Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization Of Environmentally Friendly Polymers: Amylopectin And Its Blends, Mohammad Osman Melibari

Theses and Dissertations

Biodegradable polymers are desirable for a variety of applications, such as in packaging, agriculture, and medicine. Its biological degradation by microorganisms accelerated the interest in biodegradable polymers during the last decades. Within this group of innovative environmentally friendly biodegradable polymers, starch or Amylpectin plays a predominant role, due to their potential biodegradability. This research was attempted to characterize Amylopectin to obtain its physio-chemical properties. In addition, characterizations were extended to include blends of Amylopectin and biodegradable diluents. Blends of Amylopectin with biodegradable diluents including Polycaprolactone, Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide), and Poly(3- hydroxybutyric acid) were prepared. The physical properties and the thermodynamic characteristics of …

Predators On Red-Winged Blackbird Nests In Eastern North Dakota, Richard S. Sawin, Mark W. Lutman, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Predation has consistently been identified as the most common cause of nest failure for Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus). During May and June, 2000 and 2001, we used infrared-triggered camera systems to identify potential nest predators on artificially relocated Red-winged Blackbird nests in eastern North Dakota. For some of the species observed, these observations represent the first documentation of predation on Red-winged Blackbird nests in the northern Great Plains.

"Have You Written A Ford, Lately?": Gender, Genre, And The Film Adaptations Of Dorothy Johnson's Western Literature, Walter C. Metz

Publications

This essay studies the role Dorothy Johnson, a mid-century female author of American Western stories, had on the development of the film Western, particularly given that she wrote the story on which John Ford's canonical The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (1962) was based.

West Nile Virus And Wildlife Health, Peter P. Marra, Sean M. Griffing, Robert G. Mclean

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The West Nile Virus and Wildlife Health Workshop, hosted by the Smithsonian Institution, National Audubon Society, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, was held February 5–7, 2003, at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland. The event was attended by more than 100 scientists, who heard 29 speakers and participated in strategy discussions during the 2-day meeting. The main focus of the conference was the present and future impact of West Nile virus on wildlife populations. Talks and discussions emphasized how basic research, public health, and land management can contribute to our understanding of the disease’s impact …

Fisheries Research Contract Report No. 2 - Towards An Assessment Of Natural And Human Use Impacts On The Marine Environment Of The Abrolhos Islands (Phase 1 : Data Consolidation And Scoping - Final Report For Frdc Project 2000/1 66), C. F. Chubb, K. Nardi

Fisheries Research Contract Reports

This project has drawn together existing research data relating to natural and human impacts on the Abrolhos Islands marine habitats. It has surveyed current uses of these habitats and placed anthropogenic impacts within the context of natural perturbations. Through public forum presentation and debate, this work has allowed real issues, not perceptions, to surface and be addressed properly. This was achieved by defining a strategic programme of research through a scientific workshop process involving all community stakeholders. A two volume Fisheries Research Report (WA) summarizes current knowledge and details the workshop proceedings and strategic research plan.

Complete Issue, Journal Editors

Southern Anthropologist

No abstract provided.

A Critical Evaluation Of The Frequency Of Anemia In Native American Populations, Kristina Marie Stoeppler

Southern Anthropologist

Winning Entry, 2003 SAS Student Paper Competition: Undergraduate. Kristin Marie Stoeppler examines paleopathological data on several Native American populations to assess risk factors for anemia among these groups. This gives us a window into the life experiences of some groups of Native Americans during historic times.

Study Habits: Probing Modern Attempts To Assess Minority Offender Disproportionality, Sharon L. Davies

Law and Contemporary Problems

Oregon, Washington and Utah have recently taken empirical steps to assess the extent to which minorities are overrepresented in their respective criminal justice systems and to seek out the root causes of any overrepresentation observed. Davies contrasts and critiques the disparate analytical approaches utilized by these states and offers some thoughts about how people might improve the chances of success of future similar efforts.

A Hamburg Childhood: The Early Life Of Herbert Bernstein, Paul H. Haagen

Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law

No abstract provided.

Everything Old Is New Again: A Foreword To The Tenth Anniversary Edition Of The Duke Journal Of Gender Law & Policy, Cheryl Hanna

Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy

No abstract provided.

