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Ionic Current Rectification Phenomena In Asymmetrical Polymer Nanopores Under Salt Gradients, Murat Bakirci

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The magnitude of current through a conical nanopore filled with an electrolyte solution depends on the polarity of the applied bias, indicating an asymmetric diode-like current-voltage (I-V) curve. This kind of phenomenon refers to ionic current rectification (ICR), which is of interest because many ion-channel proteins in cellular membranes are rectifying. In addition, ICR in nanopores can be used to control ion concentrations in nano- and microfluidic systems. In this study, the ICR phenomenon through a conical nanopore simultaneously subjected to an electric field and salt concentration gradient is experimentally and numerically investigated.

The experiments were conducted in an Izon's …

Bioinformatics, Thermodynamics And Kinetics Analysis Of An All Alpha Helical Protein With A Gree-Key Topology, Hai Li

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Computational and experimental studies focusing on the role of conserved residues for folding and stability is an active and promising area of research. To further expand our understanding we present the results of a bioinformatics analysis of the death domain superfamily. The death domain superfamily fold consists of six α-helices arranged in a Greek-key topology, which is shared by the all β-sheet immunoglobulin and mixed α/β-plait superfamilies. Our sequence and structural studies have identified a group of conserved hydrophobic residues and corresponding long-range interactions, which we propose are important in the formation and stabilization of the hydrophobic core and native …

The Effects Of Expressive Writing On Anxiety, Mathematics Anxiety, Stress, Cognitive Processes And Psychological Processes On The Virginia Standards Of Learning (Sol) On A Sample Of Urban High School Students Failing Mathematics, Claudia Lorene Hines

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

High school students who fail one or more mathematics' classes tend to be more likely to fail the Virginia Standard of Learning (SOL) tests and thus delaying their graduation. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of expressive writing on general anxiety, math anxiety, stress, cognitive processes and psychological processes on the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) on a sample of urban high school students failing mathematics. The participants (n=93) male and female students in grades 9-12, ranged in ages from 14 to 19 years of age, from various socio-economic backgrounds. The intact classes were used to …

The Disappearing Disease, Heather M. Weddington

English Theses & Dissertations

This series of connected essays explores the aesthetic of fragmentation, not as a means to disrupt narrative, but as a means to stretch that narrative. It includes both lyric and traditional forms, along with a series of flash essays that puncture the present action with moments from the past. The essays vary tonally, from the serious to the comic, and though they are connected through first person narration, they are more connected thematically, through an exploration of sexuality, faith, idealism and its loss, and the ways in which gender is performed.

Biogas Technology On Uzi Island, Zanzibar: A Feasibility Study, Peter J. Mcinerney

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

With realization of the finite quantity of fossil fuels and improved study on the effects of global climate change there has been an increasing demand for energy production from renewable, sustainable sources in developed and developing nations alike. The population of Tanzania relies overwhelmingly on biomass as a source of primary energy, with such impacts as deforestation and negative health effects. Biogas generation is a renewable energy technology that utilizes organic waste sources to produce a methane-rich gas suitable for cooking and lighting with the potential to replace current unsustainable energy sources and provide several environmental and socioeconomic benefits. A …

Monitoring Nesting Trends And Hatchling Success Of The Green Turtle (Chelonia Mydas) Population On Mnemba Island, Zanzibar, Taylor Dunbar

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The nesting trends and hatching success of Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) were studied on Mnemba Island. This study involved a continuation of data collection for the ongoing monitoring program of sea turtles on Mnemba Island. Data was collected from nesting females as well as from post hatching nest excavations. The data that has been collected over the course of ten years was then analyzed to examine trends over time as well as to assess the current status of the turtle population on Mnemba Island. Hatch success as a function of different seasons was analyzed. It has been concluded that …

The Challenges Of Balancing Careers And Family Life Facing College Women In Jordan, Anna Chang

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The country of Jordan serves as one of the most progressive countries in the Middle East, yet Jordan has the lowest female economic participation rates out of all the countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Quantitatively, women’s higher education attainment equals and, in some cases, even surpasses that of men. However, their economic participation barely begins to compare to that of their male counterparts. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential causes for this large gap, using qualitative evidence from the interviews of fifteen college women at the University of Jordan and regional …

Rural Futures: How Can Agricultural Development Lead To A High Quality Of Life?, Jessie Ebersole

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Study Objectives:

