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Identification And Characterization Of Zinc-Responsive Genes In Pseudomonas Fluorescens, Thomas L. Wilson

Masters Theses

Genes responsive to elevated concentrations of zinc were identified via transposon mutagenesis in the common soil bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC13525. Some of these genes were essential to maintain metal homeostasis in the bacterial cell. DNA sequences of the transposon-tagged genes were determined by DNA sequencing of arbitrary PCR products. DNA sequence analysis indicated that one gene was similar to P-type ATPases responsible for transporting metal ions out of the cell. The corresponding mutant was sensitive to zinc, cadmium, and lead indicating that this gene may be responsible for defending Pseudomonas fluorescens against these metal ions. Four zinc-induced genes shared similarity …

Allosteric Tuning Of Ruthenium 2,2’-Bipyridyl Luminescent Sensor Systems, Daqing Gan

Masters Theses

A series of new ruthenium bipyridyl crown supramolecular sensor systems containing two binding sites were synthesized. The crystal structure and photophysical properties of the developed sensor systems were thoroughly studied using x-ray, nuclear magnetic resonance and photoscopy methods. It turned out that the chelation of transition metal on the remote sites of the bipyridyl crown ligands greatly reduced the reactivity of the crown cavity. It is believed that the chelation of transition metal on the nitrogen atoms forces the bipyridyl function towards coplanarity and restricts the conformational freedom of the crown ring. The conformational rigidity in turn influences the binding …

Cadmium Induced Gene Expression And Signal Transduction Pathway, Daisuke Maki

Masters Theses

Cells respond to cadmium (Cd), a common environmental contaminate, by potentially decreasing reduced intracellular glutathione, as well as, increasing the expression of several antioxidant genes. One of these antioxidant genes, glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), is the rate limiting enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway. This pathway produces NADPH which is used for maintenance of reduced glutathione so, it is hypothesized that Cd should increase G6PDH expression. In this study, we demonstrate that Cd increases the level of G6PDH mRNA in primary rat hepatocytes in culture. In the presence of the antioxidants, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), Trolox, or glutathione monoethyl ester an attenuation …

Role Of Dopamine D4 Receptor In The Genomic And Behavioral Effects Of Psychostimulants: Relevance To Schizophrenia, Bina Garimella

Masters Theses

The role of dopamine D4 receptors in the induction and expression of behavioral sensitization to amphetamine, cocaine and PCP was investigated in this study. Behavioral changes and genomic responses accompanying sensitization were examined using a highly selective D4 receptor antagonist, PNU-101387G. Induction and expression of behavioral sensitization to cocaine was blocked by PNU-101387G. However, the D4 antagonist did not modulate the induction and expression of behavioral sensitization to PCP. Neuroadaptive genomic responses accompanying acute and chronic effects of amphetamine and their modulation by PNU-101387G was examined by looking at alterations in the expression of two immediate-early genes: c-fos and NGFI-A. …

Professional Expertise Of Community-Based Occupational Therapists, Lori Ann Madaus Lemorie

Masters Theses

Occupational therapists are increasingly practicing in community-based settings. Due to changes in the health care system, the need for defining roles, and explaining what a profession can contribute to health care has been highlighted. The major goal of this study was to identify job roles, job skills, and professional expertise of community-based therapists. The Community Practice Project survey was mailed to 200 AOTA registered community-based therapists. A response rate of 42% was achieved. The results provided a profile of the typical community-based therapist. Principal roles, job skills, and areas of professional expertise were also identified. The adequacy of educational preparation …

The Utilization Of Spirituality In Occupational Therapy: Beliefs, Practices, And Barriers, Jennifer S. Collins

Masters Theses

Spirituality has become an increasingly important topic in healthcare and specifically in occupational therapy. Previous studies of spirituality in occupational therapy indicated that while therapists believed spirituality was important to health and rehabilitation potential, few therapists reported incorporating spirituality into treatment (Engquist, Short-DeGraff, Gliner, & Oltjenbruns, 1997; Howe, 1996; Rose, 1999). This study utilized a survey design to examine occupational therapists' current beliefs and practices regarding spirituality, as well as asking therapists to identify barriers to the use of spirituality in treatment.

