Digital Commons Network^™

Role Of The Α1a-Adrenergic Receptor In Synaptic Plasticity, Cognition & Neurogenesis, Brianna Lynn Goldenstein

Theses and Dissertations

Norepinephrine (NE) is a neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory. NE activates adrenergic receptors (ARs) and stimulating the α1A-AR subtype has been known to increase adult neurogenesis (ANG). We hypothesized that α1A-AR-induced ANG would enhance learning and memory. Constitutively active mutant (CAM) α1A-AR, α1A-AR knock-out (KO), normal wild type (WT) mice, and mice treated with the α1A-AR selective agonist cirazoline (CRZ) were tested on the Barnes maze. CAM α1A-AR and CRZ-treated mice performed better and α1A-AR KO mice performed poorer than WT. Long-term potentiation (LTP) experiments on aged CAM α1A-AR mice revealed enhanced LTP in CAM α1A-AR mice versus WT. …

Conversion Of Cardiac Bypass Into An Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Circuit: A Case From Pakistan, Riffat Rasheed, Ijaz Hidayat, Muneer Amanullah, Babar Hasan

Department of Surgery Docs

A 35 days old neonate with d-loop transposition of great arteries, underwent an arterial switch operation following which he developed hypotension attributed to left ventricular failure. During cardiopulmonary resuscitation decision was made to place him on cardiac bypass again. Due to limited resources and unavailability of a specialized extracorporeal membrane oxygenator machine, the CPB was modified and converted an ECMO. The neonate was successfully decannulated after 72 hours and discharged home after 3 weeks of the operation without any sequel. ECMO is a viable option in developing countries and may help in improving the outcome especially in neonatal congenital heart …

Connecting Schools To Neighborhood Revitalization:, Lawrence Pesch

Dissertations (1934 -)

ABSTRACT

CONNECTING SCHOOLS TO NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION:

THE CASE OF THE MAPLE HEIGHTS

NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Lawrence P. Pesch

Marquette University, 2014

This case study focuses on the way a neighborhood association connects schools to broad change in an urban neighborhood of a large Midwestern city. The first section provides a review of the literature on community involvement in school and neighborhood reform. It reviews the historical origins of the current school-community relationship, the reasons behind the movement to increase community involvement, the diversity of understandings about the nature of community participation, the processes used to improve the capacity of both the …

Small Group Crisis Response Strategies In Relation To Large Groups, Nina Madeline Sorber

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Crisis communication, as a whole, has been widely studied by many communication researchers. Much of the research focuses on large corporations and devastating crises that become a household name. Crises such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989 or the criminal scandal of the Enron Corporation in 2001 are deliberately studied for the success and failures of its crisis management teams. What remains understudied are the crises of small groups. Socha (1997) describes a small group as being more than two and less than 15 people. With the millions of professional small groups in the world today, crises are …

Relationship Between Narrative And Engagement, Shelley Janine Svedahl

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study examined the use of narrative, specifically storytelling, on the perception of participation in the decision-making process. The changing demographics increased diversity in the workplace, and the need to increase understanding between cultures is particularly important when difference is often perceived as a barrier. A number of studies have been conducted to explore the use of narrative, and it is critical that communicators seek ways to create opportunities for sharing stories. This study utilized an ethnographic focus group and individual interviews involving a sample of eleven First Nations and non-First Nations people employed in a Branch where storytelling is …

Mothers, Daughters, And The Intent To Breastfeed, Aquila Brooke Mendez-Valdez

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The decision to breastfeed is a deeply personal one for every woman. There are often factors such as family and medical support that are outside a new mother's control and can influence her in how she views the nourishment of her infant. Previous studies have documented the effect doctors, nurses, and lactation consultants have on breastfeeding success. Less popular, however, is investigating how familial support and interpersonal communication plays a role in encouraging or discouraging the practice. This study examines how mothers and daughters communicate about breastfeeding, and the role it plays in both Mexico and the United States in …

Rio Grande Valley Student Completion Rates In University Schools Outside Of The Rio Grande Valley, Demetrius James Villanueva

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The goal of this study is to create understanding of why Hispanic students from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas have trouble completing their higher educational goals once they leave the area. This study applies communication accommodation theory to better understand how students adapt their communication styles in their academic, personal, and social lives. This study also applied standpoint theory to see how growing up in the Rio Grande Valley impacts the students’ sense of selves. Ethnographic research was conducted with five students attending four different universities around Texas. Through observations and interviews, the researcher found several ways that the …

Understanding The Role Of Communication Anxiety/Uncertainty Management (Aum) Among Female Teenage Bloggers, Heather Carleston

