Digital Commons Network^™

Tribological Characterisation And Modelling Of Premium Tubular Connections, Fiona Stewart

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Premium tubular connections (sometimes referred to as rotary shouldered thread connections), are commonly used to complete a production string in a well in the oil and gas industry. These are attached to threaded pipe ends using a bucking unit and a pre-defined torque value. The torque value is calculated using the coefficient of friction between the two surfaces and a well-known torque equation. The existing technology relies on the coefficient of friction approximated by interpolation, or extrapolation, of empirical data. This may become inaccurate due to the variation of surface finish and/or operation conditions and lead to over or under …

Air Permeability Of Balsa Core, And Its Influence On Defect Formation In Resin Infused Sandwich Laminates, Richard Kingsley Cullen

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Many large composite structures are manufactured using sandwich laminates to achieve high specific bending strength and stiffness. Examples include wind turbine blades, where self-weight becomes increasingly important as blade size increases. Resin infusion of three-dimensional sandwich laminates can result in complex resin flow paths, and subsequent defect formation, which are difficult to predict. The core material used for sandwich construction and its interaction with liquid resins may also influence the formation of defects, and in the case of balsa this effect can be used to reduce defect severity. In order to evaluate the effect of cored sandwich laminate construction on …

Experience And Viewpoints In The Social Domain Of Space Technology, Joanna Griffin

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This thesis is about how space technology is experienced in the social domain and how its purpose is recast from different viewpoints. The author is an artist and the approach taken foregrounds qualities of experience and viewpoint in which artists have a particular investment. This approach opens up the ways that affect, agency and authorship cross social domains that are directly and indirectly associated with the production of space technologies. A key focus is a group project led by the author that was initiated in response to the launch in October 2008 of the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft by the Indian Space …

Effects Of Cpla-2 On The Migration And Proliferation Of Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells And The 2-D Migratory Patterns Of Tropomyosin In Femoral And Abdominal Aorta Tissue, Jaimeson Thomas Powell

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract 1: Platelet derived growth factor BB (PDGF BB) has an important influence on smooth muscle cell proliferation in restenosis and atherosclerosis. Our understanding of different signal transduction pathways involved in the response of smooth muscle cells to PDGF BB is potentially significant for understanding and manipulating these processes. Prior studies have demonstrated a crucial activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in smooth muscle cells to PDGF BB with the production of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2. In these studies we investigated the role for another PLA2, calcium-independent PLA2 (iPLA2) in comparison to cPLA2 on smooth muscle cell migration and …

What Ought To Happen In 2014?, Ishrat Husain Dr.

Faculty Research - Newspaper and Magazine Articles

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has set out the agenda for 2014 by focusing on energy, extremism, economy, ‘trade not aid’ and governance. These are the right issues – very critical and linked together. But how can this agenda be implemented?

For each of these issues, responsibilities should be assigned, performance indicators specified and accountability for results established. This will enable the prime minister to assess the performance of his ministers and secretaries.

Policy credibility has been a casualty for too long and needs to be established. Tough policy decisions have to be taken in consultation with stakeholders prior to …

Bodies And Borders In Francisco Delicado’S Retrato De La Lozana Andaluza, Israel Burshatin

Spanish Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Novel Conditioning Protocols Focusing On Oxygen Manipulation To Enhance Stem Cell Transplantation, Brandon William Hanna

Theses and Dissertations

Musculoskeletal tissue engineering involves the creation of multiple tissue types that interact together to form a particular function related to motion and maintaining the body's frame. In order to create a fully functional musculoskeletal system, a concrete method for the creation of the different tissue types must first be completed. Of the different tissue components related to the function of a musculoskeletal system, these studies deal with preconditioning circumstances of stem cells that will differentiate into cartilage and bone. These studies also deal with methods for the creation of functional bone and cartilage to be combined for the creation of …

A Correlation Study Of Leadership Indicators And Literacy Outcomes: Examining A State Adopted Leadership Assessment Model, Abigail Deann Woods

Theses and Dissertations

In an attempt to shed light on the possible impact certain leadership practices might have on student outcomes in literacy, this research considers the relationship of selected effective leadership traits and their impact on the implementation of a literacy intervention program. If it is true that all schools' have as their primary goal to prepare students for the rigorous learning, reading and analyzing required that is expected to be successful in the future, then examining the role that leadership might have on that goal remains important. Further, it is the hope that this analysis might further educators' understanding on the …

