Digital Commons Network^™

Ambiguous Recognition: Recursion, Cognitive Blending, And The Problem Of Interpretation In Twenty-First-Century Fiction, Christopher David Kilgore

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation uses theories of cognitive conceptual integration (as outlined by Gilles Fauconnier and Mark Turner) to propose a model of narrative reading that mediates between narratology and theories of reception. I use this model to demonstrate how new experimental narratives achieve a potent balance between a determinate and open story-form. Where the high postmodernists of the 1970s and 80s created ironic, undecidable story-worlds, the novels considered here allow readers to embrace seemingly opposite propositions without retreating into ironic suspension, trading the postmodernist “neither/nor” for a new “both/and.” This technique demands significant revision of both descriptions of radical experimentation in …

Inside The Minds Of Sex Offenders: Illuminating The Role Of Implicit Rape Attitudes In Sexual Offending, Laura M. Widman

Doctoral Dissertations

Rape supportive attitudes may be important predictors of sexual assault perpetration; yet, past research has assessed rape supportive attitudes almost exclusively through self-report measures that are methodologically and theoretically limited. To address these limitations, the purpose of the current project was to extend a novel implicit rape attitude assessment procedure (Widman & Olson, 2009) by examining the implicit rape attitudes of convicted sex offenders and a matched community control sample while situating implicit rape attitudes within a broader theoretical framework of sexual assault. Participants were 36 convicted sex offenders (M age = 39, 86% Caucasian) and 48 demographically matched, low-income …

Novel Electrochemical Detections Of Biologically And Environmentally Relevant Substances, Clarissa E. Tatum

Doctoral Dissertations

Development and studies of new electrochemical methods for the detection of various biologically and environmentally relevant substances are the focus of this dissertation. A dual amperometric sensor, capable of the simultaneous, real-time determination of NO and O,2, has been developed and optimized. Many tests were performed in order to reduce cross-talking between the two sensors, and an electro-deposited polymer, poly-5-amino-1-naphthol, was shown to reduce the cross-talking to insignificant levels. The use of bismuth-based electrodes in the detection of various metals has been explored. A bismuth bulk electrode has been developed, optimized, and used for the individual and simultaneous determination of …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Therapeutic Assessment With Depressed Adult Clients Using Case-Based Time-Series Design, Nicole J. Wolf

Doctoral Dissertations

Therapeutic Assessment (TA) is a collaborative model of psychological assessment developed by Finn and colleagues (Finn & Tonsager 1992, 1997; Finn 2007) that is guided by the client’s questions and concerns. Although promising evidence is accumulating for the effectiveness of TA, the available empirical research does not rise to the bar set by the American Psychological Association Division 12 Task Force on Promotion and Dissemination of Psychological Procedure (APA, Chambless & Ollendick, 2001). The current investigation uses case-based time-series design, a method endorsed by the Division 12 task force (Borchardt, Nash, Murphy, Moore, Shaw & O’Neil, 2008), to evaluate whether …

Novel Constitutively Active Point Mutations In The Nh2 Domain Of Cxcr2 Capture The Receptor In Different Activation States, Giljun Park

Doctoral Dissertations

Chemokines are structurally and functionally related 8-10 kDa proteins defined by four conserved cysteine residues. They consist of a superfamily of proinflammatory mediators that promote the recruitment of various kinds of leukocytes and other cell types through binding to their respective chemokine receptor, a member of the GPCR family. Abnormal control of this system results in various diseases including tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis. Deregulation can occur when constitutively active mutant (CAM) chemokine receptors are locked in the “on” position. This can lead to cellular transformation/tumorigenesis. A viral CAM receptor, ORF74, that can cause tumors in humans, also has homology to …

The Gendered Soul: Victorian Women Autobiographers And The Novel, Robbie E Spivey

