Digital Commons Network^™

July 12, 2010 Reporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Multidisciplinary Assessment And Documentation Of Past And Present Human Impacts On The Neotropical Forests Of Petén, Guatemala, Christopher Stephen Balzotti

Theses and Dissertations

Tropical forests provide important habitat for a tremendous diversity of plant and animal species. However, limitations in measuring and monitoring the structure and function of tropical forests has caused these systems to remain poorly understood. Remote-sensing technology has provided a powerful tool for quantification of structural patterns and associating these with resource use. Satellite and aerial platforms can be used to collect remotely sensed images of tropical forests that can be applied to ecological research and management. Chapter 1 of this article highlights the resources available for tropical forest remote sensing and presents a case-study that demonstrates its application to …

Core-Shell Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Design, And Characterization, Kyler Carroll

Theses and Dissertations

The design of core/shell nanoparticles is of great interest for a wide range of applications. The primary focus of this dissertation is on the design and optimization of two synthetic routes. The first one is an aqueous reduction method using sodium borohydride and sodium citrate. This method was extended to design two types of core/shell nanoparticles, both of which have many applications in bio-sensing, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetically guided SERS for the identification of environmental threats. The first, Fe/Ag core/shell nanoparticles were designed using a novel one-pot method by varying the AgNO₃ addition time in the system. For …

Characterization Of Unidentified Viruses From Florida, Jessie L. Dyer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Public Health and clinical laboratories occasionally obtain viral isolates that cannot be typed by routine methods. Therefore, the sequence-independent, single primer amplification (SISPA) technique was adapted to rapidly identify and characterize viral isolates of unknown etiology. A panel of known (West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus) and unknown viral isolates (environmental samples collected in Florida) were used to develop and refine the SISPA technique. Selectivity for viral genomic sequences was obtained through enriching viral particles by centrifugation, removal of cellular debris by filtration and removal of host genomic material by benzonase application. The SISPA method successfully amplified the …

Deep-Sea Fishes Of The Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Results Of The 2009 Henry Bigelow Expedition, Tracey Sutton, April B. Cook, John K. Galbraith, M. Vecchione

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

As part of an ongoing study of the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge biodiversity and ecology (CoML field project MAR-ECO), a detailed survey of the pelagic and demersal fishes in the region of the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone (~ 600 n.m. south of Greenland) was conducted. A total of 17181 pelagic fishes (92 spp., 35 families) were sampled from 0-3000+ m, with the Myctophidae the most species-rich. The bristlemouth Cyclothone microdon was by far the dominant species in numbers (82% of total), while the sawtooth eel Serrivomer beani dominated biomass (27%). A total of 441 deep-demersal fishes (28 spp., 13 families) were sampled …

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - July 11, 2010, Lindsey Lyle

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the July 11, 2010 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's newsletter - Watercooler.

Contents Include:

• Alabama Family Practice Rural Health Board Supports USA's Success in Training Family Practice Physicians
• USA College of Medicine Welcomes Dr. Silvio W. de Melo Jr.
• USA College of Medicine Welcomes Dr. Sidney Ball Brevard
• USA College of Medicine Welcomes Dr. Robert A. Stauffer
• July Med School Café - "Handling the Stress Associated with the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill"

Sbe Notícias, Ano 5, No. 160, July 11, 2010, Marcelo A. Rasteiro, Delci K. Ishida

SBE Notícias

GUPE trabalha no cânion do rio São Jorge - Chamada de trabalhos para a revista Espeleologia - Exposição da SEE no Museu da UFOP - Livro destaca atuação espanhola na Paraíba - Membro do GPE vai ministrar palestra na França - Artigo sobre turismo na Gruta do Lago Azul - Nota de falecimento: Valtencir Canabrava - Artigo discute a política ambiental e a legislação de cavernas - Novo livro sobre peixes subterrâneos - Novas descobertas no Parque das Mangabeiras - Adolescentes acham caverna em Marte - Estudo revela pré-história de Ubajara - Correios lança selo em homenagem a Peter Lund …

De Anima, Dna: A Modified Stump/Aquinas Hylomorphic Model, The Soul And The Identity Of Human Persons, Resurrected, Matthew Grant Mcdaniel

Masters Theses

In contemporary metaphysics, there are two popular options for personal numerical identity (NID) over time: substance dualism and materialism. According to recent arguments by some Christian philosophers, both options conflict with the Christian doctrine of the bodily resurrection. Substance dualism trivializes the physical body for NID (when it has some kind of role in the bodily resurrection), and also is seen to conflict with modern neuroscience. But NID and mind cannot be continued solely by the material body, as versions of the Replacement Argument (from Richard Swinburne and Alvin Plantinga) show. There are good aspects to both options, especially with …

