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Marshall University

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2010

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The Beta Maxwell Distribution, Grace Ebunoluwa Amusan Jan 2010

The Beta Maxwell Distribution, Grace Ebunoluwa Amusan

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In this work we considered a general class of distributions gener- ated from the logit of the beta random variable. We looked at various works that have been done and discussed some of the results that were obtained. Special cases of this class include the beta-normal distribution, the beta-exponential distribution, the beta-Gumbell distribution, the beta-Weibull distribution, the beta-Pareto distribution and the beta-Rayleigh distribution. We looked at the probability distribution functions of each of these distributions and also look at some of their properties. Another special case of this family, a three-parameter beta-Maxwell distribution was dened and studied. Various properties of …


Broadcast News Organizations' Perceptions Of Viewer Generated Content, Christopher L. Atkins Jan 2010

Broadcast News Organizations' Perceptions Of Viewer Generated Content, Christopher L. Atkins

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Viewer generated content refers to the recent phenomenon of broadcast viewers taking to the streets and creating content for the stations they watch. This study surveys the managers in broadcast news organizations across the country gauging their thoughts and station usage of content produced by their viewers. This study shows how pervasive the use of viewer generated content is in the broadcast news industry today, and how it is utilized by not only some news organizations but by nearly all stations. The phenomenon of viewer generated content is not only widespread but also has broadcast news organizations rethinking the way …


Technology Use In A First-Year Composition Program, Estee Natee Beck Jan 2010

Technology Use In A First-Year Composition Program, Estee Natee Beck

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examines how instructors view and work with technology in a firstyear composition program at a four-year, public university in central Appalachia. Six interview questions were developed for this study as a means to explore the instructor’s definition of technology, level of use (functional, critical, and or rhetorical), difficulties using technology, pedagogy, and socioeconomics of the student population. Using qualitative methods to find patterns in the data, correlations were present among participant responses with functional uses, access, and socioeconomics. Educators primarily use technology functionally for the purpose of creating linear-based essays; have broad access to technology, but do not …


Mapping Energy Poverty In Huntington, West Virginia, Elizabeth Anne Callicoat Jan 2010

Mapping Energy Poverty In Huntington, West Virginia, Elizabeth Anne Callicoat

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Energy poverty is a growing phenomenon culminating from the combination of low to mid household income, deteriorating housing structures and rising household energy costs. Energy prices are increasing for all households, but the burden is proportionally larger for those with low to mid income. These groups must sacrifice to afford energy and are often unable or do not have the autonomy to make structural improvements, especially if they rent their home. Data on residential dwellings from the Cabell County Tax Assessor? Office were used within a geographic information system to map where energy poverty likely exists within the city limits …


Terrestrial And Marine Geobiophysical Spatial Analysis And Modeling Of Phytoplankton And Nutrients In Haifa Bay, Israel, Sinaya Dayan Jan 2010

Terrestrial And Marine Geobiophysical Spatial Analysis And Modeling Of Phytoplankton And Nutrients In Haifa Bay, Israel, Sinaya Dayan

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Haifa Bay, Israel, is considered one of the most polluted environments in the nation. The bay water is enriched with nutrients and shows elevated levels of phytoplankton biomass. This requires continuous data collection to monitor productivity. The objectives of these remote sensing geobiophysical models were to (1) create a terrestrial model component to identify sources for the elevated levels of nutrients in the bay, and (2) marine model component to validate remote sensing algorithms for the detection of Chlorophyll in an oceanic setting. Methods included Spatial Analysis, Principal Component Analysis, Unsupervised Classification, Map Algebra, Band Ratios, and Statistical Regression of …


Acanthamoeba Casstellanii : Intercellular Location Of Metacaspase, Danielle Maria Desser Jan 2010

Acanthamoeba Casstellanii : Intercellular Location Of Metacaspase, Danielle Maria Desser

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Acanthamoeba castellanii, classified as a free living protist, are found in abundance in fresh water, filtered water, and soil, feeding upon bacteria in their environment. The pathogenic strain of this organism can cause either Acanathamoeba keratitis that targets eyes, or more rarely, granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, with immunocompromised individuals most at risk. Acanthamoeba castellanii are characterized by their two different stages: the trophozoite, which is the growing and dividing form, and the cyst form, which is the dormant stage. The cyst stage is highly resistant to harsh environmental conditions due to the double layer cell wall made largely of cellulose. It …


The New Newspaper : Examining The Role Of Design In The Modern Print Edition, Matthew Joseph Haught Jan 2010

The New Newspaper : Examining The Role Of Design In The Modern Print Edition, Matthew Joseph Haught

