Digital Commons Network^™

Examining At-Risk Students Based On Their Attitudes Toward Educational Factors: Is There A Gender Difference In Identification Of At-Risk Students?, Cynthia Mae Tilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among four specific typologies of environmental factors and at-risk teenagers. The four typologies explored were influences by parents and peers, teachers, educational setting, and factors relating to school behavior.

Six research questions guided the study and six null hypotheses were formulated and tested at the .05 level of significance. The degree of relationship between the independent variables and the environmental factors was analyzed by using the Independent samples t-test and One Way ANOVA. The study sample consisted of 195 middle school students in three counties in Northwestern North Carolina and …

How Is A Child's Perception Of Self Affected By Retention?, Brenda S. Tweed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to inform educators of the impact of grade retention on a child's perception of self, and to provide recommendations and practical applications for educators in the future.

Although the long-term effects of grade retention are still unclear, the number of students being retained annually is steadily on the rise. Conflicting beliefs about the advantages and disadvantages of the retention experience make it difficult to clearly predict which students will benefit from being retained.

A large body of research reports the impact of grade retention on scholastic achievement. As retention has usually been considered to …

God In The Darkness: Mysticism And Paradox In The Poetry Of George Herbert And Henry Vaughan., Elizabeth Anne Acker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While aspects of mysticism appear in the poetry of both George Herbert and Henry Vaughan, the general consensus among critics has acknowledged the mysticism of Vaughan while ignoring its roots in Herbert's writings. Among the leading authorities on the poetry of Herbert, there has been a general tendency to dismiss, ignore, or explain away mystical elements. A study of representative works by prominent critics to ascertain their positions on this issue reveals not only what can be known for certain about Herbert's theology, but also the interpretations that have been offered for his most famous poems. While these interpretations are …

Figurative Sculpture In Paper Clay., Valarie G. Lyle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The artist discusses her Master of Fine Arts exhibition at East Tennessee State University, Carroll Reece Museum, Johnson City, Tennessee, March 9 - 17, 2001. The exhibition marked her return to organic, gestural work. Works are figurative, ceramic, sculpture, made of paper clay, ranging from 8-inch, wall mounted, bas-relief to life sized, full round figures. Most are slab constructed, unglazed or lightly glazed with soda wash.

Topics discussed: the artist's development, including the influences of Stephen De Staebler, in his treatment of the individual in mass culture, and of Mary Frank, in psychological content and in the use of negative …

Discovery Through Numeric Strata: A Balance Of Form And Aesthetics., Marc Ian Sonenberg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is in support of my Master of Fine Arts exhibition in the Carroll Reece Museum at East Tennessee State University. It describes a body of work that strives for a balance of form and aesthetics. Chapter 1 charts how I refined my personal stylistic qualities. Chapter 2 gives a brief overview of the history of ceramics techique. Chapter 3 discusses the surface treatment and construction of the pieces in the show. Chapter 4 presents each piece in chronological order.

The Detection Of Morphological Variation Across Time In Two Roan Mountain Endemics: Geum Radiatum And Houstonia Montana., Dalenia Medford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Morphological variation between geographically distant populations has long been recognized. The primary objective of this study was to test whether nonrandom shifts in morphology have occurred across a 150-year time span in two rare, endangered plant species Geum radiatum and Houstonia montana. During the last century the vegetation on Roan Mountain has undergone numerous environmental pressures that may have produced morphological shifts.

A diverse suite of morphological characters was measured from both species. Characters included vegetative and reproductive structures. Herbarium specimens and direct field measurements were the sources of material used. Results indicated a significant increase in size across …

Survey And Comparison Of Amphibian Assemblages In Two Physiographic Regions Of Northeast Tennessee., Marquette Elaine Crockett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Declines in amphibian populations have prompted study of their ecology and distribution. The purpose of this study was to survey two sites located within different physiographic and one herpetofaunal region of Northeast Tennessee, comparing species composition and activity. The first, Henderson Wetland, is in the Appalachian Ridge and Valley physiographic region. The second, John's Bog, is in the Blue Ridge. Survey methods included random walks, aural surveys, and point source collections during a 16-month period (February 1999 to May 2000).

