Digital Commons Network^™

Stability Studies Of Membrane Proteins, Cui Ye

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

The World Health Organization has identified antimicrobial resistance as one of the top three threats to human health. Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli are intrinsically more resistant to antimicrobials. There are very few drugs either on the market or in the pharmaceutical pipeline targeting Gram-negative pathogens. Two mechanisms, the protection of the outer membrane and the active efflux by the multidrug transporters, play important roles in conferring multidrug resistance to Gram-negative bacteria. My work focuses on two main directions, each aligning with one of the known multidrug resistance mechanisms.

The first direction of my research is in the area …

Salen Aluminum Compounds In The Dealkylation And Detection Of Organophosphates, Rahul R. Butala

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

The focus of this dissertation is the use of aluminum Schiff base compounds, Salen(^tBu)AlBr (SAB), in the dealkylation and detection of organophosphates (OPs). Three SAB compounds, Salen(^tBu)AlBr (1), Salpen(^tBu)AlBr (2), and Salophen(^tBu)AlBr (3) were used to dealkylate a variety of trialkyl OPs. These reactions lead to unique organic-soluble aluminum phosphate compounds containing six-coordinate aluminum. Examples include [salen(^tBu)AlOP(O)(OCH₃)₂]_n (4), [salen(^tBu)AlOP(O)(OCH₂CH₃)₂]_n (5), [salen(^tBu)AlOP(O)(OPh)₂]_{n …}

Echo, Winter/Spring 2014, Columbia College Chicago

Echo

Student-produced magazine formerly published as Chicago Arts and Communication, changed to Echo magazine in 1997. Cover Articles: Puff puff passed: patients won the fight for pot - what's next?; Classy porn: inside the pinup revival; Jammin' jesters: Wedding Banned's peculiar appeal; Generation Q: are you having a Quarter Life Crisis?; Love, virtually: anonymous admireres, rebooting online dating, serendipity in the city. 80 pages.

The Development And Biocompatibility Of Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (Ltcc) For Microfluidic And Biosensor Applications, Jin Luo

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) electronic packaging materials are applied for their electrical and mechanical properties, high reliability, chemical stability and ease of fabrication. Three dimensional features can also be prepared allowing integration of microfluidic channels and cavities inside LTCC modules. Mechanical, optical, electrical, microfluidic functions have been realized in single LTCC modules. For these reasons LTCC is attractive for biomedical microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip systems. However, commercial LTCC systems, optimized for microelectrics applications, have unknown cytocompatibility, and are not compatible with common surface functionalization chemistries.

The first goal of this work is to develop biocompatible LTCC materials for biomedical applications. …

Functionalized Membranes For Environmental Remediation And Selective Separation, Li Xiao

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Membrane process including microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) have provided numerous successful applications ranging from drinking water purification, wastewater treatment, to material recovery. The addition of functional moiety in the membranes pores allows such membranes to be used in challenging areas including tunable separations, toxic metal capture, and catalysis. In this work, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) MF membrane was functionalized with temperature responsive (poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), PNIPAAm) and pH responsive (polyacrylic acid, PAA) polymers. It’s revealed that the permeation of various molecules (water, salt and dextran) through the membrane can be thermally or pH controlled. The introduction of …

Nanometer-Scale Membrane Electrode Systems For Active Protein Separation, Enzyme Immobilization And Cellular Electroporation, Zhiqiang Chen

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Automated and continuous processes are the future trends in downstream protein purification. A functionalized nanometer-scale membrane electrode system, mimicking the function of cell wall transporters, can selectively capture genetically modified proteins and subsequently pump them through the system under programmed voltage pulses. Numerical study of the two-step pulse pumping cycles coupled with experimental His-GFP releasing study reveals the optimal 14s/1s pumping/repel pulse pumping condition at 10 mM bulk imidazole concentration in the permeate side. A separation factor for GFP: BSA of 9.7 was achieved with observed GFP electrophoretic mobility of 3.1×10^-6 cm² s^-1 V^-1 at 10 …

Layer-By-Layer Assemblies For Membrane-Based Enzymatic Catalysis, Andrew R. Tomaino

