Digital Commons Network^™

Radical Realms: A Materialist Theory Of Fantasy Literature, Rich Paul Cooper

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation offers a materialist theory of fantasy as the literature of estranged cognition, an entirely novel perspective that challenges all of the existing criticism on fantasy literature by proposing an outlook that emphasizes not impossibility, but infinite possibility. During the late-Victorian period, the form of the fairy tale shifted from the literary fairy tale to ‘fantasy.’ Three formal characteristics reveal that fantasy literature derives from the fairy tale: an indication, thematically or formally, that another dimension has been entered; the making and remaking of genres—stories—in dialectically overdetermined configurations; and a textual conflation between physics and ethics that results in …

Numerical Methods For The Study Of Super-Eddington Mass Transfer In Double White Dwarf Binaries, Dominic Carlo Marcello

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

We present a numerical method for the study of double white dwarf (DWD) binary systems at the onset of super-Eddington mass transfer. We incorporate the physics of ideal inviscid hydrodynamical flow, Newtonian self-gravity, and radiation transport on a three-dimensional uniformly rotating cylindrical Eulerian grid. Our new method conserves total energy to a higher degree of accuracy than recent smoothed particle hydrodynamics methods and our previous Eulerian grid based method. We present the results of verification tests and we simulate the first 20+ orbits of a binary system of mass ratio q=0.7 at the onset of dynamically unstable direct impact mass …

Identifying Potential Geothermal Resources From Co-Produced Fluids Using Existing Data From Drilling Logs : Williston, North Dakota, Anna M. Crowell

Theses and Dissertations

With the current need for technology that will allow for environmentally-friendly power generation, geothermal power has become an attractive resource given its low environmental impact and potential cost savings. One specific resource is co-produced water from oil wells that are not currently producing, but can yield formation waters that are both high enough in temperature and fluid volume to operate the turbines of binary geothermal power systems. The data required to identify sites, i.e. bottom-hole temperatures (BHT), latitude, longitude, total depth of hole (TD) in meters, the identification number, and the amount of water produced in gallons, can be mined …

Pilot Study: Barriers To Whole Grain Consumption Among Diabetics Of German Heritage, Nicole Erickson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Whole grains play a cost-effective role in the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes, yet consumption remains well below recommendations. This pilot study showed that nonfamilial environmental factors have a strong influence on whole grain consumption among type 2 diabetics of German descent. Dietary records and grain questionnaires were used to probe subjects’ knowledge of the benefits of whole grains, reasons for grain preferences, and actual consumption. For this population (n=18), mean whole grain consumption ( = 48±30 g/d = 3±2 servings/d) was much higher than the national average (μ ≤ 1 serving/d). Misunderstanding of labels negatively influenced whole …

Nietzsche’S “Toys Of Desperation” Or The Birth Of Tragedy As Dramaturgical Alternative, Adam Sheaffer

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis provides a close reading of Friedrich Nietzsche’s The Birth of Tragedy, with particular attention paid to his use of the “principle of individuation.” The major question this thesis confronts is whether Nietzsche’s text might provide illuminative insights for the study of contemporary dramatic literature. Another question addressed by the thesis is whether Nietzsche’s text may offer dramaturgical alternatives to the strictures of naturalism. These questions are considered in relation to the play Dead Man’s Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl. In considering how Ruhl’s play might be reflective of Nietzsche’s own ideological and artistic investments, the author found …

Using Temperature Profiles To Investigate The Hyporheic Zone In An Agricultural Drainage Ditch, Richard A. Suggs

Theses and Dissertations

During the last three decades, there has been much research on ground water/surface water interaction and hyporheic zone processes in natural rivers and streams. Research into natural systems has revealed significant ground water/surface water interaction and a complex variability that depends primarily on surface conditions, subsurface composition, and seasonal influences. Hyporheic zone interaction is an important factor contributing to water quality of both surface water and ground water systems.

