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Brigham Young University

Theses and Dissertations

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Articles 211 - 240 of 1873

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Insomnia Symptom Severity Is Associated With Increased Suicidality And Suicide In A Psychiatric Sample, Zachary Alan Simmons Jun 2020

Insomnia Symptom Severity Is Associated With Increased Suicidality And Suicide In A Psychiatric Sample, Zachary Alan Simmons

Theses and Dissertations

Insomnia is a risk factor for suicidal behavior including attempts and suicide. We investigated whether insomnia symptom severity predicted suicidality and suicide in an at-risk sample. The sample included deceased psychiatric patients seen at Weber Human Services since 2008 (N=180) who completed the Outpatient Questionnaire-45.2 (OQ) prior to death. Insomnia symptom severity was assessed using item 41 from the OQ. Manner of death was determined by death records and autopsy reports. History of suicidal ideation and prior suicide attempts were determined through review of electronic medical records. Cases were grouped into 4 categories: no history of suicidality (n = 30), …

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Treatment Engagement And Effectiveness Using An Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy At A University Counseling Center, Meredith S. Pescatello Jun 2020

Treatment Engagement And Effectiveness Using An Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy At A University Counseling Center, Meredith S. Pescatello

Theses and Dissertations

Mental health disorders are a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide. Mental health services do not meet demand due to accessibility issues, financial burden, and increasing needs. Technology can provide affordable, accessible mental health care and some research suggests internet-delivered Cognitive Behavior Therapy (iCBT) may be an effective treatment. In iCBTs, participants typically complete Cognitive Behavior Therapy modules and videos and are supported by a therapist. Advantages of iCBT over face-to-face therapy include lower cost, no travel time, easy access, no waitlists, and trackable progress. To our knowledge there have been no naturalistic studies of iCBT programs. Therefore, this …

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General Education Teachers' Self-Reported Response To Overt Student Problem Behavior In The Classroom, Ingrid Lewis Shurtleff Jun 2020

General Education Teachers' Self-Reported Response To Overt Student Problem Behavior In The Classroom, Ingrid Lewis Shurtleff

Theses and Dissertations

The need for teachers to respond effectively to student problem behaviors is vital for positive student outcomes. This study examined how general education teachers respond to different problem behaviors, what variables possibly predict those responses, and if dealing with problem behaviors plays a possible role in teacher attrition. Results were reported using descriptive and statistical analyses. Three-hundred sixty-three elementary and secondary teachers in five school districts were invited to participate in a survey. Findings indicate that teachers primarily use individually directed responses to problem behaviors and the responses had little differentiation according to intensity of behavior. The data revealed some …

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Inclusive Teaching In Faith Communities: Examining The Effects Of Brief Video Trainings On Planning Inclusive Teaching For Individuals With Disabilities, Mary Margaret Woodruff Jun 2020

Inclusive Teaching In Faith Communities: Examining The Effects Of Brief Video Trainings On Planning Inclusive Teaching For Individuals With Disabilities, Mary Margaret Woodruff

Theses and Dissertations

Many individuals within faith congregations are primarily taught by volunteers desiring to edify and support those they teach. Unfortunately, these devoted teachers also feel heightening insecurity in accomplishing this task because they lack professional training and experience working with individuals with disabilities. As volunteer teachers, many of these instructors do not have access to training that is efficient and affordable. The purpose of this study was to examine the how brief training videos on inclusive teaching practices, gleaned from empirically-supported practices promoted in special education classrooms, impact faith-based instructors' knowledge, confidence, and planning skills. Participants included three lay teachers from …

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Long Distance Interaction In Viejo Period Casas Grandes, Jaron Troy Davidson Jun 2020

