Digital Commons Network^™

Schistosomes Of Nepal, Ramesh Devkota

Biology ETDs

Globally, digenetic trematodes called schistosomes (Family Schistosomatidae) have enormous public and veterinary health significance because they cause debilitating and chronic infections collectively called schistosomiasis. Schistosomes have a life cycle featuring a bird or mammal definitive host in which adult worms are found, and freshwater snail intermediate hosts in which larval stages are found and free-swimming cercariae are produced which infect the definitive host. Although schistosomes are known to be common in tropical and subtropical Asia, their presence in Nepal, a small south Asian country situated between India and China, was almost completely unknown at the beginning of this study. Consequently, …

How Ants Turn Information Into Food, Tatiana Paz Flanagan

Biology ETDs

Animals constantly process information from their environment. In social organisms, information exchange among individuals allows for behaviors to be finely tuned to local environmental cues. Such is the case of foraging in ants, where sharing information about the distribution of resources can drive adaptive behaviors to exploit those resources. In a first study, we quantified how clustering of experimental seed baits significantly increased foraging rates of seed harvester ants. That study found that species with larger colonies were no better than species with smaller colonies at collecting clumped seeds. In a second study, we integrated computer simulations, information science and …

Constraints On Distributions And Diversity Of Birds And Mammals Over Variable Environments, Trevor S. Fristoe

Biology ETDs

The distributions of species are determined by intrinsic factors such as physiological tolerances as well as extrinsic factors of the environment such as the availability of resources. While physiological tolerances generally change over evolutionary time scales, changes in environmental productivity due to processes such as succession or seasonal progression often occur over ecological times. I address both physiology and resource availability as drivers of the distributions and diversity of endothermic birds and mammals using a macroecological approach and a metabolic perspective. Migratory birds, altering communities over seasonal cycles, provide a unique opportunity to investigate the drivers of distributions and diversity …

Conservation Genetics At The Interface Of Theory And Application, Tyler Jess Pilger

Biology ETDs

Understanding the ecological mechanisms responsible for patterns of spatial genetic structure and diversity is a central issue to evolutionary ecology and biodiversity conservation. The Anthropocene has seen a mass extinction only previously observed through geological records, and freshwater fishes of North America have not been spared owing to large-scale modification of freshwater habitats and introduction of nonnative species. Concomitant with reduced numbers of species is a rapid reduction in genetic diversity within species; this diversity that is required for species to adapt to rapidly changing environments of human dominated landscapes. However, understanding why species exhibit different patterns of spatial genetic …

Pre-Industrial Melanism: The Origin, Maintenance, And Genetic Basis Of An Urban Melanic Morph Of The Vermilion Flycatcher, Carl Jonathan Schmitt

Biology ETDs

Industrial melanism is a celebrated evolutionary phenomenon because it demonstrates the efficacy of natural selection in response to anthropogenic environmental change. We investigated a potential instance of industrial melanism in a vertebrate, the vermilion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus). The species is strikingly bright red throughout its broad range, but a sooty brown morph is abundant in the heavily polluted city of Lima, Peru. We found that plumage morph is perfectly predicted by a single nucleotide polymorphism in the MC1R gene. We quantified genotype and allele frequencies in seven neighborhoods of Lima. Within neighborhoods, there were fewer heterozygotes than expected, and surveys …

The Impact Of Design-Based Modeling Instruction On Seventh Graders' Spatial Abilities And Model-Based Argumentation, William J. Mcconnell

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

Due to the call of current science education reform for the integration of engineering practices within science classrooms, design-based instruction is receiving much attention in science education literature. Although some aspect of modeling is often included in well-known design-based instructional methods, it is not always a primary focus. The purpose of this study was to better understand how design-based instruction with an emphasis on scientific modeling might impact students' spatial abilities and their model-based argumentation abilities. In the following mixed-method multiple case study, seven seventh grade students attending a secular private school in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States …

Defrocked And Expelled: The Methodist Church Trial Of James J. Stewart

New Mexico Historical Review

No abstract provided.

Book Reviews

New Mexico Historical Review

No abstract provided.

