Digital Commons Network^™

#280characters, Zachary Grant Bess

USU Student Folklore Fieldwork

[The Chicago Bears use the limit to reference a Saturday Night Live Skit, in Humor]

[I use the new limit to share a longer portion of a classic poem, more than I might have previously, as a proud English Major]

[Student uses satire to mock the new limit, playing the part of an annoying internet user who abuses and overuses the limit]

[a reference to both 420, the marijuana celebration, and a classic meme from It’s Always Sunny in Philidelphia, that explains confusing situations]

[user shows the full limit of how bad this change could be]

[TV Show Law And …

Governance Challenges In Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case Of Land Guards And Land Protection In Ghana, David Kwasi Bansah

Doctor of International Conflict Management Dissertations

Land management policy in many developing nations has been riddled with conflict because of competing land tenure systems. Having transitioned through customary tenure systems to bureaucratic property rights regimes without a complete shift from the former, Ghana’s land management system, over time, has witnessed administrative challenges such that some desperate land protection schemes are taking root, including the use of unregulated security land guards in peri-urban areas. The fundamental objective of this research, therefore, is to explore and better understand the lengths to which people or groups will go to ensure land rights and protection in a regime of statutory …

The Misconception Of Social Anxiety Disorder: Creating Understanding Through Motion Graphics, Kaijun Qu

Theses

This thesis project explores Social Anxiety Disorder, by showing emotions and feelings of the person who suffers from social phobia to help his/her friends and classmates to understand them.

The symptoms of a person with social phobia can be seen as being afraid of communicating with other people, appearing in public, and/or being the center of attention. In such situations, others may easily misunderstand them, so the patient can lose the chance to communicate to others. As a result, the patient's condition will be getting worse. Therefore, it is very hard for people with social phobia to make new friends. …

Identification And Quantification Of Cyanide And Its Metabolites In Lemur Urine, Jeremy Peralta

Student Theses

Cyanide is a chemical compound that contains the monovalent groups of carbon and nitrogen. This substance is considered a rapidly acting deadly chemical. However, some animals such as lemurs consume food products that are known to contain elevated levels of cyanide without major consequences. The mechanism by which the lemur can handle this high exposure to cyanide is unknown. In this study, we developed and validated two analytical methods for the determination of cyanide and two metabolites, thiocyanate and 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid (ATCA) in lemur urine. The method was applied to 47 authentic lemur urine samples collected from 4 different species …

Assessing Visual Preference Among Fourth Grade Students For Habitat Components On Educational Green Roofs In Starkville, Mississippi, Amy Counterman

Theses and Dissertations

As urbanization grows wildlife habitat is displaced and fragmented. Vegetative roofs offer an innovative alternative to provide animal food and habitat in urban environments. This research study investigates how wildlife needs in a green roof ecosystem are interpreted through children’s visual perception. A visual preference survey was administered to fourth-grade students in Starkville, Mississippi which offered paired photographs displaying basic vertebrate and invertebrate needs. The responses from 85 students (n=85) were compared to identify preferences for legible habitat components. The results of this survey showed that fourth-grade students could readily identify the basic habitat needs for birds but were less …

An Analysis Of Signaling Processes Leading To A Defense Response In Soybean, Brandon Trey Mcneece

Theses and Dissertations

Plant-parasitic nematodes are the cause of devastating yield loss in vital agricultural crops around the world. Heterodera glycines, also referred to as soybean cyst nematode, is the main pathogen of Glycine max (soybean) causing more loss than all other pathogens of G. max combined. The resultant economic impact due to H. glycines in United States soybean production alone is estimated to account for an annual one-billion-dollar loss. Natural resistant genotypes have been found in trials to combat this pathogen. Of the resistant varieties identified, G. max[Peking/PI 548402] and G. max[PI 88788] are the major sources of resistance. Identification of genes …

