Digital Commons Network^™

Neural Coding Of Temporal Information And Its Topography In The Auditory Cortex, Thomas A. Terleph, Raphael Pinaud

Biology Faculty Publications

The article discusses a study that focused on neural coding of temporal information and topography in the auditory cortex. The quest for a thorough understanding how highly complex stimuli are encoded poses a significant challenge for auditory neurosciences, such as human speech and animal vocal signals. The characteristics of cortical neurons have been attributed to the coding of temporal stimulus which features precise spike timing in the coding and firing rate of repetition sounds.

Hydraulic Conductivity, Infiltration, And Runoff From No-Till And Tilled Cropland, Jessica H. Deck

Department of Environmental Engineering: Theses and Other Student Research

Infiltration and runoff are important processes that affect the efficiency of center pivot irrigation systems. No-till planting systems potentially influence the hydraulic properties of soils and the soil surface conditions. The result of long-term use of no-till could be higher infiltration and lower runoff from rainfall and irrigation.

This potential was investigated in Nebraska on two center pivot irrigated sites; Fillmore County and Phelps County, one furrow irrigated site; South Central Agriculture Laboratory (SCAL), and one dryland site; Rogers Farm. Paired treatments were used at each location, one that was no-till planted and one that used two to three operations …

Using A Quality Based Analytic Hierarchy Process To Do Decision-Making Analysis In Transportation, Dejing Kong

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The automated identification technology, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), provides the potential to reduce costs in the transportation operations. Local Department of Transportation (DOT) offices have to carefully consider technologies such as RFID when considering their use for operation such as Right of Way (ROW) property control. ROW operations require strategic planning in that inventory and access rights can be contestable in a myriad of situations. This research investigates the comprehensive impacts of using RFID systems for ROW inventory tracking. We utilize the House of Quality as a means to integrating strategic shareholders needs and their impact on the measurement of …

Spirit Of The Law: A Case Study In The Application Of Nagpra To Collections From Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, A Unit Of The National Park Service, Keely A. Rennie-Tucker

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

This thesis offers a case study in applying the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) to collections maintained at the National Park Service’s Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (HOCU) from the perspective of a museum curator. Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, a complex of various burial mound and earthwork sites dating primarily to the Middle Woodland (2,200 BP - AD 400), is located near Chillicothe, Ohio. The collections here have many culturally unidentifiable Native American human remains and funerary objects eligible for repatriation under the provisions of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The archaeological …

Systematics And Molecular Phylogeny Of Two African Stem Borer Genera, Sciomesa Tams & Bowden And Carelis Bowden (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), P. Moyal, B. Le Ru, D. Conlong, D. Cugala, B. Defabachew, T. Matama-Kauma, B. Pallangyo, J. Van Den Berg

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Currently, the systematics of the African noctuid stem borers of the subtribe Sesamiina, which include major pests of cereals, is confused. In addition, their ecology is poorly known, as are the factors influencing their evolution. In this paper, we address these shortcomings for two genera of the Sesamiina, Sciomesa Tams & Bowden and Carelis Bowden. Mixed Bayesian phylogenetic analysis, which included their host plants and two mitochondrial genes, showed the genus Sciomesa to be polyphyletic. Two new genera were created, Pirateolea and Feraxinia. The genus Carelis proved to be paraphyletic and was subdivided into two sub-genera. The genera Sciomesa, Carelis …

Approaches To Identify Surface Proteins Of Anaplasma Phagocytophilum Dense-Cored Organisms As Adhesins To Human P-Selectin Glycoprotein Ligand-1, Matthew Troese

Theses and Dissertations

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligatory intracellular bacterium that infects neutrophils to cause human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Sialyl Lewis x (sLex)-modified P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is the confirmed receptor utilized by A. phagocytophilum to bind and invade human neutrophils and myeloid cell lines. As an obligate intracellular pathogen, the binding of A. phagocytophilum to a host cell receptor is a prerequisite step for entry and replication, and thus its survival. However, the bacterial adhesins mediating this process have yet to be identified. In this study, we sought to identify surface proteins of A. phagocytophilum as putative adhesins. A. phagocytophilum undergoes a biphasic …

