Digital Commons Network^™

The Cultural Transmission Of Great Basin Projectile-Point Technology I: An Experimental Simulation, A. Mesoudi, Michael J. O'Brien

History Faculty Publications (Archived)

A Darwinian evolutionary approach to archaeology naturally leads to a focus on cultural transmission. Theoretical models of cultural evolution indicate that individual-level details of cultural transmission can have specific and significant population-level effects, implying that differences in transmission may be detectable in the archaeological record. Here we present an experimental simulation of the cultural transmission of prehistoric projectile-point technology, simulating the two transmission modes-indirect bias and guided variation-that Bettinger and Eerkens (1999) suggested were responsible for differences in Nevada and California point-attribute correlations. Groups of participants designed "virtual projectile points" and tested them in "virtual hunting environments," with different phases …

Rapid Dissemination Of Francisella Tularensis And The Effect Of Route Of Infection, S. S. Ojeda, Z. J. Wang, Chris A. Mares, T. A. Chang, Q. Li, E. G. Morris, P. A. Jerabek, J. M. Teale

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Background. Francisella tularensis subsp. tularensis is classified as a Category A bioweapon that is capable of establishing a lethal infection in humans upon inhalation of very few organisms. However, the virulence mechanisms of this organism are not well characterized. Francisella tularensis subsp. novicida, which is an equally virulent subspecies in mice, was used in concert with a microPET scanner to better understand its temporal dissemination in vivo upon intranasal infection and how such dissemination compares with other routes of infection. Adult mice were inoculated intranasally with F. tularensis subsp. novicida radiolabeled with 64Cu and imaged by microPET at 0.25, 2 …

Transcriptional Response Of Mexican Axolotls To Ambystoma Tigrinum Virus (Atv) Infection, J. D. Cotter, A. Storfer, Robert B. Page, C. K. Beachy, S. R. Voss

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Background: Very little is known about the immunological responses of amphibians to pathogens that are causing global population declines. We used a custom microarray gene chip to characterize gene expression responses of axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) to an emerging viral pathogen, Ambystoma tigrinum virus (ATV). Result: At 0, 24, 72, and 144 hours post-infection, spleen and lung samples were removed for estimation of host mRNA abundance and viral load. A total of 158 up-regulated and 105 down-regulated genes were identified across all time points using statistical and fold level criteria. The presumptive functions of these genes suggest a robust innate immune …

Report, Assessment Plan, 2008-2009, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg. Nelson Poynter Memorial Library

All-Library Assessments Reports, Summaries & Misc Reports

An assessment of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg's Nelson Poynter Memorial Library.

Abuses Of Presidential Power: Impeachment As A Remedy, Hon. Elizabeth Holtzman

University of Miami Law Review

No abstract provided.

Torture And The Biopolitics Of Race, Dorothy Roberts

University of Miami Law Review

No abstract provided.

Engaging Recreational Fishers In Management And Conservation: Global Case Studies, Elise F. Granek, Elizabeth M.P. Madin, M. A. Brown, Will F. Figueira, Darren S. Cameron, Zeb Hogan, Gerry Kristianson, Pierre De Villiers, Jack E. Williams, John R. Post, S. Zahn, R. Arlinghaus

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Globally, the number of recreational fishers is sizeable and increasing in many countries. Associated with this trend is the potential for negative impacts on fish stocks through exploitation or management measures such as stocking and introduction of non-native fishes. Nevertheless, recreational fishers can be instrumental in successful fisheries conservation through active involvement in, or initiation of, conservation projects to reduce both direct and external stressors contributing to fishery declines. Understanding fishers’ concerns for sustained access to the resource and developing methods for their meaningful participation can have positive impacts on conservation efforts. We examined a suite of case studies that …

Specific Rna Self-Assembly With Minimal Paranemic Motifs, Kirill A. Afonin, Dennis J. Cieply, Neocles B. Leontis

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The paranemic crossover (PX) is a motif for assembling two nucleic acid molecules using Watson-Crick (WC) basepairing without unfolding preformed secondary structure in the individual molecules. Once formed, the paranemic assembly motif comprises adjacent parallel double helices that crossover at every possible point over the length of the motif. The interaction is reversible as it does not require denaturation of basepairs internal to each interacting molecular unit. Paranemic assembly has been demonstrated for DNA but not for RNA and only for motifs with four or more crossover points and lengths of five or more helical half-turns. Here we report the …

