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On The Stability Of Periodic Solutions In The Perturbed Chemostat, Frédéric Mazenc, Michael Malisoff, Patrick De Leenheer

Faculty Publications

We study the chemostat model for one species competing for one nutrient using a Lyapunov-type analysis. We design the dilution rate function so that all solutions of the chemostat converge to a prescribed periodic solution. In terms of chemostat biology, this means that no matter what positive initial levels for the species concentration and nutrient are selected, the long-term species concentration and substrate levels closely approximate a prescribed oscillatory behavior. This is significant because it reproduces the realistic ecological situation where the species and substrate concentrations oscillate. We show that the stability is maintained when the model is augmented by …

School Of Renewable Natural Resources Newsletter, Fall 2007, Louisiana State University And Agricultural & Mechanical College

Research Matters & RNR Newsletters

The annual newsletter from the School of Renewable Natural Resources was a publication which aimed to update and entertain interested readers with the news and research from RNR faculty, students and staff.

Supervised Learning Method For The Prediction Of Subcellular Localization Of Proteins Using Amino Acid And Amino Acid Pair Composition, Tanwir Habib, Chaoyang Zhang, Jack Y. Yang, Mary Qu Yang, Youping Deng

Faculty Publications

Background

Occurrence of protein in the cell is an important step in understanding its function. It is highly desirable to predict a protein's subcellular locations automatically from its sequence. Most studied methods for prediction of subcellular localization of proteins are signal peptides, the location by sequence homology, and the correlation between the total amino acid compositions of proteins. Taking amino-acid composition and amino acid pair composition into consideration helps improving the prediction accuracy.

Results

We constructed a dataset of protein sequences from SWISS-PROT database and segmented them into 12 classes based on their subcellular locations. SVM modules were trained to …

Some Further Thoughts On "Organic Georgics," Or, The Politics And Poetics Of Johnson's Manure, Michael Rotenbetg-Schwartz

1650-1850: Ideas, Aesthetics, and Inquiries in the Early Modern Era

No abstract provided.

The Empire Strikes Back: The Insurance Industry Battles Toxic Mold, Bryan Lake

William Mitchell Law Review

No abstract provided.

Ghost Detainees: Does The Isolation And Interrogation Of Detainees Violate Common Article 3 Of The Geneva Conventions?, Thomas F. Berndt, Alethea M. Huyser

William Mitchell Law Review

No abstract provided.

Density, Territory Size, And Long-Term Spatial Dynamics Of A Guild Of Terrestrial Insectivorous Birds Near Manaus, Brazil, Philip C. Stouffer

Faculty Publications

From 1994 to 2003, I annually surveyed terrestrial insectivorous birds in a 100-ha plot within continuous rainforest near Manaus, Brazil. I used spot-map registrations and radiotagged birds to estimate territory size and density on the plot for 13 species. As in the few previous studies of Amazonian birds, territory sizes were large (mean = 13.0 ha) and densities were low (mean = 3.4 pairs per 100 ha). The most common species, Formicarius colma, was the only species with >10 pairs per 100 ha, and one of four species (with Myrmeciza ferruginea, Conopophaga aurita, and Corythopis torquaius) to have territories of …

Does The Internet Promote Collaboration And Productivity? Evidence From The Scientific Community In South Africa, R. Sooryamoorthy, Wesley Shrum

Faculty Publications

International collaboration among scientists has been passionately advocated by many in the developing world. Among the several conditions that support collaboration among members of a dispersed scientific community, Internet technology is crucial. We examine the relationships among electronic communication, collaboration, and productivity in South Africa, a country that has undergone remarkable change in the sphere of science and technology. We surveyed 275 scientists in selected research institutes and universities in the province of KwaZulu-Natal to address the questions: Is greater use of the Internet associated with international collaboration? Are collaboration and Internet use associated with publication in national and foreign …

Potato Genotypes With Low Reducing Sugar Content, Arione Da S. Pereira, Roberto Fritsche Neto, Roberta Da S. Silva, Carolina I. Bender, Ana Paula Schünemann, Núbia Marilin L. Ferri, João Luiz Vendruscolo

Faculty Publications

The objectives of this work were to evaluate potato genotypes for reducing sugar content and post-harvest conditions that favored the identification of those with low content. Eight potato clones, previously selected for light frying color, and the cultivar Atlantic were evaluated in autumn seasons of 2004 and 2005. The experiments were carried out at Embrapa Clima Temperado, Pelotas-RS, Brazil (31°52'S, 52°21'W), in a randomized complete block design with four replications. In 2004, the reducing sugar content was quantified after three conditions: curing the tubers; four weeks of refrigerated storage at 4°C; and refrigeration followed by reconditioning for two weeks. In …

Using Open Source Software In Developing A Web-Accessible Database Of Sweetpotato Germplasm Collections In Kenya, Arthur Villordon, Wambui Njuguna, Simon Gichuki, Philip Ndolo, Don Labonte

