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Development Of A Biochemical Probe For Arsenate Respiring Bacteria Using Bacillus Selenitireducens Strain Mls10, Mirunalni Thangavelu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To date, eighteen phylogenetically diverse prokaryotes have been found to utilize arsenic as the terminal electron acceptor in anaerobic respiration, converting arsenate into the more toxic and mobile arsenite. This process can lead to ground water contamination, making it imperative to detect in situ, active arsenate-respiring prokaryotes.

A biochemical probe that targets the catalytic subunit (ArrA) of the respiratory arsenate reductase (Arr) from Bacillus selenitireducens strain MLS10 was developed. Polyclonal antibodies were raised against a fifteen amino acids long highly conserved sequence at the C-terminus of ArrA. Highly specific antibodies obtained by affinity purification using the synthesized ArrA polypeptide, reacted …

Learning To Be Free: The Print Media Of Cotonou, Benin, Stephen Urbanski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Benin, a West African republic of six million people, has had multiple influences shape its cultural and historical landscape, including the French colonization, a multiplicity of dictators, and a 17-year period of Marxism. During the early years of the colonization, the print media was particularly dissident, always advocating an end to the colonization, which greatly disrupted the regions core pan-African values. In 1990, the National Conference heralded a conversion to democracy as well as a boom in the number of privately owned newspapers.

This dissertation addresses at the concept of freedom and how it is defined from both a Western …

Thinking Outside Pandora's Box: Now That The Idea Of God Has Been Declared Dead, Has All Hope Been Lost For Philosophy And Humankind?, Mary Ann Fenicato

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

I. Introduction

The time has come.

Now that the Idea of God has been declared dead, an egocentric action that opened Pandora's box, many evils plague humankind. Thus, human life has no meaning. Humanism has been devalued. Philosophy gets no respect. All Hope has been lost.

II. Statement of the Problem

Philosophy must investigate exactly who declared the death of that Idea and why, who must resurrect that Idea and why, or, perhaps not, and why.

III. Description of Procedure or Methods

A multifarious method will present a mystery.

First, it will differentiate between the Idea of God and God …

Effectiveness Of Staged Partner Training On Conversational Interactions Involving A Person With Severe Aphasia, Kelly M. Hanna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A single subject investigation measured the effects of staged partner communication training on conversational interactions between a familiar conversational partner and a participant with severe aphasia. Conversational variables were analyzed across four conditions: Condition A -- baseline; Condition B -- general aphasia communication strategies; Condition C -- augmented expression strategies; and Condition D -- augmented comprehension strategies. The instructional protocol (slideshow lecture, examples, roleplay, discussion) was implemented immediately before each experimental condition. Two, 5-minute conversations per condition were videotaped, transcribed and coded for the following dependent variables: number of exchanges per topic, percentage of facilitative communication acts, communication role and …

A Study Of The Principle Of Subsidiarity In Catholic Social Thought: Implications For Social Justice And Civil Society In Nigeria, Simeon Iber

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the centrality of the principle of subsidiarity in Catholic social teaching, in bringing about social and moral reconstruction of society and in particular the Nigerian social context. The origin of this principle has been traced to the natural human inclination to build a healthy relationship between the individual and society, such that, the society will provide generous help and support to individuals to help themselves. Subsidiarity is a way of organizing individuals and social groups in community to help each other in pursuing their interests with common goals, the ultimate purpose being to assist one another and …

Application Of Symphonology Theory In Patient Decision-Making: Triangulation Of Quantitative And Qualitative Methods, Margaret Irwin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study tested the theory of Symphonology in two ways: 1) by determining if concepts in Symphonology were expressed in the experience of patients involved in health care decision-making, and 2) by testing the effect of an education/counseling intervention based on Symphonology, designed to facilitate decision-making. The study design was a pre-test post-test quasi-experimental design. Demographic and disease-related variables, decision-making role preference and the Bioethical Decision Making Preference Scale for Patients/Families (BDMPSP) (Husted, 2001) were measured prior to the intervention. Demographic variables that were measured included age, gender, race, marital status, years and type of education and time since diagnosis. …

