Digital Commons Network^™

Female Undergraduate Student Perceptions Of Their Engagement In An Experiential Learning Activity, Sara Lynne Jahansouz

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study explores Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment grounded in a learning-outcomes-based curriculum as a vehicle for student engagement and learning. This study explores the demographics of participants and the perception of learning that occurred within the context of engagement in experiential learning activities during the first week of the Fall 2009, 2010, and 2011 academic semesters at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). This study was conducted by utilizing quantitative and qualitative measures through the administering of pretests, post-tests, and withdrawal surveys. This study has determined that significant learning occurs through engagement in the Panhellenic Sorority recruitment process, including the …

Measuring Merci: Exploring Data Mining Techniques For Examining Surgical Outcomes Of Stroke Patients, Matthew Ronald Mcnabb

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Mechanical Embolus Removal in Cerebral Ischemia (MERCI) has been supported by medical trials as an improved method of treating ischemic stroke past the safe window of time for administering clot-busting drugs, and was released for medical use in 2004. The importance of analyzing real-world data collected from MERCI clinical trials is key to providing insights on the effectiveness of MERCI. Most of the existing data analysis on MERCI results has thus far employed conventional statistical analysis techniques. To the best of the knowledge acquired in preliminary research, advanced data analytics and data mining techniques have not yet been systematically applied. …

Determining The Operation Limits Of Two Distillation Columns, Murat Ozkaya

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The two distillation columns of Wacker Institute pilot plant at the Chattanooga State Community College are investigated for stable operating regions, flooding phenomena that occurs in the bubble-cap tray distillation column, weeping phenomena that occurs in the sieve tray distillation column, and comparison of operation between the two distillation columns. With the use of a distributed control system (DCS) and glass equipment in the pilot plant, these phenomena are analyzed visually and with the help of instrumentation readings. The energy usage and production limits of both distillation columns are discussed. The flooding of bubble-cap trays occur before reaching production goals …

Architecture And Method For Providing Priority Charging For Government Authorized Emergency Electrical Vehicles (Aeev), Naga Durga Praveen Vemulapalli

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The US government predicts more than 1 million electric vehicles (EVs), on U.S. roadways by 2015, and these numbers will increase exponentially in the future. However, the power grid cannot furnish the charging for numerous EVs at a given time mainly because of its energy production capabilities, peak usage, and distribution infrastructure. Some studies indicate that adopting “smart” charging, for example, scheduling EV charging, can alleviate the challenge. Nevertheless, such strategies are not useful for emergency and first responders’ vehicles. This thesis proposes a solution that provides priority treatment for government Authorized Emergency Electrical Vehicles (AEEV). The thesis proposes a …

Mesh Generation Using A Correspondence Distance Field, Nicholas Szapiro

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The central tool of this work is a correspondence distance field to discrete surface points embedded within a quadtree data structure. The theory, development, and implementation of the distance field tool are described, and two main applications to two-dimensional mesh generation are presented with extension to three-dimensional capabilities in mind. First is a method for surface-oriented mesh generation from a sufficiently dense set of discrete surface points without connectivity information. Contour levels of distance from the body are specified and correspondences oriented normally to the contours are created. Regions of merging fronts inside and between objects are detected in the …

Organizational Settings And Profiles Of Servant Leadership, Dalton Elder Mook

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study sought to determine the perception of servant leadership in business-model organizational settings and to assess the potential significance between servant leadership perception and variables, both demographic and others, related to volunteer service. Using the Servant Leadership Scale (Liden et al., 2008), a 28-item survey, combined with 9 additional questions, individuals in five organizational settings in the Southeast region of the United States of America were queried via an online survey method distributed by email. Respondents from each organization reported an overall perception of servant leadership according to the seven-dimension means of emotional healing, creating value for the community, …

Public Versus Private Praise: A Direct Behavioral Comparison In Secondary Classrooms, John Travis Blaze

Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of teacher public and private praise on students’ appropriately engaged behavior (AEB) and disruptive behaviors (DB). Overall, four general education classrooms in southern Mississippi employed a multiple-baseline design across two pairs to assess the effects of public and private praise. Each classroom’s mean percentage of observed intervals of AEB and DB across public and private praise intervention phases was assessed and compared. Overall, visual analysis of the graphs, multilevel modeling, effect sizes, and odds ratios showed that both public and private praise were more effective than no treatment at …

Efficacy Of A Basic Public Speaking Course Delivered Via A Virtual Community College, Stephen Bradley Bailey

Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to: (a) determine if taking the basic public speaking course in face-to-face, hybrid, and online format statistically significantly reduces public speaking anxiety; (b) determine which course format, if any, reduces public speaking anxiety to the greatest extent; (c) determine if students’ satisfaction with learning is statistically significantly different in the three course formats; (d) determine faculty’s perceptions of students learning in the basic public speaking in the three course formats.

