Digital Commons Network^™

Behavioral Flexibility And Species Invasions: The Adaptive Flexibility Hypothesis, T. F. Wright, J. R. Eberhard, E. A. Hobson, M. L. Avery, M. A. Russello

Faculty Publications

Behavioral flexibility is an important adaptive response to changing environments for many animal species. Such plasticity may also promote the invasion of novel habitats by introduced species by providing them with the ability to expand or change their ecological niche, a longstanding idea with recent empirical support. At the individual level, flexibility may arise through innovation, in which an individual invents a new behavior, or through social learning, in which an individual adopts a behavior used by others. There is increasing evidence that the adaptive value of these two modes of learning, and the overall expression of behavioral flexibility, may …

Effects Of Hurricane Katrina And Salvage Logging On Bachman's Sparrow, Matthew E. Brooks, Philip C. Stouffer

Faculty Publications

In the southeastern U. S., longleaf pine savannas, important habitat for grassland birds, are subject to hurricanes and subsequent management. The intensity of tropical storms is predicted to increase with climate change, heightening the importance of understanding the effects of storm disturbance and salvage logging on species of concern such as Bachman's Sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis), a pine-savanna specialist. To determine how Bachman's Sparrow occupancy varies with the age and salvage history of pine stands, and to identify the vegetation and post-hurricane habitat features influencing stand occupancy, we surveyed Bachman's Sparrows in Mississippi savannas affected by Hurricane Katrina. Our point counts …

Rhnull: A Rare Blood Group Phenotype, Adnan Qureshi, Muhammad Salman, Bushra Moiz

Section of Internal Medicine

Rhnull phenotype is a rare blood group characterized by the lack of expression of all Rh antigens (D, C, c, E and e) on the red cells. The phenotype is further classified into the regulator and amorph type based on underlying genetic defect. The clinical significance of its recognition is that such patients suffer from Rhnull syndrome associated with osmotically fragile red cells called stomatocytes with subsequent chronic haemolytic anaemia of varying degree. Another importance is that such subjects readily form alloantibodies on exposure to Rh antigens. We report herein rare Rhaull phenotype in a young pregnant female which was …

Nfκb Activation And Stimulation Of Chemokine Production In Normal Human Macrophages By The Gadolinium-Based Magnetic Resonance Contrast Agent Omniscan: Possible Role In The Pathogenesis Of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis., Francesco Del Galdo, Peter J Wermuth, Sankar Addya, Paolo Fortina, Sergio A Jimenez

Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine Papers and Presentations

OBJECTIVE: Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a generalised fibrotic disorder occurring in certain individuals with renal insufficiency exposed to gadolinium-based contrast agents (GdBCA) for MRI. Histopathological examination of affected tissues shows increased numbers of activated macrophages. To elucidate the mechanisms responsible for macrophage activation, the effects of the GdBCA Omniscan on normal human macrophage global gene expression, chemokine production and nuclear factor κB (NFκB) activation was examined.

METHODS: Normal human monocyte-derived macrophages were incubated with Omniscan (50 mM) and their gene expression analysed by microarrays and real-time PCR. Macrophage chemokine production was assayed by multiplex ELISA. NFκB activation was assessed …

Structures Of Human Thymidylate Synthase R163k With Dump, Fdump And Glutathione Show Asymmetric Ligand Binding, Lydia M. Gibson, Lesa R. Celeste, Leslie L. Lovelace, Lukasz Lebioda

Faculty Publications

Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a well validated target in cancer chemotherapy. Here, a new crystal form of the R163K variant of human TS (hTS) with five subunits per asymmetric part of the unit cell, all with loop 181-197 in the active conformation, is reported. This form allows binding studies by soaking crystals in artificial mother liquors containing ligands that bind in the active site. Using this approach, crystal structures of hTS complexes with FdUMP and dUMP were obtained, indicating that this form should facilitate high-throughput analysis of hTS complexes with drug candidates. Crystal soaking experiments using oxidized glutathione revealed that …

Teaching The Teachers: Building Information Literacy Into The Biology Curriculum, Meris Mandernach

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2008

In a world that is saturated with questionable scientific information, producing information literate students should be the goal of every institution of higher learning. There are numerous studies that detail why information literacy should be integrated into the curriculum; however, there are few examples of how to do so. At James Madison University information literacy was successfully integrated into the Biology major. This presentation will include highlights from a workshop, in class presentations, and the development of an assessment instrument as well as an analysis of the overall success of this evolving partnership between librarians and teaching faculty.