Nine caudate (Plethodontidae) and one anuran species (Ranidae) were found in John's Bog. Seven caudate (Ambystomatidae, Plethodontidae, Salamandridae) and five …

Theoretical Study On The Mechanism Of Removing Nitrogen Oxides Using Isocyanic Acid., Taraneh Nowroozi-Isfahani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The mechanism of RAPRENO_x reactions - RAPid REduction of Nitrogen Oxides using Isocyanic acid - proposed by Robert A. Perry¹ in an attempt to help control the emission of nitrogen oxides pollutant into the atmosphere, has been re-investigated theoretically. The study of reaction mechanisms was carried out using Chemist software². All mathematically possible elementary steps have been evaluated and the chemically reasonable ones have been considered to propose new sets of reaction mechanisms. Density Functional Theory (B3LYP/6-31 G**) calculations using Gaussian 98³ were made in order to study the relative energies of all species and …

Investigation Of Perceptions Of Environmental Management Systems And Its Perceived Importance In A Corporation Undergoing Iso 14001 Certification., Charlette Michelle Clark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The International Organization of Standardization (ISO) has created a series of voluntary standards (ISO 14000) which promote waste reduction and improve businesses’ environmental management. ISO 14001 is the Environmental Management System portion of ISO 14000 requiring employee awareness and involvement. The Robert Bosch Corporation is undergoing ISO 14001 certification.

In this study, a 23-question survey was used to evaluate Bosch employees’ awareness of ISO 14000 and their support of a waste reduction program at four plants (Johnson City, TN; Sumter, South Carolina; Ashland, Ohio; and South Bend, Indiana). Employees surveyed were not yet familiar with ISO 14000 and that their …

Strategies To Ease The Negative Effects Of Mobility On Academic Achievement., D.Kaye Reed Thomas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mobility, the movement of students from school to school, affects students, classrooms, schools, and systems. Extensive research has been conducted on the relationship between mobility and student academics. Although the research has not determined mobility is the cause of lower academic scores, it is certainly a contributing factor. Most students with high mobility rates also have difficulty in math, reading, or language. Teachers of classrooms with these students tend to "flatten" the curriculum by reviewing more than usual. Long-range planning for these students can be difficult. Schools and systems may plan programs for students who have moved on by the …

Coal Mechanization And Migration From Mcdowell County, West Virginia, 1932-1970., Mark Myers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The economy and population of McDowell County, West Virginia, drastically decreased between 1950 and 1970. The increased reliance of the coal industry, McDowell County's primary industry, on labor saving machinery resulted in a loss of employment opportunities. This study seeks to investigate the reasons for the reliance on coal and the results of the mechanization movement in the coal industry on McDowell County. Using production and employment data of two representative McDowell County coal companies, it is clear that the introduction of continuous mining machines, which combined the cutting and loading of coal into one step, allowed companies to mine …

Affectional Orientation, Sex Roles, And Reasons For Living., Shana Valere Hamilton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to research gender, affectional/sexual orientation, and sex roles to determine how people respond to the Expanded Reasons for Living Scale by Linehan, Goodstein, Nielsen, and Chiles (1983). This study used the Bem Sex Role Inventory, short form (Bem, 1981) to assess androgynous and nonandrogynous people.

Results from the statistical analysis revealed that bisexuals had the lowest reasons for living score followed by gay men/lesbians, and then heterosexuals on the Total RFL, as well as on the Responsiblility to Family and Moral Objections subscales. On the Child-Related Concerns subscale heterosexuals had a higher RFL score …

Oscar Wilde: Constructing The Self, Elisabeth Erin Pankl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines Oscar Wilde's construction of the self. Three major aspects of Wildean literary work serve as handles for this thesis examination. They are the Wildean interpretation of theoria, Wilde's literary technique and philosophical assertion of masks and poses and Wilde's favor of the social dandy.

In addition to these three aspects, this thesis utilizes four of Wilde's works as primary sources. These are The Pictureo f Dorian Gray, The Importance of Being Earnest, "The Decay of Lying," and "The Critic as Artist."

