Digital Commons Network^™

Animals-As-Patients: Improving The Practice Of Animal Experimentation, Jane Johnson, Christopher Degeling

Between the Species

In this paper we propose a new way of conceptualizing animals in experimentation – the animal-as-patient. Construing and treating animals as patients offers a way of successfully addressing some of the entrenched epistemological and ethical problems within a practice of animal experimentation directed to human clinical benefit. This approach is grounded in an epistemological insight and builds on work with so-called ‘pet models’. It relies upon the occurrence and characterization of analogous human and nonhuman animal diseases, where, if certain criteria of homology and mechanism are met, the animal simultaneously becomes a patient and a spontaneous model of the human …

Turning A New Leaf: A Feasibility Study Of Converting To Organic Production Of Lettuce From A Conventional Operation, Christina Wilson

Agribusiness

This study focuses on the possible risks associated with the conversion of a farm from conventional to organic farming practices. The purpose of the study is to test the feasibility of the conversion to organic practices using lettuce as the focus crop and following the changes in a 150 acre farm's net income through a four year conversion time span. Revenues and expenses will be gained from cost and return studies and financial documents will be generated for the base year and the four year conversion period in order to generate five net incomes. The four net income that are …

City Of King City: South First Street Corridor Masterplan, Fall 2011, Crp 341 Urban Design Studio

City and Regional Planning Studios and Projects

City of King’s South First Street Corridor Master Plan is a draft document prepared by Cal Poly’s Community Design Lab as a contribution to the city’s efforts to initiate a revitalization process for the street and the areas immediately adjacent to it. Revitalizing this corridor is an important endeavor not only from the economic, functional, and livability perspectives, but also because it provides the first view of the city for drivers entering from the south. Therefore, public and private investment along South First Street should be strategically integrated and coherently designed. The South First Street Corridor Master Plan provides the …

Uses Of Genomic Predictions In Commercial Beef Cattle Operations, Matt Miller

Dairy Science

This paper aimed to achieve two different objectives. The first objective of this study was to identify and explain the genetic gain achieved in commercial beef cattle operations with the use of genomic predictions versus the use of visual appraisal and EPDs. The second goal of this paper was to develop a method to easily explain genomic predictions and their practical applications on commercial beef operations to a lay audience, specifically to ranchers. In order to accomplish these objectives, I evaluated three of the most common selection methods used by producers today. These included visual appraisal, expected progeny differences (EPDs), …

Early Childhood/Child Welfare Priority, Nancy Edick, Samantha K. Ammons, Melissa Cast-Brede, Ann Coyne, Karen Falconer Al-Hindi, Shari Hofschire, Lisa Kelly-Vance, Jay Killion, Sajda Qureshi, Bridget O. Ryalls, Peter Simi, Peter Wolcott

Foundational Documents

This is the executive summary of a white paper that describes the context, current capacity, areas of opportunity, and next steps for the UNO Early Childhood/Child Welfare Priority (ECCW). It responds to the need for comprehensive integrated systems of services designed to give all young children (birth through age eight) access to what they need in the early years to succeed in school and in life. In this context, UNO recognizes ECCW as critical to our metropolitan university mission. Further, we must come together with early childhood service providers, P-12 districts, parents, policy makers, other University of Nebraska campuses, community …

Changes In Spirituality Partly Explain Health-Related Quality Of Life Outcomes After Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction., Jeffrey M Greeson, Daniel M Webber, Moria J Smoski, Jeffrey G Brantley, Andrew G Ekblad, Edward C Suarez, Ruth Quillian Wolever

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a secular behavioral medicine program that has roots in meditative spiritual practices. Thus, spirituality may partly explain Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction outcomes. Participants (N = 279; M (SD) age = 45(12); 75% women) completed an online survey before and after an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesis that, following Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, the relationship between enhanced mindfulness and improved health-related quality of life is mediated by increased daily spiritual experiences. Changes in both spirituality and mindfulness were significantly related to improvement in mental health. Although the initial mediation hypothesis …

Obstetricians And Violence Against Women, Sonya Charles

Philosophy and Religious Studies Department Faculty Publications

I argue that the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), as an organization and through its individual members, can and should be a far greater ally in the prevention of violence against women. Specifically, I argue that we need to pay attention to obstetrical practices that inadvertently contribute to the problem of violence against women. While intimate partner violence is a complex phenomenon, I focus on the coercive control of women and adherence to oppressive gender norms. Using physician response to alcohol use during pregnancy and court-ordered medical treatment as examples, I show how some obstetrical practices mirror the …

Suppression Of Phospholipase Dγs Confers Increased Aluminum Resistance In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Xuemin Wang, Jian Zhao, Cunxi Wang, Mohamed Bedair, Ruth Welti, Lloyd Sumner, Ivan Baxter

