Digital Commons Network^™

Motivations In Exercise, Amanda Dufner

Theses and Dissertations

College students exercise for a variety of reasons, but specific differences in their motivations and perceptions have not been extensively studied. PURPOSE: The main purpose was to see if students whose primary reason for exercise is to lose fat (FATCON), gain muscle mass (MUSC), or maintain health (HLTH) had differences in their exercise motivations, social physique anxiety, and body image self-perceptions.

A secondary purpose was to explore if the participants’ supplement use reflected their exercise priorities.

METHODS: Data were collected at a university Wellness Center, or from exercise classes. Participants (N = 216) completed a packet of four questionnaires: Multidimensional …

Use Of The Green Microalga Monoraphidium Sp. Dek19 To Remediate Wastewater : Salinity Stress And Scaling To Mesocosm Cultures, Anthony Robert Kephart

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the growth of the green microalga Monoraphidium sp. Dek19 in the context of phycoremediation under conditions representative of wastewater media of a Midwest wastewater treatment facility. Microalgae were grown in effluent collected from four different wastewater streams at the DeKalb Sanitary District (DSD), DeKalb, Illinois, USA in volumes from 1 L to 380 L. It was determined through preliminary modeling of public data that Monoraphidium sp. Dek19 will likely outcompete local heterospecifics in final effluent wastewaters at the DSD 51.8% of the year. It was also determined that neither nitrogen nor phosphorus …

Using Lidar To Measure The Urban Forest In Dekalb, Il, Dustin Bergman

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Urban and metropolitan areas have grown significantly during the 21st century. With more than 50% of the global population living in cities, they are uniquely susceptible to high temperatures, poor air quality, and increases in peak storm water runoff during inclement weather; however, urban and metropolitan areas often have significant forest resources that can greatly ameliorate these factors. To maintain urban forests and maximize their benefits, tree surveys are often performed requiring extensive fieldwork. However, automatable techniques using LiDAR data and aerial orthoimagery have the potential to provide similar metrics over larger areas, more rapidly, and at lower cost. This …

Distribution And Characterization Of The Soybean Cyst Nematode, Heterodera Glycines (Hg) Types In South Dakota, Krishna Acharya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines Ichinohe, is an endoparasitic nematode and one of the major pests of soybean (Glycine max L.) in the United State and all over the world where soybean is grown. SCN is ranked first among the biological factors that cause yield loss in soybean. The estimated yield loss by this nematode is $1b annually in the United States alone. SCN is thought to have been first found in China. It was first identified in the United States in 1954 in North Carolina and in South Dakota in 1995. To date, SCN continues to spread …

Effects Of Visitors And Enrichments On Behavior Of Captive Red Wolves’ (Canis Rufus) At The Great Plains Zoo, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Kylee S. Shotkoski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Red wolves (Canis rufus) are the first animals to maintain a wild population from captive, released individuals. A captive breeding program for red wolves was started before complete extirpation, and 4 breeding pairs were released in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (North Carolina) in 1987 and a small wild population still exists there. Currently, there are several captive breeding facilities for red wolves within the Species Survival Plan (SSP) program. The Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota participates in the SSP program. My study was initiated to create a natural history background and evaluate interaction between …

Analysis Of Blood Flow And Drug Concentration Distribution In Tumor-Affected Cerebral Artery Tissue Region, Sindhuja Moda

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Brain tumors occur in the brain with the growth of abnormal cells. Despite the advancements in medical technologies and treatments, the complex geometry of the brain impedes the treatment of tumors in brain. A promising and efficient drug targeting to the diseased regions with the limited dosage input reduces the risk of potential damage of healthy tissue cells in the vicinity of tumor. Insertion of drug particles into the blood stream through intravenous administration is one of the efficient treatment methods which is gaining importance. Currently, extensive research is being conducted in the areas of treating brain tumors effectively with …

Elevated Corticosterone Levels Decrease Vocal Attractiveness And Elicit Non-Calling Mating Tactics In Male Green Tree Frogs, Hyla Cinerea, Hannah Burroff

