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This thesis investigates the expression of identity on funerary gravestones from 3 inland regions of Asia Minor during the early Imperial period. I focus on how the stela form functioned as a vehicle through which meaning was articulated and explore what was significant to contemporary inhabitants in the articulation and projection of their identity. My examinations consider the context behind this expression, accounting for a variety of influencing factors, in addition to self-agency. Through this analysis, I aim to determine how and why there appears to be homogeneity in appearance and expression across the catalogue (over definable areas), and what this suggests about the details communicated. To start, this study will review current and previous approaches to funerary commemoration, viewer interactions with memorials, provincial, cultural exchange, and the construction (and negotiation) of identity. Next, I ascertain what was significant in the projection of identity for contemporary inhabitants and analyse the visual components on the stelae, identifying how they communicated with the viewer (what is transmitted, how, and why). I then consider the impact of contemporary production processes in defining the expression made.

Adverse growing conditions resulting from abiotic stresses e.g. pathogen attack results in large losses in crop yields. Understanding and improving plants tolerance to an unfavourable environment remains one of the objectives in the study of plant biotechnology. One growing theory for reducing plant susceptibility to a broad range of stresses is modulation of cellular energy homeostasis. NAD+ (along with ATP) is the most important of cellular energy transducers in the form of a hydrogen ion donor and acceptor. However, a bigger picture is emerging as its role broadens to include a coenzyme, precursor for secondary messengers and a substrate for protein modifications. Three groups of proteins use NAD+ as a substrate, the NAD+ protein deacetylases, poly ADP polymerases and ADP ribose cyclases. Work on these groups of proteins in model organisms have identified their involvement in many biological roles including DNA repair, increasing longevity, initiating apoptosis and regulation of transcription. However, their role in plants is largely unknown. The aim of this study has been to identify the genes involved which use NAD+ and to further characterise their role in plant stress responses. A summary of the main results follows, a) AtPARG2 and sirtuin At5g55760 null lines were more sensitive to DNA damaging agents. b) AtPARG2 lines showed a disruption in circadian rhythm resulting in early flowering. c) Sirtuin At5g09230 null lines were more sensitive to UV-B exposure d) AtPARP3 was highly upregulated with exogenous Abscisic acid application.

Rural America is rapidly becoming more diverse, yet rural communities remain different from their urban and suburban counterparts. Despite several decades of economic hardship in rural areas, rural schools are under researched by scholars and under prioritized by policymakers. Therefore, this study was designed to better understand how school and district leaders in rural contexts are meeting contemporary challenges while strengthening equitable teaching and learning opportunities for rural students. While exploring learning-focused leadership at the local level, this study also investigates the relationship between regional agencies and local districts to better understand the role of educational service agencies in regional learning improvement efforts and the role of the state in supporting a network of educational service agencies. This study draws upon interviews with 16 educational service agency administrators from across three of Washington state's nine regions and interviews with 15 principals and superintendents leading eight schools across seven districts in these regions. Policy coherence and leadership for learning improvement frameworks are employed to investigate the development of regional learning improvement agendas within the educational service agency regions and the learning improvement and resource allocation practices of local school and district leaders. This study contributes to two areas of research. First, findings suggest that, in addition to creating economies of scale by coordinating supports for rural districts, educational service agencies can also play a pivotal role in fostering policy coherence for teaching and learning priorities and the development of regional learning improvement agendas. Additionally, this study explores the dimensions of learning improvement work in rural schools demonstrating a general upward trend in standardized test scores. The findings explore the ways in which rural school and district leaders engage communities in teaching and learning efforts. In doing so, rural school and district leaders leverage their highly visible roles as community leaders and the important roles students play in rural communities to establish formal and informal resource pathways that support student learning. Nested within these contexts are the political implications school and district leaders face when pursuing equity-focused learning improvement agendas in tight-knit communities, and this study explores school and district leaders' use of partnerships and community engagement to navigate these dynamics. Study findings lead to several policy considerations for investing in local and state-supported infrastructure that empowers learning-focused leadership in rural schools. Additionally, this study signals implications for differentiated educational leadership preparation programs that prepare rural school and district leaders for careers in rural contexts. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

