The Drosophila genome is thought to have five recA like proteins: Rad51B, Rad51C, Rad51D, XRCC2 and XRCC3. In Drosophila Rad51/SpnA, XRCC3/SpnB, and Rad51 C/SpnD participate in homologous recombination repair. The function of DmRad51 D and DmXRCC2 are unknown. The goal of this project was to elucidate the function ofXRCC2 in Drosophila. RNA interference allowed us to knockdown the function XRCC2 and its possible binding partner Rad51D. It was seen the knocking down the function of either XRCC2 or Rad51D does not affect the viability of the fly. However, drug treatment data does not allow us to make any conclusions about how the knockdown ofXRCC2 affects the viability of the fly. RNA in-situ hybridization shows highly intricate and complex branching patterns for XRCC2, which resembles the embryonic tracheal system. Lastly, XRCC2 was purified to generate an antibody made to recognize the XRCC2 protein will help localize the XRCC2 protein in future studies as well as determine protein-protein interactions with XRCC2.

This study explored assumptions about communication styles used by nationals of countries that share what is perceived as a common native language. Participants were from Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay, and the common native language was Spanish. Data were gathered before and after their attendance at a five-day training event with attendees from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay via surv'ey questionnaires (pre) and interview questionnaires (post). The data were analyzed for participants' assumptions about communication styles and whether these were confirmed or challenged by intercultural interaction. They were also analyzed for ways in which the perception of a shared native language could influence assumptions and interactions. The results revealed four primary communication styles involved in participants' assumptions: 1) Harmony versus Assertiveness, 2) Accessibility versus Exclusiveness, 3) Vocabulary, and 4) Intercultural Conflict Styles, among other insights related to the study questions.

The pressure on athletes to perform and stay healthy is ever more intense. This being the case, athletes suffering injuries of the operative nature with extensive rehabilitation protocols are more prone to psychological ramifications related to their injury and rehabilitation. Literature has addressed some of the issues; however the role of self-efficacy on rehabilitation adherence has not directly been evaluated. Furthermore, the particular nature of self-efficacy related to athletic participation, injury, and subsequent rehabilitation, as well as the role an athletic trainer plays in enhancing or diminishing one's sense of self-efficacy has not specifically been evaluated. Therefore the purpose of this study is to uncover some of the literature gaps and is two-fold: (i) to evaluate how an athlete's sense of self-efficacy impacts his/her adherence to their rehabilitation program, and (ii) to assess the impact an athletic trainer may have on an athlete's self-efficacy during rehabilitation. Results of this study are intended to enhance the quality and efficiency of athletic injury rehabilitation and have been designed with the athletic training professional in mind .

Two projects are presented here. In the first, metal-cyclopentadienyl bond dissociation energies (BDEs) were measured for seven metallocene ions (Cp2M+, Cp = η5-cyclopentadienyl = c-C5H5, M = Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) using threshold collision-induced dissociation (TCID) performed in a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer. For all seven room temperature metallocene ions, the dominant dissociation pathway was simple Cp loss from the metal. Traces of other fragment ions were also detected, such as C10H10+, C10H8+, C8H8+, C3H3+, H2M+, C3H3M+, C6H6M+, and C7H6M+, depending on the metal center. Statistical modeling of the Cp-loss TCID experimental data, including consideration of energy distributions, multiple collisions, and kinetic shifts, allow the extraction of 0 K [CpM+ - Cp] BDEs. These are found to be 4.95 ± 0.15, 4.02 ± 0.14, 4.22 ± 0.13, 3.51 ± 0.12, 4.26 ± 0.15, 4.57 ± 0.15, and 3.37 ± 0.12 eV for Cp2To+, Cp2V+, Cp2Cr+, Cp2Mn+, Cp2Fe+, Cp2Co+, and Cp2Ni+, respectively. The measured BDE trend is largely in line with arguments based on a simple molecular orbital picture, with the exceptions of a reversal in Cp2Mn+ and Cp2Ni+ BDEs (although within uncertainty), and the exceptional case of titanocene, most likely attributable to its bent structure. The new results presented here are compared to previous literature values and are found to provide a more complete and accurate set of thermochemical parameters. In the second project, imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence (iPEPICO) spectroscopy has been used to determine 0 K appearance energies for the unimolecular dissociation reactions of several energy selected 1-alkyl iodide cations n-CnH2n+1I+ → CnH2n+1+ + I, (n = 2-5). The 0 K appearance energies of the iodine-loss fragment ions were determined to be 9.836 ± 0.010, 9.752 ± 0.010, 9.721 ± 0.010, and 9.684 ± 0.010 eV for n-C3H7I, n-C4H9I, n-C5H11I, and n-C6H13I molecules, respectively. Isomerization of then-alkyl iodide structures into 2-iodo species adds complexity to this study. Using literature adiabatic ionization energies, ionic bond dissociation energies were calculated for the four modeled iodoalkyl cations and it was shown that as the alkyl chain length increases, the carbon-halogen bond strength decreases, supporting the suggestions set forth by inductive effects. In the modeling with statistical energy distributions and rate theory, the role of hindered rotors was also evaluated and no strong experimental evidence was found either way. The heaviest species in the series, heptyl iodide (C7H15I) was also measured via iPEPICO and showed to have a greater complexity of fragmentation than the lighter analogs. Sequential dissociation of the first fragment ion, C7H15+ leads to C4H9+, C5H11+, and C3H7+ ions in competitive dissociation processes, dominated at low energies by the C4H9+ cation.

