Digital Commons Network^™

Energy And Nutrient Recovery From Anaerobic Treatment Of Organic Wastes, Christian-Dominik Henrich

All Dissertations

The objective of the research was to develop a complete systems design and predictive model framework of a series of linked processes capable of providing treatment of landfill leachate while simultaneously recovering nutrients and bioenergy from the waste inputs. This proposed process includes an 'Ammonia Recovery Process' (ARP) consisting of: 1) ammonia de-sorption requiring leachate pH adjustment with lime or sodium hydroxide addition followed by, 2) ammonia re-absorption into a 6-molar sulfuric acid spray-tower followed by, 3) biological activated sludge treatment of soluble organic residuals (BOD) followed by, 4) high-rate algal post-treatment and finally, 5) an optional anaerobic digestion process …

Development Of A Spatialy Explicit Habitat Patch Model (C-Pan) And Comparative Analysis Of Patch Modeling Techniques: The Crafting Of A New Tool For Conservation Planners, Ryan Perkl

All Dissertations

ABSTRACT
Ecological theories including island biogeography, intermediate disturbance, metapopulation and metacommunity all suggest that habitat patches of larger size and those comprised of substantial configurations of interior or core habitat possess the greatest potential for long-term species viability. As a direct means of mitigating edge encroachment and fragmentation's other adverse effects, there is a growing consensus among conservation planners that assembling larger, more cohesive tracts with substantial core area is of ecological value in conservation planning. Larger and more cohesive patches are believed to sustain larger and more viable local populations, enhance overall biodiversity, incorporate a wider array of natural …

The Mechanical Properties Of Single Fibrin Fibers, W. Liu, Christine C. Helms, E. A. Sparks, Martin Guthold

Physics Faculty Publications

Background:

Blood clots perform the mechanical task of stemming the flow of blood.

Objectives:

To advance understanding and realistic modeling of blood clot behavior we determined the mechanical properties of the major structural component of blood clots, fibrin fibers.

Methods:

We used a combined atomic force microscopy (AFM)/fluorescence microscopy technique to determine key mechanical properties of single crosslinked and uncrosslinked fibrin fibers.

Results and conclusions:

Overall, full crosslinking renders fibers less extensible, stiffer, and less elastic than their uncrosslinked counterparts. All fibers showed stress relaxation behavior (time-dependent weakening) with a fast and a slow relaxation time, 2 and 52 s. …

Please Check One—Male Or Female?: Confronting Gender Identity Discrimination In Collegiate Residential Life, Katherine A. Womack

Law Student Publications

While litigation in this field has rarely involved colleges and universities, collegiate environments are often the “forefront for social activism,”5 so it is likely the issue of transgender housing discrimination will soon explode on campus. It is now critical that colleges, universities, and the counsel who represent them either prepare to address these issues when they arise or explore possibilities to preempt the legal issues that will surely arise at their schools. Part II of this comment discusses the legal definition of transgender. Part III examines the history of the treatment of transgender persons in American courts, as well as …

Endoscopic Repair Of High-Flow Cranial Base Defects Using A Bilayer Button., Adam J. Luginbuhl, Peter G. Campbell, James Evans, Marc Rosen

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Repair of the skull base still begins with a direct repair of the dural defect. We present a new button closure for primary repair of the dura for high flow defects.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review.

METHODS: We reviewed our 20 cases of primary button grafts and compared the results to the previous 20 high-flow open-cistern cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cases. Subjects were excluded if they had no violation of the arachnoid space or potential for low-flow CSF leak. The button is constructed so that the inlay portion is at least 25% larger than the dural defect, and the onlay portion …

Hepatic Oval Cells Activated By Hepatocyte Apoptosis In Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Rat Liver Cirrhosis, Xi-Ming Xu, Guang-Jin Yuan, Jun-Jian Deng, Yao-Gui Wu, Wei Ge, Qi-Bing Song

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether hepatic oval cells are activated in diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced rat liver cirrhosis, and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: Liver cirrhosis was induced in rats (n=8) by weekly intraperitoneal injections of DEN at a dose of 50mg/kg body weight for 12 weeks followed by a 2-week wash out period. Rats (n=5) that received isovolumic vehicle served as the control group. Liver pathology was examined. Apoptotic hepatocytes were identified and quantified by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay. Oval cells were detected using immunohistochemical staining for pyruvate kinase type M2 (M2PK) and cytokeratin 19 (CK19). The …

Resistin In Human Colon Cancer. Increased Expression Independently Of Resistin Promoter C-180g Genotype, Rowyda N. Al-Harithy, Ayat B. Al-Ghafari

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between resistin gene RETN C-180G variant and circulating resistin concentration in Saudi colon cancer patients. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted in the Biochemistry Department, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from April 2009 to December 2009. The serum concentration had been measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 60 colon cancer patients and in 60 controls matched in gender and age. The single nucleotide polymorphism SNP C-180G was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism RFLP techniques. RESULTS: We observed a significantly higher serum resistin level in colon cancer …

High-Throughput Screening Studies Of Inhibition Of Human Carbonic Anhydrase Ii And Bacterial Flagella Antimicrobial Activity, Albert A. Barrese Iii

Dissertations

Complete abstract attached as supplemental file.

