Digital Commons Network^™

Deglaciation Explains Bat Extinction In The Caribbean, Lilian M. Dávalos, Amy L. Russell

Open Access Publishing Support Funded Articles

Ecological factors such as changing climate on land and interspecific competition have been debated as possible causes of postglacial Caribbean extinction. These hypotheses, however, have not been tested against a null model of climate- driven postglacial area loss. Here, we use a new Quaternary mammal database and deep-sea bathymetry to estimate species–area relationships (SARs) at present and during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) for bats of the Caribbean, and to model species loss as a function of area loss from rising sea level. Island area was a significant predictor of species richness in the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and Lesser Antilles …

Hybrid Watermilfoil Lineages Are More Invasive And Less Sensitive To A Commonly Used Herbicide Than Their Exotic Parent (Eurasian Watermilfoil), Elizabeth A. Larue, Matthew P. Zuelling, Michael D. Netherland, Mark A. Heilman, Ryan A. Thum

Open Access Publishing Support Funded Articles

Hybridization may stimulate the evolution of invasiveness in human-impacted habitats if unique hybrid genotypes have higher fitness than parental genotypes. Human efforts to control invasive taxa frequently involve the intentional alteration of habitats, but few studies have considered whether hybridization can result in decreased sensitivity to control measures. Here, we investigate whether interspecific hybrids between introduced Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and native northern watermilfoil (M. sibiricum) are more invasive than parental Eurasian watermilfoil, especially in regard to their relative responses to an herbicide commonly applied for their control (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; 2,4-D). In two separate laboratory experiments, …

Src Binds Cortactin Through An Sh2 Domain Cystine-Mediated Linkage, J. V. Evans, A. G. Ammer, J. E. Jett, C. A. Bolcato, J. C. Breaux, K. H. Martin, M. V. Culp, P. M. Gannett, S. A. Weed

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Pegasus, Poni And The Ipad: A Thirty Year Strategic Alliance Creates An Environment For Technical Innovation And Enhanced Academic Support At Southern Methodist University., Gillian M. Mccombs, Joe Gargiulo

Central University Libraries Research

Southern Methodist University’s libraries and central IT staff have been working hand in hand for more than 30 years to provide high quality information technology tools in support of the University’s academic mission. The technology might change, the players might change, but the commitment of these two units goes above and beyond to serve University goals. Not intended to document every technological change on campus, this article focuses on the various stages in this fruitful relationship, and explores the organizational, cultural and environmental factors that have sustained this strategic alliance and fostered its growth over the years.

Uncomfortable Places, Close Spaces: Theorizing Female Correctional Officers’ Sexual Interactions With Men And Boys In Custody, Brenda V. Smith

Project on Addressing Prison Rape - Articles

This Article examines female-perpetrated sexual abuse in custodial settings and its place at the intersection of race, class, and gender in order to disentangle complex and overlapping narratives of abuse, sex, desire, and transgression. Ultimately, this Article confronts our discomfort with and reluctance to acknowledge the fact that women sexually abuse men and boys in custody, and it offers possible explanations for these behaviors.

Development And Evaluation Of A Continuing Education Unit (Ceu) On Tyrosinemia Type 1 (Tt1) For Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (Aprns), Elizabeth Barnby

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

No abstract provided.

John Collier, Thomas Edison And The Educational Promotion Of Moving Pictures, Amanda R. Keeler

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Communities Of Innovation, Michael Mattioli

Articles by Maurer Faculty

This Article examines and evaluates the theory that patent holders privately self-correct the government’s excessive apportionment of patent rights by means of various cooperative efforts including patent pools, research consortia, and similar licensing collectives. According to some experts, these efforts are proof that market participants have the wisdom and the will to collectively disarm their patent arsenals in order to advance long-term innovation. But until now, this theory of market self-correction has not been evaluated through empirical study. Drawing on interviews and original research, this Article provides an ethnographic view of collective patent licensing episodes. Amidst these stories of success …

Drugs, Guns, Police And Spatial-Temporal Analysis, Kristen N. Berg

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

This study sought to analyze the spatial patterns of drug and gun related crimes in the City of St. Petersburg, Florida by using Geographic Information Systems procedures. Hot Spot analysis and crime density were employed as two alternative measures of crime rates. Using ArcGIS, the records of drug and gun related crimes from August 1, 2010 to August 1, 2011, of St. Petersburg, Florida, were mapped. Data was provided by the St. Petersburg Police Department. Using this data we analyzed which census tracts have the most gun and drug activity associated with them. An overall density map of crime was …

