Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization Of A 30s Ribsomal Subunit Intermediate Found In Escherichia Coli Cells Growing With Neomycin And Paromomycin., Cerrone Renee Foster

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The bacterial ribosome is a target for inhibition by numerous antibiotics. Neomycin and paromomycin are aminoglycoside antibiotics that specifically stimulate the misreading of mRNA by binding to the decoding site of 16S rRNA in the 30S ribosomal subunit. Recent work has shown that both antibiotics also inhibit 30S subunit assembly in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus cells. This work describes the characteristics of an assembly intermediate produced in E.coli cells grown with neomycin or paromomycin. Antibiotic treatment stimulated the accumulation of a 30S assembly precursor with a sedimentation coefficient of 21S. The particle was able to bind radio labeled antibiotics …

Vitamin E (Tocotrienols) And Prostate Cancer: A Proteomics Approach., Christian Mbangha Muenyi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Proteomics is the large scale study of proteins in cells or organisms. The purpose of this study was to characterize the proteomic alterations occurring in a prostate cancer (LNCaP) cell line after treatment with delta-tocotrienol (a form of vitamin E not very prevalent from most dietary sources). We found that both gamma- and delta-tocotrienols induced time and concentration dependent growth inhibition and programmed cell dead (apoptosis) in LNCaP cells. Secondly, we used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) to characterize changes in protein expression levels associated with this treatment. Our results show that a specific set of proteins are regulated at both …

Confidence Intervals For Population Size In A Capture-Recapture Problem., Xiao Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In a single capture-recapture problem, two new Wilson methods for interval estimation of population size are derived. Classical Chapman interval, Wilson and Wilson-cc intervals are examined and compared in terms of their expected interval width and exact coverage properties in two models. The new approach performs better than the Chapman in each model. Bayesian analysis also gives a different way to estimate population size.

The Effect Of Caffeine And Ethanol On Flatworm Regeneration., Erica Leighanne Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Flatworms, or planarian, have a high potential for regeneration and have been used as a model to investigate regeneration and stem cell biology for over a century. Chemicals, temperature, and seasonal factors can influence planarian regeneration. Caffeine and ethanol are two widely used drugs and their effect on flatworm regeneration was evaluated in this experiment. Non-toxic levels of caffeine, a stimulant, and ethanol, a depressant, were determined. The tails of the flatworms were removed and the regeneration stage was analyzed every 3 days for 15 days to see the effect of these drugs alone and in combination on regeneration. For …

Characterization Of The Group Ii Intron Gs. Int1 From The Thermophilic Bacterium Geobacillus Stearothermophilus., Huijing Sun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Group II Introns are small segments of DNA that reside in the chromosome of bacteria or the organelles of primitive eukaryotes. These elements have some very interesting properties. First, they are retrotransposons that can move from one location to a new location in DNA via a reverse transcription mechanism. Second, they form a large ribozyme that mediates self-splicing of the intron from pre-mRNA. A Group II Intron type protein with similarity to reverse transcriptase was discovered in the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus stearothermophilus strain 10 (Vellore et al., 2004, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 7140-7147). Numerous copies of the intron, …

A Study Of Gender Differences In Academic Performance In A Rural County In Tennessee., Olivia Joy Sparks-Wallace

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis analyzes differences in academic performance measures of males and females in a rural county in Northeast Tennessee. A transcript review was performed for the graduating classes of 1993, 1998, and 2003. Overall GPA and individual math, science, and English grades were recorded. Comparisons of females and males enrolled in AP English, Advanced Math, and Advanced Science courses were also recorded and analyzed.

Findings revealed that females performed better than males in every subject. In 1993 the advantage is slight and is not statistically significant. However, in 1998 and 2003 the advantage is much more pronounced. In 1993 slightly …

The Effects Of Movement On Literacy., Kathy S. Luppe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to extend the knowledge of the relationship between movement and cognition by examining the impact of a sensory-motor program on the literacy skills of first grade learners from one elementary school in East Tennessee.

Literacy skills were evaluated using five subtests of the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) assessment.

