Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Nutrition On Cognitive Performance In Young Versus Elderly Community-Living Adults, Brian Vanfossen

Theses and Dissertations

Several variables such as verbal ability, age, gender, level of depression and vitamin B12 deficiency have been found to moderate memory performance on cognitive tasks. The current study examined the above variables, plus also looked at levels of magnesium and zinc for their probable moderating effect on memory performance. Examined were 38 adults: 27 younger (between 21-35 years) and 11 oider (between 60-85 years), to identify those factors that moderated memory performance for this community-dwelling sample. The results of the current study replicated previous work reported in the literature that examined age-related changes in prose recall, word list recall and …

Making A Difference, Making Connections: Perspectives Of College Faculty And Practitioners Leading A Service Experience Abroad, Wanda Berg

Theses and Dissertations

The Asociacion Nuestros Ahijados or the GOD'S CHILD Project, is a service organization founded in 1991 by a North Dakota native to help Guatemalan children who were poor or abandoned. The Project focuses on health, education and human rights for children in Guatemala. The University of Mary is a small Catholic Benedictine college in North Dakota. Currently, educators from the University of Mary travel with groups of students to provide services in Guatemala, in collaboration with the GOD'S CHILD Project. The purpose of this qualitative study was to learn about aspects of culture, spirituality, and leadership as it relates to …

Genetic Considerations For The Conservation And Management Of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus Clarkii Bouvieri) In Yellowstone National Park, David J. Janetski

Theses and Dissertations

A key component to conservation is an accurate understanding of genetic subdivision within a species. Despite their ecological and economic importance, relatively little is understood about the genetic structuring of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Yellowstone National Park. Here, we use traditional (Fst, Rst, Nm, and AMOVA) and modern (Bayesian assignment tests, coalescent theory, and nested clade analysis) analytical approaches to describe the population genetic subdivision of cutthroat trout spawning populations in Yellowstone Lake and to identify genetically distinct population segments throughout Yellowstone National Park. Evidence for restricted gene flow between spawning populations within Yellowstone Lake was detected using nested clade …

Attitudes And Perceptions Regarding Hypnosis Of North Dakota Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Michelle L. Resler

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to identify North Dakota certified registered nurse anesthetists’ (CRNAs) attitudes and perceptions of hypnosis and if they believe it would be realistic to use hypnosis in the surgical setting. A voluntary descriptive, cross sectional study design was used to obtain accurate and current information. The population of the study consisted of all the North Dakota CRNAs, who v/ere 2005-2006 members of the NDANA (North Dakota Association of Nurse Anesthetists); more than 90% of North Dakota CRNAs are members of NDANA. A current list of NDANA CRNAs was obtained (N=182). All current members were invited …

Predicting Maize Yield, Nutrient Concentration And Uptake In P And K Fertilized Soils: Pressurized Hot Water And Other Alternatives To Mehlich I Extraction In Guatemala Soils, Heather Mae Hunsaker

Theses and Dissertations

The inaccessibility and cost of soil testing reduce effectiveness of fertilizer use on small-scale subsistence farms, and inadequate funding promotes adoption of soil tests in developing countries with minimal validation. For example, Mehlich-I extraction of phosphorus (P) currently used extensively in Guatemala may not be suitable for its broad range of soils. At least four alternatives are available but are relatively untested [Bray 1, Mehlich III, Olsen and pressurized hot water (PHW)]. Pressurized hot water is relatively simple and inexpensive, but is not yet tested against other extraction methods under variable P or potassium (K) fertilization levels. To determine whether …

The Use Of An Interactive Online Tutorial For Camera Operators At Byu Broadcasting, Andrew D. Schmidt

Theses and Dissertations

This report describes the purpose, analysis, design, development, and evaluation of a web-based tutorial to train student television camera operators for BYU Broadcasting at Brigham Young University. The report includes the results from audience and needs analyses, the rationale for the instructional approach, reviews of existing instructional materials, and reviews of instructional theory and practice literature. It also describes multiple evaluation activities for the tutorial and a critique of the project. The audience and needs analyses found that an interactive, web-based tutorial would be an appropriate delivery method for the instruction. The instructional literature review supports the project's instructional and …

