Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of Quantitative Polymerase Reaction And Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds To Determine Resistance To Aspergillus Flavus In Maize, Alicia Kay Wood-Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Screening for resistance to Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in maize is an ongoing effort by universities, state and federal agencies. We evaluated two techniques to screen for resistance; quantitative polymerase reaction (QPCR) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Methods were adapted to accurately detect and quantify the fungus in culture and in the vegetative stage of plant tissues. These assays can eliminate microbiological techniques. The primary objectives of the study were to utilize 1) QPCR to detect and quantify fungal biomass in maize stem tissues to evaluate resistance in maize genotypes to A. flavus colonization in situ and in vivo and …

A Non-Equilibrium, Pressure-Pressure Formulation For Air-Water Two-Phase Flow And Heat Transport In Porous Media, Amanda Meadows Hines

Theses and Dissertations

The detection of trace explosives in the subsurface is an active area of research for landmine detection. Understanding the air-water flow and heat transport phenomena in the subsurface plays an important role in improving chemical vapor detection. Implementing a finite element method that accurately captures water vapor transport in the vadose zone is still an open question. A non-equilibrium, pressure-pressure formulation has been implemented based on Smits, et al [22]. This implementation consists of four equations: a wetting phase (water) mass balance equation, a non-wetting phase (air) mass balance equation, a water vapor transport equation, and a heat transport equation. …

Algal Biodiesel Production Via Extractive-Transesterification Using Microwave And Ultrasound Irradiation, Edith L. Martinez-Guerra

Theses and Dissertations

This study presents the use of non-conventional methods such as microwaves and ultrasound for algal biodiesel production. Dry algae biomass (Chlorella sp.) was used as feedstock to evaluate three novel single-step extractive-transesterification methods: 1) microwave irradiation with ethanol as solvent/reactant; 2) microwave irradiation with ethanol as reactant and hexane as solvent and 3) ultrasound irradiation with ethanol as solvent/reactant, all catalyzed by sodium hydroxide catalyst. The three novel methods were compared with the conventional Bligh and Dyer method which followed a two-step extraction and transesterification process. The maximum lipid yields for microwave, microwave with hexane, ultrasound, and Bligh and Dyer …

Analysis Of Humeral And Femoral Cross-Sectional Properties At Morton Shell Mound (16ib3), Sarah Marie Zaleski

Theses and Dissertations

Using the concept of bone functional adaptation, this study analyzes femoral and humeral cross-sectional properties of human skeletal materials from Morton Shell Mound on the Louisiana coast. This work helps fill a gap in such analyses in the southern U.S. and contributes to an understanding of the functional adaptation of the human skeleton. Properties were compared to those of other prehistoric Southeastern fisher-hunter-gatherers from Gold Mine, Plash Island, and several Georgia coast sites to assess mobility and activity patterns among inland and coastal groups. Less sexual dimorphism of femoral midshaft shape among coastal Morton and Plash, compared to inland Gold …

Analyzing The Impact Of A Hub And Spoke Supply Chain Design For Long-Haul, High-Volume Transportation Of Densified Biomass, Md. Sadekuzzaman Roni

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation proposes a framework in support of biomass supply chain network design. This framework relies in the use of trucks for short distance biomass transportation, and relies in the use of rail for long-haul, and high-volume transportation of densified biomass. A hub and spoke network design model is proposed for the case when biomass is shipped by rail. These models are created and solved for the following problems: 1) designing a biomass supply chain to deliver densified biomass to a coal fired power plant for coiring and 2) designing biomass-to-biorefinery supply chain using rail for long-haul, and high-volume shipment …

System Dynamics Simulation Model Of Salmonella Contamination Of Broiler Carcasses In The Chill Tank Of A Poultry Processing Plant, Karen Dazo Galarneau

Theses and Dissertations

Salmonella has been studied and researched for more than a hundred years and yet it remains a problem for human and animal health. The goal of this dissertation was to apply the systems thinking approach to Salmonella contamination and develop a System Dynamics (SD) simulation model for Salmonella contamination in the chill tank of a poultry processing plant. But first the appropriate carcass rinse sampling method that would not impact on the resulting Salmonella contamination status of the broiler carcass was studied. Kappa agreement analysis was used to evaluate three sampling methods. The adjacent rinse method was found to be …

The Community College Baccalaureate: Assessing Student Perceptions At One Rural Mississippi Community College, Edana Leigh Nail

Theses and Dissertations

The demand for Community College Baccalaureate (CCB) degrees is rising due to increasing costs of educational obtainment resulting in decreased access. Also, universities are not always accessible geographically or academically to many students. Many students are limited in time and financial resources, and have family and job responsibilities, limiting their ability to relocate to a university. The focus of this study was to explore the perceptions of students regarding the need for the CCB, the effectiveness of the CCB, reasons why students would choose the CCB, and the fields of CCB degrees students would choose. Specifically, this study compared the …

2013 Fall Commencement, Harding University

Commencement Programs

Program for the Harding University Commencement on December 14.