Technology and a variety of resources play an important role in students' educational lives. Vygotsky's (1987) theory of tool mediation suggests that cultural tools, such as computer software influence individuals' thinking and action. However, it is not completely understood how technology and other resources influence student action. Middle school students are a particularly an understudied population. This qualitative study examined how material and psychological tools, including the presentational software tools "PowerPoint" and "Prezi" mediate middle school students' actions when conducting research for two Earth Science research projects. Six eighth-grade students recorded computer screencasts and dialogue while conducting their research. I collected data from transcripts of computer screencasts, student interviews, and artifacts. Prior to coding, I established four major themes with 20 sub-categories. The four themes were content knowledge, previous tool use, resource use, and tool use. I segmented and coded the transcripts to reflect which different tools mediated student action. An analysis of the data revealed that library resources and the special features of "PowerPoint" and "Prezi" programs did not influence actions. Instead, I discovered that the assignment requirements and research topic content were the primary mediators of actions and behavior. However, despite the overall influence of the assignment requirements and topic content, each student employed different tools to complete each assignment. The results suggest that a variety of resources should be available to meet the individualistic tool use of students. The results also suggest that educators design less structured assignments that promote and encourage student centered learning and tool use. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

English language learners (ELLs) at a south Florida elementary school have consistently struggled with the mathematics segment of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Examining the relationship between ELLs' mathematics scores and English proficiency might provide local educators with ideas for reversing a downward trend in ELLs' mathematics performance. Krashen's theory of comprehensible input as a precursor to second language proficiency formed the theoretical framework for this quantitative, correlational study. The study investigates the predictive power of English proficiency on mathematics scores, controlling for gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and grade level among ELLs at the south Florida elementary school. English proficiency, gender, SES, and grade level comprised the predictor variables, with mathematics scores as the criterion variable. Multiple linear regression was used in analyzing archival data for 177 ELLs in Grades 3 to 5. English proficiency emerged as a statistically significant predictor of mathematics scores. Coefficients revealed that mathematics scores increased simultaneously with English proficiency but inversely with grade level. Grade level moderated the influence of English proficiency on mathematics scores, but gender and SES had no significant moderating influence. Factors other than English proficiency might influence ELLs' decreasing mathematics achievement and warrant further research. This study might encourage educators to develop mathematics assessments commensurate with English proficiency levels within grade. The outcome might reverse the downward trend in mathematics achievement while enhancing ELLs' opportunities for social mobility. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

This thesis presents an examination of the factors which influence the performance of eddy-current machines and the way in which they affect optimality of those machines. After a brief introduction to the types of eddy-current machine considered, the applications to which these machines are put are examined. A list of parameters by which to assess their performance is obtained by considering the machine as part of a system. in this way an idea of what constitutes an optimal machine is obtained. The third chapter then identifies the factors which affects the performance and makes a quantitative evaluation of the effect. Here the various alternative configurations and components are compared with regard to their influence on the mechanical, electromagnetic, and thermal performance criteria of the machine. Chapter four contains a brief review of the methods of controlling eddy-current machines by electronic methods using thyristors or transistors as the final control element. Where necessary, the results of previous workers in the field of electrical machines have been extended or adapted to increase the usefulness of this thesis.

This study explores staff and faculty’s self-efficacy in advocating for transgender and nonbinary students within higher education. Through a multi-part self-efficacy assessment (n=249), this study specifically examines the general sense of self-efficacy staff and faculty have regarding transgender and nonbinary advocacy self-efficacy, differences between staff and faculty, and if advocacy self-efficacy varies for transgender and nonbinary students when compared to lesbian, gay, and bisexual students. The findings of this study indicate that staff and faculty generally have a high self-efficacy regarding working with transgender and nonbinary students. However, staff and faculty have a lower sense of self-efficacy regarding action-oriented types of advocacies. Overall, staff and faculty show minimal differences in their sense of self-efficacy. Finally, when compared to lesbian, gay, and bisexual students, staff and faculty have a lower sense of advocacy self-efficacy for transgender and nonbinary students. Preliminary analysis of influential factors indicates that one’s role on campus as a staff member or faculty member and the number of LGBTQ+ cultural competency training that one has attended may have a more positive impact on self-efficacy than other factors, such as years of experience or frequency of interaction with students. Therefore, future research should further investigate cultural competency trainings that specifically target self-efficacy development as a possible educational intervention that may be effective at increasing staff and faculty advocacy self-efficacy for transgender and nonbinary students.

