Digital Commons Network^™

Effectiveness Of Gaming Systems On Balance In Older Individuals, Mary E. Anderson

Honors Theses

Balance training using gaming systems, called exergaming, is a rising trend for reducing fall risk in older individuals. Previous studies have conducted research pertaining to gaming systems and traditional balance training, however there is a lack of comparison between gaming systems. This study was performed to determine the effectiveness of two gaming systems, the Wii Fit and Xbox Kinect, as compared to traditional balance training. This study was performed with subjects (N=5) over the age of 65, in good health, randomly placed in one of the three balance training groups: Wii Fit (n=2), Xbox Kinect (n=2), and Traditional balance training …

What Variables Affect The United States Decision On The Level Of Involvement During An International Crisis?, Britany Higdon

Honors Theses

The question being researched is what variables can better explain the level of involvement by the United States in an international crisis? This research question will better explain why the United States decides to use military force in some international crises while in others, they are not involved in at all. Answering this question will help predict if the United States will use military force in future international crises. This research will also show the importance of domestic politics in decisions made on an international level. To test this question, there will be a set of variables used to compare …

A Heat Island Observation Via Modis And Concurrent Helicopter-Borne Ir Imager, Tsung-Hua Kuo, Gin-Rong Liu, Tang-Huang Lin, Chia-Wen Lan, Chi-Ping Huang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In this study, observations and aerial surveys were conducted in delineating the heat island patterns. Concurrent datasets from the satellite-borne MODIS sensor and helicopter-borne thermal IR imager were employed. The sampling data in this experiment covered an area exceeding 100 km2 in Taiwan’s western plain. A more than 10°C temperature difference between different sampling points could be observed in this area. The relationship between the surface temperature and vegetation index values was also showed. Results showed that the surface canopy and the air humidity together played an important role in the surface temperature increase.

Ninth East China Sea Conference 2013: International Conference On The Marine Biodiversity And Environmental Fisheries Science Of The East China Sea In Keelung, Taiwan, Ching-Fong Chang, Tai-Wen Hsu, I-Shiung Chen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

No abstract provided.

American Politics And The Jewish Community, Dan Schnur

The Jewish Role in American Life: An Annual Review

At its broadest level, politics is the practice of making a community a better, safer, and more tolerant place to live. So it should be of no surprise that America's Jews have devoted themselves to civic engagement and the democratic process. From before the Revolutionary War to the early 21st century, when America saw the first Jewish vice presidential nominee of a major party and the first Jewish Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Jewish community has always devoted itself to public service, issue advocacy, and involvement in politics and government at every level. While strong support for the …

Integrating Information Into The Engineering Design Process, Michael Fosmire, David Radcliffe

Purdue University Press Books

Engineering design is a fundamental problem-solving model used by the discipline. Effective problem-solving requires the ability to find and incorporate quality information sources. To teach courses in this area effectively, educators need to understand the information needs of engineers and engineering students and their information gathering habits. This book provides essential guidance for engineering faculty and librarians wishing to better integrate information competencies into their curricular offerings. The treatment of the subject matter is pragmatic, accessible, and engaging. Rather than focusing on specific resources or interfaces, the book adopts a process-driven approach that outlasts changing information technologies.

After several chapters …

Assessing Quality Outcomes In A Behavioral Oncology Program: Capstone Project, Elizabeth M. Archer-Nanda

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

The landscape of cancer care has changed dramatically over the past several decades. An illness that was once often fatal, now represents both an acute life threatening illness and a chronic condition. While there have been tremendous advancements in the treatment of the physiological aspects of cancer, management of related psychosocial and emotional issues have not seen this same progress. Limited information exists related to both the evaluation and outcome metrics associated with the screening and management of psychiatric sequelae after referral to specialized psychiatric services in cancer patient populations. This capstone project focused on (a) implementation of consistent use …

Overview Of The Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment In Amazonia Data Model Intercomparison Project (Lba-Dmip), Luis Gustavo Gonçalves De Gonçalves, Jordan S. Borak, Marcos Heil Costa, Scott R. Saleska, Ian Baker, Natalia Restrepo-Coupe, Michel Nobre Muza, Benjamin Poulter, Hans Verbeeck, Bradley O. Christoffersen

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

A fundamental question connecting terrestrial ecology and global climate change is the sensitivity of key terrestrial biomes to climatic variability and change. The Amazon region is such a key biome: it contains unparalleled biological diversity, a globally significant store of organic carbon, and it is a potent engine driving global cycles of water and energy. The importance of understanding how land surface dynamics of the Amazon region respond to climatic variability and change is widely appreciated, but despite significant recent advances, large gaps in our understanding remain. Understanding of energy and carbon exchange between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere can …

