Digital Commons Network^™

Topological Network Alignment Based On Graphlet Degree Signature, Shengai Jin

Master's Theses

A large number of experimental biological network data of different types are becoming available due to advanced experimental techniques. Network alignment is considered to be one of the most common methods to analyze and compare biological networks to understand evolution, biological mechanisms, and the complexity of diseases. Kuchaiev, Milenkovic, Memisevic, Hayes, & Przulj (2010) recently proposed a topological method of network alignment based on graphlet degree signatures, called GRAAL, which can be used to align any kind of networks not just biological ones. Several global network alignment algorithms also have been designed based on GRAAL, such as MI-GRAAL, H-GRAAL, and …

Analysis And Mitigation Of The Cubesat Dynamic Environment, Steve M. Furger

Master's Theses

A vibration model was developed for CubeSats inside the Poly-Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD). CubeSats are fixed in the Z axis of deployers, and therefore resonate with deployer peaks. CubeSats generally start fixed in the X and Y axes, and then settle into an isolated position. CubeSats do not resonate with deployers after settling into an isolated position. Experimental data shows that the P-POD amplifies vibration loads when CubeSats are fixed in the deployer, and vibration loads are reduced when the CubeSats settle into an isolated position. A concept for a future deployer was proposed that isolates CubeSats from the deployer …

The Relationship Between Vitamin D Status Of Adult Women And Diet, Sun Exposure, Skin Reflectance, Body Composition, And Insulin Sensitivity, Marisa M. Mcadler

Master's Theses

As the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency continues to grow, mounting evidence supporting its link with chronic disease strengthens suggesting vitamin D’s candidacy in the prevention and treatment of multiple disease states and their complications. Dietary guidelines, however, do not take sun exposure into account. The present study sought to explore the impact of sun exposure on vitamin D status (serum 25(OH)D), and identify other significant determinants of serum levels which may have the greatest effects on overall health. Participants (n = 34) were pre-menopausal women aged 18 to 50 years (mean age 39 ± 6 years), who had their …

Thinking Through The Box: The Art Teacher's Role In Setting Ideationally Generative Assignment Parameters, And Expanding Students' Problem-Finding Strategies, Brad James Conklin

Master's Theses

This thesis explores the nature of generative parameters, and their present – as well as their much greater potential – function in visual art assignments. An effort of thoughtful self-study, it examines important questions that were revealed during the teaching of a fifth grade art unit. Collaboration and chance were used in that unit as productive constraints. Bringing together insights gathered from a number of sources and my own classroom action research, a theory of teaching for creative behavior is offered with suggestions for good practices in the art room. Promoting creative thinking in the art classroom does not require …

Response Of Cyp1a And Vegf In Cyprinodon Variegatus When Exposed To Source/Dispersed Oil And Hypoxia, Bryan Matthew Hedgpeth

Master's Theses

My thesis research focused on the effects of two environmental stressors on the small estuarine fish, Sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus). Specifically, I examined the effects of exposure to crude and dispersed oil and hypoxia. I looked for responses using a combination of molecular and ecological endpoints. These stressors were chosen because of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill which released 4.1 million barrels of crude oil into the northern Gulf of Mexico. An estimated 2.1 million gallons of Corexit 9500 was used in an attempt to disperse the oil slick into the water column. The spill happened in …

Conservation Genetics Of Threatened Gopher Tortoises, Gopherus Polyphemus: An Assessment Of Genetic Variation And Parentage In Two Populations In South Mississippi, Angela Huang Getz

Master's Theses

Despite the protection of gopher tortoises, Gopherus polyphemus, in the western portion of their range for over twenty years, populations of the De Soto National Forest (DNF) in southern Mississippi experience low recruitment and lower hatching success than populations in the eastern portion of the range, and the causes of this are unknown. Previous work has shown that Mississippi populations of the DNF have lower levels of genetic diversity than eastern populations, which prompted the suggestion that reduced levels of genetic variation may play a part in low hatching success. Small populations can become more susceptible to the effects …

