Digital Commons Network^™

Predicting Relationship Quality And Longevity From Patterns Of Interaction In Adolescent Romantic Relationships, Renee Vickerman Galliher

Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined the association between adolescent romantic couple members' interaction with each other and both their overall relationship quality and the stability of their relationships over time. Males', females', and trained observers' perceptions of couple interaction were used to predict couple members' commitment, intimacy, support, depth, and conflict. Both positive and negative behaviors effectively predicted several indices of relationship quality, with different patterns of association emerging for the different raters. Also, sequential patterns of interaction were associated with relationship quality. Couples who were able to manage low-intensity conflict in a reciprocal, mutually involved manner and in which males were …

Investigating Variation Among Arikara Crania Using Geometric Morphometry, Ashley H. Mckeown

Doctoral Dissertations

Geometric morphometry has seen minimal application in studies of biological variability among subpopulations of humans. However, as landmark coordinates are highly effective for capturing information regarding size and shape variation, the tools of geometric morphometry are appropriate for investigating such questions. This research utilizes landmark coordinate data to quantify morphological variation among Arikara crania to evaluate the biological relationships between skeletal samples from late prehistoric, protohistoric and historic sites. These samples are derived from well documented archaeological contexts, and the presence of biological variability among them has been reported in previous studies. These factors make these samples appropriate for assessing …

An Examination Of Upland South Farmsteads Using An Evolutionary Ecology Methodology, Todd Michael Ahlman

Doctoral Dissertations

The study of historic farmsteads in the Upland South has generally taken a normative approach that compared archaeologically recorded farmsteads to an idealized Upland South farmstead. This approach tends to avoid the issue of variation that is inherent among farmsteads within the region. To address this variation, a Darwinian evolutionary theoretical perspective is proposed. Of the different evolutionary perspectives in archaeology today, including selectionism, evolutionary psychology, and evolutionary ecology, it is proposed that an evolutionary ecological theoretical perspective is the best for examining and explaining the variation among Upland South farmsteads.

In employing an evolutionary ecology theoretical perspective, a resource …

Instrument Performance Enhancement And Modification Through An Extended Instrument Paradigm, Stephen L. Mahan

Doctoral Dissertations

An extended instrument paradigm is proposed, developed and shown in various applications. The CBM (Chin, Blass, Mahan) method is an extension to the linear systems model of observing systems. In the most obvious and practical application of image enhancement of an instrument characterized by a time-invariant instrumental response function, CBM can be used to enhance images or spectra through a simple convolution application of the CBM filter for a resolution improvement of as much as a factor of two. The CBM method can be used in many applications. We discuss several within this work including imaging through turbulent atmospheres, or …

Questing For The Grail: Core Collapse Supernova Simulations With Boltzmann Neutrino Transport, Otis Earl Messer

Doctoral Dissertations

The importance of exact neutrino transport in spherically symmetric core collapse supernova simulations is explored in this dissertation. The primary tool for these studies is the neutrino radiation hydrodynamics code AGILE-BOLTZTRAN (Mezzacappa & Bruenn 1993a,b,c; Mezzacappa & Messer 1998; Liebendörfer 2000). AGILE-BOLTZTRAN couples the solution of the Boltzmann equation for all three flavors of neutrinos and antineutrinos to a one-dimensional, implicit, adaptive grid hydrodynamics code. Emission, absorption, and scattering of neutrinos from nucleons and nuclei, neutrino-electron scattering, and pair production and annihilation are included as neutrino-matter couplings. Details of the code are described, including the equations solved and their finite …

Electronic Excitations In Metals And Semiconductors: Ab Initio Studies Of Realistic Many-Particle Systems, Wei Ku