Uganda, with its wealth of arable land and water resources, has unrealized agricultural development potential. How food is produced and distributed will impact United Nations Millennium Development Goal targets, including the eradication of extreme hunger, reductions in child mortality, and improvements in maternal health and environmental sustainability, yet advances towards the MDG’s have been limited. This study explores how Uganda’s agricultural sector can be developed in a way that improves the quality of life of smallholder farmers in Katente and Namuyenje parishes in Mukono district, Uganda. Ugandan agricultural production is starved of new sources of knowledge and technology, …

The Escola Do Campo João Sem Terra: A Look Inside The Process Of Making Education Relevant In The Landless Worker’S Movement Settlement 25 De Maio., Owen Grooms

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper explores the process of implementing the goals of the Escola do Campo João Sem Terra within the Landless Worker‟s Movement of Brazil (MST), a social movement pushing for agrarian reform that is establishing a network of schools in its communities, of which the newest branch is the Educação do Campo concept, which involves establishing high schools based around the reality of students in the campo, or countryside. As the first of these Escolas do Campo, João sem Terra is experiencing the difficulties of this process in becoming such a different school. The school has issues with the state, …

Influence Of Sexual Education On Sexual Behavior And Contraceptive Use Among 15 To 19 Year-Olds At Colégio Azevêdo Fernandes In Salvador, Brazil, Julia Still

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Although sexual health education provided by the government through schools has shown positive results, such as those distributed by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, it is not the only source, nor the most implemented source, in which adolescents are exposed to and gain knowledge on the subjects of sexual behavior and sexual health. Just as Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child details, parents, schools and communities play important roles in the process of sexual education and are required to provide guidance and direction to youth (Pan American Health Organization, 2010). In addition to sexual health …

Yongzhi Village: An Example For Sustainable Tourism And Development In Deqin County, Kiersten Brown

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Nestled beneath misty mountain peaks, among the Salween, Mekong, and Yangtze rivers, a beautiful Tibetan village lies. Alongside low-lying mountain creeks and waterfalls this village is in Deqin County of Yunnan’s Deqin Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Deqin TAP). The Deqin TAP is the most Northwest prefecture of Yunnan. Deqin boasts that 33% of its population is comprised of the dominant minority group, Tibetans. Deqin prefecture is comprised of three counties, Shangrila County, Deqin County, and Weixi County. Deqin County is mostly comprised of small Tibetan towns and villages like Yongzhi. About 100 families inhabit Yongzhi. The village is placed right along …

Rise Of The Veil: Islamic Modernity And The Hui Woman, Zainab Khalid

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Hui are a familiar sight in most cities in China; famed for their qingzhen restaurants and their business acumen. Known usually as the “Chinese speaking Muslims,” they are separated from the nine other Muslim xiaoshu minzu by a reputation for assimilation and adaptability that is a matter of pride for Hui in urban areas.

A conversation with Hui women at Nancheng Mosque in Kunming revealed that they believed Hui to be at an advantage compared to other xiaoshu minzu because of their abilities to adapt and assimilate, “we are intelligent; we know what to do in order to survive …

Cost Of The Connoisseur’S Cup: Power Dynamics In A Tea Factory’S Conversion To Organic Production, Karen Gardner

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper analyzes the identity of the tea factory as relating to small-holder tea farmers in eastern Nepal as well as the effects of a tea factory’s conversion to organic production on the bargaining power of tea farmers. This research uses both primary and secondary sources, including but not limited to interviews with tea farmers in the Sundarpani area of the Ilam district of eastern Nepal as well as interviews with staff members of Gorkha Tea Estate in the same area. The research findings indicate that though tea factories in the eastern hill region of Nepal act as efficient, expert …

Examining Trends In Taste Preferences, Market Demand, And Annual Catch In An Indigenous Marine Turtle Fishery In Southwest Madagascar, Kristin Jones

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The worldwide exploitation of marine turtles has been common throughout human history, turtle products including carapaces for decoration and use, skin for leather, and eggs and meat for consumption. The hunting of marine turtles has long established economic importance among Madagascar's coastal inhabitants and is an activity traditionally associated with integral cultural and spiritual values. Due to overexploitation and a combination of relatively newer threats such as pollution, habitat loss, and incidental fisheries take, however, all marine turtle species in the Indian Ocean are considered to be endangered or critically endangered. Although Madagascar's marine turtles have been legally protected from …

Volume Cxxviii, Number 19, April 1, 2011, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

Disgust And The Problematic Politics Of Similarity, Courtney Megan Cahill

Michigan Law Review

Martha Nussbaum's latest book, From Disgust to Humanity: Sexual Orientation & Constitutional Law, could not have come at a more opportune time in the history of gay rights in the United States. All signs point to progress toward "humanity," from same-sex couples' successful bids for marriage equality in a handful of states to the public's increasing acceptance of the prospect of gays and lesbians serving openly in the military. Even if recent cognitive science research indicates that same-sex relationships provoke more than a little disgust in some people, landmark marriage-equality victories in a few states suggest that the law is …

