Digital Commons Network^™

High Hopes: Fostering A Culture Of Hope At A Community College, Mary Wells, Emily Gilbert, Lisa Mahle-Grisez, Reece Newman, Kathy Rowell

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

A recent report from the American Association of Community Colleges indicates that about half of first-year students do not return for a second year, and 35% of students withdraw despite having an A or B average. These students may have particularly challenging circumstances, such as juggling family and work obligations along with school. The authors suggest that students’ sense of “hopefulness” forecasts their academic success and persistence, and offer an account of their ongoing campus-wide efforts to create more hopeful classrooms and experiences for their students.

Ethnic Identity, Gender, And Adolescent Attitude Toward School: Adaptive Perspectives In Diverse Settings, Margaret Zoller Booth, Erin M. Curran, Christopher J. Frey, Jean M. Gerard, Bruce Collet, Jennifer Bartimole

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

The relationships between adolescent ethnic identity and attitudes toward school and school climate are investigated in a small, multiracial/multiethnic city in the Great Lakes region with ethnically diverse adolescents taught by primarily White teachers. The mixed methods investigation of 986 eighth through eleventh grade students during the 2010-2011 academic year suggests that the relationship between ethnic identity and attitude toward school is a complex interaction among individual characteristics of ethnicity/race, ethnic identity, gender, and ecological context. Quantitative results reveal that White female and Hispanic and African American male students exhibit strong ethnic identity that correlates positively with school attitude; however, …

Impact Of Entrepreneurship Education On Entrepreneurial Intentions Of University Students In Egypt, Hala Wasef Hattab, Hala Wasef Hattab

Business Administration

No abstract provided.

Melatonin Is Effective In Reducing Stress-Induced Organ Damage In Wistar Albino Rats, Mukaddes Eşrefoğlu, Ayşi̇n Akinci Bak, Hülya Elbe, Eli̇f Taşlidere, Asli Çeti̇n, Burhan Ateş

Turkish Journal of Biology

In the present study, we tried to investigate the effects of melatonin, a novel antioxidant and a potent free radical scavenger, in stress-induced cerebral, cerebellar, cardiac, and hepatic oxidative damage using microscopic and biochemical analysis. A total of 32 male Wistar albino rats were divided into control, stress, stress + saline, and stress + melatonin groups. The rats from the stress groups were exposed to high stress conditions of starvation, immobilization, and cold exposure. The rats from the stress + melatonin group received melatonin daily at 20 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally for 7 days. At the end of the experiment, …

A Whole Grain Education Program For Older Adults: Its Effectiveness On Older Adults' Knowledge And Intake Of Whole Grains And Its Implications For Use With Younger Adults, Kristin Emily Davis

Master's Theses and Capstones

The average adult in America eats less than one serving of the recommended three serving minimum of whole grains each day. Consumption of whole grains in older adults is particularly low; consumption in college students is even lower. This pilot study investigated the effectiveness of a three-session nutrition education program, entitled "Is It Whole Grain?" to improve older adults knowledge, identification and consumption of whole grains. Based on the analysis of pre- and post- intervention whole grain questionnaire responses from 157 older adults, aged 60 or older, residing in New Hampshire and Iowa, significant improvements in older adults' knowledge and …

Faculty Masthead, Mjlst Editorial Board

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Ground-To-Air Visibility Analysis Methods, Erica Pfister-Altschul

Theses and Dissertations

When a disaster occurs, remotely sensed imagery is critical for emergency responders. Aircraft collect digital images of damaged areas to assist with damage assessment and response planning. Such airborne imagery can be transmitted directly from the plane to ground antennae and internet-connected dispersal, allowing for faster acquisition of data. However, air-to-ground transmission of images requires near-constant visibility between the aircraft transmitter and ground station antenna. This research uses GIS-based models to identify the ground station locations that can reliably receive data from aircraft, using a variety of visibility analysis methods and a comparison of their performance. A custom algorithm is …

An Evolutionary Perspective On Infectious And Chronic Disease, John Eberth

Theses and Dissertations

The integration of evolutionary biology with traditional medicine can elucidate novel mechanisms of contemporary disease. Whereas the goal of traditional medicine is to treat and cure the proximate causes, evolutionary biology aims to understand the driving forces behind why humans are susceptible to disease. To form the basis of this hypothesis we postulate that modern man's current genetic information was programmed at a time, and in an environment, that is not relevant to today's human populations. The discordance between these genes of our ancestors and the environment of contemporary humans is thought to be a major reason for the increase …

Qualitative Examination Of Graduate Counselor Education Students Perceptions Of Self-Awareness Pertaining To Future Efficacy In The Counseling Environment, Tara Victoria Huechtker Darby

