Digital Commons Network^™

Acl Tears: Their Cause And Prevention, Meredith Shephard

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

There has been an increase in the prevalence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears among athletes in the recent years. This paper will seek to discover why ACL injury is so common and if there is any way to minimize these injuries. Research has shown a number of things that can lead to prevention of these injuries, including a correlation between the strength of the hip and thigh muscles and the stability of the ACL. Also many recent studies show that individuals most susceptible to ACL injuries often have difficulty performing gross motor skills such that the lower extremities move …

Pre-Program Assessment For Fall-Related Hip Fracture Prevention In A Rural Community, Katryn Inga Steenbergen

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In the elderly, hip fractures from falls often result in decreased quality of life, independence, or functional mobility. Such injuries may lead to hospitalizations, skilled nursing facility admissions, and healthcare costs, yet can be minimized by addressing risk factors of falls. Health education models indicate that assessment of the target population is important prior to the development of an effective program. PURPOSE: To determine among rural adults self-identified learning needs, interest and preferences for fall injury prevention. METHODS: A survey was administered to senior citizens in a rural community. RESULTS: One hundred thirty (n= 130) older adults completed this survey. …

The Sentencing Structure Of White-Collar Crime, Catherine Reeves

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Corporate fraud is an all-too-common element in our society today. Unfortunately, many of those convicted of fraud end up with a seemingly light jail sentence. A possible explanation for this is that the judges could have many subconscious reasons to give lighter sentences in these cases than they do with other more violent cases. Since there are no strict guidelines for the sentencing of these “white-collar criminals,” the judge’s personal views can play a significant role. Many of the laws and guidelines for determining the sentence in fraud cases have stemmed from the corporate scandals of the early 2000’s, but …

An Analysis Of The Application Of Best Management Practices In Collaborative Watershed Management To Community-Based Sustainable Development, Rebecca Holthaus Sappenfield

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

This research seeks to determine if BMPs from CWM can inform the broader concept of CBSD. In order to answer this question, I conduct a desk study, which involves an extensive review of the CWM literature in two areas: stakeholder participation and building trust among stakeholders. I then analyze my research to deduce BMPs for these areas of CWM. As part of this analysis, I also explore how effective environmental communication plays a fundamental role in achieving these BMPs. The culmination of this work is the production of guidelines of best practice for stakeholder participation and building trust among stakeholders …

Feasibility Study Of Installing Artificial Bathing Platforms At The Northeast Coast Of Malta, Darren Bianco

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The need to create additional bathing areas at rugged karst rocky shores of the northeast coast of Malta could be met by installing temporary wooden decking platforms, since current sandy beaches are very crowded in the peak summer season. Wooden decking platforms are also an acceptable alternative to beach nourishment projects, where the latter can have permanent negative environmental impacts. The old and eroded concrete platforms which cover large areas of the northeast coast of Malta represent an eyesore to the public. The option of overlaying these concrete platforms with a permanent rock amalgam composed of fiber-reinforced concrete which mimics …

The Integration Of 18th And 19th Century Subsistence Farming Practices Into The Planning And X-Zoning Laws Of The City And County Of Baltimore, Clayton A. Hayes

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The Industrial Revolution divorced the majority of urban dwellers from the land in the United States. Today, people rely upon industrial food products from global food systems. These systems cause environmental pollution, land degradation, and loss of biodiversity. Additionally, there is unequal food distribution in these systems with poor farmers growing for production and not consumption. The rigid distribution system through grocery stores often leaves poor economic areas without access to fresh, healthy food. The solution to these problems is a return to local food systems, where people can grow or have access to fresh, local food. However, local food …

Sustainable Management Of The Main Two Maltese Indigenous Grape Varieties For Winemaking, Jonathan Falzon

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Ġellewża and Girgentina, the main two Maltese indigenous grape varieties that are used for winemaking, are grown in small parcels of land with an average size just over 0.1 ha. Policies and regulations that influence the sector have been set up and this increased the need for studies to understand the current management practices and how can they be more sustainable. Through interviews with 30 growers of the indigenous grape varieties it was found that most vines are trained as bush vines and cane pruned with 2 or 3 canes with about 5 to 10 buds in each. Nutrition is …

Western Michigan University Commencement Exercises-9am, John M. Dunn

WMU President John Dunn

No abstract provided.

