French Structuralism and its Contribution to Sociological Theory (open access)

French Structuralism and its Contribution to Sociological Theory

This study delineates the basic concepts and analytical techniques of contemporary French structuralists, namely Levi-Strauss, Lacan, Barthes, Althusser, and Foucault, and critically examines the contribution of their formulations to sociological theory and the implication of such formulations on the methodological orientation in sociology.
Date: August 1985
Creator: Abderrahmane, Azzi
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Children of Battered Women: Personality Patterns and Identification (open access)

Children of Battered Women: Personality Patterns and Identification

Mental health professionals have observed that children who witness interparental violence frequently display either an affrontive, demanding personality style, or a passive, compliant style. The prevalence of these personality types and their relation to identification, stress, and other variables was evaluated in a sample of 40 children (age range = 6 - 12 years old) who have witnessed parental spouse abuse. Children completed the Children's Personality Questionnaire and the Parental Identification Questionnaire. Mothers completed the Life Experiences Survey. Independent ratings of the children's personality were made. The results validated the existence of these two personality styles among both male and female witnesses, and supplied evidence for their relation to paternal identification, familial instability, and parental ineffectualness. The implications of these findings for assessment and intervention are discussed.
Date: December 1985
Creator: Adler, Jeffrey Steven
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nigerian Military Government and Problems of Agricultural Development (open access)

Nigerian Military Government and Problems of Agricultural Development

This thesis attempts to analyze the military government's role in solving the country's agricultural problems. This analysis is essential because it was during the military's stay in power that Nigeria's potential as a selfsufficient and food exporting nation declined. Materials collected to analyze the above problems reveal that the military government's lack of adequate personnel to supervise and implement decisions taken on agriculture, unplanned schemes, and unresearched projects were partly responsible for the government's inability to solve Nigeria's agricultural problems. While it may be necessary to blame the military government for not being able to completely solve the country's numerous agricultural problems, the presence of global political and economic decisions seriously hampered measures taken by the military government.
Date: August 1985
Creator: Agboaye, Izilin Christiana
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Effects of a Leisure Education Program Upon Expressed Attitudes Towards Recreation and Delinquency for Institutionalized Adolescents (open access)

Effects of a Leisure Education Program Upon Expressed Attitudes Towards Recreation and Delinquency for Institutionalized Adolescents

The social problem of juvenile delinquency and treatment efforts to alleviate this problem are introduced in this study. Literature related to theories on delinquency, institutional treatment, the role of recreation in correctional settings, and leisure education is reviewed and summarized. A basis for a leisure theory on delinquency is presented, suggesting delinquent behaviors are socially unacceptable leisure pursuits. Implications include efforts to replace delinquent behaviors with socially acceptable leisure pursuits (i.e. recreation).
Date: May 1985
Creator: Aguilar, Teresita E. (Teresita Elena)
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Immune Response of the Rat to Outer Membrane Proteins of Legionella Pneumophila (open access)

Immune Response of the Rat to Outer Membrane Proteins of Legionella Pneumophila

Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) were recovered from eleven strains (eight serogroups) of Legionella pneumophila by sequential treatment with Tris buffer (pH 8), citrate buffer(pH 2.75) and Tris buffer (pH 8). Transmission electron microscopy revealed clearly the separation of the outer membrane from the bacteria. The development of delayed hypersensitivity was also noted by measuring the area of arythema and induration produced by intradermal injections of the MPSs from Chicago 8 strain. The adjuvants enhanced greatly both active and cell-meditated immunity (CMI). Transient lymphocytopenia with a slight rise in neutrophils was noted in each of the immunized groups. Intraperitoneal challenge, seven days after the OMP booster, of one LD (1.5 x10^6) of legionellae resulted in lymphocytopenia with elevated neutrophils. All immunized rats survived the challenge, although those in the saline-OMP group were clearly the sickest. Post-challenge, legionella antibody titers rose greatly and CMI was heightened. Passive immunization (homologous and heterologous) was found to protect the rats from a challenge of on LD. Actively-immunized rats retained their immunity for at least six months as determined by their resistance to a second challenge.
Date: August 1985
Creator: Ahanotu, Ejemihu Ndu
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Investigation of Factors Deterring Participation in Continuing Professional Education (open access)

An Investigation of Factors Deterring Participation in Continuing Professional Education

