Digital Commons Network^™

Drawing In Space, Wesley Stewart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper discusses the artwork for the thesis Drawing in Space. The title refers to the correlation between drawing on paper and fabricating in metal. For me these are highly similar processes. Contemporary artists are presented and referenced to convey inspiration and locate historical context. The paper discusses the importance of Street Art and video games in my decision making about color choices and linear qualities. Each sculpture will be analyzed individually and their connection to Street Art, video games and Contemporary art will be identified.

La Sangre Llama, Alicia Perez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

LA SANGRE LLAMA is an exhibition of paintings featuring works by Alicia Perez. The series of paintings are acrylic on canvas all 24" x 36", and explore the contemporary Latino immigrant experience that often involves instability, acculturation, and loss of identity. The attire found on the subjects all vary in patterns and colors to represent different nationalities that fall under the umbrella of Hispanic Culture. Intentionally concealed faces in the paintings emphasize the belief that many Hispanic immigrants are frequently viewed as stereotypes, rather than individuals. LA SANGRE LLAMA, which translates to "the blood beckons," affirms the notion that regardless …

Spatial And Temporal Immune Response In House Flies In Response To Ingestion Of Bacillus Cereus And Eschericha Coli 0157-H7, Adam Fleming

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

House flies (Musca domestica L.) feed and breed on septic substrates, putting them in direct contact with a multitude of disease causing agents and can act as a bridge for those agents to humans. The house fly has previously been shown to carry many different species of bacteria that are pathogenic. Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a pathogenic enterohemorrhagic serotype of E. coli that can be vectored by the house fly. Bacillus cereus is a foodborne pathogen that has also been isolated from the house fly in previous studies. To examine vector potential for these pathogens, house flies were fed green …

Do The Opportunities Offered During The School Day Provide The Recommended Physical Activity Levels For Children?: An Assessment Of The Upson County Pre-Kindergarten And Elementary School Physical Activity Occurrences, Cheryl Lynn Robinson Gaddis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Problem Statement: Almost 90% of students do not meet the national recommendations for physical activity in school. The purpose of this study was to determine the need for school policy changes to incorporate classroom-based physical activity programs in an effort to increase school physical activity levels for children in grades pre-kindergarten through five by assessing the levels of and the barriers/facilitators to physical activity engagement.

Methods: This was a sequential explanatory mixed methods study utilizing school board members, principals, and teachers in the Upson County School System as participants. The online survey was adapted from the School Health …

A Non-Parametric Approach To Change-Point Detection In Cross-Asset Correlations, L. Kaili Diamond

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis we explore the problem of detecting change-points in cross-asset correlations using a non-parametric approach. We began by comparing and contrasting several common methods for change-point detection as well as methods for measuring correlation. We finally settle on a statistic introduced in early 2012 by Herold Dehling et.al. and test this statistic against real world financial data. We provide the estimated change-point for this data as well as the asymptotic p-value associated with this statistic. Once this process was complete we went on to use simulated data to measure the accuracy, power, and type 1 error associated with …

Integer Solutions To Optimization Problems And Modular Sequences Of Nexus Numbers, Jeremy T. Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we examine the use of integers through two ideas. As mathematics teachers, we prefer students not use calculators on assessments. In order to require this, students compute the problems by hand. We take a look at the classic Calculus I optimization box problem while restricting values to integers. In addition, sticking with the integer theme, we take a new look at the nexus numbers. Nexus numbers are extensions of the hex and rhombic dodecahedral numbers. We put these numbers into a sequence, and through a few computations of modular arithmetic, we analyze the sequences and their patterns …

Finding A Better Confidence Interval For A Single Regression Changepoint Using Different Bootstrap Confidence Interval Procedures, Bodhipaksha Thilakarathne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recently a number of papers have been published in the area of regression changepoints but there is not much literature concerning confidence intervals for regression changepoints. The purpose of this paper is to find a better bootstrap confidence interval for a single regression changepoint. ("Better" confidence interval means having a minimum length and coverage probability which is close to a chosen significance level). Several methods will be used to find bootstrap confidence intervals. Among those methods a better confidence interval will be presented.

