Digital Commons Network^™

Reconnect: Designing To Touch, Dana Seros Rohani

Theses and Dissertations

Our everyday lives are surrounded by gadgets and digital devices that help us perform our daily chores with ease and efficiency. However, these digital devices can also separate us from what we should do ourselves. Although children who are exposed to high levels of technology might become attuned to the latest and the best gadgets, they might not learn to use their physical abilities. Another implication of a child’s over dependence on technology is that parental interactions such as encouragement, tutoring and reinforcement are provided by gadgets rather than living, breathing parents. Research done by Padma Ravichandran and Brandel France …

Limelight & Indigestion, Joshua D. Thorud

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis chronicles the progression toward and creation of my thesis show, Limelight & Indigestion, as well as the cultural, technological and artistic influences and discussions that underpin the works therein. The show is an exploration of celebrity, mass media, and the nature of the desire for fame. I hope to situate my work through an investigation of topics such as Hollywood and the use of green screens and associated technology, our physical and ideological connection to cinema, the absurd in cinema history, and the complex nature of media digestion.

Creating Place For A Placeless Generation, Laura Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

Making up one quarter of the current United States population, some 80 million Generation Y-ers are changing the ways in which we live, work and play. Dubbed “Millennials” this population is comprised of those individuals born between 1980 and 2000. This generation is the first to have been raised with cell phones, the internet, and reality television. The “Selfie” or “Me Generation” is snubbed for narcissism and an instant gratification attitude. Yet on the whole Millennials have progressive values, are well educated, are conscious of their health and are optimistic about the future despite coming of age during the Great …

New Patriarchies: A Turbulence Of Source And Subject, Stephen Fuller

Theses and Dissertations

Experiencing a turbulence of source and subject in the variable inversions and supports of one source to another--the wreck of the U-352, Carpeaux’s Ugolino and his Sons, a movie poster for J.A. Bayona’s The Impossible, and Cassiopeia mythology--these four sources as sons, in sacrifice to and surviving by way of “daddy” documentation, are here refigured to reenact and critique the patriarchally recreational, monumental, cinematic, and mythological infrastructures supporting the sources of this work and thereby serving to critique the newer patriarchies to which these sources and their subjectifications here seek to cross consumptively dead end. Following three public …

Z Axis Follies, Adam Collignon

Theses and Dissertations

This document will outline the nature of performance / object interaction, and the role of documentation in this interaction. In addition, I will explore the body / object as a site of multiplicities, the quality of simultaneity in appearance and apprehension of such multiplicities, and traverse the triumphs and travails of the body / object’s journey from one state of being to the next.

The Majlis Metamorphosis: Virtues Of Local Traditional Environmental Design In A Contemporary Context, Shaikha Almahmoud

Theses and Dissertations

In the Arabian Gulf countries, the majlis is a central part of the house. The most public space within it, the majlis represents the household’s occupants to society and its social and economic status. As the house reflects culture and civilization, so the family is understood as a micro-level society of individuals raised in its institutions. Hence, the house is a manifestation of family structure, religious beliefs, and individual needs and desires, reflecting the family’s economic, cultural, and social backgrounds and aspirations. The majlis offers a unique space in Arab societies, articulating cultural and social factors that directly impact identity …

Fallen/Lifted, Hillary Waters Fayle

Theses and Dissertations

I use found botanical material such as leaves, seedpods, and branches to explore human connection to the physical world. By combining these organic objects with the rich traditions of needlecraft, I bind nature and the human touch. Both tender and ruthless, this intricate stitch work communicates the idea that our relationship with the natural world is both tenuously fragile and infinitely complex.

The way I think about and make art mirrors the way I think about my life and how I walk through the world. What I do is about elevating details. It is about noticing cycles and connections. It …

Understanding The Impact Of Leadership And Organizational Culture On Nonprofit Employees’ Commitment And Turnover Intention, Nancy A. Toscano

Theses and Dissertations

Child and family nonprofit organizations are essential for the implementation of United States public policy in their role as service providers. Human service nonprofit organizations held approximately 20,000 government contracts, totaling more than $100 billion in 2009 (Boris, deLeon, Roeger, & Nikolva, 2010). Almost 33,000 human service nonprofit organizations contract with the government to deliver services (Boris, et al., 2010). The services provided by these organizations are critical to the lives of vulnerable American citizens. These organizations depend on committed employees to serve this group, carry out the mission, and reach organizational goals. Employees are nonprofit organizations’ greatest resource, investment, …

Cell Cycle Regulation Of Retinal Progenitors; A Role For The Nance-Horan Syndrome Protein In Retinogenesis, Paul J. Vorster

