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Pyridinium Bis-Retinoids A2-Dopamine And A2-Cadaverine: Implications In Age-Related Macular Degeneration And Cancer, Mckenzie Ruth Pew

Theses and Dissertations

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the United States of America. The pyridinium bis-retinoid A2-ethanolamine (A2E) has been implicated to play a role in AMD. We have observed novel pyridinium bis-retinoids through melanolipofuscin and human RPE extractions that may also play a role in the pathology of AMD. We have begun the construction of an amino-retinoid library in order to identify these ocular compounds. The compounds from the amino-retinoid library are also used in a targeted and triggered drug delivery system for treating cancer. Folic acid is coupled with the amino-retinoids to specifically target cancer …

Registered Dietitian Dress And The Effect Of Dietitian Dress On Perceived Professionalism, Connie Lynn Packer

Theses and Dissertations

People use others' dress to make assumptions, including how they believe the wearer will behave. Observers then adjust their behavior in response to the anticipated behavior of the wearer. Physician or nurse dress affects the degree to which patients perceive the medical professional as confident, experienced, competent, mature, trustworthy, and professional. Dietitian dress has not been studied. Our purpose was to identify 1) the current level of formality of dress of registered dietitians (RD), 2) characteristics of dress codes, 3) the effect of RD dress on patient/client perceptions of professional traits, and 4) the level of formality at which an …

Effects Of Endurance Training On The Ampk Response To Exercise., David Gerald Chesser

Theses and Dissertations

Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) results in the upregulation of several intracellular systems which help to prepare a cell for a high energy challenge. The magnitude of the AMPK response to a 10 min bout of exercise has been found to decrease in red quadriceps (RQ) following training, while putative AMPK roles seem to be maintained; specifically, the biogenesis of mitochondria and higher levels of hexokinase II and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). If the AMPK response to exercise is responsible in part for these adaptations, how can they be maintained if the AMPK response is attenuated? The purpose of …

Constructive Enabling: Applying A Wilderness Skills Intervention To Support The Therapeutic Change Process Of Adolescent Females In Residential Treatment, Brian K. Malcarne

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the potential benefits of a primitive wilderness skills intervention (POST) on the therapeutic change process of adolescent females enrolled in a residential treatment center. A qualitative data analysis approach was used. A convenience sample of eight female adolescents was selected by therapist referral. The data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding. Data analysis was used to assess participants' progress in the therapeutic change. Further analysis revealed a core theme connecting participants' POST experience with feelings of self-empowerment and reflective connections to their individual therapeutic change process. Constructive enabling was the …

Women's Perceptions Of Parents, Peers, Romantic Partner And God As Predictive Of Symptoms Severity Among Women In Treatment For Eating Disorders At An Inpatient Facility, Samuel B. Tobler

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined whether perceptions of parents, peers, romantic partners and God were predictive of eating disorder symptom severity among women in treatment for eating disorders. The sample included 417 women (ages 12 to 56 years) at an inpatient treatment facility for eating disorders. Participants completed a battery of assessment measures at intake and discharge. Change scores were also computed on all measures. Measures included indices of eating disorder symptomology, parental relationships, peer relationships, romantic partner relationships, and religious well-being. Multiple regression analysis showed perceptions of peers and romantic partner to be significant predictors in all analyses; however perceptions …

Description Of The Trio/Upward Bound Students' Construction Of Vocations Using George Kelly's Rep Test Method, Maraia Sokia Weingarten

Theses and Dissertations

The Information Age is revolutionizing the way we communicate, acquire knowledge, and perform work. Society is shifting from occupations rooted in industrial production to those associated with knowledge and information, requiring the development of new skills for changing occupations and updating old educational methods. Educators need to be aware of economic and social changes and have a vision for how to design career education to respond to those changes. Individuals must also be prepared to learn on their own as careers evolve and change. The training necessary to adapt to the changing career culture needs to be made available to …

Family Leisure Involvement And Family Functioning In Samoa, Irene Dora Annandale Fotu

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to (a) examine the relationship between family leisure involvement and aspects of family functioning (adaptability and cohesion) among Samoan families residing on American Samoa, and (b) to compare the Samoan data to a broad sample of American families to provide a cross-cultural comparison. The sample consisted of 340 adult participants. The Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) was used to measure family leisure involvement. FACES II was used to measure family functioning. Regression analyses conducted on the 340 individuals indicated a positive relationship between core family leisure involvement and family cohesion, adaptability, and overall family …

