Digital Commons Network^™

A Markov Model Of Secondary Prevention Of Osteoportic Hip Fractures., Stephanie Tapp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Low-trauma fractures of older women are a major public health burden. Fractures of the hip and spine are some of the primary causes of chronic pain, functional impairment, and disability among the elderly [1]. The underlying cause of these fractures is osteoporosis. Although the disease is common, only a small proportion (15%-20%) of women at risk currently receive preventative treatment [2]. We have focused our attention to white postmenopausal women who have sustained a fracture of the distal radius. We developed a Markov model using probabilities obtained from recent literature in order to evaluated the effects of three hypothetical interventions …

Process Of Performance : An Acting Thesis., Jennifer Ann Hunt 1970-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In fulfillment of the thesis project requirement for the Master of Fine Arts Degree at the University of Louisville, I portrayed the multiple roles of Clytemnestra, Electra and Athena in Dr. Steve Schultz's translation of Aeschylus' "Oresteia" in February 1998. Additionally I acted in at least one play each semester utilizing the skills and techniques that I learned in the program's classwork. This document includes a discussion of each class, the methodology studied and how I was able to apply each class to that semester's acting project. It also contains personal observations of my own strengths and weaknesses as an …

Analyzing Rhetoric : A Frame Analysis Of The Pro-Life Movement In The United States., Juanita Raley Shever 1949-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to consider the significance of rhetoric used by pro-life social movement organizations to frame the experience of abortion and to label those women who have participated in that experience. The study explores how frames are devised and how these frames are applied so that reality is organized in such a manner as to appear aligned with the religious, moral, and/or philosophical position of the pro-life movement. The study uses pro-life web pages to obtain data; then, analyzes the data for emerging themes and content. The general tasks of framing such as agenda setting are …

A Comparative Analysis Of Mentoring As A Socializing Strategy Among Law Faculty., Ray Kennard Haynes 1963-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation used a comparative analysis approach to determine mentoring's ability to socialize law faculty. Specifically, it sought to examine the efficacy of formal and informal mentoring in socializing law faculty to their respective institutions. A Mentoring Questionnaire was developed to determine the occurrence of mentoring, the distinctions between the various forms of mentoring, and law faculty perceptions of the effectiveness of the various forms of mentoring received. The Organizational Socialization Questionnaire measured socialization along six dimensions of People, Performance Proficiency, Politics, Language, History and Organizational Goals and Values and was used to determine socialization differences among mentored and non-mentored …

Patience : A Play In Two Acts., Mary Rotella 1958-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When Howard Manning wakes from a fainting spell to find himself hospitalized with a serious but correctable weakness in his heart, his refusal of treatment intimates a death wish that provokes consternation among the skilled medical professionals who are poised to save his life. The first act explores the character and implications of his resistance in relation to the expectations of his surgeon Dr. Vincent Abel, nurse Zo Clement, psychiatry resident Trudy Zeffirelli, and neighboring patient Clarence Weatherby. It culminates with Manning's precipitous and injurious departure against medical advice. The second act reveals Manning returned to his hospital bed, withdrawn …

Synthesis Of Peptides With Hydroxamic Acid Side Chain Appendages., Yingchuan Susan Sun 1975-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1 detailed the synthesis method of hydroxamate peptides derivatives of pentapeptide Ac-PHSXX\'-N-NH2 by solid phase hydroxamate peptide synthesis method. The glutamic acid/aspartic acid side chain was modified to hydroxamic acid by on resin N-C coupling. The hydroxamate benzyl protecting group was removed during HF cleavage. In Chapter 2 a novel multiple hydroxamic acid peptide siderophore was prepared and the metal binding activity of these peptides was studied by ESI-MS and MS/MS. Siderophore peptide Ac-Gly1-Glu2(NHOH)-D-Pro3-Gly4-Glu5(NHOH)-D-Pro6-NH2 was found to have significant preference to Fe(III) over Zn(II) and Ni(II), while the natural peptide analogue Ac-Gly1-Glu2-D-Pro 3-Gly4-Glu5-D-Pro6-NH2 did not show any obvious preference …

