Digital Commons Network^™

Influence Of Soil Disturbance And Fire On The Distribution Of Caesar’S Weed (Urena Lobata) In Pine Flatwoods, Daniel Harrison Hagood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Novel disturbances can increase the vulnerability of pine flatwoods to exotic species such as Caesar’s weed (Urena lobata), a plant that has invaded many ecosystems. To understand Caesar’s weed response to disturbance, a factorial field manipulation was used to quantify invasion success. Influence of feral swine (Sus scrofa) on the presence of seeds in the area was analyzed. The effect of heat on Caesar’s weed germination was also quantified. A winter fire and mechanical soil disturbance had no statistical effect on the spread of Caesar’s weed. However, in feral swine disturbed soils Caesar’s weed was more likely to be husked …

Belongings, Samantha Mclean

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Belongings hybridizes photography, sculpture, and printmaking through new laser technology. The exhibited work communicates a lingering sense of homesickness and maps a path through the objects discovered in my father’s wallet shortly after his passing.

Cellular Computation In Primary Visual Cortex, Daniel E. Wilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Individual neurons in the primary visual cortex respond selectively to different features of visual stimuli, such as spatial orientation or direction of motion. A longstanding goal in systems neuroscience has been to understand the transformations single cells perform as they integrate synaptic inputs to generate spiking output. Recent technological developments have facilitated these lines of investigation by enabling direct measurement of the functional properties of single synaptic inputs to neurons in the neocortex. It remains an outstanding question as to whether the tuning of single neocortical neurons can be predicted by their excitatory synaptic inputs. Here, I show that excitatory …

Brevetoxin Metabolism And Physiology - A Freshwater Model Of Morbidity In Endangered Sea Turtles, Courtney Christine Cocilova

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

The dinoflagellate Karenia brevis is one organism responsible for harmful algal blooms (HABs) that severely impact marine life. K. brevis produces a suite of neurotoxins referred to as brevetoxins (PbTx) which bind to voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) in excitable tissues, affecting cellular permeability leading to a suite of symptoms and potentially cell death. Brevetoxicosis is difficult to treat in sea turtles as the physiological impacts have not been investigated and the magnitude and duration of brevetoxin exposure are generally unknown. Due to their threatened and endangered status, experimental exposures cannot be performed to determine the fate of brevetoxin in sea …

Characterization Of Group B Sox Genes In The Development Of Drosophila Nervous System., Shweta Singh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Sox proteins all contain a single ~70 amino acid High Mobility Group (HMG) DNA-binding domain with strong homology to that of Sry, the mammalian testisdetermining factor. In Drosophila melanogaster, there are four closely related members of the B group, Dichaete (D), Sox Neuro (Sox N), Sox 21a, and Sox 21b that each exhibit ~90% sequence identity within the HMG domain.The previous study has shown that Dichaete plays a major role in embryonic nervous system development and is expressed in several clusters of neurons in the brain, including intermingled olfactory LNs and central-complex neurons strongly expressed in local interneuron of the …

Circulating Cell-Free Dna And Interleukin-6 Expression Following Acute High-Intensity Interval Exercise In Obesity, Peter J. Ferrandi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the impact of acute highintensity interval Exercise (HIIE) on plasma cfDNA and IL-6 responses in obese and normal-weight subjects. Fifteen subjects (8 obese and 7 normal-weight) were recruited to participate in an acute HIIE protocol. Our results demonstrated a significant elevation across time in plasma cfDNA and IL-6 immediately following acute HIIE, with no difference between obese and normal-weight subjects. Furthermore, cfDNA was not correlated with IL-6 in response to acute HIIE in either group. These findings indicate that the obese state does not further exacerbate the release of acute HIIE-induced …

Comprehension Of An Audio Versus An Audiovisual Lecture At 50% Time-Compression, Nicole Perez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Since students can adjust the speed of online videos by time-compression which is available through common software (Pastore & Ritzhaupt, 2015), it is important to learn at which point compression impacts comprehension. The focus of the study is whether the speaker’s face benefits comprehension during a 50% compressed lecture. Participants listened to a normal lecture or a 50% compressed lecture. Each participant saw an audio and audiovisual lecture, and were eye tracked during the audiovisual lecture. A comprehension test revealed that participants in the compressed lecture group performed better with the face. Eye fixations revealed that participants in the compressed …