The results of this study indicate that beliefs and practices regarding spirituality in occupational therapy may be changing. …

Reconsidering The Auricular Surface As An Indicator Of Age At Death, Daniel Osborne

Masters Theses

Using standards established by Lovejoy et al. (1985) to score and estimate age at death from auricular surface morphology, the auricular surfaces of 266 individuals of documented age from two different skeletal collections (Terry and Bass Donated Collections) were examined. The age, sex and race of the individuals used in the study were unknown to the investigator during analysis. This study supports the claim proposed in the original study that auricular surface morphology is unaffected by an individual's sex or race. However, this study indicates that auricular surface morphology does not change as regularly with age as was originally proposed. …

Determinants Of Health Promoting Behaviors In Older Adults, Kay Wallace

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between Health Locus of Control, selected demographic variables, and the Health Promoting Behaviors of Physical Activity and Nutrition in older persons. Pender’s (1996) Health Promotion Model (HPM) was used as the conceptual framework to guide this study.

The sample consisted of 48 subjects, aged 65 years and older, who resided in senior living centers. The subjects were predominantly Caucasian (94%) and female (81%). Research instruments were self-administered questionnaires that consisted of demographic data, the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II, and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale.

No significant relationships between …

The Role Of Nf-Кb Activation In Breast Carcinoma And Glioblastoma Cell Lines, Kelly T. Murphy

Masters Theses

The nuclear factor-КB (NF-КB)/Rel family of inducible dimeric transcription factors regulates numerous genes associated with the immune, mitogenic, and apoptotic responses. Investigations were made into the role of NF-КB in breast carcinoma (MCF-7, T47D, MDA-MB-231) and glioblastoma (U87MG, U373MG, Ul 18MG) cell lines. NF-КB binding to DNA was quantified using both gel mobility shift assays and transient transfections of a vector containing a luciferase gene under the control of 4 tandem copies of the NF-КB binding sequence. To determine the correlation between NF-КB activation, cellular proliferation, and foci formation, the tumor cells were cultured and analyzed in the presence of …

Isolation And Characterization Of A Genetic Locus That Confers Tolerance To Cadmium And Zinc In Pseudomonas Fluorescens, Szi Fei Feng

Masters Theses

This thesis describes the isolation and characterization of a region containing several genes involved in metal tolerance in the common soil bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 13525. The DNA region was identified in a cadmium and zinc sensitive mutant, 45-B10, which contains a lacZ-based reporter gene transposon Tn5-B20 inserted in the chromosome. The DNA surrounding the transposon was cloned from this mutant strain and DNA sequencing of this region revealed seven genes that share similarity with genes whose products are involved in the cation-proton antiporter efflux system of other Gram-negative bacteria. Complete DNA sequence was obtained from four of these …

Reaction Of Caffeic Acid With Amino Acids, Yonggang Wang

Masters Theses

The reaction of caffeic acid with tryptophan was studied as a model for the reaction of caffeic acid with amino acids in the aquatic environment. Although the autoxidation reaction of caffeic acid in aqueous solution with subsequent dimerization had been previously studied, it was examined as well for comparison purposes. The present studies demonstrate that oxidized caffeic acid would react with tryptophan. The reaction, like the dimerization reaction, was catalyzed by the presence of iron(III) ions at low pH ( <4) and by hydroxide ions at high pH (10). The reaction of caffeic acid with itself yielded six products, four of which were identified by mass spectroscopy as dimers, with the other two being trimers. The reaction of caffeic acid with tryptophan yielded three product peaks. Two of the product peaks had similar retention times to the dimers from the self-reaction of caffeic acid; the third was a new product resulting from the reaction of caffeic acid with the tryptophan.

A mechanism for the reaction of caffeic acid with tryptophan has been proposed. This mechanism was based on the analysis …

Toward A Provident Working Class: French And English Social Reform Rhetoric, 1880-1914, James R. Gavan

Masters Theses

This research examines the rhetoric of belle epoque English and French middle class social observers. Addressing the "social question," they engaged in a debate on how best to appease an impoverished, alienated, and increasingly militant working class. Historians cite this discourse, and the meager legislation it fostered, as a transition from the unbridled nineteenth century laissez-faire to the welfare democracy characteristic of the twentieth century.

