Digital Commons Network^™

Sex Differences In The Use And Evaluated Helpfulness Of Premarital Advice, Neal J. Sullivan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to explore sex differences in the use and evaluated helpfulness of advice received before marriage. In addition, this study explored who typically gave premarital advice. Advice is considered by some to be a form of social support which can be helpful or hurtful to the marriage relationship. The sex of the advice-giver and advice-receiver as well as the relationship quality between them was explored in order to highlight how these variables affect advice use and helpfulness. Utilizing a questionnaire and interviews with individual newlywed husbands (n = 56) and wives (n = …

Using Career Education To Enhance School Success And Reduce The Dropout Rate, Cindy Lue Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The new career education program was developed to help over-aged and under achieving 9th graders who are one or more years behind in earning their high school diplomas. This program was designed to reduce the dropout rate and provide every student with a South Carolina State Diploma and a marketable skill upon entering the workforce. This study determined if the program reduced the dropout rate and if students participating in the career education program would show an improvement in factors established as dropout indicators. The students who met the programs qualifications began in the fall of 2006 and were studied …

Education For Woman’S Ministries: A Rationale For And Review Of Woman’S Ministries For The Beginning Of The 21st Century, Monica Dawn Rose

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide a theoretical basis for the development of programs for women in the church and Christian ministries. The author will approach this project by first defining women’s ministries as well as presenting the two predominant evangelical views of women in ministry. This project will also provide an overview of issues women encounter and the needs women have in today’s culture. After presenting a need analysis, the author will provide an overview of academic institutions training women in the field of women’s studies and/or ministries as well as curriculum being used to equip women …

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Knowledge And Practices: A Survey Of Pediatricians And Family Practice Physicians, Kara L. Spielmans

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood disorder often treated by pediatricians or family practice physicians. ADHD knowledge held by treating physicians may be an important predictor in patient outcomes. This study examined ADHD knowledge and common assessment and treatment practices of pediatricians and family practice physicians via a national survey sent to members of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Mailings included the Knowledge of Attention Deficit Disorders Scale--Revised (KADDS-R) and a demographic/practice questionnaire. Although both physician types reported utilizing assessment and treatment methods consistent with current ADHD practice guidelines, findings suggested that …

Yoga As An Intervention For Stress Reduction And Enhanced Wellbeing In African American Athletes, Jennifer Fallon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study explored the preventive impact of a brief Hat ha yoga program on stress-reduction and enhanced wellbeing in a sample of healthy African American college athletes. African Americans suffer higher rates of hypertension and sudden cardiac death syndrome, both linked to stress. Study design was single case, with six replications, utilizing comparison of pre- and post-intervention scores on physiological and psychological indicators of distress and wellbeing. Findings were inconsistent across participants and measures, though generally included beneficial increases in positive affect (i.e ., C = 0.567 , Z = 2 071, p < 0.05) and perceived physical health (i.e., C = 0489, Z = 1. 721, …

Growth And Water Relations Of Native Wheatgrass Populations, Brian P. Bell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Screening populations for development into released plant materials can be done inexpensively and in a timely manner. A common approach has been to quantify the amount of shoot dry mass produced as a surrogate for competitiveness. Besides dry mass production , other morphological characteristics have been employed , but physiological parameters have received less emphasis. Dry mass production may be an important characteristic, but identifying the traits responsible can be just as imperative . Populations with greater drought tolerance may be less impacted by competition for water from weeds, which could lead to greater establishment of desirable grasses on disturbed …

Organizational Role Stress Indices Affecting Burnout Among Nurses, Jinky Leilanie Lu

Journal of International Women's Studies

This was a cross sectional study, which aimed to determine the interaction between situational, factors, role stressors, hazard exposure and personal factors among 246 nurses consisting most of females (78.5%) from the different wards and units in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). The dominance of female sin the profession reinforce the prevailing notion that the caring professions such as nursing are relegated to women. This gives the study its gender perspective. Almost half (49.6%) of the respondents reported being ill due to work in the past year, and 56.1% missed work because of an illness. Correlation statistics using the Spearman’s …

In Two Different Worlds: How Malawian Girls Experience Schooling, Margaret Asalele Mbilizi

Journal of International Women's Studies

This paper reports on a qualitative case study of how Malawian girls experience schooling in single-sex versus coeducational institutions. It is a qualitative narrative depicting the socializing and learning processes which affect girls’ potential to succeed in mathematics and science subjects and careers. Further I use critical reflection to describe my own experiences as a student, teacher, and researcher at one of the single-sex boarding schools.