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

While considerable progress has been made towards understanding the effect that membrane-based layer-by-layer (LbL) immobilizations have on the activity and stability of enzymatic catalysis, detailed work is required in order to fundamentally quantify and optimize the functionalization and operating conditions that define these properties. This work aims to probe deeper into the nature of transport mechanisms by use of pressure-induced, flow-driven enzymatic catalysis of LbL-functionalized hydrophilized poly(vinyldiene) (PVDF)-poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)-poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)-glucose oxidase (GOx) membranes. These membranes were coupled in a sealed series following cellulose acetate (CA) membranes for the elimination of product accumulation within the feed-side solution during operation. …

Public Wars, Private Warriors: An Analysis Of Private Military Contractors In American Foreign And Domestic Policy, Phillip Andrew Roughton

Masters Theses

At the end of the Cold War, the global political arena was forever altered. One of the major changes was the introduction of private military contractors as legitimate actors of foreign policy. Despite this assertion made by scholars, private military contractors are an under studied political actor. This paper traces the historical, economic, and legal legacy of private military contractors in American history.

Analysis Of The Black Friday Consumer, Lori A. Logan

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Path Into Student Affairs: How Undergraduate Experiences Influence Students To Pursue A Career In Student Affairs, Bryce Jacob Reuer Gergely

Masters Theses

The career field of Student Affairs is one that most individuals know nothing about until coming to college when they have the chance to interact with professionals in the field. How exactly do individuals come to be professionals in student affairs? This study looks to answer that question through the examination of nine individuals in various stages of the process into Student Affairs, analyzing their experiences throughout their undergraduate career. Special focus is given to experiences during participants' undergraduate education, influences on their decision to pursue Student Affairs as a career, and how interactions with Student Affairs professionals played a …

Building And Maintaining Legitimacy Online: Unicef's Use Of Facebook, John Kraps

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Perceived Benefits Of Participation In Living And Learning Communities: The Student Perspective, Sally Adams

Masters Theses

Students' experiences outside the classroom are important to their overall growth and development. Living learning communities (LLC) play a big role in helping to support these areas of growth. Students residing in an LLC are aware of the benefits of the LLC experience and can articulate how their residential environment can help them develop. Non-LLC members find it difficult to define the LLC experience and are not receiving the same benefits. Institutions and residence life often struggle in evaluating and assessing these communities because of the lack of direction and outcomes not clearly being stated. If institutions work to clearly …

Anglo-American Relations Between The 1953 Coup And The 1956 Suez Crisis, Aaron F. Psujek

Masters Theses

The Cold War and global politics brought upheaval to the Middle East in the 1950s. The conflict between the United States and Soviet Union shaped the history of the region at the same time it brought war to Korea. Britain's relationship with the U.S., especially in the Middle Eastern theater, was shaped by the Cold War. British intelligence, political, and press members and agents used the tensions to bring the United States in to help them in the various crises that swept the Middle East in the 1950s. This strategy served to bring the two countries closer together in the …

Sexual And Political Affairs: Representation Of Women In American News Media, Melissa Beal

Masters Theses

Explores representations in American news media of women who have been involved sexually with male politicians and women who are politicians through a critical rhetorical lens. Through the use of poststructural feminism, the term "mistress" is problematized. Attention is given to the news media's focus on women's bodies as sites of dangerous sexual temptations as well as the media's constant attention to women's physical features, which reduces women to objects. It is shown that similar coverage regarding bodies is not given to men. Also discusses the news media's frequent interrogation of women's minds. Explores aspects of confession and apology through …

Temperature-Dependent Tunable Photoluminescence Properties Of Carbon Nanodots Derived From Polyethylene Glycol, Sin Hea Yeom

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) are well known for their low cell-cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, low preparation cost, excitation dependent photoluminescence, and excellent photostability. Typically, raw C-dots have low quantum efficiency and thus researchers have been utilizing biocompatible polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a passivation agent in order to increase fluorescence signal. In this work, we report fluorescent self-passivated carbon nanodots (CNDs) synthesized from PEG by using it as a carbon source as well as a passivating agent. Importantly, the addition of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) during the synthesis of self-passivated CNDs can tune photoluminescence property. The results of bioimaging and …

"Amorous Ghosts" By Paco Ignacio Taibo Ii : Translation Of "Amorosos Fantasmas" From The Spanish, Shevon Porter

