Digital Commons Network^™

End Matter, Vol. 71 No. 1

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Chimpanzee Vocal Signaling Points To A Multimodal Origin Of Human Language, Jared P. Taglialatela, Jamie L. Russell, Jennifer A. Schaeffer, William D. Hopkins

Faculty Articles

The evolutionary origin of human language and its neurobiological foundations has long been the object of intense scientific debate. Although a number of theories have been proposed, one particularly contentious model suggests that human language evolved from a manual gestural communication system in a common ape-human ancestor. Consistent with a gestural origins theory are data indicating that chimpanzees intentionally and referentially communicate via manual gestures, and the production of manual gestures, in conjunction with vocalizations, activates the chimpanzee Broca’s area homologue – a region in the human brain that is critical for the planning and execution of language. However, it …

Finding A Way Through The First Year, Rachel Hatch

News and Events (Discontinued Series)

No abstract provided.

Montana Kaimin, April 20, 2011, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Socially Adjustable Morality: A Neo-Functional Account, Melvyn L. Fein

The Journal of Public and Professional Sociology

Morality has always been contentious. Thus, in recent years, absolutists have been aligned against relativists. Both sides, however, are mistaken about the nature of morality. Absolutists come in many varieties, which include: the religious, the naturalist, the philosophical, the Marxist, and the scientific. Meanwhile, relativists are divided into social and individual camps. Opposed to both groups are the moral nihilists who may be classified as nice, nasty, and skeptical. Sadly, all miss the mark because they do not account for morality as it actually operates. A "socially adjustable" model fits the facts much better. It describes morality as consisting of …

Newsroom, Georgia Southern University

Newsroom (2006-2023)

• Georgia Southern University Honors Outstanding Students and Faculty at Honors Day

Astrocytes From The Contused Spinal Cord Inhibit Oligodendrocyte Differentiation Of Adult Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells By Increasing The Expression Of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins, Yaping Wang, Xiaoxin Cheng, Qian He, Yiyan Zheng, Dong H Kim, Scott R Whittemore, Qilin L Cao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Promotion of remyelination is an important therapeutic strategy to facilitate functional recovery after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) or oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) has been used to enhance remyelination after SCI. However, the microenvironment in the injured spinal cord is inhibitory for oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation of NSCs or OPCs. Identifying the signaling pathways that inhibit OL differentiation in the injured spinal cord could lead to new therapeutic strategies to enhance remyelination and functional recovery after SCI. In the present study, we show that reactive astrocytes from the injured rat spinal cord or their conditioned …

Epistemological Beliefs Of Engineering Students: A Comparison Of Educational Levels And Institutional Type, Bethany Alana King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This cross-sectional study used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to validate the underlying theoretical 4-factor construct of Schommer's Epistemological Questionnaire (SEQ). The EFA solution failed to fit Schommer's construct. As a result, reliable scales were then determined and used to assess 518 engineering students' epistemological beliefs across educational levels. Further, this study compared the beliefs of 90 African American engineering students at aHistorically Black University (HBCU) to those of 56 African American engineering students at two Predominantly White Institutions (PWI). Results indicated that Underclassmen were significantly more likely than Upperclassmen to have beliefs in Quick Learning over and above the effects …

Self-Ordered Search: A Novel Fmri Task To Study Working Memory In Children With Catastrophic Disease, Matthew Alan Scoggins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Children treated for brain tumors are at increased risk for developing cognitive deficits. The self-ordered search (SOS) is a computerized neuropsychological test used to investigate working memory, a cognitive system whose function is integral to many high level cognitive processes. Functional-MRI (fMRI) provides important opportunities to characterize neural correlates of SOSperformance non-invasively. Implementation of the SOStask presents challenges in the unique environment of the MRI scanner. First, SOSrequires participants to select a single stimulus from a set. Second, SOSis a behaviorally driven task that entails variable event timing among participants which complicates group analysis of fMRI data. The work presented …

Understanding Client Imagery In Art Therapy, Erica K.M. Curtis

Journal of Clinical Art Therapy

This study offers a preliminary investigation into the question: How do art therapists make meaning from viewing client-made art? Art therapy literature on making meaning from client art is reviewed. The Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) model used in art education and museum education is also briefly discussed for its parallels to this study’s findings. An adapted form of grounded theory for data collection and analysis was used, leading to emergent themes that suggest that understanding client art requires more than analyzing content and aesthetic elements. More specifically, this inquiry offers the consideration that viewing client art is a dynamic practice …

The Adaptive Significance Of Vocal Performance In Songbird Communication, Adrienne L. Dubois

Open Access Dissertations

The question of how honesty is maintained in animal communication is a perplexing one, especially in the context of aggressive communication, in which the interests of signalers and receivers are opposed. Relevant information for receivers in aggressive interactions includes the fighting ability of the signaler and its likelihood of attack. Signalers may, however, benefit from manipulation of signals to exaggerate this information. To address questions of signal honesty, this dissertation investigates the use of a performance signal in the song of swamp sparrows (Melospiza georgiana). Performance signals are ones that are physically demanding to perform and that therefore reveal the …

