Digital Commons Network^™

Images And Voices From The Cumberland Mountains: Surface Coal Mining And The Evolution Of Appalshop's Documentary Activism., Katherine Elisabeth Schram

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since the early 1970s, Appalshop, a regional film workshop in Whitesburg, Kentucky, has been examining social, economic, and environmental issues important to the people of Appalachia. Appalshop’s goal has always been to give a voice to a community that is often stereotyped and misunderstood by the media. Since its creation, Appalshop has devoted ample attention to the practice of surface mining, its potential consequences to the region, and most importantly, local opposition to the practice. While Appalshop’s early surface mining documentaries are focused on educating the general public about the issue, its later documentaries appeal to viewers’ emotions and develop …

Angiogenesis And Myogenesis In A Chronic Ischemic Heart., Esha Ibrahim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Miniswine underwent procedures to evaluate treating chronic ischemia with the implantation of autologous satellite cells and laser transmyocardial revascularization (TMR). The objective was to combine two therapies to restore cardiac function. This experiment involved three surgical procedures: (1) placing a constrictor on the coronary artery; (2) producing channels and implanting cells; (3) obtaining samples. The swine were divided into groups: Group 1, Ischemia; Group 2, Ischemia + Laser TMR; Group 3, Ischemia + Laser TMR+ Cells; Group 4, Ischemia + Cells. Sonomicrometry and Millar pressure transducers were used to determine contractility, left ventricular pressure, and pressure-volume loops. There were no …

A Study Of The Relationship Of Self-Reported Resistance Training To Lipid Profiles., Melissa Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of self-reported resistance training to lipid profiles. The study consisted of 10 subjects between the ages of 19 and 35. Participants were assigned to an exercise group or control group based on self-reported resistance training and according to ACSM standards. After means were determined for the data gathered, the exercise group had lower averages of weight, percent body fat, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides, as well as, a higher average of high-density lipoproteins. Two sample t-tests were performed to determine significance. It was determined that no significant difference …

A Study To Determine The Relationship Of The Direct Instruction Program Corrective Reading On Terra Nova Tests Scores In One School System In East Tennessee, Dawn Heterick Werner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of the Direct Instruction program Corrective Reading on standardized achievement test scores specifically of reading scaled score gains in grade levels three through six in a selected school system in East Tennessee.

The causal-comparative quantitative approach was the foundation for this study. Reading scaled score gains from the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) achievement test Terra Nova given in the years 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 were analyzed by grade level using ANOVA and t tests to determine if the implementation of Corrective Reading had an impact on students' achievement.

No statistically …

Associations Involving Open Court Reading In Kindergarten And Student Performance On Standardized Assessments In Reading In A Tennessee School System., Rachel Suzanne Walk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine what, if any, associations existed between the implementation of the Open Court Reading^® program in kindergarten and students’ reading achievement on the Terra Nova standardized achievement test in the first grade. The study involved first-grade students who attended kindergarten in one school system in East Tennessee. Using a quantitative design, this study included the first-grade Terra Nova scores from 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Scores obtained by first-grade students who did not receive Open Court Reading^® in kindergarten (2001 and 2002) were compared with first-grade scores obtained by students who …

Cell Toxicology Study Of Rrr-Alpha-Tocopheryl Polyethylene Glycol 1000 Succinate (Tpgs)., Clarisse Sornsay Muenyi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research focused on the cytotoxic properties of RRR-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) in transformed and cancerous cell lines. We used RAW264.7 macrophage and prostate cancer (LNCaP) cell lines in this study. TPGS caused cell death and decreased cell viability in a dose and time dependent manner. Cell death was evaluated fluorimetrically by employing the nucleic acid-binding fluorophore; propidium iodide. A colorimetric 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to evaluate cell viability. Cell death can occur through necrosis or apoptosis. Our results suggested that TPGS triggered apoptotic cell death. Induction of apoptosis, as measured by caspase …

The Perception Of The Value Of The Use Of Primary Source Documents Among East Tennessee Lakeway Area History Teachers In Grades 5-12., Matthew Elliott Drinnon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the perceptions of history and social studies teachers in the Lakeway Area of East Tennessee concerning the use of primary source materials in classroom instruction. The purpose of this study was to determine what value the educators in the intact group held for the use of primary source documents, how much time was devoted to the analysis of primary source documents by students in those classes, and potential barriers to the implementation of the use of primary source materials.

