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South Dakota State University Graduation Exercises, December 15, 2007, Brookings, South Dakota, South Dakota State University

Commencement Programs

Please be advised that the names listed in the program do not represent official confirmation of meeting the graduation requirements. The Graduation Exercises ceremony will commence with introductions by University President David L. Chicoine. Honorary Marshals for the event are Allen R. Branum, Acting Director of Diversity Enhancement and Professor Emeritus of Psychology, and Virginia Norris, Professor and Head of Psychology. Delivering the graduation address titled, "Knowledge Workers in Tomorrow's Economy," will be Aelred Kurtenbach, Cofounder of Daktronics, Inc. and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Dr. Carol J. Peterson, Provost and VIce Presidednt for Academic Affairs, will acknowledge faculty …

Direct Inhibition Of Cdk9 Blocks Hiv-1 Replication Without Preventing T Cell Activation In Primary Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes, Dominic Salerno, Muneer G Hasham, Renee Marshall Demarest, Judit Garriga, Alexander Y Tsygankov, Xavier Graña

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

HIV-1 transcription is essential for the virus replication cycle. HIV-1 Tat is a viral transactivator that strongly stimulates the processivity of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) via recruitment of the cyclin T1/CDK9 positive transcription elongation factor, which phosphorylates the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNAPII. Consistently, HIV-1 replication in transformed cells is very sensitive to direct CDK9 inhibition. Thus, CDK9 could be a potential target for anti-HIV-1 therapy. A clearer understanding of the requirements for CDK9 activity in primary human T cells is needed to assess whether the CDK9-dependent step in HIV-1 transcription can be targeted clinically. We have investigated the effects …

Commencement Convocation Program, Usf, Graduate, December 15, 2007, University Of South Florida

USF Graduation and Convocation Programs

President's Fellow Medallion - David Ward

Family Affairs Newsletter 2007-12-15, Jean Vermette

Family Affairs newsletter (2004-2016)

FAMILY AFFAIRS was a free, twice-a-month, social activities newsletter for the GLBTQI (gay/lesbian/bisexual/trans/queer/intersex) community, sent out around the 1st and 15th of each month. It covered the State of Maine only. The list was begun and maintained for many years by Jean Vermette in Bangor, and later operated by Zack Paakkonen of Portland. Over the years it evolved from a social activities newsletter into a business directory, classified ad service, and community bulletin board.

Ua45/6 Commencement Program, Wku Registrar

WKU Administration Documents

Commencement program listing graduates.

Commencement Convocation Program, Tampa Campus, December 15, 2007, University Of South Florida

USF Graduation and Convocation Programs

Outstanding Senior - Amanda Day; Global Leadership Award - Carol Bellamy and Juan Vázquez; King O'Neal Scholars - Michelle Denise Frey and Steven Martin Wilson

The Effects Of Hurricane Katrina On The Structure, Performance, Capacity, And Future Of The Lumber Industry, Thomas Eric Mcconnell

Theses and Dissertations

This investigation focuses on the effects of hurricane Katrina on the structure, performance, capacity, and future of the lumber industry in the impacted area. The basis of the examination is a survey of both hardwood and softwood lumber mills in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. Total response rate was 42.4%. Results support the hypothesis that the storm did have a significant and negative effect on the commerce of responding facilities. Contribuing factors, such as raw materials supply and procurement, physical damage tothe mill and resulting variations to operation, productivity and quality issues, as well as human resources, were impacted in differing …

158th Commencement, Winter

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Illinois State University, One Hundred And Forty-Eighth Annual Commencement, December 15, 2007, Illinois State University

Commencement Programs

Normal, Illinois
Illinois State University
One Hundred and Forty-Eighth Annual Commencement
December 15, 2007

Comparing The Performance Of Heterogeneous And Homogeneous Swarms, Jason Alexander Hales

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis compares the performance of heterogeneous and homogenous swarms. Swarms are defined as particles or agents which react to their environment and fellow particles or agents according to social rules. The weights of three attributes of an individual agent were varied for these experiments: Collision Avoidance with individual agents in the swarm, Center of Mass of the swarm and the parameter that controls Velocity Matching in the swarm. In homogenous swarms, all individuals had the same attribute weights while in heterogeneous swarms weights for one attribute were taken from a normal distribution for the population. These swarms were then …

