Digital Commons Network^™

Synthesis Of (±)-Cyclophostin, (±)-Cyclipostin P, Their Phosphonate Analogs And New Chemistry Of Vinyl Phosphonates, Raj Kumar Malla

Dissertations

This work is divided into 2 parts: a) total synthesis of (±)-cyclophostin, (±)-cyclipostin P and their monocyclic analogs b) development of a metathesis based methodology for transformation of vinyl phosphonates. Cyclophostin (1) and cyclipostins (2) are bioactive natural bicyclic organophosphates. Cyclophostin is a powerful inhibitor of acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), whereas members of the cyclipostins are potent inhibitors of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL). Cyclophostin (1) and cyclipostin (2) have the same structural core unit, but different phosphate ester substituents. While cyclophostin is a methyl ester, the members of the cyclipostins are phosphate esters of different alkyl groups of various length and …

Introducing Astrophysics And Cosmology As Part Of Multidisciplinary Approaches To Liberal Arts Courses Addressing “The Big Questions” Of Human Experience, Joseph C. Wesney

Physics Faculty Publications

There is an opportunity to bring college students to the exploration of the grandeur and wonder of the universe through the design and crafting of courses for the university and liberal arts curricula that would develop multidisciplinary perspectives within the frames of reference of astrophysics and cosmology. There is broad interest within colleges and universities to provide courses that examine “The Big Questions” of human experience from a variety of perspectives. The study of the history of discoveries and insights that we have gained through the development of astrophysics and cosmology provides course options for students to use to explore …

The Time Machine: A Novel Spike-Based Computation Architecture, Vaibhav Garg, Ravi Shekhar, John G. Harris

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A novel spike-based computation architecture has been developed which represents synaptic weights in time. An analog chip with 32 neurons, 1024 synapses and an AER block has been fabricated in 0.5μm technology. A digital implementation of the architecture having 6,144 neurons and 100,352 synapses on an FPGA is also described. A digital controller for routing spikes can processes up to 34 million synapses per second. The architecture is called the time machine as it operates on timing events and uses time to store weights. The time machine is general enough for implementing many spike-based algorithms yet provides flexibility and configurability. …

Integrate And Fire Circuit As An Adc Replacement, Manu Rastogi, Alexander Singh Alvarado, John G. Harris, José C. Principe

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We evaluate the performance of an asynchronous analog-to-digital converter known as the Integrate and Fire (I&F) circuit. The reconstruction algorithm for the sampler is presented along with the analytical results for the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the reconstructed signal. We present the power vs. SNR tradeoff, based on the measurements from the chip fabricated in AMI 0.6 m technology. The figure-of-merit (FOM) of the I&F sampler is 0.6 pJ/conversion, which is comparable to the reported FOM for other synchronous and asynchronous ADCs, even though the I&F is implemented in a much older technology as compared to the other ADCs. © …

Interconnecting Microfluidic Package And Fabrication Method Div, Hyoung Cho

UCF Patents

A one-piece, microfluidic package with standardized multiple ports allows devices to be connected in series without resorting to extra tubing connections or bonding 5 processes. The one-piece construction consists of microfluidic channels that can be connected to fluid reservoirs and other fluidic components fabricated with interconnecting and interlocking ports. The size of the friction-fit interlocking ports is designed such that the smaller male port fits snugly into the larger female port in a manner that is leak-free and adhesive-fiee. The friction-fit ports can also be 10 reconfigured. Thus, the interconnection of microfluidic packages can be in an extended series including …

Comprehensive Phylogenetic Reconstruction Of Amoebozoa Based On Concatenated Analyses Of Ssu-Rdna And Actin Genes, Daniel J.G. Lahr, Jessica Grant, Truc Nguyen, Jian Hua Lin, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Evolutionary relationships within Amoebozoa have been the subject of controversy for two reasons: 1) paucity of morphological characters in traditional surveys and 2) haphazard taxonomic sampling in modern molecular reconstructions. These along with other factors have prevented the erection of a definitive system that resolves confidently both higher and lower-level relationships. Additionally, the recent recognition that many protosteloid amoebae are in fact scattered throughout the Amoebozoa suggests that phylogenetic reconstructions have been excluding an extensive and integral group of organisms. Here we provide a comprehensive phylogenetic reconstruction based on 139 taxa using molecular information from both SSU-rDNA and actin genes. …

The Comparison Of Effective Social-Emotional Learning Programs Use In P-12 Schools: A Meta-Synthesis, David Hebert

Special Education Masters Program Theses

This meta-synthesis of literature analyzed 59 journal articles pertaining to social-emotional learning programs for P-12 students. The articles underscored the importance of the involvement of peer support, parent support, teacher and parent training, behavior intervention, positive reinforcement, school-wide programs, and individualized programs being utilized in a consistent way as well as the individual programs being used with fidelity across the whole environment of the student for a successful implementation.

