Digital Commons Network^™

Toxicological Assessment Of Intra‐Tracheal Instilled Nanoceria On Kidneys Of Sprague‐Dawley Rats, Geeta Nandyala

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Recent studies suggest that use of nanoceria in industry is associated with increased risk of human and environmental exposure. How inhaled nanoceria might affect the kidneys is not yet known. To investigate this possibility, Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to a single dose of 7mg/kg body weight cerium oxide nanoparticles by intratracheal instillation. Animals were sacrificed at day 1, 3, 14, or 28 days after exposure and the kidneys collected for histological and biochemical analysis. No significant difference was observed in kidney to body weight ratio between the different groups. Hematoxylin and eosin staining did not reveal any significant changes …

Systemic Functional Linguistic Discourse Features In The Personal Essay, Anna Jones Rollins

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this thesis is to look at published and student-produced creative writing, more specifically, personal essays, through the lens of discourse analysis theories in Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). From the analysis of these personal essays, this thesis provides pedagogical insight concerning the linguistic features that are prevalent in published and student personal essays. Although research has been conducted looking at academic student writing through the lens of SFL, little research has been conducted looking specifically at the elements that make up pieces of creative writing. In fact, Blythe and Sweet (2008), with over seventy years of experience teaching …

Diversity Of The Ohio River Bacterial Communities Using Next-Generation Sequencing Techniques, Emily Michele Anneken

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The ability to sequence bacterial genetic material directly from environmental samples has unlocked the field of metagenomics. Next-generation sequencing techniques, such as pyrosequencing, have been instrumental in providing knowledge about bacterial communities. This study focused on identifying the bacterial diversity of the Ohio River via pyrosequencing and compared the diversity of cultivable bacteria versus the entire river community. To ensure the maximum number of cultivable bacteria was obtained, cultures were grown on nonselective media and incubated at river temperature. Bacterial DNA was extracted, sequenced, and classified. The dominant phyla for the Ohio River included Cyanobacteria (38-66% of the total), Actinobacteria …

Incorporation Of The Actin-Myosin Biomolecular Motor System Into A Microfluidic Device, Rebecca Marie Ragland

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Recently, the field of bionanotechnology has sought to develop a device containing a biomolecular motor nano-cargo transport system. Among many applications, a device of this sort could be used to sort, purify, or detect specific molecules. In this work, an attempt was made to incorporate the actin-myosin biomolecular motor system into a microfluidic device constructed out of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and glass. Methods for cleaning and functionalizing the glass surface of the device were optimized. After performing actin-myosin motility assays in a variety of PDMS/glass devices, it was determined that the oxygen permeability of PDMS limited the quality of motility that …

Mothers At Work: Reconstruction And Deconstruction Of Patriarchy In Gone With The Wind, Catherine Willa Staley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In this thesis, I explore the performances of motherhood in Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind and how those performances conflict with culturally constructed expectations of that role. An analysis of Scarlett O’Hara and Melanie Wilkes, and how each woman compares to the South’s model for motherhood, reveals implications that extend beyond the novel’s Civil War setting to reveal the ongoing negotiation of modern readers still living within patriarchal conceptions of mothering. In Chapter 1, I outline the novel’s spectrum of motherhood, which is composed of characters who nurture and manage others. Each individual on that spectrum contributes to or …

The Effect Of Auditory Call Playback On Anuran Detection And Capture Rates, Derek Adam Bozzell

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Calls of male anurans during breeding seasons are species-specific identification tools. However, males cease calling after any nearby disturbance, including those of researchers. I proposed a variation on current methods that attempts to reduce this lag in calling after researcher-created disturbance by utilizing the propensity for competition in male frogs. I surveyed 14 breeding sites in Cabell and Wayne counties during the 2010 and 2011 breeding seasons. First, I used traditional visual encounter surveys (VESs). After using automated recording devices to gather site-specific recordings of calls of all species present, I conducted secondary VESs while playing these playlists over a …

Evaluation Of The Role Of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation And Apoptosis In The Pulmonary And The Hepatic Toxicity Induced By Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Following Intratracheal Instillation In Male Sprague-Dawley Rats, Siva Krishna Nalabotu

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The field of nanotechnology is rapidly progressing with potential applications in the automobile, healthcare, electronics, cosmetics, textiles, information technology, and environmental sectors. Nanomaterials are engineered structures with at least one dimension of 100 nanometers or less. With increased applications of nanotechnology, there are increased chances of exposure to manufactured nanomaterials. Recent reports on the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials have given scientific and regulatory agencies concerns over the safety of nanomaterials. Specifically, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has identified fourteen high priority nanomaterials for study. Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles are one among the high priority group. Recent data …