Chimes: December 8, 2017, Calvin College

Chimes

Calvin commits to be carbon neutral by 2057 by Rae Gernant

Student senate committee works toward more diverse faculty by Kathryn Mae Post

Arts theme announced by Isabella Ebbert

Downtown GR rings in the holiday season by Morgan Anderson

Over the Rhine brings Christmas to Calvin by Brandon Schreur

How the tax reform bill affects Calvin students by Peter Ford

Worship institute launches new video series to serve churches by Ben Demaso

Vista Deficiency Attenuates Antibody-Induced Arthritis And Alters Macrophage Gene Expression In Response To Simulated Immune Complexes, Sabrina Ceeraz, Susan K. Eszterhas, Petra Sergent, David A. Armstrong, Alix Ashare, Thomas Broughton, Li Wang, Dov Pechenick, Christopher M. Burns, Randolph J. Noelle, Matthew P. Vincenti, Roy A. Fava

Dartmouth Scholarship

In addition to activated T cells, the immune checkpoint inhibitor “V domain-containing Ig suppressor of T-cell activation” (VISTA) is expressed by myeloid cell types, including macrophages and neutrophils. The importance of VISTA expression by myeloid cells to antibody-induced arthritis and its potential for relevance in human disease was evaluated. Methods: VISTA was immunolocalized in normal and arthritic human synovial tissue sections and synovial tissue lysates were subjected to western blot analysis. The collagen antibody-induced arthritis model (CAIA) was performed with DBA/1 J mice treated with antibodies against VISTA and with VISTA-deficient mice (V-KO). Total mRNA from arthritic joints, spleens, and …

A Correlation Study On Soil Selenium Content And Diabetes Mellitus In Contiguous United States, Yang-Chih Tsao

Theses and Dissertations

Selenium, the essential trace element, is well known as its antioxidant function, antiviral properties, and its anti-inflammatory function to human health. The relationships between selenium status and diabetes mellitus have been widely studied, but the consistency of results is lacking. This study used diagnosed diabetes incidence from year 2004 to 2012 and soil selenium content by counties within 48 contiguous states in the U.S. with Generalized Linear Mixed Model- R-Side as the major statistical method to determine whether there is a significant correlation or not. Results showed that the diagnosed diabetes population had been increased from 2004 to 2012 for …

Use Of Software Modeling Tools To Understand Population Health Dynamics: Application To Bovine Respiratory Disease In Us Beef Calves Prior To Weaning, Min Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a significant health problem for cattle producers in terms of economic cost and animal welfare. In the United States (US), it is one of the leading causes of sickness and death in beef calves prior to weaning. Although much research has been conducted to develop vaccines for prevention and antibiotics for treatment, the morbidity and mortality of BRD in beef calves prior to weaning has not improved over the years. The identification of risk factors associated with BRD is an area of focus which might ultimately allow producers to minimize morbidity and mortality from BRD. …

Characterization Of Type Vi Secretion System In Edwardsiella Ictaluri, Safak Kalindamar

Theses and Dissertations

Edwardsiella ictaluri causes enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC), which is one of the most important bacterial diseases causing significant economic losses in the US catfish industry. Understanding the virulence mechanisms of E. ictaluri plays a vital role to develop preventives, such as vaccines for the disease. Therefore, further research is necessary to discover the new virulence mechanisms of this pathogen. The long-term goal of our group is to determine the mechanism of E. ictaluri pathogenesis and to develop effective live attenuated vaccines against ESC. The overall goal of this project is to understand the role of Type 6 secretion system …

Chemical Signaling By Giant Pandas To Communicate Sexual Receptivity, Abbey Elaine Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

As solitary animals, giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) rely on chemical communication in order to determine reproductive condition of conspecifics. Therefore, we hypothesize certain biogenic volatile compounds affect mating behavior in giant pandas. Giant pandas housed at Memphis Zoo, Zoo Atlanta, San Diego Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, and Toronto Zoo (n=5 males and n=5 females) were the subjects of this study. Urine, anatomical site, and environmental samples were collected during the breeding period (Feb-June) and non-breeding period (Aug-Dec) from 2012-2016. Volatile compounds in urine and the environment were extracted using solid phase micro-extraction (SPME), while compounds collected from various body sites of …

Compassion And Communication Experiences Of Fourth-Year Veterinarians-In-Training, Chelsey Leigh Hess-Holden

