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Christina Of Markyate, Manly Woman Of God: Mysticism, Monasticism, And Masculinity In Twelfth-Century England, Angela Ruth Bolen

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Christina of Markyate, a little-known twelfth-century mystic, challenged the secular masculinity of medieval England. Christina abandoned her home and family to search for a greater understanding of Christ, and her search led her away from the will of her father, her husband, and her king. Unlike other female religious of the time, she lived in an all-male monastery. Male religious figures from throughout England regularly sought her out for her wisdom and insight. This examination of Christina’s life reveals the complex relationship of sex, gender, and religion in the Middle Ages, because in her search to understand Christ, and by …

Characterizing The Internal Architecture Of Upper Bone Spring Limestone Turbidites And Mass-Transport Deposits (Mtds) Utilizing High-Resolution Image Log Technology, Jason J. Asmus

Masters Theses

Characterization of reservoir scale (less than 1 meter thick) turbidites and mass-transport deposits (MTDs) using conventional subsurface data is complex, due to millimeter-centimeter scale architectural heterogeneity exhibited by these deposits.

Limited studies of the Bone Spring carbonate turbidites and MTDs within the Delaware Basin subsurface emphasized the use of conventional wire-line log and seismic data to evaluate reservoir potential of such strata. As a result, limited resolution offered by these data sets do not allow for accurate characterization of reservoir, and sub-reservoir scale, architectural and compositional variations.

The present investigation integrates high-resolution (centimeter scale) electrical borehole image logs with conventional …

Anthropological Apologetics: A Proposal Of An Anthropological Compendium As Evidence For The Imago Dei, Jeffrey R. Dickson

Masters Theses

Evangelical scholarship has shown great admiration for the work of Gary Habermas and others in their contribution to Christian apologetics by validating the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus Christ with a list of minimal facts generally agreed to by historical and biblical scholars. This thesis will explore the methodology of the minimal facts approach and appropriate it as a tool to explore the data within the field of anthropology which offers evidence for the biblical concept of the Imago Dei. This study will focus on Wolfhart Pannenberg in his critically acclaimed work demonstrating the importance of the theological perspective …

The Role Of Saturated Fatty Acids In Connexin Expression On Endothelial Cells And Eosinophils, Kurt Anthony Ashack

Masters Theses

Eotaxin is a potent chemoattractant for eosinophils that becomes elevated in the tissues in response to inflammation and increased adiposity. Therefore, eosinophil migration into adipose tissue should increase in diet-induced obese individuals, yet it does not. This suggested to us that something within the cellular microenvironment of diet-induced obese individuals might be altering the endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecules (ELAM) such as VCAM-1 or selectins on the endothelial cells, thus preventing eosinophils from entering the inflamed tissue. Connexons are gap junctions in endothelial cells and on immune cells such as macrophages that are composed of connexins and have been shown to …

Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Signaling In The Magnocellular Neurosecretory System : Mechanisms Of Neuronal Survival And Sprouting, Jason Michael Askvig

Theses and Dissertations

While it is well-known that ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) promotes the survival of a myriad of neuronal phenotypes, little is understood on the specific CNTF-induced neuroprotective mechanisms in the central nervous system (CNS). Elucidation of these mechanisms may provide insight that would assist in the development of future therapeutic strategies. Therefore, the goal of my research is to determine the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of CNTF within the rat magnocellular neurosecretory system. The central hypothesis of my research is that CNTF acts as both a neuronal survival and sprouting factor for hypothalamic magnocellular neurons in vitro and in vivo. …

Practices In Interpersonal Communication To Help Integrate Foster Children Into, Adrielle L. Devora

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This thesis explored the question: What effect do familial communication practices and activities have on positive integration of a foster child into their adoptive family? The focus was on foster children adopted between the approximate ages of 3 and 17, as it has been shown they can have more difficulties than children adopted as infants (Barth & Miller, 2000). This research brings practical wisdom and empirically researched data to families, social workers, psychologists, teachers, and anyone who works with families in this challenging category. The research was based in the “I-Thou” interpersonal communication philosophy (Buber, 1923/1984) and utilized recommendations from …

Improving Student Learning In Third World Communities Through The Applications Of Transformational Leadership And Technology, Jan Michael Co Uy

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Students in third world communities often face many economic and educational challenges. The main setback that many kids face today is continued education. Overall, the purpose of this research is how transformational leadership and technology contribute to student learning in third world communities. A few key theories were used in this research, which include Transformational Leadership, Early Childhood, Social Penetration, and Media Richness Theories. From a research method standpoint, meta-analysis was used to determine how these theories relate to themes from various case studies done on improving student learning. The overall finding is that technology in tandem with transformational leadership …

Geochemical Constraints On Groundwater Recharge In The Royal Slope Area, Grant County, Washington, Zoe Danielle Weis