Faculty Publications

Web-accessible germplasm databases allow stakeholders to interactively search and locate information in real time. These databases can also be configured to permit designated users to remotely add, delete, or update information. These resources assist in decision-making activities that are related to germplasm documentation, conservation, and management. We report the development of a web-accessible database of Kenyan sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) varieties using open source software. Kenya is located in eastern Africa, a region that is considered one of the centers of diversity for sweetpotato. We describe the software applications used in developing the germplasm database as well as the web interface …

Sorghum Stay-Green Qtl Individually Reduce Post-Flowering Drought-Induced Leaf Senescence, Karen Harris, P. K. Subudhi, Andrew Borrell, David Jordan, Darrell Rosenow, Henry Nguyen, Patricia Klein, Robert Klein, John Mullet

Faculty Publications

Sorghum is an important source of food, feed, and biofuel, especially in the semi-arid tropics because this cereal is well adapted to harsh, drought-prone environments. Post-flowering drought adaptation in sorghum is associated with the stay-green phenotype. Alleles that contribute to this complex trait have been mapped to four major QTL, Stg1-Stg4, using a population derived from BTx642 and RTx7000. Near-isogenic RTx7000 lines containing BTx642 DNA spanning one or more of the four stay-green QTL were constructed. The size and location of BTx642 DNA regions in each RTx7000 NIL were analysed using 62 DNA markers spanning the four stay-green QTL. RTx7000 …

Gender Portrayal In J.K. Rowling's “Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix”: A Feminist Rhetorical Criticism, Nicole Ackman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined J.K. Rowling’s (2003) novel entitled, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Although this novel has not yet been classified as a fairy tale, it does contain fairy tale elements. This study reviewed literature in the field of folklore, fairy tales, and feminism. Foss’ (2004) four-step feminist criticism model was employed to analyze gender portrayals in the novel. According to Foss’ model, the novel was analyzed for masculine or feminine perspectives of the world, effects on the audience, improvement of women’s lives, and impact on rhetorical theory. Although Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix …

Mda-7/Il-24, Novel Anticancer Cytokine: Focus On Bystander Antitumor, Radiosensitization And Antiangiogenic Properties And Overview Of The Phase I Clinical Experience (Review), Irina V. Lebedeva, Luni Emdad, Zao-Zhong Su, Pankaj Gupta, Moira Sauane, Devanand Sarkar, Michelle R. Staudt, Shi-Jian Liu, Mohiuddin M. Taher, Ruoyu Xiao, Paola Barral, Seok-Geun Lee, Dongning Wang, Nicollaq Vozhilla, Eun Sook Park, Lejuan Chatman, Habib Boukerche, Rajagopal Ramesh, Satoshi Inoue, Sunil Chada, Rong Li, Anthony L. De Pass, Parameshwar J. Mahasreshti, Igor P. Dmitriev, David T. Curiel, Adly Yacoub, Steven Grant, Paul Dent, Neil Senzer, John J. Nemunaitis, Paul B. Fisher

Publications and Research

Subtraction hybridization applied to a ‘differentiation therapy’ model of cancer employing human melanoma cells resulted in the cloning of melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24). Initial studies confirm an inverse correlation between mda-7 expression and melanoma development and progression. Forced expression of mda-7 by means of a plasmid or via a replication incompetent adenovirus (Ad.mda-7) promotes growth suppression and induces apoptosis in a broad array of human cancers. In contrast, mda-7 does not induce growth suppressive or toxic effects in normal cells. Based on structure (containing an IL-10 signature motif), secretion by cells (including subsets of T-cells) and location on chromosome …

Retributive Justice In The Real World, Michael T. Cahill

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Pain Detection And The Privacy Of Subjective Experience, Adam Kolber

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Habitat Use And The Effects Of Disturbance On Wintering Birds Using Riparian Habitats In Sonora, Mexico, Jose Fernando Villasenor

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Riparian systems are important for breeding bird communities and are highly used as migratory corridors; however, their importance for wintering birds has not been assessed systematically. In order to assess the value of riparian areas for birds wintering in Sonora, data from 1,816 standard point counts were collected from 87 locations during January and February 2004-2006. A total of 253 species were detected across 14 vegetation types, including nine categories of riparian vegetation. The mean number of species and individuals detected per count was significantly higher in riparian vegetation than in non-riparian vegetation for migratory species, but not for residents. …

Effects Of Seed Dispersal By Gibbons, Sambar, And Muntjac On Choerospondias Axillaris Demography, And The Disruption Of This Mutualism By Wildlife Poaching, Jedediah Farrell Brodie

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Rampant illegal hunting threatens wildlife populations inside many tropical protected areas, compromising their long-term effectiveness. A critical question concerns whether such harvest has indirect effects on non-hunted organisms that interact with the game species. For example many tree species are demographically reliant on seed dispersal by vertebrates that are threatened by hunting; the anthropogenic disruption of this animal-plant mutualism can severely alter the composition of tropical forests. Here I show that illegal poaching has reduced or extirpated several mammal species from national parks in northern Thailand. This, in turn, has negatively affected the demography of the canopy tree Choerospondias axillaris, …

The Impact Of The Atlantic Slave Trade On West Africa: Polygyny And Female Reproductive Success, Katherine Lamie

