308 research outputs found
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Structural and Thermodynamic Studies of the i-Motif of DNA: Sequence Context Effects
No full textThe telomere, located at the end of eukaryotic chromosomes, consists of tandem repeating nucleic acid bases. The G rich strand, with a (TTAGGG) repeat, of the human telomere has a C-rich complimentary stand (a CCCTAA repeat). Former investigations performed on a DNA oligomer possessing the G-rich repeat indicated that it folds into what is known as the G-quadruplex, where the GGG segments form tetrads, and the TTA segments are loops that join the tetrads together. While under acidic conditions, the C-rich strand has also been shown to form a unique structure known as the i-motif. Investigated here is the conformations formed from synthetic DNA oligomers of general sequence (CCCXXX)4, where X= A and/or T, when in the presence of K+ buffer ranging in pH from 7.0 to 5.0. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra were determined at different solution pH and temperatures to investigate the pH and temperature dependence of the folding of these sequences into i-motifs.National Science Foundation,\ud
Robert A. Welch Foundation,\ud
TWU Chancellor's Research Scholars Fun
EDI Oh my it's automagic when it works
No full textPresentation at ELUNA(Exlibris users group) on Electronic Data Interchange and how it works at Texas Woman's University
POAR presentation for TXLA Poster Session
No full textThis poster was presented at the poster session of the Texas Library Association Conference in 2014 of the Texas Woman's University's Institutional Repository. Since November 2013 this has been the process used to select items to place into the Pioneer Open Access Repository(POAR). By using Dissertations and Theses requested through Inter-Library Loan the Library has scanned about 6 dissertations a week since November 2013. New Dissertations and Theses from Proquest are being submitted directly into POAR. The Poster also shows how the usage of these items once made digital provide better access.Spear, Sea
Adaptation experience of post-1991 Eastern European immigrants in the United States
Full text linkDespite the rapid growth in the numbers of new Eastern Europeans in the United States, very little is known about this immigrant population. There is no published systematic study of their adaptation to American life. Using the latest nationally representative quantitative data, this dissertation attempts to fill this gap in the literature by systematically examining the cultural, socioeconomic, structural, and political adaptation of post-1991 Eastern European immigrants in the United States. Two research questions will guide this study. First, to what extent do post-1991 Eastern European immigrants in the United States adapt culturally, socioeconomically, structurally, and politically to American life? Second, what are the major determinants of cultural, socioeconomic, structural, and political adaptation of post-1991 Eastern European immigrants in the United States?\ud
This dissertation is the first comprehensive study of the adaptation experience of post-1991 Eastern European immigrants in the United States. The study contributes to the field by simultaneously examining the cultural, socioeconomic, structural, and political adaptation of these new immigrants. In addition to an important methodological contribution and policy implications, the project reviews contesting perspectives of immigrant adaptation and develops a theoretical base for understanding Eastern European immigration. Since different Eastern European groups adapt to their new lives in the United States differently, their adaptation experiences can be best explained by different theoretical frameworks.</DISS_para> \ud
Data from the Department of Homeland Security were used to describe the recent trends and patterns of immigration from Eastern Europe to the United States. The 2006-2010 American Community Survey (ACS), the 2008-2010 Civic Engagement Supplement of the Current Population Survey (CES-CPS), and the 2002-2010 Voting and Registration Supplement of the Current Population Survey (VRS-CPS) collected by the U.S. Bureau of the Census were used to address aspects of cultural, socioeconomic, structural, and political adaptation of new Eastern European immigrants. Ordinary least squares regression and logistic regression were used to test the hypotheses. \ud
The results show that new Eastern European immigrants have achieved a relatively high degree of English proficiency, and being recent immigrants, they have a higher likelihood of retaining their native language than other immigrant groups. Overall, new Eastern European immigrants tend to be highly educated and professional, but their average personal income is surprisingly low. Participation in civic organizations and neighborhood interaction of new Eastern European immigrants is somewhat limited, indicating that a relatively high degree of cultural and socioeconomic adaptation might not result in better structural adaptation for these immigrants. The naturalization rate among new Eastern European immigrants is comparable to that of American immigrants in general, but it is lower than the naturalization rate among other European and Asian immigrants. Voting behavior of new Eastern European immigrants is similar to other American immigrants.\ud
Overall, it appears that new Eastern European immigrants adapt well culturally, socioeconomically, structurally, and politically, but there are cross-group differences in their adaptation. In addition, empirical evidence suggests that new Eastern European immigrants have become only partially assimilated in the United States, while partially maintaining their ethnic cultures. Therefore, assimilation theory has no relevance when explaining their diverse adaptation paths and experiences. However, cultural pluralism theory, revisionist assimilation theory, and segmented assimilation theory appear to be applicable to the experiences of various Eastern European groups across different adaptation dimensions. \ud
