Digital Commons Network^™

A Novel Fmri Paradigm Suggests That Pedaling-Related Brain Activation Is Altered After Stroke, Nutta-On Promjunyakul, Brian D. Schmit, Sheila M. Schindler-Ivens

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure pedaling-related brain activation in individuals with stroke and age-matched controls. We also sought to identify stroke-related changes in brain activation associated with pedaling. Fourteen stroke and 12 control subjects were asked to pedal a custom, MRI-compatible device during fMRI. Subjects also performed lower limb tapping to localize brain regions involved in lower limb movement. All stroke and control subjects were able to pedal while positioned for fMRI. Two control subjects were withdrawn due to claustrophobia, and one control data set was …

The Price Of Paid Prioritization: The International And Domestic Consequences Of The Failure To Protect Net Neutrality In The United States, Arturo J. Carrillo, Dawn C. Nunziato

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

This article examines the international trade and human rights obligations of the United States as they relate to net neutrality to determine the extent to which the approach adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2015 to promote an open Internet complies with those obligations. In March of that year, the FCC adopted new rules to promote and protect an open Internet that, inter alia, reclassified broadband providers as common carriers subject to nondiscrimination obligations and codified strong net neutrality protections. The authors argue that the 2015 FCC Order, contrary to its predecessors, largely meets the requirements of the …

Book Review: Casting Off The Canon: Family Law Reimagined, Laurie S. Kohn

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

Jill Hasday's book, Family Law Reimagined, offers a clear-eyed vision of what family law is, what it is not, and where it might be headed. Hasday considers family law's canon-the set of principles by which we have come to characterize family law-and then debunks the canon by methodically setting forth each notion and illustrating its inaccuracies or limitations. In doing so, Hasday urges the reader to clear the noise of the canon and to see the law in all its messy inconsistencies and shortcomings.

Standardized Articulation Test Performance Of African American Preschoolers In Mississippi, Emily Ortega

Honors Theses

In the past, standardized articulation tests administered by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have had tendencies to be biased against speakers of a dialect with characteristics that differ from Mainstream American English (MAE). Using these MAE norm referenced tests can cause several problems, including over diagnosing African American (AA) children with impaired speech and language. The purpose of this study is to document the performance of four-year-old African American English (AAE) speakers for their use of age appropriate phonemes regardless of dialect, and whether the presence of AAE affects participants' scores on the following articulation tests: the Arizona Articulation Proficiency Scale-Third Edition …

A Qualitative And Quantitative Analysis Of Student Loan Debt And Its Impact On Postsecondary Education And The American Economy, James Wesley Howell

Honors Theses

This paper seeks to address the current student debt problem in the United States from both a quantitative and qualitative perspective. I have analyzed the student debt problem using data from the New York Federal Reserve, CollegeBoard, and a number of university studies and independent sources. In this paper I address the current structure of postsecondary educational finance with a focus on student loans. I address the causes of the current amount of outstanding student debt on governmental, institutional, and personal fronts, and analyze the amount of debt and cost of tuition and fees by type of institution in order …

Sandy Symbionts: How Tree Identity Shapes Ectomycorrhizal Fungus In Sand Pine, John Culbertson

Honors Theses

The purpose of my thesis was to investigate the structure and composition of the ectomycorrhizal (EMC) fungal communities of sand pine (Pinus clausa var. immuginata). Root tips were sampled from four trees located within Eglin Air Force Base. Colonization was shown to differ significantly based on tree identity. Abundance, species diversity, and the ratio of ECM fungi to pathogenic fungi did not differ significantly based on tree identity. A total of 35 ECM operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were shown to colonize the four trees. Helotiales4, Lactarius2, and Cenococcum geophilum were found to be the most abundant OTUs, while Lactarius1 was …

Conditioned Pain Modulation Predicts Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia In Healthy Adults, Kathy J. Lemley, Sandra K. Hunter, Marie K. Hoeger Bement

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction: Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is the concept that pain inhibits pain and has potential rehabilitation implications for exercise prescription. The purpose of this study was to determine whether changes in pressure pain perception after a thermal conditioning stimulus (i.e., CPM) was attenuated with aging and whether CPM predicted pain relief after exercise (exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH)) in healthy young and older adults.

