Digital Commons Network^™

Engineering Spores To Display G Protein-Coupled Receptors For Directed Evolution, Alyssa Misoo Kim

Theses

All human cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane made from a phospholipid bilayer, which is responsible for maintaining a biologically active species, while stopping entry of deleterious substances from the outside. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the membrane proteins, which transmit signals across the cell membrane. GPCRs are involved in almost every physiological process, and irregular control leads to pathological conditions. Therefore, they are major drug targets. Crystal structure determination is required to understand the molecular details of activation/deactivation. However, GPCRs are difficult to crystallize because of stability issues. An efficient protein engineering system needs to be developed. The …

Deer Impact And Plant Resistance Traits, Xueyang Fan

Theses

White-tail deer (Odocoileus virginianus), a generalist herbivore, are widely considered to influence ecological communities, ecosystems and human wellbeing by foraging preferentially on certain plant species. Previous research has shown that high deer density can change the relative abundance of tree species in forest communities. Furthermore, some evidence shows that resistance traits of plants can influence plant photosynthetic ability which is an important factor in an ecosystem. The purpose of this experiment is to test whether plant resistance traits can change within species when they are exposed to high levels of deer herbivores. The experiment, established in 1979, enclosed …

May 2013, University Archives And Special Collections Department

This Month in UT Tyler History

No abstract provided.

Interactions Of Zn2+ On Insulin Oligomer Formation, Stability, And Fragmentation: Analysis Using Esi-Im-Ms, Tiffany Culver

Honors Theses

Insulin is a hormone protein essential to the regulation of blood sugar levels. Although it is active as a hormone in the monomer (single insulin unit) form, it is stored in the pancreas as a hexamer – a coordination of six insulin units and zinc ions. This research analyzes the effects of zinc ions on the formation, stability, and fragmentation of the hexamer and other oligomer species in varying solution and instrument conditions, including the ability of the higher oligomers to transfer from crystallization to solution to a gas phase for analysis using electrospray ionization ion mobility mass spectrometry (ESI-IM-MS). …

Assessing Methods For Assigning Snps To Genes In Gene-Based Tests Of Association Using Common Variants, Ashley Petersen, Carolina Alvarez, Scott Declaire, Nathan L. Tintle

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Gene-based tests of association are frequently applied to common SNPs (MAF>5%) as an alternative to single-marker tests. In this analysis we conduct a variety of simulation studies applied to five popular gene-based tests investigating general trends related to their performance in realistic situations. In particular, we focus on the impact of non-causal SNPs and a variety of LD structures on the behavior of these tests. Ultimately, we find that non-causal SNPs can significantly impact the power of all gene-based tests. On average, we find that the “noise” from 6–12 non-causal SNPs will cancel out the “signal” of one causal …

Paper Abstracts (2013), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2013

Nineteenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Photoionization Mass Spectrometry And Photoelectron-Photoion Coincidence (Pepico) Spectroscopy Studies Of Select Biofuel Molecules, Joseph G. Czekner

Master's Theses

This thesis is the culmination of numerous experiments, performed on two different continents, investigating the spectroscopic and thermodynamic properties of several biofuels and fuel additives. It will start with an introduction about the motivation behind these experiments. The second chapter will outline the experimental details of the apparatus at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) in Berkeley, CA, followed by the Swiss Light Source (SLS) in Villigen, Switzerland. Third, the theoretical concepts and data analysis methods will be discussed in detail.

Chapter 4 will be the start of the newly obtained data. It presents some photoionization mass spectrometry studies on γ-valerolactone …

Production Of Stable Bcs Class Ii Drug Suspensions By Melt Emulsification And Subsequent Incorporation Into Polymer Strip Films, Emanuel Joseph Vizzotti

Theses

One of the ways to improve the dissolution rate of poorly water-soluble drugs is to produce fine drug particles with increased surface area. This increase will lead to bioavailability enhancement. However, smaller drug particles are thermodynamically unstable and tend to aggregate or grow. Therefore, proper formulation and process parameters must be chosen to keep the particles small. In this study, fine drug particles of two model drugs, fenofibrate and ibuprofen, are prepared by the melt emulsification technique. The influence of suspension formulation (i.e., the inclusion of polymers and surface-active agents) on particle stability is investigated. Moreover, different agitation techniques during …

Heterogeneous Combustion Of Condensed Particles In Transition Regime, Deniz Yildiz

Theses

A steady-state model of heterogeneous combustion for a spherical particle is developed accounting for the transition regime of heat and mass transfer. The model assumes formation of condensed products and reaction rate controlled by the transport of oxidizer to the particle surface. The model is based on the Fuchs’ limiting sphere approach. Calculations are performed for combustion of zirconium particles of different sizes. Temperature and oxygen concentration profiles are calculated and compared to those predicted by the continuous medium transfer model. It is shown that for particles in the range from 100 nm up to 30 gm heat and mass …

Power Dissipation And Mixing Time In A Partially Filled Pharmaceutical Reactor Equipped With A Retreat-Blade Impeller At Different Fill Ratios, Aniruddha Banerjee