Design Of Adaptive Collective Foraging In Swarm Robotic Systems, Hanyi Dai

Dissertations

Inspired by the collective behavior observed in biological colonies, swarm robotics is a new approach to design a distributed control algorithm in order to coordinate a group of simple robots performing a complex group task. With only limited computation and communication ability of individual robots, one of the challenges in designing such multi-robotic systems is to understand the effect of individual robots behavior on the group performance. This thesis dedicates the research to designing a set of local interaction and adaptation rule for individual robots so that optimized collective foraging performance can be achieved at group level.

The research starts …

The Allopolyploid Origin And Population Genetics Of The Rare Solidago Houghtonii (Asteraceae), Pamela J. Laureto

Dissertations

Solidago houghtonii is a federally threatened hexaploid plant species of likely hybrid origin, limited geographic distribution, and high habitat specificity. An understanding of the evolutionary history and population genetic structure of rare species is critical to ensuring their long-term survival. To study the hybrid origin of S. houghtonii I sequenced four noncoding chloroplast (cp) DNA loci, and the nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS and 3' ETS regions from four individuals of S. houghtonii, which span its geographic range, and 25 other species of Solidago including all sympatric species. Polymorphisms within the nrDNA sequences indicated the presence of multiple homeologue types …

Characterization Of The N-Terminal Domains And Disease-Causing Mutations Of The Human Wilson Protein, Joshua Mutambuki Muia

Dissertations

The Wilson protein (ATP7B) is a copper transporting ATPase that is involved in copper trafficking and homeostasis. Unlike the other known P-type ATPases, it possesses six homologous metal binding domains at the N-terminal end. Several mutations in the gene coding for this protein lead to Wilson disease, a hepatic disorder characterized by impaired excretion of copper in the bile, and accumulation of copper in body organs such as the liver, brain, kidney, and eye cornea. Characterization of various regions of expressed and purified ATP7B has been hampered by its low stability, aggregation and degradation.

In this research, novel methods were …

The Lipid Acyl-Chain Dynamics In Giant Liposomes And Characterization Of Domain 4 Of The Wilson Disease Protein, Wilson Okumu

Dissertations

Steady-state and nanosecond time-resolved fluorescence of the nitro-2, 1, 3- benzoxadiazol-4-yl (NBD) probe and line tension force were determined in phospholipids acyl-chain dynamics in giant liposomes made from a homologous series of phosphatidylcholines (PC). The fluorescence spectroscopy of a NBD probe attached to the headgroup (NBD PE) or the tail (NBD PC) of the phospholipid were used to determine the rate of dithionite quenching in a homologous series of phospholipids. Similar experiments were performed in the gel and the fluid phases of the l,2-dimyristoyl-s«-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC ). Nanosecond time scale lifetimes and anisotropy measurements were obtained by a 470 nm LED …

Optimizing Green Sand Properties Of Fluidized Sand From Aeration And Developing New Green Sand Testing Technique, Ananda Mani Paudel

Dissertations

Aeration sand filling is a new molding technique in foundry. Using this technique, sand with smooth flow can be filled in any orientation and shape using low-pressure air. This is not possible by conventional gravity and high-pressure blow filling techniques. Aeration was introduced as an energy-efficient and environmentally- friendly sand molding technique. In addition, aeration has its niche on quality of molds it could produce. Friability, one of the crucial green properties for the quality mold was significantly low in aeration in comparison to the gravity and high-pressure blow filling. The fluidization action in aeration acted upon the sand clay …

The In-Situ Removal Of Menthofuran From Peppermint Oil And Subsequent Reactions Of The Solid-Supported Adduct, Robert Joseph Justice Ii

Dissertations

Menthofuran is an aromatic heterocyclic compound found naturally in the essential oil of Mentha piperita L. or peppermint. Natural peppermint oil may contain between approximately 2 to 8% menthofuran.

