Digital Commons Network^™

Personal Space At Parkland College, Latianna Dumas

A with Honors Projects

Through three observations of social cues of students in a community college lounge area, the author concludes that personal space is not mutually exclusive with rudeness. Rather, allowing others their personal space is a way of showing respect.

Legal Tools For Climate Adaptation Advocacy: Nepa, Jennier Klein, Ethan Strell

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1970. NEPA requires federal agencies to evaluate the environmental effects of a wide range of actions, including direct federal undertakings and projects that receive federal funding or permits. Many states have since enacted similar laws of varying scope, requiring evaluation of the environmental impacts of certain state and local actions. For instance, New York State enacted the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) in 1975. Some municipalities, including New York City, have their own environmental review procedures.

The purpose of NEPA and similar state laws …

Obergefell'S Conservatism: Reifying Familial Fronts, Clare Huntington

Fordham Law Review

I am delighted with the result in Obergefell v. Hodges, but I am unhappy with the Court’s reasoning. In lieu of a straightforward, and far more defensible, decision based purely on the Equal Protection Clause, Justice Kennedy’s reliance on the Due Process Clause is deeply problematic.

The Prodigal Illegal: Christian Love And Immigration Reform, Victor C. Romero

Faculty Scholarship

Despite the impasse around immigration reform, most everyone believes the United States’ immigration system is broken. And most agree that the key issue is what to do with the eleven million or so undocumented persons currently residing in the United States. As a Christian immigration law teacher, I have been interested in the debate among the churches as to what such reform should look like. In this Article, I use Professor Jeffrie Murphy’s conception of agapic love as a lens through which to examine reform proposals. I then evaluate the two positions Christian churches have seemed to embrace—permanent legal status …

Altrusim, Fact Or Fiction?: An Exploration Of Altruism And Egoism In The Context Of Religion And Service Learning, Sarah Pawlicki

A with Honors Projects

This research paper questions the existence of true altruism, by discussing social psychological, philosophical, and theological theories regarding altruism and egoism. The author then discusses her findings in the context of two service learning projects which involved volunteering at the Champaign County Humane Society and Salt and Light, A Christian ministry that provides job counseling, computer access, a thrift and food store. She concludes that, rather than questioning the existence of true altruism exists, the focus should be on doing good for others, regardless of motives.

The Empire Of Affect: Reading Rhys After Postcolonial Studies, John J. Su

English Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

The Fall Of The Tsars, Jamie Hendrickson

A with Honors Projects

This paper summarizes the events that led to the fall of the Romanov family and the end of the tsarist autocracy in the early 20th century. Also summarized is the search for and final discovery of the bodies of the entire Romanov family, putting to rest the theory that Anastasia Romanov had lived.

Pathway And Network Approaches For Identification Of Cancer Signature Markers From Omics Data, Jinlian Wang, Yiming Zuo, Yan-Gao Man, Itzhak Avital, Alexander Stojadinovic, Meng Liu, Xiaowei Yang, Rency S. Varghese, Mahlet G. Tadesse, Habtom W. Ressom

Publications and Research

The advancement of high throughput omic technologies during the past few years has made it possible to perform many complex assays in a much shorter time than the traditional approaches. The rapid accumulation and wide availability of omic data generated by these technologies offer great opportunities to unravel disease mechanisms, but also presents significant challenges to extract knowledge from such massive data and to evaluate the findings. To address these challenges, a number of pathway and network based approaches have been introduced. This review article evaluates these methods and discusses their application in cancer biomarker discovery using hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) …

The Reasonable Use Doctrine In California Water Law And Policy, Brian E. Gray

Faculty Scholarship

The cardinal principle of California water law is that all water rights, and all uses of water, must be reasonable. This seemingly simple and innocuous sentence masks a world of meaning and complexity, however, because the requirement of reasonable use embraces at least four interrelated concepts. The determination of reasonable water use is utilitarian: the law seeks to encourage relatively efficient, economically and socially beneficial uses of the state’s water resources. It is situational: the evaluation of individual reasonable use concerns not only the water right holder’s own uses but also other competing demands (both consumptive and ecological) on the …

Quantifying Seabird Influence On Recovering Island Ecosystems, Stephanie Kong

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Species that compose island ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to extinctions. In New Zealand alone, since human settlement began around 1285AD, 41% of bird species have been driven to extinction. Seabirds play an important role on land and in terrestrial, intertidal and subtidal zones by subsidizing island ecosystems with guano. Additionally, burrow-nesting seabirds churn up the soil by digging the burrows in which they nest, resulting in significant soil disturbance, also called biopedturbation. Unfortunately, invasion of exotic species is among the leading causes of native species extinctions and consequent transformation of ecosystem function globally. One of the most damaging and widespread …

