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Fabrication Of Polyvinyl Alcohol / Chitosan / Bidens Pilosa Composite Electrospun Nanofibers And Their Enhanced Antibacterial Activities, Kegere James Jun 2016

Fabrication Of Polyvinyl Alcohol / Chitosan / Bidens Pilosa Composite Electrospun Nanofibers And Their Enhanced Antibacterial Activities, Kegere James

Theses and Dissertations

Given the current Challenges faced by the increasing rate of drug resistant bacteria, a lot of attention has been shifted from synthetic antibiotic products to natural products that are eco friendly and have a wide spectrum of activity when exposed to pathogens. The main objective of this research was to successfully fabricate electrospun nanofibers from polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol blended with Chitosan, Bidens pilosa (Both distilled and crude extract) composite blends and invesitigate their potential antibacterial activities agains E. coli and S. aureus. Fabrication of nanofibers was performed by the electrospinner technique which applies high voltage on the polymer forcing …

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Transformational Leadership In Action: A Case Study On The Role Of Ngos In Reducing Poverty And Catalyzing Social Change In Egypt., Nour El Akkad Jun 2016

Transformational Leadership In Action: A Case Study On The Role Of Ngos In Reducing Poverty And Catalyzing Social Change In Egypt., Nour El Akkad

Theses and Dissertations

This study presents the concept of transformational leadership and suggests that non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as transformational leading agencies, have a vital role in addressing community needs in Egypt. The study is conducted using the qualitative research method, focusing on the case study of Alashanek Ya Balady Association for Sustainable Development (AYB-SD), which is an Egyptian NGO directing its efforts towards poverty alleviation and social change in the district of Old Cairo in Cairo. The study inspects the different programs of the NGO using the SWOC (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Challenges) approach that examines the internal and external environments in which …

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Machine Learning For Disease Prediction, Abraham Jacob Frandsen Jun 2016

Machine Learning For Disease Prediction, Abraham Jacob Frandsen

Theses and Dissertations

Millions of people in the United States alone suffer from undiagnosed or late-diagnosed chronic diseases such as Chronic Kidney Disease and Type II Diabetes. Catching these diseases earlier facilitates preventive healthcare interventions, which in turn can lead to tremendous cost savings and improved health outcomes. We develop algorithms for predicting disease occurrence by drawing from ideas and techniques in the field of machine learning. We explore standard classification methods such as logistic regression and random forest, as well as more sophisticated sequence models, including recurrent neural networks. We focus especially on the use of medical code data for disease prediction, …

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"Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind": Examining The Association Between Geographic Distance And The Likelihood Of Cheating, Krista Joy Dowdle Jun 2016

"Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind": Examining The Association Between Geographic Distance And The Likelihood Of Cheating, Krista Joy Dowdle

Theses and Dissertations

Distance from a partner can put a strain on romantic relationships, especially when one is surrounded by attractive alternatives, as is often the case when moving away to college. Long distance relationships are often associated with increased stress, less relationship stability, and lower levels of relationship satisfaction. Distance may also be associated with cheating on one's romantic partner. The few studies that have examined cheating behavior in college students have found an increase in cheating over a very short, non-representative interval of time when partners were separated (e.g. spring break) but did not control for important variables such as alcohol …

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Concept Identification And Formation In Adolescents Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jonathan Sterling Beck Jun 2016

Concept Identification And Formation In Adolescents Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jonathan Sterling Beck

Theses and Dissertations

Abstraction is an inductive process through which specific details become united by a general concept. Abstraction incorporates two sub-skills: concept identification which involves recognizing patterns created by an external agent, and concept formation which is more difficult, requiring independent creation of a schema to organize information. Impairments in concept identification and formation are theorized to underlie a variety of practical difficulties of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; e.g., failure to generalize learning in one context to a similar, but new context). However, past research has yielded mixed results, with some finding significant impairment and others finding intact concept identification …