Development Of Bio-Photonic Sensor Based On Laser-Induced Fluorescence, Chan Kyu Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) has been shown to be potentially useful for identifying microorganisms in real time. It is a selective and sensitive technique because the excitation is performed at one wavelength while the emission is monitored at longer wavelengths so that background from the excitation source can be eliminated. This specialized optical property of LIF can be applied to development of an optical sensor capable of quickly, non-invasively, and quantitatively probing complex biochemical transformations in microorganisms. Various bio-photonic optical fiber sensors based on laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy were developed as diagnostic tools for microorganisms. In the first phase, the enhancement …

Dielectrophoretic Characterization Of Abo Blood Type, Frequency And Ac Field Strength Of Erythrocytes, Prashant Reuben Daggolu

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the role of ABO blood type of erythrocytes in their dielectrophoretic response. The dielectrophoresis of erythrocytes of positive ABO blood types was studied at 5 V (peak to peak) and 1 MHz frequency AC field. The study revealed that the ABO blood type had an influence on the dielectrophoretic motion of the erythrocytes, particularly separating AB+ and O+ blood types. This is of particular significance since AB+ is a universal acceptor and O+ is a universal donor for blood transfusion purposes. The influence of field parameters, namely field strength and frequency of the AC field, was also …

2007 Fall Commencement, Harding University

Commencement Programs

Program for the Commencement on December 15.

Commencement Speaker: Howard Wright

Disease Management Strategies For Controlling Spring Dead Spot And Frequency Of Occurrence Of The Causal Organism Ophiosphaerella Korrae On 'Tifway' Bermudagrass (Cynodon Dactylon X C. Transvaalensis), Hunter D. Perry

Theses and Dissertations

Spring dead spot (SDS) is the most destructive disease of bermudagrass and its hybrids, affecting intensively managed bermudagrass turf that is at least three years old. This bermudagrass disease is most prevalent in the United States where winter temperatures become cold enough to induce dormancy. The symptoms of SDS appear as sunken, necrotic patches of turf ranging from several centimeters to greater than 0.5 m in diameter. Field studies were conducted at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, MS on a Tifway bermudagrass fairway beginning January of 2005 and concluding December of 2006 to determine the frequency and the …

Non-Equilibrium Surface Growth For Competitive Growth Models And Applications To Conservative Parallel Discrete Event Simulations, Poonam Santosh Verma

Theses and Dissertations

Non-equilibrium surface growth for competitive growth models in (1+1) dimensions, particularly mixing random deposition (RD) with correlated growth process which occur with probability $p$ are studied. The composite mixtures are found to be in the universality class of the correlated growth process, and a nonuniversal exponent $\delta$ is identified in the scaling in $p$. The only effects of the RD admixture are dilations of the time and height scales which result in a slowdown of the dynamics of building up the correlations. The bulk morphology is taken into account and is reflected in the surface roughening, as well as the …

Evaluation Of A Low Profile Cascade Aerator, Chukwukelue Kenneth Monwuba

Theses and Dissertations

The aeration potential of a low profile cascade aerator was studied under varying operational conditions in accordance with the ASCE Standard for Measurement of Oxygen Transfer in Clean Water [ASCE 2-06, 2007]. Operational parameters delved into included the channel slope (2.50, 4.50 and 6.50); water flow rate (465.75 L/min.m (37.5 gpm/ft), 931.45 L/min.m (75 gpm/ft) and 1397.20 L/min.m (112.5 gpm/ft)); and weir geometry (rectangular-shaped, inverted T-shaped, W-shaped and inverted Cross shaped weir). The oxygen transfer coefficient, KLa, was derived by use of a FORTRAN-based nonlinear regression analysis computer program and served to assess the effectiveness of various combinations of operational …

Factors That Influcence African Americans To Enroll In Agricultural Science Programs, Levar Desmond Graham

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that most influence African Americans to enroll in agricultural science programs at 1890 and 1862 Land Grant universities. This study used a quantitative approach in researching the problem of identifying the factors that led minorities to enroll in agricultural science programs at 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions. A survey instrument was designed which collected the factors, demographics, and attitudes that influenced minority enrollment in agricultural sciences at 1890 and 1862 universities. The setting for the data collection in this study is 1890 and 1862 land grant universities in the southern …