Lateral Tracheal And Esophageal Displacement In Avialae And Morphological Implications For Theropoda (Dinosauria : Saurischia), Jeremy Joseph Klingler

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This research examines the evolution, phylogenetic distribution, and functional explanations for a peculiar and often overlooked character seen in birds, herein called tracheal and esophageal displacement. Of special interest to this study is examining whether the trait was present in non-avian theropod dinosaurs. This study found that essentially all birds are characterized by a laterally displaced trachea and/or esophagus. The displacement may occur gradually along the neck, or it may happen immediately upon exiting the oropharynx. Displacement of these organs is the result of a heavily modified neck wherein muscles that create mobility restrictions in lizards, alligators, and mammals (e.g., …

Learning In The Discipline Of Psychology : An Action Research Project Using The Paired Course Model, Rebecca L. Vaughn

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Institutional statistics at Midwestern University show that in some 100-level general education courses such as introductory psychology, nearly half of the students who were enrolled during the past several years failed. It can be argued that in many cases, students were either misprepared to meet course expectations or did not know how to study in those courses. The paired course model has been recognized as an effective approach for contextualizing reading and study strategy instruction, promoting immediate transfer of strategies, encouraging a sense of purpose, and equipping students with the literacies necessary for academic success.;The purpose of this qualitative action …

Investigation Of Laminar Convective Heat Transfer And Pressure Drop Of Sio2 Nanofluid In Ducts Of Different Geometries, Sunday Oluwafemi Hassan

Theses and Dissertations

Engineers are seeking alternatives to conventional heat transfer fluids and in an attempt to improve their thermal transport properties, they added thermally conductive solids into the conventional fluids resulting in a fluid called nanofluid. Nanofluid was suggested as an alternative solution to the problem and many publications reported its potential for heat transfer enhancement. This thesis describes the experimental study of 9.58% by vol. silica/water nanofluid flow through different flow geometries which are circular, hexagonal and rectangular ducts of close hydraulic diameter. The experiments are performed at uniform heat flux condition. The aim of this thesis is to determine experimentally …

Chimeras, Hybrids, And Cybrids: How Essentialism Distorts The Law And Stymies Scientific Research, Kerry L. Macintosh

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

New Insights Into William James’S Personal Crisis In The Early 1870s: Part 1. Arthur Schopenhauer And The Origin & Nature Of The Crisis, David E. Leary

Psychology Faculty Publications

This article, the first in a two-part sequence, will cast new light on the well-known “crisis of William James” by presenting evidence regarding the previously unrecognized role of Arthur Schopenhauer’s thought in shaping and intensifying the way in which James experienced this crisis. It will also relate Schopenhauer’s influence to prior issues that had concerned James, and in an appendix it will provide an overview of other areas in which Schopenhauer seems to have influenced James, both during and after his personal crisis. The second article in this sequence will present evidence in support of the strong possibility that John …

Work-Family Conflict Among Elementary Teachers, Debra Kay Coberley

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Researchers have examined and generated literature on the interrole relationship between work and family domains. The overwhelming focus has been on work-family conflict (WFC). Literature suggests that occupation-specific studies are the next area for WFC research. Even though there is research regarding WFC, there is a need to examine this phenomenon within unstudied professions because the current models do not account for occupation-specific situations. This dissertation reports about the WFC experienced by elementary teachers. Its purpose was twofold: a) to examine the perceived levels of work-family conflict, and b) to explore the perceptions of work-family conflict among elementary teachers. This …

Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Facilitates Epileptiform–Activity In The Entorhinal Cortex Via Crf2 Signaling Mechanisms, Lalitha Kurada

Theses and Dissertations

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is characterized by hyperexcitability of limbic structures. The entorhinal cortex (EC) is involved in the initiation and maintenance of TLE. Layers II and III of the EC in particular are hyperexcitable and are more susceptible to epileptogenesis. TLE is influenced in a complex manner by the stress-released epileptogenic neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing factor or hormone (CRF/CRH). Nevertheless, the action site and underlying mechanisms of CRF in epilepsy are not fully understood. Here we found that the EC expresses high levels of CRF and CRF2 receptors without the expression of CRF1 receptors. CRF increased the frequency of picrotoxin (PTX)-induced …

