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Gardner-Webb Student To Serve As Primate Field Researcher In Madagascar, Africa, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

A Gardner-Webb senior received some exciting news just in time for the Christmas holiday. Christopher Lile, a biology and psychology double major from Waynesville, N.C., recently applied to participate in the Omaha Zoo’s Department of Conservation Genetics lemur monitoring project in Madagascar, Africa. On Dec. 14, he was offered a position on their research team for the October – December cohort.

WGWG: GWU Undergraduate Research Scholar Christopher Lile

The Role Of Diaphanous In Ring Canal Development In Drosophila Melanogaster, Alexandra M. Kindred

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Infertility is a widespread condition that does not always have a known cause, and for which we often do not have a cure. One potential cause of infertility is defects in gametogenesis, or the formation of sperm and egg. During gametogenesis in most organisms, the developing sperm and egg are connected to each other or to supporting cells through intercellular bridges, allowing transfer of materials between cells. Defects in these connections can lead to infertility. The developing fruit fly egg is an excellent model system to study intercellular bridges, or ring canals. Rich in f-actin and actinbinding proteins, ring canals …

The Psychology Of Single-Sex Classrooms, Jenna E. Bagcal

Capstones

Single-sex classrooms have been a hallmark of Catholic and private schools, but they are gaining popularity in American public schools. Proponents of single-sex classrooms believe that boys' and girls' brains are different and they therefore need specialized teaching methods and classroom conditions. For example, boys are competitive and are better at STEM subjects, while girls are cooperative and thrive in English and the arts. Detractors of single-sex classrooms in public schools like the ACLU say that these classrooms are based on pseudoscience and reinforce gender stereotypes. Follow the story of Jenna Bagcal through an all girls Catholic school and her …

Wildlife Finds Its Way Back To Polluted Newtown Creek, Suzanna Masih

Capstones

The Newtown Creek in New York is one of the most polluted water bodies in the United States. Scores of chemical factories and industries lined its banks in the 1800s up until the 1950s. Toxic contaminants from these sites and sewage discharges from the city left the creek a barren wasteland. But now, decades of water conservation efforts in New York City have begun to revive the health of the waterway and are making it habitable for wildlife again. Yet, the fight for even cleaner waters continues.

The Children Of The Angel Guardian Home, Maria Elena Perez

Capstones

Since the early 1900's, the Angel Guardian Home in Dyker Heights, New York, has been known as a safe haven for orphans in the community. Now that the orphanage is being sold, former children who lived there are finally telling their stories about what it was like to be in the care of the Sisters of Mercy.

Education Through Simulation, Melody A. Padilla-Collings

Master's Projects and Capstones

SourceURL:file://localhost/Users/Mac/Desktop/653Abstract.docx

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if education through simulation was effective in an undergraduate ADN nursing program to improve nursing confidence, knowledge, skill competency, and nursing care. Two groups of second year RN students were selected in their fall semester to participate in a before and after survey to compare traditional learning (required course readings, assignments, and lectures) with the PROMPT Birthing Simulator that allows hands on, interactive learning, and feedback in preparation for the Mother-Baby clinical setting. The first PDSA cycle with Group A revealed 21% were confident in their knowledge with the traditional …

A Bioinformatics Methodology For The Annotation And Analysis Of Sperm Chromatin Remodeling Proteins In Sequenced Drosophila Species, Zain A. Alvi

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Spermatogenesis is the process by which mature functional spermatozoa are formed, and is initiated in the stem cell niche of the testes. During the post-meiotic stage of spermatogenesis, spermiogenesis, transition proteins facilitate the transformation of chromatin from a histone-based nucleosome structure to a protamine-based nucleosome structure. This study is aimed at analyzing genomic, transcript, and protein sequences of transition proteins in 13 sequenced Drosophila species. The Drosophila melanogaster spermatid specific transition protein-like protein (Tpl^94D) was used as the reference sequence in this study. An extensive bioinformatics approach was employed in establishing the Tpl^94D orthologs. We identified …

Constraining Ribbon Rock Dolomitization By Mg Isotopes: Implications For The ‘Dolomite Problem’, Fang Bing Li, Fang Zhen Teng, Ji Tao Chen, Kang Jun Huang, Shui Jiong Wang, Xian Guo Lang, Hao Ran Ma, Yong Bo Peng, Bing Shen

Faculty Publications

© 2016 Elsevier B.V. Modern dolomite formation is conditional and restricted in specific environmental and geochemical conditions, accordingly cannot be used as the analog of ancient dolostones, which normally have platform-wide distribution. The key to understand ancient dolostone formation is to find a dolomitization process that is independent of physical/geochemical environments. It is well-known that ribbon rock (one type of calcareous rhythmites, sensu stricto referring to the alternating limestone and marlstone layers or the limestone-marl alternations) that are deposited in nearly all marine environments throughout the Earth's history, are exclusively, though normally partially, dolomitized. Thus, understanding ribbon rock dolomitization may …

