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Medical School Prerequisite Courses Completed At Two-Year Colleges By Medical School Matriculants: An Analysis At The University Of Central Florida, Erin Myszkowski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many medical school admissions personnel and pre-health advisors advise premedical students not to take the medical school prerequisite courses at two-year colleges because they believe the courses are less academically rigorous than the same courses at four-year institutions (Losada, 2009; Marie, 2009; Thurlow, 2008, 2009a, 2009b). According to this belief, premedical students who complete the medical school prerequisite courses at a two-year college could be at a disadvantage in regard to medical school admission compared to those students who complete the medical school prerequisite courses at a four-year institution. In an effort to analyze these perceptions, this study examined factors …

Enriching Students With Developmental Delays In An Early Childhood Classroom Using Ipads With Mathematics Applications, Selma Powell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Laws and legislation related to early childhood and special education have shaped the field and impacted the need for early intervention services, but the outcomes of those services both academically and socially at the forefront. Children with developmental delays today are eligible for school services beginning at birth across the country, the new challenging is determining the impact of services on the social and academic outcomes. Many children with developmental delays are served in inclusive early intervention classrooms. A need for developmentally appropriate quality mathematics instruction exists to prepare students to meet the demands of a global economy; students must …

The Machine, The Victim, And The Third Thing: Navigating The Gender Spectrum In Margaret Atwood's Oryx And Crake And The Year Of The Flood, Lindsay Mccoy Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores Atwood's depiction of gender in Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood. In an interview from 1972, Margaret Atwood spoke on survival: "People see two alternatives. You can be part of the machine or you can be something that gets run over by it. And I think there has to be a third thing." I assert that Atwood depicts this "third thing" through her characters who navigate between the binaries of "masculine" and "feminine" in a third realm of gender. As the female characters—regardless of their passive or aggressive behavior—engage in a quest for agency, …

Harvesting The Seeds Of Early American Human And Nonhuman Animal Relationships In William Bartram's Travels, The Travel Diary Of Elizabeth House Trist, And Sarah Trimmer's Fabulous Histories, Leslie Blake Vives

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses ecofeminist and human-animal studies lenses to explore human animal and nonhuman animal relations in early America. Most ecocritical studies of American literature begin with nineteenth-century writers. This project, however, suggests that drawing on ecofeminist theories with a human-animal studies approach sheds light on eighteenth-century texts as well. Early American naturalist travel writing offers a site replete with human and nonhuman encounters. Specifically, naturalist William Bartram's travel journal features interactions with animals in the southern colonial American frontier. Amateur naturalist Elizabeth House Trist's travel diary includes interactions with frontier and domestic animals. Sarah Trimmer's Fabulous Histories, a conduct …

Life History Response To Infection And The Potential For Dishonest Signals In The Ground Cricket, Allonemobius Socius, Emily Copeland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In order to maximize fitness, individuals must partition their limited resources among competing physiological processes, creating negative statistical associations between processes known as “life-history trade-offs”. Evidence indicates that individuals tend to decrease their reproductive investment when confronted with a significant immunological challenge in order to increase investment in immune defense. This trade-off is often accompanied by a significant decrease in the sexual signal, which provides an honest signal of the male’s infection status to potential mates. However, if individual residual reproductive value is low, they may instead increase their reproductive investment to maximize reproductive success before the end of their …

X-Ray Radiation Enabled Cancer Detection And Treatment With Nanoparticles, Mainul Hossain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite significant improvements in medical sciences over the last decade, cancer still continues to be a major cause of death in humans throughout the world. Parallel to the efforts of understanding the intricacies of cancer biology, researchers are continuously striving to develop effective cancer detection and treatment strategies. Use of nanotechnology in the modern era opens up a wide range of possibilities for diagnostics, therapies and preventive measures for cancer management. Although, existing strategies of cancer detection and treatment, using nanoparticles, have been proven successful in case of cancer imaging and targeted drug deliveries, they are often limited by poor …

Teacher-Child Interaction Therapy: Efficacy With A Clinical Preschool Population, Kristen Friedrich Schaffner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teacher-Child Interaction Therapy (TCIT), which is an adaptation of the empirically-based treatment of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), addresses the needs of children and teachers through increasing positive teacher-child interactions while educating teachers on effective discipline techniques. The theoretical and empirical basis for PCIT provides the foundation for the appropriate and effective application of the adaptation of this treatment model for use with teachers.

