Digital Commons Network^™

From The Editors, Mark Tushnet, Carrie Menkel Meadow

Journal of Legal Education

No abstract provided.

Aboriginal Interpretation In Australian Wildlife Tourism, Heather Zeppel, Sue Muloin

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

This paper evaluates Aboriginal cultural interpretation at wildlife attractions and on wildlife tours in Australia. The sites included 14 wildlife parks or zoos; three Aboriginal owned emu or crocodile farms; and 16 wildlife tours, river cruises or resorts with Indigenous interpretation of wildlife. Telephone interviews were conducted with 35 manage (nine Indigenous) and 26 Indigenous staff at wildlife attractions that included verbal or written Aboriginal wildlife interpretation. The Indigenous guides verbally presented both traditional uses and personal stories about Australian wildlife followed by Aboriginal 'Dreaming' or creation stories about totemic animal species. Non-Indigenous staff explained traditional Aboriginal uses of wildlife …

Reporter - December 19th 2008, Rit Reporter Staff

University Publications

No abstract provided.

Ngasp - The Nematode Genome Annotation Assessment Project, Avril Coghlan, Tristan J. Fiedler, Sheldon J. Mckay, Paul R. Flicek, Todd W. Harris, Darin Blasiar, Lincoln D. Stein

Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Faculty Publications

While the C. elegans genome is extensively annotated, relatively little information is available for other Caenorhabditis species. The nematode genome annotation assessment project (nGASP) was launched to objectively assess the accuracy of protein-coding gene prediction software in C. elegans, and to apply this knowledge to the annotation of the genomes of four additional Caenorhabditis species and other nematodes. Seventeen groups worldwide participated in nGASP, and submitted 47 prediction sets across 10 Mb of the C. elegans genome. Predictions were compared to reference gene sets consisting of confirmed or manually curated gene models from WormBase. Results: The most accurate gene-finders were …

Reducing The Public Health Impact Of Bovine Tuberculosis By Controlling Disease Transmission Between Cattle And White-Tailed Deer In Northwestern Minnesota, Barbara Knust

Michigan Bovine Tuberculosis Bibliography and Database

Bovine tuberculosis, caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis, is a re-emerging zoonotic disease. It has staged a comeback by establishing infections in wildlife and cattle, creating the potential for human disease in locations where it was thought to be under control. In northwestern Minnesota, infected cattle and white-tailed deer were first discovered in 2005. A major bovine tuberculosis eradication campaign is underway in the state, with multiple efforts employed to control M. bovis infection in both cattle and deer populations. In order to effectively eradicate bovine tuberculosis in Minnesota, there is a need for better understanding of the …

Bumbling Biddies And Drunken Pats: Anti-Irish Humor In Antebellum New Orleans, Ashley Barckett

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The Irish in New Orleans have been a notoriously understudied group. With the third largest Irish population in the country by 1860, New Orleans is crucial when trying to understand the Irish immigrant experience. Viewing the Irish from the public perspective, this study explores the Daily Picayune, New Orleans' largest newspaper, from its inception in 1837 to 1857, to decipher the city's attitudes towards the Irish. Jokes in particular are explored, their function being multifaceted. First, jokes grouped Irish women into three types in an effort to maintain control of a large and unfamiliar group of white women who did …

Draumkvedet And The Medieval English Dream Vision: A Study Of Genre, Christian Carlsen

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The Medieval English dream vision evidence influences from a variety of earlier vision literature, notably the apocalyptic vision and narrative dream. Philosophical visions by Plato, Cicero and Boethius, and Christian revelations of John and Paul contain traits that found their way into the dream poems by Langland, the Pearl poet and Chaucer. The Norwegian ballad Draumkvedet exhibits features that mirror these English visions. Notable characteristics pertaining to the character of the dreamer, the interplay between dreamer and dream, imagery of the vision, and structure, point to a common set of generic influences. Comparing Draumkvedet with its English counterparts demonstrates that …

Glucose And Glucosamine Derivatives As Novel Low Molecular Weight Gelators, Sherwin Cheuk

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) are small molecules that are capable of entrapping solvents to form a gel in organic solvents or aqueous solution. These compounds rely solely on noncovalent forces to form the fibrous networks necessary to entrap a variety of solvents. The organogels and hydrogels thus formed could have applications in a variety of fields from environmental to biological to medicinal. Carbohydrates are ideal starting materials to synthesize LMWGs, because of their natural abundance, dense chirality, and biocompatibility. D-Glucose is the most common monosaccharide and D-glucosamine is isolated from natural sources, such as crab shells. Several series of …

