical Dimension On Lip Positions At Smile, Jang-Ching Chou

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Purpose: In full mouth reconstructive dentistry, the occlusal vertical dimension(OVD) is often increased to provide adequate restorative space or for esthetic reasons. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of occlusal vertical dimension on dimensional measurements of the smile.

Materials and Methods: 30 dental students, 12 male and 18 female between the ages of 21 - 30 participated in this study. Polyvinyl Siloxane bite splints of 2mm, 4mm, 6mm, 8mm thicknesses were fabricated on stone casts mounted on semi-adjustable articulators. A wall-mounted head positioning device, modified from a cephalometric unit was used to stabilize head positions. Three …

Icanlearn: A Mobile Application For Creating Flashcards And Social StoriesTm For Children With Autistm, Aaron Zaffke

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The number of children being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is on the rise, presenting new challenges for their parents and teachers to overcome. At the same time, mobile computing has been seeping its way into every aspect of our lives in the form of smartphones and tablet computers. It seems only natural to harness the unique medium these devices provide and use it in treatment and intervention for children with autism.

This thesis discusses and evaluates iCanLearn, an iOS flashcard app with enough versatility to construct Social Stories^TM. iCanLearn provides an engaging, individualized learning experience to …

The Relationship Between Excessive Anterior Overlap And Dental Status, Steven Koutnik

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Aim: This study was designed to analyze the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survery (NHANES III) database to determine whether excessive overlap of the anterior teeth was related to an increase in structural dental problems.

Materials and Methods: The NHANES III database was procured from the

National Center for Healthcare Statistics for the purpose of investigating whether a relationship exists between tooth condition and occlusal characteristics of horizontal and vertical overlap. The sample population was limited to those aged 18-50 to incorporate those people who had both Restoration and Tooth Condition Scores and Occlusal Characteristics. The subject set was …

Experimental Determination Of The Pull-Out Strength Of Cast-In Lifting Inserts In Precast Hollow-Core Plank, Salvador Murra

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Hollow-Core precast plank is a commonly used building component. The

common method to lift and erect these planks is through the use of slings. This method

has several drawbacks and has spurred on the current effort to investigate and determine

the capacity of lifting inserts post-installed into the top of precast hollow-core planks.

The insert that was studied is the P-52 "Swift Lift" Insert supplied by Dayton-Superior.

Physical testing of 16 inserts was done to aid in determining the tensile capacity

of the insert. The insert was a 3/4" diameter steel insert by 5 1/2" long and it was post …

Cytotoxicity Of Orthodontic Temporary Anchorage Devices In Vitro, Manika Patwari

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Introduction: Cytotoxicity is a major concern in the clinical application of dental

materials including Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs). The purpose of this study

was to test the cytotoxicity of four of the commercially available brands of TADs

(Aarhus, American Orthodontics; Dual top, RMO; Vector TAS, ORMCO; Unitek TAD,

3M UNITEK).

Materials and Methods: Twenty-four (six from each brand) TADs were individually

incubated in complete cell culture medium and shaken at a rate of 1.5 rpm at 37ºC for 30

days to generate the conditioned medium (CM). To test the cytotoxicity, human

periodontal ligament fibroblasts (hPDLF) were exposed to the CM …

Follow Me: A Network Analysis Of Marquette University's Twitter Network, Angela Elaine Swenson

Master's Theses (2009 -)

By understanding the network structure of social media usage, an organization can gain valuable insight into how to best utilize social media to reach organizational goals. Therefore, the current study seeks to be the first to conduct a network analysis on social media usage. Using Marquette University's Twitter network as a case study, the researcher was able to collect appropriate network data through observation. By conducting a network analysis of this data, the researcher was able to draw conclusions of the current social structure of this network, the diffusion of innovations process within the network, and identify the power figures …

Alcohol Use In Mexican-Americans By Nativity: The Role Of Ethnic Identity, Acculturation, And Acculturative Stress, Leticia G. Vallejo

