Digital Commons Network^™

Parasitic Nematodes—From Genomes To Control, Makedonka Mitreva, Dante S. Zarlenga, James P. Mccarter, Douglas P. Jasmer

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

The diseases caused by parasitic nematodes in domestic and companion animals are major factors that decrease production and quality of the agricultural products. Methods available for the control of the parasitic nematode infections are mainly based on chemical treatment, non-chemical management practices, immune modulation and biological control. However, even with integrated pest management that frequently combines these approaches, the effective and long-lasting control strategies are hampered by the persistent exposure of host animals to environmental stages of parasites, the incomplete protective response of the host and acquisition of anthelmintic resistance by an increasing number of parasitic nematodes. Therefore, the challenges …

A Cellulose Fiber-Based Diet For Screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Larvae, M. F. Chaudhury, Steven R. Skoda

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

A highly absorbent cellulose fiber from recycled paper was tested and compared with a polyacrylate gelling agent, Aquatain, normally used for bulking and solidifying larval rearing medium of screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). The absorbent fiber, when mixed with water and dietary ingredients, produced a diet medium of homogeneous texture that supported larval growth and development comparable with the standard gelled diet. Larval and pupal weights from two concentrations of cellulose fiber-based diet were significantly higher than those obtained using gelled diet. The number of pupae per tray, percentage of adult emergence, oviposition, percentage of egg hatch, and adult …

Social Attributions Of Asymptomatic Women Towards Anorexia Nervosa: A Qualitative Study, Natalie Mcdonald

Theses : Honours

Anorexia nervosa (AN) has been identified as a complex, potentially lethal medical and psychological disorder, typically associated with a poor prognosis (Nordbo, Espeset, Gulliksen, Skarderud, & Holte, 2006; Signorini, De Filippo, Panico, De Caprio, Pasanisi, & Contaldo, 2007, 2007; Strober, Freeman, Lampert, Diamond, Teplinsky, & DeAntonio, 2006). The current review highlights the social and psychological elements attributed to AN by sufferers (Kelley, 1973; Nordbo et al., 2006; Woolrich, Cooper, & Turner, 2006), and through a social-cognitive explanation of attribution theory, identified the conceptual relevance of lay attributions towards AN and the lack of researched connection between the two concepts (Furnham …

Google Sets, Google Suggest, And Google Search History: Three More Tools For The Reference Librarian's Bag Of Tricks, Jill Cirasella

Publications and Research

This article examines the features, quirks, and uses of Google Sets, Google Suggest, and Google Search History and argues that these three lesser-known Google tools warrant inclusion in the resourceful reference librarian’s bag of tricks.

Academic And Social Self-Efficacy In Honors And Non-Honors University Students, Carmen Marie Krapfl

Honors Program Theses

Self-efficacy research has shown that successful past experiences have an influential impact on self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977). The purpose of this study was to compare academic and social self-efficacy between university honors and non-honors students. It was hypothesized that honors students would score higher on academic self-efficacy, but would have lower social self efficacy than their non-honors peers. Participants were invited to complete questionnaires on self-efficacy and background information. Results show that honors and non-honors students do not differ significantly in their general or social self-efficacy, but honors students had significantly higher academic self-efficacy. Further research is needed into the cause …

Utilizing Heart Rate Monitors As A Program Assessment Tool In A Fifth Grade Physical Education Curriculum, Kelly Wieser

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Transgenic Crops In The Age Of Human Rights: Moral Uncertainty And Rational Risk Policy, Jeffrey J. Mindrup

Chapman Law Review

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of 2 Vegetation-Height Management Practices For Wildlife Control At Airports, Thomas W. Seamans, Scott C. Barras, Glen E. Bernhardt, Bradley F. Blackwell, Jonathon D. Cepek

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Vegetation-height management is a potential method to reduce bird numbers at airports. Based on studies in Europe, researchers recommended vegetation heights around 25 cm; however, preliminary studies in the United States produced conflicting results regarding the effect of tall (18 to >25 cm) vegetation on bird numbers at airports. From 1999 to 2002, we compared birds and other wildlife use of 4 short-vegetation plots (mean maximum height of 15.6 cm ± 5.1 SE and visual obstruction reading of 4.6 ± 3.0 cm) and 4 tall-vegetation plots (mean maximum height of 26.9 ± 8.4 cm and visual obstruction reading of 10.0 …