Central to the "social question" was the issue of improving social relations without altering existing class hierarchies (which favored the middle classes). Many social commentators shunned the passage of legislative safety nets in favor of …

Relationships Between Land Cover Change And Breeding Birds In Kalamazoo County, Michigan, Daniel Mark Hoffman

Masters Theses

Effective conservation planning of breeding birds requires knowledge of responses to landscape change and pattern. This study analyzed associations between land cover type and change among three ecological groups, forest birds, shrubland birds, and grassland birds using Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data for Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Land cover maps for the years 1974 and 1996 were produced to assess land cover changes for BBS data from the period 1970-1996. The Pearson coefficient of correlation was used to correlate land cover type percent within BBS radii and the total birds of a bird group observed within each radius. Conclusions of the …

Proposition 48: Knowledge, Attitude And Appreciation In High School Student-Athletes, Robin Salters

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge, attitude, and appreciation of high school student-athletes toward National Collegiate Athletics Association bylaw 14.3, commonly known as Proposition 48. The subjects completed a questionnaire inquiring about their knowledge of Proposition 48 as well as knowledge of its qualifying criteria. Those subjects that acknowledged having heard of the bylaw were then asked questions pertaining to their attitude towards Proposition 48 as a standard for intercollegiate athletics eligibility and the effect of their knowledge of Proposition 48 on their study habits in preparing for the pressures of being an intercollegiate athlete.

The …

Effects Of Elevated Carbon Dioxide And Nitrogen Fixation On A Legume-Based System: A Test With Soybean And The Soybean Looper, Pseudoplusia Includens, Angela M. Spickard

Masters Theses

Wild-type and non-nodulated soybean were grown at 367 ± 10 ppm [ambient] and 756 ± 10 ppm [elevated] CO₂ to determine whether nitrogen fixation could minimize the effects of elevated CO₂ on plant nutritional and defensive chemistry. Relative to non-nodulated soybean, wild-type soybean had higher concentrations of leaf nitrogen and proteinase inhibitors, as well as lower C:N ratios and lower phenolics. Elevated CO₂ resulted in decreased leaf nitrogen and proteinase inhibitor contents, and increased C:N ratios and phenolics in both soybean strains. Constitutive levels of phenolics and proteinase inhibitors occurred as predicted by the Carbon/Nutrient Balance hypothesis …

Assessment Of Methylphenidate Sensitization Using A Two-Lever Drug Discrimination Procedure, Ann Marie Heidema

Masters Theses

The current study examined the effects of methylphenidate (MP) pre-exposure on the acquisition of cocaine discrimination in rats. Sixteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered either 10 mg/kg MP or saline for five consecutive days. Following this pre-treatment phase, animals were trained to discriminate 10 mg/kg cocaine-hydrochloride from saline using a two-lever fixed-ratio 20 (FR20) schedule of food reinforcement. Acquisition of cocaine discrimination, as indicated by the number of sessions to criterion, did not differ significantly between the two-pre-treatment groups (MP = 35.5 ± 2.4; SAL = 31.6 ± 2.3). Stimulus generalization tests were conducted with cocaine and methylphenidate using cumulative …

Photodegradation Of Pcbs In Natural Waters, Adriana R. Nicolaescu

Masters Theses

PCBs are widely distributed in the environment and they are biologically refractory and toxic compounds. There is great interest in understanding their fate in the environment, and also for finding safe and effective degradation methods.