Predictor Variables Associated With Disclosure And Concealment Of Sexual Orientation, Annmarie Panarello

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study examined variables associated with the disclosure and concealment of sexual orientation. A non-experimental correlational design with a regression analysis used to test the following hypotheses: 1) The following independent variables, latter stage of identity development, lower internalized homophobia, more perceived social support, higher self-esteem, and lower presence of cognitive distortions will account for a statistically significant amount of the variance in the disclosure of sexual orientation. 2) The following independent variables, earlier stage of identity development, higher internalized homophobia, less perceived social support, low self-esteem, and higher presence of cognitive distortions will account for a statistically significant amount …

Death Anxiety Amongst Medical Facility Staff Working With Medically Fragile Individuals, Jacqueline Anne Chambers-Klein

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Death, an inevitable concept that connects us as humans, can cause significant anxiety in individuals. Literature suggests that some medical professionals choose the field because of their own inner struggles with death (Neimeyer et al., 2004). Archival interview data were utilized in this action- oriented research to explore the notion of death anxiety in professionals who are working with medically fragile children. Twenty-six employees were individually interviewed at a residential medical facility. Additionally, a retrospective journal was utilized to understand the author’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences during internship. In order to examine the potential categories and themes that the author …

Functional Outcomes In A Postacute Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program, Esther Brahmstadt

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate functional outcomes among individuals with acquired brain injury who received treatment at a postacute brain injury rehabilitation program over a 3-year period (2008 to 2010). Participation in community and/or social roles, supervision required, and adaptive functioning outcomes were evaluated in a sample of 109 adults (71% male, 29% female; 88.1% White, 11.9% non-White; 67.9% injured at 18 years of age or older, 32.1% injured at under 18 years of age). Contrary to the hypotheses, there was a statistically significant increase in adaptive functioning and supervision required scores, suggesting increasing impairment over time. …

Aging, Neuromuscular Decline, And The Change In Physiological And Behavioral Complexity Of Upper-Limb Movement Dynamics, S. Morrison, K. M. Newell

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Aging is characterized by a general decline in physiological and behavioral function that has been widely interpreted within the context of the loss of complexity hypothesis. In this paper, we examine the relation between aging, neuromuscular function and physiological-behavioral complexity in the arm-hand effector system, specifically with reference to physiological tremor and isometric force production. Experimental findings reveal that the adaptive behavioral consequences of the aging-related functional decline in neurophysiological processes are less pronounced in simple motor tasks which provides support for the proposition that the motor output is influenced by both extrinsic (e.g., task related) and intrinsic (e.g., coordination, …

A New Geometric Model And Methodology For Understanding Parsimonious Seventh-Sonority Pitch-Class Space, Enoch S. A. Jacobus

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Parsimonious voice leading is a term, first used by Richard Cohn, to describe non-diatonic motion among triads that will preserve as many common tones as possible, while limiting the distance traveled by the voice that does move to a tone or, better yet, a semitone. Some scholars have applied these principles to seventh chords, laying the groundwork for this study, which strives toward a reasonably comprehensive, usable model for musical analysis.

Rather than emphasizing mathematical proofs, as a number of approaches have done, this study relies on two- and three-dimensional geometric visualizations and spatial analogies to describe pitch-class and harmonic …

Recreational Music-Making In Music Pedagogy: A Manifesto For Change, Brandon Keith Wood

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The arts are an essential part of any student’s well rounded education. The future of music in education will depend on its ability to deliver relevant, effective, and measurable outcomes. However, the expectations and performance nature of traditional curricula often foster a sense of musical elitism and ostracizes students that are solely interested in music as a recreational outlet. Incorporating recreational music-making into education can provide opportunities for students to experience self-expression, creativity, social connection, and enjoyment. These values will not only enhance their education, but also lead to acquired skills for use in all areas of their lives. Activities …

Woman Scorned?: Resurrecting Infertile Women's Decision-Making Autonomy, Jody L. Madeira

Articles by Maurer Faculty

Legal scholarship portrays women as reproductive decision makers in conflicting ways. The distinctions between depictions of infertile women and women considering abortion are particularly striking. A woman seeking infertility treatment, even one who faces no legal obstacles, is often portrayed as so emotionally distraught and desperate that her ability to give informed consent is potentially compromised. Yet, the legal academy has roundly rejected similar stereotypes of pregnant women considering abortion, depicting them as confident and competent decision makers. This Article argues that legal scholars' use of a "desperate woman" stereotype denies women's ability to critically assess the health risks and …

Assessing The Biophysical Naturalness Of Grassland In Eastern North Dakota With Hyperspectral Imagery, Qiang Zhou

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past two decades, non-native species within grassland communities have quickly developed due to human migration and commerce. Invasive species like Smooth Brome grass (Bromus inermis) and Kentucky Blue Grass (Poa pratensis), seriously threaten conservation of native grasslands. This study aims to discriminate between native grasslands and planted hayfields and conservation areas dominated by introduced grasses using hyperspectral imagery.

