Digital Commons Network^™

Low Cost Video For Distance Education, Michael J. Simpson

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

A distance education system has been designed for Nova Southeastern University (NSU) . The design was based on emerging low cost video technology. The report presented the design and summarizes existing distance education efforts and technologies.

The design supported multimedia electronic classrooms, and enabled students to participate in multimedia classes using standard telephone networks. Results were presented in three areas: management, courseware, and, systems.

In the area of management, the report recommended that the University separately establish, fund, and staff the distance education project. Supporting rationale was included.

In the area of courseware, the importance of quality courseware was highlighted. …

Seasonal Influences On Freshwater Fisheries Sampling Data, Kevin L. Pope, David W. Willis

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Fisheries managers often assess fish populations using catch per unit effort (CPUE), size and age structure, growth, and condition. For many freshwater fishes and common sampling gears, CPUE, size and age structure, and condition are highest in the spring and fall, while growth commonly is fastest during the summer growing season. However, there are exceptions to these general trends, especially in populations with erratic recruitment, growth, or mortality. At the least, CPUE, size and age structure, growth, and condition of fish should be expected to change with season, given the effects of variable recruitment, growth, and mortality. However, if recruitment, …

1996 Ecological Evaluation Cunningham Creek Potential Research Natural Area, A Final Report, Terri Hildebrand

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

The Cunningham Creek potential Research Natural Area (RNA) is located approximately 27.2 km (17 miles) east-southeasterly of Crawford, Nebraska or 40 km (25 miles) southwesterly of Chadron, Nebraska. Located on the Pine Ridge District of the Nebraska National Forest, the site is included in the Pine Ridge ecosystem of western Nebraska. Four hundred hectares (1000 acres) consisting of deciduous woodlands, pine forests, and upland prairies are located in the survey area. Inclusions of wet meadows, oak woodland, and aquatic systems intermingle in the deciduous woodland. Cattle grazing and recreation are the primary uses of the area. The purpose of this …

1996 Platte River Basin Ecosystem Symposium Proceedings

Water Current Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Minimum Ventilation For Modern Broiler Facilities, Richard S. Gates, Douglas G. Overhults, Shuhui H. Zhang

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

New functions for whole-house broiler heat production as a function of bird age using modern straight run broiler growth rates are presented and compared to values in the literature. The approximations are based on field measurements of environmental conditions in modern broiler housing, using a technique that matches predicted to actual fuel use to estimate partitioning between latent and sensible heat. Development of a program utilizing these approximations to compute ventilation and heating requirements for temperature and humidity control in broiler housing is described. The program utilizes steady-state heat and moisture balances commonly used for design purposes, with hourly or …

The Synthesis Of Azure B Derivatives: Potential Pro-Drugs For Photodynamic Therapy, Carla M. Edwards

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Vegetative Filter Strip Design For Grassed Areas Treated With Animal Manures, Dwayne R. Edwards, Tommy C. Daniel, Philip A. Moore Jr.

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Vegetative filter strips (VFS) are a low-cost management option that have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing runoff transport of fertilizer constituents applied to grassed areas (pasture or meadow). Runoff quality studies involving fertilizers applied to grassed areas suggest that VFS can be designed by assuming that (1) only infiltration is responsible for pollutant removal, (2) the first post-application runoff event is most important from a water quality perspective (enabling a design event approach), and (3) no pollutant build-up that degrades VFS performance will occur. The purpose of this study was to develop a VFS design algorithm for grassed …

Simulation Of Runoff Transport Of Animal Manure Constituents, Yang Wang, Dwayne R. Edwards, Tommy C. Daniel, H. Don Scott

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Runoff losses of land-applied animal manure constituents can adversely affect the quality of downstream waters. Reliable mathematical simulation models can help estimate runoff losses of animal manure constituents and identify management measures to reduce these losses. The objective of this study was to develop and calibrate an event-based simulation model to describe the runoff transport of solids (soil and manure particles) and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from areas treated with animal manure. The resulting model, consisting of linked hydrology, soil/manure transport, and nutrient transport components, is process-oriented and uses measurable parameters to the greatest degree possible. The three components of …

Quality Of Runoff From Four Northwest Arkansas Pasture Fields Treated With Organic And Inorganic Fertilizer, Dwayne R. Edwards, Tommy C. Daniel, John F. Murdoch, Philip A. Moore Jr.

