Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of Cannabinoid Receptor Interaction Of Anandamide, The Endogenous Cannabinoid Receptor Ligand, Irma Bateman Adams

Theses and Dissertations

Recent evidence implicates anandamide as the endogenous ligand for the cannabinoid receptor. One purpose of this study was to determine the structural requirements for anandamide's receptor interaction and the influence of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), an enzyme inhibitor, on receptor affinity. A second objective was evaluation of the correlation between affinities of the analogs and in vivo pharmacological activities. The ability of anandamide and analogs to displace [3H]- CP 55,940 was determined by a filtration assay. Displacement curves for anandamide in the presence of PMSF produced a Ki of 89 ± 10 nM; without PMSF the Ki increased to 5400 ± …

Fears In Children With Chronic Constipation: Reliability And Validity Of The Defecation Anxiety Scale, Elizabeth Page Clawson

Theses and Dissertations

Pediatric constipation can lead to various negative emotional and physical consequences including abdominal pain, painful defecation, toileting fears, anxiety about pain and intestinal dysfunction. In addition, constipation can lead to socially compromising and embarrassing situations due to associated overflow incontinence. These unpleasant physical and emotional symptoms may in tum lead to conditioned avoidance behaviors, which serve to further maintain the cycle of stool retention and constipation. Presently, there have not been any studies directly addressing the role of conditioned aversion in the etiology and maintenance of constipation. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Defecation Anxiety Scale (DAS)- a …

Red Blood Cell Stability In Uremic Rats, Cecilia Mermel Maccallum

Theses and Dissertations

Determining the fragility of the red blood cell (RBC) is important for the diagnosis of and evaluation for treatment of several RBC diseases. In part RBC production is controlled through the hormone erythropoietin secreted by the kidney. In a previous study from this laboratory, it was found that RBC were more stable in uremic male rats compared to controls. In this experiment, uremia was induced in four groups of female rats through a two stage nephrectomy. The nephrectomy involved the removal of two-thirds of the left kidney, followed by the removal of the entire right kidney one week later. The …

Christian Feminist Publications And Structures Of Constraint: A Comparison Of Daughters Of Sarah And Exponent Ii Within The Contexts Of Neo-Evangelicalism And Mormonism, Sasha S. Cluff

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses content analysis to compare two conservative Christian feminist publications: Daughters of Sarah, produced by neo-evangelical feminists, and Exponent II, produced by Mormon feminists. Findings are based on insights from three main theories: Debra Minkoff's organization-environment perspective, Nancy Folbre's model of collective action based on structures of constraint, and the church-sect typology from the sociology of religion literature. Although both organizations similarly endeavor to integrate feminist and religious identities, the loose boundaries of evangelicalism allow Daughters of Sarah to explore a more liberal feminist agenda and interact with broader feminist sources while still remaining within the …

Walking Lightly On The Planet: A Curriculum Enrichment For The Pinelands Science Unit Of The Cherry Hill Environmental Education Residency Program On Pinelands Ecology, Elaine Ruth Miller

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis project is designed to produce written curriculum materials in Pinelands ecology. The written curriculum materials produced are intended to be implemented as part of the Pinelands Science Unit of the Cherry Hill Environmental Education Residency Program, also known as CHEER.

The written curriculum materials will include pre-trip, resident trip, and follow up assessment materials and activities that follow the given format for all Cherry Hill science units. The structure of such a program will allow, if desired, interdisciplinary coordination between science, math, English and ecology that correlate with the existing CHEER program. Through this experience it is expected …

Applications Of Nonlinear Control Using The State-Dependent Riccati Equation, David K. Parrish

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the relatively new theory of nonlinear control using state dependent coefficient factorizations to mimic linear state space systems. The control theory is a nonlinear quadratic approach, analogous to linear quadratic regulation. All implementations examined in this thesis are done strictly numerically. This thesis is meant to provide a proof of concept for both satellite control and for an artificial pancreas to regulate blood glucose levels in diabetics by automatic insulin injection. These simulations represent only a first step towards practical use of the NQR method, and do not address noise rejection or robustness issues.

