Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Uptake Of Nanoparticles By Vibrio Gazogenes, Shonda Renee Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Vibrio gazogenes, a Gram-negative species of marine bacteria, was capable of transporting 20 nm (diameter) surface-carboxylated, polystyrene, fluorescent FluoSpheres® microspheres (excitation/emission = 505/515) through the outer membrane, which was indicated by a detectable decrease in the fluorescence intensity of the nanoparticles in the culture medium. A mechanism of transport was investigated involving the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) protein transporters that traverse the outer membrane. Inhibition of the ABC transporters did not prevent the entry of the nanoparticles into the cell, suggesting there was an alternate mechanism of transport. The addition of nanoparticles to the culture medium also did not provide any …

It’S Rooted In The Land: How Managing Natural Resources Leads Native American Tribes To Sovereignty, Nicky Ouellet

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Tribal management of land and natural resources within the boundaries of Native American reservations is often superseded by state and federal policy. But control of land and resources is, ultimately, what makes a nation a nation. The three stories in this portfolio depict tribes establishing control of natural resources to various degrees of success. Chapter one is a narrative outlining the stories, my reportage and plans for publication. Chapter two: Members of the Northern Cheyenne seek to establish a medical marijuana program after the federal government relaxed enforcement of cannabis bans. Chapter three: An activist on the Fort Berthold reservation …

Sixth Edition, Global Environment Outlook (Geo-6) Regional Assessment For Africa, Stanley Mubako

Stanley Mubako

No abstract provided.

Ambient Air Concentrations Exceeded Health Based Standards For Fine Particulate Matter And Benzene During The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Earthea Nance, Denae King, Beverly Wright, Robert D. Bullard

Earthea Nance, PhD (Stanford University, 2004)

Greenpoint's Superfund Problem, Helina Selemon

Capstones

A feature observing a community living in the shadow of a superfund site, a toxic industrial site in need of cleanup, that was recently purchased for development. The story looks at the complicated nature of this particular superfund and the problems the community around it has--including potential health risks during cleanup, rapid development, and an inescapable industrial past.

Proactive Environmental Strategies: Managing A Corporate Culture Shift Toward Sustainability, Mark E. Calub

Master's Projects and Capstones

The roles and responsibilities of Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) professionals have expanded over the last several decades. Initially focused solely on reducing a firm's ecological impact, many EHS professionals are now tasked with managing a firm's cultural shift towards sustainability. EHS professionals need to develop proactive environmental strategies that further interconnect the environmental, social, and economic performance goals of the firm. Using a concept analysis and integrative literature review approach, the research examines the evolving role of corporate environmental management and evaluates strategic management tools for environmental compliance, environmental performance, and corporate sustainability. The research reveals that the role …

The Role Of The State, Multinational Oil Companies, International Law & The International Community: Intersection Of Human Rights & Environmental Degradation Climate Change In The 21st Century Caused By Traditional Extractive Practices, The Amazon Rainforest, Indigenous People And Universal Jurisdiction To Resolve The Accountability Issue, Marcela Cabrera Luna

Master's Theses

Local, national and international conventions that protect indigenous sovereignty and their territories, where many of the resources are extracted from by multinational corporations (MNCs) particularly oil, the number one commodity of the world and cause of climate change, continue to be jeopardized because of the lack of a clear international legal framework that can protect them and potentially hold multinationals accountable for their actions. These practices are causing not only environmental issues to the indigenous and surrounding communities, but climate change is in fact, the real human rights issue of the 21^st century and it affects everyone. By using …

Comparing The Geography Of Environmental Justice Guidelines, Fish Consumption Waterbodies, And Land Use/Land Cover In South Carolina, Matthew James Neet

Theses and Dissertations

Environmental justice (EJ) grew out of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, as well as grass roots organizations during the 1980s and early 1990s. However, it was not until President William J. Clinton signed Executive Order (EO) 12898 in 1994 that EJ became an official governmental policy. With this directive, federal agencies made EJ part of their daily operations. EO 12898 had two overriding goals, the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all populations. As part of these goals, minority, low-income, and native populations would be analyzed for any disproportionate and adverse impacts on human or environmental health. Despite …

Land-Use Pattern, Urbanization, And Deer–Vehicle Collisions In Alabama, Anwar Hussain, James Armstrong, David Brown, John Hogland

David C. Brown

With the rise in deer–vehic^le collisⁱons across the United States, the associated costs also have risen. Increasingly, however, researchers are learning that these collisions are not a random phenomena but ^follow a syst^ematic pattern. Bu_ilding on this in_sight, we explored the role of county characteri^stics in influencing the pattern and incidence of w^hite-tailed deer- (Odocoileus virginianus) related auto c^ollisions. Using county level data from 1994 to 2003 in Alabama, we tested several data models with the above mentioned facto^rs …

The Klein Water Treatment Facility: Model For The New Superfund Management Strategy – Or- The Importance Of Being In The Wrong Place At The Right Time???, David Brown

David C. Brown

12 pages.