Pre- and post-data were collected from 263 participants taking the basic public speaking course in a virtual community college in January 2012 and in …

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence Of School Principals And Their Ability To Identify The Strengths Or Talents Of A Member Of Their Leadership Team, Angela Luther Bare

Dissertations

The role of high school administrators has become increasingly complex, as many school populations have reached the thousands. The responsibilities placed before school administrators, particularly principals’ responsibilities, mirrors that of city management. School leaders are charged with the challenges of exhibiting expertise in the fields of educational leadership, instruction, facilities management all while developing and implementing a school mission with sincere purpose for the students and school community. Additionally, school administrators must be able to address the socialemotional needs of their staffs, students and school community. The purpose of this study was to illuminate effective leadership through an exploration of …

A Study Of Factors Related To Teacher Attrition, Leslie Ann Beaugez

Dissertations

This study examined factors related to teacher attrition. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the level of teacher satisfaction that could motivate a teacher to remain in the profession in a national sample could be predicted from selected factors. Furthermore, this study examined teachers’ perceptions of worry/stress based on student performance on state and/or local tests.

The participants in the study were in two groups: teachers in a national sample that responded to items on the 1999-2000 Schools and Staffing Survey and certified teachers from a southeastern school district who also responded to one of the items …

Analysis Of The Impact Of Implementing Interdisciplinary Pods On Student Achievement In Georgia Middle Schools, Andrew Lynn Bristow

Dissertations

With the increasing demands for middle schools to meet Annual Yearly Progress and the Annual Measurable Objective levels of the No Child Left Behind Act (2002) middle school principals are faced with decisions to incorporate the appropriate middle school instructional model. This study examined the longitudinal achievement data of sixth and seventh grade reading, English language arts, and math on the Georgia Criterion Reference Competency Test (CRCT) in 20 middle schools from 2008 – 2011 in a large suburban school district in Georgia. Of the schools, two implemented a junior high model, six implemented an interdisciplinary pod model, and twelve …

Interpretations Of Student Engagement In The Context Of The Orff Schulwerk Music Classroom At The Dubard School For Language Disorders, Anna Rebecca Bondurant Halliday

Dissertations

The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the lived experiences of four students with language disorders within the context of their Orff Schulwerk music class at the DuBard School for Language Disorders. In addition, the observational insights of their classroom teachers and the practitioner researcher were compared with the responses of the students in order to determine any discrepancies between the child’s awareness of his or her musical engagement and that of the observer. Using data collected from interviews, stimulated recall (Dempsey, 2010), and student generated artwork (Freeman & Mathison, 2009), I explored the lived experiences of …

Practitioners Or Researchers: Ed.D. Or Ph.D.? An Analysis Of Educational Leadership Doctoral Programs, Michael Dwyane Kennedy Jr.

Dissertations

This mostly descriptive study was conducted to analyze differences in doctoral degrees in educational leadership programs across the United States based on U.S. News and World Report (2011) rankings for Graduate Schools of Education. Specifically, this study explored admission, program, and final requirements as well as curriculum and faculty roles to determine the trends that have been evolving, increasing, decreasing, or remaining consistent in certain schools of the United States since the release of the Levine study of educational leadership programs in 2005. Five groups were used: 1) higher ranked 20; 2) lower ranked 20 graduate education schools; 3) top …

Development Of A Scale To Measure Local Residents' Perceived Social Impacts Of Hosting Large-Scale Sport Events, Wonyoung Kim

Dissertations

Existing studies have indicated that local residents‟ perceptions on both positive and negative social impacts toward hosting large-scale sport events have played as a key role for developing successful sport events based on getting community-wide support and involvement. However, examining local residents‟ perceived social impacts have been limited due to its intangible nature and lack of valid and reliable instrument for the adequate measurement. The purpose of this study was to explore a conceptual framework of social impacts and develop a valid and reliable instrument to measure local residents‟ perceived social impacts of hosting large-scale sport events. A preliminary questionnaire …

The Use Of Humor For Emotion Management On The Job: An Exploration Of 911 Communication Centers, Jennifer Dell Mclaughlin

Dissertations

This study sought to understand how humor affects a person’s ability to cope and manage their emotions in a high stress organizational environment. 911 communication centers are work environments where stress is commonplace, and the work environment can instantly become erratic and chaotic.

This study explored the role humor has in assisting organizational members with emotion management in a high stress job and the types of humor used by members to handle their job and cope with the stress.

