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Volume 45, Number 51: August 13, 2008, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Structure Of The Thioredoxin-Like Domain Of Yeast Glutaredoxin 3, Lydia M. Gibson, Nin N. Dingra, Caryn E. Outten, Lukasz Lebioda

Faculty Publications

Yeast glutaredoxin 3 (Grx3) is a cytosolic protein that regulates the activity of the iron-responsive transcriptional activator Aft1. This member of the monothiol glutaredoxin family contains a thioredoxin-like domain and a glutaredoxin-like domain, which both possess a monothiol active site. The crystal structure of the thioredoxin-like domain has been determined at 1.5 Å resolution and represents the first published structure of this domain for the monothiol glutaredoxin family. The loop containing the signature motif WAxxC is partially disordered, indicating a greater degree of flexibility in this region compared with classical dithiol thioredoxins with a WCGPC active-site motif.

Dynamic Surface Activity By Folding And Unfolding An Amphiphilic Α-Helix, Vikas Jain, Angela Jimenez, Charles Maldarelli, Raymond S. Tu

Publications and Research

We describe a rationally designed peptide with tunable surface activity, where the dynamics of surface activity are an outcome of helical folding. Our rationally designed model peptide is surface-active only as an α-helix. We apply circular dichroism to show that the folded population can be controlled with changes in electrolyte concentration, and we apply pendant bubble tensiometry to explore dynamic surfactant activity. This study shows a peptide that responds to environmental stimuli with dynamic folding and surface activity. Extending this concept to selective binding peptides will lead to new tools, where dynamic surface activity is coupled to targeted binding.

Newsroom, Georgia Southern University

Newsroom (2006-2023)

• Georgia Southern University honors two outstanding faculty members in College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
• Operation Move-In to give on-campus residents smooth start to year
• Georgia Southern University Welcomes New Faculty Members
• Georgia Southern University Holds Fall Convocation

"Do I Pull The Race Card?" : Middle-Class African American Parental Perceptions Of Racism In Their Children's Public Schools, Tamika M. Brock

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explored middle-class African American parental perceptions of racism in their children's public schools. Twelve African American parents with either a bachelor's degree or a total median household income of $48, 451(U.S. Census Bureau, 2007) were asked a series of open-ended questions regarding their personal experiences with individual, cultural, and institutional forms of racism, as well as their children's experiences. Participants were also given Phinney's (1992) Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure to assess their sense of ethnic group membership, one of many variables found to influence perceptions of racism. The major findings revealed an achieved ethnic identity status for …

Social Work Practice With Latino Pentecostals : Applying Femininst Family Theory And Object Relations Theory, Angela Marie Baczewski Hakkila

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to provide a framework for understanding the identity formation and experience of Latino Pentecostals. The exploration of Feminist Family Theory accompanied by Object Relations Theory provided two opportunities to appreciate the Latino Pentecostal experience. This study focuses on documenting the evolution of the Latino Pentecostal community in the United States and a description of the traditional aspects of this faith group in terms of practice of Spirit Baptism and traits as religious fundamentalists, collectivistic, and social activists. The application of a Feminist Family Theory lens provides a perspective on opening the conversation to dismantle the dominant …

Effect Of A Common Senior -Year Program On Undergraduate Students From A Multi -Institution Higher Education Alliance., Susan Kuntz

Theses and Dissertations

A unique alliance has been formed among seven institutions of higher education in North Dakota, Minnesota and Montana to allow the institutions to retain their Clinical Laboratory Science programs. One institution, the University of North Dakota (UND), maintains program accreditation and provides the senior-year curriculum for all members of the alliance. The students from the institutions other than UND (host institutions) complete four prerequisite courses (parasitology, immunology, microbiology and hematology) prior to coming to the UND campus for the senior-year program. UND faculty noted a higher anxiety level and a difference in the knowledge base for the students from the …

Risky Behaviors Among University Students: The American College Health Survey 2000 And 2002 At The University Of North Dakota., Alan Allery

Theses and Dissertations

Health promotion professionals lack data regarding incidence and prevalence regarding risky behavior that University of North Dakota (UND) students engage in on a regular basis. Because of the lack of data and analysis, professionals were unable to develop a strategic plan that included science based interventions to reduce risky behavior and improve health status. The researcher used the health belief model as a theoretical framework for the study. A comparison of data from National College Health Surveys conducted at UND, in 2000 and 2002 to determine changes in behavior from 2000 to 2002. The results were also compared with a …

Oil And Gas Projects In The Western Amazon: Threats To Wilderness, Biodiversity, And Indigenous Peoples, Matt Finer, Clinton N. Jenkins, Stuart L. Pimm, Brian Keane, Carl Ross

