Digital Commons Network^™

Who Am I? Exploring Family And Identity In Contemporary American Fiction, Maximina J. Castillo

Theses & ETDs

This thesis explores literary representations of family and the struggle for identity in contemporary American fiction. Characters find �personality options� within their families, but must also try to seek more positive models in the wider world. Focusing on six novels, the thesis deals with the process of developing a sense of self, the ways in which family identity creates a foundation, the limitations for each character, alternative models of identity outside the family, and what this process ultimately yields for the character. The first chapter, on Dorothy Allison�s Bastard Out of Carolina (1992), considers the uncertainty of self that a …

Plasticity Of Fish Muscle Phenotype In Response To A Thermally Variable Environment An Ecophysiological Study Of Fundulus Grandis Eurythermal Performance From A Protein Perspective, David Dayan

Theses & ETDs

Temperature has a profound effect on biological processes. Enzyme kinetics and macromolecular structure are no exception to thermodynamic laws. Therefore, acute, seasonal and evolutionary variation in environmental temperature poses a serious challenge to organisms whose body temperatures fluctuate with that of the environment. There are myriad adaptations that allow such organisms to cope with such challenges, including the plasticity of phenotype in response to the thermal environment. In fish, a thermal acclimation response has evolved that allows locomotory muscle to acclimate to seasonal changes in temperature. Some fish, such as Fundulus grandis, however, persist in environments such as estuaries that …

Scientific Confirmation And Naturalized Mathematical Realism, Andrew Steele

Theses & ETDs

My thesis addresses the issue of naturalized mathematical realism and the possibility of naturalized nominalism. What I call here �naturalized mathematical realism� is the position that, upon the adoption of a naturalized approach to philosophy wherein scientific methods and standards are taken as authoritative, we must subsequently fully accept the existence of mathematical objects. I argue for the possibility and legitimacy of rejecting mathematical realism while accepting just such a naturalistic starting point. Specifically, I argue against the naturalized mathematical realism of W. V. Quine on the basis the �entity realism� of Ian Hacking. Hacking�s position concerns the nature of …

Big-Nose Bob And High-Voice Harry The Efficacy Of Facial And Vocal Mnemonics For Proper Name Recognition, Jon A. Stevens

Theses & ETDs

The use of mnemonics, or memory enhancement, has existed since ancient times in various forms. More recently, the precise neurological and psychological implications of various mnemonics have been studied, comparing the efficacy of different mnemonics in an effort not only to improve memory capabilities, but also to explore the way the brain stores data. Specifically, it has recently been hinted that the various sensory modalities of the brain both share and divide attention across modalities. The present study sought to assess memory improvement produced by two sensory modality conditions designed to elicit implicit mnemonic formation during proper name recognition: exposure …

Evidence For Single Subunit Surface Expression Of Drosophila Integrins And A Possible, Unconventional Method Of Transport, Samantha Jeschonek

Theses & ETDs

The conventional secretory pathway describes the transport of certain proteins (e.g., those destined to be secreted or displayed in the plasma membrane) from the site of their nascent synthesis to their final location within the cell. According to this pathway, once a protein is completely assembled and properly folded in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) it is transferred via vesicles to the Golgi apparatus, where it undergoes further modification, and in the case of membrane proteins, is eventually transported in vesicles to the cell surface. Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane cell surface proteins each composed of α and β subunits. They play …

Spatial Analysis Of Octopus Dens And Predation, Elizabeth Alene Hamman

Theses & ETDs

Octopuses build dens based on a variety of factors, possibly including the location of predators, prey, and available den materials. Through field work and computer modeling, this thesis examines these factors and their effect on den location and the local prey population. Field work was conducted in Cayos Cochinos, Honduras and studied the location of 10 octopus dens, eels as major predators, and two bivalve species as prey. Major prey items were determined based on midden contents and measurements of distances and angles were used to create a map of the locations of predators, prey, and octopus dens. A computer …

An Exploratory Investigation Of Sleep Disturbance In The Pathogenesis Of Depression, Kristen Linnae Ponte

Theses & ETDs

The relationships among stress, sleep, and depression were examined to understand the role of sleep in the etiology of depression. A sample of 335 participants, age range 18-29 years, completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Perceived stress, sleep quality, and sleep duration predicted levels of depression. Sleep quality and duration interacted with perceived stress and levels of depression. As sleep quality worsened or duration decreased, levels of depression increased much more rapidly. Sleep disruption should no longer be considered a stress-related outcome, but rather a biological stressor …

