Digital Commons Network^™

If It Is Unsightly, Is It Less Healthy? Understanding The Consumer’S Desire For Aesthetically Perfect Produce, Dina Vanderwaal

University Honors Theses

Attention on organic produce and food waste is becoming increasingly intense in the United States. Consumers typically prefer aesthetically perfect produce, forcing grocery stores to throw away blemished fruits and vegetables. Organic produce is typically more blemished than conventional produce. Little research has been done to examine the consumer’s preference for conventional versus organic produce, and the point, if any, where consumers are more likely to choose one over the other. We conducted a controlled online study where we showed participants various organic and conventional apples with varying degrees of imperfections, and asked participants a series of questions about which …

Clostridium Difficile: A Study On Its Potential As A Food-Borne Pathogen And Strategies For Controlling Its Transmission, Genevieve Flock

Doctoral Dissertations

Clostridium difficile is a gram-positive, spore-forming, anaerobic, nosocomial pathogen affecting hospitalized patients taking long-term antibiotics. The bacterium is responsible for over 500,000 cases and 29,000 deaths annually (Lessa et al., 2015), with ~ $3 billion in health-care costs (O'Brien et al., 2007). There has been the emergence of a new hypervirulent strain of C. difficile known as North American Pulsotype 1 (NAP1), which is responsible for severe infections. Further, an increase in the incidence of C. difficile infections outside of hospital environments (Hensgens et al., 2012; McDonald et al., 2006; Rupnik et al., 2009) is observed. It is reported that …

The Expulsion Of The Jews From The State Of Milan: Same Event With Views From Different Archives, Flora Cassen

Early Modern Workshop: Resources in Jewish History

Documents presented here come from three different sources: the archives of Milan, the archives of Simancas, and Joseph Ha-Cohen’s chronicle Emek ha-Bakha. The document from Milan, dated from 1589, is a long defense of the Jews’ right to live in Milan sent to Madrid in response to a request by Philip II of Spain who was pondering whether or not to expel the Jews. The task of writing the report of Jewish life in Milan was given to the Spanish governor of Milan, but it was a collective work put together by the Senate of Milan, based on the opinions …

Automatic Correction Of Timestamp And Location Information In Digital Images, Thomas Deselaers, Daniel Keysers

Defensive Publications Series

Image storage and sharing services permit users to store and share images. Such applications typically organize images chronologically. However, chronological organization fails if the timestamp or location information stored in the image metadata (e.g., EXIF) is incorrect. Incorrect information is a common problem, e.g., when images are shared via messaging or social media, the shared image may have the time of sharing, not the time of capture. In another example, geolocation data may be deleted when an image is shared. Further, image timestamps can be inaccurate when multiple users contribute images to a single shared album from cameras that are …

Human Capital As Intellectual Property? Non-Competes And The Limits Of Ip Protection, Viva R. Moffat

Akron Law Review

Non-compete agreements have become increasingly common in recent years, imposed on twenty to forty percent (or more) of employees in some industries, both in the knowledge-intensive fields where they might be expected but also in the service industries on low-wage workers. As non-competes have proliferated, they have become increasingly controversial. Much of the discussion revolves around whether the agreements help or hinder innovation and economic growth. While this is also accompanied by some concern about the effect of non-competes on employees, little attention has been paid to the fact that employers use non-competes as tools for protecting intellectual property and …

Charitable Trademarks, Leah Chan Grinvald

Akron Law Review

Charity is big business in the United States. In 2015, private individuals or entities donated over $350 billion, which accounted for approximately two percent of the gross domestic product in the United States. Even though this seems like big money, these donations were split among over 1.5 million organizations. And each year, the number of charitable organizations grows and therefore, the competition for public donations increases. In part to succeed in such competition, some charitable organizations have turned to branding and trademarks as a way to differentiate their entities and to encourage donations. Drawing from the for-profit branding and trademarking …

Beloved: Amy Denver Vs. White Power, Maeve Quinn

Prologue: A First-Year Writing Journal

No abstract provided.

The Unwritten Ballot, Conner H. Toth

Prologue: A First-Year Writing Journal

No abstract provided.

Star Trek: A Guide To The Soul And Virtuous Action, Melissa Cherry

Prologue: A First-Year Writing Journal

No abstract provided.

