Digital Commons Network^™

The Tgf-Β Pathway Mediates Doxorubicin Effects On Cardiac Endothelial Cells, Zuyue Sun, Jill Schriewer, Mingxin Tang, Jerry Marlin, Frederick Taylor, Ralph V. Shohet, Eugene A. Konorev

Faculty and Staff Publications

Elevated ALK4/5 ligands including TGF-β and activins have been linked to cardiovascular remodeling and heart failure. Doxorubicin (Dox) is commonly used as a model of cardiomyopathy, a condition that often precedes cardiovascular remodeling and heart failure. In 7-8-week-old C57Bl/6 male mice treated with Dox we found decreased capillary density, increased levels of ALK4/5 ligand and Smad2/3 transcripts, and increased expression of Smad2/3 transcriptional targets. Human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (HCMVEC) treated with Dox also showed increased levels of ALK4/5 ligands, Smad2/3 transcriptional targets, a decrease in proliferation and suppression of vascular network formation in a HCMVEC and human cardiac fibroblasts …

Transitioning The Waldorf Seventh-Day Adventist Church To An Integrated Multiethnic/Multicultural Ministry, Kleyton Feitosa

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Charles County, Maryland, is an ethnically and culturally diverse community. The only two Seventh-day Adventist churches in the county are mono-ethnic – one White and one African-American – and do not reflect the multiethnic composition of the community. In the beginning of this study the Waldorf Church had the following ethnic composition: 81% White and 19% of all other major ethnic groups. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2008), Waldorf city was made up of 40.6% White and 59.4% of all other groups combined. In light of this reality, being a monoethnic White church presented significant church growth challenges …

Death Of Morality: Does It Portend Death Of America, Gerald Walpin

Touro Law Review

No abstract provided.

Abc’S Bird-Smart Wind Energy Campaign: Protecting Birds From Poorly Sited Wind Energy Development, Michael Hutchins, Mike Parr, Darin Schroeder

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This article summarizes American Bird Conservancy’s (ABC’s) strategies and goals for achieving Bird-Smart wind energy in the United States. We describe the current and projected impact of wind energy development on birds and bats in the United States. We also discuss how bird (and bat) conservation goals could be made more compatible with wind energy development through improved science and regulation. We provide examples of poorly sited wind energy projects, existing and proposed, which call into question the efficacy of current voluntary federal permitting guidelines. We discuss the need for improved transparency and independent site-by-site pre-construction risk assessment, science-based decision-making, …

Influence Of Transmission Line Construction On Winter Sage-Grouse Habitat Use In Southern Utah, Erica P. Hansen, A. Cheyenne Stewart, S. Nicole Frey

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The construction and operation of electric power transmission lines (“power lines”) and their associated infrastructure has been identified as a conservation threat to the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse). The conservation buff er zones recommended by state and federal agencies to avoid potential impacts on breeding populations diff er because information regarding the effects of power lines on sage-grouse is lacking. Little information is available regarding sage-grouse responses to power lines placed in winter habitat. Hence, we evaluated sage-grouse habitat use before and after construction of the Sigurd-Red Butte (SRB) 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line in winter habitat. The …

Wind Energy Development: Methods For Assessing Risks To Birds And Bats Pre-Construction, Todd Katzner, Victoria Bennett, Tricia Miller, Adam Duerr, Melissa Braham, Amanda Hale

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wind power generation is rapidly expanding. Although wind power is a low-carbon source of energy, it can impact negatively birds and bats, either directly through fatality or indirectly by displacement or habitat loss. Pre-construction risk assessment at wind facilities within the United States is usually required only on public lands. When conducted, it generally involves a 3-tier process, with each step leading to more detailed and rigorous surveys. Preliminary site assessment (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tier 1) is usually conducted remotely and involves evaluation of existing databases and published materials. If potentially at-risk wildlife are present and the developer …

Lack Of Human Awareness And The Need For Increased Public Education Regarding The Zoonotic Parasite, Baylisascaris Procyonis, Jacob L. Ogdee, Scott E. Henke, David B. Wester

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Baylisascaris procyonis is a large parasitic nematode found in the small intestines of raccoons (Procyon lotor), the definitive host, and causes larva migrans in humans and other animals. Humans can become infected by ingesting B. procyonis eggs, which can remain viable in the environment for years and adhere to vegetation, soil, water, raccoon feces, or hands. Parasitic infections manifest in humans with neural and ocular larva migrans, characterized by clinical symptoms of head and body tilt, circling, recumbency, ataxia, blindness, nervous behavior, paralysis, and coma, leading to death. Prevalence of B. procyonis in humans is unknown. However, human …

