Digital Commons Network^™

Mypod: Exploring The Rhythmic Vessel, Matt Morgan

Theses & ETDs

This essay is a supplement to the one-of-a-kind experience of myPOD: Exploring the Rhythmic Vessel. The myPOD experience offers the user an opportunity to explore the conventionally cloudy convergence of vast concepts, most notably within the realms of humanity, technology, and music. This experience invites the user to interact intercorporeally with the technological body of myPOD and to step into an immersive sensory playground in which musical connections can be formed by the user between humans and robots. The user explores the musicality of bodies, both biological and technological. This essay places the work into a larger context, drawing inspiration …

Feminine Wiles: Performance And Embodiment By Webcam Models, Michelle W. Patteson

Theses & ETDs

Prior research on emotional labor and constructions of normatively feminine work identities in the service industry exists, but is limited, especially in terms of a focus on sex work. This study explores emotional labor and performances of femininity by webcam models. Surveys were administered to 43 woman-read1 webcam models. The results indicate that webcam models whose performance is influenced by what they think is desired by clientele are likely to perform emphasized femininity at work, controlling for femininity outside of work. This indicates that many models construct their performance based on their generalized knowledge of cisgender male heterosexual desire, given …

An Examination Of Polynucleotide Phosphorylase’S Protective Effects On Escherichia Coli Mg1655 Within Activated Macrophages, Jonas Preston Slackman

Theses & ETDs

In the body, macrophage cells phagocytize foreign prokaryotic cells. Once phagocytosed, these prokaryotic cells are sequestered in vesicles called phagosomes that fuse with lysosomes. The resulting phagolysosome contains the enzyme NADPH oxidase which releases reactive oxygen species that denature the encapsulated prokaryotes’ RNA. Damaged mRNAs serve as flawed translation templates and result in the synthesis of abnormal proteins. These proteins are not able to maintain homeostasis. As a counter to reactive oxygen species, the prokaryotes express the exoribonuclease polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase). PNPase binds to and subsequently neutralizes damaged RNA. Activators, including interferon- gamma (INF-Y), lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and chitin microparticles (CMPS), …

The Economics And Sustainability Of Compost At New College Of Florida: A Cost Benefit Analysis, David Smith

Theses & ETDs

This thesis is a cost-benefit analysis of the compost system at New College of Florida. During the spring semester of 2013, data were collected regarding the amount of food that was diverted from the waste stream and composted, as well as the amount of finished compost produced. Benefits to the system were calculated using the known cost of trash removal for the school, the value of the finished compost, and the estimated value of methane sequestration that occurs during the compost process. The cost of the system and operating expenses were then deducted from the benefits. The conclusion found that …

Analysis Of Copy Number Variation Association With Gwas Methylation Data, Jr., Steven Joseph Machusko

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examined whether CNVs have a statistically significant effect on the methylation status of a select group of genes previously found to have an association with lung cancer. Data from 1200 genotyped sputum samples from 1200 individuals of the Lovelace Smokers Cohort was analyzed to find the copy number variant composition of each sample. An association analysis between the found CNVs and data on each sample from a 12-gene methylation panel was then performed to determine any statistical significance between CNVs and the methylation phenotype. An ontology association analysis using the GREAT gene ontology tool was then performed on …

Selective Extraction Of The Herbicide Prometon Using Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Nanoparticles, Suzanne Setti

Theses & ETDs

Magnetic molecularly imprinted core-shell nanoparticles (magnetite core, silica shell) were prepared for the selective removal of prometon, a commonly detected herbicide in urban areas, from solution. In theory, prometon binds to surface sites which are tailored to the shape and size of prometon and which contain specific hydrogen bonding partners and the magnetic cores allow for easy removal of the bound prometon from solution. The extent of prometon removal was monitored via UV spectroscopy from 200-300 nm. Adsorption studies carried out with the synthesized nanoparticles revealed that approximately 1.5% of the prometon in solution adsorbed to the nanoparticles after 30 …

Restoration By Defecation: Effects Of Nutrient Enrichment Via Bird Guano On Seagrass Propeller Scar Healing Times, Kelsey Hunt-Dolon

Theses & ETDs

Seagrass beds provide many ecological services, such as diminishing shoreline erosion by dampening wave and carbon sequestration. Propeller scaring caused by careless boaters can inflict significant damage to seagrass ecosystems. Scars erode and when an area becomes heavily scared the integrity of the seagrass bed is threatened and large areas of grass can be lost. Studies in the Florida Keys and elsewhere found that when bird stakes, PVC perches, were placed along the length of propeller scars the healing time was greatly reduced. A similar effect should be seen around bird rookery islands, which provide nutrient inputs of phosphorus (P) …

