Digital Commons Network^™

2012-2013 Hccp Year-End Summary, Kristen S. Cloutier

Year-end Summaries

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of The Impact Of Storage Temperature, Moisture Content & Duration Upon The Chemical Components & Bioprocessing Of Lignocellulosic Biomass, Arun Athmanathan

Open Access Dissertations

The successful utilization of lignocellulosic biomass as a feedstock for fuels and chemicals necessitates storage for 2-6 months. It is correspondingly important to understand the impact of storage parameters - moisture concentration, temperature and duration - on biomass quality.

As aerobic storage is the most viable large-scale solution, aerobic storage experiments were carried out with three projected bioenergy feedstocks - sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) bagasse, corn (Zea mays) stover and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Stored samples of each were examined for dry matter loss and composition change to develop a material balance around carbohydrates and lignin.

A mean dry matter loss …

Quantifying Crop Yield, Bioenergy Production And Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Cropland And Marginal Land Using A Model-Data Fusion Approach, Zhangcai Qin

Open Access Dissertations

Bioenergy is becoming increasingly attractive to many countries, but has sparked an intensive debate regarding energy, economy, society and environment. Biofuels provide alternative energy to conventional fossil fuels. However, the environmental impact of producing and using biofuel is a major concern to our society. This study is dedicated to quantifying and evaluating biofuel production and potential climate change mitigation due to potential large-scale bioenergy expansion in the conterminous United States, using model-data fusion approaches.

Biofuel made from conventional (e.g., maize (Zea mays L.)) and cellulosic crops (e.g., switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus)) …

Research: South Dakota State University, Fall 2013, Chrisite Delfanian, Eric Landwehr

State of Discovery South Dakota State University's Research Magazine

CONTENTS:

Breaking Waves: Study of breaking waves relevant for lake shorelines [Page] 2
Poetic imagery rooted in research [Page] 3
Virus genome may hold key to better PRRS vaccine [Page] 4
Consumer survey examines savings behaviors, goals [Page] 4
Soybean meal may decrease fish production costs [Page] 5
Alternative fuel sources add value to SD products [Page] 6
International collaboration helps meet global demand for wheat [Page] 7
Commercialization requires big thinking [Page] 9
Young scientist develops software for cancer detection, image transmission [Page] 10
Nursing research to improve rural health care [Page] 11
New vaccine-delivery system targets influenza, cancer …

Pasture Condition Guide For The Kimberley, Kathryn Ryan, Elizabeth Tierney, Paul Novelly, Robert Mccartney

Bulletins 4000 -

This interactive guide has been produced as a tool for assessing pasture condition over a range of pasture types in the Kimberley. A pasture type is a distinctive mix of plant species, soil type and landscape position. For example, the Mitchell Grass Alluvial Plain Pasture type is a mixture of Mitchell grasses and other species occurring on black soil alluvial plains. Pasture condition is an important factor affecting the potential of the rangelands for animal production and is a useful indicator for the sustainability of production.

Mexican-American Children's Perspectives: Neighborhood Characteristics And Physical Activity In Texas-Mexico Border Colonias, Nelda Mier, Chanam Lee, Matthew Lee Smith, Xiaohui Wang, Elias H. Avila-Rodriguez, Laura Trevino, Marcia G. Ory

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

The qualitative study described in this article investigated perceptions about environmental factors influencing physical activity (PA) among children from underserved neighborhoods known as colonias in the U.S.-Mexico border. Ten focus groups were conducted with 67 Mexican-American colonia children ages 8 to 13 living in one of the poorest border counties in the U.S. Analyses indicated that PA among children was influenced by neighborhood characteristics, including litter, speeding cars, unleashed dogs, and dark streets. The children also underlined intrapersonal and social environmental factors. Findings may inform policy makers and public health professionals about ways to promote PA among underserved children through …

Mexican-American Children’S Perspectives: Neighborhood Characteristics And Physical Activity In Texas-Mexico Border Colonias, Nelda Mier, Chanam Lee, Matthew Lee Smith, Xiaohui Wang, David Irizarry, Elias H. Avila-Rodriguez, Laura Trevino, Marcia G. Ory

