Digital Commons Network^™

Discriminative Stimulus Effects Of Putative Antipsychotic Drugs, Alex Lekander

All NMU Master's Theses

This study attempted to further explore the discriminative stimulus properties of antipsychotic drugs, by establishing the typical antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine, and the atypical antipsychotic drug clozapine as discriminative stimulus in two different groups of rats. The rats trained to discriminate chlorpromazine from vehicle failed to do so reliably, however nine of ten rats trained to discriminate 1.25 mg/kg clozapine from vehicle were able to acquire the discrimination in 19.1 sessions. The clozapine cue partially generalized (63.13% drug lever responding [SEM = ± 18.91]) to the antimalarial drug methylene blue at the 7.5 mg/kg dose, but not to the antimalarial quinacrine. …

Larval Development And Morphology Of North American Burbot (Lota Lota Maculosa), Thornton Ritz

All NMU Master's Theses

Burbot (Lota lota) is a freshwater fish that exhibits a circumpolar distribution and is found throughout northern longitudes of North America. It is considered an indicator species for climate change and has a substantial effect on the trophic system as it consumes fish throughout its life. Adult, spawning burbot were captured from the Sturgeon River, Pelkie, MI. Gametes were artificially fertilized and eggs were incubated until hatch in a laboratory setting. Throughout the first ten weeks of development larvae were sampled and photographed in order to measure various morphological features. Geometric and linear morphometrics were used to quantify …

Transforming Trauma: Resilience And Healing Through Our Connections With Animals, Philip Teseschi, Molly Anne Jenkins

Purdue University Press Book Previews

Have you ever looked deep into the eyes of an animal and felt entirely known? Often, the connections we share with non-human animals represent our safest and most reliable relationships, offering unique and profound opportunities for healing in periods of hardship. This book focuses on research developments, models, and practical applications of human-animal connection and animal-assisted intervention for diverse populations who have experienced trauma. Physiological and psychological trauma are explored across three broad and interconnected domains: 1) child maltreatment and family violence; 2) acute and post-traumatic stress, including military service, war, and developmental trauma; and 3) times of crisis, such …

Not All Surveillance Data Are Created Equal—A Multi‐Method Dynamic Occupancy Approach To Determine Rabies Elimination From Wildlife, Amy J. Davis, Jordona D. Kirby, Richard B. Chipman, Kathleen M. Nelson, Tatiana Xifara, Colleen T. Webb, Ryan Wallace, Amy T. Gilbert, Kim M. Pepin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

1. A necessary component of elimination programmes for wildlife disease is effective surveillance. The ability to distinguish between disease freedom and non‐detection can mean the difference between a successful elimination campaign and new epizootics. Understanding the contribution of different surveillance methods helps to optimize and better allocate effort and develop more effective surveillance programmes.

2. We evaluated the probability of rabies virus elimination (disease freedom) in an enzootic area with active management using dynamic occupancy modelling of 10 years of raccoon rabies virus (RABV) surveillance data (2006–2015) collected from three states in the eastern United States. We estimated detection probability …

Embodied Truths: How Dynamic Gestures And Speech Contribute To Mathematical Proof Practices, Elizabeth L. Pier, Candace Walkington, Virginia Clinton, Rebecca Boncoddo, Caroline Williams-Pierce, Martha W. Alibali, Mitchell J. Nathan

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

Grounded and embodied theories of cognition suggest that both language and the body play crucial roles in grounding higher-order thought. This paper investigates how particular forms of speech and gesture function together to support abstract thought in mathematical proof construction. We use computerized text analysis software to evaluate how speech patterns support valid proof construction for two different tasks, and we use gesture analysis to investigate how dynamic gestures—those gestures that depict and transform mathematical objects—further support proof practices above and beyond speech patterns. We also evaluate the degree to which speech and gesture convey distinct information about mathematical reasoning …

Schlafen 3 Knockout Mice Display Gender-Specific Differences In Weight Gain, Food Efficiency, And Expression Of Markers Of Intestinal Epithelial Differentiation, Metabolism, And Immune Cell Function, Emilie E. Vomhof-Dekrey, Jun Lee, Jack Lansing, Chris Brown, Diane Darland, Marc D. Basson

