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Connections, 12/2016, College Of Health And Human Services

College of Health and Human Services Newsletter

• CHHS faculty and staff recognized at State of the College
• Learn about this year's recipients. PA student awarded scholarship
• OT instructor receives EUP Community Engagement Award
• Students raise awareness about sexual and domestic assault
• AHEC hosts HOSA MED-TALK 2016

Three-Dimensional Analysis Of The Development Of Upper Arm Musculoskeletal Stress Markers In Late Adolescents And Young Adults Of Archaic And Mississippian Populations Of Tennessee, Heather Marie Guzik

Master's Theses

This study compares three methods for the evaluation of morphology of musculoskeletal attachment sites. Two methods were macroscopic and the third was microscopic, utilizing three-dimensional laser scanning and fractal analysis The morphology of 19 upper limb attachment sites was observed in 33 males aged 15 and 30+ years, dating to the Archaic and Mississippian periods from the southeastern U.S. It was hypothesized that 1) the microscopic method would identify subtler differences than the macroscopic methods; 2) enthesis development would be greater in the Mississippian population due to the increased subsistence workload, even among younger individuals; and 3) late adolescents would …

Review: Dolan, Josephine And Estella Tincknell, Eds. Aging Femininities: Troubling Representations., Carol Mukhopadhyay

Faculty Publications, Anthropology

A review of Dolan, Josephine and Estella Tincknell, eds. Aging Femininities: Troubling Representations. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 2012. Hardback. ISBN-13: 978-1-4438-3883-2 , ISBN-10: 1-4438-3883-7 , Price: £39.99

Punctuated Evolution Within A Eurythermic Genus (Mesenchytraeus) Of Segmented Worms: Genetic Modification Of The Glacier Ice Worm F1f0 Atp Synthase, Shirley A. Lang

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Segmented worms (Annelida) are among the most successful animal inhabitants of extreme environments worldwide. An unusual group of Mesenchytraeus worms endemic to the Pacific Northwest of North America occupy geographically proximal ecozones ranging from low elevation temperate rainforests to high altitude glaciers. Along this altitudinal transect, Mesenchytraeus representatives from disparate habitat types were collected and subjected to deep mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenetic analyses. Evidence presented here employing modern bioinformatic analyses (i.e., maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, multi-species coalescent) supports a Mesenchytraeus “explosion” in the upper Miocene (5-10 million years ago) that gave rise to ice, snow and terrestrial worms, derived from …

Graduate Studies Newsletter, Graduate Studies Office

Newsletters

THIS ISSUE

Welcome P.1

Spotlight on Dr. Chris Aberson P .2

Digital Commons @ HSU P.3

Upcoming Events & Resources P.4

Student Success Stories P.5,6

The Setonian, December 1, 2016, Seton Hall University

2016

No abstract provided.

Theological Anthropology In The Theology Of Marriage And Family, Joseph S. Flipper

Journal of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium

The Catholic Church is faced with the challenge of theologically interpreting families that have experienced divorce, remarriage, and children outside of wedlock. The anthropology of conjugal self-gift, though valuable as an analogy to the Trinitarian communion, makes the nuclear family into an ideal. Since fewer than half of children in the U.S. live in the “traditional family,” it remains a problematic ideal. I suggest that familial and marital situations outside of the norm—often seen as problems illustrative of the breakdown of marriage in contemporary society—may be regarded in another light. A more adequate anthropology must consider how diverse marital and …

The Elasmobranch-Microbe Relationship: Trimethylamine N-Oxide Synthesis, Urea Hydrolysis, And Microbe-Osmolyte Interactions In The Atlantic Stingray, Dasyatis Sabina, Kaitlin Kelly Doucette

