Digital Commons Network^™

Keeping Man's Best Friend His Best Friend: Why Minors Should Not Witness Animal Abuse And Legislation That Can Prevent This Exposure, Kaleah M. Ault

Valparaiso University Law Review

No abstract provided.

All Is Fair In Drugs And War: An Analysis Of "Pay-For-Delay" Agreements And Product Hopping, Sean Boyle

Valparaiso University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Let Me Be Queer: The Need For Lgbt Protections In Indiana, Daniel Curtin

Valparaiso University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Supply Chain Robustness Through Network Emergence And Cascading Failure Modelling, Ashley Skeete

Doctoral Dissertations - College of Engineering

"This research develops a new framework for generating emergent assembly supply chain networks and modelling cascading failure as random disruptions are applied to assess system robustness. Robustness is a network’s ability to withstand the negative effects of disruption. It is an essential component for improving a firm’s supply chain resilience."

Investigating Phosphorylation Patterns And Their Effect On The Activity Of Transcription Factor Taabf1 In Imbibing Cereal Grains, Grace Uwase

Honors Theses

The wheat transcription factor TaABF1 plays an important role in hormone-mediated regulation of seed dormancy and germination of cereal grains. Evidence shows that TaABF1 activity is regulated by phosphorylation, and previous work in our lab showed that when serine residues in its conserved regions; S36, S37, S113, S115 were altered to phosphomimetic aspartate, the 4xD TaABF1 mutant had increased activity as a transcription factor. However, when only S113 was altered, TaABF1’s activity was greatly reduced. The work presented here explored whether the S36D/S37D/S115D mutant would have stronger activity than the 4xD mutant. Using the particle bombardment technique to introduce the …

Presence And Potential Sources Of Pharmaceutical And Personal Care Product Chemicals In Messalonskee Lake, Alyssa T. Kullberg

Honors Theses

Pharmaceuticals and personal care product chemicals (PPCPs) represent a large group of contaminants that are mostly not regulated in surface or drinking water and whose presence and environmental and health impacts are poorly understood. We investigated the presence and potential sources of 18 PPCPs in Messalonskee Lake. We collected samples four times over the summer of 2017 at 13 sites around the lake. Samples were tested for PPCPs using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We detected five out of the 18 PPCPs we tested for at the ng/L level: caffeine, 1,7-dimethylxanthine, acetaminophen, sulfachloropyridazine, and amphetamine. PPCPs showed a significant positive correlation …

Haloferax Volcanii For Carotenoid Production, Erika Smith

Honors Theses

Carotenoids are used as natural colorants and have been shown to have numerous health benefits, making these molecules highly desirable in the aquaculture, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical markets. There is increasing consumer demand for the natural synthesis of carotenoids, but current methods are limited by the cost and difficulty of extraction from organisms. The halophilic archaeon Haloferax volcanii is amenable to extraction and has an endogenous carotenoid biosynthetic pathway that culminates in the accumulation of the carotenoid bacterioruberin; however, H. volcanii also synthesizes important precursors that can be converted into more highly-desired carotenoids, such as β-carotene and astaxanthin, in the presence …

From Forced To Voluntary Participation: The History Of Biomedical Human Experimentation In The United States After The Second World War, Haley L. Andonian

Honors Theses

For as long as medicine and medical practices have been around, so has the need for testing treatments in or procedures on the human body. Over the course of history, however, the nature, structure, and prominence of human biomedical experimentation has changed drastically both on an international and national level. My thesis focuses on revealing the driving forces behind these changes in administrative, legal and social factors related to human experimentation in an effort to connect the dots from the manipulative, forceful and unethical experimentation of early medical practitioners to the safe, voluntary and highly regulated experimentation characteristic of clinical …

The Identification And Application Of Generalizable Spatial Patterns Of Human-Wildlife Conflict, Vivian F. Hawkinson

Honors Theses

Many human-wildlife conflict studies focus on one location or one individual species or taxonomic group; fewer comparative studies analyze patterns of conflict across species and regions. As a result, numerous studies report similar conclusions across diverse cases of human-wildlife conflict. I found 133 scholarly articles published between 1975 and 2017 referencing distance from a protected area boundary as a variable associated with human-wildlife conflict. I identified three generalizable patterns of human-wildlife conflict that appear across taxonomic groups and geographic locations. The family Felidae had the highest maximum average conflict distance and furthest distance from a protected area that conflict was …

Disc1 Knockout Rats Reveal Sexually Dimorphic Patterns Of Impairment Across Development, Stephanie S. Desrochers