Interactions Between Protozoan Prey (Phylum Protista) And Their Mosquito Predators (Order Diptera, Family Cuclicidae) Prey Size And Predator Behavior Effects, Jeffrey Jay Skiff

Master's Theses

Mosquitoes (Diptera. Culicidae) are insects that are medically important as adults as they vector numerous diseases. Yet, understanding the ecology of the larval stage can lead to surveillance and control of adult populations. Aedes albopictus, Aedes triseriatus, Cu/ex corona/or, and Culex quinquefasciatus are four species of mosquito that co-occur in discarded automobile tires. Mosqui-to larvae feed on microorganisms (including protozoans) and particulate organic matter Most larval feeding experiments. howt:ver, have dealt exclusively with bacteria, fungi , and particulate organic matter Although bactena and fungi are important sources of nitrogen and lipids, they may be 111sufficient sources of carbon, which may …

From Corporal To Corporate: Defining The Body Politic In The Twenty-First Century, Ashley Estelle Lord

Master's Theses

The following research project illustrates a transition of the body politic metaphor from the second century AD. to present day. From this historical perspective it can be shown that a new body politic exists within Western, capitalist systems with the corporation serving as the head of the body and its buyers, the appendages. This paper claims that as with the previously accepted analogies of the body politic ("The Lord's Two Bodies," "The King's Two Bodies," and the body politic composed by consent of the governed) this corporate driven body possesses four key features that define all three previous manifestations: a …

Mitochondrial Dna Control Region Sequence Polymorphisms From A South Indian Population Sample: A Forensic And Phylogenetic View, Robin Gwydion Bombardi

Master's Theses

India is characterized by a human migration history spanning more than 60,000 years. Contemporary populations evolved from early migrations shortly following the African exodus but also recent movements possibly related to the spread of agriculture or t?e Indo-Aryan invasion. India has been underrepresented in mitochondrial surveys of human variation. The aim of this study was to establish a mtDNA dataset for the state of Tamil Nadu, India for forensic purposes and to investigate the diversity of the Tamil Nadu population sample with respect to global populations. The hypervariable regions I, II, and III within the mtDNA control region of a …

Growth And Carboxysome Composition Of The Csosia Pore Mutants Of Halothiobacillus Neapolitanus, Jenifer Milam

Master's Theses

Carboxysomes are specialized organelles that are filled with ribulose 1,5- bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) needed for CO2 fixation. The major carboxysome shell proteins, CsoSl A, B, and C, form hexamers which tile together to form the facets of the thin shell. Each hexamer has a small central pore that may play a role in metabolite flux. Using predicted structural models, a specific amino acid within the conserved hexamer pore motif (Phe-Val-Gly-Gly-Gly-Tyr) was chosen to change the size and charge of the pore, respectively. Two mutants of Halothiobacillus neapolitanus were generated in which the wild type csoSJA gene was replaced with the …

Family Structure And Child Emotion Regulation Difficulties As Important Factors In The Relation Between Maternal Depression And Child Externalizing Behaviors, Kristy Marie Disabatino

Master's Theses

The purpose of the present study was to investigate if child emotion regulation difficulties mediated the relation between maternal depression and child externalizing behaviors. In addition, understanding whether family structure is an important moderator in the relation between maternal depression and child emotion regulation difficulties was of interest in the present study. Archival data from 210 children (64.3% boys; 71.9% self-identified as non-Caucasian, 28.1% as Caucasian), one female caregiver, and the child's teacher were used. It was hypothesized that child emotion regulation difficulties would be positively related to maternal depression and child externalizing behaviors and would mediate the relation between …

The Effects Of Angiogenic Growth Factors On Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation And Differentiation To Vascular Cell Fates, William Anthony D'Angelo

Master's Theses

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that can differentiate into several cell lineages, including mural cells, which surround and support blood vessels, and possibly endothelial cells, which form the blood vessel walls. In this study, we investigated the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), two of the best-characterized angiogenic factors, on MSC proliferation and differentiation. We hypothesized that treatment with these two factors could inhibit mural cell character and promote differentiation toward an endothelial cell fate. C3H/10T1/2 cells (a line of MSCs derived from mouse embryonic tissues) were treated with bFGF and …

