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2017

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The Call Of Duty: How Self-Efficacy, Calling, And Extrinsic Motivation Relate To Career Choice, William Kevin Wilborn Jan 2017

The Call Of Duty: How Self-Efficacy, Calling, And Extrinsic Motivation Relate To Career Choice, William Kevin Wilborn

Theses & ETDs

This study sought to investigate how college students make career choices and which method is linked to the greatest life satisfaction. Three constructs from occupational psychology were used to answer this question. Self-efficacy states that people seek activities in which they have succeeded and avoid those in which they have failed. Extrinsic motivation describes how people perform actions for material and social rewards. Calling is defined as a transcendent summons originating outside the self, toward a vocation of personal meaning, focusing on helping others. The three hypotheses predicted that self-efficacy would be ranked the most important career selection method with …

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Sexual Minority Women’S Gender Expression, Connection To The Lgbtq+ Community, And Self-Esteem, Shelby Statham Jan 2017

Sexual Minority Women’S Gender Expression, Connection To The Lgbtq+ Community, And Self-Esteem, Shelby Statham

Theses & ETDs

“Sexual minority women” (SMW) is an umbrella term that refers to those whose sexual identity does not align with dominant heteronormative sexual practices of the majority culture, such as lesbian, bisexual, queer, and others. This study aims to understand the competing gender expectations SMW face in dominant culture, which emphasize femininity, with gender expectations in LGBTQ+ spaces that emphasize masculinity. Additionally, this study will examine how these competing accountability structures impact SMW’s relationship to the LGBTQ+ community and their self-esteem. A quantitative survey and supplementary qualitative data found that masculine gender expression has little association with SMW’s psychological sense of …

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Reconnecting People And Place: A Case Study Of The Finger Lakes’ Local Food Movement, Shoshana Davidson Jan 2017

Reconnecting People And Place: A Case Study Of The Finger Lakes’ Local Food Movement, Shoshana Davidson

Theses & ETDs

By examining how the broader trends of our current globalized industrial food system take shape in the city of Ithaca, New York and its surrounding agricultural hinterland, this thesis explores the transformative potential for local agricultural movements to reconnect people to place. Through interviews and participatory observation, this project examines the role of the community in local agriculture, the policies and organizations critical to fostering and sustaining this local food network, and the way in which consumer and producer values can work in conjunction for mutual benefits or conflict for divergent needs. Driving my research is an investigation into how …

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Decentralized Data Independent Vector Analysis, Nikolas Wojtalewicz Jan 2017

Decentralized Data Independent Vector Analysis, Nikolas Wojtalewicz

Theses & ETDs

Brain images are a rich source of data with potential to improve the lives of millions. This data is usually private and protected; it cannot, in general, be freely shared. Given these constraints, implementations of algorithms used to process such data should not depend on pooling the data at a single location. For one important algorithm, Independent Vector Analysis (IVA), we develop a decentralized implementation that we call Decentralized data Independent Vector Analysis (DIVA). We study the performance of our algorithm and discuss the extent to which it provides a framework for the development of an implementation of IVA in …

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Evaluation Of Sarasota Bay As A Potential Shark Nursery Habitat, Kevin Jensen Jan 2017

Evaluation Of Sarasota Bay As A Potential Shark Nursery Habitat, Kevin Jensen

Theses & ETDs

This study was the first to quantitatively survey Sarasota Bay as a potential shark Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) as mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act of 1996. Research was part of the Gulf of Mexico Shark Pupping and Nursery (GULFSPAN) survey. Prior to the 1990’s, Sarasota Bay’s ecosystem was affected by anthropogenic pollution and water management strategies. The U.S. Congress established Sarasota Bay as an Estuary of National Significance in 1989 and restoration efforts have improved water quality and increased seagrass coverage. Standardized gillnet surveys were used to sample nekton. One hundred and seventy-eight sharks were caught comprising 5 species. The …