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This thesis is a translation into English of Paco Ignacio Taibo II's Mexican detective novel, Amorosos fantasmas. The approach used in translating was in line with Lawrence Venuti's concept of foreignization. This approach was employed in favor of a more common style of domestication. Foreignization allows the translated text to retain some linguistic and cultural elements that are important or distinctive in the source text. In doing so, it evokes a feeling of foreignness. The reader of this translation may feel aware that he or she is reading a book that was not originally written in English; it is intentionally …

A (Re)Conception Of The City : Commercialization, Domestication, And Resistance In New York City From Melville To Mckay, James Baltrum

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation characterizes the historical changes that shaped nineteenth and twentieth century New York City by examining how Herman Melville, Stephen Crane, Edith Wharton, John Dos Passos, and Claude McKay expressed these changes in their literary works. I employ the ideological principles of scholars such as Henri Lefebvre, who viewed physical spaces including the modern city as socially constructed products, and the methodology of writers such as Michel Foucault, whose genealogical approach prompts an open-ended and multi-faceted analysis. Consequently, my argument shows how various economic, social, cultural, political, and technological developments worked with and against each other to shape (and …

Distance Learning : Adult Learners And Computer-Mediated Communication, Shari J. Lendy

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The dissertation explored the perceptions of non-traditional adult learners enrolled in higher education at a distance, using computer mediated communication (CMC), tools. Twenty-one students participated in three research modes including surveys, interviews, and journaling.||Adult Learning Theory provided the theoretical framework for the data analysis. The research found that participants were open to using new communication devices when provided clear direction on how to use the technology as well as a perceived need for its application to their coursework. Students perceived communication devices were barriers to learning when technology required more work to learn, were deemed not useful past the course, …

Exploring Faculty Beliefs Regarding Teaching African American Freshmen To Interpret Social Cues At A Minority-Serving Institution, Concetta A. Williams

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Through the use of critical qualitative methodology, this dissertation explored faculty beliefs at an urban, minority-serving institution regarding the ability of African American first-time, full-time freshmen to interpret social cues in higher education contexts. Specifically, this study examined [1] faculty-student interaction as a process of socialization for students and [2] how faculty members teach students to interpret or read social cues as they relate to higher education contexts. The definition of literacy is considered in broad terms as a transaction between a reader and either the spoken word or a given context (verbal and nonverbal).||This examination found that participants: [1] …

An Examination Of Impact Fees In Growing School Systems, Ronald V. Pacheco

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the effects of impact fees on school systems in growing communities. Many communities surrounding the Chicago area experienced growth, commonly referred to as sprawling growth. The additional population required enhancements and improvements to existing infrastructure (including schools) in the community. Local tax efforts to fund additional infrastructure arrived as late as two years after building new homes, creating a funding challenge. Communities used impact fees more frequently to provide immediate revenue before new construction began to help offset tax shortfall. However, the planning and structure of impact fees differed among municipalities. I selected two growing communities for …

The Games Men Play : How Community College Men Use Video Games To Construct Masculinity, Eric J. Niemi

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Employing a critical discourse analysis as a methodology, the study provides information into the intersection of male student development, video games, and two-year higher education institutions. Using a sample of 13 participants, this research study examines how male students at two year higher education instructions use video games to construct their masculinity. This study provides evidence that college men construct multiple definitions of masculinity by playing video games. Further, the benefits explored include academic and workplace strategies for success. Finally, opportunities for two year institutions to further engage this student population is included.

Investigation Of Silicon Lewis Acidity And Design Of A Novel Silicon Lewis Acid Catalyst Scaffold, Matthew Edward Zielinski

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Lewis acids have been a cornerstone in modern organic synthesis, but the use of silicon Lewis acids has not received as much attention. Silicon Lewis acids have unique features that differ from some typical metal catalysts. Some of these properties include good solubility in organic solvents, decreased likelihood for ligand exchange, and decreased toxicity. These differences make the use of silicon Lewis acids a versatile tool for organic synthesis. There is a great deal yet to explore about silicon Lewis acidity and silicon Lewis acids and from that two main projects arose in order to further study these concepts.||Preparation of …

Investigation Of The Many Oxidation States Of Vanadium For The Purpose Of Making A Rechargeable Battery, Kathryn L. Pilson

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The demand of large energy storage systems continues to increase with the development and improvement of renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and photovoltaic arrays. Electrochemical storage, or battery storage, such as lead-acid, lithium-ion, sodium based, and redox flow batteries (RFB), can be implemented for large scale energy storage. One of the most popular RFB is the all-vanadium redox flow cell (VRFB), which has a longer longevity, greater stability, and lower cost compared to other battery systems. The single metal system employs V2+/V3+ and VO 2+/VO2+ as half cells for the flow battery. But, there are still various phenomena …