Doctoral Dissertations

This project considers ways mid-Victorian fictional autobiographies created new models for women's spiritual formation, testing Nancy Armstrong's theory that novels are antecedent to the cultural conditions they describe. I pair three mid-Victorian fictional texts Jane Eyre, Aurora Leigh, and The Mill on the Floss with three later non-fictional autobiographies written by women near the end of the Victorian Era: Annie Besant (1847- 1933), Mary Anne Hearn (1834-1909) and Frances Power Cobbe (1822-1904). These women came to spiritual maturity during the same time period in which the fictional heroines Jane Eyre, Aurora Leigh and Maggie Tulliver became prominent in the popular …

Interorganizational Dynamics And The Development And Implementation Of An Innovative, Stem High School Program, John Wilson Campbell Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations

Improving systems of public education through the development and implementation of innovative reforms is a socially and politically complex process, particularly when systems of public education merge with external agencies that enter the process with unique resources and with perspectives and intents derived from experiences unlike those found in traditional public school cultures. Pursuing a better understanding of this process, this qualitative case study examines the interorganizational partnership that developed Metro High School, an innovative, STEM high school program in Columbus, Ohio.

With this single, public/private partnership as a case, this study examined the school reform context within which the …

Effects Of Taiji And Strength Training Interventions On Knee Osteoarthritis Of Older Adults, Michael George Wortley

Doctoral Dissertations

Objective. The objective of this study was to evaluate a 10-week Taiji intervention to a 10-week strength training intervention in terms of their ability to relieve osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms, alter gait, and improve mobility in seniors with knee OA.

Methods. Men and women between the ages of 60 and 85 years who met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for knee OA were recruited to participate in either a simplified Taiji program (n=12), an open-chain strength training program (n=13), or a control group (n=6). All participants completed the Western Ontario and MacMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), three physical performance tests, …

"Expanding Horizons": Examining Master’S Level Counseling Students’ Experiences With Mentors, Shelley Elizabeth Salter

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experiences of master’s level counseling students who have a counselor education faculty member as their mentor. Seven master’s level counseling students between the ages of 25-30, from a state university, voluntarily participated in this study. Participants were six female students and one male student. Four participants were mental health counseling majors, while three were school counseling majors. Data were collected through a demographic survey and semi-structured interviews. Three themes were developed based on participants’ experiences. They were (1) “going above and beyond,” (2) “guide you and explore options,” and (3) …

Tantalum Carbene And Imide Complexes. Synthesis, Characterization, And Pathways Of Formation, Julia Kathryn Covington Abbott

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on two different types of organometallic compounds, carbenes and imides. The first project deals with the archetypal Schrock carbene, and the second project studies complexes that contain metal-nitrogen bonds, both amides and imides.

A summary of the research in this dissertation is discussed in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 begins the studies of the archetypal Schrock carbene (Bu^tCH₂)₃Ta=CHBu^t. The studies include the synthesis of deuterated compounds (Bu^tCD₂)₃TaCl₂ and Bu^tCD₂Li, observation and identification of the intermediate, Ta(CD₂Bu^{t …}

Biomechanical Risk Factors For Knee Osteoarthritis In Young Adults: The Influence Of Obesity And Gait Instruction, Julia Ann Freedman

Doctoral Dissertations

With increasing rates of obesity, research has begun to focus of co-morbidities of obesity such as osteoarthritis. The majority of existing research has focused on older adults as the group most likely to suffer from osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to determine if overweight and obese young adults exhibit biomechanical risk factors for knee osteoarthritis, and to determine if young adults with biomechanical risk factors of osteoarthritis can modify these with instruction. This purpose was divided into two separate studies.

Study 1: Thirty adults between 18-35 years old were recruited into three groups according to body mass index: …

Information Seeking Behavior Of Scientists In Venezuela, Simon Luis Aristeguieta Trillos

Doctoral Dissertations

Information is one the essential elements of science. It is an imperative condition that researchers review antecedent works as they advance and create new knowledge. Knowledge creation in science is a process of adding and refining new pieces of data, information, and knowledge to what has already been accomplished by others. Few scientific communities have unlimited access to scientific information sources. Most communities’ access to information is limited by economic, social, cultural, and technological conditions.

