Digital Commons Network^™

Freshwater Crab Density And Demography In Relation To Water Quality And Elevation, March 2003, Givonn D. Osterneck

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

I investigated the effects of pollution and elevation on the population density of freshwater crabs as well as their age structure and sex ratio. This study gives insight into freshwater crabs as bioindicator of water quality as well as provides basic demographic information. Water quality was tested and crabs were collected at three different elevations, 1350 m, 1500 m, and 1650 m, at six different streams. Using a Kruskal-Wallis statistical analysis on the total crabs, the average male size, the average female size, the number of males, and the number of females were analyzed in relation to elevational change (table …

Anti-Predator Behavior Of Birds In Response To Call Playbacks Of The Barred-Forest-Falcon And White-Breasted Wood-Wren, March 2003, Matthew R. Gasner

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Birds have evolved many different strategies to cope with varying predation. Birds throughout the world are known to respond to threats, in part related to their size, social preferences, and foraging habits. Since there is relatively little known about these mechanisms for tropical birds of Cloud Forests, I have performed the following study in the Monteverde area of Costa Rica. A total of 129 calls of two types were played to 33 species in the Monteverde area during the course of this study. Anti-predator responses were recorded for birds exposed to a call playback of the Barred Forest-Falcon (Micrastur ruficolli) …

Colony Size And Its Effect On Forager Polymorphism In Atta Cephalotes (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), March 2003, Matthew R. Wallrath

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Atta cephalotes or leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) exhibit strong polymorphism over the life span of a single colony. This polymorphism effects foraging efficiency and is linked to overall social complexity. In this study, I quantified the degree of variance in head size and femur length in six colonies, as well as presence of a soldier class, and compared these results to the relative size of each nest as determined by a survey of foraging intensity. It was found that variance in the head and femurs and the presence of soldiers was significant different between small and large colonies, and this …

Effects Of Caste Structure On Nasutitermes Spp. (Isoptera) Hindgut Protozoan Populations, March 2003, Ruth Healey

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Evolutionary development of eusocial behavior in termite populations may be due to their symbiotic interaction with the protozoa that live in the hindgut and aid in cellulose digestion (Wilson 1971). In particular, the way in which protozoa are passed between individuals of different castes and the resulting variance in diversity could have led to the development of social interactions and specialization within castes over evolutionary time. This study looked at the hindgut composition of Nasutitermes spp. among three different castes across multiple nests to determine if a caste-dependent gradient of hindgut faunal diversity exists. Castes from six nest sites were …

Parasites In Scats Of Nasua Narica (Procyonidae), March 2003, Mary E. Kutch

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

The majority of animal species are parasites, and free-living animals almost certainly harbor at least one host- specific parasite species. This study surveyed the intestinal parasites in a Costa Rican population of white-nosed coatis (Nasua narica). Scat was collected and analyzed under a compound microscope using the direct smear technique, and parasite morphospecies were counted and identified. All samples contained endoparasites, the most abundant of which were nematodes. They were present in 95% of the samples and included the genera Enterobius, Strongyloides, and Dorylaimus, Physaloptera, Diphyllobothrium latum, and a ciliate- possibly Bresslaua vorax, were also observed. Members of this tropical …

Water Quality And Lichen Coverage In Monteverde Streams, March 2003, Stephanie Payne

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

This study examined lichen abundance and water quality in six streams in Monteverde, Costa Rica. By estimating lichen coverage on rocks over a 90 m transect, mean lichen coverage per stream was measured. Water quality was estimated by measuring temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, turbidity, nitrogen and phosphorous levels at each stream. Mean lichen coverage varied between each site, showing that the Quebrada Sucia had the smallest lichen coverage and the Quebrada Máquina had the highest lichen coverage. A significant positive correlation was found between percent lichen coverage and total dissolved oxygen concentration. There are at least four possible explanations …

Exploring An Unknown Gold Mine: U.S. Government Documents On National Security Policy, Bert Chapman

Libraries Research Publications

Provides listings and annotations of U.S. Government and military national security information resources.