Contextual Modulation Of Competitive Object Candidates In Early Object Recognition, Mohammed F. Islam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Object recognition is imperfect; often incomplete processing or deprived information yield misperceptions (i.e., misidentification) of objects. While quickly rectified and typically benign, instances of such errors can produce dangerous consequences (e.g., police shootings). Through a series of experiments, this study examined the competitive process of multiple object interpretations (candidates) during the earlier stages of object recognition process using a lexical decision task paradigm. Participants encountered low-pass filtered objects that were previously demonstrated to evoke multiple responses: a highly frequented interpretation (“primary candidates”) and a lesser frequented interpretation (“secondary candidates”). When objects were presented without context, no facilitative effects were observed …

Development Of A Wearable Device To Detect Epilepsy, Bakappa Pradeepkumar Khandnor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of a wearable device, developed by the author, to detect different types of epileptic seizures and monitor epileptic patients. The device uses GSR, Pulse, EMG, body temperature and 3-axis accelerometer sensors to detect epilepsy. The device first learns the signal patterns of the epileptic patient in ideal condition. The signal pattern generated during the epileptic seizure, which are distinct from other signal patterns, are detected and analyzed by the algorithms developed by the author. Based on an analysis, the device successfully detected different types of epileptic seizures. The author conducted an experiment on himself to …

Isolation And Structural Elucidation Of Novel Bioactive Natural Products From Marine Organisms Of The Western Atlantic Ocean, Long Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

The aim of this dissertation was to elaborate the exploration of biologically active secondary metabolites from the marine sponge Cacospongia cf. linteiformis collected from the Bahamas and the soft coral Briareum asbestinum collected from two different sites in Florida State, Boca Raton and Dry Tortugas. In chapter one, a review on previous chemical and biological studies of the marine sponge C. cf. linteiformis and soft coral B. asbestinum is provided. Particular attention is given to spongianolides and briarellins, two important classes of compounds isolated from C. cf. linteiformis and B. asbestinum, respectively, and their structural features and diverse bioactivities. In …

Less Is More: Three Traits To Reveal A More Accurate Aging Method, Megan Marie Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Recently a new strategy for age-at-death estimation has been developed. In Stephanie Calce’s 2012 article, ‘A New Method to Estimate Adult Age-at-death Using the Acetabulum,’ she redesigns the previous attempts made by Rissech et al. (2006). Her technique simplifies Rissech et al. seven traits by condensing them into three easily identifiable traits. The aim of this paper is to determine that Calce’s original intent to create a more user-friendly and comprehensible scoring method was successful. My focus is to reveal if Calce’s technique is effective between different populations or whether interpopulation variation renders it an unstable approach to age estimation. …

Pathophysiology Of Chronic Subdural Haematoma: Inflammation, Angiogenesis And Implications For Pharmacotherapy, Ellie Edlmann, Susan Giorgi-Coll, Peter C. Whitfield, Keri L.H. Carpenter, Peter J. Hutchinson

Peninsula Medical School

No abstract provided.

The Semiotics Of Minority Language Branding: A Study Of The Celtic Languages, J Tredinnick-Rowe

Peninsula Medical School

This paper investigates the role of minority language commodification in alcoholic drinks' branding, with a specific focus on Celtic languages and a particular emphasis on Cornish. The topic is introduced by exploring the ongoing and significant connection between language, culture and food, taking phrases and rhymes from historical sources and comparing their use. The aim is to establish cross-disciplinary synergies between semiotics and cultural analysis and to shed new light on marketing issues in the alcoholic drinks sector. The methodology section features the first ever analysis of alcoholic drinks' labels from four Celtic national minorities (N = 1.937) that illustrates …

Tracking The Amphibian Pathogens Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis And Batrachochytrium Salamandrivorans Using A Highly Specific Monoclonal Antibody And Lateral-Flow Technology, Michael J. Dillon, Andrew E. Bowkett, Michael J. Bungard, Katie M. Beckman, Michelle F. O'Brien, Kieran Bates, Matthew C. Fisher, Jamie R. Stevens, Christopher R. Thornton

Peninsula Medical School

The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) causes chytridiomycosis, a lethal epizootic disease of amphibians. Rapid identification of the pathogen and biosecurity is essential to prevent its spread, but current laboratory-based tests are time-consuming and require specialist equipment. Here, we describe the generation of an IgM monoclonal antibody (mAb), 5C4, specific to Bd as well as the related salamander and newt pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). The mAb, which binds to a glycoprotein antigen present on the surface of zoospores, sporangia and zoosporangia, was used to develop a lateral-flow assay (LFA) for rapid (15 min) detection of the pathogens. The LFA detects known …

