Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of 1.25-Dihydroxyvitamin D On Hif-1a Expression In Breast Epithelial Cells Containing The Erbb2 Oncogene, Jessica Harris

CFS Honors Program Undergraduate Theses

There is evidence that the active form of vitamin D, 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), may lead to reduced tumor formation by inhibiting vascularization, and thus feeding the tumor (1). Vascularization is controlled in part by the release of proteins which can be stimulated by low oxygen (hypoxia) to increase the transcriptional activity of hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) (2). HIF-1α controls the level of an important protein, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which stimulates vascularization (2). The level of HIF-1α protein level is regulated both transcriptionally and by protein stability through the activity of prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) (2). The purpose …

The Projected And Perceived Image Of The United Republic Of Tanzania, Tammy Reiko Koerte

CFS Honors Program Undergraduate Theses

While Tanzania has enjoyed increasing popularity as a tourism destination, there is a lack of research on Tanzania's tourism image. Tanzania 's tourism growth, however, depends upon the congruency of its projected and perceived images.

This research examines the government's projected image of Tanzania and measures its congruency with the image perceived by past visitors to Tanzania. The study utilized the Tanzania Tourist Board and Tanzania Travel and Tourism Online websites as well as 364 blogs on travel to Tanzania between 2003 and 2008 from TravelPod.

This research presents valuable information on the congruency of Tanzania's images and identifies the …

Design, Construction, And Experimentation Of A Heat Pipe Augmented Solar Wall., Nicholas E. Chmielewski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The heat pipe augmented solar wall operates much more efficiently for domestic air heating than alternative passive solar technologies. The thermal diode effect of heat pipes reduces the insulating losses of the unit during nighttime and adverse solar conditions. The exceptionally high conductivity of heat pipes allows for much greater heat gains, and significantly reduces the response time of the unit. The response time is also reduced by a smaller thermal mass of preheating components, which allows the system to passively alternate between insulating and heating conditions much more quickly. By separating the thermal mass of the system from external …

Yolk Androgens And Development In American Kestrel Nestlings, Melanie Dawn Berg

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Maternally derived yolk androgens affect many aspects of phenotypic development. To explore this phenomenon I injected clutches of American kestrels (Falco sparverius) with one of three different dosages of testosterone + androstenedione or with vehicle. Morphological measurements taken from nestlings 26 days after hatching showed no significant treatment effect. In 2007, nestlings with more yolk androgens had lower hatching mass and higher hematocrit levels 15 days after hatching than nestlings with less yolk androgens, but the effects disappeared by day 26. In 2008, there were no effects of androgens on mass or hematocrit. Because the results were not …

The Sweet Air, Ann Braley Smith

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

1. April

1986: Wind melds sky turns to rain turns to snow turns to white closes in.

A South Dakota blizzard is a shape-shifter, undulating, hiding, revealing little of what lies beneath. In its aftermath, fallen snow is delicate, ephemeral. It quells noise, erases the line between earth and sky. It envelops sound: footsteps, passing vehicle, a runaway dog, cannot shatter this silence. The tired scraping of a metal shovel against idewalk is the only thing penetrating the quiet, quiet hush, as I wade through snow in my Sorels, clearing the walk. Breathing in, I feel my nostrils sting. I …

Household And Property Relations In Tuva, Tayana Arakchaa

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes the transformation of households and property relations in one of the remote provinces of Southern Siberia - Tyva Republic. The thesis identifies continuities and developments in land tenure during the Soviet and post-Soviet periods and tests various theoretical propositions in Economic Anthropology. Land tenure and resource management is a central issue in Tyva.

