Digital Commons Network^™

Peddlers Of Hate: The Existence Of Norm Entrepreneurs As A Necessary Precursor To Genocide, Lauren Elise Fairbanks

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Over the course of the 20th century genocide has been responsible for the murder of more than 170 million people; it is has proven to be four times deadlier than war (Voth, 2007). Although it often appears spontaneous, Genocide is instead a result of certain preconditions. Studies into the causes of genocide ought to aid in the formation of methods intended to keep violence from occurring. Unfortunately, seemingly different factors such as economic crisis, resource scarcity, institutional weakness, and ethnic resentment prove difficult to classify as the ultimate cause. Instead these conditions work collectively to create an atmosphere that is …

Public Corruption Concerns And Counter-Majoritarian Democracy Definition In Citizens United V. Federal Election Commission, Daaron Kimmel

Chicago-Kent Law Review

In determining the shape of the free speech rights and anti-corruption concerns that courts must balance in campaign finance cases, judges are influenced by their own underlying understandings of what an ideal democracy should look like. For judges to decide whether the government is appropriately regulating the political process, the rules that allow all citizens to interact with and shape their democracy, judges must first decide what that democracy ought to look like. This affords judges a great deal of discretion in campaign finance cases. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission is a particularly bold judicial attempt to reshape the …

Effects Of Habitat Degradation On Species Interactions And Reproductive Success In An Ecuadorian Bird Community, Jessie Knowlton

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Interactions between species in groups are often ignored in studies of the effects of anthropogenic change on species' persistence. However, given their global ubiquity, mixed species groups have the potential to be models for community ecology. The purpose of my dissertation was to advance the understanding of the drivers of mixed species flocking behavior in birds, as well as how human disturbance affects these interactions and species' nest survival in a unique and highly threatened landscape in the Tumbesian region of Ecuador. I predicted that interspecific interactions would be disrupted and species would have lower nest survival in vegetation disturbed …

Helping To Start And Stop Myelination: Csk Has Dual Regulatory Functions During Oligodendrocyte Development, Iva Dimitrova Tzvetanova

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

The ability of oligodendrocyte progenitors (OPCs) to generate sufficient numbers of myelinating oligodendrocytes is critical both for developmental myelination and for repair following demyelination. The timing and location of gliogenesis are tightly controlled but the molecular mechanisms that underlie this control are poorly understood. Here I report that the C-terminal Src Kinase (Csk) acts as a molecular switch for Src Family Kinase activity in oligodendrocytes, with distinct and opposing roles for Csk in early versus late stages of development. Early in development Csk is critical for the appropriate onset of oligodendrocyte progenitor differentiation. Csk suppresses OPC proliferation such that Csk …

Live Cultures: Illness, Mortality, And Masculinity In Contemporary Spanish Film, Bobby D Allbritton

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Live Cultures" explores the ways that democratic Spain has been understood, written, and filmed as an ill kingdom, and how illness as bodily effect is an ontology that affects our understanding of our discrete selves. To consider illness a dark geography, as Sontag wrote in Illness as Metaphor, begs a continual re-interpretation of the relation of self, body and nation, an understanding of healthy or ill citizenship as it is inscribe into the body. This politicized inscription does not function alone but in tandem with gender, considering the ways that illness in its most base function operates some effect on …

Visual Synthesis Of Planar Parallel Manipulators Using Constraint Manifold Geometry, Sagar Sanjay Anantwar

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

In this thesis, a visual approach for the dimensional synthesis of planar parallel manipulators is discussed. The presented approach transforms the kinematic constraint problem to a geometric constraint manifold manipulation problem. For planar mechanisms, the kinematic constraint equations represent the limits for the motion of the links in the Cartesian space. The use of Quaternions is made in designing of this motion. The problem of motion of planar mechanisms is translated into a problem of designing of a smooth rational curve in the Quaternion space (Image space). An intuitive graphical design tool has been developed. The design tool facilitates the …

External Urethral Sphincter Activity During Micturition In The Adult Female Rat Before And After Spinal Cord Injury, Stephen D'Amico

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

The process of micturition is fundamental to life and one of the major ways by which organisms excrete toxic byproducts of metabolism. To function efficiently, micturition requires reciprocal bladder contraction and urethral relaxation that is coordinated by the brainstem. Spinal cord injury (SCI) above the level of the lumbosacral spinal cord results in dysfunction of the lower urinary tract (LUT). One of the most common forms of LUT derangement is detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD), which is characterized by simultaneous contraction of the bladder and the external urethral sphincter (EUS) muscle due to the impairment of reflex and voluntary sphincter control. SCI …

Integrated Biobehavioral Analysis Of Sex Differences In A Rat Model Of Schizophrenia, Igor Feinstein

