Digital Commons Network^™

Disentangling Historical Biogeography And Anthropogenic Introductions: A Case Study Of Red Shiner (Cyprinella Lutrensis), Tracy A. Diver

Biology ETDs

Aim: Determine evolutionary events that have shaped observed patterns of diversity in Red Shiner within the Rio Grande Basin, New Mexico. Location: Pecos, Delaware, Rio Grande and Canadian Rivers, New Mexico, United States. Methods: We used DNA sequence data from two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b and ND4), nuclear RAG-1 intron, and geometric-morphometric and meristic data to test alternative hypothesis regarding the evolutionary history of native populations of Red Shiner in New Mexico. Results: MtDNA gene trees revealed deeply divergent lineages (Great Plains and Coastal) with in situ diversification within each geographic lineage between the Rio Grande and Pecos River. Nuclear …

Ripples Against The Other Shore: The Impact Of Trauma Exposure On The Immigration Process Through Adjudicators, Kate Aschenbrenner

Michigan Journal of Race and Law

Immigration is currently a hot topic; discussion of immigration reform and the problems in our current system appear in the news virtually every day. There is widespread consensus that our current immigration system is “broken,” but there is little agreement on why and even less on what should be done to fix it. These are difficult and important questions, involving many complex interrelated factors. While I do not hope and cannot aim to answer them completely in this Article, I will argue that in doing so we must consider an often overlooked and generally understudied issue: the effects of trauma …

An Insurmountable Obstacle: Denying Deference To The Bia’S Social Visibility Requirement, Kathleen Kersh

Michigan Journal of Race and Law

In the last fifteen years, the Board of Immigration Appeals has imposed a requirement that persons seeking asylum based on membership in a particular social group must establish that the social group is “socially visible” throughout society. This Comment argues that the social visibility requirement should be denied administrative deference on several grounds. The requirement should be denied Chevron deference because Congress’s intent behind the Refugee Act of 1980 is clear and unambiguous and, alternatively, the requirement is an impermissible interpretation of the statute. The requirement is also arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedures Act. This Comment argues that …

Utpa Campus Master Plan, University Of Texas-Pan American

Campus Master Plans (UTB/UTPA)

The UTPA Campus Master Plan is a roadmap for the institution's physical development over the next two decades.

From Script To Screen To Syllabus: The Path To Curriculum Design For Undergraduate Film Production Programs, Peter J. Muir

Dissertations

Nothing has impacted western society more than media. Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dali Lama, wrote that “film and television, newspapers, books and radio together have an influence over individuals that was unimagined a hundred years ago.” The responsibility of creating these cultural artifacts, particularly within motion picture production, is a delicate balance between artistic vision and craft-oriented vocation; the contemplative mind skills of a wise citizen with the functional hand skills of a tradesperson. Undergraduate film production education provides the best avenue for development of this duality. However, within these programs, little is known regarding how curriculum is fashioned and …

Pathways To Cyber Bullying From Bystander To Participant: Secondary School Students’ Perspectives, Michele L. Siderman

Dissertations

The author conducted a qualitative analysis of student artifacts to explore the pathway and experiences of students who had never bullied in the traditional sense but had cyber bullied through the use of social networking sites. In addition, the author explored students’ understanding of the difference between traditional and cyber bullying and their perceptions of the victim receiving the online bullying messages. A transcendental phenomenological approach was employed. The student artifacts analyzed were assignments from a required ninth grade character education class, which included a self-reflective survey, journals, a six-paragraph paper, and an online photo story project.

Results indicated that …

Efficacy Of Homoeopathic Treatment For Diabetic Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy: A Multicentric Randomised Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial, Raj Manchanda, Bindu Sharma, Pritha Mehra

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background: There are limitations in the management of Diabetic Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy (DDSP) in conventional system but in Homoeopathy the research studies have shown positive results. These studies were not robust enough to prove the efficacy of individualized homoeopathy, thus this protocol has been developed to assess the efficacy of these individualized homoeopathic drugs in this disease. Material and Methods: It shall be a double blind randomised placebo controlled clinical trial. On the basis of earlier observational studies and repertorial anamnesis of DDSP symptoms, 15 homoeopathic medicines have been identified. The validated scales are being used for evaluating the outcomes …

Homoeopathic Management Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomised Placebo-Controlled Pilot Trial, Praveen Oberai, S Gopinadhan, Roja Varanasi, Alok Mishra, Vikram Singh, Chaturbhuja Nayak

