Digital Commons Network^™

Enhancing Weight Gain In Long-Term Care Residents At Risk For Weight Loss Through Protein And Calorie Fortification., Shannon Marie Tolbert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose of this study was to compare two methods of supplementing diets in order to provide additional protein and calories to increase body weight. The study consisted of two groups from the James H. Quillen Veterans Affair Medical Center Nursing Home Care Unit. Experimental group received foods fortified with increased calories and protein at mealtimes. Control group received nutrition supplements between meals. Fifteen subjects began the study. Analysis of weight change revealed that those in the experimental group had no weight change over the four months. Subjects in the control group gained an average of 4.8 lbs of body weight …

Efficacy Of Different Educational Methods For A High School Prenatal Substance Use Prevention And Nutrition Program., Kimberly Renee Webb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to increase knowledge of the effects of prenatal substance use and to introduce the special nutritional needs of pregnancy in two counties in a region with high rates of low birth weight and prenatal substance abuse. A comparison of the efficacy of the educational program being delivered by a registered dietitian or by a group of high school students trained by the dietitian was performed. One hundred six high school students participated in the program and took identical pre- and posttests. The tests were compared to measure knowledge gain and were analyzed by paired …

Confronting Manhood: The Struggle Of Male Characters In The Fiction Of Ernest J. Gaines., Katie Fay

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the African-American author Ernest Gaines's three works The Sky is Gray, In My Father's House, and A Lesson before Dying as examples of oppressed manhood, and the gradual acceptance of the characteristics of manhood in Black males. Chapter One focuses on The Sky Is Gray and follows the young hero as he makes his transition from child to a young man understanding manhood. The second chapter looks at In My Father's House, exploring the relationship between father and son. Due to his father's abandonment, the son never learns what it means to be a …

The Impact Of A Rural School-Based Health Center On Students And Their Families In Sneedville, Tennessee: A Case Study., Michael D. Belcher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the impact that the school-based health center in Sneedville, Tennessee had on students who attended Hancock County High School. The study documented how the school-based health center affected students, families, and the community of Sneedville. Case study methodology was used to determine if the school-based health center impacted school attendance, mental and emotional health, sexual practices, and overall quality of life for students and their families.

Data were collected through 25 interviews with health center stakeholders. The methodology included working with the staff at the school-based health center to identify the key …

Strategies To Address The Effects Of Reduced Funding For Music Education., Jill Leigh Hobby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a consensus from a panel of experts composed of public school music teachers both based in instrumental methods and/or choral methods, higher education music professors from various backgrounds, public school administrators, philanthropists, authors, researchers, state music supervisors, and leaders in professional music organizations on regional and national levels.

Through the use of the panel of experts from geographical regions across the United States and Canada, this study strove to build strategies that addressed the effects of reducing funding for music education. The vehicle used to build consensus was the Delphi Technique. Through …

Path Analysis Of Factors Affecting Student Outcomes And Continued Participation After Completing Alnu 1100 Basics Of Patient Care At East Tennessee State University., Melessia Dawn Webb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to test a causal analytic model for predictors of course outcomes and a second causal model for predictors of continued participation in post-secondary education. The demographic characteristics were compared for students who continued to participate in post-secondary education and those who did not continue to participate in post-secondary education after completing ALNU 1100 Basics of Patient Care at East Tennessee State University. The two models selected for testing were Henry and Basile’s (1994) “Decision Framework” for students’ decisions to continue participation, and Donaldson and Graham’s (1999) “Model of College Outcomes for Adults”, which focused …

Barriers To The Implementation Of The Oklahoma Learning Site Initiative., Robin L. Plumb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Oklahoma State Legislature and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education have partnered to put forth an initiative to strengthen the state's intellectual power in hopes of preparing its citizens to compete in the global, knowledge-based economy of the 21^st Century. As a starting point for the Oklahoma Learning Site Initiative, the Oklahoma State Regents set forth two goals: (a) to improve the quality of life of the citizens of Oklahoma and (b) to improve Oklahoma's rankings on national economic indicators to achieve a condition in which Oklahoma's growth rate on national economic indicators is consistently above the …

Leadership And The Life Of God: Distribution Of Ministerial Gifts And Leadership Practices At The Quail Springs Church Of Christ, Robert Mark Henderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this project is the presentation of a curriculum that establishes a theological foundation for the revised leadership model at the Quail Springs Church of Christ. The elders and ministry staff comprised the working group for this project. The theological foundation for the distribution of leadership roles is the triune life of God. God exists in perfect community as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and God's people have been invited to participate in the divine life. Therefore, a central task of the church and its leadership is to embody and continue the work of the triune God. Leadership …