Theses and Dissertations

Veterinary medicine is an intense profession that begins with rigorous and demanding veterinary training. Within veterinary training, technical competencies generally receive more attention and emphasis than non-technical competencies, leaving many veterinarians at increased risk for compassion fatigue and other forms of mental illness. Two non-technical competencies that need further empirical investigation are communication and the influence of compassion on veterinarians. Communication is central to veterinary success; communication style was measured using the Communication Styles Inventory. Compassion has been recognized as having both positive effects (satisfaction) and negative effects (fatigue); compassion experiences were measured using a version of the Professional Quality …

Controlling Forage Weed Species Detrimental To Livestock Production, David Pierce Russell

Theses and Dissertations

Among the vast diversity of plants in the mid-South to which grazing livestock are exposed, there is a need to address certain species that are potentially harmful to livestock health and production. Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted on endophyte-infected tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort = Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.], a cool-season perennial forage, and perilla mint, (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton) an herbaceous annual, to determine management techniques and control measures for healthier pasture and livestock systems. When seedheads reached maturity, spring and autumn glyphosate applications at 1.68 kg ae ha-1, coupled with autumn tillage and summer and winter …

Effects Of Leukoreduction And Storage On Erythrocyte Phosphatidylserine Expression And Eicosanoid Concentrations In Units Of Canine Packed Red Blood Cells, Samantha Muro

Theses and Dissertations

Storage of canine packed red blood cells (pRBCs) can increase erythrocyte phosphatidylserine (PS) expression and eicosanoid concentrations. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of leukoreduction on erythrocyte PS expression and eicosanoid concentrations in stored units of canine pRBCs. Units of whole blood were leukoreduced (LR) or non-leukoreduced (non-LR), and stored (10 and 21 days) as pRBCs. Samples were collected at donation, and before and after a simulated transfusion. PS expression was measured by flow cytometry, and concentrations of arachidonic acid (AA), prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) …

Efficacy Of Novel Pyridinium Oximes In Preventing Neural Damage, Charles Andrew Leach

Theses and Dissertations

Organophosphates are neurotoxic compounds that inhibit acetylcholinesterase producing excess cholinergic stimulation. This produces various toxic signs including excitotoxic neuronal damage. Oximes can be used as a treatment for organophosphate poisoning by reactivating inhibited acetylcholinesterase. Traditional oximes do not penetrate the blood-brain barrier, limiting protection of the central nervous system. Novel, brain-penetrating oximes have the potential to protect the brain from organophosphate induced damage. Adult male rats were used to examine the ability of model organophosphates to produce neuropathology and the ability of novel oximes to prevent this damage. Additionally, adult male rats were used to examine changes in gene expression …

Ecology And Conservation Of Bird Assemblages In Native And Afforested Environments In The Northern Campos Grasslands Of Uruguay, Juan Andrés Martínez Lanfranco

Theses and Dissertations

Commercial forestry has expanded across the Rio de la Plata Grasslands (RPG) of South America in recent decades. I conducted a resource-use based study on bird communities during the 2013-2014 austral breeding season in northern Uruguay. I assessed relationships between habitat types and bird abundance as a function of vegetation structure. To compare avian responses to treatments, I included native environments, pine and eucalyptus plantations of different ages and thinning regimes. I detected differences in species richness and composition and species-specific responses in abundance along structural gradients sampled. Although poorer in species than native habitat types, tree plantations were extensively …

Effect Of Chitosan On Subterranean Termites (Reticulitermes Spp.) Mortality And Gut Bacterial Community, Olanrewaju Adeyemi Raji

Theses and Dissertations

The main objectives of this study were to investigate the applicability of chitosan as an effective wood preservative against subterranean termites, conduct metagenomic analysis of the bacterial hindgut community of Reticulitermes flavipes exposed to chitosan-treated wood, and perform chitosanase activity assay of metagenomics suggested bacterial species potentially responsible for chitosan breakdown. Chitosan showed termiticidal effects on subterranean termites at varying retention levels. Termite mortality increased when exposed to samples treated with higher chitosan concentration solutions. Approximately 40 - 100% of chitosan retained in treated-wood was leached depending on the initial retention. Post-leaching results indicate chitosan is not suitable for protection …

