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On The Roles Of Trait Anxiety And Toll Like Receptor 4 In Amphetamine Sensitization In Adolescent Male Rats, Corey A. Calhoun

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Mammalian adolescence can be a difficult transition from childhood to adulthood, where increases in impulsivity and novelty- and risk-seeking are combined with heightened affect and elevated sensitivity to stress. Indeed, during adolescence, first drug use patterns emerge and in the continental United States, increasing misuse of amphetamines has been observed in adolescent youth. Myriad neural mechanisms underlie this shift in adolescence, including the dynamic remodeling of the mesocorticolimbic (MCL) pathway. Repeated drug administration affects neuroimmune substrates within the MCL circuit including toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)Advances in addiction neuroscience indicate that drugs of abuse activate neural TLR4 and implicate glial TLR4 …

Economics Serving Politics: China’S Belt And Road Initiative In Latin America And The Caribbean, Mariyyah Aqelah Sulaiman

Senior Theses

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an ambitious program for development across the world. The BRI was rolled out in 2013 and includes bilateral trade agreements, infrastructure projects, and loan programs among other forms of investment and aid. While the examination of the economic success of the BRI is crucial, critically analyzing the larger implications of this initiative is pressing as well. Foreign policy is intricately tied to foreign investment and economic goals. China’s involvement in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) over the past two decades has been noteworthy for the rapid development of economic and diplomatic relations. …

Dissolving Nature/Nurture: Development As Coupled Interaction, Derek E. Oswick

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

For many, the Nature/Nurture approach to development is a quaint figment of the past. We have moved on, one might think; everyone thinks that both categories are important for development, not merely one. The reality, however, is not so simple. In this dissertation, I argue that contemporary biology has not succeeded in getting out from under the shadow of Nature/Nurture, despite everyone being some sort of interactionist about development. The central aim of my project is to offer a form of developmental interactionism worth having, which succeeds in shedding the pernicious aspects of Nature/Nurture. I begin by giving an overview …

Utilizing The Multiple Intelligences Theory In Classrooms, Priscilla Wreede

Graduate Teacher Education

Teachers have the seemingly impossible task of providing instruction that meets the needs of each learner in their classrooms. In their quest to provide quality instruction for all, many teachers have started to implement the Multiple Intelligences Theory into their lessons. Several studies have been analyzed to understand how intelligences can be identified and developed in students and how proper implementation of this theory can affect students’ motivational levels and academic achievement. The studies showed that when students are aware of their own strongest intelligences and/or their teachers are aware, they are able to develop the intelligences to a higher …

Role Of Dna Methylation In Sexual Differentiation Of Neurochemical Phenotype In The Brain, Laura R. Cortes

Neuroscience Institute Dissertations

Sex differences in the brain underlie sex-specific behaviors and physiological processes, and may help to explain male- or female-biased neuropsychiatric disorders. Some of the best-studied neural sex differences depend on differential cell death in males and females, but other sex differences persist even if cell death is prevented. These include sex differences in stable patterns of gene expression, or what we refer to as the differentiation of neurochemical phenotype. The mechanisms contributing to sex differences in neurochemical phenotype are unknown, but epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, control cell phenotype “decisions” throughout the body in developing animals. We recently discovered …

Federal Funding For The Arts & Developmental Success In Western Nations, Sophia Ciokajlo

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Culture is undeniably a vital part of any society. To preserve and develop their culture, a majority of modern states allocate some part of their annual expenditure to the arts. The amount of money and system through which it is distributed varies from country to country, but the principle remains the same. Not only do countries value the contribution of culture to their common well-being, but it is also widely accepted that participation in the arts, as a performer or viewer, holds benefit for the individual. All of this considered, I sought to investigate whether or not the size of …

Sex And Age Differences In Approach Behavior Toward A Port That Delivers Nicotine Vapor, Veronika Evangelina Espinoza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The goal of our laboratory is to study the mechanisms that promote nicotine use, particularly in vulnerable populations such as adolescents and females. Thus, the purpose of this thesis was to characterize age and sex differences in the motivational/rewarding effects of nicotine (Aim 1) and withdrawal behavior (Aim 2). To more closely model human use patterns, the present study employed nicotine vapor methods involving passive exposure for 14 days in adolescent and adult female and male rats. Age and sex differences in approach behavior (nosepokes) were assessed in a port that delivered nicotine plumes on Day 1 and 14. Controls …

"Neighborhood Library Modernization": Public Library Expansion In Milwaukee During The 1960s And 1970s, Madeline Brenner