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The Role Of The Transcriptional Antiterminator Rfah In Lipopolysaccharide Synthesis, Resistance To Antimicrobial Peptides, And Virulence Of Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis And Yersinia Pestis, Jared Michael Hoffman Jun 2016

The Role Of The Transcriptional Antiterminator Rfah In Lipopolysaccharide Synthesis, Resistance To Antimicrobial Peptides, And Virulence Of Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis And Yersinia Pestis, Jared Michael Hoffman

Theses and Dissertations

RfaH is a unique bacterial protein that enhances transcription of a select group of long operons in many Gram-negative bacteria. Operons regulated by RfaH possess an upstream operon polarity suppressor sequence, which recruits the RfaH protein to the RNA polymerase during transcription of genes, most of which are involved in the synthesis of cell-surface features. These include synthesis of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core and O-antigen in Salmonella and Escherichia coli, as well as F-plasmid conjugation pilus and capsule in E. coli. LPS is an important virulence factor in many Gram-negative bacteria, and protects Y. pseudotuberculosis against host antimicrobial …

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Exploring The Possibility Of Photosynthetic Plasticity In Agave Sensu Lato, John Anthony Huber Jun 2016

Exploring The Possibility Of Photosynthetic Plasticity In Agave Sensu Lato, John Anthony Huber

Theses and Dissertations

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) provides desert plants with distinct advantages over the C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways in harsh climates where water is scarce. CAM is, however more metabolically costly than C3 or C4 photosynthesis, and some plants, such as Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, facultatively utilize CAM when water is abundant, and water conservation unnecessary. In such situations, these plants behave akin to a C3 plant when photosynthesizing. CAM is divided into four phases, with each phase displaying unique metabolic processes. Certain changes, including changes in the timing of CO2 fixation, stable carbon isotope ratios, …

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Death As Meridian: Paul Celan's Translations Of Emily Dickinson's "Because I Could Not Stop For Death" And "Let Down The Bars, Oh Death", Alyssa Devey Jun 2016

Death As Meridian: Paul Celan's Translations Of Emily Dickinson's "Because I Could Not Stop For Death" And "Let Down The Bars, Oh Death", Alyssa Devey

Theses and Dissertations

Paul Celan's translations of Emily Dickinson's poems Because I could not stop for Death and Let down the Bars, Oh Death illuminate the global metaphor inherent in both poems' exploration of death. Celan's The Meridian speech, coupled with Dickinson's poems I saw no way and Tell all the truth, suggest that language can move in different directions across a globe at the same time. When these different lines meet, they reach a meridian of the spiritual and the material. As Celan translates Dickinson's two poems, he uses this global metaphor to place more emphasis on death and to further illuminate …

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Deficient, Adequate And Excess Nitrogen, Phosphorus, And Potassium Growth Curves Established In Hydroponics For Biotic And Abiotic Stress-Interaction Studies In Lettuce, Douglas Keith Jacobson Jun 2016

Deficient, Adequate And Excess Nitrogen, Phosphorus, And Potassium Growth Curves Established In Hydroponics For Biotic And Abiotic Stress-Interaction Studies In Lettuce, Douglas Keith Jacobson

Theses and Dissertations

Mineral nutrients have marked effects on plant health by providing the building blocks for plant growth, as well as for mitigating abiotic and biotic stress factors, particularly disease development. Even if mineral nutrition field studies are conducted to study pest management, they are at the mercy of complex soil, water, and climatic conditions not amenable to strict experimental control. Therefore, a hydroponic method of growing lettuce was developed and growth curves were established for the macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Lettuce plants were grown at varying levels of each nutrient: 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, …

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The Modern Mr. Darcy: An Analysis Of Leading Men In Contemporary Romantic Comedy Film, Amanda Rebekah Roskelley Jun 2016

The Modern Mr. Darcy: An Analysis Of Leading Men In Contemporary Romantic Comedy Film, Amanda Rebekah Roskelley

