Digital Commons Network^™

Functional Morphology Of Rat Hands And Feet: Correlation With The Ability To Grip Tree Branches During Locomotion, Jessica E. Fonce, Andrew R. Lammers

Undergraduate Research Posters 2013

Anatomy and function are usually closely related. Since locomotion on tree branches is common among mammals, we expect to find that the anatomy of the hands and feet is well-suited toward gripping narrow, cylindrical, branch-like substrates. We hypothesize that the ability of rats to grip arboreal supports relies on musculature responsible for adducting the first digit (thumb and big toe) and opposing medial-most and lateral-most digits. We dissected the hands and feet of four rat cadavers. There is a substantial muscle that may be responsible for the flexion/adduction of the thumb in the hands. We also found lumbricals, and dorsal …

The Murray Ledger And Times, September 5, 2013, The Murray Ledger And Times

The Murray Ledger & Times

No abstract provided.

Mismatches Between Humans And Latent Semantic Analysis In Document Similarity Judgments, Kyunghun Jung

Psychology ETDs

Modeling how humans judge the semantic similarity between documents (e.g., abstracts from two different psychology articles) is an interesting and challenging topic in cognitive psychology. It also has practical implications for developing artificial intelligence (AI) systems, especially those designed for retrieving relevant information from a large database in response to a given query (e.g., finding new research articles related to a given abstract). Conversely, AI algorithms can provide a useful tool for testing human cognitive models. They can precisely simulate the consequences of specific assumptions about cognition, and these consequences can then be compared against actual human performance. In the …

The Utah Statesman, September 5, 2013, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Transformations In Matter And Energy: Student Learning And Inquiry To Inform Teaching, Jenny Dauer

Discipline-Based Education Research Group Speaker Series

Learning progressions are descriptions of increasing levels of sophistication of student reasoning about a topic based on empirical evidence. Our learning progression framework about student explanations of carbon-transforming processes (e.g. photosynthesis, cellular respiration) describes how student’s interconnected and mutually supporting ideas and practices are deeply embedded in discourse at all levels of achievement. My research is in two areas: 1) applying the learning progression framework for student explanations of carbon-transforming processes to describe the most productive pathways for student learning, 2) extending the research to student reasoning during inquiry activities about carbon-transforming processes. One finding is that students who consistently …

The Law Of One Price And Virtual Worlds, Michael Morrison

Economics ETDs

Price convergence and purchasing power parity are two important foundations to international trade theory. Yet there is still no consensus on their existence, despite numerous studies. While the debate over price convergence and purchasing power parity continues, the last several years have seen a substantial rise in the use of virtual worlds. Virtual worlds are interactive digital environments where individuals with an internet connection can come together to communicate, cooperate and trade. Virtual worlds create smaller copies of the real world. These copies lack many of the complexities found in the real world. This feature makes virtual worlds a unique …

Temporal And Spatial Analysis Of Forest Management: A Case Study Of Kam Cha I, Thailand, Jeff Felardo

Economics ETDs

Optimal forest management strategies are needed to maximize welfare for both local and global forest users. This research will focus on spatial and temporal components within the framework of forest management policy. Particularly, payment for ecosystem services (PES) programs and their effect on forest management are considered. This research provides analysis of survey data, a theoretical forest management model, and of large GIS datasets. This dissertation demonstrates how to incorporate spatial and temporal components into the study of how a PES program could be implemented in Kam Cha i, Thailand. The results from the survey analysis demonstrate mixed attitudes towards …

An Economic Analysis Of Evolving Health Hazards, Justin Tevie

Economics ETDs

Health hazards (e.g., West Nile virus and antibiotic resistance) by their nature are detrimental to the health of mankind and are a vexing problem for society. Health authorities awareness of the rising health care costs associated with these health hazards highlights the need to undertake research in these areas. This dissertation presents a series of papers on these health hazards. Chapter 2 develops a spatial filtering panel data count model to examine the factors that contributed to the high prevalence of human West Nile virus (WNV) in California and Colorado using county-level data from 2003 to 2007. An econometric analysis …

Does Monitor Peptide Produce Anorexia Through The Release Of Endogenous Cholecystokinin?, Cory A. Talbot, Dr. Gregory N. Ervin

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a gut hormone released following the ingestion of a meal. It was first shown in 1973 by Gibbs et al. that administration of exogenous CCK-8 (CCK-8 is the smallest part of the CCK molecule that possesses its biological activity) before a meal leads to a decrease in food intake and the onset of satiety-like behaviors in rats.1 Extensive evidence now exists demonstrating that exogenous CCK-8 can produce a selective decrease in food intakes in humans, as well. By using CCK receptor antagonists to block endogenous CCK or trypsin inhibitors to elevate released endogenous CCK, some evidence is …