Implementation Of A Life-Skill Centered Token Economy: The Experience Of A Peer Teacher, Joseph Fredrick Bellak

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how a peer teacher implemented, evaluated, and modified a life-skill centered token economy (LSCTE) model. The LSCTE is a hybrid of various components of token economy models that I have researched and observed. It is a classroom management model designed to help students participate in various roles/jobs that prepare them for community involvement and employment by giving them simulated experiences within a micro-society in the classroom. A peer teacher volunteered to implement the LSCTE. The findings demonstrated the participant's success with teaching children responsibility and accountability. Some of the benefits of the model reported by the …

Eating Disorder Risk In Subgroups Of College Freshman Women, Karen E. Gochnour

Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this study was to identify subgroups within the college population having a heightened risk for eating disorders. The information for this analysis was retrieved from an existing data set. The two variables that were compared were self selection of college major at the initial collection during freshman year. The sample size of 1,924 was used to see if subgroups of college majors had a heightened risk. Twenty groups composed of similar majors were studied. The majors of Dance, Dietetics, Physical Education, and Communications had heightened risk according to analysis percentage of each group in the clinical range …

Identification, Sequencing, Expression And Evolutionary Relationships Of The 11s Seed Storage Protein Gene In Chenopodium Quinoa Willd., Marie Renee Barrett Balzotti

Theses and Dissertations

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is an Andean crop adapted to harsh environmental conditions and containing a high and well-balanced protein composition. Two seed storage proteins, the 2S albumin and 11S globulin, are the major amino acid reservoirs for the developing seedling. An in-depth study of the genes encoding these proteins is necessary to understand the source of quinoa's protein quality. Our objectives include identification and sequencing of the 11S genomic and cDNA clones, analysis of 11S expression profiles in different quinoa accessions and evaluation of evolutionary relationships between the sequence of the 11S gene in quinoa and homologous genes in other …

Simple Sequence Repeat Development, Polymorphism And Genetic Mapping In Quinoa (Chenopodium Quinoa Willd.), David Jarvis

Theses and Dissertations

Quinoa is an important, highly nutritional grain crop in the Andean region of South America. DNA markers and linkage maps are important tools for the improvement of underdeveloped crops such as quinoa. The objectives of this study were to (i) develop a new set of SSR markers to augment the number of SSR markers available in quinoa, and (ii) construct a new genetic linkage map of quinoa based on SSRs using multiple recombinant-inbred line (RIL) populations. Here we report the development of 216 new polymorphic SSR markers from libraries enriched for GA, CAA, and AAT repeats, as well as 6 …

The Memory Of The Body And Other Stories, Ryan Craig Shoemaker

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a collection of short stories written over the years 2002 to 2006. The short story is a genre that requires brevity. The short story writer, instead of treating the totality of human life, is forever, as Frank O'Connor suggests, selecting the point at which he can approach it. For this reason, unlike the novel, there is very little dallying in the short story. The short story writer, as the form requires, must make his world believable and coherent with only a minimum of words. Based on the experience of the actual author, the short story, like all …

Sequence Analysis Of Pmel17 As Candidate Gene For Causing Rat-Tail Syndrome In Cattle, Benjamin C. Hecht

Theses and Dissertations

Congenital hypotrichosis in cattle is commonly referred to as "rat-tail" syndrome and is characterized by a dilution of black coat color and morphological changes to the hair shaft and tail switch. Two loci are involved in the inheritance of the rat-tail phenotype, the "extension locus" (MC1R) and an unknown locus. In order to express the rat-tail phenotype the animal must inherit at least one black allele at MC1R and be heterozygous at the unknown locus. The rat-tail locus was previously mapped to an 8.7 cM region of Bos Taurus autosome (BTA) 5. Pmel17 is known to be involved in the …

An Awakened Sense Of Place: Thoreauvian Patterns In Willa Cather's Fiction, Breanne Grover

