Digital Commons Network^™

The Influence Of Internet Pornography On Heterosexual Male University Students' Attitudes Toward Sexuality, Misty Baker

Masters Theses

The purpose of conducting this study was to explore heterosesexual male, Midwestern university students' attitudes regarding internet pornography. This study explored the use of internet pornography, with a specific focus on: a) the age of first exposure to internet pornography; b) the usage characteristics of internet pornography among heterosexual male university students; c) the sexual attitudes and beliefs toward women among heterosexual male university students;and d)the sexual activity history of heterosexual male university students. A 29-item questionnaire was designed by the researcher to explore exposure to internet pornography, sexual behavior, sexual attitudes, and attitudes toward forced sex. Fifty-five participants completed …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Parental Religiosity And Parent-Adolescent Conflict, Courtney Crane

Masters Theses

While religiosity's influence on family life has been widely examined in studies, little attention has been paid to religiosity's relationships to communication and conflict patterns within the family. The current study examined the relationship between parental religiosity and parent-adolescent conflict. A quantitative, bivariate exploratory survey design was utilized to examine parental religiosity's relationship with parent-adolescent conflict; 28 parents from three religious organizations participated in the study. The results indicated that there is no significant relationship between parental religiosity and quantity of topics discussed with adolescent, indicating parental religiosity does not affect the amount of communication in the parent-adolescent relationship. Parents …

Communication And Authenticity: Transformations Of The Self In The Digital Age, John Dowd

Masters Theses

Through an examination of disembodied forms of communication and technological discourse, this project explores the concepts of authenticity and its implications for communication research. Situated within phenomenological notions of embodiment, authenticity can serve as an important tool for doing rhetorical criticism. It provides an ethical component to criticism that is sorely lacking within many social scientific approaches to the study of human communication, which operate under the guise of objectivity. As authenticity, subjectivity, and embodiment are inescapably connected and as all three provide the foundation for this project, chapter one provides a working definition of each. It is argued that …

Expression And Characterization Of Hyperthermophilic Aqujfex Pyrophilus Flagellin Protein In Mesophilic Bacterial Systems, Srivani V. Mukkamala

Masters Theses

The structural protein flagellin, FlaA derived from hyperthermophilic Aquifex pyrophilus, a rod shaped eubacterial species that grows near hydrothermal vents at an optimum growth temperature of 85 °C forms elongated thermostable flagella nanotubes. FlaA was successfully over-expressed for the first time using pET28c plasmid in E. coli BL21 cells at 37 °C. The protein was isolated from inclusion bodies that were solubilized by alkaline pH, refolded by dialysis and purified by chromatographic techniques. The FlaA was characterized by fluorescence, light scattering and circular dichroism. The FlaA was not in the correct folded form to form flagella as efforts to …

Effects Of Live Music On Pain, Mood, And Exercise Adherence With Rehabilitation Patients, Victoria Storm

Masters Theses

Incorporating music into treatment protocols is a non-pharmacological approach to pain management. Music can aid in mood and motivation, and assists in coordination of movement through rhythmic entrainment. Few studies have looked at the effectiveness of music on pain and mood while actively engaged in exercise. In this study, patients in an inpatient physical rehabilitation facility were provided with rhythmically synchronized music during upper extremities exercises. Self-reported ratings (McGill Pain Questionnaire - Short Form and Feeling Scale) of pain and mood were taken through a pretest post-test between subjects group design. Rate of Perceived Exertion (Borg's RPE) was taken post-test …

Incisal Dental Microwear Of The Prehistoric Point Hope Communities: A Dietary And Cultural Synthesis, Kristin L. Krueger

Masters Theses

The prehistoric coastal communities of Point Hope, Alaska have been considered important Arctic archaeological sites since their initial excavations in 1939. The majority of the archaeological artifacts are grouped into two temporally distinct cultural components, the Ipiutak (2100-1500BP) and the Tigara (800-300BP). Although debated, Arctic archaeologists have suggested that the Ipiutak depended heavily on land mammals with only seasonal reliance on sea mammals, whereas the Tigara relied primarily on sea mammals including whales. While both groups clearly utilized foraging subsistence economies, the contrasts in their food acquisition strategies would have placed different demands on the males and females, particularly with …

Computer Model To Select Leed Certification For Building Projects, Ruba Mirghani Mohammed

Masters Theses

According to the US Green Building Council (USGBC) residential and commercial buildings in the United State consume huge amounts of natural resources; pollute the environment, and generate large amounts of waste, all of which affect the environment, economy, public health, and productivity. As a result, USGBC committees developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system to help professionals improve the quality of buildings and lessen their impact on the environment.

