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Life History Of Silver Perch Bairdiella Chrysoura (Lacepède, 1803) In North-Central Gulf Of Mexico Estuaries, Gretchen L. Grammer, Nancy J. Brown-Peterson, Mark S. Peterson, Bruce H. Comyns

Gulf of Mexico Science

Silver perch, Bairdiella chrysoura (Lacepède) [n = 485, 70.0–171.0 mm standard length (SL)] were collected from April 2002 through June 2003 in estuaries along the coast of Mississippi to quantify their life history. Ages estimated from sagittal otoliths ranged from 0 to 4 yr. Adult females were significantly longer and heavier than males at a given age. Silver perch became sexually mature at the end of their first year of life (0 yr), with 50% sexual maturity of the population occurring in the 91–95 mm SL size class. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) values for females began to increase in January and …

Growth And Reproduction Of Ruppia Maritima In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Tamara M. Mcgovern

Gulf of Mexico Science

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) is an important component of many marine ecosystems, but SAV populations have been declining worldwide in recent years. These declines demonstrate the importance of understanding the basic population dynamics (e.g., patterns of growth, reproduction, and recruitment) of SAV species. In this study, I present baseline data on population dynamics for Ruppia maritima in the northern Gulf of Mexico. I documented patterns of growth and biomass allocation, allocation to reproduction, and seed density in the sediment at two depths within four sites near Mobile Bay. There was significant heterogeneity in patterns of biomass allocation, reproductive output, and …

Species Composition And Seasonality Of The Smallest Size Class Of Shrimp In The Tortugas Fishery Of Florida, Maria M. Criales, Joan A. Browder, Edward J. Little Jr.

Gulf of Mexico Science

Shrimps from the smallest commercial size class (68 or more heads-off shrimp per 454 g) were analyzed from samples collected at the Tortugas fishing grounds from March 2002 through March 2004. Pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum and yellow roughneck shrimp Rimapenaeus similis occurred together in 90% of the samples, comprising 65.4% and 27.2% of individuals, respectively. Estimates of the proportion and seasonality of both species in the shrimp samples were combined with an analysis of the smallest size class in the Tortugas landings data. Our analysis suggested that yellow roughneck shrimp make up 23.6% by number of the smallest shrimp catch …

Changes In Phytoplankton And Bacterioplankton Biomass And Rate Processes In Apalachicola Bay, Florida, In Response To Reduction In River Discharge, Jennifer N. Putland, Behzad Mortazavi, Richard L. Iverson

Gulf of Mexico Science

Bacterioplankton abundance and chlorophyll concentration and the factors that control them (temperature, nutrient concentrations, and rates of growth, grazing, and export) were studied in Apalachicola Bay, FL, during two summers with contrasting river discharge. A reduction in river discharge from the summer of 2003 (S03) to the summer of 2004 (S04) led to a reduction in estuarine concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and rates of export, phytoplankton and bacterioplankton growth, and microzooplankton grazing on phytoplankton and bacterioplankton. Bacterioplankton abundance and chlorophyll concentration during S03 were not significantly different from those during S04. Neither the growth rates and abundances of ciliates …

Rapid Regeneration Of The Body Wall Of The Aboral Central Disc In The Sea Star Luidia Clathrata, Julie B. Schram, James B. Mcclintock

Gulf of Mexico Science

No abstract provided.

Formal And Informal Environmental Education Of The Northern Gulf Of Mexico: Ocean Zones And Life Styles, Center For Science And Mathematics Education

Teacher Resource Documents

No abstract provided.

