Digital Commons Network^™

The Stalking Experience, Jill M. Pokryfke

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Use Of Multi-Stage Condensation In Fast Pyrolysis Of Biomass, Shankar Lande

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

No Country For End Men : A Re-Evaluation Of Small Ensemble Blackface Minstrelsy, 1843-1883, Dorothea J. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Wild And Domestic, Sara Dupree

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

How To Succeed In How To Succeed : Creating The Character Mr. Biggley In The Musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Daniel L. Walstad

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Our Feet Grounded Anywhere, Lorenzo Daniel Serna

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Genetic, Morphological And Ecological Relationships Among Populations Of The Clam Shrimp, Caenestheriella Gynecia, Jonelle Orridge

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Little is known about the ecology of the clam shrimp, Caenestheriella gynecia. Caenestheriella gynecia was first discovered in 1939 in a single pool in Oxford, Ohio. Schmidt and Kiviat (2007) reported four new localities of C. gynecia in New York and New Jersey, three within the Hudson Valley of New York and one in northeastern New Jersey. Caenestheriella gynecia may have originated from a very small founder population due possibly to unusual dispersal vectors from its natural range to the west, in Ohio. Egg samples and hatched individuals were obtained from all study sites and specimens were raised in …

The Relationship Of Race And Social Integration On The Health Status Of Older Adults In An Urban City, Thomas T. Jordan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Durkheim argues that an individual is more vulnerable to self-destruction the more s/he is detached from the collective. This dissertation will explore the relative impact of social integration on older adults who have transitioned into their new roles in the social structure in relationship to their physical (obesity) and psychological (stress) health status. Additionally, the dissertation examines how social integration varies in its impact from one racial group to another, and how such variations influence the health status of the older adults who are members of these groups.

This dissertation employs data from the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging and …

Stem Cell Replacement Therapy For The Mammalian Inner Ear: A Systematic Literature Review, Robin Warwick

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Objective: The purpose of this investigation is to review current possible regeneration techniques for damaged hair cells of the inner ear in mammals. The avian has the ability to spontaneously regenerate damaged hair cells, and thus provides an animal model to simulate a similar response in the mammalian inner ear.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using a PubMed database search to address the following question What are the current investigations pertaining to regenerating hair cells using stem cell-based research? The articles were analyzed and rated at Level Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, or III level of evidence. …

The Interpersonal Foundations Of Anti-Atheist Prejudice, Michael W. Magee

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Anti-atheist prejudice in the U.S. is socially accepted and rife—and not just because most Americans are religious. This research suggests that hostility toward atheists is related in part to protecting parental relationships. To the extent that they are established within parental relationships, shared reality theory implies that religious beliefs and associated attitudes will be psychologically defended to the extent that the parental relationships engaged are strong, healthy, and vital (Magee & Hardin, 2010; see also Hardin & Higgins, 1996). Three experiments examined the regulation of anti-atheist prejudice in the defense and protection of religious shared realities with parents, as implied …

An Exploration Of Process Observation And Practical Application In Devised Theatre, Anna Elizabeth Donnell

Honors Theses

In my research, I encountered a particular methodology of creating plays known as devised or collaborative theatre. In this form, the ensemble collaboratively contributes to all aspects of the production, including the processes of writing. production, direction and performance. Therefore, working with such a method would provide the most desirable test culture for me to examine the development of a play from initial inspiration to eventual materialization. In this way, I theorized that I would gain a better understanding of the creative roots of theatrical expression as well as of the mechanisms of devised theatre as a means to that …

Confucianism And The Modern East Asian, Paul Jennings Treutel

Honors Theses

This thesis sought to measure “Confucianism” in China, Japan, and South Korea. To this end, a thorough investigation of possible methods to measure Confucianism and exactly what “Confucianism” means was conducted. AsiaBarometer’s 2006 survey data was chosen as the basis of the quantitative portion of this study. Survey questions deemed good measures of Confucian values were compiled into four indexes. These indexes were used as dependent variables in four separate regressions, controlling for such demographic variables as age, sex, geographic location, income, etc. The regression results and their interpretation showed a picture of Confucianism considerably different than that discussed by …

Canary In A Cage And Other Stories, Jennifer Leah Wegmann

Honors Theses

This collection of short stories represents my best WTiting in college. The collection, in theory, began in Paris in the winter of 2009 and continued to travel to Montana, Texas and the French Riviera. It has finally come to an end in Oxford, Mississippi. “Just Going,” follows a woman through a relationship with the man hired to be Santa at the retirement home where she works. “The Kindness of Foxes” is a short, short story about a short, short moment at Rowan Oak at the start of winter. The questions of masculinity and the gendered assumptions of father to son …

An Analysis Of Culturable Bacteria Otained From Store Bought Leaf Vegetables, Kevin Christian Randolph