Reconceptualizing Privacy: An Examination Of The Developing Regulatory Regime For Facial Recognition Technology, David James Potter

Theses and Dissertations

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration have convened a series of meetings to create a voluntary code of conduct for the commercial use of facial recognition technology. This research asks and answers three questions related to the creation of the voluntary code of conduct: 1) How is the regulatory regime of FRT emerging in the U.S.? 2) What are the roles of the various stakeholders in shaping the commercial regulation of FRT? 3) How does FRT challenge our current conceptions of privacy? Data has been gathered to answer these questions using participant observation and semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed …

N-Cadherin Expression And Emt Progression In Arsenic- And Cadmium-Transformed Urotsa, Elizabeth Sandquist

Theses and Dissertations

Environmental agents are common causes of bladder cancer. Specifically, arsenic (As3+) and cadmium (Cd2+) are known carcinogens implicated in the development of bladder cancer. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that As3+ and Cd2+ can cause malignant transformation of normal immortalized bladder urothelial cells, which can form tumors when injected subcutaneous or intraperitoneal into nude mice. Microarray analysis of repeated metal transformation in parallel revealed that N-cadherin was the most upregulated gene in As3+ transformants, and a top induced gene in Cd2+-transformed cells. The switch from E-cadherin to N-cadherin is a well-known indicator of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition occurring in …

Prevalence And Distribution Of Ranavirus, Chytrid Fungus, And Helminths In North Dakota Amphibians, Melanie Paige Firkins

Theses and Dissertations

Worldwide reports of population declines and extinctions of amphibians have continued for at least two decades. Factors frequently reported in association with these declines include habitat loss, infectious diseases, and environmental degradation. Three sources of disease have been a concern for amphibians: chytrid fungus, Ranavirus, and some helminth parasites. Much of the existing reporting on disease results from anecdotal accounts associated with localized outbreaks, but understanding the scope and dynamics of infectious agents in host populations requires a regional perspective. My objectives were to estimate geographic distribution and prevalence of Ranavirus, chytrid fungus, and helminths in amphibians across the state …

Characterization Of Dopamine Transporter Palmitoylation, Danielle Elizabeth Rastedt

Theses and Dissertations

The dopamine transporter (DAT) is an integral membrane protein that mediates the reuptake of synaptic dopamine and thus regulates the spatio-temporal dynamics of dopaminergic neurotransmission. DAT is also the target of powerful addictive psychostimulants, including cocaine and methamphetamine that resulted in dysregulation of dopaminergic signaling. Complex control of DAT is exerted by various regulatory processes, including posttranslational modifications. We previously found that DAT is palmitoylated via the addition of a 16-carbon palmitic acid moiety to Cys 580. Pharmacological and mutagenic studies determined that depalmitoylation conditions led to reductions in Vmax and transporter levels, suggesting palmitoylation controls one or more functions …

The Unique N- And C-Terminal Domains Of Metallothionein-3 Influence The Growth And Differentiation Of Breast Cancer Cells, Brent Jeffrey Voels

Theses and Dissertations

Toxic insult from the heavy metal cadmium is known to induce the expression of metallothioneins (MT) which are cysteine-rich heavy metal binding proteins six to seven kilodaltons in size. Previous research demonstrates that over-expression of MT-3 occurs in the majority of breast cancers and is associated with poor patient outcome. Furthermore, MT-3 has been shown to inhibit the growth of breast cancer and prostate cancer cell lines. Studies have shown that the MT-3 protein contains 7 additional amino acids that are not present in any other member of the MT gene family, a 6 amino acid C-terminal sequence and a …

Effect Of Extrusion Pre-Treatment On Physical Properties And Sugar Recovery Of Cold Press And Solvent Extracted Canola, Camelina And Carinata Meal, Jasmeen Kaur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Canola/rapeseed meal (CM) ranks second behind soybeans in global production of protein from oil cakes and meals. Commercial CM has been investigated as a feed ingredient in diets of a number of fish species. Camelina (Camelina sativa) has been a potential oilseed crop. The fat extracted meal contains over 40% protein. Camelina yields an average of 420–640 L/ha, and the protein and fiber content in its meal byproduct is comparable to that of soybean meal. Brassica carinata possesses many positive agronomic traits, and it can grow well in hot, dry, and semiarid climates and seed oil from these species and …

Bridging In Vi Tro & In S Il Ico Techniques: Uncovering The Structural Characteristics And Light-Dependent Modifications Of The Light-Response Btb Proteins In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Nicholas Reitz