Theses and Dissertations

Research in this study indicates that high levels of self-awareness as well as a clearly defined self-identity are related to increased levels of care and ethical decision making among counselors. An enhanced social-cognitive development of the counselor education graduate student is associated with an increased ability for them (in the future) to process legal and ethical dilemmas such as the right to die legislation and how it could affect them professionally. This study includes implications for counselors and the training and supervision of counselor education graduate students who may be affected by the right to die legislation and the way …

The Conscious Guitarist: Alexander Technique And Body Mapping For Guitarists, Alma Sehic

Theses and Dissertations

Musicians “move” for a living, yet many guitarists (among other instrumentalists) seem to be unaware of the quality of their movements in playing and teaching the instrument. This may simply be due to the lack of appropriate movement training and body awareness incorporated into current teaching practices, which leaves guitarists vulnerable to playing-related injuries, pain, and frustrating technical limitations. The purpose of this dissertation is to introduce somatic education into guitar pedagogy and performance, as a means of enhancing performing abilities and preventing injury.

After introducing the basis and principles of Alexander Technique and Body Mapping, the author provides practical …

The Effects Of Leisure Satisfaction And Perfectionism On Academic Burnout, Lauren Elizabeth Fuller

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the impact of three variables on academic burnout: perfectionism, depression, and leisure satisfaction. Participants included male and female college students enrolled in a four year university in the Midwest. Participants completed a variety of demographic questions and surveys through an internet survey on Survey Gizmo. The Almost Perfect Scale Revised was used to assess an individual's perfectionism, The Patient Health Questionnaire 2 measured depression, The Leisure Satisfaction Scale Short Form was included to measure students' leisure satisfaction, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory Student measured academic burnout. The study found that perfectionism and depression were significant predictors …

Employment Characteristics And Mental Health: A Quantitative Study, Keegan Charles August Hahn

Theses and Dissertations

Previous literature suggests that certain job characteristics may influence a person's mental health in a negative way. Work is an important part of every American's life. It is how they make money and can be how they identify themselves. This thesis examines that relationship further with new data and variables and also looks at the effect that the 2007 to 2009 U.S. recession had on increasing poor mental health among individuals. Americans' jobs were influenced by this national recession in multiple ways. This thesis explores the relationship between the national economy and how job characteristics impact American's poor mental health. …

Characterization Of The Hippocampal Acetylcholine System In A Rodent Model Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Amy Elizabeth Perkins

Theses and Dissertations

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a major public health concern, as it is estimated that 2-5% of children are exposed to alcohol at some point during prenatal development. FASD have been shown to cause damage to multiple brain regions, but research shows that the hippocampus is especially sensitive to alcohol exposure. This damage to the hippocampus explains, in part, deficits in learning and memory that are hallmark symptoms of FASD. The acetylcholine neurotransmitter system plays a major role in learning and memory, and the hippocampus is one of its main targets. This experiment used a rodent model of Fetal …

Public Support For Stricter Gun Control Laws In America Following The Tragedy At Sandy Hook Elementary, Ryan Jeffrey Hausmann

Theses and Dissertations

The past decade witnessed a considerable increase in public outrage and debates regarding gun control laws, due in large part to several mass shootings across the nation. The purpose of this study is to explore how mass shootings influence attitudes toward gun control. More specifically, this study will examine the respondents' familiarity with the 2012 mass shooting in New Town, Connecticut, and then explore their opinions about whether that shooting reflects isolated acts of troubled individuals, or whether it is a reflection of greater issues, and in turn, how those opinions influence attitudes toward gun control.

Data for this research …

Project Shine: A Family-Based Intervention For Improving Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, And Diet In African American Adolescents, Sara M. St. George

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of a family-based intervention for improving moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sedentary behavior (SB), and fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake in African American adolescents. The intervention (Project SHINE: Supporting Health Interactively through Nutrition and Exercise) integrated Social Cognitive (SCT), Self Determination (SDT), and Family Systems Theories (FST) to improve healthy physical activity and dietary behaviors. Behavioral strategies from SCT (i.e., self-monitoring, goal-setting, self-regulatory skill-building), elements involved in facilitating intrinsic motivation for health behavior change from SDT (i.e., autonomy, competence, belongingness), and positive parenting practices from FST for integrating parent and peer systems (e.g., parental monitoring, parent-adolescent …

Testing Bidirectional Contextual Effects Of Adolescent Risk Factors On Young Adulthood Outcomes: A Life Course Perspective To Gangs, Andrea E. Lamont