Particular attention is paid to the segment of Tyvan people who have continued a traditional style of life – the herders and hunters who are now living in new political and economical conditions. Even though their number is not big, the people in the …

Improving Success Of Translocating Southern Idaho Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus Endemicus), Katie Lea Busscher

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Populations of the southern Idaho ground squirrel (Spermophilus endemicus; SIDGS), a federally listed candidate species, have declined in the last 30 years mainly because of habitat degredation, loss, and fragmentation. As a management tool, translocation is commonly used to augment, establish, or re-establish wildlife populations, although translocation has historically not been the most successful conservation strategy for species that are threatened or endangered animals as a result of habitat loss. I employed various techniques to improve translocation success of southern Idaho ground squirrels. To establish new populations, I relocated SIDGS to areas within their native range not already occupied by …

Behavioral Interactions Of Breeding Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus Luecocephalus) At Lake Cascade, Idaho, Scott Allen Kimball

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

During the 2000 and 2001 breeding seasons I studied the behavioral inter- and intra-specific interactions of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) breeding at Lake Cascade, Idaho. In the first chapter, I describe the relationships between an increase in population density and home range and foraging habitat use by Bald eagles. In the second chapter, I describe the relationship between aggressive interactions and reproductive success, as measured by number of nestlings fledged and nestling weight.

Because home range and foraging habitat use show temporal variability, I compared breeding home ranges and foraging habitat use of Bald Eagles at Lake Cascade, Idaho in …

Mercury Concentrations In Muscle Tissue From Sportfish In Lake Mead, Nevada, Joanna L. Kramer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Lake Mead is the largest reservoir by volume in the United States and provides fishing opportunities for numerous anglers. Considerable attention has been given to the bioaccumulation of methylmercury in fish tissues, however, no formal study utilizing approved USEPA methodology has been conducted to quantify the amount of mercury present in fish tissue from Lake Mead. The purpose of this study is to determine the concentrations of mercury present in the most commonly consumed fish from Lake Mead and to identify if any of the 4 major basins contain fish with elevated concentrations of mercury. Largemouth bass (n=49), striped bass …

Biology-Inspired Adaptive And Nonlinear Robust Control Of Bauv Using Pectoral-Like Fins, Subramanian Ramasamy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Aquatic animals have splendid ability to move smoothly through water using variety of oscillating fins. Presently researchers are involved in developing biorobotic autonomous underwater vehicles (BAUVs) which have the ability to swim like marine animals. Multiple oscillating fins (dorsal, caudal, pectoral, pelvic, etc.) can be mounted on BAUVs to generate control forces for propulsion and maneuvering. In this research work, control of the BAUVs using pectoral fins alone is considered. The oscillating pectoral fins produce unsteady periodic forces. The control of motion of an BAUV in yaw and dive planes are considered.

Predictors Of Hpv Knowledge And Awareness In Rural America, Melanee Dulfon

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Prior research has shown that overall awareness of HPV is low among women in America. Yet limited research exists as to the awareness of HPV among rural U.S. women. The goal of this study was to determine the factors that predict women's knowledge and awareness of HPV in rural America. Secondary data was utilized from the National Cancer Institute Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) of 2005. The sample consisted of 788 adult women over the age of 18 from rural areas of the U.S. Results indicated younger age, increased education, receipt of a Pap exam in over three years, …

Adult Estimation, Eye Movements And Math Anxiety, Robert T. Durette

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In this experiment the estimation ability of college undergraduates was examined using a number line task, with lines numbered 0-to-100, 0-to1,000 and 0-to-723 presented on a computer monitor. Previous research on kindergarteners' through 6^th graders' ability to estimate showed a progression from a logarithmic mental representation of numbers to a linear mental number line. Children's ability to estimate was found to correlate strongly with math achievement. We used this task to examine the hypothesis that remnants of the underlying logarithmic number line representation persist into adulthood despite formal educational experience with the number system (e.g. Dehaene, 1997). 0 to …

Studying The Specificity Of Hpxr Antagonists Using A Panel Of Cell-Based Assays, Fang Lei

