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Gamma Sigma Delta Newsletter - Nebraska Chapter, Issue #30, August 2005

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter: Newsletters

CONTENTS:
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
IN MEMORIAM
Gamma Sigma Delta Scholarship Recognition
Student Highlight
Gamma Sigma Delta Seminar
GAMMA SIGMA DELTA COMMITTEES, 2004-2005
NOMINATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP TO GAMMA SIGMA DELTA

Prevention Of Deep Vein Thrombosis And Pulmonary Embolism In The Perioperative Period: A Review, Aliya Ahmed

Department of Anaesthesia

No abstract provided.

Distribution Of Norops Spp. In Two Locations In Monteverde, Costa Rica, August 2005, Stephanie Place

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

There is evidence of a drastic world-wide decline in herpetofauna populations. This trend has been documented in disappearing N. altae and N. tropidolepis populations in the highland cloud forests of Monteverde (Pounds 2000). Ultraviolet radiation, atmospheric pollution, epidemic disease, and unusual weather patterns have been suggested as possible causes of the decline (Pounds and Crump, 1994), but not enough long-term data has been collected to pinpoint a single cause. This study sought to census the current Norops spp. populations in two sites in the Monteverde area and compare those findings to previous censuses conducted by Pounds (2000) and Martin (2004). …

Regulatable Gene Expression Systems For Gene Therapy Applications: Progress And Future Challenges, Shyam Goverdhana, Mariana Puntel, Weidong Xiong, Jeffrey Zirger, Carlos Barcia, James Curtin, Eric Soffer, Sonali Mondkar, Gwendalyn King, Jinwei Hu, Marianela Candolfi, Diane Greengold, Pedro Lowenstein, Maria Castro

Articles

Gene therapy aims to revert diseased phenotypes by the use of both viral and nonviral gene delivery systems. Substantial progress has been made in making gene transfer vehicles more efficient, less toxic, and nonimmunogenic and in allowing long-term transgene expression. One of the key issues in successfully implementing gene therapies in the clinical setting is to be able to regulate gene expression very tightly and consistently as and when it is needed. The regulation ought to be achievable using a compound that should be nontoxic, be able to penetrate into the desired target tissue or organ, and have a half-life …

Evaluating Marriage: Does Marriage Matter To The Nurturing Of Children?, Robin Fretwell Wilson

San Diego Law Review

The state offers marriage legal and financial support. This article questions whether the state is justified in supporting and promoting marriage by looking at recent studies that found that marriage produces differences in investment and well-being for children in marital households compared to other children. These studies isolated the value of marriage and identified the connection, if any, between supporting marriage and supporting children. The Manning and Lamb study evaluated outcomes for children in non-marital households, whereas, the Hoefferth and Anderson study examined different investments in marital and non-marital children by biological fathers. The two studies found a marriage advantage, …

Does Marriage Make People Good Or Do Good People Marry?, Kimberly A. Yuracko

San Diego Law Review

Social norms, not marriage, are transformative. This article considers whether marital norms like stability, commitment, and sexual fidelity are responsible for positive parenting effects and child well-being, or whether the institution of marriage is responsible. Marriage does not transform people into good spouses and good parents. Instead, people must be transformed before entering the institution of marriage. While Wilson believes that state supported marriage can spread social norms and values that benefit children, this author concludes that state supported marriage should not benefit the most advantaged, but should reinforce social norms and values and provide state benefits to all parents, …

The Meaning Of Marriage: State Efforts To Facilitate Friendship, Love, And Childrearing, Richard Arneson

San Diego Law Review

The Prioritarian Consequentialist approaches state regulation of marriage from a standpoint opposed to the Lockean Libertarian natural rights tradition. The prioritarian approach favors state regulation of marriage that induces people to make positive cost-benefit arrangements, whereas the lockean avers any coercive restriction of people's liberty. Taking a prioritarian consequentialist perspective, this article discusses the appropriate state policy regarding private relationships involving love, sex, and childrearing, and assesses the meaning of marriage and possible alterations to marriage that would lead to consequences on the quality of human life. The prioritarian consequentialist supports state policies that produce the best outcome for people's …

Metaphysics For The Marriage Debate, Janet Radcliffe Richards

San Diego Law Review

The debate concerning what marriage is and what marriage ought to be is confused by conflicting ideas of natural law. John Stuart Mill sees law as a means by which to improve a universe with no natural moral order, whereas James Fitzjames Stephen views law as a means to correct that which is morally against nature. This article focuses on understanding a morally neutral working of nature, which requires looking past something's moral desirability, and devising what form social arrangements, like marriage, should take. Once the ideas of natural law, together with moral goodness, are abandoned, and ideas discussing the …

