Digital Commons Network^™

Aspects Of The Ecology And Management Of Mottled Ducks In Coastal South Carolina, James Claybourne Shipes

Theses and Dissertations

Mottled ducks (Anas fulvigula) are endemic to Gulf Coastal United States and Mexico. Birds from Florida, Louisiana, and Texas were released in coastal South Carolina from 1975-1983, and banding data suggest an expanding South Carolina population. We radio-marked 116 females in August 2010-2011 in the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto (ACE) Rivers Basin and used radio telemetry to study habitat selection, searched for nests of non-radiomarked females, and conducted indicated breeding pair surveys of mottled ducks at various wetlands. Overall, radiomarked mottled duck females selected managed wetland impoundments, wetlands containing planted corn, and brackish wetlands. Overall nest success of 42 nests …

Investigation Of The Beneficial Effect Of Enterobacter Cloacae Strain Jd6301 On Mice Challenged With Escherichia Coli O157:H7, Jessica Grissett Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The environment of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is an extremely complex system made up of not only host cells, but also many beneficial microbes. Disruption of this environment can often lead to disorders and health issues. To help balance this system, probiotics have often been administered to both humans and animals, such as livestock. This study aimed to determine what beneficial effects a novel strain of Enterobacter cloacae, strain JD6301, could offer to a host in the presence of an enteric infection with E. coli O157:H7. Upon administration of JD6301, supplemented animals had overall less E. coli present in the …

Inspection Of Timber Bridge Longitudinal Decks With Ground Penetrating Radar, Brian K. Brashaw

Theses and Dissertations

Advanced nondestructive inspection techniques like stress wave timing and resistance microdrilling have been used to successfully inspection timber bridges, but it is most effective on girder style bridges. There is a noted need to develop additional inspection techniques for longitudinal deck/slab timber bridges, which comprise about 20% of the national bridge inventory. One technique that holds potential is ground penetrating radar, a recognized nondestructive testing technique that has been used effectively for many different environmental and transportation applications. It has been utilized successfully to identify buried objects, internal defects and material changes. The objective of this research was to assess …

Soundscape Evaluation On Mississippi State University Campus, Yalcin Yildirim

Theses and Dissertations

The term soundscape, used for the first time at the end of 1970s, refers to the sum of the sounds that can be heard and perceived by people in a specific environment. The concept of soundscape has recently received attention in planning and design disciplines. Recent studies on soundscape have shown that the acoustic environment plays an important role for the comfort of site users. Hence, this research investigates how objective measurement of soundscape might be different from subjective perceptions of users in the Mississippi State University Campus as a public open space due to demographic and climatic variations. The …

Improved Methods For The Analysis Of Estrogen Residues In Environmental Aqueous Matrices, Sameera Ranmal Gunatilake

Theses and Dissertations

Improved analytical methods using novel cleanup techniques and inexpensive instrumentation for the determination of residue estrogens in municipal wastewater and swine lagoon wastewater have been developed. Presented approaches are less expensive, less time consuming, yet produce comparable detection limits and extraction efficiencies to existing methods. Chapter I provides an overview on environmental estrogens. Chapter II describes a novel method to quantify five estrogens including estriol, estrone, 17alpha-estradiol, 17beta-estradiol, and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol in influent and effluent municipal wastewater. The method includes sample preparation using solid-phase extraction followed by a “QuEChERS” cleanup, dansylation and LC/MS/MS detection. Hydrophilic-lipophilic balance solid phase extraction (SPE) was …

Spatial Dynamics Of Vegetated Seascapes And The Influence On Fish And Crustaceans, Rolando O. Santos Corujo

Open Access Dissertations

My dissertation adopted concepts and spatial tools of seascape ecology, the marine counterpart of landscape ecology, to understand the broad-scale structural attributes that make submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) seascapes resilient to anthropogenic disturbances, drivers of fauna community structure, and productive fisheries habitats. My research was designed to address the relative and interrelated ecological effects of broad-scale changes in SAV habitat amount (habitat loss) and configuration (fragmentation). SAV seascapes in nearshore areas of Biscayne Bay have been subject to constant anthropogenic disturbances associated to freshwater pulses from canals over the last 50 years; thus, these seascapes served as a model system …

Freshwater Transitions And The Evolution Of Osmoregulation In The Alewife, Jonathan P. Velotta

Doctoral Dissertations

The transition from seawater to freshwater is deeply rooted in the evolutionary history of animals, initiating the radiation and speciation of many taxa. However, crossing the boundary into freshwater from the sea represents a considerable physiological challenge for animals that maintain a near constant internal ion concentration. Because seawater and freshwater differ strongly in solute concentration, the transition into freshwater must involve the evolution of ion and water balance; yet, we have a limited understanding of the physiological modifications that facilitate this transition. Here, I investigate the evolution of the osmoregulatory system upon transition to freshwater using populations of an …

