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Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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Characteristics Of Bubble Behavior In Microgravity Conditions, Thilanka Munasinghe Jan 2016

Characteristics Of Bubble Behavior In Microgravity Conditions, Thilanka Munasinghe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The main objective of this thesis is to study the characteristics of bubbles in pool boiling under microgravity conditions with and without the influence of a magnetic field. In order to create microgravity conditions, the parabolic path of an aircraft was used for a period of 20-30 seconds, during which time the experiment was conducted. Two cylindrical tanks were used for the boiling process in the experiment. One tank had a permanent magnet attached at the bottom, and the other one was kept as the control. MnCl2 was dissolved in distilled water to make a paramagnetic liquid, and which used …

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Cardiac And Mitochondrial Impacts Of Acute Pulmonary Xenobiotic Exposure, Cody Edward Nichols Jan 2016

Cardiac And Mitochondrial Impacts Of Acute Pulmonary Xenobiotic Exposure, Cody Edward Nichols

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With every breath, we breathe in foreign materials, xenobiotic particles. These particles can interact with our tissues and influence the systems within. Airborne xenobiotic particles classically refer to ambient particulate matter (PM), but with technological advancement and the flourishing of nanotechnology, engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have become entwined in the definition. Because the term xenobiotic particles encompasses particles with a broad range of size, shapes and chemical composition, definition of the properties that induce toxicity can be difficult, yet crucial to understand and predicting which of these characteristics is capable of inducing toxicity. This concept is crucial as nanotechnology moves forward …

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Targeting The Peripheral Immune System As A Source Of Precision Stroke Biomarkers: Implications For Clinical Diagnostics And Immunotherapeutics, Grant C. O'Connell Jan 2016

Targeting The Peripheral Immune System As A Source Of Precision Stroke Biomarkers: Implications For Clinical Diagnostics And Immunotherapeutics, Grant C. O'Connell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Early and accurate diagnosis of stroke improves the probability of positive outcome, however the tools available to clinicians for the identification of stroke are limited. It is well established that the peripheral immune system responds robustly to ischemic brain injury, and thus may be a viable source of stroke biomarkers. The objective of this work was to utilize high throughput transcriptomics in combination with machine learning techniques to identify patterns of gene expression in peripheral whole blood with the potential to diagnose ischemic stroke, and to further determine the role of such gene expression patterns within the context of stroke …

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Effects Of Housing Condition And Acute Nicotine On Impulsive Choice In Lewis And Fischer 344 Rats, Jenny E. Ozga Jan 2016

Effects Of Housing Condition And Acute Nicotine On Impulsive Choice In Lewis And Fischer 344 Rats, Jenny E. Ozga

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Impulsive choice is defined as choice for a smaller, more immediate reinforcer relative to a larger, delayed reinforcer, and is commonly studied using delay-discounting procedures. There are many variables that contribute to impulsive choice, including biological and environmental determinants. The present study examined both of these variables by evaluating effects of housing condition (single versus paired) on impulsive choice in Lewis (LEW) and Fischer 344 (F344) rats, at baseline and following acute nicotine administration. A within-session procedure was used in which choice was between one food pellet delivered immediately and three food pellets delivered after a delay. The delay to …

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Elucidating Mechanisms Of Neurobehavioral Dysfunction In A Rodent Model Of Traumatic Brain Injury, Aric F. Logsdon Jan 2016

Elucidating Mechanisms Of Neurobehavioral Dysfunction In A Rodent Model Of Traumatic Brain Injury, Aric F. Logsdon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive deficits are common among victims of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and currently, there are no effective treatments to improve outcome. We first developed a clinically-relevant blast TBI model based on lung scaling parameters to elucidate mechanisms of neuronal cell death. In order to discover effective treatments to improve outcome, we had to validate our novel preclinical model of TBI. TBI is an external force that can cause damage to the neurovascular unit (NVU), which can lead to secondary effects, cell death and behavioral dysfunction. In our first study we observed that our model damaged the …

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Novel Immunoregulatory Elements In A Murine Model Of Epicutaneous Chemical Sensitization: A Role For Regulatory T Cells And Microrna 210, Carrie Mae Long Jan 2016

