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Teacher Perspectives Regarding The Pedagogical Practices Most Culturally Responsive To African American Middle School Students, Robert James Mcgill

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines teacher’s perspectives regarding the classroom strategies,

behaviors, and approaches they believed best support the development of African American students. Educator perceptions are valuable to understand because perceptions and attitudes undergird behavior and practices. This study focused on perceptions of teachers toward pedagogical strategies, approaches, and teacher behaviors that perceived to best support African American students because of the persisting achievement gap between African American students and their White, middle class counterparts.

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy was used as the theoretical framework for this study as it describes approaches to teaching students from historically marginalized groups in ways that …

Parent Perceived Stress And Child Temperament: Qualities That Facilitate Or Impede Child Developmental Outcomes, Rebekah Faith Klempin

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Effective parent-child relationships contribute to the development of well-adjusted children. Taxing personal and situational factors encumber a caregiver’s capacity for responsivity with his or her child. The purpose of the present study was to identify interpersonal factors that impact child outcomes in low socioeconomic status family populations. Data was collected in northeast Florida Head Start centers from 219 low income, at-risk caregivers and their children ages one and a half through almost five. Parents completed questionnaires on parent perceived stress, child temperament, and child developmental outcomes. Hierarchical regression was used to assess the influence of child temperament and parent perceived …

The Efficacy Of Commercial Tooth Storage Media For Maintaining The Viability Of Human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts, W. Lee, Sheila E. Stover, Morteza Rasoulianboroujeni, K. Sherman, Farahnaz Fahimipour, E. Dashtimoghadam, C. Zito, Hossein E. Jazayeri, Lobat Tayebi

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Aim

To evaluate Save‐A‐Tooth (SAT), EMT Toothsaver (EMT) and Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) for their influence on the viability and proliferative capacity of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLFs).

Methodology

Primary HPDLFs were seeded into 96‐well cell culture plates and exposed to SAT, EMT, HBSS and water (negative control) for 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h at room temperature (22 °C). After each exposure time, cell viability was measured through quantifying adenosine triphosphate (ATP) using a luminescent dye. The proliferative capacity was also quantified using the PrestoBlue assay after 12 or 24 h storage in each medium. The …

Molecular Characterization Of The Mummichog (Fundulus Heteroclitus) Ovarian Steroidogenic Pathway And Implications For Exogenous Estrogen Effects During Follicular Development, Thiviya Kanagasabesan

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study investigated ovarian development in Fundulus heteroclitus (mummichog), through molecular characterization of key mediators in the ovarian steroidogenic pathway; these included ovarian StAR (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein), cytochrome P450 enzymes, estrogen receptors (ERα, ERβ1 and ERβ2), and gonadotropin receptors (FSHr and LHr); additionally, hepatic vitellogenin (VTG1) and ERs, and brain P450 aromatase (P450arom; CYP19b) were studied. Fish were staged into cortical alveolus, vitellogenic, early mature, late mature, and ovulating stages of maturation; blood (plasma), ovary (tissue and isolated ovarian follicles per stage), liver, and brains were collected. Testosterone (T), 17β-estradiol (E₂) and maturation inducing steroid (MIS), measured …

The Hold Me Tight Program For Couples Becoming Parents: A Mixed Methods Study, Debbie Wang

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

ABSTRACT

Attachment theory has made substantial contributions to the understanding of close relationships. The purpose of this study was to inquire whether an attachment-informed psychoeducational program is a feasible and effective intervention for couples expecting their first child. The overarching question was: Is an attachment-informed relationship enhancement program, such as Hold Me Tight^® (HMT), helpful to couples in strengthening their relationship and increasing their confidence in becoming first-time parents? The research question was addressed using a mixed-methods approach.

