Digital Commons Network^™

Bjc Today

BJC Today

No abstract provided.

Acetylcholine: Ii. Nicotinic Receptors, Joyce Besheer, Rick A. Bevins

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The nicotinic cholinergic system has been widely implicated in mediating learning and/or memory processes in human and nonhuman animals. This chapter highlights various areas of basic research in which stimulation or blockade of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) has been shown to affect an animals performance in a variety of tasks thought to measure learning and memory. For example, under certain conditions, stimulation of nAChRs by nicotine (or other nAChRs agonists) can enhance working memory of primates as measured in a delayed matching-to-sample task. Attentional processes are also improved in rats as indexed by a five-choice serial reaction time task. Further, …

December 18, 2004 (Pages 6629-6752), Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau

Volume 34 (2004)

No abstract provided.

Conexão Subterrânea, No. 14, December 18, 2004, Adriano Gambarini, Augusto Auler, Ericson C. Igual

KIP Articles

Nesta edição você saberá mais sobre os seguintes assuntos: - Realizado em São Paulo o 1° Workshop Manejo de Cavernas e Sistemas Cársticos - Uso Público - Descoberta gigantesca caverna quartzítica na Venezuela - Simulado de resgate em caverna é organizado em Brasília - Novo recorde espanhol de espeleomergulho - Caverna turca tem potencial para superar os 2000 m de profundidade - Novas informações sobre a morte de crianças em caverna no México - Resenha: Pucará 2003 - Revista O Carste lança novo número - Reconstituição de crânio humano de 8500 anos traz novos dados sobre a Pré-História brasileira - …

Dec. 18, 2004, A. Durbin Et Al, Cso Proposed Redline Edits To Ps 3 Pollution Prevention And Abatement, Ifc

IFC E&S Performance Standards

No abstract provided.

Requirement Elicitation Of Large Web Projects., David E. Frazier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the most important aspects of developing a large Web-based project is getting the correct requirements from the client. Time and money can be lost if the requirements are incomplete or inaccurate. Traditional Web design sources tend to gloss over this important activity.

Software engineering is a mature field that can help in the quest for more complete and accurate requirement gathering. This paper explores the ways that traditional software engineering techniques can be applied to Web projects. A methodology is presented based on both existing and new techniques. Several experiments are conducted to determine the usefulness of each …

Use Of The Sreb Leadership Development Framework In Preservice Principal Preparation Programs: A Qualitative Investigation., Robert C. Vick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although nearly everyone agrees that principals need formal training to prepare for their positions, few agree on what the nature of this training should be. Advanced university education may teach examples of leadership behaviors, but is it likely to transmit the practical knowledge and behaviors that are the hallmarks of successful principals?

This study focused on the 13 critical success factors for school leaders as created by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB, 2002). The purpose of the study was to identify the extent to which these 13 standards have been addressed in formal and informal development training experiences of …

Type Image And The Art Of Protest., Wendy R. Blair

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is the culmination of my work as a graphic artist thus far. I chose to investigate the use of type and image in the production of social protest art, as it relates to historical and contemporary art as well as my own. Methods used in gathering the data include references from books, periodicals, websites, and hands-on application of the artistic process. Conclusions found within this paper suggest that using type and image within a multimedia process, serves to communicate important messages and attempts to educate the viewer on important political and social matters. Protest art has and will …

Gender And Site-Name Recall Of Geographic Sites Varying In Distance., Joshua Sean Godsey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research project was to replicate, refine, and extend research by Zinser et al. (in press) of the site-name, associative memory of male and female college students of nearby to very distant geographic sites. A test booklet included eight schematic aerial maps. The maps were of 20 to 50 geographic sites participants attempted to match with their names. The number of campus buildings, campus city sites, regional cities, U.S. cities, U.S. states, world cities, world countries, and world continents/bodies of water matched correctly were determined. A demographic questionnaire was also presented. Overall, men performed significantly better than …

Role Of Macrophage Apoptosis In Atherosclerosis., June Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The presence of apoptotic cells in atherosclerotic lesions has been broadly reported in the past ten years. The majority of these apoptotic cells are macrophages. However, the pathogenic role of macrophage apoptosis in the development of atherosclerosis remains to be elucidated. Elevated expression of Bax, one of the pivotal pro-apoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family, has been found in human atherosclerotic plaques. Activation of Bax also occurs in free cholesterol-loaded and oxysterol treated mouse macrophages. In this study, we evaluated the influence of Bax deficiency on apoptosis in macrophage-like P388D1 cells by using small interfering RNA (siRNA) to suppress Bax …

Burnished Souls., Floyd Thomas Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis, in support of the Master of Fine Arts exhibition entitled Burnished Souls at East Tennessee State University, Carroll Reece Museum, Johnson City, Tennessee, November 25- December 18, 2004, describes in detail three aesthetic themes that have informed my work; The Refined Sense of Beauty, A Newly Defined Function, and The Artistic Element of Smoke and Fire. These aesthetic themes are discovered and explained through both historic and contemporary influences and are described in relation to their influence on my current work.

