Digital Commons Network^™

School Of Renewable Natural Resources Newsletter, Fall 2008, 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.

Description Of The Larva Of Pselaphophus Atriventris (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Pselaphini) With Notes On Its Life History And A List Of Described Pselaphine Immature Stages, Christopher E. Carlton, Richard A.B. Leschen

Faculty Publications

Approximately 8,900 species of the staphylinid beetle subfamily Pselaphinae have been described, based on adults, but the larvae of only 18 species and 14 genera have been described in sufficient detail for systematic study. The larva of Pselaphophus atriventris (Westwood) (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Pselaphini) is described herein based on a series collected in a pasture habitat in New Zealand. Larvae are distinguished from other described larvae of pselaphines based on the following combination of characters: antennal segment two bearing two trifid setiform sensoria and labrum with irregularly arranged short spines and setiferous tubercles. It is most similar to the larva of …

Integrating Phylogenetic And Population Genetic Analyses Of Multiple Loci To Test Species Divergence Hypotheses In Passerina Buntings, Matt D. Carling, Robb T. Brumfield

Faculty Publications

Phylogenetic and population genetic analyses of DNA sequence data from 10 nuclear loci were used to test species divergence hypotheses within Passerina buntings, with special focus on a strongly supported, but controversial, sister relationship between Passerina amoena and P. caerulea inferred from a previous mitochondrial study. Here, a maximum-likelihood analysis of a concatenated 10-locus data set, as well as minimize-deep-coalescences and maximum-likelihood analyses of the locus-specific gene trees, recovered the traditional sister relationship between P. amoena and P. cyanea. In addition, a more recent divergence time estimate between P. amoena and P. cyanea than between P. amoena and P. caerulea …

Parent's Guide, 2008-2012, Illinois State University, Dean Of Students Office, Parent Services

Parent and Family Guide

Campus guide prepared by the Illinois State University Dean of Students Office's Parent Services Department

Cytotoxicity Of Diepoxybutane And Epichlorohydrin In Relation To Stages Of The Cell Cycle, Megan L. Watts

Honors Theses

Work conducted in the Millard Biochemistry Research Laboratory examines the dual nature of molecules as carcinogens and anti-tumor agents through the molecular mechanisms of duplex DNA damage by bifunctional alkylating agents. Diepoxybutane (DEB) and epichlorohydrin (ECH) are polar molecules that form covalent DNA interstrand lesions by cross-linking the N7 position of deoxyguanosine residues. A recent experiment indicated that ECH preferentially targets nuclear DNA over mitochondrial DNA, whereas DEB shows similar rates of lesion formation for both loci. It was concluded that preferential targeting of nuclear DNA results from relatively poor uptake of ECH across the mitochondrial membrane. The objective of …

Pressure Perturbation Calorimetry And Guest-Host Chemistry Of Ndmg And N-Map With P-Sulfonatocalix[6]Arene, Cassandra Newell

Honors Theses

The aim of this project is to provide an explanation for recently obtained binding constants for two similar guest molecules, NDMG and N-MAP, with a p-sulfonatocalix[6]arene host in ammonium acetate buffer. This work was done primarily using pressure perturbation calorimetry, which is a technique that determines the coefficient of thermal expansion, α, which is in turn related to the solute molecule's effect on the order of the surrounding water molecules. A series of experiments were designed to test the effects of suspected confounding variables on the validity of PPC data. PPC was then used to study NDMG and N-MAP in …

The Effect Of Orientation To Growing Season Sunlight On Stomatal Parameters Of Q. Rubra In The Belgrade Lakes Region, Central Maine, Rachel G. Daly

Honors Theses

Stomatal frequencies of fossil-plant species are used to estimate past pCO2 levels based on the physiological functions of living taxa. Numerous studies have shown that there is an inverse relationship between pCO2 and stomatal frequency parameters. As levels of pCO2 increase, the Stomatal Density (SD) and Stomatal Index (SI) decrease. However, pCO2 is not the only factor affecting SD and SI values, which are a product of leaf growth and expansion. Stomatal characteristics differ between genera, and studies also have shown that SD and light intensity have a positive correlation. The present study hypothesizes that SD and SI are not …

