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Exchange And Social Interaction In The Tennessee River Valley: A Geospatial Approach To The Analysis Of Late Archaic Archaeological Sites, Justin S. Bailey

Masters Theses

The cultural manifestation known as the Shell Mound Archaic persisted in the lower Midwest and Midsouth region of the Eastern United States for over four millennia beginning in the Middle Archaic ca. 8900 cal BP and terminating at the end of the Late Archaic ca 3200 cal BP. A geospatial approach is applied to the analysis of exotic material exchange of the Late Archaic (ca. 5800-3200 cal BP) to assess how foraging peoples in the Tennessee River Valley interacted and persisted during this time. Exotic material items manufactured from copper, marine shell, steatite, and other nonlocal materials demonstrate distinct spatial …

How Divergent Risk-Characters Rewrite The Anti-Vaccination Narrative, Shelby C. Luttman

Masters Theses

The modern narrative originates in 1998, when a paper by a British medical journal The Lancet alleged that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine may cause autism and bowel disease (Wakefield, Murch, Linnell, & Casson, 1998). The funding of the publication was deemed erroneous, yet the research sparked a connection between vaccines and disorders that would soon undermine public confidence in vaccines. Still today, the debate on vaccines poses a threat to public health in the United States of America as “opt-out” rates, particularly in states with recent outbreaks are increasing (Ratzan, 2011).

This study sought to examine what factors contribute to divergent …

Queer Spaces, Religious Places: Sharing Risk And Making Kin Within A Queer Church Amidst A Pandemic, Sadie V. Counts

Masters Theses

This thesis aims to explore the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic on a queer, Christian congregation of the Metropolitan Community Church in Knoxville, TN and the impacts of the pandemic queer kinship and intimacy within the church setting. The thesis explores the ways in which queer kinship manifests within the church and how those relationships have been disrupted and altered by COVID. It also compares the long-term effects of the AIDS epidemic on the church congregation and they ways in which they may be experiencing COVID in a similar manner. Finally, the project explores the ways that intimacy has …

Exploring Toddler Risky Play: Listening To The Voices Of Parents And Teachers Of Toddlers In One School Setting, Megan Chaney

Masters Theses

This qualitative study explored the understandings, definitions, and influences of three toddler teachers and four toddler parents within the context of risky play in toddlerhood at a Southeastern land-grant university early childhood laboratory school. Sociocultural and bioecological theories informed the study and the developmental niche conceptual framework guided the organization of data analysis. Video stimulated recall interviews were the primary data source. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method to ensure triangulation of data. Findings include: (1) analyzing risky play is comprised of (a) the psychology of the caregiver, (b) knowing the child, and (c) cultural influences, (2) risky …

An Ahp Based Visual Tool Assignment Model For Accident Avoidance In Manufacturing Workplaces, Riddhi Pradeep Shah

Masters Theses

Collaborative risk management techniques place management and workers equally while developing a safety culture in workplaces. Traditional risk awareness methods which are commonly carried out in workplaces, such as training and safety manuals, are inherently passive in nature. On the other hand, visual tools are active risk communication mechanisms which deliver specific risk information in a work area. The presented study places emphasis on risk awareness for workers through the assignment of visual tools, which is critical to the success of a collaborative framework. Traditionally, the assignment of visual tools to work area locations has been arbitrary, potentially causing the …

Tennessee Row Crop Producer Survey On Willingness To Adopt Best Management Practices, Kelsey Michelle Campbell

Masters Theses

This thesis presents two separate studies focusing on best management practice (BMP) adoption by row crop producers in Middle and West Tennessee. The objective of the first study is to summarize results the survey. Survey topics included producer perceptions regarding the benefits and costs from using no-tillage planting (no-till), cover crops, and irrigation water management (IWM); respondent responsiveness to BMP cost-share payments; and producer demographic information such as household income and age. The majority of survey respondents (87%) were already planting using no-till, but only 28% knew they could receive a cost-share payment for adopting no-till. Adoption of cover crops …

Sensation Seeking Among Experienced Whitewater Kayakers, Lisa Marie Ivester

Masters Theses

Whitewater kayaking is an adventure sport that has been continuously growing in popularity (Brymer, 2010). A better understanding of the risk involved could assist programmers, marketers, and decision makers in the future. This study explores sensation seeking in experienced whitewater kayakers. Demographic variables such as age, sex and skill level are studied to make conclusions about risk perception. Kayakers were recruited nation-wide via social media to participate in a survey involving sensation-seeking and demographic questions. The study consisted of 409 participants who completed the self-identifying survey. Past sensation-seeking literature pertaining to adventure sports suggests that there is a correlation between …

Tennessee Tornado Frequency, Vulnerability, And Relation To A Large-Scale Climate Variability, Vincent Marshall Brown

Masters Theses

This work explores the climatologies of isolated tornadoes and tornado outbreaks across the state of Tennessee, a state that in some years experiences more tornadoes than states in the heart of Tornado Alley. Part one assesses tornado frequency characteristics and fatality statistics within 100 km of three major Tennessee cities (Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville) between 1950 and 2013. Nashville reported the most tornadoes, (426) but Memphis reported the most fatalities. Knoxville and Nashville tornadoes occurred on fewer days, while Memphis tornadoes were spread across more tornado days. Spring was the most active season for tornadoes, but Memphis still experienced approximately …

Analyzing The Risk And Returns For A Spring- And Fall-Calving Beef Herd In Tennessee, Gavin William Henry

Masters Theses

There is limited research on the profitability and risk of spring- and fall-calving beef seasons grazing tall fescue in the southeast. The objective of this research is to evaluate the profitability and risk of spring- and fall-calving seasons in Tennessee while considering the seasonality of cattle and feed prices for various feeding rations. Two commonly used rations and two least-cost feed rations meeting the nutritional requirements of a spring- and fall-calving cow with two weaning dates in Tennessee were developed. Enterprise budgets were established for each calving-season, two weaning dates per calving season, and feed ration. Net returns were simulated …

Comparison Of Agricultural Technologies And Risk Analysis Of Smallholder Farmers In Mozambique, Simon Mesfin Kidane

Masters Theses

This thesis examines on understanding how maize yields and net returns associated with three farming systems; conventional method, basin planting and jab planting differ, and the extent to which conservation agricultural practices are preferred by risk averse farmers linked to agro-ecological factors, farmer resource endowments, and risk preferences of smallholder farmers in Mozambique. Conservation agriculture practices (CAP) is promoted in sub-Saharan Africa to improve water and soil conservation, improve household income and enhance family and national food security. CAP are based on three principles: minimizing soil disturbance by direct sowing of seeds into the soil, protecting soil with cover crops …

Helmet Use Among Outdoor Recreational Rock Climbers Across Disciplines: Factors Of Use And Non-Use., Kevin Henri Hogan Soleil

Masters Theses

The use of helmets in outdoor recreational rock climbing is a risk management practice meant to offer some protection to climbers in the event of falls and falling objects. Helmets are used inconsistently across many disciplines of rock climbing including top-rope, sport lead, traditional lead and belay. Though climbing accidents involving head injuries are rare, many tend to be severe. The purpose of this study was to assess the rate at which helmets are being used, discover the most significant personal and environmental factors that influence use and non-use and differences between disciplines. The study surveys (N = 1481) …