Digital Commons Network^™

Seed Predation On Slickspot Peppergrass By The Owyhee Harvester Ant, Joshua P. White

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

1. (1) Seed predation can significantly restrict the reproductive output and individual fitness of plants, particular those plants that are rare or endangered. In some cases the total seed loss can reach 100%. Owyhee harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex salinus, actively remove the fruits and seeds of slickspot peppergrass, Lepidium papilliferum, a rare mustard endemic to southwest Idaho.
2. (2) Several experiments were conducted to quantify seed predation on L. papilliferum located within the foraging distance of P. salinus. Individuals exposed to harvester ants experienced a direct loss of fruits and seeds ( > 40%), whereas plants shielded from ants suffered almost …

A Descriptive Study Examining Motivation, Goal Orientations, Coaching, And Training Habits Of Women Ultrarunners, Rhonna Zena Krouse

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Ultrarunners are people who participate in running events that exceed the 26.2 mile marathon distance. Currently, women make up approximately 20% of this population. To date, no studies have investigated female ultrarunners. The present study sought to describe these women (N = 344) by evaluating motivational factors for participation, goal orientations, training habits, and coach utilization. Motivation was measured using the Motivation for Marathoners Scale (7 point Likert scale). General health orientation (M = 4.71± 1.06) and psychological coping (M = 4.71±1.03) were the two categories most endorsed whereas social motives were least endorsed (M = …

Water Quality Changes In A Constructed Wetland At The Springs Preserve In Las Vegas, Nevada, Aaron Mathis Miller

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Springs Preserve near downtown Las Vegas, Nevada contains a seven-acre constructed wetland. Springs Preserve managers are planning to use water from the constructed wetland to irrigate creeks immediately north of the wetland. These creeks will be used by a variety ofaquatic wildlife, including endangered amphibians sensitive to harmful metalloids, such as selenium, lead, and arsenic.

In an attempt to answer toxicological questions about contaminant concentrations in the constructed wetland, three metals and metalloids (selenium, arsenic, and lead), two nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and the major ionic species were analyzed at four sampling locations for aqueous concentrations, in two separate …

Targeting Youth—Hit Or Miss? Juvenile Certification In Clark County, Nevada Examined, Brittnie Turquoise Watkins

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Juvenile certification is the method by which a juvenile may be removed from juvenile court jurisdiction and placed in the adult criminal court jurisdiction. In many cases, juvenile courts exercise judicial certifications, in which a judge determines if the case will be heard in juvenile or adult court. Many factors influence a judge's determination of certification outcomes. Legal factors include dangerousness, amenability, and maturity of the youth. Extra-legal factors include race and sex. Although judges are believed to be impartial, prior research has found that these bias factors may influence outcomes. This study assesses what factors are influential in one …

The Northern Eurasia Earth Science Partnership: An Example Of Science Applied To Societal Needs, Pavel Ya. Groisman, Elizabeth A. Clark, Vladimir M. Kattsov, Dennis P. Lettenmaier, Irina N. Sokolik, Vladimir B. Aizen, Oliver Cartus, Jiquan Chen, Susan Conard, John Katzenberger, Olga Krankina, Jaakko Kukkonen, Toshinobu Machida, Shamil Maksyutov, Dennis Ojima, Jiaguo Qi, Vladimir E. Romanovsky, Maurizio Santoro, Christiane C. Schmullius, Alexander I. Shiklomanov, Kou Shimoyama, Herman H. Shugart, Jacquelyn K. Shuman, Mikhail A. Sofiev

Faculty Publications

Northern Eurasia, the largest landmass in the northern extratropics, accounts for ~20% of the global land area. However, little is known about how the biogeochemical cycles, energy and water cycles, and human activities specific to this carbon-rich, cold region interact with global climate. A major concern is that changes in the distribution of land-based life, as well as its interactions with the environment, may lead to a self-reinforcing cycle of accelerated regional and global warming. With this as its motivation, the Northern Eurasian Earth Science Partnership Initiative (NEESPI) was formed in 2004 to better understand and quantify feedbacks between northern …

Understanding Gender Differences In Online Experience And Internet Advertising, Seema Harryginsingh

Honors College Theses

The purposes of this article is to first review the literature on gender differences in advertising then explore areas that are important in today’s online environment including differences in the various areas of online experience and behavior such as shopping, privacy issues, internet usage, use of website, and new media and user generated content considerations. I will also look at online advertising particularly, online video ads and banner ads. I will attempt to show through research that there are differences that exist among the genders, which also translate to the online environment and specifically in the various areas of experience …

