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Expression And Functional Evaluation Of Exendin 4 Fused To Cholera Toxin B Subunit In Tobacco Chloroplast To Treat Type 2 Diabetes, Ramya Nityanandam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has been steadily increasing around the globe. Glucagon like peptide (GLP-1), a powerful incretin increases insulin secretion in a glucose dependent manner. But GLP-1 is subjected to rapid enzymatic degradation (half-life: 2 min in circulation). The commercially available GLP-1 analog, exenatide has a longer half life with potent insulinotropic effects (about 2.4 hr) which requires cold storage and daily subcutaneous injections. In this study, exendin 4 (EX4), lizard derived GLP-1R agonist, was expressed as cholera toxin B subunit (CTB)-fusion protein in chloroplasts of tobacco to facilitate transmucosal delivery in the gut by utilizing the …

Three Essays On Applications Of Intrahousehold Resource Allocation Models, Santikorn Pamornpathomkul

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three chapters on the topic of intrahousehold resource allocation models. The first chapter tests the unitary and general collective models of intrahousehold resource allocation for various household compositions. I find that, for the quasiquadratic Engel curve specification, the overall results support the previous findings in the literature that the unitary model fails to explain how resources are allocated for all household types. However, when using the QUAIDS specification, the results can reject the unitary model only for smaller-sized households. The general collective model, on the other hand, cannot be rejected in either quasi-quadratic or QUAIDS and …

We Live This Shit Rap As A Reflection Of Reality For Inner City Youth, Parag Patel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rap is an extremely popular form of modern music that is notorious for incorporating themes of guns and violence into the lyrics. Early rap was mainly party or dance music until the mid-80s when structural shifts in social conditions brought feelings of hopelessness and frustration into black inner city communities and youth culture. These feelings now find expression in rap lyrics. This thesis uses rap lyrics as qualitative data to understand the plight of urban black youth. Rap music can be seen as a form of resistance for young African Americans who have historically never had such a medium to …

Narrative Based Fear Appeals Manipulating Grammatical Person And Message Frame To Promote Hpv Awareness And Responsible Sexual Conduct, Jennifer Akeley Spear

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The utility of narrative as a persuasive mechanism has been increasingly investigated in recent years especially within the context of health behaviors. Although many studies have noted the effectiveness of narrative-based persuasive appeals, conceptual inconsistencies have made it difficult to determine what specific aspects of narrative messages lead to the most effective persuasive outcomes. In the present study, 145 female college students were randomly assigned to read one of four narrative health messages about a female freshman college students experiences with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Two elements of the narrative message structure were manipulated: the message frame (gain framed vs. …

Principals Who Exceed District Standards Improving Outcomes For Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disabilities, Thomas S. Uhle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A phenomenological study was conducted to investigate the experiences of school principals, who exceeded district standards on standardized performance evaluations, in providing effective educational programs for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD) in an urban setting. The aim of this study was to identify common experiences, practices, or attitudes regarding students with EBD, and their teachers, among school principals who qualified for the study. Data was be collected through principal interviews. Data results were coded, organized, and analyzed using a systematic method of phenomenological analysis to find general themes that speak to the essence of the experience.

Bleeding Control Using Multiple Amputee Trauma Trainer In Medical Simulation Comparison Of Movement Versus Non-Movement In Training, Christine M. Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Army first responders, specifically Combat Medics and Combat Lifesavers, provide medical intervention while in the field. Didactic as well as hands-on training helps to prepare these first responders, and one module they receive involves bleeding control. First responders are taught to use the Combat Application Tourniquet® (CAT® ) to stop bleeding from limbs subjected to severe injury such as amputation, gunshot, or severe lacerations. A training aid like the Multiple Amputee Trauma Trainer™ (MATT™) simulator provides tourniquet training using a lifelike bilateral lower limb amputee. In addition, MATT™ combines movement and resistance while the first responder applies the tourniquet, mimicking …

Modeling Transport And Protein Adsorption In Microfluidic Systems, Craig Finch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mass transport limitations and surface interactions are important phenomena in microfluidic devices. The flow of water is laminar at small scales and the absence of turbulent mixing can lead to transport limitations, especially for reactions that take place at surfaces. Microscale devices have a high ratio of surface area to volume, and proteins are known to adsorb preferentially at interfaces. Protein adsorption plays a significant role in biology by mediating critical processes such as the attachment of cells to surfaces, the immune response and the coagulation of blood. Simulation tools that can quantitatively predict transport and protein adsorption will enable …

