Digital Commons Network^™

The Struggle For Acceptance: Continued Resistance To Female Ministers In Rural Holston Conference., Thelma June Neal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to determine if ordained women clergy experience resistance or lack of receptivity to their appointments. If so, does the resistance more readily occur with churches in a rural area? The focus of the study was women clergy of the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. My study reveals there are Methodist women clergy who continue to have churches outright refuse their projected appointments. My study also reveals that this problem is more often found with churches in rural areas where the culture is connected to long-standing scriptural interpretations and traditions that do not theologically and …

Epidemic Of Lung Cancer Or Artifact Of Classification In The State Of Kentucky?, Beatrice Simo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States despite public health campaigns aimed at reducing its rate of mortality. Kentucky is the state with the highest lung cancer incidence and mortality. This study aims to assess the impact of misclassification of cause of death from Lung Cancer in Kentucky for the period 1979 to 2002. We will examine the potential competing classification of death for two other smoking-related diseases, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Emphysema. Age-adjusted mortality rates for these diseases for white males were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics. There …

Leadership Practices Of School Nutrition Professionals., Linda Gail Dycus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

School-aged children's nutritional needs have changed from a 1946 underweight and undernourished population to rapidly increasing numbers of overweight and obese children with associated health complications. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore leadership practices of state and system school nutrition professionals. By obtaining information regarding the past and present practices of school nutrition professionals, this researcher strove to provide insight into best practices for future leaders.

Electronic mail messages linked to Kouzes and Posner's (1995) self-reporting leadership practices survey were sent to 194 Tennessee school nutrition professionals (53 state directors and 141 system supervisors). The survey had …

The Burley Tobacco Buyout Program And Its Impact On Farmers In Tennessee, Virginia, And North Carolina., William T. Jarrett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis addresses the Burley Tobacco Buyout Program and its impact on three local economies. Data collection involved obtaining information from government reports, internet sources, public documents, agriculture offices, federal agriculture officials, and books. Personal interviews were conducted with 32 farmers in Sullivan County, Tennessee; Washington County, Virginia; and Watauga County, North Carolina.

This study is significant because it addresses not only the decline of an agricultural product but also changes in a way of life in Southern Appalachia. The future of burley tobacco growing in this region appears to be bleak because of foreign market competition and decreasing domestic …

A Comparative Study Of International And American Study Abroad Students' Expectations And Experiences With Host Countries., Evelyn Domville-Roach

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This was a comparative study of international and American study abroad students' experiences and expectations with the host countries. The rationale for this study was to acquire a deeper understanding of different experiences of students who study abroad and to understand whether their expectations of the host country have an impact on their experiences. An opportunity sample of American study abroad and international students was selected from the United States student population and their expectations and experiences of the host country compared. The study addressed 6 research questions, using a mixed-method approach. The principal instrument for the investigation was the …

Wellness Program Effect On The Health Parameters Of Female Employees Aged 25 To 60 Years Of Age Targeting Physical Activity And Nutrition Therapy., Adrienne J. Poag

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine if the health parameters of female employees would improve, as measured in the posttest data, following the completion of a 12-week employee wellness program. The participants included 17 female employees from the Carter County Health Department located in Elizabethton, Tennessee. The principle investigator assessed the changes in the pretests and posttests and analyzed the data using SPSS. The results showed on average an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption and in the number of days exercised per week as well as improved diastolic blood pressure and triglyceride levels. The employees who experienced …

Examination Of Microsporidia Spore Adherence And Host Cell Infection In Vitro., Timothy Robert Southern

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular pathogens that cause severe disease in immunocompromised humans. While albendazole is the treatment of choice, no therapy exists that effectively treats all forms or causes of human microsporidiosis. Recent studies show that the microsporidian Encephalitozoon intestinalis binds glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) associated with the host cell surface, and that the divalent cations manganese (Mn²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) augment spore adherence to host cells by activating a constituent on the spore surface. These studies also illustrate a direct relationship between spore adherence and host cell infection; inhibition of spore adherence leads to reduced host cell …

Etsu Medical Residents' Clinical Information Behaviors, Skills, Training, And Resource Use., Richard Wallace

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Information is a powerful tool for enabling physicians to provide quality healthcare for their patients. Information use in the clinic is a skill that must be learned. If medical residency programs fail to impart this skill, then patients will suffer.

The residents of the ETSU Quillen College of Medicine were surveyed as to their use of clinical information. Of the 217 residents of the 2005-2006 class who were surveyed, 105 returned the survey for a return rate of 48%. The clinical faculty was also surveyed in order to measure the responses of the residents against that of their instructors.