Environmental Equity: Gradient Measures Of Race And Social Class In The Areas Surrounding Pennsylvania Superfund Sites, Mark A. Jablonski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the socioeconomic and racial characteristics of the areas surrounding the 120 National Priority List Superfund hazardous waste sites in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Using three distinct concentric distance measures, the study uses 1990 census tract data to determine whether Nonwhite and low-income populations live in closest proximity to Pennsylvania's most toxic sites and consequently bear the brunt of the negative externalities associated with having Superfund sites nearby. The results of the study suggest that environmental inequities are not prevalent in the areas surrounding Pennsylvania Superfund sites. Rather, the areas between 1.667 and 3.333 miles away from the …

Using Vignettes To Develop Higher-Order Thinking And Academic Achievement In Adult Learners In An Online Environment, Maria Helen Zanoni Kish

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This case study investigated the use of vignettes as a teaching strategy and learning activity of the Generative Learning Model in a hybrid online course. The Generative Learning Model, which consists of five main components: attention, motivation, knowledge, generation, and metacognition (Wittrock, 2000) was incorporated when requiring students to answer teacher-generated vignettes and to generate their own vignettes. As a result of using vignettes within the Generative Learning Model in a hybrid online course, three outcomes were anticipated: 1) enhancement of academic achievement, 2) higher order thinking, and 3) preference of the use of vignettes as compared to other teaching …

Experiences Of Pain In Elderly Patients Having Total Knee Arthroplasty, Catherine Kleiner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Patients experiencing postoperative pain are at an increased risk for developing life-threatening complications. Effective interventions for pain relief exist, but are under- utilized. The reasons for the under use of interventions need to be identified so that changes in nursing practice can occur. The purpose of this study was to increase the understanding of the postoperative pain experience following total knee arthroplasty from elderly patients' perspective. Hermeneutic phenomenology was used to guide this study. Fifteen patients, nine women and six men, who had total knee arthroplasty participated in this study. Ages ranged from 66 to 86 years. Purposeful suffering is …

Assessing The Frequency And Influences Of Secondary Traumatic Stress Symptoms Among Crisis Intervention Workers, Mark F. Lepore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the differences in secondary traumatic stress symptomotology in crisis intervention workers by their field of work (job title), level of experience, level of participation in stress reducing activities, and perception of having received adequate training to meet the challenges of disaster and trauma work. The purpose of the study was to contribute to developing a better understanding of factors that influence crisis intervention workers' experience of secondary traumatic stress. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to study 206 crisis intervention workers drawn from four different crisis intervention fields (personal care/nurses' aides, disaster relief workers, police officers, and …

Measuring Educational Gains And Setting Consequences: Charter Schooling And The No Child Left Behind Policy, Erin Lyttle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The charter school movement and the federal legislation No Child Left Behind (2001) have put a process in motion through which parents and students can opt out of the established public education system. This thesis is an in-depth study of one Pittsburgh charter school within the context of a critique of public education in American history. Empirical data was collected through a triangulated research design, which included interviews, surveys, field observations, and content analysis.

Determining the features of a charter school that make classroom dynamics more or less effective than those in traditional public schools was the original micro-level focus …

Searching For Mother: Chicana Writers Revise And Renew Malinche And Guadalupe, Diane L. Maldonado

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chicana writers currently assume the role of border culturalists in order to present alternative views of female figures perpetuated by histories, chronicles, myths, and other narrations motivated by imperial ideology and patriarchy. Two such female figures in Mexican-American culture are La Virgen de Guadalupe and La Malinche, archetypes that emerged in Mexico during the Spanish conquest period and that traditionally became dichotomous constructions of virgin and whore, Virgin Mary and Eve, and protector and traitor, respectively. However, contemporary Chicana feminist writers, such as Gloria Anzaldúa, Ana Castillo, Sandra Cisneros and Pat Mora, not only revise traditional images of Malinche and …

