Digital Commons Network^™

Probing Isoforms Of The Prion Protein Through Tyrosine Nitration, Christopher William Lennon

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The prion protein (PrP) has multiple stable isoforms. When PrP misfolds, it aggregates and causes neurological disease and death in mammals. The structure of the non-pathogenic isoform has been determined while the structures of the disease related isoforms are unknown. The nitration labeling patterns of three PrP isoforms with peroxynitrite and tetranitromethane, as detected by mass spectrometry, are reported. Two conserved tyrosine residues (tyrosines 149 and 150) are not labeled by either reagent in the normal cellular form of the prion protein but these residues become reactive after the protein has been converted to one of two aggregated isoforms. Another …

Public Relations In Nonprofit Organizations: A Guide To Establishing Public Relations Programs In Nonprofit Settings, Megan Kate Gale

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Public relations has become an increasingly popular topic in the nonprofit community, and the demand for developing piblic relations as a core competency has increased as well. Since many nonprofit organization have limited time and resources for developing fuull-scale public relations programs, many rely on information obtained during one-day workshops or conference presentations presented by public relations professionals who have little or no experience with the concerns of the nonprofit setting. Using a program planning model, this paper describes how nonprofit organizations can increase the capacity and effectiveness of their public relations efforts by building relationships with key stakeholders.

Public Archaeology In Montana: A Sample Of University Of Montana Students' Perceptions Of Archaeology And Knowledge Of Local Sites, Helen Alexandra Keremedjiev

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Archaeologists have an obligation to disseminate publicly their research and theories. To do this effectively, they need to know how each public perceives archaeology. A voluntary Institutional Review Board certified questionnaire was given to 606 University of Montana undergraduates and graduates. It included topics on the basics of archaeology and sites in Montana. After the results were tabulated, a website was created to show the overall results. Its location is at www.umt.edu/publicarchaeology. This online resource includes the questionnaire, the total raw results of all classes’ responses, and a discussion section. (See Appendix E for screenshot images of the website.) This …

Kinematics Of The Nicaraguan Forearc From Gps Geodesy, Henry L. Turner, Peter Lafemina, Armando Saballos, Glen S. Mattioli, Pamela E. Jansma, Timothy H. Dixon

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Campaign GPS data from a network in the Nicaraguan forearc show a strong component of arc-parallel motion indicating northwest translation of a nearly rigid forearc sliver. Our measured mean velocity for forearc sites of 15.1 mm yr⁻¹ agrees well with the arc-parallel sliver motion predicted previously by DeMets (2001) derived from closure constraints on oblique convergence between the Cocos and Caribbean plates. The lack of a northeasterly oriented arc-normal component of motion in forearc velocities indicates that there are complexities involved beyond a simple interpretation of sliver motion being driven by oblique convergence. The forearc is reasonably well-fit by …

Observation Of Glacial Isostatic Adjustment In “Stable” North America With Gps, Giovanni F. Sella, Seth Stein, Timothy H. Dixon, Michael Craymer, Thomas S. James, Stephane Mazzotti, Roy K. Dokka

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Motions of three hundred and sixty Global Positioning System (GPS) sites in Canada and the United States yield a detailed image of the vertical and horizontal velocity fields within the nominally stable interior of the North American plate. By far the strongest signal is the effect of glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) due to ice mass unloading during deglaciation. Vertical velocities show present-day uplift (∼10 mm/yr) near Hudson Bay, the site of thickest ice at the last glacial maximum. The uplift rates generally decrease with distance from Hudson Bay and change to subsidence (1–2 mm/yr) south of the Great Lakes. The …

The Impact Of Group Formation In A Cooperative Learning Environment, Joyce Van Der Van Der Laan Smith, Roxanne M. Spindle

Accounting Faculty Publications

Research indicates that cooperative learning (CL) has the potential to increase accounting student satisfaction without impairing the learning of technical material (Lancaster, K., & Strand, C. (2001). Using the team-learning model in a managerial accounting class: An experiment in cooperative learning. Issues in Accounting Education, 16(4), 549–567). This study investigates whether instruc- tor-formed heterogeneous groups produce a more effective CL environment than student self- selected groups by measuring individual academic performance and perceptions. Results indicate the presence of a treatment interaction, implying that the best group composition may not be the same for all students. In some circumstances, higher ability …