Preparation, Characterization, And Application Of Liposomes In The Study Of Lipid Oxidation Targeting Hydroxyl Radicals, Chanel Fortier

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In the onset of many chronic illnesses including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and cardiovascular diseases, there is evidence to support the delicate balance between prooxidant and antioxidant species is shifted in favor of the former. Under these conditions, many reactive oxygen species (ROS) including hydroxyl radicals, are generated. Hydroxyl radicals formed in close proximity to DNA, nucleotides, proteins, and lipids rapidly oxidize these biological molecules in a nonspecific way. However, their toxicity is limited by their short lifetimes. Currently, the mechanism by which hydroxyl radicals are involved in the onset of many illnesses, particularly with regard to lipid peroxidation, has yielded some …

Applications Of Mass Spectrometry To Analysis Of Prodiginines, Bioactivated Methylenedianiline Intermediates, And Hypoxia Induced Changes In The Zebrafish Skeletal Muscle Proteome, Kan Chen

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography and gel electrophoresis enables separation and detection of components in a complex mixture. During the last two decades, its applications were dramatically extended and remarkable progress has been made in many fields, in particular, environmental and biological analyses. This dissertation focuses on identification and characterization of biologically active compounds and comparative analysis of protein expression changes. The first two projects (Chapters 2 and 3) focus on the application of LC/MS approach to profile the bioactivated intermediates of 4, 4'-methylenedianiline (DAPM) from rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and bile. In our study, several DAPM …

Synthesis And Spectroscopic Study Of Anticancer Agent A-007 Prodrugs And Progress Towards The Synthesis Of Tetramic Acid Antibiotics, Sarada Sagiraju

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

4, 4'-Dihydroxybenzophenone-2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (A-007) has recently completed a phase-I clinical trial, and objective responses were seen in advanced breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, melanoma, skin cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Despite the promising results in the clinical trials, the major disadvantage to using A-007 as a broad-scale therapeutic is its poor water solubility. To make use of this promising anticancer drug either orally or intravenously, the short-term obstacle must be to overcome the limited solubility of A-007 in water. There are several approaches to overcome this obstacle. The first approach is to make hydrolysable prodrugs of A-007. The second approach …

Oxygen Glucose Deprivation And Hyperthermia Induce Cellular Damage In Neural Precursor Cells And Immature Neurons, Luminita Luca

Open Access Dissertations

Hyperthermia damages both developing and adult brains, especially when it occurs after ischemia or stroke. Work presented in this dissertation used in vitro models of these stresses to investigate mechanisms underlying damage to immature neurons and neural precursors cultured from embryonic rat brain. Studies described in Chapter 2 investigated the effects of a brief, intense hyperthermic stress (30-45 min at 43ºC). This stress produced a selective depletion of nestin-immunoreactive neural precursor cells, and reduced proliferation, as evidenced by reduced BrdU incorporation into young Tuj1-immunoreactive neurons. The stress activated caspase 3, and produced multiple signs of nuclear damage as well as …

Sex Expression In A Rainforest Understory Herb, Begonia Urophylla, John Cozza

Open Access Dissertations

Monoecy, the production of distinct male and female flowers on the same plant, is an important, though little studied, sexual strategy in the rainforest understory. This study of a monoecious plant discovered a cue to induce flowering, explored the interplay of gender constraint vs. plasticity in a natural population, and tested possible causes of gender in two laboratory experiments. An experiment in the lab found that reduced photoperiod for three weeks is an unambiguous cue for flowering. The remarkably long inductive period is followed by a long and variable period of floral initiation. This results in only partial synchronization of …

Volume 44 - Issue 11 - Thursday, December 18, 2008, Rose Thorn Staff

The Rose Thorn Archive

The Rose Thorn, Rose-Hulman's independent student newspaper.