Honors Theses

Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder characterized by three symptom categories: positive (hallucinations, delusions), negative (anhedonia, anxiety), and cognitive (sensory processing and memory deficits). We worked with a biallelic deletion of the Disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) gene in Sprague-Dawley rats to facilitate our understanding of the biological bases of schizophrenia. Mutations of DISC1 are associated with a higher prevalence of schizophrenia. Adult DISC1 knockout, compared to wildtype, rats display features of schizophrenia-like outcomes in rodent models. The present study investigated the progression of the cognitive symptom deficits in prepulse inhibition (PPI), assessing animals at postnatal days 17 (pre-weaning), 26 (post-weaning), 39 (adolescent), and …

Stable Bromine Isotope Signature Of Bromoform From Enzymatic And Abiotic Formation Pathways And Its Application In Identifying Sources Of Environmental Bromoform In The Damariscotta River, Chengyang Wang

Honors Theses

Bromoform is a major source of atmospheric bromine. Most bromoform is produced by marine organisms including macroalgae and phytoplankton, using the enzyme bromoperoxidase (BPO). Bromoform can also be a byproduct of industrial processes such as water disinfection. Identifying sources of environmental bromoform is still a challenge. A novel technique of using quadrupole mass spectrometry coupled to a gas chromatography (GCqMS) was developed and optimized for Br isotope analyses. The study shows that GCqMS in single ion monitoring (SIM) mode can measure 81Br with precision of around ±0.7‰ (60pmol bromoform injected). This study aims to investigate stable Br isotopes of bromoform …

The Effects Of Nutrient Limitation On Toxin Production For The Harmful Algal Bloom Species, Pseudo-Nitzschia, In The Gulf Of Maine, Julia M. Park

Honors Theses

Pseudo-nitzschia is a pennate marine diatom that produces the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA). Domoic acid accumulates in the digestive tract of filter feeders and becomes concentrated at higher trophic levels. When DA concentrations reach critical levels, consumption of toxic shellfish can induce a condition known as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP), which has been responsible for the deaths of marine mammals, seabirds and humans. This study worked to respond to a toxic Pseudo-nitzschia bloom in the Gulf of Maine during the fall of 2016, with the goal of quantifying and identifying Pseudo-nitzschia spp. in the bloom region and to determine the …

Synthesis And Cytotoxicity Of Mansonone G Derivatives, Nhung Ngo Thi Tuyet

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Mansonone G (N01), a naturally occurring o-naphthoquinone was isolated from the heartwoods of Mansonia gagei Drumm. as the major component. Seventeen ether derivatives N02-N18 were successfully synthesized by the reaction of mansonone G with corresponding alkyl halide. All derivatives were characterized by 1H, 13C NMR and HRMS. Eleven of them were confirmed to be new compounds. The cytotoxic evaluation was performed against A549 and HT-29 cancer cell lines. Interestingly, all candidates displayed more potent cytotoxicity than mansonone G. The hydrophobicity was found as an important contributor to the activity. N08 displayed the most potent cytotoxicity toward the interested cells with …

Game Of Tones: Sugars, Organic Acids, And Phenolics In Green And Purple Asparagus (Asparagus Officinalis L.) Cultivars, Ana Slatnar, Maja Mikulic Petkovsek, Franci Stampar, Robert Veberic, Jasmina Horvat, Marijana Jakse, Helena Sircelj

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The content of selected compounds was compared among different spear sections (the tip, the middle, and the base) of green (Ariane F1, Dariana F1, Darsiane F1, Mondeo F1, Primaverde F1, and Viridis F1) and purple (Burgundine F1 and Pacific Purple F1) asparagus cultivars. Sugars, organic acids, anthocyanins, flavonols, flavones, and hydroxycinnamic acids were determined by HPLC. No significant differences in the content of organic acids, sugars, and hydroxycinnamic acids were detected among cultivars. However, purple cultivars contained the highest levels of anthocyanins. The content of flavonols, flavones, hydroxycinnamic acids, and total phenols were not color-dependent. High flavonol content was characteristic …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Chemical Cleaning Regimes On Ageing Of Microfiltration (Mf) And Ultrafiltration (Uf) Hollow-Fiber Membranes, Mariny Chheang

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Membrane fouling is a major obstacle in microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) in wastewater treatment and water reuse. Fouling and membrane cleaning have been extensively studied in batch experiments at a short filtration time, but long-term membrane property changes (e.g. ageing) are not fully explored. Thus, this dissertation focused on changes in physical and chemical properties of the PVDF membranes, and membrane ageing. Impacts of feed water composition (tannic acid and tannic acid+Fe2O3) and chemical cleaning regimes (NaOH, citric acid) on the membrane performance and property changes were investigated. UF and MF membranes rejected iron oxide particles perfectly. Whilst both …