James Wilson : Progressive Constitutionalist., Bradley Jay Caffee 1972-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This essay is a biography and ideological interpretation of James Wilson. Wilson was an important member of the Revolutionary generation whom historians and political theorists too often overlook. Moving from the rise of historical interest in Wilson and reasons why Wilson deserves study, this essay tells the story of Wilson's ideological development from the opposition Whig struggles of the 1760s until his law lectures in 1790 and 1791. Originally willing to accept Lockean ideas of contractualism in the British constitution he, like many Americans, rejected such contractualism during the Revolution in favor of an un-transferrable popular sovereignty that could only …

An Exploration Of The Influence Of Demographic Factors On Individual And Aggregate Student Achievement Measurements In The Kentucky Accountability System., Beverly Lee Derrington Moore 1938-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the progress of standards-based accountability in eliminating the effects of student background and school composition factors on student achievement and school performance in a large, urban district in Kentucky. The factors included gender, socioeconomic status (SES), ethnicity, mobility, family structure, giftedness, and disability. The school composition variables were the percentages of those factors in the school populations. Each grade and level--elementary, middle, and high school--was analyzed by multiple regression. At the student level, SES, giftedness, and disability predicted 15 to 36% of the variance in scores. SES, family structure, and mobility rate accounted for 56 to 91% …

Oxygen Toxicity And Mitochondrial Metabolism., Jian Li 1974-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oxygen is critical to aerobic metabolism, but hyperoxia is cytostatic and cytocidal. The precise mechanisms involved in hyperoxic cell injury remain incompletely understood although there is substantial support for the possibility that hyperoxia increases the 'leak' of electrons from the mitochondrial electron transport chain and the resulting increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) might explain the toxic effects of high oxygen. To evaluate the possible role of mitochondria in oxygen toxicity, we used cloned HeLa cells having no functional mitochondria (?° cells) as a model. In contrast to wild-type HeLa cells, ?° cells survive and grow in 80% O2 …

Functional Proteomic Analysis Of The Myocardial Pkcepsilon Subproteome Pkcepsilon-Akt-Enos Signaling Modules And During., Jun Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Western societies. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanisms to reduce myocardial ischemia and limit infarction size are of great importance. Ample evidence has shown that protein kinase C epsilon (PKCepsilon) play an essential role in the genesis of cardioprotection. In particular, our laboratory has shown that activation of PKCepsilon in the heart is sufficient to significantly reduce myocardial infarction due to coronary artery occlusion. However, the molecular mechanism responsible for PKCepsilon-induced cardioprotection remain unclear. Recently, functional proteomic analysis have demonstrated that PKCepsilon forms signaling complexes with various of proteins, …

Regulation Of Na,K-Atpase Activity By Tyrosine Phosphorylation In Lens Cells., Larry Darko Bozulic 1974-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Na,K-ATPase is essential for the regulation of cytoplasmic Na+ and K+ levels in lens cells. Insufficient Na,K-ATPase activity is associated with cataract formation. Based on earlier studies in which Src-tyrosine kinase inhibitors were found to suppress Na,K-ATPase activity changes that occur in response to either thrombin, endothelin, or dopamine, I hypothesize that regulation of Na,K-ATPase activity might occur through phosphorylation of the Na,K-ATPase a1 (catalytic) subunit by Src-family tyrosine kinases. Here, I tested the influence of Src-kinase family members on tyrosine phosphorylation and Na,K-ATPase activity in membrane material isolated from porcine lens epithelium. Western blot studies indicated the expression of …

Factors That Predict Student Performance In Dual Credit Courses In Kentucky Community And Technical Colleges., Nicholas L. Brake

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research addresses the problem of productivity in the P-16 system of education, emphasizing the repetition of the senior year of high school with the first year of postsecondary education. This study analyzes this integration through dual credit courses in the context of both P-12 and higher education reform in Kentucky. An analysis of these factors is critical in light of the deregulation of dual credit in Kentucky since 2000 and the increased enrollment of high school students in college courses both nationally and in Kentucky. Dual credit courses in Kentucky community and technical colleges are evaluated based on the …