This study was conceived as an attempt to determine .and analyze factors deterring participation in continuing professional education among social workers in environments where continuing education for relicensure is mandatory and voluntary. The specific research design implemented to complete this study was the ex-post facto descriptive design. The sample included 106 social workers randomly selected in the state of Texas where continuing education is mandatory and 94 social workers in the state of Louisiana where continuing education is voluntary. The instrument used was the Deterrent to Participation Scale developed by Scanlan (1983) and a demographic inventory. Scanlan (1983) earlier identified six factors deterring participation in continuing professional education: Disengagement, Lack of Quality, Family Constraints, Cost, Lack of Benefit, and Work Constraints. The study concluded that social workers in both states considered work constraint as a major factor deterring participation in continuing professional education. Also the factors of cost and lack of quality were also considered as crucial barriers in their efforts to participate in continuing professional education. The Wilks' multivariate test of significance of the means and univariate F tests at alpha level p < .05 revealed differences in the combined mean scores of social workers in both states when …
Date: December 1985
Creator: Akintade, Aribigbola
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Foreign Policy and the Soviet Gas Pipeline to Western Europe (open access)

U.S. Foreign Policy and the Soviet Gas Pipeline to Western Europe

This paper surveys U.S. foreign policy in the late 1970s and early 1980s as the American administration reacted to the Soviet Union's interventions in Afghanistan and Poland and to its planned gas pipeline to Western Europe. Chapter I outlines the origins of the pipeline project; Chapters II and III describe U.S. foreign policy toward the Soviets during the Carter and Reagan administrations. Chapter IV focuses on the economic sanctions imposed against the Soviet Union by the United States and their failure to block or delay the pipeline, and Chapter V stresses the inability of economic sanctions-- in this and other instances--to achieve political ends.
Date: August 1985
Creator: Al-Imam, Jamal D.
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Empirical Investigation of the Complementary Value of a Statement of Cash Flows in a Set of Published Financial Statements (open access)

An Empirical Investigation of the Complementary Value of a Statement of Cash Flows in a Set of Published Financial Statements

This research investigates the complementary value of a statement of cash flows (SCF) in a set of published financial statements. Selected accounting studies and selected parts of communication theory are used to argue the case for treating an SCF as a primary financial statement. Ideas adapted from communication theory are also used to decide key issues involved in developing an SCF. Specifically, the study selects a direct rather than a reconciling format for an SCF; it also defines cash to include currency, bank accounts, and marketable securities and exclude claims to cash such as notes and accounts receivable. The definition of cash limits cash flow to strict receipts and disbursements; it excludes constructive receipts and disbursements.
Date: May 1985
Creator: Allen, George Louis
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Childrearing Attitudes of Mexican-American Mothers Effects of Education of Mother (open access)

Childrearing Attitudes of Mexican-American Mothers Effects of Education of Mother

The purpose of this study was to identify childrearing attitudes of Mexican-American mothers with children ages three to five years of age. Specifically the first purpose of this study was to determine childrearing attitudes of Mexican-American mothers with ten years of education or fewer and Mexican-American mothers with eleven years of education or more as identified by the Parent As A Teacher Inventory (PAAT). The second purpose was to identify the relationship of the following demographic variables to childrearing attitudes: mother's age, mother's marital status, family income, sex of child, age of child, access to child, generational status, mother's language and mother's ethnicity. The PAAT and the Parent Information Questionnaire were administered to 112 Mexican-American mothers; 54 Mexican- American mothers with ten years of education or fewer and 58 Mexican-American mothers with eleven years of education or more. The population from which these subjects were drawn were mothers from Mexican-American communities in a North Texas county. Responses on the sample were analyzed using multivariate statistics. Based on the analysis of the data, the following conclusions seem tenable. 1. The Mexican-American mothers with eleven years of education or more have childrearing attitudes which are more positive than the Mexican-American mothers with …
Date: December 1985
Creator: Allie, Elva Leticia Concha
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Development of Oil and Societal Change in Saudi Arabia (open access)