Increasing complexity, flatter organizational structures and rapidly changing environments require coordination and collaboration with individuals and teams across organizations. As teams navigate these complex organizational dynamics, spanning boundaries between groups is increasingly relevant for knowledge work. The extant literature has directed little attention towards examining how boundary spanning is carried out in complex, multi-organizational settings in which organization, sector and expertise boundaries are crossed during the life cycle of the collaboration. This dissertation develops a deeper understanding of the practices boundary spanners use in facilitating collaboration across diverse actors in multi-organizational work. I introduce and illustrate the phenomenon of facilitative boundary leadership -- defined as fostering teaming across organizational and sectoral boundaries for mutual benefit throughout the lifecycle of a temporary collaboration. Facilitative boundary leadership includes four components: 1) aligning objectives, which brings together diverse actors for exploratory dialogue and enables all parties to have mutual benefit; 2) curating interactions across boundaries, which promotes understanding and eases tensions; 3) establishing a collaborative structure, which provides ground rules and roles for interactions and work throughout the collaboration lifecycle; and 4) maintaining a neutral stance, which builds trust and allows the boundary spanner to move across levels and boundaries. This dissertation draws on an in-depth field study at a multilateral development organization implementing processes to enhance collaboration with external partners. I show that facilitative boundary leadership provided the relational and structural support for diverse actors from different organizations to collaborate and innovate in complex environments, despite numerous differences among actors. This research contributes to the literatures on boundary spanning, cross-sector collaboration and leadership. In addition, it offers practical implications for understanding and improving the effectiveness of collaboration in complex, multi-organizational contexts., Organizational Behavior

Aging is amongst the strongest risk factors for neurodegenerative disease and elevated Type I interferon (IFN) signaling has been associated with both normal aging and central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Type I IFN is normally produced by nucleated cells in response to the detection of viral pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs). More recently it has been appreciated that Type I IFNs are also produced in response to endogenous stimuli, in the absence of viral pathogens. While Type I IFN signaling has been shown to be elevated in human and murine brains during normal aging, the underlying cause was unknown. Here we demonstrate by flow cytometry that aging results in increased size and numbers of mitochondria in the murine brain. Despite identifying increased mitochondrial number and mitochondrial DNA content, we found no change to mitochondrially-encoded transcripts, suggesting either deficits in mitophagy or augmented biogenesis due to insufficient oxidative phosphorylation. Interestingly, mitochondrial numbers correlated with elevated Type I IFN signaling in aging, linking mitochondria to the age-dependent innate immune response in the CNS. Using genetically engineered mice, we excluded roles for two critical innate immune pathways, STING and IRAK4, in the age-dependent increase in Type I IFN signaling in the brain. Notably, we subsequently identified a mitochondrially restricted innate immune protein, mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) as an essential molecular mediator of the age-dependent Type I IFN response; MAVS deficiency in aged mice restored Type I IFN signaling in the CNS to the levels observed in adult wildtype mice. Further, using intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) as an orthogonal approach, we reduced MAVS transcript and protein expression within the CNS and thereby reduced Type I IFN signaling. Our data demonstrate a specific and selective role of MAVS expression in the CNS in Type I IFN signaling in aging. To investigate the relationship between mitochondrial aging and MAVS activation, we isolated cytoplasmic and mitochondrial RNA from young and aged animals as MAVS is most studied for its response to RNA ligands. Upon transfection into reporter cells, we found that mitochondrial RNA, but not cytoplasmic RNA, from both young and aged mice was sufficient to induce Type I IFN reporter activity in a MAVS-dependent manner. Furthermore, we attempted to mimic the increase of mitochondria observed in the aging CNS by transferring mitochondria from young and aged animals to recipient cells. Mitochondrial transfer also induced MAVS-dependent Type I IFN signaling in wildtype, but not MAVS null, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Collectively, our findings suggest that the accumulation of mitochondria in aging serves as a robust source of MAVS pathway ligands and implicate a novel link between mitochondrial aging and MAVS-mediated innate immune signaling in the CNS.

End-stage renal disease is a chronic, terminal condition in which the kidneys retain less than 5% of their normal capacity for filtering wastes and fluids from the bloodstream. Kidney failure represents a significant and costly public health problem, especially for Hispanic patients. While there are no known direct psychosocial causes of kidney failure, sociobehavioral factors play a crucial role in determining the capacity for survival for the end-stage renal disease patient; in addition to taking on dialysis treatment, in which an artificial kidney filters waste products from the body, patients must take dozens of medications and monitor and restrict their diet and fluid intake, resulting in high disease burden, high cognitive demand, and high risk for morbidity and mortality. Additionally, changes in cognitive and psychosocial functioning over the course of the dialytic cycle may be crucial in determining treatment outcomes for these patients. The purpose of the present study was to examine the interrelationships between cognitive functioning, general and disease-specific social support, and the length of the interdialytic interval on adherence to treatment in a sample of patients on hemodialysis. The study was the first to explore these relationships using a sophisticated electronic diary system. Participants included 22 (female n = 11; Mean age 44 years) English- and Spanish-speaking, primarily Hispanic patients being treated for kidney failure at the UC Irvine Medical Center. Overall, levels of social support in this sample were high, and reports of cognitive dysfunction were minimal. Some aspects of social support, particularly diet-related support, were associated with improved adherence to treatment, but in general, support did not substantially influence engagement in behaviors of disease self-management. Additionally, contrary to hypotheses, cognitive functioning was greater over two-day interdialytic intervals than shorter one-day intervals, and was not found to mediate the relationship between length of the interdialytic interval and disease self-management. Likewise, the effect of cognitive functioning on treatment adherence was not buffered by social support. Such findings provide some limited support for an osmotic theory of cognitive dysfunction resulting from hemodialysis, but should interpreted with caution pending recruitment of a larger sample and a higher degree of compliance with the ecological momentary assessment protocol.