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How Tunicates Handle Ocean Acidification: Expression Of The V-Type Proton Atpase In Ciona Intestinalis In Response To Co2, Hannah Sheperd Jan 2017

How Tunicates Handle Ocean Acidification: Expression Of The V-Type Proton Atpase In Ciona Intestinalis In Response To Co2, Hannah Sheperd

Theses & ETDs

The impact of ocean acidification due to increased greenhouse gas emissions on ecosystems and the organisms which they comprise can be devastating. At the cellular level, pH changes can be dealt with in a number of ways, one of which is by the use of membrane bound proton pumps. This study examines the expression of a V-type proton ATPase in Ciona intestinalis in response to treatment with carbon dioxide. This species was chosen because it is widespread in marine habitats globally, and because it has been researched extensively for the effects of other marine pollutants. The V-type proton ATPase, which …

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Species Translocations For Recovery: Transporting Populations, Conservation Implications, And Future Viability Under Climate Change, Danielle Husband Jan 2017

Species Translocations For Recovery: Transporting Populations, Conservation Implications, And Future Viability Under Climate Change, Danielle Husband

Theses & ETDs

Conserving biodiversity presents challenges in today’s highly modified and fragmented environment. In this study, I analyzed six imperiled western U.S. species, three avian species; California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus), and Western bluebird (Sialia Mexicana) and three butterfly species; Palos Verdes blue butterfly (Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis), Taylor’s Checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha taylori), and Oregon Silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta). I compiled recovery methods, biology and threats pertaining to each species’ translocation program. Within recovery plans, habitat restoration and captive breeding work to support wild population persistence in future years. Translocation is a management technique that encompasses …

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Theoretical Approach Towards A Greener Synthesis Of Macrocyclic Ligands For Iron Based Oxidation Catalysts, Eric Stephens Jan 2017

Theoretical Approach Towards A Greener Synthesis Of Macrocyclic Ligands For Iron Based Oxidation Catalysts, Eric Stephens

Theses & ETDs

Iron tetra-amido macrocyclic ligand (TAML) complexes are a class of biomimetic catalytic oxidants whose design and function embody the principles of green chemistry. This study develops a computational method to geometrically optimize a number of these structures – used to generate and select possible TAML conformers. A target structure was selected, and a synthetic scheme was constructed in an effort to produce the structure with less waste and derivatives than conventional methods. The computational model yielded accurate results for existing class of TAMLs, the best conformers were those that have been extensively characterized by Dr. Terrence J Collins. The synthetic …

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A Network Approach To Bioinformatic Data Analysis, Peter Gui Jan 2017

A Network Approach To Bioinformatic Data Analysis, Peter Gui

Theses & ETDs

Network structures can be used to analyze both nucleotide sequence and epigenetic information. By creating network structures which can be programmed to analyze information and change their shape over a given sequence we can create a framework for mining and consolidating bioinformatic data about a given locus within the genome of a species. This framework will allow bioinformaticians to easily apply statistical models and machine learning algorithms to the genome at various levels in order to hierarchically abstract the information that we are receiving from the genome with its four basic nucleotides. My goal for this thesis was to begin …

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Constructing A Digital Elevation Model Of The Lower Maumee River, Connor Geis Jan 2017

Constructing A Digital Elevation Model Of The Lower Maumee River, Connor Geis

Theses & ETDs

High-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs), especially those that include both topography and bathymetry, have proven to be an invaluable resource for scientific applications in various areas of research, particularly the fields of ecology and water chemistry. The importance of coastal environments and ecosystems located near the terrestrial/aquatic interface are widely recognized but often, topographic and bathymetric data are collected independently for different purposes, making it difficult to use the data together. This project focuses on sourcing and processing the best publically available topographic and bathymetric data, in an effort to create a topographic/bathymetric digital elevation model of the Lower Maumee …

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Formation Kinetics Of Copper Nanoparticles In Phosphate Glasses, Robert Forrest Smith Jan 2017

