Digital Commons Network^™

Biodegradation Of Hexahydro-1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-Triazine (Rdx) Using Photosynthetic Bacteria, Sarah Galloway

All Theses

Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) is an emerging contaminant according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). RDX was introduced as a secondary explosive during World War II. It is still used in many explosive such as hand grenades. RDX enters the environment mostly through the manufacturing process or from the use of explosives. RDX is a suspected carcinogen and can also affect the nervous system of humans. Therefore, RDX has become a chemical of concern across many United States military bases and open and closed manufacturing plants. The goal of this research was to evaluate the biodegradation of RDX via two phototrophic bacteria: …

Finding Bambi - What To Do With Mule Deer Fawns, Nicki Frey

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes what to do if you encounter mule deer fawns that appear to be abandoned.

Fatty Acids Linked To Cardiovascular Mortality Are Associated With Risk Factors, Sven O. E. Ebbesson, V. Saroja Voruganti, Paul B. Higgins, Richard R. Fabsitz, Lars O. Ebbesson, Sandra Laston, William S. Harris, John Kennish, Benjamin D. Umans, Hong Wang

School of Medicine Publications

Background. Although saturated fatty acids (FAs) have been linked to cardiovascular mortality, it is not clear whether this outcome is attributable solely to their effects on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or whether other risk factors are also associated with FAs. The Western Alaskan Native population, with its rapidly changing lifestyles, shift in diet from unsaturated to saturated fatty acids and dramatic increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD), presents an opportunity to elucidate any associations between specific FAs and known CVD risk factors.

Objective. We tested the hypothesis that the specific FAs previously identified as related to CVD mortality are also associated …

The Relationship Between Toxic Leadership, Organizational Citizenship, And Turnover Behaviors Among San Diego Nonprofit Paid Staff, Melanie J. Hitchcock

Dissertations

Toxic leadership is associated with a number of negative consequences to the long-term health and welfare of people in organizations. Destructive leader styles redirect employee efforts from mission accomplishment to self-protection and survival behaviors, undermining the organization. Increased demand and decreased funding are characteristic of the nonprofit sector. Therefore, successful nonprofit organizations tend to rely on creativity and innovation to ensure their communities are appropriately and sufficiently sustained. Supportive, not toxic, leadership helps foster organizational environments that encourage prudent risk-taking and innovation.

This concurrent mixed methods study explored the relationship between toxic leadership and organizational citizenship and turnover behaviors among …

A Jamaican Voice: The Choral Music Of Noel Dexter, Desmond A. Moulton

Dissertations

As we approach the twenty-first century, the world generally is moving away from the dominance of the European aesthetic towards a world music that owes much to the musical resources of the African-American tradition. Jamaica’s social and philosophical music belong mainly to that tradition, which includes the use of rhythms, and timbral and melodic resources that exist independently of harmony. Already in this century, Jamaicans have created two totally new music - Nyabinghi, which performs a philosophical function and Reggae, which performs a social function. The choral music of Noel Dexter is important because it is uniquely Jamaican/Caribbean in its …

Assessing Biogeochemical Impacts And Environmental Conditions Associated With Cross-Shelf High Chlorophyll Plumes In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Erin Brooke Jones

Dissertations

The northern Gulf of Mexico is a complex marine system subject to episodic physical phenomena such as loop current eddies. Flow fields generated by these eddies can result in cross-shelf exchanges between riverine influenced shelf waters and the offshore water column. This study considers the impacts of high chlorophyll plumes (HCPs) resulting from cross-shelf exchanges to the bio-optical properties of affected waters and how these plumes are influenced by their environment. The seasonal, interannual and decadal chlorophyll cycles of the Gulf of Mexico and the northern Gulf of Mexico are described to provide context for evaluating the ecological effects of …

Reactive Motions In A Fully Autonomous Crs Catalyst 5 Robotic Arm Based On Rgbd Data, Arad Haselirad

Theses and Dissertations

This study proposes a method to perform velocity estimation using motion blur in a single image frame along x and y axes in the camera coordinate system and intercept a moving object with a robotic arm. It will be shown that velocity estimation in a single image frame improves the system's performance. The majority of previous studies in this area require at least two image frames to measure the target's velocity. In addition, they mostly employ specialized equipments which are able to generate high torques and accelerations.

