Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Long-Term Exercise On The Production Of Osteoclastogenic And Antiosteoclastogenic Cytokines By Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells And On Serum Markers Of Bone Metabolism, John K. Smith, Rhesa Dykes, David S. Chi

ETSU Faculty Works

Although it is recognized that the mechanical stresses associated with physical activity augment bone mineral density and improve bone quality, our understanding of how exercise modulates bone homeostasis at the molecular level is lacking. In a before and after trial involving 43 healthy adults, we measured the effect of six months of supervised exercise training on the spontaneous and phytohemagglutinin-induced production of osteoclastogenic cytokines (interleukin-1α, tumor necrosis factor-α), antiosteoclastogenic cytokines (transforming growth factor-β1 and interleukins 4 and 10), pleiotropic cytokines with variable effects on osteoclastogenesis (interferon-γ, interleukin-6), and T cell growth and differentiation factors (interleukins 2 and 12) by peripheral …

Aortic Dissection In A Healthy Male Athlete: A Unique Case With Comprehensive Literature Review, Balraj Singh, Jennifer M. Treece, Ghulam Murtaza, Samit Bhatheja, Steven J. Lavine, Timir K. Paul

ETSU Faculty Works

A young otherwise healthy 27-year-old male who has been using anabolic steroids for a long time developed Type I aortic dissection associated with heavy weightlifting. The patient did not have a recent history of trauma to the chest, no history of hypertension, and no illicit drug use. He presented with severe chest pain radiating to back and syncopal event with exertion. Initial vitals were significant for blood pressure of 80/50 mmHg, pulse of 80 beats per minute, respirations of 24 per minute, and oxygen saturation of 92% on room air. Physical exam was significant for elevated jugular venous pressure, muffled …

Bottom-Up Ecology: An Agent-Based Model On The Interactions Between Competition And Predation, Istvan Karsai, Emil Montano, Thomas Schmickl

ETSU Faculty Works

Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. We developed an agent-based computer model of an ecosystem to predict interactions of competition and predation. In our simulations of the model, the effects of the ‘Gause law’ emerged as the results of population fluctuations and a large number of stochastic events. Small biases in life history parameters produced strong effects through the interactions of positive feedback with the population fluctuations. In a low-production environment, the smaller and faster consumer outcompetes the larger and slower one, but in a high production environment the larger and slower consumer survives. Predation …

Assessing The Evolution Of Soil Moisture And Vegetation Conditions During The 2012 United States Flash Drought, Jason A. Otkin, Martha C. Anderson, Christopher R. Hain, Mark D. Svoboda, David K. Johnson, Richard Mueller, Tsegaye Tadesse, Brian D. Wardlow, Jesslyn Brown

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

This study examines the evolution of several model-based and satellite-derived drought metrics sensitive to soil moisture and vegetation conditions during the extreme flash drought event that impacted major agricultural areas across the central U.S. during 2012. Standardized anomalies from the remote sensing based Evaporative Stress Index (ESI) and Vegetation Drought Response Index (VegDRI) and soil moisture anomalies from the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) are compared to the United States Drought Monitor (USDM), surface meteorological conditions, and crop and soil moisture data compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Overall, the results show that rapid decreases in …

The Implications Of Climate Change For Nebraska: Summary Report Of Sector-Based Roundtable Discussions, Donald A. Wilhite, Kimberly Morrow

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

This report is the result of the work of many individuals that contributed to the success of the series of eight sector-based roundtable events that were held in September and October of 2015. First and foremost, we would like to thank the organizers and the organizations they represent for their leadership in bringing together a diverse set of key stakeholders to discuss the implications of climate change on their sector. It was such a pleasure to work with such a dedicated group of individuals. Second, we would like to thank the more than 350 people who participated in these discussions …

New Tools For Assessing Drought Conditions For Rangeland Management, Cody Knutson, Brian Fuchs

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

Historical drought assessment and ongoingmonitoring is essential for understanding past drought occurrence, the relationships between past drought and its impacts, and for triggering action during current drought events. • A variety of new products have recently been developed to better monitor drought conditions and assess past occurrences at the local scale. • A growing number of resources are available to assist rangeland managers to develop a monitoring system and incorporate it into a drought management plan.

