Digital Commons Network^™

Verbal Working Memory Load Dissociates Common Indices Of The Numerical Distance Effect: Implications For The Study Of Numerical Cognition, Erin A. Maloney, Nathaniel Barr, Evan F. Risko, Jonathan A. Fugelsang

Publications and Scholarship

In four experiments, we explore the role that verbal WM plays in numerical comparison. Experiment 1 demonstrates that verbal WM load differentially impacts the two most common variants of numerical comparison tasks, evidenced by distinct modulation of the size of the numerical distance effect (NDE). Specifically, when comparing one Arabic digit to a standard, the size of the NDE increases as a function of increased verbal WM load; however, when comparing two simultaneously presented Arabic digits, the size of the NDE decreases (and here is eliminated) as a function of an increased verbal WM load. Experiment 2, using the same …

Validation Of A Fluorescence-Based Bacteria Enumeration And Viability Determination Method Using Image Cytometry, Matthew R. Hodgkin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Craft beer production in the United States has been increasing significantly in recent years. As production and participation in the industry increases, so have consumer demands for more beer options. Breweries have met this call with experimentation of ingredients in their beer and also the styles they brew. One such beer, the sour beer, is an example of this experimentation and new product development. Sour beers are a style that differ from most other beers by how they are manufactured. Instead of being fermented with only yeast, both a lactic acid-producing bacteria and yeast are used. With increased competition amongst …

Broadening Footpaths: Trail Ecology And Ethic, Miles H. Frank

Student Theses 2015-Present

There is not always a clear distinction between what constitutes responsible use and what constitutes overuse with regard to recreation and the environment. Even on a small scale, outdoor recreation will always leave a footprint. This paper addresses the ecological impact that the growth of outdoor recreation has had on the environment. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, it provides a holistic analysis of the issue from the scale of local vegetation to that of national policy and wilderness philosophy. Chapter one focuses on the immediate impacts of the overuse of hiking trails and the subsequent environmental degradation of at-risk areas. It …

Functional Implications Of Nlrp1 Variants For Autoimmune Disease, Laura J. Westhoff

Undergraduate Honors Theses

NLRP1 is a protein-coding human gene that plays a crucial role in the NLRP1 inflammasome. Variants to the NLRP1 gene have been associated with autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. We examined the effects of polymorphisms at two SNPs on cytokine levels and NLRP1 gene expression in 50 human volunteers without diagnosed autoimmune disease. NLRP1 was genotyped at SNPs rs2670660 and rs12150220 and individuals who were homozygous at one or more SNP were selected for further analysis. Serum IL-18 and IL-1β levels were quantified using ELISA. NLRP1 gene expression was measured using real-time PCR. A strong linkage was found between genotypes of …

Design, Synthesis, & Biological Evaluation Of Novel Het-Aromatic/Aromatic Analogs For The Treatment Of Hiv, Cancer, & Cognitive Dysfunctions, Mohit Gupta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cyclophilin A are a class of peptidyl-prolyl isomerases that catalyzes isomerization of the proline residue within a protein. Cyclophilin A plays an instrumental role in the pathogenesis of HIV and HCV virus. Using structure-based drug we designed and synthesized small molecule inhibitors of cyclophilin A. These inhibitors were biologically evaluated for their ability to inhibit WT HIV-1 inhibition.

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase signaling cascades plays a critical role in cancer cell survival, metastasis, and chemo-resistance. The MEK5/ERK5 pathway, which is a member of MAPK signaling cascade, is involved in cell survival, anti-apoptotic signaling, angiogenesis, and cell motility. It is found to …

A Laboratory Investigation Of Cement Based Materials With Cellulose Nanofibers, Parivash Takasi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cellulose Nanofibers (CNFs) are used as additives in cement-based products to modify their properties. Recent studies about the effects of CNFs on cement paste showed inconsistent results for several different important properties, including compressive strength and free shrinkage. There is reason to believe that the unsystematic results of the compressive strengths were affected by the lack of uniform dispersion of CNFs. As a potential remedy, two different mixing methods were applied. The first method used a basic mixer, but aggregates were added to the cement paste mixture to improve the blending process. The second method utilized a high-speed shear mixer …