Honors Theses

Samples of five different varieties of leaf vegetables obtained from a local supermarket were analyzed for the presence of bacteria on both the outside (epiphytic) and inside of the plant (endophytic). For each variety, both conventionally and organically cultivated samples were analyzed. Each sample was analyzed following a typical consumer wash (so detecting both epiphytic and endophytic bacteria), and also after being surface sterilized with 1:5 bleach solution (endophytic bacteria only). Viable counts on R2A and TSA agar suggested that the majority of the bacteria of leaf vegetables were epiphytic, and total numbers range from 10 To 10 CFU/g leaf …

Effects Of Anticholinergics And Cholinergic Enhancers On Spatial Learning And Locomotion In Mice, Brittany Nicole Simpson

Honors Theses

To investigate the cholinergic system’s role In learning and memory, I. utilized the Morris water maze (MWM) task, which tests spatial ability. Subjects must locate a submerged, hidden platform using the various distal cues around the room to orient themselves in space to find the escape platform. The cholinergic system regulates spatial learning and memory necessary for tasks such as the MWM and also plays a role in locomotor activity. I performed a pilot study to demonstrate that outbred strains of mice perform the MWM task effectively. I then used an outbred strain of mice, Swiss Webster, in the MWM …

Ecophilosophies And Environmental Perspectives In The Amazon Rainforest: Conservation Through Sustainable Use Projects, Scarlett Ashlen Andrews

Honors Theses

Non-governmental organizations are on the forefront of conservation strategies throughout the world, and the Amazon Rainforest is one of the most crucial regions in the world for these efforts. Though many conservation strategies in the past focused on the establishment of protected areas, there has been a recent increase in projects aimed at sustainable use of land with the goal of conserving natural resources and ecosystem processes. This thesis is an exploration of sustainable use projects in the Andes-Amazon border region, specifically those projects which focus on agriculture and forestry. By comparing historical and theoretical ecophilosophies and analyzing survey responses …

Variances In Diurnal Fatigue Patterns And Mood Among Postpartum Women, Amanda L. Mcbean

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Postpartum women have highly disrupted sleep and many experience a disruption in their circadian rhythm during this time. They are also susceptible to mood disruptions during the postpartum period. While mood disruption may be a result of sleep disruption, there are not many data to support a link between circadian rhythm disruption and mood among healthy postpartum women. This study sought to fill that gap. Participants were a convenience sample of 71 women from a larger study. The total sample was 26.4 (SD = 4.0) years old, had a mean annual income of {dollar}51,000 (SD = {dollar}35,000), and had 15.7 …

Understanding Transnational Advocacy Groups: A Case Study Of The Effectiveness Of The Committee To Protect Journalists In The Promotion Of Press Freedom In The Philippines, Mayuri Mukherjee

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Given the increasingly crucial role of the media in forming popular opinion, policymaking and the conduct of democratic institutions, there has been a severe, often lethal, backlash against individuals who exercise this power through their craft. This study examines the effectiveness of international advocacy groups in protecting journalists and promoting press freedom through a case study of the Committee to Protect Journalists, a non-governmental international advocacy group, in getting justice for killed journalists in the Philippines -- one of the world's most deadliest places for journalists. The study attempts to provide a detailed insight into how transnational advocacy groups work …

Role Of Inhibition In Binaural Processing, Jesse M. Thompson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The medial and lateral superior olives (MSO, LSO) are the lowest order cell groups in the mammalian auditory circuit to receive massive binaural input. The MSO functions in part to encode interaural time differences (ITD), the predominant cue for localization of low frequency sounds. Binaural inputs to the MSO consist of excitatory projections from the cochlear nuclei (CN) and inhibitory projections from both the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) and lateral nucleus of the trapezoid body (LNTB). The interaction of excitatory and inhibitory currents within an MSO cell's soma and dendrites over the backdrop of its intrinsic ionic …

De Mal En Peor: The Framing Of Felipe Calderón’S “War On Drugs” In The United States And Mexican Print Media, Peyton Britt Smith

Honors Theses

This work was written to explore the print media’s portrayal of the Mexican war on drugs started by Felipe Calderon in 2006. In order to do this, I looked at both Mexican and U.S. print media sources to compare coverage and to ascertain the frames that the media employs when covering the drug war. I analyzed national newspapers in both countries and also analyzed coverage of specific events in pairs of U.S. and Mexican city, namely Tijuana and San Diego, and Ciudad Juarez and El Paso. In my analysis frames of “war” were used repeatedly and national biases were seen …

Branding A University's Mascot, Stanley Ryan Viner

Honors Theses

The objective of this paper is to investigate the dilemma many collegiate institutions have with the appropriateness of their symbols, particularly the mascot, and how these symbols can affect the overall brand equity of a university. Plausible connections between the mascot, symbols, and brands will be formulated validating the claim that a mascot is a brand, which will pcmiit the direct application of marketing and branding theories to the mascot situation at The University of Mississippi. The importance of the mascot and the human response to collegiate symbols will be explored by the utilization of two psychological theories - Social …

Viridis: Green Living In The South”, Mary Elizabeth White

Honors Theses

Viridis magazine is a Southern cooking and lifestyle magazine centered around food, products, and places that are good for the body, good for the Earth, and good for personal wellness. Each issue, Viridis highlights interesting people, places, recipes, and consumer products all over the Southern United States that reflect a green, eco-conscious lifestyle of eating and living. It aims at Southerners who are proud of their region of the country and love being southern, but still care about what they eat and how they live.

