Digital Commons Network^™

Comparing Sanitation Delivery Modalities In Urban Informal Settlement Schools: A Randomized Trial In Nairobi, Kenya, Kate Bohnert, Anna N. Chard, Alex Mwaki, Amy E., Kirby, Richard Muga, Corey L. Nagel, Evan A. Thomas, Matthew C. Freeman

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The provision of safely managed sanitation in informal settlements is a challenge, especially in schools that require durable, clean, sex-segregated facilities for a large number of children. In informal settlements in Nairobi, school sanitation facilities demand considerable capital costs, yet are prone to breakage and often unhygienic. The private sector may be able to provide quality facilities and services to schools at lower costs as an alternative to the sanitation that is traditionally provided by the government. We conducted a randomized trial comparing private sector service delivery (PSSD) of urine-diverting dry latrines with routine waste collection and maintenance and government …

Encouraging Development Of Mobile Applications As A Service To The Community, Vanessa Marie Forney

Master's Theses

The convenience of mobile applications combined with the efficiency and effectiveness provided by technology has contributed to an increased interest in mobile applications. Local groups and non-profit organizations often utilize outdated, manual processes and don’t have the resources or time to look into improving these systems. For Cal Poly students and other members of the community, this means there is an opportunity to apply technical skills and school projects to address these inefficiencies. This work explores whether a better system can be developed to provide the functionality of the existing system and enhance the experience of users through technology, data …

Prevalence Of Clostridium Difficile In Retail Meat And Controlling Its Virulence Using Carvacrol And Trans-Cinnamaldehyde, Shankumar Mooyottu

Doctoral Dissertations

Clostridium difficile is a significant pathogen causing a toxin-mediated enteric disease in humans and animals. The incidence and severity of C. difficile associated disease (CDAD) in humans have increased in the US with the emergence of hypervirulent strains and community associated outbreaks. The detection of genotypically similar and identical C. difficile strains implicated from human infections in foods and food animals suggest the potential role of food as a source of community-associated C. difficile disease. C. difficile predominantly affects hospital inpatients undergoing prolonged antibiotic therapy, which results in enteric dysbiosis, leading to C. difficile spore germination, pathogen colonization in the …

Animal Science E-Newsletter, November 2016, University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Department Of Animal Sciences

Animal Science e-Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Potent And Broad Inhibition Of Hiv-1 By A Peptide From The Gp41 Heptad Repeat-2 Domain Conjugated To The Cxcr4 Amino Terminus., George J. Leslie, Jianbin Wang, Max W. Richardson, Beth S. Haggarty, Kevin L. Hua, Jennifer Duong, Anthony J. Secreto, Andrea P.O. Jordon, Josephine Romano, Kritika E. Kumar, Joshua J. Declercq, Philip D. Gregory, Carl H. June, Michael J. Root, James L. Riley, Michael C. Holmes, James A. Hoxie

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

HIV-1 entry can be inhibited by soluble peptides from the gp41 heptad repeat-2 (HR2) domain that interfere with formation of the 6-helix bundle during fusion. Inhibition has also been seen when these peptides are conjugated to anchoring molecules and over-expressed on the cell surface. We hypothesized that potent anti-HIV activity could be achieved if a 34 amino acid peptide from HR2 (C34) were brought to the site of virus-cell interactions by conjugation to the amino termini of HIV-1 coreceptors CCR5 or CXCR4. C34-conjugated coreceptors were expressed on the surface of T cell lines and primary CD4 T cells, retained the …

Tennessee Farm Bureau News - November 2016, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation

Tennessee Farm Bureau News

No abstract provided.

Salt Gland Excretion Efficiency And Salinity Tolerance Of Sporobolus Species, Piumi Shrimani Weragodavidana

Theses

Halophytic C4 grasses, including Sporobolus species, have developed specific mechanisms to cope with salinity stress. Among these, “salt glands” which are bi- cellular leaf epidermal structures eliminating excess saline ions from shoots by excretion under salinity stress. Salt glands are morphologically visible and can potentially be used for salt tolerance breeding programs. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the leaf salt gland excretion rates of United Arab Emirates native halophytic chloridoid grass species, S. spicatus and S. arabicus; (2) to determine if leaf salt gland excretion rate and density can effectively predict salinity tolerance among Sporobolus genotypes, …

Microarray Analysis Of Arabidopsis Wrky33 Mutants In Response To The Necrotrophic Fungus Botrytis Cinerea, Shamma Saeed Salem Al Shamsi