Biology Faculty Publications

Self-renewal and differentiation are essential for intestinal epithelium absorptive functioning and adaptation to pathological states such as short gut syndrome, ulcers, and inflammatory bowel disease. The rodent Slfn3 and its human analog Slfn12 are critical in regulating intestinal epithelial differentiation. We sought to characterize intestinal function in Slfn3 knockout (KO) mice. Male and female pair-fed Slfn3KO mice gained less weight with decreased food efficiency than wild type (WT) mice, with more pronounced effects in females. RNA sequencing performed on intestinal mucosa of Slfn3KO and WT mice showed gene ontology decreases in cell adhesion molecule signaling, tumor necrosis factor receptor binding, …

Using “Research Boxes” To Enhance Understanding Of Primary Literature And The Process Of Science, Jeffrey S. Carmichael, Lizabeth A. Allison

Biology Faculty Publications

Helping undergraduate students engage with primary literature and understand the process of science are high-priority skills in most life science courses. Collaborative learning activities that enhance these skills will continue to be in high demand by instructors at all levels. Here we present a “Research Box” learning activity that helps students engage with primary research articles in a guided and collaborative fashion. Students summarize key components of an empirical study in a one-page figure. An assessment rubric is also included that can be easily modified by instructors to meet their specific needs. Assessment data from two institutions reveal that students …

Evaluating The Readability Of Force Directed Graph Layouts: A Deep Learning Approach, Hammad Haleem, Yong Wang, Abishek Puri, Sahil Wadhwa, Huamin Qu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Existing graph layout algorithms are usually not able to optimize all the aesthetic properties desired in a graph layout. To evaluate how well the desired visual features are reflected in a graph layout, many readability metrics have been proposed in the past decades. However, the calculation of these readability metrics often requires access to the node and edge coordinates and is usually computationally inefficient, especially for dense graphs. Importantly, when the node and edge coordinates are not accessible, it becomes impossible to evaluate the graph layouts quantitatively. In this paper, we present a novel deep learning-based approach to evaluate the …

Physico-Chemical Characteristics Of Ethanol–Diesel Blend Fuel, Tarek M. Aboul-Fotouh, Eslam Alaa, M. A. Sadek, Hany A. Elazab

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this research we are discussing the physicochemical characteristics of sweet diesel after desulphurization alone and also these characteristics are tested with the adding of high purity HPLC ethanol (99.9%). Those fuel properties of ethanol blended with diesel were experimentally determined to find their stability and to increase their properties and efficiency in the diesel engines. First, we made 4 blends of diesel with ethanol and the fifth sample was pure diesel. The samples were 0% ethanol and 100 % diesel, the second sample was 5% ethanol and 95 % diesel, the third sample was 10 % ethanol and 90% …

A Socio-Legal Study On Impact Of Solid Waste On Wetland Environment: A Case Study From ‘Deepor Beel’ Wetland, Assam, Utpala Barman

National Law School Journal

Solid Waste Management (SWM) or unplanned garbage disposal is a neglected area of unsustainable urban development. In most Indian cities, more than half the solid waste generated remains unattended. ‘Deepor Beel’ is one of the largest natural wetlands of Guwahati, Assam. In 2002, the whole area of the ‘beel’ was declared as Ramsar site and 4.14 km was proposed as wildlife sanctuary. ‘Deepor beel’ bird sanctuary is recognised as a home of various rare and endangered species of flora and fauna and a huge gathering of migratory birds in every year. But the open dumping site of West Boragaon which …

Death In The Era Of Perpetual Digital Afterlife: Digital Assets, Posthumous Legacy, Ownership And Its Legal Implications, Dr Prashant Mali, Aswathy Prakash G

National Law School Journal

After people die, their online assets survive and, often, intestate. These digital assets by themselves may not have too much significance, but the data they hold is invaluable to the legal heirs, often mired in secrecy; man lives a secret life, and these online digital assets are privy to the same. The enormous digital assets a user creates during his or her lifetime result in a sizable amount of digital footprint posthumously. The consequence of all these cybernated dossiers is as unpredictable as the death itself, for there’s no uniform practice of preservation, removal, and inheritance of these digital assets …

