Digital Commons Network^™

Conor Mccarthy, Love, Sex And Marriage In The Middle Ages: A Sourcebook. Routledge, 2004, Paula Rieder

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

A Watershed-Based Classification System For Lakes In Agriculturally-Dominated Ecosystems: A Case Study Of Nebraska Reservoirs, Henry N. N. Bulley

Department of Geography: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In recent decades substantial progress has been made in improving the quality of surface waters in the United States (Hawkins et al., 2000; EPA, 2000; EPA, 2001); nevertheless, much work remains to be done in assessing the state of impairment of lake waters. Impairment implies that the existing water quality of a lake, as measured by selected criteria (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, Secchi depth), exceeds a threshold value or standard that presumably reflects optimal attainable lake water quality conditions (or "reference" conditions) (Hughes, 1995; EPA, 2000; EPA, 2001). Such impaired waters are not suitable for designated uses such as drinking, …

Self-Regulation In A Web-Based Course: A Case Study, Joan Whipp, Stephannie Chiarelli

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Little is known about how successful students in Web-based courses self-regulate their learning. This descriptive case study used a social cognitive model of self-regulated learning (SRL) to investigate how six graduate students used and adapted traditional SRL strategies to complete tasks and cope with challenges in a Web-based technology course; it also explored motivational and environmental influences on strategy use. Primary data sources were three transcribed interviews with each of the students over the course of the semester, a transcribed interview with the course instructor, and the students’ reflective journals. Archived course documents, including transcripts of threaded discussions and student …

What Is The Impact Of Parental Support On Early Literacy?, Deborah K. Bush

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Today, more than 75 percent of women ages 25--34 and 75 percent of women with a child under six years of age participate in the labor force. When both parents work outside the home, they often want to send their child to preschool, but preschool classes aren't always available, and often those that are available are the government programs that are open only to those of lower socio-economic status.;In addition, parents often want to support the emergent literacy of their children and help prepare them for kindergarten but aren't sure of how to provide the type of assistance that might …

Characterization Of Cyp2d Protein From Human Brain Cerebellum, Deepak Bhatia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

To date, knowledge in characterization of CYP proteins has been limited to immunoblotting, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and so forth; therefore, it is the intention of this study to investigate: (1) What kind of CYP2D protein is present in brain with modern proteomic tools; (2) Whether, CYP2D6 in brain is same as the liver CYP2D6; and (3) If CYP2D7 is present, can CYP2D6 polymorphism be found in the brain?;To answer these questions, this study used a one-step method of isolation of protein by immunoprecipitation followed by its identification using 2D-blots, nanospray LCMS, immunoblots and immunohistochemistry. Probing of immunoprecipitated proteins with polyclonal CYP2D6 …

Potential Mechanisms Linking Nutrition And Neuroendocrine Control Of Reproduction In The Sheep, Adam Bradley Dobbins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nutrition and reproduction are linked in that the nutritional status of an individual influences its reproductive performance, i.e. an individual in negative energy balance will have decreased ability to reproduce. The mechanisms in which nutrition influences reproduction are not understood. My data suggest that reductions in lutenizing hormone secretion resulting from photoperiod-induced increases in sensitivity to testosterone negative feedback may be mediated, at least in part, by elevated neuropeptide Y (NPY), a hypothalamic neuropeptide shown to alter gonadotropin releasing hormone release and potently affect food intake. The results from my second study support our hypothesis that the growth hormone mediated …

Comparison Of Chestnut Canker Treatment Procedures For Hypovirus Introduction, Brian C. Bell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Historically, hypovirulent strains of Cryphonectria parasitica have been introduced into cankers principally by inoculating wounds made to the margin of cankers. Twelve hypovirus introduction methods were tested. Seventy-two trees were inoculated in June 2002 with an orange-pigmented virulent strain of C. parasitica (two inoculations per tree). After 11 weeks, the resulting cankers were treated with a brown-pigmented hypovirulent C. parasitica isolate using one of the following methods: (1) a non-invasive treatment where the inoculum was painted onto the canker surface; (2) an invasive treatment where the canker face was wounded with a sharp blade prior to the painting application of …

Natural Gas Exploration Associated With Fracture Systems In Alleghenian Thrust Faults In The Greenbrier Formation, Southern West Virginia, Craig A. Edmonds

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A hydrocarbon play has been identified in southern West Virginia targeting the intersection of thrust faults with specific Mississippian reservoirs. Late Paleozoic sandstone and limestone reservoirs are traditional pays of the study area, often yielding economic natural gas production, with initial production rates ranging between 100 to 200 Mcf per day per well. In contrast, production rates from wells that encounter faults often exceed 500 Mcf per day. We believe this prolific production results from secondary fracture porosity and enhanced permeability from fracture zones associated with thrust faults, providing a conduit to the Union Oolite reservoir member of the Greenbrier …

