Digital Commons Network^™

Leading Like Jesus: A Curriculum To Disciple African-American Males Into Becoming Spiritual Leaders In The Home, Church, And Community At The Glenville Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Cleveland, Ohio, Myron P. Edmonds

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem. According to recent statistics, there are 13 million more adult women than men in America’s churches. National statistics also indicate that women are 56 % more likely to hold a leadership position at a church. This reality appears to be more severe in African-American churches, where conservative estimates of 60-75 % of the attendees are female and of the remaining percentage of male congregants very few are between the ages of 12-45. Consequently, it would seem that African-American churches are struggling to attract males and develop males as spiritual leaders. The Seventh-day Adventist Church offers general enrichment programs for …

Developing A Vision Statement For The Luzo Brazilian Seventh-Day Adventist Church In New Jersey, Paulo Macena

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem. The Luzo-Brazilian Seventh-day Adventist Church in New Jersey had been working without a vision statement since its inception in the 1980s. As a result, the current departments of the church were not aligned with one another. Officials had spent money, time, and energy on programs and activities that would promote the departments individually, but they lacked a unified direction. The building needed to be demolished and rebuilt, the growth of the church was stagnated, and there were no intentional church growth planning.

Methodology. The Luzo-Brazilian church worked toward the development of a shared vision. Shared vision is the result …

Faith Development Within The Campus-Based Youth Ministry Model Of The English Oaks Adventist Church, Scott R. Ward

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem. Experts have stated that youth ministry for the past 25 years has revolved around a fun and games methodology which did not result in the youths continued participation in ministry activities. During this same time period under the fun and games ministry orientation, more than half of evangelical youth involved in youth ministries have left or are leaving the church once they graduate from high school, including those of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.

Method. A faith development program was implemented that involved analyzing the spirituality of the youth leader and its impact on his ability to lead youths spiritually …

Leadership Strategies In Visioning And Strategic Planning For Members In Ministry In The Hamilton Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Kenneth Manders

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bermuda has over 800 church members and 170 church officers, yet only one ministry has been actively engaged in interfacing with the community. The gospel commission calls us to return to the united ministry given to our first parents, to populate the earth with children of God. It requires ministry to be conducted by all believers without distinction, from the entire world, to the entire world. Pastoral leaders are called to cast this vision and strategically plan how to develop and how to deploy church members into the community, according to their spiritual …

Watch The Sky, Kelly Ann Curtis

Master's Theses

Watch the Sky is a coming of age novel that follows a young man named Eddie Leland. Sixteen-year-old Eddie lives in an isolated part of Southern Oregon. His father is dead and his mother, torn with grief, is unable to contribute to Eddie's development into manhood. For two years, Eddie has had one true companion, his father's hunting dog. When the dog is violently killed by his mother's boyfriend and his mother's life is threatened, Eddie takes drastic measures to preserve what is left of his family. As a result, Eddie must flee the only life he has ever known. …

Hittingtime And Pagerank, Shanthi Kannan

Master's Theses

In this thesis, we study convergence of finite state, discrete, and time homogeneous Markov chains to a stationary distribution. Expressing the probability of transitioning between states as a matrix allows us to look at the conditions that make the matrix primitive. Using the Perron-Frobenius theorem we find the stationary distribution of a Markov chain to be the left Perron vector of the probability transition matrix.

We study a special type of Markov chain &mdash random walks on connected graphs. Using the concept of fundamental matrix and the method of spectral decomposition, we derive a formula

that calculates expected hitting times …

The Excavation And Analysis Of Prehistoric Caribbean Remains: A Bioarchaeological Case Study Of A Prehistoric Female From Nevis, West Indies, Chris Keith

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT:

The Excavation and Analysis of Prehistoric Caribbean Remains: A Bioarchaeological Case Study of a Prehistoric Female from Nevis, West Indies

By Chris Keith

In the summer of 2011, the remains of a 1000 year old indigenous Caribbean woman were discovered buried on a beach near White Bay, Nevis, West Indies. The following summer, a team of excavators and osteologists, including the author, returned to Nevis to excavate and analyze the remains with the intention to learn as much as possible about the remains and, through proxy, the people to whom they belonged. We felt that through our investigations of …

Regulation Of Tree Squirrel Populations With Immunocontraception: A Fox Squirrel Example, Sara K. Krause, Douglas A. Kelt, Dirk H. Van Vuren, James P. Gionfriddo