Elevated Expression Of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen (Scca) Is Associated With Human Breast Carcinoma, Joseph M. Catanzaro, Jennifer L. Guerriero, Jingxuan Liu, Namratha Sheshadri, John J. Chen, Wei-Xing Zhong

Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Faculty Publications

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) belongs to the serine protease inhibitor (Serpin) family of proteins. Elevated expression of SCCA has been used as a biomarker for aggressive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in cancers of the cervix, lung, head and neck, and liver. However, SCCA expression in breast cancer has not been investigated. Immunohistochemical analysis of SCCA expression was performed on tissue microarrays containing breast tumor tissues (n = 1,360) and normal breast epithelium (n = 124). SCCA expression was scored on a tiered scale (0-3) independently by two evaluators blind to the patient's clinical status. SCCA expression was observed in …

The Fierce Green Fire: Vol. 1 Issue 16, Wofford College Environmental Studies Program

The Fierce Green Fire

No abstract provided.

04-19-2011 Swosu Announces Spring 2011 Graduates, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

THE BARK ARCHIVE 2011

Approximately 494 students from Southwestern Oklahoma State University at Weatherford will complete requirements for bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees after the 2011 spring semester.

Information Support For Regional Water Resource Management In Ukraine, Yevgen Makarovskiy

Open Water Journal

Water resources availability is a determining factor of human existence. Despite the huge volume of water in the hydrosphere, water resources include only those waters that may be used by humans for drinking and household water supply and those ones that support the sustainable existence of living ecosystems.

The issues of drinking water consumption are particularly important. Only fresh surface water and groundwater, complied with quality standards, may be used for drinking water supply.

At the same time, precisely surface waters are under influence of anthropogenic load primarily due to their depletion and chemical and biological pollution. In some cases, …

An Approach Toward The Existing Challenges In Integrated (Fresh) Water Resources Management (Iwrm) And Presentation Of Strategies, M. Shafghati, A. Salajeghe

Open Water Journal

Previously, because of low population, water crisis was not too tangible like these days so currently the given crisis has been exacerbated more than ever by rising growth of population. Gradually by increasing demand for water, the requirement for supply and development of water sources, thus developing state- of- art technologies will be increased in order to restore and expand fresh water sources, as well.

With respect to this fact that water is considered as the main factor for life and cultivation, but UN has proposed this decade as water scarcity decennium (2005-2015) and a global concern so this problem …

Domainrbf: A Bayesian Regression Approach To The Prioritization Of Candidate Domains For Complex Diseases., Wangshu Zhang, Yong Chen, Fengzhu Sun, Rui Jiang

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Domains are basic units of proteins, and thus exploring associations between protein domains and human inherited diseases will greatly improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of human complex diseases and further benefit the medical prevention, diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. Within a given domain-domain interaction network, we make the assumption that similarities of disease phenotypes can be explained using proximities of domains associated with such diseases. Based on this assumption, we propose a Bayesian regression approach named "domainRBF" (domain Rank with Bayes Factor) to prioritize candidate domains for human complex diseases.

RESULTS: Using a compiled dataset containing 1,614 …

The New Hampshire, Vol. 100 [101], No. 46 (Apr. 19, 2011), The New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Print Edition

An independent student produced newspaper from the University of New Hampshire. This volume was printed as 100, but it is the 101st volume in the series. This was corrected in pencil.

Environmental Implications Of Polymer Coated Urea, Joshua James Lemonte

Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen is an essential plant nutrient in the biosphere. Although N is necessary and beneficial for life, it is also a common pollutant in the atmosphere and hydrosphere as it may be lost to the atmosphere as ammonia (NH3) or nitrous oxide (N2O) gases or to groundwater as nitrate (NO3-) following fertilization. Polymer coated urea (PCU) is one type of N fertilizer which uses temperature-controlled diffusion to control N release to better match plant demand and mitigate environmental losses of N. The objectives of this project were to simultaneously compare the effects of PCU on gaseous (as N2O and NH3) …

The Current Volume 21 : Issue 29, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Relations Between Violence Exposure, Threat Appraisal, And Coping Among Typologies Of Victimized Adolescents, Katherine Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

According to the transactional theory of stress and coping, threat appraisals influence coping and adjustment. Previous research has shown that threat appraisals mediate relations between violence exposure and adjustment, but few studies have examined links between threat appraisals and coping. The current study examined relations between violence exposure, threat appraisals, and coping among typologies of victimized adolescents. The sample included 159 predominately African American adolescents (M = 12.1). Path analyses were used to test whether threats of negative evaluation by self and others mediated relations between violence exposure and avoidance and positive reframing coping, respectively. Results did not indicate mediation …

