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A Physiological Assessment Of Wetland Habitats For Spring-Migrating Ducks In The Agricultural Landscapes Of The Southern Prairie Pothole Region, Adam K. Janke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The conversion of grassland and wetland ecosystems in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) has been a pervasive challenge for conservationists dating back to the early 1900s. The legacy of ever-increasing agricultural intensity in the southern portions of the PPR, including eastern South Dakota, has left many wetland ecosystems in a matrix of intensive agricultural production. With little surrounding nesting cover, these wetlands are thought to have limited potential for waterfowl reproduction but may still play an important role facilitating migration of waterfowl en route to northern breeding areas during spring. My research sought to understand the contributions of wetlands in …

Understanding The Impact Of Non-Thermal Processing And Co2 Assisted Extrusion On Antioxidant, Textural And Functional Properties Of Corn, Sorghum And Apple Pomace Based Extrudates, Umesh Chandra Lohani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Currently, there is a worldwide demand for antioxidant rich foods in diet, especially ready to eat foods, i.e. cereals and snacks. In recent years, the research has got momentum to valorize the underutilized crops, i.e. millet, sorghum and industrial food by-products, i.e. fruit pomace to incorporate into main stream of human diet due to their enrichment in nutritional as well as bioactive compounds like phenolic and flavonoid antioxidants. However, most of the phenolic compounds in plant are present in the bound form with the carbohydrates, lignin, pectin and proteins which reduces their ability to function as good antioxidants. Therefore, in …

Decoding Impressions: Understanding Appearances A Nonverbal Training Program, Michelle Lynn Spring

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Given the multitude of clothing options, jewelry, and adornments that exist in the modern world and the variety of colors these artifacts are available in, there is a need to understand the how appearance cues impact impressions. Saussure’s theory of Semiotics was used as the framework for this project as a means to decoding the sign structures associated with appearance cues that influence impressions. This project outlines an active training program that walks students through the semiotic theory, the elements of appearance cues and the resulting impressions that may be formed by artifact choices. The goal of this project is …

A Glimpse At Media-Framing Effects On Place Attachment In Rural Northwest Montana, Gregory D. Bruns

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study examined how outdated media framing can disturb rural place attachment. Evaluating this concept against the backdrop of south Lincoln County, Montana, which is nearing the end of a years-long EPA Superfund cleanup, over 100 regional visitors were surveyed to learn if media framing affected place-attachment sentiments. The investigation revealed that existing news stories, some up to 15 years old, may be playing a lingering and consequential role in attracting first-time destination seekers to the region, in support of framing theory. Furthermore, these findings also lend credence to the significance of sound Internet search-engine optimization practices, and provide an …

Upward Communication In Organizations: The Connection To Company Culture And Employee Engagement, Janet K. Clancy-Feliciano

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

In today’s American society, effective upward and downward communication between supervisors and subordinates is lacking now more than ever before. The importance of effective downward communication from organizational leaders receives ongoing attention, but more attention needs to be given to the importance of open reception to upward communication. It is critical that leaders in organizations build trust and encourage upward communication from employees in order to maintain organizational wellbeing and to avoid employee dissatisfaction. To help close the gap in this area of communication, this study focused on and collected data utilizing on-line surveys and employee interviews in order to …

Early Life Events And Motor Development: A Longitudinal Study, Tegan Grace

Theses

Longitudinal studies are important to fully understand the processes of neurological development during gestation and how risk factors present during this time impact motor development outcomes, yet few to date have focused on this critical time period.

The purpose of this study was to identify modifiable risk factors influencing motor development during the prenatal period. Of particular interest was finding out whether these risk factors differed between the sexes.

Participants (N=2900) were from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. The Raine Study began in May 1989 and women were recruited between 16-20 weeks gestation (m = 18 weeks) from …

Towards The Identification Of Metabolite Markers Of Nipple Pain And Inflammation In Human Milk, Erin Fee

Theses

Background: Human milk is considered the best source of nutrition for all newborns as it contains important growth, developmental and immunological factors. The WHO (2003) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of age, with complementary breastfeeding up to two years and beyond. However, some women experience complications of the breast that lead to early cessation of breastfeeding, which can adversely affect the well being of the developing infant and her own health.

