Digital Commons Network^™

Proposal To Modify The Mixing System For Hydrosolution's Processing Plant., Alan Michael Hanley 1988-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A processing facility in Trenton, Ky owned by HydroSolutions is in need of modernization in order to increase efficiency in the mixing process, improve the safety of the facility, and give the facility the ability to expand in the future. The main idea of HydroSolution’s processing strategies is based on a lean manufacturing policy, and as such this zero waste mentality must be maintained after the modifications have been completed. The plant produces a number of chemical combinations that are provided mainly to rendering facilities, as well as other companies in order to remove odors and unwanted chemicals from air …

Ibn Khaldun And The Modern Social Sciences: A Comparative Theoretical Inquiry Into Society, The State, And Revolution, Douglas H. Garrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis represents a link in a long chain of recent Western scholarship that has attempted to bring the work of Ibn Khaldun, the late 14th century Tunisian jurist and historian, into the mainstream of historiographic, political, and sociological learning. Why Ibn Khaldun? What makes his work stand out among the classics of pre-modern and early-modern political and social theory? Why are his ideas still relevant to the study of politics and societies today? My thesis attempts to answer these questions through the lenses of comparative political theory and theoretical reinterpretation.

The study hinges on a thematic comparison of Ibn …

The Financial Crisis Documentary, William L. Gardner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project was a documentary film focused on exploring the 2008 financial crisis in the United States. The documentary incorporates interviews with former Senators, Congressmen and local business leaders in an effort to better understand the causes and effects of the crisis.

"A Shade Too Unreserved": Destabilizing Sexuality And Gender Constructs Of The New Negro Identity In Harlem Renaissance Literature, Renee E. Chase

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Much of the Harlem Renaissance artistic movement was directly intertwined with the New Negro social movement of the time. Race leaders spoke to and influenced artistic trends, while artists often engaged with the New Negro race issues and social debates through their works. Wallace Thurman, Nella Larsen, and Zora Neale Hurston used their own fictional works to explore the New Negro construct being promoted. In examining the constructed nature of this New Negro identity, these artists strove to destabilize the social "norms" upon which the identity was based. As they thematically and stylistically explored such social constructs through their fiction, …

Just A Mutt: A Narrative Ethnography Of The Denver Dog Park Master Plan Process, Stephen M. Griffin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This ethnographic study explores the phenomenon of citizen participation in the decision-making process of their local government. The researcher explored this topic by observing the Dog Park Master Plan process conducted by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City and County of Denver from June 2009 through April 2011.

The researcher attended and observed seven meetings of a citizens committee convened by the Denver Parks and Recreation Department to act as a mini-public to test the elements of the Dog Park Master Plan before presenting the Plan to the public, and the three public meetings held to allow the …

Kicking The Can, Peter Ellis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Kicking the Can is a video documentary that explores the financial crisis of 2008 and the socio-political factors that led to the collapse. The documentary was produced over the course of a year and a half, and contains interviews with economists, politicians, academics, and U.S. citizens. Kicking the Can ultimately reveals that the financial crisis is a complex issue that can be analyzed and interpreted from a variety of political and social perspectives. This paper documents the making of the film, the production involved, and the process of working with collaborators and other crewmates.

Connexin-32 And Connexin-43 Immunoreactivity In Rodent Taste Buds, Amanda E. Bond

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies indicate that ATP is one of the primary neurotransmitters in taste transduction. ATP release occurs from taste cells via specific hemichannels such as pannexin/connexin hemichannels (Huang et al., 2007; Romanov et al., 2007). We hypothesize that Type II (receptor) and possibly Type III (presynaptic) cells release ATP at sites containing pannexin/connexin hemichannels. In this study, we examine the presence of connexin–32–LIR (Like Immunoreactivity) and connexin–43–LIR in rodent taste buds through immunocytochemical analysis and DAB (Di–amino–benzidine) immunoelectron microscopy. We observed that connexin–32–LIR co–localizes with P2X2–LIR in nerve fibers and in a small subset of NCAM–LIR cells. Connexin–32–LIR does not co–localize …

The Theoretical Symbolism Of Eruvin: A Model Of Dual-Identity And Sacred Space, Liza Stoltz Hanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Eruvin are an innovative solution to the logistical “problem” of carrying on the weekly Sabbath. Boundaries that symbolically extend the walls of private homes into the public sphere, eruvin allow Orthodox Jews to carry objects outside of their homes on the Sabbath, a seemingly simple act that would otherwise be prohibited. Constructed according to intricate Rabbinic specifications, eruvin use existing architectural elements such as walls, train tracks, roadways and telephone wires, as well as natural features like rivers to create a continuous boundary. This paper will examine the theoretical significance of creating such a space. My argument maintains that beyond …

Nonprofit Marketing Education In The United States: An Examination And Interpretation Of The Prevalance And Nature Of Curriculum, Theresa Meier Conley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The nonprofit sector is a large, growing, and essential part of the United States economy. There is a history of inspired ideas and complex change in the nonprofit sector that marketing educators and business school administrators must understand if they are to be leaders in the continuing evolution of nonprofit marketing education.

