Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Oswrky71 And Its Interacting Proteins In Seed Germination And Early Growth Of Cereal Grains, Margaret Ja Shin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

During seed germination and early seedling growth, complex molecular and physiological events occur in rice (Oryza sativa) and other cereal grains. As the seed transitions to vegetative tissue, it responds to both favorable and unfavorable environmental conditions and is vulnerable to attack by predation and disease. Although seeds are relatively small and tender in size, extensive and sophisticated molecular networks enables the immobile seed to grow, survive and adapt in its environment. One of the networks I am interested in is in the crosstalk between the gibberellin (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathways. These pathways are interesting because they …

Dispersal Ecology Of Desert Mosses Along Gradients Of Elevation, Wildfire Disturbance And Local Niche, Robert Joseph Smith

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Much of the variation in plant communities can be explained by the dispersal of individuals across landscapes, an ecological process that contributes to clinal variation, post-disturbance recovery and habitat occupancy. The role of dispersal is of particular concern for Mojave Desert plant communities that may not be able to tolerate recent departures from historical fire regimes. The aim of this thesis was to infer how dispersal is reflected by patterns of diversity in disturbed and undisturbed bryophyte communities in the Spring Mountains of southern Nevada. Chapter 2 presents an examination of sub-surface bryophyte communities (propagule "soil-banks") along a 1400 m …

Effects Of Cervical Spine Manipulation On Balance And Joint Proprioception In Asymptomatic Individuals: Plausibility And Pilot Study, Kimberly Drayer, Michael Kauwe

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Balance issues are prevalent in all ages of the population and can lead to many debilitating secondary impairments. There are various methods for treating balance problems, one of which is cervical spine manipulation (CSM). It seems to be biologically plausible that CSM would be an effective intervention, as it elicits effects in the same systems that are impaired in people with balance issues: vestibular, visual, and somatosensory.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the immediate differences in balance and proprioception following a CSM in asymptomatic subjects.

Design: An experimental, cross-over study design was used

Methods: …

An Analysis Of Recreation User Perceptions: Crowding, Conflict, And Satisfaction At Diamond Lake, Oregon, Christoper D. Caplinger

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This purpose of this study was to investigate visitor perceptions, particularly those related to crowding, conflict and satisfaction, within the context of Diamond Lake, while the relationship between these variables was also compared. The lake was analyzed both as a whole and across four separate zones which surround the lake. A thorough examination of visitor demographics and characteristics was included as well, in order to gain a clear understanding of the visitors who come to lake and provide additional insights into their perceptions.;This study was conducted over the summer of 2012 between May and August at Diamond Lake within the …

Items To Be Included In A Food Safety Handbook For Artisan Cheese Makers, David A. Irish

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Current written resources for artisan cheese makers include topics concerning cheese history, cheese recipes, budget planning, culture selection, processing parameters, and only limited discussion of food safety associated with cheese manufacturing. Most often food safety discussions center on HACCP, which typically are not included in artisan cheese operation planning. Recent changes in the regulatory landscape, including the Food Safety Modernization Act, make this information timely and needed. This research is designed to identify and collect a majority of topical ideas that should be included in a Food Safety Handbook for Artisan Cheese Makers. Where possible, expansion of the ideas has …

Intramuscular Temperature Of Rectus Femoris During Cold Water Immersion, Nicholas Rech

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Purpose: To establish a protocol for cold water immersion (CWI) temperature and duration based on adipose tissue thickness and desired cooling at 2 cm sub-adipose tissue of rectus femoris (RF) after exercise.

Methods: Sixteen participants received a CWI treatment (10 °C) until either intramuscular thigh temperature (2 cm sub-adipose) decreased 7 °C below pre-exercise level or 30 minutes was reached. Temperature was recorded every 30 seconds using skin and implantable fine-wire thermocouples. Temperature reductions and cooling rates were analyzed.

