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The Development Of An Insect Succession Model Suitable For Time-Since-Death Statistics, Anne E. Perez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For academic carrion insect succession studies to be applicable to forensic casework, the study must provide statistically defensible postmortem interval (PMI) estimates. Multiple statistical approaches have been used to describe insect succession, but no study to date has been able to determine a confidence interval about a succession based PMI estimate. The ability to reject PMI values, and thereby create a confidence interval is determined by statistical power, of which sample size is a positive correlate. A proposed model established prospective sample sizes for desired levels of statistical power, indicating a target sample size of ~50 carcasses for estimating PMI …

Microfluidic Gradient Device For Studying The Mesothelial Cells' Migration And Effects Of Carbon Nanotubes Chronic Exposure, Hanyuan Zhang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cell migration is one of the crucial steps in many human physiological events and diseases, including cancers. Recent studies have shown that carbon nanotubes (CNTs), like asbestos, can induce accelerated cell growth and invasiveness that contribute to their mesothelioma pathogenicity. Malignant mesothelioma is a very aggressive tumor that develops from cells of the mesothelium, and is most commonly caused by exposure to asbestos. CNTs have similar structure and mode of exposure to asbestos. This has raised a particular concern regarding the potential carcinogenicity of CNTs, especially in the pleural spaces, which are key target tissues for asbestos-related diseases.;In this thesis, …

Analysis And Comparison Of Clothoid And Dubins Algorithms For Uav Trajectory Generation, Mohanad Al Nuaimi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The differences between two types of pose-based UAV path generation methods clothoid and Dubins are analyzed in this thesis. The Dubins path is a combination of circular arcs and straight line segments; therefore its curvature will exhibit sudden jumps between constant values. The resulting path will have a minimum length if turns are performed at the minimum possible turn radius. The clothoid path consists of a similar combination of arcs and segments but the difference is that the clothoid arcs have a linearly variable curvature and are generated based on Fresnel integrals. Geometrically, the generation of the clothoid arc starts …

Passover, Trevan Hatch, Zahra Alghafli, Loren D. Marks

Faculty Publications

Passover is a Jewish spring festival that primarily commemorates the ancient liberation of the Hebrew slaves and their exodus from Egypt and secondarily commemorates the liberation of Jews on various instances throughout history. The festival begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan (March or April) and lasts for seven days (eight days in the Diaspora). Passover consists of the traditions of (1) a pre-Passover home cleaning and (2) the Seder (meaning order), an evening ceremony on the first day of Passover that is usually observed with family and friends. Passover season is a time for Jewish …

Design, Fabrication, And Control Of An Upper Arm Exoskeleton Assistive Robot, Reza Shisheie

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Stroke is the primary cause of permanent impairment and neurological damage in the United States and Europe. Annually, about fifteen million individuals worldwide suffer from stroke, which kills about one third of them. For many years, it was believed that major recovery can be achieved only in the first six months after a stroke. More recent research has demonstrated that even many years after a stroke, significant improvement is not out of reach. However, economic pressures, the aging population, and lack of specialists and available human resources can interrupt therapy, which impedes full recovery of patients after being discharged from …

Peter And Paul In Antioch, Gaye Strathearn

Faculty Publications

When Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision” (Galatians 2:11–12). So wrote the Apostle Paul to the Galatian Saints. This passage is a difficult one. Just as ancient Saints were not comfortable with the public tension between Christianity’s most prominent leaders, neither are modern Saints today.

Effects Of Paired Housing And Acute D-Amphetamine On Delay Discounting In Lewis And Fischer 344 Rats, Marissa Turturici

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Lewis (LEW) and Fischer 344 (F344) rats are two genetically different strains that differ in impulsive choices made in a delay-discounting task. An operational definition of impulsive choice is a choice of a smaller-sooner reinforcer over a larger-later reinforcer. Research using LEW and F344 rats has housed rats singly. Studies have shown that paired housing influences impulsive choice, but it is not known if paired housing affects impulsive choice in the LEW and F344 strains specifically. The present study compared impulsive choice in pair-housed LEW and F344 rats to archival data from singly housed LEW and F344 rats. Impulsive choices …

Effects Of Ethanol On Pigeons' Near-Win Responding In A Slot-Machine Analog, Alexander A. Ward

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In slot machine play, near wins are losses that are visually similarity to wins and increase gambling persistence, but provide no reinforcer. To measure effects of ethanol on near-win responding, pigeons pecked for food in a slot-machine analog following ethanol administration. In any given trial, one of four outcomes was signaled by consecutive presentations of red or green key lights, followed by a white "collect key." Three red lights signaled a win and three green lights signaled a loss. Two red lights followed by a green light signaled a near win. On winning trials, food was delivered 5 s after …