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of individualised homoeopathic medicines in treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Design: Randomised placebo-controlled single-blind pilot trial. Setting: Central Research Institute (Homoeopathy), Kottayam, Kerala, India from June 2009 to November 2011. Participants: Children aged 6-15 years meeting the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for ADHD. Interventions: A total of 61 patients (Homoeopathy = 30, placebo = 31) were randomised to receive either individualised homoeopathic medicine in fifty millesimal (LM) potency or placebo for a period of one year. Outcome measures: Conner′s Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Short (CPRS-R (S)), Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale …

Preliminary Study To Evaluate Analgesic And Behavioural Effects Of Lycopodium Clavatum In Experimental Animals, Echur Sundaram, Kushal Singh, Pratap Reddy, Sunil Kumar, Kainikkara Nair, Anil Khurana, Hari Singh, Chaturbhuja Nayak

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background and Aim: In Homoeopathy, the drug Lycopodium clavatum is prescribed for digestive upset, inflammations of urinary organs and dermal problems, but not for the treatment of central nervous system disorders unlike its use in traditional and folk medicine for central nervous system conditions. The present study was, therefore, undertaken with an aim to explore the possible analgesic and behavioural activities of the homoeopathic formulations of Lycopodium clavatum in animal models. Material and Methods: Wistar albino rats (120-140 g) of either sex were used to evaluate analgesic effect by using hot plate, ice plate and Randall-Selitto tests and behavioural effect …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Superintendents’ And Principals’ Experiences In A Shared Professional Development Process, John R. Severson

Dissertations

For this qualitative study, I explored and described how superintendents and principals interpreted and experienced a sustained professional development process focusing on instruction and student learning, a form of Elmore’s Superintendents in the Classroom (SITC) Network. Specifically, I examined how the addition of principals in the SITC learning model experience changed the superintendents’ and principals’ knowledge and beliefs as well as their behavior in three areas: their individual experiences, the working relationship between superintendent and principal, and the way they now think about and encourage student learning.

For this phenomenological study, superintendents and principals were selected and individually interviewed from …

Molecular Characterization Of The Freshwater Snail Physella Acuta, Journey R. Nolan

Biology ETDs

Current insights into general animal biology, including immune function, are derived mostly from a few model organisms, a necessity imposed by effort required for in-depth studies. Modern next-generation sequencing (NGS) enables genomics-level investigations to test whether specific aspects of biology are general or unique across animal phylogeny. Meaningful comparisons require thorough identification of phylogenetically-relevant species. To provide a touchstone for Biomphalaria glabrata, a freshwater snail that is a major study model for invertebrate immunity, physid snails (Physidae; Hygrophila; Panpulmonata; Gastropoda; Mollusca) will be developed as a model for comparative immunogenomics. Chapter 1 introduces current research capabilities and details the rationale …

Systematics Within The Zopheridae Complex (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea), Nathan Patrick Lord

Biology ETDs

The Ironclad Beetles, Cylindrical Bark Beetles, and Monommatid Beetles are a cosmopolitan family with over 1,700 species worldwide. Now constituting members from three previous families (Zopheridae, Monommatidae, Colydiidae), Zopheridae represent a wide array of morphological diversity and variability. Larvae of most members are fungivores/detritovores, while some are suspected of boring into sound wood. Adults are predaceous or fungivores, and some zopherids have been linked to the spread of fungal disease. Morphologically, adults are hard to separate from other tenebrionoid families. Zopherids can be distinguished by 9-11 segmented antennae with a usually abrupt, 1-3 segmented club, antennal insertions concealed from above, …

Magic Squares Of Squares Of Order 4 Over Certain Finite Fields, Drew O’Neill

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

A magic square of order n over a commutative ring R is an n x n matrix such that all the rows, columns, and the two diagonals add up to a fixed sum, which is called the magic sum. If all of the numbers in a magic square are perfect squares in R, it is called a magic square of squares. The rings under consideration in this thesis are either Z or Zp where p is a prime. In this thesis I present methods of constructing magic squares of squares of order 4 from selected ones of order 3. A …

Book Reviews, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Using Advanced Sampling And Polarizable Force Fields, Tugba Kucukkal

All Dissertations

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out for aqueous dipeptides, water over self-assembled monolayer (SAM) surfaces, and the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) ion channel. The main goal is to use advanced methods to increase the accuracy of molecular dynamics simulations while seeking solutions to problems relevant to chemistry, biophysics and materials science. In addition, activation energies of several cyclodimerization reactions were studied quantum mechanically. The simulations of the aqueous dipeptides and SAM surfaces involve modeling and detailed analysis of interfacial water, which is of interest to a range of fields from biology to materials science. For example, water has a …

Offshore Wind Energy Study And Its Impact On South Carolina Transmission System, Tingting Wang

