Digital Commons Network^™

Molecular Phylogeny Of The Oestroidea, Baneshwar Singh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The superfamily Oestroidea includes approximately 9% (≈14,000 spp.) of the order Diptera. Many members of the superfamily are of medical, veterinary, agricultural, and forensic importance. Although Oestroidea has been the subject of much scientific scrutiny, the exact patterns of phylogenetic relationships among the key groups of the superfamily are unresolved and controversial. For a better understanding of oestroid evolutionary hypotheses, phylogenies of Oestroidea were reconstructed at several taxonomic levels using DNA sequence data. The specific aims were to determine the phylogeny of the 1) genus Chrysomya (Chrysomyinae); 2) subfamily Chrysomyinae (Calliphoridae); 3) family Oestridae (Oestroidea); and 4) family Calliphoridae (Oestroidea). …

Emotional Pain And Acute Nociception, Alison M. Vargovich

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined differences and similarities in responses to acute nociception in adults with a significant history of emotional pain relative to matched controls with a significant past positive life experience and a sample of chronic pain patients. Using 28 volunteers who responded to advertisements (n = 14, emotional pain group; n = 14, positive life experience group), and 14 chronic pain patients from a prior study, this investigation utilized measures of pain threshold and tolerance during a laboratory finger pressure pain induction experiment. Each participant experienced two levels of pressure pain (i.e., high and low) and two levels of …

Development Of An Emotional Pain Interview, Ben Weinstein

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study developed and tested the Emotional Pain Interview (EPI), a semi-structured interview measuring emotional pain, using community dwelling adults with a significant history of emotional pain (n = 16; emotional pain group) relative to matched controls reporting a prior significant positive life experience (n = 16; positive life experience group). The EPI and a matching positive life event interview were used to assess all participants regarding prior emotionally painful and positive life experiences. Participants completed measures of anxiety sensitivity, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Ratings of emotional responding (i.e., Valence, Arousal, and Control/Dominance) were made for prior emotionally painful …

Dwindling Into A Wife: Women And The Culture Of Marriage In Britain, 1760-1820, Lori Halvorsen Zerne

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examines women and marriage ideology in courtship novels of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, specifically novels by Sarah Scott, Frances Burney, Maria Edgeworth, and Jane Austen. Instead of focusing on the heroines of these courtship novels, however, this project explores the marginalized female roles that orbit the courtship narrative: the chaperon, the mother-in-law, the governess, and the spinster. These four roles demonstrate the broad scope of female functions and services in the period while also calling into question the ideology that attempts to limit women only to the role of wife. The chaperon reveals the work …

Rna In Forensic Science: Novel Techniques For Biological Evidence, Stephanie T. Young

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The techniques currently utilized for collecting biological evidence at the scenes of violent crimes such as murder, rape, and kidnapping are employed simply to preserve evidence for future DNA analysis. Although DNA is extremely useful in forensic casework, biological samples possess yet another valuable molecule, RNA. The use of RNA in forensic analysis of samples is currently on the rise. In the past, RNA was thought to degrade much too quickly to be of any benefit to the forensic community. The work presented in this dissertation seeks to demonstrate otherwise. While true that RNA is not as stable as DNA, …

Do They Get The Picture?: Visual Literacy And Low-Literacy Adult Esl Learners, Daniel J Bruski

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Teachers of low-literate adult English language learners often use visual materials to teach content, but little research has been conducted on how these visuals are interpreted. This research explores the relationship between first language (L1) literacy and visual literacy, specifically the ability of adult ESL learners to identify the functions of graphic devices used in educational materials. The literature review examines how literacy and visual literacy are defined and discusses visual communication using the framework of semiotics. Through think-aloud interview sessions, Somali participants of varying L1 literacy levels interpreted illustrations from ESL materials. Results show lower than expected ability to …

Similarites And Differences Between The Old Testament And The Ancient Near Eastern Texts, Roberto Ouro

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

No abstract provided.

Restoring Damaged Trust With Promises, Atonement And Apology, Eric Schniter, Roman M. Sheremeta, Daniel Sznycer

ESI Working Papers

In an experiment using two consecutive trust games, we study how “cheap” signals such as promises and messages are used to restore damaged trust and encourage new trust where it did not previously exist. In these games, trustees made non-binding promises of investmentcontingent returns, then investors decided whether to invest, and finally trustees decided how much to return. After an unexpected second game was announced, but before it commenced, trustees could send a one-way message. This naturalistic quasi-experimental design allowed us to observe the endogenous emergence of trust-relevant behaviors and focus on naturally occurring remedial strategies used by promise-breakers and …

Reaction To Public Information In Markets: How Much Does Ambiguity Matter?, Brice Corgnet, Praveen Kujal, David Porter

