Digital Commons Network^™

Establishing Endangered Species Recovery Criteria Using Predictive Simulation Modeling, Conor P. Mcgowan, Daniel H. Catlin, Terry L. Shaffer, Cheri L. Gratto-Trevor, Carol Aron

United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Publications

Listing a species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and developing a recovery plan requires U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish specific and measurable criteria for delisting. Generally, species are listed because they face (or are perceived to face) elevated risk of extinction due to issues such as habitat loss, invasive species, or other factors. Recovery plans identify recovery criteria that reduce extinction risk to an acceptable level. It logically follows that the recovery criteria, the defined conditions for removing a species from ESA protections, need to be closely related to extinction risk. Extinction probability is a population parameter …

Comparison Of Tio2 Nanoparticle And Graphene–Tio2 Nanoparticle Composite Phototoxicity To Daphnia Magna And Oryzias Latipes, Shibin Li, Xuan Pan, Lindsay K. Wallis, Zhaoyang Fan, Zuliang Chen, Stephen A. Diamond

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

With a dramatic rise in complexity, needs of nanotoxicology research go beyond simple forms of nanomaterials. This study compared the phototoxicity of nano-TiO2 and graphene–TiO2 nanocomposite (GNP). GNP was synthesized based on a hydrothermal method, which simultaneously performed the reduction of graphene oxide and nano-TiO2 loading. A series of acute toxicity tests of nano-TiO2, graphene and GNP was performed on two aquatic organisms, Daphnia magna and Oryzias latipes. Fast and substantial agglomeration and sedimentation of nanoparticles in test media and surface attachment of nano-TiO2 and GNP on D. magna surface was observed. Similar phototoxicity of nano-TiO2 andGNPfor both species existed, …

An Environmental Oestrogen Disrupts Fish Population Dynamics Through Direct And Transgenerational Effects On Survival And Fecundity, Adam Scwindt, Dana L. Winkelman, Kristen Keteles, Mark Murphy, Alan M. Vajda

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

1. Increased need for water and projected declines in precipitation due to climate change could leave waterways increasingly dominated by wastewater effluent. Understanding how components of wastewater influence fish populations is necessary for effective conservation and management. Despite research demonstrating effects of oestrogens, such as 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2), on fish physiology and population failure, the generality of population responses is uncertain and the underlying mechanisms affecting population declines are unknown. EE2 is the steroid oestrogen in human contraceptive pills and has been measured up to 11 ng L^-1in the environment. 2. We identify disrupted population dynamics due to direct …

Structural Brain Differences In Alcohol-Dependent Individuals Withand Without Comorbid Substance Dependence, Anderson Mon, Timothy C. Durazzo, Christoph Abe, Stefan Gazdzinski, David Pennington, Thomas Schmidt, Dieter J. Meyerhoff

United States Department of Veterans Affairs: Publications

Background: Over 50% of individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUD) also use other substances; brain structural abnormalities observed in alcohol dependent individuals may not be entirely related to alcohol consumption. This MRI study assessed differences in brain regional tissue volumes between short-term abstinent alcohol dependent individuals without (ALC) and with current substance use dependence (polysubstance users, PSU).

Methods: Nineteen, one-month-abstinent PSU and 40 ALC as well as 27 light-drinkers (LD) were studied on a 1.5 T MR system. Whole brain T1-weighted images were segmented automatically into regional gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volumes. MANOVA assessed …

Simultaneous Recording Of Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells During Epiretinal Or Subretinal Stimulation, S. L. Sim, R. J. Szalewski, L. J. Johnson, L. E. Akah, L. E. Shoemaker, W. B. Thoreson, E. Margalit

United States Department of Veterans Affairs: Publications

We compared response patterns and electrical receptive fields (ERF) of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) during epiretinal and subretinal electrical stimulation of isolated mouse retina. Retinas were stimulated with an array of 3200 independently controllable electrodes. Four response patterns were observed: a burst of activity immediately after stimulation (Type I cells, Vision Research (2008), 48, 1562–1568), delayed bursts beginning >25 ms after stimulation (Type II), a combination of both (Type III), and inhibition of ongoing spike activity. Type I responses were produced more often by epiretinal than subretinal stimulation whereas delayed and inhibitory responses were evoked more frequently by subretinal stimulation. …

Rheumatoid Factor As A Potentiator Of Anti–Citrullinated Protein Antibody–Mediated Inflammation In Rheumatoid Arthritis, Jeremy Sokolove, Dannette S. Johnson, Lauren J. Lahey, Catriona A. Wagner, Danye Cheng, Geoffrey M. Thiele, Kaleb Michaud, Harlan Sayles, Andreas M. Reimold, Liron Caplan, Grant W. Cannon, Gail Kerr, Ted R. Mikuls, William H. Robinson

United States Department of Veterans Affairs: Publications

Objective. The co-occurrence of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti–citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) positivity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is well described. However, the mechanisms underlying the potential interaction between these 2 distinct autoantibodies have not been well defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiologic and molecular interaction of ACPAs and RF and its association with both disease activity and measures of RA-associated inflammation.