A Tissue Engineering Approach To Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Kristofer Sinclair

All Dissertations

Ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are the most frequent of injuries to the knee due to its role in preventing anterior translation of the tibia. It is estimated that as many as 200,000 Americans per year will suffer from a ruptured ACL, resulting in management costs on the order of 5 billion dollars. Without treatment these patients are unable to return to normal activity, as a consequence of the joint instability found within the ACL deficient knee.
Over the last thirty years, a variety of non-degradable, synthetic fibers have been evaluated for their use in ACL reconstruction; however, …

Development Of Strategies For Enhanced In Situ Bioremediation Of High Concentrations Of Halogenated Methanes, Huifeng Shan

All Dissertations

ABSTRACT
Bioremediation of high concentrations of halomethanes e.g., carbon tetrachloride (CT), trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11) and chloroform (CF) has seldom been addressed before and remains highly challenging. A microcosm study was conducted to investigate bioremediation strategies for groundwater contaminated with CT (6 to 10 mg/L), CFC-11 (1 to 26 mg/L), CF (3-500 mg/L), and 1,1-dichloroethene (1,1-DCE; up to 9 mg/L) at a former industrial site in California. Biostimulation with corn syrup and catalytic amounts of vitamin B₁₂ was demonstrated as a feasible remedial strategy and bioaugmentation with B₁₂ represents the most promising bioremediation method of the ones studied. Halomethane transformation …

Agricultural Buffer Criteria For The City Of Arroyo Grande, Laura A. Pennebaker

Master's Theses

The conservation of agricultural land is an important and challenging part of local and regional planning. Prime agricultural soils and viable agricultural operations serve as a vital part of California’s identity and economy. The conversion of land from farming to non-agricultural use significantly increases the potential for conflict between adjoining land uses and intensifies the pressure to develop adjacent farmland. Agricultural buffers serve as a tool to mitigate potential conflict between adjacent non-compatible land uses and protect both farming operations and residents from nuisance complaints. The City of Arroyo Grande has agricultural buffer policies which apply to development taking place …

Genetic Elements Of Microbes: A Comprehensive And Integrated Genomic Database Application, Ashlee Benjamin

Theses

The increasing abundance of genomic data has led to the creation of several databases containing the sequence data, metadata about the sequences and information about the organisms. These data are useful in many areas of biological research. Of the many available databases, few contain a significant amount of genome-associated data. In an effort to create a comprehensive microbial genomes database, the Genetic Elements of Microbes (GEM) database application was created. A K-mer analysis tool was also created and added the GEM application to provide an analysis of sequence composition and potential Lateral Gene Transfer (LGT) identification. The GEM application was …

Pediatric Feeding Problems Related To Tactile Defensiveness: A Case Study, Lauren Maguire

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory, single-subject design study was to introduce to a child with a severe feeding disorder and tactile sensitivity different activities related to food in an attempt to increase the child's acceptance of new foods. After a baseline assessment, the child and his parents participated in a 12-week intervention that included at least one new tactile activity and a selection of new foods the parents identified that they wanted their child to eat. In the process of conducting this study, an underlying medical problem was identified; therefore, halfway through the study, the child began to take medication …

Weight Perception And The Use Of Unhealthy Weight Loss Tactics Among Adults In The United States: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Nhanes Data, 2000-2006., Laura King

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Weight dissatisfaction and misperception are widespread problems in the United States as are unhealthy weight loss practices. These negative body image issues can lead to eating disorders which have serious health and quality of life consequences. Objective: To evaluate the extent to which the prevalence of distorted body image and unhealthy dieting tactics exist in adults in the US and how these are related. Methods: Data from NHANES 2000-20006 on adults aged 20-59 was used. Weight perception was assessed with the physical exam measurements of weight status and the weight history questionnaire item asking if the person considered him …

The Global Financial Meltdown: Is It A Recipe For Disaster To Employee Engagement?, Glen Weaver

Student Scholarship

The global financial crisis of 2007-2009 was particularly devastating to the financial services industry. Poor performance, mergers/acquisitions, and massive layoffs were characteristics of the crisis. For example, Citigroup lost almost $19 billion in 2008 and market capitalization for the top three U.S. banks for the period January 1, 2007 through January 15, 2009 fell $514 billion or 75%. It was reported that since the beginning of the financial crisis in July 2007, banks had shed over 186,000 positions and thousands more remained tenuously employed as banks struggled to sustain themselves in an increasingly volatile environment. Studies during this period reflected …