In the first phase, the Hold Me Tight^® program developed by Dr. Sue Johnson was modified for use with couples …

Shame In The Presence Or Absence Of God In Stephen Ministry, Richard Tamas

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This hermeneutical phenomenological study explores the lived experience of shame in relation to the presence or absence of God in the caregiving process of Stephen Ministry. Stephen Ministers are trained Christian caregivers who walk side-by-side with those who are struggling in a congregation. Stephen Ministers are trained by Stephen Leaders who have completed the Stephen Ministry Leadership training program. A concern for an assurance of quality of care led to the research question: what is the lived experience of unacknowledged or unprocessed shame in the presence or absence of God experienced by Stephen Ministers who offer Christian care? The foundations …

Evidence For Extra-Gastric Expression Of The Proton Pump H+/K+ -Atpase In The Gills And Kidney Of The Teleost Oreochromis Niloticus, Ebtesam Barnawi

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

It is well known that stomach acid secretion by oxynticopeptic cells of the gastric mucosa is accomplished by the H⁺/ K⁺-ATPase (HKA), which is comprised of the HKα1 (gene: atp4a) and HKβ (gene: atp4b) subunits. However, the role of the HKA in extra-gastric organs such as the gill and kidney is less clear especially in fishes. This pump may contribute to active ion and/or acid-base regulation either through direct ion transport or through secondary transport proteins against unfavorable concentration gradients via the energy derived from ATP hydrolysis. In the present work I have demonstrated …

Emerging Adults' Parent-Child Privacy Management Surrounding Topics Of Career, Religion, And Politics, Maria Butauski

Iowa Journal of Communication

Guided by communication privacy management theory (Petronio, 2002), this study highlights the role of emerging adults' perceptions of parents' behaviors in discussions of career, religion, and politics in their management of the parent-child privacy boundary. Parental behaviors perceived as supportive were associated with more openness and less topic avoidance when discussing career, religion, and politics. However, parental behaviors perceived as interference or neglect were associated with less openness and more topic avoidance across the topics addressed Findings and directions for future research are discussed

Testing The Network Reset Hypothesis: Noradrenergic Modulation Of Hippocampal Representations, Stephanie L. Grella

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The locus coeruleus (LC) responds to salience cues, including novelty, and sends a major noradrenergic projection to the hippocampal formation (HF). Novelty-associated LC activation may help to sculpt contextual representations in the HF, but modulatory influence of norepinephrine (NE) over HF representations remains poorly understood. One possible mechanism is that NE provides a “reset” signal causing the HF to recruit distinct neural populations, thereby providing a molecular switch to dictate if hippocampal circuits should generate new representations or update existing ones to incorporate novel information. This hypothesis suggests that NE release should cause the HF to recruit a unique population …

The Role Of Channel Fens In Permafrost Degradation Induced Changes In Peatland Discharge At Scotty Creek, Nt, Lindsay Elena Stone

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Permafrost degradation in the peat-rich southern fringe of the discontinuous permafrost zone is producing substantial changes to land cover with concomitant expansion of permafrost-free wetlands (bogs and fens) and shrinkage of forest supported by permafrost peat plateaus. Predicting discharge from headwater basins in this region depends on understanding and numerically representing the interactions between storage and discharge within and between the major land cover types, and how these interactions are changing. To better understand the implications of land cover change on wetland discharge, the hydrological behaviour of a channel fen in the headwaters of Scotty Creek, Northwest Territories, Canada, dominated …

Navigating Risks Across Borders: The Lived Experiences Of Central American Women Migrants, Carla Angulo-Pasel

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The journey for ‘unauthorized’ migrant women from the Northern Triangle of Central America (NTCA) through Mexico dangerous and violent. In hopes of achieving safe passage to the United States (U.S.), women migrants will have to navigate borders. In this dissertation, I use the concept of borders to reveal the gendered experiences of (im)mobility. I argue that navigating borders throughout the migratory journey is not simply about experiencing the risks and vulnerabilities associated with restrictive border enforcement policies and practices implemented by the nation-state. (Im)mobility for women migrants is equally about the boundaries and/or barriers that are created by oppressive systems …

Landscape Scale Spectral-Temporal Modelling Of Bamboo-Dominated Forest Succession Within The Atlantic Forest Of Southern Brazil, Clara Greig

