Digital Commons Network^™

Cognitive Theory A Qualitative Comparison Of The George W. Bush Administration And The Barack H.Obama Administration, Shelley Urbanovich

HIM 1990-2015

Although Republicans and Democrats frequently disagree ideologically, the leaders of both parties share one commonality in particular--they inevitably make flawed judgments. To adequately understand the extent to which psychological filters act as a fundamental factor in decision making, this thesis shall analyze current political events and observe how partisans within both administrations deal with information incompatible with their own values and beliefs. Specifically referencing the war in Iraq, weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), civil unrest, national security, the national economic climate, and the housing market, this study examines the way leaders deal differently with conflicting information. Although all subjects in …

The Efficacy Of Anti-Psychotic Medications In Treating The Behavior, Social, And Communication Deficits Associated With Autism Spectrum Disorders In Children And Adolescents A Systematic Review, Raquel Velazquez

HIM 1990-2015

Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of complex developmental disabilities which can cause behavior, social, and communication deficits. Anti-psychotic medications are often prescribed when symptoms such as aggression, irritability, hyperactivity, tantrums, and self-injurious behavior occur. Objective: To determine if anti-psychotic medications improve the behavior, social, and communication symptoms associated with ASD in children and adolescents. Search Strategy: Electronic literature searches were performed to find relevant studies and utilized the (1) Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (2) Hispanic American Periodicals Index, (3) Medline, (4) PAIS International, (5) ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, (6) PsycInfo, (7) PubMed, (8) Springer LINK, (9) …

Isolation And Characterization Of A Novel Substrate For The Pro-Apoptotic Omi/Htra2 Protease, Nathan Ward

HIM 1990-2015

Omi, also known as HtrA2, is a mammalian pro-apoptotic mitochondrial protein and a member of the HtrA (high temperature requirement A) family of serine proteases. Omi promotes the caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway through cleavage of IAPs (inhibitor of apoptosis proteins); this cleavage inactivates IAPs and facilitates caspase activity. Omi's proteolytic activity is necessary and essential for its pro-apoptotic function. This study is aimed to further understand the role of Omi in the cytoplasm by using the yeast two-hybrid system to identify novel Omi interactors/substrates. A HeLa (cervical carcinoma cell line) cDNA library was screened using Omi as a "bait" protein. One …

Development Of Luminescent Ruthenium Complexes For In-Vitro Fluorescence Imaging Of Angiogenesis With The Rgd Peptide, Rosemary Victoria

HIM 1990-2015

Herein we report the synthesis of an RGD-ruthenium bipyridine [Ru(Bpy)2(BpyRGD)]2+ complex aimed at the detection of angiogenesis. Angiogenesis plays a critical role in many pathophysiological processes, such as tumor growth. The αv-integrins (αv[beta]3, αv[beta]5) are currently used as molecular targeting sites for anti-angiogenic therapies. The [Ru(Bpy)2(BpyRGD)]2+ complex is an organometallic luminescent probe, which enables noninvasive, in vitro imaging of αv[beta]3 expression. Peptides containing the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) sequence have been shown to bind strongly to the αvb3 integrin. The RuBpy probes are soluble in water, display long lifetimes, and are photochemically stable. These properties enable the Ru(tris-bpy) complexes to be …

A Contact Analysis Of Caldecott Medal And Honor Books From 2001-2011 Examining Gender Issues And Equity In 21st Century Children's Picture Books, Nicole Yello

HIM 1990-2015

An abundance of research has been conducted about the importance of including books and literature as part of a young child's developmental process. Much of this research suggests that picture books are vital to a young child's healthy development and "are important influences that shape us by reflecting the politics and values of our society" (Fox, 1993, p. 656). This study was completed to analyze character roles and gender representation of male and female characters exclusively in children's picture books. The entire population of Caldecott Award and Honor Medal books published between 2001 and 2011 was utilized for a frequency …

Identification Of Plasmodium Falciparum Protein Kinase Substrates And Interacting Proteins, Jessica Yap

HIM 1990-2015

Characterization of PfPKA and PfPK5 substrates, as well as the proteins they interact with, will help us to develop innovative therapies targeting binding sites.; Malaria is a devastating disease that results in almost one million deaths annually. Most of the victims are children under the age of five in Sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria parasite strains throughout developing countries are continually building resistance to available drugs. Current therapies such as mefloquine, chloroquine, as well as artemisinin are becoming less effective, and this underscores the urgency for therapeutics directed against novel drug targets. In order to identify new drug targets, the molecular biology …