Latin American Energy Dialogue, White Papers and Reports

The western Amazon is the most biologically rich part of the Amazon basin and is home to a great diversity of indigenous ethnic groups, including some of the worlds last uncontacted peoples living in voluntary isolation. Unlike the eastern Brazilian Amazon, it is still a largely intact ecosystem. Underlying this landscape are large reserves of oil and gas, many yet untapped. The growing global demand is leading to unprecedented exploration and development in the region. Without improved policies, the increasing scope and magnitude of planned extraction means that environmental and social impacts are likely to intensify. We review the most …

I. Thermodynamics And Magnetism Of Cu2ocl2 Ii. Repairs To Microcalorimeter The "2"S Are Subscripts, And The Second 2 Is Preceded By A Lower Case L, Not A One, Thomas J. Parry

Theses and Dissertations

Adiabatic calorimetry provides accurate and precise specific heat (Cp) data. From this data, thermodynamic functions may be calculated. Cu2OCl2, melanothallite, became of interest as part of a study of a particular thermochemical cycle. The experimental specific heat data and the calculated thermodynamic functions are reported here. Free energies of formation, calculated from the thermodynamic functions, suggest the particular cycle of interest with this compound as an intermediate is not feasible; uncertainty as to the accuracy of CuO and CuCl2 data used in the calculations indicate further study may be necessary. Upon collection of the specific heat data, an antiferromagnetic transition …

A Protein Methylation Pathway In Chlamydomonas Flagella Is Active During Flagellar Resorption, Mark J. Schneider, Megan Ulland, Roger D. Sloboda

Dartmouth Scholarship

During intraflagellar transport (IFT), the regulation of motor proteins, the loading and unloading of cargo and the turnover of flagellar proteins all occur at the flagellar tip. To begin an analysis of the protein composition of the flagellar tip, we used difference gel electrophoresis to compare long versus short (i.e., regenerating) flagella. The concentration of tip proteins should be higher relative to that of tubulin (which is constant per unit length of the flagellum) in short compared with long flagella. One protein we have identified is the cobalamin-independent form of methionine synthase (MetE). Antibodies to MetE label flagella in a …

The Antioxidant Defense Network: Synergistic Combinations To Prevent Oxidative Damage, Amy Marie Clement

Theses and Dissertations

One of the matchless ironies of the human body is its requirement for the highly reactive oxygen molecule, which has been clearly implicated in many diseases and the aging processes. Oxidants produced by metabolic processes damage cells by starting chemical chain reactions including oxidation of DNA and proteins as well as lipid peroxidation. Damage to DNA can cause mutations and lead to cancer if not reversed by DNA repair mechanisms. Damage to proteins causes enzyme inhibition, denaturation and protein degradation. Lipid peroxidation can cause cell lysis as well as creating mutagenic and carcinogenic by-products. The human body contains antioxidants and …

Cellular-Satellite, A Different Kind Of Final Frontier, James Lyke, Robert Pugh

Small Satellite Conference

Extending the ideas of reconfigurable components and self-organizing, plug-and-play systems offer some very intriguing prospects for rapid satellites of the future. In this talk, we describe the “cellular satellite” as a paradigm for the ultimately modular and rapidly formed system. In this vision, all systems are formed as a vast ensemble of black-box cells, each of which is individually customizable to collectively form an integral system. Locally (within a given cell), all significant functions and properties (e.g., electrical, thermal, and mechanical) are softwaredefinable, similar in principle to the approaches used in ordinary field programmable gate arrays but extended far beyond …

Low Cost Rapid Response Spacecraft, (Lcrrs) A Research Project In Low Cost Spacecraft Design And Fabrication In A Rapid Prototyping Environment , Stevan Spremo, Jesse Bregman, Christopher Dallara, Shakib Ghassemieh, James Hanratty, Evan Jackson, Chris Kitts, Pete Klupar, Michael Lindsay, Ignacio Mas, David Mayer, Emmett Quigley, Mike Rasay, Aaron Swank, Jeroen Vandersteen

Small Satellite Conference

The Low Cost Rapid Response Spacecraft (LCRRS) is an ongoing research development project at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC), Moffett Field, California. The prototype spacecraft, called Cost Optimized Test for Spacecraft Avionics and Technologies (COTSAT) is the first of what could potentially be a series of rapidly produced low-cost satellites. COTSAT has a target launch date of March 2009 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The LCRRS research system design incorporates use of COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf), MOTS (Modified Off The Shelf), and GOTS (Government Off The Shelf) hardware for a remote sensing satellite. The design concept was …

