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Comparative Study Of Factors Influencing Seed Germination And Seedling Longevity In Cuscuta (Dodder, Convolvulaceae), Behrang Behdarvandi

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Cuscuta (dodder), the only parasitic genus of Convolvulaceae family, is a significant plant from ecological, economical, and conservational point of views. The genus consists of c. 200 described species with wide ranges of ecological distributions. Cuscuta spp. are categorized as stem parasitic plants with reduced (or lost) photosynthesis-related genes. The filamentous coiled embryo, embedded in the endosperm, lacks cotyledons and is covered with a multiple-layered seed coat. The seedlings carry a vestigial root-like organ which is not considered a ‘true’ functional root. Members of the genus differ in their germination rate and seedling survival. It is known that seed …

Microbial Community Characterization And Pathogen Profiling Of Land-Based Aquaculture Systems Using Culture-Based And Molecular-Based Fingerprinting Techniques, Nicole S. Kteily

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The growing worldwide demand for fish production has prompted research towards intensive aquaculture. Innovative system designs, such as recirculating and flow-through aquaculture systems, have been developed to improve the efficiency and sustainability of intensive aquaculture practices. These LBAS systems exhibit a wide range of spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Although such heterogeneity suggests the potential for culture water to support a diverse and spatially complex assortment of microorganisms, there is a lack of information regarding the overall diversity and composition of microbial communities (including pathogens) in the different compartments of these systems. To better understand the diversity and functionality of microbial …

Pen Pal, By Francesca Forrest. Reviewed By Susan Dorman., Susan Dorman

Mythprint Book Reviews

Mythprint is the quarterly bulletin of the Mythopoeic Society, a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the study, discussion, and enjoyment of myth and fantasy literature, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. To promote these interests, the Society publishes three magazines, maintains a World Wide Web site, and sponsors the annual Mythopoeic Conference and awards for fiction and scholarship, as well as local discussion groups.

Cytosolic Carboxypeptidase 5 And Cilia Development In Zebrafish, Philip E. Giddings Iv

Honors Theses

My research project is focused around a specific gene - cytosolic carboxypeptidase 5 (CCP5). Previous research suggests that the CCP5 gene is essential for the modification of alpha-tubulin which is necessary for normal growth of cilia in the olfactory pit of zebrafish. Using a CCP5-MO to knockdown the gene I was able to compare the resulting phenotype to that of a control specimen in order to determine any visible differences with respect to cilia morphology. Through analysis by scanning electron miscroscopy I wasw able to that cilia morphology did appear to be effected by the knockdown of CCP5. However, similar …

The Role Of Sabbath-Keeping, Christian Internalization, Need Satisfaction, And Parental Environment In Well-Being, Paola S. Caceres

Honors Theses

Identifying which specific religious practices promote religious internalization is crucial in understanding the relationship between practice and well-being. The current study employs surveys along with an episodic memory recall task to examine whether the relationship between Sabbath-keeping internalization and well-being is mediated by Christian religious internalization, parental environment, and basic need satisfaction as outlined in Self-Determination Theory. Our mediation analysis results demonstrate a large mediation effect size for daily basic needs satisfaction (autonomy, competence, and autonomy) on the relationship between internalization of Sabbath-keeping and well-being. Small to medium effect sizes were found for a general measure of Christian internalization and …

A Note On The Krone Deposition Equation And Significance Of Floc Aggregation, Aj Mehta, Aj Manning, Yp Khare

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of "Stress Inoculation" On Anxiety-Related Behaviors In A Rodent Model, Rebecca Ruth Clouse

Master's Theses

Problem. Humans may face psychological stressors in their everyday life due to their ability to contemplate future events. While long-term stress exposure may be detrimental to health, this study examines the possibility that exposure to unpredictable/controllable, moderate stress may cause resilience against future stressors. This is referred to as the "stress inoculation hypothesis." The effects of unpredictable/controllable stress can be illustrated as a rightward shift in an inverted U-shaped curve, where optimal performance (the top of the curve) can be maintained at higher stress levels. -- Method. Thirty-three male Sprague-Dawley rats were tested on the elevated-plus maze (EPM) for trait …

Feeding Interactions Between Juvenile And Adult Flightless Cormorants., James Hayward, Libby C. Megna, Brianna G. Payne

Faculty Publications

We report observations on chick feedings by adult Flightless Cormorants Phalacrocorax harrisi, indicating that, contrary to the literature, the sequence of interaction is similar to that of other Pelecaniformes.

