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A Quantitative Examination Of Alcohol Consumption Motivation Between Fraternity And Non-Fraternity Men, Brinton B. Vincent

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to examine the differences in motivation between fraternity and non-fraternity freshmen males. The researcher hypothesized that there would be no significant motivational factor to consume alcohol among the population and no significant difference between fraternity and non-fraternity freshmen males. To better examine differences, a quantitative study was conducted by surveying the population of freshmen males at a mid-sized, Midwestern, 4-year, public institution. The Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS) was used to measure four types of motivation: intrinsic motivation, external regulation, identified regulation, and amotivation. Out of the 58 participants, 48 surveys were usable (N = …

Effects Of Habitat Alteration On Ecomorphology Of Fish Communities In A Restored Stream, Carl Anthony Favata

Masters Theses

Decades of anthropogenic pressure have devastated lotic ecosystems across the riverscapes of North America, resulting in degradation of critical habitat and contributing to sharp declines in biotic integrity. In response, local stream restoration projects have increased in frequency. However, little effort has been allocated to monitoring and project success has been limited. In addition, restoration projects typically focus on ecological effects above the population-level, while relationships with physiological processes are seldom assessed. Lessons from the long-term restoration and ecological monitoring of Kickapoo Creek highlight some of the complex dynamics driving reach-scale restoration projects. Following instream restoration, I predicted that alterations …

Aggression Among Same-Sex Couples, Joshua Fourman

Masters Theses

Researchers have been studying intimate partner violence (IPV) since the 1970s but the majority of the research has focused on heterosexual couples. With little research on IPV among same-sex couples there is little knowledge, education, or resources among the people that are employed (or recruited) to assist victims of same-sex couple IPV. This means that social service and law enforcement agencies have not been able to properly meet the needs of the LGBT community.

A mixed-method research design using an online survey was used to gather data from a non-randomized convenience sample. Fifty-one respondents completed the survey. The findings showed …

What's Their Expiration Date? Age Discrimination In The Workplace, Bianca L. Tomlin

Masters Theses

Age discrimination, although illegal, continues to have a presence within organizations against older individuals. Previous research on age discrimination has determined that the social identity of those older workers discriminated against are affected. This project examines how older workers are being discriminated against, how age discrimination affects the dignity of an older worker, and how age discrimination affects the professional identity of older workers. This study focuses on eleven white-collar workers, age 45-65 who have experienced age discrimination in the workplace. Analysis revealed that older workers found themselves being fired from organizations, barred from entry into organizations, and denied training …

Heroic Texts And Special Effects, Joshua D. Goss

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Sampling Efficiency, Population Characteristics, And Potential Impacts Of Harvest Regulations On Three Riverine Species Of Catfish, Zachary Adam Mitchell

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Feasibility Of Wastewater Effluent As A Nutrient Source For Algae In The Context Of Biofuel Production, Justin Ryan Dore

Masters Theses

Algae have the potential to support the production of biodiesel due to their ability to produce large volumes of oils in relatively small footprints. However, algae production for biodiesel is hampered by the expenses associated with water and nutrients required for sufficient growth. A possible source of inexpensive and nutrient-rich water is the effluent of traditional wastewater treatment facilities. If wastewater effluent can support algae growth, the added benefit of reducing high nutrient loads to natural water systems can be realized. The overarching goal of the current research was to explore the feasibility of growing algae (Scenedesmus) using wastewater effluent …

Genetic Structure And Diversity Of Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus) In Three Large Midwestern Rivers, Vaclav Alexei Sotola

Masters Theses

Little information is available regarding the genetic structure and diversity of sportfishes in large rivers, which can be vital to continuing the sustainable exploitation of these fisheries. Additionally, impoundments often have vast impacts on riverine systems. These impacts include altering the flow regime, changing the nutrient load, and preventing migratory fish from reaching their spawning grounds. If fishes are prevented from reaching their spawning grounds, their genetic diversity and structuring could begin to change relative to historic measures, potentially decreasing their fitness and ability to survive. I screened microsatellite loci to assess the genetic population structure and diversity of channel …

