Digital Commons Network^™

Factors Underlying High School Mathematics Teachers' Perceptions Of Challenging Math Tasks, Mariya Anne Sullivan

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

In this confirmatory factor analysis, factors previously identified to explain the variability in Middle School Mathematics Teachers’ perception of the Common Core State Standards of Mathematics were considered as factors hypothesized to effect high school math teachers’ perceptions of challenging math tasks (CMTs). The factor of student characterization (i.e., disposition, academic preparation, and student behavior) was additionally considered as a factor hypothesized to explain teachers’ perceptions of CMTs, as well as site-based variables (i.e., curriculum, assessment and evaluation, professional development, and collaboration). In addition, teachers’ understanding of the importance of the mathematical practice standards and teacher familiarity with enacting CMTs …

Faculty Adaptation To Emerging Instructional Technologies In Higher Education, Marilyn Murrillo

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how and why faculty adopt podcasting as an instructional technology tool in their teaching. Podcasting is an instructional technology tool being used for teaching and learning in higher education. Faculty may record lectures with audio, video, and/or PowerPoint slides to instruct students on class material. Students may access podcasts at their convenience through various devices, including mobile devices and computers. Research has shown that students who use podcasts to study for tests tend to perform more successfully on tests. This study was a qualitative multiple case study of seven California community college faculty using podcasting as an …

Intrapulmonary Inoculation Of Multicellular Tumor Spheroids To Construct An Orthotopic Lung Cancer Xenograft Model That Mimics Four Clinical Stages Of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Yingbo Huang

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer leads in mortality among all types of cancer in the US and Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the major type of lung cancer. Immuno-compromised mice bearing xenografts of human lung cancer cells represent the most common animal models for studying lung cancer biology and for evaluating potential anticancer agents. However, orthotopic lung cancer models based on intrapulmonary injection of suspended cancer cells feature premature leakage of the cancer cells to both sides of the lung within five days, which generates a quick artifact of metastasis and thus belies the development and progression of lung cancer as seen …

Evaluating Methods Of Obtaining Male Pheromone From Hymenochirus Sp. Using Analytical Chemistry, Vincent Wing-Kun Leung

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Male Hymenochirus sp. frogs are known to release pheromone that attracts females of the same species. Four methods for collecting secretions containing pheromone in Hymenochirus sp. were tested: norepinephrine injection, gonadotropin-releasing hormone injection, homogenization of gland tissue, and electrostimulation of the skin over the breeding gland area. The samples collected were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry. The HPLC chromatograph for the male norepinephrine sample contained a peak at 6.4 min that was not in the female norepinephrine sample HPLC chromatograph. The male norepinephrine sample mass spectrum had a peak of m/z 292.0 not in the female …

Sexual Dimorphism In Aortic Function Of Uc Davis Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Rat Model: Estrogen Specific Responses, Farjana Akther

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Little is known about the interaction between diabetes and sex in vasculature. This study was designed to investigate the effects of estrogen as well as type 2 diabetes (T2D) on aortic function in rats with respect to sex. To test the effects of T2D and sex, UC Davis Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (UCD-T2DM) rat model was used. To study the effects of estrogen, ovariectomized Sprague- Dawley female rats and UCD-T2DM rats at pre-diabetic stage were used and the rats were implanted subcutaneously either with placebo or 17 β-estradiol pellets (60 days release, 1.5mg/pellets). The plasma analytes for metabolic parameters and …

Developing Collective Teacher Efficacy In One Urban Low-Income Elementary School: A Case Study, Lori Ann Morgan

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Over the past two decades, research has shown links between collective teacher efficacy and student achievement. While the benefits of high levels of collective teacher efficacy have been documented, research focused on how it is developed in school serving socio-economically disadvantaged students and the role of principal leadership in that development is lacking, specifically from a qualitative case-study approach This qualitative case-study explored how collective teacher efficacy was developed in an urban neighborhood elementary school serving socio-economically disadvantaged students and how the principal’s leadership influenced that development. This was accomplished through in-depth individual interviews with teachers, support staff, and the …

Transcriptome Analysis For Novel Peptide In Breeding Gland Of Hymenochirus Boettgeri, Minjin Ko

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The primary goal of the project was to find nucleotide sequences potentially encoding a pheromone from the breeding gland of Hymenochirus boettgeri. The reasons in searching for the sequence of a pheromone were to better understand the organism and to use the information for application in reproduction of other species. Due to climate change and rampant deforestation, such as in Africa’s Congo Basin, many amphibian species are being threatened. With these increasing threats, a viable option for the future may be breeding in captivity for the amphibian species. Pheromone characterization from the breeding gland of Hymenochirus boettgeri may help with …

