Digital Commons Network^™

Growing Community By Growing Food: A Comparative Study Of Two Community Gardens In North Texas, Rebekah Rupel

Sociology & Anthropology Theses - Archive

Community Gardens are a burgeoning trend in the U.S., blooming in many different cities and for different reasons including social activism, sustainability, health, education, ecology, and community. Their popularity also reflects a current trend where people are more attentive to their relationship with food and concerned about where it comes from. This thesis examines two community gardens in North Texas, University of Texas at Arlington Community Garden in Arlington and Deep Ellum Urban Garden in Dallas. Despite community gardens' popularity, no studies on community gardens have been done in Texas. However, North Texas is home to the 4th largest metropolitan …

How Does The Sudden Impact Of A Disability Within The Immediate Household Affect Siblings?, Vanessa Lashae Cantu

Sociology & Anthropology Theses - Archive

AbstractThis paper examines the relationship amongst siblings when they are impacted with a crisis. The crisis in this paper is a spinal cord injury. The theoretical framework for the paper is based on family systems theory. This theory incorporates how the self, roles and identities are created and impacted by the family in how they interact and communicate with one another. The paper examines how the family interacted and communicated prior to the crisis, during the crisis and how they currently interact and communicate. Respectively these time periods are labeled as; prior to crisis, onset of disability and adjustment phase. …

Legislating Innovation: Why Charter Schools Can't Fix Public Education, Richard Cordrey

Sociology & Anthropology Theses - Archive

How do we account for the fact that, despite myriad school reform and counterbalancing resistance efforts, the education system in America seems to be in a constant state of disrepair? Some observers attribute this to the introduction of accountability measures and voucher programs, while others claim that common curriculum standards, and accompanying standardized tests, are to blame. In the face of constant opposition to non-traditional educational venues by various special interest groups, there are a growing number of educational leaders opening schools that aim to challenge institutional norms and ever-growing numbers of parents choosing to enroll their children in those …

Motivating Martial Artists: An Examination Of The Drives And Lessons Learned Among Taekwondo Students, Gordon M. Block

Sociology & Anthropology Theses - Archive

There are a large number of martial art schools operating in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area, teaching a variety of martial arts. Of all of those schools the students at the Texas Black Belt Academy chose their school, despite a lengthy travel time for some of the students. In an effort to find out why the students chose this particular school, I joined and investigated the Texas Black Belt Academy, investigating what the students were getting out of both the lessons and environment of the school. I found that the students came most often to learn self-defense, however they stayed for …

Optical Properties Of Secondary Organic Aerosols Using Ultraviolet/Visible Spectroscopy, Felisha Imholt

CUP Undergraduate Research

It is well known that the increased warming effect due to greenhouse gases is a major environmental concern. While the amount of solar radiation absorbed by greenhouse gases is known to a high certainty, the amount absorbed by secondary organic aerosols (SOA) is not. Our study aimed to discover how much radiation SOA particles absorb between ~200 and 800 nm. The SOA were created in one of two temperature controlled Teflon chambers within Dr. John Shilling’s lab at PNNL and were collected on 47 mm Teflon filters. We used an ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) spectrometer equipped with a liquid waveguide capillary flow …

Composition Of Secondary Organic Aerosols, Ryan Caylor, Felisha Imholt, Matthew Wise, John Shilling

CUP Undergraduate Research

The enhanced greenhouse effect is considered one our greatest global environmental problems. The amount of radiation absorbed by greenhouse gases is known to high certainty. However, absorbance from atmospheric aerosols particles is not. This study was conducted to determine the chemical composition of secondary organic aerosol particles (SOA) and to determine the compositional effect on their optical properties. The SOA were created in a temperature controlled chamber at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, WA and collected on filters. The SOA were then analyzed for chemical composition using Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (FTIR). Analysis of the IR spectra revealed specific …

Optical Properties Of Secondary Organic Aerosols, Felisha Imholt, Ryan Caylor, Matthew Wise, John Shilling

CUP Undergraduate Research

It is well known that the increased warming effect due to greenhouse gases is a major environmental concern. While the amount of solar radiation absorbed by greenhouse gases is known to a high certainty, the amount absorbed by secondary organic aerosols (SOA) is not. The experimental procedure used to measure the amount of radiation absorbed by SOA was optimized using fulvic acid. The optimized method was then used to measure how much radiation SOA absorb between ~200 and 800 nm. Using this data, mass absorption coefficient (MAC) values at 405 nm and imaginary refractive indexes (k) were calculated. These values …

Composition And Optical Properties Of Secondary Organic Aerosol Particles, Felisha Imholt, Ryan Caylor, Matthew Wise, John Shilling

CUP Undergraduate Research

Research Questions:

• What is the chemical composition of SOA?
• Does SOA absorb UV/Vis radiation?
• If SOA does absorb UV/Vis radiation, how strong of an absorber is it?

