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The Design Of A Polarimeter And Its Use For The Study Of The Variation Of Downwelling Polarized Radiance Distribution With Depth In The Ocean, Purushottam Bhandari

Open Access Dissertations

The spectral polarized radiance distribution provides the most complete description of the light field that can be measured. However, this is a very difficult parameter to measure near the surface because of its large dynamic range, dependence on incoming sky conditions, and waves at the air-sea interface. The measurement of the Stokes vector of the downwelling polarized light field requires the combination of at least four images, all of which must be obtained simultaneously. To achieve this, a new polarimeter (which we call DPOL) has been designed, characterized, calibrated and deployed. The description of the DPOL, its calibrations and characterizations …

Functional Modifications Of Acid-Sensing Ion Channels By Ligand-Gated Chloride Channels, Xuanmao Chen, Paul Whissell, Beverley A. Orser, John F. Macdonald

Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences

Together, acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) and epithelial sodium channels (ENaC) constitute the majority of voltage-independent sodium channels in mammals. ENaC is regulated by a chloride channel, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Here we show that ASICs were reversibly inhibited by activation of GABAA receptors in murine hippocampal neurons. This inhibition of ASICs required opening of the chloride channels but occurred with both outward and inward GABAA receptor-mediated currents. Moreover, activation of the GABAA receptors modified the pharmacological features and kinetic properties of the ASIC currents, including the time course of activation, desensitization and deactivation. Modification of ASICs by …

Lip Localization Algorithm Using Gabor Filters, Robert E. Hursig, Jane Xiaozheng Zhang, Chiweng Kam

Electrical Engineering

This paper describes a lip localization algorithm within a still image frame for subsequent tracking and audiovisual speech recognition processing. A Gabor filter-based feature space is promoted as a means to localize lips within an image based off of shape. This filtered space is shown to effectively differentiate facial features, including lips, from their backgrounds and to bound the full extent of the lips within a face-classified region of interest. Extensive training and test sets are used to justify design decisions and performance.

Bjc Today

BJC Today

No abstract provided.

Digital Media In Education: Expanding The Technology Acceptance Model, Heidi Huntington

Theses

Studies show that use of computer-based information communication technologies (ICTs) can have positive impacts on student motivation and learning. The present study examines the issue of ICT adoption in the classroom by expanding the technology acceptance model (TAM) to identify factors that contribute to teacher acceptance and use of these technologies in the classroom. A survey was conducted of 57 high school teachers from around the United States. Results show that the variables of teacher belief profile and teacher efficacy can determine high school teacher acceptance of these technologies, when added to the TAM. Additionally, the study confirms previous research …

Invertebrate Effects On Sediment Biogeochemistry And Microphytobenthos Following Estuarine Macroalgal Blooms, Katherine Premo

Theses

Eutrophication has led to the proliferation of devastating macroalgal blooms in shallow coastal estuaries. Processes at the sediment surface in shallow marine environments can ultimately affect nutrient cycling and the progress of eutrophication. Through bioturbation and grazing of microphytobenthos (MPB) infaunal invertebrates significantly alter redox dependent chemical and microbially-mediated transformations of nutrients and their subsequent release to or uptake from the overlying water column. This study used a series of experiments to investigate the effects of invertebrates on sediment biogeochemistry and nutrient cycling at early and late stages of eutrophication. Unique aspects of this study were the inclusions of multiple …

Ecological Profiling Of Bird-Mosquito Interactions In Central Virginia, Anna Riggan

Theses and Dissertations

Current methods of mosquito surveillance estimate general population abundances, but fail to represent the relationship of vector abundance to host density important to determining transmission risk of mosquito-borne pathogens (MBP). We sought to address this limitation by creating a novel mosquito trap that directly sampled mosquitoes seeking to feed on nesting birds. The primary objectives of this study were to (1) assess the efficiency of the Nest Mosquito Trap (NMT) and how this is affected by nest box size. (2) assess whether the NMT affects bird, specifically nest success in Prothonotary Warblers (Protonotaria citrea), and adult behavior. (3) compare our …

Emotional Reactivity And Regulation In Current And Remitted Depression: An Event Related Potential Study, Lauren M. Bylsma

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is thought to be characterized by emotion regulation deficits, including decreased use of adaptive strategies such as reappraisal, but little is known about the exact nature of these deficits and whether or not they are specific to the depressed mood state. The late positive potential (LPP) is a sustained positive deflection of the event-related potential (ERP) associated with responding to emotionally-valenced stimuli, and reappraisal strategies have been found to reduce LPP magnitude in response to emotional stimuli in healthy individuals, but this effect has not been examined in MDD. This study utilized ERPs to examine emotional …

Quantitative Analysis Of Contactin-Associated Protein And Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Isoform 1.6 Following Experimental Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury, Daniel Gardiner

Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic axonal injury (TAI) contributes to the mortality and morbidity following diffuse traumatic brain injury (TBI). Previous work has shown that following TBI, alterations in the molecular domains of axons result in TAI. It is currently posited that injury induced ionic flux is responsible for activating deleterious proteolytic cascades, resulting in altered distributions of axonal components. However, the underlying mechanism of this progressive pathology remains elusive. This study further explores the hypothesis that altered molecular domains contributes to the progressive intra-axonal changes that characterize TAI. Using a rodent model of impact acceleration TBI we examined the expression of nodal and …