Master's Theses

The elasmobranch osmoregulatory strategy is predicated on the accumulation of nitrogenous compounds, primarily urea and trimethylamine n¬-oxide (TMAO). Despite the abundance of these plasma osmolytes, it is notable that elasmobranchs appear to lack urease and TMA oxidase (Tmase), enzymes that scavenge urea-nitrogen and synthesize TMAO, respectively. However, urease and Tmase are found in many species of bacteria. Therefore, I hypothesized that intestinal bacteria are responsible for urease and Tmase activity in elasmobranchs. Absent dietary nitrogen sources, I evaluated the effects of reduced intestinal microbiota on osmoregulation in Atlantic stingray (Dasyatis sabina) in vivo. D. sabina were given …

The History Of Algorithmic Complexity, Audrey A. Nasar

Publications and Research

This paper provides a historical account of the development of algorithmic complexity in a form that is suitable to instructors of mathematics at the high school or undergraduate level. The study of algorithmic complexity, despite being deeply rooted in mathematics, is usually restricted to the computer science curriculum. By providing a historical account of algorithmic complexity through a mathematical lens, this paper aims to equip mathematics educators with the necessary background and framework for incorporating the analysis of algorithmic complexity into mathematics courses as early on as algebra or pre-calculus.

Progression Magazine, 2016 Winter, Coastal Carolina University

Progression Magazine

Magazine of the College of Science at Coastal Carolina University.

The R Journal (December 2016) 8(2): Complete Issue, The R Foundation

The R Journal

Editorial, Michael Lawrence

Contributed Research Articles

multipleNCC: Inverse Probability Weighting of Nested Case-Control Data, Nathalie C. Støer and Sven Ove Samuelsen

QPot: An R Package for Stochastic Differential Equation Quasi-Potential Analysis, Christopher M. Moore, Christopher R. Stieha, Ben C. Nolting, Maria K. Cameron, and Karen C. Abbott

Design of the TRONCO BioConductor Package for TRanslational ONCOlogy, Marco Antoniotti, Giulio Caravagna, Luca De Sano, Alex Graudenzi, Giancarlo Mauri, Bud Mishra, and Daniele Ramazzotti

diverse: An R Package to Analyze Diversity in Complex Systems, Miguel R. Guevara, Dominik Hartmann, and Marcelo Mendoza

Simulating Correlated Binary and Multinomial Responses under Marginal Model Specification: …

Synthesis And Performance Of Novel Supramolecular Tools For Single-Particle Cryogenic Electron Microscopy And Drug And Gene Delivery, Kyle J. Wright

Open Access Dissertations

High-resolution biomacromolecular structure elucidation is fundamentally important to structure-based drug design and basic research into complex biochemical processes. Cryo-EM is an emerging alternative to XRD and NMR that is complementary in many ways relative to XRD and NMR. Materials approaches to cryo-EM are anticipated to greatly facilitate the cryo-EM process, allowing progress toward a more high-throughput application of cryo-EM to address challenges in structural biology. ^ Various affinity-based approaches inspired by approaches previously introduced for 2D crystallization were developed for facilitation of cryo-EM. A library of affinity lipopolymer constructs were synthesized consisting of lipopolymers of various PEG molecular weights conjugated …

Complex Glycan Utilization Preferences Of Human Gut Bacteria, Yunus Emre Tuncil

Open Access Dissertations

Complex glycans, making up dietary fiber, have gained significance in recent years as they are the main energy source for the colonic microbiota which are physiologically important for the host health. Understanding glycan utilization strategies of the members of this community is essential to maximize beneficial health outcomes obtained from them. In order to investigate how the members of our gut microbiota utilize glycans and activate their respective polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs), we performed a series of time-course assays in which two model organisms, Bacteroides thetaiotamicron (Bt) and B. ovatus (Bo), were individually grown in a medium containing carbohydrates utilized …

Nucelotide Substitution Rates In Hantavirus Cd8+ T-Cell Epitopes, Brian Gerald Sikes

Graduate Theses

Hantaviruses pathogenic to humans are exclusive to rodents. Typically each hantavirus is associated with only one host species. Due to their close association, the geographical distributions are the same. Old World species, such as Hantaan hantavirus and Puumala hantavirus, induce symptoms described as the Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS). The New World hantaviruses, such as Andes hantavirus and Sin Nombre hantavirus, share a suite of symptoms that have been described as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). In this study, 16 well-characterized cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) epitopes of the nucleocapsid (N) protein were identified from the literature.

