Digital Commons Network^™

The Location And Restructuring Of The Uk Defence Industry: The Case Of The South West, Timothy Neil Williams

Plymouth Business School Theses

The objective of this thesis is to determine the factors influencing the location of the defence industry in the UK and assess the impact of recent changes at the regional level. Such changes include cuts in defence expenditure and a re-evaluation of the methods of military procurement. The thesis begins with a descriptive analysis of defence markets and an explanation of the way in which the post-war UK defence sector has been supported by a relatively large and stable defence equipment budget. A review of the relevant literature suggests that defence markets are characterised by a number of unique features. …

Growth And Performance Of Small And Medium Sized Enterprises In Rural Peripheral Locations, Matthew John Gorton

Plymouth Business School Theses

Since the 1970s the number of small firms in the UK has risen, but at temporally and spatially uneven rates. These trends have heightened interest in the role of local economies in shaping small firm growth and performance. This thesis considers the growth and performance of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) based in rural peripheral locations in the UK. In measuring this, quantitative survey work was undertaken in rural core as well as rural peripheral localities, with the former acting as a benchmark for comparison. lJtilising returns from standardised postal questiormaires both the performance of the agricultural and non-agricultural …

Prism: Special Issue On Nursing Centers, Marilyn Frenn

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Reading Comprehension And Other Selected Factors On Student Dropouts In An Urban Southeastern School District In Virginia, Viola Garris Morgan

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

The purpose of this research was to examine the influence of reading achievement on the dropout status. The major research question was to determine to what extent does reading comprehension influence the dropout rate after controlling for demographic and performance characteristics?

The target population consisted of 677 urban twelfth-grade students attending schools in an urban southeastern school district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Of the 677 students, 142 were dropouts, and 535 were nondropouts. Simple and partial correlations were used to determine the relationship between variables after partialing out performance and demographic variables. In addition, the discriminant analyses were used …

Patterns Of Giving To Urban Public Higher Education Among Corporate Foundations In Virginia And Select Others Which Have A Significant Presence In Virginia, Grace Aine Porter

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

This study examines patterns of giving among the corporate foundations in Virginia and select others which have a significant presence in Virginia. The purpose is to better understand how and why they give as they do. In addition to investigating trends in giving, the amounts given, and motivations for giving, the study compares these data with prior research that has indicated corporate favoritism toward private and public "specialized" or "elite" higher education (Reich, 1992; Council for Aid to Education, 1994). "Specialized" is defined by the Council for Aid to Education as medical schools and science research institutions. One utilitarian purpose …

An Evaluation Of The 2 + 2 For Teachers: Alternative Performance Appraisal Program In The Norfolk Public Schools Prime Project, Alyce C. Leblanc

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

The current study was a utilization-focused implementation evaluation of the 2 + 2 for Teachers: Alternative Performance Appraisal Program (2 + 2). The 2 + 2 program is an experimental appraisal program designed to support substantial instructional reform in the Norfolk, Virginia based PRIME (Public school Restructuring through Innovative Mainstream Education) systemic reform project. Through frequent classroom observations by administrators, peers, and students, who offer two compliments and two suggestions for improvement at each observation, the 2 + 2 program provides a framework for teacher collaboration and professional growth. Ultimately, improved instruction is an expected outcome, but was not evaluated …

The Effects Of Applied Technology Instruction On Mathematics Achievement And Career Interests Of Urban Seventh-Grade Students, Eric M. Fischer

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

The present study has been implemented to provide insight as to how, given limited resources, Technology Education curricula might be developed to best support the unique goals of an urban middle school aerospace magnet program. It was hypothesized that applied academic strategies, including interdisciplinary hands-on aerospace and computer-assisted instructional activities, would affect larger gains in mathematics achievement and would enhance career-interest development of urban seventh-grade students to a greater degree than would non-participation in such instruction. A randomized subjects, pretest-posttest control group design was used to assess treatment effects upon 71 urban seventh-grade students. Dependent variables were measured using the …

