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An analysis of the effects between prison documentaries and popularity among viewers
Get PDFThis research examines the themes between a variety of prison documentaries and the subsequent viewership. In recent years, documentaries depicting prison life have risen in popularity due to a number of factors such as violence, drama, hysteria, and an overall sense of fascination (Cecil, 2009). This popularity may have impacted views on the current criminal justice system considering most people never have contact with the criminal justice system in their lifetimes (Cecil, 2009). Therefore, these documentaries may serve as one of the only bases for information that they may have about the system (Cecil, 2009). Because prison documentaries are fulfilling the responsibility of informing the masses, it is even more important that they are accurate regarding any and all depictions and facts. Despite their importance, there has seemingly been a drop in the factual nature of these documentaries and the overall truth value in the inmate experience that is shown as these documentaries’ popularity has risen (Cecil, 2009). The current study explores and examines themes within popular prison documentaries in order to determine the information provided to the public
Prevalence of Psychopathology among Syrian Refugees and Future Outlook
Get PDFNearly one millions Syrian refugees registered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) currently reside in Lebanon, making it the country hosting the highest number of Syrian refugees in the Middle Eastern region (ILO Employment Profile, 2014). While there are geographical differences in the levels of security, access to medical aid and relief, and socio-economic conditions that the refugees experience depending on where they settle, the vast majority of Syrian refugees are living in tragic conditions. The population of Lebanon has increased by around 25% since the advent of the Syrian civil war in March of 2011, putting pressure on the health-care system and economy of a country already suffering from weak services and infrastructure (van Vilet & Hourani, 2014). Approximately half of all Syrian refugees are under the age of eighteen, and exposure to war and violence places them at high risk for suffering from mental health problems (Sirin, 2015). These mental health problems yield a high cost for society, and the majority of organizations and governments provide little to no mental health treatment to Syrian refugees, focusing solely on supplying medical aid and food supplies. The prevalence of psychopathology among Syrian refugees must be better understood in order to provide optimal mental health treatment to those living in refugee camps
Computational simulation of the PAW-04 nozzle configuration
Get PDFThe research was based on the 4th Propulsion Aerodynamics Workshop which was organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Air Breathing Propulsion System Integration Technical Committee and its objective was to assess the accuracy and numerical prediction capabilities of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). It focused on the work of Behrouzi and McGuirk where they tested two different nozzle configurations under set boundary conditions. The nozzle configurations included a high aspect ratio rectangular nozzle with a clean exit and the same nozzle with an aft-deck attached to the exit. Three different unstructured grids were generated for the clean nozzle using Pointwise that varied in refinement and number of points, but only one unstructured grid was generated for the aft-deck. The solver that was used was Tenasi and Fieldview was used for post-processing. The first assessment involved testing if the solutions for the clean nozzle were grid independent by comparing Total Pressure values along the axial direction. It was found that the values for the three solutions were between 0.995% and 13.03% from each other. Because of this, the values for the medium definition grid (Grid 2) were compared against the experimental values. This showed that along the centerline, the values for Grid 2 were as accurate as 0.06% from the experimental data up to an x/Dh of 4.5, but beyond that, it went as far as 24.28% from the experimental data. At different cross-sectional planes along the axial direction, the values were between 0.06% and 27%. This meant that the data from the CFD analysis from Grid 2 was good enough to use, especially in the viscous layer at the exit. For the aft-deck configuration, the CFD values matched the experimental data along the centerline up to around x/Dh of 5 but deviates from the experimental data after this point by up to 26.15%. The final test was to compare the static pressure along the surface of the aft-deck. The comparison showed that the surface domain for the aft-deck was viscous enough that the solution converged into the experimental solution
Policy analysis of Tennessee\u27s 51-to-life law: juvenile sentencing reform
Get PDFIn the state of Tennessee, juvenile offenders convicted as adults for first-degree murder must receive a minimum sentence of 51 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Tennessee’s minimum juvenile sentencing guideline is the strictest in the United States. In 2012, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that sentencing juvenile offenders to life is unconstitutional citing psychological evidence for a juvenile’s ability to be rehabilitated in comparison to adults (Miller v. Alabama, 2012). Tennessee’s 51-year minimum juvenile sentencing standard is a potential violation of this ruling because it has been shown that the life expectancy in prison is unlikely to reach more than fifty years (Patterson, 2013; Wildeman, 2016). Furthermore, Tennessee’s minimum sentencing guideline for juvenile homicide offenders appears to disregard psychological evidence that indicates that juvenile offenders should not be treated the same as adults (e.g., Cauffman & Steinberg, 2012; Cohen & Casey, 2013; Mulvey & Schubert, 2012; Scott, Grisso, Levick, & Steinberg, 2015). In this policy analysis, the inadequacy of the current minimum sentencing standard is evaluated, and it is argued as to why this sentencing standard should be substantially lowered. The central thesis of the analysis utilizes empirical evidence gathered from the psychological and legal literatures to support why Tennessee’s current policy disregards scientific research. Ultimately, this evidence is used to support the idea that Tennessee’s minimum sentencing law for juveniles is inappropriate and to inform alternative proposals
Synthesizing multifunctional iron oxide nanodrugs and developing a model for their size analysis using dynamic light scattering
Get PDFThe growth of targeted drug delivery methods in modern cancer treatments has been the result of an increase in the quantity of drugs available, which is directly affected by the methods used in drug development. These drugs vary in size, shape, and mechanism of operation, so the characterizing techniques used must be adaptable to a variety of particle types. In this thesis, a variety of complex nanostructures were synthesized and characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), which is a rapid, non-destructive, and simply-operated size characterization method that does not introduce artifacts from sample preparation. The DLS data was then analyzed to spot trends among the sample varieties that could potentially be used to characterize particle shapes. A foundation was laid for future works developing a computational model to characterize shape based on DLS size distribution data alone
