Launching through the Surf: The Interview and Transcription Process

This presentation documents facets of the student-faculty collaborative research project Launching through the Surf: The Dory Fleet of Pacific City. The project began in the summer of 2011, and the research team expanded and continued work in the summer of 2012. The purpose of this work was to collect and preserve the oral histories of the Dory Fleet in Pacific City, Oregon. The team endeavored to interview dory fishers and their families in order to learn about their experiences as commercial and recreational fishermen and women. These interviews were implemented, edited into short stories, and ultimately transcribed for documentation and future analysis. The finished stories and paired transcripts were then uploaded in DigitalCommons@Linfield. The interviews and transcripts also helped to shape a full-length theatrical production, Kickin’ Sand and Tellin’ Lies, produced by the Linfield Theatre in November of 2012. This presentation focuses on work done in preparing for, conducting, and transcribing the collected oral history interviews featured in this scholarly and creative project

Contribution of CRP to Illinois Bobwhite Habitat at the Landscape Level (Poster Abstract)

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) population declines in the midwest have been attributed to habitat degradation and loss due mainly to intensified agricultural land use and farming practices. Thus, there was initial optimism that the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) would benefit bobwhites by converting cropland to semi-permanent grassland. However, CRP apparently has not positively impacted regional or statewide population trends in Illinois. Deficiencies at both site and landscape level may be involved. To address the latter issue, we mapped the location of each individual CRP field (\u3e 8,800) in 11 representative counties within the bobwhite range in Illinois. We then analyzed their spatial relationship to other land cover and bobwhite habitat using Geographic Information Systems and a statewide digital land cover map based on classified satellite imagery. Existing bobwhite habitat and CRP fields tended to be spatially correlated because both are largely confined to moderately rolling terrain as opposed to very hilly or very flat areas. Nevertheless, almost 25% of all existing CRP acreage within our 11 study counties occurred in landscapes with insufficient woody edge to support high bobwhite populations. Furthermore, CRP did not always provide the habitat component most limiting for bobwhites

The Hall of Mirrors Perceptions and Misperceptions in the Congressional Foreign Policy Process

Explores several factors related to an inconsistency in the voting record by the U.S. Congress on foreign policy issues, compared with the position taken by the public, administration officials, and leaders in business, labor, media, and education

How male sound pressure level influences phonotaxis in virgin female Jamaican field crickets (Gryllus assimilis)

Understanding female mate preference is important for determining the strength and direction of sexual trait evolution. The sound pressure level (SPL) acoustic signalers use is often an important predictor of mating success because higher sound pressure levels are detectable at greater distances. If females are more attracted to signals produced at higher sound pressure levels, then the potential fitness impacts of signalling at higher sound pressure levels should be elevated beyond what would be expected from detection distance alone. Here we manipulated the sound pressure level of cricket mate attraction signals to determine how female phonotaxis was influenced. We examined female phonotaxis using two common experimental methods: spherical treadmills and open arenas. Both methods showed similar results, with females exhibiting greatest phonotaxis towards loud sound pressure levels relative to the standard signal (69 vs. 60 dB SPL) but showing reduced phonotaxis towards very loud sound pressure level signals relative to the standard (77 vs. 60 dB SPL). Reduced female phonotaxis towards supernormal stimuli may signify an acoustic startle response, an absence of other required sensory cues, or perceived increases in predation risk

Generalisability of vaccine effectiveness estimates: an analysis of cases included in a postlicensure evaluation of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the USA

External validity, or generalisability, is the measure of how well results from a study pertain to individuals in the target population. We assessed generalisability, with respect to socioeconomic status, of estimates from a matched case–control study of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine effectiveness for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease in children in the USA

Deletion of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 from the Peri-Wolffian Duct Stroma Leads to Ureteric Induction Abnormalities and Vesicoureteral Reflux

Purpose: Pax3cre-mediated deletion of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (Fgfr2) broadly in renal and urinary tract mesenchyme led to ureteric bud (UB) induction defects and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), although the mechanisms were unclear. Here, we investigated whether Fgfr2 acts specifically in peri-Wolffian duct stroma (ST) to regulate UB induction and development of VUR and the mechanisms of Fgfr2 activity. Methods: We conditionally deleted Fgfr2 in ST (Fgfr2 ST-/- ) using Tbx18cre mice. To look for ureteric bud induction defects in young embryos, we assessed length and apoptosis of common nephric ducts (CNDs). We performed 3D reconstructions and histological analyses of urinary tracts of embryos and postnatal mice and cystograms in postnatal mice to test for VUR. We performed in situ hybridization and real-time PCR in young embryos to determine mechanisms underlying UB induction defects. Results: We confirmed that Fgfr2 is expressed in ST and that Fgfr2 was efficiently deleted in this tissue in Fgfr2 ST-/- mice at embryonic day (E) 10.5. E11.5 Fgfr2 ST-/- mice had randomized UB induction sites with approximately 1/3 arising too high and 1/3 too low from the Wolffian duct; however, apoptosis was unaltered in E12.5 mutant CNDs. While ureters were histologically normal, E15.5 Fgfr2 ST-/- mice exhibit improper ureteral insertion sites into the bladder, consistent with the ureteric induction defects. While ureter and bladder histology appeared normal, postnatal day (P) 1 mutants had high rates of VUR versus controls (75% versus 3%, p = 0.001) and occasionally other defects including renal hypoplasia and duplex systems. P1 mutant mice also had improper ureteral bladder insertion sites and shortened intravesicular tunnel lengths that correlated with VUR. E10.5 Fgfr2 ST-/- mice had decreases in Bmp4 mRNA in stromal tissues, suggesting a mechanism underlying the ureteric induction and VUR phenotypes. Conclusion: Mutations in FGFR2 could possibly cause VUR in humans. © 2013 Walker et al