Digital Commons Network^™

Remote Sensing Of Browning Trends In The Alaskan Boreal Forest, Mary Elizabeth Parent

Forest Sciences

Vegetation health can be monitored using a time series of remotely sensed images by calculating the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). We assessed temporal trends throughout an NDVI time series with three sensors: Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat Thematic Mapper/Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (TM/ETM+). There has been debate over the reliability of AVHRR sensor NDVI data in the circumboreal region. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to first use MODIS and Landsat TM/ETM+ data and assess declining trends within twelve Landsat scene footprints across boreal Alaska and second use Landsat …

Regional Modeling Of Greenland's Outlet Glaciers With The Parallel Ice Sheet Model, Daniella N. Della-Giustina

Physics

The most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change cites ice sheet dynamics as the greatest source of uncertainty for predicting current and future rates of sea level rise. This has prompted the development and use of ice sheet models that are capable of simulating the flow and evolution of ice sheets and their corresponding sea level contribution. In the Arctic, the Greenland ice sheet appears to be responding to a warming climate more quickly than expected. In order to determine sea level contribution from Greenland, it is necessary to capture the regional dynamics of the fast flowing …

The Fate Of Nitrogen Pollution In High-Latitude Winter: Investigations Using A 1-D Photochemical Model, Patrick L. Joyce

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Simulations using a 1-D photochemical model were performed to analyze the fate of NOx pollution in a high-latitude winter environment. Modeled pollution emissions were constrained by observations from downtown Fairbanks and the model reproduced dilution of NOx on timescales in agreement with field measurements on the edge and outside of the urban area of Fairbanks. The model was updated from previous versions to include calculations of reactions of N₂O₅ on aerosol particles and an empirically-derived value for dry deposition velocity of N₂O₅ to the snowpack, which acts as a competing loss of N₂O₅. It was found that dry deposition of …

Reproductive Ecology And Morphometric Subspecies Comparisons Of Dunlin (Calidris Alpina), An Arctic Shorebird, Heather River Gates

Biological Sciences

The Arctic region provides globally important breeding and migratory habitat for abundant wildlife populations including migratory shorebirds. Due to their remote breeding locations, basic information on breeding ecology, annual productivity, and factors that regulate their populations are poorly studied. Wildlife biologists managing migratory bird populations require detailed information on avian breeding biology, in addition to information on migration ecology including connectivity of migratory stopover and wintering locations. To address information gaps in fecundity, I conducted an experimental study investigating the renesting ecology of Dunlin (Calidris alpina arcticola) by removing clutches at two stages of incubation and by following adults marked …

Novel Fungal Taxa In An Alaskan Boreal Forest: Phylogenetic Affinities, Ecologies, And Ribosomal Rna Secondary Structures, Daniel Glass

Biological Sciences

Phylogenetic analyses suggest that a novel DNA sequence (NS1) found in a boreal forest soil-clone library belongs to the fungal kingdom but does not fall unambiguously within any known class. In order to determine if NS1 codes for an authentic ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene-copy, I modeled ribosomal RNA secondary structure for four gene regions. Such analyses have never been used on environmental ribosomal sequences before. It appears that NS1 does code for an authentic gene-copy and is not a biological or lab artifact. I also elucidated the habitat preferences, horizon preferences, and fine-scale spatial structure of NS1 using molecular methods. …

The Response Of Plant Community Structure And Productivity To Changes In Hydrology In Alaskan Boreal Peatlands, Amber C. Churchill

Biological Sciences

Northern peatlands have been a long-term sink for atmospheric CO₂, and have had a net cooling effect on global climate for the last 8,000 to 11,000 years. Across Alaska, peatlands face increased effects of climate change through hydrologic disturbance, both drying and flooding, and these conditions alter the ability of peatlands to accumulate carbon. Here, I examined the influence of changing hydrology in a moderate rich fen and a bog located in the discontinuous permafrost zone of interior Alaska. In both sites, I quantified how changing hydrology affected vegetation composition and ecosystem carbon uptake. At the fen, drying via a …

Terrestrial Invertebrate Prey For Juvenile Chinook Salmon: Abundance And Environmental Controls In An Interior Alaska River, Laura Gutierrez

Biological Sciences

Terrestrial prey subsidies can be a key food source for stream fish, but their importance and environmental controls on their abundance have not been widely documented in high latitude ecosystems. This study investigated terrestrial invertebrate prey availability and predation by age-0+ juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), overlap between terrestrial infall and drift to diet, and the relationship between diet to stream temperature and discharge in the Chena River, Interior Alaska. Terrestrial infall, drift, and juvenile chinook diet varied widely through the summers (May-September) of 2008 and 2009. Drift was comprised of 33% terrestrial and 67% aquatic invertebrate mass, while juvenile …

