Digital Commons Network^™

Localization Of A Microsporidia Adam (A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease Domain) Protein And Identification Of Potential Binding Partners., Carrie E. Jolly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Microsporidia are spore-forming, obligate intracellular pathogens typically associated with opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals. Treatment options for microsporidia infections in humans are limited and additional research is necessary to create better therapeutic agents. For many pathogenic organisms, adhesion to the host cell surface is a prerequisite for tissue colonization and invasion. Our previous research has demonstrated a direct relationship between adherence of microsporidia spores to the surface of host cells and infectivity in vitro. In an effort to better understand adherence, we have turned our attention to determining what proteins may be involved in this process. Examination of the …

Parental Involvement In Two Elementary Schools: A Qualitative Case Study., Vonda K. Stevens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parent involvement is essential if students are to succeed in school. In fact, "parental involvement is more important to student success, at every grade level, than family income or education" (Starr, 2004). Yet many schools struggle to effectively engage parents in the education of their children as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 now requires.

The purpose of this study was to explore parents', administrators', and guidance counselors' perceptions of parent involvement at a Title I elementary school and a non-Title I elementary school, both of which are located in the southern Appalachian region of the United …

From Teacher To Teller: How Applied Storytelling Informs Autobiographical Instruction., Peggy Rosann Kent

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses autobiographical inquiry to "re-member" how I came to understand that applied storytelling was a valid teaching tool in facilitating autobiographical expression in mature learners. It is an examination of how story sharing and story listening can transform a continuing education classroom into a learning community. Applied storytelling can help elders reframe their negative mental models about the value of their stories, memory, and mythology and create opportunities for positive story sharing experiences. I selected highlights of my journey that best represented my experience and use of applied storytelling techniques. Each chapter includes an exercise and reflection as …

Women And The Men Who Oppress Them: Ideologies And Protests Of Redstockings, New York Radical Feminists, And Cell 16., Meggin L. Schaaf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The American civil rights movement created a ready environment in which exploited people protested their social status and demanded change. Among the forefront, women contended against their male oppressors and demanded autonomy. Ultimately, however, women disagreed amongst themselves regarding the severity of their oppression and the ideal route to implement change. Thereafter, radical feminism became a strong force within the women's liberation movement. Group members denied that capitalism oppressed women, and countered that women's status as a sex-class remained the essential component in their subjugation. To obtain true freedom, women had to reject the deeply ingrained social expectations. As radical …

Evidence Of Ecological Speciation In Phacelia., Pamela Michele Glass

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phacelia purshii Buckley and P. fimbriata Micheaux are two species that are nearly morphologically indistinguishable. Seed germination experiments showed that the high elevation endemic, P. fimbriata requires lower temperatures to trigger germination. Following interspecific crosses, pollen tubes enter ovules and maternal tissue of the gynoecium matures but hybrid diploid and triploid organs fail to develop. DNA sequences from the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed region showed that P. fimbriata and P. purshii comprise a monophyletic clade but that P. fimbriata is more differentiated from related species. In contrast, P. purshii supported significantly higher levels of intraspecific polymorphism. Phacelia fimbriata and P. …

My Journey Home: A Study In Hand-Felted Wool., Ashleigh Robertson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This is a supporting paper for a Master of Arts Graduate Exhibition entitled My Journey Home: A Study in Hand-Felted Wool, held at Slocumb Galleries October 30 through November 3, 2006. The work in the exhibition represents a concentrated study in the graduate program in Fiber Art at East Tennessee State University. My artwork is an expression of my feelings and emotions toward my family, particularly the women in my family.

The paper begins with an introduction detailing my artistic research and culminates with a reflection of the work shown in the exhibition. The cultural and historical influences that shaped …

I Think I Can: Identity And Social Experiences Of Adolescents With Physical Disabilities., Amy Sorensen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An online survey was completed by 40 adolescents and young adults (ages 12 to 22) with physical disabilities for the purpose of exploring their social experiences. The survey focuses on key variables associated with individual identity, group identity, social relationships and activities, and future aspirations. Positive outcome variables were explored including: self-esteem, self-efficacy, body satisfaction, cultural identity, relationship quality, activity participation, and future orientation. Independent variables included sex, population size, ability level, and proximity to disability. Ability level proved to be the most predictive of positive outcomes. Sex, population size, and proximity to disability exhibited small associations to some of …

The Isolation And Characterization Of The Microbial Flora In The Alimentary Canal Of Gromphadorhina Portentosa Based On Rdna Sequences., Amy Renee Robertson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Multicellular organisms are not single individuals but carry a complex natural microflora with them. This complex's diversity and function can be considered a distinct ecosystem. Traditional methods of isolation and identification miss >90% of the actual diversity. This study uses the gut microflora of the Madagascar hissing roach, Gromphadorhina portentosa, as a model to examine this ecosystem. Isolated cultured bacteria were used to establish methods for identifying members of the microflora based on ribosomal RNA sequences. Universal primers for Eubacterial, Archaeal, and Eukaryotic 16s/18s rRNA were then used for PCR amplification of total DNA isolated from gut contents. Sequences …

