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Valproic Acid-Induced Teratogenesis In Japanese Rice Fish (Oryzias Latipes) Embryogenesis, Mengmeng Wu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Valproic acid (VPA) was introduced as an antiepileptic in 1967 in France and it has become the most prescribed anticonvulsive drug therapy worldwide since then. In the clinic, valproic acid is selected to treat absence seizures, myoclonic seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, atonic attacks and partial seizures. Epilepsy is the second most comneurologic disorder that affects pregnant women (0.5%–1%). Approximately 1 out of 250 pregnant women are taking antiepileptic drugs. Valproic acid is designated as a human teratogen, which induces major congenital anomalies, facial dysmorphic features, and autistic-like behaviors, which affect verbal, cognitive, communicative, and social abilities of affected children. We …

Stochastic Models For Evolutionary Genetic Problems, Wei Liao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Two stochastic models are designed for answering evolutionary genetic problems. The first study shows that inbreeding-environment interactions increase extinction risk. The second research demonstrates that 1) the carrying capacity and initial population growth rate is critical to determine the population persistence time; 2) increasing the advantageous mutation rate reduces the extinction risk although its effects are usually shadoby population size and fitness; 3) the new mutation correlation among environments rises during the evolution process, but it has compromised effects on population fate. Being able to accurately estimate the persistence time of populations of endangered plants and animals is central to …

Metabolism And Pharmacokinetics In The Development Of New Therapeutics For Cocaine And Opioid Abuse, Pradeep Kumar Vuppala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cocaine and opioid abuse are a major public health concern and the cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The development of effective medication for cocaine and opioid abuse is necessary to reduce the impact of this issue upon the individual and society. The pharmacologic treatment for drug abuse has been based on one of the following strategies: agonist substitution, antagonist treatment, or symptomatic treatment. This dissertation is focused on the role of metabolism and pharmacokinetics in the development of new pharmacotherapies, CM304 (sigma-1 receptor antagonist), mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (μ-opioid receptor agonists), for the treatment of drug abuse. The affinity …

Get In The Game: Developing An Information Literacy Classroom Game, Maura A. Smale

Publications and Research

Much current research in the field of games-based learning demonstrates that games can be successfully incorporated into educational contexts to increase student engage-ment, motivation, and learning. Academic librarians are also using games as an innova-tive instructional strategy to strengthen students’ research skills and their understanding of information literacy concepts. This article discusses the development and implemen-tation of Quality Counts, a classroom information literacy game designed to teach un-dergraduate students how to evaluate Internet sources. After a brief overview of the game’s development and rules, the article describes the process of playing Quality Counts in several classes and presents the results …

National Surveillance For Human And Pet Contact With Oral Rabies Vaccine Baits, 2001–2009, Amira A. Roess, Nancy Rea, Edith Lederman, Virginia Dato, Richard Chipman, Dennis Slate, Mary G. Reynolds, Inger K. Damon, Charles E. Rupprecht

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Objective—To determine the rate and absolute number of human and pet exposures to oral rabies vaccine (ORV) bait containing liquid vaccinia rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine and to evaluate factors that might affect human contact with bait to modify the program and reduce human exposure to the vaccine.

Design—Retrospective analysis of surveillance data (2001 to 2009).

Sample—Reports on human and pet contact with ORV baits in states with ORV surveillance programs.

