Digital Commons Network^™

Primary Care Nurse Attitudes, Beliefs And Confidence Levels Regarding Alcohol Abuse And Its Treatment: Impact Of Educational Intervention., Raja Sekhar Vadlamudi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol abuse has been a major burden on the society. In the fight against it a key issue the education of the primary care nurses has been ignored. This study evaluates the effect of education program on the attitudes, beliefs, and confidence levels of primary care nurses regarding alcohol abuse and its treatment. Data from the Project Mainstream educational intervention were used with permission from the investigators. Two hundred one students and faculty of nursing at Vanderbilt University participated in the intervention, which was designed to train primary care providers in the Brief Negotiated Intervention technique for early detection and …

Perceptions Of Middle-School Parents Regarding Factors That Influence Parent Involvement: A Study Of Four Middle Schools In Northeast Tennessee., John K. Boyd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The cultivation of parent involvement in America's public schools is no longer an option. Under the provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act: No Child Left Behind (Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 2001), it is now a mandate. Moreover, in the current climate of emphasis upon student performance and school accountability, schools need not just the support of parents, but also their full involvement in meaningful partnerships.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop a better understanding of the factors that significantly affect the level of parent involvement during the middle-school years. This was accomplished through the …

Perceived Effectiveness Of Assessments Used In Online Courses In Western North Carolina Community Colleges., Kim Marie Yates

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the most appropriate methods of assessment for online courses. Internet instructors were surveyed and asked which methods of assessment they use in the online courses that they teach and how effective they perceive those methods to be in determining if the learning objectives have been met for the course(s) that they teach online.

The findings of this study indicated that there is a difference between some academic disciplines in relation to the type of assessment methods being used in online courses. There is a difference in perceived effectiveness of assessment methods among …

The Relationship Of School Location And School Size On Eighth Grade Mathematics Achievement On Sol Tests In Virginia., Janet S. Lester

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare the achievement of rural students on the 8^th grade mathematics Virginia Standards of Learning assessments to urban students in Virginia. The variables of school size and socioeconomic status, as expressed by percentage of free or reduced lunch populations was also considered. The population consisted of 294 middle schools in Virginia. Data were gathered from the 2003-2004 school year. Several t-tests for independent samples and analysis of variance were used to identify the relationship between variables.

The study showed no significant differences in 8^th grade mathematics SOL scores between …

The Church Of England In The First World War., Kevin Christopher Fielden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Church of England was at a crossroads in 1914 as the First World War began. The war was seen as an opportunity to revitalize it and return it to its role of prominence in society. In comparison to other areas of study, the role of the Church of England during this time period is inadequately examined.

Primary sources including letters, diaries, contemporary newspaper accounts and pastors' sermons were used. Also secondary sources provided background and analysis about the people, events and movements of the time. A handful of papers and journal articles that specifically dealt with a particular aspect …

Principal Leadership, Teacher Morale, And Student Achievement In Seven Schools In Mitchell County, North Carolina., Morgen A. Houchard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand and measure principal leadership practices and teacher morale as it relates to student achievement in Mitchell County at two elementary schools, four middle schools, and one high school. First, a review of the related literature attempted to define teacher morale as much as possible given that it is an ever-changing individual characteristic. Second, the researcher tried to understand teacher morale and distinguish between high and low elements and characteristics of teacher morale. Third, the researcher examined the difficult task of measuring the morale of teachers in public education today. Fourth, an attempt …

The Association Between Type Of Preschool Experience And Student Achievement Of Economically Disadvantaged Students In Four Northeast Tennessee Schools., Robin Wade Mcclellan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if an association exists between preschool experience and student achievement in third grade as reported by criterion referenced Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) scores in four schools in northeast Tennessee with at least 80% of its students receiving free or reduced lunch. The variable under study was the presence and type of preschool experience.

Descriptive statistics were employed to present school demographic data. A causal comparative approach utilizing convenience sampling was the foundation for this study. Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to investigate differences in achievement as categorized by varying preschool …

Stop The Presses: Representations Of Women's Progress In Corporate America Reported Through Popular News Media., Suzanne Marie Cloyd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the following key areas: women in the public sphere, women in the private sphere, and how media portrayals in these areas portray women's progress in obtaining executive positions in corporate America.