Long Distance Interaction In Viejo Period Casas Grandes, Jaron Troy Davidson

Theses and Dissertations

This research addresses how interregional interaction changed between the Viejo period (AD 700-1200) and Medio period (AD 1200-1450) in northwest Chihuahua, Mexico. Non-locally procured or created artifacts, features, and iconographic elements are used as proxy evidence for past long-distance relationships. Data available in technical reports and other publications concerning these materials in Viejo period contexts and a sample of excavated Medio period sites are synthesized and presented. The data are used to create a geospatial dataset and distribution maps with quantities and contextual information for each of the nonlocal materials. I argue that interaction and social networks with long-distance neighbors …

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Efficacy Of An Online Self-Compassion Training For Improving Well-Being And Body Image: A Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial, Lauren Benyo Linford Jun 2020

Efficacy Of An Online Self-Compassion Training For Improving Well-Being And Body Image: A Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial, Lauren Benyo Linford

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the efficacy of the My Best Self 101 (MBS101) self-compassion module, an internet-delivered self-compassion training within a non-clinical general population sample. Using a randomized-waitlist control design, this study examined whether module participants experienced significant improvements in self-compassion, well-being, and body image compared to waitlist controls. Participants were 228 adults (mean age 30.3, 23.5% male and 76.5% female). At pretest and posttest, both groups completed self-report measures of self-compassion, subjective well-being, and body image. Repeated measures mixed model analyses revealed that compared to waitlist controls, participants who used the MBS101 self-compassion module reported significant improvements in self-compassion, well-being, …

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Stack The Deck: A Self-Monitoring Intervention For Adolescents With Autism For Balancing Participation Levels In Groups, Lauren Elizabeth Lees Jun 2020

Stack The Deck: A Self-Monitoring Intervention For Adolescents With Autism For Balancing Participation Levels In Groups, Lauren Elizabeth Lees

Theses and Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects the lives of 1 in 54 children in the United States. By definition, these children often have social communication deficits as well as restrictive and repetitive behaviors that are socially isolating. Inclusion of participants with disabilities such as ASD in classroom or group settings with peers is a high-priority goal for building skills that lead to independent living and higher quality of life for all. Balancing an individual’s class or group participation is not always easy with different levels of social skills, however. In a classroom, this can translate to difficulty in knowing how to …

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Gender Portrayal In Marvel Cinematic Universe Films: Gender Representation, Moral Alignment, And Rewards For Violence, Kristen Ray Jun 2020

Gender Portrayal In Marvel Cinematic Universe Films: Gender Representation, Moral Alignment, And Rewards For Violence, Kristen Ray

Theses and Dissertations

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is the most popular film franchise in terms of box-office dollars. This superhero franchise has the power to influence their vast and dedicated audience greatly regarding gender. Social cognitive theory and cultivation theory shows that MCU movies could influence the gender schemas some people have. Previous research has shown that men are often portrayed as evil and as preparators of violence. Women that are violent are considered unnatural and go against gender stereotypes. Evil women are often portrayed as victims of circumstance or good women that are compelled to be evil for a short time. …

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An Evidence-Based Evaluation Of Behavior Management Practices Among Paraprofessionals, Jordan Mark Goodman Jun 2020

An Evidence-Based Evaluation Of Behavior Management Practices Among Paraprofessionals, Jordan Mark Goodman

Theses and Dissertations

Paraprofessionals (i.e., paid school employees working under the supervision of licensed and certified personnel) are being given expanded roles and responsibilities in schools. Unfortunately, many paraprofessionals in the United States are not well trained and are asked to take on responsibilities they have not been prepared for. One of those responsibilities is managing student behavior. The purpose of this study was to evaluate paraprofessionals' self-reported behavior management practices. Using a survey, we collected information concerning paraprofessionals' feelings of confidence in managing problem behavior, techniques to manage problem behavior, feelings concerning their behavior management training, and their views on certain problem …

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Baby On The Way, Sex Gone Away? A Dyadic Investigation Of Sexual Satisfaction In Pregnancy, David Brent Allsop Jun 2020

Baby On The Way, Sex Gone Away? A Dyadic Investigation Of Sexual Satisfaction In Pregnancy, David Brent Allsop

Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that having high sexual satisfaction during pregnancy is difficult for couples. This negative trend is important considering that low sexual satisfaction can negatively affect both relationship satisfaction, psychological health, and child outcomes. However, there is evidence that this trend does not apply to all and different groups of couples exist in terms of their sexual satisfaction in pregnancy. Guided by family systems theory and the biopsychosocial model, the current study explored if different subsets of couples, composed of pregnant wives and husbands, exist in terms of their sexual satisfaction during pregnancy and what factors distinguish potential subsets. Using …

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Developmental Predictors Of Adolescent Alcohol Intake: A Nonhuman Primate Model, Elizabeth Katherine Wood Jun 2020

Developmental Predictors Of Adolescent Alcohol Intake: A Nonhuman Primate Model, Elizabeth Katherine Wood

Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol abuse is one of the costliest human health problems in the United States. Studies assessing the etiology of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in adulthood suggest that these disorders are predicted by trait-like differences, such as low or impaired central serotonin or temperamental anxiety. Few studies, however, have assessed neonatal, infant, and adolescent characteristics that lead to alcohol abuse in adolescence. Given that the expression of AUDs is rooted in biological processes, the set of studies presented in this work investigate the early origins of excessive alcohol use in adolescence, with an overall goal of identifying risk factors that may …

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Post-Birth Marriage, White-Hispanic Families, And Child Academic Achievement, Sadie Andrews Slighting Jun 2020

Post-Birth Marriage, White-Hispanic Families, And Child Academic Achievement, Sadie Andrews Slighting

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past decade, policymakers have promoted marriage as a pathway to improve child outcomes in single-parent households. However, previous research on single mothers who later married in the United States has failed to examine how the structural advantages and disadvantages of race influence post-birth marriages and the advantage they may confer. I investigate how white advantage—the human- and social-capital benefits that come from being a white individual—acts as a resource distributed differently across three couple configurations. I predict that having access to white advantage via a white parent will improve child academic achievement. Using the US Early Childhood Longitudinal …

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How Receiving And Providing Relational Compensators And Religious Expectations Influence Religious Experiences, Elisabeth R. Kimball Jun 2020

How Receiving And Providing Relational Compensators And Religious Expectations Influence Religious Experiences, Elisabeth R. Kimball

Theses and Dissertations

Much research has been done on the concept of why people remain religious, formulating Rational Choice Theory. This involves the idea of compensators and religious expectations. In addition, other research and subsequent theories go into the duality of religious expectations and relational compensators—these relational compensators include love, support, forgiveness, and kindness from others. However, research has rarely explicitly explored what reportedly encourages individuals to stay in religious institutions despite religious demands. Through qualitative interviews with 198 highly religious families, this study analyzed the various expectations and demands individuals and families encounter, as well as the relational blessings they report receiving …

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Does Disassociation From The Majority Religious Affiliation Affect Community Desirability?, Alex Nicholas Andre Jun 2020

Does Disassociation From The Majority Religious Affiliation Affect Community Desirability?, Alex Nicholas Andre

Theses and Dissertations

How do predominantly religious rural communities influence members who are not associated with the dominant religion? Does disassociation with the majority religious affiliation impact community desirability? Current community literature has shown that religious affiliation identification can influence community sentiment (Jennings and Krannich 2013; Kan and Kim 1981; Stinner, Van Loon, Chung, and Byun 1990; Mattarita-Cascante, Stedman, and Luloff 2010) while other studies suggest the possibility of either mixed or inconclusive results (Adams 1992; Andrews 2011; Flagg and Painter II 2019; Reitz, Banerjee, Phan, and Thompson 2009). Using data from the Rural Utah Community Study in 2017, the current study will …

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Stress And Performance Anxiety Intervention For Musicians:A Biofeedback And Compassion Focused Therapy Intervention, Tara Austin Jun 2020

Stress And Performance Anxiety Intervention For Musicians:A Biofeedback And Compassion Focused Therapy Intervention, Tara Austin