Coping Processes Used By Mothers Of Triplets, Susan Mullen Kaplan

Health Services Research Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to identify and describe the coping processes used by mothers of triplets. Using a descriptive design, interpersonal comparisons of 92 mothers of triplets attending a national meeting of families of higher order multiples were made. Variables, in addition to sociodemographic characteristics, included coping processes, levels of depression, perceived availability of social support, and current stress levels. Coping processes were measured using the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (Folkman & Lazarus, 1988), derived from their cognitive-phenomenological theory of stress and coping. Level of depression was measured using the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (Zung, 1965). Perceived availability …

A Creative Thinking And Writing Analysis Workshop As An Alternative Detention Activity To Silence And Work Interventions Used For Behavioral Change In High School, George J. Matranga

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this research project was to investigate the effectiveness of after school detention as a disciplinary tool for handling student misbehavior at school. Detention is defined as holding a student during their own free time, such as after school. The subjects of the study were problematic students assigned to detention for inappropriate behavior, i.e. violating a school rule or regulation.

As a school practitioner conducted this research the study highlights the practitioner's perspective for effective student discipline management in developing and maintaining a positive school climate. In many regards, the study was meant to provide information to the …

The Effects Of Race And Socioeconomic Status On The Acceptance Of Biracial Individuals, Erika Lela Gilyot

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study investigated the effects of race and socioeconomic status on the acceptance of biracial individuals having one Black and one White parent. A sample of 153 Black and 114 White college students were divided into high- and low-socioeconomic status based on demographic information. Acceptance of biracial individuals was measured by 2 modified versions of the Social Distance Scale (SDS1 and SDS2) developed by Bogardus (1928), a shortened version of the Scale To Measure Attitudes Toward Defined Groups (AS) developed by Grice (1934), and a measure of Perceived Commonality (PC) developed by Feather (1980). The Marlowe-Crowne (1960) Social Desirability …

Differential Endometrial Responses Of Primates Vs Rodents: Screening For Antiproliferative Effects Of Antiprogestins, David Williams Burleigh

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The antiprogestin, mifepristone, has previously been shown to noncompetitively inhibit estrogen-induced endometrial proliferation in nonhuman primates (van Uem et al., 1989; Wolf et al., 1989b; Neulen et al., 1990; Neulen et al., 1996). For both economical and ethical reasons, we are encouraged to identify comparative laboratory rodent models which can substitute the need to use primate models. In the following study, we compared capabilities of the rat uterine weight bioassay versus a primate uterine bioassay, to identify the noncompetitive antiestrogenic/antiproliferative effects of mifepristone.

Long-term ovariectomized monkeys were exposed to exogenous 17β-estradiol (E2) and mifepristone in doses and regimes already demonstrated …

Analysis Of Repeated Measures Data Under Circular Covariance, Andrew Montgomery Hartley

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

Circular covariance is important in modelling phenomena in epidemiological, communications and numerous physical contexts. We introduce and develop a variety of methods which make it a more versatile tool. First, we present two classes of estimators for use in the presence of missing observations. Using simulations, we show that the mean squared errors of the estimators of one of these classes are smaller than those of the Maximum Likelihood (ML) estimators under certain conditions. Next, we propose and discuss a parsimonious, autoregressive type of circular covariance structure which involves only two parameters. We specify ML and other types of estimators …

Hoarfrost, Mae Lynn Wallker

English Theses & Dissertations

Many of the poems in this collection reflect an engagement with an inherited literary tradition of ancient Greek, Latin, and Hebraic mythologies. The first section, entitled "Flint," deals with the ancient text of the Bible and with biblical and religious landscapes. The second section, "'The Seven," based on Aeschylus' The Seven Against Thebes, explores the possibilities of the reinterpretation and elaboration of an ancient story in a contemporary context. While "The Seven" literally refers to the seven gates at Thebes, the number is random, and does in fact represent an infinite number of stories. The penultimate section, "Hoarfrost," explores the …

The Effects Of Human-Computer Communication Mode, Task Complexity, And Desire For Control On Performance And Discourse Organization In An Adaptive Task, Cristina Bubb-Lewis

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study examined how different communication patterns affected task performance with an adaptive interface. A Wizard-of-Oz simulation (Gould, Conti, & Hovanyecz, 1983) was used to create the impression of a talking and listening computer that acted as a teammate to help participants interact with a computer application.

