Digital Commons Network^™

Exceptionally Well-Preserved Quaternary Fossils From Sawmill Sink Blue Hole, Abaco, The Bahamas, Nancy Ann Albury

Theses and Dissertations

A diverse assemblage of exquisitely-preserved fossil animals and plants were collected from Sawmill Sink blue hole in Abaco, Bahamas. More than 40 species have been identified including extinct tortoise, an extant crocodile, and birds that no longer live in The Bahamas. This study addresses the mechanisms that preserve fossils in blue holes and discusses paleoecological implications from faunal diversity and sediment composition. Blue holes are waterilled caves with surface openings that may trap animals and surface-driven vegetation. In Sawmill Sink the talus cone within the halocline acts as a substrate on which organics collect that drive microbe ecology. Their byproducts, …

A Study Of Artwork By Individuals With Eating Disorders, Michelle L. Mong

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This study explored formal elements and content of 200 images created by eating disordered individuals to identify common themes or content. Images were found on 24 websites containing eating disordered artwork. Gathered artwork was viewed on a laptop and analyzed using methods of content analysis. After categories of formal elements and content were entered into a spreadsheet, percentages of categories and subcategories were calculated. The majority of images, 96.5%, were created with representational, rather than abstract, content. Other high percentages were in the subcategories of drawings (67.5%), vertical orientation (63%), color (61%), and partial figures (53%). Common themes noted in …

Pregnancy Outcomes With Exposure To The Mycophenolic Acid Products (Mpa), To Dung K. Nguyen, Faith Carlin, Lisa A. Coscia, Dawn Armenti, Vincent T. Armenti

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Conclusions:

Reports to NTPR to date continue to reveal an increased incidence of birth defects in transplant recipients maintained on MPA products during gestation compared to those not maintained on these agents.

Structural birth defects consisting of microtia (ear deformity) and facial defects suggest a pattern of malformations.

Evaluation of the higher incidence of non-viable outcomes requires further study in this cohort.

Centers are encouraged to report all pregnancy exposures in transplant recipients to the NTPR.

The Type 1 Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptor In Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines, Zhengyu Wei, Phd, Tiziana Deangelis, M.S., Reginald Hurtt, B.S., Renato Baserga, M.D., Cataldo Doria, M.D., Ph.D

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Summary:

1. Human HCC cells have higher expression levels of IGF-1R, IRS1, and c-Met.

2. IRS1 interacts with c-Met. The role of IGF-1R in human HCC should be revisited.

3. Lentivirus-mediated shRNA delivery system targeting IGF-1R showed significant suppressive effects on HCC cell growth, promising a potential therapeutic treatment for human HCC.

Second Language Inner Voice And Identity, Brandon Kenji Shigematsu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study investigates the phenomena of second language (L2, hereafter) inner voice for three Japanese-American English bilinguals who had long-term exposure to the L2 in naturalistic contexts, that is, by living and/or working or studying in the U.S. American English learners of L2 Japanese were included in the study as well, although only one of them had naturalistic exposure, the other having traveled to Japan in addition to being married to a Japanese national. Data for the study reveals how and when L2 inner voice is utilized, how it appears to develop, how it leads to shifts in identity toward …

Genes Involved In Mushroom Body Development And Behavior In Drosophila, Christine Nicole Serway

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Mushroom bodies (MBs) are the site of multi modal sensory integration critical for associative conditioning in Drosophila. They have been central to research on the structure function relationship in the brain for over one hundred years due to their unique shape and readily accessible physiology. This dissertation incorporates three different approaches to further elucidate the genetic and molecular nature of this structure function relationship.

First, the suite of genetic and molecular tools available in Drosophila melanogaster, facilitated the molecular mapping of a 25-year old MB structural mutant called mushroom body miniature B (mbmB) to the gene Pendulin [Pen, also known …

The Role Of Ecdysone Signaling In Fat-Body Tissue Remodeling And Pupal Metabolism, Nichole Dinell Bond

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Holometabolous insects undergo an astonishing transition during their development. During metamorphosis, the larva dramatically changes form and becomes an adult fly. During this process obsolete larval tissues must be eliminated, while tissues required for further development are retained and often remodeled to meet the needs of the adult fly. Tissue remodeling is characterized by morphological changes of the cells in a tissue mass. In many cases, remodeling is characterized by dissociation of the tissue mass, releasing cells to move freely around the body cavity. This process is also common in wound healing and is a key feature of human disease …

Lead Risk Hazards In Pre-1978 Childcare Facilities Located In Clark County, Nevada, Usa, Jessica Marie Newberry

