Transferring Hypothetical Deductive Reasoning, Jordan Hatch, Jamie L. Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of our project was to understand if hypothetical deductive (HD) reasoning skills exist in each discipline and if so, whether they are transferable between disciplines. HD reasoning is the method of scientific investigation used most commonly by scientists. It includes formulating hypotheses, devising experiments, making predictions, and analyzing results (iSTAR 2013). Many science classes boast scientific reasoning as a main learning outcome, but does reasoning transfer between disciplines and thus benefit the person as a whole? We hypothesized that most, if not all, disciplines use HD reasoning. In addition, we hypothesized that because this skill is context independent …

Do Differently Managed Dairy Cows With Production-Related Metabolic Diseases Have Similar Protein And Fat Species In Colostrum And Milk?, Holly Martin, Dr. Beverly Roeder

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Production-related metabolic diseases (PRMDs) in dairy cows threaten the livelihood of the animals as well as the productivity and success of the dairy industry. Because dairy cows supply an important food source for humans, understanding, managing, and preventing these diseases protects this source. Management and prevention of these diseases would increase production and profit margins for the dairy industry.

Biological Control Of Agrilus Liragus Through Entomopathogenic Fungi, John Watkins

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project was funded with the intent that possible biological controls could be found to control the population explosions of bark boring beetles. We hypothesized that due to the prevalence of beetle outbreaks in the West, we would find enough Agrilus liragus specimens to culture native entomopathogenic fungi. We hoped to sequence that fungi and hypothesized that there would be new species of pathogenic fungi that is specific to Agrilus liragus. Through our fieldwork we were not able to find sufficient numbers of Agrilus liragus to accomplish these goals. What we did find were high levels of the tree …

Investigating The Effect Of Ethanol On Exocytosis In Vitro, Brady Hunt, Dixon Woodbury

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My research focus has been to investigate how ethanol’s pharmacological effects could be tied to it’s interactions with a key component of all cellular membranes, lipid bilayers.

Fire Blight Treatment With Lytic Bacteriophage, Todd Jarvis, Julianne Grose

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Fire Blight, caused by the bacteria Erwinia amylovora, is a highly contagious fruit tree disease that is difficult to treat. This disease causes a tree to whither away, as if it had been burned. It is estimated that Fire Blight causes more than a 100 million dollar loss in agricultural goods each year¹. In an attempt to treat fire blight and prevent it from spreading, large doses of antibiotics are sprayed on infected trees. These antibiotics do little in the way of helping to treat the trees. In addition, the antibiotic run off from the treatment finds …

Optimization Of Selenium Chemoprevention In Prostate Cancer Cells, Xiuqi Li, Merrill Christensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States (1). However, most men will die with prostate cancer rather then from it (2). Because prostate cancer exhibits a long latency period, high incidence rate, and significant morbidity but low mortality, its prevention remains an active field of research.

Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine And Gaba Neurons: Physiological Properties And Expression Of Mrna For Endocannabinoid Biosynthetic Enzymes And Type I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors, Zachary Hopkins, Jeffrey G. Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The ventral tegmental area or VTA is considered to be one of the foremost centers involved in motivation and reward processing in the brain [1]. This area is also heavily implicated in addiction. However, little is known in regards to the exact cell types and subtypes found there, or the types of signaling that occur. We were interested in investigating the possibility of retrograde signaling among the two predominant cell groups in the VTA: GABA and dopamine neurons. Both cell types can be acted on by drugs of abuse, either to directly affect DA release or indirectly through GABA cells …

Novel Comet Assay Identifies Preliminary Dna Damage Prior To Cell Apoptosis In Mouse Model Of Rage Over-Expression, Steven Knapp, Paul Reynolds

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The goal of this project was to characterize the predisposing susceptibility of mice that overexpress receptors for advanced gylcation end products (RAGE) to apoptosis (cell death) and autophagy. Work has already been done to characterize this mouse model as pro-apoptotic; this new project will allow us to identify powerful markers that track DNA damage prior to cell death. RAGE is found in the lungs and aids in the transitioning of cell types (Reynolds P et Al., 2011). The expression of RAGE increases during instances of disease including COPD, diabetes, and lung cancer (Celli BR et Al., 2004, Wu L et …

3d Mapping Of Cardiac Nerves For Improved Cardiac Ablation Procedures In The Treatment Of Cardiac Arrhythmia, Adam Jorgensen, Jonathan J. Wisco