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Schizophrenia is a mental illness affecting roughly 1% of the population that is characterized by both positive/affective and negative/cognitive symptoms and is associated with abnormalities in multiple neurotransmitter systems and brain areas. Recently, reduced function of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) has emerged as an etiologic hypothesis with explanatory power for this spectrum of disturbances. However, it is unknown how NMDAR hypofunction relates to the striking sex differences that are also seen in the incidence and severity of schizophrenia's positive (female > male) vs. negative (male > female) signs, in its associated neurochemical imbalances and in the efficacies of drugs commonly used to …

Theoretical Characterization Of Water-Surfaces Interactions, Adrien Poissier

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Much effort is being devoted to the understanding of water-substrate interactions at metallic or semiconducting surfaces with catalytic properties. Confined water represents a great interest for physicists and chemists interested in state-of-the-art technologies such as, fuel cells where the rates of proton have to be controlled, nano-sensors, heterogeneous catalysis, or nano-fluids. Creation of hydrogen gas from water dissociation, also remains an important challenge in order to complete the cycle of CO2 free green energies production. Photocatalytic processes, with semiconducting substrates such as GaN 1010 seem to represent strong candidates towards this achievement. This work focuses on the investigation of water-substrate …

Constructive Developmental Theory: An Alternative Approach To Leadership, Anne Marie B. Hunter, Nancy M. Lewis, Paula K. Ritter-Gooder

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

As early as 1954, the critical value of leadership in dietetics was described by Rourke, who wrote, “When the day comes that your executive abilities equal your scientific knowledge, your profession (dietetics) will be secure. Until that day, you will be faced with a constant and unwelcome challenge” (1). Career and leadership skills development have been identified as an area for further attention by American Dietetic Association (ADA) practitioners and student members (2). Creation of the ADA Leadership Institute in 2003 represented an awareness of the need to invest in developing dietetic leaders (3). Proficient leaders are critical in keeping …

Worthy Of Their Name? Addressing Aquatic Nuisance Species With Common Law Public Nuisance Claims, Christopher Grubb

Chicago-Kent Law Review

Aquatic invasive species like the Asian carp and zebra mussel have caused grave ecological and economic harm across the United States, and frequently harm rights common to the public such as boating, fishing, and bathing. Yet, Congress' efforts to address the problem through legislation have been piecemeal and unsuccessful. Historically, the common law of public nuisance served as an important tool to remedy transboundary pollution. More recently, courts have established that such public nuisance claims will be displaced where Congress has comprehensively regulated in a field. This Note explores whether public nuisance claims involving aquatic invasive species should be displaced …

A Century Of Chemistry Instruction At The College In Arlington: 1895-1995 (A Memoir And Scrapbook), Thomas James Cogdell

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications - Archive

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Mcnair Team

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Microanalysis Of Micrurus Tener Vertebrae As A Means Of Potential Species Differentiation And Identification, Aracely Vazquez

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Induction Of Positive Affect In A Community Setting Using Electronic Communications., Philip Andrew Smeltzer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To evaluate the influence of positive affect inductions on daily and weekly Positive and Negative Affect Scales (PANAS) in a community setting. Methods: Humor messages were distributed to participants four times per day during a treatment week with general health messages distributed in the crossover week. Subjects completed a series of self-report psychosocial and behavioral survey instruments on a weekly basis and daily PANAS responses. Messages were delivered through either email or SMS/text messages. Results: The daily and weekly PANAS scores were higher during treatment periods compared to the neutral periods. The observed trends were suggestive of successful positive …

Human Olfactory Epithelial-Derived Progenitors : A Potential Source For Cell Therapy For Parkinson's Disease., Meng Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human adult olfactory epithelium contains neural progenitors (hONPs) which replace damaged cellular components throughout life. Methods to isolate and expand the hONPs have been developed in our laboratory. In response to morphogens, the hONPs differentiate along several neural lineages. This study optimized conditions for the differentiation of hONPs towards dopaminergic neurons. The hONPs were treated with Sonic Hedgehog, in the presence or absence of Retinoic acid and/or forskolin. Transcription factors (Nurrl, Pitx3 and Lmxla) that promote embryonic mouse or chicken dopaminergic development were employed to determine if they would modulate lineage restriction of these adult human progenitors. Transcription factor expression …

Theoretical And Experimental Studies On Manipulation Of Fluorescence By Gold Nanoparticle : Application For Molecular Imaging., Jianting Wang 1983-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have shown beneficial properties for biomedical use, e.g., their non-toxic nature and surface properties for easy modification. Upon receiving light, they generate a strong surface plasmon field, which can alter the fluorescence of fluorophores. The level and type of the fluorescence alteration depend on the GNP size and shape, excitation (Ex)/emission (Em) wavelengths and quantum yield of the fluorophore, as well as the distance between the fluorophore and GNP. In this dissertation, the effect of the properties listed above on the fluorescence output was theoretically analyzed for the fluorophores frequently used in biomedical studies. For fluorescence quenching, …