Pharmacokinetic Evaluation Of The Blood: Tissue Relationship In Poultry: Screening For Antibiotic Residues In Chicken Muscle, Ixchel Reyes Herrera

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

During their life, humans are exposed to numerous substances that are naturally present in the environment or that are the result of man made processes, including heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, pesticides and veterinary drugs. Some of these substances can leave residues in food products and possibly expose consumers to their potential toxic effects. To address these problems extensive regulatory efforts are devoted to prevent, detect and control these substances from reaching the food supply. However, given the vast diversity of food products that requires monitoring and the immense diversity of potential chemical contaminants, the need for an efficient and …

Analysis Of The Response Of Medicago Truncatula Calcium Oxalate Mutants To Abiotic Stress, Wayra Gabriela Navia-Gine

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Calcium oxalate crystals are found in most plant species. In Medicago truncatula wild-type A17, crystals accumulate in leaves along the secondary veins and the only role attributed to them so far is defense against chewing insects. Calcium oxalate deficient (cod) mutants were isolated in M. truncatula; the cod mutants include cod5, which completely lack crystals in the leaves and cod6 that accumulates fewer and smaller crystals compared to A17. We analyzed gene expression in the cod mutants and A17 using GeneChip® Medicago Genome Arrays and found important differences in transcriptome between the three genotypes. In particular, we found a gene …

Hsp70 And Hsp40 Functionally Interact With Soluble Mutant Huntingtin Oligomers In A Classic Atp-Dependent Reaction Cycle, Gregor P. Lotz, Justin Legleiter, Rebecca Aron, Emily M. Sontag, Shao-Yi Huang, Cheping Ng, Charles G. Glabe, Leslie M. Thompson, Paul J. Muchowski

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Inclusion bodies of aggregated mutant huntingtin (htt) fragments are a neuropathological hallmark of Huntington disease (HD). The molecular chaperones Hsp70 and Hsp40 colocalize to inclusion bodies and are neuroprotective in HD animal models. How these chaperones suppress mutant htt toxicity is unclear but might involve direct effects on mutant htt misfolding and aggregation. Using size exclusion chromatography and atomic force microscopy, we found that mutant htt fragments assemble into soluble oligomeric species with a broad size distribution, some of which reacted with the conformation-specific antibody A11. Hsp70 associated with A11-reactive oligomers in an Hsp40- and ATP-dependent manner and inhibited their …

Families' Perspectives On The Effect Of Constipation And Fecal Incontinence On Quality Of Life, Astrida S. Kaugars, Alan Silverman, Margo Kinservik, Susan Heinze, Lisa Reinemann, Megan Sanders, Brian W. Schneider, Manu Sood

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objectives: Understanding families' quality of life can be important for interdisciplinary treatment planning. The present study examined child and parent perspectives about how constipation and fecal incontinence affect families' quality of life.

Patients and Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 8 children/adolescents and 8 caregivers. All of the children met Rome II criteria for functional constipation. Interviews were analyzed by an interdisciplinary team using a content analysis approach, which included developing a coding manual that described emergent themes from the interview transcripts.

Results: Qualitative and quantitative responses revealed the varied experiences of participating families. Child and parent views may be …

Out Of The Blue: A Mother's Memoir Of Our Family's Transgender Experience, Roxanne Moore

Theses and Dissertations

OUT OF THE BLUE: A MOTHER'S MEMOIR OF OUR FAMILY'S TRANSGENDER EXPERIENCE is a memoir about what it has been like to discover that the baby girl I gave birth to almost forty years ago, now identifies as a female to male transgender person. He began his transformation both physically and legally over five years ago. Though it is a story about our entire family's transformation, it focuses mainly on what this has been like for me as a mother and the relationship I have with my first-born child.