Theses and Dissertations

Leading theories in developmental science emphasize the role of the individual as an active agent in shaping her or his environment. Yet, most empirical work has focused on unidirectional models, ultimately treating the individual as a passive recipient of environmental risk. Part of this gap between theory and analysis is methodological in nature – i.e., classical statistical methods typically do not allow for the modeling of bidirectional influences or complex longitudinal relations. Recent advancements in longitudinal methodologies, however, expand our ability to answer more nuanced developmental questions. In this dissertation, I demonstrate how advanced longitudinal methods could be used to …

Measuring The Effect Of Weighted Devices On Exercise Enjoyment, Nicholas Kruse

Theses and Dissertations

Physical activity provides an important health benefit for both males and females. Seven out of every ten U.S. deaths are from chronic disease and many of those deaths could have been preventable. With a lack of physical activity and poor diet, chronic illnesses such as obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type II diabetes were reported, (CDC, 2004). There is a steep decline in exercise from high school to college, which indicates that exercise adherence in college students is an issue. In this study, three conditions were examined with students at the University of North Dakota going through a plyometric protocol …

Relational Maintenance Behaviors, Conflict Resolution Strategies, And Their Relation To Loneliness, Courtney O'Brien

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the relationship between levels of ineffective arguing and loneliness above and beyond levels of relational maintenance behaviors in 182 male and female adults. Correlations did not support a large inverse relationship between loneliness and relational maintenance behaviors for both Romantic Partner Group (RPG) and Friendship Group (FG). This study has shown that there was a moderate relationship between levels of loneliness and relational maintenance behaviors for both groups. As hypothesized, but only for the RPG, regression analyses revealed that ineffective arguing did predict experiences of loneliness above and beyond relational maintenance behaviors only, whereas this was …

Effects Of Generic Versus Personally Delivered Education And Self-Disclosure On Elementary School Children's Social Attitudes Towards A Peer With Tourette Syndrome, Erin Lynn Olufs

Theses and Dissertations

Children with tic disorders are at a higher risk for peer rejection and social withdrawn. Children who face peer rejection are at greater risk for internalizing, externalizing, and social problems, and often experience extreme loneliness and a lack of friendships. The impact of educational videos and self-disclosure have been examined in separate studies and have been shown to increase positive attitudes towards those with TS, but the two methods of education have not yet been directly compared to one another with a student population. In the current study, the differential effects of receiving professional TS education, self-disclosure TS education, and …

Self-Esteem, Emotions And Relationships, Kristyn Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Presently there is a lack of research examining how geographical differences may related to different manifestations of hook up culture. Females from rural communities' were focused on in order to try to account for the gap in literature focusing on whether females' affect and self-esteem predicted future hook-up behaviors. Among young females, those who are from a rural community engage in hook-ups more frequently than those from an urban area; as well as report negative experiences within the community after they engage in a hook-up. The relationship between female's self-esteem and their intent to participate in a hook-up in the …

Does Attractiveness Matter For Sex Offenders? An Examination Of Defendant Attractiveness, Defendant Gender, And Crime Severity, Adam Charles Austin

Theses and Dissertations

There has been an abundance of research showcasing an attraction-leniency bias that benefits attractive defendants of various crimes. However, this bias tends to diminish if the crime is deemed serious or if the defendant uses his or her attractiveness to commit the crime (i.e., swindle). The purpose of the current study is to investigate judgments made about a defendant being accused of a sexual offense. The study represents a 2 (gender of defendant) x 3 (attractiveness of defendant: attractive, unattractive, no picture) x 3 (crime severity: low, medium, high) factorial design. Participants (N = 686) were asked to report their …

Panic Development Mechanisms And Preventive Methods Analysis, Inga Wuerges

Theses and Dissertations

Panic Development (PD) is one of the most important areas of Human Factors research due to its debilitating effects during high stress operating conditions in extreme environments. High levels of anxiety and panic evoke incidents that are a real threat to mission success and may result in fatalities. A delicate balance of crew selection, training, and systems' design is critical for mission success and human survival.

This research investigates possible panic development profiles and methods for preventing panic through realistic training. This research focuses on realistic training scenarios during the intense military flying exercise Red-Flag Alaska at Eielson AFB, AK. …

Actualizing The Seventh Generation Prophecy In Teacher Education: A Case Study Of Preparing Teachers At A Tribal College, Lisa Jo Azure

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to conduct a descriptive analysis of a teacher education professional educator licensure program for American Indian pre-service teachers at a tribal college. The professional educator was generally defined as one who completed a state-approved teacher education program and met state licensure requirements, including standardized testing requirements. The case study describes the context of a tribal college teacher education program and the dimensions of the program. Included are an analysis of documents, processes, and, most important, perspectives from the program graduates of the dimensions that contributed to their successful completion of the program, and …