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an observation and analysis of male performance in romantic comedy films released between 2005 and 2015. As a lasting genre, rom-com, like all forms of media, has the potential to influence society. Gender plays a vital role in the generic template of these films. Because women are the dominant consumers of this genre, what they observe as gender performance is important. This genre has been dissected under the eye of feminism and female gender performance but the changes in masculinity have been largely overlooked.This paper identifies common characteristics in leading men of this decade's rom-coms. After establishing …

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Human Herpesvirus 6a Infection And Immunopathogenesis In Humanized Rag2-/-Γc-/- Mice And Relevance To Hiv/Aids And Autoimmunity, Anne Tanner Jun 2016

Human Herpesvirus 6a Infection And Immunopathogenesis In Humanized Rag2-/-Γc-/- Mice And Relevance To Hiv/Aids And Autoimmunity, Anne Tanner

Theses and Dissertations

Human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) has yet to be definitively linked to a specific disease. This is due in part to the ubiquitous nature of the virus. Humanized Rag2-/-γc-/- (Rag-hu) mice were tested to determine if these were a suitable animal model to study the virus. Both cell-free and cell-associated virus was used for infection and both were found to be efficient at infecting the mice. Viral DNA was found in the plasma and cellular blood fractions, bone marrow, lymph node, and thymus, indicating successful infection and propagation of the virus in vivo. The CD3+CD4- population was depleted, while the …

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Gender Threat, Male Dominance, And Masculinity: A Perfect Storm For Workplace Aggression, Brooke Elise Dresden Jun 2016

Gender Threat, Male Dominance, And Masculinity: A Perfect Storm For Workplace Aggression, Brooke Elise Dresden

Theses and Dissertations

Higher prevalence of gender harassment has previously been identified in male dominated workforces, but not in academia. Factors such as implicit bias, male dominance, perceived gender threat, and heightened masculinity may increase the likelihood of gender harassment occurring in an academic setting. Two studies investigated this. In Study 1, one hundred seventy-one (92 male, 79 female) participants from male dominated and gender equivalent majors completed an online survey in which their explicit attitudes regarding gender and authority (GAM; see Rudman & Kilianski, 2000), and implicit associations regarding gender and careers (IAT; see Greenwald, McGhee, & Schwartz, 1998) were measured. Additionally, …

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A Semi-Automated Algorithm For Segmenting The Hippocampus In Patient And Control Populations, Nathan Mckay Muncy Jun 2016

A Semi-Automated Algorithm For Segmenting The Hippocampus In Patient And Control Populations, Nathan Mckay Muncy

Theses and Dissertations

Calculating hippocampal volume from Magnetic Resonance (MR) images is an essential task in many studies of neurocognition in healthy and diseased populations. The `gold standard' method involves hand tracing, which is accurate but laborious, requiring expertly trained researchers and significant amounts of time. As such, segmenting large datasets with the standard method is impractical. Current automated pipelines are inaccurate at hippocampal demarcation and volumetry. We developed a semi-automated hippocampal segmentation pipeline based on the Advanced Normalization Tools (ANTs) suite of programs to segment the hippocampus. We applied the semi-automated segmentation pipeline to 70 participant scans (26 female) from groups that …

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The Divinity Of Personal Status Law In Egypt, Maha Muhammad Asaad Jun 2016

The Divinity Of Personal Status Law In Egypt, Maha Muhammad Asaad

Theses and Dissertations

The personal status laws in Egypt have been subject to considerable debate. Between Feminists and Islamists; these are some who call for reforms and those who call for the return to the Shari’a. In spite of the differences, the constant in this debate has been the knowledge that the personal status laws are divine. This paper challenges this narrative through examining the historical development of the Shari’a as a whole then move on to specific aspects of the personal status law, namely, divorce and child custody. It argues that the personal status law have been altered and modified through decades, …

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Computational Modeling Of Nanodrug-Induced Effects On Cardiac Electromechanics, Noha Mahmoud Shalaby Jun 2016

Computational Modeling Of Nanodrug-Induced Effects On Cardiac Electromechanics, Noha Mahmoud Shalaby