In the aftermath of a devastating disaster, access to even basic medical care may be limited or nonexistent. Many medical infrastructures are ill-prepared to handle the influx of cases and quickly become overtaxed. Hospitals can be damaged and rendered nonfunctional. The situation is exacerbated if the medical infrastructure was previously failing under normal circumstances. Hastily established refugee camps set up in the immediate hours and days following a natural disaster are typically unsanitary and unsafe. Under these conditions, simple abrasions can develop into more serious issues when proper facilities are not available. As a response, emergency medical shelters would be deployed into a disaster zone to provide more immediate, safer, and sanitary care to victims. They would be sent in as a modular unit system that could expand over time as additional modules are added to become a substantial field hospital. For effective pre-planning, units would be stored in various locations worldwide near areas prone to natural disasters. Final delivery to the site, following a disaster, would be via helicopter. Simple setup is required and would be accomplished within hours of delivery, typically by someone familiar with the unit and with the aid of the local community. Each unit would have the equipment and functioning systems, such as electricity and water, it needs built into it, allowing for self-sufficiency in at least the first few days. These emergency medical shelters would serve to temporarily alleviate the system and provide support until the health care system can stabilize to pre-disaster conditions.

Despite improvements in preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. There are currently no effective therapies for those diagnosed with later stage lung cancer. Recent efforts have focused on targeting specific lung cancer-related growth pathways, such as the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-Met signaling pathway. HGF/c-Met signaling plays a critical role in mediating proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and inflammatory responses in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This signaling pathway also confers resistance to therapies targeting other growth factor pathways such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This study focuses on two aspects of HGF/c-Met signaling relevant to lung cancer: HGF stimulated c-Met angiogenic response and EGFR ligand-induced c-Met pro-cancer signaling. We previously reported airway expression of a human HGF transgene (HGF TG) produced mice that were more susceptible to lung tumorigenesis induced by a tobacco carcinogen. Here we show untreated HGF TG mice display enhanced vascularization and lymph vessel formation in the lungs compared to wild-type (WT) littermates, as ascertained by microvessel density. Whole lung microarray analysis consistently found significant decreases in expression of genes involved in angiogenesis including the VEGF family of genes (Vegfa,Vegfb, Vegfc, Vegfd/Figf) at 10, 20, and 40 weeks of age in HGF TG animals compared to WT littermates. HGF TG lung tumors derived from carcinogen treated HGF TG mice demonstrated reduction in VEGF genes with an increased expression of five Cxcl family genes including Cxcl1 and Cxcl2 (murine forms of IL-8). Thus, increased vascularization produced by airway over-expression of HGF may occur through direct activation of c-Met on endothelial cells and expression of inflammatory mediators, rather than induction of VEGF pathways. Ligand-independent delayed and prolonged activation of c-Met has also been demonstrated previously by our laboratory via cross-talk from the EGFR pathway. Here we show that prolonged activation of STAT3 by EGFR-ligands is dependent on delayed c-Met activation. Inhibition of c-Met, by PHA665752, eliminates EGFR stimulated activation of STAT3 at delayed time points. The failure of Src inhibition, by PP2, to block delayed phospho-STAT3, and the co-immunoprecipitation of STAT3 with c-Met 8-24hours post EGF stimulation, suggests STAT3 is directly activated by c-Met. These data reinforce the idea that delayed c-Met activation is utilized by EGFR to potentiate its full biological effects through STAT3. Both ligand-dependent transient and ligand-independent delayed c-Met activation appear to be important in lung tumorigenesis. The findings of this study support future development of novel HGF/c-Met and EGFR combination therapies in NSCLC.

