Digital Commons Network^™

Usa V. Adrian Mckenzie

2017 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Relative Contribution Of Neutral And Deterministic Processes In Shaping Fruit-Feeding Butterfly Assemblages In Afrotropical Forests, Kwaku Aduse-Poku, Freerk Molleman, William Oduro, Samuel K. Oppong, David J. Lohman, Rampal S. Etienne

Publications and Research

The unified neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography has gained the status of a quantitative null model for explaining patterns in ecological (meta)communities. The theory assumes that individuals of trophically similar species are functionally equivalent. We empirically evaluate the relative contribution of neutral and deterministic processes in shaping fruit-feeding butterfly assemblages in three tropical forests in Africa, using both direct (confronting the neutral model with species abundance data) and indirect approaches (testing the predictions of neutral theory using data other than species abundance distributions). Abundance data were obtained by sampling butterflies using banana baited traps set at the forest canopy …

Joan Kedra V. Richard Schroeter

2017 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Robust Expression Of Tumor Suppressor Mirna's Let-7 And Mir-195 Detected In Plasma Of Saudi Female Breast Cancer Patients., Amal Qattan, Haya Intabli, Wafa Alkhayal, Chafica Eltabache, Taher Tweigieri, Suad Bin Amer

Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

Female breast cancer is frequently diagnosed at a later stage and the leading cause of cancer deaths world-wide. Levels of cell-free circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) can potentially be used as biomarkers to measure disease progression in breast cancer patients in a non-invasive way and are therefore of high clinical value.

Methods

Using quantitative RT-PCR, circulating miRNAs were measured in blood samples collected from disease-free individuals (n = 34), triple-negative breast tumours (TNBC) (n = 36) and luminal tumours (n = 57). In addition to intergroup comparisons, plasma miRNA expression levels of all groups were analyzed against RNASeq …

Transcriptome-Wide Identification Of The Rna-Binding Landscape Of The Chromatin-Associated Protein Parp1 Reveals Functions In Rna Biogenesis, Manana Melikishvili, Julia H. Chariker, Eric C. Rouchka, Yvonne N. Fondufe-Mittendorf

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Recent studies implicate Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) in alternative splicing regulation, and PARP1 may be an RNA-binding protein. However, detailed knowledge of RNA targets and the RNA-binding region for PARP1 are unknown. Here we report the first global study of PARP1–RNA interactions using PAR–CLIP in HeLa cells. We identified a largely overlapping set of 22 142 PARP1–RNA-binding peaks mapping to mRNAs, with 20 484 sites located in intronic regions. PARP1 preferentially bound RNA containing GC-rich sequences. Using a Bayesian model, we determined positional effects of PARP1 on regulated exon-skipping events: PARP1 binding upstream and downstream of the skipped exons …

Quantitative Trait Locus Mapping Of Populus Bark Features And Stem Diameter, Roba Bdeir, Wellington Muchero, Yordan Yordanov, Gerald Tuskan, Victor B. Busov, Oliver Gailing

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Background

Bark plays important roles in photosynthate transport and storage, along with physical and chemical protection. Bark texture varies extensively among species, from smooth to fissured to deeply furrowed, but its genetic control is unknown. This study sought to determine the main genomic regions associated with natural variation in bark features and stem diameter. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) were mapped using an interspecific pseudo-backcross pedigree (Populus trichocarpa x P. deltoides and P. deltoides) for bark texture, bark thickness and diameter collected across three years, two sites and three biological replicates per site.

Results

QTL specific to bark texture …

Curricular Report No. 2017-18-2 From The Graduate Council To The Faculty Senate: Curricular Changes, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Educational Strategies For Preventing And Managing Coronary Artery Disease (Cad), Anna M. Mills

The University Honors Program

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death in the United States and many older people suffer from this disease (Luisi et al., 2015). It is vital that nurses understand the importance of education, good nursing care, and support in improving patient outcomes. Nurses care for patients with heart disease every day and it is important that nurses have a good understanding of the disease process, how to effectively educate patients, and how to care for them in hospital and community settings. The purpose of this project is to (1) perform a comprehensive literature review regarding prevention, education, …

Bergeman V. Select Portfolio Servicing Clerk's Record Dckt. 45338

Idaho Supreme Court Records & Briefs, All

No abstract provided.