Structure-Based Design Of Inhibitors Of Cxcr4., Jason Bradley Meier 1980-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Metastasis is a complex process requiring directed migration of metastatic cells to favorable microenvironments. Increased CXCR4 expression has been implicated in more invasive, aggressive and metastatic tumor phenotypes and poor patient survival in twenty-three forms of cancer. CXCR4 has been linked to cancer metastasis and CXCR4 expression on the cell surface of tumor cells has been linked to increased migration and homing of neoplastic cells to sites where stromal cells express the chemokine CXCL 12 such as the lung and bone marrow. In this dissertation, we will utilize structure based drug design to identify inhibitors of CXCR4 targeting the extracellular …

A Survey Study Comparing Adult Orthodontic Patient Quality Of Life Between Invisalign And Fixed Appliances., Keith Christopher Nicholson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We aimed to examine differences in treatment impacts and quality of life between adult orthodontic patients with Invisalign and fixed appliances. Adults represent a burgeoning branch of orthodontics yet many prospective patients have been reluctant to pursue orthodontics due to concerns with treatment. It was hypothesized that removable aligners would be better tolerated by adult patients. Sixty-three adult patients (forty Invisalign, twenty-three fixed appliances) were recruited from private practice. The treatment groups were largely comparable although the braces group reported more frequent unplanned appointments and use of auxiliaries. The Invisalign group experienced less negative impacts and these differences were generally …

Effects Of Environmental Pollution On Endothelial Progenitor Cells And Vascular Regeneration., Laura A. Wheat Nissley 1983-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Acrolein is a common pollutant present in ambient air, automobile exhaust, and tobacco smoke. Previous studies show that exposure to acrolein increases cardiovascular disease risk. To determine whether acrolein affect cardiovascular regeneration, we investigated the cardiovascular effects of inhaled acrolein. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to room air or acrolein (O.5, 1 or 5 ppm) for and the endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) level in peripheral blood (PB) was measured by flow cytometry. To examine the proliferative capacity of EPCs, bone marrow cells (BMCs) were cultured on fibronectin-coated slides. Brief exposure to acrolein (5 ppm, 6h) or 4 day (1 …

Quidam Homo Est Asinus : The Originality And Influence Of Peter Abelard Upon Medieval Thought., Timothy Ernst 1982-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Historians and philosophers alike remember Peter Abelard as the most brilliant, original, and influential philosopher of the twelfth century. Much ofthis reputation stems not from Abelard's intellectual contributions but due to Abelard's scandalous personal life and the nonexistence of documents of Abelard's contemporary philosophers. Though brilliant, Abelard exerted little influence through his ideas. Unlike a modem professor who changes the paradigms of his discipline with innovative theses, Abelard was a skilled teacher who sought to teach students the skills they required to advance their careers within a reformed Catholic Church, which was newly interested in logic, philosophy, and theology. Seen …

Traf6 Signaling In Skeletal Muscle Atrophy And Regeneration., Pradyut K. Paul

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Skeletal muscle is the most abundant tissue in our body that provides a structural framework and regulates important biological processes. It is also a primary reservoir of protein. Skeletal muscle maintains its structural and functional integrity by finely balancing the rates of protein synthesis and degradation. Skeletal muscle also has a very well defined regeneration program to cope with muscle injuries. A disruption in any of these delicately balanced intracellular mechanisms of skeletal muscle results in devastating conditions such as atrophies and chronic injuries. Majority of these debilitating conditions in skeletal muscle eventually lead to morbidity and increased mortality and …

Regulation Of Morphogenesis By Ammonium Transporters In Ustilgo Maydis., Jinny A. Paul

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many species of fungi undergo a dimorphic transition to switch from a unicellular yeast-like growth form to a filamentous growth form. Ustilago maydis undergoes such a transition, in response to successful mating events and subsequent host cues, to form a filamentous pathogenic form. U maydis also undergoes haploid filamentous growth in response to several environmental cues including, but not limited to nutrient limitation, pH, lipids, among others. Ammonium transporter proteins (Amts) play an essential role in controlling the dimorphic transition in response to nutrient limitation, specifically nitrogen in the form of ammonium. I demonstrate a role for the U maydis …