Comparison Of The Stem Cell Characteristics Among Periodontium-Derived Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Manutsanun Choosiri

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Objective: To investigate and compare the characteristics of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) among 3 different stem cell sources in periodontium; periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue, marginal gingival tissue (MG), and supra-crestal gingival connective tissue (SG). Materials and Methods: PDL-MSCs, MG-MSCs, and SG-MSCs were obtained from 4 subjects with healthy periodontal condition. The characteristics of 3 types of MSCs were compared in terms of an expression of MSCs markers, colony-forming ability (CFA), cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteogenic and adipogenic potential. Results: Flow cytometry revealed a similar pattern of MSCs marker expression among 3 cells types with positive expression of …

Glycosylation Of 2-Nitro-1-Thioglycoside As Glycosyl Donor, Panachai Wongsrisupphakul

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

2-Nitro thioglycosides are versatile building blocks for amino sugar synthesis. Nitro moiety at C2 position acts as stable surrogate for amino group and can be converted at late state of the synthesis. In this work, chemical glycosylation of 2-nitro thioglycoside donors were investigated. 2-nitro thioglycosides were prepared from tri-O-acetyl-D-galactal which underwent functional group manipulations and nitration to obtain 2-nitrogalactal in 47% over 4 steps. Then, Michael additions of 2-nitrogalactal with various type of S-nucleophiles were performed by using NaDTC as activator to produce 2-nitrothioglycoside donors in 46–85% yield. Glycosylation between 2-nitro thioglycoside donors and methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranoside as glycosyl acceptor were …

Preparaton Of Selenium Nanoparticles Stabilized By Pullulan And Derivatives, Punnida Nonsuwan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The inorganic/organic selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs)/pullulan derivative hybrid material was obtained using a simple and green strategy. The chemical structure of pullulan, folic acid decorated cationic pullulan (FA-CP) was designed for stabilizing SeNPs. The SeNPs stabilized by FA-CP were observed after the addition of a cysteine hydrochloride solution into the solution mixture of Na2SeO3 and FA-CP. The results suggested that the concentrations of cysteine and stabilizer were the key factors to control the shape and morphology of SeNPs. The spherical SeNP/FA-CP was found in ratio of Na2SeO3 to cysteine was 1:1. It exhibited low toxicity against normal cells while higher toxicity …

Art Majors' Perceptions Of Their Self-Concept, Academic Self-Efficacy, And Social Identity, Sara E. Triplett

Masters Theses

This study utilized a qualitative approach was used to provide insight into students' perspectives on their self-concept, academic self-efficacy, and social identity in relation to their majors at a mid-size Midwestern university. Two undergraduate students majoring in 2D Studio Art and three undergraduate students majoring in Theater Performance were interviewed. Through individual interviews several themes emerged such as: 1) using art to have a meaningful impact on the audience, communicating a message, and clarifying their understanding of the world was important; 2) clear professional support strengthened art majors' self-efficacy; and 3) peer groups play a large part in art majors' …

A Profile Of Policy Discussions Regarding Gender-Inclusive Housing Amongst Four-Year Public Institutions In The Midwest: A Qualitative Approach, Alexis Hill

Masters Theses

This study utilized a qualitative approach to analyze gender-inclusive policies amongst four-year public institutions in the Midwest. This study focused primarily on residence life administrators, who are responsible for the creation and implementation of such policies on their campuses. 40 institutions completed a survey inquiring about their policies or practices, and four institutions were interviewed as a follow-up. Several themes emerged from the study, which included: 1) even if an institution did not have a policy, they more than likely have a practice; 2) change in trends are inevitable and professionals must be willing to change with them; and 3) …

Provisional Admission Impact On College Self-Efficacy: A Qualitative Approach, Carolyn A. Davis

Masters Theses

This qualitative study examined how a provisional admission program (Gateway) at a mid-sized institution in the rural Midwest impacts students' college self-efficacy. Participants were five students who were successfully released from the Gateway Program at the end of the 2016 - 2017 academic year, and were in their sophomore year at time of study. Data was collected from one-on-one semi-structured interviews. The findings suggest that the program's services, with a high emphasis on intrusive advising by program advisors, positively impact students' college self-efficacy. The researcher concludes that students are more efficacious in their abilities after being provided the structure of …

The Biopolitical Elements In Yan Lianke's Fiction Worlds, Xiaoyu Gao

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Development Of Serial Killers: A Grounded Theory Study, Meher Sharma