Formation Kinetics Of Copper Nanoparticles In Phosphate Glasses, Robert Forrest Smith

Theses & ETDs

The kinetics of copper nanoparticle precipitation in barium-phosphate glass matrices was studied. Barium-phosphate glasses containing 10 mol% of the nanoparticle precursors Cu2O and SnO were prepared using a melt-quench technique. The samples were heat treated at 530, 540, 550, 560, and 570 °C to precipitate metallic copper, while simultaneously collecting UV-visible absorption spectra. The peak optical density of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is assumed to be proportional to the volume fraction of precipitated plasmonic copper. The development of the SPR is analyzed within the framework of classical particle nucleation and growth (Kolmogorov-Johnson-Mehl-Avrami) theory. The activation energy for diffusion based …

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Synthetic Approaches Toward A Model For The Active Site Of Hemocyanin, Ryan Briggs Jan 2017

Synthetic Approaches Toward A Model For The Active Site Of Hemocyanin, Ryan Briggs

Theses & ETDs

A model of the hemocyanin active site has been the subject of research for several years. A model made with a tris-imidazole complex has yet to be synthesized. The over-reactive hydroxyl group on the tris-(4(5)-imidazolyl) carbinol hydrochloride salt impeded the progress towards the synthesis of the active site. The goal of this work was to replace the hydroxyl group on the tris-(4(5)-imidazolyl) carbinol hydrochloride salt with a hydrogen. By following the work of others, several routes were explored. While none of the routes were successful, the survey obtained information that will aid future work.

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A Comparison Of The Conductivities Of The Gel Of The Ampullae Of Lorenzini Of Freshwater And Marine Members Of The Atlantic Stingray, Dasyatis Sabina., Chandler Honaman Jan 2017

A Comparison Of The Conductivities Of The Gel Of The Ampullae Of Lorenzini Of Freshwater And Marine Members Of The Atlantic Stingray, Dasyatis Sabina., Chandler Honaman

Theses & ETDs

Stingrays and related animals use pores filled with a conductive jelly like substance to perceive electric fields. The conductive nature of the gel is due to ions present within it. The salinity of the water in which the fish lives has a large impact on the nature of the gel. The salinity would increase the strength of electric fields being detected. The salinity would also have an impact in terms of ionic diffusion. The Atlantic stingray has populations living in both the saltwater of the Atlantic Ocean and the freshwater of the St. John’s River system. The question asked in …

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Palmer Long Term Ecological Research Program: A Field Study And Multi-Year Analysis Of Phytoplankton Communities Along A Changing West Antarctic Peninsula, Kayla Evens Jan 2017

Palmer Long Term Ecological Research Program: A Field Study And Multi-Year Analysis Of Phytoplankton Communities Along A Changing West Antarctic Peninsula, Kayla Evens

Theses & ETDs

The West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) has experienced one of the fastest temperature increases in the world as a result of climate change. As temperatures increase, there are potential changes in the ecosystem and in physical and biogeochemical processes that might be expected to occur. This study attempted to identify potential North-South shifts in phytoplankton biomass, via chlorophyll concentration, given their importance as primary producer and role as main food source for keystone species within the marine ecosystem. These shifts were then compared to preexisting satellite imagery, and used to identify potential correlation between temperature and chlorophyll concentration changes. Hydrologic samples …

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Blood, Sweat, And Tears: A Cross-Cultural Study Of The Gendered Power Of Bodily Fluid In Fairy Tales, Mikayla Gleason Jan 2017

Blood, Sweat, And Tears: A Cross-Cultural Study Of The Gendered Power Of Bodily Fluid In Fairy Tales, Mikayla Gleason

Theses & ETDs

This thesis develops the idea that the bodily fluid shown in fairy tales displays extraordinary powers in direct correlation to the gender of the character from which they come as a means of presenting cultural ideas and stereotypes of masculinity and femininity. Often ignored by folklore researchers in favor of better known topics like color symbolism, this motif offers readers a deeper understanding of not only the tales themselves, but the societies from which they come. Based on the scholarly-asserted principle that fairy tales are meant to be used as teaching devices, analyses of both history and religion in specific …