Procedures—Data were collected from passive, multistate ORV surveillance systems in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, …

The Direction Of Research And Management Of Double-Crested Cormorants Heading Into The 2000s: Symposium Overview And Future Information Needs, Brian S. Dorr, Christopher Somers

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

An overview is provided of a symposium on the direction of research and management of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) heading into the 2000s. The current symposium built on previous efforts and described a number of focus areas of informational need, including cormorant impacts on natural resources, demographics of cormorants, assessment of control efforts, assessment of fish consumption and bioenergetics, and cormorant spatial ecology and influences on movements. The cormorant symposium highlighted a shift in research focus relative to earlier symposia, from evaluating potential impacts on commercial and natural resources to evaluating management actions in attaining desired goals. In …

Winter And Summer Home Ranges And Core Use Areas Of Double-Crested Cormorants Captured Near Aquaculture Facilities In The Southeastern United States, D. Tommy King, Bronson K. Strickland, Andrew A. Radomski

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Numbers of Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) wintering in the southeastern United States have increased dramatically during the last 30 years concomitant with the rise of the aquaculture industry in this region. These cormorants commonly foraged at commercial aquaculture facilities and thereby came into conflict with farmers. Various interest groups are seeking ecologically sound strategies for minimizing the effects of burgeoning cormorant populations. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate winter and summer home ranges of cormorants captured in the southeastern U.S. and determine whether age class, body mass, density of aquaculture facilities and availability of roost sites influenced …

Bird Management In Fruit Crops: How We Make Progress, Catherine A. Lindell, Stephani A. Shwiff, Phillip H. Howard

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Fruit producers have identified bird damage as a critical issue that has received limited attention from researchers. A USDA study estimated that birds cost producers in 7 states tens of millions of dollars through fruit loss and management efforts. Despite these costs, research has been uncoordinated and piecemeal, leaving producers with few, well-tested management options. We describe several objectives to strive for in order to achieve the goal of providing producers with region-specific, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable bird management strategies. These objectives include 1) quantifying economic consequences of bird damage for producers, consumers, and regional economies, and determining costs and …

An Assessment Of Richardson’S Ground Squirrel Activity And Potential Barriers To Limit Access To Sensitive Sites At Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, Gary W. Witmer, Rachael Moulton, Jenna Swartz, Jason Gibbons

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Small mammals pass through or under chain link security fences, triggering sensors and undermining facility infrastructure at sensitive military sites. Traditional methods of rodent control are not practical because of the vastness of land to be maintained with limited manpower. Permanent barriers (above and below ground) and low-maintenance, long-term bait stations offer potential permanent and cost-effective solutions to mitigate rodent intrusions. We assessed Richardson’s ground squirrel populations, activities, and burrows at Malmstrom Air Force Base, MT. We also conducted preliminary barrier trials in the outdoor rodent buildings of the USDA National Wildlife Research Center in Fort Collins, CO. Ground squirrels …

Carnivores, Conflict, And Conservation: Defining The Landscape Of Conflict, Todd C. Atwood, Stewart W. Breck

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Mitigating conflict between humans and large carnivores is one of the most pressing and intractable concerns in conservation. Yet, there has been surprisingly little effort devoted to incorporating risk assessments of conflict in carnivore conservation and land-use planning. Because human-carnivore conflict can have far-reaching societal and environmental impacts, attention to the ‘conflict–conservation nexus’ should become integrated into national and global environmental policy-making. However, how ‘the nexus’ is defined, elucidated, and ultimately utilized to forecast and mitigate conflict remains under-explored. Here, we discuss the limitations of current knowledge and methodologies available to forecast human–carnivore conflict and suggest a novel heuristic framework …

Transformational Leadership Practices Of African-American Pulpit Ministers At Predominantly African American Churches Of Christ In Nashville, Tn, Keith E. Hall

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, African-American ministers in the United States have played a central role in preaching a message of hope and leading African-American parishioners on a journey to discover greater lives of purpose and power. As the needs of members and complexity of ministry increases, African-American ministers are encountering demand that requires a proven style of leadership that produces positive results. Recent literature suggests that transformational leadership has a positive influence on social systems and the overall behavior of followers (Bass, 1998). The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate the self-assessed transformational leadership practices of African-American Church of Christ pulpit …

The Picture Memory Interference Test With Iranian Americans: Does First Language Impact Performance?, Shereen Kianmahd

