The Relationship Between a Coach's Goal Orientation and Perceived Motivational Climate

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between a coach's goal orientation and the motivational climate perceived by the players. The relationship between players' perceptions of the motivational climate and players' intrinsic motivation was also examined. This study was intended to provide evidence of how the coach's goal orientation affects the motivational climate perceived by players, and how perceived motivational climate influences intrinsic motivation. High school coaches and their players were contacted and participated in this study. Coaches (n = 18) and players (n = 187) filled out the Task and Ego in Sport Questionnaire and the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire-2. In addition, players filled out the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory. It was hypothesized that coach goal orientation and perceived motivational climate would be related, but the correlations between coach task goal orientation and player mastery climate (r = .283, p > .05), and between coach ego goal orientation and player performance motivational climate (r = -.265, p > .05) were not significant. Player mastery motivational climate was correlated with interest (r = .419, p < .01), competence, (r = .165, p < .05), and effort (r = .439, p < .01) as hypothesized. Player performance motivational climate was correlated with interest (r = -.297, p < .01), effort (r = .167, p < .05), and pressure (r = .187, p < .05) as hypothesized. The results demonstrated that the goal orientation of the coach does not have as strong an effect on the player's perceptions of the motivational climate as was previously thought. However, perceptions of the motivational climate do have an influence on intrinsic motivation

Non-tax money in Guilford County schools 1972-73

This study was designed to analyze sources and expenditures of non-tax money in public schools of Guilford County during the 1972-73 school year. Receipts, expenditures, and donations of goods recorded by a total of thirty-eight public schools were studied. Procedure followed four steps. First, a study was made of all receipts written during the 1972-73 school year by school treasurers within all Guilford County Schools. Receipts were classified and tables were produced from classifications. Second, all invoices paid by public schools of Guilford County during the 1972-73 school year were examined. Amounts shown on invoices were classified in accordance with usage of materials or services. Tables were formed from classifications. Third, a study of profits and cash donations made to or received by schools was conducted. Impact of non-tax monies on school programs was studied. This included a separate analysis of receipts and expenditures in the area of athletics. Fourth, a study was made of donated goods received by public schools of Guilford County during the 1972-73 school year. Analyses were made of values and origins of donated goods

The Hemingway Hero: Modern Fiction’s Knight Without Armor

After noticing unusually high identification with Hemingway's characters among my high school readers, I set out to determine why this identification occurs. Since these students do not know of Hemingway's life and since they have no critical knowledge from which to draw, I felt their personal reactions had to stem from something intrinsically present in the characters them¬selves. Thus began my odyssey to define the element in the characters that can so touch teen readers. Examining both Hemingway's life and as many critical analyses of his work as possible provided insight into what finally emerged as a new hero who withstands the disi1lusionments of the twentieth century. Since most accepted scholarly theory on Hemingway's work concludes that his fiction is his life written down, I began by examining areas of convergence between his life and his fiction. What emerged from this study of well publicized convergences were telling areas of divergence. Though Hemingway's life frequently touched his fiction, his characters' coping abilities far exceed any their creator ever acquired. This is the most profoundly important difference between the creations of Hemingway and the man himself. The man Ernest Hemingway took his own life when he realized that his creative abilities were diminishing. The writer-artist Ernest Hemingway created a hero, who in his most mature version—Santiago, lives at peace with himself and the world, satisfied with his manhood and his humanity. Studying the criticism of Hemingway's work helped clarify its important role in defining a literary hero for the twentieth century. Hemingway's hero completes the modernization of the literary hero begun with Huck Finn. From Hemingway's fiction, emerges a hero figure recast to live in the wasteland of the twentieth century. This hero has no illusions about saving society; he is simply trying to save himself. Ultimately, Hemingway's hero becomes fully cognizant of the nada facing modern existence. In this awareness and in the ensuing battle not to be defeated by it, the hero gains his heroic stature by struggling for control. For the Hemingway hero, success in society's eyes is not the issue. Rather, his success lies in controlling the terms of his inevitable loss. With these two conclusions—that Hemingway's life cannot be conformed to that of his hero and that this hero is representative of mankind's existence in modern society--I began to understand why my students make personal identification with Hemingway's work. Sixteen year olds also struggle to make their way against obstacles they have little practical chance of over-coming. Whenever my students can exercise control, even within losing struggles, they claim victories. Like Jack in "Fifty Grand," they win when they choose how they lose. They also admire this hero because, as they see with Santiago in The Old Man and the Sea, this hero is a winner when he satisfies himself. He does not need the affirmation of society to feel successful. High school age readers truly admire this trait and long for it on a very personal level. This hero, who is so often vulnerable, has the inner courage to make his own code for living. He be¬comes an armorless knight stripped of tradition's pro¬tection, but able to survive by building on the strength of the lone individual forging a meaning from nothingness. It is this loner's code that so touches my young readers, for they too must struggle to find meaning in the face of overwhelming odds

Cloning & Cellular Characterization of Myosin II Heavy Chain Kinase D from Dictyostelium discoideum.