A Qualitative Representation Of Spatial Scenes In R2 With Regions And Lines, Joshua Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Regions and lines are common geographic abstractions for geographic objects. Collections of regions, lines, and other representations of spatial objects form a spatial scene, along with their relations. For instance, the states of Maine and New Hampshire can be represented by a pair of regions and related based on their topological properties. These two states are adjacent (i.e., they meet along their shared boundary), whereas Maine and Florida are not adjacent (i.e., they are disjoint).

A detailed model for qualitatively describing spatial scenes should capture the essential properties of a configuration such that a description of the represented objects …

Evaluating The Occurrence Of Age-Related Peripheral Neuropathy In Het3 Mice And Development Of A Whole Tissue Imaging Technique For Analyzing Total Innervation In The Subcutaneous Adipose Depot, Jake Willows

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adipose tissue can be characterized as either being a white (energy storing) depot or a brown (energy expending) depot and both have been found to contain dense networks of neural innervation. This adipose nerve supply regulates numerous metabolic functions and likely plays an important role in the function of adipose blood vessels. Recently our lab has shown in the C57BL/6 mouse model that peripheral neuropathy, or the dying back and dysfunction of the nerves in the superficial tissues such as the skin, can extend into the subcutaneous adipose tissue in conditions commonly associated with the neuropathic phenotype (i.e. diabetes, obesity, …

Student Retention, Coping, And Communication: A Study Of Student Responses To A Common Read At A Small Liberal Arts College, Debbie Cunningham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

College student retention has been researched for over half a century. Much of the research about student retention has examined easily quantifiable factors, such as demographic variables, or presumably objective measures of student readiness, such as SAT scores. The results of these types of studies demonstrate the complexities of retention and attrition and underscore the importance of examining retention within the local contexts of institutions.

This study adopts a communication perspective to examine the intersection of three critical constructs: student retention, student writing, and identity. By observing the ways in which students constitute their identities in essays submitted as part …

The Modular Approach To The Title Sequence, Nathan Sorrentino

Theses

Over the course of the past few decades, the role of opening title sequences has evolved from a simple objective to deliver top priority credits in the beginning of a film or show with basic to intermediate level branded graphics, to become a strong standing work of art within the feature itself. The old way of simply delivering a title has become something "anyone can do" on their home laptop computer with a consumer level NLE software. Today, it takes a high quality, intricately designed sequence to effectively hook and ensure the audience of the professional level of the film …

Seed Mix Experiments And Analysis Of Native Seed Supply For The Pollinator Habitat Initiative, Laura Jackson, Justin Meissen

Tallgrass Prairie Publications and Reports

No abstract provided.

Troubling “Technologies”: Exploring The Global Learning Xprize Using The Frameworks Of Skinner And Foucault, Tanya Elias

Current Issues in Emerging eLearning

This work focuses on the question: What might be wrong with large-scale approaches to learning? In posing this question, my purpose is not to suggest that large-scale approaches have no role to play within a complex educational landscape. Rather, I seek to introduce a starting point for more critical and nuanced approaches to achieving proper scale within digital learning, whether big and small. Organized around a series of stories from a train-ride home, I introduce a series of process-based “technologies” as defined by Skinner (1971) and Foucault (1988). After contrasting key concepts of Skinner and Foucault, I apply Foucault’s framework …

Human Dimensions Of Roadside Forest Management To Reduce Utility Infrastructure Vulnerability, Danielle Kloster