All Master's Theses

Groundwater, the primary source for potable water in the Columbia Plateau, has experienced significant declines over the past 25 years. Groundwater geochemistry and multivariable statistics were employed to identify and characterize the hydrofacies present, constrain recharge sources, and assess mixing of groundwater in the Royal Slope area of the Columbia Plateau. Geochemical analyses for major ions, stable isotopes, and radiogenic isotopes (14C and tritium) for age dating were performed on groundwater samples collected in 2010 from 24 wells in the study area. The results confirmed that the groundwater evolution in the study area follows the typical Columbia River Basalt Group …

An Exploration Of African American Male Community College Students' Experiences Concerning Their Successful Postsecondary Enrollment, Robin Dabney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite increased numbers of African American male students in higher education, their academic achievement levels continue to be at disproportionate numbers compared to other ethnic groups and genders (U.S. Census Bureau, 2005). The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore lived experiences of African American male community college students concerning factors hindering their academic progress and to understand perceptions of factors that influence their academic achievement in higher education. The current study identifies pertinent factors that will assist African American males to become successful in their postsecondary experiences. Findings from this study provide insights into predictors that may lead …

Parkinson Disease And Rehabilitation Administration And Services, Deanna Booker

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Near Boundary Turbulence Characteristics Among Stream Restorations Of Varying Intensity, Sean M. Abel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Stream restoration is estimated to be a multi-billion dollar industry and includes techniques such as planting vegetation, modifying channel form, and installing in-stream structures. These techniques potentially alter the velocity field and flow complexity. The specific objective of this research was to characterize near-boundary flow within the three restored reaches of varying intensities located in the Stream Research, Education, and Management (StREAM) Laboratory at Virginia Tech. Three restoration techniques were applied in 2009-10 to consecutive reaches of Stroubles Creek: 1) cattle restriction only (0.5 km); 2) cattle restriction, banks reshaped to 3:1 slope and re-vegetated (0.6 km); and, 3) designed …

Psychosocial Concerns In Pediatric Obstetric Brachial Plexus Injury Patients, Janelle M. Mentrikoski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Obstetric brachial plexus injuries (OBPI) occur during childbirth when the child's shoulder blade gets stuck on the mother's pubic bone, resulting in damage to nerves in the child's shoulder. Due to the possible visible nature (e.g., injured arm may be shorter than the non-injured arm) and mobility limitations (e.g., difficulties in raising the injured arm to brush one's teeth) associated with these injuries, youth with OBPI may experience psychosocial difficulties. However, little research has examined the psychosocial functioning in this population. The current study sought to investigate possible predictors of social functioning and self-concept in youth with OBPI. This study …

Riparian Ecological Community Assessment With An Emphasis On Wood Turtles (Glyptemys Insculpta) In The Cacapon River Watershed, West Virginia, Kathryn R. P. Mccoard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Riparian zones serve to maintain high water quality, low water temperatures, and structural complexity in aquatic and terrestrial environments, among other beneficial services. Riparian buffers provide habitat and corridors linking forest patches for terrestrial wildlife. High riparian vegetative structure and complexity attract a high diversity of wildlife, including birds, herpetofauna, and small mammals. Devegetated riparian zones, often a result of developmental and agricultural practices, lose their beneficial functions and require restorative actions to regain them. The Cacapon River watershed in West Virginia is agriculturally-dominated with many areas of riparian zone degradation. A section of the Cacapon River was selected for …

Specific Gage Analysis On The Lower White River, Arkansas, Adam Levis Shaffner

Theses

This study documents the stage adjustments in the Lower White River between 1931 and 2012 at four rated gaging stations along the trunk stem of the river. The study reach extends from Calico Rock, Arkansas, to the confluence of the White River with the Mississippi River north of Arkansas City, a distance of about 509 km. The specific gage approach was used to track hydrological response in the study reach. In order to approach spatial homogeneity across the four gaging locations along the study reach, input discharges were normalized to multiples of mean daily flow (MDF). Specific gage analysis tracks …

Genetic Admixture And Tooth Size In An Enslaved Population From Newton Plantation, Barbados, Susannah Munson

Theses

This study examined the amount of European genetic admixture in the enslaved African population from Newton Plantation, Barbados. Newton Plantation was a British sugar plantation from the 17th to 19th centuries. Approximately 150 individuals were recovered from an unmarked slave cemetery during archaeological investigations in the 1970s and 1990s. Using maximum mesiodistal and buccolingual tooth measurements of the available teeth from the individuals in the cemetery, Newton was compared to nineteen comparative samples of African, European, African American and European American populations that date from the time of British colonization to the 20th century. Previous European admixture estimations in the …

The Capacity Of A Southern University To Promote And Support Health Literacy Among College Students: A Case Study Approach, Alison Burton Epperson