Opioid Addiction And Treatment, Anamaria Husar

Theses & ETDs

Addiction has been characterized as a chronic, relapsing disorder due to the neurobiological and behavioral modifications that occur during the addiction cycle. This review focuses on current treatment strategies available to heroin addicts and addresses the research that must be conducted to improve treatment outcome. Methadone maintenance treatment has proved to be effective in improving treatment retention. However, the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of methadone at opioid receptors produce respiratory depression, cognitive impairments, and tolerance. Therefore, an alternative to this approach is suggested. The unique pharmacology of buprenorphine at the mu-opioid receptor (i.e., high affinity, low intrinsic activity, and slow …

Localization Of Wall Associated Kinases (Waks) During Gravity Stimulation In B73 Zea Mays L. Pulvinus, Emily Eilbert

Theses & ETDs

Wall Associated Kinases (WAKs) are recently discovered Receptor-Like Kinases (RLKs), but their function has proven to be key to plant survival. WAKs are integral plasma membrane proteins with an intracellular serine and threonine kinase domain and the extracellular domain contains Epidermal Growth Factor-like (EGF-like) repeats. WAKs have been found to bind both whole and fragmented strands of pectin, and they are able to distinguish between the two to initiate developmental and defense responses respectively. Furthermore there are multiple types of WAKs which may have different functions. Five WAK genes and isoforms have been found so far in Arabidopsis. WAKs are …

Creating A Spotted Wing Drosophila, Drosophila Suzukii (Matsumura), Fruit Puree Diet To Facilitate Integrated Pest Management Techniques, Lynn Marie Gusman

Theses & ETDs

Spotted Wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), is an invasive fruit fly of Asian origins. It uses a serrated ovipositor to lay eggs in soft-skin fruit such as strawberries, blueberries, grapes, and caneberries, causing fruit to rot early. Because of this damage, it has been deemed an economically important pest that must be controlled by Integrated Pest Management practices. The goal of this study was to determine if different fruits impact the fecundity and overall success of SWD. To rear large numbers of SWD to facilitate testing, we designed puree diets from strawberries and grapes for ease of rearing and fungus …

Unjust Deserts: Food Insecurity, Structural Inequality, And Community Agency In Newtown, Fl, Juliana Dearr

Theses & ETDs

This thesis focuses on the issues surrounding food access in Newtown, the historic black neighborhood of Sarasota, FL. Poor nutrition, particularly in economically distressed areas, reinforces and maintains the violent cycle of poverty, as nutrition problems increase the risk of chronic health conditions. Ethnography and quantitative data collection on food availability and transportation access are the key methods. This research will show Newtown's consumption of healthy food is hindered by the sparse availability of fresh food, lacking transportation, education gaps, and time and money constraints. These barriers must be addressed to create systemic improvements to Newtown's welfare. Several community-based organizations, …

Chirped-Pulse Microwave Spectroscopy Of Small Molecules, Morgan Mccabe

Theses & ETDs

The microwave spectra of 3-methoxypropylamine, 2-aminobutanol, and allyl bromide were recorded. The spectrum of allyl bromide was taken from 8.7-26.5 GHz at 253 K. The rotational spectrum of allyl bromide has been previously studied; however, previous assignments only extended to J = 12 and Ka = 1 for the ground state and J = 15 and Ka = 1 for vibrationally excited states. The fits were extended to J= 21 and K a = 5, for the ground state and 2 vibrationally excited states. Additionally, the spectra of methoxypropylamine and aminobutanol were taken on a molecular beam instrument from 8.0-18.0 …

Model Legislation As A Tool For Policy Diffusion In The United States, Michael Long

Theses & ETDs

Are the political actors that deploy model legislation a well understood mechanism of diffusion? Is model legislation itself a well understood mechanism of diffusion? This thesis intends to better understand the role of model legislation and the actors who deploy it, and begin integrating this mechanism into future research on state policy diffusion. Three case studies of model laws written by the American Legislative Exchange Council, Americans United for Life, and the Progressive States Network demonstrate that both model legislation and the political actors who deploy it play a significant role in the diffusion of state policies. This thesis effectively …

“You Can’T Get There From Here:” Determining Accessibility To Active Transportation In Three Chicago, Illinois Neighborhoods, Taylor Lucas Filaroski