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Long-term land application of animal manures, even at agronomic rates, can promote accumulation of soil phosphorus (P) which can, in turn, contribute to increased P loadings to downstream waters. The objective of this study was to assess the soil and runoff effects of replacing animal manure as a soil amendment with inorganic fertilizer (ammonium nitrate, NH₄NO₃) on fields that had been treated previously with animal manures. Runoff from two pairs of small fields (0.57 to 1.46 ha) was sampled from September 1991 to April 1994. All fields had been treated previously with animal manures; after runoff …

Poultry Litter-Treated Length Effects On Quality Of Runoff From Fescue Plots, Dwayne R. Edwards, Philip A. Moore Jr., Tommy C. Daniel, Puneet Srivastava

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Using experimental data and/or mathematical simulation models to identify practices that reduce pollution from manure-treated areas is sometimes perceived as limited by the unknown validity of extrapolating plot-scale data to larger areas and by uncertainties in modeling transport of various pollutants. The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of length of manure treatment on runoff concentrations of poultry litter constituents and to define the modes of transport (particulate versus soluble) for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), carbon (C), and solids. Poultry litter was applied to three 1.5- x 18.3-m fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plots with runoff collection …

Application Of Simplified Phosphorus Transport Models To Pasture Fields In Northwest Arkansas, Dwayne R. Edwards, C. T. Haan, Andrew N. Sharpley, John F. Murdoch, Tommy C. Daniel, Philip A. Moore Jr.

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Runoff transport of phosphorus (P) is often predicted from simple equations with parameters determined from data applicable primarily to row-cropped and fallow cover conditions. The applicability, accuracy, and precision of such P transport prediction equations under pasture situations are less well defined. The objectives of this study were to determine parameters of simplified runoff P transport equations for pasture fields and to assess the accuracy and precision of the equations. Runoff, sediment yield, soluble P transport, and particulate P transport data were collected from four pasture fields in northwestern Arkansas. Runoff event enrichment ratios and extraction coefficients were computed, and …

Modeling The Vertical Distribution Of Oyster Larvae In Response To Environmental Conditions, Margaret M. Dekshenieks, Eileen E. Hofmann, John M. Klinck, Eric N. Powell

CCPO Publications

A size-structured, time and vertically-dependent model was used to investigate the effects of water column structure on the distribution of larvae of the oyster Crassostrea virginica. Formulations used to model larval growth and behavior are based upon laboratory studies. Simulated vertical larval distributions obtained for conditions representative of a well-mixed, partially stratified and strongly stratified water column illustrate the effect that salinity and temperature gradients have on moderating larval swimming and hence on larvae vertical location. For well-mixed conditions, smaller larvae are dispersed throughout most of the water column. For strongly stratified conditions, the smaller-sized larvae cluster within the …

Fish Advisories: Useful Or Difficult To Interpret?, Joanna Burger, Michael Gochfeld

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

The authors note that fish and shellfish offer significant exposure to environmental toxins but find that consumer knowledge and other factors may limit efforts to control risk in urban populations.

Toolibin Catchment Revegetation Manual, Avril Baxter

Natural resources published reports

In1983, heavy winter rains resulted in severe inundation and flooding of the lower parts of the Toolibin catchment. The damage to crops and pastures was immense and costly. Local farmers realised that they needed to work together to minimise the impact of heavy rainfall events on their farm productivity.

At the same time the Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) was concerned about the quality of both ground and surface water in the catchment area for Toolibin Lake, the last remaining wooded freshwater lake in the southern wheatbelt. This mutual interest led to the formation of the …

Glacial Deposits, Vol. 24, 1995-1996, Department Of Geography-Geology

Glacial Deposits

Newsletter of the Department of Geography-Geology

Leaner Environmental Policies For Agriculture, David E. Ervin, Elisabeth A. Graffy

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Farmers and ranchers face a most troubling dilemma. Complex political forces have mapped two quite different paths to environmental management-a rollback of federal regulations or a buildup of traditional subsidies. In the words of a famous modern philosopher, "When you reach a fork in the road, take it!" But either choice poses risk for the industry and will not likely ameliorate nettlesome environmental problems. A third path could help the industry maintain competitiveness and meet environmental challenges. This path uses me latest science to identify agroenvironmental problems and emphasizes economically attractive technology to sustain environmental improvements.