Theses

Plants are exposed to many environmental stresses that affect their growth and development. These stresses include biotic stresses (via organisms) and abiotic stresses (via environment). Plants respond to these stresses by transcriptional reprogramming and different signaling pathways. Arabidopsis thaliana has shown great sensitivity to the biotic stress Botrytis cinerea. The WRKY33 gene plays an important role in plant defense mechanism against this pathogen. The overall goal is to identify common regulated genes of wrky33 mutant and 35S:WRKY33 over expressing transgenic lines in response to B. cinerea; ultimately to improve plant stress tolerance in Arabidopsis. The specific aims are to: (1) …

Bleeding With Direct Oral Anticoagulants Vs Warfarin: Clinical Experience., John Eikelboom, Geno J. Merli

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

The risk of bleeding in the setting of anticoagulant therapy continues to be re-evaluated following the introduction of a new generation of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Interruption of DOAC therapy and supportive care may be sufficient for the management of patients who present with mild or moderate bleeding, but in those with life-threatening bleeding, a specific reversal agent is desirable. We review the phase 3 clinical studies of dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, in the context of bleeding risk and management.

Multiplex Social Ecological Network Analysis Reveals How Social Changes Affect Community Robustness More Than Resource Depletion, Jacopo A. Baggio, Shauna B. Burnsilver, Alex Arenas, James S. Magdanz, Gary P. Kofinas, Manlio De Domenico

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Network analysis provides a powerful tool to analyze complex influences of social and ecological structures on community and household dynamics. Most network studies of social–ecological systems use simple, undirected, unweighted networks. We analyze multiplex, directed, and weighted networks of subsistence food flows collected in three small indigenous communities in Arctic Alaska potentially facing substantial economic and ecological changes. Our analysis of plausible future scenarios suggests that changes to social relations and key households have greater effects on community robustness than changes to specific wild food resources.

Volume 41, No. 2

The Weldon Times

A student-run newspaper published at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University.

Editor in Chief: Marina Bruggeman

Digital Editor: Jessica Patrick

Editors: Theron Davis, Lisandra Naranjo Hernandez, Melissa Pike

The Shattered Slipper Project: The Impact Of The Disney Princess Franchise On Girls Ages 6-12, Caila Leigh Cordwell

Selected Honors Theses

The Disney Princess franchise is arguably the largest and most popular franchise in the world, earning billions of dollars globally each year. Due to the prevalence and ease of access, the Disney princesses have a tremendous impact on today’s youth, namely young girls. This qualitative study investigated just how much of an impact the Disney Princess franchise has on American girls ages 6-12 through the production of a documentary film, entitled The Shattered Slipper Project. The research team selected girls from private schools in Lakeland, Florida and Sharpsburg, Georgia. The researcher conducted two interviews—one a roundtable-style group interview focusing on …

Genetic And Biochemical Analysis Of The Micrococcin Biosynthetic Pathway, Philip Ross Bennallack

Theses and Dissertations

Declining antibiotic discovery and flourishing antibiotic resistance have led to a modern antibiotic crisis which threatens to compromise our ability to treat infectious disease. Consequently, there is significant interest in developing new antibiotics with novel modes of action and chemical properties. Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are natural compounds with the appealing attributes of being derived directly from a genetic template while possessing numerous exotic chemical features that contribute to stability and antimicrobial activity. Abundant in nature, their diverse range of biological activities makes them excellent prospects for antibiotic development. Thiopeptides, a RiPP family rich in chemical complexity, …

A General Elliptic Nonlinear System Of Multiple Functions With Application, Timothy Robertson, Joon Hyuk Kang

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this paper is to give a sufficient condition for the existence, nonexistence and uniqueness of positive solutions to a rather general type of elliptic system of the Dirichlet problem on a bounded domain Ω in Rn . We also investigate the effects of perturbation on the positive solutions to the system. The techniques used in this paper are upper-lower solutions, eigenvalues of operators, the maximum principles and spectrum estimates. The arguments also rely on some detailed properties for the solution of logistic equations. This result yields an algebraically computable criterion for the positive coexistence of competing species …

The Potential Antioxidant And Anti-Inflammatory Effects Of Date Seed Powder In Rats, Fatima Theyab Saif Amer Ai Meqbaali

Theses

Chronic diseases are among the main leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Oxidative stress (defined as an imbalance in the reactive oxygen species production/degradation ratio) in interaction with inflammation, has been highlighted as one major underlying mechanism in the development of these diseases. Due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, polyphenols could prevent the development of chronic diseases. Interestingly, date seeds are particularly rich in such compounds. Nonetheless, an in vivo study aiming at studying and understanding antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of date seeds in serum and various organs is missing. Therefore, the present …

