The Role of the U.S. Mass Media in the Political Socialization of Nigerian Immigrants in the United States (open access)

The Role of the U.S. Mass Media in the Political Socialization of Nigerian Immigrants in the United States

A mail survey of Nigerian immigrants in Dallas, Texas, and Chicago, Illinois, was conducted during October and November 1995. Four hundred and sixty-eight Nigerian immigrant families in the two cities were selected by systematic sampling through the telephone books. Return rate was approximately 40% (187). The variables included in the study were media exposure variables, general demographics, immigration traits, U.S. demographics, Nigerian demographics, and political and cultural traits. New variables which had not been included in previous studies were also tested in this study: television talk shows, talk radio, diffuse support for the U.S. political system, authoritarianism, self-esteem, and political participation. This study employed multiple regression analysis and path analysis of the data. This study found that Nigerian immigrants have high preference for television news as their main source of political information. This finding is in consonance with previous studies. Nigerian immigrants chose ABC news stations as their number one news station for political information. Strong positive associations existed between media exposure and length of stay in the United States and interest in U.S. politics. Talk radio positively associated with interest in U.S. politics and negatively associated with length of stay in the United States. Thus, this finding likely means …
Date: August 1996
Creator: Okoro, Iheanyi Emmanuel
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effects of Pulp and Paper Mill Wastewaters on Phytoplankton Primary Productivity in the Red River, Louisiana (open access)

The Effects of Pulp and Paper Mill Wastewaters on Phytoplankton Primary Productivity in the Red River, Louisiana

Responses of phytoplankton productivity in the Red River to unbleached pulp and paper mill wastewaters were monitored using in situ ^14C incubation. Preoperational studies, conducted prior to the discharge of mill wastewaters varied seasonally, but revealed similar productivity trends when compared with postoperational studies, conducted after mill discharges began entering the Red River. Carbon assimilation rates measured downstream of mill discharge were generally greater than upstream levels in both preoperational and postoperational studies. Selected physical, chemical, and biological parameters varied seasonally, but showed similar upstream-downstream values and preoperational-postoperational values. Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD_5) were positively correlated with postoperational productivity rates. Apparent color was negatively correlated with productivity rates.
Date: May 1984
Creator: Holler, Jeffrey Dee
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Pathologies in Earthworms: Sublethal Biomarkers of Xenobiotic Toxicity (open access)

Pathologies in Earthworms: Sublethal Biomarkers of Xenobiotic Toxicity

This research is part of an overall program to develop and use a suite of acute and sublethal toxicity biomarkers, and testing protocols for use in assaying potential effects of complex mixtures of xenobiotics such as found in soils containing agricultural biocides and petrochemical wastes dredged sediments, and hazardous waste sites (HWS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate four biomarkers of sublethal pathology that could be used in an integrative model of multiple toxicity endpoints with the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris.
Date: May 1991
Creator: Cikutovic Salas, Marcos A.
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Empirical Research of Decision-making Effectiveness When Using Differing Presentation Formats Under Varying Decision Tasks (open access)

Empirical Research of Decision-making Effectiveness When Using Differing Presentation Formats Under Varying Decision Tasks

The purpose of this research was to determine if presentation format, given a particular task to be performed, would affect the decision-making process of financial decision makers. The problem motivating this study is the potential for managers to make inefficient decisions when they use reports which are presented inappropriately for a given task.
Date: December 1988
Creator: Hard, Nancy J. (Nancy Jean)
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Mechanism of the Adenosine 3',5'-Monophosphate Dependent Protein Kinase (open access)