This manuscript includes a summarized historical perspective, a selective review of literature from existing nonprofit management and marketing education, a discussion of relevant contemporary issues for consideration, and mixed-method research results regarding the prevalence and nature of nonprofit marketing education. The mixed-method research strategy includes three phases; the …

Understanding Philanthropic Motivations Of Northeast State Community College Donors, Heather J. Cook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

At Northeast State Community College (NeSCC) nearly 70% of students need some form of financial aid to attend. State support is flattening or decreasing and the gap is filled by private donors' support (Northeast State Community College, 2011). Hundreds of donors have made significant contributions to aid in the education of those in the Northeast Tennessee region. The purpose of this study was to investigate the philanthropic motivations of a select group of 4 donors who have given a significant amount to a community college and to garner their specific reasons for doing so.

This qualitative study included 4 interviews …

Weight Concerns, Body Image, And Smoking Cessation In Pregnant Women In Rural Appalachia, Jennifer Aileen Correll

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death, and smoking during pregnancy can lead to significant health complications for both the mother and developing child. In the Appalachian region of East Tennessee, pregnancy smoking rates are as high as 40% in some counties which is almost 4 times the national average. Weight and body image concerns have previously been identified as variables contributing to maintenance of smoking behavior. The current study was designed to examine the relationship between prepregnancy weight and body image concerns and smoking status at third trimester. Participants included 172 pregnant women who smoke. Women were recruited …

Float In Float Out, Jason Sabbides

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The artist discusses Float In Float Out, his Master of Fine Arts exhibition held at The Slocumb Gallery, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee from March 19, 2012, to March 23, 2012. The work consists of paintings on canvas, panel, and paper and employs a variety of media ranging from traditional materials to spray paint. The painting sizes vary from 20x24 inches up to 48x96 inches and all hang directly on the wall, framed and unframed. Topics discussed in this thesis paper include the influences of the artist's military experience and travelling abroad as well as the influences …

Wild|Life: A Forest For The People, John Lusk Hathaway

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The photographer discusses the work in wild | life: a forest for the people, his Master of Fine Art exhibition held at the Slocumb Galleries, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee from March 12 through March 23, 2012. The exhibition consists of 24 large-scale color archival Inkjet prints representing a large body of work that examines the human experience through viewing public and private land and land use within or tangential to the Cherokee National Forest. A complete catalogue of the wild ife exhibit is included at the end of the thesis. Historical and contemporary influences are discussed in …

The Effects Of Nicotine Administration On Behavior And Markers Of Brain Plasticity In A Rodent Model Of Psychosis, Marla K. Perna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the population. A hallmark of the disorder is increased dopamine D2 receptor sensitivity in the brain. Studies have shown that schizophrenics smoke cigarettes at approximately 4 times the rate of the general population. It has been suggested that nicotine use is a form of self-medication for symptoms in schizophrenia. Smoking behaviors typically begin in adolescence. We assessed effects of nicotine on behavior and brain plasticity in an adolescent rodent model of schizophrenia with the goal of identifying targets for smoking cessation. Methods: Rats were neonatally treated with quinpirole (a D2/D3 agonist) or saline and sensitized …

Effects Of Burn Injury On Biological Ethanol And Ethyl Glucuronide Concentrations, Trista Haupt Wright

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol is the most abused drug in the United States and most frequently performed assay in forensic laboratories. Alcohol is routinely present in biological specimens from fatal residential fires and forensic toxicologists must interpret if these individuals are impaired by determination of their blood alcohol concentrations on post-incineration blood collected at autopsy. There is no known data available to confirm or refute blood alcohol concentrations and impairment in fire-related deaths. Ethyl glucuronide (EtG), a non-volatile minor ethanol metabolite, may provide a better biomarker for ethanol consumption prior to burn injury. The literature does not address the possibility that ethanol or …

