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Predicting Species Composition In An Eastern Hardwood Forest With The Use Of Digitally Derived Terrain Variables, Richard D. Flanigan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis addresses the need for improved classification of remotely sensed imagery in the complex hardwood forests of West Virginia. A geographic information system (GIS) was used in conjunction with forest plot data to develop a model to predict species composition in the eastern hardwood forest of West Virginia. The study area was located on the West Virginia University Research Forest (WVURF) in northern West Virginia. Terrain variables including aspect, curvature and slope change drastically at a local scale within the forest to greatly influence species composition. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data was collected for the entire WVURF, which …

Bat Use Of Created And Natural Wetlands, Marcia L. Maslonek

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Compensatory wetland mitigation is a common practice to account for wetland losses due to dredging and filling under the Clean Water Act, but successful replacement of function is rarely achieved. Small, isolated wetlands also receive no federal protection, and are usually not included in accounts of losses. Although latest reports show an increase in wetlands for the first time, this is due in large part to voluntary construction of open water ponds, while the loss of freshwater emergent wetlands continues to decline. Research on the wildlife functions of wetlands has focused on plants, invertebrates, avian or amphibian species. But wetlands …

The Effect Of Omega-3 Enhanced Fish Consumption On C-Reactive Protein Levels In Post-Menopausal Women, Megan Moran

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Heart disease is the leading killer of women in the United States, and the risk is 2--3 times greater in post-menopausal than pre-menopausal women. C-Reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory marker that has been identified as a risk factor for heart disease. The objective of this study was to determine if increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, known for their anti-inflammatory properties, reduced CRP levels in post-menopausal women. A sample of 29 women was recruited to participate in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups, experimental and control. The women were instructed to follow a heart healthy diet …

Sex Differences In The Myocardial Response To Prenatal And Behavioral Stress, Heather Rose Mullenax

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Prenatal stress (PS) has been shown to exert profound effects on many organs in a variety of species. There is considerable evidence for sex-specific effects of prenatal stress. Our laboratory is the first to report effects of prenatal stress on myocardial function in male rats. The purpose of this study was to confirm our previous evidence of differences in myocardial function among prenatally stressed male and female rats and to explore possible mechanisms responsible for this difference. In this study, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to prenatal stress (mother was stressed on day 14--21 of gestation) followed by …

Satisfaction Of Contract Poultry Producers In Virginia And West Virginia, Christina L. Richmond

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigated the satisfaction of contract poultry producers in West Virginia and Virginia using a mailed questionnaire. Producers were asked to provide feedback on their company, income, debt load and grower relations. Producers indicated they were satisfied with their business decision to raise contract poultry. Level of satisfaction was significantly different for producers in the two states. Producers who raise pullets or broiler breeders exhibited greater satisfaction that broiler producers. The income level of producers has increased, however more producers have indicated they are losing money. Producers showed high levels of satisfaction with their service personnel who come directly …

Residual Feed Intake, Body Composition And Fertility In Yearling Beef Heifers, Kevin S. Shaffer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One hundred thirty-seven spring born yearling beef heifers of English breed types were used to determine the relationships between residual feed intake (RFI) and growth rate, body composition, mature size, and fertility. Heifers were housed in a drylot facility during the trial and data were collected over a two-year period (year 1, n=67; year 2, n=70). Individual feed intake, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS ), hip height (HH), and carcass ultrasound measurements (subcutaneous rib and rump fat; RIF and RUF, respectively, longissimus muscle area; LMA, and intramuscular fat; IMF ) were collected. Individual feed intakes were expressed as …

Utilization Of Leaf Meal As A Potential Feed Source, Jason K. Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Alternative feeds are currently utilized by producers throughout much of animal agriculture as a method of reducing feed costs. Under careful resource management, and proper understanding of their potential effects on animal performance, some deciduous tree leaves may prove to be a valuable feed resource, as substantial tonnage exists in the forests of the United States. In order to assess their value as a feed source, fall-dropped Quercus alba (white oak) and Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip poplar) leaves were collected at the Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center in Beaver, WV by the USDA-ARS. Proximate analysis and fiber determination, as well as …