Female Workplace Self-Help Books: Guiding Women To Become Leaders, Cassandra Lee Craft

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

An emergence of top successful women has developed within the workforce, and more are expected to join that group as time continues (Eagly and Carli, 2003; Sklaroff, 2007). This push to the top has encouraged women to turn to self-help books to gain knowledge and insight on moving up and becoming a leader. Dozens of these books claim to provide the help women need to advance in their workplaces. How can potential readers choose the book most appropriate for their needs? This thesis examines two types of self-help books (Bergsma, 2008) -- problem-focused and growth-oriented -- and how these books …

Fueling Sport Performance: Increasing Awareness In Female Collegiate Vegetarian Athletes, Rachael Irene Marie Sofie

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Vegetarian diets, when well-planned out, have been shown to meet the needs of female athletes. Although the lifestyle provides many benefits, it does not come without risk. Women athletes, in particular, are of the greatest concern. Energy restriction is common among female collegiate athletes. Because athletes are already converting to and practicing a vegetarian lifestyle, it is necessary that athletes and related sport professionals become aware of the risks and benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle. By increasing knowledge among related personnel, athletes can use vegetarianism as a performance enhancer. Outlining possible implications of the lifestyle will allow female collegiate athletes …

Freshwater Mussel Populations Of The Monongahela River, Pa And Evaluation Of The Orsanco Copper Pole Substrate Sampling Technique Using G.I.S. Interpolation With Geometric Means, Jonathan Hart

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Large river studies for freshwater mussel populations and habitat in the Monongahela River within Pennsylvania have been almost non-existent over the past century. Aquatic diversity and water quality have been impaired in the Monongahela River since the Industrial Revolution and early impoundments were constructed to control the river. To date, there have been no thorough mussel population studies conducted on the Pennsylvanian Monongahela River proper since A.E. Ortmann in 1919. The mussel population accounts for this large river system are invaluable accounts of the aquatic condition of the Monongahela River. Mussel populations and habitat within the river have diminished drastically …

The Status And Distribution Of Invasive Crayfishes And Their Effects On Native Crayfish Communities In West Virginia, Casey David Swecker

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introductions of non-native crayfish species have resulted in the global decline of native crayfish populations, including those in North America. The last large survey of crayfishes from West Virginia was in 1988 and 1989. In this thorough document Raymond Jezerinac, Whitney Stocker, and Donald Tarter identified three separate areas in West Virginia where non-native crayfish species have been introduced. One area is located in the Potomac River drainage in northeastern West Virginia commonly referred to as the eastern panhandle of the state. This is also the only drainage in West Virginia where the native spiny cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus) occurs. …

A Local Radial Basis Function Method For The Numerical Solution Of Partial Differential Equations, Maggie Elizabeth Chenoweth

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Most traditional numerical methods for approximating the solutions of problems in science, engineering, and mathematics require the data to be arranged in a structured pattern and to be contained in a simply shaped region, such as a rectangle or circle. In many important applications, this severe restriction on structure cannot be met, and traditional numerical methods cannot be applied. In the 1970s, radial basis function (RBF) methods were developed to overcome the structure requirements of existing numerical methods. RBF methods are applicable with scattered data locations. As a result, the shape of the domain may be determined by the application …

The Detection Of Forest Structures In The Monongahela National Forest Using Lidar, Dominique Norman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The mapping of structural elements of a forest is important for forestry management to provide a baseline for old and new-growth trees while providing height strata for a stand. These activities are important for the overall monitoring process which aids in the understanding of anthropogenic and natural disturbances. Height information recorded for each discrete point is key for the creation of canopy height, canopy surface, and canopy cover models. The aim of this study is to assess if LiDAR can be used to determine forest structures. Small footprint, leaf-off LiDAR data were obtained for the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia. …

Examining Social Anxiety And Depression Among Excessive Online Gamers, Nathan Sharer

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The main purpose of this study was to examine the correlations between social anxiety, depression, and other psychological factors among online gamers in order to better understand the differences between excessive gamers (whose habits interfere with relationship, occupational, social, or health issues) and enthusiastic gamers (who spend much of their free time playing games but do not report any significant functional impairment as a result). A literature review revealed diverse conceptualizations of excessive gaming as well as differing opinions of what classifies gaming to be excessive/addicting/problematic, suggesting a need to more specifically analyze gaming habits in terms of coexisting pathology …

Bursicon, Metamorphosis And Development Of Resilin In The Fruit Fly, David Paul Anthony Neff