Studies On The Preparation, Immobilization, And Luminescence Properties Of Zinc Oxide (Zno)Quantum Dots, Yasemin Hakat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Quantum dots are a part of very important our technological future because of their intriguing and useful properties. These properties are different in character from those of the corresponding bulk material. Quantum dots are inorganic artificial semiconductor nanocrystal whose electrons influence their physical and chemical properties. Zinc oxide quantum dots were synthesized through an ethanol based precipitation via colloidal synthesis method at various pH values. Various emission colors were obtained because the excited quantum dots of various sizes emitted specific wavelengths of light. The emission spectra indicated that the pH dependent quantum dots were successfully synthesized. Zinc oxide quantum dots …

Transformational Leadership In The Life And Works Of C.S. Lewis, Crystal L. Hurd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The author of this study explored the works of C.S. Lewis as well as memoirs and scholarship concerning his work to illustrate his transformational leadership. Works reviewed included Lewis's fiction, such as his science fiction trilogy and his children's series, The Chronicles of Narnia, as well as his works of nonfiction, such as essays that addressed social issues. The secondary aim for the author of this study was to determine whether the transformational qualities Lewis exhibited also existed in his characters.

Transformational leadership served as the conceptual framework for the descriptive explanatory qualitative design. Essentially the study analyzed the primary …

A Search For Balance, Scott Matthew Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

"Art is contemplation. It is the pleasure of the mind which searches into nature and which there defines the spirit of which nature herself is animated" (Auguste Rodin). My intention as a sculptor is to explore the intersection between nature and industry. I seek to find a balance between the industrial (steel) and the natural (stone). Steel represents societal obligations. Stone (river rock) is specific to place and representative of family. With these juxtaposed elements I strive to create sculptural forms of wonder and contemplation. I attempt to interpret and understand my involvement with the complex world through the process …

A Symbolic Prison: A Prisoner's Story As Masculinity Crisis Narrative In Bronson, James Benjamin Shupe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For this project I analyze the film Bronson, focusing on its connection to the contemporary masculinity crisis discourse or the belief that traditional notions of masculinity are in peril due to changing gender norms and women's social progress. I argue Bronson privileges a narrow, violent conception of masculinity through its presentation of violence and domination over other men. I use Ernest Bormann's Symbolic Convergence Theory to analyze how the film makes sense of the real life events it is based on in a way that appeals to the contemporary masculinity crisis discourse. I argue that Bronson is a notable representation …

The Impact On Student Learning Outcomes Of Video When Used As A Primary Teaching Tool In The Internet Hybrid Classroom, Richard Sykes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With increasing concern over the state of the education system in the United States, more and more emphasis is being placed on teaching methods. Internet related infrastructure has become cheaper and more powerful, and online learning environments are taking a stronger presence in most higher education institutions with more video content being sought for these environments. However, the effectiveness of using video as a teaching tool is still uncertain. Without additional research, video remains an expensive gamble for an already struggling system. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact on student learning outcomes of video content as …

An Investigation Of Bacterial Ribonucleases As An Antibiotic Target, Ashley Denise Frazier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotics have been commonly used in medical practice for over 40 years. However, the misuse and overuse of current antibiotics is thought to be the primary cause for the increase in antibiotic resistance.

Many current antibiotics target the bacterial ribosome. Antibiotics such as aminoglycosides and macrolides specifically target the 30S or 50S subunits to inhibit bacterial growth. During the assembly of the bacterial ribosome, ribosomal RNA of the 30S and 50S ribosomal subunits is processed by bacterial ribonucleases (RNases). RNases are also involved in the degradation and turnover of this RNA during times of stress, such as the presence of …

End Use Packaging: A Survey Of Customer Perception Of Recycling And Environmental Impact Of Packaging Materials, Whitney Chelsea Lamb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies have shown that traditional food packaging for the fast food industry leach toxic chemicals into the food products. Some of these toxins are known endocrine disruptors, which results in reproductive issues as well as hormone imbalances. Alternatives to traditional food packaging have been addressed with special attention to bioactive, biopolymers, and biodegradable packaging in addition to active and intelligent packaging. The hypothesis states that customers will have high demand for more environmentally sustainable fast food packaging, while the alternative hypothesis states that demand will not be high enough to financially support the costly introduction of more environmental packaging products. …

Phylogeny Of Panthera, Including P. Atrox, Based On Cranialmandibular Characters, Leigha M. King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the past 20 years both morphological and molecular phylogenies have been proposed for extant and extinct members of the family Felidae. However, there remain several discrepancies, particularly within the genus Panthera and the position of Panthera atrox. Consequently, morphologic characters from the skull and dentary were analyzed within Panthera (including all extant and one extinct taxa) to gain a better understanding of pantherine phylogeny. Multiple specimens of each taxon were analyzed, including: P. leo, P. tigris, P. onca, P. pardus , Uncia uncia, and Neofelis nebulosa. Four outgroups were used; Crocuta crocuta, Metailurus ssp., Proailurus lemanensis …