Doctoral Dissertations

Electronic excitations in metals and semiconductors, measured through inelastic x-ray scattering, electronic energy-loss spectroscopy, and angle-resolved photoemission, provide valuable information about the intrinsic many-body interactions between electrons in the crystal environment. These dynamical interactions are usually analyzed with intuitive simple models. With the problems studied, which correspond to linear response and quasi-particle excitation, it will be shown that ab initio approaches not only can provide more realistic understanding of microscopic processes and mechanisms, but also result in new theoretical interpretations that resolve a number of remarkable "anomalies." Specifically, these problems include the dispersion of the plasmon lifetime in potassium, the …

Potassium Dynamics And Exchange Equilibria In Loess-Derived Soils, Sloane Alicia Smith

Doctoral Dissertations

A lack of cotton response to the recommended application of fertilizer potassium (K) has been well documented, prompting a renewed interest in the evaluation of soil and plant analysis. A study was conducted to evaluate varying rates and residual effects of fertilizer K on no-till cotton, in conjunction with the evaluation of cation exchange studies to establish the dynamics of K behavior in the loess-derived soils of west Tennessee. The soils were comprised of kaolinite, mica, and HIV-vermiculite. The effect of four rates of fertilizer K (0, 67, 134, and 269 kg K ha^-1) , on yield and …

Leader Decision Making Quality And Subordinate Performance, Steven M. Barnard

Doctoral Dissertations

In the recent past, the study of transformational leaders has been the most predominant leadership research conducted. There have been strong linkages found between these behaviors and subordinate outcomes such as motivation and performance. For this reason, it was used as a base comparison for the addition of manager decision making quality. It was hypothesized that managers who make higher quality decisions will be able to guide subordinates in a more strategic fashion, ultimately increasing their motivation and performance. In addition, it was hypothesized that this effect of better decisions would be over and above that associated with transformational leader …

Posthuman Podiums : The Technological Life-History Narratives Of Elite Track And Field Athletes, Ted M. Butryn

Doctoral Dissertations

Narrative research has emerged as a powerful means of exploring athletes’ lives through the stones they tell about themselves (Duncan, 1998, Foley, 1992, McDonald & Birrell, 1999, Sparkes, 1999, 2000). In this study I examined the technological life-histories of seven elite track and field athletes using a narrative analysis (Polkinghome, 1997). As Haraway (1985) points out, the "cyborg era" has ushered in multiple modes of subjectivity which are best understood through narratives, the stories we tell within the context of an early 21st century technoculture. Through an analysis of in-depth interviews, observational data, personal photographs, and the application of theoretical …

Finite Element Model For Segmented Active Constrained Layer Damping Treatments That Includes Bonding Layer Strain Energy, Peter Francis Cento

Doctoral Dissertations

The primary objective of this study is to develop a more accurate research and design tool than those in the currently available literature for active constrained layer treatments applied in bending. A finite element model is presented that extends current finite element model for Euler-Bernoulli beams with segmented active constrained layer damping treatments towards a more physically motivated model. Active Constrained layer damping utilizes modern piezoelectric materials as the constraining layer for these types of damping treatments. Preliminary studies have confirmed that strains in the bonding layers can have a significant effect on damping ratios at modal frequencies, especially when …

Characteristics Of Foster Family Applicants Willing To Accept Hard To Place Foster Children, Mary Ellen Cox

Doctoral Dissertations

In addition to a shortage of foster homes,the unwillingness of many licensed fosterparents to accept the growing number of hard to place foster children has jeopardized the quality of care provided to children in state custody.The purpose of this study was to determine the number of foster family applicants willing to foster different types of hard to place children and the types of foster families willing to foster such children.Resource theory guided this study. Data were collected from 153 foster family applicants during preservice training. The following foster parent resources were measured: income,education, race, marital status, parenting experience,fostering experience, employed …

Surface Phases Of Transition Metal Oxides, Hani Dulli

Doctoral Dissertations

A signature of transition metal oxides is the ability to accommodate stoichiometry variations by forming thermodynamically stable structures. This means that the overall composition is sensitive to thermochemical history and composition gradients near surfaces and interfaces can exist at equilibrium. Since the phase diagram of most transition metal oxides is critically dependent upon the chemical composition, the surface should be a 'different material'. Thus a thorough knowledge of the surface composition and structure is of primary importance for understanding the electronic and magnetic properties of transition metal oxides surfaces and interfaces. Here, differences in the chemical composition, lattice structure, and …

