Digital Commons Network^™

Perceptions Of Cultural And Linguistic Preparedness: Deaf And Hard Of Hearing College Students’ Beliefs About Their K-12 School Setting, Rebecca Rosenbarker

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, do deaf and hard of hearing university students think their K-12 setting prepared them to succeed linguistically and culturally in both the Deaf and hearing communities? This research examines the survey responses of 11 deaf and hard of hearing university students through a mixed-methods approach. Through this research, the following trends were identified. First, the majority of participants found their school setting helped prepare them linguistically and culturally for the hearing world. Next, the majority of students from mainstream settings did not feel their school prepared them linguistically or culturally for the …

Due Process In Higher Education: A Study Of Due Process In Relation To Greek Life Affairs, Brooklyn M. Hollis

University Honors College

No abstract provided.

December 4-5, 2015, Vs. Denver, University Of North Dakota

UND Athletics Publications: Men's Hockey

Program for the December 4-5, 2015, weekend series against the Denver Pioneers.

The Importance Of Physicochemical Characteristics And Nonlinear Classifiers In Determining Hiv-1 Protease Specificity, Timmy Manning, Paul Walsh

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

This paper reviews recent research relating to the application of bioinformatics approaches to determining HIV-1 protease specificity, outlines outstanding issues, and presents a new approach to addressing these issues. Leading machine learning theory for the problem currently suggests that the direct encoding of the physicochemical properties of the amino acid substrates is not required for optimal performance. A number of amino acid encoding approaches which incorporate potentially relevant physicochemical properties of the substrate are identified, and are evaluated using a nonlinear task decomposition based neuroevolution algorithm. The results are evaluated, and compared against a recent benchmark set on a nonlinear …

Preoperative Smoking Cessation Intervention: A Critical Appraisal Of The Evidence With Practice Recommendations, Casta Townsley

Student Projects for Graduate Degrees

Smoking is the single most important risk factor in the development of postoperative complications. Daily smoking increases the risk of postoperative complications by a factor of two to four. Smoking cessation preoperatively is beneficial in increasing rates of cessation and therefore reducing the incidence of complications postoperatively. As a result, smoking cessation should be recognized as a core element of care for the preoperative management of the surgical patient. Although the benefits of smoking cessation are well established, as is substantial evidence demonstrating that brief interventions are effective in increasing cessation rates among users, clinicians fail to consistently address the …

D.D.B. (Mother), Petitioner - Appellant, Vs. J.L.C. (Father), Respondent - Appellee., Utah Court Of Appeals

Utah Court of Appeals Briefs (2007– 2019)

Appeal from the final judgment of the Juvenile Court of the First Judicial District in and for Box Elder County, State of Utah, The Honorable Angela Fonnesbeck

Pthrp(12-48) A New Player In Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis, Charity Leah Washam

Theses and Dissertations

Bone metastasis is a common complication of breast cancer that significantly compromises patient survival due, in part, to the advanced stage of disease at time of detection. Early detection is key to patient survival, however, despite intense investigation in both the metastatic and early breast cancer setting there are currently no high performance biomarkers that can identify or predict the development of bone metastasis. In order to improve patient outcomes new diagnostic tools that can detect skeletal lesions in their earliest stages of development and/or identify patients at risk for developing bone metastases that may benefit from adjuvant anti-resorptive treatment …

Construction Of Class I Hla-Binding Peptidome, Heng Luo

Theses and Dissertations

The human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) can capture endogenous or exogenous peptides and set up a cascade which results in immune activation to fight a pathogen or sometimes to trigger autoimmune diseases or adverse drug reactions. Understanding HLA-peptide binding is essential for the development of vaccines and protein therapies, the identification of methods to prevent autoimmune diseases and the prediction of adverse drug reactions. Using an in silico approach we generated a 9-mer peptidome for Class I HLAs from the human proteome and harvested experimental HLA-peptide binding data from a variety of databases. Unfortunately, many peptides in the peptidome do not …