Dissertations

The primary purpose of this case study was to determine if the university under study had adequate health-related programs, services, and supports in place to develop health-literate young adults. A secondary purpose was to identify strengths and gaps in these university health-related programs, services, and supports, which, if addressed, could increase the likelihood that college graduates would be health-literate. This research study served to answer three broad research questions: 1) What are the health-related needs and concerns among selected university undergraduates? 2) What is the level of awareness and utilization of health-related programs, services, and supports by university undergraduate students? …

Image Bodies, Avatar Ontologies: Rendering The Virtual In Digital Culture, Adam M. Davis

Dissertations

In 2009 five avatar-themed films were released, one of which became the highest grossing film to date, signaling that in addition to their popularity in videogames and virtual worlds, avatars are culturally salient figures which demand scholarly attention. Avatars, virtual environments, and user behavior have evolved significantly since virtual reality captured public and academic attention at the close of the twentieth century, and this dissertation is an attempt to theorize the avatar in contemporary digital culture. By interlacing new media philosophy and analyses of cinematic texts I situate the avatar at the nexus between digital images and interactive bodies, with …

Assessing The Surface Water Quality Impacts Of Marcellus Shale Development In Whiteday Creek Watershed, West Virginia, D. Aaron Streets

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Shale gas development in Central Appalachia will likely increase economic activity and help meet future energy needs; however, there are concerns over potential impacts to water resources. This research assessed impacts of drilling for gas in the Marcellus shale in the White Day Creek watershed in northern West Virginia. A total of eight stream sites, located both upstream and downstream of three permitted gas wells, were monitored. Two of the permitted wells were in the development phase while the third was actively being drilled. Water samples were collected during the bi-weekly sampling and analyzed at the National Research Center of …

An Evaluation Of The Occurrence Of Micronuclei And Other Nuclear Abnormalities In Fishes From The Great Lakes Basin, United States, Ryan Patrick Braham

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Biological markers (biomarkers) sensitive to genotoxic and mutagenic contamination in fishes are widely used to identify contamination in the aquatic environment. The "fish tumors or other deformities" biological use impairment (BUI) occurs at 18 of the 30 areas of concern (AOC) located in the Great Lakes basin within the United States. As each AOC evaluates this specific BUI for possible delisting, biomarkers sensitive to both genotoxic and mutagenic chemicals can be integrated as a possible criterion for delisting. The micronucleus assay identifies genotoxic contamination by observing the presence of a micronucleus (MN), along with a primary nucleus within the cellular …

Epipathogenesis Of Caries: Analyses Of Family Structure, Fear, And Fatalism Upon World Health Organization Decayed, Missing, And Filled Teeth Severity In Appalachia West Virginia And Pennsylvania, R. Constance Wiener

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Appalachian has many social, economic, and biologic factors impacting dental health over the life-course.;Purpose: This study examined dental caries experience and family structure, dental fear, and fatalism in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.;Method: Using a cross-sectional study design, 2002-2009 Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia data were analyzed utilizing the World Health Organization definitions for caries experience, dichotomized into low and high. Three groups were studied: 1) children, 11-13 years (N=237); 2) adolescents, 14-17 years (N=191); and 3) adults, 18 years and above (N=1125). For multivariable model development, generalized estimating equations with exchangeable working structures accounted for family clusters.;Results. For …

An In Vitro Microenvironment For Nucleus Pulposus Regeneration, Mark S. Shoukry

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Intervertebral disc degeneration begins early in life, increases with age, and can ultimately result in disc failure. At the center of the disc, the nucleus pulposus (NP) resides in a hypoxic environment where degeneration is thought to begin. Initially, nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) display altered morphology and function, along with increased rates of cellular senescence and apoptosis. Though no widely accepted treatment exists, autologous NP implantation techniques have shown promise. However, the process is flawed as a result of the long in vitro expansion required to obtain sufficient numbers of cells. Prolonged expansion on plastic produces negative changes such as …

Effects Of Social And Non-Social Interpretations Of Complex Images On Human Eye Movement And Brain Activation, Amy L. Prostko

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Communicating and interacting with others is an essential part of our daily routines as humans. Performing these actions appropriately requires the ability to identify, extract, and process salient social cues from the environment. The subsequent application of such knowledge is important for inferring and predicting the behavior of other people. The eyes and brain must work together to fixate and process only the most critical social signals within a scene while passing over and / or completely ignoring other aspects of the scene. While brain activation to isolated presentations of objects and people presentations have been characterized, information about the …