Anxiety And Differences In Physiological Responding To Ambiguous Situational Vignettes In Adolescents, Donice M. Banks

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Research has documented a tendency among youth to have biased interpretations of ambiguous information. For example, anxious youth are more likely to interpret ambiguous situations as negative or threatening (e.g., Cannon & Weems, 2010). Similarly, when interpreting social cues, aggressive youth exhibit hostile attribution biases more often than non-aggressive youth in response to ambiguous situations (e.g., Crick & Dodge, 1996). Research suggests that youth with anxiety and aggression exhibit differential physiological reactivity in response to threat. However, research has yet to examine the linkages amongst physiological reactivity to ambiguous situations, anxiety, and aggression in adolescents. The current study had several …

The Relationship Between Perceived Multicultural Disability Competence, Multicultural Counseling Coursework, And Disability-Related Life Experience, Melissa D. Deroche

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study was to explore the perceived multicultural disability competence of master’s-level counseling students in CACREP-accredited programs given their disability-related life experience(s) and multicultural counseling course completion and to assess the extent to which the topic of ability/disability is addressed in multicultural counseling coursework. Participants (n = 285) were electronically surveyed using the Counseling Clientswith Disabilities Survey (CCDS; Strike, 2001) and a researcher developed biographical questionnaire. Collectively, study results indicated that both disability-related life experience(s) and multicultural counseling course completion positively impacted participant perceived multicultural disability competence. However, disability-related life experience(s) seemed to have a greater …

A Machine Learning Approach To Determine Oyster Vessel Behavior, Devin Frey

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

A support vector machine (SVM) classifier was designed to replace a previous classifier which predicted oyster vessel behavior in the public oyster grounds of Louisiana. The SVM classifier predicts vessel behavior (docked, poling, fishing, or traveling) based on each vessel’s speed and either net speed or movement angle. The data from these vessels was recorded by a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), and stored in a PostgreSQL database. The SVM classifier was written in Python, using the scikit-learn library, and was trained by using predictions from the previous classifier. Several validation and parameter optimization techniques were used to improve the SVM …

The Romantic Relationships Of Young Adults With Elevated Callous-Unemotional Traits, Farrah N. Golmaryami

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Callous-unemotional (CU) traits, an affective component of psychopathy, are associated with problematic outcomes in social relationships in adolescents. However, their association with problematic romantic relationships in young adults has not been the focus of research. In a community sample of 216 college students (167 females) between the ages of 18 to 50, the current study examined the association between CU traits and several important romantic relationship outcomes. Results indicated that CU traits showed positive associations with dominance and partner’s perceived submissiveness, but negative associations with relationship satisfaction, even after controlling for impulsivity and antisocial behavior. On the other hand, antisocial …

Impact Of Positive Parenting Behaviors And Children’S Self-Control On Levels Of Externalizing Behavior Problems During Early Childhood, Virginia I. Hatch

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of parenting and children’s self-control on children’s externalizing behavior problems among 167 predominantly African-American mothers and their 2-year-old children. Two hypotheses were considered based on two distinct theoretical origins of self-control. First, consistent with a behavioral perspective, exposure to positive parenting was hypothesized to indirectly affect externalizing behaviors through children’s self-control; that is, children’s self-control was expected to mediate the association between positive parenting and externalizing behaviors. Second, consistent with a temperamental perspective, self-control was expected to moderate the impact of positive parenting on levels of children’s externalizing behaviors such that only children with a …

If It Feels Good, View It: Selective Exposure And Desensitization Moderate The Association Between Video Gameplay And Pleasure-Oriented Aggression, Mejdy M. Jabr

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

A number of studies have indicated that violent video gameplay is associated with higher levels of aggression, and desensitization to violent content contributes to this association. Utilizing a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) task, the current study used event-related potentials (ERPs) to investigate selective attention (N1 activation), cognitive control (N2 activation), and desensitization (P3 activation) as neurocognitive mechanisms potentially underlying the association between gameplay and subtypes of aggression. Results showed video game players and non-players differed significantly in brain activation when engaged with violent imagery. N1 and P3 amplitude moderated the association between gameplay and pleasure-oriented aggression. Follow-up analyses further …

Why Are Some Parents More Positive Than Others?: Clarifying Mechanisms Associated With Positive Parenting, Laura Lafleur

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to replicate and extend existing research considering how positive parenting and family conflict impact positive parenting in future generations. Specifically, romantic conflict occurring in the family of procreation was expected to mediate the link between positive parenting in family of origin, and later parenting in family of procreation. This is one of the first studies to include both observational and direct forms of parenting. Data from the Family Transitions Project (FTP) was used in the current study. A series of structural equation models were used to test each hypothesis. Results indicated that learning …

