Digital Commons Network^™

Structural Characterization Of Super-Acid Oligomerized Fatty Esters., Esam Allehyani

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Fatty acid methyl esters can be oligomerized with very strong acid catalysts - superacids such as tetrafluoroboric or triflic acid with formation of dimer and trimer fatty acids at much lower temperature, such as 80-90 °C, than what is used presently. Insight into the reaction of polymerization of fatty esters/ acids can be obtained by structural characterization. This would determine the properties of the oligomeric products and their ability to substitute currently used materials. It was presumed that dimer fatty, trimer fatty acid esters, and oligomeric fatty acid esters are produced by polymerization of fatty acid methyl esters by a …

Phosphate Esters, Thiophosphate Esters And Metal Thiophosphates As Lubricant Additives, David W. Johnson, John E. Hils

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Phosphate esters, thiophosphate esters and metal thiophosphates have been used as lubricant additives for over 50 years. While their use has been extensive, a detailed knowledge of how they work has been a much more recent development. In this paper, the use of phosphate esters and thiophosphate esters as anti-wear or extreme pressure additives is reviewed with an emphasis on their mechanism of action. The review includes the use of alkyl phosphates, triaryl phosphates and metal containing thiophosphate esters. The mechanisms of these materials interacting with a range of iron and steel based bearing material are examined.

Quantitative Trait Loci Associated With Waterlogging Tolerance In A Soft Red Winter Wheat Mapping Population, Diana Carolina Ballesteros Benavides

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Waterlogging is caused when water stays superficially in the soil for an extended period of time, creating an anaerobic environment which decreases plant growth and grain yield at maturity. Despite the impact of waterlogging on wheat production both globally and in the southeastern U.S., very little is known about the genetic control of waterlogging tolerance in wheat. The objective of this study was to determine the amount of genetic variation for vegetative stage waterlogging tolerance present within a wheat recombinant inbred line (RIL) population and to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with tolerance and productivity. Experiments were carried out …

Research: South Dakota State University, Winter 2013, Christie Delfanian, Matt Landwehr

State of Discovery South Dakota State University's Research Magazine

CONTENTS:

South Dakota expertise integral part of Landsat [Page] 1
West Nile: Researchers help public health officials combat West Nile virus [page] 2
Health care: arteries, corticosteroids, concussions, and preemies [Page] 4
Oilseeds [Page] 6
Undergraduate Research [Page] 8
Organ donation key to helping Native Americans on dialysis [Page] 10
Researchers meet challenge of increased competition: 2012 measurements [Page] 11

Factors Associated With Parental Decision Making And Childhood Vaccination, Zuwen Qiu-Shultz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In order to better understand factors affecting immunization status, logistic regression was used to assess the association of various socio-demographic factors and whether parents would have their child immunized if not a state mandate. Factors included in the study were race, household income, number of children in the household, number of adults in the household, if the child had a primary provider, if the child had a health check-up in the last twelve months, and medical insurance status of the child. The combined Nevada Kindergarten Health Survey Result of 2009-2010 (Year Two) and 2010-2011 (Year Three) conducted by the Nevada …

Gfsa Encodes A Novel Galactofuranosyltransferase Involved In Biosynthesis Of Galactofuranose Antigen Of O-Glycan In Aspergillus Nidulans And Aspergillus Fumigatus, Yuji Komachi, Shintaro Hatakeyama, Haruka Motomatsu, Taiki Futagami, Karina Kizjakina, Pablo Sobrado, Keisuke Ekino, Kaoru Takegawa, Masatoshi Goto, Yoshiyuki Nomura, Takuji Oka

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Summary: The cells wall of filamentous fungi in the genus Aspergillus has galactofuranose (Galf)-containing polysaccharides and glycoconjugates, including O-glycans, N-glycans, fungal-type galactomannan and glycosylinositolphosphoceramide, which are important for cell wall integrity. Here, we attempted to identify galactofuranosyltransferases that couple Galf monomers onto other wall components in Aspergillus nidulans. Using reverse-genetic and biochemical approaches, we identified that the AN8677 gene encoded a galactofuranosyltransferase, which we called GfsA, involved in Galf antigen biosynthesis. Disruption of gfsA reduced binding of β-Galf-specific antibody EB-A2 to O-glycosylated WscA protein and galactomannoproteins. The results of an in-vitroGalf antigen synthase assay revealed that GfsA has β1,5- or …

Seasonal Correlations Between Pueraria Montana Var. Lobata And Avian Species Diversity And Relative Abundance In Hamilton County, Tennessee, Amelia Hudson