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Tree squirrels (Sciurus spp.) are highly successful immigrants to urban and suburban areas in North America and Europe, causing both economic and ecological damage. Control of such invasive populations is challenging but of increasing importance to local managers. We studied an invasive population of fox squirrels (S. niger) and applied an immunocontraceptive vaccine in an experimental study of demographic control. Here we integrate our data into a simple stage-structured population model to simulate population reduction under 2 treatment levels (60 and 80% of females, respectively) for vaccines lasting from 1 to 5 years. Contraception can be an effective …

Wildlife Damage Management: Prevention, Problem Solving And Conflict Resolution, Travis L. Devault

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Survey Of Canada Goose Feces For Presence Of Giardia, Christopher R. Ayers, Christopher S. Deperno, Christopher E. Moorman, Henry H. Stibbs, Angela M. Faust

Human–Wildlife Interactions

As resident Canada goose (Branta canadensis) populations increase throughout North America, so do the health and environmental risks associated with goose feces. Previous studies suggest that goose feces may be a conduit for transmitting Giardia, a protozoan that is parasitic to humans. We surveyed fecal droppings from free-ranging resident Canada geese for Giardia spp. at 9 sites in the Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill) of North Carolina in 2007 and 2008. Samples (n = 234) were tested using the ProSpect® Giardia EZ Microplate Assay, and there were no positives. Our results indicate that risk …

Morbidity And Mortality In Reptiles Presented To A Wildlife Care Facility In Central Illinois, Anne E. Rivas, Matthew C. Allender, Mark Mitchell, Julia K. Whittington

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We examined morbidity and mortality of 200 reptiles, representing 13 different species that were presented to the University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic (WMC) from 2003 to 2010. Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentine; n = 46), box turtles (Terrapene sp.; n = 43), painted turtles (Chrysemys picta; n = 37), and red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans; n = 33) were the most frequently seen species. Turtles were significantly more likely to be presented to the WMC following collision with a motor vehicle (n = 73) than any other reason, including idiopathic trauma (i.e., …

Oil And Gas Impacts On Wyoming’S Sagegrouse: Summarizing The Past And Predicting The Foreseeable Future, Dave H. Applegate, Nick L. Owens

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Historical impacts from oil and gas development to greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat are well-documented in some areas of Wyoming, in particular within natural gas development fields, such as the Powder River Basin and JonahPinedale. The drilling techniques and pad densities in these fields have been extrapolated to estimate future oil and gas impacts in the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2010) warranted-but-precluded listing determination for the sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act. Further, assumptions regarding the scale of oil and gas development are incorporated within various resource management plan amendments by the Bureau of Land Management …

Wildlife Strikes With U.S. Military Rotary-Wing Aircraft Deployed In Foreign Countries, Brian E. Washburn, Paul J. Cisar, Travis L. Devault

Human–Wildlife Interactions

During recent decades, rotary-wing aircraft (helicopters) within the U.S. Department of Defense (e.g., U.S Army and U.S. Air Force) have been deployed overseas to conduct a variety of noncombat and combat missions. Our objective was to conduct a comprehensive analysis of wildlife (birds, bats, insects) strikes with U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force rotarywing aircraft during overseas deployments. We acquired all available wildlife strike information involving U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force military rotary-wing aircraft engaged in flight operations associated with U.S. military bases around the world during 1990 to 2011. Wildlife strikes with military rotary-wing aircraft occurred in >31 …

Coast Redwood Community Structure And Composition Following Selective-Harvest: A Case Study Of Byrne-Milliron Forest, Amy K. Petersen

Master's Theses

The effects of selective-harvest on forest composition and structure in the southern range of the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forest have not been well documented. This case study was focused on the Byrne-Milliron Forest located in Santa Cruz County, where selective-harvest is currently the primary method of timber extraction. The purpose of this research was to determine how forest structure and composition changed in relation to time since the last harvest re-entry, the percentage cut per hectare and number of harvest re-entries. The study design consisted of 100 plots located within the Byrne-Milliron Forest, spanning over five harvest …

Using Vegetation To Reduce Nitrogen Runoff In California Caneberries, Rebecca Riesenfeld

