Digital Commons Network^™

The Biology Of Canadian Weeds. 131. Polygonum Aviculare L., Mihai Costea, François J. Tardif

Biology Faculty Publications

A review and assessment of biological information as well as personal data are provided for Polygonum aviculare in Canada. The species has been revised taxonomically and the six subspecies that occur in Canada are presented. Three of the subspecies, P. aviculare subsp. aviculare, P. aviculare subsp. neglectum and P. aviculare subsp. depressum are weeds introduced to Canada from Europe. A fourth subspecies, P. aviculare subsp. buxiforme is apparently native to North America. The geographical distribution of the latter four subspecies is very wide. Plants exhibit a high phenotypic plasticity and genetic variability, and they easily adapt to a multitude …

Harnessing Wind Is Not (By Nature) Environmentally Friendly, Victoria Sutton, Nicole Tomich

Pace Environmental Law Review

No abstract provided.

Rhizopine Synthesis – Potential Mediators For Nitrogen Fixation In Legume Plants, Venkat Reddy Guduru

Masters Theses

This research project focused on novel and efficient synthetic approaches of inosamine derivatives (rhizopines). The preparation of specific rhizopines would help elucidate the microbial pathway of rhizopine catabolism and degradation, and determine the role of corresponding genes during nitrogen fixation. We have investigated regio - and stereoselective transformations of myo-inositol derivative 28 utilizing an organostannane as key intermediate towards rhizopine 1a. The synthesis involved several protection and deprotection strategies to control competing reactivities of six hydroxyl groups of myo-inositol. Rhizopine 1a was prepared efficiently as a single isomer in 8 steps and 13% yield by controlling reactions …

A Comparison In Osteological Measurements Of Two Populations From East Tennessee, Corrine Vitek

Honors Theses

Forensic anthropology is the identification of skeletal remams in medicolegal death investigations. The foundation of forensic anthropology rests on "documented" skeletal collections, which provide a crucial repository of information from which experts can rely upon to make determinations about human skeletal remains. A "documented" skeletal collection is one in which the demographics (e.g., ancestry, sex, age, height) of each individual are supported by known facts about the decedent at the time of his/her death. A quantitative comparison between the Hamilton County Forensic Center's(HCFC) skeletal collection to the William M. Bass collection housed at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK) …

Dual-Stage Thermally Actuated Surface-Micromachined Nanopositioners, Neal B. Hubbard

Theses and Dissertations

Nanopositioners have been developed with electrostatic, piezoelectric, magnetic, thermal, and electrochemical actuators. They move with as many as six degrees of freedom; some are composed of multiple stages that stack together. Both macro-scale and micro-scale nanopositioners have been fabricated. A summary of recent research in micropositioning and nanopositioning is presented to set the background for this work. This research project demonstrates that a dual-stage nanopositioner can be created with microelectromechanical systems technology such that the two stages are integrated on a single silicon chip. A nanopositioner is presented that has two stages, one for coarse motion and one for fine …

The Colby Echo (2005-03-03), Colby College

The Colby Echo

Published by the students of Colby College since 1877, The Colby Echo is the weekly, editorially independent student-run newspaper of Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Published monthly, 1877-1886; semi-monthly, 1886-1897; and weekly, during the academic year, 1898-present.

Lethality Of Bacillus Anthracis Spores Due To Short Duration Heating Measured Using Infrared Spectroscopy, Kristina M. Goetz

Theses and Dissertations

There are a number of analytical and semi-empirical models that describe the behavior of particulate matter in the atmosphere. Many of these require modification for all types of weather, dry versus wet deposition, and overall effects can be quite non-linear. Rainfall (rate, drop size, etc.), snowfall (rate, flake size, etc.), humidity, pressure, temperature, and combination of these greatly affect particle settling and washout rates. To that end, a method for tracking released constituents using the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) microphysics package is developed by modifying one of the hydrometeor categories (hail) in the microphysics package. The RAMS microphysics package …

Dynamic Polarization Effects In Ion Channeling Through Single-Well Carbon Nanotubs, Da-Peng Zhou, You-Nian Wang, Li Wei, Z.L. Miškovic

