Digital Commons Network^™

The Unwantables: An Exploration Of Visual Narrative, Marius I. Valdes

Theses and Dissertations

The Unwantables is a creative project that has evolved from my lifelong interest in and relationship with visual stories. To me the most compelling aspect of visual storytelling is "imagination". The author possesses the ability to create new worlds, interesting characters, and situations that can have the potential to communicate about any topic. My project explores visual narrative as a communication tool to explain the role of imagination in my life.

Overbite Correction And Smile Esthetics, Sherif Nabil Elhady

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this prospective clinical study was to investigate differences in outcomes from two common treatment modalities used to reduce deep overbite: maxillary incisor intrusion using an intrusion arch and posterior tooth eruption using an anterior bite plate and to assess their influence on smile esthetics. Pre-treatment and post-overbite correction records were gathered from 40 patients with deep overbite malocclusions at the Virginia Commonwealth University orthodontic clinic. Intrusion arch patients displayed significant reductions in maxillary incisor display accompanying documented incisor intrusion. Bite plate patients showed significant lower incisor intrusion and increases in the mandibular plane angle. When compared to …

Numerical Modeling Of Synthetic Jets In Quiescent Air With Moving Boundary Conditions, Nicholas D. Castro

Theses and Dissertations

Flow control is a key factor in optimizing the performance of any vehicle moving through fluids. Particularly, in aerodynamics there are many potential benefits for implementing synthetic jets to achieve aircraft designs with less moving parts, uper- maneuverability, and separation control for fuel economy. Piezoelectric synthetic jets are of special interest because of their lightweight and low power consumption. Numerous publications on such jets are available. Actuator properties and boundary conditions relevant to this particular application however are often overlooked. The focus of this project is to numerically model synthetic jets in quiescent air to study the influence of cavity …

Seasonal And Spatial Variation In Leaf Area Index, Litter Production, And Light Levels In Myrica Cerifera,Shrub Thickets Across A Barrier Island Chronsequence, Steven T. Brantley

Theses and Dissertations

Leaf area index (LAI), litter production and understory light levels of Myrica cergera shrub thickets were assessed on Hog Island, Virginia to quantify spatial and seasonal variations in leaf area and light attenuation among four thickets representing a successional chronosequence and compare methods of estimating LA1 in shrub- dominated systems. Seasonal LA1 estimates were made seven times throughout the year with a portable integrating radiometer (Li-Cor LAI-2000) and three times by measurement of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and use of the Beer-Larnbert law. Leaf area index was also estimated through leaf litter collection and use of allometric relationships between stem …

Prediction Of K-5 Student Achievement Using Teaching Candidate Performance On The Teacher Work Sample: A Predictive Validity Study, Gretchen Louise Braun

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a predictive validity study investigating if teaching candidate performance on the teacher work sample predicted post-assessment achievement of K-5 students. Teaching candidate scores on the teacher work sample for 124 pre-service teachers were matched with the post-assessment scores of the 1,321 K-5 students to whom they taught a one- to two-week instructional unit. The pre-service teachers were in a semester-long field placement prior to student teaching in four rural, low-income elementary schools. Three of the thirty-two individual indicators of the teacher work sample were significant predictors of K-5 student achievement: knowledge of community, school, and classroom factors …

The Study Of The Effect Of Drugs Of Abuse On Protein Kinase A Activity In Mouse Brain And Spinal Cord, George D. Dalton

Theses and Dissertations

Morphine and Δ9-THC are drugs that produce analgesia and rewarding effects. However, chronic treatment with morphine and Δ9-THC produces problematic side-effects including tolerance and physical dependence. The cellular mechanisms underlying opioid and cannabinoid antinociceptive tolerance have been studied for years. Research has demonstrated that the expression of morphine and Δ9-THC antinociceptive tolerance may be mediated through intracellular signaling pathways, such as the adenylyl cyclase /Protein Kinase A (PKA) cascade. The present study investigated the role of PKA in the expression of morphine and Δ9-THC antinociceptive tolerance. Male Swiss Webster mice were treated chronically with morphine or Δ9-THC and the warm-water …

The Effect Of Traumatic Brain Injury On Expression Levels Of Ankyrin-G In The Corpus Callosum And Cerebral Cortex, Andrew S. Vanderveer

