Using Mohr's (2002) model of the heterosexual therapist as the theoretical framework, this study examined lesbian women's perceptions of heterosexual counselors based on heterosexual identity development. Specifically, it was hypothesized that lesbian women's perceptions of a heterosexual counselor would differ based on the counselor's working model of heterosexual identity development, as conceptualized by Mohr (2002). It was also hypothesized that Mohr's integrative working model would be perceived most positively by participants, followed by the politicized, democratic, and lastly the compulsory working model. Participants were 144 self-identified lesbian, gay, and/or queer-identified women surveyed through an email advertisement. Counselor heterosexual identity was operationalized through vignettes portraying dialogues between a counselor and client. Perceptions were measured by the Counselor Effectiveness Rating Scale (CERS; Atkinson & Wampold, 1982) and one item assessing utilization intent. Covariates included positive and negative trait affect, measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS; Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988), and internalized homophobia, assessed with the Lesbian Internalized Homophobia Scale (LIHS; Szymanski & Chung, 2001). Results indicated significant differences in perceptions between counselor working models, such that the compulsory counselor was rated significantly lower than the other three counselors, both in terms of credibility and utilization intent. Implications of this study include shedding light on the identity dynamics of privileged group members in a counseling setting, as well as reaffirming the importance of self-knowledge and training experiences for counselors of privilege to increase multicultural competence, especially in terms of sexual orientation.

Arundinaria gigantea (Walt.) Muhl. (giant cane) is a native North American bamboo. The mass assemblages of giant cane stems (culms) can form monotypic stands called "canebrakes" with historic distribution encompassing floodplains of the southeastern United States. Canebrake ecosystems have served as an important habitat for a variety of mammalian, avian, and reptilian species due in part by the protective nature the dense culms provide. Also, giant cane also can serve as an effective riparian zone buffer for the protection of water quality. Land conversion and altered disturbance regimes have reduced cane to 2% of historical accounts. Consistently, there is great interest in restoring canebrake ecosystems. However, canebrake restoration efforts face difficulties such as infrequent seeding and low viability, limited availability of seedlings or rhizome planting stock, and inefficient establishment and management techniques. To address these problems, two studies were designed to further develop giant cane propagation thereby aiding management efforts intended in restoring canebrake ecosystems. Study 1 (greenhouse) objective was to compare the survivability and growth responses of bare rhizomes and rhizomes with attached and trimmed culms with different planting orientation. Study design was a randomized complete block with approximately 20 rhizomes of each propagule type (bare rhizomes, rhizomes with culms trimmed to 3cm and rhizomes with culms trimmed to 20cm) planted in two orientations (buried flat or angled and partially exposed) in each of 4 benches (N=239). Propagule type and planting orientation were determined randomly. After six months, propagule survival was 86% and was independent of orientation (chi square 1df = 1.56, p=0.212) and propagule type (chi square 2df =3.88, p=3.88). There was an interaction between planting orientation and propagule type for the number of new rhizomes and culms, above ground biomass, but not for newly formed rhizome diameter or cumulative culm and rhizome length. Rhizome propagules with attached trimmed culms produced, on average, one more rhizome and were 71 cm longer than newly formed rhizomes from the bare rhizome propagules. Planting orientation had no effect on any measured character of long culmed propagules, burying the short-culmed or bare rhizomes tended to reduce growth responses. However, among exposed propagules, growth responses tended to be similar. Study 2 (field-scale) objective was to determine if genotype (3 collection sources) and collection season/ planting season (C/P) (fall/fall, fall/spring, spring/spring) affect survival and growth of giant cane. Study design was a randomized complete block design with between 12 and 20 bare rhizomes per each of 3 collection sources (subplots) planted in each of 3 rows (collection season/ planting season main plots) blocked 6 times across 2 sites (N=2086). Location of collection sources within subplots and C/P within plots were randomly chosen. Rhizomes were planted in rows using a tree planter. Mean survival of cane plants after one growing season was similar at each site with a mean of 11.1%. Survival was dependent on collection source and C/P seasons. Survival ranged from a high of 38.3% for the spring/spring planted Upper Cache River source to 0.4% for two of the other 9 treatment combinations. Collecting and planting rhizomes in the spring for two of the three collection sources produced the highest percent survival compared to stock collected in the fall then planted or stored until spring. These results suggest the importance of collection source, collection season, planting season, propagule morphology and orientation on the survival and new growth of giant cane in southern Illinois.

