Digital Commons Network^™

Developing Efl Reading Fluency In Upper Elementary Schools In China, Jianxian Yang

Master's Projects and Capstones

This project aims to help EFL educators and EFL teachers realize the importance of developing EFL students’ reading fluency, and more importantly, to provide specific curriculum for upper elementary school EFL students to improve their reading fluency. The most important intervention being used in this curriculum is extensive reading which appears in every class. Besides extensive reading, using rapid word recognition, repeated reading, paced reading, cloze reading, echo reading and choral reading are also discussed in this project. Teachers are suggested to rotate the interventions during the whole semester and they can adapt the materials and the curriculum in this …

Addressing Health Disparities In Refugees, Claire E. Lopez

Master's Projects and Capstones

I completed the required 300 hours of my fieldwork internship at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Oakland, CA. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a non-profit international organization that responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and aids displaced individuals in rebuilding their lives in new countries by providing support in health care, finance, education, infrastructure, and resettlement.

I worked as a Health Access/Intensive Case management Intern. As a Health Access Program Intern, it was my job to ensure that refugees coming to the United States had a place to seek medical care, advice, and preventative services. In order …

Prevention Of Medication Errors During The Transcription Process, Angela Huang

Master's Projects and Capstones

Medication administration is a multistep process that involves prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, and administering drugs. The transcription of medication orders during patient admissions have been described as an error prone process by nurses on the unit. An FMEA analysis and unit surveys indicated a need for improvement. The specific aim for this project is to improve the mediation transcription process for new patients with 100% participation from all staff by December 1, 2014. Based on the microsystem system analysis and the research on evidence, strategies approved for testing include mandating the double checking new mediations with another nurse, omitting the use …

Critical Media Literacy: A Curriculum For Middle School English Teachers, Jennifer J. Hale

Master's Projects and Capstones

This project provides an introductory, critical media literacy curriculum for middle school English teachers, which is designed to build upon students’ academic language proficiency and critical-thinking skills through media-based content. The targeted proficiency level ranges from high-intermediate English language learners to native English speakers.

The curriculum focuses on developing the critical-thinking skills needed to analyze complex media messages. This process helps students to discover how media is socially constructed and how it aims to convey particular messages for particular purposes. The teacher’s goal is to facilitate students’ understanding of media in order for them to become more conscientious of their …

Content-Based Instruction And Corpus Linguistics Curriculum For Early Advanced Efl Saudi Students, Ahmed Alattar

Master's Projects and Capstones

For many years now EFL teaching and learning in Saudi Arabia has suffered from a lack of authentic life-related and meaningful materials. Most of the EFL books available, therefore, pay more attention to form and less attention to meaning. This has resulted in many Saudi EFL students having difficulty improving their L2 proficiency. For this reason, I developed a curriculum that incorporates content-based instruction and corpus linguistics. The curriculum is divided into six units. The units focus on the five basic language skills: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. Each unit focuses on different content and includes examples form several corpus …

Increasing Patient Participation In The Medication Reconciliation Process, Andrea Idudhe

Master's Projects and Capstones

It is estimated, that ambulatory care settings have a 25% adverse drug events (ADEs) rate, and 39% of those event were preventable errors (Taché, Sönnichsen, and Ashcroft, 2011). Considering many adverse drug events are related to medication errors, preventing medication errors is fundamental to improving patient safety and outcomes. Medication reconciliation is the process of identifying and resolving medication discrepancies that occur, during transitions in care. Patient participation is a key component to the medication reconciliation process. With the intent to improve patient participation, a patient awareness intervention was implemented in the cardiology outpatient clinic. Data was collected using microsystem …

Reversing The Trend Of Large Scale And Centralization In Manufacturing: The Case Of Distributed Manufacturing Of Customizable 3-D-Printable Self-Adjustable Glasses, Jephias Gwamuri, Ben T. Wittbrodt, Nick C. Anzalone, Joshua M. Pearce

Department of Materials Science and Engineering Publications

Although the trend in manufacturing has been towards centralization to leverage economies of scale, the recent rapid technical development of open-source 3-D printers enables low-cost distributed bespoke production. This paper explores the potential advantages of a distributed manufacturing model of high-value products by investigating the application of 3-D printing to self-refraction eyeglasses. A series of parametric 3-D printable designs is developed, fabricated and tested to overcome limitations identified with mass-manufactured self-correcting eyeglasses designed for the developing world's poor. By utilizing 3-D printable self-adjustable glasses, communities not only gain access to far more diversity in product design, as the glasses can …

Transparency Rules In U.S. Elections Need Updating To Reflect 21st Century Realities, Rebecca Green

Popular Media

No abstract provided.