Novel Immunoregulatory Elements In A Murine Model Of Epicutaneous Chemical Sensitization: A Role For Regulatory T Cells And Microrna 210, Carrie Mae Long

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is a low molecular weight chemical sensitizer and a major cause of occupational allergic disease and asthma. The roles of immunomodulatory elements such as microRNAs, which alter gene expression, and regulatory T cells (Tregs), which suppress T cell-mediated responses, in chemical sensitization are not fully elucidated. In order to further investigate the functional role of miR-210 and Tregs during TDI sensitization, BALB/c mice were dermally exposed to a single, sensitizing dose of TDI (0.5-4% v/v) and evaluated for immunologic endpoints. dLN T regs were phenotyped during TDI sensitization and a heterogeneous, expanded population was observed. To examine …

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The Role Of Nad(P)H:Quinone Oxidoreductase 1 In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Tumorigenesis And Lung Cancer Stem Cell Maintenance, Brian Madajewski Jan 2016

The Role Of Nad(P)H:Quinone Oxidoreductase 1 In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Tumorigenesis And Lung Cancer Stem Cell Maintenance, Brian Madajewski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. The five-year survival rates for those patients suffering from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), continues to be an abysmal 15%. One of the major reasons for the poor survival rate amongst NSCLC patients is the lack of early detection and subsequent late stage initial diagnosis. Tumors discovered at later stages are often refractory toward chemotherapy and radiation regimens. One theory as to why tumors become resistant to therapy relies heavily on the cells that make up the cancer stem cell (CSC) niche. This small percentage of cells within the …

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The Effect Of Ovine Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells On Haemonchus Contortus Larval Death In Vitro, Elizabeth Anne Shepherd Jan 2016

The Effect Of Ovine Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells On Haemonchus Contortus Larval Death In Vitro, Elizabeth Anne Shepherd

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Gastrointestinal nematode parasitism is the greatest problem facing small ruminant livestock, largely due to development of anthelmintic resistance. Of particular concern is Haemonchus contortus, a hematophagous trichostrongylid that can lead to death in lambs or immunocompromised sheep. Some breeds of sheep are resistant to Haemonchosis, e.g. St. Croix (STC) hair sheep. St. Croix sheep have well-documented resistance and have been shown to develop a robust immune response, generating a rapid cellular response to larval stages that does not occur in susceptible sheep. Studies evaluating effects of mononuclear cells, including monocytes and lymphocytes, indicate that these cells dramatically reduce motility of …

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Three Essays Analyzing The Pricing Of A Community Supported Agriculture System, Dwayne Bauknight Jan 2016

Three Essays Analyzing The Pricing Of A Community Supported Agriculture System, Dwayne Bauknight

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The current landscape of small farms is approaching a major shift as more and more small farms are poised to come onto open marketplace around urban areas. A different farming business model called Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has been utilized as new way for farmers to potentially earn above average revenue. However, small farmers still feel dissatisfied with their overall farm income, but when implementing the CSA business model the producers do feel that the CSA enhances their overall income satisfaction. Three essays were developed to examine this predicament. The first essay examined possible economic pricing models that a CSA …

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Cerebrovascular Dysfunction In Metabolic Syndrome And Depression: Mechanisms And Implications For Neurovascular Disease, Steven David Brooks Jan 2016

Cerebrovascular Dysfunction In Metabolic Syndrome And Depression: Mechanisms And Implications For Neurovascular Disease, Steven David Brooks

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cerebrovascular diseases are any pathological conditions that are caused by disruptions or alterations in the blood supply to the brain. The brain, which is only 2% of body mass, constantly requires a minimum of 20% of cardiac output to meet its unique metabolic demands. Cerebral tissue relies on aerobic respiration and therefore requires a constant, steady supply of blood to provide oxygen and glucose to make ATP. Insufficient perfusion of the brain, which occurs as a result of reduced or obstructed blood flow, results in cerebral ischemia; ischemic neurons quickly deplete their available ATP and die if blood flow is …

