Digital Commons Network^™

Preparation And Characterization Of A Site-Directed Mutant Of Escherichia Coli L-Threonine Dehydrogenase, Qian Zhou

Theses

Threonine dehydrogenase from E.coli is a member of the medium-chain, Zn2+-containing alcohol dehydrogenase family. A site-directed mutant of theronine dehydrogenase was prepared at position 88 by replacing the native glutamate with cysteine using polymerase chain reaction. The mutated enzyme, designated TDH E88C, was expressed and purified to homogeneity in a three-step chromatographic procedure. The activity of the mutant after each step of purification was determined by a specific assay. Both the total activity and the specific activity of TDH E99C were significantly decreased compared to the wild-type TDH. The mutant enzyme was not sufficiently stable to obtain reliable Vmax or …

Quantitation Of Yohimbine Utilizing Capillary Electrophoresis. Method Development Through Statistical Design., Jonathan Cooper

Theses

In an effort to combat the rising cost of health care in the United States by encouraging preventative and self-care, the federal government passed the Dietary Supplement Health Education Act of 1994. This act essentially deregulated the natural product market allowing herbs, including yohimbine, to be sold over the counter without undergoing the same strict evaluation as a traditional synthetic drug candidate. As the full potential of these natural products is realized, including possible harmful side effects, a need arises for the identification and quantitation of the active components from commercial preparations. Commercial samples were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed for …

Drug Use And Pregnancy, Kimberly Klapmust

Theses

Human development is a remarkably complex process whereby the union of two small cells can after a period of time give rise to a new human being, complete with vital organs, bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and much more. Considering the intricacy of the developmental process, it is indeed miraculous that most babies are born healthy. Some children, however, are born with abnormalities. Environmental agents, such as drugs, are responsible for some of these abnormalities. Unfortunately, social and therapeutic drugs are widely used among pregnant women. Many commonly used drugs are known to disrupt the normal developmental process and cause …

Growth And Performance Of Some Forage And Landscape Species Directly Irrigated With Saline Water, Mohammed Abdul Muhsen Ali Salem

Theses

This work aimed to study the growth and physiological performance of SIX forage and

landscape species grown in Nahshalah farm , Zayed International Agricultural and Environmental Research Program Among these species 4 mangrove plants were first Introduced to U. A. E cli mate and soils In addition, Acacia ampliceps and Atriplex amnicola The study covered 1- 7 years plants were irrigated With 25 ppt . Saline water. The study investigated also the changes in the soil chemical characteristics and mineral composition during the 1 -9 years direct irrigation with saline water

The growth performance was measured based on the sufficient …

Equine Osteoarthritis: A Comparison Of Type 1 And Type 2 Conditions, Wendy Chadbourne

Theses

In what originally began as research to answer my own questions about osteoarthritis, I learned as much as I could from reading anatomy, veterinary, and physiology books. I had to look in many places to find all the answers I wanted. The books that provided the best visual information lacked text to explain the images, and the books that provided the best text definitions usually provided simplified illustrations or very confusing clinical photographs. While trying to unite the best images with the best text explaining what was going on, an idea was formed. I decided to combine clear images with …

Cross-Cultural Visual Communication, Chia-Wen Tsao

Theses

Explores how visual elements, such as ancient symbols and characters, have been used in visual communication across both Chinese and Western cultures. Analyzes existing cross-cultural packaging design examples. Compares packaging from a USA-based food company with a Taiwan-based food company in order to explore whether or not the design decisions communicate with ethnic audiences who are not familiar with these food products.

Employee Satisfaction Of Hotel Industry: A Case Study Of The Grand Hotel Taipei, Yenting Yeh

Theses

Employee satisfaction is related with customer satisfaction and employee performance in hotel. Though hotel operators in the West begin to attach importance to employee satisfaction, in Taiwan, this issue is not being treated as important as it is in the West. The purpose of this study is to do a first time survey about employee satisfaction levels in The Grand Hotel Taipei. The survey consists of five sections including workplace, the job, employee's opinion, benefits, and employee himself. Questionnaires were used to get to know employee demand and level ofjob satisfaction from supervisors and employees. The result of this study …

Managing In A Post-Merger/Post-Acquistion Period In Service Industry: Focus On Bank Industry In Rochester Area, Dilyara Daminova

