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Surface Tethered Pamam Dendrimers On Controlled Pore Glass As Color Release Sensors For Phosphates, Chang Liu

Master's Theses

Poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMAM) are highly branched macromolecules with reactive amine groups in their interior and exterior. PAMAM dendrimers were attached to controlled pore glass (CPG) surfaces in order to create new functionalized surfaces and used as platforms for UV-vis and fluorescent sensing of phosphate substrates via indicator displacement assays (IDA).

CPG surfaces were first modified with different sized PAMAM dendrimers (generation 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0), then reacted with two strong metal-chelators: aminofunctionalized terpyridine (synthesized from 2,2’:6’,2’’-terpyridine) and Nα-Nα-bis(carboxymethyl)-L-lysine (Lys-NTA). First of all, Cu(II) metal ion binding capacities were measured on the surfaces. Second, two terminal group density tests, amine assay …

Response Of Phragmites Australis To Black Plastic Treatment, Jeremy D. Willcox

Master's Theses

Physiological responses of Phragmites australis (Phragmites) to the covering of black plastic were studied from 2011 to 2013 in Schoolhouse Brook Park, Mansfield, Connecticut. Nine 6 x 6 m plots were randomly established as either control, early-mid season covered, or late season covered within a monotypic Phragmites stand. Black plastic was applied from March to July 2011 and again from June to September 2012 (early-mid season). Another treatment was in place from September to November 2011 (late season). Rhizomes were sampled for their concentration of total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC) within each plot. Monthly rhizome samples were taken from a control …

Probing The Low Temperature Oxidation Of Furanic Biofuels, 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran And 2,5-Dimethylfuran, Utilizing Orthogonal Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Coupled To Synchrotron Radiation, Matthew Mcmanus

Master's Theses

Concern over natural resources and global climate shifts has increased the focus of sourcing transportation fuels from depleting oil wells to regenerative, biological based solutions. One avenue of biologically sourced fuel involves the extraction of C5 and C6 sugars from the woody, fibrous, and inedible plant materials, otherwise known as lignocellulosic biomass. These cellulosic sugars can be converted to target biofuels and biofuel additives like the furanic compounds, 2,5-dimethylfuran and 2-methylfuran. In this thesis, the low temperature oxidation of two compounds, 2,5-dimethylfuran and 2-methylfuran, are explored. These reactions were conducted at the Advanced Light Source in Berkeley, CA and used …

The Fii Model As An Investment In Patience: Exploring Time Preferences In Medellin, Colombia, Jennifer Graham

Master's Theses

The motivation for this research is to explore the success behind the Oakland based Family Independence Initiative (FII) as a model for poverty alleviation. During the period of June-December 2012, nearly 200 small business owners in Medellin, Colombia participated in a field experiment intended to replicate the FII model by randomizing the treatments of setting goals, receiving conditional payments, and participating in self-help groups, as well as the combinations thereof. The data shows that the subjects in the full FII treatment group achieve more goals and have significantly higher monthly sales than those subjects in any other treatment or control …

Grotesque Drag Queens And Toxic Matriarchs: Motherhood And The Subversive Female Body In Disney Animated Films, Allison Footit

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Halinity In Tidal Soils Of The Connecticut River, Marissa Theve

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

A Meta-Analysis Of Candidate Gene Association Studies On The Blood Pressure Response To Aerobic Exercise, Michael L. Bruneau Jr

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Aerobic exercise (AE) lowers blood pressure (BP) 5-7 mmHg among those with hypertension, but there is considerable variability in the BP response to AE. Genetic predispositions account for 40-65% of this variability; however, identifying genetic variants that associate with the BP response to AE is a challenge. We performed a meta-analysis to integrate the small number of studies that examined the influence of candidate genes on the BP response to AE. Methods: Studies retrieved included an acute or chronic AE intervention; BP before and after AE by genotype; and candidate gene polymorphisms. Effect sizes were the standardized mean …

Development Of An Analysis And Simulation Package For Protein Molecules & Improving The Graphics Of Their Conformational Transition, Hima N. Khoshreza

Master's Theses

Proteins are the building blocks of many living organisms and to study them is to discover many of nature’s processes. Abnormalities of these superb molecules make them also accountable for a wide range of human diseases. Every sixty seconds an American will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The mystery behind this disease and many others might well be revealed by novel protein prediction techniques. This thesis investigates developments of two tools to benefit such techniques.

