Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Altered Superoxide Dismutase Expression On Age-Related Functional Declines And Survival In Drosophila, Ian Martin

Theses and Dissertations

Most organisms experience progressive declines in physiological function as they age. A number of studies in a variety of species support a strong link between oxidative damage, age-related functional declines and life span determination. Here, manipulating the expression levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoenzymes SOD1 and SOD2, resulted in altered functional senescence and survival characteristics in Drosophila. Overexpression of cytosolic Sod1 using the yeast GAL4/UAS system conferred a 30-34% increase in mean life span and resulted in an attenuated senescence of odor avoidance behavior in aging flies. Tissue-specific Sod1 overexpression selectively in the nervous system or muscle failed to reproduce …

An Investigation Of Techniques For Using Oxalic Acid To Reduce Varroa Mite Populations In Honey Bee Colonies And Package Bees, Nicholas Aliano

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

I investigated strategies for reducing Varroa mite populations (Varroa destructor) in honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera) using oxalic acid (OA). I examined the efficacy of OA in both broodless colonies and colonies that contain brood. My data indicate that OA is most effective at reducing Varroa populations when colonies are broodless because repeated applications of OA did not significantly reduce mite populations in colonies when brood was present. Next, I quantified the contact toxicity of OA to Varroa mites and their honey bee hosts in laboratory bioassays. The results indicate that OA has a low acute …

Oscillation Theory Of Dynamic Equations On Time Scales, Raegan J. Higgins

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In past years mathematical models of natural occurrences were either entirely continuous or discrete. These models worked well for continuous behavior such as population growth and biological phenomena, and for discrete behavior such as applications of Newton's method and discretization of partial differential equations. However, these models are deficient when the behavior is sometimes continuous and sometimes discrete. The existence of both continuous and discrete behavior created the need for a different type of model. This is the concept behind dynamic equations on time scales. For example, dynamic equations can model insect populations that are continuous while in season, die …

Reply To Comment By K. Gajewski On "Abrupt Environmental Change In Canada's Northernmost Lake", Dermot Antoniades, Catherine Crawley, Marianne S.V. Douglas, Reinhard Pienitz, Dale Andersen, Peter T. Doran, Ian Hawes, Wayne Pollard, Warwick F. Vincent

Faculty Publications

We welcome the opportunity to respond to Gajewski's [2008] comments on our study [Antoniades et al., 2007, hereinafter referred to as A07]. We demonstrate here that his assertions are not supported by the evidence and that the conclusions in A07 are based on a sound interpretation of the data. Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union.

The Effect Of Nacl On Akinete Differentiation In The Cyanobacterium Nostoc Punctiforme, Jonathan Heekin

Theses and Dissertations

Nostoc punctiforme is a nitrogen-fixing, symbiotic/free-living cyanobacterium. There has been a great deal of research conducted on the genomic nature of N. punctiforme as it pertains to its ecologically important role in the nitrogen cycle in varied environments around the world. My study concentrated on the dormant cell type known as the akinete. Increasing concentrations of NaCl were used to follow the growth phases from germination to akinete formation (lag phase-logarithmic growth phase-stationary phase). I found that increased salt concentrations caused N. punctiforme to form akinetes faster when compared to the control. Germination rates were not greatly increased or shortened …

April 28, 2008, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Resveratrol On The Microbiota Of Mice, Esther Chan

Whittier Scholars Program

This project focuses on the study of obesity by regarding the relationship of Bacteroides and Firmicutes within mice that have been linked to caloric intake. Resveratrol a natural compound found in grape extracts has been shown to closely mimic benefits of caloric restriction. This project is focused on how Resveratrol might influence the concentrations of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes populations in the intestinal gut as measured with quantitative PCR. This study includes an introduction to certain terms and scientific contextual information to further explain this research as well as includes a section on microbial bacteria and caloric restriction for further clarification.

Covariance Estimation For High Dimensional Data Vectors Using The Sparse Matrix Transform, Guangzhi Cao, Charles A. Bouman