Mechanism of the Adenosine 3',5'-Monophosphate Dependent Protein Kinase

Isotope partitioning experiments were carried out with the adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (cAPK) from bovine hearts to obtain information on the order of addition of reactants and the relative rates of reactant release from enzyme compared to the catalytic step(s). A value of 100% trapping for both ErMgATP-[γ-32P] and E:3H-Serpeptide at low Mgf indicates that MgATP and Serpeptide dissociate slowly from the enzyme compared to the catalytic step(s). The K_Serpeptide for MgATP trapping is 17 μM, while the K_MgATP for Serpeptide trapping is 0.58 mM. The latter data indicate that the off-rate for MgATP from the E:MgATP complex is 14 s^-1 while that for Serpeptide from the E: Serpeptide complex is 64 s^-1. At high Mg^, 100% trapping is obtained for the E:MgATP-[γ-32P] complex but only 40% is obtained for the E:Serpeptide complex. Thus, the off-rate for Serpeptide from the E:MgATP:Serpeptide complex becomes significant at high Mg_f. Data suggest a random mechanism in which MgATP is sticky. The V for the cAPK reaction increases 1.5-1.7 fold in the presence of the R_II in the presence of saturating cAMP at a stoichiometry of R:C of 1:1. No change is obtained with the type-I complex under these conditions. At higher …
Date: May 1988
Creator: Kong, Cheng-Te
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Opioid/Adrenergic Interaction in Regulating Canine Cardiac Function (open access)

Opioid/Adrenergic Interaction in Regulating Canine Cardiac Function

Opioid/adrenergic interactions were studied to evaluate two hypotheses: (1) naloxone potentiates the effect of epinephrine on cardiac contractility by increasing circulating epinephrine concentrations; and (2) endogenous and exogenous opioids alter left cardiac nerve stimulationinduced norepinephrine release and cardiac function. A canine isolated heart-lung preparation was used for the first study. Plasma epinephrine was determined and myocardial epinephrine uptake was calculated during intravenous epinephrine infusion. Naloxone (4 mg) was given and the epinephrine infusion was repeated. Naloxone increased cardiac contractility, coronary blood flow, and the coronary sinus epinephrine concentration. When coronary blood flow was subsequently held constant (100% above resting), naloxone increased only contractility. This result indicated that the previously observed increase in coronary sinus epinephrine was flow dependent. Corticosterone (an uptake II blocker) was employed as a positive control. Corticosterone increased the contractile response to epinephrine, but unlike naloxone, corticosterone was accompanied by a clear decrease in myocardial epinephrine uptake. The stereospecificity of the response to naloxone was investigated and (+) naloxone equaled or exceeded (-) naloxone in potentiating the inotropic effect of epinephrine. In the second study, the left cardiac nerve was isolated and electrically stimulated in intact dogs. Norepinephrine overflow gradually declined during successive control stimulations. Pretreatment with …
Date: May 1990
Creator: Gu, Hong
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
The President's Influence on Congress: Toward an Explanation of Senators' Support for Presidents Carter and Reagan (open access)

The President's Influence on Congress: Toward an Explanation of Senators' Support for Presidents Carter and Reagan

This study examines the possible effect of the president's vote totals in states on Presidents Carter's and Reagan's support among senators. Using senators' Congressional Quarterly (CQ) presidential support scores as the dependent variable, this paper hypothesizes that Carter and Reagan's support is significantly and positively related to their electoral success in that Senator's state for the years 1977 through 1988. Several control variables are included to help explain support. There is qualified corroboration for the hypothesis that senator's presidential support scores are significantly and positively related to the president's electoral success for specific administrations and for specific-party senators, although not for the original hypothesis that aggregated the period 1977 to 1988.
Date: May 1994
Creator: Endsley, Stephen C. (Stephen Craig)
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cross-Cultural Validity of the Test of Non-Verbal Intelligence (open access)