Self-Management Of Type 2 Diabetes In Appalachina Women., Melissa Joy Magness

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gender, minority, and regional-related disparities have been documented in diabetes management. Self-efficacy, the belief in one's ability to carry out the actions mandated by a task, has been identified as a key predictor in glycemic control; however, it has not been investigated in rural, female populations. This cross-sectional, correlation investigation examined the relationships among self-efficacy, depression, and diabetes self-care management in women living in Appalachia with type 2 diabetes. Using Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, 85 women ages ≥ 21 with type 2 diabetes for a minimum of 6 months who were residents in Appalachia completed the 1) Diabetes Self-Efficacy Scale, …

Light Image Therapy In The Health Care Environment., Anna Rae Dutro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Use of positive distraction in the built healthcare environment to assist in alleviating stress in a patient was investigated. A backlit light image was mounted in the ceiling of an examination room to create a positive distraction for patients in the ETSU Pediatric Clinic in Johnson City, TN. Survey instruments were used to collect sample data from patients and physicians in a randomized, balanced controlled study designed to determine if patients experienced less stress in the room with the backlit image as compared to other rooms (treatments). Although a statistical difference was not determined between the room with the backlit …

1, Structural And Functional Studies Of Human Replication Protein A; 2 Dna Damage Responses And Dna Repair Defects In Laminopathy-Based Premature Aging., Yiyong Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The genome of mammalian cells is under constant attack from DNA-damaging agents. To maintain genomic integrity, cells activate an array of pathways primarily consisting of DNA repair and DNA damage checkpoints. Human replication protein A (RPA), a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding protein, is essential for almost all DNA metabolic pathways. However, the role of RPA in nucleotide excision repair (NER), a DNA repair pathway for removing bulky DNA lesions, remains elusive. In this study, the binding of RPA to a battery of well-defined ssDNA substrates has been systematically examined using fluorescence spectroscopy. The results showed that RPA has a lower …

Physiologically-Based Toxicokinetic And Toxicodynamic (Pbtk/Td) Modeling Of A Ternary Organophosphorus Insecticide Mixture In Rats: Model Development And Validation, Julian Thomas Pittman

Theses and Dissertations

A physiologically-based toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic (PBTK/TD) model was developed, from the open literature, to predict the toxicokinetic disposition and toxicodynamic response (acetylcholinesterase inhibition) of a ternary organophosphorus (OP) insecticide mixture: chlorpyrifos (CP), methyl parathion (MP) and parathion (P). In vivo studies were conducted in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, orally administered one of two CP/MP/P mixtures (2.5, 0.5, 0.5 mg/kg or 5, 1, 1 mg/kg) with selected tissues (blood, brain, diaphragm, liver, lung and skeletal muscle) collected at 30min, 4, 12 and 24hr postdosing. Low dosages were studied so the mixture did not result in significant disruption of cardiovascular function nor …

Proteomic Analysis Of Listeria Monocytogenes, Sana Mujahid

Theses and Dissertations

Listeria monocytogenes is a deadly, Gram-positive foodborne pathogen that is ubiquitous in the environment. The bacterium expresses a number of virulence and stress adaptation proteins that support its pathogenic capabilities. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to map L. monocytogenes surface proteins, which play a central role in virulence, and to examine protein expression by L. monocytogenes grown on ready-to-eat meat, an important source of Listeria infections. A novel method for solubilization of surface proteins from L. monocytogenes for 2-DE was developed. Additionally, the unique proteome expressed by L. monocytogenes grown on a meat matrix was uncovered. The developed solubilization …

Intelligent Placement Of Meters/Sensors For Shipboard Power System Analysis, Sandhya Sankar

Theses and Dissertations

Real time monitoring of the shipboard power system is a complex task to address. Unlike the terrestrial power system, the shipboard power system is a comparatively smaller system but with more complexity in terms of its system operation. This requires the power system to be continuously monitored to detect any type of fluctuations or disturbances. Planning metering systems in the power system of a ship is a challenging task not only due to the dimensionality of the problem, but also due to the need for reducing redundancy while improving network observability and efficient data collection for a reliable state estimation …