Electrochemical Synthesis Of Single Crystal Metal Nanowires, Nan Li

Master's Theses

Electrodeposition is an efficient and economical approach for template synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) nanostructured materials. Based on the porous membranes as templates during electrodeposition, metallic nanowires, nanorods, and nanotubes can overcome the geometrical restrictions to be inserted into the nanometric recesses with both diameter and length well controlled by tuning the size and thickness of the templates.

In this work, the morphology, growth rate and texture of copper nanowires prepared with templates were investigated by the controlled parameters in various experiments. Cu nanowire arrays with preferential orientations can be successfully synthesized into the Anodic Aluminum Oxide (AAO) templates with optimized …

A Study Of Phylogenetic Trees Versus Networks To Objectively Identify Haplogroups In Mitochondrial Dna, Melissa Ruda

Theses

Mitochondrial DNA is important in the studies of population, medicine, migration, and forensics, as well as a few other disciplines. Further insight on grouping mtDNA sequences could give insight on identifying genetic variation that causes susceptibility to disease, more personalized medicines, or more effective forensic analysis. Mitochondrial DNA is currently grouped into haplogroups determined from phylogenetic tree analysis. Phylogenetic tree analysis may not be the optimal solution for mtDNA because they work better for data above the species level, to show population relationships, not sequences that only differ by a few nucleotides. To compare both analysis, sample data was obtained …

Male Mating Competitiveness Of A Wolbachia-Introgressed Aedes Polynesiensis Strain Under Semi-Field Conditions, Eric W. Chambers, Limb Hapairai, Bethany A. Peel, Hervé Bossin, Stephen L. Dobson

Entomology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Lymphatic filariasis (LF), a global public health problem affecting approximately 120 million people worldwide, is a leading cause of disability in the developing world including the South Pacific. Despite decades of ongoing mass drug administration (MDA) in the region, some island nations have not yet achieved the threshold levels of microfilaremia established by the World Health Organization for eliminating transmission. Previously, the generation of a novel Aedes polynesiensis strain (CP) infected with an exogenous type of Wolbachia has been described. The CP mosquito is cytoplasmically incompatible (i.e., effectively sterile) when mated with wildtype mosquitoes, and a strategy was proposed …

Factors Influencing Lysis Time Stochasticity In Bacteriophage L, John J. Dennehy, Ing-Nang Wang

Publications and Research

Background Despite identical genotypes and seemingly uniform environments, stochastic gene expression and other dynamic intracellular processes can produce considerable phenotypic diversity within clonal microbes. One trait that provides a good model to explore the molecular basis of stochastic variation is the timing of host lysis by bacteriophage (phage).

Results Individual lysis events of thermally-inducible l lysogens were observed using a temperature-controlled perfusion chamber mounted on an inverted microscope. Both mean lysis time (MLT) and its associated standard deviation (SD) were estimated. Using the SD as a measure of lysis time stochasticity, we showed that lysogenic cells in controlled environments varied …

Ray Wilson, Ray Wilson, Daniel Maurer 2012

All oral histories

Ray Wilson taught courses in the Physics Department from 1962-1997. He continues to teach during May Term through the present (as of 2012).

A Comparative Analysis Of The Security Of Internet Banking In Australia:A Customer Perspective, Panida Subsorn, Sunsern Limwiriyakul

International Cyber Resilience conference

Internet has its own inherent security issues in terms of confidentiality, integrity and privacy. The main impact of these kinds of issues is specifically on the banking industry as they have increased their Internet banking facilities in order to reduce costs and provide better services and banking convenience to their Internet banking customers. However, banking customers have not had a choice of Internet banking mainly due to the fact that they are already tied to whatever form of Internet banking that their current bank provides. This paper therefore examined Internet banking security systems in Australian banks by creating the proposed …

Transcriptional Analysis Of Lactobacillus Brevis To N-Butanol And Ferulic Acid Responses, James Winkler, Katy Kao

Faculty Publications

BackgroundThe presence of anti-microbial phenolic compounds, such as the model compound ferulic acid, in biomass hydrolysates pose significant challenges to the widespread use of biomass in conjunction with whole cell biocatalysis or fermentation. Currently, these inhibitory compounds must be removed through additional downstream processing or sufficiently diluted to create environments suitable for most industrially important microbial strains. Simultaneously, product toxicity must also be overcome to allow for efficient production of next generation biofuels such as n-butanol, isopropanol, and others from these low cost feedstocks.Methodology and Principal FindingsThis study explores the high ferulic acid and n-butanol tolerance in Lactobacillus brevis, a …

