Digital Commons Network^™

Sol-Gel Coatings For On-Line Preconcentration In Capillary Electrophoresis, Abdul Malik, Wen Li, David P. Fries

USF Patents

A novel on-line method is presented for the extraction and preconcentration of amino acids using a sol-gel coated column coupled to a conventional UV/vis detector. Extraction, stacking and focusing techniques are used in the preconcentration procedures. Sol-gel coatings are created by using N-Octadecyldimethyl[3(trimethoxysilyl)proply]ammonium chloride (C18-TMS) in the coating sol solutions. The resulting sol-gel coating carries a positive charge. For extraction, the pH of the samples is properly adjusted to impart a net negative charge to amino acids. A long plug of the sample is then passed through the sol-gel coated capillary to facilitate extraction via electrostatic interaction between the positively …

Characterization Of Microsatellite Loci And Pilot Population Genetic Analysis In Hickory Shad, Alosa Mediocris, Fnu Vishakha

Theses and Dissertations

The hickory shad (Alosa mediocris) is a relatively understudied species of the anadromous fish sub-family Alosinae. This study, the first population genetic analysis of this species, employed 12 neutral microsatellite loci to estimate genetic diversity and population structure in tributaries of lower Chesapeake Bay, Virginia including James River and its tributaries (Appomattox and Chickahominy Rivers), Rappahannock River, and Pamunkey River. Genetic variation was extremely low. Estimates of observed heterozygosity were lower than expected heterozygosity. Significant population structure was detected among the six samples (FST = 0.093, p = 0.01). Effective population sizes were low (Ne ranged from 2 to 134). …

Membrane Properties Involved In Calcium-Stimulated Microparticle Release From The Plasma Membranes Of S49 Lymphoma Cells, Lauryl Elizabeth Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

The mechanism of microparticle shedding from the plasma membrane of calcium-loaded cells has been investigated in erythrocytes and platelets. Recent studies have revealed the physiological and clinical importance of microparticle release from nucleated cells such as lymphocytes and endothelium. The experiments of this study were designed to address whether simple mechanisms discovered in platelets and erythrocytes also apply to the more complex nucleated cells. Four such mechanisms were addressed: potassium efflux, transbilayer phosphatidylserine migration, cytoskeleton degradation, and membrane lipid order. The rate and amount of microparticle release in the presence of a calcium ionophore, ionomycin, was assayed by light scatter …

Kayleigh's Australian Adventure: A Story For Children, Diane A. Wetmore

Honors Theses

This is a children's book for upper elementary students (3rd/4th grade) as an introduction to Australian culture

Cubesat Lessons Learned: Two Launch Failures Followed By One Mission Success (Subtitle: What Can Go Wrong Will Go Wrong.), David Klumpar

Small Satellite Conference

Montana State University’s small satellite team just keeps on learning and keeps getting better through experiences gained and through careful attention paid to lessons learned. After all, that is a fundamental goal of experiential training. The Space Science and Engineering Laboratory at Montana State University engages university undergraduate students in the design, production, testing, and flight operations of spaceflight systems as a highly effective hands-on training methodology for the next generation of space researchers. Additionally the program seeks to demonstrate the utility of, and to advance the application of very small satellites for space research. Both through launch failures (two …

U.S Geological Survey Disaster Response, Ms. Brenda Jones

Small Satellite Conference

Biography - Ms. Jones is currently the USGS geospatial/remote sensing liaison for emergency operations and the USGS Executive Secretariat member for the International Charter Space and Major Disasters. She is actively involved with end-users and value added providers during emergency response efforts on a global basis, providing leadership to the remote sensing component of the disaster response community by effectively capturing the data requirements of these entities and assisting in the planning, implementation and evaluation of technologies to improve the discovery, access and dissemination of digital imagery and other geospatial data in support of domestic and international disasters.

Download All 2012 Files - Paper And Presentation Pdfs, Small Satellite Conference

Small Satellite Conference

Due to file size, the papers and presentations have been organized by technical session. For the complete 2012 technical program, download all documents in "Additional Files" on this page.

Music As Biotech: Remixing The Ubmta For Use With Digital Samples, Adam G. Holofcener

Intellectual Property Brief

No abstract provided.