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Environmental Implications Of Copper-Based Particles: Synthesis, Characterization, And Dissolution Of Cu2+, Margaret Swerdloff Jan 2017

Environmental Implications Of Copper-Based Particles: Synthesis, Characterization, And Dissolution Of Cu2+, Margaret Swerdloff

Theses & ETDs

The pH of soils can become more acidic when organic wastes are added to fertilize them. Copper-based nanoparticles have been found in organic wastes such as pig slurry and sewage sludge. The dissolution of copper compounds in acidic conditions could present an environmental risk by increasing the bioavailable fraction of Cu2+, which can be toxic to animals and plants. In this study, copper-based particles were synthesized via a solvothermal method, and characterized via TEM, EDS, XRD, and IR. The majority of the particles were determined to be antlerite (Cu3(SO4)(OH)4) and were larger than nano-sized, but some CuS nanoparticles were also …

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Coping With Captivity: Stereotypies In Zoo Animals., Jenanne Pedonti Jan 2017

Coping With Captivity: Stereotypies In Zoo Animals., Jenanne Pedonti

Theses & ETDs

Stereotypies have been regarded as seemingly functionless, invariant, and abnormally occurring repetitive behaviors. However, it may be unwise to define them as such. These behaviors develop in “abnormal” captive environments compared to environments of wild conspecifics and may serve as “adaptive” behaviors. Stereotypies develop in situations of unavoidable, inescapable levels of stress and frustration. Many derive from normally occurring, highly motivated species-specific behavior patterns which are thwarted within a captive environment. As a result these behaviors take on exaggerated seeming functionless forms as displacement behaviors or stereotypic behaviors. Stereotypies are extremely heterogeneous, and their form, function, and underlying motivations vary. …

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Effects Of Glyphosate On The Odor Detection Behavior Of Common Snook (Centropomus Undecimalis), Catalina Gil Jan 2017

Effects Of Glyphosate On The Odor Detection Behavior Of Common Snook (Centropomus Undecimalis), Catalina Gil

Theses & ETDs

Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide in agriculture and the second most commonly used in residential applications. In recent years, its use has extended to direct spraying in saltmarshes and estuaries to control invasive aquatic plants, potentially having a damaging effect to species of fish. Known effects on freshwater fish range from cellular damage to the gills and reduction in olfactory responses. However, the effects on marine species have not yet been examined. Common snook, Centropomus undecimalis, migrate between marine and freshwater environments throughout their life span, potentially being exposed to pollutants such as glyphosate. This study investigated the …

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A Cellular And Molecular Characterization Of Early Events In Plant Gravitropism, Emile C. Barnes Jan 2017

A Cellular And Molecular Characterization Of Early Events In Plant Gravitropism, Emile C. Barnes

Theses & ETDs

For life on Earth, there is no way to skirt the influence of gravity. The phenomenon of gravitropism – translation of the mechanical force of gravity to a chemical signal and the appropriate reorientation or growth response – is observed in some sense in every organism, but is poorly understood, especially in initial stages of sensing and signal codification. The molecular mechanisms of gravitropism remain relatively poorly understood in plants, whose sessile lifestyle requires a thorough and highly dynamic response to the gravitational force as a growth signal. In addition to addressing a fundamental question of biology, work in this …

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The Psychoneuroimmunology Of Perceived Stress And Chronic Physiological Stress As A Threat To Homeostasis, Madison B. Bryan Jan 2017

The Psychoneuroimmunology Of Perceived Stress And Chronic Physiological Stress As A Threat To Homeostasis, Madison B. Bryan

