Digital Commons Network^™

Magic Mountain, Diana Al-Hadid

Theses and Dissertations

My installations are propositions for an imaginary world that relies on its own internal logic, a world of believability without recognition. While the work references landscape it also emphasizes its contrivance, as it is automatically estranged in an "unnatural" gallery setting. I subvert or de-familiarize the materials and processes that I use in the service of creating a fictitious environment. My places are impossible places. They are irregular, illogical, and unstable. Our imagination can be one of most dangerous things to psychological stability as it is an inventory of all things possible, no matter how irrational or improbable. The irrational …

Searching For The Transatlantic Freedom: The Art Of Valerie Maynard, Karen Berisford Getty

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis focuses on an African-American female artist, Valerie Maynard, examining how she synthesizes African and American elements in her works. It provides detailed formal and iconographical analyses, revealing concealed meanings and paying special attention to those works with which the artist mirrors the Black experience in the United States and Africa on the other side of the Atlantic. In the process, the thesis sheds new light on the significance of Valerie Maynard's work and how she has used some of them to embody the Black quest for freedom and social justice during the Civil Rights struggle of the 1960s …

Epileptogenesis Causes Long-Term Plasticity Changes In Calbindin D-28k In The Rat Pilocarpine Model Of Acquired Epilepsy, Anne Johnston Harrison

Theses and Dissertations

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting more than 2% of children and 1% of adults in the U.S. Emerging research has demonstrated that calcium, as a major second messenger system, underlies many of these injury-induced plasticity changes associated with the development of epilepsy. Recent evidence has suggested that long term elevations in neuronal resting calcium levels play a role in initiating and maintaining epileptogenesis (the development of epilepsy). Collaborations between our lab and others have produced microarray data that suggests that a major calcium-binding protein, calbindin D-28k, mRNA levels are decreased in epileptic rats even up …

Age At Sexual Assault And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In Females Residents Of Virginia, Ahmed Gasmelseed Babiker

Theses and Dissertations

Background Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric debilitating condition that can occur in individuals who experience extremely stressful or traumatic life events. Sexual assault is considered as one of the most traumatic stressor in life. Although few studies investigated the association between history of sexual assault and PTSD, no studies have examined the impact of age at sexual assault on PTSD.Method A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted among adult female residents of Virginia from November 2002 to February 2003. A total of 1,769 women aged 18 and older were interviewed using a random digit dialing method. Detailed screening …

The Influence Of Lipid Composition On The Binding Of Ldl To Chondroitin 6-Sulphate, Wilma Espiritu

Theses and Dissertations

The interaction between low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and glycosaminoglycans is a key factor in atherosclerosis. The present study examines the characteristics of LDL and its binding properties with the main glycosaminoglycan of the vascular wall, chondroitin 6- sulphate (C6S). The compositional characteristics that were studied for each LDL sample were phase transition temperature, phospholipid content, free cholesterol content, cholesteryl ester content, triglyceride content, and size. Correlations of these characteristics with LDL-C6S binding were analyzed using a turbidity assay. Our results showed that there is no correlation between LDL-C6S binding and phase transition temperature, triglyceride content, or size. Strong correlations were present …

Flight Signs, Flight Symbols, Margaret Mary Urban

Theses and Dissertations

I am investigating the significance of historic events of flight through image making; particularly incidents that captured the collective imagination and became part of our cultural memory. These events have surpassed mere entries in historical texts and become mythic. In the terms of Jungian psychology, they have become symbolic. In terms of Semiotics, they have become signs. Through photographs and installation, I seek to understand their presence in my, and our, unconscious mind.

Educational Survey On Eating Disorders In Post-Graduate Pediatric Curriculum, Priya Jitendraprasad Patel

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess if the topic of eating disorders is a part of post-graduate pediatric dental residency training curriculum. This study examined if there is a need for increased training of pediatric dental residents regarding the oral manifestations and treatment of patients with eating disorders.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was used to compare data from all 66 post-graduate pediatric dental residency program directors. After thirty days a second emailing was conducted, with an additional thirty days to reply. Univariate distributions were obtained and percents for all items were based on the total number of …

Global Discontents, Priyadarshini A. Khatri

Theses and Dissertations

My creative project explores toys as means to express economic issues of globalization. By exploiting the educational and imaginative aspects of toys for adults and children, I intend to reflect on the impact and pressures of globalization on employment, technology and environment. In creating these toys I hope to make a visual statement concerning critical issues of human survival, sustainability and the divisive side of globalization.