Marquez V. Pierce Painting, Inc. Appellant's Brief Dckt. 45415

Idaho Supreme Court Records & Briefs, All

No abstract provided.

Attractiveness As A Function Of Skin Tone And Facial Features: Evidence From Categorization Studies, Elena V. Stepanova, Michael J. Strube

Faculty Publications

Participants rated the attractiveness and racial typicality of male faces varying in their facial features from Afrocentric to Eurocentric and in skin tone from dark to light in two experiments. Experiment 1 provided evidence that facial features and skin tone have an interactive effect on perceptions of attractiveness and mixed-race faces are perceived as more attractive than single-race faces. Experiment 2 further confirmed that faces with medium levels of skin tone and facial features are perceived as more attractive than faces with extreme levels of these factors. Black phenotypes (combinations of dark skin tone and Afrocentric facial features) were rated …

Daily Eastern News: November 28, 2017, Eastern Illinois University

November

No abstract provided.

Late Quaternary Fluvial History Of Santa Cruz Island, California, Usa, R. Randall Schumann, Jeffrey S. Pigati

Western North American Naturalist

The geologic history of fluvial systems on Santa Cruz Island (SCI) is complex, involving responses to both allogenic and autogenic forcings. During periods of low or lowering sea level, canyons on the island were eroded and sediment was transported off the island onto the exposed marine shelf. When sea level rose, streams aggraded, building a sedimentary wedge that progressed from the shelf upstream into the canyons. This cycle of erosion and aggradation in response to glacial–interglacial sea-level cycles was likely repeated numerous times during the Quaternary, although clear evidence of only the most recent cycle is present in the island’s …

Sexual Orientation In Canada's Revised Refugee Determination System: An Empirical Snapshot, Sean Rehaag

Articles & Book Chapters

This is one of several articles in a special issue to celebrate Nicole LaViolette's research contributions relating to intersections between gender and sexual orientation in Canadian and international law of forced migration. Inspired by three aspects of LaViolette's research, the article offers a snapshot of how Canada's recently revised refugee determination system addresses refugee claims involving allegations of persecution due to sexual orientation. Using data obtained through access to information requests about 18,221 principal applicant refugee determinations from 2013 to 2015, the article examines patterns in outcomes in cases categorized by the Immigration and Refugee Board as involving sexual orientation. …

Methane- And Dissolved Organic Carbon-Fueled Microbial Loop Supports A Tropical Subterranean Estuary Ecosystem, D. Brankovits, J. W. Pohlman, H. Niemann

KIP Articles

Subterranean estuaries extend inland into density-stratified coastal carbonate aquifers containing a surprising diversity of endemic animals (mostly crustaceans) within a highly oligotrophic habitat. How complex ecosystems (termed anchialine) thrive in this globally distributed, cryptic environment is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that a microbial loop shuttles methane and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to higher trophic levels of the anchialine food web in the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). Methane and DOC production and consumption within the coastal groundwater correspond with a microbial community capable of methanotrophy, heterotrophy, and chemoautotrophy, based on characterization by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and respiratory quinone composition. …

Design And Simulation Of An 8-Bit Successive Approximation Register Charge-Redistribution Analog-To-Digital Converter, Sumit K. Verma

Electrical Engineering Theses

The thesis initially investigates the history of the monolithic ADCs. The next chapter explores the different types of ADCs available in the market today. Next, the operation of a 4-bit SAR ADC has been studied. Based on this analysis, an 8-bit charge-redistribution SAR ADC has been designed and simulated with Multisim (National Instruments, Austin, TX). The design is divided into different blocks which are individually implemented and tested. Level-1 SPICE MOSFET models representative of 5μm devices were used wherever individual MOSFETs were used in the design. Finally, the power dissipation during the conversion period was also estimated. The supply voltage …

Contents Full Article Content List Abstract Introduction How Media Affects Attitudes Media And Law Enforcement Public Perception Of And Support For Torture Linking Public Opinion And Policy Experimental Design Participants Results Discussion Future Directions Policy Implications Acknowledgements Notes References Did You Struggle To Get Access To This Article? This Product Could Help You Lean Library Figures & Tables Article Metrics Related Articles Cite Share Request Permissions Explore More Download Pdf Open Epub “If Torture Is Wrong, What About 24?” Torture And The Hollywood Effect, Erin M. Kearns, Joseph K. Young