The Experience Of Sexual Desire : An Empirial-Phenomenological Investigation, Johnny M. Dossett

Doctoral Dissertations

Previous efforts to investigate sexual desire have been hampered by inadequate concern for the phenomena's largely personal nature. In this qualitative study sixteen participants were interviewed who provided detailed descriptions of their experiences of sexual desire. Protocols were prepared and analyzed, individually by the primary researcher and in a group setting by The University of Tennessee Phenomenology Interpretive Group.

A thematic structure with one global theme, several lesser themes, and some notable departures from exiting notions of sexual desire emerged. Virtually all participants found it necessary to describe two kinds of experiences: "lust" and "love," and they showed a strong …

Application Of Occasional Feedback Trajectory Correction To Enhance Lean Combustion Quality In A Pulsed Combustor, Kevin Dean Edwards

Doctoral Dissertations

The behavior of a laboratory-scale pulsed combustor is characterized over a wide range of operating conditions. The behavior of the combustor is shown to be driven by two differ- ent mechanisms. Acoustic coupling with the tailpipe produces large-amplitude pressure oscillations which are nonlinear in nature due to interaction with the combustion reac- tion and turbulent mixing. Due to the highly nonlinear nature of the combustion reaction at lean conditions, the system dynamics undergo a bifurcation as the equivalence ratio approaches the lean flammability limit which introduces low-frequency combustion instabilities that are superimposed upon the acoustically driven pressure oscillations. Rapid consumption …

Cost-Benefit Analysis For Software Process Improvement, Daniel T. Fetzer

Doctoral Dissertations

Justification of investments to improve software development processes and technol- ogy continues to be a significant challenge for software management. Managers interested in improving quality, cost, and cycle-time of their products have a large set of methods, tools, and techniques from which to choose. The implementation of one or more of these potential improvements can require considerable time and cost. Decision makers must be able to understand the benefits from each proposed improvement and decide which improvements to implement. While a variety of approaches exist for evaluating the costs and benefits of a few specific improvements such as inspections or …

Autonomy And Chronic Impairment, Carolyn Norine Ells

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation challenges the conception of autonomy that dominates bioethics and health care and defends a feminist relational conception of autonomy as an alternative. The work proceeds in four major steps. First, I analyze the conception of autonomy put forth by Tom Beauchamp and James Childress (B&C) that dominates bioethics and health care. While noting the value of autonomy, I show significant limitations of B&C's view.

Second, I explore the experience of autonomy for people with chronic impairment. I discover that any acceptable conception of autonomy will account for relational features of self-identity and self-governance. To the extent that autonomous …

Structure-Function Studies Of The Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Pheromone Receptor, Ste2p, Using Novel Α-Factor Analogs, Loren Keith Henry

Doctoral Dissertations

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are heptahelical membrane proteins that allow cells to sense and respond to a variety of environmental stimuli. Study of GPCRS has begun to elucidate their important role in human disease and has allowed for the development of a number of clinical treatments.

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae which uses peptide pheromones and GPCRs to mediate sexual reproduction between haploid cells presents a model system for the study of GPCRS. The studies presented here detail the use of novel peptide analogs to investigate the structure-function relationship between the Ste2p receptor and its ligand, the α-factor pheromone.