Epidemiology Of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli: Detection And Ecology In Beef Cattle Systems, Liesel J. Schneider

Theses and Dissertations

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are important foodborne pathogens with a bovine reservoir. For many years, research and regulations have focused on the EHEC serogroup most commonly associated with severe human illness, EHEC O157. However, six additional EHEC serogroups have been identified as important human foodborne pathogens and have been declared adulterants in raw, non-intact ground beef by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service. Collectively these seven organisms are referred to as EHEC-7. With the addition of these six pathogens, epidemiological studies are needed to estimate the probability for cattle to carry them and to identify risk …

Establishing The Structure Function Relationship Of Polypyridyl Ruthenium And Berenil-Type Compounds In The Formation Of Complexes With B-Dna And/Or G-Quadruplex Dna, Clinton Gregory Mikek

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer results from the accumulation of genetic mutations in a normal cell that ultimately result in the expression (or overexpression) of oncogenes. The design of drugs having high affinity for specific DNA sequences or structural motifs is vital to gaining a better understanding of gene expression and to the development of new cancer treatments that are based on turning off oncogene expression. This dissertation presents studies of the binding of two ligand families, Berenil (DMZ), and ruthenium polypyridyl complexes (RPCs), to B-DNA and G-quadruplex (G4) DNA. The structureunction relationships for the interaction of these ligand families with DNA were probed …

Experimental Development Of Paleoproxies : Investigation Into Anaerobic Conditions And The Amorphous Calcium Carbonate Precursor For Carbonate Minerals, Brittany M. Garner

Theses and Dissertations

Carbonate geochemistry plays an important role in understanding environmental conditions during the time of precipitation. The studies for this dissertation research were focused on carbonate precipitation and crystallization in different chemical and physical environments. The first project aimed to precipitate aragonite at low oxygen levels to identify a correlation between partitioning of trace elements and anoxic and suboxic conditions. The second study focused on the precipitation of amorphous calcium carbonate in varying magnesium concentrations to determine the identity of crystalline material after transformation of ACC. Lastly, the third project was developed to understand transformation of CaCO3 polymorphs. Specifically, whether or …

Investigating Extra Hepatic Steroid And Eicosanoid Metabolizing Enzymes In Cattle, Megan Pauline Theresa Owen

Theses and Dissertations

Steroid and eicosanoid metabolism occurs in two phases and primarily within hepatic tissues, but localized metabolism has been examined in several extra-hepatic tissues in humans and rodents. Phase I of metabolism is performed by Cytochrome P450s (CYP) that add hydroxyl groups to the carbon ring structure which is further metabolized by phase II UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT). The overall objectives of the following experiments were to: 1) determine the amount of extra-hepatic steroid metabolism within reproductive tissues of cattle across the estrous cycle; 2) determine the amount of extra-hepatic steroid metabolism and an oxylipin profile within reproductive tissues of cattle based on …

Field Methods, Sampling Strategies, Historical Documents, And Data Redundancy: A Study Of Historic Tenant Farmsteads In Leflore County, Mississippi, Jayson Jon Zoino

Theses and Dissertations

Historic tenant farmsteads are often thought to be redundant archaeological resources because of their limited temporal range and function which acts to limit the diversity of their archaeological assemblages. However, work has not been done that confirms this equivalence, and archaeologists often write off tenant farmsteads as being too modern or too disturbed to warrant investigation. This is a problematic approach as tenant farmsteads are quickly eroding from the American landscape and a representative sample of sites need to be investigated and preserved before they’re gone. This thesis tests different sampling strategies and field methods that may allow for the …

Finite Element Study On The Influence Of Bone-Implant Interface Condition On Femoral Fracture After Cementless Total Hip Replacement, Caleb Onuh Yenusah

Theses and Dissertations

Finite element analysis was performed on an implanted femur, using loads of daily living activities, performed by total hip replacement patients. A probabilistic bone fatigue failure model was utilized to analysis the risk of post-operative femoral fracture in different patient groups, depending on bone fatigue strength for young and elderly patients, and activity levels for normal and active patients. Different bone-implant interface conditions were considered: after surgery, osseointegrated, fibrous tissue covering, and loose. For young patients, the probability of failure is less than 4% for all cases. While in elderly patients, high of 28.2% and 57.9% are reported for normal …

