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Eficacia Na Formacao De Lideres De Pequenos Grupos Na Uniao Nordeste Brasileira, Moises Moacir Silva

Master's Theses

Problem

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that answered the question of why are the majority ministers of the Brazilian Northeast Region not excited about the work of the small groups, even having known their work for 15 years.

Method

It is a quantitative survey, conducted during a ministerial council in 2013. It is an anonymous and objective survey.

Results

The ministers of the União Nordeste Brasileira have been working with small groups since the start of their ministry, except those who have been ministers for over 20 years. Many ministers began their involvement with small groups …

Bystander Confronting Of Anti-Black Racism: Effects Of Belonging Affirmation And Confrontation Training, Rayne Bozeman

Master's Theses

Confronting has the potential to reduce prejudice, especially when implemented by a non-target group member. Not knowing how to respond and fearing social rejection have been identified as barriers to confronting in previous studies. The current study tests whether providing training to confront prejudice and affirming the need to belong helps individuals overcome these barriers. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three training conditions: prejudice confrontation training (PCT), rude comment training (RCT), or no training control group (NT). Participants were also randomly assigned to one of two belonging conditions: belonging affirmation or control. Participants were then asked to imagine …

The Role Of Pidd Protein In Adenoviral Induction Of Apoptosis, Iris Teresa Figueroa

Master's Theses

The Adenovirus E1A gene sensitizes cells to genetic insults and apoptosis, most notably in response to cytotoxic factors from innate immune cells. The mechanisms by which E1A sensitizes cells to apoptotic stressors have not been fully elucidated, however E1A actively represses NF-κB anti-apoptotic defenses, thereby sensitizing cells to alternative apoptotic cascades. Recent studies alternatively indicate that E1A also actively induces Caspase-2 activation and mitochondrial injury in the presence of certain cytotoxic injuries.

Caspase-2 is cleaved and activated in a large complex consisting of p53-inducible protein with a death domain (PIDD), an adaptor protein RAIDD, and pro-caspase 2. PIDD auto-proteolyzes into …

The Influence Of Backlash On Self-Sexualization And Cognitive Depletion, Mallory Helen Elizabeth Nurse Grembowski

Master's Theses

A woman who acts agentically in the workplace is more likely to be disliked and viewed as less competent than a woman who acts caring and communal. The negative consequences for acting outside of a cultural stereotype are called backlash. Cultural gender stereotypes for western society depict women as warm and communal while men are agentic and independent. Women in the workplace act outside of the cultural stereotype, and thus face backlash from their peers. This study examines the extent to which women utilize self-sexualization as a recovery strategy to cope with the fear of backlash, and ultimately how these …

El Sufrimiento En La Literatura Y La Cinematografía Latinoamericanas: Un Análisis De Las Representaciones Y Las Experiencias De Sufrir, Adrian Xavier Cuevas

Master's Theses

Parece ser que existe un silencio crítico en cuanto a una definición a la experiencia del sufrimiento dentro de la teoría literaria y cinematográfica latinoamericana. Para mí, el sufrimiento es un estado cambiante, cuyo origen reside en lo físico o emocional, y la experiencia de sufrimiento que se representa en los textos, tiene un propósito específico al querer dar luz y concientizar de una realidad más grande. Mi propósito es profundizar una definición que demuestre que la experiencia del sufrimiento es traumática y que al hacer el sufrimiento visible, se exhibe una debilidad humana la cual nadie puede evitar. Al …

The Influence Of Community-Based Summer Programs On Ethnically Diverse, Low-Income Chicago Youth, Amy Governale

Master's Theses

How youth spend their time has become an increasingly important factor in studying adolescent development. During the summer months, longer periods of unsupervised time have been associated with a loss of academic skills and lower social-emotional skills. One support for at-risk youth and adolescents might be summer programs housed in community-based organizations. Using a pre-post test design over an 11-week period, the present study examines the linkages among participation in summer programs, individual characteristics, and youth outcomes among ethnically diverse, low-income Chicago youth. Analyses revealed ethnicity was related to math skills at the end of the summer, although the strongest …

