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The Winonan, Winona State University

The Winonan - 2010s

No abstract provided.

Fashion Vs. Function In Cultural Evolution: The Case Of Dog Breed Popularity, Stefano Ghirlanda, Alberto Acerbi, Harold Herzog, James A. Serpell

Publications and Research

We investigate the relationship between characteristics of dog breeds and their popularity between years 1926 and 2005. We consider breed health, longevity, and behavioral qualities such as aggressiveness, trainability, and fearfulness. We show that a breed's overall popularity, fluctuations in popularity, and rates of increase and decrease around popularity peaks show typically no correlation with these breed characteristics. One exception is the finding that more popular breeds tend to suffer from more inherited disorders. Our results support the hypothesis that dog breed popularity has been primarily determined by fashion rather than function.

Building And Grounds Committee Meeting Minutes, September 11, 2013, Building And Grounds Committee

All Faculty Senate 2007-2014 Committee Minutes and Reports

Minutes from the Faculty Senate Building and Grounds Committee meeting held on September 11, 2013.

Stabilizing Nanostructured Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathode With Atomic Layer Deposition, Yunhui Gong, Diego Palacio, Xueyan Song, Rajankumar L. Patel, Xinhua Liang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We demonstrate that the highly active but unstable nanostructured intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell cathode, La_0.6Sr_0.4CoO_3-δ (LSCo), can retain its high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity with exceptional stability for 4000 h at 700 C by overcoating its surfaces with a conformal layer of nanoscale ZrO₂ films through atomic layer deposition (ALD). The benefits from the presence of the nanoscale ALD-ZrO₂ overcoats are remarkable: a factor of 19 and 18 reduction in polarization area-specific resistance and degradation rate over the pristine sample, respectively. The unique multifunctionality of the ALD-derived nanoscaled ZrO₂ overcoats, …

September 11, 2013 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Title, Scott A. Davis, Dr. Bruce Roundy

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The invasion of non-native species, mainly cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), into our rangelands, especially following the destruction caused by wildfires, has made it necessary to find viable options for the restoration of native plant species to these areas. The aim of this project was to determine whether or not it is possible to create models for the germination and seminal root growth of a suite of species using heat accumulation models. By creating these models, we hope to be able to discover other native species that not only compete with cheatgrass through early establishment, but provide a quality food source for …

Effects Of Inundation Length On Fairy Shrimp, Tammy Behunin, Russell Rader

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Phyllopods (fairy shrimp, tadpole shrimp, and clam shrimp) are the species that best characterize freshwater rock pool communities around the world because of their unique adaptations to temporary conditions. The fairy shrimp, Branchinecta packardi, is one of the most abundant animals in temporary rock pools of the Colorado Plateau. Some rock pools can fill and dry in less than 2 days during the hottest part of the year (July). We conducted a study to examine the relationship between pool evaporation rates and rates of fairy shrimp development. The objectives of this study were to test two hypotheses: 1) fairy shrimp …

Investigating Why Luminescence Genes Have Been Evolutionarily Preserved In Photorhabdus Luminescens, Dana Blackburn, Dr. Byron J. Adams

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Photorhabdus luminescens is a gram-negative bacterial endosymbiont of the insect pathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophera. After the nematode infects an insect it releases bacteria from its gut into the insect. The bacteria then produce a toxin that kills the insect providing a nutrient rich environment for the nematode to grow and reproduce. When all of the nutrients are gone the nematode reassociates itself with the bacteria and moves on to the next insect.

Characterization Of A Dna Helicase Gene That Targets Sub-Cellular Organelles In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Logan Hazard, Dr. Brent Nielsen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

DNA helicases are essential to the development of all living organisms. The function of these proteins is to temporarily separate duplex DNA, allowing for transcription, replication, recombination, and repair to take place. The Pif1p subfamily of helicases found in yeast specifically targets sub-cellular organelles, notably the mitochondria.