Development of Oil and Societal Change in Saudi Arabia

Before the discovery of oil Saudi Arabia's economic structure was limited, and the majority of the population was engaged in herding and agriculture. Social life was also very simple. The Saudi economy has made tremendous strides since commercial oil production began in 1938. A series of national development plans was formulated, and the government has devoted considerable attention to the improvement of education, the Bedouin lifestyle, and many other aspects of society. Chapter I of this thesis presents background information about Saudi Arabia, and Chapter II outlines the development of its oil resources. Chapters III, IV, and V describe Saudi Arabia's family life, its educational system, and its nomads. Chapter VI offers a summary and suggestions for enhancing future development in the kingdom.
Date: August 1985
Creator: Almtairi, Naief M.
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Complex Polymers of ADP-Ribose Occur in Vitro and in Vivo (open access)

Complex Polymers of ADP-Ribose Occur in Vitro and in Vivo

The work presented here included the development of a highly sensitive method to estimate the size and complexity of poly(ADP-ribose). This involved radiolabeling of the precursor pools, purification of polymers using a boronate resin, polymer fractionation according to size by molecular sieve chromatography and analysis of polymer complexity by enzymatic digestion to nucleotides which were quantified by strong anion exchange chromatography.
Date: May 1985
Creator: Alvarez-Gonzalez, Rafael
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Exoprotease Production by Aeromonas hydrophila in a Chemically Defined Medium (open access)

Exoprotease Production by Aeromonas hydrophila in a Chemically Defined Medium

Wretlind, Heden, and Wadstrom found ammonium sulfate to be inhibitory for the formation of extracellular protease in Aeromonas hydrophila grown in Brain Heart Infusion medium. They demonstrated by manipulating the iron and zinc content within their medium that it is possible to differentially affect the accumulation of hemolysin and protease by A. hydrophila grown in batch culture. Further manipulation of the composition of this medium was done in the present study to determine the effect of other components on the production of protease. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors affecting the level of A. hydrophila protease produced in a chemically defined medium.
Date: May 1985
Creator: Anderson, Paulette S. (Paulette Sue), 1952-
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Critical Evaluation of the Image Texas Baptists Have of Their Eight Colleges and Universities (open access)

A Critical Evaluation of the Image Texas Baptists Have of Their Eight Colleges and Universities

The problem undertaken in this study was an attempt to discover the image Texas Baptists have of their eight colleges and universities, and to recommend steps to ensure a positive image. The two methods used to determine the image was a questionnaire distributed through a weekly newsmagazine, the Baptist Standard, and telephone interviews. From the study it was concluded that Texas Baptists have a positive image of their eight colleges and universities and rely on the Baptist Standard for their information. The major strength of the eight colleges and universities is the spiritual emphasis, and the major weakness is the high cost of attending a private college or university.
Date: August 1985
Creator: Armstrong, Jerilynn W. (Jerilynn Wood)
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Recreation Program Participation by Older Adults: Its Relationship to Perceived Freedom in Leisure and Life Satisfaction (open access)

Recreation Program Participation by Older Adults: Its Relationship to Perceived Freedom in Leisure and Life Satisfaction

This study examined the contribution of several variables to the prediction of perceived freedom in leisure (PFL) and life satisfaction in older adults. Demographic, health and socioeconomic variables were compared with participation in recreation programs, church involvement and PFL. Church involvement was viewed as a leisure activity rather than a measure of religiosity. The survey instrument incorporated all these variables and was pretested and revised before use in the study. The sample consisted of 198 persons 60 years of age and older who were members of two Southern Baptist churches. Subjects were randomly selected, but persons considered by church staff members to be incapable of completing the survey were eliminated. Surveys were hand delivered and picked up by volunteer workers, and a 38 percent return rate was obtained. Alpha reliability for the church involvement, PFL and life satisfaction scales in the instrument were .87, .94, and .77, respectively. Frequency counts and percentages or means and standard deviations were calculated for the demographic variables. Subjects were categorized by level of involvement in church and community recreation programs. Persons involved in community but not church recreation programs were underrepresented in the sample. A selective sampling procedure was utilized to obtain more respondents …
Date: December 1985
Creator: Baack, Sharon Ann
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Interactional Patterns in Families of Patients with Breast Cancer (open access)