Computerised Cognitive–Behavioural Therapy For Depression In Adolescents: Feasibility Results And 4-Month Outcomes Of A Uk Randomised Controlled Trial, Barry Wright, Lucy Tindall, Elizabeth Littlewood, Victoria Allgar, Paul Abeles, Dominic Trépel, Shehzad Ali

Peninsula Medical School

ObjectivesComputer-administered cognitive–behavioural therapy (CCBT) may be a promising treatment for adolescents with depression, particularly due to its increased availability and accessibility. The feasibility of delivering a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing a CCBT program (Stressbusters) with an attention control (self-help websites) for adolescent depression was evaluated.DesignSingle centre RCT feasibility study.SettingThe trial was run within community and clinical settings in York, UK.ParticipantsAdolescents (aged 12–18) with low mood/depression were assessed for eligibility, 91 of whom met the inclusion criteria and were consented and randomised to Stressbusters (n=45) or websites (n=46) using remote computerised single allocation. Those with comorbid physical illness were included …

Examining Primary Prevention Methods And Pharmacological Interventions In Identifying Lower Risk Of Coronary Heart Diease, Melissa Stewart

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Antigen Challenge Alters Innate Behavior And Expression Of Brain Histaminergic Autoreceptor In Mouse Model Of Milk Allergy, Lane Vendsel

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Sorghum Grain To Products : An Exploration Of A New Process Plant Opportunity, Trevor Seidel

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

First Year Occupational Therapy Students’ Clinical Reasoning Approach To Addressing Challenging Behaviors Related To Sensory Processing Using A Simulated Case Study, Bryan M. Gee, Kelly E. Thompson, Jane Strickland, Lucy Jane Miller

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy students must be prepared to use clinical reasoning to select appropriate interventions for children with sensory processing disorders (SPDs). Although these interventions are typically taught in entry-level occupational therapy programs, there is little information regarding the method by which occupational therapy students are taught a clinical reasoning process to determine which sensory processing intervention to use with pediatric clients. A problem-solving framework called A SECRET was used to teach students clinical reasoning for children with SPDs, via an online, module-based course. Following the module, the students were tested with an online assessment tool regarding their ability to discriminate …

Designing New Zealand’S Emissions Trading Scheme, Tor Håkon Jackson Inderberg, Ian Bailey, Nichola Harmer

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Playing In The Dark With Online Games For Girls, Rebecca Sinker, Mike Phillips, Victoria De Rijke

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Pregnant Rapunzel Emergency is part of a series of online free games aimed at young girls ( forhergames.com or babygirlgames.com ), where dozens of characters from fairy tales, children’s toys and media feature in recovery settings, such as ‘Barbie flu’. The range of games available to choose from includes not only dressing, varnishing nails or tidying messy rooms, but also rather more troubling options such as extreme makeovers, losing weight, or a plethora of baby showers, cravings, hospital pregnancy checks, births (including caesarean), postnatal ironing, washing and baby care. Taking the online game Pregnant Rapunzel Emergency as an exemplar of …

Management Of Simultaneous Bilateral Femur Fractures In A Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Review, Masood Umer, Syed Zohaib Gulzar Naqvi, Raza Askari, Umair Ashraf

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract: Introduction: Bilateral long bone fractures are rare and usually are associated with increased risk of complications. These fractures are usually associated with poly traumatic injuries or high impact trauma resulting in shock. Commonest etiology is road traffic accident. Closed diaphyseal fractures are best managed by intramedullary nailing; management becomes difficult if there are open fractures and late arrival. In this study we intend to present our experience of managing these patients. Materials and Methods: Medical records of all adult patients (age more than 16 years of age) admitted at Aga Khan University and Hospital with bilateral femur fractures +/- …

Bowled Over By Cricket: Impact Of Tape-Ball Injuries On The Eyes, Salman Naveed Sadiq, Azam Ali, Bushra Usmani, Khabir Ahmed

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study was to describe the type and severity of tape-ball cricket-related eye injuries seen at a tertiary care hospital.

DESIGN:

A descriptive case series.