Dual Mechanism Analgesia-Enhancing Agents, Shawquia Elithia Young

Theses and Dissertations

Currently, there is an increasing need for novel analgesics that are potent but lack undesired side effects. Recent studies have shown that both 5-HT3 receptors and α2B- adrenoceptors play a role in antinociception. MD-354, N-(3-chlorophenyl)guanidine, has a high-affinity both for 5-HT3 and α2B- adrenoceptors and could be viewed as the first example of a rather selective 5-HT3/α2B- adrenoceptor ligand. MD-354, inactive by itself, potentiates the antinociceptive effects of an inactive dose of clonidine in the mouse tail- flick assay. An attempt to determine the underlying mechanism of this potentiating effect was the purpose of the present investigation. The studies focused …

Does Transdermal Nicotine-Induced Withdrawal Suppression Depend On Smokers' Gender?, Sarah Ellen Evans

Theses and Dissertations

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a pharmacotherapy used commonly to help tobacco smokers quit smoking. All forms of NRT are demonstrably efficacious for this indication, and several forms, including transdermal nicotine (TN) are available over-the-counter in the United States. NRT is less efficacious in women than in men, although the specific reasons for this gender difference are unknown. NRT generally, and TN specifically, is thought to work, at least in part, by suppressing withdrawal symptoms in abstinent smokers. While TN-induced withdrawal suppression has been demonstrated, the degree to which this withdrawal suppression is influenced by smokers' gender is uncertain. The …

Intracellular Ph, The Proximate Signal For Cell Volume Changes That Are Mediated By The Actin Cytoskeleton, William Pasley

Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between initial intracellular pH (pHi) and associated cell volume change was investigated by simultaneous measurement of pHi and cell volume with fluorescence imaging in polarized fungiform taste receptor cells (TRCs) loaded with BCECF in vitro. Ammonium pulses caused a brief, reversible alkalinization in pHi and induced cell swelling. Sodium-acetate pulses reversible decreased TRC pHi and induced cell shrinkage. Removal weak acids and return to Control Ringer's solution (CR) causedTRC pHi and volume to overshoot baseline levels before fully recovering. Replacing CR with zero-sodium solution resulted in irreversible acidification of TRC pHi and induced cell swelling. Addition of sodium …

Parental Memory Predictors Of Children's Daily Diabetes Management And Metabolic Control, Sheryl J. Kent

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined, for the first time, specific links between parents' memory and children's diabetes behaviors and metabolic control. Data revealed that parental memory and responsibility predicted children's percentage of calories from fat and carbohydrates, and metabolic control, accounting for 7.3% of the variance in calories from fat and 18.5% of the variance in metabolic control for the total sample. These effects were stronger when limited to dietary behaviors of younger youth; parental memory accounted for 30.3% and 33.6% of the variance in percentage of calories from fat and carbohydrates, respectively, for younger children. Level of parent responsibility, with memory, …

Traditional Paradisms For The Causes Of War Applied To The International Trading System: Nation-State Institutions In A World Of Market-States, Antonio F. Perez

Scholarly Articles

The first object of this paper, therefore, is to consider in very general terms the intellectual history of the study of the relation between trade and peace, using two key texts from the beginning and the end of the Cold War - first, Kenneth Waltz's "Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis" 3; and, second, Philip Bobbitt's "The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace, and the Course of History.

The second part of this paper will argue that Waltz's normative commitments are revealed in the order of his presentation and Bobbitt's normative commitments are revealed in the ostensibly descriptive thesis …

Greed Among American Lawyers, Lisa G. Lerman

Scholarly Articles

No abstract provided.

Accreditation In Teacher Education: An Analysis Of The Costs And Benefits Associated With Ncate Peer Review, Cindy S. Jacobs

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to examine the costs incurred and the benefits realized by institutions participating in the NCATE accreditation process and to formulate a cost-benefit model to guide teacher training institutions who are assessing the value of peerreview by NCATE. The study utilized quantitative methodology with a descriptive research design. The study featured researcher-designed questionnaires: Accreditation Cost-Benefit Analysis Scale for faculty (ACBAS) and the Costs Inventory Analysis (CIA) for administrators and was administered to a purposive sample of faculty and administrators at 54 colleges of education that had participated in the NCATE accreditation process and sitevisit …

The Invisible Side Of Military Careers : An Examination Of Employment And Well-Being Among Military Spouses, Beth Allen Easterling

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The link between employment and well-being is well-documented. However, limited research is available examining how employment affects the well-being of military spouses. Using data from the 2003 Air Force Community Assessment Survey, this study examines the impact of employment characteristics on depression levels, satisfaction with emotional well-being, and life satisfaction for military spouses. Results indicate that being unemployed and looking for employment outside of the home is detrimental to well-being for this group. Other personal, familial, and military factors are also discussed in relationship to employment and well-being of military spouses. Practical implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.

Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy : Gender, Sexism, And Just World Beliefs As Predictors Of Juror Decisions, Dawn R. Hurst

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mock jurors (N = 200) read descriptions of a mock civil case involving an adult survivor of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy who is suing his/her abuser for monetary/psychological damages. Jurors individually decided perceived percent of responsibility of defendant, award to plaintiff pre- and post-group deliberations, and as a mock jury, in groups of 5 to 10. Jurors and juries assigned greater percent of culpability to female defendants than male defendants. Individual jurors awarded more n1oney to plaintiffs abused by female defendants than male defendants. Low Modem Sexism Scale (MSS) scorers attributed greater percentage of responsibility to defendants and awarded plaintiff …

Information-Processing Skills Related To Working Memory In Individuals With Asperger's Disorder, Nancy Lynn Musarra

Harold L. Hodgkinson Award for Outstanding Dissertation

The present study examined information-processing (IP) deficits specific to the ability of individuals with Asperger's disorder (AD) to interpret and respond to nonverbal and verbal information inherent in social relationships as it relates to working memory capacity. Sixty boys between the ages of 11.0 and 15.7 years (30 diagnosed with AD [Group A], and 30 typically developing, same-age peers [Group T]) were assessed using the Working Memory Test Battery for Children (WMTB-C). The present study combined theories from cognitive, neurological, and clinical psychology, isolated specific working memory components, and identified a connection between working memory capacity and the social skill …

Russian Immigration To The Usa, 1990-2003, Alexandra Mikhailovna Bozheva

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The last decade of the 20th century was marked by an important event on the European political map, the USSR's disintegration and the formation of new states. The collapse of the Soviet Union and consequent changes in the economic and social lives of its former population caused an increase in migration between former republics, and migration flow abroad. Regarding the Russian Federation, international emigration from its territory was directed mostly toward three countries: Germany, Israel and the USA. The period 1990-1991 can be called the starting point of a new wave of Russian emigration, and this is true in relation …

Food Preferences Between Diverse Ethnic Groups In A College Population, Enrique Gallegos Covarrubias

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Obesity and its psychosocial and medical consequences are costing the United States billions of dollars per year. Many factors such as lack of physical activity, changing lifestyles, and unhealthy eating behaviors contribute to the increasing prevalence of obesity. In the present study, food preferences among college-aged students were measured from two different geographical locations (Texas and Iowa). Gender (men vs. women), ethnicity (Hispanic vs. Caucasian), and Body Mass Index scores (normal vs. overweight) were utilized as dependent variables to measure food preferences. Participants were required to rate four menus, which included important nutritional information. Ratings were obtained to measure how …

Perceptions Of Luck And Gambling Patterns, Dustin Daugherty

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Current research examining situations that elicit gambling behaviors have tended to focus on many structural features such as the "near miss" phenomenon. This is the idea that individuals will play longer on a slot machine that almost lands on a jackpot symbol than one that does not. Until now this research has focused mainly on a near "win" situation and ignored what will be called a near "loss" situation. Previous findings indicate that by experiencing a near loss, a participant will perceive that he/she has more personal good luck than those individuals who experience a near win. The study presented …

All Children Can Write! Teaching Strategies For Helping Children With Autism, Bridgette R. Buehrly

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

No abstract provided.