Honors Theses

Condition-dependent male alternative tactics are often driven by competition among males for females. The expression of alternative male mating tactics can be influenced by the external social environment as well as internal physiological state. Recent models predict that circulating levels of stress hormones (i.e., glucocorticoids) and androgens may be particularly important in determining mating tactic expression under varying social circumstances. This study intergrates both components to investigate the cause of alternative tactic adoption in male green tree frogs, Hyla cinerea. Males of this species produce acoustic signals that are critical for attracting females and male vocalizations stimulate production of the …

Practical Faith: How Southern Black Women And White Women Used Their Faith In Pursuit Of Equality, Holly Baer

Honors Theses

This thesis explores how Southern black and white women used their Christian faith in the pursuit of racial and gender equality, showing how feminist theory and religious doctrine function in reality and everyday practice. The first chapter looks at upper and middle class white women's experiences from the Antebellum period through the early twentieth century, and shows how they used their faith to gain autonomy by manipulating common religious beliefs of the time. The second chapter examines black women's experiences, primarily during the Civil Rights Era, and shows that black women had to approach equality as vocal activists, rather than …

Biological Activity Of Garcinia Kola On Hepatitis C, Madeline Dwyer

Honors Theses

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). According to the World Health Organization, hepatitis C infections affect between 130-150 million people worldwide. It is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, and approximately 500,000 people die from hepatitis C infections or related complications each year. Although new treatments are 90% effective at curing chronic hepatitis C infections, they cost tens of thousands of dollars. Available treatments are incredibly cost prohibitive, especially considering that the regions most affected by hepatitis C are Africa and central and eastern Asia (Hepatitis C). This creates a …

Encapsidation Of The Host Rnas By Broad Bean Mottle Virus (Bbmv) And Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus (Ccmv), Nipin Shrestha

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Encapsidation of the viral genome into capsid is a highly specific process. Despite the viral RNA specificity, evidence of the host cellular RNA co-encapsidation have been shown in some insect viruses like Flock house virus (FHV) and plant viruses like Cucumber necrotic virus (CNV). This study is dedicated to finding the similar evidence of host RNA encapsidation by the two members, BBMV and CCMV of the Bromovirus family -- model virus system. The Next Generation RNA sequencing (NGS RNA-seq) can be implemented to sequence the RNAs encapsidated by the highly purified virions. We mapped and aligned the reads obtained from …

Evidence Of Genotypic Variation, Mhc Class I Copy Number Variation And Recombination Within The Chicken Major Histocompatibility Complex-Y System, Renee T. Kopulos

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a gene region found in all jawed vertebrates. These highly polymorphic, tightly linked genes are responsible for immune regulation by presenting self and non-self antigens to the immune system. The MHC is the most polymorphic vertebrate genome region because its genes face considerable selective pressure since survival depends on the capacity to respond to bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases. The MHC organization in different species has clearly evolved in separate and unique ways since the time that birds and mammals diverged from a common ancestor 310 million years ago. The size and organization of …

Global Metagenomic Survey Reveals A New Bacterial Candidate Phylum In Geothermal Springs, E A. Eloe-Fadrosh, D Paez-Espino, J Jarett, P F. Dunfield, Brian Hedlund, A E. Dekas, S E. Grasby, A L. Brady, H Dong, B R. Briggs, W J. Li, D Goudeau, R Malmstrom, A Pati, J Pett-Ridge, E M. Rubin, T Woyke, N C. Kyrpides, N N. Ivanova

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Analysis of the increasing wealth of metagenomic data collected from diverse environments can lead to the discovery of novel branches on the tree of life. Here we analyse 5.2 Tb of metagenomic data collected globally to discover a novel bacterial phylum ('Candidatus Kryptonia') found exclusively in higherature pH-neutral geothermal springs. This lineage had remained hidden as a taxonomic 'blind spot' because of mismatches in the primers commonly used for ribosomal gene surveys. Genome reconstruction from metagenomic data combined with single-cell genomics results in several high-quality genomes representing four genera from the new phylum. Metabolic reconstruction indicates a heterotrophic lifestyle with …

Prenatal Alcohol And Nicotine Exposure And The Subsequent Cognitive And Behavioral Deficits Seen In Children, Abigail P. Stewart

Senior Honors Theses

Prenatal alcohol and nicotine exposure have well known physiological effects on the fetus. However, it is the goal of this thesis to inform the reader of of the deleterious effects that these substances can have on cognitive and behavioral development in children. A literature review in relation to this topic was conducted through online databases using key words. Though some of the results were inconsistent, enough evidence exists for women to be educated on the increased risks for cognitive and behavioral deficits in children exposed to alcohol and nicotine in utero.

