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Effects Of Training And Experience On Repeatable And Reliable Assessment Of Beef Cattle Body Condition Scores, Pete Burmeister
Effects Of Training And Experience On Repeatable And Reliable Assessment Of Beef Cattle Body Condition Scores, Pete Burmeister
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
In recent years, body condition scores (BCS) have been included in Expected Progeny differences (EPD) calculations for maintenance energy. This experiment was designed to identify the acuteness at which technicians of different skill levels can correctly quantify BCS in beef cattle. Thirteen students enrolled in agriculture at Western Kentucky University were assigned to three experimental technician groups based on training level. Five members of the colligate livestock judging team with extensive cattle backgrounds were BCS trained and assigned to the experienced level, four students were BCS trained by the WKU livestock judging coach and assigned to the trained level, and …
Courtship, Loe, And Marriage In Othello: Shakespeare's Mockery Of Courtly Love, Leigh Copas
Courtship, Loe, And Marriage In Othello: Shakespeare's Mockery Of Courtly Love, Leigh Copas
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Othello is the forgery of a comedic play turned tragedy, for the play begins where the ordinary comedy would end. While many critics prefer to discuss the racial and exotic aspects of William Shakespeare's tragedy, there are several critics who focus on the role of love and the marital relationships that are also important in terms of interpreting the actions of key characters. Carol Thomas Neely, Maurice Charney, and several other literary critics have focused primarily on the role of marriage and love in Othello. The topic of marriage is generally discussed in terms of the wooing scene (Act 1, …
The Effects Of Wildland Fire On A Community: A Study Of Bell County, Kentucky, Mary Moneta
The Effects Of Wildland Fire On A Community: A Study Of Bell County, Kentucky, Mary Moneta
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
As the number of people living in forested areas continues to grow, so does the likelihood that an individual will suffer from a wildland fire. There has been little research produced strictly looking at the human dimensions of wildland fire, especially in southern rural communities (Machlis, Kaplan, Tuler, Bagby, and McKendry 2002). Using two of Kumagai, Carrol, and Cohan's (2004) propositions on the social impact of disaster and the theoretical framework of Emile Durkheim's (1933) view of community and collective consciousness, the primary purpose of this research was to aid in understanding the effects of wildland fire on the social …
Assessment Of Atrazine In A Rural Water Source: Rough River Lake, Kentucky, Scotty Sharp
Assessment Of Atrazine In A Rural Water Source: Rough River Lake, Kentucky, Scotty Sharp
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Atrazine [2-chloro- 4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-l,3,5-triazine], a widely used herbicide in US corn production, impacts quality of drinking water for many rural water supply systems. Four systems at Rough River Lake, Kentucky, have had high levels of atrazine in raw water and in some cases finished water that have exceeded the legal limit of 3 parts per billion (ppb). The Rough River Lake watershed is 1,700-km2, much of which is located in limestone karst. A hypothesis was developed stating that there would be higher concentrations of atrazine in the northeast section of the Rough River Watershed, located in Hardin County, due to the …
Flash Flooding In Eastern Kentucky: An Analysis Of The 3-4 August 2001 Event, Christina Henry
Flash Flooding In Eastern Kentucky: An Analysis Of The 3-4 August 2001 Event, Christina Henry
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Limited research exists concerning flash flooding in the United States. However, flash floods can occur anywhere and cause more fatalities than any other weather related natural disaster. Eastern Kentucky experienced an average of 41 flash floods per year (1993-2002), yet little research exists for this region. Therefore, this paper presents an analysis of the particularly devastating flash flood event of 3-4 August 2001, which resulted in $15 million worth of property damage and two deaths. Previous studies indicate that flash floods typically occur under relatively 'benign' conditions, the most common characteristics being a quasi-stationary system and high atmospheric moisture. The …
African American Children's Inferences Based On Race, Sex And Age, Erica Hightower
African American Children's Inferences Based On Race, Sex And Age, Erica Hightower
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Previous studies (Madole, Eastman, Stone, & White, 2005) have suggested that children do not make inferences about people on the basis of race until around 8 years of age. The present study was a replication of a study performed by Madole et al. The distinction between the two studies was in the sample used, hi the previous study the majority of children used were Caucasian. The present study sought to examine whether African American children were more likely to make inferences on the basis of race than Caucasian children. Children ages 6 to 11 years were asked to perform an …
Identification, Characterization And Analysis Of Wrench Related Faulting In Southwestern Warren County, Kentucky, Joseph Islas