The Death Of Dr. Hugo Spadafora: Human Rights Investigative Responsibility Is Past Due, Judith K. Furukawa

American University International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling For Predicting Drug-Drug Interactions, David M. Ng, Ali Navid

STAR Program Research Presentations

Dynamics of interactions between the drugs caffeine and ciprofloxacin are predicted using physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. Pharmacokinetic means the model determines where the drugs are distributed in the body over time. Physiologically-based means the anatomy and physiology of the human body is reflected in the structure and functioning of the model. Multiple drugs can interact to increase or decrease their beneficial and/or undesired effects. This is important because some common substances, such as caffeine in coffee and soft drinks, are actually drugs that affect the body. By implementing the model as a computer program, it is relatively straightforward to perform …

Discovery Of An Apoptosis Inducing Ligand For Burkitt Lymphoma, Carolyn Laymon, Kyla Bradylong, Mary Saunders, David Olivos, Kit Lam

STAR Program Research Presentations

One-bead two-compound (OB2C) combinatorial chemistry libraries enable the discovery of novel synthetic compounds which can be used to evoke specific signaling response in cells. The library configuration is composed of a fixed known cell adhesion ligand and a random chemical library displayed on the surface of Tentagel beads. The cell adhesion ligand binds to specific receptors located on the surface of cells enabling the random immobilized chemical molecules on each bead resin bead to evoke specific cellular responses such as apoptosis or cell death. To validate this concept, a OB2C combinatorial library comprised of an α4β1 integrin targeting ligand, LLP2A, …

Interspecies Comparison Of Αii-Spectrin Abundance Between Chinook Salmon And Steelhead, Brielle D. Kemis, Ann L. Miracle, Katie A. Wagner, Christa M. Woodley

STAR Program Research Presentations

Salmonids, such as Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss), are a staple economic, recreational, tribal, and environmental resource, yet many populations are unsustainable. This study was part of a broad scale effort to monitor the impact of downstream migration obstacles on juvenile salmonid health and survival, which is an essential step towards increasing Smolt-to-Adult Return ratios (SARs). The objective of this study was to determine if juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead exhibit differing quantities of alphaII-Spectrin Breakdown Products (SBDPs) over two consecutive spring migration periods, indicative of neurogenesis rate and/or biological response to head …

Forward Osmosis Bag: Ground Testing The Prospect Of Using Alternative Water Sources For Drinking Water, Michaela Marie Brant, Ariella Yendler, Mona Hammoudeh, Michael T. Flynn

STAR Program Research Presentations

On the STS-135 Space Shuttle mission, to be launched July 8, 2011, a forward osmosis bag (FOB) study will be conducted. At NASA Ames this summer, the ground truth testing is being conducted for results comparisons. The FOB technology is derived from a commercial product, the X-Pack water filter. Forward osmosis operates by utilizing an established concentration gradient across a semi-permeable membrane to move water molecules from one side of the membrane to the other. This concept is exploited to harvest drinking water from grey water sources such as urine, sea water, or vehicle water. In this experiment, potassium chloride …

Relationship Of Maternal Flow Environment To Offspring Size In Botrylloides Violaceus, Damion J. Delton, Sarah Cohen

STAR Program Research Presentations

Colonial botryllid tunicates, such as Botrylloides violaceus, brood large, non-feeding offspring with extremely limited larval life spans of minutes to perhaps one day. Despite the importance of this transitory life history stage, there is little information on how environmental factors such as ambient water flow affect larval size among invertebrates. Since adult tunicates feed by filtering particles from the water flowing around the siphons, we reasoned that colonies of B. violaceus in high water flow may produce larger offspring due to greater food availability. We tested to see whether there was a relationship between larval size and water motion in …

Computational Identification Of Protein Catalytic Sites: Tests, Validation, Dan Kirshner, Jerome Nilmeier, Felice Lightstone

STAR Program Research Presentations

This project is one element of the analysis “pipeline” to characterize an organism that previously has not been well-studied. Once a protein of unknown structure has been computationally modeled (based on its sequence similarity to proteins with solved structures), then catalytic sites are identified on the model by comparison to a library of known sites. This work tested the identification algorithms with a set of proteins that have known structures and catalytic sites.

