Digital Commons Network^™

Coral Spawning In The Gulf Of Oman And Relationship To Latitudinal Variation In Spawning Season In The Northwest Indian Ocean, E. J. Howells, D. Abrego, G. O. Vaughan, J. A. Burt

All Works

Despite a wealth of information on sexual reproduction in scleractinian corals, there are regional gaps in reproductive records. In the Gulf of the Oman in the Arabian Sea, reproductive timing was assessed in four common species of broadcast spawning corals using field surveys of gamete maturity and aquarium observations of spawning activity. The appearance of mature gametes within the same month for Acropora downingi, A. hemprichii, Cyphastrea microphthalma and Platygyra daedalea (≥ 75% of colonies, n = 848) indicated a synchronous and multi-specific spawning season. Based on gamete disappearance and direct observations, spawning predominantly occurred during April in 2013 (75- …

The Poverty Tours, Ken Poyner

Valparaiso Fiction Review

No abstract provided.

The Man Between Costumes, Austin Kodra

Valparaiso Fiction Review

No abstract provided.

Night In The Jungle, 1962, Jennie Rathbun

Valparaiso Fiction Review

No abstract provided.

The Legacy Of Ronald Dworkin (1931-2013): A Legal Theory And Methodology For Hedgehogs, Hercules, And One Right Answers, Imer Flores

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

In this paper the author addresses Ronald Dworkin’s work and assesses his legacy to legal, moral and political philosophy. And so, considers among its merits having developed an original legal theory with its distinctive methodology, which not only has transcended the Natural Law and Legal Positivism dichotomy, but also has reintegrated law into a branch of political morality and defended as a corollary the one right answer thesis. Hence, commences by identifying the dworkininan challenge; continues by introducing some basic definitions and distinctions between jurisprudence, legal philosophy (or philosophy of law) and legal theory (or theory of law), on the …

Bioremediation And Phytoremediation Systems For Breaking Down Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (Tph) In Contaminated Sandy Soil, Patrick Mcintosh

Master's Theses

Bioremediation and Phytoremediation Systems for Breaking Down Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in Contaminated Sandy Soil

ABSTRACT

The applications of bio- and phytoremediation systems were used to breakdown low-level total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in a contaminated sandy soil. The overall aim was to determine which soil regimes, amendments, and plant species enhance the breakdown of TPH. The first project included planted mixtures of cool and warm-season grasses with different willows, mono and intercropped with various fertilizer and carbon additions. The second project introduced different soil regimes of saturation, intermittent oxygenation, installment of aboveground covers, as well as the addition of switchgrass …

Tool Use Acquisition And Self-Control In Lion-Tailed Macaques (Macaca Silenus), Susan Elizabeth Haverly

Master’s Theses

Tool use requires the manipulation of an object in the environment to achieve a goal, and the ability to relate one object to another. In the present experiments, I investigated tool use acquisition, and the relationship between tool use and self-control, in lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus). First, I examined three lion-tailed macaques' abilities to manipulate a tool by presenting a rake-shaped tool resting on a platform, with a food reward placed outside of the rake head. This experiment measured the monkeys' abilities to manipulate a rake-shaped tool, and investigated how the monkeys learned the tool-using skill. Two monkeys learned to …

A Periodic Matrix Population Model For Monarch Butterflies, Emily Hunt

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The migration pattern of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) consists of a sequence of generations of butterflies that originate in Michoacan, Mexico each spring, travel as far north as Southern Canada, and ultimately return to the original location in Mexico the following fall. We use periodic population matrices to model the life cycle of the eastern monarch butterfly and find that, under this model, this migration is not currently at risk. We extend the model to address the three primary obstacles for the long-term survival of this migratory pattern: deforestation in Mexico, increased extreme weather patterns, and milkweed degradation.

Development Of An Immunodiagnostic Assay For Canine Tear Lacritin, Alison Mae Enghauser

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Purpose: Lacritin is a naturally occurring human glycoprotein secreted from the lacrimal gland as a component of tears. Preliminary studies suggest that down-regulation of lacritin is associated with various ocular diseases, such as dry eye syndrome and blepharitis. Thus, lacritin shows potential as a new topical therapeutic for the treatment of ocular diseases. Previous studies have shown that recombinant human lacritin, when topically applied to rabbit eyes, promotes basal tearing. Antibodies produced against the terminal ends of human lacritin were used to develop a clinical immunodiagnostic assay that detect and quantify lacritin in human tear samples. In order to develop …

Examining The Effectiveness Of Ecotourism As A Funding Source For Protected Area Management In Guyana, Jordan S. Flagel

