Digital Commons Network^™

Prevalence Of A Vertically Transmitted Single-Stranded Dna Virus In Spinybacked Orbweavers (Gasteracantha Cancriformis) From Florida, Usa, Karyna Rosario, Kaitlin A. Mettel, Anthony M. Greco, Mya Breitbart

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Spiders (order Araneae, class Arachnida) are an important group of predatory arthropods in terrestrial ecosystems that have been recently identified as an untapped reservoir of single-stranded (ss)DNA viruses. Specifically, spiders harbour a diversity of ssDNA viruses encoding a replication-associated protein (Rep) within a circular genome. However, little is known about the ecology of novel circular Rep-encoding ssDNA (CRESS DNA) viruses. Here we investigated two CRESS DNA viruses recently identified in spinybacked orbweavers (Gasteracantha cancriformis), namely spinybacked orbweaver circular virus (SpOrbCV) 1 and 2. SpOrbCV-1 was detected in the majority (> 65 %) of spider specimens from all life …

Sources Of Carbon To Suspended Particulate Organic Matter In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Kelsey L. Rogers, Samantha H Bosman, Sarah Weber, Cedric Magen, Joseph P. Montoya, Jeffrey Chanton

C-IMAGE Publications

Suspended particulate organic carbon (POC_susp) in the Gulf of Mexico is unique compared to other seas and oceans. In addition to surface primary production, isotopic analysis indicates that microbial cycling of oil and riverine inputs are primary sources of carbon to POC_susp in the Gulf. To characterize POC_susp from seep sites and non-seep north central Gulf (NCG) sites potentially affected by the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) spill, we analyzed 277 and 123 samples for δ¹³C and Δ¹⁴C signatures, respectively. Depth, partitioned into euphotic ( < 300 m) and deep ( > 300 m), was the main driver of spatial δ …

Inclusion In International Schools: Achieving Academic Excellence And Education For All, Marla Starr Hall

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inclusion of students with diverse learning profiles is a rapidly growing trend, yet no research exists on the implementation of inclusive programming in international schools. As diversity becomes more important in the globalized world and it becomes more important to equip all students with job skills for the modern age, international schools will need to provide effective and efficient programming for a wide variety of learning profiles. At the same time, international schools must provide students with a high-quality academic education that yields top measurable results in order to ensure that their students remain competitive in an ever more competitive …

Journal In Entirety, David R. Bauer, Lindy D. Backues, Kenneth W. Brewer, Anthony J. Headley

The Journal of Inductive Biblical Studies

No abstract provided.

Radiomic Feature Stability Across 4d Respiratory Phases And Its Impact On Lung Tumor Prognosis Prediction, Qian Du, Michael Baine, Kyle Bavitz, Josiah Mcallister, Xiaoying Liang, Hongfeng Yu, Jeffrey Ryckman, Lina Yu, Hengle Jiang, Sumin Zhou, Sumin Zhou, Chi Zhang, Dandan Zheng

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Radiomic analysis has recently demonstrated versatile uses in improving diagnostic and prognostic prediction accuracy for lung cancer. However, since lung tumors are subject to substantial motion due to respiration, the stability of radiomic features over the respiratory cycle of the patient needs to be investigated to better evaluate the robustness of the interpatient feature variability for clinical applications, and its impact in such applications needs to be assessed. A full panel of 841 radiomic features, including tumor intensity, shape, texture, and wavelet features, were extracted from individual phases of a four-dimensional (4D) computed tomography on 20 early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer …

Large Pelvic Tubercle In Orangutans Relates To The Adductor Longus Muscle, Brian M. Shearer, Magdalena Muchlinski, Ashley S. Hammond

Publications and Research

Orangutan pelves commonly exhibit a large, projecting tubercle in the iliopubic region, historically assumed to homologous to the pubic tubercle in humans. However, it is not clear whether this tubercle is a unique feature of Pongo, or if it is anatomically homologous with the human pubic tubercle when considered as a soft tissue attachment point. To clarify this issue, we dissected orangutan and other ape cadaveric specimens to evaluate the pelvic brim soft tissues and how they may relate to the tubercle (when present). We additionally conducted a broad osteological survey of pelvic brim morphology across 28 primate genera …

