Behavioral Profile Of The Novel Cannabinoid Agonist Am4054 , Evan Mcclure

Honors Scholar Theses

Although cannabinoid drugs have been used for thousands of years both recreationally and therapeutically, little has been known about their mechanisms of action until recently. Since the discovery of the endogenous cannabinoid CB1 receptor in 1988, the behavioral profile of cannabinoid receptor ligands has been much more thoroughly defined. Cannabinoid CB1 agonists have been shown to produce a variety of behavioral effects including suppression of locomotion, catalepsy, hypothermia, and analgesia. Research has also demonstrated that these behavioral effects can be inhibited by CB1 receptor antagonists including SR 141716 and AM 251. Although behavioral indicators of anxiety including thigmotaxis have been …

Computer Simulation Of Crowd Dynamics And Destructive Crowd Behavior, Bruce Bassi

Honors Scholar Theses

The social processes that lead to destructive behavior in celebratory crowds can be studied through an agent-based computer simulation. Riots are an increasingly common outcome of sports celebrations, and pose the potential for harm to participants, bystanders, property, and the reputation of the groups with whom participants are associated. Rioting cannot necessarily be attributed to the negative emotions of individuals, such as anger, rage, frustration and despair. For instance, the celebratory behavior (e.g., chanting, cheering, singing) during UConn’s “Spring Weekend” and after the 2004 NCAA Championships resulted in several small fires and overturned cars. Further, not every individual in the …

Female Vs. Male Serial Killers: An Analysis Of Characteristic Traits And Typologies, Meyoshia Passion Ta' Sasha Powell

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This paper examines the various differences between female and male serial killers. The central research question considers whether males and females compare as to major characteristic traits and typologies of serial murder? To explore possible differences, a content analysis was conducted. The major characteristic traits and typologies of serial killers contained in the extant literature were compared to a sample of female and male serial murderers. Analyses reveal that male serial killers possess more generalized traits as compared to female killers. In sum, there is a need to advance more gender relevant models.

Mammal Diversity In The North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area And The Effects Of Internal Fragmentation On The Relative Distributions Of Mammalian Carnivores, Matthew Blaine Smith

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Mammal Diversity Mammal species were surveyed in the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area using various methods of observation. Sixteen mammal species were detected in the natural area, 14 of which were previously undocumented. The whitefooted mouse and the raccoon were the most abundant species. There are additional mammal species that may occur in the natural area but were not documented during this survey. Future surveys should place an emphasis on locating these species. The natural area will become more important for maintaining biodiversity as development proceeds in the surrounding area. However, the success of the natural area can …

Does Motor Lateralization Have Implications For Stroke Rehabilitation?, Robert L. Sainburg, Susan V. Duff

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Recent findings on motor lateralization have revealed consistent differences in the control strategies of the dominant and nondominant hemisphere/limb systems that could have implications for hemiplegic stroke patients. Studies in stroke patients have demonstrated deficiencies in the ipsilesional arm that reflect these distinctions; patients with right-hemisphere damage tend to show deficits in positional accuracy, and patients with left-hemisphere damage show deficits in trajectory control. Such deficits have been shown to impede functional performance; yet patients with severe dominant-side hemiplegia must often use the nondominant arm as the primary manipulator for activities of daily living. Nevertheless, the nondominant arm may not …

Development Of An Instrument To Identify The Virtues Of Expert Nursing Practice: ‘Byrd’S Nurses Ethical Sensitivity Test’ (Byrd’S Nest), Lisa Marie Byrd

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop and analyze the psychometric properties of Byrd’s Nurse’s Ethical Sensitivity Test (Byrd’s NEST). An instrument to evaluate nurses’ ethical sensitivity in practice by examining choices of action in ethical dilemmas based on nursing virtues: compassion, fidelity to trust, moral courage, justice, self-confidence, resilience, practical reasoning, and integrity (Benner, Tanner, & Chelsa, 1996; Volbrecht, 2002). Benner’s theory of skill acquisition-novice to expert was the theoretical framework for this research which surveyed for correlations between a nurse’s ethical sensitivity and educational level, years of experience, certification, and work setting. Until now, there have been …

