Digital Commons Network^™

Hugo De Vries., Daniel Trembly Macdougal

The Open Court

No abstract provided.

Motile Cryptofauna Of An Eastern Pacific Coral Reef: Biodiversity And Trophic Contribution, Ian C. Enochs

Open Access Dissertations

Coral reef cryptofauna (coelobites) are metazoans that occupy the hidden recesses formed by structural taxa such as corals. While cryptic communities are thought to account for the majority of reef biodiversity and play important roles in reef trophodynamics, little empirical evidence exists supporting these claims. Quantitative sampling of coelobites has been thus far limited due to highly heterogeneous reef topographies as well as difficulties associated with identification of large numbers of species. In the eastern Pacific, monogeneric stands of Pocillopora form reef structures that are homogeneous across a horizontal plane and support a relatively depauperate fauna, thereby permitting detailed multispecies …

Dynamical Grouping In Complex Systems, Zhenyuan Zhao

Open Access Dissertations

Quantifying the behavior of complex systems arguably presents the common ¡°hard¡±problem across the physical, biological, social, economic sciences. Individual-based or agent-based models have proved useful in a variety of different real world systems: from the physical, biological, medical domains through to social and even financial domains. There are many different models in each of these fields, each with their own particular assumptions, strengths and weaknesses for particular application areas. However, there is a lack of minimal model analysis in which both numerical and analytic results can be obtained, and hence allowing different application domains to be analyzed on a common …

Pinus Elliottii Var. Densa Seedling Performance Reflects Ectomycorrhizas, Soil Nutrient Availability And Root Competition, Tania Wyss Lozano Hoyos

Open Access Dissertations

Ectomycorrhizas generally improve seedling mineral nutrition and growth, so I hypothesized that decline of the Florida native pine variety Pinus elliottii var. densa Little & Dorman is related to deficiency of appropriate ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi in the pine's native flatwoods. At Archbold Biological Station I examined how quickly ECM fungi colonize P. elliottii var. densa seedlings and I compared the effect of local absence versus presence of adult pines on ECM colonization and pine seedling performance. Under controlled greenhouse conditions, I investigated how a wide range of ECM colonization and spread of extraradical mycelium throughout a large volume of relatively …

Mate Choice In A Sexually Dimorphic Marine Bird, The Great Frigatebird (Fregata Minor), Frans A. Juola

Open Access Dissertations

Darwin's theory of sexual selection explains the existence of sexual dimorphism, or within-species sex differences in shape, color, size, and behavior. In some cases, sexually dimorphic traits, especially extravagant male ornaments, seem maladaptive and thus in opposition to natural selection. The crux of Darwin's theory was that sexual selection arises from individual differences in reproductive success that result from competition for mates. In this dissertation, I investigated several aspects of sexual selection and the evolution of female mating preferences and male ornaments in the great frigatebird (Fregata minor). Frigatebirds as a group (family Fregatidae) are the most ornamented of any …

Intrinsic And Extrinsic Factors For The Regeneration Of Brainstem Axons After Spinal Cord Injury, Ryan R. Williams

Open Access Dissertations

After traumatic injury, the successful regeneration of axons in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) that leads to functional recovery will require a combination of therapeutic strategies. Following complete transection of the thoracic spinal cord, previous studies found the implantation of a bridge containing Schwann cells (SCs) and Matrigel promotes intraspinal but not supraspinal axon regeneration. Therefore, work in this dissertation sought to elucidate both intrinsic and extrinsic factors that enhance the regeneration of brainstem axons in a SC bridge. Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-mediated expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was utilized as a novel method for anterogradely tracing the …

Development Of A Methodology To Attain High Levels Of Storage Proteins In Cassava Tuberized Roots And Its Implications, Mohammad Abhary

Dissertations

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, cultivated in the tropics and subtropical areas as a staple food crop for more than 700 million people around the world. The starchy storage roots of cassava are rich in calories and deficient in all other nutrients, cassava meals has the lowest of all sources of dietary protein. Severe protein deficiencies and malnutrition problems are common among those who rely on cassava as their daily meal. Although cassava is ranked the fifth most important crop in the world, the research on this crop is very limited. Among the limited …

Nor'easter News Volume 4 Issue 6, Nor'easter News Staff

Nor'easter News

The thirty-third issue of the University of New England's student-run newspaper, Nor'easter News.

