Digital Commons Network^™

International Student-Athlete Perception Of College Sport And Its Effect On Adjustment To College., Nels Popp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During the 2004-05 school year, over 10,000 international student-athletes competed for National Collegiate Athletic Association schools (NCAA, 2006b). Few researchers have examined how international student-athletes' college experiences compare to domestic student-athletes. The purpose of this study was threefold: (a) to detect differences between international and domestic student-athletes in regards to adaptation to college, (b) to detect differences between international and domestic student-athletes in regards to their view of the purpose of college sports, and (c) to determine whether student-athletes' views on the purpose of college sport help predict social adjustment to college or institutional attachment. A national sample of international …

Encountering Stereotype Threat In The Workplace : How Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Employees Meet The Challenge Of Negative Stereotyping., Gary M. Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Employee retention continues to be a major drain on the resources of organizations, especially in terms of personnel, productivity, and financial resources. One of the primary motivators of employee turnovers established by research is the issue of unfairness in the workplace. This study investigated the dimensions of unfairness related to being a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender employee. Specifically, the issue of stereotype threat and its effect on job performance was explored. Using an on-line survey, members of LGBT labor union caucuses and LGBT employee resource groups were asked to complete a questionnaire that assessed demographic differences and responses to …

Kinematic Analysis Of Treadmill Walking In Normal And Contused Mice Using The Treadscan System., Jason Beare 1980-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Activity-based rehabilitation is important for clinically treating spinal cord injury (SCI). Advances in SCI research are dependent on quality animal models, which rely on our ability to detect functional differences in animals following injury. The purpose of this study is to analyze the gait of normal and contusion-injured mice using the TreadScan® system. TreadScan® utilizes a transparent treadmill belt and a high-speed camera to capture the footprints of animals and automatically analyze gait characteristics. Adult female C57B1/6 mice were gentled and introduced to the treadmill. Animals received either a standardized mild or moderate contusion injury or a sham injury. TreadScan® …

Creativity And Economic Development : Exploring The Relationship Between Index Rank, Index Components And Economic Development Context., Stephen Dennis Rausch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Richard Florida's (2002a and b) work ranks 276 U. S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) according to a creativity index. This dissertation explores whether the creativity index or its subcomponents are related to the economic strength or growth in MSAs. The dissertation initially explores the relationship between the creativity index or the proportion of the creative class in an MSA with measures of per capita income and mean earnings adjusted for cost-of-living and region. It further tests the relationship between the creativity index or the proportion of the creative class in an MSA and economic strength and growth where economic strength …

Ridge Preservation Comparing A Flap Vs. A Flapless Technique Using A Demineralized Bone Matrix Allograft Plus Mineralized Particulate Allograft And Covered With A Calcium Sulfate Barrier., Trever L. Siu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Aims . The primary aim of this study is to compare the clinical and histologic results of a flap vs. a flapless technique of ridge preservation after 4 months of healing. Both groups received an intrasocket graft of demineralized bone matrix mixed with mineralized particulate allograft that was covered with a calcium sulfate barrier. Methods . Twelve test patients received ridge preservation using the flapless technique while 12 positive control patients were treated with a flap technique. All sockets were grafted with a mixture of demineralized bone matrix and a mineralized particulate allograft. Following tooth extraction horizontal ridge dimensions were …

Elastomer Degradation In Water Utility Systems Via Loss Of Carbon Black Observed With Atomic Force Microscopy., Randolph Norman Schoenbaechler 1972-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The use of monochloramines in the potable water supply industry has been selected as the disinfectant method of choice due to a longer term of effectiveness and less toxic by-products than the previous choice of chlorine. In spite of the benefits exhibited by the use of monochloramines much greater rates of elastomer degradation have been noted in the water industry. The modes of attack by monochloramines on the rubber parts are still poorly understood. A common ingredient in nearly all elastomer formulations is carbon black. In addition to its role as a filler material, carbon black is also known to …

Anxiety Disorders In Children With Williams Syndrome, Their Mothers, And Their Siblings : Implications For The Etiology Of Anxiety Disorders., Ovsanna Leyfer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Genetic factors play an important role in the etiology of anxiety disorders. Williams syndrome (WS), a genetic disorder caused by a deletion on chromosome 7q11.23 and associated with increased prevalence of anxiety disorders relative to the general population and other genetic disorders associated with intellectual disability, can be used in the search for susceptibility genes for anxiety disorders. This study examines the prevalence of anxiety disorders in children with WS, their mothers, and their siblings as well as predictors of anxiety in these groups, in order to facilitate the use of WS in studies of genetics of anxiety disorders. Anxiety …

Comeback Of Appalachian Female Stroke Survivors: The Interrelationships Of Cognition, Function, Self-Concept, Interpersonal, And Social Relationships., Patricia Mckenzie Vanhook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to examine the comeback phase of the Trajectory of Chronic Illness Management for Appalachian women stroke survivors. This study predicted comeback as a relationship between physical healing, biographical reengagement, and psychological coming to terms that was mediated by rehabilitation.