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

The qualitative study described in this article investigated perceptions about environmental factors infl uencing physical activity (PA) among children from underserved neighborhoods known as colonias in the U.S.-Mexico border. Ten focus groups were conducted with 67 Mexican-American colonia children ages 8 to 13 living in one of the poorest border counties in the U.S. Analyses indicated that PA among children was influenced by neighborhood characteristics, including litter, speeding cars, unleashed dogs, and dark streets. The children also underlined intrapersonal and social environmental factors. Findings may inform policy makers and public health professionals about ways to promote PA among underserved children …

Feeling The Heat? Substantial Variation In Temperatures Does Not Affect The Proportion Of Males Born In Australia, Barnaby J. Dixson, John Haywood, Philip J. Lester, Diane K. Ormsby

Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints

The global proportion of male births has been shown to vary with climate, with a higher proportion of male births documented in colder climates. Here we examined the hypothesis that ambient temperature predicts fluctuations in the proportion of male births in Australia and within seven Australian states using historical annual data spanning 1910-2009. We predicted that within states with tropical ambient temperatures the proportion of male births would decrease when ambient temperatures are higher. Considering the national composite births for the whole of Australia first, the proportion of males born ranged only from 0.510 to 0.517. We observed no relationship …

Report Card On Sustainable Natural Resource Use In Agriculture, Robert Summers, David Weaver

All other publications

Condition and trend Nutrients, such as phosphorus (P), are essential for profitable agriculture in the south-west of WA; however, excess P – more than is required for optimal production – is stored in many agricultural soils. On average, pasture soils and arable soils contain 1.3 times and 1.6 times respectively, as much P as is required for optimal production. Production in P-enriched soils is more likely to be constrained by soil acidity (50–60% of pasture and arable soils), potassium (K) (50% of pasture soils and less than 10% of arable soils), and sulphur (S) (30% of pasture soils). Management implications …

Structure, Theoretical Studies And Coupling Reactions Of Some New Cyclic Boronic Esters, Andrew Kuttler, Sravanthi Durganala, Albert Fratini, Alexander Morgan, Vladimir Benin

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The present report describes the X-ray structural and theoretical studies of some new pinacolboronate esters, and it also outlines the use of the target structures in Suzuki coupling reactions to produce new aromatic or heteroaromatic esters and amides. X-ray structural analysis of the studied compounds revealed that the pinacolborane ring's position with respect to the benzene ring varies, depending on the particular environment. An ortho-positioned carboxylic ester (methyl ester) causes a nearly perpendicular orientation of the pinacolborane unit with respect to the benzene ring, whereas an ortho-positioned amide (N,N-dimethylamide) causes the pinacolborane unit to orient itself nearly coplanar. A plausible …

Preparation Of Cyclohexenones From Acyclic (Pentadienyl)Iron(1+) Cations: Synthesis Of Carvone Metabolites And Synthetic Studies Directed Toward Dihydrotachysterols, Charles Felix Manful

Dissertations (1934 -)

ABSTRACT

PREPARATION OF CYCLOHEXENONES FROM ACYCLIC (PENTADIENYL)IRON(1+) CATIONS: SYNTHESIS OF CARVONE METABOLITES AND SYNTHETIC STUDIES DIRECTED TOWARD DIHYDROTACHYSTEROLS

Charles Felix Manful, BSc.

Marquette University, 2013

Six-membered carbocycles are abundant in natural products. This structural feature is present in terpenes, secosteroids, antibiotics, and even imbedded in the polycyclic framework of complex alkaloids. A wide variety of methodologies have been utilized for the preparation of six-membered carbocycles including Robinson annulation, Diels-Alder cycloaddition, Dieckmann condensation, ring closing metathesis, photochemical carbonylation of alkenylcyclopropanes, addition of soft nucleophiles to acyclic (ç5-pentadienyl)iron cations, etc.

Acyclic (ç5-pentadienyl)iron(+1) cations were first prepared about 50 years ago. The reactivity …

Associations Of Smoking Status And Serious Psychological Distress With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Ke-Sheng Wang, Liang Wang, Shimin Zheng, Long-Yang Wu

ETSU Faculty Works

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been a major public health problem due to its high prevalence, morbidity, and mortality. Smoking is a major risk factor for COPD, while serious psychological distress (SPD) is prevalent among COPD patients. However, no study focusing on the effect of SPD on COPD has been so far conducted, while few studies have focused on the associations of SPD and behavioral factors with COPD by smoking status.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the associations of SPD and behavioral factors (such as smoking and physical activity) with COPD.

