Digital Commons Network^™

Male Coercive Sexual Behavior As A Function Of Male Resource-Potential And Respondent Gender., Christy D. Wolfe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined whether the resource-potential (RP) of a male dater (i.e., potential financial success and status) and/or respondent gender related to attitudes toward coercive sexual behavior by the male. Participants (59 males and 82 females) read a hypothetical dating scenario in which a heterosexual couple went out for dinner and then returned to the female’s apartment to watch a movie. The RP of the male dater was set at high and low. Following the scenario, rating scales posing increasing levels of coercive sexual behavior (a sexual advance, verbal persuasion, and physical coercion) were presented. The participants rated the …

Effects Of Neonatal Clomipramine Treatment On Photic And Non-Photic Circadian Phase Shifting In Rats, Suzanne M. Dwyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neonatal exposure to monoaminergic antidepressant drugs produces a wide variety of effects on the behavior and physiology of adult rats which parallel those observed in human depression. Monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems are involved in the regulation of both affective and circadian behaviors, and alterations in circadian rhythmicity have been observed in depressed patients and in several other animal depression models. The purpose of the present study was to explore circadian phase shifting following neonatal antidepressant treatment. Neonatal rats were divided into three treatment groups; a clomipramine-treated group, a saline-treated group, and an unhandled group. Daily injections of clomipramine (25 mg/kg SC), …

Creating Virtual Wood Particulate Composites, Huaijun Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wood particulate composites are inhomogeneous, short fiber materials. The behavior of such materials depends on the properties of the constituent elements (wood particles, fibers, and adhesives) and the manner in which they are organized (the microstructure). Research on the microstructure of these composites has been carried out for several decades. However, due to the complexity of the engineered structures, most existing works are either over-simplified or lacking in general representations. While experimental approaches to improve material performance are necessary, this thesis presents another approach for better depictions of such complex systems. In this research project, digital surrogates of the composite …

Development Of Realistic Simulations Of The Interactions Between Stars And The Interstellar Medium In Disk Galaxies, Thomas M. Zeltwanger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

fWe have developed GALAXY, a two dimensional, self-consistent N-body plus hydro-dynamic computer program to model and study the behavior of disk galaxies like our Milky Way. Our goal is to better understand how such galaxies maintain their spiral structure for billions of years.

The program utilizes two independent gravitating N-body components. One simulates the collision-less star particles in the galaxy, and the other simulates colliding clouds. A gravitating hydrodynamic code simulates the interstellar medium. Additionally, a static spherical halo and a central black hole interact gravitationally with the other components of the model galaxy. All components interact with each other …

Presentation Of The Sun King: The Performance Of Power In 17th Century French Ballets Des Entrees, David Shuhly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study will examine how Cardinal Mazarin, through the ballets Le Ballet de la Nuit and Ballet de la Nopces de Pelee et de Thetis, created the image of Louis XIV as the "Sun King." Mazarin, through the power of theatrics and the performance of power, forged Louis's image fiom near-exile to absolute monarch. Both of these ballets created a world, image, and mythology of Louis that affected not only those in attendance, but also the people of France and Europe. Through the use of Italianate scenic practices and technologically advanced machinery, such as Torelli's "chariot-and-pole" system, elaborate costumes, …

Distribution And Impact Of The Oyster Parasite Bonamia Ostreae In Maine, And Its Detection Using Dna Probes, Ryan Carnegie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Health management efforts in Maine related to the flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) parasite Bonamia ostreae are limited by a lack of knowledge of the parasite’s distribution and impact in both wild and cultured populations. This information would be more readily obtainable with improved diagnostic tools. The objectives of this dissertation were to design sensitive and specific DNA probes for detection of B. ostreae; to assess the prevalence and intensity of parasite infections in wild oyster populations in Maine; and to evaluate growth and mortality of cultured oysters in the Damariscotta River, where B. ostreae is enzootic. A polymerase …

Leaf Area, Stemwood Volume Growth, And Stand Structure In A Mixed-Species, Multi-Aged Northern Conifer Forest, Laura Kenefic

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tree- and stand-level leaf area (LA) - stemwood volume growth relationships were explored in mixed-species, multi-aged northern conifer stands dominated by Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. (eastern hemlock), Abies balsameu (L.) Mill. (balsam fir), and Piceu rubens Sarg. (red spruce). A T. cunudensis LA model was developed to supplement published equations for A. bulsumeu and P. rubens. Sapwood area was an effective T. cunudensis LA surrogate, though nonsapwood-based models using stem cross-sectional area and modified live crown ratio produced results comparable to sapwood-based models. Equations for predicting tree-level stemwood volume increment (AVINC) were derived, and implied growth efficiencies (GE) were …

