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Analysis Of Progessive Lag Reinforcement Schedules And Environmental Cues On Verbal Response Variability, Brian Esteve

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined the effectiveness of progressive lag reinforcement schedules to increase novel and appropriate verbal responses to academic skills for three children with language delays. The effect of visual cues on verbal responses was evaluated in conjunction with progressive lag reinforcement schedules using a multiple baseline with an embedded alternating treatments design. Basic research utilizing lag reinforcement schedules have shown to increase variable behavior in both animal and human participants; however, little research has been conducted to evaluate lag reinforcement schedules in applied settings. The results of this study preliminarily indicate that progressive lag reinforcement schedules are an effective …

The World Development Report 2009 'Reshapes Economic Geography': Geographical Reflections, Jonathan Rigg, Anthony J. Bebbington, Katherine V. Gough, Deborah F. Bryceson, Jytte Agergaard, Niels Fold, Cecilia Tacoli

Geography

The Report focuses on the spatial transformations that must happen for countries to develop. Cities, migration and trade, it is claimed, have been the main catalysts of progress and hence ‗Growing cities, ever more mobile people, and increasingly specialised products are … essential for economic success‘ (World Bank 2009, xx). These greater densities, shorter distances and reduced divisions will, the Report argues, bring about unbalanced growth: however, over time, other policies and mechanisms for integration will foster convergence in living standards. Development, seen through the Report‘s eyes, involves a necessary (and welcome) spatial unevenness in economic activity coupled with progressive …

Institutional Challenges For Mining And Sustainability In Peru, Anthony J. Bebbington, Jeffrey T. Bury

Geography

Global consumption continues to generate growth in mining. In lesser developed economies, this growth offers the potential to generate new resources for development, but also creates challenges to sustainability in the regions in which extraction occurs. This context leads to debate on the institutional arrangements most likely to build synergies between mining, livelihoods, and development, and on the socio-political conditions under which such institutions can emerge. Building from a multiyear, three-country program of research projects, Peru, a global center of mining expansion, serves as an exemplar for analyzing the effects of extractive industry on livelihoods and the conditions under which …

Development Of Methodology For The Use Of Multi-Bed Sorbent Traps With Gas Chromatography Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry, Siva Maheswara Reddy Anna Pareddy

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The lipid peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in cellular membranes leads to the formation of alkanes, aldehydes, alkanals, alk-2-enals, and hydroxyl alkenals. The free radicals formed during the process of lipid peroxidation can react with and damage cellular components. Lipid peroxidation is known to cause a number of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Various analytical methods that include spectrometric assays and chromatographic analyses of derivatized products are available for the detection of the lipid peroxidation products.

The development of rapid, non-invasive monitoring of reactions occurring in biological systems, such as cell cultures, is highly desirable, as such …

Comparison Of Nutrient Intakes For Vegetarians, Non-Vegetarians, And Dieters: Results From The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004, Bonnie Farmer

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Studies showing lower body mass index for vegetarians than non-vegetarians suggest that a vegetarian diet may be an approach for weight management. The purpose of this study was to compare nutrient intakes of vegetarians, non-vegetarians, and dieters to show that a vegetarian diet does not compromise nutrient intake. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004) data were analyzed for persons 19 years of age and older. Vegetarians were those who did not report eating meat, poultry, or fish. Dieters were those who consumed 500 kilocalories less than estimated energy requirements. Adjusted means for fiber, vitamins E, A, and C, thiamin, …

Carbon Dioxide Flooding Induced Geochemical Changes In A Saline Carbonate Aquifer, Alyssa Boock

Theses and Dissertations

Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been injected into depleted oil reservoirs for enhanced oil recovery for several decades. Injection of CO2 into geologic formations in the Williston Basin is currently under consideration for long-term CO2 storage to reduce anthropogenic CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. The Madison Group in the North Dakota Williston Basin provides the greatest potential for geologic sequestration in either deep saline aquifers or depleted oil reservoirs. Little is known about the geochemical reactions that take place when supercritical carbon dioxide is injected into deep saline aquifers at geologic conditions similar to those found in potential sequestration units of …

The Influence Of Adult Attachment Styles On Coping With Bereavement, Sarah Wice

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study explored the associations between adult attachment style, coping style, religious beliefs, and experiences with grief. Participants from local bereavement and religious groups completed questionnaires about these constructs.

