Digital Commons Network^™

Mind-Craft: Exploring The Relation Between "Digital" Visual Experience And Orientation In Visual Contour Perception, Daniel Hipp

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

Visual perception depends fundamentally on statistical regularities in the environment to make sense of the world. One such regularity is the orientation anisotropy typical of natural scenes; most natural scenes contain slightly more horizontal and vertical information than oblique information. This property is likely a primary cause of the “oblique effect” in visual perception, in which subjects experience greater perceptual fluently with horizontally and vertically oriented content than oblique. However, recent changes in the visual environment, including the “carpentered” content in urban scenes and the framed, caricatured content in digital screen media presentations, may have altered the level of orientation …

2014 Annual Town Report Lempster, New Hampshire., Lempster Town Representatives

Lempster, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire.

"I Love My Children... But I Hate Being A Mom" : Exploring Narratives Of Maternal Ambivalence In Anonymous, Digital Spaces, Christine M. Lacy

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore narratives of maternal ambivalence displayed on an anonymous, digital discussion forum. This investigation based on an analysis of 341 written discussion posts shared on a message thread of a public website, which became an anonymous platform for mothers expressing negative feelings about mothering. This central questions of this study focus on how mothers' described their maternal ambivalence, what factors impact their ambivalence, whether they discuss guilt, shame, and social stigma associated with maternal ambivalence, and what participants reported gaining from their use of the site. The findings of this study suggest …

Substance Abuse And Music Use : Exploring Relationships Through Recovery, Andrew Culler

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This exploratory study considered the questions 'what is the relationship between music and substance abuse?', and 2) 'what is the role of music in treatment for/recovery from substance abuse?', through analysis of spoken interviews with 11 people in recovery from substance abuse—how they describe music's functioning in their lives and how they experience substance use/abuse, and recovery, as connected to music. The findings of this non-generalizable study suggest people seek out music as an outside object to alter, augment, or otherwise regulate self-states within changing environmental contexts, and that such a relationship becomes a continuity across descriptions of relationships between …

Trans* Individuals' Experiences With Employment Discrimination : Supporting Self-Efficacy In The Job-Seeking Process, Matthew S. Meurer-Lynn

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals are often the subject of blatant and covert discrimination when seeking employment and studies demonstrate the negative effects on mental health. The research question for this study was: How can social workers best support trans* clients who are in the process of searching for employment, build self-efficacy and overcome psychological barriers that have developed as a result of oppression and discrimination? This qualitative study of seven trans* individuals provides examples of discrimination as experienced by the participants, examines the effects discrimination has on mental health and self-efficacy, and provides social workers with recommendations for supporting …

Ecotherapists' Perceptions About The Efficacy Of Their Work, Fiona C. Lundy

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative, exploratory study sought to answer the question, what do ecotherapists think makes their nature-based therapy (NBT) work effective and for whom? Twelve American mental health clinicians who practice NBT's (including animal-assisted therapy (AAT), horticultural therapy (HT), nature-reconnection practices (NRP's), and wilderness therapy (WT)) regularly in their professional work were recruited using snowball sampling. Semi-structured interviews revealed that practitioners explain NBTs' effectiveness by citing the biological, psychological, spiritual, and therapeutic power of the natural world, the different ways that NBT's are structured, and additional factors that are unknown. Participants shared varied views about whom ecotherapies best serve; some stated …

The Role Of Self-Compassion In Alcohol Use Disorders : An Exploratory Study : A Project Based On An Investigation At Servicenet, Inc., Northampton, Massachusetts, Kaitlyn M. Janicki

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The goal of this study was to replicate prior research that has examined differences between self-compassion, depression, anxiety and stress in adults with Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs). This is the first study that has compared levels of self-compassion by whether or not participants are in sober recovery. A clinical sample of 69 adults, who were currently in sober recovery or in treatment for an AUD, were administered a quantitative survey to assess various characteristics, which included: current depression, anxiety and stress levels; current alcohol use and related problems; and how they treat themselves during difficult times. Major findings were that …

Ipulse Policies And Style Guide, Stefanie Powers

Lynn University Digital Press Books

This multi-touch book manual provides an overview of newsroom policies and procedures, and additionally offers a comprehensive summary of specific writing and broadcast guidelines. The iPulse staff is expected to be familiar with and comply with all provisions of the document as students that produce and publish iPulse, television and radio news stories, and related advertising content. The multi-touch book will be used by students enrolled Applied Media and Advanced Multimedia Journalism, which are required core courses for all students in the College of International Communication. Courses: COM 310 and COM 314