Theses

For the past years the takeover technique and merger defense have been paid special attention and have been closely studied. However, the inside experience in newly merged organizations, the challenges that management faces and the solutions for problems often remain uncovered. Most importantly, if the management does not put efforts, the merger is not going to work. This study is an attempt to present a view to an insight of managing in a post-merger/ post-acquisition situation in a service enterprise. The study includes the following aspects: Mergers and Acquisitions: What causes companies to merge? The Process of Merging/Acquiring. Reasons for …

Quest For Survival: What Comprises And Effective Team, Kathleen Brayer

Theses

The journey to thrive competitively in the millenium will demand teamwork. Historically, corporate America has had difficulty implementing teams to drive performance. In theory building effective teams seems easy but in reality putting this knowledge into practice that changes behavior and fosters learning is a difficult challenge for corporations today. Through a series of 13 interviews this study benchmarks both the service and manufacturing industry to identify the characteristics about what comprises an effective team in organizations today, how their organizational design impacts team development and the different ways that people learn, think about and understand teams in organizations. Developing …

Self-Managed Work Teams: How Implementation Plans Affect Success Or Failure, Julia E. Meeker

Theses

This applied learning project will deal with the implementation of empowerment in an organization and the importance of an implementation plan.

Research shows that resistance to change by management or front line employees can lead to the failure of the change. Resistance to change is a normal human reaction but can be minimized through effective change management.

Effective change management includes clear, understandable, complete communication at the appropriate time. The development of a change implementation plan can reduce the resistance to change by providing information that addresses employees concerns regarding the proposed change.

The purpose of this project is to …

The Rural Older Adult Population And Transportation Services, Penny L. Isenmann

Theses

OAT . incorporated provide transportation service throughout the state of Missouri. OATS initially began serving the rural population of older adults. OATS now provides transportation for non-emergency Medicaid patients. Head Start, and other organizations.

Demographics, mobility, gender differences, normal age related changes. cognitive and physical impairments and disabilities are discussed in relation with driving and mobility needs Transportation affects all aspects of the older adult's life.

The White House Conference on Aging and the OIder Americans Act were influential in legislation which began funding transportation services tor older adults. Federal. state and local governments. and private agencies are responsible for …

Conjugated Bilirubin Measurement Re-Examined: A New 'Approach'., Aidan Kelleher

Theses

Conjugated bilirubin is an important but difficult metabolite to measure accurately, elevated levels of conjugated bilirubin in the serum are indicative of obstructive jaundice and therefore can be used to discriminate this disorder from other forms of unconjugated hyper bilirubinaemia.

The Benefits Of Corporate Wellness Programs, Paul Lonigro

Theses

Cost containment of health care cost is an extremely significant issue to employers today. Many employers have used strategies such as cost shifting and managed care to control costs with limited success. Many are using wellness programs with the idea of promoting healthy lifestyles to decrease the risks and demand for health care services. Other benefits which employers look for are an increase in employee productivity and morale, and decreasing absenteeism and turnover. The purpose of this thesis is to determine how effective wellness programs have been at achieving these goals.

Some form of wellness program has widely been used …

The Knowledge Of Dementia Among Nursing Staff Working In Special Care Units, Julia M. Gray

Theses

Dementia is a growing concern among the elder population. Special Care Units in long-term settings are becoming common placements for elders with dementia. The nursing staff within Special Care Units ideally have additional training in dementia. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the knowledge of dementia among nursing staff working in Special Care Units.

Depression, Well-Being, And St. John's Wort, Katherine M. Randolph

Theses

The following paper examines the relationship of depression, wellbeing, and St. John's wort. ln formation and studies are reviewed concerning depression, well-being. antidepressants, and Sl. John's wort. A survey was given to thirty people varying in age and gender. The survey compared people taking St. John's wort to those not taki11g it and their sense of well-bei11g. A favorable relationship was found with a person's sense of well-being, between individuals taking St. John's wort and those not taking it.