Religion, institutionalism, legalism, and same-sex marriage: comparative experiences of non-heterosexual males in Northern Ireland and Tennessee
Get PDFThe intersection of religion, legalism, institutionalism, and sexuality is historically one of controversy. Consequential discord often leads to the marginalization of certain members of a community, which creates lasting psychological and social effects that shape how these individuals define themselves within their culture. This study identifies shared experiences between two groups of non-heterosexual adult males near Coleraine, Northern Ireland, where same-sex marriage is illegal, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, where the practice is federally accepted. The samples provide a look into the effects of religiously-motivated, discriminatory legislation on the personal lives of the subsequent population. Specifically, participants are asked to reflect on the roles of religion and sexuality in shaping their character to determine whether or not the legalization of same-sex marriage (or lack thereof) affects their lives. Respondents report mostly positive experiences in both communities and few recall instances of direct abuse, whether verbal or physical. Religious practices are more common among respondents from Northern Ireland, who also tend to mention slightly more negative interactions and feelings. Marriage continues to be important to most participants, regardless of religious affiliation or location. Overall, the lack of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation seems to contribute to a more positive experience for those potentially affected, however difficulties persist. Participants remain concerned about bureaucratic and legal protections, including the right to a same-sex divorce in Tennessee and the ability to marry in Northern Ireland, as well as social acceptance and education on sexuality
The effect of soil saturation on the heat transfer rate in a controlled environment for application to ground source heat pumps
Get PDFWith the worldwide push for environmentally friendly technology, the topic of geothermal systems has only become more important. Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) are heat pumps that take advantage of the natural temperature difference between the soil and the air to decrease the amount of power necessary to heat an area. A GSHP has been shown to be capable of increasing efficiency by 3 or 4 times the amount of a conventional heating and cooling system [4]. To take advantage of the full capabilities of a GSHP, one needs to understand what factors can increase or decrease efficiency. While research has been done by groups such as Leong, Tarnawski, and Aittomäki in their study of the Effect of soil type and moisture content on ground heat pump performance [8], these studies are lacking a controlled environment. The goal of this research is to study the impact that soil saturation has on the heat transfer rate by controlling other environmental impacts. Weather, temperature, etc. will not be an issue with this indoor, small-scale system. The system will test the heat transfer rate in water and soils of different saturation levels. It will accomplish this by measuring the flowrate and the temperature drop as water flows from a heat reservoir through a heat sink of the water or soil. This will provide the necessary data to calculate the heat transfer rate. The system and the data gathered will not only provide applicable data for geothermal systems but will act as a prototype for a future system in an undergraduate University of Tennessee at Chattanooga lab
Automated transmission line fault analysis the SMT method
Get PDFAnalyzing faults from transmission lines automatically using a computer is a complex, multi-step process that takes a literal understanding of how the computer reads the data. While there are many ways to approach this problem (e.g.. Inductance Calculation), the Square Mean Test method allows for quick, and efficient calculations of any files read in from Intelliruptors. These calculations are then grouped and classified together outside of this project to prioritize faults that need to be looked at
Students’ willingness to extend civil liberties to disliked groups
Get PDFThere have been a variety of studies that sought to measure political tolerance and public attitudes. These studies have varied in that some focused on specific groups (such as Communists or atheists) that tolerance was measured against, and others allowed respondents to choose from a list of political groups. Sullivan et. al (1979) focused on the public, with respondents given the choice of choosing their least-liked groups for the measurement of tolerance. This study uses questions utilized in the Sullivan et. al study, as well as national GSS/NORC surveys, to measure political tolerance and public attitudes among college students. There was little change found in the amount of tolerance shown from respondents in the Sullivan et. al study and the respondents in this study; however, students were more likely to show intolerance towards the groups that they chose as their least-liked group. College and university campuses allow students the opportunity to interact with diverse communities, and thus, students have the probability of being more tolerant than other populations previously measured. Despite diversity apparent on college campuses, however, students in this study displayed intolerance towards their least-liked group, and groups they found offensive
Art at Ashland Farm: the collection of Sarah Avery Key Patten
Get PDFThis study documented the in-situ, original works of art in the private collection of Sarah Avery Key Patten at historic Ashland Farm just outside Chattanooga, TN. The study focused on culturally significant artists Helen Hyde, Emma Bell Miles, and Martha Walter. Using the principles of archival theory to inform the study, each piece by these three artists was documented by completing Smithsonian Museum of American Art Inventory of American Painting information forms, and detailed digital photography, where possible. The report forms for these pieces were then submitted to the Smithsonian Inventory of American Painting, adding to the body of scholarly knowledge by making this private collection available to researchers. The results of the study included 30 works of art in total by the three artists studied: 11 created by Helen Hyde, five by Emma Bell Miles, and 14 by Martha Walter. Conclusions of the study included strong feminist themes demonstrated through Sarah Key Patten’s choice to patronize female artists, as well as the lifestyles of the artists themselves. Feminine themes also emerged within the collection, including a strong love of family, and traditional values. Evidence of a possible personal relationship between Sarah Key Patten and Helen Hyde was also presented. Finally, recommendations for several future studies that correlate to this study were recommended for further research