The Conviction Of Andrea Yates: A Narrative Of Denial, Sherry F. Colb

Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy

No abstract provided.

Women Who Kill Their Children: Case Study And Conclusions Concerning The Differences In The Fall From Material Grace By Khoua Her And Andrea Yates, Jayne Huckerby

Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy

No abstract provided.

Justice White And The Right Of Privacy, David D. Meyer

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Perspectives From Argentina, Brazil, And Colombia: Hemispheric Security, Luiz Bitencourt Dr., Pedro Villagra Delgado Ambassador, Henry Medina Uribe Major General

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

There is a lack of a common view regarding precisely "What is a threat?" and "What is security?" which is the heart of the stability problem in Latin America. These authors acknowledge that the traditional definition of security and threat is no longer completely valid. They understand that a more realistic concept includes the protection of national sovereignty against unconventional internal causes and attackers. They also recognize that a close linkage exists among security, development, and democracy. Nevertheless, they were reluctant to take a broadened definition of national security to its logical conclusion. That is, to correspondingly broaden and integrate …

Bumble Boosters: Doing Science As A Community Of Learners, Douglas A. Golick, Marion D. Ellis

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Bumble bees are an excellent organism for engaging high school students in research. They are a recognizable insect and an important pollinator, and much remains to be discovered about the biology of many species. Bumble Boosters was a teaching and research project funded by the Nebraska Lottery’s Educational Innovation Fund. The project began in June 1999 and ended in June 2002. Bumble Boosters created a community of students networking through the Internet to conduct authentic research on Nebraska bumble bee species. Throughout the state, 40 high schools participated in the project, which supported teaching and research objectives.

Teaching objectives were …

Progress In Spectroscopic Ellipsometry: Applications From Vacuum Ultraviolet To Infrared, James N. Hilfiker, Corey L. Bungay, Ron A. Synowicki, Thomas E. Tiwald, Craig M. Herzinger, Blaine Johs, Greg K. Pribil, John A. Woollam

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) is a noncontact and nondestructive optical technique for thin film characterization. In the past 10 yr, it has migrated from the research laboratory into the semiconductor, data storage, display, communication, and optical coating industries. The wide acceptance of SE is a result of its flexibility to measure most material types: dielectrics, semiconductors, metals, superconductors, polymers, biological coatings, and even multilayers of these materials. Measurement of anisotropic materials has also made huge strides in recent years. Traditional SE measurements cover the ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared wavelengths. This spectral range is now acquired within seconds with high accuracy …

Population Monitoring In Support Of A Rabies Vaccination Program For Skunks In Arizona, Richard M. Engeman, Kevin L. Christensen, Michael J. Pipas, David L. Bergman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Three population monitoring methods were evaluated in support of a trap/vaccinate/release program for controlling a bat variant of rabies virus in skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in Flagstaff, Arizona (USA). Skunks were the primary species targeted for population monitoring during the program, but feral cats were also monitored as they represented an abundant secondary vector species capable of rabies transmission. Skunks were vaccinated and released, except for a subset tested for rabies. All captured cats were placed in the local animal shelter. Spotlight surveys essentially did not detect skunks, and were not able to detect reductions in the cat population. …

Nwrc: Providing World Leadership In Science-Based Problem Management, J. Russell Mason

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

he National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) functions as the research arm of the Wildlife Services (WS) program, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Located on the Foothills campus of Colorado State University, WS-NWRC helps WS manage wildlife conflicts by providing scientific information on damage or threats to human health and safety, and by developing new tools and management techniques. WS-NWRC research activities emphasize economically, environmentally and socially acceptable methods that reduce or stop wildlife damage effectively without risk to humans, wildlife or the natural environment.