Nipple pain is the most commonly cited reason for weaning in the first week postpartum. Nipple pain is also linked to mastitis from milk stasis and …

Joseph Of Nazareth As Man And Father In Jerónimo Gracián’S Summary Of The Excellencies Of St Joseph (1597), Sophia Boffa

Theses

This thesis explores the representation of St Joseph as man, father and holy exemplar found in Jerónimo Gracián’s Summary of the Excellencies of St Joseph, published in Rome in 1597. The Summary is dedicated to the Venerable Archconfraternity of St Joseph of the Carpenters and is regarded as one of the most influential and comprehensive Josephine texts to date. The work consists of three integral and interconnected elements: Gracián’s text, six episodes of Joseph’s life completed by engraver Christophorus Blancus, and accompanying Latin epigrams (or mottos) composed by Francisco de Cabrera Moral. The Summary has enjoyed popularity as a …

Empowerment And Subjective And Emotional Well-Being In South Africa, Erik Kappelman

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Exploring Park Support: A Study Of Philanthropy And Other Support For Yellowstone National Park, Geoffrey G. Havens

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Support for charitable causes has long been a topic studied in the hopes of uncovering the reasons for donations and other support behaviors. However, holistic examination of support for places, such as parks, has been relatively untouched as an area of research. One such place where understanding such support is important is Yellowstone National Park, the first designated National Park and one of the most visited parks in the United States. A lack in adequate government funding to meet increasingly heavy visitation has led the park to increasingly rely on outside support for the park.

The purpose of this study …

Mechanisms And Consiqences Of Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization Following Exposure To Bioactive Particles, Forrest Connell Jessop

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Exposure to bioactive environmental particles and engineered nanoparticles are a significant public health concern. Inhalation of bioactive particles can result in chronic inflammation, which drives tissue remodeling and fibrosis. Furthermore, chronic inflammation can increase individual susceptibility to other diseases including cancer and autoimmune diseases. The macrophage is the critical cell in particle clearance following exposure, and is central to the inflammatory responses and tissue remodeling. Phagocytosed bioactive particles within macrophages cause cytotoxicity and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, outcomes that are both essential to inflammation and disease development. However, mechanisms that regulate NLRP3 inflammasome activity and cytotoxicity have not fully …

Discretionary Dockets, Randy J. Kozel, Jeffrey A. Pojanowski

Journal Articles

The Supreme Court’s workload and its method for selecting cases have drawn increasing critical scrutiny. Similarly, and separately, recent commentary has focused on the disparate approaches the Court has taken to resolving cases on its (historically small) docket. In this Essay we draw these two lines of inquiry together to argue that the Court’s case selection should align with its approach to constitutional adjudication. In doing so, we discuss four modes of constitutional decisionmaking and then examine the interplay between those modes, the Court’s management of its docket, and its sense of institutional role. The Court, we argue, has neither …

Exchanges Of Identity In Prehistoric Anatolian Figurines, Ellen H. Belcher, Karina Croucher

Publications and Research

This paper examines exchange imagery and ideology of the human body manifested through figurines from prehistoric (7 th –6 th millennia BC) Anatolian contexts. These figurines document local, regional and inter-regional communication of identity, use of materials, ideologies and skills. Taking a new approach to understanding the assemblages, this paper suggests four key themes of analysis: materials and materiality; fractured bodies; gender spectrum; and ambiguities and relationships.

A Study Of The Action Of Risperidone At 5-Ht2a Receptors, Supriya A. Gaitonde

Theses and Dissertations

Risperidone is an ‘atypical’ antipsychotic and is approved by the USFDA mainly for the treatment of schizophrenia and symptoms of bipolar disorder. Risperidone (an SDA or serotonin-dopamine antagonist) has ~20-fold higher affinity at 5-HT_2A receptors over dopamine D₂ receptors, which makes it more efficacious against the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and less liable to causing extrapyramidal side effects than ‘typical’ antipsychotics.

The major goal of the current investigation was to study the structure of risperidone and to identify the minimum structural features required for 5-HT_2A receptor affinity that retain antagonist action. The structure of risperidone was systematically …

Augment Hololens’ Body Recognition And Tracking Capabilities Using Kinect, Krishna Chaithanya Mathi

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we are primarily interested in exploring the HoloLens technologies for medical practices. Particularly, we will address the limitation of HoloLens’ capability in human body sensing, recognition and tracking. We will then introduce and demonstrate the use of Kinect to augment HoloLens’ sensory and processing capabilities in order to produce time and space-synchronized immersive environment with both virtual body and real body of the same patient for supporting distributed medical collaborations. Specifically, we are looking at a distributed solution in which we are collecting the patient body data from Kinect, followed by body recognition and position/motion tracking processing …

Novel Cost And Space Efficient Range Of Motion And Gait Analysis Systems, Rutvik Bharatkumar Patel

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we have explored the use of the latest motion tracking technologies, as evident by Microsoft Xbox Kinect’s motion tracking capabilities, in combination with 3D digital human modeling and animation, multi-modality image capturing and processing, and fusion, to design a new generation of low-cost range of motion and gait analysis solutions that overcome the limitation of existing tools. The proposed solutions and our prototype systems have demonstrated accurate measurements and reliable analysis outcome compared to current clinic practices, with significantly reduced complexity and cost. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for expensive effort for pre- and post- processing of …