Theses and Dissertations

By the second half of the 20th century, public libraries expanded their reach across American cities and transformed the urban landscape. With almost 10,000 libraries in U.S. cities by 1960, new library development was at an all-time high. Despite this success, few scholars have analyzed these critical changes. Since the historical scholarship on library development is limited, this thesis analyzes the history of public library development in Milwaukee during the 1960s and 1970s. The goals of community engagement and partnership through city-wide circulation of material guided the development of branch library construction under the Ten-Year Library Plan of 1962 to …

The Student-Athlete Leadership Academy Experience: A Case Study, Hannah M. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations

This study sought to advance the understanding of how leadership education affects student-athletes interpersonally, as athletes, and as students while providing insight into the importance of leadership development for institutions and athletic departments for student-athletes who participate in a yearlong leadership program. The purpose of this study is to explore how a yearlong leadership development program influenced the personal and leadership growth and development of student-athletes during the 2020-2021 academic year. Two research questions guided the present study: How does the Student-Athlete Leadership Academy curriculum and experience contribute to student-athletes’ progress through the theory on leadership identity development and understanding …

Promoting Emotional Development Skills In Preschool Children., Carolina Cordova

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Some preschool students have not yet developed the skills to regulate their emotions. Without sufficient skills on how to regulate their emotions, their academic progress may be negatively affected, and their ability to thrive in their Kindergarten classroom may be compromised. In order to help them develop the skills to regulate their emotions, I have created a three-day lesson for preschool students at Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Bay in Seaside, California.

Characterizing The Expression Pattern And Function Of Tartan During Drosophila Development, Alaina Baggett

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The development of complex structures and organs by multicellular organisms relies on the ability of epithelial cells to self-organize. Epithelia are sheets of connected cells, and compartment boundaries are formed between certain epithelial cells to create distinct tissue compartments. Compartment boundaries are specialized cell-cell interfaces that are enriched for the cytoskeletal proteins actin and myosin, leading to straight cell edges under relatively high tension that act as fences keep cells from moving between compartments. In the model organism Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly), compartment boundaries in the early embryo are established in response to the non-uniform striped expression of the cell-surface …

Early Mathematical Abilities Of 48-Month-Old Children With Williams Syndrome., Jenna N. Tinnell

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses

Williams syndrome (WS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder associated with relative strengths in concrete vocabulary, nonverbal reasoning, and verbal short-term memory and considerable weaknesses in visuospatial construction and relational language. While the cognitive profile of WS has been studied extensively, there have been few studies of the early mathematical abilities of children with WS and the cognitive predictors of these abilities. The purpose of this study was to describe the early mathematical abilities of 48-month-olds with WS and determine the concurrent cognitive predictors of these abilities. The Differential Ability Scales–second edition (DAS-II) was used to determine cognitive and mathematical abilities …

Examining Intergenerational Relationships In The Family, Abigail Stephan

All Dissertations

Intergenerational relationships are partnerships between individuals from different generations, often marked by respect, shared responsibility, reciprocity, and resilience. Within the context of families, intergenerational relationships provide a natural space for learning and development across the lifespan, especially for those belonging to non-adjacent generations. Although it has been clearly established that non-adjacent intergenerational relationships in the family context can be mutually influential, less is known about how individuals enter into these interactions and view their role as active partners, how the social and cognitive processes within the intergenerational relationship shape outcomes, and how experiences in these relationships during childhood inform perspectives, …

The Effects Of Executive Function Between Anxiety And Math Achievement In Adolescents, Mckenzie Hall

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Anxiety in Children can develop into pervasive disorders in adulthood if not treated. Research shows dysfunctional Executive Function (EF) and anxiety are both shown to have a negative impact on math achievement in children and adolescents (Trezise & Reeve, 2018; Kalaycioglu, 2015; Owens, Stevenson, Hadwin & Norgate, 2012). Chung, Weyandt, and Swentosky (2014) found biological and neuropsychological support for EF as a unitary and multifaceted processor for regulating our emotional states as well as our daily procedures. Anderson’s (2002) model of Executive Control System (ECS) allows the factors of EF to be examined using a developmental approach towards EF processes. …

Family-Centered Psychosocial Care For Pediatric Oncology Patients, Jessica W. Casey

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Psychosocial conditions are prevalent in pediatric oncology patients (Kahalley et al., 2013). Family and social support are essential aspects of a patient's health care outcomes (Merck & McElfresh, 2019). Anxiety and depression are common in pediatric oncology patients due to trauma during treatment (Pao & Kazak, 2015). These patients also can have preexisting developmental or behavioral conditions before starting treatment. Treatment side effects can also cause cognitive and behavioral changes (Nixon, 2014b). Nurses should be knowledgeable and confident in their ability to care for patients' psychosocial health and development. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project is …