Theses and Dissertations

This work generally aims to promote the use of computational models for predicting side effects of nanodrugs under development, as a means to speed up the cycle of drug development, with potential savings on testing, and reduction in the need for animal or human testing. The specific objective of this thesis has been to accurately model a single ventricular contraction-relaxation cycle, and monitor the effects induced by nanodrugs on the electro-mechano-physiology of the left and right ventricles. Nanodrug interaction with ion channels located on cardiac cell membranes, such as those for sodium, potassium and calcium, can distort an electrical wave …

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Gold Nanoparticles-Based Sensors For Detection Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Genomic Dna, Amira Hazem Mansour Jun 2016

Gold Nanoparticles-Based Sensors For Detection Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Genomic Dna, Amira Hazem Mansour

Theses and Dissertations

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), is an airborne disease that strikes one third of the globe’s population. In addition to infection of 9.6 million patients, TB claimed the lives of 1.5 million people in 2014 only. The majority of TB patients are present in the third world where the balance between cost-effective diagnostic method and prevalence of TB is difficult to achieve. Accurate diagnosis of TB is necessary to timely initiation of treatment. The available diagnostic tools are slow, while the rapid methods are either inaccurate or relatively unaffordable. So, sometimes the diagnosis is presumptive based on the …

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Improving Machine Learning Techniques For Influenza-A Classification, Nermin Ashraf Shaltout Jun 2016

Improving Machine Learning Techniques For Influenza-A Classification, Nermin Ashraf Shaltout

Theses and Dissertations

Influenza-A's ability to mutate constantly has resulted in recurring seasonal epidemics and pandemics. Recently, the virus's spread has been enhanced by its ability to infect multiple hosts simultaneously. Fast identification of the subtype and hosts of Influenza-A virus, is thus crucial, to quickly measure its drug resistance and virulence. Research in data mining techniques for influenza virus A host and subtype classification, has already been underway. The older studies' main goal was improving the accuracy, speed and safety of the virus analyses. With newer infectious strains of Influenza-A, appearing yearly, these techniques are still open for improvement. The current research …

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The Relationship Between Performance Evaluation Systems And Motivation: A Case Study From Three Ngos In Egypt., Heba Aloush Jun 2016

The Relationship Between Performance Evaluation Systems And Motivation: A Case Study From Three Ngos In Egypt., Heba Aloush

Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this research is to measure the relationship between Performance Evaluation System (PES) in the NGO sector in Egypt and the employees’ motivational level. Additionally, the research will explore the employees’ perceptions of the PES in the NGO sector in Egypt. The study was conducted over three NGOs; CARE International, Save the Children, and the Misr El Kheir. Both qualitative and quantitative methods have been used to answer the main research question and to evaluate the PES in the three organizations in addition to the evaluation of the motivators and the PES challenges from the employees’ perspectives. …

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“Molecular Dynamics Simulation Of An Engineered T4 Lysozyme Protein With Potential Nano-Biotechnological Applications”, Hadeer Elhabashy Jun 2016

“Molecular Dynamics Simulation Of An Engineered T4 Lysozyme Protein With Potential Nano-Biotechnological Applications”, Hadeer Elhabashy

Theses and Dissertations

The idea of developing a Bio-molecular mechanical device has attracted the attention of many research groups due to its promising Nano and Bio- technological applications such as flow-control valves, switches and bio-sensors. T4 Lysozyme protein is an enzyme, which has been extensively studied. This protein provides a wealth of information regarding the structure/function relationship of proteins at atomic resolution. An engineered variant of T4 Lysozyme has been reported to trigger a large scale translocation of an engineered helix (∼ 2nm), upon the addition of an external ligand. The design was based on the duplication of a surface helix, followed by …

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The Integration Of Children With Autism In The Egyptian Society By The Use Of Ict Tools, Aline Bahari Jun 2016

The Integration Of Children With Autism In The Egyptian Society By The Use Of Ict Tools, Aline Bahari