Notes On Hypothesis Testing Under A Single-Stage Design In Phase Ii Trial, Kung-Jong Lui

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

A primary objective of a phase II trial is to determine future development is warranted for a new treatment based on whether it has sufficient activity against a specified type of tumor. Limitations exist in the commonly-used hypothesis setting and the standard test procedure for a phase II trial. This study reformats the hypothesis setting to mirror the clinical decision process in practice. Under the proposed hypothesis setting, the critical points and the minimum required sample size for a desired power of finding a superior treatment at a given α -level are presented. An example is provided to illustrate how …

Sepsis-Induced Cardiomyopathy: A Review Of Pathophysiologic Mechanisms., Anthony Flynn, Bhalaghuru Chokkalingam Mani, Paul J Mather

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Cardiac dysfunction is a well-recognized complication of severe sepsis and septic shock. Cardiac dysfunction in sepsis is characterized by ventricular dilatation, reduction in ejection fraction and reduced contractility. Initially, cardiac dysfunction was considered to occur only during the "hypodynamic" phase of shock. But we now know that it occurs very early in sepsis even during the "hyperdynamic" phase of septic shock. Circulating blood-borne factors were suspected to be involved in the evolution of sepsis induced cardiomyopathy, but it is not until recently that the cellular and molecular events are being targeted by researchers in a quest to understand this enigmatic …

Role Of Growth Factors In The Pathogenesis Of Tissue Fibrosis In Systemic Sclerosis., Sergio A. Jimenez, Susan V. Castro, Sonsoles Piera-Velazquez

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

The most severe clinical and pathologic manifestations of systemic sclerosis (SSc) are the result of a fibrotic process characterized by the excessive and often progressive deposition of collagen and other connective tissue macromolecules in skin and numerous internal organs. The mechanisms involved in the initiation and progression of the remarkable fibrotic process in SSc remain largely unknown. Extensive recent studies have indicated that a variety of polypeptide growth factors play a crucial role in this process. The most commonly implicated growth factors include transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), and vascular …

Accelerated Erosion Of Saltmarshes Infested By The Non-Native Burrowing Crustacean Sphaeroma Quoianum, Timothy Mathias Davidson, Catherine E. De Rivera

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Lateral erosion of saltmarshes is affected by many abiotic and biotic factors. While abiotic factors are typically regarded as primary drivers of erosion, biotic influences such as burrowing or bioturbating taxa can also extensively modify the physical structure of this marine habitat. Many estuaries on the Pacific coast of North America have been invaded by populations of the burrowing non-native isopod Sphaeroma quoianum, which are thought to exacerbate the erosion of saltmarshes. We conducted a mensurative experiment to examine the relationship between populations of S. quoianum and lateral erosion rate of saltmarshes in Coos Bay, Oregon, USA. After 1 …

Loring-Greenough House, North Yard Archaeogeophysics, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, John M. Steinberg, Christa M. Beranek, John Schoenfelder, Kathryn A. Catlin

Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research Publications

An archaeogeophysical survey was carried out in May 2010 using Geonics EM-38 RT and a Malå Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) system with a 500 MHz antenna over an 28x26 m grid immediately northeast of the Loring-Greenough house in Jamaica Plain, MA. Three major anomalies were identified. These anomalies have not been ground truthed, but they appear to be archaeological features. First, we suggest that there is builders trench just north of the house. Second, we suggest that there could be three east-west garden paths or other landscape features about 30 cm below the surface crossing the entire length of the …

Characterization And Pollutant Loading Estimation For Highway Runoff In Omaha, Nebraska, Camilo Torres

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Stormwater from roadways could have negative effects on the environment. Typical highway runoff pollutants include heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, gasoline constituents, PAHs (polyaromatic hydrocarbons), oxygen demanding compounds measured as COD (chemical oxygen demand) and BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), and road salts.