Topics of interest include wage differences between genders, executive placement, and attainment in board positions throughout Corporate America.

A Study Of The Impact Of The Associate Of Applied Science Degree On The Region Served By Walters State Community College., Michael Stephen Helmick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the impact a community college associate of applied science degree from a rural college in east Tennessee has on the area served by the college. Variables explored in this study included residence location, employment status, employment location, salary range, and advanced degree persistence.

The population for this study included all Summer 1999, Fall 1999, Spring 2000, and Summer 2000 Associate of Applied Science graduates from Walters State Community College. Data for this study were collected via a student survey and information gathered from the student information system database at the college. All hypotheses were analyzed using descriptive …

From Condemnation To Conformity: Carter And Reagan's Foreign Policy Towards The Argentine Junta, 1977-1982., William Houston Gilbert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how the administrations of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan responded to the widespread human rights abuses committed by the Argentine military during the country's Dirty War between 1977 and 1982. The objective is to gain a broader understanding of the policies pursued by both administrations. Under Carter, who brought human rights to the forefront of American foreign policy, Argentina was heavily targeted and sanctioned with the anticipation that such measures would enhance the human rights status in Argentina. Ultimately, such policies resulted in open hostility in bilateral relations, culminating in Argentina's refusal to support Carter's proposed grain …

Comparison Of The Stress Levels And Gpa Of African American College Students At Historically Black And Predominantly White Institutions., Yashica Dearcie Woods

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stress levels of African American college students attending Historically Black and Predominantly White Institutions were compared. The GPAs of the students were correlated with their stress levels. Racism and social support were explored as factors contributing to stress. Results indicated that African American students attending the Predominantly White institution had higher stress than African American students attending the Historically Black institution and White students attending the Predominantly White institution. The results also indicated that GPA and stress were negatively correlated; as stress levels decreased, GPA increased. A negative correlation was found to be significant with social support and stress; as …

Parenting Style And Its Relationship To Interpretation Of The Bible And Worship Style In College Students., Geoffrey R. Mabe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To extend research on Baumrind’s parenting styles, a scenario study was conducted to determine if the gender of a stimulus child and the parenting style employed by stimulus parents would relate significantly to biblical interpretation style and preferred worship style. A 2x3 independent groups factorial design was employed for analysis in two different procedures. Respondents (152 undergraduate students) were provided with one of six scenarios, each of which varied by gender of stimulus child and by one of three parenting styles employed by the stimulus parent. Respondents were then directed to complete the Scriptural Literalism Scale (Hogge & Friedman, 1967) …

"Inspired Industry.", Amanda M. Dock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis supports the Master of Fine Arts exhibition entitled "Inspired Industry" at Johnson City Area Arts Council, Johnson City, Tennessee, from November 14 - December 22, 2005. It is the culmination of studies and research affected by the artist's own industry vis-à-vis personal inspirations, including: discussion of aesthetics and personal utilization of the techniques learned in relation to both functional and non-functional ceramic forms. This is a self-evaluation of personal preferences and how this body of ceramic work evolved.

A Study Of The Association Between Multi-Age Classrooms And Single-Age Classrooms Regarding Tcap Reading/Language Gains., Holly Irvin Flora

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the differences between Reading/Language achievement gains of students in multi-age classrooms to the Reading/Language achievement gains of their peers in traditional, single-age classrooms. The causal-comparative quantitative approach to exploring cause-and-effect relationships was employed in this study. In this study, the effect of multi-age grouping and single age grouping was analyzed and compared using TCAP Reading/Language raw gain scores. Raw gain scores were used to determine the amount of progress children make from one year to the next regardless of their level of achievement. Findings in this study were mixed. Some significant differences …

An Analysis Of Bullying Behaviors At E. B. Stanley Middle School In Abingdon, Virginia., Elizabeth Wright Litz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many stakeholders in American education are concerned about the frequency of reported bullying incidents within schools in general and middle schools in particular. This nationwide problem has manifested itself in many ways over the past few decades. These manifestations include, but are not limited to, increased gang violence, school shootings, and attendance problems due to student concerns over safety.