The Effects Of Locomotor Posture On Kinematics, Performance And Behavior During Obstacle Negotiation In Lizards, Jessica Self

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ability to efficiently move over uneven terrain is critical for most terrestrial animals. Bipedal running is common in lizard species, however the biological advantage of a bipedal running posture remains uncertain. I examined the hypothesis that a bipedal posture is advantageous when crossing obstacles. Particularly, I determined whether kinematic adjustments differ among four focal species with contrasting body forms and ecology. I also examined how sprint speed changed when crossing obstacles with a quadrupedal versus a bipedal posture. I quantified kinematics from high-speed video (300 frames/second) of lizards running down a 3m runway both with and without the presence …

Role Of Provisions And Season On Foraging And Female Dominance Behavior In Ring-Tailed Lemurs (Lemur Catta) On St. Catherine's Island, Timothy Moore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Madagascar is undergoing habitat destruction and degradation that is threatening its unique species, including ring-tailed lemurs. Ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) live in matriarchal groups composed of a dominant female, adult males, subadult males and females, and young. Due to their dominance, it has been suggested that female ringtailed lemurs have access to the highest quality resources and can monopolize food patches. Lemurs on St. Catherine's are free ranging and have unlimited access to natural food sources, but they are also provisioned with supplementary food to ensure a balanced diet. My study aimed to determine the impact of provisions on female …

Integer Compositions, Gray Code, And The Fibonacci Sequence, Linus Lindroos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis I show the relation of binary and Gray Code to integer compositions and the Fibonacci sequence through the use of analytic combinatorics, Zeckendorf's Theorem, and generating functions.

Patterns Of Chemosensory Behavior In A Closed Population Of Wild African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana), Russell W. Blogg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chemosensory behaviors are used by many mammalian species to assess chemical signals in the environment. These chemical signals may contain important information about reproductive state, identity, status, or location of conspecifics. Elephants are a long-lived species and males reproduce at a much later age than females, which provides a protracted developmental period for males. This study examined chemosensory behaviors in a population of African elephants living in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa and demonstrated that patterns emerge as elephants develop and approach sexual maturity. Older pubescent males (15-19 year olds) performed more chemosensory behaviors than younger pubescent males (10-14 …

Compositions, Bijections, And Enumerations, Charles R. Dedrickson Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis we give an introduction to colored-compositions of an integer. This is a generalization of traditional integer compositions, and we show a few results for n-color compositions which are analogous to regular compositions with both combinatorial and analytic proofs. We also show several bijections between various types of compositions to certain types of numeric strings, and provide a generalization of a classic bijection between compositions and binary strings.

A Comparison Of The Associative And Multiple Bearing Hypotheses Through Landmark Stability In Humans Using A Virtual Environment, Martha R. Forloines

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current experiment investigated the mixed results seen in spatial blocking paradigms; there have been procedures that have shown and not shown blocking of added landmarks in the spatial domain. Typically, the Associative theory of learning has been applied to spatial learning. However, spatial blocking paradigms cannot be explained solely with this theory. The Multiple Bearings Hypothesis (MBH) may be able to explain these differences. The current experiment employed a three-phase blocking paradigm to examine what factors are responsible for the mixed results. The first Phase, Phase 0, incrementally shaped human participants' goal location behavior with two ambiguous landmarks. In …

Exonerating Manuel I Komnenos: Byzantine Foreign Policy (1143-1180), Darryl Keith Gentry Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Manuel I of Byzantium (1143-80) has been unfairly judged as misguided, reckless, and, ultimately, as a failure. This work endeavors to refute the claims that Manuel's imperial policy lacked any coherent strategy, and that Byzantium simply reacted to external stimuli. The most ambitious aim of this thesis is to present a cogent analysis of Manuel's imperial policy to demonstrate the emperor's efficacy and strategic flexibility. The perception, generally accepted by historians, that Manuel left his empire exhausted and vulnerable to outside aggression is also seriously challenged. Regardless of Manuel's defeat at Myriokephalon in 1176, he could claim that the empire …

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder And Bronfenbrenner's Ecology Of Human Development, Carol Medders Denis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the norms associated with this condition in the United States have evolved over time. Culturally established beliefs control how the disorder is defined and treated. This study will explore the idea that ADHD is a socially constructed disorder that impacts multiple levels of society. These levels include the child, the family, the school, the medical community, and the advertising agencies. Social construction theory will be used to establish a framework for this study. Urie Bronfenbrenner’s (1977) system theory describing the ecology of human development will also be used to investigate the impact that different …

