Digital Commons Network^™

Outcomes, Perceptions, And Experiences In One Cped-Aligned Educational Doctorate (Edd) Program, Jolene Kay Farley Teske

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

EdD programming has been questioned because of lack of clarity in the initial degree construction and confusion regarding its unique focus on enhancing practice. An improved, coherent focus was developed through the Carnegie Project on the Educational Doctorate (CPED). To understand the changes happening in CPED-influenced EdD programs, studies conducted within these newly-revised programs are vital.

The current mixed-methods study explored perceptions of education doctoral (EdD) students in a CPED-Influenced program at one Midwestern university (n=36 for survey; n=8 for interviews). The research questions examined: (a) the successful completion of outcomes in the program; (b) the influence of the seven …

Constructing Identities In The West Branch Landscape: Herbert Hoover's Life And Legacy As A Common Man, 1935-1992, Ryan Lucas Wurtz

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis examines the development of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, and the town of West Branch's memorialization of Herbert Hoover. The memorialization process of Herbert Hoover's life began with the purchase of his childhood home by his wife, Lou Henry, and son, Allan Hoover in 1935. Backed by the town of West Branch, where the birth site was located, the memorial consisted of the home that Hoover lived in as a child. The Birthplace Society, comprised of leading West Branch community members, expanded the grounds and restored Hoover's father's blacksmith shop in …

Enhanced Optical Wireless Channel For Indoor And Intravehicle Communications: Power Distribution And Signal To Noise Ratio Analysis, Rana Rageh Shaaban

Theses and Dissertations

Visible light communication—(VLC) provides wide bandwidth and high security

capabilities for free space optical communication. This thesis presents the key concepts,

underlying principles and practical applications of visible light communications. In

particular, this thesis focuses on the received power distribution pattern and signal to noise

ratio for line-of-sight indoor and vehicular applications. Several methods are used to

modify the SNR and power distribution levels. It is shown that in the absence of

obstruction, the optical footprint is nearly circular and offers a platform for large- scale

deployment in commercial environments, which is similar to micro and Pico cells.

By studying …

Testing An Integrative Model Of Depressive Symptoms With A Sample Of Latina/O Youth, Diana Slivensky

Theses and Dissertations

Latina/o youth represent a significant portion of the United States population and experience depressive symptoms at greater rates than other racial and ethnic groups. Prior research has found relationships between the cultural adaptation process and negative

mental health outcomes. The purpose of the present study was to test a model of depressive symptoms with a sample of Latina/o youth that aimed to explore the relations among acculturation, enculturation, bicultural stress, adherence to cultural values (i.e., familismo and respeto), family cohesion, and perceived peer support. Additionally, the present study examined gender differences among all the aforesaid variables. Participants included 156 Latina/o …

Inner Strength In Men-A Descriptive Phenomenology, Charles S. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenologic study was to explicate the eidetic structure and essence of inner strength in men. Based in the philosophy of Husserl (2012) and developed from the methodology of Giorgi (2009), inner strength in men emerged as a unique phenomenon comprised of five structural themes: 1) mentally managing; 2) purposefully moving; 3) intentional normalizing; 4) intentional connecting; and, 5) mobilizing self to get through. The essence of inner strength in men was “purposefully moving ‘through a glass darkly’ to get to the other side.”

Twelve men aged 50 years or older (m = 60.25 years) shared …

The Long-Term Impacts Of Study Abroad On Oxford Eurospring Alumni: A Phenomenological Study, Karmen Pfeiffer Sorenson

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative, phenomenological study examines the long-term impacts of study abroad on the lives of alumni who participated in the Oxford Eurospring study abroad program through two Midwest regional universities at some point from 1981-2001. Adding to the existing literature on overall impacts of study abroad, this study investigates the phenomenon of the long-term impacts of study abroad experience on the lives of alumni since their time abroad – using a conceptual framework of personal, professional, civic, and global impacts.

This study utilizes phenomenological methods and analysis in tracing the lives of study abroad alumni since their time abroad to …

Inner Strength In Mothers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Oral Histories, Jennifer Weathersbee Steinberg

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this oral history study was to describe the lived experiences of mothers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and to further inform the Theory of Inner Strength in Women (TIS) (Dingley & Roux, 2014). Postmodern feminist oral history methods were used to answer the research questions which included: 1) What are the lived experiences of mothers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? and 2) How do these experiences further inform TIS?