Energy Efficiency In Cold-Weather High-End Custom Homes, Joseph R. Kearl

Theses and Dissertations

Nationally, there is increasing interest in energy efficient homes due to growing energy costs and increased awareness. However, many builders haven't yet incorporated energy saving products and practices into homes. Many builders don't have the resources to evaluate available options and prefer to rely on the experiences of other builders. The purpose of this study was to create energy efficiency benchmarks for cold-weather, high-end custom homes and evaluate current building practices. A list of energy-efficient products and practices was created through a review of relevant literature. A group of expert builders was formed into a committee to help determine energy …

Calcium Dynamics Affecting Egg Production, Skeletal Integrity, And Egg Coloration In Ring-Necked Pheasants (Phasianus Colchicus), Landon R. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

These 4 chapters represent manuscripts formatted for submission to journals based on an experiment conducted on Ring-necked Pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). Calcium limits the distribution of this species, which produces 7-15 eggs per clutch. They may renest up to 5 times per breeding season on a diet low in calcium. The first chapter examines egg production in laying hens on 7 different diets from 0.19-4.47% calcium in the absence of calcium loading. Calcium-loaded pheasants store calcium in medullary bone before an experiment and can draw on this surplus during egg production, possibly skewing experimental results. We measured egg production, egg characteristics, …

Modeling And Analysis Of Resolve And Morale For The `Long War', Michael J. Artelli

Theses and Dissertations

In The Art of War, Sun Tzu begins by stating: "War is a matter of vital importance to the State; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied." Sun Tzu follow's this opening by stating five fundamental factors a commander must master to be successful in combat. The first of these factors is moral influence which Sun Tzu defines as "that which causes the people to be in harmony with their leaders, so they will accompany them in life and death without fear of mortal peril." In the …

A Model Of The Relationship Of Perceived Mental And Emotional Problems In The Family-Of-Origin On Marital Satisfaction Of Adult Offspring, Benjamin Oviatt Weinheimer

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of perceived mental/emotional problems (psychopathology) in the family-of-origin on adult offspring marital satisfaction was tested in a model considering the mediating variables of parental marital satisfaction, mother-child relationship quality, father-child relationship quality, and resolution of issues from the family-of-origin. The nationally representative sample (n = 802) drawn from the RELATionship Evaluation (RELATE) database included mostly college educated, lower-middle-class individuals in their first marriage. This sample was used to test a structural equation model that results showed fit the data well. Results showed that historical (distal) factors (such as psychopathology in the family-of-origin) explain only a small portion of …

The Role Of Secreted Phosphoprotein-24 In Osteoblast Differentiation And Matrix Mineralization, Samuel Ramage

Theses and Dissertations

Secreted Phosphoprotein-24 (Spp24) was initially isolated and characterized as a component of bovine cortical bone matrix. Subsequent characterization has shown it is multiply phosphorylated and homologous to cystatin and TGF-β receptor type II. Spp24 is a minor component of the serum fetuin mineral complex that binds calcium-phosphate minerals and prevents their deposition. The TGF-β receptor homology domain binds BMP-2 weakly in vitro and enhances BMP-2’s osteogenic effects in vivo. The ability of Spp24 to affect BMP activity suggests an important role for Spp24 as a native, bioactive componentof bone that regulates bone development.

Spp24 was highly up-regulated in rat cortical …

Byu Students' Beliefs About Language Learning And Communicative Language Teaching Activities, Sarah C. Bakker

Theses and Dissertations

Learner beliefs, which contribute to attitude and motivation, may affect language learning. It is therefore valuable to investigate the malleability of learner beliefs, and to determine whether potentially detrimental beliefs can be ameliorated. This study examines how instruction of the principles of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) affects students' beliefs about classroom activities and their beliefs about language learning in general. The 68 first-year German students at Brigham Young University who participated in this study were asked to rate the effectiveness of three activities typical of communicative language teaching: Dialogue activities, Peer Interview activities, and Information-gap activities. They were also asked …

It's Alive! The Gothic (Dis)Embodiment Of The Logic Of Networks, Anna Katharine Bennion

Theses and Dissertations

My thesis draws connections between today's network society and the workings of gothic literature in the late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century. Just as our society is formed and affected by the flow of information, the eighteenth-century culture of sensibility was formed by the merging and flow of scientific "technology" (or new scientific discoveries) and societal norms and rules. Gothic literature was born out of this science-society network, and in many ways embodies the ruptures implicit in it. Although gothic literature is not a network in the same sense as informationalism and the culture of sensibility are, gothic literature works according …

Neuronal And Molecular Adaptations Of Gaba Neurons In The Ventral Tegmental Area To Chronic Alcohol, Kimberly Hales

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis project was to examine the effects of chronic alcohol on the excitability and molecular adaptation of GABA neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA). GABA neurons are of interest with regards to ethanol intoxication, reinforcement, and dependence due to their widespread distribution and connectivity to mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) neurons implicated in alcohol reward and addiction. Since we have previously shown adaptation of VTA GABA neuron firing rate to chronic ethanol (Gallegos, Criado et al. 1999) and suppression of gap-junction (GJ) mediated coupling between these neurons by acute ethanol (Stobbs, Ohran et al. 2004), we wanted …