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Tropical and subtropical ecosystems have become vulnerable to biological invasion (i.e., bamboo) due to human induced forest fragmentation. Bamboo ecological processes have been found to impede forest development, resulting in a state of arrested succession, which has been found to significantly reduce biodiversity, thus contributing to biotic homogenization. In this study we use a semi-empirical approach to develop a community-level spatially explicit ecological process model (hybrid model) using a time-series of Landsat imagery to describe single-landscape scale ecological processes of a pervasive bamboo species (Merostachys skvortzovii) found throughout the Araucaria forest, a critically threatened subtype of Atlantic forest …

Relationships Between Factors Influencing Biofilm Formation And Pathogen Retention In Complex Rhizosphere Microbial Communities, Aaron Coristine

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Riparian wetlands are unique habitats facilitating all forms of life. The riverbanks of these environments provide ideal conditions for bacteria, plants, and higher organisms. Of particular interest to this research was the variation in microbial community structure at high, intermediate and poor water quality impacted areas. Assessing the capabilities of plants to retain microbial pathogens was identified. Root systems and corresponding soil are ideal locations for bacterial deposition, resulting in attachment at these areas. Biofilm production in these regions is important for long-term establishment, leading to persistence and potential naturalization. Opportunistic pathogens originating from mammalian fecal matter are introduced into …

Confronting Sexism In Science, Technology, Engineering, And Math (Stem): What Are The Consequences?, Eden J.V. Hennessey

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Disparaging remarks that female scientists are ‘Distractingly Sexy’ (Waxman, 2015) and ‘Too Pretty to Do Math’ t-shirts (Amazon.com) highlight the common belief that women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) violate perceived gender norms. However, by confronting these beliefs, women may incur a ‘double-dose’ of hostility; once for being present in science, and again because of the confrontation itself (Kaiser & Miller, 2001). Across three studies, this research tested how women confronting sexism in STEM contexts would elicit and anticipate social costs. Study 1 showed that male participants rated a hypothetical female confronter in STEM higher in bossiness and …

Forensic Markers Of Lampricide Toxicity In Oncorhynchsus Mykiss, Chris White

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) has been used for decades to control invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) populations in the Great Lakes, normally with little harm to other fish populations. However, due to the nature of lampricide treatments and the chemical properties of TFM, adverse effects to non-target fishes and non-target mortality occasionally occur. However, investigations of non-target mortality can be complex, particularly if fish deaths are not noticed immediately, due to decomposition of the carcasses. The objectives of this thesis were to expose rainbow trout (Oncorhynchsus mykiss) to TFM in order to: (i) identify forensic markers …

Differences In Perceptions Of Aperture Crossing During A Virtual Reality Choice Reaction Task Between Non-Athletes And Varsity Athletes, Jaime Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Background: Vision will guide the actions and behaviors that allow us to circumvent environmental obstacles. When passing through a gap, individuals will consistently elicit a shoulder rotation (SR) if the gap is 1.4 times their shoulder width (SW) or narrower, with this behaviour being produced under various environmental conditions. Although a few studies have investigated perceptual predictions regarding gap passage, the effect of physical activity and the differences between trained and untrained athlete’s behaviours has not been examined. This study investigated the perceptual judgements of non-athletes and varsity athletes regarding the action they would utilize to pass through a dynamically …

Bioinformatic Interrogation Of Phosphonate Tailoring Pathways, Monica Papinski

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Phosphonates represent an underexploited class of natural products despite their tremendous potential for use in medicine and agriculture. Even less characterized are phosphonate-containing macromolecules such as cell wall lipids and glycans, distinguished by a P-C bond known to provide stability towards hydrolysis. Despite some progress made in revealing cell wall phosphonate tailoring (Pnt) pathways, several barriers impede the discovery and characterization of novel phosphonate biosynthetic pathways. Specifically, a large diversity of gene composition and arrangement is evident surrounding key genes established to participate in phosphonate tailoring pathways, which are identified alongside the presence of the ppm gene encoding the P-C …

The Effect Of Oxidation, Thionation, And Dimerization On The Self-Assembly And Photophysical Properties Of Novel Discotic Materials, Katie M. Psutka

