Digital Commons Network^™

Affect Dysregulation As A Mediator Of The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma And Comorbid Substance Use Disorder And Bulimia Nervosa, Brianna Joelle Crawford

Theses and Dissertations

Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening psychiatric disorders associated with a variety of negative medical, social, and psychological consequences. Comorbid mental disorders, such as substance use disorders, present an increasingly complex clinical picture. A significant body of research has been devoted to investigating the etiology of eating disorders and their comorbid conditions. One factor that has received research attention is that of childhood trauma experiences. Childhood trauma has been related to the development of both bulimia nervosa and substance use disorders, and more broadly, an impulsive, behaviorally dysregulated trajectory. Affect dysregulation is one factor proposed to play a role in …

Development And Applications Of Gold-Silica Nanohybrids For Bioanalysis, Jiao Chen

Theses and Dissertations

In the first project, both non-spherical and spherical silica nanomateirals with hollow interiors were synthesized by a one-step soft-templating method. By simply changing the applied solvent from ethanol to 1-propanol, or 1-pentanol, three different shapes of nanomaterials, including nanosphere, nanowire, and nanotadpole, could be obtained, respectively. The effects of other factors on morphology were also systematically studied to propose a growth mechanism. It was found that the PVP-water droplet was the crucial factor on the formation of hollow interiors. Without the addition of PVP, only solid silica nanomaterials, such as solid nanoparticles, nanorods, and nanowires, were synthesized. This developed method …

Goose-Derived Igy: A Potential Therapeutic Antibody For The Treatment Of Infectious Disease, Ashley Louisa Fink

Theses and Dissertations

IgY, the predominate avian antibody isotype, has biochemical properties that make it attractive for a human immunotherapy: IgY does not bind to mammalian Fc receptor (FcR) or rheumatoid factor; IgY does not activate the mammalian complement; and IgY has no heteroagglutinins. Anseriformes (waterfowl, e.g. ducks and geese) produce 2 isoforms of IgY, full length IgY and alternatively spliced IgY lacking the Fc region and a stable equivalent to mammalian F(ab')2 fragment, and the predominate isoform following hyperimmunization. We, and others, have demonstrated that egg-derived avian polyclonal antibodies are prophylactic or therapeutic for a variety of different infectious agents including bacteria, …

Do Men Matter? A Current Population Survey Study Of Characteristics Affecting Delayed Fertility, Patrick Mobley

Theses and Dissertations

Fertility research has traditionally assumed male fertility behavior was constant, overlooking the role of male economic factors, due largely to data restrictions. I use three models to analyze separate perspectives of data from the 2011 - 2013 Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) of the Current Population Survey (CPS) to determine whether male circumstances have a statistically significant effect on fertility behavior. This paper shows that the assumption that male fertility behavior is constant is invalid. Just like women, men prefer childbearing at certain life stages and will delay to maximize their own utility. Student enrollment has a particularly strong …

Relational Aggression Among Caucasian And Northern Plains American Indian School Children, Stephanie Parisien

Theses and Dissertations

Relational aggression is a form of aggression that has received increasing attention within the psychological literature. Among the American Indian population, however, research on relational aggression is currently non-existent. To date, research is continuing to grow with regard to the base rates of relational aggression. The current study has examined both peer-nominated and self-report relational aggression among Caucasian and Northern Plains American Indian school children in order to explore cultural, gender, grade level, and age differences. Other forms of aggression and social status were also explored in order to understand how these constructs may play a role in peer relations. …

Effect Of A Nutrition Program On Eating Habits In Female Collegiate Athletes, Jorid Dagfinrud Oiestad

Theses and Dissertations

In the present study, an intervention took place using two female collegiate NCAA Division 1 (D1) teams. One team was randomized to be the experimental group, receiving the intervention of the 6-week nutrition education class Fueling for Performance (FFP). And the other team served as the control group, receiving no treatment. The purpose was to examine the effect of the FFP intervention on energy balance, body composition and self-efficacy compared to the control group, pre- and post- intervention.

