Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Pd149163 On Medial Prefrontal Cortical Dopamine Release In Rats, Amber L. Lacrosse

All NMU Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Mood And Empathy On The Perception Of Emotion In Photographic Faces, Justin P. Madigan

All NMU Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Discriminative Stimulus Properties Of Pd149163, Candice J. Schuck

All NMU Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Non-Invasive Genetic Sampling In The Analysis Of White-Tailed Deer Population Characteristics, Grant Montgomery Slusher

All NMU Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Genetically Engineering Crops For A Sustainable Agriculture, David E. Ervin, Rick Welsh

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The article examines the role of genetically engineered (GE) crops in fostering a more sustainable agriculture. An overview of the National Academy of Sciences metal study of the impacts of GE crops on farm sustainability in the U.S. is given. The two types of GE crops are discussed, one which produces its own insecticide called insect resistant (IR) crops and the other is engineered to resist particular herbicides. An explanation for sustainable agriculture is also presented.

High Throughput Quantification Of N-Glycans Using One-Pot Sialic Acid Modification And Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry, Geun-Cheol Gil, Bryce Iliff, Ron Cerny, William H. Velander, Kevin E. Van Cott

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Appropriate glycosylation of recombinant therapeutic glycoproteins has been emphasized in biopharmaceutical industries because the carbohydrate component can affect safety, efficacy, and consistency of the glycoproteins. Reliable quantification methods are essential to ensure consistency of their products with respect to glycosylation, particularly sialylation. Mass spectrometry (MS) has become a popular tool to analyze glycan profiles and structures, showing high resolution and sensitivity with structure identification ability. However, quantification of sialylated glycans using MS is not as reliable because of the different ionization efficiency between neutral and acidic glycans. We report here that amidation in mild acidic conditions can be used to …

Preparation And Characterization Of Lyophilized Cyclodextrin Complexes Of A Hemisuccinate Ester Of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol For Transmucosal Delivery, Sampada Bhaskar Upadhye

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Delta-9- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary active ingredient of the plant Cannabis sativa (marijuana), responsible for the majority of the pharmacological effects. The most promising clinical applications of THC approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are for the control of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and for appetite stimulation of AIDS patients suffering from anorexia and wasting syndrome. The only dosage form currently approved by FDA is an oral, soft gelatin capsule (e.g. Marinol®). In addition, orally administered THC from Marinol® has shown slow and variable absorption due to low oral solubility and first pass metabolism. Our …

Response Of Deer To Containment By A Poly-Mesh Fence For Mitigating Disease Outbreaks, Michael J. Lavelle, Justin W. Fischer, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Joshua J. White, Aaron M. Hildreth, Gregory E. Phillips, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rapidly deployable and effective methods are needed to contain free-ranging deer (Odocoileus spp.) during acute disease outbreaks. We evaluated efficacy of a 2.1-m-tall polypropylene mesh (poly-mesh) fence for containing ≥15 free-ranging white-tailed deer (O. virginianus) within a 42-ha area in eastern Nebraska, USA. We observed a 99% decrease in deer leaving the enclosure area after we installed fencing (1 deer jumped; 0.02 deer/hr) compared with prefence rates (5.26 deer/hr). However, 8 deer (53% of censused population) escaped the enclosure during a census drive after our study. Poly-mesh fencing may be effective in temporarily containing free-ranging deer during …

Multi-Year Fertility Reduction In Free-Roaming Feral Horses With Single-Injection Immunocontraceptive Formulations, Meeghan E. Gray, David S. Thain, Elissa Z. Cameron, Lowell A. Miller

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Context. Contraception is increasingly used as a management technique to reduce fertility in wildlife populations; however, the feasibility of contraceptive formulations has been limited until recently because they have required multiple treatments to achieve prolonged infertility.

Aims. We tested the efficacy and evaluated potential side effects of two contraceptive formulations, a porcine zona pellucida (PZP) formulation, SpayVac^® and a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) formulation GonaCon-B™, in a population of free-roaming feral horses (Equus caballus). Both formulations were developed to provide several years of infertility with one injection.

