Digital Commons Network^™

Phylogenetic Placement Of African Cornus: Evidence Of Nuclear Rdna, Scott Myers

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The genus Comus (the dogwoods) contains 50 species that have been divided into nine subgenera. One of these species, C. volkensii, has been segregated into the subgenus Ajrocrania. Previous studies combined morphological, anatomical, and chemical data to produce a hypothesis of evolutionary relationships that placed the subg. Afrocrania as a segregate lineage sister to the subg. Comus, and placed the Ajrocrania/Comus lineage sister to the big-bracted dogwoods (Murrell 1997). The subgenus Afrocrania has been examined morphologically, anatomically, and palynologically; however, it was not sequenced in Xiang's (1993) analysis of rbcL (chloroplast) sequence data, or in her analysis of the matK …

Ua11/1 On Campus. Vol. 7, No. 9, Wku University Relations

WKU Archives Records

On Campus newsletter featuring articles about faculty, staff and events at Western Kentucky University. Regular features are:

• College News
• Sponsored Programs
• Hot off the Press
• Personnel File
• Coming Up - Calendar of Events

This issue includes articles:

• Governor Paul Patton Will Address Fall Commencement
• On the Road with President Gary Ransdell
• Five Named to Alumni Association Board
• Students Raise $470,000 During Annual Fund Phonathon
• BellSouth Grant Makes Education Connection
• Hughey, Aaron. The Myth of Internet Addiction

Ua25/2 Connections, Wku Human Resources

WKU Archives Records

Newsletter created by WKU Human Resources for the faculty and staff of WKU regarding personnel issues and benefits.

Friendship Patterns And School Adjustment In The Mixed-Age Context, Sarah Caverly

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

While friendship patterns and the relationship between friendship status and school adjustment have been studied in same-age classrooms, little is known about friendship patterns and the contribution of friendship status to school adjustment in mixed-age classrooms. The purposes of the present study were to investigate friendship patterns in a large sample of mixed-age (ungraded) primary classrooms and to examine the contribution of friendship status to school adjustment in a smaller subsample of ungraded primary children. Peer acceptance level and age relative to classmates both had a significant impact on the number of reciprocated friends children had, and on the relative …

Analysis Of The Ministerial Emphasis Survey Quantifying The Call Of The Church, Ray Doyel

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The expectations of a church for its minister are broad and difficult to define. These expectations are perhaps most intently examined when the church is seeking to replace a minister. It is during this time that the church may attempt to measure in some way the expectations of the congregation. These expectations may be studied from different perspectives, ranging from the effectiveness of the minister to the leadership style of the minister. This research examined the Ministerial Emphasis Survey which was used by a mainline, Protestant denomination during an actual minister search. The study included participants from the congregation, the …

An Examination Of The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Newton's Method For Nonlinear Optimization, Renita Demalade

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis begins with the history of operations research and introduces two of its major branches, linear and nonlinear optimization. While other methods are mentioned, the focus is on analytical methods used to solve nonlinear optimization problems. We briefly look at some of the most effective constrained methods for nonlinear optimization and then show how unconstrained methods often play a role in developing effective constrained optimization algorithms. In particular we examine Newton and steepest descent methods, focusing primarily on Newton/quasi-Newton methods. Because Newton's method is primarily viewed as a root-finding method, we start with the basic root-finding algorithm for single …

Factors That Motivate Ymca Volunteers, Theresa Lubke

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) is a not-for-profit organization that depends heavily on volunteers. As one of many such organizations, the YMCA must continually strive to find the best methods of recruiting and retaining volunteers. Although the field of psychology has done considerable research on what motivates people to engage in helping behavior and Volunteerism, there has been little applied research in this area. There appeared to be a lack of applicable research that would assist YMCA staff in their recruitment and development of volunteers. This present research focused on helping to fill that gap. The purpose of this …