Distribution And Trophic Ecology Of Bathylagus Euryops (Teleostei: Microstomatidae) Along The Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Christopher J. Sweetman, Tracey Sutton

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

The assemblage structure and ecology of meso- and bathypelagic fishes are poorly known in general, particularly over mid-ocean ridges. In June 2004, the month-long MAR-ECO (Census of Marine Life) research expedition aboard the R/V G.O. Sars sampled the deep-pelagic fauna over the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge with the objective of quantitatively assessing the nekton associated with the ridge from Iceland to the Azores. A total of 115 discrete-depth trawl samples were taken from the surface to depths of 3000+ meters using two different double-warp midwater trawls, one of commercial fishing size (a large ‘Akra' trawl) and one of oceanographic research size …

Stable Isotope Analysis Of The Sandbar Shark, Carcharinus Plumbeus: A Minimally Invasive Method For Comparison Of Diet And Trophic Relationships Between Genders, Locations, And Age Classes, David Shiffman, Gorka Sancho, Bryan Frazier, John Kucklick, Dan Abel, Tracey Sutton, Kristene T. Parsons

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

The 2006 National Marine Fisheries Service SEDAR for large coastal sharks recommended the gathering of additional diet and trophic relationship data for the sandbar shark, Carcharinus plumbeus. No diet studies of any kind have been performed on South Carolina subpopulations of C. plumbeus, and stable isotope analysis has never been performed on this species. Muscle samples were taken from C. plumbeus caught by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science shark surveys. The analysis of δ13C and δ 15N from this muscle tissue is ongoing and will be compared with prey …

Acute Responses To Estradiol Replacement In The Olfactory System Of Apoe-Deficient And Wild-Type Mice, Britto Nathan, Michael Tonsor, Robert Struble

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Epidemiological studies suggest that estrogen therapy protects against clinical expression of chronic neurological diseases. These beneficial effects of estrogen therapy are highly modified by apolipoprotein E (apoE) through an unknown mechanism. We examined the short-term effects of estradiol replacement in ovariectomized mice on apoE expression and markers for cell proliferation, reactive gliosis, neuronal maturation, and synaptogenesis in the primary olfactory pathway of wild-type (WT) and apoE knockout (KO) mice. Three days of estradiol replacement increased apoE expression in the olfactory nerve and in the glomerular layer. Estradiol treatment also increased cell proliferation, total cell numbers, number of mature neurons in …

Acute Responses To Estradiol Replacement In The Olfactory System Of Apoe-Deficient And Wild-Type Mice, Britto P. Nathan, Michael Tonsor, Robert G. Struble

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Epidemiological studies suggest that estrogen therapy protects against clinical expression of chronic neurological diseases. These beneficial effects of estrogen therapy are highly modified by apolipoprotein E (apoE) through an unknown mechanism. We examined the short-term effects of estradiol replacement in ovariectomized mice on apoE expression and markers for cell proliferation, reactive gliosis, neuronal maturation, and synaptogenesis in the primary olfactory pathway of wild-type (WT) and apoE knockout (KO) mice. Three days of estradiol replacement increased apoE expression in the olfactory nerve and in the glomerular layer. Estradiol treatment also increased cell proliferation, total cell numbers, number of mature neurons in …

A Guide To Drug Dealing, Scott Thomas Jacques

Dissertations

The goal of this dissertation – A Guide to Drug Dealing – is to move scientists toward a deeper conceptual and theoretical understanding of illicit drug markets. What behaviors are experienced in the course of drug dealing? Why do some customers get a better price than others? What are the circumstances that result in retaliation? Why do some victimized drug dealers respond with peaceful social control rather than violence? What leads to the termination of drug dealing? When does the law handle drug market conflict? In short, this is a guide to drug dealing that – chapter by chapter – …

Shark Assemblage Structure In The Chesapeake Bight, Kristene T. Parsons, Tracey Sutton, John A. Musick

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

The role and importance of the Chesapeake Bight region as essential fish habitat for several species of sharks is well represented in primary literature and US fisheries management plans. Diverse assemblages of shark taxa utilize the Chesapeake Bay and adjacent coasts at various stages throughout their lives. As top predators in most of the environments where they occur, sharks are key to maintaining healthy, diverse ecosystems. The estuarine waters of the Chesapeake Bay are exposed to extreme ranges in temperature and salinity, and consequently the environmental suitability of the Bay is spatially and temporally restricted to select taxa. By identifying …

Control Of Catalytic Cycle By A Pair Of Analogous Trna Modification Enzymes., Thomas Christian, Georges Lahoud, Cuiping Liu, Ya-Ming Hou