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Arrhythmia is a serious heart condition that affects 14 million people in the United Statesⁱ, and is characterized by irregular frequency of atrial and ventricular beats.ⁱⁱ The most serious effects of arrhythmia include sudden cardiac arrest and stroke.ⁱⁱⁱ About 383,000 cases of cardiac arrest are recorded annually in the United States alone.^iv In a report complied in 2011 by the World Health Organization, stroke has the second highest death rate of any disease worldwide, ending the lives of 6.1 million people annually.^v

Biological Control Of Agrilus Liragus Through Entomopathogenic Fungi, John Watkins

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project was funded with the intent that possible biological controls could be found to control the population explosions of bark boring beetles. We hypothesized that due to the prevalence of beetle outbreaks in the West, we would find enough Agrilus liragus specimens to culture native entomopathogenic fungi. We hoped to sequence that fungi and hypothesized that there would be new species of pathogenic fungi that is specific to Agrilus liragus. Through our fieldwork we were not able to find sufficient numbers of Agrilus liragus to accomplish these goals. What we did find were high levels of the tree …

High School Students Prepare For Upcoming Learning Opportunities At Gardner-Webb, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

For dozens of high school students in Cleveland and Rutherford counties, this summer will offer unique opportunities for developing new insight into the practical application of principles they have learned throughout the school year. Through grants from the Stonecutter Foundation (Spindale, N.C.) and the Duke Energy Foundation (Charlotte, N.C.), Gardner-Webb University is planning five week-long academies, which will offer local students enrichment in the subjects of math, science and computer science. The Stonecutter Foundation will sponsor academies for participants from Rutherford County high schools.

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Reduces Vx-809 Stimulated F508del-Cftr Chloride Secretion By Airway Epithelial Cells, Bruce A. Stanton, Bonita Coutermarsh, Roxanna Barnaby, Deborah Hogan

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background:

P. aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that chronically infects the lungs of 85% of adult patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Previously, we demonstrated that P. aeruginosa reduced wt-CFTR Cl secretion by airway epithelial cells. Recently, a new investigational drug VX-809 has been shown to increase F508del-CFTR Cl secretion in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells, and, in combination with VX-770, to increase FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) by an average of 3-5% in CF patients homozygous for the F508del-CFTR mutation. We propose that P. aeruginosa infection of CF lungs reduces VX-809 + VX-770- stimulated F508del-CFTR Cl secretion, and …

An Extract Of Artemisia Dracunculus L. Stimulates Insulin Secretion From Β Cells, Activates Ampk And Suppresses Inflammation, Sita Aggarwal, Giri Shailendra, David M. Ribnicky, David Burk, Namrata Karki, M. S. Qingxia Wang

Faculty Publications

© 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Ethnopharmacological relevance Artemisia dracunculus L. (Russian tarragon) is a perennial herb belonging to the family Compositae and has a history of medicinal use in humans, particularly for treatment of diabetes. Aim of the study: In this study a defined plant extract from A. dracunculus L. (termed PMI-5011) is used to improve beta(β) cells function and maintain β cell number in pancreatic islets as an alternative drug approach for successful treatment of diabetes. Materials and methods Mouse and human pancreatic beta cells were treated with defined plant extract of A. dracunculus L. (PMI-5011) …

Confirmation Of Potential Cyprinid Hosts For A State Threatened Freshwater Mussel Of East Texas, Erin P. Bertram

Biology Theses

Previously suggested Cyprinid host-fish for the state threatened Texas pigtoe (Fusconaia askewi) and Louisiana pigtoe (Pleurobema riddelli) of East Texas were investigated. The Red shiner, Blacktail shiner, and Bullhead minnow were targeted as potential hosts. The viability of these fish as hosts was tested by collecting them from three different rivers of East Texas and housing them in an Aquatic Habitat Tank System (AHAB) to allow the natural development and release of glochidia or juvenile mussels that were attached to the fish in the wild. Juvenile mussels were molecularly identified with amplification of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) using the ND1 gene. …

Manipulation Of The Solenopsis Invicta Virus-1 By Rna Interference In The Red Imported Fire Ant Solenopsis Invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), And Examination Of Differences In Resulting Micro Rna Expression, Patrick Rydzak

Biology Theses

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), is an invasive ant species from South America to the United States and is responsible for approximately six billion dollars (U.S.) every year. In 2004, as part of an effort to find a self-sustained, long term biological control agent against S. invicta, researchers discovered the first ever known virus to infect Solenopsis sp., the Solenopsis invicta virus-1 (SINV-1). RNA interference (RNAi) is a known regulator of biological systems in insects and was used in this study to manipulate viral titers of SINV-1 in individual S. invicta workers and whole S. invicta …

Volume 52, Number 41: May 27, 2015, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Immunolocalization Of G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor In The Rat Epididymis, Griselle B. Martinez-Traverso, Christopher Pearl

Peer Reviewed Articles

Background

Estrogen plays an important role in male reproduction, and males lacking estrogen signaling in the reproductive tissues are infertile. Estrogen signaling is mediated via two nuclear receptors, ERα and ERβ, but it was recently found that a G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) is present in the testis. It is believed that GPER is a membrane form of the estrogen receptor and mediates non-classical estrogen signaling. However, the cellular localization of GPER in the epididymis is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the cellular and regional expression of GPER in the rat epididymis.

