Digital Commons Network^™

Keeping The Promise: Factors Affecting Timing To Merit Scholarship Loss, Jacob P.K. Gross, Angela D. Bell, Matthew Berry

Journal of College Access

Despite increased attention paid to the advent and development of state merit scholarship policies (such as Georgia’s Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) and some evidence that suggests differences in scholarship retention by socioeconomic status or other student characteristics, little empirical work has explored factors affecting scholarship retention. Moreover, no work has explored what affects the timing of scholarship loss. This study employs event history modeling to ascertain not only what factors impact students’ retention of the West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship but also when these factors are most influential.

Closing The College Graduation Gap: National College Access And Success Benchmarking Report, Bill Debaun, Sara Melnick, Elizabeth Morgan

Journal of College Access

This report, the first of an annual series, establishes meaningful metrics about the outcomes of students served by college access and success programs. Using data collected from 24 college access programs, enrollment and graduation rates for the high school classes of 2007, 2008, and 2009 and an enrollment rate for the high school class of 2013 are calculated. Students served by college access and success programs outperform expectations for college enrollment and completion, demonstrating that current national lower levels of postsecondary attainment for poor and minority students are not destiny. These results support the conclusion that college access and success …

The Level Of Nmda Receptor In The Membrane Modulates Amyloid-Β Association And Perforation, Christian Peters, Fernando J. Sepúlveda, Eduardo Fernández-Pérez, Robert W. Peoples, Luis G. Aguayo

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects mostly the elderly. The main histopathological markers are the senile plaques formed by amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) aggregates that can perforate the plasma membrane of cells, increasing the intracellular calcium levels and releasing synaptic vesicles that finally lead to a delayed synaptic failure. Several membrane proteins and lipids interact with Aβ affecting its toxicity in neurons. Here, we focus on NMDA receptors (NMDARs) as proteins that could be modulating the association and neurotoxic perforation induced by Aβ on the plasma membrane. In fact, our results showed that decreasing NMDARs, using enzymatic or siRNA …

Modeling Of Selection Of Supply Sources For Hospitals, Siva Raghava Sai Rohith Valiveti

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

Most of the hospitals in the USA carry out their purchasing of supplies, including pharmaceuticals, through Group Purchasing Organizations (GPO). GPO is an organization, which aggregates procuring volumes of their member hospitals and negotiates low prices from manufacturers or vendors. According to 2013 statistics, 98% of hospitals in U.S. are purchasing their bulk health care products through GPOs, and it saves U.S. health care industry approximately $36 billion annually. Through these hospitals enjoy advantages by purchasing through their GPOs, there are some disadvantages such as paying membership fees to their GPOs, restricting the purchasing power of the hospitals outside their …

“The Grand Turk And Inquisitor: Huguenot Immigrants And The Black Legend In 17th Century England”, Lisa Clark Diller

Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

A New Way To Estimate The Potential Unmet Need For Infertility Services Among Women In The United States, Arthur L. Greil, Kathleen S. Slauson-Blevins, Stacy Tiemeyer, Julia Mcquilan, Karina M. Shreffler

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Background: Fewer than 50% of women who meet the medical/behavioral criteria for infertility receive medical services. Estimating the number of women who both meet the medical/behavioral criteria for infertility and who have pro-conception attitudes will allow for better estimates of the potential need and unmet need for infertility services in the United States.

Methods: The National Survey of Fertility Barriers was administered by telephone to a probability sample of 4,712 women in the United States. The sample for this analysis was 292 women who reported an experience of infertility within 3 years of the time of the interview. Infertile women …

Needs And Contradictions Of A Changing Field: Evidence From A National Response To Intervention Implementation Study, Eva N. Patrikakou, Melissa S. Ockerman, Amy Feiker Hollenbeck

College of Education Faculty and Staff Works

As a result of the Response to Intervention (RTI) mandate in schools across many states, school counselors are well-positioned to take a leadership role. The present research study examines how school counselors across the nation perceived their training and knowledge of RTI, as well as their confidence in its implementation. Results indicate that while the majority of school counselors reported positive beliefs about RTI, they had limited confidence in their preparedness to perform certain RTI-related responsibilities, including collecting and analyzing data to determine intervention effectiveness and collaboration through teamwork. These perceived areas of deficiency point to a significant discrepancy with …

The Impact Of Marcellus Shale Development On Hotel Revenues In Pennsylvania, Daniel J. Mount, Timothy W. Kelsey, Kathryn J. Brasier

ICHRIE Research Reports

New technologies have allowed for new drilling in oil and gas deposits throughout the world. In the Northeast United States, the Marcellus Shale formation has been one of the most active regions for new wells. This new drilling activity has created a visible economic impact to communities in and around the drilling sites. The increase in hotel activity metrics such as occupancy percentage and average daily rate has been noted but there has been no research that determines the total revenue impact of the drilling activity. This research does not attempt to factor in the social and environmental costs that …