Results:Five out of the 16 participants cooled 7 °C below baseline within 30 min. Adipose thickness and percent body fat …

Increasing Stringiness Of Low Fat Mozzarella Cheese Using Polysaccharides, Erik N. Oberg

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

We examined the ability of polysaccharides to function as fat mimetics in low-fat (LF) mozzarella string cheese to improve functionality by acting like fat globules to separate protein fibers during cheese extrusion. Low-fat mozzarella cheese curd made from 273 kg of 0.7% fat milk was salted at a rate of 10 g/kg then divided into 3.6-kg batches that were hand-stretched in 5% brine at 80° C and formed into a homogeneous mass. The hot cheese was hand mixed with a hot 80° polysaccharide slurry, placed into a small piston-driven extruder and then forced through a 16-mm die to form the …

Effect Of Step Rate On Foot Strike Pattern And Running Economy In Novice Runners, Janae Lynn Richardson

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Purpose—The objective was to examine if step rates ±5% or ±10% of a novice runner's preferred step rate (SR) is sufficient enough to shift a novice runner’s foot strike pattern (FSP) (rear-foot, mid-foot, forefoot) and whether these SR changes produce changes in the rate of submaximal oxygen consumption (VO2). Methods—Foot strike angle (FSA) was recorded using sagittal plane video images and VO2 was measured for novice runners while running on a treadmill at a constant speed during increased and decreased (±5% and ±10%) SR conditions. Foot strike angle was used to predict strike index (SI) (predicted strike index = [FSA …

The Effects Of Parent Training On Knowledge Of Transition Services For Students With Disabilities, John Young

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

A major focus in secondary education for many students with disabilities is to improve independent living skills and prepare students with the vocational skills needed to participate in competitive employment. Yet the outcomes remain poor for these students when compared with their nondisabled peers. One factor accounting for poor outcomes is lack of preparation for the parents. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of parent training on knowledge of transition agencies and supports for students with disabilities. The study was intended to connect parents with needed agencies and supports for the purpose of improving transition outcomes …

A Primary Document Analysis-Centered Curriculum In A Residential Treatment Center, Jared Peterson Collette

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This study examines the challenges and rewards of applying Stanford History Group’s Thinking Like a Historian program in the context of a residential treatment center to better understand the necessary modifications and adjustments that would be needed to successfully apply this program. The researcher used an action research methodology, an analytic autoethnographic journal, as well as student work to investigate student successes and challenges in learning history through the use of primary documents. The findings demonstrate that students did not successfully apply historical thinking even after explicit instruction, extensive modeling, and guided practice. The author argues that low literacy rates, …

Linking Intermountain West Shrub-Steppe Grassland Restoration Ecology With Cultural Meaning Through Landscape Design, Bridget Marie Atkin

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

It has been proposed that the aesthetic quality of landscapes, designed or natural, provides a critical linkage between humans, and ecological processes and function. Ecological function is not always compatible with cultural expectations of the landscape aesthetics or is considered desirable. This thesis argues that landscapes that demonstrate desirable environmental characteristics can also possess aesthetic qualities. If they are well-utilized by the general population and more valuable ecologically, they will be more successful. This thesis examines the use of principles of landscape design to incorporate meaningful ecological function within a constructed landscape with desirable aesthetics for the mutual benefit of …

Wildland Firefighter Smoke Exposure Study, George Anthony Broyles

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This report addresses exposure to smoke from wildland and prescribed fires encountered by wildland firefighters. Smoke from vegetation as well as off-gasses from equipment such as chain saws, pumps, and drip torches are accounted for. Section II provides an overview of industrial hygiene science and techniques. Section III is a discussion and literature review of the components in wildland smoke, and section IV identifies the health concerns associated with smoke inhalation and a review of the current literature on exposure to inhalation irritants. Section V covers research that has been done on wildland firefighter smoke exposure. Section VI is an …