The concepts were evaluated through investigation of function and cognitive abilities, self-assessment of recovery, health rating, ability to control life, relationship changes, physical and mental health, and limitations of activities due to poor physical or mental health. Data were collected using, the Stroke Impact Scale (3.0) (Duncan, Bode, Lia, & Perera, 2003), the …

Wellness And Nutrition Education Program To Promote Improve Nutritional Practices And Decreased Body Mass In Individuals Working In A Health Care Setting., Jessica Brown Bandy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a wellness and nutrition education program directed at employees of a health care facility would result in changes in weight, waist and hip circumference, BMI, and nutritional practices. Nine participants completed the five week program including final weight, measurements and post-program survey to determine nutritional practices. All participants attended weekly group classes with topics related to nutrition, physical activity, and behavior changes. Changes in weight, anthropometric measurements, and BMI were calculated. Changes in nutritional practices were analyzed using Minitab statistical software. There were improvements made in weight, anthropometric measurements, and BMI …

An Analysis Of Nicotine Exacerbation Of Reductions In Ppi In A Rodent Model Of Schizophrenia., Amanda Marie Maple

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is an operational measure of sensorimotor gating and is known to be reduced when the dopamine D² receptor is activated. We used a rodent model of psychosis in which increases in dopamine D_{2 receptor sensitivity are produced through neonatal quinpirole (a dopamine D2 / D3 agonist) treatment to rats. Rats were administered quinpirole (1mg/kg) or saline from postnatal day (P) 1-21. Rats were raised to adulthood and tested on PPI. Results showed that neonatal quinpirole treatment produced a significant reduction in PPI, and nicotine exacerbated this reduction. This reduction was partially blocked by …}

The Long Term Effect Of Time-Memory On Forager Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera) Recruitment., Matthew Walter Otto

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Experiments were performed to determine the influence of the honey bee time-memory on a forager bee's sensitivity to recruitment. Two groups of foragers from one colony were trained to separate food stations at the same restricted time of day for several consecutive days. Feeding then was canceled at one station but continued for four more days at the other. Bees with more days of training at a non-productive source were significantly less likely than foragers with less training to be recruited to an alternative food source presented at the same time of day. Furthermore, the ability of a forager to …

A Study Of The Evolving Practices Of Reading First Reading Coaches In Virginia., Shelia Denise Sargent-Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore and document the various roles of Virginia's Reading First reading coaches. The goal of Reading First is to ensure that all students learn to read at grade level or above by the end of third grade. Because of No Child Left Behind legislation and the mandates set forth by Reading First, reading coaches are in demand. In order to gain an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of reading coaches, this study was based on qualitative methodology. Specifically, the data collection consisted of a self-administered survey sent to Virginia's 95 Reading …

T-Cell Dysfunction By Hcv Core Protein Involves Pd-1/Pd-L1 Signaling., Billy Ellis King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 1989 the hepatitis C virus was identified as a significant cause of post-transfusion hepatitis. Nearly two decades later there is still no vaccine, inadequate treatment options, and limited understanding of how the virus establishes chronicity in the majority of the people it infects. Recent reports suggest that the interaction of a negative co-stimulatory pathway mediated by PD-1 and PDL-1 is associated with persistent viral infection. The role, if any, that PD-1/PDL-1 has in HCV infection is unknown. In this study we report that PD-1 is upregulated in T-cells from persons with chronic HCV infection when compared to healthy donors. …

No Sleep 'Til Minsky's: A One-Man Tribute To Burlesque And Vaudeville., Carl Glenwood Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No Sleep '˜Til Minsky's is a one-man show paying tribute to early 20th century variety entertainment. The writing process began with research into the forms of vaudeville and burlesque, including films of period acts, study of autobiographies and biographies of burlesque performers, and study of historical scripts performed in the time period and stored at the Library of Congress.