The Horlas: Maupassant's Mirror Of Self-Reflection, Edward J. Lusk, Marion Roeske

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

In their co-authored paper, "The Horlas: Maupassant's Mirror of Self-Reflection," Edward J. Lusk and Marion Roeske present a comparative analysis of three works of Maupassant: Lettre d'un fou, Le Horla of 1886, and Le Horla of 1887. The authors argue that these works form a trilogy by which Maupassant expresses his struggle to resolve the issues that seem to haunt him during the time that he pens the Horla trilogy. This introspective search is crafted around the failure of a mirror to provide a reflected image and the assessment of the likelihood that the strange events presented in the trilogy …

Identifying Nursery Areas Used By Inner Bay And Oceanic Pink Snapper ( Pagrus Auratus) To The Effect Of Prawn Trawling On Inner Bay Snapper Stocks - Final Report For Frdc Project 2001/061, D. J. Gaughan, Michael J. Moran, Melinda M. Ranaldi, John R. Watling

Fisheries Research Contract Reports

Final Report for FRDC Project 2001/061

Pink snapper (Pagrus auratus) is the main commercial and recreational finfish (Kailola et al., 1993) in the Shark Bay region. Pink snapper are distributed along much of the temperate and tropical coasts of Western Australia from east of Esperance on the south coast to north of Shark Bay on the west (Paulin 1990). Previous research using genetics (Johnson et al. 1986), tagging (Moran et al. 2004), and otolith microchemistry (Edmonds et al., 1989, 1999) have shown that pink snapper from the innermost parts of Shark Bay do not mix with the ocean fish

Juvenile …

High-Resolution Near-Field Raman Microscopy Of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, Achim Hartschuh, X. Sunney Xie, Lukas Novotny, Erik J. Sánchez

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We present near-field Raman spectroscopy and imaging of single isolated single-walled carbon nanotubes with a spatial resolution of approximately 25 nm. The near-field origin of the image contrast is confirmed by the measured dependence of the Raman scattering signal on tip-sample distance and the unique polarization properties. The method is used to study local variations in the Raman spectrum along a single single-walled carbon nanotube.

Strategic Effects Of Conflict With Iraq: South Asia, Amit Gupta Dr.

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The author has been asked to analyze four issues: the position that key states in their region are taking on U.S. military action against Iraq; the role of America in the region after the war with Iraq; the nature of security partnerships in the region after the war with Iraq; and the effect that war with Iraq will have on the war on terrorism in the region.

Strategic Effects Of Conflict With Iraq: Latin America, Max G. Manwaring Dr.

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The author has been asked to analyze four issues: the position that key states in their region are taking on U.S. military action against Iraq; the role of America in the region after the war with Iraq; the nature of security partnerships in the region after the war with Iraq; and the effect that war with Iraq will have on the war on terrorism in the region.

Strategic Effects Of Conflict With Iraq: Post-Soviet States, Stephen J. Blank Dr.

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The author has been asked to analyze four issues: the position that key states in their region are taking on U.S. military action against Iraq; the role of America in the region after the war with Iraq; the nature of security partnerships in the region after the war with Iraq; and the effect that war with Iraq will have on the war on terrorism in the region. Conclusions reached are: Ashort war with rapid decisive victory minimizes future risks connected with Iraq to our force stationed in the former Soviet Union. However, it does not eliminate existing threats or allow …

Globalization And The Nature Of War, Antulio J. Echevarria Ii

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The author explores the nature of war, and how it has changed as a result of globalization. He uses the Clausewitzian model of war's trinity (political guidance, chance, and enmity) as a framework for understanding the nature of war, a concept that has been only vaguely represented in defense literature. He then analyses the global war on terrorism via that framework. He concludes that the Clausewitzian trinity is alive and well. Globalization is strengthening the role that political guidance is playing in war, it may well increase the elements of chance and uncertainty, and it is clearly exacerbating basic feelings …

The Genus Dacne Latreille (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) In Tropical America, Paul E. Skelley

University of Nebraska State Museum: Entomology Papers

A new species of Dacne Latreille from Brazil, D. (Dacne) ducke, n. sp., and a new specimen of Dacne brodzinskyi Skelley (amber fossil) show characteristics presently unreported for the genus. acne ducke is the first member of the tribe Dacnini to be discovered in South America. A checklist of species and updates to an identification key for all known species are presented.

Differences In Distribution Of Modified Basins And Ducks Relative To Roadside Transects, Jane E. Austin, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, H. Thomas Sklebar, T. K. Buhl

United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Publications

Wetland basins in the Prairie Pothole Region of the U.S. are commonly modified by excavation (e.g., roadside ditches, stock dugouts), partial drainage (ditching), and diking. Differences in the distribution of modified wetlands may affect the predictive accuracy of waterfowl survey data if such wetlands are not distributed randomly in the landscape and if waterfowl are not distributed equally among them. We used data collected on thirty-eight 40-km² plots in North Dakota to examine the distribution of modified basins relative to roadside transects and their use by five species of dabbling ducks in 1995. The 800-m-wide transects were subdivided into …

