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5th Annual Research In The Capitol [Program], March 25, 2010, University Of Northern Iowa. University Honors Program., Iowa State University. Honors Program., University Of Iowa. Honors Program.

Research in the Capitol Programs

Program of research presentations given at the Capitol by students from the University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa.

Gasoline: The Achilles' Heel Of U. S. Energy Security, Robert W. Weaver

United States Department of Energy: Publications

The United States must balance securing our energy future with protecting our environment from climate change. A holistic approach is required to solve this complex problem. We must reduce demand for petroleum, improve energy efficiency, and develop feasible alternative energy solutions to include emission capture technologies.

The United States remains the largest consumer of energy products in the world and is the second leading producer of green house gas (GHG) emissions. Our dependence on imported petroleum is undermining our control of our national security interests. Petroleum comprises 63% of the United States’ energy consumption, with the transportation sector accounting for …

Myrin Library News, Vol. 22 No. 2, March 2010, Myrin Library Staff, Eric Williamsen, Abby Raymond, Lindsay Sakmann, Elizabeth Ho

Library Newsletters

This newsletter announces recent acquisitions of Myrin Library at Ursinus College and provides information and updates about recent projects, exhibits and events.

Dibutyltin Activates Map Kinases In Human Natural Killer Cells, In Vitro, Sabah O. Odman-Ghazi, Abraham Abraha, Erica Taylor Isom, Margaret M. Whalen

Chemistry Faculty Research

Previous studies have shown that dibutyltin (DBT) interferes with the function of human natural killer (NK) cells, diminishing their capacity to destroy tumor cells, in vitro. DBT is a widespread environmental contaminant and has been found in human blood. As NK cells are our primary immune defense against tumor cells, it is important to understand the mechanism by which DBT interferes with their function. The current study examines the effects of DBT exposures on key enzymes in the signaling pathway that regulates NK responsiveness to tumor cells. These include several protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and mitogen-activated …

The Cord (March 24, 2010)

The Cord

No abstract provided.

Non-Invasive Genetic Sampling Of Faecal Material And Hair From The Grey-Headed Flying-Fox (Pteropus Poliocephalus), Heather J. Baldwin, Stephen J. Hoggard, Stephanie T. Snoyman, Adam J. Snow, Culum Brown

Veterinary Science and Medicine Collection

Remote-sampling DNA from animals offers obvious benefits for species that are difficult to sample directly and is less disruptive for species of conservation concern. Here we report the results of a pilot study investigating non-invasive DNA sampling of the grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), a threatened species that is restricted to the east coast of Australia. We successfully extracted DNA from fresh scats and hair, each of which was of sufficient quality for amplifying mitochondrial DNA markers and microsatellites. A single-locus multitube approach was used to investigate amplification success and genotyping reliability. Faecal samples yielded a higher proportion of successful amplifications …

March 24, 2010 Greenmail, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

GreenMail (student newsletter through 2024)

No abstract provided.

The Utah Statesman, March 24, 2010, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

The Pan American (2010-03-24), Brian Silva

UTPA Archives - The Pan American Newspaper

Vol. 66, No. 22

Volume 47, Number 31: March 24, 2010, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Panther - March 2010 - Vol. Lxxxix, No.19, Prairie View A&M University

PV Panther Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Lumberjack, March 24, 2010

Cal Poly Humboldt's Student Newspaper

The student newspaper of Humboldt State University.

Hunger For Grace: The Association Between Eating Disorders And Religiousness, Janet Lydecker

Theses and Dissertations

Religiousness is one potential, understudied psychosocial correlate of eating disorders. To assess associations between religiousness and eating disorders, this study developed the Religious Attendance and Belief Scale (Rel-AB), and examined its psychometric properties. Women from a large population-based sample (N = 1510; M(age) = 42.5) completed subscales measuring (1) belief in a personal and loving God, and (2) attendance at religion-related activities, as well as eating disorder measures. Belief was negatively associated with eating disorder symptomatology among women meeting broadly defined criteria for bulimia nervosa. Eating disorders and religiousness were not associated in the overall sample, and associations were largely …

Topological Properties Of A Network Of Spiking Neurons In Face Image Recognition, Joo-Heon Shin

Theses and Dissertations

We introduce a novel system for recognition of partially occluded and rotated images. The system is based on a hierarchical network of integrate-and-fire spiking neurons with random synaptic connections and a novel organization process. The network generates integrated output sequences that are used for image classification. The network performed satisfactorily given appropriate topology, i.e. the number of neurons and synaptic connections, which corresponded to the size of input images. Comparison of Synaptic Plasticity Activity Rule (SAPR) and Spike Timing Dependant Plasticity (STDP) rules, used to update connections between the neurons, indicated that the SAPR gave better results and thus was …

Montana Kaimin, March 24, 2010, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Annual Report 2009, Parex Banka

Documents

No abstract provided.