Masters Theses

The conjugation of the NEDD8 protein has been found to cause a wide range of changes to the overall function of a protein. The addition of NEDD8 to a conserved lysine on Cul proteins has been found to provide Cul with increased flexibility, while the transcription factor protein p53 was prevented from binding to DNA after NEDD8 conjugation. Using Arabidopsis thaliana, we investigated the potential conjugation of NEDD8 to the AtLRB1 and AtLRB2 proteins, which are both members of Cul3-RING E3 Ubiquitin Ligase complexes, using both in vitro and in silico techniques. The AtLRBs are negative regulators of the red …

Analysis Of Ground Vibrations Produced By An 80 In3 Water Gun In The Chicago Sanitary And Ship Canal, Lemont, Illinois, Carolyn Michelle Koebel

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Since its completion in 1910, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) has become a pathway for invasive species (and potentially Asian carp) to reach the Great Lakes. Currently, an electric barrier is used to prevent Asian carp migration through the canal, but the need for a secondary method is necessary, especially when the electric barrier undergoes maintenance. The underwater Asian carp "cannon" (water gun) provides such a method. Analysis of the ground movement produced by an 80 in3 water gun in the CSSC was performed in order to establish any potential for damage to the either the canal or …

I Don't Need To Read, I'M Gonna Play Football: Male Collegiate Athletes' Perception Of Reading, Anna Kathryn Suggs

Honors Theses

My research is comprised of data collected from surveys and interviews to gain a better understanding of how college athletes, especially those from low-income backgrounds, perceive their past experience with reading. I surveyed ninety-three freshmen male athletes. I then narrowed my research to focus specifically on male freshmen athletes from all sports and football players of all years, since football has the highest percentage of athletes from low-income backgrounds. I then interviewed six student athletes on the football team. I found that whether or not a student athlete is read to as a child, enjoyed reading as a child, and …

Exploration Of Cannabinoid And Opioid Agents From Plants Used In Traditional Medicine, John Fitzpatrick

Honors Theses

Ten plants, with known medicinal uses, were gathered to study for their possible production of secondary metabolites that act as opioid and cannabinoid agents. All plants were subjected to in vitro bioassays testing for their affinity for the opioid and cannabinoid receptors. Banisteriopsis caapi extracts displayed the greatest affinity for both opioid and cannabinoid receptors. B. caapi extracts underwent column fractionation yielding fractions that were subjected to further in vitro studies. We discovered that the ethanolic extract of this plant (foliage) binds to all three opioid receptors (µ, κ and δ) and cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) with values ranging …

Machismo In Chilean Politics: A Case Study Of The 2005 And 2013 Presidential Elections, Laura Bridges

Honors Theses

This thesis will answer the following question: Is there a relationship between the election of Bachelet in 2005 and 2013 and machismo? What, if any, influence did machismo have on her election? Chile is one of the more socially conservative countries in Latin America -- divorce was illegal until 2004, abortion is still illegal, etc. When Michelle Bachelet ran for the office of President in 2005, the arguments from her male opponents criticized her abilities based on gendered ideas of the roles of men and women should play in society. For example, they implied that because she was a woman, …

The Dimerization Kinetics Of Ncad12 With A Mutated Cis-X-Pro Bond, Victoria Mcclearn

Honors Theses

VICTORIA RAE McCLEARN: DIMERIZATION KINECTICS OF NCAD12 P16A (Under the direction Dr. Susan Pedigo) Calcium binding causes a conformational change into a strand swapped dimer for the cadherins. However, regardless of the sequence similarity for Epithelial Cadherin (ECAD) and Neural Cadherin (NCAD), they respond to the presence of calcium differently. For NCAD, the rate of assembly and disassembly depends upon the presence of calcium, whereas for ECAD the rate of exchange is independent of calcium. Studies into a kinetic model to explain the differences between the rates have been recently conducted. It is believed that ECAD uses an X-dimer intermediate …

Beam Manipulation And Acceleration With Dielectric-Lined Waveguides, Francois Lemery

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The development of next-generation TeV+ electron accelerators will require either immense footprints based on conventional acceleration techniques or the development of new higher--gradient acceleration methods. One possible alternative is beam-driven acceleration in a high-impedance medium such as a dielectric-lined-waveguide (DLW), where a high-charge bunch passes through a DLW and can excite gradients on the order of GV/m. An important characteristic of this acceleration class is the transformer ratio which characterizes the energy transfer of the scheme. This dissertation discusses alternative methods to improve the transformer ratio for beam-driven acceleration and also considers the use of DLWs for beam manipulation at …