Assessing Harm Reduction A Qualitative Investigation About The Impact Of Therapeutic Jurisprudence On Non-Completing Drug Court Clients, Traci R. Francis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Currently, the drug court treatment outcome literature provides little guidance about examining clients that fail to complete drug court. Typically, only successful clients are tracked and measured for outcome success characteristics and not much is known about unsuccessful client outcomes. A large portion of individuals who begin drug court do not complete the program. With unsuccessful rates ranging from 34 to 73%, it seems reasonable to examine the outcome of these cases. Ignoring this phenomenon is problematic because various stakeholders remain uninformed about the drug court model’s full effectiveness. The focus on successful clients may fail to fully capture and …

Curriculum-Embedded Reading Tests As Predictors Of Success On Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test In Reading, Nicole Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the passing of the No Child Left Behind legislation (2001), individual states have been required to administer standardized tests to measure students’ academic achievement in several academic areas, including reading comprehension. Many schools are using curriculum embedded reading comprehension tests to assess students’ progress in achieving grade level expectations before the administration of state standardized test. This study used de-identified student data on curriculum embedded reading comprehension tests and the state standardized reading test, FCAT 2.0 to assess the correlation between a specific curriculum-based measure and the FCAT 2.0. The researcher used Pearson and Spearman Correlation to assess the …

Perceptions And Their Role In Consumer Decision-Making, Raman Khaddaria

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an empirical investigation into the roles that different quantifiable and measurable perceptions play in defining individual behavior across a variety of decision-making contexts. In particular, the focus lies on smokers and the choices they make with regard to smoking and beyond. Chapter 1 analyzes a nationally representative sample of adults (23 years and older) in the United States, pertaining to the Annenberg Perception of Tobacco Risk Survey II (1999-2000). It is observed that three dimensions to smoking behavior viz., risk, temporality and addiction, interact to determine the smoking status of an individual. Although previous studies mostly looked …

The Impact Of A School-Based Cultural Awareness Program On Students' Ethnic Identity And Self-Esteem, Charley Alexandria Braswell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the influences of a school-based cultural awareness program on ethnic identity and self-esteem in fifth grade early adolescents. The development and implementation of a school-based cultural awareness program was intended to offer students a basic foundation for the development and/or enhancement of ethnic identity and self-esteem. 106 fifth grade early adolescents participated in this study. All participants were recruited from one elementary school in the southeastern part of the United States. Participants completed a research packet including the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) both before …

The Role Of Mental Health Professionals In Cases Of Child Sexual Abuse As Seen Through The Eyes Of Judges, S. Lynn Etheridge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The involvement of Mental Health Professionals (MHPs) in cases of child sexual abuse (CSA) is complex and intimidating. There are legal rules and academic suggestions to guide the MHP in this endeavor, but in experience, these rules and suggestions are lacking. Current literature and research indicates that there is little if any direct knowledge on how judges perceive MHPs who testify before them in court. A qualitative phenomenological inquiry that directly interviefive judges about their perceptions of MHPs in cases of CSA was undertaken. The results indicate that MHPs should be more intentional about their choices regarding involvement in court, …

The Effects Of Seasonal Changes And Turbidity On Swimming Performance In White Crappie Pomoxis Annularis And Black Crappie Pomoxis Nigromaculatus., Caleb Joseph Gaston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Factors that affect swimming performance in fish can also affect fitness. I tested the effects of time of day, season and turbidity on swimming performance in black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus and white crappie Pomoxis annularis. These closely related fish co-occur and their relative abundance is thought to be governed by the levels of turbidity in the form of suspended sediments. Black crappie predominate in clear bodies of water and exhibited significantly greater critical swimming speeds in clear water than did white crappie during spring days and winter nights. A significant reduction in critical swimming speed was observed in black crappie …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Reading Instruction And Male Students' Reading Scores In Single-Gender Elementary Classrooms, Chrystal Michelle Hodges

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of single-gender grouping on the reading performance of fourth grade male students and explore the levels of use of research-based reading strategies for their influence on reading achievement of male students in single-gender and mixed-gender class settings. The study population consisted of 195 student participants, from 4 different schools in one mid-South school district, and 9 teacher participants of these students. The control group consisted of 98 students from two of the four schools in the study. Data was collected using the results from the Mississippi Curriculum Test, Second Edition …

Development And Evaluation Of Let's Eat Smart: A Pilot School-Based Nutrition Intervention For Elementry School Children In Kuwait, Sondos Ahmad Kalendar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Due to nutrition transition, the prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing significantly worldwide especially in affluent developing countries such as Kuwait. Obesity is associated with adverse chronic health conditions and financial burdens which provides an incentive for prevention. The objective of the study was to examine the effectiveness of a multi-component school-based nutrition intervention designed to improve healthy eating knowledge, attitudes, self efficacy and dietary behaviors among fourth and fifth graders in Kuwait. The Let's Eat Smart program was based on the social cognitive theory and used short interactive lessons, DVD sessions, posters, food models and parental letters to promote …