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of first language on one's performance on the Picture Memory Interference Test (PMIT). This casual-comparative study examined if Iranian American students whose 1st language is Farsi performed differently from 1st language English-speaking Iranian American and monolingual English-speaking Caucasian students, after controlling for age and gender. To conduct this investigation, 103 Iranian American students who endorsed Farsi as their 1st language and English as their 2nd language were compared to a matched group of 103 monolingual English-speaking Caucasian students. Forty-four Iranian American students who endorsed 1st and 2nd language as English …

U.S. Women Bullying Women In The Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology/Medical Device Industry, Sharon L. Liu

Theses and Dissertations

This empirical study investigated bullying among adult U.S. women in the Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology/Medical Device (PBMD) Industry. A concurrent triangulation mixed method was used. An online survey was sent out consisting of : (a) a modified Einarsen, Hoel, & Notelaers (2009) Negative Acts Questionnaire; (b) open-ended questions about being bullied, witnessing bullying, and how the respondent coped with bullying; (c) demographic questions of the respondent and the bullying perpetrator (if applicable); and (d) questions on whether the respondents had been bullied, witnessed bullying, or perpetrated bullying. Bullying in the PBMD industry is a problem as evidenced by the fact that 61% of …

Telling The Story: Teaching Leaders The Art Of Storytelling And Its Impact On Individuals And The Organization, Julie Jones O’Leary

Theses and Dissertations

There are many different approaches to communicating a story which engages and inspires the audience. The opportunity comes in teaching employees a framework to tell a story that influences outcomes. This study analyzed the effects of a storytelling class delivered to employees of a Fortune 500 organization. Data for the study was sourced from a mixed-method approach: archival interviews, class evaluations, and face-to-face interviews. These methods measured the participants' reaction to the training, evaluated the relevance to the job, and determined the impact of learning the art of telling a story. The findings showed participants reported improved confidence, strengthened relationships, …

Examination Of The Anti-Saccade Task As An Indicator Of Cognitive Functioning In Hiv Infected Individuals, Katherine Clancy Olson

Theses and Dissertations

The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens has resulted in significantly reduced morbidity and mortality due to HIV infection. However, in spite of more effective treatment options, for some individuals, HIV infection continues to be associated with clinically significant cognitive impairment, particularly in the later stages of disease. The purpose of the present study was to examine the usefulness of the anti-saccade task as a measure of cognitive impairment in a community sample of older HIV+ adults. Using an archival data set, this exploratory study examined how performance on the anti-saccade task related to the diagnosis of HIV-associated …

Psychology Internship Training In Evidence-Based Treatments For Youth With Disruptive Behavior Problems, Nathan J. Balfanz

Theses and Dissertations

The implementation of evidence-based treatments (EBTs) has become a topic of significant debate amongst researchers and mental health practitioners alike. While current research has indicated a shift in attitudes amongst treatment providers for what constitutes as "best practices" in treating clients, less is known regarding the dissemination and teaching of EBTs for early career, training clinicians. The focus of this study was to take a closer look at clinical training in EBT strategies, specifically those for children and adolescents with disruptive behavior problems (DBPs). Sixty-four internship training directors and program representatives from American Psychological Association (APA) accredited and Association of …

Communication Apprehension And Perceived Responsiveness, Elise Alexandra Fanney

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The purpose of this study was to construct a training program designed specifically for college students struggling with Communication Apprehension in the public speaking context. Research has consistently found that perceived responsiveness acts as one form of social support, and social support has been found to decrease stress (Maisel, Gable, & Strachman, 2008). Given the fact that anxiety is stressful, the purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between perceived responsiveness of an audience and CA. Using data from an earlier pilot study measuring for correlation between CA and perceived responsiveness in one‟s close relational partner, and using …

A Human Behavioral Ecological Assessment Of The Yellowstone Lake Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Jordan C. Mcintyre