Semantic Interpretation Of An Artificial Neural Network, Stanley D. Kinderknecht

Theses and Dissertations

Recent advances in machine learning theory have opened the door for applications to many difficult problem domains. One area that has achieved great success for stock market analysis/prediction is artificial neural networks. However, knowledge embedded in the neural network is not easily translated into symbolic form. Recent research, exploring the viability of merging artificial neural networks with traditional rule-based expert systems, has achieved limited success. In particular, extracting production (IF.. THEN) rules from a trained neural net based on connection weights provides a valid set of rules only when neuron outputs are close to 0 or 1 (e.g. the output …

Design, Fabrication, Processing, And Testing Of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Chemical Sensors, Brian S. Freeman

Theses and Dissertations

Chemical microsensors are a new field integrating chemical thin film technology with solid-state fabrication techniques to make devices capable of detecting chemicals in the environment. This thesis evaluated commercially available fabrication processes and numerous sensor designs for working chemical sensors. The commercial processes used were MUMPS for surface micromachined devices and MOSIS for bulk micromachined devices. Overall, eight fabrication runs and 29 different designs were made. Of these designs, two were shown to work effectively. Other designs failed due to fabrication problems and design errors that caused release problems. One design that worked was a surface micromachined chemoresistor with interdigitated …

Study Of The Long-Term Desorption Of Trichloroethylene From Clay Soils Using Infrared Spectroscopy, Mary P. Stager

Theses and Dissertations

Slow desorption of contaminants from soil presents one of the greatest challenges to modeling contaminant fate and transport and implementing effective remediation technologies. The kinetics of long-term desorption of trichloroethylene (TCE) from powdered clay soils were studied to determine the desorption rates and mechanism. Infrared absorption spectroscopy was used to monitor the concentration of TCE desorbed from contaminated flint clay for 71 hours. Observed gas phase TCE concentrations as a function of time were compared to that predicted by a one-site Langmuir desorption mechanism. The Langmuir model, with a single type of bonding site, did not account for the release …

Comparison Of Gravel Substrate Vs Soil Substrate For The Construction Of An Experimental Fen, Carolyn S. Langley

Theses and Dissertations

Under the Clean Water Act Section 404 of 1972 and 33 CFR 320-330 and 40 CFR 230 moderate the destruction of wetlands by the Air Force to make way for other uses. To obtain a permit for a design or construction project which affects a wetland, the Air Force must agree to create new wetlands, or replace lost wetland acreage through wetland creation or restoration. The Air Force is interested in building 'successful' wetlands as inexpensively as possible. It has been common practice to use hydric soil, which often had to be hauled in, as the substrate at the restored …

Determining Types Of Health Effects To Persian Gulf Veterans Due To Exposure To Occupational Hazards, Rebecca A. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

Persian Gulf Veterans' Illnesses (PGVI) consists of multiple illnesses with overlapping symptoms and causes. This research examined health effects literature concerning several occupational chemicals, to identify significant adverse health trends and assess research quality, completeness, and relevance. After compiling this knowledge base, the research focus was narrowed to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), solvents, and pyridostigmine bromide (PB). The existing data was analyzed and compared to PGVI health data using the nonparametric statistical method of contingency table analysis to prove or disprove a link between the substance and PGVI. The results of the contingency table analysis were used to make inferences …

A System Dynamics Approach To Modelling The Degradation Of Biochemical Oxygen Demand In A Constructed Wetland Receiving Stormwater Runoff, Leslie A. Mudgett

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to develop a tool to aid the Air Force Environmental Manager in the identification of the design parameters of a constructed wetland system that may be optimized to provide a desired biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) removal efficiency during the treatment of Air Force stormwater runoff. The objective is achieved through the development and use of a system dynamics model which simulates the hydrological functions of a constructed wetland as well as the processes within the wetland responsible for degradation of BOD. Based on literature review, the primary mechanism responsible for the degradation of BOD …

Temporal Influence On Awareness, Don E. Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Grossberg's Motion Oriented Contrast Filter (MOC) was extensively analyzed (7). The output from the filter's "global motion" neuronal layer was compared to a noncausal post-processing filter developed by AFIT. Both filters were shown to incorporate a weighted, noncausal temporal range of input data in processed output. The global motion framework was then implemented using a physiologically motivated pulsed neural model - the Pulse Coupled Neural Network (PCNN). By incorporating both spatial and temporal data, the PCNN was shown to exhibit a common visual illusion, apparent motion. The existence of a physiological temporal processing range was further investigated through implementation of …

Modified Model For Transient Response Of Mrna Synthesis To Magnetic Field Exposure, Timothy W. Crosnoe

Theses and Dissertations

It is a well-known fact that high frequency, or radio frequency, radiation can be directly harmful to biological tissue. The radiation frequencies to which humans are most exposed, however, are the extremely low frequencies, or ELFs. To date there has been no definitive measure for predicting the ability of low frequency electromagnetic radiation to cause adverse biological effects. Two specific measures, average magnetic field and kinetic index, have been used in studies to determine if they are useful predictors of adverse effects, specifically leukemia. Unfortunately, both have shown only marginal results. This thesis analyzed and improved the kinetic index measure …

