The effect of landuse change on the hydrologic, biogeochemical and ecological response of watersheds is a concern throughout the world. To help characterize the potential magnitude of such changes, and of the potential to remediate or avoid undesirable features, studies focused on the cumulative watershed effects of site level change are necessary. The current state of the art model for water quality in agricultural lands, Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), was used to estimate the effects of a set of future landscape scenarios on water quality in the Corn Belt region of the United States. These results indicated that changes to the current water quality management strategies will be necessary to significantly improve water quality in the Corn Belt region. In addition, the experience of implementing SWAT suggested a variety of changes to the model structure and study design with potential to improve the quality of the results. These changes include improved treatment of hydrologic process, full integration of input data and model code, different methods of distributing data across space, the use of fewer parameters, more sophisticated numerical techniques, and improved methods for generating potential landscape scenarios. A new model structure (WET_Hydro) was developed to address these issues. The hydrologic components of the model focus on a conceptual physically based characterization of the movement of water in soils, as overland flow, and in channels. Tests using a variety of input data sets, including both synthetic inflows and real watershed data were developed to verify the hydrologic components of the model. Additional model analyses evaluate how model scale interacts with parameters and with measurements. These analyses point toward additional criteria that may prove useful to the determination of correct model scales and to the utility of the flexible model structure which provides automatic changes to model scale. In addition to the scale analysis, a method of estimating the average new water contribution to storm discharge was developed.. This additional model criterion was shown to provide further understanding of model utility under different hydrologic regimes. The hydrologic model was extended to produce estimates of erosion and sediment export. Sensitivity to various restoration options were developed focusing on simple descriptions of remediation potential, and a minimum of parameters. In addition, the water quality model was coupled with a Decision Support System (DSS). Example applications demonstrate the potential of the combination to improve the process of restoration planning at the watershed scale. / Graduation date: 2003 / Best scan available. Figures in original are very light.

Work groups are a major component of newspaper newsrooms. Similar to other organizations, newsrooms divide employees into work groups based on work roles and titles such as reporters, graphic artists, and photographers. Studies have shown that although intergroup bias can help group members to create and maintain a positive view themselves, it can also contribute to members' levels of alienation toward opposing work groups.Based on the premise that group-based interactions may be negatively affecting newspaper productivity, the purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between reporters, designers, and photographers in Midwestern newsrooms. From this study, it was found that ingroup favoritism is more prominent among reporters than designers and photographers. It was also determined that education plays a role in the formation of in- and out-groups in the newsroom. Additionally, it was found that job satisfaction has little or no bearing on an employee's level of bias or ingroup favoritism within the newsroom. / Department of Journalism

This study was undertaken to investigate the status of the american beech as a possible waning species. Contrary to several authors, the results do not suggest a decline in the american beech population. The declines previously indicated probably result from the use of disturbed study sites and incomplete consideration of differences in mortality patterns. The data suggests a stable Beech-Maple forest with neither species experiencing permanent changes in populations. / Department of Biology

Resilience is a systemic process between a person and his/her environment (Ungar, 2005), whereby a person demonstrates a pattern of “good outcome despite serious threats to adaptation or development” (Masten, 2001, p. 28). Despite much research, the resilience research field lacks consensus on specific definitions of resilience factors (Ungar et al., 2005). Therefore, it is recommended that research prioritize specific resilience variables (Luthar & Zelazo, 2003) while attending to contextual and systemic factors (Ungar, 2005). The study took place in a community center in a low SES, predominantly African-American neighborhood in the Midwest. Neighborhood residents worked with research team members to co-construct a local definition of youth resilience through focus groups. Children meeting this definition were nominated by staff and participated in interviews about resilience factors. Children, parents, and staff also completed rating scales measuring resilient youth’s academic, behavioral, social, and emotional functioning. Qualitative examinations of data resulted in an ecosystemic model of resilient youth in the community. Resilience was found to be influenced by interactions between individual, familial, and community factors. Individual perseverance and adult involvement and awareness, as well as community cohesion were important protective factors identified by participants. Results of the study were shared with community center staff with plans to utilize them at the center to help promote positive youth functioning. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of History, March 1999. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 269-282). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of History, March 1999. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Legislation mandates that older adults, who receive Title III-C assistance should be provided with nutrition education, nutrition counseling, and other nutrition services, as appropriate, based on the needs of individuals. The amount and content of nutrition education, however, is subject to variation of state guidelines. The purpose of this study is to measure the type and amount of nutrition education being provided to congregate meal site and home delivered meal participants and to identify if special accommodations are being made for those participants with visual and hearing impairments in the states of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota (Region V). The nutrition representatives for congregate meal site and home delivered meal programs within the six states were sent an e-mail questionnaire. Results showed that while majority of the states are meeting their own state guidelines, having uniformity amongst the states could strengthen the nutrition education program for older adults receiving congregate or home delivered nutrition services within Region V. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1948 V36 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1978 C34 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1978 L49 / Master of Arts