The Effect Of Α-Aminoadipate Δ-Semialdehyde Synthase Knockdown On The Lysine Requirement And Urate Oxidase Knockdown On Oxidative Stress In A Murine Hepatic Cell Line, Beth Marie Cleveland

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The technique of RNA interference was applied in two different systems. In system I, RNA interference was used to knockdown expression of α-aminoadipate δ semialdehyde synthase (AASS). AASS is the bifunctional enzyme containing the lysine α-ketoglutarate reductase (LKR) and saccharopine dehydrogenase activities responsible for the first two steps in the irreversible catabolism of lysine. A rare disease in humans, familial hyperlysinemia, can be caused by very low LKR activity and, as expected, reduces the lysine “requirement” of the individual. This concept was recreated in a murine hepatic cell line (ATCC, FL83B) utilizing RNA interference to achieve AASS mRNA knockdown. Cells …

Investigation On The Antioxidant Capabilities Of Spice Extracts In Inhibition Of Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Oxidation And Cholesterol, Sandeep D. Bhale

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Antioxidant capabilities of the spice extract of ginger, oregano, rosemary and turmeric were evaluated by monitoring inhibition of DHA and EPA in a menhaden fish oil model and cholesterol oxidation model system. The spice extracts were mixed with the fish oil at 1, 2.5 and 5 % (w/w) and 1, 2.5 and 5mg (dw) were used in cholesterol study. The temperatures 150oC and 175oC were used for the oxidation study and a 60oC was used for incubation storage. The methanol extracts of all four spices demonstrated significant capability in retaining the DHA and EPA, after subjected to oxidation when compared …

Sustainable Las Vegas 2007, City Of Las Vegas, Nevada

Publications (SD)

This publication is dedicated to the citizens of Las Vegas, to the 3,000 men and women who serve them at the city of Las Vegas and to future generations who will make Las Vegas their home. Together we are working to create a world-class city of today, as well as continuing to maintain that lofty status well into the future. It is this essence of promoting our greatness into the years ahead that is at the heart of a concept known as sustainability. Throughout this publication we have listed what the city is doing to make sure all will be …

Production Of Polyhydroxyalkanoates By Ralstonia Eutropha Using Condensed Corn Solubles, Panchali Chakraborty

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are biodegradable polymers that have widespread applications in pharmaceutical and food industry. The high cost of PHA production and extractions has limited its applications. The objective of this study was to use condensed com solubles (CCS), a low value byproduct of com ethanol production, as an inexpensive medium for growth of R. eutropha ATCC 17699 and production of polyhydroxyalkanoates at a reduced cost. This research study was divided into three parts. The fust objective was to develop the low cost CCS as a suitable medium for optimal growth of Ra/stonia eutropha. Various concentrations of the CCS medium (80, …

Paleoecology Of Pleistocene Megafauna In Southern Nevada, Usa: Isotopic Evidence For Browsing On Halophytic Plants, Lael Vetter

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Stable isotopic techniques are emergent as a powerful reconstructive tool in Neogene paleoecology. The Las Vegas Valley in southern Nevada contains one of few diverse Late Pleistocene fossil assemblages in the Mojave Desert. This study investigates the diet of four megafaunal genera (Mammuthus, Equus, Bison, and Camelops) using delta 13C signatures preserved in tooth enamel. Results from serial sampling are also presented as a subannual record of dietary variation and seasonality. During the Last Glacial Maximum, the three grazing genera (Mammuthus, Equus, and Bison) consumed C3 and C 4 grasses in the naturally occurring proportion, which consisted primarily of C3 …

Boric Acid Inhibits Cell Growth And Induces Apoptosis In Breast Cancer Cells, Anuoluwapo Funmilola Elegbede

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Boric acid (BA), an essential plant micronutrient, has recently been discovered as a chemo-preventive agent in prostate cancer; however, its mechanism of action remains unknown. Our interest is to determine if BA has a preventative role in breast cancer and elucidate its possible mechanism. Integrins are transmembrane proteins responsible for cell growth, survival and adhesion. We hypothesize that BA interacts with integrins to mediate its response. To test this hypothesis we used BA and phenylboronic acid (PBA), a bulkier analog of BA, on breast ductal carcinoma, ZR-75-1, and breast andenocarcinoma, MCF-7; BA and PBA treatments were tested through proliferation, cytotoxicity …

