Digital Commons Network^™

The Evolution Of Adult Literacy For Learners With Special Needs., Susie A. Huggins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis looks at the evolution of adult education over the last 340 years and includes a discussion on Moonlight Schools and Operation Alphabet. The educational abilities of men and women are discussed. The evolution of adult education is reviewed through the legislation that effected the school system. The history of Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA) and the role of the Monongalia County LVA affiliate are reviewed. A survey of the MCLVA is conducted to research educational attainment of parents, adult learners and children of adult learners. Finally, the WV driver’s license exam process is reviewed. Many adult learners have …

I. Steroid Hormone Enrichment Of Brine Shrimp (Artemia Salina) Nauplii. Ii. Factors Associated With Acute Bacterial Infection That Limit Fertility., Amanda R. Barker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of incubation of Artemia nauplii with steroids prior to the first feeding instar II stage of Artemia development. Decapsulated Artemia cysts were incubated at a concentration of 3 g cysts/L in hatching media (1 L seawater at 1.030 SG, 0.08 g highly unsaturated fatty acid supplement) and either 20 mg 17β-estradiol (E2) or 17 αmethyldihydrotestosterone (MDHT) dissolved in 3 mL 70% ethyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol alone (control). Cysts were cultivated at 18-20° C for 24h. Nauplii were collected by filtering culture media, and were rinsed in 1 L fresh water. Artemia …

Characterization Of Neurotensin’S Bipolar Effects On Nociceptive Modulation Using Sr 142948a And Sr 48692, Two Non-Peptide Neurotensin Receptor Antagonists, Jeffrey P. Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Results from the current study confirmed that neurotensin has a dose-dependent bipolar effects on nociception within the RVM. Microinjection of low (picomolar) doses of neurotensin into the RVM resulted in a facilitation of nociception and resolved the anti-analgesic properties (tail flick test) of the peptide in models where basal analgesia is established by stressing rats or following PAG administration of opioids (morphine). Whereas microinjection of higher (nanomolar) doses of neurotensin into the RVM produced antinociception. Furthermore, these same pain facilitatory and inhibitory effects of neurotensin were observed following i.c.v. administration.;Direct evaluation and comparisions of the two non-peptide neurotensin receptor antagonists, …

The Effects Of The Malaysian Department Of Wildlife And National Parks' Environmental Education Program On The Environmental Knowledge And Attitudes Of 13-17 Year Old Students., Ebil Yusof

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study focused on the effects of the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Park's (DWNP) environmental education program on the environmental knowledge and attitudes of the secondary school students. Conducted between May 11, 1998 and August 11, 1998, this study was designed to reflect three objectives: (1) to determine the effect of participation in the DWNP's environmental education program on environmental knowledge and attitudes of 13-17 year old Malaysian students, (2) to identify demographic factors that contribute to the change of environmental knowledge and attitudes, and (3) to establish base line data for future evaluation of the effectiveness of …

An Application Of The Delphi Method Of Forecasting To The Future Of Public Education In West Virginia, Carl H. Friebel Jr.

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigated the nature and types of events that will affect the future of public education in West Virginia. A three round modified Delphi design was used to identify the events, estimate when each might occur, and determine their level of impact and desirability.

In Round 1, surveys were mailed to forty-seven educational leaders representing various educational agencies and constituencies in West Virginia. In response to the first survey, panelists generated a total of one hundred thirty-four events which had at least a 50 percent probability of occurrence between the present and the year 2020. In Round 2, panelists …

Mixed-Mesophytic Forest Understory Communities And Edge Effect: The Role Of Canopy Gaps In Edge Composition And Structure., Cedric Edwin Landenberger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Temperate forest canopy gaps are generally characterized as spatially discrete patches whose biophysical properties are a function of gap size and age acting in conjunction with subcanopy composition and structure. The surrounding gap environment is rarely considered, although there are reasons to suggest that gaps may be influenced by adjacent canopy openings such as agricultural fields, roads, and timber harvests. Experimental canopy gaps (∼75 m 2) were created adjacent to silvicultural clearcuts (∼5 ha.) in second-growth mixed-mesophytic forest to better understand the effect of clearcutting on adjacent canopy gap understones. Gaps were created on west- and south-facing edges at 15 …