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The harmful health effects of lead exposure have been known for centuries, yet lead is still produced and utilized in a variety of ways. There have been many movements to rid the environment of this toxic metal in hope to reduce the number of individuals who are and who may potentially be exposed. Lead exposure is responsible for a myriad of negative health effects most notably lowering IQ scores in children. Extensive amounts of data have been collected from areas of the country with known lead hazards, hazards that have been identified through hundreds of thousands of elevated blood lead …

Phylogeography Of Two Closely Related Anurans, The Relict Leopard Frog (Rana Onca) And Lowland Leopard Frog (Rana Yavapaiensis), Viktoria Hemmings

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

I investigate the phylogeography of the relict and lowland leopard frogs (Rana onca; R. yavapaiensis) inhabiting the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. In Chapter 1, I summarize literature describing taxonomy, phylogenetics, and the possible effects of Quaternary climate change on distribution. Examples of phylogeographic patterns from generally co-distributed organisms are provided to develop background for interpreting the structure. In Chapter 2, I investigate the phylogeography of these frogs using mitochondrial DNA data. The analysis supports a previously determined phylogenetic break between taxa however further dividing R. yavapaiensis into two lineages. I estimate a possible Early Pleistocene divergence of R. onca and …

Cocaine And The Heart., Suraj Maraj, Vincent M. Figueredo, M.D., D Lynn Morris

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

The use of cocaine may be associated with either acute or chronic toxicity, and approximately 5% to 10% of emergency department visits in the United States are believed to be secondary to cocaine usage. Chest pain is the most common cocaine-related medical problem, leading to the evaluation of approximately 64,000 patients annually for possible myocardial infarction, of which approximately 57% are admitted to the hospital, resulting in an annual cost greater than $83 million. There is a plethora of cocaine-related cardiovascular complications, including acute myocardial ischemia and infarction, arrhythmias, sudden death, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, aortic ruptures, and endocarditis. There is …

Performance Of A Metarhizium Anisopliae-Treated Semiochemical-Baited Trap In Reducing Amblyomma Variegatum Populations In The Field, F. Nchu, N. K. Maniania, A. Hassanali, J. N. Eloff

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Experiments were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok. (Ascomycota: Hypocreales)-treated semiochemical-baited traps for control of Amblyomma variegatum Fabriscius (Acari: Ixodidae) under field conditions. Unfed A. variegatum adults (118) were seeded in each 100-m plot and allowed to acclimatise for 3 days. On the fourth day (Day 4), an emulsifiable formulation of M. anisopliae (consisting of 49.5% sterile distilled water, fungal conidia, 49.5% corn oil and 1% Tween 80) titrated at 109conidiaml-1 was applied in semiochemical-baited traps (900cm2) which were placed at five spots within the plot. The control and fungal treatments were repeated after 14 …

3+1 Dimensions, Henry (Duke) Oursler

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This Paper discusses the artwork produced for this thesis 3+1 Dimensions The paper discusses the works from an historical and theoretical perspective, focusing in particular on my influences which come from the larger scientific discipline of Quantum Mechanics. Connections are also made from the personal psychological perspectives of people and events that have had some impact on me personally. The paper will also discuss the sculptures individually and their connection to quantum physics as well any metaphorical content.

Invasive Interactions, Jennifer Galusha

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This paper discusses the body of work developed for my thesis, Invasive Interactions, which represents abstracted trees as a metaphor for humanistic situations. Through my forms I will discuss equality, abuse, isolation, community, and at the fundamental level, nature itself. Invasive Interactions was created to evoke a subtle awareness in the subconscious of the viewer and to emphasize our world's diverse natural landscape and its fragility.

Objects Of Attraction, Jessica Stewart

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The work in Objects of Attraction is a culmination of the skills and experiences that I have acquired while at Georgia Southern University. The pieces are abstractions of natural flowers and seedpods that stem from my experiences in South Georgia woods. These brightly colored ceramic works are a reflection of the joy and wonder that I receive from the natural world. Colors, textures and forms found in nature are the driving force behind my work; I feel that so many of these natural attributes are often ignored. By creating work based on nature I strive to inspire viewers to take …

Cultivating Global Citizenship? Life In Transit, Jeffrey Matthew Palis

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study explores my border crossing experience among and between cultures. Although a large portion of my narrative addresses my time living as a Fulbright grantee in Latvia, this study is much more than a solitary six-month sojourn. It is a lifelong journey and an attempt to understand what is entailed when we cross physical, cultural, linguistic, socio-political, and intellectual borders. Four bodies of research provide the theoretical framework for the study: critical theory (Apple, 2001; Aronowitz and Giroux, 1993; Ayers, 2006; Chomsky, 2004, 2006; McLaren, 1997, 2005; Giroux, 1992; Zinn, 1980, 2007), exile and borderland pedagogy (Anzaldúa, 1987; Freire …