Behaviors Of A Captive Coenobita Clypeatus In The Presence Of Varying Light Stimuli, Larry D. Fort, Ingrid K. Tulloch

Modern Psychological Studies

Coenobita clypeatus, or the purple pincher, is a terrestrial hermit crab and common pet in the United States. Modern behavioral studies have waned since the early 2000s; we therefore sought to characterize the behavior of a single captive C. clypeatus under varying light conditions. Frequency and duration of behaviors were studied in the presence of different light stimuli, along with weight monitoring. The crab was recorded for a set period of time every night with all conditions standardized except for light. The light stimulus alternated between no light, blue light, and red light. The case study revealed a significant increase …

Triclosan Adsorption Using Wastewater Biosolids-Derived Biochar, Yiran Tong, Brooke K. Mayer, Patrick J. Mcnamara

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Organic micropollutants are ubiquitous in the environment and stem from municipal wastewater treatment plant discharges. Adsorption can be used as a tertiary treatment to complement the conventional activated sludge process to remove micropollutants prior to discharge. This research evaluated the performance of wastewater biosolids-derived biochar as an adsorbent to remove triclosan from water. Pre-conditioning of the biochar using hydrochloric acid (HCl) was an essential step for triclosan adsorption. Using acid-conditioned biochar, maximum adsorption of 872 μg triclosan per g biochar was achieved with biochar produced at 800 °C. Biochar produced at higher pyrolysis temperatures tended to have higher triclosan sorption …

Visual Literacy For Libraries: A Practical, Standards-Based Guide, Nicole E. Brown, Kaila Bussert, Denise Hattwig, Ann Medaille

Library Scholarship

When we step back and think about how to situate visual literacy into a library context, the word critical keeps coming up: critical thinking, critical viewing, critical using, critical making, and the list goes on. To understand our approach, start with your own practice, add images, and see where it takes you.

Do you encourage students to think critically as they research?

How can you extend this experience to images?

Do you embrace critical information literacy?

Can you bring visual content to enrich that experience?

Do you teach students to critically evaluate sources?

How can you expand that practice to …

2016-2017 Faculty Handbook, St Norbert College

Faculty Handbooks

No abstract provided.

Myc-Binding Protein Orthologue Interacts With Akap240 In The Central Pair Apparatus Of The Chlamydomonas Flagella, Venkatramanan G. Rao, Ruhi B. Sarafdar, Twinkle S. Chowdhury, Priyanka Sivadas, Pinfen Yang, Prabhakar M. Dongre, Jacinta S. D'Souza

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Flagella and cilia are fine thread-like organelles protruding from cells that harbour them. The typical ‘9 + 2’ cilia confer motility on these cells. Although the mechanistic details of motility remain elusive, the dynein-driven motility is regulated by various kinases and phosphatases. A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) are scaffolds that bind to a variety of such proteins. Usually, they are known to possess a dedicated domain that in vitro interacts with the regulatory subunits (RI and RII) present in the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) holoenzyme. These subunits conventionally harbour contiguous stretches of a.a. residues that reveal the presence of the …

Venom Expelled By Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon Piscivorus) Across Different Prey Sizes, Prey Taxa, And Snake Body Temperatures, Kari Lynn Spivey

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Pit vipers possess a sophisticated venom delivery system enabling them to efficiently disable prey. To avoid retaliatory countermeasures, pit vipers typically release envenomated prey which are then trailed and consumed after succumbing to venom effects. Successful retrieval of released prey should vary with venom resistance and trail ability of prey types. The effects of prey size and prey type (mice, lizards, and frogs) on foraging behavior and venom expenditure in a cohort of juvenile cottonmouths was examined. Venom expenditure did not vary significantly among prey sizes or prey types. However, lizard prey were held significantly more often than mice. The …

Friends In Low Places: Responses Of A Benthic Stream Fish To Intra-Guild Alarm Cues, Kelsey Ann Anderson

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Many aquatic species produce chemical alarm cues that serve as a warning to nearby conspecifics. In mixed-species aggregations, individuals may also benefit by “eavesdropping” on the chemical alarm cues of other species that are in the same prey-guild. Rainbow Darters (Etheostoma caeruleum) are benthic fish that co-occur with native Ozark Minnows (Notropis nubilus), recently-introduced Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), and native Oklahoma Salamanders (Eurycea tyrnerensis), all of whom are vulnerable to the same predators. We tested the responses of darters to the damage-released alarm cues of conspecifics (positive control), minnows, and mosquitofish; alarm cues from Bumblebee Gobies (Brachygobius doriae) served as …

Natural History And Conservation Of Bolitoglossine Salamanders In Central Panama, Leslie Caren Brinkman

