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Characterization Of The Pharmacological Effects Of Digitoxin On Lung Epithelial Cells, Hosam Abdelmonaim Elbaz Dec 2011

Characterization Of The Pharmacological Effects Of Digitoxin On Lung Epithelial Cells, Hosam Abdelmonaim Elbaz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Lung diseases (excluding cancer) account for 9% of all disease related mortalities while lung cancer accounts for 30% of cancer related mortalities. Therapeutic maneuvers, as surgery are usually unfeasible given the extreme vitality of the lung. Developing novel therapeutic alternatives for lung cancer requires a thorough understanding on the lung epithelial cell behavior following exposure to drugs. The goal of this dissertation was to examine how molecular and cellular characteristics, such as morphology and cell viability, of lung cancer cells will be altered upon exposure to digitoxin, a cardiac glycosides (CGs) and a digitoxin synthetic analog. CGs are a large …

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Gis Assisted Problem Analysis Of Trail Erosion In Monongahela National Forest, Steven J. Storck Dec 2011

Gis Assisted Problem Analysis Of Trail Erosion In Monongahela National Forest, Steven J. Storck

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research investigates the frequency and patterns of trail erosion on purposefully selected natural surface trails in Monongahela National Forest. Trail erosion is considered a non-self-limiting process which degrades trail beds making them unattractive, difficult to travel on, and has the potential to impact local streams with the introduction of silt. Recreation ecology research delineates factors which influence the rate of erosion on a trail into three broad categories: recreational use, environmental conditions, and managerial actions. This study tests the relationship of variables from each of these categories to the local patterns of erosion. Three sampling strategies are used to …

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Land Use Pressure And Climate Impacts On Fire Regimes And Forest Regeneration In The Upper Tuul River Watershed, Mongolia, Thomas M. Saladyga Dec 2011

Land Use Pressure And Climate Impacts On Fire Regimes And Forest Regeneration In The Upper Tuul River Watershed, Mongolia, Thomas M. Saladyga

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation is composed of three chapters addressing the broad issues of land use, climate variability, and wildfire in central Mongolia. The first chapter describes a GIS model developed to map human impacts in the Upper Tuul River watershed. Forest establishment data were used to validate the application of the model with results indicating a high level of correspondence with a field assessment of human disturbance. Chapter two is a tree-ring based reconstruction of Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) for the central Khan Khentii Mountains from 1675-2000. Changes in moisture availability were more frequent during the 20th century than any …

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Behavior That Hurts: Theoretical Orientation, Terminology, And Diagnosis Of Self-Injury, Susannah C. Rowan Flamm Dec 2011

Behavior That Hurts: Theoretical Orientation, Terminology, And Diagnosis Of Self-Injury, Susannah C. Rowan Flamm

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Self-injurious behavior prevalence continues to rise in both adolescent and adult non-clinical populations and within adolescent and adult clinical populations. Despite a large volume of literature regarding the antecedents and functions of self-injury, exploration of clinician factors in regard to these clients is sparse. This study examined the associations among 346 doctoral level clinicians' theoretical orientations, preferred terminology to describe self-injurious behaviors, and preferred diagnoses for clients who engage in self-injury. Therapist variables such as age, years in practice, and gender were examined for their association with terminology and diagnostic preferences. Chi-square analyses were conducted for the two-way interactions and …

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Avian Assemblages And Red-Eyed Vireo Nest Survival Within Mineland Forest, Jeremy Mizel Dec 2011

Avian Assemblages And Red-Eyed Vireo Nest Survival Within Mineland Forest, Jeremy Mizel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Since the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) in 1977, mined lands have generally been reclaimed to an environment characterized by severely compacted minesoils, a growth medium comprised largely of unweathered materials, and a predominance of aggressive groundcovers that inhibit native species colonization. Under these conditions, succession is arrested. Within landscapes that are fragmented by traditionally reclaimed surface mines, forest patches are smaller and forest cover on the landscape scale is reduced. As a result, forest songbirds that require large, continuous blocks of forest are negatively affected.;Some pre-SMCRA abandoned minelands contain areas of uncompacted minesoils on …

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Issues In The Care Of Farm Animals: Current History Of The Movement In Selected States, Jennifer N. Dunn Dec 2011