Interviews were manually coded directly onto the digital audio files using NVivo11Plus qualitative data management software. Three chronologic phases were identified among …

Performance Analysis Of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (Ads-B) And Breakdown Of Anomalies, Asma Tabassum

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis work analyzes the performance of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data received from Grand Forks International Airport, detects anomalies in the data and quantifies the associated potential risk. This work also assesses severity associated anomalous data in Detect and Avoid (DAA) for Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The received data were raw and archived in GDL-90 format. A python module is developed to parse the raw data into readable data in a .csv file. The anomaly detection algorithm is based on Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) ADS-B performance assessment report. An extensive study is carried out on two main types of …

The Impact Of Gender, Victim Weight, And Victim Responsibility On Attributions Of Blame And Responsibility In A Case Of Nonconsensual Pornography, Carolyn Ann Uhl

Theses and Dissertations

The sharing of sexually explicit messages or photographs, known as sexting, is on the rise. As a result, nonconsensual pornography, commonly referred to as revenge porn, is also increasing. Victims of nonconsensual pornography suffer a variety of negative consequences following the distribution of their photographs. Various case and victim characteristics of nonconsensual pornography cases may alter observer perceptions of these situations. This study utilized a mock police report describing a case in which a former romantic partner distributed nude photographs of the victim online without the victim’s consent. The police reports were identical, apart from manipulations of victim gender, victim …

A Survey Measuring The Efficacy Of Duty And Rest Guidelines In Business Aviation Operations, Timothy Wollmuth

Theses and Dissertations

Despite improved understanding of fatigue, reduced cognitive ability continues to contribute to aviation accidents (Drury, Ferguson, & Thomas, 2012; Noy et al., 2011). A comprehensive fatigue study on business aviation (BA) operations in the US has not been published since "Crew Factors in Flight Operations XIII: A Survey of Fatigue Factors in Corporate/Executive Aviation Operations" (Rosekind, Co, Gregory, & Miller, 2000). This study, modeled after the Rosekind survey and conducted in collaboration with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), updated the baseline for fatigue in BA, qualitatively examined fatigue perceptions in BA, and examined the efficacy of the “Flight Safety …

A Radioelement Analysis Of The Northern Black Hills, South Dakota, U.S.A., Dylan Wade Young

Theses and Dissertations

The uranium, thorium, and potassium contents from 736 samples, within a 15-km radius of the Homestake Gold Mine and Sanford Underground Research Facility in the Northern Black Hills indicate the geoneutrino background may be higher than average for the continental crust. The radioactive element contents of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks were determined by gamma ray spectrometry. Many rocks show hydrothermal and metamorphic alteration within the last ten Ma of the Tertiary period. Young alkali rich igneous rocks, such as rhyolite, phonolite and other volcanic rocks, have lower than average Th:U ratios. The radioelement content of 215 igneous rocks were …

Theory And Application Development Of Electronic Structure Methods Involving Heavy Computation, Run Li

Theses and Dissertations

The propargyl radical, the most stable isomer of C3H3, is very important in combustion reactions. However, theoretical calculations have never been able to find a strong absorption around 242 nm as seen in experiments. In this study, we calculated the electronic energy levels of the propargyl radical using highly accurate multireference methods, including multireference configuration interaction singles and doubles method with triples and quadruples treated perturbatively [denoted as MRCISD(TQ)], as well as second and third order generalized Van Vleck perturbation theories (GVVPT2 and GVVPT3). Calculations indicate that this absorption can be solely attributed to a Franck-Condon-allowed transition from the ground …

Validating Precipitation Phase Measurements From Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar On Gpm Core Observatory Satellite, Benjamin Lott

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to validate precipitation measurements from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory (GPM-CO) satellite. The GPM-CO satellite is being used to detect falling rain and snow. Being able to detect rain builds off the success of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), which provided reasonable rainfall estimates when compared to ground-based radars. Detecting falling snow was a key GPM-CO requirement that was to be met within three years the satellite’s launch date of 27 February 2014. In this project, ground observations from Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) and Automated Weather Observing Station (AWOS) was …

Sensitivity Of Cross-Tropopause Convective Transport To Tropopause Definition, Emily Maddox