The Viscoelastic Behavior Of Pigmented Latex Coating Films, Katharina Prall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The mechanical properties of paper coatings are essential for use performance of coated paper (e.g. calendering, printing degradation during printing operations, pick). This study investigates the microscopic and macroscopic mechanisms that determine the viscoelastic behavior of pigmented latex coating films. Pigmented coating layers were prepared with different microstructures. This was achieved by using different pigment types and shapes (polystyrene plastic pigment - spheres, precipitated calcium carbonate - rhombs, clay - plates), and changing pigment volume concentration (PVC). Two styrene-butadiene latices with different degree of carboxylation (acidic level 0.3% and 4.5%) were evaluated to determine effect of adhesion. The viscoelastic material …

Factors Influencing Net Primary Production In Red Spruce, Michael Day

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Management of forest resources, even when practiced at the scale of ecosystems, is implicitly based on managing photosynthetic acquisition of carbon by trees. This thesis examines several aspects of carbon balance at the scale of individual trees, using red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) as a model species. Age-related declines in net primary productivity have been described for many species, including red spruce. A potential explanation is that ontogenetic changes in meristems lead to lower photosynthetic rates, which was confirmed here for red spruce. A grafting study used scions from juvenile, 6Oy, and 120~ trees to demonstrate that age-related morphological …

Redox Studies On The Anti-Rheumatoid Arthritis Gold Drugs: Auranofin And Solganol, Ahmed A. Mohamed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The oxidative behavior of Auranofin, 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-D-glucopyranosato-S(triethylphosphine)gold(I), was investigated by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 0.1 M Bu₄NBF₄/CH₂Cl₂ and 0.1 M Bu₄NPF₆/CH₂Cl₂ solutions using Pt working and auxiliary electrodes and a Ag/AgCl reference. CV studies at scan rates from 50-2,000mVs^-1 and Auranofin concentrations between 1 and 4mM, show two irreversible oxidation processes occurring at +1.1 V and +1.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Treatment of Auranofrn with the one electron oxidizing agent [Cp₂Fe]PF₆ gave a μ-thiolato digold cluster, [(Et₃PAu)₂(μ-SR)]₂^{2+ …}

Works Of Men, Paul N. Akin, Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

True contentment is a thing as active as agriculture. It is the power of getting out of any situation all that there is in it. It is arduous and it is rare. It is the discipline of Epiphany. — G. K. Chesterton

Each of these stories has something to do with the idea of epiphany, as I mean it, the appearance or manifestation of something that wasn’t present before. The characters in the five stories all have something they are active about, which they are doing in the hopes of some measure of contentment. My interest was to pay attention …

An Analysis Of Risk Factors Associated With High Rates Of Cesarean Births In Three Selected Northeast Tennessee Hospitals., Karen Stewart-Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study consists of an analysis of hospital discharge data from three Northeast Tennessee hospitals to identify maternal demographic factors that may be linked to higher rates of cesarean sections in this region of Appalachia. Maternal age, race, insurance status, length of stay, and birth weight were evaluated to identify regional trends in the prevalence of these factors over a two-year period.

There were 1,678 (23.3%) singleton live births by cesarean section of which 7.6% were repeat cesarean section deliveries. Less than one percent of the 7,181 births were vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC) delivery. Overall, insurance and maternal age …

A Comparison Of The Characteristics Of Gardeners, Their Motivations For Gardening And Management Practices Of Blackacre Community Garden And Limerick Community Garden In Jefferson County, Kentucky., Robin Oxnard Grossman 1974-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Using four surveys, two created by this researcher, another created by Walizcek, Mattson, and Zajicek, and a fourth created by Herbach, the researcher compared the characteristics of community gardeners, their motivations for gardening, and the management practices of the inner-city Limerick Community Garden and the suburban Blackacre Community Garden in Jefferson County, Kentucky. 33 Blackacre gardeners, 16 Limerick gardeners, two garden managers, and two garden administrators participated in the study. The researcher hypothesized that the location of the garden could be influential in determining who the gardeners are and what their motivations for gardening are. The inner-city garden was expected …

Women’S Ways Of Leading? A Qualitative Content Analysis To Determine Leadership Messages Contained In Literature Of National Panhellenic Conference Groups, Andrea M. Fechner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study documented the leadership messages sent to women in 16 of the National Panhellenic Conference groups' official literature. The purpose of the study was to provide detailed descriptive analysis using excerpts from the official literature to show both traditional and non-traditional (women's ways of leading) theoretical themes as well as to determine the use of followership versus leadership messages to women. The approach to this study was the use of qualitative content analysis whereby messages were collapsed into larger theme categories. Datum from content analysis was represented in excerpts and quotes from the official literature of the 16 groups …