Regulation Of Proline-Directed Phosphorylation Site, Threonine 53 On Dopamine Transporter, Sathyavathi Challasivakanaka

Theses and Dissertations

The dopamine transporter (DAT) is a plasma membrane protein that clears extraneuronal dopamine (DA) and thus controls the spatio-temporal dynamics of dopaminergic neurotransmission. Also, DAT is the major target for psychostimulant substrates, amphetamine (AMPH) and methamphetamine (METH), and psychostimulant uptake blocker, cocaine (COC). DAT is a phosphoprotein with both the N- and C-termini facing toward the cytosol, with multiple phosphorylation sites on the N-terminus. DAT has a closely spaced 6-serine cluster on the distal N-terminus that is phosphorylated in a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent manner and a recently identified proline-directed site, Thr (T) 53, that is phosphorylated in vitro by …

Common Core State Standards: Beware The Trojan Horse, Yee Han Chu

Theses and Dissertations

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) represent a promise by general education that all students can be college and career ready through the acquisition of essential knowledge, skills, and abilities. These essential elements will be rigorous, supporting the higher-order and independent thinking skills typically associated with the achievement of excellence. CCSS, in short, promises excellence in all students. The needs of those students who demonstrate high ability do not receive any separate mention: (1) how has the concept of excellence been incorporated into the CCSS; and (2) what is the potential impact on high ability students?

These questions are examined …

Impact Of Cultural Identity On Mmpi-2 Profiles In Northern Plains American Indians, Colleen Kagan

Theses and Dissertations

American Indian populations experience high rates of psychological distress with 44.5% percent of Northern Plains American Indians reporting experiencing some depressive, anxiety, or substance use disorder over their lifetime. The MMPI-2 is a commonly used psychodiagnostic tool that has become widely used in the mental health treatment of different racial and ethnic groups. Research on the MMPI-2 with minority populations, and American Indian populations in particular, fails to account for the impact of level of acculturation. This study examined the impact of cultural identity on MMPI-2 profiles in Northern Plains American Indians and comparison Caucasian samples. Participants were administered a …

Depression, Negative Self-Disclosure, And The Response Of Others On Facebook, Daniel Barrett Landauer

Theses and Dissertations

Depression has a number of deleterious effects on the interpersonal functioning of adolescents and emerging adults. The interpersonal theory of depression posits that depression is developed and maintained by both the behaviors of the individual and the responses of others to the individual. Adolescents and emerging adults are spending a significant amount of time interacting on social networking sites, such as Facebook, yet few studies have looked at the interpersonal behavior of depressed youth in the context of the interpersonal theory of depression. This study examined the interpersonal behavior of 328 emerging adult college students on Facebook using questionnaires related …

An Investigation On Relationship Between Epistemological Beliefs And Instructional Practice Of Preservice And Inservice Teachers, Jacob Manu

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative research sought to investigate the relationship between epistemological beliefs and instructional practice of preservice and inservice teachers. Despite the vigorous emphasis and investment on the need for teachers to adopt teaching and learning practices that are more authentic, learner-centered, project-based, meaningful, and context-based, there is a growing trend where inservice teachers are trained in constructivist learning environment but end up adopting traditional learning pedagogies. Thus, teachers are constantly struggling to incorporate the tenets of constructivism into the teaching and learning process. With the use of the discipline-focused epistemological beliefs questionnaire and instructional practice scale, preservice and inservice teachers …

Effect Of A Nutrition Program On Eating Habits In Female Collegiate Athletes, Jorid Dagfinrud Oiestad

Theses and Dissertations

In the present study, an intervention took place using two female collegiate NCAA Division 1 (D1) teams. One team was randomized to be the experimental group, receiving the intervention of the 6-week nutrition education class Fueling for Performance (FFP). And the other team served as the control group, receiving no treatment. The purpose was to examine the effect of the FFP intervention on energy balance, body composition and self-efficacy compared to the control group, pre- and post- intervention.

The participants provided pre- and post intervention data through 3-day food records entered in MyPlate Super Tracker, wearing of a BodyMedia Senswear …

A Video Game Cycling Intervention Assessing Exercise Enjoyment, Rpe, Heart Rate, And Total Work Output In College Students, Shawn Ryan Reich

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Physical inactivity can lead to numerous health issues. More recently, advances in technology have catered to this area of concern. Activity-promoting video games or exergames, have recently been providing consumers with an innovative and alternative experience to exercise. Traditional exercise modalities such as the cycle ergometer (CE) have utilized video game (VG) play to help increase exercise enjoyment and overall health benefits. However, few studies have examined CE and VG play in this regard.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate if cycling with a non-interactive CE while playing a VG is a viable option to increasing …