Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
File Type

Articles 2821 - 2850 of 3669

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Amending Subsoil With Composted Poultry Litter: Effects On Soil Physical And Chemical Properties, Turfgrass Establishment And Weed Pressure, Mili Mandal Jan 2005

Amending Subsoil With Composted Poultry Litter: Effects On Soil Physical And Chemical Properties, Turfgrass Establishment And Weed Pressure, Mili Mandal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Experiments were established in fall 2003 at West Virginia University to evaluate the effects of incorporation of composted poultry litter (CPL) on subsoil physical and chemical properties, Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa Pratensis L.) establishment, root depth, and weed pressure. Twenty cm of topsoil was removed and CPL was incorporated to a depth of 12.7 cm at 10%, 20%, and 40% v/v prior to seeding or sodding. Composted plots were compared to N-fertilized (454 Kg ha-1) and control plots. Positive linear increases in total water content (thetaT), organic matter, pH, and CEC were observed following compost incorporation with a decrease in …

Go to article

Identification Of Athd2c As A Novel Regulator Of Aba Signaling In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Sunandini Sridhar Jan 2005

Identification Of Athd2c As A Novel Regulator Of Aba Signaling In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Sunandini Sridhar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This report describes AtHD2C as a regulator of the ABA controlled events. AtHD2C is a member of the HD2-type histone deacetylase family. Results indicated an overall physiological significance for the HD2 proteins as well as a possible involvement in embryo development. In continuum with this, seeds overexpressing AtHD2C were insensitive to ABA, NaCl and mannitol at germination. This phenotype was supported by ABA-responsive gene expression patterns in the transgenic plants that implicated a negative role for AtHD2C in ABA response regulation in this developmental window. Additionally, the AtHD2C transcript accumulation was down-regulated by ABA that was reflected by the down-regulation …

Go to article

Role Of The Host Cell In The Type Iii Translocation Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Exoenzyme S, Elizabeth A. Rucks Jan 2005

Role Of The Host Cell In The Type Iii Translocation Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Exoenzyme S, Elizabeth A. Rucks

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Exoenzyme S (ExoS) is a bifunctional toxin that is directly translocated into eukaryotic cells by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) type III secretory (T3S) process. The N-terminal region of ExoS includes a GTPase activating protein (GAP) activity and the C-terminal region includes an ADP-ribosyltransferase (ADPRT) activity. The T3S-translocation (T3S-T) of ExoS allows the bacteria to directly manipulate host cell function, thereby contributing the virulence of Pa. A cell culture model of infection was developed to study the effects of ExoS on cell function, which differentiates the effects of ExoS expression from other bacterial effects. Previous studies found that ExoS inactivates cell …

Go to article

Quality Of Life And Clinical Outcomes In Type 2 Diabetes Patients At The Primary Care Clinics Of The West Virginia University Hospital, Murali Sundaram Jan 2005

Quality Of Life And Clinical Outcomes In Type 2 Diabetes Patients At The Primary Care Clinics Of The West Virginia University Hospital, Murali Sundaram

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines relationships between quality of life (QoL) and clinical outcomes, specifically A1C, in Type 2 diabetes patients. Type 2 diabetes patients at the outpatient clinics of a university hospital completed the SF-12 and the Audit of Diabetes Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL), and this was merged with a retrospective collection of his/her clinical and utilization data, including A1C. Usable response rate was 44.3% (n = 385). Mean A1C of respondents was 7.2 (+1.4), mean diabetes duration was 10.2 (+9.1), and 62.1% were obese. Only ADDQoL scores showed significant correlation with A1C (r = -0.19, p < 0.000). Hierarchical regression models were used to explain the effect of A1C on QoL controlling for demographics and clinical variables. A1C was not a significant predictor in any regression model, although univariate analyses indicated significantly lower ADDQoL and SF-12 PCS in the group with A1C > 7.0. Obesity was …