Impact Of Sagebrush Nutrients And Monoterpenes On Greater Sage-Grouse Vital Rates, Brian R. Wing, Terry A. Messmer

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) depend on sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) to complete its annual life cycle. The winter diet for sage-grouse consists almost entirely of sagebrush leaves, and individual birds may gain weight while foraging on sagebrush. Previous studies have reported higher crude protein and lower monoterpene concentrations in the sagebrush species selected as winter forage by sagegrouse. However, no studies have attempted to link female sage-grouse vital rates (i.e., nest initiation and success, egg fertility, clutch size, and adult survival) to crude protein or monoterpene concentrations of sagebrush plants browsed during pre-nesting periods. From March …

Black-Box Immigration Federalism, David S. Rubenstein

Michigan Law Review

In Immigration Outside the Law, Hiroshi Motomura confronts the three hardest questions in immigration today: what to do about our undocumented population, who should decide, and by what legal process. Motomura’s treatment is characteristically visionary, analytically rich, and eminently fair to competing views. The book’s intellectual arc begins with its title: “Immigration Outside the Law.” As the narrative unfolds, however, Motomura explains that undocumented immigrants are “Americans in waiting,” with moral and legal claims to societal integration.

Confessions In An International Age: Re-Examining Admissibility Through The Lens Of Foreign Interrogations, Julie Tanaka Siegel

Michigan Law Review

In Colorado v. Connelly the Supreme Court held that police misconduct is necessary for an inadmissible confession. Since the Connelly decision, courts and scholars have framed the admissibility of a confession in terms of whether it successfully deters future police misconduct. As a result, the admissibility of a confession turns largely on whether U.S. police acted poorly, and only after overcoming this threshold have courts considered factors pointing to the reliability and voluntariness of the confession. In the international context, this translates into the routine and almost mechanic admission of confessions— even when there is clear indication that the confession …

Evaluating Wildlife–Vehicle Collision Hotspots Using Kernel-Based Estimation: A Focus On The Endangered Asiatic Cheetah In Central Iran, Alireza Mohammadi, Mohammad Kaboli

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The transportation networks within and adjacent to protected areas degrade natural habitats and contribute to a higher risk of mortality through roadkill. Following years of unplanned and unsustainable road network development in Iran, the protected areas of significant biodiversity value have suffered from such phenomenon. Yazd Province, one of Iran’s important biodiversity reservoirs for large mammals, especially the Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), has witnessed a noticeable rate of road expansion along with an associated anthropogenic development. A large percentage (7 out of 50–70) of Asiatic cheetahs has been lost due to vehicle collisions in the region over …

Ecology Of Greater Sage-Grouse Populations Inhabiting The Northwestern Wyoming Basin, Casey J. Cardinal, Terry A. Messmer

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Range-wide population declines of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) have been largely attributed to habitat loss and fragmentation. However, the specific conservation threats affecting the ecology of sage-grouse populations may diff er by region. Although the status of the Bear Lake Plateau and Valley (BLPV) sagegrouse populations in the Wyoming Basin has been monitored using male lek counts since the 1960s, little was known about their ecology, seasonal movements, and habitat use patterns. From 2010–2012, we radio-marked 153 sage-grouse (59 females and 94 males) with very high frequency necklace-style radio-collars throughout the BLPV study area, which encompassed parts …

Economic Utility For The Anthropogenic Spread Of Wild Hogs, Joe N. Caudell, Emily Dowell, Katelyn Welch

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wild hogs (Sus scrofa) are an invasive, exotic species that has spread through much of the United States through anthropogenic means. Many states have laws and regulations with the intent of preventing the illegal importation, introduction, and establishment of wild swine populations. However, in many cases, these laws have been ineffectual at stopping the anthropogenic spread of wild swine. To assess the risk for moving wild hogs, we examined various wild hog-related laws throughout the United States and assessed the potential reward for their illegal movement of releasing hogs for hunting purposes. We found that fines ranged from …

A Description Of The Sound System Of Misiones Mbya, Matias N. De Paula

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Misiones Mbya is an indigenous language of South America spoken by the Mbya people in the Province of Misiones, Argentina. Although there are several studies in the literature about the Brazilian variety of this language, the linguistic information available about Misiones Mbya is extremely scarce. In this thesis I present a segmental analysis of the language (individual vowels and consonants) and a prosodic analysis of nasal harmony based on field data collected in three different communities in Misiones. The segmental analysis shows that this variety is very similar to the Brazilian variety of the language with only a few exceptions. …

