University of Technology, Sydney. / The dramatic impact of Internet-based electronic commerce is attracting a great deal of attention in the business world. It is a reality that Internet-based electronic commerce is still in its infancy and it will take a few more years or a decade before it becomes a full medium of business operations. However, many long vision organisations are implementing Internet-based electronic commerce (e -commerce) in their business operations in order to be able to cope, survive and obtain competitive advantage in this very dynamic, and rapidly changing global business environment. E-commerce refers to moving business-related operations and transactions from paper-based to a fully electronic (digital) environment over the Internet. Therefore, as we enter the third millennium, business operations all around the world are starting to move inevitably from the traditional method to the Internet-based electronic commerce. Threat or opportunity, e-commerce over the Internet will change the way we do business. The development of Internet-based e-commerce might be seen as one of the most exciting trends in the business marketplace. Research shows that almost every organisation that wants to stay in business beyond the turn of the century must re-evaluate every aspect of its strategy and operations from customer service to marketing, product development to retailing, and logistics to distribution and all value-added supply chain business processes. That is why Internet-based e-commerce is essential for companies entering a virtual distribution marketplace to survive in this very competitive business environment. This study attempts to identify, examine, analyse, test and empirically determine the strategic critical (key) success factors (CSFs) in order to develop a comprehensive model for successful implementation of Internet-based e-commerce in business operations. CSFs were considered in this research from the perspective of Internet-based e-commerce user companies' executives and managers. There is no previous and specific study on the critical success factors for the implementation of Internet-based electronic commerce at the time of this study. This research consists of two parts. In order to realise the research purpose, the study employed two Focus Group sessions, a pilot-test (pre-test) followed by a comprehensive quantitative survey. Questionnaires were mailed to CEOs, Directors and IS/E-commerce executives/managers from randomly selected e-commerce user companies in Australia. There was no comprehensive business index available for e-commerce user companies at the time of this research. Therefore, e-commerce user companies were randomly selected from the Internet by using one of the most powerful and popular search engines, Yahoo! The collected data was examined for validity and reliability. Statistical tests included descriptive analysis, Chi-Square goodness-of-fit, canonical correlation analysis, factor analysis, and regression analysis. As a result of the statistical analysis, the top ten critical success factors for Internet-based e-commerce implementation success were identified. The ten CSFs were statistically significant for e-commerce implementation success and supported the proposed original research model. The expected contribution of this study is to identify and provide knowledge on key or critical success factors for companies who have already implemented or plan to implement Internet-based e-commerce in their business operations. The recommended key strategic success factors for Internet-based e-commerce implementation enables executives, managers or practitioners (implementors) to use effectively and efficiently these strategic factors when planning, developing and implementing an e-commerce business operations system over the Internet. This study also provides a basic knowledge for further research on CSF and e-commerce implementation. E-commerce user companies may also benefit from the results and may be able to utilise the critical success factors for planning purposes. Further, this research, like any other research, is subject to a number of limitations. However, this is the first study of its kind as far as the researcher is aware. The findings are clear and significantly supported by statistical analysis. Additional research is however needed for better understanding of this new medium of digital business operations. Finally, a model was developed to present the most critical success factors for successful implementation of Internet-based e-commerce in business operations. It may be said that the developed model is one of the first developments in this field.

Recent technological advancements in electronics and telecommunications have provided more accessible quantitative methods of assessing balance. The latest smartphones have built-in motion sensors called tri-axial accelerometers, which are an ideal choice for evaluating variability of movement and balance providing a non-invasive, portable method of measurement. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the balance assessment measures from a mobile device application (iPod) utilizing accelerometric motion sensors against the balance assessment measures of a clinically valid and reliable balance platform (BIODEX Balance System SD). METHODS: 75 healthy college-aged individuals (37 male, 38 female; average age = 24.2��6.8 yr) performed a series of balance tasks over two visits (Study 1 and Study 2). During Study 1, 8 balance tests were assessed, beginning with two feet on ground (baseline) and progressively becoming more difficult and repeating them over three trials. iPod Touches with a software application to measure balance was used to assess sway. During Study 2, participants completed 4 balance assessments using a clinically validated balance platform and the iPod Touches, at the same time. RESULTS: Data showed that the iPod Touches were consistent with expect outcomes, based off of normative data; the more unstable the assessment the higher the balance score compared to baseline or standing with feet together eyes open without foam. Analyses of the 3 trials suggest that a familiarization test should be performed when using the iPod Touch balance application and this is consistent with other devices. Results from Study 2 showed no significant difference between the two devices when measuring without foam, but a significant difference was found between the two while balancing on foam. CONCLUSION: Balance scores measured by accelerometers within an iPod appear to be a valid and consistent method of measuring human balance. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--Wichita State University, College of Education, Dept. of Human Performance Studies

