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Fall 2014 E-Certi Newsletter, Center For Educational Research And Teaching Innovation

CAFE Faculty Newsletters

Hello S&T Instructors -- Welcome back to campus and a busy fall semester. In addition to new structures on the landscape, there are many new faces with dozens of new faculty arriving as well as a new provost and two vice provosts and deans. Read about a recent interview with Drs. Ferguson and Roberts as well as discover interesting facts about some award-winning colleagues.

Risk Preferences And Prenatal Exposure To Sex Hormones For Ladinos, Diego Aycinena, Rimvydas Baltaduonis, Lucas Rentschler

Economics Faculty Publications

Risk preferences drive much of human decision making including investment, career and health choices and many more. Thus, understanding the determinants of risk preferences refines our understanding of choice in a broad array of environments. We assess the relationship between risk preferences, prenatal exposure to sex hormones and gender for a sample of Ladinos, which is an ethnic group comprising 62.86% of the population of Guatemala. Prenatal exposure to sex hormones has organizational effects on brain development, and has been shown to partially explain risk preferences for Caucasians. We measure prenatal exposure to sex hormones using the ratio of the …

Development Of A New Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay For The Rapid Detection Of The Oral Pathogenic Bacterium, Selenomonas Noxia, Patrica Cruz-Perez, Arthuro Mehretu, Mark P. Buttner, Katherine M. Howard, Theresa Trice

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Background

In recent studies, periodontal health has been linked to being overweight and/or obese. Among common oral bacteria, Selenomonas noxia has been implicated in converting periodontal health to disease, and Selenomonas species have also been found in gastric ulcers. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for the specific and rapid detection of S. noxia.

Methods

Two oligonucleotide primer pairs and one probe were designed and tested to determine optimal amplification signal with three strains of S. noxia. The PCR assay was tested against fourteen non-target organisms, including …

Biological Condition Of Money Pont Benthic Communities, Southern Branch Of The Elizabeth River (2010 And 2013), Daniel M. Dauer

Elizabeth River Reports

Executive Summary

The subtidal macrobenthic communities off Money Point in the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River were quantitatively sampled in summer 2010 (Dauer 2011). The designated Money Point study area was part of a sediment contaminant remediation effort. The primary objectives of the present study were to: (1) characterize the biological health of the benthos of Money Point comparing pre-remediation (2010) and post-remediation (2013) conditions and (2) assess the effectiveness of the sediment contamination remediation efforts with respect to Money Point benthos. In this report the macrobenthic communities off Money Point were resampled in the summer of 2013 after …

Fostering Transparency: A Preliminary Review Of “Policy” Governing Psychotropic Medications In Foster Care, Kathleen Noonan, Dorothy Miller

UC Law Journal

In light of increasing national attention on the high rates of prescribing psychotropic medication for children in foster care, and related new federal requirements for state reporting to the federal government, we analyzed child welfare agency laws, policies, and regulations in sixteen states. Our analysis revealed that states with monitoring policies in place tend to use informal guidance or underdeveloped policy statements that were likely not subject to public notice or comment, and afforded little, if any, opportunity for redress. This Article argues that, given the new federal requirements related to psychotropic medications and children in foster care, the state …

Diagnosis And Management Of Enterococcus Spp Infections During Rehabilitation Of Cold-Stunned Kemp’S Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys Kempii): 50 Cases (2006–2012), Charles J. Innis, Hillary Braverman, Julie M. Cavin, Michelle L. Ceresia, Lindsey R. Baden, Duncan M. Kuhn, Salvatore Frasca Jr, J. Patrick Mcgowan, Keiko Hirokawa, E. Scott Weber Iii, Brian Stacy, Constance Merigo

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Objective—To evaluate clinical data for cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) with Enterococcus spp infections during rehabilitation.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—50 stranded cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley turtles hospitalized between 2006 and 2012.

Procedures—Medical records for turtles from which Enterococcus spp were isolated were reviewed retrospectively, and clinical data, including morphometric data, body temperature at admission, physical examination findings, antimicrobial medication history, history of medications administered IV, environmental data, day of diagnosis, clinical signs at diagnosis, microbiological testing results, sources of positive culture results, hematologic and plasma biochemical data, cytologic and histopathologic results, radiographic findings, antimicrobial …

Collaborating For A Shared Purpose, Jame Schaefer

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

The Evolution Of Genomic Imprinting: Theories, Predictions And Empirical Tests, M M. Patten, L Ross, J P. Curley, David C. Queller, R Bonduriansky, J B. Wolf