Behavioral And Reproductive Plasticity In Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia Holbrooki) In Response To Predatory Cues, Carolyn Vanzwoll

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Olfaction in fishes can be an important mechanism in determining the level of predation risk. Many fishes possess alarm signaling systems, wherein an individual can detect injured conspecifics via olfaction and respond behaviorally to the presence of a predator. The superorder Ostariophysi exhibits a fright reaction to injured conspecifics, characterized by specialized cells and alarm substances. I tested if a live-bearing non-ostariophysan, Gambusia holbrooki, exhibited a similar behavioral response to its injured conspecifics. I also examined the effects of exposure to this and other predatory cues during a single pregnancy cycle. I hypothesized that immediate exposure to the cues would …

Sources And Consequences Of Ecological Intraspecific Variation In The Florida Scrub Lizard (Sceloporus Woodi), Steven C. Williams

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Sceloporus woodi is a small, sexually dimorphic Iguanid lizard endemic to dry xeric habitats in Florida. This species is most often found in sand-pine scrub habitats, but also inhabits relic long-leaf pine "islands" within the scrub of the Ocala National Forest in north central Florida. In the current study I investigated seasonal and sexual variation in foraging behavior of S. woodi and compared microhabitat use, behavior, diet, morphology, and ectoparasite load at a pine island site to S. woodi in scrub habitats. No variation in movement patterns existed between seasons and sexes. However significant seasonal and sexual differences did exist …

Comparing The Use Of Qpcr On Isolated Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus Dolomieu) And Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) Hepatocytes For Estrogen Screening, Emily Breana Chambers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Exposure of fish to estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EEDCs) is believed to be a contributing factor of intersex (the presence of immature oocytes in the testes) and fish kills in the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. EEDCs are often seen in the effluent of wastewater treatment plants. A simple and common way to look at the estrogenicity of water samples is to deploy Passive Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers (POCIS) and extract the hydrophilic compounds from the filters with methanol. Samplers were deployed upstream and downstream of two wastewater treatment plants, one on the Conococheague River and one on the Monocacy River, …

Redefining Green: The Green Marketing Dilemma And Redirecting Our Actions With Purpose, Amberley Gutscher

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Tenth Annual Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Symposium, Mti Report S-09-06, Mineta Transportation Institute

Mineta Transportation Institute

On March 23, 2010, the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) continued its support of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Futures Program by conducting the Tenth National Garrett Morgan Symposium and Videoconference on Sustainable Transportation. The ongoing mission of this national videoconference is to stimulate the minds of young people, and to encourage them to pursue challenging academic programs including mathematics and science—an education course that will prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s challenging transportation careers. Participating school were Kemps Landing Magnet School, Virginia Beach, VA; Morada Middle School, Stockton, CA; Redland Middle School, Rockville, MD; Riverside …

Philosophical Concerns: Implications For Art Therapy, Anzhela Akbarova

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Throughout centuries, philosophers have asked and attempted to answer questions that address human concerns: identity establishment, search for purpose in life, fear of nonexistence, spirituality, and relationships with other people in the world. Some psychologists and arts therapists have also acknowledged the existence of these concerns. This thesis is a comparative analysis of philosophical literature and concludes that art therapists should acknowledge human concerns in their theory and practice.

Trace Analysis Of Volatile Organic Compounds In The Water Of The Arroyo Colorado And The Lower Laguna Madre Utilizing E.P.A.Sw846 Method 8260, Humberto Valdez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) can cause a major environmental concern since they create a hazard to public health and the environment. This study focused on determining concentration of VOCs in Arroyo Colorado waters and the Lower Laguna Madre (LLM) utilizing GC/MS. Little is known on the concentration and composition of VOCs. Toluene was the most common VOC. Concentrations ranged from 0.0010 mg/L to 0.0039 mg/L. Analysis of a sediment pore water sample collected near the mouth of the Arroyo Colorado also detected toluene (0.0023 mg/L). This study showed that VOCs were concentrated near the county boat launch and somewhat downstream. …

Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus Aeneus) Habitat Use And Differential Response To Playback Of Host Song, Mary Jennifer Gorton

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

During the breeding seasons of 2008 - 2009, 180 fixed-radius point-count surveys and broadcasts of host song were conducted in Santa Ana (SANWR) and Laguna Atascosa (LANWR, 2009 only) National Wildlife Refuges to identify Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) habitat use and test the predictions of the host activity hypothesis. Surveys demonstrated that Bronzed Cowbirds were distributed across all habitat types in both refuges, although there were differences in abundance between the sexes for interior and edge habitats and between habitat types. Bronzed Cowbirds responded differentially to host species playbacks based on suitability and abundance of the host species. The results …