Role Of Transient Receptor Potential Channels In Epithelial Morphogenesis In Chick Embryo, Trinity Q. Waddell

Theses and Dissertations

Transient Receptor Potential channels (TRP) are a superfamily of cationic specific ionchannels that are regulated by various stimuli such as temperature, pH, mechanical stress, ligandsand ion concentration. The role of TRP channels in disease states such as autosomal dominantpolycystic kidney disease, cancer metastasis, and developmental defects lend credence to thebelief that they play an important part in epithelial morphogenesis events. The development ofsomites, neural tube closure and migration of neural crest cells to form things such as the faceand heart is a good developmental model for the aforementioned cellular processes. We haveshown that TRP channels can be found in the …

Mechanism Of Positive, Non-Additive Litter Decomposition, Na Yin

Theses and Dissertations

Litter decomposition is a fundamental ecosystem process. It is responsible for nutrient cycling and influences carbon (C) sequestration, and soil physical and chemical properties. In nature, litter is usually heterogeneous and may not decompose the way homogeneous litter does. For example, heterogeneous litter decomposition is frequently non-additive. This makes the rate of nutrient cycling as well as fluxes of C into and out of soil C pools impossible to predict. The most frequently proposed mechanisms for positive, non-additive decomposition include the supply of limiting mineral nutrients, the supply of available C (priming), and the improvement of micro-environmental conditions. However, all …

Sequential Survival Analysis With Deep Learning, Seth William Glazier

Theses and Dissertations

Survival Analysis is the collection of statistical techniques used to model the time of occurrence, i.e. survival time, of an event of interest such as death, marriage, the lifespan of a consumer product or the onset of a disease. Traditional survival analysis methods rely on assumptions that make it difficult, if not impossible to learn complex non-linear relationships between the covariates and survival time that is inherent in many real world applications. We first demonstrate that a recurrent neural network (RNN) is better suited to model problems with non-linear dependencies in synthetic time-dependent and non-time-dependent experiments.

Men Who Abuse Women: Testing A Narrative-Feminist Approach To Group Psychotherapy, Ketan Tailor

Dissertations (1934 -)

Although a number of treatment approaches are available to psychotherapists who work with men who abuse women, we still know very little about how to effectively treat these men (Smedslund, Dalsbø, Steiro, Winsvold, & Clench-Aas, 2011). This study set out to test the efficacy of a process group for partner violent men, a group that was guided largely by a narrative-feminist philosophy developed by Australian psychologist Alan Jenkins (Jenkins, 1990). A secondary analysis of data was conducted on a sample of 821 partner violent men who were self- or court-referred to a non-profit community counseling agency in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. …

The Alpha-Activator Complex, Cellular Maturation, And Catalytic Mechanism Of Iron-Type Nitrile Hydratase, Wasantha Lankathilaka Karunagala Pathiranage

Dissertations (1934 -)

In industry, chemicals are typically synthesized through catalytically accelerated chemical processes. The use of biocatalysts is an increasingly important trend in achieving environmentally friendly chemical production processes. Nitrile Hydratases (NHases) are well-known biocatalysts that are used by several manufacturers such as Mitsubishi Rayon Corporation and Lonza for the conversion of acrylonitrile to acrylamide and 3-cyanopyridine to nicotinamide, respectively. Amides, in general, are used in polymer preparation, adhesive manufacturing, and the paper industry. Refrigeration is needed in the enzymatic hydration process on the industrial scale to maintain a low reaction temperature to stabilize the NHase enzyme. The use of whole cells …

Sex, Drugs, & Prefrontal Cortex: Influence Of Biological Sex On Cocaine Seeking, Elizabeth M. Doncheck

Dissertations (1934 -)

Clinical observations imply that females diagnosed with substance use disorder experience enhanced relapse vulnerability compared to males, particularly within contexts of stress or peak levels of the primary estrogen 17β-estradiol (E2). We previously demonstrated that stress can potentiate cocaine seeking in male rats. The present studies investigated the influence of biological sex on stress-potentiated cocaine seeking, the ability of E2 to potentiate cocaine seeking in females, mechanisms underlying potentiated reinstatement, and sex and stress hormone effects on PrL-PFC synaptic physiology.Initial investigations revealed that, despite comparable self-administration and extinction, females display a lower threshold for cocaine-primed reinstatement than males. Unlike males, …