Web 3d For Public, Environmental And Occupational Health: Early Examples From Second Life®, Maged N. Kamel Boulos, Rameshsharma Ramloll, Susan Toth-Cohen

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Over the past three years (2006-2008), the medical/health and public health communities have shown a growing interest in using online 3D virtual worlds like Second Life® (http://secondlife.com/) for health education, community outreach, training and simulations purposes. 3D virtual worlds are seen as the precursors of ‘Web 3D’, the next major iteration of the Internet that will follow in the coming years. This paper provides a tour of several flagship Web 3D experiences in Second Life®, including Play2Train Islands (emergency preparedness training), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—CDC Island (public health), Karuna Island (AIDS support and information), Tox Town …

Topical Application Of Entry Inhibitors As "Virustats" To Prevent Sexual Transmission Of Hiv Infection, Michael M. Lederman, Robin L.P. Jump, Heather A. Pilch-Cooper, Scott F. Sieg

Faculty Scholarship

With the continuing march of the AIDS epidemic and little hope for an effective vaccine in the near future, work to develop a topical strategy to prevent HIV infection is increasingly important. This stated, the track record of large scale "microbicide" trials has been disappointing with nonspecific inhibitors either failing to protect women from infection or even increasing HIV acquisition. Newer strategies that target directly the elements needed for viral entry into cells have shown promise in non-human primate models of HIV transmission and as these agents have not yet been broadly introduced in regions of highest HIV prevalence, they …

Clemson Commencement Program, December 2008, Clemson University

Clemson Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Web 3d For Public, Environmental And Occupational Health: Early Examples From Second Life®., Boulos Mn Kamel, Rameshsharma Ramloll, Ray Jones, Susan Toth-Cohen

School of Nursing and Midwifery

No abstract provided.

The Murray Ledger And Times, December 17, 2008, The Murray Ledger And Times

The Murray Ledger & Times

No abstract provided.

Selectivity In Imaging The First Emperor, K. E. Brashier

China Beat Blog: Archive 2008-2012

The story of Qin may vaunt grandiose armies and new empires that encompass all under heaven, but it also extends to more humble images:

Li Si, [the chief minister of Qin], was a man of Shangcai in Chu. In his youth, when he was a minor clerk in the province, he noticed rats eating filth in the latrines of the clerks’ hostel; and if they approached a man or dog, they were generally scared of them. But when Si entered a granary, he observed that the rats in the granary were eating the stored-up grain, living underneath the main chamber …

Guidance For Sustainable Tourism In Kotzebue, Alaska, Annabelle C. Alvite

Rural Development

Tourism once thrived in Kotzebue, a rural largely Iñupiat Eskimo community in Northwest Alaska. Today there is very little evidence of the summer tourism that once characterized this remote Arctic town. Trends suggest a revival of tourism in Kotzebue, though little is being done to prepare for an almost inevitable rebirth. This research is intended to identify local concerns about tourism, the current state of tourism and offer guidance for sustainable tourism. Qualitative and inductive research was conducted to understand local feelings about tourism and possible reasons past tourism levels could not be sustained. Suggestions are given for a new …

Gene By Environment Interactions Between Three Candidate Genes For Obesity And Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Renee Leigh Pasker

Biological Sciences

Multi-factorial diseases, like obesity, are caused by genetic and environmental factors. Few studies examine potential interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Understanding these interactions can lead to better disease prevention. One important environmental factor related to obesity is omega-3 fatty acids. Yup’ik Eskimos consume a high amount of two omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This study examined 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in three genes: ADIPOQ, PPARG, and PPARGC1A. Also, 7 obesity phenotypes were examined: BMI, percent body fat, waist circumference, sum of skin-folds, plasma adiponectin, plasma triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol. Associations between these SNPs …

“Fate Must Find Someone To Speak Through”: Christianity, Ragnarök, And The Loss Of Icelandic Independence In The Eyes Of The Icelanders As Illustrated By Gísla Saga Súrssonar, Grete E. Mjolsnes

English

Iceland surrendered political control to the Norwegian monarchy in 1262, but immediately resented their choice. The sagas about reliance on the Norwegians, clearly illustrating that the Icelanders knew where this path was leading them. Gísla Saga is a particularly interesting text to examine in light of the contemporaneous political climate, as it takes place in the years leading up to the conversion but was written between the conversion and the submission to Norwegian rule. Though Gísla does not explicitly comment on either the conversion or the increase in Norwegian influence, close examination illuminates ambiguity in the portrayal of Christian and …

Volume 46, Number 18: December 17, 2008, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Suffering, Pity, And Pride: Complexities Of The Russian-American Adoption Relationship From The Early 1990'S To 2007, Andrea K. Neighbors

