Digital Commons Network^™

The Morally Contaminating (And Motivating) Influence Of Hate Groups In The U.S., Andrew L. Stewart

Master's Theses

A growth in the number of hate groups that operate in the United States over the past decade counters many researchers’ claims that overt prejudice and discrimination no longer have influence. In this thesis, we explore how people react with moral outrage and moral cleansing toward hate groups’ moral transgressions of racial egalitarianism—a strong sacred value among those who desire group-based equality. Across two experiments, we find that people perceive hate groups as immoral social agents, and people express moral outrage against them. We also find that people who were morally contaminated by hate groups (i.e., by being led to …

Examining Influences On Undergraduate Athletic Training Students Career Decisions Post Graduation, Kerri E. Gavin

Master's Theses

Context: Career opportunities for athletic training students (ATSs) have significantly increased over the past few years. However, it commonly appears that ATSs are opting for a more diversified professional experience after graduation. With the diversity in available options, an understanding of career decision is imperative. Objective: The purpose of our study was to investigate, using the theoretical framework of socialization, the influential factors behind the post graduation decisions of the senior ATS. Design: Qualitative design using internet-based, structured interviews and follow-up semi-structured phone interviews. Setting: Web-based management system. Patients or Other Participants: 22 ATSs (16 females; 6 males), who graduated …

Comparison Of An Ultrasonic And A Non-Ultrasonic Endodontic Irrigation Protocol: A Clinical Study, Christopher M. Beus

Master's Theses

The use of irrigation as a method of rendering canals bacteria free continues to be a source of investigation. Recent data suggests that an activated irrigation protocol such as passive ultrasonic irrigation can result in decreased intracanal bacteria. In addition, studies have shown that the activation of various irrigants such as NaOCl and Chlorhexidine can increase the sum antimicrobial effect. The purpose of this randomized, double blinded, prospective in-vivo clinical study was to compare the results of a non-activated irrigation protocol (NAI) using only NaOCl 1.5% to a passive ultrasonic irrigation protocol (PUI) using NaOCl 1.5%, EDTA 17% and Chlorhexidine …

Individual & Combined Effects Of Hyperthermia, Dehydration & Fatigue Balance, Megan M. Vansumeren

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Individual and Combined Effects of Hyperthermia, Dehydration and Fatigue on Balance. Megan M. VanSumeren, University of Connecticut

Purpose: The purpose of this controlled, randomized laboratory study was to determine the effect of hyperthermia, dehydration and fatigue as both combined and individual factors on balance performance as tested with three separate balance assessment tools.

Methods: 12 healthy male subjects (20±2 yrs old, 181.83±7.53cm , 74.09±8.43kg) completed four trials in a randomized order. The four trials were Normothermic, Hydrated (HyN), Normothermic Dehydrated (DehyN), Hyperthermic, Hydrated (HyHot), and Hyperthermic, Dehydrated (DehyHot). Balance was assessed using three tests; static stance, clinical tool Balance …

The Effect Of Betaine Supplementation On Performance And Muscle Mechanisms, Jenna M. Apicella

Master's Theses

Background: Recent research has shown that betaine supplementation can increase strength and power performance. To further investigate the ergogenic effects of betaine supplementation a balanced, randomized, double-blind, repeated measures crossover study was designed to examine select hormonal and muscle signaling responses during supplementation.

Methods: Twelve recreationally active men (age, 19.7 ± 1.23 years; height, 172.6 ± 5.61 cm; weight, 84.27 ± 15.3 kg; body fat, 18.7 ± 7.0%; BMI, 28.2 ± 4.0) with a minimum of 3 months of resistance training including back squat and bench press participated in the study. A within crossover design was utilized and subjects were …

Correlations Between Body Composition Components And Bone Mineral Content In Untrained Young Men And Women, Erin L. Burtner

Master's Theses

PURPOSE: Low bone mineral content has been linked to the development of osteoporosis in humans. Research is divided as to whether fat or lean mass plays a more significant role in the development of bone mass. Physical activity has also been shown to increase bone mineral content in adolescents and combat the loss of bone density with aging. The purpose of this study was to examine correlations that exist between bone mineral content and anthropometric and performance measurements in untrained young men and women. METHODS: 78 untrained males (age 22.3±3.7) and 56 females (age 22.8±3.7) completed a battery of baseline …

Frequency Of Injuries With Periodized Resistance Training In Young Untrained Men And Women, Sarah A. Neuschwander

