Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Electric Field-Induced Changes In Astrocyte Behavior, Doel Dhar

Theses and Dissertations

Electric fields, which are generated by the movement of charged ions across membranes, are found in all biological systems and can influence cellular components ranging from amino acids to biological macromolecules. Physiological field strengths range from 1 – 200 mV/mm, and these electric fields are especially elevated at sites of cellular growth during development and regeneration. It has previously been demonstrated that elevated electric fields induce alignment of astrocyte processes in vitro, enhancing the rate of neurite outgrowth. It is believed that electric fields of varying physiological strength affect other astrocytic responses associated with regeneration. To characterize the duration over …

Phylogeography And Species Status Of Ramphogordius Sanguineus, Cora Runnels

Theses and Dissertations

Ramphogordius sanguineus (Rathke 1799) is a gregarious nemertean with a worldwide distribution and found mainly on hard substrates associated with mussels, oysters and other organisms of the fouling community. Asexual reproduction occurs by spontaneous fragmentation and only anecdotal accounts of sexual reproduction exist. This is the first phylogeographic study of R. sanguineus as well as the first species delimitation analyses employing DNA markers. Analysis of the mitochondrial gene nad6 and nuclear ISSR markers showed little diversity among geographically widespread populations, but AMOVA analyses of both markers revealed moderate to high genetic differentiation. Populations from Maine and Massachusetts exhibited the highest …

Ex Vivo Reprogramming Of Tumor-Reactive Immune Cells From Fvbn202 Mice Bearing Lung Metastatic Mammary Carcinoma: An Immunotherapeutic Opportunity Revealed Against Recurrence, Charles Hall

Theses and Dissertations

Metastatic breast cancer treatment has seen few advances in recent years, yet treatment resistance continues to rise, causing disease recurrence. A pilot study was performed to determine the efficacy of ex vivo expansion and reprogramming of tumor-reactive immune cells from experimental metastatic tumor-sensitized mice. Also, phenotypic changes in tumors due to metastasis or tumor microenvironment influences were characterized. Metastatic neu+ mouse mammary carcinoma (mMMC) and its distant relapsing neu-antigen-negative variant (mANV) were investigated in FVBN202 mice. Tumor-reactive central memory CD8+ T cells and activated NK/NKT cells were successfully reprogrammed and expanded during 6-day expansion from mMMC- and/or mANV-sensitized mice, resulting …

Role Of Tyk2 In Regulating Energy Expenditure And Preventing Obesity, Vidisha Raje

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity develops when energy intake exceeds energy expenditure. Defect in the function of brown fat and skeletal muscle, two of the major tissues that contribute towards energy expenditure, lead to the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Our previous findings suggest that Tyk2 deficient mice become obese and develop the metabolic syndrome. Tyk2, which is a tyrosine kinase of the JAK-STAT signaling family, is important for optimal brown development and function. Since brown fat and skeletal muscle, both are derived from the Myf5+ lineage of mesenchymal stem cells, we also characterized the role of Tyk2 in the development and function …

Examining Middle School Students' Statistical Thinking While Working In A Technological Environment, Melissa Arnold Scranton

Theses and Dissertations

Examining Middle School Students' Statistical Thinking

While Working in a Technological Environment

Melissa Arnold Scranton

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how students think in a technological environment. This was accomplished by exploring the differences in the thinking of students while they worked in a technological environment and comparing this to their work in a paper and pencil environment. The software program TinkerPlots: Dynamic Data Exploration (Konold & Miller, 2005), a construction tool that middle school students use for data analysis was the technological environment. In both environments, types of critical, creative, and statistical …

Identification And Characterization Of Ethanol Responsive Genes In Acute Ethanol Behaviors In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Joseph Alaimo

Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol abuse and dependence are complex disorders that are influenced by many genetic and environmental factors. Acute behavioral responses to ethanol have predictive value for determining an individual’s long-term susceptibility to alcohol abuse and dependence. These behavioral responses are strongly influenced by genetics. Here, we have explored the role of genetic influences on acute behavioral responses to ethanol using the nematode worm, Caenorhabditis elegans. First, we explored the role of ethanol metabolism in acute behavior responses to ethanol. Natural variation in human ethanol metabolism machinery is one of the most reported and reproducible associations found to alter drinking behavior. Ethanol …