Sedimentary Characteristics Of An Estuarine Marsh System And The Roles Of Storm Overwash, Micro-Tidal Currents, And Organic Production: Big Branch Marsh, Louisiana, John Andrew Sebastian Fleming

Master's Theses

The goal of this thesis is to document sediment composition in Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, located on the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, to discern the relative influences of fluvial, tidal, and storm overwash transport dynamics of a micro-tidal estuarine marsh system. Collected sediment samples from tidal channel beds, pond bottoms, and marsh surfaces were analyzed for organic content and particle-size distribution. Parameters of sub-environment groups were compared to find differences representing changes in relative transport energy and depositional processes. Whereas some results adhered to the model of fining patterns with increasing distance …

The Effects Of Snowmelt Percolation On Stratified Pollen Records: A Cooler Study, Michael Edward Ewing

Master's Theses

Temperate valley glaciers may contain unique paleoecological records with the possibility of very high-resolution pollen analysis. However, little is known about the effects of meltwater percolation on pollen found in snow and glacial ice. Previous studies have suggested that pollen is relatively impervious to meltwater percolation due to grain size and, thus, resists transport. However, investigations on McCall Glacier in the Brooks Range of northeast Alaska reveal a disparity between the large amounts of pollen in the surface snow and firn, and dearth of pollen in the glacial ice core samples. The purpose of this study is to investigate if …

The Role Of Hardiness, Family Hardiness, And Parenting Self-Efficacy On Parenting Stress In Adoptive Parents, Erica Danielle Raisanen

Master's Theses

Adoptive parents are at risk for experiencing a high level of parenting stress (McGlone, Santos, Kazama, Fong, & Mueller, 2002) throughout the duration of the adoption experience. Adoptee background factors have been found to contribute to increased levels of parenting stress and distress in adoptive parents (Brooks, Simmel, Wind, & Barth, 2005; McDonald, Lieberman, Partridge, & Homby, 1991; McGlone et al., 2002). Increased parenting stress has been associated with negative outcomes for both parent and child (Ang, 2008; Deater-Deckard, Smith, & Ivy 2005; Morgan, Robinsion, & Aldridge, 2002). Hardiness, family hardiness and parental self-efficacy are protective factors that have all …

Barriers And Facilitators To The Effective Management Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus For Hispanic Women, Paula F. Clark

Master's Theses

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an abnormal or unfavorable condition in pregnancy, as well as a life event, that puts a woman and her biological children at an elevated risk for developing a number of negative fetal, neonatal, and maternal outcomes, including the future development type 2 diabetes in both mother and baby. These complications are associated with elevated maternal blood glucose. Diet and exercise alone are often sufficient to control blood glucose and effectively avoid negative outcomes. Yet research has determined that barely 50% of women with gestational diabetes are able to adhere to prudent dietary and exercise GDM …

Modeling The Zimmer Fitmore And Ml Taper Implantation, Tyler Kazuo Franklin

Master's Theses

With more young adults requiring total hip

arthroplasties the need for bone saving implants becomes

more important. The Zimmer Fitmore is a new bone saving

implant that utilizes an implantation technique that

reduces the damage to the muscle tissue allowing for

patients to have a short recovery time as well as a new

design that allows it to rest on the medial cortex. There

has been anecdotal evidence that this device leads to early

revision within six months of implantation due to failures

occurring in the medial cortex. The main goal of this

study was to computationally model the Zimmer …

A Transnational And Intergenerational Account Of Value Preference Patterns: Revisiting Needs-Gratification And Post-Materialist Theories, Fouad Bou Zeineddine

Master's Theses

The socio-political values predominant in a particular society will reflect the correspondent needs of that society, and these needs can include factors other than material acquisition. In contrast to needs-gratification theory (Maslow, 1970), and post-materialist theory (Inglehart, 1971), this paper discusses agency in terms of relational autonomy (Oshana, 2006), as it pertains to power. I argue that a) personal and national economic affluence or security may not be sufficient to describe social ecology nor fully describe the ways that power can influence values, b) individual and collective relational power is utilitarian and essential, c) fulfillment of material and social needs …