Noted psychologist, Arlene Ishtar Lev states in Transgender Emergence: Therapeutic Guidelines …

Recreational Boats As Potential Vectors Of Marine Organisms At An Invasion Hotspot, Ian C. Davidson, Chela J. Zabin, Andrew L. Chang, Christopher W. Brown, Mark Sytsma, Gregory M. Ruiz

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

With more than 200 aquatic nonindigenous species (NIS), San Francisco Bay (California, USA) is among the world’s most invaded harbors. Hard-substratum benthic (biofouling) organisms, which dominate NIS richness, have arrived primarily as a result of shipping and aquaculture activity over past centuries. To date there has been no assessment of the leisure craft vector in the Bay. We aimed to characterize (1) biofouling on boats’ submerged surfaces and (2) boater behavior likely to affect the risk of NIS transfers. We used an underwater pole-cam, specimen collections, and a boater questionnaire to quantify the extent and composition of biofouling on recreational …

Control Of Invasive Liriomyza Leafminer Species And Compliance With Food Safety Standards By Small Scale Snow Pea Farmers In Kenya, Zachary Maina Gitonga, Adenirin Chabi-Olaye, Dagmar Mithöfer, Julius Juma Okello, Cecilia Nyawira Ritho

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The Kenyan horticultural industry faces a new challenge following invasion by the quarantine Liriomyza leafminer species Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae and Liriomyza trifolii which have recently become pests of economic importance. Controlling Liriomyza leafminers poses serious difficulties due to their biology and quarantine status. This paper examines farmers' awareness of the pests and difficulties faced in controlling them. (1) A questionnaire survey showed that snow pea farmers in Kenya rely mainly on pesticides for control of invasive Liriomyza leafminers; (2) Sixty five percent of respondents perceived pesticides to be ineffective; (3) As a result, 74% of respondents increased the frequency …

Sequence Alignment Based Analysis Of Player Behavior In Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (Mmorpgs), Kyong Jin Shim, Jaideep Srivastava

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This study proposes a sequence alignment-based behavior analysis framework (SABAF) developed for predicting inactive game players that either leave the game permanently or stop playing the game for a long period of time. Sequence similarity scores and derived statistics form profile databases of inactive players and active players from the past. SABAF uses global and local sequence alignment algorithms and a unique scoring scheme to measure similarity between activity sequences. SABAF is tested on the game player activity data of Ever Quest II, a popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Sony Online Entertainment. SABAF consists of the following …

A Structure First Image Inpainting Approach Based On Self-Organizing Map (Som), Bo Chen, Zhaoxia Wang, Ming Bai, Quan Wang, Zhen Sun

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This paper presents a structure first image inpainting method based on self-organizing map (SOM). SOM is employed to find the useful structure information of the damaged image. The useful structure information which includes relevant edges of the image is used to simulate the structure information of the lost or damaged area in the image. The structure information is described by distinct or indistinct curves in an image in this paper. The obtained target curves separate the damaged area of the image into several parts. As soon as each part of the damaged image is restored respectively, the damaged image is …

Homozygous Frame Shift Mutation In Ecm1 Gene In Two Siblings With Lipoid Proteinosis., Azam J. Samdani, Abid Azhar, Syed M. Shahid, Syeda N. . Nawab, Rozeena Shaikh, Shah A. Qader, Qaisar Mansoor, Bahram K. Khoso, Muhammad Ismail

Department of Medicine

Background: The extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) is a glycoprotein, expressed in skin and other tissues. Loss-of-function mutation in ECM1 causes a rare autosomal recessive disorder called lipoid proteinosis. Lipoid proteinosis is presented by varying degrees of skin scars, beaded papules along the eyelid margins, variable signs of hoarseness of voice and respiratory disorders. More than 250 cases of this disorder have been described in the literature, but occurrence of lipoid proteinosis in siblings is very rare. This study was designed to investigate the possible mutation causing lipoid proteinosis in a Pakistani family and to elaborate the scope of possible …

The Effect Of Dividing Attention On The Maintenance Of Object Representations, Jillian Christine Mayer

Theses

Numerous theories have been developed in explanation of object perception, such as Feature Integration Theory, which posits that an object is perceived after two stages: a pre-attentive stage and a focused attention stage. It is during the focused attention stage that a representation of the perceived object is formed. Theories such as object file theory account for the maintenance of these object representations following their creation. Evidence for object file theory has been provided by studies of the object specific preview benefit. This thesis seeks to examine the effect that dividing attention has on the maintenance of object representations. Using …