Long-Term Calorie Restriction, But Not Endurance Exercise, Lowers Core Body Temperature In Humans, Andreea Soare, Roberto Cangemi, Daniela Omodei, John O. Holloszy, Luigi Fontana

Open Access Publications

Reduction of body temperature has been proposed to contribute to the increased lifespan in calorie restricted animals and mice overexpressing the uncoupling protein-2 in hypocretin neurons. However, nothing is known regarding the long-term effects of calorie restriction (CR) with adequate nutrition on body temperature in humans. In this study, 24-hour core body temperature was measured every minute by using ingested telemetric capsules in 24 men and women (mean age 53.7 ± 9.4 yrs) consuming a CR diet for an average of 6 years, 24 age- and sex-matched sedentary (WD) and 24 body fat-matched exercise-trained (EX) volunteers, who were eating Western …

Research On Coupled Human And Natural Systems (Chans): Approach, Challenges, And Strategies, Marina Alberti, Heidi Asbjornsen, Lawrence A. Baker, Nicholas Brozović, Laurie E. Drinkwater, Scott A. Drzyzga, Claire A. Jantz, José Fragoso, Daniel S. Holland, Timothy A. Kohler, Jianguo Liu, William J. Mcconnell, Herbert D. G. Maschner, James D. A. Millington, Michael Monticino, Guillermo Podestá, Robert Gilmore Pontius Jr., Charles L. Redman, Nicholas J. Reo, David J. Sailor, Gerald Urquhart

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Understanding the complexity of human–nature interactions is central to the quest for both human well-being and global sustainability. To build an understanding of these interactions, scientists, planners, resource managers, policy makers, and communities increasingly are collaborating across wide-ranging disciplines and knowledge domains. Scientists and others are generating new integrated knowledge on top of their requisite specialized knowledge to understand complex systems in order to solve pressing environmental and social problems (e.g., Carpenter et al. 2009). One approach to this sort of integration, bringing together detailed knowledge of various disciplines (e.g., social, economic, biological, and geophysical), has become known as the …

Evidence For The Need Of A Screening Tool To Recognize Perinatal Substance Abuse, Joeanna L. Larson

Theses and Dissertations

Perinatal substance abuse is a dangerous and detrimental problem faced by providers. Many questions arise when suspecting perinatal substance use. When is the appropriate time to screen? Are there clinical signs that providers can use to guide their decision? Is there the need for a tool that providers can use to guide their decisions? Screening for perinatal substance use is a difficult choice for providers. If a tool existed that would allow providers to screen for perinatal substance abuse based on clinical signs and symptoms, the judgment would lie in the evidence, and not with the provider. A screening tool …

Honey In Healing: New Look At An Old Treatment, Tracy Jo Enger

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers continue to be a difficult problem to manage, especially in the elderly populations. They are costly in terms of pain, as well as medical resources. The initiative Healthy People 2010 has set a goal at reducing the number of chronic wounds, more specifically pressure ulcers, by 50% in nursing home residents. (Porth & Matfin, 2009). Researchers are diligently attempting to find new, innovative, and cost-effective ways to manage chronic wounds. One solution may actually be an old remedy; honey. The purpose of this work is to provide healthcare workers with a review of the …

Synthesis And Analytical Evaluation Of Folate Conjugates For Use In Cancer Cell Detection, Rakeshkumar V. Desai

All Capstone Projects

Folate receptors have two glycosyl phosphatidylinositol anchored isomers, alpha and beta. Folate receptor alpha binds with high affinity for folic acid and act as a receptor for mediated transport of folate into the cells. Folate is necessary for DNA metabolism and thus it is speculated that rapidly dividing cancer cells have an increased necessity for folic acid. Folate receptor alpha levels eminent in specific malignant diseases (like solid tumors and leukemia) and thus folate receptors serve in the detection of FR+ (Folate receptor positive) and diagnosis of cancers.