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Protected areas in tropical rainforests serve many important ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration. These areas are often in need of donor or grant funding to operate as governments in tropical forested countries are not always able to provide adequate funds for protection. This paper focuses on the Iwokrama International Center for Rainforest Conservation and Development in the South American country of Guyana, which has had funding issues since the global economic crisis of 2008 and an accompanying shift in donor country financial priorities. Increasing the amount of sustainable ecotourism in the Iwokrama reserve was identified as a potential source for …

Commencement Convocation Program, Usf, Graduate, December 13, 2014, University Of South Florida

USF Graduation and Convocation Programs

Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters - Gilbert A. King

Owner Managers ' Perception Of The Impact Of Regulations On The Competitiveness Of Food Processors In Tanzania, Goodluck Charles, David Rwehikiza

Business Management Review

This paper assesses the owner managers ' perception of the impact of regulations on competitiveness of food processors in Tanzania. Specifically, the paper examines the perceived relevance of existing regulations in the food processing sector, the level of enterprises ' satisfaction with the regulatory authorities in the sector and the extent to which competitiveness of food processors is affected by regulations. Based on review of the legislations directed to the food processing sector and the results of a survey of 115 firms, the findings reveal that even though most enterprises appreciate the value of regulating the food sector, they are …

Effects Of Intercropping Switchgrass In Loblolly Pine Plantations On Bird Communities, Zachary G. Loman

Theses and Dissertations

Intercropping switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) between tree rows within young pine (Pinus spp.) plantations is a novel method to generate lignocellulosic biofuel feedstocks within intensively managed forests. Intensively managed pine supports diverse avian assemblages potentially affected by establishment and maintenance of a biomass feedstock. I sought to understand how establishing switchgrass on an operational scale affects bird communities within intercropped plantations as compared to typical intensively managed loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations. I conducted breeding bird point counts, nest searching and monitoring, and coarse woody debris (CWD) surveys following establishment of intercropped switchgrass stands (6 replicates), traditionally-managed pine plantations, and switchgrass-only …

The Relationship Between Riparian Zone Width And Floristic Quality In Shenandoah County, Virginia, Jamie D. Smith

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Riparian zones harbor an above average plant biodiversity. This biodiversity is threatened by invasive species and increasing human disturbance, the latter of which includes deforestation from agriculture and urban development. In this study, I examine relationship between the width of a forested riparian zone and the vegetation growing there. By using floristic quality assessment as a measure of anthropogenic disturbance, one can determine if wider riparian zones foster exclusion of non-native species while providing higher quality habitats for native plants. A randomized block design was used with three forested riparian treatments: deforested, moderately forested (woody vegetationstream), and extensively forested (woody …

Profile Of The Unfolded Protein Response In C. Elegans Depleted Of The Translational Chaperone, Nac., Caylin S. Murray

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The function of a protein is a direct consequence of its final structure, which is achieved by protein-folding processes that generate a tertiary state through the juxtaposition of locally formed secondary structures. Because all cells need functional proteins to survive, each contains robust and redundant mechanisms that regulate the folding of newly forming proteins, and the refolding of misfolded proteins that are often generated during stress. Essential to these mechanisms, chaperones are proteins that aid in protein folding of nascent and misfolding protein without being incorporated in the final structure. One chaperone complex, the nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC), aids in …

Performance Quantification Of Extensive Green Roof Substrate Blend: Expanded Shale And Biochar, James Sheats

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Urban stormwater management practices often involve the redirection of runoff to local waterbodies. As such, the quality of runoff directly affects the condition of these receiving waters. Green roofs offer many benefits to the urban environment including attractive aesthetics, thermal insulation for buildings and stormwater runoff reduction. Unfortunately, in order to promote the spread of vegetation, fertilization is often practiced that can lead to elevated nutrient concentrations in runoff and, ultimately, nearby streams, rivers and bays. Different amounts of biochar, pyrolyzed biomass, were added to model green roof trays to test for the ability of this charcoal-like substance to prevent …

An Analysis Of U.S./Canadian Fisheries Policy In Regards To Pacific Salmon And The Preservation Of Indigeneity In The Pacific Northwest, Michael James Lockwood

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

For more than 160 years, the Pacific salmon has been an important resource for the United States and Canada. However, it has been overexploited. Proper management of the species is essential not only for maintaining healthy populations but also maintaining the interests of diverse stakeholders. One set of stakeholders consists of the indigenous peoples of North America because the Pacific salmon are crucial to their food, social, and ceremonial traditions.