Applications Of Structure Based Drug Design To Generate High Affinity Anti-Methamphetamine Immunotherapy And To Identify Novel Inhibitors Of Lox-1 To Treat Atherosclerosis, Shraddha Thakkar

Theses and Dissertations

Computer-aided rational drug design is one of the most promising approaches for the development of effective drug therapies. This dissertation describes applications of rational structure-based techniques in two cases. In the first study, we enhanced the potency of a therapeutic antibody against methamphetamine. In the second study we identified potentially therapeutic molecules to treat atherosclerosis. Methamphetamine abuse is a serious health hazard and a single chain variable fragment (scFv) of a therapeutic anti-METH antibody has been developed at this University. Anti-METH immunotherapy blocks or reduces the rate of METH entry into the brain. In this research we introduced rationally designed …

Teacher Self-Efficacy: How Do High-Performing Black Teachers In Under-Performing Schools Negotiate Self-Efficacy?, Tisha Lithel White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Despite the vast research on efficacy and teacher efficacy, little focuses on high-performing Black teachers who work in low-performing urban schools. This research fills a gap in understanding high-performing Black teachers and provides a voice to a population under-represented in research. Through focus groups, semi-structured interviews, storytelling, and reviewing student work samples, findings showed that high-performing Black teachers in underperforming urban schools participate in specific practices that demonstrate their personal self-efficacy. Teachers were reflective, inquisitive, and generally maintained a positive outlook in all situations. The teachers in this study also carefully adapted their practice by focusing on strong relationships with …

Single-Cell-Genomics-Facilitated Read Binning Of Candidate Phylum Em19 Genomes From Geothermal Spring Metagenomes, Eric D. Becraft, Jeremy A. Dodsworth, Senthil K. Murugapiran, J. Ingemar Ohlsson, Brandon R. Briggs, Jad Kanbar, Iwijn De Vlaminck, Stephen R. Quake, Hailiang Dong, Brian P. Hedlund, Wesley D. Swingley

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

The vast majority of microbial life remains uncatalogued due to the inability to cultivate these organisms in the laboratory. This “microbial dark matter” represents a substantial portion of the tree of life and of the populations that contribute to chemical cycling in many ecosystems. In this work, we leveraged an existing single-cell genomic data set representing the candidate bacterial phylum “Calescamantes” (EM19) to calibrate machine learning algorithms and define metagenomic bins directly from pyrosequencing reads derived from Great Boiling Spring in the U.S. Great Basin. Compared to other assembly-based methods, taxonomic binning with a read-based machine learning approach yielded final …

High Throughput Screening Of Priming Candidates For Impact On Nonviral Gene Delivery, Albert L. Nguyen

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Priming, in the context of nonviral gene delivery, is the treatment of cells with a compound prior to gene transfer that enhances transfection efficiency and/or transgene expression. Essentially, it is the application of an adjuvant approach to gene delivery. Effective transfection strategies may require priming to compete with the efficiency of viral transduction in order to achieve clinically relevant efficiency and expression in vivo. To search for priming compounds, a high throughput screen of the NIH Clinical Collection was performed using 25kDa b-PEI, an EGFP/luciferase plasmid, and HEK293T cells. The EGFP reporter was multiplexed with Hoechst 33342 and Resazurin fluorescence …

Silicon Nitride Interfacial Layer Effect On Gallium Nitride Nanorod Growth, Filiz Keles

Theses and Dissertations

Gallium nitride (GaN) nanorods have been grown on Silicon substrate by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PAMBE). An amorphous and inhomogeneous interfacial silicon nitride (SixNy) layer is unintentionally formed at the initial stage of the GaN growth due to the high affinity between Si and N. The GaN cluster formation on uncontrolled SixNy layer occurs not only tilted but also defect-included such as stacking faults and threading dislocations. These defects mostly would be kept and carried throughout the growth. In this work, we studied the effect of crystal properties of SixNy layer on GaN nanorod quality by varying the nitridation parameters …