In general, liposomes have the capacity intake the most imaging and toxic …

Purification And Analysis Of Folate Dye Conjugates, Anisha Hari Ganji

All Capstone Projects

Folate receptors play an important role in drug delivery systems as they are known to increase the potency and reduce toxicity of many cancer therapies. Folate receptors are present in abundance on cancerous tissues more so than on non-cancerous tissues. Folate binds to a variety of drugs that include chemotherapeutic agents, liposomes, radio-imaging agents, immunotherapeutic drugs and the like. Folate has been researched and used over the past decade as it is inexpensive and binds to the folate receptors with high affinity when compared to monoclonal antibodies. Nuclear imaging by SPECT and PET has interested many researchers. Other processes include …

Evaluation And In Vitro Studies Of Folate-Peg-Biotin, Kuldeep Reddy Vanga

All Capstone Projects

Folate receptor is a membrane bound protein which is highly expressed by cancer cells and macrophages. Folic acid is required for the normal growth of cells and it has been found that rapidly growing cancer cells require high levels of folic acid. Folic acid binds to folate receptors and through receptor mediated transport folate enters cells. This property has been used to synthesize a probe using folate as ligand through polyethylene glycol-Biotin linker. This can be used to attach a drug which is ultimately delivered at the site of infectious cells. The study involved here was to determine how folate …

Detection Of Folate Binding Protein, Anwer Unnisa

All Capstone Projects

Cancer is the second leading cause of death despite the anti cancer developments including hormone therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy. Chemotherapy includes use of potent drugs such as camptothecin, paclitaxel and mitomycin. These drugs have an effect which is dose responsive, where the drug exposure and cell kill are proportional. This chemotherapy is high dose and has less selectivity for cancer cells and has more toxic effect to normal cells. Such kind of non specific treatment to tumor is causing hurdles in the treatment of cancer by chemotherapy. To overcome this current limitation to chemotherapy, the anti cancer drug with high specificity …

Montana Kaimin, April 1, 2011, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

“The Day Everything Became Nothing”: Finding Meaning In The Postapocalyptic, Joe Chellino

All Student Theses and Dissertations

Explored in this work are three texts: Cormac McCarthy’s novel, The Road; Douglas Coupland’s novel, Girlfriend in a Coma; and Robert Kirkman’s ongoing serialized comic book, The Walking Dead. After a discussion of apocalyptic and postapocalyptic fictions and their ubiquity and popularity in contemporary culture, each work will be analyzed individually to explore each author’s message regarding postapocalyptic concerns. These three texts have been chosen as each represents a point along a loose continuum of high-to-low art. Primarily, this thesis will focus on how each author approaches systems of meaning-making and systems of understanding in postapocalyptic settings …

Le Nouveau Cirque, Diana C. Lynch

All Student Theses and Dissertations

Exploring traditional circus and contemporary circus has lead me to my current body of print work titled Le Nouveau Cirque simply meaning The New Circus. In my studio work I use printmaking to create my art. My focus on printmaking began with this body of artwork because of my interest making multiples of images and using old and new style processes of printmaking going hand in hand with my interest in old and new types of circuses. The connotation of creating multiples relates to old circus lithographs when artists would make many fliers and banners to advertise a show. …

Community And Ecosystem Ramifications Of Increasing Lianas In Neotropical Forests, Stefan A. Schnitzer, Frans Bongers, S. Joseph Wright

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Lianas (woody vines) are increasing in neotropical forests, representing one of the first large-scale structural changes documented for these important ecosystems. The potential ramifications of increasing lianas are huge, as lianas alter both tropical forest diversity and ecosystem functioning. At the community level, lianas affect tree species co-existence and diversity by competing more intensely with some tree species than others, and thus will likely alter tree species composition. At the ecosystem level, lianas affect forest carbon and nutrient storage and fluxes. A decrease in forest carbon storage and sequestration may be the most important ramification of liana increases. Lianas reduce …

A Strategy For A Successful Christian Sexual Education Ministry In The African American Church, Darryl Lee Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature demonstrates that very little material is available to assist churches on how to effectively communicate on the subject of sexuality in the African American church context. The purpose of this project is to illuminate the African American Church regarding the nature of this project on sexuality in the African American Church, its common elements, and an effective strategy for preparing a project. By applying a strong understanding of current and past literature reviews, surveys and questionnaires sent to homes and churches, in addition to interviews and workshops, the project reviews historical African American Church perspectives …

Perceptions Of High School Minority Students And High School Teachers Regarding Racism: A Phenomenological Study, Paige Shiver Boomer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research shows that racism is still prevalent in schools today. This qualitative study using a phenomenological design identified different forms of racism in schools and the impact racism has on students and teachers. The study identifies the perceptions 9th-12th grade minority students and high school teachers have regarding racism, and compares and contrast those perceptions in a rural Georgia high school. Participants were selected from a pool of approximately 103 ethnic minority high school students and 68 high school teachers. The participants were selected through purposeful sampling due to ones minority status or employment status. Surveys, individual interviews, and journaling …