The participants provided pre- and post intervention data through 3-day food records entered in MyPlate Super Tracker, wearing of a BodyMedia Senswear …

Evaluating The Spacing Effect Theory On The Instructional Effectiveness Of Semester-Length Versus Quarter-Length Introductory Computer Literacy Courses In Institutions Of Higher Learning, Emelda S. Ntinglet

Theses and Dissertations

Evaluating the Spacing Effect Theory on the Instructional Effectiveness of Semester-Length versus Quarter-Length Introductory Computer Literacy Courses in Institutions of Higher Learning. Emelda S. Ntinglet-Davis 2013: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler School of Education and Human Services. ERIC Descriptors: Community College, Spacing effect, Retention, Scheduling, Education, Instructional effectiveness, Intensive format, Quarter-length format, Semester format.

This mixed research study evaluated the spacing effect theory on the academic performances of students enrolled in introductory level Computer Literacy courses by comparing course grades and mock IC3 certification exam scores in semester-length and quarter-length courses at Prince Georges Community College. The …

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis Of Carbon Supported Metal/Metal Oxide Nanocomposites And Their Application In Water Purification, Gunawan Gunawan

Theses and Dissertations

A novel, easy, and cost effective method for synthesizing carbon supported metal/metal oxide nanocomposites has been studied. Carbon supported metal/metal oxide nanocomposites have niche applications in the area of catalysis, fuel cells, electrodes, and more. The method utilizes a commercial microwave and features the addition of a developed graphite-jacket technique with renewable carbon resources, tannin and lignin. The method has been successfully used to synthesize carbon/nickel, carbon/iron oxide, and carbon/nickel phosphide nanocomposites. The method has shown its versatility in the synthesis of carbon nanocomposites. The process is much simpler when compared with the available methods for synthesizing carbon nanocomposites. The …

An Investigation Of Electro-Optical 1/F Noise Reduction In An Open-Path Tunable Diode Laser Spectrometer, Samira Adnan Mahdi

Theses and Dissertations

A mobile spectrometer system has been designed to scan the near-surface atmosphere for ammonia gas over a wide range of distances (10 m to 1 Km). Since the system is designed for space applications, it needs to be small, light weight, and low power, which dictates the use of relatively low frequency measurement scans. The spectrometer uses a diode laser, which is subject to a large of electro-optical 1/f noise component at these low frequencies. In this work, digital signal processing techniques are developed to reduce the effects of 1/f noise in gas measurements. A Double Fast Fourier Transform-Based Filter …

Study Of Surface Modification Of Tungsten Nanostructures For Superhydrophobic Applications, Richard Alletru

Theses and Dissertations

In this work, we studied the impact of the modification of the structure of tungsten surfaces through physical vapor deposition (magnetron sputtering), electrochemical (anodization and electropolishing), and thermal (annealing) processes on the wettability of the designed surfaces. We observed static contact angle values ranging from around 10° to above 150° showing the importance of the techniques used to produce the surfaces. We noticed that the annealing process tends to increase the wettability, transforming hydrophobic surfaces into hydrophilic surfaces. We also observed that electropolishing affects the wettability in such a way that the contact angles of pre-chemically treated tungsten foils tend …

The Osh Family Of Proteins And Their Role In Caloric Restriction-Mediated Lifespan Extension In The Budding Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, William Douglas Craft

Theses and Dissertations

Oxysterol-binding protein homolouges (OSH) have been implicated in mediating non-vesicular sterol transport. Caloric restriction (CR) down-regulates sterol synthesis in a variety of organisms, including the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. OSH6, when up-regulated, extends replicative lifespan. In contrast, OSH5 up-regulation shortens replicative lifespan. In this thesis I obtained evidence to show that the deletion of OSH5 extends replicative lifespan in normal media. Deletion of OSH5 in the presence of caloric restriction blocks the lifespan-extending properties of the CR media. My data demonstrate that the total cellular sterol levels of the longevity mutants are indistinguishable from that of wild type. This suggests …

Transport, Deposition, And Hygroscopic Growth Of Diverse-Regime Aerosols In Human Respiratory Airways Of Varying Ages, Jongwon Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Determining how many inhaled aerosols deposit in human respiratory airways and where they deposit (i.e., respiratory dosimetry) are of critical importance in a number of fields. Applications of respiratory dosimetry modeling include evaluating health effects of inhaled pollutants, establishing environmental exposure standards, and developing effective techniques for delivering pharmaceutical aerosols to the lung. However, the manifold characteristics of aerosols coupled with the complexity of respiratory tract make such analysis a challenging task as well as a highly multidisciplinary effort, entailing expertise from medicine, engineering, and physiology. In this study, three major factors that affect particle transport and depositions were systematically …