Disease Will Limit Future Food Supply From The Global Crustacean Fishery And Aquaculture Sectors, G. Stentiford, D. Neil, E. Peeler, J. Shields, H. Small, T. Flegel, J. Vlak, B. Jones, F. Morado, S. Moss, J. Lotz, Lyric Bartholomay, D. Behringer, C. Hauton, D. Lightner

Lyric Bartholomay

Seafood is a highly traded food commodity. Farmed and captured crustaceans contribute a significant proportion with annual production exceeding 10 M metric tonnes with first sale value of $40bn. The sector is dominated by farmed tropical marine shrimp, the fastest growing sector of the global aquaculture industry. It is significant in supporting rural livelihoods and alleviating poverty in producing nations within Asia and Latin America while forming an increasing contribution to aquatic food supply in more developed countries. Nations with marine borders often also support important marine fisheries for crustaceans that are regionally traded as live animals and commodity products. …

The Effect Of Manure Application Method On Nutrient And Microbial Runoff Transport And Soil Biological Health Indicators, Nicole R. Schuster

Department of Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations and Theses

Two projects were completed to provide significant new information to the agricultural industry regarding the environmental implications and soil health impacts related to land application of swine manure. The first study reports on the runoff transport of nutrients and microbials as affected by manure application method and time following application. The second study provides information about the effect of application method and time following application on soil health indicators using arthropod abundance and diversity as a biological indicator. The information gained through these studies will provide beneficial information to the pork industry on the impact of manure application method and …

High Prevalence And Genetic Heterogeneity Of Rodent-Borne Bartonella Species On Heixiazi Island, China, Dong-Mei Li, Yong Hou, Xiu-Ping Song, Ying-Qun Fu, Gui-Chang Li, Ming Li, Marina E. Eremeeva, Hai-Xia Wu, Bo Pang, Yu-Juan Yue, Ying Huang, Liang Lu, Jun Wang, Qi-Yong Liu

Environmental Health Sciences Faculty Publications

We performed genetic analysis of Bartonella isolates from rodent populations from Heixiazi Island in northeast China. Animals were captured at four sites representing grassland and brushwood habitats in 2011 and examined for the prevalence and genetic diversity of Bartonella species, their relationship to their hosts, and geographic distribution. A high prevalence (57.7%) and a high diversity (14 unique genotypes which belonged to 8 clades) of Bartonella spp. were detected from 71 rodents comprising 5 species and 4 genera from 3 rodent families. Forty-one Bartonella isolates were recovered and identified, including B. taylorii, B. japonica, B. coopersplainsensis, B. grahamii, B. washoensis …

Economic Impact To Shipping Industry : Economic Impact To Shipping Industry Considering Maritime Spatial Planning And Green Routes In Pilot Case Studies, Pantelis G. Anaxagorou, A Pappas, I Giraud, D Stratigis, E Papadopoulos, Lilitha Pongolini, Fabio Ballini, Piotr Treichel, Xavier Martínez De Osés, Sergio Velásquez Correa, M ·La Castells, I Ortigosa

MONALISA 2.0

In this project, three case studies are considered in order to examine the economic impact of the implementation of MSP when considering environmental impact of the shipping industry. Specific characteristics and limitations of areas in the Greek Sea, the Balearic Sea and the Baltic Sea are evaluated with respect to their economic effects on the maritime transport domain.

The purpose of the above is to evaluate the economic impacts and risk implications of different scenarios and particularly:

• The economic impact of vessel traffic rerouting and/or reducing the speed in order to reduce the probability of vessel strikes or other negative …

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Integrating Dynamic Route Planning : Feasibility Of Integrating Dynamic Route Planning In Maritime Spatial Planning, Riccardo Bozzo, Lilitha Pongolini, Fabio Ballini, Xavier Martínez De Osés, Sergio Velásquez Correa

MONALISA 2.0

MONALISA 2.0 report on the feasibility of integrating dynamic route planning in Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP.