The Baby Out With The Bathwater! Securitization Of Corruption And Its Impact On Human Security, Shabnam Mallick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the context of the president's rule in India in 1975, this paper looks at the intersection of political corruption and human security through the lens of the theory of securitization and desecuritization. In this, I study the deeper politics--i.e., the frame of reference of actors--behind the distortions in the civic and political institutions of India. I argue that the securitization of development led to its de-politicization, which in turn negatively impacted human security. In doing so, I arrive at some moral, social-psychological, and cognitive understanding of how not to securitize. The policy implications are towards employing securitization only as …

The Later Heidegger And Contemporary Theology Of God, Daniel Martino

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Martin Heidegger was a central figure in 20th century Western philosophy. In evaluating his work from the perspective of the early 21st century it is clear that his influence crossed disciplinary lines. This work aims to address one area where Heidegger's thinking has had tremendous impact -- theology. Specifically, Heidegger's later writings are selectively examined in order to determine the bearing they have on the issue of God.

The route to God, in a strict confessional sense, is neither easy nor direct in the Heideggerian corpus. As a result, the first methodological tack used throughout this study establishes Heidegger's abiding …

Examination Of The Growth And Development Of The Long Term Community Based Jazz Workshop Inc. Program, Anthony Mcbride

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study is to examine the growth and development of the long-term community based Jazz Workshop Inc. program. Within the context of examining the Jazz Workshop Inc. program, the impact of the program on its participants will also be explored. The Jazz Workshop Inc. program is located in Homewood in the City of Pittsburgh. The study utilized interviews and focus groups, which were recorded (audio and video) under consent of all parties. This study uses a qualitative design for the analysis of data gathered from 1) interviews with the Director, 2) several of the music instructors, …

Assessment Of Constructs Related To Childhood Aggression, Susan B. Mclaughlin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study provides empirical support for the comprehensive theoretical model of aggression proposed by Meloy (2001) by examining characteristics of children who have a longstanding history of aggression across home and educational settings. The theoretical model first proposed by Meloy (2001) found attachment, anxiety, and attention difficulties in adults who evidenced severe aggression problems. The current study clarified how the adult model applies to children. That is, this study examined how attachment, anxiety, and attention are related to the overall functioning of children requiring treatment for aggression. Results are discussed in terms of child development issues, treatment selection, and intervention …

The Role Of Teacher Education Experiences In Addressing The Concerns Of Apprentice Teachers, Mary Mcvey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the role of a teacher education program in helping apprentice teachers to address their teaching concerns. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of program data were used to answer the following questions: What are the concerns of apprentice teachers? Do they differ between public and private school teachers? Do they differ between elementary and middle school teachers? How well did the teacher education program at Franciscan University help teachers to be prepared to address their concerns and does preparedness differ between public and private, and elementary and middle school teachers? What program experiences were perceived as most effective in …

Recognizing A Different Other: A Neo-Kleinian Analysis Of Lesbian Relationship Violence, Jacqueline Ann Neilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lesbian relationship violence is an important public and private concern, yet it has been insufficiently researched, theorized, and treated. This dissertation explores and analyzes discourse on lesbian relationship violence from the perspective of therapists, researchers, lesbians who are victimized, and lesbians who perpetrate violence. The discourse on lesbian relationship violence includes empirical research, theories, treatments, personal stories, and other communications through conversations and writings. These texts are dialogued with neo-Kleinian and postmodern feminist theory in order to unfold the parameters of the discourse on lesbian relationship violence, analyze its limits and exclusions on lesbian experiences of relationship violence, and reframe …

Chemistry Of Dithiolenes And Their Nickel And Molybdenum Complexes, Archana Nigam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A new class of dithiolene ligand containing a pyran ring that mimics a biologically important MPT (molybdopterin) have been proposed and the key reactions have been established to synthesize this ligand. Along with that, new dithiolene complexes of nickel [Ni(dt)2]n, where dt=dithiolene ligand, n=charge, have been synthesized and characterized by several spectroscopic techniques. A characteristic low energy charge transfer band in UV-visible spectra is found to be the good indicator of purity as well as the anionic states of the nickel complexes.