Commencement Speaker: Steve W. Reeves

Frontier Medicine Better Health Partnership, Denyse Traeder Mhc, Ache, Principal Investigator, Tawnie Sabin Director Of Lean And Community Coordination

Rural Health Workshop

No abstract provided.

Cal Poly Engineering Announces Faculty And Staff Awards, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Pg&E Provides Support For The Cal Poly Cybersecurity Center, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Internal Solitary Waves In Satellite Images Of The Mid-Atlantic Bight, Jingshuang Xue

Open Access Dissertations

Satellite imagery has been widely used to study internal solitary wave (ISW) generation mechanisms, evolution, and properties. The Nonlinear Internal Wave Initiative/Shallow Water 2006 (SW06) experiment in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) provided a unique dataset to study the vertical structure from their surface manifestation in the images, which can improve our understanding of ISW evolution, energy dissipation, and mixing processes. This thesis has two parts. First, the applicability of various weakly nonlinear theories including the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV), Intermediate Long Wave (ILW), Benjamin-Ono (BO), and higher-order KdV models is tested to describe large amplitude ISWs in the MAB. Based on …

“We Found Ourselves”—Music And Identity Among The Chinese American Diaspora In Miami, Yiyu Zhang

Open Access Theses

Chinese American communities have been part of the United States since the 19th century. Presently, their high rates of immigration have made them one of this country’s fastest growing communities. However, in Miami, only 0.3% of the population are Chinese Americans. In this local setting, music serves, in the words of Su Zheng, as an important “signifier that produces complex cultural meanings.” Because traditional music forms one of the most significant aspects of music in China, it is critical to explore the extent to which Chinese American musical culture has developed and changed. This thesis discusses the function of Chinese …

An Exploratory Study: The Use Of Privately Owned Vessels As Mobile Research Platforms, Brittany L. Stockman

Open Access Theses

Due to limited public funding for scientific studies and data collection, private sector entities increasingly fill the gap by facilitating research inquiries. Specifically, coastal, oceanic and marine conservation nonprofit organizations (NPOs) play a direct role in research by both funding and orchestrating research missions across the globe. Through the examination of existing organizations and vessels involved in such efforts, this study examined the practicality of a NPO managed program that provides marine scientists with suitable mobile research platforms and evaluated the overall benefits of such a program on the ocean research community. One such organization, the International SeaKeepers Society (SeaKeepers), …

Mangrove Mitigation: A Case Study Of The Cocoplum Development, A History Of Land Use Changes And Trends In Mitigation Efforts, Stephanie J. Chaston

Open Access Theses

The residential community of the Islands of Cocoplum is located in Coral Gables, Florida along Biscayne Bay. It has served as a case study for mangrove mitigation techniques employed by Miami-Dade County's Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) Coastal Resources division as a way of combating mangrove destruction. A database was created using Microsoft Excel and ArcGIS to identify and map all Class I coastal construction permits and mangrove violations since the onset of the Cocoplum Development in the 1980's through 2011. By identifying the mitigation strategies used by the County, it can be determined if mangrove mitigation effort has lessened, …

Volume 49 - Issue 10 - Friday, December 13, 2013, Rose Thorn Staff

The Rose Thorn Archive

The Rose Thorn, Rose-Hulman's independent student newspaper.

Genetic Analysis Of The Replication Protein A Large Subunit Family In Arabidopsis Reveals Unique And Overlapping Roles In Dna Repair, Meiosis And Dna Replication, Behailu B. Aklilu, Ryan S. Soderquist, Kevin M. Culligan

New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station Publications

Replication Protein A (RPA) is a heterotrimeric protein complex that binds single-stranded DNA. In plants, multiple genes encode the three RPA subunits (RPA1, RPA2 and RPA3), including five RPA1-like genes in Arabidopsis. Phylogenetic analysis suggests two distinct groups composed of RPA1A, RPA1C, RPA1E (ACE group) and RPA1B, RPA1D (BD group). ACE-group members are transcriptionally induced by ionizing radiation, while BD-group members show higher basal transcription and are not induced by ionizing radiation. Analysis of rpa1 T-DNA insertion mutants demonstrates that although each mutant line is likely null, all mutant lines are viable and display normal vegetative growth. The rpa1c and …

James Calender V. Nvr Inc

2013 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Analysis Of The Industrial Skill Set; Lewis County Case Study, Jonathan Shane Wallingford

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the College of Science and Technology Morehead State University in Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Science by Jonathan Shane Wallingford on December 13, 2013.

Cal Poly's Newest Cubesat Part Of Atlas V Launch, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

12/13/2013 Obituary Records, Hawaii Obituaries

Obituaries

List of Obituaries for individuals who passed away on 12/13/2013. Scroll down to see the names and obituary description.

