Digital Commons Network^™

Progesterone Signaling In Mouse Oocyte Development Via The Pgrmc1 And Pgrmc2 Receptors And The Pairbp1 Protein, Amanda M. Catchings

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

There are thought to be many different causes that can lead to the development of infertility in females. Many of the causes for this condition present themselves before birth, which can predetermine a woman’s fertility capability before she is even born. The complex process of germ cell development possesses possibilities for error and malfunction that can have permanent, lasting effects on a developing fetus. The process of oocyte development is initiated when primordial germ cells migrate to the embryotic gonad and begin dividing mitotically. As mitosis proceeds, the process of cytokinesis does not go to completion, which maintains the cells …

Human Surfactant Protein B Expression In Humanized Transgenic Mice, Mark C. Schoenborn

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Surfactant protein B (SP-B, gene name: sftpb) is essential for normal lung function. It reduces alveoli surface tension, thereby preventing the lung from collapse. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SP-B 1580 C/T) is associated with several lung diseases and altered N-linked glycosylation site at Asn¹²⁹ of SP-B. This change, present in the human population, has been associated with negative effects on SP-B precursor (proSP-B) processing and function. In this study, hSP-B humanized transgenic mice were generated without mouse SP-B background. Four founding lines, showing only the hSP-B gene, were selected via PCR-based DNA analysis. Genomic sequencing of these mice …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Co(Ii) And Cu(Ii) Pyrophosphate Coordination Complexes For Treatment Of Pathogenic Agents., Leann Jade Miles

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Candidiasis, the yeast infection of the mouth, genitals, and blood can be fatal in individuals who are immunocompromised. In humans, Candidiasis is most commonly caused by the yeast, Candida albicans (C. albicans), but can also be caused by other Candida species .^[1]

C. albicans demonstrates marked resistance towards Cu(II) but more sensitivity towards Co(II) compounds, especially in mutants that lack the CaCRP1 and CaCUP1 gene that encodes for the copper-transporting P-type ATPase and Metallothionein proteins, respectively.^[2] Here, I will describe the effects of Co(II) and Cu(II) metal based complexes that incorporate a bridging pyrophosphate …

Books And Bruschetta: An Investigation Of The College Students’ Diet, Corie Lee Adamucci

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This project identifies the main issues seen in the dietary habits of college-aged young adults through a comprehensive literature review of studies on the topic. Roughly half of the research articles were obtained through Dr. Tanya Horacek, an associate professor in SU’s Department of Public Health, Food Studies, and Nutrition, who has done research on the college diet and factors that affect the college diet. Other studies were obtained via scholarly journals including, but not limited to the Journal of American College Health, the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, and the Journal of Exercise Physiology. Major problems in college …

Researching Campaign Materials For Ellie Mia Boutique, Mariann Yip

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Before you spend thousands of dollars on a public relations campaign, it is important to test the campaign materials to a sample population to see what their thoughts and opinions are. Using their feedback, you are then able to tailor the information in a more effective way, thus, creating and launching a successful campaign that accomplishes all of your goals and objectives.

Ellie Mia is a fashion boutique located on Marshall Street in Syracuse, N.Y. This capstone project explores the PR branding methods of the store to increase awareness of its existence, to augment store traffic and business and to …

Perceptions Of Safety Across Race, Class, Gender, And Location: A Study Of Women In Cape Town, South Africa, Ellen Blanche Moore

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Policing in South Africa has a long, twisted history that is still evident in some current police practices and especially in the public’s perceptions of the police. In addition to historical factors such as colonial rule and apartheid, people’s perceptions of the police are affected by their race, class, gender, and geographic location. Although these factors have an individual effect on perceptions, it is through a complex analysis of how they relate to one another that a true understanding of a person’s perception can be reached. The goal of this research was to discover perceptions women in Cape Town have …

Too Hot To Handle: Managing America’S Ecosystems In A Changing Climate, Riley Morin