A New Gaussian Process Method For Modeling And Design Of Multi-Source Data In Exposure-Response Toxicology Studies, Kai Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One of the most fundamental steps in risk assessment is to quantify the exposure-response relationship for the material/chemical of interest. This work develops a new statistical method, referred to as SKQ (stochastic kriging with qualitative factors), to synergistically model exposure-response data, which often arise from multiple sources (e.g., laboratories, animal providers, and shapes of nanomaterials) in toxicology studies. Compared to the existing methods, SKQ has several distinct features. First of all, SKQ integrates data across multiple sources, and allows for the derivation of more accurate information from limited data. Second, SKQ is highly flexible and able to model practically any …

Roles Of Nitric Oxide And Shear Stress In The Regulation Of Microvessel Permeability In Intact Rat Mesenteric Venules, Sulei Xu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mechanical forces have been indicated to play important roles in the regulation of inflammatory cell interaction with endothelium resulting in localized leakage formation and contributing to many disease-associated microvascular dysfunctions. However, most of the mechanical force related studies were conducted in vitro. The underlying mechanisms are still controversial. There is a need to investigate how shear stress regulates the endothelial cell (EC) signaling and related vascular barrier function using intact microvessels with experimental conditions closely replicating in vivo situations. The overall aim of my dissertation is to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of how shear stress and nitric oxide …

Transsynaptic Delineation Of The Rabbit Eyeblink Premotor Pathway: Identifying Anterior Interpositus Neurons And Their Synaptic Changes As A Function Of Learning, Jimena Gonzalez-Joekes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The main goal of this dissertation was to identify eyeblink projection neurons of the anterior interpositus nucleus (AIN) and to examine learning-specific changes in excitatory and inhibitory somatic synapses after eyeblink conditioning (EBC). In order to identify the specific subset of AIN neurons involved in EBC, a retrograde transneuronal viral tracer was injected into the eyelid (orbicularis oculi muscle) of the rabbit to reveal hierarchical chains of synaptically connected neurons involved in the eyeblink response. Experiment 1 was designed to provide a complete delineation of the rabbit eyeblink premotor pathway and to characterize the multiple neuronal types in the AIN …

The Impact Of Religion On Minority Identity And Community: A Case Study Of Russian Orthodoxy And The Russian Minority In Estonia, Elizabeth Cleary

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Minority groups and their integration and inclusion into the greater society are important political and sociological concerns for many states. This is especially true for the states that more recently regained their independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The realm of religion has remained largely untapped as an area in which minority identity can be cultivated and expressed or used as a platform towards productively integrating or isolating minority members.;This thesis seeks to contribute to the scholarship on this underdeveloped topic of how religion, minority identity, and issues of integration intersect. Its key questions are a) whether religion …

Face Recognition With The Rgb-D Sensor, Cesare Ciaccio

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Face recognition in unconstrained environments is still a challenge, because of the many variations of the facial appearance due to changes in head pose, lighting conditions, facial expression, age, etc. This work addresses the problem of face recognition in the presence of 2D facial appearance variations caused by 3D head rotations. It explores the advantages of the recently developed consumer-level RGB-D cameras (e.g. Kinect). These cameras provide color and depth images at the same rate. They are affordable and easy to use, but the depth images are noisy and in low resolution, unlike laser scanned depth images. The proposed approach …

Cultural Identity, Vocational Development, And The Meaning Of Work Among Appalachian Coal Miners: A Qualitative Study, Susan Chamberlain

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this study I explore what coal mining means to underground miners in Appalachia, and how these meanings interact with participants' cultural and vocational identities. Using narrative data from eight underground coal miners, the study investigates the connections between cultural values, career, and personality. These connections are singularly intertwined in Appalachia, where economic and social landscapes have been heavily influenced by coal mining for over a century. The resulting relationships have blurred the lines of identity among career, family, and community. This qualitative study is based on data from semi-structured interviews; participant language was analyzed using grounded theory to create …

Peripheral Challenge With A Viral Mimic Elicits Seizure Hypersusceptibility, Lindsay Tanis Michalovicz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Seizure syndromes are common neuropathologies associated with epilepsy, metabolic disturbances, stroke, traumatic brain injury, heat stroke, fatigue, drug overdose and several other conditions. Peripheral inflammatory conditions have emerged as important comorbid factors in seizures. We found that peripherally restricted acute phase response (APR) elicited by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of a viral mimic, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (PIC), renders the brain hyperexcitable as seen from profoundly exacerbated kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures. This hypersusceptibility was protracted for up to 72 h. Neither blood plasma transfer from PIC challenged mice nor injection of two highly expressed blood cytokines, IL-6 and IFNbeta, were able to recapitulate …

The Mercury 2014

The Mercury

No abstract provided.