Four levels of communication mode were used which differed in the level of restriction placed on human-computer communication. In addition, participants completed two sets of tasks (simple and complex). Further, a personality trait, Desire for Control (DC), was measured and participants were split into high and low groups for analysis. Dependent measures …

Distribution Of Free Marine Viruses Of Lower Chesapeake Bay And Their Effects On Life-History Parameters Of The Estuarine Copepod Acartia Tonsa Dana, Lisa A. Drake

OES Theses and Dissertations

Naturally occurring viruses are very abundant in fresh, estuarine, and marine waters, with densities on the order of 10⁵-10⁸ viruses ml^-1. Research has focused on virus effects on bacteria, cyanobacteria, and phytoplankton, as well as mechanisms of virus production and decay. However, little is known about the distribution of viruses in benthic environments or virus effects on organisms in higher trophic levels.

To determine the distribution of virus-like particles (VLPs) and bacteria in the lower Chesapeake Bay, vertical profiles of VLPs and bacteria were determined through the water column and 15-25 cm into the sediment …

Music, Identity, And Images Of India In The Indo-Caribbean Diaspora, Peter L. Manuel

Publications and Research

Examines the role of one set of fragments in the identities of a diasporic population which is at once unique, and uniquely representative.

Of Pandas, People, And The First Amendment: The Constitutionality Of Teaching Intelligent Design In The Public Schools, Jay D. Wexler

Faculty Scholarship

Despite the Supreme Court's 1987 decision in Edwards v. Aguillard, striking down Arkansas' statute requiring equal time for the teaching of creationism and evolution, the debate over whether some form of creationism should be taught in public schools has recently enjoyed a resurgence. In this note, Jay Wexler applies the Supreme Court's Establishment Clause to a new variant of creationism that posits the existence of an intelligent designer as an alternative to evolution. Wexler argues that teaching intelligent design theory in the public schools violates the Establishment Clause. After explaining that the Supreme Court has always applied the Establishment Clause …

Legislative Inaction On The Information Superhighway: Bargaining In The Shadow Of Copyright Law, Maureen A. O'Rourke

Faculty Scholarship

As a practical matter, the development of law in the form of enacted legislation often does not keep pace with societal change. At first glance, this fact seems somewhat disturbing since the law, according to some philosophies, should reflect social consensus. However, this is neither remarkable nor cause for concern. The law's processes are deliberative, involving time-consuming public testimony and debate. Thus, the law often plays "catch-up" with social change. This reactive rather than pro-active decision-making is generally desirable as the law is likely to change to reflect well-considered social judgments rather than passing social fancies. This column briefly examines …

On The Economics Of Copyright, Restitution And "Fair Use": Systemic Versus Case-By-Case Responses To Market Failure, Wendy J. Gordon

Faculty Scholarship

The 'public goods' characteristics possess by intangible works of authorship and invention present the basic market failure problem usually relied on to justify intellectual property rights. What is ordinarily less emphasized is that such market failure is no more than half of the prerequisite for an economically desirable copyright or patent system: another requisite condition is that there be less costly market imperfections after intellectual property is instituted than there would have been in the absence of the intellectual property regime. Intellectual property rights are best justified in the presence of "asymmetric market conditions", that is where (1) in the …

Commodification And Women's Household Labor, Katharine B. Silbaugh

Faculty Scholarship

A woman washes a kitchen floor. She puts the mop away and drives to the comer market. She consults a shopping list, and purchases groceries from it, carefully choosing the least expensive options. A four-year-old child is tugging at her leg while she does this, and she tries to entertain him, talking to him about the mopped floor, the grocery items. When she returns from the store, she prepares lunch from what she has brought home with her. She and the child both eat lunch. After lunch, she and the child collect laundry and she runs a load. She takes …

Earnings Trends Among Men In Albuquerque - 1979-1989, Selim Demusaj

Historic Publications

This master's thesis analyzes changes in earnings among White and Hispanic men in Albuquerque between 1979 and 1989, finding declines in real earnings alongside growing wage inequality. Using census microdata, the study examines the effects of education, labor market experience, industry, occupation, and demographic factors on earnings trends and disparities.