This research expands on the concept of using heat transport, as revealed by temperature variation, as an analogue for water movement within a surface water/ground water system to include the man-made …

Geomechanical Stability Analysis For Co2 Sequestration In Carbonate Formation, Xue J. Zhou

Theses and Dissertations

Geomechanical analysis is one of the fundamental pillars to build up the confidence of geological sequestration of CO2. Large scale CO2 sequestration in deep carbonate formation is a complicated geological process, which will non-reversibly transform the presumed equivalent and stable status of a sedimentary basin that formed over millions of years: chemically, hydraulically, geothermally, and geomechanically. In this dissertation, thermoporoelasticity guides the theoretical establishment of a conservative baseline for the geomechanical stability analysis of CO2 sequestration.

Extensive laboratory tests, including CO2 flooding tests, permeability tests, uniaxial and triaxial tests, Brazilian tensile strength tests, poroelasticity tests, point load tests, and fracture …

[Introduction To] Basic Statistical Tools For Improving Quality, Paul Kvam, Chang W. Kang

Bookshelf

This book is an introductory book on improving the quality of a process or a system, primarily through the technique of statistical process control (SPC). There are numerous technical manuals available for SPC, but this book differs in two ways: (1) the basic tools of SPC are introduced in a no-nonsense, simple, non-math manner, and (2) the methods can be learned and practiced in an uncomplicated fashion using free software (eZ SPC 2.0), which is available to all readers online as a downloadable product. The book explains QC7 Tools, control charts, and statistical analysis including basic design of experiments. Theoretical …

Factor Structure Of The Assessment Of Qualitative And Structural Dimensions Of Object Representations (Aor) Scale, Gregory Pouliot

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Early childhood interactions with parents form parental representations (PR) that have been empirically associated with psychopathology. The Assessment of Qualitative and Structural Dimensions of Object Representations scale (AOR; Blatt et al., 1992) is one measure of PR that benefits from measuring implicit processes and minimizing self-presentation; however, little research has examined its factor structure. The present study used archival data from four previous studies containing clinical and nonclinical samples totaling 722 participants. Individuals were divided into two groups: the first was analyzed using an exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and the second underwent a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the EFA …

Insulin Based Analogs Hlvealylv And Lvealylv To Inhibit The Formation Of Amyloid Fibrils In Beta Cells, Balakrishna Kurva

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Human islet amyloid polypetide (hIAPP) is a 37 amino acid peptide, co-secreted along with insulin in the islets of Langerhans of pancreatic beta cells. Aggregation of hIAPP fibrils is believed to be toxic to beta cells and responsible for beta cell dysfunction and death associated with type 2 diabetes. Insulin has been found to act against the actions of hIAPP. The internal sequence of insulin, HLVEALYLV, recognizes and binds the 10-19 region of hIAPP. Since insulin reportedly blocks the formation of amyloid fibers, insulin analogs may protect cell membranes from damage. In an effort to study this effect, truncated analogs …

On-Trap Derivatization Of Short-Chain Fatty Acids, Mace Mattieson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

It has recently been hypothesized that gastrointestinal microbiota modulate immune response by the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). There is a need for rapid, selective analytical methodology capable of trace analysis of SCFAs in complex biological matrices. Previous studies by others using multibed-sorbent traps, solid phase microextraction (SPME), and on-fiber derivatization with SPME showed that it is possible to achieve low limits of detection (LODs) for the gas chromatographic (GC) headspace analysis of SCFAs. The goal of this project was to achieve on-trap derivatization of SCFAs by incorporating a derivatizing agent onto a sorbent trap. Preconcentration and derivatization of …

Reading Queer Subtexts In Children’S Literature, Jessica Kander

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to explore and to challenge heteronormative assumptions regarding childhood and adolescence. I will show how these assumptions affect the literature published and made available to young readers, and how, often, overtly queer texts are not available for young readers. Such omissions leave young readers, especially those with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgendered (LGBT) identities, to find depictions of queerness in subtexts underlying seemingly “straight” texts. While these queer subtexts can be recognizable to readers through the use of culturally and historically significant markers that are understood to represent queerness, even a text with a …