Microrna Mediated Negative Regulation Of Caveolin-1 As A Biological Mechanism Driving Breast Cancer Disparities, Brooke D. King

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

In South Carolina, mortality differences between African American (AA) and Caucasian-American (CA) women with breast cancer are amongst the highest in the country. Increasing evidence suggests that the racial disparity exists independent of socioeconomic and standard of care issues and could also be attributed to poorly understood inherent genetic and molecular characteristics within racial specific tumors. Caveolin-1 (Cav1) is a scaffolding protein with a tumor suppressor role. Loss of Cav1 in the tumor stromal compartment has emerged as a novel biomarker for predicting poor clinical outcome in all of the most common subtypes of breast cancer. While the loss of …

Impact Of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Signaling On Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells In Systemic Lupus Erythematous, Jennifer L. Scott

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Female lupus prone NZM2410 estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) functionally deficient (ERαKO) mice are protected from renal disease and have prolonged survival compared to wild type (WT) littermates, however the mechanism of protection is unknown. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and type I interferon (IFN) drive lupus pathogenesis and estrogen acting via ERα enhances both pDC development and IFN production. The objectives for this work were to determine if ERα modulates pDC number, maturation, or function in pre-disease NZM2410 mice as a possible protective mechanism of ERα functional deficiency in lupus prone mice. We measured the effect of ERα functional deficiency on …

The Role Of Fmrp In Ethanol-Induced Homeostatic Plasticity In The Hippocampus, Kathryn B. Spencer

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Exposure to chronic ethanol induces homeostatic alterations in glutamatergic signaling and actin polymerization that may have an important role in the development of ethanol-seeking behaviors. Acute ethanol exposure promotes excitation and dampens inhibition while extended periods of exposure induce long-term adaptations in neuronal function that require new protein synthesis to maintain homeostasis. These adaptations include not only transcription and somatic protein synthesis, but also local dendritic protein translation. One of the major mediators of activity-dependent translation is the mTORC1 signaling pathway and its downstream substrates that include kinases and mRNA-binding proteins, such as p70 S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) and fragile …

In The Space Of The Father : Father Images, Emptiness, And Father Mirroring In Father Absent Men, Frank P. Tisano

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This is an empirical, psychoanalytic inquiry designed to uncover what exists in the space for "father" when men grow up father absent. I interviewed 10 father absent men to find out how they conceptualized their personal representations of father and whether the conjured images played a material role in their lives. In light of the interviews, I contend that, regardless of circumstance, intrapsychic space exists for father. Building on Green (2004), I argue that father absent men have a combination of positive and negative space for father. Positive space is filled principally with directly experienced memories, and stories as recounted …

Client Perceptions On The Therapeutic Quality Of Care When Disclosing Spiritual And Religious Beliefs : A Mixed Methods Study, Maia Nikitovich

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The spiritual and religious life of clients is an important clinical factor in therapy; it holds significant meaning and may support therapeutic outcome. This study explored client perceptions of the quality of care they received in therapy when disclosing their spiritual/religious life to their therapists as well as the factors that might contribute to their perceptions of care and disclosure. A total of 75 respondents participated in an online survey tool composed of quantitative and qualitative questions. Qualitative responses were coded and data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings showed that most clients (73%) shared some or all of their …

Bernard Lonergan’S Promise For Educational Philosophy, Ivan Gaetz

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

Philosopher and theologian, Bernard Lonergan, S.J., regarded as one of the most influential Jesuit thinkers of the twentieth century, focused primarily on cognitional theory, epistemology and metaphysics. His system of thought known as “intentionality analysis” has been applied widely to many fields of study, including education. While Lonergan directly addressed certain issues in education and educational philosophy, his thought has greater promise for educational philosophy through broader application, specifically in ordering and expanding educational themes related to the four key differentiations of consciousness he expounds. The differentiations are explained as distinct but interrelated levels of consciousness and consist of experiencing, …

Design And Development Of Ph-Sensitive Peptides For Cancer Diagnostics, Ramona Cosmina Adochite

Open Access Dissertations

The design and development of pH-sensitive peptides for cancer diagnostics provides an opportunity to study and address fundamental questions of in vivo bio-distribution of pH-sensitive peptides, as well as developing new targeting imaging and therapeutic agents for acidic diseased tissue such as cancer, infections, ischemia, stroke and others.

The main goal of the work presented here is to investigate the following problems:

- Targeting of highly metastatic mammary tumors and spontaneous breast tumors in transgenic mice with fluorescently labeled pHLIPs® (pH (Low) Insertion Peptides) pHLIP variants;

- Direct imaging of pHLIP insertion and cargo translocation in vivo;

- Targeting …

Obituaries - Volume X-Y-Z, Rowan County Historical Society

Rowan County Histories Collection

Obituaries of Rowan County, Kentucky. Volume X-Y-Z. Compiled circa 2015.

