Digital Commons Network^™

A “Hammer Held Over Their Heads”: Voluntary Conservation Spurred By The Prospect Of Regulatory Enforcement In Oregon, Katherine L. Wollstein, Emily Jane Davis

Human–Wildlife Interactions

When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) did not warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2015, the agency recognized a coordinated effort of private landowners, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and state and federal agencies that effectively reduced threats to the species. This effort exemplified an alternative model to species conservation that relies on voluntary conservation of private landowners to preclude government regulation. Through one in-depth case study of private landowners’ voluntary sage-grouse conservation efforts in Lake County, Oregon, we explored features of these voluntary arrangements that motivate participating private …

Learning To Live With Wolves: Community-Based Conservation In The Blackfoot Valley Of Montana, Seth M. Wilson, Elizabeth H. Bradley, Gregory A. Neudecker

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We built on the existing capacity of a nongovernmental organization called the Blackfoot Challenge to proactively address wolf (Canis lupus)-livestock conflicts in the Blackfoot Valley of Montana. Beginning in 2007, wolves started rapidly recolonizing the valley, raising concerns among livestock producers. We built on an existing program to mitigate conflicts associated with an expanding grizzly bear population and worked within the community to build a similar program to reduce wolf conflicts using an integrative, multi-method approach. Efforts to engage the community included one-on-one meetings, workshops, field tours, and regular group meetings as well as opportunities to participate in …

In The News, Jason Matthews, Joe N. Caudell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

High Through-Put Analysis Reveals Novel Maternal Germline Rnas Critical For Pgc Survival, Migration, And Differentiation, Dawn Owens

Open Access Dissertations

Xenopus laevis embryonic development requires the selective localization of maternal RNAs to the animal or vegetal pole. These RNAs include somatic and germline determinants, essential in establishing the embryo’s body plan. Such determinants are involved in primary germ layer formation and organization, dorsal/ventral axis specification, anterior/posterior axis specification, and germline development. In Xenopus laevis, germline development requires maternally inherited germplasm, a vegetally localized material that both specifies and protects primordial germ cells (PGCs) from adopting somatic fates throughout embryogenesis. The germline is unique in its ability to maintain heritable genetic material for many metazoans, including humans. It is, therefore, of …

A Characterization And Spatial Analysis Of Stakeholder Socioeconomics, Resource Use, And Perceptions Of Water Quality In Biscayne Bay, Florida, Samantha C. Dowdell

Open Access Theses

This project serves as a component of the NOAA Habitat Blueprint Biscayne Bay Habitat Focus Area (BB HFA), a multidisciplinary collaborative effort encompassing research conducted by NOAA Florida Sea Grant, Miami Waterkeeper, and the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, amongst many other institutions and organizations. Water quality in Biscayne Bay is of major concern to tourism, recreation, fisheries, and other regional economic activities. In recent years, environmental indicators such as harmful algal blooms have brought to light the threat human activity poses to Biscayne Bay resources. To ensure the conservation of Biscayne Bay species and …

Zoo Animal Management Avs 327x, Michael Cerbo

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

Mitoneet (Cisd1) Knockout Mice Show Signs Of Striatal Mitochondrial Dysfunction And A Parkinson's Disease Phenotype, Werner J. Geldenhuys, Stanley A. Benkovic, Li Lin, Heather M. Yonutas, Samuel D. Crish, Patrick G. Sullivan, Altaf S. Darvesh, Candice M. Brown, Jason R. Richardson

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Mitochondrial dysfunction is thought to play a significant role in neurodegeneration observed in Parkinson’s disease (PD), yet the mechanisms underlying this pathology remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that loss of mitoNEET (CISD1), an iron–sulfur containing protein that regulates mitochondrial bioenergetics, results in mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of striatal dopamine and tyrosine hydroxylase. Mitochondria isolated from mice lacking mitoNEET were dysfunctional as revealed by elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced capacity to produce ATP. Gait analysis revealed a shortened stride length and decreased rotarod performance in knockout mice, consistent with the loss of striatal dopamine. Together, these data suggest that …

Trade In Environmental Goods: Empirical Exploration Of Direct And Indirect Effects On Pollution By Country’S Trade Status, Natalia Zugravu-Soilita