‘Þæt Is Yrre': The Construction And Use Of Anger In Anglo-Saxon Literature, Hilary E. Fox

Masters Theses

An examination of the linguistic background and literary conceptions of anger in Old English. The first point of analysis will be the vocabulary of used to discuss anger and its manifestations in Old English prose didactic texts, particularly homilies and translations from Latin materials. Subsequent chapters will discuss anger as a literary phenomenon, first with respect to its use in the Old English hagiographic poem The Passion of St. Juliana and then Beowulf. The goal of these two chapters collectively is to outline the social use ( or misuse) of anger, and Christian understandings of how anger must be …

Examining The Role Of Empathy Training In Anger Management Programs For Young Children, Amy L. Zirkelbach

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of empathy in anger management programs for young children. Given the growing body of research demonstrating the effectiveness of early intervention, efforts are being made to adapt anger management programs to younger populations. As researchers tackle this challenge, careful attention must be given to the unique developmental needs of this age group. Because many anger management programs involve an empathy training component, it is important to determine whether younger populations can benefit from this training. If children are not able to demonstrate these skills at this age, programs and curriculums …

The Developmental Process Of Reflection In Youth Ministry, Laura Bowers

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The research of applied developmental practice of reflection is inconsistent and its theoretical framework changes depending on the disciplinary perspective. The variability is illustrative of reflection's complexity and its inconsistency as an ideal. This research attempts not only to define reflection within the context of the Prairie Lakes youth ministry program but also to highlight specific programmatic elements that are involved in the process. Through text analysis by the Minnesota Contextual and Content Analysis program and the theoretical guidance of Kohlberg, Mayer and Dewey insight into an applied reflective practice is formed.

A Descriptive Study Of The Frequency And Intensity Of Physical Activity Among Incoming First-Year Students At Luther College, Kristi Leonard

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Young adults are not as active as they should be in comparison to national standards. They are more overweight than is healthy. The purpose of this study was to describe the physical activity volume (frequency + intensity) of incoming first-year students at an Iowa liberal arts college. Did certain demographic characteristics, such as gender; projected major area of study; age; native language; religious preference; ethnic background; and past high school and projected college athletic, theater/drama, and music participation of these students make a difference in their volume of physical activity? This study focused on the examination of exercise behaviors of …

The Relationship Between Time Spent In Physical Activity During Daily Physical Education And Selected Physical Fitness Components Among Elementary And Secondary Students, Shelley Mccumber

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a correlation between the time spent in physical activity in the physical education classroom and the scores on the Fitness gram battery tests of the mile walk/run, sit-ups, flexed arm hang, trunk lift, and the sit and reach in elementary and secondary students. Two sub-problems were also investigated: (1) were there differences in the total amount of time spent in physical activity between elementary students and secondary students; and (2) were there differences in the percent of total class time spent in physical activity between elementary students and secondary …

A Qualitative Investigation Of Student Interactions In A Learning Activity Center: Defining Success, At-Risk Factors, And Resiliency For Developmental Programs In Community Colleges, John L. Kalkwarf

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This purposive study selected ten students of different background in order to understand how the educational success of adults was affected by Learning Activity Centers (LAC) in a community college. The ten selected students were all non-traditional students who had at least these three at-risk factors: (a) they scored below the college minimums on a diagnostic test in reading, writing, or mathematics, (b) they were below student financial aid guidelines, and (c) they had an interrupted educational history of two or more years. The ten students were paired into five categories: (a) Sudanese males, (b) Mexican females, (c) single parent …

The Mind Is The Tabernacle Of The Consciousness Soul: A Journey Visiting The Roles Of Consciousness, Communication, Education, And Technology In Human And Curriculum Development By Integrating Dewey, Gebser, And Steiner: Past, Present, Future, Daniel Joseph Kazim Bardy

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This descriptive philosophical study examines 355+ question seeds of thought and discourse on consciousness, communication, education, and technology, much in the contexts of philosophical structures of human beings from 4,000,000 B.C. hominid man to the future of humankind and genetic enhancement. Curriculum and consciousness discussion of American John Dewey (1859–1952), Polish-born Jean Gebser (1905–1975), and Austrian-born Rudolf Steiner (1865–1920) is interwoven, finding commonalities of these philosophers and that of Daniel J. K. Bardy. Language being developed only 50,000 years ago is the defining point for Homo sapiens as the tool of linguistic communication, mutated forward much like the protrusion development …

Inventory Simulation And Optimization Using System Dynamics, Structural Modeling Equations And Genetic Algorithms In The Drivetrain Division Of An Automotive Manufacturer, Marco Sisfontes-Monge

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Strategic planning and control are among the most critical activities that modern enterprises require to succeed in the global economy. This research is an original study that investigated the combination of tools and methodologies in order to apply them to a midwestern tractor manufacturer. The current study identified the constraints applicable to a polishing line in the Drivetrain Division of a major tractor manufacturer interested in exploring alternative techniques to improve its worldwide manufacturing operations.

The specific questions that this project tried to respond are stated as follows:

1. What were the most important variables that affected inventory levels of an …