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the bullying behaviors of a single class of students as they progressed through E. B. Stanley Middle School in Abingdon, Virginia. Data were gathered over the course of three consecutive school years …

Size-Fractionation And Characterization Of Cryoturbated Soil Organic Matter In Arctic Tundra, Alaska, Chunhao Xu

Plant, Animal and Soil Sciences

Recent studies indicated a second layer of organic matter often accumulates in the lower active layer and upper permafrost in arctic tundra soils due to cryoturbation. The objective of this study is to characterize cryoturbated organic matter by the combination of physical size-fractionation approaches with modern analytical techniques. The results of elemental composition (C, N), stable isotope (¹³C, ¹⁵N), radiocarbon age (¹⁴C), and molecular fingerprints (Py-GC/MS) analysis indicated cryoturbated organic matters are little humified and highly bioavailable. SOM (soil organic matter) associated with fine sand size particles was considered to be the organic carbon pool most sensitive to the changing …

Assessing The Generalizability Of Study Results: An Outdoor Recreation Application, Stephen C. Taylor

Natural Resources

Onsite surveys of visitors have become a common method of providing information regarding recreation area visitors' norms, attitudes, motivations, management preferences, etc. Study results are often implied to be representative of a future time period for management planning purposes. One enduring method is segmenting visitors based on motivations and examining preferences for management actions/settings by group. When such a study is directly intended to guide management actions, the 'groups' must offer some degree of insight into future visitors, i.e., generalize across time. Data gathered during 2004 at the Kennecott National Historic Landmark within Wrangell- St. Elias National Park and Preserve …

Changing Strategies In Seward Peninsula Reindeer (Rangifer Tarandus Tarandus) Management, Heather J. Oleson

Natural Resources

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) management techniques have changed since the founding of the reindeer industry on the Seward Peninsula in 1891. From 1891-1915, herds were small and management was intensive. Between 1915 and 1944, community herds and joint stock companies were formed. Herd management was extensive and herds were large and relatively free roaming. A period of re-privatization followed from 1944 to 1960, during which a limited number of moderately stocked ranges were established. The era after 1960 saw the introduction of several new forms of technology, some of which became catalysts for broad changes in reindeer management. Snow machines …

Characteristic Behavior Of The Dayside Aurora In The Minutes Leading Up To Substorm Onset: Evidence For External Triggering Of Substorms By The Interplanetary Magnetic Field, Carl Stephen Andersen

Physics

Two meridian scanning photometers, one located in Alaska and one in Svalbard, are used to examine the behavior of the dayside aurora just before the onset of the expansion phase of 61 substorms. In a strong majority of cases (80%), a poleward movement of the dayside aurora is seen in the minutes preceding sub storm onset. For the cases examined where a poleward movement of the dayside aurora is seen, a northward turning of the (generally southward) IMF is usually, but not always, seen. This suggests that for a majority of substorms, the 'trigger' is, or is related to, a …

The Formation Of Pore Ice In Coarse Grained Soils, Walter Fourie

Engineering

Understanding the formation of pore ice in coarse grained soils is important to geotechnical and geo-environmental projects such as the construction of roads, airstrips and gravel foundations as well as the treatment of contaminated soils in the arctic, sub-arctic, alpine and northern regions. The amount of pore ice present controls the strength characteristics of the soils as well as the flow of fluid through the soil. Tests have been conducted to qualify the impact of gradation, temperature, compaction and initial moisture content on the formation of pore ice in coarse grained soils. The purpose of this study was to prepare …

Chemical Variations In The Waters Draining The Hi-Yu Mine, John Mcallister Clark

Geosciences

There are two sources of contamination from the Hi-Yu mine: the 'mill seep' and the mine tailings. The mill seep has an acid pH (4.8) containing 20 parts per billion (ppb) Cd and 2400 ppb Zn. Water draining the mine tailings contains 300 ppb As and 30 ppb Sb. These concentrations are above the EPA and State of Alaska Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL). Once the mill seep mixes with Moose Creek, the pH increases, leading to the precipitation of iron and manganese hydroxides with associated As, Cd, Sb, and Zn. Samples of the iron precipitate contain> 10,000 parts per million …

Petrology, Depositional Setting, And Reservoir Quality Of The Torok-Nanushuk Transition, Central North Slope, Alaska, Russell Kirkham