Selective Removal Of The Selenocysteine Trna [Ser]Sec Gene (Trsp) In Mouse Mammary Epithelium, Easwari Kumaraswamy, Bradley A. Carlson, Fanta Morgan, Keiko Miyoshi, Gertraud W. Robinson, Dan Su, Shulin Wang, Eileen Southon, Lino Tessarollo, Byeong Jae Lee, Vadim Gladyshev, Lothar Hennighausen, Dolph L. Hatfield

Vadim Gladyshev Publications

Mice homozygous for an allele encoding the selenocysteine (Sec) tRNA ^[Ser]Sec gene (Trsp) flanked by loxP sites were generated. Cre recombinase-dependent removal of Trsp in these mice was lethal to embryos. To investigate the role of Trsp in mouse mammary epithelium, we deleted this gene by using transgenic mice carrying the Cre recombinase gene under control of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) long terminal repeat or the whey acidic protein promoter. While both promoters target Cre gene expression to mammary epithelium, MMTV-Cre is also expressed in spleen and skin. Sec tRNA ^[Ser]Sec amounts were reduced by …

The Application Of A Diatom-Based Transfer Function To Evaluate Regional Water-Quality Trends In Minnesota Since 1970, J. M. Ramstack, Sherilyn C. Fritz, D. R. Engstrom, S. A. Heiskary

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Significant population growth over the last three decades, as well as efforts to improve surface-water quality mandated by the Clean Water Act, potentially have had opposing influences on aquatic ecosystems in the U.S. Because historical data on water-quality trends are limited over this time period, we developed a diatom-based transfer function to reconstruct chloride, color, acid neutralizing capacity (ANC), total phosphorus (TP), and pH in 55 Minnesota lakes. The lakes span three different ecoregions, as well as the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and differ in their history of settlement and land use, and in surficial geology, climate, and vegetation. Lakes …

Passive Maternal Smoking And Pregnancy Outcome In A Saudi Population, Mumtaz Rashid, Haroon Rashid

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: A prospective study to investigate the effect of passive smoking on birth weight of infants born to women at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: The study group comprised of 868 singleton live births occurring during January to December 2001 at Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Following delivery, mothers were asked for details of whether they smoked or used tobacco in any other form and if they had exposure to passive smoke at home or in the workplace. The daily exposure time to tobacco smoke was divided …

Comparative Crossover Controlled Study Using Polysulphone And Vitamin E Coated Dialyzers, Mohamed S. Al-Jondeby, Iolani T. Cabaguing, Amelita A. Pajarillo, Fahd A. Hawas, Dujanah H. Mousa, Mohamed H. Al-Sulaiman, Faissal A. Shaheen, Abdulla A. Al-Khader

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: There is relatively little clinical experience reported on the use of the vitamin E coated dialyzer (CL-EE12, Terumo). This study compares its efficacy and intradialytic symptoms with a polysulphone dialyzer in 2 groups of patients in a controlled crossover trial design. METHODS: This study was carried out at the Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the time period January to March 2002. In group A, 34 patients were dialyzed for 4 weeks with vitamin E dialyzer then switched over to Fresenius 60 (F60) for 4 weeks. In group B, 41 patients were dialyzed with F60 for …

History Of Depression And Smoking Cessation Outcome: A Meta-Analysis, Brian Hitsman, Belinda Borrelli, Dennis E. Mcchargue, Bonnie Spring, Raymond Niaura

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The authors conducted a meta-analysis of published studies to (a) evaluate the premise that a history of major depression is associated with failure to quit smoking and (b) identify factors that moderate the relationship between history of depression and cessation outcome. Fifteen studies met the selection requirements and were coded for various study methodology and treatment characteristics. DSTAT was used to calculate individual study effect sizes, determine the mean effect size across studies, and test for moderator effects. No differences in either short-term (≤ 3 months) or long-term abstinence rates (≥ 6 months) were observed between smokers positive versus negative …

The Air Force Operational Risk Management Program And Aviation Safety, Matthew G. Cho

Theses and Dissertations

Aviation mishaps are extremely costly in terms of dollar value, public opinion, and human life, The Air Force drastically reduced Class A mishap rates in its formative years. The rate plummeted from 44.22 mishaps per 100,000 flight hours in 1947 to 2.33 mishaps in 1983 and has held steady around 1.5 mishaps since. The Air Force implemented the Operational Risk Management (ORM) program in 1996 in an effort to protect their most valuable resources: aircraft and aviators. An AFIT thesis conducted in 1999 by Capt Park Ashley studied the Army similar Risk Management (RM) program. Ashley concluded that since his …

