Digital Commons Network^™

Genetic Sampling Of Palmer's Chipmunks In The Spring Mountains, Nevada, Kevin S. Mckelvey, Jennifer E. Ramirez, Kristine L. Pilgrim, Samuel A. Cushman, Michael K. Schwartz

Western North American Naturalist

Palmer’s chipmunk (Neotamias palmeri) is a medium-sized chipmunk whose range is limited to the higherelevation areas of the Spring Mountain Range, Nevada. A second chipmunk species, the Panamint chipmunk (Neotamias panamintinus), is more broadly distributed and lives in lower-elevation, primarily pinyon-juniper (Pinus monophylla–Juniperus osteosperma) habitat types. Panamint chipmunks are not closely related to Palmer’s, but field identification of the 2 species is unreliable. Palmer’s chipmunk is a species of concern in the state of Nevada and is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as endangered. As such, conservation of Palmer’s …

Diel Cover Use And Local Site Fidelity Of A Large Southwestern Cyprinid, Bonytail Gila Elegans, In A Lower Colorado River Backwater, Paul C. Marsh, Gordon A. Mueller, Michael R. Schwemm

Western North American Naturalist

Sonic transmitters were affixed to 10 large (40.4–51.4 cm TL) adult bonytail Gila elegans in 2003 from Cibola High Levee Pond, a small, isolated backwater adjacent to the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California. Point and paired directional observations showed that all marked adult bonytail occupied interstices of large riprap during daytime and used open water areas during darkness, presumably to feed. There were 2 spatial patterns of nighttime distribution by adult fish: 70% of fish exhibited mesohabitat site fidelity to a particular area of the pond, while others appeared to move about at random. Selection or design of …

Current Distributional Status Of Two Subspecies Of Sylvilagus Bachmani On The Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, Consuelo Lorenzo, Patricia Cortés-Calva, Gorgonio Ruiz-Campos, Sergio Ticul Álvarez-Castañeda

Western North American Naturalist

We assessed the current distributions for 2 subspecies of the brush rabbit, Sylvilagus bachmani peninsularis and S. b. exiguus, on the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. On the basis of field sampling, field notes, and voucher specimens in scientific collections, we demonstrated that (1) both subspecies have been previously recorded in mesic habitats with conditions associated with oases and streams; (2) the 2 subspecies exhibit disjunction in their distributions in the middle and southern portions of the peninsula; (3) habitats are threatened by human activities and desertification, which explains why brush rabbit populations are currently fragmented; and (4) specimens of S. …

Prey Indices And Behaviors At A Gray Fox Den In San Mateo County, California, L. Mark Elbroch, Maximilian L. Allen

Western North American Naturalist

The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is an under-studied species in North America. Here we provide data gathered through observations over 17 d at a gray fox den in San Mateo County, California. We recorded prey indices through direct observation, as well as through indirect observation with photos recorded by motion-triggered cameras. The largest prey was a mule deer fawn, which we determined was killed by a gray fox. This finding is the first record of gray fox predation on mule deer. Lagomorphs and rodents formed the majority of prey items. We also recorded behavior that both contradicted and …

Biogeography And Evolution Of Neotropical Small Mammals, With Emphasis On Hystricognath Spiny Rats Of The Genus Proechimys (Family Echimyidae), Rafael Do Nascimento Leite

Theses and Dissertations

The Neotropical region is the most biologically diverse region on the planet. The region encompasses a variety of ecosystems and has long been the target of researchers interested in patterns of species diversity and distribution. More recently, molecular data have been incorporated into methods for reconstructing the historical relationships among geographical areas and their biotas. Molecular phylogenetics has provided insights into diversification patterns and the influence of Late Cenozoic events on the evolutionary history of the region. Nevertheless, considering the vast extent and complexity of the region, more studies are needed to fully appreciate the patterns of biogeography and the …

Parowan Valley Potting Communities: Examining Technological Style In Fremont Snake Valley Corrugated Pottery, Scott M. Ure