Multi-Unit Efficiency Assessment And Multidimensional Polygon Analysis In A Small, Full-Service Restaurant Chain, Thomas Maier, Reynolds Dennis, Jennifer Sandstrom

ICHRIE Research Reports

Purpose: Restaurant revenue management practices and profit optimization techniques are evolving into more complex data analysis processes. The “big data” revolution has created a wealth of information on revenue, pricing, key operational performance indicators, and various productivity/efficiency variables. Advanced research analysis that can identify these key factors across multiple operating units may be useful to restaurant managers unaccustomed to data analytics or those seeking a deeper understanding of unit-level business performance. The overarching goal of this study was to utilize mixed research methods across conceptually dissimilar units of a multi-unit chain restaurant, enabling researchers to build on the resulting outcomes …

Extreme Minimum Wages: Effects On The U.S. Hotel Industry, John O'Neill, Sean P. Mcginley

ICHRIE Research Reports

The subject report analyzes literature regarding minimum wages to explore the potential effects of what could be described as extreme increases in the minimum wage on the American hotel industry. The current presidential administration as well as several large municipalities are actively seeking, or recently passed laws that increase the minimum wage by an extreme amount. The subject report quantifies the forecasted effect on the U.S. hotel industry. The study concludes that the hotel industry in the U.S. would have a negative economic impact estimated at $2.53 billion if the current national minimum wage proposal is approved.Min

Student Masthead V.17:No.2

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Sceletium Tortuosum In The Chick Anxiety-Depression Model, Emily Mae Fountain

Honors Theses

Sceletium tortuosum (S. tortuosum), known colloquially as Kanna, is a natural botanical that is thought to reduce anxiety, elevate mood, and produce euphoria. This study explores S. tortuosum's properties in the chick anxiety-depression model, a pre-clinical drug efficacy screening model that shares many features to clinical stress-related disorders and has high predictive validity. Socially-raised male Silver Laced Wyandotte chicks age 4-6 days were given intraperitoneal injections of either a vehicle, imipramine, or S. tortuosum fraction (10, 20, 30, 50, 75, or 100mg/kg) 15 minutes prior to being placed in a stress-inducing isolation chamber for 60 minutes and distress vocalizations were …

Exploration In The Effectiveness Of Solid Lipid Nanoparticle Formulations In Enhancing Ocular Delivery Of Win 55, 212 In The Management Of Glaucoma, Emily Ann Nesbit

Honors Theses

Glaucoma is a progressive and degenerative ocular disease which, without proper treatment, can result in permanent blindness. Due to a complex organization of lipophilic and hydrophilic ocular membranes, topical delivery of therapeutic agents has also proved to be a challenging task. Cannabinoids, such as Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), have intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering and neuroprotective capabilities. Due to the unfavorable physiochemical characteristics of these molecules, delivery into the eye through a topical route is very difficult. Previous research has shown that prodrug derivatization and formulations such as solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) improve the physiochemical characteristics and ocular bioavailability of such molecules. WIN …

Rhenium-Pyridyl-Nhcs For Photocatalytic Co2 Reduction, Emily Anne Sharpe

Honors Theses

The ability to transform CO2 into a useable fuel source would have a remarkably positive impact on the environment by taking the vast amounts of previous unusable CO2 from the atmosphere and reducing it to CO, which can then be turned into fuel. This project involves the synthesis and testing of air and water stable Re (I) pyridyl N- heterocyclic carbene (NHC) compounds for photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into CO using a simulated solar spectrum. Previous research in this area focused on the use of Re(bpy)CO3X, which quickly became the benchmark of homogeneous CO2 reduction photocatalysts. The Re (I) pyridyl …

Political Underrepresentation And Domestic Terrorism: The Deficiency Of Minority Descriptive Representation As A Causal Factor Of Violent Radicalization In Western European Democracies, Erica Shannon Mcgraw

Honors Theses

Electoral systems are vital in controlling the levels of minority descriptive representation in a government because each system contains characteristics that make it easier or more difficult for a member of a minority group to be elected to office. Because of this power, I focus on the role of electoral systems in Western European democracies as a possible, causal factor of domestic terrorism by way of their effect on the level of a country's minority descriptive representation, and therefore, levels of minority inclusion. To test my hypotheses, I use both quantitative and qualitative data in linear regression models, and a …

Leading As Nudging: Optimizing Healthcare Delivery Systems Management In Mississippi, Grant Beebe