Transboundary Animal Diseases And Their Likelihood To Be Used In An Agroterrorist Attack On The United States, James Willard Allen

Honors Theses

All data and information contained in this investigation are open source and publically available. The assessment uses six different transboundary animal diseases which are not currently routine occurrences in the United States and through analytic methods, assesses the likelihood that each might be used in an agroterrorist attack on the United States' animal production sector. The assessment examines each disease using key details that would directly affect the likelihood of its use in an attack, focusing on potential economic damage. The three main animal populations considered are bovine, swine, and poultry due to their large size and value in domestic …

The Role Of The Cerebellum In The Zebra Finch Song Circuit, Matthew Gian Digiusto

Honors Theses

The cerebellum was originally thought to be a brain area used just for motor coordination, but it is now known to play a role in complex cognition. Some of these complex roles include aspects of human speech such as rhyming, silent rehearsal, and timing of speech. There are many similarities between human speech and songbird song including a babbling stage, the necessity of a tutor to copy, and specialized neural structures for learning and production; however, it is not clear whether the cerebellum plays a similar role in the songbird song circuit. In this experiment I examined the role of …

Anniversary Of The Death Of Empress Josephine, Ana Grahovac, Emily Kettell

Napoleon Translations

Josephine de Beauharnais was born June 23, 1763 and died May 29, 1814 of pneumonia. She was married to Napoleon Bonaparte from May 18, 1804 to January 10, 1810. During Napoleon’s reign, she was known as Empress, but they divorced in 1810 because she did not bear him any children. The author of this text celebrates all the good deeds Josephine did during her life. According to this text Josephine was loved by the French people for all of her benevolent deeds and empathy for the lower classes. The author portrays her as the Mother of all of France.

The Ministerial Leadership Development Program At Lakeview Adventist College In Malawi, Earnest Samuel Harry Khonje

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Ministerial Leadership Training program at Lakeview Adventist College has operated for over 28 years. Since the late 1990s, there has been little in the curriculum that prepared leadership to meet challenges in the field, especially in management and administration. The period 1997-2006 has seen the exit of more ministers than during the years 1980-1996.

Method

This study used surveys, interviews and questionnaires. Survey questions were formed to be answered by pastors in training as well as by those who have already completed training. Therefore, focus groups were organized for those at the College and for those serving as …

Improving Marital Satisfaction Using A Structured Facilitation Program In Three Southern Maine Congregations, Merlin L. Knowles

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem. Marital satisfaction for couples in general, and among members of the Seventh-day Adventist church in particular, needs to be improved. Research indicates that marital well being and longevity are critical issues facing both the church and the wider culture. Development of strategies and programs designed to increase happiness within the marital union are vital for strengthening family, church, and community.

Method. A structured facilitation marriage enrichment program was developed and presented by the researcher and his wife in three Seventh-day Adventist churches in southern Maine over a ten week period. A pre-test and an identical post-test were administered to …

A Program Of Physical And Spiritual Practices For Youth At Takoma Academy, Anthony A. Medley

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem. Encouraging high school youth to embrace the long-term benefits of holistic Christian activities that foster healthy lifestyle outcomes is challenging. The values of today’s youth are focused on the short-sightedness of immediate gratification, with little regard of the long-term consequences from spontaneous and often harmful choices. Furthermore, the ideals of society advocate that the pleasures of life are to be obtained in the present without a critique of their values or consequences thereof. Through compartmentalization and individualized living, adolescents, without an understanding of the holistic life of physical and spiritual disciplines, are prone to make choices that so often …

A Process Of Critical Contextualization To Deal With The Issue Of Women In Leadership In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Korea, Injong Moon

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Purpose. As a young man growing up in the Korean Seventh-day Adventist Church, there were several women in the church who influenced my life. Later on, at Sahm Yook University, I was in theology courses with both young men and women. I was impressed with the passion and talents that the women brought to their studies and witnessing activities. However, once out of university not many of them became pastors or leaders in their churches. And those that did left their positions soon after marrying. For me this seems a loss of leadership potential, especially for a church in Korea …

Spiritual Formation Within The Faith Community: The Beginning Of A Life Journey, Esteban Ricardo Palacios

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem. Providing effective opportunities for church members to learn how to grow spiritually is becoming increasingly important, especially since the benefits of many programs do not seem to last over the long term. This project was designed to test whether a multi-dimensional program shows promise of being more effective than a more traditional program.

Method. A multidimensional pilot program was designed, implemented, and evaluated. It included the social dimension by creating a community emphasis, the emotional health and maturity dimension that culminated in discovering a God-ordained life calling, and an integration of the spiritual disciplines of Bible study, worship, and …