Through Smoke And Mirrors: Constructing Identity Between The Myths Of Black Inferiority And A Post-Racial America, Gwyneira Yvette Dixon Ledford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an inquiry into my life. It is an exploration of my lived experience as an African American female negotiating through traditions in Southern culture and societal pressures to create a positive identity. Using autobiographical narrative (Connelly, He, & Phillion, 2008, Pinar, 2008) as a methodology and Black Feminist Thought (Collins, 2000), double consciousness (DuBois, 1903), and the Nigrescence Theory of black identity development (Cross, 1991) as the theoretical framework, I examine my experiences from childhood to adulthood. Through these narrations, I note paradigm shifts in my thinking that identify the psychological struggles between feeling racially inferior and …

On The Verge Of Change: Eudora Welty's Delta Wedding, Mallary Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis discusses the effects of war on the southern plantation lifestyle depicted in Eudora Welty's Delta Wedding. This thesis focuses on the female characters who adapt to the absence of the husbands during wartime. Wars are the catalyst for societal change in the novel, and the women must adapt to the new social changes that are encroaching upon the plantation. The chapters explore each individual reaction of female characters in the novel. The female characters in Delta Wedding represent varying wars of reacting to shifting social norms brought about by war.

Monster Quest: Background Myth And Contemporary Context Of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Conqueror Worm", Farrah Senn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Poe's short story "Ligeia" and its companion poem "The Conqueror Worm" have garnered little critical attention, though he believed them to be his best works. Considering the archetypal image of the worm, contemporary references, and Poe's other uses of the symbol, an analysis of the poem and its context within the short story reveals the identity of the "hero" described in the final verse. This paper explores the archetypal nature of the worm by looking at snake myths from across the globe and applying Platonic/Jungian ideas to the image and its function in the poem. This work also discusses the …

Bird Use Of Cumberland Island's Freshwater Wetlands, Lisa Dlugolecki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cumberland Island is the southernmost barrier island off the coast of Georgia. Its freshwater wetlands are an important, rare habitat to have on a barrier island surrounded by saltmarsh and ocean. Many species of birds require freshwater wetlands as feeding, roosting and nesting grounds. However, the freshwater wetlands on Cumberland Island have been impacted by humans for centuries causing birds to abandon their historic nesting ground. Known land use histories of Cumberland Island's freshwater wetlands were gathered to try and determine how the wetlands changed over time Wetlands were analyzed for presence of wetland-dependent birds and recorded. Thirty-six species of …

Leaving In The Past: The Role History Plays In Video Games, Joseph Fordham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

How can something considered by many within academia as childish or a waste of time be potentially useful in presenting or even studying history? Not only has the video game industry grown into one of the largest forms of media in the world, but these games are also finding use as a training aid for the military and major companies, as an advertising medium, and, most importantly, as a tool for teaching. As developmental capabilities improve with new generations of graphics hardware, video games are turning towards the recreation of real-world and historical events. This drive towards realism and accuracy …

Predation Risk And Colony Structure In The Pea Aphid, Acyrthosiphon Pisum, Carl Nicolas Keiser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many organisms live in transient or permanent aggregations to reduce individual predation risk. Hamilton's "Selfish Herd" theory states that an individual should assume a central position within a group to decrease individual predation risk relative to that of its neighbors (i.e., individuals should be selfish). This theory, however, cannot predict the spatial distribution of individuals within clonal aggregations, that is, when individuals are genetically identical (the "evolutionary self"). As aphids (small, herbivorous insects) are parthenogenetic, emit alarm signals, and have high levels of phenotypic plasticity to cope with environmental stressors like predation risk, they are a model organism for investigating …

Compensation Theory: Can Club Soccer Players Appropriately Balance Energy Intake And Output In And Out Of Season?, Marco Ruggiero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic affecting both adults and children. Obesity and overweight prevalence is increasing, with a corresponding decline in physical fitness and general physical activity level (McHugh, 2010). The college setting presents an important opportunity for health promotion during a critical developmental stage for weight gain (Nelson et al., 2007). While exercising and a balanced diet are the basis of most obesity-prevention campaigns, little research has been done on how physical exercise may increase food consumption. The purpose of this study was to examine whether college club soccer players can appropriately balance energy intake and output in and …

Changes In Gait Characteristics Following A Concussion, Kelly M. Previs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Recent literature has suggested that gait could potentially provide clinicians with a reliable way to determine if an athlete has sufficiently recovered from a concussion in order to return to participation. The Balance Error Scoring System has typically been used to determine if static and postural control have returned to baseline measurements. It has yet to be determined the level of gait recovery within 24 hours of sustaining a concussion (CD1), on the day the concussed athlete returns to BESS baseline (BBD), or the day they finally return to play (RTPD). Objective: The purpose of this study was to …