Development Of An Atmospheric Fluidized Bed Combustor (Afbc), William Orndorff

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The relatively recent interest in the U.S. in the development of atmospheric fluidized bed combustion (AFBC) has been preceded by two main factors. First of these is the ever present problem of acid rain and growing public support for cleaner burning fossil fuels. Second is the increasing demand on public landfills and subsequent need for burning of municipal solid waste. From these factors and their corresponding influences, Western Kentucky University has the impetus and has received the financial assistance necessary to build and develop a laboratory scale AFBC system. A brief history of the events leading to this development, as …

A Study Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons During Combustion In An Afbc System, Laura Dicken

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to develop the on-line method of analysis which leads to the study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during combustion in an atmospheric fluidized bed combustor (AFBC) system. The study of PAHs is important because they may be produced upon the combustion of coal. The US EPA prioritizes PAHs as major pollutants due to their mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Standards of PAHs were analyzed by injection into the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). These standards were then analyzed using the on-line method. Two coals were burned in the AFBC system and effluent samples were collected. These …

Reflection/Reflected The Construction Of Female Subjectivity In Elizabeth Bowen's The Last September And The Death Of The Heart, Laura Bartlett

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

As I read Elizabeth Bowen's The Last September and The Death of the Heart, questions arose, persisted, and remained unanswered until I undertook the project of applying poststructuralist theories to these novels. Reading The Last September, I puzzled over the female protagonist's relationship to an ancillary character, which Bowen repeatedly represents in terms of the father-daughter relationship. Reading both The Last September and The Death of the Heart, I was struck by the fact that although Bowen is typically categorized as a "classical realist," she embarks upon the quest of depicting the identity construction of two female adolescents but abandons …

Ta Da! - The Text Adventure Design Assistant A Visual Tool For The Development Of Adventure Games, Sean Molley

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In this paper, I survey past and present tools available to text adventure game authors, and then describe a new product: the Text Adventure Design Assistant (TA DA!), a visual programming system for creating text adventure games. My system consists of two parts: an abstract framework which defines an archetypical game, and a user interface which allows for the construction of games in a visual manner by manipulating the elements of the abstract game to produce a concrete design. The two most popular contemporary programming languages for creating text adventure games, TADS and Inform, are compared and contrasted, and my …

A Statewide Survey Linking Assessment To Interventions: Assessing Teacher Awareness And Training Needs Related To Students With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Leann Pearson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The present study, using a survey questionnaire developed by Luckett (1996), was completed by 211 kindergarten through sixth grade teachers in 33 school districts across Kentucky. The sample consisted of regular education, special education, and Title One teachers with one to thirty-one years of experience. Educational backgrounds of the predominantly female sample ranged from bachelor's to doctoral degrees. The survey included four distinct sections. Participants were questioned about (a) knowledge level with respect to the diagnostic criteria and diagnostic labels for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, (b) intervention preferences for addressing ADHD student's behaviors in the classroom, (c) interventions which they would …

Characteristics And Resource Utilization Of Patients Of A Proprietary Home Health Agency In Rural South Central Kentucky, Linda Sewell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The home health industry's introduction to managed care raises the prospect of reduced access to health care and poor outcomes for a vulnerable segment of our population—the rural elderly. Before effective intervention strategies can be accurately evaluated, a clearer picture of the sociodemographic features and home care service consumption is needed for this understudied group. The study was intended to provide a basis for future research into the evaluation of alternative methods of delivering effective care in terms of outcome and decreased cost for this population. A retrospective descriptive analysis was made of the patient record for the first six …

Personality Types Of Registered Nurses Employed In A Rural Community Hospital, Tina Snodgrass

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to identify the personality types of registered nurses in a rural community. An extensive literature review revealed that no studies, utilizing the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to identify personality types, had been conducted with rural nurses. Jung's Psychological Type Theory was the theoretical framework for the study. The MBTI operationalizes Jung's theory and was utilized to determine the most frequently occurring personality types of the nurses. A descriptive study was conducted at a 68 bed acute care hospital. The sample consisted of 40 experienced registered nurses working in staff positions within the hospital. Sensing, …

Studies On Resolution Of Enantiomeric Dialkylaryl Sulfonium Ions With Nmr Shift Reagents, Ea-Ji-Ru Son