Dose-Dependent Effects Of Salmon Calcitonin On Bone Turnover In Ovariectomized Rats., Beatrice H. Owens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, osteoporosis results in about 1.5 million annual fractures, costing approximately $15 billion. Calcitonin is safe and effective in slowing osteoporotic bone loss, but its effect is transient. The current studies were designed to explore the dose-dependent effects of salmon calcitonin on bone turnover in ovariectomized rats and to determine if the decrease in therapeutic effectiveness of calcitonin demonstrated over time with higher doses is due to oversuppression of bone turnover. Doses of 5, 15, & 50 IU/kg BW/day of calcitonin were compared to placebo in 12-week-old ovariectomized and sham-ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats for 24 weeks. The spinal …

Shellfish Resources And Habitat Characterization Survey For Sebasco Harbor, Phippsburg, Maine, Christopher S. Heinig, Daniel S. Millar

Publications

No abstract provided.

Winter Commencement: December 17, 2004, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Winter Commencement program from December 17, 2004.

A Market Survey Of Ecotourists In The Valdivian Temperate Forest Ecoregion Of Chile, Scott Harris

Natural Resources

A survey of ecotourists in the Valdivian Temperate Forests ecoregion of southern Chile is used to determine if the experience and activity preferences of the market match what is being developed at local community-based ecotourism projects. It also compares the motivations of the same market with the motivations outlined in the definition of ecotourism. Survey design was based on a literature review, and observations and key-informant interviews collected in the study area. Ecotourists show strong preferences for the types of accommodations and experiences that exist or are being developed at ecotourism project sites: hostels, camping, low-intensity nature-based activities, pristine environments, …

Synchronization In Biological Systems, Jonathan P. Klaas

Physics

Synchronization, the adjustment of rhythms via coupling, is an essentially nonlinear effect in coupled dynamical systems. Synchronization is observed in many systems, for example the moon's periods of rotation and revolution, in pendulums suspended from a common support, in swarms of fireflies that flash in unison, and in biological circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are periodic fluctuations in multiple physiological systems that have evolved as a consequence of the daily rotation of the earth. These rhythms have been observed in organisms ranging from cyanobacteria to man. In this thesis we will present a conceptually simple model of circadian rhythms to yield …

King Eider Wing Molt: Inferences From Stable Isotope Analyses, Michael J. Knoche

Biological Sciences

The western North American population of the king eider is thought to have declined by over 50% between 1974 and 1996 without an apparent cause. The non-breeding period of king eiders consists of 80-100% of their annual cycle if not impossible by observation. I used stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of feathers and muscle to examine the wing molt and migration ecology of king eiders in 2003. Eider primary feathers were isotopically homogenous along the length of the feather, implying invariable diets during wing molt. Captive eiders in their hatch-year did not fractionate nitrogen isotopes, potentially indicating preferential protein …

Tribological Comparison Of Materials, Bing Shi

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Approximately 600,000 total joint replacement surgeries are performed each year in the United States. Current artificial joint implants are mainly metal-on-plastic. The synthetic biomaterials undergo degradation through fatigue and corrosive wear from load-bearing and the aqueous ionic environment of the human body. Deposits o f inorganic salts can scratch weight-bearing surfaces, making artificial joints stiff and awkward. The excessive wear debris from polyethylene leads to osteolysis and potential loosening of the prosthesis. The lifetime for well-designed artificial joints is at most 10 to 15 years. A patient can usually have two total joint replacements during her/his lifetime. Durability is limited …

Market Opportunities For Carbon Sequestration In Alaska, Jennifer Elizabeth Duval

Economics

Global climate change has been at the forefront of environmental concerns for the last few decades. Based on the success of the United States' sulfur dioxide cap-and-trade program, a market for greenhouse gas emissions has slowly emerged. Russia's recent ratification of the Kyoto Protocol will bring an international market into force in February 2005. This thesis examines the economic theory behind cap-and-trade markets as solutions for environmental problems and discusses the characteristics of the markets for greenhouse gas emissions. The opportunities for Alaska's participation are examined, particularly offsetting diesel emissions from rural generators with wood or alternative energies. The calculations …

Phylogenetic Relationships And Identification Of Juveniles Of The Genus Sebastes, Zhuozhuo Li

Fisheries

The genus Sebastes is speciose and most members are distributed in the northeastern Pacific Ocean (NEP). Historically, morphology has been the basis for species identification and determination of phylogenetic relationships. However, because many Sebastes species overlap in range and are similar in morphology, especially during early life stages, morphological characters are often inadequate for species identification. This study examines the potential of using restriction site variation in the mitochondrial NADH-dehydrogenase subunits -3 and -4 and 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA genes to resolve the problems in species identification and phylogenetic relationships, particularly assignments to subgenera. Of the 71 species representing …

Natural Resource News, Vol. 04, No. 3 (December 2004), N/A N/A

Natural Resource News

No abstract provided.