This thesis explores the impacts of Canadian and U.S. public policies on the cultural integrity of native peoples in the Pacific Northwest, specifically as those peoples rely on wild Pacific …

Polyculture Bioremediation: An Analysis Of Potential Nitrogen Assimilation And Removal By Mya Arenaria, Gracilaria Tikvahiae And Ulva Lactuca Harvests In The Corsica River, Md, Kathleen Hemeon

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

An analysis of nitrogen bioremediation in a tidal tributary of the Chesapeake Bay by the use of a hypothetical bivalve and macroalgae polyculture covering 1%, 3% and 5% of the Corsica River bottom area. This study was performed to illustrate the role ecosystem services play in managing diffuse watershed pollution, particularly nitrogen, resulting in water quality and living resource degradation. Excess concentrations of nitrogen in the Corsica River estuary lead to seasonal eutrophication and subsequent hypoxic events. Mya arenaria L. and Gracilaria tikvahiae (McLachlan, 1979) were chosen for this theoretical study due to their high assimilative capacities for nitrogen and …

Review And Analysis Of The Project Management Process At The Engineer Research And Development Center, Mark L. Ogburn

Theses and Dissertations

Increasing economic pressure forces personnel within the construction industry to be more prudent and thorough with their decision-making processes. To this end, the possibilities of pursuing incorrect courses of actions must be minimized in order to increase the chances of a successful project culmination. The research contained herewith shall investigate the usage of a review process that if utilized properly, can reduce conflicts, oversights, cost over-runs, and other deleterious actions that can inversely affect the successful outcome of a project. Through the use of the Biddability, Constructability, Operability and Environmental (BCOE) process, construction industry personnel can ensure and effectively manage …

Impacts Of Feedstock Bark Addition And Centrifugal Filtration On Pyrolysis Oil Properties And Storage Stability, Anandavalli Varadarajan

Theses and Dissertations

The physicochemical properties of pyrolysis oil have been shown to be dependent on feedstock composition. Accelerated aging tests were performed to understand the effects of feedstock, condensate fraction collected, and filtration on the stability of pyrolysis oil. In this study, pyrolysis oil properties critical for downstream upgrading were measured and compared for different feedstock weight ratios of pine clearwood and pine bark. Post-condensation filtration of pyrolysis oil was evaluated using both lab-scale and pilot plant-scale centrifugal filtration with several operational parameters evaluated. The pilot-plant centrifuge can be used as a three-phase separator [light liquid-heavy liquid-solids] or a two-phase clarifier [liquid-solid]. …

Survival And Habitat Selection Of American Black Ducks In Tennessee, Kira Cristina Newcomb

Theses and Dissertations

American black duck (Anas rubripes) populations declined throughout North America from 1950–1990, but the breeding population since has stabilized. However, limited information exists on black ducks in the Mississippi Flyway, where wintering populations continue to decline. I radiomarked 111 female black ducks at Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR) in winters 2010–2012 to estimate winter survival and investigate patterns of habitat selection. Winter survival (83–85%) was greater than or comparable to previous estimates for black duck populations in North America. Interval survival increased 0.6% with a 100 g increase in body mass, but survival differed between years and waterfowl hunting seasons …

Developing, Implementing, And Evaluating A No-Child-Left-Inside Pilot Program, Claudia Radel, Jamie C. Brand, Roslynn Brain

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

We describe experience with a pilot week-long, No-Child-Left-Inside (NCLI), outdoor program implemented in Cache Valley, Utah, in 2012. Through response analysis of a “pre-then-post” children's survey and a parent-completed demographic survey, we assess program effectiveness in raising children's enthusiasm for nature-related behaviors and in reaching a target audience of all local families. The program reached many families with low participation in other conservation programs but failed to reach families from the growing Latino population. Participating children experienced increased excitement to spend more time outdoors exploring and learning, accomplishing NCLI goals of laying a groundwork for children's enhanced environmental literacy.

Characterization Of Sediment Microbial Communities And Analysis Of Biogeochemical Responses To Eutrophication In Southeastern Estuaries, Gary Alon Blakeney

Theses and Dissertations

Estuaries are valuable economic resources to humans. However, changes in these ecosystems, such as alteration in nutrient availability, can impose eutrophic pressures. Traditionally, estuaries have been monitored through chemical analyses that measure factors such as sediment oxygen demand (SOD) and reduced forms of Fe(II), Mn(II), and H2S. These methods are time consuming and have been proven to be unreliable. This study was conducted to determine if using T-RFLP analysis could be used as a proxy for some of the current methods used to monitor eutrophication. Using SPSS to perform a principle component analysis, it was determined that connections can be …