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study examines how and what female teenagers communicate through blogging; how they manage uncertainty and anxiety within their posts and/or comments; the role communication anxiety/uncertainty plays in self-presentation and self-disclosure for this population; and how, when faced with bullying, flaming and adverse responses, they express and manage anxiety and uncertainty online. Using both Buber’s (1970) I-It and I-Thou philosophy and Gudykunst’s (2005) Anxiety and Uncertainty Management theory, this study examined the blog sites of three female U.S. teenagers. Examining the five most recently published blog posts, the study analyzed the details and self-disclosure levels, from site design and development; …

Indigenous Engagement And Resistance In The 21st Century: Empowering Indigenous Identity With Indigenous Film, Heather A. Hafer Cole

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Indigenous people of the United States have historically been and continue to be objectified and misrepresented in art, history, science, literature, and mass media. This continued colonization contributes to loss of respect for culture, identity crisis among indigenous youth, health disparities of epidemic proportions, poor performance in education, substance abuse, violence and poverty. This qualitative study expands upon existing scholarship in media anthropology (Dilworth, 1996; Ginsberg, 1991 & 2008; and Prins, 2002) and indigenous studies (Rader, 2011; Singer, 2001; and Tuhiwai Smith, 2012) by analyzing the indigenous voice expressed through media practice, storytelling as a tool for empowering indigenous identity …

Media Framing, Proximity And Spheres: The Media Account Before And After The August 21, 2013 Syrian Chemical Attack, Jeremy D. Crisp

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The conflict in Syria over the past two years came to the forefront of international policy, and media reporting, following the August 21, 2013, chemical attack within the country which left more than 1,400 civilians dead. The United States administration was thrust into a position to respond in some fashion to those attacks. President Barack Obama and some U.S. policy makers called for limited military intervention. Others officials called for non-intervention. Diplomacy ultimately prevailed. How the media framed the conflict before and after the attack is the crux of this research, as media framing can play a role in how …

Communication And Longevity In Deaf-Hearing Marriage, Michael B. Ballard

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

"Marriage with a hearing person is frowned upon. Deaf marry Deaf approximately nine times out of ten" (Lane et al, 1996, p. 71). With the assistance of Burgoon's (1988) Expectancy Violations Theory and Philipsen's (1997) Speech Codes Theory, this thesis identifies cultural and language conflicts that may arise in Deaf-hearing marriages and questions the general assumption that 90% of all Deaf-hearing marriages end in divorce. This assumed statistic prompts the research question: What communicative practices do spouses use to contribute to the longevity of Deaf-hearing marriages? Fifty-seven individuals completed an original mixed-method survey identifying how they resolve cultural and language …

Communication Education Curriculum For A Multicultural Learning Context, Phatana Ith

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study investigates the socio-academic experiences of international students in higher education through the review of existing research and conduct of original research. There is a need for interpersonal communication curriculum in higher education that addresses a multicultural learning context to meet the growing needs of an internationalized workforce (Qing, 2009). Curriculum that addresses a multicultural learning context should meet the needs of internationalization across the globe (2009). The growing number of international students learning in foreign contexts has increased by nearly 50% in the last 10 years. In order to meet the changing needs in higher education, this study …

Communication Apprehension And Its Effects On Online Readiness Skills, Lindsay Kristine Miller

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This project developed an assessment instrument testing student communication apprehension in the online environment. The instrument assessed communication apprehension that might be linked to online written communication, computer, and self-regulated learning readiness skills. The development of the instrument is informed by recent scholarship, as well as qualitative research on a community college campus, which sought to investigate and surface the communication apprehension that online students negotiate. This qualitative project utilized two research methods: focus group research of ten online students (five females and five males ranging in age from 18 to 60) and field research interviews of four online teachers …

Facebook & Text Messaging: The Effects On Single Family Communication Dynamics, Courtney Sunstrum Meister

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate how two communication mediums, Facebook and text messaging, influence the ways in which single parent families communicate. This study adds to our understanding not only how communication mediums aid in communication dynamics, but also how single parent families communicate amongst themselves. Research was conducted by a thorough investigation of current literature, a survey study taken by 30 participants, and five face-to-face interviews. After the study, it was determined that single parent families utilize Facebook and text messaging to communicate with family members. While these two mediums may not be their primary source …

An Exploration Of Power Distance And Self-Disclosure In Asian And Pacific Islander American Cultures On Guam, Faith Villanueva Realica