Mexico Engineering Study Abroad: Assessing The Effectiveness Of International Experiences On Teaching Global Engineering Skills, Joshua Benjamin Draper

Theses and Dissertations

Globalization is a rapidly increasing trend in many industries, including civil engineering. This paper defines the skills engineers will need in an increasingly international industry. It also describes an engineering study abroad program designed to teach some of those skills to students and presents a survey used as an assessment tool to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. The program, called Mexico Engineering Study Abroad (MESA), is taught at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, UT. MESA is a project-based extended field trip format class that couples hydrologic modeling with cultural awareness as students work together with Mexican students on …

James Hainlen: An Oral History Of An Exemplary Public School Orchestra Director And His Program, Rebecca E. Starr

Theses and Dissertations

Experts advise string teachers to identify and model successful string teachers and programs. However, there is a scarcity of literature that examines this subject. There is literature that examines exemplary band teachers and programs, and these works can be useful to the string teaching profession. However, string teachers ·can benefit more from literature that specifically examines exemplary string orchestra programs and teachers. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to gather information from a renowned public school string teacher about the components of his successful string orchestra program.

The researcher conducted a personal interview with James Hainlen, retired director and …

The Noun Class System Of U̱T-Ma'in, A West Kainji Language Of Nigeria, Rebecca Dow Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This present work provides a comprehensive overview of the noun class system of u̱t-Ma'in, a Benue-Congo (West Kainji) language of Northwestern Nigeria. The u̱t-Ma'in language is characterized by a complex noun classification system and a robust agreement system that permeates the language. While an understanding of the noun classes is essential to an understanding of the language as a whole, discussion includes the division of nouns into thirteen distinct classes, marked by prefixes on the nouns themselves and by agreement elements on other clause constituents. The relationship of the noun classes of u̱t-Ma'in to historical reconstruction work available for the …

Community Breastfeeding Attitudes And Beliefs, Patty Ryan Vari

Theses and Dissertations

Breastmilk is designed by nature to meet the specific needs of the human species and provides all that is necessary for normal infant growth, development, and health for the first six months of life. Efforts to extend that message publicly have resulted in an increase of breastfeeding rates, yet still have not reached the goals of Healthy People 2010. This paper adds to the body of breastfeeding literature to understand why some women breastfeed and others do not by exploring some of the individual characteristics of a Midwestern university community, including their breastfeeding and bottle feeding (formula) beliefs, attitudes, and …

Tribal College Culture-Based Education Impacts American Indian Students In North America, Loann Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

Life Circle Tribal College (a pseudonym), as other tribal colleges, claims its purpose for existence is to help increase American Indians' access to affordable and culturally relevant vocational and academic postsecondary education. This study sought to answer the following questions: (1) How did students and staff at Life Circle Tribal College perceive Life Circle Tribal College as fulfilling the cultural portion of its mission? (2) What impact did students and staff feel the culture-based education approach used at Life Circle Tribal College had on students' lives in their educational pursuits at the tribal college, in their current and future relationships …

Executive Functioning And Memory Performance In Adhd And Asperger's Syndrome, Kristi A. Walen

Theses and Dissertations

The diagnosis of ADHD requires the exclusionary criteria for any Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), making it impossible to have comorbid disorders. This study investigated executive function and memory differences between 11 children with Asperger’s syndrome, 13 children with ADHD, and 36 controls, all ranging in age from 7-16 years. Executive function was assessed using Conner’s Continuous Performance Test (CPT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST), Tower of London Task (TOL), Trail Making Test, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF), Grooved Pegboard Test, and the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT). Memory was assessed using a subtest from the Wide Range Assessment of Memory …

Instrument Development And Psychometric Analysis: Nurses' Urinary Incontinence Knowledge, Beliefs, And Practices, Tracy L. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop and psychometrically assess an instrument to measure nurses’ urinary incontinence (UI) knowledge, beliefs, and practices (NU1KBAP) in the female population using content experts and nursing students. This multiple methodology investigation was framed by Feminist and Orem’s Self-Care Deficit theories. UI prevalence among women ranges from 9-72% with $19.5 billion dollars spent in the US on direct UI expenses in the year 2000. Many nurses do not have adequate knowledge regarding female UI and little is known about their UI-related beliefs and practices.

