Actiononaias Ligamentina As A Biomonitor In The Green River: An Unique Approach For Analysis Of Environmental Impacts,
Western Kentucky University
Actiononaias Ligamentina As A Biomonitor In The Green River: An Unique Approach For Analysis Of Environmental Impacts, Robert Kirkland
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Biomonitoring has become an important component in bioassessment programs. It is used to maintain high water quality standards, and determine contaminant levels and biological affects in areas that have been heavily disturbed. The objectives of this research were 1) to improve and apply certain modern biomonitoring techniques and 2) to locate possible contaminant sources affecting the flora and fauna of the Green River and of Mammoth Cave. Actinonaias ligamentina (Lamarck, 1819), a freshwater mussel, was used for interpretation of these impacts as well as refinement of biomonitoring techniques. The mussels were collected in the Lawler Bend region of the Green …
The Effects Of Human/Wildlife Conflict On The Potential For Community-Based Ecotourism In The Kasigau Region Of Southeast Kenya,
Western Kentucky University
The Effects Of Human/Wildlife Conflict On The Potential For Community-Based Ecotourism In The Kasigau Region Of Southeast Kenya, Natalie Mountjoy
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Many believe community-based ecotourism (CBE) can assist in conservation efforts and community development; however, little research has been done to assess the potential of CBE in a specific region. As part of a large, long-term, international research project, I define three problematic areas that may impede successful CBE efforts in the Kasigau location of southeast Kenya: bushmeat utilization, community attitudes and wildlife abundance. Samples of meat purchased from butcheries and meat markets are identified to species using molecular analysis, community attitudes are ascertained via written social surveys and transect sampling methods are used to determine the relative abundance and diversity …
Sustainability Of Western Kentucky University: An Examination Of Campus Environmental Policies, Performance And Potential For Change,
Western Kentucky University
Sustainability Of Western Kentucky University: An Examination Of Campus Environmental Policies, Performance And Potential For Change, Christian Ryan-Downing
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Institutions of higher learning are in a pivotal position to address the environmental problems that global society faces now, but response to this challenge requires transformation in priorities and practices. Recognizing the impacts that universities have on the environment and the social and economic costs associated with these impacts, institutions of higher learning are changing policies and management to become more sustainable. Sustainability is defined by the World Commission on Environment and Development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (1987). To evaluate the environmental impacts …
Localization Of Deformed Wing Virus (Dwv) In The Brains Of Apis Mellifera (European Honey Bees),
Bucknell University
Localization Of Deformed Wing Virus (Dwv) In The Brains Of Apis Mellifera (European Honey Bees), Karan Samir Shah
Honors Theses
The purpose of the current research project is to design a successful in-situ hybridization to identify regions within the brains of honeybees where DWV replicates. The localization of the virus in the brains of the bees can draw a connection between CCDand DWV.In conclusion, these results demonstrate that in bees infected with DWV the virus replicates actively in very important regions of the brain, including neuropils that are responsible for vision and olfaction. This means that the virus could adversely affect the vision and olfaction of the honeybees making it difficult for bees to behave normally.
Morphological Development Of The Axial Skeletons Of Esox Lucius And Esox Masquinongy (Euteleostei: Esociforms), With Comparisons In Developmental And Mineralization Rates.,
Loyola University Chicago
Morphological Development Of The Axial Skeletons Of Esox Lucius And Esox Masquinongy (Euteleostei: Esociforms), With Comparisons In Developmental And Mineralization Rates., Amanda Maria Burdi
Master's Theses
Developmental morphology of the axial skeleton of Esox lucius (i.e., northern pike and type species) and E. masquinongy (i.e., muskellunge) was investigated. More than 1,000 specimens were examined ranging in size from approximately 10 mm notochordal length (NL) post-hatching juveniles to over 80 mm standard length (SL) foraging sub-adults. Results show that regardless of individual variation, the relative sequence of bone formation and mineralization is consistent between the two species. This consistent developmental pattern enabled construction of an ontogenetic staging scheme of eight developmental stages, each characterized by one defining criterion. The first appearance in cartilage and/or first sign of …
The Whitehead Link On The Cubic Lattice,
Western Kentucky University
The Whitehead Link On The Cubic Lattice, Elizabeth Haynes
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The cubic lattice is a graph in Â3 where the vertices are points with integer coordinates and edges are unit length line segments parallel to the x-, y-, or z-axis. A step is a line segment that connects one vertex to a neighboring vertex one unit away in the x-, y-, or z-direction. This thesis will show that the Whitehead Link needs at least 34 steps to be embedded on the cubic lattice.