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Enzymes that use distinct active site structures to perform identical reactions are known as analogous enzymes. The isolation of analogous enzymes suggests the existence of multiple enzyme structural pathways that can catalyze the same chemical reaction. A fundamental question concerning analogous enzymes is whether their distinct active-site structures would confer the same or different kinetic constraints to the chemical reaction, particularly with respect to the control of enzyme turnover. Here, we address this question with the analogous enzymes of bacterial TrmD and its eukaryotic and archaeal counterpart Trm5. TrmD and Trm5 catalyze methyl transfer to synthesize the m1G37 base at …

Educating For The Knowledge Age: A Collective Case Study Of Teachers’ Beliefs In A Problem Based Learning Environment, Amy Marie Ruffus Doerr

Dissertations

There is a growing trend in the business literature; education is not preparing students for the Knowledge Age. The literature further states the foundation of a successful Knowledge Economy and the production of its knowledge workers is education. Considering that the school system is a foundation for learning, it is a startling revelation that education reform has not focused more explicitly on knowledge work. If we expect to be successful in the Knowledge Age, a new conception of knowledge and learning is necessary, and will aid in the development of new knowledge workers. This further necessitates a more in depth …

Social Studies Teachers Who Teach Toward Social Justice: An Examination Of Life Histories, Robert Andrew Good

Dissertations

This dissertation reports on a qualitative investigation of two research questions: What experiences lead secondary social studies teachers to become passionate and committed to teaching toward social justice? How do these teachers conceptualize and practice teaching toward social justice in the social studies? The study, which employed a life history design informed by a sociocultural approach, examined data from interviews with thirteen secondary social studies teachers whose practice emphasized social justice concepts. Data were interpreted using both narrative analysis and inductive content analysis. A variety of life experiences such as family, schooling, oppression, spirituality, friendships, teaching experience, work experience, community, …

Molecular Mechanisms Involved Involved In The Interaction Effects Of Hcv And Ethanol On Liver Cirrhosis, Ryan Fassnacht

Theses and Dissertations

The leading causes of liver disease are Hepatitis C virus infection and chronic alcohol abuse. Alcohol accelerates liver disease in HCV but the mechanisms are poorly understood. The identification of molecular gene expression profiles on human liver tissue was performed using microarrays. Samples were obtained from alcoholic-cirrhotic, HCV-cirrhotic, HCV/alcohol-cirrhotic and control non-cirrhotic liver tissue. Probe set expression summaries were calculated using RMA. Probe set level linear models were fit where probe set expression was modeled by HCV status, alcohol status, and the interaction between HCV and Alcohol. HCV cirrhosis was associated with up-regulation of genes related to viral and immune …

Factors Influencing The Frequency Of Nest Parasitism By Brown-Headed Cowbirds In The Northern Sierra Nevada, Kathi L. Borgmann, Michael L. Morrison

Western North American Naturalist

Nest parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) can negatively affect host populations. Landscape-scale factors, such as proximity to residential areas, equestrian riding stables, and grazing allotments, can affect the risk of nest parasitism as well as the abundance of Brown-headed Cowbirds. Recent increases in residential and recreational development along with a reduction in grazing allotments in the northern Sierra Nevada provide an opportunity to reevaluate factors that influence frequency of nest parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds. Frequency of nest parasitism increased as the distance to the nearest residential center and distance to the nearest equestrian riding stable decreased. Similarly, …

Pollen Evidence Of Historical Forest Disturbance On The Wasatch Plateau, Utah, Jesse L. Morris, Andrea R. Brunelle, A. Steven Munson

Western North American Naturalist

Environmental indicators from lake sediments provide excellent opportunities to improve understanding of forest disturbance processes and corresponding changes in forest composition. Our research provides a methodology for assessing recent, historic, and prehistoric disturbances using lacustrine sediment records. We collected sediment cores from Blue Lake, a small subalpine lake on the Wasatch Plateau in central Utah. These cores record environmental changes caused by both spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis Kirby) and human (logging and livestock grazing) modification. We observed deteriorated insect remains in the lake sediments. These remains correspond temporally with a historic spruce beetle outbreak, though alkaline conditions in the …

Daily And Seasonal Patterns Of Activity At Pygmy Rabbit Burrows In Utah, Janet E. Lee, Randy T. Larsen, Jerran T. Flinders, Dennis L. Eggett

Western North American Naturalist

The pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) is a secretive, obligate sagebrush-steppe resident of the Intermountain West and is one of two rabbits in North America that digs its own burrows. Although the pygmy rabbit has a recorded home range of 0.21–67.9 ha in relatively high sagebrush cover (21%–36%), they spend much of their time within 30–100 m of a burrow system. Due to big sagebrush cover in preferred habitat and the secretive behavior of pygmy rabbits, it is often difficult to study this leporid through direct observation. We used remote cameras to document pygmy rabbit activity at burrow systems …