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

I conducted a mark-recapture study to assess the natural history of a Neotropical salamander community in three discrete 4–6 week sampling periods at Chorro Las Yayas, a protected natural area of about 8000 m2 in central Panama, during an extended drought. I captured 87 Bolitoglossa biseriata, 17 Oedipina complex, and 15 O. parvipes. Bolitoglossa biseriata, had a mean mass of 0.8 ± 0.4 g with a mean snout-vent length (SVL) of 31.45 ± 5.30 mm. Bolitoglossa biseriata was active throughout the night, and its detection rate varied with season, air temperature, and amount of precipitation in the previous 24 h. …

Behavioral Responses By Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon Piscivorus) To Chemical And Visual Predator Cues, Kristen Lee Kohlhepp

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Predator detection and assessment of predation risk have important survival consequences for animals. However, responses to predatory threats can vary with different stimuli. Chemical cues are important for predator recognition but visual cues may elicit defensive responses. Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) exhibit an array of antipredatory behaviors that have been thoroughly characterized in response to human aggressors, but their responses to cues from other predators are poorly known. I conducted three experiments to evaluate cottonmouth responses to visual and chemical stimuli from predators and non-predators. Snakes exposed to predator chemical cues exhibited elevated tongue-flick rates compared to controls but did not …

Size-Selective Predation By Ringed Crayfish (Orconectes Neglectus) On Native And Invasive Snails, Whitney Marie Kelley

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

As invasive species are introduced into new habitats, predator-prey interactions can be altered. Cipangopaludina chinensis is a large snail that has been introduced into numerous waterbodies throughout the United States, where it coexists with native snails and their crayfish consumers. This study examined the relative susceptibility of C. chinensis and two native snails (Elimia potosiensis and Physella gyrina) to predation by the ringed crayfish (Orconectes neglectus). I conducted field surveys of snails and crayfish in three Ozark streams, plus a series of four lab experiments to determine feeding rates and prey preference by O. neglectus on these three snail species. …

Trophic Interactions And The Efficacy Of Milfoil Weevils For Biocontrol Of Eurasian Watermilfoil In Wisconsin Lakes, Kristopher Andrew Maxson

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Eurasian water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L., henceforth “EWM”) is the most heavily managed nuisance submersed aquatic plant in the United States. EWM’s rapid spring growth and formation of dense surface mats inhibits native macrophyte communities, serves as poor-quality habitat for fish and macroinvertebrates, impacts recreation, and can clog water supply infrastructure. The milfoil weevil (Euhrychiopsis lecontei Dietz) has been associated with EWM declines in several states, though natural weevil densities are generally too small to effect control. Augmentative biocontrol has had varied success and fish predation may account for high weevil mortality. Weevils were augmented in 4 northern Wisconsin lakes in …

Ecological Effects Of Nutrient Enrichment On A Coastal Fringe Mangrove Forest, Brita Juliet Jessen

Open Access Dissertations

Mangrove ecosystems are highly productive coastal wetlands that connect tropical terrestrial and marine systems. Increasing human populations and land use changes are enhancing nutrient loading to tropical coastlines, potentially leading to eutrophic conditions for marine systems. The carbon (C) cycle is critical for mangrove forest structure, function, and resilience under environmental change. Increasing trends of nutrient enrichment in tropical coastal waters may have an effect on organic C mineralization by alleviating nutrient limitation of the heterotrophic microbial community, which may lead to a loss of within-stand carbon sequestration. To better understand and predict the consequences of increased nutrient input, a …

Development Of An In Vitro, Three-Dimensional Microvasculature Model, Lauren Elizabeth Marshall

All ETDs from UAB

Vascularized in vitro models of breast cancer represent an important advance in preclinical drug testing and development. 3D in vitro tissue models are more physiologically-relevant than 2D cell culture models due to the combination of human cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) in a spatial 3D microarchitecture. Embedding a vasculature within a 3D tissue volume further increases its physiological relevance and enables paracrine cross-talk with other cell types, neovascularization and angiogenesis, size-selective permeability between blood flow and extravascular ECM, delivery of therapeutics and metabolized products to solid tumors, delivery of circulating tumor cells to metastatic sites, and production of growth-promoting and …

Neurodevelopmental Alterations In A Rodent Model Of Temperamental Differences, Chelsea Mccoy Mccoy

All ETDs from UAB

Understanding biological mechanisms that shape brain development and susceptibility to emotional dysfunction is crucial for generating improved treatments for depression and anxiety disorders. To study neurodevelopmental factors that influence emotionality, we use model rats that were bred for distinct behavioral responses to novelty. Rats bred for low novelty response (LRs) exhibit a high anxiety-/depressive-like phenotype compared to high novelty responder rats (HRs), which vigorously explore novelty and exhibit high impulsivity, aggression, and risk-taking. Transcriptome profiling revealed multiple gene expression differences in the early postnatal hippocampus and amygdala and in the adult amygdala of HR/LR rats. Through gene ontology analysis, we …