Theses and Dissertations

Performance anxiety and stress are forefront problems for performers in the music industry. Within music training programs, these problems are particularly debilitating. These students are concerned both about performance situations and also their personal lives. The following study compared two treatments, heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) on the effects of cortisol and self-reported stress and mood before and after a required end of semester performance. Thirty students enrolled in a college music program participated in the five-visit intervention (14 in the HRV biofeedback group and 16 in the CFT group). Stress levels, measured by self-report, …

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Strengthening Couple's Relationships With Nature Recreation, Brock W. Sumner Jun 2020

Strengthening Couple's Relationships With Nature Recreation, Brock W. Sumner

Theses and Dissertations

Nature has been shown to be beneficial for numerous individual outcomes and this article investigates the link between of individual's nature recreation and couples' relationship satisfaction. First, we outline the theoretical underpinnings of nature recreation and couples' relationship satisfaction. Then we examine the following hypotheses: (1) nature recreation has a positive direct effect on relationship satisfaction, (2) there is a positive indirect effect of nature recreation on relationship satisfaction through the environmental effects, and (3) the relationship between nature recreation and relationship satisfaction will be moderated by the recreational factors. These were examined using data obtained from a cross sectional …

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Reliability And Validity Practices In Randomized Controlled Trials: Current Trends And Recommendations, Jennifer A. Z. Romano Jun 2020

Reliability And Validity Practices In Randomized Controlled Trials: Current Trends And Recommendations, Jennifer A. Z. Romano

Theses and Dissertations

The verity of conclusions drawn from psychological research hinges on the reliability and validity of the measures used to collect the data. Any research conducted using measures with low reliability or validity is rendered essentially useless; thus, reporting reliability and validity evidence for measures employed in research is an essential component in creating rigorous, replicable research. Multiple reporting standards have been implemented and revised over the years with the intent to improve measurement and reporting practices within clinical psychology, though few guidelines have been suggested regarding adequate reporting practices for studies' measures. We reviewed a representative sample of randomized clinical …

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Missing Piece Of The Puzzle: Creating A General Meaning Of Sex Measure, Veronica R. Hanna-Walker Jun 2020

Missing Piece Of The Puzzle: Creating A General Meaning Of Sex Measure, Veronica R. Hanna-Walker

Theses and Dissertations

The presence of and/or search for meaning has divergent and salient outcomes for individuals’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Although numerous domains of meaning have been examined, the literature on the meaning of sex is sparse and lacks a quantitative measure. In this study, I aimed to validate a general Meaning of Sex (MOS) Measure that captured the presence of (MOS-P) and search for (MOS-S) the meaning of sex that predicted salient relational and sexual outcomes (i.e., relationship stability and satisfaction and sexual satisfaction). The MOS measure was based off of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) created by Steger …

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Do Shape And Volume Of Subcortical Neural Structures Involved In Reward Processing Correlate With Body Mass And Food Reward In Adolescent Females?, Kelsey K. Zaugg Jun 2020

Do Shape And Volume Of Subcortical Neural Structures Involved In Reward Processing Correlate With Body Mass And Food Reward In Adolescent Females?, Kelsey K. Zaugg

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The prevalence of adolescent obesity has increased drastically in the last few decades, spurring research examining causes and consequences of this chronic health condition. Neuroimaging techniques are being used to determine possible neural correlates of obesity that could help inform research in this field. However, the research among adolescents is not as abundant and findings so far are contradictory. This study sought to examine the association of the shape and volume of subcortical brain structures involved in reward processing with weight status in adolescent females. Additionally, this study sought to determine if the shape and volume of these structures …

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Adolescent Depressive Symptomology: Do Siblings Hurt Or Help?, Jared D. Thorpe Jun 2020