Methods: Twenty young (21.9 ± 3.3 yr, 10 men) and 19 older (72.0 ± 4.5 yr, 10 men) adults participated in three sessions: one familiarization and two experimental (EIH and CPM) sessions. Pressure pain perception was assessed using …

Patterns Of Barbell Acceleration During The Snatch In Weightlifting Competition, Kristof Kipp, Chad Harris

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study was to determine the association between weightlifting performance and vertical barbell acceleration patterns. Barbell kinematic time-series data were tracked from 18 snatches from six weightlifters during a regional weightlifting competition. These data were used to calculate vertical barbell accelerations. Time-series data were normalised to 100% of lift phase, defined as the time interval between barbell lift-off and maximum height of the barbell during each snatch lift. The time-series data were then entered into a pattern recognition algorithm that extracted principal patterns and calculated principal pattern scores. Body mass-normalised lift weight, which was used to quantify …

Up In Smoke: The Unintended Consequences Of Marijuana Legalization In The United States On Public Health And Safety, Claire Colquitt

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research is to explore the potential public health and safety consequences of the legalization of marijuana in the United States. A review of existing literature on the health effects of marijuana use and marijuana's impact on public safety was conducted. Researchers are still unclear as to exactly how marijuana use affects brain structure and function, but some studies indicate that long-term chronic use leads to changes in both neurological function and physical brain structure. Researchers have been unable to identify how marijuana use affects respiratory function and physical health. Finally, marijuana's relationship with psychological health is …

Visualization Techniques Of Shear Wave Propagation In Wormlike Micellar Fluid, Connor M. Tierney

Honors Theses

In an aqueous solution amphiphilic molecules can self-aggregate and form a wormlike micellar fluid. These non-Newtonian fluids have been studied in the context of diagnostic medical imaging due to the fact that the fluids have viscoelastic properties and can act as a nonperishable model for human tissue. They also display flow-birefringence, which is a property that allows for the analysis of shear wave propagation through the fluid. However, one issue encountered at lower micelle concentrations is the inability to see the emergent birefringence pattern that results from shear wave propagation. In this study Experiment 1 was an analysis of shear …

Estimating The Number Of Components Of A Spatial—Em Algorithm: An R Package, Aishat O. Aloba

Honors Theses

The Expectation Maximization algorithm also known as the EM algorithm is an algorithm used to solve the maximum likelihood parameter estimation problem. This problem arises when some of the data involved are missing or incomplete, hence it becomes difficult to know the parameters of the underlying distribution. The EM algorithm mainly comprises of two steps; the E—Step, and the M—Step. In the E—Step, estimated parameter values are used as true values to calculate the maximum likelihood estimate, and in the M—Step, the maximum likelihood calculated is used to estimate the parameters. The E—Step and M—Step iterate through until a specified …

The Role Of Acceptance In Ptsd Symptomatology Among A Nonclinical Sample, Amanda E. Gerard

Honors Theses

Studies have demonstrated the role of various psychological factors such as avoidance in PTSD (Marx & Sloan, 2005; Badour et al., 2012), but research examining the role of acceptance is limited. The few studies performed in the area have demonstrated significant associations between acceptance and PTSD symptomatology (Tull et al., 2007; Vujanovic et al., 2009) in addition to providing evidence that acceptance-based treatments can be effective for PTSD (Orsillo & Batten, 2005; Batten & Hayes, 2005). The current study aimed to expand previous research by using a large nonclinical sample and controlling for several relevant comorbidities. It was hypothesized that …

