Digital Commons Network^™

Intermediate Russian Through Formula Tales, Tamar Karakozova

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The dissertation presents a study of on the benefits of formula tales in university-level foreign language classrooms during grammar practice activities. The study investigates students’ attitudes toward the use of such texts in the post-secondary foreign language environment. In addition, differences between and among the participant-students is analyzed. Cognitive learning theory, noticing hypothesis, and content-based instruction provide the theoretical framework for the study.

Strangers Among Us: Invasive Plants In British Literature, 1669-1800., Thomas Lance Bullington

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Exotic flora in the long eighteenth century (1666-1800) embodied a point of contact between the natural and imaginary worlds, bearing witness to the ways that ideology relocates living things according to human desire. Most accounts view these exotics through the lens of ecological imperialism and “invasive” species. Both of these terms are twenty-first century metaphors that materialize the role of imperialism in circulating exotics, applying the narrative of invading British empire to the behavior of foreign plants. However, such accounts do not fully acknowledge the cultural work that images of foreign plants do. I opt instead for an ecocritical reappraisal …

Spine Lifting Biomechanics Between Varying Occupational Activity Levels And Recreational Physical Activity Levels, Caitlin Rose Francis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Moderate to vigorous physical activity as the optimum movement patterns for health have continued to be the dominant focus of health and fitness research. Yet, emerging evidence of deleterious, adverse health effects of prolonged inactivity, independent of regular physical activity, presents a new element to establishing the ideal model of movement patterns for health. The musculoskeletal trunk of the body becomes unbalanced as a result of prolonged inactivity, and a biomechanical analysis can help to identify high-risk loading behavior associated with these unbalances. Moreover, poor spine biomechanics can indicate a need for adjustment to present recommendations for optimum movement …

Bacteria Prediction For Recreational Waters Through The Use Of Artificial Neural Networks, Christopher Douglas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many scientists and government agencies rely on Fecal Indicator Bacteria (FIB) to determine the risk of exposure to pathogens in water. If there is a presence of these indicator bacteria, pathogenic microorganisms may also be present. These bacteria in recreational water bodies pose a health threat to people if ingested during activities such as swimming or from the consumption of marine life. The most commonly tested FIBs are total coliforms, Fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, Fecal streptococci, and enterococci. The measurement of bacteria can be time consuming (up to 48 hours) and expensive, creating a difficulty in warning the public of …

Effects Of Chronic Mild Stress On Clinically Relevant Endpoints In A Rat Ntg Migraine Model, Mary Katherine Jourdan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Home Is Where The Art Is [A Review Of Home], Walter C. Metz

Publications

In this review of Disney's Home, I perform an intertextual analysis linking it to La noire de... (1964), Ousmane Sembene's post-colonial film about cultural dislocation.

The Neurobiology Of Groupthink: A Qeeg Approach To The Study Of Followership, Angela A. Deulen

Theses and Dissertations

In recent decades, the study of leadership has focused on the qualities of leaders rather than on those of followers. However, it has been argued that there can be no meaningful construct of leadership without a coherent understanding of followership and group behavior. While the body of literature is replete with information on the study of groupthink and conformity as it relates to followership, the neurobiological drivers of such behavior remain under-investigated. The purpose of this work was to investigate the neurobiological basis of groupthink (conformity of thought) as a component of followership. Specifically, this work seeks to investigate six …

Leaders' Roles In Creating And Sustaining Collective Genius, Tanya L. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined leaders’ roles in fostering collective genius innovation within one private elementary school, including managing the paradoxes of innovation. Based on content analysis of eleven participants, this study found that teamwork, clear student learning outcomes emphasizing individualized learning, design thinking, and a growth mindset, all impacted willingness to innovate. To develop conditions for collective genius, leaders again focus on teamwork as well as being relational. In terms of their management of the six innovative paradoxes, the school leaders tend to balance their affirmation of the individual and the group, support staff and parents, focus on experimentation and learning, …

Wandering The Web--Libraries Gardening With Kids? A Growing Trend, Jeanine Huss, Roxanne Myers Spencer

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Is There A Future For Genome-Editing Technologies In Conservation?, J. A. Johnson, R. Altwegg, D. M. Evans, J. G. Ewen, I. J. Gordon, N. Pettorelli, J. K. Young