The Effects Of Stress And Alcohol On Hiv-1 Latency, Sarah Ilene Talley

Master's Theses

A major barrier to HIV eradication is the persistence of latent viral reservoirs that exist despite antiretroviral therapy. In order to develop effective therapeutics, a comprehensive understanding of latency and factors driving the formation of the latent reservoir is needed. As stress and alcohol are common comorbidities associated with HIV infection, the goal of this research was to determine how stress and alcohol could affect HIV-latency. Specifically, we hypothesized that the ability of latent proviruses to be reactivated by “shock and kill” approaches would be altered by glucocorticoid and ethanol treatments, and prolonged ethanol exposure would affect the size of …

Utilizing Galectin 3 As A Marker Of Ruptured Vesicles In Vivo, Jonathan London

Master's Theses

Ruptured vesicles have been associated with pathological forms of α-synuclein during the development of PD. Galectin 3 (Gal3) is readily recruited to these ruptured vesicles, making it a potentially useful marker of vesicle rupture in PD and other diseases associated with vesicle rupture and lysosomal dysfunction. We were able to visualize and quantify the differences in Gal3 levels during infection with pathological α-synuclein in the rat brain. Having significantly high basal levels of Gal3, we found that the differentiated monocytes showed a nearly100 percent increase in intercellular levels of Gal3 after treatment with pathological α-synuclein. By expressing only the Carbohydrate …

A Study Of Education Management Organizations: Competition Framing As A Technique In Education Policy, Calli Leigh Burnett

Master's Theses

As world markets become more interconnected through the phenomenon of globalization, many scholars have noted an expansion of capitalist and economic language in the realm of education discourse. This study focuses on the adoption by education policymakers of the "competition" model and framing, which traditionally used in business, is now being used to justify and promote education policies, such as school choice. This study pursues how competition framing occurs within education, the possible effects of such language use on education stakeholders, and the specific historical contexts and different interests being served by such framing in education. Specifically, this study examines …

Characterization Of Exopolysaccharide (Eps) Produced By Bacillus Subtilis Mutants, Alexander Argianas

Master's Theses

Bacillus subtilis is a probiotic bacterium that can protect against the murine-

specific attaching and effacing (A/E) pathogen Citrobacter rodentium. C. rodentium displays many features observed with the human pathogen enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). Protection by B. subtilis is mediated by exopolysaccharide (EPS), which is encoded by the epsA-O operon that contains 15 genes. Disruption of one of these genes, epsH, which appears to encode a putative glycosyltransferase, leads to the loss of protective capacity by B. subtilis and by EPS. EPS is a major component of the B. subtilis biofilm and the ΔepsH mutant is unable to form a …

Emetine As An Anti-Cancer Therapeutic In Bladder Cancer, Valerie Davidson

Master's Theses

Bladder cancer is a serious health concern among the older population, as it is responsible for thousands of deaths annually in the United States. Patients that are diagnosed with muscle-invasive disease have a 5-year survival rate of only 20 percent. Additionally, muscle-invasive disease has a high metastatic potential; half of all patients develop metastatic disease within 3 years. Patients with muscle-invasive disease are presented with few treatment options aside from surgery. The current standard of care is a chemotherapeutic combination therapy of cisplatin and gemcitabine. This therapy is highly toxic, and due to the high instance of co-morbidities in these …

Muslims Never Bomb On Stage: Audience Perceptions Of Muslim Standup Comedy, Bilal Hussain

Master's Theses

This research investigates the audience perceptions of Muslim standup comedy by Muslim-American college and university students. The research question is ‘Do Muslim-Americans feel as if Muslim standup comedy is painting a new image of Islam and Muslims?’ There has yet to be any published research that asks Muslim-Americans for their perspectives regarding Muslim standup comedy. Since Muslim-Americans are some of the consumers of Muslim standup comedy, this demographic is necessary to study when it comes to exploring the consumption of Muslim standup comedy. The methodology for this research is a qualitative method that involves semi-structured in-depth interviews with Muslim-Americans. I …

