Digital Commons Network^™

Investigation Of The Role For Methyl-Cpg Binding Protein 2 Variant Mbd2_V2 In Cancer Stem Cells And Obesity-Associated Cancers, Emily A. Teslow

Wayne State University Dissertations

Obesity is a risk factor for both TNBC and PCa, and pro-inflammatory features associated with obesity, including upregulated production of ROS, promote CSCs. Previously published work from the Bollig-Fischer laboratory established that TNBC CSCs could be inhibited by neutralizing ROS in culture with H2O2 targeted antioxidants. In this report, antioxidant treatment resulted in the downregulation of mRNA splicing variant MBD2_v2. MBD2_v2 was highly expressed in CSCs versus bulk TNBC cells and supported self-renewal in vitro. As obesity is coupled with increased ROS, we hypothesized that obesity could drive CSCs via MBD2_v2 expression. The work presented in this thesis addressed this …

Novel Insights Into The Use Of Ercc1 As A Biomarker For Response To Platinum-Based Chemotherapy In Lung Cancer, Joshua Ryan Heyza

Wayne State University Dissertations

ERCC1/XPF is a DNA endonuclease with variable expression in primary tumor specimens, and has been investigated as a predictive biomarker for efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancers where up to 30-60% of tumors harbor low to undetectable ERCC1 expression. The failure of an international, randomized Phase III clinical trial utilizing ERCC1 expression to predict response to platinum-based chemotherapy suggests additional mechanisms underlying the basic biology of ERCC1 in the response to platinum-DNA damage remain unknown. In this work, we aimed to characterize a panel of ERCC1 knockout cell lines generated via CRISPR-Cas9 where we identified a synthetic …

Mediation/Collaborative Law: Exploring A New Combination In Alternative Dispute Resolution In Cases Of Divorce And Domestic Violence, Claudia Lanzetta

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

This paper takes the suggestion of collaborative law practice for divorcing couples with an element of domestic violence in their relationship a step further, and proposes a deeper collaboration: a new combination called Mediation/Collaborative Law, or "Med/ Collab." The discipline of Alternative Dispute Resolution and its practitioners are not unfamiliar with collaborations. Hybrid processes on the ADR continuum' 7 include Med/Arb and Arb/ Med. In the same spirit, Med/Collab presents the best aspects and benefits of each process, while addressing and overcoming the difficulties each process separately faces in dealing with domestic violence.

Part II of this paper will revisit …

Cooperative Design Lawyering: How Can Lawyers Prevent Disputes Through Value Innovation?, Jean-François Roberge, Véronique Fraser

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

This article puts forth processes for preventing disputes based on value innovation, an approach referred to as Cooperative Design Lawyering ("CDL"). It suggests that law firms could take a competitive edge by offering Cooperative Design Lawyering services. It explores how legal designers can redefine the value and predictability of a relationship between parties by creating positive-sum interdependence, managing risk allocation and preventing the escalation of eventual disputes. It argues that CDL has the potential to act as a "blue ocean" strategy by targeting unmet needs and delivering value innovation to reach untapped markets. CDL relationship-oriented services capture value and improve …

Spinal Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 Regulates Pain After Peripheral Trauma, Maral Tajerian, J. David Clark

Publications and Research

It is well documented that pain chronification requires a host of plastic mechanisms at the spinal cord (SC) level, including alterations in neuronal and glial structure and function. Such cellular plasticity necessitates the existence of a plastic extracellular matrix(ECM). Here, we describe a key role for ECM remodeling in the regulation of chronic pain following peripheral injury. Three weeks following tibia fracture in mice, we show increased levels of MMP8 in the SC. Furthermore, we show that the pharmacological or genetic downregulation of MMP8 ameliorates the pain phenotype observed after injury. These results delineate an extracellular mechanism for pain chronification, …

Perspectives On Psychological Assessment From Internship Directors Across Six Categories Of Internships, Katelyn M. Grusecki