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei Working Papers

Based on panel data covering 114 countries in the world, this study investigates the direct, indirect and total effects of trade flows in environmental goods (EG) on total CO2 and SO2 emissions. Our system-GMM estimations reveal positive direct scale – [between-industry] composition effects prevailing on the negative direct technique – [within-industry] composition effects (if any), as well as compensating the significant indirect technique effects channelled by the stringency of environmental regulations and per capita income. If the net importers of EGs (namely from the APEC54 and WTO26 lists) are recurrently found to face increased pollution (in particular CO2 emissions) due …

Potential Anticancer Effect Of Prostratin Through Sik3 Inhibition, Dalal Alotaibi, Suneetha Amara, Terrance L. Johnson, Venkataswarup Tiriveedhi

Biology Faculty Research

Prostratin, a phorbol ester natural plant compound, has been demonstrated to exert an anti‑retroviral effect through activation of latent cluster of differentiation (CD)4+T lymphocytes and inhibition of viral entry into the cell through downregulation of chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) expression. However, the potential effect of prostratin on cancer is yet to be defined. As CXCR4 is well known to induce cancer migration, it was hypothesized that prostratin induces an anti‑cancer effect through inhibition of CXCR4 expression. The authors previously demonstrated that high stimulating conditions (sub‑minimal IL‑17, 0.1 ng/ml, synergized with high salt, Δ0.05 M NaCl) promote breast cancer cell …

Actor, Theatre Uab Grad Noah Holcomb Is Petsmart Pitchman, Shannon Thomason

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

“La Frida No Envejeció, Yo Soy La Frida Envejecida”. La Ultima Performance De Pedro Lemebel, Fernando A. Blanco

Faculty Journal Articles

A partir de su último encuentro con Pedro Lemebel, el articulista lee la proxémica de dicha cita como un epígrafe performático que permite ordenar de manera comprensiva y especulativa la producción transmedial de Lemebel (crónica, novela y performance). Se concluye que, en sus distintas acciones, los textos de Lemebel funcionan como herramientas de un operador de la historia cultural chilena a través de la manipulación de los signos del cuerpo homosexual.

Holy Cross Magazine, Vol. 52, No. 1, Winter 2018, College Of The Holy Cross

Holy Cross Magazine

Syllabus: Introduction to Neuroscience
with Alo Basu, associate professor of psychology
By Meredith Fidrocki

The 2017 Sanctae Crucis Awards
In September 2017, five alumni were awarded the highest non-degree accolade the College bestows on its graduates.

Ten Years in Montserrat
The first-year program extends the Holy Cross invitation to challenge on day one
By Christopher Amenta ’06

Finding Their Role in the World: How Holy Cross Alumni Approach Careers in Medicine
Four alumni examine the lasting influence of a Jesuit, liberal arts background on their path after graduation, through medical school and beyond.
By Dave Greenslit

How Do Holy Cross …

Pde8 Is Expressed In Human Airway Smooth Muscle And Selectively Regulates Camp Signaling By Β 2 Ar-Ac6, Timothy B. Johnstone, Kaitlyn H. Smith, Cynthia J. Koziol-White, Fengying Li, Austin G. Kazarian, Maia L. Corpuz, Maya Shumyachter, Frederick J. Ehlert, Bianca E. Himes, Reynold A. Pannettieri Jr., Rennolds S. Ostrom

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Two cAMP signaling compartments centering around adenylyl cyclase (AC) exist in human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cells, one containing ß2AR-AC6 and another containing E prostanoid receptors (EPR)-AC2. We hypothesized that different phosphodiesterase (PDE) isozymes selectively regulate cAMP signaling in each compartment. According to RNA-seq data, 18 of 24 PDE genes were expressed in primary HASM cells derived from age- and gender-matched donors with and without asthma. PDE8A was the third most abundant of the cAMP-degrading PDE genes, after PDE4A and PDE1A. Knockdown of PDE8A using shRNA evoked 2-fold greater cAMP responses to 1 DM forskolin in the presence of IBMX. …

A Duplex Endpoint Pcr Assay For Rapid Detection And Differentiation Of Leptospira Strains, D. Benacer, S.N. Mohd Zain, J.W. Lewis, M.K.N.M. Khalid, Kwai Lin Thong

Research Publications (2016 to 2020)

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to develop a duplex endpoint PCR assay for rapid detection and differentiation of Leptospira strains. METHODS: Primers were designed to target the rrs (LG1/LG2) and ligB (LP1/LP2) genes to confirm the presence of the Leptospira genus and the pathogenic species, respectively. RESULTS: The assay showed 100% specificity against 17 Leptospira strains with a limit of detection of 23.1pg/µl of leptospiral DNA and sensitivity of 103 leptospires/ml in both spiked urine and water. CONCLUSIONS: Our duplex endpoint PCR assay is suitable for rapid early detection of Leptospira with high sensitivity and specificity.