Mechanisms Mediating Adaptive Presynaptic Muting Induction, Devon Christine Crawford

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Neurons are responsible for information processing within the nervous system, so strong perturbations of neuronal function have far-reaching consequences within the neural network. Damage in response to excess excitation, as occurs during stroke or seizure, is known as excitotoxicity. One method utilized by neurons for reducing excitotoxicity within an overly activated neuronal network is to arrest excitatory neurotransmitter release from presynaptic terminals. The mechanisms responsible for inducing this presynaptic silencing: or "muting"), however, have been elusive. In order to elucidate the signals responsible, I used molecular techniques in defined networks of cultured neurons from the mammalian hippocampus, a well-studied brain …

Using Mice With Conditional Deletion Of The Ifng Receptor To Identify The Cellular Targets Of Ifng During Development Of Anti-Listeria Immune Responses, Sang Hun Lee

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Host responsiveness to IFNg is critical for resolution of Listeria infection, but the identities and roles of IFNg responsive cells that initiate this process remain unclear. In this thesis, unique mice displaying conditional loss of the IFNg receptor: Ifngr1f/f mice) in different tissues have been generated and used to explore the role of this cytokine in initiating the anti-Listeria response.

Whereas Ifngr1f/f mice displayed normal cellular levels of IFNGR1 and normal resistance to Listeria infection, Vav-icre+Ifngr1f/f mice lacking IFNg responsiveness selectively in hematopoietic cells exhibited highly increased susceptibility to Listeria infection comparable to that of Ifngr1-/- mice. In contrast, Itgax-cre+ …

Cancer Biotherapy Resource, Preety Priya

Theses

`Cancer Biotherapy' - as opposed to cancer chemotherapy- is the use of macromolecular, biological agents instead of organic chemicals or drugs to treat cancer. Biotherapy is a treatment modality that blocks the growth of cancer cells by interfering with specific, targeted molecules needed for carcinogenesis and tumor growth instead of simply interfering with rapidly dividing cells as in chemotherapy1. In light to the much higher selectivity of biological agents than chemical agents for cancer cells over normal cells, there is a much less toxic side effect in biotherapy as compared to chemotherapy. As solid tumor cancer continues to be analyzed …

Identifying Barriers To Adherence For Hiv+ Patients Placed On Renal Dosing, Richard S. Colon Jr

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Adding Autonomic Healing Capabilities To Polyethylene Oxide, Dorina M. Chipara, Maritza Flores, Alma Perez, Nancy Puente, Karen Lozano, Mircea Chipara

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The addition of autonomic healing (frequently defined as self-healing) capabilities to a water-soluble polymer (polyethylene oxide, PEO) is for the first time reported. The self-healing system consists of urea-formaldehyde microcapsules filled with dicyclopentadiene and first-generation Grubbs catalyst, dispersed within polyethylene oxide. Raman spectroscopy, optical microscopy, electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize this autonomic healing system. Self-healing capabilities were confirmed by mechanical testing (load–displacement, engineering stress–engineering strain, and true stress–true strain dependences) recorded at very slow elongation rates (0.01 mm/s). The testing fate was chosen to allow for the complete consumption of the monomer before fracture (the polymerization …

Automatic Generation Of Music For Inducing Emotive And Physiological Responses, Kristine Perry Monteith

Theses and Dissertations

Music and emotion are two realms traditionally considered to be unique to human intelligence. This dissertation focuses on furthering artificial intelligence research, specifically in the area of computational creativity, by investigating methods of composing music that elicits desired emotional and physiological responses. It includes the following: an algorithm for generating original musical selections that effectively elicit targeted emotional and physiological responses; a description of some of the musical features that contribute to the conveyance of a given emotion or the elicitation of a given physiological response; and an account of how this algorithm can be used effectively in two different …

The Physician Assistant Profession: A Handbook For Students, Jami L. Cynecki

Honors Theses

This document extensively covers the physician assistant career and can be used as a handbook for students who are interested in learning more about the career. This thesis explores the question, what is the process of becoming a physician assistant? More specifically, I will cover the progression from a student to a fully licensed PA. Topics that are discussed include: how to prepare for a career as a PA (including the pathway to being admitted to an accredited program), the training received in an accredited program and information on certification maintenance required as a licensed physician assistant Furthermore, this document …

Microbiological Components In Mainstream And Sidestream Cigarette Smoke, Lennart Larsson, Christina Pehrson, Tenzin Dechen, Mardi Crane-Godreau

Dartmouth Scholarship

Research has shown that tobacco smoke contains substances of microbiological origin such as ergosterol (a fungal membrane lipid) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria). The aim of the present study was to compare the amounts of ergosterol and LPS in the tobacco and mainstream (MS) and sidestream (SS) smoke of some popular US cigarettes. We measured LPS 3-hydroxy fatty acids and fungal biomass biomarker ergosterol in the tobacco and smoke from cigarettes of 11 popular brands purchased in the US. University of Kentucky reference cigarettes were also included for comparison.