Methods. Females were treated in June 2005 with …

Cliff Swallows, Swallow Bugs, And West Nile Virus: An Unlikely Transmission Mechanism, Paul T. Oesterle, Nicole M. Nemeth, Ginger Young, Nicole Mooers, Stacey Elmore, Richard Bowen, Paul Doherty, Jeffrey Hall, Robert Mclean, Larry Clark

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) could play an important role in the transmission of West Nile virus (WNV) because of its breeding ecology, reservoir competence status, and potentially high natural exposure rates. Cliff swallows nest within colonies and their nests are occupied year-round by swallow bugs (Oeciacus vicarius), hematophagus ectoparasites that feed primarily on cliff swallows. These parasites are likely exposed to WNV while feeding on infectious blood of nesting cliff swallow adults and nestlings and thus, if competent vectors, could contribute to seasonal elevations in WNV transmission. In addition, swallow bugs remain within nests year-round …

Habitat Succession, Hardwood Encroachment And Raccoons As Limiting Factors For Lower Keys Marsh Rabbits, Paige M. Schmidt, Robert A. Mccleery, Roel R. Lopez, Nova J. Silvy, Jason A. Schmidt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The Lower Keys marsh rabbit (LKMR, Sylvilagus palustris hefneri), a marsh rabbit subspecies endemic to the Lower Keys, Florida was protected in 1990, however, populations continue to decline despite recovery efforts. We hypothesized on-going habitat loss and fragmentation due to succession and hardwood encroachment has led to increased edge, reduced habitat quality, and increased activity by native raccoons (Procyon lotor). These factors reduce the suitability of patches in a later successional state, thus threatening LKMR recovery and metapopulation persistence. We surveyed 150 LKMR patches in 2008, tallying adult and juvenile rabbit pellets, estimating measures of habitat succession …

Accounting For Individuals, Uncertainty, And Multiscale Clustering In Core Area Estimation, Ryan R. Wilson, Mevin B. Hooten, Bradley N. Strobel, John Shivik

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Core areas are important descriptors of animal space-use patterns, but current estimation methods rely on arbitrary rules and potentially lead to imprecise or erroneous area estimates. We proposed a Bayesian statistical model that incorporates an individual-based method for estimating core area boundaries. The model accounts for boundary uncertainty and multiple scales of clustering by partitioning a home range into ≥2 completely spatially random point patterns defined by a kernel density isopleth. We used data from coyotes (Canis latrans), bobcats (Lynx rufus), and red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus) to estimate core areas for individual animals. We …

Assessment Of Abilities Of White-Tailed Deer To Jump Fences, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Timothy R. Vandeelen, Michael J. Lavelle, Wayne Hall

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

There is a need for insight into fence heights required for impeding white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We evaluated the ability of wild-caught deer to jump progressively taller fences and documented deterrence rates of 0% for fences ≤1.5 m followed by increasing deterrence rates of 14% at 1.8 m, 85% at 2.1 m, and 100% at 2.4 m. We documented 100% deterrence rates during 5 additional experiments with different deer and the test fence at 2.4 m, a common height of fences at captive deer facilities. Our results will be valuable to those managing spread of wildlife diseases, deer–vehicle …

Identifying Effective Attractants And Rodenticide Baits For Gambian Giant Pouched Rats, Gary W. Witmer, Nathan P. Snow, Rachael Piergross

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Following the escape of 8 Gambian giant pouched rats (Gambian rats) from an exotic pet breeder in 1999, Gambian rats became an established invasive species that persists in the wild on Grassy Key, Florida. Because of their large body size, the free-ranging Gambian rats pose a serious threat to native species and agricultural crops, especially if they find their way into mainland Florida. Initiated in 2005, the USDA Wildlife Services has been conducting an eradication and detection program in the Florida Keys. Today however, detecting, baiting, trapping, and removing the now sparse population of Gambian rats are proving difficult. Therefore, …

