Thesis (Ph. D. in Special Education)--Vanderbilt University, May 2007. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Cells are complex biological units with advanced signalling systems, a dynamic capacity to adapt to its environment, and the ability to divide and grow. In fact, they are of such high level of complexity that it has deemed extremely difficult or even impossible to completely understand cells as complete units. The search for comprehending the cell has instead been divided into small, relatively isolated research fields, in which simplified models are used to explain cell biology. The result produced through these reductionistic investigations is integral for our current description of biology. However, there comes a time when it is possible to go beyond such simplifications and investigate cell biology at a higher level of complexity. That time is now. This thesis describes the development of mathematical tools to investigate intricate biological systems, with focus on heterogeneous protein interactions. By the use of simulations, real-time measurements and kinetic fits, standard assays for specificity measurements and receptor quantification were scrutinized in order to find optimal experimental settings and reduce labour time as well as reagent cost. A novel analysis platform, called Interaction Map, was characterized and applied on several types of interactions. Interaction Map decomposes a time-resolved binding curve and presents information on the kinetics and magnitude of each interaction that contributed to the curve. This provides a greater understanding of parallel interactions involved in the same biological system, such as a cell. The heterogeneity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) system was investigated with Interaction Map applied on data from the instrument LigandTracer, together with complementing manual assays. By further introducing disturbances to the system, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and variation in temperature, information was obtained about dimerization, internalization and degradation rates. In the long term, analysis of binding kinetics and combinations of parallel interactions can improve the understanding of complex biomolecular mechanisms in cells and may explain some of the differences observed between cell lines, medical treatments and groups of patients.

ABSTRACT FOREIGN LANGUAGE FOR CONTENT: AIMING TO DEVELOP LIFELONG LEARNING DISPOSITIONS by Svetoslava Dimova In the context of emphasis on English language, mathematics and science within the American educational system (No Child Left Behind, 2001), foreign language education appears to be increasingly dissociated from educational priorities. Ways to create relevant goals and optimize the effects of foreign language teaching emerge through the use of communication technologies and connections to academic content. This qualitative study explores the relationship between high school students’ skills in French as a foreign language (L2), their cognitive strategies during reading in L2 for academic content, and their motivation to read authentic French texts. The following questions guided the study: 1) How do students internalize the task of self-selected online reading in L2 for content understanding pertaining to their History of the Americas course? 2) What processes and skills do students evidence and draw upon to locate and read for information in L2?, and 3) What are the implications for building a theory of student motivations for extensive reading in L2 beyond the classroom context? The study was realized in the setting of an International Baccalaureate (IB) program, where 4 key informants were selected, and analysis was presented in the form of 4 case studies. Informants’ French language proficiency ranged from intermediate-mid to advanced levels (ACTFL Guidelines, 1999). Data collection occurred during 8 weeks and included three rounds of formal, phenomenological interviews, classroom observations, and students’ learning journals. Data were analyzed through the lens of Activity theory (Engeström, 1999) and motivation theory (Keller, 2008) in order to determine emerging themes. While both L2 skills and interest in historical content influenced the task completion, and informants used multiple strategies to search and read, internalization and motivation aspects related to acquiring content superseded those related to increasing language skills. Informants’ differences in attitudes toward the curriculum integrative task were additionally caused by their ideas of content appropriateness in a L2 course. Development of cultural awareness and critical thinking was also primarily shaped by interest in content. Findings from the analysis suggested further directions for L2 classroom instruction that could lead to developing students’ lifelong learning dispositions.

Body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders are more prevalent in today's society than ever. As a result, several prevention programs targeting the common eating disorder risk factors have been developed. The purpose of the current study was to investigate a new kind of prevention program that is based on the dual pathway model of eating disorders within the context of an individual?s romantic relationship. The current prevention program reduced eating disorder risk factors but failed to affect relationship satisfaction. Effect sizes were small to medium in magnitude for most of the targeted risk factors. The inclusion of men and women alike in eating disorder prevention programs appear to be a successful way of addressing the thin ideal and its detrimental effects. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999. / Library want leaf 84. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-74). Also available on the Internet.

Past research has examined body image and eating-related outcomes of exposure to mass media. This research has generally found that such exposure is a significant risk factor for body image disturbance and disordered eating. However, a causal relationship has not yet been firmly established. Several theories, including objectification theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997), have attempted to explain this relationship with some success. The current study had two primary goals. First, it was designed to further explore the potential causal relationship between mass media exposure and body image and affect disturbance. Second, it attempted to go beyond individuals' body image and explore how exposure to objectifying media influences people's judgments of others. Briefly, the results revealed that exposure to media that objectify women was related to state body image disturbance, anger, and anxiety. Gender and internalization of cultural appearance ideals frequently played an important role in these relationships. Exposure to objectifying media did not predict participants' judgments of women's competence or attractiveness. However, interesting gender differences were observed.