Accuracy Of Concussion Reporting Upon Completion Of A Collegiate Athletic Career, Tracy Anne Llewellyn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Context: Underreporting of concussions remains a large concern in the sports medicine community as previous studies have identified a 50 - 80% unreported rate. Further, previous studies have also suggested a lack of awareness of concussion symptoms. However, these studies tend to evaluate a single season of competition and many were amongst high school student-athletes. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the current reported, unreported, and potential unrecognized concussion rates among collegiate student-athletes who have completed their collegiate athletic career. Design: Cross sectional survey. Setting: Private setting within the respective host institutions athletic training room. Patients or …

Feminine Critique And Domestic Mystique: Representations Of The Home In Elizabeth Madox Roberts, Lyndsey Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Elizabeth Madox Roberts, once considered one of the most important authors of the early twentieth century, has suffered critical neglect since her death in 1941. Though Robert Penn Warren wrote an important essay calling for her recovery in 1963, the political and social environment of the 1960s, including the advent of second-wave feminism, contributed, in part, to the continued neglect of Roberts's work. Roberts's texts do not actively protest social or economic injustice; instead, they focus on the internalized lives of her protagonists. This internalization is seen in Roberts's complex portrayal of the home and domesticity. This paper analyzes the …

Leadership That Fosters A Culture Of High Achievement Of African American Students, Alexis Q. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the sequential, explanatory, mixed methods study was to examine leadership behaviors in the traditional theme schools and their relationship to the culture of high student achievement of African American students. The sample included teachers and principals working in five elementary traditional theme schools with predominately African American populations in one urban school district in the Southeastern United States. The quantitative component of the study was driven by the teacher survey using the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS) published by Hallinger. The qualitative portion of the study consisted of interviews with each school principal. The teachers' perceptions …

The Relationship Between Teacher Empowerment And Student Achievement, Valerie Denise Squire-Kelly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between teacher empowerment and student achievement. Participants in this study were administered the School Participant Empowerment Scale (SPES); this scale measures teacher empowerment on six dimensions: decision making; professional growth; status; self-efficacy; autonomy; and impact (Martin Crossland, & Johnson, 2001). The participants' mean score of the 2010-2011 Criterion Referenced Competency Test scores (CRCT) were used as a measure of student achievement. The SPES were distributed to teachers in five middle schools in one school district in Georgia. The response rate for this study was 85.2 percent. A Pearson Correlation was …

The Mediation Of Personal Distress On Negative Television News And Donations, Walt Beddingfield Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has shown that negative television news can lead to a reduction in positive affect (Harrell, 2000; Szabo & Hopkinson, 2007). What has yet to be investigated though is how negative television news influences an individual's interactions with others; precisely, how negative television news affects a person's empathy for persons in need and donation behaviors to help others. Participants were randomly assigned to four different conditions: local victim news condition, nonlocal victim news condition, far victim news condition, and a neutral media condition. Participants viewed media clips that corresponded with their condition and then filled out a questionnaire that …

Alcohol-Cues Relate To Self-Perceptions Of Aggression, Natalie Christine Hooks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol consumption is linked to increases in aggression. Recently, alcohol-related cues alone have been shown to increase aggressive thoughts and behaviors. Furthermore, aggression is displayed differently by men and women; men are more physically aggressive, whereas women are more relationally aggressive. The current study further explored this influence of alcohol-related cues on physical and relational aggression. Furthermore, the study explored the influence of participant gender on type of aggression expressed. In this study, 126 undergraduates were primed with alcohol-related (e.g., Miller Lite) or non-alcohol related commercials (e.g., Diet Coke). Additionally, participants completed a competitive noise-blast task (physical aggression measure of …

Perceptions Of The Influence Of Teacher Of The Year Awards Upon Teachers' Personal, School, And Professional Morale, Sherri Baker Butler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate k-12 teachers' perceptions of the influence of Teacher of the Year (TOTY) awards upon teachers' personal, school, and professional morale, as defined by Mackenzie (2007a). The sample was comprised of the 198 respondents to the researcher's online Teacher Recognition Schemes survey during July-August 2011. The study utilized a mixed methods approach that included collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative research data. Statistical significance was noted in the following areas: TOTY recipients perceived significantly greater influences of the award upon both personal and professional morale than did their non-recipient colleagues. Further, TOTY …