Issues In The Care Of Farm Animals: Current History Of The Movement In Selected States, Jennifer N. Dunn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many animal care practices commonly accepted as a regular part of the agricultural industry are being questioned by organizations advocating for the care of farm and companion animals. The use of gestation crates for pregnant sows, veal crates for veal calves, and battery cages for egg-laying hens are being banned in some states in the United States. While appearing to be a modern phenomenon, animal rights/animal welfare issues actually can be found throughout history. The purpose of the study was to trace the history of the care of farm and companion animals movement in the United States. This included the …

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Response Elimination, Reinforcement Rate And Resurgence Of Operant Behavior, Carlos Renato Xavier Cancado Dec 2011

Response Elimination, Reinforcement Rate And Resurgence Of Operant Behavior, Carlos Renato Xavier Cancado

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The effects of reinforcement rates of alternative responding on resurgence were studied in six experiments with pigeons. In Experiment 1A, key pecking was maintained on a multiple variable-interval (VI) VI schedule during the first, Training, phase. In the second, Response-Elimination, phase, variable differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior (DRO) schedules were in effect in each component and reinforcement rates were equal and then, higher in one (rich) component, and lower in the other (lean), than in the Training phase. In the third, Resurgence, phase, reinforcers were discontinued and more resurgence occurred in the lean than in the rich component. Differences in Training-phase response rates between …

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Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Methods For Prediction Of Brook Trout Salvelinus Fontinalis Percent Dry Weight, Andrew William Hafs Dec 2011

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Methods For Prediction Of Brook Trout Salvelinus Fontinalis Percent Dry Weight, Andrew William Hafs

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Reliable fish condition estimates are valued by fisheries ecologists and managers. Fish condition is used as an indicator of ecosystem health or to assess the population status for a species of interest. In aquaculture, proximate composition estimates are often wanted because of their relationship to fillet quality. Past researchers have used bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to provide nonlethal mass based estimates of proximate composition for fish. Percent dry weight (PDW) of a fish is highly correlated to proximate composition values and energy density, therefore reliable predictions of PDW would eliminate the need for costly and laboratory analyses lethal to the …

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Repression Of Phlpp By Mir-190 Contributes To Arsenic-Induced Akt Activation And Carcinogenesis, Kevin John Beezhold Dec 2011

Repression Of Phlpp By Mir-190 Contributes To Arsenic-Induced Akt Activation And Carcinogenesis, Kevin John Beezhold

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Arsenic is a well-studied human carcinogen. The mechanism by which arsenic induces cancer, however, is not fully understood. It is known that as a general stress inducer, arsenic can activate kinases, such as mitogen-activated protein kinases, leading to over activation of transcription factors. These transcription factors, including AP-1, NF-kB and Myc, are known to regulate the expression of early response genes, and likely to regulate miRNAs. The expression of miRNAs is often altered in cancer and other proliferative disorders. It is highly probable that miRNAs whose expressions are altered by arsenic will play a significant role in carcinogenesis. To test …

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Efficient Design Of Biological Experiments For Dose-Response Modeling In Nanomaterial Toxicology Studies, Kai Wang Dec 2011

Efficient Design Of Biological Experiments For Dose-Response Modeling In Nanomaterial Toxicology Studies, Kai Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis is concerned with developing two-stage Bayesian optimum design procedure in nanotoxicology with simulation experiments. The proposed design method adopts suitable nonlinear dose response curve and non-constant variance model in experimental modeling, which more adequately represents the desirable properties of bioassay-experiment. A multiple objective genetic algorithm were used to select best set of non-dominated experiments on Pareto front. The proposed approach has been shown to provide better design than traditional experiment method in terms of D-optimum design and A-optimum design.