Effectiveness Of Treatment And Diversity Of Microbial Populations Within A Constructed Wetland Treating Wastewater, Jolene M. Friedland

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Constructed wetlands are used as alternative on-site wastewater treatment systems. Microbiological dynamics in constructed wetlands are essential to adequate functioning and efficiency of these systems. The efficacy of wastewater treatment by a large subsurface flow wetland receiving wastewater from a multi-user facility was examined. Real-time monitoring with telemetry was combined with measurement of standard wastewater parameters such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total suspended solids (TSS), and enumeration of fecal coliforms. Passage of wastewater through the wetland significantly reduced standard wastewater parameters in effluent samples. Heterotrophic bacterial diversity was examined using community level physiological profiling (CLPP) and molecular characterization of …

Starvation-Induced Alterations In Hepatic Lysine Metabolism In Different Families Of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss), Angela Higgins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study focused on lysine catabolism by the lysine alpha-ketoglutarate reductase (LKR) pathway in rainbow trout (RBT). Selective breeding based on feed efficiency in 2 strains (A and B) of RBT generated 2 families within each strain. Eight fish from each of the four families were randomly allotted to individual tanks. Fish were fed until satiation for 3 wks at which time four fish within each family were randomly selected for 2 wks of starvation. After the 2 wk starvation, all fish were harvested. Hepatic in-vitro LKR activity and lysine oxidation (LOX) were measured as was LKR mRNA abundance. Strain …

Glaucomys Sabrinus Fuscus Habitat And Nest Box Use In West Virginia With Management Recommendations For Kumbrabow State Forest, Tamara M. Terry

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nest site selection and habitat use of the endangered West Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus) is poorly understood. Because access to suitable nesting sites and habitats could be limiting factors, it is important to investigate these ecological requirements to further conservation efforts of the species. My study was conducted on the Kumbrabow State Forest and the MeadWestvaco Wildlife and Ecological Research Forest in Randolph County, West Virginia. I examined characteristics of 31 nest sites (22 cavity; 8 leaf; 1 undetermined) from 4 radio-collared West Virginia northern flying squirrels during the summers of 2002--2003. The nest trees used were …

Needed Communication Skills During Initial Employment As Perceived By Graduates Of The West Virginia University Davis College Of Agriculture, Forestry And Consumer Sciences, Jessica R. Rollins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of the study was to determine communication skills used during initial employment by graduates of the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences who were enrolled in the agricultural and natural resources communications (AgEE 421) course. The population consisted of 70 2001--2002 graduates of West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences who were enrolled in agricultural and natural resources communications (AgEE 421) during their collegiate careers. A descriptive research design was used for the study. A major finding of the study was the beneficial effects of educational training in communications skills prior to …

Biometric Analysis And Aversive Conditioning Of Black Bears In Southern West Virginia, Harley Wayne Weaver

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

During 2003, 11 male and 1 female black bear (Ursus americanus) were captured and fitted with radio collars. Individuals were randomly assigned to receive either treatment (n = 6) or control (n = 6). Upon release, treatment individuals received a conditional regimen comprised of rubber buckshot to the flank and a succession of shell crackers. Physical and auditory conditioning techniques we used did not appear to be an effective means of reducing repeat nuisance behavior.;West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) captured 179 (151 males, 28 females) nuisance and 156 (77 males, 79 females) non-nuisance individuals from 1996 to 2003.;We …

Hematotoxicity Of Heptachlor, Sarah Vanessa Meads Dodson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hematotoxicity has been documented in adults exposed to high levels of organochlorine pesticides. Our studies revealed that prenatal exposure to the organochlorine pesticide heptachlor resulted in alteration of lymphocyte development, while myeloid cell development was spared. To further investigate effects of heptachlor on lymphoid cells, we evaluated direct exposure of this compound on pro-B and pre-B cells. In these studies, the pro-B cell line C1.92 and the pre-B cell line 70Z/3 demonstrated concentration-dependent decreases in proliferation following heptachlor exposure. Pro-B cell viability decreased significantly; however, pre-B cell viability was not altered. Further investigation into mechanisms of diminished cell proliferation revealed …

Interactions Of Allelopathy And Competition Affecting Ziziphus Spina-Christi And Prosopis Juliflora Seedlings, Thobayet S. Alshahrani