Characterization Of The Roles Of Ppp1r15a (Gadd34) And Ppp1r15b (Crep) In Er Stress-Induced Apoptosis In Vivo, Danielle Hicks

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Failure to balance synthesis, folding and degradation of secreted proteins results in the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum, termed ER stress. Cells respond to ER stress by activating a signaling pathway known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR induces phosphorylation of eIF2α to attenuate global protein translation, allowing the ER to clear misfolded proteins. Opposing this function, eIF2α phosphatases contain a catalytic subunit, Protein Phosphatase 1, and either of two homologous scaffolding subunits, GADD34 and CReP. Inhibition of eIF2α phosphatases has been shown to prolong UPR signaling and promote survival in many cells types and …

A Trio Of Sigma Factors Control Hormogonium Development In Nostoc Punctiforme, Alfonso Gonzalez Jr.

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Cyanobacteria are prokaryotes capable of oxygenic photosynthesis, and for many species, nitrogen fixation, giving cyanobacteria an important role in global carbon and nitrogen cycles. Furthermore, multicellular filamentous cyanobacteria are developmentally complex, capable of differentiation into different cell types, including cells capable of nitrogen fixation and cells for motility, making them an ideal platform for studying development, as well as for practical use in biotechnology. Understanding how developmental programmes are activated require an understanding of the role of alternative sigma factors, which are required for transcriptional activation in bacteria. In order to investigate the gene regulatory network and to determine the …

Educational Success Of Low-Income And First Generation College Students In Private Colleges Of China, Yinghui Chen

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

In China, low-income and first generation college students in private institutions are faced with adversities which undermine their educational outcome. Since the previous researches are mainly deficit-focused, the researcher conducted an investigation which put emphasis on the students’ successful educational outcome in order to round out the knowledge of this problem. The researcher employed a qualitative multiple case study to explore how three students accomplished educational resilience despite their hardships. The researcher findings suggested that: 1) Internal locus of control, career and academic planning, financial aids, job-related experience, and rational occupational aspiration contribute to students’ educational success; 2) The primary …

How A Small Business Negotiates Digital Inclusion Of People With Disabilities: A Case Study, Belo Miguel Cipriani

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Technology has provided more people access products and services, yet some individuals who would benefit the most from digital access to resources are frequently excluded from participation. One group that is largely neglected is the disability community. Despite federal regulations intended to ensure that people with physical/mental disabilities are included in public digital platforms, organizations continuously design websites, applications, and interfaces without people with disabilities in mind. This is particularly the case with small businesses, which are most commonly reported as having inaccessible digital platforms.

Digital inclusion attempts to ensure equity in digital properties by providing a model to operationalize …

Investigating The Effect Of Rutaecarpine On The Benzo[A]Pyrene-Induced Dna Damage In Vitro, You Li

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), is one of the most potent mutagens and carcinogens known. It requires metabolic activation through cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A1 to yield the ultimate carcinogenic metabolite, benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE). BPDE can bind to DNA and form predominantly covalent (+) trans adducts at the N2 position of guanine causing DNA damage. Rutaecarpine (RTC) is an herbal medicine that has been used to treat several diseases such as headache, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, amenorrhea, and anti-inflammation. It has also been reported as a potent inducer of CYP enzymes, including CYP1A1, and CYP1A2. The mechanisms underlying up-regulation of CYP1A1 by RTC is dependent on aryl …

Dialogue During Team Problem Solving Using Visual Representation Boundary Objects: A Case Study, Julie Marie Webb

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Organizations benefit from the knowledge held by individual members as well as knowledge that is shared among those members. In order for knowledge to co-develop between members, and to spread, organizations must provide opportunities for members to collaborate. Organizational teams sometimes require assistance with interpersonal communication, establishing consensus, and sharing knowledge when collaborating. Group facilitators can offer guidance and intervene when teams need support. In addition, teams can find support through the use of visual representation boundary objects (VRBOs) to build trust, improve communication, increase cooperation, and share ideas. This study explores how knowledge is shared between team members and …

A Cost Control Model For Inpatient Medications Among Adults With Mental And Behavioral Health Disorders, Huanan Li

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Pharmaceutical expenditures are an important part of the entire hospital operating budget, and inpatient pharmaceuticals denote one of the highest costs in hospital care. Predictions for medication budgets based on the types of patients have been largely undertaken in medical hospitals and not psychiatric facilities. According to several previous studies, gender, age, diagnosis, comorbidity and length of stay (LOS) affect the general inpatient treatment expenditures. However, whether or not the impact of these factors differs in psychiatric hospitals remains to be investigated. To that end, the current study examines medication costs for mental and behavioral health disorder as well as …

