Digital Commons Network^™

Temporal Structure Of Variability Reveals Similar Control Mechanisms During Lateral Stepping And Forward Walking, Shane R. Wurdeman, Nikolaos Stergiou

Journal Articles

Previous research exploring a lateral stepping gait utilized amount of variability (i.e. coefficient of variation) in the medial-lateral (ML) and anterior-posterior (AP) direction to propose that the central nervous system’s active control over gait in any direction is dependent on the direction of progression. This study sought to further explore this notion through the study of the temporal structure of variability which is reflective of the neuromuscular system’s organization of the movement over time. The largest Lyapunov exponent (LyE) of the reconstructed attractors for the foot’s movement in the AP and ML was calculated. Results revealed that despite the obvious …

Behind The Magical Numbers: Hierarchical Chunking And The Human Working Memory Capacity, Guoqi Li, Ning Ning, Kiruthika Ramanathan, Wei He, Li Pan, Luping Shi

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

To explore the influence of chunking on the capacity limits of working memory, a model for chunking in sequential working memory is proposed, using hierarchical bidirectional inhibition-connected neural networks with winnerless competition. With the assumption of the existence of an upper bound to the inhibitory weights in neurobiological networks, it is shown that chunking increases the number of memorized items in working memory from the "magical number 7" to 16 items. The optimal number of chunks and the number of the memorized items in each chunk are the "magical number 4".

Improving Student Learning Of Organic Chemistry By The Use Of Case Comparisons., Divine-Favour Ekene Anene

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

No abstract provided.

Pacifism In A Dog-Eat-Dog World: Potential Solutions To School Bullying, Farley Anderson

Mercer Law Review

Based on these three real-life stories, there are different ways to solve the profound problem of bullying: criminal prosecution; national, state, and local legislation; and awareness and protests. Many school districts use a combination of all three methods to eliminate bullying, and at this point in time, most states have some form of anti-bullying legislation. Whether it was a personal experience in elementary school, victimization in high school, or a story heard on the nightly news, everyone is aware that bullying is a serious problem in schools. Similarly, extensive media coverage of bullying has raised public awareness of this very …

Humanitarian And Civic Assistance Health Care Training And Cultural Awareness Promoting Health Care Pluralism, Rose E. Facchini

Faculty and Staff - Articles & Papers

Integration between traditional and contemporary health care in a host nation can be beneficial to nation- and capacity-building and, subsequently, to the overall health of the society. Traditional health care in this sense refers to the indigenous health care system in the host nation, which includes characteristic religious or cultural practices, whereas contemporary health care is also known as conventional or Westernized; integration is a synchronization of these two health care forms. However, the choice of integration depends on the political and cultural situation of the nation in which the Department of Defense health care personnel are intervening. Thus, cultural …

Section Abstracts: Agriculture, Forestry And Aquaculture

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Agriculture, Forestry and Aquaculture Section for the 91st Annual Virginia Journal of Science Meeting, May 2013

Section Abstracts: Botany

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Botany Section for the 91st Annual Virginia Journal of Science Meeting, May 2013

Puccinia Mariae-Wilsoniae And Claytonia Virginica: A Pathogen's Tale, Sarah A. Schlund

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Rusts are economically important fungal plant pathogens. For the majority of rust species, complete life history data, including host range, geographic distribution, plant response to the rust, identity of alternate hosts, and mode of sexual reproduction are incomplete. The purpose of this study was to examine the life history of Puccinia mariae-wilsoniae, a rust on Claytonia virginica (spring beauty), and to observe responses in leaf anatomy to its fungal pathogen. Spring beauty is an ephemeral woodland plant that lasts three to four weeks and P. mariae-wilsoniae infects C. virginica almost as soon as the plant emerges from dormancy in …

Seed Germination And Seed Bank Of Scutellaria Species, Jennifer O'Brien

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Florida skullcap, Scutellaria floridana Chapm. (Lamiaceae), is a federally threatened species found in the Florida Panhandle. Its habitat is a fire-prone, longleaf pine forest dominated by Aristida stricta Michx. var. beyrichiana (wiregrass). Other Scutellaria species used in the study are found in southeastern U.S., including two within the Florida Panhandle. The objective of this study was to compare several techniques to germinate seeds of Scutellaria incana, Scutellaria lateriflora, Scutellaria ovata ssp. ovata, and Scutellaria floridana, and to access the presence of a seed bank for S. floridana. For the germination study, Scutellaria later …