The efficacy of Teacher-Child Interaction Therapy (TCIT) with a clinical preschool population was evaluated through a single subject A-B design conducted across subjects. The current study examined the impact of the intervention, TCIT, on child behavior, teacher …

Soil Phosphorus Availability And Buffering Capacity In Eastern South Dakota Assessed Using Quantity-Intensity Relationships And Diffusive Gradients In Thin Films, Rose Eitemiller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phosphorus (P) availability is influenced by soil properties and depth, creating challenges for nutrient management across agricultural landscapes. This study evaluated two complementary approaches for quantifying P availability and adsorption dynamics in eastern South Dakota soils: Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films (DGT) and P quantity–intensity (Q–I) relationships. The objectives were to (1) quantify bioavailable P using DGT, (2) compare DGT measurements with established soil test P (STP), (3) evaluate Q–I parameters describing P adsorption characteristics, and (4) assess spatial variability in P availability across eastern South Dakota soils. DGT-measured P increased with STP levels and was strongly correlated with Bray-1, …

Synthesis Of Chemical Models Of Hydrolase Enzymes For Intramolecular Catalysis., Cornelius Ndi Ndi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Most nuclease enzymes can hydrolyze phosphoester bonds (in DNA and RNA) by using metal ions cofactors that coordinate and activate water molecules in the enzymes' active sites. However, there are some hydrolase enzymes (including nucleases) that can function without the aid of metal ions. 2,6-Di(1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenol, a model compound for hydrolase enzyme, was synthesized by the reaction between ethylenediamine and dimethyl-3-carboxysalicylate, initially resulting in the formation of diimidazoline. The diimidazoline was subsequently aromatized to the diimidazole by dehydrogenation over palladium. The overall reaction yield was low; therefore, other dehydrogenation transformation reactions were tried but all failed to improve the …

Entry Age And Reading Level By The End Of Third Grade., Tony Lynn Dalton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to see if a difference exists in the mean Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills: Oral Reading Fluency scores of students who entered kindergarten as 4 year olds, 5 year olds, and 6 year olds inclusively. Specifically, this dissertation considered the possibility that holding children out of kindergarten an extra year increased their reading level, while sending children to school too young delayed their ability to read and comprehend.

A quantitative study was used to find differences between the mean reading levels at the end of 3rd grade for students who entered kindergarten on or …

Survey Of Flavonoids And Their Distribution In Different Kinds Of Onions Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography And Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry., Archana Racharla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research is done to determine the distribution of flavonoids in diverse varieties of onions (commercial and wild onions). Reflux extraction method was done on dried onions and the abstracts were analyzed subsequently by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). Statistical calculations were done to see if there are significant differences in the varieties of onions studied from the chromatographic profiles obtained. The chromatograms obtained were patterned using visual observations, scatter plot study, correlation co-efficient, and ANOVA to evaluate the significant difference of the distribution of flavonoids in varieties of onions. The organic white onions seem …

Fabrication Of Chemically Modified Nanometer-Sized Gold Electrodes And Their Application In Electrocatalysis At Pt Nanoparticles., Jude Lakbub

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hydrogen evolution via proton reduction occurs at a high rate at the surface of Pt than at Au electrodes. Using cyclic voltammetry, chemically modified nanometer-sized Au electrodes, prepared by the Laser-Assisted Puller Method, were employed to examine current amplification by electrocalysis at Pt nanoparticles adsorbed on the modified Au electrode surfaces. The electrodes were modified with Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs) of cysteamine and soaked in Pt colloid solutions overnight. Monitoring the decrements of the characteristic steady-state catalytic current for proton reduction indicated that aggregates of Pt nanoparticles are adsorbed on the cysteamine monolayers and desorb from them particle by particle. The …

Synthesis Of Resveratrol Esters And Aliphatic Acids., Stanley Mofor Jing

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Resveratrol (RV) is a naturally occurring phytoalexin of the stilbenoid family produced by some plant species, and present in grape skin, peanuts, and red wine. It has been found to exhibit anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-aging, cardio protective, and anti-oxidant properties. Bioavailability is a huge setback that limits the potentials of RV. As a result, efforts have been made to design and synthesize RV esters and aliphatic acids in an attempt to increase its bioavailability, solubility in water, and possibly improving its biological activities. Resveratrol esters, 3,5,4'-triacetyloxystilbene (2) and Methyl 1,1',1''- (3,4',5-stilbenyl)-1,6-hexanedioate (3) have been synthesized. Compound 3 is a new …