Mid-Latiude Rayleigh-Mie-Raman Lidar For Observations From 15 To 120 Km, Vincent B. Wickwar, Leda Sox, Joshua P. Herron, Matthew T. Emerick

Posters

Rayleigh lidar opened a portion of the atmosphere, from 30 to 90 km, to ground-based observations. Rayleigh-scatter observations were made at the Atmospheric Lidar Observatory (ALO) at Utah State University (USU) from 1993–2004 between 45 and 90 km. The lidar consisted of a 0.44-m diameter mirror, a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser opera'ng at 532-nm at 30- Hz at either 18- or 24-W, giving power- aperture products (PAPs) of 2.7- or 3.6- Wm2, respec'vely, and one detector channel. An example of what was accomplished with this system is shown as part of Fig. 1. The temperature climatology was based on ~5000 hours …

Domestic Genocide, Ivan Kilgore

Writing Beyond the Prison Living Archive

Test

Corporate Social Responsibility And Its Effects On Corporate-Community Relationships: A Case Study Of Chevron's Richmond Refinery Fire In 2012, Afshan Khan

Master's Projects and Capstones

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a practical and strategic implementation process corporations often use to build social trust with the communities they serve. This process of developing social trust, according to Francis Fukuyama, creates conditions for corporations and communities to deepen their investments in each other, thus increasing the probability of economic prosperity. By seeking to balance social, environmental, and economic imperatives, corporations seeks to create a lasting, sustainable relationship with the communities they partner with. CSRs are not merely about re-branding and impression management, for they are about establishing a healthy, trusting relationship with the customers that corporations identify …

Partisanship And Opportunities For Additional Bipartisanship In Tech Immigration And Privacy Reform, Arielle E. Segal

Master's Projects and Capstones

This paper explores the history of technology and government by analyzing the longstanding partisan advantage Democrats have had in the Silicon Valley and other tech hubs. Additionally, this paper seeks out opportunities for bipartisanship, specifically in the legislative realms of tech privacy and immigration reform. Constituencies, committee assignments, fundraising and other environmental factors can help determine a politician's level of interest in tech issues. Specifically, upon analyzing these factors, bipartisanship appears to be more likely in privacy reform than in immigration reform.

Chiral Plasmonic Dna Nanostructures With Switchable Circular Dichroism, Ngoc Luong, Bernard Yurke, Wan Kuang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Circular dichroism spectra of naturally occurring molecules and also of synthetic chiral arrangements of plasmonic particles often exhibit characteristic bisignate shapes. Such spectra consist of peaks next to dips (or vice versa) and result from the superposition of signals originating from many individual chiral objects oriented randomly in solution. Here we show that by first aligning and then toggling the orientation of DNA-origami-scaffolded nanoparticle helices attached to a substrate, we are able to reversibly switch the optical response between two distinct circular dichroism spectra corresponding to either perpendicular or parallel helix orientation with respect to the light beam. The observed …

The Performance Of Risk Management And Innovation In Construction Manager/General Contractor Delivery In Civil Construction Applications, Rebecca M. Owens

Theses and Dissertations

Project teams that deliver high risk, complex projects in the civil construction industry need tools to enable successful delivery. Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) is an innovative alternate delivery method, providing one such a tool. CM/GC furnishes public agencies with an attractive option for delivering projects in a less adversarial and more constructive manner by involving the contractor during design. The sophisticated public owner does not have to relinquish control of the details of the design in order to accelerate the schedule or see the benefits of real-time cost estimating data. There are also significant cost and schedule benefits with not …

Enhanced Sonar Array Target Localization Using Time-Frequency Interference Phenomena, Jordan Almon Shibley

Dissertations and Theses

The ability of traditional active sonar processing methods to detect targets is often limited by clutter and reverberation from ocean environments. Similarly, multipath arrivals from radiating sources such as ships and submarines are received at sensors in passive sonar systems. Reverberation and multipath signals introduce constructive and destructive interference patterns in received spectrograms in both active and passive sonar applications that vary with target range and frequency. The characterization and use of interference phenomena can provide insights into environmental parameters and target movement in conjunction with standard processing methods including spectrograms and array beamforming.

This thesis focuses on utilizing the …

Scenario Development And Analysis Of Freshwater Ecosystem Services Under Land Cover And Climate Change In The Tualatin And Yamhill River Basins, Oregon, Robert Wesley Hoyer

Dissertations and Theses

Humans make decisions within ecosystems to enhance their well-being, but choices can lead to unintended consequences. The ecosystem services (ES) approach supports decision-making that considers all environmental goods and services. Many challenges remain in the implementation of the ES approach like how specific ES vary through space and time. We address this research problem using the Tualatin and Yamhill river basins in northwestern Oregon as a study area. Freshwater ES are quantified and mapped with the spatially-explicit ES modeling tool, Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST). In chapter II, we develop a simple urban land cover change modeling …

Identification And Characterization Of Fine Particulate Matter Hot Spots On An Urban Arterial Corridor Integrating Probe Vehicle, Traffic And Land Use Data, Katherine Eleanor Bell

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of integrated probe vehicle, traffic and land use data to identify and characterize fine particulate matter (PM[subscript 2.5]) hot spot locations on urban arterial corridors. In addition, a preliminary analysis is conducted to consider volatile organic compound (VOC) hot spot locations. A pollutant hot spot is defined as a location on a corridor in which the mean pollutant concentrations are consistently above the 85th percentile of pollutant concentrations when compared to all locations along the corridor. In order to collect data for this study, an electric vehicle was equipped with …