Go to article

The Role Of Apoptosis In Muscle Remodeling, Parco Ming-Fai Siu Jan 2005

The Role Of Apoptosis In Muscle Remodeling, Parco Ming-Fai Siu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Apoptosis has been implicated in mediating the process of muscle loss during muscle disuse and with aging. However, the physiologic role of apoptosis in muscle remodeling is largely unknown. The purposes of this dissertation were to examine the role of apoptosis in different muscle remodeling conditions including muscle denervation, hindlimb suspension, muscle unloading following overload, endurance treadmill training, and muscle overload in mice, rats, or quails. Apoptotic signaling components and cellular stress markers including Bax, Bcl-2, Apaf-1, cytochrome c, caspases, Smac/DIABLO, XIAP, ARC, FLIP, AIF, p53, Id2, p21, c-Myc, PARP, HSP70, HSP27, HSP60, MnSOD, CuZnSOD, catalase, H2O2, MDA/4-HAE, nitrotyrosine or …

Go to article

Generic Multimodal Biometric Fusion, Yash Shah Jan 2005

Generic Multimodal Biometric Fusion, Yash Shah

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Biometric systems utilize physiological or behavioral traits to automatically identify individuals. A unimodal biometric system utilizes only one source of biometric information and suffers from a variety of problems such as noisy data, intra-class variations, restricted degrees of freedom, non-universality, spoof attacks and unacceptable error rates. Multimodal biometrics refers to a system which utilizes multiple biometric information sources and can overcome some of the limitation of unimodal system. Biometric information can be combined at 4 different levels: (i) Raw data level; (ii) Feature level; (iii) Match-score level; and (iv) Decision level. Match score fusion and decision fusion have received significant …

Go to article

Drosophila Melanogaster Protein Kinase Ck2 Interacts With And Phosphorylates The Neurogenic Repressor M8 Resulting In The Production Of A Novel Eye Phenotype, Regina L. Trott Jan 2005

Drosophila Melanogaster Protein Kinase Ck2 Interacts With And Phosphorylates The Neurogenic Repressor M8 Resulting In The Production Of A Novel Eye Phenotype, Regina L. Trott

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Protein kinase CK2 is a serine/threonine protein kinase ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotic organisms. The enzyme is composed of 2 alpha (catalytic) subunits and 2 beta (regulatory) subunits. The minimum consensus site for CK2 phosphorylation is S/TXXD/E, where "X" is any non-basic amino acid. Substrates so far identified include proteins associated with cell cycle regulation and development.;In Drosophila melanogaster, the Notch pathway activates members of the Enhancer-of-split Complex [E(spl)-C]. m8, which is a member of the E(spl)-C, was found to interact with and be phosphorylated by CK2. The physiological affects of CK2 phosphorylation were studied in vivo through the Gal4-UAS system. …

Go to article

Mass Spectrometry Of Metallothionein Adducts As Candidate Biomarkers Of Styrene Oxide And 1-Phenylpropylene Oxide, Sandra G. Tarr Jan 2005

Mass Spectrometry Of Metallothionein Adducts As Candidate Biomarkers Of Styrene Oxide And 1-Phenylpropylene Oxide, Sandra G. Tarr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Metallothioneins (MT) are cysteine-rich intracellular proteins that sequester epoxides, such as the genotoxic styrene metabolite, styrene oxide (SO). Covalent adduct formation by the ring-opening of SO and its homologue, 1-phenylpropylene oxide (trans), with MT forms stable complexes that potentially may serve as biomarkers for epoxide exposure. MT was reacted with SO and trans-phenylpropylene oxide (PPO) separately in water. Mass spectra of adducts were obtained using electrospray ionization with positive-ion detection in an ion trap mass spectrometer. MS/MS analysis established the covalent nature of the complexation. Further experiments were conducted to determine the site of adduct formation. Molecular modeling was used …

Go to article

Predicting Treatment Completion: A Study Of The Federal Bureau Of Prisons' Residential Drug Abuse Program, Y. Tami Yanez Jan 2005