Effect Of Genipin On Cisplatin- Induced Nephrotoxicity, Eglal Orner Mahgoub

Theses

Cisplatin (CSP) is a potent and widely used chemotherapeutic agent. However, clinical efficacy of CSP is compromised due to the elicitation of nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. In this study, I have investigated the nephroprotective effects of a phytochemical – genipin (GP) isolated from gardenia flower (Gardenia jasminoides), on a murine model of cisplatin-induced nephropathy. CSP-induced renal tissue injury was characterized by elevated levels of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and cystatin-C. In addition, levels of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) were increased in the renal tissues of CSP administered animals. CSP also induced renal oxidative stress, evidenced by increased NADPH …

Taking Food Fights Online: Analysis Of Chipotle’S Attempt To Cultivate Conversation With The Scarecrow Video, Rebecca Swenson, Nathan Gilkerson, Betsy Anderson

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

This study examines Chipotle’s use of The Scarecrow, an animated YouTube video, to initiate conversation about food sustainability issues. Results illustrate publics were highly engaged in conversation with one another, even though the organization did not directly engage with publics or employ principles of dialogic communication. We highlight the importance of network approaches to studying online interaction between stakeholder groups for public relations scholars interested in dialogical theory frameworks.

Interpersonal Dynamics In Assessment Center Exercises: Effects Of Role Player Portrayed Disposition, Tom Oliver, Peter Hausdorf, Filip Lievens, Peter Conlon

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Although interpersonal interactions are the mainstay of many assessment center exercises, little is known about how these interactions unfold and affect participant behavior and performance. More specifically, participants interact with role players who have been instructed to demonstrate behavior reflecting specific dispositions as part of the exercise. This study focuses on role player portrayed disposition as a potentially important social demand relevant to participant behavior and performance in interpersonal simulations. We integrate interpersonal theory and trait activation theory to formulate hypotheses about the effects of role player portrayed disposition on participant behavior and performance in 184 interpersonal simulations. A significant …

Freedom And The Incarnation, Timothy Pawl, Kevin Timpe

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

In this paper, we explore how free will should be understood within the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation, particularly on the assumption of traditional Christology. We focus on two issues: (i) reconciling Christ's free will with the claim that Christ's human will was subjected to the divine will in the Incarnation; and (ii) reconciling the claims that Christ was fully human and free with the belief that Christ, since God, could not sin.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging Predictors Of Episodic Memory Decline In Healthy Elders At Genetic Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease, Melissa A. Lancaster, Michael Seidenberg, J. Carson Smith, Kristy A. Nielson, John L. Woodard, Sally Durgerian, Stephen M. Rao

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objectives: White matter (WM) integrity within the mesial temporal lobe (MTL) is important for episodic memory (EM) functioning. The current study investigated the ability of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in MTL WM tracts to predict 3-year changes in EM performance in healthy elders at disproportionately higher genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: Fifty-one cognitively intact elders (52% with family history (FH) of dementia and 33% possessing an Apolipoprotein E ε4 allelle) were administered the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) at study entry and at 3-year follow-up. DTI scanning, conducted at study entry, examined fractional anisotropy and mean, radial …

I, Exist. Exhibition Identity Branding: Conveying The Doctrine Of Existentialism, Xuan Jiang

Theses

Literature and philosophy are the concise expressions of human inner-self. The main idea which all of Existentialists have in common is the fundamental doctrine that existence precedes essence. This idea has its own historical significance for explaining the fact of thinking and action. Why do we exist? The question of existence is disturbing and unsettling. It seems inevitable for human beings to face this question. We cannot help but feel anguished because we are conscious beings.

I exist is a project that aims to develop a brand identity for a exhibition about Existentialism, or more precisely, a project that conveys …

Summarization Of Egocentric Videos: A Comprehensive Survey, Ana Garcia Del Molino, Cheston Tan, Joo-Hwee Lim, Ah-Hwee Tan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The introduction of wearable video cameras (e.g., GoPro) in the consumer market has promoted video life-logging, motivating users to generate large amounts of video data. This increasing flow of first-person video has led to a growing need for automatic video summarization adapted to the characteristics and applications of egocentric video. With this paper, we provide the first comprehensive survey of the techniques used specifically to summarize egocentric videos. We present a framework for first-person view summarization and compare the segmentation methods and selection algorithms used by the related work in the literature. Next, we describe the existing egocentric video datasets …

A Study Of Arsenic Speciation In Soil, Irrigation Water And Plant Tissue: A Case Study Of The Broad Bean Plant, Vicia Faba., Bashdar A. Sadee, Mike E. Foulkes, Steve J. Hill

