Recent studies have demonstrated that an acute, low dose of ketamine, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, provides rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in patients with major depressive disorder. Studies in rodents have shown that the antidepressant properties of ketamine are due to an increase in dendritic spine density in the cortex. Our goal was to determine whether these effects are specific to ketamine and whether they are dependent on dose, drug regimen and brain region. We observed that the effects of ketamine on spine density were dependent on dose and drug regimen and were also brain region specific. In addition, MK-801, another NMDA receptor antagonist, did not demonstrate the same effects on spine density as ketamine. Furthermore, genetic NMDA receptor hypofunction significantly reduced spine density. Our studies demonstrate that while acute ketamine treatment leads to an increase in cortical spine density, chronic administration has opposite and potentially detrimental effects.

Contentious interactions may arise between a tax professional and client upon a disagreement over a tax position. In an increasingly competitive tax return preparation market, these contentious interactions represent a significant threat to tax practitioners' client satisfaction and retention objectives. I conduct an experiment in which I examine the effect of three factors on tax clients' (1) likelihood to accept the advice of the tax accountant and (2) likelihood to switch tax accountants upon receiving professional advice counter to their preferred tax position. The three factors are: (1) clients' antagonistic narcissism; (2) clients' relationship with the accountant; and (3) how the advice is framed by the tax accountant. The results are based on a sample of 93 taxpayers. First, this study examines how clients' measured levels of narcissistic antagonism (hereafter, antagonism) impacts their reaction to "being told no" by their tax professional. Results indicate that upon the receipt of advice contrary to their preferences, highly antagonistic clients are more likely to (1) engage in a contentious interaction with their professional and (2) switch to a new tax professional. Supplemental path analyses document that individuals with high levels of antagonism cognitively react to instances of "being told no" by simultaneously devaluing their professionals' credibility and role as a client advocate, leading to these aggressive behaviors. This study also examines how the social closeness of the professional-client relationship influences the argue and switch decisions. Multivariate analysis indicates that social closeness is significantly related to the argue and switch decision. However, univariate results do not show significant relationship between social closeness and each of the decisions individually. That is, I find partial support for the professional publications and AICPA recommendations that tax practitioners should develop personal relationships with their clients to improve client satisfaction and likelihood of retention. Clients are marginally more likely to retain their current tax professional for future years when they feel they have a personal relationship with their tax practitioner, as opposed to those in a purely professional relationship. Finally, this dissertation considers the manner in which a tax professional frames his/her advice that is counter to a client's preferences. Results indicate that contrary advice that focuses on the potential downsides of an aggressive tax position (e.g., IRS audits and penalties) significantly dissuades client argument with the professional and significantly deters switching to a new tax accountant as compared to advice that is framed as being in the clients' "best interest."

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Agronomy / Johanna A. Dille / This dissertation has two complementary components: educational, in a survey of students in Weed Science and their perception of the Kansas State University Agronomy Learning farm, and research, regarding interactions between mesotrione and sulfonylurea herbicides. The Learning Farm serves as a resource where undergraduate students at KSU can develop agronomic skills through hands-on field site experiences and investigations. Students’ perceptions of experiential learning activities in the development of problem-solving and critical thinking skills were studied as a result of the Learning Farm. Activities included: undergraduate students in Weed Science (AGRON 330) developing a weed management recommendation, and Undergraduate Research Assistants (URAs) conducting weed science research projects at the Learning Farm. Students stated that experiential learning activities increased their critical thinking skills, required effective time management, and presented concepts that could be used in other situations. Pre- and post-project evaluation questionnaires showed that URAs had an increased interest in agronomy, weed science, and research following the completion of their project. For the research project, field and greenhouse studies were conducted from 2003 to 2006 to evaluate the efficacy of various sulfonylurea herbicides when applied with mesotrione or mesotrione + atrazine. Research demonstrated that the addition of mesotrione to sulfonylurea herbicides decreased efficacy of sulfonylurea herbicides on green foxtail, yellow foxtail, and shattercane. The addition of atrazine to the tank mix, or increased mesotrione rates, resulted in additional decrease in sulfonylurea herbicide efficacy on shattercane and foxtail species. Additional studies were performed to determine if absorption, translocation, or metabolism was the basis for the reduction in sulfonylurea herbicide efficacy when mixed with mesotrione or mesotrione + atrazine. Results indicated that the cause of antagonistic interaction between mesotrione and sulfonylurea herbicides in green and yellow foxtail was reduced absorption and translocation of the sulfonylurea herbicides. Producers who choose to apply mesotrione and sulfonylurea herbicides to corn should apply the herbicides sequentially to achieve maximum control of weedy grass species.

This thesis is concerned primarily with the growth and detection of soil microorganisms in ten Denton County, Texas, soils antagonistic to a specific gram-positive and a specific gram-negative bacterial organism.

