Digital Commons Network^™

Academic Performance Among Homeless Students: Exploring Relationships Of Socio-Economic And Demographic Variables, Miriam Moore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines homeless student academic performance, types of temporary housing used among the homeless, degree of stability or instability for families with school-aged children, child needs for academic success, the importance of parental involvement in a child's academic growth, and other known factors in relations to child student academic performance, with a focus on grade level and racial differences. A multiple linear regression model is used to test the hypotheses while controlling confounding variables. Statistically significant relationships are reported between race and academic performance, and grade level and academic performance. Practical and policy implications are discussed, as well as …

Organizational Complexity, Plan Adequacy, And Nursing Home Resiliency: A Contingency Perspective, Cherie Boyce

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Some social and organizational behavior scientists measure resiliency through anecdotal qualitative research, i.e. personality analyses and stories of life experience. Empirical evidence remains limited for identifying measurable indicators of resiliency. Therefore, a testable contingency model was needed to clarify resiliency factors pertinent to organizational performance. Two essential resiliency factors were: 1) a written plan and 2) affiliation with a disaster network. This contingency study demonstrated a quantifiable, correlational effect between organizational complexity, disaster plan adequacy and organizational resiliency. The unit of analysis, the skilled nursing facility proved vulnerable, therefore justifying the need for a written emergency management plan and affiliation …

F. W. J. Schelling's "Ages Of The World": Acting Out Of Time, Jared Kenrick Nieft

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper offers a new interpretation of Schelling's unfinished fragment, Die Weltalter, one that shows why and how he links the problem of divine creation to the modern crisis of Being and time. The growing sense of disorientation, isolation, indifference and loss that Schelling discovers in his own time parallels the metaphysical concerns and dilemmas of Die Weltalter. It is what draws the question of primordial time so close to our time and gives him the grounds to think them together. Cultural creation is inseparable from the enigma of divine creation. To fathom one is to divine the …

Regulation Of Synaptogenesis By The Mirna Pathway And Fmr/P Bodies, Jacqueline Rochelle Furlong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA is facilitated by different mechanisms, such as microRNA (miRNA) induced gene silencing or fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) mediated repression either independent of or acting through cytoplasmic RNA Processing bodies (P bodies). DPTP99A, Lar, and Wg have known functions during synaptogenesis and may be targets of miR-8. Here, we provide evidence that miR-8 regulates DPTP99A in vitro. Non-endogenous miR-8 expressed using an UAS driver regulates Lar. Endogenous miR-8 may regulate DPTP99A in vivo. Here we show that FMRP is capable of colocalizing with the P body components: DCP1, HPat, and Me31B, but not …

Rapid Scan Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (Epr) And Digital Epr Development, Zhelin Yu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rapid scan electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) was developed in the Eaton laboratory at the University of Denver. Applications of rapid scan to wider spectra, such as for immobilized nitroxides, spin-labeled proteins, irradiated tooth and fingernail samples were demonstrated in this dissertation. The scan width has been increased from 55 G to 160 G. The signal to noise (S/N) improvement for slowly tumbling spin-labeled protein samples that is provided by rapid scan EPR will be highly advantageous for biophysical studies. With substantial improvement in S/N by rapid scan, the dose estimation for irradiated tooth enamels became more reliable than …

An Examination Of Disproportionality In One School District Using A Response To Intervention Model, Brittney M. Bixby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Disproportionality in special education has been an ongoing discussion and cause for concern at the district, state, and federal levels for the past 45 years. Due to legislative changes and a shifting attitude in public education away from a "wait to fail" service delivery model, may states now require the use of Response to Intervention (RTI), or a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) for students who do not meet grade level academic standards or behavioral expectations. This study examined the presence of disproportionality among race/ethnicity, gender, and ELL status for students who received targeted and intensive interventions across two consecutive …

Gender Differences In Risk Factors And Mechanisms For Adolescent Offending, Emma Venell Espel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

From 1985 to 2009, the juvenile justice system processed 86% more offending cases for females, with only a 17% rise in male cases (Puzzanchera et al., 2012), highlighting the urgent need for understanding of gender differences in etiological factors of offending. Specifically, there is an essential need to understand mechanisms of the relationship between risk factors and offending behavior. The current work combines two studies with a gender-sensitive approach and an aim to investigate gender differences in a subset of modifiable mechanisms, such as anxiety and impulse control, which link interpersonal risk and offending. The first study tests gender differences …

Particle Swarm Optimization Based Reactive Power Dispatch For Power Networks With Distributed Generation, Xiao Kou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Reactive power is critical to the operation of the power networks on both safety aspects and economic aspects. Unreasonable distribution of the reactive power would severely affect the power quality of the power networks and increases the transmission loss. Currently, the most economical and practical approach to minimizing the real power loss remains using reactive power dispatch method.

