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Ists E-Newsletter, November 15, 2008, Iowa Academy Of Science

ISTS Newsletter

In this issue:

--Message from the ISTS Chair, Morgan Masters

--Message from the Fall Conference Chair, Traci Maxted

--Message from the Vice Chair, De Anna Tibben

--Announcements

--Opportunities

--News

--Your ISTS Leadership Team

Alkoxyamine Polymers: Versatile Materials For Surface Ligation Applications, Lindsey Hines, Jessica Moore, David Dahl, Belinda Lady, Johnathan Brantley, Hasan Palandoken

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Immobilization of biomolecules (i.e., proteins, carbohydrates), on polymeric surfaces has been an area of intense research. The resultant bioconjugates often display increased stability, bioavailability and activity. Our research program seeks to explore the utility of the alkoxyamine (RONH2) functional group in new materials as versatile ligating sites for the immobilization of various compounds.

The ease with which alkoxyamines (RONH2) condense with aldehydes or ketones has prompted their widespread use in labelling liposome, bacterial and mammalian cell surfaces as well as chemoselectively ligating small molecule ‘recognition elements' onto polyfunctional substrates. These condensation reactions proceed in aqueous media to afford the robust …

Cariporide Prodrugs: Targeting Brain Cancer Cells Through Sodium-Proton Exchange Inhibition, Jacob Vervynckt, Johnathan Brantley, Jessica Moore, Mark Graves Ii, William Harley, Fredric A. Gorin, Hasan Palandoken

Chemistry and Biochemistry

More than 200,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumor annually. The life expectancy for these individuals is approximately 9-12 months from the time of diagnosis. This poor prognosis is due to the ineffectiveness of existing therapies (i.e., chemotherapy and radiotherapy) against brain cancer, where the primary problem is the inability to differentiate cancer cells from healthy brain cells.

Relative to healthy brain tissue, the heightened metabolism of cancer cells increases their reliance on the ion transport proteins NHE (sodium-proton exchanger) and NCX (sodium-calcium exchanger). Inhibition of these proteins disrupts the intricate pH …

Synthesis And First X-Ray Structures Of Cobalt(Ii) And Cobalt(Iii) Complexes Bearing 2,4-Dioxo-Alkanoic Acid Dialkylamide Ligands, Brian Pagenkopf, Jian Wang, Nicholas A. Morra, Hongda Zhao, Vincent Lynch, Robert Mcdonald, John F. Reichwein

Chemistry Publications

The aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxy pentenes to trans-tetrahydrofurans (THFs), the Mukaiyama oxidation, has in recent years emerged as a powerful tool in synthetic chemistry. In this report we describe the first crystal structures of 2,4-dioxo-alkanoic acid dialkylamide complexes for both Co(II) and Co(III) salts. The Co(II) structures show an unprecedented arrangement of atoms, with a central Co(II)(H₂O)₆ flanked by two Co(II) atoms each coordinated with three anionic chelating ligands. The dimeric Co(III) structures show two anionic chelating ligands and bridging hydroxyl groups.

On The Jump Behavior Of Distributions And Logarithmic Averages, Jasson Vindas, Ricardo Estrada

Faculty Publications

The jump behavior and symmetric jump behavior of distributions are studied. We give several formulas for the jump of distributions in terms of logarithmic averages, this is done in terms of Cesàro-logarithmic means of decompositions of the Fourier transform and in terms of logarithmic radial and angular local asymptotic behaviors of harmonic conjugate functions. Application to Fourier series are analyzed. In particular, we give formulas for jumps of periodic distributions in terms of Cesàro-Riesz logarithmic means and Abel-Poisson logarithmic means of conjugate Fourier series. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Portland Spectator, November 2008, Portland State University. Student Publications Board

Portland Spectator

Editor: Sarah J. Christensen

Articles in this issue include: An interview with Charles Lewis; National Decrease in Higher Education Funding Reflected At PSU; Pursuing Sustainability at Portland State; Abortion and Roe v. Wade; Accidental Feminist; and Freedom Divided: Understanding Political Orientation