The research design was descriptive and used data gathered from a survey instrument constructed by the researcher. A …

Cell Toxicity And Uptake Of Rrr-Alpha-Tocopheryl Polyethylene Glycol 1000 Succinate (Tpgs) By Various Cell Ines In Vitro., Christelle Komguem Kamga

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research focused on investigating and comparing the cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of RRR-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS, with that of alpha-tocopheryl succinate (α-TS). Both TPGS and α-TS are water-soluble forms of vitamin E with important clinical applications. Cytotoxicity assays with RAW 264.7 and LNCaP cells incubated overnight with TPGS or α-TS at concentrations ≥ 12.4 μM suggest that α-TS is more cytotoxic than TPGS. Macrophages were found to be more sensitive than LNCaP cells when treated with similar concentrations of α-TS. For both cell lines, most of the TPGS or α-TS taken up remained esterified after 24 hours. Our …

Bicyclic Mixed Triple Systems., Benkam Benedict Bobga

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the study of triple systems, one question faced is that of finding for what order a decomposition exists. We state and prove a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a bicyclic mixed triple system based on the three possible partial orientations of the 3-cycle with twice as many arcs as edges. We also explore the existence of rotational and reverse mixed triple systems. Our principal proof technique applied is the difference method. Finally, this work contains a result on packing of complete mixed graphs on v vertices, M_v, with isomorphic copies of two …

Electrochemical Remedy And Analysis For The Environment Based On The New Polymer-Dna Composite Material., Noor Feuza Hussain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this work a new material, the conducting polymer-DNA composite, has been reported for the first time due to its promise in micro extraction, transfer, and release of cations under controlled potential conditions by using electrochemically assisted solid phase micro extraction (SPME). The Polypyrrole/DNA composite can be formed easily by oxidation of pyrrole monomers in the presence of chromosomal DNA by electropolymerization. Environmental significant pollutants such as Cd, Pb, Hg, Co, Zn, Cu, and Bi metal ions can be extracted from the aqueous solution and are able to be transferred to another medium defined as the release solution where the …

Aggression: Relationships With Sex, Gender Role Identity, And Gender Role Stress., Robin L. Leonard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sex, gender-role identity, and gender-role stress were assessed in terms of their relationship to observed gender differences in self-reported aggression. Physical and verbal aggression were explored, as well as the affective component of anger and cognitive component of hostility. The role of emotional intelligence in these relationships was also evaluated, as a possible correlate to the gender-related variables. The results indicated that both gender-role stress and gender-role identification were significantly associated with all components of aggression; however, only physical aggression was related to sex. Emotional intelligence was linked to sex and gender-role identity but not with gender-role stress. The results …

The Association Between The Use Of Accelerated Math And Students' Math Achievement., James Atkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between time spent on a computer managed integrated learning system entitled Accelerated Math and traditional mathematics instruction on achievement as measured by standardized achievement tests of elementary school students. The variables of ability level, special education, grade, socioeconomic status, gender, classroom teacher, school attended, and degree of implementation were also considered. The population consisted of 542 students who were sixth, seventh, and eighth graders during the 2003-2004 school year and took the TerraNova each year. Data were gathered that covered the three-year period beginning in 2001 and ending in 2004. …