Reactive power dispatch problem is nonlinear and has both equality constraints and inequality constraints. In this thesis, PSO algorithm and MATPOWER 5.1 toolbox are applied to solve the reactive power dispatch problem. PSO is a global optimization technique that is equipped with …

Dialogic Constructions Of Monogamy: The Discursive Struggles Of Mono-Normativity And Mono-Realism, Stephanie K. Webb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Through the lens of relational dialectics theory (RDT; Baxter, 2011), this study examines the various discourses of monogamy and works to understand how monogamy is granted power through communication. Data for the study was gathered via qualitative surveys. A contrapuntal analysis identified two competing discourses: (1) the discourse of mono-normativity and (2) the discourse of mono-realism. The discourse of mono-normativity is taken for granted as the ordinary way to conduct romantic relationships. As such, it is granted power and idealized. The discourse of mono-realism disrupts the discourse of mono-normativity, as it challenges the idealization of monogamous romantic relationships. The discourses …

“She Can Be A Superhero, But She Needs Her Day Off”: Exploring Discursive Constructions Of Motherhood And Depression In Emerging Adult Talk Surrounding Maternal Depression, Leah Seurer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite studies demonstrating the impact of health on the family and the family on members’ health, research exploring this intersection remains scant in both family communication and health communication. This study explores the nexus of health and family by examining constructions of motherhood and depression in emerging adult talk surrounding maternal depression. Using relational dialectics theory as the theoretical lens, the study examined talk collected in 36 one-on-one interviews with emerging adults asked to describe their experiences of having a mother with depression. Participant talk surrounding motherhood voiced two primary discourses of motherhood: (1) the discourse of real mother …

Patterns And Predictors Of Stability And Change In Representations Of Romantic Relationships In Adolescence And Young Adulthood, Claire Stephenson Flansburg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research on the stability of attachment representations across the lifespan has led to two alternative perspectives: the prototype and revisionist perspectives (Fraley, 2002). The prototype perspective posits that there is a stable factor underlying fluctuations in representations and the revisionist perspective argues that there is no inherently stable factor. The current study employed a latent trait-state model to investigate these alternative models of stability and change in representations of romantic relationships in adolescence and young adulthood. The study also sought to identify individual characteristics and relationship experiences that are associated with changes in representations. In a sample of 200 participants, …

Is Colorado Buddhism Green? A Study Of The Interaction Of Buddhist Practice With Environmental Concerns, Mengye Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The human community is paying more attention to our growing environmental crisis. Religious beliefs are often proposed as effective ways to address environmental ethics. It is often supposed that Buddhism is a "green" religion because of its intimate associations with nature. My research focuses on whether or not Buddhism in Colorado influences Buddhist practitioners' environmental awareness by identifying and evaluating Buddhist ecological attitudes and values. My research questions include: (1) what aspects of Buddhist practice refer to the elements of natural environment, (2) do Buddhist practitioners profess different attitudes and behaviors than non-Buddhist practitioners, and (3) If so, how does …

Feel-Good Giving: The Mythic Construction Of Generosity In Millions, Grace Y. Chiou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The question of what generosity is and how it is practiced in relation to the neoliberal contexts of late capitalism has emerged as a subject of interest across a variety of fields. Instead of placing emphasis on the recipient and the cause or structural inequalities contributing to the need for generosity, new practices of giving have appeared on a variety of media platforms and have been performed by a host of celebrities, sports figures, and politicians that emphasize the giver's moral goodness.

By using a critical cultural studies approach, this dissertation demonstrates that in the visual culture of humanitarianism representations …

Rab8 Directs Tubulation And Furrow Ingression During Epithelial Formation In Drosophila Melanogaster, Lauren Mackenzie Mavor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the most fundamental changes in cell morphology is the formation of a plasma membrane furrow. The Drosophila embryo undergoes several cycles of rapid furrow ingression during early development, which culminates in the formation of an epithelial sheet. Previous studies have demonstrated the requirement for intracellular trafficking pathways in furrow ingression; however, the pathways that link compartmental behaviors with cortical furrow ingression events have remained unclear. This research shows that Rab8, a small GTPase associated with late exocytic trafficking events, demonstrates striking dynamic behaviors in vivo; transitioning from punctate structures to a stable association with the cortex during …

Comparing Short-Term Outcomes Of Three Problem Gambling Treatments: A Multi-Group Propensity Score Analysis, Adam David Soberay