Identification, Characterization And Analysis Of Wrench Related Faulting In Southwestern Warren County, Kentucky, Joseph Islas
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Warren County, Kentucky is located south of the southern boundary of the Rough Creek Graben marked by the Pennyrile fault system. The Pennyrile fault system is a regional southwest-northeast trending fault system that extends into Kentucky from the Reelfoot rift zone. The Rough Creek fault system bounds the northern arm of the Rough Creek Graben and trends northwest-southeast also extending from the Reelfoot rift zone. The Rough Creek fault system is related to the Shawneetown fault system in southeastern Illinois and occupies the southern end of the Illinois Basin. The East Continent Rift Basin intersects the Rough Creek Graben near …
The Influence Of Children's Gender And Behavior On Parental Perceptions, Virginia Lowery
The Influence Of Children's Gender And Behavior On Parental Perceptions, Virginia Lowery
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Parents' perceptions of children's behavior may vary depending on the gender of the child and the type of behavior displayed. It is important to delineate which factor(s) influence parental perceptions because parental perceptions directly influence whether or not parents respond to their children's behavior and how parents choose to manage the behavior. The present study examined how the gender of the child and the types of behaviors (internalizing vs. externalizing) the child displays affect parental perceptions regarding the severity of the behavior. One hundred and three parents of children ages 1 V2 to 5 years in the Southeast region of …
Hammer Strength Vs. Free Weights: Upper Body 1 Rm Comparisons, Matthew Thoma
Hammer Strength Vs. Free Weights: Upper Body 1 Rm Comparisons, Matthew Thoma
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Thirty-one trained male subjects performed one-repetition maximum lifts (IRM's) on three Hammer Strength Externally Loaded Machines and three comparable Free Weight Exercises. All tests were counterbalanced and randomly assigned. Subjects performed two 1RM tests during each lab session, with at least 48-72 hours of recovery between each. IRM's were recorded as the greatest amount of weight lifted with proper technique. 1RM data was used to (1) determine the relationship between 1RM performed on Hammer Strength machines versus Free Weights and (2) to develop regression equations that can accurately predict IRM's when switching from one exercise modality to another. Statistics revealed …
Comparison Of Distributed Versus Collocated Command Group Collaboration Performance, Christopher Van Fultz
Comparison Of Distributed Versus Collocated Command Group Collaboration Performance, Christopher Van Fultz
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The transformation of the United States Army to a combat force capable of operating successfully on future battlefields requires the leveraging of digital communication capabilities to support distributed battle command. The purpose of this study is to investigate collaborative command group planning performance in traditional face-to-face (collocated) and geographically dispersed group (distributed) conditions. The Reactive Planning Strategies Simulation (REPSS) system was developed to provide a realistic group planning task supporting empirical estimates of planning process and performance outcome success, measured in this context as delivery rate of humanitarian supplies. Results indicate that synchronization scores were not significantly different between conditions; …
Effects Of Caffeine On Muscular Strength, Scott Wilson
Effects Of Caffeine On Muscular Strength, Scott Wilson
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Caffeine is the most widely consumed drug in the world. Research has suggested that caffeine can enhance aerobic performance. However, its benefits in the resistance training world are not fully understood. Due to caffeine's ability to alter pain perception and the onset of peripheral fatigue it may positively affect performance. This study examined the effects of caffeine on muscular strength, determined by the number of successfully completed reps at 85% of 1RM bench press. Fifteen recreationally trained males were tested for their 1RM on bench press. Subjects completed 3 randomized, double blind tria ls at 85% of their 1RM to …
Modeling Soil Erosion In The Upper Green River, Ky, Narcisa Pricope
Modeling Soil Erosion In The Upper Green River, Ky, Narcisa Pricope
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Off-site soil erosion has tremendous impacts on the present state of most river systems throughout the United States, contributing sediments to channels mainly as nonpoint pollution resulting from land-use and agricultural practices and leading to sedimentation downstream and downwind, a decrease in the transport capacity of streams, increase in the risk of flooding, filling reservoirs, and eutrophication. A primary focus in examining the problems associated with soil erosion arid ultimately in proposing control measures should be on identifying the sources of the sediment. Therefore, a model that would be able to assess soil erosion needs to start by identifying the …
Examination Of The Relationship Between Parenting Styles And Parental Tolerance, Amanda Sowers
Examination Of The Relationship Between Parenting Styles And Parental Tolerance, Amanda Sowers