Disrupting The Prison-To-Prison Pipeline: Doing Restorative Identity Work With Offender-Labeled Youth, Jahmon Londre Gibbs

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative ethnographic study was to addresses how the existence of counterspaces influences the psychological well-being of offender-labeled youth transitioning back into society. A counterspace has been defined as a social setting where two or more individuals come together to challenge deficit notions. No longer is recidivism solely being placed on offender-labeled youth that reside within juvenile correctional facilities, therefore the need for innovative programs that help develop resistance narratives and promote reengagement with the educational system are needed. In this 12-week qualitative ethnographic study the two concepts of restorative practices and narrative identity work are blended …

Effects Of Eye Tracking During Infancy On Social Ambiguity And Emotional Distress, Gabriela Hernandez

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between early eye tracking and later non-suicidal self-injury, and whether this relationship was negatively impacted by distress and impulsivity, and conversely alleviated by emotional regulation and problem solving abilities. Briggs-Gowan et al. (2001) found that young children with recurrent and comorbid externalizing and internalizing problems have the most impairment; they exhibit greater difficulty with emotional stability, and require greater utilization of mental health services. Little research has focused on the relationship between eye tracking in early infancy and suicidal self-injurious (NSSI) behavior in early childhood. Multiple regression analysis was used …

Human Freedom And The Invisible Church From The Viewpoint Of Bavinck's Pneumatology, Dong-Yaul Tae

CTS PhD Doctoral Dissertations

Although Reformed pneumatology is generally recognized by scholars of Calvin and Reformed confessions to be relatively well developed compared to the various pneumatologies of the Western theological tradition, it faces two important challenges. First, Reformed pneumatology is directly linked to the critique that Reformed soteriology’s accentuation of predestination and effectual grace leads to inevitable fatalism that ignores human freedom. This is because the ministry of the Holy Spirit is crucial in the Reformed understanding of the order of salvation beginning with regeneration and ending with glorification. Second, because the ministry of the Holy Spirit is a key to understanding Reformed …

Non-Invasive Coronary Ct Angiography-Derived Fractional Flow Reserve: A Benchmark Study Comparing The Diagnostic Performance Of Four Different Computational Methodologies, Jason Matthew Carson, Sanjay Pant, Carl Roobottom, Robin Alcock, Blanco P Javier, Bulant C Alberto, Yuri Vassilevski, Sergey Simakov, Timur Gamilov, Roman Pryamonosov, Fuyou Liang, Xinyang Ge, Yue Liu, Perumal Nithiarasu

Peninsula Medical School

Non-invasive coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography-derived fractional flow reserve (cFFR) is an emergent approach to determine the functional relevance of obstructive coronary lesions. Its feasibility and diagnostic performance has been reported in several studies. It is unclear if differences in sensitivity and specificity between these studies are due to study design, population, or "computational methodology." We evaluate the diagnostic performance of four different computational workflows for the prediction of cFFR using a limited data set of 10 patients, three based on reduced-order modelling and one based on a 3D rigid-wall model. The results for three of these methodologies yield similar …

First Mission Outpost: The Family, Alina M. Baltazar, Silvia Bacchiocchi

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Can Ecosystem Functioning Be Maintained Despite Climate-Driven Shifts In Species Composition? Insights From Novel Marine Forests, A Pessarrodona, A Foggo, D Smale

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

How Group-Based Interventions Can Improve Services For People With Severe Obesity, Dawn Swancutt, Mark Tarrant, Jonathan Pinkney

Peninsula Medical School

No abstract provided.

Deterrence And Prevention-Based Model To Mitigate Information Security Insider Threats In Organisations, N Safa, C Maple, Sm Furnell, M Azad, C Perera, M Dabbagh

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Previous studies show that information security breaches and privacy violations are important issues for organisations and people. It is acknowledged that decreasing the risk in this domain requires consideration of the technological aspects of information security alongside human aspects. Employees intentionally or unintentionally account for a significant portion of the threats to information assets in organisations. This research presents a novel conceptual framework to mitigate the risk of insiders using deterrence and prevention approaches. Deterrence factors discourage employees from engaging in information security misbehaviour in organisations, and situational crime prevention factors encourage them to prevent information security misconduct. Our findings …

