Digital Commons Network^™

An Analysis Of Professional Adult Education Programs In Northwest Arkansas, Skyler Leigh Barry

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Professional adult education (PAE) has been described as structured educational activities that are designed or intended to support the continuing development of professional or career skills, knowledge, competencies, and abilities. Previous research has shown that professional adult education is a vehicle for adult learners to continue their education and gain valuable skills which can aide in career mobility. Given the importance of professional adult education as it relates to further development of adult learners, the purpose for conducting this study was to develop a profile of professional adult education providers and programming offered in Northwest Arkansas. In order to develop …

Alkaline Hydrolyzable-Nitrogen, Seeding Date, And Clay-Fixed Ammonium As Potential Indicators Of Rice Response To Nitrogen Fertilization In Arkansas, Anthony Michael Fulford

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Several potential indicators of rice (Oryza sativa L.) response to nitrogen (N) fertilization include the soils alkaline hydrolyzableN (AHN) concentration, seeding date, and the soils clayfixed NH₄N content. Three studies were conducted to: (1) correlate AHN, determined using Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test (ISNT) or Nitrogen Soil Test for Rice (NSTaR), to plant parameters of interest and develop a fertilizer N rate calibration curve capable of predicting the 95% relative grain yield (RGY) fertilizer N rate for rice grown on clayey soils; (2) evaluate the influence of seeding date and N fertilization on rice plant growth and grain …

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Switchgrass And Cottonwood Grown As Bioenergy Crops In The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Michele Lea Helton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Marginal land of the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV) has the potential to be utilized for the production of bioenergy feedstocks. Soil respiration is the gaseous emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from microbes and plant roots in the soil, and these emissions play an important role in the global cycling of carbon. Soil respiration can act as a positive feedback affecting climate change, and has been shown to vary depending on soil moisture, temperature, and vegetation. The objectives of this study where to evaluate the effects of land use [switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), cottonwood (Populus deltoides …

Examining The Role Of Street-Level Bureaucrats In The Implementation Of An Affordable Rental Housing Policy For Extremely Low Income Households In The District Of Columbia, Rod Williams

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The individuals who staff the nation's 4,600 Community Development Corporations (CDCs) represent the front line in production of affordable housing for America's poor. CDC staff members work within chronic funding uncertainties, applying complex and often ambiguous policies, under pressure to address shortfalls in affordable units. As such, they represent a prime example of Lipsky's (1980) street level bureaucrats (SLBs): agency workers with no formal policy role, who nevertheless shape policy by exercising discretion in the course of implementing ambiguous directives under stressful and alienating conditions.

The purpose of this study is to uncover how CDC SLBs experience their work and …

A Strategic Approach To Effectively Manage Supplier Quality Within The Construction Industry, Rufaidah Almaian

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the research is to determine the best practices for supplier quality management (SQM) in the construction industry that ensure that the supplied materials and equipment for construction projects are within the quality requirements. The research is based on three main objectives. The first objective is to describe and assess the process of assuring supplier quality inside and outside the construction industry. The second objective is to develop a framework for the supplier quality process based on the collection of SQM practices from multiple data sources. The third objective is to assess the SQM practices within the developed …

Social Media In The Church, Derick Ray Mckinney

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis project examines the effectiveness of social media in the church. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube have the potential to shape the way the world communicates. Many churches have even begun utilizing social media in their ministry efforts. They publicize, pray, encourage, and promote events, all using social media. This paper argues that Bible believing churches can effectively use social media to communicate to their members by announcing upcoming events, sharing audience specific information, and knowing the best time to post on these sites. This project shows a social media strategy implemented into New Heights Church in …

Depauw Women During World War I: Female Citizenship And Higher Education In Early 20th Century America, Kristine Ruhl

Student Research

Women at DePauw University were propelled into positions of power on campus with the outbreak of World War I and America’s eventual entrance into the conflict. As male enlistment numbers rose, female students were forced to fill vacant jobs in organizations and clubs, as well as in the workforce. Working as educated people, the women at DePauw adjusted to the conflicting messages of the university and the government and developed their own understanding of what it meant to be a woman in World War I. Facing down widespread stereotypes, women pursued unparalleled positions of power during the war, thus, female …

Thoughts From An Unapologetically Honest Introvert, Amy Michelle Wilson

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

My thesis exhibition, titled Thoughts From An Unapologetically Honest Introvert, highlighted our extrovert-centered society and provided introverts with new communication tools to change the social expectation.

Yale Scientific Magazine: Volume 88, Number 1

Yale Scientific Magazine

No abstract provided.

