Digital Commons Network^™

Self-Preparation: From New England To The Mississippi Delta, Emily C. Wojtusik

Senior Honors Projects

Self-Preparation: From New England to the Mississippi Delta

Emily Wojtusik

Faculty Sponsor: Gail Faris, Women’s Center

I have been accepted into the Teach for America (TFA) 2011 Corp, in the Mississippi Delta teaching elementary education. I was born and raised in Connecticut, and have attended the University of Rhode Island for the past 4 years. I have studied sociology with a concentration in criminology. This Senior Honors Project is both related to my areas of study and represents a slight departure that will prepare me for my teaching responsibilities in the Delta.

This project is a comprehensive study involving social …

Utah State University Commencement, 2011 – Main Campus, Utah State University

Commencement Programs

124^th Annual Commencement of Utah State University.

What's Happening: May, 2011, Maine Medical Center

What's Happening

No abstract provided.

Days With Dignity: A New Adult Day Services Typology To Support Wellness And Rehabilitation, Heather Bachman

All Theses

Adult Day Services (ADS) facilities have been shown to enable aging in place through the cost-efficient delivery of senior health-related services. However, the most common ADS typologies often work in opposition to the goals of care delivery. The primary intention of this proposal is to envision an Adult Day Services program that is holistically focused on senior wellness and rehabilitation, and which is articulated and reinforced through facility design. A new programmatic and facility typology is proposed and evaluated against a set of design guidelines based on research findings and best practices found in a literature review. In addition, this …

Integration Of Refractory Periods In The Administration Of Low-Magnitude Mechanical Signals Increases Mesenchymal Stem Cell Numbers In The Bone Marrow, Kofi Appiah-Nkansah

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

High-frequency, low-magnitude mechanical signals (LMMS) applied exogenously as low-intensity vibrations (LIV) have been shown to bias mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation towards osteoblastogenesis at the expense of adipogenesis. Recent in-vitro work has indicated that refractory periods allow additional benefit from these mechanical signals when scheduled into the loading routine. Work is presented here from three distinct 6-week experiments conducted to investigate the role of refractory periods allowed in the administration of LMMS in an in-vivo animal model. Results from the first experiment using 7-week old male C57BL/6J mice suggested that multiple animal handling had an adverse effect on bone morphology, …

Low Intensity Vibrations Applied Locally Can Be Transmitted To The Alveolar Bone Thereby Enhancing The Quality Of The Bone In Adult Rats, Nirukta Patri

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

Oral bone loss is a major concern amongst a large population suffering from estrogen deficiency, osteoporosis and periodontal diseases. The clinical implication of oral bone loss is premature tooth loss. Mechanical loading has proven to be vital in maintaining the quantity and quality of the bone, particularly in impacted bone. Studies have shown that long bones (post-cranial) and alveolar bone (cranial) are both sensitive to mechanical environment through static and dynamic loading. It also has been suggested that whole body vibrations (WBV) at low-magnitude and high frequency are a non-invasive and non-pharmacological method to prevent bone loss, particularly in the …

Opening The Industry Playbook: Myths And Truths In The Debate Over Bpa Regulation, Thomas Mcgarity, Rena I. Steinzor, Matthew Shudtz, Lena Pons

Faculty Scholarship

For the last two decades, scientists have amassed evidence that bisphenol A (BPA) poses a threat to human health.  Although scientists have targeted BPA as a public health concern, plastics industry lobbyists have attempted to thwart the efforts of federal, state, and local authorities to reduce exposure to BPA.  This paper reviews the major arguments advanced by the plastics industry and debunks them as “myths” that public health officials must reject.  The five topics covered include:  the myth of scientific consensus on safety; the myth that only studies complying with “Good Laboratory Practices” guidelines are adequate for making regulatory decisions; …

Knowledge-Sharing Networks Of Hospital-Based Infection Preventionists In Kentucky., Timothy Lee Wiemken 1979-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Infection preventionists (IPs) have a multitude of tasks aimed at the prevention and control of infections in the healthcare setting. These tasks require a great deal of knowledge that has been more challenging to gain over the past decade due to the rapidly changing healthcare environment, the IPs' increasing numbers of duties, limited staffing, and a number of other issues. Because of these challenges, other mechanisms of rapid and efficient knowledge acquisition are needed for optimal job performance. One possible mechanism is knowledge sharing through social or professional networks. Objective: To examine the knowledge-sharing network structure of hospital-based IPs …