Physics and Computer Science Faculty Publications

Ion channeling through a single-wall carbon nanotube is simulated by solving Newton’s equations for ion motion at intermediate energies, under the action of both the surface-atom repulsive forces and the polarization forces due to the dynamic perturbation of the nanotube electrons. The atomic repulsion is described by a continuum potential based on the Thomas-Fermi-Moliere model, whereas the dynamic polarization of the nanotube electrons is described by a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model, giving rise to the transverse dynamic image force and the longitudinal stopping force. In the absence of centrifugal forces, a balance between the image force and the atomic repulsion is …

Totalitarian Science And Technology, Paul R. Josephson

Faculty Books

In Totalitarian Science and Technology Paul Josephson considers how physicists, biologists, and engineers have fared in totalitarian regimes. Adolph Hitler and Joseph Stalin relied on scientists and engineers to build the infrastructure of their states. The military power of their regimes was largely based on the discovery of physicists and biologists. They sought to use biology to transform nature, including their citizens, with murderous effect in Nazi Germany. They expected scientists to devote themselves entirely to the goals of the state, and were intolerant of deviation from state-sponsored programs and ideology. As a result, physicists, biologists, and engineers suffered from …

Antifungal Activity Of Camptothecin, Trifolin, And Hyperoside Isolated From Camptotheca Acuminate, Shiyou Li, Zhizhen Zhang, Abigail Cain, Bo Wang, Melissa Long, Josephine Taylor

NCPC Publications and Patents

Leaf spots and root rots are major fungal diseases in Camptotheca acuminata that limit cultivation of the plant for camptothecin (CPT), a promising anticancer and antiviral alkaloid. Bioassays showed that pure CPT and flavonoids (trifolin and hyperoside) isolated from Camptotheca effectively control fungal pathogens in vitro, including Alternaria alternata, Epicoccum nigrum, Pestalotia guepinii, Drechslera sp., and Fusarium avenaceum, although antifungal activity of these compounds in the plant is limited. CPT inhibited mycelial growth by approximately 50% (EC50) at 10-30 íg/mL and fully inhibited growth at 75-125 íg/mL. The flavonoids were less effective than CPT at 50 íg/mL, …

Marine Invaders In The Northeast: Rapid Assessment Survey Of Non-Native And Native Marine Species Of Floating Dock Communities, August 2003, Judith Pederson, Robert Bullock, James Carlton, Jennifer Dijkstra, Nicole Dobroski, Peter Dyrynda, Ryan Fisher, Larry G. Harris, Niels Hobbs, Gretchen Lambert, Eric Lazo-Wasem, Arthur C. Mathieson, Maria-Pia Miglietta, Jan Smith, Julian Smith Iii, Megan Tyrrell

Jackson Estuarine Laboratory

In his seminal book on The Ecology of Invasions by Animals and Plants, Elton (1958) laid the foundation for the science of biological invasions. He identified the importance of human-mediated vectors as means of transporting organisms to new locations and discussed invasions in the context of ecological impacts and evolutionary consequences. Elton even identified what needed to be done to prevent practical and ecological damages from invaders--keep them out, eradicate them, and if all else fails, manage them at acceptable levels. We have not been vigilant in applying this knowledge to marine ecosystems, although this is changing. Our ability to …

The Underwater Life Off The Coast Of Southern California, Kathie Lyn Purkey

Theses Digitization Project

This project reviews the basic chemical and geographical features of the ocean, biological classification of marine life, background of the ocean's flora and fauna, and the ocean's environment. These facts are presented through an underwater documentary filmed at various sites along Southern California's coast and complemented with lesson plans designed for grades K - 4.

