Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Predator Presence On Nectarivorous Bat Foraging Behavior, August 2004, Rachael Heuer

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

For many species, predator avoidance changes normal foraging behavior, altering optimal foraging strategies. In this study, foraging behavior of bats was examined by observing the number of feeding visits to control feeders in comparison to feeders with an artificial snake or owl in close proximity. Trials were also performed between snake and owl treatments to determine if one predator was more strongly avoided during feeding. Nectarivorous bats were found to exhibit predator avoidance behaviors for both snake and owl predators (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in trials comparing owl and snake avoidance, suggesting that bats do not fear one more than the other (P = 0.947). This study shows that predator presence must be taken into account along with search time, handling time, and caloric reward when evaluating optimal foraging models with necatarivorous bats.

Response To Changes In Location Of Nectar Source By Xylophanes Acrus (Sphyngidae) As A Measure Of “Spatial Memory”, August 2004, James T. Murphy

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Moths in the family Sphyngidae are known to expend a considerable amount of energy in locating food resources. Considering the high investment of energy required to locate food resources within large areas, a valuable adaptation to aid in more efficiently locating resources might be the ability to “remember” resource locations in order to relocate them when necessary. The purpose of this study was to determine how Xylophanes acrus would respond to sensory cues and if these responses indicated an ability to develop a “spatial memory” for locations of nectar sources. Xylophanes acrus responses to artificial nectar sources were elicited using …

The Effect Of Abiotic Factors On The Distribution Of Cerrorchestia Hyloraina (Taltridae) Above And Below The Monteverde Cheese Factory, August 2004, Vanessa Cervantes

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Taltrid amphipods are terrestrial crustaceans known to favor moist habitats and feed off of decaying matter. They have been found infesting caves, beaches, and garden leaf litter. Within the past three years, the Cerrorchestia hyloraina (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Taltridae) population local to the Monteverde area has exploded due to changes in unknown biotic and/or abiotic factors. Three abiotic factors (distance from river, soil moisture, and temperature) were tested at two different sites: one above and one below the Monteverde Cheese Factory (MCF). Taltrid density was significantly higher below (251.800 ± 170.811 taltrids/trap) the MCF than above (1.619 ± 1.910 taltrids/trap, Mann-Whitney …

Dung Beetle Response In Relationship To Manure Location, August 2004, Margaret Quinn

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Dung beetle ecology is an integral part of nutrient cycling within ecosystems around the world. Farms benefit from the decomposer action of dung beetles from the nutrients imputed into the soil and the breakdown of helminthes parasites. This study analyzed the effects of varying dung location within pastures on dung beetle response. It was hypothesized that cow manure closer to forest edges would elicit a greater response than manure located further away. Also, manure located near an edge would elicit a greater beetle response overall when compared to manure in the middle of the pasture. Three pastures located in San …

Fruit Species Preference In Mountain Robins (Turdus Plebejus), August 2004, Leah Bomberger

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

The Mountain Robin (Turdus plebejus, Turdidae) (in the Monteverde region in Costa Rica) is an opportunistic feeder and an important disperser for many plant species. This study examined fruit preference of the Mountain Robin between three species of plants: Viburnum costaricanum, Chamaedorea costaricana, and Chamaedorea pinnatifrons. A significant preference was found for C. costaricana over C. pinnatifrons (P = 0.040). These results indicate that C. costaricana offers a higher reward and may attract more dispersers than C. pinnatifrons or V. costaricana.

Nocturnal Vs. Diurnal Insect Diversity Within Tropical Montane Forest Canopy, August 2004, Michael Rosenthal

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Tropical forest canopies are unique environments with complex interactions, allowing for high levels of specialization for insects. The purpose of this study was to test whether increased specialization has created differences in species richness and diversity between nocturnal and diurnal canopy insects. To test this, insects were collected from six trees using suspended traps containing three types of bait (carrion, rotten fruit, and specific scents that attract euglossine bees). Diversity and species richness was quantified for diurnal and nocturnal traps of all three baits and for total number of insects collected diurnally and nocturnally. The results showed that on all …

Clientele Impact For Beef Producers From A Grass-Roots Style Of Extension Programming, Cindy Sanders, Nick T. Place

Journal of Extension

The Alachua County Master Cattlemen program is developed for small beef producers to help increase profitability. Because small beef producers are at a disadvantage in marketing truck loads of cattle and retaining ownership, educational programs relating to beef cattle management are used to give producers tools to manage their cattle in order to become more profitable. As a result of these programs, a small beef cooperative has been formed to take advantage of marketing alternatives. This cooperative has shown a significant increase in price per pound received, and this has resulted in a cumulative economic impact of $42,500.