METHODS:

This study included all cases of tape-ball cricket-related eye injuries presenting to the Section of Ophthalmology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2014 to January 2015.

RESULTS:

A total of 20 patients with tape-ball cricket-related eye injuries were treated during this period. The right eye was involved in most (14/20) of the cases. The commonest presenting symptoms included reduced/blurred vision, ocular pain, redness, and floaters. Sixty percent (12/20) …

Coupled Changes Between The H-Print Biomarker And Delta N-15 Indicates A Variable Sea Ice Carbon Contribution To The Diet Of Cumberland Sound Beluga Whales, T. A. Brown, E. Chrystal, S. H. Ferguson, D. J. Yurkowski, C. Watt, N. E. Hussey, T. C. Kelley, S. T. Belt

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Conceptualisation Of Sustainability By Tomorrow's Managers., Christine Parkin Hughes

Plymouth Business School Theses

Abstract: The conceptualisation of sustainability by tomorrow’s managers by Christine Parkin Hughes. Sustainability is an emerging field, a knowledge frontier. However, the conceptualisation of what sustainability is, and what it means in theory and practice remains unsettled. Scant attention has been paid to how future managers make sense of sustainability, representing a significant gap in the literature. The overarching aim of this thesis is to explore how the polysemous phenomenon of sustainability is conceptualised by the next generation of managers. It explores how they made sense of sustainability; the drivers behind their sensemaking; whether there is a skew within their …

The Impact Of Culture, Leadership, And Power, On Staff Motivation In The Context Of International Organizations, Erdem Erciyes

Plymouth Business School Theses

This thesis investigates the impact of culture, leadership, and power, on staff motivation in selected international organizations (IOs), and develops a theoretical framework to assist with the practice of workforce motivation. The main research question is: “How can supervisors motivate their staff in the context of IOs?” Utilizing critical theory as a paradigm of inquiry, the study’s philosophical perspective leans heavily on “phenomenology”. Conducting this research led to the realization that there are a few studies in the existing literature on this subject matter. After investigating grand theories, the meso theories which form the theoretical background of the research were …

Development And Validation Of An Oecd Reproductive Toxicity Test Guideline With The Mudsnail Potamopyrgus Antipodarum (Mollusca, Gastropoda), K Ruppert, C Geiß, C Askem, R Benstead, R Brown, M Coke, V Ducrot, P Egeler, H Holbech, Th Hutchinson, Kl Kinnberg, L Lagadic, Page G Le, A Macken, P Matthiessen, S Ostermann, A Schimera, C Schmitt, A Seeland-Fremer, Aj Smith, L Weltje, J Oehlmann

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Mollusks are known to be uniquely sensitive to a number of reproductive toxicants including some vertebrate endocrine disrupting chemicals. However, they have widely been ignored in environmental risk assessment procedures for chemicals. This study describes the validation of the Potamopyrgus antipodarum reproduction test within the OECD Conceptual Framework for Endocrine Disrupters Testing and Assessment. The number of embryos in the brood pouch and adult mortality serve as main endpoints. The experiments are conducted as static systems in beakers filled with artificial medium, which is aerated trough glass pipettes. The test chemical is dispersed into the medium, and adult snails are …

Asor 2016 Annual Meeting, Paul J. Ray

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Genesis: A Symphonic Work And Analysis, Max Keller

Faculty Publications

The biblical account of creation found in the Book of Genesis is known to billions around the world through its proclamation by multiple religions and numerous denominations. As such it is embedded in many cultures, especially that of the Western civilization and art. This article contains all but two of the movements, three and six, of Max Keller’s analysis of his multi-movement symphonic work The Genesis. The work sought to be a musical expression of the creation narrative found in the Book of Genesis, with direct correlations to the original Hebrew text. As such, the analysis takes an in-depth look …

Autonomous Driving With A Simulation Trained Convolutional Neural Network, Cameron Franke

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Autonomous vehicles will help society if they can easily support a broad range of driving environments, conditions, and vehicles.

Achieving this requires reducing the complexity of the algorithmic system, easing the collection of training data, and verifying operation using real-world experiments. Our work addresses these issues by utilizing a reflexive neural network that translates images into steering and throttle commands. This network is trained using simulation data from Grand Theft Auto V~\cite{gtav}, which we augment to reduce the number of simulation hours driven. We then validate our work using a RC car system through numerous tests. Our system successfully drive …