Formal And Informal Environmental Education Of The Northern Gulf Of Mexico: Coastal Habitats, Center For Science And Mathematics Education

Teacher Resource Documents

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Concurrent Disturbances On Plant Community Dynamics In Northern Hemlock-Hardwood Forests, Stacie A. Holmes

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Throughout the Upper Great Lakes region, alterations to historic disturbance regimes have influenced plant community dynamics in hemlock-hardwood forests. Several important mesic forest species, eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), and Canada yew (Taxus canadensis), are in decline due to exploitive logging practices used at the turn of the 20th century and the wave of intense fires that followed. Continued regeneration and recruitment failure is attributed to contemporary forest management practices and overbrowsing by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Therefore, I examined the influence …

Screening, Optimization And Extraction Of Polyhydroxyalkanoates And Peptidoglycan From Bacillus Megaterium, Louis Paul-Anthony Paladino

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Bioplastics are polymers (such as polyesters) produced from bacterial fermentations that are biodegradable and nonhazardous. They are produced by a wide variety of bacteria and are made only when stress conditions allow, such as when nutrient levels are low, more specifically levels of nitrogen and oxygen. These stress conditions cause certain bacteria to build up excess carbon deposits as energy reserves in the form of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). PHAs can be extracted and formed into actual plastic with the same strength of conventional, synthetic-based plastics without the need to rely on foreign petroleum.

The overall goal of this project was to …

Engineering Research 2009, College Of Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Michigan Tech Engineering Magazine

Table of Contents

• Health Science
• Energy
• Air & Water
• Sensing & Imaging
• Engineered Materials
• People
• Research Centers & Institutes

The Primacy Of Consciousness: A Triple Aspect Ontology, Joseph Naimo

Philosophy Books

Consciousness – What is it? How does it arise? These are perhaps the two most perplexing questions on the minds of researchers extending across a broad spectrum of disciplinary enquiry. Consider the interested disciplines of cognitive science notably psychology, philosophy, linguistics, quantum mechanics, artificial intelligence and the neurosciences. Cognitive science is the study of intelligence and intelligent systems. Cognitive science attempts to organize and unify views of thought as developed within these distinct disciplines (Sheedy & Chapman, 1995:ix). The concept of consciousness is in one sense readily recognized, putatively held to be that which makes humans different from the rest …

The Leading Object: February 2009, John C. Owens

Leading Object

Perspectives;Students see diverse agricultural climate during visit to Tasmania;Josiah receives prestigious partnership award;College years convince Stone to work in agriculture;New doctor of plant health program is for practitioners; Skipton, Clemente honored with Omtvedt Innovation Awards;Omega Eggs in ‘Shape’ magazine;Gibson receives March Kudo award;Exemplary Service Award goes to Wit;Weiss in India on Fulbright

Can We Engineer Our Way To Good Health?, Russell T. Carr

The University Dialogue

No abstract provided.

When You Walk, Do You Feel Like You Are Dancing?, Deborah A. Kinghorn

The University Dialogue

No abstract provided.

Current And Potential Distributions Of Three Non-Native Invasive Plants In The Contiguous Usa, Chad C. Jones, Sarah Reichard

Botany Faculty Publications

Biological invasions pose a serious threat to biodiversity, but monitoring for invasive species is time consuming and costly. Understanding where species have the potential to invade enables land managers to focus monitoring efforts. In this paper, we compared two simple types of models to predict the potential distributions of three non-native invasive plants (Geranium robertianum, Hedera spp., and Ilex aquifolium) in the contiguous USA. We developed models based on the climatic requirements of the species as reported in the literature (literature-based) and simple climate envelope models based on the climate where the species already occur (observation-based). We then compared the …

Dispersal And Establishment Both Limit Colonization During Primary Succession On A Glacier Foreland, Chad C. Jones, Roger Del Moral

Botany Faculty Publications

Plant colonization can be limited by lack of seeds or by factors that reduce establishment. The role of seed limitation in community assembly is being increasingly recognized, but in early primary succession, establishment failure is still considered more important. We studied the factors limiting colonization on the foreland of Coleman Glacier, Washington, USA to determine the importance of seed and establishment limitation during primary succession. We also evaluated the effects of seed predation, drought and existing vegetation on establishment. We planted seeds of seven species into plots of four different ages and found evidence that both seed and establishment limitation …

The Antidiscrimination Paradox: Why Sex Before Race?, Kimberly A. Yuracko

Faculty Working Papers

This paper seeks to explain a paradox: Why does Title VII's prohibition on sex discrimination currently look so much more expansive than its prohibition on race discrimination? Why in particular, do workers appear to be receiving greater protection for expressions of gender identity than for expressions of racial identity? I argue that as a doctrinal matter, the paradox is illusory—the product of a fundamental misinterpretation of recent sex discrimination case law by scholars. Rather than reflecting fundamentally distinct antidiscrimination principles, the race and sex cases in fact reflect the same traditional commitments to ending status discrimination and undermining group-based subordination. …