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Since 9/11, entertainment media has focused on depictions of terrorism and counterterrorism. How do dramatic depictions of counterterrorism practices—specifically torture—affect public opinion and policy? Using a mixed within-subjects and between-subjects experimental design, we examine how framing affects support for torture. Participants (n = 150) were randomly assigned to a condition for dramatic depictions showing torture as (a) effective, (b) ineffective, or (c) not present (control). Participants who saw torture as effective increased their stated support for it. Participants who saw torture—regardless of whether or not it was effective—were more likely to sign a petition on …

Improved Grade Outcomes With An E-Mailed “Grade Nudge”, Ben O. Smith, Dustin R. White, Patricia C. Kuzyk, James E. Tierney

Economics Faculty Publications

Information provided at the moment a person makes a decision can influence behavior in predictable ways. The United Kingdom's Behavioural Insights Team have used this idea to help improve the insulation of lofts, collect taxes, and even reduce litter. The authors of this article developed software that appends a personalized message to each assignment in the class regarding the student's current grade. This “grade nudge” explains precisely how the assignment will impact the student's final grade given their current standing in the class. Through a randomized trial, the authors show that the nudge improves student homework performance by about four …

Snow Accumulation Variability Over The West Antarctic Ice Sheet Since 1900: A Comparison Of Ice Core Records With Era‐20c Reanalysis, Yetang Wang, Elizabeth R. Thomas, Shugui Hou, Baojuan Huai, Shuang-Ye Wu, Weijun Sun, Shanzhong Qi, Minghu Ding, Yulun Zhang

Department of Earth, Environment and Sustainability Faculty Publications

This study uses a set of 37 firn core records over the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) to test the performance of the twentieth century from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ERA‐20C) reanalysis for snow accumulation and quantify temporal variability in snow accumulation since 1900. The firn cores are allocated to four geographical areas demarcated by drainage divides (i.e., Antarctic Peninsula (AP), western WAIS, central WAIS, and eastern WAIS) to calculate stacked records of regional snow accumulation. Our results show that the interannual variability in ERA‐20C precipitation minus evaporation (P − E) agrees well with the corresponding ice …

Challenges In Characterizing The Environmental Fate And Effects Of Carbon Nanotubes And Inorganic Nanomaterials In Aquatic Systems, Peter Laux, Christian Riebeling, Andy M. Booth, Joseph D. Brain, Josephine Brunner, Cristina Cerrillo, Otto Creutzenberg, Irina Estrela-Lopis, Thomas Gebel, Gunnar Johanson, Harald Jungnickel, Heiko Kock, Jutta Tentschert, Ahmed Tlili, Andreas Schäffer, Adriënne J. A. M. Sips, Robert A. Yokel, Andreas Luch

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

The current lack of commonly used protocols for dispersion, characterization, and aquatic toxicity testing of nanomaterials (NMs) has resulted in inconsistent results, which make meaningful comparisons difficult. The need for standardized sample preparation procedures that allow the reproducible generation of relevant test conditions remains a key challenge for studies of the environmental fate and aquatic toxicity of NMs. Together with the further development of optimized and cost-effective analytical techniques for physicochemical characterization that depend on reproducible sample preparation, such methods have the potential to overcome the current uncertainties with regard to NM dispersion properties, effective dose, and particle dissolution. In …

Intermountain Surgical, Llc, Petitioner / Appellant, Vs. Whitney A. Nesbitt, Jacob C. Loveland, Ignacio Buenrostro, Ester Buenorostro, And Hon. Ryal I. Hansen Respondents / Appellees., Utah Court Of Appeals

Utah Court of Appeals Briefs (2007– 2019)

On Petition for Writ of Extraordinary Relief from the Order of the Honorable Royal I. Hansen, Third District Court Judge, Utah Case No. 160902137

Proposed Statement On Auditing Standards, Omnibus Statement On Auditing Standards—2018, November 28, 2017, Comments Are Requested By May 15, 2018; Exposure Draft (American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants), 2017, November 28, American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants. Auditing Standards Board

Exposure Drafts, Comment Letters, and Statements of Position

No abstract provided.