Workplace Dignity: Communicating Inherent, Earned, And Remediated Dignity, Kristen Lucas

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Extant research on dignity at work has revealed conditions that contribute to indignity, employees’ responses to dignity threats, and ways in which employees’ inherent dignity is undermined. But while dignity – and specifically indignity – is theorized as a phenomenon subjectively experienced and judged by individuals, little research has privileged workers’ own perspectives. In this study, working adults reveal how they personally experience and understand meanings of dignity at work. I describe three core components of workplace dignity and the communicative exchanges through which dignity desires commonly are affirmed or denied: inherent dignity as recognized by respectful interaction, earned dignity …

Mckee Minute Summer 2015, Southern Adventist University

McKee Minute – McKee Library This Month

The Summer 2015 McKee Minute features books on decision making, including How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer and The Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar. Featured films include War Horse and The Black Stallion, and physics is spotlighted.

Comment On "Fluorotechnology Is Critical To Modern Life: The Fluorocouncil Counterpoint To The Madrid Statement", Ian T. Cousins, Simona A. Balan, Martin Scheringer, Roland Weber, Zhanyun Wang, Arlene Blum, Miriam Diamond, Tony Fletcher, Gretta Goldenman, Christopher Higgins, Avery E. Lindeman, Graham Peaslee

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Battle Of Paducah

Jackson Purchase Historical Society Journal Archive

The Battle of Paducah

John Philip Cashon

Buckskin Bill's Wild West Show

Jackson Purchase Historical Society Journal Archive

Buckskin Bill's Wild West Show

Richard D. Parker

The Utilization Of Polymerase Chain Reaction, Dna Barcoding And Bioinformatics In Identifying Plant Species, Lindee J. Triplett, Ryan Foo, Ronald W. Strohmeyer (Mentor)

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Bioinformatics and DNA barcoding is a process used to identify plants, animals, and fungi. DNA barcoding in plants utilizes a key variable region in the genome, the RuBisCo large subunit (RbcL) on Chloroplast DNA. Once the DNA is extracted, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplifies that region and that sample is sent off for sequencing. Bioinformatics and DNA barcoding helps taxonomists determine the sequence of the RbcL gene as well as obtain a unique barcode that can be used to identify plants. Several plant species from our local campus were sequenced and identified using the previously described methods.

Eve In Early Reformation Exegesis: The Case Of Iohannes Oecolampadius, Mickey L. Mattox

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

Iohannes Oecolampadius stood at the forefront of the Reformation in Basel. He not only worked tirelessly for the reform of the city's churches, but also authored pioneering evangelical works of theology and exegesis. The interpretation of Eve found in his late lectures on Genesis showcases both a new emphasis on Eve's goodness and original equality with Adam, as well as a parallel insistence on her subordination to her husband after the Fall. His conception of husband and wife as partners of equal dignity on the path toward salvation moves in the direction of companionate marriage, but it stops short of …

Gene Expression In Experimental Aortic Coarctation And Repair: Candidate Genes For Therapeutic Intervention?, John F. Ladisa Jr., Serdar Bozdag, Jessica Olson, Ramani Ramchandran, Judy R. Kersten, Thomas J. Eddinger

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a constriction of the proximal descending thoracic aorta and is one of the most common congenital cardiovascular defects. Treatments for CoA improve life expectancy, but morbidity persists, particularly due to the development of chronic hypertension (HTN). Identifying the mechanisms of morbidity is difficult in humans due to confounding variables such as age at repair, follow-up duration, coarctation severity and concurrent anomalies. We previously developed an experimental model that replicates aortic pathology in humans with CoA without these confounding variables, and mimics correction at various times using dissolvable suture. Here we present the most comprehensive …

Diabetes In Pregnancy: Improving Birth Outcomes In Native Americans Populations. What Are The Best Practices?, Kristina Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to identify the best practices in improving birth outcomes for Native American women with gestational diabetes (GDM). The true prevalence of GDM is unknown; however, pregnant women in the United States are being diagnosed at alarming rates. This project surveys the current practices being utilized to help improve outcomes. The research draws upon journal articles found on CINHAL, PUBMED and Cochrane databases. The results of this analysis of literature will be may be useful in determining best practices and interventions that will help improve birth outcomes in Native American women with GDM. Nursing and …