Biology Department Faculty Works

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is the major stress in acidic soil that comprises about 50% of the world's arable land. The complex molecular mechanisms of Al toxicity have yet to be fully determined. As a barrier to Al entrance, plant cell membranes play essential roles in plant interaction with Al, and lipid composition and membrane integrity change significantly under Al stress. Here, we show that phospholipase Dγs (PLDγs) are induced by Al stress and contribute to Al-induced membrane lipid alterations. RNAi suppression of PLDγ resulted in a decrease in both PLDγ1 and PLDγ2 expression and an increase in Al resistance. Genetic …

New York: An Analysis Of Current Changes In Party Support, Kerianne E. Kane

Senior Honors Projects

This paper is an analysis of the recent changes in party support throughout the state of New York. Based on research by James Gimpel and Jason Schuknecht in their 2004 book “Patchwork Nation,” the focus is on determining which specific factors have been contributing to the shifts in support for the two major parties in key regions of the state. In particular, migration and immigration as well as demographic changes within New York’s electorate are considered. More importantly, economic changes within the state and the effects they have had on party support are examined as well. My research is based …

Evidence Matters (December 2011), Center For Evidence-Based Practices

Evidence Matters

December 2011 newsletter of the Center for Evidence-Based Practices at Case Western Reserve University

Island Times, Dec 2011, Kevin Attra

Island Times Newspaper, 2011

No abstract provided.

Peaks Island Star : December 2011, Vol. 31, Issue 12, Service Agencies Of The Island

Peaks Island Star, 2011

The Peaks Island Star is the newsletter of the island's service agencies and other community news.

Female Social Conventions In The Plays Of Eugene O'Neil, Pamela L. Wells

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

This paper explores the plays of Eugene O'Neill through the eyes social conventions. Social conventions are infused within and influence individuals in all walks of life. Authors, as well, record these social conventions in their writing, either consciously or subconsciously. Studying these social conventions can give us a new perspective of man during different periods of history. In the plays Anna Christie, Desire Under the Elms and Mourning Becomes Electra, Eugene O'Neill's female characters display attributes that stray from what society believes as acceptable behavior for woman. These unwritten rules of behavior I call social conventions. This paper examines the …

Interplay Between Francisella Tularensis And Hepatocytes, Huaixin Zheng

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

Francisella tularensis is the bacterial cause of tularemia and has been designated as a potential bioweapon due to its high infectivity and virulence. F. tularensis infects the liver of its mammalian hosts and replicates in hepatocytes, the major cells of the liver, both in vivo and in vitro. However, the factors that govern adaptation of F. tularensis to the intra-hepatocytic niche have not been identified. Using cDNA microarrays, we determined the transcriptional profile of the live vaccine strain (LVS) of F. tularensis growing in the FL83B murine hepatocytic cell line. Expression of 53 genes was up-regulated more than 2-fold compared …

Homogenous And Heterogeneous Ice Nucleation From Biomass Burning Aerosol: Freezing Temperatures And Nucleation Rates, Yannick Rigg

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

Biomass burning is a major source of water soluble and water insoluble organic compounds in the atmosphere. These compounds have the potential to form ice via homogeneous and heterogeneous mechanisms, both of which are involved in the formation of cirrus clouds with subsequent effects on the global radiative budget. Aqueous levoglucosan/(NH4)2SO4 droplets of mass ratio 10:1, 1:1, 1:5, and 1:10 and aqueous multi component organic droplets with and without (NH4)2SO4 serve as surrogates of water soluble organic biomass compounds to be examined for homogeneous ice nucleation. Pahokee Peat and Leonardite serve as sur- rogates of aerosols composed of HULIS, employed …

Human Enteric Viruses In Recreational Coastal Waters, Alexandra Valdes Wochinger

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

Human enteric viruses (HEV) are recognized by the CDC as common etiological agents for waterborne outbreaks and they have been detected in recreational waters in the US and around the world. Current concentration and detection methods present challenges to study of HEV in coastal waters and have prevented the routine monitoring of HEV in recreational or shellfish harvesting waters. In this dissertation, various methods of concentrating viruses from water were investigated. A two-step viral concentration method that included viral adsorption-elution and ultrafiltration was found to be effective for the concentration of total viruses and improved detection limits for HEV in …