Natural Law And Evolutionary Conservatives: Comments On Janet Radcliffe Richards, Matt Zwolinski

San Diego Law Review

Even though social and political institutions continue to develop and evolve, natural law should not be abandoned. Instead social institutions should change to remedy or compensate for nature's moral defects. The imperceptibility of justifications for marriage is a poor reason to think traditional, monogamous marriage has no justification and abandon it for another form. In response to Professor Radcliffe-Richards, this article recognizes traditional marriage's emergence and continuance through the evolutionary process as evidence that marriage does a better job than any alternative institution. Any institution that emerges from a cultural evolution in peaceful, stable society has demonstrated its fitness. The …

A Short Synthesis Of The Common Dihydropyran Segment Of The Antifungal Agents Ambruticin And Jerangolid A, Julie Lukesh, William A. Donaldson

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

The dihydropyranyl segment common to ambruticin and jerangolid A was prepared in six steps (31.7% yield) from (S)-2-benzyloxypropanal via silyloxydiene cyclocondensation, followed by C-glycosidation, and eventual epimerization at C18.

Organizational Evolution: Applying Genetic Principles To The Management Of Extension Systems, John A. Winder

Journal of Extension

Insight into organizational management can be gained by looking at natural systems. Ideas in Extension organizations are analogous to the genetic makeup of populations of organisms. Genetic makeup determines the chemistry, size and behavior of these populations. Similarly, ideas in organizations determine the future size, activities and effectiveness. This article first examines the principles of population genetics and how these principles drive genetic change. This concept is then extended to Extension to demonstrate how ideas appear to follow similar laws. Finally, this concept is used to derive suggestions for improving effectiveness of organizations.

An Extension Perspective On Monitoring Pesticide Resistance, John L. Petersen

Journal of Extension

Appropriate application of pesticides should include regular measurement of target insect susceptibility. This article reports outreach activities, emphasizing Web-based communications, with Florida mosquito control programs focusing on measuring the response of mosquitoes to pesticides. The benefits of this approach are reduced reliance on chemical control by considering alternatives such as larviciding and source reduction, as well as economic savings, when mosquito control programs use pesticides at minimum rates that give maximum control.

Habits Of Magnetosome Crystals In Coccoid Magnetotactic Bacteria, Ulysses Lins, Martha R. Mccartney, Marcos Farina, Richard B. Frankel, Peter R. Buseck

Physics

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron holography were used to study the habits of exceptionally large magnetite crystals in coccoid magnetotactic bacteria. In addition to the crystal habits, the crystallographic positioning of successive crystals in the magnetosome chain appears to be under strict biological control.

Wonderwise 4-H: Following In The Footsteps Of Women Scientists, Amy N. Spiegel, S Kay Rockwell, Deanna Acklie, Saundra Wever Frerichs

Journal of Extension

Wonderwise 4-H: Women in Science Learning Kits, recently included in the National 4-H Curriculum Collection and widely tested by 4-H leaders, have positively affected youths' perspectives on science, scientists, and scientific work. Adult leaders who used the multi-media, inquiry-based Wonderwise 4-H kits completed a Web survey describing the impact of the kits on youth. It indicated that the kits increased youth's interest and understanding of science, broadened their view of scientists, and opened their eyes to the possibility of science in their own futures. More information about Wonderwise 4-H and downloadable activities are available at .

Public Law 106-393 (Title Iii) Forestry Extension Programming In Mississippi, Andrew J. Londo, Don Bales, Laura Grace, Timothy Traugott

Journal of Extension

The passage of Public Law 106-393 (PL 106-393), the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act in 2000 provided the Forestry Extension program at MSU with an unprecedented opportunity to secure long term funding for programs in select counties across the state. During fiscal years 2002 and 2003, over 1.1 million dollars have been received. This paper will discuss PL 106-393 and its' impact on the Forestry Extension program at MSU. The applicability of the MSU approach to obtaining to other states around the country will also be discussed.

Demonstrating Manure Spreader Calibration At Field Days, Karen M. Mancl, J Dean Slates

Journal of Extension

Calibration of a manure spreader was demonstrated at field days. Data collected showed limited capability of farmers to estimate manure application rates just based on their experience and the importance of calibration. Only 13% estimated at or near the actual application rate (±1 ton). Some (22%) estimated high rates, with two estimating four times the actual application rate. Most (65%) underestimated the rate, with 50% estimating less than one-half the actual application rate. The tendency to underestimate manure application and therefore over-apply manure reinforces the need to calibrate spreading equipment as a part of a manure management plan.