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Laugh With Me: Effects Of Shortcoms On Students' Motivation, Confidence, And Cultural Understanding In The French Classroom, Juliette Duthoit Jan 2016

Laugh With Me: Effects Of Shortcoms On Students' Motivation, Confidence, And Cultural Understanding In The French Classroom, Juliette Duthoit

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research has shown that authentic audio-visual materials have had a positive effect in foreign language classroom on learners' motivation and their confidence. Studies have also shown that humor can aid learners' memorization and improve their motivation, whether it is used in course material or through the instructor's interaction with the learners. Few researchers have focused, however, on the effect of humorous audio-visual material on foreign language learning. The aim of this thesis is to research the effects of humor in authentic video programming on the learning of French. In particular it examines the genre of the shortcom and how its …

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Directing The Total Program Of Agricultural Education As Perceived By Retired Secondary Agriculture Instructors In West Virginia, Dylan Demosthenes Johnson Jan 2016

Directing The Total Program Of Agricultural Education As Perceived By Retired Secondary Agriculture Instructors In West Virginia, Dylan Demosthenes Johnson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine retired secondary agriculture educators' perceptions on the various challenges, barriers, as well as successes and satisfaction of teaching high school agriculture in West Virginia. The researcher chose to conduct a qualitative study through semi-structured interviews. This study was limited to five retired agriculture instructors who retired within the past 10 years. The researcher found the following: high satisfaction in career choice, strong support for the total programs from multiple facets including community, administration and parents, adult education programming is a vital part of the total program and support, FFA is vital to …

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A Lab-Based Study For The Generation And Characterization Of Particle Emission From Composite Materials Containing Carbon Nanotubes, Jonathan Kang Jan 2016

A Lab-Based Study For The Generation And Characterization Of Particle Emission From Composite Materials Containing Carbon Nanotubes, Jonathan Kang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An experimental setup was designed to measure and characterize the emission of particles during the sanding of composite materials containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The experimental setup consisted of a sand-blasting cabinet with HEPA-filtered air intakes. An electrical motor outside the cabinet was connected to a pulley through a v-belt. A material feeder with constant force was constructed. The system was tested with a belt sander by sanding 1) glass fiber/epoxy resin, 2) glass fiber/epoxy resin containing post-coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), 3) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) 4), ABS containing MWCNTs, 5) ABS containing glass-fiber-infused MWCNTs, 6) ABS containing carbon black, …

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Imaging Ductal Carcinoma Using A Hyperspectral Imaging System, Yasser M. Khouj Jan 2016

Imaging Ductal Carcinoma Using A Hyperspectral Imaging System, Yasser M. Khouj

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) is a non-invasive optical imaging modality that shows the potential to aid pathologists in breast cancer diagnoses cases. In this study, breast cancer tissues from different patients were imaged by a hyperspectral system to detect spectral differences between normal and breast cancer tissues, as well as early and late stages of breast cancer. If the spectral differences in these tissue types can be measured, automated systems can be developed to help the pathologist identify suspect biopsy samples, which will improve sample throughput and assist in making critical treatment decisions. Tissue samples from ten different patients were provided …

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Effects Of Anti-Viral Acute Phase Response On Hippocampal Glutamate Regulation, Holly C. Hunsberger Jan 2016

Effects Of Anti-Viral Acute Phase Response On Hippocampal Glutamate Regulation, Holly C. Hunsberger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A large body of clinical evidence suggests that viral infections in the periphery can exacerbate neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's, disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and seizures. The underlying mechanisms of these conditions involve the activation of the acute phase response (APR), part of the innate immune system, which recognizes viral molecular patterns. As neighboring cells become infected, inflammatory mediators are released into the bloodstream and relayed to the central nervous system where they produce a "mirror" inflammatory response. To induce the APR, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (PIC), a viral mimetic, is commonly used. PIC produces a robust and transient …

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Interleukin-15 Overexpression Attenuates Muscle Fatigue Associated With Murine Eo771 Mammary Tumors, Joseph F. Bohlen Jan 2016