Reactive Oxygen Species Homeostasis And Proline Catabolism, Lu Zhang

Department of Biochemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The role of proline metabolism in regulating cellular redox status was first proposed three decades ago. Proline catabolism was then later found to induce programmed cell death and cell apoptosis by regulating ROS signaling. Proline oxidation was also found to promote cell survival under oxidative stress. Proline catabolism-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) were suggested to be involved in both cases by serving as a regulatory signal. In this work, the sources of proline oxidation-induced ROS production were explored in both bacteria and animal cells. Proline oxidation-induced ROS was found to be shared by bacteria (Escherichia coli) and animals …

The Effect Of Manure Application Method On Nutrient And Microbial Runoff Transport And Soil Biological Health Indicators, Nicole R. Schuster

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Two projects were completed to provide significant new information to the agricultural industry regarding the environmental implications and soil health impacts related to land application of swine manure. The first study reports on the runoff transport of nutrients and microbials as affected by manure application method and time following application. The second study provides information about the effect of application method and time following application on soil health indicators using arthropod abundance and diversity as a biological indicator. The information gained through these studies will provide beneficial information to the pork industry on the impact of manure application method and …

Uses Of Diaryliodonium Salts And Methods For Their Synthesis, Jordan M. Veness

Department of Chemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Diaryliodonium salts have been studied continuously since the first report of their synthesis in 1894. Diaryliodonium salts are I(III) derivatives that are air- and moisturestable. The reactivity of these compounds resembles the organometallic chemistry of heavy transition metal ions such as Pb(IV), Hg(II), Th(III), and Pd(II). A significant advantage of diaryliodonium salts is that they can carry undergo many of the aryl functionalization reactions of heavy metal organometallic complexes, yet they have little to no toxicity and they are relatively inexpensive to prepare. The DiMagno laboratory uses diaryliodonium salts as precursors in the final synthetic step of radiopharmaceuticals; given that …

Effect Of Simulated Canopy Cover On Created Vernal Pools In The Northeastern Us, Elizabeth Anne Bruen

Theses

Vernal pools in the Northeastern United States are small, forested wetlands characterized by ephemeral flooding. These unique ecosystems provide critical habitat for both terrestrial and aquatic organisms, abate seasonal flooding, and are biogeochemical hotspots. Vernal pools may be created to maintain key ecosystem services associated with loss of natural wetlands. In many instances, however, created pools do not mimic the ecological functions and services of extant vernal pools due to shortcomings associated with the surrounding land use and canopy cover, hydrology, or invasion by opportunistic plants. Because of the importance of these systems to regional biodiversity, understanding the conditions required …

Visual Feedback System For Ultrasound Training, Saeideh Akbarisamani

Robotics and Mechanical Systems Design

No abstract provided.

Chimes: December 4, 2015, Calvin College

Chimes

Calvin launches college-wide effort to increase student retention by Josh Parks

Women's soccer: NCAA success by Mark Peless

"We Stand Together": Calvin shows solidarity against racism by Bethany Cok

Calvin ranked second for number of students studying abroad by Alicia De Jong

Open ocean fish display impressive biological cloacking by Natasha Strydhorst

Heartside gallery continues to grow by Saraphina Sefcik

Pope Francis visits Kenta, Uganda, and the Central Republic by Eckhart Chan

Acinetobacter Baumannii: A Study On Prevalence, Detection And Virulence, Deepti Prasad Karumathil

Doctoral Dissertations

Archival abstract submitted

Spectroscopic And Theoretical Characterization Of Retinylidene Proteins And Biological Chromophores For Use In Biophotonic Applications, Jordan A. Greco

Doctoral Dissertations

Retinylidene proteins are found in all domains of life and perform diverse biological functions, including light-induced ion transport and phototransduction in visual systems. One such protein, bacteriorhodopsin (BR), is the light-activated proton pump that produces chemical energy for the archaeon, Halobacterium salinarum. In recent years, a branching reaction from the photocycle of BR has been discovered to produce a stable photoproduct, the Q state, using a sequential multiphoton process. The Q state has optical properties that enable the use of BR in bioelectronic technologies, however, the native protein has limited access to this photoproduct. A review is …