Egg Cannibalism In A Gull Colony Increases With Sea Surface Temperature, Lynelle M. Weldon, Shandelle M. Henson, James Hayward, Brianna G. Payne, Libby C. Megna, Andre E. Moncrieff

Faculty Publications

Cannibalism occurs regularly across a broad range of taxa with a variety of ecological and evolutionary consequences. Rises in sea surface temperature (SST) have been linked to increased cannibalism in some species, including polar bears (Ursus maritimus), Peruvian anchovy (Engraulis ringens), and Peruvian hake (Merluccius gayi peruanus), and might be expected in birds that depend on marine food webs for sustenance. Increased SSTs are associated with lowered ocean thermoclines and weakened upwellings. These changes, in turn, lead to decreased productivity in surface water and movement of surviving forage fish to deeper water, thereby food-stressing surface feeders such as gulls, diminishing …

Effects Of Plastic Pollution Density On The Crawling Rates Of Hawksbill Hatchlings In Utila, Honduras, Kyungje Sung

Honors Theses

The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered species. Hence, various conservation efforts by groups such as ProTECTOR are taking place to stabilize its population. To support such efforts, my study focused on the turtle population in and around the island of Utila, Honduras. Specifically, I sought to determine if various densities of plastic pollution had an effect on crawling times during the migration of hawksbill turtle hatchlings from nest to water. A reduction in crawling time could increase predation time and cause the hatchling to expend additional energy before they reach the ocean. We constructed four experimental corridors …

Hcnabc Operon Transcription Of Pseudomonas Putida Under Varying Iron And Oxygen Concentrations And Culture Age, Christine Lee

Honors Theses

The species Pseudomonas putida produces hydrogen cyanide (HCN) through the transcription of the hcnABC operon. Previous research by Myrna Biswas (2010) demonstrated that microaerobic +FeCl3 cultures had the greatest HCN production, but the effects of varying iron and oxygen levels on HCN production were unclear. Isaac Kim (2011) assessed HCN production of P. putida in sand versus soil using different iron concentrations and found that iron was necessary for HCN production. The purpose of this experiment was to determine how the hcnABC operon is affected by varying levels of iron and oxygen, and the age of bacteria culture. To test …

The Effect Of Celite Formulated Rhizobium Rubi At3-4rs/6 And Tryptophan On Velvetleaf Plant Growth, Jonathon Ahn

Honors Theses

Rhizobium rubi AT3-4RS/6 and tryptophan may be useful in replacing chemical herbicides as biological control agents (Kennedy et al., 1990). Previous research has shown that Rhizobium rubi AT3-4RS/6 produces IAA-like compounds that are deleterious to weed growth. In this project R. rubi AT3-4RS/6 will be formulated in Celite, a granular, diatomaceous earth carrier. The purpose of this research is to analyze if tryptophan influences R. rubi AT3-4RS/6 populations in the velveltleaf rhizosphere, and if this colonization is associated with reduced root weight and shoot length. The experiment design consists of five soil treatments (bacteria+tryptophan+celite, tryptophan+celite, bacteria+celite, celite alone, and soil …

Factors Affecting Phonotaxis In Male House Crickets, Acheta Domesticus, Erik Thordarson

Honors Theses

This research addresses some of the possible factors that affect male Acheta domesticus phonotactic responses to calls of males of the same species. The study examines cricket age and social interaction with females as possible factors affecting this behavior. Through Friedman rank test analysis, the study attempts to demonstrate a link between these factors and the responsiveness of the male crickets in the study. As the crickets aged, they responded to a wider ranges of syllable periods, which may imply that they follow a similar pattern of decreasing selectivity in their response with age as their female counterparts. A Friedman's …

A Republic 'On Earth As It Is In Heaven': The Freedom Of The Fall In Paradise Lost And His Dark Materials, Jordan Arellano

Honors Theses

The epic poem Paradise Lost (1667, 74) retells the Biblical creation story through the blind eyes of the Christian political-poet John Milton. Three hundred years later, Milton's work is recast by the atheist children's and fantasy novelist Philip Pullman in the His Dark Materials trilogy (1995, 97, 2000). Although one might assume that these two writers' perspectives would contradict one another, Pullman's adaptation - though a perverted story of the Fall - still pursues the same goal as Milton's by imagining a new and better social structure. And not only do they share that goal, but they also explore the …