The (LEED) Green Building Rating System is a point-based system for certifying the level of a building's sustainability. There are four LEED certification categories: (1) Certified, (2) …

The Analysis Of Ceramic Symbolism From The First Street Site In Barbados, Aya Hashimoto

Masters Theses

The expression of race and racism in material culture is of increasing interest in historical archaeology ( e.g., Epperson 1990, 1999, 2000; Mullins 1996, 1999). This study investigates 6 ceramic sherds from one vessel associated with a white urban domestic site on First Street, in Holetown Barbados. This vessel conveys a racist message. A black slave in a loincloth serving tea to a white person is transfer printed on the ceramic. The ceramic seems to be an annular designed pearlware from England in the first half of the 19^th century.

By interpreting the meanings of the ceramic decoration, this …

A Quantitative Analysis Of Morphological Changes In Specific Laminae Of The Olfactory Bulb Of Adult Zebrafish Following Peripheral Sensory Deafferentation, Travis L. Devlin

Masters Theses

Permanent removal of the olfactory organ in adult zebrafish has been shown to result in a significant reduction in the total volume of the ipsilateral olfactory bulb. The overall objective of the current project was to investigate the hypothesis that contact between the axons of the olfactory sensory neurons and the olfactory bulb is necessary for the maintenance of the normal post-synaptic organization of the olfactory bulb by quantifying the morphological changes that take place within specific laminae of the olfactory bulb following peripheral deafferentation. Complete, unilateral ablation of the olfactory organ resulted in permanent deafferentation of the ipsilateral olfactory …

"Who Will Cry For The Little Boy?:" An Autoethnographical Analysis Of The Lived Experiences Of An Adopted Person, Timothy R. Terrentine

Masters Theses

What becomes of the little boy who knows well abandonment and pain, yet simultaneously discovers predestinated purpose and unconditional love? This autoethnographical analysis examines the life of an adopted person who has spent his developmental years dealing with specific tensions associated with adoption and all that lie within. Using relational dialectics (Baxter, 1993,2004; Baxter & Montgomery, 1998) and existing adoption research (Carp, 2003; Herman, 2003), the author weaves his story of a history of tensions, a presence of negotiated relationships, and a future of hope with emerging tensions. Through a specific process of discovery and analysis; existing as well as …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Inosamines, Sing Raj Gurung

Masters Theses

This project is concerned with the preparation of scyllo-inosarnine hydrochloride 6, a biologically active compound, which bears six successive stereogenic centers. The synthesis of this compound would help elucidate the involvement of inosamines in biological nitrogen fixation. myo-Inositol served as the starting material to synthesize target compound 6. Regioselective protection and deprotection of myo-inositol provided azide 43 as key intermediate. In the final steps deprotection of five benzyl groups and reduction of azido group was achieved by catalytic hydrogenation. scyllo-Inosamine hydrochloride 6 was fully characterized by m.p., ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, EA and via …

Metabolic And Phenotypic Characterization Of Aerobic Pcb Degrading Bacteria Isolated From Kalamazoo River Sediments, Brenton K. Lehmkuhl

Masters Theses

The Kalamazoo River is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which are neurotoxins and suspected carcinogens. The goal of this study was to isolate, identify, and metabolically characterize PCB degrading strains of aerobic bacteria. Biphenyl enrichments resulted in the isolation of putative PCB degrading strains from different locations along the river. Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis the isolated strains were identified as belonging to the genera of Achromobacter, Acidovorax, Cellulosimicrobium, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas, and Rhodococcus. These strains were screened for their PCB degrading ability and congener specificity. All of the isolated strains degraded PCBs via the 2,3-dioxygenase pathway. The range …