The thesis research presented here focused on studies of a novel myosin II heavy chain kinase D (MHCK D) expressed in Dictyostelium discoideum cells. MHCK D is made up of four distinct domains: a short coiled-coil region (Coil), a region rich in serine, asparagine, proline, & glutamine residues (SNPQ), a kinase catalytic domain (Cat), and a WD-repeat segment (WD). A major component of this project was to amplify the Catalytic and WD repeat domains (Cat-WD) from genomic DNA. The Cat-WD truncation of MHCK D was cloned into pTX-GFP & pTX-Flag plasmids for expression in Dictyostelium cells. The recombinant plasmids were electroporated into Dictyostelium cells to over-express the fusion protein (GFP, or flag-tagged). To determine if MHCK D does phosphorylate the Myosin heavy chain, which in turn drives bi-polar filament disassembly, the phenotype of cells overexpressing the Cat-WD domain were compared to the phenotype of Myosin II-null cells and non-recombinant wild type cells. Cells overexpressing the Cat-WD domain from MHCK D, showed a phenotype similar to Myosin II-null cells, indicating that the Cat-WD domain plays a role in Myosin II bi-polar filament disassembly resulting from phosphorylation of the myosin heavy chain. Another aim of the thesis research focused on expression of the mhkd gene during the multicellular development cycle of Dictyostelium, using Reverse Transcriptase-PCR (RTPCR). The results indicate that mhkd is expressed throughout the multi-cellular development cycle, as well as during the vegetative growth phase of Dictyostelium. In summary, the results reveal that the Cat-WD domain of MHCK D drives Myosin II bipolar filament disassembly leading to defects in cytokinesis, and is expressed in both vegetative cells as well as cells undergoing the multi-cellular development cycle. These studies provide a basis for future research focused on activation, localization, and substrate targeting of MHCK D

The legal aspects of girls' interscholastic athletics : a summary of litigation involving the participation, rules, and regulations of the interscholastic high school athletic associations in each state from 1971-1977

This study examines the findings of twenty-six court cases involving sex discrimination of the female athlete by the State High School Athletic Associations and their allied members. An evaluation of the litigation was made to determine whether the rules and regulations of the State Associations were discriminatory. In each case it was the responsibility of the courts to determine if the existing rules were in violation of the federal laws of the United States. The courts were asked to rule on six specific complaints made against the Associations. These included separate game rules for males and females, inconsistent scheduling practices, disallowing mixed competition for noncontact sports, disallowing mixed competition for contact sports, depriving married female students of the right to participate and unequal distribution of funds

Gil Askey’s (1925-2014) horn arrangements for the Four Tops and the Temptations: a lecture recital

This document accompanies a lecture recital that provided background information and suggested techniques for performing the horn section arrangements of the Four Tops and the Temptations in a live setting. Introductory information about the scope and significance of the project and background information about Motown Records Company and arranger Gil Askey were discussed. The logistical and performance challenges that must be addressed when executing these horn arrangements were explored as well. An examination of the melodic, harmonic and rhythmic elements contained in the horn section arrangements was presented along with stylistic performance considerations. Excerpts taken from the actual horn section parts used in the live stage shows were included and analyzed. The document is organized into five chapters. Chapter 1 is comprised of an introductory overview of the study and discusses the relevance of the subject matter. The second chapter deals with background biographical information on arranger Gil Askey and his involvement with Motown Record Company’s roster of artists. Chapter 3 discusses the demands placed on musicians engaged to play with the Four Tops and Temptations. The fourth chapter explores common performance practices of the horn section arrangements for these groups and Chapter 5 concludes and summarizes the findings of the project and offers suggestions for further research

“This must be worked out locally”: race, education, and leadership in Rockingham County, North Carolina, 1820-1970

Focusing on local leadership, this work is a close study of race and education in Rockingham County, North Carolina, from 1820 to 1970. The long history of race and education is examined in the context of broader state and regional racial politics, with a focus on how both black and white citizens built their schools, maintained them through decades of segregation, and carried out the process of school desegregation, the primary path through which Jim Crow was dismantled across the South. With the historical record found in school board minutes and local newspapers as its research foundation, this dissertation reveals how the public school system was built and operated in one county in the Upper South, where, influenced by state and federal leaders over a century and a half, citizens worked out a framework of small-town and rural schools that ultimately afforded their children and youth equitable access to education. Because four separate school systems existed in the county, it is possible to compare the day-to-day functioning of schools in different communities and to understand more fully how leadership influenced local policies. Covering roughly five periods in local educational history, this study traces the efforts of those who invested in establishing, operating, and improving their public schools, arguing that the involvement of local leaders in each district significantly determined how each system developed and how racially segregated schools were ultimately eliminated. The trajectory of this local history includes the white academies of the antebellum era, the early public schools constructed in the late 1800s, the widening of the town/rural divide as well as the racial gap in the early 1900s, the challenges of operating multiple school systems during economic depression and war, and the struggle to comply with federal desegregation standards in the late 1960s. Much more than has been generally acknowledged, race was consistently a factor in building and maintaining these public schools, influenced by those who sought reconciliation of blacks and whites as well as those who deepened racial division. A local history such as this one affords us an opportunity to see how the South’s difficult racial past affected people at the grassroots level—in their community schools. This study also illuminates a century of agency and activism on the part of the county’s black community. African Americans were leaders as they helped create their own educational spaces, maintained and improved segregated institutions, chipped away at Jim Crow restrictions, and exerted as much leverage as they could to desegregate the local public schools. This long and persistent grassroots involvement was a significant part of the black freedom struggle, as incremental change was implemented in a variety of local conditions. Local leaders such as those in Rockingham County who actively sought adequate educational opportunities for their own children, the elimination of segregated schools, and a more equitable society were crucial in the success of the broader civil rights movement. No real progress in the black freedom struggle could have been achieved without eliminating segregated schools that existed as symbols of second-class citizenship in nearly every community in the South