Diversity In Co2 Concentrating Mechanisms Among Chemolithoautotrophs From Genera Hydrogenovibrio, Thiomicrorhabdus, And Thiomicrospira, Ubiquitous In Sulfidic Habitats Worldwide, Kathleen M. Scott, Juliana M. Leonard, Rich Boden, Dale Chaput, Clare Dennison, Edward Haller, Tara L. Harmer, Abigail Anderson, Tiffany Arnold, Samantha Budenstein, Rikki Brown, Juan Brand, Jacob Byers, Jeanette Calarco, Timothy Campbell, Erica Carter, Max Chase, Montana Cole, Deandra Dwyer, Jonathon Grasham, Christopher Hanni, Ashlee Hazle, C Johnson, R Johnson, Brandi Kirby, Katherine Lewis, Brianna Neumann, Tracy Nguyen, Charari J Nino, Ooreoluwa Morakinyo, Bengt Olsson, Shanetta Roundtree, Emily Skjerve, Ashley Ubaldini, Robert Whittaker

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Members of Hydrogenovibrio, Thiomicrospira and Thiomicrorhabdus fix carbon at hydrothermal vents, coastal sediments, hypersaline lakes, and other sulfidic habitats. The genome sequences of these ubiquitous and prolific chemolithoautotrophs suggest a surprising diversity of mechanisms for dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) uptake and fixation; these mechanisms are verified here. Carboxysomes are apparent in transmission electron micrographs of most of these organisms; lack of carboxysomes in Thiomicrorhabdus sp. Milos T2 and Tmr. arctica, and an inability to grow under low DIC conditions by Thiomicrorhabdus sp. Milos T2 are consistent with an absence of carboxysome loci in their genomes. For the remaining organisms, potential …

Aspergillus Fumigatushigh Osmolarity Glycerol Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases Saka And Mpkc Physically Interact During Osmotic And Cell Wall Stresses, Adriana Oliveira Manfiolli, Eliciane Cevolani Mattos, Leandro José De Assis, Lilian Pereira Silva, Mevlüt Ulas, Neil Andrew Brown, Rafael Silva-Rocha, Özgür Bayram, Gustavo H. Goldman

Peninsula Medical School

Aspergillus fumigatus, a saprophytic filamentous fungus, is a serious opportunistic pathogen of mammals and it is the primary causal agent of invasive aspergillosis (IA). Mitogen activated protein Kinases (MAPKs) are important components involved in diverse cellular processes in eukaryotes. A. fumigatus MpkC and SakA, the homologs of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hog1 are important to adaptations to oxidative and osmotic stresses, heat shock, cell wall damage, macrophage recognition, and full virulence. We performed protein pull-down experiments aiming to identify interaction partners of SakA and MpkC by mass spectrometry analysis. In presence of osmotic stress with sorbitol, 118, and 213 proteins were …

Foundations Of Offshore Wind Turbines: A Review, Xiaoni Wu, Yu Hu, Ye Li, Jian Yang, Lei Duan, Tongguang Wang, Thomas Adcock, Zhiyu Jiang, Zhen Gao, Zhiliang Lin, Alistair Borthwick, Shijun Liao

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

An Evaluation Of The Fishing For Litter (Ffl) Scheme In The Uk In Terms Of Attitudes, Behavior, Barriers And Opportunities, Kayleigh J. Wyles, Sabine Pahl, Lauren Carroll, Richard C. Thompson

School of Psychology

No abstract provided.

Social Prescribing: Where Is The Evidence? Commissioned Editorial, Kerryn Husk, Julian Elston, Felix Gradinger, Lynne Callaghan, Sheena Asthana

Peninsula Medical School

Social prescribing is the topic of the moment. Many national organisations and individuals from policy, practice, and academia (such as NHS England, the RCGP, the Mayor of London, and National Institute for Health Research) are rightly advocating social prescriptions as an important way to expand the options available for GPs and other community-based practitioners to provide individualised care for people’s physical and mental health through social interventions. No robust figures exist but it is thought that around 20% of patients consult their GP for primarily social issues, given this and the driving forces of an ageing population, increased complex health …

A Proactive Malicious Software Identification Approach For Digital Forensic Examiners, Muhammad Ali, Stavros Shiaeles, Nathan Clarke, Dimitrios Kontogeorgis

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

Fungi In Aquatic Ecosystems, Hans Peter Grossart, Den Wyngaert S Van, Maiko Kagami, Christian Wurzbacher, Michael Cunliffe, Keilor Rojas-Jimenez

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Differential Immunity As A Factor Influencing Mussel Hybrid Zone Structure, Deryk Tolman, Hannah L. Wood, David O.F. Skibinski, Manuela Truebano

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.