All Dissertations

As one of the renewable resources, wind energy is developing dramatically in last ten years. Offshore wind energy, with more stable speed and less environmental impact than onshore wind, will be the direction of large scale wind industry. Large scale wind farm penetration affects power system operation, planning and control. Studies concerning type III turbine based wind farm integration problems such as wind intermittency, harmonics, low voltage ride through capability have made great progress. However, there are few investigations concerning switching transient impacts of large scale type III turbine based offshore wind farm in transmission systems. This topic will gain …

Three Essays Evaluating Health Impacts Of The National School Lunch Program, Janet Peckham

All Dissertations

This research focuses on the health impacts of participation in the National School Lunch Program, a program providing free and reduced-cost lunches for income-eligible students and minimally subsidizing lunches for income-ineligible students. In the past decade, increasing incidence of childhood obesity, particularly among low-income individuals has drawn scrutiny over the NSLP's role in the health of student-aged children.

The first chapter introduces the reader to the NSLP, providing a history of the program since its inception at the turn of the 20th century and addressing current issues in the economic literature regarding health impacts of program participation. The second chapter …

Sulfonated Perfluorocyclobutyl (Pfcb) Aryl Ether Polymers: Synthesis, Reactivity, And Characterization For Polymer Electrolyte Applications, Jiyoung Park

All Dissertations

Perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether copolymers are excellent candidates for proton exchange membrane (PEM) component in PEM fuel cells. Sulfonated PFCB copolymer membranes exhibit not only high chemical/thermal/mechanical stability but also high proton conductivity. In this regard, PFCB aryl ether copolymers were synthesized via thermal step-growth [2 + 2] cyclopolymerization from aryl bis-(trifluorovinyl ether) (TFVE) monomers and oligomers. Experimental and computational studies confirmed that copolymerization of relatively electron-rich and electron-poor TFVE monomers gave selective-segmented copolymers in an one-pot polymerization. After sulfonation, the PFCB copolymers comprising hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments gave membranes with high proton conductivity. Cross-linked membranes of the sulfonated PFCB …

A Characterization Of Gold Nanoparticle Uptake By Mammalian Cells, Thomas Garner

All Dissertations

Over the past decade, there has been an exponential growth in products and applications that utilize nanotechnology, as these materials present exciting opportunities for the development of new products, enhancement of existing products, and the evolution of innovative procedures. However, this recent growth has occurred in the absence of detailed knowledge concerning the interactions of nanoparticles with biological systems. Nanoparticles must usually be bioavailable in order to elicit a biological response, and to reach an active site they must usually cross a membrane. As a result, cell culture studies have proven to be beneficial and are generally one of the …

Building The Science Of Healthcare Public Reporting: Integrating Anecdotal Information To Enhance Sensemaking, Kapil Chalil Madathil

All Dissertations

Anecdotal information about a healthcare consumers' interaction with care providers and hospital facilities is becoming increasingly available to the public in the form of YouTube videos and as discussion posts on peer-support groups. This form of information can potentially jeopardize the utility of reports generated by Federal entities as it potentially diverts consumer attention from more reliable measures of quality. This dissertation investigates how a health consumer's choice of care is influenced by anecdotal information on the care process available on YouTube. This research then investigates the effect of information presentation methods such as narratives and active engagement with quality …

A War Examined: Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Climate Impacts On Zooplankton Population Dynamics In Coastal Marine Ecosystems, Harold P. Batchelder, Kendra L. Daly, Cabell S. Davis, Rubao Ji, Mark D. Ohman, William T. Peterson, Jeffrey A. Runge

Marine Science Faculty Publications

The 20-year US GLOBEC (Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics) program examined zooplankton populations and their predators in four coastal marine ecosystems. Program scientists learned that environmental controls on zooplankton vital rates, especially the timing and magnitude of reproduction, growth, life-cycle progression, and mortality, determine species population dynamics, seasonal and spatial distributions, and abundances. Improved knowledge of spatial-temporal abundance and distribution of individual zooplankton taxa coupled with new information linking higher trophic level predators (salmon, cod, haddock, penguins, seals) to their prey yielded mechanistic descriptions of how climate variation impacts regionally important marine resources. Coupled ecological models driven by improved regional-scale climate …

Uncertain Growth And The Value Of The Future, Jaume Masoliver, Miquel Montero, John Geanakoplos, J. Doyne Farmer