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study applied a multi-group form of propensity score analysis to the study of outcomes related to problem gambling treatment. Across various treatment settings, it is often unfeasible or unethical to randomly assign participants to different treatment conditions, particularly when one of the conditions involves not receiving treatment. Additionally, evaluative practices often involve assessing outcomes from a primarily treatment focused setting, in which case clients are likely not randomly assigned to treatment. Consequently, where randomization does not exist, methods such as propensity score matching need to be implemented to separate what part of the observed outcomes is attributable to treatment …

Spontaneous Facial Behavior Computing In Human Machine Interaction With Applications In Autism Treatment, Seyedmohammad Mavadati

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Digital devices and computing machines such as computers, hand-held devices and robots are becoming an important part of our daily life. To have affect-aware intelligent Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) systems, scientists and engineers have aimed to design interfaces which can emulate face-to-face communication. Such HMI systems are capable of detecting and responding upon users' emotions and affective states. One of the main challenges for producing such intelligent system is to design a machine, which can automatically compute spontaneous behaviors of humans in real-life settings. Since humans' facial behaviors contain important non-verbal cues, this dissertation studies facial actions and behaviors in HMI …

The Caregiver–Child Relationship, Youth Mental Health, And Placement Stability In A Child Welfare Sample, Laura A. Rindlaub

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Healthy relationships between adolescents and their caregivers have been robustly associated with better youth outcomes in a variety of domains. Youth in contact with the child welfare system are at higher risk for worse outcomes including mental health problems and home placement instability. A growing body of literature points to youth mental health problems as both a predictor and a consequence of home placement instability in this population; the present study aimed to expand our understanding of these phenomena by examining the interplay among the caregiver-child relationship, youth mental health symptoms, and placement change over time. Method: The sample …

Climate Driven Changes To Malaria Transmission Patterns In Ethiopian Highlands, Amir Said Siraj

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the highlands of East Africa, the most populated regions in Africa, temperature is assumed to be intimately connected to the patterns of malaria both in time and space. A large section of the Ethiopian population in this region has historically been shielded from the disease mainly due to the altitudes in the highland regions that have remained free of the disease. However, the region has also seen a large part of its population being affected by malaria in epidemic outbreaks that seem to follow climatic anomalies, especially those of inter-annual increases in temperature. This project examines the inter-annual variability …

Middlemarch: Eliot's Spencerian Sociological Study Of Provincial Life, Kellie Marie Mckinney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Through the novel Middlemarch, George Eliot fulfills the intention of her subtitle and uses sociological theories to conduct A Study of Provincial Life. Eliot's letters, journals, and various essays provide evidence of sociologist Herbert Spencer's influence on her own writings. Spencer's specific opinions and contributions not only strengthen the sociological message of Eliot's novel, but a handful of his ideals shape the narrative voice of her novel. Variations of Spencer's theories are seen in Eliot's "authorial narrator's" comments and observations of the Middlemarch couples. With her narrator, Eliot applies Spencer's theories on "belief" and on the correlation of …

Road Stories, Louis Mindar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Road Stories is a collection of three novellas that explore the pull, allure, sanctuary, serendipity, and adventure of life on the open road. The novellas examine how for some, the road holds the promise of a new day, an improved life, a better opportunity, or a deeper love; while for others, it is nothing more than an assortment of jumbled blue lines on a map. In Tierra del Fuego, a man takes to the road to figure out how to deal with the grief and sense of betrayal he feels following the death of his wife. Lake of the Falls …

Going Viral: A Critical, Post-Structural Exploration Of Feminist Culture Jamming As Cultural Therapeutic, Leah Boisen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Using a discursive framework informed by critical theory and post-structural philosophy (particularly via the works of Michel Foucault and Judith Butler), this dissertation proposes the existence of pathology at both individual and cultural levels. Shifting away from the language of social problems, I propose that the pervasive and harmful ideology of patriarchy promulgated through discourse constitutes not just a problem, but a cultural sickness. Calling for a revised understanding of the relationship between culture and individual, and a new respect for the powerfully constitutive role of discourse, I argue that many of the common symptom patterns and problems we treat …

Predictors Of Breast Cancer Screening And Cancer Genetic Services Use Among Young African American Female Breast Cancer Survivors: A Secondary Data Analysis, Tarsha Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the breast cancer screening behaviors and cancer genetic services (genetic testing and counseling) use among African American female breast cancer survivors diagnosed between the ages of 20-45 years of age (Young Breast Cancer Survivors -YBCS). Additionally, this study examined factors that predicted these breast cancer screening behaviors.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: An expanded version of the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) as modified by (Katapodi et al., 2013) guided this study. According to the original theory, knowledge/attitudes, subjective norms regarding the behavior, and perceived control towards the behavior predicts one's intention to …