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The present study examined alcohol use disorder symptoms among Mexican-Americans. Participants consisted of a community-based sample of 237 Mexican-American adults living in the Midwest United States. The role of nativity status and cultural variables in alcohol use disorder symptoms was explored. Specifically, ethnic identity, acculturation, and acculturative stress were used to predict membership into high and low alcohol use disorder symptom groups among U.S.-and foreign-born Mexican-Americans. Additionally, gender, ethnic identity, and acculturative stress were tested as moderators in the relationship between acculturation and alcohol use disorder symptoms. Among U.S.-born participants, only ethnic identity was found to be predictive of alcohol …

Student Interpretations Of Phylogenetic Trees In An Introductory Biology Course, Jonathan Andrew Dees

Biological Sciences

Phylogenetic trees are a common visual representation in biology, and the most important visual representation used in evolutionary biology. Thus, phylogenetic trees have also become an important component of biology education. We sought to determine what forms of reasoning are utilized by introductory biology students to interpret taxa relatedness on phylogenetic trees, what percentage of students correctly interpret taxa relatedness, and how these results alter in response to instruction and over time. Our students demonstrated a tendency for counting synapomorphies and nodes, rather than more common misinterpretations found in current literature. Students also struggled mightily with correctly interpreting phylogenetic trees, …

Effects Of Signal Ambiguity And Signal Location On Target Detection Under Varying Degrees Of Time Constraint, Kimberly E. Culley

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of decision-making strategies and tendencies, time constraint, and signal characteristics on decision-making performance utilizing the fuzzy signal detection theory framework. Participants were tasked with deciding whether x-ray images of passenger luggage contained hazardous objects.

The first objective of the study was to develop a methodology for quantifying optimizing versus satisficing tendencies in decision making through direct measurement and observation.

The second objective of the study was to examine how time constraint and specific signal characteristics contribute to decision making. Interestingly, despite having more time available to conduct a comprehensive …

Experiences And Perceptions Of Mental Health Professionals Considered Effective In The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Bonita H. Erb

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that has been documented in medical and mental health literature for over 100 years (Still, 1902). ADHD is a neurobiological based disorder characterized by three major symptoms identified at clinical levels and validated by diagnostic criteria established for the diagnosis of children before the age of seven (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4 th edition-Text Revision; DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The three diagnostic criteria are inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity that have been observed at clinical levels.

Because many signs of the disorder were believed to discontinue …

Burkean Framing Of The University Of Northern Iowa Budget Crisis, Joshua E. Young

Iowa Journal of Communication

Many studies have employed the use of Kenneth Burke's framing methodology to explain a plethora of communication events. Few, however, track changes in those frames. Of those studies tracking frame changes, none articulate how those changes happen through Burke's frames of transition. This essay uses previous scholarship and Burke's transition frames to explain framing of the 2009-2012 budget crisis at the University of Northern Iowa. Stake holders at UNI were faced with huge deficits and were forced to make cuts to remain financially solvent. Instead of framing the issue in the comic frame where the budget would have been seen …

The Relationship Between Traffic Signals And Pedestrian, Bicyclist And Transit User Exposure In Urban Areas, Courtney Natasha Slavin

Dissertations and Theses

Improving the efficiency of traffic operations along arterials is currently a priority for many agencies as their roadway infrastructure is built out to the largest possible capacity within the urban environment. Many advanced systems are being implemented to optimize traffic signal timing. Air quality is typically not a consideration when these decisions are made. The relationship between exposure to air pollution and traffic signal timing has not been fully explored by other researchers. This study is the first research effort to combine detailed traffic signal timing data (at 5 second intervals) and air pollutant exposure data. Results show that longer …

Front Matter - Table Of Contents

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Can Xue's "Hut On The Mountain": Ghosts Of China's Cultural Revolution, Debrah Raschke

Short Story

No abstract provided.