Theses

Glass-lined, stirred reactors and tanks are of significant industrial importance, especially in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. These reactors are manufactured with a “glass-lining,” i.e., a glass layer applied to the agitator, the inside of the reactor/tank and to any of the surfaces in contact with its contents in order to maximize corrosion resistance, facilitate reactor cleaning, and minimize product contamination. Because of glass-lining fabrication issues, a retreat blade impeller with a low impeller clearance off the tank bottom is commonly used in glass-lined reactors. In addition, since wall baffles cannot be easily mounted on the wall of glass-lining …

Hydrodynamic Effects Of A Cannula In A Usp Dissolution Testing Apparatus 2, Qianqian Liu

Theses

Dissolution testing is routinely used in the pharmaceutical industry to provide in vitro drug release information for drug development and quality control purposes. The USP Testing Apparatus 2 is the most common dissolution testing system for solid dosage forms. Usually, sampling cannulas are used to take samples manually from the dissolution medium. However, the inserted cannula can alter the normal fluid flow within the vessel and produce different dissolution testing results.

The hydrodynamic effects introduced by a permanently inserted cannula in a USP Dissolution Testing Apparatus 2 were evaluated by two approaches. Firstly, the dissolution tests were conducted with two …

Study Of Poly (L-Lactic Acid)/Poly (D-Lactic Acid) Stereocomplex As Nucleating Agent For Poly (L- Lactic Acid) Crystallization, Yuan Lao

Theses

Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer with good renewability and processability. However, it has some drawbacks. The Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) stereocomplex formed via the interaction between optical isomers Poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and Poly (D-lactic acid) (PDLA), provides improvements on PLA thermomechanical properties. To investigate the nucleating effect brought by the PLA stereocomplex, samples of PLLA blended with different content of PDLA are prepared by the solution casting method. With different cooling rates (5, 15, 25 °C/min), DSC non-isothermal crystallization experiments are performed. The results suggest that in the presence of the stereocomplex, the PLLA crystallization temperatures …

A Gpu Program To Compute Snp-Snp Interactions In Genome-Wide Association Studies, Srividya Ramakrishnan

Theses

With the recent advances in the next generation sequencing technologies, short read sequences of human genome are made more accessible. Paired end sequencing of short reads is currently the most sensitive method for detecting somatic mutations that arise during tumor development. In this study, a novel approach to optimize the detection of structural variants using a new short read alignment program is presented.

Pairwise interaction effects of the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) have proven to uncover the underlying complex disease traits. Computing the disease risk based on the interaction effects of SNPs on a case - control study is a …

Nest And Attribute Data For 24 Hooded Cranes (Grus Monacha) And Control Plots From Field Surveys In Northeast China 1993-2010, Falk Huettmann

Faculty

This dataset conists of 24 nests and their environmental attributes for the Hooded Crane (Grus monarcha, taxonomic serial number TSN 176186, Avibase ID38F36091DBC85095) in China. It is a legacy dataset, presents the best available information, and covers 9 years of survey work (time window 1993-2010). The Hooded Crane is a vulnerable (VU) species according to the IUCN Red list. The estimated world population of this species is just 10,160 individuals, of which more than 8,000 winter in Izumi, Japan. The Hooded Crane breeds in landscapes of Eastern Russia and Northeastern China. It generally nests in forest swamps, mostly within the …

Ecological Integrity In Protected Areas: Two Interpretations, Gordon Steinhoff

Seattle Journal of Environmental Law

No abstract provided.

Sewing Up The Regulatory Hole: Preventing Winter Ozone In Utah's Uintah Basin, Jessica L. Lowrey

Seattle Journal of Environmental Law

No abstract provided.

Identification Of An Active Site-Bound Nitrile Hydratase Intermediate Through Single Turnover Stopped-Flow Spectroscopy, Natalie Gumataotao, Misty L. Kuhn, Natalia Hajnas, Richard C. Holz

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

Stopped-flow kinetic data were obtained for the iron-type nitrile hydratase from Rhodococcus equi TG328-2 (ReNHase) using methacrylonitrile as the substrate. Multiple turnover experiments suggest a three-step kinetic model that allows for the reversible binding of substrate, the presence of an intermediate, and the formation of product. Microscopic rate constants determined from these data are in good agreement with steady state data confirming that the stopped-flow method used was appropriate for the reaction. Single turnover stopped-flow experiments were used to identify catalytic intermediates. These data were globally fit confirming a three-step kinetic model. Independent absorption spectra acquired between 0.005 …

President's Newsletter, Brooks Keel

President's Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Interview With Candace Russo, Linus Pauling Institute, 2013 (Audio), Candace Russo

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Candace Russo by Kevin Foster in Corvallis, Oregon on May 31st, 2013.

The interview index is available for download.