The Case For Fewer Cases In Pre-Chukotko-Kamchatkan: Grammaticalization And Semantics In Internal Reconstruction, Dibella Wdzenczny

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This work internally reconstructs the case system of Pre-Chukotko-Kamchatkan from the comparative reconstruction of Proto-Chukotko-Kamchatkan. Using the comparative and etymological dictionaries by Fortescue (2005), Mudrak (2000), and Zhukova & Kurebito (2004), I demonstrate that in many instances, groups of cases in Proto-Chukotko-Kamchatkan have developed from a single case. I outline the paths of grammaticalization that led to the expanded case system in Proto-Chukotko- Kamchatkan, and I use semantic typology to support the plausibility of these developments. Examples of similar phenomena in other language families are used for comparison as well. I conclude that six grammatical cases (and a more regular …

Characterizing The Oligomeric Structure And Catalytic Activity Of The Dihydroorotase And Aspartate Transcarbamoylase From The Bacterium, Bacillus Anthracis, Reshma Kankanala

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Bacteremia refers to bacterial presence in the blood. Bacterial proliferation in the blood requires that the organism adapt its metabolism to available nutrients. Nucleotide precursors that could be used are present at low levels in the blood, and thus the invading bacteria must rely on de novo nucleotide biosynthesis for survival. The dihydroorotase domain is a key enzyme in pyrimidine biosynthesis and a promising drug target. The genes encoding the dihydroorotase (DHOase) and aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) of Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) were cloned for expression in Escherichia coli (E. coli). The proteins were purified by affinity …

Insulin Based Inhibitors Of Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (Hiapp) And Their Effect On Aggregation Of Hiapp In The Treatment Of Type Ii Diabetes, Ranadheer R. Pesaru

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Human islet amyloid polypeptide protein (hIAPP) is secreted by the pancreas along with insulin and is assumed to play a role in pathological development of type II diabetes. It has 37 amino acids in its sequence. Amyloid is formed due to misfolding of the protein, which is cytotoxic to beta cells in the pancreas of type II diabetic patients. The presence of amyloid deposits is also a characteristic feature of a number of other diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Since insulin has been reported to interact with hIAPP and block amyloid formation, fragments of insulin were synthesized and …

Scaffolding With Video Prior To Sophomore Physics Lab: The Addition And Resolution Of Vectors, David J. Sitar

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Technology And The Body In Muriel Rukeyser's Poetry, Fathi Nasaif

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis studies Muriel Rukeyser‟s view of the relationship between technology and the body by analyzing some of her poetry in her Collected Poems and her philosophy of poetry in her book The Life of Poetry. The thesis also deals with the relationship between science and art; Rukeyser thought of science and art as supplementing and complementing each other through her idea of dynamism in nature and in artistic thought. In addition, my thesis discusses some critical responses to Rukeyser‟s poetry and philosophy of art. The theories that form the basis of my study are Rukeyser‟s idea of relational …

Nest-Site Selection, Nocturnal Nest Desertion, And Productivity In A Common Tern (Sterna Hirundo) Colony At Detroit River, Michigan, Gregory J. Norwood

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Common terns are declining in the Great Lakes region and represent a population relatively distinct from that of eastern North America. On an artificial site, I studied the substrate and vegetation preference and productivity of nesting terns at two scales: general habitat and nest-site. Terns nested later and less successfully in large river rock (13 to 25-cm diameter) compared to more diverse substrate and limestone (2.5-5.0 cm) when it was free of dead vegetation. Within a habitat, terns chose to nest where substrate was most diverse in rock size, soil, and non-vegetative debris. Percent standing cover did not affect hatching …

Women And Bodily Separation In Literature From The Victorian Era Until Today, Delisa Leonard