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Power distance is a dynamic that can greatly impact the communication between a child and a parent. Parents instruct their children on what are culturally acceptable and unacceptable behaviors and communication methods. These cultural guidelines for interaction and communication remain with the child until adulthood and have the power to influence the child’s level of disclosure. This study is an investigation of power distance in the parent and adult child relationship and its impact on self-disclosure in the Filipino and Chamorro cultures on Guam. The study’s theoretical framework is based on Mulder’s Power Theory and also applies the relationship development …

Non Profit Organizations And Social Media: An Exploration Into How Non Profit Organizations Use And Misuse Social Media Outlets Utilizing Framing And Public Spheres, Alexandra Chiulli

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This thesis researched how well social media works with NPOs to effectively communicate with their supporters. Being in a technology age, NPOs have had to embrace social media as being the main form of communication; however, this does not mean that all like to use it. One of the main conflicts in NPOs using social media as the main communicative tool is the loss of personal interaction with their supporters. NPOs began with having to utilize interpersonal communication only and with the new age of technology, they are struggling with keeping up with the different sites as well as the …

A Study Of The Relationships Between Income, Information Channels, And College Match Among Admitted Students At Gonzaga University, Erik Hoffman

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The college admissions process often disadvantages low-income students because they lack equal access to the information channels used by their more affluent peers. Especially for the most selective colleges, income has been shown to substantially impact the application behaviors and enrollment decisions of low-income students. Low-income students are more likely to be “under-matched,” which means they fail to enroll at colleges that meet their academic qualifications. According to one national data sample, 40.9% of all college students are under-matched, and 16.1% are “substantially under-matched,” meaning they are enrolled at a school two levels below their selectivity match (Smith, Pender, & …

The Role Of Social Media In Public Relations, Jake Chappelle

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This thesis provides an assessment of how organizations utilize social media sites in public relations. The study investigates the relationships between social media (SM) and public relations (PR), particularly on the nature and effects of standalone SM functions in communications, or PR divisions of various businesses. By applying the Uses and Gratification Theory, this paper will briefly explore how business leaders use social media for the benefit of their companies, because with social media being a powerful, and global public relations tool, information and communication has become properly managed. Social (networking) media has gained popularity in the business sectors of …

Health Media Literacy: Developing A Training Course For Health Professionals, Cara Scanze

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Media has clear impacts on children and teens’ health behaviors and choices. It is imperative that youth become critical media users in order to understand how media can impact their health and to challenge influential media messages. Media literacy education is a viable option for teaching youth how to become savvy media users and media creators. Though elements of media literacy education have been incorporated into some classroom curricula, public health professionals can also serve as youth educators on media literacy. To fill this opportunity in media literacy education, a training course was developed for public health practitioners, other health …

A Qualitative Study Analyzing Cps Social Workers: Creating Meaning Through Communication And Hidden Internal Biases, Heather A. Parker

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The goal of this study is to determine how social workers create meaning through communication with their clients and if internalized oppression influences their communication behaviors. The literature review and research reveal a number of subareas that need to be addressed in order to understand why dialogue takes a primary role in the positive outcome of a Child Protective Service (CPS) case. A review of educational material and scholarly literature was combined with an ethnographic study which included individual interviews and focus groups. It explored the societal dilemma of racism and internalized biases; along with the dynamics of communication between …

Remembering Together: The Relationships Of Historical Loss, Social Support, Depression, And Resilience, Matthew Croxton

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Colonization, genocide, boarding schools, and relocation programs have created complex psychological issues for Native American people. Although these events are rooted in the past, the resulting political, social, and economic situations continue to play a role in influencing the mental health of Native Americans. There are considerations to be given to social support as a protective factor that provides resiliency for Native Americans. Historical trauma (as measured by the Historical Loss Scale, HLS), social support (as measured by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, MSPSS), depression (as measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, CES-D) and resilience …

Primary Prevention Of Childhood Obesity, Registered Nurses' Association Of Ontario

General Submissions: Community and Population-based Materials

The purpose of this Guideline is to provide nurses across all practice settings with evidence-based practice, education, system, organization and policy recommendations for the primary prevention of obesity in infants, preschool, and elementary-school-aged children.