Mesoscale Modeling Study Of A Polar Low In The Chukchi And Beaufort Seas, Paula Doubrawa Moreira

Atmospheric Sciences

Polar lows are intense mesoscale maritime cyclones, often associated with strong winds that can damage high-latitude coastal environments and infrastructure. These systems have been historically infrequent in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, but this behavior is expected to change along with the amplified changes in Arctic climate. This study investigates the unusual occurrence of a polar low in this region on October 9-10, 2009. Sensitivity experiments with the Weather Research and Forecasting model indicate that using ERA-Interim as large-scale forcing and performing spectral nudging at all simulation hours yield the most realistic simulation. The simulations are highly sensitive to physical …

Use Of Hurst And Renyi Analysis To Detect And Characterize Pacific Decadal Oscillation Impacts On Climate Variability In Alaska, Jean K. Talbot

Atmospheric Sciences

While climate systems are known be nonlinear, most statistical tools used to study climate are linear. Two nonlinear analyses are introduced for indicating predictability in climate studies: Hurst analysis and Renyi analysis, the advantages of which are illustrated by applying both to characterize Alaska climate time series 'dynamics' or temporal evolution. These methods are also applied to reanalysis and model data to compare with the observational analysis. Hurst analysis is used to calculate long term predictability in data on a scale of five to 15 years; Renyi analysis is used to quantify the degree of order on a time scale …

Communication In The Face Of Diversity: Towards A Training Model For U.S. Army Cadets, Nolan O. Lasiter

Communication

The purpose of this study was to explore the need for a communication and cultural diversity training program in a Northwestern university Reserve officer Training Corps (ROTC) department. A needs assessment was conducted identifying the need for a training program in both culture and communication. Research questions explored the need for a training program in communication and cultural diversity. Quantitative methods assessed the overall outcomes from the communication and cultural diversity workshops. Hypotheses predicted that Cadet's scores would increase from pretest to posttest as a result of the communication and cultural diversity workshop. Senior level cadets at a Northwestern university …

Assessment Of Fungal And Bacterial Bioaerosols In Ambient Air In Fairbanks, Alaska, Mitali S. Patil

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Bioaerosols are solid or liquid particles of biological origin that are suspended in the surrounding air or other gaseous environments. Bioaerosols can cause diseases, allergenic or toxicological reactions, respiratory distress, and can be potential bioterrorism threats. Studies concerning ambient bioaerosols have never focused upon central Alaska, and only one experiment has utilized the DRUM (Davis Rotating Unit for Monitoring) impactor as the collection apparatus. This study focuses on the assessment and identification of fungi and bacteria present in the ambient air collected by the DRUM impactor from March 2008 to January 2009. The samples were collected on MylarTM and aluminum …

Hydrodynamics Of Downstream Pointed Guidevanes: A Case Study Of The Hess Creek Meander Bend Realignment, Alexandre W. Lai

Engineering

The hydrodynamics of downstream pointed guidevanes installed to realign an eroding meander bend upstream of the Trans- Alaska Pipeline bridge is studied. The bridge is located at Hess Creek, 137 km north of Fairbanks, Alaska. Effect of the downstream pointed vanes on bed form, erosion, longitudinal and transverse slopes, three dimensional velocity profiles, flow patterns, and other hydraulic parameters for high and low flows are compared and analyzed. Six years after installation of the vanes the realigned thalweg remains in its original design location. The longitudinal bed profile changed from a dominant continuous pool typical of natural meander bends on …

December 17, 2011, Seattle University School Of Law

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Commencement Convocation Exercises - December 2011, Prairie View A&M University

Commencement and Convocation Exercises

No abstract provided.

Clinical Coverage Of An Archetype Repository Over Snomed-Ct., Sheng Yu, Damon Berry, Jesus Bisbal

Articles

Clinical archetypes provide a means for health professionals to design what should be communicated as part of an Electronic Health Record (EHR). An ever-growing number of archetype definitions follow this health information modelling approach, and this international archetype resource will eventually cover a large number of clinical concepts. On the other hand, clinical terminology systems that can be referenced by archetypes also have a wide coverage over many types of health-care information.

No existing work measures the clinical content coverage of archetypes using terminology systems as a metric. Archetype authors require guidance to identify under-covered clinical areas that may need …

2011 Fall Commencement, Harding University

Commencement Programs

Program for the Commencement on December 17.