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

As the newspaper industry works to modernize because of a rapid move to Web technologies, editors and publishers are seeking ways to reach younger readers with the traditional print edition. This research examines the impact of design through methods of alternative story forms on readership in the target age bracket of 18-25 year olds. The study uses three models of storytelling to examine the impact of design and writing on the interest in the print edition in that age demographic. The study found that the theories of functionalism, when applied to newspaper design and writing, create a product that appeals …


Gender Differences In The Prevalence Rates Of Self-Injury Among Individuals Who Suppress Thoughts, Kristina Isaacs Jan 2010

Gender Differences In The Prevalence Rates Of Self-Injury Among Individuals Who Suppress Thoughts, Kristina Isaacs

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A previous study (Najmi, Wegner, & Nock, 2007) has concluded that thought suppression and self-injury are related. Gender differences have been contradictory among those who self-injure. However, it has been found that females score higher than males on thought suppression scales (Wegner & Zanakos, 1994). Based on these findings, it was hypothesized that females would suppress their thoughts more than males. It was also hypothesized that females who suppress their thoughts would think about and engage in self-injury more than males who suppress their thoughts. Participants completed both the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behavior Interview (SITBI) and the White Bear Suppression …


Bedtime Stories : How To Hope And Cope With The American Dream, Sabrina Jones Jan 2010

Bedtime Stories : How To Hope And Cope With The American Dream, Sabrina Jones

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A multi-genre work combining New Journalism and literary analysis. The narrator (played by ―Girl in the bedtime stories) presents a critical essay exploring destabilized truths and dangers in an American dream that turns modern man into a machine. The goal is to show how the dream has evolved from the original Puritan dream set out by early American settlers/writers to the Postmodern vision of success (or failure) we read about today and what kind of effect this dream has on the average scholar. The thesis is broken up by reflections on her learning imbedded in dialogue with her always opinionated …


"A Cage Of Ovulating Females" : Mary Breckinridge And The Politics Of Contraception In Rural Appalachia, Dana Allen Johnson Jan 2010

"A Cage Of Ovulating Females" : Mary Breckinridge And The Politics Of Contraception In Rural Appalachia, Dana Allen Johnson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Mary Breckinridge and the Frontier Nursing Service have been the focus of intense scholarly effort over the last twenty years. Scholarship on Mary Breckinridge has centered on her healthcare reform work in Appalachia and its effects on the local residents and culture. This thesis examines the oral contraceptive trial that the FNS performed in Leslie County in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Although Breckinridge and the FNS maintained a restrictive contraceptive stance, they paradoxically permitted the contraceptive trial to be conducted on their patients in Leslie County. The decision to participate in the contraceptive trial resulted from a complex …


Antibiotic Sensitivity Patterns Of Hospital-Acquired And Community-Acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, Iyad Kaddora Jan 2010

Antibiotic Sensitivity Patterns Of Hospital-Acquired And Community-Acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, Iyad Kaddora

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most dangerous human pathogens. An intensive effort to control resistant staphylococci, especially methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is vital as it is the most common cause of hospitalacquired infections. During the one year study period, a total of 35 MRSA isolates were collected. Fifteen isolates were identified as hospital-acquired (HA) infections, and 20 isolates were determined to be community acquired (CA). All 15 (100%) HA-MRSA strains were resistant to clindamycin and to erythromycin. Thirteen isolates (87%) were resistant to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, and 12 (80%) were resistant to moxifloxacin. Of the 20 CA-MRSA isolates, …


Borrowing In Context : The Importance And Artistic Implications Of Chaucer's Use Of Sources In The Merchant's Tale, Austin Taylor Mcintire Jan 2010

Borrowing In Context : The Importance And Artistic Implications Of Chaucer's Use Of Sources In The Merchant's Tale, Austin Taylor Mcintire

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In this thesis, I consider the implications of Chaucer not only as a man of his age but also as a poet who made deliberate decisions to borrow, imitate, and adapt the work of others, specifically in the context of The Merchant’s Tale. Chapter I of this thesis establishes the significance of the medieval understanding of auctor and auctoritas during the medieval literary period and, furthermore, examines Chaucer’s artistic output both during his career as a court poet and following his removal to Kent in an attempt to reach a clearer understanding of Chaucer’s use of source material when composing …


Tools And Community : How Women Become Researchers In Communication Sciences And Disorders, Karen L. Mccomas Jan 2010

Tools And Community : How Women Become Researchers In Communication Sciences And Disorders, Karen L. Mccomas