The effect of a variety of individual and country-level factors on various dimensions of adaptation was tested. Age and length of stay are among the key determinants of cultural adaptation. The degree of socioeconomic adaptation of immigrants increases with length of stay, age, and English proficiency. Married immigrants tend to adapt better socioeconomically across all measures of this adaptation dimension. Length of stay, marital status, education, and self-employment consistently increase the degree of structural adaptation among immigrants. Immigrants who reside in the United States for a longer period of time, are males, have more education, and are married tend to adapt better politically than their respective counterparts. In addition to a variety of individual factors, results show that adaptation of new Eastern European immigrants is affected by socioeconomic and political conditions in their countries of origin. Immigrants from economically stronger, ethnically homogeneous countries where political and personal freedoms are granted to the citizens tend to adapt better culturally and socioeconomically. However, immigrants originating in countries with weaker economies tend to adapt better structurally and politically than immigrants from economically more stable countries. In addition, ethnic diversity and limited political and personal freedoms in home countries facilitate immigrants` structural and political adaptation in the United States. \ud
This dissertation has important implications not only for scholars of immigration, but also for policy makers, and immigrant groups themselves. Collectively, Eastern European immigrants adapt well in the United States, but this overall trend conceals wide cross-group differences. This study will, hopefully, draw the attention of policy makers to this understudied immigrant population, and will lead to an improvement in policies and increased support for groups in need. It is hoped that the information on different dimensions of adaptation included in this dissertation may be beneficial to immigrants themselves, and help later waves of Eastern European immigrants live lives that are more meaningful.Yang, Philip\ud
Cai, Tianji\ud
Williams, Jame
The Myth of Warren Court Activism
Full text linkJudicial activism and the Warren Court became synonymous, in the 1980's, with the rise of originalism. However, the first time the term, judicial activism, was employed it was applied to the Hughes Court. This thesis compares the two Courts to determine if the originalist labeling of the Warren Court as an activist court is appropriate. The evidence presented in this thesis demonstrates that judicial activism is a term that fails to capture the inherent complexities found in the interpretation of constitutional law when applied to either Court. It further suggests that originalism, as a jurisprudential theory, would be capable of producing the same type of results oriented decisions that originalists accused the Warren Court rendering.Kessler, MarkRobb, JeffreyTravis, Pau
4-F: The Forgotten Unfit of the American Military in World War II
No full textThis research explores how different segments of American society understood, interpreted, and responded to militarily rejected men, classified as 4-F by the Selective Service System during the Second World War. The first area of this study explores the military's intent and meaning in the creation and use of a 4-F classification. The second section is dedicated to an in depth examination of African American rejection rates. As the only minority group in America kept statistically separate by the U.S. Armed Forces and the Selective Service System, special consideration is given to the circumstances and contributing factors influencing the higher rejection of black men. In contrast to official institutional understandings of 4-F, the third section discusses the social stigma and response to 4-F men on the American home front from the general public, business, and vocal politicians. The fourth section details the intimate implications of military rejection and its associative effects on dating and family life. The fifth and final section is dedicated to how and why some 4-F men sought military reclassification out of 4-F. This thesis seeks to broaden the space in the historical narrative for non-combatant men during WWII and re-examine the complex social dynamics of the U.S. home front.Landdeck, KatherineTravis, PaulPresnall, Barbar
Factors That Contribute to a Successful Nursing Student's Decision to Withdraw from a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program before Graduation
No full textThere is an extreme shortage of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States (U.S.). This shortage is projected to grow to 260,000 RNs by the year 2025 (American Association of Colleges Nursing [AACN], 2010a). In order to meet the current and future health care needs of the population of the U.S., nursing schools would have to graduate at least 30,000 registered nurses annually. According to the AACN, this calls for a 30% increase in the current number of nursing students graduating from Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs (2010a). The purpose of this qualitative study was to discover the reasons that successful nursing students voluntarily left a BSN program at a mid-sized southern university in the U.S. The specific aims of the study were to: (1) determine the factors that influenced successful nursing students' decisions to voluntarily leave this nursing program, and (2) propose evidence-based strategies for retaining successful nursing students in this educational setting. Action Research served as the methodology for this study within the philosophical framework of Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology. Hermeneutic phenomenology was used to analyze and interpret the data collected from the participants using Diekelman's (1989) seven step data analysis method. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and a demographic survey. Rigor was demonstrated using trustworthiness and authenticity criteria. The findings of this study showed that the attrition of successful nursing students was related to a change in the participant's view of nursing, their personal circumstances, or views of themselves. This change revealed the constitutive pattern Nursing was not right for me as the overarching reason the participants in the study left their nursing programs. The themes Internal struggle for a nursing career and Realties of nursing and the seven related subthemes illuminate the lived experiences of these participants that ultimately contributed to their premature departure from their nursing programs.Zeigler, VickiScott-Tilley, DonnaRoux, GayleFoglia, Doroth