Antibiotics That Inhibit 30s Or 50s Ribosomal Subunit Formation: Hygromycin B, Quinupristin-Dalfopristin And Xrp 2868., Susan Mabe Mcgaha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Several antibiotics that prevent translation by binding to ribosomal subunits have been shown to also inhibit ribosomal subunit assembly (Champney and Tober 2003). The aminoglycoside hygromycin B was examined in Escherichia coli cells for inhibitory effects on translation and ribosomal subunit assembly. The streptogramin antibiotics quinupristin-dalfopristin and XRP 2868 (NXL 103) were examined for similar effects on these 2 cellular functions in antibiotic-resistant strains of Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Pulse chase experiments were performed which verified slower rates of ribosomal subunit formation in drug treated cells. Hygromycin B exhibited a concentration dependent inhibitory effect …

School Counselor Perceptions And Competencies For Closing The Achievement Gap : Implications For Counselor And Higher Education Programs For All Educators., Susan Rardon Rose

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

"If this generation of youth is lost, much of the hope for an economically, socially and technologically strong nation will also be lost." - Kuykendall, 1992 When youths become convinced that they will not be able to make it in mainstream America, they tend to take the skills they have and use them to take the low roads of life. Even though all citizens will ultimately be affected by the success or failure of these youths, it is a challenge for educators to provide ways to prepare them to choose the high road as the path for their lives. The …

Finite Element Modeling Of Soft Tissue Deformation., Hongjian Shi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Computer-aided minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has progressed significantly in the last decade and it has great potential in surgical planning and operations. To limit the damage to nearby healthy tissue, accurate modeling is required of the mechanical behavior of a target soft tissue subject to surgical manipulations. Therefore, the study of soft tissue deformations is important for computer-aided (MIS) in surgical planning and operation, or in developing surgical simulation tools or systems. The image acquisition facilities are also important for prediction accuracy. This dissertation addresses partial differential and integral equations (PDIE) based biomechanical modeling of soft tissue deformations incorporating the …

The Changes Of Fructos-2,6-Bisphosphate Level In Transgenic Mice Causing Cardiomyopathy., Jianxun Wang 1969-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Heart failure is recognized as a major cause of death among diabetics. In type I and II diabetes, glucose uptake, glycolysis and pyruvate oxidation are impaired, and fatty acid utilization increases. These alterations in metabolism contribute toward cardiac contractile function. There is a gap in our understanding on how alterations in glycolytic metabolite fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (F-2,6-P 2 ) affects cardiac dysfunction. Two cardiac-specific overexpression of PFK-2 (phosphofructose kinase-2) transgenic models were used to investigate the role of altered metabolism by F-2,6-P 2 in provoking cardiomyopathy. One model is with the PFK-2 kinase active and phosphatase inactive enzyme called MK and another …

Therapeutic Targeting Of Tumor Associated Macrophages., Stephanie Kaye Watkins 1981-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous studies on the mechanistic induction of anti-tumor responses by IL-12 cytokine therapy have focused on the adaptive immune response, specifically the activation NK cells and T cells as the primary targets of IL-12 treatment. In contrast, little attention has been given to the potential role of macrophages in the initiation of anti-tumor responses by IL-12 therapy despite reports that macrophages play a major role in promoting tumor growth and metastasis and in suppressing anti-tumor immune responses. Based on the functional adaptivity hypothesis, which is the concept that macrophages functionally adapt, rather than differentiate into specific mature subsets, in response …

Molecular Interactions Between The Wilms' Tumor Transcription Factor And The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor During Nephrogenesis And Its Impact On Fetal Programming Of Renal Disease., Adrian Nanez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Embryonic development requires the orchestration of temporally precise genetic events that culminate in the formation of a complete organism. The molecular mechanisms responsible for ontogenesis are regulated by environmental and somatic factors in utero that activate or repress the expression of numerous genetic elements resulting in fetal programming of adult diseases. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is an important nuclear transcription factor both during embryogenesis and throughout maturity in multiple organisms. Building upon interesting studies establishing a direct, novel link between AHR and post-transcriptional regulation of the Wilms' tumor suppressor ( WT1 ) gene, the overall goal of the project …

Gene Therapy And Cellular Transplantation : Towards A Combination Strategy For Spinal Cord Injury Repair., Ahmed Abdelzaher Abdellatif