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

For over 140 years, Americans and have enjoyed their national parks. In the national parks, nature and history come together to form uniquely public as well as enormously valuable landscapes. Today, America’s national parks are in danger of undergoing serious changes. Climate change is going to alter the physical characteristics of the national parks. Many of the parks have changed before, but this change will be the most dramatic. In this report I examine the historical and current mission of the National Park Service. I also examine the past and current valuation of the national parks by the American people. …

Weir-Baffled Culvert Hydrodynamics Evaluation For Fish Passage Using Particle Image Velocimetry And Computational Fluid Dynamic Techniques, Mohanad A. Khodier

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Due to a recent increase in environmental awareness regarding fish passage through hydraulic structures, including culverts, an evaluation of passage of wild brown trout through a weir-baffled, prototype-scale culvert, was conducted under a variety of culvert slopes and discharge conditions. The influence of the fish sample population and the lengths of the individual fish on passage rates were investigated. The data showed that the fish sample size of 25 per test was sufficiently large to minimize sample size dependency. Fish behavior, including resting/staging zone locations, while traversing the culvert was observed and reported. Two preferable resting zones for the fish …

Birding By Ear: A Study Of Recreational Specialization And Soundscape Preference, Zachary D. Miller

All Theses

Soundscapes have become recognized as an important natural resource. The traditional human-made versus natural soundscape comparison currently used in recreational resource management is challenged by borrowing soundscape components (i.e., biophony, anthrophony, and geophony) from soundscape ecology. This study is designed to evaluate the soundscape preference of birders. A three-component model of recreational specialization was used to evaluate how recreationists may differ in their preference for soundscape components. Data from in-person surveys collected at The Audubon Center and Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest in Harleyville, South Carolina were used in combination with surveys from online birding list servers to obtain a …

Characterizing The Effect Of Suspended Carbon Nanotubes On The Bioavailablility Of Adsorbed Fluoranthene To P. Promelas, Erica N. Linard

All Theses

The introduction of carbon nanomaterials into the environment has increased exponentially in the last decade, causing environmental as well as health concerns. One concern is the interaction that such nanomaterials have with the biota in the aquatic ecosystem and the direct and indirect toxic effects that may result. Previous research has documented a positive influence of natural organic matter (NOM) on the stability of carbon nanotube (CNTs) suspensions in surface waters. Further, research has quantified the ability of these carbon nanomaterials to adsorb aquatic contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Though both CNTs and PAHs can co-occur in wastewater …

Comprehensive Cancer Care: An Outpatient Treatment Facility, Braden Abrams Reid

All Theses

A cancer diagnosis can result in a loss of decision-making and control for patients. The majority of clinical treatments fail to adequately address corollary symptoms and needs that arise both from treatment and from the disease itself. Thus, the architectural problem identified in this thesis inquiry is how can an outpatient cancer centre treat the whole patient comprehensively, while at the same time instilling control and re-empowering the patient? This thesis project proposes a patient-centered environment designed to support the myriad and nuanced needs of the cancer patient, as well as a site-specific proposal for a comprehensive outpatient cancer treatment …

Determination Of Pore Size Distribution In Capillary-Channeled Polymer (C-Cp) Fiber Stationary Phases By Inverse Size-Exclusion Chromatography (Isec) And The Study Of The Role Of Interstitial Fraction On C-Cp Fibers On Protein Binding Capacity, Zhengxin Wang

All Theses

ABSTRACT High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), first used in the 1960's, is a rapidly evolving analytical technique, widely employed for identification, separation, and purification in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The development of the stationary phases has played an important role in improving this technique. Each stationary phase will have its own disadvantages. Polysaccharide-based stationary phases such as cross-linked dextran cannot tolerate high pressures and linear velocities; silica stationary phases are rigid enough but slow mass transfer in the pores on the surface causes another problem; with the introduction of non-porous and small bead packing materials, the low surface area and …

Design And Implementation Of A Real-Time Adaptive Oxygen Transfer Rate Estimator, Li Wang