Masters Theses

The worldview that portrays a serial killer as being a white male, an evil monster with unusual appearance, having dysfunctional relationships (Yaksic, 2015), engaging in animal torture or being sexually or physical abused in childhood, and therefore, sadistically killing for sexual gratification should be challenged (Beasley, 2004). Leyton (1996) and Skrapec (2001) suggested researchers should approach with open minds while searching for knowledge relating to this phenomenon without preconceived assumptions or hypotheses. Furthermore, every serial killers' drive to kill multiple victims may be unique, dependent on his/her history and experiences, and is therefore difficult to quantify (Yaksic, 2015). The current …

Processing Different Mixtures Of Regionally Available Resources To Create Pellets That Meet A Minimum Standard, Jacob Hixson

Masters Theses

There are several ways to produce energy today, one of the oldest is the gasification of biomass. This process uses a fire to heat the material until it starts to produce gasses that are used as fuel. There are several types of biomass that can be used, many of which have large pieces with low bulk densities. By pelletizing the biomass bulk density increases and allows the opportunity to add in other biomass materials.

There are standards for condensing large pieces of biomass to smaller pelletized materials. Pellet Fuels Institute has set minimum standards for pellets used in the different …

Race, Identity, And Communication: Experiences Of College Students From Underrepresented Groups, Raya D. Petty

Masters Theses

There is a significant difference of the completion of college between minority students and white students. The achievement gap is influenced by race and socioeconomic status of the students. The purpose of my study was to examine the relationship between academic performance and achievement and sociocultural factors including race and socioeconomic status. My thesis will affirm previous research that recognizes a need for resources specifically dedicated to assist marginalized groups in higher education. It will bring attention to minority students, first-generation college students and students with a low socioeconomic status. The project includes a literature review that explores identity, intersectionality, …

Biotransformation Of Oxo-Bile Acids Derivatives By Human Gut Bacteria, Laina Sallam

Masters Theses

Bile acids are one group of steroids that can be metabolically transformed by human gut anaerobes. One of these transformations is the conversion of primary bile acids to secondary bile acids by 7α-dehydroxylating gut bacteria such as Clostridium scindens, Clostridium hylemonae, and Clostridium hiranonis. These anaerobes metabolize bile acid derivatives via 3α- and 7α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSDH). Studies to date have not reported if these organisms are capable of converting 12-oxolithocholic acid (12-oxoLCA) to deoxycholic acid (DCA). The emphasis of this study was to determine the ability of C. scindens ATCC 35704, C. hiranonis DSM 13275, and C. …

Blurring The Spectrum: Exploring Queer Conservatism, Austin P. Mejdrich

Masters Theses

Running parallel to the groundbreaking and historic advancement of LGBTQ rights over the past decade has been the rise in the prominence and public discourse of queer conservative thinking. From the Log Cabin Republicans to far-right nationalistic politics, queer conservatives underscore both diverging ideologies within the modern American conservative tradition and the increase of far-right politics in Western societies. This study argues that queer conservatism, while traditionally less explored in the broader context of sexuality politics, is consequential to an understanding of the LGBTQ community and queer politics. Thus, an exploration of queer conservatism as a political ideology is explored, …

The Role Of Prrx1 And Snai2 As Master Regulators Of Fibroblast Identity, Huda A. Alzahrani

Masters Theses

Mammalian development involves a complex system of regulatory signals and reactions, leading to the creation of distinct tissues with specific structures and functions controlled by various gene expression profiles. Tissue-specific gene expression is by controlled specific combinations of transcription factors and cofactors that dictate cell differentiation via activation and repression of genes in mammalian cells.

Whole genome microarray analyses of fibroblasts have revealed candidate genes that may serve as master regulators of fibroblast identity, such as Prrx1 and Snai2, that activate downstream genes such as Bmp3, Twist, Shox2, Cfos, Slug, Sema3A, Spp1, and Col1a1. A previous study showed that Prrx1 …

Medicinal Properties Of Cyperus Species (Sedge Family, Cyperaceae), Lata Maishaya Udari

Masters Theses

The grasses that yield therapeutically important products are among the least studied in the Cyperaceae family. Herb-based medicine from ancient times have played a vital role in ailments of various disease and nowadays it has been a particular area of interest in medicine. Phytochemicals are inherent compounds derived from plants that are biologically active, non-nutritive chemicals that act as a defensive or prophylactic medicine in humans. Their extracts have proven to show inhibition properties against different microbes. Despite the prevalence of Cyperus species and their traditional use in medicine, the chemical components responsible for their attributes remain largely unknown. This …