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Invasive species exist outside of their native ranges and can cause environmental harm where they have been introduced. One such species is kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata), an invasive vine in the southeastern U.S. Although kudzu is one of the most common invasive species management concerns in the Southeast, there is little quantitative data documenting its effects on native species. This study examines the seasonal correlations between kudzu and avian species diversity and relative abundance in Hamilton County, Tennessee. By measuring the characteristics of the overstory, midstory, and understory vegetation at sites with differing levels of kudzu coverage, I examined …

Synthesis Of Resveratrol Ester Derivatives, Daniel Ressler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research project was to synthesize derivatives of transresveratrol. In order for resveratrol to be activated and used by the body it needs to bind to Human Serum Albumin (HSA), a protein in blood plasma. The derivatives were synthesized to improve the ability of resveratrol to enter cells as well as improve their ability to bind to HSA. The three derivatives that were synthesized have converted one of the hydroxyl groups on resveratrol to an ether with a methylene chain terminated by a carboxylic acid. By varying the lengths of the methylene chain we varied the water …

The Imperative Of Conserving California's Foothill Oak Woodlands, Lauren Phillips

Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Sequential Autotrophic-Heterotrophic Culture Of Scenedesmus Spp. For Lipid Production, Jazmine Taylor

All Theses

Algae are fascinating organisms that are receiving growing attention for their versatility on many fronts of research areas. Immense amounts of research is being conducted to find solutions to challenges in energy and climate change. A large portion of research is focused on algae as a potential solution to both of these issues. The focus of this research is to look at algae closer to home as a local, economical resource to aid in solving both of these problems. The algal genus Scenedesmus was tested for growth in a bi-phased scheme: photoautotrophically for carbon sequestration then heterotrophically on glycerol for …

Arachidonic Acid Reverses The Pyriproxyfen And Ibuprofen Induced Toxicity In Daphnia Magna, Gautam Kumar Ginjupalli

All Dissertations

Healthy reproduction and neonatal sex ratios of Daphnia are crucial to the health of the aquatic ecosystems in which Daphnia play principal roles in trophic transfer of nutrients. Combinations of environmental factors such as availability and quality of diet, overcrowding, hypoxia, reduced photoperiods and fall in ambient temperatures perturb normal parthenogeneic reproduction and induce sexual reproduction through male production. Male production provides a mechanism for overcoming specific stressors such as overcrowding and overwinter pond desiccation. However, it also induces a decrease in the Daphnia population that could have adverse implications on the pond ecosystem that depend on Daphnia . Interestingly, …

Long-Term Recovery Of South Indian Creek Following Interstate Construction, Clara Mcclure

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The expansion of Interstate 26 from Erwin, TN to the North Carolina border was a project that potentially adversely impacted South Indian Creek because of the steep landscapes and potential for erosion. Several studies have shown the short-term, negative effects of road construction on the water quality of nearby water bodies. Non-point source pollution is the major source of water pollution in the United States. The primary objective of this research is to evaluate the long-term effects of the construction of Interstate 26 on South Indian Creek to see if there has been any ecological recovery. The Environmental Health Sciences …

Permaculture, Roslynn Brain, Blake Thomas

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Reservoir Management Techniques To Enhance Biological Productivity And Protect Water Quality, Ben Alan Thompson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Three reservoirs of similar size, watershed land use, and qualitative characteristics in northwest Arkansas, USA were selected to compare the effects of chemical fertilization and pulsed artificial-upwelling on whole-lake productivity, specifically primary production and phytoplankton biomass. Numerous water quality parameters were quantified over a two year period (2011-13) with the goal of understanding how each management technique would stimulate productivity. This experiment was the first step towards a larger goal to ultimately enhance sport fish production. The first year of monitoring occurred in 2011 and served as a control year for the three lakes. Treatments were initiated in two of …

Consumer Adoption Of Health Information Systems, Sankara Subramanian Srinivasan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

At nearly 18 percent of the country's GDP, the U.S. healthcare industry continues to wrestle with growing cost and a quality of care that does not match the increased spending. The dominant focus to date has been on promoting Health IT (HIT) system implementation and digitizing health records at the provider's end, with scant attention to the role of the patient in the healthcare process. The source of inefficiency in the healthcare system is not only on account of shortcomings at the provider's end but also due to non-compliance (such as failing to adhere to medication advice and follow-up visits) …

Determining The Feasibility Of Implementing An Effective Fungiculture Program With The Peace Garden At Illinois Wesleyan University, Mackenzie Rivkin '14