Mentha (Lamiaceae) Phylogenetic Analysis Using Chloroplast Trnl-Trnf And Nuclear Ribosomal Dna Its Sequences,
Western Kentucky University
Mentha (Lamiaceae) Phylogenetic Analysis Using Chloroplast Trnl-Trnf And Nuclear Ribosomal Dna Its Sequences, Jiranan Bunsawatt
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Mentha (Nepetoideae, Lamiaceae) is a taxonomically complex genus that includes economically important members such as spearmint and peppermint and species of global conservation interest. Mentha is considered challenging systematically due to its high incidence of polyploidy, diverse morphology, variation in base chromosome number, and frequent interspecific hybridization. Our objectives were to test the monophyly of Mentha and each of its traditionally recognized sections, assess phylogenetic relationships of the Mentha species, test hypotheses of hybridization for the putative stabilized allopolyploids (M spicata and M. canadensis), and determine the ancestral base chromosome number using DNA sequence data from the chloroplast trnL-trnF and …
Population Structure Of Limenitis Butterflies In Hickman, Kentucky,
Western Kentucky University
Population Structure Of Limenitis Butterflies In Hickman, Kentucky, Mollie Johnson
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Two species of Limenitis butterflies occur along the Mississippi River at Hickman, Kentucky: the viceroy, L. archippus, and the red-spotted purple, L. arthemis astyanax. Limenitis archippus occurs at a frequency that is 10-30 times more abundant than its congener, L. arthemis astyanax. Interspecific matings between L. archippus and L. arthemis astyanax are very rare in the wild and give rise to a hybrid form Limenitis archippus X L. arthemis astyanax form rubidus. Only 7 heterospecific pairings between the parental species and 72 "rubidus" individuals have been documented in the wild in all of North America. Of these documented cases, 2 …
Spatial Learning And Stress Response Of Male Rats Prenatally Exposed To Dexamethasone,
Bucknell University
Spatial Learning And Stress Response Of Male Rats Prenatally Exposed To Dexamethasone, Joseph John Donohoe
Master’s Theses
Dexamethasone is routinely administered to women at risk for a preterm birth in order to enhance fetal lung development and reduce uterine contractions. Research has demonstrated possible behavioral abnormalities in adulthood as a result of dexamethasone treatment. Using nonlinear mixed effects modeling, this study found thatprenatal dexamethasone treatment impaired spatial learning and memory of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Prenatal dexamethasone treatment also led to more anxiety related behaviors on Elevated Plus Maze testing 1.5 hours after a stress challenge. Because theassumptions underlying the independent samples t-test were violated, the randomization test was used to compare groups on the Elevated Plus …
A New Immunoassay For Quantification Of A Novel Cancer Antigen In Serum And Immunostaining Of Carcinoma Tissues And Cultured Cells Revealing The Antigenic Cellular Location.,
East Tennessee State University
A New Immunoassay For Quantification Of A Novel Cancer Antigen In Serum And Immunostaining Of Carcinoma Tissues And Cultured Cells Revealing The Antigenic Cellular Location., Emily Christine Mcduffee
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study is 1) to examine the presence of the antigen in serum by employing a newly developed ELISA immunoassay that quantifies the total antigen and bound antigen (antigen-antibody complex) using polyclonal chicken antibodies directed against an IgM-binding epitope of the new antigen, and 2) to determine the location of the antigen in carcinoma and normal cells. Sera from healthy volunteers (n = 147) and cancer patients (n = 26) were compared for both bound and total antigen concentrations using the new ELISA. Healthy volunteers were subdivided into three groups: those with a personal history of cancer …