Delinquency : A Trajectory Analysis Of African-American Males., Wyatt Brown 1985-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The initial goals of this study include locating and identifying the taxonomic groups mentioned in Moffitt's (1993) (i.e. life-course persistent offenders, adolescent-limited offenders) using data from the National Longitudinal Survey 1997 (NLSY97). Further, this study compares the social demographics with the predictions of Moffitt (1993,1994) as her theory describes race, particularity those of African-American offenders. This study also examines the role of parental and peer relationships and their effect on the offender disparity among the typologies defined by Moffitt (1993). This study explores one hypothesis: there is a relationship between social bonds, particularly peer association and admittance into Moffitt's (1993) …

Counter-Reformation Agenda In The Paintings Of The Virgin Mary., Sharon Lynne Heaphy 1987-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper investigates the objectives of Counter-Reformation leaders as seen through the visual culture of the Virgin Mary in the time period. This study was completed by examining three paintings by three different artists: Federico Barocci, Madonna del Popolo, 1579; Guido Reni, Immaculate Conception, 1627; and Annibale Carracci, Assumption of the Virgin, 1592. Although these painters all embrace the Catholic ideology of the time, this study highlights the many differences that exist between them as a result of their individualized influences as artists. In order to accurately interpret the artworks and the complex Catholic doctrine presented, the evolution of the …

Thomas Dent Mütter: The Humble Narrative Of A Surgeon, Teacher, And Curious Collector., Jennifer A. Baker, B.S., Charles J. Yeo, Md, Pinckney J. Maxwell, Iv, Md

Department of Surgery Gibbon Society Historical Profiles

Thomas Dent Mutter, a beloved teacher, respected colleague, devoted husband, surgical pioneer, and legendary collector, emerged from a tragic childhood as an ambitious young physician who would leave a permanent imprint on medical education (Fig. 1). Dr. Mutter is best known in the Philadelphia area for the museum of medical curiosities, which bears his name. Overflowing with various medical memorabilia, anatomical and pathological specimens, casts, models, watercolors, and historical instruments, the Mutter Museum often overshadows the numerous other contributions Dr. Mutter made during his shortened life.1 A quote from Henry Brooks Adams is quite apropos, ‘‘A teacher affects eternity; he …

Documentation Of The Coordination Of Two Benefits For The Slo Hep C Project, Megan Lea Michels

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Que Ondee Sola - May 2011, Juan Morales

Que Ondee Sola

Student publication founded in 1972, articles include: A Day at NEIU, A Trip to NEIU, The New TriO Program, Presenting BACCA to the Community, BACCA Instructor Reflection, Value Life Not Alcohol, Falling Into a Statistic, Don't Use Alcohol Just to Fit In, Teens Drop the Bottle, The Chain Reaction of Underage Drinking, The Community as Campus, Interviews on Oscar Lopez Rivera Part 1

Effects Of Poverty Funding On Math And Literacy Achievement In Arkansas, Karen L. Cushman

College of Education Dissertations

This research project was designed to provide a foundational study of the effectiveness of a state categorical fund directed at poverty students called NSLA funding on literacy and math achievement in Arkansas. Poverty funding for students in Arkansas is realatively new and there have not been any studies to examine the impact of this funding to date. Literacy and math achievement scaled scores were evaluated for one year for fourth, sixth, and eighth grades by four NSLA levels, NSLA level 1, NSLA level 2, NSLA level 3, and NSLA level 4.