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In a recent review, Pimm et al. (2015) highlight emerging technologies in protecting biodiversity. While their list is noteworthy, the authors’ exclusion of innovations in genomic research, with the exception of single-species DNA barcoding methods, was surprising given recent advances in genome-editing technology and its potential application to conservation. Taylor & Gemmell (2016) address that deficiency in a subsequent commentary identifying three avenues where emerging genomic technologies have great potential for increasing our ability to conserve biodiversity. Those areas include the use of next-generation sequencing technologies and methods such as RADseq for monitoring genetic diversity, effective population size, and …

Composition And Diversity Of Avian Communities Using A New Urban Habitat: Green Roofs, Brian E. Washburn, Ryan M. Swearingin, Craig K. Pullins, Matthew E. Rice

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Green roofs on buildings are becoming popular and represent a new component of the urban landscape. Public benefits of green roof projects include reduced stormwater runoff, improved air quality, reduced urban heat island effects, and aesthetic values. As part of a city-wide plan, several green roofs have been constructed at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Like some other landscaping features, green roofs on or near an airport might attract wildlife and thus increase the risk of bird–aircraft collisions. During 2007–2011, we conducted a series of studies to evaluate wildlife use of newly constructed green roofs and traditional (gravel) roofs on …

Integrating Early Detection With Dna Barcoding: Species Identification Of A Nonnative Monitor Lizard (Squamata: Varanidae) Carcass In Mississippi, U.S.A., Robert N. Reed, Matthew W. Hopken, David Steensen, Bryan G. Falk, Antoinette J. Piaggio

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Early detection of invasive species is critical to increasing the probability of successful management. At the primary stage of an invasion, invasive species are easier to control as the population is likely represented by just a few individuals. Detection of these first few individuals can be challenging, particularly if they are cryptic or otherwise characterized by low detectability. The engagement of members of the public may be critical to early detection as there are far more citizens on the landscape than trained biologists. However, it can be difficult to assess the credibility of public reporting, especially when a diagnostic digital …

No Filters, No Fridges: A Method For Preservation Of Water Samples For Edna Analysis, Kelly E. Williams, Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Antoinette J. Piaggio

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background: Advancements in the detection of environmental DNA (eDNA) for detecting species of interest will likely allow for expanded use of these techniques in the field. One obstacle that continues to hinder applications in the field is the requirement of a cold chain of storage for water samples containing eDNA. While eDNA has been successfully preserved using Longmire’s lysis buffer applied to filters, it has yet to be tried with freshwater samples collected for eDNA detection of an invasive species. We tested the utility of Longmire’s solution (100 mM Tris, 100 mM EDTA, 10 mM NaCl, 0.5 % SDS, 0.2 …

Review Of Anthraquinone Applications For Pest Management And Agricultural Crop Protection, Shelagh T. Deliberto, Scott J. Werner

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We have reviewed published anthraquinone applications for international pest management and agricultural crop protection from 1943 to 2016. Anthraquinone (AQ) is commonly found in dyes, pigments and many plants and organisms. Avian repellent research with AQ began in the 1940s. In the context of pest management, AQ is currently used as a chemical repellent, perch deterrent, insecticide and feeding deterrent in many wild birds, and in some mammals, insects and fishes. Criteria for evaluation of effective chemical repellents include efficacy, potential for wildlife hazards, phytotoxicity and environmental persistence. As a biopesticide, AQ often meets these criteria of efficacy for the …

Effects Of Renewable Energy Production And Infrastructure On Wildlife, José Antonio Sánchez-Zapata, Miguel Clavero, Martina Carrete, Travis L. Devault, Virgilio Hermoso, Miguel Angel Losada, María José Polo, Sonia Sánchez-Navarro, Juan Manuel Pérez-García, Francisco Botella, Carlos Ibáñez, José Antonio Donázar

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The high levels of human demands of resources—from food to space and energy—are one of the main drivers of global change and are causing large negative impacts on ecosystems functioning worldwide (Vitousek et al. 1997 ). Global change components range from climate change to habitat destruction, species invasions, pollution and eutrophication. Although these factors can produce ecosystem changes independently, the final descent is often driven by synergistic processes. The resulting amplifying feedbacks can be disconnected from the original driver of change, leading to a state shift in the biosphere with unexpected consequences (Barnosky et al. 2012 ). Climate change seems …