Graduate Catalog, 2015-2016, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg. Office Of Graduate Studies

Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

A Therapeutic Approach For Senile Dementias: Neuroangiogenesis, Charles T. Ambrose

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related senile dementias (SDs) represent a growing medical and economic crisis in this country. Apart from cautioning persons about risk factors, no practical, effective therapy is currently available. Much of the recent research in AD has been based on the amyloid cascade theory. Another approach assumes a vascular basis for SDs. This paper presents evidence from a score of studies that cerebral capillary density (CCD) declines during old age in animals and people as well as in AD. Neuroangiogenic (NAG) factors initiate and maintain capillaries in the brain. Thus a waning level of these factors and …

Michigan Academician, Volume 42, Issue 1

Michigan Academician

No abstract provided.

What Are The Sexual And Reproductive Health Needs Of Adolescents In Ghana’S Slums?, Selina F. Esantsi, Gloria Quansah Asare, Placide Tapsoba

Reproductive Health

To address the need for quality evidence on the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents in slums, the STEP UP project conducted a study in four slum settings in Ghana. This policy brief highlights key points, including the need for a well-designed, comprehensive sex education curriculum; interventions that address sexual coercion and violence as an integral component of current adolescent reproductive health programs; and the need to involve all stakeholders including parents/guardians and community leaders in addressing adolescent SRH needs. Evidence from the study can be used to improve ASRH programming so that it better meets the needs …

Transcranial Near Infrared Spectroscopy And Stimulation Of Prefrontal Cognitive Functions In Young Adults, Snehal Niwrutti Hase

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Transcranial near infrared stimulation or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is an innovative technique shown to control neuronal function in cell cultures, animal models and clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to use near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to evaluate the physiological and functional effects of LLLT on prefrontal cognitive functions in young healthy adults. This study was divided into two parts: the first part investigated the physiological effects of LLLT and the second investigated the functional effects.The aim of the first part of this study was to explore how a single session of LLLT altered the hemodynamic status …

Comprendre Les Grossesses Non Désirées Au Sénégal : Rapport Du Profil Pays [Compte Rendu De L’Atelier De Dissémination Des Résultats Auprès Des Parlementaires], Babacar Mane, Bocar Mamadou Daff, Marie-Jesus Buabey, Abdelylah Lakssir

Reproductive Health

En partenariat avec le Ministère de la Santé et de l'Action Sociale et l’initiative Partners in Population and Development, le bureau du Population Council—Sénégal a organisé une rencontre avec des membres de l’Assemblée Nationale et d’autres acteurs locaux clés pour diffuser les résultats du rapport de l’étude sur le profil pays menée dans le cadre du projet de recherche "Strengthening Evidence for Programming on Unintended Pregnancy” plus connu sous l’acronyme “STEP UP.” A l’issue de la réunion, les recommandations ont été formulées concernant la législation, le renforcement des capacités et la prise en charge des problèmes de santé de la …

Understanding The Reproductive Health Needs Of Adolescents In Selected Slums In Ghana: A Public Health Assessment, Selina F. Esantsi, Francis Onyango, Gloria Quansah Asare, Emmanuel Kuffour, Placide Tapsoba, Harriet Birungi, Ian Askew

Reproductive Health

Over the past decade, adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) concerns have increasingly been on the development agenda of the government of Ghana. This concern has been driven by such factors as early age of sexual debut, early childbearing, and prevalence of HIV/AIDS among this subgroup of the population. The overall objective of the study was to generate evidence on the knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding ASRH among slum communities in Ghana. The findings of the study indicate a need for intensifying efforts to inform and educate adolescents living in the slums about responsible and healthy attitudes toward sexuality, delaying …

Current Uses Of Poly(Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) In The Dental Field: A Comprehensive Review, Maria Justina Roxana Virlan, Daniela Miricescu, Alexandra Totan, Maria Greabu, Cristiana Tanase, Cristina M. Sabliov, Constantin Caruntu, Bogdan Calenic

Faculty Publications

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) or PLGA is a biodegradable polymer used in a wide range of medical applications. Specifically PLGA materials are also developed for the dental field in the form of scaffolds, films, membranes, microparticles, or nanoparticles. PLGA membranes have been studied with promising results, either alone or combined with other materials in bone healing procedures. PLGA scaffolds have been used to regenerate damaged tissues together with stem cell-based therapy. There is solid evidence that the development of PLGA microparticles and nanoparticles may be beneficial to a wide range of dental fields such as endodontic therapy, dental caries, dental surgery, dental …