This study is concerned with the photodegradation of four PCB congeners: PCB 5, PCB 18, PCB 77, PCB 128 in natural waters. Natural waters contain humic substances which can greatly influence the environmental fate of the PCBs. The different degradation of the four congeners was studied in standardized systems and in humic acid or nitrate solutions, under environmental conditions. DMDE and Methoxyclor (whose environmental half-lifetimes …

Target-And Stage-Dependent Influences On Axonal Outgrowth Of An Identified Motorneuron In Leech Cns Explants, April Crowley

Masters Theses

The neural circuit that controls rhythmic contraction of the hearts in the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, provides an amenable model to investigate pathfinding and target selection. The bilaterally paired heart tubes (HT) in leech are eventually innervated by the heart excitor motomeuron (HE) following a period of remodeling that requires the presence of the HT. To begin characterizing possible HT-derived cues, co-cultures of CNS with innervated HT have been used. Previous work demonstrated that young, but not adult, HT was able to support profuse general outgrowth, but the HE extended few projections onto HT of any age. Current studies …

Environmental Sociology: An Analysis Of Trends, Gregory M. Fulkerson

Masters Theses

This thesis describes the current status of environmental sociology, and presents an invitation to the reader to engage in the topic of the environment. It begins with a review of the literature, focusing on the origins of sociology and the theory of ecology, and presents the framework for the content analysis. The content analysis investigates the content and number of environmental sociology articles in mainstream sociological journals. In addition to the articles themselves, it analyzes the schools and authors of these articles. This analysis is supplemented with an analysis of environmental journals, enumerating the total number of environmental journals in …

The Effect Of Predator Chemical Cues And Conspecific Alarm Signals Upon Behavior In Early And Late Developmental Stages Of American Toad (Bufo Americanus) Tadpoles, Carol Lynette Johnson

Masters Theses

The chemosensory capability and subsequent habitat choice of larval American toad (Bufo americanus) tadpoles were quantified using choice of refuge with both early and late developmental stages. Treatments were performed with two tadpole densities to ascertain the effect of social aggregations upon behavior. Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and predaceous diving beetle larvae (Dytiscus sp.) predators were used to condition water. Conspecific tadpoles as well as Southern leopard frog (Rana sphenocephala) tadpoles were used to prepare treatment extracts.

Tadpole density (n=10 and n=20) had no significant effect upon the percentage of tadpoles seeking cover …

A Component Analysis Of Nondirective Play Therapy, Jane E. Wilson

Masters Theses

We evaluated the effects of nondirective play therapy on the inappropriate play of three developmentally normal children with conduct problems . Specifically, we examined the effects of attention (contingent vs noncontingent) and the play environment (enriched vs impoverished) using a reversal design. Our goal was to isolate one of these two variables as the primary effective component of nondirective play therapy for a particular child. For two subjects, attention remained contingent upon inappropriate play across conditions and the play environment was manipulated. Inappropriate play increased for one of these participants in an impoverished environment. For the third participant, an actual …

Male Sexual Behavior: Revisiting The Eiu Sexual Experience Survey And Report, Justin W. Freeman

Masters Theses

The EIU Sexual Experiences Survey of 1989 was given to 1693 Eastern undergraduate students in order to determine the incidence rate of sexual assault on campus. The survey report consisted of descriptive findings only, leaving future correlational research to answer any questions that remained. This study designated 664 male survey respondents with the Illinois legal classification system, and analyzed the demographics of the men surveyed to find any correlational relationships. No meaningful correlational relationships were found across the conditions of perpetrator and non-perpetrator for the male survey respondents.

Effects Of Apolipoprotein E On Neurite Outgrowth From Adult Mice Cortical Neurons, Yanwen Jiang

Masters Theses

Apolipoprotein (apo) E4, one of the three common isoforms of apoE, has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The mechanism whereby apoE4 leads to the pathogenesis of AD is unknown. In the present study, I examined the effects of apoE on neurite outgrowth from adult mice cortical neurons (AMC) in culture. I found that neurite outgrowth from AMC neurons derived from apoE deficient/apoE gene knockout (apoE KO) mice is significantly shorter than that from age-, sex-, and strain-matched wild-type control mice. Furthermore, I present evidence for the differential effects of two isoforms of human apoE, apoE3 and apoE4, on neurite …

Does Creatine Supplementation Increase Muscle Strength In Women?, Tricia Cross

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to see if creatine supplementation increased muscular strength in women. Ten females were assigned to either a creatine (CG) or a placebo (PG) group with five subjects in each. The study lasted five weeks with one week of pre-testing, three weeks of creatine use which included one week of loading (12-13 g/day for seven days) and two weeks of maintenance (3-4 g/day for 14 days), and one week of post testing. Pre- and post-test strength were measured with a one repetition maximal lift (1RM) on the bench press and the leg press. All subjects …