Interactional Patterns in Families of Patients with Breast Cancer

This study utilized ethnographic methodology to describe the communicative interactional patterns in families with a member who has breast cancer. Three breast cancer patients whose families were between the adolescent and launching of children developmental lifestage (McGoldrick & Carter, 1982) were chosen for the study. Data were collected from a series of three interview sessions over a period of four weeks with a two week time lapse between each of the interview sessions. Interview sessions were conducted in the families' homes by the researcher. All interviews were video and audio tape recorded for the purpose of preserving data for transcribing and coding. Research questions examined individual perception of meaning in regard to the disease, the structure and organization of the family in relation to the illness, and the effects of family communicative interaction on the course and management of the disease. Findings indicated that family members' responses to the diagnosis of "breast cancer were influenced by multi-generational "beliefs. All three families formulated a collective belief which supported the mother's belief about the disease. Each of the three families were mother-centered, and each mother seemed to use a metacommunicative approach to mediating family transactions. Each of the three fathers were reported …
Date: August 1985
Creator: Bailey, A. Kathleen (Ann Kathleen)
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
The Relative Contribution of Flexibility of the Back and Hamstring Muscles in the Performance of the Sit and Reach Component of the AAHPERD Health Related Fitness Test in Girls Thirteen to Fifteen Years of Age (open access)

The Relative Contribution of Flexibility of the Back and Hamstring Muscles in the Performance of the Sit and Reach Component of the AAHPERD Health Related Fitness Test in Girls Thirteen to Fifteen Years of Age

The purpose of the study was to quantify the relative contribution of low back flexibility and hamstring flexibility in the sit and reach test item of the AAHPERD Health Related Fitness Test in order to examine the validity of the sit and reach test. Subjects were 100 female students, 13 to 15 years of age in physical education classes. Hamstring flexibility was measured using the Leighton flexometer. Spinal mobility was measured using a tape measure. The sit and reach test was performed according to instructions given in the AAHPERD Test Manual. Data were analyzed using correlation, linear regression, and multiple regression. Conclusions of the investigation were (1) hamstring flexibility is moderately related to the sit and reach test, (2) low back flexibility has a very small relationship to the sit and reach test, and (3) the sit and reach test is an inadequate measure of low back and hamstring flexibility.
Date: August 1985
Creator: Baker, Alice Ann
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Interaction of Cognitive Learning Style and Achievement of Selected Students of English as a Second Language (open access)

The Interaction of Cognitive Learning Style and Achievement of Selected Students of English as a Second Language

The purposes of this study were (1) to determine if the culture of the student's first language was a significant variable in field-dependent-independent cognitive learning style, and (2) if a student's second language achievement has a significant relationship to variables of grade level, sex, time in an English as a second language (ESL) program, second language proficiency level or cognitive learning style. It was hypothesized that (1) there are significant positive correlations between field-independence and the variables of achievement, proficiency level, and grade level, (2) there are significant positive correlations between second language achievement and proficiency level, grade level and time in an ESL program, (3) there are no significant differences in field-dependence between the sexes or the four cultures of Laotian, Spanish, Tongan, and Vietnamese, and (4) there is no significant difference in the mean achievement score between the sexes.
Date: August 1985
Creator: Ballard, Lynda Dyer
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Machine Tool Spare Parts Provisioning for Manufacturers: A Study and Application for Industries Engaged in Aluminum Cutting and Shaping (open access)

Machine Tool Spare Parts Provisioning for Manufacturers: A Study and Application for Industries Engaged in Aluminum Cutting and Shaping

This study identifies the concepts of reliability, cost of downtime, cost of spare parts, and procurement lead time as the four key moderators of spare parts availability. These concepts are used to establish a model to manage spare parts inventories. Reliability was assessed in terms of developing failure predictions for major component categories. Cost of downtime was evaluated by identifying various methods for determining costs associated with downtime. Cost of spare parts was examined to find correlations with economic indicators. These correlations were used to predict future price movements. Yearly changes in lead time were identified and correlated with economic indexes to develop movement predictability.
Date: December 1985
Creator: Barker, David W.
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Investigation of the Ratio of Free to Bound Phenytoin in Overdose Cases (open access)

