Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Race And Interactions Between Student-Faculty On Undergraduate Student Learning And Multicultural Perceptions, Yun Zhu

Theses and Dissertations

As enrollment of minority students and recruitment of minority faculty in higher education increase, opportunities for students to interact with racially and ethnically different faculty will become more frequent and pronounced. Also, there may be expectations that these interactions will produce greater educational gains and sensitivity to racial issues. A quantitative research methodology was employed to measure the nature of the student-faculty interactions across race and to explore factors that influence undergraduate students’ GPA and multicultural perceptions in order to identify ways in which student-faculty interactions might better serve the students. Mainly, this study focused on the quantity, quality, and …

Teachers' Perception Of Computer Use And Technical Support In A Rural Virginia School Division: A Case Study, Rodney Berry

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate teacher perceptions of computer-based technology and technology support provided by a rural school division; the extent of teachers’ self reported computer skills, comfort levels, perception of obstacles; and the amount of support, time, and training available to them to accomplish the integration during the course of instruction. This research was conducted during the 2010-2011 school term as a case study of a small rural K-12 school division in southern Virginia, consisting of teachers from each core curriculum from each of the three schools, selected deliberately. The study was divided into three phases: …

Identifying Modulators Of The Development Of Acute Functional Tolerance To Ethanol In Caenorhabditis Elegans., Ka-Po Leung

Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol abuse is a problem in our society. There are few treatments available, in part due to the unclear molecular mechanisms of ethanol’s effects. Human studies indicate that there is a genetic component influencing disease susceptibility, and that an individual’s initial response to alcohol can predict their development of addiction. We have taken a forward genetics approach to study one component of initial response, acute functional tolerance (AFT), in Caenorhabditis elegans. We identified bet11, a mutation that causes animals to be defective in the development of AFT. Genetic analysis suggested that the gene that bet11 disrupts participates in a synthetic …

Woody Encroachment Mechanisms Of A Symbiotic N-Fixing Shrub: Ecophysiology, Facilitation, And Resource Use Efficiency, Jaclyn Vick

Theses and Dissertations

Causes and consequences of woody encroachment into grass dominated systems have been widely studied, however functional mechanisms which promote encroachment are largely unknown. Many expansive woody species are shrubs with rhizobial or actinorhizal N-fixing symbiotic associations. Morella cerifera L. (Myricaceae) is an actinorhizal N-fixing shrub which rapidly expands into grasslands on the barrier islands off the coast of Virginia, USA. The objective of this research was to determine physiological drivers of woody encroachment resulting in increased woody cover of M. cerifera on Southeastern, US barrier islands. Variations in physiology and resource use efficiencies (RUE) of M. cerifera and co-occurring shrubs …

Characterizing The Phosphorylation State Of Tie2 Using Sh2 Domain Fusion Proteins, Kenneth Yuth

Theses and Dissertations

The cardiovascular system develops through two distinct processes in embryogenesis: vasculogenesis, whereby the primary plexus in the heart is formed along with embryonic and extraembryonic vasculature, and angiogenesis, which begins after vasculogenesis and results in the refinement and maturation of the branched vessel system. In pathological angiogenesis, tumors expand by releasing pro-angiogenic factors in response to hypoxic conditions. The Tie receptors, Tie1 and Tie2, are receptor tyrosine kinases that are integral to angiogenic pathways. A family of Angiopoietins, Ang1-4, have been shown to act as ligands for Tie2, of which Ang1 and Ang2 are best characterized. Activation of the receptor …

Healthcare Acquired Infection Risk And Toothbrush Contamination In The Icu., Michelle Frazelle

Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare acquired infections (HAIs) are a complex and multi-factorial problem associated with high morbidity, mortality, and cost. Toothbrushes (TBs) may be at risk for contamination with potential pathogenic microorganisms (PPMs) from the patient care environment or autoinnoculation from the patient. We focused on three PPMs: multiply resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and Acinetobacter. Specific aims were to (1) describe environmental factors associated with TB contamination in the ICU; (2) describe the relationship between TB contamination and oral colonization in critically ill adults.