Thyroid Function And Ischemic Heart Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Study, Jie V. Zhao, C. Mary Schooling

Publications and Research

To clarify the role of thyroid function in ischemic heart disease (IHD) we assessed IHD risk and risk factors according to genetically predicted thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) positivity. Separate-sample instrumental variable analysis with genetic instruments (Mendelian randomization) was used in an extensively genotyped case (n = 64,374)-control (n = 130,681) study, CARDIoGRAMplusC4D. Associations with lipids, diabetes and adiposity were assessed using the Global Lipids Genetics Consortium Results (n = 196,475), the DIAbetes Genetics Replication And Meta-analysis case (n = 34,380)-control (n = 114,981) study, and the Genetic Investigation of ANthropometric Traits (body …

Strategic Insights: Lost In Translation, M. Chris Mason

Articles & Editorials

No abstract provided.

Theological Foundations Of Pastoral Care In Catholic Universities, Thomas V. Gourlay

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

One defining element of life in any Catholic educational institution, whether it be primary, secondary, or tertiary, is the focus on pastoral care for staff and students. This paper provides a distinctly Catholic definition of the term ‘pastoral care’ and briefly examines the theological foundations that underpin this concept, particularly, in relation to its application in the Catholic university. The paper traces the motif of pastoral care through the Scriptures and, building on insights from St. Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution on Catholic Universities, Ex Corde Ecclesiae (1990) and the broader theological anthropology of the Vatican II Council. The …

Human Milk And Allergic Diseases: An Unsolved Puzzle, Daniel Munblit, Diego G. Peroni, Alba Boix-Amorós, Peter S. Hsu, Belinda Van't Land, Melvin C. L. Gay, Anastasia Kolotilina, Chrysanthi Skevaki, Robert J. Boyle, Maria C. Collado, Johan Garssen, Donna T. Geddes, Ralph Nanan, Carolyn Slupsky, Ganesa Wegienka, Anita L. Kozyrskyj, John O. Warner

Public Health Sciences Articles

There is conflicting evidence on the protective role of breastfeeding in relation to the development of allergic sensitisation and allergic disease. Studies vary in methodology and definition of outcomes, which lead to considerable heterogeneity. Human milk composition varies both within and between individuals, which may partially explain conflicting data. It is known that human milk composition is very complex and contains variable levels of immune active molecules, oligosaccharides, metabolites, vitamins and other nutrients and microbial content. Existing evidence suggests that modulation of human breast milk composition has potential for preventing allergic diseases in early life. In this review, we discuss …

Office Of Scholarly Communications, Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017 (July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017), Paul Royster, Sue Ann Gardner, Margaret Mering, Linnea Fredrickson

Institutional Repository Information

This report covers the Scholarly Communications team, and activities involving the institutional repository (IR), library publishing operations, outreach and advocacy, and copyright consulting.

Highlights include services, size, usage metrics, recognition (Ranking Web of World Repositories), Zea Books, journals, and appendices. (32 pages)

The Weekly Challenger, August 17, 2017, The Weekly Challenger, Et Al

Weekly Challenger Newspaper Collection

The August 17, 2017, issue of The Weekly Challenger.

Alaska Sourdough: Bread, Beards And Yeast, Susannah T. Dowds

Arctic and Northern Studies

Sourdough is a fermented mixture of flour and water used around the world to leaven dough. In this doughy world wide web of sourdough, one thread leads to Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Commonly associated with the gold rush era, sourdough is known both as a pioneer food and as a title for a long-time resident. Less well known is the live culture of microbes, yeasts and bacteria that were responsible for creating the ferment for nutritious bread, pancakes, and biscuits on the trail. Through the lens of sourdough, this study investigates the intersection of microbes and human culture: how …

Cowboy Professionalism: A Cultural Study Of Big-Mountain Tourism In The Last Frontier, Forest J. Wagner

Arctic and Northern Studies

Geographical features and cultural traits may influence the character of big-mountain tourism in Alaska. For example, Alaska's wild landscape, rich climbing and skiing history, and cultural mythos of wilderness and frontier fostered its status as a major destination for niche big-mountain tourism. Growth in the industry since the 1980s has been phenomenal, though a change threatens the identity of mountain guides of the region, demanding they accept international standards for their self-regulating and uniquely Alaskan version of big-mountain tourism. This research project explored big-mountain niche tourism in Alaska, considering the influences of wilderness and frontier concepts on the tourism culture …

Injury-Induced Actin Cytoskeleton Reorganization In Podocytes Revealed By Super-Resolution Microscopy, Hani Y. Suleiman, Robyn Roth, Sanjay Jain, John E. Heuser, Andrey S. Shaw, Jeffrey H. Miner

