Digital Commons Network^™

Agencies And Science-Experiment Risk, Eric E. Johnson

Faculty Articles

There is a curious absence of legal constraints on U.S. govern­ment agencies undertaking potentially risky scientific research. Some of these activities may present a risk of killing millions or even destroying the planet. Current law leaves it to agencies to decide for themselves whether their activities fall within the bounds of acceptable risk. This Article explores to what extent and under what circumstances the law ought to allow private actions against such non­ regulatory agency endeavors. Engaging with this issue is not only interesting in its own right, it allows us to test fundamental concepts of agency competence and the …

Bryant University Undergraduate Course Catalog 2016-2017

Bryant University Undergraduate Course Catalog

No abstract provided.

Honorslink, Issue 2016.1, University Of Dayton. Honors Program

HonorsLINK Newsletter

News & Notes from the University of Dayton Honors Program Spring 2016. Featured stories include national fellowship awardees, student achievements and alumni class notes.

Social Madness In Beat Generation Writing, Megan Reynolds

The Expositor: A Journal of Undergraduate Research in the Humanities

No abstract provided.

Mobilizing Practitioner Action Research To Foster Critical Pedagogy In A Large Online Undergrad University Course, Amir Kalan, Michelle Troberg

English Faculty Publications

This article reports aspects of a practitioner action research project conducted by the teachers of a large online English grammar course. The project was mobilized to create possibilities for developing online critical pedagogy. The online educators involved in this inquiry took measures to modify the syllabus they were working with in response to moments of dissonance while they were trying to comprehend students’ online identities as valuable resources to enrich the process of teaching and learning. The preliminary outcomes of the project, which is still in progress, suggest that critical pedagogy would be more accurately conceptualized by complexifying the traditional …

The Biosemiotics Of Aldo Leopold, Rebecca Potter

English Faculty Publications

Responding to Jean-Claude Gens’ article “Uexküll’s Kompositionslehre and Leopold’s ‘land ethic’ in dialogue,” which appeared in Sign Systems Studies in 2013, this article further develops a direct connection between Aldo Leopold’s approach to ecology and Jakob von Uexküll’s umwelt theory. The connection between Uexküll and Leopold is especially evident in Leopold’s descriptions of animal behaviour that he presents in the first part of his seminal work, A Sand County Almanac. In this work specifically, Leopold illustrates the biosemiotic processes described by Uexküll, and does so with a purpose: to reshape our understanding of the biotic community as a place …

Analyzing Factors That Influence Success And Failure Of Conservation Practice: A Multi-Scale Study, Jessica Gruber

USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)

Many conservation efforts around the world have been unsuccessful in attempting to rectify the loss of biodiversity, habitat and overall destruction of the natural environment. Criteria for conservation success have primarily been measured in terms of biological factors such as the amount of biodiversity, wildlife or area conserved. Conservation efforts that include local participation have been correlated with higher degrees of conservation success, which are not shown through traditional conservation measurements. Therefore, there is a need to develop a rubric with a ranking and classification system that will incorporate a holistic approach including interdisciplinary environmental, institutional, socio-economic, conflict and traditional …

Anthropology, 2016-2017, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg

Academic Learning Compacts

The Academic Learning Compact for 2016-2017 for Anthropology.

Thin Insb Layers With Metallic Gratings: A Novel Platform For Spectrally-Selective Thz Plasmonic Sensing, Shuai Lin, Khagendra Bhattarai, Jiangfeng Zhou, Diyar Talbayev

Physics Faculty Publications

We present a computational study of terahertz optical properties of a grating-coupled plasmonic structure based on micrometer-thin InSb layers. We find two strong absorption resonances that we interpret as standing surface plasmon modes and investigate their dispersion relations, dependence on InSb thickness, and the spatial distribution of the electric field. The observed surface plasmon modes are well described by a simple theory of the air/InSb/air tri-layer. The plasmonic response of the grating/InSb structure is highly sensitive to the dielectric environment and the presence of an analyte (e.g., lactose) at the InSb interface, which is promising for terahertz plasmonic sensor applications. …

The Role Of Plk1 In Hepatitis B Virus (Hbv) Infection Of The Liver, Ahmed Mohamed Abdel-B Diab

Open Access Dissertations

With 250 million reported chronic infections globally, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a major human health issue, linked to increased risk for development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Current treatments to control chronic HBV infection remain ineffective. New and effective therapies that target the persisting viral molecules are needed in order to clear infection. My research aims to understand the role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in inducing HCC and identify novel host molecules that are targeted by HBV. Understanding how HBV modifies and manipulates host cellular pathways is critical for the development of mechanism based therapeutics. Here, I provide a …

The Role Of Individual Variation In Auditory And Visual Processing: Implications For Mate Choice, Kelly Ronald