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The pregnane X receptor (PXR or SXR; NR1I2) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. It activates the transcription of a large network of genes including cytochrome P450 (CYP) and Mdr1 which play critical roles in chemicals metabolism and transportation. Induction of CYPs contributes to adverse drug-drug interactions. Non-toxic, PXR-specific antagonists will be valuable in attenuating the adverse drug-drug interaction which is the cause of many treatment failures in clinic. However, few hPXR antagonists were reported particularly the specific ones. In this thesis a reporter gene assay was used to study the specificity of hPXR antagonists from a panel …

Multiscale Genomic Analysis Of The Corticolimbic System: Uncovering The Molecular And Anatomic Substrates Of Anxiety-Related Behavior, Khyobeni Mozhui

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Genetic diversity generates variation at multiple phenotypic levels, ranging from the most basic molecular to higher-order cognitive and behavioral traits. The far-reaching impact that genes have on higher traits is apparent in several neuropsychiatric conditions such as stress and anxiety disorders. Like most, if not all, neural phenotypes, stress, anxiety, and other emotion-related traits are extremely complex and are defined by the interplay of multiple genetic, environmental, experiential, and epigenetic factors.

The work presented in this dissertation is a multi-scalar, integrative analysis of the molecular and neuroanatomic substrates that underlie emotion-related behavior. The amygdala is a principle component of the …

Diffusion Tensor Imaging In Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients, Nicholas S. Phillips

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

In this dissertation, we outline our efforts to introduce an advanced MRI imaging technique called Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to the pediatric brain tumor population. We discuss the theory and application of DTI as it was performed in a series of translational investigations at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. We present evidence of how the introduction of this technique impacted diagnosis, and treatment. And finally, we demonstrate how DTI was used to investigate cognitive morbidities associated with cancer treatment and how this research provided insight into the underlying pathophysiology involved in the development of these treatment sequela.

This research has …

Evolutionary Analysis Of Host Proteins Cd4, Cxcr4 And Ccr5, And Hiv/Siv Gp12, Lana Bunning

Biological Sciences

The acquired immune deficiency syndrome, AIDS, is a growing epidemic in the United States and the world. Since its discovery in 1981, the virus that causes AIDS, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has escalated. .Certain African ape (i.e., chimpanzees and gorillas) and monkey species are known to harbor forms of the virus termed SIV (simian immunodeficiency virus). Chimpanzees are the natural hosts of the SIV strains from which HIV-I evolved, but do not rapidly progress to AIDS, unlike their human relatives. In the wild, gorillas have been observed to harbor SIV, but this species' disease progression is currently unknown. As the …

Regulation Of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase 4 By Thyroid Hormone / Role Of Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator-1 Alpha And Ccaat Enhancer Binding Protein, Ramy Naguib Attia

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) regulates pyruvate oxidation through the phosphorylation and inhibition of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). The PDC catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA and it is an important control point in glucose and pyruvate metabolism. Previous studies had reported that PDK4 gene expression is induced by thyroid hormone (T3). These studies did not investigate the mechanisms by which T3 regulated PDK4 gene expression. I have examined the role of the thyroid hormone receptor (TR), transcriptional coactivators especially the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 (PGC-1α) and other transcription factors that act as accessory factors in …

Analysis Of Selective Petrochemicals: A Case Study Of The Houston Texas Metropolitan Area, Joana Idakwo

Theses (Pre-2016)

With an increasing focus on environmental issues, a concentration on petrochemicals and their importance in commerce along with the role they play towards the issues affecting the ecosystem is a dominant topic of debate. One major product of crude oil is petroleum, which continues to play an important role in the social, economic, and political history of the United States and the world. Petroleum is a very complex mixture of many hydrocarbons. There are varieties of petroleum products, each of which has its own unique mix of molecules, which delineate its physical and chemical properties. Houston happens to be one …

Sacred Improv : Narrative Preaching That Offers Entrance Into The Gospel Of Jesus Christ, Daniel Wayne Meek

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Methyl Septanoside Hydrolysis As A Measure Of Carbohydrate Ring Flexibility: Substrate Synthesis And Kinetics Analysis, Shawn Michael Miller

