Digital Commons Network^™

Population Ecology And Reproduction Of The Mexican Mud Turtle (Kinosternon Integrum) In Tonatico, Estado De México, Rodrigo Macip-Ríos, Maria De Lourdes Arias Cisneros, Xochitl S. Aguilar-Miguel, Gustavo Casas-Andreu

Western North American Naturalist

Ecological data directly from the field are important in understanding the life history strategies of kinosternid species in the tropics. Herein we summarize the basic population ecology and life history of Kinosternon integrum in the municipality of Tonatico (southeastern Estado de México, México). From October 2003 to November 2004, we marked a total of 204 turtles and recaptured 118 of them. Mean population size using the Jolly-Seber model was 197 (95% CI 128–416) individuals, with a sex ratio of 1:1.7, biased to females. Males were larger than females in carapace length and plastron length. The reproductive season starts in late …

Grassland Bird Associations With Introduced And Native Grass Conservation Reserve Program Fields In The Southern High Plains, Thomas R. Thompson, Clint W. Boal, Duane Lucia

Western North American Naturalist

We examined relative abundances of grassland birds among Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields seeded with 2 monocultures of introduced grass species and 2 mixes of native grasses in the Southern High Plains of Texas. We assessed bird compositions among these 4 cover types and between the cover types pooled into categories of introduced and native fields. Breeding season bird diversity and total abundance did not differ among cover types or between introduced and native fields. Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum), Cassin's Sparrows (Aimophila cassinii), and Western Meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta) accounted for more than 90% of …

Studies On Inositol Polyphosphates And Their Role In Programmed Cell Death, Rakhee Agarwal

Theses and Dissertations

The agents that induce apoptosis in cancerous cells are considered as potential candidates for cancer therapy. Inositol polyphosphates, the naturally occurring compounds, regulate diverse cellular processes including induction of apoptosis in certain cancerous cells and hence can be considered as potential anticancer agents. The aim of this research dissertation was to establish firmly the role of inositol polyphosphates in induction of apoptosis by examining their mechanism of action. The overall hypothesis was that alterations in intracellular levels of inositol polyphosphates would bring about apoptotic changes. The hypothesis was tested by changing endogenous inositol polyphosphates by way of chemical treatments known …

Application Of 3d Zernike Descriptors To Shape-Based Ligand Similarity Searching., Vishwesh Venkatraman, Padmasini Ramji Chakravarthy, Daisuke Kihara

Department of Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

The identification of promising drug leads from a large database of compounds is an important step in the preliminary stages of drug design. Although shape is known to play a key role in the molecular recognition process, its application to virtual screening poses significant hurdles both in terms of the encoding scheme and speed.

Results

In this study, we have examined the efficacy of the alignment independent three-dimensional Zernike descriptor (3DZD) for fast shape based similarity searching. Performance of this approach was compared with several other methods including the statistical moments based ultrafast shape recognition scheme (USR) and SIMCOMP, …

Relationship Between Green School Design And Student Achievement, Attendance, And Student Behaviors, Deborah Lynn Bruick

Theses and Dissertations

Literature is replete with the harmful effects of poorly maintained facilities on building occupants. School district officials are charged with constructing schools of quality while also serving as conscientious stewards of public monies, therefore, school leaders need facility research to support decision-making. The purpose of the study was to examine the impact that schools constructed following Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards have on student achievement, student attendance, and teacher's perceptions compared to non-LEED schools. The analysis revealed no significant difference for academic achievement or attendance but revealed a statistically significant difference between LEED and non-LEED teachers …

Um Educator Honored For Work To Advance Science, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

People And Nature: Toward An Ecological Model Of Health Promotion, Daniel L. Dustin, Kelly S. Bricker, Keri Schwab

Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration

Striving for a healthier relationship among individuals, families, communities, nations, and the environment is imperative at a time in history when humankind can change the face of the earth in monumental ways. This dynamic health relationship, with an emphasis on the contributions of parks, recreation, and tourism to health promotion, is the subject of this article. A broader conception of health that moves beyond human physical and mental health to include familial, communal, national, international, and global ecological health is called for, and a more comprehensive ecological model of health promotion, including consideration of health from a holistic ecological perspective, …

New Notiodes Semiaquatic Weevil (Curculionidae) From Sporocarps Of Marsilea Mollis (Marsileaceae) In Southern Arizona, Usa, Charles W. O'Brien