Factors Controlling Dissolved Organic Carbon Lability And Ecological Fate In The East Branch Swift River, Massachusettes, Hall Eric

Theses and Dissertations

Fluvial systems have been estimated to transform, transport, or store 2.75 petagrams (Pg) of Organic Carbon (OC) per year. Although approximately 1Pg per year of terrestrial carbon is fluxed to the atmosphere through inland waters, little is known about the factors regulating its eventual ecological fate. 28 day lability incubations were conducted concurrent with the measurement of several environmental parameters including discharge, nutrient concentration, DO13C, and DOC:DON at several sites along Bigelow Brook and the East Branch of the Swift River, Massachusetts. Temporal and spatial variation of DOC, DOC:DON and DO13C were explored. Two distinct DOC consumption rates, short and …

"The Course Fit Us": Differentiated Instruction In The College Classroom, Mary Volesky Dosch

Theses and Dissertations

Differentiated instruction is a learner-centered philosophy of teaching based on Tomlinson’s research, but stems from a constructivist belief espoused by Dewey, Piaget, and Vygotsky. Through consideration of three diagnostic areas: readiness, interests, and learning profiles, a teacher differentiates how diverse students access the material (content), how students make sense of the material (process), and how students demonstrate their learning (product).

Differentiated instruction has been used successfully at the elementary, middle, and high school levels showing quantitative improvements for diverse students. A limited number of qualitative studies on differentiated instruction exist at the college level, with even fewer quantitative studies.

The …

Implications Of Fatigue And Sleep Loss On Medical Professionals And Countermeasures To Prevent Fatigue, Tracie J. Christensen

Theses and Dissertations

The number of hours worked per individual has long been limited by the law in many professional industries. Recent increases in the incidence of medical and diagnostic errors related to fatigue has led to an increased interest in health care worker fatigue. For human beings, functioning on a 24-hour basis poses unique physiological challenges. Acknowledging and managing these challenges can promote performance, productivity, and safety in 24-hour operations. Ignoring these factors can lead to decrements in human capability and to the potential for incidents and accidents that can result in tremendous societal and individual costs. Long duty hours, reduced sleep …

Treatment Of Opiate Abuse: Increasing Patient Self-Efficacy And Engagement In Treatment Through Education Of Providers, Kimberly Wight

Theses and Dissertations

Opiate abuse is one of the fastest growing public health concerns in the United States and has far reaching ramifications that effect individual patients and their families, communities, and the healthcare system (U.S. Department of Justice National Drug Intelligence Center, 2010). It has been shown that there is significant gap in knowledge among healthcare providers surrounding the topic of opiate abuse and dependence as well as the available pharmacologic treatments that are available to help relieve withdrawal as well as help maintain heal truer lifestyles. In addition to this lack in knowledge there appears to be a gap in recognizing …

The Role Of The School Nurse In Advocating For Comprehensive Sex Education In Schools, Heather Weaver

Theses and Dissertations

Despite recent decreases in teen pregnancy rates, teen pregnancy remains a significant public health problem. In the past two decades, funding has been available supporting sex education; however, many of these programs have not been effective in reducing teen pregnancy rates. Research supports the use of comprehensive sex education as effective tools in delaying sexual initiation and preventing teen pregnancy. School nurses are essential in the advocacy of policy change at the federal, state, and local levels. School nurses serve in leadership roles for health policies and programs. This article aims at describing research based advocacy programs that may assist …

Emergence Delirium: Modifying Risk Factors In Pediatric Patients, Sara J. Skatvold

Theses and Dissertations

Emergence Delirium: Modifying risk factors in pediatric patients

Emergence delirium is a known post-operative phenomenon that is more prevalent in the pediatric population, especially preschool children (Chen, Li, Hu, & Wang, 2010). According to Scott and Gold (2006), "Emergence delirium is a clinical condition in which patients are "awake" but experience alterations in disorientation and other mental status changes that range from confusion and lethargy to violent and harmful behavior" (p. 100). The underlying cause of emergence delirium is not fully understood. Knowledge of risk factors that may lead to emergence delirium will assist anesthesia providers in offering an anesthetic …