The Effects Of Writing About Positive Reminiscence On Happiness With Adolescents, Alison M. Senter

Theses

Much research has been done with adults in the field of positive psychology, reminiscence, and journal writing. Previous findings reveal that reminiscing about positive memories enhances one's happiness, well-being, life satisfaction, and self-continuity. The current study sought to expand this to adolescence. A group of 19 male and female ninth graders from a northeastern, suburban high school were assigned to a positive reminiscence or a daily hassles journal writing group. Analyses revealed significant effects on participants' positive affect; journal writing in general and specifically writing only about positive memories both significantly increased participants' ratings of perceived positive affect. However, no …

Imagining More: Strategic Plan 2008-2012, University Of Texas At Brownsville

UTB/TSC Archives - Factbooks & Brochures

No abstract provided.

Panorama 2008, Ana Ley

UTPA Archives - Panorama Magazine

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Storage Container Materials On Iga In Human Breast Milk Stored At Two Different Temperatures, Matthew D. Jenkins

Theses

This study investigated the relationship between the type of material and the concentration of IgA in human milk stored at two temperatures over time. Twelve breastfeeding mothers participated in the study with samples of milk obtained at locations of the participant's preference and transported to the laboratory in a sterile Snappies PP container stored in a cooler filled with ice. The sample was divided up and pipetted into 12 containers. IgA concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at time zero, 9, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours. Milk IgA concentration decreased in all containers, with the exception of polycarbonate …

Collection Of Works By Faculty And Staff - 2008, University Of Texas At Brownsville

Digital Books

This annual publication provides a listing of books, journals, videocassettes, compact discs, and software produced by various faculty and staff of the former University of Texas at Brownsville.

Utb/Tsc Student Handbook 2008-2009, University Of Texas At Brownsville, Texas Southmost College

Student Handbooks (UTB/UTPA)

No abstract provided.

Orange & White - Winter 2008, University Of Texas At Brownsville, Texas Southmost College

UTB/TSC Archives - Orange & White Magazine

No abstract provided.

Utb/Tsc Commencement - Winter 2008, University Of Texas At Brownsville, Texas Southmost College

Brownsville Archives - Legacy Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

If You Are Attractive And You Know It, Please Apply: Appearance-Based Discrimination And Employers' Discretion , Heather R. James

Valparaiso University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Soy And The City: The Protection Of Indiana's Agricultural Land In Light Of Biofuel Issues, Amanda R. Wishin

Valparaiso University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Gliotoxin Production In Aspergillus Fumigatus, Susan Musyimi

Theses and Dissertations

Aspergillus fumigalus is a ubiquitous fungus that causes an infection called aspergillosis in immune-compromised surgery patients (Latge, 2001, 384; Bok et al. 2006). Aspergillosis cases have increased in the past decade due to the increasing number of patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy and receiving organ transplants (Bok et al. 2006). Although there is still disagreement as to the causative agent of the symptoms accompanying aspergillosis, many scientists suspect that the compound, gliotoxin, plays a major role, hi this study, we compared the amounts of gliotoxin produced from clinical and environmental isolates of A. fumigatus. We hypothesized that the amount of gliotoxin …

Religion And Pathography, Audrey L. Carrier

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

For millennia, religion and medicine have coexisted in an ever changing relationship. In the beginning the two were almost inseparable as many believed that illness was the direct effect of angering their God, deities, or spirits. With the advancements of medical technology religion’s grasp on medicine has weakened and shifted. Religion still plays a part in medicine, however, it is minor and only among specific people. The primary role is now in the area of coping, or emotional healing. Traditional religious coping methods include prayer, meditation, and special rituals. One non-traditional technique, that is a relatively recent addition, is the …