The Orthopteran Mitochondrial Genome And The Evolution Of Genes, J. Daniel Fenn, Dr. Michael F. Whiting

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The insect order Orthoptera contains the common name groups of Grasshoppers, Katydids and Crickets. We sequenced the entire mitochondrial genome of the Mormon Cricket (Anabrus simplex). Within this genome we found interesting evidence relating to the organization and evolution of mitochondrial genomes. In particular we focus on the secondary structure of messenger RNA molecules, and the role they play in determining gene separation and cleavage. We also examined the A+T-rich region of fifty-five mormon cricket individuals from seven populations and compared the variability within this region. This has led to a better understanding of the evolution of genomes within populations.

Speciation By Reproductive Isolation, Ian Dawson, Dr. Jerry Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Ecological Speciation Hypothesis is a controversial explanation for how new species form. Although the idea is gaining momentum, there have been very few empirical tests of this model. Hence, our research is very timely and addresses what could be a common process by which new species form. Our research will address the effect of differences in predation pressure on the evolution of mating behavior. It will be one of only three studies to examine if predation can lead to reproductive isolation.

Unleashing The Power Of Meta-Threading For Evolution/Structure-Based Function Inference Of Proteins, Michal Brylinski

Faculty Publications

Protein threading is widely used in the prediction of protein structure and the subsequent functional annotation. Most threading approaches employ similar criteria for the template identification for use in both protein structure and function modeling. Using structure similarity alone might result in a high false positive rate in protein function inference, which suggests that selecting functional templates should be subject to a different set of constraints. In this study, we extend the functionality of eThread, a recently developed approach to meta-threading, focusing on the optimal selection of functional templates. We optimized the selection of template proteins to cover a broad …

Effects Of Fasting On Oxygen Stable Isotope Ratios, Bryt Christensen, Kent Hatch

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of my project was to see if fasting has any effect on oxygen stable isotope ratios. Oxygen isotopes are molecules of oxygen that weigh more or less than normal oxygen 16 because they have more or less electrons. Stable isotopes are used as a scientific tool in many fields to study a variety of things. Among many applications, they are widely used by ecologists to study migration patterns and they have also been used to study the diets of animals.

Watering Snakes, Samuel Hirt, Kent Hatch

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Stable isotope research is a relatively new and innovative tool in ecology. Studies have been done with stable isotopes to determine migration patterns, diet, and evidence for nutritional stress and much more. Little has been done with stable isotopes and reptiles. We conducted a stable isotope, pilot study that will help us understand what happens with snakes in relation to temperature and oxygen and hydrogen turnover ratios in water.

Phylogeography And Species Boundaries In The Lesser Treefrog Hyla Minuta In The Guiana Shield, Montt A. Hawkins, Dr. Jack W. Sites Jr., Dr. Brice P. Noonan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The lesser tree frog (Hyla minuta) is found in abundance throughout most of South America. Earlier studies have suggested that this taxon includes populations which differ significantly in ecological (Cardoso & Haddad, 1994) and morphological (Kaplan, 1994) characteristics (fig 1), and may include unrecognized species. Noticeable phenotypic variation occurs among populations (Figure 1). However to date little work has been done to determine the number of species that may be masquerading under the identity of H. minuta.

Nuclear Localization Of Gdf5 Is Mediated By A Bipartite Nuclear Localization Signal, J. Daniel Jensen, Dr. Laura Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

GDF5, also known as cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein-1 (CDMP1), is a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) protein superfamily. TGFβ proteins play an integral role in cell proliferation and differentiation, matrix synthesis, and apoptosis. First identified in 1981, highly-conserved TGFβ protein homologues have since been identified in a wide range of animal species, a compelling indication of their importance in biological function.