The Movement Of Inhaled Pristine C60 Through The Small Intestine A Biodistribution Study In Rats, Chase William Sokolow

Theses & ETDs

Buckminsterfullerene C60, the most abundant and stable of the fullerenes, has since its discovery become a key component in thousands of possible applications in the physical and biological sciences. This focus has led to C60 experiencing a steady increase in production. This has lead to an intense wave of research on the potential implications of its increased environmental presence. This thesis project is a part of an overarching study that focuses on the potential biological harm that airborne C60 particles might pose, using rats as a biological model. More specifically, the goal of this thesis project was to investigate the …

Chromatophore Mapping Of The Jewel Cichlid (Hemichromis Biamaculatus) And The Effects Of Morphological And Physiological Controls During Development, Diana Ward

Theses & ETDs

The jewel cichlid (Hemichromis bimaculatus) is used regularly as a model for behavior studies, commonly researched due to its unique color, ease in breeding, hardiness and prevalence in Florida. Studies have been focused on the role of color and patterns in fishes, examining its purpose in communication. Incomplete descriptions exist for the development of chromatophores for H. bimaculatus, with the most complete study to date by Baerends and Baerends-Van Roon (1950). For the present study, observations were carried out on the distribution and type of chromatophores across various stages in development. The fish were photographed to mark the location of …

This Is Your Mouse On Celastrol The Behavioral Effects Of Celastrol On A Transgenic Mouse Model Of Alzheimer's Disease, Amelia March

Theses & ETDs

The NFκB inhibiting compound Celastrol has been shown to lower levels of Aβ, an amino acidpeptide known to be a major component of the senile plaques seen in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer�s disease, both in vivo and in vitro. Celastrol has also been found to reduce the production of βCTF and β-sAPP, which both result from cleavage of the APP ectodomain by the protease �secretase (BACE-1) at the N-terminus of Aβ. Thus, one likely method by which Celastrol lowers brain Aβ burden is by decreasing the expression of BACE-1, in turn reducing the expression of the substrate βCTF, …

Ain't Nothin' To It But To Do It Collaboration And Reflexivity In Experimental Performance, Caitlin Mcmullen, Christina Martin

Theses & ETDs

This thesis is the written component of a performance project co-conducted over the 2009-2010 academic year. This project was comprised of fall workshop rehearsals, composition of set pieces in January, and a final performance event. Working collaboratively with an ensemble of students, we structured improvisational games and created a distinct compositional vocabulary based on these games. We composed pieces individually as directors for a final performance, which took place on Sunday, January 31st, 2010. We did not begin this project with a specific end product in mind. This process was highly reflexive; we allowed the experience of rehearsals to guide …

Coral Reefs In The Gulf Of Mexico Strengthening Protection Policies, Christine Bowden

Theses & ETDs

This thesis delves into coral reef protection policies as they exist today in the Gulf of Mexico, and how they can be improved in the future using existing and new legislation. My research describes the stressors, both anthropogenic and natural, that are affecting the health of the Gulf reef ecosystems, and goes into depth about the effects of each stressor and its causes. This thesis then goes into detail about the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas, including several examples both on a global scale and more locally, in the Florida Reef Tract. Many of the coral reef ecosystems in the …

Ain't Nothin' To It But To Do It Collaboration And Reflexivity In Experimental Performance, Christina Martin, Caitlin Mcmullen

Theses & ETDs

This thesis is the written component of a performance project co-conducted over the 2009-2010 academic year. This project was comprised of fall workshop rehearsals, composition of set pieces in January, and a final performance event. Working collaboratively with an ensemble of students, we structured improvisational games and created a distinct compositional vocabulary based on these games. We composed pieces individually as directors for a final performance, which took place on Sunday, January 31st, 2010. We did not begin this project with a specific end product in mind. This process was highly reflexive; we allowed the experience of rehearsals to guide …

Human Chemosensation And Wine Expertise The Biology Of Wine Tasting, Laura Johanna Weinkle

Theses & ETDs

Wine experts are regarded to have a finer capacity to discriminate and describe the fragrance and flavor of wine. To address the basis of this expertise, I examine human olfaction and gustation as the modalities crucial to experts� sensory evaluations of wine. This thesis explores the peripheral olfactory and gustatory systems, the anatomy of the central olfactory and gustatory system, functional processing of chemosensory stimulus information, and the representation of flavor perceptions in the brain. My thesis examines the development of perceptual skill, conceptual knowledge, and descriptive language through formal training and extensive experience within the domain of wine. I …