Greenfall Links Groundwater To Aboveground Food Webs In Desert River Floodplains, John L. Sabo, Kevin E. Mccluney, Yevgeniy Marusenko, Andrew Keller, Candan U. Soykan

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Groundwater makes up nearly 99% of unfrozen freshwater worldwide and sustains riparian trees rooted in shallow aquifers, especially in arid and semiarid climates. The goal of this paper is to root animals in the regional water cycle by quantifying the significance of groundwater to riparian animals. We focused our efforts on the cricket, Gryllus alogus: a common primary consumer found in floodplain forests along the San Pedro River, in southeast Arizona, USA. Cottonwood trees make groundwater available to G. alogus as dislodged, groundwater-laden leaves (greenfall). We hypothesized that groundwater fluxes mediated by greenfall sustain G. allogus through the prolonged dry …

The Effect Of Austrian Winter-Pea Cover Crop And Cow-Pea Companion Crop On Corn Yield, Matthew Marsh, David Longer, Vaughn Skinner

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Leguminous cover crops have the potential to combat the rising input cost of commercial nitrogen (N) fertilizers. This experiment examines benefits of implementing a leguminous cover and/or companion crop into a corn production system. Legumes biologically fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, adding to the nitrogen content of the soil. In this experiment Austrian winter peas (Pisum arvense) (AWP) were used as the leguminous cover crop and cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) were used as the companion crop. A two year experiment was carried out in which winter peas were planted on half the field in the fall and allowed to grow until …

Life Cycle Analysis For The Cultivation And Combustion Of Miscanthus For Biofuel Compared With Natural Gas, Amanda Ashworth, Charles West, Michael Popp, Mireille Montrejaud-Vignoles, Caroline Sablayrolles, Gabrielle Benoit

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

As negative environmental and economic impacts of fossil fuels have escalated, so has the importance of renewable bioenergy crops whose feedstocks are noncompetitive with food supplies. Compared with fossil fuels, use of lignocellulosic feedstocks offers potential for greenhouse gas reduction and highly positive net energy returns because of low input demand and high yields per unit of land area, thus making them advantageous for the emerging biofuel industry. The aim of this study was to simulate environmental impacts of producing a biofuel grass for combustion use based on the inventory of inputs and their effects on eutrophication of surface waters; …

A Spatial Sirs Boolean Network Model For The Spread Of H5n1 Avian Influenza Virus Among Poultry Farms, Alexander Kasyanov, Leona Kirkland, Mihaela Teodora Matache

Mathematics Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

To predict the spread of Avian Influenza we propose a synchronous Susceptible-Infected-Recovered-Susceptible (SIRS) Boolean network of poultry farms, using probabilistic Boolean rules. Gravity models from transportation theory are used for the probability of infection of a node in one time step, taking into account farm sizes, distances be- tween farms, and mean distance travelled by birds. Basic reproduction numbers are computed analytically and numerically. The dynamics of the network are analyzed and various statistics considered such as number of infected nodes or time until eradication of the epidemic. We conclude that mostly when large farms (eventually) become infected the epidemic …

Dynamics Of Directed Boolean Networks Under Generalized Elementary Cellular Automata Rules, With Power-Law Distributions And Popularity Assignment Of Parent Nodes, Ray Goodman, Mihaela T. Velcsov

Mathematics Faculty Publications

This study provides an analysis of the dynamics of fixed-size directed Boolean networks governed by generalizations of elementary cellular automata rules 22 and 126, under a power-law distribution of parent nodes and a popularity parent assignment. The analysis shows the existence of a two-piece chaotic attractor for smaller values of the power-law parameter which evolves into a "cloud"-like attractor for larger values of the parameter. Values of the parameter for which the system exhibits an ordered behavior are indicated as well. The dynamics are investigated using space-time diagrams, delay plots, bifurcation diagrams, and Lyapunov exponent computations. It is also shown …

Services Report Fy 2008, Uno Office Of Research And Creative Activity

Services Reports

This Service Report features: Information about The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research; University of Nebraska at Omaha Awards Per Fiscal Year; University of Nebraska at Omaha Submissions Per Fiscal Year; Awards by College/Unit FY 2006-2008; Submissions by College/Unit FY 2006-2008; UNO FY 2008 External Awards; UNO FY 2008 External Submissions; and UNO FY 2008 Nebraska Research Initiative (NRI) Submissions.

