Digital Commons Network^™

Terror Management Theory: Interplay Between Mortality Salience, Death-Thoughts, And Overall Worldview Defense, Sharon R. Shatil

Dissertations (1934 -)

This study examines both the generalizability of Terror Management Theory (TMT) and the mechanisms by which individual difference variables work in the TMT model. A plethora of research exists to support TMT, a theory that explains much of human behavior as attempts to buffer the potential for anxiety provoked by being aware of one's own inevitable mortality (Pyszczynski et al., 2003). This dissertation investigated the generalizability of Terror Management Theory (TMT) and the mechanisms by which individual difference variables work in the TMT process. In order to do so, an operationalization of the variable "overall worldview" was provided. Participants consisted …

Quantitative Biomechanical Evaluation Of Upper Extremity: Strain Behavior Of The Humerus Diaphysis Under Loading, Prateek Grover

Dissertations (1934 -)

While mechanical behavior of the adult human lower extremity long bones under loading has been studied extensively, the same is not true for the adult human humerus. Mechanical data reported for cadaveric humeri and anatomic humerus models are limited to stiffness and rigidity. Strain characteristics of the humerus diaphysis as a function of loading provide a valuable addition to the currently limited knowledge. The objective of this dissertation was to accomplish this goal, using numerical/finite element (FE) methods applied to a standard anatomic humerus model (Reference-Humerus) that was developed from the NIH Visible Human Project for this purpose. Four phases …

Naturalized Panpsychism: An Alternative To Fundamentalist Physicalism And Supernaturalism, Earl R. Cookson

Dissertations (1934 -)

A central problem in the mind-body debate is the generation problem: how consciousness occurs in a universe understood as primarily non-conscious. This problem is particularly bothersome for physicalists. I argue that the generation problem stems from a non-critical presupposition about the nature of reality, namely, that the mental is an exception in the universe, a non-fundamental property. I call this presupposition mental specialism. Despite the fact that mental specialism dogmatically ingrained in the debate, there has been little reason offered either to accept or reject it. And doing so would dissolve the generation problem. But rejecting mental specialism, though it …

Assessing Pesticide Reduction In Constructed Wetlands Using A Tanks-In-Series Model Within A Bayesian Framework, Pamela Krone-Davis

SNS Master's Theses

Frequent pesticide detection at toxic levels to test organisms in California's Central Coast waterbodies has motivated regulators, resource agencies and end-users to investigate and adopt management practices and technologies to diminish agricultural chemicals entering receiving waters. Treatment wetlands are a technology of special interest because of their ability to simultaneously treat multiple pollutants commonly found in agricultural and urban runoff including nitrate, suspended sediment and pesticides. We sought evidence for transformation of three highly water soluble pesticides (diazinon, methomyl and acephate) in a full-scale constructed treatment wetland located at the base of the Salinas Valley. We pumped water into the …

Philosophy And Theology: Contemporary Discussions Of Parenthood, Christopher Kaczor

Philosophy Faculty Works

The article offers the author's insights on parenthood, which is the topic of interest of philosophers and theologians. The author says that the fundamental and primary obligation of parents to care for their children grounds the prerogatives, which parents have over their children. He mentions the argument between Bernard Prusak and S. Matthew Liao about the article "The Right of Children to Be Loved," in which Prusak objects the idea of the child's right to be loved.

Environmental Influence In Animal Contests, Mark Fox-Powell

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Contests between individual animals over the possession of particular limited resources have played an important role in shaping the evolution of life history, morphology and ecology of the vast majority of animal taxa. Whilst the phenomenon has been and continues to be extensively scrutinized via theory and experimentation, theses and predictions based on mathematics and optimality are frequently confounded by experimental observation. If successful demonstrations of evolutionarily stable strategies are to occur it is vital that the complex interplay of variables potentially affecting an animal‟s fighting ability are understood and controlled for experimentally. This review addresses the significance of external …