Immune Responses To Final Exams In Healthy And Asthmatic Adolescents, Duck-Hee Kang, Christopher L. Coe, Donna O. Mccarthy, William B. Ershler

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Immune responses to an academic stressor were examined in healthy and asthmatic adolescents with regard to their illness symptom reports. Eighty-seven high school students completed a health diary for 2 weeks and provided three blood samples during midsemester, final-exam, and postexam periods. During exam week, all students showed significant immunological alterations from baseline: Natural killer cell activity was significantly lower, whereas lymphocyte proliferation and neutrophil superoxide release were significantly higher. These immune changes tended to return toward baseline during the postexam period, but the enhanced neutrophil reactivity continued to rise. Overall, immunological responses were similar between asthmatic subjects and controls. …

Examining The Problem Of Power In Divorce Mediation: A Naturalistic Inquiry, Shelley Lynne Hermer

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

How problematic is power imbalance in divorce mediation? Research in the last fifteen years has drawn attention to this issue, resulting in criticisms levelled at mediation from women’s groups, lawyers and others. Using six in-depth interviews with Ontario divorce mediators, this study examined power imbalance and its management. Three main themes emerged from the findings related to power: (1) the ‘emotional readiness’ of the couple, (2) the effects of the legal system, in particular, the relationships with lawyers, and, (3) physical intimidation and financial intimidation. Techniques employed by the mediators were similar across the interviews. These findings led to a …

The People: The Least Accountable Branch, Marci A. Hamilton

Articles

No abstract provided.

Immobilization Of Radioactive Materials In Iron Phosphate Glass, Melissa G. Mesko

Doctoral Dissertations

"The current study investigates the feasibility of using iron phosphate glass for the immobilization of radioactive wastes considered incompatible with borosilicate glass. Wastes may be incompatible with borosilicate glass due to high phosphorus content (Hanford tank sludges), the presence of halides (CsCl and SrF₂ capsules), or large amounts of uranium (SNF).

Between 20 and 60 wt% Hanford tank sludge was vitrified with an iron phosphate glass at ≤ 1200°C in 1 hour. The chemical durability of iron phosphate glassy wasteforms was as good as, or better than a reference borosilicate glass (10^-9 g/cm²/min) in distilled water …

Reinforcement Of Web Openings In Cold-Formed Steel Members, Erika Kirsten Nelson

Masters Theses

"To expand on previous research concerning perforated cold-formed steel web elements, an experimental investigation was conducted to examine the influence of reinforcement on the behavior and strength of single web flexural members with web openings. In current design practice, reduction factors are applied to the strength equations to account for the debilitating effect of web openings. This reduction in capacity may lead to the selection of a greater member thickness or depth than would be required of a solid web member. A more economical approach may be to reinforce the web in the proximity of the opening to increase the …

Asynchronous Distance Learning Technology: The Instructor's Perspective, Earl Alexander Evans

Masters Theses

"Advances in communications, computer technology and human-computer interfaces have enabled concurrent advances in Web-based education. A number of case studies concerning applications of Web-based education for both distance learning and on-campus programs have been published. Primarily, these studies have focused on individual assessments of the Web-based technologies. In addition, these published studies have generally highlighted the successes while little discussion about failed attempts has been presented in the literature.

In contrast, this thesis provides a broad-based assessment of applied Web technology for higher education. This research was conducted via a survey completed by twenty five university and college faculty from …

Harding University Catalog 1997-1998, Harding University

Harding Academic Catalogs

Academic catalog for the undergraduate programs at Harding University.

The Disregarded Common Parentage Of The Equal Footing And Public Trust Doctrines, James R. Rasband

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Conservatives, Liberals, Romantics: The Persistent Quest For Certainty In Constitutional Interpretation, Frederick Mark Gedicks

Faculty Scholarship

Despite their considerable ideological differences, "conservative originalists" such as Robert Bork and "progressive originalists" such as Michael Perry both divide the process of understanding into cognitive (or "objective") and normative (or "subjective") aspects. The determination of the original meaning of the Constitution is methodologically separated from the question how this predetermined meaning should be applied in a particular case. This places both conservative and progressive originalists squarely in the tradition of Romantic hermeneutics, which sought to overcome the uncertainty and imprecision of textual interpretation by developing a "science of interpretation" which purported to be as epistemologically reliable as the methods …