Mineral Lick Use By Gps Radio-Collared Mountain Goats In Southeastern British Columbia, Kim G. Poole, Karl D. Bachmann, Irene E. Teske

Western North American Naturalist

In most populations of mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus), mineral lick use is an essential part of the ecology of the species. In many areas, the distribution and use of licks in the landscape is poorly known, rendering planning for resource development difficult. We examined lick use by 28 GPS radio-collared mountain goats in 2 study areas in southeastern British Columbia during 2004–2005. Viewing collar-location movements on digital orthophotos, we assumed goat use of 6 previously known and 10 suspected mineral licks. Field visits verified that 9 of the 10 suspected sites were mineral licks. Thirteen of the 15 …

Evaluation Of Brood Detection Techniques: Recommendations For Estimating Greater Sage-Grouse Productivity, David K. Dahlgren, Terry A. Messmer, Eric T. Thacker, Michael R. Guttery

Western North American Naturalist

Obtaining timely and accurate assessment of sage-grouse (Centrocercus spp.) chick survival and recruitment is an important component of species management and conservation. We compared the effectiveness of walking, spotlight, and pointing-dog surveys to detect radio-marked and unmarked chicks within broods of radio-marked hens in Utah. Walking surveys detected 72% of marked chicks, while spotlight and pointing-dog surveys detected 100% and 96%, respectively. We found no difference between spotlight and pointing-dog counts in number of marked and unmarked chicks detected (P = 0.57). Spotlight counts were slightly more time efficient than pointing-dog surveys. However, spotlight surveys were nocturnal searches …

Preliminary Assessment Of Velvet Ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) Diversity In The Deserts Of Southern California, Joseph S. Wilson, Kevin A. Williams, James P. Pitts

Western North American Naturalist

The deserts of southern California house a diverse and unique insect fauna. Velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) are common in these deserts. Velvet ants are important to ecosystem health, particularly in desert environments, because they are parasitic on the bees and wasps that help maintain overall ecosystem function. The goal of this study was to measure velvet ant diversity across the deserts of southern California. We made preliminary collections from 10 sites in a variety of areas in the western Sonoran Desert (Colorado Desert), the Mojave Desert, and the Great Basin Desert. We measured β-diversity using Sørensen's similarity index to compare …

Status Of An Invading Mainland Jackrabbit On Cerralvo Island, Gulf Of California, Consuelo Lorenzo, Sergio Ticul Álvarez-Castañeda, Patricia Cortés-Calva, Mayra De La Paz, Jorge E. Bolaños

Western North American Naturalist

We report the first observations of the black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) on Cerralvo Island, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Evidence suggests a self-sustaining population. Analysis of available records indicates no previous record of Lepus on the island. Introduction of the jackrabbit to the island appears to have occurred between 1960 and 1991.

First Reports Of Draba Pennellii And Draba Pedicellata (Cruciferae) In Utah, And New Distribution Records For Draba Kassii, Draba Novolympica, And Hackelia Ibapensis (Boraginaceae)., James G. Harris

Western North American Naturalist

The discovery of Draba pennellii Rollins and D. pedicellata (Rollins & R.A. Price) Windham var. pedicellata, both previously known only from Nevada, is reported here from the Deep Creek Mountains of western Utah. The documentation of significant populations of D. pennellii and D. pedicellata var. pedicellata in Utah is important for accurate botanical inventories and floristic studies in both Utah and Nevada. New distribution records for D. kassii S.L. Welsh, D. novolympica Payson & St. John, and Hackelia ibapensis L.M. Shultz & J.S. Shultz are described, and the significance of these range extensions and new populations is discussed.

Nighttime Aboveground Movements By Prairie Dogs On Colonies Inhabited By Black-Footed Ferrets, David A. Eads, Jennifer G. Chipault, Dean E. Biggins, Travis M. Livieri, Joshua J. Millspaugh

Western North American Naturalist

We describe observations of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) emerging aboveground at night, apparently in response to wild-born and captive-born black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) in South Dakota and New Mexico, respectively. We also discuss other similar observations accumulated on black-tailed prairie dog colonies as well as observations of white-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys leucurus) making nighttime movements, apparently in response to pre-reintroduction ferrets in Wyoming. Our observations suggest that, in addition to documented daytime defenses against ferrets, prairie dogs reduce vulnerability to predation by ferrets by using evasive movements at night.

Field Guide To The Beetles Of California By Arthur V. Evans And James N. Hogue, Richard S. Zack

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, Vol. 70 No. 2

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

End Matter, Vol. 70 No. 2

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.