Theses and Dissertations

The ankyrins comprise a family of proteins serving as components of the membrane cytoskeleton, and participate in a diverse set of associations with multiple binding partners including the cytoplasmic domains of transporters, ion channels, some classes of receptors, and cell adhesion proteins. Moreover, evidence is accumulating that ankyrin participates in defining functionally distinct subcellular regions. The complex functional and structural roles of ankyrins indicate they are likely to play essential roles in the pathology of traumatic axonal injury. The current study examined changes in ankyrin-G expression following a moderate central fluid percussion injury administered to adult rats. At 1d, 3d, …

Analysis And Shape Modeling Of Thin Piezoelectric Actuators, Makram Mouhli

Theses and Dissertations

The field of smart materials is an increasingly growing area of research. In aerodynamics applications especially, transducers have to fulfill a series of requirements such as light weight, size, energy consumption, robustness and durability. Piezoelectric transducers, devices which transform an electrical signal into motion, fulfill many of these requirements. Specifically, piezoelectric composites are of interest due to their added toughness and ease of integration into a structure. Resulting composites have a characteristic initial curvature with accompanying residual stresses that are responsible for enhanced performance, relative to flat actuators, when the active material is energized. A number of transducer designs based …

Combined Alterations, Travis James Fullerton

Theses and Dissertations

The world around us is in constant flux. The photographs we make of the world, no matter how true or untrue, have a direct influence on how we perceive the environment around us. Photography serves to categorize our perceptions of the world. The value of an image is not in what it represents, but in what it recalls. Photographs are fragmented and clear, imperfect and idealized all at the same time.

Modulation Of Gene Expression By Tumor-Derived Mutant P53. Role Of Transactivation In Gain-Of-Function., Mariano J. Scian

Theses and Dissertations

It was hypothesized that the C-terminal sequences for mutant p53 would be required for oligomerization. and oligomerization may be critical for gain-of-function. An N-terminal deletion mutant of p53 that deletes amino acids 1-293 was used as a tool to perform hetero-oligomerization studies. This mutant retains the entire oligomerization domain but dispenses off the transactivation domain and a large portion of the sequence- specific DNA-binding domain. Co-transfection experiments show that p53 del. 1-293 forms hetero-oligomeric complexes with p53-D281G. Also. co-expression of p53 del. 1- 293 with p53-D281G inhibited p53-D28lG-mediated transactivation of the EGFR and MDRl promoters suggesting that hetero-oligomerization inactivates transcriptional …

The Extraction Of Type Ii Collagen And The Electrospinning Of Nano-Fibrous Scaffolds, Danielle Careen Knapp

Theses and Dissertations

Articular cartilage lining joints, such as in the knee, functions to reduce friction and absorb shock. Collagen type II is the largest constituent in the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage and its restoration is of the highest interest to tissue engineers. Cartilage has little ability to naturally regenerate due to the absence of vascularity and the inability of the chondrocytes to proliferate at a high rate. It would be ideal to create a mimicking extracellular matrix/scaffold from type II collagen that could possibly be used to replace damaged articular cartilage that has the same function and morphology. Three different groups …

The Influence Of Lipid Composition On The Binding Of Ldl To Chondroitin 6-Sulphate, Wilma Espiritu

Theses and Dissertations

The interaction between low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and glycosaminoglycans is a key factor in atherosclerosis. The present study examines the characteristics of LDL and its binding properties with the main glycosaminoglycan of the vascular wall, chondroitin 6- sulphate (C6S). The compositional characteristics that were studied for each LDL sample were phase transition temperature, phospholipid content, free cholesterol content, cholesteryl ester content, triglyceride content, and size. Correlations of these characteristics with LDL-C6S binding were analyzed using a turbidity assay. Our results showed that there is no correlation between LDL-C6S binding and phase transition temperature, triglyceride content, or size. Strong correlations were present …

Evidence For Absence Of Latchbridge Formation In Phasic Saphenous Artery, Shaojie Han

Theses and Dissertations

Tonic arterial smooth muscle can produce strong contractions indefinitely by formation of slowly cycling crossbridges (latchbridges) that maintain force at a high energy economy. To fully understand the uniqueness of mechanisms regulating tonic arterial contraction, comparisons have been made to phasic visceral smooth muscles that do not sustain high forces. This study explored mechanisms of force maintenance in a phasic artery by comparing KCl-induced contractions in the tonic, femoral artery (FA) and its primary branch, the phasic saphenous artery (SA). KCl rapidly (5 N/m2) and [ca2+]i (250 nM) in FA and SA. By 10 min, [ca2+]i declined to 175 nM …