Theses and Dissertations

Defining the Fremont archaeological culture has challenged archaeologists for decades. There is still considerable debate about the origins of the Fremont, their eventual demise, their genetic relationship to modern Native American tribes, and myriad other issues. In nearly a century of Fremont research, socio-political, economic, and religious complexity remain elusive subjects. Examining technological style, the manifestation of socially influenced choices during each step of production as a means of passive communication, is one useful avenue to examine Fremont material culture to uncover the social patterns they may, or may not contain. I examine whether or not technological style in Fremont …

Developmental Signaling Requires Inwardly Rectifying K+ Channels In Drosophila Melanogaster, Giri Raj Dahal

Theses and Dissertations

Inwardly rectifying potassium (IRK/Kir) channels regulate intracellular K+ concentrations and membrane potential. Disruption of Kir2.1 causes dominantly inherited Andersen Tawil Syndrome (ATS). ATS patients suffer from cardiac arrhythmias, periodic paralysis, and cognitive impairment. These symptoms are consistent with current understanding of the role of ion channels in muscle cells and neurons. However, ATS symptoms also include craniofacial and digital deformities such as cleft palate, dental defects, wide set eyes, low set ears, and crooked or fused digits. These developmental defects were not consistent with current understanding of developmental signaling or previously described roles for ion channels. We found that phenotypes …

Low Mitochondrial Dna Sequence Variation In The Microendemic Cuatro Ciénegas Platyfish Xiphophorus Gordoni, Evan W. Carson, Hector Espinosa-Pérez, Valeria Souza

Western North American Naturalist

The desert spring ecosystem of the Cuatro Ciénegas basin, Mexico, hosts an extraordinary but increasingly imperiled assemblage of native and endemic aquatic organisms. Among the more vulnerable to extinction is the microendemic Cuatro Ciénegas platyfish Xiphophorus gordoni, which is at particular risk due to its highly restricted distribution and small population size. Given the growing demands on water resources in this arid region, we conducted a survey of mitochondrial DNA sequence variation in the cytochrome b gene to establish a baseline for long-term genetic monitoring of this endangered species. Fifty-eight specimens were collected from the 2 subpopulations known to persist, …

Catching Large Groups Of Ravens: A Note On Procedures Using Rocket Nets, Richard J. Camp, Mark Hagan, William I. Boarman, Shannon J. Collis, Wanda S. Deal

Western North American Naturalist

Capturing Common Ravens (Corvus corax) is very difficult. Several methods are currently used, but none effectively catch large numbers (>25 birds) of ravens at one time. Efficient capture of large numbers of ravens is needed for some autecology studies. We describe and evaluate the effectiveness of using a prebaited rocket net trapping method for simultaneously capturing large numbers of ravens. The study sites were within 2 landfills in California’s Mojave Desert, one at Edwards Air Force Base and the other at Fort Irwin National Training Center. We captured 283 ravens on 5 trapping occasions between 1995 and …

A Parabolic Equation Analysis Of The Underwater Noise Radiated By Impact Pile Driving, Nathan Laws

Dissertations and Theses

Impact pile driving can produce extremely high underwater sound levels, which are of increasing environmental concern due to their deleterious effects on marine wildlife. Prediction of underwater sound levels is important to the assessment and mitigation of the environmental impacts caused by pile driving. Current prediction methods are limited and do not account for the dynamic pile driving source, inhomogeneities in bathymetry and sediment, or physics-based sound wave propagation.

In this thesis, a computational model is presented that analyzes and predicts the underwater noise radiated by pile driving and is suitable for shallow, inhomogeneous environments and long propagation ranges. The …

Personhood And Cloning: Modern Applications And Ethics Of Stem Cell And Cloning Technology, Sariah Cottrell Mccarrey

Theses and Dissertations

Within many communities and religions, including the LDS community, there is some controversy surrounding the use of stem cells – particularly embryonic stem cells (ESC). Much of this controversy arises from confusion and misconceptions about what stem cells actually are, where they come from , and when life begins. The theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has interesting implications for the last of these considerations, and it becomes less a question of “when does life begin” and more an exploration of “when does personhood begin” or “when does the spirit enter the body.” With no official …