Beauty And Loss: Tolkien's Eucatastrophe As A Mandate For The Church, Mary K. Philpott

Senior Honors Theses

In his writings, Tolkien affirms the presence of loss and longing, beauty and despair and analyzes the function they serve in both the secondary world of Middle-earth and the primary world. This thesis will explore his theories of the eucatastrophe and the dyscatastrophe, and his insistence that the joy and hope which are expressed by the eucatastrophe are dependent upon the dyscatastrophe—the presence of sorrow and despair. This thesis will also examine how Christians’ knowledge of Tolkien’s philosophy can better equip them to cope with the brokenness of a fallen world as well as provide motivation for developing and engaging …

Significance Of Using A Nonlinear Analysis Technique, The Lyapunov Exponent, On The Understanding Of The Dynamics Of The Cardiorespiratory System In Rats, Tamer Zeren, Mustafa Özbek, Neci̇p Kutlu, Mahmut Akilli

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Pneumocardiography (PNCG) is the recording method of cardiac-induced tracheal air flow and pressure pulsations in the respiratory airways. PNCG signals reflect both the lung and heart actions and could be accurately recorded in spontaneously breathing anesthetized rats. Nonlinear analysis methods, including the Lyapunov exponent, can be used to explain the biological dynamics of systems such as the cardiorespiratory system. Materials and methods: In this study, we recorded tracheal air flow signals, including PNCG signals, from 3 representative anesthetized rats and analyzed the nonlinear behavior of these complex signals using Lyapunov exponents. Results: Lyapunov exponents may also be used to …

Macrolide And Lincosamide Resistance In Staphylococcal Clinical Isolates In Nablus, Palestine, Motasem Almasri, Nael Abu Hasan, Naela Sabbah

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Macrolide and lincosamide antibiotics are used for the treatment of staphylococcal infections, especially for penicillin-allergic patients. In the present study, we evaluate the prevalence of resistance to macrolide and lincosamide antibiotics among staphylococci isolates. Materials and methods: A total of 200 staphylococcal clinical isolates were collected from January 2012 to April 2013. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of erythromycin and clindamycin were determined by agar dilution method. An erythromycin-clindamycin induction test was performed for isolates that were only resistant to erythromycin. Representative erythromycin-resistant isolates were examined for erythromycin resistance genes using PCR. Results: Among staphylococci isolates, resistance frequencies of erythromycin and …

Study Of Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Transplantation Intowistar Albino Rat Cochleae After Hair Cell Damage*, Mustafa Kürşat Gökcan, Selçuk Mülazi̇moğlu, Emre Ocak, Pinar Can, Murat Çalişkan, Ömer Beşalti, Serpi̇l Di̇zbay Sak, Gülşah Kaygusuz

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: As the regeneration capacity of hair cells is limited, inner ear stem cell therapies hold promise. Effects of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) on Wistar albino rats (WARs) with hearing impairment were investigated. Materials and methods: Thirty-five adult WARs with normal hearing were divided into 4 groups. Excluding the study group (n = 15), the other three groups served as control groups for ototoxicity and IPSC injection models. IPSC injections were performed via cochleostomy after a retroauricular approach. Auditory functions were evaluated with auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) before and after the injections. After a final hearing assessment the …

Bone Mineral Density And Growth In Children With Coeliac Disease On A Gluten Free-Diet, Ceyda Tuna Kirsaçlioğlu, Zari̇fe Kuloğlu, Aydan Tanca, Nuri̇ye Özlem Küçük, Zehra Aycan, Gönül Öçal, Arzu Ensari̇, Ayhan Gazi̇ Kalayci, Nurten Gi̇rgi̇n