Hormonal Effects On Antibody-Secreting Cell Migration, Brad Hyatt, Dr. Eric Wilson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I started by following the injection protocol established by Weisz-Carrington , et al., administering 5 mg of progesterone and 4 µg of estrogen daily for 21 days, followed by 7 days of 2 mg of prolactin. Since progesterone and estrogen are lipid-soluble, olive oil was used as a solvent; unfortunately, even with heat and time, the lipid solvent never fully dissolved the hormones that we bought in powder form. Consequently, I was injecting more of a suspension than a solution, and I was never sure that all the hormone was delivered, or how much had been delivered in a form …

Characterizing The Receptor Profile Of Distinct Migrating Iga Antibody Secreting Cell Populations, Erick Christensen, Dr. Eric Wilson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cells of the immune system must be precisely positioned to facilitate appropriate lymphocyte function. Immune system cells use a multi-step process, which allows them to home to specific areas of the body and perform different tasks. Cells traveling through the blood stream will bind to specific vascular adhesion molecules and begin to slow down and roll along the blood vessel. Circulating white blood cells express chemokine receptors that bind chemokines floating in the blood and chemokines expressed on the membrane of other cells. When the proper chemokine is bound it triggers the white blood cell to firmly adhere to the …

Experiment Three, - -

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In order to demonstrate the presence of hydrocarbon biodegradation in a hypersaline aqueous environment an isotopic method of analysis was employed. The relative 13C abundance of Great Salt Lake’s HCO3- in equilibrium with atmosphere and fossil hydrocarbon are quite different. By creating microcosms using the sediment of Rozel Point and allowing the microbial activity to occur over a 12 week timeframe, data were collected regarding the change of CO2 concentration and the isotopic signature of the 13C in HCO3- of the microcosm water. A shift in the isotopic signature from the 13C levels of the HCO3- in equilibrium with atmosphere …

Intestinal Nematodes Of Lake Trout (Salvelinusnamaycush): An, Sandra B. Bay, Dr. Richard A. Heckmann

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Recently, a non-endemic species of fish, Salvelinus namaycush, was introduced into Yellowstone Lake. These lake trout feed on the native cutthroat trout, an important food source for higher predators in the area. During routine examinations of the lake trout, an abnormally high infection of intestinal nematodes was discovered. These intestinal nematodes are also found in the endemic lake trout in nearby Lewis Lake, but at a lower level of infection.

Transcriptome Analysis Of Two Buffalograss Cultivars, Michael Wachholtz, Tiffany Heng-Moss, Paul Twigg, Lisa Baird, Guoqing Lu, Keenan Amundsen

Biology Faculty Publications

Background: Buffalograss [Buchloë dactyloides (Nutt.) Engel. syn. Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) Columbus] is a United States native turfgrass species that requires less irrigation, fungicides and pesticides compared to more commonly used turfgrass species. In areas where water is limited, interest in this grass species for lawns is increasing. While several buffalograss cultivars have been developed through buffalograss breeding, the timeframe for new cultivar development is long and is limited by a lack of useful genetic resources. Two high throughput next-generation sequencing techniques were used to increase the genomic resources available for buffalograss.

Results: Total RNA was extracted and …

September 11, 2013, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

The Long Term Effects Of Racial Socialization Of African American Sons Through Communication Patterns From Their Mothers, Jacqueline A. Johnson

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study explored the long-term effects of racial socialization patterns from African American mothers to their sons to discover whether they are enhancing or impeding the wellbeing the African American males. While several distinct socialization types emerge throughout the literature with egalitarian, and barrier socialization messages predominating, the measures have focused primarily on the effects of racial socialization on academic performance. This qualitative study attempted to illuminate a gap in the literature: the long-term effects of mother to son racial socialization messages as evidenced by the limited research examining the later life experiences of adult African American men. The results …

Experiences Of Caregivers For Relatives With A Chronic Severe Mental Illness : Riding The Roller Coaster : A Descriptive Study, Diana E. Mark

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explored the experiences of caregivers to a mentally ill family member, focusing on the needs and problems they face. The demands for families to act as caregivers to their psychiatrically ill relatives have increased; their involvement has reduced relapse rates. Understanding caretakers' perspectives in fulfilling this vital role was a goal of this study. Twelve one hour interviews were held with fourteen caregivers who were actively involved with NAMI, Rhode Island. The relatives they cared for had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder. Open-ended questions enabled participants to provide descriptive accounts of their caregiving …

