Digital Commons Network^™

Kinetics And Mechanism Of S-Nitrosation And Oxidation Of Cysteamine By Peroxynitrite, Wilbes Mbiya

Dissertations and Theses

Cysteamine (CA), which is an aminothiol drug medically known as Cystagon® was studied in this thesis. Cysteamine was reacted with a binary toxin called peroxynitrite (PN) which is assembled spontaneously whenever nitric oxide and superoxide are produced together and the decomposition of peroxyinitrite was monitored. PN was able to nitrosate CA in highly acidic medium and excess CA to form S-nitrosocysteamine (CANO) in a 1:1 with the formation of one mole of CANO from one mole of ONOOH. In excess oxidant (PN) the following 1:2 stoichiometric ratio was obtained; ONOO^- + 2CA → CA-CA + NO2^- + H …

Plasticity Regulators Modulate Specific Root Traits In Discrete Nitrogen Environments, Miriam L. Gifford, Joshua A. Banta, Manpreet S. Katari, Jo Hulsmans, Lisa Chen, Daniela Ristova, Daniel Tranchina, Michael D. Purugganan, Gloria M. Coruzzi, Kenneth D. Birnbaum

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Plant development is remarkably plastic but how precisely can the plant customize its form to specific environments? When the plant adjusts its development to different environments, related traits can change in a coordinated fashion, such that two traits co-vary across many genotypes. Alternatively, traits can vary independently, such that a change in one trait has little predictive value for the change in a second trait. To characterize such "tunability" in developmental plasticity, we carried out a detailed phenotypic characterization of complex root traits among 96 accessions of the model Arabidopsis thaliana in two nitrogen environments. The results revealed a surprising …

The Effect Of Post-Exercise Caffeine And Chlorogenic Acid Supplementation On Blood Glucose Disposal And Insulin Sensitivity, Jason Beam

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Caffeine and chlorogenic acid are two compounds in green coffee beans that alter blood glucose disposal and insulin sensitivity. Caffeine has been shown to decrease glucose disposal and insulin sensitivity when taken 60 minutes prior to an oral glucose tolerance test in humans, whereas chlorogenic acid has been shown to increase glucose disposal and insulin sensitivity in humans. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ingesting caffeine with dextrose or chlorogenic acid with dextrose immediately after an exhaustive bout of cycling on blood glucose and insulin disposal when compared to ingesting dextrose alone. Ten men (age: …

Uno Stem Strategic Plan, Uno Stem Leadership Team

Student Learning

The following document is a strategic plan for STEMeducation at UNO as of September 5, 2013. Thedocument represents nearly six months of strategicplanning discussions, meetings, and conversationsbetween those of us on the writing team and many ofyou, our colleagues and friends that share our passionfor excellence in STEM education at UNO. It is alsothe result of a review of our local STEM statistics, theprofessional literature on STEM learning, and a sampleof what other universities are doing to enhance STEMlearning on their campuses. The document is intended tobe a very dynamic one that will be revisited yearly as wecontinue to move …

The Grizzly, September 5, 2013, Sabrina Mcgettigan, Deana Harley, Briana Keane, Derrick Falletta, Vivek Reddy, Briana Mullan, Rachel Brown, Nicholas Dimuzio, Bethany Mitchell, David Rogers, Kara Bowen, Adebayo Adeyemo, Dom Roher, Shawn Hartigan

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

New Policy Changes • Social Host to Event Director • Printing with Bear Bucks • Grizzly Launches Web Redesign • Farmers Market Location Changes • Community Service • Travel Blog Preview • Ursinus Alumni Return for Work • Opinion: Smart Phone Addiction Can Harm Our Social Lives; North and New Need Single Sex Hall Options Too • Code of Conduct for Athletes Now an Official Contract • Football Preview: Experienced Bears Major Asset • Field Hockey Looks to Regain Conference Dominance

Characterization Of Secondary Organic Aerosol Precursors Using Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography With Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry (Gc×Gc/Tofms), Melissa Jordan Roskamp