Mental Illness, Narrative, And Rhetorics Of Recovery, Anders Rains Bruce

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

No abstract provided.

Financial Literacy In Retirement Planning, Jennifer Potts

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Studying finance, I have been exposed to the retirement plan options and how they work in most of my classes. But when I would talk to my family and friends about what I was learning, I quickly discovered that many people simply had no interest or understanding about the subject. I believe everyone needs to have a basic understanding of where income will come from once they retire. This realization pushed me to study the level of financial literacy about retirement and plan options of adults in the working world and determine how I could bring information about this topic …

Commencement Convocation Program, Usf, Graduate, December 14, 2013, University Of South Florida

USF Graduation and Convocation Programs

Honorary Doctorate of Science - Richard N. Zare

Effects Of Wii Fit™ Plus Cardiovascular Exercises On Cognitive Function In Older Adults: Feasibility Study., Ifeanyichukwu Chinedozi

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Cognitive decline increasingly plague older adults. Although various studies have correlated aerobic exercises with decreased incidence of the development and progression of cognitive deterioration in older adults, there is no evidence as to whether or not the Wii Fit Plus Rhythm Kung-Fu, Hula-Hoop and the Wii Just Dance can improve the cognitive function of older adults as measured by the Standardized Mini Mental State Examination (SMMSE) instrument. A descriptive study design was used to explore the feasibility of implementing an aerobic exercise program for older adults in an assisted living facility using these Wii games, and evaluating whether or not …

Journal Of Mormon History, Volume 40, Issue 1 (2014)

Journal of Mormon History

LETTER

--Stakes in Canada, Francine Russell Bennion, vi

ARTICLES

--The People Are “Hogaffed or Humbugged”: The 1851–52 National Reaction to Utah’s “Runaway” Officers, Part 2, Ronald W. Walker and Matthew J. Grow, 1

--“Smoot Smites Smut:” Apostle-Senator Reed Smoot’s 1930 Campaign against Obscene Books, Michael Harold Paulos, 53

--“Colegias Chilenes de los Santos de los Últimos Días”: The History of Latter-day Saint Schools in Chile, Casey Paul Griffiths, Scott C. Esplin, Barbara Morgan, and E. Vance Randall, 97

--“Redeemed from the Curse Placed upon Her”: Dialogic Discourse on Eve in the Woman's Exponent, Boyd Jay Petersen, …

Determining A Developmental Window For The Effect Of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (Pcb) On Ultrasonic Vo, Hannah Duffy

Honors Projects

Commercial manufacturing and widespread use of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) in the United States has left lasting negative effects today. These persistent contaminants continue to bioaccumulate in the food web because of their stable structure, long half-life, and high lipophilicity. Adding PCB to the diet of Sprague-Dawley rats during pregnancy and lactation alters the thyroid status of offspring, and the behavior of the dams and pups. To determine a critical period or “window” of development with the greatest impact of PCB exposure of females on offspring fitness, female Sprague-Dawley rats were mated and fed PCB diet (25 ppm PCB 47 and …

How Creative Professional Service Firms Internationalize: A Business Model Portfolio Approach, Deirdre Mcquillan, Pamela Sharkey Scott, Vincent Mangematin

Conference Papers

Traditional theory of firm internationalization assumes all firms are homogeneous in their approach to managing uncertainties and implementing business strategies when internationalizing. A business model portfolio approach articulates a more complex process and suggests that firms adopt a portfolio of business models to balance uncertainties. Combining these two perspectives, this multiple case study research design explores how creative professional service firms (creative PSFs) internationalize. Creative PSFs such as architects are embedded in their local cultures, operating at the intersection of business and art. Our study reveals the complexities of creative PSF internationalization, showing that in contrast to existing explanations, multiple …