This causal comparative study was conducted with data from …

Investigation Of Facet Joint Capsule Biomechanics Of The Lumbar Spine: A Finite Element Study, Denis Charles Evangelista

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

Low back pain is one of the most costly ailments in the world today. A key biological structure studied in the research of low back pain is the facet joint. The facet joint is thought to both play a role in the causation of low back pain through its response to noxious loading and in its relief through beneficial loading caused by spine manipulation. The purpose of these studies is to use a computational model to predict the biomechanical response of the facet joints to various loading parameters. This was accomplished using a linear 3D Finite Element model of the …

When Is Ketchup Just Ketchup? : Toward A Sociological Reading Of Paul Mccarthy's Early Video Art, Robin Frances Wolf

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

In much of the scholarship about Paul McCarthy's video and performance work, the artist's use of food has been described in terms of its anthropomorphic qualities-its ability to masquerade as excrement or blood. Paul McCarthy's historical moment, though, prompts a different understanding of his work, specifically his use of food. The mid-70's saw incredible changes in the ways food was bought, sold and processed. It is the purpose of this thesis to resist the impulse to sensationalize his antics or frame them in terms of their psychosis in order to analyze how in McCarthy's work functions as a critique of …

Content-Based Access Control, Michael Andrew Hart

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

In many contexts, users are either unable or unwilling to specify their access control policies. In Data Loss Prevention, for example, users cannot fully express what is secret in rule-based formats. Many users are unwilling to use access controls, particularly in the Web 2.0, because they are too draconian, leading to disastrous consequences in terms of privacy. To address both of these issues, we have introduced the concept of Content-Based Access Control (CBAC). CBAC combines content recognition with policy acquisition and enforcement. A CBAC-enabled system can be trained to recognize policy violations by learning what is secret from examples. This …

Aristotle On Mind, Rachel R. Adams

HIM 1990-2015

The mind as it is found in Aristotle's great work De Anima is a special capacity of the soul. It has both active and passive properties that work together to allow discursive thinking and moral ethical behavior to emerge. This work will look at Aristotle's philosophy of mind, and I will forward a new interpretation of the mind as he understood it: what I call the active and passive mind property dualism. Aristotle's four causes allow for a unique application of a form of dualism that accounts for the ontological status of the mind and the emergence of rational thinking. …

Ectoparasite Richness And Abundance On Three Species Of Neotropical Bats, May 2011, Roxanne Reiter

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Ectoparasitic arthropods can decrease the fitness or survival of their hosts by increasing host energy expenditure. Bats harbor many species of ectoparasites; host biology, grooming, and roosting habits can affect intensity of parasite infestation. This study assessed ectoparasitism on three species of Neotropical bats by Streblid batflies (Streblidae) and bat mites (Order: Acari). Bats were netted and ectoparasites identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Host species had a significant impact on ectoparasite richness and abundance (Two Way ANOVA, F = 41.25, df = 2, p < 0.0001). Anoura geoffroyi suffered the most intense overall parasitism and parasitism by Streblids, but Hylonycteris underwoodi hosted more mites and had a greater richness of mites per bat (Tukey’s HSD tests, p < 0.05). Carollia perspicillata suffered very low parasitism rates by all measures. Host sex did not appear to impact ectoparasitism across species or between males and females of the same species. Ectoparasitism is likely impacted by roosting dynamics, grooming habits, and density of individuals in the colony.

The Adaptive Function Of Leaf Fenestrations In Monstera Spp (Araceae) A Look At Water, Wind, And Herbivory, May 2011, Cassie Lubenow

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

A very important component of biodiversity in tropical forests is the vast variation in leaf morphology among different plant species. Leaf morphology is often a result of adaptations to the specific environmental conditions of a particular ecosystem or habitat. The Monstera genus of tropical plants in the Araceae family has very unique morphological leaf characteristics; it has large, deeply incised leaves with holes along the primary veins. There are many hypothesized adaptive functions of these holes, but no direct experimental studies have been completed to determine the functions they actually serve. This study directly tests the functional significance of the …

The Disability Screening Process And The Labor Market Behavior Of Accepted And Rejected Applicants: Evidence From The Health And Retirement Study, Seth H. Giertz, Jeffrey D. Kubik

Department of Economics: Faculty Publications

This paper uses Social Security earnings records linked to data from the Health and Retirement Study to examine the labor market behavior of rejected and accepted disability applicants prior to their application. We find that rejected applicants have substantially lower earnings and labor force participation rates during the decade prior to application than beneficiaries. Also, we find some evidence of a divergence between these groups, with rejected applicants leaving the labor force at a faster rate than beneficiaries as their application date approaches.  One interpretation of these results is that the disability screening process on average separates those who are …

An Assessment Of Stable Hydrogen-Isotope Analysis Methods To Assign Geographic Origin To Migratory Red-Tailed Hawks (Buteo Jamaicensis), Carla Marie Ahlschwede

