Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Presentation Type And Spatial Perspective On Wayfinding, Sejeong Park

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Wayfinding refers to the process people use to find where to go and how to get there. For that, they need information on the presence and location of landmarks in their environment to be able to navigate through their surroundings. Furthermore, spatial awareness is also crucial in the process. The present study aimed to study how modality, spatial perspective, and language influence (a) wayfinding accuracy, (b) cardinal term, (c) relative term, and (d) landmark usage in directions. The map and text were presented to native and non-native English speakers. They provided directions under route and survey perspective. The results indicated …

Studies Toward The Synthesis Of A Novel Diamine Scaffold, Joseph Edward Quinlan Iii

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The orexin system in humans contains receptors Orexin 1 (OX1) and Orexin 2 (OX2). These receptors are involved in numerous physiological processes including wake/sleep cycling, energy homeostasis, and motivation/reward. In scientific literature, it is known that antagonism of these receptors exhibits therapeutic effects in the realm of cocaine and alcohol addiction, as well as sleep disorders. On the market today exist drugs for treatment of sleep disorders through orexin receptor antagonization. Here we report a synthesis toward novel conformationally rigid antagonists of the orexin receptor system that may provide improved affinity and/or selectivity compared to known compounds. We report the …

Association For Molecular Pathology V. Myriad Genetics: A Critical Reassessment, Jorge L. Contreras

Utah Law Faculty Scholarship

The Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics is part of the Court’s recent quartet of patent eligibility decisions, which also includes Bilski v. Kappos, Mayo v. Prometheus and Alice v. CLS Bank. Each of these decisions has significantly shaped the contours of patent eligibility under Section 101 of the Patent Act in ways that have been both applauded and criticized. The Myriad case, however, was significant beyond its impact on Sec-tion 101 jurisprudence. Perhaps one of the most remarkable things about Myriad is that it meant so many different things to so many different …

Sins Of Our Fathers : Assessing Parental Incarceration As A "Turning Point" In The Lives Of Young Adults, Melissa Elizabeth Noel

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Coupled with other disadvantages, parental incarceration negatively impacts outcomes for children. Researchers have examined the consequences of parental incarceration mainly for children and adolescents, but it remains unclear about the long-term consequences as these children emerge into adulthood. Parental incarceration can affect social relationships and life attainments, increase labeling and stigmatization, and influence perceptions about society for young adults. Thus, this research study sought to examine parental incarceration as a “turning point” in which life outcomes of young adults are weakened or strengthened through this experience. Semi-structured interviews with 19 young adults were conducted and analyzed to examine: (1) whether …

Tgfbeta1 And Stat3 As Regulators Of The Ha Synthesis And Signaling Pathway, Brenda Goretty Trevizo

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The studies described here explored the role of Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1 (TGFβ1) and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) as potential regulators of the Hyaluronic Acid (HA) synthesis and signaling pathway in human mammary cells. Our results support previous findings in which TGFβ1, a well characterized driver of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been shown to regulate HA synthesis and signaling. Interrogation of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) indicated HAS2 expression positively correlated with TGFβ1 mRNA expression in breast cancer patients and in breast cancer cell lines. RT-qPCR experiments were used to measure the expression of the …

Benthic Biological Monitoring Of The Elizabeth River Watershed (1999 And 2019), Daniel M. Dauer

Elizabeth River Reports

Executive Summary

A study of the macrobenthic communities of the Elizabeth River watershed was conducted in summer 1999 and again in summer 2019 – a 20-year span. The primary objective of the Benthic Biological Monitoring Program of the Elizabeth River watershed was to characterize the ecological condition of regional areas of the tidal waters of the Elizabeth River watershed as indicated by the structure of the benthic communities. These characterizations are based upon application of the Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (BIBI) developed for the Chesapeake Bay to five primary strata - the Mainstem of the river, the Lafayette River, …

Exploring Experiences With Social Disorganization In Denver Communities, Tiffanie Pham

