Digital Commons Network^™

The Kinetic Characterization Of Two Putative Galactosidases, Bt2857 And Sco6594, And The Preliminary Analyses Of Sco6595-97, Maria Ngo

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron is a prolific bacterium found in the distal intestinal tract of humans that possesses the ability to breakdown complex polysaccharides through the release of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Overall, the saccharolytic prowess of B. thetaiotaomicron presents an intriguing model for understanding microbial-host nutrient exchange within the gut and to identify novel mechanisms for accessing carbohydrates. The successful expression, purification, and preliminary kinetic characterization of BT2857 are reported. BT2857 was found to be enzymatically active against the artificial substrate, 4-nitrophenyl β-D-galactopyranoside (pNP-Gal); suggesting its role as a putative β-galactosidase and allowed for the quantification of BT2857 activity by the determination …

Strange Compositions: Chemistry And Its Occult History In Victorian Speculative Fiction, Susan Hroncek

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation examines how depictions of chemistry in Victorian literature are influenced by concerns regarding the history of chemistry and its relationship to the occult. Among these depictions, I consider non-fiction writings of the period, such as histories of science and articles from periodicals, but I focus on novels that prominently feature chemistry, including Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s A Strange Story (1862), Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886), George Griffith’s Olga Romanoff (1894), T. Mullet Ellis’s Zalma (1895), and Richard Marsh’s The Beetle (1897). These texts link chemistry with its origins in alchemy, the occult, and …

Causes And Consequences Of Variation In Female Mate Choice And Its Relation To Sexual Conflict In Drosophila Melanogaster, David Cs Filice

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Female mate choice is a significant driving force of evolutionary change and can explain the evolution of exaggerated male traits and/or displays, and dimorphism between the sexes. Females are thought to choose mates based on the greatest provision of direct or indirect benefits. Despite this, we often still see substantial individual variation in female mate choice behaviours both within and across populations. Recent studies suggest that female mate choice is a complex decision-making process that involves many context-dependent factors. However, the precise sources of this variation, such as previous mating experience, are not completely understood. In Drosophila melanogaster, mating …

The Effects Of External Focus Of Attention Exercise Rehabilitation On Dual Task Walking In Parkinson's Disease, Eric N. Beck

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Parkinson’s disease impairs control of well-learned movements, and therefore, individuals with Parkinson’s disease are forced to walk with greater conscious control. This causes difficulties while walking and completing a secondary task simultaneously (dual tasking), in that distractions from conscious control of walking increase the risk of falls and injury. Although, attention-based exercise may be a potential avenue to decrease the demands associated with walking in Parkinson’s disease. For example, an external focus of attention (on manipulated objects) has been found to recruit the networks that are important for walking with little conscious control (automatic control networks). In contrast, an internal …

Host Community Narratives Of Volunteer Tourism In Ghana: From Developmentalism To Social Justice, Danielle E. Lediard

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

It is evident from the research around volunteer tourism that local perspectives are sorely lacking. Instead of the focus of research being on the communities that volunteer tourism is meant to help, the emphasis remains on the experiences of the volunteers. Although many researchers identify the lack of attention directed towards host communities as a problem, there remains a lack of research in this area. The importance in the existing research, then, remains on the ‘us’ in developed countries instead of the those in developing countries that volunteer tourism is meant to help. The primary objective of this research is …

How Perceptions Of A Relationship Partner’S Self-Esteem Influence Support Seeking, Alexandra Hirniak

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Receiving effective social support is beneficial (Cohen & Wills, 1985); unfortunately people do not always seek support when they need it (Collins & Feeney, 2000). I hypothesized that perceptions of a partner’s self-esteem affect social support processes, such that people will be less willing to solicit support from low self-esteem partners for stressful events because they assume that low self-esteem partners will be unable to provide effective support. Results from four studies (Study 1A: N=116; Study 1B: N=201; Study 2: N=194; Study 3: N=196) demonstrated that perceptions of a romantic partner’s self-esteem were positively associated with people’s willingness to share …

Hiv Testing In The Context Of Hiv Stigma And Minority Stress, Mallory C. Harrigan

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The HIV test is highly valued for its role in promoting personal health, aiding in HIV prevention, and enabling the epidemiological tracking of the virus. However, relatively few scholars have critically examined the social and cultural implications of testing practices (Scott, 2003). These implications are of particular concern because the groups targeted for testing (referred to as service priority groups) are marginalized communities, and have historically been further marginalized by many public health HIV prevention efforts (Waldby, 1996). This thesis examines the experience of receiving an HIV test from the perspective of individuals in service priority groups, which include gay, …