Stress, Anxiety, And Somatic Symptoms: A Comparison Of Biomarkers In A Clinical Sample, David J. Finitsis

Master's Theses

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent class of mental disorders, often characterized by a chronic course and comorbid psychopathology. The anxiety-stress literature utilizing cortisol as a biomarker of the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis has been inconsistent. The establishment of salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) as a biomarker of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation allows researchers an opportunity to examine the stress response more fully. This study sought to explore relationships between trait anxiety and salivary stress biomarkers in an outpatient sample attending a specialized anxiety treatment center. Multiple regression and moderator analyses were conducted to examine associations between psychosocial and physiological …

Effects Of Ovariectomy And Anatomical Location On Osteonal Encroachment In Adult Cortical Ovine Bone, Paige Brell Ryan

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study is to further quantify adult ovine ovariectomized bone for new remodeling characteristics to obtain a better understanding of how remodeling is occurring and the effectiveness of this animal model for the study of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a major health concern and animal models to test new treatment options are needed. The ovine model is a good option because the ewes undergo Haversian remodeling, are a large sized animal, and have a similar hormone profile to humans. Ewes, however, do not undergo a natural menopause, so an ovariectomy surgery was conducted in the sheep …

Home Range And Habitat Use Of Santa Rosa Island Foxes (Urocyon Littoralis Santarosae), Elizabeth Marie Drake

Master's Theses

Island foxes (Urocyon littoralis) are currently listed as federally endangered on four of the six Channel Islands to which they are endemic. The Santa Rosa Island (SRI) population declined by 99% during the 1990’s due to non-native golden eagle (Aguila chrysaetos) predation and is currently the lowest fox population (~280) and density (0.86 foxes/km²) of any of the Channel Islands. The goals of this study were to assess new miniaturized GPS technology and to quantify home range and habitat use of the SRI population. This is only the second use of Global Positioning System (GPS) …

Hydrologic Modeling Of The San Joaquin Valley Watershed For Purposes Of Nitrate Analysis, Stephen Carl Clayton

Master's Theses

The San Joaquin Valley is regarded as one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. This extensive agriculture has, however, caused extensive pollution of both ground water and surface water. This thesis develops a hydrologic model of the surface and ground waters of the San Joaquin Valley. Such modeling is useful in the development and implementation of water quality regulations such as Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). A properly validated watershed simulation model can supplement data collection and can account for watershed characteristics including topography, soils, climate, land cover, anthropogenic activities, as well as simulate watershed responses including …

Cloth Filter For Disaster Relief Water Treatment, Shasta Le'ja Billings

Master's Theses

Relief organizations and governments strive to provide safe drinking water to natural disaster survivors as quickly as possible. However, drinking water is typically provided either as bottled water or via mobile water treatment equipment, both of which can be difficult or expensive to transport rapidly into disaster zones. An alternative is the waterbag point-of-use treatment device developed at Cal Poly that allows survivors to produce safe drinking water from contaminated local sources. The waterbag is a 10-L bladder designed for use with Procter & Gamble Purifier of Water (PŪR^®) sachets, which contain coagulant and chlorine compounds. Following treatment …

Bacterial Growth On Metal And Non-Metal Surfaces In A Static Bioreactor, Rolan Yuk Loong Liong

Master's Theses

Research was conducted to observe bacterial growth on the surface of metals in a static bioreactor. Metal and non-metal samples were subjected to bacterial exposure (1 day and 9 days). The metal samples were surface treated prior to bacterial exposure. The microstructures of the surface treated samples were analyzed by optical microscopy. After exposure, the microstructures of the samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The analysis suggested that microbial attachment on the surface was related to the underlying microstructure of steel. The preferential attachment of microbes could potentially be influenced by cathodic and anodic regions created by the …

Monitoring Mdpc-23 Odontoblast-Like Cell Proliferation Using Cell Count And Dna Content Methods, Marina Funtik D.M.D.

