Digital Commons Network^™

A Critical Examination Of Green Economic Development As A Post-Disaster Recovery Approach: The Case Of Greensburg, Kansas 2007-2012, David Edgardo Leiva

Master's Theses

In May 2007, an EF-5 tornado ripped through and annihilated 95% of Greensburg, Kansas, a town of about 1,500 people in the southwestern portion of the state. On the heels of the disastrous Hurricane Katrina federal response and with the promise of two sitting presidents to use all of the federal support available, the town vowed not only to "survive, but thrive." Months later, Greensburg civic, business and elected leaders - with a host of external expertise - unveiled a recovery plan that not only set in motion the rebuilding of the two-square mile town but also offered the opportunity …

Conservation Genetics Of Gar (Atractosteus Spp.), Sandra Elizabeth Bohn

Master's Theses

The alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) is a large-bodied species of fish that historically was widely distributed in coastal drainages around the Gulf of Mexico and well north in the Mississippi River basin. Currently this species is experiencing population declines across much of its range. However, in some parts of its range, such as Texas, this species has shifted from being viewed as a trash fish to being the target or a growing sport fishery. As populations decline and angling pressure increases, different state agencies are faced with the common challenge of developing the most effective methods for managing …

Use Of Protective Behavioral Strategies And Reduced Alcohol Risk: Examining The Moderating Effects Of Mental Health, Gender And Race, Shannon R. Kenney, Joseph W. Labrie

Heads Up!

Recent research indicates that protective behavioral strategies (PBS)—previously established as effective self-regulating tools for reducing alcohol risk among college students—may be especially useful for students with poor mental health, who are shown to be at heightened risk for alcohol-related harm. The current study examined the moderating influence of mental health (depression and anxiety severity), gender, and race (White, Asian) in the relationship between PBS use and alcohol-related negative consequences. Participants were 1,782 undergraduate students from two West Coast universities who reported past month incidence of heavy episodic drinking. Students reported on their drinking, experience of alcohol-related consequences, use of PBS, …

Rct Of Web-Based Personalized Normative Feedback For College Drinking Prevention: Are Typical Student Norms Good Enough?, Joseph W. Labrie, Melissa A. Lewis, David C. Atkins, Clayton Neighbors, Cheng Zheng, Shannon R. Kenney, Lucy E. Napper, Theresa Walter, Jason R. Kilmer, Justin F. Hummer, Joel Grossbard, Tehniat M. Ghaidarov, Sruti Desai, Christine M. Lee, Mary E. Larimer

Heads Up!

Objectives

Personalized normative feedback (PNF) interventions are generally effective at correcting normative misperceptions and reducing risky alcohol consumption among college students. However, research has yet to establish what level of reference group specificity is most efficacious in delivering PNF. This study compared the efficacy of a web-based PNF intervention employing eight increasingly-specific reference groups against a Web-BASICS intervention and a repeated-assessment control in reducing risky drinking and associated consequences.

Method

Participants were 1663 heavy drinking Caucasian and Asian undergraduates at two universities. The referent for web-based PNF was either the typical same-campus student, or a same-campus student at one (either …

In The Valley With Jeffrey Vallance, Damon Willick

Art History Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

La Diversidad De Los Análisis De Diversidad La Diversidad De Los Analisis De Diversidad [The Diversity Of Diversity Analyses], Victor D. Carmona-Galindo, Tizziana V. Carmona

Biology Faculty Works

There is a lack of consistency with respect to the use of the terms like species richness, diversity and biodiversity, which extends to the analysis of diversity indices and the merit of using diversity indices in the evaluation (comparison and contrast) of biological communities. The purpose of this article is to provide working definitions for these terms and cite examples from the primary literature that demonstrate the utility of estimating richness, evaluating proportional abundance patterns, as well as comparing indices of diversity and similarity to study patterns of biological organization at different ecological scales. Additionally, we provide a manual in …

An American Indian Supreme Court, Eugene R. Fidell

American Indian Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Utility Of Amicus Briefs In The Supreme Court’S Indian Cases, Matthew L.M. Fletcher

American Indian Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Asserting Treaty Rights To Harness The Wind On The Great Lakes, Gerald Carr