The Relationship Of Leadership Frame Use Of Departmental Chairs To Faculty Job Satisfaction As Perceived By Selected Departmental Faculty Members., Saralyn Grenga Mathis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study was designed to examine the relationship between faculty job satisfaction and the leadership frame use of that faculty member's immediate superior, usually the departmental chair, as perceived by the faculty member. One hundred and seventy-two faculty members who had no administrative title and who held a full-time position as a professor, associate professor, or assistant professor at any of the five West Virginia public, Southern Regional Education Board four-year VI institutions of higher education completed The Mohrman-Cooke-Mohrman Job Satisfaction Scale and Bolman and Deal's Leadership Orientations Instrument (other version). Descriptive statistics and one-way analyses of variance were used …

The Effect Of Plant Uv-B Absorbing Compounds On Life History Traits And Reproductive Performance In Variable Uv-B Environments., Susan Jill Cooke

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Plants often respond to elevated UV-B by increasing the concentration of UV-B absorbing compounds in their tissues. However, evidence that UV-B absorbing compounds confer an adaptive advantage to plants in elevated UV-B environments has not been produced. Three of four experiments utilized an Arabidopsis mutant deficient in the ability to produce flavonoids (a set of UV-B absorbing compounds) to address this question. Results from a life history experiment showed that the wild type out-performed the mutant plants under both UV-B environments, indicating that flavonoids may confer an adaptive advantage across UV-B environments. Germination results were the exception with UV-B initially …

The Identification Of Criteria And Indicators For The Sustainable Management Of Ecotourism In Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia: A Delphi Consensus., Zaaba Zainol Abidin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to identify sustainability criteria and indicators for evaluating sustainable ecotourism development in Taman Negara National Park (TNNP), Malaysia. This was an attempt to develop sustainability measurements for the evaluation of ecotourism from the theoretical concept of sustainable development. The Delphi method and public survey were used to solicit opinions from an interdisciplinary panel of Malaysian experts and public groups regarding suitable criteria and indicators of sustainability for TNNP. The objectives were to develop a methodology for identifying criteria and indicators, generating criteria and indicators most important for measuring sustainable ecotourism. development and initiating development …

The Immunology And Infection Of The Cystic Fibrosis Lung., Andrea Rene Drummond Massengale

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The leading cause of death among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is progressive lung disease characterized by an early, sustained inflammation, chronic infection by mucoid strains of P. aeruginosa, and subsequent bronchiectasis. The connection between defective CFTR and the apparent pathophysiology of the CF lung remains unclear. Understanding this connection is of critical importance in developing strategies that temper the respiratory inflammation in CF and prevent P. aeruginosa colonization of the airways. The goal of this dissertation was to provide new insight concerning the immunology and infection of the CF lung by investigating the following: (1) the effect of alginate on …

The Relationship Of Job Congruence, Job Satisfaction, And Social Support On The Mental And Physical Health Of Sport Officials., Paul James Sundell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to expand the research associated with the effects of stress on sport officials. The study examined the impact that job congruence, job satisfaction, and social support may have on health among sport officials by testing a mediational model of relationships in a system developed through theory and previous research. Data were collected from 125 sport officials sanctioned to officiate in the state of Iowa. They responded to the Vocational Preference Inventory, Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, Social Support Questionnaire, Symptom Checklist-90R, and a demographic data sheet. Statistically significant correlations were found between job congruence and positive …

Gerald Finzi's Songs For Baritone On Texts By Thomas Hardy: An Historical And Literary Analysis And Its Effect On Their Interpretation., Curtis Alan Scheib

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research document examines twenty-six of the forty-nine songs composed by Gerald Finzi (1901–1956) to texts by Thomas Hardy (1840–1928). The songs were written for baritone and are found in the sets; Earth and Air and Rain, Before and After Summer, and I Said to Love. The study views the songs within the context of Finzi's life and compositional style as well as in relation to his affinity with the poetry and outlook of Thomas Hardy. It examines in some detail the lives of both composer and poet, and also looks at song composition in Britain during the first half …