The Effect Of Tourist Theft On Future Travel Decisions, Judith Lynn Holcomb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Past research has shown that theft is a prevalent crime against tourists. This study's purpose was to determine the effects of past incidents of personal theft on tourists' future decisions to travel by analyzing and comparing those who have experienced personal theft to those who heard of such incidents through personal accounts of friends or family. The findings, which were taken from a survey of 215 respondents, revealed that that experiencing personal theft, or knowing of someone who has, is not a deterrent for visiting a destination where the theft occurred. Results also showed that one aspect of theft that …

Molecular Typing Of Mycobacterial Isolates Cultured From The Tissue Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's Disease) Patients, Leanne M. Adams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The role of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP) in the etiology and pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn's Disease (CD), has been investigated. The fastidious characteristics and cross reactivity of MAP with other members in Mycobacteria have produced significant challenges in their detection and identification. In this two year pilot study, an array of three PCR molecular assays based on the detection of sequences from the16S rRNA, IS1245, and IS900 genes, belonging to members of the MAC, have been developed and optimized into a common protocol to be used as a rapid and accurate diagnostic tool regarding M. …

Do You Have A Friend?: The Impact Of Personal Knowledge Of Someone With Aids On Attitudes Towards Aids, Leith Leonce Lombas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study of attitudes towards those with AIDS is relatively recent. Most studies have examined attitudes concerning health and medical concerns. Little research has focused on attitudes toward social and behavior concerns. The few that have focused on such attitudes have employed relatively small samples collected primarily out of convenience. The studies that have used national samples have primarily addressed public policy issues. Using national data from the 1988 General Social Survey, this paper examines the effects of personal knowledge about the AIDS virus and other attitudinal variables on four dimensions of social and behavioral concern for those with AIDS …

Interactions Between The Nudibranch Okenia Zoobotryon And Its Bryozoan, Nicole Robinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the Indian River Lagoon, the nudibranch Okenia zoobotryon and its egg masses are found attached to the bryozoan Zoobotryon verticillatum throughout the year. Okenia zoobotryon is thought to live, feed, and reproduce exclusively on Z. verticillatum, which would make this a very specialized predator-prey interaction. The primary goal of my study was to document certain aspects of the ecological and chemical relationships between Z. verticillatum and O. zoobotryon. Specifically, I wanted to understand the cues used by the nudibranch to locate and remain on Z. verticillatum. Population surveys on Z. verticillatum, as well as other potential hosts, were performed. …

Extracullular Atp Regulates Il-1beta Release From Microglial Cells Via Purinergic Receptor After In Vitro Trauma, Chengya Liang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces a state of microglialactivation, which includes upregulation of macrophage functions and release inflammatory mediators such as certain inflammatory cytokines. Current literature suggests that interleukin-1Beta is an important cytokine mediator, which is dramatically increased after brain injury. Previous studies indicate that ATP is released by traumatically injured astrocytes and serves as a cell-to-cell mediator through purinergic receptors after in vitro injury. However, the mechanism of interleukin-1Beta release after traumatic brain injury remains poorly defined and is difficult to study using in vivo models. Using an in vitro model for traumatic brain injury (cell strain or stretch), …

Nursing Leadership Characteristics: Effect On Nursing Job Satisfactio, Sandra Swearingen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to determine the degree to which a positive experience with nursing leadership increases nurse's job satisfaction. The different values and norms of the generational cohorts result in each cohort perceiving leadership characteristics differently. Factors such as length of exposure to leadership, location, shift worked, clinical versus non-clinical positions and the presence or absence of Servant-Leadership, all have the potential to impact nursing satisfaction. Nursing satisfaction, or dissatisfaction impacts retention, further modifying nursing leadership practices. Conflict, Cohort, Servant-Leadership, and Self-Discrepancy theories were utilized to identify the relationships of generations to each other and to the …

The Impact Of Traditional Shona Beliefs On Hiv/Aids Intervention Work In Zimbabwe, Brian Goercke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between secondary students in the rural and peri-urban areas of Mashonaland in Zimbabwe and their tendencies to agree or disagree with traditional Shona attitudes, beliefs and practices as they related to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. A convenience, cluster sample was used to identify the 482 students who participated in this study. A questionnaire composed of demographics, hypothetical and open-ended questions was administered to these students within the regular classrooms of their respective schools.