Application Of Luminescence Sensors In Oxygen Diffusion Measurement And Study Of Luminescence Enhancement/Quenching By Metallic Nanoparticles, Sanchari Chowdhury

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The first part of this dissertation deals with the application of a luminescence quenching method to measure diffusion and permeation coefficients of oxygen in polymers. Most luminescence oxygen sensors do not follow linearity of the Stern-Volmer (SV) equation due to heterogeneity of luminophore in the polymer matrix, thus the complexity of data analysis is increased. To circumvent this limitation, inverted fluorescence microscopy is utilized in this work to investigate the SV response of the sensors at the micron-scale. In these diffusion experiments, oxygen concentration is measured by luminescence changes in regions with high SV constants and good linearity. Thus, we …

Surface-Bonded Sol-Gel Sorbents For On-Line Hyphenation Of Capillary Microextraction With High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Scott S. Segro

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the most widely used analysis technique. However, its sensitivity is limited. Sample preconcentration methods, such as fiber-based solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and in-tube SPME (capillary microextraction) offer improved detection limits. It is, however, difficult to couple fiber SPME on-line with HPLC due to the need for complicated desorption devices. Such coupling is further complicated due to the limited solvent stability of the extracting phase both in the fiber and in-tube formats of SPME. In this research, surface-bonded sol-gel sorbents were developed to provide the solvent stability required for effective on-line hyphenation of capillary microextraction (CME) with …

(Im•Print) A Material Investigation To Encourage A Haptic Dialog, Julie Marie Vo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The word impression encompasses a dual meaning which desires to be more fully explored in the built realm. An (im-print) has a powerful impact because the message becomes an indelible mark embedded within the material. Physically, an impression is made by the pressure of one object on or into another, leaving behind a trace of this interaction on the surface. This process has the potential to create a vivid memory within the participant who comes into contact with it.

The idea of imprint can become a part of the process of design both physically and conceptually. As polished concrete can …

Processes Influencing Seasonal Hypoxia In The Northern California Current System, Thomas Connolly, Barbara Hickey, S. Geier, William Cochlan

Faculty Publications

This paper delineates the role of physical and biological processes contributing to hypoxia, dissolved oxygen (DO) < 1.4 mL/L, over the continental shelf of Washington State in the northern portion of the California Current System. In the historical record (1950–1986), during the summer upwelling season, hypoxia is more prevalent and severe off Washington than further south off northern Oregon. Recent data (2003–2005) show that hypoxia over the Washington shelf occurred at levels previously observed in the historical data. The year 2006 was an exception, with hypoxia covering ∼5000 km2 of the Washington continental shelf and DO concentrations below 0.5 mL/L at the inner shelf, lower than any known previous observations at that location. In the 4 years studied, upwelling of low DO water and changes in source water contribute to interannual variability, but cannot account for seasonal decreases below hypoxic concentrations. Deficits of DO along salinity surfaces, indicating biochemical consumption of DO, vary significantly between surveys, accounting for additional decreases of 0.5–2.5 mL/L by late summer. DO consumption is associated with denitrification, an indicator of biochemical sediment processes. Mass balances of DO and nitrate show that biochemical processes in the water column and sediments each contribute ∼50% to the total consumption of DO in near-bottom water. At shorter than seasonal time scales on the inner shelf, along-shelf advection of hypoxic patches and cross-shelf advection of seasonal gradients are both shown to be important, changing DO concentrations by 1.5 mL/L or more over 5 days.

Cognitive Cruise Control: Investigating How Context Affects The Momentum Of Cognitive Control, Kristy M. Tapp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

In the present studies a coordination dynamics perspective is taken to explore the interplay of perception and action in a continuous dual-task paradigm. Two experiments will be conducted using an action-dynamics methodology, through tracking response trajectories with the Nintendo Wii remote, which allows for analysis of how a response unfolds over time. The real-time data (i.e., the response trajectories) are expected to reflect an intriguing pattern of cognitive competition as attention adapts to trial context. The purpose of this work is twofold: a) exploring whether attention/cognitive control is best characterized in terms of its structural limitations (i.e., bottleneck) or its …

Women And Architecture: Re-Making Shelter Through Woven Tectonics, Kirsten Lee Dahlquist

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Weaving and architecture, conceived simultaneously with cave paintings, are two ancient forms of craft used to enclose space and provide shelter harmoniously with nature. In its basic composition, a useable textile is the interlacing of two members, warp and weft, at right angles to create structure and surface respectively. Textile artist Anni Albers of the Bauhaus attributes the organization of weaving to the skills of an ancient goddess. Her understanding of prehistoric cultures further links women closer to the overall creation of structure, though perceived as a masculine endeavor. Consequently, early advancements in architecture, the structural organization of shelter, are …