Trans-Translation Dependent Degradation Of Mrnas And Proteins, Zhiyun Ge

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

The translation of mRNAs without in-frame stop codons results in the following problems: the ribosomes are stalled and sequestered on the defective mRNA, the incomplete polypeptides produced are potentially toxic to the cells, and the defective mRNA can result in more futile translational cycles. Bacteria have developed a unique system, called trans-translation to resolve all of the above-mentioned problems. The key players of the trans-translation system are tmRNA and its protein cofactor SmpB. One part of my work showed that the system mediates the degradation of non-stop mRNAs by recruiting RNase R to stalled ribosomes through the interaction between the …

The Bivariate Normal Mixture Distribution: A Power Study Of Bootstrap Test, Tingting He

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

Univariate analysis has been commonly used in the studies of disease-related phenotypes. The need for multivariate analysis on linkage studies of complex disease/traits has grown with the increasing use of multiple phenotypes. This research extends the model for testing a single bivariate normal distribution versus a two component bivariate normal mixture distribution. Previous research restricted the two variables to have equal means and variance. Our study considers the more general case with no restrictions on these parameter values. Simulations are used to conduct a power study of bootstrap test under different combinations of parameter values. We note that samples of …

The Experience Of Korean American First Born Or Only Sons In The United States: Privilege Or Burden?, Heesoo Karina Kim

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

Summary: Qualitative interviews were conducted to examine the dynamics of gender roles, tradition, culture, and parental expectations, often influenced by Confucian values, of Korean American first-born or only sons. Theories of stress, identity, and acculturation may inform how gender and status affect outlook on life, relationships, duties, career, and mental and physical health. Method: 47 Korean Americans, ages 18-40, of whom 35 were first-born or only sons, were interviewed. For corroborative data, 12 siblings (five younger brothers and seven sisters) were also interviewed. A semi-structured, open-ended, 25 question guide was used for interviews which were then recorded and transcribed. Results: …

Nanoscale Metal - Organic Ligand Interactions For Applications In Environmental Remediation And Catalysis, Prashant Kumar Jha

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

Ever since the proposal of correct structure of CoCl3*6NH3 by Alfred Werner in 1893 the field of coordination chemistry has only grown and has become the center of chemical science owing to wide ranging applications in the fields of catalysis, medicine, biochemistry and organometallic chemistry. This dissertation deals with novel application of coordination chemistry from three different perspectives. The first explores the fate of a known contaminant (uranyl ion) in ground water with natural organic matter (NOM) using simple analogous aromatic and aliphatic molecules (catechol and oxalic acid). It was found that not only the immediate complex formed, long term …

Model-Based Techniques For Dependable Decision Making In Groups Of Agents Operating Autonomously, Meng Wang

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

Massively distributed embedded systems are rapidly emerging as a key concept for many modern applications. Autonomous agents with mobile sensors are breakthrough concept in technology. However, providing efficient and scalable decision making capabilities to such systems is currently a significant challenge, especially to have flexible strategies with predictable performance in hard-to-predict conditions. My thesis first proposes a goal-oriented model to allow automated synthesis of distributed controllers, which implement and interact through models of different semantics. Scalability of descriptions is realized through defining the nature of interactions that can occur among decision modules while leaving to task of optimally implementing these …

Imaging Markers Of Cognitive Deficits In Rrms Using A Multimodal Mr Approach, Hui Jing Yu

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

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has made important contributions to the understanding of the dynamics of the disease process of multiple sclerosis (MS) in vivo and has an established role in the diagnosis of MS. Despite this, conventional MRI is only partially helpful in understanding the disease and predicting ultimate clinical outcomes. The lack of imaging biomarkers in MS also limits the development of therapeutic interventions that can eventually help treat the various symptoms of MS, including the common finding of cognitive impairment. In this dissertation, multi-modal MR imaging acquisition and analysis techniques were applied with the goal of attaining more …

An Examination Of The Effectiveness Of An 8-Week Bikram Yoga Program On Mindfulness, Perceived Stress, And Physical Fitness, Zoe L. Hewett, Lynda B. Ransdell, Yong Gao, Linda M. Petlichkoff, Shelley M. Lucas

Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Previous research reports positive effects of yoga on health. The physical and psychological outcomes of participation in Bikram yoga are under-researched despite its increasing popularity, and this type of yoga may be significant with regards to stress management due to its unique method of practice. This study was designed to assess changes in levels of mindfulness, perceived stress, and physical fitness after participation in an 8-week Bikram yoga program. Fifty-one participants aged 20–54 years (mean, 31.57 years) were recruited by word of mouth from a large university located in the Northwestern United States. Participants attended a minimum of 20 Bikram …

Are Nursing Students’ Clinical Skills Competency And Self-Confidence Levels Improved Via Video Ipods? A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study, Margaret M. Hansen Edd, Msn, Rn

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Mobile technologies allow students the opportunity to enhance learning while away from the traditional classroom setting. However, educational outcome research is lacking in the use of mobile health (m-health) applications in healthcare professional practice development.