Ascidians Of South Padre Island, Texas, With A Key To Species, Gretchen Lambert, Zen Faulkes, Charles C. Lambert, Virginia L. Scofield

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

The ascidians of South Padre Island, Texas were surveyed in August 2004. Because the subtidal area is limited to soft sediments, the survey was restricted to marina floats and pilings, harbor buoys, boat hulls and other artificial substrates which offer suitable attachment surfaces for ascidians. Fifteen species were documented, with multiple species representing each of the three orders of ascidians. None of the species found in this survey are native, suggesting they were all introduced through boat traffic. About half the species were found in a reproductive state, however, indicating that they have established local breeding populations.

Predicting Body Mass Index In Northern Plains American Indian Children, Tami Jollie-Trottier

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity has become a major health concern for American Indians. Obesity prevalence is higher for minority groups, however American Indians consistently have higher rates than any other U.S. population. Of more concern is the trend towards higher rates of overweight and obesity in American Indian children. Obesity has been associated with many health concerns such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes mellitus in both American Indian adults and children. The purpose of this study is to identify predictor variables that may be contributing to the development or possibly maintenance of obesity in American Indian children. …

Translation Initiation Sites Prediction With Mixture Gaussian Models In Human Cdna Sequences, G. Li, Tze-Yun Leong, Louxin Zhang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Translation initiation sites (TISs) are important signals in cDNA sequences. Many research efforts have tried to predict TISs in cDNA sequences. In this paper, we propose to use mixture Gaussian models for TIS prediction. Using both local features and some features generated from global measures, the proposed method predicts TISs with a sensitivity of 98 percent and a specificity of 93.6 percent. Our method outperforms many other existing methods in sensitivity while keeping specificity high. We attribute the improvement in sensitivity to the nature of the global features and the mixture Gaussian models. © 2005 IEEE.

Bioluminescence Intensity Modeling And Sampling Strategy Optimization, I. Shulman, D.J. Mcgillicuddy Jr., M.A. Moline, S.H.D. Haddock, J.C. Kindle, D. Nechaev

Faculty Publications

The focus of this paper is on the development of methodology for short-term (1-3 days) oceanic bioluminescence (BL) predictions and the optimization of spatial and temporal bioluminescence sampling strategies. The approach is based on predictions of bioluminescence with an advection-diffusion-reaction (tracer) model with velocities and diffusivities from a circulation model. In previous research, it was shown that short-term changes in some of the salient features in coastal bioluminescence can be explained and predicted by using this approach. At the same time, it was demonstrated that optimization of bioluminescence sampling prior to the forecast is critical for successful short-term BL predictions …

Career Experiences And Career Development Among Chinese American Professional Women: A Qualitative Study, Yi-Ling Linda Kuo-Rice

Dissertations

Only a few research studies have addressed the cultural transitions and career-related issues experienced by Chinese American women. These individuals represent a silent group whose career values, career choices, and vocational needs remain largely unexplored (Yang, 1991).

This qualitative study, using grounded theory methods, explored the career experiences, career development, and career decision-making of nine foreign-bornChinese American professional women from various career fields. The findings from the study are divided into two parts. The first part presents summaries of each study participant's career development, providing a context-rich description of each case. The second part of the findings offers the results …

A Mechanistic Explanation For Global Patterns Of Liana Abundance And Distribution, Stefan A. Schnitzer

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

One of the main goals in ecology is determining the mechanisms that control the abundance and distribution of organisms. Using data from 69 tropical forests worldwide, I demonstrate that liana (woody vine) abundance is correlated negatively with mean annual precipitation and positively with seasonality, a pattern precisely the opposite of most other plant types. I propose a general mechanistic hypothesis integrating both ecological and ecophysiological approaches to explain this pattern. Specifically, the deep root and efficient vascular systems of lianas enable them to suffer less water stress during seasonal droughts while many competitors are dormant, giving lianas a competitive advantage …

Reservoir Characterization Using Intelligent Seismic Inversion, F. Emre Artun

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Integrating different types of data having different scales is the major challenge in reservoir characterization studies. Seismic data is among those different types of data, which is usually used by geoscientists for structural mapping of the subsurface and making interpretations of the reservoir's facies distribution. Yet, it has been a common aim of geoscientists to incorporate seismic data in high-resolution reservoir description through a process called seismic inversion.;In this study, an intelligent seismic inversion methodology is presented to achieve a desirable correlation between relatively low-frequency seismic signals, and the much higher frequency wireline-log data. Vertical seismic profile (VSP) is used …