"Favorite Of Heaven": The Impact Of Skin Color On Atlantic Ethnic Africans In The Eighteenth Century, Kimberly V. Jones

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Behavioral Patterns Of The Cannibalism And Sexual Taboos, Kayla R. Rice

Masters Theses

Previous research has suggested that there may be a connection between the cannibalism taboo and sexual attraction. Specifically, it appears that when forced to choose someone to cannibalize, people choose victims in a pattern that mimics who they would choose to be sexually intimate with. To confirm and explore this relationship, the current study measured sexual orientation and examined whether participants' preferences in who to cannibalize if forced reflected their desired sexual partner. Participants recruited from Amazon Turk responded to forced pair choices regarding either desired sexual partner or cannibalism victims. Targets included all combinations of three variables: Physical Appearance …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Dicopper(Ii) Complexes With Biological Relevance, Ashley E. Hall

Masters Theses

The research discussed in this study focused on the design, synthesis, and characterization of new model complexes that mimic the type-3 enzyme, catechol oxidase, which oxidizes catechols to their corresponding quinones. Our approach focused on the design and synthesis new model complexes that contain a dicopper(II) center that can be fine-tuned in a variety of ways, such as sterics and exogeneous bridging molecules. This method allows a multitude of complexes to be created and compared to determine how the overall structure affects the catecholase activity of the complexes.

Two ligands were synthesized; they contain a phenolate body, two amide groups, …

Evaluation Of Hazelnuts As A Sustainable Crop In Illinois, Sharon Neva Dubosky

Masters Theses

Production of hazelnuts has historically been limited to regions with mild climates, with almost all hazelnut production in the United States occurring in Oregon. A recent boom in demand, along with an expanded selection of varieties with improved environmental tolerances, has pushed hazelnut production into new regions. Hazelnut production could prove profitable in areas of the Midwest that are less well-suited to the cultivation of maize and soybeans. However, the lack of varieties proven to thrive in the climatological conditions of this region (cold winters, hot summers, frequent drought) presents a barrier to the viability of hazelnut production. A trial …

Neon Calico, Joshua Webb Garrett

Masters Theses

This is a work of creative fiction in the genre of cyberpunk that explores themes of loss, sexuality, and trans-humanism though the eyes of a young Asian-American woman who struggles to cope with the loss of her former boyfriend, with an emerging sexual attraction to a friend of the same sex, and with feelings of disconnectedness complicated by a loss of humanity brought on by her continually improving her own physical body through cybernetic implants and augmentation. Inspired by such works as William Gibson's Neuromancer and Shirow Masamune's The Ghost in the Shell, this book explores the struggle that …

Direct Experimental Evidence For Differing Reactivity Alterations Of Minerals Following Irradiation: The Case Of Calcite And Quartz, Isabella Pignatelli, Aditya Kumar, Kevin G. Field, Bu Wang, Yingtian Yu, Yann Le Pape, Mathieu Bauchy, Gaurav Sant

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Concrete, used in the construction of nuclear power plants (NPPs), may be exposed to radiation emanating from the reactor core. Until recently, concrete has been assumed immune to radiation exposure. Direct evidence acquired on Ar⁺-ion irradiated calcite and quartz indicates, on the contrary, that, such minerals, which constitute aggregates in concrete, may be significantly altered by irradiation. More specifically, while quartz undergoes disordering of its atomic structure resulting in a near complete lack of periodicity, calcite only experiences random rotations, and distortions of its carbonate groups. As a result, irradiated quartz shows a reduction in density of around …

An In Vitro Study On The Effect Of Synthesized Tin (Iv) Complexes On Glioblastoma, Colorectal, And Skin Cancer Cell Lines, Jennie L. Williams, Lesley C. Lewis-Alleyne, Melinda Solomon, Long Nguyen, Robert Johnson, Jennifer Vital, Ping Ji, John Durant, Camille Cooper, Patrice Cagle, Patrick Martin, Don Vanderveer, William L. Jarrett, Alvin A. Holder