American Indian Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Implications Of Tutor Negativity Towards A Synthetic Agent In A Learning-By-Teaching Environment, Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

We examine the implications of negativity in free-form dialogue between student tutors and a synthetic agent in APLUS, a learning-by-teaching online learning environment for Algebra. We attempt to determine whether the negativity of a student tutor's discourse with the agent indicates that the student is learning more or less of the material and whether the feedback they give the synthetic agent is more or less accurate. We found a weak negative correlation between tutor negativity and learning gains and a strong negative correlation between tutor negativity and accuracy of feedback. Negativity might indeed indicate that student tutors lack mastery of …

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership, Experiential Learning, And Reflective Journaling On The Conservation Ethic Of Tertiary-Level Non-Science Majors, Bradley Robert Reynolds

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The impact of transformational leadership, experiential learning, and reflective journaling on the conservation ethic of non-science majors in a general education survey course was investigated. The main research questions were: (1) Is the Conservation of Biodiversity professor a transformational leader? (2) Is there a difference in the conservation ethic of non-science majors at the beginning of the semester versus the end, within and between lecture and field groups? During fall 2012, students could attend lecture and take a traditional final or attend lecture, assist with a real-life amphibian monitoring project, and in lieu of the traditional final, keep a reflective …

Investigation Into Toll Like Receptor Mechanisms Of Action, In Relation To Porphyromonas Gingivalis In Periodontitis, Jonathan Lane

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by bacterial invasion of the gingival epithelial cells within the oral cavity (Bostanci and Belibasakis, 2012). A key bacterium responsible for this is Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a gram negative bacterium that evades the host immune system by cell infection. The chronic inflammation shown in periodontitis can cause tissue damage and bone degradation; this can lead to tooth loss (Hajishengallis et al 2011). Within this review P.gingivalis mechanisms of infection are outlined, along with its mediation of the immune system. Recognition by Toll like receptors is also investigated, and the literature on the …

What Factors Structure Anthozoan Microbial Communities?, Joanna Warwick-Dugdale

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The coral holobiont is a complex and diverse composition of organisms including algae, bacteria and viruses. A number of factors suggested as vital in shaping these communities are considered here. The anthozoan host generates great diversity within its microbiota via spatial and metabolic structuring at both macro- and micro-scales; coral communities appear to be somewhat species-specific, yet spatial and temporal variation in coral microbiota suggests the significance of environmental agents. Increasing sea temperatures may cause fatal dissolution of the coral-algal partnership (coral bleaching), and although some adaptation to elevated temperature appears possible, anthropogenic stressors such as reduced pH and sedimentation …

Landsliding On The South East Coast Of The Isle Of Wight: Nature, Characteristics And Causes, Grant Cole

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This comprehensive report conveys the nature, characteristics and causes of landsliding along the south east coast of the Isle of Wight. Landsliding is a major geohazard worldwide and is a major land shaping process on the Isle of Wight especially along its coastline and the island provides a unique opportunity to study this process. This report provides information and data on landsliding in an area of the island which hasn’t received extensive attention compared to other areas such as Ventnor. The report displays a combination of field data involving geological, lithological and geomorphological data and laboratory data in the form …

Students. Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them, Adam Cook

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Guest editorial from the Director, The Science Assembly, and Head of Conservation & Research, Dartmoor Zoological Park.

The Medicinal And Pharmacological Screening Of Wheatgrass Juice (Triticum Aestivum L.): An Investigation Into Chlorophyll Content And Antimicrobial Activity, Patrick Wakeham

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Plant products are of increasing interest in the search for new drugs and medicines in the treatment of disease; and the discovery of new alternatives to existing antibiotics is an important area of this research due to pathogen resistance. One example of a plant product currently under pharmacological investigation is wheatgrass juice; a dietary supplement derived from Triticum aestivum L. There is both anecdotal and scientific evidence to suggest that the medicinal efficacy of this plant may be due to its high chlorophyll concentrations. In this study chlorophyll fresh weight was determined in mg/100g for organic field grown wheatgrass juice …

The Effect Of Copper-Induced Oxidative Stress On Regeneration In Anemonia Viridis (Forskäl, 1775), Katharine Childs