The objectives of this research were: characterize the pollutants in roadway runoff and determine the effectiveness of the existing stormwater BMPs at the study site. To accomplish these objectives, eleven rainfall events were sampled from November 2008 through November 2010.

First flush and composite highway runoff samples were analyzed for heavy metals, anions, nutrients, particulates, BOD, COD, VOCs, and …

A Pragmatic Assessment Of Government Support For Organic Agriculture In Ireland, Leslie Duram

Publications

Drawing on a pragmatic approach, this paper provides an analysis of governmental support for organic farming in Ireland. There are varying levels of encouragement and programmes provided to farmers in their conversion from conventional to organic production, and in their maintenance of organic production. Support policies vary across regions and are linked to European Union legislation, thus it is challenging to document the many types of support in place. This research investigates relevant technical, financial, and policy support available to organic farmers in Ireland. This exploratory study develops an assessment of Ireland within eight key categories of organic agricultural support: …

Are You My Mother - Missouri Denies Custodial Rights To Same-Sex Parent, Emmalee M. Miller

Missouri Law Review

This Note argues that Missouri should adopt a doctrine of alternative parentage that expands the definition of "parent" to include those in same-sex relationships who are not the biological or adoptive parents.' 0 In Part II, this Note analyzes the facts and holding of White. Next, in Part 111, this Note explores the Uniform Parentage Act and introduces the nontraditional forms of standing created by courts to allow third parties to obtain custody rights. Then, Part IV examines the court's rationale in White. Lastly, Part V explores why the court erred in its decision and why courts should recognize alternative …

Oncolog Volume 55, Number 11-12, November-December 2010, Bryan Tutt, Joe Munch

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues) Archives

• Desmoid Tumors: Multidiciplinary treatment for an enigmatic disease
• Endoscopic Surgery for Skull Base Tumors: Patient selection is the key to success for the minimally invasive procedure
• INBRIEF: Earlier Breast Cancer Screening Recommended for Hispanic Women/SUMO Is Important for DNA Damage Repair/Regional Care Centers Make Cancer Treatment Easily Accessible/SIK2 Plays Critical Role in Chemotherapy Resistance
• HOUSE CALL: Books Provide Comfort, Guidence, Relaxation

Implications Of Lifecourse Epidemiology For Research On Determinants Of Adult Disease, Sze Yan Liu, R N. Jones, M Maria Glymour

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Many diseases commonly associated with aging are now thought to have social and physiologic antecedents in early life. Understanding how the timing of exposure to early life risk factors influences later-life health may illuminate mechanisms driving adult health inequalities and identify possible points for effective interventions. Recognizing chronic diseases as developing across the lifecourse also has implications for the conduct of research on adult risk factors for disease. We review alternative conceptual models that describe how the timing of risk factor exposure relates to the development of disease. We propose some expansions of lifecourse models to improve their relevance for …

Effects Of Sediment Removal Techniques On Avian Communities And Vegetational Attributes In Restored Prairie Pothole Wetlands, Alexander Galt

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

With the loss and degradation of wetlands in some areas of the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) reaching 80-90%, it is critical that resource managers ensure that the habitat that is put back on the landscape is as high quality as possible. Resource managers have been excavating sediment and topsoil, to promote the “hemi-marsh” condition, during the wetland restoration process in the PPR for over 20 years. I refer to the commonly held perception that the hemi-marsh condition supports the most diverse avian communities in small prairie pothole wetlands as the hemi-marsh condition hypothesis. The literature currently does not address the …