First, a user-friendly graphical interface (GUI) was developed based on a previously perfected program named ProtoFold. ProtoFold is a protein simulation software that examines the …

Pbzrtio3 And Bifeo3 Ferroelectric Domains, Domain Boundaries, And Switching Investigated With Piezo Force Microscopy, Linghan Ye

Master's Theses

The domain structure of ferroelectric and multiferroic materials can have a significant effect on piezoelectric, dielectric, and thermal transport properties. Piezo Force Microscopy is an ideal tool based on Atomic Force Microscopy that allows unique investigations of such nanoscale effects, and can further be implemented to monitor domain switching dynamics.

A new method for polarization orientation mapping and statistical analysis is first employed to determine the domain variants present in a range of BiFeO₃ epitaxial (001) thin films with specifically engineered domain distributions. This allows domain wall densities to also be calculated, along with interfacial polarization angles between adjacent …

The Relation Between The Blood Pressure Response To Exercise During Training And Detraining Periods, Emily A. Moker

Master's Theses

Exercise training lowers blood pressure (BP) 5-7 mmHg, but the relation between the BP response to exercise training and detraining is unclear. PURPOSE: To examine the BP response after 6m of training followed by 2wk of detraining among a subsample from the Studies of a Targeted Risk Reduction Intervention through Defined Exercise study. METHODS: Subjects were 38 men and 37 women 50.2±10.6y with a body mass index of 30.5±3.2kg·m^-2 and resting BP of 120.0±13.7/79.1±9.2mmHg. Subjects completed 1of 3 types of exercise training: aerobic (AE) vigorous intensity (n=34); resistance training (RT) (n=28); or AE vigorous and RT (n=13). Simple …

Effect Of Positional Dependence In Recognizing Transcription Factor Binding Sites, Saad A. Quader

Master's Theses

Background: Many consensus-based and Position Weight Matrix-based methods for recognizing transcription factor binding sites are not well suited to the variability in the lengths of binding sites. Besides, many methods discard known binding sites while building the model. Moreover, the impact of Information Content (IC) and the positional dependence of nucleotides within an aligned set of TFBSs has not been well researched for modeling variable-length binding sites. In this paper, we propose ML-Consensus, a consensus model for variable-length binding sites which does not exclude any input binding sites. We consider Pairwise Score (PS) as a measure of positional dependence of …

Effects Of Herbivory As An Ecological Constraint Of Willow Growth At A Restored Riparian Corridor, Jacqueline A. Mccrory

Master's Theses

A critical component of nearly all riparian restoration projects is the rapid successful recovery of native vegetation. The dynamic conditions and diverse biotic community supported by riparian ecosystems can present numerous constraints to restoration efforts. This study investigated stunted growth of arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis) cuttings planted along the banks of Redwood Creek as part of the National Park Service’s Muir Beach Restoration Project to restore habitat for special status species in California. Based on observations of deer browsing, as well as signs of extensive biomass removal, I designed a field experiment using exclusionary fencing to test the significance of …

The Status Of Economic And Social Rights In Appalachia, Logan Thomas

Master's Theses

This research examines the status of economic and social rights (ESR) in Appalachia by examining county-level data for both the region and entire United States. Individual rights and total ESR fulfillment are examined based upon indices utilized in the research. Effort to fulfill ESR is also examined based upon available resources, as measured by per capita income in the counties. Findings indicate that the northern part of the region experiences both high fulfillment and effort, the central part of the region experiences low fulfillment and average effort, and the southern part of the region experiences average fulfillment and low effort.

Utilization Of An Anti-Nnk Recombinant Antibody To Reduce The Harm Associated With Smokeless Tobacco, Heather L. Wanczyk

Master's Theses

Tobacco products, both combustible and smokeless, contain abundant amounts of toxic chemicals and carcinogens capable of causing extensive damage to the body. Tobacco specific nitrosamines, including 4-(methylnitrosoamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N’-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), are among the most potent of these carcinogens and are capable of eliciting cellular transformations within the body after bioactivation by cytochrome P450 enzymes. In order to reduce the harm associated with smokeless tobacco, a recombinant anti-NNK antibody has been constructed from a hybridoma secreting a mouse monoclonal antibody specific for NNK.