Honors Theses

Three factors predominantly affect the delivery of healthcare services in the State of Mississippi: 1) the ability to access comprehensive, preventative care; 2) negative perceptions of the Affordable Care Act and similar reform efforts on the part of state and federal agencies; and 3) evolving reimbursement structures affecting the revenue streams of providers. There is a growing consensus among residents, providers, managers, and policy makers, which are key stakeholders in the overall wellness of our State, that preventative care addressing these three factors could play a pivotal role in improving public health. Through the development of a nudge framework of …

Preparation And Evaluation Of Aripiprazole-Loaded Ph-Modulated Solid Dispersion Via Hot-Melt Extrusion Technology, Haley Mcfall

Honors Theses

The objective of this study was to prepare aripiprazole (ARI)-loaded solid dispersions (SDs) to enhance solubility and dissolution via hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology. ARI was chosen due to its poorly water-soluble properties. Solubility screenings of various polymers and acidifiers were performed to select appropriate excipients for the SD. Succinic acid (SA) and Kollidon 12 PF (PVP) were selected as the acidifier and the polymer, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis were used to determine the miscibility, interactions, and thermal stability of the drug and selected excipients. MODDE 8.0 is a design of experiment software that was implemented to produce …

Stuck In Traffic: The Effects Of Regional Trade On Human Trafficking, Jacob Smith

Honors Theses

Human trafficking represents one negative side affect of an increasingly interconnected, globalized world. What characteristics of regional trade drive bilateral human trafficking flows? Resource dependent states, or states with an economy established primarily through resource exports, interact with more industrialized states to push and pull populations into human trafficking schemes as a byproduct of economic and political linkages. The adverse conditions of resource dependence push populations into trafficking networks while traffickers and trafficking victims are drawn to economic opportunity in more stable regional trade partners. This theory is tested using ordinal logistic and OLS regression, utilizing cross sectional and time …

Blue Cheese Cosmology: Lensing By Cosmic Strings, Jared Wofford

Honors Theses

The light bending effects around cosmic strings in universes with varying rates of expansion are investigated. A relationship between the angular deflection and the expansion rate is found. This is made possible by the Blue Cheese model, which is a generalization to a cylindrical realm of the Swiss Cheese model

Sex Differences In Elite Swimming With Advanced Age Are Less Than Marathon Running, Jonathon Senefeld, Michael J. Joyner, A. Stevens, Sandra K. Hunter

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

The sex difference in marathon performance increases with finishing place and age of the runner but whether this occurs among swimmers is unknown. The purpose was to compare sex differences in swimming velocity across world record place (1st–10th), age group (25–89 years), and event distance. We also compared sex differences between freestyle swimming and marathon running. The world's top 10 swimming times of both sexes for World Championship freestyle stroke, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly events and the world's top 10 marathon times in 5-year age groups were obtained. Men were faster than women for freestyle (12.4 ± 4.2%), backstroke (12.8 …

Survivors Speak: A Qualitative Analysis Of Motivational Factors Influencing Breast Cancer Survivors’ Participation In A Sprint Distance Triathlon, Karen Marie Robinson, Linda B. Piacentine, Leslie J. Waltke, Alexander V. Ng, Judy A. Tjoe

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Aims and Objectives

To examine motivational factors influencing breast cancer survivors to participate in triathlon training, complete a triathlon and maintain an exercise thereafter.

Background

Routine exercise has been shown to improve quality of life and reduce recurrence for breast cancer survivors. Yet physical and psychological factors present barriers for initiating and maintaining an exercise routine. Research is limited in exploring factors of exercise motivation from the survivor's perspective.

Design

Qualitative design using focus groups and individual follow-up phone interviews to explore motivation for exercise initiation and maintenance.

Methods

One to two weeks after completing a triathlon, 11 breast cancer …

Hip External Rotator Strength Is Associated With Better Dynamic Control Of The Lower Extremity During Landing Tasks, Philip Malloy, Alexander Morgan, Carolyn M. Meinerz, Christopher Geiser, Kristof Kipp

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Hip external rotator strength is associated with better dynamic control of the lower extremity during landing tasks. J Strength Cond Res 30(1): 282–291, 2016—The purpose of this study was to determine the association between hip strength and lower extremity kinematics and kinetics during unanticipated single-leg landing and cutting tasks in collegiate female soccer players. Twenty-three National Collegiate Athletic Association division I female soccer players were recruited for strength testing and biomechanical analysis. Maximal isometric hip abduction and external rotation strength were measured using a hand-held dynamometer and expressed as muscle torque (force × femoral length) and normalized to body weight. …

Body Composition Measurement In Children With Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida And Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Michele L. Polfuss, Paula E. Papanek, Fallon Meyer-Wentland, Andrea Moosreiner, Lenore R. Wilkas, Kathleen J. Sawin