These 16 …

Establishing A Novel Culture System Using 3d Printing To Induce Osteogenesis In Mc3t3-E! Osteoblasts, Lisa Carder

Graduate Theses

Whole organ tissue engineering represents a potential solution to the problem of organ shortage and host rejection; however, the process of producing a three-dimensional, functional organ is extremely complex. Research has used three-dimensional printing in order to combat the cost and time constraints that come with whole organ studies. This project created 3D scaffolds based on the trabecular portion of a sheep talus. Using these raw materials, pre-osteoblasts were injected onto the scaffold to test their proliferation within the 3D space. The purpose of this study was to create a three dimensional environment that was able to be coated and …

People Sitting In The Dark: Stories, Trent Chabot

Graduate Theses

In my story collection, People Sitting in the Dark: Stories, I explore the ever troubling theme of how to cope with loss, and occasionally, how to cope with not losing when one is so accustomed to it. Though some of my stories are connected with reappearing characters, they are not all written in such a way. Characters in the background of one story may be given the narration of one later in the story, thus changing how the reader views the character through difference perspectives. I wanted to explore how point of view can drastically change the sympathy and empathy …

Ecology Of Sceloporus Consobrinus Populations In Two Thermally Different Habitats, Alyssa N. Bangs

Theses and Dissertations from 2016

Life history traits in ectotherms are tied to environmental temperature, and many species exhibit morphological and behavioral differences in thermally different habitats. Although these differences are generally attributed to differences in thermal regimes between habitats, most prior research on this topic has been performed across latitudinal or altitudinal gradients. Consequently, I wanted to determine if differences in morphology and behavior are also present among populations of Sceloporus consobrinus that inhabit thermally different habitats at the same latitude and elevation. In this study, I chose sites that fit one of two habitat types: warmer open rocky habitat and cooler, more vegetated …

Effects Of Non-Consumptive Recreation And Environmental Factors On Arkansas State Park Biodiversity, Bennett P. Grooms

Theses and Dissertations from 2016

State parks serve a dual conservation role by offering protected habitat to many species while also promoting recreational use of natural resources. Non-consumptive recreation activities, however, have long-term negative effects on the behavior, physiology, and reproductive success of state park biotic communities. The purpose of my research was to investigate the possible synergistic effects of non-consumptive trail use, environmental factors, and trail design factors on avian, mesocarnivore, and woody vegetation communities in Arkansas state parks. During 18 May – 7 August 2015, I conducted avian point counts, trail user counts, set camera traps, and sampled vegetation at 227 points on …

Effective Tandem Hoop Net Sampling Effort For Evaluation Of Channel Catfish Populations In Reservoirs, Philip B. Malone

Theses and Dissertations from 2016

Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus have an important role in Arkansas’s commercial and recreational fisheries. This importance promoted sampling strategy investigations for obtaining information that assist with future management decisions. My study focused on determining effective sampling effort and sample size requirements needed for detecting changes in relative abundance within Channel Catfish populations, and explored relationships between catch per unit effort (CPUE) and reservoir habitat characteristics. My study was conducted during the spring of 2014 in six reservoirs (Lake Nimrod, Lake Overcup, Lake Catherine, De Queen Lake, Lake Erling, and Lake Columbia). General stock assessments consisting of length frequency distributions, growth …

Examining Differences Between Mandarin Chinese And English Speakers In Gender Stereotype Regarding Daily Life Activities, Jingyu Peng