Hyp. 1-2 predicted that greater endorsement of Secure and Dismissingly Avoidant attachment styles would be associated with less Subjective Distress. Results partially supported these hypotheses. Hyp. 3-6 predicted that the relationship between a Substitute Attachment Figure and adult attachment style would be associated with religious beliefs. Results did not support these hypotheses. Hyp. 7-9 predicted that greater endorsement of Secure and Dismissingly Avoidant attachment styles would be associated with more problem …

Achievement Of Boys And Girls In Single-Gender Kindergarten Classrooms At One Elementary School In Western Michigan, Celeste L. Diehm

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The impact of single gender classrooms on kindergarten students’ acquisition of literacy skills was investigated in this research project. A sample of 144 kindergarten students in one public school district in western Michigan participated in this quasi-experimental, quantitative study during the 2008-09 school year.

The development of reading skills is important for a child’s success throughout his or her educational career and is influenced by many factors. This study explored the impact of the variables of age, developmental readiness, socioeconomic status, family structure, and teacher experience on the acquisition of literacy skills among children in different classroom compositions including all-girls, …

The Evolution Of Eastern Michigan University: The Politics Of Change And Persistence, Dawn Malone Gaymer

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Eastern Michigan University (EMU) is a regional comprehensive university established as a teacher training school in 1849. This case study analyzed the politics of change and persistence as the organization evolved from a normal schools that trained teachers to a regional comprehensive university.

Purpose: This study was pursued to inform higher education leadership; satisfy the personal interests of the researcher and to contribute knowledge to comprehensive university organizational studies.

Research Design: An interpretive longitudal historical case study design was pursed for this research. This case study reviewed the political cultural environment that occurred prior to the organization’s formation and …

A Determination Of Vitamin D Status And Intake Of Pregnant And Non-Pregnant Saudi Arabian Women In Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wedad Azhar

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The objective of the present study was to determine serum 25(OH)D and PTH concentrations as well as vitamin D and Ca dietary intake in healthy pregnant (P) (n=48) and non-pregnant (NP) (n=70) Saudi Arabian women who reside in Mecca- Saudi Arabia. Age, occupation, skin color, smoking status, use of sunscreen, use of supplements, and sun exposure were correlated to vitamin D status. Dietary and supplement intake was assessed. Among the participants, 50.8% (35% P, 65% NP) women had 25(OH)D concentration that were ≤ 11 ng/mL. PTH concentrations were normal in 60.2% and high in 37% of the participants. Dietary vitamin …

Ninth-Grade Interventions And The Impact On High School Graduation Rates, Shannon Mcbrady

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

There is a need to become economically sensible when deciding on new school initiatives and reforms. This is partly due to increasing accountability and tightening school budgets. Hertzog & Morgan (1999) found the freshman year sets the tone for a student‟s entire high school career. Yet, frequently, ninth-graders struggle to feel connected to school and therefore experience failure. Often times this period of failure is related to the developmental process the ninth-grader experiences. Many ninth-graders struggle in various areas including behavioral growth, social pressures, and adjusting to the rigidity of high school (Mizelle & Irvin, 2000). Researchers have found that …

Language, Emotion, And Imagination: Constructing Human Identity Through Hemingway's Work, Gorka Diaz

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis examines how Hemingway’s use of language evokes emotions in his stories and how his particular way of evoking emotions affects readers. Hemingway’s style of providing vivid experiences for readers centers on the image as the dimension where emotions are offered, but also the dimension where the writer’s work converges with the reader’s reception of it. The reader reconstructs the text through the act of signifying emotions. This process of signification is made possible only through the use of the reader’s imagination. The study of the relation between emotion and imagination emphasizes that readers decode fiction as they decode …

The Nature Of Contradictions In India: Using An Applied Ethnographic Technique To Further Intercultural Understanding, Melissa Lr Handa

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

India is often noted for the large body of contradictions that exist within it, which has left many observers in a state of bafflement, never really understanding why or how such huge inconsistencies can harmoniously exist. The intent of this thesis is to begin an exploration into India’s mass of contradictions.

The insights of Indian informants were incorporated into this study in an attempt to explain this dilemma. The respondents were interviewed in order to determine whether (1) they are aware that these contradictions exist and (2) whether they attempt to reconcile them and, if so, how. The fascinating interplay …

Neoliberal Social Policy In The United States Before Reagan, Lance Mason

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This work examines the role of trade agreements and the Carter administration in promoting neoliberal policy in the United States. Policy-planning groups, with extensive connections to the U.S. government and transnational corporations, such as the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission, played crucial roles in pushing neoliberal policies at the government level. The development of unrestricted trade and the open flow of financial capital across borders have allowed transnational corporations to divorce themselves from the social contract, enabling them to disinvest in public life and to push for further disinvestment on the part of the larger society. Results …

