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Evolution In Neotropical Herpetofauna: Species Boundaries In High Andean Frogs And Evolutionary Genetics In The Lava Lizard Genus Microlophus (Squamata: Tropiduridae): A History Of Colonization And Dispersal, Edgar Benavides Dec 2006

Evolution In Neotropical Herpetofauna: Species Boundaries In High Andean Frogs And Evolutionary Genetics In The Lava Lizard Genus Microlophus (Squamata: Tropiduridae): A History Of Colonization And Dispersal, Edgar Benavides

Theses and Dissertations

In this collection of papers I have summarized my investigations into the field of evolutionary genetics and more specifically into patterns of biodiversity and evolutionary processes. The lizards (and frogs) studied here share common features in that they are largely present in unique environments, which are also regions that are biologically understudied. Most of these taxa show high degrees of endemism, interesting natural history characteristics, and each group manifests distinctive adaptations of general evolutionary interest. My work in the genus Telmatobius has been a progressive approach that began in my MS program, and it first focused on alpha taxonomy, morphological …

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Analysis Of Near-Infrared Phase Effects On Biometric Iris Data, Brady Roos Stevenson Dec 2006

Analysis Of Near-Infrared Phase Effects On Biometric Iris Data, Brady Roos Stevenson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to ascertain potential iris scan data variations from near infrared waves derived from fluorescent illumination. Prior studies of iris data variances from infrared wave interference of halogen, incandescent, and sunlight with iris cameras suggest that similar changes may exist under near infrared wavelengths from fluorescent light. The concern is that the fluorescent energy emission may interfere with the near infrared detection of an iris camera. An iris camera is used to measure human eye characteristics known as biometrics. If such infrared emission is statistically significant, then it can alter the validity of the iris …

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Pilgrimage Narrative: A Pattern For Heavenly Theatre In King Lear, Alexandra Chantal Yvette Mackenzie Dec 2006

Pilgrimage Narrative: A Pattern For Heavenly Theatre In King Lear, Alexandra Chantal Yvette Mackenzie

Theses and Dissertations

I have always felt personally challenged and invigorated by one line in Peter Brook's canonical text The Empty Stage: “if the need for a true contact with a sacred invisibility through the theatre still exists, then all possible vehicles must be re-examined" (Brook 54). This thesis will endeavour to suggest and explore heavenly theatre, one possible vehicle to find that sacred invisibility. I will argue that heavenly theatre encompasses Peter Brook's understanding of holy theatre, but is more specific and tied to the manifestation of deity in the form of the Holy Spirit as understood and defined within my personal …

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Forage Adaptability Trials For Forage And Seed Production In Bolivia; Effect Of 5 Herbicides On 7 Native Utah Forbs, Joshua C. Voss Dec 2006

Forage Adaptability Trials For Forage And Seed Production In Bolivia; Effect Of 5 Herbicides On 7 Native Utah Forbs, Joshua C. Voss

Theses and Dissertations

The harsh environmental and poor economic conditions of the Bolivian Altiplano require intervention to assist many of those that live there to become economically self-sufficient. We attempted to find introduced dry season reserve forage grasses that could produce enough biomass to be useful as feed for livestock, and that could also produce enough seed to distribute to farmers. While some of the grasses produced reasonable amounts of biomass, none produced seed in quantities that would be even close to being economically viable. The most likely cause of this is that the timing of resources that the grasses need to flower …

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Synthesis And Optical Properties Of Four Oligothiophene-Ruthenium Complexes And Synthesis Of A Bidentate Ligand For C-F Bond Activation, Joseph S. Bair Dec 2006

Synthesis And Optical Properties Of Four Oligothiophene-Ruthenium Complexes And Synthesis Of A Bidentate Ligand For C-F Bond Activation, Joseph S. Bair

Theses and Dissertations

Photovoltaic cells and fluorescence sensing are two important areas of research in chemistry. The combination of photon-activated electron donors with electron acceptors provides a strong platform for the study of optical devices. A series of four oligothiophene-ruthenium complexes has been synthesized. Variation in oligothiophene length and bipyridine substitution allowed comparison of these variables on electronic properties. The longer oligothiophenes display lower energy absorption and emission compared to the shorter ones. Aromatic conjugation appears more complete with para-, rather than meta-, substitution. Oligothiophenes and Ru(bpy)32+ are highly fluorescent individually, but fluorescence is quenched when connected. Bonds of carbon to fluorine are …

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Development Of Polymer Monoliths For The Analysis Of Peptides And Proteins, Binghe Gu Dec 2006