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Noncompliant behavior in children may be due to the developmental stage the child is going through, but persistent noncompliance can have long-term effects on the child ranging from academic problems to relationship problems (Forehand & Wierson, 1993; Kalb & Loeber, 2003). Parents' response to noncompliant behavior may be influenced by their parenting style. Parental tolerance is one factor that may differ among parenting styles. Parental tolerance can be defined by how annoyed the parent becomes by disruptive behavior displayed by children and the affect it has on the parent-child interaction (Brestan, Eyberg, Algina, Johnson, & Boggs, 2003). One new measure …
Clarification Of Basal Relationships In Rubus (Rosaceae) And The Origin Of Rubus Chamaemorus, Karen Michael
Clarification Of Basal Relationships In Rubus (Rosaceae) And The Origin Of Rubus Chamaemorus, Karen Michael
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Determination of phylogenetic relationships among ancestral species of Rubus has been elusive. Most Rubus species (including blackberries and raspberries), representing nine of the 12 subgenera, occur in a large, well supported clade named 'A' for reference). The remaining nine species are excluded from this group and represent three subgenera: subg. Anoplobatus (R. bartonianus, R. deliciosus, R. neomexicanus, R. odoratus, R. parviflorus, R. trilobus), subg. Chamaemorus (R. chamaemorus), and subg. Dalibarda (R. lasiococcus, R.pedatus). In addition, Rubus dalibarda L. is often treated in its own monotypic genus as Dalibarda repens L. Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data from chloroplast regions and …
Women In The Lifestyle: A Qualitative Look At The Perceptions, Attitudes, And Experiences Of Women Who Swing, Mindy Popplewell
Women In The Lifestyle: A Qualitative Look At The Perceptions, Attitudes, And Experiences Of Women Who Swing, Mindy Popplewell
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The study consisted of a qualitative analysis of female swingers' perceptions, attitudes, and experiences related to their participation in the Lifestyle. Using feminist standpoint theory and pro-sex feminist theory as the theoretical framework, in-depth interviews were conducted via the Internet using instant messaging with sixteen female swingers. The women were asked questions regarding their attitudes and perceptions about swinging as well as their experiences in the Lifestyle. Findings were compared with previous studies from the 1970s as well as with common feminist thoughts and potential misconceptions about the Lifestyle. The results showed that although demographically the female swingers were similar …
Memory For Non-Focal Words, John Jones
Memory For Non-Focal Words, John Jones
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
In two experiments a modified flanker paradigm was used to simultaneously present a focal word and an incidental non-focal word. The participants' task was to process the focal word in one of two conditions: naming aloud or a conceptual decision (concrete or abstract). The focal and non-focal words were either semantically related or not. Participants were instructed to direct their attention at the focal word. Furthermore, the presentation of the focal word was brief to reduce the possibility of eye movement to the non-focal word. Memory was measured with implicit and explicit memory tests. Evidence was found to suggest implicit …
A Spectre Is Haunting Samuel Clemens: A Marxist Critique Of Wealth As Resolution In Mark Twain's Novels, Jeff Carr
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The distribution of wealth occurs frequently in Mark Twain's novels, especially at the resolution. Indeed, Twain uses wealth as resolution in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and the Pauper, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Pudd'nhead Wilson. The repeated use of this formula in the author's approach to novel writing indicates the tremendous influence that capitalism had in shaping his worldview. In his early works, Twain appears to endorse capitalism in his use of wealth as resolution. Tom Sawyer, The Prince and the Pauper, and Huckleberry Finn each conclude with the distribution of capital as a reward to …
Asexual Propagation Of Four Cultivars Of Vaccinium Corymbosum And Weed Management In An Established Orchard Of Vaccinium Corymbosum 'Bluejay' (Highbush Blueberry) In South Central Kentucky, Kyle Daniel
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
In response to the changing economy of Kentucky tobacco, producers are seeking an economically viable alternative that can be produced on a similarly small acreage. Blueberries are an emerging crop that satisfy the needs of these producers and are popular with consumers for their flavor and health benefits. In addition to selling the berries, local producers are experiencing much success selling blueberry plants to homeowners and other producers. However, the protocol for propagating specific cultivars under local environmental conditions is unknown. Rooting percentages for producers has been extremely variable. A two year study conducted at Western Kentucky University investigated asexual …
Strategies For Reducing Mosquito-Borne Disease Vulnerability In Equine Populations: A Kentucky Case Study, Sara Dalton
Strategies For Reducing Mosquito-Borne Disease Vulnerability In Equine Populations: A Kentucky Case Study, Sara Dalton
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
