Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationBased on the premise that increases in productivity are, in part, a function of higher education performance and improved secondary education output, this study considers the various public education career paths available to Utah public high school students, and examines the effects each have on secondary education performance and graduation, and postsecondary higher education enrollment, time-to-completion, and degree attainment for the Utah public high school graduation cohorts of 2008 and 2009. The focus of this paper is an examination of the Utah Data Alliance longitudinal data set compiled by in cooperation with the Utah Education Policy Center, Utah Education Network, Utah College of Applied Technology, Utah State Office of Education, Utah System of Higher Education and Utah Department of Workforce Services. This data set allows for individual level examinations of Utah public education students throughout their public education careers and into the workforce. The data examination and estimated outcomes are driven by the use of Propensity Score Matching in an effort to limit the endogeneity and self-selection bias present in nonexperimental, observed data samples. The quasiexperimental design structure of this method provides a path towards the assignment of causality. Though Propensity Score Matching offers such a pathway, as an estimator its strength is reliant on the existence of complete and quality matching variables, which are limited in the Utah education longitudinal data sets. Taking participation in Dual-Credit Enrollment and Early College High School as reforms in secondary, applied as treatments on student populations, and matching students by demographic and performance criteria prior to the treatment application, we're able to estimate the average treatment effects on the treated of the two reforms separately and collectively. The estimated outcomes on secondary education standardized testing and graduation, and postsecondary higher education enrollment and degree attainment are positive or reflect positive effects for each of the examined student populations. Of particular interest, however, is the scale of the effects on the various secondary and higher education outcomes and what this may yield with respect to public education policy

The budget information systems of selected colleges and universities in the state of Virginia as described and perceived by budget managers

The purpose of this study was to describe the budget information systems of selected colleges and universities in the Commonwealth of Virginia along with their advantages and disadvantages as perceived by budget managers.;Ten institutions were selected to participate in the study so as to assure the inclusion of at least one of each of the various types of colleges and universities in Virginia. The data needed to describe the budget information systems were collected via personal interviews with key budget information system personnel at the selected institutions. Data needed to describe the advantages and disadvantages of the budget information systems, as perceived by budget managers, and to test the hypotheses were collected via personal interviews with, and mailed questionnaires to, budget managers.;To analyze the data, the researcher divided the BISs into two categories. BISs without terminals for their budget managers were designated as the first category. Those with them were designated as second.;It was found that BISs with terminals are decidedly more decentralized than BISs without them in regard to the entry of budget transfer data into the computer. The entry of purchasing and stores data into the computer tends to be more decentralized in BISs without terminals than in those with them. BISs with terminals are more decentralized than those without them in regard to the entry of accounting data. Sixty-seven percent of the BISs with terminals provide their budget managers with computerized stores form data that are no more up-to-date than that with which 75% of the BISs without terminals provide their budget managers. Budget managers of BISs with terminals have access to more up-to-date computerized budget information about requisitions than do those of BISs without terminals. Budget managers with terminals perceived their BISs as more advantageous than budget managers without terminals perceived theirs

Supply Chain Based Solution to Prevent Fuel Tax Evasion: Proof of Concept Final Report

The goal of this research was to provide a proof-of-concept (POC) system for preventing non-taxable (non-highway diesel use) or low-taxable (jet fuel) petrochemical products from being blended with taxable fuel products and preventing taxable fuel products from cross-jurisdiction evasion. The research worked to fill the need to validate the legitimacy of individual loads, offloads, and movements by integrating and validating, on a near-real-time basis, information from global positioning system (GPS), valve sensors, level sensors, and fuel-marker sensors

Differential Influence of Clonal Integration on Morphological and Growth Responses to Light in Two Invasive Herbs

Background and aims: In contrast to seeds, high sensitivity of vegetative fragments to unfavourable environments may limit the expansion of clonal invasive plants. However, clonal integration promotes the establishment of propagules in less suitable habitats and may facilitate the expansion of clonal invaders into intact native communities. Here, we examine the influence of clonal integration on the morphology and growth of ramets in two invasive plants, Alternanthera philoxeroides and Phyla canescens, under varying light conditions. Methods: In a greenhouse experiment, branches, connected ramets and severed ramets of the same mother plant were exposed under full sun and 85 % shade and their morphological and growth responses were assessed. Key results: The influence of clonal integration on the light reaction norm (connection6light interaction) of daughter ramets was species-specific. For A. philoxeroides, clonal integration evened out the light response (total biomass, leaf mass per area, and stem number, diameter and length) displayed in severed ramets, but these connection6light interactions were largely absent for P. canescens. Nevertheless, for both species, clonal integration overwhelmed light effect in promoting the growth of juvenile ramets during early development. Also, vertical growth, as an apparent shade acclimation response, was more prevalent in severed ramets than in connected ramets. Finally, unrooted branches displayed smaller organ size and slower growth than connected ramets, but the pattern of light reaction was similar, suggesting mothe

The Road Less Traveled: Regulation of Leukocyte Migration Across Vascular and Lymphatic Endothelium by Galectins

