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The Investigation Of The Low Temperature Combustion Of Mesitylene And Tert-Amyl Methyl Ether By Synchrotron Photoionization Mass Spectrometry, Martin Yu-Hin Ng

Master's Theses

This thesis describes the combustion experiments performed at the Chemical Dynamics Beamline of the Advanced Light Source (ALS) located at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories (LBNL). The need for renewable fuel sources, the need for the study of their combustion in the contexts of homogenous charge combustion ignition (HCCI) engines can be found in Chapter 1. The components of the experimental set-up used throughout this thesis—time-of-flight mass spectrometer, Excimer laser, vacuum pumps and other components—and the components of ALS responsible in synchrotron radiation generation and processing—the linear accelerator, the booster ring, insertion devices, gas filters and monochromator are explained in …

Electrolyte Effects On The Kinetics Of Comproportionation Electron-Transfer Reactions And On Intervalence Charge-Transfer Band Energies Of Binuclear Ruthenium Ammine Complexes, Zhiji Han

Master's Theses

Chapter 1 describes an overview of electron-transfer reactions. The kinetic equations for ET reactions have also been described in detail.

Chapter 2 describes a series of novel kinetic accelerations which deviate strongly from the predictions of the classical Debye-Huckle theory with a range of different added “inert” electrolytes. The greater catalytic effects seen with the heavier halides and other catalytic electrolytes (especially certain dicarboxylates) indicate an important role for hole-transfer superexchange in the ET transition state. The hypothesis of a catalytic ternary association complex, [RuII--X--RuIII] has also been explored by kinetic modeling of the reaction. An increasing ratio of anion-catalyzed …

Investigations Of Thioether Generation For S-D-Ribosyl-L-Homocysteine Synthesis, Brendan Corcoran

Master's Theses

Creation of the thioether linkage is a fundamental step for the chemical preparation of the bacterial quorum sensing molecule S-D-ribosyl-L-homocysteine (SRH). Although previous preparations of SRH and its analogues have been reported in the literature, they employ assorted methods with varied results. Therefore, a reassessment of the methodology used for synthetic preparation of the thioether bond in SRH-like molecules is here considered. This work examines four methods of thioether generation following two mechanisms, bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (S_N2) and radical-initiated thiol-ene coupling, in an attempt to generate SRH in a more efficient and reproducible manner. Both mechanisms address …

Unintended Consequences Of Enforcement In A Fisheries Institution: Results From An Artefactual Experiment In Tanzania, Spencer Maccoll

Master's Theses

Overfishing and the destruction of fishing commons in developing countries is a growing problem. Policymakers and local community leaders are looking for solutions to keep their fishing commons sustainable. Fines and enforcement mechanisms are commonly suggested to help preserve the commons. This paper discusses a novel artefactual experiment conducted throughout several fishing communities in Tanzania to determine the effect of enforcing a ban on illegal fishing gear on fishing behavior. Results indicate that the fishers in the enforcement treatment group depleted the fish stock significantly faster than the unenforced control group. One possible explanation for this result is that the …

Transcriptional Regulation By Dax-1 In Pluripotent And Differentiated Cells, Alexandra C. Maramba

Master's Theses

DAX-1, an orphan nuclear hormone receptor, acts mainly as a repressor through transcriptional protein complexes. Its unique structure and specific expression raises questions as to what its precise interactions are and how it mediates its repressive function. While it is known to play a role in sexual development and adrenal insufficiency, expression in certain types of cancer suggests additional functions and interactions. Knock in of DAX-1 into a low-DAX-1 expressing cancer cell line has been previously observed to increase apoptosis, while, inversely, down in a high-DAX-1 expressing cancer cell line shows a decrease in apoptosis. Target genes that belong to …

Detection Of Hcmv Viral Il-10 (Vil-10) In Healthy Blood Donors, Vivian P. Young

Master's Theses

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is widespread in the general population and can establish lifelong latency with expression of a limited subset of viral genes. The UL111A gene is expressed during both lytic and latent infection, and at least two protein isoforms are produced. During lytic infection, the full length transcript yields cmvIL-10, a potent immunosuppressive viral ortholog of human IL-10 (hIL-10). Alternative splicing of the UL111A transcript yields a truncated protein, LAcmvIL-10, which is expressed during both lytic and latent infection but with a limited range of immunosuppressive functions. The two viral cytokines, collectively termed viral IL-10 (vIL-10), are identical in …

Training Group Home Staff On Nutrition, Kaitlin Carafa

Master's Theses

Currently, more than one-third of adults (more than 72 million people) in the United States are obese (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014), and therefore obesity is a major public health concern. The prevalence of obesity in the population of individuals with disabilities has been shown to be 2.1 times higher than compared to the general population, and the prevalence is higher in less restrictive settings such as group homes (Saunders et al., 2011). Therefore, interventions aimed to decrease obesity should be created for this population. The purpose of this study is to investigate the need for a …

A Ten Year Retrospective Study Of Pediatric Pneumonia Cases In Haiti, Talia A. Savic

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Electrostatic Interactions Stabilizing The I-Domain Of Bacteriophage P22, Christina Harprecht