The Struggle To Be Heard: Toronto's Postproduction Sound Industry, 1968 To 2005, Katherine E. Quanz

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation examines how economic and technological changes shaped the sounds of Canadian cinema, from the modern industry’s founding in the late 1960s to the widespread adoption of digital editing software in the early 2000s. By focusing on the labour and craft practices that coalesced in Toronto’s postproduction companies, I argue that such practices engendered a critical shift in the sonic style of Canadian film sound. Whereas fiction films initially featured a sonic style developed by the National Film Board of Canada for documentary production, filmmakers eventually adopted a style strongly identified with Hollywood cinema. Although it is tempting to …

The Effect Of Menstrual Cycle Phase On Appetite-Regulating Hormones, Logan Townsend

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Background: Obesity rates are higher among females than males potentially due to changing food intake across the menstrual cycle. Food intake is partially regulated by circulating appetite-regulating hormones that can be influenced by the menstrual hormones estradiol and progesterone. Purpose: Examine whether changes in female sex hormones across the menstrual cycle are related to appetite-regulating hormones. Methods: 8 healthy young females were tested during the follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases; phases were confirmed by fasting plasma hormone concentrations. Blood samples were taken after an overnight fast, as well as 30, 60, and 90 min post-prandially to test the concentrations of …

Holding Canada Accountable: An Evaluation Of Canada's Compliance To The United Nations Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples, Jackson A. Smith

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Compliance of human rights norms requires the application of pressure from a multitude of directions and levels. It takes individual advocacy, micro-system/organizational/community-level pressure, and macro-level pressure from other nation-states and international organizations and governance bodies. This MA study focuses on the mechanisms employed by the United Nations to monitor the compliance of signatory nation-states to the standards established in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), with particular focus on Canada. A crucial goal of this study is to translate the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNSRRIP), James Anaya’s, findings on the …

Stigma, Community Connectedness, And Social Support Among Trans Women Living With Hiv In Ontario: Findings From The Trans Pulse Project, Tanya D'Amours

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Trans (transgender, transsexual, transitioned) individuals face numerous challenges to their health and well-being (Bauer, Hammond, Travers, Kaay, Hohenadel & Boyce, 2009). Trans women in particular face disproportionately high rates of negative health outcomes, including HIV. Trans women face intersecting stigmas, which result in transphobia, trans erasure, isolation, and other systemic barriers to their well-being (Logie, James, Tharao, & Loutfy, 2012a). Despite their elevated risk, trans women, particularly those living with HIV, are invisible, neglected or underrepresented in research (Logie, et al., 2012a). Research suggests that community connectedness and social support are factors that impact the wellness of marginalized people (Kertzner, …

The Influence Of Hip Mobility And Fatigue On Spinal Flexion And Muscle Activation In Rugby Scrum Performance, Joshua D. Clayton

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Introduction: Rugby scrumming is a means of restarting play following a minor rule infringement that can occur up to 28 times per game. The scrum poses a significant injury risk, with more days missed due to injury per event than any other rugby activity. Rugby players also have a significantly higher rate of spine injury than the general population, perhaps due to flexion in combination with high compression forces, which has been cited as the main mechanism of injury. Flexion of the spine has also been associated with poor hip mobility and quadriceps fatigue in other athletic tasks and may …

The Influence Of Joint-Site, Limb Preference, And Physical Activity On Joint Position Sense, Amanda N. Forsyth

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Joint position sense provides the body with information about where limb segments are relative to one another in three-dimensional space. The ability to utilize this sense is imperative for smooth, coordinated, and accurate movement in everything from activities of daily living to competitive sport (Ghez & Sainburg, 1995). Researchers currently use joint position sense as a measure of proprioceptive acuity. However, limited research has investigated the influence of potential confounding factors on proprioception. Specifically, literature on how joint-site specificity and lateral preference influence proprioception displays several incongruent findings. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was (1) to determine if …

Computing Closed Forms For The Convergent Series $\Displaystyle\Sum_{N \In \Mathbb{Z}}\Frac{1}{(N^3+Bn^2+Cn+D)^K}$, Gagandeep K. Virk