Impact Of Post-Mortem Alternation On Oxygen Isotope Values Of Diatom Silica, Wilson Wiedenheft

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Oxygen isotope values of biogenic silica are increasingly used as proxies of paleoenvironmental conditions. A number of studies have demonstrated a strong relationship between the diatom silica and the temperature/oxygen isotope value of the formation water; however, some studies have indicated that early diagenesis of biogenic silica may alter the oxygen isotope values by several permil. Quantification of the maturation process has proven difficult since the mechanisms that drive post-mortem changes in the silica oxygen isotope values have not been well characterized. New silica maturation data from marine diatom, Stephanopyxis turris, cultured in a controlled laboratory experiment, demonstrate a rapid …

The Differences Between Iron And Iron-Substituted Manganese Superoxide Dismutase With Respect To Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment, Jianing Wang

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Iron-substituted manganese superoxide dismutase (Fe(Mn)SOD) was produced using an in vivo preparation method. It’s an inactive enzyme in catalyzing superoxide radical dismutation owing to the mis-incorporation of Fe in the active site evolved to use Mn. To investigate the possible toxicity of human Fe(Mn)SOD proposed by Yamakura, we studied the properties of Fe(Mn)SOD upon H₂O₂ treatment and compared to that of FeSOD. It’s found that the responses to H₂O₂ treatment were different, including the changes of optical spectra, variations of active site coordination and secondary structures. Fe³⁺ reduction was not observed in Fe(Mn)SOD …

Addressing Public Health Risks Of Persistent Pollutants Through Nutritional Modulation And Biomimetic Nanocomposite Remediation Platforms, Bradley J. Newsome

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Due to their relative chemical stability and ubiquity in the environment, chlorinated organic contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) pose significant health risks and enduring remediation challenges. Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) provide a novel platform for sensing/remediation of these toxicants, in addition to the growing use of NPs in many industrial and biomedical applications, but there remains concern for their potential long-term health effects. Research highlighted herein also represents a transdisciplinary approach to address human health challenges associated with exposure to PCBs and NPs. The objectives of this dissertation research are two-fold, 1) to develop effective methods for capture/sensing and remediation …

Outside University Walls : Alexandra David-Neel's Influence In Developing The Field Of Buddhist Studies, Mary Michele

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Alexandra David-Neel (1868-1969) was a Frenchwoman who is known primarily as an adventurer, explorer, and travel writer because she walked across the Himalayan Mountains into the city of Lhasa in 1924 when foreigners were prohibited from entering Tibet. She returned to Europe to write about her experiences in two famous books: My Journey to Lhasa (1993) and Magic and Mystery in Tibet (1971).||David-Neel wrote twenty more books about mystical, philosophical, sociological, political, and historical themes (published on five continents) that reflect discourses that changed over time within different cultures. The discourses about Orientalism and colonialism along with feminist and gender …

The Southeastern Librarian V. 61, No. 4 (Winter 2014) Complete Issue

The Southeastern Librarian

The complete issue of The Southeastern Librarian v. 61, no. 4 (Winter 2014).

Ento 403/803: Management Of Horticultural Crop Pests—A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Benchmark Portfolio, Thomas J. Weissling

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

ENTO 403/803, management of horticultural crop pests, is an important class for many students. It is required by undergraduate horticulture majors at UNL, but because it is offered online, it is also of interest to entomology and horticulture graduate students across the U.S. and globally. I chose this class for the peer review process because I find it challenging due to online course delivery, and the breadth of knowledge of students that are enrolled. I feel I need to take this course to a higher level where I can engage students of all backgrounds, and ensure that each of them …

Thea 474: Digital Animation—A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Benchmark Portfolio, Steve Kolbe

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This portfolio provides an overview of student learning in my Digital Animation course - THEA 474. This report serves as documentation of my attempts to define and refine the course goals, activities, assignments, and assessment. Through this portfolio, I hope to more effectively see ways to make this course more impactful for the students, but also to lay the groundwork for additional courses within the major in order to open up a more realized and robust animation focus at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre & Film. A facet of student learning that I plan to document and improve upon …