Methods. In a cohort of 1,488 US veterans with RA, measures of disease activity and serum levels of cytokines and multiplex ACPAs were compared between the following groups of patients: double-negative (anti–cyclic citrullinated …

2014-15 Unopa Executive Board Minutes

UNOPA: Minutes

No abstract provided.

Helminth.Net: Expansions To Nematode.Net And An Introduction To Trematode.Net, John Martin, Bruce A. Rosa, Philip Ozersky, Kymberlie Hallsworth-Pepin, Xu Zhang, Veena Bhonagiri-Palsikar, Rahul Tyagi, Qi Wang, Young-Jun Choi, Xin Gao, Samantha N. Mcnulty, Paul J. Brindley, Makedonka Mitreva

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

Helminth.net (http://www.helminth.net) is the new moniker for a collection of databases: Nematode.net and Trematode.net. Within this collection we provide services and resources for parasitic roundworms (nematodes) and flatworms (trematodes), collectively known as helminths. For over a decade we have provided resources for studying nematodes via our veteran site Nematode.net (http://nematode.net). In this article, (i) we provide an update on the expansions of Nematode.net that hosts omics data from 84 species and provides advanced search tools to the broad scientific community so that data can be mined in a useful and user-friendly manner and (ii) we …

Astroecology, Cosmo-Ecology, And The Future Of Life, Michael Noah Mautner

Chemistry Publications

Astroecology concerns the relations between life and space resources, and cosmo-ecology extrapolates these relations to cosmological scales. Experimental astroecology can quantify the amounts of life that can be derived from space resources. For this purpose, soluble carbon and electrolyte nutrients were measured in asteroid/meteorite materials. Microorganisms and plant cultures were observed to grow on these materials, whose fertilities are similar to productive agricultural soils. Based on measured nutrient contents, the 10²² kg carbonaceous asteroids can yield 10¹⁸ kg biomass with N and P as limiting nutrients (compared with the estimated 10¹⁵ kg biomass on Earth). These data …

A Test Of Spielberger’S State-Trait Theory Of Anger With Adolescents: Five Hypotheses, Colleen Quinn, David Rollock, Scott R. Vrana

Psychology Publications

Spielberger’s state-trait theory of anger was investigated in adolescents (n = 201, ages 10-18, 53% African American, 47% European American, 48% female) using Deffenbacher’s five hypotheses formulated to test the theory in adults. Self-reported experience, heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) responses to anger provoking imagery scripts found strong support for the application of this theory to adolescents. Compared to the low trait anger (LTA) group, adolescents with high trait anger (HTA) produced increased HR, SBP and DBP, and greater self-report of anger to anger imagery (intensity hypothesis) but not greater self-report or cardiovascular …

The Effect Of Pin Reduction In Populus: The Search For The Missing Phenotype, Samuel Norcross

Biology Honors Papers

The plant hormone auxin is involved in virtually every aspect of plant growth and development. Because of its vital role in plant physiology, it is transported through controlled mechanisms. The PIN family of efflux carrier proteins are highly involved in this transport, shuttling molecules of auxin from cell to cell. This PIN-driven transport of auxin guides the differentiation of plant vasculature. In this study, I used a clonally-propagated line of the woody plant species Populus tremula x alba that had been genetically altered to induce an RNAi response against genes coding for the PIN proteins. These plants were shown to …

Tcdd Represses 3'IghRr Activation Through An Ahr-Dependent Shift In The Nf-Κb/Rel Protein Complexes Binding To Κb Motifs Within The Hs1,2 And Hs4 Enhancers, Richard L. Salisbury Jr.