Open Access Dissertations

Intersexual interactions often include a dynamic exchange of courtship signals in different sensory modalities. My work focuses on understanding the factors that contribute to variation in male sexual signals and variation in female sensory perception and behavioral responses to these signals. I addressed several specific research questions using the brown headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) as a model species: (i) how does male signaling behavior differ with the sex of the receiver? (ii) how do components within a signal combine to generate a response by the female, (iii) how is female sensory capacity in one modality related to her sensory capacity …

The Statistics And Mathematics Of High Dimension Low Sample Size Asymptotics, Dan Shen, Haipeng Shen, Hongtu Zhu, J S Marron

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

The aim of this paper is to establish several deep theoretical properties of principal component analysis for multiple-component spike covariance models. Our new results reveal an asymptotic conical structure in critical sample eigendirections under the spike models with distinguishable (or indistinguishable) eigenvalues, when the sample size and/or the number of variables (or dimension) tend to infinity. The consistency of the sample eigenvectors relative to their population counterparts is determined by the ratio between the dimension and the product of the sample size with the spike size. When this ratio converges to a nonzero constant, the sample eigenvector converges to a …

Annual Report, Research & Instruction Department, 2015-2016, Tina M. Neville, Kaya Van Beynen

Library Department and Committee Reports

Annual report for Access Services department at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg's Nelson Poynter Memorial Library for the period July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.

Health Science, 2016-2017, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg

Academic Learning Compacts

The Academic Learning Compact for 2016-2017 for the Bachelor's of Science in Health Science.

Bortezomib-Induced Complete Heart Block And Myocardial Scar: The Potential Role Of Cardiac Biomarkers In Monitoring Cardiotoxicity, Sachin Diwadkar, Aarti A. Patel, Michael G. Fradley

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor used to treat multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. Traditionally, bortezomib was thought to have little cardiovascular toxicity; however, there is increasing evidence that bortezomib can lead to cardiac complications including left ventricular dysfunction and atrioventricular block. We present the case of a 66-year-old man with multiple myeloma and persistent asymptomatic elevations of cardiac biomarkers who developed complete heart block and evidence of myocardial scar after his eighth cycle of bortezomib, requiring permanent pacemaker placement. In addition to discussing the cardiovascular complications of bortezomib therapy, we propose a potential role for biomarkers in the prediction …

Socs-1 Rescues Il-1Β-Mediated Suppression Of Epithelial Sodium Channel In Mouse Lung Epithelial Cells Via Ask-1, Lakshmi Galam, Ramani Soundararajan, Mason Breitzig, Ashna Rajan, Rajashekar Reddy Yeruva, Alexander Czachor, Francine Harris, Richard F. Lockey, Narasaiah Kolliputi

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by alveolar damage, increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and impaired alveolar fluid clearance. Recently, we showed that the deletion of Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) protects against hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury (HALI) by suppressing IL-1β and TNF-α. Previously, our data revealed that the suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1) overexpression restores alveolar fluid clearance in HALI by inhibiting ASK-1 and suppressing IL-1β levels. Furthermore, IL-1β is known to inhibit the expression of epithelial sodium channel α-subunit (ENaC) via a p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective: To determine whether SOCS-1 overexpression in MLE-12 cells would protect …

A Simple Allergist-Led Intervention Improves Resident Training In Anaphylaxis, Artemio M. Jongco, Sheila Bina, Robert J. Sporter, Marie A. Cavuoto Petrizzo, Blanka Kaplan, Myriam Kline, Susan J. Schuval

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Physicians underrecognize and undertreat anaphylaxis. Effective interventions are needed to improve physician knowledge and competency regarding evidence-based anaphylaxis diagnosis and management (ADAM). We designed and evaluated an educational program to improve ADAM in pediatrics, internal medicine, and emergency medicine residents from two academic medical centers. Anonymous questionnaires queried participants’ demographics, prior ADAM clinical experience, competency, and comfort. A pretest assessing baseline knowledge preceded a 45-minute allergist-led evidence-based presentation, including practice with epinephrine autoinjectors, immediately followed by a posttest. A follow-up test assessed long-term knowledge retention twelve weeks later. 159 residents participated in the pretest, 152 participated in the posttest, and …

Environment And Host Species Shape The Skin Microbiome Of Captive Neotropical Bats, Virginie Lemieux-Labonté, Nicolas Tromas, B. Jesse Shapiro

KIP Articles

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Wind Energy Generation And White-Nose Syndrome On The Viability Of The Indiana Bat, Richard A. Erickson, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Jay E. Diffendorfer

KIP Articles

Wind energy generation holds the potential to adversely affect wildlife populations. Species-wide effects are difficult to study and few, if any, studies examine effects of wind energy generation on any species across its entire range. One species that may be affected by wind energy generation is the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), which is found in the eastern and midwestern United States. In addition to mortality from wind energy generation, the species also faces range-wide threats from the emerging infectious fungal disease, white-nose syndrome (WNS). White-nose syndrome, caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans, disturbs hibernating bats leading to high levels of mortality. …