Master's Theses

Social disorganization theory states that individuals residing in disadvantaged communities are more likely to engage in delinquency and criminality due to the elements the individuals experience (Shaw & McKay, 1969). More specifically, social disorganization theory refers to the failure of the community to fully understand and acknowledge the common goals or solve any issues that the community might be experiencing (Kubrin & Weitzer, 2003). Utilizing social disorganization theory, specifically, the family disruption and poverty elements, the current literature focuses on individuals who reside in disadvantaged communities in Denver, Colorado. By using the qualitative approach, this study relied on in-depth interviews …

Examining The Effects Of Disability Services On Student Success In Higher Education, Rebecca Smith

Master's Theses

Disabled students in higher education are provided resources through reasonable accommodation, or modification of university offerings. This affords the disabled student equal opportunity to benefit from those programs, services, and facilities despite the limitations imposed by their disability. This practice is historically informed by the medical model of disability, and legal reforms such as the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act in 1973. Most research in this area has found that reasonable accommodation is effective for “leveling the playing field” for disabled college students. Yet, some researchers argue that Universal Design, the composition of an environment …

How Human-Centered Design Affects The Workplace, Alexandra Brigham

Master's Theses

This qualitative study was designed to explore the impact a workplace environment has on employees’ well-being and productivity. The research identified the themes of flattening, perception, unflattening, and well-being from a multidisciplinary approach including art education, fine art, architecture, medicine, philosophy, and science. Flatness is a state, a behavior that occurs when human perception and consciousness are narrowed, blocking sensory information that is not pertinent to a current task. Behavior that is perpetuated by ingrained societal systems and exacerbated by personal, professional, and financial stressors that can impact the human experience. Flattened areas are addressed in this study through a …

Housing Stability And Diabetes Among People Living In New York City Public Housing, Sungwoo Lim, Sze Yan Liu, Melanie H. Jacobson, Eugenie Poirot, Aldo Crossa, Sean Locke, Jennifer Brite, Elizabeth Hamby, Zinzi Bailey, Stephanie Farquhar

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Public housing provides affordable housing and, potentially, housing stability for low-income families. Housing stability may be associated with lower incidence or prevalence and better management of a range of health conditions through many mechanisms. We aimed to test the hypotheses that public housing residency is associated with both housing stability and reduced risk of diabetes incidence, and the relationship between public housing and diabetes risk varies by levels of housing stability. Using 2004-16 World Trade Center Health Registry data, we compared outcomes (housing stability measured by sequence analysis of addresses, self-reported diabetes diagnoses) between 730 New York City public housing …

Risk Factors Associated With Somatic Symptoms Following Military Sexual Trauma In Members Of The National Guard And Reserves, Chelsea J. Mcmahon

USC Aiken Psychology Theses

Objective: The purpose of the present study is to expand existing literature on risk factors that are associated with poorer physical health outcomes following incidents of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) to include both Military Sexual Harassment and Military Sexual Assault in members of the United States National Guard and Reserve.

Method: The current study used archival data collected by a research team at the Veteran Affairs Boston Healthcare System in order to identify potential factors such as gender, social support, immediate medical treatment, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Depression. Moderation and mediation analyses were performed to examine the association between experiences …

Examining The Relationship Between Cognitive Selection Criteria For Admission And Noncognitive Performance Outcomes In A Professional Graduate Degree Program, Rosalie Maiorella

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The admission processes in higher education have been the topic of considerable discussion and study at all levels of the institution from undergraduate to graduate and professional education. This study focused on graduate students who completed their master’s degree in Counseling and School Counseling from 2010 to 2018. Students completed their degree fully online and from a distance. The goal was to determine if admission criteria were predictive of end of program clinical fieldwork evaluations. Independent variables looked at were Undergraduate GPA (UGPA); GRE: (V)erbal, (Q)uantitative, and (W)riting; First Semester Graduate GPA (GPA1), and Cumulative Graduate GPA (GPAEP). End of …

Transcriptome Analyses In Bv2 Microglial Cells Following Treatment With Amino-Terminal Fragments Of Apolipoprotein E, Tanner B. Pollock, Giovan N. Cholico, Tarun Suresh, Erica S. Stewart, Madyson M. Mccarthy, Troy T. Rohn