Transformational Teacher Leadership In Rural Schools, Kirk David Anderson

The Rural Educator

In this paper, the author explores the rural school context and its teacher leaders as a third transformational leadership prototype adding to Leithwood and Jantzi’s (1999) two transformational leadership prototypes of females and new teachers in the elementary school. The author helps illuminate new understanding of rural schools and their highly interactive decision making styles where teacher leaders are a source of creativity development of unique forms of leadership. If researchers focus on teachers as leaders in rural schools, specifically those who operate outside of traditional leadership roles, there exists a promising area of new understanding for educational leadership as …

Relationships Between District Size, Socioeconomics, Expenditures, And Student Achievement In Washington, Vince Diaz

The Rural Educator

The purpose of this article is to describe the relationship between district size, socioeconomic status, actual levy percentages, and their predictive influence on the 2003 Washington Assessment of Student Learning results for 4th and 7thgrade students in Reading and Mathematics. The convenient sample was 82 Washington State 2nd-Class school districts with enrollments between 500-2,000 students. The results indicated: (a) no significant correlations between achievement anddistrict size; (b) socioeconomic status was the best predictor of achievement; and (c) actual levy percentages and student outcomes were significantly correlated in the positive direction.

Rural Research Brief: Math Infusion In Agricultural Education And Career And Technical Education In Rural Schools, Shawn Anderson

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.

Relaxations In Ba2bisbo6 Double Complex Perovskite Ceramics, Manoel Carvalho Castro Jr., Carlos William De Araujo Paschoal, Frank C. Snyder, Michael W. Lufaso

Chemistry Faculty Research and Scholarship

The electric properties of the complex double perovskite Ba2BiSbO6 have been investigated using impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range from 1 Hz up to 1 MHz and in the temperature range from room temperature up to 560 K. There are two contributions to the electrical properties due to the grain and grain boundary. The oxygen vacancies play an important role in the conductivity and strongly increase the dielectric constant at high temperatures. The analysis of the frequency dependence of the conductivity clearly shows the structural phase transition of this compound near 515 K.

Gsu College Of Arts And Sciences Adds New Faculty, Office Of Public Affairs

Press Releases

New faculty members recently joined the College of Arts and Sciences at Governors State University.

Wire-Braced Semirigid Elevated Rotor System Concept For A Human-Powered Helicopter, Jonathan Richard Silvester

Theses and Dissertations

In order for a human-powered helicopter (HPH) to fly, lifting the weight of its human pilot-engine and the weight of its own structure, the rotary wings need to be extremely large and exceptionally lightweight. Through centuries of dreaming and decades of modern attempts, no design so far has been able to obtain the combination of an adequately large rotor size, sufficiently lightweight structure, and an inherently stable aircraft. This thesis describes a concept of a wire-braced semi-rigid elevated rotor system for a proposed HPH. Then, using scale models and quantitative analysis, tests a series of supporting hypotheses in order to …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No.72 - Western Rock Lobster Ecological Effects Of Fishing Research Plan., Rhys Brown

Fisheries Occasional Publications

The commercial West Coast Rock Lobster Fishery (WCRLF) targets the western rock lobster (WRL), Panulirus cygnus, averaging approximately 10,000 tonnes of lobsters each year. Currently approximately 450 to 500 boats operate in the Fishery in waters ranging from 5 m to 200 m depth adjacent to the Western Australian coast and stretching from Cape Leeuwin in the south to Shark Bay in the north. The Fishery is managed by the Department of Fisheries (DoF) in Western Australia, using an input control system designed to constrain exploitation/fishing effort and deliver sustainable catches. The annual value of the catch is estimated at …

Air Compression As A Mechanism For The Underdamped Slug Test Response In Fractured Glacier Ice, Toby W. Meierbachtol, Joel T. Harper, Neil F. Humphrey, Jeremy Shaha, John H. Bradford

CGISS Publications and Presentations

Artificial perturbations of borehole water levels, known as slug tests, are a useful means of characterizing the glacier hydrologic system. Slug tests were performed on Bench Glacier, Alaska, in 21 boreholes over three field seasons during the transition from a winter to a summer drainage mode. Fifty-four slug tests were conducted, with water level monitoring in up to five boreholes adjacent to the slugged borehole. Seven of the slug tests were performed in conjunction with dye dispersion tests to identify water pathways within the slugged borehole following perturbation. Nearly 60% of monitored adjacent boreholes showed a hydraulic connection to the …