The Impact Of Homelessness On Young Children: Building Resilience Through Supportive Early Educational Interventions, Felice Moorman

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative study investigates and analyzes the barriers faced by homeless children and their families in southeast Michigan. The experiences of current or formerly homeless families are documented in relation to perceived obstacles and supports in their schools and child care centers through open-ended, semi-structured interviews and ethnographic classroom observations. A small sample of parents, children, teachers, and case workers are interviewed, and nine children are observed in three schools. The analysis of data reveals significant barriers and obstacles for children who experience indifferent and demeaning treatment in their school environments. Conversely, the findings point to significant benefits for homeless …

Systematic Approach To Prostitution Laws: A Literature Review And Further Suggestions, Dana Lynn Radatz

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Congregate Mealsite Participants’ Self-Reported And Functional Health, Participation In Activities And Attitudes Toward Aging In Wisconsin, Amy Ramsey

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The number of older Americans is increasing. Participation in activities is essential for maintaining health and functional independence, preventing or delaying chronic diseases and improving quality of life. Generally, as older adults age, prevalence of regular activity declines. Many older adults are not engaging in activities and are not receiving the health benefits that these offer.

This cross-sectional study used a self-administered survey to examine whether there is an association between attitudes toward aging, self-reported and functional health, and participation in activities among older adults aged 55 and older who attend congregate mealsites in Wisconsin. It was hypothesized that older …

An Improved Synthesis Of The Hdac Inhibitor Trichostatin A, Joseph Colombo

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) have found a wide variety of medicinal uses and are most noted for their specific apoptotic action towards cancer cells. Several hydroxamate HDIs have since been moved on to phase 1 and 2 clinical drug trials, with one having already been approved for treatment of advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Trichostatin A is one of the most potent known naturally-occurring inhibitors of histone deacetylase. Unfortunately for researchers, the syntheses that have been reported are both long and difficult, which leads to a low overall yield and therefore to a prohibitively expensive product, limiting its medicinal potential. This …

African American Women And Hiv Prevention, Nicole Monique Samuel

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

For many health conditions, non-Hispanic Blacks bear a disproportionate burden of disease, injury, death, and disability. The purpose of this study was to examine African American females and their HIV prevention methods, as well as to identify factors that may lead to the non-use of condoms. Seventy-one participants were recruited from Planned Parenthood in Detroit. The instrumentation used for this research was the Sexual Health and Beliefs Survey. Results indicated that 69 percent of the respondents had five or more sexual partners in the lifetime. Ninety-four percent of the participants knew where to purchase condoms, and 89 percent stated that …

The Effects Of Yoga On Children’S Self-Perceived Stress And Coping Abilities, Holly Smith-Vogtmann

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Stress is a problem for many children in our society. Previous research has shown how yoga can be used to help reduce stress levels. Twenty-seven fourth- and fifth-grade students from an urban elementary school participated in a three-week yoga unit during their physical education class, as a stress management unit. Using a repeated measures design, the participants’ self-perceived stress level, stress coping skills, and perception of yoga was measured. The current study found no significant change in the participants’ self-perceived stress level or stress coping skills after the yoga implementation. There was a significant change in student perceptions of yoga …

Effects Of Yoga On Physical Characteristics On Ncaa Division I Baseball Athletes, Julie Biernat Mclean

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Among baseball athletes, joint range of motion (ROM) is considered an important physical characteristic with respect to injury prevention and performance. Professional and intercollegiate programs employ various methods of flexibility training; however, to date, no literature exists with regard to the effect of a yoga-based training program. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of a sport-specific yoga program among NCAA Division I intercollegiate baseball players. Subjects (N=30, age 19.42 ±1.37 years) were assessed for shoulder joint (SH), hamstring (HS), and groin (GR) ROM and subsequently followed a 12-week, 2x/week yoga intervention. Post-test results indicated significant improvements …

Synthesis Of The Bicyclic Core Of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids, Fatmagul Tuluoglu

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are a large class of natural products whose members exhibit a variety of biological properties including potential applications toward the treatment of cancer, diabetes, and viral infections such as HIV. In addition, some of these compounds exhibit insect antifeedant activity, and so have potential applications in the agricultural industry for the protection of crops.