Uab Student Wins Ford Foundation Fellowship, Jim Bakken

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Integrated Soil–Crop System Management For Food Security, Xin-Ping Chen, Zhen-Ling Cui, Peter M. Vitousek, Kenneth Cassman, Pamela A. Matson, Jin-Shun Bai, Qing-Feng Meng, Peng Hou, Shan-Chao Yue, Volker Römheld, Fu-Suo Zhang

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

China and other rapidly developing economies face the dual challenge of substantially increasing yields of cereal grains while at the same time reducing the very substantial environmental impacts of intensive agriculture. We used a model-driven integrated soil–crop system management approach to develop a maize production system that achieved mean maize yields of 13.0 t ha−1 on 66 on-farm experimental plots—nearly twice the yield of current farmers’ practices—with no increase in N fertilizer use. Such integrated soil–crop system management systems represent a priority for agricultural research and implementation, especially in rapidly growing economies.

Flyer News, Vol. 58, No. 40 (April 19, 2011), University Of Dayton

Flyer News

Student-run newspaper of the University of Dayton.

Autonomous Genosensor Apparatus And Methods For Use, David P. Fries, John H. Paul, Andrew Farmer, Matthew Smith

USF Patents

An autonomous genosensor apparatus and methods for use are provided for the field detection and analysis of ambient chemical, biochemical, biologic, biogenetic, and radiologic materials under field conditions in fluid or gaseous environments, such as marine or aquatic environments or industrial processes. Autonomous genosensors provide integral, self contained units which automatically extract environmental samples, prepare those samples for analytical studies, analyze those samples using studies such as DNA or biomarker analysis, and store or transmit the data produced to a remote computer or computer network. Autonomous genosensors may be used as freestanding units, or may be networked and controlled through …

Exploring Student Perceptions To Explain The Relationship Between Physical Activity And Academic Achievement In Adolescents: A Mixed Methods Study, Megan J. Hylok

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A nationwide survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control in 2007 reported 65% of high school students did not meet the recommendation that youth participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity most days of the week (CDC, 2008). While research has focused its attention primarily on bodily health, growing evidence supports the benefits of physical activity on brain health (Ratey & Hagerman, 2008). Physical activity is important and many adolescents are not meeting the recommendation, therefore, it is important to explore the adolescent perceptions to understand which factors influence physical activity participation. The significance of this study …

Passive Underground Drainfield For Septic Tank Nutrient Removal Using Functionalized Green Filtration Media, Martin Wanielista, Ni-Bin Chang, Ammarin Makkeasorn

UCF Patents

Methods, systems and compositions for a green sorption media for bioretention soil amendments in drainfields for on-site waste water systems filled with the green sorption media to foster an anaerobic or anoxic environment saturated. The green sorption media includes one or more recycled materials, including tire crumb, sawdust, orange peel, coconut husks, leaf compost, oyster shell, soy bean hulls and one or more naturally occuring materials including peat, sands, zeolites, and clay. The wastewater filtration system for a passive drainfield includes the green sorption material mixture, a cell including baffled compartments and a riser, the cell filled with green sorption …

A Complement Receptor C5a Antagonist Regulates Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition And Crystallin Expression After Lens Cataract Surgery In Mice, Rinako Suetsugu-Maki, Nobuyasu Maki, Timothy P. Fox, Kenta Nakamura, Richard Cowper.Solari, Craig R. Tomlinson, Hongchang Qu, John D. Lambris, Panagiotis A. Tsonis

Biology Faculty Publications

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of complement employing a mouse model for secondary cataract. Methods: The role of complement receptor C5a (CD88) was evaluated after cataract surgery in mice. An antagonist specific to C5a receptor was administered intraperitoneally to mice. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) was evaluated by alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) staining and proliferation by bromodeoxyuridine (5-bromo-2'- deoxyuridine, BrdU) incorporation. Gene expression patterns was examined by microarray analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR). Results: We found that administration of a C5aR antagonist in C57BL/6J mice decreases EMT, as evidenced by α-SMA expression, and cell proliferation. Gene expression by …

Executive Committee - Meeting Minutes, 4/19/2011, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

Functional Studies Of Human Cellular Detoxification Enzymes, Melanie Neely Willis

Department of Biochemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cellular detoxification allows for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and prevention of abnormal cell growth by clearing harmful xenobiotics and endobiotics. After oxygenation by phase I enzymes, phase II enzymes such as glucuronosyltransferases and glutathione-s-transferases conjugate a small molecule to the compound, marking it for subsequent export. Many up-stream enzymes are also essential to cellular detoxification by supplying the small compounds for conjugation. These up-stream enzymes include UDP-glucose dehydrogenase, which synthesizes UDP-glucuronate, and glutamate cysteine ligase, which catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step in the synthesis of glutathione.
UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UGDH) is an important enzyme in human development and in …