Interventions For The Reduction Of Dental Anxiety And Corresponding Behavioral Deficits In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jessica L. Elmore, Ann M. Bruhn, Jonna L. Bobzien

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can greatly inhibit a child's communication and social interaction skills, impacting their comfort during dental hygiene treatment and services. Children with ASD may exhibit sensory sensitivities, fear of the unfamiliar and lack of socio-cognitive understanding, leading to anxiety and corresponding behavioral deficits. Since the prevalence rates for ASD have risen significantly in the past decade, increased emphasis has been placed on educational and behavior guidance techniques, which can be helpful for children with ASD because of their increased capabilities in visual-processing. The purpose of this literature review is to summarize the interventions available to reduce dental …

Identification And Functional Predication Of Long Non-Coding Rnas In Rainbow Trout And Cattle, Jian Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The simplest definition of a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is an RNA transcript larger than 200 nucleotides that does not encode for a functional protein product. This definition distinguishes lncRNAs from small regulatory RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs), short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and other short RNAs. They have emerged as a new class of regulatory transcripts in recent years. Recent advances in sequencing technologies have opened a new horizon for the identification and annotation of this class of RNAs in many species. With the increasing evidence supporting important roles of lincRNAs in diverse processes, a systematic catalog …

The Effect Of Chemotherapy On Stromal Components Of The Bone Marrow, Ian Woodrow Hare

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The cells comprising the stromal compartment of the bone marrow microenvironment are critical to the maintenance of several homeostatic processes of the body. For example, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and osteoblasts are vital to the regulation of differentiation and quiescence of hematopoietic cells, maintaining the skeletal system, and regulating tumor microenvironments. In addition to contributing to these processes, MSCs display several properties that make them favorable for the use in transplantation therapies. The work described herein summarizes the means by which chemotherapy damages these cells, and potential consequences of such damage with regard to their function.;Previously, our laboratory has investigated …

The Role Of Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, And Emotion Regulation As Protective Factors Against Disordered Eating In A Sample Of University Students, Lisa Paylo Meyer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Although eating disorders and related interventions have been heavily researched, less is known about potentially protective variables, including self-compassion, mindfulness, and emotion regulation. It is important to understand these constructs and their relationship to eating disorder symptoms because such factors may prevent these disorders in at-risk individuals and aid in more successful psychotherapeutic outcomes. Independent theories related to these variables and their relationship to disordered eating have been postulated, but not yet combined into a single model. In this study, 100 university students completed self-report surveys that were analyzed using a Path Analysis (PA) method. This method tested an integrated …

The Future Of Law Reviews: Online-Only Journals, Katharine T. Schaffzin

Touro Law Review

No abstract provided.

Nursery Rhymes: Pieces Of The Children’S Literature Puzzle In Translation, Catalina Millán Scheiding

Faculty Works

Nursery rhymes are being found increasingly in translational situations, normally in intertextual translations, yet there is no framework or specific study of how they should be translated. This paper aims, on the one hand, to explore the theories related to children’s literature translation that could be applied to nursery rhyme translation, and on the other hand, to identify the particular idiosyncrasies of nursery rhymes that may have an effect on their translation. Several examples are analyzed from different media (comic, children’s book and film) in their translation from English into Spanish and new study possibilities are proposed.

Eocene Paleontology And Geology Of Western North America, David R. Greenwood, Kathleen B. Pigg, Melanie L. Devore

Faculty and Staff Works

Western North America preserves a rich record of Eocene life and environments under globally warm climates, and represents an interval where significant coal and other minerals were deposited. The Eocene is of interest to biologists and paleontologists for its record of the appearance and rise to dominance of many plant, insect, and mammal groups now typical of the temperate forests of North America, admixed with groups now well represented in tropical areas or restricted to eastern Asia. This record is also of interest for its potential contribution to our understanding of interactions between climate, the biota, and the ecosystems they …

A Review Of The Plants Of The Princeton Chert (Eocene, British Columbia, Canada), Kathleen B. Pigg, Melanie L. Devore

Faculty and Staff Works

The Princeton chert is one of the most completely studied permineralized floras of the Paleogene. Remains of over 30 plant taxa have been described in detail, along with a diverse assemblage of fungi that document a variety of ecological interactions with plants. As a flora of the Okanagan Highlands, the Princeton chert plants are an assemblage of higher elevation taxa of the latest early to earliest middle Eocene, with some components similar to those in the related compression floras. However, like the well-known floras of Clarno, Appian Way, the London Clay, and Messel, the Princeton chert provides an additional dimension …

Rethinking The State Sovereignty Interest In Personal Jurisdiction, Jeffrey M. Schmitt

School of Law Faculty Publications

The Supreme Court has never articulated a coherent theoretical justification for the law of personal jurisdiction. While some opinions state that the law is based on state sovereignty, others hold that it is instead derived exclusively from the Due Process Clause’s concern for fairness. None of the opinions, however, clearly ties either of these theories to the blackletter law of personal jurisdiction. This confusion over the purpose of the doctrine has helped to create divisions both within the Court and among the Circuits on a number of important jurisdictional issues.