The Nature Of Love A Phenomenological Approach, Samantha Schroeder

HIM 1990-2015

As I hope to show, a philosophical study of love is highly relevant today, since the sciences have not adequately answered the perennial question: What is love?; Since the time of Socrates, the idea of love and the conception of the human heart have been devalued by thinkers who, by definition, are known as "lovers of wisdom." Considered pejoratively as "the passions," the subject of emotion was deemed inferior to thought centered upon the human faculty of reason. Many studies in the sciences, from biology to psychology, claim to have pointed us to the source of the human experience of …

Chronic Medical Disorders And Stressful Life Events In Late Life Depression In Older Adults, Comfort T. Seibure,

Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 7 million of the nation's adults aged 65 years and older are affected by depression, which leaves them with persistent feeling of sadness, anxiety, emptiness hopelessness and pessimism. The purpose of this independent study is to provide a review of the literature of late life depression (LLD) in the context of chronic medical disorders and stressful life events, detection tools and methods of interventions. Evidence indicates that comorbid depression is often misdiagnosed and undertreated or not diagnosed at all in older adults. The tendency for older adults to have chronic medical disorders, experiencing stressful 10 life events are high …

Cardiovascular Disease And Vitamin D Deficiency, Lori Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

Vitamin D deficiency is a common health condition affecting a significant number of individuals throughout the world. For years vitamin D has generated interest in reducing osteoporosis because of its role in bone and calcium metabolism. Recently low concentrations have been linked to the development of several cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, atherosclerosis and peripheral arterial disease. The purpose of this article is to examine evidence regarding vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular disease and provide advanced practice nurses with recommendations regarding supplementation in those individuals with vitamin D deficiency and risk for development of cardiovascular disease.

Pre-Hospital Induced Therapeutic Hypothermia Improves Neurological Outcomes, Mark S. Kosten

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

2012 Baccalaureate & Graduate Commencement, Lindenwood University

Commencement Programs

Lindenwood University Commencement program.

Existential Psychotherapy With Adults In Assisted Living, Christine A. Burbidge

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

This study explored aging individuals’ perceptions of existential poetry therapy. Six existential themes served as guides. They were: hope, gratitude, mindfulness, loss of mobility, forgiveness, and meaning in life. The data were analyzed via three sub-inquiries: (a) What thoughts and feelings do these six themes elicit; (b) What additional themes (existential or non) would the participants like to explore; and (c) What roadblocks hinder this population for accessing poetry therapy to its optimal extent. The research method involved two focus groups with a total of five participants, and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The three most common themes …

Pharmacological Treatment Of Intermittent Claudication Does Not Have A Significant Effect On Gait Impairments During Claudication Pain, Jenna M. Yentes, Jessie M. Huisinga, Sara A. Myers, Iraklis Pipinos, Jason Johanning, Nikolaos Stergiou

Journal Articles

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a manifestation of atherosclerosis resulting in intermittent claudication (IC) or leg pain during physical activity. Two drugs (cilostazol and pentoxifylline) are approved for treatment of IC. Our previous work has reported no significant differences in gait biomechanics before and after drug interventions when PAD patients walked without pain. However, it is possible that the drugs are more efficacious during gait with pain. Our aim was to use advanced biomechanical analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of these drugs while walking with pain. Initial and absolute claudication distances, joint kinematics, torques, powers, and gait velocity during the …

Don’T Fear The Reaper An Analysis Of The United States’ Drones, Logan Christopher O'Brien

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Wars and the strategies used to fight them have constantly evolved throughout the history of mankind, simultaneously revealing our innovative brilliance and our inherent inability to avoid conflict with one another. The current state of the United States’ “War on Terror,” composed of the Afghanistan conflict and outlying operations in countries such as Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan and elsewhere around the world, has spurred exemplary advances used to combat a new type of enemy. Thus enters the drone, a remotely piloted aircraft that can be used for reconnaissance purposes or offensive targeting operations.

The drone is unique in that the pilot …

The Effects Industrial-Grade, Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes On Saccaromyces Cerevisiae, George Glasgow

Theses (Pre-2016)

Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes has the potential to cause harm to cells, along with other possible effects to organisms. S. cerevisiae are biological homologs of higher eukaryotes, such as humans, and are found almost everywhere in the environment. S. cerevisiae is a yeast species that biological homologs that can be studied as a model to be understand higher organisms. There, isn't substantial amount data on the effects of Industrial Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on S. cerevisiae. Analyzing the effects of Industrial Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on S. cerevisiae cells is valuable for understanding it possible health and genetic effects to humans. W303 S. …

The Molecular Phylogeny Of Ascomycota And Other Fungi Based On The Mitochondrial Cytochrome-B Gene, Nissi Mygodis Abraham

Theses (Pre-2016)