12/15/2010 - Commencement Ceremonies.Pdf, University Marketing And Communications

2010

No abstract provided.

Ua4/2 Academic Budgets & Administration - Correspondence/Subject File, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Correspondence and subject files created by the office of Academic Budgets & Administration and its reporting offices:

• Academic Budgets
• Manager of Academic Resources
• PIE Grants Coordinator

Evaluation Of Hydraulic Efficiency Of Disinfection Systems Based On Residence Time Distribution Curves, Jordan M. Wilson, Subhas K. Venayagamoorthy

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Hydraulic efficiency is a vital component in evaluating the disinfection capability of a contact system. Current practice evaluates these systems based upon the theoretical detention time (TDT) and the rising limb of the residence time distribution (RTD) curve. This evaluation methodology is expected because most systems are built based on TDT under a "black box" approach to disinfection system design. Within recent years, the proliferation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has allowed a more insightful approach to disinfection system design and analysis. Research presented in this study using CFD models and physical tracer studies shows that evaluation methods based upon …

Usa V. Livingston

2010 Decisions

USDC for the District of Delaware

In Vivo Evidence For The Iron-Binding Activity Of An Iron-Sulfur Cluster Assembly Protein Isca In Escherichia Coli, Wu Wang, Hao Huang, Guoqiang Tan, Fan Si, Min Liu, Aaron P. Landry, Jianxin Lu, Huangen Ding

Faculty Publications

IscA is a key member of the iron-sulfur cluster assembly machinery in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms; however, the physiological function of IscA still remains elusive. In the present paper we report the in vivo evidence demonstrating the iron-binding activity of IscA in Escherichia coli cells. Supplement of exogenous iron (1 μM) in M9 minimal medium is sufficient to maximize the iron binding in IscA expressed in E. coli cells under aerobic growth conditions. In contrast, IscU, an iron-sulfur cluster assembly scaffold protein, or CyaY, a bacterial frataxin homologue, fails to bind any iron in E. coli cells under the same …

Golgi Cells Operate As State-Specific Temporal Filters At The Input Stage Of The Cerebellar Cortex, Shane A. Heine, Stephen M. Highstein, Pablo M. Blazquez

Open Access Publications

Cerebellar processing of incoming information begins at the synapse between mossy fibers and granule cells, a synapse that is strongly controlled through Golgi cell inhibition. Thus, Golgi cells are uniquely positioned to control the flow of information into the cerebellar cortex and understanding their responses during behavior is essential to understanding cerebellar function. Here we show, for the first time, that Golgi cells express a unique oculomotor-related signal that can be used to provide state- and time-specific filtering of granule cell activity. We used newly established criteria to identify the unique electrophysiological signature of Golgi cells and recorded these neurons …

Improving The Emulsion Stability Of Sponge Cake By The Addition Of ?-Polyglutamic Acid, Yung-Shin Shyu, Wen-Chieh Sung

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The batter properties of sponge cake with the addition of γ-polyglutamic acid (PGA) at different levels (0.05, 0.1, 0.5 gkg-1, w/w) was evaluated. The viscosity, emulsion stability and foam stability increased at the addition of 0.5 gkg-1 PGA level. PGA caused significant declines in the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) enthalpy, onset and peak temperatures of ice-melting transition of sponge cake. Sponge cakes manufactured with 0.5 gkg-1 PGA addition were in general lighter on crumb color and white index than the control. Scanning electron microscopy showed that sponge cake with the addition of 0.1 and 0.5 gkg-1 PGA exhibited microstructures having …

Twelve Morris Faculty Receive Universitywide Research Enhance Funds, University Relations

Campus News Archive

Morris Faculty Research Enhancement Funds were awarded this fall to support research-related activities. Professors Stephen Burks and Chris Cole received $5,000 awards. Ten faculty received awards ranging from $70 to $1,000, and 37 Travel Differential Awards of $300 were awarded.