A notable finding in this study was that traditional Shona beliefs appear to be stronger in the rural areas. However, the students surveyed …

The Importance Of Cmos Sensor Surface Topography In The Attachment, Proliferation, And Differentiation Of Human Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Christa Y. Heyward

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Osteoblasts and osteoblast precursor cells (mesenchymal stem cells) respond to the surface topography of metal implants by aligning along surface features in order to minimize shear stress. While several previous studies have investigated the morphology, attachment and proliferation of both osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells along grooved surfaces, the current study investigates the cellular response to depressions and peaks in surface topography, as well as surfaces that contain alternating combinations of depressions and peaks. The Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensor is a transducer fabricated from silicon and sputter coated with titanium. The CMOS sensor is designed to utilize piezoresistive …

Outcomes Of The American Occupational Therapy Foundation's Curriculum-Mentoring Project, Ingrid Mary Provident

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the outcomes of a year long formal curriculum-mentoring project sponsored by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. Five occupational therapy faculty groups were selected through a competitive application process and paired with mentors to assist in curriculum change. The experiences of each of the teams were studied using multiple methods of data collection, including semi-structured interviews conducted in person and via telephone, a mailed questionnaire, and bi-monthly electronic journal entries. The process and outcomes of two representative cases are reported in this qualitative, critical case study analysis. A two part content analysis yielded information that addressed each of …

Critical Digital Infrastructure Protection: An Investigatoin Into The Intergovernmental Activities Of Information Technology Directors In Florida Counties, Joah Nicole Devenny

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As cyber attacks become more sophisticated, the risk to all networked computer systems increases. Whether public or private, whether federal, state, or local, the threat is equally real. Consequently, local governments must respond accordingly to understand the threats, take measures to protect themselves, and determine how to respond in the event of a system breach. Additionally, since cyber criminals do not respect geographic or administrative boundaries, local leaders must be prepared to instantly interact with other governments, agencies, and departments to suppress an attack. Guided by the theory of intergovernmental management (IGM), this exploratory research investigated how Information Technology (IT) …

Improving Comprehension Of Capital Sentencing Instructions: A Bias Reduction Approach, Charles W. Otto

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has demonstrated that judicial instructions on the law are not well understood by jurors tasked with applying the law to the facts of a case. The past research has also shown that jurors are often confused by the instructions used in the sentencing phase of a capital trial. Social scientists have used two different methods to improve juror understanding of legal instructions, psycholinguistic rewrites and bias-reduction techniques. Psycholinguistic rewrites of legal instructions have been shown consistently to improve juror comprehension of general legal instructions and instructions used in the sentencing phase of a capital trial, however, there has …

The Removal Of Motion Artifacts From Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Measurements, Paresh Thakkar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Modern Automatic Blood Pressure Measurement Techniques are based on measuring the cuff pressure and on sensing the pulsatile amplitude variations. These measurements are very sensitive to motion of the patient or the surroundings where the patient is. The slightest unexpected movements could offset the readings of the automatic Blood Pressure meter by a large amount or render the readings totally meaningless. Every effort must be taken to avoid subjecting the body of the patient or the patient's surroundings to motion for obtaining a reliable reading. But there are situations in which we need Blood Pressure Measurements with the patient or …

Vitellogenin Induction As A Biomarker For Environmental Estrogens In Xenopus Laevis, Jamie Skoloda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In oviparous vertebrates, estrogen stimulates the liver to produce vitellogenin. Vitellogenin induction is a useful biomarker for exposure to endocrine disruptors, specifically environmental estrogens. The objective of this project was to design in vivo bioassays for environmental estrogens based on induction of vitellogenin in male Xenopus laevis. Frogs were exposed to ethinyl-estradiol by injection or immersion for different times and doses, than vitellogenin induction was assessed. An ELISA was developed to measure serum vitellogenin. Additionally, a vitellogenin rt-PCR assay was developed using species-specific vitellogenin primers, to detect mRNA induction. It was established that the induction of serum vitellogenin and hepatic …

Analysis Of Factors That Influence Member Turnover In A Health Insurance Plan, Sara Bennett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this research, we implement a multiple logistic regression model in which the coefficients of indicator variables are constrained to be zero or positive. By doing this, the contribution of each variable to the failure probability can be assessed. Due to this restriction on the coefficients, a Bayesian approach to parameter estimation--which assigns mixture priors to the coefficients--is taken. The data is provided by a large health insurance company in Western Pennsylvania and includes the enrollment status and corresponding values of the 84 predictor variables for 1,280,612 individuals. The insurer feels the analysis is needed to determine why its membership …

A Historical Study Of The Emergence Of Social Movements: Case Study Of The Sierra Leone Women's Forum In The 1990s, Agnes Mariama Farma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The emergence of the Women's Forum during the 1990's in Sierra Leone is analyzed using the political process model proposed by Douglas McAdam. The strength of the indigenous organizations, the political opportunities presented by the civil strife of the period and the emergence of insurgency consciousness on the part of the women of Sierra Leone were identified as significant in contributing to the success of the movement in bringing an end to the civil war and influencing the peace process to address women's issues, indicating the usefulness of this model in analyzing the emergence of social movements in the Sierra …