Assessing Career Value Of Hospitality Management Curriculum From Program Alumni, James Reid

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the assessment of hospitality management baccalaureate program alumni from New York Technical College (NYCTC) as being a valuable resource to the Hospitality Management curriculum assessment effort . Through the development of an alumni questionnaire, participants in this study were asked to rate individual courses of their curriculum (both core and elective) by the degree of value each course had been in terms of usefulness to their career development and/or relevance to meeting the demands of their current positions. Although the questionnaire response rate was less than desirable, it is stressed that survey …

Mechanical Properties Of Polystyrene And Polypropylene Based Materials After Exposure To Hydrogen Peroxide, John Torres

Theses

This study addresses a specific problem faced by a company in the food industry, although all food companies face similar issues. In an effort to reduce costs, the pursuit to down-gauge packaging materials is constant. In the case of this study, the primary package of a dairy product is being considered for reduction from the current 57 mil thickness to 52 mils. In the past, as the material was down-gauged from 62 mils, a loss in material strength and an increase in damage were observed. Initial research into the issue by line personnel found that the increase in damage was …

Molecular & Physical Characterization Of Threonine Dehydrogenase From Serratia Marcescens, Michael Wetherell

Theses

Threonine dehydrogenase has been purified from Serretia marcescens 450 fold to obtain 1300 micrograms of enzyme from 15 grams of cells. The amino-terminus has been sequenced and places it in a class with medium chain alcohol dehydrogenases from both Z.mobilus and E.coli. The native enzyme is a dimer of 35.6 kD sub-units containing approximately 324 amino acids. The gene structure of the enzyme is dissimilar from that of the E.coli TDH and may represent a mutation of an alcohol dehydrogenase with possible preference to propanol.

Studies On The Occurrence Of Fluoride In Some Food Samples, Taghreed Ali Abdullah Al-Habshi

Theses

In recent years, the amount of fluoride in biological samples, drinking water and in fluoride containing food or feedstuffs has generated considerable interest. Hence the determination of fluoride is becoming increasingly important due to its implications for environmental health. Fluoride is considered to be amongst the most phytotoxic of the more common pollutants. In response to that extensive research has been made to improve the determination of trace amounts of fluoride through developing different analytical methods. The application of these various analytical methods for fluoride ion determination in water and food samples has gained an enormous interest.

Chapter I of …

The Modified Parks Procedure: A Patient's Guide To Sugery And Care, Bethany Macy

Theses

None provided.

Reuse Of Cold Top Ex-Situ Vitrified Chromium Contaminated Soils In Hot Mix Asphalt Concrete, Gerald Charleston

Theses

This research investigated the pilot scale feasibility of the remediation of chromium contaminated soil through cold top ex-situ vitrification and the reuse of the vitrified products as highway construction aggregates. There are more than two million tons of chromite ore residues from the chromate extraction manufacturing leftover in Hudson County, New Jersey. They contained both un-leached hexavalent and unoxidized trivalent chromium. Hexavalent chromium is well known as a group A human carcinogen. It is also considered an environmental and health hazard. Of the many ex- situ and in-situ physical, chemical, and biological treatment technologies for chromate production waste, the ability …

A Microcosm Study In The Reductive Dechlorination Of Tetrachloroethylene Using Fermentation Acids And Alcohols As Electron Donors, Anthony Siccard Iii

Theses

Anaerobic microcosms of Arthur Kill (New Jersey) sediment were used to investigate the effects of several electron donors on tetrachloroethylene (PCE) dechlorination activity. The substates tested were methanol, butanol, butyrate, lactate and succinate both by themselves and in various combinations. Different levels of PCE dehalogenation were noticed in all of the microcosms regardless of the electron donor used. Vinyl chloride was the major dehalogenation product detected in the majority of the microcosms. The causitive organism or group that carried our the reductive dehalogenation was not identified. Only the microcosms admended with a mixture of butanol/methanol were able to fully reduce …

Role Of The Registered Dietitian In Oncology Care In Rochester, Ny, Natalie Gennett

Theses

Annually, 6500 cancer patients receive their care in Rochester, NY. This region is served by over 200 registered dietitians (RD's). Published data showing the number of oncology patients being supported by medical nutrition therapy from an RD is unavailable; anecdotal information indicates referral numbers are very small perhaps 1% or less. The purpose of this study was to explore RD involvement in oncology care in Rochester, NY. A survey of nutritional beliefs and practices in oncology care was mailed to 250 RD's and registered dietetic technicians with certified dietitian-nutritionist (CDN) credentials. Of the 250 questionnaires distributed, 137 (55%) surveys were …