The Antelope, University Of Nebraska At Kearney

The Antelope

No abstract provided.

The Tower, 12/15/2010

University Newspapers

No abstract provided.

An Adaptive Coverage Control Algorithm For Deployment Of Nonholonomic Mobile Sensors, Chaouki T. Abdallah, Jose Marcio Luna, Rafael Fierro, John Wood

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

We show the Lyapunov stability and convergence of an adaptive and decentralized coverage control for a team of mobile sensors. This new approach assumes nonholonomic sensors rather than the usual holonomic sensors found in the literature. The kinematics of the unicycle model and a nonlinear control law in polar coordinates are used in order to prove the stability of the controller applied over a team of mobile sensors. The convergence and feasibility of the coverage control algorithm are verified through simulations in Matlab. Furthermore, some experiments are carried out using a team of four Pioneer 3-AT robots sensing a piecewise …

Modeling And Testing Of Dna Motion For Nanoinjection, Regis Agenor David

Theses and Dissertations

A new technique, called nanoinjection, is being developed to insert foreign DNA into a living cell. Such DNA transfection is commonly used to create transgenic organisms vital to the study of genetics, immunology, and many other biological sciences. In nanoinjection, DNA, which has a net negative charge, is electrically attracted to a micromachined lance. The lance then pierces the cell membranes, and the voltage on the lance is reversed, repelling the DNA into the cell. It is shown that DNA motion is strongly correlated to ion transport through a process called electrophoresis. Gel electrophoresis is used to move DNA using …

Volume 48, Number 17: December 15, 2010, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Chemical Vapor Deposition Of Silanes And Patterning On Silicon, Feng Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Self assembled monolayers (SAMs) are widely used for surface modification. Alkylsilane monolayers are one of the most widely deposited and studied SAMs. My work focuses on the preparation, patterning, and application of alkysilane monolayers. 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) is one of the most popular silanes used to make active surfaces for surface modification. To possibly improve the surface physical properties and increase options for processing this material, I prepared and studied a series of amino silane surfaces on silicon/silicon dioxide from APTES and two other related silanes by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). I also explored CVD of 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane on silicon and quartz. …

The Application Of E-Technology For Marine Information Service, Lien-Kwei Chien, Tsung-Shen Feng, Chieh-Cheng Yen, Beng-Chun Lee, Heng-Wen Chang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The purpose of this study is to establish the multi-function querying system by applying e-technology in marine data. Subjects tendency technology is new concept in system designing process of this study which originate from simulation language that was replace the structural technology. We also investigate the statistical characteristics of ocean waves and surges over Taiwan waters by cluster and return period analysis. Marine drifter track analysis and search area determination system were also analysis and import to GIS querying system. In order to make the locations of the near shore ships and sailing data could be easily convey through wireless …

A Study Of Language Attitudes Concerning The De-Affication Of /Tʃ/, The Pronunciation Of The /Tɾ/ Consonant Cluster, And The Use Of The Definite Article With Proper Names In Santiago, Chile, Ian J. Dixon

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis analyzes the linguistic attitudes of natives from Santiago, Chile regarding three linguistic phenomena present in Chilean Spanish of Santiago: the fricative realization of the Spanish /tʃ/, the assibilated realization of /tɾ/ and the use of the definite article before the first names of people. The social factors of age, sex and socioeconomic status are acknowledged as possible factors contributing to the linguistic attitudes of the 64 participants interviewed.