Interleukin-15 Overexpression Attenuates Muscle Fatigue Associated With Murine Eo771 Mammary Tumors, Joseph F. Bohlen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Severe muscle wasting and muscle dysfunction (cachexia) are considered incurable complications associated with a wide variety of chronic diseases. This loss of function and severe wasting causes an increase in fatigue in cancer patients, leading to reduced motivation for daily activities, further reducing prognosis for recovery in these patients leading to a severe increase in morbidity. Recent work from our lab suggests Interleukin-15 (IL-15) induces a pro-oxidative state in the muscle, reducing fatigue and promoting a more oxidative phenotype. One proposed mechanism behind this is the observation that IL-15 promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, lending more mitochondria for oxidative metabolic processes. Therefore, …

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Survival, Movement And Growth Of Juvenile Chinook ( Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha) Salmon Over-Wintering In Twitter Creek, South-Central, Alaska, James Keith Boersma Jan 2016

Survival, Movement And Growth Of Juvenile Chinook ( Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha) Salmon Over-Wintering In Twitter Creek, South-Central, Alaska, James Keith Boersma

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

I investigated aspects of winter ecology of juvenile stream-type Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Twitter Creek, a small tributary of the Anchor River, South-Central Alaska. A multistate modeling approach utilizing passive integrated transponder (PIT) technology to consider both live recaptures of individuals during discrete sampling occasions, and continuous data collected by monitoring movements of PIT-tagged fish was used to characterize both movement and survival. Juveniles emigrated from the stream throughout the winter peaking in the late fall and spring. Survival rates were eight times higher for juvenile Chinook that maintained stream fidelity during the entire winter period. The probability of …

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Risk Perception And Awareness Of Oil And Natural Gas Safety Among Local Populations In The Eastern Province Of Jubail, Saudi Arabia, Wajeeh Aljanabi Jan 2016

Risk Perception And Awareness Of Oil And Natural Gas Safety Among Local Populations In The Eastern Province Of Jubail, Saudi Arabia, Wajeeh Aljanabi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The main goal of this research was to examine the residents' and Saudi Aramco employees' awareness of risks to public health and the environment as a result of their close proximity to oil and natural gas production facilities in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia. The research objective was to characterize social representations of industrial activities by different social actors in order to enhance public participation in the region's risk management plan. Social representation theory was adopted to understand the risk perception of members of the community, both residents and oil plus natural gas employees. Residents were represented by faculty and …

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The Effect Of Polymer Coatings On The Pulmonary Toxicity Of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, Lindsey M. Bishop Jan 2016

The Effect Of Polymer Coatings On The Pulmonary Toxicity Of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, Lindsey M. Bishop

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nanotechnology is the science of developing and manipulating molecular structures smaller than one hundred nanometers in at least one dimension. These structures are collectively called engineered nanomaterials. A subgroup of these engineered nanomaterials are multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). They are of great interest to industry because of their small size, large surface area, strength, and conductivity in comparison to materials currently used. Practical applications of MWCNT include improvements for water filtration systems, composites, and drug delivery. The same properties that make them advantageous for industry may also confer adverse health effects. For workers in the U.S. handling CNTs, the process …

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The Role Of Adenosine Monophosphate Activated Protein Kinase In Luteal Progesterone Production, Elizabeth Compton Bowdridge Jan 2015

The Role Of Adenosine Monophosphate Activated Protein Kinase In Luteal Progesterone Production, Elizabeth Compton Bowdridge

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2&agr;) has in vivo luteolytic actions on the bovine corpus luteum (CL). Although PGF2&agr; is utilized extensively in livestock to synchronize estrus, its actions in vitro are controversial and do not always result in a reduction in progesterone (P4) secretion. The mechanism of action of PGF2&agr; is thought to involve activation of the phospholipase C-Ca2+ pathway. The luteolytic actions of PGF2&agr; are mediated through an elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ involving activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Expression of PKC isozymes and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CAMKK2) change as the CL develops to a mature stage. Either …

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Role Of Mitochondria In Tnf-Alpha Neurotoxicity In Stroke, Danielle N. Doll Jan 2015