Dissertations and Theses

The oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) plays a role in both regional and global air quality through the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA). More than 1000TgC/yr of non-methane VOCs are emitted from biogenic sources (significantly greater than from anthropogenic sources). Despite this magnitude and potential importance for air quality, the body of knowledge around the identities, quantities and oxidation processes of these compounds is still incomplete (e.g., Goldstein & Galbally, 2007; Robinson et al., 2009). Two-dimensional gas chromatography paired with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC/TOFMS) is a powerful analytical technique which is explored here for its role in better …

Beyond Stacking: An Exploration Of The Impact Of Background On Leadership Recruitment And Positional Segregation In Division-I Womens Basketball, Sonja Robinson

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Sports are often is seen as vehicles of social and career mobility, especially at the collegiate levels where full athletics scholarships grant students access to higher education. While sport, on the surface and at its best, espouses the values of equality and merit, studies examining under-representations of minority groups in key roles indicate that more work needs to be done on inclusiveness and equity. Leadership recruitment studies in sport traditionally evaluate the influence that playing positions have on career mobility (Grusky, 1963). Loy and Elvouge (1970) expanded upon that tradition to develop positional segregation (stacking') research, which explores the influence …

"Mai Pen Rai" = If Nothing Can Be Done, What Is There To Do? : Cross-Cultural Perspectives On Social Work In Thailand And The United States, Johanna C. Black

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This exploratory descriptive qualitative research study compared and contrasted Smith College School for Social Work (SSW) international field placement interns' experiences of social work in the United States and Thailand. The research compared and contrasted social work the interns' perspectives regarding social work practices they have experienced in the United States (U.S.) and in Thai culture, particularly with reference to the significance of how "Mai Pen Rai" -- there is nothing to be done-- related to social work micro and macro interventions in Thai culture. The interviews with western trained social work clinicians elicited observations of clinical and cultural similarities …

The Language Of Equus : Exploring Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (Eap) Using The Equine Assisted Growth And Learning Association (Eagala) Model, Kelly J. Boyd

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study set out to explore equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) under the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) model. As EAP is still a fairly new modality of therapy, the intention of this study is to add to the growing EAP literature. Interviews were conducted with fifteen EAGALA certified mental health practitioners (MH) and equine specialists (ES) with the intent to explore their professional insights, personal experiences and perspectives regarding EAP. EAP facilitators discussed the structure, benefits and challenges of the EAGALA model. These EAGALA model EAP facilitators also discussed the therapeutic modality of EAP -- revealing its own …

Holding, Attaching And Relating : A Theoretical Perspective On Good Enough Therapy Through Analysis Of Winnicott's Good Enough Mother, Using Bowlby's Attachment Theory And Relational Theory, Lydia K. Borg

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This is a theoretical study in which Winnicott's ideas on the "good enough mother" are analyzed in search of implications for what makes a good enough therapist. Specifically these ideas are explored through the lenses of attachment theory and relational theory with a focus on the work of John Bowlby and Jessica Benjamin respectively. Particular attention is given to the roles of both therapists and mothers in "holding", emotional regulation, protection, and building emotionally facilitative and protective relationships. This paper includes in depth looks at these theories and the ways in which the concepts within attachment theory and relational theory …

Dimensions Of Healing : A Synthesis Of Relational And Psychodrama Theory And Practice In The Treatment Of Unresolved Loss And Grief, Ashley G. Branum

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical thesis explores relational and psychodrama theory and practice, their similarities and differences, and their applicability to the phenomenon of unresolved loss and grief. While these two theories are stylistically and methodologically different, their overlapping conceptual and experiential similarities contribute to enhancing both client and therapist understanding of the complex issues and impact of unresolved loss and grief. Beginning with a detailed exploration of each theory, this thesis goes on to examine the intersections of relational and psychodrama theory and practice and how a synthesis of these theories generates a broader set of treatment options for clinicians working with …