Materials and Methods: Weighted logistic regression …

Never Smokers -- Are They More Sensitive To The Respiratory Health Effects Of Ambient Air Pollution?, Zuhair Saleh Natto

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Several studies show an association between ambient particulate matter (PM) and all-cause mortality. The Adventist Health and Smog 1 (AHSMOG-1) study (N=6,338) has previously found associations between ambient air pollution and incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using the spatial interpolation method from the three nearest fixed monitoring stations to residence and workplace. However, few studies have assessed the risk of death among disease specific subgroups such as those with COPD.

Objectives: The aims of this study were 1) to assess the effect of chronic exposure to ambient air pollutants on risk of all-cause mortality among persons with COPD …

Improving Resilience In Mixed Farming Systems To Pending Climate Change In Far Western Nepal, D. Layne Coppock

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercises were conducted in four cluster-VDCs in Bajura district, Far Western Nepal from May 19 to June 8, 2013. These exercises were undertaken to gain a better understanding of community resources and to identify opportunities that will assist these rural farming communities to cope with and adapt to climate change. Ten key tools were applied during the PRA exercise in each community cluster: Social Resource Map, Transect Walks, Farm Sketches, Disadvantaged Group mapping, Historical Community Timelines, Gender Daily Calendar, Seasonal Farming Calendars, Institutional/Stakeholders Analysis (Venn Diagrams) and Focused Group Discussion.

Overcoming Shortage Of Pharmacists To Provide Pharmaceutical Services In Public Health Centers In Indonesia, Yuyun Yuniar, Max Joseph Herman

Kesmas

Indonesia masih menghadapi keterbatasan jumlah apoteker di puskesmas, sehingga pihak pemerintah daerah dan puskesmas harus berupaya mengatasi permasalahan tersebut. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menggambarkan ketersediaan dan distribusi tenaga pelayanan kefarmasian di puskesmas serta permasalahan dan alternatif pemecahannya. Data diambil dari hasil Riset Fasilitas Kesehatan (Rifaskes) tahun 2011I. Data kuantitatif tentang tenaga pelayanan kefarmasian di puskesmas dianalisis secara deskriptif berdasarkan regional. Data kualitatif sebagai pendukung diperoleh melalui wawancara mendalam dengan bagian kepegawaian dinas kesehatan dan apoteker empat puskesmas di Kota Bogor dan Bekasi, 3 kemudian dianalisis dengan metode analisis tema. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa Sulawesi memiliki persentase puskesmas dengan tenaga apoteker …

Investigation Of The Structure Of Quinoa Saponins By Hplc And Mass-Spec, Samuel Swainhart, Dr. Steve Wood

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Quinoa is a grain grown mainly by Natives in diverse areas throughout Latin America that is considered by many nutritional scientists as possibly the most nourishing grain available. Its contents include high levels of protein, an exceptional composition of amino acids, and many carbohydrates. Unfortunately, quinoa is very climate sensitive, and currently can only be grown in certain areas of the world, due to a low tolerance for intense heat. For this reason, quinoa is not grown everywhere and its annual yields are nowhere near the enormous quantities of rice and grain harvested annually. There are many different known varieties …

Flavonol-Rich Dark Cocoa Significantly Decreases Plasma Endothelin-1 And Improves Cognition In Urban Children, Partha S. Mukherjee

Mathematics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Air pollution exposures are linked to systemic inflammation, cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality, neuroinflammation and neuropathology in young urbanites. In particular, most Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) children exhibit subtle cognitive deficits, and neuropathology studies show 40% of them exhibiting frontal tau hyperphosphorylation and 51% amyloid-β diffuse plaques (compared to 0% in low pollution control children). We assessed whether a short cocoa intervention can be effective in decreasing plasma endothelin 1 (ET-1) and/or inflammatory mediators in MCMA children. Thirty gram of dark cocoa with 680 mg of total flavonols were given daily for 10.11 ± 3.4 days (range 9–24 …

Pixe Analysis Of Human Hair From An Egyptian Cemetery, Rafael Casellas, Dr. Nolan F. Mangelson, Dr. Lawrence B. Rees

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Human hair is considered to be a minor excretory organ for trace elements. The literature suggests that in some cases trace elemental concentration varies in different races of people. In addition, hair analysis has been used to assess nutritional status in humans. These characteristics attracted archeologists because of the potential of using hair analysis to understand past cultures.1