Like most current critiques of Wilde, this thesis relies on many of the reading strategies of …

Genetic Diversity And Camptothecin Variation In Camptotheca Decaisne, Yuiie Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Camptotheca Decaisne is the major source of the promising anti-cancer alkaloids camptothecins. The main objectives of this study are (1) to reveal the genetic diversity of Camptotheca and to identify taxa with RAPD markers; (2) to determine the camptothecin (CPT) variations within and among different populations and taxa, with tissues, season, and age; and (3) to determine the effects of environmental stress on the camptothecin production in Camptotheca. RAPD markers provide a powerful tool for the identification of some populations (particularly cultivars) and the detection of genetic variation within Camptotheca. Three primers (OPA02, OPA03, and OPA04), generating 44 polymorphic bands …

Artistic And Redemptive Uses Of Affliction In Anne Bradstreet's Personal Poems, Wilda Joell Head

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

How Pianists Memorize And Suggestions To Enhance The Memory Process, Lawrence Darwin Brooks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Lighting Design Process For A Christmas Carol, Cara Shearer Wood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Parental Age And Housing Type On The Reproductive Success Of The Purple Martin (Progne Subis Subis), Jessica A. Eads

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The reproductive success of the Purple Martin is dependent upon many factors. This study measured reproductive success of the Purple Martin (Progne subis subis) based on parental age and type of housing used. Reproductive parental ages consist of adults (experienced breeders) and subadults (first time breeders). Housing types included in this study were aluminum housing, wooden housing, plastic gourds, natural gourds, SuperGourds, and mailbox housing. The reproductive success was defined as the percentage of the original clutch that fledged. Study sites were located in Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Virginia. Pairs mating nonassortatively by age group …

A Data Layout Descriptor Language (Ladel)., Ashfaq Ahmed Jeelani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To transfer data between devices and main memory, standard C block I/O interfaces use block buffers of type char. C++ programs that perform block I/O commonly use typecasting to move data between structures and block buffers. The subject of this thesis, the layout description language (LADEL), represents a high-level solution to the problem of block buffer management. LADEL provides operators that hide the casting ordinarily required to pack and to unpack buffers and guard against overflow of the virtual fields. LADEL also allows a programmer to dynamically define a structured view of a block buffer's contents. This view includes the …

Integration Of Student Academic Record And Major Requirements Through Xml., Zhujun Hou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to develop a software application based on previous studies by 1997 Oak Ridge Design Studio Team that matches students' progress with major requirements in their college career. This study addresses the problems of previous studies and suggests a solution. A powerful new technique, XML, is used to model, store and process the data of major requirements and student records. This application produces an HTML file that provides detailed information of a student's academic progress towards graduation.

"'Tis Hard To Dance With One Shoe": The Failure Of The Fathers In Walker's The Color Purple And Mccourt's Angela's Ashes., Gwendolyn Nicole Hale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In his story, “The Commitments,” Roddy Doyle identifies the Irish as "the blacks of Europe" (148). This sentiment typifies the oppression of the two cultures. The overwhelmingly oppressive society of the two aforementioned groups creates an atmosphere of failure, particularly for the fathers, who, for the most part, are supposed to be the heads of their families. Through Alice Walker’s The Color Purple and Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes, the reader discovers the effects of these failures of the fathers due to tyrannical societies that impose dominance over such groups as the African-Americans and the Irish. The main characters, Celie and …

The Cardiovascular Effects Of Resistance Exercise Training On Orthostatic Intolerance In Elderly Individuals., Lynn P. Rhea

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the age-related changes associated with normal aging is the inability to maintain normal blood pressure homeostasis, a common clinical condition known as orthostatic intolerance. There are little data on the effects of strength training in healthy adults and orthostatic intolerance, and only one study on strength training and elderly adults diagnosed with orthostatic intolerance. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of resistance training on the cardiovascular respones of elderly individuals during an orthostatic challenge.