A Metastasis Or A Second Independent Cancer? Evaluating The Clonal Origin Of Tumors Using Array-Cgh Data, Irina Ostrovnaya, Adam Olshen, Venkatraman E. Seshan, Irene Orlow, D G. Albertson, Colin B. Begg

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

When a cancer patient develops a new tumor it is necessary to determine if this is a recurrence (metastasis) of the original cancer, or an entirely new occurrence of the disease. This is accomplished by assessing the histo-pathology of the lesions, and it is frequently relatively straightforward. However, there are many clinical scenarios in which this pathological diagnosis is difficult. Since each tumor is characterized by a genetic fingerprint of somatic mutations, a more definitive diagnosis is possible in principle in these difficult clinical scenarios by comparing the fingerprints. In this article we develop and evaluate a statistical strategy for …

Mtap: The Motif Tool Assessment Platform, Daniel Quest, Kathryn Dempsey, Mohammad Shafiullah, Dhundy Raj Bastola, Hesham Ali

Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis Faculty Publications

Background: In recent years, substantial effort has been applied to de novo regulatory motif discovery. At this time, more than 150 software tools exist to detect regulatory binding sites given a set of genomic sequences. As the number of software packages increases, it becomes more important to identify the tools with the best performance characteristics for specific problem domains. Identifying the correct tool is difficult because of the great variability in motif detection software. Consequently, many labs spend considerable effort testing methods to find one that works well in their problem of interest.

Results: In this work, we propose a …

Infidelity Has Different Economic Costs For Men And Women, New Research Finds, Lori Wright

Media Relations

No abstract provided.

Domain Duplication, Darwinian Selection, And The Origin Of The Globulin Seed Storage Proteins, Nathaniel S. Cannon

Theses and Dissertations

The seed storage globulins found among virtually all spermatophytes comprise a multi-gene family of proteins with ancient evolutionary origins. The two main groups of storage globulins include the legumins (11S) and vicilins (7S), both of which play a main role in protein deposition and storage in the seed endosperm. Composed of two cupin domains (bicupin), these proteins have been recently noted not only for their close structural relationships among the two subfamilies (7S and 11S) but also for their similarity to other proteins such as germin-like proteins (GLP's), bacterial oxalate decarboxylases, and other cupin containing proteins. Previous studies have investigated …

Design, Fabrication And Applications Of Microplasma Device, Koffi Abalo-Akuvi

Theses

The feasibility of using microplasma device (MPD) as a non-thermal plasma source for hydrogen production to potentially replace conventional source of electricity for potable applications has been explored. The scaling theory for direct glow discharges along with the design approach, fabrication details and the experimental characterizations are presented for two types of device: Planar Geometry Microplasma Device (PGMPD), and Parallel Plane Electrodes Microplasma Device (PPEMPD). Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) and current-voltage characteristics of the two designs are described.

Issues related to plasma stability and breakdown voltage are studied. It was found that the breakdown voltage of the designs is about …

Mtap: The Motif Tool Assessment Platform, Daniel Quest, Kathryn Dempsey, Mohammad Shafiullah, Dhundy Bastola, Hesham Ali

Interdisciplinary Informatics Faculty Publications

Background: In recent years, substantial effort has been applied to de novo regulatory motif discovery. At this time, more than 150 software tools exist to detect regulatory binding sites given a set of genomic sequences. As the number of software packages increases, it becomes more important to identify the tools with the best performance characteristics for specific problem domains. Identifying the correct tool is difficult because of the great variability in motif detection software. Consequently, many labs spend considerable effort testing methods to find one that works well in their problem of interest.

Results: In this work, we …

Novel Implementation Of Conditional Co-Regulation By Graph Theory To Derive Co-Expressed Genes From Microarray Data, Arun Rawat, Georg J. Seifert, Youping Deng

Faculty Publications

Background

Most existing transcriptional databases like Comprehensive Systems-Biology Database (CSB.DB) and Arabidopsis Microarray Database and Analysis Toolbox (GENEVESTIGATOR) help to seek a shared biological role (similar pathways and biosynthetic cycles) based on correlation. These utilize conventional methods like Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation to calculate correlation among genes. However, not all are genes expressed in all the conditions and this leads to their exclusion in these transcriptional databases that consist of experiments performed in varied conditions. This leads to incomplete studies of co-regulation among groups of genes that might be linked to the same or related biosynthetic pathway.

