Plant succession on gopher mounds in Western Cascade meadows: consequences for species diversity and heterogeneity

Pocket gophers have the potential to alter the dynamics of grasslands by creating mounds that bury existing vegetation and locally reset succession. Gopher mounds may provide safe sites for less competitive species, potentially increasing both species diversity and vegetation heterogeneity (spatial variation in species composition). We compared species composition, diversity and heterogeneity among gopher mounds of different ages in three montane meadows in the Cascade Range of Oregon. Cover of graminoids and forbs increased with mound age, as did species richness. Contrary to many studies, we found no evidence that mounds provided safe sites for early successional species, despite their abundance in the soil seed bank, or that diversity peaked on intermediate-aged mounds. However, cover of forbs relative to that of graminoids was greater on mounds than in the adjacent meadow. Variation in species composition was also greater within and among mounds than in adjacent patches of undisturbed vegetation, suggesting that these small-scale disturbances increase heterogeneity within meadows

Default Rate on Auto Loans

In completing this model, we want to view a portfolio of loans at a bank and be able to predict the default rate on an auto loan. We also want to be able to look at an individual loan and predict the default probability taking into consideration interest rate, term, number of days late, times late, original loan amount, collateral value, LTV and credit score. The data will assist in forecasting default rates in future years and in projecting income and loss for a bank. We predict at the end of the model, credit score will be the main indicator of default rate on any given loan

Oral History Interview

A Vietnam Veteran\u27s experience in the Navy. One\u27s experience about what life was before, during, and after the war of Vietnam

Put Your Ear Close to the Whispering Branch... Deep Listening in the English Classroom

Taking her cue from Guy Murchie’s Song of the Sky, the author discovers a method for reaching at-risk children, whose ventures into poetry engage them deeply in the natural world and make them part of it

Exploring the Role of AMPK in Nutrient Sensing and Signaling in the Human Parasite Trypanosoma brucei

African trypanosomes are protozoan parasites that cause the diseases African sleeping sickness and nagana, in humans and cattle respectively. These parasites have complex life cycles with infection of a mammalian host, ~5mM glucose, following transmission by an insect vector, essentially zero glucose. With these pathogens being exposed to rapidly changing glucose abundance in a host-dependent manner, the ability to sense and rapidly respond to changes in the availability of the hexose are critical. First, I provide a review of glucose metabolism in Trypanosoma brucei. Then, we explore the role of the catalytic α subunit of AMPK, a eukaryotic master regulator of energy, in procyclic form T. brucei. We found that the larger species of AMPKα1, coined AMPKα1+, was more abundant in the presence of glucose, and other metabolizable sugars. Subcellular location of AMPKα1 was similar regardless of glucose abundance. Phosphorylated AMPKα1 had an association with membranes, hypothesized to connect nutrient sensing and signaling pathways. Lastly, we describe how pleomorphic parasites respond to glucose depletion with a focus on parasite changes in energy metabolism and growth. Long slender bloodstream form parasites were rapidly killed as glucose concentrations fell, while short stumpy bloodstream form parasites persisted to differentiate into the insect stage procyclic form parasite. Both differentiation and growth of resulting procyclic form parasites were inhibited by glucose and non-metabolizable glucose analogs and these parasites were found to have upregulated amino acid metabolic pathway component gene expression. In summary, glucose transitions from the primary metabolite of the blood stage infection to a negative regulator of cell development and growth in the insect vector. These data suggest that glucose is not only a key metabolic agent but is also an important signaling molecule and may be signaling through TbAMPK

General Well-being and the Awareness and Perception of Wellness Services

This study investigated the effects of reading the websites of telephone operated wellness services, compared to reading the websites in addition to a more intensive exposure involving a conversational explanation of the services. Variables of perceived benefits of help-seeking, life satisfaction, and telephone service awareness were all assessed across three testing sessions within approximately seven days. Additionally, mentioning the services to family or friends was assessed at the end of this period. The sample of 32 participants were all female undergraduate students enrolled in Psychology 1000 at Brescia University College. The results of 2x3 mixed ANOVA tests showed a significant increase in telephone awareness generally, and the intensive exposure group showed a significant increase in life satisfaction across time

Do the right thing the role of public service advertisements on the behaviors of contemporary college students

The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between public service advertising and the likelihood of Generation Y to react in the prescribed manner. Public service advertising can be paid or unpaid but is used to try and influence a particular audience to act in a prescribed manner. This research will be comparing two different types of message styles, argumentative and emotional, and two contemporary prominent issues, organ donation and prescription drug abuse. The two issues are classified as either altruistic, where there is no direct benefit, or self-help, where the results are personal. Four different messages will be used: altruistic argumentative, altruistic emotional, self-help argumentative, and self-help emotional. Also, previous knowledge levels will be taken into account. All combined, the end results will measure the likelihood of an individual to perform the act, donate to the cause monetarily, or tell another person