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Curricular Affairs Committee Report #389, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Committee Reports and Appendices

No abstract provided.

The Pan American (2000-10-31), Ryan R. Henry

UTPA Archives - The Pan American Newspaper

49th Year, No. 16

Vasoactive Effects And Free Radical Generation By .Beta.-Amyloid Peptides, Thomas N. Thomas, Michael Mullan

USF Patents

A method is disclosed for treating and preventing diseases, wherein at least one of the causes of the disease is .beta.-amyloid peptide induced change in free radical production resulting in vascular endothelial dysfunction and vasoactivity, by antagonizing vascular free radicals in excess of functional equilibrium.

Whalesong 2000-10-31 (V.22 No.3), N/A N/A

Whalesong

No abstract provided.

The Study Of The Perceived Effectiveness Of Resident Assistant Training At Rowan University, April Adams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of training design, format and length in preparing RA's for their positions. The participants for this study included residence life professional staff, hall directors and resident assistants. Because the population was small, all members were sampled.

This study consisted of a survey that was administered to all current and eight former RA's as well as a similar survey that was administered to the professional staff and hall directors. This survey addressed the effectiveness of the current training designs, as well as training formats and length. Additional archival data came from …

Facilitation Of Yucca Brevifolia Recruitment By Mojave Desert Shrubs, Steve Brittingham, Lawrence R. Walker

Western North American Naturalist

Patterns of recruitment for Yucca brevifolia (Joshua tree) were investigated on 3 elevational transects, 1000–2000 m, in the Spring and Sheep Mountain ranges of southern Nevada. Yucca brevifolia is distributed throughout a broad range of plant communities dominated by Larrea tridentata and Ambrosia dumosa at low elevations, Coleogyne ramosissima at middle elevations, and an Artemisia-Pinus-Juniperus community at upper elevations. The density of Y. brevifolia gradually increased from the lowest elevations, peaked at 1600 m, and remained at intermediate levels at high elevations until reaching an abrupt upper elevational limit at 2000 m. Open substrate dominated the study areas; however, a …

Variability Among Five Riparian Cottonwood (Populus Fremontii Wats.) Populations: An Examination Of Size, Density, And Spatial Distribution, Diane L. Rowland, Beth Biagini, Ann S. Evans

Western North American Naturalist

Various abiotic and biotic factors are known to affect tree size, including age, genetics, and environment. Knowledge of size variation within natural riparian tree populations has both ecological and restorative importance. We determined tree sizes, basal area densities, and spatial distributions of 5 Populus fremontii Wats. populations within the Rio Grande watershed in New Mexico. At each site 10 randomly spaced plots, perpendicular to the river and extending from the river to the end of the forest, were established. Diameter at breast height (DBH) and distance to the river were determined for 1803 trees within the 5 populations, and stand …

Response Of Wintering Buteos To Plague Epizootics In Prairie Dogs, David B. Seery, Daniel J. Matiatos

Western North American Naturalist

Several species of raptors winter at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) including the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis), Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), and Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus). Raptors were monitored each winter from 1988–89 to 1996–97 using a standardized road survey. Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) form a major component of the prey base for wintering raptors on the Refuge, with 1850 ha of active prairie dog towns mapped in 1988. Prairie dog town areas and population data were determined by mapping active towns and …

C3 And C4 Species Changes Identified By Δ13C Values Of Soil Organic Matter In A Colorado Prairie, Penelope Sinton, Tim Seastedt, Barry Bennett, Carl Bock, Jane Bock

Western North American Naturalist

We measured carbon isotope signatures (δ¹³C) from 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm soil depth intervals for grassland soils near Boulder, Colorado. These grasslands included tall-, short-, and mixed-grass prairies that were grazed, ungrazed, or hayed. Soils exhibited δ¹³C signatures consistent with observations that current sites are a mix of C₃ and C₄ species, with C₃ plants more abundant in mixed-grass than in native tall- or shortgrass prairies. The δ¹³C signatures were not significantly different for grassland types; however, management treatments (grazing, no grazing, haying) significantly influenced changes in soil δ^{13 …}

Fast Transport Of Neurofilament Protein Along Microtubules In Squid Axoplasm, Veena Prahlad, Brian T. Helfand, George M. Langford, Ron D. Vale, Robert D. Goldman