No Beginning And No End, Ryan Arthur Florey

Theses

This thesis describes the realization of my art, created with the intention to project into a plastic medium the story of an ancient artifact, a weather-beaten stone, or a plant responding to stress in its environment. It describes the evolution of my inspiration and thought over the course of my graduate career, as well as, the various ancient cultures, artifacts, and traditions of making that I have found to be rooted in similar inspiration, and which have helped to guide the progression of my works.

Towards A Missional Ecclesiology, Michael James Breen

Witness

No abstract provided.

Feather Mite Abundance Varies But Symbiotic Nature Of Mite-Host Relationship Does Not Differ Between Two Ecologically Dissimilar Warblers, Alix E. Matthews, Jeffery L. Larkin, Douglas W. Raybuck, Morgan C. Slevin, Scott H. Stoleson, Than J. Boves

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Feather mites are obligatory ectosymbionts of birds that primarily feed on the oily secretions from the uropygial gland. Feather mite abundance varies within and among host species and has various effects on host condition and fitness, but there is little consensus on factors that drive variation of this symbiotic system. We tested hypotheses regarding how within-species and among-species traits explain variation in both (1) mite abundance and (2) relationships between mite abundance and host body condition and components of host fitness (reproductive performance and apparent annual survival). We focused on two closely related (Parulidae), but ecologically distinct, species: Setophaga cerulea …

Illegal Wildlife Hunting And Trade In Southern Belize: An Assessment Of Impacts And Drivers, Blakely Rice

Capstone Collection

The use of wildlife as a resource is a common practice in all countries around the world, however, illegal activities are contributing to various environmental and social altercations amongst the involved communities and individuals, both directly and indirectly. This has led to the generalized global narrative on illegal wildlife hunting and trade as a “good vs. bad” convention. Although legal frameworks are in place to manage hunting and trade sustainably, governments and organizations often find themselves struggling to protect wildlife from illegal hunters, often facing dangerous situations thus the establishment of militarized conservation units. To date, most of the focus …

Safeguarding For The Future: Managing Born-Digital Collections In Museums, Kimberly Kruse

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Over the past few decades, advancements in technology have changed society entirely. Every bit of information about world news, popular culture, and art is just a tap of a touchscreen away. So many aspects of the contemporary world have become digitized so that it was only a matter of time before museums would have to face the issue of born-digital media in their collections. From videos to web-based art, museums have to tackle how to save this new form of cultural heritage. Museums have to do so now before it gets lost forever. The challenge of born-digital objects lies in …

Residents’ Perception Of Environmental Performance In New Urbanist Landscapes In North Texas: Learning From Addison Circle, Austin Ranch And Hometown, Riza Pradhan

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

New Urbanism movement has been shaping the cities and suburbs in increasing numbers in the US for more than three decades. The Congress for New Urbanism is promoting compact, mixed-use, interconnected, and walkable models for sustainable development. In recent years, the environmental implications of New Urbanism have not been sufficiently addressed in the literature (Spirn, 2000; Waldheim, 2010). However, the Charter of New Urbanism (Talen, 2013) highlights the importance and relevance of environmental factors. Overall, the literature lacks sufficient evidence about the environmental performance of the New Urbanist landscapes, specifically in the Dallas- Fort Worth (DFW) region. The purpose of …

People Like Ourselves, Harper D. Hair

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The thesis writing here is an effort by the artist to identify his motives in creating, and his aims for the audience, and to communicate this to the reader in a clear and truthful manner. Section 1 focuses on introducing the ground of the artists’ thinking, discussing his ideas of the body and culture identity, and how they motivate his work. Section 2 goes into greater detail about the manner his thought process evolved through the course of a number of works. In Section 3, there is an ever sharper focus in the works towards the isolated and inscrutable individual. …

Play Dead, Ann Hackett

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Wing Shape Variation In The Mimetic Butterfly Papilio Dardanus (Papilionidae) And Its Unpalatable Nymphalid Models, Miles Hegedus