Geosciences

Cretaceous sandstones of the upper Torok and lower Nanushuk formations were deposited in a storm-dominated, deltaic depositional system during filling of the Colville basin, North Slope, Alaska. This study focuses on distal shelf and slope sandstones of the Torok Formation and shoreface sandstones of the Nanushuk Formation from Arc Mountain, Slope Mountain, Gunsight Mountain, and the Grandstand Test Well. Ten lithofacies were identified at these locations. Facies associations define depositional environments ranging from deep marine debris flows and tubidites deposited in distal shelf and slope settings of the Torok Formation to deposition of hummocky cross-stratified sandstones deposited above storm wave …

Effects Of Recreational Disturbance On Breeding Black Oystercatchers: Species Resilience And Conservation Implications, Julie Anne Morse

Biological Sciences

The potential conflict between increasing recreational activities and nesting birds in coastal habitats has raised concerns about the conservation of the black oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani). To address these concerns, I studied the breeding ecology of black oystercatchers in Kenai Fjords National Park and examined the impact of recreational disturbance on breeding parameters. Most recreational disturbance of breeding territories was from kayak campers and occurred after June 13, the peak hatch of first clutches. Mean annual fledging success (24%) was low, but the results suggest that daily survival rates of nests and broods did not differ between territories with and without …

Physical Controls Of Nitrogen Supply In Early Successional Riparian Ecosystems Along The Tanana River, Alaska, Nicholas J. Lisuzzo

Biological Sciences

Accumulation of nitrogen in the early successional vegetation on the Tanana River floodplain cannot be explained by conventional measurements of soil nitrogen dynamics. This study examined these riparian areas and the effect on nitrogen cycling created by interactions among the aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments. Two hypotheses were tested; one centered on hydrologic, and one on atmospheric, mechanisms of nitrogen supply. We experimentally tested contributions of nitrogen from the hyporheic zone by measuring nitrogen-flux in the presence and absence of moving water. We then characterized hydrologic properties and ground-water chemistry along three ground-water well transects. In addition, we conducted a …

Development And Characterization Of A Capillary Electrophoresis Instrument With Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detection For On-Line Monitoring Of Glutamate In Vivo Via Microdialysis, Kristian Edward Swearingen

Chemistry and Biochemistry

To elucidate the roles of key neurochemicals in the metabolic suppression of Arctic ground squirrels, a technique is required that is capable of on-line, in vivo, high temporal resolution, quantitative detection of neurotransmitters. A capillary electrophoresis instrument has been built that is coupled to microdialysis by flow-gated injection. Primary amines recovered in vivo via microdialysis are derivatized on-column by cyanide-catalyzed formation of fluorescent isoindoles with naphthalene-2,3-dialdehyde for laser-induced fluorescence detection. The system is capable of detecting base-line glutamate in vivo in 15-second intervals.

Addressing Feasibility Of Using Microdialysis To Monitor Adenosine In Arctic Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus Parryii), Bongchu Chi

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Both hibernation and anapyrexia are important physiological adaptations. In addition, there is a strong relationship between survival rate and hypothermia during metabolic trauma. Evidence shows that adenosine might be one of the mediators, both of hibernation and anapyrexia. Adenosine is an inhibitory neuromodulator that suppresses neuronal activity when energy stores are low. This inhibitory activity makes adenosine a good candidate for neuroprotection via the suppression of neural activity during metabolic trauma. The main objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using microdialysis to monitor extracellular adenosine in the brains of Arctic ground squirrels (AGS), Spermophilus parryii, throughout …

December 17, 2005, Seattle University School Of Law

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

2005 Fall Commencement, Harding University

Commencement Programs

Program for the Commencement on December 17.

Commencement Speaker: Frank Mills

Education And Integration: Partnering The Community With Adults With Developmental Disabilities For St. Madeline Sophia's Center, Patty Cowan, Kelly Mitchell, Wendy Morris, Ileana Ovalle

Program Design and Evaluation

Student research project for St. Madeline Sophia's Center which includes a needs assessment, program design & methodology, social marketing plan, cultural competency plan, evaluation plan and budget.

Elmer E. Rasmuson Papers, 1898-2000, Lisa M. Morris

Finding Aids

No abstract provided.