Extracellular Regulation Of Glial Cell Functions, Kasey Marie Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations

The extracellular environment plays an important and crucial role in orchestrating the behaviors of the cells in the central nervous system (CNS). In my thesis work, I studied how the extracellular environment regulates a subset of glial cells, Oligodendrocytes (OLs) and astrocytes. Moreover, I studied the relationship of the astrocyte and the OL, particularly for astrocytes to promote a favorable environment for OL maturation. The extracellular matric (ECM) is composed of a variety of factors, including glycoproteins and secreted extracellular proteins.

In my thesis work, I focused on a subset of glycoproteins: Laminin (Ln), Tenascin-C (TnC), Fibronectin (Fn), and Vitronectin …

December 4, 2015, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

Preferential Methods Used By Celcis Students To Enhance Conversational Skills., Karina Mariadas

Honors Theses

Conversational skills are something that can be improved over time. For new language learners, conversing in English can be difficult. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the preferential methods to enhance conversational skills used by students from the Center for English Language and Culture for International Students (CELCIS) at Western Michigan University. The study was conducted using a survey questionnaire consisting of 7 parts. The conversation improvement methods that were addressed in the survey included: print, audio-visual, electronic devices/technology, face-to-face conversations and games. 112 students, 35 females, 75 males and 2 unknowns, participated in the survey during …

Undergraduate Research Highlight: Mississippi College, Ronald W. Howard

The Catalyst

Discussion of undergraduate research initiatives at Mississippi College.

Studying Bush Babies, David Hanbury

The Catalyst

For an undergraduate student to engage in what promises to be groundbreaking, revolutionary research is an extraordinarily unique experience. In August of 2003, I was given the opportunity to participate in a research program advancing the understanding of primates through behavioral research of prosimians known as bush babies (Otolemur garnettii), at The University of Southern Mississippi's Laboratory for Prosimian Studies. Through research and observation, I am learning something new every day about the behavioral, cognitive, and anatomical differences and congruencies between humans and our fellow primates.

Time To Face Reality: The Unreality Of Time Could Very Well Be Real, Michael Dodge

The Catalyst

Without doubt, time has been one of the most discussed topics in the history of philosophy and science. From Greece 's Chronos to modern atomic clocks, what could be more fundamental for human experience than keeping the time? This essay will attempt to tackle the ontological status of time, articulating a two-pronged approach that should force the realist (with respect to time) to admit that presuming that time is a real thing is, at the least, an uncertain position. Most scientists are realists as regards time's existence, and they use time to understand fundamental enterprises ranging from standard kinematics to …

Undergraduate Opportunity Spotlight, Amaziah Coleman

The Catalyst

Spotlight on the Luckyday Scholarship

The University Of Southern Mississippi Honors College: A Tradition Of Excellence, Amanda Winters

The Catalyst

A close inspection of any college community will reveal students looking to fulfill the entire college experience, students with an eye toward their ideal career after college, students who devour information with an insatiable appetite, revolutionaries out to change the world, and countless others of varying backgrounds and creeds. Whichever category you, the reader, identify with, and regardless of your field of study, you can find a niche in the Honors College at The University of Southern Mississippi. The only unifying criterion for an Honors College student is that he or she is dedicated and openminded enough to take his …

High-Flying Success For Chemistry Students: Nasa's Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program, Kristi Budzinski, Nicholas Carter, Kayce Leard, Christina Watters, Brian Zoltowski

The Catalyst

NASA's Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program (RGSFOP) conducted at Johnson Space Center and Ellington Field in Houston, Texas, provides science and engineering undergraduates the opportunity to design and conduct experiments in a microgravity environment. The student program began roughly five years ago, although NASA developed a reduced gravity program in 1959. In the past five years, more than 1 00 different schools from around the country have participated. The KC-135 jet, which is similar to the Boeing 707, is used to produce a microgravity environment for training astronauts and testing equipment to use in space.

To create the rnicrogravity …