The Impact Of Culture & Ethnicity On The Counseling Process: Perspectives Of Genetic Counselors From Minority Ethnic Groups, Brittanie Morris

Theses and Dissertations

In the genetic counseling profession, discussions about cross-cultural counseling and cultural competence emphasize the importance of patient culture as well as counselor culture in a counseling session. A culturally competent counselor should be aware of the influence of her own cultural values on interactions with patients and peers (Weil, 2000; & Uhlmann, Schuette, & Yashar, 2011). Focusing specifically on counselors from cultural/ethnic minorities, this mixed-methods study sought to empirically evaluate the influence of a counselor's cultural values and ethnic identity on the genetic counseling process. 162 genetic counselors, 58 of whom self-identified as being from an ethnic minority group, completed …

How Does Climate Adaptation Affect Emergency Management?, Jonathan W. Gaddy, Elizabeth Clark, Jeffrey R. Ryan

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Recent reports from credible research groups suggest that climate change is a reality. The steady rise in extreme weather events over the past decade represents the leading edge of climate change. Climate-induced interactions within and between the natural environment and our human and constructed systems will not only exacerbate existing vulnerabilities but will create new ones. Emergency managers at all levels need to plan and prepare for climate adaptation challenges, which should enable communities to successfully weather the storm. The ability to adapt to the coming changes is dependent upon the actions we take today to create resilience and sustainability. …

An Evaluation Of Clinical Interventions And Client Satisfaction In A Mandated Massachusetts Driver Alcohol Education Program : A Project Based Upon An Investigation At Spectrum Health Systems, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Adesholla L. Gionet

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was carried out to evaluate the use of psycho-education as a clinical intervention with court-mandated, drunk, and under-the-influence (DUI) clients, as well as, those who operated a motor vehicle under-the-influence (OUI). Additionally, the study was designed to determine the extent of client-perceived satisfaction in a Massachusetts Alcohol Education program. Furthermore, the study intended to give clients a voice in expressing themselves about what elements of the program could benefit from improvement in order to assist in motivating court-mandated clients to make positive behavioral changes that will result in lower alcohol and substance-use related recidivism rates. A questionnaire was …

Building Institutional Repositories: Emerging Challenges, Yumi Ohira

Criss Library Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

This presentation will discuss the benefits and challenges associated with Institutional Repository (IR) initiatives and development, while sharing our experiences from WySR (Wyoming Scholar’s Repository). Our institutional repository, WySR, will be used as a case study to illustrate particular difficulties in obtaining author versions of publications; the quality of open access research; and technical limitations.

Developing Central And Eastern Europe As A Hub For Global Entrepreneurship: Budapest And Prague As Cases In Point, Bala Mulloth, Andreas Antonopoulos

Studia i Materiały Wydział Zarządzania Uniwersytet Warszawski

It can be stated that Central and Eastern Europe is fast becoming a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. There appears to be a robust ecosystem where universities/business schools, venture capitalists and non-profit organizations are working together to promote entrepreneurship at several levels. This paper seeks to explore the entrepreneurial ecosystems prevalent in 2 prominent central and eastern European capital cities – Budapest and Prague, often referred to as the “Entrepreneurial corridor” of the CEE due to the straight line they represent geographically, cutting across the CEE region and being the main centers of entrepreneurial activity in this region. In the …

Aetiology Of Acute Febrile Episodes In Children Attending Korogwe District Hospital In North-Eastern Tanzania, C. Mahende, B. Ngasala, J. Lusingu, A. Butichi, P. Lushino, M. Lemnge, Zul Premji

Pathology, East Africa

Introduction: Although the burden of malaria in many parts of Tanzania has declined, the proportion of children with fever has not changed. This situation underscores the need to explore the possible causes of febrile episodes in patients presenting with symptoms at the Korogwe District Hospital (KDH).

Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted at KDH, north-eastern Tanzania. Patients aged 2 to 59 months presenting at the outpatient department with an acute medical condition and fever (measured axillary temperature ≥37.5°C) were enrolled. Blood samples were examined for malaria parasites, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and bacterial infections. A urine culture was …

Using Verbal Autopsy To Measure Causes Of Death: The Comparative Performance Of Existing Methods, C.J.L. Mahende, R. Lozano, A.D. Flaxman, P. Serina, D. Phillips, A. Stewart, S.L. James, A. Vahdatpour, C. Atkinson, M.K. Freeman, S.L. Ohno, R. Black, S.M. Ali, A.H. Baqui, L. Dandona, E. Dantzer, G.L. Darmstadt, V. Das, U. Dhingra, A. Dutta, W. Fawzi, S. Gomez, B. Hernandez, R. Joshi, H.D. Kalter, A. Kumar, V. Kumar, M. Lucero, S. Mehta, Zul Premji, D. Ramirez-Villalobos, H. Remolador, I. Riley, M. Romero, M. Said, D. Sanvictores, S. Sazawal, V. Tallo, A. D. Lopez

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Monitoring progress with disease and injury reduction in many populations will require widespread use of verbal autopsy (VA). Multiple methods have been developed for assigning cause of death from a VA but their application is restricted by uncertainty about their reliability.

Methods: We investigated the validity of five automated VA methods for assigning cause of death: InterVA-4, Random Forest (RF), Simplified Symptom Pattern (SSP), Tariff method (Tariff), and King-Lu (KL), in addition to physician review of VA forms (PCVA), based on 12,535 cases from diverse populations for which the true cause of death had been reliably established. For adults, …

Harnessing Microbiome And Probiotic Research In Sub-Saharan Africa: Recommendations From An African Workshop, Gregor Reid, Nicholas Nduti, Wilbert Sybesma, Remco Kort, Tobias R. Kollmann, Rodney Adam, Hamadi Boga, Eric M. Brown, Alexandra Einerhand, Hani El-Nezami, Gregory B. Gloor, Irene I. Kavere, Johanna Lindahl, Amee Manges, Wondu Mamo, Rocio Martin, Amy Mcmillan, Jael Obiero, Pamela A. Ochieng’, Arnold Onyango, Stephen Rulisa, Eeva Salminen, Seppo Salminen, Antony Sije, Jonathan R. Swann, William Van Treuren, Daniel Waweru, Steve J. Kemp

Pathology, East Africa

To augment capacity-building for microbiome and probiotic research in Africa, a workshop was held in Nairobi, Kenya, at which researchers discussed human, animal, insect, and agricultural microbiome and probiotics/prebiotics topics. Five recommendations were made to promote future basic and translational research that benefits Africans.

Functional Characterization Of A Novel Thioredoxin Domain-Containing Protein Of The Malaria Parasite Plasmodium, Rachel Kooistra

Master's Theses

A novel thioredoxin domain-containing protein of the malaria parasite Plasmodium was identified and found to be conserved among eukaryotes. This protein belongs to the phosducin-like family of proteins (PhLPs), and was therefore assigned the name PhLP1, since it is the first phosducin-like protein to be identified in Plasmodium. PhLPs have been found to have various roles in G-protein signaling, cell cycle progression, and protein folding. However, the biochemical mechanism by which PhLPs perform their function is unknown. Here is described the cloning and biochemical characterization of both PhLP1 and its human homolog TXNDC9. Both purified PhLP1 and TXNDC9 showed enzymatic …

The Perceived Threat Of Secularism And Militancy Among Religious Fundamentalists, Chase Wilson

Master's Theses

Religious fundamentalism has been found to predict endorsement of aggressive counterterrorism techniques, such as the use of severe interrogations and pre-emptive military attacks (e.g. Barnes, Brown & Osterman, 2012). The present study tested whether a perceived increase in secularism constitutes a psychological threat to American religious fundamentalists, and thus increases endorsement of such counterterrorism tactics. Replicating previous research, religious fundamentalism was found to positively predict endorsement of aggressive counterterrorism techniques, even when controlling for ideology and party identification. Contrary to hypothesis, the secularism prime had no effect. An unpredicted finding of this study was that religious fundamentalism only related to …

High-Stakes Testing: The Student Voice, Julianna Marie Cechowski

Master's Theses

There has been an intense debate about standardized testing since they were first introduced into public schools in the nineteenth century. In this research, it is important to know why standardized tests were created and how they have been debated. Roy C. Owens said. "We cannot know where we're going if we don't know where we've come from." Past information is important in this research because it will show how far we have progressed since the start of the standardized testing movement.