The Foreclosure Crisis And The Anti-Fragmentation Principle In State Property Law, David A. Dana

Faculty Working Papers

Secured credit in homes has been divided and over-divided and spun into so many separate interests that economically rational, socially beneficial modifications of loans are impossible. The mortgage story is a new one but the excessive fragmentation of property and the creation of waste and inefficiency is not new. And our legal tradition of state property law has an answer, in the form of an anti-fragmentation principle. Consistent with this principle, federal government trustees should be authorized to review mortgages and, where modification would yield greater total return than foreclosure, modify the loans. Blind trustee review, moreover, can be achieved …

Does Frequency Of Intoxication Exacerbate The Mental Healthconsequences Of Relationship Violence?, Lauren Michelle Kaplan

Open Access Theses

Although numerous studies have documented the consequences of victimization on psychological distress, few have directly examined potential moderators of this association. Using data from the Welfare, Children, and Families project (1999-2001), a probability sample of 2,402 low-income women with children living in low-income neighborhoods in Boston, Chicago, and San Antonio, I predict psychological distress with measures of physical assault and sexual coercion before age 18 and psychological aggression, sexual coercion, and minor and severe physical assault in the past year. I also test the moderating influence of alcohol consumption. Cross-sectional results suggest that the effects of sexual coercion before age …

Swordfish Vertical Distribution And Recreational Fishery In The Florida Straits, Justin D. Lerner

Open Access Theses

This thesis is composed of two studies: (1) an assessment of the vertical habitat use of swordfish Xiphias gladius in the Florida Straits; and (2) a systematic description of the southeast Florida recreational swordfish fishery. First, the vertical distribution of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) was assessed in relation to diel cycles and lunar phase from data gathered utilizing popup satellite archival tags (PSATs). Seven tags were deployed in the Florida Straits during this study from recreational and commercial fishing vessels; two fish died shortly after deployment, and the remaining five were included in the analysis. Tags were deployed for periods ranging …

The Effects Of Fruit And Vegetable Extracts On Surrogate Endpoint Biomarkers In Curatively Treated Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients, Daniel Munoz

Open Access Theses

Dietary factors have been implicated in the risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Much interest has been placed upon the effects of suspected chemopreventative agents found in fruit and vegetables associated with low HNSCC risk. However, studies investigating specific uptake of these agents have failed to show positive results. The possibility exists that single chemopreventative agents fail to provide the same beneficial effect as the various compounds found in a fruits and vegetables is examined. Curatively treated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients ingested Juice Plus, a F&V extract supplement containing multiple chemopreventative agents, for 12 …

A Model For Management Aboard Medium And High Endurance Coast Guard Cutters, Michael Stewart

Open Access Theses

Increased DHS mission requirements in a post 911 operating environment and federal mandates requiring measurable results dictate commanders of USCG Cutters and the chain of command employ the most efficient management mechanisms to best utilize scarce resources. United States Coast Guard Cutters have been challenged in a multi-mission environment to meet requirements including search and rescue, law enforcement, fisheries management, recreational boating safety, hurricane avoidance and response, and homeland security missions. The Commanding officers of U.S. Coast Guard Cutters are consummate process owners that require the most efficient and dynamic management model to best meet internal and external customers in …

Papaya Whip, Daniel P. Dickinson

Open Access Theses

Papaya Whip is an original composition for orchestra in one movement. The accompanying paper discusses the evolution of the piece followed by an analysis of the work in relation to temporal structure, pitch structure, and orchestration. The paper concludes with a discussion of implications and future projects.