Open Access Publications

The architectural integrity of tissues requires complex interactions, both between cells and between cells and the extracellular matrix. Fundamental to cell and tissue homeostasis are the specific mechanical forces conveyed by the actomyosin cytoskeleton. Here we used super-resolution imaging methods to visualize the actin cytoskeleton in the kidney glomerulus, an organized collection of capillaries that filters the blood to make the primary urine. Our analysis of both mouse and human glomeruli reveals a network of myosin IIA-containing contractile actin cables within podocyte cell bodies and major processes at the outer aspects of the glomerular tuft. These likely exert force on …

The Phylogenetics And Evolutionary History Of The Northern Latitude Plant Genus Therorhodion (Maxim.) Small (Ericaceae), Margaret G. Oliver

Biological Sciences

Taxonomic uncertainty in the Arctic-alpine flowering plant genus Therorhodion (Maxim.) Small (Ericaceae) can be attributed to two distinctly different viewpoints representing the taxonomic diversity. Russian taxonomists recognize two species, one with two subspecies, whereas three distinct species are recognized in North America following a broader species concept. Therorhodion redowskianum Hutch. is restricted to Asia, and is unambiguously recognized by both viewpoints. Therorhodion camtschaticum Small and T. glandulosum Standl. ex Small have an amphiberingian distribution in eastern Asia and Alaska with T. glandulosum sometimes recognized as a subspecies of T. camtschaticum. Investigating this taxonomic disagreement creates an opportunity to learn more …

Developing A Location Detector Using Acoustical Energy Quantities, Jacey Young

Student Works

In this paper, development through the use of LabVIEW for an acoustical energy quantity detector is discussed. This detector uses the quantity of sound intensity to locate the direction of a sound source in three dimensional space with relation to the center of a spherical microphone probe placed directly under a web camera. The direction and the magnitude of the sound intensity are then used to generate an arrow pointing in the direction of the sound source and position it on top the web camera's image of the surrounding area. These quantities are then also used to highlight an area …

60,000 Year Climate And Vegetation History Of Southeast Alaska, Paul S. Wilcox

Geosciences

Sedimentological and palynological analyses of lacustrine cores from Baker Island, located in Southeast Alaska's Alexander Archipelago, indicate that glaciers persisted on the island until ~14,500 cal yr. BP. However, the appearance of tree pollen, including Pinus cf. contorta ssp. contorta (shore pine) and Tsuga mertensiana (mountain hemlock) immediately following deglaciation suggests that a forest refugium may have been present on ice-free portions of neighboring islands or the adjacent continental shelf. Sedimentological and palynological analyses indicate a variable climate during the Younger Dryas interval between ~13,000 and ~11,500 cal yr. BP, with a cold and dry onset followed by ameliorating conditions …

Determining Face, Predictive, Construct Validity And Novel Receptor Targets In A Spontaneous Compulsive-Like Mouse Model, Swarup Mitra

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders with no known etiology. Genetic variation, sex differences and physiological stages, such as pregnancy, postpartum and menopause in females, are important factors that are thought to modulate the pathophysiology of the disorder. Deeper understanding of these factors and their role in modulating behaviors is essential to unraveling the complex clinical heterogeneity of OCD. Using a novel mouse model that exhibits a spontaneous compulsive-like phenotype, I investigated the role of strain differences, sex differences, ovarian sex hormones and postpartum lactation in influencing compulsive-like and affective behaviors. Due to the lack …

Science For Alaska: Place For Curious Learners, Diana L. Campbell

Communication

For over 25 years, Alaskans have been attending Science for Alaska Lecture Series, held during the coldest part of an Alaskan winter. The hour-long evening lectures would see from around 100 to almost 300 people attend each event. The scientific literature is quiet in regard to audience preferences in regard to the recieving end of science communication. This qualitative study looked at the audience of a science lecture series: who are they, why do they come and what do they do with the information. In nine taped audio interviews, the research participants described themselves as smart, curious lifelong learners who …

Enhancing Teaching Practices Through Place-Based Learning, Arts And Culture, Stacey Panpitchuk

Education

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Cultivar And Maternal Environment On Seed Quality In Vicia Sativa, Rong Li, Lijun Chen, Yanpei Wu, Rui Zhang, Carol C. Baskin, Jerry M. Baskin, Xiaowen Hu

Biology Faculty Publications

Production of high quality seeds is of fundamental importance for successful crop production. However, knowledge of the effects of increased temperature resulting from global warming on seed quality of alpine species is limited. We investigated the effect of maternal environment on seed quality of three cultivars of the leguminous forage species Vicia sativa, giving particular attention to temperature. Plants of each cultivar were grown at 1700 and 3000 m a.s.l., and mass, germination, electrical conductivity (EC) of leakage and longevity were determined for mature seeds. Seeds of all three cultivars produced at the low elevation had a significantly lower …