Peppermint oil is a complex mixture of over 350 identified chemical compounds; market demands dictate the extent of processing the oil undergoes prior to being introduced into consumer goods. Menthofuran has long been known to readily autoxidize, either alone or within the peppermint oil matrix, leading to a discolored oil with negative organoleptic consequences that adversely affects its commercial viability. Therefore, a facile method for selective removal of menthofuran was developed …

Backwards Romanticism Or A Glimpse Of The Future? The Visual Language Of Reactionary Modernism In National Socialist Landscape Painting, Jennifer A. Gramer

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

In 1935, two years prior to the opening of the House of German Art in Munich, Adolf Hitler declared the following during a speech to the German people in Nuremberg:

“Art, precisely because it is the most direct and faithful emanation of the Volksgeist, constitutes the force that unconsciously models the mass of the people in the most active fashion, on condition that this art is a sincere reflection of the soul and temperament of a race and is not a deformation of it.”

Numerous scholars have noted the importance and necessity of art in the creation and molding …

Effect Of Inflorescence Size On Female Choice In Wild Radish, Raphanus Raphanistrum, Mylenne H. Salinas

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Sexual selection is an important mechanism of speciation. Originally studied in animals, researchers now argue that plants also exhibit characteristics that have been altered by sexual selection. Flower size, nectar production, pollen load, flower scent, and petal color are plant traits that participate in attracting mates through an intermediate pollinator. Although female choice has been demonstrated to enhance offspring quality in animals, a thorough analysis remains to be conducted in plants. In this study, I experimentally altered female choice by manipulating flower number on the hermaphroditic plant, Raphanus raphanistrum. Plants with smaller floral displays had reduced female choice; thus, allowing …

Role Of Secondary Interactions (Π, Agostic) As Well As Solvent Influence On Alkali Metal Complexes, Elizabeth D. Nagle

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

We here attempt to synthesize heterobimetallic alkali metal complexes with bulky phenolate ligands via solid state direct metallation. The solid state route may offer a facile method of producing these heterobimetallic species. Synthesis of heterobimetallic alkali metal compounds remains a challenge, as the homometallic complexes are generally favored over formation of the heterobimetallic species. Previous work has shown that the alkali metals have a strong solvent dependency; the recrystallization of heterobimetallic products from toluene yields the heterobimetallic, while recrystallization from THF yields the homometallic. However, the ability for phenolate ligands to stabilize metal centers through secondary interactions, such as M∙∙∙π …

Understanding The Genetic And Molecular Mechanisms Of The Shl3 Phenotype In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Sukeerti Kesar

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The study of plant genetics and the molecular mechanisms regulating plant-pathogen interactions is an intensely studied area of research in molecular genetics. Gaining an understanding of the defense mechanisms of plants has proven highly useful in the construction of transgenic plants for increased crop yield. The focus of my research was on the defense mechanisms of Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant in the mustard family. Several features of Arabidopsis make it an excellent model plant for molecular genetic studies. A few of these include a short life cycle (approximately 8 weeks), a completely sequenced genome, high fecundity, and the availability …

Role Of Estrogen Receptor Expression In Estrogen (E-2)-Induced Modulation Of Th1 And Th2 Cytokine Responses, Bertille Gaigbe-Togbe

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Previous studies have demonstrated that repeated administration of 17β-estradiol (E-2) at a dose of 1mg/kg to both (SWR x NZB)F₁ (SNF₁) mice and (DBA x BALB/c)F1(DBF₁) mice resulted in significantly decreased survival and increased appearance of lupus nephritis pathology. However, the ways in which estrogen modulates immune responses has yet to be fully understood, specifically in regard to modulations in T_H1 and T_H2 cytokine profile. Various studies have reported the presence of two estrogen receptors (ER), a and b, which have been found to be constitutively expressed in many immune cells. …

Liquid Crystalline Elastomers: Effects Of Substrate Anisotropy On Cell Behavior, Christine Depompeo

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

One of the major challenges in tissue engineering today is inducing organization at the cellular level in vitro. Most biological tissues exhibit anisotropic behavior. They perform differently and have different mechanical properties in different directions. This environment is difficult to mimic with traditional cell culturing methods. The development of anisotropic cell substrates may have the potential to encourage the organization required at the cellular level to induce in vitro tissue formation, an exciting prospect for the advancement of the field of tissue engineering.

It is well known that liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are highly organized polymers with temperature-dependent properties. …

Sedimentation Solutions For The Port Of Gulfport, Ms, Trey Elton Davis

Theses and Dissertations

The Port of Gulfport along with others on the Mississippi Gulf Coast experience large amounts of sediment deposition within their harbors and channels. The primary tool for sediment removal is dredging, which can be expensive and create downtimes in port operations. Research will study deposited material to determine its sources and suggest solutions for reduction of sediment deposition using structures, technologies and/or practices. Instruments used for such studies will be clam-shell dredges, Niskin tubes, and automatic samplers to test bed sediment gradation, suspended point sediments and tidal variations in suspended sediments, respectively. Additionally, fluid mud data will be retrieved from …

The Role Of A2b Adenosine Receptor Signaling In Adenosine Dependent Lung Disease, Yang Zhou