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Nesting Biology Of Osmia Cornifrons: Implications For Population Management, Matthew Mckinney Dec 2011

Nesting Biology Of Osmia Cornifrons: Implications For Population Management, Matthew Mckinney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Japanese hornfaced bee, Osmia cornifrons (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) is a palearctic mason bee managed for the pollination of early season fruit crops such as apple and blueberry. Since its adoption as a managed pollinator in Japan during the 1940s, a large body of literature has amassed with the goal of enhancing O. cornifrons management practices. This research makes important contributions to that literature in two ways. First, the research describes the in-nest relationship of O. cornifrons and the cleptoparasitic mite pest Chaetodactylus krombeini. Distribution of male and female O. cornifrons and of C. krombeini was determined using linear and non-linear …

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Characterization Of M-Cadherin's Role In Regulating Apoptosis And Myogenic Differentiation Of Myoblasts By Interacting With Key Components Of Canonical Wnt Signaling, Yan Wang Dec 2011

Characterization Of M-Cadherin's Role In Regulating Apoptosis And Myogenic Differentiation Of Myoblasts By Interacting With Key Components Of Canonical Wnt Signaling, Yan Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Activation, proliferation, and differentiation of satellite cells are the basic means for adult muscle regeneration. Apoptosis is concurrent to differentiation of satellite cells and dysregulated apoptosis contributes to the occurrence and progression of certain muscular dystrophies. This study investigated the role of M-cadherin-mediated signaling in regulating apoptosis versus survival of myoblasts during the process of myogenic differentiation. Inhibition of M-cadherin expression by RNAi (RNA interference) in confluent C2C12 myoblasts sensitized the cells to mitochondria-associated intrinsic apoptosis induced by either cell confluence or serum starvation. Manipulation of M-cadherin signaling regulated the Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) activity via phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. …

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Effects Of Delay Order And D-Amphetamine On Delay Discounting In Rats, Shana R. Bailey Dec 2011

Effects Of Delay Order And D-Amphetamine On Delay Discounting In Rats, Shana R. Bailey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Impulsive choice is defined as choice for a smaller, more immediate reinforcer over a larger, more delayed reinforcer, whereas self-controlled choice is defined as choice for a larger, more delayed reinforcer over a smaller, more immediate reinforcer. Determinants of impulsive and self-controlled choices may be studied by employing delay-discounting procedures. When using a discrete-trials delay-discounting procedure, a difference in delay discounting as a function of order of presentation of delays to larger-reinforcer delivery was reported by one previous study, whereas another study reported no differences. In both studies, subjects had a history of exposure to both ascending and descending order …

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The Effects Of Genetic Strain And Finisher Diet Non-Phytate Phosphorus Level On Performance, Lysine Degradation And Litter Composition Of Large Tom Turkeys, Brittany Nicholle Swiger Aug 2011

The Effects Of Genetic Strain And Finisher Diet Non-Phytate Phosphorus Level On Performance, Lysine Degradation And Litter Composition Of Large Tom Turkeys, Brittany Nicholle Swiger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Successful commercial turkey production requires proper genetic strain selection to optimize live performance and profit. In addition, sustainable practices relative to manure disposal are essential due to perceptions that land application of poultry manure is a primary contributor to watershed eutrophication. The objective of our research was to assess genetic strain and finisher diet non-phytate phosphorus (nPP) level effects on large tom performance and litter composition using a research facility that mimics commercial production. Experiments were 2x2 factorial designs utilizing 2 strains (Nicholas and Hybrid) and 2 levels of dietary nPP (normal and low) in finishing diets. Two experiments of …

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Encoding Of Temporal Sound Features In The Rodent Superior Paraolivary Nucleus, Richard A. Felix Ii Aug 2011

Encoding Of Temporal Sound Features In The Rodent Superior Paraolivary Nucleus, Richard A. Felix Ii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The superior paraolivary nucleus (SPON) is a prominent cell group in the mammalian brainstem. SPON neurons are part of a monaural circuit that encodes temporal sound features in the ascending auditory pathway. Such attributes of acoustic signals are critical for speech perception in humans and likely equally as important in animal communication. While basic properties of SPON neurons have been characterized in some detail, a comprehensive examination of mechanisms that underlie their ability to precisely represent temporal information is lacking. Furthermore, little is known of how the SPON impacts its primary target, the inferior colliculus. Combinations of electrophysiological, pharmacological and …

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Fragipan Influence On Hydropedological Properties Of Benchmark Soilscapes In West Virginia, John F. Beck Aug 2011