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Samples of soil, the broad bean plant, Vicia faba and irrigation water were collected from the same agricultural site in Dokan, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Total arsenic and arsenic speciation were determined in all materials by ICP-MS and HPLC-ICP-MS, respectively. Available arsenic (11%) was also determined within the soil, together with Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Fe and Mn. The concentrations of total arsenic were: soil (5.32μgg(-1)), irrigation water (1.06μgL(-1)), roots (2.065μgg(-1)) and bean (0.133μgg(-1)). Stems, leaves and pods were also measured. Inorganic As(V) dominated soil (90%) and root (78%) samples. However, organo-arsenic (MMA, 48% and DMA, 19%) …

Evaluating The Efficiency Of Treatment Comparison In Crossover Design By Allocating Subjects Based On Ranked Auxiliary Variable, Yisong Huang, Hani Samawi, Robert Vogel, Jingjing Yin, Worlanyo E. Gato, Daniel Linder

Biostatistics: Faculty Publications

The validity of statistical inference depends on proper randomization methods. However, even with proper randomization, we can have imbalanced with respect to important characteristics. In this paper, we introduce a method based on ranked auxiliary variables for treatment allocation in crossover designs using Latin squares models. We evaluate the improvement of the efficiency in treatment comparisons using the proposed method. Our simulation study reveals that our proposed method provides a more powerful test compared to simple randomization with the same sample size. The proposed method is illustrated by conducting an experiment to compare two different concentrations of titanium dioxide nanofiber …

Efficient Tag Path Authentication Protocol With Less Tag Memory, Hongbing Wang, Yingjiu Li, Zongyang Zhang, Yunlei Zhao

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Logistical management has been advanced rapidly in these years, taking advantage of the broad connectivity of the Internet. As it becomes an important part of our lives, it also raises many challenging issues, e.g., the counterfeits of expensive goods pose a serious threat to supply chain management. As a result, path authentication becomes especially important in supply chain management, since it helps us maintain object pedigree and supply chain integrity. Meanwhile, tag path authentication must meet a series of security requirements, such as authentication, privacy, and unlinkability. In addition, the authentication protocol must be efficient.In 2011, the first tag path …

Illinois State, November 2016, Illinois State University, University Marketing And Communications

State: The Magazine of Illinois State University (1999-present)

Illinois State University alumni magazine

Psychological Stress Among Risks For Alzheimer's Disease, Maria C. Norton, Elizabeth B. Fauth

All Current Publications

This fact sheet defines stress, stressors and reaction to them, what stress does to our brain and body, and how stress effects can accumulate over time. It also includes tips on reducing the effects of stress on the brain.

Exposure To Tritiated Water At An Elevated Temperature: Genotoxic And Transcriptomic Effects In Marine Mussels (M. Galloprovincialis)., Lorna J. Dallas, Tim P. Bean, Andrew Turner, Brett P. Lyons, Awadhesh N. Jha

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Temperature is an abiotic factor of particular concern for assessing the potential impacts of radionuclides on marine species. This is particularly true for tritium, which is discharged as tritiated water (HTO) in the process of cooling nuclear institutions. Additionally, with sea surface temperatures forecast to rise 0.5 - 3.5 C in the next 30-100 years, determining the interaction of elevated temperature with radiological exposure has never been more relevant. We assessed the tissue-specific accumulation, transcriptional expression of key genes, and genotoxicity of tritiated water to marine mussels at either 15 or 25 C, over a 7 day time course with …

Plymouth — A World Harbour Through The Ages, Antony M. Knights, Louise B. Firth, Richard C. Thompson, Anna L.E. Yunnie, Keith Hiscock, Stephen J. Hawkins

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Plymouth Sound and adjacent estuaries, UK has been used as a working harbour throughout the ages and has a place in maritime history as the port from where the Pilgrim Fathers left for North America in 1620 on the Mayflower and Charles Darwin departed from on the HMS Beagle on his trip to Galapagos in 1831. Today, it remains a working harbour, home to the largest naval base in Western Europe, the host of numerous cruise ships and recreational boats, yet its complex of estuaries (Tamar, Plym, Lynher) and creeks is nationally and internationally recognised as of conservation importance due …

Role Of Epstein-Barr Virus In The Pathogenesis Of Multiple Sclerosis, Asma Hassani

Theses

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic pathology of the central nervous system, characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. The prevalence and incidence rates of MS are on the rise worldwide. What causes MS is unknown. However, it is widely accepted that MS occurs in genetically susceptible individuals exposed to certain environmental factors. Sero-epidemiological data suggest a strong association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and MS. EBV is one of the commonest viruses in the human population with ~90% global seropositivity. EBV infects naïve B cells and immortalizes them. While some postmortem studies have shown EBV in MS lesions, others have failed …