Role Of Mitochondria In Tnf-Alpha Neurotoxicity In Stroke, Danielle N. Doll

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

TNF-alpha is known to exacerbate infarct volume in animal models and elevated levels of TNF-alpha are correlated with worse outcomes in stroke patients. However, the mechanism is not well understood. TNF-alpha has been shown to be neurotoxic at high doses and after long exposure times which is not clinically relevant. Thus, we show for the first time that TNF-alpha at clinically relevant concentrations seen in the serum of stroke patients rapidly and profoundly decreases mitochondrial function resulting in neuronal cell death through activation of caspase 8 and cytochrome c release. A slight decrease in mitochondrial function is detrimental to neurons …

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Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: The Importance Of Size, Shape, Chemical Composition, And Valence State In Determining Toxicity, Katherine Dunnick Jan 2015

Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: The Importance Of Size, Shape, Chemical Composition, And Valence State In Determining Toxicity, Katherine Dunnick

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nanoparticles, which are defined as a structure with at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nm, have the potential to be used in a variety of consumer products due to their improved functionality compared to similar particles of larger size. Their small size is associated with increased strength, improved catalytic properties, and increased reactivity; however, their size is also associated with increased toxicity in vitro and in vivo. Numerous toxicological studies have been conducted to determine the properties of nanomaterials that increase their toxicity in order to manufacture new nanomaterials with decreased toxicity. Data indicates that size, shape, chemical …

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Polyploidy Affects Growth, Fillet Composition, And Fatty Acid Profile In Two Year Old Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Jeremy Lynn Everson Jan 2015

Polyploidy Affects Growth, Fillet Composition, And Fatty Acid Profile In Two Year Old Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Jeremy Lynn Everson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Gonadal development is a dominant physiological process that alters growth and fat metabolism, thereby reducing fillet quality. Sterile, triploid (3N) female rainbow trout, generated by pressure-induced shock of zygotes 30 minutes after fertilization (3NP), are used to eliminate reduced growth and quality associated with gonadogenesis. However, this method does not produce 100% 3N offspring. Crossing a diploid (2N; fertile) female and a tetraploid (4N; fertile) male produces triploid offspring 100% of the time (3NC; sterile). This method is not widely used in the industry because it requires 4N brood stock. The current study examines growth, fatty acid composition, and fillet …

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Do Humans Drive Spinal Cord With Limb Velocity Signal?, Kyla Galbreath Jan 2015

Do Humans Drive Spinal Cord With Limb Velocity Signal?, Kyla Galbreath

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The ability to move in the environment is crucial to the survival of all animals. Neural pathways that control locomotion can be described as a hierarchy, with multiple levels of control, and those ultimately converge on spinal pattern generators. Neural pathways controlling locomotion are hierarchical, highly integrated, and well characterized anatomically, but functional explanations are lacking. Previous computational modeling of the CPG has proposed that they essential signal driving these spinal networks are expressed in the modality of desired velocity. To date, no published research has empirically tested velocity as being the control signal of locomotion. The purpose of this …

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Development Of A Conservation Action Plan For The Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis Alleganiensis) In West Virginia, William J. Greathouse Jan 2015

Development Of A Conservation Action Plan For The Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis Alleganiensis) In West Virginia, William J. Greathouse

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis ) is the largest salamander in North America growing to 75 centimeters in length. This fully aquatic species is an indicator of good stream and river quality and has been considered to be in decline or rare throughout its range. This study focused on the current distribution of the Eastern hellbender at sites of historic occurrence in West Virginia in order to determine the species' current range and factors impacting its distribution in order to facilitate planned reintroductions and translocations of hellbenders reared in human care. The success of the reintroduction and translocation efforts …

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Variable-Interval And Variable-Ratio Schedules Of Punishment By Timeout From Positive Reinforcement, Ezra G. Hall Jan 2015

Variable-Interval And Variable-Ratio Schedules Of Punishment By Timeout From Positive Reinforcement, Ezra G. Hall