Structure And Mechanisms Of Metalloenzymes For Incorporation Of Water Across Cn And C-Cl Bonds, Xinhang Yang

Dissertations (1934 -)

Metalloenzymes are widely involved in water incorporation across CN and C-Cl bonds.1 In this research, the structure and mechanisms of two novel metalloenzymes that incorporate water across CN and C-Cl bonds were examined by biophysical approaches, computational modeling, and crystallographic methods.In the research of water incorporation across CN bonds, a novel eukaryotic nitrile hydratase (NHase, EC 4.2.1.84) from Monosiga brevicollis (MbNHase) was characterized, and the functional role of a (His)17 section and an insert region in the MbNHase, were examined by gene modifications. Each of these MbNHase enzymes provided an 22 heterotetramer, identical to that observed for prokaryotic NHases …

Investigation Of The Active Site Maturation And Catalytic Mechanism Of Nitrile Hydratases (Nhase, E.C.4.2.1.84), Irene Anyango Ogutu

Dissertations (1934 -)

Nitrile hydratase (NHase, E.C.4.2.1.84) is a metalloenzyme that catalyzes the hydration of nitriles into their corresponding amide under ambient conditions. NHase enzymes contain either a non-heme Fe3+ ion or a non-corrin Co3+ ion in their active site. NHase enzymes have industrial applications as biocatalysts in the large-scale production of acrylamide and nicotinamide, though it’s catalytic and biochemical properties are not fully understood. This research project provides insight into the active site maturation process and catalytic mechanism of NHase using peptide model complexes, site-directed mutagenesis and synthesis of deuterated proteins.Insight into the sequential maturation of the NHase active site has been …

Dual-Modality Smartphone-Based Fiber-Optic Microendoscope System For Early Detection Of Cervical Neoplasia, Xiangqian Hong

Dissertations (1934 -)

Cervical cancer remains the leading cause of death for women in low middle-income countries (LMICs), where the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer are disproportionately high. Due to the poor medical conditions and lack of resources, the benefits of early screening methods such Pap smear and HPV test have yet to be realized in these areas. The more viable screening option - visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) is relatively easier to implement and lower in cost. However, the effectiveness of VIA on the early detection of cervical cancer is still in question because of its low specificity, which may …

Insane In The Brain, Blood, And Lungs: Gender-Specific Manifestations Of Hysteria, Chlorosis, & Consumption In 19th-Century Literature, Anna P. Scanlon

Dissertations (1934 -)

This dissertation examines literary and medical texts from throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to better understand prevailing attitudes about gender and disease. The project traces the progression of three diseases – consumption, chlorosis, and hysteria – throughout the long nineteenth century, paying particular attention to the stereotypes and prevailing medical notions of each illness. In general, this work examines the influence of lovesickness, female-patient/male-doctor dynamics, and pathology on the endemic or epidemic nature of each disease. In particular, the first three chapters of this project study tuberculosis – or consumption as it was called in the nineteenth century …

Evaluation Of Copper-Contaminated Marginal Land For The Cultivation Of Vetiver Grass (Chrysopogon Zizanioides) As A Lignocellulosic Feedstock And Its Impact On Downstream Bioethanol Production, Emily Geiger, Dibyendu Sarkar, Rupali Datta

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Metal-contaminated soil could be sustainably used for biofuel feedstock production if the harvested biomass is amenable to bioethanol production. A 60-day greenhouse experiment was performed to evaluate (1) the potential of vetiver grass to phytostabilize soil contaminated with copper (Cu), and (2) the impact of Cu exposure on its lignocellulosic composition and downstream bioethanol production. Dilute acid pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation parameters were optimized sequentially for vetiver grass using response surface methodology (RSM). Results indicate that the lignocellulosic composition of vetiver grown on Cu-rich soil was favorably altered with a significant decrease in lignin and increase in hemicellulose and …

Exploring The Current Poetics Of The Great Lakes Through The Emergent Lens Of Cultural Ecology: The Aesthetics Of Instability/Volatility And Sustainability (Or Survival) In An Ever-Changing Bioregion, Terrance Mccafferty

Masters Essays

No abstract provided.