For these reasons, we were interested in developing a method to form the bicyclic alkaloid core that could be functionalized to generate many pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Specifically, our goal was to synthesize the pyrrolizidine B-ring by a novel McMurry cyclization strategy (Scheme 1). The synthesis …

The Impact Of Children’S Literature And Discussion On Attitudes Toward Disability, Christie Routel

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study examines the impact of reading children’s literature that contains a positive and realistic portrayal of a character with a learning disability on the attitudes of students without disabilities toward their peers with disabilities. Children completed the Attitude Toward Disabled Persons Scale (ADTP) before and after listening to a story and participating in guided discussion. The researcher conducted individual interviews with a smaller group of children based on changes in their attitudes on the surveys. Quantitative results indicate a statistically significant and large positive effect on attitudes towards persons with disabilities from participating in reading and discussion. Qualitative results …

Development Of A Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction (Hs-Spme) Procedure For The Determination Of Short-Chain Fatty Acids (Scfas) In Activated Sludge By Gc-Fid, Shiyan Cheng

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The process of wastewater treatment includes the removal of inorganic solids such as sand and gravel as well as organic materials, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Activated sludge, containing a variety of living organisms, is added into the wastewater treatment system. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), an energy source of the bioorganisms, are produced during activated sludge digestion, and play a significant role in phosphorus and nitrogen removal as well as the removal of organic materials during the process of wastewater treatment. Extensive research has been carried out recently in search of optimized conditions to increase the level of fatty acids in the …

Role Of Aromatic Pi-Stacking On The Aggregation Of Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (Hiapp), Srikanth Reddy Konda

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) is secreted in the β-cells of the pancreas, which also secretes insulin. In type 2 diabetes mellitus, hIAPP undergoes self-aggregation, forming fibrils. This self-aggregation is cytotoxic and is thought to be linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus by causing β-cell membrane destruction. The N-terminus of hIAPP (1-19) contains a binding site (residues 14-18) for self-aggregation. Aggregation is thought to be mediated by pistacking interactions between phenylalanine residues of hIAPP. In this study, the hIAPP 1-19 sequence was modified by replacing phenylalanine with alanine and naphthylalanine, to study if the modification of the aromatic side chain …

Identification Of Changes In The Surface Of Textiles Subjected To Plasma Chemical Treatment Using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Joslyn Diana Kirkland

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Plasma chemical oxidation has been proposed as a “nondestructive” method for preparing samples from archaeological materials for radiocarbon dating using accelerator mass spectrometry. However, the chemical effects of low-temperature, low-pressure plasma discharges on fragile archaeological materials are not understood. It is believed that reactions only occur at the surface of the treated samples. Therefore, we have used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance sampling (ATR-FTIR) to examine changes in the chemical nature of the surface of representative modern and archaeological samples upon plasma treatment. Samples that were treated with destructive wet chemical methods, e.g., treatment with sodium hydroxide …

Insulin Based Inhibitors Of Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (Hiapp) And Their Effect On Hiapp- Mediated Membrane Damage In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Durgaprasad Peddi

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Amylin (Islet Amyloid Polypeptide, IAPP) is a 37 amino acid polypeptide, co-secreted with insulin from pancreatic beta cells, that plays a role in the damage of cell membranes by forming amyloid fibrils in Type 2 diabetes. Insulin has been found to inhibit hIAPP (Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide) aggregation. The HLVEALYLVC amino acid region of insulin contacts hIAPP near the N-terminus. Truncated and modified analogs of insulin containing the binding region (VEALYLV, VEALFLV and EALYLV) were synthesized and purified, and their actions were studied on model lipid membranes in the presence of hIAPP 1-19 and hIAPP 1-37.

Examining The Accuracy Of The Normal Approximation To The Poisson Random Variable, Wesley Jacob Rich

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Because the Poisson distribution is discrete, it is sometimes useful to use the continuous normal distribution as an approximation. In doing so, determining the accuracy of the approximation is important. Some issues of interest include: knowing how the error depends on the Poisson parameter, knowing when the approximation overestimates or underestimates the distribution, bounding the magnitude of the error, and determining if the approximation can be improved. This paper addresses these issues by examining how two types of absolute error measurements are affected by variations in the Poisson parameter; changes in the relative error are also examined. Generally, the error …

The Effect Of Multiple Perpetrators On Judgements Of Responsibility, Louise Hamer

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study questioned whether participants feel one person committing a crime alone is more, less, or equally responsible for his or her actions than two people committing a crime together; whether participants react differently to two equally culpable coconspirators than they do to a perpetrator who was coerced by a companion to commit the crime; and whether these factors affect the amount of responsibility attributed to the perpetrator or the length of sentence recommended. The study found that less responsibility was attributed to a coerced perpetrator; however, all perpetrators received sentences of similar lengths. Also, White respondents attributed more responsibility …

Health Belief Model Of Breast Cancer Screening For Female College Students, Kirsten M. Frankenfield

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

No abstract provided.