Enhanced Dna Sensing Via Catalytic Aggregation Of Gold Nanoparticles, Herbert M. Huttanus, Elton Graugnard, Bernard Yurke, William B. Knowlton, Wan Kuang, William L. Hughes, Jeunghoon Lee

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A catalytic colorimetric detection scheme that incorporates a DNA-based hybridization chain reaction into gold nanoparticles was designed and tested. While direct aggregation forms an inter-particle linkagefrom only one target DNA strand, catalytic aggregation forms multiple linkages from a single target DNA strand. Gold nanoparticles were functionalized with thiol-modified DNA strands capable of undergoing hybridization chain reactions. The changes in their absorption spectra were measured at different times and target concentrations and compared against direct aggregation. Catalytic aggregation showed a multifold increase in sensitivity at low target concentrations when compared to direct aggregation. Gelelectrophoresis was performed to compare DNA hybridization reactions …

Determining The Internal Structure Of Cement-Based Materials By Using Mri Techniques, Hsiang-Wei Chiang, Ran Huang, Chia-Jung Tsai

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The primary concerns of the internal structure of cementbased materials involve the distribution of pores, pore size, and the manner in which they are connected. Thoroughly understanding the distributive rules of pores and the approaches to breaking their links can contribute considerably to enhancing the durability of cement-based materials. Several methods are used to measure the pores of cement-based materials; however, they cannot determine the exact location of pores or structural links. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been widely applied in physical examinations and has matured to the level of being able to obtain 3D images of the organs of …

Fishing Vs. Climate Change: An Example Of Filefish (Thamnaconus Modestus) In The Northern East China Sea, Sukgeun Jung, Hyung Kee Cha

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The main cause of annual fluctuations in catch and species composition of fisheries is usually uncertain, but a prevailing view has been that fishing effects are more critical than environmental variability. Filefish is a good anecdote: many Korean fisheries scientists have attributed the sudden collapse of Korean filefish fisheries in the early 1990s to overfishing, especially by trawl fisheries in the northern East China Sea (NECS). However, interdisciplinary researches have revealed that climate-driven, multi-decadal variability in oceanic conditions impacts both fish and fisheries around the world. To test the two alternative hypotheses (i.e., fishing and climate) as the major cause …

Ichthyoplankton Community Associated With Oceanic Fronts In Early Winter On The Continental Shelf Of The Southern East China Sea, Yi-Chen Wang, Wen-Yu Chen, Yi Chang, Ming-An Lee

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The study of ichthyoplankton community associated with oceanic features on the continental shelf of southern East China Sea (ECS) was conducted in early winter from 2006 to 2009. The species composition of the ichthyoplankton and its spatial distribution was classified and compared with oceanic front. A total number of 1,809 fish larvae individuals were sampled from 5 field surveys, and represented 76 families and 137 species. Using the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity, the abundance of species found to exceed 0.5% of the total sample from 36 stations were classified into four groups: China Coastal Group, Mixed Shelf Group, Taiwan Strait Group, and …

Taxonomic Study Of Pike Congers (Anguilliformes: Muraenesocidae) With Identification Of Muraenesocid Collections In Taiwan, James Lin, Kwang-Tsao Shao, Hong-Ming Chen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

During the past years, we collected and studied on the Anguilliformes fishes, and described some new genera and new species of eels. We noticed that there are some misidentified species or invalid junior synonym in Muraenesocidae specimens. Considering how limited this family is known in Taiwan, we would like to revise the species of pike congers here. We collected muraenesocid specimens around Taiwan from fish markets, fishery harbors, fishermen, and also examined the specimens from other Taiwanese museum collections. Comparing to the past literature of Muraenesocidae, we found that the species Congresox talabon was misreported previously, and there is not …

One New Record Genus And Three New Record Species Of Snake Eels (Ophichthidae:Anguilliformes) From Taiwan, Yung-Chieh Chiu, James Lin, Hong-Ming Chen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The tropical and subtropical eel family Ophichthidae are the most diverse Anguilliformes fishes which occupy a variety of marine habitats such as reefs, sand and mud substrates. In Taiwan, we can often collect them from the capture of bottom-trawl fishery. In this study, we added two new recorded species Ophichthus machidai and O. obtusus of ophichthid eels collected from Da-xi fish market by comparing their morphological measurements, vertebral counts and head pores with the other six species of the genus Ophichthus: O. apicalis, O. aphotistos, O. asakusae, O. erabo, O. tsuchidae, O. urolophus. We also obtained a unique specimen from …

Genetic Diversity Of Pyramimonas From Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan (Chlorophyceae, Pyramimonadales), Shoichiro Suda, Mohammad Azmal Hossain Bhuiyan, Daphne Georgina Faria