Theses and Dissertations

The recent "greening" of Willa Cather Scholarship has initiated new conversations about Cather's use of and dependence on landscape in her fiction. Scholars have frequently noted Cather's reliance on landscape imagery, but this thesis suggests parallels between Cather's and Henry David Thoreau's use of awakening imagery and examines how such parallels work in Cather's environmental discussion of wilderness and environmental communities. There is little direct evidence linking the development of Cather to Thoreau, although their similar use of awakening imagery suggests they comment on similar environmental discussions through their writing, indicating that Cather deserves further attention as a nature writer. …

Tumor Associated Macrophages In A Mafia Mouse Model, Adrianne Brown Clifford

Theses and Dissertations

Recent evidence has shown the important role of macrophages in both tumor development and progression. To investigate the role of macrophages we used a mouse model known as MaFIA (Macrophage Fas Induced Apoptosis) mice that allows for the selective deletion of macrophages. Mice were given melanoma cells at various stages of depletion. Tumor mass was measured and organs were processed for flow cytometry to measure melanoma cell migration. The results show that mice receiving depletion treatment have larger tumor sizes and weights than those mice retaining their macrophage population. We detect metastasis in both the lung and kidney in both …

Phylogeographic Analyses Of Obligate And Facultative Cave Crayfish Species On The Cumberland Plateau Of The Southern Appalachians, Jennifer Elizabeth Buhay

Theses and Dissertations

Cave systems and their unique biota are widely viewed as highly endangered, yet very little is known about basic life history, ecology, distributions, habitat requirements, and evolutionary relationships of subterranean species. The crux of the problem in cave studies is the assumption that traditionally defined morpho-species represent distinct evolutionary lineages. Convergence is exhibited in the morphologies of many animal groups, vertebrate and invertebrate, which leads to confusion in diagnosing species' boundaries, geographic distributions, gene flow routes, and imperilment. This dissertation research includes phylogeographic analyses of freshwater cave-dwelling crayfishes in the Southern Appalachians, a global hotspot of subterranean biodiversity. By examining …

From Cadillac To Chevy: Environmental Concern, Compromise And The Central Utah Project Completion Act, Adam R. Eastman

Theses and Dissertations

For the past century the federal government has been an active partner with state and local agencies to develop water supplies in the arid West. The last of the large-scale federal reclamation projects to be completed is the Central Utah Project or CUP. The CUP has generated considerable controversy throughout its history. The projects opponents have criticized its expense in terms of both dollars and environmental damage while others have worried about its impact on their water rights. Because of its cost and complexity, planning and construction have spanned decades. This has allowed individuals, organizations, and government agencies opportunity to …

Ecological Investigations Of Chukars In Western Utah, Randy T. Larsen

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents three separate manuscripts in chapter format dealing with the ecology of Chukars (Alectoris chukar) in western North America. All three manuscripts have been formatted for publication in professional journals. Chapter one confirms discovery of ingested lead pellets in Chukars across a broad region of western Utah including all four western counties sampled. Prevalence rates were 1.9% (n=105) for crops and 10.7% (n=75) of gizzards showing no evidence of penetration wounds. Ingestion is likely related to grit size preferences that are consistent with common shot sizes. The second chapter describes watering patterns and water-site selection of Chukars. Chukars …

The Effects Of Using Children's Literature To Teach Positive Character Traits To Elementary Students, Christopher M. Dimakos

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this investigation were to determine (a) the effects of using children's literature to increase positive character traits in elementary students; and (b) how character education can be taught to elementary students through the use of children's literature. The researcher chose six character traits to be used throughout the study. Each week a variety of children's literature pertaining to that week's trait was read to the class. After readings, class discussions and role playing activities were held. Students were given a pre/post assessment to judge student learning of positive character traits throughout the study. The results of this …