Sensory Modulation Disorder In Puerto Rican Preschoolers: Associated Risk Factors, Rosa L. Roman-Oyola

Theses and Dissertations

Sensory Modulation Disorder (SMD) reduces a child’s ability to respond to sensory stimuli in the environment in a manner that corresponds to the nature or intensity of the stimulus; this disorder therefore significantly can impact participation in developmentally appropriate play and functional activities. More studies are needed to enhance research in the field of SMD and aid the general community in understanding the disorder and its causes. The purpose of this study was to characterize the prevalence of SMD among Puerto Rican preschoolers and examine the relationship between specific risk factors (socioeconomic status, pre-natal alcohol exposure, low birth weight, preterm …

Influence Of Supraglottal Geometry And Modeling Choices On The Flow-Induced Vibration Of A Computational Vocal Fold Model, Timothy E. Shurtz

Theses and Dissertations

Computational models of the flow-induced vibrations of the vocal folds are powerful tools that can be used in conjunction with physical experiments to better understand voice production. This thesis research has been performed to contribute to the understanding of vocal fold dynamics as well as several aspects of computational modeling of the vocal folds. In particular, the effects of supraglottal geometry have been analyzed using a computational model of the vocal folds and laryngeal airway. In addition, three important computational modeling parameters (contact line location, Poisson's ratio, and symmetry assumptions) have been systematically varied to determine their influence on model …

Comparing The Efficacy Of Two Cognitive Dissonance Interventions For Eating Pathology: Are Online And Face-To-Face Interventions Equally Effective?, Kasey Serdar

Theses and Dissertations

Clinical and subclinical eating pathology are common, especially among female undergraduates. Such problems are often chronic and associated with a range of negative medical and psychological outcomes. Thus, it is important to develop effective prevention programs to reduce eating disorder risk. Numerous studies suggest that dissonance-based prevention programs are the most successful in reducing eating disorder risk factors, however, such programs might not be convenient for students limited by scheduling restraints or geographic proximity. Further, some students may be reluctant to attend such groups due to lack of anonymity. One way to address these potential barriers is to adapt dissonance-based …

Utilization Of Structural And Biochemical Cues To Enhance Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Balendu Shekhar Jha

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the prospects of using the electrospinning process to fabricate tissue engineering scaffolds targeting a variety of regenerative applications, with a primary focus on the production of nerve guides for the treatment of long-defect nerve injuries in the peripheral nervous system. A basic overview of the conventional electrospinning process is provided, and the utility of this fabrication scheme in the production of collagen-based tissue engineering scaffolds is demonstrated. Next, a novel modification of the basic electrospinning process is presented. This process, called two pole air gap electrospinning, was developed to produce nerve guides that exhibit an anisotropic structure …

A Time-Efficient Method For Accurate T1 Mapping Of The Human Brain, Yung-Yeh Chang

Theses and Dissertations

The signal resulting from the IR-FSE sequence has been thoroughly analyzed in order to improve the accuracy of quantitative T1 mapping of the human brain. Several optimized post-processing algorithms have been studied and compared in terms of their T1 mapping accuracy. The modified multipoint two-parameter fitting method was found to produce less underestimation compared to the traditional multipoint three-parameter fitting method, and therefore, to result in a smaller T1 estimation error. Two correction methods were proposed to reduce the underestimation problem which is commonly seen in IR-FSE sequences used for measuring T1, especially when a large turbo factor is used. …

Evaluating The Incremental Validity Of The Mmpi-2-Rc Scales For Custody Litigants, Elizabeth Wheeler

Theses and Dissertations

The use of psychological testing in child custody assessments has become more common and important as psychologists are increasingly used as expert witnesses in contested child custody and visitation cases. Currently, the MMPI-2 is the most commonly used psychological test in child custody cases, but there is no research indicating which version of the measure (K-corrected, non-K-corrected, or the RC scales) provides the most accurate picture of the custody litigant in terms of substantial correlations with external variables. This study represents the first examination of the convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity of the MMPI-2 K-corrected Basic Clinical Scales, the MMPI-2 …