Development Of Polymer Monoliths For The Analysis Of Peptides And Proteins, Binghe Gu

Theses and Dissertations

Several novel polymer monoliths for the analysis of peptides and proteins were synthesized using polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) as crosslinker. Photo-initiated copolymerization of polyethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate and PEGDA yielded an inert monolith that could be used for size exclusion liquid chromatography of peptides and proteins. This macroscopically uniform monolith did not shrink or swell in either water or tetrahydrofuran. More importantly, it was found to resist adsorption of both acidic and basic proteins in aqueous buffer without any organic solvent additives. A strong cation-exchange polymer monolith was synthesized by copolymerization of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) and PEGDA. A ternary …

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The Role Of Wnt Signaling In Development Of The Ophthalmic Trigeminal Placode., Rhonda Nicole Lassiter Dec 2006

The Role Of Wnt Signaling In Development Of The Ophthalmic Trigeminal Placode., Rhonda Nicole Lassiter

Theses and Dissertations

Cranial placodes are ectodermal regions that contribute extensively to the vertebrate peripheral nervous system. The development of the ophthalmic trigeminal (opV) placode, which gives rise only to sensory neurons of the ophthalmic lobe of the trigeminal ganglion, is a well-studied model of sensory neuron development. While key differentiation processes have been characterized at the tissue and cellular levels, the molecules governing opV placode development have not been well described. This study identifies the canonical Wnt signaling pathway as a regulator of opV trigeminal placode development. Introducing dominant-negative TCF and dominant-active β-catenin expression constructs by in ovo electroporation, we have manipulated …

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Phylogenetics Of North American Psoraleeae (Leguminosae): Rates And Dates In A Recent, Rapid Radiation, Ashley N. Egan Dec 2006

Phylogenetics Of North American Psoraleeae (Leguminosae): Rates And Dates In A Recent, Rapid Radiation, Ashley N. Egan

Theses and Dissertations

The scientific discipline of phylogenetics involves understanding the diversity of life in the context of history. Technological advances in molecular biology and computational power have created an exponential increase in the number and kind of phylogenetic studies, allowing exploration of all manner of questions concerning the evolutionary history of a group. This dissertation research is focused on phylogenetic theory and applying these methods to the plant tribe Psoraleeae (Leguminosae; Fabaceae) with an emphasis on North American (NAm) members. First, theory of phylogeny estimation is explored in a review chapter focusing on strengths and weaknesses of phylogenetic methodology. Second, methods are …

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Computationally Modeling The Effects Of Surface Roughness On Soft X-Ray Multilayer Reflectors, Jedediah Edward Jensen Johnson Dec 2006

Computationally Modeling The Effects Of Surface Roughness On Soft X-Ray Multilayer Reflectors, Jedediah Edward Jensen Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Electromagnetic scattering from a rough two dimensional homogeneous scatterer has been computationally modeled. The scatterer is intended to simulate reflection from a two interface multilayer. The rough scatterer was created from Gaussian random points centered about an ideal interface. The points were connected with a third order spline interpolant which accounts for correlation between neighboring surface atoms. The scalar electric field integral equation (EFIE) and magnetic field integral equation (MFIE) were solved using the Nystrom method to obtain the reflected intensity as a function of observation angle. Verification of the accuracy of the code was obtained by means of comparison …

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Development Of Methods For The Study Of Phosphoproteins, Zhaoyuan Chen Dec 2006

Development Of Methods For The Study Of Phosphoproteins, Zhaoyuan Chen

Theses and Dissertations

Characterization of phosphoproteins-including detection, identification of phosphoproteins and identification of phosphorylation sites-is mostly done with radiolabeling and proteomic techniques. Three main topics related to phosphoprotein characterization are included in this dissertation. First, large-scale characterization of the CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cell phosphoproteome was done using two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) separation, visualization of phosphoproteins by radiolabeling or a phosphoprotein specific dye, followed by MALDI-TOF identification. Because radiolabeling of phosphoproteins is very sensitive and straightforward to quantify, such analysis can give a clear picture of the relative phosphosphorylation of proteins present in a sample. But there are also limitations to this …

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Once Upon A Time In A Single-Parent Family: Father And Daughter Relationships In Disney's The Little Mermaid And Beauty And The Beast, Ashli A. Sharp Dec 2006

Once Upon A Time In A Single-Parent Family: Father And Daughter Relationships In Disney's The Little Mermaid And Beauty And The Beast, Ashli A. Sharp