Outstanding Senior Seminar Papers

The Peace Garden at Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU), the organic garden at the small liberal-arts university in Bloomington, Illinois, is devoted to growing nutritious, pesticide-free food to be sold locally in an attempt to counterbalance the various food-related issues which stem from conventional food systems. Mushrooms, fungi with many nutritional benefits, are not currently produced by the Peace Garden. However, the unique nature of mushrooms may be attractive to certain consumers and could further contribute to the Peace Garden's mission if produced. This study, conducted September to December 2013 is guided by the following question: What is the feasibility of …

Securing Information Technology In Healthcare, Denise Anthony, Andrew T. Campbell, Thomas Candon, Andrew Gettinger, David Kotz, Lisa A. Marsch, Andrés Molina-Markham, Karen M. Page, Sean W. Smith, Carl A. Gunter, M. Eric Johnson

Dartmouth Scholarship

Information technology (IT) has great potential to improve healthcare quality while also improving efficiency, and thus has been a major focus of recent healthcare reform efforts. However, developing, deploying and using IT that is both secure and genuinely effective in the complex clinical, organizational and economic environment of healthcare is a significant challenge. Further, it is imperative that we better understand the privacy concerns of patients and providers, as well as the ability of current technologies, policies, and laws to adequately protect privacy. The Securing Information Technology in Healthcare (SITH) workshops were created to provide a forum to discuss security …

The Santa Clara, 2013-11-14, Santa Clara University

The Santa Clara

No abstract provided.

Food Sovereignty: An Alternative Paradigm For Poverty Reduction And Biodiversity Conservation In Latin America, M Jahi Chappell, Hannah Wittman, Christopher M. Bacon, Bruce G. Ferguson, Luis García Barrios, Raúl García Barrios, Daniel Jaffee, Jefferson Lima, V. Ernesto Méndez,, Helda Morales, Lorena Soto-Pinto, John Vandermeer, Ivette Perfecto

Environmental Studies and Sciences

Strong feedback between global biodiversity loss and persistent, extreme rural poverty are major challenges in the face of concurrent food, energy, and environmental crises. This paper examines the role of industrial agricultural intensification and market integration as exogenous socio-ecological drivers of biodiversity loss and poverty traps in Latin America. We then analyze the potential of a food sovereignty framework, based on protecting the viability of a diverse agroecological matrix while supporting rural livelihoods and global food production. We review several successful examples of this approach, including ecological land reform in Brazil, agroforestry, milpa, and the uses of wild varieties in …

Improving The Efficiency Of Fall Applied N With Cover Crops, Corey Lacey

Theses and Dissertations

Nitrate loss studies in Midwestern tile-drained fields have found that fall applied nitrogen (N) resulted in elevated nitrate concentrations in tile water during both the corn and soybean year of a 2 year rotation. The effectiveness of cover crops to reduce nitrate leaching when N is spring applied has been well demonstrated, however there is a dearth of knowledge on the ability of cover crops to reduce nitrate leaching in a system where N is fall applied. Thus, the objectives of this research were to (i) investigate the efficacy of winter cover crops to reduce nitrate leaching from fall applied …

Tracking Transmission Of Apicomplexan Symbionts In Diverse Caribbean Corals, Nathan L. Kirk, Raphael Ritson-Williams, Mary Alice Coffroth, Margaret W. Miller, Nicole D. Fogarty, Scott R. Santos

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Symbionts in each generation are transmitted to new host individuals either vertically (parent to offspring), horizontally (from exogenous sources), or a combination of both. Scleractinian corals make an excellent study system for understanding patterns of symbiont transmission since they harbor diverse symbionts and possess distinct reproductive modes of either internal brooding or external broadcast spawning that generally correlate with vertical or horizontal transmission, respectively. Here, we focused on the under-recognized, but apparently widespread, coral-associated apicomplexans (Protista: Alveolata) to determine if symbiont transmission depends on host reproductive mode. Specifically, a PCR-based assay was utilized towards identifying whether planula larvae and reproductive …

On Comparison Of Exponential And Hyperbolic Exponential Growth Models In Height/Diameter Increment Of Pines (Pinus Caribaea), S. O. Oyamakin, A. U. Chukwu, T. A. Bamiduro

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

A new tree growth model called the hyperbolic exponential nonlinear growth model is suggested. Its ability in model prediction was compared with the Malthus or exponential growth model an approach which mimicked the natural variability of heights/diameter increment with respect to age and therefore provides more realistic height/diameter predictions as demonstrated by the results of the Kolmogorov Smirnov test and Shapiro-Wilk test. The mean function of top height/Dbh over age using the two models under study predicted closely the observed values of top height/Dbh in the Hyperbolic exponential nonlinear growth models better than the ordinary exponential growth model without violating …