Theses & ETDs

Transportation literature tends to fall into either one of two topics: “active” transportation – which is defined as walking, biking, or public transportation use – and its use among higher income groups; and transportation disadvantaged (TD) groups, which are typically those too young, too old, too poor, or too disabled to drive. This thesis aims to bridge the gap in the literature between these two topics by examining both social and spatial components of active transportation use and accessibility among both privileged and TD populations. This study used GIS analysis and personal observation to examine the differences in active transportation …

Sickle Cell Pain And The Care And Support Of Children, Adolescents, And Teens With Sickle Cell Disease (Scd) At Therapeutic Recreation Summer Camps, Jacob Arthur Albanese

Theses & ETDs

Therapeutic recreation summer camp programs can benefit individuals undergoing treatment for chronic and/or life-threatening illness in a number of ways, as they provide a break for caregivers, interaction with other campers facing similar difficulties, and an opportunity for physical activity. While current therapeutic recreation programs are beneficial, there are ways in which the staff/volunteers of therapeutic recreation summer camps can be better educated regarding the physical, psychological, social, and economic pain in order to best support campers with sickle cell disease (SCD). In this thesis I explore the social construction of sickle cell disease as a racial disease in the …

Ritual And Healing: Explorations Of The Placebo Phenomenon And Peruvian Curanderismo In Iquitos, Peru, Victoria Elizabeth Jara

Theses & ETDs

Placebo effects can be used to explain the effectiveness of ritual healing. The evidence supporting the effectiveness of rituals and positive affective responses are due to neurobiological studies on placebo effects that point to the activation of the descending opioid and dopaminergic neural systems. Using Kaptchuk’s (2011) proposal of a ritual approach to understand the placebo phenomenon, I argue that placebo ritual theory can help explain how language, culture and metaphor affect physiological processes. Research for this thesis took place in Iquitos, Peru—the largest city in the Peruvian Amazon. Qualitative research was performed using semi-structured interviews and participant-observations. Healers and …

Exploring Anthropology’S Potential As A Catalyst For Reformation In American Pedagogy, Nicole A. Ouellette

Theses & ETDs

In this thesis, I analyze the current state of public education in the United States. I argue that heritage and food are both successful vehicles for learning, and I question why no combination of this sort has been offered to American pedagogy. I explain how I created a series of lesson plans that use this “novel combination” with the intention of teaching fourth grade students in a Florida public school about heritage and preservation. I describe the difficulties that teachers and administration are facing with the adoption of the Common Core State Standards in bringing creativity into the classroom. I …

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Cycloadditions For Functionalization Of Enzyme Packaged Viral Nanoparticles, Robert Hincapie

Theses & ETDs

There is an unfulfilled need for drug delivery systems that exhibit a high degree of efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity. The strategy of delivering chemotherapeutic agents through the use of protein nanoparticles allows users to modulate properties of the delivery agent by chemical and genetic means. Virus protein shells offer unique advantages, since the polyvalency and symmetry of the virus macrostructure can be exploited to present multiple copies of functional targeting ligands in high density. Our goal was to prepare QB virus particles encapsulating the enzyme cytosine deaminase (QB@CD) and to attach functional groups to the particles via a two-step …

Gardens As Educational Tools In Urban Public Schools, Michelle Diane Wheat

Theses & ETDs

Urban public school education has become increasingly decontextualized from the natural world over time. This causes a division within students that impacts how they learn, what they learn, and their mental health. Children's knowledge is increasingly devoid of environmental awareness. In addition ADHD, depression, and obesity have been linked to this separation. These problems are exacerbated by a culture of standardized tests motivated by financial concerns, and the gearing of education toward career preparation. Children learn to fear nature and reap none of the benefits that immersion in nature can foster. School gardens, especially in urban areas, can provide a …

The Effects Of Chronic Pain On Neurophysiology And Long Term Potentiation, Catherine Martini

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examines the effects of chronic pain on neurophysiology and long term potentiation (LTP). In the first part, the thesis reviews the path of nociceptive signaling as well as the major pain processing centers within the brain. The second part delves into an overview of synaptic plasticity (i.e. LTP) and central sensitization including the roles of receptors, glial cells, inflammatory cytokines, and the ERK/MAPK pathway. The third part attends to the effects of chronic pain on memory and attention as well as the possible effects of current drug treatments on both. The final part examines the physical effect of …