Biology Faculty Research

The epigenetic phenomenon of genomic imprinting has motivated the development of numerous theories for its evolutionary origins and genomic distribution. In this review, we examine the three theories that have best withstood theoretical and empirical scrutiny. These are: Haig and colleagues’ kinship theory; Day and Bonduriansky’s sexual antagonism theory; and Wolf and Hager’s maternal–offspring coadaptation theory. These theories have fundamentally different perspectives on the adaptive significance of imprinting. The kinship theory views imprinting as a mechanism to change gene dosage, with imprinting evolving because of the differential effect that gene dosage has on the fitness of matrilineal and patrilineal relatives. …

TawḥĪDic Allah Or The Trinity In View Of Inherent Human Relatedness, Brian Scalise

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation is an inquiry into the nature of the Deity in view of human relationships. Human relationships exist and are definitive of what it means to exist as a human. In this sense, human relating is an inherent aspect of the experience of humanity, i.e., they are inescapable. Does the Christian doctrine of Trinity or Islam's doctrine of Tawhidic (monadic) Allah more adequately account for the existence of human relationships and their inescapability? This question is analyzed by comparing the Tawhidic nature of Allah with the Trinitarian nature of God in order to evaluate and clarify which doctrine is …

Static And Dynamic In Vitro Testing Of Estrogen Coated Balloons, Adam Metzger

All Theses

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Atherosclerosis is the main contributing factor for CVD. Current treatment methods for atherosclerosis include balloon angioplasty and stent implantation, which both have drawbacks associated with them. Balloon angioplasty shows restenosis in 3-6 months after deployment in 25-50% of patients. Bare metal stents have all the risks associated with implanting a medical device in a blood contacting area along with restenosis due to neointimal hyperplasia and stent fracture. In coronary arteries, drug-eluting stents (DES) have been shown to be very safe and effective with a very low percentage of …

The Effect Of Allopurinol And Inosine Administration On Xanthine Oxidoreductase Gene Expression, Mitochondrial Respiration, And Inflammation In Broiler Chickens, Tabatha Settle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Birds have a remarkable longevity for their body size despite an increased body temperature, higher metabolic rate, and increased blood glucose concentrations. Theoretically, birds should sustain a much higher degree of oxidative damage yet do not, in part due to the powerful antioxidant, uric acid. As the end-product of purine degradation, uric acid is generated in the xanthine/hypoxanthine reactions catalyzed by xanthine oxiodreductase (XOR). In the first study, inosine, a purine precursor, was fed to 3 groups of 5 birds: Group 1 was fed 0 (control), Group 2, 0.6 mols inosine/kg feed (INO) and Group 3, INO treatment plus 50 …

Polylactic Acid-Based Polymer Blends For Durable Applications, Adam Finniss

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There has been considerable scientific interest in both research and commercial communities as of late in the area of biologically based or sourced plastics. As the consumption of petroleum rises and concerns about climate change increase, this field is likely to grow even larger. One bioplastic that has received a great deal of attention is polylactic acid (PLA). In the past, this material was used mainly in medical or specialty applications, but advancements in manufacturing have led to a desire to use PLA more widely, especially in durable applications. Unfortunately, PLA has several drawbacks that hinder more widespread usage of …

Animal Dispersal Of American Ginseng (Panax Quinquefolius L.), Amy M. Hruska

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is a long-lived forest herb found throughout Appalachia, well-known for its reputation as a medicinal plant species. Harvest of ginseng for the international medicinal plant trade has been a significant contributor to population decline of the species. As a declining species with life-history traits similar to many other herbaceous perennials and both cultural and economic value, American ginseng has become a focal species for many demographic and conservation based studies. Seed dispersal is a critical component of ginseng demography lacking empirical evidence for potential dispersal mechanisms. To date, gravity is considered to be the primary …

Who Knows What Is Best For Children? Honoring Agreements And Contracts Between Parents Who Live Apart , Kimberly C. Emery, Robert E. Emery

Law and Contemporary Problems

No abstract provided.

Cholinergic Transmission During Nicotine Withdrawal Is Influenced By Age And Pre-Exposure To Nicotine: Implications For Teenage Smoking, Laura O'Dell

Departmental Papers (Psych)

Adolescence is a unique period of development characterized by enhanced tobacco use and long-term vulnerability to neurochemical changes produced by adolescent nicotine exposure. In order to understand the underlying mechanisms that contribute to developmental differences in tobacco use, this study compared changes in cholinergic transmission produced by exposure to nicotine and withdrawal from nicotine in rats of different ages, some of which had exposure to nicotine as adolescents. The first study compared extracellular levels of acetylcholine (ACh) in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) during nicotine withdrawal in adolescent, adult and adult rats that were exposed to nicotine during adolescence. Adolescent (PND …

Institutional Databook 2013-2014, University Of Minnesota, Morris Office Of Institutional Research

Campus Documents and Reports

No abstract provided.