Theses and Dissertations

The Nance-Horan syndrome gene (NHS) plays a role in lens, eye and brain development. To date, the function of NHS remains unclear. Recent evidence showed that p53 isoform, Δ113p53, inhibits abnormal cell growth during organogenesis. We show that NHS is expressed in the retinas of Danio rerio and Xenopus tropicalis during key stages of retinogenesis, and that knockdown of the gene resulted in a small eye phenotype in both species. Initially, knockdown of nhsb in zebrafish had no visible defects at 24hpf. But examination of the retina at 48hpf, we see a marked difference in size compared to control embryos. …

A Comparison Of Obesity Interventions Using Energy Balance Models, Marcella Torres

Theses and Dissertations

An energy balance model of human metabolism developed by Hall et al. is extended to compare body composition outcomes among standard and proposed obesity interventions. Standard interventions include a drastic diet or a drastic diet with endurance training. Outcomes for these interventions are typically poor in clinical studies. Proposed interventions include a gradual diet and the addition of resistance training to preserve lean mass and metabolic rate. We see that resistance training, regardless of dietary strategy, achieves these goals. Finally, we observe that the optimal obesity intervention for continued maintenance of a healthy body composition following a diet includes a …

The Effects Of Nicotine Sequestration On The Dynamics Of Hyperparasitism In A Stage-Structured Model Of Manduca Sexta And Its Related Parasitoid Wasps, Mark P. Zimmerman

Theses and Dissertations

Two proposed models will be used to help answer a long observed question in the dynamics of \textit{Manduca sexta} and its related parasitoid wasps-Why is there a large difference in diversity in hyperparasitoid species between tobacco and other related plants such as tomato? Two stage structured differential equation models are presented. The first is a single patch model to study the changes in dynamics that occur between hosts, parasitoids, and hyperparasitoids as the amount of nicotine in the plant increases. The second is a two patch model that allows hyperparasitoids to choose between patches that are nicotine negative (i.e. tomato …

Wilson's "Does Altruism Exist? Cultures, Genes, And The Welfare Of Others" (Book Review), Lisa Cutforth-Anderson

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Disruption Of Skin Stem Cell Homeostasis Following Transplacental Arsenicosis; Alleviation By Combined Intake Of Selenium And Curcumin, Shiv Poojan, Sushil Kumar, Vikas Verma, Anupam Dhasmana, Mohtashim Lohani, Mukesh K. Verma

School of Medicine Publications

Of late, a consirable interest has grown in literature on early development of arsenicosis and untimely death in humans after exposure to iAs in drinking water in utero or during the childhood. The mechanism of this kind of intrauterine arsenic poisoning is not known; however it is often suggested to involve stem cells. We looked into this possibility by investigating in mice the influence of chronic in utero exposure to arsenical drinking water preliminarily on multipotent adult stem cell and progenitor cell counts at the beginning of neonatal age. We found that repeated intake of 42.5 or 85ppm iAs in …

"Don't Wake Me, My Desk Is Far Too Comfortable": An Autoethnography Of A Novice Esl Teacher's First Year Of Teaching In Japan, Delaney Holland

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"This thesis explores and analyzes a first year ESL teacher's experience teaching at an all-girl's private school in Nishinomiya, Japan. Chapter 3 is divided into 15 sections that tell the teacher's story of living and teaching in Japan. This chapter includes description, dialogue, concurrent diary excerpts, photos, and theory. Chapter 4 analyzes these experiences and discusses the lessons the author learned while reflecting on her teaching in Japan. The main lesson learned was the importance of practicing cultural relativity--that is, opening one's mind and realizing that there is more than one way to live, teach, and see the world. Chapter …

Long-Term Characterization Of The Chronic Dopamine Microelectrode And Effect Of Electrical Conditioning, Eric P. Marr

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Background: Dopamine (DA) is a neurotransmitter involved in movement, reward learning and addiction. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) has long been an indispensable tool for monitoring real-time DA signaling. Development of polyimide fused silica-encased FSCV microelectrodes have made the technique more suitable for chronic DA monitoring (months) in vivo. Methods: In this study, electrically stimulated DA signals were evoked weekly in an effort to characterize the recovery time and stability of DA signals recorded long-term with silica-encased chronic DA microelectrodes. Additionally, electrical conditioning (etching), previously shown to improve microelectrode sensitivity in vitro, was performed to investigate the long-term impact on DA …

Modeling And Rendering Of Fluid Flows Using The Lennard-Jones Potential, Nicholas J. Lefave

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

The Dietary Mineral Content Of Claytonia Lanceolata Corms From Multiple Populations Across The Columbia Plateau Region Of North America, Paul Reilly