Theses and Dissertations

Psychological assessment continues to be one of the defining, core domains of clinical psychology. The literature consistently reflects the importance of competency in psychological assessment for professional psychologists. In the present exploratory study, the researcher used archival data collected originally by Bates (2016), Faith (2016), and Shipley (2019). The original researchers developed a 32-item questionnaire to explore the perspectives of a national sample of APPIC-member internship directors on psychological assessment practices in internships. Internship directors’ responses from the six most prevalent categories of internship program were examined to determine whether there significant differences across types of internship. The six most …

Unmasking The Noise Within: An Exploration Of The Integration Of Music And Mental Processing And Its Effect On Enhanced Learning, De Vida Gill

Theses and Dissertations

Many research studies have focused on aspects of music, mental processing, and education, but few have integrated music with mental health practices and theory in order to understand the potential effects of enhanced learning. This research applied a biopsychosocial (biological, psychological, and social) approach to provide a holistic view of the relationship between music and mental processing. In particular, this phenomenological study of non-musicians and professional musicians demonstrated the significance of music as a universal language. Additionally, the intrinsic and extrinsic effects of music are shown to enhance learning for the artist and listeners. The findings suggest that music can …

The Effect Of Fundraising Strategy On The Health Of Non-Profit Organizations, Zach Sumner

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of a funding model for non-profit organizations and think tanks in Oklahoma. 15 related parties to a non-profit, including board members, current employees, former employees, and contractors were recruited using convenience sampling and participated in interviews with questions related to funding models, organizational agility, dynamic capabilities, organizational effectiveness and longevity, and any ethical complications that may result from using a specific funding model. Participants most notably reported holding the paradoxical belief that the organization ideally should rely on a few large-dollar donors, even as they expressed concerns that such reliance likely limits the ability of …

Detecting Subtle Brain Injury In College Students, Bryant Steury

Theses and Dissertations

Clinicians at University Counseling Centers (or UCCs) are at the epicenter of a unique demographic in that they may encounter individuals from diverse backgrounds in every sense of the term. In addition to the “traditional” college student, they may also provide clinical care to student-athletes and current or returning military personnel. One injury that impacts every demographic grouping a counselor will treat is head trauma. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have become a subject of increasing interest among clinicians with an emphasis on proper diagnosis and post-concussive care. TBIs have been shown to negatively impact cognitive capacity, emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, …

War On Terror As A "Fight For The Rights And Dignity Of Women": A Discourse Analysis Of The U.S. 'Liberation' Campaign For Afghan Women, Jessica Pacwa

Theses and Dissertations

The events of September 11, 2001 (9/11) continue to morph American identity. 9/11 warranted a frame—a narrative—to explain and assign meaning to the sudden death of nearly three-thousand men and women. The phrase "war on terror" was first used by George W. Bush in an address to Congress on September 20, 2001, and since then, the term has entered into common global lexicon. The strict binaries that confine American discourses in this War on Terror—civility/barbarity, freedom/oppression, Judaea-Christianity/Islam, progress/tradition, the protector/the protected and democracy/tyranny—are not unique; rather, they are rooted in imperialist, colonial, and Orientalist legacies, where narrative often relies on …

Mindfulness, Meaning-Making, And Resilience Among Recently Returned Veterans: Development Of A Workshop And Preliminary Manual, Joshua Buch

Theses and Dissertations

Many military veterans experience a variety of mental health problems. Some are combat-related, others psychosocial, and yet others related to a loss of meaning and purpose in their lives when they shed their military lifestyle and identity. The purpose of this study was to design an intervention for recently returned veterans which would concurrently target the most common debilitating mental health and adjustment problems. Literature was extensively reviewed, as were related and empirically established interventions. A mindfulness and meaning-focused half-day workshop was then created. Additionally, a manual was developed to help licensed mental health professionals who work with veterans implement …