This research examined equine management practices that limit or contribute to the spread of West Nile virus and other mosquito-bome disease. I hypothesize that there is a relationship between equine management practices and outbreaks of mosquito-borne disease in horse populations. Improved and appropriate mosquito habitat management may limit the risk of mosquito-borne disease in humans and horses by helping to lower the mosquito populations. The study goals were to recognize equine management practices and mosquito prevention practices that foster outbreaks of mosquito-borne disease. This study used a questionnaire for county level analysis of equine management practices and the relationship to …
Sustainability With Globalization: An Unsustainable Proposition, Daniel B. Reader
Sustainability With Globalization: An Unsustainable Proposition, Daniel B. Reader
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Globalization is recognized as a world-encompassing phenomenon, even as its benefits are debated. Sustainability, the capacity to maintain high standards of living through generations, is at stake. This paper examines the problems of sustainability with globalization from several perspectives. High statistical correlation between indices of globalization and environmental degradation (r2 = 0.977, p < .001) is found using multi-dimensional scaling software. The socially destabilizing, culture flattening effects of globalization are examined, and the terms ‘nationalism’ and ‘terrorism’ are defined. On the basis of its medial position among the indices of both globalization and environmental degradation, Chile is explored in a case study of the interaction. Conclusions regarding Chile’s vulnerabilities are reached, and the country’s environmental, social, and economic ‘weak spots’ are identified. The ethical positions of globalization and sustainability are considered, and the conclusion that there is very little that can be done to alter the nature of the interaction is drawn. It is suggested that globalization minimizes the prospects of success in efforts toward sustainability by maximizing vulnerabilities among sustainability’s components.
Detecting Intentional, Realistic Response Distortion On The Mmpi-2 Using Multiple Validity Scales, Andrew Minton
Detecting Intentional, Realistic Response Distortion On The Mmpi-2 Using Multiple Validity Scales, Andrew Minton
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) is a 567-item questionnaire used by psychologists to help diagnose mental disorders. The effectiveness of the MMPI-2 validity scales (F, Fp, F-K, and Ds-r2) were evaluated by asking college students to respond honestly or fake bad on the MMPI-2. Each scale was scored in the usual manner, but as a group they were evaluated in a noncompensatory fashion. That is, failing even one scale was interpreted as a faked response. MMPI-2 protocols of all participants were analyzed to determine if the validity scales were able to accurately identify which subjects faked and which answered …
Characteristics Of Marijuana Users Compared To Multiple Drug Users, Swateja Nimkar
Characteristics Of Marijuana Users Compared To Multiple Drug Users, Swateja Nimkar
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
This study examines drug use behavior in a self-described sample of users. Comparisons are made between subjects whose only illicit drug use is marijuana and those who use both marijuana and other drugs. Data are from the DRUGNET study (1996, 1998, 1999), a multi-panel study conducted over the internet from 1996 - 1998. This sample was predominately white, male, young, and college educated. The majority of respondents were employed with incomes in the $50,000 - $60,000 (USD) range. A subset of respondents to the DRUGNET survey was selected for this analysis. Respondents had to be at least 18 years of …
Relationships In Aging, Cognitive Processes, And Contingency Learning, Sarah Reeder
Relationships In Aging, Cognitive Processes, And Contingency Learning, Sarah Reeder
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
This study investigated the influence of age, processing speed, working memory,and associative processes on the acquisition of contingency information. Young and older adults completed positive (+.65) and negative (-.65) contingency tasks that measured their ability to discover the relationship between a symptom (e.g., FEVER) and a fictional disease (e.g., OLYALGIA). Both d' scores, i.e., contingency learning, and contingency estimates, i.e., contingency judgment, were examined. Participants were also asked to complete cognitive tasks that measure the constructs of processing speed, working memory resources, associative memory, and associative learning. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the direct and indirect relationships between …
Do The Goal Orientations Of National Board Certified Teachers Differ From Their Non-Certified Counterparts?, Carrie Newby
Do The Goal Orientations Of National Board Certified Teachers Differ From Their Non-Certified Counterparts?, Carrie Newby
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Given the increasing number of those achieving certification through National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and the amount of federal money NBPTS has been awarded to design the assessment of identifying teachers, the majority of research has focused on whether National Board Certified teachers impact student achievement and whether NBPTS effectively measures teacher quality. There is very little, if any, published research that addresses other factors that could possibly distinguish teachers that have obtained National Board Certification, however. In the current study, it was presumed that goal orientation might be an important factor that could distinguish those who have …