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Hovering flight is the primary form of locomotion in the numerous and diverse forms of winged insects. A specialized elastic protein, Resilin, contributes to flight mechanics in most described insect orders. Although many studies have inferred functions of Resilin in insect flight, we report the first direct evidence that Resilin is a necessary component in flight mechanics of the fruit fly. We have successfully knocked down Resilin synthesis with RNAi and have generated a new resilin deletion mutant Df(2R)anhedral. By disturbing the formation of the Resilin rich tergopleural tendon, we have shown that Resilin functions in wing control. We also …

The Role Of Ptip In Breast Cancer, Lina Niu

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In the U.S., breast cancer comprises about 30% of all cancer cases (excluding skin cancer) in women. Such a high incidence makes breast cancer a significant health concern, but our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of this disease is still limited. Growing evidence suggests that the development of human breast cancer may involve epigenetics, which attributes changes in phenotype to mechanisms other than changes in the DNA sequence itself. Histones as the chief proteins of chromatin work on gene expression, and methylation of histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4) results in transcriptional activation. Lately, Paired box (Pax) trans-activation domain-interacting …

A Mechanistic Study Of S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine Protection Against Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity, James Michael Brown

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Acetaminophen (APAP) toxicity remains the leading cause of drug induced liver failure in the United States. The current therapy for APAP toxicity is N-acetylcysteine (NAC). NAC must be administered within eight hours of APAP overdose for maximum efficacy. That, coupled with the fact that APAP toxicity may not be overtly evident, makes an alternative therapeutic intervention worth exploring. Previous work by our laboratory has demonstrated that S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) prevents APAP toxicity when given following APAP overdose in C57Bl/6 mice at a level comparable to NAC. The focus of the current work was to examine the mechanistic aspects of this protection …

The Use Of Cerium Oxide And Curcumin Nanoparticles As Therapeutic Agents For The Treatment Of Ventricular Hypertrophy Following Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Madhukar Babu Kolli

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive and fatal disease characterized by inflammation, increased pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricular failure and premature death. Monocrotaline (MCT) has been used to induce PAH in laboratory rats. Previous in vitro and in vivo work suggested that cerium oxide (CeO2)-and curcumin nanoparticles exhibit anti-inflammatory activity; however, it is unknown if these materials are effective for the treatment of PAH induced cardiac hypertrophy. To determine the efficacy of CeO2 nanoparticle treatment in preventing MCT-induced RV hypertrophy, male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into one of three groups (control, MCT, or MCT + CeO2 nanoparticle, n=6/group). …

A Case Study Of Athletic Training Educators' Sports-Care Responsibilities, Service, And Professional Advancement In Athletic Training Education Programs, Rachael C. Alley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine the (1) extent of athletic training faculty members, who bear additional duties for intercollegiate sports care, (2) the beliefs of the faculty members who have intercollegiate sports care responsibilities related to these duties being credited for professional advancement, (3) the beliefs of faculty members related to having sport care responsibilities as part of their employment, and (4) faculty perceptions of intercollegiate sports care responsibilities upon promotion, tenure and contract renewal.

A sample of 655 certified athletic trainers was identified by the Board of Certification with the primary occupation designation of educator from …

Redox Regulation Of Differentiation In Neuroblastoma, Anne Marie Silvis

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood, ranking third in prevalence among infant cancers. Despite intensive therapy with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, there is a high chance of tumor recurrence. These children are therefore given retinoids in the maintenance phase to differentiate the tumor cells and to avoid/lessen this incidence. Although 13-cis retinoic acid (13-cis RA) is currently used to treat neuroblastoma, there is much evidence supporting the prevalence of its metabolite, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), to be the main signaling retinoid in vivo.

The SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cell line, which is composed of three sub-types: sympatheoadrenal neuroblasts …

Down-Regulation Of The Transcription Factor Snail In The Placentas Of Patients With Preeclampsia And In A Rat Model Of Preeclampsia, Larissa Federova, Cara Gatto-Weis, Sleiman Smaili, Nauman Khurshid, Joseph I. Shapiro M.D., Deepak Malhorta, Terrence Horrigan

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Background: Placental malfunction in preeclampsia is believed to be a consequence of aberrant differentiation of trophoblast lineages and changes in utero-placental oxygenation. The transcription factor Snail, a master regulator molecule of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in embryonic development and in cancer, is shown to be involved in trophoblast differentiation as well. Moreover, Snail can be controlled by oxidative stress and hypoxia. Therefore, we examined the expression of Snail and its downstream target, e-cadherin, in human normal term, preterm and preeclamptic placentas, and in pregnant rats that developed preeclampsia-like symptoms in the response to a 20- fold increase in sodium intake.

Methods: Western …

Marshall Magazine Winter 2012, Marshall University

Marshall Magazine

No abstract provided.