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Despite the fact that harboring the apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) allele represents the single greatest risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the exact mechanism by which ApoE4 contributes to disease progression remains unknown. Recently, we demonstrated that a 151 amino-terminal fragment of ApoE4 (nApoE4_1–151) localizes within the nucleus of microglia in the human AD brain and traffics to the nucleus causing toxicity in BV2 microglia cells. In the present study, we examined in detail what genes may be affected following treatment by nApoE4_1–151. Transcriptome analyses in BV2 microglial cells following sublethal treatment with nApoE4 …

Effect Of Training Phase On Physical And Physiological Parameters Of Male Powerlifters, Daniel A. Hackett, Guy C. Wilson, Lachlan Mitchell, Marjan Mosalman Haghighi

Open Access archive

Longitudinal research on training and dietary practices of natural powerlifters is limited. This study investigated the effect of phases of training on physical and physiological parameters in male natural powerlifters. Nine participants completed testing at two time points: (i) preparatory phase (~3 months prior to a major competition) and (ii) competition phase (1–2 weeks from a major competition). No significant changes between training phases were found for muscle strength and power. A trend for significance was found for decreased muscle endurance of the lower body (−24.4%, p = 0.08). A significant increase in leg lean mass was found at the …

Habitat Relationships Of Bat Species Of Conservation Concern In Coastal South Carolina, Kyle Edward Shute

All Theses

Loss of forest habitat used for roosting and nocturnal activity by bats is a conservation concern in the southeastern United States. The northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), southeastern myotis (Myotis austroriparius), tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), and northern yellow bat (Lasiurus intermedius) all occur within the Coastal Plain of South Carolina, where their greatest conservation threat is loss of critical roosting and foraging habitats. However, little research has been conducted on these species of conservation concern in this region, leaving gaps in information about habitat associations that would inform conservation and management as forest loss continues due to logging, agriculture, urban …

Tlr2/6 Signaling Promotes The Expansion Of Premalignant Hematopoietic Stem And Progenitor Cells In The Nup98-Hoxd13 Mouse Model Of Mds, Darlene A Monlish, Zev J Greenberg, Sima T Bhatt, Kathryn M Leonard, Molly P Romine, Qian Dong, Lauren Bendesky, Eric J Duncavage, Jeffrey A Magee, Laura G Schuettpelz

Open Access Publications

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) expression is increased on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and enhanced TLR2 signaling is thought to contribute to MDS pathogenesis. Notably, TLR2 heterodimerizes with TLR1 or TLR6, and while high TLR2 is associated with lower-risk disease, high TLR6, but not TLR1, correlates with higher-risk disease. This raises the possibility of heterodimer-specific effects of TLR2 signaling in MDS, and in the work described here, we tested the effects of specific modulation of TLR1/2 versus TLR2/6 signaling on premalignant HSPCs. Indeed, chronic stimulation of TLR2/6, but not TLR1/2, accelerates leukemic transformation …

Isotopic Analysis Of Human Migration Among The Ancient Maya Of Ambergris Caye, Belize, Rachel L. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses the isotopic composition of tooth enamel from two Maya sites on Ambergris Caye Belize, to identify basic patterns of population movement among the Classic period Maya. Three individuals from San Juan and ten individuals from Chac Balam will shed light on the origin of individuals buried at the sites, including those with nonlocal grave goods. Strontium and oxygen isotope values provide new information on Maya coastal populations and suggest that at least one individual with a distinct body position had a nonlocal origin. Carbon isotope values reveal a childhood diet related to, but not the same as, …

Classroom To Classroom: How Many Do You See? The Lack Of African American Teachers In K-12 Public Schools And How To Address This Issue Through Diverse Curriculum Development In Teacher Education Programs, Deonna Starks