Theses and Dissertations

An idealized three-dimensional cloud-resolving model is used to investigate the sensitivity of cross-tropopause convective mass transport to tropopause definition. A ten-hour simulation is conducted to encompass the growth and decay cycle, with focus on irreversible transport above the tropopause. Six previously published tropopause definitions are evaluated. These definitions include specific values of altitude, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) temperature lapse rate, potential vorticity, stratospheric tracer concentration, static stability, and curvature of the Brunt-Vaisala Frequency. This investigation highlights the challenge of defining a tropopause during active deep convection, and demonstrates the need of clearly communicating calculation methods and threshold choices in the …

Detailed Analysis Of Convective Simulations From A Wrf Microphysics Ensemble, Joshua Markel

Theses and Dissertations

This study performed a detailed analysis of convective storms across the Contiguous United States from 77 case dates using a 4-member microphysics Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) ensemble and Stage IV gauge-adjusted radar derived precipitation. Dates included the 2016 NOAA Spring Forecast Experiment (SFE) with the remainder from 2010-2012. Quantitative attributes of precipitation objects in both simulations and observations were diagnosed using the Method of Object-Based Diagnostic Evaluation Time-Domain (MODE-TD). The microphysics schemes tested were WSM6, Thompson, Morrison, and Milbrandt.

Among all simulation case dates, compared to observations, the number of precipitation objects less than 90 km in length are …

Young Children's Articulations Of Their Metacognitive Processing During Play, Dawnita S. Nilles

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative research study was to hear young children’s descriptions of their metacognitive processes. Research has shown that play is the foundation of a child’s learning and numerous studies show that play affects all areas of a child’s development. Despite this, at the time of this study, there appeared to be a scarcity of published literature in which young children were interviewed about the metacognitive processes they use while playing. Children have been found to describe their thinking through non-verbal cues. They also have been able to articulate their knowledge and understanding, analyze, and evaluate the …

Urban Heat Island Demonstration And Temperature Progression Using Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Elliot Quinn Peltier

Theses and Dissertations

Urban heat islands are urban areas that become large enough to impact local climate, specifically by increasing temperatures. Urban centers are made of surfaces, high concentrations of buildings, and greenhouse gases that are susceptible to retaining heat. As more people move into cities, more space is needed for urbanization, increasing factors that raise temperature. This also affects energy demand, increases need for maintenance, and affects climate sensitive people.

Using the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, the objective is to demonstrate the urban heat island effect to see the extent to which heat islands impact urban climate. The years under observation cover …

The Effects Of Subject Presentation Types In Problem Based Learning (Pbl) Problems On Student Motivation: A Pbl Implementation In Speech Language Pathology, Elaine Kim Pyle

Theses and Dissertations

Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is an evidence-based instructional approach designed to maximize one’s ability to use static knowledge as evidence for solving authentic problems (Barrows, 1986). Students have been observed as underprepared or skipping steps during the PBL process due to fatigue or low motivation (Czabanowska, Moust, Meijer, Schr��-B夫, & Robertson, 2012). This study considered the impact of the presentation of the PBL subject (i.e., the key character involved in the problem) on student motivation within the context of Speech and Voice Science curricula. The results of this mixed-methods study showed the frequency of engagement behaviors declined overall. Although engagement levels …

The Effect Of Perpetrator Remorse, Victim Gender, And Photographer On Victim Blame In A Case Of Nonconsensual Photograph Sharing, Katlin J. Rhyner

Theses and Dissertations

Emotional expression is often used as a way to determine a person’s intent for social situations. In a courtroom, when a perpetrator expresses (or fails to express) remorse, not only the perception of the perpetrator may be altered, but also the perception of the victim. This difference may especially be the case in a situation where the victim is viewed as having a high level of culpability for the crime, such as if the victim took the picture and sent it. Furthermore, the gender of the victim of the crime may influence how the victim is perceived, such that women …

The Place Of Faith, Doubt, And Sacrament In The Post-Apocalyptic Worlds Of The Leftovers And The Walking Dead, Scott Culpepper

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

No abstract provided.