The use of carbon-carbon (C/C) composites for clutch application requires a basic understanding of the structural characteristics of the composites that control their frictional and engineering properties. These are related to the microstructure of the matrix and fiber architecture, with the character of fiber/matrix interface and type of defects, porosity and microcracks being the most relevant. The purpose of this study is to examine and characterize the relation between the fiber architecture of selected C/C composites and its relation to their frictional properties when subjected to different normal forces and relative humidity. Friction tests is conducted using a Brüker Universal Friction Tester (UFT). This study also seeks to characterize and analyze the microstructure and fiber architecture through Polarized Light Microscopy, X-Ray Diffraction and Ultrasound Scans. This study shows that the Coefficient of Friction (COF) at constant normal force and RPM are always slightly lower for the samples with surface fibers orientated at 45° relative to the direction of rotation compared to samples with surface fibers orientated 0/90° at 50% relative humidity. The percent difference ranges from 1.62% to 15.30%. However, at 85% relative humidity, the average COF at the constant normal force and RPM are always slightly higher for the 45° compared to 0/90° samples for Rotor samples, while in contrast the average COF are always lower for the 45° samples compared to 0/90° samples for Stator samples. The percent difference ranges from 3.14% to 35.46%. This study found significant differences between the 0/90° samples and the 45° samples. There is indication that the fiber orientation can cause differences between frictional properties even if the clutches are made from the same material. The change in humidity also significantly changes the resulting COF.

This dissertation assesses the causes and consequences of gender wage discrimination in Ethiopia. In the first chapter, we estimate the distribution of Gender Wage Discrimination in the Ethiopian urban labor market using quantile counterfactual decompositions. The literature generally finds a u-shaped distribution suggesting the presence of both a sticky floor effect and a glass ceiling effect. Using repeated cross-section data for the years 2006, 2010 and 2014, we find a strong evidence of a sticky floor effect but not a glass ceiling effect in the Ethiopian urban labor market. Our paper also provides evidence that there is substantial difference in the extent of discrimination between working in private and public jobs. Public jobs are less discriminatory for women relative to the private jobs. In the second chapter, we investigate the determinants of the gender wage gap in the Ethiopian manufacturing sector between the years 1996 and 2010 with a particular focus on the impact of the export orientation. This is done both at the intensive and extensive margin. Accordingly, we find that more export orientation helps reduce the firm level gender wage gap regardless of whether it is at the intensive or extensive margin. Our results also provide evidence on the presence of sectoral variation on the association between export orientation and gender wage gap. Export orientation doesn’t have a significant impact on the gender wage gap in the construction and housing goods sector. Segmenting the data in to two we also find that the impact of export orientation in reducing gender wage gap is much stronger for the period 2003-2010 relative to the 1996-2002 period. Finally, we estimate the impact of gender earnings differentials on the technical efficiency of the firm in the Ethiopian manufacturing sector for the period 1996 through 2010. We adopt a two-step time-variant panel stochastic frontier model using a translog production function. Our results provide fresh evidence on the existence of a significant negative association between gender wage gap and predicted technical efficiencies of firms. Further subdividing the manufacturing sector into four different industries, we find that the negative association is consistent in most industries. Our results are also robust to the inclusion of other firm level explanatory variables at the sectoral level.

xiv, 81 p. : ill. (some col.) A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Protein-protein interaction networks translate environmental inputs into specific physiological outputs. The signaling proteins in these networks require regulatory mechanisms to ensure proper molecular function. Two common regulatory features of signaling proteins are autoinhibition and ultrasensitivity. Autoinhibition locks the protein in an inactive state through cis interactions with a regulatory module until it is activated by a specific input signal. Ultrasensitivity, defined as steep activation after a threshold, allows cells to convert graded inputs into more switch-like outputs and can lead to complex decision making behaviors such as bistability. Although these mechanisms are common features of signaling proteins, their molecular origins are poorly understood. I used the Drosophila Pins protein, a regulator of spindle positioning in neuroblast cells, as a model to study the molecular origin and function of autoinhibition and ultrasensitivity. Pins and its binding partners. Gαi and Mud, form a signaling pathway required for coordinating spindle positioning with cellular polarity in Drosophila neuroblasts. I found Pins switches from an autoinhibited to an activate state by modular allostery. Gαi binding to the third of three GoLoco (GL) domains allows Pins to interact with the microtubule binding protein Mud. The GL3 region is required for autoinhibitoon, as amino acids upstream and within GL3 constitute this regulatory behavior. This autoinhibitory module is conserved in LGN, the mammalian Pins orthologue. I also demonstrated that Gαi activation of Pins is ultrasensitive. A Pins protein containing inactivating point mutations to GLs l and 2 exhibits non-ultrasensitive (graded) activation. Ultrasensitivity is required for Pins function in vivo as the graded Pins mutant fails to robustly orient the mitotic spindle. I considered two models for the source of ultrasensitivity in this pathway: cooperative or "decoy" Gai binding. I found ultrasensitivity arises from a decoy mechanism in which GLs 1 and 2 compete with the activating GL3 for the input, Gai. These findings suggest that molecular ultrasensitivity can be generated without cooperativity. This decoy mechanism is relatively simple, suggesting ultrasensitive responses can be evolved by the inclusion of domain repeats, a common feature observed in signaling proteins. This dissertation includes previously published and unpublished co-authored material. / Committee in charge: Tom Stevens, Chairperson, Chemistry; Kenneth Prehoda, Member, Chemistry; Christopher Doe, Member, Biology; Peter von Hippel, Member, Chemistry; Karen Guillemin, Outside Member, Biology