Sound Source Localization And Separation, Biniyam Tesfaye Taddese

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Honors Projects

People face the problem of sound source localization and separation in situations where they attempt to localize and focus on a source of sound among a dissonance of conversations and background noise. This paper synthesizes a sound source localization routine. We utilize a general source separation technique, Independent Component Analysis.. Particularly, basic ICA was applied to separate mixtures of low frequency, narrow band, non-Gaussian signals by using closely spaced uni-directional microphones. The localization routine worked with an average condition number of 10. The routine was tested on data collected in a laboratory.

Childhood Reflections Of Adult Male Incarcerated Child Sexual Abusers., Linda H. Garrett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Child sexual abuse has existed since earliest recorded history. It is believed that one in three females and one in five males are sexually abused before their 18^th birthday, and many researchers believe this is a gross underestimation of the problem. Child sexual abuse has been studied extensively from the perspective of the victim. Child sexual abusers have been studied over the last few decades but with inconsistent definitions and methods applied among studies. This qualitative study explored the childhood reflections of 8 incarcerated child sexual abusers in a southern Appalachian prison. One-on-one in-depth interviews were conducted at the …

Punishing The 'Other' : Race, Ethnicity, And The American Justice System., Kristen T. Valentine

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an examination of the relationship between race and ethnicity and the American justice system. It is a comparative case study of the racial dimensions of the War on Drugs in the domestic criminal justice system and the ethnic dimensions of the War on Terror through an examination of the prison and prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. This thesis is about building bridges between domestic and international conceptions of justice with a focus on human rights. Central to this project is an exploration of similar process of white fear, racialization, and dehumanization black and Arab/Muslim men experience under the …

Nurse Practitioners' Attitudes Toward Obesity, Teresa Cueba Dionne

Master's Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore if negative attitudes exist among nurse practitioners toward obese clients. Data Sources: Data sources included responses to a 23 item questionnaire and a 7 item demographic survey completed anonymously through the mail. 104 Nurse practitioner members of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (21% response rate) participated in the study. Participants were asked to respond to questions related to attitudes about obese persons and weight management.

Phylogenetic Approach To The Study Of Triatomines (Triatominae, Heteroptera) = Abordagem Filogenética Em Triatomíneos (Triatominae, Heteroptera), Ester Tartarotti, Maria Tercília Vilela De Azeredo-Oliveira, Carlos Roberto Ceron

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Triatomines are insects belonging to the Hemiptera order, Heteroptera suborder, Reduviidae family and Triatominae subfamily. All members of this subfamily are hematophagous. Triatomines evolved from Reduviidae predators and they are probably polyphyletic in origin. The combination of anatomical, physiological and ethological factors observed in this group, as well as the plesiomorphic and apomorphic characters that differentiate the five tribes and fourteen triatomine genera reinforce the polyphiletic hypotesis. However if we consider the five groups of triatomines, the Rhodniini, Cavernicolini, Bolboderini, Linshcosteini and Alberproseniini tribes constitute monophyletic groups, while the Triatomini tribe is considered polyphyletic. The New World is the center …

Phylogenetic Approach To The Study Of Triatomines (Triatominae, Heteroptera) = Abordagem Filogenética Em Triatomíneos (Triatominae, Heteroptera), Ester Tartarotti, M. T. V. Azeredo-Oliveira, C. R. Ceron

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Abstracts

Triatomines are insects belonging to the Hemiptera order, Heteroptera suborder, Reduviidae family and Triatominae subfamily. All members of this subfamily are hematophagous. Triatomines evolved from Reduviidae predators and they are probably polyphyletic in origin. The combination of anatomical, physiological and ethological factors observed in this group, as well as the plesiomorphic and apomorphic characters that differentiate the five tribes and fourteen triatomine genera reinforce the polyphiletic hypotesis. However if we consider the five groups of triatomines, the Rhodniini, Cavernicolini, Bolboderini, Linshcosteini and Alberproseniini tribes constitute monophyletic groups, while the Triatomini tribe is considered polyphyletic. The New World is the …