Comprehending Just Peacemaking Theory And Its Application To The Rwandan Genocide, Caroli Shao

Masters Essays

No abstract provided.

Shellfish Production In Virginia: Public Grounds, Geoffrey Grau

Virginia Coastal Policy Center

One potential impediment to the continued growth of the aquaculture industry in Virginia is the current management framework associated with the use of the public Baylor Grounds. Virginia’s constitution provides, in part, that the “natural oyster beds, rocks, and shoals in the waters of the Commonwealth shall not be leased, rented, or sold but shall be held in trust for the benefit of the people of the Commonwealth.” Originally, oyster beds in the Chesapeake Bay (the “Bay”) were so plentiful that “oyster reefs rose so high that they grazed the bottoms of boats sailing the Bay.” By the late 19th …

Investigating The Potential Of Weeds As Host Reservoir For Plant Parasitic Nematodes In South Texas, Habraham F. Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

Presence and geographical distributions of three damaging nematode pest (R. reniformis, M. incognita, T. semipentrans) have been recorded in the LRGV. With year-round growing seasons, weed pest are a real problem for many LRGV growers. With some growers leaving the field fallow until planting season, these places can serve as potential host reservoirs for plant parasitic nematodes (PPN). This study examined the potential of weeds as host reservoirs for plant parasitic nematodes in the LRGV. Results demonstrated the presence of 5 of the 12 economically important plant parasitic nematode genus and demonstrated a difference in distribution of nematodes …

Comparison Of Nickel And Cobalt Induced Hypoxic Cell Models Using Cell Proliferation Assay, Melissa Delcasale

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Hypoxia is an imbalance in oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption, ultimately affecting cell survival. Low levels of oxygen diminish adenosine triphosphate synthesis resulting from a decline in oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria, therefore inducing apoptosis and cell death. To create a hypoxia mimicked environment, we used hypoxia mimetic compounds cobalt and nickel to treat human neuroblastoma (NMB) cells. Using hypoxic mimic human neuronal cell models, we examined and compared the effects of compound-induced hypoxia on NMB cell proliferation. The cells were treated with 100mM and 300mM concentrations of each compound at 24- and 48-hour intervals. To investigate cell proliferation, the …

Computational Analysis And Design Optimization Of Convective Pcr Devices, Jung Il Shu

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a relatively novel technique to amplify a few copies of DNA to a detectable level. PCR has already become common in biomedical research, criminal forensics, molecular archaeology, and so on. Many have attempted to develop PCR devices in numerous types for the purpose of the lab-on-chip (LOC) or point-of-care (POC). To use PCR devices for POC lab testing, the price must be lower, and the performance should be comparable to the lab devices. For current practices with the existing methods, the price is pushed up higher partially due to too much dependence on numerous developmental …

Effects Of High-Carbohydrate Versus Mixed-Macronutrient Meals On Soccer Physiology And Performance, Jaison Lee Wynne

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to measure the effects of an acute pre-competition high-carbohydrate (HCHO) meal versus a mixed-macronutrient (MM) meal on physiology, perceptual responses, and performance in 15 division I female collegiate soccer players. Being there are conjectural advantages to pre-exercise meals higher in fiber, fat, and protein, this study was conducted to evaluate the physiological and perceptual effects of pre-competition MM meals. This study used a randomized, investigator-blinded, crossover design involving two dietary interventions – HCHO and MM meals – that were consumed four hours prior to two separate intra-squad soccer scrimmages. Assessments included running metrics via …

Intersectional Identities And Microaggressions: The Experience Of Transgender Females, Cory Daniel Gerwe

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Historically, attention given to privileged LGBT minorities such as white LGBT individuals, renders those who experience multiple minority identities as unacknowledged. There is a scarcity of research exploring the intersectional experiences of transgender individuals and how these experiences impact their mental health and well-being. For that reason, the intent of this study was to learn more about transgender females who hold additional minority statuses, their transition experiences, their circumstances, and the nature of their social environment. Specifically, I investigated trans female experiences of transitioning with a specific focus on the intersection of gender identity, race, socioeconomic status (SES), and age. …