Isolation Of A Rhodococcus Soil Bacterium That Produces A Strong Antibacterial Compound., Ralitsa Bogomilova Borisova

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rhodococci are notable for their ability to degrade a variety of natural and xenobiotic compounds. Recently, interest in Rhodococcus has increased due to the discovery of a large number of genes for secondary metabolism. Only a few secondary metabolites have been characterized from the rhodococci (including 3 recently described antibiotics). Twenty-four new Rhodococcus strains were isolated from soils in East Tennessee using acetonitrile enrichment culturing and identified using 16S rRNA analysis. Forty-seven Rhodococcus strains were screened for antibiotic production using a growth inhibition assay. One strain, MTM3W5.2, had 90% similarity to the Rhodococcus opacus 16S rRNA gene sequence and produced …

Determination Of Select Metal Ions In Commercially Available Conventional And Organic Baby Foods., Neva S. Winters

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study is to determine whether or not there is an appreciable difference between concentrations of various metal ions present in conventionally grown and processed and organically grown and processed baby foods. Two prominent, commercially available brands were chosen to undergo comparative studies between both their own conventional and organic varieties of second stage green beans and carrots. Samples were tested for cadmium, calcium, iron, lead, nickel, and zinc. Two containers of each variety of baby food were sampled in triplicate, with purchases of foods being made in separate areas to ensure that each set came from …

Genome-Wide Association Analysis Of Major Depressive Disorder And Its Related Phenotypes., Nagesh Ramarao Aragam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a complex and chronic disease that ranks fourth as cause of disability worldwide. Thirteen to 14 million adults in the U.S. are believed to have MDD and an estimated 75% attempt suicide making MDD a major public health problem. Recently several genome-wide association (GWA) studies of MDD have been reported; however, few GWA studies focus on the analysis for MDD related phenotypes such as neuroticism and age at onset of MDD. The purpose of this study is to determine risk factors for MDD, identify genome-wide genetic variants affecting neuroticism and age at onset as quantitative …

Modified Organoclay Containing Chelating Ligand For Adsorption Of Heavy Metals In Solution., Mary Akuyea Addy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Presence of a chelating ligand in the clay structure significantly improves its ability to immobilize heavy metals from contaminated sludge or wastewater. Two-step modification procedure comprising sequential pillaring and grafting of chelating agent to the modified clay is involved.

Montmorillonite and kaolin were chosen as typical examples of expandable and non-expandable clays, correspondingly. Modifications with silica and ferric oxide were targeted on development of mesoporous structure. Laboratory tests of the organoclay efficiency for purification of wastewater were conducted with the most promising sample, i.e. organoclay with the highest specific loading of chelating agent. Experiments were conducted with model wastewater containing …

A Study Of The Effects Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles On The Fluorescent Intensity Of Fluorescent Compounds In The Presence Of Known Quenchers., Vivian Dzigbodi Koka

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Titanium Dioxide is a naturally occurring oxide of titanium. It has a wide range of uses in commercial products for providing whiteness and opacity. It has photocatalytic properties and can also be used to produce electricity in its nanoparticles form. This research is focused on investigating the effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in analysis of compounds using luminescence-based techniques. Quenching, which is one of the basic problems of fluorescent measurements, was studied in the presence of molecular oxygen and methyl iodide. The rutile phase of titanium dioxide nanoparticles was synthesized by the acid hydrolysis of titanium isobutoxide at low temperatures …

Does Ses Moderate The Relationship Between Temperament And Emotional And Behavioral Disorders?., Jessica L. Scott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored whether the relationship between temperament and emotional and behavioral disorders (EBDs) is moderated by socioeconomic status (SES) in a sample of 73 children ages 5 through 15 years. Caregivers completed the Rothbart temperament surveys and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Indicators of SES included total household income and occupational status, while indicators of EBDs included the Internalizing Problems, Externalizing Problems, and Total Problems scales of the CBCL. Temperament variables included Fear, Frustration, Sadness, and Shyness. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed 4 regressions significant for moderation. A conclusion gleaned from these results is that the relationship between particular temperament …

Using Electrochemical Method To Study The Interaction Between Dna And A Compound Known To Have Anticancer Property., Alexander Kamasah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The interaction of 4-(1'-[8'-(1''-pyrenyl)naphthyl])-2,6-diaminopyridine bis-glycamide bishydrocholride known to have anticancer properties with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) had been studied on a modified gold electrode by self-assembled monolayer using cyclic voltammetry. K₄Fe (CN)₆ was used as a probe to obtain electrochemical information on the electrode surface.