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In this thesis we discuss the various approaches that will be taken to evaluate and find a finite closed form for the sum $$\sum_{n \in \mathbb{Z}} \frac{1}{(n^3+Bn^2+Cn+D)^k}$$ where $B, C, D \in \mathbb{C}$ and $k$ is a positive integer. We begin this thesis by studying the cubic equations and discussing briefly various methods of finding their roots. Cardano's method (1545) for finding the roots of cubic polynomials is explored in detail as this method is used in later parts of the thesis to make calculations while evaluating the sums. Various tools and techniques from Fourier analysis are reviewed for these …

Representations Of Stranger And Non-Stranger Homicide: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Canadian News Media, Gabriella L. Leone

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The news media play a significant role in shaping public narratives about homicide by the particular incidents that journalists choose to report – or not report – on. Newspapers, in particular, lack the benefit of constant imagery, special effects, and live-action reporting that T.V. news reports have, and, as a result, forces newspapers to construct sensational and newsworthy homicide stories in order to be competitive and gain readership. To achieve this, newspapers often disproportionately report on bizarre and atypical homicide incidents, which most frequently involve a stranger or unknown assailant. While there is substantive literature surrounding the newsworthiness of homicide …

Chemical Removal Of Total Phosphorus From Wastewater To Low Levels And Its Analysis, Farah Ateeq

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Numerous studies have been conducted on the removal of inorganic phosphorus (P) from wastewater, but a push towards lower effluent targets necessitates the additional removal of organic phosphorus as well. This study tested the ability of manganese oxide nanoparticles and iron oxide as potential catalysts for conversion of organic P into more readily removable inorganic forms, as well as the role of iron(III) chloride as coagulant to subsequently allow P to be removed by solids/liquid separation. Removals of 99-101% were obtained for model compounds at pH 5-7, 0.05-0.5 M H₂O₂, and Fe:P molar ratio of 5:1. …

Investigating Balance-Enhancing Effects Of Midsole Hardness And Thickness For Older Adult Footwear, Elizabeth Mcleod

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Falls among older adults (OA) is becoming increasingly more prevalent. One third of OA fall each year; of those fallers, 20-30 percent endure various injuries ─ fatal and nonfatal. Older women are especially at risk and are twice as likely than men to sustain a fatal injury following a fall, including severe hip fractures. This study aimed to explore and confirm balance-enhancing evidence for thin and hard midsoles/insoles through an experimental environment with a single data collection session. It was hypothesized that balance would improve while wearing hard insoles in combination with a hard midsole when compared to standard insole …

Toward A Better Understanding Of Community Benefits Assessment Practices., Peter B. Meyer, Lauren Heberle

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

State Of Metropolitan Housing Report: Living In Community: Housing For People Living With Disabilities And Our Aging Population, Lauren Heberle, B. Mcreynolds, A. Sizemore, S. Sizemore, T. Malone, J. Beard, Cate Fosl

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Prominence Of Affect In Creativity: Expanding The Conception Of Creativity In Mathematical Problem Solving, Eric L. Mann, Scott A. Chamberlin, Amy K. Graefe

Faculty Publications

Constructs such as fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration have been accepted as integral components of creativity. In this chapter, the authors discuss affect (Leder GC, Pehkonen E, Törner G (eds), Beliefs: a hidden variable in mathematics education? Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2002; McLeod DB, J Res Math Educ 25:637–647, 1994; McLeod DB, Adams VM, Affect and mathematical problem solving: a new perspective. Springer, New York, 1989) as it relates to the production of creative outcomes in mathematical problem solving episodes. The saliency of affect in creativity cannot be underestimated, as problem solvers require an appropriate state of mind in order …

Engineering Design And Gifted Pedagogy, Eric L. Mann, Rebecca L. Mann

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Community Listening Project, Faith Mullen

Scholarly Articles

This report is the product of an effort of the DC Consortium of Legal Services Providers (“Consortium”) to learn from low income DC residents about the challenges they face and the barriers that prevent them from overcoming poverty by asking them, directly, about their most pressing problems.The Community Listening Project was envisioned as a companion to the DC Access to Justice Commission’s forthcoming report on unmet legal needs of low-income residents of the District of Columbia. Both the Community Listening Project and the Access to Justice Commission’s legal needs study are intended to provide critical information to enable the community, …

The Hedgehog, The Fox, And Kozolychyk: The Practical And Philosophical Foundations Of Best Practices In Legal Harmonization For Economic Development, Antonio F. Perez