A Neural Network Approach To The Prediction And Confidence Assignation Of Nonlinear Time Series Classifications, Erin S. Heim

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses multiple layer perceptrons (MLP) neural networks and Kohonen clustering networks to predict and assign confidence to nonlinear time series classifications. The nonlinear time series used for analysis is the Standard and Poor's 100 (S&P 100) index. The target prediction is classification of the daily index change. Financial indicators were evaluated to determine the most useful combination of features for input into the networks. After evaluation it was determined that net changes in the index over time and three short-term indicators result in better accuracy. A back-propagation trained MLP neural network was then trained with these features to …

A Solid Surface From Which To Explore: The Executive Summary As The Frontispiece Of A Technical Hyperdocument, Alicia M. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

This research analyzes the purpose and organization of a well-written executive summary, reviews the characteristics of hypermedia, and compares the strengths and weaknesses of a typical executive summary published originally on paper and now under consideration for transition to hypermedia in order to determine which elements of an executive summary are essential before effective transition to hypermedia. The executive summary of a technical report is a stand-alone description of what was done, how it was done, what the results were, why they matter, and where further information is found in the report body. Executive summaries have a wider audience than …

The Application Of Hybridized Genetic Algorithms To The Protein Folding Problem, Robert L. Gaulke

Theses and Dissertations

The protein folding problem consists of attempting to determine the native conformation of a protein given its primary structure. This study examines various methods of hybridizing a genetic algorithm implementation in order to minimize an energy function and predict the conformation (structure) of Met-enkephalin. Genetic Algorithms are semi-optimal algorithms designed to explore and exploit a search space. The genetic algorithm uses selection, recombination, and mutation operators on populations of strings which represent possible solutions to the given problem. One step in solving the protein folding problem is the design of efficient energy minimization techniques. A conjugate gradient minimization technique is …

Validation Of Operational Multiscale Environment Model With Grid Adaptivity (Omega), Gordon R. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

The Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) is improving the military's capability to forecast dosage and hazard levels due to release of chemical, biological, and nuclear agents. During Operation DESERT STORM the military realized the need for models to predict risk levels for military personnel assigned proximate to missile attacks. One project associated with this is the continuing development of the Operational Multiscale Environmental Model with Grid Adaptivity (OMEGA). DNA has sponsored AFIT to validate OMEGA with focus on incorporating weather data obtained from Air Force Combat Climatology Center for the period of the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident. The physics of the model …

A Comparison Of Remediation Priorities Developed By The Defense Priority Model, The Relative Risk Evaluation Method, And A Quantitative Risk Assessment Approach, David M. Hunter

Theses and Dissertations

The Superfund, established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, seriously underestimated both the number of severely contaminated sites and the associated cleanup cost. The magnitude of projected cleanup costs, coupled with shrinking federal budgets, necessitated the development and use of risk-based prioritization models among some federal agencies. Among these tools, the DOD prioritization models are meant to give priority to sites posing the greatest threat to human health. Their failure to properly rank sites could incorrectly shift the focus from those that pose substantial risk to sites of lesser risk. The DOD site ranking …

Chlorophyll Biosynthesis In Kleptoplastid Symbioses, Robert Joseph Swatski

Theses and Dissertations

The retention by ascoglossan sea slugs of photosynthetically functional algal chloroplasts (kleptoplastids) has been the subject of intense study over the past three decades. The question of whether kleptoplastids are capable of de novo chlorophyll biosynthesis was seemingly answered by Trench and Smith (1970) and Trench et al. (1973), who found no 14C uptake into chlorophylls in the ascoglossans, Elvsia viridis and E. crispata, after brief radioisotope incubations. However, Clark and Waugh (unpub.) demonstrated some 14C uptake into chlorophyll in CQStasiqlla ocellifera, a long-term kleptoplasad retainer, which promoted a re-analysis of these experiments. In order to prove the occurrence of …

Analysis Of Soil Vapor Extraction Expenses To Estimate Bioventing Expenses, Steven M. Loken

Theses and Dissertations

An in-depth analysis of the expenses incurred with five soil venting petroleum remediation projects was accomplished. The data was obtained from receipts provided by a major United States petroleum refiner and distributor. Cost categories were designed that incorporated all costs and provided a method to analyze the data. The five cost categories used were: permits, equipment, management, utilities, and analysis. Further analysis showed trends and described the behavior of the costs related to remediation events. The relative percentile for each cost category was found to be consistent among the projects. Many costs were also found to be very linear throughout …

Nitric Oxide's Involvement In The Biphasic Effects Of The Endothelins On Prolactin Release., Debra Ann Schell