Predicting Treatment Completion: A Study Of The Federal Bureau Of Prisons' Residential Drug Abuse Program, Y. Tami Yanez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Substance abuse and criminal behavior are two commonly associated social concerns. It is not surprising that substance abuse treatment also has demonstrated a reduction not only substance abuse, as well as criminal behavior. The Federal Bureau of Prisons' Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) has demonstrated wide-reaching benefits. Understanding the 33% non-completion rate of RDAP, then, is an important component of the treatment process. This study, therefore, sought to identify factors present prior to RDAP participation that may predict program completion, which may also guide efforts to reduce relapse and recidivism rates. RDAP completers were slightly more likely to have fewer …

Go to article

Synthesis Of Novel Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds Via Cascade Cyclizations Of Benzannulated Enyne-Allenes, Yanzhong Zhang Jan 2005

Synthesis Of Novel Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds Via Cascade Cyclizations Of Benzannulated Enyne-Allenes, Yanzhong Zhang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Under mild conditions, a diindeno-fused 4H-cyclopenta[ def]phenanthrene was successfully synthesized through the thionyl chloride-induced cascade cyclizations of the corresponding enediynyl propargylic alcohol with the formation of four new rings in one operation. The diindeno-fused 4H-cyclopenta[def]phenanthrene has a 41-carbon framework represented on the surface of C60.;A variety of helicenes with one or two phenyl substituents at the most sterically hindered position were also successfully synthesized through a cascade sequence of reactions involving a Schmittel cyclization reaction of the corresponding benzannulated enyne-allenes followed by an intramolecular radical-radical coupling reaction to afford the formal Diels-Alder adducts. The helical structures were produced either by …

Go to article

The Effects Of Roads And Culverts On Stream And Stream-Side Salamander Communities In Eastern West Virginia., Ryan Lee Ward Jan 2005

The Effects Of Roads And Culverts On Stream And Stream-Side Salamander Communities In Eastern West Virginia., Ryan Lee Ward

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Roads and culverts have many effects on stream salamanders. We examined 120 culvert crossings in the Shavers Fork and Dry Fork watersheds in eastern West Virginia. Complete barriers to salamander passage occurred at 55.0% of the sites visited and partial barriers at 34.2%. Analyses showed that 20.6% of the total stream length in the Dry Fork watershed and 18.4% in the Shavers Fork watershed were isolated by barriers. We conducted salamander sampling at 16 streams and used Akaikeís Information Criterion to select the best a priori models explaining salamander diversity, richness, and abundance. Roads benefited disturbance tolerant species while negatively …

Go to article

Dynamics And Mechanism Studies Of Nonlinear Chemical Systems, Tabitha R. Chigwada-Razunguzwa Jan 2005

Dynamics And Mechanism Studies Of Nonlinear Chemical Systems, Tabitha R. Chigwada-Razunguzwa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The kinetics and mechanisms of oxidation of selected thiocarbamides (tetra-methylthiourea, trimethylthiourea, phenylthiourea, and 2-aminoethanethiolsulfuric acid) by chlorite in aqueous acidic media are investigated using UV/Vis, NMR, Stopped-flow techniques, and qualitative analysis. The reactions were extremely complex, with reaction dynamics strongly influenced by the pH of the reaction medium and formation of stable intermediates (sulfonic acids). Results revealed that oxidations of substituted thioureas do not always proceed via a stepwise oxidation of the sulfur center. Instead, reactions occurred in two stages: S-oxygenation of the sulfur center to yield the sulfinic acid, which then reacts in the second phase predominantly through an …

Go to article

Osteotropic Cytokines Mediate Human Osteoblast-Like Cell Eicosanoid Production, Anurag Grover Jan 2005

Osteotropic Cytokines Mediate Human Osteoblast-Like Cell Eicosanoid Production, Anurag Grover