Diffusion Tensor Imaging In Hiv And Hepatitis C Coinfection, Jodi Michelle Heaps

Dissertations

Previous studies have demonstrated that infection with both human immune deficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C (HCV) is associated with impaired cognitive function. It is unclear whether co-infection is associated with neuroimaging markers of brain dysfunction. The purpose of the present study was to compare HIV+ individuals, HIV/HCV+ individuals, and seronegative controls using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to assess the microstructural integrity of white matter tissue. Methods: Twenty-five HIV+ patients, 25 HIV/HCV+ patients, and 25 seronegative controls matched for age were included in the study. All participants completed an MRI session, neuropsychological testing, and an evaluation of clinical variables including …

Delamination Detection In Concrete Using Disposable Impactors For Excitation, Anjali Narendra Patil

Theses and Dissertations

Delaminations in concrete bridge decks result primarily from corrosion of the reinforcing bars (or rebar). This corrosion leads to volumetric expansion of the rebar. When the rebar expands, concrete cracks, and there is a localized separation of the concrete cover from the underlying concrete. Impact-echo testing is an effective technique to map delaminations on concrete bridge decks. However, mapping speed is limited by necessary retrieval of the impactor for traditional tests. To achieve higher scanning speeds, it is advantageous to use both a non-contact measurement (air-coupled impact-echo) and disposable-impactor excitation. Disposable impactors have the potential advantage of achieving greater deck …

Xylo-Oligosaccharides Production From Corn Fiber And In-Vitro Evaluation For Prebiotic Effect, Aditya Samala

Theses and Dissertations

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are considered to be prebiotics. Prebiotics are defined as non-digestible food ingredients that benefit the host by stimulating the growth and activity of a limited number of bacteria, such as the Bifidobacterium genus, in the colon. Corn fiber separated from distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) could be a valuable feedstock for XOS production. The objective of the first chapter was to determine the efficacy for autohydrolysis to produce XOS using fiber separated from DDGS. Fiber was treated with deionized water in a Parr-reactor, at temperatures ranging from 140 to 220 °C to produce XOS. The maximum total …

164th Commencement, Fall

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Model-Based Autonomic Performance Management Of Distributed Enterprise Systems And Applications, Rajat Mehrotra

Theses and Dissertations

Distributed computing systems (DCS) host a wide variety of enterprise applications in dynamic and uncertain operating environments. These applications require stringent reliability, availability, and quality of service (QoS) guarantee to maintain their service level agreements (SLAs). Due to the growing size and complexity of DCS, an autonomic performance management system is required to maintain SLAs of these applications. A model-based autonomic performance management structure is developed in this dissertation for applications hosted in DCS. A systematic application performance modeling approach is introduced in this dissertation to define the dependency relationships among the system parameters, which impact the application performance. The …

Drawing Lessons From The U.K. Constitutional Reform Act Of 2005, Terence J. Lau

Management and Marketing Faculty Publications

In this City Square dialogue, Professor Judith Maute provided the initial spark in her important 2007 article on reforms to judicial selection in the United Kingdom.[1] In her article, Professor Maute outlined the breathtaking and daring changes implemented in the U.K. that upended centuries of tradition to modernize and strengthen public confidence in the judiciary. Most significant among these changes were the creation of a Supreme Court and dramatically moving the process of becoming a judge away from a secretive appointment to a professional Judicial Appointments Commission.[2] The reforms eschew direct affirmative action, but place an explicit value on diversity …

A Framework For Identifying Appropriate Sub-Regions For Ecosystem-Based Management In Northern Gulf Of Mexico Coastal And Marine Environments, Jennifer Sloan Ziegler

Theses and Dissertations

Nearly half of the population of the United States lives in coastal regions, and millions of visitors from across the nation and world enjoy the coasts every year. Coastal and marine areas provide for recreation, economic activities essential for the financial health of the nation, and vital ecological services. As they provide so many benefits to the U.S., it is vital to protect and preserve the coastal and ocean areas from the increasing, competing demands they are facing. In order to protect and preserve these complex systems, a comprehensive approach incorporating science, engineering, humanities, and social sciences should be taken; …

Efficacy Of Motivational Interviewing And Centering To Increase Physical Activity And Dietary Adherence In African Americans With Pre-Hypertension And Hypertension, Chioma U. Okereke

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Translational and Clinical Research Projects

Abstract Title: Efficacy of Motivational Interviewing and Centering to Increase Physical Activity and Dietary Adherence in African Americans with Pre-hypertension and Hypertension.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and self-care behaviors of African Americans necessary to prevent the development of hypertension or to improve the control of all ready existing hypertension. Motivational interviewing was used to identify and address barriers to lifestyle modifications. The feasibility of using a Centering Care Model to deliver interactive educational sessions to empower individuals to take an active role in their health care was evaluated.