Inhibition Of Nek2 And Proteasome Activity, Jessica Flory, David Bearss

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Nek2 is a kinase that promotes centrosome separation during the cell cycle. Our lab has shown that Nek2 over-­‐expression is the best predictor of a poor outcome in multiple myeloma therapy, but the mechanism is unknown. The standard therapy for treating multiple myeloma is use of Bortezomib, an inhibitor of the proteasome (which degrades proteins). Mitosis is often triggered by the degradation of proteins that are unnecessary for the cell to divide. The evidence that Nek2 over-­‐expression can predict the outcome of multiple myeloma therapy leads us to the hypothesis that Nek2 affects proteasome activity in multiple myeloma cells. The …

Effects Of Butyltins On Mitogen-Activated-Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase And Ras Activity In Human Natural Killer Cells, Lindsay J. Celada, Margaret M. Whalen

Chemistry Faculty Research

Butyltins (BTs) contaminate the environment and are found in human blood. BTs, tributyltin (TBT) and dibutyltin (DBT) diminish the cytotoxic function and levels of key proteins of human natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells are an initial immune defense against tumors, virally infected cells and antibody-coated cells and thus critical to human health. The signaling pathways that regulate NK cell functions include mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Studies have shown that exposure to BTs leads to activation of specific MAPKs and MAPK kinases (MAP2Ks) in human NK cells. MAP2K kinases (MAP3Ks) are upstream activators of MAP2Ks, which then activate MAPKs. The …

Hannah Holman, Cello, & Sean Botkin, Piano, September 5, 2013 [Program], University Of Northern Iowa. School Of Music.

Music Recital Programs

Program of a music recital given by faculty, students, or guest artists from the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa.

The Effect Of Choral Music Education On Literacy Achievement, Keith Alan Hearnsberger

Theses and Dissertations

American education was going through dramatic change in the beginning of the 21st century. The way children were educated was constantly evolving. Public schools, private schools, parochial schools, charter schools, and many other types of educational institutions were affected by various federal and state regulations since the 1960's. The students, teachers, and educational leaders in these institutions were consistently affected by regulations, increased academic demands, and an ever-changing educational landscape. The educational administrator and music educators were required to be innovative when seeking change in policy in regards to educational achievement while maintaining a commitment to choral music education. The …

Charger Times Vol. 2, No. 2, 2013-09-05, University Of Alabama In Huntsville

Charger Times (2012-2014)

No abstract provided.

An Evolutionary Approach To Understanding Social Facilitation:Energy Expenditure And Exercise Motivation, Ann E. Caldwell Hooper

Psychology ETDs

The current research draws on evolutionary and life history theory to understand social facilitation of human energy expenditure, and test predictions focused on when and for whom increases in energetic effort are more likely to occur. Two studies tested the premise that cues of mates and/or competitors for mates can modify perceptions of the socio-ecological context of energy expenditure, and thereby change short-term energetic effort and exercise motivation and self-efficacy. Tests of psychological and physiological mediators and moderators were performed. Results provide preliminary support for the utilization of evolutionary theory to understand social facilitation by demonstrating significant effects of primes …

Numerical Analysis Of Co-Flowing Immiscible Liquids In Co-Axial Microtubes, In-Hwan Yang

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

This research developed dimensionless correlations, based on the numerical simulations, for the boundaries between the dripping, transition and jetting regimes. Additional correlations are also developed for the radius and formation frequency of disperse droplet in the dripping regime and the transition regime, when the total volume of the satellite droplets is less than 1% of the disperse primary droplets.

The Effect Of Post-Exercise Caffeine And Chlorogenic Acid Supplementation On Blood Glucose Disposal And Insulin Sensitivity, Jason Beam

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Caffeine and chlorogenic acid are two compounds in green coffee beans that alter blood glucose disposal and insulin sensitivity. Caffeine has been shown to decrease glucose disposal and insulin sensitivity when taken 60 minutes prior to an oral glucose tolerance test in humans, whereas chlorogenic acid has been shown to increase glucose disposal and insulin sensitivity in humans. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ingesting caffeine with dextrose or chlorogenic acid with dextrose immediately after an exhaustive bout of cycling on blood glucose and insulin disposal when compared to ingesting dextrose alone. Ten men (age: …

The Grizzly, September 5, 2013, Sabrina Mcgettigan, Deana Harley, Briana Keane, Derrick Falletta, Vivek Reddy, Briana Mullan, Rachel Brown, Nicholas Dimuzio, Bethany Mitchell, David Rogers, Kara Bowen, Adebayo Adeyemo, Dom Roher, Shawn Hartigan

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

New Policy Changes • Social Host to Event Director • Printing with Bear Bucks • Grizzly Launches Web Redesign • Farmers Market Location Changes • Community Service • Travel Blog Preview • Ursinus Alumni Return for Work • Opinion: Smart Phone Addiction Can Harm Our Social Lives; North and New Need Single Sex Hall Options Too • Code of Conduct for Athletes Now an Official Contract • Football Preview: Experienced Bears Major Asset • Field Hockey Looks to Regain Conference Dominance

Feminist Values And Pornography Consumption Amongst Women And Its Relationship To Sexual Self-Esteem And Body Esteem, Laura E. Burnham