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The genus Pyramimonas Schmarda was traditionally described on observations of its periplast and internal structure of different flagellar apparatus or eyespot orientations and currently comprises of ca. 60 species that are divided into six subgenera: Pyramimonas, Vestigifera, Trichocystis, Punctatae, Hexactis, and Macrura. In order to understand the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of genus Pyramimonas members, we analyzed nuclear SSU rDNA molecular data from 41 strains isolated from different locations of the Ryukyu Archipelago. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strains could be segregated into six clades, four of which represented existing subgenera: Pyramimonas, Vestigifera McFadden, Trichocystis McFadden, and Punctatae McFadden, and …

Life History Of The Copepod Paramphiascella Sp. Affected By Hydrothermal Vent Effluents, Hans-Uwe Dahms, Li-Chun Tseng, Jiang-Shiou Hwang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Toxicity of Hydrothermal vent (HV) effluents was tested by investigating the effect on growth and reproduction of the copepod Paramphiascella sp. which was collected and subsequently cultured from localities nearby a shallow marine HV at Kueishan Tao Island, Taiwan. Ontogenetic stages (nauplii, copepodids, and adults) were exposed to a range of concentrations of HV effluents in a static renewal culture system. In a first of two experiments we tested the survivorship of these in HV effluent dilutions from 1 to 50%. HV effluents significantly reduced the survivorship of the naupliar stages at concentrations >5% for Paramphiascella sp. (p < 0.01) and all nauplii died at concentrations of 25% and 50%. Copepodids were significantly letally affected at concentrations >5% (p < 0.01) and all died at 50% (p < 0.01). Developmental duration in Paramphiascella was showing a trend of developmental delay in both phases, in the naupliar and in the copepodid phase. Mortality showed a greater sensitivity to chemical exposure than development time. Among both traits were early developmental stages of Paramphiascella sp. more sensitive to HV effluents than advanced stages. We showed that Paramphiascella sp. was a useful test organism in the monitoring of life cycle as well as acute effects of HV effluents being present for millions of years and providing unique ecosystems. Mortality was a useful toxicological endpoint whereas developmental duration was not.

Mosquito Larvicidal Activity Of Broussonetia Papyrifera Compound Marmesin By Blocking Protein Aescp-2, Docking Strategies, And Combined Effect Of Copepod Megacyclops Formosanus Against Dengue Vector Aedes Aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae), Kandasamy Kalimuthu, Chia-Hsiang Wang, Shiu-Mei Liu, Li-Chun Tseng, Kadarkarai Murugan, Jiang-Shiou Hwang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Mosquito-borne diseases that have an economic impact create losses in commercial and labor outputs, particularly in countries with tropical and subtropical climates. The emergence of resistance to synthetic insecticides is a challenge to mosquito control. Cyclopoid copepods are important predators in many aquatic ecosystems and have been successfully used as biological agents to control mosquito larvae. For this study, we examined the larvicidal activity of the copepod Megacyclops formosanus in combination with the compound marmesin (which was purified from the methanol crude extract of the plant stem bark of Broussonetia papyrifera) against Aedes aegypti larvae. Their larvicidal activity and in …

Novel Insights Into Pancreatic Β-Cell Glucolipotoxicity From Real-Time Functional Analysis Of Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism In Ins-1e Insulinoma Cells., Jonathan Barlow, Charles Affourtit

School of Biomedical Sciences

High circulating glucose and non-esterified (free) fatty acid levels can cause pancreatic β-cell failure. The molecular mechanisms of this β-cell glucolipotoxicity are yet to be established conclusively. In the present paper we report on the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in fatty-acid-induced β-cell failure. We have used state-of-the-art extracellular flux technology to functionally probe mitochondrial energy metabolism in intact INS-1E insulinoma cells in real-time. We show that 24-h palmitate exposure at high glucose attenuates the glucose-sensitivity of mitochondrial respiration and lowers coupling efficiency of glucose-stimulated oxidative phosphorylation. These mitochondrial defects coincide with an increased level of ROS (reactive oxygen species), impaired …

Adiponectin Inhibits Oxidative/Nitrative Stress During Myocardial Ischemia And Reperfusion Via Pka Signaling., Yanqing Zhang, Xiao-Liang Wang, Jianli Zhao, Ya-Jing Wang, Wayne Bond Lau, Yue-Xing Yuan, Er-He Gao, Walter J. Koch, Xin-Liang Ma