A bare gold (Au) electrode was modified with cysteamine and our results showed no change in the limiting steady state current as compared to the bare Au electrode. There was a reduction in the steady state current after the modification of the gold electrode with DNA. Immobilization of the DNA modified gold electrode …

Synthesis Of Resveratrol Ester Derivatives Using Selective Enzymatic Hydrolysis., Marian Osei-Mensah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Resveratrol, a naturally derived stilbene, is an interesting compound mostly talked about recently because for its anti-cancer properties. Unfortunately it has some shortcomings due to its low bioavailability and low solubility in water. For this reason, my research is to overcome resveratrol's drawbacks by improving its bioavailability and hydrophilicity. My research is focused on syntheses of novel derivatives of resveratrol such as 3, 5-di-O-isobutyroyl resveratrol and 3, 5-di-O-hexanoyl resveratrol using lipase catalyzed hydrolysis. Therefore, the tri-acylated resveratrols 3, 5, 4'-tri-O-isobutyroyl resveratrol and 3, 5,4'-tri-O-hexanoyl resveratrol were first synthesized.

3,5,4'-tri-O-isobutyroyl resveratrol and 3,5,4'-tri-O-hexanoyl resveratrol were then hydrolyzed using lipase (C. …

The Gastonia Novels And Ecofeminism: Rereading The Works Of Fielding Burke Grace Lumpkin And Myra Page., Amanda Leigh Aubrey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines Fielding Burke's Call Home the Heart, Grace Lumpkin's To Make My Bread, and Myra Page's Gathering Storm through the lens of ecofeminism, an interdisciplinary theory that contributes the necessary insight into the link between the abuse of power on personal, political, and economic levels that underlies the human oppression and environmental exploitation experienced by the novels' characters and communities. A resurrection of the Gastonia novels through the framework of ecofeminism will contribute to the scholarly discourse regarding this maturing theory as well as intensify the critical body of work concerning the Gastonia novels themselves.

This …

The Induction Of Positive Affect In A Community Setting Using Electronic Communications., Philip Andrew Smeltzer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To evaluate the influence of positive affect inductions on daily and weekly Positive and Negative Affect Scales (PANAS) in a community setting. Methods: Humor messages were distributed to participants four times per day during a treatment week with general health messages distributed in the crossover week. Subjects completed a series of self-report psychosocial and behavioral survey instruments on a weekly basis and daily PANAS responses. Messages were delivered through either email or SMS/text messages. Results: The daily and weekly PANAS scores were higher during treatment periods compared to the neutral periods. The observed trends were suggestive of successful positive …

Human Olfactory Epithelial-Derived Progenitors : A Potential Source For Cell Therapy For Parkinson's Disease., Meng Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human adult olfactory epithelium contains neural progenitors (hONPs) which replace damaged cellular components throughout life. Methods to isolate and expand the hONPs have been developed in our laboratory. In response to morphogens, the hONPs differentiate along several neural lineages. This study optimized conditions for the differentiation of hONPs towards dopaminergic neurons. The hONPs were treated with Sonic Hedgehog, in the presence or absence of Retinoic acid and/or forskolin. Transcription factors (Nurrl, Pitx3 and Lmxla) that promote embryonic mouse or chicken dopaminergic development were employed to determine if they would modulate lineage restriction of these adult human progenitors. Transcription factor expression …

Theoretical And Experimental Studies On Manipulation Of Fluorescence By Gold Nanoparticle : Application For Molecular Imaging., Jianting Wang 1983-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have shown beneficial properties for biomedical use, e.g., their non-toxic nature and surface properties for easy modification. Upon receiving light, they generate a strong surface plasmon field, which can alter the fluorescence of fluorophores. The level and type of the fluorescence alteration depend on the GNP size and shape, excitation (Ex)/emission (Em) wavelengths and quantum yield of the fluorophore, as well as the distance between the fluorophore and GNP. In this dissertation, the effect of the properties listed above on the fluorescence output was theoretically analyzed for the fluorophores frequently used in biomedical studies. For fluorescence quenching, …