Analysis Of Self, Kyle Sundberg

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

In this Analysis of Self, I review relevant background information and experiences and examine how they have shaped me as a person and counselor through various theory of counseling lenses. I then examine the results of the personality assessments MBTI-Strong and HEXACO. This is followed by interviews with five individuals and my impressions and major themes that resulted. I then view the information gathered from this analysis, and frame it using several counseling perspectives. I then reflect on the process of writing my self-analysis and ways that it has affected me personally and as a counselor. Lastly, I provide plans …

The Impact Of Surviving Suicide Loss On Adolescent Psychosocial Development, Sophie Leonard

Counselor Education Capstones

There has been extensive research in the areas of the impact of suicide and human development over the past several decades. Researchers continue to examine the role that experiencing suicide loss plays in terms of the formation of a healthy identity and overall development. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of suicide loss on adolescent development. Specifically, this paper will address the potential impact of surviving a significant suicide loss on adolescent development during the identity versus role confusion stage of Erikson’s theory of development. Based on a thorough review of professional literature, the long-term effects …

The Influence Of Thc, Opioids, And Age On The Plasticity Of Excitatory Inputs To Ventral Tegmental Area Gaba Neurons, Isaac Brent Ostlund

Theses and Dissertations

Adults exhibit significant differences in drug vulnerability, learning ability, and emotive processing than adolescents. Long-lasting synaptic changes, including long-term depression (LTD), can endure many hours and are believed to be key to encoding memories and persistent cognitive changes such as addiction. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is the primary source of midbrain dopamine (DA) and is regulated by local inhibitory GABA neurons. GABA regulation can decrease, resulting in dis-inhibition of DA neurons and increased feelings of reward, learning, or salience attachment to memories. Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are signaling molecules that often result in synaptic plasticity changes, and the eCB system has …

Owning My Scars: A Transformational Journey To Effective Leadership, Violet Taylor

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Experiences are powerful antecedents to perceptions and behaviors; their

consequences evident in self-leadership and leadership of others. Accordingly, authentic vulnerability and the courage to examine the sources of behavior, acknowledge the product of wounds, and pursue healing are paramount. Through healing, wounds that are conduits to ineffective leadership transform to scars of victory, propagating wholeness and effective leadership. Indeed, effective leadership requires a lifelong transformational journey to influence self and others positively.

Owning My Scars: A Transformational Journey to Effective Leadership authentically chronicles experiences of sexual assault, sexual abuse, homelessness, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. The captivating personal narrative is …

An Analysis Of The Involvement Of Toll Receptors In Cell Movements During The Elongation Of Tribolium Castaneum, Kathryn Russell

Senior Theses and Projects

Elongation of the anterior/posterior body axis is a critical part of embryonic development. Cell movements are known to play a significant role in embryo elongation in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. In the arthropod model organism, Drosophila, Toll receptors have a demonstrated role in the elongation of the embryo by driving convergent extension, in which rows of cells intercalate with one another in one direction to extend tissue in the other. In Drosophila, Toll receptors are a link between anterior-posterior patterning genes expressed in discrete stripes and effector molecules causing cell movements. This cell movement is caused …

Impact Of Care For Life- Mozambique's Cyclone Recovery Program, Anna Osguthorpe

Undergraduate Honors Theses

My research is primarily an impact evaluation of the cyclone recovery efforts of the non- profit organization Care For Life, based in Beira, Mozambique. I determine the causal effects of this program on business creation and several inputs to health (serious sickness, improved latrines, meals per day, and access to a vegetable garden). The treatment intervention consists of Care For Life workers providing mosquito nets, water purification, and soap, improving available latrines, and providing gardening materials (seeds, fertilizer, hoes, and watering cans). I analyze the effect of this treatment on five different outcome variables chosen because they are deeply affected …

A Phenomenological Study Of Exemplary Corporate Learning And Development Leaders Leading From The Heart, Randa Jad-Moussa

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe how corporate learning and development leaders lead from the heart using Mark Crowley’s (2011) 4 principles (building a highly engaged team, connecting on a personal level, maximizing employee potential, and valuing and honoring achievements) to accomplish extraordinary results in their organizations.