Looking Backward From The Year 2099: Ecozoic Reflections On The Future, Samuel Alexander

Environmental and Earth Law Journal (EELJ)

Looking Backward from the Year 2099: Ecozoic Reflections on the Future

Abstract by Samuel Alexander

Story, myth, and narrative played a central role in Thomas Berry’s writings. He told new stories about the Universe and our place in it, stories not only about where we have been and where we seem to be going, but also stories about where we could go, if only we exercised our freedom in different ways. Inspired by Berry, in this paper I have dared to experiment with story, by attempting to look back on the 21st century from the vantage point of the year …

Evolving From Dominion To Communion: How Legal Rights For Nature Can Exist In Balance With Individual Property Rights In A Global Commons, Dan Leftwich

Environmental and Earth Law Journal (EELJ)

Abstract coming soon.

Deafdigest: Blue Edition, July 17, 2011, Barry Strassler

DeafDigest Blue 2011

No abstract provided.

Survival, Breeding Frequency, And Migratory Orientation In The Jefferson Salamander, Ambystoma Jeffersonianum, Stephen P. De Lisle, Kristine L. Grayson

Biology Faculty Publications

Accurate estimates of demographic parameters, such as survival and breeding frequency, are necessary for the conservation and management of animal populations. Additionally, life-history data are required for gaining an empirical understanding of the ecology of natural populations. We monitored a population of Jefferson Salamanders (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) breeding in a permanent mountain-top pond at the southern limit of this species’ geographic range in Virginia over four years. We used closed multistate mark-recapture models with Pollock's robust design to estimate the demographic parameters of this population. Additionally, we used point-of-capture data to compare the orientation of migrations into and out …

Desensitization Of α7 Nicotinic Receptor Is Governed By Coupling Strength Relative To Gate Tightness, Jianliang Zhang, Fenqin Xue, Paul Whiteaker, Chaokun Li, Wen Wu, Benchang Shen, Yao Huang, Ronald J. Lukas, Yongchang Chang

Translational Neuroscience

Binding of a neurotransmitter to its membrane receptor opens an integral ion conducting pore. However, prolonged exposure to the neurotransmitter drives the receptor to a refractory state termed desensitization, which plays an important role in shaping synaptic transmission. Despite intensive research in the past, the structural mechanism of desensitization is still elusive. Using mutagenesis and voltage clamp in an oocyte expression system, we provide several lines of evidence supporting a novel hypothesis that uncoupling between binding and gating machinery is the underlying mechanism for α7 nicotinic receptor (nAChR) desensitization. First, the decrease in gate tightness was highly correlated to the …

Socioeconomic Factors And Water Quality In California, Y. Hossein Farzin, Kelly A. Grogan

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei Working Papers

We investigate the relationships between water quality and socioeconomic factors in California at the county level for the years 1993 to 2006 using 24 water quality indicators coming from seven different types of water bodies. We estimate these relationships using three classes of models: the traditional per capita income-pollution level - Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) - specifications, a more inclusive model containing main socioeconomic variables such as agricultural intensity, land use, ethnic composition, population density and educational attainment, and a model that includes the socioeconomic variables while accounting for spatial correlations too. For most water quality indicators, we do not …

Family Affairs Newsletter 2011-07-15, Zack Paakkonen

Family Affairs newsletter (2004-2016)

FAMILY AFFAIRS was a free, twice-a-month, social activities newsletter for the GLBTQI (gay/lesbian/bisexual/trans/queer/intersex) community, sent out around the 1st and 15th of each month. It covered the State of Maine only. The list was begun and maintained for many years by Jean Vermette in Bangor, and later operated by Zack Paakkonen of Portland. Over the years it evolved from a social activities newsletter into a business directory, classified ad service, and community bulletin board.

Sri Lanka Works Toward A Mine-Free Nation, Vidya Abhayagunawardena

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article discusses Sri Lanka’s steps to demine its land, educate its citizens on landmine and unexploded-ordnance dangers, and offer survivor-assistance services. Sri Lanka’s national mine-action program is building on previous mine-action work done by the government and humanitarian organizations by presenting a workshop on demining issues, developing a mine-action center and improving partnerships with concerned organizations.

Using Encapsulated Fluorescent Bioprobes To Detect Explosive Materials In Soil, Clint Smith, Joel Tabb

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article examines the methods involved in using fluorescent bioprobes to detect explosive devices within soil. By genetically modifying plants through the injection of certain chemicals, visible responses indicate the presence and placement of explosive material, aiding demining agents in the process of mapping and removing various landmines or other explosive remnants of war. The adoption of these tools proves useful for stand-off detection of low TNT concentrations in the laboratory and controlled microcosm studies.

Victim Assistance In Peru, Theresa Kane

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Landmines still plague parts of Peru as a result of the 1980–92 internal conflict with the Shining Path (in Spanish, Sendero Luminoso), guerrillas and the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement. This article examines the work of the Polus Center in its victim-assistance efforts which strive to provide landmine survivors with the tools they need to reintegrate into society and earn a viable income.