Adult Student Satisfaction With Overall Learning Experiences At East Tennessee State University., Linda Gale Wyatt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined adult students' perceptions of satisifaction levels within specific areas of the ETSU campus. The population surveyed included 106 undergraduate adult learners aged 25 years and older. The Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory, 4-year College and University Version was the survey instrument used to share feedback about the adult learners' collegiate experiences thus far. Responses received would give campus leadership feedback about the satisfaction levels of adult learners at ETSU.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the adult learner at ETSU is satisfied with his/her overall learning experience. Adult students were asked to rank programs …

Chemistry Of Group(Iv) Phosphinimide Complexes., Nancy L. S. Yue

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of 50s Ribosomal Subunit Assembly Inhibition In Erythromycin Treated Escherichia Coli Cells., Jerry Edward Usary

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Erythromycin has long been recognized for its ability to inhibit protein synthesis by interfering with mRNA translation on the bacterial ribosome. We have recently shown that erythromycin also inhibits the assembly of the 50S ribosomal subunit in growing bacterial cells. The nature of this assembly inhibition has been investigated using ³H-uridine pulse-chase labeling of control and erythromycin treated E. coli cells.

Subunit assembly was examined by sucrose gradient centrifugation of labeled cell lysates. Normal assembly kinetics of subunit assembly were observed in control cells at 37°C. Formation of the 30S subunit was completed by 7.5 minutes and assembly of …

An Exegesis Of The Sign-Act Narrative Of Zechariah 11:4-17 And Its Theological And Pastoral Implications, Robert Foster

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a study of the narrative sign-act in Zechariah 11 :4-17. Historical ­critical methods are employed to determine the date, setting and speaker of this narrative. Form, narrative and historical criticism are used to perform an exegesis of this passage. In the end, what may be loosely termed a "biblical theology" approach is undertaken to address the theological and pastoral implications of this passage.

Towards A Spatial Model Of Rurality, Gillian Avruskin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The term rural is used to describe people, places, traditions, and spaces. It is often employed as a setting for study as well as an object of study. People’s perceptions of rural are confused and differ considerably. For over a century researchers have attempted to define more precisely this term using social, economic, and or ecological components. However, problems of interpreting official definitions and measurements exist. These definitions require extensions in order to capture a more objective meaning of the word. This thesis presents the foundations of a new approach to measuring and defining rurality. A spatial based approach is …

Image-Based Change Detection Using An Integrated Spatiotemporal Gazetteer, Georgios Mountrakis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis addresses image-based change detection. Motivation was provided by the lack of algorithms that incorporate in their solution diverse types of pre-existing and complementary information and have the ability to interact with a spatiotemporal environment. The main differentiation with our approach is that we develop our algorithm within an integrated spatiotemporal environment and we make use of all change evidence that might exist within that environment. In addition, a change resolution model is developed that will distinguish meaningful changes based on user requirements. A model for change is proposed that establishes a general framework for the incorporation of image …

Adult's Perceptions Of Children's Aggressive Play With Advertised And Non-Advertised Toys., Lori J. Klinger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined adults’ perceptions of aggression in toys and toy commercials targeted toward young boys. The subjects, 262 undergraduate psychology students, completed the Buss/Perry Aggression Questionnaire and rated either a videotape of 10 boy-oriented toy commercials or slides of 10 non-advertised boy-toys. Parental status, exposure to an advertised versus non-advertised toy, and level of self-reported aggression were assessed to determine their relationship to perceptions of aggressiveness in a toy’s image and predicted play with the toy.

Univariate analyses of variance and paired sample t-tests were conducted. The results indicate that toys advertised in commercials are judged to portray more …

If Only I Knew: The Stranger In The Twentieth-Century Short Story., Ryan S. Otto

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study is divided into two major parts. The first explores the variations of the stranger genre in the American twentieth-century short story by examining the short works of Sherwood Anderson, Ernest Hemingway, Eudora Welty, Katherine Anne Porter, Flannery O'Connor, Raymond Carver, and David James Duncan. The second provides five original works of fiction that represent my understanding of the genre. Observations in the first section fall into three basic categories: "The Mysterious Stranger: Character," "The Tough Guy: Conflict," and "The Nature of Knowing: Theme." "The Character in Transition" chapter relates my observations in the critical study to the structure …

Early Instar Growth And Survivorship In The Common Baskettail Dragonfly Epitheca Cynosura (Anisoptera: Corduliidae)., Bryan Arthur Reece