Commencement Speaker: Brant Bryan

Francis Marion Claims 97-94 Pbc Win Over Armstrong, Armstrong State University

Armstrong Athletics: Men's Basketball News (Archived)

Francis Marion Claims 97-94 PBC Win Over Armstrong. Liki Turner had 15 points each half for a game-high 30 points in leading the Francis Marion University men's basketball team to a 97-94 Peach Belt Conference victory over host Armstrong Atlantic State University on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena.

College Readiness Of African-American Student Athletes, Carol Bos, Grace Chaidez, Andrew Nunn-Miller, Daisy Rodriguez

Program Design and Evaluation

Research project of The Larry English Foundation- Leading Education to Athletes for their Dreams, focusing on African-American student-athletes.

Archaeology At Teklanika West (Hea-001): An Upland Archaeological Site, Central Alaska, Samuel C. Coffman

Anthropology

This thesis research involved a reinvestigation of the Teklanika West (HEA-001) archaeological site, central Alaska. It focused on understanding and expanding upon the site formation processes, dating, and characterizing cultural components at the site. Analyses were designed to address the preceding research purposes, while inter-relating research objectives. Twelve and a quarter square meters were excavated within five blocks located across the site. These excavation blocks yielded dateable materials in clear association with chipped-stone technology. Both environmental and cultural data obtained at the site have produced a more complex understanding of the site and surrounding landscape. Multiple components ranging in age …

Effects Of The Age-Composition Of Spawning Sockeye Salmon On Future Returns Of Sockeye Salmon To Bristol, Bay, Alaska, Janelle C. Mueller

Fisheries

The age structure of sockeye salmon on spawning grounds is highly variable, yet little is known about the influence of spawner age composition on subsequent abundance and age composition of recruits. Management of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon relies on estimated spawner abundance to determine escapement goals, without regard to age or size composition. This may not accurately reflect reproductive potential as a basis for setting escapement goals. Parental age structure and environmental conditions were included as independent variables in statistical models to evaluate their effects on the age structure of their progeny. In addition, relationships between spawner age composition and …

Spatio-Temporal Population Genetic Structure And Mating System Of Red King Crab (Paralithodes Camtschaticus) In Alaska, Scott C. Vulstek

Fisheries

Population genetic data can be used to make inferences about the Population structure and mating system and inform management decisions of overharvested species such as red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) in Alaska. Red king crab tissue and hemolymph samples were collected from 11 geographically distinct locations from Norton Sound through Southeast Alaska (n = 845). At six locations, two collections were taken at least one generation apart. Heterogeneity of allele frequencies over time was detected in three of the six locations examined, which suggested signs of recent population bottlenecks. An overall Fst = 0.025 (P <0.00 1) suggested moderate genetic differentiation among red king crab collections. A two-region model of spatial differentiation in which collections from Southeast Alaska diverge from those in the Gulf of Alaska and Westen Alaska was supported by pairwise Fst Values, homogeneity tests, Bayesian clustering, and discriminant analysis of principal components. However, spatial analysis of molecular variance suggests some finer-scale structuring within regions and greater differentiation occurs among collections within Southeast Alaska than among the rest of the collections. In addition to population genetic structure analyses, 24 female red king crab and their broods were collected from the Bering Sea. Ovigerous females and 20 offspring per brood were genotyped in order to determine whether multiple mating of a female occurred. There was no evidence of multiple paternity in any brood. The results of this study support continued management of distinct geographic groups within the Gulf of Alaska/Western Alaska/Western Alaska region and suggest that finer-scale management may be beneficial in Southeast Alaska.

Considering Predation By Humpback Whales In The Mystery Of The Failed Recovery Of Pacific Herring In Prince William Sound, Alaska, Suzanne F. Teerlink

Fisheries

In Prince William Sound (PWS) in the early 1990s, biomass of an important forage species, Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii), crashed and has since failed to recover. This thesis explores the role that predation by humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) may have in limiting this recovery. This was done by modeling the historic (1980-2009) relationship between these two species using existing data. Mark-recapture estimates of abundance were combined to form the first time series of humpback whale abundance for this area. This time series was then integrated into the age-structured assessment model used by Alaska Department of Fish and Game to manage …

The Use Of Aerial Imagery To Map In-Stream Physical Habitat Related To Summer Distribution Of Juvenile Salmonids In A Southcentral Alaskan Stream, Jeff Perschbacher