Surface Modification Of Liposomes Containing Nanoemulsions, Jonathan Michael Hartley

Theses and Dissertations

Many attempts have been made to make cancer therapy more selective and less detrimental to the health of the patients. Nanoparticles have emerged as a way to solve some of the problems of traditional chemotherapy. Nanoparticles can provide protection for the therapeutic from degradation or clearance, as well as protection to healthy tissue from the damaging effects of chemotherapy drugs. Researchers are pursuing different strategies but all have the same goals of improving the outcomes of cancer patients. The field of controlled release of drugs has increased significantly in hopes of better treating diseases like cancer. Improved control of drug …

Shrubs As Sentinels Of Ordnance Contamination: Using Plant Physiology And Remote Sensing To Detect Tnt In Soils, Kathryn Rubis

Theses and Dissertations

Methods for rapid, safe and effective detection of unmapped buried ordnance are vital to the protection of humans and environmental quality throughout the world. This study aimed to investigate the use of phytosensing and to understand the physiological response of woody plants to 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) contamination. Baccharis halimifolia were potted in soils containing various concentrations of TNT and physiological responses were observed over a 9-week experimental period. Measurements included the collection of remotely sensed data, such as hyperspectral reflectance and chlorophyll fluorescence, and traditional plant-level physiological data. In accordance with the hypothesis, low levels of TNT improved physiological response in …

Tissue Engineering An Acellular Bioresorbable Vascular Graft To Promote Regeneration, Patricia Wolfe

Theses and Dissertations

Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field that aims to restore, maintain, or improve diseased or damaged tissues. Electrospinning has become one of the most popular means to fabricate a scaffold for various tissue engineering applications as the process is extremely versatile and inexpensive. The ability for electrospinning to consistently create nanofibrous structures capable of mimicking the native extracellular matrix (ECM) is the basis behind why this technique is so successful in tissue engineering. Cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for over 100 years, and because of this, the need for coronary artery replacements …

Treatment Of Anxiety Using Manualized Protocol: A Case Study, Deborah Stevenson

Theses and Dissertations

This case study evaluates the effectiveness of a manualized cognitive-behavioral therapy for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in an adult female with comorbid Major Depressive Disorder and Social Phobia. The client voluntarily participated in outpatient individual psychotherapy offered in a private counseling facility. The client's psychosocial assessment is presented and the literature on empirical treatment and developing treatment models for Generalized Anxiety Disorder is reviewed. The client's progress in treatment and a comparison with what might be considered "best treatment" is presented. The client's Generalized Anxiety Disorder was treated using the manualized program Mastery of Your Anxiety and Worry …

Characterization Of The Effect Of Serum And Chelating Agents On Staphylococcus Aureus Biofilm Formation; Chelating Agents Augment Biofilm Formation Through Clumping Factor B, Nabil Mathew Abraham

Theses and Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus is the causative agent of a diverse array of acute and chronic infections, and some these infections, including infective endocarditis, joint infections, and medical device-associated bloodstream infections, depend upon its capacity to form tenacious biofilms on surfaces. Inserted medical devices such as intravenous catheters, pacemakers, and artificial heart valves save lives, but unfortunately, they can also serve as a substrate on which S. aureus can form a biofilm, attributing S. aureus as a leading cause of medical device-related infections. The major aim of this work was take compounds to which S. aureus would be exposed during infection and …

Investigation Of Biomolecular Interactions For Development Of Sensors And Diagnostics, Xiaojuan Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

The highly specific recognition processes between biomolecules mediate various crucial biological processes. Uncovering the molecular basis of these interactions is of great fundamental and applied importance. This research work focuses on understanding the interactions of several biomolecular recognition systems and processes that can provide fundamental information to aid in the rational design of sensing and molecular recognition tools. Initially, a reliable and versatile platform was developed to investigate biomolecular interactions at a molecular level. This involved several techniques, including biomolecule functionalization to enable attachment to self-assembled monolayers as well as atomic force microscopy (AFM) based force spectroscopy to uncover the …