ETSU …

Assessing Perceptions Toward Implementation Of The Nutrition Care Process Among Registered Dietitians In Northeast Tennessee., Jessica Lee Gourley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to survey registered dietitians in Northeast Tennessee to determine attitudes toward implementation of the nutrition care process prior to and following education about the nutrition care process and/or implementation of the nutrition care process in their respective healthcare facilities. Approximately 100 registered dietitians were involved in the study. Data were collected through electronic submission and written inquiries. The findings of the study identified that there was a need for further research regarding implementation of the nutrition care process and that negative attitudes, opinions, and barriers were broken down by education, implementation, and exposure to …

Dilemmas Of China's Modernization: Population Problem And The Strategy Of Sustainable Development., Hongbo Tang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

By reexamining the process of China's modernization centered on its population in the past half century, this paper explores the grim situation of China's population, historical factors, the relationship between population, resources and environment. Also, focused on controlling the size and improving the quality of China's population, this paper discusses how China's population policy coordinates with the sustainable development strategy. Based on statistics and preliminary data released by the Chinese government and international organizations, this paper analyzes specific problems and implication found under the framework of Western modernization theory, and concludes that China faces a dilemma on population problem and …

Evaluating Satisfaction And Benefit From Nutrition Counseling From A Registered Dietitian Among Head And Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy., Lori E. Watson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if patients with head or neck cancer receiving radiation were satisfied with the nutrition counseling they were receiving and if they obtained any benefit. Radiation to the head or neck region promotes side effects such as taste changes and chewing and swallowing difficultly that decrease food and fluid intake. A reduction in nutrients leads to weight loss, and weight loss in cancer patients increases the risk of morbidity and morality as well as decreases quality of life. Subjects were recruited from a local cancer treatment facility and a survey was administered. Subjects …

Studies On A 50s Ribosomal Precursor Particle As A Substrate For Erm E Methyltransferase Enzyme In Staphylococcus Aureus ., Indira Pokkunuri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that inhibits not only mRNA translation but also 50S ribosomal subunit assembly in bacterial cells. An important mechanism of erythromycin resistance is the methylation of 23S rRNA by erm methyl transferase enzymes. We are interested in investigating the true substrate for methylation because it is known from our work and the work of others that fully assembled 50S subunits are not substrates for methylation. We have published a model for 50S ribosomal subunit formation where, the precursor particle that accumulates in erythromycin treated cells is a target for methyl transferase activity. Current studies are aimed …

What To Make Of Race? : A Content Analysis Of The Use Of Race In Health Research., Oliver Eugene Rollins Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Using content analysis, this study examines the use of race in health related journal articles from 2000 to 2005. Each of the articles pertained to African Americans and either access to health or quality of health. Selected articles for review were examined in order to gain an understanding as to how race was measured and if race was conceptualized, the explanation for racial disparities, and the intersection of race and class in health.

Development Of Fuzzy System And Nonlinear Regression Models For Ozone And Pm2.5 Air Quality Forecasts., Yiqiu Lin 1971-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ozone forecast models using nonlinear regression (NLR) have been successfully applied to daily ozone forecast for seven metro areas in Kentucky, including Ashland, Bowling Green, Covington, Lexington, Louisville, Owensboro, and Paducah. In this study, the updated 2005 NLR ozone forecast models for these metro areas were evaluated on both the calibration data sets and independent data sets. These NLR ozone forecast models explained at least 72% of the variance of the daily peak ozone. Using the models to predict the ozone concentrations during the 2005 ozone season, the metro area mean absolute errors (MAEs) of the model hindcasts ranged from …

Regulation Of Nuclear Respiratory Factor-1 Expression By 17beta-Estradiol : A New Mechanism For Coordinating Mitochondrial Gene Expression., Kathleen Annmarie Mattingly 1979-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The mechanisms by which estrogens regulate mitochondrial activity are not completely understood. Chronic treatment of ovariectomized rats with estradiol (E 2 ) increased the amount of Nuclear Respiratory Factor-1 (NRF-1) protein in cerebral blood vessels. NRF-1 is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes including mitochondrial transcription factor A ( TFAM , which, in turn, controls transcription of the mitochondrial genome. Here, I tested the hypothesis that E 2 increases NRF-1 transcription through a genomic activation of estrogen receptor (ER) resulting in a coordinate increase in nuclear- and mitochondrial- encoded genes, mitochondrial respiratory activity, and mitochondrial …

