Digital Commons Network^™

Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Decision-Making: Development Of A Survey Tool, Janeann M. Lineman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It has been projected that by 2020 one out of three children will originate from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) population (Rogers & Lopez, 2002). Thus, school psychologists are called to reexamine and modify their service-delivery methods to better meet the needs of CLD populations (Guerrero & Leung, 2008). The purposes of this study were: (1) to identify what a CLD problem-solving process looks like in the daily practices of school psychologists; (2) identify the impact of perceived value and skill level on the frequency of implementation practices of a CLD problem-solving model; and (3) identify if personal characteristics …

Comparative Achievement Of Students In A Freshman Academy With Those Not In A Freshman Academy By Race And Gender In One East Tennessee High School., April Campbell Leonard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the achievement of students who participated in a freshman academy program to the achievement of those who participated in the traditional high school curriculum. The researcher used grade point average and composite ACT score as determinants of achievement. The population consisted of the graduating classes of 2009 and 2010 at one East Tennessee high school. Independent sample t tests evaluated the relationship between achievement and type of freshman experience. The independent variables were participation in the freshman academy, being male, being female, and race. The dependent variables were grade point average and …

The Effects Of Domestic Violence: The Male Victims Perspective., Ramon B. Younger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Domestic violence from a male victim's perspective is something that is not discussed in society very much because information is very limited and incidents are often unreported. Research was done on this aspect of domestic violence to see how the types of abuse have had an impact on the victim from a physical and emotional perspective. The secondary data used for this study were from the Violence and Threats of Violence Against Women and Men in the United States, 1994-1996. Eight thousand men were selected to participate in the survey. The question of whether domestic violence is a problem was …

Temperament-Language Relationships During The First Formal Year Of School., Natasha Benfield Gouge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to investigate temperament-language relationships among school-age children and across a wider variety of SES. Head Start, Pre-K, and Kindergarten classes of 10 elementary schools located in rural Appalachia were sent information about the study and 35 children were consented to participate. Parents completed a short demographic survey and the Child Behavior Questionnaire Very Short Form (CBQ-VSF). Children were administered the Preschool Language Scale-4 (PLS-4). Participants were split into low and high SES groups so associations between the CBQ and PLS-4 scores could be compared at each SES strata. Both reactivity and self-regulation were …

Solving The Differential Equation For The Probit Function Using A Variant Of The Carleman Embedding Technique., Kelechukwu Iroajanma Alu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The probit function is the inverse of the cumulative distribution function associated with the standard normal distribution. It is of great utility in statistical modelling. The Carleman embedding technique has been shown to be effective in solving first order and, less efficiently, second order nonlinear differential equations. In this thesis, we show that solutions to the second order nonlinear differential equation for the probit function can be approximated efficiently using a variant of the Carleman embedding technique.

Determination Of Selected Heavy Metals In Some Creeks In A Tennessee City., Ann Ejimole Item

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Concentrations of Ni, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cd, and Pb were determined in six different creeks within a city in Tennessee using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Mean concentrations of Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Fe in the sites examined reveal that they exceed the USEPA recommended limits. High concentrations of Cu (0.130 mg/L), Zn (13.7 mg/L), Ni (0.267 mg/L), and Cd (0.010 mg/L) were observed in site B and Fe (3.01 mg/L) in site E relative to other sites. The concentration of Pb (0.795 mg/l) was higher in site A. Higher concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Fe were detected in samples …

The Lived Experience Of Mothers Bereaved By The Suicide Death Of A Child., Cynthia Walker Lynn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Suicide has existed throughout recorded history. It is a phenomenon that has been both culturally and morally defined across time and civilizations. It is estimated that over 34,000 Americans deliberately take their own lives annually. Moreover, according to some experts, between 6 and 28 individuals are directly affected by each completed suicide. These individuals are referred to as suicide survivors. The consequences for suicide survivors are multidimensional in part because relationships to the deceased play a vital role in bereavement. Previous research studies in the areas of suicidology and bereavement have failed to explore the experience of mothers bereaved …

An Examination Of Third And Fourth Grade Tcap Scores And The Universal Breakfast Program In Unicoi County Tennessee., Harold Lamar Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of standardized test scores on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) of students enrolled in Unicoi County Schools, that offers a universal breakfast program, compared with mean scores of students in both public and private schools in the state of Tennessee during the 2007-2008 school year. Test results of 404 Unicoi County third and fourth graders were examined with only the mathematics and reading and language arts sections of the TCAP used in this research. The State means were calculated using data collected from TCAP mathematics and reading and language …