Epiphytes: A Study Of The History Of Forest Canopy Research, Sven Batke

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The development of new and more versatile access techniques is a major contributor to the continuously growing field of canopy research. Methods such as cranes, canopy walkways, hot-air balloons, ladders and rope access techniques enabled scientist for the first time to conduct proximate studies of canopy organisms. One of the most studied groups of canopy dwellers are epiphytes. With their versatile adaptations to a life above ground level and their vast abundance, epiphytes contribute profoundly to the forest diversity and ecosystem processes. Most epiphytes have species-specific habitat preference within individual phorophytes. However these preferences are limited by biotic and abiotic …

A Test Of Time-Place Learning In Fish Living In A Public Aquarium, Rhona Macbeth-Seath

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This study presents the findings of a test of time-place learning in Atlantic Ocean fish in the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth (a public aquarium). All the fish, which varied in sizes and species, were observed, excluding ocean predators. Observations of the fish‟s location and behaviour five weeks prior and during the three-week intervention period were carried out. The quantitative data does show major differences in the distribution of the fish, a 100% increase in the fish being evenly distributed across the tank. Results suggest that some fish are capable of exhibiting time-place learning.

Do Age And Conditions At Rehoming Affect Behaviour In Puppies?, Tamara Chamberlain

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Many dogs are abandoned, surrendered to rescue shelters or euthanised in the United Kingdom every year, with one of the most common reasons being undesirable behaviour. The age at which puppies are rehomed is widely thought to affect their behaviour. It has also been suggested that the conditions from which puppies are rehomed may increase the prevalence of some behaviours, such as fear. This study aimed to see if there are any management factors which can reduce the prevalence of undesirable behaviours in puppies. 65 puppy owners that attend puppy classes participated in this study. Owners of puppies from the …

Is There A Visitor Effect On Behaviour And Enclosure Use Of Mixed Bird Species In A Zoo Enclosure?, Katie Downes

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Potential visitor effects on captive animals are poorly understand, with most studies focused on non-human primates, it is an area of research which in recent years has become important as a way of understanding welfare in a captive environment. Research into how this effects birds in captivity is limited, therefore this study looks at whether visitor density effects behaviour and enclosure use in six different bird species including red-billed choughs, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax northern lapwings, Vanellus vanellus, red-crested turacos, Tauraco erythrolophus, Madagascar teal, Anas bernieri, grey gulls, Larus modestus and one Palawan peacock pheasant, Polyplectron napoleonis all housed together in a …

Climatic Variation: Effects On Global Seabird Populations, Laura Draycott

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This review will identify and outline four dominant climatic systems and describe associated environmental factors including discussion of subsequent effects that they have on global seabird populations. Finally, the review will highlight studies which have investigated how environmental variations affect key behavioural adaptations of seabirds and the consequent effects on their life history traits.

The Health Benefits Of Tea Varieties From Camellia Sinensis, Katie Taylerson

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Background and aims: Varieties of tea from the plant Camellia sinensis have been consumed for around 50 centuries and today are a popular beverage worldwide. Over the past 30 years much research has gone into the medicinal properties and health benefits that these teas provide consumers. This review aims to consolidate the benefits of tea’s antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and evaluate the research to this date. Methods: This review plans to use the primary literature available from journals and online sources found using search engines. Most recent literature will be used primarily, as well as that from 10-20 years ago …

Novel Methods For The Synthesis Of Septanose Sugars/Extended Ring Systems From Hexose Sugars, Nada Khan

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Modeling, Visualizing, And Understanding Complex Tectonic Structures On The Surface And In The Sub-Surface, Steven Wild

Physics Theses & Dissertations

Plate tectonics is a relatively new theory with many details of plate dynamics which remain to be worked out. Moving plates can interact by divergence, lateral sliding, convergence, or collision. At a convergent plate boundary, a lithospheric slab of oceanic crust and upper mantle is subducted at a trench and dips down under a magmatic arc — either oceanic or continental. Textbooks show a static view of convergent boundaries but plate dynamics require that subduction zones and magmatic arcs must migrate with time. Therefore I develop animated models to help convey this motion. Also, convergent plate boundaries cannot continue along …

The Nature And Role Of Physical Models In Enhancing Sixth Grade Students' Mental Models Of Groundwater And Groundwater Processes, Debra Lynne Foster Duffy

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

Through a non-experimental descriptive and comparative mixed-methods approach, this study investigated the experiences of sixth grade earth science students with groundwater physical models through an extended SE learning cycle format. The data collection was based on a series of quantitative and qualitative research tools intended to investigate students' ideas and changes in ideas rather than measure their achievement. The measures included a groundwater survey, classroom observations, and one-on-one follow-up student interviews for triangulation of data sources. The research was carried out at a K-12 independent school in eastern Virginia using two classes of sixth grade earth science students (n=30).