Theses & ETDs

This thesis reviews recently published literature regarding the physiological manifestations of stress as they dangerously threaten homeostasis. Enough adversity or traumatic experiences accumulates to overstimulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and promote chronic stress, which may appear in addiction, metabolic syndrome, sleep disorders, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, mood and psychiatric disorders, and other stress-related illnesses. A review of the psychoneuroimmunology of chronic stress concludes that some of the greatest damage from this stress response is due to excess glucocorticoid release from the adrenal cortex, as well as the effects of other related hormones. This thesis emphasizes the inextricable link between neurobiology and consciousness, …

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Topology Of Neural Networks, Wiley Corning Jan 2017

Topology Of Neural Networks, Wiley Corning

Theses & ETDs

Although neural networks are currently used in many applications and research environments, they remain poorly understood as mathematical objects. In this thesis, we investigate the topological and algebraic properties of neural networks. We develop an understanding of algebraic structure of neural networks and produce a novel distance metric on the parameter space. We derive a backpropagation algorithm to compute the Hessian matrix of a deep rectifier network. We perform a synthetic data experiment to explore the error landscape of simple networks, and, using our distance metric, find clear patterns in the spatial distributions of learned parameters.

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An Investigation Into Endophytic Bacterial Populations In Undifferentiated And Newly Differentiated Organ Tissues Of Brassica Oleracea Var. Botrytis, Alexander Bowman Jan 2017

An Investigation Into Endophytic Bacterial Populations In Undifferentiated And Newly Differentiated Organ Tissues Of Brassica Oleracea Var. Botrytis, Alexander Bowman

Theses & ETDs

Endophytes consist of either bacterial or fungal populations that exist in the tissues of a plant, and have been discovered in all plants that have been tested. They are microorganisms that live inside the host tissue and can contribute to the growth and survivability of plant species by providing certain hormones or resources. Research has shown that different tissues of plants contain unique endophytic bacterial populations. In the present study, meristematic (unspecialized) tissue was taken from store-bought cauliflower and allowed to differentiate (or specialize) in culture. The explants produced several different organs without the need for supplemental hormones. Samples from …

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Pollination As An Economic Marketplace, Adrian Garcia Jan 2017

Pollination As An Economic Marketplace, Adrian Garcia

Theses & ETDs

Pollination processes support both wild and managed plant populations, contributing to genetic flow and resiliency among plant species. Without pollination, cross-obligate pollinated flowering plants will not receive enough genetic diversity to maintain resilient offspring capable of reaching sexual maturity. Current trends in pollinator activity suggest their populations, as well as their associated floral counterparts, are declining. Attention to these trends has highlighted the importance of pollinator interactions to human quality of life, and subsequent efforts have been undertaken in attempt to revitalize pollinator populations. Information on Best Management Practices which improve colony health is constantly evolving with new information, as …

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Medical-Legal Partnerships With Communities: Legal Empowerment To Transform Care, Tamar Ezer Jan 2017

Medical-Legal Partnerships With Communities: Legal Empowerment To Transform Care, Tamar Ezer

Articles

Medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) integrate legal services into health care settings to provide holistic care and address the social determinants of health. This article brings a legal-empowerment lens to MLP work, arguing for a stronger focus on communities. It examines the application to MLPs of bringing services to communities, investing in rights literacy, and partnering with community-based paralegals. It then outlines the potential for a transformation in health and legal services to a rights - rather than needs-based framework where communities are active partners in program design and development.

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Bioreducible Layer-By-Layer Films For Gene Delivery, Lingxiao Xie Jan 2017

Bioreducible Layer-By-Layer Films For Gene Delivery, Lingxiao Xie

Wayne State University Dissertations

Layer-by-Layer (LbL) gene delivery system is fabricated by polycation and plasmid DNA alternative deposition based on electrostatic force between each other. This dissertation explored the relationship between LbL film assembly and disassembly. Demonstrated that the film disassemble process is closely related to film interior structure. LbL interlayer diffusion, which is caused by the polyelectrolytes own properties, such as polymer chain length, molecular weight, and charge density, can influence film growth mode. The interlayer diffusion is the main reason to lead fast and bulk DNA releasing of bioreducible LbL film. Preventing interlayer diffusion by inserting small diffusion coefficient polymer, such as …