Creating Knowledge, Volume 8, 2015

Creating Knowledge

Dear reader,

I am delighted to introduce this eighth volume of Creating Knowledge: The LAS Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship. This volume features 19 essays and 14 art works, representing advanced coursework produced in twenty different departments and programs during the 2014-2015 academic year. Several of the essays have been honored with department awards and several draw on research supported by undergraduate research grants. Many were originally written in senior capstone seminars, research-intensive seminars, and independent studies, and many were presented in some form at one of the numerous conferences and showcases sponsored by departments and programs throughout the year. All …

The Prescribed Advantage: An Examination And Ethical Discussion Of The Growing Prescription Stimulant Culture, Joseph L. Maxwell

Honors Theses

The goal of this thesis is to examine the current state of prescription stimulant use, particularly on college campuses, and the impact of the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) dilemma. I will first discuss the science explaining and relating ADHD etiology and the effects of stimulant medications on the mind and body. I will then discuss the accepted criteria for ADHD diagnosis and the ambiguity they create. Next I will identify the central issue: the widespread illicit use of stimulant medications, particularly for academic purposes. I will expound on the development of this situation, the influence of the competitive collegiate atmosphere, and …

A Study Of Public Opinion On Sex Education In Mississippi, Karson Brandenburg

Honors Theses

In 2011, Mississippi, a state ranked fourth in the nation for high teen pregnancy rates, passed a law mandating sex education for all public school districts in the form of either the abstinence-only or the abstinence-plus method. This thesis describes the background of those two methods and how they are currently being implemented in Mississippi school districts. Additionally, it looks at how Mississippi parents and leaders feel about sex education in schools as a whole and then more specifically how they feel about the current options for sex education and the execution of sex education classes. This was done through …

An American Prophet: Wendell Berry's Community Ethic, 1965-1977, Joel Garrott

Honors Theses

This thesis provides a detailed commentary on Wendell Berry's agrarian ethic as articulated in his early literature of the 1960s and 1970s. It is part biography of Berry's early life, part history of his early thought, and part literary interpretation of his early work. It expounds on the significance of Berry's personal connection to place, and situates Berry's agrarian argument for community life in the context of the social issues addressed in his early literature. The central argument of this project is that Berry's agrarian ethic was grown out of his relationship with his native place in Kentucky, and that …

Psychiatric Symptomatology In Migraine Sufferers And The Relationship With Headache-Related Self-Efficacy, Lindsay W. Wencel

Honors Theses

Introduction: Self-efficacy (SE) refers to one's belief in their ability to successfully complete a task. Increases in SE are associated with improved pain outcomes as well as improvements in anxiety and depression (Turner, 2005). Headache-related self-efficacy (HSE) refers to a person's belief in his/her ability to manage migraine attacks. Previous studies illustrate that HSE and psychiatric comorbidities are independently related to migraine disability, severity, and treatment outcomes. The purpose of the present study was to assess the relationship between HSE and psychiatric comorbidities among individuals with migraine. Methods: 852 young adult migraineurs (M age = 19.22; 79.9% female; 77.0% Caucasian) …

Family Vault: How To Protect And Organize Your Personal Information For Your Family, Mary Daniel Simpson

Honors Theses

Integrated Marketing Communications courses focus on examining marketing campaigns and learning to create pieces of campaigns. Students are taught that new product campaigns must garner brand awareness, and in order to do so effectively, must be weighted heavily in insightful research. This thesis seeks to culminate the knowledge gathered from the curricula by designing both a new product and an integrated campaign from which to launch the product. The new product is a life document organizer, to be used in preparation for a tragedy, such as death or natural disaster. The product's purpose is to easily deliver peace of mind …

A Broken System? Prescription Drug Use And Abuse In Fraternity And Sorority Members., Morgan Pollard