Spectroscopic And X-Ray Crystallographic Characterization Of Bestatin Bound To The Aminopeptidase From Aeromonas (Vibrio) Proteolytica, Carin C. Stamper, David L. Bienvenue, Brian Bennett, Dagmar Ringe, Gregory A. Petsko, Richard C. Holz

Physics Faculty Research and Publications

Binding of the competitive, slow-binding inhibitor bestatin ([(2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoy]-leucine) to the aminopeptidase from Aeromonas proteolytica (AAP) was examined by both spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. Electronic absorption spectra of the catalytically competent [Co_(AAP)], [CoCo(AAP)], and [ZnCo(AAP)] enzymes recorded in the presence of bestatin revealed that both of the divalent metal ions in AAP are involved in binding bestatin. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of the [CoCo(AAP)]−bestatin complex exhibited no observable perpendicular- or parallel-mode signal. These data indicate that the two Co^II ions in AAP are antiferromagnetically coupled yielding an S = 0 ground state and suggest …

Acoustical And Flow Characteristics Of A Cough As An Index Of Pulmonary Function In The Guinea Pig, Joshua W. Day

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Human studies indicate that cough sound and flow analysis may be useful for diagnosing pulmonary abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an animal model for cough sound and flow analysis. A system was designed to expose guinea pigs to aerosols of citric acid (0.39M) and record resulting coughs at different stages of chemically induced specific airway resistance (sRAW). Coughs were divided into three categories (low sRAW, n = 113; moderate sRAW, n = 143; high sR AW, n = 93). 124 cough sound parameters were derived from the analysis of the sound pressure waves recorded during the …

Effect Of Watering Regime And Media Components On The Production Of Organic Tomato Transplants, Melissa C. Vantine

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In order to find appropriate methods to produce quality organic tomato transplants, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. WV '63) seedlings were grown in four growing media containing various ratios of composted animal manure and were compared to transplants grown in a conventional peat-lite mix receiving synthetic fertilizers. These five media were watered according to eight watering regimes, including five watering levels and three watering regimes containing compost tea. Composted horse and cow manure can be used in part or instead of peat in organic potting mixes. The ratio of compost used will depend on characteristics of the compost and will also …

Ctp Synthase And Transporter Function In Coxiella Burnetii, Jeffrey D. Miller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Coxiella burnetii is a gram negative, obligate intracellular parasite that can only replicate in the acidified environment of a phagosome. Like other intracellular parasites, C. burnetii depends on the host cell for many of the substrates required for growth, such as amino acids. It had been observed that avirulent C. burnetii Nine Mile strain (Phase II) organisms in BHK-21 fibroblasts displayed improved growth when extracellular cytidine was introduced to infected cultures. This improved growth was not observed in wild type organisms in the same cell system. This observation, coupled with early enzyme activity studies, suggested that Phase II organisms had …

B. R. Wells Rice Research Studies 2003, R. J. Norman, J.-F. Meullenet, K. A.K. Moldenhauer

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Arkansas is the leading rice-producing state in the U.S., representing just over 48% of the total U.S. production and 48.5% of the total acres planted to rice. Rice cultural practices vary across the state and across the U.S. However, due to changing political, environmental, and economic times, the practices are dynamic. This survey was initiated in 2002 to monitor how the changing times reflect the changes in the way Arkansas rice producers approach their livelihood. The survey was conducted by polling county extension agents in each of the counties in Arkansas where rice is produced. Questions included topics such as …

Understanding Tradition, Meir Katz

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

2003-2004 Profile, Morehead State University. Institutional Research & Analysis.

Office of Institutional Research & Analysis Publication Archive

No abstract provided.

New Drug: Prevacid I.V. (Lansoprazole) Injection, Joseph A. Woelfel

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

Proton Pump Inhibitors Associated With Increased Risk Of Clostridium Difficile Diarrhea, Joseph A. Woelfel

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

Vol 49 #1, Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson

MPLA Newsletter

No abstract provided.