Cross-Cultural Validity of the Test of Non-Verbal Intelligence

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which a non-verbal test of intelligence, the Test of Non-Verbal Intelligence (TONI), may be used for assessing intellectual abilities of children in India. This investigation is considered important since current instruments used in India were developed several years ago and do not adequately reflect present standards of performance. Further, current instruments do not demonstrate adequate validity, as procedures for development and cultural transport were frequently not in adherence to recommended guidelines for such practice. Data were collected from 91 normally achieving and 18 mentally retarded Indian children, currently enrolled in elementary schools. Data from an American comparison group were procured from the authors of the TONI. Subjects were matched on age, grade, and area of residence. Subjects were also from comparative socioeconomic backgrounds. Literature review of the theoretical framework supporting cross-cultural measurement of intellectual ability, a summary of major instruments developed for cross-cultural use, non-verbal measures of intellectual ability in India, and issues in cross-cultural research are discussed, with recommended methodology for test transport. Major findings are: (a) the factor scales derived from the Indian and American normally achieving groups indicate significant differences; (b) items 1, 3, 5, 8, …
Date: August 1988
Creator: Parmar, Rene S. (Rene Sumangala)
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library

Empirical Tests of the Signaling and Monitoring Hypotheses for Initial Public Offerings

Access: Use of this item is restricted to the UNT Community
The research questions investigated are: 1. Are the expected post-issue fractional holdings of the directors and officers, venture capitalists and institutions signals of firm value? 2. Are the expected post-issue fractional holdings of the directors and officers, venture capitalists and institutions signals of underpricing? and 3. Are the directors and officers, venture capitalists and institutions monitors of IPO investments? The signaling theory developed by Grinblatt and Hwang (1989) (GH) and the monitoring theory for IPO investments have been used to develop the hypotheses for this dissertation. Four factors make my methodology unique. These factors are: 1. I apply and test the GH IPO signaling model over a unique data set collected from the IPO prospectuses, proxy statements and annual reports; 2. I disaggregate the expected post-issue holdings of the different groups of pre-issue blockholders and insiders and hypothesizes that these individual groups represents signals of firm value and underpricing; 3. I hypothesize that these groups, in aggregate and separately, monitor IPO investments over the long term; And 4. I develop signaling and monitoring hypotheses to make predictions at the two stages of the IPO. The results show that firm value is positively related to the level of underpricing, at a …
Date: May 2006
Creator: Gordon, Sean Anthony Garnet
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Degradation of Humic Substances by Aquatic Bacteria (open access)

Degradation of Humic Substances by Aquatic Bacteria

A variety of aquatic bacteria were isolated and tested for their ability to degrade humic substances and their aromatic residues/monomers which serve as precursors of the trihalomethanes (THMs) found in chlorinated drinking waters. The majority of them were Gram-negative, oxidative types dominated by pseudomonads. Most of the 146 isolates were found to utilize as their sole source of carbon several or more of ten aromatic compounds known to be products of degradation of humus and also to be precursors of THMs. The aromatics tested, with percent of the isolates utilizing the compound in parentheses, were: p-hydroxybenzoate (49), vanillic acid (48), 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (16), syringic acid (19), vanillin (30), benzoic acid (27), ferulic acid (34), resorcinol (9), catechol (8) and protocatechuic acid (27).
Date: August 1985
Creator: Baiu, Saleh Hamed Salem
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
An In Vitro Study of the Effects of Methylprednisolone on Lesioned and Uninjured Mammalian Spinal Cord Neurons (open access)

An In Vitro Study of the Effects of Methylprednisolone on Lesioned and Uninjured Mammalian Spinal Cord Neurons

The studies reported in this dissertation constitute the first evidence that methylprednisolone (MP) has been shown to ameliorate specific components of secondary trauma including ischemia, lactic acidosis, and lipid peroxidation.
Date: December 1993
Creator: Rosenberg-Schaffer, Lisa (Lisa Jo)
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Analysis of the Information Content of Bond-Rating Changes: A Case of Differential Information (open access)

An Analysis of the Information Content of Bond-Rating Changes: A Case of Differential Information