A Comparison Of Cardiovascular Reactivity To Laboratory Stressors And Day-Night Blood Pressure Differences Assessed By 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring., Scott Lee Schauss

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) to laboratory stressors and sleep-related blood pressure changes were compared in mild hypertensive (n = 23) and normotensive (n = 30) Caucasian men and women ranging from 30 to 67 years old. None of the participants had a history of cardiovascular disease and hypertensive patients were medication free at the time of cardiovascular reactivity assessment and 24-hr ambulatory blood pressure recording. Cardiovascular reactivity to mental arithmetic and a modified Digit Symbol task and sleep-related attenuations in blood pressure and heart rate were compared using standardized residual change scores. In general, correlations between laboratory assessed CVR and sleep-related …

Real-Time Multimedia-Based Education Through The Internet, Abhay Arun Bakshi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The rapid advances in computer and communications technologies are challenging the American education systems to provide increased educational opportunities beyond the traditional geographic boundaries at a reasonable cost. Many educational institutions are answering this challenge by developing distance education programs. Distance education provides effective learning environment. An important requirement for effective distance education is the availability of continuous interactivity and immediate feedback. Over the Internet, synchronous sharing of multimedia content introduces unacceptable delays as network bandwidth is limited. In this thesis, the issue of Internet bandwidth is minimized and a novel system is developed for distance education using multimedia course …

Productive Performance And Fertility Of Broiler Breeders Maintained In Commercial Colony Cages And On The Conventional Floors, Kitogho J. Mwashighadi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A trial with four replicates was conducted to compare performance and fertility of naturally mated broiler breeders maintained on litter floor versus their counterparts maintained in two tiered colony cages. Cage maintained hens with restricted feeding weighed less (P 0.05) was found in egg weights among treatments. No difference (P > 0.01) was found in feed conversion ratio per dozen eggs produced by hens maintained in cages and those on the conventional floors. A higher (P < 0.05) hen-day production was observed from 29 to 35 weeks of age in broilers maintained in cages than those on the conventional floors, but after this period no difference (P > 0.05) occurred. There were more (P < 0.05) eggs collected with cracks from cages than from the litter floors. The fertility rate was different (P 0.05) difference in mortality rate occurred between hens maintained on the fitter floors versus those in cages. When the breeders were 41 weeks of age, eggs from each treatment group were randomly collected, weighed, and incubated. Offspring from these treatments were randomly allocated to litter floor pens. Progeny were spaced at 23 CM.2 and were reared to 42 days. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in growth rate and feed conversion ratio in offspring from hens maintained on the litter floors versus …

Winter Movements And Habitat Use Of Northern Saw-Whet Owls At Assateague Island, Maryland, John Beaudry Churchill

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ten Northern Saw-whet Owls were radio-tracked over two winters (1996 and 1997) at Assateague Island, Maryland. I used the fixed kernel method to calculate home range estimates for seven owls. Ninety-five percent home range sizes averaged 122.9 ha (range from 39.7--261.9 ha) but varied in size and shape. I also calculated adaptive kernel, harmonic mean, and minimum convex polygon home ranges for comparison of these methods. Habitat composition in 30% home ranges was compared with 95% home ranges and 30% and 95% home ranges were each compared with composition of the entire study area using compositional analysis.;Roost site characteristics were …

Modulation Of Aging Process By Diet And Crosslinking Inhibitor And Their Effects On Production In Poultry, Muhammad Iqbal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The factors which influence the age-related decline in production performance and increases in meat toughness in broiler breeder hens are poorly understood. We have hypothesized that the elevated plasma concentration of glucose contributes to the nonenzymatic attachment of glucose to proteins, and generates glycoxidation crosslinks in tissues which can ultimately impair function, is responsible for loss of production. One such crosslink, pentosidine, is an established indicator of both glycative and oxidative tissue damage in mammals. Specifically, the role of diet restriction (DR) and a nucleophilic hydrazine compound, aminoguanidine (AG), a crosslinking inhibitor, were examined on tissue crosslinking with the view …