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) is a female-dominated discipline in danger of losing its professional autonomy. In 2002, the American Speech-Language- Hearing Association (ASHA) reported that 6-7% of all faculty positions in CSD were vacant, predicted a substantial increase in vacancies through 2012, and declared the issue of faculty preparation as the "most significant threat to our [CSD] future" (p. 5). In 2008, ASHA reported that, although more people were receiving Ph.D. degrees, only half accepted positions in higher education. The purpose of this study was to extend understanding of the problem of too few researchers in CSD by increasing …


Growth And Age At Reproductive Maturity Of The Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus M. Miliarius (Reptilia: Serpentes), Kevin Robert Messenger Jan 2010

Growth And Age At Reproductive Maturity Of The Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus M. Miliarius (Reptilia: Serpentes), Kevin Robert Messenger

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Growth and age at reproductive maturity are life history attributes that play an important role in the development of proper management strategies. The Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus m. miliarius, is one of two dwarf rattlesnake species. The subspecies ranges from eastern NC to nearly the southern tip of SC and into the northeastern portion of GA. In NC, where the species’ status is of Special Concern, fragmentation and land development have destroyed most of its historic range. Its small size also makes it highly susceptible to predation. In some parts of the range, commercial collection is another pressure the species …


Determining The Rate Of Transcription Of T7 Rna Polymerase Using Single Molecule Fluorescence Imaging, Dawn Renee Nichola Jan 2010

Determining The Rate Of Transcription Of T7 Rna Polymerase Using Single Molecule Fluorescence Imaging, Dawn Renee Nichola

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

It is important to understand the many factors impacting the rate at which an RNA polymerase incorporates nucleotides. The transcription rate of T7 RNA polymerase has been determined using single molecule fluorescence microscopy. A Cy3 labeled circular 45nt ssDNA molecule was used to monitor the transcription process. T7 RNA polymerase was used because it is a single subunit polymerase that does not need any cofactors and will transcribe single-stranded DNA circles that do not contain a promoter. The transcription was monitored by measuring the quasi-periodic change in intensity associated with the transit of the probe through the polymerase as the …


Does The Theory Of Planned Behavior Predict Intentions To Seek Help For Suicidality?, Jennifer Lynn Mills Jan 2010

Does The Theory Of Planned Behavior Predict Intentions To Seek Help For Suicidality?, Jennifer Lynn Mills

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of the current project is to relate disparate lines of research on suicide prevention and help-seeking using Azjen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior (TpB). Two studies examined college students’ beliefs about help-seeking for emotional problems. In Study 1, 37 undergraduates responded to open-ended questions about a variety of help-seeking behaviors. These responses were categorized. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for each category. In Study 2, 143 undergraduates completed two mental health inventories and a TpB survey constructed by the experimenter. A model containing the three TpB predictor variables—attitudes (M = 15.29, SD = 3.57), perceived social norms (M …


Comparison Of The Reading Subtests Of The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test - Third Edition And The Peabody Individual Achievement Test-Revised/Normative Update, Lauren M. Ott Jan 2010

Comparison Of The Reading Subtests Of The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test - Third Edition And The Peabody Individual Achievement Test-Revised/Normative Update, Lauren M. Ott

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study compared the reading subtests of the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test Third Edition and the Peabody Individual Achievement Test-Revised/Normative Update. Scores were compared on these two tests in a group of 28 students ages 7 through 12 who were referred or reevaluated for suspected learning problems. The data were collected through a deidentified data set provided by a school building staff member or administrator and included such information as gender, age, and grade level as well as WIAT-III and PIAT-R/NU reading subtest scores. A t test of significance and the Pearson r Correlations were computed to see how the …


The Relationship Between The Wisc-Iv Gai And The Kabc-Ii, Nancy R. Oliver Jan 2010

The Relationship Between The Wisc-Iv Gai And The Kabc-Ii, Nancy R. Oliver

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This present study compared the WISC-IV GAI and the global scores of KABC-II. The tests were administered to referred students in rural schools in Ohio and West Virginia. The study included 30 Caucasian students between the ages of 6 years, 7 months to 16 years, 11 months; 19 females and 11 males with an average age of 9 years, 10 months. Results found a strong correlation between the GAI and the FCI; and the GAI and the MPI. The results of the t-test of significance suggested that these tests given to the same student would yield similar results.