Geographic Determinants Of Rural Land Covers And The Agricultural Margin In The Central United States, Timothy J. Stoebner, Christopher L. Lant

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Geographic research on the Corn Belt and other regional landscapes of the central U.S. has not to date identified quantitatively the climatic, edaphic, topographic, and economic characteristics that determine rural land cover, and that therefore govern land cover change. Using the USDA/NASS Cropland Data Layer, this study identifies these characteristics by employing Multivariable Fractional Polynomials within a logistic regression framework. It maps the suitability distribution for corn, soybeans, spring and winter wheat, cotton, grassland, and forest, which collectively dominate the central U.S., at a 56 m resolution across 16 central U.S. states. The non-linear logistic regression models are successful in …

Bermuda’S Museum Treasures: An Application Of Collections Accessibility, Britt R. Franklin

Museum Studies Theses

Over the past twenty years, led by large cultural institutions, there has been an evolutionary shift in the way that museums connect with visitors and make their artifacts and archives accessible. As cultural institutions face greater demands from audiences, museums are adapting and embracing technological components now fundamental to growth and success. The National Museum of Bermuda is a small institution that is in a transformative stage. This paper focuses on how the National Museum of Bermuda have integrated advanced exhibit design and components in addition to how they are implementing networking tools to invite audiences to take a deeper …

Lanthorn, Vol. 49, No. 29, December 1, 2014, Grand Valley State University

Volume 49, July 7, 2014 - June 1, 2015

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Effect Of Styrene-Methyl Methacrylate/Styrene-Butadiene Rubber On Properties Of Poly(Vinyl Chloride), Buranin Saengiet, Fuangfa Unob, Kawee Srikulkit

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Generally, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) without the addition of plasticizer or impact modifiers is rigid and brittle. The aim of this research was to improve the mechanical properties of PVC using styrene-methyl methacrylate/styrene-butadiene compound (SMMA/SBR rubber) as an impact modifier. The compound was obtained commercially. PVC containing SMMA/SBR rubber having SMMA/SBR phrs of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 were prepared using two-roll mill set the conditions as follows: 170 oC and 5 min. Then, compression molding was carried out to prepare testing samples. FTIR analysis of SMMA/SBR rubber containing PVC samples showed the absorption band at 1732 cm-1 (C=O stretching), 3025 …

Effect Of Surfactant On Conductivity Of Poly(Pyrrole-Co-Formyl Pyrrole) Via Emulsion Polymerization, Sirilak Arunsawad, Kawee Srikulkit, Sarintorn Limpanart

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

P(Py-co-FPy) were synthesized via emulsion polymerization, SDS and PSS used as surfactant and TFA as catalyst. Amounts of surfactant were vary as mole ratio of surfactant : monomer (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0). The synthesis copolymers were characterized by FTIR, SEM, particle size analyzer and four point probes. As a result of FT-IR spectra proved that the synthesized copolymers are associated with the structure of the P(Py-co-FPy). Spherical particles were detected by SEM and particles diameter is in range of 60-600 nm depending on type and amounts of surfactant. The electrical conductivity is in the range of 1.74x 10-5 to 2.21 …

Government Dependency Theory: Public Services, Banking Crisis, And The Likelihood Of Protests, Titus Bickel

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to determine what causes certain countries to experience mass protests during economic crises while other governments weather the same events and emerge unscathed. Further research on this topic could predict the likelihood of protests that lead to state collapse in countries like Ukraine. I argue that high gross domestic product expenditure on social services creates a dependent society that will protest when those goods and services are threatened by banking crises. I originated this theory and titled it the Government Dependency Theory. My theory uses data from 147 banking crises occurring in 115 countries …

Material Requirements Planning (Mrp) For Electric Geyser Product By Using Goal Programming\ Applicative Research In The General Company Of Electrical Industrialization, Wakas Saad Khalaf, Nadia Lotfi Abdel Wahab, Manal Daoud Salman

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Material Requirements Planning System (MRP) is considered as one of the planning and controlling of production and inventory systems which is used to prepare plan of the final production requirements and its parts of subcomponents raw materials and the time at which it was needed for the purpose of preparing orders of production and purchase. The problem of the present work is represented in the general company of electrical industrialization adoption of traditional methods and personal experience of the process of the products and\or purchase quantity and inventory quantities and limiting the required time for acquiring the required quantities of …

Estimation Mean Wind Speed In Iraq By Using Parametric And Nonparametric Linear Mixed Models, Lekaa Ali Alalawy, Sarah Amin Abdelsattar