Trends In The Use Of Technology In Hospital Menu System, Karen Wunder

Theses

As the twenty-first century approaches, hospital foodservice directors are faced with the conflicting tasks of cutting costs in response to various budgetary restraints while also providing quality service to customers with increased expectations in an increasing competitive environment. New technologies such as computerized, interactive menu systems have been developed in an attempt to offer increased customer satisfaction while also cutting costs at all levels. The focus of this study was to determine how hospitals nationwide were responding to the dilemma of cost cutting while achieving increased quality standards and in what ways technologies were being embraced to provide service excellence …

Strange Bed Fellows: A Case Study Of Merging Departments Through Employee Participation, Eugene Alibrio

Theses

The purpose of this study is to identify key areas of importance during a merger of two hospitals' Food and Nutritional Service Departments. The study shows that it is vital to include the staff in developing a mission and vision. This creates a future vision that is action oriented and in which all staff have a vested interest. The nineties have proven to be a time of rapid change. The changes implemented by the Food and Nutritional Services of Optima Health were rapid and unsettling for most staff. This case study discusses what went well, what did not go as …

Evaluating The Relationship Between The 24-Hour Recall And Food Habits Questionnaire Methods For Measuring Dietary Compliance, Janelle Welch

Theses

This study was conducted within a larger investigation conducted by Dr. Geoffrey Williams at the Genesse Hospital in Rochester New York. The purpose of Dr. Williams's investigation was to evaluate the long-term effects and cost effectiveness of a brief intervention to facilitate self-management among a sample of adults with diabetes mellitus coming in for regular outpatient visits. As part of the investigation, Type I patients were called three times within a two week period to obtain a 24-hour dietary recall. This information was used to determine adherence. The Type II patients within the study were required to fill out a …

Depression Or Suicide In The Elderly: A Guide For Caregivers, Betty Lou Browning

Theses

This project examines elements of depression and suicide in the elderly. An emphasis on accurate assessment for depression and potential suicide is an integral part of the project's focus. An overall theme evident in all references is how hopeless the elderly feel prior to thoughts, plans and actions to end their lives. Depression shows through signs of helplessness, passivity, detachment, physical debilitation, and despair. Biological, sociological, psychosocial and psychological factors associated with aging are discussed. The specific topics and teaching modules provide guidance with the hope that caregivers will begin to understand the devastating desperation that precedes elderly suicide attempts …

Awareness And Usage Of Alternative Medicine In The Elderly Black Population, Deborah Martin Burks

Theses

Alternative medicine covers a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches and therapies. When these therapies are used alone they are referred to as ' alternative'. When they are used with conventional therapies or other alternative therapies then they are referred to as complimentary.

Alternative medicine also embraces health beliefs and practices that fall outside of orthodox medicine. They offer the opportunity for an individual or case manager to explore alternative forms of healing when conventional treatment alone is not effective. Research has shown an increased interest in alternative medicine for the treatment of chronic illness.

The overall goal of this …

Recovery Of Intracellular Materials By Electroporation, Wendy Elaine Reid

Theses

Electroporation is commonly used to transfer genetic materials such as DNA into the cell by exposing the cell to a high electric field that momentarily permeabilizes the cell membrane. This premise was utilized to use electroporation as a means of releasing intracellular proteins. A procedure has been developed for the release of intracellular proteins through the use of electroporation. This procedure is a breakthrough. In general, industrial scale techniques to recover proteins from microorganisms are inefficient (Clarkson, 1993). A benefit of this electroporation-based mechanism would be the reduction of steps in the downstream processing required to purify the desired product. …

Energy Requirements For Certified Organic Farms In New Jersey : A Survey And Analysis Of Tomato Production, Cecilia Kelnhofer-Feeley

Theses

The focus of this thesis is to document the fossil fuel and electrical energy consumption required to grow certified organic tomatoes in the State of New Jersey. First, in order to evaluate the energy requirement for agriculture, a literature review of energy changes during the twentieth century is discussed. Secondly, an in-depth look at energy requirements for all farming types is evaluated. Third, previous studies of the energy requirements in agriculture are examined; this includes both analyzing organic and conventional farming practices. A survey was generated from the information gathered. The survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews. When all the …