The Relationship Of Bulbous Bluegrass And Big Sagebrush In Utah, Jason D. Cox

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The increase in abundance and distribution of bulbous bluegrass (Poa bulbosa) has been a concern of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Very little research has been conducted to analyze the invasiveness of bulbous bluegrass in the Intermountain West. This study used data from 1982 to 2012 at range trend study sites across the state of Utah to investigate trends in bulbous bluegrass abundance, range expansion, and co-occurrence with big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). This study addressed the question of whether the increase of bulbous bluegrass correlates with changes in sagebrush …

Regional Stratigraphic Framework Of The Tuscarora Sandstone: A Model For Geologic Co2 Storage In West Virginia, Christian T. Kramer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Evaluation of the regional resource potential for geologic storage of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, primarily CO2, is an essential first step in developing policies for carbon management. Within the central Appalachian basin the Lower Silurian Tuscarora Sandstone, a gas producing anticlinal play, has been identified as a potential CO2 storage target. The Tuscarora extends from New York to Tennessee and is dominantly a white to light-gray, silicacemented orthoquartzite deposited in a fluvial and/or littoral environment. The objective of this study is to analyze the Tuscarora Sandstone in West Virginia to determine its potential for geologic storage of CO2, as well as …

Project Knowledge Of 4-H Members Who Participated In The Equine Skillathon At The West Virginia State Fair, Kolby Denae Wyant

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An Equine Skillathon is conducted annually at the West Virginia State Fair in Department F that is open to 4-H and FFA members. At the 2012 West Virginia State Fair, a descriptive research study was done utilizing the Equine Skillathon as the method of instrumentation. The study was conducted to assess the fundamental equine knowledge of junior and senior 4-H members who participated in the 2012 State Fair Equine Skillathon in the five categories of breed identification, conformation, body and hoof parts, as well as feed identification. The data was collected from the participating 4-H members' score sheets and used …

Characterization Of The Composition And Toxicity Of Particulate Matter Emissions From Advanced Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Engines, Arvind Thiruvengadam Padmavathy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Heavy-duty natural gas engines compliant with the 2010 EPA emissions standards have a clear advantage over diesel engines in meeting regulations with minimal after-treatment configuration. Heavy-duty natural gas engines are largely promoted as a cleaner burning engine with respect to low PM mass emissions. However, lack of sufficient data and literature on the exhaust emissions from advanced natural gas engines and the potential adverse health effects has raised concern amongst regulatory agencies. Also, the ammonia emissions from three-way catalyst equipped heavy-duty natural gas engines could be a major contributor to the formation of secondary PM in the atmosphere.;This CARB funded …

Captive Propagation, Reproductive Biology, And Early Life History Of Crystallaria Cincotta (Diamond Darter), Etheostoma Wapiti (Boulder Darter), E. Vulneratum (Wounded Darter), And E. Maculatum (Spotted Darter), Crystal Ruble

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Reproductive biology and early life history data are important for understanding the ecology of fishes, and can be used for the management and conservation of rare species. During 2008--2012, a captive propagation study was conducted on Crystallaria cincotta (Diamond Darter), a rare species with a single extant population in the lower Elk River, WV. Also, captive propagation studies were conducting during 2008 on three species of darters of the subgenus Nothonotus: Etheostoma wapiti (Boulder Darter), E. vulneratum (Wounded Darter), and E. maculatum (Spotted Darter). Water temperatures during Diamond Darter spawning ranged from 11.1--23.3°C. Females and males spawned with quick vibrations …

Synthetic Geomechanical Logs And Distributions For Marcellus Shale, Mohammad Omidvar Eshkalak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The intent of this study is to generate synthetic Geomechanical Logs for a specific Marcellus Shale asset using Artificial Intelligence and Data mining Technology. Geomechanical Distributions (Map and Volume) for the entire Marcellus Shale asset was completed. In order to accomplish the objectives, conventional well logs such as Gamma Ray and Bulk Density are used to build Data-Driven models. The Data-Driven technique used in this study is applicable to other shale reservoirs.;Successful recovery of hydrocarbons from the reservoirs, notably shale, is attributed to realizing the key fundamentals of reservoir rock properties. Having adequate and sufficient information regarding the variable lithology …