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Timeout punishment is among the most commonly reported disciplinary procedures (Barkin, Scheindlin, Ip, Richardson, & Finch, 2007). Despite the frequent use of timeout, little basic research has systematically examined different schedule effects of timeout from positive reinforcement. Using pigeons as subjects, the current series of experiments arranged variable schedules of timeout from positive reinforcement within a multiple-schedule arrangement where 20-s timeouts were response-dependent, response-independent, and delayed. Experiment 1 used a within-subject yoking procedure to compare schedules of variable-ratio (VR) and yoked-interval (YI) timeouts. Experiment 2 arranged separate parametric analyses of variable-interval (VI) and VR schedules of timeout. Within-session, yoked-control components …

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The Portrayal Of Protagonists With Communication Disorders In Contemporary Award-Winning Juvenile Fiction, Jane Lefevre Jan 2015

The Portrayal Of Protagonists With Communication Disorders In Contemporary Award-Winning Juvenile Fiction, Jane Lefevre

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Twenty-six contemporary North American award-winning intermediate children's and young adult fictional books were identified that contained twenty-seven protagonists with communication disorders (CD). These books were evaluated using an adaptation of the Dyches & Prater (2000) Rating Scale for Quality Characterizations of Individuals with Disabilities in Children's Literature. Each guideline is discussed in detail while examining the quality of portrayed characterizations and literary elements in the eligible literature. The types of CDs depicted were language, speech and hearing disorders. No protagonists with central auditory processing disorders were found. Almost half of the protagonists had language disorders, making it the most commonly …

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A Study Of Selected Piano Works By Two Living Composers: David Gordon Duke And Stefan Young, Wei Chen Lin Jan 2015

A Study Of Selected Piano Works By Two Living Composers: David Gordon Duke And Stefan Young, Wei Chen Lin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research project is to introduce piano compositions by two living composers: David Gordon Duke and Stefan Young. The specific repertoire chosen for this study includes the following: Preludes (1980s), Postcards (1980s), and Sonatina (1977) by David Duke; and Prelude (1991), From the Dark Woods (1991), Meditation (2002), and La Guitarra (1993) by Stefan Young. This paper explores aspects of piano pedagogy and performance such as: (1) the basic technical approach; (2) suggestions for specific sound production; (3) interpretation of complex meters; (4) recommendations for pedaling and fingering; (5) observations of dynamics and articulations. The material discussed spans a broad …

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Biodiesel From Tall Oil Fatty Acids And Physico Thermal Properties Of Tropical Tree Fruit Oils As Thermal Energy Storage Systems, Gideon Sackey Lawer-Yolar Jan 2015

Biodiesel From Tall Oil Fatty Acids And Physico Thermal Properties Of Tropical Tree Fruit Oils As Thermal Energy Storage Systems, Gideon Sackey Lawer-Yolar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research into biodiesel as a substitute for petroleum diesel has been ongoing since the energy crisis of the 1970's. The concern for the effect on the use of edible vegetable oils as feedstock has increased. Tall oil fatty acids have been considered as a non-food substitute and various works have been done on it. In this study, sulfuric acid and Amberlyst BD 20 were used as homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts respectively in the production of biodiesel from Tall oil fatty acids in a batch reactor. The treatment conditions for the homogeneous catalysis varied the factors of fatty acid to methanol …

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On The Roles Of Drosophila Notch Signaling And Atonal Autoregulation In The Specification Of R8 Photoreceptors, Adam T. Majot Jan 2015

On The Roles Of Drosophila Notch Signaling And Atonal Autoregulation In The Specification Of R8 Photoreceptors, Adam T. Majot

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Drosophila retinogenesis has long served as a paradigm of tissue patterning. Notch, an anciently conserved signaling pathway, is critical to both the formation of and proper spacing of founding R8 photoreceptors. Notch is intimately interwoven into the activity of Atonal (Ato), a proneural basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) that is required for R8 specification. Ato is expressed through dual enhancers: ato-3' and 5'-ato. ato-3' is activated in response to Notch-independent signaling cues whereas 5'-ato exhibits complex dependence on Notch signaling. First, Notch is required for 5'-ato activation, eliciting formation of Ato intermediate groups (IGs, evenly spaced clusters of 10--20 cells). Subsequently, Notch …

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