The results confirm other research findings that single-sex school environments are effective in building high expectations and aspirations for higher education among girls. In single-sex schools, girls held higher educational expectations and occupational aspirations …

Book Review: When Sex Became Gender, Catherine R. Mintler

Journal of International Women's Studies

Review of When Sex Became Gender by Shira Tarrant

The Role Of Occupational Values And Support In Career Choice: An Emphasis On Women In Science, Heather Meikle

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine how occupational values and social support for career pursuits influenced career choice, with a specific focus on women in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). A sample of 62 college graduates participated in telephone interviews that addressed gender differences in seven occupational values and three sources of social support. Results showed that differences in occupational values differ by both gender and between individuals in STEM and non-STEM careers. The strength of STEM values better predicted a career in STEM than did gender. Finally, women in STEM received the least amount of social …

Subterranean Termites, Erin Hodgson, Alan H. Roe

All Current Publications

Subterranean termites are social insects with a caste system, and belong to the order Isoptera and family Termititae. These termites are closely related to drywood (Kalotermitidae) and dampwood (Termopsidae) termites.

Recent Applications Of Chemical Imaging To Pharmaceutical Process Monitoring And Quality Control, A. A. Gowen, Colm O'Donnell, Patrick J. Cullen, S. Bell

Articles

Chemical Imaging (CI) is an emerging platform technology that integrates conventional imaging and spectroscopy to attain both spatial and spectral information from an object. Vibrational spectroscopic methods, such as Near Infrared (NIR) and Raman spectroscopy, combined with imaging are particularly useful for analysis of biological/pharmaceutical forms. The rapid, non-destructive and non-invasive features of CI mark its potential suitability as a process analytical tool for the pharmaceutical industry, for both process monitoring and quality control in the many stages of drug production. This paper provides an overview of CI principles, instrumentation and analysis. Recent applications of Raman and NIR-CI to pharmaceutical …

An Exploration Of The Effects Of An Arm Movement Intervention Upon Artwork: Implications For Art Therapy, Alicia K. Hurst

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Why have pioneers of art therapy and modern art therapists discussed the importance of body movement in art therapy and yet not one study has been conducted to test its benefits? How can an art therapist overlook body movement in an art therapy session when one must move in order to create art? Observing the need for more research in this area, this study explored how body movement may affect art using one of Florence Cane’s (1951/1983) arm exercises and the scribble technique.

Four adult volunteers were individually videotaped while completing the scribble technique, then the arm exercise, and then …

A Content Analysis Of Acculturating Hispanics’ Artwork: Implications For Art Therapy, Sarah Bufogle

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Research in art therapy and other mental health fields on Hispanics is limited. In an attempt to further understand Hispanics and the impact of the acculturation process, this study explores similarities and/or differences between the content of drawings of Hispanics who have lived in the United States for 7 years or less and non-Hispanics. Participants consisted of 9 Hispanics and 11 non-Hispanics. A content analysis of the Free Choice Drawing was utilized to determine graphic differences between drawings of both groups. It was hypothesized that there might be considerable visual differences between drawings by acculturating Hispanics and by non-Hispanics.

The …

Art Therapy With Native American Cancer Survivors: An Observation Of Nonverbal Communication Styles, Kathryn Dengler

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

There is a high morbidity rate among Native American women with breast cancer. Research suggests that traditional beliefs in addition to miscommunication within the healthcare setting may affect the treatment Natives receive. This study observed the nonverbal communication patterns of ten Native American cancer survivors participating in an art psychoeducational workshop. Mapping techniques and situational analysis were used to observe nonverbal communication patterns during the workshop. It was hypothesized that Native Americans would use nonverbal cues more readily than verbal communication.