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The release of pollutants such as metals into the aquatic environment has raised concerns over the health of coral reefs, as elevated concentrations of metals are known to cause oxidative stress and bleaching. This is an important issue to address as metals are continuously released into the environment and there is evidence that metals such as copper can still be prevalent after historical mining activities, particularly in estuaries around the Plymouth Sound, UK. Anemonia viridis is commonly found around this area and is used in the literature as a model organism for coral species. A.viridis harbours symbiotic zooxanthellae and is …

Heat Stress In Captive Endothermic Animals, Samantha Ward

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Approximately 26 billion captive animals, spanning over 10, 000 species (Mason 2010) are housed in artificial habitats and face a wide range of potential environmental challenges. These include abiotic sources of stress, for instance, artificial lighting, exposure to loud or aversive sound, arousing odours and uncomfortable temperatures or substrates. In addition, confinement-specific stressors such as restricted movement, forced proximity to humans or conspecifics, reduced feeding opportunities and other behavioural restrictions (Morgan & Tromborg 2007). There is enormous variation between species in how they react to captivity, even among close taxonomic relatives (Mason 2010). Captive wild animals are often healthier, live …

An Investigation Of The Bioavailability Of Heavy Metals In Tailing Run-Off Sediment At Devon Great Consols, Chan Yin Chi

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This project focuses on the environmental geochemistry of the Devon Great Consols by determination of the concentrations of chromium, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, cadmium, arsenic, manganese and iron. BCR®701 is a certified reference material (CRM) which was treated by Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction to determine the accuracy and precision of the experiment. Moreover, the CRM was also employed to compare performance of instruments, namely ICP-AES and ICP-MS. The T-test was used to determine any significance of difference between experimental values and certified values. The F- test was used to determine any significance of difference between ICP-AES and …

Feeding Strategies In Sympatric Red Howler Monkeys (Alouatta Seniculus), Saddleback Tamarins (Saguinus Fuscicollis) And Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri Boliviensis), In The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Peru, Aimee May

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This study investigated the feeding strategies of sympatric red howlers (Alouatta seniculus), saddleback tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis) in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Peru. The habitat types occupied during all behaviours and purely when feeding differed significantly between the three species (p<0.005). The overall diet consumption was also shown to be significantly different between the three species (p<0.005). These results demonstrated that niche separation between these sympatric primates may be achieved through differences in habitat types used for foraging and food types consumed. Data from this study was compared with data collected at the same site using the same methods in 2011. The diet composition differed significantly within each of the species between 2011 and 2012 (p<0.005). It could be proposed that factors such as changes in climate may have an impact on the rainforest ecosystem, and consequently affect the feeding strategies of primates, however further research is required to determine if this is the case and the exact impacts this would have on the primates.

The Bending Of Beams And The Second Moment Of Area, Chris Bailey, Tim Bull, Aaron Lawrence

The Plymouth Student Scientist

We present an overview of the laws governing the bending of beams and of beam theory. Particular emphasis is put on beam stiffness associated with different cross section shapes using the concept of the second moment of area.

The Effectiveness Of Management Options In Reducing Human Disturbance To Wetland And Coastal Birds, Christopher Batey

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Human disturbance to wildlife is a serious conservation issue for many groups of species. Birds inhabiting wetland and coastal environments may be of particular concern as they are exposed to disturbance both on land and on water, and due to growing pressure from tourism and leisure activities human disturbance in these environments may increase in the future. There are a wide variety of available management options referred to in the literature which aim to reduce or mitigate the negative impacts of disturbance to wetland and coastal birds. This review assesses the evidence for the effectiveness of these different management measures …

A Study Into The Impacts Of Water Table And Nitrogen Pulse On Cellulose Decomposition Rates And Carbon Release In Active Peatland, Matthew Culf

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Since the 1980s overstocking of sheep has become an increasing problem on UK uplands. This study examined the effect of livestock urination, and also water table depth, on active peatland on cellulose decomposition and fluvial carbon release. Urination was simulated using synthetic sheep urine (SSU) and applied to quadrats of active peatland at Redlake Mire on South Dartmoor and compared to quadrats without SSU treatment. Cellulose decomposition was measured using the cotton strip assay (CSA) method as a measure of microbial activity by examining a loss in tensile strength of cotton strips buried for 45 days from September 20th to …