Empowering Female English Language Learners To Pursue Computer Science Fields: A Practical 4-Hour Workshop For Beginning Teachers In High School, Osaro Althouse

Master's Projects and Capstones

Female English language learners (FELLs) are not taken under consideration when trying to attract new student populations to computer science fields. Frequently, females are studied cohesively without regard to their individual distinctions and challenges. This unique population has to overcome traditional gender perceptions and linguistic confronts when considering the field of computer science. This paper provides a practical four-hour workshop for novice teachers in high school that are eager to empower female English language learners (FELLs) that demonstrate potential or are interested in entering computer science fields. An overview of research within the last ten years is exhibited, which includes …

Research Brief: "Managing The Re-Employment Of Military Veterans Through The Transition Assistance Program (Tap)", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This study examines whether Transition Assistance Program (TAP) helps transitioning service members find work as the researchers surveyed 350 Army personnel who have or could have utilized TAP services and found that 65% of the respondents used TAP services, with a majority (75%) using the services while active duty. In practice, Returning service members and veterans seeking employment or need help with their post-military goals should utilize TAP services, remembering that TAP services have been expanded to cater more to their individual needs. In policy, increasing workshop quantity and scheduling flexibility as well as utilizing more local facilitators and HR …

Synthesis N-Phenylaminedithiocarbamate As Chelating Agent In Solvent Extraction, Soja Siti Fatimah, Vera Musfiroh, Zackiyah Zackiyah, Husein H. Bahti, Iwan Hastiawan, Anna Permanasari

Chimica et Natura Acta

Dithiocarbamate derivatives is a versatile ligand that contain two atoms of sulfur as a strong electron donor. It combines with metals. N-phenylaminedithiocarbamate has synthesized and applied in solvent exctration. Synthesis carried out with addition carbon disulphide to N-phenylamine and concentrated pottasium hydroxyde in metanol. The result was characterized by spectroscopy 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, FTIR, Elemental Analysis, that showed molecular structure was significant. Applied N-Phenylaminedithiocarbamate in solvent extraction showed precent of result Cu(II), Co(II), Cr(III) and Ni (II) were 90.45% - 99.99% at pH 4-9.

Beberapa Parameter Kimia Yang Mempengaruhi Pertumbuhan Rumput Laut Merah Kappaphycus Alvarezii (Doty) Di Perairan Lebih-Dalam, Petrus A. Wenno, Rajuddin Syamsuddin, Magdalena Latuihamallo

Chimica et Natura Acta

Secara konvesional, budi daya rumput laut memerlukan wilayah besar pada perairan dangkal, tetapi tidak semua air cocok untuk pembiakannya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh beberapa parameter kimia yang cocok untuk tumbuhnya ganggang merah Kappaphycus alvarezii di perairan laut dalam. Penelitian ini difasilitasi dengan beberapa rakit gantung yang ditempatkan secara diagonal, satu di bawah yang lain, pada kedalaman 100, 250, 400, 550 dan 700 cm. Pemotongan tunas dari strain hijau dan coklat digunakan sebagai bibit awal dengan berat 50, 100 dan 150 g. Semua tunas diikat pada tali nilon dengan diameter 1 mm yang sudah diatur pada tali dengan diameter …

Proksimat Pakan Buatan Dan Ikan Tembang Sardinella Sp. Untuk Penggemukan Kepiting Bakau Scylla Serrata, Gratia Dolores Manuputty