An Ensemble Of Flexible Conformations Underlies Mechanotransduction By The Cadherin–Catenin Adhesion Complex, Martin Bush, Bashir M. Alhanshali, Shuo Qian, Christopher B. Stanley, William T. Heller, Tsutomu Matsui, Thomas M. Weiss, Iain D. Nicholl, Thomas Walz, David J. E. Callaway, Zimei Bu

Publications and Research

The cadherin–catenin adhesion complex is the central component of the cell–cell adhesion adherens junctions that transmit mechanical stress from cell to cell. We have determined the nanoscale structure of the adherens junction complex formed by the α-catenin•β-catenin•epithelial cadherin cytoplasmic domain (ABE) using negative stain electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and selective deuteration/small-angle neutron scattering. The ABE complex is highly pliable and displays a wide spectrum of flexible structures that are facilitated by protein-domain motions in α- and β-catenin. Moreover, the 107-residue intrinsically disordered N-terminal segment of β-catenin forms a flexible “tongue” that is inserted into α-catenin and participates in the …

Arena Size Modulates Functional Responses Via Behavioral Mechanisms, Stella F. Uiterwaal, Anthony I. Dell, John P. Delong

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Laboratory-based functional response experiments, in which foraging rates are measured across a range of resource densities, are central for determining trophic interaction strength. Historically these experiments often are performed in arbitrarily sized arenas, with larger sized organisms generally used in larger arenas. However, arena size influences foraging rates and therefore also estimates of the functional response parameters, particularly space clearance rate (attack rate). We hypothesized that nonrandom movement within arenas by predators and prey may explain this effect. To test this hypothesis, we video-recorded Schizocosa ocreata wolf spiders (predators) and flightless Drosophila melanogaster prey in circular arenas of 3 different …

The Effect Of Ionising Radiation On Mussels, Emily Vernon

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Ionising radiations have undoubtedly played a vital role in modern society. There is however growing concern of their increasing presence in the environment whether by permitted or accidental release, along with other contaminants. While the effects of ionising radiation (IR) on human and mammalian models are well studied, the impacts on aquatic organisms, which play important roles for ecosystem sustainability are yet to be fully understood. This is particularly for chronic, low dose, environmentally relevant exposures, bearing in mind that many of the discharged radionuclides have long half-lives, to which biota are exposed. In this context a multi-biomarker, multi-species approach …

Behavioural And Ecophysiological Responses Of Marine Benthos To Ocean Acidification And Warming, Ee Zin Ong

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations (CO2) are projected to rise from 400 ppm to 1000 ppm by the end of 21st century. The increase in atmospheric CO2 has been absorbed by the ocean resulting in a process called ocean acidification. Concurrently, the increase of atmospheric CO2 also intensifies the greenhouse effect, resulting in an increase of ocean surface temperature. The progressive modification of ocean environment is expected to affect marine ecosystems via changes in species behaviour, physiology and survival that will determine population, interaction within the community, with implications for biodiversity-mediated ecosystem functioning. Therefore, studying the combined effects of both …

Antimicrobial Activity Of Eucalyptus Essential Oil, Pitsanee Wichantuk, Marut Tangwattanachuleeporn

Asian Medical Journal and Alternative Medicine

Introduction: Eucalyptus essential oil has long been used in traditional medicine such as an antiseptic to treat colds, coughs and cure the inflammation. Literature reviews shows that, Eucalyptus
essential oil contained several bioactive compounds and has pharmacological effects of antimicrobial activity. The objective of this research aims to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal
activities of essential oil from leaves of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. against 17 bacterial species and 6 yeast species.

Method: The essential oil from leaves of E. globulus Labill. was extracted by steam distillation. The antibacterial and antifungal activities were determined using disc diffusion method.