In Silico Molecular Docking Analysis To Predict The Role Of Metal Ions In The Function Of Drug Targeted Proteins, S. M. A. Shahid, Qazi M. S. Jamal, J. M. Arif, Fahad M. Al-Khodairy, Anupam Dhasmana, Mohtashim Lohani

School of Medicine Publications

Metal ions are required for many critical functions in living systems. Scarcity of some metal ions can lead to disease. A characteristic of metals is that they easily lose electrons from the familiar elemental or metallic state to form positively charged ions which tend to be soluble in biological fluids. Role of zinc, calcium and copper ions in the catalytic mechanism of drug targeted proteins such as Farnesyltransferase, Neuraminidase and Thioredoxin are analyzed using molecular docking, respectively. The docking results show that inhibitors have low Binding, docking and internal energies with proteins in the presence of Zn, Ca and Cu …

Tennessee Farm Bureau News - July 2015, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation

Tennessee Farm Bureau News

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Sirna Pre-Exposure On Subsequent Response To Sirna Therapy, Hamidreza Montazeri Aliabadi, Parvin Mahdipoor, Cezary Kucharski, Nicole Chan, Hasan Uludag

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

PURPOSE. An alternative cancer therapy based on RNA interference (RNAi) has shown considerable promise but the possibility of resistance development is not known. This study explored the possibility of therapeutic resistance against siRNA nanoparticles in human cancer cells. METHODS. Two approaches to siRNA treatment were undertaken using lipid-modified polyethylenimines, a single high concentration (shock) and repeated increasing concentrations (gradual). The targets were Mcl-1, RPS6KA5 and KSP in MDA-MB-435 cells. RESULTS. There was no evidence of resistance development in shock-treated cells, while the decrease in mRNA levels of targeted proteins was not as robust in naïve cells in gradual treatment. However, …

Managing Rock Squirrels In Utah, Nicki Frey

All Current Publications

Although they do not exist in large colonies like other ground squirrels, rock squirrels can still sometimes generate conflicts with homeowners and farmers alike. Most damage occurs when a few rock squirrels take residence in a homeowner’s back yard, and begin to forage on garden vegetables and fruit trees. There are several direct and indirect ways that private landowners can manage and reduce rock squirrels on their property. This fact sheet give management tips.

Bats And Rabies In Utah, Nicki Frey

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes the 10 species of bats found in Utah, what to do if you are bitten and how to avoid contracting diseases from them.

On-Ranch Application Of Dna Technology, Kevin Heaton, Katelyn Christensen

All Current Publications

Genetic analysis provides producers with another tool to identify individuals in a herd which have the greatest potential to be most productive or least productive, thus improving ranch sustainability. This project reported in this fact sheet demonstrated that on each ranch there were both genetically inferior and superior livestock for the production traits analyzed. Participating ranchers are using the results to select replacements and are cautioned to avoid single trait selection. This project also created a baseline for genetic quality which individual ranches could compare with future DNA test results.

Safety Guide For The Adventurous Outdoor Hiker, Lori Bailey, Cindy Nelson

All Current Publications

This tri-fold brochure gives safety tips for hikers, especially 4-H youth.

Comparison Of Biotic Communities Of The Cedar-Hemlock And Oak-Hickory Associations, Draft Version, Jane Claire Dirks-Edmunds

Jane Claire Dirks-Edmunds Documents

This early, typewritten draft of the doctoral dissertation by Jane Claire Dirks (later Jane Claire Dirks-Edmunds) contains her edits and notes. Dirks-Edmunds's project compared the Douglas fir forest community on Saddleback Mountain in Oregon to an oak-hickory forest near her graduate school in Illinois.

Dr. Dirks-Edmunds graduated from Linfield College in 1937; she later returned to teach in the Biology department at Linfield from 1941-1974.