Antifungal Activity Of Camptothecin, Trifolin, And Hyperoside Isolated From Camptotheca Acuminata, Shiyou Li, Zhizhen Zhang, Abigail Cain, Bo Wang, Melissa Long, Josephine Taylor

Faculty Publications

Leaf spots and root rots are major fungal diseases in Camptotheca acuminata that limit cultivation of the plant for camptothecin (CPT), a promising anticancer and antiviral alkaloid. Bioassays showed that pure CPT and flavonoids (trifolin and hyperoside) isolated from Camptotheca effectively control fungal pathogens in vitro, including Alternaria alternata, Epicoccum nigrum, Pestalotia guepinii, Drechslera sp., and Fusarium avenaceum, although antifungal activity of these compounds in the plant is limited. CPT inhibited mycelial growth by approximately 50% (EC₅₀) at 10−30 μg/mL and fully inhibited growth at 75−125 μg/mL. The flavonoids were less effective than CPT …

Targeted Expression Of A Dominant-Negative Fibroblast Growth Factor (Fgf) Receptor In Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (Gnrh) Neurons Reduces Fgf Responsiveness And The Size Of Gnrh Neuronal Population, Pei-San Tsai, Suzanne M. Moenter, Hector R. Postigo, Mohammed El Majdoubi, Toni R. Pak, John C. Gill, Sreenivasan Paruthiyil, Sabine Werner, Richard I. Weiner

Collected Faculty Scholarship

Increasing evidence suggests that fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are neurotrophic in GnRH neurons. However, the extent to which FGFs are involved in establishing a functional GnRH system in the whole organism has not been investigated. In this study, transgenic mice with the expression of a dominant-negative FGF receptor mutant (FGFRm) targeted to GnRH neurons were generated to examine the consequence of disrupted FGF signaling on the formation of the GnRH system. To first test the effectiveness of this strategy, GT1 cells, a GnRH neuronal cell line, were stably transfected with FGFRm. The transfected cells showed attenuated neurite outgrowth, diminished FGF-2 …

Danger! Danger! Danger!, Or When Animals Might Attack: The Adventure Activist Genre, Mark L. Berrettini

School of Film Faculty Publications and Presentations

An analysis of the current state of the adventure activist genre in film, centering on The Crocodile Hunter and Project Grizzly.

Development Of Nicarbazin As A Reproductive Inhibitor For Resident Canada Geese, Kimberly Bynum, Christi Yoder, John D. Eisemann, John Johnston, Lowell Miller

Wildlife Damage Management Conference Proceedings

Expanding populations of resident Canada geese that remain in suburban and urban areas year-round often result in increased conflicts with humans. Non-lethal and humane means are needed for managing the size of Canada goose flocks residing near or on airports, golf courses, industrial parks, government sites, and city parks. A side effect of nicarbazin, a veterinary drug used to control coccidiosis in chickens, is decreased egg production and hatching. Exploiting this side effect, studies of nicarbazin for reducing the hatchability of eggs from Canada geese were conducted. An initial study in Coturnix quail verified reduction in hatchability in a species …

Summary Of Information For Assessing The Status Of The Tooth Cave Ground Beetle (Rhadine Persephone), Casey Berkhouse

KIP Data Sets and Technical Reports

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThis report summarizes data for assessing the status of the Tooth Cave ground beetle (Rhadine persephone), a federally listed endangered species. Only the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) can determine the recovery and regulatory status of this species, and this report is intended as tool for assessing both. Data reviewed for this report were gleaned from USFWS files; additional information was obtained from the Mike Walsh (Texas Cave Conservancy), James R. Reddell (Texas Memorial Museum, The University of Texas as Austin), Mark Sanders (City of Austin), and Rose Farmer (Travis County). The Tooth Cave ground beetle was listed …

Uncloseting The Abused: A Historical Survey Of American Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgendered Middle And Secondary Students' Struggle For Protection, Mary Lou Arons

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Organelle Dna Diversity Among Buffalograsses From The Great Plains Of North America Determined By Cpdna And Mtdna Rflps, O. Gulsen, Bob Shearman, Kenneth P. Vogel, D. J. Lee, Tiffany Heng-Moss

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.] is a perennial, warm-season turfgrass that is native to the shortgrass prairie of North America. It offers potential benefits as a turfgrass because of its drought resistance, low incidence of pest problems, and relatively low nutrient requirements. This study was initiated to evaluate the level of organelle DNA diversity among buffalograss genotypes and to determine the mode of inheritance of the chloroplast organelle by cpDNA and mtDNA PCR-RFLPs. The 56 genotypes studied included diploids, triploid, tetraploids, pentaploids, and hexaploids. These genotypes represented 273 buffalograsses collected during 1994 and 1995 from diverse locations in the …