Honors Theses

Although a relationship between Greek affiliation and increased risktaking has been observed in previous research, the relationship between prescription drug abuse and Greek affiliation has not been thoroughly researched. Participants in the current study comprised a sample of 515 University of Mississippi undergraduate students (28.99% male, 71.01% female) recruited via a campus wide survey comprised of a stratified random sample of the university student population. The results of this examination reveal that there is a significant relationship between prescription drug use, all types of drugs as well as stimulants and opiates specifically, and abuse and Greek affiliation.Thissignificant relationship is examined …

Not Got Milk? The Effect On The Gut Microbiome Of Removing Dairy From The Diet, Patrick Tyler Stovall

Honors Theses

The human gut contains a highly diverse set of bacteria that perform a wide range of duties that include much more than just nutrient acquisition. However, the composition of this community is subject to change, with diet, age and lifestyle playing roles in the development and maintenance of the gut microbiota. This study compared the bacterial composition of the human gut when consuming a normal diet versus a dairy-free diet. Samples were taken from a single subject during three periods: 1) control (normal) diet, 2) dairy-free diet, and 3) a return to normal diet. Gut bacterial communities were identified and …

Applying The Theory Of Planned Behavior And Media Dependency Theory: Predictors Of Public Pro-Environmental Behavioral Intentions In Singapore, Shirley S. Ho, Youqing Liao, Sonny Rosenthal

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Applying the theory of planned behavior and media dependency theory, this study examines the effects of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), media dependency, traditional media attention, Internet attention, and interpersonal communication on two types of pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs)—green-buying and environmental civic engagement. Regression analysis of a nationally representative survey of adult Singaporeans (N = 1168) indicated that attitude, PBC, media dependency, traditional media attention, and interpersonal communication were positively associated with green-buying. Notably, traditional media attention, as well as interpersonal communication, moderated the influence of media dependency on green-buying behavior. In addition, attitude, descriptive norms, media dependency, Internet …

Introducing Medical Students Into The Emergency Department: The Impact Upon Patient Satisfaction, Christopher Kiefer, Joseph S. Turner, Shelley M. Layman, Stephen M. Davis, Bart R. Besinger, Aloysius Humbert

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Introduction: Performance on patient satisfaction surveys is becoming increasingly important for practicing emergency physicians and the introduction of learners into a new clinical environment may impact such scores. This study aimed to quantify the impact of introducing fourth-year medical students on patient satisfaction in two university-affiliated community emergency departments (EDs).

Methods: Two community-based EDs in the Indiana University Health (IUH) system began hosting medical students in March 2011 and October 2013, respectively. We analyzed responses from patient satisfaction surveys at each site for seven months before and after the introduction of students. Two components of the survey, “Would you recommend …

Role Of Sigma-1 Receptors In Neurodegenerative Diseases, Linda Nguyen, Brandon P. Lucke-Wold, Shona A. Mookerjee, John Z. Cavendish, Matthew J. Robson, Anna L. Scandinaro, Rae R. Matsumoto

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Neurodegenerative diseases with distinct genetic etiologies and pathological phenotypes appear to share common mechanisms of neuronal cellular dysfunction, including excitotoxicity, calcium dysregulation, oxidative damage, ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Glial cells, including microglia and astrocytes, play an increasingly recognized role in both the promotion and prevention of neurodegeneration. Sigma receptors, particularly the sigma-1 receptor subtype, which are expressed in both neurons and glia of multiple regions within the central nervous system, are a unique class of intracellular proteins that can modulate many biological mechanisms associated with neurodegeneration. These receptors therefore represent compelling putative targets for pharmacologically treating neurodegenerative disorders. In …

Arthropod Diversity In Pure Oak Forests Of Coppice Origin In Northern Thrace (Turkey), Akif Keten, Vedat Beskardes, Ender Makineci, Hayati Zengin, Emrah Ozdemir, Ersel Yilmaz, Hatice C. Yilmaz, Servet Caliskan, James T. Anderson