All Theses

Oxygen transfer rate (OTR) is the most signicant signal for aerobic bioprocess control, since most microbic metabolic activity relies on oxygen consumption. However, accurate estimation of OTR is challenging due to the difficulty of determining uncertain oxygen transfer parameters and system dynamics. This paper presents an adaptive estimator, which incorporates exhaust gas, stir speed and dissolved oxygen measurements, to predict the real-time OTR. The design of this estimator takes into account the headspace dilution effect, off-gas sensor dynamics and uncertain oxygen transfer parameters. Accurate and real-time OTR signal is derived by combining the low latency property of stir speed and …

Identifying Target Properties For The Design Of Meta-Material Tank Track Pads, Venkata Sampath Dangeti

All Theses

On track vehicle systems, track pads are designed to provide traction and support the weight of the vehicle, they have limited service life due to common failure by blowout. According to the literature, blowout is a failure mode caused by overheating due to hysteresis in elastomeric materials during high speed operations. Elastomers are used primarily for their high compliance, which is essential to protect the suspension components and maintain structural integrity of the track pad. The objective of the work is to explore the use of linear elastic meta-materials with optimized topology to replace elastomers and reduce or eliminate the …

Analysis Of Volatile Compounds And Their Changes During Liquor Aging Of Chinese Liquor 'Gujing Gongjiu', Qingchuan Liu

All Theses

Chinese liquor 'Gujing Gongjiu' is a traditional Chinese distilled alcoholic beverage that is categorized into a strong-aromatic fragrance liquor. It has a strong mixed floral, fruity, and sweet flavor with a smooth taste. Volatile compounds were extracted by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) from Gujing liquors that were aged for 1, 5, 10, and 20 years. Optimization of HS-SPME method was performed to determine the best experimental condition for extraction of liquor volatiles. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for quantitative and qualitative analysis of liquor volatiles. Volatile compounds were identified by Kovat's retention indices and their mass spectrum. The influence …

Improved Oxidative Stability In Biodiesel Via Commercially-Viable Processing Strategies, Gregory Lepak

All Theses

Biodiesel made from waste cooking oil (WCO) frequently requires antioxidants to meet oxidation stability specifications set forth in ASTM D6751 or EN 14214. In contrast, unrefined cottonseed oil (CSO), containing tocopherols and high concentrations of gossypol, a toxic polyphenolic antioxidant, is unique for biodiesel processing because it produces biodiesel resulting in higher oxidation stability. During biodiesel production, however, only a portion of these endogenous natural antioxidants are suspected to be retained. Because the economics of biodiesel manufacturing rely upon inexpensive sources of triglycerides, emphasis was placed upon developing improved alternative commercially-viable processing strategies where WCO is the main source of …

Lanyer's Virtual Community: The Defense Of Female Community In Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum, Megan Roberts

All Theses

This thesis discusses how Aemilia Lanyer's poem Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum represents a virtual space that allows for female community among women who share similar ideals. The three main areas of investigation are the dedications that serve as a structural community for her dedicatees, Christ and his disciples' community breaking down, and Eve's thwarted community in Eden. Christ is a feminized figure in Lanyer's poem who gives women a representative in the Bible, and his interactions with his disciples are something that scholars of Lanyer's work have not discussed. Lanyer's section on Eve is often dissected for its protofeminist, or …

Biomass And Lipid Production Of Chlorella Protothecoides Under Heterotrophic Cultivation On A Mixed Waste Substrate Of Brewer Fermentation And Crude Glycerol, Xiaoyu Feng

All Theses

Biodiesel production using Chlorella protothecoides microalgae species has become an attractive topic due to the intense requirements of renewable energy in past decades. While, the expensive capital cost of the carbon and nitrogen substrates for algae growth is becoming a restrictive problem in this filed. In this study, heterotrophic cultivation of Chlorella protothecoides in the dark was conducted in 500mL shake flasks. Chlorella protothecoides growth in mixed substrate of brewer fermentation and biodiesel crude glycerol by-products containing a relatively high concentration of carbon and nitrogen was discussed and compared with that in microalgae basal medium which was supplied with 30 …

Fungicide Resistance In Botrytis Cinerea From Strawberry - Molecular Mechanisms And Management, Anja Grabke