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

We have examined the effects of the cytokines tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF), transforming growth factorbeta (TGFbeta) and the effect of cyclooxygenase inhibitor ibuprofen on prostaglandin and 15-HETE biosynthesis by normal adult human osteoblast-like (hOB) cells. In the present studies, conditioned media harvested from hOB cell cultures were assayed by eicosanoid specific EIAs to determine quantitatively the effects of cytokines on PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1alpha, PGF2alpha, PGD2, thromboxane (TXB2) and on 15-HETE biosynthesis. EIA analysis indicated that PGE2 was the predominant PG metabolite released by unstimulated hOB cells and its synthesis was increased more than other PGs in cells treated with (TGFbeta) and …

Go to article

Functional Analysis Of Atrpd3b, A Rpd3-Type Histone Deacetylase, In Arabidopsis, Lin Zhang Jan 2005

Functional Analysis Of Atrpd3b, A Rpd3-Type Histone Deacetylase, In Arabidopsis, Lin Zhang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Histone acetylation is modulated through the action of histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases, which play key roles in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. The RPD3 group of histone deacetylases constitutes the first class of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in eukaryotes.;In yeast and mammalian cells, it was found that RPD3 histone deacetylases are involved in the ageing and development. In contrast much less is known about the function of RPD3s in plant. Here I studied AtRPD3B, a RPD3-type histone deacetylase in Arabidopsis thaliana, to define its role in plant development and signal transduction pathways. Using the AtRPD3B: GUS transgenic Arabidopsis plants, I …

Go to article

The Effects Of Uv-B Radiation On The Growth And Physiology Of Non-Agricultural Plant Species Under Changing Environmental Conditions., Chintamani S. Manish Jan 2005

The Effects Of Uv-B Radiation On The Growth And Physiology Of Non-Agricultural Plant Species Under Changing Environmental Conditions., Chintamani S. Manish

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

I investigated whether seedlings of non-agricultural plants exposed to varying levels of UV-B exposure had altered growth, physiological, and tissue chemistry responses under changing environmental conditions. In a field experiment, using a modulated UV-B lamp bank system, elevated UV-B did not significantly alter the total biomass of the 6 plant species that were studied, and only Quercus rubra showed a trend towards some sensitivity to UV-B. In two species—Platanus occidentalis and Setaria faberii—I found an increase in the production of UV-B absorbing compounds under elevated UV-B while two grasses—S. faberii and Elymus virginicus—had significantly decreased C:N ratios under elevated UV-B. …

Go to article

The Role Of Heat Shock Proteins In Skeletal Muscle Adaptation To Resistance Training In Young And Old Rats., Zsolt Murlasits Jan 2005

The Role Of Heat Shock Proteins In Skeletal Muscle Adaptation To Resistance Training In Young And Old Rats., Zsolt Murlasits

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Heat shock proteins (HSP's) are expressed in response to various stressors, such as physical exercise, therefore this study investigated the role of these proteins in skeletal muscle remodeling in response to resistance training. First, we determined the time course of HSP response as a result of a single bout of damaging contractions characterized by non-recoverable force deficit. The next study investigated HSP expression in 3 month old and 30 month old rats in response to a 4.5-week, chronic resistance training program that was designed to elicit muscle hypertrophy. Moreover, we analyzed the gene expression of four hsp70 genes to determine …

Go to article

Roles Of Cellular Flice-Inhibitory Protein (C-Flip) And Pi3k /Akt In Fas (Cd95)-Induced Nf-κb Activation And Apoptosis Through Death Effector Domains., Bin Lu Jan 2005

Roles Of Cellular Flice-Inhibitory Protein (C-Flip) And Pi3k /Akt In Fas (Cd95)-Induced Nf-κb Activation And Apoptosis Through Death Effector Domains., Bin Lu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The cell survival protein kinase Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) is a known regulator of apoptosis but its role in Fas-mediated cell death and its regulatory mechanisms are unclear. Here, we show that stimulation of the Fas receptor by its ligand (FasL) induces rapid phosphorylation of Akt/PKB and a parallel increase in cell apoptosis in epidermal Cl41 cells. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt by overexpression of dominant-negative mutants of PI3K (Δp85) and Akt (Akt-T308A/S473A) protects the cells from apoptosis induced by FasL, indicating an unexpected pro-apoptotic role of PI3K/Akt in Fas signaling process. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies also show that FasL treatment …