Chimica et Natura Acta

Pertambahan berat diperoleh sebesar 43,35 gram untuk kepiting yang diberi pakan buatan dan 101,88 gram untuk kepiting yang diberi pakan ikan tembang. Nilai laju pertambahan berat kepiting yang diberi pakan buatan adalah 0,036 gram/minggu dan 0,078 gram/minggu untuk kepiting yang diberi pakan ikan tembang. Untuk hubungan lama waktu pemeliharaan dengan pertambahan berat rata-rata didapatkan persamaan penduga Y=10,09+0,299X (r=0,199434) untuk perlakuan dengan pakan buatan, dan Y=23,315+0,862X (r=0,304828) untuk perlakuan dengan pakan tembang. Kandungan protein di dalam pakan buatan adalah sebesar 18,867, lemak 2,372, karbohidrat 29,756, serat 2,662, dan kadar abu 1,4259. Kandungan protein di dalam pakan ikan tembang adalah sebesar 20,227, …

Sintesis Dan Karakterisasi Senyawa 3,3’-Benzilidena Bis- 4 – Hidroksi Kumarin Untuk Sediaan Radioterapi, Duyeh Setiawan, Diana Rakhmawaty

Chimica et Natura Acta

Penelitian yang sedang dikembangkan saat ini adalah senyawa kimia yang memiliki aktivitas biologis anti kanker, salah satunya adalah senyawa turu kumarin yaitu 3,3’-benzilidena bis-4-hidroksikumarin. Senyawa kumarin dapat membentuk kompleks stabil dengan ion logam valensi tiga yang bersifat radioisotop untuk meningkatkan aktivitas biologinya terhadap anti kanker. Penelitian ini bertujuan melakukan sintesis dan karakterisasi kumarin sebagai ligan untuk disiapkan dalam pembuatan senyawa kompleks kumarin bertanda radioisotop untuk sediaan radioterapi. Senyawa kumarin disintesis dengan cara mereaksikan benzaldehid dan 4-hidroksikumarin melalui reaksi kondensasi. Karakterisasi senyawa kumarin meliputi penentuan titik leleh, FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR. Hasil karakterisasi kumarin diperoleh dalam bentuk kristal berwarna putih sebanyak 5,79 …

Ekstraksi Gadolinium Dan Samarium Dari Mineral Monasit Secara Ekstraksi Dengan Ligan Etilendiamintrimetilenfosfonat (Edtmp), Anni Anggraeni, Titin Sofyatin, Husein H. Bahti

Chimica et Natura Acta

Unsur tanah jarang yaitu gadolinium dan samarium telah banyak dimanfaatkan pada berbagai industri, bahkan bidang kedokteran. Pada penelitian ini telah dilakukan isolasi Unsur Tanah Jarang (UTJ) dari mineral monasit sebanyak 500 g dan mengelompokkannya berdasarkan pH pengendapan menjadi UTJ Berat, UTJ sedang, dan UTJ ringan, masing-masing kelompok UTJ tersebut dianalisis dengan instrumen XRF dan ICP-OES. Kajian ekstraksi UTJ sedang dengan ligan EDTMP yaitu: Gd-EDTMP, Sm-EDTMP, Ce-EDTMP telah dilakukan dan efisiensi ekstraksinya di evaluasi menggunakan metode spektrofotometri sinar tampak menggunakan xylenol orange. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pengelompokkan berhasil dilakukan secara pengendapan dengan ammonium hidroksida pada pH 6,30 – 6,90 untuk mengendapkan …

Dilema Antara Hobi Dan Bisnis Perdagangan Burung Serta Konservasi Burung, Johan Iskandar

Chimica et Natura Acta

Paper discusses result of study on the development of hobby on bird keeping, bird song contest, bird trade business, and conservation strategy for bird sustainable use, based on case study undertaken in the Bandung urban and surrounding areas. The combination of qualitative and quantitative method with descriptive analysis was used in this study. The result of study shows that based on direct inventory it was recorded 96 bird species of 24 families which were being kept by thirty respondents. Among the total species, 29 species and races were recorded as domit, namely anis merah (Zoothera citrina), murai batu (Copsychus malabaricus), …

Ancestral Variation And The Evolution Of Sneaking Behavior In The Adaptive Radiation Of Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus Aculeatus L.), Katherine A. Shaw

Doctoral Dissertations

Behavior, a group of highly plastic and responsive phenotypic traits, has been characterized as having the potential to both drive and inhibit evolutionary change within populations. The Threespine Stickleback radiation (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) is a model system that demonstrates the vital role environment plays in behavioral evolution – with multiple colonizations of variable freshwater habitats by ancestral oceanic metapopulations producing the behaviorally diverse populations observable today. Here I characterize both inter- and intra-population variation in sneaking behavior – an inconspicuous mating tactic used by threespine males to gain fertilizations as an alternative to courtship behavior. I present evidence for …

The Effect Of Topical Estriol On Human Inner Foreskin, Cheryl L. Bell

Doctoral Dissertations

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a global health concern prompting an urgent need to develop simple, effective, economical preventive measures. The research described in this thesis evaluated the potential for topical estriol to induce keratinization of the inner foreskin, the primary site of HIV entry in uncircumcised males.