Multiple Paths To Critical Reflection: A Flexible Model Of Teacher Learning And Its Impact On Student Achievement, Susan B. Koba, Carol Mitchell

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

This research evaluated impact of the Omaha Public Schools' Urban Systemic Program professional development model on mathematics and science teacher change and student achievement. The model offered various participation pathways, focused teachers' learning in three areas (beliefs, content, and pedagogy) and required teacher reflection during classroom strategy implementation. To determine teacher change, observations, interviews, action research, pre-post perception profiles, retrospective pre-post surveys (beliefs and understandings), and exit surveys were completed. Participants' action research determined impact . on students' understandings. Criterion Referenced· Tests, as well as leadership pre- and post- surveys, action research and interviews determined school change. To evaluate program …

Completions 2008-09, Uno Office Of Institutional Effectiveness

IPEDS Completions

IPEDS Completions annual report contains the following information:

• Number of awards conferred by program, by level, and by race/ethnicity and gender of recipient
• Number of completers, separately by race/ethnicity, gender, age and level of award

Fall Enrollment (2008-09), Uno Office Of Institutional Effectiveness

IPEDS Fall Enrollment

IPEDS Fall Enrollment annual report contains the following information:

• Full- and part-time fall enrollments by level, by race/ethnicity and gender of student
• Number of students engaged in distance education, by level and location
• Age distributions by student level (odd-numbered years)
• State of residence of first-time first-year students (even-numbered years)
• Total number of students in the entering class
• Fall-to-fall retention rates of full-time and part-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students (less than 4-year institutions), and first-time bachelor’s degree-seeking students (4-year institutions)

The Human Rights Costs Of China's Arms Sales To Sudan—A Violation Of International Law On Two Fronts, Stephanie L. Kotecki

Washington International Law Journal

As an emerging world power, China has a crucial need for oil to meet its growing fuel consumption. It has invested heavily in Sudan, a country with extensive and productive oil reserves. However, this partnership has an ugly side. Sudanese militia groups, as well as government troops, have been committing gross human rights violations against residents of the Darfur region. Meanwhile, Chinese arms manufacturers have continued to export weapons and military equipment to Sudan, with the full knowledge of the Chinese government. Many of the weapons used to raid villages in Darfur were manufactured in China. International norms have evolved …

Wyoming's "Outlaw" Juvenile Justice Act, Jeremy Kisling

Wyoming Law Review

No abstract provided.

Family Law - The Wrong Side Of The Coin - Policy, Permanency And The Problem Of Legal Orphans In Wyoming: In Re A.D., D.D., K.D. V. Wyoming Department Of Family Services, 151 P.3d 1102 (Wyo. 2007), Megan K. Holbrook

Wyoming Law Review

No abstract provided.

Environmental Law - A Tale Of Two Conflicting Mandates: Limiting Agency Authority Under The Endangered Species Act Or Resolution Of The Statutory Overlap - National Association Of Home Builders V. Defenders Of Wildlife, 127 S. Ct. 2518 (2007), Alicia D. Kisling

Wyoming Law Review

No abstract provided.

Shalom And The Character Of Earthkeeping, Steven C. Bouma-Prediger

Faculty Presentations

No abstract provided.

15n Effects On Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Ryan Geraets, Brett Kollars

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Non-radioactive isotopic labeling has become a regular technique for efficiently labeling a wide range of macromolecules. The overall goal for this project was to develop a method of globally measuring plant protein turnover rates. In order to do so, an isotopic labeled environment that does not induce stress had to be used. The objective of this particular segment of research was to develop a 15N-labeled Tris-Acetate-Phosphate (TAP) media in which Chlamydomonas reinhardtii can successfully grow without eliciting stressed physiological responses. Our results illustrate that we have successfully developed 15N-labeled TAP that does not stress Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Effects Of Deuterium On Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Brett Kollars, Ryan Geraets