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Post-Training Inactivation Of The Anterior Thalamic Nuclei Impairs Spatial Performance On The Radial Arm Maze, R.E. Harvey, S.M. Thompson, L.M. Sanchez, Ryan M. Yoder, B.J. Clark Jan 2017

Post-Training Inactivation Of The Anterior Thalamic Nuclei Impairs Spatial Performance On The Radial Arm Maze, R.E. Harvey, S.M. Thompson, L.M. Sanchez, Ryan M. Yoder, B.J. Clark

Psychology

The limbic thalamus, specifically the anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN), contains brain signals including that of head direction cells, which fire as a function of an animal's directional orientation in an environment. Recent work has suggested that this directional orientation information stemming from the ATN contributes to the generation of hippocampal and parahippocampal spatial representations, and may contribute to the establishment of unique spatial representations in radially oriented tasks such as the radial arm maze. While previous studies have shown that ATN lesions can impair spatial working memory performance in the radial maze, little work has been done to investigate spatial …

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Multilingual Students' Perceptions Of And Experiences With Instructor Feedback Methods In A U.S. First-Year Composition Class, Hong Thi Tuyet Vo Jan 2017

Multilingual Students' Perceptions Of And Experiences With Instructor Feedback Methods In A U.S. First-Year Composition Class, Hong Thi Tuyet Vo

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

While instructor feedback has generally been recognized as an essential factor in enhancing writing proficiency for multilingual writers, little known research has focused on students’ perceptions of and their experiences with different modes of instructor feedback. In addition, impacts of various feedback methods on students’ writing have remained debatable. This case study seeks to gain an in-depth understanding of the meaning and significance of three instructor feedback methods, namely written, oral, and audio-visual feedback, from students’ perspectives. Furthermore, it offers additional insights into the impacts of these three instructor feedback methods on students’ writing. To be more precise, this study …

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Graduate Research Conference Program, 2017, Emu Graduate School Jan 2017

Graduate Research Conference Program, 2017, Emu Graduate School

Graduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

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Immune Evasion By Division Of Labor: The Trophic Life Cycle Stage Of Pneumocystis Murina Suppresses Innate Immunity To This Opportunistic, Fungal Pathogen, Heather M. Evans Jan 2017

Immune Evasion By Division Of Labor: The Trophic Life Cycle Stage Of Pneumocystis Murina Suppresses Innate Immunity To This Opportunistic, Fungal Pathogen, Heather M. Evans

Theses and Dissertations--Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

Pneumocystis species are opportunistic fungal pathogens that cause severe pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts, including AIDS patients. Pneumocystis species have a biphasic life cycle consisting of single-nucleated trophic forms and ascus-like cysts. Both stages live within the host, and, thus, must contend with threats from the host immune system. The cyst cell wall β-glucans have been shown to stimulate immune responses in lung epithelial cells, dendritic cells and alveolar macrophages. Little is known about how the trophic life forms, which do not have a fungal cell wall, interact with immune cells. In this study, the immune response to the life cycle …

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The Mediating Influence Of Career Aspirations And Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy On Self-Differentiation, Vocational Identity, And Career Indecision, Jay Justin Middleton Jan 2017

The Mediating Influence Of Career Aspirations And Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy On Self-Differentiation, Vocational Identity, And Career Indecision, Jay Justin Middleton

Doctoral Dissertations

Research indicates that numerous family variables influence the career-development process (Osipow, 1983). Bowen's family systems theory is one model through which to view the development and influence of the family on career development (Bowen, 1972). According to his theory, individuals begin life highly dependent on family members for all forms of support. As people grow into adults, they slowly become independent of their family, or self-differentiated. Adults low in self-differentiation have been found to make decisions in order to appease their families. Further, low levels of self-differentiation have been related to greater mental health problems (Skowron & Friedlander, 1998) and …

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