Fecal Microbe Contamination In The Otter Creek Watershed, Madison County, Kentucky, Jacob L. Robin, Walter S. Borowski

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Biography, Julie Elaine N. Irish

Julie Elaine Irish

Climate Change As Migration Driver From Rural And Urban Mexico, Raphael J. Nawrotzki, Lori M. Hunter, Daniel Runfola, Fernando Riosmena

Arts & Sciences Articles

Studies investigating migration as a response to climate variability have largely focused on rural locations to the exclusion of urban areas. This lack of urban focus is unfortunate given the sheer numbers of urban residents and continuing high levels of urbanization. To begin filling this empirical gap, this study investigates climate change impacts on US-bound migration from rural and urban Mexico, 1986–1999. We employ geostatistical interpolation methods to construct two climate change indices, capturing warm and wet spell duration, based on daily temperature and precipitation readings for 214 weather stations across Mexico. In combination with detailed migration histories obtained from …

Earth Ethics, James Martin-Schramm, Daniel Spencer, Laura A. Stivers

Laura Stivers

Deadly Waiting Game: An Environmental Justice Framework For Examining Natural And Man-Made Disasters Beyond Hurricane Katrina [Abstract], Robert D. Bullard

Robert D Bullard

Presenter: Robert D. Bullard, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, Clark Atlanta University 1 page.

Assessing A Monitoring Scale Of Physiological Health And Risk Assessment Among Those Exposed To Heated Environments: A Brief Report, Corey A. Peacock, Ellen L. Glickman, Gabriel J. Sanders, Yong Suk Seo, Brandon S. Pollock, Keith J. Burns, Lynn Kakos, John Gunstad

Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments

Background: Prevention of heat illness is of considerable medical interest within the field of occupational work. There are many established methods of perceptual health assessment; however, many are rather unpractical and timely. The objective was to improve the practicality and timeliness of perceptual physiological monitoring; a Heat Thermal Sensation scale has been developed. The usefulness of the scale was assessed on its ability to monitor physiological variable. Materials and Methods: Ten apparently healthy individuals performed physically exerting activity while exposed to 37 °C. Sensation and physiology were measured throughout. Results: The perceptual monitoring scale demonstrated weak positive correlations with human …

Assessment And Behaviour Of Secondary Iron(Iii) Minerals In Acid Sulphate Soil Materials, Chamindra Vithana

Chamindra Vithana

This study examined two aspects of acidity generating secondary Fe(III) minerals (i.e. schwertmannite and jarosite) in acid sulfate soils (ASS) environments: i) accurate identification and quantification, and ii) improving our understanding of their behaviour in ASS.The study showed that current assessment methods have a number of limitations and are not reliable for accurate estimation of both minerals in ASS environments. The study also showed that in natural environments, these minerals can behave in a manner different to current conceptual understanding. The broad implication of this study was identification of the need for development of improved management techniques for ASS.

Patterns Of Anthropogenic Nutrient Contaminants In The Otter Creek Watershed, Madison County, Kentucky, Elijah D. Wolfe, Walter S. Borowski, Jacob L. Robin

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

We measured nutrient concentrations within the Otter Creek watershed (Madison County, Kentucky) to: (1) discover levels of anthropogenic contaminants affecting the water quality; (2) compare these measurements to a national data set; and (3) identify nutrient sources. The watershed mainly drains rural land characterized by cattle grazing, but also drains the town of Richmond. We sampled throughout the watershed to gain a representative perspective of nutrient levels and specifically targeted localities of suspected anthropogenic nutrient sources. Water samples were passed through a 0.45 mm filter, placed in pre-acidified vials, and measured one to two days after collection. Nutrients – ammonium, …

Seismic Surveys And Marine Turtles: An Underestimated Global Threat?, Sarah E. Nelms, Wendy Dow Piniak, Caroline R. Weir, Brendan J. Godley

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

Seismic surveys are widely used in marine geophysical oil and gas exploration, employing airguns to produce sound-waves capable of penetrating the sea floor. In recent years, concerns have been raised over the biological impacts of this activity, particularly for marine mammals. While exploration occurs in the waters of at least fifty countries where marine turtles are present, the degree of threat posed by seismic surveys is almost entirely unknown. To investigate this issue, a mixed-methods approach involving a systematic review, policy comparison and stakeholder analysis was employed and recommendations for future research were identified. This study found that turtles have …

Dreissenid Mussel Research Priorities Workshop, Mark D. Sytsma, Stephen Phillips, Timothy D. Counihan

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

Currently, dreissenid mussels have yet to be detected in the northwestern part of the United States and western Canada. Infestation of one of the jurisdictions within the mussel-free Pacific Northwest would likely have significant economic, soci­etal and environmental implications for the entire region. Understanding the biology and environmental tolerances of dreissenid mussels, and effectiveness of various man­agement strategies, is key to prevention.