Plasma S-Adenosylmethionine, Dnmt Polymorphisms, And Peripheral Blood Line-1 Methylation Among Healthy Chinese Adults In Singapore, Maki Inoue-Choi, Heather H. Nelson, Kim Robien, Erland Arning, Teodoro Bottiglieri, Woon-Puay Koh, Jian-Min Yuan

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

Background

Global hypomethylation of repetitive DNA sequences is believed to occur early in tumorigenesis. There is a great interest in identifying factors that contribute to global DNA hypomethylation and associated cancer risk. We tested the hypothesis that plasma S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) level alone or in combination with genetic variation in DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3A andDNMT3B) was associated with global DNA methylation extent at long interspersed nucleotide element-1 (LINE-1) sequences.

Methods

Plasma SAM level and LINE-1 DNA methylation index were measured using stored blood samples collected from 440 healthy Singaporean Chinese adults during 1994-1999. Genetic polymorphisms of …

Biofuel From Microalgae – A Review On The Current Status And Future Trends, Rajee Olaganathan, May Zaw Htet, Lim Yan Ling, Sek Hui Yun

Publications

The constant reliance on fossil fuel energy resources is unsustainable, due to both depleting world reserves and increasing green house gas emissions associated with their use and thus there are dynamic research at the global level envisioned at developing alternative renewable and potentially carbon neutral solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels as alternative energy resources. The contemporary knowledge and technology predictions have proved that among the third generation biofuels especially those derived from microalgae are considered the best reasonable alternative energy resource compared to undeniable drawbacks of first and second generation biofuels. Moreover, its efficiency to sequester carbon from the atmosphere …

Use Of Metarhizium Anisopliae Chitinase Genes For Genotyping And Virulence Characterization, Saliou Niassy, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi, Joel L. Bargul, Jandouwe Villinger, Nguya K. Maniania

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Virulence is the primary factor used for selection of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) for development as biopesticides. To understand the genetic mechanisms underlying differences in virulence of fungal isolates on various arthropod pests, we compared the chitinase genes, chi2 and chi4, of 8 isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae. The clustering of the isolates showed various groups depending on their virulence. However, the analysis of their chitinase DNA sequences chi2 and chi4 did not reveal major divergences. Although their protein translates have been implicated in fungal virulence, the predicted protein structure of chi2 was identical for all isolates. Despite the critical role of …

Effects Of Composition And Separation Techniques On The Structure Of Aggregates In The Milk Fat Globular Membrane, Tristan Dilbeck, Jose Ibarra, Rafael Jimenez-Flores, Tracey Nguyen

STAR Program Research Presentations

The milk fat globular membrane (MFGM) is a complex structure composed mainly of phospholipids, sphingolipids, and membrane specific proteins. The composition and size of the MFGM differs based on the isolation, purification, and techniques used in analysis of the membrane as well as physiological, chemical, and mechanical factors present during its creation. The purpose of this experiment is to analyze the effects of separation techniques and composition of lipids and proteins on the structure of aggregates in the MFGM. The aggregates found in whey protein isolate (95% pure whey protein), whey buttermilk (whey protein and phospholipids), and sweet buttermilk (whey …

Effects Of Xanthan/Locust Bean Gum Mixtures On The Physicochemical Properties And Oxidative Stability Of Whey Protein Stabilized Oil-In-Water Emulsions, Goutham Puli

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Scientific evidence shows that dietary intake of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is beneficial to human health. Fish oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. However, fish oil with high levels of omega-3 PUFA is very susceptible to oxidative deterioration during storage. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of xanthan gum (XG)-locust bean gum (LBG) mixtures on the physicochemical properties of whey protein isolate (WPI) stabilized oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions containing 20% v/v menhaden oil. The O/W emulsions containing XG/LBG mixtures were compared to emulsions with either XG or LBG alone. The emulsions were prepared …

Social Capital And Walkability As Social Aspects Of Sustainability, Shannon Rogers, Kevin Gardner, Cynthia Carlson

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

The concepts of sustainability and sustainable development are frequently described as having three main components, sometimes referred to as the three pillars or the triple bottom line: environmental, economic, and social. Because of an historical focus in the sustainability field on correcting environmental problems, much consideration has been given to environmental issues, especially how they interface with economic ones. Frequently mentioned but rarely examined, the social aspects of sustainability have been considered the weakest and least described pillar. After a brief review of existing concepts and theories, this paper uses a case study approach to examine the third pillar more …