Theses and Dissertations

Autism has been discussed through the fields of medicine, sociology or psychology all over the past decades. Today, however it is being discussed through a different lens: „Communication‟. Being privileged by so many virtues, the Mass communication field not only spreads information, news and discusses views but also bonds people together. In that sense, Children with Autism should be part of this dynamic sphere, with the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) tools, integrating those suffering from autism within the Egyptian society. A Descriptive Survey research clarifies the actual use of children with autism to ICT tools through the …

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Parenting In Egypt: Recommendations For A Parenting Program For Upper And Middle Class Egyptians, Amira Ragy Saad Hanna Jun 2016

Parenting In Egypt: Recommendations For A Parenting Program For Upper And Middle Class Egyptians, Amira Ragy Saad Hanna

Theses and Dissertations

Parenting is key for the healthy development of children. It is a complex role that requires a great deal of support. Parenting or parent education programs are good tools for supporting parents but they are not widely available in Egypt, and the ones that are available may not be culturally sensitive to the Egyptian context. In order to develop an effective parenting program, an assessment of parenting training and support needs was conducted. An online survey was administered to parents (n = 255, 47% completion rate) of children aged 0 to 12 to assess their knowledge of child development, their …

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Pro-Social Content In Popular Animated Cartoons Viewed By Egyptian Children, Lina Nada Jun 2016

Pro-Social Content In Popular Animated Cartoons Viewed By Egyptian Children, Lina Nada

Theses and Dissertations

Social Cognitive Theory posits that children can learn from observations specially if repeated, directly or indirectly reinforced, and the audience feels competent in doing them. While much of the focus of research was on the negative aspects or the antisocial content specially in the Arab region, the present study studies prosocial content. Prosocial behaviors is a socially desirable intended behavior that in some way benefits another person or society at large. A content analysis was used to examine the content of the popular cartoons of children aged 7-12 years old who based on research are able to comprehend the messages …

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Assessment Of Performance Of Bio Self-Healing Mortar Using Diatomaceous Earth And Silica Fume, Ahmed Albughdadi Jun 2016

Assessment Of Performance Of Bio Self-Healing Mortar Using Diatomaceous Earth And Silica Fume, Ahmed Albughdadi

Theses and Dissertations

Cracking represents a major threat for the integrity and performance of structures. There are many factors that initiate cracking that are related to environment, properties of concrete itself and several other variables that are difficult to control. Repairing becomes inevitable for concrete structures; however it could be costly and time consuming. Self-healing concept has been introduced to construction materials in order to enhance their performance and extend their service life with less repair. The objective of this study is to assess the performance of Portland cement mortar incorporating self-healing Bacillus Pseudofirmus bacteria using Diatomaceous earth (DE) to immobilize precursor and …

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The Pharmaceutical Supply Of Brand And Generic Medicines In Different Rural And Urban Areas Of Egypt., Yasin M. Ragaey Afify Jun 2016

The Pharmaceutical Supply Of Brand And Generic Medicines In Different Rural And Urban Areas Of Egypt., Yasin M. Ragaey Afify

Theses and Dissertations

Medicines are an important intervention for protecting public health. While medicines have brand and generic type products, those used for treating non-communicable diseases are used by patients for life. The pharmaceutical market is not a competitive market with asymmetric flow of information. Equal access to both types of medicines is part of equal access to health care in different socioeconomic areas. Patients with non-communicable diseases should own their choice of whether brand or generic medicines for their treatment not the market supply that dictates their consumption. In this thesis, we used data for availability of 39 medicines treating non-communicable diseases …

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Feasibility Of Converting Existing Residential Buildings To Net Zero-Energy Buildings In Egypt, Somaya Albadry Jun 2016

Feasibility Of Converting Existing Residential Buildings To Net Zero-Energy Buildings In Egypt, Somaya Albadry