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

((E)-2-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)phenolato-2,2-diphenyl-6-aza-1,3-dioxa-2-stanna-[d,h]dibenzocyclononene, [Sn(Ph₂SB)] (compound 1, where Ph₂SB=(E)-2-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)phenolato Schiff base) and two novel compounds, [[SnPh2(F-azoSB)] (compound 2, where F-azoSB=4-((E)-(4-fluorophenyl)diazenyl)-2-((E)-(2-hydroxyphenylimino)methyl)phenolato Schiff base), [[SnPh2(sulf-azoSB)]0.125CHCl₃ (compound 3, where sulfamerazineazosalSB=4-((E)-(4-hydroxy-3-((E)-(2-hydroxyphenylimino)methyl)phenyl)diazenyl)-N-(4-methylpyrimidin-2-yl) benzenesulfonamide Schiff base), and the control compound, cisplatin (compound 4) were analysed to comparatively determine their effect on cancer cell growth. Anti-cancer properties of compounds 1-4 were examined using glioblastoma (U-1242 MG), colorectal (HT-29 and HCT-116), and skin (A431) human cancer cell lines. With regards to human glioblastoma cells, compounds 1 and 3 demonstrated anti-proliferative capacity in the cell line tested. Specifically, compounds 1 and 3 inhibited cell proliferation by 50% at …

Vanadium Toxicological Potential Versus Its Pharmacological Activity: New Developments And Research, Agnieszka Ścibior, Juan Llopis, Alvin A. Holder, Mario Altamirano-Lozano

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Scibior, A., Llopis, J., Holder, A. A., & Altamirano-Lozano, M. (2016). Vanadium toxicological potential versus its pharmacological activity: New developments and research. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2016, 1-2. doi: 10.1155/2016/7612347

Capturing The Big Picture: The 2015 Capstone Design Survey, Susannah Howe

Engineering: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Maporal Hantavirus Causes Mild Pathology In Deer Mice (Peromyscus Maniculatus), Amanda Mcguire, Kaitlyn Miedema, Joseph R. Fauver, Amber Rico, Tawfik Aboellail, Sandra L. Quackenbush, Ann Hawkinson, Tony Schountz

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

Rodent-borne hantaviruses can cause two human diseases with many pathological similarities: hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in the western hemisphere and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in the eastern hemisphere. Each virus is hosted by specific reservoir species without conspicuous disease. HCPS-causing hantaviruses require animal biosafety level-4 (ABSL-4) containment, which substantially limits experimental research of interactions between the viruses and their reservoir hosts. Maporal virus (MAPV) is a South American hantavirus not known to cause disease in humans, thus it can be manipulated under ABSL-3 conditions. The aim of this study was to develop an ABSL-3 hantavirus infection model using the …

Longitudinal Relations Between Parental And Peer Support For Violent And Nonviolent Responses To Conflict And Early Adolescent Dating Aggression, Rachel C. Garthe

Theses and Dissertations

High prevalence and the negative legal, health, and psychological consequences of adolescent dating aggression underscore the need to identify risk and protective processes associated with this type of aggression. Studying dating aggression in early adolescence is important, as this is the developmental time frame when most youth are establishing attitudes, beliefs, and norms for dating behaviors. The current study investigated longitudinal associations between perceived parental and peer support for violent and nonviolent responses to conflict and dating aggression perpetration among middle school students. Participants included 1,399 adolescents (52% female) in the sixth (n = 466), seventh (n = …

The Effects Of Amixicile, A Pyruvate Ferredoxin Oxidoreductase Inhibitor, On Oral Treponemes, Lucas A. Reed

Theses and Dissertations

Periodontal disease (PD) is a polymicrobial infection characterized by inflammation of the gingiva, alveolar bone resorption, and tooth loss (edentulism). Treponema denticola along with Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia are among the “Red Complex” and are main etiological agents in PD. Treponemes are a member of the Spirochaeta phylum and are obligate anaerobes, that express pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR). The enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA and reduced ferredoxin. Amixicile is a novel bacteriostatic derivative of nitazoxanide and an inhibitor of PFOR. In light of the fact that Treponemes express PFOR, this study was conducted to investigate the …