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: To evaluate changes in growth and bone metabolism during consumption of a gluten-free diet (GFD) in children with coeliac disease (CD). Materials and methods: Thirty-seven children with CD (mean age of 8.8 ± 4.6 years, 21 girls) were enrolled. Anthropometric measurements, bone mineral density (BMD) in lumbar 2-4 vertebrae, and serum alkaline phosphatase, calcium, and phosphorus levels at diagnosis and at follow-up were recorded. Results: The mean follow-up period was 3.5 ± 2.3 years. The BMD of patients was significantly lower than that of control subjects at the time of diagnosis but not after 1 year of the GFD. …

The Functional Human C-Terminome, Satish Sharma, O Toledo, M Hedden, K F. Lyon, S B. Brooks, R P. David, J Limtong, J M. Newsome, N Novakovic, S Rajasekaran, V Thapar, S R. Williams, M R. Schiller

Social Work Faculty Research

All translated proteins end with a carboxylic acid commonly called the C-terminus. Many short functional sequences (minimotifs) are located on or immediately proximal to the C-terminus. However, information about the function of protein C-termini has not been consolidated into a single source. Here, we built a new "C-terminome" database and web system focused on human proteins. Approximately 3,600 C-termini in the human proteome have a minimotif with an established molecular function. To help evaluate the function of the remaining C-termini in the human proteome, we inferred minimotifs identified by experimentation in rodent cells, predicted minimotifs based upon consensus sequence matches, …

Selective Action Of Aqueous Maté Extract On Human Breast Cancer, Catherine Nguyen, Kenisha Nisbett, Vanessa Halvorsen, Calvin He, Amina Sadik

College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUN) Publications and Research

Ilex paraguariensis, Yerba Maté, is a subtropical plant native to South America, where it is consumed several times daily as a tea made with roasted leaves. Several studies have been conducted to elucidate the beneficial effects of this plant. A recent study has shown that saponins isolated from Yerba Maté extract induce apoptosis in human colon cancer cells, while another study indicated that the consumption of Maté tea causes higher incidence of esophageal cancer. Our study looked into the effects Yerba Maté extract have on human breast cancer cells and non-cancer cells from the same tissue. The findings show …

Organisational Barriers To Effective Pain Management Amongst Oncology Nurses In Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Alqahtani, Linda Katherine Jones, Eleanor Holroyd

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Cancer pain is a multi-dimensional syndrome with a combination of acute and chronic pain that causes physical, psycho-social, behavioural, emotional and spiritual problems resulting in adverse effects on patients’ quality of life. Nurses need to be well prepared with knowledge on pain assessment and management techniques in oncology units, due to their vital role in the decision-making process regarding pain management. However, limited research has been conducted regarding nurses’ barriers regarding pain management in oncology units, especially in Saudi Arabia. The overall aim of this study was to explore the nurses’ perceived barriers that hinder the delivery of effective pain …

Relationship Of Time Pre-Registration And Academic Achievement Of University Freshman, Nancy C. Moredock

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Statistical Power With Respect To True Sample And True Population Paths: A Pls-Based Sem Illustration, Ned Kock, Murad Moqbel

Information Systems Faculty Publications

Monte Carlo experiments aimed at assessing the statistical power of structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques typically focus on true population path coefficients, ignoring true sample path coefficients. We demonstrate the limitations stemming from such practice in statistical power assessments. This is done in the context of SEM techniques employing the partial least squares (PLS) method, where power claims have led to much recent debate. We show that the sample sizes at which power is greater than .8 differ significantly when we consider true population and true sample paths, and that the difference increases with decreases in the magnitudes of the …

The Effect Of An 8-Minute Yoga Breathing Program On Fitness, Weight Loss And Breathing Capacity, Jerrold S. Petrofsky, Michael S. Laymon, Iman Akef Khowailed, Haneul Lee, Allie Petrofsky