The Taxonomic And Systematic Relationships Of Several Salt Marsh Fucus Taxa (Heterokontophyta, Phaeophyceae) Within The Gulf Of Maine And Ireland Examined Using Microsatellite Markers, Aaron L. Wallace

Doctoral Dissertations

The present thesis utilizes microsatellite markers to examine genetic affinities between several salt marsh Fucus ecads in order to ascertain their relationships with attached parental species. Chapter I provides an introduction to the genus Fucus and discusses morphological plasticity, systematic difficulties, and studies of hybridization between different Fucus species.

Chapter II describes my development of microsatellite markers for Fucus. Four polymorphic microsatellite loci were used to determine the origin of a dwarf muscoides-like Fucus from the Brave Boat Harbor (ME) salt marsh. Similar forms were originally described in Europe, and appear to be derived from F. vesiculosus L. However, my …

Threatened By Industry, Saved By Science: Mussel Propagation At The Fairport Biological Laboratory, James Pritchard

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

During the 1890s, people on the Mississippi River exploited mussel populations to support a thriving button industry. Within a brief time, they noticed significant declines in mussel populations, and called on the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries to save the resource. This paper discusses mussel propagation studies, techniques, and activities carried on in association with the Fairport Biological Laboratory (Iowa) from about 1908 to 1932. While scientists developed sophisticated techniques and had success in mussel propagation, changing habitat conditions in the river (caused mainly by pollution and dam construction) meant limited success in rescuing mussel stocks, while the introduction of plastic …

Dorsal And Pectoral Fin Control Of A Biorobotic Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Mukund Narasimhan

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis involves an in-depth research on the maneuvering of bio-robotic autonomous undersea vehicles (BAUVs) using bio-mimetic swimming mechanisms. Motivation was derived from the amazing flexibility and agility the fish inherit with the help of their pectoral and dorsal fins; In the first part of the thesis, control of BAUVs using dorsal fins is considered. The force produced by the cambering of the dorsal fins is used for control. An indirect adaptive controller is designed for depth tracking along constant trajectories even when the system parameters are not known. Next, for following time-varying trajectories, an adaptive control system for yaw …

Wingless Signaling Pathway Family Relation To Colon Cancer. Have We Come Full Circle?, Khawla S. Al-Kuraya, Kishor G. Bhatia

Saudi Medical Journal

Colorectal cancer CRC is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Advances in molecular techniques have provided deep insight into the molecular pathogenesis, biologic and genetic changes occurring in colon cancer patients. Current theories of malignant transformation postulate that development of colon cancer is related to 2 main pathways; the loss of heterozygosity pathway, which is usually due to a defect in the adenomatous polyposis coli APC gene and microsatellite instability, which is usually due to a defect in mismatch repair MMR genes. This review summarizes the role of the wingless signaling pathway genes including APC and MMR genes in …

The Multiple Roles Of Anticipation In Developmental Robotics, Doug Blank, Joshua M. Lewis, James B. Marshall

Computer Science Faculty Research and Scholarship

Anticipatory systems have been shown to be useful in discrete, symbolic systems. However, non­symbolic anticipatory systems are less well understood. In this paper, we explore the use of anticipation within the framework of connectionist networks to bootstrap from an innate behavior; to drive a reinforcement signal; and to provide feedback on the learnability of a task.