Patterns Of Transcript Abundance Of Eukaryotic Biogeochemically-Relevant Genes In The Amazon River Plume, Brian L. Zielinski, Andrew E. Allen, Edward J. Carpenter, Victoria J. Coles, Byron C. Crump, Mary Doherty, Rachel A. Foster, Joaquim I. Goes, Helga R. Gomes, Raleigh R. Hood, John P. Mccrow, Joseph P. Montoya, Ahmed Moustafa, Brandon M. Satinsky, Shalabh Sharma, Christa B. Smith, Patricia L. Yager, John H Paul

Marine Science Faculty Publications

The Amazon River has the largest discharge of all rivers on Earth, and its complex plume system fuels a wide array of biogeochemical processes, across a large area of the western tropical North Atlantic. The plume thus stimulates microbial processes affecting carbon sequestration and nutrient cycles at a global scale. Chromosomal gene expression patterns of the 2.0 to 156 μm size-fraction eukaryotic microbial community were investigated in the Amazon River Plume, generating a robust dataset (more than 100 million mRNA sequences) that depicts the metabolic capabilities and interactions among the eukaryotic microbes. Combining classical oceanographic field measurements with metatranscriptomics yielded …

Quantification Of Boat Visitation Rates At Artificial And Natural Reefs In The Eastern Gulf Of Mexico Using Acoustic Recorders, Peter Simard, Kara R. Wall, David A. Mann, Carrie C. Wall, Christopher D. Stallings

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Artificial reefs are commonly used as a management tool, in part to provide ecosystem services, including opportunities for recreational fishing and diving. Quantifying the use of artificial reefs by recreational boaters is essential for determining their value as ecosystem services. In this study, four artificial–natural reef pairs in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (off western Florida) were investigated for boat visitation rates using autonomous acoustic recorders. Digital SpectroGram (DSG) recorders were used to collect sound files from April 2013 to March 2015. An automatic detection algorithm was used to identify boat noise in individual files using the harmonic peaks generated …

Improving Satellite Data Products For Open Oceans With A Scheme To Correct The Residual Errors In Remote Sensing Reflectance, Jun Chen, Zhongping Lee, Chuanmin Hu, Jianwei Wei

Marine Science Faculty Publications

An approach to semianalytically derive waters' inherent optical properties (IOPs) from remote sensing reflectance (R_rs) and at the same time to take into account the residual errors in satellite R_rs is developed for open-ocean clear waters where aerosols are likely of marine origin. This approach has two components: (1) a scheme of combining a neural network and an algebraic solution for the derivation of IOPs, and (2) relationships between R_rs residual errors at 670 nm and other spectral bands. This approach is evaluated with both synthetic and Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) data, and the …

The Effect Of Depth On Development And Sexual Dimorphism Of The Sonic System In Deep Sea Neobythitine Fishes: The Upper Continental Slope, Heba Ali

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Background: Cusk-eels from the subfamily Neobythiitinae are one of the major groups of sound-producing fishes on the continental slope. Sounds have never been recorded from a member of this subfamily, and sonic anatomy is considered a proxy for sound production. As the first part of a study on the effects of depth on sonic anatomy, we examined three relatively shallow species from the upper continental slope.