Analysis Of Selected Correlates Of Spouse Abuse And The Policy Implications For The Criminal Justice System., Marlys Kay Tester

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research on spouse abuse has received greater attention during the last 3 decades around the world. This research was conducted to investigate the selected correlates of alcohol use, drug use, and marital status and the effects they have on use of weapons and violent behavior. The secondary data used was from a study done in Chicago from 1995-1998, called the Chicago Community Crime Prevention and Intimate Violence Study. There were 210 domestic violence victims studied in one Chicago area. Each victim was asked a series of the same questions. It was found that 39.4% of the domestic violence cases involved …

Localization Of A Microsporidia Adam (A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease Domain) Protein And Identification Of Potential Binding Partners., Carrie E. Jolly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Microsporidia are spore-forming, obligate intracellular pathogens typically associated with opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals. Treatment options for microsporidia infections in humans are limited and additional research is necessary to create better therapeutic agents. For many pathogenic organisms, adhesion to the host cell surface is a prerequisite for tissue colonization and invasion. Our previous research has demonstrated a direct relationship between adherence of microsporidia spores to the surface of host cells and infectivity in vitro. In an effort to better understand adherence, we have turned our attention to determining what proteins may be involved in this process. Examination of the …

Parental Involvement In Two Elementary Schools: A Qualitative Case Study., Vonda K. Stevens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parent involvement is essential if students are to succeed in school. In fact, "parental involvement is more important to student success, at every grade level, than family income or education" (Starr, 2004). Yet many schools struggle to effectively engage parents in the education of their children as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 now requires.

The purpose of this study was to explore parents', administrators', and guidance counselors' perceptions of parent involvement at a Title I elementary school and a non-Title I elementary school, both of which are located in the southern Appalachian region of the United …

From Teacher To Teller: How Applied Storytelling Informs Autobiographical Instruction., Peggy Rosann Kent

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses autobiographical inquiry to "re-member" how I came to understand that applied storytelling was a valid teaching tool in facilitating autobiographical expression in mature learners. It is an examination of how story sharing and story listening can transform a continuing education classroom into a learning community. Applied storytelling can help elders reframe their negative mental models about the value of their stories, memory, and mythology and create opportunities for positive story sharing experiences. I selected highlights of my journey that best represented my experience and use of applied storytelling techniques. Each chapter includes an exercise and reflection as …

Risk, Resilience, And Success In College For Students With Vision Disabilities, Rose Angelocci

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

College students with visual disabilities are less likely to graduate than their sighted counterparts. The purpose of this study was to understand the life experiences of successful college students with visual disabilities. Concepts of risk and resiliency were used as a conceptual framework for understanding how people can have positive outcomes in spite of adversity. Individual, family, school, and community influences were explored. In-depth interviews were conducted with six participants who have vision impairments and were nearing the completion or had recently completed a college degree. Data were analyzed for common themes and meanings using a phenomenological method advanced by …

Exploring The Assessment Aspect Of Differentiated Instruction: College Efl Learners' Perspectives On Tiered Performance Tasks, Yeh-Uh Hsueh Chen

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

If human beings are believed to be individually unique, why are students evaluated with standardized tests? Differentiated instruction, honoring individual differences of each learner, provides an alternative answer to the question by employing tiered performance tasks to address personal needs in assessment situations. To explore the applicability of differentiated instruction in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) environment, this case study explored Taiwanese college students’ perspectives on tiered performance tasks and educational implications of the perspectives with regard to EFL learning and teaching at the tertiary level. Grounded in the humanistic stance of education and sociocultural view of learning, …

Luminescent Quantum Dots For Cellular Analysis, Lifang Shi

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Luminescent quantum dots have attracted great interest in recent years among biological researchers since they provide solutions to problems associated with use of organic fluorophores in cellular studies. Quantum dots show high photostability, high emission quantum yield, narrow and symmetric emission peaks and size-dependent wavelength tunability. The objective of my PhD studies was to develop CdSe/ZnS quantum dot-based probes and utilize them in cellular assays. The first phase of the work was to develop luminescent quantum dot fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) based probes for protease activity. The probes were based on FRET interactions between quantum dots that serve as …