Fisheries

Airborne remote sensing (3-band multispectral imagery) was used to assess in-stream physical habitat related to summer distributions of juvenile salmonids in a Southcentral Alaskan stream. The objectives of this study were to test the accuracy of using remote sensing spectral and spatial classification techniques to map in-stream physical habitat, and test hypotheses of spatial segregation of ranked densities of juvenile chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tschwytscha, coho salmon O. kisutch, and rainbow trout O. mykiss, related to stream order and drainage. To relate habitat measured with remote sensing to fish densities, a supervised classification technique based on spectral signature was used to …

Effects Of Climate Variability And Fishing On Gadid-Crustacean Interactions In Subarctic Ecosystems, Laurinda Marcello

Fisheries

Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) are a vital economic and biotic resource to many subarctic ecosystems. Their abundance varies greatly, but what causes large changes in production and early life survival is unknown. My overall goal is to improve our understanding of snow crab population dynamics during early life history stages. Chapter 1 provides background information on subarctic ecosystems, addresses possible mechanisms of population control and potential drivers of variability, describes snow crab life history, and reviews recent population trends in snow crab and their major cod predators. Chapter 2 details a regression study examining the effects of snow crab spawning …

Refined Liquid Smoke: A Potential Antilisterial Supplement To Cold-Smoked Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus Nerka), Naim Montazeri Djouybari

Fisheries

Listeria monocytogenes, the causative agent of listeriosis can contaminate cold smoked salmon (CSS) and make it a high-risk ready-to-eat food product. Due to the lack of a critical control point in the cold-smoking process, a post-process elimination is essential to ensure product safety. The goal of this project was to improve safety of vacuum-packaged CSS supplemented with commercially refined liquid smoke (LS). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis showed the LS were high in carbonyl containing compounds and low in phenol derivatives. The LS (AM-10 and AM-3) producing the greatest inhibition against L. innocua in a paper disk diffusion assay were applied …

Characteristics Of The Sulukna River Spawning Population Of Inconnu, Yukon River Drainage, Alaska, David Andrews Esse

Fisheries

Inconnu Stenodus leucichthys are large migratory whitefish harvested in subsistence and sport fisheries in Alaska. Research on the Sulukna River spawning population of inconnu was conducted in September and early October from 2007 to 2009. Samples were collected to verify maturity and spawning readiness, and to determine age distributions of mature males and females. Spawning abundance was estimated and post-spawning migration timing was identified. Otoliths were analyzed optically to determine age and chemically to determine amphidromy. Maturity sampling indicated that all sampled fish were in spawning condition or had recently spawned. Abundance estimates were 2,079 and 3,531 inconnu in 2008 …

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels In D2 Receptor Primed Adolescent Rats Given Twice Daily Nicotine Administrations., Josie Minnigh

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nicotine use is very prevalent in the schizophrenic population, which is a 2.5 fold greater than the general population. In the present study, the drug quinpirole (dopamine D2/D3 agonist) or saline was given neonatally to 25 Sprague-Dawley male and female rats. Rats were randomly assigned to condition. Beginning postnatal day 33 animals were given twice daily administrations of nicotine (0.5 mg/kg free base). After the first of the daily injections they were placed in a locomotor arena every other day for behavioral testing. One day after behavioral testing, the dorsal striatum and nucleus accumbens were removed for brain-derived neurotrophic factor …

The Determinant Formula In The Inverse Scattering Procedure For Steplike Potentials, Odile R. Bastille

Mathematics and Statistics

No abstract provided.

Animal Companionship And Identity Construction In The Middle English "Ywain And Gawain", Robert E. Byers

English

As a relatively recent field within literary cultural studies, "animal studies" has the potential to ask sophisticated new questions about the central and privileged place of the humanist "cogito." Through an examination of the human-animal companionship found in the Middle English romance "Ywain and Gawain", this thesis aims to contribute to the project of animal studies by tracing how questions about humanity and animality both construct and deconstruct a subject's identity. In the poem, Ywain, a knight in Arthur's court, is exiled from society and befriends a lion, who travels and fights alongside him. The dynamics of their bond highlight …

7,8-Dihydroxyflavone, A Selective Tyrosine Kinase Receptor B Agonist And Bdnf Mimic, Promotes Angiogenesis., Jeremy Williams

Undergraduate Honors Theses

7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), which is a member of the flavonoid family, is a selective tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) agonist that has neurotrophic effects in various neurological diseases such as ischemic stroke and Parkinson’s disease [3]. In this study, we assessed the angiogeneic effect of 7,8-DHF in endothelial cells derived from resistance vessel of the brain. Angiogenesis by 7,8-DHF is an important factor that helps prevent and treat various ischemic diseases. In this study, we found that rat RV cells used in the experiment possess the TrkB receptor. Our data also demonstrates that 7,8-DHF is able to stimulate cell proliferation in …