Methods: Three species (Hoplobrotula armata, Neobythites longipes and Neobythites unimaculatus) were examined for sonic anatomy (skeleton, swimbladder and sonic muscles), and sonic and epaxial muscle fibers were measured for diameter. …

Investigation Of Anaplasma Phagocytophilum And Anaplasma Marginale Adhesin-Host Cell Interactions, Kathryn S. Hebert

Theses and Dissertations

Anaplasma phagocytophilum and A. marginale are the etiologic agents of bovine anaplasmosis and human granulocytic anaplasmosis, respectively. As obligate intracellular pathogens, binding and entry of host cells is a prerequisite for survival. The molecular events associated with these processes are poorly understood. Identifying the adhesins mediating binding, delineating their key functional domains, and determining the molecular determinants to which they bind not only benefits better understanding of Anaplasma spp. pathobiology, but could also benefit the development of novel approaches for protecting against infection. We previously demonstrated that A. phagocytophilum outer membrane protein A (ApOmpA) is critical for bacterial binding and …

Assembly And Regulation Of The Dream Complex, Jessica G. Felthousen

Theses and Dissertations

The DREAM complex assembles during G0/G1 when RB-like protein p130 recruits E2F4, DP1, and a core complex of five MuvB proteins to repress genes involved in cell cycle progression. In S-phase, the MuvB core dissociates from p130 and binds to BMYB transcription factor. Binding of the MuvB core to p130 requires phosphorylation of its subunit LIN52 at S28 residue by DYRK1A protein kinase. However, little is known about how the MuvB core interacts with p130 to form the DREAM complex, and how these interactions are manipulated throughout the cell cycle. In collaboration with Dr. Seth Rubin, we characterized the structural …

The Effects Of 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone On Hippocampal Neurogenesis Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Mary K. Wurzelmann

Theses and Dissertations

Following traumatic brain injury (TBI), the hippocampus is particularly vulnerable to damage, and BDNF, an endogenous neurotrophin that activates the TrkB receptor, has been shown to play a key role in the brain’s neuroprotective response. Activation of the TrkB signaling pathway by BDNF in the CNS promotes cell survival and aids in cell growth. However, due to its inability to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB), the therapeutic advantages of BDNF treatment following TBI are limited. 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) is a flavonoid that mimics the effects of BDNF, is a potent TrkB receptor agonist, and can successfully cross the BBB. Our …

Characterizing The Oncogenic Properties Of C-Terminal Binding Protein, Evan T. Sumner

Theses and Dissertations

The paralogous C-terminal binding proteins (CtBP) 1 and 2 are evolutionarily conserved transcriptional coregulators that target and disrupt the expression of several genes essential for multiple cellular processes critical to regulating tumor formation. CtBP’s ability to govern the transcription of genes necessary for apoptosis, tumor suppression, invasion/migration and EMT gives rise to its oncogenic activities. Both isoforms of CtBP are found to be overexpressed in cancers including colorectal, pancreatic, ovarian, and breast, with higher levels correlating to lower overall median survival. Although multiple lines of evidence suggest CtBP plays a role in tumorigenesis, it has never been formally characterized as …

Sciatic Peripheral Nerve Blockade For Pain Control Following Hamstring Autograft Harvest In Adolescents: A Comparison Of Two Techniques, James Furstein

Theses and Dissertations

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction utilizing a hamstring autograft is a surgical technique that has gained popularity among orthopedic surgeons caring for adolescent patients. While utilization of a hamstring autograft is a revered technique, harvest of the hamstring yields significant pain. Sciatic peripheral nerve blockade has proven to reliably provide analgesia at the hamstring donor site. Single-injection sciatic peripheral nerve blockade is considered a basic and effective technique, making its use following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction standard practice in many institutions. The duration of action of a single-injection sciatic peripheral nerve blockade may fail to outlast the pain arising from the …

Trabecular Bone Microarchitecture In Association With Systemic And Local Factors As Potential Predictors Of Implant Failure, Diego A. Camacho Dmd

Theses and Dissertations

Clinicians have described the success rates of dental implants. The use of implants is projected to increase in the future. With a 5-10% failure rate, it is unclear the exact factors that are associated with implant failures. To improve upon these success rates, it is critical to understand parameters associated with implant failure including: periodontitis, peri-implantitis, systemic diseases, site preparation, dental history of the implant site, bone quality, materials, occlusion, and treatment timelines. While bone quality is associated with failure, objective measures to assess bone quality and characteristics are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine whether …