Identification And Characterization Of Cellular Targets Of The Bacterial Cytotoxin Yopt In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Paul David Caccamo

Masters Theses

Human pathogenic Yersinia spp. utilize Type III Secretion to deliver six effector proteins into host cells. The injected proteins resemble eukaryotic signal transduction molecules and are capable of disrupting signaling pathways in order to subvert the functions of the targeted cell or disrupt communication with surrounding cells. As a result, bacterial invaders are not only able to survive the threat of a host immune response, but can thrive despite it. YopT is a cysteine protease that cleaves RhoGTPases, releasing them from the membrane and thus from their role as initiators of signaling pathways, including the nucleation of actin and …

Linear Enamel Hypoplasia And Dental Disease: Implications Of Health And Lifestyle Behaviors Of The Urban Enslaved From Two Burial Grounds In Bridgetown, Barbados, Jennifer Yamazaki

Masters Theses

This project investigates aspects of diet, health, and lifestyles of enslaved Africans of Bridgetown, Barbados during the 17th-19th centuries. The dentition of 10 Pierhead and Fontabelle individuals was examined to provide evidence of stress and coping capacities experienced within the urban context of slavery. Linear enamel hypoplasias (LEH), dental disease, and cultural modifications were noted. The frequencies of the pathologies were calculated and the peak age of stress occurrence for LEH were timed and compared with other New World enslaved populations in order to determine if differences existed in overall health and lifestyle experiences between those enslaved in cities and …

Vertebral Age Estimation: An Examination Of The Seventh Cervical, Seventh Thoracic, And Fourth Lumbar Vertebrae, Holly Hernandez

Masters Theses

This project examines the utility of vertebral osteophyte development to estimate age at death. Skeletal joint degeneration is a common method for estimating individuals' age at death, however studies regarding vertebral degeneration and age estimation are lacking. My study follows the work of Stewart (1958) in comparing stages of osteophytic lipping of vertebral bodies to age at death.

I examined the seventh cervical (C7), seventh thoracic (T7), and fourth lumbar (L4) vertebrae in 100 individuals of known ancestry, sex, and age at death from the Hamann-Todd skeletal collection. Degenerative stages and composite scores were analyzed through descriptive statistics and chi …

The Impact Of A One-Half Day Environmental Education Program On Elementary Students, David C. Pagel

Masters Theses

The hypothesis of this research is that elementary students benefit from the Kalamazoo Nature Center's (KNC) one-half day inquiry program, based upon data collected using a Likert scale instrument. The earth science inquiry program at KNC is intended to enhance student attitude about the natural environment. There are two primary components to the research. First, data were collected through a pre-/post-survey from elementary students who participated in the Kalamazoo Nature Center's one half-day environmental education program. The survey was based on the Test of Science Related Attitudes (Fraser, 1981). Second, data were analyzed to assess student attitudes and beliefs before …

Changes In Microbial Community Structure Of Petroleum Contaminated Sediments Are Reflected In Subsurface Geophysical Signatures, Jonathan P. Allen

Masters Theses

Petroleum contamination of sediments leads to dynamic changes in the subsurface. These include changes in the microbiota as well as in the subsurface geophysical and geochemical properties. Anomalously high conductivity values observed in subsurface zones contaminated with light non aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) have been suggested to be the result of microbial activity. Therefore, we investigated the interdependence between geoelectrical signatures and microbial community structure in petroleum contaminated field sediments and laboratory column experiments. Spatial and temporal changes in electrical conductivity of the subsurface paralleled changes in microbial community composition, with the highest conductivity values concomitant with specific anaerobic hydrocarbon-degrading …

The Self-Perceived Leadership Characteristics Of Female Producers, Teresa A. Becker

Masters Theses

Through the implementation of the transformational leadership theory and selfconstructed metaphors this study seeks to understand the self-perceived leadership characteristics of female producers. By means of qualitative analysis, the leadership characteristics of twelve female producers have been subjectively and objectively analyzed. A survey constructed using the transformational leadership characteristics found by Bemard Bass, the characteristics of groundbreaking women found by Barbara Polnick et al., as well as the emotional intelligence leadership characteristics presented by David Goleman et al., was electronically distributed to twelve women from six different television news and entertainment stations in the United States, Canada, and England. The …