In work performed previously, hybridomas were created by constructing a structurally-related benzoyl derivative …

The Role Of Self-Efficacy In Increasing Food Security Among Participants Of A New Food Pantry Model In Hartford, Ct, Angela G. Colantonio

Master's Theses

Background: Food insecurity is defined as not having the resources to obtain enough safe, nutritionally adequate food in socially acceptable ways to support an active, healthy life. A new approach to emergency food assistance is needed, and researchers have encouraged the exploration of empowerment, self-efficacy, and goal setting as a means of better understanding and preventing food insecurity. Objective: The study aim is to examine the association between food insecurity and self-efficacy, and evaluate the ability of a new food pantry model (Freshplace) to increase the food security and self-efficacy of members. Methods: A randomized control trial comparing Freshplace to …

The Efficacy Of Freshplace Project Manager’S Use Of A Stages Of Change Assessment Form And Motivational Interviewing, Matthew E. Brennan

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Resistance Training Prioritization In Ncaa Division I Track And Field Athletes, Dylan Dombrowski

Master's Theses

Resistance training (RT) is a powerful systemic stimulus known to improve a multitude of physiological variables. These include but are not limited to musculoskeletal strength, power, muscle mass, bone mass, and connective tissue. The sport of track and field is composed of many different events that focus on strength, power, and muscular endurance. Thus, resistance training is typically a vital part of athletic preparation for track and field athletes. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate specific manipulations of the acute program variables within the context of an off-season resistance training program. METHODS: 34 male NCAA Division I …

Undefined & Indefinable: Androgynous Imagery In The Work Of Hannah Höch, Michelle D. Sizemore

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Nmr Assignments And Structure Of The I-Domain From The Bacteriophage P22 Coat Protein, Alessandro A. Rizzo

Master's Theses

The P22 coat protein has the HK97 fold at its core, but also has an additional domain on the surface of the capsid. Two recent cryo-EM structures at ~8 Å and ~4 Å resolution show different folds for this domain. The structure and function of this domain has been debated in the literature.

NMR spectroscopy was used to determine a high-resolution structure of this domain. Here, the domain is called the ‘insertion’ domain (I-domain). The structure is a six-stranded β-barrel with a small helix and belongs to a reductase/isomerase/elongation factor folding family.

Compared to the previous cryo-EM reconstructions, the NMR …

The Effects Of Time Of Day On Resistance Exercise Workout Responses, Heather N. Husmer

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Dynamics Of The P22 Bacteriophage I-Domain By 15n Nmr Relaxation And Native-State Hydrogen Exchange, Latasha Cr Fraser

Master's Theses

The bacteriophage P22 I-domain structure contains a 6-stranded b-barrel folding motif, a 3-stranded b-sheet, and a small a-helical region. This study describes the dynamics of the I-domain determined by ¹⁵N NMR relaxation and native-state hydrogen exchange experiments. Relaxation data suggests that the I-domain is experiencing the majority of its motion on the ps-ns timescale. S² order parameters show two loop regions, which are poorly defined in the NMR structure, are the most flexible regions. The thermodynamic stability of the I-domain to unfolding, as a function of denaturant, has been studied with circular dichroism (CD) and native-state hydrogen exchange …

Teacher-Efficacy For Using Hots Pedagogy In The Classroom, Lindsey K. Le

Master's Theses

When considering the educational context and expectations of our teachers today, an evaluation of teacher-efficacy in promoting higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) in the classroom is more important than ever. Promoting these skills as illustrated in Anderson and Krathwohl’s (2001) taxonomy of educational objectives, through pedagogical techniques, provides an opportunity for students to develop metacognitive skills for learning. The literature (Thomas & Walker, 1997) stresses that the confidence that teachers have in actually promoting these skills (also known as teacher-efficacy (Bandura, 1986)), is important to bridging the gap between pedagogy and development of student thinking skills. The aim of the study …

The Identification Of The Mid Transcription Factor Regulatory Network Specifying Cell Fate And Regulating Survival In The Drosophila Eye, Sudeshna Das

Master's Theses

The Drosophila melanogaster T-box transcription factor Midline (Mid) exhibits a high degree of structural and functional conservation with its vertebrate homolog Tbx-20. Both Mid and Tbx-20 regulate cell-fate specification with in diverse tissues including the central nervous system (CNS) and heart. Although, some important studies reported that Tbx-20 transcripts express in a wide range of developing mammalian eye tissues including those of the human fetus, the function of this transcription factor is unknown in the development of eye tissue. This current study is the first attempt to show that Mid and its para log H15 are expressed within distinct ommatidial …