The …

A Comparison Of Relaxation Techniques On Blood Pressure Reactivity And Recovery Assessing The Moderating Effect Of Anger Coping Style, Catherine J. Mills

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the relationship of anger coping style and relaxation techniques on cardiovascular reactivity and recovery in blood pressure (BP). Eighty-nine students from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia participated. The participants were instructed to rest for ten minutes (baseline), complete a math task with harassment for 6 minutes (stressor), and engage in one of three recovery conditions (a standard control (SC), diaphragmatic breathing (DB), or mantra recitation (MR) without breathing instructions) for 10 minutes. The Spielberger State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) was utilized to measure trait anger coping style. Participants were compensated $25. It was hypothesized that …

Demand Responsive Signal Control Strategy (Drsc) Incorporating Queue Length Information In Real-Time Signal Control, Rahul Rajbhara

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Most of the existing vehicle detection systems, namely inductive loops, video cameras etc. are incapable of measuring the queue lengths at signalized intersections. However, with the advent of modern technology, newer detection methods such as probe vehicles equipped with wireless communications (Connected Vehicles), particularly under the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration [52), and radar detection currently provide this capability [53). This thesis presents a Demand Responsive Signal Control Strategy (termed as DRSC) for an isolated signalized intersection. The control strategy incorporates real-time queue length information (obtained from probe vehicles) into the signal control logic. Demand based maximum green time for each upcoming/new …

Against Physicalism-Plus-God: How Creation Accounts For Divine Action In Nature's World, Lydia Jaeger

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

Nonlinear Mechanical Behavior Of The Human Common, External And Internal Carotid Arteries In Vivo, Alexey Kamenskiy, Yuris A. Dzenis, Jason N. Mactaggart, Thomas G. Lynch, Syed A. Jaffar Kazmi, Iraklis I. Pipinos

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Introduction—The mechanical environment and properties of the carotid artery play an important role in the formation and progression of atherosclerosis in the carotid bifurcation. The purpose of this work was to measure and compare the range and variation of circumferential stress and tangent elastic moduli in the human common (CCA), external (ECA) and internal (ICA) carotid arteries over the cardiac cycle in vivo.

Methods—Measurements were performed in the surgically exposed proximal cervical CCA, distal ECA and distal ICA of normotensive patients (n = 16) undergoing carotid endarterectomy. All measurements were completed in vivo over the cardiac cycle …

Widespread Avian Bornavirus Infection In Mute Swans In The Northeast United States, Jianhua Guo, Lina Covaleda, J Jill Heatley, John A. Baroch, Ian Tizard, Susan L. Payne

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Avian bornavirus (ABV) matrix (M) genes were detected by RT-PCR on brain tissue obtained from 192 mute swans harvested from several Northeastern states. A RT-PCR product was detected in 45 samples. Sequencing of the PCR products confirmed the presence of ABV belonging to the ‘goose’ genotype. The prevalence of positive samples ranged from 28% in Michigan to 0% in northern New York State. Two Rhode Island isolates were cultured. Their M, N, and X-P gene sequences closely matched recently published sequences from Canada geese.