Each Moment A Poem, Sarah Kidd

Honors Theses

Each Moment a Poem is a collection of 10 poems spanning 20 pages. The poems were written in 2014 under the mentorship of Dr. Richard Katrovas, my poetry professor, and Ms. Kimberly Kolbe, the managing editor of New Issues Press, where I was granted an internship. When 2014 began, I adopted the philosophy that each moment has the potential to become a poem, that stories can be told concisely and vividly through poetry. The poems in this collection explain and explore important moments I have experienced while awake and asleep. The poems are lucidly written in a free verse narrative …

Characterization Of Maize Genes In Response To Aspergillus Flavus Infection And Aflatoxin Accumulation, Matthew Constantine Asters

Theses and Dissertations

Aspergillus flavus is a pathogenic fungus causing maize ear rot disease and producing aflatoxins that are carcinogenic to humans and animals. Characterizing maize host resistance mechanisms and prioritizing candidate resistance genes are important to the development of resistant maize germplasm. This study investigated transcriptomics approaches and statistics methods on the identification of maize host resistance genes. Full-length cDNA libraries were also constructed and evaluated for gene cloning and functional analysis. This study established important sources for functional studies on differentially expressed genes and for identification of allelic gene forms to characterize gene polymorphisms and facilitate the development of DNA markers.

Computational Methods For Solving Next Generation Sequencing Challenges, Tamer Ali Aldwairi

Theses and Dissertations

In this study we build solutions to three common challenges in the fields of bioinformatics through utilizing statistical methods and developing computational approaches. First, we address a common problem in genome wide association studies, which is linking genotype features within organisms of the same species to their phenotype characteristics. We specifically studied FHA domain genes in Arabidopsis thaliana distributed within Eurasian regions by clustering those plants that share similar genotype characteristics and comparing that to the regions from which they were taken. Second, we also developed a tool for calculating transposable element density within different regions of a genome. The …

Computational Methods On Study Of Differentially Expressed Proteins In Maize Proteomes Associated With Resistance To Aflatoxin Accumulation, Alka Tiwari

Theses and Dissertations

Plant breeders have focused on improving maize resistance to Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin accumulation by breeding with genotypes having the desirable traits. Various maize inbred lines have been developed for the breeding of resistance. Identification of differentially expressed proteins among such maize inbred lines will facilitate the development of gene markers and expedite the breeding process. Computational biology and proteomics approaches on the investigation of differentially expressed proteins were explored in this research. The major research objectives included 1) application of computational methods in homology and comparative modeling to study 3D protein structures and identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) …

Effects Of Resveratrol On Post-Thaw Quality Of Stallion Sperm, Kelli Lynn Matheny

Theses and Dissertations

Current equine sperm cryopreservation methods fail to reliably prevent damages to important cellular structures such as the cell membrane and DNA. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of supplementing a stallion semen extender with 1 or 10 mM resveratrol on post-thaw sperm characteristics. Results showed that sperm death was increased with 10 mM compared to both the control and 1 mM (P < 0.05). DNA fragmentation was increased in the 1 mM treatment compared to the control (P < 0.05). ROS activity was reduced the most in the 10 mM with differences between all groups (P < 0.05). Membrane integrity was not different between groups (P > 0.05). Motility of the control was higher than the treatment groups (P < 0.05). Resveratrol was able to reduce ROS but was unable to preserve motility or viability at the concentrations tested.

Efficacy Of An Experiential, In-School Educational Program For Improving Elementary School Students' Attitudes And Knowledge About The Environment, Leslie M. Burger

Theses and Dissertations

Stagnant science achievement by students, greater demands and stresses on natural resources and environmental systems, and societal disengagement from nature highlight the need for education programs to ameliorate subsequent consequences. One attempt to address science performance and environmental apathy is Youth Environmental Science (YES), an environmental education program initiated in 2011 in a rural, minority-dominated, upper elementary school in Mississippi. The program provides five consecutive days (30 hours) of experiential learning in natural sciences. During 2011-2013, I studied cognitive and affective responses of fourth and fifth grade students to YES participation using a pretest-posttest-delayed posttest design. The influence of demographic …

Associative Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria And Their Potential To Support The Growth Of Bioenergy Grasses On Marginal Lands, Jayani Jeewanthi Wewalwela

Theses and Dissertations

Rising demands for both food and energy have lifted up the idea of producing renewable biofuels from bioenergy grasses that can companion with associative N2ixing bacteria. Associative N2ixing bacteria can partially fulfill the N requirements of bioenergy grasses enabling successful application for marginal lands. The overall objective of this study was to measure the potential N2ixation of bacteria associated with three bioenergy grasses, giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum; ‘Alamo’) and energycane (hybrid of Saccharum spontaneum and S. officinarum; HO 02-147) as well as identifying N2ixing bacteria associated with these energy grasses and applying these isolates to grasses …