Resistance Training Behaviors In College-Aged Women 2013, Melanie Kornblatt

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of women’s training behavior in the weight room. A secondary purpose was to determine what their beliefs and perceptions were in regards to lifting weights. Participants were college-aged females ranging in age from 17-29 years. Observations of weight lifting activities were conducted during peak hours of operation (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3- 6pm) in the fitness facility. A total of 60 hours of observations were conducted over a period of four weeks. In addition to observations, two focus groups were conducted. Participants were divided into two specific groups: I …

Primary Productivity Distributions Along The River-Dominated Shoreline Of The Bay Of St. Louis, Ms Estuary, Adam Douglas Boyette

Master's Theses

Potential primary production was measured for six consecutive months (July 2010 to December 201 0) at selected stations along the shoreline of the Bay of Saint Louis (BSL) estuary. Monthly surface and a series of subsurface (0.5 m) samples were taken to observe the temporal (monthly and short-term) and spatial variability in production relative to environmental variables that potentially could influence phytoplankton photosynthesis. Daily areal primary production, PP was modeled using photosynthesis-irradiance (P-E) parameters in conjunction with in situ irradiance measurements and biomass data collected during sampling. Although spatial variability was not observed, PP varied seasonally and ranged from 1.90 …

An Investigation Of Preferred Versus Imposed Exercise, Personality Traits, And Motivation On An Exercise Dependent College Aged Sample 2013, Chelsea M. Norton

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to: (a) investigate personality traits and motivation among an exercise dependent sample by using and examining theoretically based assessment tools and (b) measure feeling states under different types of physical activity among those who were considered to be exercise dependent. Four hundred twenty-three college students (54.4% male, 45.6% female) who met the inclusion criteria completed the Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised (EDS-R; Symons Downs, Hausenblas, & Nigg, 2004), Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI; Terry, Szabó, & Griffiths, 2004), Exercise Identity Scale (EIS; Anderson & Cychosz, 1994), Behavioral Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire-2 (BREQ-2; Markland & Tobin, 2004), and …

The Role Of Appearance In Perceptions Of Personal Trainers 2013., Patrick R. Boerner

Master's Theses

The field of personal training in the United States is believed to have begun in the late 1970‟s and the early 1980‟s (Brooks, 2004). Today, personal training is a healthy profession that, according to the United States Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012), is expected to grow 24% (60,400 jobs) between 2010 and 2020. In comparison, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012) predicts the average growth rate for all occupations within the U.S. to be only 14% during the same ten-year span. Rapid growth within the field of personal training has brought an increased scrutiny on …

Comparison Of Liquid-Liquid Extraction And Solid Phase Extraction Of Mephedrone, Brittany Simone Love

Master's Theses

Legal high drugs are modified scheduled drugs. As with any new drug, researchers have to conduct studies to gather information about the drug. The problem with obtaining accurate information on new drugs is that by the time information is gathered, drug abusers and street chemists have developed new ones. Comparing designer drugs to their illegal counterparts is often helpful in that it can provide a starting point. Mephedrone is a new designer drug that has become a problem over the past few years. Often marketed as bath salts and plant food, mephedrone has become the knockoff replacement for amphetamines. This …

Comparison Of Stated Iron Concentrations Between Name Brand And Generic Children's Multivitamins, Ashlea Nicole Pettengill

Master's Theses

The mineral iron is one of the most common minerals on Earth; not only is iron found in the atmosphere, water, and plants, it is an essential mineral needed for the human body. Children need iron at a young age to ensure proper growth and development of myelin, to promote oxygen transportation within red blood cells, and to assist in Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and Ribonucleic acid (RNA). With iron readily available in children's multivitamins, iron toxicity can become an issue when taking too many tablets. With two types of brands, generic and name brand, parents should be aware of the …

Effect Of Ph And Temperature On The Binding Interactions Of Caffeine And Chlorogenic Acid With Sodium Caseinate, Emily S. Kong

Master's Theses

Coffee is a popular and well-loved beverage consumed worldwide by millions of people every day. While most patrons of coffee do so because of its unique and satisfying taste, consumers may be unaware of the potential beneficial health effects it also imparts. The antioxidants found in green coffee beans collectively known as chlorogenic acids (CGA) and caffeine are two of the most abundant bioactive compounds present in coffee. Both these bioactive compounds have been implicated in many studies to impart a wide range of health benefits, from reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes, to their use as aides in …