Christian Progress And American Myth: A Deep Cultural Analysis Of Spatiality And Exceptionalism In Struggles Over American Indian Lands, Bradley J. Klein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although typically characterized in politico-economic, social, and environmental terms, land struggles involving American Indian communities can be more accurately and valuably characterized as deep culture conflicts over the problem of space. As scholars like Vine Deloria Jr. and Tink Tinker contend, a significant distinction can be noted between the traditional American Indian and White Western approaches to this problem regarding how human communities should relate to particular spatial locations. In short, while Indian peoples tend to situate their identities relative to clearly defined places or lands, individuals of European descent are inclined to subordinate spatial relations to temporal concerns. Considering …

Maidens, Matrons, And Magicians : Women And Personal Ritual Power In Late Antique Egypt., Meghan Paalz Mcginnis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to a variety of material, textual, and literary evidence, the aim of this thesis is to shed light on the realities – rather than stereotypes -- of an important aspect of late ancient women’s experience: the use of ritual power. Patterns of gender differentiation in late antique Egyptian magic are investigated and shown to be connected to the particular aims to which numinous powers were employed, aims which were in turn bound up with the social roles expected of each sex. The majority of this study consists of a series of case studies of different types …

Alternative Performances Of Race And Gender In Hip-Hop Music : Nerdcore Counterculture., Jessica Elizabeth Ronald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In his documentary entitled, Nerdcore For Life, director Dan Lamoureux described Nerdcore as a "powerful social collision between hip hop and geek culture". Born on the Internet, Nerdcore Hip-Hop is rap music made by geeks, for geeks and covers such traditionally "nerdy" topics such as comic books, video games, science fiction, anime, technology, etc. Though it has existed online for almost a decade, only recently has Nerdcore gone from being an Internet fad to an underground cultural phenomenon. This paper investigated how hegemonic constructions of race and gender within both the dominant public sphere and hip-hop culture are subverted and …

The Regulation Of Rna Polymerase I-Mediated Transcription In Forebrain Neurons., Scott Carl Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ribosomal biogenesis failure may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases, while its excessive activation has been shown to drive tumor growth. As ribosomal production is initiated and regulated by the Pol1-mediated transcription of rRNA genes in the nucleolus, the latter process had the attention of most researchers interested in the dysregulation of ribosomal biogenesis in disease. When this work began, regulation of Pol1-mediated transcription in neurons had been poorly characterized. The goal of this research has been to better define factors and signaling pathways that regulate neuronal Pol1 activity. The first hypothesis tested was that DNA damage induced by a DNA topoisomerase …

Consumer Culture, Material Desires, And Images Of Women In American Novels And Art At The Turn Of The 20th Century., Janna S. Tajibaeva

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines American consumer culture and its influences on images of women created in art and literature at the turn of the twentieth century. It is divided into four substantive parts and uses the methods and theoretical approaches from four separate disciplines: social history, social theory, literature and art. The study offers a cultural discourse of the period by analyzing the novels of Edith Wharton The House of Mirth, and The Custom of the Country, and Theodore Dreiser's Sister Carrie, and also looking into the paintings of American Impressionists and Realists. It interprets the fictional and visual portrayals of …

Expression Of Adipocyte/Macrophage Fatty Acid Binding Protein Promotes Tumor Growth And Metastasis., Ashley Simone Triplett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It has been estimated that 30% of all cancer deaths in the U.S. are associated with obesity. It is well-established that obesity promotes low-grade chronic inflammation, however the mechanisms by which obesity-induced chronic inflammation may promote cancer development and progression are not well-defined. Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs), which are intracellular lipid chaperones, regulate both metabolic and inflammatory pathways. Of the nine FABP family members, adipocyte/macrophage-FABP (A-FABP) has been found to be highly expressed in macrophages in both mice and humans and its expression is increased in response to a high-fat diet. In the present study we examined the influence …

Polychlorinated Biphenyl 153 Exacerbates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In C57bl/6 Mice., Banrida Wahlang 1986-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental pollutants which are detectable in the serum of all American adults. Amongst PCB congeners, PCB 153 has the highest serum level. PCBs have been dose-dependently associated with suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obesity and metabolic syndrome in epidemiological studies. The purpose of this study is to determine if PCB 153 induces NAFLD in mice fed a control diet (CD), and exacerbates NAFLD in mice fed a high fat diet (HFD). C57BL6/J mice were fed either control or 42% milk fat diet for 12 weeks with or without PCB 153 coexposure (50 mg/kg i.p. …