Significance of the Problem: African …

Commencement Convocation Exercises - December 2013, Prairie View A&M University

Commencement and Convocation Exercises

No abstract provided.

2013 Fall Commencement, Harding University

Commencement Programs

Program for the Harding University Commencement on December 14.

Commencement Speaker: Steve W. Reeves

Attitudes And Perceptions Of Nursing Homes., Amanda C. Black

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine how past experiences with nursing homes influence perceptions and attitudes of college students toward nursing homes in the United States. A review of the current research literature indicates that nursing homes are publicly scrutinized in a negative manner. Variables examined included students’ college of study, experience with nursing homes either from personal experience, from a well-known relative or friend, or the media, and different attitudes and perceptions including good or bad views of nursing homes. Results indicate that students’ perceive nursing homes more negatively than positively even when their experience came from …

Determination Of Beta-Carotene Content And Consumer Acceptability Of Sweet Potato Cookies By Adults And Preschool Children, Aja Marie Stokes

Theses and Dissertations

Vitamin A deficiency is recognized as a major health concern worldwide, especially in developing countries. Sweet potatoes are a cash crop that is abundantly grown and available, providing an excellent source of the carotenoid, beta-carotene. Carotenoids are precursors to vitamin A (retinol). Three sweet potato cookie products were developed: glutenree, wheat-containing, and glutenree with extra sweet potato. Products were evaluated by adults and pre-school aged children based on appearance, aroma, texture, flavor, and overall acceptability. Results showed that overall the children liked both the glutenree and wheat-containing cookies (p<0.05). Adults preferred (p<0.05) the glutenree with extra sweet potato and the wheat-containing products. The glutenree cookie contained 10.1 parts per million of beta-carotene as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Differentiation Of Fungal Phytopathogens By Ft-Ir And Maldi-Tof Ms, Curtis Muldrow Atkinson

Theses and Dissertations

The use of matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-oflight mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and other analytical means of identifying and differentiating microorganisms hold much promise. These analytical tools have been extensively assessed for their ability to differentiate bacteria and fungi. Most of this research has been coordinated in medically relevant microorganisms, but the technology can work just as well with agriculturally important microorganisms. In this thesis, these technologies were reviewed and then subsequently studied for their ability to differentiate Aspergillus species (that devastate corn and other crops yearly with aflatoxin contamination), as well as Macrophomina phaseolina and Thielaviopsis …

Association Between Stink Bug Damage And The Incidence Of Phomopsis Longicolla In Mississippi Soybean Production, Joshua Lunn Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are key pests of soybean, Glycine max (L.), in Mississippi. Historically, yield loss derived from direct feeding by stink bugs has been considered the greatest threat to producers. However, quality reductions resulting from seed infections caused by microorganisms including Phomopsis longicolla are also a concern. Experiments were conducted in 2010 and 2011 to determine if stink bugs are associated with the incidence of P. longicolla in Mississippi soybean production. Data from experiments suggest that stink bugs are capable of transporting P. longicolla between two points. Data further suggest stink bugs and P. longicolla have the potential …

A Comparison Of Participant Gains In Attitude And Behavior After Experiencing A Food Safety Curriculum In Traditional And Computer Delivered Environments, Jennifer Knowles Schilling

Theses and Dissertations

Child care providers in Mississippi are required by the Mississippi Health Department to obtain food manager’s training and certification. The TummySafe© program satisfies this requirement and is offered in a self-paced computer delivered version and a traditional classroom version. This research explores participant changes in attitude and self-reported behaviors in the two methods of curriculum delivery as well as the correlation of knowledge change with attitude and self-reported behavior change. A quasi-experimental, pre-test/post-test design was used. Attitude change was not significantly different in the two methods. Traditional participants reported a higher change in self-reported behaviors than computer delivered participants. Both …