Fragipan Influence On Hydropedological Properties Of Benchmark Soilscapes In West Virginia, John F. Beck

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Soil wetness and the interactions between soil and water influence the potential uses of soil and must be considered when making decisions regarding soil use and management. The strategic placement of hydrologic monitoring instrumentation on a benchmark soilscape is critical toward providing the users of soil information with reliable predictability of water movement at the soil-water interface.;A hydropedologically significant study site that satisfies the benchmark soilscape criteria as defined by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was selected for this research. Because of the high cost of performing investigations and research, benchmark soils are targeted and the information gleaned from …

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The Association Of Markers Of Endothelial Dysfunction And Incident Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Chronic Kidney Disease And Cardiovascular Mortality, Loretta Rena Cain Aug 2011

The Association Of Markers Of Endothelial Dysfunction And Incident Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Chronic Kidney Disease And Cardiovascular Mortality, Loretta Rena Cain

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In recent years several mechanistic animal studies have proposed new insights, including the role of endothelial dysfunction, in the pathogenesis of common cardiometabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, few studies in humans have followed up these emerging leads from animal models. Because traditional risk factors have been shown not to completely explain all the observed risk of cardiometabolic outcomes in the general population, there is a need to examine novel mechanisms such as endothelial dysfunction in population-based studies, so as to identify new ways of preventing and/or treating these diseases. …

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Effect Of Intravenous Treatment With The Oxytocin Antagonist Atosiban On Circulating Progesterone In The Ewe, Todd M. Ramboldt Aug 2011

Effect Of Intravenous Treatment With The Oxytocin Antagonist Atosiban On Circulating Progesterone In The Ewe, Todd M. Ramboldt

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Effects of oxytocin on the ovine corpus luteum have been controversial for a number of years. The present study investigated the effects of atosiban, a combined oxytocin and vasopressin 1A antagonist, administered systemically to ewes on post estrus day 8 to 10. Atosiban was given in four bolus intravenous injections at 0, 60, 120 and 180 minutes with blood sampling every 15 minutes from -60 through 480 minutes. Concentrations of serum progesterone ng/ml were measured via radioimmunoassay. A log10 transformation of progesterone values was conducted to account for the heterogeneity of variance of the values. During the treatment interval (0 …

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The Effect Of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (Cla) On Feed Efficiency And Carcass Composition In Barrows, Natasha R. Winslow Aug 2011

The Effect Of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (Cla) On Feed Efficiency And Carcass Composition In Barrows, Natasha R. Winslow

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine if conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) would have an effect on feeding efficiency and carcass composition of 20 finishing barrows obtained from the West Virginia University Animal Science Farm. A posttest experimental design was used to obtain data for the study. The barrows were matched for weight and placed two in a pen. The pens were randomly assigned to a diet consisting of either a 1% CLA oil or 1% soybean oil. The six week study found that weight gain, average daily feed intake, muscle lipids, loin eye area, and color were not …

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Characterizing Textural Attributes Of Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Fillets As Affected By Age, Sterility, And Storage Regimen, Aunchalee Aussanasuwannakul Aug 2011

Characterizing Textural Attributes Of Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Fillets As Affected By Age, Sterility, And Storage Regimen, Aunchalee Aussanasuwannakul

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Trout fillets, subjected to refrigeration (4°C; 3 or 7 d) by frozen storage (-25°C; 0 or 30 d) combinations, were cooked; texture, determined by a novel, variable-blade (VB) attachment, was compared with a widely-used Allo-Kramer shear (AK) attachment to determined its sensitivity in detecting variation in fillet texture. Instrumental texture was related to sensory measurements to determine attachments' accuracy in assessing cooked fillet texture. Weight of raw fillets decreased after 30-d frozen storage. Fillet weight further decreased after cooking. Moisture content decreased while fat content remained constant. The AK attachment detected differences in energy of shear, which decreased after 30-d …

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Characterization And Genetic Manipulation Of Ergot Pathway Inefficiency In Fungi, Prashanthi Mulinti Aug 2011

Characterization And Genetic Manipulation Of Ergot Pathway Inefficiency In Fungi, Prashanthi Mulinti