The results suggest that humor is pervasive in 911 communication centers, and dispatchers use humor for personal coping, co-worker bonding, and …

Jimmy Carter’S Post-Presidential Rhetoric: Faith-Based Rhetoric And Human Rights Foreign Policy, Daniel Eric Schabot

Dissertations

Former President James Earl Carter is well known for his rhetorical efforts to promote human rights. Carter’s human rights advocacy is motivated and sustained by his belief that God duty-bounds him to assist those less fortunate than himself. Scholars generally concede, however, that as president, Jimmy Carter’s human rights accomplishments were minimal and that he failed to develop or institute consistent policies. This dissertation compares and contrasts Carter’s presidency and postpresidency with respect to human rights accomplishments, arguing that he was better able to serve an advocacy role when out of office. Carter, free of separation of church and state …

Genetic Associations With Borderline Personality Disorder And Related Traits And Behaviors, Casey Roy Guillot

Dissertations

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and related traits and behaviors have been linked to a number of neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, and dopamine. Because three human single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), COMT rs4680, GABRA2 rs279871, and SNCA rs356195, have been linked to the abovementioned neurotransmitter systems, they may be associated with BPD and related traits and behaviors. The purpose of the current study is to examine associations of COMT rs4680, GABRA2 rs279871, and SNCA rs356195 with both categorical and continuous measures of BPD and with continuous measures of impulse control and self-harm in a nonclinical sample. Healthy volunteers were categorized into …

Evaluating The Interpersonal Nature Of Humor: Mapping Humor Styles Onto The Interpersonal Circumplex, Jessica Erin Vaughan

Dissertations

The present study examined the interpersonal content of the four humor styles outlined in the Humor Styles Questionnaire in order to gather additional information about the interpersonal content of these humor styles. This was accomplished by projecting each of the humor styles onto the interpersonal circumplex. Each of the humor styles possessed significant interpersonal content and demonstrated interpersonal cohesion such that the maladaptive humor styles were located in the Cold-Hearted region and the adaptive humor styles were located in the adjacent octants of Gregarious- Extroverted and Warm-Agreeable. These findings suggest that the adaptive humor styles and maladaptive humor styles possess …

Narcissism And Interpersonal Relationships: Examining The Use Of Prosocial And Coercive Behavior Strategies Among Adolescents In A Residential Setting, Marion Tam'eca Wallace

Dissertations

The association between Machiavellianism and bistrategic control has been demonstrated in children and adolescents (Hawley, 2003). Machiavellianism shares several features with narcissism. The present study investigated whether adolescents with higher levels of narcissism were perceived by peers as engaging in prosocial or antisocial behaviors depending on the phase of the relationship and whether control strategies translated to peers’ ratings of likability. Forty-seven participants (43 males, 4 females) provided data for this study. Overall, individuals who reported higher levels of Machiavellianism also reported using more coercive behavior strategies. Self-reported narcissism was only associated with self-reported use of more coercive control strategies …

Evaluation Of Performance-Based And Pre-Set Conventional Criterion For Reinforcement In Check In-Check Out, Lauren Lestremau Harpole

Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of two methods of criterion-setting, performance-based or pre-set conventional, as evidenced by improvements in children’s behavior. Participant behavior was evaluated through teacher reports of appropriate behavior and observed academically engaged behavior as well as decreases in problem behavior and disruptive behavior. Eight elementary school students in a Southeastern town referred for exhibiting behavior problems served as participants in addition to their teachers. The effects of the different methods of criterion setting on the dependent variables were evaluated. Teacher ratings of appropriate behavior were assessed through evaluation of Daily Behavior …

The Relationship Between Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Principals’ Transformational Leadership Practices, Teachers’ Sense Of Efficacy And Student Achievement, Antwane Lajacques Nelson

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between middle school teachers’ perceptions of their principal’s transformational school leadership practices, teacher efficacy and student achievement. The study also investigated which transformational school leadership dimensions were predictors for teachers’ sense of efficacy factors and student achievement as measured by math and reading/English language arts CRCT scores. Analyses were also conducted to determine which teacher sense of efficacy factors were predictors for student achievement as measured by math and reading/English language arts CRCT scores.

