Digital Commons Network^™

Trade Openness And Income Inequality, Sarah Polpibulaya

All Theses

This paper investigates the impact of trade openness on country’s income distribution or income inequality on both developing and developed countries during the years 1960-2005. The data are grouped into 5 year (10 periods) with 86 countries in the sample. Also, I group countries into 8 regions to observe the changes in trade openness and income inequality during the study period. Using OLS regressions, the results show that increases in trade openness leads to a greater income inequality in overall countries. By running the regressions separately for developing and developed countries, the results indicate an interesting fact: while increases in …

Finite Element Analysis Of The Effect Of Acoustic Wavelength To Hierarchical Side Length And Facet Area For Elastic Scattering From Polygonal Rings And Geodesic Spheres, Ankit Kumar

All Theses

In this work, the frequency response from two-dimensional polygon and three-dimensional geodesic spheres is numerically simulated using a coupled structural acoustic finite element model. The model is composed of a submerged thin-walled elastic shell structure surrounded by an infinite acoustic air domain. Infinite elements are used to simulate the far-field acoustic radiation condition. Results for the faceted polygon and geodesic sphere are compared to their canonical counterpart viz. a circle/ring and a spherical shell. A unique feature of this study is to compare results as the number of facets in the polygon or geodesic is increased, such that the surface …

The Gaussian Approximation To Multiple-Access Interference In The Evaluation Of The Performance Of A Communication System With Convolutional Coding And Viterbi Decoding, Snigdhaswin Kar

All Theses

The standard Gaussian approximation is extended to the performance analysis of direct-sequence code-division multiple-access (DS-CDMA) systems using binary con-volutional coding, quaternary modulation with quaternary direct-sequence spreading and Viterbi decoding. Using the standard Gaussian approximation, the random variables mod-eling the multiple-access interference in the receiver statistics are replaced by an equivalent additive Gaussian noise term with the same variance as the actual multiple-access interfer-ence term. The Gaussian approximation is shown to result in an accurate approximation to the probability of code-word error at the receiver. The accuracy is demonstrated by compar-ing simulation results for the actual multiple-access system and a model …

Use Of Electrochemistry To Monitor The Growth And Activity Of Clostridium Phytofermentans, Ariane Laurence Martin

All Theses

Microbes have a wide range of metabolic capabilities available that make them industrially useful organisms. Monitoring these metabolic processes is a crucial component in efficient industrial application. Unfortunately, monitoring these metabolic processes is often invasive and time consuming especially within an anaerobic environment. Electrochemical techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) offer a non-invasive approach to monitor microbial activity and growth. We hypothesized that EIS and CV could be used to monitor Clostridium phytofermentans, an anaerobic and endospore-forming bacterium. C. phytofermentans ferments a wide range of sugars into hydrogen, acetate, and ethanol as fermentation by-products and …

Effects Of Nitrogen Fertilization On The Life History Of The Madeira Mealybug (Phenacoccus Madeirensis) And The Molecular Composition Of Its Host Plant, Stephanie Alliene Rhodes

All Theses

The aim of this study was to investigate how different nitrogen fertilization rates of host-plants influence the development, fecundity, and nutritional status of a pest insect,the Madeira mealybug (Phenococcus madeirensis Green, Hemiptera: Psuedococcidae).This study evaluated the effects of nitrogen fertilization (0, 75, 150 and 300 ppm N) onthe growth, % nitrogen, % carbon, lipid, and protein contents of basil plants (Ocimum basilicum L., Lamiaceae), and the subsequent impacts of host-plant nutritional status onthe life history and total lipid and protein contents of the Madeira mealybug. Heights androot lengths of plants fertilized with 75 ppm N were greater than those of …

Young Adult Saudi Learners With Low-Level Literacy, Randy Allen Heuring

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The guiding question addressed in this curriculum project was, how should phonics be used to improve the English acquisition success rate of Saudi military students? It documents the design and creation of a specialized unit that takes into account all aspects of student learning based on prior knowledge, educational background, cultural values, interest, and motivation. The author integrates newly developed, modified, and existing curriculum, based on relevant research into the methods. The author documents the details of the unit and uses related research literature to construct meaning and validate the curriculum. He describes both success and struggles in implementing the …