Mineralization Potential Of Electrospun Pdo-Hydroxyapatite-Fibrinogen Blended Scaffolds, Isaac A. Rodriguez, Parthasarathy A. Madurantakam, Jennifer M. Mccool, Scott A. Sell, Hu Yang, Peter C. Moon, Gary L. Bowlin

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The current bone autograft procedure for cleft palate repair presents several disadvantages such as limited availability, additional invasive surgery, and donor site morbidity. The present preliminary study evaluates the mineralization potential of electrospun polydioxanone:nano-hydroxyapatite: fibrinogen (PDO: nHA: Fg) blended scaffolds in different simulated body fluids (SBF). Scaffolds were fabricated by blending PDO: nHA: Fg in the following percent by weight ratios: 100: 0: 0, 50: 25: 25, 50: 50: 0, 50: 0: 50, 0: 0: 100, and 0: 50: 50. Samples were immersed in (conventional (c), revised (r), ionic (i), and modified (m)) SBF for 5 and 14 days to …

Passive Treatment For Removal Of Metal And Organic Contaminants From Runoff And Effluent At Confined Disposal Facilities, Damarys Acevedo-Acevedo

Theses and Dissertations

A passive treatment alternative for the removal of metal and organic contaminants from runoff and effluent in CDFs was evaluated in this study. Activated carbon impregnated curtains have been used for different remediation projects; however, very little research has been conducted to understand its sorption behavior, breakthrough time, and exhaustion time of contaminants under high flow rates characteristic of CDF runoff and effluent. The major objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficiency of the curtain in removing contaminants from a synthetic effluent in a flow through regime and estimate the expected life of the curtains. Equilibrium tests, batch …

Aberrant Placental Immune Parameters In The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (Fiv)-Infected Cat Suggest Virus-Induced Changes In Leukocyte Function, Lyndon Bart Chumbley

Theses and Dissertations

Regulatory T cells (Tregs), interleukin 17-producing T helper cells (Th17 cells), and other immune cells play important roles in the maintenance of pregnancy, and their function is impacted by HIV infection. I hypothesized that FIV-infection may likewise alter placental T cell gene expression causing aberrant immune function and compromised pregnancy. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the expression placental immunomodulators related to Treg and Th17 cell function in the FIV-infected cat model. Gene expression was quantified in placenta and serum using quantitative PCR and ELISA, respectively. Abnormal expression of cytokines was frequently associated with infection and fetal nonviability, …

Commencement Convocation Exercises - August 2012, Prairie View A&M University

Commencement and Convocation Exercises

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Potential For Increased Capacity Of Combined Heat And Power Facilities Based On Available Corn Stover And Forest Logging Residue In Mississippi, Selvarani Radhakrishnan

Theses and Dissertations

The amount of available biomass feedstock and associated cost components were analyzed to determine the potential increase in energy capacity of two existing combined heat and power plants in Mississippi. The amount of corn stover and forest logging residue within a 10-mile radius can satisfy the existing requirements of CHP plants in Scott (1 MW) and Washington counties (5 MW). Transporting feedstock within a smaller source area had lower transportation costs, but higher total unit cost than the two other source buffer scenarios. However, capital costs associated with higher plant capacities were significantly higher and plant expansion may not be …

Where Did All Those Launches Come From? Or What Can We Do Now That We Have Launches?, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Where did all those Launches come from? Or What can we do now that we have launches?" from August 11, 2012.

Mechanical Properties Of Porcine Muscle In Compression And Tension With Microstructural Analysis, Renee Brook Pietsch

Theses and Dissertations

A need exists for a more robust method of evaluating musculoskeletal injuries resulting from impact conditions, particularly blasts. Computational modeling is a promising method of achieving this goal. The accuracy of a model depends on high quality mechanical properties for each component. This study examined the mechanical properties of porcine muscle along with structure property relationships. Fresh muscle was tested in compression and tension at strain rates of 0.1 s-1, 0.01 s-1, and 0.001 s-1. Viscoelastic properties were observed including strain rate dependency, stress state dependency, anisotropy, relaxation, and hysteresis. Image analysis was conducted in compression on controls, 30% strain, …

Volume Of Fluid Simulations For Droplet Impact On Dry And Wetted Hydrophobic And Superhydrophobic Surfaces, Emily Nicole Burtnett