Go to article

Cytochrome P450 1a-Substrate Interactions: Determinants Of Substrate Selectivity And Stereo- And Regiospecificity Of Oxidation., Spencer Snyder Ericksen Jan 2005

Cytochrome P450 1a-Substrate Interactions: Determinants Of Substrate Selectivity And Stereo- And Regiospecificity Of Oxidation., Spencer Snyder Ericksen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cytochromes P450 comprise a ubiquitous superfamily of heme-thiolate enzymes, considered among the most versatile biological catalysts known. Structure-function relationships of P450s are of particular interest to those attempting to elucidate such aspects of xenobiotic metabolism as substrate selectivity and regiospecific oxidations. We studied two members of the P450 1A subfamily, P450 1A1 and 1A2, found in highest abundance in lung and liver tissues, respectively. These enzymes may have an important link to cancer, as both are known to regiospecifically activate procarcinogenic substrates. To gain a better understanding of structure-function relationships in these enzymes, we applied a combination of site-directed mutagenesis, …

Go to article

A Comparison Of The Leadership Orientations Of Chairpersons Of Biology And English Departments At Baccalaureate And Master's Institutions In The Southern Region., Marshall S. Griffin Jan 2005

A Comparison Of The Leadership Orientations Of Chairpersons Of Biology And English Departments At Baccalaureate And Master's Institutions In The Southern Region., Marshall S. Griffin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to compare the espoused leadership frame of chairpersons of Biology departments and English departments in baccalaureate colleges with those of chairpersons of the same departments of master's colleges located in the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states. Leadership frames were compared by disciplines, by institutional categories (Carnegie Foundation, 2000), by department size, by length of service as chairperson, and by method of selection as chairperson. In addition, the study examined selected demographics (e.g., gender) to probe for intervening variables. A mailed survey instrument consisting of the 32-item Bolman and Deal Leadership Orientations (Self) instrument …

Go to article

Empathic Adolescents: Associations With Religiosity And Spirituality., Bethanie Renee Morris Jan 2005

Empathic Adolescents: Associations With Religiosity And Spirituality., Bethanie Renee Morris

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study evaluated religiosity, spirituality, and empathy to provide further clarification on their relations. As shown in the research, religiosity, spirituality, and empathy are generally related to favorable effects in adolescents when examined alone. Therefore, it is important to recognize how these constructs interact together. Four hundred twenty-eight adolescents completed self-report questionnaires that assessed levels of religiosity, spirituality, and empathy. Participants’ religiosity and spirituality were assessed using a scale devised by the researchers and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI; Davis, 1980, 1995) was used to measure empathy. Adolescents who reported greater levels of involvement in religious services had greater levels …

Go to article

I. Development Of The West Virginia Dairy Quality Assurance Program, Daniel H. Poole Jan 2005

I. Development Of The West Virginia Dairy Quality Assurance Program, Daniel H. Poole

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Consumer confidence impacts agricultural markets. In response, many food industries have adopted cost-effective programs to reduce risk and offer third party verification of product quality. The purpose of this project was to implement the West Virginia Dairy Quality Assurance Program (WVDQAP) which promotes best management practices to produce high quality milk and meat products. This study surveyed dairy producers throughout the state, to establish the most effective method of program implementation. A manual was constructed and presented to producers at one of five meeting across the state. The manual focuses on the requirements a producer must follow to receive certification. …

Go to article

The Ecological Need For Prescribed Fire In Sequoia And Kings Canyon National Park, United States Of America., Chad E. Rowan Jan 2005