Pka As An Upstream Kinase For Lkb1/Strad/Mo25, Seth Taylor Herway

Theses and Dissertations

The LKB1/STRAD/MO25 complex (LSMK) has been identified as the major upstream kinase for AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). PKA phosphorylates LKB1 at the Ser428 residue in humans and Ser431 residue in mice. We investigated PKA as an upstream kinase for LSMK. LKB1 that had been incubated with PKA prior to incubation with AMPK experienced up to a 51% increase in AMPK Kinase activity compared to LKB1 alone (p < 0.05). When blocked with a PKA Inhibitor, the kinase effect of PKA on LKB1 was eliminated. Rat epitrochlearis muscle tissue incubated with epinephrine experienced no increase in AMPK activity compared with controls indicating that epinephrine does not cause AMPK activity in this type of tissue. In conclusion, phosphorylation by PKA can increase the AMPKK activity of LKB1-STRAD-MO25 in vitro. Because LKB1 has been found to be constitutively active, it is postulated that phosphorylation by PKA may act to enhance LKB1-AMPK interaction and thus achieve its effect.

Animism In Whitman: "Multitudes" Of Interpretations?, Rachelle Helene Woodbury

Theses and Dissertations

Walt Whitman used animistic techniques in his poetry and prose, specifically "Song of the Redwood Tree," "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking," and Specimen Days. The term animism can be traced to the Latin root of the word, anime, which connotes a "soul" or "vitality." So, when one is talking about animistic techniques, one is speaking of the (metaphoric or realistic) ensoulment of natural objects. In the wake of a growing global crisis modern scholarship has begun reexamining the implications of this belief; often it introduces ambiguities into an otherwise comfortable relationship of unquestioned human domination. In Specimen Days, Whitman …

Intertextuality In The Fiction Of Cormac Mccarthy, Benjamin J. Burr

Theses and Dissertations

The moral and aesthetic complexity of Cormac McCarthy's fiction demands sophisticated theoretical reading paradigms. Intertextuality informed by poststructuralism is a theoretical approach that enables one to read the moral and aesthetic elements of McCarthy's work in productive ways. McCarthy's work is augmented by its connection to the works of other great artists and writers. As a result, McCarthy's work forces us to read his precedents from a different framework. An examination of the conversation between Martin Heidegger, Meyer Schapiro, Jacques Derrida, and Frederic Jameson about Van Gogh's A Pair of Boots creates an intertextual framework for examining the connection between …

Redefining Multicultural Education And Its Applications In The General Music Classroom, Emily C. Hardwick

Theses and Dissertations

"Understanding music in relation to history and culture" is the ninth standard for music education developed by the National Association for Music Educators (MENC) in 1994 (Mark, 1996, p. 50). This principle is very broad and it is up to individual teachers to make sure they include history and multiculturalism in their curriculum. The term multicultural education is extensive and because many teachers do not understand what all it entails, some students do not get a comprehensive multicultural education.

In the general music class for example, teaching students a Japanese folk song is a typical multicultural lesson. I do not …

Properties Of Conductance And Inhibition Of Proton Channels: M2 From Influenza A Virus And Fo From Escherichia Coli Atp Synthase, Jeffrey C. Moffat

Theses and Dissertations

Proton channels are essential for many of the processes of life. The influenza A viral protein M2 is responsible for sensing the conditions necessary for viral RNA release. The proton-translocating FoF1 ATPase (ATP synthase) uses a proton gradient to drive adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. We have directly measured proton uptake in vesicles containing reconstituted M2 or FO by monitoring external pH after addition of valinomycin to vesicles with 100-fold diluted external [K+]. This proton flux assay was utilized to quantify proton flux through single M2 and Fo channels. Contrary to previous reports, proton uptake by M2 was not significantly altered …

The Effectiveness Of Non-Traditional Vocabulary Instruction In A Second-Grade Inclusion Classroom, Stephanie Marie Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this experimental study was to determine if non-traditional vocabulary instruction would significantly raise the scores of second-grade students in an inclusion classroom compared to second-grade students whom were taught vocabulary words in a traditional manner. Students were tested in matching vocabulary words to definitions as well as using vocabulary words in a meaningful context. Analysis of the data obtained from the pretest and posttest scores showed that while students in both settings improved in their performances, students who were taught vocabulary words in a non-traditional way, scored slightly higher. Further analysis was conducted to portray that this …