The Stability Of The Wala Ridge As A Landmark For Determining Dental Arch Form, Kolin E. Weaver

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objectives. To evaluate changes to the WALA Ridge when subjected to orthodontic treatment using customized WALA Ridge archwires and preformed archwires, and ascertain trends within the United States amongst practicing orthodontists regarding arch form selection. Methods. 10 control subjects, 20 customized archwire subjects, and 20 preformed archwire subjects were compared using pre and post treatment mandibular casts for the experimental groups and two timepoint mandibular casts with two years between collection for the control group. Dental and Dentoalveolar changes were then measured from T1 to T2 for each of the groups. Furthermore, an electronic survey was distributed to all active …

The Effect Of Aging And Resveratrol Supplementation On Bone Mass And Strength In Hindlimb Suspended Male Rats, Stephanie Wright

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Resveratrol has recently become a popular dietary supplement because of its potential for reducing the effects of aging and various age-related diseases. However, few studies have investigated the role of resveratrol in improving bone loss associated with aging. It has been widely reported that mechanical unloading increases bone loss. The elderly experience a prevalence of reduced mechanical loading due to declining activity levels and increased incidence of bed rest. In rats, hind-limb suspension (HLS) simulates mechanical unloading of bone. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of aging and resveratrol supplementation on bone health in HLS …

Evaluation Of Information Transfer Between Beef Producers And Extension Agents In West Virginia, Travis J. Cullen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine how information passes between beef producers and Extension Agents in West Virginia in the areas of teaching methods and program advertisement. A descriptive research design was used to collect the data for this study. The target population was all beef producers and the Agriculture and Natural Resource Extension Agents in West Virginia. The study found that beef producers and Extension Agents tend to be in agreement on both the methods of advertising and teaching. However, the programs beef producers desire differs from those the West Virginia University Extension Service offers.

Long Term Ampk Activation Limits Obesity Induced Muscle Atrophy, Joshua C. Drake

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The aim of this study was to identify obesity-induced alterations in regulatory mechanisms of skeletal muscle mass and how they would be altered with long term (8 weeks) AMPK-agonist treatment. 8 week old male, lean (L) wild type [body weight (BW) = 26.9 g] and ob/ob (O) [BW = 46.2 g] mice were fed an AMP kinase (AMPK) activator, beta-GPA (F), mixed at a 1% concentration within their food or normal chow as control (C) for 8 weeks. Following an overnight (12 hr) fast, all mice were sacrificed and the gastrocnemius complex was excised for analysis. Muscle mass was lower …

Vibrant Amusement, Bretton J. Kern

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis is a description and analysis of the ceramic work of Bretton J. Kern. This thesis includes a description and images of the work as well as a discussion of the technical and conceptual content of the work.

Transcendent Homosexuals And Dangerous Sex Offenders: Sexual Harm And Freedom In The Judicial Imaginary, Joseph J. Fischel

Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy

No abstract provided.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation And Museum, Ashley D. Nash

Arts Administration Master's Reports (1984-2016)

In January 2010, I began an internship at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and Museum in New York City. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation is the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the New York museum and its affiliate museums around the world. I work within the Foundation's Development Department, focusing on Membership and Individual Development. The following report includes an overview of the organization, a description of my role as an intern within the Development Department, my analysis of the administration of the organization, and my recommendations for the organization that I have developed over the course of my …

Critical Multicultural Education For Social Action, Jan Ricketts Ferrari

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

`You Know I Hate It When People Half Ass Things': A Case Study Of A High School Science Student And The Role Of Pre-Instructional Activities, Goal Orientation, And Self-Efficacy In Learning With Simulations, Samuel Arthur Helms

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Book Review Of The Inception Of Modern Professional Education: C.C. Langdell, 1826-1906, By Bruce A. Kimball, Christopher Tomlins

Journal of Legal Education

No abstract provided.