The Better German Asylum And The Construction Of German National Political Identity, 1949-1993, Hannah Woerner

Theses & ETDs

The 1949 German Basic Law represented a conscious repudiation of the ideologies of the Nazi regime in its commitment to fundamental civil rights and democratic principles. Article 16(II)(2) of the constitution guaranteed politically persecuted individuals, irrespective of race or nationality, asylum in the Federal Republic of Germany. The asylum provision was decidedly more generous than contemporary international law and made Germany one of the few nations with a constitutional right to asylum. However, substantial political and economic pressures in the early 1990s, engendered by German reunification and steady international economic decline, created an inhospitable atmosphere for the rising number of …

Difference As Common In Defense Of Difference As The Anti-Foundation For Liberal Cosmopolitan Dialogue, Rochelle H. Duford

Theses & ETDs

The task of the thesis is to propose an anti-foundation for liberal cosmopolitan dialogue, such that dialogue both across and within cultural divides be more inclusive, and better representative of liberal ideals. The first chapter explores an ideal type of liberalism, informed by a tradition of natural right and Mill�s theory of the freedom of speech, showing how Mill�s theory fails within Butler�s critique of the marginalizing effects of �universalizable� foundations. The second chapter Antony Kwame Appiah�s theory of �rooted cosmopolitanism�. This is shown to be an unsuccessful solution to the problem of inclusive cosmopolitan dialogue, when put to MacIntyre�s …

Lichens Of Myakka River State Park Water Tolerance, Vertical Stratification And Canopy Diversity, Barry Kaminsky

Theses & ETDs

Lichens are an understudied organism in Florida, especially on the southwest coast. The goal of this thesis was to collect data on lichens at Myakka River State Park, a large area of preserved land, and to explore areas of lichenology that deserve more research. The first experiment tested the tolerance to submergence in water of six species over a 6 day period. There were significant health differences between low trunk and canopy lichens, with low trunk lichens having a higher vigor under conditions of submergence. Second, I surveyed vertical distribution of lichen diversity, and the total cover of lichens. The …

Hans Baldung Grien's Witches' Sabbath And Fall Of Man Intersection Of The Secular And The Sacred, Eleanor A. Cecconi

Theses & ETDs

Hans Baldung Grien�s body of work is comprised mostly of prints and drawings. A significant component of his repertoire is charged with eroticism. Lasciviousness is infused in his secular and religious themes alike. Two of his woodcuts stand out as sister images because of their similarity in tone and technique, Witches� Sabbath and Fall of Man. Upon exploring other contemporary early modern German woodcut prints of both of the themes, it became apparent that Baldung Grien�s treatment of the themes was highly sexualized, aggressive, and also inviting. Agricultural, biblical, and sexual implications are embedded in both images that support Baldung …

Another One Bites The Dot Teaching A Neural Network To Play Pac-Man Using Biologically Motivated Learning Techniques, Daniel Matthew Goldsmith

Theses & ETDs

A branch of Artificial Intelligence known as natural computing, which proposes learning algorithms based on naturally occurring processes such as natural selection and biological processes such as neural networks, has been shown to be capable of learning and generalization of complex problems. This thesis evaluates two such biologically motivated techniques � temporal difference learning, which learns by reinforcement, and a genetic algorithm, which learns by natural selection � by teaching a neural network to play the classic arcade game Pac-Man. A replica of Pac-Man was created using the Python programming language, and networks trained with temporal difference learning, a genetic …

Wildlife Rehabilitation In Southwest Florida A Study Of The Conservation Provided By Rehabilitation Centers, Katherine Elenore French

Theses & ETDs

Southwest Florida is in peril of losing vertebrate biodiversity due to recent local environmental changes caused by humans. The alterations, which include habitat loss, fragmentation, and alteration, affect nearly every aspect of the unique ecosystems found there including species diversity and trophic level interactions. Changes to these integral aspects of the ecosystems have dramatic effects on which taxa can continue to survive and be present in the locale and which become rare. The databases of three Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers in Southwest Florida are analyzed to understand what conservation services are provided by community run centers to those species designated as …

The Mu Rhythm An Electrophysiological Measure Of Motor, Emotional, And Cognitive Empathy, Robert Joseph Gougelet