Preschool Physical Activity Behaviors During Outdoor Time, Jenelle L Young

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Obesity is increasing for preschool children and a better understanding of preschool physical activity (PA) may help combat obesity. The purpose of this study was to examine preschool PA behaviors during outdoor time. Girls (n = 9) and boys (n = 12) from the UNLV preschool (M age = 59.6 months) wore a pedometer and were observed once during morning outdoor time and once during afternoon outdoor time using the modified OSRAC-P. Focus groups were conducted with 6 girls and 6 boys who drew pictures, talked about outdoor time favorites, and identified their favorite place to play using photographs. Steps …

An Evaluation Of X-Ray Fluorescence Lead Detection Methods For Candy Wrappers, Louis J Abacherli

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Currently, it is expensive and time consuming for public health entities to test candy (and other consumer products) that has entered the consumer market in the United States. The XRF, on the other hand, provides a quick, economical, and easy method to test lead levels. It has been demonstrated in a variety of studies that x-ray fluorescence (XRF) can be used for testing lead levels in paint, soil, and testing in-vivo for bone. What has not been studied is the XRF's ability to test for lead in certain consumer items such as candy. This research was designed to identify XRF …

Human And Pet Interaction: Companion Animals And The Formation Of Identity, Lisa Louise Sarmicanic

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Keeping companion animals is commonplace. Each year Americans spend over 34.3 billion dollars on pet food, pet toys, and veterinary care, and within households, the person with primary responsibility for the care of a pet is usually female (American Pet Product Manufacturers Association 24(34). Although literature on the human/animal bond is becoming more extensive, relatively little has been written about the dynamics of the daily social interaction between humans---specifically women---and pets. In response to this lack of literature, this study asks: What is the nature of the social interplay between women and their companion animals? And how do women integrate …

Molecular Mechanism Of Methyl Jasmonate Induced Apoptosis In Human Cancer Cells, Venkat Laxmi Yeruva

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the cytotoxic activity of four plant derived compounds including perillic acid (PA), Perillyl alcohol (POH), cis jasmone (CJ) and methyl jasmonate (MJ) on a variety of human cancer cell lines: Breast (MDA-MB-435, MDA-MB-231, DC4, DB46, T47D, SKBR3 and ZR75-1), Prostate (PC-3 and DU-145) and Lung (A549, H520 and H2170). It was demonstrated that these compounds induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by themselves or in combination with other agents. Specifically, MJ decreases membrane fluidity resulting in an activation of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) which signals apoptosis via caspase 8 and 2. Combination studies demonstrated that …

Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Hormonal Regulation Of Plant Responses To Elevated Carbon Dioxide And Abiotic Stresses, Xiaolu Zou

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Global climate change due to elevated atmospheric [CO2] and abiotic stresses have a strong impact on the establishment, survival and reproduction of plants. The goal of my research is to understand the molecular mechanism by which hormones regulate plant responses to elevated CO2 and abiotic stresses. Abscisic acid (ABA) is well known as a stress hormone, which also promotes seed formation and dormancy, and inhibits seed germination. In contrast, another hormone, gibberellin (GA) breaks seed dormancy and promotes seed germination and post-germination growth including flowering. The focus of my research is to study the functions of a group of transcription …

The Lived Experiences Of Four Overweight Hispanic Adolescent Females, Wanda Lee Rhodes

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of four overweight/obese Hispanic adolescents as individuals by utilizing Social Cognitive Theory's (SCT) (Bandura, 1977, 1986, & 1989) reciprocal interaction of the environment, personal factors and behaviors of the participants in order to investigate the health risk behaviors of the participants as they related to overweight and obesity. Additionally, the commonalities and differences across participants were examined; Four female Hispanic adolescents whose BMI measured at the 99th percentiles for age and gender were randomly chosen from students enrolled in a junior high school physical education intervention class. Experiences of …

A Model Of The Interplay Of Culture And Immigration Stress In The Development And Maintenance Of Alcohol-Related Disorders In Hispanic/Latino Immigrants, Marilyn J Strada

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The Hispanic/Latino population represents the largest ethnic minority group in the United States, with immigrants comprising a substantial portion of this population. For both U.S.-born and immigrant Hispanic/Latinos, alcohol abuse and dependence is of particular concern given their reported high prevalence rates, the severe alcohol-related consequences that they experience, and the various barriers to obtain treatment that they encounter. In comparison to members of other ethnic groups, Hispanics/Latinos have the lowest rates of perceived need for treatment, the lowest past and current rates of participation in treatment and the highest dropout rates after attending just one counseling session. Although there …