Best Practices Of Women Leaders In The Public Sector, Candy Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: This study sought to determine the best practices of women leaders in the public sector. Methods: This phenomenological study used purposive sampling to identify women leaders and used the interview protocol. Researcher interviewed 8 women leaders from City, State, County, and higher education agencies. Researcher used public open source Web sites such as LinkedIn and LAAAWPPI to recruit participants, and 12 open-ended interview questions were posed. From these, 5 themes emerged (a) Collaboration, (b) Communication, (c) Be coachable, (d) Manage Bureaucracy, and (e) Have integrity. Findings: The findings show women in the public sector face challenges in the workplace, …

Advocacy Education For Psychology Graduate Students: A Curriculum For Professional Advocacy In Psychology, Tracey Wheeler

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this dissertation was to synthesize information from the empirical literature, psychology professional organizations and other relevant sources into a graduate-level curriculum for education in professional advocacy for psychology. Professional advocacy practices, such as public policy and legislative involvement, are necessary to protect and grow psychology's place in the healthcare system, funding for psychological research and access to services for the public. Remarkably low involvement by psychologists in advocacy is theorized to be due to a lack of training, awareness and professional values related to advocacy. This dissertation proposes that graduate school education is an optimal and effective …

Race Matters: A Phenomenological Study Of Cultural Education And Preservation In The Gullah-Geechee Community, Triba Gary-Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Even with the success of the American Preservation Movement and National Trust, most preservation efforts in the United States are focused on sites with patriotic significance favoring the nation’s dominant culture and overlook protecting the land and culture of minorities and indigenous populations (Stradling, 2003). The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore, through the lens of the Critical Race Theory, the extent to which, if at all, race, racism and environmental injustices impact the preservation efforts of members in the Gullah-Geechee community. This study also explores what programs and activities, if any, that members of the Gullah-Geechee community …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Foster Youth Who Obtained Graduate Level Degrees: Self-Efficacy, Resilience, And The Impact On Identity Development, Cristina Miranda

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of former foster youth who have completed graduate level academic programs in order to discover and describe the elements that these individuals believe led to their academic success. The primary research question for this study was: what do former foster youth who completed graduate level programs report as elements that contributed to their academic success? The researcher utilized a qualitative approach and portraiture methodology. In depth, interviews were conducted with six individuals, three women and three men, who spent time in foster care and later went on to …

The Nature Of E-Rate Policy And Change, Application Process, And Funding: Influence On E-Rate Usage And Technology Over Two Decades, Brett Allen Stoneberger

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to develop a comprehensive understanding of the real-world issues encountered by applicants attempting to realize opportunities available through the E-rate program. With multiple changes in the E-rate program spanning nearly two decades, it is necessary to understand what E-rate applicants have experienced, and what the impacts of those experiences are (past, present, and future). This study explored a micro version of the E-rate program as experienced by two small and remote Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) funded K-8 schools on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota since 1998.

Dna Barcoding Cannot Discriminate Between Sardinella Tawilis And S. Hualiensis (Clupeiformes: Clupeidae), Alison Faye O. Chan, Adrian U. Luczon, Ian Kendrick C. Fontanilla, Perry S. Ong, Mudjekeewis D. Santos, Demian A. Willette, Jonas P. Quilang

Biology Faculty Works

Sardinella tawilis, the only known freshwater sardinella in the world, is endemic to Taal Lake, Philippines. Previous studies found the Taiwan sardinella, S. hualiensis, to be morphologically very similar to S. tawilis and identified it as the marine sister species of S. tawilis. In this study, DNA barcoding using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene was carried out to analyze species demarcation in the Sardinella genus, focusing primarily on the relationship between S. tawilis and S. hualiensis. The neighbour-joining (NJ) tree that was constructed using Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model showed a single clade for the two species with …

Post-Fire Damage Geospatial Assessment Via Point Clouds Of A Highway Bridge Structure, Yijun Liao, M Ebrahim Mohammadi, Richard L. Wood, Christine E. Wittich

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

This paper discusses the quantitative post-fire damage assessment of a steel girder bridge via point clouds. In this case study, the point cloud was collected using light detection and ranging (lidar) for a detailed geometric and shape analysis. The out-of-plane deformation was analyzed to locate and quantify buckling across the length of the steel girders.