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Enabling Authority: Ellen Emmet Rand, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, And The Power Of Portraiture, Emily M. Mazzola

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Fatherhood And Food: Food Insecurity And Paternal Role Associations With Father And Child Diet Quality, Von Jessee

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Synthesis And Characterization Of C8 And N2 2'-Deoxyguanosine Adducts Of 6-Nitrochrysene, A Cancer-Causing Agent, Kimberly R. Rebello

Master's Theses

Nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are ubiquitous in the environment, and many compounds of this family are carcinogenic. 6-Nitrochrysene, a representative member of this group, is a suspected human carcinogen that has been shown to cause lung, breast, and other forms of cancer in rodents. It is believed that this derivative of chrysene causes cancer by forming DNA adducts, which, in turn, induce mutations in critical gene sequences. The goal of my research is to synthesize one or more of the major DNA adducts formed by 6-nitrochrysene, which will be introduced in DNA in order to study their biological effects.

The initiation …

Gradient Effects Of Reading Ability On Native And Non-Native Talker Identification, Minal A. Kadam

Master's Theses

The acoustic signal of speech cues information about who is speaking in addition to a talker’s conceptual message. Recent findings indicate that these two aspects of the acoustic signal are fundamentally intertwined in the context of speech perception. For example, listeners demonstrate a native-language advantage for talker identification, which has been interpreted as evidence that phonological knowledge is recruited for talker identification. Converging evidence for this account comes from studies indicating adults with reading disability due to deficits in phonological processing show impaired talker recognition even in their native language. Other studies suggest that the influence of phonological processing on …

Promoting Parental Engagement In Parenting Education Programs, Jessica L. Maksut

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity In Youth: Association With Adiposity-Related Health Indicators In Nhanes 2003-2006, Kelley Ann Lafleur

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

A Microfluidics Based Cell Culture Device With Controlled Temperature Gradient, Radhika Shiradkar

Master's Theses

Cell culture is an extensively used technique for studying the behavior and growth of cells in response to different conditions. Examining the effect of temperature variation on cells helps in understanding the characteristics of cancer cells and may help in developing therapeutic procedures. To study the effect of this variation, we propose to use a microenvironment with a programmable temperature gradient. Microfluidics based cell culture devices offer advantage of providing a controlled environment, effectively.

The study focuses on creating a microfluidic cell culture device with a controlled temperature gradient. The device consists of two components– a microchannel (18mm×6mm) that holds …

Oral Nutritional Supplement Effects On Human Hydration Indices, Lindsay A. Ellis

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Assessing Knowledge And Attitudes Of The Human Papillomavirus Infection And Vaccine Among Adolescents In Hartford, Ct, Anita C. Chandrasekaran

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

“Un Pueblo Tan Dulce”: Diabetes, Depression, And Obesity Syndemics In Puerto Rico, Shir Lerman

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of Aerobic Fitness, Perceived Quality Of Life And The Direct Effects Of Self-Determination Theory In College Students 2015, Alanna Darling

Master's Theses

There have been numerous studies examining the association between physical activity, motivation and quality of life. In contrast, studies focusing on aerobic fitness and its relationship with levels of motivation and perceived quality of life are lacking. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between a direct measure of aerobic fitness, behavioral regulations, and perceptions of quality of life in college-aged sample. Participants included both males (n=129; 21.1±1.8 years) and females (n=89; 20.8±1.4 years) who completed the Behavioral Regulations of Exercise Questionnaire-2 sub-scores and Perceived Quality of Life (PQoL) instruments. Participants then performed the Queen’s College Step …

Analysis Of Embryo Scoring And Comparison Of Clinic Performance In In-Vitro Fertilization, James W. Whistler

Master's Theses

Clinical Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) practices seek to make improvements in embryo quality and resultant procedural success rates. There is a significant variance in live birth rates among clinics nationwide. The goal of this thesis is make comparisons of embryo quality among clinics and understand these differences. This analysis focuses on the stage between egg retrieval and embryo transfer. Because the currently accepted embryo scoring methods are not directly proportional to performance, a new scoring methodology is proposed and applied. Data provided by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) consisting of 36,836 patient cycles from 40 anonymous clinics nationwide …

Geographic Patterns Of Genetic Distribution Within Calochortus Gunnisonii In The Central And Southern Rocky Mountains, Ryan Scott Fuller

Master's Theses

Organismal population ranges and genetic architecture have largely been shaped by climatic events. The Quaternary Period (2.6 million years to present) has been characterized by a series of climatic events manifested as Ice Ages. During glacial periods, plants and animals in temperate and arctic regions were restricted to small patches of suitable habitat less affected by expanding glaciers and extreme cooling. These refugia held importance for the persistence of organisms through glacier interphases. Mountain system vegetation in temperate latitudes was affected by patchy glacier patterns that separated some species into multiple refugia. The isolation of such populations has had a …

The Applications Of Low-Cost Liquid Crystal Display For Light Field Modulation And Multimodal Microscopy Imaging, Zichao Bian

Master's Theses

Liquid crystal display (LCD) technology has enjoyed significant advances in just a few short years. The quality of LCD panels has improved dramatically while at the same time costs have gradually come down. LCDs are now found in products as small as mobile phones and as large as 42-inch flat panel screens. The thesis will introduces and discusses two new applications of Liquid crystal display.