Science, Culture, And Modernity In Chengdu China June 4 - June 18, 2014, Sarah Bouchard, Paul Eisenstein, Jane Wu, Anna M. Young

Otterbein China Librarians Exchange Program Documentations and Publications

The trip taken by Sarah Bouchard, Paul Eisenstein, Jane Wu, and Anna Young to China was meant to increase ties between various Chinese universities and Otterbein University as well as taking a look at modern and traditional cultures within regions. Faculty members presented to members of the Southwest Jiaotong University and met with faculty members at the University of Shanghai Science & Technology, Shanghai Jiatong University, and Southwest Jiaotong University. The Otterbein faculty also visited Giant Panda research bases to establish relationships and potential internships for exchange students wanting to work with the Giant Pandas.

Also included is the budget …

Commencement Convocation Program, Usf, Baccalaureates, December 12, 2014, University Of South Florida

USF Graduation and Convocation Programs

President's Fellow Medallion - Vince Roig and Paul Luna; King O'Neal Scholars - Mary Bigelow, Dana Braden, Sufyan Dawoodjee, Ryan Feigel, Beatrice Froute De Domec, Sarah Griffis, Danielle Haberer, Dennis Kirichenko, Kristen Roles, and Daniel Vieira; Outstanding Graduate - John Wendy Tuy

Messenger Ohio Team To Launch Rocket To Study Effects Of Gravity On Plant Life, Ohio University College Of Arts & Sciences

All Forum Articles

No abstract provided.

Agenda, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg General Education Committee Meeting, December 12, 2014, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg. Faculty Senate. General Education Committee

USF St. Petersburg General Education Committee Meetings

Agenda from the December 12, 2014, meeting of the General Education Committee of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg's Faculty Senate.

2014 Fall Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Fall 2014 commencement program. Commencement was on Friday, December 12, 2014.

Analyzing The Missing Meal Gap Beyond Elementary School, Timothy Loney, Samantha Milheiser, Brittney Wacholz

Public Sociology Publications and Projects

This paper examines ways in which Feeding Our Communities Partners (FOCP) can productively expand on its current work to alleviate hunger in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. This report contains a literature review addressing hunger and food insecurity, a needs assessment of hunger in Blue Earth County, case studies of existing programs, and qualitative interviews with professionals who work with the youth in these programs. We conclude by recommending three potential ways that FOCP can expand their current programs to address hunger among school-aged youth in Blue Earth County.

Reproductive Parameters Of Two Coastal Pelagic Fishes Off Southeast Florida: Blackfin Tuna Thunnus Atlanticus And Little Tunny Euthynnus Alletteratus, Sonia Ahrabi-Nejad

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

The ability to manage a fish stock relies on an understanding of life history characteristics and basic biology of the species. Numerous age-growth studies are facilitated by the relative ease of ageing fishes through hard-part analyses. Determining reproductive parameters for fish populations is equally important for stock assessments and management, and histological examination of gonads provides the most accurate determination of fecundity and spawning periods. Coastal pelagic fishes are often targeted commercially and recreationally due to their easy access by private vessels. However, there are few studies researching the biology and reproduction of recreational fishes in the waters of Southeastern …

Vocal Jazz In Concert, Alexandra Blum, Samantha Dominguez, Samira Kasraie, Megan Mandel, Ashley Kron, Tessa Oliaro, Dina Zangwill, Austin Devone, Brett Gray, Graeme Aegerter, Albert Alva, Alicia Storm Marquis, Carlos Hernandez

Printed Performance Programs (PDF Format)

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Changing Surface Ocean Conditions On The Dissolution Of Aerosol Iron, Matthew Fishwick, Peter Sedwick, Maeve Lohan, Pau Worsfold, Kristen N. Buck, Thomas Church, Simon Ussher

Marine Science Faculty Publications

The proportion of aerosol iron (Fe) that dissolves in seawater varies greatly and is dependent on aerosol composition and the physicochemical conditions of seawater, which may change depending on location or be altered by global environmental change. Aerosol and surface seawater samples were collected in the Sargasso Sea and used to investigate the impact of these changing conditions on aerosol Fe dissolution in seawater. Our data show that seawater temperature, pH, and oxygen concentration, within the range of current and projected future values, had no significant effect on the dissolution of aerosol Fe. However, the source and composition of aerosols …

Comparative Genomics Reveals Insights Into Avian Genome Evolution And Adaptation, Guojie Correction Zhang, Cai Li, Qiye Li, Bo Li, Denis M. Larkin, Chul Lee, Jay F. Storz, Agostinho Antunes, Matthew J. Greenwold, Robert W. Meredith, Anders Ödeen, Jie Cui, Qi Zhou, Luohao Xu, Hailin Pan, Zongji Wang, Lijun Jin, Pei Zhang, Haofu Hu, Wei Yang, Jiang Hu, Jin Xiao, Zhikai Yang, Yang Liu, Qiaolin Xie, Hao Yu, Jinmin Lian, Ping Wen, Fang Zhang, Hui Li, Yongli Zeng, Zijun Xiong, Shiping Liu, Long Zhou