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The dualities that are often associated with female characters have taken many forms throughout the centuries. In the Victorian era, female characters were often presented as dual natured; oftentimes this division was represented through the use of a madwoman and a heroine. In the early 20th century, however, this motif was picked up by female poets, who used duality in order to express the disconnect women often feel from their family, their friends, and, especially, their bodies. In today‟s literature, these feelings of duality and separation are expressed through a literal separation, not between good and evil, but of body …

Investigation Of Synthetic Methods For Preparation Of 2O-Amino Derivatives Of 5-Amino- 1, 10-Phenanthroline: Applications To Cu+2 Based Impedance Sensors, Satish B. Chunchu

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The main purpose of this project is to synthesize 2^o - derivatives of 5-amino-1, 10- phenanthroline (5-aphen) for application as self-assembled monolayers on gold interdigitated electrode array chips in standard impedance and impedance resonance-based Cu²⁺ sensors. Potential applications include monitoring Cu²⁺ leaching from anti-fouling coatings on ship hulls. The importance of the planned secondary alkyl amino derivatives will be to test their binding properties to the gold surface through dithiocarbamate linkages by monitoring the IDE impedance signal. Practical sensor development requires good impedance response, maximum binding to the gold IDE chip, and maximum long term stability of …

Perceptions Of Masculinity And Career Specific Gender Stereotypes, Brian A. Golden

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Career gender bias is the tendency for men or women to resist work in careers that tend to be dominated by individuals of a specific gender (nursing, public relations, elementary education, child-care, police, fire, manufacturing). This study posits that current university students exhibit career gender bias and classify certain Bureau of Labor Statistics job classifications as male, female or unisex occupations. Furthermore, with use of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (Bem, 1974) scale, this study attempted to understand if masculinity, femininity, or androgyny gender identity influences college students’ perceptions of career gender stereotypes and ultimately their view about the growing or …

Comparison Of Standard Impedance Spectroscopy Response To Aqueous Metal Ions Using Plain Vs. Surface Derivatized Gold Interdigitated Electrodes, Sindhu Yalamanchili

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract Recent work has provided evidence that 5-amino-1, 10 –phenanthroline can react with CS2 to anchor on the gold surface of an interdigitated electrode (IDE) through a dithiocarbamate linkage, resulting in significant changes in impedance response in the presence of Cu2+ solutions. However, questions regarding the stability of the primary amine-based dithiocarbamate self-assembled monolayer, reproducibility of the raw impedance and phase angle data, and possible variation of the background response for the gold IDE array in solutions of different metal ions remain an issue. Primary experimental emphasis is on the reproducibility of standard impedance and phase angle data for the …

Entrepreneurial Factors For The Fitness Industry, Steven M. Herrmann

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The following work examines the different aspects of opening an exercise-based business and identifies factors of the competitive environment that are conducive to opening a recreational and athletic strength training facility. Questions were answered regarding what type of exercise-based business could feasibly compete against the other exercise-based businesses and related non-profit organizations and what the existing exercise-based businesses and related non-profit organizations located within a 30-mile radius of southwest Dearborn, Michigan, were doing to survive in the current competitive economy. Information was gathered from100 fitness facility websites and 30 survey interviews from the managers and owners of the exercise-based businesses …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between School Climate And Student Growth In Select Michigan Charter Schools, Benjamin P. Jankens

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine what relationship exists between school climate and student growth in Michigan charter schools. Data were collected through the use of a school climate survey and standardized assessment results. The Organizational Climate Descriptive Questionnaire for Elementary Schools (OCDQ-RE) developed by Hoy, Tarter, and Kottkamp (1991) was used to assess teacher perceptions of school climate. Student growth data were calculated using the fall and spring reading and math results from the Performance Series test by Scantron, and the MAP test by NWEA.