Tradeoffs Limit The Evolution Of Male Traits That Are Attractive To Females, William E. Wagner, Oliver M. Beckers, Amanda E. Tolle, Alexandra Basolo

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Tradeoffs occur between a variety of traits in a diversity of organisms, and these tradeoffs can have major effects on ecological and evolutionary processes. Far less is known, however, about tradeoffs between male traits that affect mate attraction than about tradeoffs between other types of traits. Previous results indicate that females of the variable field cricket, Gryllus lineaticeps, prefer male songs with higher chirp rates and longer chirp durations. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that a tradeoff between these traits affects the evolution of male song. The two traits were negatively correlated among full-sibling families, consistent with …

Question Answering System Using Open Source Software, Gaurav Gangwal

Master's Projects

To get the answers of a question there are lots of search engine availbale. But the problem with the search engine is that instead of giving a straight forrward answer they usually gives the links/URL to the webpages which might have the answers. Instead of providing links Question Answering System will provide the straighforward answer to user's question. Tasks intended by the project : • Takes question as an input from the user. • Analyses the sentiment behinds the question. • Lookover the information availbale in the knowledge base related to question. • Compute the answer of the question from …

Considering Ethnicity And Gender Effects In Disgust Propensity And Spider And Snake Phobia: Comparing Asian Americans And European Americans, Laura L. Vernon, Michiyo Hirai

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

This study examined ethnic and gender differences and ethnicity by gender interactions in disgust propensity, spider and snake phobic distress, and their interrelationships. A main effect for ethnicity was found, with Asian Americans (n = 219) reporting more disgust propensity and phobic distress than European Americans (n = 581). Gender effects were modified by ethnicity by gender interactions, with European American males reporting the least disgust propensity and distress, and gender differences present only for European Americans. For both ethnic groups, phobic distress scores were strongly correlated with animal and non-animal disgust propensity. In hierarchical regression analyses, animal disgust propensity …

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Appears To Attenuate Particulate Air Pollution-Induced Cardiac Effects And Lipid Changes In Healthy Middle-Aged Adults, Haiyan Tong, Ana G. Rappold, David Diaz-Sanchez, Susan E. Steck, Jon Berntsen, Wayne E. Cascio, Robert B. Devlin, James M. Samet

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Air pollution exposure has been associated with adverse cardiovascular health effects. Findings of a recent epidemiological study suggest that omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil) supplementation blunted cardiac responses to air pollution exposure.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a randomized, controlled exposure study to evaluate the efficacy of fish oil supplements in attenuating adverse cardiac effects of exposure to concentrated ambient fine and ultrafine particulate matter (CAP).

METHODS: Twenty-nine healthy middle-aged participants (mean 58 ± 1 years of age) were supplemented in a randomized, double-blinded manner with 3 g/day of either fish oil or olive oil for 4 weeks before sequential chamber …

Complete Handbook, Saint Mary's College Of California

Graduate and Professional Student Handbook (2009-2018)

No abstract provided.

Part Ii: Graduate And Professional Honor Code, Saint Mary's College Of California

Graduate and Professional Student Handbook (2009-2018)

No abstract provided.

Caregivers' Social Capital And Satisfaction With Their Children's Service Providers, Joseph Galaskiewicz, George Hobor, Beth Duckles, Olga V. Mayorova

Faculty Journal Articles

The authors examine children's access to and caregiver's satisfaction with organizations that provide leisure time activities for children on Saturdays. The authors argue that access and satisfaction are a function of familie's financial, cultural and social capital. Using data on 1,036 households in the Phoenix metropolitan area in 2003-04, the authors found that families' financial and cultural capital affected whether or not children participate din activities organized by organizations, but family ties to the organization directly (e.g., either worked there, volunteered, donated) resulted in caregivers being more satisfied with the services. The authors also found that the benefits of network …

4.0 Administrative Policies, Services, Facilities, Saint Mary's College Of California

Faculty Handbook

No abstract provided.

Part Iv. Community And Student Policies, Saint Mary's College Of California

Graduate and Professional Student Handbook (2009-2018)

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of Package Ibr Anaerobic Digester At The Ohio State University, J. Shaun Dustin, Zhongtang Yu, Conly L. Hansen, Jacob D. Dustin

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The Induced Bed Reactor (IBR) is a high rate anaerobic digester designed to treat high-solids, high strength wastes, such as those found in dairy manures and mixed solid wastes. The IBR has been successfully operated at bench, pilot and full scale. The objective of this paper is to present design and implementation of a 3,800 L pilot scale facility at The Ohio State University's OARDC facility in Wooster, OH for testing and optimization of IBR systems at small dairies.