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"Since divergence from our ancestral lineage ~ 2.8 mya, humans have relied on foraged foods to obtain dietary mineral nutrition. Around 12,000 years ago, people began shifting towards a lifestyle of food production. The rapid shift in lifestyle significantly altered the human diet, and research suggests our genomes have had insufficient time to adjust. Due to the discord between genome and environment, unprecedented levels of disease and malnutrition are epidemic in certain subsets of the population. Studies suggest the most cost effective way to mitigate the risk of these diseases is to find ways to increase micronutrient consumption. As a …

Effect Of Nutrition, Lactation And Gonadotropin Stimulation On Ram-Induced Lh Surge And Subsequent Fertility In Early Post-Partum Ewes During Seasonal Anestrous, Abiodun Emmanuel Adebiyi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study evaluated the effect of lactation, exogenous gonadotropin (GS), and nutritional supplementation (SUPP) on fertility of Katahdin ewes during seasonal anestrous. Experiment 1 evaluated effects of lactation and GS on ram-induced LH surge. Lactating (65 to 80 d postpartum; pp) and dry ewes were randomly assigned to be treated with an estrus induction protocol (EIP) consisting of a 5-d treatment with a CIDR device with an injection of a gonadotropin mixture (240 IU eCG and 120 IU hCG; P.G. 600RTM; 3 ml/animal i.m.; n = 16) or no further treatment (n=16) at removal of CIDRs. Experiment 2 was similar …

Diel Periodicity And Chronology Of Upstream Migration In Yellowphase American Eels (Anguilla Rostrata), Joni L. Aldinger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis examined 24-h diel periodicity of upstream migration of yellow-phase American Eels (Anguilla rostrata), and the chronology of upstream movements within diel periods (day, night, and twilight). Further, relationships were examined for total lengths of upstream migrants and diel movements (vespertine, nocturnal, matutinal, and diurnal), as well as for total lengths and season of year. The thesis is comprised of two chapters: (1) an introduction and literature review on American Eel life history, migration and movement, and population concerns, and (2) a research study of diel periodicity and movement chronology of upstream migrant yellow-phase American Eels at an eel …

Lumbar Posture And Tissue Loading During Short-Term Static Trunk Bending, Faisal Alessa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Low back pain (LBP) is among the most prevalent occupational health problems worldwide and is a leading cause of lost work days. Previous studies have suggested that static prolonged trunk bending could generate lumbar muscle fatigue and introduce creep to the lumbar posterior tissues. Such physical changes could lead to alterations to the lumbar active and passive tissue sharing mechanism and also elevate spinal loading, which is highly associated with the risk of LBP. In the past, most occupational ergonomic studies focused on the instantaneous spine biomechanical responses during task performance. A few studies assessed the changes of spine biomechanics …

Essays On Aesthetics Of Food, Marya Alhelaili

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis is comprised of three essays that explore the aesthetics of food in contemporary food and table setting design. The essays are: (1) Aesthetics of Food (2) Food Design (3) Table Setting Design.;Food is an everyday necessity. With advancements in production and a plentiful supply in developed countries, the preparation of food and its consumption has developed socially and artistically. There is increased emphasis being placed on how to make and present food in nontraditional ways to enhance aesthetic appeal. Yet, there is not consensus about the aesthetic dimensions of food. The viewpoint that food should be considered a …

Sapocribrum Chincoteaguense N. Gen. N. Sp.: A Small, Scale-Bearing Amoebozoan With Flabellinid Affinities, Daniel J.G. Lahr, Jessica Grant, Robert Molestina, Laura A. Katz, O. Roger Anderson

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

The isolate American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)^® 50979^™ is a small amoebozoan whose actin gene was previously characterized, but did not allow a stable phylogenetic placement. This isolate was originally mis-identified upon deposition, and subsequently mis-illustrated in a recent publication. Here, we provide both a detailed morphological description as well as additional molecular analyses in order to clarify the isolate's phylogenetic relationships. The amoeba is minute (less than 5 μm), and presents the behavior of staying in a fixed location, while emitting one or two thin pseudopods. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that the cell is covered in a …

Tumor Growth Increases Neuroinflammation, Fatigue And Depressive-Like Behavior Prior To Alterations In Muscle Function, Diana M. Norden, Sabahattin Bicer, Yvonne Clark, Runfeng Jing, Christopher J. Henry, Loren E. Wold, Peter J. Reiser, Jonathan P. Godbout, Donna O. Mccarthy

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Cancer patients frequently suffer from fatigue, a complex syndrome associated with loss of muscle mass, weakness, and depressed mood. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) can be present at the time of diagnosis, during treatment, and persists for years after treatment. CRF negatively influences quality of life, limits functional independence, and is associated with decreased survival in patients with incurable disease. Currently there are no effective treatments to reduce CRF. The aim of this study was to use a mouse model of tumor growth and discriminate between two main components of fatigue: loss of muscle mass/function and altered mood/motivation. Here we show that …