Findings

To localize …

An Exploratory Study Of The Role Of Cooperating Teachers In Preparing Teacher Candidates For Academic Success With Students Of Color In High-Need Schools, Audra Michelle Watson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation investigates the teaching practices, attitudes, beliefs, and expectations, cooperating teachers hold and model for teacher candidates preparing to work in high-need schools with significant populations of students of color. Using a culturally relevant and critical race theory lens, I argue that the clinical placements in which many teacher candidates are placed provide limited opportunities for them to see and engage in the full spectrum of culturally relevant pedagogical practices.

The data for this study were captured from participants in a nationally-administered, state-based teacher preparation program through surveys, interviews, and observations over a period of four months. Using a …

Essays On The Economics And Methodology Of Social Mobility, Benjamin Zweig

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation consists of three essays which aim to extend the methodology and analysis of the study of social mobility. In the first essay, differences in intergenerational mobility across race and across the parent's earnings distribution are explored through a nonparametric framework. Components of mobility are differentiated and analyzed separately in order to get a comprehensive account of heterogeneities in mobility. Several important differences are found including higher expected mobility for white households, higher idiosyncratic mobility for black households, larger disparities in expected mobility at the high end of the earnings distribution, and much higher rates of overall intergenerational persistence …

Catmobile Front Suspension, Adam Romine

Mechanical Engineering and Technology Senior Projects

Each year electric vehicles become more and more popular. The electric vehicle that the Central Washington University Electric Vehicle Club is building needs a front suspension. The vehicle is being built to compete in the Electrathon America Race in May of 2015. The suspension attaches to the wheels and attaches to the frame of the vehicle and provides bump dampening. The suspension was built was using a single swing arm type design. This design consists of six parts that are welded and bolted together to connect the wheel to the frame. The shock absorber that is attached to the single …

Electrocardiographic Patch Devices And Contemporary Wireless Cardiac Monitoring, Erik Fung, Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, Rahul N. Doshi, Jerold S. Shinbane, Steven K. Carlson, Luanda P. Grazette, Philip M. Chang, Rajbir S. Sangha, Heikki V. Huikuri, Nicholas S. Peters

Dartmouth Scholarship

Cardiac electrophysiologic derangements often coexist with disorders of the circulatory system. Capturing and diagnosing arrhythmias and conduction system disease may lead to a change in diagnosis, clinical management and patient outcomes. Standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), Holter monitors and event recorders have served as useful diagnostic tools over the last few decades. However, their shortcomings are only recently being addressed by emerging technologies. With advances in device miniaturization and wireless technologies, and changing consumer expectations, wearable “on-body” ECG patch devices have evolved to meet contemporary needs. These devices are unobtrusive and easy to use, leading to increased device wear time and …

Specialized Tutorials For Specialized Resources: Using Interactive Guide On The Side Tutorials For Special Libraries Reference And Instruction, Ilana Stonebraker

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

Special Libraries, Special Challenges Column

Special Libraries, Special Challenges is a column dedicated to exploring the unique public services challenges that arise in libraries that specialize in a particular subject, such as law, medicine, business, and so forth. In each column, the author will discuss public service dilemmas and solutions that arise specifically in given subject libraries while drawing links to how such issues affect librarianship in general. Special or subject-matter librarians interested in authoring a piece for this column are invited to contact Ilana Stonebraker at [email protected].

This column is written by column editor Ilana Stonebraker. Ilana Stonebraker …

Synthesis And Biological Evaluation Of N-Alkoxyphenyl-3-Hydroxynaphthalene-2-Carboxanilides, Eoghan Nevin, Aidan Coffey, Jim O'Mahony, Et. Al.