An Assessment Of Transformation Protocols Of Trametes Versicolor: A Possible Biological Pretreatment For Biomass, Michelle Hartnett

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Lignin is an obstacle in large-scale biofuel production. This can be overcome by the use of fungal pretreatment. This experiment assessed two transformation assays, based on the protocols of Laccaria bicolor and Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and applied them to Trametes versicolor. In order to determine a successful transformation, T. versicolor was transformed with green fluorescence protein (GFP) using the two assays, followed by detection of transformed mycelia under UV light. The two protocols were assessed based on timeliness, ease, and effectiveness. Based on the quantity of viable transformants and ease, the membrane assay described for Laccaria is successful when …

Taking The Road Most Travelled: Understanding Patterns Of Snake (Colubridae; Storeria) Movement And Road Mortality In A State Park, Iwo P. Gross

Undergraduate Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Decline In Mitochondrial Respiration In Post-Ovariectomy Mice Is Ameliorated By Beta Estradiol Treatment: Insights On Alzheimer's Disease, William L. Fernandez

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The female sex hormone estrogen has potent neuroprotective properties. Some of these effects may be due to direct modulation of mitochondrial functions. I hypothesized that β-estradiol, a specific hormone of the estrogen family, will improve mitochondrial bioenergetics in ovariectomized mice. Mice (C57BL/6J, female, 4-10 months-old) were ovariectomized via bilateral incision and control animals underwent sham surgery. Ovariectomized mice were divided into two groups. One group received a subcutaneous injection of 17-β-estradiol (E2) dissolved in com oil (30 ng/g) 24 h prior to synaptosome isolation (estradiol group). The second group received com oil alone (OVX). Synaptosomes were isolated from the forebrain …

Seed Ecology Of Federally Threatened Pinguicula Ionantha (Godfrey's Butterwort), Jenna Annis

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Pinguicula ionantha G. (Lentibulariaceae) is a carnivorous plant occurring in historically fire-dependent bog habitats of longleaf pine savannas. The species is limited to 6 counties within the Florida Panhandle. The species is currently listed as federally threatened due largely to habitat loss. The objective of this research is to provide the appropriate Pinguicula ionantha germination and seed bank information that would aid in the deli sting of the species. Eleven collections of Pinguicula ionantha seeds were made from natural populations. All germination trials took place in a seed germination chamber. Treatments included stratification, liquid smoke solutions, plant growth regulators (PGR), …

A Matter Of Faith: U.S. Cable News Coverage And Definitions Of Terrorism, Adam Yehia Elrashidi

Media Studies - Theses

What makes an act of violence an act of terrorism? This qualitative study examines the ways in which three U.S.-based cable news networks--MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News--reported and contextualized four violent events within frameworks of terrorism: the mass shooting at Ft. Hood near Killeen, Texas (2009); the mass shooting near Tucson, Arizona (2011); a suicidal plane crash into an IRS building in Austin, Texas (2010); and the attempted bombing of the Federal Reserve in New York, New York (2012).

Although details between these four events seem analogous, the three networks appeared to contextualize only the Ft. Hood rampage and the …

Supplementing Distillers' Grains In A Yearling System As A Forage Replacement Tool With Bunk Or Ground Feeding, And Impact Of Winter Supplementation Level On Finishing Performance And Profit, Kari L. Gillespie

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The benefit of adding weight to cattle prior to entering the finishing phase through a forage-based backgrounding system has become more important with increased corn price. Further, as competition for available forage increases, the value of replacing grazed forage with a supplement such as distillers grains, also increases.

A 2-year beef systems study evaluated optimal supplementation time of distillers grains and summer forage savings with distillers supplementation. High winter level supplementation of distillers grains increased winter ADG, decreased summer ADG, and increased final live weights and HCW compared to cattle supplemented at a low supplement level designed to only meet …

Knowing How: An Empirical, Functionalist Approach, David Joseph Bzdak

Philosophy - Dissertations

Only very recently has the subject of knowledge how and its relation to propositional knowledge, or knowledge that, been given much attention by philosophers. In recent debates on the subject, positions tend to divide around the question: is knowledge how (KH) reducible to, or a kind of, knowledge that (KT), or are they fundamentally distinct categories of knowledge? I argue for the latter view, and I base my argument in the claim that KH and KT serve fundamentally different functional roles - specifically, KT is representational, while KH is practical. I develop my positive, functionalist account of KH …