A ligand exchange reaction using neutral nickel complexes and molybdenum carbonyl complexes has been utilized to synthesize (LN2)MoO(dt) …

Examining The Perspectives Of An Interdisciplinary Treatment Team Regarding The Implementation Of A Sensory Motor Group Trauma Curriculum In A Child And Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program, Barbara Peck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A trauma curriculum was introduced at a child and adolescent partial hospitalization program. This study examined (a) the impact of the trauma curriculum on the partial hospitalization program; (b) the perspectives of the multi-disciplinary treatment team--teachers, teacher aides, trauma clinicians for the children and adolescents in the partial program, parents/caregivers, the facility's psychiatric nurse, the facility's medical director, and county program specialists--and a panel of expert practitioners toward the curriculum, and (c) any changes in the perspectives of the multi-disciplinary treatment team concerning the concept of trauma and its effects. To answer the research questions of this qualitative study, an …

Political Scandals And Policy Creation, Keely Peterson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on political scandal and its effect on public policy creation. Using evidence from the Watergate, Iran Contra, Whitewater and Monica Lewinksy scandal, this study investigates the combined factors of political scandal, media and public opinion. This study hypothesizes a positive relationship between these combined factors and policy creation. In order to test the hypothesized relationship minor scandals were used for comparison throughout the study. Also content analysis, LexisNexis, and publications such as Congressional Quarterly were also used to gather the necessary research. The research shows that four out of the three major scandals researched supported the hypothesized …

Optimization Techniques For Image Restoration, Melissa Pirolli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many fields of study use images to make discoveries about the past, decisions for the present and predictions for the future. Images often acquire degradations such as a blur due to a patient moving during an x-ray or noise picked up through remote sensing imaging equipment. Images may also lose information through compression or

transmission. In this thesis, diffusion based models were used to solve the image restoration problem as these models can simultaneously remove noise, preserve edges and restore lost information. Specifically, numerical schemes were developed and tested for denoising via nonstandard diffusion that are more computationally efficient than …

Evaluating Human Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells And Mg-63 Cells On Vitoss, Chronos Granulat And Chronos For Use In Bone Tissue Engineering, Hina Qidwai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The delivery of human adult mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSC) using bone void fillers is a novel approach for use in bone tissue engineering. The evaluation of hAMSC and osteoblast-like MG-63 cell activity on three β-tricalcium phosphate-based bone void fillers (Vitoss, ChronOS Granulat and ChronOS) has not been carried out. Human osteosarcoma cells (MG-63 cells), as well as hAMSCs, readily seed over 90% of the available biomaterials under static culture conditions, and the attached cells proliferate to extensively cover the biomaterials as seen by DAPI staining and LIVE/DEAD viability staining. The attached cells are over 90% viable after 7 days in …

Development, Research And Validation Of Environmental Speciation Methods; And Evaluation By Speciated Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry In Mercury And Chromium Speciation Analysis, G. M. Mizanur Rahman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The toxicity of an element depends upon its chemical forms, which also gives vital information for samples and their relevance. A sequential extraction method for mercury speciation in soil and sediments was established based on the mobility and toxicity of different mercury species and was proposed as a draft US EPA Method 3200. In order to finalize the method, an interlaboratory validation study was performed, and the final results verified the applicability of the method. Some of the widely used mercury speciation methods were evaluated during this study and the results were compared with those obtained from EPA draft Method …