A 2 x 2 x 2 mixed factorial MANOVA was used to analyze group, gender, and test time effects on multiple dependent variables. The analysis yielded a statistically significant result (p < .05) in gains for the movement group and a …

An Analysis Of The Attitudes Of Higher Education Leaders In 18 High-Immigration States About The Appropriateness Of Providing Education Benefits To Undocumented Immigrants., Elizabeth Feranchak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Institutions of public higher education must meet the challenges presented by providing education services to the significantly increasing number of undocumented students. However, public policy has not clearly addressed undocumented immigrants' residency status in regard to college and university admissions standards. This issue will affect education leaders in public institutions of higher education who have the authority to define admissions criteria and influence state legislation.

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of higher education leaders' attitudes toward the appropriateness of providing education benefits for undocumented immigrants. Data collected from 384 returned surveys representing 18 states were …

Adolescents And Marijuana Use: The Affects Of Peer And Parent Relationships And Substance Abuse Education., Samuel Joseph Cosimano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze gender, race, substance abuse programs such as Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.), parents, and peers and their ability to influence or predict adolescents and their decisions to use marijuana. All of the variables used for this study came from secondhand data collected by Esbensen and Osgood (1999), Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.). The analysis revealed that males are more likely to have ever used marijuana, that mixed race adolescents have a higher rate than other races to have ever used marijuana, that when adolescents complete the substance abuse program, D.A.R.E. have …

The Impact And Efficacy Of Diabetes Education Programs Among Adults., Mireille Hamdan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of diabetes education classes in increasing knowledge and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors. Thirty-three subjects participated in the classes between October 2004 and October 2005. Only six subjects agreed to participate in this study. Changes in knowledge after the classes were measured by a survey test one year following the completion of classes. Survey responses were analyzed using percentages. Subject's Hgb A1C and weights were also collected to measure the direct impact of education on participants' blood glucose management. Overall, participants were very knowledgeable of diabetes symptoms, complications, carbohydrate counting, and …

The Development Of The Self-Injury Self-Report Measure., Sonia Lorraine Coney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite the amount of research that has been conducted on self-injury there is a lack of empirically validated instruments with which to measure self-injurious behavior. The present study developed a measure to examine self-injury and the associated features. Undergraduate students (n = 184) were administered a set of surveys to assess demographics, self-injurious behavior, suicidal ideation, Axis I and Axis II disorders, and impulsivity. Results indicated that a reliable measure, able to assess the extent of self-injury as well as associated features, was developed. Such a measure will enable clinicians to better assess self-injury and enable researchers to more fully …

A Study Of Perceptions Of Achievement Factors For At-Risk Students In Comparison To Honor Students At A Northeast Tennessee High School., Christopher Michael Hampton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Student success and motivation are issues that baffle parents and educators. Various factors go a long way in explaining why these educational phenomena occur. Current research has confirmed that issues such as parental involvement, home life, attitude, intellect, and teacher and student relations and rapport have an impact on motivation and future success of students. This research project focused on students' perceptions of factors that affect their success and achievement. These factors were categorized into four areas: intrapersonal influences, parental influences, educational influences, and external influences. These areas were explored in an attempt to promote an awareness of the factors …

Application Of The Themis Bus To New Missions, Michael Cully, Warren Chen, Kevin Brenneman, Gregory Delory

Small Satellite Conference

It is recognized that small satellites can complement the services provided by existing larger satellites, providing cost effective solutions to military missions, communications systems, remote sensing applications, satellite rapidresponse, science and technology demonstrator missions. However, today’s small satellites are largely confined to low Earth orbit where they perform remote sensing missions, conduct science operations, and serve as technology test beds. Future small satellite missions will include interplanetary missions, space-weather mapping as well as space exploration and robotic probes.

The Food Chain Of The Small Satellites Ecosystem , Luca Maresi

Small Satellite Conference

…In a food chain of a biological system, plants (or producers) fix energy from the Sun and use inorganic material to manufacture complex organic substances; consumers (e.g. birds, mammals) use the energy fixed by plants as their nutrients; finally decomposers (e.g. bacteria), break down dead organisms and release nutrients back to the environment for use by the producers… The Space Business can be seen as a class of ecosystems, where the producers (equipment suppliers) transform raw materials by using the energy (funds). Consumers (the users) use data and services provided by the satellites to release back the nutrients in form …