Popup Height And The Dynamics Of Rising Buoyant Spheres, Randy H. Munns

Theses and Dissertations

In this paper the popup height of rising buoyant spheres is studied over a range of distinct release depths along with the accompanying velocities and accelerations near the free surface. In the past, regimes of motion due to vortex induced vibrations have been classified based on trajectories below the free surface. This study focuses on the popup height, velocity and acceleration at free surface exit, and vortex shedding in order to further define regimes of motion experienced by a rising buoyant sphere. Varying the release depth below the free surface reveals varying exit angles, velocities, accelerations, and popup heights at …

Improvements In Diffusion Weighted Imaging Through A Composite Body And Insert Gradient Coil System, Peter Austin Jepsen

Theses and Dissertations

Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DMRI) is a class of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques with broad medical applications ranging from characterization of tumors and brain damage to potential prediction of stroke. Gradient coil and signal-to- noise ratio (SNR) constraints limit spatial resolution, accuracy, and scan time in DMRI. Achieving high b-values (measures of a scan's sensitivity to diffusion) often require scans with long diffusion gradient pulses, leading to significant magnetic resonance (MR) signal decay before the signal can be sampled. This signal loss reduces the accuracy of diffusion parameter estimation. The ability to sample the MR signal sooner while maintaining …

European Emerging Adults In The Context Of Free Time And Leisure, Eric K. Layland

Theses and Dissertations

Research on emerging adulthood has increased over the past decade, including further investigation of the five features of emerging adulthood: (a) exploring identity, (b) instability, (c) focus on self, (d) feeling in-between, and (e) possibilities (Arnett, 2004). Despite an increased focus on this age period (i.e., 18 -- 29 year olds), research has not addressed the context of free time and leisure. Trends among European emerging adults include increased delay of marriage, decreased childbirth, and general postponement of adult markers. Both the high cultural valuation of leisure and the apparent change in patterns of external markers (i.e., sustained low fertility …

A Theory Of Text As Action:Why Delivery Through Publication Improves Student Writers And Their Writing, Lisa Kae Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

Students in required writing courses often fail to see the purpose of their writing and invest themselves in their writing. Many composition pedagogues have noticed that one solution to this problem is to help students publish their writing, and have reported the positive outcomes of their publication-focused courses. However, this practice has not been grounded in theory. My project connects the practice of publishing student writing to theory. I draw on Kenneth Burke's and other's ideas of text as action and show how the ancient cannon of delivery is a necessary means of experiencing and understanding text as action with …

Memory As Ecology In The Poetry Of Tomas Tranströmer, Richelle Jolene Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore how memory functions ecologically in the poetry of Tomas Tranströmer. The term ecology is useful because of its connotative associations with the natural world as well as its broader definition of being a network of relationships as they function within and relate to their environment. Throughout his oeuvre, Tranströmer positions memory as being an external presence with which he interacts primarily because he honors it as a living being and he feels a poetic responsibility to it. As such, he grapples with the challenges of representation, particularly the limitations of language. Ultimately, …

Genetic Analysis Of Ethanol Sensitivity And Tolerance In Drosophila, Robin Chan

Theses and Dissertations

The genetic pathways influencing alcohol abuse and dependence are poorly characterized. Many critical discoveries about the interactions between ethanol-related behaviors and genetics have been made in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Coupling the statistical power of model organism studies to human association studies bolsters the analytical efficacy of these genomic approaches. A variety of behavioral assays are available for assessing behavioral responses to ethanol in Drosophila. However, we find our previously described eRING assay is influenced by the commonly used transgenic marker mini-white. We developed a Simple Sedation Assay (SSA) that is insensitive to the effects of white and mini-white. …

The Effectiveness Of Systematic And Engaging Early Literacy (Seel) Intervention On Word Reading In Kindergarten Students Receiving Tier 3 Services, Christina Haley Cole