Anti-headlamp digital glass: In recent years, public concerns regarding headlamp glare have substantially increased and become one of the most active dockets in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. We report an innovative design of a …

Physical Disability And Suicidal Desire: An Examination Of The Constructs Of The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory Of Suicide, Lauren Rachel Khazem

Master's Theses

The primary aims of this study were to examine constructs of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) in an understudied population. Differences in levels of IPTS variables and suicidal ideation between university students with and without physical disabilities were examined. Participants were 184 students from two Southern universities who provided answers to online-based self-report questionnaires. It was hypothesized that students with physical disabilities would endorse higher levels of all IPTS constructs relative to students without physical disabilities. It was further hypothesized that disability status would exhibit an indirect effect on suicidal ideation through perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Results indicated …

Are People Reading Local News? A Content Analysis Of Popular News Stories On Nine Newspaper Websites, Peter Shiang Chen

Master's Theses

The news industry has come under tremendous pressure in the last decade. None more so than the newspaper industry, which has seen all aspects of its operation: readership, revenue, staff, distribution and reputation decline dramatically. This study uses content analysis to examine the reading habits of news consumers from nine newspaper-based websites from the Advance Publishing chain. The samples were the stories in the “most popular this hour” list, examined every 5 days from August to September, 2014. These stories were separated into categories such as news, sports, business, etc., and further coded based on their proximity to the news …

Reducing Disruptive Behavior In High School: The Good Behavior Game, William Blake Ford

Master's Theses

Disruptive behavior in the classroom setting negatively impacts the learning process in various ways, interfering with the educational process of individual students, the teacher, and/or the class as a whole. Class-wide levels of disruptive behaviors worsen these impacts and are often related to problems with a teacher’s classroom management techniques and abilities. Group contingency interventions, such as the Good Behavior Game (GBG), are often used to provide teachers with evidence based management strategies while improving student behavior in the class. Furthermore, group contingency interventions, such as the GBG, can be conceptualized as Tier I or Tier II interventions within a …

A Study On Photodegradation And The Fate Of Pyrogenic Carbon, John Thomas Howell

Master's Theses

Accounting for all possible sources of atmospheric CO₂ is a pressing issue today due to the increasing effects of climate change. Estimates suggested that on the order of 1.3 million tons of dissolved pyrogenic carbon (pyDOC) could be entering the northern Gulf of Mexico annually. Assessing the fate of pyDOC in aquatic systems is crucial to understanding ecosystem impacts and potential feedback to climate change. Current research indicates that despite a generally lower susceptibility to biodegradation than their unpyrolyzed equivalents, pyrogenic carbon is not environmentally inert. While the role of microorganisms on the fate and transformation …

Seasonal Variation In Corticosterone, Stress Responses, And Physiology In The Northern Cardinal Cardinalis Cardinalis, Benjamin Matthew Duckworth

Master's Theses

Seasonal regulation of the adrenocortical response (e.g., ‘stress response’) appears to be ubiquitous in mid- to high-latitude vertebrates. Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are a Temperate dwelling passerine of Tropical-descent with a wide species range (tropics to Northern Temperate zones). This species encounters a wide variety of environmental conditions and strong seasonality, however corticosterone (CORT, the main adrenal stress hormone) has not been studied with regards to changes in seasonal levels. I initially analyzed samples from cardinals collected between 2007-2011 from the Lake Thoreau Environmental Research and Educational Center (Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA). The data suggested seasonal differences of CORT, with higher …

Impacts Of The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill On Microbial-Mediated Cellulose Decomposition In Mississippi Gulf Coast Salt Marshes, Jerrid Shawn Boyette

Master's Theses

Field studies were conducted to examine the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on rates of marsh organic matter decomposition. Decomposition in surface and subsurface marsh sediments was assessed in stands of Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus in 9 Mississippi Gulf Coast marshes exposed to differing oiling intensities. The cotton strip bioassay technique was used as a proxy for cellulose decomposition. In addition, rates of microbial respiration, fungal biomass (ergosterol) and nutrients (C:N, C:P) of surface sediment cotton strips were also quantified. Subsurface cotton strip decay, as determined by losses in tensile strength, were significantly different among marsh …

Marine Snow Settling Velocities At An Oil Spill Site And A Control Site In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Clayton Hugh Dike

Master's Theses

After budgeting for response efforts and natural processes, over one million barrels of oil from the BP oil spill were unaccounted for. A hypothesis coined "The Dirty Blizzard" formed subsequent to observations of large and numerous oiled marine snow aggregates amidst the surface slick proposed that a large quantity of oil sank to depth via the aggregates. Having reached the seafloor, aggregates were subject to microbial degradation and to redistribution due to bottom currents. To assist in characterizing redistribution of particles near the seafloor, sediment traps, marine snow cameras, and acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) were deployed at two sites …