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis aims to increase understanding of the relationship between molecular structure and liquid crystalline temperature range by exploring the effects of oxidation, thionation, and dimerization on the self-assembly and properties of novel discotic materials. First, two alkoxy-substituted dibenzanthracenequinones were prepared by oxidation of the corresponding dibenzanthracenes. The quinone induced a liquid crystalline phase in the hexaalkoxy dibenzanthracene derivative, but not in the tetralkoxy derivative. However, both of the resulting materials were un-reactive to any further synthetic modifications that could be used to improve their properties. In comparison, two heteroaromatic dithienoanthracenedicarboximides were successfully prepared, although the addition of the thiophene …

Sprint Interval Training: Assessing Effectiveness And Adherence In A Real-World Setting, Gregory Howe

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Introduction: Perceived lack of time is an oft-cited reason for not engaging in physical activity. One proposed solution is high-intensity interval training (HIIT), or a more intense version known as sprint interval training (SIT), which involves repeated “all-out” efforts interspersed with short recovery periods. Although convincing evidence demonstrates the efficacy of SIT on cardiorespiratory fitness and other health factors, whether individuals will independently perform and benefit from this type of exercise outside the supervised lab setting is unknown. Purpose: To compare the effectiveness and adherence of performing running SIT and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) protocols in a real-world setting. Methods: …

The Influence Of Water Quality On Wetland-Associated Microbial Communities, Lindsey Clairmont

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Within a wetland environment, bacteria in association with plant roots play a vital role in maintaining the health of freshwater ecosystems. In order to gain insight into the stability and processes occurring within natural and constructed wetland environments we need to develop a better understanding of the relationship between wetland plants, root-associated microbial communities and environmental factors. Human population growth and urbanization have resulted in greater contaminant loads (inorganic nutrients, fecal contamination etc.) entering our waterways. As such, we need a better understanding of how anthropogenic impacts influence the structure and function of the wetland-associated microbial communities that we rely …

Gill Structure & Function In Parasitic And Non-Parasitic Lampreys: The Effects Of Metamorphosis And Freshwater-Seawater Transfer, Julia Sunga

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Lamprey (Petromyzontiformes) are a phylogenetically ancient group of jawless fishes that begin their lives as filter-feeding larvae (ammocoetes) before undergoing a complex metamorphosis into juvenile lamprey that involves major changes to their internal and external body plan. Some parasitic species, such as the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), migrate to sea following metamorphosis, where they use their oral discs and rasping tongue to attach to and ingest vast quantities of blood from fishes. Thus, sea lamprey have to counter the simultaneous challenges of hyposmoregulation in sea water and the generation of large quantities of ammonia due to the …

Do Early Community-Based Initiatives Predict Social Anxiety 20 Years Later?, Christina Dimakos

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Social anxiety disorder is characterized by an extreme and persistent fear of embarrassment or scrutiny in social or performance situations. This condition is among the most common mental illnesses and is characterized by an early onset, chronic course, and significant associated health and social service costs. Nevertheless, it remains among the least recognized, researched, and treated mental health conditions. Critically, broader community characteristics have yet to be considered as valuable tools for disrupting the onset and maintenance of social anxiety. The present study examined the long-term impact of a comprehensive, holistic, community-based early childhood development initiative on social anxiety in …

An Assessment Of The Plant And Mycorrhizal Community At Steeves Lake Shoreline, Colomac Mine, Nwt, Rebekah Hamp, Dr. Kevin Stevens

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study focused on the environmental impacts of mining and potential techniques to mitigate them. The goals of this study were to (1) Quantify vegetation and fungal colonization at a remediated mine site in northern Canada, and to determine if there were effects from petroleum hydrocarbon contamination, (2) Determine the response of northern plants inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi to diesel contamination. Mycorrhizal colonization was observed in field collected roots and trends in colonization and vegetation cover suggested that these communities were no longer impacted by residual contamination. Mean hyphal colonization of Elymus trachycaulus roots collected over two years was 47.3±3.8% …