The Ecological Need For Prescribed Fire In Sequoia And Kings Canyon National Park, United States Of America., Chad E. Rowan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introdution Forests throughout the West may require prescribed fire or thinning to reduce fire hazard and restore ecological processes. Aim The purpose of this study is to identify areas outside the range of historical variability based on the Time Since Last Fire (TSLF) relative to pre-Euroamerican fire return intervals. These areas with long TSLF relative to the historic fire return interval have high fire hazard and would be given high priority for prescribed burns. Location This study was performed in topographically rugged terrain ranging in elevation from 485 to 4,392m in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, California, USA. …

Go to article

"Islam Is The Blackman's Religion": Syncretizing Islam With Black Nationalist Thought To Fulfill The Religio-Political Agenda Of The Nation Of Islam., Sultana Rahim-Barakzoy Jan 2005

"Islam Is The Blackman's Religion": Syncretizing Islam With Black Nationalist Thought To Fulfill The Religio-Political Agenda Of The Nation Of Islam., Sultana Rahim-Barakzoy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study intends to examine the efforts of the Nation of Islam, via its founder the "Messenger," Elijah Muhammad, in syncretizing Islamic tenets with black nationalist thought to further the religio-political agenda of the organization. Strongly influenced by Marcus Garvey's "Back to Africa" movement, the Nation of Islam coupled Garvey's political nationalism with the nationalist "Islamism" of the Moorish Science Temple movement to form its own immutable religio-political platform. The religion of Islam not only gave the black Moslems a firm religious identity, but it also represented a medium by which black Moslems could express their own originality and creativity …

Go to article

Prostaglandin F(2alpha) (Pgf(2alpha))-Independent And -Dependent Regulation Of The Bovine Luteal Endothelin System., Ekta Choudhary Jan 2005

Prostaglandin F(2alpha) (Pgf(2alpha))-Independent And -Dependent Regulation Of The Bovine Luteal Endothelin System., Ekta Choudhary

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The genes of the endothelin system are the potential targets for regulation by prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and have been studied in greater detail. The effects of a luteolytic dose of PGF2α on the mRNA encoding endothelin converting enzyme-1 (ECE1), pre-pro endothelin-1 (ET-1) and the ET receptors ETA, ETB, and in bovine corpus luteum (CL) collected during the early, mid or late luteal phases were examined. The effects of treatment with PGF2α on ECE-1 protein, big ET-1 and the biologically active mature ET-1 were examined. Most importantly, the direct activity of ECE-1 was determined. Based on the results it is suggested …

Go to article

Finite Element Modeling Of Cells In Response To Loading: Effect Of Cytoskeleton., Chee Wui Loke Jan 2005

Finite Element Modeling Of Cells In Response To Loading: Effect Of Cytoskeleton., Chee Wui Loke

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis marked by degeneration of the cartilage and bone in joints, which causes severe joint pain associated with daily activities. Articular cartilage is one of the major load bearing tissue that transfers load across joints and with synovial fluid provides a bearing surface for the diarthrodial joints. It is made up of highly specialized cells called chondrocytes that are responsible for its growth and maintenance. Mechanical loading and cell-matrix interactions have been shown experimentally to influence the biological behavior of chondrocytes. Biological behavior of the chondrocytes is important because they are highly associative with the …

Go to article

Management Of The Suckled Post-Partum Beef Cows: Pasture-Based Weaning System., John F. Odhiambo Jan 2005

