Thesis (M.A.)--Catholic Theological Union, 1981. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 259-273).

Thesis (M.T.S.)--Catholic Theological Union, 1985. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-102).

Thesis (M.T.S.)--Catholic Theological Union, 1981. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-83).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2006. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-60).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-82).

The cpn60 gene is a DNA barcode for bacteria. Recently, the PCR primers that have been used extensively to amplify the cpn60 Universal Target (UT) region of bacteria were redesigned to improve their utility for fungal taxa. Additional novel primers were designed to amplify other regions of the cpn60 gene, specifically from fungal genomes. Design of the redesigned and novel primers was based on 61 nucleotide full-length cpn60 reference sequences available in 2012, including Ascomycota (51), Basidiomycota (5), Chytridiomycota (2), Glomeromycota (1), and Oomycota (2). The research described here investigated the utility of these primers for detecting and identifying fungal taxa and for profiling mixed communities of bacteria and fungi. The redesigned primers were used to discover cpn60 UT sequences for Ascomycota (1), Basidiomycota (2), and Chytridiomycota (1). The novel primers were used to discover new cpn60 sequence data for Ascomycota (3), Basidiomycota (1), and Zygomycota (1). To be adopted for use in studies of microbial communities that are predominantly bacterial, the redesigned cpn60 UT primers must perform at least as well as the original primers for bacterial profiling. Bacterial profiles, created using the original and redesigned primers and two DNA template samples created by pooling DNA extracts from vaginal swabs from individual women, were compared. These included comparisons of diversity indices, rarefaction curve analysis and Operational Taxonomic Unit abundances. Diversity indices and rarefaction curve analysis for bacterial profiles with original and redesigned primers were similar. OTU abundance estimates with the original and redesigned primers were compared at higher and lower taxonomic levels. The overall patterns produced were similar. For one template only, the phylum Bacteroidetes had a greater apparent abundance with the original primers than with the redesigned primers. The greater apparent abundance of Bacteroidetes taxa was balanced by a lesser apparent abundance of taxa that were not assigned to a phylum. These differences may reflect differences in the performance of the two primer sets. At lower taxonomic level, most OTU were represented with apparently equal abundances with redesigned and original primers in same template. Very few OTU were represented with different proportional abundances with redesigned and original primers. Different OTU having same reference cpn60 UT sequence as best hit were sometimes represented by different proportional abundance with same primer in same template that made the analysis difficult. On the whole, the redesigned cpn60 UT primers behaved at least as good as the original cpn60 UT primers. The overall results showed that the redesigned and novel primers used in this study had substantial utility for the identification of fungal samples and mixed microbial communities.

10 pp. / Planning for an uncertain future presents many challenges. Thinking systematically and creatively about what is in store through a process called scenario planning can help illuminate options for action and improve decision-making. This guide focuses on a process for developing scenarios to help communities and watershed groups explore what might happen in the years to come, make more informed decisions today, and build a watershed management process. The systematic approach to scenario planning described here is based on the lessons learned through a yearlong scenario planning process in the Upper Gila Watershed in southeastern Arizona and Water Resource Research Center’s (WRRC) research on scenario planning.

The planned Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria - Abuja is the context of this research. Abuja was conceived and conceptualised under a Master Plan designed by Kenzo Tange and Utec to replace Lagos as the new Capital City for the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1977. This came about because of the unstructured and unplanned facilities characteristically evident in buildings, communities and some critical infrastructure in Lagos. These have combined, with the rapid rates of urbanisation, and relative to lack of supporting infrastructure and services, to render Lagos as one of the most overcrowded and dysfunctional cities in the world. Housing shortages, urban sprawl, traffic congestion, overburdened and dilapidating physical infrastructures and services, and poor quality environment have become the defining characteristics of Lagos. These were the issues that forced the idea of relocating the Capital City elsewhere in the country that resulted in Abuja’s selection as the New Capital City for Nigeria in 1977. Kenzo Tange Associates, an authority in urban design was appointed that resulted in a Master Plan to guide the development of the new city. The resultant Master Plan was designed with the specific peculiarities of Lagos in mind to avoid reoccurrence, although, the concept of environmental sustainability and development was not the preoccupation of urban design and planning in the 1970s, Abuja Master Plan incorporated the concepts, principles, and practice of sustainable development today. Nevertheless, the implementation of the Abuja Master Plan has drawn consternation from built environment professionals. Anecdotal evidences exist to suggest that Abuja is rapidly incubating all the urban problems experienced in Lagos in the 1970s. Sequel to the above therefore, this thesis aims to develop a conceptual framework that will enable Abuja develop into a 21st century functional and resilient City of sustainable communities. The view pushed in this thesis is that not only does sustainable approach to design, implementation and management of urban communities holds huge capacity for bridging urban inequalities and prudent resource management; it holds the key to the survival of cities. The main aim of the research; to produce a conceptual framework to guide the development of Abuja Capital Territory into a 21st Century City of Sustainable Communities. To accomplish this aim, a mixed method of research methodology has been used for data gathering, an approach informed by the epistemological and ontological positioning of the researcher. Data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSSx) and the results resulted in a conceptual model illustrating ‘the road map’ to sustainable community development approach to Abuja in becoming a 21st century sustainable city. The study has successfully highlighted and resolved key issues centred around the sustainability of Abuja. It has also answered fundamental questions of whether Abuja can, and how it can develop into a 21st Century City of Sustainable Communities. Therefore, it is expected that the conceptual framework which is the outcome of this research becomes a reference manual to both urban decision makers, built environment professionals, and other stakeholders in planning the development of Abuja Capital Territory into a 21st Century City of Sustainable Communities.

This thesis examines an exile community’s relation to media. In particular, it focuses on the case of the Cuban-American community and English- as well as Spanish-language media based in Miami, FL. Following the revolution under Fidel Castro in 1959, Miami developed into the capital of the Cuban exile. Over the past decades, the Cuban-American community formed a nucleus which attracted further migration from South America and the Caribbean. The incoming migrants contributed to turning Miami into a flourishing economic urban space. Furthermore, the Cuban-American community was a vital player in creating a vibrant media scene. This thesis is situated in the context of ongoing debates on diasporic communities, notions of exile and liminality and theories addressing the tensions between the local, the national and the transnational. Empirical data for this project has been gathered in three periods of field work in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Journalists, media executives and active members of the Cuban-American community were targeted as key informants in the field. This thesis argues that the locale of a migrant community is of as much significance as national and transnational ambitions. The tensions between and imbrications of the local, national and transnational are evident in the media’s content, aim and scope. By mapping Miami as a place and social space, relations between the Cuban-American and other communities are discussed in detail. The heart of the thesis contains an in-depth analysis of the different media, i.e. the press, radio, television, and the internet. The chapters explore how these media have interacted with early Cuban migrants as well as their relationship to the Cuban-American community today. The findings point towards diverse and complex patterns. Time of migration, cultural background and age are significant factors on an individual’s approach to certain media. In turn, some media outlets clearly cater for specific segments of the community. A key point is that the media’s role in relation to the Cuban-American community is a balance act of local, national and transnational remits. The research contributes to debates on media, migration and communication research. It is the first comprehensive study of the Cuban-American community and their relationship to Miami-based media. Secondly, it takes a holistic view of the broader media ecology. The analysis is informed by the wider historical context. It encompasses detailed analysis of a variety of media and how these are interlinked. Moreover, this thesis employs an innovative research methodology in that it takes an etic, non-mediacentric approach to researching the media of a diasporic group.

Boston University. University Professors Program Senior theses. / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-02