Western North American Naturalist

A new species from the semiaquatic weevil genus, Notiodes sporocarpicus, which develops and pupates in the sporocarps of the water fern Marsilea mollis B.L. Rob. & Fernald, is described from cattle tanks in southeastern Arizona. This new species can be separated readily from the majority of the known species by its nearly straight rostrum, with its distinctive dorsally swollen base and attenuated apex. Its elongate and slender body will separate N. sporocarpicus from most species in the genus except N. aeratus, which lacks the characters above. The Texas species N. celatus resembles the new species but has strongly developed suberect …

Survey Indicators For Pygmy Rabbits: Temporal Trends Of Burrow Systems And Pellets, Dana M. Sanchez, Janet L. Rachlow, Andrew P. Robinson, Timothy R. Johnson

Western North American Naturalist

Obtaining estimates of absolute abundance for rare or cryptic species can be challenging. In these cases, methods using indirect indicators such as sign might offer useful indices of population size. Pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) are small, burrowing lagomorphs for which methods for population assessment and monitoring are needed. Current tools for estimating relative abundance rely on detecting and assessing fecal pellets and burrow systems. We evaluated temporal changes in each of these indicators to gauge their potential usefulness as indicators of relative and absolute abundance of pygmy rabbits. Pellet persistence was strongly influenced by environmental exposure, and based …

Records Of The Yellow-Nosed Cotton Rat (Sigmodon Ochrognathus) In Southwestern New Mexico, Keith Geluso

Western North American Naturalist

The yellow-nosed cotton rat (Sigmodon ochrognathus) previously was known only from extreme southwestern New Mexico in the Peloncillo and Animas mountains. Here I document S. ochrognathus at 3 localities from the Big Burro and Mogollon mountains in southwestern New Mexico. My northernmost capture represents an extra-limital record of 160 km north of prior records in southern New Mexico and represents the northernmost occurrence in North America. Lack of intensive mammalian surveys in the region render it difficult to interpret my recent captures, but the most parsimonious explanation is that captures likely represent overlooked populations. I captured S. ochrognathus …

Stephen Lane Wood, 1924–2009: Obituary

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, Vol. 69 No. 4

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

End Matter, Vol. 69 No. 4

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Reproductive Cycle Of The Lizard Sceloporus Mucronatus With Comments On Intraspecific Geographic Variation, Maricela Villagrán–Santa Cruz, Oswaldo Hernández-Gallegos, Fausto R. Méndez–De La Cruz

Western North American Naturalist

Sceloporus mucronatus is a viviparous lizard that inhabits high altitudes in central México. Lizards from Tecocomulco, Hidalgo, México, were collected monthly at 2500 m throughout one year. Macro- and microscopic evidence of gonads showed that both sexes reproduce synchronously during the fall. In males, after a short testicular quiescence in December, the recrudescence begins in winter (January) and continues through spring and summer (July), with maximum activity occurring from late summer to early fall (August–September). Regression takes place simultaneously with copulation during the fall (October–November). In females, vitellogenesis occurs during summer and fall (August–November), with ovulation in the fall (November–December). …

The Flight Periodicity, Attack Patterns, And Life History Of Dryocoetes Confusus Swaine (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), The Western Balsam Bark Beetle, In North Central Colorado, José F. Negrón, John B. Popp

Western North American Naturalist

Dryocoetes confusus Swaine, the western balsam bark beetle, is an important bark beetle associated with Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. (subalpine fir) in western North America. Little information is available on the life cycle and ecology of this insect in Colorado. In this study in north central Colorado, we examined its flight periodicity, attack patterns, and life cycle in downed trees. Flight season, as indicated by pheromone-trap catches, began in early June. Peak flight was observed during early to mid-July. A second peak in flight was observed in some years, but its occurrence was not consistent. Preferred attack sites on downed …

Differential Phytosociological Interactions Involving Male And Female Atriplex Bonnevillensis, Jordan Sinclair, John M. Emlen, Matthew Rinella, Jessica Snelgrove, D. Carl Freeman