The setup consists of a 5 degree of freedom robotic arm and a …

Case And Pragmatic Status Markers In Embera Katío, Bethany Winter Carlson

Theses and Dissertations

In previous research on the Embera languages of the Chocó genus of Colombia and Panama, many different terms have been applied to one or all of the morphemes ba, ta and ra that frequently mark noun phrases and dependent clauses, and some of these descriptions have been conflicting. This study summarizes the previous analyses and compares them to language data from a corpus of texts and elicited material. The result is an analysis in which ba has three functions, marking ergative case, instrumental case and reason; ta marks focus on absolutives; and ra marks pragmatic topic and syntactic topics. …

Into The Light: Diurnality Has Evolved Multiple Times In Geckos, Tony Gamble, E. Greenbaum, Todd R. Jackman, Aaron M. Bauer

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Geckos are the only major lizard group consisting mostly of nocturnal species. Nocturnality is presumed to have evolved early in gecko evolution and geckos possess numerous adaptations to functioning in low light and at low temperatures. However, not all gecko species are nocturnal and most diurnal geckos have their own distinct adaptations to living in warmer, sunlit environments. We reconstructed the evolution of gecko activity patterns using a newly generated time-calibrated phylogeny. Our results provide the first phylogenetic analysis of temporal activity patterns in geckos and confirm an ancient origin of nocturnality at the root of the gecko tree. We …

Deep Roots In A Time Of Frost (2014) By Patrick Curry, Tom Shippey

Journal of Tolkien Research

Book review.

4-H 357 Guide For Evaluating Livestock Showmanship Contests : Beef, Sheep, Swine, Doyle R. Wolverton

Nebraska 4-H Clubs: Historical Materials and Publications

Nebraska Cooperative Extension 4-H 357: Guide for Evaluating Livestock Showmanship Contests. This guide provides an outline of various desirable showmanship practices and the relative importance of each.

Storytelling To Data Visualization To Persuasion Using Powtoon, Jonathan Bacon

SIDLIT Conference

Suppose you a single tool could create exciting classroom or business presentations, enable students to tell a story (or create a visual book report) or transform data into an animated infographic? In this session, we’ll explore PowToon and how this easy to use graphic tool can generate data visualizations, presentations, animations and publish direct to YouTube or MP4 format.

Library Assignments Beyond The Essay, Robert Hallis

SIDLIT Conference

Rather than bringing students to the library, bring library resources to you’re students through using critical thinking skills in a managing information exercise that uses locating and evaluating information to emphasize concepts within your class. Examples will include broader context for designing library instruction that echoes the courses’ content.

Bricolage--The Fine Art Of Online Course Design, (Or Playing With A Full Deck), Craig Sandusky

SIDLIT Conference

Bricolage is an engaging and effective design strategy, ideally suited for online courses. We know that information sets surround us: students, instructors, course content and now, web content. Online instructors and designers alike are advised to connect their students with as many information sets as they can. Bricolage can make that happen. A paradigmatic course design is presented.

Transforming Pedagogy: Changing Perspectives From Teacher-Centered To Learner-Centered, Sharon Dole, Lisa Bloom, Kristy Kowalske

Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning

This study used an online-structured interview methodology to examine the impact of an intensive field experience in facilitating problem (PBL) and project-based learning (PjBL) on teachers’ pedagogy. The purpose of the study was to determine to what extent the field experience had transformed their teaching. Data were collected in the form of online interviews with 36 participants who completed the gifted education licensure program at a regional state university in the southeast. The online interviews were followed up with telephone interviews with four of the participants. The resulting themes can be grouped under the major categories of teacher-related and student-related …

Analysis Of A Health Occupations Education Model Of Integrated Academics, Karen E. Gable Ed.D., Beverly A. Ransdell B.A.

Journal of Health Occupations Education

The integration of academics and occupational education is a concept supported by the business community, vocational educators and state and federal policy makers. The 1990 Carl Perkins Amendments required federal moneys to be spent on progmms that integrate academic and vocational education course sequencing, so that students achieve both academic and occupational competencies (Section 235). This study analyzed the process and product of courses developed within a secondary Health Professions Center magnet program in Indiana against the elements of success as outlined by Statz and Gmbb (1991) and Pritz (1989).