Elucidation of the cellular genes, pathways, and biochemical mechanisms involved in HIV stimulation by aqueous tobacco smoke extract.

HIV infection, and tobacco smoking, two areas of major health concern which continue to grow worldwide, both of which have detrimental health effects on the population. The point of intersection where these two health concerns cross is the focus of this study. Here, a possible link between HIV infectivity levels and tobacco smoking at the point of cellular gene expression differences seen in the presence of tobacco smoke is described. This research presents evidence of increased HIV infectivity in the presence of tobacco smoke. qRT-PCR analysis is used to confirm micro array gene expression results. Twelve genes were identified to be overexpressed or under-expressed as a result of exposure to tobacco smoke extract (TSE). The expression of those twelve genes was then knocked down individually using siRNA technology in T-cells. HIV infectivity levels were then measured using a novel luciferase assay system in those cell lines which were under expressing the gene of interest. Dual gene knockdown cell lines were also used in the study. The results show that in the eight genes whose expression is up regulated as a result of TSE (which could be increasing HIV infectivity), upon the knockdown in expression of those genes, six of the eight show a significant decrease in HIV infectivity in T-cells. In the four genes whose expression is down regulated as a result of TSE (which could be increasing HIV infectivity), after the knockdown in expression of those genes, three of the four show a significant increase in HIV infectivity in T-cells. Together, these results shed light on the specific genes whose expression is altered due to TSE and how these gene regulation changes may affect HIV viral infectivity levels

Newly Incorporated Municipalities (NIMs) in the United States 1990 - 2000: Socioeconomic Differences

The purpose of this dissertation was to conduct a systematic examination into municipal incorporation activity in the United States through three primary avenues. To accomplish this task Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) and 2000 U.S. Census Bureau data was examined. First, a geographical analysis of NIMs was conducted to determine the essential spatial attributes of newly incorporated municipalities. The geographical analyses of NIMs revealed that the South Census region received a disproportionate share of NIM activity (151 out of 263) and North Carolina witnessed the most incorporations of any state (34). Likewise, a unique clustering of NIMs within certain counties was evident while other NIMs were formed in relative isolation. The geography of these clustering NIMs can be partially explained by a "herd mentality" where a local political culture is established that facilitates the diffusion of a NIM ideology in response to the aggressive annexation tactics of neighboring cities. Secondly, an examination of socio-economic differences between NIMs and their Cohort Cities largely confirmed the existing literature on municipal incorporation. Through the use of a T-test and ANOVA procedures it was determined that NIMs have statistically significantly smaller populations, lower population densities, higher percentages of white residents, higher median household incomes, lower percentages of poverty and larger percentages of residents employed in management occupations compared to existing municipalities. Interestingly, spatial variability by Census Region and Metropolitan designation had little impact on the statistically significant socio-economic variables. Finally, three NIM typologies where identified based on socio-economic variation among NIMs utilizing Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis techniques. These three National NIM Types include Exclusive Enclaves, Suburban Settlements, and Peripheral Communities that deviated based on skills/affluence, age, political affiliation, and race to name a few. The National NIM Typology can serve as a theoretical framework in which scholars can discuss NIMs. Additionally, the typology will assist public policy makers focused on balancing the rights of individual communities with larger concerns of regional economies of scale and efficient use of tax revenues

Synthesis of Functionalized Tolanes for Release of Rose Scent

The long-term objective of this research is to synthesize and develop a set of functionalized hexaphenylbenzenes capable of the controlled release of volatile fragrant molecules, otherwise known as “pro-fragrances”. The focus of current work is on the synthesis of original appropriately substituted 4,4’-diphenylacetylenes (tolanes). These tolanes may be capable of scent release and can be cyclized with catalytic amounts of cobalt octacarbonyl to form hexaphenylbenzene molecules. Efforts have focused on optimizing the conditions and yields for the production of two tolane molecules substituted in the 4,4’ positions with phenethyl ester groups. Upon hydrolysis, these ester groups will release the rose-scented 2-phenylethanol molecule. Synthesis of one tolane was accomplished through multiple steps culminating in the sequential modification of the Sonogashira coupling reaction. The required conditions (temperature, pH, time.) for the controlled hydrolysis of the tolane molecules were investigated via preliminary GC/headspace analysis and are strongly dependent on the stability of the tolane molecule