This study investigates information seeking behavior and information dissemination practices of the Venezuelan scientific community. A model of scholarly communication in a context of dependency …

Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver Burden: Does Resilience Matter?, Cathy B Scott

Doctoral Dissertations

Caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s disease is especially challenging and impacts every aspect of the lives of the informal caregivers. Informal caregiving is defined as unpaid care provided by family or friends to people with a chronic illness or disability (Young & Newman, 2002). Caregiver burden involves the physical, psychological, social and emotional problems experienced by a caregiver of an impaired loved one (Gwyther & George, 2006). Alzheimer’s disease caregivers report more depression than their caregiving and non-caregiving peers, experience increased physical decline, and often experience financial challenges. Evidence suggests Alzheimer’s disease caregiver burden is a result of both …

Spin-Lattice Coupling In The Iron-Pnictide High-Temperature Superconductors, Daniel E Parshall

Doctoral Dissertations

The recent discovery of the iron-pnictide superconductors has generated tremendous excitement, in part because there are many tantalizing similarities to the cuprate superconductors. As with the cuprates, it is strongly suspected that the spins contribute to superconductivity.

There seems to be a strong relationship between the lattice and magnetism in this system. Several authors have discussed the possibility of spin-phonon coupling, but direct experimental evidence has remained elusive.

This work discusses the relationship between the spins and the lattice in the $BaFe_{2}As_{2}$ family. We demonstrate the presence of negative thermal expansion in these materials, which is a strong indicator of …

Pin-Wise Loading Optimization And Lattice–To-Core Coupling For Isotopic Management In Light Water Reactors, Hermilo Hernandez Noyola

Doctoral Dissertations

A generalized software capability has been developed for the pin-wise loading optimization of light water reactor (LWR) fuel lattices with the enhanced flexibility of control variables that characterize heterogeneous or blended target pins loaded with non-standard compositions, such as minor actinides (MAs). Furthermore, this study has developed the software coupling to evaluate the performance of optimized lattices outside their reflective boundary conditions and within the realistic three-dimensional core-wide environment of a LWR.

The illustration of the methodologies and software tools developed helps provide a deeper understanding of the behavior of optimized lattices within a full core environment. The practical applications …

Two Essays On Momentum Strategy And Its Sources Of Abnormal Returns, Yu Zhang

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation studies the sources of the momentum abnormal returns. The first essay attempts to find the relative role of cross-sectional and time-series variances in generating returns from the momentum strategy. By decomposing the returns from the momentum strategy both theoretically and empirically, the first essay finds that own-stock autocovariance is an important source in generating momentum returns. More interestingly, the own-stock autocovariance comes primarily from the loser portfolio. This finding provides another explanation to the recent finding that the loser portfolio is the driving force of the momentum abnormal returns.

Based on the above discovery from the first essay, …

Analysis Of Polymorphism In Human Cytomegalovirus (Hcmv) Chemokine, Vcxcl-1, And Its Role In Cellular Activation, Jinho Heo

Doctoral Dissertations

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) viral chemokine gene, UL146, shows a high degree of variability in clinical isolates. The UL146-produced viral chemokine, vCXCL-1, has homology to CXC chemokines and is predicted to be an immune modulator that may contribute to the pathogenesis of HCMV infections. In the analysis of clinical isolates from congenitally infected infants, we found 11 distinct vCXCL-1 clades. Although the four cysteine residues that create two disulfide bonds providing the essential structure for CXC chemokines,are conserved, the N-loop region, which is important for receptor binding and activation, was hypervariable. One clade also contained a modified glutamic acid-leucine-arginine (ELR) …