Result: The results …

A Two-Fold Study Of Equine Weaning Practices And Behaviours Displayed Following Mare Removal, Catherine Mcmeeking

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The behavioural effects on the foal and dam during weaning in horses are well documented and it is commonly agreed that both are likely to suffer from stress at this time. Many different weaning methods are employed worldwide, with no indication of the least stress inducing. This study has two aims. First, to document frequency of weaning method, type of breeder, foal age at the time of mare removal and reason for use of weaning method. Second, to compare behaviours following abrupt and gradual weaning methods. The first aim was addressed by a questionnaire distributed globally via social media and …

Optical Properties Of Iii-V Nanowire/Nanopillar Lasers Grown On Si, Juan Salvador Dominguez Morales

Theses

Nanowires (NW) /nanopillars (NP) offer the possibility of reducing the mismatch of III-V semiconductor materials grown on different substrates such as Si, SiN, SiO2 and are hence being considered potential candidates for coherent light sources in optoelectronics technologies. The difference between NPs and NWs lies in the growth process. The NPs are site-controlled using a patterned mask, while the NWs use a self-catalysed such as gold or Ga-droplet.. In this dissertation, the emission properties of GaAs/AlGaAs (core-shell and core-multishell) and InGaAs (unpassivated and passivated with InGaP) nanolasers have been studied with excitation powers above and below the lasing threshold at …

Crystallographic Structure Determination Of Bacteriophage-Encoded Enzymes That Specifically Target Pathogenic Bacteria, Marta Sanz Gaitero

Theses

Antibiotic resistance is becoming a serious public health concern. Infections that some decades ago could be treated with antibiotics now sometimes do not respond to traditional treatment, causing higher mortality and economic losses. An alternative to the use of antibiotics are bacteria's natural predators, bacteriophages (or phages), and specifically their lytic enzymes. These proteins are produced by phages to degrade bacterial peptidoglycan to inject their genetic material into the bacteria (virion-associated peptidoglycan hydrolases) or to release their progeny once the infection is finished (endolysins). They can be applied exogenously to lyse Gram-positive bacteria or be genetically engineered to lyse Gram-negative …

An Investigation Of The Impact Of Nursing Support And The Financial Implications Associated With Cpap Adherence, Christine Brunnick

Theses

The prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is increasing. As the prevalence of OSA increases, as does the need for the condition to be treated effectively to reduce several risk factors which increase both mortality and morbidity rates. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is easily recognised as the most effective treatment for OSA. Despite the recognised benefits of CPAP therapy, adherence rates reported worldwide remain suboptimal. A transitional change within the Irish healthcare system means that private medical device companies will provide CPAP devices in specific contractual regions throughout Ireland. This change presents challenges and opportunities for policymakers. This …

Teaching Music Literacy In Beginning Band: A Review Of Method Books And A Proposed Alternative Method, Haley Caroline Harrington

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to review current band methodologies, specifically for the beginning band, and identify the current process of teaching music literacy. For beginning bands, music literacy instruction is a powerful tool music students use to be successful at sight-reading. It cannot be assumed that simply because students perform music on instruments, they also will achieve high ratings at sight-reading. Brain-compatible learning may offer a solution in addressing the issue with how beginning band students are taught to read music. Therefore, this study will propose a more effective method, applying the Music Learning Theory of Edwin Gordon …

The Impact Of Gender Normed Scoring Of The Brief Symptom Inventory On Trans* Individuals, Ashley Megan Bieze Wilson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to investigate the significance of the choice of gender normed scoring on the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) (Derogatis, 1993) when assessing cisgender and trans* or gender non-conforming individuals. This study compared two groups, cisgender and trans* individuals, on male and female gender normed scoring for the BSI. Each participant’s responses on the BSI were scored using both male and female norms and the number of clinically significant elevations (T-score ≥ 63) was counted. Results indicated that regardless of gender identity or sex-assigned-at-birth (SAAB), a higher mean number of elevations was found when using male …

The Effects Of Parental Engagement In Early Childhood On Academic Achievement In Adolescence, Alex Velez