Cold Pressor: Acceptance, Control And Expectations, Emily Williams

The Plymouth Student Scientist

To begin to examine how non-specific therapy factors, in particular expectations, may impact on treatment outcomes for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for the treatment of chronic pain, an investigative analogue study was conducted; completed by Psychology undergraduates from the University of Plymouth (N=52). This study re-examined the effectiveness of Acceptance and Control-based instructions on cold pressor pain; but extended this to explore whether high or low expectations of these strategies impacts their effectiveness. Participants were exposed to a cold pressor task to determine baseline tolerance, followed by a Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ). Control or Acceptance-based instructions, with an embedded …

An Audio Analysis Framework For Xna Developers, Stephen Hoult

The Plymouth Student Scientist

To those that are not specialists in the area, audio analysis can seem a daunting subject. This is particularly the case when creating software which draws upon the subject. There are many frameworks available which aid in the development of audio-driven software, yet few that cater to those with a limited knowledge of audio analysis. The aim of this project was to develop an audio analysis framework, specifically for implementation into C# XNA projects, which will enable developers with little to no understanding of audio analysis to develop audio-driven games. The result of this project has seen the completion of …

Investigating The Relative Importance Of Parentage Versus Environmental Factors On Heterochrony In Basommatophoran Freshwater Snails, Myriam Vanderzwalmen

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The importance of genetics in inter-specific heterochrony is long known; however, intra-specific heterochrony was believed to be driven by environmental variation. Recent studies on Radix balthica showed higher similarity in developmental timing across generations in genetically similar embryos than in distantly related individuals. In the present study, the relative importance of parentage and egg-mass origin is compared with the environmental importance in generating the heterochrony in Radix balthica. Six developmental events were recorded daily. The analysis of the variations showed that parentage influencing variation in developmental timing to be more important than environmental conditions. Only hatching was affected by the …

Evaluation Of Cave And Karst Programs And Issues At Us National Parks National Cave And Karst Research Institute Report Of Investigation 4, National Cave And Karst Research Institute

KIP Articles

No abstract provided.

Seasonal Correlations Between Pueraria Montana Var. Lobata And Avian Species Diversity And Relative Abundance In Hamilton County, Tennessee, Amelia Hudson

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Invasive species exist outside of their native ranges and can cause environmental harm where they have been introduced. One such species is kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata), an invasive vine in the southeastern U.S. Although kudzu is one of the most common invasive species management concerns in the Southeast, there is little quantitative data documenting its effects on native species. This study examines the seasonal correlations between kudzu and avian species diversity and relative abundance in Hamilton County, Tennessee. By measuring the characteristics of the overstory, midstory, and understory vegetation at sites with differing levels of kudzu coverage, I examined …

Higher-Order Petrov-Galerkin Methods For Analysis Of Antennas, Xueying Zhang

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

A temporally and spatially high-order accurate Petrov-Galerkin finite-element method is applied to the analysis of several antenna configurations. The method obtains numerical solutions of Maxwell's equations in the time domain using implicit time stepping and introduces energy into the domain using a Gaussian pulse to allow frequency-domain parameters to be computed over a range of frequencies with a single time-dependent solution. Verification cases for a monopole antenna and a microstrip patch antenna are used to examine the accuracy of the algorithm. Effects of varying antenna parameters on subsequent performance metrics are discussed based on the results from the simulations. Post-processing …

A New Software Framework For Unstructured Mesh Representation And Manipulation, Craig R. Tanis

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This research presents a unique new software framework for representing and manipulating unstructured meshes in parallel, for use in modern scientific simulation codes. Due to the central nature of the unstructured mesh, this framework provides a variety of functionality, desirable throughout the lifecycle of an application, such as IO, parallel partitioning, phantom node data updates, adaptive refinement, derefinement and load balancing. What makes the framework unique is a focus on generality: like a database, the user provides a programmatic schema defining the structure of the mesh, including topological descriptions of the valid mesh entities. The system extracts adjacency information from …