Relationships Between Body Roundness With Body Fat And Visceral Adipose Tissue Emerging From A New Geometrical Model, Diana M. Thomas, Carl Bredlau, Anja Bosy-Westphal, Manfred Mueller, Wei Shen, Dympna Gallagher, Yuna Maeda, Andrew Mcdougall, Courtney M. Peterson, Eric Ravussin, Steven B. Heymsfield

Department of Mathematics Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Objective To develop a new geometrical index that combines height, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) and relate this index to total and visceral body fat. Design and Methods Subject data were pooled from three databases that contained demographic, anthropometric, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measured fat mass, and magnetic resonance imaging measured visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume. Two elliptical models of the human body were developed. Body roundness was calculated from the model using a well-established constant arising from the theory. Regression models based on eccentricity and other variables were used to predict %body fat and %VAT. Results …

Continuous Electroextraction And Concentration Technology, Qiong Ren, Wen Liao, Zu-Cheng Wu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Electrodeionization process combined electrodialysis with ion exchange provides a method to produce pure water and ultrapure water due to the ions accumulated in the resin instantaneously to reduce the system resistance. Meanwhile, large numbers of hydrogen ions and hydroxyl ions are dissociated by water hydrolysis, thus, the ion exchange resins are in-situ regenerated electrochemically. This technology has been utilized to retrieve useful ions which are enriched in the concentrated compartment from a dilute solution. This hybrid process is consequently developed as a new type of extraction and concentration technology and has been gradually employed in the recoveries of heavy metals, …

2013 Program, Office Of Academic Affairs

Programs

At its best, a university is a collection of individuals ‐‐ students and faculty ‐‐ focused on learning and discovering new knowledge. For this goal to be realized, a critical element is having faculty members deeply engaged with their disciplines. Scholarship, in the form of journal articles, book chapters, monographs and similar endeavors, creative activity which can take an even wider range of forms, and funded research which explores the boundaries of their disciplines all contribute to such engagement. Through such participation, faculty members stay at the growing edges of their fields, and in so doing, they enrich their intellectual …

Challenges In Estimating The Causal Effect Of An Intervention With Pre-Post Data (Part 1): Definition & Identification Of The Causal Parameter, Ann M. Weber, Mark J. Van Der Laan, Maya L. Petersen

U.C. Berkeley Division of Biostatistics Working Paper Series

There is mixed evidence of the effectiveness of interventions operating on a large scale. Although the lack of consistent results is generally attributed to problems of implementation or governance of the program, the failure to find a statistically significant effect (or the success of finding one) may be due to choices made in the evaluation. To demonstrate the potential limitations and pitfalls of the usual analytic methods used for estimating causal effects, we apply the first half of a roadmap for causal inference to a pre-post evaluation of a community-level, national nutrition program. Selection into the program was non-random and …

Pastures For Horses, Robert Coleman

Kentucky Grazing Conference

The horse evolved as a grazing animal. In order to consume enough forage to meet the horses’ nutritional needs a significant amount of time would be spent each day grazing. The pattern of selecting forage-moving to the next area starting to graze again can easily translate into 14 to 16 hours of grazing activity each day. The level of grazing activity will also be affected by the available forage and the daily access to pasture.

Pastures For Goats And Sheep, Greg Brann

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Pasture for sheep is not that different than that for cattle but pasture for goats is very different. Sheep are grazers like cattle whereas goats are browsers like deer. Even though grass and clover are not a goats preference if all of the forage present is grass and clover goats will eat it. Due to goats and sheep being more prey animals than cattle they don’t like to wade off into tall vegetation, also it takes more energy for them to move through tall growth. Many plants that we traditionally consider weeds become desirable forbs when goats or sheep are …

(How I Think About) Kentucky's Pastures: One Of Kentucky's Untapped Resources, Jimmy C. Henning

Kentucky Grazing Conference

One of the privileges of old(er) age is the prerogative to take liberties with assigned tasks. At the risk of confusing producers and offending more scientifically-current forage scientists, the topic of pasture as an untapped resource presented an opportunity to address task from an unexpected angle. Certainly, Kentucky’s pastures are a resource with untapped potential. But the idea that their value as a resource depends on how we think about them is one worth pursuing.

Flexiterm: A Flexible Term Recognition Method, Irena Spasić, Mark Greenwood, Alun Preece, Nick Francis, Glyn Elwyn

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: The increasing amount of textual information in biomedicine requires effective term recognition methods to identify textual representations of domain-specific concepts as the first step toward automating its semantic interpretation. The dictionary look-up approaches may not always be suitable for dynamic domains such as biomedicine or the newly emerging types of media such as patient blogs, the main obstacles being the use of non-standardised terminology and high degree of term variation.