Assessment Of Education For Sustainable Development In Universities In Costa Rica: Implications For Latin America And The Caribbean, Jairo H. Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

Higher Education is a key factor for social change influencing future decision-makers in business, education, politics and science. As such, sustainable development requires creating awareness amongst these decision-makers of their responsibilities and opportunities in this area. Higher education for sustainable development is championed in developed countries, but in developing countries it is just beginning to become an element of interest for the international community. The purpose of this study was to perform an assessment of the extent to which universities in Costa Rica are including education for sustainable development in their programs and curriculum, research and scholarship, faculty and staff …

Indian Psychology: The Connection Between Mind, Body, And The Universe, Sandeep Atwal

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to devise a mode of treatment that would be helpful when clinically working with the East Indian community. A theoretical orientation of Indian psychology was describes using the principles found in various Hindu scriptures. The scriptures show that an unbalance and a disconnection from the true self causes psychological problems and as the individual comes in contact with the true self the psychological problems are eliminated. Different theories for understanding the human psyche are used to describe this process: the triguna theory, the kosha theory, Ayurveda, and Patanjali's Yoga. These different theories work together …

Positive Psychology And The Jewish Holiday Calendar: A Resource Manual For Small Groups, Tami Krichiver

Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates the Jewish community could benefit from additional resources aimed at supporting the psychospiritual needs of community members. While clergy and mental health professionals often collaborate to address these needs, there is no model that utilizes psychologists in a non-clinical setting for the purpose of integrating common positive psychology and spiritual concepts. The literature reveals many commonalities between positive psychology strengths and Jewish holiday themes. The purpose of this study was to develop a resource manual for psychologists and rabbis. The primary aims of the manual were to (a) utilize positive psychology to enhance psychospiritual development within the Jewish …

Epistemology Of The Prophet : A Queer Reading Of Flannery O'Connor's Wise Blood / Jordan Youngblood, Jordan Youngblood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Are Black Bears Declining In Montana? Inference From Multiple Data Sources In The Face Of Uncertainty, Julie Ann Beston

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Carnivores are managed both to maintain populations and reduce conflict with humans, but data-based decision-making is difficult due to the expense of data collection. When new fieldwork is impossible, we can benefit from available data in assessing populations. I used demographic and harvest data to assess the population status of black bears (Ursus americanus) in Montana.

I conducted a hierarchical Bayesian meta-analysis of black bear demographic studies to evaluate geographic structuring and estimate vital rates and population growth rate. Adult survival is higher in the west than the east, but the reverse is true for fecundity. The mean …

Causes And Consequences Of Prolonged Dormancy: Why Stay Belowground?, Jennifer R. Gremer

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Prolonged dormancy is a stage in which mature plants fail to resprout during the growing season and instead remain alive belowground. Though it is relatively common, the causes and consequences of this intriguing stage have remained elusive. In this dissertation, I investigate the causes and consequences of prolonged dormancy in a long lived perennial herb, Astragalus scaphoides.

First, I use a combination of demography and ecophysiology to study the proximate mechanisms associated with prolonged dormancy. Analysis of a long-term demographic dataset indicates that both endogenous factors (e.g. age, condition, and history) and exogenous factors (e.g. climate and spatial variation) are …

Post-Course Environmental Behavior Change Of Wild Rockies Field Institute Participants, Theodore Rosenberger Morrison

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

In light of the environmental crisis facing the world, the need for citizens to behave in an environmentally responsible manner is critical to finding lasting solutions. After conducting and analyzing 20 in-depth interviews with alumni of the Wild Rockies Field Institute (WRFI), this study found that despite elevated pre-course levels of environmentally responsible behavior most participants reported an increased level of post course environmental behavior change. Post-course impacts ranged from a change of, or further investment in academic and career goals, lifestyle choices, empowerment, ethical development and political activity. Participants reported these outcomes were influenced by a variety of course …

The Influence Of Hydrogen Peroxide On The Static And Fatigue Properties Of Palacos-R Bone Cement, John M. Guerin

Theses

Aseptic loosening is a very costly complication of joint arthroplasty, both in terms of patient quality of life and financially. One potential contributing factor in its development - namely the use of hydrogen peroxide as an effervescent haemostatic agent - was investigated in this study. Clean bone cement samples and samples contaminated with 6% hydrogen peroxide were manufactured and stored either in room air or normal saline prior to testing. Thus four sample types were tested (clean stored wet or dry and contaminated stored wet or dry). Static (tension to failure) and fatigue testing was performed. Analysis was carried out …

The Difference Difference Might Make, Lynn M. Chrenka

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

No abstract provided.