Theses and Dissertations

Fairy tales are adapted to fit the needs of each generation, reflecting the unique challenges of that society. In the 1980s and 1990s of the United States, issues of what constituted a family circulated as divorce increased and fatherhood was debated. At this time, Disney released two animated films featuring a father and daughter: The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Both films are adaptations of fairy tales, and they incorporate changes that specifically reflect concerns of the United States in the late-twentieth century. In the original narrative of "The Little Mermaid" the heroine is primarily raised by her …

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A Phylogeny Of Belonolaimus Populations In Florida Inferred From Dna Sequences, Byron J. Adams, U. Gozel, K. B. Nguyen, R. N. Inserra, R. M. Giblin-Davis Dec 2006

A Phylogeny Of Belonolaimus Populations In Florida Inferred From Dna Sequences, Byron J. Adams, U. Gozel, K. B. Nguyen, R. N. Inserra, R. M. Giblin-Davis

Faculty Publications

The D2-D3 and ITS regions of rDNA from 33 Florida populations of Belonolaimus spp. were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Our objective was to derive a theoretical evolutionary framework for interpreting phenotypic differences as they relate to the taxonomy of the genus. The most striking aspect of the phylogenetic analysis is that none of the three nominal species (B. longicaudatus, B. euthychilus, and B. gracilis) are monophyletic. Additionally, two taxa appear to have discordant ITS and LSU sequences. Three major clades of B. longicaudatus exhibited discernible, overlapping, geographic foci from east to west across the peninsula. Morphological character states …

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Culturally Adapted Mental Health Interventions: A Meta-Analytic Review, Timothy B. Smith, Derek Griner Dec 2006

Culturally Adapted Mental Health Interventions: A Meta-Analytic Review, Timothy B. Smith, Derek Griner

Faculty Publications

There is a pressing need to enhance the availability and quality of mental health services provided to persons from historically disadvantaged racial and ethnic groups. Many previous authors have advocated that traditional mental health treatments be modified to better match clients? cultural contexts. Numerous studies evaluating culturally adapted interventions have appeared, and the present study used meta-analytic methodology to summarize these data. Across 76 studies the resulting random effects weighted average effect size was d = .45, indicating a moderately strong benefit of culturally adapted interventions. Interventions targeted to a specific cultural group were four times more effective than interventions …

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Predictors Of Change In Health Care Use After Marital And Family Therapy, Scott H. Payne Nov 2006

Predictors Of Change In Health Care Use After Marital And Family Therapy, Scott H. Payne

Theses and Dissertations

The cost of health care continues to increase. Based on the biopsychosocial model of heath care, it has been shown that the treatment of psychological and social problems can have a cost offset effect on the cost of medical care. While this offset effect has been shown in an MFT population, there are no known studies that have looked at predictors of the change in medical use by those that receive marital and family therapy. This study looked at psychological and social measures of individuals who received marital and family therapy. These measures were evaluated based on the change from …

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The Influence Of Membrane Lipid Order On Cell Shape And Microvesiculation In Human Erythrocytes, Laurie Jackson Gonzalez Nov 2006

The Influence Of Membrane Lipid Order On Cell Shape And Microvesiculation In Human Erythrocytes, Laurie Jackson Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

Exposure of human erythrocytes to elevated intracellular calcium causes alterations in cell shape and stimulates shedding of the cell membrane in the form of microvesicles. We hypothesized that both the shape transition and microvesiculation are influenced by microscopic membrane physical properties such as lipid order. To test this hypothesis, membrane properties were manipulated by varying the experimental temperature, membrane cholesterol content, and the internal ionic environment. Changes in membrane order were assessed using steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy with an environment-sensitive probe, laurdan. Our observations led us to the following conclusions: 1) the modest temperature dependence of membrane structure observed with laurdan …

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Fgf4 And Wnt5a/Pcp Signaling Promote Limb Outgrowth By Polarizing Limb Mesenchyme, Keri Lynn Low Nov 2006

Fgf4 And Wnt5a/Pcp Signaling Promote Limb Outgrowth By Polarizing Limb Mesenchyme, Keri Lynn Low

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this study was to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms whereby fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) mediate outgrowth of the limb. Specifically, we examined the epistatic relationship between FGF and Wnt/Planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling in establishing cell polarity as a mechanism for outgrowth. By implanting beads into embryonic limbs and lateral plate mesoderm, we established that FGF activates Wnt5a in a gradient fashion. Once it was established that Wnt5a was expressed at the right time and place to turn on PCP signaling, we investigated the ability of Wnt5a to influence cell migration and/or cell polarity. Our analysis …