Western North American Naturalist

Wind-pollinated dioecious plants often exhibit spatial segregation of the sexes. This partial niche separation has most often been explored using abiotic niche axes. However, if the sexes are truly separated in space, then they are apt to encounter different plant species that may heavily affect growth and reproduction. Also, to the extent that their niches differ, the sexes may respond differently to the same co-occurring species. Here we examine interspecific interactions that influence male and female reproductive potential in Atriplex bonnevillensis. Using Emlen's interaction assessment, a technique which assesses species interactions based on cover classes, we show that Salsola species …

Avian Use Of Harvested Crop Fields In North Dakota During Spring Migration, Alegra M. Galle, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, William J. Bleier

Western North American Naturalist

Broad-spectrum herbicide applications and improved harvesting efficiency of crops have reduced the availability of weed seeds and waste grains for game and nongame wildlife. Over the last decade, corn and soybean plantings have steadily increased in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North Dakota, while sunflower plantings have declined. The PPR is an important corridor for migratory birds, and changes in food availabilities at stopover habitats may affect how food resources are used. In early spring 2003 and 2004, we compared bird use of harvested fields of sunflower, soybeans, small grains, and corn in the PPR of North Dakota. Across …

Distribution And Postbreeding Environmental Relationships Of Northern Leopard Frogs (Rana [Lithobates] Pipiens) In Washington, Stephen S. Germaine, Dave W. Hays

Western North American Naturalist

Northern leopard frogs (Rana [Lithobates] pipiens) are considered sensitive, threatened, or endangered in all western states and western Canadian provinces. Historically present in eastern Washington in 6 major river drainages, leopard frogs are now only known to occur at 2 localized areas in the Crab Creek drainage in Grant County. During the summers of 2002–2005, we surveyed both areas to document extent of leopard frog distributions and to describe habitat and vertebrate community characteristics associated with leopard frog site occupancy. At Gloyd Seeps, 2 juvenile leopard frogs were observed in a total of 8.2 person-days of …

Note On The Occurrence Of Siphlonurus Autumnalis (Ephemeroptera: Siphlonuridae) In A Montana Spring Brook, Robert L. Newell, Michelle L. Anderson

Western North American Naturalist

The little-known mayfly Siphlonurus autumnalis McDunnough (Ephemeroptera: Siphlonuridae) was collected from several locations in its floodplain habitats along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River in western Montana. To confirm identification, nymphs were reared along with an associated species, S. occidentalis Eaton (Ephemeroptera: Siphlonuridae). Adults emerged from 6 September until 16 October. Habitats are described and the first photos of the 2 sexes are provided.

Controls On Radial Growth Of Mountain Big Sagebrush And Implications For Climate Change, Rebecca E. Poore, Christine A. Lamanna, James J. Ebersole, Brian J. Enquist

Western North American Naturalist

Mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. vaseyana) covers large areas in arid regions of western North America. Climate-change models predict a decrease in the range of sagebrush, but few studies have examined details of predicted changes on sagebrush growth and the potential impacts of these changes on the community. We analyzed effects of temperature, precipitation, and snow depth on sagebrush annual ring width for 1969 to 2007 in the Gunnison Basin of Colorado. Temperature at all times of year except winter had negative correlations with ring widths; summer temperature had the strongest negative relationship. Ring widths correlated …

Arthropod And Plant Communities As Indicators Of Land Rehabilitation Effectiveness In A Semiarid Shrubsteppe, Eric T. Gardner, Val J. Anderson, Robert L. Johnson

Western North American Naturalist

We describe a case study evaluating the ecological impact of Bromus tectorum L. (cheatgrass) invasion following fire disturbance and the effectiveness of revegetation as a means of rehabilitation in a degraded semiarid shrubsteppe system. The effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts was assessed relative to arthropod richness, vegetation and arthropod community composition, and ground-cover characteristics in 3 habitats: undisturbed, burned and weed infested (B. tectorum), and burned then rehabilitated with native and nonnative vegetation. Arthropods were collected in each habitat using pitfall traps. Differences in arthropod richness were compared using rarefaction curves. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling and nonparametric multivariate statistical procedures, …

Reproductive Status And Continuity Of Taxa Of The Simulium Arcticum Complex (Diptera: Simuliidae) At The Clearwater River, Montana (2007, 2008, And 2009), Gerald F. Shields, Brooke A. Christiaens, Michelle L. Van Leuven, Amber L. Hartman