Sorority Eating Patterns: A Longitudinal Investigation, Marissa Hobbs
Sorority Eating Patterns: A Longitudinal Investigation, Marissa Hobbs
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
To date, most research in the area of college women and eating disorders has only been conducted to determine the prevalence of eating disorders among selected college subgroups. Although such research is limited, particularly for those women that choose to join social sororities, it generally indicates that sorority women represent a subgroup with high instances of eating disorders and often presents a conflicting view of these women's eating patterns and beliefs regarding weight loss and food. The present study was designed to continue the investigation of sorority women and their eating patterns by conducting a longitudinal study, consisting of five …
The Green World Of Dystopian Fiction, Martin Hensley
The Green World Of Dystopian Fiction, Martin Hensley
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Northrop Frye was the first theorist to develop the green world archetype; Frye used the term to refer to a recurring motif in Shakespearean comedy. In several of Shakespeare's comedies, the protagonists leave the civilized world and venture into the green world, or nature, to escape from the irrational law of society, which is the case in such comedies as As You Like It and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Elements of the green world can also be found in Shakespearean tragedy, where the natural retreat serves as a temporary escape for the protagonists. Such a green world exists in three …
Geoexpert - An Expert System Based Framework For Data Quality In Spatial Databases, Aditya Kumar
Geoexpert - An Expert System Based Framework For Data Quality In Spatial Databases, Aditya Kumar
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Usage of very large sets of historical spatial data in knowledge discovery process became a common trend, and in order to obtain better results from this knowledge discovery process the data should be of high quality. In this thesis we proposed a framework 'GeoExpert' for data quality assessment and cleansing tool for spatial data that integrates the spatial data visualization and analysis capabilities of the ARCGIS, the reason and inference capability of an expert system. In this thesis we implemented the proposed framework both stand-alone and web versions using ArcGIS Engine and ArcGIS Server, respectively. We used JESS expert system …
Does Item Exposure Impact The Relationship Between Specificity And Interrater Agreement, Traxler Littlejohn
Does Item Exposure Impact The Relationship Between Specificity And Interrater Agreement, Traxler Littlejohn
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The present study attempted to replicate the results found in Roch and Paquin (2004). Raters in their study viewed a video tape performance and rated a target's performance during a leaderless group discussion. Their results indicated that as item specificity decreased (i.e., as items became more vague), there was an increase in interrater agreement, a positive correlation between item difficulty and interater agreement, and a positive correlation between performance and interrater agreement. The present study also examined the impact of item exposure as it related to these hypotheses and the relationship between item exposure and interrater agreement. Using a sample …
Modulation Of Intraoral Subambient Pressure And Feeding Behavior Relative To Prey Type In The Largemouth Bass, Micropterus Salmoides Floridanus, Sarah Legates
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Variation, or modulation, of suction feeding performance across two prey location treatments, as measured by peak subambient pressure generation, was studied in the Florida largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides floridanus. Previous studies of suction feeding in centrarchids have excluded possible sources of performance variation to minimize the modulatory response. Florida bass are known to modulate their feeding kinematics when exposed to prey at different levels of elusiveness, and were in turn predicted to vary suction pressure generation when exposed to these conditions. Eight bass fed Palaemonetes sp. shrimp in an open water (elusive) setting and in a vegetated (non-elusive) setting were …
Factors Affecting Condom Use Among College Students, Amar Kanekar
Factors Affecting Condom Use Among College Students, Amar Kanekar
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The absence of consistent and correct usage of condoms increases the risk of STI's and HIV/AIDS. However, most studies done to date across the nation indicate a low usage of condoms among college students. In fall of 2004, the National College Health Assessment was administered to a random sample of students at a state comprehensive university in south central Kentucky. Findings revealed that among the sexually active students, approximately half never used condoms during vaginal intercourse. Further among students engaging in anal sex, an alarmingly high proportion --95%- reported never using condom during this act. These findings along with differences …