Common Factors In Unplanned Cesarean Section, Lauren C. Compton

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Obstetrical delivery by cesarean section is a prevalent form of delivery. Whether clinically indicated or by maternal request, cesarean delivery rates in the United States have risen to account for over a third of all deliveries. Cesarean section procedures are often clinically indicated and occur because of fetal factors, but they can also be elected by maternal request. The aims of this study are to analyze the frequency of the factors in the study questions that are associated with unplanned cesarean section procedures and to compare the frequency of these factors per cesarean section with the time of day the …

Carrying On Like A Madman: Insanity And Responsibility In Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, Melissa J. Ganz

English Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Practice: Implications For The Future, Jenna E. Buchman

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of The Physical Activity Levels And Literacy Of Grand Valley State University Students, Sarah Haller

Honors Projects

Introduction: It’s been said that students with higher physical activity (PA) levels, tend to get better grades in school. The research behind this topic is mixed, with most regarding children, not college-aged adults. Methods: A PA health questionnaire was designed in a similar format as a survey given by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The survey was voluntarily filled out by 94 randomly selected Grand Valley State University (GVSU) students. Results: No significant differences were found between PA levels and GPA or major of GVSU students. Significant differences were found between the American Heart Association’s (AHA) guidelines for PA, …

Gridline Graphs In Three And Higher Dimensions, Susanna Lange, Holly Raglow

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

The Lonely Robin: A Children’S Book To Target Liquid Speech Sounds, Kelsey Meints

Honors Projects

The purpose of the project was to write and illustrate a children’s book for readers aged 8-10 years old. The plot was meant to engage children so that they can relate to the characters, and learn about significant real-life themes. Words were selected very carefully for the story. The book primarily focuses on words with the /l/ (e.g. lake) and /r/ (e.g. red) English phonemes. An appendix at the end of the book classifies target words according sound and syllable position. The author’s goal is that this book can be used as a tool for joint reading and independent practice …

Narrative Discourse In Bilingual English-Spanish Speakers: A Case Control Study, Sarah Young

Honors Projects

The study explored differences in storytelling between bilingual English and Spanish speakers and monolingual English Speakers, differences between Spanish and English storytelling in bilingual speakers, and the relation between language ability used in storytelling and language ability used on a structured measure of language ability. Ten second and third grade children were targeted for this study – five of whom were monolingual English speakers and the other five were bilingual English-Spanish speakers. Bilingual children completed two sessions – one in English and one in Spanish – while monolingual children completed one session in English. Each session contained a narrative retell, …

Peer Support And Inclusion For Individuals With Disabilities: Benefits For Everyone, Rebekah Shippy

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Juveniles In The Adult Criminal Justice System: A Critical Look At Trying Juvenile Adults, Lauren Weisner

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of Research On Altruism In Recent Literature Of The Three Sectors: Public, Private, And Non-Profit, Jennifer Saksa

Honors Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the topic of altruism in the recent research literature of the public, private, and non-profit sectors. The top twenty most cited articles of each of the three sectors from 1995 to 2014 were retrieved from the Web of Science Journal Citation Report database and reviewed. Data was accumulated for content analysis of trends of publishing, changing industry viewpoints on altruism, and how altruism is referenced in these articles in each sector. With the results of the literary analysis, altruism can be considered a developable skill by organizations and that it can be …

Tax Inversion: What Is It Good For?, Stephen Cimbalik

Honors Projects

Taxation is often regarded as one of the most complex aspects of modern society. With a tax code that is now over 70,000 pages long, it is no wonder that many have little to no understanding of how taxation works in the United States. In spite of the length and depth to which the code explains tax procedure, there are still individuals that find ways to exploit loopholes. In the past 30 years, the technique of tax inversion has become an incredibly popular way for companies to reduce the amount of tax they have to pay each year.