Application Of Food Grade Coatings To Prevent Mite Infestations In Dry Cured Ham Processing Facilities, Yan Li Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

The ham mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae) is the predominant pest of dry cured hams during aging in the processing facilities. Methyl bromide is currently the only known fumigant that is effective at controlling ham mite infestations in aging houses. However, methyl bromide is being phased out of all industries and will be depleted in the near future. The research objectives were to 1) evaluate dry cured hams that have been treated with previously developed food grade coatings for sensory differences, and 2) to develop and determine the efficacy of ham nets incorporated with food grade coatings on controlling …

Application Of Non-Targeted Volatile Metabolomics In Plant Pathology, Jinyan She

Theses and Dissertations

Our study focuses on the application of volatile metabolomics and chemometrics in plant pathology. Specifically, volatile metabolites or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the American chestnut tree (Castanea dentata) and its pathogenic fungus Cryphonectria parasitica have been investigated. The American chestnut was once a dominant tree species in the eastern forests of the United States. However, it was nearly devastated by the fungal pathogen C. parasitica. The loss of this tree species has significantly impacted the ecosystem. Therefore, preservation and restoration of American chestnut are crucial. Chapter one provides an overview of mass spectrometry based volatile metabolomics and their implementation …

Genome Maintenance By Selenoprotein H In The Nucleolus, Li Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Selenoprotein H (SELENOH) is a nucleolar oxidoreductase with DNA binding properties whose function is not well understood. To determine the functional and physiological roles of SELENOH, a knockout of SELENOH was generated in cell lines using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genomic deletion and in mice by targeted disruption. Based on the sequenced genome, the results of deduced protein sequences indicated various forms of mutants in the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout, including a frame-shift by aberrant splicing and truncated SELENOH by early termination of the translation process. Loss of SELENOH in HeLa cells induced slow cell proliferation, the formation of giant multinucleated cells, accumulation of unrepaired …

Genomics And Molecular Approaches To Delineate Pathogenesis Of Aeromonas Hydrophila, Aeromonas Veronii, And Edwardsiella Piscicida Infections In Fish, Hasan Cihad Tekedar

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. aquaculture industry has become well established in the last three decades, and channel catfish aquaculture is the most significant component of this industry. Virulent Aeromonas hydrophila has been a serious disease problem since 2009 in the U.S. catfish aquaculture, and Aeromonas veronii and Edwardsiella piscicida are emerging pathogens of catfish. Therefore, this study aims to address fundamental questions on virulence mechanisms of these three fish pathogens, which I expect to support the development of control measures for preventing these diseases. In this study, E. piscicida and virulent Aeromonas hydrophila (vAh) genomes were sequenced, and comparative analyses were conducted …

Skeletal Blast Trauma: An Application Of Clinical Literature And Current Methods In Forensic Anthropology To Known Blast Trauma Casualties, Petra Banks

Theses and Dissertations

In order to examine the feasibility of assessing blast event conditions from bone and to distinguish blast trauma from aircraft crash trauma, this study attempts to determine if the observations made in clinical research are mirrored in skeletal remains of individuals who died in blast events. Research was conducted by assessing the frequency of different forms of trauma and their comparison to aircraft crash trauma, the directionality of trauma, and open-air versus enclosed blast trauma. Data consisted of historic and forensic anthropology reports of individuals who died from blast events and aircraft crashes from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). …

Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer Analysis Of The Pylos Linear B Tablets, Billy B. Wilemon

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates similarities and differences in the chemistry of the Linear B clay tablets and sealings found at the Palace of Nestor in Pylos, located in the western Peloponnese, Greece. Their chemistry provides clues regarding the flow of material goods in and out of the palace and therefore to the degree of centralization of the political-economy. Over a thousand 3,000 year-old clay tablets and sealings currently housed at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens were analyzed using a pXRF over the course of the summers of 2015 and 2016. The chemical compositions were analyzed statistically. Results of the study …