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Transcriptional regulation of the murine immunoglobulin heavy chain gene involves several regulatory elements including the 3'Igh regulatory region (3'IghRR) composed of at least four enhancers (hs3A; hs1,2; hs3B; hs4). Enhancers hs1,2 and hs4 contain binding sites for several transcription factors including NF-κB/Rel proteins and the AhR. Interestingly, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) profoundly inhibits 3'IghRR and hs1,2 activation induced by the B-cell activator lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but enhances the activation of the hs4. Within the hs4, the AhR binding site overlaps an NF-κB/Rel binding site suggesting that both the AhR and the NF-κB together may modulate of the 3' …

Undergraduate Student Catalog 2014-2015, Nova Southeastern University

Undergraduate Programs Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Young Entrants And Self-Authorship, Greta Johnson

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of the current study is to discover the impact that early college experiences have on the self-authorship of young entrants. The study explores the experiences of nine young entrants who participated in an early college experience at a faith-based liberal arts university in Minnesota. The study uncovers what aspects of self-authorship develop and those that have little growth. The following question guides the research: “What impact does the college experience have on the self-authorship of young entrants?” Findings include growth in areas of intrapersonal self-authorship: feeling like a traditional freshmen, learning study habits, time, and effort required for …

The Effect Of Virtual-Learning On The Cultural Awareness Of Nursing Students, Nicole Waters

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This Capstone Project examined the effect of virtual-learning on the cultural awareness of nursing students. A convenience sample of 125 students enrolled in the advanced health assessment course in the Registered Nurse to Bachelor in Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Program were included in the sample for this project. Of the 125 students, 53 completed pre-test surveys were submitted, resulting in a response rate of 42%, and 43 completed post-test surveys were submitted, resulting in a response rate of 34%. Descriptive statistics and measures of central tendencies were used to compare the overall mean score for the responses of …

Undergraduate Catalog, 2014-2015, Valparaiso University

Undergraduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

South Carolina School Nurses' Knowledge, Opinions, Perceptions, And Practice Measures Regarding Childhood Obesity, Logan Camp

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Childhood obesity has become a significant national health issue due to rising incidences and associated chronic medical conditions. School nurses across the United States of America are in prime positions to address childhood obesity as they have access to large numbers of children and adolescents in school settings. A review of current literature demonstrated that school nurses were overall knowledgeable concerning childhood obesity, but encountered numerous barriers in enacting weight-related assessments and treatment programs. The purpose of this research study was to determine the knowledge, opinions, perceptions, and practice measures of South Carolina school nurses regarding childhood obesity. The "School …

Forever New: The Speeches Of James Wright, President Of Dartmouth College, 1998-2009, James Edward Wright, Sheila Culbert

Dartmouth College Press

About the Book

(from upne.com) Jim Wright is an unabashed optimist. Reading his speeches, it doesn't take long to see that he believes in the fundamental values that shaped the American republic: opportunity and accessibility, individuality and a shared sense of community. He carried this idealism into his presidency of Dartmouth College and, indeed, throughout his career as teacher and historian. At heart, Jim Wright was always a teacher. His election to the presidency of Dartmouth College gave him the opportunity not only to lead the college he loved, but also to use the presidency as a bully pulpit to …

Interactive Visualization Of Grt And Biohts Data, Sara Gharabaghi, Thomas Wischgoll, Rhonda J. Vickery, Ross Smith, Leslie M. Blaha, Thomas Lamkin, Steven Kawamoto, Robert Trevino, Eric Bardes, Scott Tabar

Computer Science and Engineering Faculty Publications

The scope of this project is to provide better tools for statistical and informational visual analysis for High Throughput Screening of Biological Infectious Agents (BioHTS), General Recognition Theory (GRT) modeling, and areas where pipelines of unstructured datasets of all types must be analyzed. A parallel coordinates plot is one of the more effective visualization methods for visualizing multi variant data.

Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2013 - 2014, Singapore Management University

Report to Stakeholders

Ho Kwon Ping, together with our Board of Trustees and senior leaders, debated vigorously before endorsing a bold and exciting SMU Vision 2025. To achieve its objective of becoming a great university, it requires the institution to be a game-changer in education, a catalyst in cutting-edge research and an exemplar as a leading city university in Asia. Already, the transformative process is off to a quick start with several initiatives being launched (see “President’s State of the University Address 2014: Vision 2025 – Making it Real”). Research that is relevant and makes a positive impact on society is one of …

Innovating Without A Brief: Tackling Urban Poverty Through Anthropology, Data, Design And Lean Methods, Bernise Ang

Social Space

Social innovation labs are witnessing a new entrant in an unexpected form: civic initiatives reflecting the rigour of social sciences, the analytical power of data, the innovation frameworks from design, and the agility to span the innovation of Silicon Valley to grassrootsdriven change. Bernise Ang deconstructs a composite methodology blended with a complexity that matches the issues the method seeks to tackle.

Are We Really Making A Difference?: Lessons From Nesta's Innovation Lab, Philip Colligan

Social Space

Are public and social innovation labs achieving impact? Philip Colligan from Nesta's Innovation Lab looks at how we can answer the most important question of whether labs are indeed making a difference to societies.