Faculty Publications

Birds are the most species-rich class of tetrapod vertebrates and have wide relevance across many research fields. We explored bird macroevolution using full genomes from 48 avian species representing all major extant clades. The avian genome is principally characterized by its constrained size, which predominantly arose because of lineage-specific erosion of repetitive elements, large segmental deletions, and gene loss. Avian genomes furthermore show a remarkably high degree of evolutionary stasis at the levels of nucleotide sequence, gene synteny, and chromosomal structure. Despite this pattern of conservation, we detected many non-neutral evolutionary changes in protein-coding genes and noncoding regions. These analyses …

Whole-Genome Analyses Resolve Early Branches In The Tree Of Life Of Modern Birds, Erich D. Jarvis, Siavash Mirarab, Andre J. Aberer, Bo Li, Peter Houde, Cai Li, Simon Y.W. Ho, Brant C. Faircloth, Benoit Nabholz, Jason T. Howard, Alexander Suh, Claudia C. Weber, Rute R. Da Fonseca, Jianwen Li, Fang Zhang, Hui Li, Long Zhou, Nitish Narula, Liang Liu, Ganesh Ganapathy, Bastien Boussau, Md Shamsuzzoha Bayzid, Volodymyr Zavidovych, Sankar Subramanian, Toni Gabaldón, Salvador Capella-Gutiérrez, Jaime Huerta-Cepas, Bhanu Rekepalli, Kasper Munch, Mikkel Schierup, Bent Lindow, Wesley C. Warren, David Ray, Richard E. Green

Faculty Publications

To better determine the history of modern birds, we performed a genome-scale phylogenetic analysis of 48 species representing all orders of Neoaves using phylogenomic methods created to handle genome-scale data.We recovered a highly resolved tree that confirms previously controversial sister or close relationships.We identified the first divergence in Neoaves, two groups we named Passerea and Columbea, representing independent lineages of diverse and convergently evolved land and water bird species. Among Passerea, we infer the common ancestor of core landbirds to have been an apex predator and confirm independent gains of vocal learning. Among Columbea, we identify pigeons and flamingoes as …

Does Thorium Have A Place In The Future U.S. Electricity Mix?, Danny West

Master's Projects and Capstones

Thorium is an alternative fuel source for nuclear energy. Coupled with its use in a new reactor design, called a Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor, the two have the ability to disrupt the nuclear industry and power sector. Nuclear energy is a clean and reliable source of energy; however, it generates hazardous waste that must be stored away for hundreds of thousands of years and power plants are at risk of a catastrophic incident that can lead to a wide scale release of radiation. These drawbacks to nuclear energy can be mitigated using thorium in a Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor. These …

Daily Eastern News: December 12, 2014, Eastern Illinois University

December

No abstract provided.

Ebola Response: A Summary Of Field Work Project, Jeffrey A. Schmidt Mr.

Master's Projects and Capstones

While epidemics and disease outbreaks are not uncommon world wide, the most recent outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has been the largest outbreak of the disease and the most wide spread in history. The outbreak has caused international concern and was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) in August of 2014. Since the outbreak started there have been a total of 15,351 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of EVD reported in six affected countries including Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Spain and the United States. There have been 5459 reported deaths …

Effect Of Formulation Variables On Preparation Of Celecoxib Loaded Polylactide-Co-Glycolide Nanoparticles, Dustin L. Cooper, Sam Harirforoosh

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Polymer based nanoparticle formulations have been shown to increase drug bioavailability and/or reduce drug adverse effects. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. celecoxib) reduce prostaglandin synthesis and cause side effects such as gastrointestinal and renal complications. The aim of this study was to formulate celecoxib entrapped poly lactide-co-glycolide based nanoparticles through a solvent evaporation process using didodecyldimethylammonium bromide or poly vinyl alcohol as stabilizer. Nanoparticles were characterized for zeta potential, particle size, entrapment efficiency, and morphology. Effects of stabilizer concentration (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1% w/v), drug amount (5, 10, 15, and 20 mg), and emulsifier (lecithin) on nanoparticle characterization were examined …

Combating Hiv/Aids In Marginalized Communities: Papua And West Papua Provinces, Indonesia, Bani Cheema