Treatment Strategies In Acute Myelogenous Leukemia : Investigating Hsp90 And P53 As Targets, Jennifer M. Napper Jan 2010

Treatment Strategies In Acute Myelogenous Leukemia : Investigating Hsp90 And P53 As Targets, Jennifer M. Napper

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is the deadliest of the lymphatic and bone marrow cancers. Patients diagnosed with AML have a five year survival rate of 23.4%. AML is characterized by an accumulation of undifferentiated and functionless myeloid precursors in the bone marrow and blood. Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitors, such as 17-AAG, an analog of geldanamycin (GM), are currently undergoing phase I, and II and III clinical trials for various cancers with mixed results. I found distinct responses to 17-AAG treatment among the AML cell lines tested. I also discovered two mutant TP53 alleles in Kasumi-3 cells, an AML …


Predicting Mastery On The Westest 2 : A Comparison Of Map And Westest 2 Data, Miranda Noelle Haught Jan 2010

Predicting Mastery On The Westest 2 : A Comparison Of Map And Westest 2 Data, Miranda Noelle Haught

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Curriculum based measures are conducted in order to observe a student’s progress and gauge the development in the school’s curriculum. Schools are in need of gathering data to discover if students are progressing towards achieving proficiency on state standardized tests. This research determines what score or corresponding percentile needs to be reached on the MAP test in order to achieve mastery on WESTEST 2. Data was compared from students in a rural county in West Virginia who were tested in Mathematics and Reading on the MAP test and WESTEST 2. A Pearson product correlation between both the MAP test and …


Planning For Secret Disclosure : Applying Berger's Planning Theory To The Disclosure Of Secrets, Sarah Rae Meadows Craiger Jan 2010

Planning For Secret Disclosure : Applying Berger's Planning Theory To The Disclosure Of Secrets, Sarah Rae Meadows Craiger

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This research examined the strategies used for secret disclosure with Berger’s Planning Theory’s (1997) hierarchy principle, which orders plans according to complexity. Afifi and Steuber’s (2009) Strategies for Sharing Secrets Scale categorizes secret disclosure strategies that vary in complexity. Based on Planning Theory’s hierarchy principle, it was hypothesized that when a plan to disclose a secret is thwarted, individuals will move from a less complex disclosure strategy to a more complex disclosure strategy. Findings revealed correlations between strategy complexity and order of strategy choice were low; the null hypothesis was accepted.


Cross Informant Correlation : Validity Of The Conners Cbrs Parent And Teacher Scales, Tamara Ann-Harris Mitchell Jan 2010

Cross Informant Correlation : Validity Of The Conners Cbrs Parent And Teacher Scales, Tamara Ann-Harris Mitchell

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to determine the amount of cross informant agreement on the Conners Comprehensive Behavior Rating content scales between Parents and Teachers of students at the Marshall University Summer Enrichment Program. Data was analyzed by comparing the 11 common content scales on both forms and determining if there is a cross informant correlation that is significant. Results showed a low correlation coefficient, which suggests a weak relationship between parents and teachers.


Metaphysics And The Charge Of Misanthropy : Ralph Waldo Emerson’S “Circles” As A Cipher For Understanding The Connection Between Robinson Jeffers And Herman Melville, Hunter Stark Jan 2010

Metaphysics And The Charge Of Misanthropy : Ralph Waldo Emerson’S “Circles” As A Cipher For Understanding The Connection Between Robinson Jeffers And Herman Melville, Hunter Stark

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Herman Melville’s and Robinson Jeffers’s metaphysical thoughts reflect Ralph Waldo Emerson’s notion of looking towards Nature for discovery; all three writers’ observations of Nature influence how they see humanity’s place in existence. Both Melville and Jeffers observe Nature decentralizing humanity, which distinguishes their views from Emerson’s. Where Jeffers’s verse sternly voices this message, openly criticizing the anthropocentric viewpoint, Melville utilizes humor, subtly confronting the anthropocentric proponent and downplaying humanity’s power. Jeffers garners the label of misanthrope, whereas Melville’s metaphysical realm in Moby-Dick largely escapes this charge with the masking quality of his humor. Comparing both writers’ texts to an Emersonian …


The Postcolonial "Knight‘S Tale": A Social Commentary On Post-Norman Invasion England, Ruth M.E. Oldman Jan 2010

The Postcolonial "Knight‘S Tale": A Social Commentary On Post-Norman Invasion England, Ruth M.E. Oldman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Every author injects a purpose into his or her works; in Chaucer‘s case, he scribed The Canterbury Tales, which tackles and successfully demonstrates various aspects to fourteenth century English society and culture. "The Knight‘s Tale" is no different; the tale is almost identical, plot-wise, to Giovanni Boccaccio‘s Teseida, and yet Chaucer weaves a tale that is distinctive. The tale reflects Chaucer‘s views on his society, in particular post-Norman attitudes. By examining the text with a post-colonial theoretical approach, Chaucer‘s "The Knight‘s Tale" is a subaltern commentary on the colonization of England after the Norman Conquest.