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Systematic and Engaging Early Literacy (SEEL) intervention method to improve consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) reading in four students receiving Tier 3 services. The SEEL intervention method was also combined with the use of digital books on an iPad to investigate the effects of using technology in reading intervention sessions. Previous research indicates effectiveness for the foundational principles of SEEL, which include instruction in engaging, meaningful contexts that provide frequent and intense opportunities to practice. This research involved 4 kindergarten students who qualified for Tier 3 services based on their performance on an index of difficulty …

Social Networks Of Children With Language Impairment, Serena Marita Louisa Mickelson

Theses and Dissertations

Children with language impairment (LI) often exhibit social difficulties along with language issues that can affect their friendships with peers. This study sought to identify the self-reported social networks of children with LI and compare them to the self-reported social networks of children with typical language development. Sixteen children with LI (9 girls and 7 boys) between the ages of 5-11 years, and sixteen children with typical language development matched for age and gender were studied. Children were asked to name interactants in four social circles (Blackstone & Hunt Berg, 2003): family, friends, acquaintances, and paid interactants. A parent also …

Plasma Lactate Accumulation During Running With Body Weight Unloading By Lbpp, Nicole Nevitt Rasmussen

Theses and Dissertations

At any given running speed, weight support with a lower body positive pressure (LBPP) device (i.e. Alter-G treadmill) reduces V̇O2. However, it is unknown how application of LBPP during running impacts lactate metabolism, specifically lactate threshold. Purpose: To determine if body weight unloading with the Alter-G treadmill alters lactate threshold. Methods. Maximal aerobic capacity (V̇O2max) and lactate threshold (LT) was determined in 8 male subjects on an Alter-G treadmill at 100% and 80% body weight loading at 0% grade in a randomized crossover design. V̇O2max tests started at 7 mile h-1 and increase speed by 1 mile h-1 every 2 …

The Rise Of Humor: Hollywood Increases Adult Centered Humor In Animated Children's Films, Chelsie Lynn Akers

Theses and Dissertations

Children's animated films have held a lasting influence on their audiences since the rise of their popularity in the 1980s. As adults co-view such films with their children Hollywood has had to rewrite the formula for a successful animated children's film. This thesis argues that a main factor in audience expansion is adult humor. The results show that children's animated films from 2002-2013 are riddled with many instances of adult humor while earlier films from 1982-1993 use adult humor sparingly. It is clear that over the years the number of adult humor occurrences has consistently increased. Furthermore, this research shows …

The Physical Theatre Of War: Language, Memory, And Gender In Black Watch And War Horse, Andrea M. Gunoe

Theses and Dissertations

The public's perception of war is influenced by every media story they see, every account they read, and every story they hear. News telecasts and newspapers tend to lean towards a focus of the grand narratives of war such as political involvement and overarching strategy. Media such as books and film can tell a more personal narrative of the events of war and attempt to display how war "really is" through the use of written and visual language that focuses more on how things happened as opposed to simply what happened. Theatre provides a unique perspective on war as the …

Bibliotherapy And Bullying: Teaching Young Childrento Utilize Peer Group Power To Combat Bullying, Rebecca Lyn Spencer

Theses and Dissertations

Bullying is a major concern for school-age children. This study compares the use of bibliotherapy and didactic instruction techniques for teaching anti-bullying strategies to young children. The study explores 36 first graders' perceptions of bullying and their perceptions of their roles and responsibilities in bullying situations. In comparison to the control group, students who were taught specific bully intervention skills, both through didactic instruction and bibliotherapy, reflected an increased understanding of bullying, used a larger bully vocabulary, and demonstrated more specific and varied actions in response to bullying from pre-test to post-test conditions. Participants in the group who received didactic …