Approaches To Improve The Ovulatory Response And Reproductive Performance Of Ewes Introduced To Rams During Seasonal Anestrus, Katherine Mead Jordan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Three experiments were conducted to test hypotheses relative to the ability of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and melatonin to improve responses of anestrous ewes to rams. Treatment with GnRH two days after treatment with progesterone at introduction of rams did not increase ovulation, pregnancy or lambing rates. Treatment with GnRH on days two, seven, or both after introduction of rams, resulted in ovulation, pregnancy, and lambing rates that did not differ. In another trial, GnRH four days before, or four days before and one day after introduction of rams did not improve a consistently high ovulatory response to introduction of …

Personality Factors And Other Predictors Of Academic Success In Medical Students, T. Anne Hawkins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines the relationship between objectively derived personality characteristics of West Virginia University medical students and their rate of retention and attrition in medical school. Personality trait characteristics are assessed using the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF, 5 th edition). Relationships between student reported race, gender, age, undergraduate cumulative grade point average, undergraduate cumulative science grade point average, Medical School Admission Test scores, and retention and attrition rates were also examined. Graduation status and academic quartile ranking were used to measure outcome. Chi-Square and ANOVA procedures were used to test the research hypotheses.

The Effectiveness Of Valdecoxib On Post-Endodontic Pain, Lora Beth Ford

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pain is often associated with teeth that need endodontic therapy. This pain results from inflammation. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs are useful in managing acute post-operative dental pain. NSAIDS specific for only blocking the COX-2 enzyme cause less stomach irritation and bleeding. The purpose of this clinical study was to determine if pre-operative administration of valdecoxib would significantly reduce post-endodontic pain, when compared to ibuprofen. Sixteen patients were evaluated. The patients consented to a random, one-time, pre-operative oral administration of either 600 mg ibuprofen or 20 mg valdecoxib. Each patient rated their pain on a visual analog scale at initial, immediately after, …

The Biological Control Potential Of Cryphonectria Parasitica Strains Containing An Infectious Cdna Copy Of Hypovirus Chv1-Euro7, William R. Rittenour

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Transmissible hypovirulence has not become established in most areas of North America as it has in Europe where it has been associated with increased biological control of chestnut blight. Transgenic strains of Cryphonectria parasitica provide several mechanisms that may improve biological control. This study was designed to evaluate whether transgenic C. parasitica strains containing a cDNA transgene encoding the viral genome of CHV1-Euro7 show greater potential to biologically control blight than their cytoplasmically infected counterparts. Three treatments were employed that compared: transgenic hypovirulent strains (TG), cytoplasmic hypovirulent strains (CH), and virulent strains (V). Two types of cankers were initiated in …

Simultaneous Determination Of Dissolved Organic Carbon And Total Dissolved Nitrogen On A Coupled High-Temperature Combustion Total Organic Carbon-Nitrogen Chemiluminescence Detection (Htc Toc-Ncd) System, X Pan, R Sanders, Ad Tappin, Pj Worsfold, Ep Achterberg

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The marine biogeochemistries of carbon and nitrogen have come under increased scrutiny because of their close involvement in climate change and coastal eutrophication. Recent studies have shown that the high-temperature combustion (HTC) technique is suitable for routine analyses of dissolved organic matter due to its good oxidation efficiency, high sensitivity, and precision. In our laboratory, a coupled HTC TOC-NCD system with a sample changer was used for the automated and simultaneous determination of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) in seawater samples. TOC control software was used for TOC instrument control, DOC data acquisition, and data analysis. …

Climate Records From The Faroe-Shetland Channel Using Lophelia Pertusa (Linnaeus, 1758), Mj Risk, J Hall-Spencer, B Williams

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Evidence-Based Practice Considerations In Facilitating The Risk Surveillance Of Occupational Exposure To Antineoplastic Agents, Theresa A. Rafique

MSN Research Projects

According to Martin and Larson (2003), healthcare professionals involved with handling antineoplastic drugs may be exposed inadvertently to these agents, placing them at potential risk for acute and long-term adverse effects. For example, cyclophosphamide one of the most frequently used antineoplastic agents in clinical treatment facilities, is a known human carcinogen (Larson, Khazaeli, & Dillon, 2003). While the health risks associated with cytotoxic use have been well established, there is little information available about how people perceive these risks, particularly among those most affected by it-chemotherapy nurses. Therefore, the purpose of this Evidence Based Practice (EBP) project was to develop …