Paramyxovirus Glycoprotein Incorporation, Assembly And Budding: A Three Way Dance For Infectious Particle Production, Farah El Najjar, Anthony P. Schmitt, Rebecca Ellis Dutch

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Paramyxoviruses are a family of negative sense RNA viruses whose members cause serious diseases in humans, such as measles virus, mumps virus and respiratory syncytial virus; and in animals, such as Newcastle disease virus and rinderpest virus. Paramyxovirus particles form by assembly of the viral matrix protein, the ribonucleoprotein complex and the surface glycoproteins at the plasma membrane of infected cells and subsequent viral budding. Two major glycoproteins expressed on the viral envelope, the attachment protein and the fusion protein, promote attachment of the virus to host cells and subsequent virus-cell membrane fusion. Incorporation of the surface glycoproteins into infectious …

The Hercules Of Helena: Justice James C. Nelson And The Jurisprudence Of Principle, Anthony Johnstone

Montana Law Review

The Hercules of Helena: Justice James C. Nelson and the Jurisprudence of Principle

An Evaluation Of Watermelon (Citrullus Spp.) Germplasm For Additional Sources Of Resistance To The Twospotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus Urticae Koch)., Hector Cantu Jr.

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Fourteen U.S plant introduction (PI) accessions of C. lanatus var. lanatus (4), C. lanatus var. citroides (5) C. colocynthis (5) and a known susceptible commercial cultivar ‘Sugar Baby’ were evaluated for resistance to the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, in a limited free-choice and free-choice bioassay under laboratory conditions. The limited free choice bioassay, involved nine Petri dish cages that held five randomly assigned leaves individually inoculated with two adult females and one adult male. Eggs, larva, and adults were counted over a nine day period. The free choice bioassay involved the even distribution of three mite infested …

Graduate Programs Commencement, 15th Class (2014), Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine

Commencements

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Bacterial Inactivation Efficiency And Disinfection Byproduct Formation From Different Disinfection Processes, Binbin Li

All Theses

Formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) during Escherichia coli K12 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 inactivation under four disinfection processes, including chlorination, chloramination, photo-Fenton reaction, and TiO2/UV photocatalytic inactivation were examined. Factors of pH (5 or 8) and different disinfectant dosages were also investigated in order to balance the risks of DBP formation and bacterial cell viability in the four treatment processes. Chlorination had the fastest bacterial inactivation whereas chloramination, photo-Fenton, and TiO2/UV requiring longer contact times to achieve the same inactivation efficiency. In spite of the lag phase in the treatment processes, both photo-Fenton and TiO2/UV achieved 100% bacteria reduction after …

Development And Evaluation Of An Enrichment Culture For Reductive Dechlorination Of Tetrachloroethene Under Low Ph Conditions, Rui Xiao

All Theses

Perchloroethene (PCE) is a pollutant of major environmental concern at hazardous waste sites worldwide. PCE and trichloroethene (TCE) are suspected carcinogens and are ranked 16th and 31st, respectively, on the Environmental Protection Agency's priority list for hazardous substances, developed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. As a consequence of the widespread use of chlorinated solvents (including PCE and TCE) for dry cleaning, chemical feedstocks, metal degreasing and other purposes, chloroethenes are widely distributed in the environment. Many soils and groundwater throughout the world are contaminated by chloroethenes. Therefore, further improvements are needed in clean-up methods. Bioaugmentation has …

A Comparison Of Saponin And Tween 80 On The Solubility And The Degradation Enhancement Of Fluoranthene And The Influence Of Laccase On Fluoranthene Degradation, Stacia Ballew

All Theses

The ubiquitous contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment require an economical approach as well as effective remediation techniques in the removal of these contaminants. Through the use of more eco-friendly and economically available biosurfactants, such as saponin, there is a possibility they could prove to be more useful surfactants than conventional synthetic surfactants for the solubilization of fluoranthene (FLA). Enhanced solubility would potentially facilitate the increased degradation by S. paucimobilis EPA505. The addition of laccase produced by Pleurotus ostreatus, a white rot fungus that produces enzymes known to facilitate or assist in the degradation of fluoranthene (FLA), …

Responses Of Target And Non-Target Species To Algaecide Exposures, Alyssa Calomeni