ESI Working Papers

In real world situations the fundamental value of an asset is ambiguous. Recent theory has incorporated ambiguity in the dividend process and the information observed by investors, and studied its effect on asset prices. In this paper we experimentally study trader reaction to ambiguity when dividend information is revealed sequentially. Price changes are consistent with news revelation regarding the dividend regardless of subject experience and the degree of ambiguity. Further, there is no under or over price reactions to news. Regardless of experience, market reaction to news moves in line with fundamentals. Also, no significant differences are observed in the …

Selecting Ell Textbooks: A Content Analysis Of Language-Teaching Models, Jeffrey Labelle

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Many middle school teachers lack adequate criteria to critically select materials that represent a variety of L2 teaching models. This study analyzes the illustrated and written content of 33 ELL textbooks to determine the range of L2 teaching models represented. The researchers asked to what extent do middle school ELL texts depict frequency and variation of language-teaching models in illustrations and written texts. Using content analysis, they measured the range of depiction of the 4 language-teaching models and concluded that 4 of the 33 textbooks had considerable to extensive frequency and variation of L2 teaching models

Effects Of Acute Rho Kinase Inhibition On Chronic Hypoxia-Induced Changes In Proximal And Distal Pulmonary Arterial Structure And Function, Rebecca R. Vanderpool, Ah Ram Kim, Robert C. Molthen, Naomi Chesler

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is initially a disease of the small pulmonary arteries. Its severity is usually quantified by pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Acute Rho kinase inhibition has been found to reduce PVR toward control values in animal models, suggesting that persistent pulmonary vasoconstriction is the dominant mechanism for increased PVR. However, HPH may also cause proximal arterial changes, which are relevant to right ventricular (RV) afterload. RV afterload can be quantified by pulmonary vascular impedance, which is obtained via spectral analysis of pulsatile pressure-flow relationships. To determine the effects of HPH independent of persistent pulmonary vasoconstriction in proximal and …

Multimodality Imaging Of Abnormal Vascular Perfusion And Morphology In Preclinical 9l Gliosarcoma Model, Moses M. Darpolor, Robert C. Molthen, Kathleen M. Schmainda

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

This study demonstrates that a dynamic susceptibility contrast-magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI) perfusion parameter may indicate vascular abnormality in a brain tumor model and reflects an effect of dexamethasone treatment. In addition, X-ray computed tomography (CT) measurements of vascular tortuosity and tissue markers of vascular morphology were performed to investigate the underpinnings of tumor response to dexamethasone.

Administration Response Of Nonprofit Organizations Due To The 2007-2009 Recession, Kelsey Belle Marie Wegner

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In December of 2007, a recession began in the United States that affected nearly every aspect of the economy. The Great Recession created a global meltdown of numerous sectors including the nonprofit sector. The nonprofit sector is a significant part of the United States economy, making up more than 10 percent of employment and has approximately 1.4 million nonprofit organizations registered with the Internal Revenue Service. The researcher examined what effect the recession had on nonprofit organizations. The purpose of the study is to determine how the recession that began in 2007 has impacted 501(c) nonprofit organizations in five United …

A Novel Cable-Driven Robotic Training Improves Locomotor Function In Individuals Post-Stroke, Ming Wu, Jill M. Landry, Sheng-Che Yen, Brian D. Schmit, T. George Hornby, Miriam Rafferty

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

A novel cable-driven robotic gait training system has been tested to improve the locomotor function in individuals post stroke. Seven subjects with chronic stroke were recruited to participate in this 6 weeks robot-assisted treadmill training paradigm. A controlled assistance force was applied to the paretic leg at the ankle through a cable-driven robotic system. The force was applied from late stance to mid-swing during treadmill training. Body weight support was provided as necessary to prevent knee buckling or toe drag. Subjects were trained 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Overground gait speed, 6 minute walking distance, and balance were …

Fpga Implementation And Acceleration Of Building Blocks For Biologically Inspired Computational Models, Mandar Deshpande

Dissertations and Theses

In recent years there has been significant research in the field of computational neuroscience and many of these biologically inspired cognitive models are based on the theory of operation of mammalian visual cortex. One such model of neocortex developed by George & Hawkins, known as Hierarchical Temporal Memories (HTM), is considered for the research discussed here. We propose a simple hierarchical model that is derived from HTM. The aim of this work is to evaluate the hardware cost and performance against software based simulations. This work presents a detailed hardware implementation and analysis of the derived hierarchical model. We show …

High Mobility Group Protein 1 (Hmgb1) And Its Role As A Global Transcription Regulator In Response To Temperature Fluctuations In The Annual Killifish Austrofundulus Limnaeus, Victoria Martin Alla