The results of the study supported the hypothesis. Nonverbal cues were the primary means of communication throughout the workshop. …

On Rational Functions With Golden Ratio As Fixed Point, Edgar Gilbuena Amaca

Theses

The existence of an equivalence subset of rational functions with Fibonacci numbers as coefficients and the Golden Ratio as fixed point is proven. The proof is based on two theorems establishing basic relationships underlying the Fibonacci Sequence, Pascal's Triangle and the Golden Ratio. Equations from the two theorems are related to each other and seen to generate the equivalence subset of rational functions. Proof by induction on these equations constitutes the proof of the existence of this subset of rational functions. It is found that this subset of rational functions possesses interesting mathematical properties, particularly that of convergence to the …

Iron(Iii)-Salophene: An Organometallic Compound With Selective Cytotoxic And Anti-Proliferative Properties In Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Cells, Thilo S. Lange, Kyu Kwang Kim, Rakesh K. Singh, Robert M. Strongin, Carolyn Mccourt, Laurent Brard

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: In this pioneer study to the biological activity of organometallic compound Iron(III)-salophene (Fe-SP) the specific effects of Fe-SP on viability, morphology, proliferation, and cell-cycle progression on platinum-resistant ovariancancer cell lines were investigated.

Methodology/Principal Findings: Fe-SP displayed selective cytotoxicity against SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 (ovarian epithelial adenocarcinoma) cell lines at concentrations between 100 nM and 1 μM, while the viability of HeLa cells (epithelial cervix adenocarcinoma) or primary lung or skin fibroblasts was not affected. SKOV-3 cells in contrast to fibroblasts after treatment with Fe-SP revealed apparent hallmarks of apoptosis including densely stained nuclear granular bodies within fragmented nuclei, highly condensed …

Zeolite Thin Film-Coated Long Period Fiber Grating Sensor For Measuring Trace Chemical, Jian Zhang, Xiling Tang, Junhang Dong, Tao Wei, Hai Xiao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper reports the development of a new zeolite thin film-coated long period fiber grating (LPFG) sensor for direct measurement of trace organic vapors. The sensor was fabricated by growing pure silica MFI-type zeolite thin film on the optical fiber grating by in situ hydrothermal crystallization. The sensor measures chemical vapor concentration by monitoring the molecular adsorption-induced shift of LPFG resonant wavelength in near infrared (IR) region. Upon loading analyte molecules, the zeolite's refractive index changes in the close vicinity of the fiber index where the LPFG has a large response to achieve high sensitivity.

Effect Of Shear On Performance And Microbial Ecology Of Continuously Stirred Anaerobic Digesters Treating Animal Manure, Rebecca A. Hoffmann, Marcelo L. Garcia, Mehul Veskivar, Khursheed Karim, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan, Largus T. Angenent

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We Determined the Effect of Different Mixing Intensities on the Performance, Methanogenic Population Dynamics, and Juxtaposition of Syntrophic Microbes in Anaerobic Digesters Treating Cow Manure from a Dairy Farm. Computer Automated Radioactive Particle Tracking in Conjunction with Computational Fluid Dynamics Was Performed to Quantify the Shear Levels Locally. Four Continuously Stirred Anaerobic Digesters Were Operated at Different Mixing Intensities of 1,500, 500, 250, and 50 Revolutions Per Min (RPM) over a 260-Day Period at a Temperature of 34 ± 1°C. Animal Manure at a Volatile Solids (VS) Concentration of 50 G/L Was Fed into the Digesters Daily at Five Different …

Clustering Of High-Dimensional Gene Expression Data With Feature Filtering Methods And Diffusion Maps, Rui Xu, Steven Damelin, Boaz Nadler, Donald C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The importance of gene expression data in cancer diagnosis and treatment by now has been widely recognized by cancer researchers in recent years. However, one of the major challenges in the computational analysis of such data is the curse of dimensionality, due to the overwhelming number of measures of gene expression levels versus the small number of samples. Here, we use a two-step method to reduce the dimension of gene expression data. At first, we extract a subset of genes based on the statistical characteristics of their corresponding gene expression measurements. For further dimensionality reduction, we then apply diffusion maps, …

Synthesis Of Novel Targeted Drug Delivery Systems For Cancer Therapy, Antonio Clementi

Masters

One of the most important goals of pharmaceutical science is local izing the pharmacological activity of the drug at the site of action. Drug delivery systems - are. molecular tools which without undesired interaction at other sites target a specific drug receptor. In this work a· novel folate-cyclodextrin conjugate was synthesised for potential use as a drug delivery system in cancer therapy. Folate was directly covalently bound to an amino derivative of p-Cyclodextrin with a view to decreasing the polydispersity of the carrier system. Ultimately the cyclodextrin cavity will be used to transport drugs to the site of action. This …

Targeted Drug Delivery Systems For Cancer Therapy, Antonio Clementi, Christine O'Connor, Mary Mcnamara, A. Mazzaglia, M. C. Aversa, A. Giuffrida