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technical Reports

Many problems in statistical pattern recognition and analysis require the classifcation and analysis of high dimensional data vectors. However, covariance estimation for high dimensional vectors is a classically difficult problem because the number of coefficients in the covariance grows as the dimension squared [1, 2, 3]. This problem, sometimes referred to as the curse of dimensionality [4], presents a classic dilemma in statistical pattern analysis and machine learning. In a typical application, one measures M versions of an N dimensional vector. If M < N, then the sample covariance matrix will be singular with N - M eigenvalues equal to zero. Over the years, a variety of techniques have been proposed for computing a nonsingular estimate of the covariance. For example, regularized and shrinkage covariance estimators [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10] are examples of such techniques. In this paper, we propose a new approach to covariance estimation, which is based on constrained maximum likelihood (ML) estimation of the covariance. In particular, the covariance is constrained to have an eigen decomposition which can be represented as a sparse matrix transform (SMT) [11]. The SMT is formed by a product of pairwise coordinate rotations known as Givens rotations [12]. Using this framework, the covariance can be efficiently estimated using greedy minimization of the log likelihood function, and the number of Givens rotations can be efficiently computed using a cross-validation procedure. The estimator obtained using this method is always positive definite and well-conditioned even with limited sample size. In order to validate our model, we perform experiments using a standard set of hyperspectral data [13]. Our experiments show that SMT covariance estimation results in consistently better estimates of the covariance for a variety of different classes and sample sizes. Also, we show that the SMT method has a particular advantage over traditional methods when estimating small eigenvalues and their associated eigenvectors.

April 28, 2008 Reporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Electrical Behavior Of Non-Aqueous Formulations: Role Of Electrostatic Interactions In Pressurized Metered Dose Inhalers (Pmdis), Reshma Kotian

Theses and Dissertations

Aerosol electrostatics is an important property of pharmaceutical aerosols. The electrostatic properties of pMDI aerosols have been shown to be a function of both formulation and packaging components. The modified ELPI enables measurement of aerosol charge as a function of particle size, and the simultaneous determination of the mass distribution using chemical analysis. However, in order to fully assess the cause and effects of aerosol electrostatics in terms of its biological and regulatory implications, it is necessary to understand the basic charging mechanisms inside the pMDI formulation.

Electrical resistivity and zeta potential measurements confirmed the presence of charged species within …

Gis Forest Inventory And Evaluation In The Wake Of Climate Change, Mary Snow, Richard K. Snow

Publications

"Because climate and vegetation are so strongly associated, it is assumed that the forecast rapid changes in climate will affect plant distributions and alter the makeup of forest communities. For example, climate change could cause regional wind patterns to shift, which would be accompanied by an increase in wind speed intensity. Such shifts could impact existing rain shadow effects in some regions causing more precipitation on the windward side of mountain ranges while creating even drier conditions on the leeward sides. Fire patterns are likely to be altered as well, which could affect a variety of plant species, even those …

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhance The Acquisition Of Mineral Nutrients From Leaf Litter By Morella Cerifera, Catalina Aristizabal

Open Access Dissertations

Morella cerifera (L.) Small, the Wax Myrtle, forms both arbuscular mycorrhizas and cluster roots which generally are regarded as alternative adaptations for phosphorus acquisition. But whether or not arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide any benefit to M. cerifera is not known. Nevertheless, AMF can proliferate extensively within the litter leaves that accumulate beneath M. cerifera. The main objective of this study was to determine if AMF are beneficial to M. cerifera host plants in the presence of leaf litter. In the field, I examined leaf traits that affect the colonization of leaf litter by AMF. I compared AMF colonization of …

2007-2008 Lindenwood University Honors Convocation, Lindenwood University

Honors Convocation Programs

2007-2008 Lindenwood University Honors Convocation

The Legal Justifications For A People-Based Approach To The Control Of Mineral Resources In The Democratic Republic Of The Congo, Dunia P. Zongwe

Cornell Law School Inter-University Graduate Student Conference Papers

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is endowed with vast mineral wealth. However, although renewed activities in the mining sector ameliorated the DRC’s fiscal position and GDP growth in 2005-07, generally the peoples of the DRC neither participate in nor benefit from the exploitation of mineral resources. The problem is that the exploitation of mineral resources in the DRC go against the interests of the Congolese peoples. To be sure, the Congolese peoples are some of the poorest in the world. The main purpose of this paper is to explore the ways in which the peoples of the DRC …

Spring Dance Concert 2008 Playbill, Providence College

Playbill and Promotions

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film

Angell Blackfriars Theatre

Spring Dance Concert 2008

April 26, 2008, 8pm

April 27, 2008, 2pm

Lighting Design, Chris Tompkins

Advisor, Wendy Oliver

Choreographers: Sarah Evans, Lindsay Maurio, Melissa Cusack, Melanie Faust, Donald MacKayle, Caroline Cruise, Erica Tymeck, Lia Armatas, Lauren Sibley, Sarah Mosca, Sarah McCormack, Shane Farrell, Jillianne Liotta, Emily Herrick, Krissy Phillipino, Lindsay Craven

Dancers: Lia Armatas '08, Nicole Cirilli '09, Caroline Cruise '09, Kelly Cummings '11, Melissa Cusack '10, Sarah Evans '08, Melanie Faust '08, Emily Herrick '08, Shannon Hoey '11, Joelle Hogan '10, Theresa Hurton '11, Alicia …

University Wind Symphony, Chapman University Wind Symphony

Printed Performance Programs (PDF Format)

No abstract provided.