Preventing And Addressing Abuse And Neglect Of Older Adults: Person-Centred, Collaborative, System-Wide Approaches, Registered Nurses' Association Of Ontario

General Submissions: Community and Population-based Materials

Best Practice Guidelines are systematically developed statements designed to assist nurses and clients in making decisions about appropriate health care (Field & Lohr, 1990). Initial development of this guideline's purpose and scope included three teleconference focus groups with a total of 26 topic experts and health-care practitioners across Canada, and one in-person focus group with 20 older adults living in Ontario. The Expert Panel was then convened and determined the purpose of the guideline: To expand the awareness of abuse and neglect of older adults and provide evidence-based recommendations for preventing and addressing abuse and neglect in all health-care settings …

Working With Families To Promote Safe Sleep For Infants 0-12 Months Of Age, Registered Nurses' Association Of Ontario

General Submissions: Community and Population-based Materials

This guideline has been developed to address the question of how health-care providers can partner with families to promote safe sleep for infants 0-12 months of age to reduce known risk factors for injury and death. It provides evidence-based recommendations for nurses and the interprofessional teamG who provide care, in all health-care settings, to parents/caregivers and families of infants. This guideline is intended to be applicable to all nursing domains, including clinical, administration, and education.

Achieving Cultural Competency With Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender (Lgbt) Patients Through Application Of Carper's Fundamental Patterns Of Knowing In Nursing, Joseph R. Giancola

General Submissions: Community and Population-based Materials

Vulnerable groups with respect to health care are those susceptible to heightened adverse physical, psychological, or sociological health because of their particular status within society (De Chesnay & Anderson, 2008). Nurses and other health care professionals who work with non-institutionalized patients regularly provide care for members of vulnerable groups (Bailey, 2010). "Vulnerable populations include individuals living in poverty, those having immigrant status, people of color, and people who are marginalized by their sexual preference and/or religion" (Bailey, 2010, p. 55).

Isncc Tobacco Position Statement, International Society Of Nurses In Cancer Care

General Submissions: Organizations - Position Statements, White and Resource Papers

The International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC) published a position statement on tobacco control in July 2014. ISNCC believes that prevention of tobacco use, prevention of exposure to second hand smoke, assessment of nicotine dependency and support for smoking cessation are valuable approaches for nurses in order to decrease tobacco-related health problems. Furthermore, ISNCC is committed to maximizing the potential that nurses, the largest group of healthcare professionals, have in reducing adult and youth tobacco use, promoting cessation, actively protecting all people against exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke, and helping to increase access to tobacco use prevention and …

Assessing Ecological Condition Of Large Landscapes With Limited Human Impacts, William James Kleindl

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Our ability to measure global climate change has generated dire predictions in global ecosystem conditions. These predictions have inspired efforts to develop assessment metrics that examine alterations in ecological condition resulting from climate dynamics. As climate change drives future watershed- or regional-scale assessment model development, many questions will need to be addressed concerning potential tool constraints. Chief among these will be: to what degree is ecosystem condition affected by anthropogenic disturbance, climate-driven disturbance or natural variability, both individually and in combination? As a first step toward assessing impacts on ecological condition resulting from climate driven spatial or temporal disturbance gradients, …

Service-Learning As A Way Of Developing Pre-Service Teachers’ Knowledge, Perceptions, And Cultural Awareness Of Aboriginal Education, Glenda Cain

Theses

This research explored service-learning as a way of developing pre-service teachers’ pedagogical literacy skills and cultural perceptions with regard to Aboriginal education through involvement in an Aboriginal educational setting. The purpose was for pre-service teachers to gain a better understanding of Aboriginal education whilst developing their own literacy knowledge and instructional skills. Service-learning was the teaching method chosen as it involves experiential learning with structured opportunities for critical thinking and reflection.

A qualitative approach was favoured whereby investigations occurred in a naturalistic setting. As such, the direct experiences of pre-service teachers formed the basis of data gathering and analysis. Field …

Multiple Intelligences And Therapeutic Alliances: Counsellors' Experiences Of Incorporating A Multiple Intelligence Approach To Counselling, Mark Pearson

Theses

Counselling clients display many ways of reflecting and communicating within therapy. Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences (MI), while applied widely in the field of education, has only recently been applied to the field of counselling, and has the potential to support flexible responses to client’s different styles. In this study, counsellor experiences with introducing a MI approach to counselling are investigated. A focus on the impact of MI on therapeutic alliances is highlighted as therapeutic connection has been shown to contribute significantly to positive therapy outcomes. Recent research highlights the positive impact from modifying treatment in response to individual client …

Molecular Markers Of Weight Loss In Sleeve Gastrectomy Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study, Tamara C. Preda

Theses

Background:

Obesity is a polymorphic chronic disease that has reached epidemic proportions. Bariatric surgery including sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has an increasingly important role in long-term management of these patients. The molecular mechanisms post SG are complex and not fully understood.

Aims:

The primary study aim is to investigate the hormonal mechanisms by which SG effects weight loss and related health benefits by examining the association between SG weight loss and biochemical/hormone levels. A secondary aim was to assess the improvements in obesity related chronic disease states following SG.

Methods:

We conducted a prospective cohort study of obese patients undergoing SG …