Scholarly Articles

This essay explicates Professor Boris Kozolchyk’s magnum opus, Comparative Commercial Contracts, as a vehicle for exploring the practical and philosophical foundations for effective efforts to promote international legal harmonization in private law. Its central thesis is that good practices are founded on the philosophical premises embedded in Kozolchyk’s work, which in turn are drawn from Kozolchyk’s practical experience. This experience yields a vision of practices reflecting those of the archetypal merchant, a bonus vir (a good man or person), and the conception of commercial justice as fairness and reasonableness made possible by practical guidance rooted in requirements of the bonus …

Glimpses Of Marshall In The Military, Kevin C. Walsh

Scholarly Articles

Before President John Adams appointed him as Chief Justice of the United States in 1801, John Marshall was a soldier, a state legislator, a federal legislator, an envoy to France, and the Secretary of State. He also maintained a thriving practice in Virginia and federal courts, occasionally teaming up with political rival and personal friend Patrick Henry. Forty-five years old at the time of his appointment to the Supreme Court, Marshall has been serving his state and his country for a quarter century before he took judicial office. Marshall is an exemplar of professional excellence for all lawyers and judges. …

Data Privacy And Inmate Recidivism, Chad Squitieri

Scholarly Articles

Private companies are awarded contracts to provide Internet technologies within jails and prisons. These correctional contractors often argue that their services can reduce recidivism rates by, for example, providing inmates with access to video messaging services where inmates can communicate with loved ones who are otherwise unable to travel to communicate in person. A close examination of the privacy policies offered by correctional contractors, however, reveals how efforts to reduce recidivism rates are undermined.

As this Essay will explain, correctional contractors collect sensitive data about inmates and the loved ones with whom they communicate. If this data is stolen or …

Ralph W. Steen Library 2015 – 2016 Quantitative Comparative Statistical Analysis, Anjum Najmi, Edward G. Iglesias, Deborah R. Allen

Librarian and Staff Publications

For academic libraries at public state universities, the challenge continues on how to evaluate performance, measure progress, and find meaningful ways to demonstrate their worth. The challenge is to find meaningful ways to demonstrate how library programs and services contribute to learning outcomes and student success. This report presents a comparative analysis of Ralph W. Steen Library and ten peer institutions to highlight areas of excellence and under-performance that may warrant further attention.

Encapsulation Of Natural Colorant In Rice Flour Granules, Pornpan Natthawut

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The trend of using natural colorants replaced synthetic colorants was increasing in food and cosmetic application. However, the natural colorants had disadvantage on color instability. Usually the color of anthocyanin changes quite quickly after the materials are exposed to various environmental factors including moisture, air and light. In this work, rice granules were used to stabilize roselle, butterfly pea and curcumin extracts. The stabilized natural colorants were then subjected to stability evaluation at various temperatures (room temperature, 4oC and 40oC) for up to 1000 h, and also under light-exposed and light-proof conditions for up to 100 h. The monitoring of …

Screening And Characterization Of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (Phas) From Cyanobacteria Utilizing Organic Carbon, Somchai Tarawat

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a group of biodegradable plastic. These biopolymers are environmentally friendly because they can be decomposed by microorganisms. PHAs production is also renewable and sustainable. There are many types of PHAs. This thesis aimed to screen for Thailand-isolated cyanobacterial strains that can produce two types of PHAs: the homopolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and the heteropolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV). Cells were cultured under the heterotrophic condition (nitrogen deprivation with 0.4% w/v acetate supply in the dark). PHB contents in cyanobacteria were determined using high performance liquid chromatography. From 135 strains accounting for 26 genera, 9 strains accumulated PHB at the levels …

Translating Research To Practice For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Part I: Definition, Associated Behaviors, Prevalence, Diagnostic Process, And Interventions, Norah L. Johnson, Karen Burkett, Judy Reinhold, Margaret W. Bultas

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

The number of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is rising, along with the potential for challenging behaviors during health care encounters.

Method

We present an overview of the emerging science related to ASD diagnosis and interventions for children with ASD.

Results

Emerging science on ASD reveals common associated challenging behaviors, increasing prevalence, emphasis on early diagnosis at 18 to 24 months of age, changes in the diagnostic process with criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, and interventions with medication, education, and behavior management.

Discussion

Family and health care provider preparation strategies facilitate …

Anxiety Level Differentiation In 6-12 Years Old Children Before And After Loss Dental Care Using Topical Anasthesy At Dental Hospital Hasanuddin University, Adam M. Hamudeng, Fynna R. Ryanda

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

No abstract provided.