Separating Autoimmune And Anti-Tumor Responses With Hsp70iq435a, James Mahon

Master's Theses

Vitiligo and melanoma are both melanocyte-derived diseases; vitiligo progresses through the autoimmune-targeted destruction of healthy melanocytes while melanoma results from uncontrolled proliferation of cancerous melanocytes. Treatment of vitiligo with HSP70iQ435A inhibits the DC-mediated auto-immune response against melanocytes in vitiligo mouse models; this raises the concern that treatment with this modified HSP may also inhibit natural anti-tumor responses against melanocyte-derived melanoma tumor cells.

We hypothesized that HSP70iQ435A prevents migration of melanocyte-antigen reactive T cells to the skin in a way that is mechanistically different from anti-tumor responses to melanoma and therefore would not have a negative effect on anti-tumor responses. We …

The Role Of Central Metabolism And Electron Transport In Biofilm Formation By Vibrio Fischeri, Jakob Michael Ondrey

Master's Theses

Biofilms protect bacteria from environmental threats, including antibiotics; thus, biofilms formed during infections pose an increasing threat to human health. A natural model used to study biofilm formation in the context of a host is the symbiosis between Vibrio fischeri and its host, the squid Euprymna scolopes. Successful colonization depends on the formation of a biofilm and genes involved in making the polysaccharide matrix component, syp. In culture, biofilm phenotypes, including the formation of wrinkled colonies, similarly depend on syp. However, little is known about other factors that contribute to this phenotype. To expand the utility of currently available genetic …

The Contribution Of The Female Urinary Microbiota To Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, Travis Kyle Price

Master's Theses

The recent finding that urine is not sterile raises a lot of questions: first and foremost, what microorganisms are present, and are these microorganisms correlated with clinical urinary symptoms? Recent work on the female urinary microbiota (FUM) found that the communities of microorganisms differ between women with no lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and those with Urgency Urinary Incontinence (UUI) a form of over-active bladder syndrome. Specifically, a diverse or dysbiotic urinary microbiota was found to be associated with symptomatic women. This suggests the possibility that the FUM can be contributing to urinary symptoms. Conversely, it could also suggest that …

Malaria Transmission Blocking Vaccines, Lukasz Jacek Sewera

Master's Theses

Malaria affects 198 million people and kills 584,000 each year, predominantly in Sub-Saharan Africa (WHO). The most severe form of malaria is caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Development of a vaccine against P. falciparum has been hindered by its complex life cycle with multiple antigenically distinct human and mosquito stages. To effectively prevent disease and reduce the parasite burden in populations, a vaccine will need to target multiple stages, including blocking transmission at the mosquito stage.

Antibodies generated against P. falciparum mosquito stage antigen Pfs25 can prevent parasite transmission from humans to mosquitoes. However, Pfs25 is poorly immunogenic …

Returning Citizens? The Path From Prison To Politics Among The Formerly Incarcerated, Quintin A. Williams

Master's Theses

This project examines the experiences of a group of formerly incarcerated persons involved in community organizing efforts for felon empowerment. Scholarly works often focus on what is being done on behalf of the formerly incarcerated, this work highlights how men and women with records advocate for themselves. Drawing on 18 months of participant observation and 18 in-depth interviews with a Chicago based group called FORCE (Fighting to Overcome Records and Create Equality) I found that meanings of redemption were essential to advocacy and operated as an imperative. The redemption imperative both constrained and enabled advocacy. It constrained advocacy in its …

Latino Youth With Spina Bifida: Psychosocial Functioning, Family Functioning, And Acculturation, Jaclyn M. Lennon