Master's Theses

64 men and women completed a 32 week periodized training program designed to improve lean body mass, muscle size and strength. 37 men, average age 23.6 years (SD ±3.2), height 176.68 cm (SD±6.2), weight 78.9 kg (SD±15.1) and 27 women, average age 22.7 years (SD ±3.4), height 163.9 cm (SD±6.7) weight 64.8 kg (SD±12.4) resistance trained 3 times a week with NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist, performing a series of planned total body workouts. Injuries were documented in the subjects personalized workout log by the trainers. The injury definition included any complaint of perceived pain in which the subject …

Mechanistic Study Of The Small Molecule Inhibitor Dx-52-1, Junru Cui

Master's Theses

Cell migration is a basic biological process that is fundamental to several normal and disease processes such as embryonic development, tissue repair, immune function, angiogenesis and cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Small organic molecules inhibiting cell migration can be used as both research probes and therapeutic agents. DX-52-1, a semisynthetic derivative of the natural product quinocarmycin (also known as quinocarcin), inhibits the migration of Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells with nanomolar concentration. We have identified galectin-3, a multifunctional protein whose best-known function is its sugar binding ability, as a secondary target of DX-52-1 with functions in cell motility. In addition, …

Residual Strength Of Ultra-High Performance Concrete After Exposure To Elevated Temperatures, Brian T. Burke

Master's Theses

This paper presents the results of a study on the effect of elevated temperatures on the compressive strength of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). Two different mixtures of a commercially available UHPFRC were considered in this study. The standard mixture offered by the manufacturer incorporates only steel-fibers to improve the tensile properties of the concrete. The enhanced mixture, which is of primary focus in the study, incorporates additional polypropylene fibers to improve the fire-resistance behavior. Specimens from each mixture were cast into 76 mm (3 in.) diameter cylinders and 51 mm (2 in.) cubes. After exposure to elevated temperatures …

Modulation Of Hypoglossal Motoneurons By Nitric Oxide, Justin Philip Benoit

Master's Theses

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)- the occurrence of repetitive episodes of airway obstruction during sleep- is considered a major health problem affecting up to 9% of adults in the United States (Parish & Somers, 2004). The hypoglossal motor nucleus (HMN) controls genioglossus muscle tone and is critically important for maintaining airway patency; loss of excitatory input to the HMN during sleep results in disfacilitation of hypoglossal motoneurons, increased airway resistance and contributes to the development of OSA (Horner R. L., 2007). However, a fundamental question of sleep medicine that remains unresolved is what mechanisms help maintain airway patency during sleep? A …

Towards The Synthesis Of Alpha-Aminogalactosylceramides, Shaun C. Christian

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Predictors In Strength Gains In Untrained Men Over 9 Months Of Training, William B. Haug

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Interoperation For Lazy And Eager Evaluation, William Jeffrey Faught

Master's Theses

Programmers forgo existing solutions to problems in other programming lan- guages where software interoperation proves too cumbersome; they remake so- lutions, rather than reuse them. To facilitate reuse, interoperation must resolve language incompatibilities transparently. To address part of this problem, we present a model of computation that resolves incompatible lazy and eager eval- uation strategies using dual notions of evaluation contexts and values to mirror the lazy evaluation strategy in the eager one. This method could be extended to resolve incompatible evaluation strategies for any pair of languages with common expressions.

Mammary Epithelial Cell Growth On A Three-Dimensional Scaffold In An Operating Bioreactor, Melissa Marie Davalle

Master's Theses

Mammary epithelial cells are highly efficient secreting cells. With genetic engineering, the uses of these cells could be endless. Research is being conducted on these cells to determine their full potential to the biotech industry.

This paper investigates whether bovine epithelial mammary cells can survive in glutaraldehyde-treated gelatin tubes in an operating bioreactor. Many bioreactors were developed and tested to suit the needs of the cells. Procedures were created and carried out to ensure sterility of the bioreactors. Bovine mammary epithelial cells were implanted in the bioreactors and samples of their growth were taken over time.

Enhancing Progressive Collapse Resistance Of Steel Building Frames Using Thin Infill Steel Panels, Victor M. Sanchez Escalera

Master's Theses

Progressive collapse occurs when damage from a localized first failure spreads in a domino effect manner resulting in a total damage disproportionate to the initial failure.  Recent building failures (e.g., World Trade Center twin towers) highlight the catastrophic outcome of progressive collapse.  This research proposes a reliable and realistic retrofit technology which installs thin steel panels into steel building structural frames to enhance the system progressive collapse resistance.