Conference Papers

The role of cyclodextrin’s (CD) in drug delivery has advanced in recent years and this may be attributed to its biocompatibility and well established synthesis. Chemical modification of CDs has shown to extend the physicochemical properties and the host capacity for a variety of drugs. β-CD has been widely used in the early stages of pharmaceutical applications because of its ready availability and its cavity size suitability for a wide range of drugs. Chemical modification of β-CD has proven to enhance aqueous solubilisation, microbiological stability and reduced toxicity in previous studies.1 Folate Receptors are over-expressed in several human cancers including …

Corona Ion Deposition: A Novel Non-Contact Method For Drug And Gene Delivery To Living Systems, Niraj Ramachandran

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Application of corona ions produced in air to B16F10 murine melanoma cells in vitro and in animal models resulted in the transport of molecular therapeutics across the cell membrane. This work presents the development of new methods for drug and gene delivery based upon similar principles as the traditional electrode driven membrane destabilization processes known as electroporation. This was achieved with non-contact corona ion deposition that temporarily increased the permeability of cell membranes.

Interaction of corona charge with biological cells was studied and their potential for molecular delivery was established. Molecular delivery was first demonstrated in vitro using tracer molecules …

Effects Of N-3 Fatty Acids On Autoimmunity And Osteoporosis, Gabriel Fernandes, Arunabh Bhattacharya, Mizanur Rahman, Khaliquz Zaman, Jameela Banu

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Decreased consumption of n-3 fatty acids (FA) and diets rich in animal proteins, saturated fats and n-6 vegetable oils are associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), certain malignancies and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythromatous (SLE), and renal disease. Recent studies show that reduced calorie intake and supplementation of diet with n-3 FA delays the onset of autoimmune renal disease, primarily, due to increased antioxidant enzyme activities, decreased NF-kappaB activation and decreased IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the kidney tissue. Studies in rodents show that addition of n-3 FA and soy …

Professor Lin Speaking On Nanoethics May 10, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

April 30, 2008 Cal Poly Report, Public Affairs Office

Cal Poly Report

No abstract provided.

Ca-Stimulated Type 8 Adenylyl Cyclase Is Required For Rapid Acquisition Of Novel Spatial Information And For Working/Episodic-Like Memory, Ming Zhang, Changjong Moon, Guy C.-K. Chan, Lan Yang, Fei Zheng, Alana C. Conti, Lisa Muglia, Louis J. Muglia, Daniel R. Storm, Hongbing Wang

Neurosurgery Faculty Publications

Ca-stimulated adenylyl cyclases (ACs) transduce neuronal stimulation-evoked increase in calcium to the production of cAMP, which impinges on the regulation of many aspects of neuronal function. Type 1 and type 8 AC (AC1 and AC8) are the only ACs that are directly stimulated by Ca. Although AC1 function was implicated in regulating reference spatial memory, the function of AC8 in memory formation is not known. Because of the different biochemical properties of AC1 and AC8, these two enzymes may have distinct functions. For example, AC1 activity is regulated by both Ca and G-proteins. In contrast, AC8 is a pure Ca …

Burr’S Pond And Runnins River – An Annual Watershed Survey 2008

Watershed Access Lab Projects

AP Biology students at Seekonk High School are required to complete an independent research project to fulfill the Ecology unit of the course during the summer prior to the course. Students must apply what they learned in their readings to a local ecosystem, Burr’s Pond which is attached to the Runnins River. Students spend time at the pond area during the summer documenting organisms, evidence of population dynamics, animal behavior, trophic levels, nutrient cycling, etc. Students put together a Burr’s Pond Summer Field Research Project Portfolio to be submitted on the first day of school. Student projects are displayed at …

Benthic Macroinvertebrates: An Analysis Of The Quashnet River

Watershed Access Lab Projects

No abstract provided.

Abbott Run Annual Study 2008

Watershed Access Lab Projects

The purpose of our study was to make certain that Abbott Run met the Massachusetts water quality standards of a Class A river. We are concerned that the Abbott Run remains a Class A river because it is the source of the drinking water for Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Abbott Run is located in the western section of North Attleboro within the Blackstone River Watershed. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the west, Plainville to the north and Attleboro to the south. The watershed section in North Attleboro is approximately four square miles.

Land use is predominately single-family, residential except …