Middle Tennessee State University
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The Perception of Caregiver Parenting Styles and its Association with Mental Health Functioning in College Students
No full textThis study examined the relationship between a caregiver’s parenting style and a collegeaged
student’s mental health functioning. The intention of this study was to directly
connect parenting styles and an individual’s mental health functioning. The current study
used empirically defined parenting strategies based on Baumrind’s authoritarian,
authoritative, and permissive parenting styles, and self-report of individual’s perceived
university-related stress, depression, and anxiety. Importantly, with regard to the current
study, the term “parent” references any caregiver who possesses guardianship of the child
for which they are responsible. This term encompasses biological parents, adoptive
parents, grandparents, legal guardians, and other potential primary caregivers in a child’s
life. The terms “parent,” “guardian,” and “caregiver” are used interchangeably.
Participants consisted of college students (31 female, 10 male, 4 non-binary) recruited
through Middle Tennessee State University’s Department of Psychology research pool. A
majority (80%) were between the ages of 18 and 21 and a majority (64.4%) were
White/Caucasian. Participants completed an online self-report survey that consisted of a
demographic section and four validated measures: the Parental Authority Questionnaire,
the University Stress Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and
the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale. Bivariate correlations were run using all
variables of interest in order to determine if there were any significant correlations in
patterns of responses pertaining to the variables of interest. Hypotheses regarding
perceived parenting style and symptoms of anxiety and depression were not supported
Trade Creation and Trade Diversion Effects of U.S. Free Trade Agreements: An Empirical Analysis
No full textThe United States of America has 12 bilateral free trade agreements and two multilateral free trade agreements, including 20 trade partner countries. Using the gravity model, this dissertation examines 13 free trade agreements. The study applies alternative methods to estimate the benefits of free trade agreements. The first section investigates the performance of U.S. reciprocal free trade agreements and compares the benefits of trade flows from the United States as an exporter to its trade partners and the United States as an importer. The second section develops a new mechanism of econometrics to overcome the endogeneity issue while examining the trade creation and diversion associated with U.S. reciprocal trade agreements. The study reveals that the benefits of bilateral free trade agreements vary depending on trade flows, whether the United States is an exporter or an importer. Generally, the United States derives more benefit as an exporter than as an importer. Furthermore, the trade diversion exporter in the United States generates a more significant impact than the trade diversion importer does.Ph.D
The Consequences of Pollination Competition on the Reproduction of Astragalus bibullatus
No full textMorphological and phenological similarities of flowers may result in species competing for pollinators, and this competition may be particularly intense for rare species. Astragalus bibullatus is a federally endangered legume endemic to the cedar glades of middle Tennessee. It co-occurs with a nearby flower homolog, Pediomelum subacaule, which is abundant and significantly overlaps in flowering time. In this study, the competitive effects of P. subacaule on the reproduction of A. bibullatus were assessed by comparing pollinator visitation rates, quantifying the constancy of pollinator taxa, estimating the frequency of interspecific pollination via field stigma collection, and determining the effect of foreign pollen on seed set. The most common pollinator in 2022 for both plants was the eastern bumble bee, Bombus impatiens, which visited P. subacaule significantly more frequently, indicating that P. subacaule may be favored by Bombus impatiens and thus reducing pollination of A. bibullatus. Despite its low abundance in 2023, blue solitary bees, Megachilidae, had a significantly higher visitation rate to A. bibullatus, indicating that blue solitary bees may be essential to A. bibullatus pollination. I used a Constancy Index with a scale of 0 (completely inconstant) to 1 (completely constant) and determined the average constancy of all pollinators was 0.899 in 2022 and 0.982 in 2023. To determine the frequency of foreign pollen deposition, 100 stigmas of A. bibullatus and P. subacaule were collected, and the number and species of pollen grains were recorded. The frequency of foreign pollen grains present in samples was significantly higher in A. bibullatus (22% of stigmas) than in P. subacaule (4%), which is likely affecting the reproduction of A. bibullatus. Racemes of A. bibullatus were subjected to treatments of conspecific pollen, mixed pollen, and foreign pollen. Although the sample size was drastically reduced in 2022, the experiment was repeated in 2023 and racemes treated with conspecific pollen had a significantly higher frequency of fruit production (60.71%) than mixed (28.13%) or foreign pollen treatments (3.5%). The results of my study indicate these two plant species are competing for pollination services, consequently reducing pollinator visits to Astragalus bibullatus and increasing the frequency of foreign pollen deposition. Future management plans should consider the possible negative effect of P. subacaule on pollination and aim to monitor the essential pollinators of A. bibullatus, such as eastern bumble bees and blue solitary bees.M.S
Methods Development for Low-Level Ammonia and Methane Analysis Using FTIR
No full textCurrent methods of ambient air ammonia analysis can accomplish accurate and precise
data but are inadequate at achieving detection limits below 10 ppbv. The Fouriertransform
infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) technique has not yet been reported as an
analytical method for measuring ammonia in conjunction with a passive sampling device,
even though it theoretically can be very precise while maintaining accuracy. The purpose
of this project is to determine the viability of this technique in quantifying ammonia
levels for different applications such as monitoring air quality around chicken farms.