A Gis-Based Analysis Of The Environmental Predictors Of Dispersal Of The Emerald Ash Borer In New York, Renee Huset

Geography and the Environment - Theses

After going undetected for roughly a decade, the emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis)--an invasive beetle native to Asia--was first detected in North America near Detroit, MI, in the summer of 2002 where it has continued to decimate native ash trees (Fraxinus species) and increase its footprint ever since. The beetle's ability to disperse via human-facilitated mechanisms as well as biological means has resulted in an alarming pace of infestation, with the first positive EAB identification in the state of New York taking place in 2009. Using geographic information systems technology, logistic regression, and maximum entropy modeling (Maxent), this project …

Jewelry Inspired By Stem Cells, Nina Matsumoto

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The representation of living organisms has a long history in jewelry. Since jewelry is intended to be worn on the body, it has the faculty to materialize what typically remains unseen below our skin. Creating this body of work aims to entice public curiosity and educate them in current stem cell research, as it is a promising avenue of medicine that could cure many diseases, rather than treat their symptoms.

The jewelry I made is a glimpse into the body revealing microscopic stem cells, which are essential to our existence. Current research has shown the potential for immense advancement in …

The Regional Exchange: From Main Street To Shopping Mall To App Market, Chris Depalma

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The heart of our existence lies within regions. Loosely defined, these territories are defined by what we do, not by what we call them. It is where we live, work, shop and socialize, characterized by an infinite multitude of interactions with other people and environments. The concept of “regionalism” is best described as a set of overlapping factors that together characterize the shared interests and dynamics of its people and environment, whether social, cultural, ecological or something else. This dynamic, constantly-changing overlap is most apparent at the center of the region, and least so at its edges.

Regionalism is especially …

Investigating The Relationship Between Goal- Oriented Strivings And Motives For Engaging In Physical Activity, Minakshi Raj

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Chronic psychological stress has been shown to increase risk for conditions such as obesity and cardiovascular disease. Social Action Theory (SAT) says that an individual's patterns of goal-oriented strivings influence his or her ability to manage stress responses as well as his or her overall exposure to stress. According to SAT, self-regulatory skills, which involve the ability to plan and maintain behavior with the intent of achieving goals, and goal motives influence an individual’s exposure and vulnerability to certain stressors. Using SAT as a framework, the present study explores the negative consequences of implicit motives on health via the body’s …

The Stigma Of Mental Illness, Ambivalent Attitudes, And Motivation To Learn, Jennifer Moore

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Prior research has demonstrated that much of the stigma of mental illness falls under the category of ambivalence. In other words, individuals hold both positive and negative impressions of mentally ill individuals and their attitudes tend to not be restricted to one side. On the positive end, they may feel sympathetic toward these individuals, as they understand they are not responsible for their illnesses. On the negative side, they may also believe these individuals are more unpredictable and dangerous than their mentally healthy counterparts. These ambivalent attitudes subsequently result in a feeling of uneasiness, as people feel more comfortable when …

Does Menstruation Hinder Women's Empowerment? Working Toward Social Change In South India, Sarah Walton

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

With so many challenges facing education today, it is difficult to think about any more potential problems kids around the world have to deal with. However, as I came to realize during a semester abroad in South India – one problem might be messier than all the rest. And, it only affects girls. Menstruation often limits a girl’s ability to go to school for a variety of reasons. This paper documents some of those challenges girls face in regard to cultural taboos and social stigmatization, a lack of knowledge or historical misunderstanding, as well as the fact that for many …

Pd-­Catalyzed N-­Arylation Of Amides: Catalyst Development And Scope, Tara Brenner

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Recent development toward more efficient palladium catalyzed amidation reactions has been driven by mechanistic studies and the development of more efficient ancillary phosphine ligands. This review discusses these developments with regard to substrate scope and the nature of the corresponding catalyst systems. Emphasis will be placed on applications of palladium catalyzed amidation reactions and the synthetic utility of these methods.