African American Women's Health: An Examination Of Resource Needs, Context, And Public Policy Over The Life Course, Cynthia Newbille

Theses and Dissertations

African American Women's Health: An Examination of Resource Needs, Context, and Public Policy over the Life Course

Incorporating Feedback From Multiple Sensory Modalities Enhances Brain–Machine Interface Control, Aaron J. Suminski, Dennis C. Tkach, Andrew H. Fagg, Nicholas G. Hatsopoulos

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The brain typically uses a rich supply of feedback from multiple sensory modalities to control movement in healthy individuals. In many individuals, these afferent pathways, as well as their efferent counterparts, are compromised by disease or injury resulting in significant impairments and reduced quality of life. Brain–machine interfaces (BMIs) offer the promise of recovered functionality to these individuals by allowing them to control a device using their thoughts. Most current BMI implementations use visual feedback for closed-loop control; however, it has been suggested that the inclusion of additional feedback modalities may lead to improvements in control. We demonstrate for the …

Measuring Awareness Of The Impacts Of Change In The Public Health Workforce: A Precursory Step In Promoting A Shared Vision Via Cross-Sectoral Collaboration, Anthony G. Robins, Dhitinut Ratnapradipa, Kadi R. Bliss

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

Public health is currently undergoing significant changes and becoming increasingly dependent on one another to achieve their missions. The restructuring is forcing public health stakeholders to reexamine their present and future roles. This case study examines a local health department’s staff and its awareness of the department’s epidemiology program as a practical framework for thinking about and implementing cross-sectoral collaboration. An OEB (Office of Epidemiology and Biostatistics) Awareness Survey was developed and administered to 492 participants at the Allegheny County Health Department. Cross-sectional analysis examined associations between demographics, behavioral and cultural factors, and help seeking (attempts at collaboration). Results indicate …

The Carbonate System In Natural Waters, Hector Bustos-Serrano

Open Access Dissertations

Reliable measurements of the thermodynamics of the carbonate system are needed to better understand the CO2 system in natural waters. New measurements of the carbonic acid pK1* and pK2* in seawater have been made over a wide range of temperatures (1 to 50°C) and salinities. The commonly used CO2 constants of Mehrbach et al., (1973) were limited to salinities (19 to 43) and temperatures (2 to 35°C). They cannot be used to study estuarine or fresh waters. The results of these measured pK1* and pK2* values are in good agreement with those determined using the Miami Pitzer equations (Millero and …

Physiological Effects Of High Salinity In Teleost Fish, Janet Genz

Open Access Dissertations

Natural exposure to hypersaline environments occurs in many fish species (e.g. in tidal pools, lakes, estuaries, or due to migration). Fish in environments that are more concentrated than their extracellular fluids experience continual diffusive water loss which they combat by drinking. Intestinal Na+ and Cl- absorption drives water uptake and concentrates impermeable MgSO4 in the lumen. Epithelial Cl- absorption occurs in part by apical Cl-/HCO3- exchange, with HCO3- provided by transepithelial transport and/or by carbonic anhydrase-mediated hydration of endogenous CO2. Hydration of CO2 also liberates H+, which is excreted across either the basolateral or apical membranes. Transport of water, ions, …

Biomarkers Of Mild Cognitive Impairment And Alzheimer's Disease, Mark A. Lovell, Bert C. Lynn

Chemistry Faculty Patents

A method for quantifying a neurodegenerative disorder in a patient that includes obtaining a fluid sample from the subject; measuring a protein biomarker complex in said fluid sample and correlating the measurement with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease status. The biomarkers include those that comprise at least one of a transthyretin protein and/or a prostaglandin-H2 D-isomerase protein, and at least one second, different protein selected from a transthyretin, prostaglandin-H2 D-isomerase, beta-2-microglobulin, cystatin C, superoxide dismutase [Cu—Zn], plasma retinol-binding protein, phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein, carbonic anhydrase 2, prostaglandin-H2 D-isomerase, and/or serotransferrin protein.