Data from 256 teacher surveys were collected from 17 middle schools located in a northwestern suburban …

The Development, Validation, And Application Of The Motivation Scale Of Disability Sport Consumption (Msdsc), Michael Paul Cottingham Ii

Dissertations

Consumer motivation, “the driving force within individuals that impels them to action” (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2004, p. 87), assists in identifying why consumers attend sporting events, and if they plan to repatriate or consume merchandise and media (Byon, Cottingham, & Carroll, 2010; Kim, Greenwell, Andrew, Lee, & Mahony, 2008). The Motivation Scale for Sport Consumption (MSSC) (Trail & James, 2001), consisting of factors that identify specific consumer motives (Trail & James, 2001; Wann, 1995), was tested in the context of disability sport (Byon, Carroll, Cottingham, Grady, & Allen, 2011; Byon et al., 2010) but did not take into account motives …

Honorable Shame: The Rhetorical Use Of Didactic Shame Discourse In Ezekiel 36:16-32, Ronald Mudge

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Mudge, Ronald R. "Honorable Shame: The Rhetorical Use of Didactic Shame Discourse in Ezekiel 36:16-36" Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2012.328 pp.

After promising Israel such wonderful gifts as a new heart and a return to the land, Ezek36:16-32 ends with a command for Israel to be ashamed. Biblical scholars have offered a number of different explanations for this unusual order without consensus.

A methodology that employs sociological interpretation and rhetorical analysis covers new ground and resolves the crux of Ezek 36:16-32. A basic word study demonstrates that primary shame lexemes in Ezekiel refer to low status as judged by an …

East, West, Or Center? Turkey's Stance Straddling Continents, Pipelines, And Interdependences, Mustafa Kemal Dagdelen

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

This thesis concentrates on the international relations of Turkey by studying one of the significant parameters of the world affairs, the Energy Security issue, and Robert 0. Keohane and Joseph S. Nye's Complex Interdependence concept. The research is conducted through two case studies between Turkey and two different neighboring actors, Iran and the European Union. This thesis is a qualitative study with descriptive analyses on the literature of the interdependence and the energy security concepts. By revealing mutual dependences between Turkey, Iran, and the European Union, with different vulnerabilities, the results of this scholarly quest suggest that the interdependent nature …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of The Blood Pressure Plus Program At Thomas Jefferson University, Adam C. Winters

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s Blood Pressure Plus program enhances the role of the community in chronic disease prevention and management. There is much evidence that controlling disease and cost is greatly improved through the involvement of community leaders and resources. By offering free blood pressure screenings, the BP+ program was able to document the current status of many underserved individuals in the city of Philadelphia, provide the necessary education and referrals. Perhaps more importantly, the program allowed us to foster relationships with individuals who could further the efforts of chronic care management within their communities. More and more we’re seeing …

Leptospiral Hemolysins Induce Proinflammatory Cytokines Through Toll-Like Receptor 2-And 4-Mediated Jnk And Nf-Κb Signaling Pathways, Huan Wang, Yifei Hu, David M. Ojcius, X. Frank Yang, Chenglin Zhang, Shibiao Ding, Xu'ai Lin, Jie Yan

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

Infection with pathogenic Leptospira species causes serious systemic inflammation in patients. Although a few leptospiral proinflammatory molecules have been identified, Leptospira likely encodes other unidentified strong inflammation stimulators. The pathogenic L. interrogans genome encodes numerous putative hemolysin genes. Since hemolysins from other bacteria can cause inflammatory reactions, we hypothesized that leptospiral hemolysins may function as proinflammatory stimulators that contribute to the strong inflammation associated with Leptospira infection.

Reflections On The Raymond College Experience, Gene Bigler

Raymond College

No abstract provided.

Change Management: The People Dimension, Gary Pan

Research Collection School Of Accountancy

Many accounting professionals believe it is important to raise productivity in the accounting sector. A recent survey conducted by the Institute of Management Accountants (2011), however, highlighted that raising productivity, while a very important topic, can be a daunting challenge. Therefore, the urgent issue facing the accounting sector is to address the critical concern of how accounting professionals can be more productive?

Productivity, Return-On-Capital And Stock Price Performance, Andrew Lee, Tracey Zhang

Research Collection School Of Accountancy

Productivity improvements in businesses are invariably championed as value-enhancing propositions. Whether the improvements are labour-related or asset-related, the value of a business is arguably enhanced when its employees are more productive, its assets are utilised more productively, and its operations are conducted more efficiently.

Do Analysts Understand The Valuation Implications Of Accounting Conservatism When Forecasting Target Prices?, Jae Bum Kim, Alexander Nekrasov, Pervin K. Shroff, Andreas Simon

Research Collection School Of Accountancy

Conservatism in earnings does not have a direct impact on the present value of future cash flows. This paper examines whether financial analysts correctly undo the effect of accounting conservatism incorporated in their own earnings forecasts in arriving at their target price forecasts. Based on prior findings, we consider alternative valuation models/heuristics that may be used by analysts to estimate target prices, e.g. the forward P/E and the PEG ratio. Our evidence suggests that analysts fail to fully undo the effect of accounting conservatism embedded in their forecasts of earnings and earnings growth when estimating their target price forecasts. More …