Novel And Current Rodenticides For Pocket Gopher Thomomys Spp. Management In Vineyards: What Works?, Roger A. Baldwin, Ryan Meinerz, Gary W. Witmer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

BACKGROUND: Rodenticides are often included as part of an integrated pest management approach for managing pocket gophers (Thomomys spp.) given that they are relatively quick and inexpensive to apply. Strychnine has historically been the most effective toxicant for pocket gophers, but its use is currently limited in the United States; alternative registered toxicants have not proven effective. Recent research with baits containing cholecalciferol plus anticoagulant toxicants proved effective against pocket gophers in a lab setting. Therefore, we established a field study to compare cholecalciferol plus anticoagulant combinations [0.03% cholecalciferol plus 0.005% diphacinone (C+D), 0.015% cholecalciferol plus 0.0025% brodifacoum (C+B1), …

A Quantitative Rt-Pcr Assay For Rapid Detection Of Eurasianlineage H10 Subtype Influenza A Virus, Hailiang Sun, Jian-Li Xue, Elizabeth Bailey, Yifei Xu, Guoliang Hu, John A. Baroch, Yi Zhang, Lanny Pace, Thomas J. Deliberto, Xiu-Feng Wan

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are single-stranded, negative sense RNA viruses. IAV subtype is determined on the basis of the viral surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA), and neuraminidase (NA). To date, 18 HA and 11 NA subtypes have been reported (Tong et al., 2012). IAVs can cause sporadic infections, local epidemics, and global pandemics among humans. In addition to humans, IAVs can naturally infect avian, swine, equines, canines, and sea mammals (Webster et al., 1992). Migratory waterfowl are the natural reservoir for IAVs, and the avianorigin IAVs play an important role in influenza ecology and have been involved in generation of the …

Cougar Predation Rates And Prey Composition In The Pryor Mountains Of Wyoming And Montana, Linsey W. Blake, Eric M. Gese

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Understanding predator-prey dynamics is a fundamental principle of ecology and an ideal component for management decisions. Across North America, the impact of cougars (Puma concolor) on their prey varies regionally. To document the relationships between cougars, bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and feral horses (Equus caballus) on the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and the Pryor Mountains, we deployed GPS collars on 6 cougars (the total number residing on the study area), and visited their clusters to determine predation rates and foraging patterns. We examined the composition of …

Inferring Invasive Species Abundance Using Removal Data From Management Actions, Amy J. Davis, Mevin B. Hooten, Ryan S. Miller, Matthew L. Farnsworth, Jesse Lewis, Michael Moxcey, Kim M. Pepin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Evaluation of the progress of management programs for invasive species is crucial for demonstrating impacts to stakeholders and strategic planning of resource allocation. Estimates of abundance before and after management activities can serve as a useful metric of population management programs. However, many methods of estimating population size are too labor intensive and costly to implement, posing restrictive levels of burden on operational programs. Removal models are a reliable method for estimating abundance before and after management using data from the removal activities exclusively, thus requiring no work in addition to management. We developed a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate …

Faces, Factories, And Warhols: A R(Evolutionary) Future For Writing Centers, Ben Rafoth

The Writing Center Journal

No abstract provided.

Analysis And Modelling Of Sediment Transport On The River Bandon, John Gamble

Theses

Sediment behaviour and transport in river systems has been studied for centuries and potentially impacts on river capacity, navigation, water quality, ecology and flooding. This thesis investigates sediment behaviour and transport on the River Bandon, a river system which has experienced severe flooding on a periodic basis. The River Bandon is located in the South Western River Basin District with a total catchment area of 608km“. The River Bandon offers a positive environment for biodiversity, facilitating habitats for some endangered species. This thesis presents a literature review on the River Bandon and its catchment, on sediment behaviour and transport and …

Clinical Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci; Identification, Characterisation And Treatment, Emma Gabriel

Theses

The work presented in this thesis focuses on clinically significant staphylococci (with an emphasis on coagulase-negative staphylococci) in terms of their isolation, identification, characterisation, and biocontrol.