Genre Exploration: Alternatives To Expository Writing In Seventh Grade Life Science, Christen Haigh

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the use of genre writing as an alternative to commonly used expository writing in the seventh grade life science classroom. My research includes student surveys and educator interviews. I surveyed 44 seventh grade science students using a Likert scale. The participating students include 1 eleven-year-old boy, 10 twelve-year-old boys, 10 thirteen-year-old boys, 1 fourteen-year-old boy, 11 twelve-year-old girls, and 11 thirteen-year-old girls. I interviewed 3 middle school science teachers who teach at public schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I interviewed 4 composition professors and 2 college biology professors from Rowan University, …

Ligand-Induced Conformational Changes Of Extracellular Loop Two In The Dopamine Transporter, Jon D. Gaffaney

Theses and Dissertations

The dopamine transporter (DAT) is a transmembrane spanning protein responsible for the clearance of dopamine from the dopaminergic synapse. Uptake blockers such as cocaine inhibit transport resulting in elevated levels of dopamine in the synapse. DAT is predicted to contain twelve transmembrane spanning domains (TMs) connected by alternating intra- and extracellular loops, however, the spatial arrangement of these regions is unknown. Extracellular loop 2 (EL2) is composed of approximately 80 amino acids and connects TM3 and TM4, two regions associated with uptake blocker binding. Using limited proteolysis we analyzed the aqueous accessibility of EL2 in the presence or absence of …

The Characterization And Distribution Of Renshaw Cells In The Rat Spinal Cord, Richard A. Zaruba

Theses and Dissertations

There is an abundance of electrophysiological and pharmacological data describing Renshaw cells (RC), however comparatively little is known about their distribution, metabolism, ionic regulation, modulation or exact role in motor behaviors. In this dissertation enzyme histochemistry and immunohistochemistry in conjunction with light, fluorescent and confocal microscopic methodologies were used to address the hypothesis that "the distribution of RC is contingent on their functional role in specific α motoneuronal pools and their unique electrophysiological and functional characteristics are reflected by their neurochemistry and synaptic inputs." The highest concentration of RC (number of RC per mm2) was found in the thoracic region …

Oedipus Rex: Metaphysics And The Fundamental Human Struggle, Joseph Mack Lorenzo

Theses and Dissertations

The fundamental human struggle is a spiritual struggle demonstrated by a metaphysical analysis of the drama Oedipus Rex. Drama presents a mimesis of human action and dramatic plots are comprised of these physical actions. This fundamental dramatic action consists of the embodied action of the human being (i.e., substance), comprised of body and soul (i.e., matter and form). Through these embodied actions Aristotelian metaphysical first principles become tangible for the audience. This metaphysical reality is both fundamental to the human being and universal to the human experience. Therefore the fundamental human struggle is a spiritual struggle, viz., the exercise …

Modeling A Reparable Supply Chain And Applying Cpfr Concepts, Sandra A. Mayhall

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force supply chain includes parts required to build, fix, or maintain aircraft delivered to the warfighter to carry out missions. Industry has shown that following Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment (CPFR) concepts, particularly reducing inventory through accurate demand forecasts, has increased profits in part by lowering the holding costs of inventory and increasing sales. This is analogous to the Air Force increasing aircraft availability. There is scant evidence that demand forecasts generated at any level in the Air Force are shared with the intent of coordinating replenishment. This thesis uses a simple discrete-event stochastic simulation model to show …

Development Of A Malicious Insider Composite Vulnerability Assessment Methodology, William H. King

Theses and Dissertations

Trusted employees pose a major threat to information systems. Despite advances in prevention, detection, and response techniques, the number of malicious insider incidents and their associated costs have yet to decline. There are very few vulnerability and impact models capable of providing information owners with the ability to comprehensively assess the effectiveness an organization's malicious insider mitigation strategies. This research uses a multi-dimensional approach: content analysis, attack tree framework, and an intent driven taxonomy model are used to develop a malicious insider Decision Support System (DSS) tool. The DSS tool's utility and applicability is demonstrated using a notional example. This …