Dissertations and Theses

As a study organism, annual killifish (Austrofundulus limnaeus) provide a well suited study system for examining the effects of environmental temperature fluctuations at the cellular level. A. limnaeus persist in the harsh high desert climate of the Maracaibo Basin, Venezuela where they live in small, ephemeral freshwater pools. Temperatures in these waters can vary as much as 20 degrees C daily and reach maximums of over 40 degrees C due to the semi-arid climate. Previous cDNA microarray studies on killifish revealed the mRNA pattern for High Mobility Group Protein 1 (HMGB1) to be strongly affected by temperature perturbations. Specifically, peaks …

Differences In Sexual Dimorphism And Influences Of Sexual Dichromatism On Crypsis Among Populations Of The Jumping Spider Habronattus Oregonensis, Jason Bazzano

Dissertations and Theses

Crypsis can be an important mechanism of predator avoidance for organisms. However, many species exhibit sexual dichromatism, in which the males possess a suite of colorations in order to attract female attention. The resulting differences in crypsis between the males and females can provide insight into the relative strengths of the sexually and naturally selective forces shaping the coloration of the organism, as well as clues regarding potential sensory biases of the selecting sex. In this study, I examine variation in the coloration of four Pacific Northwest populations of the sexually dimorphic and dichromatic polygynous species of jumping spider Habronattus …

Youth Voices Of Bounty And Opportunity: High School Students' Experiences With Food And Community, Kara Marie Gilbert

Dissertations and Theses

Currently, garden-based research does not include input from young adults about their experiences and perspectives as individuals in garden-based programs, specifically those that address issues of food and community. To address this void, this qualitative research examines youth perspectives and engagement in garden-based community projects in Olympia, Washington, and Medford, Oregon. The sample of 11 students was chosen from these projects that use food as a means to engage the community and educate underprivileged young adults about local food systems. The main question that the research addresses is: Why, and in what ways, are young adults appropriate agents for community …

Perceptions Of Peacebuilding And Multi-Track Collaboration In Divided Societies For A Sustainable Peace Agreement At The Political Level: A Case Study Of Cyprus, Brooke Patricia Galloway

Dissertations and Theses

It is the purpose of this study to propose that perceptions of peacebuilding activities in all tracks of divided societies (political, civil society leaders, and grassroots), and the perceptions of the collaboration between the tracks are essential processes to a sustainable peace agreement at the political level. This study will examine multi-track peacebuilding and the collaboration (or lack of it) between tracks in Cyprus. Additionally, it will analyze the perceptions of the necessity of collaboration across tracks. The analysis of this study is conducted in two phases: (1) analyzing interviews with Track One diplomats and examining previous and existing peacebuilding …

Genetic Substructure Of Pacific Harbor Seal (Phoca Vitulina Richardsi) Populations Along The Coasts Of Oregon And Washington, Diana Lynn Dishman

Dissertations and Theses

It has been assumed that the considerable dispersal ability of many marine species would prevent genetic divergence in the absence of geographic isolation. However, recent work has shown that many marine species often develop differentiation among areas within their known dispersal range. This 'paradox' of marine divergence is particularly important among marine mammal species where behavior can restrict gene flow. To investigate genetic substructure within such a species, I used tissue samples collected from 63 stranded Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) in Washington and Oregon between 2006 and 2010 for population stock analysis. DNA was extracted from frozen tissues, …

Power, Knowledge, Animals, Lisa Johnson

Dissertations and Theses

Although Foucault did not address the question of the animal, he asserted the assessment of whether a new politics of truth can be constituted as "the essential political problem" (1980, p. 134). Though the "essential political problem" may be considered as it relates to the politics of truth about animals, a Foucaultian perspective does not allow a prediction in response, other than the recognition that change may occur. What is understood to be "true" about animals may change if the relationships between events that exist at a given time ("conditions") require the emergence of a different way of knowing. This …

Rebuilding The Architectural History Of The Fort Vancouver Village, Meredith J. Mullaley

Dissertations and Theses

In the mid-19th century, the Fort Vancouver employee Village was one of the most diverse settlements on the Pacific Coast. Trappers, tradesmen, and laborers from Europe, North America, and Hawaii worked and lived within a highly stratified colonial social structure. Their homes have been the site of archaeological research for nearly 50 years, but the architectural features and artifacts have received limited attention. Inspired by an 1845 description of the Village that described houses that were "as various in form" as their occupants, this study examined community-level social relationships in this 19th-century fur trade community through vernacular architecture and landscape. …

The Technological Role Of Bone And Antler Artifacts On The Lower Columbia: A Comparison Of Two Contact Period Sites, Kristen Ann Fuld