Assessing The Efficacy Of Pre-Service Trainings For Treatment Foster Parents, Amy Strickler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quasi-experimental study examined the effectiveness of two pre-service trainings: Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP, n = 81) and Pressley Ridge's Treatment Foster Care pre-service training (PR-TFC, n = 71) on treatment foster parents' parenting attitudes, readiness to provide treatment foster care, and attitudes toward providing treatment foster care. ANCOVAs revealed the PR-TFC group experienced significantly more change than the MAPP group in two parenting constructs, and the MAPP group experienced significantly more change than the PR-TFC group in one parenting construct. This study revealed no significant differences between groups in the amount of change in personal dedication …

Microbial Arsenic Transformation In Near Subsurface Environments, Robert James Reiter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the first part of this study, environmental bacterial arsenic transformation was investigated in anthropogenically arsenic contaminated subsurface sediments from the former Vineland Chemical Company in Vineland, NJ. Subsurface sediments from the vadose (371 mg/kg arsenic) and aquifer (81 mg/kg arsenic) zones and an off-site surface sediment (0.7 mg/kg arsenic; control) were used as inocula for enrichment cultures with selective media to assess for microbial arsenic metabolic activity. Arsenite (As(III)), monomethyl arsenic acid (MMA) and dimethyl arsenic acid (DMA) were provided as electron donors, while arsenate (As(V)) was provided as an electron acceptor. An anion exchange chromatography method with conductivity …

Shift Work And The United States Female Workforce: The Relationship Between Shift Work And Ill-Health Effects, Allison Marie Bondanza

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study was designed to determine the magnitude of the relationship between amount, frequency, and length of shift work completed by female transportation employees and the number, degree, and extent of problems related to physical, menstrual and psychological health including depression. It was hypothesized that workers that are employed in areas such as transportation who are working shift work on a regular basis place themselves at higher risk for developing health or psychosocial related effects. These health related outcomes can have a profound impact on an employee’s job performance, daily functioning, and personal life. The present study sought to …

The Role Of Cognition In Sexual Signals And Mate Choice Decisions, Ross Minter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cognitive ability varies dramatically among individuals, yet the manner in which this variation affects reproduction has rarely been investigated. Here, we asked 1) whether male sexual signals reflect cognitive ability and whether females prefer males with superior cognitive abilities, and 2) whether female cognition affects male and female mating decisions? We addressed these questions in a mutual mate choice system, threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus). We tested cognitive performance by presenting the males and females with a novel task (a barrier to food) to evaluate problem-solving abilities and learning. We found that males that problem solve have elaborate sexual …

Measurement Of Particulate Transition Metals And Atmospheric Processing Of Iron, Benton T. Cartledge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The work presented herein details the measurement of particle-bound metals in environmental samples with specific interests in iron (Fe) in atmospheric particulate matter. Metals were measured in ambient PM_2.5 to study the effects and contributions of a light rail system on the concentrations of metals in atmospheric particles. Particulate matter samples were collected on board trains, near the tracks, and at an urban background location in Denver, CO. Metals were found to be enriched in particles collected on board the trains more so than at the other locations. Fe speciation was also measured in the soluble fraction of the …

Synthesis And Characterization Of New Probes For Use In Fluorescence And X-Ray Ct Bioimaging, Simon Tang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The pursuit of more suitable drugs intended for possible biological applications are a continuously growing topic of research within the scientific community. One of these suitable qualities includes the need for hydrophilicity and or some appropriate delivery system for the drug to enter into biological systems. A system of analyzing and following these compounds would then, however, be necessary to conduct any kind of mechanistic or interaction studies for he said drug within the biological system. Just to name a few, fluorescence and X-ray computed tomography (CT) methods allow for imaging of biological systems but require the need of compounds …

The Impact Of Demographic Variables On Differentiation Of Self During The Course Of Counseling, Kenneth C. Messina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bowen's natural systems theory has been identified as a foundational theory in learning of family processes (Miller, Anderson, & Keala, 2004). Despite the importance of this theory to the counseling profession, there is a lack of research examining the moderators of Bowen's key construct, differentiation of self. There are few studies that explore the effect of demographic variables on levels of differentiation of self. There is also a lack of literature regarding the impact of these demographic moderators on an individual's ability to increase their level of differentiation of self through counseling. This study investigated the impact of counseling on …

Fluorescent Biological Aerosol Particles In Coastal Canada And The Link To Atmospheric Ice Nuclei, Jixiao Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bioaerosols are a subgroup of atmospheric aerosols and are often linked to the spread of human, animal and plant diseases. Bioaerosols also may play an indirect effect on environmental processes, including the formation of precipitation and alteration of the global climate through their role as nuclei for cloud droplet formation. Several types of biological organisms (e.g., fungi and bacteria) have been shown to be effective ice nuclei (IN) and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN).

During 21 days in August 2013 we participated in a collaborative international campaign at a rural, coastal site near the village of Ucluelet on the west coast …