On November 4-5, 2015, the Aquatic Bioinvasion Research and Policy Institute and the Center for Lakes and Reservoirs at Portland State University, the US Geological Survey, and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, convened a Dreissenid Mussel Research …

A Comparative Study Of Faecal Sludge Management In Malawi And Zambia: Status, Challenges And Opportunities In Pit Latrine Emptying, Rochelle H. Holm, James Madalitso Tembo, Bernard Thole

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This review paper covers the issues of pit latrine emptying national policies and regulations with a focus on Malawi and Zambia. With 2.4 billion people worldwide still lacking improved sanitation facilities, developing countries need to look at policy, regulation and practice for household sanitation service provision with a new lens. What happens “next,” when improved sanitation facilities eventually become full? An emphasis on faecal sludge management has multiplied this important issue in the past few years. The authors compare the pit latrine emptying situation in Malawi and Zambia with a focus on status, challenges and opportunities. To build this comparison, …

Impact Of Natural Organic Matter On Particle Behavior And Phototoxicity Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles, Shibin Li, Hongbo Ma, Lindsay K. Wallis, Matthew A. Etterson, Benjamin Riley, Dale J. Hoff, Stephen A. Diamond

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

Due to their inherent phototoxicity and inevitable environmental release, titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano- TiO₂) are increasingly studied in the field of aquatic toxicology. One of the particular interests is the interactions between nano-TiO₂ and natural organic matter (NOM). In this study, a series of experiments was conducted to study the impacts of Suwannee River natural organic matter (SRNOM) on phototoxicity and particle behaviors of nano-TiO₂. For Daphnia magna, after the addition of 5 mg/L SRNOM, LC50 value decreased significantly from 1.03 (0.89–1.20) mg/L to 0.26 (0.22–0.31) mg/L. For zebrafish larvae, phototoxic LC50 values were …

Building Codes To Minimize Cover Collapses In Sinkhole-Prone Areas, George Veni, Connie Campbell Brashear, Andrew Glasbrenner

Sinkhole Conference 2015

Cover- collapse sinkholes are forming with increasing frequency under buildings. Analyses of sinkhole distribution in Beacon Woods, Florida, preliminarily indicate their occurrence is an order of magnitude greater in urban versus undeveloped areas, suggesting the structures themselves are enhancing the collapse process. The most likely causes are induced recharge via at least one of two sources. First, runoff and drainage from roads, structures, and impoundments that is not adequately dispersed will promote sinkhole development. Second, leaking water, sewer, and septic systems beneath or adjacent to a structure will also promote collapse. The process of cover-collapse from induced recharge is well …

Sinkhole Vulnerability Mapping: Results From A Pilot Study In North Central Florida, Clint Kromhout, Alan E. Baker

Sinkhole Conference 2015

At the end of June in 2012, Tropical Storm Debby dropped a record amount of rainfall across Florida which triggered hundreds, if not thousands, of sinkholes to form which resulted in tremendous damage to property. The Florida Division of Emergency Management contracted with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Geological Survey to produce a map depicting the state’s vulnerability to sinkhole formation. The three-year project began with a pilot study in three northern Florida counties: Columbia, Hamilton and Suwannee. Utilizing the statistical modeling method Weights of Evidence, results from the pilot study yielded a 93 percent success rate of …

Karst Influence In The Creation Of A Pfc Megaplume, Virginia Yingling

Sinkhole Conference 2015

Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) are fully-fluorinated organic chemicals used to produce a wide range of industrial and commercial products. Their extreme persistence and mobility in the environment and nearly ubiquitous presence in humans and wildlife has raised serious concerns regarding their environmental and human health effects. In the 1940s to 1970s, PFC-bearing wastes were disposed of in three unlined landfills in Washington County, Minnesota. The resulting co-mingled PFC plumes created a “megaplume” that contaminated over 250 km2 of groundwater and four major drinking water aquifers; affecting eight municipal water supply systems and thousands of private wells. Site investigations revealed that karst features, …