Editor's Page, Randall W. Younker

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

Mentoring And Discipling The Early Adolescents Of The Kitchener-Waterloo Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Jiwan S. Moon

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

From 1951 to 2001, at the Kitchener-Waterloo Seventh-day Adventist Church, only one family from the founding generation has its children and grandchildren attending and active in the church. Most of the second and third generation members of the church who once attended, no longer practice their inherited Adventist religious beliefs. As the church membership was aging, the church was dying and membership continued to decrease, especially the number of young people. It was becoming evident that the church needed intervention to prevent continuous loss of members. In order to prevent a repeat of history, there was a need for …

Potomac Conference Adcom Team Transitional Journey From Hierarchical To Servant Leadership, William K. Miller

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem. The research of Wong and Page (2003) has suggested that no denominational church leadership models utilize a biblical servant leadership model. Most denominational leadership models utilize some form of an authoritarian hierarchical model. This suggests the need for a curriculum that can assist a denominational leadership team to transition to a biblical servant leadership model.

Methodology. This project utilized a qualitative methodology. A curriculum was developed utilizing assessments, seminars, coaching, and group feedback in order to create an environment to transition to a biblical servant leadership model for the Potomac Conference ADCOM team.

Results. There were seven members of …

Health And Social Ministries: A Holistic Approach To Ministering In Contemporary Society, Ezekiel Adeyemi Oyinloye

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

It has been observed for thirty years that Adventists conventional way of doing outreach ministries especially in the cities, fail to have expected response that fulfills goals. Attitudes of people are apathetic and reserved they stand aloof and are removed from sharing in what has been offered. They cannot be bothered. The inner city of Ibadan especially displays this type of attitude. Thus, inner city Ibadan has remained unentered by the Adventists since the inception of the Church in Ibadan a century ago. There is no single church of the Seventh-day Adventists in inner city Ibadan.

Method

A strategy …

A Strategy To Train Local Church Elders For Effective Assimilation And Nurture Of New Converts, Enock Chifamba

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

In most multi-church districts the pastoral burden rests with the local church elders. However, these elders receive little or no training concerning the important pastoral duty of assimilation and nurture of new converts into a local church fellowship. Thus, new converts often feel isolated and neglected and some either backslide or remain inactive in their new-found faith. In the East Zimbabwe Conference 18,349 new members were added in 2010 bringing its membership to 247,935 with only 56 district pastors. The conference needs a cost effective strategy to nurture new members.

Method

The role of elders as pastoral care givers …

Pharmacological Modulation Of Nad Alters Tnf-Α Responses In Macrophage Subsets, A Al-Shabany, Aj Moody, Ad Foey, Ra Billington

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Steps Toward A Shared Governance Response For Achieving Good Environmental Status In The Mediterranean Sea, Sergio Cinnirella, R Sarda, Suarez De Vivero J Luis, Ruth Brennan, Alberto Barausse, John Icely, Tiziana Luisetti, David March, Carla Murciano, Alice Newton, T O'Higgins, Luca Palmeri, Maria Giovanna Palmieri, Pascal Raux, Sian Rees, J Albaiges, Nicola Pirrone, Kerry Turner

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Silver Nanoparticles (Nm-300k) On Lumbricus Rubellus Earthworms And Particle Characterization In Relevant Test Matrices Including Soil, Der Ploeg Mjc Van, Rd Handy, Pl Waalewijn-Kool, Den Berg Jhj Van, Zeh Rivera, J Bovenschen, B Molleman, Jm Baveco, P Tromp, Rjb Peters, Gf Koopmans, Imcm Rietjens, Den Brink Nw Van

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Looking Forward Through The Past. Identification Of Fifty Priority Research Questions In Palaeoecology., A Seddon, A Mackay, A Baker, Et Al

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Priority question exercises are becoming an increasingly common tool to frame future agendas in conservation and ecological science. They are an effective way to identify research foci that advance the field and that also have high policy and conservation relevance. To date, there has been no coherent synthesis of key questions and priority research areas for palaeoecology, which combines biological, geochemical and molecular techniques in order to reconstruct past ecological and environmental systems on time-scales from decades to millions of years. We adapted a well-established methodology to identify 50 priority research questions in palaeoecology. Using a set of criteria designed …