The population of this study consisted of 355 teachers from 11 participating …

Final Offer Arbitration And Major League Baseball, Michael L. Miller

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

In 1974 Major League Baseball implemented the use of Final Offer Arbitration (FOA) to settle contract disputes for those players who were not yet eligible for free agency. Final Offer Arbitration was chosen because of its design to have parties reach settlement before the actual arbitration hearing. The purpose of this research is to evaluate if this system is the best method for settling contract disputes by analyzing whether Major League Baseball and its Players Association are using the system correctly, whether the system is fair and consistent, whether FOA has an effect on player performance, and also whether there …

Relationship Between Nursing Home Size And Their Dietetic Support Effort, Kyla Bacon

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background: While nursing homes in Oklahoma are required to utilize a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Qualified Nutritionist, there are no specifications for minimum utilization. Objectives: Investigate how Oklahoma nursing homes determine RD utilization and whether a relationship exists between resident census and RD availability. Design: Questionnaires focused on RD work patterns were sent to 150 Oklahoma nursing homes.

Results: Nursing homes with a resident census of 50, 51-100, and 101 employed a RD for approximately 7. 9, 7.3, and 56.3 hours/month, respectively. The RD is the primary decision maker in determining hours worked, followed closely by corporate staff and governmental …

Development Of Thermo-Regulating Fabric Using Phase Change Material (Pcm), Prasad S. Bhatkhande

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This research study concentrates on use of phase change material (PCM) in textiles which can produce thermo-regulating characteristics to control body temperature useful for various daily wear and technical textiles. The latent heat which is released or absorbed during the process of phase change is studied and discussed in this research. The PCMs are encapsulated into tiny microcapsules to protect from washing out or abrasion. These microcapsules are bounded onto the fabric surface by using a binder. The microcapsules and their effectiveness are tested by using SEM, Optical Microscope, DSC and Comfort tester. The testing is further extended to the …

Factors Associated With Fruit And Vegetable Consumption Among Caribbean Immigrants In The United States, Claudia Martin-Ayoade

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background: There are limited data available on the fruit and vegetable consumption of Caribbean immigrants in the United States.

Purpose: To assess changes in intakes of fruits and vegetables in Caribbean immigrants while assessing knowledge of the recommended servings and barriers to intake.

Method: A cross sectional Internet questionnaire was conducted for Caribbean-born members of the social network website Cariblifecentral.com. Data were analyzed using descriptive frequencies, Pearson’s chi-square, and the Student’s t-test.

Results: Of 113 respondents, 37 reported consuming less vegetables since emigrating (p<0.10) while 29 reported eating more. However, 10.8% of respondents did not know the recommended servings for vegetables. Access to fresh produce was no barrier to consumption.

Conclusions: As this population continues to grow, it becomes necessary to tailor nutrition and disease prevention …

A Comparative Analysis Of Genocidal Rape In Rwanda And The Former Yugoslavia: Implications For The Future, Jessica Kruger

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This work examines the genocidal rape policies that occurred in the Rwandan and former Yugoslavian conflicts. Traditionally, rape has been considered an unfortunate yet inescapable consequence of war. In the early 1990s, the Hutu and Serbian regimes developed a new tactic and utilized rape as a genocidal weapon. Following a comparative analysis framework, the present study will examine the similarities and differences of the genocidal rape in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. Five points of comparison were established: perpetrators, victims, global economics, social disorder, and militias. Results of this analysis show that Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia possessed common pre-genocidal …

The Relationship Of Interpersonal Sensitivity, Identity Impairment, And Binge Eating Disorder Among College Women, Rachel M. Sienko

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study explored the association of identity impairment and interpersonal sensitivity (IPS) with binge eating disorder (BED). A convenience sample of 295 female undergraduate psychology students from a large Midwestern university was recruited to complete an online survey. Three primary hypotheses were tested: (1) IPS (high fear of negative evaluation and selfconsciousness) would be associated with binge eating; (2) Identity impairment (few total and positive possible selves, many negative possible selves, and a high ratio of negative to total possible selves) would be associated with binge eating; and 3) There would be a significant interaction between identity impairment and IPS …