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Praseodymium(III) NMR shift reagent, which is an upfield shift reagent, is focused on for assessment of enantiomeric excess and resolution of methyl sulfonium ions. A series of alkylmethylphenylsulfonium ions were analyzed, where alkyl is ethyl (I), butyl(H), octyl (III), and benzyl(IY). The praseodymium agent gives base-lined resolution of the ortho hydrogens resonance for I and IH. All spectra are strongly temperature-dependent. I is shifted more than ED, consistent with a steric effect. Assignments for I were made by gradually increasing the concentration of the shift reagent and by analyzing R-enriched I. Racemization of R-enriched isomer of I by pyramidal inversion …

Fundamental Investigations Of Mechanistic Pathways Of Selected Organic Reactive Intermediates, Carl Whittle

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Part 1 of this thesis deals with the role that it -electron density plays in the formation of it -complexes in electrophilic aromatic substitution. Using commercial and synthetic compounds of varying it-electron density, the fact that % -complexes actually exist in these species was determined by a mass spectral investigation that was designed to monitor alkyl side-chain isomerizaitons. Also, the amount of it-complex was determined for each compound by measuring the amount of alkyl carbenium ion loss in each compound's mass spectrum. Found within the systems was an internal trend showing that the greater the amount of 7t-electron density in …

Forensic Soil Analysis: Characterization Of The Sand Fraction, John Baize

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a comprehensive analytical method for the characterization of soil by examining particle size, elemental composition, and percent organic matter in soil, and to determine its forensic applicability. In this study, five soils of varying geological locations were examined including two samples from Kentucky; two samples from Pennsylvania; and one from Washington D C A Gilson sonic sieve shaker was used to separate fractions of soil to determine particle size, and a JEOL scanning electron microscope with a Kevex EDS detector was used to determine elemental composition. These techniques coupled with percent total …

Maternal Age: Influence On Length Of Gestation And Birth Weight, Charlotte Bratcher

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The findings indicated no significant differences among the age groups in relation to infant birth weight nor in relation to the risk factors of smoking, maternal weight gain, trimester of first entry into prenatal care, or marital status They did indicate a significant difference [F(2,85) = 4.1364, p < .05] between the oldest and the youngest group (CD = 3.37, a = .05) in relation to gestational length. These findings are significant for healthcare providers in rural areas, since much of the previous research had been done in highly urbanized or inner city settings.

African American In Televised Advertisements: A Content Analysis, Amy Anderson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to analyze African American portrayals in televised advertisements over a sixday period in November 1995. A total of 799 advertisements were analyzed, including 205 that depicted at least one African American actor. Content analysis was used to describe the following, with respect to African American actors: age, gender, day and time of portrayal, occupational role, and products and services advertised. Comparisons were also made between frequencies of actors of different races and amount of time these actors appeared. When compared with previous studies of African American television portrayals, many improvements were observed as well …

Local Use Of A Nationally-Developed Predictor Of University Student Attrition, Michelle Huffman

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In this study we examine the ability of the scales of the College Student Inventory (CSI) to predict attrition at a single institution. We also develop a locally-specific dropout proneness model with which to compare the nationally-developed model of the CSI. Attention is given to the incremental validity of both of these models over high school grade point average and ACT composite scores. Dropout Proneness National, although statistically significantly related to attrition, was lacking in practical significance, especially when considering its incremental predictive value over high school grade point average and ACT composite score. Dropout Proneness Local was found to …

Mathematical Modeling Of Convective Heat Transfer In Mammoth Cave, Jonathan Jernigan

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Around two centuries ago, changes were made to the entrances of Mammoth Cave and its passages. Today the Historic Entrance to Mammoth Cave is enlarged and the passage just beyond the entrance known as Houchins' Narrows has been cleared of rubble and filled with sediments. These enlargements have resulted in an increase in airflow throughout the Historic Section of the cave causing environmental conditions such as air temperature and airflow to fluctuate. These fluctuations have negatively impacted inhabitants and contents of the cave system. To restore natural conditions within the cave, Science and Resource Management personnel at Mammoth Cave National …