An Investigation of the Ratio of Free to Bound Phenytoin in Overdose Cases

An investigation of the ratio of free to bound phenytoin in overdose cases was accomplished by three studies to answer these questions: 1. Will the free to bound ratio change with increasing total phenytoin concentration? 2. Will the free to bound ratio be altered with decreasing total protein concentration? 3. Do these results correlate with overdose cases? The results demonstrated that the ratio of free to bound phenytoin remains constant throughout the therapeutic range as long as a person has a normal total protein concentration. However, the free to bound ratio changes significantly when the total protein decreases by 25 per cent. This substantiates the importance of monitoring free and total phenytoin concentrations in hypoproteinemia.
Date: August 1985
Creator: Beckman Royder, Mona Lee
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Major Spelling Deficiencies Among Collegiate Business Students (open access)

Major Spelling Deficiencies Among Collegiate Business Students

The problem of this study was an analysis of major spelling deficiencies among collegiate business students. The purposes were as follows: (1) to develop a diagnostic instrument that will measure spelling deficiencies; and (2) to make recommendations regarding the preparation of materials that will assist students in overcoming these deficiencies. Written assignments prepared by collegiate Business Communication students were examined for spelling errors. Errors were then classified into the following categories: (1) words with "ie" and "ei" ; (2) final "e"; (3) final consonant rule; (4) final "y"; (5) confusion over vowel sounds; (6) pronunciation problems; (7) sound-alikes; (8) plurals; (9) apostrophes; (10) omissions; (11) additions and repetitions; (12) substitutions; (13) demons; and (14) miscellaneous. Percentages of total errors served as a guideline for preparation of a Table of Specifications, and a Spelling Diagnostic Test was developed. Validity of the instrument was determined by a panel of experts. The test was then administered to 214 collegiate business students, and a reliability coefficient of .83 was determined using the split-half method.
Date: August 1985
Creator: Benson, Melba W.
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Edvard Munch's Fatal Women: A Critical Approach (open access)

Edvard Munch's Fatal Women: A Critical Approach

This study is the first comprehensive analysis of the fatal woman motif in the writings and art of Edvard Munch from the early 1890s to 1909. It uses a background of the women in the artist's life as well as the literary and artistic worlds in which Munch participated. Following separate accounts of Munch's relationships with five women, the manner in which the artist characterizes each as a fatal woman in his writings and art is discussed and analyzed. Next, the study describes the fatal woman motif in late nineteenth century art and literature. It begins with a discussion of the origin of the Symbolist and Decadent Movements and an ideological examination of the fatal woman motif as it is manifested in the writing and art of these two groups. In addition, it compares Munch's visual manifestations of the femme fatale with the manner in which the artist's contemporaries depicted her. Finally, this study describes two groups of men with whom Munch was particularly close: the Christiania Bohéme and the Schwarzen Ferkel Circle. An examination of the literary works of these men helps to determine the way in which they affected Munch's pictorial perception of the fatal woman.
Date: December 1985
Creator: Bimer, Barbara Susan Travitz
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Metaphor and the ESL Classroom (open access)

Metaphor and the ESL Classroom

This paper concentrates on the viability of using metaphor as a teaching tool in the English as a Second Language classroom. In doing so, a semantically-based theory of metaphor, like that presented by Lakoff and Johnson (1980), is employed as a base for the examination. Such a theory of metaphor presents a dramatic shift from theories, especially Aristotle's, of the past. The theory of metaphor proposed by Lakoff and Johnson contends that language is essentially metaphorical and that much of our 'commonsense' knowledge about the world is derived from interpretations of reality and is manifested in metaphors central to a culture and its language. If this theory is true, then it stands to reason that a student attempting to learn English as a Second Language could profit greatly from metaphor instruction because such instruction would aid all areas of the language acquisition process.
Date: August 1985
Creator: Bishop, Ryan M. (Ryan Marion)
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Role of Competitiveness in Counter-System Counterplans in Academic Debate (open access)

The Role of Competitiveness in Counter-System Counterplans in Academic Debate

Allen J. Lichtman and Daniel M. Rohrer write that "Unfortunately, formal debate theory tends to lag behind the actual practice of competitive debate" (70). This statement accurately describes the current controversy surrounding the counter-system counterplans and how they may affect traditional debate theory. These counterplans are increasingly employed by negative teams in intercollegiate debate, but so far, there is no contemporary attempt to explain how they fit into current debate theory. This study will analyze this new genre of counterplans by answering the following questions.
Date: August 1985
Creator: Bjork, Rebecca S. (Rebecca Suzanne)
Object Type: Thesis or Dissertation
System: The UNT Digital Library