Mammography Screening Practices And Health Beliefs Of Women In East Tennessee, Peggy A. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract One of every eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Although early detection of breast cancer is the most effective method of assuring survival, many women throughout the country do not avail themselves of this advantage. This study examined mammography screening practices of women age 55 and older who attended senior citizen centers in rural, non-metro, and metro counties in the areas designated by the Tennessee Department of Health as the Eastern Grand Division of Tennessee. Data was collected from four hundred women from fourteen counties in East Tennessee using the …

Professionalism: What Is It And Are We Teaching For It?, Brian K Tate

Doctoral Dissertations

With rising accountability standards and the need for content specialists within education, the qualifications of mathematics teachers have become increasingly scrutinized. For over three decades, within the parameters of educational reform, the need for the professionalization of teaching has reoccurred (Carnegie Task Force, 1986). When examining the nature of teacher professionalism, no concise definition within the educational community exists (Noddings, 1992). The purpose of this study was to take characteristics defined by the medical and law fields and use them to develop a definition of professionalism within mathematics education. Once a clear set of characteristics was identified, the study then …

Multivariate Optimization Of Neutron Detectors Through Modeling, Martin Rodney Williamson

Doctoral Dissertations

Due to the eminent shortage of 3He, there exists a significant need to develop a new (or optimize an existing) neutron detection system which would reduce the dependency on the current 3He-based detectors for Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) applications. The purpose of this research is to develop a novel methodology for optimizing candidate neutron detector designs using multivariate statistical analysis of Monte Carlo radiation transport code (MCNPX) models. The developed methodology allows the simultaneous optimization of multiple detector parameters with respect to multiple response parameters which measure the overall performance of a candidate neutron detector. This is achieved by …

A Case Study Exploring The Preservice Technology Training Experiences Of Novice Teachers, Susan R. Sutton

Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative study was designed to identify and explore the preservice technology training experiences of novice teachers and examine their perceptions of how well their teacher preparation program prepared them with the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS•T). Data were collected by following an instrumental case study design utilizing semi-structured interviews, documents, and field notes. Simultaneous collection and analysis of the data helped the researcher to create a deeper understanding of the technology training experiences of novice teachers.

The findings of this study revealed that novice teachers believe there was a lack …

Perceived Roles And Responsibilities Of Secondary School Principals And School Resource Officers Towards School Security, Macel Ely Ii

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study is to identify the perceptions of Tennessee’s high school principals and school resource officers as to their roles and responsibilities during a school security crisis. Four thematic elements are discussed as existing among principals and school resource officers. Those thematic elements include relationships, school environment, roles, and obstacles between both groups. Previous research has examined an array of school security issues, but few have delved into this specific topic. Such knowledge is essential for the citizenry to maximize efforts of protecting students attending public schools.

Characterization Of The Extracellular Proteome Of A Natural Microbial Community With An Integrated Mass Spectrometric / Bioinformatic Approach, Brian Keith Erickson

Doctoral Dissertations

Proteomics comprises the identification and characterization of the complete suite of expressed proteins in a given cell, organism or community. The coupling of high performance liquid chromatography (LC) with high throughput mass spectrometry (MS) has provided the foundation for current proteomic progression. The transition from proteomic analysis of a single cultivated microbe to that of natural microbial assemblages has required significant advancement in technology and has provided greater biological understanding of microbial community diversity and function.

To enhance the capabilities of a mass spectrometric based proteomic analysis, an integrated approach combining bioinformatics with analytical preparations and experimental data collection was …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Big Five And Narrow Personality Traits And Life Satisfaction In College Student And Adult Samples, Christine A. Acevedo

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between broad and narrow personality traits and life satisfaction for college-aged and adult populations. Hypotheses were several-fold: first, that personality measures would be predictive of life satisfaction; second, that there would be differences in the correlations of Big Five personality traits and life satisfaction for both age groups; and third, that there would be differences between both age groups in the amount of variance in life satisfaction accounted for by three narrow personality traits, i.e., Optimism, Tough-Mindedness, and Work Drive. Archival data were used to compare an undergraduate sample at …