Role Of Chaperonin Cct In G-Protein Biosynthesis, Catherine Woodard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Chaperonins are ubiquitous molecular chaperones that are found in all animal kingdoms. They all share a common structure and function to assist the folding of other proteins. All chaperonins consist of two stacked rings, which come together to form a central cavity where folding can take place. The eukaryotic cytosolic chaperonin containing TCP1 (CCT) is a member of the group II chaperonins, which are defined as having octameric or nonameric rings composed of more than one type of subunit.;CCT is an essential part of eukaryotic cell function, and it has been estimated that it folds up to 10% of newly …

Impulsivity And Suicidal Ideation Or Attempt In Younger And Older Adults, Elizabeth C. Price

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Rates of suicidal behaviors vary over the lifespan, but little research has focused on developmental aspects of suicidal behaviors and associated risk factors. Previous studies suggest that young people who attempt or die by suicide are likely to be generally impulsive. 108 community-dwelling older adults age 60 and older and 498 undergraduate students ages 18-30 completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies -- Depression Scale, the Barratt Impulsivity Scale, and the Suicidal Behaviors Scale -- Revised. The hypothesis was that the relation between impulsivity and suicidal ideation or attempt, in the context of depressive symptoms, would be stronger in younger adults …

Hiv/Aids Intervention In Ghana: A Constructivist Approach To Understanding Aids Policy, Nat Papa Kobina Markin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study is about how donor policy, NGO policy and public policy work together in Ghana's national strategic response to HIV and AIDS. The dissertation touches on two areas of public policy - development policy and health policy specifically relating to HIV/AIDS to determine congruity of the policy approaches of the three groups. Based on a survey done in Accra, Ghana in summer 2010 and on documentary sources of data collection, the study captures areas of agreement and disagreement of the three groups and discusses their effects on policy implementation. In broader terms, it analyzes assistance for HIV/AIDS in the …

Modified Delphi Investigation Of Lesson Planning Concepts For Physical Education Teacher Education, Jack W. Sager

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Improving the methods of instructing future educators, through program evaluation and improvement, should be a goal of all teacher education programs. In physical education, the National Association for Sport & Physical Education created standards for initial preparation of physical education teachers. The six standards for preparation include Planning and Implementation, which include tenants pertaining to unit and lesson planning. Despite the significant importance of planning in the growth of preservice teachers as they complete a Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program, there is currently no consensus on what concepts to be included in lesson planning for physical education teacher education. …

The Effects Of The Environmental Design Instruction On The Students' Gymnastics Skill Refinement, Han Chen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study compared the effects of Direct Instruction (DI) with DI+Environmental Design Instruction (EDI) on the refinement of both simple and difficult gymnastics skills refinement. Four boys aged six to eight with two years of gymnastics training experiences participated in the simple skill experiment (running tuck jump on the springboard). Four boys aged 11 to 13 with more than three years of gymnastics training experiences participated in the difficult skill experiment (mushroom circles). Three dependent variables were measured in the experiment of running tuck jump and they were: (1) the participant's hip angle while they jumped at the highest point, …

Control Scheme For Cathode Airflow During Load Swings In A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell/Gas Turbine System, Megan Rae Gorrell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Control and management of cathode airflow in a solid oxide fuel cell gas turbine hybrid power system was analyzed using the Hybrid Performance (HyPer) hardware simulation at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), U.S. Department of Energy. This work delves into previously unexplored operating practices for HyPer, via simultaneous manipulation of bypass valves and the electric load on the generator. The work is preparatory to the development of a Multi-Input, Multi-Output (MIMO) controller for HyPer. A factorial design of experiments was conducted to acquire data for 81 different combinations of the manipulated variables, which consisted of three air flow control …

The Transcription Factor Grainyhead-Like 2 Is A Novel Suppressor Of The Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition, Benjamin Cieply

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process that is essential for normal embryonic development as well as the healing of damaged adult tissues. In the context of cancer, oncogenic EMT induces enhanced invasion, survival and tumorigenicity which can promote disease progression and recurrence after therapy. Many factors that induce EMT during development and in culture are known and these include the transcription factors Twist, Snail1/2, ZEB1/2 and goosecoid. Transforming growth factor beta can induce EMT both in the contexts of wound healing and cancer, but some cell types are resistant to this stimulus. Furthermore, knowledge of factors which …

Peripheral Arterial Disease Affects The Frequency Response Of Ground Reaction Forces During Walking, Denise Mcgrath, Timothy N. Judkins, Iraklis Pipinos, Jason Johanning

Journal Articles

Background—Walking is problematic for patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency domain of the ground reaction forces during walking to further elucidate the ambulatory impairment of these patients.

Methods—Nineteen bilateral peripheral arterial disease patients and nineteen controls were included in this study. Subjects were matched for age and gait speed. Participants walked over a force plate sampling at 600Hz. PAD patients were tested before (pain-free condition) after the onset of claudication symptoms (pain). We calculated median frequency, frequency bandwidth, and frequency containing 99.5% of the signal for the vertical and …