Exploring What Factors Influence African American Adolescent Females To Act Violently Towards Each Other, Davina S. Callahan

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study is to explore the influential factors of African American adolescent and college-aged (13-20) females who engage in violent and aggressive behavior. The experience of these participants was elicited through self-developed, semi-structured interviews composed of questions that explored several possible contributing factors. Interviews were conducted with 12 females who self-identified as African American. The study explored themes of family dynamics, community violence exposure, identification with negative stereotypes and challenges with education and victimization. Major findings were that family dynamics and peer relationships were identified as major influential factors of the participant's engagement in violent behavior. While …

Analysis And Comparison Of Parallel Plate Flow Chambers To Determine Consistency Of Fluid Forces On Cells, Sampat S. Nidadavolu

Master's Theses

Biological cells are constantly exposed to fluid forces inside the body. These fluid forces aid in certain physical and chemical reactions that cells need to maintain physiological function. To observe these forces in vitro, parallel plate flow chambers (PPFC) are used, where cells are placed inside the chamber and a fluid medium runs through the device exposing the cells to fluid forces to initiate a response. This has aided in proving that fluid forces influence cell function and are factors in various disease and physiological processes, such as the development of atherosclerotic plaque in blood vessels or bone growth. Many …

Job Stress And Burnout Among Academic Career Anaesthesiologists At An Egyptian University Hospital, Tarek Shams, Ragaa El-Masry

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: There is compelling evidence that anaesthesiology is a stressful occupation and, when this stressful occupation is associated with an academic career, the burnout level is high. This study aimed to assess the predictors and prevalence of stress and burnout, associated sociodemographic characteristics, and job-related features. Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was carried out at Mansoura University Hospital in Egypt among 98 anaesthesiologists who had academic careers. The English version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) scale and the Workplace Stress Scale of the American Institute of Stress were used to measure job stress and burnout. Data were …

Adrenal Oncocytic Neoplasm With Uncertain Malignant Potential, Mooyad A. Ahmed, Sureshkannan K. S, Zaid R. Koliyadan, Sreedharan V., Christopher S. Grant, Ahmed H. Al-Habsi, P. A. M. Saparamadu, Dhuha Al-Sajee

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Adrenal oncocytic neoplasms (AONs) are a rare group of tumours with a somewhat uncertain natural history and clinical behaviour. Out of 46 cases of AON reported to date, 6 cases were histologically classified as neoplasms with uncertain malignant potential. We report the case of a 35-year-old male with an incidentally detected large AON with mostly benign morphology and some characteristics which would make its behaviouruncertain.

Customised, Individualised Treatment Of Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma (Nsclc), Muhammad Furrukh, Mansour Al-Moundhri, Khawaja F. Kumar, Shiyam, Ikram Burney

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

A series of phase II and randomised phase III trials in Asia and Europe have confirmed recently that advanced stage non-small-cell lung carcinoma patients with adenocarcinoma subtypes harbouring specific mutations when subjected to targeted therapy experience equivalent survival outcomes as those treated with chemotherapy and are spared from its side effects. The concept of chemotherapy for all is fading, and therapy optimisation has emerged as a paradigm shift in treatment. This article briefly describes cellular mechanisms involved in lung carcinogenesis which provide a molecular basis for targeted therapy. Advances in molecular biology have improved our understanding of mechanisms involved in …

Vitamin D Status And Anthropometric Indices Of An Omani Study Population, Clifford Abiaka, Marit Delghandi, Meenu Al-Saleh, Mohsin

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations reflect vitamin D status, with deficiency implicated as causative of many diseases. This study assessed vitamin D status and anthropometric indices in a sample of healthy Omanis. Methods: Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography in 206 healthy Omanis, aged 18–55 years (mean age: men 31.1, women 26.8) in Muscat, Oman. Of this number, 95% indicated that they had never taken vitamin D supplements. Findings were compared with published values for populations domiciled in more northerly latitudes. Classical procedures were used to determine global obesity (body mass index [BMI]), and central …

