855 research outputs found
The Artistic Legacy of Georgia O’Keeffe
No full textThe work of American artist, Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986), was considered to be unique and revolutionary in her own time, but she ultimately achieved a prominent position in the history of art. The enduring inspiration of this important artist is demonstrated by an investigation of key artistic motifs as well as her legacy via the discussion of artists who have been influenced by her: Alfred Stieglitz, Arthur Dove, Marsden Hartley, and the author, Michelle L. Knutson
Teacher leaders as professional development providers: a case study
No full textHigh stakes assessments mandated by 2001 No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) have increased the focus on student achievement causing a closer examination of the link between student achievement and teacher quality. Teacher training, through professional development, has been documented to be one of the most important factors in student achievement and may be one of the few indicators of student success that a school can control. As a result of a shift in beliefs and practices regarding professional development, current research has pointed in the direction of encouraging schools to embrace a professional development model led and supported by teacher leaders. This study’s purpose was to examine teacher leaders who receive their own professional development through a University Literacy Center, and what they do as professional development providers in their schools. The teacher leaders receive their own professional development from the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development. The specific research questions designed were: What do teacher leaders who receive professional development through a Literacy Center do as professional development providers once they return to their schools? What influences their activities? What are the supports and obstacles they face in doing so? The sample was comprised of three teacher leaders from a New Jersey District and their respective three principals. A case study was used to describe factors that influence the professional development that teacher leaders provided. Data collection sources were professional development session observations, teacher leader and principal interviews, and artifacts. Data from the interviews, professional development session observations, and examinations of relevant documents were used in order to discover emerging patterns. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously, as is the preferred and effective strategy in qualitative research design. The data indicated the following factors influencing the design and implementation of the professional development: teacher leader roles and internal resources, external resources, and relationships, along with the associated challenges. Used as a vehicle to transmit, facilitate and support ongoing teachers’ learning opportunities, teacher leaders can be necessary elements in the school’s organizational structure. Additionally, professional development organizations such as the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development can use this data to inform their offerings.Ed. D.Includes bibliographical referencesby Michelle L. Rose
Genetic influences on level and stability of self-esteem
No full textWe attempted to clarify the relation between self-esteem level (high vs. low) and perceived self-esteem stability (within-person variability) by using a behavioral genetics approach. We tested whether the same or independent genetic and environmental influences impact on level and stability. Adolescent twin siblings (n = 183 pairs) completed level and stability scales at two time points. Heritability for both was substantial. The remaining variance in each was attributable to non-shared environmental influences. Shared environmental influences were not significant. Level and stability of self-esteem shared common antecedents via genetic and non-shared environmental influences. Nonetheless, stability was influenced by substantial unique genetic and non-shared environmental influences. The results validate the notion that level and stability are partially autonomous components of self-esteem
The effects of extracellular matrix compliance and protein expression on neurons:
No full textExtracellular and intracellular cues affect neuronal morphology and contribute to brain diseases, such as schizophrenia, and injury. First, we examined how extracellular cues influence branching parameters of hippocampal neurons. Brain injury or disease can initiate changes in local or global stiffness of brain tissue. While stiffness of the extracellular environment is known to affect the morphology and function of many cell types, little is known about how the dendrites of neurons respond to changes in brain stiffness. We cultured hippocampal neurons on hydrogels composed of polyacrylamide of varying rigidities to mimic the effects of extracellular matrix stiffness on dendrite
morphology. At 12 days in vitro, dendrite branching was altered by stiffness; i.e. branching peaked in neurons grown on gels of intermediate stiffness (8 kPa). Furthermore, we found that ionotropic glutamate receptors play roles in regulating dendrite morphology. AMPA receptors play a role in dendritc arborization for harder stiffness, >2kPa, at all distances from the cell body. NMDA receptors play a role in dendritic arborization for a range of rigidities (1-25 kPa), at only proximal and intermediate distances from the cell body. However, a caveat to these studies is that cell adhesion is affected by the rigidity of these substrates. Addressing this caveat is of great importance because cell density affects dendrite branching. Thus, we also determined whether substrate stiffness plays a critical role in determining dendrite branching independent of cell density. We concluded that substrate stiffness does play a crucial role in determining dendrite branching patterns independent of cell number; however, the density of cells plated on substrates also influences the dendrite branching pattern of neurons. In the second chapter of my thesis, we looked at how intracellular proteins in different sections of the human brain are affected in schizophrenia. By Western blotting, we examined human, postmortem brain samples. NOS1AP protein expression increased in the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia and not in the occipital lobe, medial temporal lobe, or cerebellum. Thus, this thesis demonstrates how extracellular and intracellular cues affect disease states, such as brain injury and schizophrenia.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical references (p. 101-119)by Michelle L. Previter
DNA fusion gene vaccination mobilizes effective anti-leukemic cytotoxic T lymphocytes from a tolerized repertoire
No full textThe majority of known human tumor-associated antigens derive from non-mutated self proteins. T cell tolerance, essential to prevent autoimmunity, must therefore be cautiously circumvented to generate cytotoxic T cell responses against these targets. Our strategy uses DNA fusion vaccines to activate high levels of peptide-specific CTL. Key foreign sequences from tetanus toxin activate tolerance-breaking CD4+ T cell help. Candidate MHC class Ibinding tumor peptide sequences are fused to the C terminus for optimal processing and presentation. To model performance against a leukemia-associated antigen in a tolerized setting, we constructed a fusion vaccine encoding an immunodominant CTL epitopederived from Friend murine leukemia virus gag protein (FMuLVgag) and vaccinated tolerant FMuLVgag-transgenic (gag-Tg) mice. Vaccination with the construct induced epitopespecificIFN-c-producing CD8+ T cells in normal and gag-Tg mice. The frequency and avidity of activated cells were reduced in gag-Tg mice, and no autoimmune injury resulted. However, these CD8+ T cells did exhibit gag-specific cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Also, epitope-specific CTL killed FBL-3 leukemia cells expressing endogenous FMuLVgag antigen and protected against leukemia challenge in vivo. These results demonstrate a simple strategy to engage anti-microbial T cell help to activate epitope-specific polyclonal CD8+ T cell responses from a residual tolerized repertoire
Springfield historic context statement
No full textprepared for the City of Springfield, Oregon by Michelle L. Dennis, Historic Preservation Consultant.Title from PDF title page (viewed on January 28, 2020).This archived document is maintained by the State Library of Oregon as part of the Oregon Documents Depository Program. It is for informational purposes and may not be suitable for legal purposes.Includes bibliographical references (pages 93-100).Financed in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, in cooperation with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office.Mode of access: Internet from the Oregon Government Publications Collection.Text in English
The effect of whole grain rye flour arabinoxylans on the physical and chemical characteristics of a low moisture baked good.:
No full textIn recent years, greater emphasis has been placed on the health benefits of whole grains. Studies have shown that whole grains are a source of fiber, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke and may help achieve weight loss. Rye, a cereal typically consumed as a whole grain, possesses such benefits.