This dissertation examines the reaction of common stock prices to the announcement of changes in bond ratings by Moody's Bond Service, while having a control for differential information availability. The Institutional Brokers Estimate System (I/B/E/S) number of security analysts and coefficient of variation of earning per share (EPS) estimates are used as a proxy for information availability of the firms. Past studies differs in their conclusions as to whether the market has responded to announcement of bond rating changes. None of past studies have controlled for differential information availability. This study, using daily stock returns data and the event study methodology with the statistical test, finds that while the sample of rating downgrades exhibit significantly negative abnormal price effect during the announcement period, the magnitude of this effect is significantly higher for firms with low information availability. For the rating upgrades, the sample as a whole has no abnormal announcement period returns, but the sample of firms with lower information earns significantly positive abnormal returns. This study provides support for the hypothesis that the announcement effect of bond-rating changes is conditional on the information available about the firm.
Date: May 1991
Creator: Pongspaibool, Nantaphol
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
The impact of climate and flooding on tree ring growth of Fraxinus pennsylvanica in north-central Texas. (open access)

The impact of climate and flooding on tree ring growth of Fraxinus pennsylvanica in north-central Texas.

Tree cores of Fraxinus pennsylvanica were used in a dendrochronological analysis investigating the species' responses to climate and flooding. The objective was to develop a model that incorporates the effects of precipitation, temperature, and flooding on radial growth in this species in north-central Texas. The trees exhibited strong climatic signals. The study clearly shows that all three factors have significant impacts on tree ring growth both prior to and during growth; however, the nature and extent of these impacts are highly dependent on what time of year they occur. The large temporal variations in growth responses emphasize the importance of considering the timing of environmental events when studying tree growth responses.
Date: December 2009
Creator: Komperod, Mari
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Influence of Stream Regulation on Genic Differentiation and Thermal Tolerance in the Red Shiner, Notropis Lutrensis (open access)

The Influence of Stream Regulation on Genic Differentiation and Thermal Tolerance in the Red Shiner, Notropis Lutrensis

Genetic variation and thermal tolerance were surveyed for variation attributed to nonuniform selection pressures for five populations of the red shiner, Notropis lutrensis, collected from regulated and unregulated portions of a Texas river. Populations within 30 km of a hypolimnion-release dam that experience large thermal perturbations were found to have higher levels of heterozygosity, higher levels of polymorphism, significantly depressed levels of upper thermal tolerance endpoints, and greater variances in tolerance endpoints. These populations have evolved enzyme systems differing from the unregulated populations in response to a variable and depressed thermal regime.
Date: December 1982
Creator: King, Timothy L. (Timothy Lee)
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Discovery of Resources and Conflict in the Interstate System, 1816-2001 (open access)

Discovery of Resources and Conflict in the Interstate System, 1816-2001

This study tests a theory detailing the increased likelihood of conflict following an initial resource discovery in the discovering nation and its region. A survey of prior literature shows a multitude of prior research concerning resources and nations' willingness to initiate conflict over those resources, but this prior research lacks any study concerning the effects of the discovery of resources on interstate conflict. The theory discusses the increased likelihood of conflict in the discovering nation as both target and initiator. It further looks at the increased chance of conflict in the discoverer's region due to security dilemmas and proxy wars. The results show strong support for the theory, suggesting nations making new resource discoveries must take extra care to avoid conflict.
Date: May 2010
Creator: Clark, Bradley
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Middle Matters: Political Responses to Income Inequality in an American State (open access)

The Middle Matters: Political Responses to Income Inequality in an American State

This dissertation examines the effects of micro-level inequality on political preferences and voting behavior.
Date: May 2018
Creator: Mcgauvran, Ronald Joel
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fate of Endothall in Aquatic Environments (open access)