Dartmouth Scholarship

Using squid axoplasm as a model system, we have visualized the fast transport of non-filamentous neurofilament protein particles along axonal microtubules. This transport occurs at speeds of 0.5-1.0 microm/second and the majority of neurofilament particles stain with kinesin antibody. These observations demonstrate, for the first time, that fast (0.5-1.0 microm/second) transport of neurofilament proteins occurs along microtubules. In addition, our studies suggest that neurofilament protein can be transported as non-membrane bound, nonfilamentous subunits along axons, and that the transport is kinesin-dependent. Microtubule-based fast transport might therefore provide a mechanism for the distribution and turnover of neurofilament, and perhaps other cytoskeletal …

Practical Proof Of The Validity Of The Target Theory By Simulating Cellular Targets, Salih F. M

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objective – To practically prove the validity of the target theory as a mathematical model to describe and understand themechanisms involved in cell killing by ionising radiation. Method – Experimental validation of the target theory was attempted using Bacillus megaterium spores. Sets of 100 vials containing averages of 1, 2, 5, 50 and 500 spores per vial was exposed to varying gamma radiation doses in presence (oxic) and absence (anoxic) of oxygen (O2). The percentage of the vials that exhibited bacterial growth after 6 days of incubation was taken as containing one spore or more, which survived a given dose. …

Geographic Distribution, Morphological And Molecular Characterization, And Relationships Of Lathrocasis Tenerrima (Polemoniaceae), Leigh A. Johnson, Terri L. Weese

Western North American Naturalist

Lathrocasis is a recently recognized genus of Polemoniaceae that circumscribes the species first named Gilia tenerrima A. Gray. This species, distributed primarily in the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain floristic regions, has previously escaped thorough taxonomic scrutiny. Surveys of herbarium specimens and living material show that some features of this species have been inaccurately characterized in the past, while other characteristics have not been previously considered in assessing its relationships. Lathrocasis possesses a distinct suite of morphological features that, considered as a whole, distinguish this taxon at the generic level. This suite of characters includes the mostly entire, nonmucronate leaves, …

Singing Stone, A Natural History Of The Escalante Canyons By Thomas Lowe Fleischner, C. Riley Nelson

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Microtopography Of Microbiotic Crusts On The Colorado Plateau, And Distribution Of Component Organisms, D. B. George, D. W. Davidson, K. C. Schliep, L. J. Patrell-Kim

Western North American Naturalist

We analyzed the microtopography of microbiotic soil crusts at 3 sites on the Colorado Plateau of southern Utah and investigated distributions of cyanobacteria and several lichens in distinctive microhabitats created by this topography. At all 3 sites the long axes of linear soil mounds were oriented nonrandomly in a NNW–SSE direction. The conspicuous and consistent orientation of soil mounds may result from a combination of physical and biotic processes. Subtle differences across sites in mound orientation and organismal distribution suggest that these variables may be useful in comparing disturbance histories of crusts retrospectively.

Differences in colonization frequencies, abundances, and distributions …

Breeding Ecology Of White-Faced Ibis (Pleagadis Chihi) In The Upper Klamath Basin, California, Michael R. Taft, David M. Mauser, Todd W. Arnold

Western North American Naturalist

The White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) is a California state and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service species of special management concern. We studied White-faced Ibis breeding ecology from May through July 1995 on Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in the upper Klamath Basin of California. A total of 2029 pairs nested in 3 colonies exclusively in early-successional hardstem bulrush (Scirpus acutus). Nest initiation dates ranged from 10 May to 12 June, and mean clutch size was 3.16. Reproductive success averaged 87% apparent nest success (n = 115), 82% hatchability, 97% whole and partial brood survival, …

Algae Of Devils Hole, Nevada, Death Valley National Park, William D. Shepard, Dean W. Blinn, Ray J. Hoffman, Paul T. Kantz

Western North American Naturalist

We examined algal flora in the aquatic system of Devils Hole, Nevada. The water is seasonally warm, near neutral in pH, and rich in dissolved carbonate, indicative of deeply circulating groundwater flowing through carbonate rock. Most algae were benthic, with only a few planktonic representatives. Eighty-four terminal identifications in 44 genera were recorded, with diatoms and blue-green algae the most speciose groups. Diatoms were major contributors to the grazing food web. Large, mat-forming filamentous algae have an important influence on the physicochemical and general structure of the benthic substrates in Devils Hole.