Integrative Approaches For Biological Network Inferences, Dongchul Kim

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Inferring biological networks from high-throughput bioinformatics data is one of the most interesting areas in the systems biology research in order to elucidate cellular and physiological mechanisms. In this thesis, network inference methods are proposed to solve biological problems. We first investigated how the exposure to low dose ionizing radiation (IR) affects the human body by observing the signaling pathway associated with Ataxia Telangiectasia mutated using Reverse Phase Protein Array and isogenic human Ataxia Telangiectasia cells under different amounts and durations of IR exposure. DNA damage-caused pathways are derived from learning Bayesian networks in integration with prior knowledge such as …

Inferring Answer Quality, Answerer Expertise, And Ranking In Question Answer Social Networks, Yuanzhe Cai

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Search has become ubiquitous mainly because of its usage simplicity. Search has made great strides in making information gathering relatively easy and without a learning curve. Question answering services/communities (termed CQA services or Q/A networks; e.g., Yahoo! Answers, Stack Overflow) have come about in the last decade as yet another way to search. Here the intent is to obtain good/high quality answers (from users with different levels of expertise) for a question when posed, or to retrieve answers from an archived Q/A repository. To make use of these services (and archives) effectively as an alternative to search, it is imperative …

Efficient Frameworks For Lifetime Maximization In Tree Based Sensor Networks, Sk Kajal Arefin Imon

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

In most wireless sensor network (WSN) applications, data are typically gathered by the sensor nodes and reported to a data collection point, called the sink. In order to support such data collection, a tree structure rooted at the sink is usually defined. Based on different aspects, including the actual WSN topology and the available energy budget, the energy consumption of nodes belonging to different paths in the data collection tree may vary significantly. This affects the overall network lifetime, defined in terms of when the first node in the network runs out of energy. In this thesis, we address the …

Breaking Down Beps: Strategies, Reforms, And Planning Responses Note, Michael V. Sala

Connecticut Law Review

In response to a call from the G20 to address perceived aggressive international tax planning strategies, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development initiated its Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project in 2012. The project's flagship document provided a broad outline of the path to reform current international tax norms and highlighted several specifically disfavored tactics. This Note unpacks these tactics at a fundamental level to reveal the confluence of international and U.S. tax law that supports them. Examples include withholding tax exemptions, residency law mismatches, exceptions to U.S. anti-avoidance rules, and the current U.S. entity-type selection regime. In spite …

13 Week Training Program And The Senior Fitt Test, Jocelyn Jose

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

INTRODUCTION: The Senior Fitt Test is a tool used by many to study the functional fitness of older individuals. It assesses the physiological capability of these individuals to carry out daily tasks safely without fatigue. Research has shown that walking enhances the results of exercise by warming-up the muscles of the body. The exercise program consisted of individuals who were 70 years of age and older who attended classes three days per week for 13 weeks and went through a warm-up, cardiovascular training, resistance training, and cool down

The Effect Of Caffeine On Submaximal Exercise Performance In Female College Students, Hoai Nguyen

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

Many studies has been conducted to determin how caffeine affects exercise performance. Research shows that certain types of caffeine help improve one's body mass and overall performance. Some studies have shown that caffeine provides ergogenic benefits during strength-training exercise.The purpose of this study was to determine if caffeine had any effect on submaximal exercise performance in female college students.Five women (age 22 ±1 yrs; height 162.06 ± 6.58cm; weight 50.30±5.75 kg) who are UTA Kinesiology students volunteered to participate in the study. All the five subjects experienced two YMCA cycle ergometer tests on two different days within a week. The …

Acute Effects Of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation Via Beetroot Juice On Exercise Performance, I. Nduka

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

It has been reported that dietary nitrate supplementation effectively reduces blood pressure and increases tolerance of both moderate and high intensity exercise. However, it is presently unknown whether these effects are solely seen during long term supplementation or are equally present following short term supplementation; thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of short term nitrate supplementation on exercise performance.