Development Of Novel Reaction-Based Fluorescent Probes, Weimin Xuan

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Fluorescent probes have been proved to be very valuable tools in chemical and biological applications, and extensive exploration has been made. Recently, reaction-based fluorescent probes became a new design trend and displayed great potential with remarkable implementation to the conventional design method. However, this field is still underdeveloped, and a lot of problems remain to be solved. As part of our groups research interest, my Ph.D. study centered on the development of new reaction-based fluorescent probes. Firstly, our previous research on Hg²⁺ was continued. In this work, we developed a novel ratiometric fluorescent probe for Hg²⁺ with impressive …

Antimicrobial Activity And Mechanistic Study For The Poly(Phenylene Ethynylene) (Ppe)-Based Cationic Conjugated Polyelectrolytes And Oligo-Phenylene Ethynylenes, Ying Wang

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

My dissertation work focuses on recent progress made in elucidating the intermolecular interactions between a novel class of synthetic phenylene ethynylene (PPE)-based conjugated polyelectrolyte polymers (CPEs) and oligomers (OPEs) and multiscale cellular targets that give rise to their remarkable broad spectrum biocidal activity. We studied the interactions and self-assembly behaviors of the CPEs and OPEs with a set of vital biomolecules, including lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, that reveal the potential pathways by which the synthetic biocidal agents could exert toxicity. Then, we explored the antimicrobial effects and mechanisms of the CPEs and OPEs on multiple clinically relevant pathogens, with …

State V. Neff Appellant's Brief Dckt. 40534

Not Reported

No abstract provided.

Controlled Lasing In Gallium Nitride Nanowires, X Huiwen

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

There is considerable interest in ultra-small coherent light sources. A strong candidate is a semiconductor-nanowire laser, where a single, monolithic nanowire functions simultaneously as an optical microcavity and active medium, leading to an extremely compact and robust laser. Recent advances in nanowire synthesis have enabled realization of optically pumped nanowire lasers in different material systems, including III-V, III-nitride, and II-VI semiconductors. However, due to the limited lasing control techniques, most of the nanowire lasers operate in naturally-occurring multi-mode and randomly polarized states. Lasing control in nanowire lasers is strongly desired for many practical applications. For instance, specifically polarized lasing is …

Theoretical And Experimental Investigation Of The Nonlinear Dynamical Trends Of Passively Mode-Locked Quantum Dot Lasers, Ravi Raghunathan

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

In recent years, passively mode-locked quantum dot lasers have shown great promise as compact, efficient and reliable pulsed sources of light for a range of precision and high performance applications, such as high bit-rate optical communications, diverse waveform generation, metrology, and clock distribution in high-performance computing (HPC) processors. For such applications, stable optical pulses with short picosecond pulse durations and multi-gigahertz repetition rates are required. In addition, a low pulse-to-pulse timing jitter is also necessary to prevent errors arising from the ambiguity between neighboring pulses. In order to optimize pulse quality in terms of optical characteristics such as pulse shape …

A Retrospective Study Of Gay Gifted, Young Adult Males' Perceptions Of Giftedness And Suicide, Paul James Sedillo

Special Education ETDs

This qualitative, retrospective study investigated suicidal ideation among 32 young adult men. Participants were asked to report their experiences as adolescents. The primary focus of the study was to discover how gay gifted adolescents dealt with issues of suicide and suicidal ideation. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Four groups of participants were chosen with eight males in each group. The groups were: gay (i.e., homosexual) gifted, gay nongifted, straight (i.e., heterosexual) gifted and straight nongifted. Forty-one percent of participants were Hispanic/Latino, 31% were Caucasian, 22% were biracial, and 6% were African American. Data were collected using an …

Administrator Leadership And Content Knowledge: Effects On Literacy Achievement On Male Students Grades Four Through Eight, Kay Calvert