Theses and Dissertations

An aircraft may experience inlight ice accretion and corresponding reductions in performance and control when the vehicle encounters clouds of super-cooled water droplets. The EADS-IW Surface Engineering Group is investigating passive anti-icing possibilities, such as functional and ice phobic coatings. Ice-resistant coatings require investigating droplet impact on dry surfaces and wet films, including microscopic effects such as droplet splashing. To investigate droplet impacts, a volume of fluid (VOF) flow solver was used for droplets impacting dry and wetted hydrophobic and superhydrophobic surfaces, focusing on meso-scale simulations. The effects of structured, micro-scale surface roughness and the effects of a thin wet …

Learning Optimal Bayesian Networks With Heuristic Search, Brandon M. Malone

Theses and Dissertations

Bayesian networks are a widely used graphical model which formalize reasoning under uncertainty. Unfortunately, construction of a Bayesian network by an expert is timeconsuming, and, in some cases, all expertsmay not agree on the best structure for a problem domain. Additionally, for some complex systems such as those present in molecular biology, experts with an understanding of the entire domain and how individual components interact may not exist. In these cases, we must learn the network structure from available data. This dissertation focuses on score-based structure learning. In this context, a scoring function is used to measure the goodness of …

Micromechanical Analysis Of Cells From Hyperelastosis Cutis (Hc) Affected And Carrier Horses, Kenyatta Shanika Williams Washington

Theses and Dissertations

Equine hyperelastosis cutis (HC or HERDA), a connective tissue disorder in American Quarter Horses, results in hyperelastic skin with poor wound healing. Similar conditions are found in many species and all forms display decreased skin tensile strength. Fibroblasts produce collagen and elastin fibers, forming networks, providing the dermis with strength, and elasticity. This study aims to carry out a 3-part evaluation between horse skin fibroblast (cells from horses affected with HERDA, cells from horses that are carriers of HERDA (recessive HERDA gene), and cells from horses that are normal (neither affected or carriers of HERDA); Studies include: 1. Cell proliferation …

Analysis Of Oxygen Transfer At An Activated Sludge Plant: A Procedure For Monitoring Aeration Efficiency, Benjamin Clyde Luke

Theses and Dissertations

In this investigation, two separate methods for determining oxygen transfer rates were applied to the oxidation ditches of an activated sludge plant. Steady state oxygen uptake rate testing and an oxygen mass balance technique were used to propose an in-process procedure for monitoring aeration efficiency using available resources. Although some overall averages offered promise, the testing results revealed that the mass balance analysis yielded results that do not accurately represent the oxygen transfer capabilities within the individual reactors due to shared variables that control the oxygen transfer rate. The steady state method provided more favorable results. Overall averages of daily …

Analysis Of Aerial Multispectral Imagery To Assess Water Quality Parameters Of Mississippi Water Bodies, Shane Adison Irvin

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to demonstrate the application of aerial imagery as a tool in detecting water quality indicators in a three mile segment of Tibbee Creek in, Clay County, Mississippi. Water samples from 10 transects were collected per sampling date over two periods in 2010 and 2011. Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) were measured at each point, and water samples were tested for turbidity and total suspended solids (TSS). Relative reflectance was extracted from high resolution (0.5 meter) multispectral aerial images. A regression model was developed for turbidity and TSS as a function of values for specific …

Chronobiology Of Lygus Lineolaris (Heteroptera: Miridae): Implications For Rearing And Pest Management, Sarah Rose Self

Theses and Dissertations

This research project consisted of three primary objectives: (1) Improve rearing methods for L. lineolaris, (2) Determine if selected behaviors displaying photoperiodicity are under circadian control, and (3) Estimate phase angle shifts of selected circadian rhythms, in an effort to contribute toward the future improvement of current integrated pest management techniques. Improving rearing methods was accomplished in three areas: (1) Estimating the optimal stocking rate to maximize production while maintaining acceptable insect quality as a function of photoperiodic regime, (2) Estimating fecundity at the optimal stocking rate and photoperiodic regime, and (3) Determining the timing of oviposition, mating, feeding and …

Effects Of Glycine-Arginine-Alpha-Ketoisocaproic Acid Calcium (Gakic) On Maximal Strength And Multiple Bouts Of Resistance Exercise, Laura Anne Hilton

Theses and Dissertations

Glycine-arginine-alpha-ketoisocaproic acid calcium (GAKIC) is an amino acid combination postulated to improve dynamic performance of skeletal muscle during acute, anaerobic exercise in healthy individuals. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the ergogenic effects of GAKIC ingestion on resistance training performance in both trained male and female participants. Methods: Utilizing a double-blinded, crossover design, male participants completed a lower body leg press resistance exercise protocol and female participants completed a lower body leg extension resistance exercise protocol once using 10.2 g GAKIC and the other with a placebo. Results: A significant increase in TLV after GAKIC supplementation was …