What started out as standardized testing later changed into high-stakes testing. The high-stakes were created by tying student …

Life Histories, Diets, And Secondary Production Of Odonata Along A Temperature Gradient On The Copper River Delta, Alaska, Nicole Emilie Furlan

Master's Theses

Dragonflies (Odonata: Epiprocta) and damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera) are a conspicuous aspect of the biota in ponds on southcentral Alaska's Copper River Delta (CRD). Odonate densities, secondary production, and diets were assessed in sixteen ponds classified by delta region (east vs. west) and landscape type (outwash plain (OP) vs uplifted marsh (UM)).

Enallagma boreale (Coenagrionidae) comprised 48.5% of collected odonates. Leucorrhinia hudsonica (Libellulidae) and Aeshna juncea (Aeshnidae) comprised 36.6% and 10.4% of collected odonates, respectively. L. hudsonica densities and secondary production were significantly higher (p<0.001) in west UM ponds than in other pond types. Ostracods (Ostracoda) and water boatmen (Corixidae) dominated west OP A. juncea diets. Midge larvae (Chironomidae) dominated A. juncea diets in remaining pond types, occurring in 68% of foreguts. 27% of A. juncea foreguts demonstrated intraguild predation, and 6% of foreguts demonstrated cannibalism. Foreguts containing threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) revealed A. juncea's apex predator role in CRD ponds.

Identifying Oncogenic Drivers In Nsclc Cells Harboring Egfr Kinase Domain Mutation With Resistance To Egfr Tki And Mesenchymal Phenotype, Yandi Gao

Master's Theses

EGFR kinase domain mutant NSCLC cells are exquisitely dependent on mutant EGFR for cell survival and proliferation. Patients with mutant EGFR respond well to the EGFR inhibitors. However, acquired drug resistance greatly limits the efficacy of the treatment. About 15% of the resistant tumors present an evidence of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). We hypothesize that the induction of mesenchymal promotes aberrant upregulation of other oncogenic drivers to replace the oncogenic mutant EGFR.

We observed overexpression of CXCR7 in NSCLC models of acquired resistance to EGFR TKI with mesenchymal phenotype. Additionally, our studies demonstrate that ectopically overexpressing CXCR7 in EGFR …

Characterizing The Mechanisms By Which Community Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Influences Keratinocyte Innate Immune Responses During Recurrent Infection, Ashley Lynn Larm

Master's Theses

Community associated–methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA–MRSA) infection has become a major health concern. In human epidermal keratinocytes, S. aureus is mainly recognized through toll–like receptor 2 (TLR2) and its co–receptor, CD14. We hypothesize that CA–MRSA isolates cause recurrent infections by interrupting TLR2–mediated inflammation in keratinocytes. Recurrent CA–MRSA bacterial culture supernatant exposure to keratinocytes in vitro resulted in significant decreases in pro and anti–inflammatory cytokine and HMGB1 secretion from keratinocytes as assessed by ELISAs. Recurrent CA–MRSA live infection did not result in significant changes in cytokine or HMGB1 secretion, surface receptor expression, or NFκB activation post infection as assessed by ELISA …

Characterization Of The Female Urinary Microbiota And Their Association With The Female Bladder Uroepithelium, Evann Elizabeth Hilt

Master's Theses

The current clinical dogma assumes that urine is sterile in the absence of clinically relevant infection. However, recent evidence has demonstrated the existence of a female urinary microbiota in women with and without lower urinary tract symptoms. With the knowledge that the lower urinary tract possesses its own unique microbiota, I hypothesize that certain bacterial species of the female microbiota may be the cause or play a role in lower urinary tract syndromes such as overactive bladder syndrome (OAB). About 40-50% of OAB patients do not respond to conventional anti-muscarinic and beta-3 adrenergic agonist drug treatment. One possible explanation for …

An Investigation Of The Role Of Vibrio Vulnificus Rbda And Vibrio Parahaemolyticus Sypa In Biofilm Formation, Cecilia Thompson

Master's Theses

Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus are both bacteria that cause human infection. V. vulnificus has a polysaccharide locus, rbd, responsible for bacterial aggregation, a form of biofilm. This locus is conserved in V. parahaemolyticus and in the non-pathogen V. fischeri.