Characterization of …

Structural Studies Of The Nucleosome Core Particle, Joel Monroe Harp

Doctoral Dissertations

The 2.5 Å X-ray crystal structure of the nucleosome core particle presented here pro- vides significant additions to the understanding of the nucleosome, the fundamental unit of chromatin structure. Extensions are made to the structure of the N-terminal histone tails and details provided on hydration and ion binding. The structure is com- posed of 2-fold symmetric molecules, native chicken histone octamer, and the DNA palindrome, which were expected to form a perfectly 2-fold symmetric nucleosome core particle. In fact, the result is asymmetric due to the binding of the DNA to the protein surface and to the packing of the …

Accuracy Of Pelvis Repositioning In Individuals With And Without Low Back Pain, Traci Lee Haydu

Doctoral Dissertations

Proprioception allows the body to maintain proper orientation during static and dynamic activities. In the upper and lower extremities, research has demonstrated a loss of some aspects of proprioception and improvement in proprioception with retraining. It was hypothesized that persons with low back pain lose some elements of proprioception, although research in this area is relatively new. One aspect of proprioception, repositioning accuracy, was examined in this study. The primary purpose of this study was to compare repositioning accuracy of individuals with CLBP and healthy controls. Specifically, the ability to reposition the pelvis into a neutral position was examined in …

Plasticity Of Morphology, Chemoreception, And Predatory Behavior In Garter Snakes (Thamnophis Sirtalis), Mark Andrew Krause

Doctoral Dissertations

Successful predation is a key component to the survival of snakes. Snakes that encounter periodic fluctuations in prey availability, or that move into novel feeding niches, must be behaviorally and morphologically equipped to adjust to new environmental conditions. Generalists, like the common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), thrive in a wide variety of environments. The wide geographic distribution and considerable inter-population variability of T. sirtalis highlight their adaptability as a species. While microevolutionary change is known to contribute to the morphological and behavioral diversity of T. sirtalis, phenotypic plasticity is prevalent as well. In contrast to prey specialists, …

Integrating Location And Logistics Models, Agatino La Rosa

Doctoral Dissertations

Economic geographers investigate facility location problems by applying procedures derived from the classical location theory. These conventional procedures focus on the analysis of the tradeoffs between facility and transportation decisions, and provide solutions to location problems that minimize distance-based cost components. The classical approach leads to basic shortcomings when applied to physical distribution problems. Furthermore, the GIS industry shows little attention to physical distribution problems and the manipulation of logistics data is difficult in out-of-box GIS products. Logistics decision-makers attempt to optimize their distribution systems by performing the tradeoff analysis among facility, inventory and transportation decisions. In addition, the minimization …

A Study Of Interactions Between Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Α-Factor And Its G Protein-Coupled Receptor, Ste2p, Byung-Kwon Lee

Doctoral Dissertations

During the life cycle of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, haploid cells of opposite mating type can fuse during sexual conjugation to form a diploid cell. In preparation for conjugation, haploid cells secrete small diffusible peptide molecules [α-factor, a tridecapeptide pheromone and a-factor, a modified dodecapeptide pheromone] that specifically bind to cell surface receptors found on the opposite mating type cell. The basic structure of the receptors (Ste2p for α-factor and Ste3p for a-factor) is evolutionarily conserved and places them among the 7-transmembrane, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Part 1 of this dissertation is an overview of the structure …

Consumer Adoption And Diffusion Of Technological Innovations : A Case Of Electronic Banking Technologies, Eun-Ju Lee

Doctoral Dissertations

Today, technological advancements occur rather constantly as companies introduce innovative products and services to consumers. Consequently, technological innovations have brought fundamental changes in many areas of consumers' lives. One such area is exchange, transactions, and contacts mediated by electronic technology. Among many technological innovations, electronic banking is currently one of the most available technological options to consumers. Electronic banking technologies refer to all the financial activities involving electronic media such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), debit cards, direct deposit/payment, smart cards, and computer banking. Using these electronic banking technologies, consumers can conduct fast and convenient financial transaction activities and obtain …

The Study Of Advanced Materials Using Neutrons, Gary W. Lynn

Doctoral Dissertations

The first part of this thesis describes a new methodology based on a novel combination of x-ray reflectivity and small-angle neutron scattering to evaluate the structural properties of porous silica thin films about one micrometer thick supported on silicon wafer substrates. To complement these results, film composition was determined by high-energy ion scattering techniques. For the sample thin film presented here, the overall film density was found to be (0.55 ± 0.01) g/cm³ with a pore wall density of (1.16 ± 0.05) g/cm³ and a porosity of (53 ± 1) %. The average dimension for the pores was …