Air Compression As A Mechanism For The Underdamped Slug Test Response In Fractured Glacier Ice, Toby W. Meierbachtol, Joel T. Harper, Neil Humphrey, Jeremy Shaha, John Bradford

Geosciences Faculty Publications

Artificial perturbations of borehole water levels, known as slug tests, are a useful means of characterizing the glacier hydrologic system. Slug tests were performed on Bench Glacier, Alaska, in 21 boreholes over three field seasons during the transition from a winter to a summer drainage mode. Fifty-four slug tests were conducted, with water level monitoring in up to five boreholes adjacent to the slugged borehole. Seven of the slug tests were performed in conjunction with dye dispersion tests to identify water pathways within the slugged borehole following perturbation. Nearly 60% of monitored adjacent boreholes showed a hydraulic connection to the …

Revised (And Revised Again) Internal Revenue Code Section 6694 And New Irs Guidance, Brian C. Bernhardt, Craig D. Bell

William & Mary Annual Tax Conference

No abstract provided.

The Echo: November 14, 2008, Taylor University

2008-2009 (Volume 96)

Students lend a helping hand – In Brief – Not your ordinary senior music recital – Deal sounding good to rural AT&T users – Getting to know SIFE – “Taming of the Shrew” takes the spotlight – The Bubble – Study abroad: classroom meets world – World Voices – Studying in the midst of conflict – Study Abroad Programs – Around the World in 30 Seconds – The Swallow Family – A Swallow Story – Not so out of the ordinary – Bird Watching – Swallow Myths Busted – Echo Facelift – facebook Profile of the week – Book Feature …

Modeling Natural Resources Scarcity And Proverty Effects On Fertility In Honduras, Nepal, And Tanzania, Ayoub Shaban Ayoub

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation examines whether the vicious circle theory applies in three developing countries characterized by high population growth. According to the vicious circle theory, natural resource scarcity coupled with poverty leads to population growth via positive effects on fertility particularly in rural areas of developing countries. Population growth then leads to a further increase in natural resource scarcity, creating a "feedback loop." This is the first study to use micro-level data to test and control for endogeneity using a two-stage Probit model (IVPROBIT). The existing literature has largely failed to address endogeneity in the relationship between natural resource scarcity and …

Josephson Physics Mediated By The Mott Insulating Phase, Smitha Vishveshwara, Courtney Lannert

Physics: Faculty Publications

We investigate the static and dynamic properties of bosonic lattice systems in which condensed and Mott insulating phases coexist due to the presence of a spatially varying potential. We formulate a description of these inhomogeneous systems and calculate the bulk energy at and near equilibrium. We derive the explicit form of the Josephson coupling between disjoint superfluid regions separated by Mott insulating regions. We obtain detailed estimates for the case of alternating superfluid and Mott insulating spherical shells in a radially symmetric parabolically confined cold atom system.

Lean Six Sigma As A Source Of Competitive Advantage, Alessandro Giorgio Cavallini

Theses and Dissertations

Anecdotal data affirms that companies applying Lean Six Sigma in their operations not only deliver higher quality products and services, but also obtain superior financial results. The goal of this research was to empirically verify anecdotal data. The study proposed to analyze a group of publicly traded manufacturing companies with the intent of verifying if a correlation exists between companies being lean and the attainment of superior returns on investments. The researcher performed a series of statistical tests comparing key Financial Performance Indicators (FPI) extracted from annual reports (10-K) from a large pool of companies. The outcome of this study …

Recent Developments In Federal Income Taxation, Ira B. Shepard

William & Mary Annual Tax Conference

No abstract provided.