Philanthropy And Health Care Reform: An Examination Of The Pertinent Literature Of Philanthropy And Healthcare And How The Two Should Intersect In Today’S Dynamic Healthcare Environment, Mayme Patthoff

Graduate Research Papers

Many factors are diminishing the reimbursements hospitals receive from private (corporate) and public (Medicare and Medicaid) sources. To remain competitive while dealing with these factors, medical centers have begun looking for alternative funding sources to make up for lost revenues. Supplemental funding is needed to advance patient care, conduct innovative research, and educate the next generation of healthcare workers. The purpose of this study is to conduct a comprehensive literature review to explore how healthcare systems across the country are thinking about philanthropy and implementing strategic development practices to gain and retain grateful patients and community donors to ensure the …

Late Registration And Student Success In On-Campus And Online Classes, Patrick Tompkins

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The study examined the effect of late registration into on-campus and online classes upon student performance when accounting for completion of a college success skills course and the demographic factors of sex, race/ethnicity, age, and full-time/part-time enrollment status. The data source was 2010-2013 ex post facto data from 23 colleges in a large community college system in the southeastern United States. The statistical method of binary logistic regression was applied to the data. The regression models failed to yield strong predictions of the association between registration timing and student success. Coupled with previous studies, this study demonstrated that the presumed …

Preferred Instructional Design Strategies For Preparation Of Pre-Service Teachers Of Integrated Stem Education, Amanda Shackleford Roberts

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the preferred instructional design strategies for the preparation of pre-service teachers who will deliver integrated STEM lessons. The research objectives were threefold and included identifying a preferred definition of integrated STEM education, developing its purpose statement, and creating a list of instructional design strategies that could be used for designing, planning, delivering, and assessing integrated STEM instruction.

The Delphi method was selected as the optimum approach for data collection, since STEM education is still a growing phenomenon lacking consensus in its interpretations of meaning and practice. Gaining group consensus from expert teacher …

Simple, Complete, And Novel Quantitative Model Of Holography For Students Of Science And Science Education, Dale Olson

Faculty Work

A Moiré graphical method for predicting the directions of all permitted image waves for thin and volume holograms is described. This method has been developed in connection with a holography centred optics course for students in science, technology and science education that has evolved over several decades. A somewhat unique view of the holographic process underlies this novel method of predicting the behaviour of diffraction gratings.

Gender, Difference And Urban Change: Implications For Promotion Of Well-Being?, Julian Walker, Alexandre A. Frediani, Jean-Francois Trani

Brown School Faculty Publications

This article examines the impacts of urban change on the well-being of women and men, and girls and boys, living in cities, and explores how gender intersects with other social relations to differentiate these impacts. It then considers the implications of intersectionality for organisations aiming to promote the interests of specific social groups (such as women, or people with disabilities) vis-a-vis urban change by looking at the experience of Leonard Cheshire’s Asha project, working with girls and boys with disabilities in Mumbai. It concludes that organisations working to promote the interest of identity based constituents should (a) base their strategies …

Virtual Assembly, John D. Inazu

Scholarship@WashULaw

This Article provides one of the first scholarly considerations of the constitutional boundaries for online groups. It explores both why and how we should protect these groups by asking two related questions. The first question is theoretical: do online groups implicate the kinds of values that warrant elevated constitutional protection. The second question is doctrinal: what is the best framework for providing constitutional protection to these groups. The Article argues that we should protect online groups because they advance important First Amendment values and because the line between our offline and our online groups is collapsing. Turning to the doctrinal …

On The Difference In Quality Between Current Heuristic And Optimal Solutions To The Protein Structure Alignment Problem, Mauricio Arriagada, Aleksandar Poleksic

Faculty Work

The importance of pairwise protein structural comparison in biomedical research is fueling the search for algorithms capable of finding more accurate structural match of two input proteins in a timely manner. In recent years, we have witnessed rapid advances in the development of methods for approximate and optimal solutions to the protein structure matching problem. Albeit slow, these methods can be extremely useful in assessing the accuracy of more efficient, heuristic algorithms. We utilize a recently developed approximation algorithm for protein structure matching to demonstrate that a deep search of the protein superposition space leads to increased alignment accuracy with …