Mindfulness And Test Anxiety In College Students, Jamey Brannon

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

This study is designed to look at the relationship between test anxiety and mindfulness. This study consists of three surveys designed to look at different aspects of mindfulness and test anxiety. The Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI) is designed to determine to what degree a student has test anxiety. The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) is designed to measure an individual’s level of mindfulness in five different facets. The White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) is designed to measure how much individuals suppress their thoughts. A Pearson Correlation was used to look for significant relationships between the TAI, the FFMQ, and the …

Effects Of Flooding On Photosynthesis And Root Respiration In Saltcedar (Tamarix Ramosissima), An Invasive Riparian Shrub, Kristen Polacik

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The introduced shrub Tamarix ramosissima Lebed. invades riparian zones, but loses competitiveness under flooding. This was tested in Tamarix ramosissima by examining responses to flooding by soil type in a greenhouse setting. A field study examined responses of Tamarix ramosissima and other species to natural flooding. Leaf level photosynthesis rates, stomatal conductance, transpiration, and root alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity were measured weekly to assess oxygen stress. In the field, stomatal conductance, leaf water potential, transpiration, canopy cover, and δ13C were measured as responses to soil water potential, soil moisture, Julian date, relative humidity, and water depth. In the greenhouse study, …

The Relation Between Sensation Seeking And Life Satisfaction, Stephanie Stegman

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The present study examined the relation between sensation seeking and life satisfaction. Participants completed four online surveys. One survey included a number of questions designed to measure personal sensation seeking level (Sensation Seeking Scale Form V). Another asked questions regarding life satisfaction (Satisfaction With Life Scale). A third survey included questions regarding one’s feelings about one’s self (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale). The final survey asked questions regarding perceived stress level (Perceived Stress Scale). Results indicated that higher levels of Disinhibition and Boredom Susceptibility were associated with lower levels of life satisfaction. Results also demonstrated that higher levels of Boredom Susceptibility were …

Distribution And Genetic Structure Of Pocket Gophers (Genus Geomys) In Kansas, Zachary J. Schwenke

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The development of informed management practices and insightful research depends not only on an understanding of species natural history and ecology, but information regarding the distributions of these species and how they interact with adjacent taxa. The study of a species distribution can become complicated if the geographic variation within the species is not understood. Pocket gophers, including those in the genus Geomys, display morphological and chromosomal variation across their range, even within the same species. Genetic techniques, including Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP), have clarified population relationships and characterized zones of contact. Previous studies have suggested 2 species and …

Note – Invalidating Gene Patents: Association For Molecular Pathology V. U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Ashley Mchugh

UC Law Journal

Biotechnology companies and research institutions have patented thousands of genes based on the idea that a gene in an isolated and purified form is a patentable invention. The biotechnology industry has since grown to a multibillion dollar industry using gene patents as a basis for targeting new drugs, researching genetic disease, and developing diagnostics. One company, Myriad Genetics, faces the threat of having their patents invalidated because of their monopolistic use of their patents on human breast cancer genes. In Association for Molecular Pathology v. U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the district court found Myriad’s gene patents invalid and unenforceable. …

Match–Mismatch Regulation For Bluegill And Yellow Perch Larvae And Their Prey In Sandhill Lakes, Jeffrey C. Jolley, David W. Willis, Richard S. Holland

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Staff Research Publications

Food availability may regulate fish recruitment, both directly and indirectly. The availability of zooplankton, especially to newly hatched larvae, is thought to be crucial to their early growth and survival. We examined stomach contents of larval bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and yellow perch Perca flavescens in Pelican Lake and Cameron Lake, Nebraska, in 2004 and 2005. We also determined zooplankton availability and calculated prey selection using Chesson’s a. In addition, we investigated potential match–mismatch regulation of recruitment from 2004 to 2008. Bluegill positively selected copepod nauplii and Bosmina spp., and yellow perch often selected copepods. Abundant zooplankton populations were available for …

An Exploration Of "The 'Wild West' Of Reproductive Technology": Ethical And Feminist Perspectives On Sex-Selection Practices In The United States, Meredith Leigh Birdsall

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

No abstract provided.