A Menu Analysis Of Sorority Meals At The University Of Mississippi, Jessica Lauren Moosa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students transitioning to university life face numerous challenges including the problem of making healthy dietary choices. Sorority members are uniquely suited to examining dietary habits because of their access to regular planned meals and because of the social stresses they experience in regards to body image. Menus are not required to follow nutrient specific guidelines and the nutrient content of sorority meals has not been evaluated at the University of Mississippi. The purpose of this study is to analyze nutrient content of sorority meals and determine if members are able to obtain adequate amounts of nutrients from the foods offered. …

Factors That Shape The Crisis Management Styles Of Former And Current Senior Level Student Affairs Administrators At The University Of Mississippi, Shannon Baker Richardson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Campus crisis intervention and management are hot topics among student affairs professionals and the world of higher education. Policies and protocols surrounding crisis preparation and response have received much publicity through research studies and peer-reviearticles. However, little material has been published regarding the factors that contribute to the crisis management styles of student affairs administrators—leaders that are on the front lines when a crisis occurs. This dissertation is a phenomenological study of seven past and present senior-level student affairs administrators at The University of Mississippi. These seven administrators were intervieand asked questions about their crisis experiences, crisis training, institutional culture, …

Experimental Damage Diagnosis Of A Model Three-Story Spatial Frame, Samantha Sabatino

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Structural damage can be induced by a variety of events from short-term abnormal stresses to long-term natural aging. Detection of changes in a structure's ability to withstand subsequent loads can aid decisions on safety, repair, rehabilitation, and demolition. Dynamic property shifts can show internal cracks and minor damage before propagation or failure occurs, but only if a proper indicator is selected. In order to evaluate potential damage indices, a three-story metal frame building was constructed. Using Star Modal software, dynamic structural properties were obtained from modal decomposition on experimental tap test responses. The natural frequencies and mode shapes of the …

Can't You See The Sun's Settin' Down On Our Town?: Decline, Space, And Community In Frisco City, Alabama, Mary Amelia Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the physical and social decline of Frisco City, a small town in southwest Alabama, and its residents' associations with changing spaces and communities in the downtown area and the Frisco City school. It includes a rephotography project hosted on a website and a short documentary film that demonstrate the changes in the downtown physical environment and residents' ties to its spaces. The group of residents interviefor the study seemed to view the declining downtown area and school as signifiers of their declining community; the economic, social, and physical changes in the town's later history seemed to be …

Nose To Brain Delivery Of Therapeutic Agents, Siva Ram Kiran Vaka

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The potential treatment approaches for various disorders associated with central nervous system are invasive and do not allow frequent administration. Brain targeting of drugs by intranasal route is a safe and noninvasive method of drug delivery which allows frequent administration and is certainly more patient compliant than the currently folloinvasive methods. In this study, the plausibility of delivering neurotrophins [nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)], neurotrophinogenic agents (ex: carnosic acid) and antibiotics (ex: cefotaxime) to brain via nose-brain pathway using chitosan as barrier modulating agent was investigated. In vitro permeation studies of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FD40k) …

Corporal Punishment: Opinion Vs. Research, Margaret Williamson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Corporal punishment is a heated topic, especially in Mississippi. The use of corporal punishment is deeply rooted in culture and religion for many. Many people feel that it is an acceptable method of disciplining children at home and in school although research has disproved this idea. In many families in the south, corporal punishment has been a trusted type of discipline for children for generations. With such a volatile subject matter, where culture and religion clash with reliable scientific research, what are the opinions of the teachers entering the field regarding this topic? Current research provides little insight into the …

Professional Preparation Of Secondary Health Education Teachers In Mississippi, Ensley Howell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the professional preparation of secondary health education teachers in Mississippi. All four-year institutions of higher learning were contacted to determine the requirements for an approved program in order to obtain a supplemental endorsement in health, to compare the similarities and differences, and to determine the extent to which the approved programs reflect the ten content areas of the Mississippi Comprehensive Health Framework. This study also examined the status of secondary school health education programs in Mississippi by utilizing selected data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease …

Extending The Human Capital Theory Of Career Success: An Empirical Test In The Ecuadorian Context, Mario Joseph Hayek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human capital theory has traditionally been used as the primary explanation for objective career success. However, inconsistent results of the human capital-performance evaluation-objective career success relationships, as proposed in human capital theory, motivated this dissertation to further develop the theory by including economic, managerial, and institutional facets. These facets include not only an economic rational perspective, but also a managerial component that considers organizational policies and practices, as well as an institutional component that considers how environmental pressures influence objective career success. Also, boundary conditions for the proposed model are hypothesized explaining how the relationships between the constructs differ for …

Psychological Factors In Hiv-Related Headaches, Kale Edney Kirkland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Headache is one of the most commedical complaints reported by individuals suffering from HIV/AIDS, but conflicting data exist regarding their prevalence, prototypical characteristics, and relationship to HIV severity. A well-established field of research indicates a strong association between psychiatric comorbidities/psychological factors and headache disorders, but this association has not been explored frequently among HIV patients with headaches. Data on headache symptoms and psychological factors were collected on 200 HIV/AIDS patients from two outpatient clinics using structured interviews and self-report measures. Of these, 107 patients (53.5%) endorsed problematic headaches, most of which (n = 103; 51.5%) were consistent with characteristics of …

A Strange Union: Science And Politics In The Loyalty Of Cadwallader Colden, Katherine Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract: Cadwallader Colden remains one of the least-studied Crown officials. His reasons for remaining loyal to the Crown have not been investigated, nor has the interaction between his scientific interests and his politics. This thesis explores the relationship between Colden's loyalty and his science, primarily through study of Colden's published papers and letters, as well as the letters and papers of various other colonial officials and amateur scientists. Ultimately this thesis concludes that Colden formed his closest friendships with other amateur scientists, and that these relationships significantly affected his politics.

Museveni's Centralization Of Power: The Political Economy Of Development In Uganda, Nathan Vasher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops a model of structural power in society that builds upon Weber's notion that several types of power exist in societies and that these types of power operate differently within societies. The purpose of this model is to help explain the political economy of development during Museveni's tenure. The thesis argues that Museveni has centralized power through a complex system of patronage and repression. Furthermore, Museveni's transformation from the leader of a cadre of `new breed leaders' to `just another African big man' results from his choice to centralize power as a means of achieving his revolutionary goals. …

Wallace Stegner's Wolf Willow And 1960s Critical Essays: Renarrativizing Western American Literature For The West And For America, Ruth Newberry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As writer, essayist, environmentalist, and westerner, Wallace Earle Stegner (1909-1993) confronted what he understood to be an imagined and literal American West constructed by myths of frontier conquest, pioneer settlement in and transformation of the western landscape, and cowboy exceptionalism that erased an historical legacy of hardship, failure, and destruction of land and people, and also a West constructed by Eastern publishers and literary critics who diminished western American literature to local color writing. In Wolf Willow: A History, a Story, and a Memory of the Last Plains Frontier (1962), Stegner uses fiction, history, and memoir to engage the mythic …

What Is The Spirit Saying To The Churches? Toward A Contemporary Ecumenical Pneumatology, Eric Hendry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is a clearly articulated body of teachings and similarity of experiences within contemporary ecumenical Pneumatology that has been, to a large degree, neglected within the ongoing renewal of the Roman Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council. In my research, I have come to explore the role of Léon-Joseph Cardinal Suenens - a key progressive leader at the Council - and his promotion of both charisms and the charismatic dimensions of contemporary ecclesial life. Suenens surrounded himself with some of the most talented periti at the Council, whom he continually called upon in order to articulate a theology of …

Providing Culturally Appropriate Services To Immigrant Children And Families Involved With The Allegheny County Department Of Human Services, Turan Jafarova

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the last decade, the immigrant population in Allegheny County has doubled and currently accounts for approximately seven percent of the general population. This number, despite being low, especially compared to other counties and states, is very diverse from an ethnic point view and includes immigrant and refugees from Iraq, Bhutan, Burma, Burundi, Nepal, Somalia, numerous Latin American and other countries. Such an ethnically diverse population presents new opportunities for Allegheny County, the population of which has been declining and aging, at the same time posing various challenges to local human service organizations.

This research studies the experience of human …

Hezbollah Operations In The Tri-Border Area Of South America, Nicholas Kleck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines Hezbollah's depth of involvement in the illegal activities of the tri-border area of South America. This case study used multiple sources ranging from press releases, government publications, to Latin American Journals. The methodology used was supported by Joe Feagin's imaginary analytical induction, which complemented the wide-berth of sources. This study hypothesizes that Hezbollah is utilizing the tri-border area of South America to generate multiple sources of revenue. This concept is confirmed by this study where Hezbollah's activities were researched in depth. Consideration of this research by American policymakers would aid in the development of tailored strategies for …