Leadership, Curriculum, Instruction, And Accountability Scores : Evidence From Kentucky Scholastic Audits., Lonnie E. Mckinney 1950-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High-stakes accountability, standards for improvement, global perspectives, and social considerations are re-defining the educational process. These powerful forces shake foundations and traditions, restructure organizational expectations, and change the role of all stakeholders. As these tremors reach the local school level, tremendous pressure is applied to respond precipitously. Measurement of school performance against standards places deficiencies in the limelight. At the local level, Kentucky school principals bear the primary burden for school success as clearly defined by the state's accountability system. Based on Kentucky's Standards and Indicators for School Improvement and its accompanying Scholastic Audit procedures, an explicit purpose of this …

An Exploration Of Defensive Pessimism, Explanatory Style, And Expectations In Relation To The Academic Performance Of College And University Students., Scott Richard Berry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Researchers have studied the concepts of optimism and pessimism as traits, expectations, strategies, and styles of explaining outcomes. Explanatory style and the strategy of defensive pessimism are two of these areas. In general, optimistic explanatory style has been associated with better outcomes including academic performance. Some studies have found that pessimistic explanatory style has been associated with better academic outcomes. One suggestion in the literature was that defensive pessimism might explain the cases where pessimistic explanatory style is associated with better academic outcomes. To evaluate this explanation, the Academic Attributional Style Questionnaire (AASQ, Revised Defensive Pessimism Questionnaire (DPQ), and Brief …

Examining The Empirical Impact Of Teacher Pupil Control Ideology On Student Outcomes : The Classroom Perspective., Michael M. Brame

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined a hypothesized relationship among teacher beliefs, teacher behaviors, classroom climate, student engagement, and student outcomes. The researcher used teacher ( N = 6) and student ( N = 12) interviews, observations, and the mining of documents and material culture to collect data in a rural Midwest middle school struggling to meet the requirements of state and federal accountability measures. Humanistic teachers operated in an atmosphere of student empowerment and high levels of student engagement; Custodial teachers operated in an atmosphere of student compliance and low levels of student engagement. Outcomes, (grades, office referrals, and accountability scores) were …

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons In Maternal And Cord Blood Plasma., Paula G. Radmacher 1951-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are chemicals generated from the incomplete combustion of organic materials, including tobacco smoke. Some PAH are known to be mutagenic and carcinogenic in humans, and of concern for the fetus when women smoke during pregnancy. Known consequences of smoking during pregnancy include low birth weight and preterm delivery. It is unknown if PAH are related to these outcomes. This pilot study was designed to measure concentrations of 3 PAH (anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene and 1-hydroxypyrene) in paired maternal and cord blood samples as well as any correlations between the two matrices. Plasma cotinine was used as a biomarker …

Instructor Perceptions Of Student Learning In Secondary And Postsecondary Algebra Classes., Jane Ann Houseman Jones 1940-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate various secondary to postsecondary mathematics transition issues for students. Making successful transitions from high school to postsecondary study has become necessary if our nation's young people are to obtain and hold good-paying jobs in the workplace. Knowledge of algebra is the critical gatekeeper for success in completing high school and postsecondary training. Nationwide 22% of entering freshmen at degree-granting institutions are under-prepared for college mathematics and must enroll in developmental mathematics classes that repeat the content of high school mathematics courses. Researchers have documented disconnects between secondary and postsecondary mathematics' expectations and …

Making Birth Control Acceptable : The Development Of The Twentieth Century Birth Control Movement., Elizabeth Caskey 1983-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an examination of the tactics used by individuals in the development of the twentieth century birth control movement. It focuses on the creation of a national organization that directed the movement throughout the United States. The twentieth century political and economic environment influenced the birth control movement, but key individuals navigated the environment and developed a program of dissemination and education that furthered the cause of birth control. The intention is to show that Sanger and her cohort expanded upon nineteenth century efforts to provide people reproductive control. The twentieth century political and economic environment influenced the …

Transnational Advocacy Networks In The International System : Lessons From Ecuador., Isabella Marie Christensen 1977-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The transnational advocacy campaign against Ecuador's second oil-transporting pipeline, the Oleoducto de Crudo Pesado, had no impact on that state's endorsement of the project and only a negligible effect on related social and environmental policies. This outcome is at odds with the theoretical formulation advanced by Keck and Sikkink which holds that certain transnational advocacy campaigns can act as agents of state-level policy changes. While Keck and Sikkink locate causal variables of campaign outcome on the levels of the campaign and the state, the Oleoducto de Crudo Pesado case signals the need to further incorporate international-level analysis and to investigate …