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

In order to develop software tools to monitor rates of total protein turnover in plants, attempts were made to maximally label all the proteins in vivo. Our study focused on the use of the stable isotope of hydrogen, deuterium, to label proteins of C. reinhardtii. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of the label on algal growth. C. reinhardtii is a unicellular green algae that is heterotrophic, photoautotrophic and mixotrophic. The results showed that increasing concentrations of deuterium in the algal growth medium had a negative effect on the growth of the algae. These preliminary results …

M3-Muscarinic Receptor Activation Of Erk And Cell Growth Requires Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases In Mcf-7 Cells, John M. Schmitt, Ellen Abell, Andrea Wagner

Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science

Abstract The extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) signaling pathway is found in diverse cells throughout the human body. ERK activation has been implicated in breast cancer cell growth and proliferation. Studies have shown that ERK is activated by carbachol, a G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) agonist, which increases intracellular calcium in MCF-7 cells. The calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM K) family of proteins including CaM KK, CaM KI, and CaM KII can be activated by increased intracellular calcium. Our goal was to determine whether CaM Ks may be responsible for ERK activation and cell proliferation in carbachol-treated MCF-7 cells and evaluate which …

Quantitative Kinetic Analysis Of Cro Repression In Vivo As A Function Of Operator Sequence, Yin Gu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Existence And Stability Of Periodic Orbits Of Periodic Difference Equations With Delays, Ziyad Alsharawi, James Angelos, Saber Elaydi

Mathematics Faculty Research

In this paper, we investigate the existence and stability of periodic orbits of the p-periodic difference equation with delays x_n = ƒ(n−1, x_n−k). We show that the periodic orbits of this equation depend on the periodic orbits of p autonomous equations when p divides k. When p is not a divisor of k, the periodic orbits depend on the periodic orbits of gcd(p, k) nonautonomous p/gcd(p,k) - periodic difference equations. We give formulas for calculating the number of different periodic orbits under …

Molecular, Genetic And Biochemical Characterization Of Oleic Acid- And Glycerol-Mediated Signaling In Plant Defense, Srivathsa C. Venugopal

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Oleic acid (18:1) is one of the important monounsaturated fatty acids, which is synthesized upon desaturation of stearic acid and this reaction is catalyzed by the SSI2 encoded stearoyl-acyl-carrier-protein-desaturase. A mutation in SSI2 leads to constitutive activation of salicylic acid (SA)-mediated defense responses. Consequently, these plants accumulate high levels of SA and show enhanced resistance to bacterial and oomycete pathogens. Replenishing 18:1 levels in ssi2 plants, via a second site mutation in GLY1 encoded glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) dehydrogenase, suppresses all the ssi2-triggered phenotypes. Study of mechanism(s) underlying gly1-mediated suppression of ssi2 phenotypes showed that 18:1 levels are regulated via …

The Ramifications Of Teachers Lack Of Pck While Uncovering Student Misconceptions, Kimberly E. Saccardi

Mathematical and Computing Sciences Masters

Students come to our science classrooms with a diverse set of ideas of how the world works, as do teachers. When these ideas are incorrect, they are sometimes referred to as misconceptions and can come from a variety of sources. Misconceptions can come from books, television, and simple life experiences. It is imperative that teachers uncover these misconceptions in order to properly teach scientific concepts. What happens however when teachers do not know enough content to be able to uncover these misconceptions? How does the pedagogy suffer? This research explored the intersection of pedagogical knowledge and content knowledge (PCK) and …

Relationship Between Self-Reported Lifestyle Habits, Social Support, And Physiological Factors Associated With Hypertension : A Biopsychosocial Investigation, Deborah A. Chiumento

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The relationship between hypertension and related biological, psychological, and social variables among patients diagnosed with hypertension was investigated utilizing the biopsychosocial model. Fifty-four participants from one outpatient private medical office were administered a demographic form, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Health Adherence Behavior Inventory (HABIT), the Inventory for Cognitive Distortions (ICD), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Results indicated that the participants' use of caffeine positively correlated with their high blood pressure readings. In addition, participants who reported having significant social support engaged in more health promoting behaviors. These findings were consistent with the hypotheses. Limitations …