Tight Double-Change Covering Designs, Kristen A. Lindbloom

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Review: Biribi: Les Bagnes Coloniaux De L'Armee Francaise, Leonard V. Smith

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Practices Of A Non-Diversity-Focused Organization And Their Impact On Its Members' Intercultural Behavioral Comfort, Learning, And Competence, Ruth Sessler Bernstein

Student Scholarship

The purpose of this research is to examine the impact that university student groups' practices have on their members' intercultural behavioral comfort and interactions and their cultural learning. We surveyed 360 undergraduate members of a national voluntary service organization at 50 U.S. four-year colleges. Findings indicate that an organization's ability to nurture a sense of feeling welcome and identification with organizational purpose predict skills and confidence in dealing with diverse intra-group members' a competency we call behavioral comfort. An additional practice using proactive efforts to promote social interaction predicts behavioral comfort when mediated by a sense of belonging. While high …

Improvement Of Hydraulic And Water Quality Renovation Functions By Intermittent Aeration Of Soil Treatment Areas In Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, José A. Amador, David A. Potts, George W. Loomis, David V. Kalen, Erika L. Patenaude, Josef H. Görres

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

We tested intermittent aeration of the soil treatment area (STA) of onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) for its ability to restore and maintain STA hydraulic flow and improve the water quality functions of conventional OWTS. Evaluation was conducted on hydraulically-failed conventional OWTS at three state-owned medical group homes in Washington County, RI, USA. Testing was conducted in two phases, with Phase I (before intermittent soil aeration (ISA)) comprising the first 6 months of the study, and Phase II (during ISA) the remaining 7 months. Intermittent soil aeration restored STA hydraulic function in all three systems despite a marked reduction in …

No-Till Vegetable Production At The Cal Poly Organic Farm, Nathaniel Jay Harkleroad

Master's Theses

Tillage and subsequent bare soil have been linked to erosion, nutrient leaching, reduced biological diversity, loss of organic matter, and release of CO2 into the atmosphere (Brady and Weil, 2004). The usefulness of an organic no-till system for transplanted vegetables was explored over two growing seasons. In 2007-2008, in a randomized complete block design, treatments of tilled and no-till (T and NT, respectively) were seeded to a dense grain and legume winter cover crop. Tilled plots were mown and disk-ploughed two times; NT plots retained a mow-killed mulch on the soil surface. There were less weeds in NT plots. A …

The Development And Validation Of A Finite Element Model Of A Canine Rib For Use With A Bone Remodeling Algorithm., Scott J. Sylliaasen

Master's Theses

Studies are currently being performed to determine the effects of bisphosphonate treatments on the structure and density of bone tissue. One of the pathways for gaining a better understanding of the effects of this and other treatments involves creating a computer simulation. Theory suggests that bone tissue structure and density are directly related to the manner in which the tissue is loaded. Remodeling is the process in which bone tissue is resorbed in areas of low stress distributions, and generated in areas of high stress distributions. Previous studies have utilized numerical methods and finite element methods to predict bone structure …

Artificial Skin Tactile Sensor For Prosthetic And Robotic Applications, Ross James Miller

Master's Theses

To solve the problem of limited tactile sensing in humanoid robotics as well as provide for future planned mechanical prostheses, an innovative tactile sensor system was created and embedded into two realistic-looking artificial skin gloves. These artificial skin tactile sensors used small piezoelectric ceramic disks to measure applied force at multiple points on each glove. The gloves were created using silicone rubber to simulate both the texture and look of human skin, while maintaining both flexibility and durability. The sensor outputs were buffered by high-impedance voltage-following operational amplifiers, and then read sequentially using a multiplexing scheme by a microcontroller. Sensor …

Assessment Of Morphology And Hemodynamics In Normal And Remodeled Microvasculature With Parameter Sensitivity Analysis, Shilpi Ghosh