Aqueous Henry's Law Constants, Infinite Dilution Activity Coefficients, And Water Solubility: Critically Evaluated Database, Experimental Analysis, And Prediction Methods, Sarah Ann Brockbank

Theses and Dissertations

A database containing Henry's law constants, infinite dilution activity coefficients and solubility data of industrially important chemicals in aqueous systems has been compiled. These properties are important in predicting the fate and transport of chemicals in the environment. The structure of this database is compatible with the existing DIPPR® 801 database and DIADEM interface, and the compounds included are a subset of the compounds found in the DIPPR® 801 database. Thermodynamic relationships, chemical family trends, and predicted values were carefully considered when designating recommended values. Henry's law constants and infinite dilution activity coefficients were measured for toluene, 1-butanol, anisole, 1,2-difluorobenzene, …

Greater Sage-Grouse And Natural Gas Development In Utah: Using Population Genetic Data For Conservation Efforts, Leah S. Breidinger, Karen E. Mock, Terry Allen Messmer

Western North American Naturalist

Population declines of Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) throughout the western United States have been attributed to the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitats. Increased energy development may further fragment sagebrush habitat, isolating sage-grouse populations and resulting in genetic drift, inbreeding, local extinction, or rapid divergence. We conducted a genetic survey of 3 remote sagegrouse populations in northeastern Utah to assess mitochondrial diversity relative to other portions of the species’ range. We did not detect any unusual haplotype compositions in these populations. However, haplotype composition of the Anthro Mountain and Strawberry Valley reference populations differed …

Influence Of Water Conductivity On Amphibian Occupancy In The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Robert W. Klaver, Charles R. Peterson, Debra A. Patla

Western North American Naturalist

Investigation of amphibian occupancy at potential breeding sites can provide information about the distribution and relative abundance of species, as well as insights into habitat relationships across large areas such as national parks. Based on previous research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), we hypothesized that the probability of amphibian occupancy increases with water conductivity. We conducted amphibian surveys with habitat measurements at 235 wetland sites in the GYE in 2002, thereby locating breeding populations of boreal toads (Anaxyrus boreas), boreal chorus frogs (Pseudacris maculata), Columbia spotted frogs (Lithobates luteiventris), and barred tiger salamanders …

Effects Of Male Size On Searching Behaviors In The Sun Dance Of Bembix, David A. Tanner, James P. Pitts

Western North American Naturalist

Males of solitary wasp species are faced with the task of locating potential mates, a task made more difficult by inconspicuous females and a landscape seemingly devoid of landmarks. Males may employ a variety of strategies to locate females. In this study, we test for variation among males within the sun dance of Bembix. We show that males ofBembix americana spinolae Lepeletier behave differently within the sun dance and that these differences can be predicted by the size of the male. We show that large males spend more time at “rest” and require a greater number of male–male contacts …

Field Guide To Amphibians And Reptiles Of California By Robert C. Stebbins And Samuel M. Mcginnis, Howard O. Clark

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Synthesis, Testing And Crystallographic Studies Of Allosteric Modifiers Of Hemoglobin, Tanvi Deshpande

Theses and Dissertations

The major physiological function of hemoglobin (Hb) is to bind, transport and deliver oxygen to tissues; made efficient by endogenous effectors, such as protons and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. Synthetic allosteric effectors of Hb (AEHs) are also known to modulate Hb oxygen affinity, showing potential for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD) and ischemic-related diseases. In this project, AEHs which increase Hb affinity for oxygen, including derivatives of the anti-sickling compounds, 5HMF and benzaldehydes, as well as an AEH that decreases Hb affinity for oxygen, RSR-13, were synthesized for their effects on Hb oxygen binding property and their capability to release NO …

Dietary Selenium Deficiency Exacerbates Dss-Induced Epithelial Injury And Aom/Dss-Induced Tumorigenesis., C. W. Barrett, K. Singh, A. K. Motley, M. K. Lintel, E. Matafonova, A. M. Bradley, W. Ning, Shenika Poindexter Toliver