Investigations On The Corrosion Resistance Of Metallic Bipolar Plates (Bpp) In Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (Pemfc) - Understanding Of The Effects Of Material, Coating And Manufacturing, Ender Dur

Theses and Dissertations

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) systems are promising technology for contributing to meet the deficiency of world`s clean and sustainable energy requirements in the near future. Metallic bipolar plate (BPP) as one of the most significant components of PEMFC device accounts for the largest part of the fuel cell`s stack. Corrosion for metallic bipolar plates is a critical issue, which influences the performance and durability of PEMFC. Corrosion causes adverse impacts on the PEMFC`s performance jeopardizing commercialization. This research is aimed at determining the corrosion resistance of metallic BPPs, particularly stainless steels, used in PEMFC from different aspects. Material …

Mathematics Anxiety And The College Student, Amanda Mccloy

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to investigate whether mathematics anxiety is correlated to choice of major in college, the need to be enrolled in a remedial math course and average mathematics grades. Types of mathematical problems, statements and situations were also viewed to determine which of the latter caused the greatest anxiety among volunteers. Volunteers were given an experimenter designed mathematics anxiety survey in which they rated problems, statements and situations pertaining to math on a five-point Likert scale. Upon performance of correlations, results proved non-significant for all conditions. Thus, mathematics anxiety in this particular sample was not correlated to choice …

Factors Related To Parental Approval Of Adult Childrens' Engagement Relationships, Marietta Malnar

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined possible factors that may influence parental approval for their adult child's engaged relationship. A total of 4,175 individuals completed the RELATE inventory. Among the items in the questionnaire were measures of parental approval, parents' marital quality, autonomy from family-of-origin, and relationship quality. Individuals also reported age, education, length of relationship, parents' marital status, and parents' socioeconomic status. Results from the linear regression analysis indicate that age, parental marital quality, autonomy from family-of-origin, and couple relationship quality all influence parental approval. What is interesting about these findings is the difference in the predictive power of males versus females. …

The Effect Of Sexblindness And Sexawareness On Workplace Related Gender Bias, Katie Nichol

Theses and Dissertations

The present study was an adaptation of Richeson and Nussbaum's (2004) study of racism to gender bias. Two different gender ideologies were theoretically analyzed, then the influence of these ideologies on implicit and explicit forms of gender bias was examined. Psychology undergraduates were presented with a prompt promoting either a sexblind or sexaware approach to reducing gender bias. Participants then completed a measure of implicit (IAT Gender/Career) and explicit (MAWWWS) bias. Results suggested that, relative to the sexaware perspective, the sexblind perspective generated less implicit gender bias. There was no difference between ideological groups on the explicit measure. The findings …

Effect Of Experimentally-Induced Anterior Knee Pain On Postural Control, Emily Elizabeth Falk

Theses and Dissertations

Context: Knee pain is experienced by many people. Because of this, authors have started researching the effects of pain on lower extremity mechanics and also on static and dynamic postural control. However, the effects of pain are difficult to study due to associated confounding variables. Objective: We asked: (1) Will experimentally-induced anterior knee pain alter perceived pain using the visual analogue scale? ; (2) will perceived pain affect postural control as measured by center-of-pressure during static and dynamic movement? Design: Crossover. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Participants: Fifteen healthy subjects. Intervention: Each subject participated in single leg quiet stance, landing, and walking …

An Examination Of Spiritual And Religious Coping And Well-Being And Their Impact On The Health-Related Quality Of Life For Patients With Mechanical Circulatory Support, Angela Hardy-Duncan

Theses and Dissertations

Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) improves the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for patients with end-stage heart failure (HF) (Friedrich & Bohm, 2007). Religious and spiritual practices positively influence health and well-being for cardiac patients (Ai, Park, Huang, Rodgers, & Tice, 2007; Blackhall, & Koenig, 1998). The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of spiritual well-being (SWB) and religious well-being (RWB) and coping styles and methods (CSM) on health related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with MCS. This exploratory repeated measures study used Spearmans’ rho and Wilcoxons’ Signed Rank tests for correlation and comparison analyses. The study …