Honors Theses

This study provides a descriptive study of DEI courses and admissions requirements among 4-year public universities and colleges. Using data and formation collected from Georgia State University, University of Georgia, Kennesaw State University, Fort Valley State University, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, University of Memphis and Middle Tennessee State University, this thesis will examine the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) courses offered at each individual university and propose a ClearPath and recommendations for further implementation of DEI curriculum and the retention and recruitment of preservice African American teachers. Previous research shows that the …

The History Of Sex Education In The United States: With Application To South Dakota, Lauren A. Lavin

Honors Thesis

Due to the lack of standards set forth by South Dakota, sex education is varied and non-standardized across the state. The goal of this study is to understand what a typical sex education class in South Dakota looks like. A survey was sent to sex educators in South Dakota to assess the demographics of educators, the amount of time spent on sex education, and what topics of sexual health they currently teach in grades 1-5, 6-8, and 9-12 in comparison with the topics they believe should be included in an ideal sex education program. The results show that ideal topic …

Reduced Vip Expression Affects Circadian Clock Function In Vip-Ires-Cre Mice (Jax 010908), Deborah A.M. Joye, Kayla Rohr, Danielle Keller, Thomas Inda, Adam Telega, Harshida Pancholi, Vania Carmonia-Alcocer, Jennifer A. Evans

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Circadian rhythms are programmed by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which relies on neuropeptide signaling to maintain daily timekeeping. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is critical for SCN function, but the precise role of VIP neurons in SCN circuits is not fully established. To interrogate their contribution to SCN circuits, VIP neurons can be manipulated specifically using the DNA-editing enzyme Cre recombinase. Although the Cre transgene is assumed to be inert by itself, we find that VIP expression is reduced in both heterozygous and homozygous adult VIP-IRES-Cre mice (JAX 010908). Compared with wild-type mice, homozygous VIP-Cre mice display faster reentrainment and shorter …

The Political Personality Of 2020 Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden, Anne Marie Griebie, Aubrey Immelman

Psychology Faculty Publications

This working paper presents the results of an indirect assessment of the personality of former U.S. vice president Joe Biden, Democratic nominee in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, from the conceptual perspective of personologist Theodore Millon.

Psychodiagnostically relevant data about Biden were collected from biographical sources and media reports and synthesized into a personality profile using the Millon Inventory of Diagnostic Criteria (MIDC), which yields 34 normal and maladaptive personality classifications congruent with DSM-III-R, DSM-IV, and DSM-5.

The personality profile yielded by the MIDC was analyzed on the basis of interpretive guidelines provided in the MIDC and …

Strategies For Enhancing Chromatographic Efficiencies In Chiral And Achiral Supercritical And Liquid Chromatography, Daipayan Roy

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations - Archive

The fundamental aim of chromatography has been to achieve baseline separation between the components of a mixture in the shortest possible time. Recently there has been a shift in the chromatographic focus of enantiomeric separations, with an emphasis on increasing the efficiency of columns. Superficially porous particles (SPP) introduced about a decade ago lead to a surge in efficiency as compared to the traditionally used fully porous particles (FPP). Recently chiral selectors bonded to superficially porous particles have been commercialized. This work reports new methods for enantioseparation using chiral selectors like macrocyclic glycopeptides, modified cyclodextrins and cyclofructans bonded to SPPs. …

Nutraceutical Potential For Alzheimer's Disease Treatment, Alex Gewecke

Undergraduate Research Journal

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive disorder involving buildup of excessive amounts of proteins such as beta amyloid in the brain that leads to memory loss, inability to perform daily functions, and an early death. By 2060, the number of cases is forecast to nearly triple current numbers. Age is the primary risk factor for AD and no new drugs have been approved since 2003. Nutraceuticals, a broad category of substances that can be utilized for both medicinal and nutritional purposes may be able to help, which is why they are being more widely researched. Overall, a number of attempts …

The Labyrinth Of Autism: Heuristic Journeys Of Fathers Who Have A Child On The Autism Spectrum, Lisa Boskovich

Education (PhD) Dissertations

The relationship between a father and his child on the autism spectrum (AS) is a life changing and powerful experience. However, there is a paucity in the literature about fathers and their experiences with raising a child on the AS. This research study explored the phenomenological experiences of fathers who have a child on the autism spectrum through the use of heuristic inquiry. In this study, I conducted interviews with 10 fathers whose children had an official AS diagnosis. By using Seidman’s three separate, semistructured interview method, this study highlighted fathers’ experiences and provided greater understanding into their lives. Seidman’s …

Swosu Standing Committees 2020-2021, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

University Standing Committees

No abstract provided.