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

In this research, the one of the most important model and widely used in many and applications is linear mixed model, which widely used to analysis the longitudinal data that characterized by the repeated measures form .where estimating linear mixed model by using two methods (parametric and nonparametric) and used to estimate the conditional mean and marginal mean in linear mixed model ,A comparison between number of models is made to get the best model that will represent the mean wind speed in Iraq.The application is concerned with 8 meteorological stations in Iraq that we selected randomly and then we …

The Role Of Financial Reporting For Non-Current Assets Impairment In Enhancing The Relevance Accounting Information, Bushra Najem Aubdullah Al-Mashhadani, Sallama Ibrahim Ali

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This research deals with the financial reporting for the non-current assets impairment from the viewpoint of international accounting standards, especially IAS 36 "Impairment of assets”. The research problem focused on the non-compliance with the requirements of IAS 36 which would negatively affect the accounting information quality, and its characteristics, especially the relevance of accounting information, that confirms the necessity of having such information for the three sub-characteristics in order to be useful for the decisions of users represented the predictive value of accounting information, confirmatory value as well as materiality. The research aims to identify the financial reporting requirements of …

Standards Evaluate The Performance Of Emergency Departments In Iraqi Hospitals / Case Study, Saad Ali Al-Anzi, Aqeel Muslim Ashour

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This study aims to evaluate the performance of emergency departments according to international standards through studying the performance in some of Iraqi public hospitals, where the evaluation performance is considered one of the important topics that take a great deal of officials' attention, especially decision makers in health organizations. The researcher has derived the research idea from the importance of work in emergency department in hospitals and to what it provides of medical services and quick and immediate nursing care that help in patients' lifesaving, and it is the mirror that reflects the real image for the hospital and the …

The Use Of Value Chain Analysis Of Information In Determining The Most Important The Accounting Information, Lubna Zaid Ibrahem, Ashwaq Talib Kadhim

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

The use analysis value chain such information in the provision as financial so information quality meet and satisfy the needs of users such information , particularly investors and lenders as the identification needs financial information and the knowledge as their behavior influenced by that information can be based on the accounting profession to focus on improving their function in order to achieve its goal that satisfying their needs and rationalize their decisions . In accounting thought discovered fertile ground for users preferences as one of the entrances theorising positive which is based on the need to include knowledge on accounting …

Sex-Specific Distributions Of Leopard Sharks (Triakis Semifasciata) In An Estuarine Environment, Andrea Lynn Launer

Master's Theses

Estuaries are used seasonally by many elasmobranchs for reproduction and as nurseries. The character, location, and availability of elasmobranch habitats in estuaries are often altered by anthropogenic activities and environmental changes. These habitat changes may have different effects on groups within a shark population because sex-specific segregations are common for many elasmobranchs. Leopard Sharks (Triakis semifasciata) are important estuarine predators in California and exhibit sexual segregations. Movements of 13 Leopard Sharks (male n=6, female n=7) tagged with coded acoustic transmitters were monitored from March 14, 2013 to March 9, 2014 using moored receivers in Elkhorn Slough, CA. Movement patterns were …

The Role Of Type A Behavior Pattern On The Stressor-Strain Relationship In Nurses, Jenny Anh Thu Le

Master's Theses

Three models (direct effects, moderated effects, and mediated effects) were used to test the role of Type A Behavior Pattern (TABP) in the stressor-strain relationship. The longitudinal study measured stressors (role ambiguity, role overload, and role conflict), strains (anxiety, tedium, affective commitment, intent to leave, and general well-being), and TABP in hospital nurses across two survey administrations. Stressors at Time 1 and strains at Time 2 were utilized for the analyses. TABP was found to have direct effects on anxiety and general well-being. In addition, TABP partially moderated the relationship between role conflict and anxiety and tedium, as well as …

Hadrian's Wall: A Study In Function, Mylinh Van Pham

Master's Theses

Earlier studies on Hadrian's Wall have focused on its defensive function to protect the Roman Empire by foreign invasions, but the determination is Hadrian's Wall most likely did not have one single purpose, but rather multiple purposes. This makes the Wall more complex and interesting than a simple structure to keep out foreign intruders. Collective research on other frontier walls' functions and characteristics around the empire during the reign of Hadrian are used to compare and determine the possible function or functions of the Wall. The Wall not only served political purposes, but also had economic and social uses as …

Well Clear: General Aviation And Commercial Pilots' Perception Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles In The National Airspace System, Joseph Taylor Ott