Faculty and Staff Publications

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient that exerts its functions via selenoproteins. Little is known about the role of Se in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Epidemiological studies have inversely correlated nutritional Se status with IBD severity and colon cancer risk. Moreover, molecular studies have revealed that Se deficiency activates WNT signaling, a pathway essential to intestinal stem cell programs and pivotal to injury recovery processes in IBD that is also activated in inflammatory neoplastic transformation. In order to better understand the role of Se in epithelial injury and tumorigenesis resulting from inflammatory stimuli, we examined colonic phenotypes in Se-deficient or …

From Long-Distance To No Distance: Performance-Based Long-Distance Education In Art And Design, Bo Gao

Learn X Design Conference Series

This paper is to introduce an enhanced teaching and learning experience, which brings people in different location to act in the same spectacle, a real-time building together rather than only verbal communications in front of the screen. The “e(ating) meeting – Project of the VISIT 2012” is a teaching project undertaken in the year 2010~2013, and is a cross-cultural long-distance learning and collaboration experiments between two international universities. The objectives of this collaborative project are to develop and experiment new teaching approaches and tools through an intercultural and interactive platform in art and design. This paper unfolds the process and …

Prospectus, July 3, 2013, Ted Sutterlund, Matthew Jackson, Mace Mackiewicz, Alex Wallner

Prospectus 2013

"SUPERIOR DONUTS" BRINGS LAUGHS AND TEARS; Study habits hindered by everyday distractions; The next phase in the drone wars; Presenting yourself to employers: How to build a professional online image; Snowden's punishment should be calculated carefully; Who gets admitted to college?; "The Last of Us" a once in a generation game; Parkland Golf wins national championship; New consoles showcased at E3 2013

An Inverted Repeat In The Ospc Operator Is Required For Induction In Borrelia Burgdorferi, Dan Drecktrah, Laura S. Hall, Laura L. Hoon-Hanks, D. Scott Samuels

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochete that causes Lyme disease, differentially regulates synthesis of the outer membrane lipoprotein OspC to infect its host. OspC is required to establish infection but then repressed in the mammal to avoid clearance by the adaptive immune response. Inverted repeats (IR) upstream of the promoter have been implicated as an operator to regulate ospC expression. We molecularly dissected the distal inverted repeat (dIR) of the ospC operator by site-directed mutagenesis at its endogenous location on the circular plasmid cp26. We found that disrupting the dIR but maintaining the proximal IR prevented induction of OspC synthesis by …

Isolation And Molecular Characterization Of Leptospira Interrogans And Leptospira Borgpetersenii Isolates From The Urban Rat Populations Of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, D. Benacer, M.Z. Siti Nursheena, A. Fairuz, R.L. Galloway, Kwai Lin Thong

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

Rats are considered the principal maintenance hosts of Leptospira. The objectives of this study were isolation and identification of Leptospira serovars circulating among urban rat populations in Kuala Lumpur. Three hundred urban rats (73% Rattus rattus and 27% R. norvegicus) from three different sites were trapped. Twenty cultures were positive for Leptospira using dark-field microscopy. R. rattus was the dominant carrier (70%). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed that all isolates were pathogenic Leptospira species. Two Leptospira serogroups, Javanica and Bataviae, were identified using microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) identified two serovars in the urban rat populations: L. …

Pro-Drop And Word-Order Variation In Brazilian Portuguese: A Corpus Study, Stewart Daniel Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examines certain syntactic properties of the Brazilian variety of Portuguese (BP): 1) BP is a pro-drop language with instances of both null subjects and covert objects, and 2) BP exhibits several possible word orders. To determine the frequency of pro-drop and word-order variations, the CDP (The Portuguese Corpus) was used to provide samples of transitive, main clauses, which were then categorized based on whether or not they had null subjects and covert objects. The clauses were also categorized according to word order. In addition to providing samples, the corpus allowed for the comparison of four different registers …

Geographical Concentration Of Manufacturing Industries In China —Measurements And Determinants, Zhiqiang Liu

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation uses China's Industrial Survey data to explore the degrees and causes of geographical concentration of China's manufacturing industries. The combination indices provide a more sophisticated framework in measuring degree of manufacturing concentration. In addition, determinants of manufacturing concentration are also explored by a series of econometric models. The results show state capital and state subsidies all have significant impact on geographical concentrations of China's manufacturing activities.