A Spouse By Any Other Name, Deborah J. Anthony

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

This article will investigate current state laws regarding the change of a husband’s name to his wife’s upon marriage. Given that tradition, and often law itself, discourage that practice, the lingering gendered norms that perpetuate the historical tradition will be explored. Components of this article will include a brief historical analysis of the origin of surnames and the law as it has developed on that issue, including an examination of the place of tradition in the law both empirically and normatively. A discussion of the psychological importance of names in the identities of men versus women will be addressed, as …

Diagnosing Conflict-Of-Interest Disorder, Lisa Cosgrove

Counseling, School Psychology & Sport Faculty Publication Series

In June 2010, the Association of American Medical Colleges issued the third and final portion of its conflict-of-interest policy initiatives. The task force on “Conflicts of Interest in Clinical Care” did not mince words when it described the impetus for these initiatives: “It is imperative that the possibility or perception of [financial conflict of interest] be advertently examined and appropriately evaluated to ensure that academic medicine in all of its missions is fundamentally dedicated to the welfare of patients and the improvement of public health.”

This report is especially timely because of recent questions raised by investigative journalists and policy …

Psychiatric Taxonomy, Psychopharmacology And Big Pharma, Lisa Cosgrove

Counseling, School Psychology & Sport Faculty Publication Series

Clinicians practicing today need to be aware of the ways in which the current industry-dominated climate may undermine the integrity of the scientific process and, thus, may compromise patient care. In the mental health field, corporate sponsorship bias can affect psychiatric taxonomy and clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG). Financial conflicts of interest (FCOI) can occur when there are financial associations between researchers, authors, or panel members developing psychiatric diagnostic and treatment guidelines, and the pharmaceutical industry, or when randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are industry funded. Therefore, clinicians need to be especially vigilant about the informed consent process when patients are prescribed …

Nonlinear Trigonometric Transformation Time Series Modeling, K. A. Bashiru, O. E. Olowofeso, S. A. Owabumoye

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

The nonlinear trigonometric transformation and augmented nonlinear trigonometric transformation with a polynomial of order two was examined. The two models were tested and compared using daily mean temperatures for 6 major towns in Nigeria with different rates of missing values. The results were used to determine the consistency and efficiency of the models formulated.

The Effects Of Phytase And An Enzyme Combination In Moderate And Low Nutrient Dense Diets In Laying Hens, Dana L. Hahn

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The objective was to test the addition of Avizyme ® 1502, a blend of protease, amylase and xylanase (Danisco, UK Ltd.) and a phytase in laying hens fed corn-soy diets containing Dried Distillers Grains (DDGS), Meat and Bone Meal (MBM). 384 Hy-Line W-36 laying hens were used in this study from 24-52 weeks of age. There were 12 replicate pens with 4 hens per pen, thus 96 pens in total. The study consisted of 8 dietary treatments arranged in a 2x2x2 factorial design. The factors were: diet (containing DDGS or MBM), metabolizable energy (ME) level 2930 Kcal/kg (Phase 1), 2880 …

Identification Of Sources Of Rhizoctonia Root Rot Resistance In Common Bean And Mapping A New Source Of Bean Rust Resistance From The Tertiary Gene Pool Of Common Bean, Pamela A. Peña-Perdomo

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

An efficient screening method was developed and used to identify bean lines resistant to Rhizoctonia Root Rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn. Two sets of 163 and 111 lines previously evaluated for drought tolerance at Mitchell, NE and Isabela, PR were evaluated for Rhizoctonia Root Rot resistance under greenhouse conditions. This root rot data was also correlated with yield under drought stress and non stress conditions. In the first set of lines the rhizoctonia mean score ranged from 1.7 to 3.9; and in the second set the rhizoctonia mean score was between 2.6 and 5.7. There was no significant correlation …