Proposed Statements On Auditing Standards—Auditor Reporting: Forming An Opinion And Reporting On Financial Statements, Communicating Key Audit Matters In The Independent Auditor’S Report, Modifications To The Opinion In The Independent Auditor’S Report, Emphasis-Of-Matter Paragraphs And Other-Matter Paragraphs In The Independent Auditor’S Report, Proposed Amendments—Addressing Disclosures In The Audit Of Financial Statements, November 28, 2017,Comments Are Requested By May 15, 2018; Exposure Draft (American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants), 2017, November 28, American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants. Auditing Standards Board

Exposure Drafts, Comment Letters, and Statements of Position

No abstract provided.

Creating Effective Style Documents: A Practicum In Trade Publication, Kristen Tardio

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

It is no secret that the field of publication thrives on collaboration: among publishers, editorial and production team members, designers, marketing and publicity staff, sales representatives and promoters, authors, illustrators, reviewers, and, of course, readers. However, an equally important yet less-explored relationship exists within this industry, between publishing staff and a text itself. As such, despite this crucial connection, the technical means by which the final product is created may also be overlooked.

This practicum examines these technical resources: style guides/sheets (especially for house style), their creation, and their usage in publishing, specifically how they pertain to sales material. Also …

Feasibility Of Using Virtual Reality In Requirements Elicitation Process, Aman Bhimani

Master of Science in Software Engineering Theses

Contemporary Virtual Reality (VR) technologies offer an increasing number of functionalities including head-mounted displays (HMD), haptic and sound feedback, as well as motion tracking. This gives us the opportunity to leverage the immersive power offered by these technologies in the context of requirements elicitation, especially to surface those requirements that cannot be expressed via traditional techniques such as interviews and focus groups. The goal of this thesis is to survey uses of VR in requirements engineering, and to describe a method of elicitation using VR as a tool.

To validate the methodology, a research plan is developed with a strong …

State V. Hjelm Respondent's Brief Dckt. 44749

Not Reported

No abstract provided.

State V. Wickham Appellant's Brief Dckt. 45017

Not Reported

No abstract provided.

Next Generation Repositories: Behaviours And Technical Recommendations Of The Coar Next Generation Repositories Working Group, Confederation Of Open Access Repositories, Eloy Rodrigues, Kathleen Shearer

Copyright, Fair Use, Scholarly Communication, etc.

In April 2016, the Confederation of Open Access Repositories (COAR) launched the Next Generation Repository Working Group to identify new functionalities and technologies for repositories. In this report, we are pleased to present the results of the work of this group, including recommendations for the adoption of new technologies, standards, and protocols that will help repositories become more integrated into the web environment and enable them to play a larger role in the scholarly communication ecosystem.

At COAR, we believe the globally distributed network of more than 3000 repositories can be leveraged to create a more sustainable and innovative system …

Individual, Not Collective: Justifying The Resort To Force Against Members Of Non-State Armed Groups, Anthony Dworkin

International Law Studies

This article proposes an alternative to the conventional way of deciding when a State may target or detain members of an armed group. Instead of asking whether there is an armed conflict between the State and the group, this article argues that we should look at the State’s justification for the use of force against the group or its members. In a non-international context, this justification is rooted in human rights law. For this reason, the authorization for the resort to force operates on an individual basis, and the State is only justified in using force against individual members of …

Estimating Wildlife Biodiversity Of Pine Plantation Edges Of Contrasting Rotational Stages: A Case Study, Joshua Perry Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ESTIMATING WILDLIFE BIODIVERSITY OF PINE PLANTATION EDGES OF CONTRASTING ROTATIONAL STAGES: A CASE STUDY

By: Joshua Harris, Dr. Daniel Scognamillo, Dr. Gary Kronrad, and Dr. Jeremy Stovall

Abstract

Wildlife biodiversity was estimated amongst three loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) intra-plantation edge types of contrasting rotational phases in a two-year case study. Three structurally varied rotational phases that occur throughout plantation rotations combine to make three different edges: A= pre-thinned - post-thinned, B= pre-thinned - pre-clearcut, and C= post-thinned - pre-clearcut. For two summer seasons (May-August 2015-2016), invertebrates, birds, medium mammals, and small mammals were sampled in each edge type. …