All organisms share certain features, most notably nucleic acid as a hereditary material, which suggests a single or monophyletic origin on earth between three and four billion years ago. In this research, cyt b mitochondrial gene is used as a biomarker marker for fungal phylogenetic analysis. The gene MT-cyt b (Mitochondrial encoded Cytochrome b) is used to identify and describe phylogenetic of fungal species. Currently cyt b gene region has gained popularity as a marker in fungal species identification. This research is proof that cyt b can count as a universal biomarker for studying fungus phylogeny. The steps that guide …

Simulated Microgravity And Caenorhabditis Elegans, Nina Marie Alaniz

Theses (Pre-2016)

Space exploration has fascinated scientist for centuries but the repercussions of zero gravity upon an organism must be understood in detail. Changes at the cellular, molecular, and organism level must be understood to prevent, reduce and/or reverse detrimental effects caused by zero gravity to ensure the safety of future human travelers into space. The use of Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to study space--like conditions will provide new proof that changes do occur when exposed to zero gravity for various lengths of time. Studying various exposure lengths of space--like conditions will provide a better understanding of when changes may …

Cattle Browsing Sagebrush Steppe During Fall: Effects On Plant Community Structure And Influence Of Experience On Cattle Foraging Behavior And Body Weights, Charles A. Petersen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Historic and repetitious spring grazing by livestock, combined with altered fire regimes, has increased the density and abundance of big sagebrush and reduced the frequency of perennial grasses and forbs on many western landscapes. Periodic disturbance is critical for maintaining and improving sagebrush ecosystems. Compared with traditional disturbances – chemical, mechanical, and fire – strategic grazing with livestock offers several benefits. They include creating locally adapted cattle that can rejuvenate sagebrush steppe, which reduces costs associated with mechanical and chemical rejuvenation treatments and feeding cattle during winter, the major cost of ranch operation.

I evaluated the practicality of strategically timed …

E-Stimulation: An Effective Modality To Facilitate Wound Healing, Pamela Scarborough, Luther C. Kloth

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Relative Telomere Length: A Novel Non-Invasive Biomarker For The Risk Of Non-Cirrhotic Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Infection., Xiaoying Fu, Shaogui Wan, Hie-Won Hann, Md, Ronald E Myers, Phd, Richard S Hann, Jennifer Au, Bicui Chen, Jinliang Xing, Hushan Yang

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Telomere length has emerged as a promising risk predictor of various cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the majority of studies in this area measured telomere length in hepatocytes and one in lymphocytes with conflicting results. Moreover, no studies have been reported on using circulating DNA telomere length as a non-invasive HCC biomarker.

METHODS: We conducted a nested case-control study to determine the relative telomere length (RTL) in serum DNA from 140 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC cases and 280 frequency-matched cancer-free HBV controls.

RESULTS: Cases had a significantly longer RTL (median, 0.31; range, 0.02-2.31) than controls …

Using The Framingham Risk Score To Evaluate Immigrant Effect On Cardiovascular Disease Risk In Mexican Americans, Jennifer J. Salinas, Bassent Abdelbary, Jeffrey Wilson, Monir Hossain, Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, Joseph B. Mccormick

Physician Assistant Studies Faculty Publications

Background—This study uses the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) for 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) to evaluate differences between Mexican American immigrants and the U.S.-born population. Methods and Results—Data from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (N=1,559). Average total risk scores were generated by age group for each gender. Regression analysis was conducted adjusting for covariates and interaction effects. Both women and men in the CCHC sample who were long-term immigrant residents (mean FRS scores women 4.2 with p<.001 vs. men 4.0 with p<.001) or born in the U.S. (mean FRS scores women 4.6 with p<.001 vs. men 3.3 with p<.001) had significantly higher risk scores than immigrants who had only been in this country for less than 10 years. The interaction model indicates that differences between immigrant and native-born Mexican Americans are most greatly felt at lowest levels of socioeconomic status for men in the CCHC. Conclusions—This study suggests that in terms of immigrant advantage in CVD risk, on whom, where, and how the comparisons are being made have important implications for the degree of difference observed.