A Durkheimian Sociobiology?, Jason Oliver Dixon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As conceived by Durkheim, social facts set parameters on what is of sociological interest, and subsequently how social phenomena are explained. This thesis reworks this theoretical concept to allow for biological explanations of some social phenomena. It by no means, asserts that all social phenomena can be explained by biology, but it recognizes that biological explanations of human behavior are available and are of sociological interest. The argument agrees with the main thrust of Durkheim's defense of social facts, but his critique of utility, while insightful, is considered unnecessary to negate individual causality.

Coming Home, Staying Put, And Learning To Fiddle: Heroism And Place In Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain., Heather Rhea Gilreath

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In his novel Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier weaves an intricate web of human stories, all converging to make a memorable statement about love, war, life, and death. This study examines these stories and the mythological, literary, and folk models Frazier employs, and in some cases revises, to tell them. The first chapter explores how Frazier recreates Odysseus in Inman, his main male character, to depict the psychological trauma inflicted by war. The second chapter focuses on Ada, Inman’s pre-war sweetheart, and Ruby, a girl with whom Ada bonds, as challenges to the male pastoral tradition. Ruby’s father Stobrod as trickster, …

Dna Sequence Analysis Of Regions Surrounding BlaCmy-2 From Multiple Salmonella Plasmid Backbones, W.P. Giles, Andrew K. Benson, M.E. Olson, Robert W. Hutkins, J.M. Whichard, P.L. Winokur, P.D. Fey

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

The emergence in the United States of resistance to expanded-spectrum cephalosporin (e.g., ceftriaxone) within the salmonellae has been associated primarily with three large (>100-kb) plasmids (designated types A, B, and C) and one 10.1-kb plasmid (type D) that carry the bla_CMY-2 gene. In the present study, the distribution of these four known bla_CMY-2-carrying plasmids among 35 ceftriaxone-resistant Salmonella isolates obtained from 1998 to 2001 was examined. Twenty-three of these isolates were Salmonella enterica serotype Newport, 10 were Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium, 1 was Salmonella enterica serotype Agona, and 1 was Salmonella enterica serotype Reading. All 23 …

Stepchildren’S Perceptions Of The Contradictions In Communication With Stepparents, Leslie A. Baxter, Dawn O. Braithwaite, Leah E. Bryant, Amy Wagner

Department of Communication Studies: Faculty Publications

This interpretive study, framed in relational dialectics theory, sought to identify stepchildren’s perceptions of the contradictions that animate communication with the stepparent in their household of primary residence. In-depth interviews were conducted, producing 802 pages of double-spaced interview transcripts, which were analyzed inductively for commonly experienced contradictions of stepchild-stepparent communication. Three underlying contradictions were identified. First, stepchild-stepparent communication was perceived to be characterized by a dialectic of integration, characterized by both closeness and distance. Second, stepchild-stepparent communication was perceived to be characterized by a dialectic of parental status, in which the stepparent was, and was not, granted legitimacy in a …

Crocodylia, Alligator Mississippiensis (American Alligator): Homing And Site Fidelity, John W. Woolard, Richard M. Engeman, Henry T. Smith, Mark Nelson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Crocodylia, Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator): Homing and Site Fidelity

Odor, H2S And Nh3 Emissions From Phototrophic And Non-Phototrophic Anaerobic Swine Lagoons, Jason Byler, Dennis D. Schulte, Richard K. Koelsch

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

Odor, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emission data were collected from three phototrophic and three non-phototrophic anaerobic swine lagoons in eastern Nebraska from May 27th to June 18th (late spring) and from July 7th to August 13th (summer). The greatest odor, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia emission rates were from non-phototrophic lagoons during late spring (24.5 OU m^-2 s^-1, 3.2 μg-H₂S m^-2 s^-1, 34.9 kg NH₃-N ha^-1 d^-1, respectively). Non-phototrophic lagoon odor, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emission rates were much higher in late spring than summer (24.5 vs. 4.8 …

Review Of Parasites And Diseases Of Wild Birds In Florida By D. J. Forrester And M. G. Spalding; University Press Of Florida, 2003, John J. Janovy Jr.