Disulfide Bridging The Gap Between Src And Cortactin: A New Paradigm In Sh2 Domain-Mediated Signaling, Jason Vanburen Evans

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Src and cortactin are cytoplasmic proteins that are implicated in cancer progression and metastasis. Src is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that also regulates normal cell homeostasis through phosphorylation of multiple downstream substrates. Cortactin is an actin binding protein and nucleation promoting factor that promotes the formation of stable branching networks within the actin cytoskeleton. Together, these proteins work in concert to promote the invasive and metastatic potential of tumor cells due to tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin by Src. However, the mechanistic details of the interaction between Src and cortactin have never been elucidated. Collectively, this work aims to define how …

Electrospinning Nanofibers For Controlled Drug Release, Indrani Banik

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Electrospinning is the most widely studied technique for the synthesis of nanofibers. Electrospinning is considered as one of the technologies that can produce nanosized drugs incorporated in polymeric nanofibers. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that the release rates of drugs from these nanofiber formulations are enhanced compared to those from original drug substance. This technology has the potential for enhancing the oral delivery of poorly soluble drugs [1]. The electrospun mats were made using Polycaprolactone/PCL, Poly(DL-lactide)/PDL 05 and Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide)/PLGA. The drugs incorporated in the electrospun fibers were 5-Fluorouracil and Rapamycin. The evidence of the drugs being embedded …

Differences In Population Structure Estimated Within Maternally- And Paternally-Inherited Forms Of Mitochondria In Lampsilis Siliquoidea (Bivalvia: Unionidae), Robert A. Krebs, W. Calvin Borden, Na'tasha M. Evans, F. Paul Doerder

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Mussels in several orders possess two separate mitochondrial lineages: a standard female-inherited form and one inherited only through males. This system of doubly uniparental inheritance (DUI) for mitochondrial genes provides an opportunity to compare the population structure of gene-lineages passed either mother-to-daughter or father-to-son. In the present study, we contrast variation in the male and female haplotype lineages of the American freshwater mussel species, Lampsilis siliquoidea (sometimes called Lampsilis radiata luteola), throughout the Lake Erie, Ohio River, and upper Mississippi River watersheds, and contrast variation with the sequences obtained for the related species/subspecies Lampsilis radiata radiata from Maine. The …

Tentative Transitions And Gendered Pathways: Exploring The Revolving Door Of Young Adult Homelessness, Rachel M. Schmitz

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The number of homeless young adults living in unstable conditions is a growing social problem. However, less is known about the multiple transitions young people experience as they enter into street life and how these pathways differ for males and females. While some young people may run away from home never to return, others may move between housed environments and homelessness, creating a revolving door effect. The homeless experience for young adults can also potentially lead to developmental problems in later life such as the lack of stable employment due to criminal activity and an overall cycle of homelessness that …

Telomere-Related Factors And Human Papillomavirus Genome Maintenance, Adam J. Rogers

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are small DNA tumor viruses identified by their characteristic ability to replicate as a nuclear plasmid in mitotically active basal keratinocytes. A key characteristic of the HPV life cycle is the establishment of a stable maintenance phase wherein the virus replicates at low copy number, which likely occurs in cells expressing little to no E1 and E2. It is thought that HPV16 replicates in a once-per-cell-cycle manner during this portion of its life cycle and presumably interacts with host chromosome replication and maintenance factors to facilitate this replication. The adaptive radiation of papillomaviruses in response to changing …

Topological Network Alignment Based On Graphlet Degree Signature, Shengai Jin

Master's Theses

A large number of experimental biological network data of different types are becoming available due to advanced experimental techniques. Network alignment is considered to be one of the most common methods to analyze and compare biological networks to understand evolution, biological mechanisms, and the complexity of diseases. Kuchaiev, Milenkovic, Memisevic, Hayes, & Przulj (2010) recently proposed a topological method of network alignment based on graphlet degree signatures, called GRAAL, which can be used to align any kind of networks not just biological ones. Several global network alignment algorithms also have been designed based on GRAAL, such as MI-GRAAL, H-GRAAL, and …