Šeima – mūsų visuomenės rūpestis ir viltis. Tai viena pastoviausių, patikimiausių ir veiksmingiausių vaikų ugdymo, dorovės ir dvasingumo bei kultūros ugdymo ir išsaugojimo, vertybių internalizavimo veiksnys.Tai jau nustatė šie mokslininkai: V. Aramavičiūtė, (2005); Z. Bajoriūnas, (1997); B. Bitinas, (1994); L. Jovaiša, (1995); J. V. Uzdila, (1993); K. Miškinis, (2003); L. Rupšienė, (2001). Šeima atlieka didelį vaidmenį vaiko socializacijos procese. Šiuolaikinio gyvenimo modernizaciją iš esmės pakeičia susiformavusią vyresniosios ir jaunesniosios kartos etinę tradiciją, kai bręstanti asmenybė iš artimiausios mikroaplinkos išmoksta įvairių socialinių vaidmenų, įgyja patirties ir įsitvirtina visuomenėje. Pasak V. Aramavičiūtės, šis laikotarpis – dvasinės negalios, dvasinio nuosmukio, šeimos pokyčių ir auklėjimo krizė (Aramavičiūtė, 2005:9). Vykstant permainoms įvairiose gyvenimo srityse, visuomenėje vyksta vertybių transformacija ir su tuo susijusių pažiūrų, gyvenimo stiliaus, elgesio pokyčiai.Nėra abejonės, kad asmens patirtis, vertybės priklauso nuo vertybių internalizacijos laipsnio ir pobūdžio. Vertybių internalizacija sudėtingas procesas, apimantis vertybių įprasminimą, jų išgyvenimą ir asmens konkrečius veiksmus. Vykstant minėtiems procesams, vertybės virsta asmens vidiniu turiniu, determinuojančiu jo elgesį ir veiklą. Todėl atkreipiame dėmesį į šeimą, kur vertybių internalizacija vyksta individui perimant vertybes iš artimiausios socialinės aplinkos. Nuo to ir... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Forming open, democratic, civil society, the main issues are problems of humanity, statehood, progress of society. Cultural advance depends on the citizens' moral maturity, creative work and development of values. In everyday life, rapid change in values takes place. Traditional values are rejected, and spiritual void appears which is filled by unusual or even quasi values. Values concerning life take the first place while honest values take the second place. The research was carried out in order to describe the attitude toward values in the family, and to rate the levels of value orientation based on the internalization of values in the family. Hypothesis: Family’s value orientation is influenced by real tendencies. Properly organized family can help with balancing values concerning life and honest values put into the second place. Methods. Methods of theoretical research are based on c1assical approach to values – M. Scheler, and on the modem approach to values and their internalization – A. Aramavičiūtė, B. Bitinas, L. Jovaiša, J.V. Uzdila, etc. When formulating the questionnaire, the attention was paid to the internalization of the values in family. The objective was to distinguish interdisciplinary links. Theoretical importance of data. The data of the research stated that in order the values become a part of personal self, they need to be internalized with the help of family, humanization of educational programs, spiritual basis. Practical importance. Values and... [to full text]

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Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) is a simple betaretrovirus that causes a contagious lung adenocarcinoma in sheep. One unique feature of JSRV is that its envelope (Env) glycoprotein functions as an active oncogene that induces oncogenic transformation in vitro and in vivo. While oncogenesis by JSRV Env protein has been extensively studied, the entry mechanism of JSRV has not been investigated. In this study, we showed that JSRV entry was specifically inhibited by lysosomotropic agents and bafilomycin Al (BafAl), indicating that JSRV is pH-dependent. Interestingly, oncoretroviral pseudotypes bearing JSRV Env protein were not inactivated by an acidic pH treatment, suggesting that additional factors besides low pH are involved in JSRV entry. Indeed, we found that JSRV entry was also blocked by dominant-negative mutants of dynamin and caveolin, raising the possibility that JSRV may use a dynamin-dependent, caveolae-associated pathway for entry. To determine a possible role of JSRV receptor, hyaluronidase 2 (Hyal2), in JSRV entry, we replaced the glycosylphosphatidyl-inositol (GPI) anchor of Hyal2 with the membrane-spanning domain and cytoplasmic tail of vesicular stomatitis virus G protein (VSV-G). We showed that although the transmembrane version of Hyal2 functioned efficiently as a JSRV receptor, JSRV entry mediated by the mutated Hyal2 was no longer inhibited by lysosomotropic agents and BafAl. Taken together, we conclude that JSRV entry is pH-dependent, but appears to use a non-classical pathway for entry. JSRV may provide an exciting novel model for a better understanding of retrovirus entry.

A cross-sectional and longitudinal examination of thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification was conducted within the context of an eating disorder prevention program. The sample consisted of 177 undergraduate women enrolled in a sorority between the ages of 18 and 22 who participated in a dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program. Participants completed self-report assessments at baseline, post-intervention, 5-month, and 1-year follow-up. Measures included the Ideal-Body Stereotype Scale-Revised, Self-Objectification Questionnaire, Body Shape Questionnaire, and Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire. A cross-sectional path analysis indicated that thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification predict each other and both predict body dissatisfaction, which in turn, predicts eating disorder symptoms. A longitudinal examination of the prevention program indicated that participants showed significant reductions in thin-ideal internalization, self-objectification, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorder symptoms after participating in a cognitive dissonance eating disorder prevention program. Significant reductions of all symptoms were maintained at 1-year follow-up, with the exception of self-objectification, which had a significant reduction up to the 5-month assessment. A longitudinal path analysis indicated that post-intervention thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification predicted body dissatisfaction at 5-month follow-up assessments which in turn predicted eating disorder symptoms at this same time point. This model was replicated for 1-year follow-up body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms with the exception of the direct path from self-objectification to body dissatisfaction. Assessment of temporal sequence of change between self-objectification and thin-ideal internalization revealed that neither variable significantly predicted meaningful change in the other variable. Finally, individuals who showed meaningful change in self-objectification before showing meaningful reduction in thin-ideal internalization from baseline to post-intervention assessments had greater reductions in eating disorder symptoms 1-year following the intervention. Collectively, these results suggest that eating disorder prevention programs should focus on targeting both thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification simultaneously to increase further the reduction of eating disorder symptoms.