Life History And Metabolic Responses Of Daphnia Magna Exposed To Effluents Of Urban Origin Treated By Advanced Oxidation, Benjamin Z. Szczygiel

Biology Theses

Modern sewage treatment processes do not remove many chemicals that pass through the sewer system, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products that have been shown to have negative effects in ecosystems. New processes have been developed to remove these chemicals, known as advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). In this study, Daphnia magna are used to examine the effects of wastewater effluent treated conventionally compared to effluent treated with AOPs (Peracetic Acid/Ultraviolet Light and Hydrogen Peroxide/Ultraviolet Light). For this purpose, two sets of experiments were preformed: a five-day survivorship trial, and a 14-day life history experiment. Growth, survival, and reproduction of Daphnia …

Impacts Of The Degraded Alpine Swamp Meadow On Tensile Strength Of Riverbank: A Case Study Of The Upper Yellow River, Peng Gao, Haili Zhu, Zhiwei Li, Jiangtao Fu, Guorong Li, Yabin Liu, Xilai Li, Xiasong Hu

Geography and the Environment - All Scholarship

In the meandering riverbank of the Upper Yellow River (UYR), the native alpine swamp meadow (AS) has continuously degenerated into an alpine meadow (AM) due to climate change and intensified grazing. Its implication on river morphology is still not well known. This study examined this effect by in situ measurings of (1) physical properties of roots and their distribution in the soil-root mixture of the upper bank layer, and (2) the tensile strength in terms of excavating tests for triggering cantilever collapses of AS and AM riverbanks. The results showed that the root number in AS was significantly greater than …

Diversity And Structure Of Prokaryotic Communities Within Organic And Conventional Farming Systems In Central Highlands Of Kenya, Edward Nderitu Karanja, Andreas Fliessbach, Noah Adamtey, Anne Kelly Kambura, Martha Musyoka, Komi Fiaboe, Romano Mwirichia

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Management practices such as tillage, crop rotation, irrigation, organic and inorganic inputs application are known to influence diversity and function of soil microbial populations. In this study, we investigated the effect of conventional versus organic farming systems at low and high input levels on structure and diversity of prokaryotic microbial communities. Soil samples were collected from the ongoing long-term farming system comparison trials established in 2007 at Chuka and Thika in Kenya. Physicochemical parameters for each sample were analyzed. Total DNA and RNA amplicons of variable region (V4-V7) of the 16S rRNA gene were generated on an Illumina platform using …

Development And Implementation Of An Online Estimator For Oxygen Transfer In Bioreactors Using Recursive Least Squares, Marshall Trout

All Theses

Biopharmaceuticals produced in recombinant cells, such as antibodies or gene therapies, have the potential to treat diseases that were previously chronic, such as cancer or immune deficiencies. These products are produced in large scale fermentations where the cells are often limited by one nutrient, usually glucose or some other sugar. This allows one to use a single variable to control the growth of the cells. A feed controller has been developed that relies on feedback information about the oxygen consumption of the cells. Currently, there is not a standard means to calculate or measure the oxygen consumption of a cell …

Exploring Intercollegiate Adaptive Athletics Program Structures, Breida Liana Hill

All Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore intercollegiate adaptive athletics program structures in the United States. As athletics programs can be seen as open systems, an open systems model of sport organizations was used to guide the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven participants associated with intercollegiate adaptive athletics programs. A qualitative description design was used to gain a foundational understanding of program structures based on the programs’ environments, inputs, processes, and outputs. Findings suggest intercollegiate adaptive athletics program structures are highly varied and complex open systems that are closely intertwined with their environments and have observable inputs, …