The Unseen : One Actor's Journey From The Mind To The Stage., James Patrick Cronin 1982-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores my work on the role of Charles Condomine in a production of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit directed by James Tompkins. It is broken down into three main chapters covering the rehearsal process, character development, and performance. The rehearsal chapter compares the process of working with Tompkins on Blithe Spirit to the process of working with Dennis Krausnick on The Winter's Tale. I explore differences in directing style and discuss the advantages of each. In the character development chapter, I probe the personal choices I made in and out of rehearsals to bring Charles Condomine to life. The …

Development And Validation Of A Scale To Measure Health-Related Socioeconomic Well-Being In Persons With A Cancer Diagnosis., Barbara Anderson Head

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The impact of socioeconomic status on the diagnosis, treatment, survival, and overall quality of life in persons with cancer has been well documented. Yet, many studies overlook the relevance of socioeconomic factors when measuring the impact of cancer care. A multitude of tools exist for the measuring of health-related quality of life (QOL) in oncology, but the majority do not recognize socioeconomic well-being as a relevant domain. The FACT-G, perhaps the most often used measure of QOL in oncology, measures the domains of physical, functional, social/family, and emotional well-being as core measures with optional instruments available to address spiritual well-being …

The Association Of Employment And Out-Of-Pocket Health Care Expenditures Burden For Poverty Families., William A. Carroll 1960-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses data from the 2002 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey in a quantitative examination of the capacity of the labor market in the United States to provide employment to the poor which enables them to afford health care. The out-of-pocket health care expenditures of the working poor are compared to those of the non-working poor to see which group has the lower financial burden due to health care expenditures. Both bivariate and multivariate statistics are used, and show that employment lowers the financial burden of out-of-pocket health care expenditures for the poor. However, evidence is presented that shows this …

Laboratories Of Democracy And State Brownfield Programs., Jaclyn Susan Marie Opp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Public investment and interest into brownfields has increased markedly in the past two decades. However, scholarship has not kept pace with this growth. Every state in the U.S. has created a brownfields program to deal with the presence of these properties in their state. However, the mechanisms offered in these state programs to facilitate brownfield remediation and redevelopment has gone untested and underresearched. This dissertation gathered data on all fifty state brownfield programs and the related Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) enforcement and inspection data. The fifty state data was then supplemented with three state case studies using in-depth …

Mentoring African American Men : A Study Of Job Satisfaction And Organizational Commitment., Davis Marvin Robinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a correlational designed study that examined the strength and direction of the relationship between mentoring, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment, of African American men, exclusively in a business setting (N = 364), who were members of the National Black Masters of Business Administration Association (NBMBAA). Approximately 56% of the respondents were affiliated with the association. Participants completed a web-based survey via Zoomerang™, which included Mowday, Steers, and Porter's (1979) Organizational Commitment Scale and Spector's (1988) Job Satisfaction Scale, and employed Dillman's (2000) online survey protocol. This study used hierarchical multiple regression and mediational analysis to analyze the …

Ambiguity And Triangles : United States Policy And Action During The Referendum Crisis Of 2003-4., William David Frost 1982-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During the 2004 Presidential Election in the Republic of China, President Chen Shui-bian proposed two referenda. These referenda dealt with relations with the People's Republic of China. The People's Republic of China reacted very strongly against the referenda, even before the full nature of the referenda was known, and tensions ran high between the two states through the run-up to the election. United States President George W. Bush also made statements against the referenda, but did not take much action to exert pressure on the ROC. Instead the US worked instead to maintain strong relations with both while maintaining the …

Microtacks For Retinal Implant Applications., Scott Douglas Cambron 1980-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are the two leading causes of blindness in the world today. Despite enormous efforts and advances in clinical treatment of eye diseases, there is no established method or cure of degenerative processes in the eye, such as ARMD and RP. In these disorders, the primary cause of blindness is due to the loss of photoreceptors, however, the remaining conductive neural pathways in the inner retina are still intact and functional. As a result, the University of Louisville in collaboration with the Center of Innovative Visual Rehabilitation at the Eye and Ear Infirmary …

Ymage : A Resource For Real-Time Sharing Of High Resolution Digital Images., Yetu A. Yachim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Digital images have primarily been viewed using desktop applications. These types of programs attempt to load all of an image's graphical data into memory in order to display the image in its entirety. The method is effective for images that are relatively small, but for large, high-resolution images, this tends to be slow and resource-exhaustive. Coupled with degraded system performance are the issues of storage and image access. Some newer programs make efforts to mitigate these problems, but few do so satisfactorily. The Ymage System was designed as an alternative to conventional approaches for managing and viewing images. The system …