Functional Diversity Of Marine Ecosystems After The Late Permian Mass Extinction Event, Wj Foster, Rj Twitchett

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Late Permian mass extinction event was the most severe such crisis of the past 500 million years and occurred during an episode of global warming. It is assumed to have had significant ecological impact, but its effects on marine ecosystem functioning are unknown and the patterns of marine recovery are debated. We analysed the fossil occurrences of all known Permian-Triassic benthic marine genera and assigned each to a functional group based on their inferred life habit. We show that despite the selective extinction of 62-74% of marine genera there was no significant loss of functional diversity at the global …

Comparative Studies To Assess Bacterial Communities On The Clover Phylloplane Using Mlst, Dgge And T-Rflp, A Prabhakar, Ah Bishop

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) were used to characterise the changes that occurred in Bacillus cereus group strains present in the phylloplane of clover Trifolium hybridum over 4 months. These strains had previously been analysed by multiple locus sequence typing (MLST). DGGE displayed many equally intense bands which indicated many equally abundant ribotypes. The bacterial community composition was variable and the leaves sampled as little as a week apart were found to have some temporal variability, indicating that diverse phylloplane bacterial communities follow sequential patterns from time to time. The B. cereus group …

Social Experience During Adolescence Influences How Male Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia Guttata) Group With Conspecifics, Tim Ruploh, Hans Joachim Bischof, N Von Engelhardt

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Inclusion Of Pregnant Women In Clinical Research, Barbara A. Noah

Faculty Scholarship

In the past three decades, there has been unprecedented growth in medical research utilizing human subjects, with much promise for new treatments that extend life, improve quality of life, and prevent disease and disability. Safe prescribing of drug therapies requires that researchers design clinical trials to test products for the benefit of all persons who are likely to utilize them, not just a limited population. For this reason, it is essential that clinical trials include women, pregnant women, children, and racial minorities, as appropriate, because these populations sometimes exhibit different patterns of response or adverse reactions.

Despite some significant progress …

Computer Science Concept Inventories: Past And Future, Cynthia Taylor, Daniel Zingaro, Leo Porter, Kevin C. Webb, C. B. Lee, Michael Clancy

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Concept Inventories (CIs) are assessments designed to measure student learning of core concepts. CIs have become well known for their major impact on pedagogical techniques in other sciences, especially physics. Presently, there are no widely used, validated CIs for computer science. However, considerable groundwork has been performed in the form of identifying core concepts, analyzing student misconceptions, and developing CI assessment questions. Although much of the work has been focused on CS1 and a CI has been developed for digital logic, some preliminary work on CIs is underway for other courses. This literature review examines CI work in other STEM …

Cellulose-Chitosan-Keratin Composite Materials: Synthesis, Immunological And Antibacterial Properties, Meghann Rosewald, Fang Yao Stephen Hou, Tamutsiwa Moven Mututuvari, April L. Harkins, Chieu D. Tran

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

Novel composites were synthesized from keratin (KER), cellulose (CEL) and chitosan (CS). The method is recyclable because majority (>88%) of [BMIm⁺Cl^-], an ionic liquid (IL), used as the sole solvent, was recovered for reuse. Experimentally, it was confirmed that unique properties of each component remain intact in the composites, namely bactericide (from KER and CS) and anti-inflammatory property (from KER). Specifically, the composites were examined for their anti-inflammatory influence on macrophages. The cells were imaged and immunophenotyped to determine the quantity using the macrophage marker CD11b. The 75:25 [KER+CS] composite was found to have the …

Symbolic Providers Help People Regulate Affect Relationally: Implications For Perceived Support, Brian Lakey, Corey Cooper, Arika Cronin, Travis Whitaker

Open Access Publishing Support Funded Articles

Relational regulation theory (Lakey & Orehek, 2011) predicts that the correlation between perceived support and mental health emerges through ordinary conversation and shared activities rather than through conversations about stress and how to cope with it. Observing the conversations and activities of others also helps regulate mental health. Symbolic providers (known only through media) mimic how real providers regulate affect in that recipients observe the conversations and shared activities of symbolic providers. Thus, many perceived support findings obtained for real providers should also be found for symbolic providers. We found the same links between perceived support and affect when recipients …