Public involvement is developing in recognition as an important step in attaining acceptance in local communities for developments, and it can produce important benefits for the majority of parties involved, including the proponents and the community (University of Manchester EIA, 2003). Many authors have discussed techniques to include when designing and implementing a public involvement programme (Rowe & Frewer, 2000; Shepard & Bowler, 1997 Morgan, 1998; UNEP, 2002), however, evaluative measures which assess the success of consultation programmes have not been thoroughly investigated. Barriers exist in society which disallow particular groups to effectively contribute to public participation programmes (Diduck & Sinclair, 2002). Specific information regarding how individual 'hard to reach' groups should be involved in consultation is not provided and suggestions to ameliorate issues with involving such groups is generic in nature. This research focuses on Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ), a group who have been identified as 'hard to reach', largely through a case study of a proposed landfill in the Kate Valley area in North Canterbury. A combination of two techniques were used to assess RWNZ's involvement in the consultation programme, including an assessment of historical documents and associated reports, and interviews carried out with seven RWNZ members. Results indicated that RWNZ perceived that they were not adequately involved in the Kate Valley consultation programme. Several personal and external barriers were identified by the RWNZ interview participants that impeded their participation in the Kate Valley consultation programme. This research identifies important features that a consultation proponent can employ to effectively involve RWNZ in a public participation programme in the future. A significant finding, largely unrelated to the Kate Valley consultation programme regards the apparent lack of knowledge that the general public have about consultation processes and their individual rights and opportunities.

Some artists strive to create artwork that has aesthetic value. If a piece of artwork has the ability to capture the attention of an audience, it must contain strong sensual attributes. Thus, understanding how to design an art form to contain strong sensual attributes may increase the possibility of an aesthetic experience. Since aesthetics is an experience of sensations perceived when in contact with a creative form in any artistic discipline, it is necessary for an artist to understand the nature of the sensual experience. In understanding the sensual experience, artists may be able to create techniques to enhance the aesthetic experience of their work. My video piece, entitled Ararat is a study of methods to enhance the sensual experience. I hope to accomplish this by means of using techniques that optimize an audience's perceptual experience.

The most important problem in using bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) for turf at the northern limit of its adaptation is winter survival. Bermudagrass used for athletic complexes is exposed to the additional problem of uncontrolled or excessive traffic. This research was conducted to determine the effects of: 1) traffic and mineral nutrition; 2) clear plastic covers and cultural treatments and; 3) overseeding and late winter freezing on bermudagrass winter survival. Four separate experiments were conducted on field cultured Midiron bermudagrass. Various regimes of traffic, N and K fertility, clear plastic covers, cultural treatments and growth regulators were utilized to determine their affect on bermudagrass winter survival. A laboratory freeze was used, in two experiments, on plant samples taken from the field. Following the freezing procedure, the samples were then grown in the greenhouse. From these experiments, it was found that traffic applied just as turf growth initiates in the spring was the most damaging. Potassium fertility had no effect on post dormancy growth. Nitrogen did improve post dormancy growth of bermudagrass exposed to a late winter laboratory freeze and when plastic covers were applied during winter dormancy. Plastic covers enhanced post dormancy growth and offset the detrimental effect of imposed traffic. 'Stayz Green' turf colorant did increase early post dormancy growth. While, the cultivation treatments using a vertical mower alone and with an aerifier reduced early green up. Flurprimidal reduced early post dormancy growth of bermudagrass; while, mefluidide had no detrimental effect. Both growth regulators reduced the growth of the overseeded ryegrass, and mefluidide enhanced the competitiveness of bermudagrass in the ryegrass canopy.

In this thesis I intend to explore the possibilities of interfacing the Geni-graphics Paint system with the Animation System to create the illusion of pixel based animation on a two dimensional, object based system. The imagery for the animation will be developed from my work in painting and illustration in an at tempt to create an animated electronic painting.

The relationships between muscle-tension level, motoric-activity level, and academic performance in the laboratory setting are investigated. Three participants were reinforced for reducing and increasing their tension levels, alternately, while engaged in a simulated academic task, and the effects of each on the rate of activity and academic performance were measured. Measures were also obtained on the rate of activity and occurrence of problem behavior in the subject's homes. Significant treatment differences were found which support a direct relationship between tension and activity level so that a decrease in EMG level was associated with a decrease in motoric activity, and an increase in EMG level was associated with an increase in motoric activity. The efficacy of using EMG biofeedback to train relaxation in children with activity-level problems to control their symptoms is supported, especially where such a technique can be used in a specific task-oriented situation.

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