Acquisition Of Observing Responses With Delayed Conditioned Reinforcement, Gregory A. Lieving

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Six pigeons were trained to key peck for 3-s access to mixed grain on a multiple variable-interval 60-s extinction schedule. The schedule then was changed to a mixed variable-interval 60-s extinction schedule. Simultaneously, a treadle was introduced into the chamber. For 3 pigeons, the stimulus correlated previously with the variable-interval schedule could be produced by treadle pressing (i.e., an observing response) on a tandem fixed-ratio 1 differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior 10-s schedule. For the other 3 pigeons, no contingency was implemented for treadle pressing. Treadle pressing was established equally in the presence and absence of the observing contingency. The results did not extend …

Fixed -Interval Timeout From Avoidance With Humans, Janet L. Emmendorfer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

On fixed-interval (FI) schedules of reinforcement, humans and other animals often have different response patterns. For example, the pattern typically associated with animals is the scallop: a pause followed by a gradual acceleration in responding. Humans generally show terminal-minimum (i.e., pause until the end of the interval, then make 1 or 2 responses) or constant-rate patterns. There have been numerous investigations of the variables that control such different response patterns. The most common variables in those studies are instructions, verbal ability, response cost, concurrent tasks, and food and points as reinforcers. The purpose of the present experiments was to investigate …

Identifying The Type And Appropriateness Of The Evaluations Of Selected Agriculturally Related Science And Technology-Based Usaid Projects Conducted Between 1985 And 1995, Allen E. Bayles

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A review of the literature indicated that baseline data that described how and what were being evaluated at the project level by agencies involved in third world development had not been published. This was a descriptive study using content analysis of the available evaluative reports for the USAID projects involved with the transfer of agriculturally-related technology identified in the National Science Foundation research project, Assessing the Literature on the Benefits of External Science and Technology Aid Assistance to Developing Countries (Pytlik, Vasudevan, Bayles & Spitznogle, 1997).;The research concludes that impact evaluations were not being conducted at the project level. While …

Implementing Constructivism In The Middle School Classroom, Christina Paparozzi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study defines the components of a middle school history curriculum based on a theory of learning consistent with the use of cognitive tools and the tenets of constructivism. Utilizing a comparative analysis of learning theories encompassing developmental and constructivist beliefs and their influence on appropriate instructional design, the research addresses the necessary pairing of instructional planning and learning theory. Additionally, an examination of linguistic tools and their relationship to cultural development and distinctive kinds of comprehension, as well as specifics of the various learning stages, preferences, and skills are used to provide a rationale. This analysis is employed in …

Cellular Mechanisms Of Altered Neuronal Sensitivity In The Genetically Epilepsy-Prone Rat, Lance Russell Molnar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The genetically epilepsy-prone rat (GEPR) is an animal model of epilepsy which exhibits deficits in GABAergic neurotransmission in a variety of brain regions. However, the underlying cause for this deficit has yet to be described. The present studies were therefore performed in order to elucidate the mechanism(s) underlying this GABAergic deficit. To accomplish this task, electrophysiological recordings of Purkinje neurons in sagittal slices of the cerebellar vermis were performed. The initial aim was to compare the basic electrical membrane characteristics of Purkinje neurons from GEPR and control animals using standard intracellular recording techniques. These studies indicated that there is no …

Determining Perspectives Of Selected Disciplines Concerning The Nature Of Technology Within Classic Literature, Bryan Calvin Maser

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this research was to identify if there was a significant difference between the perspectives of selected disciplines with regard to the nature and history of technology. A content analysis of classic literature from multiple disciplines to determine perspectives concerning the nature of technology served as a basis for the development of a general semantic differential instrument. The instrument was administered to a given population yielding a conceptual scoring of perspectives. Scored concepts were then cross referenced to respective disciplines to determine if the degree of difference between disciplines was statistically significant.