This study reports the results of research done in three ninth grade English classrooms during a four week unit on Romeo and Juliet. The research focuses on the independent variables of ability grouping and evaluation modality as they have been found to be crucial to improving comprehension in English classrooms. The three classrooms were randomly assigned either the control condition or one of two experimental conditions. Each classroom received instruction using the Reciprocal Teaching Strategy. All 56 students were identified as either high or low level learners based on his or her most recent standardized reading test scores. The control classroom���s student participants were placed in reading groups with students of similar ability and were evaluated daily by the instructor. The participants in the two experimental cohorts were placed in reading groups with a variety of learner levels. Additionally, one experimental classroom employed peer evaluations. The study found that high level learners had significantly higher gains on the classroom objective test when receiving peer evaluations combined with mixed ability groupings. This was in comparison to low ability level students under the same treatment and high ability level students receiving teacher evaluations in mixed ability groups. The fact that high ability students in mixed ability groups did not perform well when given teacher evaluations seems to imply that peer evaluations are best suited for high level students in mixed ability cooperative groups. / Thesis (M.A.)--Wichita State University, College of Education, Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction

This study presents the experimental results of time-temperature dependent viscoelastic behavior and cure kinetics of two commercial carbon fiber/epoxy prepregs, IM7/977-2 unidirectional tape (UD) and IM7/977-2 plain weave fabric (PW). An in-depth study on the oscillatory and transient rheological behavior of prepreg composites is conducted using a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) and the study of cure kinetics is conducted using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). A novel experimental methodology is proposed in this study to describe the stress relaxation behavior of prepreg composites during cure. Time- and cure-dependent stress relaxation behavior of prepreg composites is studied in three in-plane directions: 0, 45, and 90 degrees of the laminates. Several other factors, such as the mismatch of fiber orientation of adjoining plies, stacking sequence of the laminate, and relative position of the plies with respect to the neutral axis are considered to study their effects on the stress relaxation behavior during cure. The stress relaxation behavior of cured composites is obtained by utilizing the time-temperature superposition (TTS) principle. TTS study on UD laminates (in 0, 45, and 90 degree fiber directions) is conducted at four distinct cure states, whereas the PW laminate is studied in the same fiber directions but at a fully cured state only. Experimental results are used to predict the life cycle of the composite products by generating the stress relaxation master curves for different combinations of fiber orientation and cure states. The study shows that the relaxation modulus during cure is case dependent, which leads to the assumption that the relaxation of process-induced stresses during cure varies for different conditions. Moreover, when comparing the performance of UD and PW prepregs, it shows that the PW laminate relaxes more residual stress than the UD laminate during cure. At cured condition, the PW material shows better long-term mechanical performance than UD material. / Thesis (M.S.)--Wichita State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Childhood obesity is on the rise, and many critics claim that environmental factors, such as screen-based media, are a contributing factor to this epidemic. Video games have gained popularity among this age group, especially exergames, which have researchers pondering the physiological effects of playing exergames. The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in heart rate achieved and maximum heart rate achieved between three exergaming systems, and to analyze the intensity level achieved while playing exergames. Twenty males and females ages 8-12 were in this study. Participants were allowed three sessions to become familiarized with equipment and were allowed to play three game systems: (1) Nintendo Wii, (2) Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), (3) Xbox Kinect. Heart rate monitors were worn on the wrist by each participant and were used to record heart rates during six exergaming sessions. Participants played one type of exergaming system for 30 minutes each session, collecting heart rate seven times. Heart rate data were compared to baseline measures, between the threeexergaming systems, and to heart rate thresholds of 50 percent and 70 percent of maximum heart rate. Repeated Measures ANOVA did not show significance for heart rate achieved and heart rate ranges achieved (p=0.563, p= 0.738 respectively). Sixty-four percent of participants achieved heart rates that ranged between set thresholds of 50 percent and 75 percent on all three exergaming systems. Thus, exergaming can be used as physical activity to supplement other forms of physical activity. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--Wichita State University, College of Education, Dept. of Human Performance Studies