A Framework For Understanding Participation Among African American Adolescents In The Rochester Step-Off Program: A Foundation For Evidence-Based Strategies To Improve Participation, Roderick L. Jones

Education Doctoral

Out-of-school time programs (OST programs) are effective at improving social-emotional development and academic performance. Much of the literature on out-of school time programs supports the relationship between levels of impact and participation (Durlak & Weissberg, 2007; Lauer, Akiba, Wilkerson, Apthorp, Snow, & Martin-Glenn, 2006). Research suggests that low-income African Americans benefit from out-of school time programs. However, they are less likely to participate than their White and more affluent counterparts (Simpkins, 2003). This study sought to develop a framework for understanding participation among African American adolescents in the Rochester Step-Off Program (RSO) using the Communities That Care Youth Survey. The …

Kennedy And The Tail Of Minos, J. Richardson Broughton

Louisiana Law Review

No abstract provided.

The State Of Mental Health Care In Post-Katrina New Orleans, Heather D'Antonio

Louisiana Law Review

No abstract provided.

A Qualitative Assessment Of College-Students’ Functional Health Literacy: A Case-Study At Syracuse University, Thomas D. Wichman

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This case study of Syracuse University’s health promotion and student health behavior provides data that may be employed to understand and influence future, functional health literacy. Key components of functional health literacy—self efficacy, independence, institutional services, social influences, gender, etc.—rise to the surface, and are the focus of this analysis. This study was approved by the University’s Institutional Review Board for the Fall 2008 term, and received funding through the Crown Wise Scholarship. The research subjects include a convenience sample of 26 full-time, college seniors. The subjects were divided into four focus groups to provide qualitative data on 21 topics …

The Synthesis And Characterization Of Novel Microporous Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Materials, Kelly Whitenack

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Inorganic chemistry is essential to the formulation and improvement of modern materials such as catalysts, semiconductors, optical devices, super conductors, and advanced ceramic materials.¹ New areas of inorganic chemistry are constantly being explored and new and often unusual inorganic compounds are constantly being synthesized and identified.¹ Recently the field of inorganic chemistry has witnessed the synthesis and characterization of microporous metal organic framework compounds (MOFs). Microporous organic/inorganic materials have a wide range of physical properties as well as applications. The physical properties and applications drive the investigation into the synthesis and discovery of new and useful hybrid MOF …

The Effects Of Prenatal Exposure Of Valproic Acid On Cranial Nerve Nuclei: A Rat Model For An Autistic Phenotype, Shannon Pickup

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Autistic spectrum disorder is a term referring to five pervasive developmental disorders characterized by impairment in social interaction, deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication and stereotyped repetitive behaviors and interests. The underlying brain injury that leads to autism is also unknown. The cause is also unknown but appears to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. A study on prenatal thalidomide exposure found patients exposure on days 20-24 of gestation lead to a 1/3 rate of autism, a huge increase from the 1/150 rate of the general population. The thalidomide data suggests the initial injury leading to autism occurs …

Measuring Dose To Small Animals In Micro-Ct, Avi Hameroff

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

An important application of William Röntgen’s discovery of x-rays is computed tomography (CT). First developed in the 1970’s, CT scanners of today are able to provide a detailed image of a patient’s body with minimal risk to patient and a very short turnaround time from scan to reconstructed image. This powerful tool provides physicians another way to diagnose patients while simultaneously allowing for researchers to learn about the human body.

Scientists soon became interested in using the technology on small animals but practical issues plagued the widespread use of CT in preclinical research. The scale of the scanners was simply …

Rational Design And Synthesis Of Multifunctional Nanostructures For Biological And Medicinal Applications, Amy N. Otuonye

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Mobile Composite Material (MCM-41) was modified by the addition of various functional groups, which increase the materials’ efficiency for an assortment of applications. Mesoporous materials have demonstrated to be capable of adsorbing and releasing of model drug molecules, rhodamine 6G and ibuprofen. Mesoporous silica materials functionalized with mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTS), vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTS), aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTS), and N-(2-animoethyl)-3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (AAPTS) were used to test the adsorption and release of rhodamine 6G (R6G) and ibuprofen. The vinyl and mercaptopropyl groups adsorbed and released more rhodamine 6G than the primary and secondary amine groups. The adsorption and release of ibuprofen was the opposite of the R6G …

Native American Elementary Education In The Syracuse City School District: A Microcosm Of The Native American Struggle For Self-Determination And Tribal Sovereignty, Margaret Eleni Mcweeney

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This intent of this paper is to research Native American education in theSyracuseCitySchool District. This paper examines the relationship of the Onondaga Nation and the New York State Department of Education. The Onondaga Nation is a Native American Nation that neighbors the City ofSyracuse. The Nation is one of a Confederacy of Six Native American Nations inNew YorkStatecalled the Haudenosaunee.