Gold Catalysis And Its Applications In Synthesis Of Fluorinated Organic Compounds., Weibo Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Our research activities are based on the catalytic systems that provide resource-saving synthetic methodologies through gold-catalyzed reactions of alkynes and alkenes. We have worked on three applications: i) an effective and straightforward hydration of 3-alkynoates catalyzed by gold (III); this mild and atom-economical method can be used effectively with a wide range of substrates with high regioselectivity; ii) an efficient monofluorination of allyl silanes using Selectfluor has been achieved without gold catalysts; iii) a fluorine-enabled cationic metal species, generated by fluorination of a low valence gold(l) complex, catalyzed the hydration of alkynes to give a-substituted-a-fluoroketones in one pot under mild …

Incidence Of Soft Tissue Calcifications Of The Head And Neck Region On Maxillofacial Cone Beam Computed Tomography., Adam B. Wells 1977-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and imaging characteristics of soft tissue calcifications on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). 556 CBCT image datasets were reviewed and 308 included. The following conditions were recorded: 1) Carotid artery calcifications (CAC), 2) Triticeous cartilage (TC), 3) Superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage (SCT), 4) Tonsilloliths (T) and, 5) Other including lymph nodes (0). The age and sex of patients who were excluded served as controls. 107 (34.75%) demonstrated at least one calcification. Those with calcifications were approximately 12 years older than controls (t value = 6.32, p < 0.001). The incidence of calcifications in decreasing order are TC (11.4%), CAC (10.4%), T (10.4%) and, SCT (5.2%). Differential location and appearance of calcifications were described. Soft tissue calcifications were a common finding with TC, CAC and T presenting in almost equal frequency. Calcifications exhibit unique characteristics on CBCT images.

Health Disparities And Depression In Rural And Urban Older Adults., Jennifer Ann Zimmerman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Depression is one of the most prevalent psychiatric conditions experienced by older adults and represents a major public health concern. Rural/urban residence may affect the prevalence of depression as rural older adults differ from their urban counterparts in many respects. One important difference found in the literature is that rural OAs are often faced with more health disparities (HDs) compared to their urban counterparts. The current study investigated the association between HDs and depression in a sample of rural and urban OAs, and examined whether HDs contribute to our understanding of how rurality impacts the prevalence and severity of depression. …

Thermolysis Stability, Solution Reactivity And Structural Studies Of A Thioperoxide-Bridged Dimolybdenum(V) Dimer., Ackim Maduvu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Molybdenum-sulfur complexes have developed a lot of interest in the chemistry of metal-coordinated sulfur due to their importance in biological systems and in industrial processes like catalysis. For example, in biological processes molybdenum has been recognized as a very important metal in enzymes used for nitrogen fixation for over 60 years. In this dissertation, the system of the imidodithiophosphate /l-carboxylatomolybdenum(V) dimer was studied for crystal thermolytic stability and solution reactivity. Mo2(NTo)2(S2P(OEt)2)2(µ-O2CR)(µ-SBn)(µ-SO) will be abbreviated as BnS{Mo2}SO, where R is CH3, CH2CH2CH3, C(CH3)3 or CH(OCH3)C6H5. In the crystal phase, the packing of BnS{Mo2}SO acetate allows the molecule to pair off on …

Cytotoxicity And Cellular Response To Alpha, Beta-Unsaturated Aldehydes : Role Of Aldehyde Dehydrogenases., Ngome Llewellyn Makia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The lipid aldehydes, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) and propene-2-al (acrolein) are reactive a,ß-unsaturated aldehydes generated during the peroxidation of lipids and are implicated in the pathogenesis of several oxidative-stress mediated diseases, including steatohepatitis and cancer. We established that mouse liver aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 al (Aldhlal) efficiently metabolizes lipid aldehydes and protects a liver-derived cell line from the toxic effects of these aldehydes. Thus, mechanisms to induce the expression of Aldhlal might be a useful rationale for preventing oxidative stress-induced pathologies. We investigate whether well-known electrophiles, such as BHA or acrolein modulate the expression of Aldhlal and elucidate the signaling pathway involved. Microarray …