Master's Theses

With a 700% rise in global fertilizer use in the last 50 years, agricultural lands are a significant source of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Record high levels of nitrate-contaminated runoff from agricultural sources in California's Central Coast are affecting drinking water supplies in the Pajaro Valley and increasingly threatening the ecological health of the Monterey Bay. Bands of vegetation strategically planted to control runoff and soil erosion, or vegetative filter strips (VFS), are used in urban landscapes and at some farm peripheries. On-farm vegetative diversity has been promoted for its contribution to biodiversity and pest control. …

Covert Visual Spatial Attention: Effects Of Voluntary And Involuntary Attention On Channel Enhancement And Channel Selection, Rocio Luna

Master's Theses

The ability to fixate ones eyes on one object while attending to another object is known as covert visual attention. The present study investigated the effects of covert visual attention on reaction time (RT) and accuracy while manipulating cue types (i.e., informative and non-informative) and validity (i.e., valid and invalid) in two experiments. The results of the RT experiment revealed a main effect of validity and an interaction between cue types and cue validity. However, there was no main effect of attention type. The results of the Accuracy experiment were very similar; there was a main effect of validity but …

A Promiscuous Wallflower: The Rare Zayante Sandhills Endemic Erysimum Teretifolium (Brassicaceae) Benefits From Outcrossing, Miranda Kathleen Melen

Master's Theses

The Zayante sandhills ecosystem of Santa Cruz County, California, contains a rich mosaic of plants and animals adapted to unusual soils and microclimates. In this environment, local adaptation of populations is expected to lead to greater endemism and outbreeding depression. Anthropogenic fragmentation has further isolated populations, however, which paradoxically could result in inbreeding depression. One of these plants, Erysimum teretifolium (Ben Lomond wallflower) is an endangered endemic herb in the Brassicaceae family. This study assessed genetic mixing across remnant patches of E. teretifolium in order to estimate the effects of fragmentation and the reliance on pollinators. A captive breeding colony …

Evaluation Of Foliar Sprays To Reduce Crop Damage By Canada Geese, Charles D. Dieter, Cody S. Warner, Curiong Ren

Human–Wildlife Interactions

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks annually spends >$500,000 managing crop damage caused by grazing Canada geese (Branta canadensis). Foliar applications of a chemical feeding deterrent could provide an effective alternative to the methods currently being used to reduce damage. In 2011 and 2012, we evaluated Rejex-It Migrate Turfguard®, Bird Shield®, Avian Control®, and Avipel® as grazing deterrents. We used a ground sprayer to apply the treatments every 7 days to plots in soybean fields in Day County, South Dakota. We monitored activity in the plots using time-lapse photography. We began treating the plots after geese …

"Busy Mischievous Ffellows": Imperial Agency In Pennsylvania During The Seven Years' War, Benjamin G. Scharff

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This project explores British colonial interaction with imperial authority in mid-eighteenth century Pennsylvania. The goal is to show that reactions to this authority proved much more complicated than previously identified. This has been done by examining the personal interactions of Pennsylvanians with Britons in political, economic, diplomatic and inter-colonial affairs. Upon examination of these exchanges, it becomes clear that Pennsylvanians differed greatly in their support of British authority depending on their personal place in society and the particular issues they were most personally connected to. By demonstrating the variety of reactions, this research highlights the importance of studying colonial opposition …

Strict Products Liability At 50: Four Histories, Kyle Graham

Marquette Law Review

This Article offers four different perspectives on the strict products- liability “revolution” of a half-century ago. One of these narratives relates the predominant assessment of how this movement coalesced and spread across the states. The three alternative histories introduced by this Article view the shift toward strict products liability through populist, practical, and contingent lenses, respectively. The first of these narratives considers the contributions that plaintiffs and their counsel made toward this change in the law. The second focuses upon how a formerly common, but now moribund, type of products-liability lawsuit framed the argument for strict liability as a superior …

Metabolomic Analysis Of Liver Tissue From The Vx2 Rabbit Model Of Secondary Liver Tumors, R. Ibarra, J. E. Dazard, Y. Sandlers, F. Rehman, R. Abbas, R. Kombu, G. F. Zhang, H. Brunengraber, J. Sanabria

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Purpose. The incidence of liver neoplasms is rising in USA. The purpose of this study was to determine metabolic profiles of liver tissue during early cancer development. Methods. We used the rabbit VX2 model of liver tumors (LT) and a control group consisting of sham animals implanted with Gelfoam into their livers (LG). After two weeks from implantation, liver tissue from lobes with and without tumor was obtained from experimental animals (LT+/LT-) as well as liver tissue from controls (LG+/LG-). Peaks obtained by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry were subjected to identification. 56 metabolites were identified and their profiles compared between groups …

Broadway Central: A Concept Development Plan For Redwood City, Greg Vine

City and Regional Planning

No abstract provided.