One Is Concerned Because One Is A Human Being, Sayaka Suzuki

Theses and Dissertations

I am a nomad. I have not had a place to call home in almost two decades. I wander around the world searching for a place to belong, only to discover the forgotten lives and silenced voices. I have come to realize that to find a "home," I need to first create a world in which to belong to. My recent works are investigations of possibilities for another world, a world of compassion, through a critique of our current society. I create as I rediscover the forgotten histories and lives. My work captures my process of remembering and celebrating while …

A Nomogram For Valproic Acid And The Effect Of Missed Doses, Alaa M. Ahmad

Theses and Dissertations

Background. Clinicians are divided on dosing recommendations when a dose is delayed or missed. For a neuropsychiatric agent like valproic acid (VPA), rational dosing recommendations are of particular importance. VPA is subject to therapeutic monitoring using total concentrations. Due to non-linear binding of VPA to plasma proteins, current dose titration schemes for VPA are empirical. The objectives of this research were to 1- study the effect of missed/delayed doses on steady state concentrations of VPA and 2-design a nomogram that can be used for dose titration based on total VPA concentrations. Methods. 1- A simulation study was conducted to test …

Joint Center Movement Analysis And 3d Motion Modeling Of Upper Arm - Comparison Of Several Algorithms With The Visual 3-D Program, Leena Joseph

Theses and Dissertations

600 out of every 100,000 people in the United States today suffer from some form of cerebellar disease that causes major abnormalities in the equilibrium and aligned, coordinated movement of the body. Hence it becomes essential to diagnose the extent of the movement and gait disorder and provide required therapy to the patients. Various developments have been made in the designing and application of interactive software system for body positioning. Object oriented design techniques are used in the field of software engineering for interactive geometric representation of system behavior. Motion analysis of the upper and lower extremities of the body …

Advanced Placement Art History: Effective Teaching Strategies In The Art Beyond The European Content Area, Donna J. Head

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a study of current research on effective teaching strategies in art beyond the European tradition content area of the Advanced Placement Art History (APAH) examination administered by the College Board. Three Advanced Placement Art History teachers participated in this study. Each teacher demonstrated successful and effective strategies in her APAH program. The criteria for selection required that each participant taught the class for three years (2001-4) and their students scored higher than the national average as published by the College Board. Each teacher discussed with the author how they teach the art beyond the European tradition content …

Country Views, Rebecca Massie

Theses and Dissertations

Over the years I have created many different images and explored a variety of media along my artistic journey. Similar images continue to occur in my work - images from my life as a child and as an adult in rural settings. I lived on a poultry farm and was involved in working with my parents there. When I married, my husband was a cattle farmer so I continued to live on a farm and use rural images in my work. Living in the country makes me constantly aware of the relationship between God, nature and man. I believe that …

Innovative Interventions For Disordered Eating: A Pilot Comparison Between Dissonance-Based And Yoga Interventions, Karen S. Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations

Disordered eating, including bingeing, dieting, purging, and clinical and subclinical forms of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, is prevalent among college-aged women. To date, few interventions have successfully reduced risk factors related to disordered eating. One promising intervention utilizes principles of cognitive dissonance to reduce thin-ideal internalization among women at risk for eating disorders. Additionally, the benefits of yoga, including increased awareness of bodily processes, offer hope that this practice might reduce disordered eating symptomatology. The current study compared cognitive dissonance and yoga interventions for disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that there were …

The Association Between Eating Habits And Hypertension Among African American Women Compared To Other Women, Anike N. Clark

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Hypertension is a major public health concern for African American women. Many studies have shown a greater prevalence of hypertension, as well as physical inactivity, excess weight, and diabetes, in African Americans. Objective: To determine if differences in eating patterns, as measured by Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores, between African American women and other women in the United States are associated with hypertension. Methods: Data were extracted from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANESIII). The sample included 31,189,534 women aged 45 years or greater after survey weights were applied. The majority was White (86.1 %); minority …

Stability Study Of Phoslactomycin B And Analysis Of Degradation Products, Choudhuri Suparna Das

Theses and Dissertations

Phoslactomycin B (PLM-B), a potent and selective inhibitor of serine threonine phosphatase is of interest for its antitumor, antifungal and antiviral activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the stability of phoslactomycin B at various pH and temperature conditions. Phoslactomycin B was produced from the mutant strain NP1 of Streptomyces sp.HK-803 and was purified by semi-preparative HPLC . A study of PLM-B degradation was carried out in the pH range of 2-10 at 30ºC and 50°C using HPLC. The PLM-B decomposition was observed to exhibit a U-shaped pH profile and demonstrated both acid and base-catalyzed decomposition. The decomposition …

Method Of Infant Feeding As A Predictor Of Maternal Responsiveness, Emily Eiwen Drake