Isolation And Analysis Of The Kati Promoter From Arabidopsis Thaliana, Lalita C. Patel

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Plants that reduce water loss by transpiration present less agricultural stress to the environment. Transpiration is limited by the size of pores, or stomata, on the surfaces of leaves. Stomatal aperture is related to the ion concentration in surrounding guard cells, which varies in response to fluctuating concentrations of potassium ions, the principle counter-ion chloride, and the organic counter-ion malate. Levels of malate in guard cells may be altered by increased activity of NADP-Malic Enzyme (NADP-ME) expression. The goal of our research is to create transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants with increased NADP-ME expression in the guard cells, limiting transpiration through …

The Pollination Biology And Mating System Of A Peripheral Population Of Witheringia Solanacea (Solanaceae), Timothy Miller

Honors Theses

Pollinator visitation rates over the life of a flower are determined by pollinator abundance and floral longevity. If flowers are not visited frequently enough, pollen limitation may occur, favoring the evolution of self-compatibility (SC). In plant species with varying SC levels, central populations often are self-incompatible (SI) and peripheral populations are SC. Witheringia solanacea (Solanaceae) is a species that follows this trend with the exception of one population in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, which is peripheral yet SI. I investigated this population using multiple techniques including floral bagging, pollinator observations, microsatellite analysis, and floral longevity manipulations. My results confirmed …

Effects Of Alcohol And Training On Exercise Performance And Muscle Recovery Biochemistry In The Brown Anole (Anolis Sagrei), Maryclaire Mcgovern

Honors Theses

Contrary to previous research, training may improve exercise performance in a lizard, the brown anole. A brief, two-week training period resulted in increased performance speed and distance before exhaustion in trained lizards. Trained lizards were also able to more effectively use leg glycogen stores, however each of these improvements were not found in lizards treated with alcohol. Liver glycogen concentrations were also lower in alcohol-treated lizards, and patterns of liver glycogen concentrations during recovery indicate some hepatic lactate gluconeogenesis.

Microhabitat Selection By The Tortoiseshell Limpet, Tectura Testudinalis (Müller), In Tide Pools On The Mid-Maine Coast, Emily R. Lyczkowski

Honors Theses

Microhabitat selection of the limpet Tectura testudinalis, an important grazer along the rocky Maine coast is examined using both mensurative and manipulative experiments. T. testudinalis substrate selection is essential to its survival in the unpredictable and harsh regime of the intertidal zone. At three sites studied in the Gulf of Maine, T. testudinalis selectively inhabits tidal pools and vertically oriented substrates. Both of these microhabitats reduce the degree of environmental stress (desiccation, extreme temperature, and hypersaline conditions) and predation experienced by individuals. Differences among sites are common, indicating the importance of varying environmental factors in regulating and influencing habitat selection …

Separating People And Wildlife: Zoning As A Conservation Strategy For Large Carnivores, Courtney L. Larson

Honors Theses

Large carnivores are some of the world’s most difficult species to conserve because of their large spatial requirements, low population density, and high potential for conflict with humans. However, large carnivores are valuable for ecological, cultural, and ethical reasons. Carnivore management can take a wide variety of forms, including translocation, sterilization, livestock compensation programs, regulated hunting, improved livestock husbandry practices, and zoning, among others. The objective of this thesis was to conduct a comparative analysis of examples of zoning from around the world to examine whether it is an effective carnivore management strategy.