Daily Metacognitive Questioning Sheets: Implementing Metacognitive Strategies In The Secondary Classroom, Shawna Sue Hill-Robinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the possible impact that incorporating daily metacognitive questioning in a mathematics classroom could have on student achievement. The study integrated metacognition into the classroom through the daily use of metacognitive questioning sheets that were answered by students who participated in the research study. The study also explored patterns that emerged from the students’ individual responses on the metacognitive sheets using qualitative coding and analyses. Two classes of heterogeneously grouped high school dual-credit college algebra students were taught the same curriculum by the same teacher and given the same summative assessments during the study. One class received the …

Care In The Workplace:The Employer’S Role In The Alleviation Of The Eldercare Problem, Joseph Michael Duda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Center for Disease Control has referred to the group of people, aged 18-35, who have an elderly dependent they care for (by which I mean physical, emotional, or mental assistance necessary for the elderly dependent’s continued living) and are entering the workforce as the “sandwich” generation. These people are at the age where they may be simultaneously raising a child and taking care of an elderly family member. It has been estimated that, as of 2006, 17% of the U.S. workforce belong to the sandwich generation. In addition to the sandwich generation, there are 44 million people in the …

Jumping To Conclusions: The Effects Of Hydration Status On Kinetics And Electromyography In The Vertical Jump, Paul Tyler Donahue

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Results: Significant differences were present between hypo- and euhydrated conditions for peak and mean force during the CMJ with no difference in jump height. Significant differences were present between conditions for jump height and jump velocity for the SJ. No differences were seen in any of the four muscles of interest in regard to muscle activation. Significant differences were present between jump height of the CMJ and SJ respectively, with high correlation coefficients to jump velocity in both jump techniques.

Healthy Eating Opportunities And Choices For University Faculty, Selby Rebecca Entrekin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

College food environments can be obesogenic settings due to the availability of fast food restaurants and buffet style cafeteria’s accessible to the university community. These environments often foster eating behaviors that can contribute to rising obesity rates in the United States. The aim of this study was to identify university faculty’s perceptions of the campus food environment and access to healthy foods. Investigated were barriers to making healthy food choices on campus and strategies ion how to provide and encourage better food choices. Questions were developed to identify barriers, perceptions, and solutions to improve the healthy eating environment on campus. …

The Impact Of A Fruit And Vegetable Intervention On School Cafeteria Fruit And Vegetable Selection And Consumption In A Rural, Appalachian Mississippi Elementary School, Michelle Weber

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fruit and vegetable intake for children in the United States is low, which puts them at risk for poor health in the future. The National School Lunch Program meal pattern and nutrition standards for participating schools include increased fruits and vegetables, compared to previous standards. Using a pretest-posttest design, this study examined the effect of a fruit and vegetable intervention on fruit and vegetable food selection and consumption in a rural, Appalachian Mississippi elementary school. A six-week intervention (nutrition education, cafeteria tastings, fruit and vegetables for home usage/backpack program) was implemented. The unannounced fruit and vegetable selection and waste measurements …

Nanosuspension Based Electrolyte Sensitive In Situ Gel For Topical Ocular Delivery Of Natamycin, Poorva H. Joshi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Natamycin (NT) is a commercially available antifungal drug used for the treatment of fungal keratitis, an infection which affects the clear corneal surface and its associated layers. Currently, NT is available commercially as a 5% w/v ophthalmic suspension, to be administered topically. The main objective of the present investigation was to develop and evaluate the natamycin loaded nanosuspension (NT-NS), as well as it’s corresponding in-situ gel (NT-NS-GG), for the treatment of fungal keratitis. NT-NS was prepared using homogenization technique and optimized based on size, PDI, zeta potential (ZP), assay and process stability. Further, optimized NT-NS was modified into an in-situ …