Glycopeptidome Of A Heavily N-Glycosylated Cell Surface Glycoprotein Of Dictyostelium Implicated In Cell Adhesion, Christa L. Feasley, Jennifer M. Johnson, Christopher M. West, Catherine P. Chia

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Genetic analysis has implicated the cell surface glycoprotein gp130 in cell interactions of the social amoeba Dictyostelium, and information about the utilization of the 18 N-glycosylation sequons present in gp130 is needed to identify critical molecular determinants of its activity. Various glycomics strategies, including mass spectrometry of native and derivatized glycans, monosaccharide analysis, exoglycosidase digestion, and antibody binding, were applied to characterize a nonanchored version secreted from Dictyostelium. s-gp130 is modified by a predominant Man8GlcNAc4 species containing bisecting and intersecting GlcNAc residues and additional high-mannose N-glycans substituted with sulfate, methyl-phosphate, and/or core R3-fucose. Site mapping confirmed the occupancy …

Comparison Of Extraction Techniques For Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol From Urine, Ashlyn Christine Harmon

Master's Theses

With the increasing use of marijuana, efficient methods to extract and detect Δ-9-THC in urine samples and relate the concentrations found to time is a necessity so that impairment can be determined. Δ-9-THC is conjugated to glucuronic acid in urine and must be freed before the compound can be detected by chromatographic procedures. In past research, either a strong alkaline solution or β-glucuronidase has been used to cleave the bond between the Δ-9-THC and glucuronic acid before an alkaline extraction. Δ-9-THC has a pKa of 10.6 and therefore is always extracted at an alkaline pH. In this study, both a …

Algorithms For Self-Healing Networks, Amitabh Trehan

Computer Science ETDs

Many modern networks are reconfigurable, in the sense that the topology of the network can be changed by the nodes in the network. For example, peer-to-peer, wireless and ad-hoc networks are reconfigurable. More generally, many social networks, such as a company's organizational chart; infrastructure networks, such as an airline's transportation network; and biological networks, such as the human brain, are also reconfigurable. Modern reconfigurable networks have a complexity unprecedented in the history of engineering, resembling more a dynamic and evolving living animal rather than a structure of steel designed from a blueprint. Unfortunately, our mathematical and algorithmic tools have not …

Carboxylases Involved In Microbial Acetone And Acetophenone Metabolism, Ameya Mashruwala

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

A number of bacteria are capable of growth with acetone and acetophenone as their sole sources of carbon and/or energy. The pathways and enzymes involved in the transformation of these molecules into useable carbon and energy are unique. Among these are two novel enzymes, acetone carboxylase and acetophenone carboxylase, which represent a fundamentally novel classes of carboxylases.

The initial step in acetone metabolism, in X. autotrophicus st Py2, R. capsulatus st B10 and R. rhodochrous, is the thermodynamically unfavorable reaction to yield acetoacetate. This step is catalyzed by the enzyme acetone carboxylase and is coupled with the unprecedented, concomitant hydrolysis …

Finite Element Modeling Of Icd Lead Silicone Soft-Tips, Jose J. Lepe

Master's Theses

Although highly underutilized by the medical device industry, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in the development of new technologies is gaining popularity as regulatory bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) begin to require additional proof of safety through scientific methods. Non-linear FEA allows engineers to realistically simulate the mechanical behavior of implants as seen in the in-vitro, or in some cases, the in-vivo configurations. The work presented in this report investigates how computational methods can be used to simulate the interaction of a St. Jude Medical silicone soft-tip as it passes through a Peel-Away Sheath (i.e. introducer). In …

The Effect Of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 On The Osseointegration Of Temporary Anchorage Devices, Eden E. Cruz