An Analysis Of Information Referenced Testing As An Air Force Assessment Tool, Eric D. Larson

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DOD) has placed a great deal of importance on training and education, throughout all areas of infrastructure development and force implementation. A more knowledgeable operating unit, in any situation, is consistently the deciding factor for success. The United States Air Force, too, has emphasized this ideal and sought to employ those persons most qualified for the required task. Yet, problems within the classroom and various training venues are always present and should be continually marked for improvement. Existing assessment techniques should provide an accurate account of the quality of information learned by DOD personnel. This is …

Using Sequence Analysis To Perform Application-Based Anomaly Detection Within An Artificial Immune System Framework, Larissa A. O'Brien

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force and other Department of Defense (DoD) computer systems typically rely on traditional signature-based network IDSs to detect various types of attempted or successful attacks. Signature-based methods are limited to detecting known attacks or similar variants; anomaly-based systems, by contrast, alert on behaviors previously unseen. The development of an effective anomaly-detecting, application based IDS would increase the Air Force's ability to ward off attacks that are not detected by signature-based network IDSs, thus strengthening the layered defenses necessary to acquire and maintain safe, secure communication capability. This system follows the Artificial Immune System (AIS) framework, which relies on …

Groundwater Flow Through A Constructed Treatment Wetland, Jack A. Blalock

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an analysis of the flow of water through a constructed treatment wetland at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. The purpose of the treatment wetland is to biodegrade perchioroethylene, which is present in the groundwater as a contaminant. Contaminated water enters the bottom of the wetland and flows upward, exiting the wetland from a weir at one end. The wetland is designed for water to move vertically through the soil layers composing the wetland. The main purpose of this study is to characterize the water flow through the different layers of soil in the wetland. In this study, hydraulic parameters …

Modeling Catalytic Destruction Of Subsurface Contaminants In Recirculating Wells, Kerry J. Cadena

Theses and Dissertations

Groundwater and soil contamination is a significant problem throughout the nation, with approximately 300,000 to 400,000 sites affected (National Research Council, 1994). Examples of groundwater contaminants of special interest to DoD and AF installations include fuel hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and nitroaromatic compounds. Traditional remediation technologies, which include pump-and-treat, permeable reactive barriers, and natural attenuation, have numerous drawbacks associated with them. These drawbacks have prompted researchers to look for innovative contamination clean-up methods. The technology investigated in this thesis, reticulating horizontal flow treatment wells (HFTWs) with in-well palladium (Pd) catalyst reactors, offers the potential for destruction of groundwater contaminants commonly found …

Inside Unlv, Gian Galassi, Jennifer Vaughan, Carol C. Harter, Carolyn Sabo

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Future Climate Analysis -- 10,000 Years To 1,000,000 Years After Present, Saxon E. Sharpe, Dwight Hoxie, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

The purpose of this report is to provide quantified estimates of temperature and precipitation and estimate the timing of climate states in the Yucca Mountain, Nevada, area for the period from 10,000 to 1,000,000 years beyond the present. Primary tasks are limited to: 1) selecting modern analog climate stations for three different magnitude glacial stages; and, 2) determining the timing of future climate states using orbital parameter data and Devils Hole and Owens Lake records. These estimates are intended to be used as input to models of the infiltration process to assess the performance of the natural and engineered systems …

Calculation Of The Actual Cost Of Engine Maintenance, Oguz Ezik

Theses and Dissertations

The cost of military operations has been difficult to determine, yet considered of high importance. The cost of an operation is largely dependent upon the answers to subordinate questions involving the discrete costs of military activities, like supporting individual items, While different cost estimates have received attention from the media, the question arises as to how accurate these figures are, There have been numerous studies performed by the Operations Research analysts to minimize costs while allocating scarce resources, However, the values of these studies are dependent upon whether or not the cost figures used are sufficiently "true" or accurate, This …

Modeling Homeland Security: A Value Focused Thinking Approach, Kristopher A. Pruitt

Theses and Dissertations

The events of September 11, 2001 have propelled the topic of homeland security to the forefront of national concern. The threat of terrorism within the United States has reached an unprecedented level. The pervasive vulnerabilities of the nation's critical infrastructure coupled with the destructive capabilities and deadly intentions of modern terrorists pose extraordinary risks. The United States must mitigate these risks while at the same time balancing the associated costs and impact on civil liberties. Currently, the United States lacks effective methods and measure for assessing the security of the homeland from acts of terrorism. This study outlines a first …