All Theses

Laboratory experiments are often used to predict the responses of target and non-target species to chemical exposures in the field. In the first two experiments of this thesis, a rigorous evaluation of six algal viability measures was conducted. A definitive evaluation of the algal response measures was conducted using heat treatment to create known live: dead cell suspensions. Results from the response measures were compared to the known viability of the cell suspensions to determine their variance and accuracy. Copper-based algaecides were then used as a more realistic exposure to test the algal viability measures. When algal viability measures had …

Antioxidant Effect Of Peach Skin Extracts From 13 Varieties Of South Carolina Grown Peaches, Yueyuan Zhang

All Theses

South Carolina is the second largest peach producing state in the United States. Every year, large quantities of peaches do not meet the fresh peach standard and are discarded or used for further processing. The waste stream from discarded and processed peaches includes the skin and this could be recovered as a rich source of antioxidants. The objective of this research was to determine the antioxidant (phenolic) content and antioxidant capacity of peach skin from various peach varieties grown in South Carolina. Chapter 1 is a literature review which covers topics of oxidation in foods, mechanism of lipid oxidation, antioxidants …

Adsorption Of Halogenated Aliphatic Contaminants By Graphene Nanomaterials: Comparison With Carbon Nanotubes And Granular Activated Carbons, Yang Zhou

All Theses

Graphene nanomaterials are two-dimensional single layer sp2 hybridized carbon atoms densely packed in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice and can be visualized as basic building blocks for fullerenes, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphite. In addition, they are hydrophobic nanomaterials and possess a large specific surface area (SSA), thus they have been evaluated as promising adsorbents to remove synthetic organic compounds (SOCs) from water. As with granular activated carbons (GACs) and CNTs, adsorption behavior of SOCs on graphene depends on the physicochemical properties of the adsorbents (e.g., specific surface area, pore size distribution and surface chemistry), SOCs (e.g., hydrophobicity, molecular size and …

Spatial And Temporal Analysis Of Land Cover Change, Sedimentation And Water Quality In The Lake Issaqueena Watershed, South Carolina, Cassie Pilgrim

All Theses

Soil erosion and increased sediment yields within a watershed lead to impaired water quality, decreased availability of wildlife habitat and reduced recreational opportunities. While some sedimentation occurs naturally within a water system, most erosion processes are the result of anthropogenic activities across a landscape, namely changes in land use and land cover (LULC). This study was conducted to determine temporal and spatial sedimentation trends in the Lake Issaquena watershed using sonar logging equipment, geographic information systems (GIS) and limited hydrologic data from the Soil Conservation Service (1941 and 1949). Sediment deposition was analyzed in relation to several key factors that …

Repair Of The Proboscis Of Brush-Footed Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Suellen Pometto

All Theses

A key feature of the order Lepidoptera is the coilable proboscis, present in over 99% of lepidopteran species. The proboscis is used to obtain liquid nutrition, usually floral nectar. The proboscis is assembled from two elongate galeae immediately after emergence of the adult from the pupa. What happens if the galeae become separated? I studied the process of repair of the proboscis, behaviorally and functionally, at the organismal level. My research questions were as follows: 1) is the proboscis capable of repair, 2) is saliva necessary to proboscis repair, and 3) is the repaired proboscis able to acquire fluids? Test …

Dendritic Polymers As Biocompatible Oil Spill Dispersants: Effectiveness And Mechanisims With Crude Oil, Ying Tu

All Theses

Dendritic polymers have recently been shown to entrap polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other hydrophobic materials. Laboratory results have shown that poly(amidoamine) dendrimers and hyperbranched poly(ethyleneimine) polymers form complexes with linear (hexadecane) and polyaromatic (phenanthrene) hydrocarbons, increasing the dispersion of these model crude oil components. It is thus hypothesized that crude oil can be dispersed using these polymers. Compared with commercial dispersants, dendritic polymers have the potential to be more biocompatible and less toxic. The objective of this research was to gain a fundamental understanding of the interactions of dendritic polymers with crude oil. We used Louisians Sweet Crude oil …

Pressure Kicks: The Effects Of Distracting Variables On The Outcome Of A Pressure Kick In Division-I College Football, Karen Moede

All Theses

A field goal kicker in NCAA Division-I college football experiences high amounts of pressure when placed in a game-winning situation. A pressure kick may result in optimal or less than optimal performance due the influence of various distracting factors, such as the evaluative nature of an audience or the pressure of being iced by the opposing team. Pressure kicks are classified as a field goal kick, during the last minute of game time (or during overtime), which will result in a lead or a tie game for the kicking team (Goldschmied, Nankin, & Cafri, 2010). Conflicting literature surrounding social facilitation, …