Hyperspectral imageries from the Hyperion sensor on EO-1 were acquired in late spring and late summer on 2009 and 2010. Field spectra for widely distributed species as well as smooth brome grass and Kentucky blue grass were collected from the …

No Halos For Sex Offenders: An Examination Of The Effects Of Appearance And Gender On The Perception Of Sex Offenders, Adam Charles Austin

Theses and Dissertations

For the last couple of decades, sex offenders have been stereotyped into being strangers to the victim and "dirty old men." However, recent research has shown that the public is no longer endorsing those stereotypes (Fuselier, Durham, & Wurtele, 2002; Levenson, Brannon, Fortney, & Baker, 2007). Instead the public is realizing that there is no stereotypical sex offender and most victims of sex offenses know their assailant to some degree. The purpose of the current study is to look at the judgments made about a teacher being accused of criminal sexual contact with a student, where gender and attractiveness of …

Lno Data Access Cedar Creek Site, Long Term Ecological Research Network

Long Term Ecological Research Network

This memorandum asks for feedback on a data availability policy to be used by PI of grants for LTER.

Calendar Year 2012 Report To The Rio Grande Compact Commission, Dick Wolfe, Scott A. Verhines, Patrick R. Gordon, Hal Simpson

Law of the Rio Chama

No abstract provided.

Cell Cycle Arrest Associated With Anoxia-Induced Quiescence, Anoxic Preconditioning, And Embryonic Diapause In Embryos Of The Annual Killifish Austrofundulus Limnaeus, Camie Lynn Meller, Robert Meller, Roger P. Simon, Kristin M. Culpepper, Jason E. Podrabsky

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus can enter into dormancy associated with diapause and anoxia-induced quiescence. Dormant embryos are composed primarily of cells arrested in the G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle based on flow cytometry analysis of DNA content. In fact, most cells in developing embryos contain only a diploid complement of DNA, with very few cells found in the S, G2, or M phases of the cell cycle. Diapause II embryos appear to be in a G0-like state with low levels of cyclin D1 and p53. However, the active form of pAKT is high during diapause II. …

Inefficient Replication Reduces Reca-Mediated Repair Of Uvdamaged Plasmids Introduced Into Competent Escherichia Coli, Harout Arthur Jeiranian, Charmain T. Courcelle, Justin Courcelle

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Transformation of Escherichia coli with purified plasmids containing DNA damage is frequently used as a tool to characterize repair pathways that operate on chromosomes. In this study, we used an assay that allowed us to quantify plasmid survival and to compare how efficiently various repair pathways operate on plasmid DNA introduced into cells relative to their efficiency on chromosomal DNA. We observed distinct differences between the mechanisms operating on the transforming plasmid DNA and the chromosome. An average of one UV-induced lesion was sufficient to inactivate ColE1-based plasmids introduced into nucleotide excision repair mutants, suggesting an essential role for repair …

Uvrd Participation In Nucleotide Excision Repair Is Required For The Recovery Of Dna Synthesis Following Uv-Induced Damage In Escherichia Coli, Kelley Nicole Newton, Charmain T. Courcelle, Justin Courcelle

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

UvrD is a DNA helicase that participates in nucleotide excision repair and several replication-associated processes, including methyl-directed mismatch repair and recombination. UvrD is capable of displacing oligonucleotides from synthetic forked DNA structures in vitro and is essential for viability in the absence of Rep, a helicase associated with processing replication forks. These observations have led others to propose that UvrD may promote fork regression and facilitate resetting of the replication fork following arrest. However, the molecular activity of UvrD at replication forks in vivo has not been directly examined. In this study, we characterized the role UvrD has in processing …

Anoxia Tolerance During Vertebrate Development - Insights From Studies On The Annual Killifish Austrofundulus Limnaeus, Jason E. Podrabsky, Claire L. Riggs, Jeffrey M. Duerr

