Research Day 2008
Sixteen UTC graduate students presented research at the Eighth Annual Graduate Research Day. Read their abstracts below.
Anna Katherine Ward, Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Title: Personality and Culture as Predictors of Early Expatriate Assignment Termination
The economy has become more dependent upon global relationships. Many transitional employees do not complete their foreign assignments, however, resulting in both financial and psychological burdens. Past research has shown a link between personality traits and premature expatriate termination intentions (PETI). Studies also indicate that interactions exist between cultural dimensions and personality, which influences subjective well-being. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to determine whether culture moderates the relationship between personality and PETI. Results showed that Individualism/Collectivism does moderate the relationship of PETI with both Extraversion and Agreeableness and that Openness is also related to PETI. The findings can benefit two intended audiences: 1) Scholars focusing on global leadership development and international employment, as well as 2) multi-national corporations attempting to select candidates for successful expatriate work.
Candy Anderson, Athletic Training
Title: Development of a Survey Instrument for Assessment of Clinical Practice Patterns
Evidence-based practice (EBP) and patient-centered care are concepts that exert an influence on clinical practice patterns of healthcare providers. Little research has been conducted to evaluate the perceptions of clinicians concerning the importance of EBP and patient-centered care in clinical practice. This pilot study was to quantify perceptions of the importance of clinical decision-making through a new survey instrument that was evaluated by an expert panel for content validity. The pilot phase of this study administration of an anonymous, 10-item survey to four cohorts. Participants included 9 second-year students enrolled in a graduate level athletic training education program (ATEP), 27 second-year graduate level physical therapy students, 21 practicing athletic trainers who were recent graduates from the same institution, and 45 practicing athletic trainers in the state of TN. Web-based and/or paper surveys were distributed to all groups. A Cronbach’s alpha was calculated and a Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA was performed. Patient preference represents a distinctly separate aspect of EBP from the use of research evidence so this survey may provide a valuable tool to quantification of the extent to which EBP and patient-centered care guide clinical practice. Advancement of the Athletic Training profession will require adoption of these concepts.
Carrie Ross, Biological and Environmental Science
Title: Electrical Current Generation and Organic Matter Degradation in Bacterial Metabolizing Raw Sewage
The main goal of this study was to determine if the bacterial metabolism significantly degraded raw sewage through the use for electrical energy production. The rate of degradation of the raw sewage was measured for six individual bacterial batteries, as well as amount of energy produced. To do so the study will use graphite rods as the terminal electron acceptors for the bacteria populations located within six separate aquaria. Each individual battery or tank will then be connected to an aerated tank that serves as the cathode and each battery will be connected to the cathode tank by a continuous water bridge. All six batteries are connected to volt meters that will continually monitor the energy production of the bacteria. Raw sewage will be provided to the bacteria to serve as the carbon source for metabolism and the degradation will be monitored through numerous samples of the fluid of the aquaria which will be analyzed for total carbon content. Analyzation of the carbon content of the fluid by a DC-190 TOC analyzer during numerous stages of the process will determine the rate of sewage degradation by the bacteria.
Rachel Breneman, English
Title: English 101: A Site of Liberal Indoctrination?
In this paper, I begin by examining he claims in David Horowitz’s The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America and Ben Shapiro’s Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America’s Youth that American Universities are a site of liberal indoctrination. Next, I apply these claims more specifically to both eh theory and practice of critical pedagogy, a popular pedagogy used within many rhetoric and composition classrooms. I discuss both the similarities and the sites of contention between the main theories of critical pedagogues Paulo Friere and Ira Shor and conservative authors Horowitz and Shapiro. I also take a look at current rhetoric and composition articles that discuss the practice of critical pedagogy in the classroom. Finally, I make a claim as to whether or not the English classroom is being used as a site of liberal indoctrination. This paper is geared toward a general academic audience of students and professor.
Jeremy Kevin Locke, English, Literature
Title: Is God Really Dead?: Finding God in Cormac McCarthy’s Outer Dark
The scope of this particular paper is to address the theological underpinnings of Outer Dark by identifying features which provide the reader with the critical material needed to comprehend the significance of individual characters and events as they relate to the novel as a whole. By examining the hedging prophet of Culla Holmes dream in the book’s second chapter, the effect of interpreting the title, Outer Dark, as an allusion to the parable of the wedding feast of Matthew, and this scene’s connectedness to the novel’s title, and the theological irony found in the novel’s concluding scenes with Culla and the blind man, one will gain a better understanding of the unorthodox theology that is presented in Outer Dark. Moreover, this paper will explore how Outer Dark, published in 1968, the high point of theothanatology (God is dead theology) allows McCarthy to comment on both traditional Christianity and its secular opponents. While this presentation will be intended for a literary-minded audience, I believe that given Cormac McCarthy’s status as a 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner and a multiple New York Times best-selling author a much wider audience will be able to appreciate this presentation aimed at examining one of the central themes in the corpus of his work: theology.