Archaeal Assemblages Inhabiting Temperate Mixed Forest Soil Fluctuate In Taxon Composition And Spatial Distribution Over Time, Colby A. Swanson, Marek K. Sliwinski

Faculty Work

This study explored the persistence and spatial distribution of a diverse Archaeal assemblage inhabiting a temperate mixed forest ecosystem. Persistence under native conditions was measured from 2001 to 2010, 2011, and 2012 by comparison of 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. The Archaeal assemblages at each of these time points were found to be significantly different (AMOVA, P < 0.01), and the nature of this difference was dependent on taxonomic rank. For example, the cosmopolitan genus g_Ca. Nitrososphaera (I.1b) was detected at all time points, but within this taxon the abundance of s_SCA1145, s_SCA1170, and s_Ca. N. gargensis fluctuated over time. In addition, spatial heterogeneity (patchiness) was measured at these time points using 1D TRFLP-SSCP fingerprinting to screen soil samples covering multiple spatial scales. This included soil collected from small volumes of 3 cubic centimeters to larger scales—over a surface area of 50 m², plots located 1.3 km apart, and a separate locality 23 km away. The spatial distribution of Archaea in these samples changed over time, and while g_Ca. Nitrososphaera (I.1b) was dominant over larger scales, patches were found at smaller scales that were …

Academic Librarianship And Career Adaptability, Tara Baillargeon, Aaron H. Carlstrom

Library Faculty Research and Publications

The inspiration for this essay is Barbara Fister’s assertion that librarians must embrace functions that have not traditionally been part of the academic librarian’s portfolio. We shall examine the need for career adaptability in librarianship and use a case study to illustrate the four attributes librarians need to develop to ensure career adaptability. The case study involved collaboration between Kansas State University (KSU) Libraries, an agronomy professor, and the Global Research Alliance to develop an open access croplands research database. We will draw upon the field of vocational psychology to discuss career adaptability and ways librarians can develop the traits …

Blood Diamonds And Non-State Actors, Ian Smillie

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The KPCS is a unique undertaking. It has all of the bells and whistles required to be an effective watchdog for an industry prone to theft, corruption, smuggling, and violence. It currently has the power of law in almost eighty national jurisdictions, and it has the blessing of the United Nations and the WTO. It is tripartite in nature, encompassing a wide range of important industry players and civil society organizations from Europe, North America, and Africa.

It is something of a tragedy, however. Its consensus decision making process has turned it into a dozy talk shop--unwilling and unable to …

Does Baby Sign Open The Door To Second Language Learning?, Nicole A. Hulme

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this thesis project is to determine the relationship between an infant's acquisition of Baby Sign and their ability to acquire a second language later in life. An explanation of why infancy is a critical time for language development will be presented and information about the impact of Baby Sign on an infant's development will be provided. There are many research and popular claims regarding Baby Sign that will be discussed, in addition to research findings concerning second language learning. Based on this research, conclusions about the connection between Baby Sign and second language learning will be drawn …

A Study Of The Genes Tfl1 And Lfy As Agents In The Divergent Evolution Of The Plant Species Arabidopsis Thaliana And Carica Papaya, Ryan Lockard

Honors Program Theses

The long term goals of this study are to: (1) To determine if the genes TFLI and LFY perform any role in the divergent evolution and development of these two plant species; (2) If so, begin to assess whether the homologs' functional divergence is a result of gene regulation, protein function, both, or some different genetic mechanism altogether. These goals will be accomplished by genetically transforming Arabidopsis thaliana plants containing TFLI and LFY knockout mutations (those genes removed) with the homologous genes from Carica papaya in order to compare differences in development between the plants resulting from the influence of …