A Proposal For The Mechanism Of The Iron-Ascorbate, Fenton, And Hydroxyl Radical-Quenching Series, Jonathan Velasco

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The Fenton reaction between [Fe(II)] and [HOOH] is observed in the presence of ascorbic acid, [AscH-], during [Fe(III)] and HO• reduction; this is done as part of consecutive redox reactions between [Fe(III)] and [Fe(II)]. As a result, the rate orders with respect to [Fe(III)], ascorbic acid, and [HOOH] are of (approximately) 2nd, 1st, and 4 th order, respectively. However, the rate constants for each reaction in this study show patterns when measured against solution pH; empirically, reactions proceed faster at smaller pH and vice versa.

Using The Internet To Survey Small Towns And Communities: Limitations And Possibilities In The Early 21st Century, Jolene D. Smyth, Don A. Dillman, Leah Melani Christian, Allison C. O'Neill

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Researchers who are interested in small towns and rural communities in the United States often find that they need to conduct their own sample surveys because many large national surveys, such as the American Community Survey, do not collect enough representative responses to make precise estimates. In collecting their own survey data, researchers face a number of challenges, such as sampling and coverage limitations. This article summarizes those challenges and tests mail and Internet methodologies for collecting data in small towns and rural communities using the U.S. Postal Service’s Delivery Sequence File as a sample frame. Findings indicate that the …

Ecology And Relationships Of Rhabdias Spp. (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) From North American Amphibians And Reptiles, Gabriel J. Langford

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Lungworms of the cosmopolitan genus Rhabdias (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) are among the most common parasites of amphibians and squamate reptiles. The life cycles, life histories, host specificities, and evolutionary relationships of Rhabdias spp. were studied through examination of their free-living and parasitic stages in amphibians and reptiles. This study found free-living development of anuran lungworms was primarily limited to heterogonic reproduction, whereas snake lungworms primarily reproduced homogonically. Infective anuran lungworms penetrated the skin of frogs and toads; in contrast, snake lungworms penetrated snake esophageal tissue during per os infections. Our molecular phylogeny strongly supported separate clades for anuran and snake lungworms, …

Home On The Plains: An Examination Of Place At Agate Fossil Beds National Monument Through Chipped Stone Tool Analysis, Cynthia J. Wiley

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

Recent archaeological research in High Plains archaeology focuses on aspects of landscape and identifying areas that likely registered as “places” in the minds of past peoples. Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in Sioux County, Nebraska is located in an area wealthy in multi-component sites and a rich research history. Yet so many of the features common at neighboring sites are missing from this area. Based on what Agate Fossil Beds National Monument lacks, researchers refer to this area as transitional, merely a crossroads between places.

However, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument contains multiple desirable resources such as a perennial water …

Effects Of Social Story Interventions On Preschool Age Children With And Without Disabilities, Cori Michelle More

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

More children are receiving care outside of their home under the age of six (Childstats.gov, 2007). The quality of these programs has a direct impact on student’s readiness for school (Burchinal, Roberts, Nabors, & Bryant, 1996). Social readiness is the foundation for school readiness and academic achievement (Blair, 2002; Brigman, Lane, Lane, Lawrence, & Switzer, 1999; Raver, 2004). Acquisition of social skills plays a key role in preschool age children’s readiness for school, thus interventions that teach young children social skills are of importance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Social Story interventions on preschool …

Use Of An Animal Model To Explore Prenatal Predictors Of Insulin And Glucose Metabolism In Southwestern Alaskan Yupiit, Julie Jo Kachinski

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Compared to other North American indigenous populations, Southwest Alaskan Yupiit exhibit very low rates of type 2 diabetes despite the occurrence of common risk factors. Contemporary Yupiit obtain a substantial portion of their calories from traditional foods, which contain high amounts of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Epidemiological and experimental animal research has linked glucose and insulin homeostasis with a diet high in omega-3s. This study used an experimental animal model to explore potential diabetes protective effects (for adult offspring) of prenatal maternal nutrition modeled on traditional locally-obtained Yupiit diets. The results of this study showed that the adult offspring whose …

Emergent Literacy Skills Of Young Children With Autism: A Comparison Of Teacher-Led And Computer-Assisted Instruction, Jason Christopher Travers

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Young children with autism often are identified as experiencing problems in language, social, and behavioral development. Current research typically focuses on these three areas with little attention paid to the academic learning of these children. Because of this, young children with autism often do not engage in typical early literacy experiences (e.g.., emergent literacy activities). This can result in these children being at risk for developing poor literacy skills. It is important that researchers begin to explore systematic literacy instruction for young children with autism to not only increase literacy learning, but also facilitate the inclusion of these children in …