Deciding On Leave: How Us Women In Dual-Earner Couples Decide On Maternity Leave Length, Medora W. Barnes

Sociology

This research contributes to the dialogue on maternity leave policy in the United States through analysing how pregnant school teachers with access to extended maternity leave decide how long a leave to take. The lived experiences of new mothers are examined through a series of longitudinal interviews with 16 public school teachers conducted at three points over the course of the transition to parenthood (pregnancy through first year). Findings indicate that although financial reasons played a large role in women deciding to return to work more quickly, issues of professional identity and personal happiness were also meaningful. Additionally, holding gendered …

Timber Talk, Vol. 52, No. 2, June 1, 2014

Timber Talk: Nebraska Forest Industry Newsletter

Lumber Market News; Hardwood Lumber Price Trends—Green; Hardwood Lumber Price Trends—Kiln Dried; Commercial Hardwood Lumber Species; How Should You Charge?; Pressure Treated Wood; Nebraska Forest Industry Spotlight; The Trading Post; Food for Thought — TIME; Editor: Adam Smith Graphic/Layout: Anne Moore

Sullivan County, New Hampshire Annual Report For The Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2014., Sullivan County Representatives

Sullivan County, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a county in the state of New Hampshire.

Building Trust, Establishing Credibility, And Communicating Fire Issues With The Public, Josh Mcdaniel

Joint Fire Science Program Digests

With more people than ever living in the vicinity of the wildland-urban interface, communicating wildland fire management activities and building trust with the public is paramount for safety. Although the time and resources it takes to build and maintain the public’s trust may seem daunting, it may be one of the most important factors determining the long-term viability of a fire management program. Trust is built over time through personal relationships with citizens and communities and also by demonstrating competence and establishing credibility. When trust and confidence have been established, managers can enjoy strong support of fire and fuels management …

Measurement Invariance Between Genders On Two Measures Of Borderline Personality Disorder, Amy Paggeot

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Gender bias in the diagnosis and assessment of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has been the subject of much controversy in the psychological research literature. Evidence regarding differential prevalence rates and diagnostic rates in clinical settings between genders has been mixed, and measurement bias is one potential explanation for these mixed findings. Measurement invariance (MI) is considered a prerequisite for comparing group means on any measure or latent construct. Two structured clinical interviews of BPD were subjected to sequential CFAs to evaluate MI between genders. The SCID-II BPD Scale (First, Gibbon, Spitzer, Williams, & Benjamin, 1997) was found to be measurement …

Techniques For Type I Collagen Organization, Latecia Diamond Anderson-Jackson

Theses

Tissue Engineering is a process in which cells, engineering, and material methods are used in amalgamation to improve biological functions. The purpose of tissue engineering is to develop alternative solutions to treat or cure tissues and organs that have been severely altered or damaged by diseases, congenital defects, trauma, or cancer. One of the most common and most promising biological materials for tissue engineering to develop scaffolds is Type I collagen. A major challenge in biomedical research is aligning Type I collagen to mimic biological structures, such as ligaments, tendons, bones, and other hierarchal aligned structures within the human body. …

In Vitro Mycelial Growth And Root Infection Of Loblolly Pine Seedlings By Bianchetto Truffle (Tuber Borchii), Osejie F. Oriaifo

Theses

Decline in Tuber borchii production has led to exploration of new cultivation strategies. Contemporary techniques including the use of spore slurry and root induction are both marred with low success rates, contamination, and are costly. Mycelia inoculation avoids the challenges of contemporary techniques, increases colonization rates, and increases the levels of mycorrization. In order to develop an optimized medium to culture T. borchii and use same for onward infection of Pinus taeda seedling, this research was conducted with two main intents: (1.) seeking the optimum growth conditions and concentrations of six strains of T. borchii on solid Modified Melin-Norkrans (MMN) …

Antibacterial And Antioxidative Properties Of Essential Oils From Armoise (Artemisia Herba-Alba), Bay (Laurus Nobilis) And Rose Geranium (Pelargonium Capitatum X Radens) In Vitro, Ragina B. Rafiq

Theses

The prevalence of food contamination by pathogenic bacteria resulting in foodborne illness has raised concern to the food industry. In addition, oxidation in food, which affects the shelf life and quality of the food through the formation of off odor and off flavor, is another concern to the food industry. Nitrates, sulfates, benzoates of sodium and potassium, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) are commonly used as preservatives in the food industry. However, long-term safety issues of synthetic preservatives in human health along with negative perception of consumers have lead researchers to find alternative natural preservatives. The purpose of …