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Egg masses of Epitheca cynosura were collected from Bays Mountain Park, Tennessee, USA, in June, 1999. Newly hatched individuals were placed into enclosures and sampled at scheduled time intervals throughout the summer. Enclosures were exposed to combinations of high and low densities and presence/absence of a second-year class E. cynosura predator. Survivorship, mean head widths, and mean dry masses were compared across treatments. Due to poor recovery of early-instar larvae, survivorship showed no significant differences in mortality among treatments. The predator present treatment caused significantly smaller head widths and dry masses only on days 42 and 55. The density treatment …

Bulk-Micromachined Mass Airflow Sensor Fabrication And Testing Methodology For An Undergraduate Microfabrication Course., Jason B. Cole 1971-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In July 1995, National Science Foundation Award # 9551869 funded the development of a new inter-disciplinary microfabrication course under the primary leadership of Dr. Kevin Walsh at the University of Louisville. Along with this award, the completed construction of a new building in 1996 that contained a class 1000/100 cleanroom laboratory facilitated the development of the course. Moreover, curricula had to be completed to provide students with practical, hands-on experience in building Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) devices using processes and methodologies introduced in the course. Dr. Walsh wanted to include a mass airflow sensor in his portfolio of total possible …

Performance Of Bootstrap Confidence Intervals For L-Moments And Ratios Of L-Moments., Suzanne Glass

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

L-moments are defined as linear combinations of expected values of order statistics of a variable.(Hosking 1990) L-moments are estimated from samples using functions of weighted means of order statistics. The advantages of L-moments over classical moments are: able to characterize a wider range of distributions; L-moments are more robust to the presence of outliers in the data when estimated from a sample; and L-moments are less subject to bias in estimation and approximate their asymptotic normal distribution more closely.

Hosking (1990) obtained an asymptotic result specifying the sample L-moments have a multivariate normal distribution as n approaches infinity. The standard …

Gender Differences Of The Older Adult In Relationship To Ego Integrity And The Need For Control., Ginger Helm

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined gender differences in relationship to ego integrity resolution of Erikson's stage theory and the need for control in the older adult ranging from 55-90 years of age. Erikson's ego integrity versus despair was measured with a subscale found in Measures of Psychological Development by Hawley (1988). The need for control was measured with a scale developed by Burger and Cooper (1979).

Because of social roles, it was first predicted that males would score higher on resolution of ego integrity and lower on the need for control. The mean resolution of integrity score for males (N=31) was …

Policy And Practice Concerning Essay-Grading Criteria In Developmental English And College-Level English Programs In Tennessee Community Colleges., Walter Paul Wolford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The criteria used to grade college essays have been the subject of research for over three decades. Using quantatative data, this study investigated the differences in essay-grading criteria and essay-grading policy among full-time faculty members who teach English composition in Tennessee's community colleges.

This study revealed beliefs about the importance of essay-grading criteria and beliefs about written and unwritten essay-grading policies among those who teach developmental English, college-level English, and those who teach both levels of English. This study hypothesized that there were no differences among the English composition teacher's beliefs about the importance of the twenty essay-grading criteria nor …

Statistical Power Analysis Of Dissertations Completed By Students Majoring In Educational Leadership At Tennessee Universities, Heping Deng

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to estimate the level of statistical power demonstrated in recent dissertations in the field of educational leadership. Power tables provided in Cohen's (1988) Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences were used to determine the power of the statistical tests conducted in dissertations selected from five universities in Tennessee. The meta-analytic approach was used to summarize and synthesize the findings. The population of this study consisted of all dissertations successfully defended by doctoral students majoring in educational leadership/administration at East Tennessee State University, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Tennessee State University, the University …

An Exploration Of Common Domain Skills Necessary For Intraschool And Classroom Success, Phillip A. Hatch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this study is on teachers' perceptions of those classroom skills and intraschool skills needed for success in schools currently engaged in the implementation of a model of school reform. An instrument was developed based on the skills identified by the Interstate New Teachers Assessment and Support Consortium (1992) and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (1989). Faculty in schools currently engaged with a model of reform responded to survey items based on two scenarios: one describing a classroom environment; the other describing an intraschool environment. Data were collected from 495 faculty members in 22 schools in …

Using Raster Sketches For Digital Image Retrieval, James Carswell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research addresses the problem of content-based image retrieval using queries on image-object shape, completely in the raster domain. It focuses on the particularities of image databases encountered in typical topographic applications and presents the development of an environment for visual information management that enables such queries. The query consists of a user-provided raster sketch of the shape of an imaged object. The objective of the search is to retrieve images that contain an object sufficiently similar to the one specified in the query. The new contribution of this work combines the design of a comprehensive digital image database on-line …