The Conjugation Of Protein And Peptide Therapeutics To Vitamin B12 For The Oral Treatment Of Diabetes, Jamie L. Bernstein

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Currently patients with diabetes receive most of their treatments, including insulin, subcutaneously. Developing a method to orally deliver proteins, peptides, and potentially other therapeutics has the ability to increase patient compliance by making treatments easier to administer. Utilizing the Vitamin B12 uptake pathway is one proposed method of oral delivery of protein therapeutics. We investigated a way to synthesize a carboxylic acid derivative of Vitamin B12 (B12) that could increase the ease of its conjugation to proteins and peptides. The 5’-position of the ribose tail of B12 was oxidized using excess 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) and 2-hydroxypyridine (HYP). The synthesis of …

Analysis Of Arp 2/3complex Dependent Actin Assembly In Live Fission Yeast Cells, Hannah Bellinger

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

In yeast and other organisms, endocytosis is dependent upon Arp2/3 complex-mediated actin assembly into endocytic actin patches, a highly organized process involving signaling molecules and regulatory proteins. The goal of this study is to determine the roles of three Arp2/3 complex activators Pan1, Myo1, and Wsp1, which bind Arp2/3 complex via their Central-Acidic (CA) domains, in stimulating actin patch assembly in fission yeast. To assess the contribution of these proteins to actin assembly, we performed quantitative image analysis of actin patch dynamics by tracking the GFP-tagged actin binding protein fimbrin Fim1 in Pan1, Myo1 and Wsp1 mutants with deleted CA …

The Use Of P53-Derived Stapled Peptides As Affinity Isolation Reagents, Kathryn Margaret Headley

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The transcription factor p53 can induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in response to cellular distress. Cancer cells often display increased cell survival. In most cases, this is due to a p53-related defect, such as mutation, deletion, degradation, or sequestration. HDM2 and HDMX are homologous proteins that regulate the function of p53, and their over-expression can lead to an ineffective p53 response. Various inhibitors, including hydrocarbon stabilized alpha-helices of p53 (SAH-p53s), have been developed to target HDM2 and HDMX and restore functionality to the p53 pathway. It has been recently found that SAH-p53 factors also elicit cell death responses in …

Characterization Of Dap2 (Defense-­‐Associated Aspartic Protease-­‐2) In Arabidopsis Thaliana And Determining Its Role In Plant Defense Responses, Kemardo Kitaro Henry

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Plants defend themselves from invading pathogens by coordinating activity of several plant defense-­‐associated genes. Defense-­‐Associated Aspartic Protease-­‐1 (DAP1) gene of Arabidopsis encodes for an atypical aspartic protease with a putative proteolytic activity. The DAP1 is a negative regulator of plant immunity and the transgenic plants ectopically expressing this genes support pathogen growth and pathogenicity. The Arabidopsis genome has another putative protese that has ~75% homology to DAP1 present in close proximity and therefore was named DAP2. Here, I describe the role of the DAP2 gene in plant defense responses. Two independent knockout dap2 mutants are found to be more susceptible …

Vitamin B12-Based Bioconjugate Probes For In Vitro And In Vivo Imaging, Anna Kahkoska

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. This year, an estimated 577,190 Americans will die as a result of this family of diseases. Finding cancer at its most treatable stage gives patients the greatest chance of recovery; novel imaging agents that target primary and metastasized tumors offer hope for improved prognoses in the future. Based on the hypothesis that vitamin B12 (B12) and its association with specific transport proteins could offer selective access to cancer cell lines, a series of B12-based imaging agents were synthesized, characterized, and assayed for both in vitro and in vivo …

Investigation Of Sin-3 Histone Deacetylase Complex In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Maria Kontos

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Chromatin is the combination of DNA and the proteins binding to DNA in the cell nucleus. The primary proteins associated with chromatin are histones, which compact the DNA. The DNA strand wraps around the histone octamer core complex forming a structure called the nucleosome. Posttranslational modifications of histones alter chromatin structure. Generally speaking, acetylated histones are associated with active gene expression whereas deacetylated histones are associated with repressed gene expression. Histone deacetylases, which function as a multi protein complex, remove acetyl groups resulting in altered DNA-histone binding affinities. One major histone deacetylase (HDAC) complex is the SIN-3 HDAC complex. SIN-3 …

Controlling Bacterial Persister Cells With Low Level Electric Currents, Henry Lars Peterson

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Bacterial persister cells present a growing concern as they inherit the ability to tolerate high concentrations of antibiotics and repopulate after an antibiotic treatment leading to chronic diseases. Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes many human infections including skin infections and those associated with burn injuries, and implanted medical devices, and are associated with Cystic Fibrosis. Recently, the Ren Lab developed a novel approach to eliminate persister cells of P. aeruginosa, including those in biofilms, using low level electric currents. To evaluate the safety of this method and to better understand how the underlying elements, this study focused on the cytotoxicity of …