Find The Most Here: The Academic Success Of First-Year African American Students At The University Of Mississippi, Shawnboda Deanne Mead

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three researchers, Shawnboda Mead, Earl Presley, and Alexandria White, collaborated to complete this Dissertation in Practice (DiP) which includes three manuscripts. The three-member team identified the academic success of first-year African American students at predominantly White institutions as a complex problem of practice. Bean and Eaton’s (2001) Psychological Model of Student Retention and Rodgers and Summers (2008) Revised Model of Retention for African American Students at Predominantly White Institutions provided the theoretical framework for this study. The study examines the relationship of academic success and first-year African American students who participated in the 2015 and 2016 Mississippi Outreach to Scholastic …

Ownership Conversion As A Solution For Ex Post Agency Problems: The Case Of Franchising, Erik Tristan Markin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the strategic decision of franchising firms to convert company-owned outlets to franchise contracts in response to persistent agency problems. Moreover, this study investigates how franchisor-level, market-level, and outlet-level characteristics interact with this relationship. Using a longitudinal sample of company-owned fast-food restaurants, I find that increased agency problems at focal restaurants increases the likelihood of being converted to a franchise and that this relationship is moderated by both franchisor- and outlet-level characteristics but not market-level characteristics. Limitations and future research opportunities are discussed.

Ecological Factors Associated With Habitat Use Of Baird’S Tapirs (Tapirus Bairdii), Victoria Diane Monette

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Baird’s tapir, the largest terrestrial mammal in Central America and a crucial seed disperser and ecosystem engineer, has experienced a 50% loss of habitat in its geographic range during the past 30 years. Efforts to conserve this species need to consider factors that have contributed to its endangerment, such as how human presence and human-mediated habitat change may influence tapir behavior, body condition, and disease susceptibility. In this thesis I had two goals: 1) understand how human disturbance affects tapir activity patterns, and 2) noninvasively determine the association of disturbance with tapir health. I first compared the activity patterns …

Evaluating The Use Of Suas-Derived Imagery For Monitoring Flood Protection Infrastructure, Eleanor Mei Dietz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the US there are approximately 33,000 miles of levees. This includes 14,500 miles of levee systems associated with US Army Corps of Engineers programs and approximately 15,000 miles from other state and federal agencies. More than 14 million people live behind levees and associated flood prevention infrastructure. Monitoring and risk assessment are an on-going process, especially during times of flood conditions. The city of New Orleans was heavily impacted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 by storm surges and intense rainfall. The impact of the hurricane was substantial enough to cause levee failure and I-wall toppling where many of the …

Development Of Cobalt And Iron Catalysts Bearing Rigid Polydentate Ligands For Proton Reduction And C-H Bond Oxidation, Lizhu Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The demand for energy consumption has increased exponentially since the Industrial Revolution. The major source of this energy has been and continues to be fossil fuels. The depletion of fossil fuels and environmental concerns associated with their combustion has motivated us to develop a renewable energy alternative to meet future energy demands. Hydrogen is a clean energy alternative to fossil fuels, which can be generated from solar-driven water splitting. However, more efficient and inexpensive catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are needed. In this context, hydrogen production has been investigated with a stable and highly reactive cobalt-based catalyst. While …

Find The Most Here: The Academic Success Of First-Year African American Students At The University Of Mississippi, Earl Presley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three researchers, Shawnboda Mead, Earl Presley, and Alexandria White, collaborated to complete this Dissertation in Practice (DiP) which includes three manuscripts. The three-member team identified the academic success of first-year African American students at predominantly White institutions as a complex problem of practice. Bean and Eaton’s (2001) Psychological Model of Student Retention and Rodgers and Summers (2008) Revised Model of Retention for African American Students at Predominantly White Institutions provided the theoretical framework for this study. The study examines the relationship of academic success and first-year African American students who participated in the 2015 and 2016 Mississippi Outreach to Scholastic …