CoNS are increasingly being recognised as true nosocomial pathogens yet remain under-characterised, particularly from an Irish clinical perspective. We examined a large cohort of clinically-derived CoNS, isolated from blood (n=l35), identifying them to species level. Extensive antibiotic resistance against nine clinically-relevant antibiotics was recorded. Additionally, widespread biofilm forming capabilities associated with increased virulence was detected both phenotypically and genotypically. We identified multiple species of CoNS in circulation in an Irish healthcare setting, and determined …

Compute Or Not To Compute?, Rowena Keaveny

Theses

The primary purpose of this enquiry is to explore the relevance of digital culture to contemporary art therapy practice in the digital age. The explosion of digital media into everyday life, as evidenced through it's impact on modes of communication and transformative societal behaviours has vastly altered how humans relate to each other and the world in which they can now live both physically and virtually in what has become known as the digital age. Silhouetted by it's emergent use within the therapeutic setting and informed by current literature, articles, research, questionnaires and interviews, this enquiry seeks to address the …

Investigation Of The Natural Bacteriocin Nisin And Bioengineered Nisin Derivatives For The Prevention And Control Fo Staphylococcus Biofilms On Medical Device Materials, Leanne Kearney

Theses

Antimicrobial resistance has evolved into being one the major threats facing clinical environments worldwide. It has led to the deerease in effective prevention and treatment of pathogenic bacteria. One such bacterium is Staphylococcus epidermidis. Once considered a relatively harmless and commensal baeterium, it has recently evolved into being one the leading eauses of nosocomial infections. S. epidermidis has proven hamiful due to its ability to fonn detrimental biofilms. Biofilms are structured eonsortia of bacteria embedded in a self-produced polymer matrix that allows adherence to biotic or abiotic surfaces. These biofilms have played a leading role in healthcare-acquired infections with particular …

Temporal Variations Of Streamflow In A Mid-Latitude Eurasian Steppe Watershed In The Past Half Century, Xixi Wang

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Previous studies either did not identify abrupt change or identified such change but did not exclude it from the detection of trend in streamflow. As a result, an overall downward trend might be erroneously detected as an upward trend because of abrupt increase, while an overall upward trend could be faked as a downward trend due to abrupt decrease. The objectives of this study were to: (1) present a methodology to analyze trend in streamflow in the presence of abrupt change; and (2) use this methodology to detect trend and extreme occurrence of streamflow in the Upper Balagaer River watershed, …

An Investigation Of The Use Of Natural Agents To Control Mycobacteria, Olga Lesniak

Theses

Economic losses that are caused by Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) infections represent a major obstacle for farmers and also for the dairy industry. In order to control the population of MAP, alternative control agents must be investigated. One of the studies described in this thesis focused on using a bacteriophage therapy based approach to assess its efficacy on simulated industrial environments and food models. Another study described in this thesis investigated the antimicrobial effects of parsley and garlic on a range of mycobacteria species. Both studies used conventional microbiological methods such as plaque assays, AlamarBlue assay (MABA) and growth curves, …

Data For Henson Et Al. 2016, Shandelle Henson, James Hayward, J Cushing, Gordon Atkins, Sumiko Weir, Ashley Reichert, Wayanne Watson, Wadenerson Saint Martin, Amanda Sandler

Faculty Publications

These data are archived for the paper "Adaptation to short-term ENSO fluctuations may provide tipping points for populations subjected to long-term climate change" by Henson et al., submitted. Additional files: Supplementary Figure 1 | Sample plots on Violet Point, Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, USA. The larger colony extends throughout much of the spit.

Millions Of Names For Empty Space, Andrew Koch

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

Using Convolutional Neural Networks For Fine Grained Image Classification Of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Richard K. Sipes

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of bone marrow stems cells that results in the overproduction of lymphoblasts. ALL is diagnosed through a series of tests which includes the minimally invasive microscopic examination of a stained peripheral blood smear. During examination, lymphocytes and other white blood cells (WBCs) are distinguished from abnormal lymphoblasts through fine-grained distinctions in morphology. Manual microscopy is a slow process with variable accuracy that depends on the laboratorian's skill level. Thus automating microscopy is a goal in cell biology. Current methods involve hand-selecting features from cell images for input to a variety of standard machine …

An Apology For The Lies I Tell About My Character, Jess L. Bryant

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.