Analyses Of Multivitamins In Nutraceuticals By Reverse Phase Hplc With Dad, Elsd And Ms, Hsiang-Chi Huang

All Theses

ABSTRACT
Vitamins are essential to human beings and support long-term healthy lifestyle. They exist widely in food, but in small amount. Hence, dietary supplements and fortified food products are more and more popular in the nutritional markets. According to the Infant Formula Act of 1980, the range of each of the nutrients should fall within a specific range or above the required minimum, so there is an increasing interest of accurate measurement of vitamins, particularly the B-group vitamins. However, traditional methods for vitamin B analyses are time-consuming and often in poor accuracy. As a result, rapid and reliable analytical methods …

Understanding Basin Specific Life History Characteristics Of Lake Mead Quagga Mussels (Dreissena Bugensis) And A Potential Treatment Using Uv Radiation In Laboratory Studies, Melissa Thaw

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis) is an aquatic invasive species that is spreading throughout Lake Mead and other western waterways. Unlike their native waters in Eurasia, Lake Mead exhibits year round warm temperatures, high calcium levels and a lack of natural predators, all of which are very favorable conditions for their growth and spread. Dreissena bugensis reproduce and colonize hard surfaces rapidly, where they filter large amounts of water. They disrupt the aquatic food chain and interfere with infrastructure that is exposed to lake water. There is an urgent need to understand Dreissena bugensis life history characteristics within this new …

Successful Aging And Creativity : An Investigation On Functional Status And Psychological Wellbeing In Older Adults, Mirie E. Levy

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Objectives: While the literature supports the maintenance of functional status as integral to successful aging, the relationship of creativity on functional status has received little attention. Creativity has been associated with health and aging in the research but only a small number of studies have examined creativity interventions to enhance functional status and boost psychological wellbeing.

Methods: A pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design was used to investigate an 8-week creativity intervention on functional status and psychological wellbeing in older adults. Sample subjects were 92 men and women all over age 60. A series of two-way mixed ANOVAs measured differences between treatment and …

Long-Term Bald Eagle Monitoring: Assessing Emerging Risks To The Great Lakes Ecosystem By Evaluating Impacts To Tertiary Predators, Latice Fuentes

All Dissertations

Data from the Michigan Bald Eagle Biomonitoring Project (MBEBP) was used to provide ecological evaluations amidst concerns of emerging contaminants and environmental change. Samples and measurements were collected throughout the state of Michigan from 1998-2012. Nestling breast feathers and biometric measurements were used in analytical and statistical analyses which provided a broad assessment of the Great Lakes ecosystem and its resident bald eagles. Bald eagle nestling feathers were taken from Michigan breeding areas, and used to evaluate spatial and temporal trends of mercury (Hg). Overall, remediation has positively affected the Great Lakes region. However, Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Lake Superior …

Synthesis Of Ester Derivatives Of Resveratrol As Potential Anti-Cancer Drugs, Parasmani Pageni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring phytoalexin of the stilbene family produced by various plants in response to stress, UV radiation, and fungal attack. It is primarily found in peanuts, berries, grape skin, and red wine. Resveratrol has been found to exhibit anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and anti-oxidant properties. Research indicates that diets enriched with resveratrol containing substances result in less incidence of cancer. Unfortunately, the low bioavailability and solubility has been a huge setback for its potential prospects. As a result, efforts have been made to synthesize derivatives of resveratrol with increased solubility and bioavailability. Three triester novel resveratrol derivatives 3, …

Examine Participant Dropout, Undiagnosed Diabetes And Undiagnosed Prediabetes In A Chronic Disease Prevention Education Program, Yiwen Cao

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

There were 2768 participants enrolled in a chronic disease prevention education program. Survey and health measurements were obtained at three time points. We examine potential factors that might contribute to participant dropout, undiagnosed diabetes and undiagnosed prediabetes respectively. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between participant dropout and predictors, and to compare the odds of being undiagnosed with diabetes and prediabetes. We found that the potential predictors for participant dropout included age, employment, insurance, diabetes, self-reported health status, session type, program duration and curriculum. Factors affecting undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes were age, self-reported health status birth country, limited …