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Parental involvement and engagement have been used interchangeably in research regarding the academic outcomes of children. The current study assessed parental engagement and its relationship to academic achievement in adolescence. Specifically, the study looked at parental engagement with children aged 3 and its effects on academic achievement at age 15 in 1-parent and 2-parent homes. Exploratory analyses were also conducted to examine the effect of ethnicity on the relationship between parental engagement and academic achievement. Data were taken from participants (N = 3350) who were a part of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study, a longitudinal dataset. Findings showed …

Predicting Academic Achievement With The Kaufman Assessment Battery For Children—Second Edition, Amy Cherry

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Intelligence progresses in measurable and predictable stages and IQ tests are used to test basic intellectual functioning, such as conceptual thinking, language, and problem solving. The IQ test is used to diagnose developmental disabilities as well as learning disabilities and intellectual disabilities in schools. School aged children may be given an IQ test to determine eligibility and placement for special education services and to pinpoint specific deficits and/or strengths. Part of the strength of using IQ tests is their ability to predict specific attributes, such as academic skills and adaptive skills. However, these correlations change with the child’s age. …

Properties And Applications Of Tetraalkylphosphonium Alkylsulfate Ionic Liquids And 3d Printed Polymerized Ionic Liquids, Mustafa Mohammed Alhussain

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Ionic liquids (ILs) are defined as pure salts with a melting temperature below 100 °C with a subset called room-temperature ILs (RTILs) with melting temperatures at or below room temperature. The sizes of the cation and anion play a critical role in determining the properties, with smaller ions forming stronger ionic forces and packing better, raising viscosity and lowering conductivity of the IL. At the same time, intermolecular forces such as van der Waals and hydrogen bonding can play a role in IL properties as well. Our research described herein is focused on three tetraalkylphosphonium-based cations coupled with three alkylsulfate …

A Survey Of Kentucky School Psychologists’ Perceived Competencies To Inform State-Level Professional Development, George Cavanah

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated perceived knowledge and competencies of current Kentucky school psychologists regarding professional standards of practice. Thirty one participants responded to the survey that measured school psychologists’ perceptions across each of the 10 national standards for professional practice. A series of one-way ANOVAs were used to determine if there was significance different between the factors. Implications, limitations, and future research are discussed.

The Determination Of Gender Roles And Power Dynamics Within Female Same-Sex Couples, Sydney Faith Atwood

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this project was to explore the power dynamics between monogamous female same-sex couples, where traditional gender roles in relationships were not in play. In this study, I conducted a focus group of women who had been in lesbian relationships in the past or at the time of the study, and gathered insight into the dynamics of their relationships. I determined that same-sex couples do experience intimate partner violence, or IPV, but that their levels of masculinity and femininity were unrelated to the extent of power that they had. With this project, I hope to fill in some …

A Critique Of Aadhaar Framework, Vrinda Bhandari, Renuka Sane

National Law School of India Review

This paper critically examines the legal framework consisting of the Aadhaar Act, the Aadhaar Ordinance, and the Aadhaar Regulations from the perspective of accountability, delegation, and grievance redressal and enforcement. The paper finds that much is delegated to the Unique Identification Authority of India (‘UIDAI’) without adequate checks and balances. The UIDAI has further delegated the setting of several standards and procedures to its future self, suggesting that the process is operating in a legal vacuum. The accountability framework of the UIDAI remains weak and beset with conflict of interest, as there are no statutorily mandated accountability standards. This makes …

'What Use Is Poetry?' Excavating Tongues Of Justice Around Navtej Singh Johar V. Union Of India, Kalpana Kannabiran

National Law School of India Review

The Supreme Court of India, in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, read down Section 377 Indian Penal Code (‘S. 377’), decriminalizing sexual relations between consenting adults, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity. This marks the culmination of a long struggle for the rights of queer peoples in India and sets up several signposts for a transformative constitutionalism that bear recall. The judicial discourse on the category of “sex” in Johar points us towards pathways to historicise law as a site of cultural production. This essay looks at interpretive strategies, sources, intellectual and constitutional histories that Johar draws …