Fate of Endothall in Aquatic Environments

Hazard assessment of pesticides in aquatic environments requires accurate predictions of persistence and compartmentalization. A strategy for developing confidence in predictive fate models, such as the Exposure Analysis Modeling System (EXAMS) and the Simplified Lake and Stream Analysis model (SLSA), is to test the models using carefully chosen chemicals in semi-controlled and field situations. An objective of this approach would be to isolate the variability in a particular fate process and thereby assess the ability of an algorithm to model the process. For example, endothall, a relatively watersoluble aquatic herbicide, has essentially a sole fate process, biotransformation. Endothall was used to test the predictive capabilities of EXAMS and SLSA and to identify sources of variance in those predictions.
Date: December 1984
Creator: Reinert, Kevin H. (Kevin Howard)
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
A study of muscular development and muscular strength in the highly trained female bodybuilder and the non-strength trained female (open access)

A study of muscular development and muscular strength in the highly trained female bodybuilder and the non-strength trained female

The extent of muscular strength and muscular size in 20 female bodybuilders and 20 non-strength trained females was studied. Body composition and segment volumes and related anthropometric measurements data were obtained along with chest press and knee extension One Repetition Maximum (IRM) and 25 Repitition Maximum (25RM) values. No group differences were present in age, height, weight and segment volumes. The bodybuilders had a lower percent body fat, greater lean body weight (LBW) and larger muscles compared to the non-strength trained females.
Date: May 1987
Creator: Melson, Treina
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Relationship Between Environmental Barriers and Modes of Technology Transfer: A Study of United States Companies with Operations in Mexico (open access)

The Relationship Between Environmental Barriers and Modes of Technology Transfer: A Study of United States Companies with Operations in Mexico

This study is an empirical evaluation of the relationship between perceptions of the elements of the remote environment of business and the mode of transfer utilized by 90 United States companies transferring technology to Mexico. Characteristics of the technology, the company, and the industry were found, from a thorough search of the literature, to be the key aspects of technology transfer. The primary hypothesis predicted that a significant relationship would exist between perceptions of barriers and choice of transfer mode.
Date: August 1994
Creator: LeMaster, Jane
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Changes in Heterozygosity Through Time in American Standardbred and American Saddlebred Horses (1960-1990) (open access)

Changes in Heterozygosity Through Time in American Standardbred and American Saddlebred Horses (1960-1990)

Observed and expected heterozygosity (H) levels for ten electrophoretic blood marker loci and expected H for seven red blood cell (RBC) anitgen/antibody loci were examined for 20 years in American Standardbred and 30 years in American Saddlebred horses. Standardbreds were classed by gait, Trotter and Pacer, and evaluated separately in most analyses. 4,404 Trotters and 12,271 Pacers were found to have statistically highly significant losses of mean total observed H through time for the ten electrophoretic loci (P<0.005), although in Trotters the loss was more extreme (P<<0.001). Loss of H in 5984 Saddlebreds was not significant (P=0.259). Correlations of RBC expected H through time showed decreases in all three groups.
Date: May 1992
Creator: King, Judith A. (Judith Ann), 1955-
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Evaluating Tree Seedling Survival and Growth in a Bottomland Old-field Site: Implications for Ecological Restoration (open access)

Evaluating Tree Seedling Survival and Growth in a Bottomland Old-field Site: Implications for Ecological Restoration

In order to assess the enhancement of seedling survival and growth during drought conditions, five-hundred bare-root seedlings each of Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii Buckl.) and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) were planted each with four soil amendments at a Wildlife Management Area in Lewisville, Texas. The treatments were a mycorrhizal inoculant, mulch fabric, and two superabsorbent gels (TerraSorb® and DRiWATER®). Survival and growth measurements were assessed periodically for two years. Research was conducted on vegetation, soil, and site history for baseline data. Both superabsorbent gels gave significant results for Shumard oak survival, and one increased green ash diameter. For overall growth, significant results were found among DRiWATER®, mycorrhizae, and mulch treatments.
Date: August 2007
Creator: Boe, Brian Jeffrey
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Spatial and Temporal Influences of Water Quality on Zooplankton in Lake Texoma (open access)