Master's Theses

My study focuses on foreign aid and local initiatives for HIV/AIDS prevention in eastern Indonesia using the provinces of Papua and West Papua as a case study. The two provinces are home to indigenous tribal groups that are socioeconomically marginalized and most affected by the epidemic. My research investigates behavior change communication as a principal strategy undertaken by multiple organizations for HIV/AIDS prevention in this region. I take a qualitative approach by examining the effectiveness of this strategy in local communities and by revealing social and cultural barriers that impede success. Obstacles that negatively impact prevention efforts include structural violence, …

Effect Of Formulation Variables On Preparation Of Celecoxib Loaded Polylactide-Co-Glycolide Nanoparticles, Dustin L. Cooper, Sam Harirforoosh

ETSU Faculty Works

Polymer based nanoparticle formulations have been shown to increase drug bioavailability and/or reduce drug adverse effects. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. celecoxib) reduce prostaglandin synthesis and cause side effects such as gastrointestinal and renal complications. The aim of this study was to formulate celecoxib entrapped poly lactide-co-glycolide based nanoparticles through a solvent evaporation process using didodecyldimethylammonium bromide or poly vinyl alcohol as stabilizer. Nanoparticles were characterized for zeta potential, particle size, entrapment efficiency, and morphology. Effects of stabilizer concentration (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1% w/v), drug amount (5, 10, 15, and 20 mg), and emulsifier (lecithin) on nanoparticle characterization were examined …

The Bg News December 12, 2014, Bowling Green State University

BG News (Student Newspaper)

The BGSU campus student newspaper. December 12, 2014. Volume 94-Issue 47.

The Ins And Outs Of Metal Homeostasis By The Root Nodule Actinobacterium Frankia, Teal R. Furnholm, Louis S. Tisa

New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station Publications

Background: Frankia are actinobacteria that form a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing association with actinorhizal plants, and play a significant role in actinorhizal plant colonization of metal contaminated areas. Many Frankia strains are known to be resistant to several toxic metals and metalloids including Pb2+, Al+3, SeO2, Cu2+, AsO4, and Zn2+. With the availability of eight Frankia genome databases, comparative genomics approaches employing phylogeny, amino acid composition analysis, and synteny were used to identify metal homeostasis mechanisms in eight Frankia strains. Characterized genes from the literature and a meta-analysis of 18 heavy metal gene microarray studies were used for comparison.

Results: Unlike most …

Clean Up Techniques Used For Coastal Oil Spills: An Analysis Of Spills Occurring In Santa Barbara, California, Prince William Sound, Alaska, The Sea Of Japan, And The Gulf Coast, Henry R. Walther Iii

Master's Projects and Capstones

An analysis of four spills occurring within the last 50 years to see the progression in clean up techniques used for coastal oil spills. The Santa Barbara, California Oil Spill of 1969, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill of 1989 occurring in Prince William Sound, Alaska, the Nakhodka Oil Spill of 1997 occurring in the Sea of Japan, and the Deep Water Horizon Oil spill of 2010 occurring in the Gulf of Mexico, are analyzed. The different types of oil, the composition of oil, and the variables that effect spilled oil’s movement, are provided. Oil spill response planning and preparation are …

Critical Media Literacy: A Curriculum For Middle School English Teachers, Jennifer J. Hale

Master's Projects and Capstones

This project provides an introductory, critical media literacy curriculum for middle school English teachers, which is designed to build upon students’ academic language proficiency and critical-thinking skills through media-based content. The targeted proficiency level ranges from high-intermediate English language learners to native English speakers.

The curriculum focuses on developing the critical-thinking skills needed to analyze complex media messages. This process helps students to discover how media is socially constructed and how it aims to convey particular messages for particular purposes. The teacher’s goal is to facilitate students’ understanding of media in order for them to become more conscientious of their …

The Future Of Direct Potable Reuse In California: Overcoming Public Acceptance Barriers, Allison Chan

Master's Projects and Capstones

Due to the water shortages, population growth, and competing demands for water in California, the possibility of incorporating direct potable reuse technology in the state’s water supply portfolio is being considered by various water resource providers. This paper focuses on public acceptance challenges that may be encountered. By evaluating best practices employed by six different potable water reuse case studies, recommendations for future direct potable reuse projects are developed. It is recommended that future project proponents plan early and conduct public opinion surveys regarding this type of technology, develop and implement public outreach and education plans that include best practices …

Empowering Female English Language Learners To Pursue Computer Science Fields: A Practical 4-Hour Workshop For Beginning Teachers In High School, Osaro Althouse

Master's Projects and Capstones

Female English language learners (FELLs) are not taken under consideration when trying to attract new student populations to computer science fields. Frequently, females are studied cohesively without regard to their individual distinctions and challenges. This unique population has to overcome traditional gender perceptions and linguistic confronts when considering the field of computer science. This paper provides a practical four-hour workshop for novice teachers in high school that are eager to empower female English language learners (FELLs) that demonstrate potential or are interested in entering computer science fields. An overview of research within the last ten years is exhibited, which includes …