Modulation Of Thioredoxin Reductase By Selenium And Sulforphane, Peter D. Leary

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Reading Don't Sew No Hems : Examining Smith And Wilhelm's Theory Of Engaging Readers On Girls, Bridget F. Ryberg

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Piscivory By Non-Native Blue Tilapia (Oreochromis Aureus ) In Clark County, Nevada, Shawn C Goodchild

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Fish communities that share an evolutionary history typically have mechanisms to offset impacts presented by other species. Fish, especially non-game species, which are intermingled with non-native species for which they lack a shared history, are often poorly adapted to offset these impacts. Non-native fish affect native fish through predation, competition, displacement, and disease, affects which are often synergistic. Native fish within the Muddy River system (Clark County, Nevada) experienced a precipitous decline in numbers following an illegal introduction of blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) during the 1990's. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if tilapia were directly predating upon …

Defining Reality: The Poverty And Welfare Rhetoric Of Lyndon Johnson And Ronald Reagan, Andrea Lyn Finan

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This project examines the centrality of rhetorical definition in case studies of public argument over U.S. policy on poverty and welfare in the tvventieth century. The starting point is research on presidential rhetoric, wherein one line of inquiry entails the exploration of the "bully pulpit" as an advantage to chief executives seeking to construct perceptions of social reality. Such construction frequently establishes the foundation of an incumbent's persuasive strategies. Utilizing the poverty and welfare rhetoric of Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan, this thesis argues that rhetorical definition was central to presidential rhetoric on these critical social controversies in the 1960s …

Alcohol And Drug Service Providers' Perceptions Of Interagency Collaboration With Child Welfare Services, Verronda L. Moore

Doctoral Dissertations

unavailable

Dietary Patterns And Breast Cancer Risk In The Shanghai Breast Cancer Study, Xiaohui Cui, Qi Dai, Marilyn Tseng, Xiao-Ou Shu, Yu-Tang Gao, Wei Zheng

Kinesiology and Public Health

The association of breast cancer with dietary patterns such as a western diet has not been studied in Asian women. We examined this among Shanghai Breast Cancer Study participants. Cases were of ages 25 to 64 years, diagnosed 08/1996-03/ 1998, and identified through a rapid case ascertainment system supplemented by the Shanghai Cancer Registry. Controls, selected from the general population of urban Shanghai, were frequency matched to cases by 5-year age group. Participants provided information on diet, lifestyle, and reproductive factors. In principal component analysis among 1,556 controls, two patterns emerged. a ‘‘vegetable-soy’’ pattern (tofu, cauliflower, beans, bean sprouts, green …

A Lifestyle-Based Weight Management Program Delivered To Employees: Examination Of Health And Economic Outcomes, M. Courtney Hughes, Teresa M. Girolami, Allen D. Cheadle, Jeffrey R. Harris, Donald L. Patrick

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Objective: To examine the health and economic outcomes associated with a comprehensive weight management program delivered to employees.

Methods: Data collected on 516 individuals participating in a lifestyle-based weight management program delivered to employees from three corporations were analyzed at baseline and intervention-end (26 or 52 weeks). One-year post-intervention data for two subgroups were examined for pharmaceutical use (n ! 61) and health outcomes (n ! 46).

Results: Average body weight decreased 5.4% (P " 0.001) and average waist circumference decreased 7.2% (P " 0.001). Average blood pressure, Beck Depression Inventory scores, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale scores improved (P " …

Vitamin A And Retinoic Acid In Neonatal Hyperoxic Lung Injury, Masheika James

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

O -Glcnac Modification In Muscle Development, Ping Huang

All ETDs from UAB

O-glycosylation, a type of posttranslational modification, is abundant and dynamic in the cell, yet its function in cell signaling and destiny regulation is far from known. This study examines the effects of O-glycosylation on muscle differentiation and metabolism, and the potential mechanism behind the effects: proteasome blockade. Proteasome action is required for muscle differentiation. We previously have shown that O-GlcNAc modification of the 19S cap of the proteasome can inhibit the proteolytic function of this organelle. By changing O-GlcNAc modification levels and proteasome function independently in C2C12 skeletal myoblasts, we have found that myoblast differentiation is largely dependent on both. …