Fiesole: The Hillsides Of Tuscany, A Musical Work For The Classical Guitar And A Study Of The Compositional Process, Matthew Goodman

Music

Fiesole: The Hillsides of Tuscany

This piece of music is composed for 4 guitars, and it includes all of the right and left-hand fingerings for all notes. The individual parts are printed out so it can be distributed easily.

Design And Construction Of A Portable Cattle Loading Ramp, Gino A. Torlai

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This project is to design and construct an affordable and effective portable cattle loading trailer. The trailer should save money by not having to buy a commercial brand and also by being able to utilize the piece of equipment at multiple different ranches.

Proto-Karen (*K-Rjana) Fauna, Theeraphan Luangthongkum

Manusya, Journal of Humanities

Even though the reconstruction of Proto-Karen has already been attempted and presented in different ways by a few linguists, some serious disagreements among them on some major points have been found. The research objective, here, is to offer a new look at the Proto-Karen phonology and lexicon. However, the emphasis of this paper is on the reconstruction of Proto-Karen fauna. A wordlist consisting of 2,000 items with English and Thai glosses divided into 21 sections based on semantic fields was devised. The data on the six Karenic languages spoken in Thailand, i.e. Pa-O (two varieties), Kayan, Kayah, Kayaw, Pwo (two …

Blaming Halo: The Effects Of Violent Video Games And What Should Be Done About Them, Jonathan F. Kirk

Senior Honors Theses

In the wake of such incidents as the Newtown, Connecticut and Aurora, Colorado, shootings, much scrutiny has been applied to the topic of violent video games, because there appears to be a link between school shooters and video games that contain gratuitous violence. This paper examines the alleged link between video game violence and real-world violence.

Copious amounts of research have been dedicated to this topic. Although many researchers conclude that violent video games lead to increases in aggression, a causal link between violent video games and real-life acts of violence remains unseen. This paper explores the origins of this …

Keeping Our Drinking Water Free From Pharmaceuticals: A Joint Action Plan, Melissa E. Rifai

Student Works

No abstract provided.

When Words Do Things: Perlocutions And Affordances For Social Action, Charles Lassiter

Philosophy Faculty Scholarship

When my spouse once asked me ‘Where’s the milk?’ I thought that my answer ‘In the refrigerator’ was fine. Turns out, I was less helpful than I thought I was. The intended effect of my utterance turned out to be different from what it actually brought about. This feature of utterances is especially salient in discussions of perlocutionary acts, which are utterances that cause an effect in others (Austin 1975: 101). On the one hand, an utterance is produced by the speaker and so facts about the speaker’s mental life should play an important role in understanding what perlocutions are. …

Water Access And Maintenance In Karonga, Malawi, Donald A. Norris

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

This report is a case study of how Mwangalala community accesses water and how that access is maintained. Mwangalala community is located in the northern tip of Karonga district in Malawi, Africa. The case study evaluates how close the community is to meeting target 10 of the Millennium Development Goals, sustainable access to safe drinking water, and evaluates the current water system through Human Centered Design’s criteria of desirability, feasibility, and viability. It also makes recommendations to improve water security in Mwangalala community.

Data was collected through two years of immersive observation, interviews with 30 families, and observing two wells …

Virus Purification, Detection And Removal, Khrupa Saagar Vijayaragavan

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

The biopharmaceutical industry has a growing demand and an increasing need to improve the current virus purification technologies, especially as more and more vaccines are produced from cell-culture derived virus particles. Downstream purification strategies can be expensive and account for 70% of the overall manufacturing costs. The economic pressure and purification processes can be particularly challenging when the virus to be purified is small, as in our model virus, porcine parvovirus (PPV). Our efforts are focused on designing an easy, economical, scalable and efficient system for virus purification, and we focused on aqueous two-phase systems. Industry acceptable standards for virus …