Audience Interpersonal Identification With The Television Series Friends As It Is Reflected In Avid Viewers Within The Twixter Life Stage, Renee Ruth Peckham

Masters Theses

Twixter is a term, popularized by Time magazine, to define what sociologists classify as individuals in their mid to late twenties who are finding themselves "betwixt and between" adolescence and adulthood (Grossman, 2005). Researchers Cote and Allahar (1996), Bennett (1994), and Buchmann (1989) have identified mass media as a key contributor to this new transitional life stage, specifically discussing the influential potential of television. As individuals identify with various televised content, fictional characters establish role models that individuals then emulate. The series Friends, in particular, portrayed this Twixter life stage. This thesis addresses Kelman's (1961) theory of identification as it …

Predicting Distribution, Habitat Suitability And The Potential Loss Of Habitat For Sitta Formosa, The Beautiful Nuthatch, Jill C. Witt

Masters Theses

The beautiful nuthatch, Sitta formosa, occurs in high-altitude evergreen and semi-evergreen forests throughout the south and southeastern extent of the Himalayan Mountains. Populations of S. formosa are small, declining and severely fragmented as a result of habitat degradation and fragmentation, and therefore it is considered vulnerable by the World Conservation Union and is included in the 2004 Red List of Threatened Species. I used ecological niche factor analysis to model the potential distribution and predict suitable habitat for S. formosa. By using 59 presence locations, collected from museum specimens and biodiversity surveys, and together with topographic and …

Efficacy Of Therapeutic Listening Intervention On Auditory Processing/Attention In Children Ages 3-11, Casey James Pawell

Masters Theses

A study was conducted to determine the effect Therapeutic Listening® intervention has on auditory attention in children when used in conjunction with sensory integration therapy. Single subject experimentation took place with three participants over a ten week period of time. Pre-test and post-test results on standardized tests were compared as well as graphical representation of change during the intervention phase of this study to determine effect. Positive intervention results were concluded when graphical and test changes were compared. Therapeutic Listening® has noted positive change in auditory attention and completion of verbal tasks in children between the ages of 3 and …

A Market Analysis Of Consumer Behavior For Companies In A Self-Insurance Group, Bismarck J. Manes

Masters Theses

This study examined variables that influenced the purchase of costly safety equipment by small business owners. Participants were 21 members of a self-insurance group (SIG) comprised of auto recyclers. Eight sets of variables were examined: (a) marketing tools (video, graphic safety data, and price discount), (b) business demographics, (c) worker’s compensation history, (d) personal history, (e) available technology, (f) safety management practices, (g) safety products purchased in the past, and (h) interest in safety services provided by the SIG. Purchasers (N=7) and nonpurchasers (N=14) were divided into groups, and independent t-tests were calculated for each variable. Only one of 45 …

Analysis Of Factors Affecting Zebra Mussel (Dreissena Polymorpha) Abundance In Gull Lake, Michigan, Ryan P. Miller

Masters Theses

Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) proliferation has become a serious problem in the Great Lakes Basin. This study uses bathymetry, vegetation distribution, and substratum data to assess their relationship with zebra mussel measurements in Gull Lake, Michigan. Different statistical tests were performed in order to investigate the relationship between the variables and to infer any significance among the variables in relation to zebra mussel abundance. Dreissena polymorpha data include 16 sites on Gull Lake, collected in July of 1999. Vegetation, substratum, and bathymetric datasets were obtained and analyzed by using Geographic Information Science (GIS) techniques.