Estimation Of Absorbed Fraction To The Anterior Nose From Inhaled Beta Emitters, Hanna M. Moussa

Doctoral Dissertations

The main purpose of this research is to introduce a new and more realistic geometry for the anterior nose region (ET₁) as an alternative to the one provided in ICRP Publication 66. For a more accurate estimation of electron absorbed fraction (AF) to the nuclei of basal cells in the ET₁ region, the proposed new geometry (frustum of a cone) replaces the cylinder geometry, which was used in ICRP 66.

Since the electron absorbed fraction (AF) data in ICRP 66 are calculated based on the nose size for an adult Caucasian male, a second purpose of this …

Anticipated Life Paths : A Study Of Male And Female College Students, Ellen J. Neufeldt

Doctoral Dissertations

College men and women are afforded more freedom than ever before to make decisions about their future lives. However, even when men and women start with similar characteristics, in many cases they are still making different life choices. The problem is to identify values, priorities, or circumstances that may influence or limit the life choices of men and women. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare how male and female college students constructed their life paths. Through semi-structured interviews, this study examined the goals and priorities of 32 college juniors and seniors by examining the choices they …

Enu-Induced Mutations Reveal Quaking Functions In Embryogenesis And Postnatal Myelination, Janice K. Noveroske

Doctoral Dissertations

Since the discovery of the mouse quaking viable allele (qk^v) in 1964, researchers have attempted to elucidate the function of quaking in postnatal brain myelination. More recently, a critical role for quaking in embryogenesis was revealed, but little has been determined on how the loss of quaking function leads to embryonic death. In the work presented here, we report that the defect in the embryonic lethal qk^k2 allele is a T to A trans version in the KH domain, and that homozygous qk^k2 mutant embryos die from cardiovascular defects. Antibodies against the vascular endothelial marker …

Differences In Language Learning Strategies Between Male And Female, And Also Between Asian And Latino Esl Students, Dai Osanai

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not differences exist between female and male and also between Latino and Asian Students in the use of languages learning strategies by administering self-reported questionnaires to foreign students learning English in American universities. The data for this research study were provided by 147 foreign students at five mid- to large-sized universities in the Southeastern United States. The primary questionnaire, consisting of 50 closed-ended questions for this research study, was entitled "Strategy Inventory for Language Learning, (SILL)." A background questionnaire consisting of five open-ended and eight closed-ended questions, developed by the …

Different Behavior Versus Differential Opportunity To Observe : Factors Associated With Inter-Rater Agreement Within A 360-Degree Appraisal Process, Mark Rohricht

Doctoral Dissertations

The explanations for performance appraisal rating disagreement between supervisors and subordinates center on one of the following four perspectives; raters have different opportunities to observe performance, raters have different expectations, raters use different scales, and raters have different constructs of performance appraisal dimensions. An alternative, and much simpler, explanation for rating disagreement is that the ratee behaves differently when interacting with different raters; therefore, the raters rate the ratee differently. The purpose of this study was to explore and better understand rating differences in a 360-degree performance appraisal context. Specifically, this study examined rating differences between supervisors and subordinates as …

Elementary Educators Use Of The Internet And The Applications Of Information Literacy Skills To Student Use Of The World Wide Web, Rhonda Greenley Spearman

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how nine elementary school teachers, grades fourth and fifth, reported using the World Wide Web with their students, and more specifically, how they incorporated information literacy skills in Web-based activities.

The following research questions were investigated:

• What is the teacher's understanding of the importance of the Web?

• What assignments or equivalents do they place on students that demonstrate the students' knowledge of information literacy and the Web?

• What information literacy instruction do they give students concerning the Web?

• How do teachers view students' abilities to use that knowledge …