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of principal characteristics and school socio-economic factors and their relationship to student achievement as measured by the literacy portion of the Arkansas state standardized test, with a particular interest in male students. The study was undertaken to contribute to the existing knowledge base regarding principal knowledge of reading and its relationship to literacy. The first four independent variables of principal characteristics were defined by the School Capacity model (Newman, King, & Youngs, 2000), and included four domains: (a) possesses instructional skills and knowledge about reading, (b) focuses on program coherence, …

The Biophysical Effects Of Deuterium Oxide On Biomolecules And Living Cells Through Open Notebook Science., Anthony Salvagno

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

This dissertation explores various effects of deuterium oxide (D2O also known as heavy water) in nature. Water is everywhere and interacts with just about everything. As such, it would be quite a daunting task to characterize every effect that water exhibits on everything in the universe. This research is a small piece of the puzzle, and provides some fundamental understanding of how water interacts with other molecules. This is done from two viewpoints: (1) the effects of heavy water on living cells and (2) the effects of heavy water on molecules. Varying concentrations of deuterium oxide were used as the …

Patterning In Placental 11-B Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Methylation According To Prenatal Socioeconomic Adversity, Allison A. Appleton, David A. Armstrong, Corina Lesseur, Joyce Lee, James F. Padbury, Barry M. Lester

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background:

Prenatal socioeconomic adversity as an intrauterine exposure is associated with a range of perinatal outcomes although the explanatory mechanisms are not well understood. The development of the fetus can be shaped by the intrauterine environment through alterations in the function of the placenta. In the placenta, the HSD11B2 gene encodes the 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme, which is responsible for the inactivation of maternal cortisol thereby protecting the developing fetus from this exposure. This gene is regulated by DNA methylation, and this methylation and the expression it controls has been shown to be susceptible to a variety of stressors from …

A Study Of Adiponectin In Children With Diabetes Mellitus, Basma A. Ali, Doaa M. Mahrous, Ahlam M. Fikri, Mina

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Adiponectin is a hormone produced by adipose tissue. It is secreted exclusively by adipocytes and appears to play a role in the pathophysiology of obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), and its comorbidities. The aim of this study was to assess adiponectin levels in diabetic children with type 1 DM (T1DM) and type 2 DM (T2DM), and to detect its prognostic role in them. Methods: This study was undertaken from April to July 2011 at Minia University Children’s Hospital, Egypt, and included 314 children aged 2–18 years divided into two patient groups. Group I consisted of 164 pre-diagnosed diabetic patients, further …

On-Farm Experience Is Keystone To Capstone Course, Holly Young

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Scholarly Publishing Across The Disciplines: Interviews With Geneseo Faculty, Katharine Pitcher, Elizabeth Argentieri, Sue Ann Brainard, Joseph Easterly, Kimberly Hoffman, Bonnie Swoger, Tracy Paradis

Milne Library

Recent developments in academic research and publishing have presented faculty with many challenges and opportunities. As Geneseo faculty sought help from Milne librarians on these issues, it became apparent that if we wanted to meet faculty needs we had to investigate how faculty were researching and publishing in the changing environment. To answer these questions, librarians from Milne interviewed eighty-seven Geneseo professors during the 2010-2011 and part of 2011-2012 academic years. The responses were compiled and analyzed after identifying information was removed. Librarians at Milne prepared reports focused on overarching themes that surfaced again and again in the interviews: Undergraduate …

The Relationship Between Perceived Organizational Support And Teachers' Sense Of Efficacy In Regular And Alternative Schools, Jonathan Kyle Knight

Theses and Dissertations

The investigator in the study compared traditional middle and high school teachers to alterative teachers regarding the perceived organizational support, self-efficacy, and retention. The purpose of the study was to determine if there was a difference in the level of self-efficacy between alternative school teachers and traditional school teachers. The researcher also examined the relationships between Perceived Organization Support and teacher self-efficacy between alternative school teachers and traditional school teachers. It was also examined whether alternative teachers perceived their own self-efficacy the same as traditional teachers. The research design was a quantitative approach, using one survey for traditional and alternative …