This Article argues that the law of personal jurisdiction must …

The Prototype Case Designed For Case-Based-Learning In Bio 201, Junli Diao

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

Mechanisms Of Mrna Polyadenylation, Hizlan Hincal Ağuş, Ayşe Eli̇f Erson Bensan

Turkish Journal of Biology

mRNA 3'-end processing involves the addition of a poly(A) tail based on the recognition of the poly(A) signal and subsequent cleavage of the mRNA at the poly(A) site. Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is emerging as a novel mechanism of gene expression regulation in normal and in disease states. APA results from the recognition of less canonical proximal or distal poly(A) signals leading to changes in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) lengths and even in some cases changes in the coding sequence of the distal part of the transcript. Consequently, RNA-binding proteins and/or microRNAs may differentially bind to shorter or longer isoforms. …

Childhood Obesity In Florida: A Narrative Review On Current Trends And Interventions, Corey Parliament, E Mckenzie Driscoll, Kristin Samuels, Laura Ward, Tammy M. Baranowski, Tara Kessinger, Alireza Jahan-Mihan

Florida Public Health Review

We examine current research on childhood obesity (CO) trends and intervention strategies in Florida. The fiscal, emotional, and health-related costs related to general obesity are staggering. Unfortunately, CO-related publicity, research, policy, and interventions have not been entirely successful in addressing the problem. Florida ranks 35thnationally in prevalence of CO. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2013 report a statistically significant decrease in Florida's rate of CO among 2-4 year-olds participating in Florida’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) from 2008-2011. Whereas Florida still has significant room for improvement on the issue of …

Animal Groups And Social Ontology: An Argument From The Phenomenology Of Behavior, Alejandro Arango

Philosophy Faculty Scholarship

Through a critical engagement with Merleau-Ponty’s discussion of the concepts of nature, life, and behavior, and with contemporary accounts of animal groups, this article argues that animal groups exhibit sociality and that sociality is a fundamental ontological condition. I situate my account in relation to the superorganism and selfish individual accounts of animal groups in recent biology and zoology. I argue that both accounts are inadequate. I propose an alternative account of animal groups and animal sociality through a Merleau-Pontian inspired definition of behavior. I criticize Merleau-Ponty’s individualistic prejudice, but show that his philosophy contains the resources necessary to overcome …

Potential Environmental And Social Influences On Schoolchildren’S Health And Nutrion In Guiba, Burkina Faso, Kristine Nachbor

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Malnutrition continues to be an epidemic problem in sub-Saharan Africa. The degree of malnutrition depends on many factors including prevalence of bacterial and parasitic diseases especially those in water sources, level of education, level of hygienic practices, cultural customs, seasonal and climatic conditions, food production and availability, and daily food intake. This study sought to describe the prevalence of different factors’ that may be associated with health in the commune of Guiba, Burkina Faso while also examining the dietary diversity scores (DDS) among schoolchildren attending secondary school in Guiba.

Dietary diversity scores (DDS) are a measure of the number of …

Pilot-Scale Study Of Low-Tech Methods Of Sustainable Class A Biosolids Production: A Trial Run, Rebecca L. Green

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Water resource recovery facilities can improve sustainability by producing Class A biosolids. However, many conventional methods for achieving Class A biosolids are expensive, with high maintenance and energy costs. However, low-cost, low-tech (LCLT) treatment methods are also available. The overall goal of the larger project of which this study was a part is to develop a rational and universal approach for design of LCLT processes. To achieve this goal, pilot-scale studies of LCLT processes will be performed. The goal of this portion of the project was to perform a trial run pilot-scale study. During the trial run, the pilot-scale biosolids …

Central Neural Mechanisms Of Salt-Sensitive Hypertension, Robert Larson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Hypertension (HTN) is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, and it’s estimated that over 80 million adults in the United States have HTN. Essential HTN often demonstrates sensitivity to salt, and reductions in dietary salt attenuate high blood pressure in this population. Evidence indicates that the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus is a key driver of HTN due to excess salt intake. The cellular mechanisms whereby PVN neuronal activity is augmented in response to salt are largely unknown. Previous work from our lab has demonstrated that small conductance calcium activated potassium (SK) channel function is …