Equal Protection For Homosexuals: Why The Immutability Argument Is Necessary And How It Is Met, Kari Balog

Cleveland State Law Review

The immutability factor is possibly the most disputed of the four factors of the Frontiero test, a test laid out by the Supreme Court to identify suspect classifications. Doctors and scientists have spent years studying sexual orientation, attempting to find the cause of homosexuality in order to determine whether or not sexual orientation may be changed. Unfortunately, the many studies have not provided a definitive answer to the question of immutability. This Note considers many of the psychological, hormonal, and more recent genetic studies and determines what the medical and scientific evidence means for homosexuals in their pursuit for equal …

The Study Of Brome Mosaic Virus And Arabidopsis, David Williams

Honors Capstones

The purpose of this project was to provide me the opportunity to work in a lab with a professor to learn about the virus, Brome Mosaic Virus, and the plant, Arabidopsis. Work was to be conducted under the guidance of both the lab coordinator and a graduate student in the lab when needed. Additional understanding was to be gained in the propagation of the virus, purification of virus particles, the extraction of virion RNA and electrophoresis of DNA from the plant Arabidopsis. DNA gels were to be run after the PCR reaction had been completed on extracted DNA from the …

Ecology Of The Rock Shrimp Sicyonia Dorsalis Kingsley, 1878 (Crustacea: Sicyoniidae) In A Subtropical Region Of Brazil, Rogerio Caetano Da Costa, Adilson Fransozo, Maria Lucia Negreiros-Fransozo

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The present study analyzes the abundance and distribution of the rock shrimp Sicyonia dorsalis, in relation to water temperature, salinity, depth, organic matter content, and sediment texture in Mar Virado (MV), Ubatuba (UBA) and Ubatumirim (UBM), 3 distinct bays along the northern coast of São Paulo State (23°S, 45°W), Brazil. Six transects were taken in each bay, 4 being parallel to the coastline and 2 next to the rocky shores. Monthly samples were taken over a 2-year period (1998 and 1999) with a shrimp fishing boat equipped with double-rig nets. A total of 2,498 specimens was obtained with 804 …

Synthesis, Characterizations, And Evaluation Of New Reactive Two-Photon Absorbing Dyes For Two-Photon Excited Fluorescence Imaging Applications, Katherine J. Hales

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent, cooperative advances in chemistry, biology, computing, photophysics, optics, and microelectronics have resulted in extraordinary developments in the biological sciences, resulting in the emergence of a novel area termed 'biophotonics'. The integrative and interdisciplinary nature of biophotonics cuts across virtually all disciplines, extending the frontiers of basic cellular, molecular, and biology research through the clinical and pharmaceutical industries. This holds true for the development and application of the novel imaging modality utilizing multiphoton absorption and its extraordinary contribution to recent advances in bioimaging. Intimately involved in the revolution of nonlinear bioimaging has been the development of optical probes for probing …

Part I : Isolation Of Dipentyl 2-(4-(Pentan-3-Yl) Phenyl) Malonate From Sanguisorba Officinalis Labill Part Ii: Synthesis Of A Novel Family Of Ethers Of Podocarpic Acid, Manjeera Yalavarty

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of part I of this thesis was to isolate pure anti cancer compounds from the Russian plant Sanguisorba officinalis. This plant was selected for investigation because it showed 100% activity against leukemia (L1210 mouse leukemia cells) during the preliminary screening of approximately 100 Russian plant extracts. This work has resulted in the isolation of novel compound 11 using traditional chromatography techniques. Compound 11 was characterized with spectroscopic techniques such as IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, DEPT, DQCOSY and MS. Compound 11 was assigned the structure dipentyl 2-(4-(pentan-3-yl) phenyl) malonate. The goal of part II of this thesis was …

Deep-Water Sinkholes And Bioherms Of South Florida And The Pourtalés Terrace-Habitat And Fauna., John K. Reed, Shirley A. Pomponi, Doug C. Weaver, Charles K. Paull, Amy E. Wright

Faculty Scholarship

Only a small percentage of deep-water reefs have had their benthic and fish resources characterized. This study surveyed eight deep-water, high-relief, hard-bottom sites off south Florida using human occupied submersibles to characterize habitat and describe the fish and macrobenthic communities: the Naples deep-water sinkhole on the southwest Florida shelf, Jordan and Marathon deep-water sinkholes on the Pourtalès Terrace, and five high-relief bioherms on the Pourtalès Terrace. These submersible dives were the first to enter and explore any of these features. The upper sinkhole rims ranged from 175 to 461 m in depth and had a maximum relief of 180 m. …