Effect Of Researched-Based Information On Principals' Actions Regarding Retention, Elizabeth R. Gray Jan 2010

Effect Of Researched-Based Information On Principals' Actions Regarding Retention, Elizabeth R. Gray

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examines the relationship between the thoughts and actions of principals regarding retention in some West Virginia and Ohio schools. This research is a follow-up to Grade Retention as Perceived by Principals, by Galford (2008). The number of students retained per year for the schools of principals that participated in Galford's 2008 study was examined for three school years before Galford's 2008 study and two school years after. A repeated-measures ANOVA was used to determine if any changes occurred. A chi-square was used to analyze data: Year 3 as the expected rate and Year 4 as the observed rate. …


Implementation Of Language And Literacy Practices By Prekindergarten Teachers In The West Virginia Universal Pre-K System, Leslie Papelier Jan 2010

Implementation Of Language And Literacy Practices By Prekindergarten Teachers In The West Virginia Universal Pre-K System, Leslie Papelier

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study investigated the perceived frequency of implementation of language and literacy practices for 217 West Virginia Pre-K teachers. Teachers were employed in public school-based and community-based classrooms for 4-year-olds. Respondents completed the Language and Literacy Practice Survey (LLPS), which measured their perceived frequency of implementation of 18 language and literacy practices. Their overall perceived ability level for implementing effective language and literacy instruction was also assessed. Respondents also rated their use of resources and materials to facilitate effective language and literacy instruction. Additionally, respondents answered open-ended qualitative questions to determine perceived constraints that may hinder their effective implementation of …


The Level Of Parental Conflict And Children's Behavioral Reactions To Divorce, Cindi Jo Settle Jan 2010

The Level Of Parental Conflict And Children's Behavioral Reactions To Divorce, Cindi Jo Settle

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This research investigated the level of parental conflict as a contributor to children’s behavioral difficulties up to one year after parental separation. Participants were parents who had been court ordered to attend the parent education class sponsored by the Kanawha County Family Court in Charleston, West Virginia. The Conflict Tactics Scale 2 (CTS2) was used to identify marital conflict and the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist/6-18 (CBCL) parent report was used to determine childhood behavior problems. Correlation and multiple linear regression analysis found that children who were traumatized by domestic violence suffered from anxiety, depression, withdrawal symptoms, attention problems, somatic complaints, …


The Effectiveness Of Marshall University's Master Of Arts In Teaching And Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certificate Programs As Determined By Graduates' And Completers' Perceptions, Melissa F. Spivy Jan 2010

The Effectiveness Of Marshall University's Master Of Arts In Teaching And Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certificate Programs As Determined By Graduates' And Completers' Perceptions, Melissa F. Spivy

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examined graduates’ and completers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of Marshall University’s alternative certification programs, the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certificate (PBTC), from 1999-2010. This nonexperimental descriptive cross-sectional study used the Spivy Survey of MAT and PBTC Program Effectiveness to collect data. Based on the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) standards, this survey used 20 closed-ended questions and two open-ended questions to investigate graduates’ and completers’ perceptions. Data indicated that graduates and completers perceived their preparation was moderately prepared based on the mean scores. All median and mode scores indicated graduates …


Exploring Obesity And After-School Supervision With Adolescents In Rural West Virginia, Sallie Dawn Richards Jan 2010

Exploring Obesity And After-School Supervision With Adolescents In Rural West Virginia, Sallie Dawn Richards

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Both childhood obesity and the number of children in self-care have increased during the past several decades. Child care arrangements for working parents of middle school children can be a complex problem because unsupervised children who “hang out” with peers after school are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, although unsupervised children at home after school tend to watch more television than their supervised peers. Because children in self-care at home after school tend to engage in more sedentary activities, they may be at greater risk for becoming overweight or obese. The purpose of the present study was to …


Dopamine Modulates The Lateral Giant Neuron And Serotonergic Facilitation In Crayfish, Joshua Scott Titlow Jan 2010

Dopamine Modulates The Lateral Giant Neuron And Serotonergic Facilitation In Crayfish, Joshua Scott Titlow

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The lateral giant (LG) neural circuit is a model system used to study the function of individual neurons. The LG circuit is part of a tail flip escape reflex that is a defensive behavior for crayfish. This thesis begins by addressing the effects of dopamine (DA), a neurotransmitter involved in normal and abnormal behaviors of most animals. Here it is shown that dopamine decreases the excitability of the LG neuron, a trigger for the escape reflex. An electrophysiology protocol was used to mimic sensory input to the LG neuron. Stimulating a sensory nerve in the last ganglion with an electrode …