If The Judicial Confirmation Process Is Broken, Can A Statute Fix It?, Aaron-Andrew P. Bruhl

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Outlawing Pension-Funding Shortfalls, Eric D. Chason

Faculty Publications

Before ERISA, employees faced a large risk that their employers would default or renege on pension obligations. By creating a federal guarantor of pensions (the PBGC), ERISA has greatly reduced this risk. All else being equal, low-risk pensions are worth more to employees but cost more to provide. Congress has never had a coherent policy on who should pay for these extra costs. Moreover, legal scholars have failed to create a theoretical framework for dealing with these costs, focusing instead on the supposed "moral hazard" that the PBGC guaranty creates. This Article inserts itself into the scholarly vacuum, asserting that …

The D'Oh! Of Popular Constiutitonalism, Neal Devins

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Trademark/Copyright Divide, Laura A. Heymann

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Reasonable Burdens: Resolving The Conflict Between Disabled Employees And Their Coworkers, Nicole Buonocore Porter

Faculty Publications

This Article addresses one of the most difficult issues under the reasonable accommodation provision of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): how to resolve the conflict that arises when accommodating a disabled employee negatively affects or interferes with the rights of other employees. Several scholars and the Supreme Court (in U.S. Airways, Inc. v. Barnett) have weighed in on this debate, but their analyses fall short of the ultimate goal of this Article--to achieve equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities without unnecessarily interfering with the rights of other employees. In order to achieve that goal, this Article proposes a …

Changing Attitudes: Congressional Rhetoric, Race, And Education Inequalities, Jennifer Kathleen Richert

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Richert, Jennifer Kathleen, M.A., May 2007 IYFD Changing Attitudes: Congressional Rhetoric, Race, and Education Inequalities Chairperson: Otto Koester Through an analysis of Congressional rhetoric regarding public school in the context of racial equality, three terms emerge as reoccurring concepts that drive discussions on contemporary educational conversations: narrowing the gap, disadvantaged students, and accountability. I have designed this study to determine whether the way politicians in U.S. Congress use these terms have racial undertones that ultimately work to maintain a culture of minority oppression. This study opens with an introduction describing my personal interest, followed with an extensive literature review regarding …

Development Of Fecal Dna Sampling Methods To Assess Genetic Population Structure Of Greater Yellowstone Bison, Florence Marie Gardipee

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The bison (Bison bison) of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) and Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) represent two of only three remaining populations of plains bison that have no evidence of hybridization with cattle. Therefore, these bison are an important source for ecological and genetic restoration of wild bison. Little is known regarding genetic population structure and gene flow among the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) bison herds. I evaluated the feasibility of fecal DNA sampling for genetic analyses of wild bison populations. I used matched blood and fecal samples from eight radio-collared bison from Hayden Valley breeding group (YNP), and multiplex …

Examining The Variability In The Long Term Adjustment Of Child Sexual Abuse Victims, Heather Marie Ulrich

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Two meta-analyses (Rind, Tromovitch & Bauserman, 1998; Ulrich, Randolph, & Acheson, 2006) have suggested that the long held belief about the inevitable pervasive negative effects of child sexual abuse does not hold for college populations. The meta-analyses suggest that there is other factors in sexual abuse victims' lives that interact with their abuse experience to produce the sometimes-observed minimal long-term effects on psychological adjustment. This research attempted to examine a potential model for explaining the variability in the long-term effects of child sexual abuse by examining both moderator variables and abuse characteristics within the same population. The study examined three …

Expression And Regulation Of Emotions In Romantic Relationships, Makon Fardis

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Romantic relationships are extremely important in people's physical and mental well being. One of the important determinants of the quality of romantic relationships is the expression and regulation of emotions. This study hypothesized that 1) expression of positive emotions is good for any relationship, 2) expression of negative emotions is good for only communal relationships, 3) expression of positive emotions is necessary alongside of negative ones to maintain a communal relationship, 4) in case negative emotions are expressed, providing explanations would help maintain the relationship, 5) suppression of emotions does not benefit communal relationship, and 6) expression of emotions correlates …