Full Issue, Vol. 60 No. 4

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Ecological Impacts Of Seed Harvester Ants On Soil Attributes In A Larrea-Dominated Shrubland, Simon A. Lei

Western North American Naturalist

The influence of seed harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex rugosus) colonies on soil properties and soil surface and moisture characteristics was investigated through comparison of adjacent, nonnest (reference, 4 m beyond ant colony) areas in Las Vegas, Nevada. Effects of ant colonies on both terrace and slope sites were investigated. Soil moisture content and soil bulk density in a creosote bush (Larrea tridentata)–dominated shrubland were significantly lower, while soil temperature, soil organic matter, and percent pore space were significantly higher in soils with ant nests relative to adjacent reference soils. Soil pH and texture did not differ significantly …

Oreohelices Of Utah, I. Rediscovery Of The Uinta Mountainsnail, Oreohelix Eurekensis Uinta Brooks, 1939 (Stylommatophora: Oreohelicidae), George V. Oliver, William R. Bosworth Iii

Western North American Naturalist

Oreohelix eurekensis uinta had not been found since its original discovery and had never been reported as a living taxon, and this had led to speculation that it is extinct. However, searches for O. e. uinta had been confounded by multiple errors in the original definition of the type locality. The type locality has now been relocated and is here redefined, and O. e. uinta is reported for the 1st time as a living taxon. Although the holotype has been lost, existing specimens believed to be paratypes have been examined, and correction of errors in the literature concerning its size …

Breeding Behavior Of The Plumbeous Vireo In New Mexico, Timothy E. Demarco, Christopher B. Goguen, David R. Curson, Nancy E. Mathews

Western North American Naturalist

The Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus) is a poorly studied songbird species that breeds within the interior western United States and Mexico. We studied the breeding behavior of Plumbeous Vireos within pinyon-juniper habitats in northeastern New Mexico in 1996 and 1997. Over both years we located and monitored 40 nests and conducted behavioral observations throughout the nesting cycle. From these observations we described and compared basic behavioral traits of male and female vireos during their nest-building, egg-laying, incubation, and nestling stages, and their response to potential predators near the nest. Male vireos displayed potential nest sites to females, but …

Egg Mass Deposition By Arizona Toads, Bufo Microscaphus, Along A Narrow Canyon Stream, Andrew Dahl, Michael P. Donovan, Terry D. Schwaner

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Status Of Descurainia Torulosa (Brassicaceae), Jerald S. Bricker, Gregory K. Brown, Tricia L. Patts Lewis

Western North American Naturalist

Descurainia torulosa was established in 1983 based on material collected in northwestern Wyoming. The species is now known from 2 disjunct populations in southwestern Wyoming, and recent collections have expanded the known distribution within the northern portion of its range. The north-south disjunct distribution and apparent habitat differences have stimulated questions concerning the degree of relatedness between the disjunct elements to the point that the southern populations have been suggested to be a distinct taxon. Recognition of D. torulosa as a distinct species has also been questioned. This paper is based on field examination of D. torulosa populations, study of …

Ekupdate, October 30, 2000, Eastern Kentucky University, Public Relations

EKU Update

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2000-10-30

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Daily Eastern News: October 30, 2000, Eastern Illinois University

October

No abstract provided.

Monitor Newsletter October 30, 2000, Bowling Green State University

Monitor

Official Publication of Bowling Green State University for Faculty and Staff

The George-Anne, Georgia Southern University

The George-Anne

• Announcements
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• National News Brief
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Grand Valley Forum, Volume 025, Number 14, October 30, 2000, Grand Valley State University

2000-2001, Volume 25

Grand Valley Forum is Grand Valley State's faculty and staff newsletter, published from 1976 to the present.

The Bg News October 30, 2000, Bowling Green State University

BG News (Student Newspaper)

The BGSU campus student newspaper. October 30, 2000. Volume 86-Issue 44.

Amino Acid Osmolytes In Regulatory Volume Decrease And Isovolumetric Regulation In Brain Cells: Contribution And Mechanisms, Herminia Pasantes-Morales, Rodrigo Franco, M. Eugenia Torres-Marquez, Karla Hernandez-Fonseca, Arturo Ortega

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Brain adaptation to hyposmolarity is accomplished by loss of both electrolytes and organic osmolytes, including amino acids, polyalcohols and methylamines. In brain in vivo, the organic osmolytes account for about 35% of the total solute loss. This review focus on the role of amino acids in cell volume regulation, in conditions of sudden hyposmosis, when cells respond by active regulatory volume decrease (RVD) or after gradual exposure to hyposmotic solutions, a condition where cell volume remains unchanged, named isovolumetric regulation (IVR). The amino acid efflux pathway during RVD is passive and is similar in many respects to the volume-activated anion …