Honors Scholar Theses

A number of seven-membered ring systems have been found to have promising enzyme inhibiting properties. The common explanation for their efficacy is the apparent improved flexibility that the ring-system has over smaller rings. In an attempt to probe the validity of this hypothesis, unnatural seven-membered ring carbohydrates have been generated and subjected to kinetics analysis using hydrolysis. In particular, methyl α- and β-D-glycero-D-guloseptanoside were subjected to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and monitored via HNMR experiments. The rate constants of the reactions were determined and compared to the hydrolysis rate constants of comparable pyranose carbohydrates and found to be significantly faster, indicating an …

Local Effects Of Culverts On Habitat Features And Fish Assemblages In Blue Ridge Streams, Daniel Huser

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

I studied environmental conditions, fish assemblages, and culvert features in 11 headwater streams (Tennessee and Conasauga river drainages) in Cherokee National Forest (Blue Ridge ecoregion), Tennessee, May-August 2008. Culvert-related effects on instream habitat and fish assemblages were measured at 10 stream sites: five sites contained culverts with artificial bottom substrates and five sites contained culverts with natural bottom substrates. On each stream, paired sampling reaches (reach length ~35 times mean reach width, drainage area <11 km 2) were established 50 m upstream and 50 m downstream of the culvert. Reaches downstream of culverts with artificial substrates (compared to upstream reaches; related-samples t test) exhibited greater water depths, lower gravel/sediment depths, and higher percentages of bedrock and boulder substrates (P < 0.10). Reaches downstream of natural substrate culverts (compared to upstream reaches) exhibited faster current velocities (P < 0.10). Fish abundance (predominantly western blacknose dace Rhinichthys obtusus) was consistently higher downstream than upstream (P < 0.10), regardless of the culvert type. In addition, reaches downstream of artificial substrate culverts exhibited reduced species evenness compared to upstream reaches. Mark-recapture experiments on two streams documented fish movements through a natural substrate culvert (similar to those in reference areas); however, movements through a perched pipe culvert were not detected. Data collected i n the present study suggest that culverts had localized effects on instream habitat and fish assemblages, and that certain types of culverts may impede fish dispersal.

Effects Of Urbanization On Instream Habitat And Fish Assemblages In The Chattanooga Metropolitan Area, Tennessee-Georgia, Joshua Smith

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Twenty-one stream sites in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of Tennessee and Georgia were studied in 2008 to evaluate the effects of watershed urbanization on instream environmental parameters and fish assemblages. I also investigated changes in urbanization and stream conditions at 10 sites over a 10-year period (1998-2008). Electrofishing yielded 12,329 fish, composed of 38 species from eight families. Urbanization in the study watersheds was measured (using ArcGIS 9.3; released June, 2008) by calculating the building density and percent urban land use. Correlation analysis revealed that more urbanized watersheds were characterized by increased proportions of fine sediments and pool areas, …

An Examination Of The Relationships Among Personality, Religiosity, Spirituality, And Mysticism, Matthew L. Campbell

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Empirical research has demonstrated differences between religiosity and spirituality; the current study further clarifies the constructs by exploring their respective divergent and convergent validities in relation to two higher-order factors of the Big Five personality variables, traditionalism and transformation. The current study examines the relationships among personality, spirituality, religiosity and mysticism. Predictions were partially supported. Participants high on traditionalism and low on transformation scored higher in extrinsic religious orientation compared to those low on traditionalism and high on transformation. Participants low on traditionalism and high on transformation did not score higher on spirituality compared to those high on traditionalism and …

Judge, Jury, And Executioner: Organizational Factors That Affect Police Use Of Lethal Force, Mikaela Cooney

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

There currently exists an empirical gap in our knowledge of organizational factors as they relate to police use of lethal force. As a result of waning interest in macrolevel policing studies over the last three decades, the majority of our understanding of lethal force is derived from studies that specifically focus on microlevel factors (such as officer race or suspect behavior). The present study examined the relationship between organizational variables and the number of self-reported instances of lethal force by law enforcement officers. Departmental variables, jurisdictional characteristics, and the number of lethal force incidents reported annually were collected from law …

5ive Minutes To Madalyn: Why Do You Have A Lantern?, Calliope

Calliope

No abstract provided.