Master's Theses

The purpose of this research was to determine how different pilot types perceived the subjective concept of the Well Clear Boundary (WCB) and to observe if that boundary changed when dealing with manned versus unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) as well as the effects of other variables. Pilots' perceptions of the WCB were collected objectively through simulator recordings and subjectively through questionnaires. Together, these metrics provided quantitative and qualitative data about pilot WCB perception. The objective results of this study showed significant differences in WCB perception between two different pilot types, as well as WCB significant differences when comparing two different …

An Assessment Of Artificial Burrows For Burrowing Owls In Northern California, Sandra Menzel

Master's Theses

This study assesses artificial burrows as a management tool for burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) at two study sites in northern California. The results of t-tests showed that artificial burrows that received annual surface maintenance (n = 113) at one site were occupied for a significantly (p ≤ 0.003) greater number of years than non-maintained (n = 51) artificial burrows at the other site. Maintained burrows were occupied for a mean of 1.90 years (SD = 2.04), compared to a mean of 0.45 years (SD = 0.97) for non-maintained burrows. Even with maintenance, occupancy rates dropped from 31% during the first …

Effects Of Depth, Site, And Season On Phenotypic Variation Of The Geniculate Coralline, Calliarthron Tuberculosum Around The Monterey Peninsula, California, Jasmine Elena Ruvalcaba

Master's Theses

Coralline algae are ubiquitous in near-shore marine environments. In particular, geniculate corallines occur in intertidal and subtidal habitats with abundances typically higher at shallow depths. Due to the high abundance of Calliarthron tuberculosum in Monterey kelp beds, this species was chosen to study effects of depth, site, and season on morphology and physiology. To further understand this pattern, populations from 3 and 10 m depth were sampled at two sites to examine morphometric variables including total length, total width, and number of branch tips as well as, physiological variables including respiration, photosynthetic, and calcification rates. Growth rates were also quantified …

The Role Of Lithology In Glacial Valley Cross-Sectional Shape In Sierra Nevada, California, Kaai Jensen

Master's Theses

It is commonly inferred that alpine glaciers transform fluvial valleys from V to U-shaped. It has been suggested that, under certain circumstances, glaciers are unable to modify V-shaped valleys and that lithology may play an important role in a glacier's ability to effectively erode bedrock. To test this hypothesis, six glaciated valleys with both U and V-shaped cross sections were chosen in the Sierra Nevada (CA) to examine how lithological properties might affect patterns of glacial erosion: Tenaya Canyon, Tuolumne River, Little Yosemite Valley, the San Joaquin River, the north fork of the King River, and Deadman Canyon. Valley profiles …

An Unsaturated Zone Flux Study In A Highly-Fractured Bedrock Area: Ground Water Recharge Processes At The Masser Recharge Site, East-Central Pennsylvania, Zhengzheng Qin

Master's Theses

This study tested the applicability of the Episodic Master Recession method and utilized the source-responsive flow theory to quantify ground water recharge and simulate preferential flow in the vadose zone at the Masser Recharge Site in east-central Pennsylvania. The ground water recharge shows strong seasonal variations. The shallow fractures form preferential flow paths and predominate in the vadose zone recharge processes, as reflected in the ground water-table elevation rise. They also influence the ground water-table recession rate, reflected in the rapid water-table recession in the deeper well with a high hydraulic conductivity fractured zone. Most importantly, the source-responsive flow model …

Hildegard Of Bingen: Mystic Of The Rhine, Zachary Jordan Young

Master's Theses

Hildegard of Bingen has a storied past and, as such, has been called many things. Among these are Sybil of the Rhine, Doctor of the Church, and mystic. This last title has given some pause, most notably Caroline Walker Bynum and Barbara Newman, who deny her the title in their preface and introduction to Hildegard's flagship work, Scivias. Scholars such as these fail to analyze Hildegard and her works on their own merits, instead comparing her to other female mystics rather than mystics in general. Although Hildegard does not experience the physical union that is the hallmark of the false …

Stereotype Threat, Self-Affirmation, And Women's Statistics Performance, Blanca Tapia

Master's Theses

Stereotype threat (fear of confirming a negative group stereotype that in turn can inhibit academic performance) has been implicated in the gender gap observed in the field of mathematics. Even though stereotype threat depresses women's performance, there has been much research reporting various interventions that ameliorate its negative effects. The current study investigated stereotype threat specifically in statistics--an unexplored area in the research literature --and the alleviating effects of self-affirmation. Participants in three conditions (control, stereotype threat, stereotype threat + affirmation) completed a statistics test. In both stereotype threat conditions participants were given a verbal prime to induce stereotype threat, …