Theses and Dissertations from 2016

The terms gender and sex in both western and Chinese culture, and professional area, seems complex and sometimes confusing. Previous studies have examined gender expectation within (Kroska, 2003) and across (Baxter, 1997; Zhou, Dawson, Herr, & Stukas, 2004) cultures, and many have focused on traits of different genders, especially Bem’s (1974) measurement which has been widely discussed. In order to explore the difference between Mandarin Chinese and English speakers on gender stereotype, an online survey with English and simplified Chinese language version was conducted. Twenty-one daily life activities were examined in this survey to measure gender stereotype. Data was mainly …

Developing Best Management Practices For Interior Least Tern Habitat Restoration On The Mcclellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, John Gordon T. Ross

Theses and Dissertations from 2016

The interior least tern (Sternula antillarum athalassos) is an endangered shorebird that nests on sandbars in river systems throughout the central United States, and which has lost habitat due to damming and channelization of these rivers. My study sought to quantify the status and trends of the population nesting in the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) within Arkansas, and to establish best practices for nesting habitat management. The local population of terns remained steady between 2010 and 2014, with approximately 450 adults breeding in this section of MKARNS. Regression tree analysis and principal component analysis showed that colonies on …

[Final Accepted Version] Maintaining Regularity And Generalization In Data Using The Minimum Description Length Principle And Genetic Algorithm: Case Of Grammatical Inference, Hari Mohan Pandey, Ankit Chaudhary, Deepti Mehrotra, Graham Kendall

Computer Science Faculty Works

In this paper, a genetic algorithm with minimum description length (GAWMDL) is proposed for grammatical inference. The primary challenge of identifying a language of infinite cardinality from a finite set of examples should know when to generalize and specialize the training data. The minimum description length principle that has been incorporated addresses this issue is discussed in this paper. Previously, the e-GRIDS learning model was proposed, which enjoyed the merits of the minimum description length principle, but it is limited to positive examples only. The proposed GAWMDL, which incorporates a traditional genetic algorithm and has a powerful global exploration capability …

Ua66 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Newsletter, Wku Ogden College Of Science & Engineering

Ogden College of Science & Engineering Publications

Newsletter created by and about WKU Ogden College of Science & Engineering.

• Ogden College Hall Taking Shape on TIme & on Budget
• Alumni Focus: Dr. Talia McKinney Collins
• WKU Research Foundation Launches New Website
• French, Jackson. Stemshot Rocketry Competition
• Agriculture
• Architectural & Manufacturing Sciences
• Grants & Publications
• Dr. Noah Ashley Receives NIH Grant
• Biology - News & Notes
• WKU Chemistry Welcomes Dr. Lawrence Hill & Dr. David Wolfgang
• Gary Kwong Receives McNally Award
• Student Teams Compete in National Engineering Contests Over the Summer
• Geology Major Conducts Research in Ethiopia - Deborah Flynn
• Geography & Geology
• WKU Meterology Launches White Squirrel …

Animal-Friendly Affinity Reagents: Replacing The Needless In The Haystack, A. C. Gray, S. S. Sidhu, P. C. Chandrasekera, C. F.M. Hendriksen, C. A.K. Borrebaeck

Biomedicine and Animal Models in Research Collection

The multibillion-dollar global antibody industry produces an indispensable resource but that is generated using millions of animals. Despite the irrefutable maturation and availability of animal-friendly affinity reagents (AFAs) employing na€ive B lymphocyte or synthetic recombinant technologies expressed by phage display, animal immunisation is still authorised for antibody production. Remarkably, replacement opportunities have been overlooked, despite the enormous potential reduction in animal use. Directive 2010/63/EU requires that animals are not used where alternatives exist. To ensure its implementation, we have engaged in discussions with the EU Reference Laboratory for alternatives to animal testing (EURL ECVAM) and the Directorate General for Environment …

Malanda Gold: The Tale Of A Unique Rainbowfish From The Atherton Table-Lands, Now On The Verge Of Extinction., Peter J. Unmack, Keith Martin, Michael P. Hammer, Brendan Ebner, Karl Moy, Culum Brown

Ichthyology Collection

No abstract provided.