Leukocyte entry from the blood into inflamed tissues, exit into the lymphatics, and migration to regional lymph nodes are all crucial processes for mounting an effective adaptive immune response. Leukocytes must cross two endothelial cell layers, the vascular and the lymphatic endothelial cell layers, during the journey from the blood to the lymph node. The proteins and cellular interactions which regulate leukocyte migration across the vascular endothelium are well studied; however, little is known about the factors that regulate leukocyte migration across the lymphatic endothelium. Here, we will summarize evidence for a role for galectins, a family of carbohydrate-binding proteins, in regulating leukocyte migration across the vascular endothelium and propose that galectins are also involved in leukocyte migration across the lymphatic endothelium

Supply Chain Based Solution to Prevent Fuel Tax Evasion: Proof of Concept Final Report

The goal of this research was to provide a proof-of-concept (POC) system for preventing non-taxable (non-highway diesel use) or low-taxable (jet fuel) petrochemical products from being blended with taxable fuel products and preventing taxable fuel products from cross-jurisdiction evasion. The research worked to fill the need to validate the legitimacy of individual loads, offloads, and movements by integrating and validating, on a near-real-time basis, information from global positioning system (GPS), valve sensors, level sensors, and fuel-marker sensors

Direct Presentation Is Sufficient for an Efficient Anti-Viral CD8+ T Cell Response

The extent to which direct- and cross-presentation (DP and CP) contribute to the priming of CD8+ T cell (TCD8+) responses to viruses is unclear mainly because of the difficulty in separating the two processes. Hence, while CP in the absence of DP has been clearly demonstrated, induction of an anti-viral TCD8+ response that excludes CP has never been purposely shown. Using vaccinia virus (VACV), which has been used as the vaccine to rid the world of smallpox and is proposed as a vector for many other vaccines, we show that DP is the main mechanism for the priming of an anti-viral TCD8+ response. These findings provide important insights to our understanding of how one of the most effective anti-viral vaccines induces immunity and should contribute to the development of novel vaccines

X-ray Structures of the Signal Recognition Particle Receptor Reveal Targeting Cycle Intermediates

The signal recognition particle (SRP) and its conjugate receptor (SR) mediate cotranslational targeting of a subclass of proteins destined for secretion to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane in eukaryotes or to the plasma membrane in prokaryotes. Conserved active site residues in the GTPase domains of both SRP and SR mediate discrete conformational changes during formation and dissociation of the SRP·SR complex. Here, we describe structures of the prokaryotic SR, FtsY, as an apo protein and in two different complexes with a non-hydrolysable GTP analog (GMPPNP). These structures reveal intermediate conformations of FtsY containing GMPPNP and explain how the conserved active site residues position the nucleotide into a non-catalytic conformation. The basis for the lower specificity of binding of nucleotide in FtsY prior to heterodimerization with the SRP conjugate Ffh is also shown. We propose that these structural changes represent discrete conformational states assumed by FtsY during targeting complex formation and dissociation

Metabolic Syndrome: a challenging health Issue in highly urbanized Union Territory of north India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>1. To determine the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in adults aged 18 years and above in Chandigarh, India. 2. To determine the socio-demographic factors associated with MS. 3. To determine the agreement between IDF (International Diabetes federation definition) and ATP-III (National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults criteria).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a community based cross-sectional study, total 605 subjects aged 18 yrs and above were studied using multistage random sampling.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome was estimated by using IDF and ATP-III criteria. By IDF, Metabolic Syndrome was found in 287 (47.4%) subjects and it was more prevalent among females 171 (59.6%) as compared to males 116 (40.4%). By applying ATP-III overall prevalence was less i.e. 233 (38.5%) but again its prevalence was more among females 141 (44.8%) than males 116 (39.5%). Higher socioeconomic status, sedentary occupation and high body mass index were significantly associated with Metabolic Syndrome.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Metabolic Syndrome is a major health problem in the region and proper emphasis should be given on its prevention and control.</p

Decision to take osteoporosis medication in patients who have had a fracture and are 'high' risk for future fracture: A qualitative study

Abstract Background Patients' values and preferences are fundamental tenets of evidence-based practice, yet current osteoporosis (OP) clinical guidelines pay little attention to these issues in therapeutic decision making. This may be in part due to the fact that few studies have examined the factors that influence the initial decision to take OP medication. The purpose of our study was to examine patients' experiences with the decision to take OP medication after they sustained a fracture. Methods A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted with outpatients identified in a university teaching hospital fracture clinic OP program. Individuals aged 65+ who had sustained a fragility fracture within 5 years, were 'high risk' for future fracture, and were prescribed OP medication were eligible. Analysis of interview data was guided by Giorgi's methodology. Results 21 patients (6 males, 15 females) aged 65-88 years participated. All participants had low bone mass; 9 had OP. Fourteen patients were taking a bisphosphonate while 7 patients were taking no OP medications. For 12 participants, the decision to take OP medication occurred at the time of prescription and involved minimal contemplation (10/12 were on medication). These patients made their decision because they liked/trusted their health care provider. However, 4/10 participants in this group indicated their OP medication-taking status might change. For the remaining 9 patients, the decision was more difficult (4/9 were on medication). These patients were unconvinced by their health care provider, engaged in risk-benefit analyses using other information sources, and were concerned about side effects; 7/9 patients indicated that their OP medication-taking status might change at a later date. Conclusions Almost half of our older patients who had sustained a fracture found the decision to take OP medication a difficult one. In general, the decision was not considered permanent. Health care providers should be aware of their potential role in patients' decisions and monitor patients' decisions over time