<p>Little is known about how the leaf bacterial community is affected by the seed microbiota at different stages of plant development. The bacterial populations of spinach seed and leaves after germination were compared using DGGE, to assess bacterial community richness, and real-time PCR to compare the abundance of select phyla (total bacteria, <i>Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, α-Proteobacteria and β- Proteobacteria</i>). To determine the effect of environment, the plants were grown in the field and growth chambers. Vertical transmission of bacterial community members was evident; the developmental stage of the plant affected the richness and abundance of select bacterial phyla. The bacterial richness of plants grown in the two environments was not affected. However, overall numbers of bacteria increased in field grown samples in comparison to those produced in growth chambers during development. A statistically significant interaction was seen between growth stage and environment with each of the selected phyla. Populations on cotyledons were smaller than mature leaves, but were not significantly different than the 3-4 leaf stage plants. The culturable populations of bacteria on seeds (~5 log CFU/g) were significantly smaller than determined using real time PCR (~7 log copies). Of these bacteria cultured from spinach seeds, isolates belonging to the genera <i>Pantoea</i> were found to inhibit growth of <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 <i>in vitro</i>. This study highlights the importance of vertical transmission on the bacterial community of plants and suggests the importance of developing strategies to influence these communities on seed to control human and plant pathogens on the leaf surface.</p> / Master of Science

This thesis focuses on exploring cases of internal antagonism in fan communities, with a specific focus on the Steven Universe (2013 -) and Undertale (2015) communities present on Tumblr and Twitter. Internal antagonism is a phenomenon that occurs when a community targets a member within itself instead of outside itself, often as a way to mediate and regulate the community and reinforce its values. This thesis considers three case studies of internal antagonism with both physical and digital implications in order to better understand the role it plays in shaping and sustaining online fan communities as well as mediating the roles of fans and creators. This research will give a better understanding of why this harassment happens and what folkloric function it fulfills. This research will reveal why individuals cleave to these communities and what their core values are. The first case study analyzed is the case of Zamii070, a fanartist who faced severe harassment from the Steven Universe fan community due to a “problematic” piece of fanart. The second case study revolves around Jesse Zuke, a former storyboard artist on Steven Universe, was on the end of internal antagonism because of perceptions that they were mocking queer fans. The last case study is that of a fanartist who received cookies with needles in them from a fan who disliked their fanart. This thesis discusses and analyzes the details of the incidents themselves, their results, and the reactions from the fan community using original posts related to the incidents, accounts of the incidents, and interviews with those involved in the community at the time. As context for ethnographic research, this thesis will also explore the Steven Universe and Undertale communities through public posts and interviews

No description available.

Att börja i dagens förskola innebär att individen tar sitt första kliv in i utbildningssystemet och därmed också går in i det system som ska lära barn att fostras in i och leva med de normer som samhället vilar på. Förskolan ska utgå från läroplanen för förskolan (Lpfö 98 rev 16) men enligt Fjellström (2004) är det styrande innehållet i läroplanen dock relativt öppet, då det ses som ett strävansmål. Detta leder till att läroplanen lämnar ett tolkningsutrymme för varje förskola, arbetslag och enskild lärare att hantera. Det har lett till att det finns en slags spänning mellan hur personalen inom verksamheten ser på konflikter, hur de hanteras och vad det anses finnas för potential i konflikten i sig. I förskolan kan konflikter ses utifrån två olika perspektiv, ett destruktivt där du vill undvika konflikten och ett konstruktivt där du bemöter konflikten. Utifrån den sistnämnda perspektiv är konflikter tecken på att demokratiprocesser är levande och genom konflikter kan barn organisera sina sociala värden och utveckla demokratiska färdigheter.Studiens syfte är att genom samtalsintervjuer undersöka hur personal inom förskolan tänker, resonerar och använder konflikter som ett demokratiskt lärotillfälle. Vi tar hjälp av Mouffes teoretiska idé om konflikter som en förutsättning för demokrati och analyserar det empiriska materialet utifrån hennes begrepp demokratisk pluralism, agonism och antagonism.I resultatet framkommer att konflikter i förskolan är något naturligt som uppstår i möten mellan individer. Två olika sätt att se på konflikter blir synligt. Det ena perspektivet är att det är något bekymmersamt, att det är något som ska lösas och undvikas. Det andra perspektivet var mer ett synsätt på möjligheten för lärande och utveckling. Reflektion och diskussion i arbetslaget verkar vara en tidsbrist på förskolan, vilket i sin tur har lett till att de inte har någon gemensam strategi för konflikthantering. Utifrån vad informanterna berättar kan vi förstå att de ser konflikter som ett demokratiskt lärotillfälle, samt att de tänker utifrån en pluralistisk demokrati, men väl i verksamheten blir det inte alltid ett agonistiskt bemötande. I och med det fria tolkningsutrymmet finns risk för att det blir ett antagonistiskt bemötande av konflikter.

No description available.

Little is known about how the leaf bacterial community is affected by the seed microbiota at different stages of plant development. The bacterial populations of spinach seed and leaves after germination were compared using DGGE, to assess bacterial community richness, and real-time PCR to compare the abundance of select phyla (total bacteria, <i>Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, α-Proteobacteria and β- Proteobacteria</i>). To determine the effect of environment, the plants were grown in the field and growth chambers. Vertical transmission of bacterial community members was evident; the developmental stage of the plant affected the richness and abundance of select bacterial phyla. The bacterial richness of plants grown in the two environments was not affected. However, overall numbers of bacteria increased in field grown samples in comparison to those produced in growth chambers during development. A statistically significant interaction was seen between growth stage and environment with each of the selected phyla. Populations on cotyledons were smaller than mature leaves, but were not significantly different than the 3-4 leaf stage plants. The culturable populations of bacteria on seeds (~5 log CFU/g) were significantly smaller than determined using real time PCR (~7 log copies). Of these bacteria cultured from spinach seeds, isolates belonging to the genera <i>Pantoea</i> were found to inhibit growth of <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 <i>in vitro</i>. This study highlights the importance of vertical transmission on the bacterial community of plants and suggests the importance of developing strategies to influence these communities on seed to control human and plant pathogens on the leaf surface. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / Master of Science