John J. Janovy, Jr. Publications

Review of Parasites and Diseases of Wild Birds in Florida by D. J. Forrester and M. G. Spalding, publsihed by the University Press of Florida, 2003; ISBN: 0-8130-2560-5.

Determination Of Traffic Responsive Plan Selection Factors And Thresholds Using Artificial Neural Networks, Anuj Sharma

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Traffic congestion has become a menace to civilized society. It degrades air quality, jeopardizes safety and causes delay. Traffic congestion can be alleviated by providing an effective traffic control signal system. Closed-loop traffic control systems are an example of such a system.

Closed-loop traffic control systems can be operated primarily in either of two modes: Time of Day Mode (TOD) or Traffic Responsive Plan Selection Mode (TRPS). TRPS mode, if properly configured, can easily handle time independent variation in traffic volumes. It can also reduce the effect of timing plan aging. Despite these advantages, TRPS mode is not used as …

Effects Of Snake Venom From Saudi Cobras And Vipers On Hormonal Levels In Peripheral Blood, Khidir A. Abdel-Galil, Awdah M. Al-Hazimi

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: Knowledge about the effects of snake venoms on endocrine glands in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is meager. The aim of the present study is to investigate the acute and chronic envenomation from 4 snakes out of 8 species of Saudi Cobras and Vipers on the tissues of endocrine glands and peripheral hormonal levels in male rats. METHODS: The peripheral blood levels of 4 hormones mainly testosterone, cortisol, insulin and thyroxin were investigated in male Wistar rats following acute and chronic treatment of the rats with poisonous snake venoms at the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King …

An Inguinal Mass With Local Vascular Lesions Induced By A Lymphatic Filaria, Ahmed A. Abdel-Hameed, Wieslaw T. Dura, Ibrahim S. Alkhalife

Saudi Medical Journal

A 47-year-old Indian male presented with an inguinal mass clinically suspicious as a tumor. Histological examination of the excised mass demonstrated tissue reaction to degenerating intravascular adult filarial worms. The worms have been identified as a lymphatic filariae, most probably Wuchereria bancrofti. The case report underscores the need to maintain suspicion of genitourinary filarial lesions in non-endemic areas and describes atypical vascular lesions induced by lymphatic filariae.

Mesa, A Novel Fungal Protein Required For The Stabilization Of Polarity Axes In Aspergillus Nidulans, Claire L. Pearson, Kaimei Xu, Kathryn E. Sharpless, Steven D. Harris

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

The Aspergillus nidulans proteome possesses a single formin, SepA, which is required for actin ring formation at septation sites and also plays a role in polarized morphogenesis. Previous observations imply that complex regulatory mechanisms control the function of SepA and ensure its correct localization within hyphal tip cells. To characterize these mechanisms, we undertook a screen for mutations that enhance sepA defects. Of the mutants recovered, mesA1 causes the most dramatic defect in polarity establishment when SepA function is compromised. In a wild-type background, mesA1 mutants undergo aberrant hyphal morphogenesis, whereas septum formation remains unaffected. Molecular characterization revealed that MesA …

Historical Biogeography Of The Woodchuck (Marmota Monax Bunkeri) In Nebraska And Northern Kansas, Zachary P. Roehrs, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Discusses the historical biogeography of the Woodchuck (Marmota monax bunkeri) in Nebraska and northern Kansas.

First paragraph:

Jones et al. described the western limit of Marmota monax in the United States as the eastern edge of the northern Great Plains in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. Mengel introduced the idea of the Great Plains grasslands as a barrier to contact between birds of eastern and western North American forests. In his studies of bird biogeography on the Platte River, Knopf reported that this barrier has eroded with development of riparian forests along river courses of the Great …

Dialectics In Mother-Child Relationships Among First-Generation Asian Indian Women In The United States, Chitra Akkoor

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Asian Indian immigrant women raising children in the U.S. as value contradictions between Asian Indian culture and U.S. culture. Relational dialectics in parent-child relationships among Asian Indian immigrant women and their children was also explored using the dialectcial perspective. Participants for the study were 20 Asian Indian women chosen randomly from the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek (MI) AI community who participated in one-one-interviews. Results of the study showed that participants experienced value contradictions in child-rearing. All four contradictions addressed in research on relational dialectics were also discovered in the context of …