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis explore the technological role of bone and antler artifacts from two contact period southern Northwest coast archaeological sites, the Cathlapotle site (45CL1) and the Meier site (35CO5). Technological measures of sedentism are based on lithics, and predict residential sedentism promotes technological expediency in hunter-gatherers (Parry and Kelley 1987). Cathlapotle and Meier lithic assemblages consist of expedient and opportunistic assemblages and raw material stockpiles, with the exception of highly curated projectile points and endscrapers (Hamilton 1994). The expectation that residential sedentism promotes technological expediency in hunter-gatherers was tested on the Cathlapotle and Meier bone and antler artifact assemblages in …

Whisper, Christina Struyk-Bonn

Dissertations and Theses

Whisper was a reject, living in a world so polluted and damaged that many humans and animals alike were born with defects. She'd grown up in an outcast camp far from any village, and those who lived in the camp were like her: disfigured. But on her sixteenth birthday, Whisper's father came to take her back to the village where she was to fill her mother's vacated spot and perform duties for the family. Her job was to cook, clean, wash the clothes, and maintain the family property. At night she was chained to the doghouse. Her uncle decided that …

Urbanization, Water Quality, And The Regulated Landscape, Dave Owen

University of Colorado Law Review

Watershed scientists frequently describe urbanization as a primary cause of water quality degradation, and recent studies conclude that even in lightly-developed watersheds, urbanization often precludes attainment of water quality standards. This Article considers legal responses to this pervasive problem. It explains why traditional legal measures have been ineffective, and it evaluates several recent innovations piloted in the northeastern United States. These innovations are potentially applicable across the nation. Specifically, the innovations involve using impervious cover total maximum daily loads, residual designation authority, and collective permitting to expand, intensify, and modify regulatory control of urban stormwater. More generally, the innovations involve …

Reimagining Western Water Law: Time-Limited Water Right Permits Based On A Comprehensive Beneficial Use Doctrine, Michael Toll

University of Colorado Law Review

The dwindling supply of western water resources and the increasing water demands of a growing population necessitate a fundamental reexamination of the prior appropriation system. As a nineteenth century system of water allocation, prior appropriation, traditionally applied, is ill-equipped to effectively and efficiently cope with these twenty-first-century realities. The system must be reformed. The reimagining of western water law has two components. First, the determination of whether water is being put to a "beneficial use" should be based upon a holistic, comparative assessment of the relative value of the use of that water-an exercise in values and priorities that is …

Dog Damages: The Case For Expanding The Available Remedies For The Owners Of Wrongfully Killed Pets In Colorado, Logan Martin

University of Colorado Law Review

For most people, the death of a loved one can have devastating emotional consequences. This is especially true where the person's death was the result of an accident caused by the negligent, or worse, malicious actions of another person. In most of these situations, both common law and statutory law usually provide some means of compensation for the surviving party. However, when the dead loved one is not another person, but rather a pet or companion animal, the owner's recovery is usually very limited. This Comment argues that such limited recovery is inappropriate and that Colorado should adopt a rule …

Effet Des Substances Chimiques Sur L’Audition : Interactions Avec Le Bruit, Adolf Vyskocil, Tony Leroux, Ginette Truchon, François Lemay, France Gagnon, Martine Gendron, Amar Boudjerida, Naïma El-Majidi, Claude Viau

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Les auteurs ont examiné l’effet combiné du bruit et de l’exposition à des substances chimiques sur l’audition en utilisant des données humaines et animales de la littérature scientifique. Ils constatent qu’il n’existe qu’une cinquantaine d’études dans lesquelles l’exposition tant au bruit qu’aux substances chimiques est caractérisée avec suffisamment de précision et de fiabilité. De plus, les définitions données à une exposition au bruit « forte » ou « faible » varient d’une étude à l’autre. Il en résulte qu’il est très difficile de combiner l’ensemble des données pour en tirer des …

Comparative Study Of Long-And Short-Pulsed Electric Fields For Treating Melanoma In An In Vivo Mouse Model, Xinhua Chen, Xinmei Chen, Karl H. Schoenbach, Shusen Zheng, R. James Swanson

Bioelectrics Publications

A mouse melanoma model was set up with green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in vivo. With the same energy, long- (1 ms) and short- (300 ns) pulsed electric fields were delivered to two melanomas injected into the same mouse. The tumor growth and green fluorescence were followed up to compare the different treatment efficacy of long and short pulses. After two days post treatment, short pulse-treated tumors showed a significantly lower tumor volume compared with long pulse-treated tumors (n=8, p

Design Of Multi Agent Based Crowd Injury Model, Emin Kugu

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A major concern of many government agencies is to predict and control the behavior of crowds in different situations. Many times such gatherings are legal, legitimate, and peaceful. But there are times when they can turn violent, run out of control, result in material damages and even casualties. It then becomes the duty of governments to bring them under control using a variety of techniques, including non-lethal and lethal weapons, if necessary.

In order to aid decision makers on the course of action in crowd control, there are modeling and simulation tools that can provide guidelines by giving programmed rules …