Nebraska Anthropologist

J.D. Fage (1969) and Patrick Manning (1981; 1990) examine demographic data from historical records, in the West African political and economic context, in order to formulate theories of the impact of the Atlantic slave trade on West African populations and social structure. However, Fage and Manning come to markedly different conclusions. Fage maintains that the intensification of polygyny in West Africa that accompanied the Atlantic slave trade preserved African populations. In contrast, Manning argues that intensified polygynous marriages on the West African coast decreased the fertility of female slaves, thereby depressing population growth and affecting traditional social structures. Manning later …

Bioprospecting And Biopiracy In Latin America: The Case Of Maca In Perú, Amanda J. Landon

Nebraska Anthropologist

Bioprospecting is a popular venture in Latin America due to the regions' high concentration of the world's biodiversity. This activity has an impact on the native peoples living in areas with potentially profitable plants. They can lose access to traditional plants and extraction processes when companies patent indigenous cultivars and knowledge. In many cases, they cannot patent their cultivars and knowledge before others due to cultural and monetary restrictions. In this paper, I examine the legal and cultural context surrounding the battle over Lepidium meyenii (maca) in Peru. Pure World, Inc., a United States pharmaceutical company, patented the extracts derived …

Ultra-Wideband Electronics, Design Methods, Algorithms, And Systems For Dielectric Spectroscopy Of Isolated B16 Tumor Cells In Liquid Medium, Erick N. Maxwell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Quantifying and characterizing isolated tumor cells (ITCs) is of interest in surgical pathology and cytology for its potential to provide data for cancer staging, classification, and treatment. Although the independent prognostic significance of circulating ITCs has not been proven, their presence is gaining clinical relevance as an indicator. However, researchers have not established an optimal method for detecting ITCs. Consequently, this Ph.D. dissertation is concerned with the development and evaluation of dielectric spectroscopy as a low-cost method for cell characterization and quantification. In support of this goal, ultra-wideband (UWB), microwave pulse generator circuits, coaxial transmission line fixtures, permittivity extraction algorithms, …

Furman Magazine. Volume 49, Issue 4 - Full Issue, Furman University

Furman Magazine

No abstract provided.

Associate Degree Completions, 1997-2006, University Of New Hampshire. Institutional Research And Assessment

UNH Factbooks

University of New Hampshire factbook data from the 2006-2007 academic year

Differential Classical Conditioning Of The Gill-Withdrawal Reflex In Aplysia Recruits Both Nmda Receptor-Dependent Enhancement And Nmda Receptor-Dependent Depression Of The Reflex, Shekib A. Jami, William G. Wright, David L. Glanzman

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Differential classical conditioning of the gill-withdrawal response (GWR) in Aplysia can be elicited by training in which a conditioned stimulus (CS) delivered to one side of the siphon (the CS+) is paired with a noxious unconditioned stimulus (US; tail shock), while a second conditioned stimulus (the CS-), delivered to a different siphon site, is unpaired with the US. NMDA receptor(NMDAR) activation has been shown previously to be critical for nondifferential classical conditioning in Aplysia. Here, we used a semi-intact preparation to test whether differential classical conditioning of the GWR also depends on activation of NMDARs. Differential training produced conditioned enhancement …

For The Sake Of The Lake, Jim Stewart

Furman Magazine

Furman launches a major project to restore the environmental quality and integrity of the lake.

Bookmarks: Featuring Summaries Of Books By Faculty And Alumni, Furman University

Furman Magazine

No abstract provided.

Fulir Program's Growth Spawns Potential For New Facility, Bill Greene

Furman Magazine

No abstract provided.

Furman Alumni News, Furman University

Furman Magazine

No abstract provided.

Mellon Foundation Grant Supports Townes Center Initiatives, Furman University

Furman Magazine

No abstract provided.

Coupling Coherence Distinguishes Structure Sensitivity In Protein Electron Transfer, Tatiana Prytkova, Igor V. Kurnikov, David Beratan

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Quantum mechanical analysis of electron tunneling in nine thermally fluctuating cytochrome b562 derivatives reveals two distinct protein-mediated coupling limits. A structure-insensitive regime arises for redox partners coupled through dynamically averaged multiple-coupling pathways (in seven of the nine derivatives) where heme-edge coupling leads to the multiple-pathway regime. A structure-dependent limit governs redox partners coupled through a dominant pathway (in two of the nine derivatives) where axial-ligand coupling generates the single-pathway limit and slower rates. This two-regime paradigm provides a unified description of electron transfer rates in 26 ruthenium-modified heme and blue-copper proteins, as well as in numerous photosynthetic proteins.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - A New Way Of Looking At The Intercountry Adoption Debate, Jena Martin

Faculty Articles

The two sides of the intercountry adoption debate seem worlds apart. Proponents view international adoption as an effective solution to stop the proliferation of institutionalized and street orphans across the globe. To them, intercountry adoption is a panacea-offering a potential solution to such diverse issues as children orphaned after war and disaster; adults who are unable to conceive; global intolerance; and the limited resources of developing nations. On the other hand, critics of intercountry adoptions view it as modem-day imperialism, allowing dominant, developed cultures to strip away a developing country's most precious resources, its children. Moreover, the view one holds …