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

For environmental problems such as global warming future costs must be balanced against present costs. This is traditionally done using an exponential function with a constant discount rate, which reduces the present value of future costs. The result is highly sensitive to the choice of discount rate and has generated a major controversy as to the urgency for immediate action. We study analytically several standard interest rate models from finance and compare their properties to empirical data. From historical time series for nominal interest rates and inflation covering 14 countries over hundreds of years, we find that extended periods of …

Information And Volatility, Dirk Bergemann, Tibor Heumann, Stephen Morris

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

In an economy of interacting agents with both idiosyncratic and aggregate shocks, we examine how the information structure determines aggregate volatility. We show that the maximal aggregate volatility is attained in a noise free information structure in which the agents confound idiosyncratic and common components of the payoff state, and display excess response to the common component, as in Lucas (1972). The upper bound on aggregate volatility is linearly increasing in the variance of idiosyncratic shocks, for any given variance of aggregate shocks. Our results hold in a setting of symmetric agents with linear best responses and normal uncertainty. We …

Truthful Equilibria In Dynamic Bayesian Games, Johannes Hörner, Satoru Takahashi, Nicolas Vieille

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This paper characterizes an equilibrium payoff subset for dynamic Bayesian games as discounting vanishes. Monitoring is imperfect, transitions may depend on actions, types may be correlated and values may be interdependent. The focus is on equilibria in which players report truthfully. The characterization generalizes that for repeated games, reducing the analysis to static Bayesian games with transfers. With independent private values, the restriction to truthful equilibria is without loss, except for the punishment level; if players withhold their information during punishment-like phases, a folk theorem obtains.

Uniform Consistency Of Nonstationary Kernel-Weighted Sample Covariances For Nonparametric Regression, Degui Li, Peter C.B. Phillips, Jiti Gao

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

We obtain uniform consistency results for kernel-weighted sample covariances in a nonstationary multiple regression framework that allows for both fixed design and random design coefficient variation. In the fixed design case these nonparametric sample covariances have different uniform convergence rates depending on direction, a result that differs fundamentally from the random design and stationary cases. The uniform convergence rates derived are faster than the corresponding rates in the stationary case and confirm the existence of uniform super-consistency. The modelling framework and convergence rates allow for endogeneity and thus broaden the practical econometric import of these results. As a specific application, …

Libguides, Blog Posts, And Articles, Oh My!, Marie Stefanini Newman, Taryn L. Rucinski

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

“Publish, publish, publish!” is a piece of advice commonly offered to students by career services departments in law schools across the country. Student publications typically take the form of law review or bar journal articles or perhaps competition submissions; however, with the advent of accessible Web 2.0 technologies, publishing has evolved to encompass all sorts of content, styles, lengths, and audiences.

The Pace Law Library approach has been mostly electronic in nature and incorporates into Pace’s advanced legal research courses portfolio pieces such as student-authored research guides, blog posts, and bar journal articles. Moreover, student notes that satisfy the school’s …

Preferences Are Public Rights, Brook E. Gotberg

Faculty Publications

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Stern v. Marshall, there is widespread uncertainty as to what other proceedings may constitutionally fall within a bankruptcy court’s core jurisdiction. Supreme Court jurisprudence has been cryptic regarding the constitutional limitations of non-Article III courts, but the Court has identified a "public rights exception" to the general rule that the judicial power must be exercised only by judges with life tenure and salary protection. This public rights exception has not yet been explicitly extended to a bankruptcy proceeding, but the reasoning of the Court strongly suggests that a trustee’s motion to …

A Basic Qualitative Study Investigating The Implementation Of Constructivist Teaching Practices In A K-2 Art Classroom, Carly Schrader

Art Education Projects

Abstract

This basic qualitative research examined the question, “What aspects of constructivism can be found in a kindergarten through second grade art classroom?” Over an eight to ten week period, I investigated a kindergarten, first, and second grade class of an elementary art teacher who did not identify herself as a constructivist teacher, but claimed to incorporate as many constructivist aspects as possible. I interpreted the data collected through a constructivist lens in order to record the implementation of aspects of constructivist practices and explore the variety of verbal and visual responses of the teacher and students. Data collection methods …

A Case Study Investigating How Art Education Fosters Collaboration In An Urban Environment Through The Lens Of Public Pedagogy, Tracy Fox

Art Education Projects

This case study examines how one particular after-school arts program in an urban environment bridges the gap between a university campus and the community it serves, creating opportunities for collaboration via the arts. The study was conducted at a community center run by Buffalo State.

Over the course of the study, ten interviews were conducted with a variety of people connected to the Community Arts Center’s (CAC) arts programs, including partners in the public arts initiative. The data was collected and analyzed over the course of eight weeks through the lens of Henry Giroux’s public pedagogy, which focuses on educational …