Methodology: This study followed a qualitative phenomenological research study to describe the lived experiences of exemplary corporate learning and development leaders. Eight corporate learning and development leaders were selected from the target population in publicly traded technology companies in the state of California. Each of the corporate learning and …

Spatiotemporal Characterization Of The Prr12 Paralogues In Zebrafish, Renee Jeannine Resendes

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Pathogenic variants in the human PRR12 (Proline Rich 12) gene are associated with PRR12-related Neuroocular Syndrome. However, little is known about the gene/protein function. The zebrafish was utilized to address this, as its attributes place it as a premier model to study genes involved in human development and disease. In situ hybridization and RT-PCR of embryos and larvae, and qRT-PCR of adult tissues revealed the spatial and temporal distributions of the prr12 paralogues: prr12a and prr12b. Both paralogues were detected from the maternal and zygotic transcriptomes in a global and diffuse expression pattern, and there was enrichment …

Approaches To Examining The Role Of Auditory Evoked Potentials In Early Language Development, Alyssa Janes

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Previous research has suggested a relationship between auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) and spoken language proficiency, but their interactions during the earliest stages of development are not well understood. AEP-Age, an index that estimates the maturity of a child’s AEP relative to same-aged peers, has been effective in investigating this relationship in school-aged children, but has yet to be applied to younger populations. This thesis includes two Stage 1 Manuscripts (Registered Reports) for future studies to (a) assess the utility of AEP-Age to predict chronological age and language ability in 18-48-month-old children, and (b) investigate the relationship between AEP-Age and …

Factors Impacting Resiliency And Susceptibility To Social Stress, Anna M. Rosenhauer

Neuroscience Institute Dissertations

Social stress is implicated in the etiology and persistence of neuropsychiatric disorders in humans and is investigated using social defeat models in animals. Multiple factors influence how social stress impacts the brain and behavior, either reducing or enhancing susceptibility to maladaptive responses. The overarching goal of this project was to identify factors that promote resiliency to social defeat stress throughout the lifespan. In Aim 1, we investigated the effects of social defeat during development and found that a brief, pubertal social defeat increases susceptibility to adult social stress. In Aim 2, we tested whether epigenetic changes, namely histone deacetylation (HDAC), …

French Bilateral Aid To Mali: Examining The Donor-Recipient Relationship’S Effect On Development, Hazel R. Carson

Senior Projects Spring 2022

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

Investigating The Role Of Chd7 And Sox11 In Retinal Cell Development And The Ocular Complications Of Charge Syndrome, Laura Krueger

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Proper formation of the visual system requires the precise interaction of several embryonic cell lineages, including the neuroectoderm (forms the retina and retinal pigment epithelium), surface ectoderm (forms the lens), mesoderm and cranial neural crest cells (form the ocular blood vessels and anterior ocular structures). When this process is disrupted structural birth defects such as coloboma result, leading to pediatric visual deficits. Ocular developmental defects are often present in larger syndromic disorders. One example is CHARGE syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by coloboma, heart defects, choanal atresia, growth retardation, genital abnormalities, and ear abnormalities. Pathogenic variants in CHD7 have been …

Feeding Different Iodine Sources To Dairy Cows: Effects On Colostrum Production And Growth And Health Of Their Calves, Kayla Renee Johnston

Master's Theses and Capstones

Limited research exists on supplementing seaweeds to prepartum cows and its effects on colostrum production and development of their calves in-utero and after birth. The high iodine (I) concentration of seaweeds is concerning, and previous research have shown that excess I supplementation to ewes inhibits immunoglobulin G (IgG) absorption in their lambs. The objectives of this study were: (1) evaluate the effects of incremental amounts of Ascophyllum nodosum (ASCO) meal supplementation (0, 57, and 113 g/d) to prepartum cows on colostrum production and subsequent growth, health, and blood concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), and thyroid hormones (TH) of their …

Fourth-Dimensional Education In Virtual Reality, Jesse P. Hamlin-Navias

Senior Projects Spring 2022

This project was driven by an interest in mathematics, visualization, and the budding field of virtual reality. The project aimed to create virtual reality software to allow users to interact and play with three-dimensional representations of four-dimensional objects. The chosen representation was a perspective projection. Much like three-dimensional shapes cast two-dimensional shadows, four-dimensional shapes cast three-dimensional shadows. Users of the software developed in this project could interact and experiment with these three-dimensional shadows using hand controlled inputs. The hypothesis put forward is that virtual reality is currently the best medium to teach three-dimensional and four-dimensional geometry.

The Intended Heroic Behavior Scale: Creation And Validity Of A Scale Predicting Heroism To Advance Developmental Research On Heroes, Brian R. Riches

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Heroism – the phenomenon of individuals putting themselves at risk for the benefit of others – is a topic of increasing empirical interest (Franco et al., 2017). Applied heroism training programs have emerged with the goal of fostering heroism (Heiner, 2018). Psychologists have examined the characteristics of heroes (e.g., Midlarsky et al., 2005) and the power of the situation to drive ordinary people to heroic action (Franco et al., 2017). These studies have raised important questions, such as how can heroism be predicted? Does heroism training work? And how do heroes develop? Current methods of studying heroism, including exemplar studies, …