Doctoral Dissertations

During major storm events in 2011 and 2012 (Tropical Storm Irene, Storm Alfred, Hurricane Sandy), approximately 90% of power outages in Connecticut were caused by falling trees or limbs. The storms brought attention to the vulnerability of utility infrastructure and, in response, more focus was placed on vegetation management. People play a role in each step of the vegetation management process: government and utility officials planning for infrastructure resilience, tree crews conducting the management, and property owners mediating management by consenting or objecting to proposed tree pruning and removal. My research explored the human dimensions of roadside vegetation management. Media …

Implementing A Fall Prevention Program: A Quality Improvement Project To Promote Patient Mobility On The Medical-Surgical Unit, Alba Araiza

Master's Projects and Capstones

Implementing a fall prevention program is imperative in acute healthcare settings. Falls are one of the top reported events that occur in hospitals and it is a patient safety concern that requires the implementation of evidence-based practices to reduce falls. This quality improvement project will be developed by a master’s prepared clinical nurse leader (CNL) on a medical-surgical unit to improve patient safety.

Problem

Maintaining patient safety is the most important priority in health care. Health care organizations implement protocols, policies and procedures to ensure that care is provided in a safe manner to minimize preventable harms. However, falls are …

Incorporation Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Uav) Point Cloud Products Into Remote Sensing Evapotranspiration Models, Mahyar Aboutalebi, Alfonso F. Torres-Rua, Mac Mckee, William P. Kustas, Héctor Nieto, Maria Mar Alsina, Alex White, John H. Prueger, Lynn Mckee, Joseph Alfieri, Lawrence E. Hipps, Calvin Coopmans, Nick Dokoozlian

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

In recent years, the deployment of satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has led to production of enormous amounts of data and to novel data processing and analysis techniques for monitoring crop conditions. One overlooked data source amid these efforts, however, is incorporation of 3D information derived from multi-spectral imagery and photogrammetry algorithms into crop monitoring algorithms. Few studies and algorithms have taken advantage of 3D UAV information in monitoring and assessment of plant conditions. In this study, different aspects of UAV point cloud information for enhancing remote sensing evapotranspiration (ET) models, particularly the Two-Source Energy Balance Model (TSEB), over …

Wintertime Spatial Distribution Of Ammonia And Its Emission Sources In The Great Salt Lake Region, Alexander Moravek, Jennifer G. Murphy, Amy Hrdina, John C. Lin, Christopher Pennell, Alessandro Franchin, Ann M. Middlebrook, Dorothy L. Fibiger, Caroline C. Womack, Erin E. Mcduffie, Randy S. Martin, Kori D. Moore, Munkhbayar Baasandorj, Steven S. Brown

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Ammonium-containing aerosols are a major component of wintertime air pollution in many densely populated regions around the world. Especially in mountain basins, the formation of persistent cold-air pools (PCAPs) can enhance particulate matter with diameters less than 2.5 µm (PM_2.5) to levels above air quality standards. Under these conditions, PM_2.5 in the Great Salt Lake region of northern Utah has been shown to be primarily composed of ammonium nitrate; however, its formation processes and sources of its precursors are not fully understood. Hence, it is key to understanding the emission sources of its gas phase precursor, ammonia …

The Art Of Subtitling: A Case Study Of A Chinese Online Fansub Group, Xianwei Wu

Theses - ALL

Online fan subtitling (hereafter fansub) groups are a recent phenomenon that have quickly gained global popularity. They are groups of volunteers who produce and distribute subtitles of English televisions shows and films for free. However, to date not much academic attention has been paid to this phenomenon in a critical capacity, with the exception of anime fansubbing. This study closely examines one fansub group in China using a single-case design case study. The methods of data collection include: in-depth interviews with the translators; participant observation as a subtitle translator; and textual/discourse analysis of the subtitles. This study will use the …

The State, Aerospace Multinational Corporations And Variegated Forms Of Corporate Capture In Regional Training Systems: A Cross-National Comparative Study Between Charleston, Sc, U.S.A. And São José Dos Campos, Sp, Brazil, Tiago Roberto Alves Teixeira