Objectives: The aim of this pilot study was to discover whether male and female urinary catheter insertion videos delivered via iPods increases students’ skills competency and self-confidence levels.

Methods: A prospective replicated study including second year, semester two, undergraduate nursing student participants (NSP) (N=16) was conducted: nine control participants (no video iPods) and seven intervention participants (video iPods). Nursing students attending a mandatory skills …

Assessing The Efficacy Of A Modified Therapeutic Community On The Reduction Of Institutional Write-Ups In A Medium Security Prison, Lee Maglinger

Dissertations

This study explored the impact a modified Therapeutic Community (TC) had on reducing institutional disorder as documented by institutional write-ups. Substance abuse treatment programs are typically evaluated in terms of their ability to prevent relapse and reduce recidivism. The current study examined the efficacy of a modified TC in relation to these parameters but also explored its overall impact on prison safety and security for both the inmates and staff of a medium security prison located in Kentucky. Specifically, the number of institutional write-ups exhibited by clients participating in a modified Therapeutic Community was compared with the number of write-ups …

Response To Autism: An Assessment Of Services For Students With Autism In Kentucky's Public Schools, Leigh Anne Roden

Dissertations

The full implementation of school-based autism services has grown in importance over the past few decades. School systems are expected to provide high-quality educational services for students with autism spectrum disorders. Though several organizations provide recommendations for appropriate program components, Kentucky does not supply education agencies with a means of evaluating the current autism services offered within their districts and schools.

This descriptive study examined the current level of implementation of school-based autism services within an educational cooperative in Kentucky. The research was conducted to determine whether or not school districts are fully implementing essential program components as recommended by …

Major Families Of Multiresistant Plasmids From Geographically And Epidemiologically Diverse Staphylococci., Julia E.S. Shearer, Joy Wireman, Jessica Hostetler, Heather Forberger, Jon Borman, John Gill, Susan Sanchez, Alexander Mankin, Jacqueline Lamarre, Jodi A. Lindsay, Kenneth W. Bayles, Ainsley Nicholson, Frances O'Brien, Slade O. Jensen, Neville Firth, Ronald A. Skurray, Anne O. Summers

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

Staphylococci are increasingly aggressive human pathogens suggesting that active evolution is spreading novel virulence and resistance phenotypes. Large staphylococcal plasmids commonly carry antibiotic resistances and virulence loci, but relatively few have been completely sequenced. We determined the plasmid content of 280 staphylococci isolated in diverse geographical regions from the 1940s to the 2000s and found that 79% of strains carried at least one large plasmid >20 kb and that 75% of these large plasmids were 20-30 kb. Using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, we grouped 43% of all large plasmids into three major families, showing remarkably conserved intercontinental spread …

Legal Discourse, Conceptual Metaphors, And Basic Writing Programming: A Study Of Ayers V. Fordice, Joyce Olewski Inman

Dissertations

In what ways does legal discourse influence our perceptions of students labeled as basic writers and these students’ perceptions of themselves? How does standards-based discourse affect student writers’ abilities to define themselves in academe? This dissertation involves an examination of legal and public discourse surrounding Ayers v. Fordice, one of the most prominent desegregation cases in higher education, in an attempt to answer these questions. Its intent is to explore how conceptual metaphors prevalent in these discourses affect our understandings of basic writing programming in the state of Mississippi but also in the field of composition more globally.

My …

Understanding Captive-Takers Motivations, Methods And Targets, Jean Garner Larned

Dissertations

Understanding Captive-Takers Motivations, Methods and Targets is the ultimate goal in order to help those who train, manage and prevent hostage taking events which include police officers, negotiators, recovery personnel, academics and psychologists. The overall lack of literature relating to the topic of captive-taker motivations is another impetus for this dissertation. There is a dearth of scholarly material in any of the main areas of understanding kidnapping/captive-taking/hostage-taking from the perspective of the perpetrator within law enforcement, psychology, private sector or academia. It is anticipated that this research study and the data garnered from it will assist academics, psychologists, private corporations, …

Bacterial Interactions Of Inoculated Price's Potato Bean (Apios Priceana): A Biological Study, Rhonda Walker

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Apios priceana is a native endangered species plant found in the Southeast United States. It is characterized as a leguminous species that bears wisteria like clusters with pea like flowers, a large tuberous root and four to six inch long seed pods. It is believed the Native Americans and early European settlers relied on this species as a source of protein and utilized the seeds for cultivation of the tuberous “potato” which formed. Apios priceana contains an average of 13% fiber, 6.9% protein, 71% carbohydrate and 9 of the 11 essential amino acids needed in human diets (Walter et al.,1986). …