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Effects Of Cheatgrass Control On Wyoming Big Sagebrush In Southeastern Utah, Daniel Blaine Eddington Nov 2006

Effects Of Cheatgrass Control On Wyoming Big Sagebrush In Southeastern Utah, Daniel Blaine Eddington

Theses and Dissertations

Critical mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) winter ranges in southeastern Utah dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis [Beetle and A. Young] Welsh) have developed dense cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) understories. These communities are currently characterized by predominately mature to decadent stands of sagebrush with few perennial grasses and forbs. Sagebrush seedlings and perennial grasses compete for limited resources with annual grasses and forbs. To determine the affects of cheatgrass control on sagebrush growth and reproductive characteristics, imazapic (PLATEAU®, AC 263,222) herbicide was sprayed at 438.5 ml/ha with water and methylated seed oil during active fall growth of cheatgrass …

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A Comparison Of Microarray Analyses: A Mixed Models Approach Versus The Significance Analysis Of Microarrays, Nathan Wallace Stephens Nov 2006

A Comparison Of Microarray Analyses: A Mixed Models Approach Versus The Significance Analysis Of Microarrays, Nathan Wallace Stephens

Theses and Dissertations

DNA microarrays are a relatively new technology for assessing the expression levels of thousands of genes simultaneously. Researchers hope to find genes that are differentially expressed by hybridizing cDNA from known treatment sources with various genes spotted on the microarrays. The large number of tests involved in analyzing microarrays has raised new questions in multiple testing. Several approaches for identifying differentially expressed genes have been proposed. This paper considers two: (1) a mixed models approach, and (2) the Signiffcance Analysis of Microarrays.

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A New Spectroscopic Method For The Non-Destructive Characterization Of Weathering Damage In Plastics, Andrew Robert George Nov 2006

A New Spectroscopic Method For The Non-Destructive Characterization Of Weathering Damage In Plastics, Andrew Robert George

Theses and Dissertations

The weathering of plastics and composites is a problem because of the loss of both physical and mechanical properties that it causes in these materials. But this weathering effect has been difficult, and in some cases, impossible to characterize without the destruction of the plastic or composite part. Clearly a rapid, reliable, and non-destructive test for the extent of the weathering damage is critically needed. A recent problem that arose at Superyacht Solutions, a boat repair company in Australia, required a solution to just this problem. Such a test was developed for Superyacht Solutions, and is being applied across a …

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Capillary Electrophoresis Of Proteins With Selective On-Line Affinity Monoliths, Jenny Marcela Armenta Blanco Nov 2006

Capillary Electrophoresis Of Proteins With Selective On-Line Affinity Monoliths, Jenny Marcela Armenta Blanco

Theses and Dissertations

The analysis of proteins in biological fluids by capillary electrophoresis (CE) is of interest in clinical chemistry. However, due to low analyte concentrations and poor concentration limits of detection (CLOD), protein analysis by this technique is frequently challenging. Coupling preconcentration techniques with CE greatly improves the CLOD. An on-line preconcentration-CE method that can selectively preconcentrate any protein for which an antibody is available would be very useful for the analysis of low abundance proteins and would establish CE as a major tool in biomarker discovery. To accomplish this, an on-line protein G monolithic preconcentrator CE system for enrichment and separation …

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Learning In Short-Time Horizons With Measurable Costs, Patrick Bowen Mullen Nov 2006

Learning In Short-Time Horizons With Measurable Costs, Patrick Bowen Mullen

Theses and Dissertations

Dynamic pricing is a difficult problem for machine learning. The environment is noisy, dynamic and has a measurable cost associated with exploration that necessitates that learning be done in short-time horizons. These short-time horizons force the learning algorithms to make pricing decisions based on scarce data. In this work, various machine learning algorithms are compared in the context of dynamic pricing. These algorithms include the Kalman filter, artificial neural networks, particle swarm optimization and genetic algorithms. The majority of these algorithms have been modified to handle the pricing problem. The results show that these adaptations allow the learning algorithms to …

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Biochemical Investigations Of Macular Degeneration: The Significance Of Protein Oxidation Including Novel Methods For Its Study, Sarah Warburton Nov 2006

Biochemical Investigations Of Macular Degeneration: The Significance Of Protein Oxidation Including Novel Methods For Its Study, Sarah Warburton