Theses & ETDs

Brain research in primates and humans suggests evidence for a neurological system, a mirror neuron system, responsible for providing representations not only of an individual�s motor, emotional, and cognitive states, but also those states of another. These overlapping, or shared, representations provide a neurological link between self and other. Further evidence suggests a positive association between the attenuation of a specific electroencephalography signal, the Mu rhythm, and the activation of this mirror neuron system. The current study sought to elicit the attenuation of the Mu rhythm across tasks tapping into motor, emotional, and cognitive components of empathy, so as to …

2010 Supplement Vol. 1, American Dental Association

ADA Transactions

This item is part of the Supplements subtitle of The ADA Transactions, a serial publication of the annual activities of the ADA House of Delegates (HOD)/Board of Trustees (BOT) made up of three separate subtitles: Annual Reports and Resolutions, Supplements, and the Transactions. Generally, The ADA Transactions are published in multiple volumes throughout the year. The Supplements function like an appendix and are, in more recent editions, numbered separately with page numbers determined by HOD reference committee assignation. Items are described variously as "Supplement #", "Volume #", etc. throughout the series but have been labeled here as Vol. # for …

2010-2011 Nova Southeastern University Undergraduate Student Catalog, Nova Southeastern University

Undergraduate Programs Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Chapter 2- Global Perspectives On Water For Food, Prem S. Paul, Monica Norby, Gillian Klucas, Ashley Washburn, Elizabeth Banset, Vicki Miller

Office of Research and Economic Development: Publications

The water crisis will play a major role in the future of global poverty, yet little awareness of this critical issue exists and few discussions are taking place about securing water for food, Jeff Raikes said. In a call to action, Raikes advocated an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, one that pulls on all levers to solve the pending crisis.

The Crisis
Already about 75 to 80 percent of human water consumption is used to grow food, Raikes said. The projected doubling in food demand, coupled with climate change’s impact on geographic availability of water, will significantly increase the demand for …

Fan Letter, Spring/Summer 2010, Illinois State University, College Of Fine Arts

FAN Letter

Newsletter of the College of Fine Arts

The Human Journey: Embracing The Essential Learning Outcomes, Michelle Loris

English Faculty Publications

At the beginning of the second decade of the twenty-first century, a new vision for college learning is clearly in view. Through its Liberal Education and America's Promise (LEAP) initiative, the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) has outlined what contemporary college students need to know and be able to do--in ever-changing economic, political, environmental, global, and cross-cultural contexts. The LEAP essential learning outcomes provide a framework to guide student learning in both general education and the major. The LEAP initiative calls upon college administrators and faculty members to give priority to these essential learning outcomes in order to …

Focus Emu, November 16, 2010, Office Of Public Information

Focus EMU

No abstract provided.

Heavier Than It Looks And Other Stories, Matthew Tobias Ray

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Heavier Than It Looks and Other Stories is a collection of fiction containing one novella-length story, in six parts, centering on the life of a young man coming to terms with a close friend’s suicide. The remaining stories depict different characters amidst situations unique to each character’s stage in life: childhood in 1930s Appalachia in "The Other Kid In a Candy Store," mourning and violent crime in "Picking A Lock," transcendence in "Pathétique," mid-life changes in "Lester’s Last Melancholy," managing addiction in "Staying Clean," youthful folly in "Just For Fun," and storytelling in "The Taste of a Story." Works that …

Mathematics In Motion: Linear Systems Of Differential Equations On The Differential Analyzer, Devon A. Tivener

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In this work, I will provide an introduction to the dierential analyzer, a machine designed to solve dierential equations through a process called mechanical integration. I will give a brief historical account of dierential analyzers of the past, and discuss the Marshall University Dierential Analyzer Project. The goal of this work is to provide an analysis of solutions of systems of dierential equations using a dierential analyzer. In particular, we are interested in the points at which these systems are in equilibrium and the behavior of solutions that start away from equilibrium. After giving a description of linear systems of …

Egfr/Met Association Regulates Egfr Tki Resistance In Breast Cancer, Kelly L. Mueller, Zeng-Quan Yang, Ramsi Haddad, Stephen P. Ethier, Julie L. Boerner

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Breast cancers show a lack of response to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), despite 30% of tumors expressing EGFR. The mechanism of this resistance is unknown; however, we have recently shown that Met kinase activity compensates for loss of EGFR kinase activity in cell culture models. Met has been implicated in the pathogenesis of breast tumors and therefore may cooperate with EGFR for tumor growth. Here we have found that EGFR phosphorylation and cell proliferation is in part regulated by Met expression. In addition, we found that Met constitutive phosphorylation occurred independent of the Met …