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study consists of two parts, provides data on the interference between Ziziphus spina-christi, native to Saudi Arabia, and Prosopis juliflora, an introduced species. Dry leaves from both species were milled and used to prepare extracts using 0g/l, 5g/l, 20g/l, 40g/l, 60g/l, and 100 g/l of dried leaves. Leaf extract of P. juliflora was used to irrigate Z. spina-christi with 120 ml weekly over a 7-month growth period, and vice versa. Plant height, plant diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, chlorophyll content, total root length, number of root tips, root diameter, root surface area, root volume, shoot dry weight, root …

Augmentation Of The Differentiation Response To Antitumor Quinolines, Rayhana Rahim-Bata

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An impeding challenge to breast cancer drug therapies is the availability of more effective and less toxic chemotherapeutic agents that do not relay harm to neighboring normal breast cells and tissues. Preliminary studies showed that the quinoline antimalarials, chloroquine (CQ and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation in breast cancer cell lines without toxicity to normal MCF-10A breast cells. Hence, the goal of these studies was to explore: (1) whether a drug combination modulating epigenetic events would sensitize breast cancer cells to the antitumor activity of CQ or HCQ, (2) and if so, which would be the most promising …

How The Law Responds To Self-Help, Douglas Gary Lichtman

Coase-Sandor Institute for Law & Economics Research Paper Series

No abstract provided.

The Prevalence And Treatment Of Eyelid Neoplasms In Dogs : 69 Cases (2000-2003), Nalinee Tuntivanich, Pranee Tuntivanich, Santi Wongaumnuaykul, Anudep Rungsipipat

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The prevalence and treatment of 69 eyelid masses in dogs at the Ophthalmology clinic, Department of Surgery, Small Animal Hospital, Chulalongkorn University, between November 2000 and November 2003, in relation to breed, sex, age, location, tumor size, histopathological diagnosis and surgical treatment is reported. The average age of the affected dogs was 7.85 years. Mixed breeds, males and the upper eyelid were at a higher risk. The average size of the mass was 6.49 mm. Benign tumors (88.41%) were more frequent than malignant ones (11.59%). Sebaceous gland tumors were more frequently encounted (79.7%) than malignant tumors, malignant melanomas, squamous cell …

Sensitivity To Molar Contingencies Of Food Presentation, Jeffrey Everly

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Twelve rats were exposed to two variable-time schedules that differed in their rates of food delivery. The "imposed" schedule was normally in effect, but lever pressing occasionally switched to the "alternate" schedule for periods averaging 30 s. Increases in food frequency afforded by switching to the alternate schedule were manipulated across conditions. All rats were exposed to the same absolute food frequency increases, but the programming of these increases was varied among the rats by holding particular food delivery rates constant across conditions. For half of the rats, the schedules were signaled. In general, response rates were directly related to …

Managing Classroom Behavior Of Head Start Children Using Response Cost And Token Economy Procedures, Jennifer D. Tiano

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The efficacy of three behavior management techniques used in a Head Start classroom was examined. The three techniques included: (a) techniques currently used by the teacher, (b) response cost, and (c) the Level System (token economy). The current study used an ABACA single subject withdrawal design with follow-up where all conditions were implemented until stability was reached. Classroom behavior was evaluated by both behavioral observation and teacher report. Children's behavior, teacher skill, number of time-outs, and satisfaction with behavior management techniques (i.e., teacher, parent, and child) were examined. No conclusions could be made concerning the efficacy (i.e., inappropriate behavior, class …

Geotechnical Investigation Of Montrose Wetland Site, Christopher R. Ryan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this investigation is to obtain the geotechnical characteristics of the site and to aid in the creation of a proposed engineered wetland at Montrose, West Virginia. The tests performed in the laboratory to obtain the soil properties were: water content, Atterberg limits (liquid and plastic limits), grain size (sieve analysis and hydrometer), specific gravity, field density, and hydraulic conductivity. Tests were performed on soil samples taken from the site during installation of monitoring wells. Results from tests were used in the classification of soil. Additional samples were reconstructed to determine the permeability of the soil. These tests …

Real-Time Video Compression Using Dvq And Suffix Trees, Pavan Kumar Vedantam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Video processing is a wide and varied subject area. Video compression is an important but difficult problem in video processing. Several methods and standards exist which address this problem with varying degrees of success depending on the performance measures adopted. The present research work focuses on the real-time aspect of video processing.;In particular we propose a real-time video compression algorithm based on the concept of differential vector quantization and the suffix tree. Differential vector quantization is a relatively new area that focuses on efficient compression of data. The present work integrates the compression provided by Differential vector Quantization and the …

Reasons For Overwinter Declines In Age-1+ Brook Trout Populations (Salvelinus Fontinalis) In Appalachian Headwater Streams, Jeremy J. Webster