The New Normal? Climate Variability And Ecoviolence In Sub-Saharan Africa, Alfonso Sanchez

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Climate change presents a wide range of concerns that can jeopardize international security. Among those concerns are neo-Malthusian worries of diminishing natural resources. Predictive models suggest that rainfall and temperature anomalies have the potential to reduce water basins, crop production, increase land degradation among other perils that threaten human security. This concern is particularly true in sub-Saharan Africa given the region’s strong dependence on rain-fed agriculture. Despite strong claims from various world leaders and scientists of a direct climate-conflict nexus, little empirical evidence has been devoted to find a systematic causal pathway of this kind. What is more, the literature …

Factors Affecting Algal Biomass Growth And Cell Wall Destruction, Alicia E. Simosa

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Research using microalgae Chlorella vulgaris was conducted in order to determine the maximum CO₂ concentration under which algae can grow, within the emission range from oil and natural gas burning plants (0-20%).

After choosing the optimal CO₂ percentage, pH and alkalinity were determined; and finally, an electrochemical (EC) batch reactor connected to DC current was applied to achieve algae cell annihilation, and therefore, facilitate anaerobic digestion, methane production and energy recovery.

It was determined that algae can grow under 20% CO_2, being 15% CO₂ the most effective (pH of 6.64 and alkalinity of 617.5 mg/L CaCO …

The Present, A Thousand Times Deeper, Edie Talley

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The creative nonfiction essays and poetry in this collection explore family survival during the hardest of times--when the desire to give up is at its greatest--as told from the perspective of a woman who is a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. These are not stories of defeat. Nor are they merely explorations of death and dying. They are cleebrations of living, of surviving, of loving and being loved against all odds.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of Stimuli-Responsive Polymers, Arjun Sharma

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Polymers that undergo dramatic changes in structural conformations in response to numerous stimuli such as temperature, pH, electric and magnetic fields, light inten- sity, biological molecules, and solvent polarity, are known as stimuli-responsive or ”smart” polymers. There is a broad range of very promising applications of these materials in catalysis, environmental remediation, sensors or actuator systems, and as delivery systems of therapeutic agents. Researchers have been trying to mimic smart polymers based on properties of polymers found in nature such as proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. Novel bio-compatible polymers with a variety of chemical functional groups, diverse topologies, and cross-linking …

Territoriality And Spatial Structure In The Green Anole, Anolis Carolinensis, William D. Weber Jr.

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Anolis carolinensis has been a model organism for ecology and evolutionary biology since the seventies, yet there are still understudied aspects of their ecology. A five-year study has provided microsatellite genotypes to be used in building a pedigree and assess relatedness, enabling us to evaluate the spatial distribution of an urban population of A. carolinensis. Results indicate no correlation between a male’s size and the distance others keep from it; however, males belonging in the heavyweight morph are dictating the spatial distribution in this population. In addition, juvenile dispersal of male offspring and partial philopatry of female offspring are …

Exploration Of Factors Affecting Nurse Faculty Use Or Resistance To Online Education, Lisa M. Harless

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

The substantial increase in online nursing program enrollment demands that nurse educators be adept in the delivery of online education; however, a significant challenge exists in how to deliver practice-based nursing education in the online environment. Teaching online requires a change in the traditional role of the educator accompanied by the effective use of online learning technologies. Some studies suggest that faculties remain pessimistic to online delivery of education and do not participate, yet few objectively examine variables that influence resistance or use. Included in this dissertation are two manuscripts. The first manuscript defines resistance and addresses prominent concerns associated …

Impact Of Nurse Fatigue And Nursing Handoffs On Patient And Nurse Safety, Melody A. Seitz

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

In healthcare today, patient safety continues to be a major concern. Nurse fatigue from long work shifts and inadequate patient handoffs may lead to errors and near errors that harm patients and nurses. The intent of this study was to fill a gap in understanding the effect shift length has on patient safety and maternal newborn nurses’ personal safety. A cross sectional survey design was administered via Qualtrics, a web-based online software program. Participants included two groups of maternal newborn nurses. One group worked 8-hour shifts (N = 70) and the other group worked 12-hour shifts (N = 151). Statistical …

The Role Of The Unusual Threonine String In The Conversion Of Prion Protein, Romany Abskharon, Fei Wang, Kayla J. Vander Stel, Kumar Sinniah

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

The conversion of normal prion protein (PrP) into pathogenic PrP conformers is central to prion disease, but the mechanism remains unclear. The α-helix 2 of PrP contains a string of four threonines, which is unusual due to the high propensity of threonine to form β-sheets. This structural feature was proposed as the basis for initiating PrP conversion, but experimental results have been conflicting. We studied the role of the threonine string on PrP conversion by analyzing mouse Prnpa and Prnpb polymorphism that contains a polymorphic residue at the beginning of the threonine string, and PrP mutants in which threonine 191 …

Polymeric Nanocarriers For Delivery Of Small Molecules And Mirnas For The Treatment Of Liver Fibrosis And Pancreatic Cancer, Virender Kumar

Theses & Dissertations

The aim of this thesis is to develop combination therapy of small molecules and miRNAs for treating liver fibrosis and pancreatic cancer. New amphiphilic biodegradable polymers capable of carrying small hydrophobic molecules and hydrophilic anionic nucleic acids were synthesized, characterized and evaluated in vitro and in vivo liver fibrosis and pancreatic cancer mouse models.