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Oak (Quercus spp.) forests are among the most important forest types in Turkey. In the past, oak forests were managed through coppice clear-cutting, but in recent decades they have mostly been converted to high forest. This study was aimed at explaining how arthropod diversity is affected during conversion from coppice to high oak forest and during the early stages of coppice succession. We tested the hypothesis that arthropod richness, abundance and diversity in coppice oak sites varied according to stand age and a number of other forest characteristics. Arthropod communities were sampled in 50 plots using four different methods: …

Sox9 Inhibits -Trcp-Mediated Protein Degradation To Promote Nuclear Gli1 Expression And Cancer Stem Cell Properties, W. Deng, D. B. Vanderbilt, C.-C. Lin, K. H. Martin, K. M. Brundage, J. M. Ruppert

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

A Translational Study Of The Correlation Between Low Birth Weight, Hypertension, And Kidney Function Using A Rat Model, Marcus Daniels

Honors Theses

We studied the correlation between low birth weight, hypertension, and kidney function using a rat model. There is a strong correlation between these three phenomena especially in the Southeastern United States and in non-White populations. We hypothesized that the anti-hypertensive drugs Reserpine and Hydralazine would prevent hypertension and improve renal function in low birth weight rats. We used a rat model created by Dr. Barbara Alexander in this study. Pregnant rats were subjected to Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure surgery. Silver clips were placed on the abdominal aorta and uterine arteries approximately two weeks after fertilization in order to restrict blood …

A Comparison Of The Deaf Community And Hard-Of-Hearing Individuals On Their Knowledge And Opinions Of Cochlear Implants, Marian R. Bryant

Honors Theses

This thesis examined the opinions and knowledge of Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals on cochlear implants. Previous research presented showed the controversial opinions on what was known about cochlear implants as a result of speculation in the Deaf community. This thesis consisted of surveying Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in order to have a better understanding of what is known about cochlear implants and the opinions that concur due to incorrect or correct knowledge. Thirteen subjects, including eight Deaf and seven hard-of-hearing individuals, completed the assessment. The results indicated that uncertainty about cochlear implants still remains; therefore, it is necessary to educate …

China's 'Leftover' Women Phenomenon: Media Portrayal And 'Leftover' Voices, Mazie Merriman

Honors Theses

China's shengnü — or leftover women — are a group of highly-educated, single, urban women that the Chinese government has targeted in a scare-mongering media campaign intent on pushing these women to give up their careers or education in order to marry and produce children for the betterment of the state. Since 2007, this group of women has faced highly negative articles and images published both by the All China Women's Federation and other news outlets encouraging shengnü to fix their problems and marry. These highly-educated, unmarried women are seen as violators of traditional gen-der norms and roles, and the …

Regime Type And Healthcare Systems: A Global Quantitative Analysis, R. L. Barr

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the link between regime type and healthcare systems. After reviewing literature that examines regime type, social spending, and healthcare, as well as a more specific example of regime change in Chile, it undertakes a multivariate regression analysis of 183 countries. It concludes that democracies have significantly better healthcare-system indicators, but that environmental variables, such as Latitude and Percentage of Rural Population, are more significant predictors of healthcare. It concludes that, while regime type is an important factor, dealing with ecological and locational problems of a country, such as combating tropical diseases and expanding access to infrastructure, are …

Effect Of Biochar And Activated Carbon Amendments On Gaseous Mercury Emissions Of Soil And Mercury Methylation Rates In Sediment, Ryan Sessums

Honors Theses

Mercury is a pervasive global contaminant with a complex biogeochemical cycle. In this biogeochemical cycle, methylmercury (MeHg+) tends to biomagnify and concentrate in fish and seafood consumed by humans. This study examines the effect of sorbent amendments on both the mercury emission from soils and the methylation rates of mercury in sediments, both of which are believed to be major contributors to the global cycle. Biochar and activated carbon were used to treat soils and sediments to explore their effects. It was found that biochar and activated carbon reduced gaseous mercury emission by 25% and 49%, respectively. Methylation rates in …