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

A series of fifteen new N-alkoxyphenylanilides of 3-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid was prepared and characterized. Primary in vitro screening of the synthesized compounds was performed against Staphylococcus aureus, three methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains, Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra and M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Some of the tested compounds showed antibacterial and antimycobacterial activity against the tested strains comparable with or higher than that of the standards ampicillin or rifampicin. 3-Hydroxy-N-(2-propoxyphenyl)naphthalene-2-carboxamide and N-[2-(but-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-3-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxamide had MIC = 12 µM against all methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains; thus their activity is 4-fold higher than that of ampicillin. The second mentioned compound as well as 3-hydroxy-N-[3-(prop-2-yloxy)phenyl]-naphthalene-2-carboxamide had MICs = …

Negative Cognitive Style, Rumination, And Negative Emotionality As Mediators Of The Antidepressive Effects Of Physical Activity Among Young Adults, Kara Pegram

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Abstract

This study assessed whether three potential cognitive and affective mechanisms mediated the relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms. Participants were 143 young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 (M = 19.29, SD = 1.65); the majority of participants were female (72%) and Caucasian (69.9%). Participants were followed across eight weeks and completed measures of trait and state rumination, negative emotionality, cognitive style, depressive symptoms, and physical activity. A mediated model was proposed hypothesizing negative association between physical activity and depression mediated by less rumination, negative emotionality, and cognitive style. Hypotheses were examined cross-sectionally and prospectively. …

Did Tardigrades Survive The Last Glacial Maximum In Antarctica?, Caj Johansson, Byron Adams

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The current belief of the majority of glaciologists is that during the last glacial maximum (LGM), 17,000-22000 years ago, the entire Antarctic continent was completely covered in ice (Convey, 2008). This would mean that all terrestrial organisms would have died out during this time, essentially leaving Antarctica without life. If this hypothesis is true then all terrestrial organisms found currently in Antarctica arrived after the LGM (the past 12-18,000 years), a very short time frame for speciation to occur. Tardigrades are microscopic terrestrial animals that are most closely related to Arthropods and Nematodes (Edgecombe, 2011 but see also Longhorn, 2007). …

Mouse Monoclonal Antibodies And Immunohistochemical Technique For Determination Of Sex Steroid Receptors And Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor In Breast Cancer, Ali Hassan Ai-Timimi

Muthanna Medical Journal

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women. The current study was conducted with the objective of assessing estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (Her2/neu) reactivity patterns of breast cancers and to evaluate their association with clinicopathological features. Immunohistochemical (IHC) procedure was used to detect the expression of ER, PR and HER2/neu in postoperative paraffin blocks of breast tumors and statistically analyzed their correlations with clinicopathological characteristics. Most of the patients (66.0%) were ≤50 years at diagnosis. The left breast was more commonly involved (57%), tumor size ranged from 0.5 - …

Do Cultural And Perceptual Factor Matter?: An Investigation Of Factors Impacting Intelligence Test Scores Of Latinos/Hispanics In The United States, Mary E. Ignagni

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This paper examined societal and cultural explanations regarding the score differences seen between Latinos/Hispanics and Whites on intelligence tests through focusing specifically on possible explanations for the scores obtained by Latino/Hispanic test-takers. In this paper, it was argued that additional unique factors may impact the test scores of Latino/Hispanic test-takers. Specifically, racial and ethnic self-identification, ethnic centrality, acculturation, cultural distance, test perceptions, and ethnicity were explored as possible unique factors. In addition, an attempt was made to explain within group differences. A non-experimental study was utilized in which a final sample of 194 participants completed an intelligence test and measures …

Uab Study Identifies Pathway That May Cause Seizures And Shorten Survival For Patients With Severe Brain Tumors, Alicia Rohan

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Discerning Between Types Of Otitis Media And Their Evidence Based Treatments: A Review For The Audiologist, Hadassah Norowitz

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Otitis media is an inflammatory pathology of the middle ear and middle ear mucosa which accounts for the majority of cases of childhood hearing loss diagnosed by audiologists. However, considerable confusion exists regarding the distinction between otitis media with effusion, also known as middle ear effusion or “glue ear”, and acute otitis media, the quintessential ear infection. Since many children are referred for audiological evaluation in the process of determining the course of treatment and outcomes of treatment, audiologists must be knowledgeable of the evidence of efficacy for various treatment options as they field questions from parents with incomplete information …

Implications Of Muscle Activation Patterns On Balance In The Elderly, Arielle Bailey, Goldie Baum, Hadassa Radzik, Aruna Woods

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

More than one third of adults ages 65 years old and older fall each year in the United States. This can result in trauma, hospital admissions, and potential death. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of waist-pull perturbation training on balance in the elderly. There were two experimental groups, elderly non-fallers (n=9) and elderly fallers (n=5) between ages 65-86, and a control group comprised of young, healthy subjects (n=10) ages 21-31. All subjects underwent baseline and post-training measurements using EMG recordings of the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, vastus lateralis and semimembranosus. Training was performing using repeated waist-pull …