Visualization Of Scalar Topology For Structural Enhancement, Chandrajit L. Bajaj, Daniel R. Schikore

Department of Computer Science Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Acidic Marine Biotoxins Implicated In Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning, Eoin P. Carmody

Theses

An okadaic acid (OA) etiology has been demonstrated for most outbreaks of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in Europe, An isomer of OA, dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX-2), has recently been found in Irish waters and, in 1991 and 1994, was the major toxin during prolonged infestations in cultivated mussels (Mytilus edulis) along the south-west coast of Ireland.

The OA class of DSP toxins have been analysed by HPLC using modified versions of three established fluorescent derivatisation methods. A ‘dual tag’ method for the confirmation of specific toxins has also been developed.

Survey work has been carried out over the past four years on …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Use Of Technology In Math And Higher Test Scores, Mary Ann Grooters

Masters Theses

This thesis explored the relationship of a technology enhanced curriculum to higher test scores and higher student motivation. This thesis involved two seventh grade math classes in Kentwood, Michigan. A control class received instruction including lectures, written assignments, and projects. The test group received similar assignments and projects and in addition were given technology supported exercises. A survey given to the test group examined motivation levels, and end of chapter tests compared achievement scores of both groups. The findings indicate that a technology enhanced curriculum does not lead to higher test scores but does impact student motivation to learn math.

Factors Affecting Attwater's Prairie-Chicken Decline On The Attwater Prairie Chicken, Michael E. Morrow, Robert S. Adamcik, Jenny D. Friday, Lloyd B. Mckinney

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

We examined the association between changes in the number of Attwater's prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) on the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge from 1972 to 1993 and changes in refuge management practices (burning and grazing). We also examined the relationship of prairie-chicken population increases and decreases on the refuge to rainfall and off-refuge prairie-chicken populations. Burning within the prairie-chicken's core habitat on the refuge and variability in grassland structure were directly correlated (P < 0.05) with increases and declines in prairie-chicken populations. Refuge population increases and declines were inversely correlated (P < 0.1) with average April rainfall/event, May absolute departure from long-term average rainfall, May number of rainfall events, annual absolute departure of rainfall from the long-term average, and the annual number of rainfall events. Refuge population increases and declines were directly correlated (P < 0.1) with off-refuge populations, although the off- refuge population decline began 4 years earlier than on-refuge.

Small Mammal Community Structure In Restored Prairies, Kathleen A. Falout

Masters Theses

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources currently manages approximately 4,000 hectares of natural prairie. High human impacts coupled with small patch size result in challenging management decisions for prairie conservation. The ideal restored prairie would consist of a mosaic of habitats varying in vegetation from forb-grass dominated areas to oak savannas, with concurrent stages of vegetative succession occurring across the habitats. A study was conducted at the Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area located in Vermillion County, IL, to analyze small mammal diversity and community composition among three different stages of prairie restoration.

The three treatment categories were: fallow …

Biological Effects Of Static Magnetic Fields, Richard B. Frankel, Robert P, Liburdy

Physics

No abstract provided.

Sacrificing Conservation For Pesos: An Analysis Of Select Marine Fisheries In The Political Environment Of Mexico, Sephen W. Bourgeois Jr.

Marine Affairs Theses and Major Papers

The decline of most Mexican fisheries has occurred so rapidly that few Mexicans and Americans alike fully appreciate the loss. The major focus of this paper will examine the false impression that Mexico is engaging in marine conservation; in reality, its conservation efforts are responses to after-the-fact actions brought on by world critics and as a vehicle to pacify conservationists. The Mexican government can pass a law but lacks the resources to administer and enforce the law and subsequently manage its fisheries in an effective manner. Rather than survey the state of every fishery found in Mexican waters, this paper …

International Organizations And Tuna Management; Problems And Future Prospects, Yuh-Chen Chern

Marine Affairs Theses and Major Papers

A large number of marine species migrate within and without national jurisdictions and a small number occur entirely outside any national jurisdiction. Thus, the species migrating through waters under the jurisdiction of coastal states to high seas beyond the jurisdiction of any single state are defined as highly migratory species (HMS). International organizations play a key role in the management of highly migratory species. Most of the international organizations concerned with HMS focus on tuna management.

Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Programs: An Assessment Of Public Participation As A Means Of Fostering Environmental Stewardship, Christopher Damon

Marine Affairs Theses and Major Papers

Volunteer water quality monitoring organizations from across the country were surveyed (n=516) to determine the relationship between public involvement and the generation of stewardship within the community. Program coordinators were asked first to rate the level of stewardship values within the community, and then respond to questions covering four broad areas of public involvement: pre-existing conditions, public education, volunteer behavior, and communal involvement. For each question, organizations were aggregated by response, and a frequency analysis was performed to discover the most common responses in each of the four public involvement categories. the mean of perceived stewardship values was graphed as …

Limits To Private Aquaculture On Cape Cod, Kevin Robert Cute

Marine Affairs Theses and Major Papers

This study examined the potential of social conflict related to private and public rights, to constrain aquaculture on Cape Cod. While the ability of social conflict to constrain aquaculture has been demonstrated in a few cases, its current potential to constrain aquaculture on Cape Cod had not been established prior to this study. This study was based on information gathered from town records and public hearings related to proposed aquaculture ventures. In addition, town officials were interviewed to obtain additional information related to cases. The finding of this study is that private riparian proprietors, and interests in shell-fishing tend to …

The Evolution Of International Fisheries Management In The North Pacific Ocean And Prospects For The Future, Paul Augustus Flynn

Marine Affairs Theses and Major Papers

The abundant resources of the North Pacific Ocean have been the subject of international disputes and negotiations through the 20th century. The management of species which range throughout this vast area, are not under the jurisdiction of a single state. That fact has required the establishment of a framework in which allocation and conservation measures can be researched and agreed upon. This has been accomplished through various multilateral and bilateral agreements. From the voluntary Japanese suspension of a directed salmon fishery off the coast of Alaska in 1938 to recently completed multilateral treaties, significant advances have been made in Pacific …

Public Health Hazards Associated With The Consumption Of Molluscan Shellfish In The State Of Rhode Island, Jeffrey F. Nussbaum

Marine Affairs Theses and Major Papers

The principal objective of this thesis was to descriptively and empirically assess shellfish consumption hazards in the state of Rhode Island and to evaluate the use of a shellfish hazard warning label to modify unsafe consumptive behaviors. To accomplish this task, three research problems were examined using a survey instrument. The survey instrument was a questionnaire which included both closed and open-ended questions. The survey questions were designed to identify four primary research variables; shellfish consumptive behaviors, consumer knowledge of shellfish hazards and related government advisories, perceptions of risk regarding personal shellfish consumption, and response to warning label information. The …

The Cumulative Impacts Of Management Decisions On Nitrogen Loading To The Rhode Island Salt Ponds, Laura M. Ernst

Marine Affairs Theses and Major Papers

Calculations and measurements of nitrogen in groundwater, stream flow and atmospheric deposition were used to see if the cumulative impacts of management decisions over a fifteen year period of time resulted in measurable changes in nitrogen loading to six of the salt ponds on the south shore of Rhode Island. The changes in the source and transmission of nitrogen were tested by comparing calculated and measured nitrogen data from 1980 and 1995. The calculated method included a nitrogen budget based on land-use and literature values for nitrogen loss to groundwater. The second method compared concentrations of nitrogen in groundwater taken …

A Partnership For Coral Reef Protection: A Case Study Of The International Coral Reef Initiative, Karla M. Boreri

Marine Affairs Theses and Major Papers

Coral reef are considered the most biologically diverse marine ecosystems on earth. They are a world-wide symbol of the economic and ecological importance of all types of coastal environments. The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) was developed in 1994 to increase the awareness of the human and anthropogenic threats facing reefs. Initially a U.S.-focused initiative, ICRI now includes over 70 like-minded governments and a growing list of UN organizations, science and academic organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector as its partners. This qualitative case study was developed based on actual participation in the initiative and hundreds of pages of …