The foci of Phase 1 were to develop, estimate validity, …

The Effect Of A Training On Client's Relationship Satisfaction And Awareness Of Domestic Violence, Susan E. Rudolph

Theses and Dissertations

The pui-pose of the current study was to test the effectiveness of a curriculum focused on the prevention and intervention of domestic violence and healthy, nonabusive relationships. A relationship training created by the author was tested in order to assess whether relationship satisfaction was affected by the relationship training, with the expectation that those who have experienced or are experiencing abusive relationships would become more aware of their relationship dissatisfaction. Furthermore, the relationship training was assessed according to the anticipated increase in the experimental group’s knowledge of domestic violence. Pre-test and post-test measures were used to assess relationship satisfaction and …

Mentoring And Retention Of First And Second Year Teachers In North Dakota Public Schools, David C. Bartz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of three types of mentoring experiences on the retention of first and second year public school teachers in North Dakota. Another purpose of the study was to investigate whether differences existed among first and second year public school teachers with regard to demographic variables that included ethnicity, gender, years of experience, school district size, and three different types of mentoring experiences: formal, informal, or no mentorship. The study surveyed 159 first and second year teachers in North Dakota with regard to their perceptions about the mentoring process they experienced.

Results …

Woody Encroachment In North Dakota Grasslands: Using Predictive Modeling To Examine Key Players And Management Implications, Leigh A. Ciofani

Theses and Dissertations

Woody shrub encroachment is one of the major threats to grasslands, closely connected to other issues such as fire regimes, herbivore grazing patterns, and climate change, and is currently a global trend. Consequences of shrub encroachment can significantly impact many of the ecological characteristics of grasslands, including grassland biogeochemistry and resource availability and biodiversity. Studies conducted on grassland ecosystems have pointed to grassland management, in the form of prescribed burning, grazing, or some combination of the two, as a way to prevent woody encroachment. Prevention of woody encroachment may be particularly important to preserving grasslands, as management may not be …

Built Environment And Rural Women: A Case Study Approach, Jeanine Esther Gangeness

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a worldwide concern resulting in disease and disability which disproportionately impacts women and rural populations. Rural women tend to be physically inactive and are at higher risk for obesity. The purpose of this case study was to describe and explain 1) the perceptions of rural women regarding rural built environments conducive to physical activity, and 2) what influences availability, accessibility, acceptability, and maintenance of these built environments for physical activity of rural women. March 2006 through April 2007 data collection occurred in two rural communities with populations of less than 1,000. The ecologic model and feminist underpinnings guided …

Development Of Photography Curriculum Program: Facilitating The Transition From Academic Theory To Business Practice, John M. Osborne

Theses and Dissertations

Competition for job openings is becoming increasingly difficult for college graduates. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2007), "Photographers can expect keen competition for job openings. The number of individuals interested in positions is much greater than the number of openings" (~27). As a result of this increasing competition, this study is intended to develop a model curriculum for a four-year baccalaureate degree program in photography with a business emphasis. More specifically, this study is aimed at developing curriculum that will enable students to more readily transition from academic theory into business and industrial practice.

In this study, a …

Quality In The Red River Basin: An Analysis Of Subsurface Drainage, Janet L. Crossland

Theses and Dissertations

The use of subsurface (tile) drainage on poorly drained fields is not a new concept. In fact, farmers in the Midwest have been using it for more than 150 years to remove excess water from saturated fields to increase crop productivity in the Midwest (Cooke, Badiger, and Garcia, 2000). Unfortunately little research has been done regarding tile drainage in North Dakota's Red River Valley (RRV) or how it will affect the surrounding water bodies.

Because of snowmelt or increased rainfall in the summer, the RRV regularly floods in the spring. Prolonged water on the surface can hinder germination as well …

Implications Of Introduced Mule Deer On Santa Catalina Island, California : Their Impacts, Population Ecology, And Management, Thad A. Manuwal

Theses and Dissertations

A small group of mule deer were introduced to Santa Catalina Island in the early
1930s. The mule deer population increased through the 1940s and 1950s and remains widespread and abundant today. Large browsing ungulates are not native to Santa Catalina Island and there is concern that nonnative mule deer are damaging endemic trees and shrubs on the island when foraging. This study was designed to develop quantitative information on diets, foraging behavior, movements, and population biology of mule deer on Catalina Island.

Diet analysis indicated mule deer are consuming a wide variety of native and
endemic plants found on …

Coordinating Student Experiences In The Health Care Setting - A Design For Efficient And Effective Learning, Communication And Patient Care, Mary Amundson

Theses and Dissertations

Clinical courses are an essential part of the curriculum for any major involving health care careers. These courses provide the health care student the opportunity to transition from the classroom to the health care environment prior to graduation through guided practice in the provision of patient care. Clinical experiences leave the student with a greater understanding of wellness as well as the pathophysiology of disease, recognition of the relationship between interventions and outcomes, realization of the interplay of culture, spirituality and emotional status with the physical response of the body and provide the student with the ability to provide care …