Exploring Lactate’S Role In Appetite Regulation Following High-Intensity Exercise, Luke W. Vanderheyden

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Background: Intense-exercise has demonstrated an appetite suppressing effect post-exercise, however the involved mechanisms are not well understood. Lactate appears to be one viable mechanism as it has been found to bind to receptors on acylated ghrelin to inhibit release in cell culture. As sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) can alter lactate accumulation post-exercise without manipulating exercise-intensity, it presents an intriguing means to investigate lactate’s potential role. Purpose: To examine the role of lactate on appetite using NaHCO₃ to alter blood lactate concentrations during high-intensity exercise. Methods: Eight recreationally active males completed two identical exercise sessions of low-volume high-intensity interval …

Benchmarking Treatment Response In Tourette’S Disorder: A Psychometric Evaluation And Signal Detection Analysis Of The Parent Tic Questionnaire, Madeline M. Rasch, Douglas W. Woods, Matthew W. Specht, John T. Walkup, Lawrence Scahill, Sabine Wilhelm, Alan L. Peterson, John Piacentini

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

This study assessed the psychometric properties of a parent-reported tic severity measure, the Parent Tic Questionnaire (PTQ), and used the scale to establish guidelines for delineating clinically significant tic treatment response. Participants were 126 children ages 9 to 17 who participated in a randomized controlled trial of Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT). Tic severity was assessed using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), Hopkins Motor/Vocal Tic Scale (HMVTS) and PTQ; positive treatment response was defined by a score of 1 (very much improved) or 2 (much improved) on the Clinical Global Impressions – Improvement …

Analysis Of Ambient Particulate Concentration Near A Coal Storage Pile, Jennifer Wittenburg

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Fugitive dust sources such as aggregate storage piles contribute significantly to the total suspended particulate levels in the ambient air. Particulate levels are monitored and regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency to protect public health and welfare. This study monitored particulate concentrations in the ambient air near a coal storage pile. Air samplers and weather stations were placed at two locations, one to the north of the pile and one to the south of the pile, and were used to collect particulate and weather related data.

The data were analyzed to determine the origin of the particulate and to identify …

Exploring Critical Success Factors Of Community Development Projects, Kevin Wanjama Muchiri

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The utilization of Community Development Projects in developing nations continues to increase in significance. In the wake of the latest Sustainable Development Goals, developing nations are working towards eliminating poverty, promoting sustainable cities and communities, gender equality, and health and well-being. Although Community Development Projects have become prevalent, the challenge has been that some are successful, while others fail. This dissertation investigates what makes Community Development Projects successful.

This dissertation implemented a comprehensive quantitative analysis using data collected from over one hundred community development projects obtained from The World Bank database. These projects took place in developing nations around the …

Memory And Executive Functions In Alexithymia, Nicolas Vermeulen, Irena Domachowska, Kristy A. Nielson

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Selection And Implementation Of Skill Acquisition Programs By Special Education Teachers And Staff For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tiffany Kodak, Tom Cariveau, Brittany A. Leblanc

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

The present investigation examined special education teachers’ selection and use of teaching strategies for receptive identification training with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in their classrooms. Teachers first responded to a survey in which they provided examples of receptive identification tasks taught in their classrooms, rated the efficacy of teaching strategies, described how they determined whether skills were mastered, listed any assessments they conducted to identify relevant prerequisite skills prior to receptive identification training, described how they selected teaching strategies for use in their classrooms, and listed their years of experience as a teacher and working with children with …

Slow And Deliberate Cooperation In The Commons, Chris Brozyna, Todd Guilfoos, Stephen Atlas

Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Faculty Publications

We test how fast and slow thought processes affect cooperation for sustainability by manipulating time pressure in a dynamic common-pool resource experiment. Sustainable management of shared resources critically depends on decisions in the current period to leave enough stock so that future generations are able to draw on the remaining limited natural resources. An intertemporal common-pool resource game represents a typical dynamic for social dilemmas involving natural resources. Using one such game, we analyse decisions throughout time. We find that people in this context deplete the common resource to a greater extent under time pressure, which leads to greater likelihood …