We found that topical estriol can induce keratinization of the human inner foreskin by up-regulating the production of keratins per cell, and not through increased skin proliferation. Furthermore, the quantity and position of HIV target cells in the foreskin were not adversely affected by the treatment.

Estrogen receptors (ERs) are transcription factors …

Biofilm Microenvironment Analysis Systems For Medicine And Agriculture, Jinzi Deng

Doctoral Dissertations

Biofilms are aggregated bacteria embedded in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Biofilms are the dominant growth form of bacteria in most natural environments, and are also important in many industrial and in vivo settings. The function of a biofilm system is inherently different from the function of the same cells dispersed in liquid culture. Existing methods to study biofilm either do not maintain the essential biofilm architecture or do not capture the dynamic nature of their responses. This research describes the development of a set of biofilm microenvironment analysis systems that maintain the essential micro-scale structure of biofilms. These systems are …

Self-Regulation In The Iep Classroom: Developing Lifelong English Language Proficiency, Jeannie Slayton

Doctoral Dissertations

Although students in Intensive English Programs (IEPs) acknowledge the importance of acquiring academic English skills, their primary concern is obtaining an acceptable Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score. In order to continue improving their English skills beyond the last English class, learners need to have the capability of self-regulating their own learning. The problem for IEP teachers is fostering self-regulation in students who tend to be exam-oriented learners.

The conceptual framework for this qualitative study was constructed by examining and synthesizing research from the fields of adult education and educational psychology. This framework informed the interview protocol, …

“Une Image Vaut Bien Mille Mots”: Recherche Sur L’Iconographie Des Textes Allégoriques De Christine De Pizan, Marie-Josee Marquis

Doctoral Dissertations

The following research paper is an iconographic analysis of six allegoric works of Christine the Pizan, including: Epistre Othea, Livre de la Cité des Dames, Livre des Trois Vertus, Livre du Chemin de long estude, Livre de la mutacion de Fortune et Livre de l’advision Cristine. These medieval writings will be analyzed in conjunction with their illuminations allowing as such a more complete understanding of the various details buried within the images. Iconography, codicology and paleography are the three analytic methods utilized in this comprehensive study of selected Christine de Pizan’s allegoric works. Furthermore, this study will illustrate the …

Utilizing Computer Programming To Analyze Post-Tonal Music: A Segmentation And Contour Analysis Of Twentieth-Century Music For Solo Flute, Kate Sekula

Doctoral Dissertations

Two concepts will be synthesized in this dissertation: 1) the creation of accessible computer applications for melodic segmentation and contour reduction and 2) the application of segmentation and contour reduction to analyze twentieth-century post-tonal works for unaccompanied flute. Two analytical methodologies have been chosen: James Tenney and Larry Polanski's Gestalt segmentation theory and Robert Schultz's refinement of Robert Morris's contour reduction algorithm. The investigation also utilizes Robert Schultz's concept of diachronic-transformational analysis in conjunction with contour reduction. While both segmentation and contour reduction are invaluable analytical tools, they are meticulous and time-consuming processes. Computer implementation of these algorithmic procedures produces …

Structural Characterization Of Porous Materials: Understanding Mass Transport Through Asymmetric Membranes During Forward Osmosis, Seetha Soundara Manickam

Doctoral Dissertations

Engineered osmosis (EO) is an emerging membrane separations-based technology platform comprising of forward osmosis, pressure-retarded osmosis, and direct osmotic dilution/concentration processes. EO relies on a water flux driven across a semi-permeable membrane as a result of osmotic pressure gradients between two solutions, the relatively dilute feed and a concentrated draw solution. However, the support layer in EO membranes presents a resistance to solute transport resulting in internal concentration polarization (ICP) phenomena which results in the actual driving force being far lower than what is available. Severity of ICP is largely influenced by the structure of the support layer in the …