Katie Harbison, Public Administration
Title: The Grease Tax
In this paper, I propose a tax on unhealthy foods, the “grease tax”, in order to encourage healthier eating habits. I examine current obesity trends and the results of an increasingly unhealthy population. In addition, the alcohol and tobacco industries are used as examples of those who present a similar problem to that of the food industry. Taxes on both alcohol and cigarettes are cited for their effectiveness as well as a basis for the role of taxes in influencing behavior. The paper discusses a probable way for the e “grease tax” to be implemented and how it could be calculated. Using a Naturally Nutrient Rich (NNR) score, a food’s overall healthiness can be calculated and a tax percentage assigned accordingly. The purpose of the “grease tax” would also serve to discourage unhealthy food choices, especially in low income populations. It could just be a good start at a solution to end obesity in America.
Jamila Kindall, Health and Human Performance
Title: Reliability of Unilateral Zig-Zag Hop Test Times for Male and Female Basketball Players
Clinicians often use methods to assess functional capacity of the lower extremities in athletes who have made improvement through training or recovery from an injury. Lower extremity performance tests are commonly used to assess function, strength, and neuromuscular control. These tests also aid the decision of when an athlete can return to unrestricted competition. Thus, additional information on functional performance test would enhance the clinical decision-making process. The reliability of these tests is often assumed. Although some studies have assessed the reliability of various single-leg hop tests, only a few have assessed the reliability of the unilateral zig-zag hop test or its relation to functional status and recovery. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to determine the reliability of the unilateral zig-zag hop test and to establish the minimal detectable change in performance that can be used to indentify a true change in performance capability among basketball players who sustain an ankle or knee injury.
Grace Hoomes, Special Education
Title: Video Self-Modeling for Language and Social Skills Development
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of video self-modeling (VSM) on the social and verbal behaviors of a child with autism spectrum disorder who has language and social delays. The results of this study will be of interest to parents, educators, therapists, and other early interventionists. VSM has proven to be effective in several areas including social, communication, and functional skills. The video editing techniques allow for the production of positive video images of the subject performing at a level higher than his usual functioning behavior. The method of this study followed a multiple-baseline single subject design across three behaviors: social interactions between the subject and other children, verbal responses, and verbal initiations. The results of this study may lead to further investigations regarding social and verbal behaviors of children with autism or developmental delays.
Daniel Huser and Josh Smith, Biological and Environmental Sciences
Title: Intraspecific Variation in the Growth Rates of Largescale Stonerollers (Campostoma oligolepis) in a Ridge and Valley Stream
Age-specific growth rates of largescale stonerollers (Campostoma oligolepis; Family Cyprinidae) were assessed at two study sites in upper reaches of Mountain Creek (Hamilton County, Tennessee), a third-order stream in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion. The two sites-located on the main stem and a tributary - were similar in size and water quality conditions, but exhibited pronounced differences in fish assemblages attributes. The mainstem site had a fairly diverse fish assemblage (13 species; 5 feeding guilds, including piscivores) which was representative of this creek. The tributary site had a less diverse fish assemblage (5 species; 3 feeding guilds) which lacked picivorous fishes. Age-1 and age-2 stonerollers respectively averaged 93.2 and 116.7 mm (n=66 and 6) at the mainstem site and 87.4 and 88.5 mm (n=60 and 2) at the tributary site; growth rates were significantly different for both age groups (two sample t test; P<0.05). Slower stoneroller growth rates at the tributary site may reflect increased intraspecific competition resulting from lower predation pressure due to the abscence of fish predators. Findings from this study document intraspecific variation in the growth rates of largescale stonerollers within a Tennessee Ridge and Valley stream.
Stacy Huskins, Environmental Science
Title: The Vascular Flora of the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area
The North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area (NCCG) consists of 7,073 acres and is located in Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in eastern Tennessee. The NCCG is on the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau and is bordered by the Ridge and Valley physiographic province. Broadly defined habitat types support a diverse assemblage of plants on the NCCG’s upper plateau surface, gorge slopes, stream banks, and ruderal areas. Fifty collecting trips were made during the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons and 526 species of vascular plants in 108 families were documented. Seven species with either a state or federal listing were documented: Spiraea virginiana, Nestronia umbellula, Sabatia capitata, Diervilla sessilifolia var. rivularis, Panax quinquefolius, Viola tripartita and Glyceria acutifolia., and several populations of Scutellaria Montana. Over fifty species have also been documented, including Microstegium vimineum, Lespedeza bicolor, and Albizia julibrissin. The intended audience for this presentation is not limited to any particular field, although it would be of greater interest to plant biologists and taxonomists.