Teacher As Leader In A "Flat World": Preparing Students In A Global Community, Anne Burke

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

No abstract provided.

Making Good Writing A Team Sport, Gregory Shafer

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

No abstract provided.

Detection And Molecular Characterisation Of Rotavirus, Adenovirus And Bocavirus Circulating In Southern Ireland, Olivia Cashman

Theses

This study reports the detection and molecular characterisation of group A rotavirus circulating in the south of Ireland in both the bovine and human population. Characterisation of the group A rotavirus was carried out through the extraction of viral nucleic acid in faecal specimens collected from hospitals in the Cork and Waterford area and Cork regional veterinary laboratory from 2006-2009. Other gastroenteritis viruses characterised during this study include adenovirus type 41, and the newly identified gastrointestinal virus, human bocavirus, which was identified for the first time in Ireland during this study. The human bocaviruses identified in children in the south …

The Changing Face Of Print Media : How New Attitudes To Communication By Both Industries Could Affect Public Relations., Paul Kennedy

Theses

Digital media is a phenomenon that has affected many industries, particularly both print media and public relations. Communication is something is at the heart of both of these industries. In this thesis, communication theory is explored in a digital media and print newspaper context, in relation to these industries. It is explored how both industries are using similar techniques, and the merit of these approaches are investigated and discussed. Included in this are the value of new news outlets and new and old business models. Opinions on modem media relations are investigated and the weight of third- party endorsement is …

Class Dismissed: Contemporary Judicial Hostility To Small-Claims Consumer Class Actions, Myriam E. Gilles

Articles

I start from the view that small-value consumer claims are a primary reason that class actions exist, and that without class actions many - if not most - of the wrongs perpetrated upon small-claims consumers would not be capable of redress. It would then seem to follow that the class action device should be readily available in small-claims consumer cases. And yet, over the past decade, federal district courts have repeatedly declined to certify class actions on grounds that are specific to small-claims consumer cases. Foremost among those grounds is the notion that the federal class action rule carries within …

Identification And Molecular Characterisation Of Mycobacteriophages And Their Lysis Proteins, Marine Henry

Theses

Given their potential as specific and natural biocontrol agents, bacteriophages and their associated proteins have become the focus of renewed interest over the last decade. This study reviews the current state of mycobacterial diseases control worldwide and presents how phage therapy and the production of recombinant bacteriophage lysis proteins can be applied as novel biocontrol strategies for mycobacteria.

Chapter 11 presents an overview of the predicted LysA and LysB proteins in all the mycobacteriophages sequenced to date and proposes an in silico 3D predictive model of the lysin B of a recently isolated and characterised mycobacteriophage. Our data also confirms …

The Rapid Identification Of Novel Anti-Mycobacterial Drugs And The Transporters Involved In Their Resistance, James Carroll

Theses

Despite the success of anti-mycobacterial drugs over the past 70 years, mycobacterial disease, particularly tuberculosis is still responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. Additionally, the emergence of Multidrug Resistant (MDR-TB) and Extensively Drug Resistant (XDR-TB) Tuberculosis throughout the world has motivated calls by the World Health Organization for novel mycobacterial drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tests. Consequently, this study sought to identify and evaluate the efficacy of a range of anti-mycobacterial compounds against a representative cohort of pathogenic mycobacterial species. The development and employment of the rapid, robust and inexpensive microtitre alamarBlue assay (MABA) facilitated the assessment of a vast array …