Improving Patient Outcomes And Nurse Satisfaction By Reducing Avoidable Interruptions During Medication Administrations, Roberta Howard

Master's Projects and Capstones

Medication administration is an important part of nursing duties in acute-care settings. The nurse is responsible for prioritizing safe quality care when administering medications but errors do occur. This project addressed interruptions as one of the challenges of safe medication administration. The aims of this project are 1) to determine a standardized medication administration process 2) to identify perceived and actual interruptions on the unit and 3) to address and reduce the avoidable interruptions of calls, pages and call lights at the nurse station. The purpose of this project is to improve patient outcomes, nurse satisfaction and nurse workflow by …

Strategies For Esl Students In Community Colleges To Develop Their Public Speaking Skills, Cheryl I. Watkins

Master's Projects and Capstones

The purpose of this project was to identify strategies for ESL students in community colleges to develop their public speaking skills. Effective oral communication skills are commonly needed by employees in the workplace at all different levels. The project focused on three key areas: 1) ways to reduce the fear and anxiety associated with public speaking; 2) the role of small groups in planning and presenting oral presentations; and 3) the use of feedback and self-help strategies to improve public speaking skills. The project presented a handbook of strategies in each of these areas for students to use as a …

Teaching Health Literacy In Conjunction With Esl, Dora Lee

Master's Projects and Capstones

In the United States, many English as a Second Language (ESL) speakers who have limited English proficiency also have low levels of health literacy. The purpose of this project is to create a curriculum that ESL teachers can implement to improve the English language proficiency and the health literacy skills of adult ESL speakers with limited English proficiency residing in the United States. The curriculum is designed for teachers who work with ESL speakers who may be having trouble obtaining, processing, communicating, or managing health information due to language barriers.

Employee Engagement In The Pacu, Michelle Spadaro

Master's Projects and Capstones

A clear vision is a powerful tool that can help advance employee engagement within nursing units. There is a great need for a compelling vision for the operation of a safe, efficient, equitable, effective, and patient centered healthcare delivery system. It is crucial to identify what actions are needed to achieve this vision and what realistic strategies are necessary for success. The purpose of this vision statement is to achieve excellence in nursing by establishing a common identity and direction that responds to an ever-changing healthcare environment. The project was conducted on a 25 bed peri-operative and post anesthesia care …

Improving The Hcahps Score For Pain Well Controlled, Uwaezu J. Umeh

Master's Projects and Capstones

This project took place on a Renal/Endocrine unit of a northern California Hospital. As observed on this unit, pain was not well controlled and this caused the HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) score for ‘pain well controlled’ to be low. Hence, this project sought to address the underlying reasons why pain was not well controlled and to proffer solutions to raise the HCAHPS score to at least 65% from an average of 55%. In order to find the root causes, the nurses were surveyed, the patients and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) were interviewed, and a 24-hour …

Patient Satisfaction Related To Noise In The Coronary Care Unit, Anjanette S. Dominguez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Background The CCU staff recognized a department trend for low patient-satisfaction score related to environmental noise levels. Based on the Press Ganey score, the patient-satisfaction score plummeted in relation to noise level beginning in March 2014.

Purpose To improve patient satisfaction regarding noise level in the CCU to 100% by November 21, 2014.

Methods Senior & Fleming’s Hard System Model of Change guided this literature search of CINAHL and Fusion for articles published from 2009 to 2014. Specific terms used were noise, critical care, and sleep promotion. From September to November 2014, earplugs were offered to all alert/oriented patients entering …

Increasing Compliance Of Personal Protective Equipment S Election And Use For Isolation Precautions Among Rns & Nas On A Med-Surg Unit, Megan R. Alsmeyer

Master's Projects and Capstones

Background: Due to the high potential of transferring infectious diseases and/or organisms among patients, themselves, and the community, healthcare workers (HCWs) must be knowledgeable and confident in selecting the appropriate type of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the use in technique when putting on (donning) and removing (doffing) PPE based on the level of isolation precautions required for the patient being cared for.

Project Purpose: The purpose of this project is to determine whether assessing the knowledge and actual practice with observing, and utilizing an innovative approach of video and educational tools to isolation precautions would improve the consistency of …