Studies Of The Effects Of Pancreatic Beta Cell Antioxidant Transgenes On Experimental Models Of Diabetes., Hainan Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pancreatic beta cells are extremely vulnerable to the destruction of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes ROS are involved in the loss of U+000DF-cells. We hypothesized that the deficiency in ROS detoxifying system of U+000DF-cells resulted in U+000DF-cell vulnerability and enhanced ROS protection would protect from diabetes. To test this hypothesis, transgenic mice with overexpression of U+000DF-cell antioxidant protein metallothionein (MT), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and catalase were produced on an FVB background. Initial studies demonstrated that these transgenes did not affect U+000DF-cell normal function and morphology. But those transgenes significantly protected pancreatic islets …

The Problem Of Religious Diversity : A Study And Critique Of The Philosophy Of John Hick., John K. Dryden 1976-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a study and critique of John Hick's pluralistic hypothesis as presented in his book "An Interpretation of Religion." I primarily focus on two issues: Hick's epistemology of religious beliefs and the pluralistic hypothesis itself. These are two separate issues, but for Hick they prove to be inextricably linked. Hick uses his epistemological stance to argue that there is an epistemological problem of religious diversity. After he argues that there is a problem, he presents his solution, i.e. the pluralistic hypothesis. After explaining these issues, my critique focuses upon the connection between the two. I first critique Hick's …

State Political Culture And The Affordability Of Higher Education : A Multivariate Analysis Of The Impact Of State Higher Education Systems On The Cost Of Attending College., Angela Perkins Girdley 1964-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand variance in state system performance in affordability using variables describing the state political environment and the higher education governance structure. Understanding how the political culture of states affects higher education illuminates agendas, priorities, and motivations of key decision-makers in higher education. The dependent variable was affordability of higher education measured by the National Council on Public Policy in Higher Education "Measuring Up" (2000) grade. Independent variables were the impact of special interest groups, the state higher education governance structure, legislative professionalization, and the institutional strength of the governor. Pearson product-moment correlations and …

The Influence Of Teachers' Efficacy And Beliefs On Mathematics Instruction In The Early Childhood Classroom., Elizabeth Todd Brown 1948-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation was a correlational study conducted with a population of pre-k educators from a large Midwestern, metropolitan school district. The purpose was to examine if relations existed among early childhood teachers' sense of self efficacy, their beliefs about the importance of mathematics and teachers' mathematics instructional practices. There is strong reason to believe that teachers' mathematics beliefs and conceptions about the subject matter and its teaching play a vital role in their effectiveness as mediators between the subject and the learner. Examining teachers' efficacy and beliefs can inform educational practice and differentiate between successful and less successful instructional practices …

One Bug, Two Drugs : A Mathematical Model Of Resistance Dynamics In The Icu., Susan L. Calcote White 1971-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotic resistance is a problem causing growing concern in the medical community, leading some to speculate that a return to the preantibiotic era is imminent. The problem of antibiotic resistance is particularly significant in the intensive care unit (ICU), due to the weakened immune responses of the patients and quantity of antibiotics administered. One theory proposes that the policy of cycling, or rotating, the antibiotics used in the ICU may minimize the development of resistance. Few clinical trials investigating the effects of cycling have been conducted, and many questions concerning the impact of cycling policies are unanswered at this point. …

Tina Modotti And "Idols Behind Altars"., Andrea Jeanne Deetsch 1976-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an examination of the transformation Tina Modotti's photography underwent because of the "Idols Behind Altars" project which she completed on an expedition with Edward Weston in 1926. The thesis begins with an introduction to Modotti's photography from 1923-1926, pre-expedition, exploring the conditions of the "Idols Behind Altars" trip, the issue of attribution of the "Idols Behind Altars" images, and Modotti's development of "indigenismo" as a life philosophy. The thesis uses art historical analysis based on research directed at a comparison of images to argue that the trip was the catalyst for Modotti's photographic transformation in late 1926. …

The Bilingual Motets Of The Old Corpus Of The Montpellier Codex., Kimberly Adelle Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The bilingual motets of the old corpus of the Montpellier Codex (Montpellier, Faculté de Médecine, H 196) are collected in the third fascicle of this thirteenth-century codex. These eleven motets provide a sample group for the study of interrelationships among the contents of a manuscript. Elements of the music, text, and tenor sources work together to unify each individual motet as well as the eleven motets in the fascicle.

While the motets of Mo have been studied in detail, this small collection has been neglected, perhaps because of its simultaneous presentation of sacred and erotic love. It is this trait, …