Physico-Chemical Variables And Fish Parasites Of River Neelum Azad Jammu And Kashmir, Pakistan, Nuzhat Shafi, Javed Ayub, Tasleem Akhtar

Journal of Bioresource Management

The physico-chemical parameters and the fish parasites of the River Neelum were studied at three sampling sites, i.e., Pattika, Tali Mandi, and Domail. Water temperature and rate of flow of water were significantly higher at Domail than Pattika and Tali Mandi. ANOVA showed that dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, inorganic suspended solids, and organic matter of the bottom mud kept on fluctuating and showed a significant difference between three selected sites. Although, these variables showed variations, they remained within tolerable limits set by WHO. Three species of potentially harmful parasites, i.e., Dactylogyrus vastator, Procamallanus laevionchus, and Argulus foliaceus were …

Assessment Of Fusariotoxins And Toxigenic Potential Of Fusarium Spp. In Maize Grains Collected From Pakistan, Nafeesa Qudsia Hanif, Iffat Tahira, Salma Khatoon, Kishwar Sultana

Journal of Bioresource Management

A total of 65 maize grain samples (Zea Mays L.) collected from cold and hot climatic zones of Pakistan lead to isolation of 10 Fusarium supposing deep freezing method. Occurrence of fusarium spp. was high (75%) in cold climatic zones as compared to hot zones (25%). Fumonisins were recorded in both climatic zones, though their incidence was higher in hot climatic zone (range 4,379-9,990 μg/kg). Incidence of A and B trichothecenes was higher in cool climatic zone. Zearalenone (ZON) with mean level 500 μg/kg was positive in only 10% samples of hot climatic zone. Furthermore, co-contamination of fusariotoxins …

Mesquite (Prosopis Juliflora): Livestock Grazing, Its Toxicity And Management, Kainaat William, Laila Jafri

Journal of Bioresource Management

Prospis juliflora is an invasive tree native to Northern South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It has been used as a folk remedy for catarrh, cold, diarrhea, dysentery, excrescences, flu, hoarseness, inflammation, measles, sore throat, and in the healing of wounds. Its antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, antitumor, and anthelminitic activities are also reported and it contain phytochemicals such as flavonols, alkaloids, tannins, ellagic acid, glycosides, steroids, and various phenolic compounds. It is reported to be used as feed for cattle worldwide. Low intake of this plant doesn’t affect the health of cattle but excessive intake is harmful and can cause …

Growth Inhibiting Effects Of Three Different Plant Extracts On Tribolium Castaneum (Herbst) (Tenebrionidae: Coleoptera), Javed Iqbal Dr, Ghulam Jilani, Muhammad Aslam

Journal of Bioresource Management

Petroleum ether, acetone and ethanol extracts of neem, sweet flag, and turmeric were evaluated for their growth inhibiting effects on the Tribolium castaneum at the application rate of 1000, 500, 250 and 125 μg/g food media. Petroleum ether extracts showed the lowest number of larvae produced (34.00) in 1000 μg/g neem extract. Acetone extract of sweet flag showed minimum and significantly lower number of larvae produced (8.00) at 1000 μg/g, whereas ethanol extracts of turmeric showed minimum numbers of larvae (106.30) at 1000 μg/g application rate. Maximum inhibition ratio of pupation was found as 81.18 % at 1000 μg/g dosage …

Use Of Dna Barcoding To Control The Illegal Wildlife Trade: A Cites Case Report From Pakistan, Attika Rehman, Sana Jafar, Naeem Ashraf Raja, Javed Mahar

Journal of Bioresource Management

Illegal wildlife trade is a great threat to the conservation efforts made worldwide to save wildlife species and their parts. Use of molecular methods, including DNA barcoding, is gaining acceptance to detect cross-border movement of endangered species. Here we report the utility of DNA barcoding in the detection of smuggling of an endangered turtle species from Pakistan. The consignment labeled as “fish meat” was intercepted at a Pakistani port and was tested for its source using DNA Barcoding with fish-specific primers. Sequences from the samples from this consignment matched (99%) with those from Lissemys punctata (Indian flap-shelled turtle), a species …