In simple …

Un Compromise Pieux Et Éclairé : Une Étude Des Œuvres De Jean Pestre, Christopher Stark

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Factors That Determine Admission To And Success In Physical Therapy Programs: A Pre-Pt Website Designing Narrative, Stefanie Cesario

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of The Tohoku Tsunami On The Nuclear Energy Industry In Japan, Stephanie Robeson, Nicholas Marr

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Habermas And The Problems Of Translating Religious Speech, Chad Karsten

Honors Projects

Contrary to the predictions of secular philosophers for the past several centuries, religion remains alive and well. In fact, in the past several decades, especially in the United States, the role of religion in politics has grown immensely. For the political philosopher Jürgen Habermas this poses a problem. How can a state remain neutral to competing worldviews, religions included, whilst respecting the equal rights of religious citizens to view themselves as authors of the laws that bind them? Habermas believes that religion is an important and useful force in postsecular democracy and as such must be given a chance to …

Rookie To Expert: Implementing Rook Theory In Strategic Games, Dakota Doster

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Using Mathematical Games To Align Classroom Materials With The Common Core State Standards, Christine M. Lampen

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Changing Behavior, Brain Differences, Or Both? A Review Of Effective Adhd Treatment, Devin Hilla

Honors Projects

Much debate exists over the proper course of treatment for individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Stimulant medications, such as methylphenidate (e.g., Ritalin) and amphetamine (e.g., Adderall), have been shown to be effective in managing ADHD symptoms. More recently, non-stimulant medications, such as atomoxetine (e.g., Strattera), clonidine (e.g., Kapvay), and guanfacine (e.g., Intuniv), have provided a pharmacological alternative with potentially lesser side effects than stimulants. Behavioral therapies, like behavioral parent training, behavioral classroom management, and behavioral peer interventions, have shown long-term benefits for children with ADHD; however, the success of the short-term management of ADHD symptoms is not as substantial when …

Evidence-Based Phonics Game, Kaleigh Cammenga

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Family Owned Businesses: International Charitable Contributions & Tax Savings, Gloria Lacourse

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Doctors Of The Holocaust: An Examination Of Both Ss And Prisoner Doctors, Amanda Kronemeyer

Honors Projects

When examining the Holocaust, there are a great number of different facets and ways to go about learning about that part of history. One aspect of the Holocaust that has a great deal of information to look at is the medical implications. This could be looking at the actual medicine that occurred in the concentration camps, including medical experiments, to the SS men and prisoners that were appointed as doctors in the camps, to so much more. This paper will focus on the doctors that worked in the concentration camps, both SS men and prisoners. First, SS doctors will be …

Prevention Of Sexual Exploitation And Trafficking Among Minors In Michigan, Lindsey Upchurch

Senior Projects

This research paper explores the need for comprehensive prevention methods related to the issue of sexual exploitation and trafficking of minors in the state of Michigan. Scholarly work conducted by the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council (2013) supports that, overall, there is an inadequate amount of empirical data concerning this issue. Inadequate empirical evidence consequently results in a lack of overall success in preventing sex trafficking among minors. In addition, a report from the Michigan Commission on Human Trafficking (2013) also identifies this problem, while offering alternative ideas surrounding prevention, through collaborative efforts. A human-rights based approach to …

The Impact Of Natural Disasters On Children In The United States, Samantha M. Przybylski

Senior Projects

The goal of this paper is to consider the unique experiences of children in natural disaster preparedness, response and recovery. This paper seeks to stress the importance of taking special interest in children’s needs during times of crisis. Through a case study of Hurricane Katrina, an exploration of the disservice children receive in noted. In closing, a possible solution-oriented approach is discussed.

Representational Politics In Video Game Media – Gender In Pokémon, Glenn R. Miller

Senior Projects

The Pokémon franchise is a global powerhouse however it lacks representation that is necessary for the variety of races, sexualities, genders, and sexes that inhabit the countries where the games are released. These are fleshed out with the analysis of the works of Anne Fausto-Sterling, Jack Judith Halberstam, Judith Butler, and a critical analysis of the releases and features of the Pokémon games. An observance on representation is also conducted.