Floodplain Mapping In Response To Surface Mine Reclamation, Erin E. O'Leary

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Surface mining and the associated reclamation cause changes in land use and land cover. This change can affect the hydrologic balance. In some cases, an increase in number and magnitude of flood events is observed both on site and in surrounding areas. This research analyzed the hydrologic effects downstream of a reclaimed surface mine, considering the impact of an alternative reclamation technique. Geomorphic landform design (GLD) is a reclamation method that considers the development mature landform shapes to help create a long-term hydrologic balance. Flood maps were created for the pre-mined condition and compared to maps created for three reclamation …

The Leader’S Age As A Factor Influencing Mission Effectiveness In The North American Division Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Stanley E. Patterson

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

Taxonomy Of The Allium Cernuum Complex In Appalachia, Rodney David Dever

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study incorporates morphological, anatomical, common garden and breeding system research to investigate whether Allium allegheniense and A. oxyphilum merit species status distinct from A. cernuum. Herbarium label information was recorded for 1,065 specimens and twelve quantitative and qualitative morphological traits were analyzed using univariate and multivariate techniques. The number and arrangement of scape vascular bundles was observed from nine populations (three from each species). Scapes were sectioned freehand, stained, and examined via light microscopy.;Forty-five plants of the Allium cernuum complex were collected in West Virginia and North Carolina for a common garden study to observe trait variation and phenology. …

Understanding The Mechanism Of Hard Metal (Wc-Co) Toxicity: In Vitro Studies And In Vivo Exploration, Andrea Lynn Armstead

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hard metals, such as tungsten carbide cobalt (WC-Co), are frequently used for a number of industrial applications such as surface coatings for heavy machinery and tools. In particular, WC-Co coatings are prevalent in mining and drilling applications where extensive, repetitive use of these tools causes wear over time. In enclosed environments, WC-Co wear particles become airborne and present an occupational inhalation hazard. It is known that inhalation of WC-Co "dusts", composed of nano- and micro-sized WC-Co particles, contributes to the development of hard metal lung disease and increased risk for lung cancer; however, the relationship between acute WC-Co toxicity and …

Self-Reliance Beyond Neoliberalism: Rethinking Autonomy At The Edges Of Empire, Karen Hébert, Diana Mincyte

Publications and Research

Across scholarly and popular accounts, self-reliance is often interpreted as either the embodiment of individual entrepreneurialism, as celebrated by neoliberal designs, or the basis for communitarian localism, increasingly imagined as central to environmental and social sustainability. In both cases, self-reliance is framed as an antidote to the failures of larger state institutions or market economies. This paper offers a different framework for understanding self-reliance by linking insights drawn from agrarian studies to current debates on alternative economies. Through an examination of the social worlds of semisubsistence producers in peripheral zones in the Global North, we show how everyday forms of …

From Quanta To Qualia: How A Paradigm Shift Turns Into Science. Philosophy Study Vol. 4, Deepak Chopra, Menas Kafatos

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Ever since the development of quantum mechanics in the first part of the 20th century, a new world view has emerged. Today, the physicalist objective assumption that objects exist independently of acts of observation has been challenged. The repercussions of this radical challenge to our common-sense perception of the world are far-reaching, although not yet generally realized. Here we argue that there is a complementary view to the way science which is being practiced, and that consciousness itself is primary and qualia form the foundation of experience. We outline the arguments of why the new science of qualia will tie …

Effects Of Endogenous Cannabinoid Anandamide On Voltage-Dependent Sodium And Calcium Channels In Rat Ventricular Myocytes, Lina T. Al Kury, Oleg I. Voitychuk, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Faisal T. Thayyullathil, Petro Doroshenkp, Ali M. Ramez, Yaroslav M. Shuba, Sehamuddin Galadari, Frank Christopher Howarth, Murat Oz

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The endocannabinoid anandamide (N-arachidonoyl ethanolamide; AEA) exerts negative inotropic and antiarrhythmic effects in ventricular myocytes.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Whole-cell patch-clamp technique and radioligand-binding methods were used to analyse the effects of anandamide in rat ventricular myocytes.

KEY RESULTS: In the presence of 1-10 μM AEA, suppression of both Na(+) and L-type Ca(2+) channels was observed. Inhibition of Na(+) channels was voltage and Pertussis toxin (PTX) - independent. Radioligand-binding studies indicated that specific binding of [(3) H] batrachotoxin (BTX) to ventricular muscle membranes was also inhibited significantly by 10 μM metAEA, a non-metabolized AEA analogue, with …

Effects Of Crop Residue Burning On Aerosol Properties, Plume Characteristics, And Long-Range Transport Over Northern India, D. G. Kaskaoutis, S. Kumar, D. Sharma, Ramesh P. Singh, S. K. Kharol, M. Sharma, A. K. Singh, Atinderpal Singh, D. Singh