All Theses

The United States is the largest producer of strawberries worldwide, generating approximately $2.4 billion worth of fruit each year. Strawberry production, however, is often threatened by pathogens. One of the most destructive fungal pathogens is Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of gray mold disease. The control of gray mold in commercial fields is largely dependent on the application of fungicides, including the dicarboximide iprodione and the hydroxyanilide fenhexamid. Because both fungicides are prone to resistance development, a survey was conducted to determine the occurrence and prevalence of fungicide resistance. Single-spore isolates were collected from strawberry fields in Florida (for …

A Modernism Against Maestros: Horacio Quiroga And The Transnational Automaton, Jacqueline Fetzer

All Theses

In this paper I will explore the possibility that Horacio Quiroga's regional treatment of modernist themes is more than a creole adaptation or mimicry of the European maestros, instead placing Quiroga in dialogue with an international framework of contemporary texts that explore conflicting attitudes towards modernity through dark portrayals of science and technology. I focus on Quiroga's 1910 novella El hombre artificial (The Artificial Man), a text with an amalgamation of themes and plot devices that have caused the work itself to be dismissed for being of 'poor quality.' Yet these themes and formal features integrally connect Quiroga's novella to …

Analyzing The Impact Of Key Factors On An Individual's Life Expectancy From 1991 To 2006 In U.S, Jing Xue

All Theses

Since the 20th century, U.S. health spending has continuously increased, but the residents' life expectancy has not reached the average level of OECD countries. In this paper, hazard duration models are built; primary demographic, geographic, socioeconomic and healthcare factors are taken into consideration. The main purpose of this paper is to study the effect of these factors on an individual's risk of mortality and life expectancy. We build a general model and two gender-specific models. Females are affected by relative deprivation, a measure of their position in the income distribution, much more than males. The effect of family income is …

Digital Image Processing For Ultrasonic Therapy And Tendinous Injury, Jacob Hammers

All Theses

In this master's thesis, several digital image processing techniques are explored for potential in evaluation of Brightness mode (B-mode) ultrasound images. Currently, many processing techniques are utilized during ultrasound visualization in cardiovascular applications, mammography, and three-dimensional ultrasound systems. However, approaches that serve to aid the clinician in diagnostic assessment of tendinous and ligamentous injuries are more limited. Consequently, the methods employed below are aimed at reducing the dependence on clinician judgment alone to assess the healing stage and mechanical properties of tendinous injuries. Initial focus concentrated on the use of entropy in texture analysis to relate a tendon's appearance in …

Comparison Of Simultaneous Distillation And Extraction (Sde) And Headspace Solid Phase Microextraction (Spme) For Determination Of Volatiles Of Muscadine Grapes (Vitis Rotundifolia), Pei-Ching Lin

All Theses

Vitis rotundifolia also called 'Muscadine' grows abundantly throughout the southeastern United States. Muscadine grapes have desirable flavors, making them suitable to be either consumed as fresh fruit or made into wine and jam. Moreover, muscadine grapes have been reported containing rich complex phytochemicals, including anthocyanins and polyphenols that possess antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Therefore, muscadine grapes have become increasingly popular in recent years due to its unique aroma, as well as health benefits. Various volatile compounds contribute to the aromatic flavors of muscadine grapes. In regards of their low concentrations, conventional simultaneous distillation and extraction (SDE) and solid …

An Engineering Approach To Forensic Methods: The Citrate Method For Postmortem Interval Determination, Melissa Dunphy

All Theses

The Postmortem Interval (PMI) is the amount of time between the death of an individual and the discovery of the remains. Existing forensic techniques for the determination of the PMI are limited once soft tissue fully decays [31, 32]. A novel technique has recently been developed using the molecule Citrate (C6H8O7) to calculate the Postmortem Interval (PMI) [26]. Currently, this method cannot be practically applied due to the limited understanding of different forensic environments on the biochemistry of postmortem bone. In addition, further understanding of bone citrate measurement methods is needed to determine a practical field measurement approach. This study …