Nuclear Bmp2 And The Immune Response, Daniel S. Olsen

Theses and Dissertations

Nuclear bone morphogenetic protein 2 (nBMP2) is a nuclear variant of the secreted growth factor BMP2. Experiments in nBmp2NLStm mutant mice, which lack nBMP2 in the nucleus, have shown that nBMP2 affects intracellular calcium transport in skeletal muscle and hippocampal neurons. The objective of this study was to determine whether nBMP2 affects the immune system, since activation of lymphocytes and other immune cells depends on intracellular calcium transport. We found that spleens in nBmp2NLStm mutant mice were 24% smaller than in wild type mice. The white pulp of the spleen contains many immune cells, particularly B and T lymphocytes and …

Factors Underlying Invasive Grass Fire Regimes In The Mojave Desert And Its Consequences On Plant And Animal Communities, Kevin J. Horn

Theses and Dissertations

Climate change and exotic plant invasions are significant anthropogenic threats to desert community structure and resilience . In the Mojave Desert, the invasive grass red brome (Bromusrubens L) is increasing fire frequency and extent in response to climatic factors. The resilience of this ecosystem will be affected by how plant and animal communities respond to fire. To better understand these dynamics, we studied the environmental factors underlying changes in invasive grass fire regimes in the Mojave Desert and its structural and functional effects on plant and animal communities. Following fire, reestablishment of native vegetation can be preempted by repeated burning …

Adam10 Overexpression Dysregulates Notch Signaling In Favor Of Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cell (Mdsc) Accumulation That Deferentially Modulates The Host Response Depending On Immune Stimuli And Interaction With Mast Cells., Sheinei Saleem

Theses and Dissertations

Although the physiological consequences of Notch signaling in hematopoiesis have been extensively studied, the differential effects of individual notch cleavage products remain to be elucidated. Given that a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) is a critical regulator of Notch and that its deletion is embryonically lethal, we generated transgenic mice that overexpress ADAM10 at early stages of lymphoid and myeloid development (A10Tg). ADAM10 transgene expression alters hematopoiesis post-hematopoietic Lineage-Sca-1+c-kit+ (LSK) subset differentiation but prior to lineage commitment of progenitor populations. This results in delayed T cell development, abrogated B2 cell development, and dramatic expansion of functionally active myeloid derived suppressor …

Zofia Stryjeńska: Women In The Warsaw Town Square. Our Lady, Peasant Mother, Pagan Goddess, Katelyn Mckenzie Sheffield

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis I consider the unique position that Polish artist Zofia Stryjeńska (1891-1974) occupied during the interwar period. Lauded during her time as the most popular artist in Poland, the acceptance of Stryjeńska's female voice in representing a national vocabulary was unprecedented and deserves closer examination. I assert that Poland's history of oppression created a unique environment where women as archetypal figures often took on masculine roles. These 'transgressive types' were visible in the literature and art of the 19th and 20th centuries. Stryjeńska's art, as well as her behavior, capitalized on these transgressive traditions. Women played an important …

Cryogenic Carbon Capture Using A Desublimating Spray Tower, Bradley J. Nielson

Theses and Dissertations

Global warming is becoming ever increasing concern in our society. As such the likelihood of a carbon tax in the US is becoming increasingly likely. A carbon tax will be expensive enough that coal-based power plants will either have to install carbon capture technology or close. The two front runner technologies for carbon capture are amine scrubbing, and oxyfuel combustion. The downside is that both of these technologies increase power generation cost in a new plant by about 80% and have up to a 30% parasitic load, which reduces the cycle efficiency, that is, the power production per unit fuel …

Biogeography And Evolution Of Neotropical Small Mammals, With Emphasis On Hystricognath Spiny Rats Of The Genus Proechimys (Family Echimyidae), Rafael Do Nascimento Leite

Theses and Dissertations

The Neotropical region is the most biologically diverse region on the planet. The region encompasses a variety of ecosystems and has long been the target of researchers interested in patterns of species diversity and distribution. More recently, molecular data have been incorporated into methods for reconstructing the historical relationships among geographical areas and their biotas. Molecular phylogenetics has provided insights into diversification patterns and the influence of Late Cenozoic events on the evolutionary history of the region. Nevertheless, considering the vast extent and complexity of the region, more studies are needed to fully appreciate the patterns of biogeography and the …

Parowan Valley Potting Communities: Examining Technological Style In Fremont Snake Valley Corrugated Pottery, Scott M. Ure