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in the Appalachian Mountains are an important game species in West Virginia, yet angling mortality on these populations in headwater streams is poorly understood. The objectives of this study were to: (1) examine relative changes in body composition of brook trout as they fluctuate throughout the year, and to identify critical periods of survival to determine if brook trout reach critical levels of resource depletion over winter, and (2) evaluate whether angler harvest affects brook trout populations in spring in headwater streams. Body composition estimates indicated that brook trout are unlikely to reach critical levels of …

Neglected Taxonomy Of Rare Desert Fishes: Congruent Evidence For Two Species Of Leatherside Chub, Jerald B. Johnson, Thomas E. Dowling, Mark C. Belk

Faculty Publications

Conservation biologists rely heavily on taxonomy to set the scope for biological monitoring and recovery planning of rare or threatened species. Yet, taxonomic boundaries are seldom evaluated as falsifiable hypotheses that can be statistically tested. Here, we examine species boundaries in leatherside chub (Teleostei, Cyprinidae), an imperiled desert fish native to the Bonneville Basin and upper Snake River drainages of western North America. Recent molecular data hint that this fish could be composed of two distinct taxa that are geographically separated into northern and southern species. To formally test this hypothesis, we evaluated leatherside chub using several different categories of …

The Concept And Its Double: Power And Powerlessness In Hegel's Subjective Logic, Lain Macdonald

Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal

The article explores the duality of power and powerlessness in Hegel's Subjective Logic, highlighting the tension between the Concept's absolute power and its susceptibility to powerlessness. Hegel portrays the Concept as an infinitely powerful force that unifies diversity through self-related negativity, yet acknowledges that reason can be powerless when fixated on determinate concepts, leading to one-sidedness. This duality suggests that while reason has the capacity for self-correction, it perpetually confronts the challenge of abstraction and determinateness.

The Prosecution Of Cybergripers Under The Lanham Act, Blossom Lefcourt

Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal

The note explores the legal implications of cybergripping under the Lanham Act, emphasizing the need to balance trademark protection with free speech. It critiques the inconsistent application of the commercial-noncommercial distinction in determining the legality of unauthorized trademark use and advocates for adopting the Central Hudson test to reconcile these competing interests.

Constraint-Based Facilities Planning, Tafazzul Ahmed Khan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In recent years a large variation of production volume for the mass-production products happens frequently due to the changes in technology and market. Those changes cause introduction of new products having shorter life cycles, thus enforcing modification and renewal of production facilities much earlier than their lifetime. A model was built to assess the impact of manufacturing parameters on the effectiveness of the layout and the material handling system. A relationship was developed between variations in production oriented parameters and its impact on the facility size and final cost of the product being manufactured exclusively in terms of machine time, …

Microwave Pretreatment Of Corn Stover For Anaerobic Digestion, Abhishek D. Saxena

Masters Theses

Anaerobic digestion is one of the several technologies used for biomass conversion to electricity or heat. This thesis focused on microwave irradiation of corn stover as a pretreatment for anaerobic digestion, and studies its impact on methane production.

The first run comprised three sets of stover soaked overnight in water, dilute sulfuric acid and dilute acetic acid, and each treated to three different levels of microwave irradiation. The results indicated a high variability in the data of the water set, which showed that there was no clear impact of microwave pretreatment on methane production. The dilute sulfuric acid and dilute …

Synthesis And Characterization Of A Recombinant Thrombin Inhibitor, Joel Lwande

Masters Theses

The final step of the blood coagulation cascade is catalyzed by thrombin, a serine protease. Like most enzyme activities, thrombin activity encounters inhibition from both direct and indirect inhibitors. A new thrombin inhibitor peptide named theromin was recently isolated from the leech Theromyzon tessulatum, and it is the most potent thrombin inhibitor isolated to date. Theromin is made up of 67 amino acid residues, out of which 16 are cysteines engaged in 8-disulfide bridges.

We synthesized the theromin gene and expressed the protein in Eschericia coli. We purified the recombinant protein and carried out thrombin inhibition assays that …

Effects Of Nicotine And Anatoxin-A Exposures On The Operant Performance Of Rats, Kimberly Ann Jarema

Dissertations

Tolerance has previously been shown to develop to nicotine's effects on operant behavior. This experiment explored whether tolerance would still develop when nicotine administrations were separated by three weeks. Anatoxin-a, a nicotinic-receptor agonist, was also tested and the results were compared to nicotine. Male Long Evans rats performed under a multiple VR30 VI30-sec food-reinforcement schedule. Phase I rats were divided into 6 groups of 8 that received four weekly subcutaneous injections of nicotine (0.0-1.8 mg/kg) and anatoxin-a (0-250 mcg/kg) prior to testing sessions. An ED50 was derived, for each compound, from the VR dose-response curve. Phase II rats were divided …