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The combination of viral mediated gene delivery, tissue engineering, and Schwann cell (SC) transplantation offer a promising strategy to enhance axonal regeneration and functional recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI). The rationale and feasibility of using such combination has been extensively reviewed in Chapter 1. The study presented in Chapter 2 showed that lentiviral vectors are most suitable in situations where stable long term transgene expression is needed, while adenovirus and retrovirus are more suited for transient gene delivery. Tissue engineering combined with Schwann cell (SC) transplantation is a promising method to enhance regeneration and remyelination of axons following a …

A Cross National Validation Of Child Sexual Abuse Predictors., Juanita E. Briceno-Perriott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An exploratory cross national study was conducted to determine if factors identified in the existing literature predictive for CSA in developed countries were also valid and predictive CSA factors for females in Belize, a developing country. The conceptual framework adapted from current CSA literature included the choice of CSA definition, the number and specificity of questions used to elicit CSA response and the questionnaire response rate. Variables investigated were adopted from CSA literature and included: the presence of a stepfather in the family, parent figure (mother figure, father figure) alcohol use, parent figure (mother figure, father figure) child care, family …

The Effects Of Psychological And Biological Gender On Gender Role Conflict And Mental Health Of Gay And Lesbian Individuals., Kevin James Herdman 1969-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation represented an examination of the interrelationships between psychological gender (i.e., masculinity, femininity, androgyny, and undifferentiated), biological gender (i.e., male and female), gender role conflict, self-esteem, and loneliness in a sample of gay men and lesbian women. Psychological gender and biological gender served as the independent variables in the study while gender role conflict, self-esteem, and loneliness served as the dependent variables. A two-way factorial MANOVA was used as the statistical model of choice in addition to correlational analyses. A confirmatory factor analysis was also completed on the instrument used to measure gender role conflict, the Gender Role Conflict …

Effects Of Direct Atp Delivery To Ischemic Skeletal Muscle., Federico V. Grossi 1974-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to demonstrate that a new method of direct intracellular energy delivery was effective in maintaining viability of in vitro Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) when exposed to chemical ischemia for prolonged periods of time and in preventing in vivo ischemia reperfusion injury in a composite tissue transplantation model. Ischemia and reperfusion injury is a well recognized phenomenon that occurs in situations like organ transplantation, shock, cardiac surgery, etc, where tissues are temporarily deprived of nutrients and oxygen for energy production. When exposed to short periods of ischemia, cells utilize their stored energy to …

Dismantling The Master's House : Deconstructing The Roots Of Antiblack Racism And The Construction Of The "Other" In Judaism, Christianity And Islam., John Chenault

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This critical inquiry into the social constructions of "black" and "white" identities analyzes the roles of the three "western" monotheisms (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) in the cognitive and sociohistorical developments of racial slavery and antiblack racism. Specifically, it investigates the sociohistorical consequences of the inherent dualisms of the "western" monotheisms and how those dualisms are expressed in the production of social theories and systems that rely on believer/non-believer oppositions and binaries defined by a Manichaean view of the universe and a teleological conception of history that fosters and sustains an eternal holy war against infidels. What emerges from this analysis …

Circadian Disruption In Women With Breast Cancer., Eric Dedert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cancer patients show circadian disruption that increases as disease progresses. Disrupted endocrine and activity rhythms predict early metastatic cancer mortality. Effects of psychological versus biological factors on rhythms are unknown, as are potential links between endocrine and sleep disruption, and relevance of disruption in early stage cancer. This study sought to examine the associations of cancer-related intrusions and avoidant coping with circadian cortisol rhythms, assessed with saliva samples, and rest/activity rhythms, assessed with actigraphy. Participants were women who had been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, meaning participants provided data at similar points in the course of diagnosis and treatment of …

Design Of An Active Orthotic Device For Joint Management., Steven Clayton Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Existing treatment programs and procedures are incapable of addressing the complications encountered with patients who experience spasticity and hypertonia related joint contractures. Current passive therapy procedures and devices are only capable of managing the extent of joint contractures on patients with chronic and acute onset severe neurological disorders. The project was conceived as a means to develop an active device that is capable of adapting to the state of the joint to mange the extent of contractures and to permit consideration for the prevalence of spastic activity episodes and hypertonia. The project focused on the design of the physical prototype …

A Computational Chemistry Study Of Spin Traps., Jacob Fosso-Tande

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many defects in physiological processes are due to free radical damage: reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, and hydroxyl radicals have been implicated in the parthenogenesis of cancer, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid arthritis. We herein characterize the phenyl-N-ter-butyl nitrone (PBN) type spin traps in conjunction with the most studied dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) type spin traps using the hydroxyl radical. In this study, theoretical calculations are carried out on the two main types of spin traps (DMPO and PBN) at the density functional theory level (DFT). The energies of the optimized structures, hyperfine calculations in gaseous and aqueous phases of the spin traps …