Theses and Dissertations

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a monolayer of cells located directly behind the photoreceptor cells in the retina. These cells are involved in a variety of functions that support the visual process in the eye, namely 1) they form a blood-retina barrier which separates the neural retina from the choroid's blood supply, 2) the apical processes of RPE cells diurnally phagocytose the outer segments of photoreceptor cells, and 3) they participate in the renewal of the photopigment 11-cis retinal. Age-related macular degneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 50 years in North …

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Characterization Of Cucurbituril Complex Ions In The Gas Phase Using Electrospray Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry, Haizhen Zhang Nov 2006

Characterization Of Cucurbituril Complex Ions In The Gas Phase Using Electrospray Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry, Haizhen Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Host-guest interactions have been well studied in the new century to obtain fundamental insights into supramolecular chemistry. Most of the pioneering works have been done using techniques such as NMR, X-ray crystallography, IR spectroscopy and so on. However, none of these techniques is universal for the investigation of all types of supramolecules, and usually they have one or more limiting factors such as relatively large sample consumption, matrix effects from solvents, etc. Electrospray mass spectrometry has been widely used to investigate host-guest interactions in the gas phase. A particular advantage of gas phase host-guest research is that the experimental results …

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Periodic Boundary Condition Induced Breakdown Of The Equipartition Principle And Other Kinetic Effects Of Finite Sample Size In Classical Hard-Sphere Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Randall B. Shirts, Scott R. Burt, Aaron M. Johnson Oct 2006

Periodic Boundary Condition Induced Breakdown Of The Equipartition Principle And Other Kinetic Effects Of Finite Sample Size In Classical Hard-Sphere Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Randall B. Shirts, Scott R. Burt, Aaron M. Johnson

Faculty Publications

We examine consequences of the non-Boltzmann nature of probability distributions for one-particle kinetic energy, momentum, and velocity for finite systems of classical hard spheres with constant total energy and nonidentical masses. By comparing two cases, reflecting walls (NVE or microcanonical ensemble) and periodic boundaries (NVEPG or molecular dynamics ensemble), we describe three consequences of the center-of-mass constraint in periodic boundary conditions: the equipartition theorem no longer holds for unequal masses, the ratio of the average relative velocity to the average velocity is increased by a factor of [N/(N–1)]^1/2, and the ratio of average collision energy to average kinetic energy is …

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Fabrication Of Hollow Optical Waveguides On Planar Substrates, John P. Barber Oct 2006

Fabrication Of Hollow Optical Waveguides On Planar Substrates, John P. Barber

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents the fabrication of hollow optical waveguides integrated on planar substrates. Similar in principle to Bragg waveguides and other photonic crystal waveguides, the antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW) is used to guide light in hollow cores filled with liquids or gases. Waveguides with liquid or gas cores are an important new building block for integrated optical sensors. The fabrication method developed for hollow ARROW waveguides makes use of standard microfabrication processes and materials. Dielectric layers are deposited on a silicon wafer using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) to form the bottom layers of the ARROW waveguide. A sacrificial …

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Microfabrication And Evaluation Of Planar Thin-Film Microfluidic Devices, Bridget Ann Peeni Oct 2006

Microfabrication And Evaluation Of Planar Thin-Film Microfluidic Devices, Bridget Ann Peeni

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past 15 years, research in the field of microfluidics has rapidly gained popularity. By seeking to miniaturize and automate separation-based analysis, microfluidic research seeks to improve current methods through decreased cost, analysis time, and sources of contamination. My work has focused on developing a novel fabrication method, based on standard microfabrication techniques, to create thin-film microfluidic devices. This microfabrication format makes it possible to generate devices that provide high efficiencies, enable mass fabrication, and provide a platform capable of integrating the microfluidic and electronic components necessary for a micro-total analysis system (μ-TAS). Device fabrication combines the processes of …

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Full Issue Fall 2006 Oct 2006

Full Issue Fall 2006

Inscape

No abstract provided.

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Anticivilization, Gordon W. Hewes Oct 2006

Anticivilization, Gordon W. Hewes

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

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Comparing Traditions: Parallels Between Eastern Mysticism And Western Science, Eduardo Wilner Oct 2006

Comparing Traditions: Parallels Between Eastern Mysticism And Western Science, Eduardo Wilner

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

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Max Weber: Readings And Commentary On Modernity, Ed. Stephen Kalberg, Laina Farhat-Holzman Oct 2006

Max Weber: Readings And Commentary On Modernity, Ed. Stephen Kalberg, Laina Farhat-Holzman

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

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