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Pediatric obesity is a major health concern that has an increased prevalence in children with special needs. In order to categorize a child’s weight, an assessment of body composition is needed. Obtaining an accurate body composition measurement in children with special needs has many challenges associated with it. This perplexing scenario limits the provider’s ability to screen, prevent and treat an abnormal weight status in this vulnerable population. This systematic review summarizes common methods of body composition measurements, their strengths and limitations and reviews the literature when measurements were used in children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida and spinal cord …

Harbor Magazine: Preaching The Gospel Of Philanthropy Through The Analysis Of Benefit Corporations, Caroline Hughes

Honors Theses

Harbor magazine is a philanthropic, fashion magazine that advocates the use of sustainable goods in an industry of business moguls simply seeking monetary gain. The brands and philanthropists interviewed and highlighted in the publication have made a difference in some way to the community and the world, developing revolutionary companies that are radically altering the way business is conducted. The brands included in Harbor magazine are recognized as Certified Benefit CorporationsTM, promising to align their business intentions around a public good. Businesses, along with consumers, have an equal responsibility to the planet, and Harbor magazine seeks to make these powerful, …

Perceptions And Attitudes Regarding Preparedness For Campus Crises: A Focus Group Study Of Undergraduates At A Southern University, Christal Davis

Honors Theses

Objective: To explore student perceptions and attitudes toward disaster preparedness and university readiness for various disasters in order to promote future development of effective strategies to change the culture of preparedness on campuses. Methods: A total of 10 focus groups were conducted with 54 students. Participants completed general demographic information before discussing topics related to preparedness. Results: Findings revealed complacency and lack of preparedness among students for many of the disaster types discussed. Participants reported feeling most prepared for pandemic outbreaks, citing various campus preparedness efforts, while they showed the least amount of confidence in their preparedness for incidents of …

A Comprehensive Study Of Voter Identification Laws And The Discriminatory Effect They Have On Voting Rights, Christine Sim

Honors Theses

One of the most primary and essential rights of every American is equal opportunity to access the polls. Voting rights have been tirelessly fought for by people from many demographic backgrounds throughout the history of the United States. Now, due to the weakening of the Voting Rights Act, it is now easier for states across the nation to place voting identification legislation on the books that may change not only voter turnout at the polls, but also the ability of all Americans to exercise their fundamental right to vote. This thesis covers all aspects of the controversy over voter identification …

The Other Face Of Catharine Cockburn, Christopher Mckee

Honors Theses

This paper explores the subtle nuances between John Locke and Catharine Trotter Cockburn, with an emphasis on Cockburn's ideas on space and the Great Chain of Being. I argue that Cockburn meshes Lockean empiricism and 18th-Century Neoplatonism to create an idiosyncratic approach to the ideas of her time. I also show that Cockburn's method can offer novel insights on Locke's thinking matter.

Investigation Of The Expression Of The Haesa Receptor-Like Kinase As Regulated By The Stm And Ath1 Homeodomain Transcription Factors In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Darby Raybourn

Honors Theses

Abscission, the shedding of plant organs, is a key process in plant development. Abscission takes place in highly regulated regions called abscission zones (AZ). ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA HOMEOBOX GENE1 (ATH1) and SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM) are organ boundary transcription factors that have previously been observed to play a role in sepal-stem boundary formation. Plants carrying mutations in both genes have flowers in which the sepal-stem boundary is abolished. The double mutant flowers are also observed to retain all floral organs. Because abscission zones in Arabidopsis form at organ boundary regions, we hypothesized that the STM and ATH1 transcription factors play a role …

Loyalty Marketing To Millennials, Debra L. Whitley

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the most effective techniques businesses use to attract and retain loyalty program memberships targeted to the Millennial demographic group. The methodology used to reach insights around this topic includes secondary and primary research that aided in the understanding of the effectiveness of communication strategies used to appeal to Millennial consumers. Initially, the researcher conducted secondary research by consulting books and surveys written by industry professionals as well as scholarly articles. Next, the researcher designed two electronic surveys. One survey had 63 anonymous respondents and the other survey had 119 anonymous respondents, all …

Intrinsic And Extrinsic Factors Mediating The Expression Of Alternative Mating Tactics In Male Green Treefrogs, Hyla Cinerea, Aleah R. Liddell

Honors Theses

Males of many anuran species optimize their chances of reproductive success by vigorously calling to attract females or by adopting a non-calling satellite mating tactic. Satellite males perch silently near calling males and attempt to intercept females that the caller attracts. Models predict that tactic expression in male anurans is influenced by either extrinsic factors (i.e., the social-acoustic environment) or intrinsic factors (i.e., circulating hormone levels and body condition), but it is unclear how these factors potentially interact to influence tactic expression. For example, males often adopt a satellite mating tactic in response to the broadcast vocalizations of conspecific males, …