Theses and Dissertations

Infants need to develop effective, secure attachment to their primary caregivers in the first year of life. Researchers have not been able to identify all the factors that may influence the development of infant attachment. Most of the studies in this area have been done without regard to infant feeding as a potential factor. Maternal responsiveness appears to be key in the child's development of secure attachment behaviors, yet even after decades of research on infant attachment and maternal responsiveness, there is little evidence available to assist with early identification of families at risk and few interventions known to be …

Teacher Supervision Methods In Virginia, Gregory Wayne Florence

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated teacher supervision methods in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the absence of state mandated requirements. The literature supports the use of formative and summative feedback, multiple data sources and methods, collaboration between teacher and supervisor, professional growth goals linked to school improvement, and measures of student learning.A web-based questionnaire was used to survey 229 public elementary school teachers across Virginia regarding which teacher supervision methods are used, teacher perception toward those methods, and whether teacher perceptions vary with the method, supervisor's leadership style, or teacher characteristics. The data suggest that a majority of school division supervision programs …

Global Discontents, Priyadarshini A. Khatri

Theses and Dissertations

My creative project explores toys as means to express economic issues of globalization. By exploiting the educational and imaginative aspects of toys for adults and children, I intend to reflect on the impact and pressures of globalization on employment, technology and environment. In creating these toys I hope to make a visual statement concerning critical issues of human survival, sustainability and the divisive side of globalization.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Performance And Perceptions: Use Of A Handheld, Computerized, Decision Making Aid During Critical Events In A High-Fidelity Human Simulation Environment, Vicki C. Coopmans

Theses and Dissertations

With the increasing focus on patient safety and human error, understanding how practitioners make decisions during critical incidents is important. Despite the move towards evidence-based practice, research shows that much decision making is based on intuition and heuristics (“rules of thumb”). The purpose of this study was to examine and evaluate the methodologic feasibility of a strategy for comparing traditional cognition versus the use of algorithms programmed on a personal digital assistant (FDA) in the management of unanticipated critical events by certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).

A combined qualitative-quantitative methodology was utilized. The quantitative element consists of a pilot study …

Faculty Perceptions Of Academic Freedom At A Metropolitan University: A Case Study, Zachary Grant Goodell

Theses and Dissertations

This research study examines how faculty perceive academic freedom at a metropolitan university. Thirty structured interviews were conducted with social science faculty, who have been tenured for 10 years or more, at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). These faculty came from the departments of Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Political Science, Urban Studies, Criminal Justice, Women’s Studies, and African-American Studies. The following five questions were the central research questions: (a) how do core faculty in the social sciences at VCU define academic freedom; (b) do these same faculty perceive academic freedom to be a significant feature of a career in higher education; (c) …

The Photographer's Wife: Emmet Gowin's Photographs Of Edith, Mikell Waters Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Exemplified in the oeuvres of photographers Alfred Stieglitz, Harry Callahan, Lee Friedlander, and Emmet Gowin, the photographer's wife is a distinctive subject in twentieth-century American fine-art photography that fuses the domains of public and private life through the conflation of art and marriage. The transgressive nature of this juncture can be located in a confluence of gazes - the artist's, the subject's, and the viewer's - that are embroiled in constructing subjectivities. The phrase "photographer's wife" underscores an assumed imbalance of power reflecting a binary of active/passive, artist/model, and husband/wife. It is this study's contention that the complexity of the …

An Analysis Of The Newspaper Coverage Of Latter-Day Saint Temples Announced Or Built Within The United States From October 1997 Through December 2004, Kevan L. Gurr

Theses and Dissertations

President Gordon B. Hinckley, the fifteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, excited the membership of the Church by increasing the number of temples available to members. He announced that the Church would construct smaller buildings – as compared with existing temples at the time – thereby allowing for greater numbers of temples to be built. He set a goal to build 50 temples in a two and half-year period: double the number the Church had ever attempted to build in any decade. Thirty-four of these temples were built in the United States, and newspapers – …

A Diabolical Disneyland In Zion: The Mormons And The Mx, Jacob W. Olmstead

Theses and Dissertations

In September 1979 President Jimmy Carter publicly announced his decision to support the deployment of the MX missile and mobile basing scheme in Utah and Nevada. Despite local opposition and the close proximity of the proposed base to its headquarters, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) remained silent until 5 May 1981, when the First Presidency issued a statement opposing the MX plans. The purpose of this work is to narrate the history of the development of the Mormon position regarding the deployment of MX missile in the Great Basin and evaluate the response to the statement …