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

The cardioprotective effects of adiponectin (APN) against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury are well known. However, comprehension of the mechanisms mediating intracellular APN signaling remains incomplete. We recently demonstrate the antioxidant/antinitrative effects of APN are not dependent on AMPK. Protein kinase A (PKA) has been previously shown to be activated by APN, with uncertain relevance to APN cardiac protection. The current study determined whether the antioxidative/antinitrative effect of APN is mediated by PKA. Administration of APN (2 μg/g) 10 min before reperfusion significantly enhanced cardiac PKA activity, reduced oxidative stress, and decreased infarct size. Knockdown of cardiac PKA expression (PKA-KD) by …

Working Paper No. 32, Canada And The United States: A Comparison Of Their Philosophical Bases, Lorraine M. Hutton

Working Papers in Economics

Americans and Canadians seem similar in many ways; however, their dissimilar historical experiences have shaped very different attitudes and philosophies that underpin their institutions. Canadians promote equality and collective responsibility under a restrained, parliamentary state, whilst the Americans stress self-reliance, individualism and freedom. Canadians embraced the hierarchical structure of the British and French Empires and Americans revolted against all ties to it. What appear to be minor distinctions between the two countries and cultures are actually fundamental philosophies rooted in the past.

Application Of Bradford's Law Of Scattering To The Literature Of Library & Information Science: A Study Of Doctoral Theses Citations Submitted To The Universities Of Maharashtra, India, Vijay Ganesh Wardikar Viju

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

ABSTRACT

Application of Bradford's Law of Scattering is one of the bibliometric law, which is used most commonly in bibliometric research. The paper gives a review of the contribution in Library & Information Science & theoretical aspects of the law. A study carried out on the data of journals cited by Ph.D. research scholars at the universities in Maharashtra for their doctoral research. To examine the applicability of Bradford's Law of Scattering, study include 798 periodical containing 5467 references collected form 138 theses during the period 1982-2010. Rank list was prepared and Annals of Library Science and Documentation took top …

Western Michigan University Commencement Exercises-3pm, John M. Dunn

WMU President John Dunn

No abstract provided.

Fighting In Hockey -- Player Perceptions, Jordan Doroshenko

Sport Management Undergraduate

There is a certain amount of physicality involved in all levels of hockey. The aggressive styles of play and attitudes have evolved into one of the most violent team sports. Fighting has been utilized as a marketing tool to increase viewership of hockey. The fights have increased in recent years, and there are many perceptions that portray its significance within the sport. The media markets physical aspects of the game, which reaches players of all ages and influences them to follow suit. Social media websites, television shows, sport analysts, and movies have been created solely focusing on big hits, fights, …

Fall Commencement Program, December 14, 2013, Coastal Carolina University

Commencement Programs

Program of Commencement Exercises at Coastal Carolina University.

Commencement Program 2013 December, Gcsu Special Collections

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

An Exploration Of Multimedia Journalism Through A Multi-Platform Storytelling Website, Lani Finley Furbank

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

No abstract provided.

A Call To Violence: Trends In Violent Content Of Video Games, Emily Molly Keller

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Violent content in video games has come under increasing scrutiny as the media highlights the potential involvement of violent games in deadly crimes. In addition, internet gaming disorder has been identified as a subject in need of further research in the DSM-V. The current study investigates whether year, genre, platform type, and victim and perpetrator identity influence the total amount of violent actions in 280 video game trailers. The hypothesis was that year, genre, and platform type would produce the most variance in total violence, but victim identity and perpetrator identity were significantly more influential. Thus, there is a tendency …

Healing Touch As An Integrative Therapy For Cancer Care: A Review Of Evidence And Implications For Nursing, Kelsey Irene Tirona

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Life expectancies and survival rates of adults with cancer in the United States have significantly increased in recent history, primarily due to advancements in technology and early detection. More people are living longer with cancer and it has evolved to a complex, chronic illness. Although progress is being made in the treatment of cancer, pain and other symptoms related to the disease and its treatment are poorly managed by conventional care (Chapman, 2012; Deng, 2005). The use of complementary and alternative therapies is becoming increasingly popular in this population, in addition to conventional treatment from their primary providers. Healing Touch …

Western Michigan University Commencement Exercises-12pm, John M. Dunn

WMU President John Dunn

No abstract provided.

Animal Abuse In The United States' Circus Industry: A Comparative Case Study Analysis, Paige Noelle Topper

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The topic of animal abuse is a widespread, controversial issue within the United States. Animal abuse and neglect is commonly associated with food industry animals and domesticated animals; however, animal abuse is a problem within other industries, such as the circus industry. In particular, the circus industry is notoriously known by animal advocates for continuous violations to animal protection laws that hinder its animals’ welfare. Pressure by animals rights organizations and a growing public sentiment against the exploitation of circus animals, the industry has seen various changes in recent years including more stringent USDA enforcement and a transformation to programs …