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ergot alkaloids are mycotoxins that negatively affect humans and animals but also have useful pharmaceutical properties. Ergot alkaloids have been extensively studied in Claviceps purpurea, and also have been reported in other fungi, such as certain Penicillium spp., Aspergillus fumigatus, and several Neotyphodium spp. that are endophytes of grasses. There is a high degree of variation in the production of ergot alkaloids within an individual species and among producers from different taxa, which means different fungi accumulate different profiles of ergot alkaloids rather than a single pathway end product. These varied profiles result, in part, from inefficiency in the pathway …

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Effects Of Age And Early Life Ozone Exposure On The Developmental Dynamics Of Afferent Airway Neurons In Postnatal Rats, Leor C. Zellner Aug 2011

Effects Of Age And Early Life Ozone Exposure On The Developmental Dynamics Of Afferent Airway Neurons In Postnatal Rats, Leor C. Zellner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The environmental irritant ozone (O3) plays a role in airway inflammation and is known to cause airway hyperresponisiveness especially in susceptible populations such as asthmatics and young children. O3 exposure increases nerve growth fact (NGF) mRNA and protein levels in the airways, and alters the expression of substance P (SP) in nodose and jugular afferent airway neurons and in sensory nerve fibers in the airways. The growth and development of vagal afferent neurons is in part regulated by NGF, and because these sensory neurons continue to develop throughout postnatal life O3 exposures during this period may adversely affect their development. …

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Relationships Among Fish Assemblages, Hydroperiods, Drought, And American Alligators Within Palustrine Wetlands Of The Blackjack Peninsula, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, Darrin M. Welchert Aug 2011

Relationships Among Fish Assemblages, Hydroperiods, Drought, And American Alligators Within Palustrine Wetlands Of The Blackjack Peninsula, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, Darrin M. Welchert

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The following thesis contains two chapters. In Chapter 1, I have reviewed and summarized literature pertaining to fishes and habitats of palustrine wetlands, the influence of hydroperiods on wetland fishes, the impacts of drought on wetland fishes, the importance of American alligators as ecological engineers of fish habitats within wetlands, and fish sampling within wetland habitats. Chapter 2 is a manuscript representing my thesis research. In this study, primary focus is placed on how fish diversity and how fish abundances of palustrine wetlands are influenced by drought conditions within the Blackjack Peninsula of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern …

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Effects Of Resveratrol Supplementation On Glycemic Response And Oxidant Status In Moderately Exercised Mature Quarter Horse Geldings, Jennie L. Zambito Aug 2011

Effects Of Resveratrol Supplementation On Glycemic Response And Oxidant Status In Moderately Exercised Mature Quarter Horse Geldings, Jennie L. Zambito

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Resveratrol, a naturally occurring phytocompound is known to exert numerous health benefits including improved insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, along with decreased tissue damage due to reactive oxygen species (ROS). This compound is incorporated in a multitude of supplements targeted to performance horses, yet no research in an athletic equine model has been completed to date. Therefore, this study was performed to test the hypothesis that resveratrol supplementation would improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, while reducing oxidant damage in an exercising model. Six, healthy, fit aged (10.5+/-1.5yr, ~500kg) Quarter Horse geldings were assigned to three treatment groups in a …

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Evaluating The Effects Of Morrow's Honeysuckle Control On Vertebrate And Vegetation Assemblages, And Small Mammal Foraging Ecology At Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Charnee Lee Rose Aug 2011

Evaluating The Effects Of Morrow's Honeysuckle Control On Vertebrate And Vegetation Assemblages, And Small Mammal Foraging Ecology At Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Charnee Lee Rose

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Exotic, Japanese bush honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.; Caprifoliaceae) are tied to a variety of impacts on wildlife and ecosystems. Morrow's honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) has become a persistent invader in eastern North America. We organized a restoration initiative at Fort Necessity National Battlefield (FONE), Pennsylvania, USA from 2004--2010. Concurrently, we studied the consumption of Morrow's honeysuckle fruits by small mammals from October--November 2009 and July--August 2010, and determined habitat variables that affected visitation rate to foraging stations. Areas of FONE were invaded by Morrow's honeysuckle after the land had been cleared for agriculture, and routine mowing ceased in the mid-1980s. Our restoration …