The Effects Of The Manager's Behavior On The Retention Of High Potential Employees For Different Generations, Kimberlee Rhule

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the behavior of the manager that affects the retention of high potential individuals within an organization. Research suggests that the reason why employees leave organizations is their manager. A high potential is defined as an individual who exhibits the capabilities of developing into a future leader of the organization. The study also investigated high potentials' perception as to how effectively their expectations of those managerial behaviors are being met. Managerial behavior is defined as the manner or conduct displayed toward employees by the manager. High potential individuals who participated in the study …

An Examination Of Standardized Language, Mathematics, And Reading Achievement Testing Results When Compared For Middle School Aged Student Leaders And Non-Student Leaders, Susan Schaming

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The evolution of the middle school concept, according to Forte and Schurr (2003), with its own identity and its subsequent implementation, has proven to be an ideal or preferred model for educating students. Knowles and Brown (2000) assert the importance of middle level teachers' ability to nurture their students' academic, emotional, personal, and social development during the often "chaotic" years of transescence and early adolescence.

This study examined and explored sixty-four randomly selected seventh grade middle school students' earned scores on their annual standardized achievement testing, particularly the Terra Nova II Multiple Assessments subtests in the areas of Language, Mathematics, …

The Impact Of Utilizing High-Fidelity Computer Simulation On Critical Thinking Abilities And Learning Outcomes In Undergraduate Nursing Students, Lori Schumacher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Critical thinking abilities and learning outcomes are major components of nursing education. Initial critical thinking skills are often gained while the nursing student is learning the theoretical nursing principles in the classroom and is further enhanced in the clinical setting where learned knowledge is applied. A variety of instructional strategies are utilized to facilitate learning and promote critical thinking. Through the utilization of three complex and dynamic conceptual models, this study compared critical thinking abilities and learning outcomes of beginning baccalaureate undergraduate nursing students when three instructional strategies were used (classroom, simulation, and a combination of classroom and simulation).

A …

Teaching Science Through Inquiry In K-5 Classrooms: Analysis Of Change In Practice, Joseph Sciulli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the role professional development takes in fostering change in the pedagogical practices of K-5 classroom teachers, specifically in teaching science through inquiry. Michael Fullan's three elements essential for change: curriculum, instruction, and philosophy, were used as the lens through which to observe and analyze the impact of an intervention for changing teaching practices in K-5 classrooms. The intervention that assisted in creating an environment for change in behaviors was a morphed version of the Exploratorium's Institute for Inquiry, the ASSET Institute for Inquiry, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During a three year period 208 …

A Comparison Of The Behavioral Adjustment Of First-Grade Students That Attended A Full-Day Kindergarten Program And First-Grade Students That Attended A Half-Day Kindergarten Program, Denise Shaffer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated and compared the behavioral adjustment of first-grade students that participated in a full-day kindergarten program and first-grade students that participated in a half-day kindergarten program. The researcher also examined gender interactions between the two groups. The study was conducted in two elementary schools in western Pennsylvania. Participants in the study included 10 first-grade teachers. Participants completed a total of ninety-three behavioral questionnaires. Student's t-tests and analysis of variance were used to analyze the data. Results of the study showed no statistically significant difference in overall behavioral adjustment, impulsive acting out behaviors, passive-aggressive behaviors, impulsive overactive behaviors, repressed …

Understanding The Organ Music Of Olivier Messiaen: Optical Illusions Versus Aural Realities, Krista Shinew

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I examine the organ music of Olivier Messiaen both from the viewpoint of a theorist and as an organist. I assert that not only his influences, but also his in-depth understandings of the mutations stops of the organ and what pitches are produced by using these stops inform Messiaen's music. Furthermore, the organ music requires more than mere visual inspection, but must be aurally experienced because of the registration requirements placed in the score by Messiaen. The utilization of mutations often does not produce concert pitch, but other pitches absent in the score. To demonstrate this I …