Infrared Vibrational Spectroscopy Analysis Of Selected Biomolecules, Busra Ergul

Theses and Dissertations

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a useful tool to examine biological molecules for noninvasive measurements. This research has focused on the determination of concentrations of four important biomolecules, glucose, gluconic acid, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and dopamine by FTIR. It is crucial to determine blood glucose levels for diabetes diagnosis. H2O2 is an important biomolecule having implications in aging and aging related diseases. Gluconic acid is important in food and pharmaceutical industries, and dopamine plays a key role in brain activity. In this work, first, glucose, gluconic acid, and H2O2 in aqueous solutions have been studied by using FTIR. Standard …

A Multifaceted Analysis Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer With High-Throughput Technologies, Aleksandra A. Markovets

Theses and Dissertations

As a subtype of breast cancer, Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is characterized by a unique molecular profile, distinct patterns of metastasis and a very aggressive phenotype. Without viable, confirmed therapeutic targets, treatment of TNBC remains one of the most pressing clinical challenges. Hypothesis-driven research on TNBC has focused on a handful of molecules suspected of playing a role in the disease etiology and has yielded limited success. The mechanisms underlying the origin and development of this disease still remain unknown. This gap in understanding the molecular mechanisms in TNBC was critical for undertaking the following analysis of this disease. …

The Jikitou Biomedical Question Answering System: Facilitating The Next Stage In The Evolution Of Information Retrieval, Michael Anton Bauer

Theses and Dissertations

In clinical and biomedical settings researchers often use specialized search engines to acquire answers to technical questions or to verify experimental results through the use of peer reviewed scientific literature. The outcome of such queries typically results in the reading and scanning of multiple Web pages and documents. Information retrieval is the science of retrieving relevant items, question answering (QA) is a specialized type of information retrieval with the aim of returning precise short answers to queries posed as natural language questions. In this dissertation I describe and discuss a QA system named Jikitou (www.jikitou.com), which creates a dialog with …

Real-Time, Multiple Pan/Tilt/Zoom Computer Vision Tracking And 3d Positioning System For Unmanned Aerial System Metrology, Daniel D. Doyle

Theses and Dissertations

The study of structural characteristics of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) continues to be an important field of research for developing state of the art nano/micro systems. Development of a metrology system using computer vision (CV) tracking and 3D point extraction would provide an avenue for making these theoretical developments. This work provides a portable, scalable system capable of real-time tracking, zooming, and 3D position estimation of a UAS using multiple cameras. Current state-of-the-art photogrammetry systems use retro-reflective markers or single point lasers to obtain object poses and/or positions over time. Using a CV pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) system has the potential to …

Ecology, Phylogenetics, And Conservation Of Draba Asterophora Complex: A Rare, Alpine, Endemic From Lake Tahoe, Usa, Emily Ruth Smith Putnam

Theses and Dissertations

Rare, alpine, endemic species are particularly at risk for extinction. Alpine environments are especially vulnerable to climate change and human impacts, such as ski resort development and snowmaking. Draba asterophora Payson is a rare, alpine species that occurs only in three disjunct mountain-top regions surrounding Lake Tahoe. It is currently threatened by human impacts, such as ski resorts, as well as indirect influences of climate change and therefore in need of better understanding for conservation purposes. Draba asterophora may be able to serve as a case study for other similarly vulnerable, rare, alpine, endemic species with conservation needs. We utilized …

Translation And Transcription Of A Passage From The Baduem Manuscript: An Eighteenth-Century Portuguese Embassy To China, Annalyn Beus

Theses and Dissertations

This project is a diplomatic transcription and English translation of a passage from an 18-century manuscript that chronicles a remarkable Portuguese embassy to China (Macau). The embassy embarked from Lisbon in February 1752, sailing in a luxuriously outfitted ship (Nossa Senhora da Conceição e Lusitânia Grande), in convoy with a warship (Nossa Senhora das Brotas). The English translation is important because it makes the account accessible to scholars who lack familiarity with Portuguese.This voyage to China is remarkable in light of the long history of maritime loss by the Portuguese. Although the normal projected loss of life on this route …