Results from this project demonstrate the feasibility of low-level ammonia analysis by the
FT-IR technique. A modified set-up is required due to the memory effects of ammonia.
Originally a 10 m cell was used, which was changed out with a 10 cm cell with
replaceable windows. Different window materials were tested to find out what interfered
the least with ammonia. A 10 cm cell with a KBr plate window shows the most
promising results showing low detection limits for measuring ammonia released from
indirect sampling of ammonia on sulfuric acid-treated glass wool. Real-world data from
samples collected at chicken coops suggest inconclusive results
Exploring Scavenging Behavior of Bobcats, Lynx rufus, in Middle Tennessee and its Forensic Implications
No full textAlthough bobcats (Lynx rufus) are known as hunters, their scavenging activities have
been reported, which could be vital to forensic research (Ubelaker & DeGaglia, 2020).
Knowledge about scavengers is required to determine if any trauma observed on a victim was
inflicted by animals or humans (Rippley et al., 2012). Fain and Jeong confirm that bobcats are
among the scavengers active in Middle Tennessee (2023). The goal of this study is to examine
the scavenging patterns and effects of bobcats. Experiments occurred at the MTSU Outdoor
Forensic Facility in Murfreesboro, TN. Bobcats’ visits to 7 deer specimens were examined for
the time, weather conditions, and behaviors observed on camera. Bobcats were observed
scavenging in this study. The results will provide forensic investigators with knowledge about
bobcat scavenging activities in Middle Tennessee, helping them distinguish bobcat-associated
evidence from human-induced trauma. Future studies should further observe bobcats to explore
effects of their scavenging
Investigating Student Discourse and Representational Understanding in an Electrochemistry Lab
No full textABSTRACT
Chemistry is considered a difficult subject by most students. Its difficulty lies in Chemistry’s complex and abstract nature. This highly abstract nature requires constant interplay and coordination between the macroscopic, particulate, and symbolic representations. Experts can successfully navigate the various representations without overloading their working memory because they can relate their macroscopic observations to the particulate compositions, structures, and properties and express these symbolically. This ability to seamlessly connect the three levels of representations is not intuitive to novices/students. Working with all three representations can lead to cognitive overload as the novice thinks about all three representations independently. The laboratory seems to be the place where students learn to navigate the three levels of representation, and the chemistry department has invested time and money in laboratory courses. This study investigated the types of visualizations, hands-on lab, macroscopic visualization (MV); computer simulation lab, particulate visualization (PV); and hands-on and computer simulation simultaneously, macroscopic and particulate (MPV), that occur during electrochemistry laboratory activity and how each type of visualization influenced students’ discourse, interaction, understanding, and connecting the three representations is the main interest. The understanding of what transpires in the laboratory, whom students talked to, what they talked about, and whether the connection between representations occurs during the laboratory activity will help us design a better laboratory activity improve the learning environment for students and justify the cost of running the laboratory.Ph.D
Exploring the Factor Model of the Work Locus of Control Measurement
No full textStudies have used Spector’s (1988) Work Locus of Control Measurement; however, many studies have not fully analyzed the factor structure of the model. This study explored both the current three factor assessment and potential four-factor structure of the WLOC measurement. We determined if social networks (who do you know) could be a potential new factor by adding six new items as a new subscale. Furthermore, the study compared the best fit three-factor structure of the WLOC to the best fit two-factor structure of the Core Self-Evaluations Scale (CSES) to determine if there are any similarities between the factors being measured. Overall, the best fit model for the WLOC measurement is the three-factor: Action, Luck, and Beneficial Relationships. The subscale of new items for social networks failed to promote the supposed social aspect of the measurement. The factors being measured in the WLOC differ from those in the CSES.M.A
Sex Trafficking and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Women Haunted by the Past
No full textKEYWORDS: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES); Sex Trafficking; Human Trafficking; Domestic Violence; Intimate Partner Violence (IPV); Cyntoia Brown; Pieper Lewis; Aileen Wuorno
GC-MS Analysis of Acetone, Methyl Isobutyl Ketone, and Methyl Ethyl Ketone in Ambient Air Samples from Shelby County
No full textKEYWORDS: Ketone volatile organic compounds analysis in ambient air
The Influence of Generational Menstrual Shame on Menstruating Females
No full textThis thesis describes a pilot qualitative research study exploring the reflections of
adolescent menstrual experiences by women of various ages. The question posed for this
study is: “Are memories of menstrual shaming in adolescence still traumatizing to the
adult female?” Five women ages 21-64 were sampled. Their interviews were transcribed,
analyzed, and manually coded to draw themes.
Five themes were extracted from the interviews: isolation, self-gaslighting,
discomfort, bullying, and knowledge deficit. These themes provide a better understanding
of the adolescent experiences of these women and the trauma caused.
The aim of this study is to decrease menstrual stigma and shame, while also
calling for educational improvements regarding women’s health