Master's Theses

There is growing interest in the development of an engineering process by which dentin stem/progenitor cells can predictably proliferate, differentiate and produce mineralization nodules in cell culture. The engineering of 3D scaffolds could then be used to aid in proliferation and differentiation of these progenitor cells to aid in regeneration of the pulp/dentin complex in vivo.

In the present study, the goal was to characterize the MDPC-23 cell line and its behavior during proliferation. The cells in culture reach high numbers upon reaching confluence. When cells are growing in multilayers, as will occur in planned dentin regeneration experiments, it …

Automated Point-Of-Care Image Processing Methodology For The Diagnosis Of Malaria, Michael B. Jorgensen

Master's Theses

Malaria has profoundly influenced human history for over four thousand years and despite numerous attempts at eradication, the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of malaria have been largely ineffective. More than five hundred million people are affected by malaria every year resulting in over one million deaths. Drug resistance development by the parasite has diminished the effectiveness of numerous treatment options due, in part, to overtreatment of negative patients based on insufficient clinical algorithms and diagnostic methods. The goal of this research was to develop an image analysis algorithm to diagnose malaria with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity in …

Preparation Of Organofluorine Compounds: Exploring Mono-, Di-, And Tri-Fluorination, Diandra M. Rudzinski

Master's Theses

Organofluorine compounds exhibit biological activity and have advantageous properties for drug design. Natural occurring fluorinated molecules are rare, demanding new synthetic methods for their preparation. A novel route to access trifluoromethyl ketones from Weinreb amide precursors is discussed. This is the first documented method for the use of the Ruppert-Prakash reagent, (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane, for the production of trifluoromethyl ketones from amide starting materials. This method is tolerant of aryl and alkyl substrates exhibited by their moderate to excellent yields. A discussion of the unusual reactivity of these amides, their selectivity for mono-trifluoromethylation, and other mono-, and di-fluorination attempts are reported.

The Role Of Dax-1 In Regulating Pluripotency In Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells, Anthony Torres

Master's Theses

The orphan receptor Dax-1 is highly expressed in pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells and shows a correlative reduction in expression as these cells differentiate. While it is known that Dax-1 is expressed in pluripotent mouse ES cells, the precise function of Dax-1 in these cells is not as well understood. Recent studies employing RNA interference (RNAi) to specifically reduce the expression of the Dax-1 gene in mouse ES cells found that upon the knock down of Dax-1, ES cells differentiated. These findings indicate that Dax-1 functions in a novel role in the maintenance of a relatively undifferentiated state in ES …

Perceptions Of Psychology Among Seminary And Biology Students At Andrews University, Sandro Moraes

Master's Theses

Problem. Both pastors and biologists frequently interact with individuals. These contacts often involve conversations that deal with an individual’s feelings, behaviors, and the relationship between mind and body. Thus, how seminarians and biologists perceive psychology will greatly affect such interactions. Therefore it is important to know how both professionals perceive psychology. This is not all that different from the research biologists perform as they learn about the brain. Because of the interrelatedness between these two professions, what are the perceptions of psychology among seminary and biology students at Andrews University? -- Method. The data gathered from the responses of biology …

Evaluating Hypotheses That Explain Non-Continuous Responses To Syllable Periods ("Skipping") During Phonotaxis By Female Acheta Domesticus, Tori Joy Steely

Master's Theses

One way to classify female cricket phonotactic response is as "non-skipping" or "skipping." "Skipping" is defined as crickets that respond to a non-continuous range of calling songs. This investigation evaluates the temporal aspects of typical phonotactic protocols and attempts to determine if "skipping" is due to a filtering mechanism or if "skipping" is an artifact of testing protocol. Rather than a notch filter or testing parameters inhibiting a phonotactic response to a syllable period within the range of a band pass filter, I hypothesize that "skipping" occurs as a result of the probabilistic nature of phonotaxis.