Self-Perception Of Needs: A Study Of Secondary Health Occupations Teachers, Karen E. Gable Rdh, Ed.D.

Journal of Health Occupations Education

Assessment of needs of individuals plays a major role in identifying curricular content and processes for professional growth and development. This study specifically addressed the technical knowledge and skills perceived by secondary Health Occupations teachers to be currently possessed or needed to be gained. General nursing care skills were found not to be needed. The greatest expression of need was for medical laboratory procedures and computer utilization. Needs assessment of the intended student group has long been held to be a primary component of curriculum design. Not only has the assessment been a tenet of preservice educational program design but …

The Antitrust Laws And The Health Industry, Robert P. Borsody

Akron Law Review

"The health industry is one of the largest and fastest growing sectors of the nation's economy, yet in the past, trade regulation cases arising in this area have been disproportionately few. Today this is changing. The courts and regulatory agencies have increasingly held the attitude that if physicians and health care providers wish to reap the benefits of commercial activity they must bear the burden of competition, including trade regulation."

The Right Of The Physically And Mentally Handicapped: Amendments Necessary To Guarantee Protection Through The Civil Rights Act Of 1964, Patrick T. Ryan

Akron Law Review

SINGLE STROKES of the government's pen can seldom alone accomplish social goals. To insure vitality, legislation requires review, revision and amendment. Though worthy of praise for initial and continuing contributions towards social betterment, the Civil Rights Act of 19641 falls into this classification. Its scope is too narrow because it fails to include a significant group of persons sorely in need of its protection. This legislation needs the depth evoked by its title rather than the limitations of its present language. Amendment is required to protect the rights of the physically and mentally handicapped.

Targeted Drug Delivery: Dendrimer Technology For The Delivery Of Biologically Active Therapeutics, Keryn Effie Hughes

Open Access Dissertations

This proof of principle study explores dendrimer based technology in designing and implementing tissue-specific targeting dendrimers that can act as carriers of biologically active proteins in the treatment of disease. Here, we show a dendrimer based delivery system is effective in delivering a functionally active protein to a tissue-specific target, in this case skeletal muscle, and show in vivo therapeutic effects in the treatment of Type II Diabetes. Out of the many proteins involved in glycolysis within skeletal muscle cells whose mis-regulation can be observed in the diabetic disease state, we have selected one, PROTEIN A, for use in this …

Karenia Brevis Hot Spots In The West Florida Shelf And Their Associated Socio-Economic Implications, Diana A. Moanga

Open Access Theses

Harmful algal blooms are almost an annual occurrence on the West Florida Shelf. They are caused by the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis (K. brevis). Intense bloom events result in significant environmental, economic, and human-health impacts associated with the release of potent natural toxins, known as brevotoxins. If inhaled or ingested they can produce substantial adverse health effects. In order to mitigate and minimize the vast array of impacts associated with K. brevis blooms, an overarching interdisciplinary framework is needed. A critical factor in understanding K. brevis dynamics requires mapping and monitoring bloom development and transport, and identifying areas of localized …

Genetic Variability Of The 5-Enolpyruvylshikimate-3-Phosphate (Epsp) Synthase Gene In Round-Up™ Resistant Soil Bacteria, Seth Steenwyk, Hannah Van Maanen, Jeff Ploegstra

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Global use of Round-up™ has had a profound effect on agricultural systems. While there is a clear challenge with the emergence of resistant weeds, less emphasis has been placed on its impacts regarding the soil ecosystem. In this study, we sought to identify glyphosate resistance in two specific soil bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea. To accomplish this purpose, selective media and colony PCR were used to isolate and identify colonies with glyphosate resistance. The presence of glyphosate resistance in soil bacteria was verified, and continuing work is being done to analyze sequence data that may lead to …

2015-07-31-Natural History Museum Showcases 'Trilobite Treasures', University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

Accent [newsletter]

No abstract provided.