Theses and Dissertations

Endothelins (ET) are potent vasoactive peptides that are produced in brain and pituitary gland. They exert significant biphasic effects on prolactin release via direct pituitary actions. Endothelins are potent activators of nitric oxide synthase in tissues, such as vasculature and certain neuronal systems.This project tested the hypothesis that the pituitary effects of the endothelins on prolactin release are mediated through the generation of nitric oxide within the anterior pituitary gland via nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Experiments involved the measurement of nitric oxide synthase activity in dispersed anterior pituitary cells by measuring the accumulation of $\sp3$H-L-citrulline from $\sp3$H-L-arginine added to incubations …

The Occurrence Of Mosquitoes In The Central Red River Valley Area In 1992 And 1993., Wayne A. Deckert

Theses and Dissertations

The main objectives of the study were to make a current mosquito species tabulation and assess the habitat as well as the daily and seasonal variations of the extant species as well as the number of potential vector species in the area.The trapping was conducted from 20 May to 31 July 1992 and 2 July to 22 September 1993 in Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, North Dakota. Mosquitoes were collected morning and evening, every 4 days, from the same 5 sites both years in 4 urban localities and 1 rural location using combination CO$\sb2$ and light traps. Twenty-six species of …

Studies Related To A Strategy To Enhance The Recovery Of Ac Induced Mutations In Maize., Donald Leon Auger

Theses and Dissertations

A collection of stocks has been developed in which the variegated allele (P-vv) of the pericarp color locus (p1) has been brought into coupling with much of the maize genome using pericentric inversions and reciprocal translocations. These stocks now make most of the maize genome accessible to insertional mutagenesis by the transposable element Activator (Ac) originating from P-vv. The p1 locus is on the short arm of chromosome one (IS). The collection includes five stocks with chromosome one pericentric inversions and 45 stocks with reciprocal translocations involving 1S. The inversion and translocation stocks were converted through genetic recombination so that …

The Educational Status Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Thomas L. Wentz

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Gender Specific Rhetoric: A Look At Today, Mary Helen Richer

Theses and Dissertations

Gender impacts every part of life. From the moment a baby is bom, that child is placed in a gender categoiy. As one grows, these categories define how the person should act as well as how they should speak. These stereotypes become such a part o f an individual that often they are seen as an innate or biological part o f women and men, but this is not the case. These stereotypes can be broken and many are, particularly by women who feel it necessaiy to conform to the male standard to get ahead in business. Therefore, it is …

The Effects Of Laboratory Stress On Appraisal Of Control In Bulimia, Maria L. Kearney

Theses and Dissertations

Recent work pertaining to bulimia has shown that bulimics tend to perceive themselves as having a decreased ability to control their environments, particularly when faced with a stressful situation. Results from studies examining the type or amount of stress experienced by bulimics have been inconsistent. The transactional model of stress, which calls for the examination of an individual's appraisal of a situation, provides a more advanced method of measuring stress than has generally been used in past studies.

The present study sought to examine bulimics' perceptions of control in stressful and nonstressful situations using an in vivo behavioral task, Thirty …

A Focus On Attention Deficit Disorder Students And Services Currently Provided By Mandan Public Schools, Carrie J. Stockdill

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Examination Of The Putative Glucose-6-Phosphate Translocase Component, T(1), Of The Glucose-6-Phosphatase System., James Darren Foster

Theses and Dissertations

The enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase is proposed to be a system consisting of at least six components--a catalytic unit (scD-glucose-6-phosphate phosphohydrolase; EC 3.1.3.9), a stabilizing protein, and four or more specific substrate translocases, termed $\rm T\sb1$ (glucose-6-phosphate transport), $\rm T\sb2\beta$ (carbamyl phosphate, inorganic phosphate, and inorganic pyrophosphate transport), $\rm T\sb2\alpha$ (inorganic phosphate transport), and $\rm T\sb3$ (glucose transport). Several of these components have been identified and characterized, but $\rm T\sb1,$ the putative glucose-6-phosphate translocase, has not. Identification and characterization of $\rm T\sb1$ would support the current multicomponent model of the system, and substantiate the existence of a critical component of the system …

Gender Differences In Prose Memory And Post-Trial Intoxication With Ethanol., Rebecca Marilyn Sharp

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to compare male and female subjects' recall of prose utilizing a post-trial administration of ethanol. This study examined the interaction of intoxication with ethanol and gender by exploring the subjects' blood ethanol concentrations (BEC's) as they related to performance for each gender. Sixty-five subjects listened to three narrative prose passages presented at the rate of 160 words per minute via a tape recorder. Immediately following the presentation of the prose passages, subjects were administered either 0.0 or 1.0 ml/kg body weight ethanol. Following an ethanol absorption period, BEC's were obtained using a breath …