Management Of The Suckled Post-Partum Beef Cows: Pasture-Based Weaning System., John F. Odhiambo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Low grain prices and recurrent periods of drought have elicited interest in early weaning. Calves can efficiently utilize feed for weight gain when it is fed directly, rather than through their dams. This study evaluated calf response in three weaning systems (experiment 1) and profiles of body energy reserves in early-weaned beef cows (experiment 2). Treatment x year, and calf sex x year interaction (P < 0.05) were observed for calf weight gain. These interactions underscored the need for constant readjustments in management systems that incorporate early weaning in their programs. In experiment 2, body weight and condition score of cows were affected marginally (P = 0.06) by early weaning, whereas ribfat and rumpfat differed (P < 0.05) between earlyweaned and control cows. These findings indicated that subjective methods (body weight and condition score) should be used in combination with more objective measurements (ribfat and/or rumpfat) for accurate evaluation of energy status of beef cows. Cows of various ages responded differently to early weaning. Three to five-year-old cows exhibited greater response to early weaning as opposed to 2-year-olds and cows > 5 years of age, indicating that profit potential of the cow-calf operation can be improved by altered management of middle-aged cows.

Go to article

The Impact Of An Elementary To Middle School Transition Program On Attendance, Achievement, And Behaviors Of Students With Special Needs., James O. Burton Jan 2005

The Impact Of An Elementary To Middle School Transition Program On Attendance, Achievement, And Behaviors Of Students With Special Needs., James O. Burton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigated the impact of an initial experience transitional program on the attendance rates, academic achievement, and the number of discipline referrals for each student with special needs as they entered the middle school setting. Students with special needs who were included in the program were compared with a similar group of students with special needs who were not provided with the transitional program. Attendance data were collected from the students' school records. Academic achievement was determined by comparing the grade point averages of the two groups. The focus of the grade point averages included only core content classes …

Go to article

Arylhydrazine Carcinogenesis And The Synthesis Of C8-Arylpurine Oligonucleotides: A Study Of Dna Adduct Effects On Dna Conformation And Stability., Jonathan R. Daft Jan 2005

Arylhydrazine Carcinogenesis And The Synthesis Of C8-Arylpurine Oligonucleotides: A Study Of Dna Adduct Effects On Dna Conformation And Stability., Jonathan R. Daft

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Agaricus bisporus mushrooms have been shown to be carcinogenic due to their arylhydrazine content, but the mechanism of the carcinogenesis has not been elucidated. Clues into the mechanism have been discovered in the metabolism of the arylhydrazines to arenediazonium ions and aryl radicals. Both of these compounds form DNA adducts, which may be relevant to carcinogenesis. Arenediazonium ions have been shown to activate signal transduction proteins associated with DNA damage and apoptosis. Previously, our group had shown that arenediazonium ions activate the apoptotic protein AP1. The activation of AP1 has been correlated to aryl radial generation, since the AP1 activation …

Go to article

A Study Of Assessment Policies And Practices Of Directors In Pre-Kindergarten Programs In West Virginia., Janet Dozier Jan 2005

A Study Of Assessment Policies And Practices Of Directors In Pre-Kindergarten Programs In West Virginia., Janet Dozier

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As education for young children becomes more standards-based there has been a cry for more assessments. Developmentally appropriate assessment for young children has been defined by the twelve guidelines developed by the National Association for Young Children. The purpose of this study was done by surveying the 440 pre-kindergarten program directors in West Virginia regarding his/her perception of importance and implementation of those national assessment guidelines and followed by ten structured interviews of directors across the program descriptions. The study found the implementations of guidelines to be positively correlated to the director's perception of importance. Further it found that all …

Go to article

Manure From Grazing Cattle: Effects On Soil Microbial Communities And Soil Quality In Northern West Virginia Pastures., Yovita Sutanto Jan 2005

Manure From Grazing Cattle: Effects On Soil Microbial Communities And Soil Quality In Northern West Virginia Pastures., Yovita Sutanto

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Upland pastures in West Virginia receive low-input management. The effect of manure addition to upland pasture soils was measured with a variety of biological indicators such as soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), hot water extractable carbon (HWC), potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) and soil CO2 efflux. The effect of manure was found to be short-lived and most profound in soil surface Microbial diversity of pasture soil was examined using community level physiological profiles (CLPP) and molecular characterization of 16S ribosomal RNA genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Culture-independent and culture-dependent methods for molecular characterization of …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last