Anaerobic Power And Aerobic Fitness Characteristics Of College-Aged, Recreational, Female Soccer Players Based On Their Field Positions, Nelson Martinez

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

Research has shown that more anaerobically fit soccer players make for better defenders, while the more aerobically fit players are better off being used on the offensive side of the pitch. The Wingate is an anaerobic test, most often performed on a cycle ergometer, which is used to measure peak anaerobic power, as well as anaerobic capacity. On the other hand, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) is the maximum capacity of the body to transport and utilize oxygen (aerobic) during incremental exercise. To obtain VO2max, the Bruce Protocol, which is a standardized multistage treadmill test for assessing cardiovascular health, was used.

Fitness Assessment Of College-Aged Male Commuters And Non-Commuters, Brad Kleinlauth

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

Body Mass Index (BMI) is the height to weight measurement used to determine if a person is at a healthy body composition. Research shows that students who drive 16 minutes or longer to campus are 64% more likely to have a BMI of 25 or over. Fitness of an individual also depends on other variables such as relative maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), maximal heart rate, time of exercise, and percent body fat.

The Effects Of Energy Drinks On Performance During A Submaximal Exercise Test, Christine Hernandez

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

Introduction: Energy Drinks are beverages that imply revitalization of the mind and body, enhancement for better performance in sports, and the stimulation of the body by boosting the energy levels. Generally, energy drinks are consumed in order to enhance the quality of performance in exercise and to boost their energy levels on performance. These beverages claim to impact exercise and enhance the body’s physiological responses.

The Benefits Of Motor Imagery On Upper Limb Strength, Janet Pacheco

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

Motor Imagery (MI) is a dynamic state in which an individual mentally stimulates a given action, without an actual motor output. The primary function is to allow the individual to generate a specific predetermined and possible outcome based on past experiences. A generous portion of MI research is primarily focused on rehabilitation rather than a strength training setting. In many cases when a patient is unable to execute a physical movement, the next most relevant scenario is to visualize the execution of that specific movement. Research suggests an increase in strength may be due to an improvement of the motor …

Effects Of Caffeine On Athletic Performance, Natasha Hernandez

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

INTRODUCTION: Caffeine is considered the most widely used stimulant in the world. According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) the average consumption of caffeine in the USA is approximately 2 cups of coffee per day (200 mg). Caffeine is often referred to as a nutritional ergogenic aid, but it has no nutritional value. Caffeine that is ingested is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and peaks in the blood within the first two hours. Caffeine has the potential to affect all systems of the body, as it is absorbed by most tissue. The remaining caffeine is broken down in …

Pre-Cooling Interventions And The Physiological Effects With Intermittent-Sprinting, Josue Flores

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

BACKGROUND: Thermoregulation is stated as the potential of an organism to sustain a core body temperature within parameters, as external and internal temperatures are constantly fluctuating from day to day. Exercise, illnesses or intense external conditions are factors that cause elevated core body temperature that can disrupt cellular activity. Literature has shown that in order for the body to allow for physiological processes to occur efficiently it is necessary to be in a homeothermic state. The hypothalamus is the prime mechanism that regulates the core body temperature to maintain it within a normal resting range of 97.0-100.0 ˚F. Hence, the …

The Effects Of Chocolate Milk On Recovery From Exercise, David Salib

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

Introduction: Exercise is commonly followed by fatigue which an athlete usually tries to minimize with the intake of protein supplements and high protein diets. The fatigue felt by the athlete can have an effect on his or her ability to perform at the same level while focusing on similar muscle groups. Increasing protein intake speeds up the recovery process of the muscles used during exercise, and measurements such as maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) can be used to determine whether or not the athlete can perform exercise at the same level of intensity while targeting the same muscle groups. The VO2max …

Effects Of Patterned Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation On Knee Joint Stabilization, Marian Abowd

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

INTRODUCTION: Electrical stimulation has traditionally been used in rehabilitation settings for neuromuscular reeducation and to reverse the adverse effects of muscle atrophy. However a more functional form of stimulation, known as patterned electrical neuromuscular stimulation (PENS), has recently been developed to replicate typical firing patterns of muscles. There has been evidence to suggest that receiving this treatment while performing exercises may have the potential to improve functional performance in healthy individuals. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of patterned electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) treatment applied during a step-up exercise on knee stabilization during resisted strength …

The “Pre-Workout” Effect, Mario Arciniega

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

INTRODUCTION: The consumption of Jack3D along with various other pre-workout supplements before a workout has become more than just the norm in the fitness world. However, are the products as effective as they are marketed to be? A one repetition max test can easily measure the strength of an individual and can be used as a tool in exercise prescription for resistance training. A one repetition max test is performed in three to four lifts and allows the individual to view their maximum load capability for a particular muscle group. The use of these measurement scales, perceived rate of focus …