Arabinoxylans are non-starch polysaccharides comprised of a β-(1,4) linked D-xylopyranosyl backbone with α-L-arabinofuranose units attached as side residues via the α-(1,3) and/or α-(1,2) linkages. These compounds are found in whole grain and are particularly high in whole grain rye flour. These compounds are purported to contributor to the many health benefits associated with whole grain rye. While there are many health benefits attributed to arabinoxylans, they greatly impact dough rheology and baking by binding water, softening the dough and altering gluten functionality.
The removal or alteration of a portion of the arabinoxylans via water extraction or enzymatic degradation will change their functionality significantly. This has been demonstrated in wheat systems including wheat doughs and wheat breads but fewer studies have been conducted utilizing whole grain rye flour in whole grain rye doughs and low moisture baked goods such as cookies. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the chemical structure of arabinoxylans in whole grain rye flour will affect the product attributes of low moisture baked goods such as cookies.
The hypothesis can be tested by characterizing whole grain rye flour arabinoxylans which have been water extracted or enzymatically degraded with a variety of enzymes including Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger and arabinofuranosidase. In model dough systems, it is evident that the use of the enzyme Bacillus subtilis produces a dough which requires less water and is less viscous vs. a control. In a model cookie system, the addition of Bacillus subtilis produces a cookie with a larger geometry. The Aspergillus niger and arabinofuranosidase show some differences vs. the control sample using these test methods as well.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical references (p. 122-127)by Michelle Denine Beave
Author Correction: Species replacement dominates megabenthos beta diversity in a remote seamount setting
No full textThe original version of this Article contained errors. Affiliations 1 and 3 were incorrectly given as ‘National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom’ and ‘University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, Oxford, OX2 6GG, United Kingdom’ respectively. In addition, an affiliation was omitted, which is now listed as Affiliation 5.
Furthermore, the authors of this manuscript were incorrectly affiliated. Lissette Victorero was incorrectly affiliated with ‘National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom’. Katleen Robert was incorrectly affiliated with ‘National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom’. Laura F. Robinson was incorrectly affiliated with ‘University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, Oxford, OX2 6GG, United Kingdom’. Michelle L. Taylor was incorrectly affiliated with ‘University of Bristol, School of Earth Sciences, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, United Kingdom’. Veerle A.I. Huvenne was incorrectly affiliated with ‘University of Southampton, Ocean and Earth Science, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom’.
The correct affiliations list and affiliated authors are given below.
Affiliation 1:
National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom
Lissette Victorero
Katleen Robert
Veerle A.I. Huvenne
Affiliation 2:
University of Southampton, Ocean and Earth Science, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom
Lissette Victorero
Affiliation 3:
Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University, St. John’s, NL A1C 5R3, Canada
Katleen Robert
Affiliation 4:
University of Bristol, School of Earth Sciences, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, United Kingdom
Laura F. Robinson
Affiliation 5:
University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
Michelle L. Taylor
These errors have now been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the paper, and in the accompanying Supplementary information file
Ashes col' darg lay dong: Trinidadian students' response to the UK
No full textThis research investigates how Trinidadian students in the United Kingdom (UK) respond to their new environment. The research explores and conceptualises the participants? experiences in the UK. It investigates Trinidadian student adjustment in the UK from a postcolonial perspective. To acquire data on Trinidadian experiences in the UK I created a private, password-protected group blog (interactive webpage) where eight respondents interacted and shared aspects of their everyday life and experiences over six months. After the blogging period follow-up face-to-face individual interviews were conducted with five of the eight participants. The research design was formulated so that the two methods would work together to paint a vivid, multidimensional and dynamic picture of the participants? experiences. These two techniques together are referred to as the blog-interview method. The experiences of three of the participants were captured as in-depth case studies. Grounded Theory was used to analyze the data and generate a working theory of the participants? experiences. A theory of adjustment, called (dis)juncture, was developed. The theory views the students? adjustment as a continuous process of negotiation among simultaneous connecting and disconnecting forces. This can create a student who is a synergy of global experiences, signifying systems, representations, identities, worldviews and perspectives that are not exclusively in one domain: they are hybrid. Unlike much work in this area, (dis)juncture does not view adjustment in stages nor does it assume that adjustment is something that can be achieved. Adjustment is advanced as a process of continuous transformation as a result of constant contact with multiple signifying systems simultaneously. (Dis)Juncture breaks important ground in the field by reconceptualising and re-imaging the process of international student adjustment. The theory thus makes a significant contribution to research on international student experience
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