Intercomparison Of Unmanned Aircraftborne And Mobile Mesonet Atmospheric Sensors, Adam L. Houston, Roger J. Laurence Iii, Tevis W. Nichols, Sean Waugh, Brian Argrow, Conrad L. Ziegler

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Results are presented from an intercomparison of temperature, humidity, and wind velocity sensors of the Tempest unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) mobile mesonet (NSSL-MM). Contemporaneous evaluation of sensor performance was facilitated by mounting the Tempest wing with attached sensors to the NSSL-MM instrument rack such that the Tempest and NSSL-MM sensors could collect observations within a nearly identical airstream. This intercomparison was complemented by wind tunnel simulations designed to evaluate the impact of the mobile mesonet vehicle on the observed wind velocity. The intercomparison revealed strong correspondence between the temperature and relative humidity (RH) …

School Characteristics: Impact On A Student's Post-Graduation Decision, Andrew Kidd

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Graduating high school seniors have several choices to make as they begin their transition to adulthood. Some of the most popular and studied choices are to attend college, enter the work force, or join the military. Past research is focused on the effects of demographic, socioeconomic status, or gender characteristics, but little is known about the effect that specific school characteristics have on a student’s post-graduation choice.

The purpose of this analysis is to answer the question “do school characteristics affect a high school student’s post-graduation choice?” In this analysis I use Kentucky school level data and a simple regression …

Assessing Public Health Burden Associated With Exposure To Ambient Black Carbon In The United States, Ying Li, Daven K. Henze, Darby Jack, Barron H. Henderson, Patrick L. Kinney

ETSU Faculty Works

Black carbon (BC) is a significant component of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) air pollution, which has been linked to a series of adverse health effects, in particular premature mortality. Recent scientific research indicates that BC also plays an important role in climate change. Therefore, controlling black carbon emissions provides an opportunity for a double dividend. This study quantifies the national burden of mortality and morbidity attributable to exposure to ambient BC in the United States (US). We use GEOS–Chem, a global 3-D model of atmospheric composition to estimate the 2010 annual average BC levels at 0.5 x 0.667° …

No Child Left Behind Leaves Behind English Language Learners, Daniela A. Canas Baena

Scripps Senior Theses

Goals 2000 and No Child Left behind have developed a new timeline for language acquisition, have promoted the practice of teaching to the test rather than the understanding of content, and High School Exit Exams have led to the widening of the achievement gap between ELL students and their Non-ELL counterparts. In additions, the policies’ narrow definition of success leads to federal sanctions that penalize schools with ELL student populations further contributing to the widening of the gap.

William Morris And Diego Rivera: The Pursuit Of Art For The People, Heidi S. Shugg

Master of Liberal Studies Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to draw parallels between the art and philosophy of William Morris (1834-1896) and Diego Rivera (1886-1957). Morris drew on his interest in gothic art and architecture, his love of Romantic literature, and his commitment to social reform, to articulate the aesthetic and social vision of the Arts and Crafts Movement in England. Examples of Morris’s writings and his handicraft in the form of wallpapers, books, furniture, and the Red House will be examined. Diego Rivera was a Mexican painter and socialist activist perhaps best known for his murals depicting the working class. Several of …

Hydrodynamic Variability In A Microtidal Coastal Bay Geographically Susceptible To North East Trade Winds, Israel Medina-Gómez, Cecilia Enríquez, Björn Kjerfve, Ismael Mariño, Jorge Herrera-Silveira

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The ecological integrity and overall health conditions of natural coastal systems are largely based upon the balance among physical processes. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of tides and winds on the water level variability, circulation patterns, and turnover time in Bahia de la Ascension (BA), a shallow, tropical coastal bay in the Mexican Caribbean prone to the influence of Trade winds due to its geographical location. The analysis of the hydrodynamics of BA using a 2D numerical model indicates that the tidal flow in the inlets and central basin of the bay vary by tidal …

Waste Reduction At Western Kentucky University, Elizabeth Mcgrew

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Handout created to show the single stream recycling trend at Western Kentucky University between 2012 and 2015.

W429.1-011k-01 - Accreditation And Association Membership Records: National Council For Accreditation For Teacher Education (Ncate): Correspondence And Memoranda, Accreditation And Association Membership

University Archives Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of The Duality Between Art And Math, Hope Hickman

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The following paper is an investigation of the relationship that exists between math and art. It argues the importance of integration between the two disciplines by shedding light on unrecognized characteristics within both. The paper provides examples of mathematical art and beautiful proofs which help unearth the potential of mixing math and art at an academic level.