Master's Theses

Titanium has been widely used for dental implants, and in particular, roughened titanium surfaces have provided a means for increasing bone apposition and strengthening the implant-to-bone interface. Finding a way to further increase osseointegration is important because there is a significant clinical benefit to patients if a stable anchor can be established instead of anchoring orthodontic hardware to the molars. In this study, the effect of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) on the ability of temporary anchorage devices (TADs) to osseointegrate was investigated. The temporary anchorage devices (TADs) used in this study were manufactured from commercially pure titanium and …

Osseointegration Of Temporary Anchorage Devices Using Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2, Erin E. Cruz

Master's Theses

Over the past 5 years, the use of titanium implants as temporary anchorage devices (TADs) has become an important tool in clinical orthodontic practices. The use of TADs have provided orthodontists a way of moving teeth against fixed objects rather than against the surrounding teeth, which tend to counteract desired motion. At present, viable attachment of TADs involves direct insertion through gingival tissue and piercing of the bone. Surface modifications such as sandblasted and acid-etched treatment or bone morphogenetic protein surface treatment, however, can be applied to the TADs to promote enhanced osseointegration, thereby allowing the TADs to serve as …

Effects Of Pluronics On A Beneficial Soil Microbe Pseudomonas Putida Strain Kt2440, Priyanka Gajjar

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This report summarizes the effects of a range of Pluronics on cellular responses in bacterial and mammalian cells through a review of published findings. Effects of Pluronics on drug delivery, efflux systems, growth, and nutrition are reported for eukaryotic cells. For microbial cells, their effects on adhesion, movement, biofilm formation, energy status and secondary metabolism are discussed. Guided by findings in the literature, a series of experiments were conducted exploring the responses of a beneficial environmental soil microbe, Pseudomonas putida strain KT2440, to selected Pluronics. These results are presented. The report has four sections: an Introduction 4 that covers published …

The Need For Revision: Curriculum, Literature, And The 21st Century, David P. Owen

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation argues that curriculum, especially as it is practiced in high school education, needs revision, that literature is the place to start that revision, and that literature class itself needs to be revised to incorporate a much broader understanding of the texts to be studied so that such work might take place there. This dissertation also recognizes that the work of teaching literature and humanities classes is especially difficult today, and argues that this difficulty has dire ramifications for all teachers and researchers in and of public education, and particularly for the field of curriculum studies. This work argues …

A Nonparametric Method For Ascertaining Change Points In Regression Regimes, Alfreda N. Rogers

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Of interest is the specific model called the joinpoint two regime regression or broken line model composed of one regression line and a horizontal ray. This is a very restricted but highly useful subset of the well-researched change point problem. The usual approach to a more general model was first presented by Quandt (1958) who found the maximum likelihood estimates of the slope, intercept and joinpoint by assuming that the error terms are generated under the usual assumptions, that is, from a normal distribution with constant variance and are uncorrelated. We develop a method that does not rely on this …

Size Correlations Between Sucking Lice And Their Hosts Including A Test Of Harrison's Rule, Sherri M. Cannon

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Ectoparasite size can be influenced by many factors; one is host size. Harrison's rule states that larger hosts typically have larger parasites. In this study, sucking lice (Insecta: Anoplura) were used to test this rule. Sucking lice should provide a good test for this rule because they are generally host-specific and because, as a group, they parasitize hosts of different sizes. Also, sucking lice use their tibio-tarsal claws to grasp host hairs, therefore, correlations between claw size and host hair diameters were also tested. Raw analyses including 206 species of slide-mounted sucking lice from throughout the world, followed by analyses …

"Lord Of The Flies": The Educational Value Of Golding's Text, Erin M. Frank

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

This paper takes a careful look at the content of Lord of the Flies often questioned by censorship advocates. Next, an exploration of the import behind William Golding’s symbolic objects and characters reveals the specifics of the literary and human value of the novel. Finally, insight from case studies helps further demonstrate the appropriateness and effectiveness of the novel in high school English curriculums while also revealing student responses in regard to Golding’s work and the worldly issues informed by it.

The Road To Leeks And Pears, Robert Long Foreman

Yalobusha Review

No abstract provided.