Microbial Decomposition Of Skeletal Muscle Tissue (Ovis Aries) In A Sandy Loam Soil At Different Temperatures, David O. Carter, Mark Tibbett

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the effect of temperature (2, 12, 22 °C) on the rate of aer­obic decomposition of skeletal muscle tissue (Ovis aries) in a sandy loam soil incubated for a period of 42 days. Measurements of decomposition processes included skeletal muscle tissue mass loss, carbon dioxide (CO₂) evo­lution, microbial biomass, soil pH, skeletal muscle tissue carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content and the calcula­tion of metabolic quotient (qCO₂). Incubation temperature and skeletal muscle tissue quality had a significant effect on all of the measured process rates with 2 °C …

Pyemotes Herfsi (Acari: Pyemotidae), A Mite New To North America As The Cause Of Bite Outbreaks, Alberto B. Broce, Ludek Zurek, James A. Kalisch, Robert Brown, David L. Keith, David Gordon, Janis Goedeke, Cal Welbourn, John Moser, Ronald Ochoa, Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner, Fuyuen Yip, Jacob Weber

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

High incidences of red, itching, and painful welts on people in the midwestern United States led to the discovery of a European species of mite, Pyemotes herfsi (Oudemans) (Acari: Pyemotidae), preying on gall-making midge larvae on oak leaves. The mites' great reproductive potential, small size, and high capacity for dispersal by wind make them difficult to control or avoid.

The Vaccinia-Related Kinases Phosphorylate The N' Terminus Of Baf, Regulating Its Interaction With Dna And Its Retention In The Nucleus, R. Jeremy Nichols, Matthew S. Wiebe, Paula Traktman

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The vaccinia-related kinases (VRKs) comprise a branch of the casein kinase family whose members are characterized by homology to the vaccinia virus B1 kinase. The VRK orthologues encoded by Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster play an essential role in cell division; however, substrates that mediate this role have yet to be elucidated. VRK1 can complement the temperature sensitivity of a vaccinia B1 mutant, implying that VRK1 and B1 have overlapping substrate specificity. Herein, we demonstrate that B1, VRK1, and VRK2 efficiently phosphorylate the extreme N' terminus of the BAF protein (Barrier to Autointegration Factor). BAF binds to both DNA and …

New Outbreaks Of Bacterial Wilt Of Dry Bean In Nebraska Observed From Field Infections, R. M. Harveson, H. F. Schwartz, A. K. Vidaver, Patricia A. Lambrecht, K. L. Otto

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Bacterial wilt caused by Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens was one of the more problematic diseases of dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) throughout the irrigated High Plains (Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming) in the 1960s and early 1970s, but has not been observed since that time. However, in August of 2003, plants exhibiting wilting and irregular, interveinal necrotic foliar lesions surrounded by a bright yellow border were found in three dry bean fields (market class Great Northern) in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. During 2004, plants exhibiting identical symptoms were additionally found occurring in more than 40 dry bean fields in western …

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Icp0 Localizes In The Stromal Layer Of Infected Rabbit Corneas And Resides Predominantly In The Cytoplasm And/Or Perinuclear Region Of Rabbit Keratocytes, Naoyuki Morishige, James V. Jester, Julie Naito, Nelson Osorio, Andrew Wahlert, Clinton J. Jones, Roger D. Everett, Steven L. Weschler, Guey Chuen Perng

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Herpes stromal keratitis (HSK) results from the reactivation of herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) in the cornea. The subsequent corneal inflammation and neovascularization may lead to scarring and visual loss. The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying HSK remain unknown. The presence of stromal HSV-1 viral proteins or antigens in the HSK cornea remains a subject of debate. It was recently reported that HSV-1 ICP0 rapidly diffuses out of infected rabbit corneas. To investigate further the presence of HSV-1 ICP0 in the infected cornea, particularly in the corneal stroma, ex vivo confocal microscopy was used to scan rabbit corneas infected with …