The format of the show consists of a one-hour core script in which Lou Drake speaks of his life and career in burlesque. In addition to the core script, the structure is designed to allow more actors to participate in staging …

Nicotine Sensitization In A Rodent Model Of Schizophrenia: A Comparison Of Adolescents, Adults, And Neurotrophic Factors., Marla Kay Perna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The behavioral effects of nicotine on locomotor activity in a rodent model of psychosis were analyzed. This model is based on neonatal quinpriole treatment (a dopamine D2/D3 agonist) which causes increased D2 receptor sensitivity, a phenomenon known as D2 priming that is common in schizophrenia. D2-primed adolescent rats did not demonstrate nicotine-induced hypoactivity early in training, and males demonstrated more rapid sensitization to nicotine as compared to controls administered nicotine. D2-primed females administered nicotine demonstrated increased stereotypic behavior. D2-primed adult rats given nicotine demonstrated significantly more robust sensitization to nicotine than controls given nicotine. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was analyzed …

Bronchioalveolar Carcinoma In Jefferson And Mccracken Counties, Kentucky: Gender Differences In Survival., Jasneet Aneja

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bronchioalveolar carcinoma (BAC), a rare lung cancer, is more common in women, has a high proportion of non-smokers, and better survival, especially in women, than other lung cancers. Study subjects were 83 BAC patients from two Kentucky counties. Mean survival differences were compared by selected variables. The results showed better survival for females (6.5 years) than males (3.0 years, p-value 0.02); for urban (4.3 years) compared to rural residents (2.6 years, p-value 0.04); and for females with history of hysterectomy (5.1 years) compared to females without such history (3.3 years, p-value 0.02); the last finding supports a hormonal role in …

Reversed-Phase Hplc Determination Of Cholesterol In Food Items., David Christian Essaka

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cholesterol is a fat-like molecule found among lipids in animal (including human) tissues. It is needed for maintaining good health. However, health issues have been raised because of the strong correlation between high levels of cholesterol in the body and cardiovascular disease. An HPLC method for quantitative determination of cholesterol in foods is presented. This involves a C-18 stationary phase using a 70:30 methanol: 2-propanol mobile phase with an UV detector set at 212 nm. The method showed linearity in the range 5.0 to 100.0 μg/mL and also good reproducibility with relative standard deviation of 4.22%, 2.71%, 4.8%, and 3.7% …

Discovering And Assessing Desired Student Financial Services At East Tennessee State University., Lois K. Sams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover and assess student financial services delivered to students enrolled at East Tennessee State University. The research was undertaken for institutional self-improvement. The research explored changes that have occurred in student financial services in the dynamic higher education market. The research revealed universities pursued best practices for the delivery of student financial services through expanded employee knowledge, restructured organizations, and integrated information technologies.

The research was conducted during October and November, 2006. The data were gathered from an online student survey of student financial services. The areas researched included: the Bursar office, the …

Prenatal And Postnatal Nutrition And Lactation Consulting: A Feasibility Study., Marissa Blake Beale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a prenatal and postnatal nutrition and lactation consulting facility in either of two locations in the Tidewater region of Virginia, Virginia Beach or Williamsburg. Experts in nutrition and lactation, a registered dietitian and licensed lactation consultant, would be the ideal means of providing adequate nutritional and lactation advice for the mother and infant to foster healthy, optimal pregnancy outcomes and lactation success. A web-based search for adequate data on the demographic sketches of the two cities was done to develop an understanding of meeting the needs of the target …

Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms And Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (Cisd) In Emergency Medical Services (Ems) Personnel., Ginger Lee Woods

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

EMS personnel were examined for Post Traumatic Stress symptoms and the usefulness of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) using the Los Angeles Symptom Checklist (LASC) and a demographics questionnaire. This study revealed that women in this group show higher PTSD symptoms than male coworkers. Level of Training (LOT) of the EMS provider did not demonstrate a significant difference in whether a provider developed PTSD. EMS personnel receiving debriefing actually suffered greater levels of PTSD than those that did not receive debriefing. And 16% of EMS providers in this study suffered from PTSD, while approximately 20% suffered from partial PTSD or …

Media: Effects On Attitudes Toward Police And Fear Of Criminal Victimization., Bradley Edwards

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the effects of the media on attitudes toward police and fear of crime, while controlling for selected audience trait variables. A self-report questionnaire was administered to 351 students at East Tennessee State University. The survey consisted of demographic and audience trait variables. The survey also contained items that measured the respondants' media consumption. Respondents were asked, for example, which format they typically get news from (e.g., newspaper, television), how often they watch television, and how real they perceive crime related television to be. Multivariate analysis showed that demographic and audience trait variables explained more variance than did …

Teaching Probability And Statistics To English Language Learners In Grade Five., Mary Jo Johnson Neal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An increasing number of English Language Learners enrolling in the Washington County Virginia Public School System during the past several years prompted the idea of this thesis. These students are currently mainstreamed in the regular academic classroom. Adapting to their needs is a new challenge in education for teachers in Southwest Virginia. This thesis offers an opportunity for teachers to prepare for a multicultural classroom setting providing English Language Learners with learning strategies necessary to gain confidence in their mathematical ability and academic success in the areas of probability and statistics. Lesson plans have been specifically designed emphasizing teaching strategies, …

Evaluation Of A Ninth Grade Transition Program For At-Risk Students., Terry William Caldwell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Researchers have identified the transition from middle to high school as a critical point in teenagers' educational development. Despite sweeping educational reforms, many students are leaving high school without graduating. Local school districts are struggling to redesign high schools to provide the educational programs necessary for at-risk students' success. Creating smaller learning communities and developing transition programs have shown success in addressing these problems.