An Analysis Of The Handwriting Of Elderly Chinese Subjects., Dongfang Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nowadays, one of the issues of concern that brought on by the aging population is legal disputes that have been increasing in number every year. One core problem in these legal disputes involves handwriting identification. There are however not many previous studies in China that have been concentrated on this field. Hence, the study on elderly Chinese subjects' handwriting has an extremely broad potential value for its application for academic usage and practical meaning. This study uses an empirical technique, gathering first hand data and analysing them by employing proper methods. There are 7 handwriting features and characteristics that have …

Synthesis Of A Resveratrol Glycinate Derivative., Shelley Marie Van Cleve

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recently, the compound resveratrol has had media attention as an anti carcinogen. However, the bioavailability of resveratrol is low in the human system due to its hydrophobic nature. Therefore, it must be administered in high dosages to be effective. A plethora of derivatives have been synthesized that have the potential of resveratrol but sadly share low bioavailability. The first effort of this research was an attempt to produce a more hydrophilic ester of resveratrol. Failing this, the final product was synthesized using a glycine derivative to produce 4-[(1E)-2-(3,5-diacetyloxyphenyl)ethenyl]phenyl N-[(1,1-dimethylethoxy)carbonyl]-glycinate.

Flow Cytometric Analysis Of Crayfish Hemocytes., Sarah Kathryn Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Crayfish exhibit innate immune responses via hemocytes and their products. There are 3 hemocyte populations: hyaline cells, granular cells, and semigranular cells. Hemocytes from laboratory housed, untreated crayfish (normal crayfish) have been quantified on the basis of cell type, cell size, and cell granularity using Flow Cytometry. These data present the first overall picture of normal hemocytes from Red Swamp Crayfish with regard to cell type, cell size, and cell granularity and will serve as a baseline for all future studies in our lab. Experiments using crayfish injected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, or crayfish saline alone showed …

Power Analysis For Alternative Tests For The Equality Of Means., Haiyin Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The two sample t-test is the test usually taught in introductory statistics courses to test for the equality of means of two populations. However, the t-test is not the only test available to compare the means of two populations. The randomization test is being incorporated into some introductory courses. There is also the bootstrap test. It is also not uncommon to decide the equality of the means based on confidence intervals for the means of these two populations. Are all those methods equally powerful? Can the idea of non-overlapping t confidence intervals be extended to bootstrap confidence intervals? The powers …

A Predictive Model Which Uses Descriptors Of Rna Secondary Structures Derived From Graph Theory., Alissa Ann Rockney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The secondary structures of ribonucleic acid (RNA) have been successfully modeled with graph-theoretic structures. Often, simple graphs are used to represent secondary RNA structures; however, in this research, a multigraph representation of RNA is used, in which vertices represent stems and edges represent the internal motifs. Any type of RNA secondary structure may be represented by a graph in this manner. We define novel graphical invariants to quantify the multigraphs and obtain characteristic descriptors of the secondary structures. These descriptors are used to train an artificial neural network (ANN) to recognize the characteristics of secondary RNA structure. Using the ANN, …

Electrochemical Studies Of Reactions In Small Volumes Less Than 1 Femto Litres., Isaac Agyekum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Electrochemical methods have been used to study electron transfer reactions at the interface between an aqueous phase of less than 1 femto liters in volume and a bulk organic phase. The small aqueous phase is formed at the end of a slightly recessed platinum electrode. When a negative potential is applied between the Pt electrode and the aqueous phase, Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺ in the aqueous phase could be reduced to Ru(NH₃)₆²⁺. Because the volume of the aqueous phase is very small, the electrochemically formed Ru(NH₃)₆²⁺ could instantly reach the …

The Graduation Rates Of Career And Technical Education (Cte) Concentrators In Tennessee., Richard Ernest Shadden Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare high school graduation rates between Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentrators and non-CTE concentrators. School systems in the state of Tennessee that offered CTE courses for the 2007-2008 (120 systems) or 2008-2009 (118 systems) school years were used in this study. Fifteen northeast Tennessee systems were also examined to compare the graduation rates of CTE concentrators and non-CTE concentrators. The graduation rates of male and female CTE concentrators was also compared.

Research supported the notion that CTE concentrators could improve overall graduation rates for school systems, and female CTE concentrators on …

Alternative Scheduling In The Middle School: Considering Circadian Rhythms., James Edward Carter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The passage of No Child Left Behind has increased the level of accountability for all educators. There are many factors that affect student achievement. One factor that may be overlooked is the schedule configuration of schools. Addressing student needs through scheduling options may assist school systems and students in performing at the level they are being held accountable.