Bioavailable Lead In Topsoil Collected From General Aviation Airports, Jerry H. Kavouras, Randal J. Demik, Allison C. Hopkins

Biology Department Faculty Articles

Representatives of the aviation community are interested in determining the environmental effects of leaded fuel emissions from general aviation flight operations. Soil is an environmental sink for lead to accumulate over time. This study measured bioavailable lead concentrations in topsoil at three general aviation airports and at one site with no general aviation operations in order to determine if general aviation aircraft operations are contributing to the contamination of airport topsoil at levels that require remediation by law. Bioavailable refers to substances that organisms can absorb, because they have access to them. Topsoil was collected from refueling areas, run-up areas, …

Secure Attachments And How They Promote Resilience In Children Of Alcoholics, Sheena A. Mahoney

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Children of alcoholics (COAs) experience risk factors including difficulties in school, behavioral issues, psychological distress, and the potential to become a substance abuser themselves. However, there is also research to support that not all COAs experience negative outcomes as a result of their alcoholic parent's influence. This qualitative study sought to explore whether positive attachments promote resilience in COAs from the perspective of COAs themselves. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine participants who were COAs and could identify a positive attachment relationship from the time period when they lived with their alcoholic parent(s). The major finding of this study was …

Expressive Writing As An Adjunct To Talk Therapy : Considerations For A Creative Intervention For Depressive Disorders, Anna C. Hogeland

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical thesis offers considerations for expressive writing as an adjunct to talk therapy, particularly for adults with depressive disorders and ruminative thoughts. This thesis asks: how do theories and empirical studies inform the use of expressive writing as an adjunct to talk therapy in adults with depressive disorders to decrease ruminations, and how can clinicians integrate this treatment intervention into practice? The primary aims of this thesis are to expand upon the limited knowledge about the therapeutic effects of expressive writing, to offer direction for further research, and to propose a model for the implementation of expressive writing into …

The Freshman Experience, Stephanie Mannon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory research was to investigate if change in sexual risk-taking behavior between high school and college can be predicted as a function of the interaction of person and situation traits. College, conceptualized as a backspace (situation) construct, and personality traits (sensation-seeking, neuroticism, extraversion) conducive to deviant behavior were examined. While significant risky behavior was reported for all students (n = 252), hierarchical regression analyses revealed that higher levels of the specified personality traits in combination with on-campus backspace residential status was not predictive of greater change in engagement in sexual risk-taking behavior. Implications for future research …

Synthesis And Characterizations Of Amorphous Carbon Nanotubes / Gold Particles Hybrid Materials / Lim Yu Dian, Yu Dian Lim

Student Works (2010-2019)

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have attracted great attentions due to its unique properties. However, most works being carried out focus on crystalline CNT. In this work, amorphous CNT (a-CNT) were synthesized successfully via a simple chemical technique at 220 °C in a short period of time. Surface morphological studies revealed that as prepared nanotubes present in agglomerated tubular structures with open ends, having diameter of 51.6 nm. The diameter of a-CNT reduced to 40 nm upon functionalization with nitric acid and further reduced to 10.2 nm as treated with auric chloride solution due to introduction of defective sites by these treatments. …

Formation, Functionalization, Characterization, And Applications Of A Mixed-Mode, Carbon/Diamond-Based, Core-Shell Phase For High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Landon A. Wiest

Theses and Dissertations

My work has focused on a variety of different types of diamond-based, core-shell particles. These particles are formed with inert cores and poly(allylamine)/nanodiamond shells. Their intended purpose is to form an LC stationary phase that is stable from pH 1 – 14 and at elevated temperatures. At the beginning of my studies, the particles that had been made in the Linford laboratory were pH stable, but irregular and had poor mechanical stability. Since that time, I have worked to improve the particles by using more spherical zirconia and carbon cores, and I have improved their mechanical stability via chemical crosslinking …