Dissertations - ALL

In today’s globalized world, the power of influence of multinational corporations over the state and society is significant. One particular area is related to how MNCs have influenced states and public educational institutions in order to shape their educational agendas and training initiatives. Many scholars have conceptualized such an influence as processes of corporate capture. In this dissertation, I examine and compare the existing processes of corporate capture related to Boeing and Embraer in the regional training systems of Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A., and São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil. I also investigate how their distinctive state forms and …

Regionalist Social Movements In Contemporary Chile: Production Of Space, Place, Territory, And Scale Through Collective Action, Miguel A. Contreras

Dissertations - ALL

In the last decade, the organization of several territorially based social movements in Chile has expressed a significant level of social discomfort about the political and economic system of the country. The central objective of this dissertation is to analyze how motivations, achievements, and failures of these movements have a dialectical relationship with the spatial features, specifically with the concepts place, territory and scale. Critical geography, political geography, and social movements’ studies provide the theoretical framework for the analysis, highlighting the significance of social movements as producers of collective knowledge. This research used a qualitative approach with a mix-methods design …

Snowstorms In Upstate New York: Synoptics, Spatial Modeling And Temporal Variability, Justin Joseph Hartnett

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation examines the characteristics of snowstorms that affect Central New York, a subsection of the eastern Great Lakes region, in a series of chapters organized as journal articles. The first article develops a classification scheme to categorize snowstorms in Central New York from the 1985/86 season to the 2014/15 season. Twelve different snowstorm types were classified by their connection to the Great Lakes, the presence or absence of a synoptic low, or their area of cyclogenesis.

The second article uses the 2055 classified snowstorms to examine their relative contribution to seasonal snowfall totals. Although lake-effect snowstorms are the dominant …

The Third Wave Of Graduate Labor Unions, Anthony Walker

Theses - ALL

A 2016 NLRB decision that made graduate labor unions legal has contributed significantly to a wave of graduate organizing, continuing a 50-year history of graduate unions. This research investigates this contemporary wave of graduate unionization using two papers, which take a theoretical and an empirical approach respectively. The first paper uses a Marxist analysis to connect the narrow antagonism between graduates and management with larger-scale phenomena that involves other workers too, such as the growing population of contingent academic workers. It describes how corporate interests have influenced higher education and administrators have become managers of workers in order to help …

How Does A Gamification Design Influence Students’ Interaction In An Online Course?, Jiaming Cheng

Dissertations - ALL

This study created and examined a gamification design that aimed at improving students’ interaction in a graduate level online course. By using a design-based research approach, the study investigated the application of principles from Self-Determination Theory in the gamification design and its influence on students’ interaction in discussion forums in terms of quantity, interaction dynamic, and interaction quality. The gamification design included a positive feedback system, contextualized in a narrative environment that was based on the original course project design. Participants were 49 students enrolled in the online course in three versions of the course, which were the non-gamification version …

An In-Vitro Model To Understand Osteoblast Mediated Bone Mineralization, Vaikhari Abhay Marathe

Theses - ALL

Musculoskeletal diseases are widespread, and they affect hundreds of millions of people all around the world. Bone defects occurs due to various reasons such as surgeries, fracture and diseases. These bone defects need a surgical intervention and are generally treated with state-of-the-art grafting techniques such as natural bone grafts and implants. However, even the best available corrective treatments have several limitations such as availability, disease transfer, donor site scarcity, and immune rejection. Bone remodeling techniques which would support natural bone regeneration upon graft implantation, can be used to maximize the efficiency of current grafting techniques. In this study, our goal …

A Neural Correlate Of Mindful Acceptance? Relating Individual Differences In Dispositional Acceptance To Error Processing, Emily Lynne Cary