Nísia Floresta: Setting A Foundation For Feminist Literature In Brazil, Rachel Davidson Skinner

Theses and Dissertations

Many historians and literary critics recognize the nineteenth-century Brazilian author, Nísia Floresta, as the first feminist in Brazil. "Nísia Floresta é considerada a precursora dos ideais feministas no Brasil. Desde o início de sua carreira literária, a defesa dos direitos femininos foi o tema mais recorrente em sua obra"(Castro 250). Her works, published in Brazil and also in France and Italy, influenced women across borders. This thesis will address the discourse on maternity and education found in her works Opúsculo humanitário, Direitos das mulheres e injustiças dos homens, A mulher, and Conselhos à minha filha. Focusing on gender equality and …

Post-Fire Interactions Between Soil Water Repellency, Islands Of Fertility, And Bromus Tectorum Invasibility, Kaitlynn Jane Fernelius

Theses and Dissertations

An intrinsic link exists between soil moisture and soil nitrogen. Factors that increase or decrease soil moisture can have a profound effect on soil nitrogen cycling, which may have later repercussions in the plant community. Post-fire soil water repellency is one factor that can limit soil moisture acquisition and may indirectly affect nitrogen cycling and weed invasion in woody islands of fertility. Plots centered on burned Juniperus osteosperma trees were either left untreated or treated with a surfactant to ameliorate water repellency. Two years later, soils were excavated from the untreated and treated field plots. In the greenhouse, half of …

Liquid Core Waveguide Sensors With Single And Multi-Spot Excitation, Lynnell Uilani Wai Yee Zempoaltecatl

Theses and Dissertations

Using silicon based microfabrication and materials, a photonic platform, capable of single bioparticle analysis, has been developed. This platform combines liquid and hollow core waveguides on the micron-scale (5 µm x 12 µm) to isolate femtoliter sized sample volumes. Fluorescence excitation and signals in the visible range are directed into and out of the sample volume at an orthogonal angle to maximize signal-to-noise. In order to guide light in a low-index material antiresonant reflecting optical waveguides (ARROWs) were incorporated into the platform. This thesis reveals the development path of these structures over several device generations including innovations in material, geometries, …

Structure-Function Relationship In Dual Function Hemoglobin/Dehaloperoxidase From Amphitrite Ornata, Chunxue Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Hemoglobin/dehaloperoxidase (DHP) from Amphitrite ornata, is the first discovered globin which in addition to the oxygen binding has an additional physiological function as an enzyme. In the ferric state it is a dehaloperoxidase, which dehalogenates a wide range of halophenols. DHP evolved from an ancestral oxygen carrier and acquired the peroxidase function in response to environmental pressures. The peroxidase activity of DHP is much higher than that of vertebrate myoglobins (Mb) yet lower than that of typical peroxidases. Also, DHP exhibits about 10-fold lower oxygen affinity than Mb.

The first aim of this research was to identify the halophenolic substrates …

Environmental Regulation Of Tidal Wetland Microbial Communities And Associated Biogeochemistry, Ember Morrissey

Theses and Dissertations

Microbial communities play an essential role in carrying out the biogeochemical cycles that sustain life on Earth, yet we know very little about their ecology. One question of particular interest is how environmental conditions shape microbial community structure (i.e., the types of organisms found in the community and their relative abundance), and whether such changes in structure are related to biogeochemical function. It is the aim of this dissertation to address this question via the examination of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling in wetland ecosystems, which due to their diverse hydrology have a profound influence on biogeochemical cycles. With …

Spatial Analysis Of Air Velocity Distribution As Affected By House Size And Design In Commercial Broiler Production Facilities, Brian David Luck

Theses and Dissertations

Tunnel ventilation is the design practice of placing exhaust fans and air inlets on opposite ends of animal production facilities and moving air through the building via negative pressure. Increasing air velocity within tunnel ventilated broiler production facilities increases sensible cooling and reduces the need for latent cooling (panting), which improves production efficiency. An air velocity measurement system was developed and measurement density analysis for quantifying air velocity distribution was performed in a 12.19 x 121.9 m commercial broiler production facility. Results showed that axial measurement distances of 3.05 m and 40 measurement points per cross-section produced the most descriptive …