The Manufacture Of Lifestyle: The Role Of Corporations In Unhealthy Living, Nicholas Freudenberg

Publications and Research

Recently, researchers have debated two views on the connection between lifestyle and health. In the first, health-related lifestyles including tobacco and alcohol use, diet, and physical activity are seen as primary influences on health. In the second, social stratification is the dominant influence with lifestyles simply markers of social status. Neither approach leads to interventions that can reverse the world's most serious health problems. This article proposes that corporate practices are a dominant influence on the lifestyles that shape patterns of health and disease. Modifying business practices that promote unhealthy lifestyles is a promising strategy for improving population health. Corporations …

Genetic Polymorphisms In The Folate Metabolizing Pathway And Breast Cancer Survival., Nandita Das

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Genes in folate metabolizing pathway are responsible for modulating key enzymes in folate metabolisms necessary for DNA synthesis and repair and influence DNA methylation. Irregularity in DNA methylation may modify tumor phenotype response to chemotherapy and abnormal DNA synthesis, and repair may lead to carcinogenesis. This dissertation project tested the hypothesis that the key genes in the folate metabolizing pathway, namely Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) , betaine-homocysteinemethyltransferase (BHMT) , 5-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine (MTR), 5-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase reductase (MTRR) , and serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT1) and folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) influences all- cause and breast cancer-specific mortality and the association between the genes in the folate …

The Effects Of Physical Activity Education On Exercise Self-Efficacy And Physical Activity: A Comparison Study Between Exercise Science And Physical Education Teacher Education, Megan Wojcicki

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to understand the adjustment families undergo when a child is diagnosed with deafness as well as their adjustment to the child hearing after a cochlear implant is in place. The participants of the study were four hearing adults between the ages of 18-28 who have a younger sibling with a cochlear implant. The qualitative study used reports from four participants to reflect on how hearing loss and subsequent cochlear implantation impacted the family’s lives. Contrary to expecting findings, the themes did not change and all four reported nurturing and personal growth as key themes.

The Carbon Budget Impact Of Sagebrush Degradation, Andrew Connor Austreng

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

More than 20,000 km2 of sagebrush (Artemesia spp.) ecosystems within the Great Basin have been replaced, often following wildfire, by the nonnative winter annual cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). At a field site in the central Snake River Plain of southern Idaho, the impact of this invasion on the soil carbon (C) reservoir has been evaluated and the potential soil C benefits of bunchgrass (Agropyron cristatum) seeding was assessed. Using a large soil C dataset (n = 850), differences in total organic carbon and root biomass were quantified in immediately-adjacent sagebrush, cheatgrass, and bunchgrass communities. Statistical …

Nmr Characterization Of Parathion: Properties, Transport, And Reaction Kinetics, Emma Catherine Baker

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The hydrolysis reaction of parathion (PTH) to produce para-nitrophenolate (pNP) and O,O-diethylthiophosphate (DETP) was examined in a minimally disturbed liquid-liquid biphasic reaction system by proton and phosphorous nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The effect of the micellar cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), on PTH transport, hydrolysis, and system characteristics including reactant-product concentrations, pNP partition coefficients, pNP surface activity, ultraviolet degradation of pNP, oxidation of pNP, and impurities in PTH are reported. Surfactant reaction systems resulted in a 2.5 order of magnitude increase in the amount of PTH transported into the aqueous layer as compared to the control system at 2100 …

Perfect Stripes From A General Turing Model In Different Geometries, Jean Tyson Schneider

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

We explore a striped pattern generated by a general Turing model in three different geometries. We look at the square, disk, and hemisphere and make connections between the stripes in each spatial direction. In particular, we gain a greater understanding of when perfect stripes can be generated and what causes defects in their patterns. In this investigation, we look at the difference between the solutions due to the different domain shapes. In the end, we propose a reason why stripes from a reaction-diffusion system with zero-flux boundary conditions can be perfect on a square or hemisphere, but not on a …

A Study Of The Link Between Partial Sleep Deprivation And Obesity, Jennifer Pacheco

Honors College Theses

Obesity has become a major health problem with increasing prevalence and is related to multiple medical consequences, such as increased risk for diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and cancer (Hasler et al., 2004). Due to the limited availability of effective treatment of weight problems, it is necessary to identify potential risk factors for obesity. One factor that has received increased attention is chronic partial sleep deprivation (<7 hours of sleep a night). The decrease in average sleep duration over the past three to four decades has occurred simultaneously with the increase in the prevalence of obesity. Chronic partial sleep deprivation could be a possible risk factor for obesity, but current understanding of the processes linking sleep deprivation to obesity is incomplete. The research will focus on examining the possible pathways through which partial sleep deprivation contributes to the development of obesity: alterations in metabolic pathways and waking behavior, including eating behavior and physical inactivity. The hypothesis behind the proposed study is that increasing sleep duration in obese individuals who experience partial sleep deprivation will lead to a decreased BMI. Research addressing the possible pathways and targeting the amount of sleep will benefit individuals in preventing and/or treating obesity.

May 2012 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Gray Wolf Rising: Why The Clash Over Wolf Management In The Northern Rockies Calls For Congressional Action To Define "Recovery" Under The Endangered Species Act, W. Ryan Stephens

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

No abstract provided.