The onset of dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) is associated with increasing age and the diseases that frequently occur with increasing age. Dysphagia increases the risk of dehydration and malnutrition with subsequent declines in body composition, physical health, and quality of life. The purpose of the present study was to administer a set of valid objective and perceptual measures to document (a) physical health, and (b) nutrition and hydration, relative to (c) swallowing function in 15 self-reported healthy older women in a Continuing Care Retirement Community. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlations were identified between perceived physical health, emotional well-being, and reflux symptoms and objective measures of breathing capacity, blood oxygen level, and tongue strength and endurance. The consumption of a regular, unrestricted diet was significantly associated with Eating Duration and Eating Desire on the Swallowing Quality of Life (SWAL-QOL) survey. Objective measures and participants��� responses on the SWAL-QOL identified a subgroup of older adults who were experiencing swallowing difficulties. Results confirm the importance of including both objective and perceptual measures of physical health, nutrition, hydration, and swallowing function in a screening protocol for older adults in residential care to identify those at-risk for developing dysphagia. / Thesis (M.A.)--Wichita State University, College of Health Professions, Dept. of Communication Sciences and Disorders

The study of cavity flows has played a crucial role in understanding the aeroacoustics and aerodynamics of bodies with cavities. This new understanding has allowed challenges such as reduction in noise levels to be addressed. It has also helped in the reduction of structural resonance and fatigue, and to ensure the proper release of weaponry. In this thesis, a brief study was conducted on the flow-field characteristics of various cavity geometries. These cavities were partially covered, and the depth of the trailing edge of the cavities was varied. The flow field was set at Mach 0.7, and sound pressure levels were obtained using numerical simulations. Detached eddy simulations, which have proven to be successful in previous research work, were used in the present study. The simulations were carried out for a flow time of 0.05 sec. The cavity with the highest trailing edge depth was found to have a greater sound pressure levels; however, no resonance phenomenon was observed. A grid-independency study and a validation study were conducted using detached eddy simulations, and the convergence and stability of the results were investigated. / Thesis (M.S.)--Wichita State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Aerospace Engineering

For an efficient damper design, a design engineer always faces the challenge of providing the largest forces in the most compact and efficient envelope. It is important to identify the nature of the force required at the output in order to configure the damper to produce more force in less space. This thesis takes into consideration the role of MagnetoRheological (MR) fluids played when used in conjunction with dampers. In order to achieve this purpose, a finite element model is constructed to analyze and examine a 2-D axisymmetric MR damper. The results obtained in this thesis will help designers to create more efficient and reliable MR dampers. With the help of finite element tools, some design analyses are created to change the shape of the piston in the damper or other parameters in the model. The main benefit of this research is to show a 2-D MR damper and generate the magnetic flux density along the MR Fluid gap. The magnetic saturation is detected by looking at the nodal solution for the magnetic flux density. Increasing the current in the model, results in an increase in magnetic induction. Three different configurations of an MR damper piston were studied in order to determine how changing the shape of the piston affects the maximum force which the damper provides. The variations provided in the MR fluid gap were plotted for magnetic flux density contour before and after reaching the rheological saturation. By increasing the current, the color spectrum of the magnetic flux density will shift from the MR fluid gap to the piston centerline. As the current provided to a reasonably good amount, the force obtained was to a good extent. But it reaches saturation at around 2 amps. Thus for constraint or heat build up limitations, the second model could work the best among the three designs that we considered. For cases where higher electrical currents can be tolerated, model 2 would be the most advantageous design, since it provides the largest force among the three models. / Thesis (M.S.)--Wichita State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering / "December 2006."

Access to mobile communication technology is a characteristic that makes today’s learners different and presents challenges and opportunities to develop twenty-first century skills in a globalized society. This qualitative study involved students and teachers using synchronous and asynchronous web-based social networks and recording software to communicate and compose music. Dialogue was captured and analyzed for levels of interaction and mindsets to determine if such a collaborative could cultivate an awareness of others’ perspectives and the feasibility of using social networks in K-12 educational settings for this purpose. There were strong indications that global reach projects using technologies in K-12 education do have the potential for students to become aware of others’ perspectives; however changes in educational policy are needed. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Wichita State University, College of Education, Dept. of Educational Leadership

This research attempted to find the relationship between the consistent practice of Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) and a student’s lexile score. Two English I classes in an urban high school completed surveys that focused on a student’s attitude toward recreational and school reading. The Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) provided the two English I classes a lexile score. Class A practiced SSR three days a week, while Class B did not. After the research period of twelve weeks, the two English I classes were given post-surveys similar to the pre-surveys and the SRI. The post-surveys from Class A were compared to the post-surveys from Class B. The post-SRI scores of Class A were compared to the post-SRI scores of Class B. Any changes or shifts in student attitude were measured. The hypothesis was found plausible. Significant differences were found in both the survey and SRI data. Class A had higher SRI scores than Class B. Additionally Class A had a better overall attitude toward reading than Class B. / by Kellie Sue Birmingham. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--Wichita State University, College of Education, Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction / Includes bibliographic references (leaves 34-37). / "May 2006."