Some Studies On Leaf Spot Of Oats And Triticale, Mohammed Abdullah Lashram

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oat is an important cereal crop, and it is considered to be among the highest used in cereal crops. It is considered among the healthiest grains due to the rich source of the soluble fiber, β-glucan that helps in lowering the cholesterol. Oat production and demand have increased considerably in the past few years due to its health benefits. South Dakota is ranked in the top three largest oat-producing states in the USA. Oat is relatively less susceptible to pest and diseases except for leaf diseases such as crown rust, Drechslera avenae leaf spot, and Stagonospora avenae leaf blotch. Leaf …

Development And Evaluation Of Vaccine Candidates For Senecavirus A, Bishwas Sharma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Senecavirus A (SVA) has been associated with several outbreaks of vesicular disease (VD) since 2014 in major swine-producing countries around the world. The virus causes VD that is clinically indistinguishable from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in pigs. Currently there are no commercial vaccines available for SVA. Here, we developed a live attenuated SVA strain by mutating a wild type SVA strain SD15-26 (wt SVA). The live attenuated virus, rSVA mSacII, replicated less efficiently in cell cultures in vitro and expressed lower amounts of VP1 and VP2 capsid proteins than wt SVA. Most importantly, the rSVA mSacII virus failed to induce clinical …

Influence Of Sporulation And Germination Behavior Of Bacillus Licheniformis On Microbial Quality Of Skim Milk Powder, Nancy Awasti

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation includes modeling of sporulation and germination behavior of Bacillus licheniformis strains during raw milk holding, tracking the survival of sporeformers and spores of high sporulating Bacillus strain during skim milk powder manufacturing. In addition, preliminary studies were done to standardize a rapid spore detection technique by using ratiometric fluorescence. To understand the role of strain variability during raw milk holding conditions, population dynamics of two strains of Bacillus licheniformis, ATCC 6634 and 14580, were modeled as a function of temperature (4.0 -12.0˚ C) and duration (0 - 72 h), using regression analysis. Based on initial spiking of vegetative …

Shrimp Production Environment And The Gut Microbiome: Effects Of Aquaculture Practices And Selective Breeding On The Gut Microbiome Of Pacific Whiteleg Shrimp, Litopenaeus Vannamei, Angela Landsman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Knowledge of the functional role of the gut microbiome in animal health and nutrition may provide solutions to shrimp aquaculture challenges, such as improving disease resistance and optimizing growth particularly with low cost feeds. Successful manipulation of bacteria found in the gut requires a deeper understanding of shrimp microbial communities and how their compositional structure is influenced by environmental conditions, and inherent host factors such as genetics. The initial research investigated the intestinal bacterial communities of the Pacific whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) reared in pond systems compared to indoor aquaculture facilities as an exploration of the effects of aquaculture practices …

Novel Hybrid Analogs Of Estrone Origin Exhibits Cytotoxic Effects Against Egfr-Dependent Cancers, Felix Acheampong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cancer is second only to cardiovascular illnesses as the deadliest human disease globally. Currently, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and triple negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) are the most frequent types of cancer and have the highest mortalities. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a central regulator of tumor progression, is frequently overexpressed in both cancers and is a key clinical target for therapeutic intervention. Natural products and their synthetic analogs have been utilized as EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with potent antitumor effects. However, acquired resistance limits the long-term efficacy of these drugs. Estrone has been used as a scaffold in …

Effects Of Resistant Starch Type 4 On Gut Microbiota Derived Medium And Long Chain Fatty Acids And Bile Acids, Elizabeth Nagel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The human gastrointestinal tract is populated by a diverse and mutualistic microbial flora that has profound effect on human health. Identification and characterization of microbial-metabolites produced in response to human dietary intakes may provide insights into host-microbiota interactions to better understand the role of the microbiota in human health and diseases. However, much of this interaction is poorly understood as many metabolites remain unidentified or understudied at the present time. Starch is ubiquitously present in human diet and is a major energy source to all living cells. Resistant starch (RS) is the starch portion that is not absorbed in the …