Innovate Magazine / Annual Review 2011-2012, San Jose State University

Innovate Magazine (School of Information)

This year's issue highlights some of the ways the SJSU School of Library and Information Science is being a catalyst for global innovation, explores the tools SJSU SLIS master's students and faculty use to interact in our innovative online learning environment, and describes some of the exciting career pathways our alum are pursuing.

Demand-Driven E-Books + Usage Data = Informed Collection Development, Emily K. Chan, Susan Kendall, Carole Correa-Morris

Faculty and Staff Publications

San José State University’s (SJSU) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library implemented a patron-driven acquisition program on March 1, 2011 to make electronically available a wide collection of items without concurrency limits, meet users’ needs on a timely basis, and maximize the collections budget by purchasing materials as needed and selected by University users. In September 2011, SJSU’s Library implemented a simple widget that requested demographic data from its EBL users. Users identified their status (i.e., faculty, staff, or student) and area of discipline. Correlating these data points with EBL-usage statistics, SJSU librarians and staff have begun to question the …

This Is An Emergency! : A Reproductive Rights + Gender Justice Portfolio, Meredith Stern, Judy Kashoff, Special Collections, Fleet Library

Printmaking

1 portfolio : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 47 cm. Colophon page title. This portfolio contains a hand sewn 'zine' with text by Meredith Stern and Judy Kashoff, a colophon page, and a collection of 17 prints. Horizonal and vertical red bands surround the colophon, text, and 17 prints. "Seventeen artists created a print for this project. Third Termite Press in Pittsburgh printed the colophon and Ladyfingers Letterpress printed the covers. The participants are: several members of the Justseeds Cooperative including: Melanie Cervantes, Thea Gahr, Bec Young, Favianna Rodriguez, Mary Tremonte, Molly Fair, and myself (Meredith Stern). Also participating are: Ian …

A Case Study Of The Impact Of The Learning Focused Schools Model On Culture In A Middle School Setting, Jonathan Fitzgerald Kay

Education Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation was designed to evaluate the impact of the Learning Focused Schools model on culture in a middle school setting. The school used in this study is a Title I school with low student achievement. The Learning Focused Schools model was implemented to provide comprehensive school reform strategies and solutions based on exemplary practices and research-based strategies. These practices and strategies focus on five areas: Planning, Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and School Organization. The study analyzed the effects of the Learning Focused Schools model on the school culture and how that, in turn, affects the academic achievement of the students. …

The Effects Of Teacher And Student Satisfaction On Student Achievement, Sean Mcwherter

Education Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation was designed to examine factors contributing to both teacher and student satisfaction and to determine if a relationship existed between the satisfaction levels and student achievement. The contributing factors identified in this study consisted of items that could be influenced or controlled in the school environment. Maslow's (1943) hierarchy of needs was used to help identify factors that could contribute to teacher and student satisfaction.

The subjects for this quantitative study came from a rural high school in the southern part of the United States. The participants in this study were analyzed according to their level of curricular …

The Effect Of Education On Healthcare Personnel's Knowledge Of Lymphedema Detection And Prevention, Dolly Wilson

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Secondary lymphedema (SLE) is a serious problem for many of the 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. It is estimated that 28 - 38% of breast cancer survivors develop lymphedema. The five-year incidence ranges from 43% to 94% (Armer, 2010). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an education program on healthcare personnel's knowledge of the risk of and preventive measures for upper limb lymphedema in breast cancer patients. A sample of healthcare personnel (N = 32) included both trained healthcare personnel and ancillary staff who are employed in a single oncology center …

A Wampum-Inlaid Musket From The 1690 Phips' Shipwreck, Charles Bradley, Karlis Karklins

BEADS: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers

In August of 1690, a fleet of ships under the command of Sir William Phips set sail from Boston to attack Quebec City during the second year of King William's War. The campaign failed and, as the fleet retreated, a number of vessels were wrecked in the St. Lawrence during a violent storm. The remains of one of these was discovered by a diver in a cove at l'Anse aux Bouleaux, Quebec, in 1994. Believed to be the Elizabeth and Mary, the wreck yielded numerous artifacts, including a wide array of weaponry. Among the long arms was a musket whose …

The Count's Dilemma, Or, Harmony And Dissonance In Legal Language, Ian Gallacher

College of Law - Faculty Scholarship

Lawyers have had a long, but ambivalent, relationship with metaphor. Viewed by some as a mere literary device, a trick of language that "adds little of substance to an argument," metaphor is seen by others as an essential component of legal language, a rhetorical device inseparable from thought. On one thing, though, all can agree: lawyers only have words to express their thoughts, so they have an obligation to use words, whether used metaphorically or not, as exactly as possible.

This article offers a critique of the way lawyers meet this obligation when they use metaphors based in musical language. …