The Effect Of Warm-Up Techniques On Foot, Ankle And Lower Leg Stability In A College-Age Population, S Laine

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

Common warm-up techniques attempt to prepare the body for tasks that may require higher physiological response. The increase in temperature with warm-ups tends to speed nerve conduction velocity, attenuate muscle spindle sensitivity, and decrease tissue stiffness. Passive (hot pack or massage) or active (low intensity aerobic) warm ups that target the specific joint or muscle may be more effective than general body warm-ups. Localized hot pack application and joint mobilizations may better stimulate musculotendinous tissue thereby allowing more effective preparation for tasks that require a high neurological response.

The Paradox Of Increasing Both Enrollment And Graduation Rates : Acknowledging Elephants In The Ivory Tower, Sean W. Mulvenon, Daniel H. Robinson

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications - Archive

The argument is made that increasing enrollments and graduation rates cannot occur while maintaining academic standards. Several U.S. universities are attempting to increase their enrollments to counter the financial difficulties created by a reduction in state support. These same universities are also under growing pressure from their state legislatures to increase four-year graduation rates and make degrees more affordable. In this essay, we describe how some universities and programs are attempting to meet both of these goals by lowering academic standards.

The Interplay Of Environmental Stressors On The Life History Traits In Daphnia Lumholtzi, Deirdre Leonard-Whittington

Biology Theses - Archive

In natural environments, organisms face multiple stressors that threaten their persistence. Aquatic organisms respond to a change in environmental conditions by adaptively modifying the expression of traits (i.e., phenotypic plasticity). Yet, our understanding of the interactive effects of multiple simultaneous stressors on the fitness of organisms is currently limited. This is because previous research has typically focused on the influence of environmental stressors in isolation thus ignoring the impacts that multiple variables may have on an organismal fitness. Here, I assessed the interactive effects of predator cues (Chaoborus) and low food quality (Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii) on key life-history traits in the …

Transformation Of, In, And By Learning In A Service-Learning Faculty Fellows Program, Mary Cazzell, Shirley Theriot, Joan M. Blakey, Melanie L. Sattler

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications - Archive

Transformative learning is the most desired core outcome in adult education. The qualitative study examined critical reflections for professional transformation related to development and implementation of service-learning courses or projects from four university faculty members during enrollment in a Service-Learning Faculty Fellows program and post-servicelearning implementation. Reflective questions related to faculty perceptions of student learning, service-learning as pedagogy, and their own learning— transformation of, in, and by learning, respectively. Content analyses of faculty reflections resulted in three categories of transformation based on three preservice-learning and three post-servicelearning descriptive themes: (1) transformation of student learning from anticipatory integration to conflicts between …

Investigation Of An Association Between Childhood Leukemia Incidences And Airports In Texas, Sala. Nanyanzi Senkayi, Melanie L. Sattler, Nancy Rowe, Victoria Chen

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications - Archive

As worldwide demand for air travel increases, emissions from airports will likely also increase. Airport emissions pose a concern due to lack of information about their quantity and impacts on human health and the environment. This research aimed to address the question of whether there is an association between childhood leukemia cases and airport emissions in Texas. Rather than looking at the impacts of a single airport on the surrounding community, this study looks at all airports in the state of Texas, and 2 134 incidences of childhood leukemia (children age 9 and under) state–wide over a 10–year period. The …

Synthetic Strategies To Probe Enzymatic Activity: Investigation Of A Novel Oxygen-Dependent Non-Heme Diiron Monooxygenase (Miae), Andra Lynn Corder

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations - Archive

Within the anticodon stem loop (ACSL) of tRNA, nucleoside modifications are frequently observed at position 34 (the wobble position) or position 37 (3' adjacent to the anticodon). For instance, nearly all eukaryotic and bacterial tRNAs that read codons starting with uridine are modified by the enzymes MiaA and MiaB. While absent in eukaryotes, some facultative bacteria utilize a non-heme diiron enzyme (MiaE) to catalyze the O2₂-dependent hydroxylation of 2-thiomethyl-N₆-(3-methyl-2-butenylamino) adenosine (ms²i⁶A₃₇) to produce 2-methylthio-N⁶-(4-hydroxyisopentenyl)-adenosine (ms²io⁶A₃₇). In these bacteria, it has been postulated that the extent of the A37-hydroxylation is involved in regulating aromatic amino acid uptake, iron transport, and aerobiosis. …