This study explored the correlation between verbal aggression and physical aggression among post-adolescent students, and included demographic factors such as biological sex, socioeconomic status, and the highest education level achieved by parents. The study is predicated on a paucity of evidence regarding the relationship among these factors in young adults. Two-hundred thirty-eight community college students responded to a self-report questionnaire designed to measure individual differences and demographic characteristics. Results indicate that verbal aggression and physical aggression are significantly correlated and that males report higher verbal aggression than females. Gender differences for physical aggression were not significantly different. None of the other demographic variables demonstrated significant differences. Implications are discussed in terms of societal benefits of preventative treatment for verbal aggression and the role that communication scholarship and education might play in intervention.

Trichomonas vagina/is, one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, has been shown to increase patients' susceptibility to HIV infection and cervical cancer; moreover, resistance to metronidazole is increasing, and new drug targets must be identified in order to combat resistant strains. T vagina/is expresses cysteine proteases that have been implicated in vaginal epithelial apoptosis as well as immune system evasion. In the past the various cysteine proteases have been studied as a group, and the following work examines, one specific protease, TvCP2, in detail through Western blot analysis, immunofluorescent staining, and recombinant expression. The experiments 5 presented here suggest that aT l-CP2 over-expressing transfectant line processes CP2 and sequesters it in cellular compartments. Previous data gives strong evidence of the secretion of cysteine protease CP4 and hints at the possibility of CP2 secretion as well; however, our results show no co-localization between CP2 and CP4 in T l-CP2 over expressing transfectants, suggesting separate trafficking and different roles. To better characterize CP2 function, we attempted to express active, recombinant protein. Although Pichia pastoris serves as a reliable expression vehicle, a processing event following translation ofTvCP2 appears to have cleaved the pro-domain and, along with it, the a-secretion signal, trapping active TvCP2 within the cellular pellet. A thioreoxintagged version ofTvCP2 has been expressed in E. coli, and preliminary experiments show it may auto-activate under certain conditions, but further experimentation is required to confirm the presence of active CP2 within the fraction purified from these cells.

This study examined the effects of music on improving quality of sleep. Participants were randomly assigned to either a music assisted relaxation or a relaxation alone condition. Individuals in both groups were taught varying relaxation methods and were provided with a relaxation script which incorporated each of the methods. Those in the music assisted relaxation condition were allowed to select their top two pieces from a list of relaxing music. The selections were placed on a CD being played in the background while a relaxation script was read. Those in the relaxation alone condition received a CD with the same relaxation script heard by those in the music assisted relaxation condition. Global sleep scores (as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were taken on the first and last days of the experiment. Examining individual and group scores showed no statistically significant difference between music assisted relaxation and relaxation alone. Discussion focuses on the implications for future research in the area of music's effect on sleep quality.

Many colleges and universities throughout the United States have a long history of encouraging and maintaining a diverse community of international students and scholars on their campuses. As a result of the interaction within this great mix of cultures, interpersonal conflict of an intercultural nature has understandably developed. To cope with the conflicts between cultures, many institutions have developed intercultural mediation programs and resources. This research examines what some U.S. universities do to respond to the issue of international student and scholar intercultural conflict mediation and resolution. The study was designed to explore the different types of resources and services that have been developed and to study some of them in greater detail to gain a better understanding of their approaches and resulting issues and successes. The overall objective of this research was to learn how the various ways mediation programs offered at the selected universities work in practice. The literature review was created to gain an overall understanding of conflict styles and conflict resolution approaches that are relevant to the many cultural groups who are in need of the mediation. My data collection process focused on how colleges and universities incorporate mediation programs into the campus at large. Data was gathered through 12 interviews with administrators who have experience working in the intercultural conflict mediation and resolution area; these programs were at the Universities of Washington and Minnesota, and Nevada, Reno and Michigan. From the interviews and the literature review, an annotated bibliography and guidelines were created to provide insights and recommendations for consideration by intercultural conflict mediation and resolution programs at educational institutions throughout the United States.

Throughout history, technology has evolved to help empower communities of color. In the twenty-first century, online social networking sites have changed the way people communicate with their peers, employers and the world. Online social media sites have brought demands for further exploration using social media sites. Online social media has influenced social change, and has become the voice of the new era. Facebook and Twitter have been the leading tools used to communicate world events, social gatherings, revolutions and everyday events. Communication scholars have begun to research the phenomenon of how social media sites are being used to socialize communities of color. In the digital age, researchers are using methods such as uses and gratification to understand and investigate why African-Americans are using online social media sites as a tool to communicate. Researchers focus on questions such as why are African-Americans interested in sharing personal information online, and how do African-Americans use different social media sites to engage. In this research, Facebook was one of the most popular sites used in the African-American communities to communicate by posting pictures, exchanging information and posting daily activities. There are several reasons for social online media sites in the African-Americans community, such as entertainment, socialization, information-seeking, business and education. The study found African-American young adults use social media sites to engage in daily activities and information seeking. Further explanations of observed finding were provided in the thesis.

This thesis employed a Historical-Critical method using rhetoric and framing theory to examine the 2008 Proposition 2: Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act campaigns. The Californians for Humane Farms (HSUS) and Californians for SAFE Food (CSF) were the respective proponent and opponent coalitions analyzed in this thesis. The analysis examined sixteen campaign artifacts that were examples of how the proposition was communicated to California's voting populous. In Conjunction with the appeals and frames, the message strategies were analyzed as to how they allowed the HSUS and CSF to effectively communicate with voters. By using rhetoric and framing 4 theory this analysis was able to distinguish which rhetorical appeals effectively supported the campaigns. The analysis showed that the HSUS was successful with their campaign because of well-executed rhetorical appeals that created a concise message about animal confinement and animal cruelty issues.