Chemical Stabilization Of Soil Organic Nitrogen By Phenolic Lignin Residues In Anaerobic Agroecosystems, D.C. Olk, Kenneth G. Cassman, K. Schmidt-Rohr, M.M. Anders, J.-D. Mao, J.L. Deenik

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

This review summarizes independent reports of yield decreases in several agricultural systems that are associated with repeated cropping under wet or submerged soil conditions. Crop and soil data from most of these agroecosystems have led researchers to attribute yield decreases to a reduction in crop uptake of N mineralized from soil organic matter (SOM). These trends are most evident in several long-term field experiments on continuous lowland rice systems in the Philippines, but similar trends are evident in a continuous rice rotation in Arkansas, USA and with no-till cropping systems in North American regions with cool, wet climatic conditions in …

Non-Isothermal Reaction-Diffusion Systems With Thermodynamically Coupled Heat And Mass Transfer, Yaşar Demirel

Papers in Analytical Chemistry

Non-isothermal reaction-diffusion (RD) systems control the behavior of many transport and rate processes in physical, chemical, and biological systems. A considerable work has been published on mathematically coupled nonlinear differential equations of RD systems by neglecting the possible thermodynamic couplings among heat and mass fluxes, and reaction velocities. Here, the thermodynamic coupling refers that a flux occurs without its primary thermodynamic driving force, which may be gradient of temperature, or chemical potential, or reaction affinity. This study presents the modeling equations of non-isothermal RD systems with coupled heat and mass fluxes excluding the coupling of chemical reactions using the linear …

Transfected Cell Arrays For Assessment Of Estrogen Receptor Activation In Breast Cancer Cells, Angela K. Pannier, Zain Bengali, Eric A. Ariazi, V. Craig Jordan, Lonnie D Shea

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

Transfected cell arrays represent a high-throughput approach to correlate gene expression with functional cell responses, based on gene delivery from a substrate that supports cell adhesion. These arrays provide the ability to express, in parallel, thousands of exogenous genes in live cells, giving real-time information on cellular physiology and gene function. While there have been advances in transfected cell arrays, improvements are needed to this technology, including increasing the cells types that can be efficiently transfected and developing better quantification and normalization methods. We have created an array using soft lithography techniques to pattern DNA-lipid complex deposition. Specifically, a mold …

No Longer Intending: The Relationship Between Relinquished Fertility Intentions And Distress, Lynn K. White, Julia Mcquillan

Bureau of Sociological Research: Faculty Publications

We use data from both waves of the National Survey of Families and Households to assess whether relinquishing a serious intention to have (more) children leads to greater increases in depressive symptoms than continuing confidence in childbearing intentions. Our sample includes 2,200 individuals of childbearing age, men and women, all parities, and all marital statuses. Change score analysis shows that individuals who relinquished a serious intent to have children had elevated distress at Time 2 and that the association is conditioned by gender, health, and education. We find that fertility potential can be important to psychosocial well-being and that closing …

A Coprological View Of Ancestral Pueblo Cannibalism, Karl Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

As the object of my scientific study, I’ve chosen coprolites. It’s not a common choice, but to a paleonutritionist and archaeoparasitologist, a coprolite—a sample of ancient feces preserved by mineralization or simple drying—is a scientific bonanza. Analysis of coprolites can shed light on both the nutrition of and parasites found in prehistoric cultures. Dietary reconstructions from the analysis of coprolites can inform us about, for example, the origins of modern Native American diabetes. With regard to parasitology; coprolites hold information about the ancient emergence and spread of human infectious disease. Most sensational, however, is the recent role of coprolite analysis …