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The Yellowstone Lake Basin has been an important region for hunter-gatherers since the close of the Late Pleistocene that has provided an abundance and well diverse suite of subsistence resources ( i.e prey animals and edible plants). Due the diversity found within this ecosystem, the primary objective of this thesis is to demonstrate that through the tenants of human behavioral ecology, it can be argued that the subsistence and settlement strategies of mobile foragers were heavily influenced by the abundance and availability of subsistence resources. This is based on the premise that resource patches comprising of riparian and grassland habitats …

Rooted Elements A Kinesthetic Approach Connecting Our Children To Their Inner And Outer World, Alisha Meyer

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Rooted Elements is a thematic naturalistic guide for classroom teachers to design engaging lessons focused in the earth elements. It serves as a tool to pick out emotional or physical struggles for individuals or whole groups as they relate to the element characteristics. The practice is then designed around earth, water, fire or air qualities while teaching about a specific theme and what can be learned from that topic. The lessons are all geared towards an open space without desks and can be used with all students including students struggling with behavioral and/or academic challenges who need interventions. Rooted Elements …

Diy Pr: How Independent Music Artists Use Online Social Networks For Public Relations Purposes, Martina Lawless

Theses

Significance of the study: Independent musicians are a huge part of the Irish music industry and yet they are the part that do not have the backing of a record label. This means independent musicians need to look at cheap or even free ways to promote themselves to existing fans and potential new fans. With the emergence of social networks musicians both signed and independent have the tools necessary to engage in a new form DIY PR. The purpose of this study is to look at the different ways that social networks have helped musicians in recent years, but also …

The Effects Of Climate On The Growth Of Winter Wheat And Spring Barley In An Irish Context, Adrian Kennedy

Theses

The climate of earth is always changing due to natural events, however it is thought that the rapid warming period currently taking place is primarily due human activity to (environmental protection agency 2012). Climate change is altering the environment and this will have consequences for agriculture (Teagasc publications 2012). In this study we examine the relationship between weather and the yield of winter wheat and spring barley in an Irish context using data gathered from 2004-2010 at the Teagasc Oak Park research centre in Carlow. The data was analysed using a mixed effect model to test which if any weather …

In Silico Prediction Of Protein-Protein Interactions Between Cronobacter Sakazakii And Human Host, Sean Held

Theses

The genus Cronobacter accommodates 16 biogroups of the emerging opportunistic pathogen known formerly as Enterobacter sakazakii. Cronobacter are occasional contaminants of milk powder and, consequently, powdered infant formula (PIT). Since it is a pathogen that is transmitted in infant formula it represents a significant health risk to neonates. These bacteria are opportunistic pathogens (can only cause disease when the host's resistance is low) and are linked with life-threatening infections in neonates. Some of the clinical symptoms of Cronohacter infection include necrotizing enterocolitis, bacteremia, and meningitis, with case fatality rates of 50-80% being reported (Healy et al. 2010). Infant formula manufacturers …

Numerical Modelling Of The River Bandon, Stephen Finn

Theses

Numerical modelling involves the use of data from the physical environment and mathematical equations to achieve predictive solutions to many engineering problems including for river engineering. The field data is surveyed, sampled, recorded and tested before it is entered into the numerical modelling program for analysis. The numerical modelling program contains various mathematical equations that solve the data that has been entered. Numerical modelling is an important tool for predicting the consequences of future events. It can be used for predicting the damage of a 1 in 100 year flood event in a river system. Numerical modelling is used by …

Development Of Mass Spectrometric Methods For The Analysis Of Serotonin And Related Compounds In Biological Matrices, Merisa Moriarty

Theses

Serotonin is a major neurotransmitter in the brain and affects various functions both in the brain and in the rest of the body. It has been linked to depression, migraines, and aggression, as well as many psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, dementia and anorexia nervosa. It also has been associated with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease along with other neurotransmitters such as dopamine.