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Imperial Intentions And Independent Interests: The Ohio Company Of Virginia And Its Agents, Thomas Cresap And Christopher Gist, 1748--1752, Emily S. Hager Aug 2011

Imperial Intentions And Independent Interests: The Ohio Company Of Virginia And Its Agents, Thomas Cresap And Christopher Gist, 1748--1752, Emily S. Hager

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Thomas Cresap and Christopher Gist, two common men from Maryland, began working for the Ohio Company of Virginia in 1748, in an attempt to expand the British Empire's claim in the Ohio River Valley by enlarging the colony of Virginia. This thesis analyses these two agents of empire and their trade and diplomacy with the Indians of the Ohio Valley, as well as their mapping and surveying. This thesis argues that these two "on the ground" agents were building the British Empire, through their work for the Ohio Company of Virginia. However, this was not their only imperial tie, there …

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Model Based Evaluation Of The Differences Between Full And Partial Flow Particulate Matter Sampling Systems, Nathan Kimble Aug 2011

Model Based Evaluation Of The Differences Between Full And Partial Flow Particulate Matter Sampling Systems, Nathan Kimble

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

PM has been shown to be harmful to people, animals, and the environment. For this reason PM is a regulated emission. As federal regulation of particulate matter (PM) becomes tighter, the need to accurately measure it becomes paramount. As the limit decreases, it becomes more difficult to measure PM due to the inaccuracies in the measurement equipment, and the nature of the particles to be lost in the sampling system.;This study investigated the error propagation and particle loss in two common PM mass measurement systems, the full flow sampling system, also called the constant volume sampling (CVS), and the partial …

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Edaphic And Land Use Influences On Central Appalachian Fens, Sarah Deacon Aug 2011

Edaphic And Land Use Influences On Central Appalachian Fens, Sarah Deacon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Local and landscape-scale factors influence peatland floristic assemblages. Our goal in this paper was to assess the interactions between wetland vegetation communities, edaphic factors, and surrounding land cover in central Appalachian peatlands. Specifically we quantified plant community dynamics in relation to edaphic factors and land cover and identified species level responses to human altered landscapes. Cluster analysis on vegetation data identified 3 vegetation groups; an emergent floristic assemblage, a shrub dominated group, and a group with mixed shrub and emergent vegetation. We found that wetlands with emergent vegetation cover were more often associated with natural land cover, higher pH and …

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Preference Reversals And Effects Of D-Amphetamine On Within-Session Delay Discounting In Rats, Christopher A. Krebs Aug 2011

Preference Reversals And Effects Of D-Amphetamine On Within-Session Delay Discounting In Rats, Christopher A. Krebs

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Impulsive choice is correlated with behavioral problems such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder and can be assessed using delay-discounting procedures in which subjects choose between a smaller, more immediate reinforcer (impulsive choice) and a larger, more delayed reinforcer (self-controlled choice). A within-session delay-discounting procedure in which choice was between one food pellet delivered immediately and three food pellets delivered after increasing delays was used to examine effects of adding or subtracting delays common to both reinforcers on impulsive choice in male Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 8). For all subjects, delay discounting was observed regardless of whether delays common to both reinforcers were added …

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Social Benefits Of Niche Agricultural Products: The Case Of Pasture-Based Beef In Appalachia Part 1: The Conceptual Framework, Inocencio Rodriguez, Gerard D'Souza, Alan R. Collins, Tim Phipps May 2011

Social Benefits Of Niche Agricultural Products: The Case Of Pasture-Based Beef In Appalachia Part 1: The Conceptual Framework, Inocencio Rodriguez, Gerard D'Souza, Alan R. Collins, Tim Phipps

Regional Research Institute Working Papers

Niche agricultural products are growing in economic importance. This growth is driven mainly by the increased demand for more healthy, nutritious, fresh and locally grown food products. There is obviously a potential increase in private benefits to producers/landowners as a result of increased production of the underlying crops to satisfy this demand. What is less obvious is the potential to also generate increased social benefits, particularly as they relate to energy conservation, alternative energy or biogas development and carbon sequestration. In other words, calories and kilo-calories are becoming more linked. The objective of this analysis is to develop a conceptual …

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