Historical Biogeography Of North American Nightsnakes And Their Relationships Among The Dipsadines: Evidence For Vicariance Associated With Miocene Formations Of Northwestern Mexico, Daniel G. Mulcahy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I used a hierarchical approach to study historical biogeography in a group of colubrid snakes found in western North America. I combined small regions of mtDNA sequence data from a large number of individuals, with complete mt-genomic data. First, I investigated the relationships among leptodeirines—a presumed subgroup of dipsadines, including nightsnakes (Pseudoleptodeira, Eridiphas, and Hypsiglena)—using ~1.5 kb of data (cob and nad4). The relationships differed among parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian analyses. All analyses supported the monophyly of the nightsnakes; however, none supported the monophyly of the leptodeirines. Instead, these data supported a new hypothesis …

Single Parenting Of Early Adolescents: Clinical Application To A More Helpful Perspective, Ane Weed

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to discover the most important self-identified areas for a particular group of single parents to focus their limited time. Single parents have been pathologized and compared to two-parent families. A strength-based perspective that acknowledges single parent families as a legitimate family system with the possibility for being healthy may be more helpful. The objective of this study was to identify common strengths between self-reported satisfied single parents (n = 86) and early adolescent children of single parents (n = 67) through data collected with the use of the Parent Success Indicator (PSI) …

Fathers' Perceptions Of Relationships With Young Adolescent Children: Implications For Family Therapy, Tyler D. Patrick

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study used family systems theory as a lens to examine fathers' relationships with young adolescent children as it relates to the areas of time spent together, communication between generations, and paternal satisfaction in raising an early adolescent child. Similarities and differences of scores on the Parent Success Indicator were examined for 191 Caucasian American (n=110) and African American (n=81) fathers of 10- to 14-year-old-children. Results showed that increased amounts of time that fathers report spending with children was significantly associated with paternal satisfaction, communication between generations, fathers' use of time, parental frustration, and parental teaching. …

Biosorption Of Priority Pollutants Of Petroleum Refinery Wastewater, Deen Adnan Sheikha

Theses

Heavy metals and organic materials pollution in the aquatic system have become a serious threat today. Zinc, phenol and naphthalene are common environmental contaminants. The fate and transport of these chemicals must be sufficiently understood to predict detrimental environmental impacts and to develop technically and economically appropriate remedial action to minimize environmental degradation. In this study, microbial biomass has emerged as an option for developing economic wastewater treatment. Dead algal biomass may passively sequester metals and organic materials by the process of biosorption from dilute solutions, where biomass functions as an ion exchanger by virtue of various reactive groups available …

A Program Evaluation Of The Umc/Und Aerospace Flight Training Center, Paul R. Snyder

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Improving Native American College Graduation Rates, Sacheen L. Whitetail

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Acculturation, Locus Of Control, And Glucose Levels Among American Indians With Diabetes, Gennea A. Danks

Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes is a critical health care issue for American Indian tribes throughout the United States. Research is increasingly considering the emotional, psychological, and social aspects of the disease, in addition to the physical attributes and consequences of diabetes. One psychological attribute that has been examined in the context of glucose control and response to diabetes treatment is locus of control, with evidence suggesting that locus of control is an important consideration in terms of physical health and compliance among people diagnosed with diabetes (Konen, 1993). The current study attempted to further this line ofresearch by examining the relationship between locus …

Educational Presentations On Diagnosis And Treatment Of Primary Immune Deficiency Disorders, Joann Almen

Theses and Dissertations

P1imary Immune Deficiency Disorders (PIDD) are rare disorders not commonly encountered in primary care. Therefore healthcare providers have limited knowledge of diagnosis, treatment, and optimal care for individuals with a PIDD. Current research indicates there is a greater prevalence then initially thought and that if the diagnosis is not made promptly detiimental outcomes can occur. Many of the disorders are treated with infusions of immune globulins. This project included preparing a Nurses Self-Study Packet on infusing Intravenous Immunoglobulin and a didactic educational power point presentation on Diagnosis and Treatment of PIDDs in primary care. These presentations offer a low cost, …