Results …

Students' Reasoning About The Concept Of Limit In The Context Of Reinventing The Formal Definition, Craig Alan Swinyard

Dissertations and Theses

Many researchers (Artigue, 2000; Bezuidenhout, 2001; Cornu, 1991; Dorier, 1995) have noted the vital role limit plays as a foundational concept in analysis. The vast majority of topics encountered in calculus and undergraduate analysis are built upon understanding the concept of limit and being able to work flexibly with its formal definition (Bezuidenhout, 2001). The purpose of this study was to: (1) Develop insight into students' reasoning about limit in relation to their engagement in instruction designed to support their reinventing the formal definition of limit, and; (2) Inform the design of principled instruction that might support students' attempts to …

Classroom Organizational Structures As Related To Student Achievement In Upper Elementary Grades In Northeast Tennessee Public Schools., Darrell Wayne Moore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Etsu Gearup: The Design And Development Of An Alternative Energy Greenhouse., Garth Ross Ghearing

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

East Tennessee State has partnered with David Crockett High School through the Federal Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. This year's project is an alternative energy greenhouse, which incorporates solar panels and a wind turbine. The focus is on familiarizing students with control systems including programmable logic controllers and power management. There is also an emphasis on the importance of green engineering.

The high school's students have been involved in the design and development of every aspect of the system. The development of the system is ongoing and will be further integrated into classes in the fall semester. …

Gene Expression And Phenotype Response Of Drosophila Melanogaster To Selection., Kenneth W. Mcdonald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The evolution of phenotypic plasticity is currently a topic of paramount interest in a diverse field of sub-disciplines. Salience is placed by all fields in describing the interaction of selection and phenotypic plasticity and the consequence of this interaction more broadly on evolution. Lacking in the discussion is substantial empirical description of genotype/phenotype interactions that by definition constitute the plastic response to novel and stressful environments. Here, I present empirical observations that bring the interaction of genotype and phenotype into focus. Drosophila melanogaster populations subjected to selection for tolerance to low food or high alcohol conditions each exhibited an enhancement …

An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Teacher Variables And Student Achievement Scores In Hamblen County, Tennessee., Anne Nelson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between teacher variables and the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) student annual scores in reading and mathematics for students in grades 3 through 8 in Hamblen County, Tennessee. The teacher variables included number of days absent, Praxis II Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) scores, and years of experience. The population of the study was limited to 3rd- through 8th grade reading and mathematics teachers employed by the Hamblen County school district during the 2006-2007 school year. Raw scores from the 2006-2007 TCAP criterion-referenced assessment were used as …

Contraction-Expansion Protocols., Nadine Katia Njoya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An approach to a new class of compounds known as bridgehead dienone is described. The route is based on a tandem contraction-expansion event in which the contraction triggers the expansion. The two steps involved are a palladium-catalyzed Favorskii contraction and a cis-divinyl cyclopropanone rearrangement. Progress towards these goals is reported.

Synthesis Towards Fulminic Acid And Its Derivatives In 1, 3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions., Ophilia Ndi Toh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A new approach to fulminic acid cycloadditions has been developed. At reduced temperatures, fulminic acid is generated in situ and undergoes 1, 3-diploar cycloaddition reactions with dipolarophiles to form isoxazolines and/or its dimers. This procedure represents a novel, safe general method for the one-step generation of fulminic acid, which complements existing potentially explosive protocols.

Family Structure And The Criminal Behavior Of Juveniles In Tennessee., Ronald D. Pickard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between family type and criminal behavior of juveniles in Tennessee who were referred to Juvenile Court in 2006. The population used in the study comprised the juveniles who were referred to the Tennessee Juvenile Courts as reported by the Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges in 2006.

This investigation focused on the criminal behavior as indicated by number and type of referrals to the Juvenile and Family Court system in Tennessee. The data were analyzed by family-of-origin type, age group, and geographic region in Tennessee.

The findings of …

Sex Differences In Nicotine-Conditioned Hyperactivity In A Model Of Dopamine D2 Receptor Priming: Roles Of Dopamine D2 And D3 Receptor Subtypes., Ashley Brianna Sheppard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of a nicotine-conditioned context on locomotor hyperactivity in an animal model of D2-priming, and whether conditioned hyperactivity could be blocked by the D2 antagonist eticlopride or the D3 antagonist nafadotride. D2-primed male rats showed enhanced nicotine sensitization as evidenced by statistically significant differences in horizontal activity. D2-primed female rats administered nicotine demonstrated an increased hypoactive response after initial sensitization and increased stereotypy. Eticlopride and nafadotride blocked sensitization to nicotine in both D2-primed and non D2-primed males and females. Eticlopride blocked conditioned hyperactivity in females but not in males. D2-primed female …