Use Of Bridging Strategy Between The Ensemble Kalman Filter And Particle Filter For The Measurements With Various Quasi-Gaussian Noise, Sumathi Prabhakaran Jeyakumari

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Filtering and estimation are two important tools of engineering. Whenever the state of the system needs to be estimated from the noisy sensor measurements, some kind of state estimator is used. If the dynamics of the system and observation model are linear under Gaussian conditions, the root mean squared error can be computed using the Kalman Filter. But practically, noise frequently enters the system as not strictly Gaussian. Therefore, the Kalman Filter does not necessarily provide the better estimate. Hence the estimation of the nonlinear system under non-Gaussian or quasi-Gaussian noise is of an acute interest. There are many versions …

Two Combinatorial Proofs Of Identities Involving Sums Of Powers Of Binomial Coefficients, John Engbers, Christopher Stocker

Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Learning About Modeling In Teacher Preparation Programs, Hyunyi Jung, Eryn Stehr, Jia He, Sharon L. Senk

Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

This study explores opportunities that secondary mathematics teacher preparation programs provide to learn about modeling in algebra. Forty-eight course instructors and ten focus groups at five universities were interviewed to answer questions related to modeling. With the analysis of the interview transcripts and related course materials, we found few opportunities for PSTs to engage with the full modeling cycle. Examples of opportunities to learn about algebraic modeling and the participants’ perspectives on the opportunities can contribute to the study of modeling and algebra in teacher education.

Sustaining Social Security In An Era Of Population Aging, John A. Turner

Upjohn Press

John A. Turner offers a set of reforms for restoring solvency to Social Security that are deemed to have merit in the current political climate. These reforms relate to several vexing issues including increased life expectancy, the growing relationship between income and life expectancy, the declines in the physical demands of jobs, growing income inequality, and the pattern of poverty increasing at older ages.

3d Printing Applications Within Spectrophotometry, Eric J. Stanczyk

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy is a tool used throughout the field of chemistry and in chemical labs across the world. Spectrophotometers are a core technology in analytical chemistry, and are used to obtain accurate data on solution concentration. Unfortunately spectrophotometers can be difficult to obtain due to their high cost and low availability outside of a laboratory; this is especially true in either high school or lower grades where buying a spectrophotometer could be considered unreasonable due to price. There are ways to obtain cheaper spectrophotometers, but they can have a high initial cost or low overall quality. This paper will discuss …

Rubber Roads For The Rubber City: Testing The Suitability Of Rubberized Asphalt For Roads In Northeast Ohio, Jessica M. Fraser

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This research paper explores the benefits of using rubberized asphalt concrete (RAC) versus normal asphalt concrete (NAC) and why it is environmentally important. New road construction and repair of roadways due to potholes are always occurring in Northeast Ohio. Recently, the city of Akron’s transportation budget has increased, which includes projects such as reconstructing asphalt and resurfacing pavements throughout the city of Akron. Using rubberized asphalt may improve the quality of our roads and reduce roadway degradation which will likely save cities money.

Using rubberized asphalt recycles old tires, which do not decompose, and creates a positive use for them …

Controls On Joint Formation During Glacial Unloading Of The Sharon Sandstone At Gorge Metropark, Akron, Ohio, Abigail N. Ritter

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The transition between significantly different materials is known to inhibit crack propagation, i.e. automobile glass, machinable ceramics and joints in different lithologies. In order to determine if a significant material transition, or a surface, such as a bedding plane, has a greater impact on inhibiting joint formation, I investigated discontinuous joints that formed during glacial unloading of the Sharon Sandstone, which is exposed at Gorge Metropark in Akron, Ohio. The Sharon Sandstone is a medium grained quartz arenite of Early Pennsylvanian age with significant cross-bedding, and contains many continuous (i.e. through-going), and discontinuous, joints in similar orientations. Stress fields created …

Mutagenesis-Based Active-Site Characterization Of The Diabetes Drug Target Mitoneet, Lisa Mickley

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project investigates the cluster stability of an outer mitochondrial membrane protein mitoNEET under mutational stress and drug binding analysis. MitoNEET is a part of a class of proteins that coordinate an Fe-S molecule into its tertiary structure. This protein is believed to facilitate the oxidative capacity of the electron transport chain by reversible loss of its coordinated Fe-S molecule. The research of this paper uses site directed protein mutagenesis to selectively alter the three cysteine, one histidine cluster coordination into more common coordination patterns such as two cysteine, two histidine or four cysteine. The ultimate goal is to optimize …