Identification Of Protein Interaction Between The Drosophila Runx1 Transcription Factor Lozenge And Ets-1 Factor Pointed Using Site Directed Mutagenesis And Yeast Two-Hybrid Analysis, Shalini Singh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many classes of transcriptional regulatory proteins are known to function in both cell proliferation and differentiation. Runx1 proteins one such family of transcription factors, plays critical roles in hematopoiesis, osteogenesis and leukemogenesis and act as promoter organizers that cooperate with other transcription factors such as Ets-1 in the regulation of gene activation or repression. Genes that are regulated by the Runx1-Ets1 complex, frequently have multiple, adjacent consensus binding sites in their promoters. I have investigated a similar interaction in developing fly eye. Lozenge (DmRunx1) and Pointed P2 (DmEts-1) cooperate to upregulate expression of prospero, which has multiple Lz and Ets …

Defining The Church's Advocacy Role To The Modern Prison System, Timothy Swope

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation, "Defining the Church's Advocacy Role to the Modern Prison System," is developed from the Catholic Church's social thought over the past century and the episcopal teaching of the American bishops over the past three decades. Chapter one reviews the concept of 'advocate' and the Church's advocacy role to the poor, oppressed, and marginalized. Chapter two reviews the episcopal statements concerning the advocacy role to the prisons and the question of the death penalty in general.

Before defining the specific role of the Church to the prison system, this role of advocacy must deal with the question of Church …

Genre And Persona In Activist Websites, Margaret M.F. Boreman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Digital texts present significant challenges to technical communicators in terms of genre and persona. Because of the ubiquity of electronic media, we increasingly embrace digital formats over print-based documents. As a result, technical communicators must now devise the means to cue audiences to the purposes of digital documents in any given discourse community. We can only convey meaning to our Internet audiences through the use of appropriate standards and elements recognizable generic forms and rhetorical cues that we designate as conventions in specific digital discourse. Just as we use file and folder office metaphors for information stored on computers, digital …

Tractor-Trailer Simulation And The Assessment Of Training Scenarios For City-Driving: Skill Building In The Area Of Left And Right Turns, James Whitmire

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A simulated inner-city training scenario was found to increase skills in the area of turning when compared with a simulated off-track training scenario. To answer this question, two groups of ten participants (5 women and 5 men) were tested using three scripted scenarios focusing on left and right turns. The first training scenario (control group) is an off-track training scenario, which consists of a large asphalt lot and the use of orange cones; the second training scenario (experimental group) is an inner-city training scenario without the presence of vehicular traffic; and the third scenario (test scenario) is an inner-city scenario …

The Ecology Of Drift Algae In The Indian River Lagoon, Florida, Julie Lynnae Liss

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To gain an understanding of the ecology of drift algae in the Indian River Lagoon system along the east coast of central Florida, four questions were addressed: 1) What is the composition and rate of accumulation of drift? 2) How much movement and turnover occurs within drift accumulations? 3) Do growth rates differ for drift versus attached algae? 4) Is there a difference in photosynthetic performance in drift versus attached algal species? Manipulative field and laboratory experiments were conducted to address these questions with the green macroalga Codium decorticatum and the red macroalga Gracilaria tikvahiae. Changes in pigment concentration and …

Multigene Metabolic Engineering Via The Chloroplast Genome, Oscar Nemesio Ruiz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The vast majority of valuable agronomic traits are encoded polygenetically. Chloroplast genetic engineering offers an alternate approach to multigene engineering by allowing the insertion of entire pathways in a single transformation event, while being an environmentally friendly approach. Stable integration into the chloroplast genome and transcription of the phaA gene coding for β-ketothiolase was confirmed by Southern and northern blots. Coomassie-stained gel and western blots confirmed hyperexpression of β-ketothiolase in leaves and anthers, with high enzyme activity. The transgenic lines were normal except for the male sterile phenotype, lacking pollen. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a collapsed morphology of the pollen …

Hydrogen Sulfide Flux Measurements And Dispersion Modeling From Constr, Sangho Eun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Odor problems are a common complaint from residents living near landfills. Many compounds can cause malodorous conditions. However, hydrogen sulfide (h2s) has been identified as a principal odorous component from construction and demolition (c&d)debris landfills. Although several studies have reported the ambient concentrations of h2s near c&d landfills, few studies have quantified emission rates of h2s. The most widely used and proven technique for measuring gas emission rates from landfills is the flux chamber method. Typically the flux chamber is a cylindrical enclosure device with a spherical top which limits the gas emission area. Pure zero grade air is introduced …