Influence Of Mycorrhizal Inoculation Treatments On Native Tree And Shrub Survival In A Floodplain, Flathead Indian Reservation, T. Rene Kittle

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Mycorrhizal inoculum treatments of two marketed products, Mycopak and Biogrow, were tested against forest soil, and a control treatment on biomass and survival of Populus tremuloides, Salix bebbiana, Populus trichocarpa, and Cornus stolonifera during the summer of 2003 and 2004. Because these seedlings are difficult to establish on cobbled riparian floodplains, the species and treatments were tested on two Jocko River floodplains. The Powell site was plowed in the spring of 2003 prior to planting, and the Stranahan site remained unplowed but treated with the broad leaf herbicide 2,4-D amine, in the fall of 2002. Seedlings were planted in the …

Moving Boxes Closer To Home: The Role Of Sysco Corporation In Food System Localization, David Scott Kennedy

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Increasing demand for local food by foodservice establishments creates new opportunities and challenges for the local food movement. While there is considerable potential for local suppliers to sell more product volume closer to home, the business needs of foodservice establishments may not be compatible with direct marketing approaches that have fueled the growth of the movement. Foodservice establishments typically rely on distributors to provide them with the majority of their food. Drawing on the success of direct marketing, new indirect marketing approaches that link producers and consumers through intermediaries are increasingly advanced within food system localization. The dominance of SYSCO …

Negotiated Forgiveness In Parent-Child Relationships: Investigating Links To Politeness, Wellness And Sickness, Jennifer Lynn Geist

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Upon experiencing conflict in a relationship, individuals have a variety of response options. While one can seek revenge or avoid that person, another option – forgiveness – can repair the relationship and foster health for both relationship partners. In coming together to confront the conflict and move beyond it, relational partners negotiate forgiveness in interpersonal interactions to accommodate face needs. In doing so, individuals must communicate by seeking forgiveness from and granting it to their relational partners. While much research has pointed to the health benefits associated with forgiving, little has explored the role communicating specifically plays in later received …

Disability Human Rights, Michael Ashley Stein

Faculty Publications

Responding to the absence of an international treaty expressly protecting people with disabilities, the United Nations General Assembly will soon adopt a disability-based human rights convention. This Article examines the theoretical implications of adding disability to the existing canon of human rights, both for individuals with disabilities and for other under-protected people. It develops a "disability human rights paradigm" by combining components of the social model of disability, the human right to development, and Martha Nussbaum's version of the capabilities approach, but filters them through a disability rights perspective to preserve that which provides for individual flourishing and modifying that …

Dark Ages Of Human Rights?, Linda A. Malone

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Judging Plaintiffs, Jason M. Solomon

Faculty Publications

With its powerful account of the normative principles embodied in the structure and practice of the law of torts, corrective justice is considered the leading moral theory of tort law. It has a significant advantage over instrumental and other moral theories in that it is more consistent with what judges say when they analyze tort law concepts. And with criticism of instrumental accounts, like law and economics, on a number of fronts, it is the leading descriptive theory of tort law. In this Article, I take up a question that has never been answered adequately by corrective-justice or other moral …

Capital Punishment In The United States, And Beyond, Paul Marcus

Faculty Publications

This article explores the controversial topic of capital punishment, with a particular focus on its longstanding application in the United States. The use of the death penalty in the US has been the subject of much criticism both domestically and internationally. The numerous concerns addressed in this article relate to the morality of the punishment, its effectiveness, the uneven application of the penalty, and procedural problems. The US Supreme Court has confirmed the constitutionality of capital punishment while striking down particular uses of the death penalty. The US is not, however, alone in executing convicted defendants. Capital punishment is still …

Education Law Priorities And Need: A Comparitive Analysis, Michael Anson Magone

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This descriptive study ascertained the perceptions of Montana public school principals and superintendents, and Montana education law attorneys, regarding school law education for Montana public school principals. The study surveyed 595 individuals: 239 superintendents, 347 principals, and 9 education law attorneys. The 268 responses obtained represented a 95.6% confidence level.