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Papilio dardanus displays female-limited polymorphic mimicry of multiple model species. Butterfly wing shape is species-specific and can influence mimetic signaling, but has not been characterized in this species. We used elliptical fourier analysis to investigate whether mimetic P. dardanus female forms have converged on the wing shape of their respective models. Although both models and mimics varied in forewing and hind wing shape, we found no evidence of forewing shape convergence between them. Overall, forewings did not differ in shape between sexes in P. dardanus, nor in four non-mimetic Papilio used for comparison. Similarly, there were no hind wing …

Automated Species Classification Methods For Passive Acoustic Monitoring Of Beaked Whales, John Lebien

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The Littoral Acoustic Demonstration Center has collected passive acoustic monitoring data in the northern Gulf of Mexico since 2001. Recordings were made in 2007 near the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that provide a baseline for an extensive study of regional marine mammal populations in response to the disaster. Animal density estimates can be derived from detections of echolocation signals in the acoustic data. Beaked whales are of particular interest as they remain one of the least understood groups of marine mammals, and relatively few abundance estimates exist. Efficient methods for classifying detected echolocation transients are essential for mining long-term passive …

Motive Through Automotive Compassionately Criticizing The Desires Of Car Culture, Erika R. Lehrmann

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

My artwork represents my admiration and criticisms of car culture I have gathered throughout my personal experiences beginning at a very early age. The work exists in the form of drawings, paintings, prints, collage and sculpture. This work is created through the elements of personal narrative, desires, obsessions, and questions surrounding car culture and its influences. My intention to refurbish the icons of this culture has involved creating work that is both obsessive and critical for personal exploration and understanding of past memories.

Conflict, Constraint, And The Evolution Of The Multivariate Performance Phenotype, Ann M. Cespedes Phd

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Performance is key to survival. From day-to-day foraging events, to reproductive activities, to life-or-death crises, how well an organism performs these tasks can determine success or failure. Selection, therefore, both natural and sexual, act upon performance, and performance demands on individuals shape a population’s morphological and physiological trait distributions. While studies of morphological adaptations to ecological pressures implicitly center on the idea that responses to selection improve performance via changes in morphology, the relationships between morphology, performance, and fitness are not always well understood. In this dissertation, I investigate these relationships explicitly, as well as determine the effects that different …

Nanomedicine For Immunosuppressive Therapy: Achievements In Pre-Clinical Research, Hanan Al-Lawati, Hamidreza Montazeri Aliabadi, Behzad Sharif Makhmalzadeh, Afsaneh Lavasanifar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Immunosuppression is the mainstay therapy in organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases. The effective clinical application of immunosuppressive agents has suffered from the emergence of systemic immunosuppression and/or individual drug side effects. Nanotechnology approaches may be used to modify the mentioned shortcomings by enhancing the delivery of immunosuppressants to target cells of the immune system, thus reducing the required dose for function, and/or reducing drug distribution to non-target tissues.

Areas covered: We provide an overview on the development of nanotechnology products for the most commonly used immunosuppressive agents. At first, the rationale for the use of nanoparticles as …

Stasi Brainwashing In The Gdr 1957 - 1990, Jacob H. Solbrig, Jacob Hagen Solbrig

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the methods used by the Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS), more commonly known as the Stasi, or East German secret police, for extraction of information from citizens of the German Democratic Republic for the purpose of espionage and covert operations inside East Germany, as it pertains to the deliberate brainwashing of East German citizens. As one of the most efficient intelligence agencies to ever exist, the Stasi’s main purpose was to monitor the population, gather intelligence, and collect or turn informants. They used brainwashing techniques to control the people of the GDR, keeping the populace paralyzed with fear …

The Palimpsest Boys, Brandon Stump, Brandon Stump

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

These short stories deal with young boys and men who raise themselves in the absence of proper parenting. In particular, they wrestle with big questions about the family unit, sex, and love.

Underwater Acoustic Signal Analysis Toolkit, Kirk Bienvenu Jr

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This project started early in the summer of 2016 when it became evident there was a need for an effective and efficient signal analysis toolkit for the Littoral Acoustic Demonstration Center Gulf Ecological Monitoring and Modeling (LADC-GEMM) Research Consortium. LADC-GEMM collected underwater acoustic data in the northern Gulf of Mexico during the summer of 2015 using Environmental Acoustic Recording Systems (EARS) buoys. Much of the visualization of data was handled through short scripts and executed through terminal commands, each time requiring the data to be loaded into memory and parameters to be fed through arguments. The vision was to develop …