Anthropology

This thesis describes and analyzes the Russian-American adoption relationship between the early 1990s and 2007. In the early 1990s, an Non-Governmental Organization report depicting Russian orphanages provided Americans with pitiful images of Russian orphaned children. The report became iconic and shaped the way Americans perceived Russian orphans and orphanages. For the rest of the 1990s, Russian children became one of the most popular adoption choices for American parents; these children had the “right” race and could be “saved”. In 2005, news started to surface that adopted Russian children had been murdered in the U.S. by American adoptive parents. The Russian …

The Status Of Pacific Walrus (Odebenus Rosmarus Divergens) Foraging Habitat And Diet Around St. Lawrence Island, Tracie E. Merrill

Marine Biology

With ongoing climate change, food resources may be reduced for Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens). Significant differences in walrus foraging habitat (benthic communities) or diet might indicate changes in prey quality or quantity. In this study, benthic infaunal biomass, abundance, and composition were compared between 1970-1974 and 2006 at stations southwest of St. Lawrence Island. Sediment grain size was compared because it strongly determines benthic community structure. Wet weights, counts, and species composition of prey items found in stomachs of walruses collected near the island were compared between the 1980s and 2007. Benthic invertebrate biomass and abundance increased mainly due …

Balancing The Conservation Of Wildlife Habitat With Road Access For Subsistence Hunting In Yakutat, Alaska, Colin S. Shanley

Biological Sciences

"This thesis was an interdisciplinary investigation with the goal of balancing the conservation of wildlife habitat with road access for subsistence hunting in Yakutat, Alaska. The problem posed by land managers and subsistence moose hunters revolved around the use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs; e.g. 'four-wheelers') for subsistence moose hunting and the potential disturbance OHVs have on moose. This complex social-ecological problem is becoming an increasingly common management dilemma faced by rural mixed cash-subsistence communities across the Circumpolar North. I addressed this problem in two chapters with a combination of methods from wildlife ecology, landscape modeling, subsistence land-use, and scenario planning. …

Effects Of Military Overflights On Habitat Use And Selection By Female Dall's Sheep, Yukon-Tanana Uplands, Alaska, Bradley R. Wendling

Biological Sciences

"My objective was to assess the potential effects of military overflights on home range size, movement rates, habitat use, and habitat selection of female Dall's sheep (Ovis dalli) during 2-week sequential periods, April-July, 1999-2002. I examined sheep in 2 study areas overlain with designated military training airspace within the Yukon-Tanana uplands, Alaska. I examined the effects of study area, year, and sequential time period on: 1) mean home range size, 2) mean minimum hourly distance traveled by sheep, and 3) mean use and selection ratios for the habitat variables of elevation, slope, terrain ruggedness, aspect, and landcover class. Mean number …

The Ontogeny Of Hypoxic Neuroventilation In The Brainstem Of The Developing American Bullfrog, Rana Catesbeiana, Justin C. Buehner

Biological Sciences

Isolated brainstem models have been used twice to examine the hypoxic neuroventilatory response (HnVR) in developing bullfrogs with varying results, leading me to question if the results of these two previous studies were physiologically relevant. Based on in vivo and in vitro observations, I hypothesized that buccal neuroventilation exhibits no ventilatory response to hypoxia in any developmental stage and that lung neuroventilation exhibits a biphasic hypoxic response in late metamorphic tadpoles and a neuroventilatory depression in juvenile bullfrogs and early metamorphic tadpoles. I tested this by using brainstems isolated from intact early and late metamorphic tadpoles and juvenile bullfrogs exposed …

Patterns Of Genetic Variation Among Various Beringian Birds, Elizabeth Marella Humphries

Biological Sciences

Every animal has two different sets of genes, the mitochondrial genome and the nuclear genome. They are inherited independently of each other and can have dissimilar evolutionary histories. For this thesis, I examined the correlation of the mitochondrial (using direct sequencing of mitochondrial DNA) and nuclear (using a fragment-based technique, AFLPs) evolutionary histories in Beringian birds. The first study looked at relationships among a within-Beringia radiation of birds, the Aethia auklets. I was able to infer a resolved phylogeny using mitochondrial DNA, but found a polytomy using nuclear DNA. The lack of correlation between the genomes is either the result …