Thermodynamic And Kinetic Analyses Of Iron Response Element (Ire)-Mrna Binding To Iron Regulatory Protein, Irp1, Mateen A. Khan, William E. Walden, Elizabeth C. Theil, Dixie J. Goss

Publications and Research

Comparison of kinetic and thermodynamic properties of IRP1 (iron regulatory protein1) binding to FRT (ferritin) and ACO2 (aconitase2) IRE-RNAs, with or without Mn2+, revealed differences specific to each IRE-RNA. Conserved among animal mRNAs, IRE-RNA structures are noncoding and bind Fe2+ to regulate biosynthesis rates of the encoded, iron homeostatic proteins. IRP1 protein binds IRERNA, inhibiting mRNA activity; Fe2+ decreases IRE-mRNA/IRP1 binding, increasing encoded protein synthesis. Here, we observed heat, 5 °C to 30 °C, increased IRP1 binding to IRE-RNA 4-fold (FRT IRE-RNA) or 3-fold (ACO2 IRE-RNA), which was enthalpy driven and entropy favorable. Mn2+ (50 μM, 25 °C) increased IRE-RNA/IRP1 …

Fruit Weight Is Controlled By Cell Size Regulator Encoding A Novel Protein That Is Expressed In Maturing Tomato Fruits, Qi Mu, Zejun Huang, Manohar Chakrabarti, Eudald Illa-Berenguer, Xiaoxi Liu, Yanping Wang, Alexis Ramos, Esther Van Der Knaap

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Increases in fruit weight of cultivated vegetables and fruits accompanied the domestication of these crops. Here we report on the positional cloning of a quantitative trait locus (QTL) controlling fruit weight in tomato. The derived allele of Cell Size Regulator (CSR-D) increases fruit weight predominantly through enlargement of the pericarp areas. The expanded pericarp tissues result from increased mesocarp cell size and not from increased number of cell layers. The effect of CSR on fruit weight and cell size is found across different genetic backgrounds implying a consistent impact of the locus on the trait. In fruits, CSR …

Compulsory Education And Resilience In Northern Alaska: The Role Of Social Learning And Youth In Healthy Sustainable Communities, Douglas Scott Cost

Indigenous Studies

How can education in the Arctic foster individual and community resilience in a time of rapid social-environmental change? Education and learning, have powerful potential to affect future social-environmental system resilience. This research unpacks and examines the connections and feedbacks among studies of social-environmental systems (SESs), resilience, compulsory education and Indigenous knowledge. The last few decades have witnessed global recognition of rapid climate change in the Arctic; primarily the diminishing cryosphere. This has led to discussion and debate over the role of schools in addressing local knowledge, environmental changes, and community priorities. In the U.S. state of Alaska and in other …

Genetic Diversity Of Cd14 Promoter Gene Polymorphism (Rs2569190) Is Associated With Regulation Of Malaria Parasitemia And Susceptibility To Plasmodium Falciparum Infection., Olusola Ojurongbe, Roland I. Funwei, Tara J. Snyder, Najihah Aziz, Yi Li, Catherine O. Falade, Bolaji N. Thomas

Articles

CD14 is a multifunctional receptor expressed on many cell types and has been shown to mediate immune response resulting in the activation of an inflammatory cascade, with polymorphism of its promoter (rs2569190) found to be associated with susceptibility to several diseases. In malaria infection, the CD14 gene demonstrated a pathogenic profile in regulating experimental cerebral malaria, with reports of elevated levels of soluble CD14 in serum of patients but no definitive conclusion. We present a detailed analysis of genetic diversity of CD14 promoter gene (snp −159 C/T; rs2519190) polymorphism between a malaria-infected group and uninfected controls and its association with …

The Effects Of Freezing And Storage Time On The Quality Of Reindeer Meat, George A. Aguiar

Natural Resources

Restaurants, wholesalers and retailers of fresh meat require a year round consistent supply of uniform quality product to sustain demand and justify niche market costs such as advertisement and stocking product. Frozen reindeer meat could be stored, short or long term to increase availability provided there are no adverse effects of freezing. No studies to date have evaluated the effects of freezing and storage time on reindeer meat quality. Nine reindeer steers (castrated bulls; age 2.5 years) were fed a balanced milled ration at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Reindeer Research Program (RRP) facility at the Agricultural Forestry Experiment …