A Study Of Persistence In The Walters State Community College Associate-Degree Nursing Program., Jeffrey Tom Horner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The WSCC ADN program had 66.57% persistence rate between the years 2000-2004. This retrospective study analyzed 28 demographic, pre-clinical, and clinical variables to identify correlates for persistence within the WSCC ADN program. The population size was 730 first-time candidates or the entire population of five consecutive clinical classes graduating between the years of 2000-2004. The candidates were identified and the variables tabulated using the WSCC student information system. SPSS 13.0 software was employed to conduct descriptive, frequency, multiple regression, multivariate analysis of variance, and univariate analysis of variance tests. The criterion variables included persistence within the entire population, gender-specific persistence …

Rocket Powered Flight As A Perturbation To The Two-Body Problem., Clayton Jeremiah Clark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The two body problem and the rocket equation r̈ + ∊ α ṙ + k/r³r = 0 have been expressed in numerous ways. However, the combination of the rocket equation with the two-body problem has not been studied to any degree of depth due to the intractability of the resulting non-linear, non-homogeneous equations. The goal is to use perturbation techniques to approximate solutions to the combined two-body and rocket equations.

Exposure To Volatile Organic Compounds And Effect On Neurobehavioral Function., Abhijeet Jagannath Bhanegaonkar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Data of 1338 respondents from the Priority Toxicant Reference Range Study were analyzed to examine exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Self-reported contact to chemical products and blood concentrations of specific chemicals were analyzed. Neurobehavioral function was assessed by simple reaction time test (SRTT), symbol digit substitution test (SDST), and serial digit learning test (SDLT). Prevalence of exposure to VOC products was, for instance, air freshener/room deodorant - 34.7%, gasoline - 29.2%, finger nail polish - 16.2%, and diesel fuel/ kerosene - 10.6%. The 95th percentiles of blood VOCs (μg/L) were calculated for 41 chemicals including Benzene - 0.476, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane …

Development Of Simplified Models For Crashworthiness Analysis., Yucheng Liu 1976-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Simplified modeling generates a great deal of interest in the area of crashworthiness analysis. Modeling methods used to create simplified computer models for crashworthiness have been well developed. In advanced simplified models, researchers develop simplified elements that can correctly predict structure's crash behavior based on the existing collapse theories. These developed simplified elements then are applied to develop the simplified models. Nevertheless, most of the exiting collapse theories are regarding the thin-walled box section beams. However, in addition to the box section member, the channel section member is another popular member and is widely used in engineering for architectural structures, …

Towards A Scalable And Efficient Data Classification Technique., Fadi Samih Omar Mehanna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Data Classification is a task that could be found in many life activities. In general, the term could be used for any activity that derives some decision or forecast based on the currently available information. Using a more accurate definition, a classification procedure is the construction of some kind of a method for making judgments for a continuing sequence of cases, where each new case must be assigned to one of pre-defined classes. This type of construction has been termed supervised learning, in order to distinguish it from unsupervised learning or clustering in which the classes are not pre-defined but …

Rated Preference, Complexity And Familiarity For Neo-Traditional And Modern Development Patterns Using Alternative Visual Medium., James L. Mims 1953-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the impact of complexity and familiarity on visual preference for two content domains defined as Neo-Traditional and Modern. This research has five main themes: (1) To determine if there is a method for community design professions to derive consensus about visual preference. (2) To determine if visual preference favors conventional suburban development patterns or traditional neighborhood development patterns. (3) To determine if scene complexity or coherency affects visual preference. (4) To determine if familiarity of scene content affects visual preference. (5) To determine if visual preference for a simulated scene correlates with its photographic counterpart. To respond …

"Jack Of All Trades" : The Metamorphosis Of Armored Cavalry In Vietnam., Robert Manson Peters 1966-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a chronological historical examination of armored cavalry doctrine and execution during the Vietnam War, with a focus on comparison of the armored cavalry's doctrinal missions of reconnaissance, security, and economy of force with the reality of execution on the ground. In Vietnam, a metamorphosis occurred between these doctrinal missions and actual execution due to a series of factors, such as the nature of area warfare and a relative lack of doctrinal preparedness, the latter largely due to the doctrinal flux of the early 1960s, myths about warfare in Vietnam, and institutional resistance. The metamorphosis also occurred because …