Adolescent Depressive Symptomology: Do Siblings Hurt Or Help?, Jared D. Thorpe

Theses and Dissertations

Adolescents in the United States are currently experiencing a mental health crisis. While evidence shows that parents play an important role in shaping the mental health of youth, little has been done to understand how siblings may contribute to the psychological well-being of adolescents. I examine this association through the lenses of social capital and resource dilution perspectives. Social capital theory suggests that siblings may act as an additional source of resources, such as social support, which promote positive mental health. In contrast, resource dilution theory posits that the presence of siblings decreases the availability of parental resource in a …

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Understanding The Administrative Role Fo School Psychology District Leaders, Alivia Nicole Smith Jun 2020

Understanding The Administrative Role Fo School Psychology District Leaders, Alivia Nicole Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Very few articles in the published research literature have considered the clinical supervision of school psychology and even fewer articles explore the administrative supervision of school psychologists. The purpose of this study is to describe the roles, and responsibilities, and challenges faced by district leaders who supervise school psychologists. Using a purposeful sample, participants met criteria for this study if they worked at the district level, supervised at least three school psychologists, and were responsible for hiring and firing school psychologists. Nineteen participants qualified for this study and completed a phone interview that included eight open-ended questions. Participants shared that …

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Retaining School Psychologists: The Role Of District Level Administrative Supervisors, Rachel Ruth Butler Jun 2020

Retaining School Psychologists: The Role Of District Level Administrative Supervisors, Rachel Ruth Butler

Theses and Dissertations

The school psychologist shortage has been a persistent problem in education, and there is a lack of research on what current administrative supervisors are doing to address shortages. This study examined the perceptions of district leaders regarding the recruitment and retention of school psychologists. Participants included 19 administrative supervisors in public school districts in Colorado (CO), Utah (UT), Nevada (NV), and Wyoming (WY). Data for this qualitative study were collected by conducting semi-structured interviews with administrative supervisors of school psychologists. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for common themes. A total of 10 themes were identified, and the first theme reflected …

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Dyslexia Beyond The Word: An Ecological Study Of Specific Reading Disorder, Benjamin T. Carter Jun 2020

Dyslexia Beyond The Word: An Ecological Study Of Specific Reading Disorder, Benjamin T. Carter

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation discusses the effects of dyslexia on reading behavior and cognition. It does so by first outlining the overall incidence of dyslexia, providing current definitions, giving a history of scientific inquiry and discussing relevant contemporary research. Thirteen different analyses are then discussed (ten a priori and three post-hoc). Individuals with dyslexia were found to have increased fixation duration, first run dwell time, total dwell time, and refixation probability. The dyslexia group was also highly sensitive to lexical predictability. Within the reading network, the BOLD response was depressed in dyslexia during reading in the following regions: the left medial and …

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Therapist Effects On Dropout In Couple Therapy, Kwin L. Willis Jun 2020

Therapist Effects On Dropout In Couple Therapy, Kwin L. Willis

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the strong efficacy of couple therapy, many couples still do not benefit from treatment. Marriage and family therapy scholars have argued that therapists play a crucial role in the delivery of successful couple therapy, yet little research has documented that the therapist in couple therapy has a significant impact on outcomes. Known as the study of therapist effects, this study sought to assess the amount of variance attributed to the therapist in couple therapy outcomes. Using dropout as the outcome variable, this study analyzed data from 1192 couples treated by 90 therapists at a university-based training clinic. Results from …

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Psychometric Properties Of The Spanish Version Of The Treatment Support Measure (Tsm-Sp), Corinne Elizabeth Ruth Jun 2020

Psychometric Properties Of The Spanish Version Of The Treatment Support Measure (Tsm-Sp), Corinne Elizabeth Ruth

Theses and Dissertations

Hispanic youth and families, although they comprise a sizeable portion of the population, are underrepresented in mental health settings within the United States and face significant barriers to receiving adequate treatment. Specifically, the lack of availability of Spanish assessment tools for application in treatment prohibits Hispanic clients from accessing the full extent of available therapeutic resources. The Treatment Support Measure (TSM) is a valid and reliable instrument that allows clinicians and researchers to collect information to better understand change processes and relevant client characteristics in therapy. The present study created a Spanish-translated version of the parent and youth TSM (TSM-SP) …