Theses and Dissertations

Defining the Fremont archaeological culture has challenged archaeologists for decades. There is still considerable debate about the origins of the Fremont, their eventual demise, their genetic relationship to modern Native American tribes, and myriad other issues. In nearly a century of Fremont research, socio-political, economic, and religious complexity remain elusive subjects. Examining technological style, the manifestation of socially influenced choices during each step of production as a means of passive communication, is one useful avenue to examine Fremont material culture to uncover the social patterns they may, or may not contain. I examine whether or not technological style in Fremont …

Developmental Signaling Requires Inwardly Rectifying K+ Channels In Drosophila Melanogaster, Giri Raj Dahal

Theses and Dissertations

Inwardly rectifying potassium (IRK/Kir) channels regulate intracellular K+ concentrations and membrane potential. Disruption of Kir2.1 causes dominantly inherited Andersen Tawil Syndrome (ATS). ATS patients suffer from cardiac arrhythmias, periodic paralysis, and cognitive impairment. These symptoms are consistent with current understanding of the role of ion channels in muscle cells and neurons. However, ATS symptoms also include craniofacial and digital deformities such as cleft palate, dental defects, wide set eyes, low set ears, and crooked or fused digits. These developmental defects were not consistent with current understanding of developmental signaling or previously described roles for ion channels. We found that phenotypes …

Personhood And Cloning: Modern Applications And Ethics Of Stem Cell And Cloning Technology, Sariah Cottrell Mccarrey

Theses and Dissertations

Within many communities and religions, including the LDS community, there is some controversy surrounding the use of stem cells – particularly embryonic stem cells (ESC). Much of this controversy arises from confusion and misconceptions about what stem cells actually are, where they come from , and when life begins. The theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has interesting implications for the last of these considerations, and it becomes less a question of “when does life begin” and more an exploration of “when does personhood begin” or “when does the spirit enter the body.” With no official …

Aqueous Henry's Law Constants, Infinite Dilution Activity Coefficients, And Water Solubility: Critically Evaluated Database, Experimental Analysis, And Prediction Methods, Sarah Ann Brockbank

Theses and Dissertations

A database containing Henry's law constants, infinite dilution activity coefficients and solubility data of industrially important chemicals in aqueous systems has been compiled. These properties are important in predicting the fate and transport of chemicals in the environment. The structure of this database is compatible with the existing DIPPR® 801 database and DIADEM interface, and the compounds included are a subset of the compounds found in the DIPPR® 801 database. Thermodynamic relationships, chemical family trends, and predicted values were carefully considered when designating recommended values. Henry's law constants and infinite dilution activity coefficients were measured for toluene, 1-butanol, anisole, 1,2-difluorobenzene, …

Synthesis, Testing And Crystallographic Studies Of Allosteric Modifiers Of Hemoglobin, Tanvi Deshpande

Theses and Dissertations

The major physiological function of hemoglobin (Hb) is to bind, transport and deliver oxygen to tissues; made efficient by endogenous effectors, such as protons and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. Synthetic allosteric effectors of Hb (AEHs) are also known to modulate Hb oxygen affinity, showing potential for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD) and ischemic-related diseases. In this project, AEHs which increase Hb affinity for oxygen, including derivatives of the anti-sickling compounds, 5HMF and benzaldehydes, as well as an AEH that decreases Hb affinity for oxygen, RSR-13, were synthesized for their effects on Hb oxygen binding property and their capability to release NO …

Pro-Drop And Word-Order Variation In Brazilian Portuguese: A Corpus Study, Stewart Daniel Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examines certain syntactic properties of the Brazilian variety of Portuguese (BP): 1) BP is a pro-drop language with instances of both null subjects and covert objects, and 2) BP exhibits several possible word orders. To determine the frequency of pro-drop and word-order variations, the CDP (The Portuguese Corpus) was used to provide samples of transitive, main clauses, which were then categorized based on whether or not they had null subjects and covert objects. The clauses were also categorized according to word order. In addition to providing samples, the corpus allowed for the comparison of four different registers …