Shannon Hatmaker, Environmental Science
Title: Effects of Exotic Invasive Vegetation on Breeding Birds Along the North Chickamauga Creek
Included in Tennessee’s rich faunal diversity are 170 species of breeding birds. An important avian conservation effort today involves protecting riparian areas from habitat loss as they often serve as ecological corridors for bird movement and support a large number of species. However, the North Chickamauga Creek riparian forest located in Hamilton County, Tennessee is being fragmented by urbanization. These urban landscapes allow for the invasion of exotic vegetation and the replacement of native species. This project examines the avian community response to exotic invasive shrubs in southeastern riparian forests. Many invasive plant species, including Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) and a Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), are present along the North Chickamauga Creek where native vegetation is primarily oak-pine forest. I am examining the effects of exotic invasive vegetation on breeding bird diversity and density, and associated changes in biotic interactions. This is a critical concern for conservation efforts and this research may be utilized to address complex issues of biodiversity and exotic plant management.
Jessica Leet, Environmental Science
Title: Comparison of Genetic Diversity in Mouse Populations Historically Exposed to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
The purpose of this study is to evaluate genetic diversity as measured by microsatellite heterozygosity among Permyscus leucopus populations in the South Chattanooga area. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other contaminants from coal tar have been found in South Chattanooga, and are bioavailable to mammals in the area. Exposure could result in three types of effects on this mammalian population: an increase in advantageous mutations, an increase in deleterious mutations, or death of individuals in each generation form the toxicity of the contaminants. An increase or decrease in genetic diversity would be a definitive indicator of population-level effect. Mice were collected from four from four contaminated sites in South Chattanooga and an uncontaminated reference site in northern Georgia. The data gathered as of now for three microsatellite markers show that the contaminated populations are more homozygous than the reference population, and show statistically significant gene differentiation between the contaminated populations compared to the reference populations. We are currently working on a combined analysis of genetic diversity with these and additional microsatellite markers in these mice populations, and two additional reference populations, that will contribute to an understanding of the mechanism by which PAH exposure influences the genetic diversity of mammalian populations.
Alma Cemerlic, Computer Science
Title: Network Intrusion Detection Based on Bayesian Network
Intrusion detection has drawn a lot of attention in the past two decades. Signature analysis and statistical anomaly detection are two typical methods to identify network security breaches. Signature analysis requires access to a database of known intrusion signatures and a way to match current behavior against the signatures to detect intrusions in progress. The limitation of this approach lies in its dependence on frequent updates of the signature database and it inability to generalize and detect novel intrusions. Anomaly detection methods can detect attacks based on statistical probability, which will allow generalization and help in the detection of novel attacks. However, anomaly detection is not based on an adaptive model and cannot learn form normal and malicious traffic patterns. We propose an adaptive network intrusion detection using a Bayesian network, aiming to learn to detect novel intrusions form real network traffic patterns. The DARPA dataset and real-world traffic are used to measure the feasibility and effectiveness of our system. This paper is intended for computer science researchers, professors and students interested in the network security field.
Meredith Montgomery, Environmental Science
Title: Toward an Understanding of Clematis Fremontii S. Watson (Ranunculaceae) in the Southeastern United States
Cedar glades are unique habitats ranging from the Midwest through the Ozarks and into the southeastern United States. They are areas of Ordovician, Silurian, or Mississippian dolomite or limestone bedrock with characteristically shallow and rock soils that create harsh environmental conditions for plant survival. Consequently, cedar glades are marked by high numbers of endemic plant species. One such species is Clematis fremontii S. Watson, which is normally restricted to the Midwest. However, to disjunct populations of C. fremontii inhabit cedar glades located in Rome, GA and Chattanooga, TN. The existence of these populations outside of the Midwest is an anomaly. We are using floristic studies, GIS mapping, field surveys, and tools from molecular genetics to determine whether these two southeastern populations are recent introductions or disjunct relict populations. This diverse combination of methods will provide unique insight into the population dynamics, biogeography, and gene flow of this rare plant species. The intended audience for this presentation is plant biologists.
Vincent Betro, Computational Engineering
Title: Parallel Hierarchical 2D Unstructured Mesh Generation with General Cutting
To solve modern CFD problems, a robust parallel mesh generation process was created using MPI to allow for complicated geometries, rapid generation of meshes, and increased flexibility with spacing and mesh type. The program allows users to generate meshes in two dimensions, which can then be extruded to three dimensions, using any watertight geometry that is created by a CAD program. This procedure uses Quadtree refinement of a Cartesian root cell and general cutting to create both fully triangular, Delaunay, and hybrid meshes. Multiple cases were run to test the robustness of the algorithm including a two-dimensional NACA 0012 airfoil and a two-dimensional map of the Gulf of Mexico. Since publication, the three-dimensional version has been completed using concepts and components from the author’s 2-D version. Additionally, the author has presented a method to parallelize the optimization-based smoothing discussed in this work and augmented the accompanying 3-D code. The papers in which this work is referenced are also included. The intended audience is any person with a knowledge of engineering simulation, specifically mesh generation.
George Standifer, English, Rhetoric and Composition
Title: Nietzschean Architectonics in Jack London’s The Iron Heel
Read about Research Day 2007.