Severe Impact And Subsequent Recovery Of A Coral Assemblage Following The 1997–8 El Niño Event: A 17-Year Study From Bahia, Brazil, Francisco Kelmo, Martin J. Attrill

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Digital Education, Moocs And The Specter Of The Cyberteacher, Beatrice Marovich

Emerging Learning Design Conference

Ignite

Session 3-3-A: An Improved Pathways Development Model Of Problem Gambling: A Summary Of 11 Studies In Hong Kong And Macau, Amy Chiu Sau Lam, Alice Chan Ying Ying, Chi Chuen Chan

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Introduction

The rationale of this study came from a casual meeting of our supervisor Dr. Chan Chi Chuen and Professor Blaszczynski on a bus after the 2009 Reno conference.

On the bus, C. C. promised Mr. Blaszczynski that he would validate the pathways model in Hong Kong and Macau. And in the next 5 years, Dr. C.C. Chan and his students conducted 11 research projects on problem gambling in Hong Kong and Macau.

Purposes of current study

• To arrive on a summary finding from 11 studies on problem gambling
• To validate the pathways development model proposed by Blaszczynski & Nower …

Virgin, Mother, Bride, Whore: The Ecclesiological Implications Of Feminine Imagery For The Christian Church, Christopher Ángel

Obsculta

No abstract provided.

Session 3-2-A: The Conceptual Framework Of Harmful Gambling, Max Abbott

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Project Overview

Purpose: develop a clear, comprehensive, internationally relevant conceptual framework of harmful gambling that addresses a broad set of factors related to population risk and resilience beyond the symptoms-based view that affects individuals

Previous models inform the work

As the project sponsor, OPGRC is collaborating with an expert panel to facilitate the development of a conceptual framework of harmful gambling that captures the broad set of factors related to harmful gambling

The framework is outlined in a publication, jointly authored by the expert panel members, and presented at the OPGRC website

Session 3-2-D: Predicting Gambling-Related Problems Among Internet Gamblers, Sarah E. Nelson

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

The Goal

Use actual gambling behavior to identify, with good reliability and validity, distinct groups of gamblers among those who have gambling-related problems

Utilize this/these algorithm(s) to set up an early warning system for players at risk of developing problems

Taming The Wild Wild Web: Twenty-First Century Prize Law And Privateers As A Solution To Combating Cyber-Attacks, B. Nathaniel Garrett

University of Cincinnati Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Mutant Factor. Transformations And Mutations Of The Monstrous In Contemporary Ibero-American Texts, Salvador Luis Raggio

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation explores recent changes in the category of the monstrous by extrapolating the biological notion of mutation into the context of Ibero-American novels, comic books, and films. By analyzing late twentieth century and early twenty-first century textual and visual narratives from Spain and Latin America, this study proposes a reformulation of the monster paradigm and signals specific contemporary representations that move away from a monolithic and fixed category to a more relative one. Consequently, this dissertation suggests a new sensibility towards grand narratives in the figure of the mutant, a symptom of imminent change, heterogeneity, and variety. Conceived as …

Ckap2 Ensures Chromosomal Stability By Maintaining The Integrity Of Microtubule Nucleation Sites, Chanelle M. Case, Dan L. Sackett, Danny Wangsa, Tatiana S. Karpova, James G. Mcnally, Thomas Ried, Jordi Camps

Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

Integrity of the microtubule spindle apparatus and intact cell division checkpoints are essential to ensure the fidelity of distributing chromosomes into daughter cells. Cytoskeleton-associated protein 2, CKAP2, is a microtubule-associated protein that localizes to spindle poles and aids in microtubule stabilization, but the exact function and mechanism of action are poorly understood. In the present study, we utilized RNA interference to determine the extent to which the expression of CKAP2 plays a role in chromosome segregation. CKAP2-depleted cells showed a significant increase of multipolar mitoses and other spindle pole defects. Notably, when interrogated for microtubule nucleation capacity, CKAP2-depleted cells showed …

Dna From Feces And Museum Specimens Confirms A First State Record Bird, Alec R. Lindsay Ph. D., Skye C. Haas

Faculty Works

In October 2005, a vagrant kingbird (Aves: Tyrannus sp.) appeared in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, nearly 2000 km from the northern limit of its usual range. Using mitochondrial DNA obtained from a fecal sample deposited by the bird and mitochondrial DNA isolated from museum reference specimens, the species iden- tity of this bird was definitively confirmed as a Tropical Kingbird (T. melancholicus) rather than a Couch’s Kingbird (T. couchii). This is the first time DNA evidence has been used to establish a state bird record, and one of the few studies of any type to successfully use avian feces for DNA …

Observing A Residential School For The Deaf: Identifying Factors In Creating A Deafcentric Environment, Alyssa M. Romano

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

Among many Deaf education programs in the United States, residential schools for the Deaf have a long and valuable history for the Deaf community as centers of cultural and linguistic transmission of U.S. Deaf culture. Several states maintain well-populated Deaf education programs that provide language and culturally rich environments where Deaf students receive American Sign Language(ASL)/English Bilingual instruction. In such an environment, which could be considered a Deafcentric setting, students are able to interact with their teachers, classmates, principals, and the staff in their native, natural language. Those schools are also designed to provide extracurricular activities with Deaf mentors, another …