Cave Protection As A Karst Conservation Tool In The Environmentally Sensitive Lagoa Santa Karst, Southeastern Brazil, Augusto S. Auler

KIP Articles

Karst areas in densely populated and industrialized areas in Brazil are under severe environmental pressure due to urbanization, quarrying, groundwater pollution, groundwater overpumping and cave vandalism. Although karst terrains receive no specific protection according to Brazilian environmental law, caves, regardless of rock type, are classified as belonging to the society, and must be studied in detail to have their significance (and related level of protection) determined. Most caves (>90 %) are of either maximum or high significance, which results in protection of not only the cave but also of an associated buffer zone. Given the very conservative definition of …

Use Of Multiple Sequencing Technologies To Produce A High-Quality Genome Of The Fungus Pseudogymnoascus Destructans, The Causative Agent Of Bat White-Nose Syndrome, Kevin P. Drees, Jonathan M. Palmer, Robert Sebra

KIP Articles

White-nose syndrome has recently emerged as one of the most devastating wildlife diseases recorded, causing widespread mortality in numerous bat species throughout eastern North America. Here, we present an improved reference genome of the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans for use in comparative genomic studies.

Using A Novel Partitivirus In Pseudogymnoascus Destructans To Understand The Epidemiology Of White-Nose Syndrome, Vaskar Thapa, Gregory G. Turner, Susan Hafenstein

KIP Articles

White-nose syndrome is one of the most lethal wildlife diseases, killing over 5 million North American bats since it was first reported in 2006. The causal agent of the disease is a psychrophilic filamentous fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. The fungus is widely distributed in North America and Europe and has recently been found in some parts of Asia, but interestingly, no mass mortality is observed in European or Asian bats. Here we report a novel double-stranded RNA virus found in North American isolates of the fungus and show that the virus can be used as a tool to study the epidemiology …

Pushing And Pulling Emerging Adults Through College: College Generational Status And The Influence Of Parents And Others In The First Year, Laura Nichols, Ángel Islas

Sociology

Interview, survey, and academic transcript data with a diverse sample of first-generation college (FGC) and continuing generation college (CGC) premedical intended emerging adults are analyzed to study academic outcomes and any differences in the availability and use of social capital the first year of college. CGC students know many people with college degrees including those in careers they aspire to obtain, while FGC students do not. All students identify parents as very important forms of social capital who contribute to their success in college, but the types of support differs by educational background. Students whose parents have at least a …

2016 Annual Report, Children's Advocacy Institute, University Of San Diego School Of Law

CAI Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

Ua64/2 The Challenge: Magazine For The Center For Gifted Studies (No. 38, Winter 2016), Center For Gifted Studies, Tracy Inman Editor

Gifted Studies Publications

No abstract provided.

The Clean Water Rule- A Clarification Of The Definition Of 'Waters Of The United States' Or Agency Overreach, April Collaku

Fordham Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Climate Variations On Soybean Yield In Eastern Arkansas: 1960-2014, J. W. Magugu, S. Feng, Q. Huang, K. Luthra

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Climate is the major factor affecting crop production; therefore, various agro-meteorological indicators have been frequently used to evaluate the impact of climate on crop production. In this study, we examined the temporal variations of agrometeorological indicators (growing degree days, total precipitation, dry spells and drought indices) during 1960-2014 and their impact on soybean yields in East Arkansas. Results show an increasing trend in growing degree days (GDDs) and dry spells, though the total precipitation during the soybean growing season remained nearly unchanged during the study period. Generally, GDDs and dry spells show a strong correlation with yields. We also evaluated …

Infection With The Sand Flea Tunga Penetrans (Tungiasis) In A Traveller Returning From Cameroon, Africa, D. J. Richardson, A. M. Mangili

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Tungiasis refers to human infection with adult fleas, Tunga penetrans. Although common throughout the tropics, tungiasis is rarely encountered by physicians in the United States such that it may be improperly diagnosed and inappropriately treated. We provide a case report of tungiasis in a traveler from Cameroon and a brief review of reported cases in the United States and Canada.

Geographic Range Of The Western Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys Megalotis) In Arkansas, G. R. Graves

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Characterizing Nanoparticle Size By Dynamic Light Scattering, M. Zaman, S. Ang, S. Singh

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) Technique was used to determine the size, shape and diffusion coefficient of rod-like nanoparticles. The intensity auto-correlation functions of light scattered by particles in a solution were measured and analyzed to obtain the relaxation rates for decay of intensity correlations. These decay rates are related to the diffusion coefficients pertaining to the motion of the particle. In the case of nanorods, there are two types of motion - translational and rotational. By disentangling the relaxation rates, corresponding to these two types of motion, the shape and size of nanoparticles were characterized. These experiments, though limited …