Morphology And Phylogeny Of The Sea Anemone Stichodactyla Haddoni(Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria) From Chabahar Bay, Iran, Gilan Attaran Fariman, Pegah Javid, Arash Shakouri

Turkish Journal of Zoology

????Carpet anemones of the genus Stichodactyla are characterized by having no calcium carbonate skeleton, being flattened with rather short tentacles, being exclusively tropical, and being hosts for clown fish species. Most of the species belonging to this genus, however, are often very similar morphologically; thus, identification by external features is rather difficult. In this study, we have described the morphology and phylogenetic affinities of a carpet anemone species collected from Chabahar Bay. Although the Iranian species showed different coloration patterns within the same geographical area, they strongly resemble Stichodactyla haddoni Saville-Kent, 1893 in having short tentacles densely covering the undulated …

First Record Of The Genus Crinitodiscus Sellnick, 1931 In Romania With The Descriptionof Crinitodiscus Kolcsari Sp. Nov. (Acari: Uropodina: Discourellidae), Jenö Kontschán

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The first Romanian species of the genus Crinitodiscus Sellnick, 1931 is described and illustrated on the basis of two collected females. The new species differs from the other members of the genus by the V-shaped anterior process on the female genital shield and the ridged anterior margin of the postdorsal shield. The Crinitodiscus species were previously reported only from the East Mediterranean region. This occurrence represents the first Central European data on the genus.

Prozercon Banazensis Sp. Nov. (Acari: Mesostigmata: Zerconidae),A New Species Of Zerconid Mite From Turkey, With A New Record, Raşi̇t Urhan, Mehmet Karaca, Eli̇f Hi̇lal Duran

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In this study, Prozercon banazensis sp. Nov. İs described and illustrated from female and deutonymph specimens collected in Kütahya and Uşak provinces (Turkey). Morphological features of P. Morazae Ujvári, 2011, which is a new record for the Turkish fauna, are also given with drawings. Information on habitat and distribution for each species is also provided.

A First Overview Of The Fauna Of Chloropidae Of Iran (Diptera, Acalyptratae), Zeinab Bazyar, Abu Fazel Dousti, Michael Von Tschirnhaus, Majid Fallahzadeh

Turkish Journal of Zoology

We present recent findings of Chloropidae in Iran and a first list of the Iranian species of this family. It includes 20 genera and 50 species (39 identified to species level), recorded up until 2014. Some European distribution records not included in Fauna Europaea are added. The courtship behavior of Polyodaspis sulcicollis is described for the first time.

Abrolophus Balkanicus Sp. Nov. From Montenegro, With Redescriptions Of A. Stanislavae (Haitlinger, 1986) And A. Wratislaviensis (Haitlinger, 1986) And Notes On A. Podorasensis (Haitlinger, 2007) (Acari: Erythraeidae), Ryszard Haitlinger, Miloje Sundic

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Abrolophus balkanicus sp. Nov. İs described and illustrated from larvae collected in Montenegro. Abrolophus stanislavae (Haitlinger) and A. Wratislaviensis (Haitlinger) are redescribed. New metric data for A. Podorasensis (Haitlinger) are given. A. Podorasensis is new to the fauna of Montenegro and A. Stanislavae is new to the fauna of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Description Of The Previously Unknown Female Of Drassodes Bifidus Kovblyuk & Seyyar, 2009 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) From Turkey, Osman Seyyar, Hakan Demi̇r, Tuncay Türkeş

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Drassodes bifidus Kovblyuk and Seyyar, 2009, previously known only from one male from southern Turkey (Alanya District, Antalya Province), is redescribed on the basis of newly collected materials. The female of Drassodes bifidus is described for the first time. Illustrations, description, and distribution are presented.

A Contribution To The Kleptoparasitic Bees Of Turkey: Part I.,The Genus Sphecodes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), Hi̇kmet Özbek, Petr Bogusch, Jakub Straka

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The present study was carried out to determine the occurrence and distribution of the kleptoparasitic bee genus Sphecodes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) of Turkey. The material comprises samples collected from various parts of Turkey since the 1960s and certain private collections in Europe. The examination of the material and an overview of the published sources allowed us to reach the conclusion that Sphecodes of Turkey is represented by 33 species. Of these, Sphecodes crassanus Warncke, 1992 and S. Majalis Pérez, 1903 are new records for Turkey as well the Asian continent. Sphecodes alternatus Smith 1853, S. Ephippius (Linnaeus, 1767), S. Gibbus …