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between women's pornography consumption, degree of feminist identification, and sexual and body self-esteem. Until recently, the literature on pornography use has maintained a heteronormative bias, largely focused on the male experience. The researchers conducting this study wished to better understand women's self-motivated pornography consumption and its possible impacts on various aspects of experience. Participants in this study were 109 women over the age of 18 years of age, living in the United States, who had willingly viewed pornography online within the past year. These participants completed an online survey. This sample group …

The Language Of Equus : Exploring Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (Eap) Using The Equine Assisted Growth And Learning Association (Eagala) Model, Kelly J. Boyd

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study set out to explore equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) under the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) model. As EAP is still a fairly new modality of therapy, the intention of this study is to add to the growing EAP literature. Interviews were conducted with fifteen EAGALA certified mental health practitioners (MH) and equine specialists (ES) with the intent to explore their professional insights, personal experiences and perspectives regarding EAP. EAP facilitators discussed the structure, benefits and challenges of the EAGALA model. These EAGALA model EAP facilitators also discussed the therapeutic modality of EAP -- revealing its own …

Development Of Novel Reaction-Based Fluorescent Probes, Weimin Xuan

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Fluorescent probes have been proved to be very valuable tools in chemical and biological applications, and extensive exploration has been made. Recently, reaction-based fluorescent probes became a new design trend and displayed great potential with remarkable implementation to the conventional design method. However, this field is still underdeveloped, and a lot of problems remain to be solved. As part of our groups research interest, my Ph.D. study centered on the development of new reaction-based fluorescent probes. Firstly, our previous research on Hg²⁺ was continued. In this work, we developed a novel ratiometric fluorescent probe for Hg²⁺ with impressive …

Truth For The Rest Of Us: Conventional Truth In The Work Of Dharmakīrti, Laura Guerrero

Philosophy ETDs

It is common in Buddhist philosophical literature to differentiate between two different types of truth: ultimate truth and conventional truth. For the philosophers of the Mahāyāna tradition of Buddhism, it is difficult to give an account of conventional truth that is both consistent with their anti-realist metaphysics (their ultimate position) and also robust enough to support truth as a normative concept. This dissertation addresses this problem by offering a deflationary interpretation of truth in Mahāyāna that is supported by a pragmatic account of intentionality and meaning. This account of meaning is developed from the work of the 7th Century Buddhist …

Characterization Of Secondary Organic Aerosol Precursors Using Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography With Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry (Gc×Gc/Tofms), Melissa Jordan Roskamp

Dissertations and Theses

The oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) plays a role in both regional and global air quality through the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA). More than 1000TgC/yr of non-methane VOCs are emitted from biogenic sources (significantly greater than from anthropogenic sources). Despite this magnitude and potential importance for air quality, the body of knowledge around the identities, quantities and oxidation processes of these compounds is still incomplete (e.g., Goldstein & Galbally, 2007; Robinson et al., 2009). Two-dimensional gas chromatography paired with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC/TOFMS) is a powerful analytical technique which is explored here for its role in better …

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, September 5, 2013, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

General University

• Prefix Change

Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning

• Title Change, Credit Hour Change, Prerequisite Change, Course Description Change
• Delete Course

Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences

• New Course

Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education

• New Course
• Prerequisite Change
• University Studies Request

Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation

• New Course

Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation

• New Course

Department of Biological Engineering

• New Course

Department of Computer Science

• Prerequisite Change

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

• Course Description Change
• Delete Course

Department of Engineering Education

• Title Change

Department of History

• University Studies Request

Department of …

Azúcar Negra: (Re) Envisioning Race, Representation, And Resistance In The Afrofeminista Imaginary, Kiley Jeanelle Guyton Acosta

Spanish and Portuguese ETDs

In this dissertation, I locate contemporary articulations of afrofeminismo in manifold modes of cultural production including literature, music, visual displays of the body, and digital media. As a point of departure, I examine the development of afrofeminismo in relation to colonial sexual violence in sugar-based economies to explain how colonial dynamics inflect ideologies of blanqueamiento/embranquecimento (racial whitening) and pseudo-scientific racial determinism. In this context, I address representations of the mujer negra (black woman) and the mulata (mulatto woman) in Caribbean and Brazilian cultural discourse. Specifically, I analyze how the discourses around, as well as by, these figures contribute(d) to the …

Spartan Daily, September 5, 2013, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily (School of Journalism and Mass Communications)

Volume 141, Issue 4

The Pacifican September 5, 2013, University Of The Pacific

All Issues - Student Newspaper, The Pacifican, Pacific Weekly

No abstract provided.

Montana Kaimin, September 5, 2013, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

The Parthenon, September 5, 2013, Bishop Nash

The Parthenon

The Parthenon, Marshall University’s student newspaper, is published by students Monday through Friday during the regular semester and weekly Thursday during the summer. The editorial staff is responsible for the news and the editorial content.

The Missouri Miner, September 5, 2013

The Missouri Miner Newspaper

No abstract provided.