In Chapter 1, an overview of liver fibrosis, current treatments and the role of miRNAs in liver fibrosis as well as the design of their delivery systems is given. Further, a general introduction to pancreatic cancer and role of miRNAs in pancreatic cancer is given. In …

Effects Of Flash-Free Technique On Plaque Retention, White Spot Lesions, And Bracket Failure: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Payam Ishani Afousi

Theses & Dissertations

A side effect of orthodontic treatment is the development of white spot lesions (WSLs). This thesis attempted to evaluate the effects of the use of APC™ Flash-Free (FF) and conventional adhesives in bonding of orthodontic brackets on plaque formation and retention, WSL development, and bracket failure in-vivo. This was accomplished by collecting plaque samples from around orthodontic appliances and analyzing them using ATP-driven bioluminescence; scanning enamel surfaces using the Canary System™ to evaluate WSL development, and counting the number of spontaneous debonding of brackets of the 4 maxillary incisors in the first 6 months of treatment. It was found …

Bone Loss Quantification Following Extraction In Rats: A Foundation For Grafting And Regenerative Studies, Emily Willett

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Loss of the alveolar ridge width and height following extraction is well-documented and several techniques, including grafting, have been proposed to reduce bone loss. Purpose: To characterize the pattern of bone turnover and inflammation after extraction and to initiate a study of the effect of grafting and local administration of simvastatin (SIM). Methods: Thirty-two retired-breeder rats underwent extraction of the right maxillary first molar and standard surgical defect creation under inhalation anesthesia. The left side of each animal served as the unmanipulated control. Comparison of groups (n=8, ANOVA) was done at days 0, 7, 14, and …

Primer On Perspectives And Practices Of Trauma, Trevor P. Haase

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

A large majority of the general population has endured at least one traumatic event in their lifetime and many will seek counseling services to process and resolve the impact from the traumatic experience. Counselors and mental health providers will likely encounter trauma survivors in a high frequency in the majority of therapeutic settings. Practicum and internship level counselors are often not prepared for navigating the complexities that arise working with trauma survivors. This paper outlines the various perspectives and practices of the works of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Narrative Therapy, and Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. These orientations were designed …

Variation In Female Mating Behavior And Success In The Damselfly, Calopteryx Maculata, Suzanne E. Allison

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Traditionally, the study of sexual selection has focused on the evolution of elaborate male traits and how they enhance the ability to out-compete other males directly (access to females) and indirectly (access to desirable territories or resources). Female trait studies have focused most on evolved preferences for male traits. While we know much about how sexual selection acts on males, there is a deficit of equivalent study on females. In insects, including damselflies, male size and pigmentation are positively correlated with fat reserves and immune abilities, and therefore with male competitive ability. Here, we show that phenotypic variation that has …

Vertical Movement Of The Endangered James Spinymussel (Pleurobema Collina) And The Notched Rainbow Mussel (Villosa Constricta) In Response To Floods At Different Temperatures And Substrates: Implications For Conservation And Management, Dorottya Boisen

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Freshwater mussels are keystone species in their ecosystems, improving water and substrate quality for other organisms while they are alive, and buffering stream pH and providing shelter with their shells after they die. Approximately 70% of all freshwater mussel species are endangered globally. The James Spinymussel (Pleurobema collina) is a critically endangered species that lives in disparate tributaries of the James River of Virginia. Like other freshwater mussels, they have a cryptic appearance and behavior, making them difficult to find and therefore, to study and conserve. Previous studies indicate a higher percentage of mussels are surfaced during their …

Occurrence, Antibiotic Resistance, And Survival Of Fecal Enterococci In Turkey Litter, Steven Glynn Mcbride Ii

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National Water Quality Inventory and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s 305(b)/303(d) Water Quality Assessment Integrated Report show fecal bacteria to be the most common cause of impairment for both streams and estuaries. Human and animal sources have both been identified as significant contributors of pathogenic bacteria to surface waters. In this study, turkey litter from a farm in Shenandoah County, VA was surveyed for total culturable bacteria and total culturable enterococci before and after a transition to organic rearing practices. The enterococci were identified to species phenotypically using the Biolog Microbial Identification System and resistance …