Chrysaora fuscescens is a cnidarian scyphomedusa that occurs in the northern California Current. In this upwelling system, medusae are seasonally abundant, and individuals can ingest 10-60% of the standing stock of vulnerable zooplankton taxa per day. Yet little is known about this medusa's feeding ecology. Using laboratory pseudokreisels, C. fuscescens feeding rates and behavior were quantified in the presence of a controlled flow field. C. fuscescens collected aboard research cruises were dissected, and prey items were counted in order to calculate feeding rates and prey selectivity. In the lab, C. fuscescens feeding rates were not affected by shear flow, and medusa maintained position by swimming counter-current. Field work demonstrates high feeding rates and positive prey selection for nonmotile taxa. For the first time, high clearance rates of ichthyoplankton have been documented. An understanding of jellyfish behavior can help explain jellyfish distributions and trophic impacts in a productive upwelling system.

Smartphones are the most personalized and in the meantime the most anthropomorphized computing and communication technology in our society. Existing studies, especially Computers as Social Actors studies, on anthropomorphism and social interactions focus on how to implement and elicit positive anthropomorphic effects but fail to address the motivations and dispositional factors. Through an online survey that incorporates well-tested social psychological scales, this study provides empirical evidences that smartphone users’ social dispositions including chronic loneliness, attachment style, and cultural orientations are associated with their acceptance and awareness of anthropomorphism. Findings in this study suggest that existing studies are limited to method of choice and overlooked how people adapt to communication technologies differently in real life settings. Anthropomorphic design in communication technology and anthropomorphized message in advertising strategies need further examination when targeting a diversified or specified demographic.

In the context of developing effective PSAs to help increase the number of young adults who quit smoking or don’t start, this study took cultural orientation into account and assessed the persuasive effect of high and low source credibility. This present study showed that, in terms of attitude toward the ad message, people who were exposed to a commercial brand actually had a more positive attitude than those who saw the video that had CCTV as its producer. However, no significant differences were found in the other four constructs, including attitude toward antismoking, smoking-related social norms and subjective norms, smoking-related anticipated regret and intentions to quit or not start smoking.

The magnetic orientation was established in several species of rodents, but the mechanism of its perception has not been determined. Aim of this work was to verify magnetic sense in the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) and try to solve the nature of its magnetoreception in tests carried out in total darkness and when the horizontal component was reversed and the vertical component was inverted. A spontaneous directional preference in the magnetic field was tested in circular arena.

A integração da inteligência de mercado e a estruturação eficaz das fases iniciais (também conhecidas como front-end) do processo de desenvolvimento de novos produtos são dois dos mais importantes e difíceis desafios que inovadores enfrentam. Esta tese concentra-se na ligação entre estes dois aspectos, oferecendo um modelo conceitual para a sistematização e integração da inteligência de mercado nas atividades do front-end. O modelo, intitulado MISIPro (Market Intelligence Sistematization e Integration Process – Processo de sistematização e integração da inteligência de mercado), considera dois tipos diferentes de atividades que ocorrem no front-end: a) atividades de processamento de informações de mercado; e b) atividades de desenvolvimento de produtos. Essas atividades são então definidas, estruturadas e integradas. O modelo foi desenvolvido com base numa revisão da literatura sobre desenvolvimento de produtos, orientação de mercado e gestão do conhecimento e em 5 estudos de caso em empresas no Brasil e nos Estados Unidos. Como contribuição teórica, esta tese apresenta uma integração de conceitos importantes provenientes de diferentes perspectivas e áreas de conhecimento e uma nova abordagem e estrutura para a concepção do conceito. Para os profissionais, o modelo oferece uma ferramenta útil para a estruturação das atividades do front-end e integração das informações de mercado no processo de desenvolvimento de produtos. / Integrating market intelligence and effective structuring of the planning stages (also known as front-end) of new product development (NPD) process are two of the most important and difficult challenges facing innovators. This dissertation focuses on the link between these two elements, offering a conceptual model for the systematization and integration of market intelligence into the frontend activities. The model, entitled MISIPro (Market Intelligence Systematization and Integration Process), considers two different types of activities that take place in the front-end: a) market information processing activities; and b) product development activities. These activities are herein defined, structure and mutually integrated. The model was developed based on a review of the literature about product development, market orientation and knowledge management, and 5 case studies in Brazilian and U.S. companies. From a theoretical perspective, this dissertation offers an integration of the important concepts from different perspectives and areas of knowledge and a new approach and structure for the concept design. For practitioners, the model offers a useful tool for structuring the front-end activities and integrating market intelligence into the NPD process.