Characterizing Glucocorticoid Levels In Five Species Of Sea Ducks Occurring In Alaska, Peter B. Nilsson

Marine Biology

Stress hormone analysis, used in conjunction with other physiological parameters, may help identify factors affecting sea duck populations in their natural environment. Corticosterone, the primary 'stress hormone' in birds, is secreted in response to a stressor and enhances an individual's chance of survival by inducing physiological and behavioral changes. Establishing a valid method for evaluating stress hormone levels in sea ducks and gaining basic information on baseline concentrations and stress response in these birds are important first steps to identify factors that may negatively affect sea duck populations. This study validated a radioimmunoassay (RIA) procedure to measure corticosterone concentrations in …

Get Flanagan: The Rise And Fall Of The Federal Theatre Project, Sean Patterson

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an attempt to render theatrically the establishment and eventual dissolution of the Federal Theatre Project, from the point of view of its appointed director Hallie Flanagan. Drawn from a variety of historical sources, including subjective first-person accounts and objective transcripts of congressional investigation testimony, the play approximates the structure of the Living Newspaper, a style of presentation adopted by the Federal Theatre Project. This thesis also includes an appendix, which details my playwriting process for this particular play, from initial concept through to production.

Effects Of Chronic Sleep And Food Deprivation On In Vivo Levels Of Prepro-Hypocretin (Pph), Kelly Dunn

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The hypocretin peptides are two hypothalamic peptides known to be involved in both sleeping and feeding behavior, however their specific roles in these domains are not well understood. The present study sought to determine the effect of chronic (72-hour) sleep deprivation and (48-hour) food deprivation on preprohypocretin (PPH), which is the precursor for the hypocretin peptides. PPH levels were visualized and quantified via in situ hybridization. A three-factor ANOVA ( group x dorsal/ventral x medial/lateral) revealed a significant effect of subregion, specifically dorsal/middle and ventral/medial exhibited elevated PPH levels, however there was no effect of group. A between group one-way …

Simulation Of Coal Gasification Process Inside A Two-Stage Gasifier, Armin Silaen

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Gasification is a very efficient method of producing clean synthetic gas (syngas) which can be used as fuel for electric generation or chemical building block for petrochemical industries. This study performs detailed simulations of coal gasification process inside a generic two-stage entrained-flow gasifier to produce syngas carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The simulations are conducted using the commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solver FLUENT. The 3-D Navier-Stokes equations and seven species transport equations are solved with eddy-breakup combustion model. Simulations are conducted to investigate the effects of coal mixture (slurry or dry), oxidant (oxygen-blown or air-blown), wall cooling, coal distribution between …

In Vitro Metabolism Study Of Brevetoxins By Lc-Esi-Ms, Weiqun Wang

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Brevetoxins are natural neurotoxins that are produced by "red tide" algae. In this study, brevetoxin-1 and brevetoxin-2 were incubated with rat liver hepatocytes and rat liver microsomes, respectively. After clean-up steps, samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-MS). For the incubation sample of brevetoxin- 1, two metabolites were found: brevetoxin-1-M1 and brevetoxin- 1-M2. The tandem mass spectrometry study of the [brevetoxin-1- M1+H]+ led to the conclusion that it was formed by converting one double bond in the E or F ring of brevetoxin-1 into a diol. The second metabolite (brevetoxin-1-M2) is proposed to be …

Mechanistic Study Of Pollutant Degradation, Weixi Zheng

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Environmental pollution has been a serious concern worldwide. Many degradation methods have been developed to clean sites contaminated with pollutants. More knowledge and better understanding in this field will help to protect our environment. The goal of the research in this thesis is to gain a better understanding of the mechanism of organic pollutant degradation in Fenton reactions and sonochemical reactions. Fenton degradation uses hydroxyl radical to oxidize organic compounds. The radical is produced by catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide with Fe(II). Further research has found that addition of cyclodextrins can enhance degradation efficiency of hydrophobic organic pollutants. To study …

Voice Of The Dead, Anthony Carl Derrico

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

N/A

An Experimental Investigation Of Natural Freezing And Biopolymers For Permeability Modification To Reduce The Volume Of Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids In Groundwater, Neil John D'Cunha

Engineering

Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) contamination is one of the major environmental concerns today. DNAPL can remain in significant quantities as residual contaminants in the low permeability zones even after the bulk phase has been removed. As the drive fluid sweeps through the aquifer it follows the path of least resistance, which is the high permeability zone. Thus the contaminants trapped in the low permeability zones remain as residuals and serve as a source for prolonged contamination. Conventional remediation techniques are ill-equipped to deal with the heterogeneities of the aquifers. Various techniques to enhance the efficiency of the conventional methods …

Foraging Ecology Of Yellow-Rumped Warblers In An Alaskan Boreal Forest Following A Spruce Beetle Outbreak, Kristen Bartecchi Rozell

Biological Sciences

I examined the foraging ecology of the Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) several years after an outbreak of spruce beetles (Dendroctonus rufipennis) in the Copper River Basin, Alaska. With increased beetle-induced mortality of white spruce (Picea glauca), a preferred foraging substrate, we predicted warblers would respond through: (1) decreased overall use of white spruce, (2) increased selectivity of live white spruce that remained, and (3) reduced foraging efficiency, reflected by a greater proportion of time spent foraging and lower prey attack rates. We examined warbler foraging behavior and arthropod biomass on commonly used foraging substrates, and in stands with low-moderate ( …