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Stable-hydrogen isotopes are becoming an increasingly popular method of studying migratory birds, though sample preparation methods may affect results.  In this study I examined feathers from red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) to determine the relationship between measure of δD due to inter-feather variation or drying methods, assessed the accuracy of results by using two birds of known-origin and estimated possible natal origins of migratory red-tailed hawks.  Two feathers per individual were taken from 81 wild hawks caught at Hitchcock Nature Center near Crescent IA and from 2 rescued red-tailed hawks, Raptor Recovery Nebraska near Eagle, NE. 119 of the …

21rst Century Educational Farmstead, Trevis Carmichael

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

When Europeans began settling in the United States, farmsteads were built across the Great Plains. Out of necessity, these had to function in a self-sufficient manner; meaning the people had to produce their own food, use local materials, and be energy efficient for their transportation. Parents had to teach their children how to do all of the practical work it took to maintain their lives. This was the foundation that America was built upon. Having completed the first decade of the 21st century, the time seems right for a mental re-settlement that follows some of those same principles. Teaching our …

Parks And Obesity In Rural And Urban Nebraska, Michaela S. Wolf

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

In order to better understand the role community design plays in obesity rates, this project studies a potential relationship between distance of parks from homes and obesity rates in four Nebraska counties. Park use may contribute to important health benefits, such as reducing risk of obesity by increasing physical activity levels. There are limitations to park use, such as crime rates and facility upkeep that are important to understand so that they might be managed and communities can reap greater benefits from their parks, including better fitness. This study examines park distance from homes as a potential limiting factor to …

The Application Of Creative Leadership Skills In The Education And Mentoring Of Social Entrepreneurs: A Graduate Level Course, Maria J. Rivera

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The purpose of this project is to fully comprehend the state of social entrepreneurship education through research, and consequently, to design a course on how to apply creative leadership skills to educate and mentor social entrepreneurs and to enhance their problem solving skills. The outcome of the project is a course proposal to build inter-disciplinary knowledge and skills.

Cooperatives As A Possible Answer For Women Living With Violence And Poverty On The Us/Mexico Border, Nubia Restrepo Collaros

Latin American Studies ETDs

This thesis examines the challenges presented to planning practitioners working with Latin American communities in economically disadvantaged regions where external influences creates a fragile environment for sustainability and empowerment. Specifically, the thesis examines the complex inter-relation of a non-profit and the members of a cooperative and how can economic, human and social capital development can be planned for alongside significant changes.

The Public Choice Problem In Corporate Law: Corporate Social Responsibility After Citizens United, David G. Yosifon

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Identifying Group-Sensitive Physical Activities: A Differential Item Functioning Analysis Of Nhanes Data, Yong Gao, Weimo Zhu

Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose: To identify subgroup sensitive physical activities using differential item functioning (DIF) analysis.

Methods: A sub-unweighted sample of 1,857 (males = 923 and females = 934) from the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Physical Activity (PA) questionnaire data was used for the analyses. Using Mantel-Haenszel, SIBTEST and ANOVA DIF methods, 33 specific leisure-time moderate and/or vigorous PA (MVPA) items were analyzed for DIF across race/ethnicity, gender, education, income and age groups.

Results: Many leisure-time MVPA items were identified as large DIF items. When participating in the same amount of leisure-time MVPAs, non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB) were …

Commencement 2011, Sacred Heart University

Commencement Programs

Program for the Graduate and Undergraduate ceremonies held May 14-15, 2011.

Fish Oil Concentrate Delays Sensitivity To Thermal Nociception In Mice, Jyothi M. Veigas, Paul J. Williams, Ganesh Halade, Mizanur M. Rahman, Toshiyuki Yoneda, Gabriel Fernandes

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Fish oil has been used to alleviate pain associated with inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. The anti-inflammatory property of fish oil is attributed to the n-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. Contrarily, vegetable oils such as safflower oil are rich in n-6 fatty acids which are considered to be mediators of inflammation. This study investigates the effect of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids rich oils as dietary supplements on the thermally induced pain sensitivity in healthy mice. C57Bl/6J mice were fed diet containing regular fish oil, concentrated fish oil formulation (CFO) and safflower oil (SO) for 6 …