The Hybrid Game Architecture: Distributing Bandwidth For Mmogs While Maintaining Central Control, Jared L. Jardine

Theses and Dissertations

Current Massively Multi-player Online Games (MMOGs) have enormous server-side bandwidth requirements. The costs of providing this bandwidth is in turn passed on to the consumer in the form of high monthly subscription fees. Prior work has primarily focused on distributing this bandwidth using peer-to-peer architectures, but these architectures have difficulty preventing cheating, overwhelming low resource peers, and maintaining consistent game state. We have developed a hybrid game architecture that combines client-server and peer-to-peer technologies to prevent cheating, maintain centralized and consistent game state, significantly reduce central server bandwidth, and prevent lower capacity players from being overwhelmed. By dramatically reducing the …

The Drama Of Collaborative Creativity: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Hollywood Film Making-Of Documentaries, Robert M. González Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Current creativity research is dominated by attention to the individual, with increasingly less attention paid to creativity in its context, in groups, and in filmmaking as a collaboratively creative enterprise. This study answers the research call to explore filmmaking as an exemplar for collaborative creativity. Utilizing the stories told on DVD extras on special edition releases of feature films, this study analyzes how collaborative creativity is storied. In turn, these stories reveal specific communication forms, practices, and strategies that enrich theoretical conceptions of collaborative creativity. Following dramatistic concepts elaborated by Kenneth Burke, this rhetorical analysis finds three emergent patterns of …

Somalia: Education In Transition, Lee Cassanelli, Farah Sheikh Abdikadir

Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies

No abstract provided.

Inaugural Conference Of The Mosakowski Institute For Public Enterprise- Program, Jim Gomes

Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise

Program for University Research and the American Agenda: Discovering Knowledge, Enabling Leadership. The Inaugural Conference of the Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise.

Optimal Cutpoint Estimation With Censored Data, Mithat Gonen, Camelia Sima

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dept. of Epidemiology & Biostatistics Working Paper Series

We consider the problem of selecting an optimal cutpoint for a continuous marker when the outcome of interest is subject to right censoring. Maximal chi square methods and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves-based methods are commonly-used when the outcome is binary. In this article we show that selecting the cutpoint that maximizes the concordance, a metric similar to the area under an ROC curve, is equivalent to maximizing the Youden index, a popular criterion when the ROC curve is used to choose a threshold. We use this as a basis for proposing maximal concordance as a metric to use with …

Removal Of Benzaldehyde From Methanol Using Alkoxyamine Functionalized Silica Gel, Dino Sulejmanovic, Carrie Jo Pruitt, Eric Conte, Hasan Palandoken, Shing-Yi Suen

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Alkoxyamines (RONH₂) react readily with aldehydes and ketones to form stable oxime ethers, and, thus are expected to be excellent scavengers of these compounds. We installed alkoxyamines on silica gel surface to remove benzaldehyde from methanol. Silica gel was immersed in H₂O₂/H₂SO₄ solution to activate the surface. Activated silica gel was then reacted with 3-chloropropyltrichlorosilane. Displacement of the chloride with N-hydroxyphthalimide and subsequent treatment with hydrazine provided alkoxyamines on the surface of silica gel. The resulting silica gel surface with alkoxyamine functional groups was immersed in a 100 ppm benzaldehyde solution …

2008 William & Mary Tax Conference Speakers

William & Mary Annual Tax Conference

No abstract provided.

Electromagnetic Modes In Cylindrical Structures, Jakub Pritz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nanostructures have received much attention from the physical and engineering communities in the past few years. The understanding of the behavior of nanostructures in various conditions is warranted since the applications of such materials in optics, electronics, and mechanics is ever expanding. This thesis investigates a specific type of structure, a concentric cylindrical. More specifically, the dispersion relation of radiating and non-radiating plasmon polaritons (quasi-particles resulting from interactions of photons and surface electrons) is studied under varying conditions. We intend to show the influence of changing the thickness of the layers, the number of layers, the curvature of each layer, …

Probing Phenylalanine/Adenine Π-Stacking Interactions In Protein Complexes With Explicitly Correlated And Ccsd(T) Computations, Kari L. Copeland, Julie A. Anderson, Adam R. Farley, James R. Cox, Gregory S. Tschumper

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

To examine the effects of π-stacking interactions between aromatic amino acid side chains and adenine bearing ligands in crystalline protein structures, 26 toluene/(N9-methyl) adenine model configurations have been constructed from protein/ligand crystal structures. Full geometry optimizations with the MP2 method cause the 26 crystal structures to collapse to six unique structures. The complete basis set (CBS) limit of the CCSD(T) interaction energies has been determined for all 32 structures by combining explicitly correlated MP2-R12 computations with a correction for higher-order correlation effects from CCSD(T) calculations. The CCSD(T) CBS limit interaction energies of the 26 crystal structures range from -3.19 to …