The aim of this research project is to develop various mass spectrometric methods for the analysis of serotonin, dopamine and similar indoles in both urine and serum matrices. This thesis provides extensive reviews detailing a general overview of serotonin …

An Assessment Of Phosphorus Recovery From Dairy Wastewater, Éanna Kelleher

Theses

Phosphorus is an important nutrient for plant and animal life. It is one of the three essential nutrients required for plant growth; Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. It plays a vital role in the quality and structure of plants. In animals it is essential for the transfer of energy around the body and for the development of the skeleton. Phosphorus is mined from deposits of phosphate rock and is mainly used to produce fertiliser which is applied to agricultural land to improve plant growth. However, phosphorus is a finite resource and, similar to oil, is expected to peak during this century. …

Eastern Washington University And The Ice Age Flood Debate: Processing The Papers Of Ewu Professor Dale F. Stradling, John C. Moudy

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"Background. The Eastern Washington University-Archives and Special Collections have recently acquired the papers of EWU Professor Emeritus of Geography Dale F. Stradling. Stradling taught at EWU for many years and as well as being of significance to the history of the university,this collection also contains material regarding the history, geography, and geology of Washington State and the Pacific Northwest. Stradling was interested in the natural forces that shaped the geography of the Inland Northwest. He collected numerous articles, pictures, and other material on the unique series of geological erosion features known as the Channeled Scablands. Dale F. Stradling was part …

Plant Community Restoration On Mima Mounds At Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Wa, Brandy K. Reynecke

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"Prevention and management of exotic plant species invasion can diminish their negative ecological and economic impacts and maintain ecological functions provided by native species. This is particularly important in rare landscapes that provide essential habitat. The most successful management plans integrate techniques to reduce invasive species abundance, increase native species abundance and reduce invasibility. Eastern Washington's Channeled Scablands bioregion has highly fragmented remnant patches of grassland underlain by glacial alluvium and basalt bedrock that are dotted with Mima mounds (naturally occurring aggregations of fine particle soil). The mounds provide valuable habitat for native plants and animals and many have been …

Effects Of Predator Urine On Deterring Ungulate Browsing Of Aspen On The Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Savanah Walker

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"In the Pacific Northwest, quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) support large amounts of biodiversity and are considered second only to riparian zones. Due to aspen's ecological importance and recent decline on Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR), increasing aspen regeneration is of high priority. The elk (Cervus elaphus) population on TNWR has greatly increased over the last decade and over browsing is attributed as a factor affecting aspen regeneration. In response to the decline of aspen regeneration, TNWR initiated an elk hunt in 2010 to cull and disperse elk. However, hunting is not a viable solution in public use areas of the …

An Assessment Of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria In Biosolid Used As Garden Fertilizer, Gwendolyn Lenore Hartman

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"Fertilizer grade biosolid is sold to the general public by the Cheney Wastewater Treatment Plant for use as garden fertilizer and as a soil conditioner. Moist biosolid samples were obtained from the Cheney Wastewater Treatment Plant and antibiotic resistant gram negative bacteria were isolated from it. Bacteria isolated from these samples were resistant to tetracycline, ampicillin, streptomycin, kanamycin and chloramphenicol. Tetracycline resistant bacteria were isolated on MacConkey's agar supplemented with tetracycline and their resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol and kanamycin were also determined. A total of 48 isolates cultivated to determine the presence of plasmids which often contain antibiotic resistance …

Elk Hunting On Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge: Impacts On Elk Movement And Aspen Regeneration, Christopher E. Dwight

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"In the arid West, quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) cover less than 10% of the forest landscape, yet support a disproportionate diversity of native plants and animals. When elk (Cervus elaphus) become overabundant, browsing prevents aspen regeneration, reduces survival, and consequently impacts local biodiversity. Given this, Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR) initiated a limited annual elk hunt beginning in fall 2010. This study examines whether the hunt affected elk usage of the refuge and, indirectly, aspen growth and regeneration. To determine elk movement and usage of the refuge prior to and following the elk hunt, 34 radio-collared cow elk were monitored …