Variation In Salamander Tail Regeneration Is Associated With Genetic Factors That Determine Tail Morphology, Gareth J. Voss, D. Kevin Kump, John A. Walker, S. Randal Voss

Biology Faculty Publications

Very little is known about the factors that cause variation in regenerative potential within and between species. Here, we used a genetic approach to identify heritable genetic factors that explain variation in tail regenerative outgrowth. A hybrid ambystomatid salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum x A. andersoni) was crossed to an A. mexicanum and 217 offspring were induced to undergo metamorphosis and attain terrestrial adult morphology using thyroid hormone. Following metamorphosis, each salamander’s tail tip was amputated and allowed to regenerate, and then amputated a second time and allowed to regenerate. Also, DNA was isolated from all individuals and genotypes were …

The Birds Of Nebraska, Revised Edition 2013, Paul A. Johnsgard

Zea E-Books Collection

This summary of the birds of Nebraska has been restricted to those species that have been convincingly reported at least once in Nebraska from historic time to the present. It has also been modified in its current revision to conform very closely in that regard to the most recent Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union’s “Official List of the Birds of Nebraska” (Brogie, 2010; NOU Records Committee, 2011 and annual updates). The N.O.U.’s official state list of birds (455 species as of 2013, including 329 “regular” species, 42 of “casual” occurrence, 68 accidentals, and six extinct or extirpated species) is based on actual …

Rapid Biodiversity Assessment Grid Sampling (Citizen Science) In The White Mountains, Northern Alaska, Usa, June 2013, Falk Huettmann

Faculty

This data set consists of a Rapid Biodiversity Sampling from a non-intrusive citizen science GRID (5*5 geo-referenced sampling + 5 random plots = 30 plots overall). It includes raw count data for 305 bird observations of 14 identified bird species, and plants from the 25+5 survey sampling plots (3m radius), as well as insects from four trapping webs (3m radius, 25 traps each, 3 repeats; mostly spiders were detected). The survey was done between 25th of June and 27th of June in 2013 at the White Mountains (north to the NorthForkBirch and Twelvemile Creeks - near the Steese Hgw 6) …

Evolution And Allometry Of Calcaneal Elongation In Living And Extinct Primates, Doug M. Boyer, Erik R. Seiffert, Justin T. Gladman, Jonathan I. Bloch

Publications and Research

Specialized acrobatic leaping has been recognized as a key adaptive trait tied to the origin and subsequent radiation of euprimates based on its observed frequency in extant primates and inferred frequency in extinct early euprimates. Hypothesized skeletal correlates include elongated tarsal elements, which would be expected to aid leaping by allowing for increased rates and durations of propulsive acceleration at takeoff. Alternatively, authors of a recent study argued that pronounced distal calcaneal elongation of euprimates (compared to other mammalian taxa) was related primarily to specialized pedal grasping. Testing for correlations between calcaneal elongation and leaping versus grasping is complicated by …

The Bg News July 03, 2013, Bowling Green State University

BG News (Student Newspaper)

The BGSU campus student newspaper. July 03, 2013. Volume 92-Issue 104.

Subtle Paranodal Injury Slows Impulse Conduction In A Mathematical Model Of Myelinated Axons., Charles F. Babbs, Riyi Shi

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

This study explores in detail the functional consequences of subtle retraction and detachment of myelin around the nodes of Ranvier following mild-to-moderate crush or stretch mediated injury. An equivalent electrical circuit model for a series of equally spaced nodes of Ranvier was created incorporating extracellular and axonal resistances, paranodal resistances, nodal capacitances, time varying sodium and potassium currents, and realistic resting and threshold membrane potentials in a myelinated axon segment of 21 successive nodes. Differential equations describing membrane potentials at each nodal region were solved numerically. Subtle injury was simulated by increasing the width of exposed nodal membrane in nodes …