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

This is chapter 1 from Anoxia -- This book reviews how severe oxygen deprivation affects biological systems - from the molecular to the ecological level. The contributing authors come from diverse regions of the world, which proves the interest in the academic analysis of oxygen deprivation. The diversity in the experimental approach scientists take, in order to understand the influence oxygen deprivation has on living systems, is apparent throughout this book. One of the presented ideas deals with the exploration and examination of the physiological, cellular and genetic characteristics of killifish embryos and nematodes exposed to anoxia. Furthermore, the book …

Electric-Field-Induced Interfacial Instabilities Of A Soft Elastic Membrane Confined Between Viscous Layers, Mohar Dey, Dipankar Bandyopadhyay, Ashutosh Sharma, Shizhi Qian, Sang Woo Joo

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

We explore the electric-field-induced interfacial instabilities of a trilayer composed of a thin elastic film confined between two viscous layers. A linear stability analysis (LSA) is performed to uncover the growth rate and length scale of the different unstable modes. Application of a normal external electric field on such a configuration can deform the two coupled elastic-viscous interfaces either by an in-phase bending or an antiphase squeezing mode. The bending mode has a long-wave nature, and is present even at a vanishingly small destabilizing field. In contrast, the squeezing mode has finite wave-number characteristics and originates only beyond a threshold …

Reimagining Criminal Prosecution: Toward A Color-Conscious Professional Ethic For Prosecutors, Justin Murray

Articles & Chapters

Prosecutors, like mostAmericans, view the criminal-justice system asfundamentally race neutral. They are aware that blacks are stopped, searched, arrested, and locked up in numbers that are vastly out of proportion to their fraction of the overall population. Yet, they generally assume that this outcome is justified because it reflects the sad reality that blacks commit a disproportionate share of crime in America. They are unable to detect the ways in which their own discretionary choices-and those of other actors in the criminal-justice system, such as legislators, police officers, and jurors-contribute to the staggering and disproportionate incarceration of black Americans. In …

Framing A Strategy: Exploring Faculty Attitudes Toward Library Instruction And Technology Preferences To Enhance Information Literacy, Maria A. Perez-Stable, Patricia Fravel Vander Meer, Dianna E. Sachs

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Publications

Higher education librarians and faculty members alike are faced with an ever expanding palette of technologies available for instructional use. Efforts between these two groups to collaborate in information literacy programs can greatly benefit from the incorporation of some of these new technologies. This article presents the results of a survey of 118 faculty members at Western Michigan University; conducted in 2011, it had three aims: (1) to gauge current faculty perceptions about library research instruction; (2) to determine how faculty are using technology in instruction; and (3) to examine faculty insights regarding the integration of different technological formats into …

Spatial And Temporal Variation In Degradation Of Dissolved Organic Carbon On The Main Stem Of The Lamprey River, Lucy Miller Parham

Master's Theses and Capstones

Degradation of dissolved organic carbon by microbial and photolytic processes was examined along the main stem of the Lamprey River Watershed located in southeastern New Hampshire. Eight sites were chosen and sampled biweekly throughout the seasonal hydrograph. Lab incubations were employed to assess microbial degradation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) where one set of samples was exposed to natural sunlight for a day to assess photolytic degradation. Mean biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) throughout the study period was 5.8% with no significant variation observed between sites. Temporal variation was found to be a much stronger driver of DOC composition with …

Apple Pomace As A Potential Ingredient For The Development Of New Functional Foods, Sofia Reis, Dilip K. Rai, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam

Conference papers

Apple pomace (AP) is the main by-product of cider industry being mainly composed of carbohydrates and dietary fibre, small amounts of protein, fat and ash. In addition AP is also a good source of phytochemicals such as phenolic acids and flavonoids making AP a valuable source of antioxidants. The common applications of this by-product are the direct disposal to soil in a landfill and for pectin recovery usage. These applications are not sufficient to drain the several tonnes produced every year and studies to valorise the AP for other purposes have gained momentum. AP due to its chemical composition, rich …

Harnessing Technology To Make Learning (And Teaching) More Fun., Barry Ryan, Julie Dunne

Conference papers

This paper describes how various technologies were introduced into foundation science modules both to enhance student engagement and feedback, and also to cope with increased teaching workload. It mostly deals with freely available software or tools available through a VLP (virtual learning platform, e.g. Blackboard or Moodle), but also includes audience response ‘Clickers’ which were purchased. The technologies discussed are user-friendly and do not require advanced IT skills. The paper includes successes, but also includes some less successful attempts to integrate technology and explores the possible reasons.

As third level funding is reduced, many academics are coming under increased pressure …