Analysis of twelve case studies showed that …

Effect Of Observed Biological And Non-Biological Movement On Human Action And Coordination, Walter L. Campbell

Honors Theses

Recently, it has been demonstrated that an individual’s rhythmic limb movements exhibit greater variability when viewing spatially incongruent biological limb movements, but not when viewing spatially incongruent non-biological movements. Some researchers have concluded that a ‘mirror-neuron system’ might mediate the intrinsic bidirectional link between perception and action underlying interpersonal, but not environmental, coordination (e.g., Kilner et al., 2003; Tognoli et al., 2007). The current study aimed to: 1) contest this recent finding; and 2) demonstrate that the self-organized entrainment processes of coupled oscillators can explain the differing influences of biological and non-biological movements. In the first experiment, participants intentionally coordinated …

Phosphorus Primer For Maine’S Lakes, Lindsay B. Philips

Honors Theses

Phosphorus plays a major role in aquatic systems and the life that they support. It is a macronutrient that constitutes 0.5lf microorganisms and zooplankton by mass. Phosphorus is of great importance in terrestrial, agricultural, and plant systems as a macronutrient, and when it comes to aquatic systems, we tend to look at phosphorus in terms of its influence on lake primary productivity. Lakes are often phosphorus sinks because they are maintained by hydrological sources that are capable of causing nutrient influx. To understand phosphorus cycling in lake systems, it is important to consider the many sources and forms of phosphorus …

Self-Destructive Behaviors Of Adolescent Girls And Boys, Carolyn A. Curtis

Honors Theses

From a social constructionist perspective linked with a feminist standpoint, I examine three forms of adolescent self-destructive behaviors: eating disorders, self-mutilation and substance abuse. The social construction of adolescents’ norms, values, and beliefs, as based upon their interactions with family, peers, and the media, helps explain these self-destructive actions. In addition to a comprehensive literature review, I interviewed five adults who work with adolescents in the state of Maine, and used these professionals’ experiences and knowledge to support the current theories pertaining to these acts of self-harm. To better understand what drives some adolescents to harm their own bodies, I …

In The Absence Of Family: How Ideas Of The Substitute Family In Honduran Children's Homes Shape Perception Of The Needs Of At-Risk Youth, Stephanie Bowman

Honors Theses

Through an interdisciplinary analysis of children’s homes in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, this project reflects on how conceptions of family affect the prioritization of the needs of the homes’ beneficiaries. One consequence of the impoverished nature of Honduras are orphaned, abandoned, mistreated, malnourished, abused, neglected and disowned children who have come to live in group children’s homes that, for the most part, meet their short-term physical needs. But what about children’s developmental, social and educational needs? In this study, we analyze what needs homes meet according to the kind of familial substitute they provide as either a group home or …

The Selective Synthesis Of Oxacalix[6]Arenes And The Exploration Of Azacalix[N]Arenes, W. Christian Crannell

Honors Theses

Calix[n]arenes, cyclIc molecules composed of "n" benzene rings meta-linked by a methylene to form a macrocycle, are very prevalent jn the literature and enjoy a wide range of applications. However, the oxygen bridged and nitrogen bridged systems, oxacalllx[n)arenes and azacalix[n]arenes, respectively, are far less common because they are synthetically challenging. Furthermore, the selective synthesis of oxacalix[6]arene systems has not previously been well documented, but the systems can now be accessed in a facile approach disclosed here. The insight and knowledge gained from the synthesis of oxacalix{6]arenes has provided a foray into the synthesis of azacalix[nlarenes.

Effects Of The Anticancer Agent Cloretazine On Human Apurinic Endonuclease-1 Activity, Jennifer L. Bushee

Honors Theses

The carbamolyating activity of Cloretazine, a novel anticancer prodrug, modifies protein function and acts synergistically with the choroethyalting species, which a1kylales DNA. The reactive subspecies responsible for carbamolylating activity is methyl isocyanate, which reacts with sulfhydryl groups and amines. DNA repair enzymes have been identified as potential targets for the modification by methyl isocyanate; in particular, base excision repair enzymes. Enzymes in DNA base excision repair include DNA polymerase beta (Pol ?) and apurinic/apyrimidic endonucease-l (APE/Ref-1). APE/Ref-1 hydrolyzes the 5' -phosphodiester DNA backbone from an abasic DNA template, where the base was excised by a DNA glycosylase. The entire nucleotide …