The Mechanisms By Which Deep Brain Stimulation Alleviates Parkinson’S Disease Symptoms, Brendan Clark

Theses & ETDs

One of the most promising methods of alleviating the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease today is a therapy known as deep brain stimulation. This therapy is often considered the best option when patients are no longer responding well to dopaminergic medication. Deep brain stimulation is usually effective in reducing various motor symptoms, but scientists are still unsure about the fine details of the neurobiological mechanisms that lead to these benefits. Deep brain stimulation has been tested in several different brain sites, and the resulting neurobiological modifications have been compared. Scientists are still trying to understand why certain frequencies of stimulation are …

Benzyl Isothiocyanate As An Adjuvant Chemotherapy Option For Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Mary Allison Wolf

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are natural phytochemicals produced by cruciferous vegetables. Recent evidence supports that, in addition to cancer prevention, ITCs can use various mechanisms to target malignant cells. Current therapies for cancer often provoke detrimental side effects, however clinical evidence supports that ITCs have little to no side effects in patients. Consequently, ITCs may be a promising treatment option for cancer patients, especially patients suffering from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Despite recent improvements in cancer treatment, overall survival of advanced HNSCC has not improved in the past three decades. Metastasis and chemoresistance represent two detrimental events that greatly …

Desiging Quality Care, Francie Latour, Risd Xyz

RISD XYZ Fall/Winter 2014/2015: The Body

Though they’re going about it differently, both Will Harris 10 ID and Sloan Kulper MID 06 are fully committed to improving health care in the developing world.

An Examination Of Principals In Effective High-Poverty Middle Schools With High Achievement, Rhonda J. Mull

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, multi-site case study was to observe and examine the strategies, techniques, and leadership styles of principals in effective middle schools with high poverty and high achievement. This study focused on defining a core of specific strategies utilized by staff members in these schools. Two high-poverty middle schools in Indiana that have done an exemplary job of attaining high scores on the state's standardized test were examined. Data for this research was collected via interviews of the school's principal, leadership team, and teachers. Classroom observations and teacher department meetings were also conducted. After the staff interviews …

Are College Student Success Courses Effective Corequisites To Developmental Mathematics In Community Colleges?, Karen L. Reilly

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in the achievement rates of developmental mathematics students when a student success course was taken in combination with mathematics. The study investigated changes that occurred in the developmental mathematics completion rates of the learners by examining age and the course sequence of mathematics in conjunction with a student success course at a large community college in central Florida. Age was of interest as it related to the time lapsed from high school graduation and potential for mathematics atrophy. Course sequence was valued to determine if taking a student success course …

Learning Sport Management, Jillian Mcniff, Gil Fried, Kimberly L. Mahoney

Sport Management Faculty Publications

Sport management seems like a glamorous career path. Many students believe if they do well in classes and graduate, they will be the next general manager of the New York Yankees or athletic director of a major Division I intercollegiate athletic department. While sport management professors hope that every student has the potential to succeed, it is incumbent upon faculty members and students to have a realistic expectation of their career options and a true understanding of what it takes to be successful. This article leads a fictitious student and faculty member through four years of the student’s educational adventure …

Harding Magazine Winter 2014 (Vol. 22, No. 1), Harding University

Harding Magazines

Publication distributed to alumni and friends of the university.

Letter From The Editor, Stacy Moskos

Undergraduate Review

No abstract provided.

Molecular Dissection Of The Mechanism Of Ssdna-Binding Proteins, Kelly Binns

Undergraduate Review

The maintenance of the integrity of DNA is crucial for life as any change could result in cellular abnormalities leading to disease. DNA is most stable as a double helix. However, many processes manipulating DNA require the presence of vulnerable single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). ssDNA-binding proteins (SSBs) have the ability to bind to ssDNA, stabilize it and thus allow DNA transactions to take place. Prokaryotic SSBs, found in bacteria and viruses that infect them, are comprised of a DNA-binding body and a negatively-charged flexible C-terminal tail. The removal of the tail results in increased ability of the protein to bind ssDNA. …

Treatment Of Women Veterans With Ptsd, Julie Boucher

Undergraduate Review

This study addresses the question, what is the most effective treatment method for female veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? Female veterans experience unique difficulties when dealing with symptoms of PTSD that their male counterparts do not. Some of the causes of their PTSD are different as well. Evidence suggests that treatment programs should be developed in a manner that tailors to gender-specific needs. This research consisted of a thorough review of the literature, including peer- reviewed articles.

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the top …