Master's Theses

The goal of this study was to compare the morphological and hemodynamic characteristics of normal and remodeled vascular networks in the mouse gracilis muscle. To this end, previously developed models to assess flows and vascular branching were used to assess the normal and remodeled microcirculatory networks. The analysis revealed that the average individual vessel flow rates for vessels of similar caliber and total volumetric flow rates in the networks do not change for vessels of the same caliber after remodeling. Connectivity changes and average diameters primarily change in the larger arterioles after remodeling. A few correlations could be made between …

Anaerobic Co-Digestion Of Wastewater Treatment Pond Algae With Wastewater Sludge, Daniel Eric Heimel

Master's Theses

Microalgae harvested from wastewater treatment ponds can be anaerobically digested to produce biogas, a renewable fuel resource. However, past experiments have shown some limitations of algae digestion. Algal cell walls are thought to be resistant to digestion, and the high protein content of algae can lead to ammonia toxicity in digesters. Co-digestion of algae with substrates containing higher C:N ratios (e.g., waste paper) can be used to maintain non-inhibitory ammonia concentrations and increase methane production. However, high carbon waste co-substrates have become costly or are not readily available in many communities. Although domestic wastewater sludge has only a marginally higher …

Development Of Cubesat Vibration Testing Capabilities For The Naval Postgraduate School And Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Marissa Brummitt

Master's Theses

The Naval Postgraduate School is currently developing their first CubeSat, the Solar Cell Array Tester CubeSat, or NPS-SCAT. Launching a CubeSat, such as NPS-SCAT, requires environmental testing to ensure not only the success of the mission, but also the safety of other CubeSats housed in the same deployer. This thesis will address the development of CubeSat vibration testing methodology at NPS, including subsystem testing, engineering unit qualification, and flight unit testing. In addition, the new Cal Poly CubeSat Test POD Mk III will be introduced and evaluated based upon comparison with the Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD). Using examples from …

Calfscience: Extension Education At Many Levels, Dale A. Moore, Kathlyn Tellessen, William M. Sischo

Journal of Extension

The issue of antimicrobial resistance in food animal agriculture was addressed by conducting clinical trials to assess alternatives to antimicrobials in dairy calf-raising and developing outreach to three different audiences. Current research was integrated into Extension programs for calf-raisers, animal science and veterinary students, and food animal veterinarians. A complex issue such as resistance in bacteria from the use of antimicrobials in food animal agriculture requires an integrated approach—from the science to its translation to judicious drug use on-farm but also a wide reach, to multiple audiences.

Ethnic Crop Opportunities For Growers On The East Coast: A Demand Assessment, Ramu Govindasamy, Richard Van Vranken, William Sciarappa, Albert Ayeni

Journal of Extension

We examined the potential for expansion of production of ethnic crops on the U.S. East Coast by commercial farmers from a market-first and economic perspective based on consumer demand. A survey of consumers from four ethnic groups showed that the ethnic crops in greatest demand are as follows: Chinese—Baby Pak Choy, Oriental Eggplant, and Smooth Luffa; Asian Indians—Bottle Gourd, Indian Eggplant, and Bitter Melon; Mexicans—Chili Jalapeno and Tomatillo; Hispanic—Aji Dulce, Batata, and Pepinillo/Bitter gourd. Results of the study have important implications to assist local growers in deciding to produce ethnic crops.

Increased Carrying Capacity With Perennial Forage Kochia, Linden K. Greenhalgh, Dale R. Zobell, Blair L. Waldron, Kenneth C. Olson, Burke W. Davenport

Journal of Extension

Carrying capacity can be increased on grass-dominated rangeland pastures by including perennial forage kochia (Kochia prostrata) as one of the plant components. The objectives of the study reported here were to compare the differences of traditional winter pastures versus pastures with forage kochia. Forage quality, production, and availability data were collected from pastures in Tooele County, Utah. Forage quality, production, availability, and carrying capacity were greater in pastures with forage kochia. Livestock winter grazing in the Great Basin is challenging for many reasons. Extension's role in assisting others to find solutions is as pertinent today as it has ever been.