Sustained research shows promise in minimizing the effects of the transition process and adds to the body of knowledge.

A case study approach using archival data was used to explore the differences in three Bearcat "PRIDE" …

Sir Walter Ralegh's Legacy: His History Of The World In The Seventeenth Century., Steven Preston Carriger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis looks at the life and works of Sir Walter Ralegh. Specifically, this study will look at Ralegh's History of the World and its influence on two men, Oliver Cromwell and James Graham, Marquis of Montrose. This study will look at the impact this work may have had on the lives of these two men through their letters and public lives.

Necessarily this study will look mainly at the primary sources of these men including the letters and speeches of Cromwell as compiled by Thomas Carlyle and the Memoirs of Montrose, compiled and edited by Mark Napier. Obviously Ralegh's …

A Comparison Of North Carolina's State, Private, And Community Colleges/Universities Regarding Assistive Technology And Services For Students With Disabilities., Chris Cain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare postsecondary institutions in North Carolina including state universities, private colleges and universities, and community colleges in regard to the number of students with disabilities, assistive technology availability, funding ratios for assistive technology, frequency of professional development training, legislative understanding, and other support factors for students with disabilities. This comparison was accomplished through quantitative and case summarization and analysis research methodologies.

Data were collected through case summarizations and the administration of surveys sent to 110 coordinators of students with disabilities services at the 15 state universities, 37 private colleges and universities, and 58 …

Temperament And Early Communication In Premature Children., Nina King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Premature children are at greater risk for developing communication delays than full-term children, although it is not inevitable. Recent research links specific temperament characteristics to early language development. Thus, temperament may provide a way to identify premature children who are at increased risk. The first purpose of this study was to determine if temperament characteristics of premature children are the same as full-term children when measured by the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised. The second purpose was to determine if temperament and language acquisition, as measured by the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory: Words and Gestures, are linked in premature infants …

Factors That Affect The Global Positioning System And Global Navigation Satellite System In An Urban And Forested Environment., Douglas Allen Ritchie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy in real time measurements acquired from GPS and GLONASS satellite observations using RTK techniques in an urban and forested environment. To determine this accuracy, 2 data sets of 3-dimensional coordinates were created and compared at 14 stations situated at East Tennessee State University. One data set included coordinates determined by conventional land survey methods; the second was solved by RTK GPS/GLONASS. Once the magnitude of any deviation in the coordinate positions was determined, the contributions to the accuracies from cycle slips, multipath, satellite availability, PDOP, and fixed or float solutions …

A Study Of First-Time Full-Time Freshmen's Attributes And Their Associations With Fall-To-Fall Retention Rates At A Two-Year Public Community College., Susan E. French Graybeal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to investigate the associations between first-time full-time freshmen's attributes and fall-to-fall retention at Northeast State Technical Community College. The 15 attributes included age, first-generation student status, gender, high school classification, race, the student's application date to the institution relative to the start of the semester, the 4 ACT test sub-scores, remedial/developmental course placement, major program of study, financial aid status, first-semester grade point average, and end-of-first-semester credit hour enrollment status. In addition to collecting the variables under study, each first-time full-time freshman's entry term and enrollment status for the subsequent fall semester was ascertained. …

A Study Of The Effects Of Pet Ownership On Mental Health Among Community-Dwelling Senior Citizens In Northeast Tennessee., E. Marie Southerland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This cross-sectional study explored the relationship between pet ownership, attachment, and psychological health among community-dwelling senior citizens and evaluated the impact of the placement of an aquarium into a regional senior center. General health, depression, social support, pet attitudes, pet attachment, pet relationships, and attitudes about the aquarium were assessed among 104 members of a senior center.

Symptoms of depression were identified in 17.3% of the participants. Pets were a significant form of social support and attachment to pet owners. No significant relationship was observed between pet ownership, pet attachment, and psychological health. Positive health effects were reported among participants …

Tolerance: Challenge, Perception, And Social Stigmas Defined Through Visual Communications., Ursula Moore Bryant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

My explorations and journey through life have led me to discover a connection in my work and responsibility as a visual communicator. My objective of communicating challenge, perception, and social stigmas through informed stories of individual lives is to provoke questions and spark moments of awareness in viewers. With this supporting manuscript, I hope to inform about my motivations through time including my personal, artistic, and historical influences. I will define graphic design as a fine art through the evaluation of artistic movements. I also intend to discuss design as a language and build a case for social awareness. Evaluating …