Western North American Naturalist

We made 27 collections over nine years at the Clearwater River and conducted preliminary cytogenetic analysis on 232 individuals of the Simulium arcticum complex there. Based on these preliminary findings, we analyzed an additional 1825 larvae from Clearwater collections in 2007, 2008, and 2009 to investigate the reproductive statuses of the two prevalent taxa of the complex there and to determine whether cytogenetic diversity and frequency of types were similar from year to year. We describe a cytotype new to science and a potentially derivative cytotype of S. arcticum sensu stricto. We also determine that these two taxa are present …

Influence Of Soil Water Repellency On Post-Fire Revegetation Success And Management Techniques To Improve Establishment Of Desired Species, Matthew D. Madsen

Theses and Dissertations

The influence of soil water repellency (WR) on vegetation recovery after a fire is poorly understood. This dissertation presents strategies to broaden opportunities for enhanced post-fire rangeland restoration and monitoring of burned piñon and juniper (P-J) woodlands by: 1) mapping the extent and severity of critical and subcritical WR, 2) determining the influence of WR on soil ecohydrologic properties and revegetation success, and 3) evaluating the suitability of a wetting agent composed of alkylpolyglycoside-ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers as a post-fire restoration tool for ameliorating the effects of soil WR and increasing seedling establishment. Results indicate that:

• Post-fire patterns …

Criminal Law—Kosilek V. Maloney: In Prison While Imprisoned In The Body Of The Opposite Sex: Examining The Issue Of "Cruel And Unusual Punishment" Presented By An Incarcerated Transsexual, Nikolas Andreopoulos

Western New England Law Review

No abstract provided.

Diversity's Divergence: A Post-Grutter Examination Of Racial Preferences In Public Employment, Lorin J. Lapidus

Western New England Law Review

No abstract provided.

Modeling Human Performance In Restless Bandits With Particle Filters, Michael S.K. Yi, Mark Steyvers, Michael Lee

The Journal of Problem Solving

Bandit problems provide an interesting and widely-used setting for the study of sequential decision-making. In their most basic form, bandit problems require people to choose repeatedly between a small number of alternatives, each of which has an unknown rate of providing reward. We investigate restless bandit problems, where the distributions of reward rates for the alternatives change over time. This dynamic environment encourages the decision-maker to cycle between states of exploration and exploitation. In one environment we consider, the changes occur at discrete, but hidden, time points. In a second environment, changes occur gradually across time. Decision data were collected …

Will New Appointees To The Supreme Court Be Able To Effect An Overruling Of Roe V. Wade?, Richard H. W. Maloy

Western New England Law Review

No abstract provided.

Parents' Impressions Of Their Child's Minor Surgical Procedure With Nitrous Oxide, Tina Shapiro-Stoler

Open Access Dissertations

Invasive procedures are often painful and distressing for children and disturbing for their parents. The purpose of this study was to develop a substantive theory of parental perceptions of their school-aged child's responses to an outpatient minor surgical procedure with nitrous oxide. The sample included 22 parents of 21 children who underwent a nitrous procedure. Participants were recruited from the pediatric surgery department at a children's hospital. Semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews were conducted with each participant. Grounded theory method was used to simultaneously collect and analyze the data using the constant comparative method. The findings of the study revealed parental impressions …

Comparison Of Targeted Lower Extremity Strengthening And Usual Care Progressive Ambulation In Subjects Post-Liver Transplant: A Randomized Controlled Trial, David Walter Mandel

Open Access Dissertations

Individuals with chronic liver disease experience progressive muscle wasting, weakness, fatigue, and decreased quality of life. Liver transplantation is the only treatment for end-stage liver disease with cirrhosis; however, muscle wasting, strength impairments, activity limitations, and health related quality of life do not return to the level of healthy adults. Currently there is no plan of care for rehabilitation of individuals post-liver transplantation. These individuals are only instructed to gradually increase walking and activity. Walking may increase lower extremity muscle strength; however, walking at a self-selected pace is less effective than resistance exercise. The purpose of this dissertation was to …

Physics And Astronomy Collection Development Policy, Virginia A. Baldwin

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries: Collection Development Policies

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers the B.A. and B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The department offers a Physics degree with an astronomy option and Physics faculty will continue to teach Astronomy classes. The graduate program in Astronomy is being phased out and there is currently no Physics Education program. The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers graduate education leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Physics. The Department has a flexible program of graduate study to accommodate students with a wide variety of goals and backgrounds.