Patterns And Implications Of Aberrant Singing Behaviors Of Black-Capped (Poecile Atricapillus) And Carolina (Poecile Carolinensis) Chickadees In Illinois, Patrick Caesar Enstrom

Masters Theses

I studied the singing behavior of the closely related Black-capped (Poecile atricapillus) and Carolina (Poecile carolinensis) Chickadees along their range interface in central Illinois. These sibling species are parapatrically distributed from the Appalachians through the Midwest to Kansas. Where their ranges do overlap, small hybrid zones form and chickadees in these areas frequently sing aberrant songs. The majority of the songs studied were recorded 17 April-16 July 1999 in fifteen counties throughout central Illinois. I measured 8 frequency and duration characteristics of the first two notes of songs that began with two whistled notes. The averages of these characteristics …

African American Poets Of The Vietnam War, Megan Guernsey

Masters Theses

Almost 6000 African American men gave their lives in the Vietnam War. While peaceful protests, voter registration drives, and racial confrontations occurred throughout the United States, the government continued to send young Black men to Southeast Asia to preserve the "freedom" of the Vietnamese people. The irony of this situation lies in the fact that these soldiers were asked to fight a War in the name of democracy, to kill in order to secure rights that they themselves were being denied. Although many Black Americans saw military service as a means of escaping poor ghetto life, they often were confronted …

The Noble Survivor And The Sublime Victim: A Study Of Two Hardy Heroines, Elizabeth-Jane And Tess, Wei Gao

Masters Theses

In his novel-writing career, Thomas Hardy created a host of female characters struggling to survive in nineteenth-century England. Whether center stage or in the background, these women embody Hardy's insights into the conditions of the female sex--their frailties, strength, miseries, dreams, and finally, their destinies. Throughout his career as a novelist, Hardy's representation of women has not been consistent. His earlier heroines--heroines in the novels preceding The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886)--are generally depicted as faulty characters eventually subdued or destroyed. In contrast, the later heroines are portrayed with increasing emphasis on their intellectual or mental traits and moral superiority. This …

Current Trends In Psychological Testing, Kimberle L. S. Crawford

Masters Theses

Discussions about the adequacy of psychological measurement and assessment can quickly become controversial therefore; I expect some strong reaction to portions of this manuscript. Debates about the usefulness of criticism of psychological testing are longstanding: Even early psychologists such as Cattell and Jastrow disagreed on this issue. To be clear, I do not believe that use of contemporary tests should cease. I share the view that "psychological tests often provide the fairest and most accurate method of making important decisions" (K. R. Murphy & Davidshoffer, 1988, p. xii).

My first purpose, then, is to provide a historical survey of relevant …

Aggressive Communication, Parental Communication, And Sibling Communication, Kristi K. Eustice

Masters Theses

The family is often seen as the center of instruction for children and the base for learning communication patterns. Aggressive communication is often seen in the family, especially as a parenting method. In this thesis, the current state of available literature on aggressive communication in the family is examined. This includes parenting styles, communication relationships between one parent and one child, and the negative effects verbal aggressive communication has on children. A t-test is used to research the responses of 100 students who have verbally aggressive parents. At 2.59, the t-test supports the hypothesis that parenting communication styles concerning aggressiveness …

Impacts Of White-Tailed Deer Grazing On Spring Wildflower Communities, Faye Frankland

Masters Theses

High deer densities on state forests and nature preserves throughout Illinois have prompted concerns that deer are impacting the growth, survival, and reproduction of spring-flowering herbaceous plants. I investigated the impacts of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on the herbaceous vegetation, particularly spring wildflowers, at Beall Woods Nature Preserve (BWNP). BWNP was selected as the site for this study because it supports a diverse community of spring wildflowers and a large deer population. The objectives for this study were to: (1) quantify the extent of deer foraging on representative spring-flowering plant species at Beall Woods Nature Preserve, (2) investigate the effects …