Social Learning And The Development Of Social Foraging Behavior In Golden Lion Tamarins (Leontopithecus Rosalia), Carly Slack

All Theses

Golden lion tamarins are highly social, group-living primates and are cooperative breeders. As such they are an ideal species in which to study social learning. Observations of six groups of wild golden lion tamarins were used to examine the development of social foraging and related behaviors in juveniles. Rates at which juveniles approached adults that were foraging for plant foods tended to decline with age (F=3.34, p=.0531), and the rates at which they begged (F=4.71, p=.0193), and foraged at the same site (i.e., co-foraged; F=3.44, p=.0495) decreased significantly. For prey foraging, rates at which adults vacated a site to allow …

Phenological Relationships Of Nesting Barn Swallows In A Swallow-Fly-Cattle System And Their Potential Role In Suppression Of Pest Flies In A Warming Climate, Claire Stuyck

All Theses

Conservation efforts for birds that provide ecosystem services in agricultural systems require management approaches that cross disciplines. This information is communicated through a variety of outlets but rarely in ways that interface effectively with normal management approaches. The disconnect between agriculture and wildlife conservation reduces the likelihood that ecosystem service benefits will be realized. One understudied ecosystem service provided by birds such as barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) is their role in suppression of flies that are pests to livestock. Climate change, however, may differentially affect flies that respond largely to temperature, and swallows that migrate and respond to photoperiod and …

Characterizing The Chronic Toxicity Of Ion Mixtures To Ceriodaphnia Dubia Using Two Experimental Designs, Katherine Johnson

All Theses

Total Dissolved Solids, commonly referred to as TDS, is a measure of all organic and inorganic substances that pass through a 2-um filter and are naturally found in aquatic environments. Anthropogenic activities such as agricultural irrigation, road salt runoff, hydraulic fracturing, and coal-fired power plant effluents can increase TDS concentrations of freshwater ecosystems ultimately increasing salinity. Aquatic organisms actively manage the ion balance between their external and internal environments. Freshwater organisms use energy to pump sodium in from the environment, while losing it through passive diffusion. If the external ion concentration changes significantly, these organisms must allocate more energy towards …

Evaluation Of Turbidity Reduction Using Polyacrylamide With Linear Sediment Control Best Management Practices, Jacob O. Burkey

All Theses

Accelerated erosion and highly turbid stormwater runoff from construction sites are known to cause a variety of environmental and economic problems. To reduce turbidity and keep eroded sediment on site, this research was conducted to evaluate the potential for turbidity reduction using polyacrylamide (PAM) flocculants with sediment control best management practices (BMPs).

Previous research has shown significant turbidity reduction when applying granular PAM to linear sediment control BMPs. Numerous studies indicate that PAM loses efficacy if it becomes wet and then dries. This makes PAM reapplication a necessary part of maintaining sediment control BMPs using PAM and suggests that further …

Deconstructing The In-Patient Behavioral Health Facility: Finding The Balance Between Safety And Therapeutics, Robert J. Schultz

All Theses

Casualty statistics resulting from 10+ years of combat action/deployments in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) have yielded multiple casualties. These casualty types include the visibly and invisibly wounded, where the visible (physical) wounds include but are not limited to gunshot/shrapnel, blunt trauma and blasts from Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). The invisibly wounded include but are not limited to Combat Stress, Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brian Injury (TBI). Unfortunately and although operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have decreased, invisible wounds continue to persist yielding an increase in soldier behavioral health complications which at an …

Assessment Of Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta Caretta) Nest Management Tools In South Carolina, Caitlynn Eileen Brig

All Theses

This study reassessed the use of two current management tools utilized on nesting beaches statewide as part of the protection effort for loggerhead sea turtles, with a primary focus on South Carolina barrier island nesting beaches. The nest management tools assessed in this study include 1) the relocation of all nests laid seaward of the spring high tide line (SHTL) and 2) use of a probe stick to locate the nest cavity. The relocation of nests deposited seaward of the SHTL is a common management action that is to be used only as a last resort if the nest is …