Spatial and Temporal Influences of Water Quality on Zooplankton in Lake Texoma

Seventy-one aquatic species including the copepodids and nauplii were identified from Lake Texoma from August 1996 to September 1997. Zooplankton community structure, abundance and spatial and temporal distributions were compared among five lake zones delineated a priori based on chloride concentration. The zones, in order of decreasing chloride concentration, are the Red River zone (RRZ), Red river Transition zone (RRTZ), Main Lake zone (MLZ), Washita River Transition zone (WRTZ) and Washita River zone (WRZ). Bray Curtis Similarity Index showed community structure was most similar in the two Red River arm zones, the two Washita River arm zones and the MLZ. Zooplankton abundance was greatest in the Red River arm (312 org/L), intermediate in the Washita River arm (217 org/L) and least in the Main Lake body (103 org/L). A significant increase in the abundance of a deformed rotifer, Keratella cochlearis, was observed mainly in the Red River arm during a second study from March 1999 to June 1999. Seasonal dynamics, rather than spatial dynamics, were more important in structuring the zooplankton community, especially in the two river arms. Spatial variance was solely attributed to station and zone effects independent of time for a few crustacean species and many of the …
Date: May 2000
Creator: Franks, Jessica L.
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effects of Media Exposure on Body Satisfaction, Beliefs About Attractiveness, Mood and Bulimic Symptomatology Among College Women (open access)

The Effects of Media Exposure on Body Satisfaction, Beliefs About Attractiveness, Mood and Bulimic Symptomatology Among College Women

The research of Stice et al. (1994) and Stice and Shaw (1994) proposed several mechanisms that may mediate the adverse effects of media exposure to the thin ideal including internalization of the thin-ideal, negative affect, and body dissatisfaction. The purpose of this study was to extend initial research of Stice and Shaw (1994) by incorporating two forms of media (e.g., TV and Magazines) to assess the effects of exposure to the media portrayal of ideal body shape on women's mood, body satisfaction, and internalization of societal values concerning attractiveness. The relation of these variables to bulimic symptomatology was examined. The current study improved upon Stice and Shaw's study (1994) by matching participants' scores on BMI, level of negative affect, and level of body satisfaction before random assignment to the experimental conditions. Female undergraduates aged 18 to 25 years participated in premeasure (N = 198) and post measure (N = 164) conditions. Results from repeated mulitvariate analysis indicated media exposure to ideal-body images demonstrated no significant changes in women's affect, body satisfaction or endorsement of the thin ideal. Indirect support for the sociocultural theory of eating disorders was provided by multiple regression analyses that demonstrated lower levels of satisfaction with size …
Date: December 2000
Creator: Varnado, Jessica Lea
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fitness-Related Alterations in Blood Pressure Control: The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System (open access)

Fitness-Related Alterations in Blood Pressure Control: The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System

Baroreflex function and cardiovascular responses to lower body negative pressure during selective autonomic blockade were evaluated in endurance exercise trained (ET) and untrained (UT) men. Baroreflex function was evaluated using a progressive intravenous infusion of phenylephrine HCL (PE) to a maximum of 0.12 mg/min. Heart rate, arterial blood pressure, cardiac output and forearm blood flow were measured at each infusion rate of PE. The reduction in forearm blood flow and concomitant rise in forearm vascular resistance was the same for each subject group. However, the heart rate decreases per unit increase of systolic or mean blood pressure were significantly (P<.05) less in the ET subjects (0.91 ± 0.30 versus 1.62 ± 0.28 for UT). During progressive lower body negative pressure with no drug intervention, the ET subjects had a significantly (P<.05) greater fall in systolic blood pressure (33.8 ± 4.8 torr versus 16.7 ± 3.9 torr). However, the change in forearm blood flow or resistance was not significantly different between groups. Blockade of parasympathetic receptors with atropine (0.04 mg/kg) eliminated the differences in response to lower body negative pressure. Blockade of cardiac sympathetic receptors with metoprolol (0.02 mg/kg) did not affect the differences observed during the control test. It was …
Date: December 1986
Creator: Smith, Michael Lamar, 1957-
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library