Synchronizing Estrus And Improving Subsequent Production And Performance With Prostaglandin F2 Alpha And Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin, Bryan Kutz

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Two-hundred-seventy-two sows were utilized in two trials to evaluate the effects of prostaglandin and pregnant mare serum on reducing weaning to estrus interval, increasing the degree of estrus synchrony and improving fertility at estrus resulting in improved pregnancy rates and subsequent litter performance. Sows were randomly allotted to treatments. In trial 1, sows were assigned to one of three treatments: T1 (n=18; l0mg of PGF2α /hd 24-48 hrs. after parturition), T2 (n=20; lOmg of PGF 2 α /hd at weaning) and controls (n=20). No differences (P>.05) were observed for survival rate and 21D litter wt. among treated and the …

Patients' Attitudes Toward The Use Of Nurse Practitioners, Laurie Maxwell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Since the advent of the role of nurse practitioner in the mid 1960s, nurse practitioners have practiced in traditional settings such as health departments, clinics, and physicians' offices. More recently, nurse practitioners have been utilized in non-traditional settings such as the emergency department. Some studies have been done that support the theory that nurse practitioners can function effectively in this setting; however additional studies are needed on this topic. The purpose of this study was to explore patients' attitudes toward the use of nurse practitioners and to determine what patient variables were related to these attitudes. More specifically, this study …

Meeting Minutes, Wku Council Of Academic Deans

Council of Academic Deans

Meeting regarding departmental reports, awards, stipends, community college, administrator evaluations, programs of distinction, tuition waivers and UC101.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 73, No. 26, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Archives Records

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news.

• Mayo, Travis. Western to Face Eastern in Playoff Bout – Football
• Back, Shannon. Paul Patton to Address Fall Graduates – Commencement
• Siria, Stephanie. Student Showcases Passion for Car Audio – Heather Henderson
• Lanter, Charlie. Nursing Grade Policy Changes After Protest
• Professor Pleads Not Guilty – Steve Boilard
• Free Football Tickets Available
• Stamper, John & Leigh Moore. Teachers Disagree About Internet Use in Classes
• Back, Shannon. Cyperstudy: Virtual Campus Planned Here – Southern Regional Education Board
• Student Government Association Should Focus on Dorm Problems – Housing & Residence Life
• Harlow, …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 73, No. 25, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Archives Records

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news.

• Back, Shannon. Faculty Hopeful About Gary Ransdell
• Frazier, Stephan. Flashbacks – Shenanigans
• Lanter, Charlie. Student Government Association Seeks Money for Off-Campus Rent
• Harper, Molly. Incentives Lacking for Pep Band Members – Music
• No Classes Wednesday – Thanksgiving
• Adopt-A-Child Needs Volunteers
• Thanksgiving Dance Tonight – Delta Sigma Theta
• Lanter, Charlie. University Center Board Can Spend Big
• Karen, Matthias. Historian Compares U.S., Russian Education Systems – Ludmilla Zelezmeva
• Batcheldor, Matt. Post Office Adds Services
• WKU Foundation Should Open Records to Public
• Harlow, Paige. Editorial Cartoon WKU Foundation Secrecy
• People Poll: What …

Meeting Minutes, Wku Student Government Association

Student Government Association

Meeting to discuss complaint committees, job fair, concerts, provide-a-ride and blood drive.

Resolution 97-24-F - Providing Soap In Residence Hall Bathrooms, Wku Student Government Association

Student Government Association

Resolution to request university provide soap dispensers in residence hall restrooms.

Resolution 97-22-F - Placing Ice Machines In Residence Halls, Wku Student Government Association

Student Government Association

Resolution requesting ice machines for residence halls.

Resolution 97-23-F - Picnic Tables For Bottom Of Campus, Wku Student Government Association

Student Government Association

Resolution requesting picnic tables for campus area near Zacharias Hall, Meredith Hall and Pearce-Ford Tower.