Effects Of Epichloë Coenophiala−Tall Fescue Symbiosis On Plant-Microbe-Soil Interactions In A Temperate Pasture, Lindsey C. Slaughter

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Plants interact in myriad ways with microorganisms to influence ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling, which can regulate ecosystem response to global change. One important plant-microbe symbiosis occurs between cool-season grasses and asexual fungal Epichloë endophytes, such as tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) and Epichloë coenophiala. Because the common toxic strain of the endophyte (CTE) harms grazing livestock, non-livestock toxic endophyte (NTE) strains have been developed and are increasingly deployed in pastures. Little is known about how these symbioses impact other plant-microbe interactions and microbe-mediated soil processes in grassland ecosystems. I conducted three studies to determine how E. …

A Flexible Pet-Based Wearable Sensor For Arterial Pulse Waveform Measurement, Dan Wang, Dean Krusienski, Zhili Hao

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

In light of the need of health monitoring, the paper presents a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-based wearable sensor for arterial pulse waveform measurement. The sensor encompasses a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microstructure embedded with an electrolyte-enabled 5×1 transducer array, which spans 6mm and has a spatial resolution of 1.5mm. A pulse signal exerts a deflection on the microstructure and is recorded as a resistance change by a transducer at the site of the pulse. An untrained individual can easily align the sensor on a targeted artery with a negligible margin and then acquire the arterial pulse waveform continuously and non-invasively. This sensor …

A Thermo-Activated Wall For Load Reduction And Supplementary Cooling With Free To Low-Cost Thermal Water, Yuebin Yu, Fuxin Niu, Heinz-Axel Guo, Denchai Woradechjumroen

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

A building envelope serves as a thermal barrier and plays an important role in determining the amount of energy used to achieve a comfortable indoor environment. Conventionally, it is constructed and treated as a passive component in a building thermal energy system. In this article, a novel, mini-tube capillary-network embedded and thermal-water activated building envelope is proposed to turn the passive component into active, therefore broaden the direct utilization of low-grade thermal energy in buildings. With this proposed approach, low-grade thermal water at a medium temperature close to the ambient environment can be potentially utilized to either counterbalance the thermal …

Selective Induced Altered Coccidians To Immunize And Prevent Enteritis, Helieh S. Oz

Physiology Faculty Publications

Microbiomic flora in digestive tract is pivotal to the state of our health and disease. Antibiotics affect GI, control composition of microbiome, and shift equilibrium from health into disease status. Coccidiosis causes gastrointestinal inflammation. Antibiotic additives contaminate animal products and enter food chain, consumed by humans with possible allergic, antibiotic resistance and enigmatic side effects. Purposed study induced nonpathogenic, immunogenic organisms to protect against disease and abolish antibiotics’ use in food animals and side effects in man. Diverse species of Coccidia were used as model. Immature organisms were treated with serial purification procedure prior to developmental stages to obtain altered …

Stem Learning In Your Own Backyard, Brooke A. Whitworth, Stephanie Beyea, Melora Purell

Publications

No abstract provided.

A Simple Method To Reduce Interpretation Error Of Ages Estimated From Otoliths, Bradley J. Smith, Daniel J. Dembkowski, Daniel A. James, Melissa R. Wuellner

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

We designed and tested a novel otolith viewing apparatus termed the otolith illumination device (OID) to ascertain if its use would result in a reduction of interpretation error as determined by increased precision of age estimates obtained from otoliths of walleye Sander vitreus and smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu. Clarity of annuli on otolith sections viewed with the OID was generally greater than clarity of annuli on sections viewed with an alternative method. OID-based age estimates were equally as, and in some instance more precise than ages estimated using the alternative method. Additionally, no systematic differences in coefficients of variation …

A Comparison Of Course Quality Surveiy Results From Students On Gender Balanced And Gender Imbalanced Field Courses At Nols, Alexandra M. Alway

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

There is an extensive database of literature about diversity in outdoor Environmental Education and any of the studies focus on NOLS specifically. Several studies have investigated the impact of course composition in terms of gender as well as socioeconomic diversity; however, the research studies about course composition and gender were limited to differences between single gender and coed groups. The role of gender ratios on coed groups has not been widely researched. This study was designed to fill this gap in the research literature. Using course quality survey data, results showed that the student responses were significantly different between gender …