Master's Theses

Objective: Research on Latino youth with spina bifida (SB) is sparse. However, SB rates are highest in this ethnic group, and typically-developing (TD) Latino youth are at risk for poor psychosocial functioning. The aims of this study were to examine: (1) differences in psychosocial and family functioning between Latino and non-Latino Caucasian youth with SB; (2) family functioning as a predictor of youth psychosocial functioning as moderated by ethnicity; (3) the impact of acculturation on youth psychosocial and family functioning in Latino youth with SB. Methods: Participants were recruited as part of a larger, longitudinal study (Devine et al., 2012). …

Tcr Modifications To Enhance Expression, Chain Pairing, And Antigen Recognition For Adoptive T Cell Transfer, Kendra Foley

Master's Theses

T cell receptor (TCR) gene modified T cells for adoptive T cell transfer therapy have been shown to have clinical success in treating melanoma and other malignancies by redirecting the specificity of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to recognize tumor and/or viral associated antigens of choice. One of the challenges in using TCR gene modified T cells is the potential mispairing between endogenous and introduced alpha and beta TCR chains, allowing for unwanted off-target reactivity, autoimmunity, or impaired therapeutic efficacy. One approach to augment proper TCR chain pairing and to enhance T cell function involves the modification of the introduced TCR …

Investigating The Role Of Cysteine In Biofilm Formation By Vibrio Fischeri, Priyanka Abhishek Singh

Master's Theses

Biofilms are an important area of medical research because bacterial biofilms can form on implants such as catheters and are highly resistant to antibiotics and other antimicrobials. The symbiosis between Vibrio fischeri-Euprymna scolopes, is good model to study biofilm. V. fischeri has 18 gene polysaccharide locus, syp, that is required for biofilm formation and colonization. A recent mutant study suggested the possibility that cysteine biosynthetic genes were involved in biofilm formation by V. fischeri, including cysH, cysJ, cysK, and cysN. My results supported a role for cysK and, to a lesser extent, cysH in biofilm formation. Finally, I have data …

Impacts Of Scholarship And Publication On Entry-Level Hiring: Public Services Applicants In Academic Libraries In The United States, James E. Hicks

Master's Theses

This study examines the impact of a single knowledge, skill, and ability (KSA), specifically research and publication experience, on the hiring decisions of selection committees for entry-level public services academic librarian positions in the United States. Current library and information science literature contains few studies focusing on a single KSA factor. For this study, respondents (n=141) from a selective sample of 382 institutions of higher education completed an online survey in January and February 2015. The results show that research and publication experience had a greater impact on hiring decisions at urban research universities with large full-time equivalent (FTE) student …

30 Ghz Adaptive Receiver Equalization Design Using 28 Nm Cmos Technology, Gustavo Tostado Villanueva

Master's Theses

This thesis consists of a 28 nm submicron circuit design for high speed transceiver circuits used in high-speed wireline communications that operate in the 60 Gb/s range. This thesis is based on research done on high speed equalizer standards for the USB 3.1 SuperSpeed Differential Channel Loss Receiver Equalizer or Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express® Base Specification Revision 3.0. As of 2015, USB 3.1 and PCI Express® 3.0 are technologies with possibilities to be implemented in emerging technology targeted to consumer applications that demand improvements in signal integrity for high speed serial data communication of baud rates above 20 Gb/s. …

Effects Of Input Modality On Capturing Notes, Chaya Bijani

Master's Theses

The features of the smartphone make it an indispensible commodity of Western urban lifestyles. However, the most common problems of using a mobile device for work-related activities are limited screen space and poor input techniques. People in the workforce whose daily job entails being in a mobile environment generally prefer to carry light, mobile devices along with a pen and a notepad. The purpose of this study was to investigate optimal input modality for taking notes. The three modes of input evaluated were spoken notes, typing on the phone, and writing by hand using a pen and paper. The variables …