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Chronic lung diseases and acute lung injuries are two distinctive pulmonary disorders that result in significant morbidity and mortality. Adenosine is a signaling nucleoside generated in response to injury and can serve both protective and destructive functions in tissues and cells through interaction with four G-protein coupled adenosine receptors: A1R, A2AR, A2BR, and A3R. However, the relationship between these factors is poorly understood. Recent findings suggest the A2BR has been implicated in the regulation of both chronic lung disease and acute lung injury. The work presented in this dissertation utilized the adenosine deaminase-deficient mouse model and the bleomycin-induced pulmonary injury …

Delta Like Ligand 4 Is A Critical Regulator Of Bone Marrow Cell Differentiation Into Pericytes/Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells And Is Essential For The Vasculogenesis That Supports The Growth Of Ewing’S Sarcoma, Keri L. Stewart

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

We have previously shown that vasculogenesis, the process by which bone marrow-derived cells are recruited to the tumor and organized to form a blood vessel network de novo, is essential for the growth of Ewing’s sarcoma. We further demonstrated that these bone marrow cells differentiate into pericytes/vascular smooth muscle cells(vSMC) and contribute to the formation of the functional vascular network. The molecular mechanisms that control bone marrow cell differentiation into pericytes/vSMC in Ewing’s sarcoma are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the Notch ligand Delta like ligand 4 (DLL4) plays a critical role in this process. DLL4 is essential for …

A Counter-Wmd Strategy For The Future, Albert J. Mauroni

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Changes In Microbiological, Physicochemical, Biochemical And Therapeutical Characteristics Of Yoghurt Upon The Addition Of Selected Medicinal Herbs., Afsaneh Najarian

Student Works (2010-2019)

The effects of herbs on the changes in probiotic growth and metabolism in yoghurt during storage were studied. Angelica sinensis, Codonopsis pilosula, Illicium verum, Lycium barbarum, Momorsdica grosvenori and Psidium gujava water-extracts were co-incubated with pasteurized full cream milk containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus thermophilus and L.casei as starter culture. The addition of herbal water extracts stimulated Lactobacillus sp. growth in P. guajava–yoghurt (126.3±26.3 × 106 CFUml-1) only on day 0 and in L. barbarum–yoghurt from 0 to 3 days (109.3±21.5 to 112.7±28.8×106 CFUml-1 respectively) of refrigerated storage. The growth of S. thermophilus were recorded higher than plain yoghurt for …

Allred Scoring For Er Reporting And It's Impact In Clearly Distinguishing Er Negative From Er Positive Breast Cancers, Asim Qureshi, Shahid Pervez

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: To determine the scoring of Estrogen Receptor (ER) status in carcinoma breast by Allred method that is essentially bimodal and to compare the results with a conventional scoring system.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective, comparative study carried out at Aga Khan University Hospital Section of Histopathology over a period of 18 months i.e. Jan 2005 to June 2006. Anti ER antibody (clone D07) was used for all IHC stains using envision detection system. ER stains of 860 consecutive breast cancer cases were reviewed and rescored by both conventional and Allred method of ER scoring.
Results: Comparison of results showed …

Earmstrong, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Armstrong News & Publications: e-Armstrong Newsletter (Archived)

No abstract provided.

Sources And Consequences Of Ecological Intraspecific Variation In The Florida Scrub Lizard (Sceloporus Woodi), Steven C. Williams

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Sceloporus woodi is a small, sexually dimorphic Iguanid lizard endemic to dry xeric habitats in Florida. This species is most often found in sand-pine scrub habitats, but also inhabits relic long-leaf pine "islands" within the scrub of the Ocala National Forest in north central Florida. In the current study I investigated seasonal and sexual variation in foraging behavior of S. woodi and compared microhabitat use, behavior, diet, morphology, and ectoparasite load at a pine island site to S. woodi in scrub habitats. No variation in movement patterns existed between seasons and sexes. However significant seasonal and sexual differences did exist …

Please Check One--Male Or Female?: Confronting Gender Identity Discrimination In Collegiate Residential Life, Katherine A. Womack

University of Richmond Law Review

No abstract provided.

Observation Of Growth Characteristics And Identification Of Mercuric Resistance Genes In Synechococcus Elongatus Sp. 625, Chiedozie Okafor

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Due to high levels of heavy metal pollution in the environment, there has always been a high interest in organisms that have developed resistance to certain heavy metals of interest. Microorganisms such as Pseudomonas, E. coli, and Ralstonia, have been identified as being resistant to one or more heavy metals. Extensive work has been done with respect to mechanisms of resistance to heavy metals in a wide array of microorganisms. However, mechanisms of resistance are yet to be fully explored in some other microorganisms. One such example is the Cyanobacteria, Synechococcus sp. 625 (SIU 625), formerly classified under Anastycis nidulans. …