College of Health & Human Services (TUN) Publications and Research

This was a single blinded randomized study with an intervention group and a control group to examine a modification in lifestyle and an 8-minute exercise session each day to lose weight. Fifty-seven female subjects participated. Subjects underwent girth measurements at the umbilicus, hips, thigh and upper arm; weight, height (for BMI), body fat, heart rate, blood pressure, abdominal strength, leg strength, arm strength, sedentary O2 saturation, treadmill challenged O2 saturation, resting metabolism (which includes fat metabolism), and lung capacity. Measures were repeated at baseline and the end of the 6-week period. During the 6-week period, they followed a healthy recommended …

Native American Identity: A Review Of Twenty-First Century Research, Bridgett G. Giordmaina, Carolee Dodge Francis

McNair Poster Presentations

The purpose of this literature review is to exam research on Native American identity within the social sciences in the twenty-first century in order to identify trends in research topics, various perspectives, and potential future studies, through the review of a sample of 86 publications relating to the topic of Native American identity. The sample was retrieved utilizing three scholarly databases across a wide range of fields of study. Publications are examined by area of focus and publication year.

Comparison Of The Multifractal Characteristics Of Heavy Metals In Soils Within Two Areas Of Contrasting Economic Activities In China, X Li, X Li, F Yuan, Simon Jowitt, T Zhou, K Yang, J Zhou, X Hu, Y Li

Geoscience Faculty Research

Industrial and agricultural activities can generate heavy metal pollution that can cause a number of negative environmental and health impacts. This means that evaluating heavy metal pollution and identifying the sources of these pollutants, especially in urban or developed areas, is an important first step in mitigating the effects of these contaminating but necessary economic activities. Here, we present the results of a heavy metal (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, As, and Hg) soil geochemical survey in Hefei city. We used a multifractal spectral technique to identify and compare the multifractality of heavy metal concentrations of soils within the industrial Daxing …

Consensus Report Of The 2015 Weinman International Conference On Mesothelioma, M Carbone, S Kanodia, A Chao, A Miller, A Wali, D Weissman, A Adjei, F Baumann, P Boffetta, Brenda Buck, M De Perrot, A U. Dogan, S Gavett, A Gualtieri, R Hassan, M Hesdorffer, F R. Hirsch, D Larson, W Mao, S Masten, H I. Pass, J Peto, E Pira, I. Steele, A. Tsao, G A. Woodard, H. Yang, S. Malik

Geoscience Faculty Research

On November 9 and 10, 2015, the International Conference on Mesothelioma in Populations Exposed to Naturally Occurring Asbestiform Fibers was held at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The meeting was cosponsored by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, and the agenda was designed with significant input from staff at the U.S. National Cancer Institute and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. A multidisciplinary group of participants presented updates reflecting a range of disciplinary perspectives, including mineralogy, geology, epidemiology, toxicology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, public health, and clinical oncology. The group identified knowledge gaps …

Depression And The Risk Of Myocardial Infarction And Coronary Death, Qing Wu, J M. Kling

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Findings regarding the association between depression and risk of coronary heart disease are inconsistent. We aimed to assess the association between depression and risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary death through a meta-Analysis. We performed an electronic literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus databases through August 1, 2015, and manual search of the references of the eligible papers and related review articles. Two investigators independently conducted study selection and data abstraction. Disagreement was resolved by consensus. Confounder-Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Cochran Q …

Transcending The Corporeal Prison: Eighth Amendment Jurisprudence, The Evolving Standard Of Decency, And Sex Reassignment Surgery After Kosilek V. Spencer, Yini Zhang

Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality

No abstract provided.

Coal Genesis, John J. Renton, Thomas Repine

Readings and Notes

Most textbooks classify coal as a sedimentary rock even though it does not fit the definition of a sedimentary rock. While a sedimentary rock is a "rock formed from the products of weathering and erosion", coal forms from the remains of land plants. In fact, coal doesn't even fit the definition of a rock. A rock is defined as "mixture of minerals" and minerals are defined as "natural occurring, solid, inorganic substances ..• " Coal is composed largely (􀀴90+%) of organic substances (macerals) which, by definition, are not minerals. If coal must be classified as a rock, because it forms …