Analysis of variance (ANOVA) …

The Relationship Between Creativity Style And Music Career In University Music Students, David A. Zmudka

Masters Theses

This study investigated the relationship between creativity style and choice of musical career among university students. Data was collected from 74 students enrolled in one of four majors in music; music education, music therapy, instrumental performance and jazz performance, as assessed by View: An Assessment of problem solving style, which included 34 items defining problem-solving style across three dimensions including Orientation to Change (OC), Manner of Processing (MP), and Ways of Deciding (WD) scales. Subjects also provided demographic information concerning their declared major, preferred musical career, and level of education. Significant differences were found between the four groups on …

Traffic Grooming, Routing, And Wavelength Assignment In Wdm Transport Networks With Sparse Grooming Resources, Osama Awwad

Masters Theses

While a single fiber strand in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) has over a terabit-per-second bandwidth and a wavelength channel has over a gigabit-persecond transmission speed, the network may still be required to support traffic requests at rates that are lower than the full wavelength capacity. To avoid assigning an entire lightpath to a small request, many researchers have looked at adding traffic grooming to the routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) problem. In this work, we consider the RWA problem with traffic grooming (GRWA) for mesh networks under static and dynamic lightpath connection requests. The GRWA problem is NPComplete since it …

Quantifying Impacts Of White-Tailed Deer On Woodland Plant Communities, Brent E. Wachholder

Masters Theses

High population densities of white-tailed deer are changing woodland plant communities in the eastern United States. Deer populations subjectively characterized as overabundant are widely perceived as a threat to forest succession and conservation of rare plant species. I conducted a survey of 11 deer exclosures located at 7 sites through the state of Illinois in order to 1) determine the broad effects of deer at various densities on community attributes and 2) attempt to quantify the population density at which deer are overabundant, i.e., have negative effects on a) community attributes such as richness and diversity and b) survival of …

The Response Of Macroinvertebrate Communities To Habitat Fragmentation, Ross W. Widinski

Masters Theses

Aquatic fragmentation may be characterized as a lack of connectivity between upstream and downstream populations or sites (Page et al. 1997). Fragmentation in stream ecosystems occurs when changes in the surrounding landscape (loss/modification of riparian zone vegetation) render the in-stream habitats unsuitable for aquatic organisms. Additionally, Page et al. (1997) suggest that organisms also can be impacted or fragmented by in-stream modifications (dams, bridges) that further eliminate usable aquatic habitat and prevent movement through the aquatic system.

Intact riparian zones are of utmost importance in maintaining a healthy aquatic environment. Riparian zones with abundant vegetative cover serve to shade the …

Spectroscopic Investigation Of Metal-Substitution Of Cytochrome C, Deepthi Kandi

Masters Theses

We study, by absorbance spectroscopy, the incorporation of various metal ions (Cu²+ and Zn2*) into metal-free porphyrin cytochrome c (H₂cyt) as well as the various conformational forms of metal-substituted cytochromes. The H2cyt and desired metalsubstituted cytochromes have significantly different absorption spectra, providing a simple means of monitoring the incorporation of Cu²* or Zn2* into the empty porphyrin prosthetic group. The rates of metal-ion incorporation were studied under protein denaturating conditions using chemical denaturants, like urea and guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCI), and temperature that partially and completely unfold H2cyt, facilitating the incorporation of a metal ion. Moreover, the structural stability of copper …

The Study Of Carbon Acylation Of Highly Delocalized Enolates Using Catalytic Dmap On 3-Phenyl Benzofuranone Derivatives, Xiguang Zhao

Masters Theses

Benzofuranones along with their derivatives compose a diverse array of natural products and drugs, and show a wide variety of biological effects. Several synthetic methods have been published that describe the preparation of 2-(3H)-benzofuranones having mono alkyl or aryl substituents attached to the fused furanone ring with moderate to high yields. To date, reports describing the preparation of disubstituted 2-(3H)-benzofuranones, especially with one acyl group, are rare. Early approaches are limited by low yields, economical expenditure and environmental risk.

Direct acylation of benzofuranones consistently provides O-acylated isomers rather than C-acylated isomers, which are desired products in the great majority of …

Components Of Academic Motivation: A Multidimensional Overview Of Millennial Female Students At Eastern Illinois University, Karen Huseman

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present study was to examine the components of academic motivation among millennial female college students. More specifically, the purpose was to assess multiple factors that contribute to academic motivation among African American and European American millennial college women. The participants for the present study were selected from the female population at a mid-sized state-supported institution located in the Midwest.

Results from the study include that both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards helped to jump-start academic motivation. The role of family support was highly valued in the women's desire to achieve and personal self-confidence and support from others …