A Comparison Of The Wellness Levels Of Victims Of Domestic Violence With A Local Female Population, Tara Zeruie Harvey

Doctoral Dissertations

This research project is an investigation into the wellness levels of victims of domestic violence. Wellness was measured using the Five Factor Wellness Assessment by Meyers and Sweeney (2005). The research is grounded in a theoretical trifecta comprised of the works of Alfred Adler, Hiram Maslow and the global concept of wellness as defined by Jane Meyers and Thomas Sweeney. An exploratory factor analysis was run on the Five Factor Wellness Assessment to assess the goodness of fit for the population being studied. Wellness levels were assessed upon intake into a domestic violence shelter and compared with the national normative …

The Impact Of Secondary Mathematics Methods Courses On Preservice Secondary Teachers’ Beliefs About The Learning And Teaching Of Mathematics, Ronald Gene Smith Ii

Doctoral Dissertations

The Comprehensive Framework for Teacher Knowledge provides a model that describes an approach to the secondary mathematics methods course, as described by Robert Ronau and P. Mark Taylor. The model includes the orientation of preservice teachers toward mathematics and the teaching of mathematics, which includes the beliefs of the preservice teachers. The first questions deal with identifying the methods used in the methods course to address beliefs. The second set of questions deal with the effects of the methods course on the beliefs that preservice teachers hold on the learning and teaching of mathematics.

The study included 16 different universities …

A Visual Approach To Automated Text Mining And Knowledge Discovery, Andrey A. Puretskiy

Doctoral Dissertations

The focus of this dissertation has been on improving the non-negative tensor factorization technique of text mining. The improvements have been made in both pre-processing and post-processing stages, with the goal of making the non-negative tensor factorization algorithm accessible to the casual user. The improved implementation allows the user to construct and modify the contents of the tensor, experiment with relative term weights and trust measures, and experiment with the total number of algorithm output features. Non-negative tensor factorization output feature production is closely integrated with a visual post-processing tool, FutureLens, that allows the user to perform in depth analysis …

The Effect Of Technique Instruction On Biomechanical Risk Factors Associated With Acl Injury Risk In Female Recreational Athletes, Jeremiah Jackson Tate

Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated higher ACL injury rates in female athletes when compared to males involved in the same sport. A recent meta-analysis of ACL injury prevention programs found that technique training was a common component of programs that were successful in reducing ACL injury.

Purpose: The primary purpose was to determine the immediate and long-term effects of technique training aimed at minimizing medial knee displacement during jump-landings in female recreational athletes. The secondary purpose was to determine if any transfer of skill occurred as a result of our technique training.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Methods: A total …

Environmental Impacts To Stream Acidification And Brook Trout Populations In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Keil Jason Neff

Doctoral Dissertations

This research supports development of aquatic resource management strategies to address acid deposition in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GRSM) by 1) developing relationships between baseflow and stormflow chemical constituents and examining effects of elevation, area, geology, soil, and vegetation on stream chemistry; 2) evaluating physiological condition in brook trout in relation to changes in stream chemistry during stream acidification episodes, and 3) evaluating brook trout metrics with respect to stream chemistry, basin characteristics, and ecologically relevant hydrologic parameters. (1) Stream chemistry was monitored in eight GRSM streams considering basin area, site elevation, Anakeesta geology, soil, and vegetation. Following …

Human Decomposition Ecology At The University Of Tennessee Anthropology Research Facility, Franklin Edward Damann

Doctoral Dissertations

The University of Tennessee Anthropology Research Facility (ARF) is well known for its unique history as a site of human decomposition research in a natural environment. It has been integral to our understanding of the processes of human decomposition. Over the last 30 years 1,089 bodies have decomposed at this 1.28 acre facility, producing a density of 850 corpses per acre of land. This project evaluated the abiotic and biotic characteristics of the soil exposed to various levels of human decomposition in order to determine the effect on the physicochemical properties and the indigenous bacterial communities.

Specifically, 75 soil samples …