Early Contexts Of Learning: Family And Community Socialization During Infancy And Toddlerhood, Carolyn P. Edwards, Lixin Ren, Jill Brown

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

The contexts of early learning and socialization are diverse and complex but not without some predictability. The tension between predictability and variation fascinates researchers interested in childhood and culture and motivates careful exploration of different developmental niches to better understand socialization during infancy, toddlerhood, and early childhood. Contexts of early socialization vary in the people and activities present, and the beliefs and norms of caregivers and daily companions. The chapter utilizes anthropological constructs (household structure and composition, settlement patterns and subsistence level, mothers’ workload, gender division of labor, intimacy levels between husbands and wives, and cultural roles and norms pertaining …

Taxonomic Biases Of Seven Methods Used To Survey A Diverse Herpetofaunal Community, Donald T. Mcknight, Joshua R. Harmon, Jennifer L. Mcknight, Day B. Ligon

College of Natural and Applied Sciences

We conducted a survey of a diverse herpetological community in southeastern Oklahoma from 2012-2013, with the goals of examining its composition and comparing the results of several commonly used survey methods. We used pitfall traps and funnel traps positioned along drift fences, funnel traps placed along logs, various aquatic turtle traps (hoop nets, crawfish traps, and minnow traps), artificial cover objects, and automated recording systems. We also recorded all incidental encounters. We documented 53 reptile and amphibian species. Incidental encounters, funnel traps along drift fences, and pitfall traps documented more species than any of the other methods. Incidental encounters, funnel …

Eggshell Membrane Hydrolyzates Activate Nf-Κb In Vitro: Possible Implications For In Vivo Efficacy., Kevin J. Ruff, Paul L. Durham, Austin O'Reilly, F. Daniel Long

College of Natural and Applied Sciences

Purpose: Eggshell membrane (ESM) has been shown to contain naturally occurring bioactive components, and biological activities such as reducing proinflammatory cytokines, liver fibrosis, and joint pain in osteoarthritis sufferers have also been reported for ESM matrix as a whole. Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells (NF-κB) is a signaling protein found in the cytoplasm of nearly all human and animal cell types and is a primary regulator of immune function. The studies reported herein were designed to investigate the possible role that NF-κB activity might play in the reported biological activities of ESM. Methods: Three ESM hydrolyzates produced via fermentation, …

Norton Simon: The Man With "Two Hats", Helen Ragen

Scripps Senior Theses

Norton Simon was a unique collector because he let passion guide his collecting interests, but he controlled his passion by making his purchases based on smart economic decisions bolstered by years of experience in successful business negotiations. The Norton Simon Museum, today in Pasadena, California, displays the eccentric collectors life work as he created one of the greatest and most recognized collections on the west coast. By examining the progression and establishment of Norton Simon Inc., alongside the creation of the Norton Simon Art Foundation, multiple parallels can be drawn between Simons’ unique approach to business and the application of …

Neuroprotective Role Of Thymoquinone Against 1-Methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium-Induced Dopaminergic Cell Death In Primary Mesencephalic Cell Culture, Khaled S. Radad, Mubarak M. Al-Shraim, Mahmoud F. Moustafa, Wolf-Dieter Rausch

Neurosciences

Objectives: To investigate potential mechanisms mediating the neuroprotective effect of thymoquinone (TQ) on dopaminergic neurons. Methods: This study was conducted in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria between June and August 2013. Primary cultures were prepared from embryonic mouse mesencephala (OFI/SPF) at gestation day 14. Four sets of cultures were kept untreated, treated with TQ on the eighth day in vitro (DIV) for 4 days, treated with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP + ) on the tenth DIV for 48 hours and co-treated with thymoquinone and MPP + . On the twelfth DIV, cultures were subjected to immunohistochemistry …

Nerve Growth Factor Reduces Apoptotic Cell Death In Rat Facial Motor Neurons After Facial Nerve Injury, Lian Hui, Jing Yuan, Zhong Ren, Xuejun Jiang

Neurosciences

Objectives: To assess the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on motor neurons after induction of a facial nerve lesion, and to compare the effects of different routes of NGF injection on motor neuron survival. Methods: This study was carried out in the Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, China Medical University, Liaoning, China from October 2012 to March 2013. Male Wistar rats (n = 65) were randomly assigned into 4 groups: A) healthy controls; B) facial nerve lesion model + normal saline injection; C) facial nerve lesion model + NGF injection through the stylomastoid foramen; D) facial nerve …