American Workers In The Soviet Union Between The World Wars: From Dream To Disillusionment., Vincent Edward Baker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This is a an examination of those Americans who went to the Soviet Union to live and work during the interwar period, and what became of them. Why they went, how many went, and whether they survived the experience. American attitudes, both private and public of the Soviet Union are also discussed.

Pausing And Escape On Fixed-Interval Schedules: Effects Of Stimuli Correlated With Different Reinforcer Magnitudes And Different Reinforcement Rates., Leo A. Carlin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research has shown that both pausing and escape are controlled jointly by past and upcoming conditions of reinforcement. The present research was designed to investigate the contextual variables that influence pausing and escape on FI schedules and to assess further the functional similarities between pausing and escape. It was of particular interest that the effects of past events have been observed long after they had been removed from the environment of the organism. To shed light on the nature of control by such past events on pausing and escape, three experiments were arranged with fixed-interval schedules that manipulated stimuli correlated …

The Relationship Of The Communication Styles Of Public School Principals In West Virginia And Their Schools' Climates To Student Achievement., Linda Sue Roberts

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the relationships between and among the three variables of communication style of the public school principal in West Virginia, school climate, and student achievement. Demographic variables included sex of the principal, school level, school size, and socioeconomic status. The population of this study consisted of K–12 teachers from 350 different public schools in West Virginia who were surveyed regarding their perceptions of the communication style of their principals and the climates of their schools. Data on student achievement, sex of the principal, school level, school size, and socioeconomic status were also collected. Multiple regression and Pearson correlations …

Antioxidation And Nf Kappa B: A Practical Consideration., Meir S. Sacks

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Inhalation of silica is characterized by initial pulmonary inflammation which may lead to fibrosis. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship of the transcriptional regulatory factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) to the early inflammatory events involved with silica exposure. Male F-344 rats received an intratacheal (i.t.) instillation of silica (100mg/kg in a volume of 1mg/kg) of saline. At 1, 3, 6 and 18 hours post-installation, the rats were sacrificed and underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for functional analysis of inflammation. Beginning at 1 hour post-inslillation, the silica-instilled (Si) rats displayed significant increases in neutrophils in BAL fluid as compared …

Sign-Tracking And Behavioral Contrast: Human Investigations., Karen Leslie Mahon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The current experiments sought to extend human sign-tracking findings and to investigate behavioral contrast in a feature positive/feature negative paradigm with human participants. Twelve undergraduate students participated in one of two studies. Each participant was exposed to between nine and sixteen experimental sessions lasting between 10 and 20 minutes. A touch screen was used to detect touches to a computer monitor in either a feature positive arrangement, a feature negative arrangement, or a multiple VI10s-VI10s schedule presentation. The distinct feature presented was a filled triangle, while common features were filled squares. Reinforcement for touching the screen was not contingent on …

The Impact Of Egalitarian Children's Literature On Occupational Sex Role Stereotyping In Kindergartners And First Graders., Robin Ann Mayer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study aimed to determine if reading children books about people in nontraditional occupations would decrease occupational sex role stereotyping. The study also attempted to identify correlations between students’ occupational sex role stereotyping and the following demographic variables: age, gender, parents’ socioeconomic status, mother’s employment, and traditionality of mother’s employment. One hundred twelve kindergartners and first graders from two rural schools in West Virginia were administered a questionnaire, as a pretest, to determine the degree of which they stereotype 14 occupations according to sex. Of the 14 occupations, 5 were traditionally female sex-typed, 7 were traditionally male sex-typed, and 2 …

Identification Of Content, Priority, And Methods Of Instructional Delivery For A Women's Health Component In An Internal Medicine Residency Program: A Modified Delphi Study., Alicia Jean Williams

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this research was to determine the general content, topics and sub-topics, priorities of the content, and methods of instructional delivery for a women's health component within the Internal Medicine residency program at West Virginia University. Panel members chosen for the study were MD's and PhD's who worked in a health-related field for at least two years and had an interest in women's health. A modified Delphi method was used for this study to determine the content. Panel members also identified their current and preferred methods of instructional delivery in a separate section of the study. The panel …