Native American students across theUnited Stateshave extremely low graduation rates in city public schools. The Onondaga Nation attributes this to policies of marginalization and insensitive curriculum materials in public school. Many theories have been proposed that minority students often suffer …

Evolutionary Mating Traits: When Costly Signals Emerge, David Taube

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This study investigated whether different romantic contexts would influence one’s willingness to engage in blatant benevolence or conspicuous consumption. Participants – 341 college-age students – were recruited to read written stimulus materials about interpersonal encounters with a person of the opposite sex. Each participant was then asked to respond to questionnaires, which led to atypical results in how men and women interpret ambiguous cues. Contrary to previous findings, evidence suggested women more readily wish to use costly signals in response to ambiguous romantic cues in evolving relationships as compared to men, who showed no distinction between non-romantic and ambiguously romantic …

Earmstrong, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Armstrong News & Publications: e-Armstrong Newsletter (Archived)

No abstract provided.

Au Courant - May 2009, Barbara Tuck

Au Courant

Newsletter of the Thomas G. Carpenter Library

Generation Of An Fsh Inducible Inh-[Alpha]-Flag-Gg-Icer I[Gamma] Ovarian Specific Gene Construct, Goce Bogdanoski

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Avian animal models have led to many essential discoveries in molecular biology and biochemistry, including the discovery of vitamins, the chemistry behind vision and the development of transgenic hens as natural bioreactors for pharmaceutically relevant proteins. Hyperovulation in domesticated hens is considered a highly desirable genetic trait, a feature that has been explored in multiple studies and remains the focus of many biotech companies. Unlocking the molecular mechanism that controls ovulation may provide a basis for development in new reproductive technologies.

Previous research done on rodents provided data and identified a single transcription factor, the Inducible cAMP Early Repressor (ICER), …

The Role Of Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3-Beta In Interferon Beta Biology., Huizhi Wang 1975-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It has been shown that GSK3 ß plays a critical role in the inflammation response by differentially regulating MyD88-dependent pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines production in TLR4-stimulated innate immune cells. The work included in this dissertation demonstrates that (I) GSK3ß negatively regulates the production of the TLR4 dependent and MyD88-independent cytokine, IFN ß, by controlling the levels of total c-Jun and thereby modulating the amount of c-Jun /ATF2 complexes, and (II) that IFN ß induces IL-10 in dendritic cells by regulating GSK3 ß activity. Part I: TLR4 stimulation of macrophages has been shown to induce the production of interferon-ß (IFN-ß) via …

2009 June-Newsletter, Nancy Rockey

Life Renewal Archive

No abstract provided.

Correlates Of Soy Food Consumption In Adventist Health Study-2, Yen Ang

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Much has been discussed about the health benefits and risks of soy consumption but very little is known about who the consumers are. Most of what is known has been observed mainly in Asian populations who consume high levels of soy. Very little is known about soy food intake in the western population who typically has low consumption level. The Seventh-Day Adventist cohort in North America is the only population known in the West with soy food intake that is comparable to the Asian population living in the East.

Soy consumers in a population known for its healthier lifestyle and …

The Role Of Metnase In Dna Replication Fork Stress Response And Dna Damage, Leyma Pérez De Haro

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Metnase is a recently evolved human protein with methylase (SET) and nuclease domains that is widely expressed, especially in proliferating tissues. Metnase promotes plasmid and viral DNA integration, and through an interaction with topoisomerase IIα (TopoIIα) it promotes chromosome decatenation. Metnase interacts with DNA ligase IV, promotes non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), and repression causes mild hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation. TopoIIα has a proposed role in relaxing positive supercoils in front of replication forks. NHEJ factors have been implicated in the replication stress response. Here we show that Metnase promotes cell proliferation, but does not affect replication fork elongation as measured by …