Theses - ALL

Mindfulness is a multi-faceted construct that can be defined with more precision via a two-component model that includes self-regulated attention and an accepting orientation towards one’s experiences. Many of the observed benefits of mindfulness are associated with the orientation of acceptance, which is characterized by having less reactivity and judgment of one’s experiences and may be particularly relevant to the processing of errors, as errors often enlist cognitive and affective responses. Error processing is a system that involves detecting errors and adjusting behavior adaptively to prevent future errors. Error processing can be measured in the brain and thus could be …

A Pilot Study Examining Differences In Tactile Sensory Processing As A Function Of Borderline Personality Disorder Symptomatology And Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, Julia Elizabeth Hooker

Theses - ALL

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is characterized by a pattern of instability in self-image, interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation, and impulsivity that significantly impacts functioning in everyday life. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a hallmark symptom of BPD that serves to regulate affective instability and relieve inner aversive tension. Experimental pain modalities are commonly employed to assess sensory perception in the context of BPD. Although the experience of self-inflicted pain during NSSI is thought to contribute to emotional regulation, individuals with BPD tend to exhibit reduced experimental pain sensitivity when compared to healthy controls. Thus, experimental pain reactivity may not adequately reflect mechanisms …

Estimating Carbon Flux From Optically Recording Total Particle Volume At Depths Below The Primary Pycnocline, Alexander B. Bochdansky, Robert B. Dunbar, Dennis A. Hansell, Gerhard J. Herndl

OES Faculty Publications

Optical instruments can rapidly determine numbers and characteristics of water column particles with high sensitivity. Here we show the usefulness of optically assessed total particle volume below the main pycnocline to estimate carbon export in two systems: the open subarctic North Atlantic and the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Both regions exhibit seasonally high phytoplankton production and efficient export (i.e., a strong biological pump). Total particle volumes in the mesopelagic (200-300 m) were significantly correlated with those in the overlying surface mixed layer (50-60 m), indicating that most particles at depth reflect export from the surface. This connectivity, however, is modulated by …

The Role Of E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Fbxo9 In Normal And Malignant Hematopoiesis, R. Willow Hynes-Smith

Theses & Dissertations

Hematopoiesis is a critical system that provides blood cells necessary for nutrient and oxygen transfer throughout an organism and for protection from harmful agents. It is maintained throughout life by the hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that reside within the bone marrow (BM) and are responsible for providing billions of new cells each day. HSCs maintain a careful balance between a quiescent state, that sustains the integrity of the stem cells, and a proliferative state, that provides new cells to replenish those that undergo apoptosis. Hematopoiesis is regulated by a variety of intrinsic pathways and extrinsic signals such as cytokine signaling, …

Lamerol Gatewood Work On Display At St. Louis Art Museum, Lindenwood University

Archived Lindenwood Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Novel Shape Memory And Multi-Shape Memory Polymers For Biomaterial Applications, Shelby Lois Buffington

Dissertations - ALL

Biomaterial platforms have been used to probe how cells respond to chemical, topographical or mechanical changes in their environments. However, these traditionally static biomaterial platforms have not enabled the study of how cells respond to dynamic changes in their environment. Driven by a need to better understand cell behavior and its role it disease, development and tissue regeneration recent efforts have focused on designing dynamic biomaterial platforms to better mimic a cell’s natural environment. In this work, advanced shape memory polymers (SMPs) that respond to non-thermal triggers and multi-shape memory materials capable of multiple topographical transitions were developed for advanced …

Blaschke Decompositions On Weighted Hardy Spaces And The Unwinding Series, Stephen D. Farnham

Dissertations - ALL

Recently, several authors have considered a nonlinear analogue of Fourier series in signal analysis, referred to as either the unwinding series or adaptive Fourier decomposition. In these processes, a signal is represented as the real component of the boundary value of an analytic function F : ∂D → C, and by performing an iterative method to obtain a sequence of Blaschke decompositions, the signal can be efficiently approximated using only a few terms. To better understand the convergence of these methods, the study of Blaschke decompositions on weighted Hardy spaces was initiated by Coifman and Steinerberger, under the assumption that …