The Hom-School, Malik Benjamin

Open Access Theses

During the second half of the 20th century, there was an epic deterioration of the urban fabric of the typical American neighborhood. Starting with the fleeing of city dwellers into the outskirts of suburbia in the 1950s and the exodus of commercial institutions in the 1970s, neighborhood sprawl hit its stride with the elimination of the neighborhood school in the 1980s. With this community-defining component being replaced by giant, remote educational facilities, the American neighborhood was finally a shell of its former self. If the neighborhood represents the cell, then the home represents the nucleus. In 2003, 1.1 million children …

Use Of Gallery And Non-Gallery Forest By Ungulates Inhabiting The Loma Mountains Non-Hunting Forest Reserve, Sierra Leone, West Africa, Aaron Peter Kortenhoven

Open Access Theses

This 11-month study examined rates of encountering dung pellet groups, dung piles and ungulates in gallery forests and non-gallery forests during diurnal surveys in the Loma Mountains Non-Hunting Forest Reserve (LMNHFR) in Sierra Leone, West Africa. These indices of relative abundance were then used to infer relative habitat use by the seven ungulate species on which data were collected. This study also examined the differences in rates of encountering duikers during nocturnal surveys with rates of encountering duikers during diurnal surveys to determine which time of day produces higher rates of encounter, and thereby a more accurate estimate of duiker …

The Chondrogenesis Of Pdls By Dynamic Unconfined Compression Is Dependent On P42/44 And Not P38 Or Jnk, Jason Ronald Fritz

Open Access Theses

Articular cartilage lines the surfaces of load bearing joints and has limited capabilities for self-repair due to its alymphatic and avascular structure. Attempts at making repairs to this tissue has resulted in substandard materials and/or causing further injury to the patient making this tissue a prime candidate for tissue engineering studies incorporating adult stem cells. These studies have given rise to some answers and many more questions including a search for alternative stem cell sources and what biochemical changes the cells undergo during the differentiation of these stem cells into chondrocytes, the cells which make up articular cartilage. Recently, periodontal …

Pharmacogenomics Of The Intraocular Pressure Response To Glucocorticoids, Sabrina Gerzenstein

Open Access Theses

Glucocorticoids (GCs) have been widely used as a therapeutic agent for diverse inflammatory ocular diseases. However, a high percentage of patients undergoing this treatment develop high intraocular pressure (IOP), which if left unsupervised may lead to glaucoma. It is believed that the IOP elevation in response to GC treatment has a genetic determinant. In order to test this hypothesis, we analyzed in 52 patients the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the glucocorticoid receptor gene (GR), the principal mediator of GCs uptake by the cells. We studied six GR SNPs previously reported to be associated with sensitivity and resistance …

Geometric Tolerancing Of Cylindricity Utilizing Support Vector Regression, Keun J. Lee

Open Access Theses

In the age where quick turn around time and high speed manufacturing methods are becoming more important, quality assurance is a consistent bottleneck in production. With the development of cheap and fast computer hardware, it has become viable to use machine vision for the collection of data points from a machined part. The generation of these large sample points have necessitated a need for a comprehensive algorithm that will be able to provide accurate results while being computationally efficient. Current established methods are least-squares (LSQ) and non-linear programming (NLP). The LSQ method is often deemed too inaccurate and is prone …

Estimating The Differential Costs Of Criminal Activity For Juvenile Drug Court Participants: Challenges And Recommendations, Kathryn E. Mccollister, Michael T. French, Ashli J. Sheidow, Scott W. Henggeler, Colleen Halliday-Boykins

Sociology Faculty Articles and Papers

Juvenile drug court (JDC) programs have expanded rapidly over the past 20 years and are an increasingly popular option for rehabilitating juvenile offenders with substance use problems. Given the high cost of crime to society, an important economic question is whether and to what extent JDC programs reduce criminal activity among juvenile offenders. To address this question, the present study added an economic cost analysis to an ongoing randomized trial of JDC conducted in Charleston, South Carolina. Four treatment conditions were included in the parent study: Family Court with usual community-based treatment (FC, the comparison group), Drug Court with usual …

Purple Patcher 2009, College Of The Holy Cross

Purple Patcher Yearbook

This is a digitized version of the 2009 Purple Patcher. Physical copies of the Purple Patcher are held by the College of the Holy Cross Archives.