2008 Bright Ideas Conference Program, Office Of Research And Sponsored Programs

Bright Ideas Conference

Event program for the 2008 Bright Ideas Conference at SFASU.

Mustang Daily, April 25, 2008

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

Student newspaper of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Significance Of The Philosophy Of Family-Centered Care In The, Sarah B. Green

School of Nursing Scholarly Works

The philosophy of family-centered care is “an approach to the planning, delivery, and evaluation of healthcare that is grounded in mutually beneficial partnerships among patients, families and healthcare practitioners” (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 1996-2008). The word “family” refers to “two or more persons who are related in any way-biologically, legally, or emotionally” (Institute for Family-Centered Care). It is patients and families, who define those included in their families, which usually in pediatrics includes parents or guardians.

U-Statistics-Based Tests For Multiple Genes In Genetic Association Studies, Zhi Wei, Mingyao Li Phd, Timothy Rebbeck, Hongzhe Li

UPenn Biostatistics Working Papers

Abstract: As our understanding of biological pathways and the genes that regulate these pathways increases, consideration of these biological pathways has become an increasingly important part of genetic and molecular epidemiology. Pathway-based genetic association studies often involve genotyping of variants in genes acting in certain biological pathways. Such pathway-based genetic association studies can potentially capture the highly heterogeneous nature of many complex traits, with multiple causative loci and multiple alleles at some of the causative loci. In this paper, we develop two nonparametric test statistics that consider simultaneously the effects of multiple markers. Our approach, which is based on data-adaptive …

Bryn Mawr College Outline Concept Plan Update. Final Development Report: A Range Of Options, Venturi, Scott Brown And Associates

Reports and Plans

From the Introduction: "Bryn Mawr College has chosen to update and re-evaluate its 1997 Outline Concept Plan as it completes its Challenging Women campaign and prepares for a new president. A revised and updated Concept Plan can provide a renewed framework for making decisions, accommodating expansion or change, and setting priorities among projects. In this report, which marks the end of our study, we outline our impressions of the campus and our interpretation of its development, describe the changes made since our 1997 plan, and sketch out our understanding of Bryn Mawr’s aspirations, issues and opportunities related to campus development."

Sr-07-08-(32) 63 Cc, Marshall University

Recommendations

No abstract provided.

04/25/2008 Obituary Records, Hawaii Obituaries

Obituaries

List of Obituaries for individuals who passed away on 04/25/2008. Scroll down to see the names and obituary description.

The Reality Of Happily Ever After: Charlotte Bronte's Revision Of Fairy Tales In Jane Eyre, Sarah Rice

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis analyzes Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre through the lens of fairy tale stories, investigating the parts of Jane’s story that seem to parallel stories such as “Bluebeard” and “Cinderella”. It argues for a revisionist view of fairy tales as created by Bronte and discusses how the usage of fairy tale elements helps to further the plot and sociocultural messages of Jane Eyre.

Brown V. Pa State Dept Health

2008 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Holy Cross Magazine, Vol. 42, No. 2, Spring 2008, College Of The Holy Cross

Holy Cross Magazine

The City Where We Live
Join us for a look at—and celebration of—alma mater’s hometown. Professor emeritus of history and former mayor of Worcester, John Anderson ’57, examines the city of seven hills and speculates about its future.
By John Anderson ’57

Filling the Void
Kenneth J. Moynihan ’66 writes a history of early Worcester
By Rebecca Smith ’99

Four Decades of Service
Celebrating its 40th anniversary as a campus institution, SPUD continues to thrive on service, solidarity and social justice.
By Laura Porter

Syllabus: Growing Up American
Patrick J. Ireland, associate professor of English
By Pam Reponen

Flashback: The …

04-25-2008 Swosu Students Complete Degrees For Spring Semester, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

THE BARK ARCHIVE 2008

Approximately 566 students from Southwestern Oklahoma State University at Weatherford will complete requirements for either bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees after the 2008 spring semester.

Volume Cxxv, Number 21, April 25, 2008, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

Daily Eastern News: April 25, 2008, Eastern Illinois University

April

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Gender Gap In Quantum Physics, Gordon Stecklein

Pomona Senior Theses

Why is it important to study the gender gap in physics? Despite entering the workforce in increasing numbers over the last fifty years, women remain severely underrepresented in science and technology-related careers, particularly in positions of authority. Simultaneously, numerous studies verify that women have the ability to perform as well as – or better than – males in physics, and, when presented in certain lights, as many women as men show an interest in physics. Changes must be made in order to strive for equality and, given the changing demographic of the workforce, increase our country’s diminishing scientific prowess.