To The Editor: Reply To Sarmati, Brad P. Brayfield, John T. West, Charles D. Mitchell, Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The letter by Sarmati et al. [1] presents data indicating that they were unable to find a significant correlation between human herpesvirus (HHV)–8 seropositivity and a history of spontaneous abortion in a group of 245 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1–seronegative women but that they did observe a correlation between high HHV-8 antibody titers (≥1:1280) and spontaneous abortion. Although it is possible that an increased risk of spontaneous abortion may be associated with active infection with HHV-8, at this point there is not enough evidence to support such an association. Given that several human herpes viruses are well-known agents of …

Establishment And Seedling Growth Of Big Bluestem And Switchgrass Populations Divergently Selected For Seedling Tiller Number, Alexander J. Smart, Lowell E. Moser, Kenneth P. Vogel

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Selection at the seedling stage in grass breeding would be extremely useful if seedling traits are correlated to desired agronomic traits. The objective of this study was to evaluate seedling morphological development, plant growth, and field establishment of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) populations that were developed by divergent selection for seed- ling tiller number while selecting for high shoot weight. Six populations were evaluated: (i) ‘Pawnee’ big bluestem base, (ii) ‘Pathfinder’ switchgrass base, (iii) big bluestem multiple tiller, (iv) big bluestem single tiller, (v) switchgrass multiple tiller, and (vi) switchgrass single tiller. …

Farnesol Biosynthesis In Candida Albicans: Cellular Response To Sterol Inhibition By Zaragozic Acid B, Jacob M. Hornby, Bessie W. Kebaara, Kenneth W. Nickerson

Papers in Microbiology

The dimorphic fungus Candida albicans produces farnesol as a quorum-sensing molecule that regulates cellular morphology. The biosynthetic origin of farnesol has been resolved by treating these cells with zaragozic acid B, a potent inhibitor of squalene synthase in the sterol biosynthetic pathway. Treatment with zaragozic acid B leads to an eightfold increase in the amount of farnesol produced by C. albicans. Furthermore, C. albicans cell extracts contain enzymatic activity to convert [³H]farnesyl pyrophosphate to [³H]farnesol. Many common antifungal antibiotics (e.g., zaragozic acids, azoles, and allylamines) target steps in sterol biosynthesis. We suggest that the fungicidal …

Elucidation Of The Mechanisms Of Hairy-Cell Localization In Tissues And The Process Of The Bone Marrow Fibrosis In Hairy-Cell Leukemia, Khalil A. Aziz

Saudi Medical Journal

Hairy cell leukemia is a chronic B cell leukemia with a number of distinctive features including the unusual tissue distribution of the leukemic cells, hairy cells, and the bone marrow fibrosis. We have been working, for a number of years, on the potential mechanisms behind hairy-cell localization in tissues. In this review, it is summarized how our work has shed very important information regarding these mechanisms and led, eventually, to the full elucidation of the process of the bone marrow fibrosis in hairy cell leukemia.

Disease Markers In Exhaled Breath, Abdullah Al-Mobeireek

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Catalog 2003-2004, Saint Mary's College Of California

Undergraduate Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

Revisions 2003-2004, Saint Mary's College Of California

Faculty Handbook

No abstract provided.

All The Elephants Faced The Door: Fiction And Poetry, Stephanie B. Thome

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

All the Elephants Faced the Door is a collection of fiction and poetry. The first section, “The World is Nice to Butterflies,” is a collection of six short stories. The collection focuses on the Solis family. The family consists of six sisters and the stories follow their journey of falling in love, forming romantic relationships and the eventuality of marriage. The second half of my manuscript is composed of poems and is divided in three sections. The first, “The Stuff of the World is Love-Stuff,” is a sequence of love poems. The second section entitled, “Domestic Anxiety,” is a series …

Inside Unlv, Gian Galassi, Carol C. Harter, Gene Hall

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

The Integrationist Alternative To The Insanity Defense: Reflections On The Exculpatory Scope Of Mental Illness In The Wake Of The Andrea Yates Trial, Christopher Slobogin

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

On June 20, 2001, Andrea Yates took the lives of her five children by drowning them, one by one, in a bathtub. At her trial on capital murder charges nine months later, she pleaded insanity. Despite very credible evidence that she had long suffered from serious mental disorder, a Texas jury convicted Yates of murder and sentenced her to life in prison. Her tragic and controversial case led many to question whether the so-called "M'Naghten" test for insanity, which forms the basis for the insanity defense in Texas, adequately defines the exculpatory effect of mental disorder. This article is based …

Nova Quarterly: The University Of Texas At El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso University Communications

NOVA

Summer 2003, Vol. 41, No. 4; No. 154

Reflections from the Home Front

Is The World Evolving Discretely?, Saber Elaydi

Mathematics Faculty Research

No abstract provided.