The population for this study was students from a rural East Tennessee middle school with a population of approximately 700 students. The low socioeconomic students represent 68% of the school total enrollment while 18% of the students have an individual education plan …

Perceptions And Actions Regarding Parent Involvement In A Small Northeast Tennessee School District., Randy Adam Watts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the perception scores and action scores of teachers in a northeast Tennessee school system in terms of parent involvement. Also, this study examined the relationship between perception scores and action scores of administrators and teachers across the district. Lastly, this study determined if significant differences existed in the perception scores and action scores between elementary, middle, and high school teachers.

Data were collected by questionnaires containing sections for demographic information, perceptions of parent involvement, and actions involving parent involvement. The population consisted of 437 certified teachers and 24 building level administrators. From …

Beyond Cyberpessimism And Cyberoptimism: The Dual Nature Of Social Network Site Interaction., Jeremy David Makely

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis applies methodological and micro-sociological insights derived from the pioneering social psychologist Georg Simmel (1858-1918) to the contemporary social media platform, Facebook. In opposition to previously-reported one-sided, polarized analyses (i.e. either/or, pessimistic or optimistic), this study suggests a more nuanced judgment: interaction viewed as social exchange reveals that individuality is often promoted though can occasionally be hindered; while most exchanges are ill-suited for sustaining interpersonal value, they ironically facilitate enhanced trust; and finally, the unique structure of site-based exchange generally facilitates rather than undercuts constructive conflict.

Demography Of The Monocled Cobra (Naja Kaouthia) In The Central Region Of Thailand., Apinya Chaitae 1977-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Naja kaouthia is a significant species because it feeds primarily on agricultural pests, causes human mortality, and is commercially exploited. Understanding the life history and demography of harvested populations is essential to providing guidelines for proper management. This study was conducted within two rice fields in central Thailand. I found that all age classes of N. kaouthia primarily prey on rats. Prey size increases ontogenetically with snake size. Besides rats and mice, first year snakes feed on frogs. Adults add snakes, lizards, fish, birds, and bird's eggs. Young cobras grow significantly faster than older cobras and the growth rate did …

Exploitation Of Costimulatory Sa-4-1bbl In The Development Of Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines., Abhishek K. Srivastava

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cancer accounts for nearly one-quarter of deaths in the United States, exceeded only by heart diseases. Despite the development of various strategies to treat cancer, it remains one of the most deadly diseases worldwide due to the limited effects of treatments available. The limited efficacy of these current treatment modalities, such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, are often due to their association with adverse side effects arising from lack of specificity for tumors, and most importantly their failure of eliminating residual and micro-metastatic tumors, which can lead to recurrences. Therefore, there is a dire need to develop tumor-specific therapies that …

Evaluation Of A Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Group For Female Inmates Who Voluntarily Seek Treatment : A Pilot Study., Clare Thompson Wahl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the effectiveness of a partial skills group component of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in female prison inmates. DBT is an evidence-based comprehensive treatment which addresses emotional reactivity, impulsivity and distress tolerance. The psychology staff at the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women (KCIW) had noted that many of the behaviors leading to disruptive and dangerous situations within their female inmate population are related to inmates reacting to extreme emotionality. In response KCIW staff had implemented DBT on a limited basis. Although the treatment was in place, its effectiveness in promoting safety and security at KCIW had yet to …

Cardiac Abnormalities After Transaortic Constriction Are Worsened By Changing Glucose Metabolism And Benefited By Repair Of Mitochondrial Dna., Jianxun Wang 1969-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Heart failure is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the USA. During the development of heart failure, many cardiac parameters change at the same time including fuel metabolism, oxidative stress and mitochondrial function. Each of these changes occurs in the context of multiple other abnormalities in the failing heart. This complexity makes it difficult to discern the importance of each of these parameters. In this dissertation changes in glucose metabolism and mitochondrial DNA repair have been targeted separately and specifically in the heart to test their roles in heart failure independently. Abnormal glucose metabolism is always found in …

Riparian Corridor Vegetation Structure And Soil Function Along Urban, Suburban, And Rural Streams In Louisville, Ky, Usa., R. Jonathan White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stream riparian zones are ecotones between terrestrial and aquatic environments. Studying these areas in urban environments is important since they lie adjacent to stream water supplies. I conducted a study of riparian woody and groundcover vegetation along urban, suburban, and rural streams (land-use designations based on % impervious surface) to assess how cities are affecting plant community structure. I also studied riparian soil gas flux (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) in relation to water table depth and groundwater nutrient concentrations spanning a 10-month period (January to October, 2008). I found distinct woody and groundcover communities associated with proportion of …