Chasing Rx: A Spatial Ethnography Of The Crossfit Gym, Matt Crockett

Master's Theses

CrossFit is a group fitness program that incorporates a variety of weightlifting and gymnastic movements performed at high intensities. Although there is growing research on CrossFit’s physiological and behavioral outcomes, few studies have qualitatively examined the program’s psychological and sociological characteristics. Drawing from Henning Eichberg’s (1998) work on spatial geography, this five-month ethnographic study examined the space and place of two San Francisco Bay Area CrossFit gyms as an introduction to a broader discussion on CrossFit subculture and evolving discourses about the body, health, and fitness. Specifically, three major themes about the CrossFit space emerged from the participant-observation data, including: …

Tales Of Archaeological Places: Visualizing Mayan Pre-Colonial Settlement Patterns, Angela Ivanov

Master's Theses

In order to visualize ancient Mayan settlement patterns and demography through time, data derived from 26 published archaeological sites were collected and plotted onto three discrete map media. These data were subdivided into six time periods ranging from Pre-Classic to Post-Classic, and were simulated for each map medium. Specific attention was given during the selection of geographical locations, natural landscape features, map annotation, layers and coordinates. Tabulated information were site names, coordinates, site founding dates, site decline/abandonment dates, and estimated population. Combined with existing country base map layers downloaded from online geographical sources and time series animation (an animated map), …

Paying For Your Crime: The Pay-To-Stay Jail Program In California, Carla Sue Schultz

Master's Theses

Many California cities have recently implemented pay-to-stay jail programs at the local level. Pay-to-stay programs provide a safe and private incarceration experience for those who can afford the nightly fee. This study provides a theoretical analysis of the pay-to-stay jail program in relation to mass incarceration and the ever-expanding prison economy. It examines pay-to-stay programs as a new method of stratified punishment, reproducing race and class oppression within the U.S. penal regime. A case study of the Fremont pay-to-stay program offers insight into the implementation, operation, and application process for inmates seeking segregation from general county jail populations. This study …

Epigenetic Regulation Of Nuclear Hormone Receptor Dax-1, Michael B. Heskett

Master's Theses

DAX-1 (NR0B1) is an orphan nuclear receptor that plays a key role in the development and maintenance of steroidogenic tissue in mammals. Dax-1 is also expressed in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and is required to maintain pluripotency. Duplication of the X-chromosome in the region containing the NR0B1 gene results in sex reversal, and mutations in NR0B1 cause adrenal hypoplasia congenita. DAX-1 has been observed to act as a corepressor of other nuclear receptors including androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor (ER), and steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1). In addition to pluripotent ES cells, DAX-1 is primarily expressed in select tissues of …

Nitrogen Isotopes In The Measurement Of N2-Fixation And The Estimation Of Denitrification In The Global Ocean, Richard Dabundo

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Bioremediation And Phytoremediation Systems For Breaking Down Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (Tph) In Contaminated Sandy Soil, Patrick Mcintosh

Master's Theses

Bioremediation and Phytoremediation Systems for Breaking Down Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in Contaminated Sandy Soil

ABSTRACT

The applications of bio- and phytoremediation systems were used to breakdown low-level total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in a contaminated sandy soil. The overall aim was to determine which soil regimes, amendments, and plant species enhance the breakdown of TPH. The first project included planted mixtures of cool and warm-season grasses with different willows, mono and intercropped with various fertilizer and carbon additions. The second project introduced different soil regimes of saturation, intermittent oxygenation, installment of aboveground covers, as well as the addition of switchgrass …

Into The Red: A Look Into The Reasons Why Refugees Decide To Flee, Settle Or Migrate To And From Morocco, Fadeelah E. Holivay

Master's Theses

This research paper explores some of the main reasons why refugees and asylum seekers, particularly from sub-Saharan African countries, embark on a journey and decide to settle, flee or migrate to and from Morocco. Because of this phenomenon, Morocco has seen a 96% increase of refugees migrating to the borders of Morocco each year for the past three years. Many say that this astonishing increase of migrants choosing Morocco is due to such factors as: wars breaking out regionally across central African and Middle Eastern countries causing them to flee; Morocco being a culturaly diverse francophone country whose laws and …