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Aerosol emissions from biomass burning are of specific interest over the globe due to their strong radiative impacts and climate implications. The present study examines the impact of paddy crop residue burning over northern India during the postmonsoon (October-November) season of 2012 on modification of aerosol properties, as well as the long-range transport of smoke plumes, altitude characteristics, and affected areas via the synergy of ground-based measurements and satellite observations. During this period, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images show a thick smoke/hazy aerosol layer below 2-2.5 km in the atmosphere covering nearly the whole Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). The air …

Why Can’T We Be Friends? Entitlements And The Costs Of Conflict, Erik O. Kimbrough, Roman M. Sheremeta

ESI Working Papers

We design an experiment to explore the impact of earned entitlements on the frequency and intensity of conflicts in a two-stage conflict game where players may attempt to use non-binding side-payments to avoid conflict. In this game, Proposers make offers and Responders decide simultaneously whether to accept the offers and whether to engage in a conflict. A simple theoretical analysis suggests that Proposers should never offer side-payments because Responders should always accept them and then still choose to enter conflict; however, our experiment reveals that some individuals use this non-binding mechanism to avoid conflict. Moreover, when subjects earn their roles …

Emerging Optical Techniques For Detection Of Oral, Cervical And Anal Cancer In Low-Resource Settings, Bing Yu, Daron G. Ferris, Yang Liu, Vivek K. Nagarajan

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Cancers of the oral and anogenital regions are a growing global health problem that disproportionately impact women and men living in developing countries. The high death rate in developing countries is largely due to the fact that these countries do not have the appropriate medical infrastructure and resources to support the organized screening and diagnostic programs that are available in the developed world. Emerging optical diagnostics techniques, such as optical spectroscopy, reflectance imaging, and fluorescence imaging, are noninvasive techniques that are sensitive to multiple cancer biomarkers and have shown the potential as a cost–effective and fast tool for diagnosis of …

A Graduate Recital In Voice, Brent M. Smith

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Brent Smith presented his graduate recital on March 3, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. in Davis Hall of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Perfroming Arts Center on the University of Northern Iowa campus. The program consisted of four sets of music, in collaboration with pianist Jessica Schick, by the composers Theron Kirk, Robert Schumann, Francis Poulenc and Tom Lehrer. This abstract discusses musical and historical features of the recital pieces in the order of the program.

Meaningful Consultation With Tribal Governments: A Uniform Standard To Guarantee That Federal Agencies Properly Consider Their Concerns, Michael Eitner

University of Colorado Law Review

"Mount Tenabo is the source of our creation stories and is a central part of our spiritual world view. . . . It holds the Puha, or life force, of the Creator. We pray to the Mountain for renewal, which comes from Mt. Tenabo's special place in Western Shoshone religion.' ' - Sandy Dann, Western Shoshone The obligation that federal agencies consult with Indian tribes regarding undertakings that impact tribal interests is grounded in various statutes, implementing regulations, and Executive Order 13,175. Currently, tribes confront a variety of approaches to consultation because each agency develops its own standards for conducting …

Stuck In The Last Ice Age: Tracing The Role Of Document Design In The Teaching Materials Of Writing Courses, Erin Duffy Pastore

English Theses & Dissertations

Teaching materials play vital roles in writing classrooms, yet they are understudied genres in English Studies. Teaching materials are inherently visual genres; the document design choices made by teachers illuminate values held about writing and writing classrooms. They are understudied genres, in part, because of the feminized position of composition. A professional writing investigation of the document design of teaching materials offers opportunities to rectify this. I developed a technofeminine genre tracing methodology focused on exploring the visual convention choices made by teachers and how these visual conventions are interpreted by students across the three levels of activity: the activity-driven …

Heat Shock Protein 90 Inhibitors Prevent Lps-Induced Endothelial Barrier Dysfunction By Disrupting Rhoa Signaling, Atul D. Joshi, Christiana Dimitropoulou, Gagan S. Thangjam, Connie Snead, Sara Feldman, Nektarios Barabutis, David Fulton, Yali Hou, Sanjiv Kumar, Vijay Patel, Boris Gorshkov, Alexander D. Verin, Stephen M. Black, John D. Catravas

Bioelectrics Publications

Permeability of the endothelial monolayer is increased when exposed to the bacterial endotoxin LPS. Our previous studies have shown that heat shock protein (Hsp) 90 inhibitors protect and restore LPS-mediated hyperpermeability in bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cells. In this study, we assessed the effect of Hsp90 inhibition against LPS-mediated hyperpermeability in cultured human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVECs) and delineated the underlying molecular mechanisms. We demonstrate that Hsp90 inhibition is critical in the early phase, to prevent LPS-mediated hyperpermeability, and also in the later phase, to restore LPS-mediated hyperpermeability in HLMVECs. Because RhoA is a well known mediator of endothelial …