Birth Mass Is The Key To Understanding The Negative Correlation Between Lifespan And Body Size In Dogs, Rong Fan, Gayla R. Olbricht, Xavior Baker, Chen Hou

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Larger dog breeds live shorter than the smaller ones, opposite of the mass-lifespan relationship observed across mammalian species. Here we use data from 90 dog breeds and a theoretical model based on the first principles of energy conservation and life history tradeoffs to explain the negative correlation between longevity and body size in dogs. We found that the birth/adult mass ratio of dogs scales negatively with adult size, which is different than the weak interspecific scaling in mammals. Using the model, we show that this ratio, as an index of energy required for growth, is the key to understanding why …

The Unfortunate Role Of Farm Subsidies As A Stimulus For Inequality And Obesity, Neil M. Browne, Facundo Bouzat, Justin Rex, Joseph Seipel

Economics Faculty Publications

Governmental expenditures are directed at a particular objective, but their effects have consequences far beyond the named target of the expenditures. Specific farm subsidies, for example, encourage consumption of particular foods by reducing the costs of producing these foods. To what extent do these subsidies affect the American obesity epidemic? How do the subsidies create disparate negative effects on those in poverty? Exploring these questions stimulates us to take greater care when designing legislation to take a broader look at the stakeholders affected by any particular governmental expenditure.

Mri Upgrades At Radiology Associates, Patrick Cheung, Charlene Donlon

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Problem Statement: The MRI machines at Radiology Associates are limiting the company’s ability to expand and compete within the local market. After discussing with technicians and managers at Radiology Associates, we decided to focus on hardware and software upgrades for the MRI machines. With 2 of the 3 locations purchasing new machines in the near future, our focus was on upgrades at the Santa Maria facility. The two machines at this location needed hardware and/or software upgrades to remain on par competitively both within the company and with local scanning options. Flexible coils are beneficial in terms of size, weight, …

The Peec Experiment: Native Hawaiian And Native American Engineering Education, Suzette R. Burckhard, Joanita M. Kant

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Books

PART I: Context
1. Engineering for Native nations: Origins and goals of the Pre-Engineering Education Collaboratives (PEECs)
PART II: Culture matters
2. Recognizing history: Indigeneity matters
3. Moving beyond cultural sensitivity: Developing culturally responsive programs for and with Native engineers
4. Invoking cultural relevance at tribal colleges: Grandmother’s way is important
5. Discovering what works: STEM pedagogy and curriculum development for Native Americans
6. Exploring indigenous science and engineering: Projects with indigenous roots
PART III: Providing support for Natives in Engineering
7. Finding an Engineering identity: A Native American PEEC leader’s experience
8. Outreaching to K-12 and tribal schools in …

Characterization Of Wy 14,643 And Its Complex With Aldose Reductase, Michael Sawaya, Malkhey Verma, Vaishnavi Balendiran, Nigam Rath, Duilio Cascio, Ganesaratnam Balendiran

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Works

The peroxisome proliferator, WY 14,643 exhibits a pure non-competitive inhibition pattern in the aldehyde reduction and in alcohol oxidation activities of human Aldose reductase (hAR). Fluorescence emission measurements of the equilibrium dissociation constants, Kd, of oxidized (hAR•NADP+) and reduced (hAR•NADPH) holoenzyme complexes display a 2-fold difference between them. Kd values for the dissociation of WY 14,643 from the oxidized (hAR•NADP+•WY 14,643) and reduced (hAR•NADPH•WY 14,643) ternary complexes are comparable to each other. The ternary complex structure of hAR•NADP+•WY 14,643 reveals the first structural evidence of a fibrate class drug binding to hAR. These observations demonstrate how fibrate molecules such as …