The steel frames with simple beam-to-column connections, under different boundary conditions (i.e., sidesway uninhibited and sidesway inhibited, respectively), and the loss of one bottom story column were retrofitted using the proposed technology …

The Zook Commission:Reassessing World War Ii Veterans' Influence On Higher Education, Jeffrey Scott Aranguena

Master's Theses

The Zook Commission: Reassessing World War II

Veterans Influence on Higher Education

Jeffrey Scott Aranguena

This thesis is an analysis of The Presidential Commission on Higher Education of 1947 and the influence World War II veterans held on the role of the Commission’s recommendations. More specifically, this thesis takes a look at the recommendations presented to President Harry S. Truman in a report titled, Higher Education for American Democracy, and the influence veterans had on the Presidential Commission’s suggestions to President Truman.  Through a major change in higher education ideology, the veterans provided an example for what higher education could …

Simulation And Validation Of Two-Component Flow In A Void Recirculation System, Oscar Eduardo Daza

Master's Theses

Nuclear power plants rely on the Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) to cool down the reactor core in case of an accident. Occasionally, air is entrained into the suction piping of ECCS causing voids that decrease pumping efficiency, and consequently damage the pumps. In an attempt to minimize the amount of voids entering the suction side of the pump in ECCS, a Void Recirculation System (VRS) experiment was conducted for a proof of concept purpose. While many studies have been oriented in studying two-component flow behavior in ECCS, none of them propose a solution to minimize air entrainment. As a …

Sponges Of The Caribbean: Linking Sponge Morphology And Associated Bacterial Communities, Ericka Ann Poppell

Master's Theses

The ecological and evolutionary relationship between sponges and their symbiotic microflora remains poorly understood, which limits our ability to understand broad scale patterns in benthic-pelagic coupling on coral reefs. Previous research classified sponges into two different categories of sponge microbial associations: High Microbial Abundance (HMA) and Low Microbial Abundance (LMA) sponges. Choanocyte chamber morphology and density was characterized in representatives of HMA and LMA sponges using scanning electron microscopy from freeze-fractured tissue. Denaturing Gradient Gel Elextrophoresis was used to examine taxonomic differences among the bacterial communities present in a variety of tropical sponges. The results supported the hypothesis that choanocyte …

A Theoretical Analysis Of Referee Bias In Youth Hockey, Winston Christopher Pappas

Master's Theses

This research addressed the issue of youth hockey referee bias demonstrated throughout 286 CCYHL Squirt A and C league games and the 2009-2010 CDYHL Squirt B league season games. Structural functionalism, cognitive dissonance, and exchange theory were used to explain a probable rationale for biased referee behavior. A T-test revealed a mean of .012, suggesting penalty calls were equalized during squirt level hockey games (age 9 through 10). A logistic regression analysis was incorporated to uncover predictable patterns of penalty calls made by referees based on penalty differential, score difference, and home team lead. Findings indicate that teams with the …

The Wind And The Machine, Rebecca A. Kephart

Master's Theses

A single movement work for concert band, The Wind and The Machine draws upon Charles Ives and Igor Stravinsky for inspiration and formulaic process. Just as Ives uses in his Violin Sonata No. 3, The Wind and The Machine uses cumulative setting, a form that begins with the development of the theme and does not state the theme in full until near the end. Stravinsky's Symphonies of Wind Instruments is used for formulaic and orchestrational ideas. The Wind and The Machine uses a recording made outside during a windy day at a busy intersection to dictate form and from which …

The Art Of Kente: History, Designs, And Drafts, Rhonda D. Crosman

Master's Theses

Kente is a traditional ceremonial strip-woven cloth made by the Asante and Ewe people of Ghana and Togo. This thesis examined the history, patterns, design elements, symbolism, and evolutionary changes of the kente textile tradition. Basic weaving information, illustrations, and color photographs necessary for the understanding of kente were provided. The thesis also analyzed weaving drafts for the creation of kente-like cloth on a contemporary Western style floor loom.

The Deer Island Site (22hr500): Prehistoric Ceramics And Their Meaning On The Mississippi Gulf Coast, Donald Louis Craig

Master's Theses

This thesis involves the analysis of 2,364 surface-collected ceramic rim sherds from the Deer Island site (22HR500), located in the Mississippi Sound near Biloxi, Mississippi. The overall goal of this thesis is to develop a baseline of information that will add to the current knowledge of prehistoric populations on the north Gulf Coast, as well as a starting point for future investigations on Deer Island. This examination of the ceramic assemblage includes ceramic typology, as well as vessel form and usage, to gain understanding of the chronology, site function, and possible interactions with other contemporary Gulf Coast populations through trade …

Energy Harvesting From Elliptical Machines Using Four-Switch Buck-Boost Topology, Alvin Jay Hilario

Master's Theses

This thesis presents the topic of using the Four-Switch Buck-Boost topology as a DC-DC converter for the Energy Harvesting from Elliptical Machines Project. The project works toward providing a modular synchronous power generation system. Due to the dynamic and sporadic output voltage and power characteristics of the Precor elliptical machine, the system requires a DC-DC converter as a voltage preregulator. The inherent wide input range, high efficiency, and low parts cost of this converter well suit the application. This paper further discusses other topologies and their shortcomings, as well as characterizes the Precor elliptical machine and Enphase Microinverter for interfacing. …