The study addressed the following questions: 1) Which areas of school law are essential for a public school principal to know?; 2) In which school law areas do public school principals have an immediate need for knowledge?; 3) Which school law areas are critical for inclusion in a graduate-level principal …

Elucidation Of The Specificity Of Neuroactive Steroids And Related Compounds At The At The Vesicular Glutamate Transporter, Wesley Edward Smith

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

As the primary excitatory amino acid, glutamate is essential to proper functioning of the mammalian CNS. Proper regulation of the synaptic release of glutamate, potentially regulated by synaptic vesicle content, is one of many critical aspects to normal excitatory functioning. In particular, the vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs), which load synaptic vesicles with glutamate prior to presynaptic release of neurotransmitter, are distinct from that of the plasma membrane excitatory amino acid transporters (EAAT). The development of a library of compounds which selectively inhibit the uptake of [3H]-L-glutamate into the VGLUTs, has revealed importance of particular structural motifs. Among these structural motifs, …

Energy Flow In A Floodplain Aquifer Ecosystem, Brian Reid

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

We developed an energy budget to identify energy sources for the invertebrate community of a large 20 km2 floodplain aquifer, based on biomass distributions, organismal respirometry, in situ community respiration, mesocosm and microcosm experiments, stable isotopes and invertebrate gut contents. The invertebrate respiration scaling exponent was 0.474 (+/- 0.068, 95% CI) across six orders in body mass, which is significantly lower than the ¾ power scaling predicted by metabolic theory. Invertebrate production was dominated by copepods (Diacyclops, Acanthocyclops, Bryocamptus), Stygobromus amphipods, and amphibiont stoneflies, and ranged from 26.9 to 4200 mg C/m3 sediment/year. Production and density showed a U-shaped response …

Old Icelandic Gaglviðr, Aurelijus Vijūnas

Quidditas

This essay discusses a debated word form gaglviðr occurring in stanza 42 of the Old Icelandic poem VÄluspá 'The Prophesy of the Seeress'. The noun gaglviðr is problematic both from the semantic point of view (Old Icelandic gagl 'gosling', viðr 'tree; forest' 'gosling forest'?), and because it possesses a variant spelling galgviðr ('gallows' tree;’gallows' forest') which occurs in another manuscript containing the same poem. In the present paper, the form gaglviðr is considered to be the correct and the original form of this word, whereas the form galgviðr is interpreted as a scribal error. Various existing semantic analyses of the …

Editor's Introduction, Reflections On The Reactions To Rough Stone Rolling And Related Matters, Daniel C. Peterson

Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 1989–2011

No abstract provided.

The Swiss And The Nazis: How The Alpine Republic Survived In The Shadow Of The Third Reich, Stephen P. Halbrook

Swiss American Historical Society Review

While surrounded by the Axis powers in World War II, Switzerland remained democratic and, unlike most of Europe, never succumbed to the siren songs and threats of the Nazi goliath. This book tells the story with emphasis on two voices rarely heard. One voice is that of scores of Swiss who lived in those dark years, told through oral history. They mobilized to defend the country, labored on the farms, and helped refugees. The other voice is that of Nazi Intelligence, those who spied on the Swiss and planned subversion and invasion. Exhaustive documents from the German Military Archives reveals …

Then And Now, Gustav T. Durrer

Swiss American Historical Society Review

The first big event of my life was on the 26th of September 1911, at two

in the afternoon, when I first saw the light of the world. I was entered in the

civil register of the city of Luzern as Gustav Theophil Durrer, Luzern, son of

Dr. Gustav Durrer, senior; citizen of Dallenwil (Nidwalden) and Luzern. My

parents and sisters (aged 2 and 4) lived in the Lowen-Platz in Luzern.

The Judicial Treatment Of Noneconomic Compensatory Damages In The 19th Century, Ronald J. Allen, Alexia Brunet

Publications

Do high verdicts for tort cases containing noneconomic damages have historical precedent? We present the results of our empirical inquiry into the treatment of noneconomic compensatory damages by the courts from 1800-1900. Using 1,175 tort cases from this era, we show that, notwithstanding constant reiteration of jury discretion over damages, courts tightly controlled awards. In fact, no case prior to 1900 permitted a noneconomic compensatory damages award exceeding $450,000 in current dollars. Logistic regression results reveal that an increase in total monetary damages is positively and significantly related to the probability of reversal when noneconomic damages were claimed, and that …