Review Symposium: Four Perspectives On Karl Rahner's Theological Aesthetics, By Peter Joseph Fritz, Judith Wolfe, Gesa Thiessen, Robert Masson, Mark F. Fischer

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

The Spiritual Senses, Monastic And Theological, Marcus Plested

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Communication Or Piracy? Library Values, Copyright, And Cloud Computing, Justin White

University Library Publications and Presentations

Advances in computing in the twenty-first century has shifted the late twentieth century model of computers that act as independent processing machines, back to the more archaic model of terminals that have processing done by a larger, centralized network. This shift has come about because of the growth of Cloud computing, which, for this chapter, will be defined as a model of computing as infrastructure. Whether the drive to Cloud solutions was driven by the limited resources of mobile devices, or the need to collectively share and store data across multiple platforms, or even a desire to offload software itself …

Towards Patent Standardization, Janet Freilich, Jay P. Kesan

Faculty Scholarship

Among the most important purposes of patents are to provide clear notice to third parties of the patent's boundaries and to disclose helpful information to researchers seeking to replicate or further develop the patented invention. Unfortunately, patents often fail at both of these tasks, in part because of lack of uniformity of language and format.' Use of idiosyncratic language in patent claims renders it difficult to find relevant patents and, once a patent is found, to interpret its claims. As there is no customary set of information that must always be included in a patent, researchers often find reading a …

Before Interpretation, Anya Bernstein

Faculty Scholarship

What is it that a judge interprets in a statutory interpretation case? This Article shows that the answer to this question is surprisingly complex. First, the text that a judge interprets is not simply given. Rather, judges must select texts to interpret. Second, the background against which a judge views that text is also not given. Rather, judges situate the texts they interpret within unique, case-specific contexts that they construct from a diverse and unpredictable variety of factors. Selecting and situating: these form the infrastructure of interpretation. Each requires judges to exercise creativity and choice. But opinions tend to present …

Agency Imprimatur & Health Reform Preemption, Elizabeth Mccuskey

Faculty Scholarship

At this moment, there exists nearly unanimous agreement that the American health care system requires reform, but also vehement disagreements over what form regulation should take and who should be in charge of regulating—state or federal authorities. Preemption doctrine typically referees disputes between federal and state regulatory efforts, but it also exacerbates them. There exists nearly as unanimous opinion that preemption doctrine in health law is a mess. This Article identifies an inventive structure that may help defuse some preemption problems in health reform.

The Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual and employer mandates, health insurance exchanges, and insurance coverage standards …

Recognizing Women's Rights At Work: Health And Women Workers In Global Supply Chains, Erika R. George, Candace D. Gibson, Rebecca Sewall, David Wofford

Faculty Scholarship

The Guiding Principles mandate that businesses respect the human fights enshrined in the International Bill of Human Rights and in the International Labour Organization (ILO)'s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Due diligence processes and risk impact assessments are the main recommended means for ensuring compliance with companies' commitments to respect international human fights. Because OSH as a conceptual framework and regulatory order is not sufficient to identify the risk of health fights violations to women workers, we argue companies should not anchor their due diligence and risk assessment in OSH conventions and settle for a check-the-box solution …

An Assessment Of The Influence Of Functional Diversity And Perceived Information Quality On The Intention To Use Collaboration Systems, Eric M. Spriggs

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

The role that perceived information quality has on the intention to use a computer supported collaborative work (CSCW) system in the Federal Highway Administration is the focus of this study. The purpose of this study was to examine the functional diversity of the contributors in a CSCW as a major determinant of perceived information quality. The study relied on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to propose a theoretical model which shows that perceived information quality influences perceived risk and trusting belief of the users of these systems. …

Organizational Information Dissemination Within Collaborative Networks Using Digital Communication Tools, Cristelia Hinojosa

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

While knowledge is one of an organization’s greatest assets, it remains a challenge to facilitate knowledge transfer between people within an organization. Social influence has been studied in its role of facilitating information diffusion, which is necessary for knowledge transfer to occur. Among this research, tie strength, a quantifiable characteristic of a social network that determines the link between two nodes, has been measured to determine the impact of social influence on knowledge transfer and information dissemination within a social network. Current research that explores the impact of social influence on information diffusion has been conducted within public social networks …

The Role Of Cognitive Disposition In Re-Examining The Privacy Paradox: A Neuroscience Study, Zareef Mohammed

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

The privacy paradox is a phenomenon whereby individuals continue to disclose their personal information, contrary to their claim of concerns for the privacy of their personal information. This study investigated the privacy paradox to better understand individuals' decisions to disclose or withhold their personal information. The study argued that individuals’ decisions are based on a cognitive disposition, which involves both rational and emotional mental processes. While the extended privacy calculus model was used as the theoretical basis for the study, the findings of cognitive neuroscience was applied to it to address its limitation in assuming individuals are purely rational decision-makers. …