Integration Of Ag2ga Nanoneedles On Batch Fabricated Micro-Grippers For Material Property Measurement., Peng Xu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis self-assembled growth of Ag2Ga nano-needles on batch fabricated micro-grippers are reported. The room temperature growth of Ag2Ga nano-needles have been recently developed as stylus for Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Integration of such nano-needles onto batch fabricated micro-grippers can potentially lead to the development of nano-grippers for nano-manipulation of materials, measurement of electrical properties of nanostructures and finally measurement of electrochemical properties of cells. We explored the growth process of nano-needles on batch fabricated microgrippers. Micro-grippers were first batch fabricated using carbon nanotube/SU8 process at the University of Louisville's clean room facility. Following the gripper fabrication, 20 nm …

Heat Transfer Measurement In Oil-Based Nanofluids., Kan Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nanoparticles are a class of materials that exhibit unique physical and chemical properties compared to those of the same material at the bulk scale. One method of enhancing the thermal conductivity, and hence the heat transfer coefficient, of a fluid is to add nanoparticles to the fluid creating a so called nanofluid. The term "nanofluids" was coined by researchers at Argonne National Laboratory and refers to a two-phase mixture composed of a continuous liquid phase and dispersed nanoparticles in suspension. Nowadays, nanofluids are considered to be the next-generation heat transfer fluids as they offer exciting new possibilities to enhance heat …

An Exploration Of The Earthen Feminine : The Vessel., Sharon Madison 1955-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Clay has been an integral part of my life from early childhood. The attempts of five-year-old hands to create vessels always ended up failures in my young eyes. Having had the blessings in my life to study under Richard Burns and the Master, Tom Marsh, I have learned to create, in permanency, the kinds of vessels my five-year-old heart yearned for. My exploration in the study of ceramics has been, and always will be, the center of my life in art. This exploration has brought me from the functional to an exaggeration of the functional. A way from the wheel, …

A Predictive Model For Mssw Student Success., Angela Michele Napier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study tested a hypothetical model for predicting both graduate GPA and graduation of University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) students entering the program during the 2001-2005 school years. The preexisting characteristics of demographics, academic preparedness and culture shock along with the subjective experiences of academic stability and academic performance were studied. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to determine the best predictors of final GPA. The best predictors were age, undergraduate GPA, differences between undergraduate and graduate institution size, continuity index, and the course completion ratio. A hierarchical logistic …

Pattern Play : Pieced Works On Paper., Gweneth A. Dunleavy 1954-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores pattern juxtaposition using traditional American quilt block designs as the compositional basis for nine works pieced from screen printed paper. In the 1970s, the quilt was celebrated for its apparent connection to Modernist design and was reclaimed by many feminist artists including Miriam Schapiro as a symbol of the exclusion of women's crafts from the arts hierarchy. The tension between these two perspectives continues today in the contemporary art quilt movement. Block designs are tightly organized, relying on grids and repeated geometric forms to communicate multiple patterns simultaneously. Controlled placement of light and dark pieces can create …

Priest, Prophet, Pilgrim : Types And Distortions Of Spiritual Vocation In The Fiction Of Wendell Berry And Cormac Mccarthy., Todd Edmondson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation provides a reading of characters in the novels and short stories of two important contemporary American writers through the lens of spiritual theology. While spirituality has often been understood as necessitating a flight from the particular, the concrete, or the everyday, theologians such as Rowan Williams and Nicholas Lash have presented a more robust version of spirituality that understands the call to spirituality not as an invitation to flee from this world, but rather a vocation to a way of life that seeks reconciliation within this world, encountering and embracing God's presence within the contexts of such realities …

Reconciliation Of Il-1ss Loss With Trif-Biased Tlr4 Signaling By Monophosphate Lipid A., Chelsea A. Embry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Monophosphoryl Lipid A (MPLA), a derivative of LPS endotoxin, is a TLR4 agonist that displays as little as 0.1-1% as much toxicity as its parent molecule while retaining immunostimulatory properties. We discovered that MPLA activates a TRIF-biased pattern of TLR4 signaling, resulting in reduced production of MyD88-dependent pro-inflammatory factors, and credited TRIF-bias for MPLA's reduced toxicity. A contemporary study showed that MPLA fails to promote maturation of the potent inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß. This dissertation seeks to reconcile MPLA's TRIF-biased signaling with IL-1 ß loss, and to determine the ultimate cause of MPLA's reduced toxicity compared to LPS. We find that …