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What Are Stakeholders' Perceptions Of Rural School District Needs To Effectively Educate Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kari Lyn Pugh May 2020

What Are Stakeholders' Perceptions Of Rural School District Needs To Effectively Educate Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kari Lyn Pugh

Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has continued to rise each year. This fact has significance in the area of education. The rise in prevalence of autism means an increase of students with autism in schools. Educators have the need to be prepared to provide an appropriate education for these students but may not have training or resources to be effective. Rural communities may have even more concerns about education for students with ASD due to geographic isolation and the lack of available educators in their area trained to support the specific needs of these students. To determine the …

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Peripheral Dopamine 2 Receptors Both Modulate Central Dopamine Release And Adopt In A Similar Manner To That Of Central Dopamine 2 Receptors, J. Daniel Obray Apr 2020

Peripheral Dopamine 2 Receptors Both Modulate Central Dopamine Release And Adopt In A Similar Manner To That Of Central Dopamine 2 Receptors, J. Daniel Obray

Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol use disorder is a debilitating disorder affecting nearly 5% of people in the United States. Despite the prevalence of alcohol use disorder few affected individuals seek treatment and of those who do many will relapse. This highlights a need to develop new treatments for alcohol use disorder that are both more accessible and more effective. This dissertation characterizes a novel pathway involved in ethanol enhancement of dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens as well as investigating alterations in dopamine 2 receptor expression and function following an acute dose of ethanol. This was done by using microdialysis to measure dopamine …

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What Motives Drive Pornography Consumption, Charlotte R. Esplin Apr 2020

What Motives Drive Pornography Consumption, Charlotte R. Esplin

Theses and Dissertations

Pornography use has become widespread and mainstream in American society, with estimates that 60% of men and 35% of women have viewed pornography at some time in the last year. Pornography use has been associated with both positive and negative outcomes depending on the user, and some of these conflicting results may stem from problematic measurement. Using a newly validated measure that assesses frequency, duration, arousal, and deliberate or accidental exposure to seven common types of pornography, we sought to understand if the motivations to view pornography differed depending on biological sex of the user and the type of use …

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Spherical Objects Among The Fremont, Emily Crump Apr 2020

Spherical Objects Among The Fremont, Emily Crump

Theses and Dissertations

Rounded objects, such as spheroids, are frequently found throughout the Fremont region. Because little information is known about these spheroids, this comprehensive analysis of spheroids contributes to definitions of and variation among Fremont spherical objects. I analyzed over 400 Fremont spheroids recording the size, weight, stone type, and other quantifiable aspects for each spheroid. The provenience of spheroids highlights some of the patterns and variability within the Fremont world. I also compare ethnographic accounts of purposes of spheroids in hopes to develop a better understanding of the function of these objects.

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Long-Term Opiate-Induced Adaptations In Lateral Paracapsular Neurons Of The Basolateral Amygdala, Sara Jane Werner Apr 2020

Long-Term Opiate-Induced Adaptations In Lateral Paracapsular Neurons Of The Basolateral Amygdala, Sara Jane Werner

Theses and Dissertations

Increases in basolateral amygdala (BLA) activity drive avoidance-seeking behavior that may be associated with stress induced drug seeking. Activity of BLA pyramidal neurons is regulated by local and paracapsular gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) interneurons. The lateral paracapsular interneurons (LPCs) border the external capsule, receive dense cortical/thalamic input and provide feed-forward inhibition onto BLA principle neurons. The GABAergic LPCs also express high concentrations of g-protein coupled µ-opioid receptors (MORs). Therefore, the effects of opiates on LPC activity and local GABA release were examined. Fluorescently double labeled LPCs were observed in glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) 65-mcherry/GAD67-green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice. Whole-cell electrophysiology …

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