Xylo-Oligosaccharides Production From Corn Fiber And In-Vitro Evaluation For Prebiotic Effect, Aditya Samala

Theses and Dissertations

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are considered to be prebiotics. Prebiotics are defined as non-digestible food ingredients that benefit the host by stimulating the growth and activity of a limited number of bacteria, such as the Bifidobacterium genus, in the colon. Corn fiber separated from distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) could be a valuable feedstock for XOS production. The objective of the first chapter was to determine the efficacy for autohydrolysis to produce XOS using fiber separated from DDGS. Fiber was treated with deionized water in a Parr-reactor, at temperatures ranging from 140 to 220 °C to produce XOS. The maximum total …

Model-Based Autonomic Performance Management Of Distributed Enterprise Systems And Applications, Rajat Mehrotra

Theses and Dissertations

Distributed computing systems (DCS) host a wide variety of enterprise applications in dynamic and uncertain operating environments. These applications require stringent reliability, availability, and quality of service (QoS) guarantee to maintain their service level agreements (SLAs). Due to the growing size and complexity of DCS, an autonomic performance management system is required to maintain SLAs of these applications. A model-based autonomic performance management structure is developed in this dissertation for applications hosted in DCS. A systematic application performance modeling approach is introduced in this dissertation to define the dependency relationships among the system parameters, which impact the application performance. The …

A Framework For Identifying Appropriate Sub-Regions For Ecosystem-Based Management In Northern Gulf Of Mexico Coastal And Marine Environments, Jennifer Sloan Ziegler

Theses and Dissertations

Nearly half of the population of the United States lives in coastal regions, and millions of visitors from across the nation and world enjoy the coasts every year. Coastal and marine areas provide for recreation, economic activities essential for the financial health of the nation, and vital ecological services. As they provide so many benefits to the U.S., it is vital to protect and preserve the coastal and ocean areas from the increasing, competing demands they are facing. In order to protect and preserve these complex systems, a comprehensive approach incorporating science, engineering, humanities, and social sciences should be taken; …

Analysis Of Morphology And Fauna Of Geometrinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) Of The Caribbean Region, David M. Plotkin

Theses and Dissertations

The Geometrinae, commonly known as emerald moths, are a diverse group of Lepidoptera with over 450 Neotropical species. However, Caribbean Geometrinae have received relatively little attention compared to the Geometrinae of mainland Central and South America. Using the method of Lee and Brown (2006), whole body mounts of descaled specimens of both Caribbean and mainland Neotropical Geometrinae were prepared. Morphological variation of exo- and endoskeletal characters among species, genera, and tribes of Neotropical Geometrinae is described. A faunistic study of Caribbean Geometrinae was also conducted using material from museums and private collections. The study includes definitions of species of Caribbean …

Determination Of Beta-Carotene Content And Consumer Acceptability Of Sweet Potato Cookies By Adults And Preschool Children, Aja Marie Stokes

Theses and Dissertations

Vitamin A deficiency is recognized as a major health concern worldwide, especially in developing countries. Sweet potatoes are a cash crop that is abundantly grown and available, providing an excellent source of the carotenoid, beta-carotene. Carotenoids are precursors to vitamin A (retinol). Three sweet potato cookie products were developed: glutenree, wheat-containing, and glutenree with extra sweet potato. Products were evaluated by adults and pre-school aged children based on appearance, aroma, texture, flavor, and overall acceptability. Results showed that overall the children liked both the glutenree and wheat-containing cookies (p<0.05). Adults preferred (p<0.05) the glutenree with extra sweet potato and the wheat-containing products. The glutenree cookie contained 10.1 parts per million of beta-carotene as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Differentiating The Characteristic Response Of The Brain After Exposure To Blunt And Blast Trauma, Mark Gregory Tejada Begonia

Theses and Dissertations

Military personnel often experience mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) from exposure to improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Soldiers typically endure blast trauma from the IED pressure wave as well as blunt trauma from ensuing head impacts. Researchers have not reached a consensus on whether the biomechanical response from blunt or blast trauma plays a more dominant role in mTBI because the specific biomechanical sources of injury are often undetermined. Consequently, the goal of this dissertation was to conduct three separate studies in order to characterize the mechanical behavior of the brain after exposure to mTBI conditions. For Study 1, mild blunt …