Sustainability And The Future: A Case Study On Environmental Perspectives Of The Future Generation Of Scientists, Abby Jane Davidson

Master's Theses

In the natural sciences, countless studies have sought to quantify the environmental impacts of varying anthropogenic activities and have predicted and modeled future scenarios for the natural world under the siege of human forces. Faith for the study of and action to ameliorate environmental impacts is often put in the hands of scientists. However, little research has been conducted to look at the attitudes and perceptions future scientists have towards the environment with regard to anthropogenic environmental impacts, sustainability, and the future. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to take an intensive look at one such group …

Tri-State Boolean Satisfiability With Commit: An Efficient Partial Solution Using Hyperlogic, Kevin Michael Byrd

Master's Theses

We present two implementation enhancements for the Boolean satisfiability problem and one visualization technique. The first is an expansion to a tri-nary logic system with a commit phase. The three states are (1) true, (2) false, and (3) don't care. We abstracted the operations of AND and OR to this hyperlogic system in a novel way. The commit phase works on one variable at a time and transitions values from temporary to permanent whenever possible. We viewed tri-state logic as a hyperspace above the binary (Boolean) logic. The second improvement is algorithmic. We modified the semantics of the classic 3 …

Parental Struggles With Obtaining Services For Children With Special Needs, Regina Lynn Carr

Master's Theses

This thesis is an in-depth review of the literature addressing parental struggles, attitudes, and perceptions of barriers in obtaining services for young children with special needs. Researchers, policy makers, and educators need to be aware of how families identify and report their experiences with obtaining services for their young children. Service providers for young children and families with special needs must understand the perspective of the family in order to better serve the children and families. Implementations for future research, practice, and policy changes are discussed.

Metaphasia: Shelley And The Language Of Remoter Worlds, Michael Andrew Howell

Master's Theses

The aim of this project was to trace the evolution of Percy Shelley's metaphasic narrative, or language of the dead, chronologically through the Hymn to Intellectual Beauty, Mont Blanc, and Prometheus Unbound. Proceeding from Earl Wasserman's detailed map of Shelley's mythopoeic structure, I charted this evolution while identifying a fifth discrete entity within the mythological hierarchy of what Harold Bloom has characterized as a "mythopoeic trilogy" (36). Concurrently, I examined the ongoing debate concerning Shelley's influences, as well as the early formation of his personality, as it pertains to the poems in question, and his fascination with …

The Effect Of The Chemical Composition Of Low Salinity Water On The Growth, Development, And Survival Of Cultured Juvenile Blue Crabs, Dyan Patricia Gibson

Master's Theses

Cultured juvenile blue crabs ( Callinectes sapidus Rathbun) were held for up to 77 days and monitored for survival, growth and development in low salinity water containing various compositions of ions. ~rabs were isolated in separate containers and placed in thirty gallon aquaria containing 2ppt of ion solution. Temperature, ambient, humidity, and nitrite levels were monitored daily. Molts were measured to determine growth, and molt increments were recorded to determine rate of development. The first part of the study compared ratios of sodium chloride (NaCl) to commercial sea salt (SS) in five treatments: 100% NaCl, 100% SS, 25:75 NaCl/SS, 50:50 …

The Last Victorian Knight: A Study Of T.E. Lawrence And The Arab Revolt, Nancy Nicole Nicholls

Master's Theses

Despite the enormous amount ofliterature written about T.E. Lawrence and his exploits in Arabia, he continues to be one of the most mysterious and elusive figures in modern history. Historians have analyzed almost every aspect of Lawrence's life from his early childhood to his death in 1935. Lawrence's upbringing in the late Victorian era shaped his outlook on life as it did for many men of his generation, but Lawrence saw the contradictions of Victorian society and pushed the boundaries of acceptable behavior for men of his class. Lawrence was not a masculine paradigm of the traditional hypermasculine constructs of …

Fraction-Free Methods For Determinants, Deanna Richelle Leggett

Master's Theses

Given a matrix of integers, we wish to compute the determinant using a method that does not introduce fractions. Fraction-Free Triangularization, Bareiss’ Algorithm (based on Sylvester’s Identity) and Dodgson’s Method (based on Jacobi’s Theorem) are three such methods. However, both Bareiss’ Algorithm and Dodgson’s Method encounter division by zero for some matrices. Although there is a well-known workaround for the Bareiss Algorithm that works for all matrices, the workarounds that have been developed for Dodgson’s method are somewhat difficult to apply and still fail to resolve the problem completely. After investigating new workarounds for Dodgson’s Method, we give a modified …