2015-07-31-New Employees, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

Accent [newsletter]

No abstract provided.

Using Stochastic Differential Equations To Model Gap-Junction Gating Dynamics In Cardiac Myocytes, Will Consagra

Theses

The cell-to-cell propagation of the cardiac action potential allows for the electro-mechanical coupling of cells, which promotes the coordinated contraction of cardiac tissue, often referred to as the heartbeat. The main structures that promote electrical coupling between adjacent cardiac cells are pore-like proteins called gap junctions that line the membranes of such cells, allowing a channel for electrically charged ions to travel between cells. It is known that the conformational, and hence conducting, properties of gap-junction channels change as a function of local gap-junctional voltage and local ionic concentrations and are stochastic in nature. Many previous models of gap junctions …

Behavioral Science And Medical Education: The Role Of Reflective Exercises In Developing Medical Professionalism, Rachel Level

Research Scholars Poster Presentation

Behavioral Science and Medical Education: The Role of Reflective Exercises in Developing Medical Professionalism

Rachel Level¹
Jeffrey Sternlieb, PhD²

¹Department of Family Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network
²Research Scholar Program Mentor

Abstract

Although the behavioral sciences have been largely incorporated into medical education, limitations and restrictions persist. It is the goal of this paper to dispel some of the arguments against the value of behavioral science in medical education by studying the effects of reflective programs (i.e. Balint groups and medical retreats) on medical residents’ professionalism. Data was collected from previous research in peer-reviewed articles. The …

Outcomes Of Convergent Ablation Procedure Using A Cryo-Balloon Catheter For Treatment Of Atrial Fibrillation, Rosalie Mattiola, Bryan Auvil, James K. Wu Md, Gregory Altemose Md

Research Scholars Poster Presentation

Outcomes of Convergent Ablation Procedure using a Cryo-balloon Catheter for Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

Rosalie Mattiola, Bryan Auvil, James K. Wu, MD, Gregory Altemose, MD,

From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

BACKGROUND

Traditional catheter based treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) uses radiofrequency as a source of energy for the ablation of atrial tissue. This is an endocardial (inside the heart) technique. The success rate of this technique at one year is around 50-60%¹. In the last three years, a novel technology using a combined/hybrid trans-diaphragmatic surgical epicardial (outside the …

Education Of Residents In The Operating Room, Megan Arnold, Lauren Alden

Research Scholars Poster Presentation

Education of Residents in the Operating Room

Megan Arnold¹ and Lauren Alden¹

Hubert K. Huang, Ph.D.^1,2

¹Division of Education, Lehigh Valley Health Network

²Research Scholar Program Mentor

Abstract

It is of paramount importance that the technical skills of surgical residents is evaluated. There are obstacles in the operating room setting, however, that interfere with teaching, such as limited time because of efficiency and patient safety. Debriefing after the case has been found to increase the educational value of a case. For this study, residents from the obstetrics and gynecology training program were observed performing four …

Conservation Of Energy Using Variable Frequency Drive For Center Pivot Irrigation Systems In Nebraska, Dilshad Brar

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The study introduces a novel approach to lower the operating pivot point pressure by varying the motor speed with the help of variable frequency drive (VFD) in contrast to the commonly used fixed speed approach. By varying the speed of motor, the required minimum pivot point pressure can be provided at any required flow rate. This was investigated through a GIS-assisted simulation on 100 randomly selected pivots located in 10 Nebraska counties using high resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) datasets. Center pivot irrigation systems are usually equipped with corner watering attachments like end guns and corner extensions to irrigate additional …

Discovery And Delimitation: Criconematid Nematodes Of North American Grasslands, Magdalena Jean Olson

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Approximately 200 years ago, North American landscapes were dominated by vast expanses of grassland. The Great Plains, an ecologically complex and diverse ecoregion, extended from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Rocky Mountains to the border of the eastern hardwood forest in Indiana. Now the original tallgrass prairie exists in small widely dispersed remnant patches surrounded by agroecosystems. This study is an effort to characterize soil nematode diversity and population structure within those remnant patches. The plant parasitic nematode family Criconematidae serves as our indicator for nematode diversity, due to its global distribution, high abundance in natural …