Tunicate Recruitment In A Temperature Fouling Community, Garrett Benjamin, Sarah Cohen

STAR Program Research Presentations

Settlement among native and invasive tunicates in fouling communities were observed at weekly intervals at the Pillar Point Harbor at Half Moon Bay, California. Our hypothesis is that because tunicates are filter feeding organisms, their settling reates will be dependant on flow rates. Settlement plates and plaster dissolution module plates (Clods) were used to quantify flow and settlement variations weekly for one summer month using high resolution field microscopy. Three genera of colonial tunicates (Botrylloides sp., Didemnum vexillum and Distaplia sp.) along with two solitary tunicates Ascidia sp., Cionia sp. and a bryozoan Watersipora sp. were quantified in …

Temperature Thresholds And Degree-Day Model For Marmara Gulosa (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), M. J. O'Neal, David H. Headrick, Gregory H. Montez, E.E. Grafton-Cardwell

Horticulture and Crop Science

The developmental thresholds for Marmara gulosa Guillen & Davis (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) were investigated in the laboratory by using 17, 21, 25, 29, and 33°C. The lowest mortality occurred in cohorts exposed to 25 and 29°C. Other temperatures caused >10% mortality primarily in egg and Þrst and second instar sap-feeding larvae. Linear regression analysis approximated the lower developmental threshold at 12.2°C. High mortality and slow developmental rate at 33°C indicate the upper developmental threshold is near this temperature. The degree-day (DD) model indicated that a generation requires an accumulation of 322 DD for development from egg to adult emergence. Average daily …

The Proteomic Response Of Ciona Intestinalis To Ocean Acidification And Acute Heat Stress: Impacts Of Global Climate Change In Coastal Marine Systems, Michael Dennis Dwyer Jr.

Biological Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, And Intuition, Jens Pohl

Collaborative Agent Design (CAD) Research Center

In recognizing the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation as the principal drivers of economic growth, this paper focuses on the human attributes that govern the behavior of the entrepreneur and the societal perceptions that influence the human environment in which the entrepreneur operates. Foremost among these human attributes is the experience-based nature of the human cognitive system that prepares us well for dealing with events that are closely related to our past experience, but forces us to learn by failure as we apply past methods to new situations. In particular, the paper discusses the difficulties that the human dependence on …

Genetic Differentiation Of A Sympatric Lake-Resident/Anadromous Species Pair Of Threespine Stickleback In Mud Lake, Alaska, Cory J. Drevecky

College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Theses and Dissertations

The formation of new species is responsible for all the biological diversity we see on Earth. This process of speciation is not yet fully understood and is most often studied by comparing individuals of closely related species. The threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, a fish species complex found in marine and coastal freshwater environments of the northern hemisphere, has become a model species used to study speciation. Many morphological and genetically divergent forms within this complex have adapted to freshwater conditions. Studying the mechanisms that allow stickleback to adapt to freshwater conditions has provided much insight into the process of speciation. …

Writing A Feminist Ethnography: A Comparative Analysis Of Iranian Women's Stories Of Resistance And Agency In Iran And America, Tanja B. Messing

College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this project works against the stigmatization of Middle Eastern women in the West by examining women's experiences of resistance and agency within the diaspora and in Iran. Through a feminist ethnographic analysis of Iranian women's narratives, I work against Western stereotypes as a way to problematize the assumption that immersion in Western culture "saves" Middle Eastern women from their supposed cultural and religious "victimization." The focus of my inquiry is centered on four issues, or themes, of analysis, which are: everyday acts of resistance, subversion, and negotiation, issues of dress, household dynamics, and women's values and self-expression. …

Cultivatingbigideas, October 2011, University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Technology Development Foundation

Cultivating Big Ideas

No abstract provided.

In Translation V.2:No.1 (2011:Summer), Matthew J. Cook

UCHC Articles - Research

We are pleased to present the Summer 2011 issue (volume 2, issue 1) of In Translation, the CICATS newsletter. In this issue, you can learn about Community Health Center, Inc., CICATS' newest partner institution which provides primary care services throughout the state. Dr. Laurencin shares his congratulations to seven faculty members who began sharing $250,000 in pilot grant funding in July. Dr. Martin Cherniack writes about two Occupational and Environmental Medicine centers and their clinical and translational research activities. Other stories report on several exciting summer events which took place at CICATS partner institutions and the launch of CICATS …

The Impaired Bone Anabolic Effect Of Pth In The Absence Of Endogenous Fgf2 Is Partially Due To Reduced Atf4 Expression, Yurong Fei, Liping Xiao, Marja M. Hurley

UCHC Articles - Research

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is currently the only approved anabolic agent for osteoporosis pharmacotherapy in the USA. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying which intermittent PTH stimulates bone formation are not fully established.

Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) was recently identified to be a downstream target of PTH signaling in osteoblasts and FGF2 is able to rapidly increase ATF4 mRNA and protein expression in osteoblasts. Furthermore, ATF4 expression is markedly reduced in Fgf2−/− osteoblasts. In addition, FGF2 is required for the anabolic action of PTH on bone formation. Therefore, we hypothesize that the impaired anabolic effect of PTH in Fgf2−/− …