Predator And Abiotic Effects On Hatching Phenotype And Survival Of Arboreal Frog Eggs With Implications For Phytoplankton, Jessica Hite

Theses and Dissertations

Historically studies have focused on either the terrestrial or aquatic environments independently. However, these systems are inherently linked through numerous pathways including organisms with complex life cycles. Both abiotic factors and predators of these organisms can influence connections by changing the number of prey moving across habitat boundaries and by changing the phenotype of prey. When the focal organisms are primary consumers, these effects may have important implications for ecosystem processes. My study investigated how terrestrial predators and abiotic factors affect the number and phenotype of herbivorous tadpole inputs into a tropical forest pond. I found that predators and abiotic …

De-Masking The Silence - Drama Therapy: For Children With Asd, Joshua M. Galligan

Theses and Dissertations

This dynamic form of pedagogy attempts to cross the interdisciplinary boundaries between theatre, psychology, and modern medicine. What I attempt to present in this thesis is a systematic developmental framework for the theoretical use of drama therapy with children suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder. This approach has been based on in-depth interdisciplinary study which makes use of the most current research looking at the neurological makeup of the autistic brain. This systematic approach examines the mirror neuron system which has been labeled as a major defect in children with ASD. Through the use of theatrical techniques such as acting, movement, …

The I-70 Greenfield Rest Area Wetland Projects, Shih-Chieh Kao, Ting Pong Chang, Rebeka Sultana, Thomas Konopka, Rao S. Govindaraju, Barry Partridge

JTRP Technical Reports

On-site treatment of wastewater at highway rest areas poses some unique and difficult challenges because of the rural locale, high variability in wastewater flow rate and strength, and lack of knowledgeable personnel on-site. As a potential alternative, a constructed subsurface wetland system was built at the I-70 rest stop nearby Greenfield, Indiana, in 2003. This wetland system, mainly composed of three wetland cells, also includes draw-and-fill and recirculation mechanisms to increase oxygen transfer to the wastewater and improve the overall treatment performance. Special considerations for highway rest areas have been emphasized. A dynamic hydraulic model was developed to help characterize …

Targeted Delivery Of Surface Modified Nanoparticles: Modulation Of Inflammation For Acute Lung Injury, Hari R. Desu

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The objective of the study is to demonstrate alleviation of pulmonary inflammation associated with acute lung injury (ALI) using novel surface modified nanoparticles. ALI is characterized by three main pathological events: I) pulmonary edema, II) excessive pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines production from alveolar epithelial and endothelial cells and III) leukocyte migration from blood circulation into alveoli. Currently, there is no FDA approved pharmacological treatment available except the supportive mechanical ventilation therapy. Numerous clinical trials involving pharmacological therapies aimed at different pathological targets turned unsuccessful. National Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) cited underappreciation of drug delivery systems as …

The Combined Effect Of In-Situ Tumor And Irradiation On Peritumoral Brain Vasculature, Janice Ann Zawaski

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

In the USA, 200,000 brain tumors are diagnosed each year with glioma representing 8.4% of the 200,000. The standard treatment for glioma consists of surgical resection, when possible, followed by radiation therapy (RT) and/or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is one of the most effective treatments of brain tumors; however, the therapeutic ratio of RT is limited by damage to the normal tissue. We hypothesize that tumor growth has an adverse effect on the peritumoral tissue through the angiogenic/inflammatory environment it creates rendering it susceptible to further damage by RT which may be prevented by using anti-angiogenic/anti-inflammatory agents. We have developed a …