A Comparative Study Of The Plants Used For Medicinal Purposes By The Creek And Seminoles Tribes, Kimberly Hutton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous studies in Native American ethnobotany on the shared use of medicinal and cultural plants between communities fail to clearly reveal if these shared uses are part of changing culture or remain a stabilizing connection between old and new tribes. During the late 1700's to early 1800's, various factions of the Creek tribes of Georgia migrated into Florida, forming a new tribe called the Seminoles. This event provides the unique opportunity to study the changing cultural and medicinal uses of plants by a new tribe in a new geographic location, revealing if cultural purposes were passed from one group to …

2010 John Wesley Powell Research Conference Set For April 10, Rachel Hatch

News and Events (Discontinued Series)

No abstract provided.

Inhaled Anesthetics Promote Albumin Dimerization Through Reciprocal Exchange Of Subdomains, Benjamin J. Pieters, Eugene E. Fibuch, Joshua D. Eklund, Norbert W. Seidler

Faculty and Staff Publications

Inhaled anesthetics affect protein-protein interaction, but the mechanisms underlying these effects are still poorly understood. We examined the impact of sevoflurane and isoflurane on the dimerization of human serum albumin (HSA), a protein with anesthetic binding sites that are well characterized. Intrinsic fluorescence emission was analyzed for spectral shifting and self-quenching, and control first derivatives (spectral responses to changes in HSA concentration) were compared against those obtained from samples treated with sevoflurane or isoflurane. Sevoflurane increased dimer-dependent self-quenching and both decreased oligomer-dependent spectral shifting, suggesting that inhaled anesthetics promoted HSA dimerization. Size exclusion chromatography and polarization data were consistent with …

Transcriptional Control Of Axon Growth Ability, Darcie L. Moore

Open Access Dissertations

Mammalian central nervous system (CNS) neurons lose their ability to regenerate their axons after injury during development. For example, optic nerve injury studies in hamsters have shown that optic nerve axons injured around the time of birth retain the ability to regenerate to their target, but this ability is lost during development (So et al., 1981). The development of an inhibitory CNS environment has been implicated in the inability of the adult CNS to regenerate, however there is also support for this loss being a result of changes in developmental programs intrinsic to the neurons themselves (Goldberg et al., 2002a; …

Agenda And Attachments, March 23, 2010

Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

Permutation-Based Pathway Testing Using The Super Learner Algorithm, Paul Chaffee, Alan E. Hubbard, Mark L. Van Der Laan

U.C. Berkeley Division of Biostatistics Working Paper Series

Many diseases and other important phenotypic outcomes are the result of a combination of factors. For example, expression levels of genes have been used as input to various statistical methods for predicting phenotypic outcomes. One particular popular variety is the so-called gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). This paper discusses an augmentation to an existing strategy to estimate the significance of an associations between a disease outcome and a predetermined combination of biological factors, based on a specific data adaptive regression method (the "Super Learner," van der Laan et al., 2007). The procedure uses an aggressive search procedure, potentially resulting in …

Poles Apart: The ‘‘Bipolar’’ Pteropod Species Limacina Helicina Is Genetically Distinct Between The Arctic And Antarctic Oceans, Brian Hunt, Jan Strugnell, Nina Bednarsek, Katrin Linse, R. John Nelson, Evgeny Pakhomov, Brad A. Seibel, Dirk Steinke, Laura Würzberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The shelled pteropod (sea butterfly) Limacina helicina is currently recognised as a species complex comprising two sub-species and at least five “forma”. However, at the species level it is considered to be bipolar, occurring in both the Arctic and Antarctic oceans. Due to its aragonite shell and polar distribution L. helicina is particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification. As a key indicator of the acidification process, and a major component of polar ecosystems, L. helicina has become a focus for acidification research. New observations that taxonomic groups may respond quite differently to acidification prompted us to reassess the taxonomic status of …

Adhesin-Specific Nanoparticles And Process For Using Same, Fred J. Stutzenberger, Robert A. Latour, Ya-Ping Sun, Tzuen R. Tzeng

Clemson Patents

The present invention is generally directed to compositions useful in preventing and/or treating disease due to infection by any of a variety of biologically active pathogenic microorganisms. The compositions include nanoparticles formed of a hydrophobic polymeric core, hydrophilic linking agents bound to the core, and biofunctional materials bound to the linking agents. The biofunctional materials are functionally identical to receptors on host cell surfaces that can be recognized and bound by adhesins on the surface of the targeted pathogenic adhesin-bearing microorganisms. In one embodiment, the binding action between the nanoparticles and the microorganisms can lead to the formation of large …