In V. fischeri, the polysaccharide locus, syp, has been extensively characterized and shown to be important for biofilm formation. In V. fischeri, the first gene, sypA, is critical for biofilm formation. V. fischeri biofilm-proficient strains form wrinkled colonies. In contrast, sypA mutants form smooth colonies, indicating a lack of biofilm formation.

To understand the function of RbdA and SypAVP, proteins …

Teacher Attrition: The Job Choices Of Ex-Teachers, Becky Wock

Master's Theses

Teacher attrition is a phenomenon occurring in education systems throughout the world. As education policies alter and add to the demands of teachers, one solution for teachers is to leave the profession all together. While not all teachers have the option to find alternative employment and explore new careers, some regions boast plenty of employment opportunities. This research project focuses on the job choices of ex-teachers in the southeast region of Saskatchewan, Canada. The oil industry has made jobs plentiful throughout the province. This study seeks to further understand the factors impacting decisions to leave teaching and presents findings that …

Self-Objectification And Self-Surveillance In African American And Latina Girls: Links To Body Dissatisfaction And Self-Worth, Kimberly A. Burdette

Master's Theses

Drawing on a sample of low-income African American and Latina girls, the goal of the present investigation was to examine the relevance of self-objectification and self-surveillance to body dissatisfaction and self-worth. Body mass index (BMI), ethnicity, and perceived athletic competence were examined as moderators of these relations. Participants were 10- to 14-year-old African American and Latina girls recruited from a summer camp targeting low-income, urban girls. Surveys that include measures of self-objectification, self-surveillance, body dissatisfaction, self-worth, and perceived athletic competence were individually administered to participants by a research assistant. Height and weight were measured to calculate BMI. Ethnicity information was …

Chicago Housing: Understanding How Local Organizations Mobilize To Preserve Public And Affordable Housing, Cameron Williams

Master's Theses

Under the Plan for Transformation section 8 voucher use and mixed-income developments have increased in Chicago. Several developments have been demolished and replaced with mixed-income developments that are argued to provide better conditions and opportunities for public housing residents, but empirically have mixed results. Lathrop Homes is a public housing development that has withstood the mass demolitions and efforts to make it mixed-income because of resident and organizer challenges to the Chicago Housing Authority. Resident and organizer input for this study reveals their strong stance against the mixed-income development Lathrop Homes could become. The interests behind opposition might diverge, but …

Revisiting British Royalty Myths In Alan Bennett’S The Uncommon Reader, Mihaela Culea

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

In his novella The Uncommon Reader (2006/2008) English writer Alan Bennett (1934 – ) fictionally depicts the way in which one of the most prestigious institutions of Britishness, Queen Elizabeth II (1952 – ), turns from a highly institutionalized symbol into a real person and a very uncommon reader. The article explores Bennett’s fictional reconsideration of common myths connected to the British monarchy, a process which is activated by the Queen’s new fondness for reading. The paper develops a possible reinterpretation of these myths, seeking to prove that Bennett’s fictional exercise also sparks off the reflection of a number of …

A Comparative Study Of Shifts In English Translations Of The Quran: A Case Study On “Yusuf” Chapter, Reza Rezvani, Peyman Nouraey

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Long since Translation Studies emerged as a nascent academic discipline, it has seen a considerable number of descriptive theories and models, among which, Catford’s (1965) translation ‘shift’ approach has garnered particular attention within the realm of translational comparative studies. Quranic texts have constantly been the center of attention, as the Quran has established itself as the most famous and sublime text in Arabic. As such, the present comparative study aimed at investigating the frequencies of different types of translation shifts occurring in translations form Arabic into English drawing on Catford’s (1956) shift typology. To this end, seven translations of the …

Preparing Young Writers For Invoking And Addressing Today’S Interactive Digital Audiences, Ewa Mcgrail, J. Patrick Mcgrail

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Twenty-first century technologies, in particular the Internet and Web 2.0 applications, have transformed the practice of writing and exposed it to interactivity. One interactive method that has received a lot of critical attention is blogging. The authors sought to understand more fully whom young bloggers both invoked in their blogging (their idealized, intentional audience) and whom they addressed (whom they actually blogged to, following interactive posts). They studied the complete, yearlong blog histories of fifteen fifth-graders, with an eye toward understanding how these students constructed audiences and modified them, according to feedback they received from teachers as well as peers …