Theses and Dissertations

Green architecture, sustainable buildings, environmentally friendly, and other terms have recently become popular in the construction fields among both professionals and non-professionals. Although it is mostly needed and highly feasible, the application of these ideas is not yet at the same level of popularity in Egypt. Researchers are trying to fill this gap by providing different types of recommendations, methodologies, and guidelines to be followed. The aim of this research is to propose a method to be used in solving the energy problem in the building sector in Egypt. Since it is concerned with the existing building stock, the methodology …

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Genome-Wide Transcriptomic Analysis Of Alternative Splicing Modulation In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Moustafa Ahmed Abohawya Jun 2016

Genome-Wide Transcriptomic Analysis Of Alternative Splicing Modulation In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Moustafa Ahmed Abohawya

Theses and Dissertations

Eukaryotic genes architecture is characterized by incorporation of non-coding sequences interrupting the coding sequences. Through splicing, excision of those non-coding sequences, known as introns, is taking place co-transcriptionally, i.e. synchronically with the synthesis of precursor messenger m-RNA from the template DNA, in a precisely-regulated manner. Alternative splicing is a phenomena where not all splice sets are used in each transcript processed. Thus, this process enhances the proteome and transcriptome complexity through generating different transcripts, with different functionality or stability, from a single gene. Aberrant splicing have been associated with a lot of disease including cancer as well as Parkinsonism. Chemical …

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Egyptian Student Perceptions Of Visual Warnings On Cigarette Packs, Hala Touta Jun 2016

Egyptian Student Perceptions Of Visual Warnings On Cigarette Packs, Hala Touta

Theses and Dissertations

This Thesis examines how Egyptian students perceive the visual warnings on cigarette packs. First the study presents some significant global and regional statistics alongside a history of cigarette manufacturing, social associations, and advertising from the twentieth century. Three theories are reconciled, namely the theories of Normative Influence, Fear Appeal, and the Protection Motivation Theory to fully capture why the Egyptian young people continue to smoke despite the disturbing graphic images that are required by law to be placed on the front and back of cigarette packs. In engaging with these theories, the study explains how the human psyche develops a …

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Antibiotic Resistance In Red Sea Brine Pools, Ali Hassan Ali Elbehery Jun 2016

Antibiotic Resistance In Red Sea Brine Pools, Ali Hassan Ali Elbehery

Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotic resistance (AR) is a complex problem with a global clinical impact. However, did this phenomenon begin in conjunction with the medical use of antibiotics or is it older? Studying AR in pristine environments could answer this question. Being devoid of anthropogenic impact, makes Red Sea brine pools ideal targets for the study. Besides, the extremophilic nature of these pools, particularly Atlantis II Deep (ATIID) allows mining for novel thermostable AR genes, which could provide better understanding of AR evolution and enrich the thermophilic selection marker gene repertoire. Here, we initially validated commonly used AR detection methods, then analyzed antibiotic …

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What Motivates Reluctant Male Readers?, Cheryl Ann Tartaglione May 2016

What Motivates Reluctant Male Readers?, Cheryl Ann Tartaglione

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to better understand the role of reading motivation in a group of students at the Thomas E. Bowe School in southern New Jersey. I wanted to what motivates this group of boys to read and how typical they might be to other reluctant male readers. Qualitative inquiry strategies such as surveys, student interviews, interactive graphic organizers and a teacher interview were used. Upon analyzing the data, motivation for reading was poor. However, student book choice and commonalities in genre selection were consistent with current research. Struggling male readers look for teacher input and …

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Examining The Evolutionary Constraints Of Gene Expression Levels In S. Cerevisiae, Andrea Janelle Jackson May 2016

Examining The Evolutionary Constraints Of Gene Expression Levels In S. Cerevisiae, Andrea Janelle Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

It has been widely reported that some genes are expressed at a higher level than others. However, it has not been shown whether each gene is expressed consistently between studies and at the same level compared to all other genes. Here, we examined six RNA-seq datasets and found that the mRNA level of each gene is indeed consistent relative to all other genes. This result implies that there are evolutionary pressures that drive genes to maintain either low or high expression. In order to identify these pressures, we compared gene expression level to the features of each gene (or associated …

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