Annonacin In Asimina Triloba Fruit : Implications For Neurotoxicity., Lisa Fryman Potts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The acetogenin annonacin, from the tropical annonaceous plant Annona muricata, is a lipophilic, mitochondrial complex I inhibitor reported to be more toxic than rotenone to mesencephalic neurons. The temperate annonaceous plant Asimina tri/oba (pawpaw) is native to the Eastern United States and its products are available online. This study determined whether annonacin is in the pawpaw fruit pulp and whether it or the crude ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract is toxic to cortical neurons and induces pathological changes in the microtubule associated protein tau. Pawpaw extract was prepared by pulp extraction with methanol and liquid-liquid partitioning with EtOAc. Annonacin was isolated …

Ridge Preservation Comparing The Clinical And Histologic Healing Of A Demineralized Particulate Bone Allograft Vs. Mineralized Particulate Cancellous Allograft Using Barrier Membrane., Veneta Kotevska

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Aim. Differences in the healing of demineralized and mineralized allografts have been reported but their significance has not been evaluated in ridge preservation studies. The primary aims of this study were to compare ridge preservation using a mineralized cancellous allograft to a demineralized cortical allograft plus a PTFE barrier using clinical and histologic data to assess the outcomes. Methods. Twelve positive controls received an intrasocket mineralized cancellous particulate allograft (500-800 µm, Cancellous group) while twelve test patients received an intrasocket demineralized particulate allograft (250 to 710 µm, Demineralized group). All sites included in the study were covered with a PTFE …

Histone Deacetylase Inhibition-Mediated Cytotoxicity Of Oligodendrocytes., Toros Ali Dincman 1982-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies indicate post-translational deacetylation by members of the superfamily of histone deacetylase complexes (HDACs) is necessary for oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) differentiation into mature oligodendrocytes (OLs). However, it remains unknown if transient HDAC inhibition may promote OPC survival as has been shown in other cell types and neurological disease models. Chapter 2 demonstrates the development of a novel primary culture of OPCs from mouse pup cortices enriching the O4+ OPC population using Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (MACS) technology. Once plated, OPCs were glial fibrillary acidic protein- (GFAP-), A2B5+, NG2+, and O4+. When induced to differentiate, mouse OPCs became either …

Design, Characterization And Testing Of A Thin-Film Microelectrode Array And Signal Conditioning Microchip For High Spatial Resolution Surface Laplacian Measurement., Huihang Dong 1980-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiac mapping has become an important area of research for understanding the mechanisms responsible for cardiac arrhythmias and the associated diseases. Current technologies for measuring electrical potentials on the surface of the heart are limited due to poor spatial resolution, localization issues, signal distortion due to noise, tissue damage, etc. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to design, develop, characterize and investigate a custom-made microfabricated, polyimide-based, flexible Thin-Film MicroElectrode Array (TFMEA) that is directly interfaced to an integrated Signal Conditioning Microchip (SCM) to record cardiac surface potentials on the cellular level to obtain high spatial resolution Surface Laplacian (SL) …

Characterization Of Dna-Binding Proteins As Clinically Relevant Biomarkers Of Breast Cancer Behavior., Traci L. Kruer 1979-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While investigating estrogen response element (ERE) binding properties of Era in de-identified human breast cancer extracts, additional proteins were observed that recognized ERE sequences (ERE-BP). In order to unravel the apparent role of these proteins, our goal was to compare properties of these novel ERE-BP with those of ERa, determine their identity and evaluate their clinical relevance in breast cancer behavior. ERE-BP were present in various tissue types including breast, ovarian, uterine and colon cancers and normal tissues. These proteins were present in both cytoplasm and nuclei although higher binding activities were detected in nuclear extracts. ERE-BP did not supershift …

Aghoreshwar Bhagawan Ram And The Aghor Tradition, Jishnu Shankar

Anthropology - Dissertations

Aghoreshwar Mahaprabhu Baba Bhagawan Ram Ji, a well-established saint of the holy city of Varanasi in north India, initiated many changes into the erstwhile Aghor tradition of ascetics in India. This tradition is regarded as an ancient system of spiritual or mystical knowledge by its practitioners and at least some of the practices followed in this tradition can certainly be traced back at least to the time of the Buddha. Over the course of the centuries practitioners of this tradition have interacted with groups of other mystical traditions, exchanging ideas and practices so that both parties in the exchange appear …

Wikipedia, Ipods, And Chickens : An Active Learning Exercise To Teach Evaluation Of Information., Latisha Reynolds, Anna Marie Johnson

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Librarians at the University of Louisville developed an evaluation of information exercise that is completely interactive. Students learn evaluation skills by participating in a small-group exercise, after which, the groups teach their classmates what they have learned.

Each small-group is assigned a different publication to evaluate such as a book, a website, a scholarly article, magazine or newspaper. They also have questions to answer in order to evaluate each source. After they evaluate the sources, each group chooses a student to present the information in front of the class.

The librarian acts as a facilitator to guide the students and …