Developing Purpose In College: A Mixed Methods Study To Investigate How First-Year And Senior Students Developed Purpose At A Large Research Midwestern University, Laura J. Coombs

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this convergent mixed methods study was to investigate how students develop purpose at a large research Midwestern University. More specifically, this study assessed how students developed their sense of purpose in college, according to both first-year students and senior students.
The central research question for this study was: how do students develop purpose in college? More specifically, how do first-year students compare with senior college students when developing purpose in college? The Developing Purpose Inventory (DPI), created by William Barratt, was utilized to determine how students were developing purpose in college, according to Arthur Chickering’s student development …

Proprietary Research To Determine Feasibility Of Commercializing The Pink Oyster Mushroom, Evan P. Bumann

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This project serves as a feasibility experiment to bring the Pink Oyster mushroom(Pleurotus flabellatus) into constant domestic cultivation for the purposes of commercialization. Important data acquired from growth trials were growth timelines and yields. This information was used to generate interactive spreadsheets with which one can determine possible cost and profit in a variety of scenarios. The first portion of the experiment involved constructing a growth chamber, which can achieve and maintain stable environmental conditions. This portion was successful. Secondly, the numbers obtained from the experimental growth trials were used to determine future projections from the perspective of …

Exploring Prairie Diversity: Plant Parasitic Nematodes Of 9 Mile Prairie, Maggie Olson

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Nematodes are some of the most diverse and abundant animals on Earth. These microscopic invertebrates are found in virtually all terrestrial and aquatic habitats. While their abundance and diversity of form is well documented, their genetic diversity and distribution is largely unknown (Boag and Yeates, 1998). How this diversity is distributed across continents, ecoregions, and landscapes is still being discovered.

There are two primary objectives of this project. First, we wanted to determine how patterns of nematode diversity are distributed within and among tall grass prairies. Additionally, we wanted to generate new knowledge about belowground prairie diversity. One component to …

Causes And Effects Of Streambank Erosion And Mass-Wasting Along Stevens Creek In Northeast Lancaster County, Nebraska: A Photographic Qualitative Case Study, Jared A. Norris

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The Stevens Creek watershed borders the eastern side of the city of Lincoln, Nebraska. The study site for this investigation is located near the intersection of the Murdock recreation trail bridge and the Stevens Creek waterway. This research examined the causes and effects of streambank erosion within approximately 75 meters upstream and downstream of the Murdock Trail bridge-Stevens Creek intersection. The investigation utilized extensive photographic evidence, field observations, and some water and soil sampling to qualitatively determine that the extent of streambank erosion within the given study site is occurring at an accelerated rate, likely as a result of increased …

Educational Experiences Of Emancipated Foster Youth: An Exploratory Study, Cynthia Joyce Stunkard

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The data obtained in this qualitative study focused on the educational experiences of youth formerly in foster care after graduation from high school from the viewpoint of the youth. Data were gathered from interviews from 10 participants. Themes included: (a) How do youth emancipated from foster care perceive their educational experiences? (b) What could teachers have done differently to assist the foster youth when he/she first arrived in the classroom or when he/she was moving to another placement? (c) What did teacher do to help the foster youth feel welcomed and part of the classroom community?

Interviews were conducted and …

The Evaluation Of Water Storage In Death Valley Using Grace Satellite Data, Maile Sweigart

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

As drought conditions spread across the United States, concerns over water supplies, water use, and water management policies are growing and possible contributing environmental factors are continually being scrutinized. This thesis examines Death Valley as an analog for Southern Nevada and utilizes NASA EOS data, combined with ancillary climate data, to assess the effect of decadal climate variability on groundwater storage in the Death Valley area. Historical climate data, combined with satellite imagery observations, were compiled and calculated for analyses. Conclusions derived from statistical analyses infer trends between GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellite data and fluctuating levels of …