Thirteen subjects were assigned to either a resistance (RES; n=7; 66±5 yrs.) or a control (CON; n=6; 71±6 …

Radical P-Chains In L3(2)., Donald Dewayne Belcher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The McKay-Alperin-Dade Conjecture, which has not been finally verified, predicts the number of complex irreducible characters in various p-blocks of a finite group G as an alternating sum of the numbers of characters in related p-blocks of certain subgroups of G. The sub-groups involved are the normalizers of representatives of conjugacy classes of radical p-chains of G. For this reason, it is of interest to study radical p-chains. In this thesis, we examine the group L₃(2) and determine representatives of the conjugacy classes of radical p-subgroups and radical p-chains for …

Attitudes Toward Violence And Reasons For Living In Adolescents With High, Moderate, And Low Self-Esteem., Rhonda Marie Blevins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes toward violence and reasons for living in adolescents with high, moderate, and low self-esteem. An attitudes toward violence scale was devised for the purposes of this study. Self-Esteem was assessed using the shortened version of Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (SES). The Brief Reasons for Living in Adolescents (BRFL-A) was utilized to assess adaptive characteristics. The independent variables were gender and self-esteem. The dependent variables were total reasons for living score and attitudes toward violence score.

Participants included 138 males and 95 females, ages 11 to 15 years old (M = 13.3) from …

A Model For Explaining Differences In Incontinence Care Seeking (Medics) Project., Michael Heit 1962-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The broad long-term objectives of this research project are to increase the percentage of women who seek care for urinary incontinence. The specific aims of this research project are: (1) Use Lauver's Theory of Care Seeking Behavior to identify predictors of incontinence care seeking for African American and Caucasian women. (2) Determine if previously studied predictors explain incontinence care seeking for African-American and Caucasian women, after controlling for predictors in Lauver's Theory of Care Seeking Behavior. (3) Develop and compare theoretical models for explaining differences in incontinence care seeking for African American and Caucasian women. The health relatedness of the …

The End Of Camelot: An Examination Of The Presidency Of John F. Kennedy In 1963., Christina Paige Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis addresses events and issues that occurred in 1963, how President Kennedy responded to them, and what followed after Kennedy's assassination. This thesis was created by using books published about Kennedy, articles from magazines, documents, telegrams, speeches, and Internet sources. What has been disclosed is that many of the legends attributed to Kennedy simply are not true. In examining this thesis, the reader will understand what Kennedy's political interests were and the impact of his Presidency on future generations.

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Interval Training Vs. Continuous Training On Weight Loss And Body Composition In Obese Pre-Menopausal Women., Jeffrey Warren King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role exercise intensity plays in reducing body weight and percent body fat in overweight women. Subjects were randomized to either a high intensity interval training group (IT) or a lower intensity steady state training group (ST). Each group exercised 3 times per week for 8 weeks and expended 300 kcal per exercise session. VO₂max, body composition, and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were measured pre and post training. RMR was measured after exercise at week 2 to see if intensity levels affected RMR. VO₂max and body composition improved …

Playboys, Single Girls, And Sexual Rebels: Sexual Politics 1950-1965: A Trilogy Of Significant Developments., Amy Denise Dolinger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the years between 1950 and 1965, three significant developments in American culture left women struggling to merge the housewife archetype of the Cold War era with changing attitudes toward sexuality. Because of these cultural shifts, the developments that dominate the research presented here are; first, the changing elements in the lives of the women who pass through the halls of academia during this time of societal flux; second, the impact of the development of the birth control pill; and third, the impact of the publications of Playboy magazine and Sex and the Single Girl. These developments mark a …

Explorations In The Classification Of Vertices As Good Or Bad., Eugenie Marie Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For a graph G, a set S is a dominating set if every vertex in V-S has a neighbor in S. A vertex contained in some minimum dominating set is called good; otherwise it is bad. A graph G has g(G) good vertices and b(G) bad vertices. The relationship between the order of G and g(G) assigns the graph to one of four classes.

Our results include a method of classifying caterpillars. Further, we develop realizability conditions for a graph G given a triple of nonnegative integers …

Gender Differences In Coping With Chronic Illness., Madhu Karnad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. Therefore, it is important to discover adaptive life-maintaining characteristics in high risk populations. Many patients with life-threatning illnesses have frequent suicidal thoughts. The difference in reasons for living between men and women with and without chronic illness was investigated. The suicide ideation was determined by ratings on a 48 item Reasons for Living questionnaire. Degree of chronocity of illness and illnes related issues were determined by a demographic questionnaire. Results showed that men commit suicide at a higher rate than women. Results of ANOVA'S indicated that individuals with …