Digital Commons Network^™

Mommy Brain And The Mommy Mathematician, Bonnie Jacob

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Is mommy brain real? Are pregnant women and mothers ditzier than non-mothers? If mommy brain is a real phenomenon, what are the implications for women mathematicians whose careers depend on their mental agility? While anecdotes and references to the phenomenon in pop culture abound, concrete evidence is decidedly murky. In this article, I discuss some of the recent research on so-called mommy brain. I delve into the implications of its alleged existence, particularly for mother-mathematicians. I include perspectives of several mother-mathematicians on the consequences of mommy brain … or its perceived existence.

A Letter To My Daughters, Maeve L. Mccarthy

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This piece is a letter to my two daughters, Susan and Nora, to explain why I am a working mother, why being a mathematician and a woman in science is important to me. I hope they will read it someday and be inspired. I hope they will realize that while the balance between family and work continually shifts, it is possible to have it all.

Revealing Luz: Illuminating Our Identities Through Duoethnography, Carrie Diaz Eaton, Luz Marizza Bailey

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Hispanic Americans make up 15% of the current US workforce, but they only account for 7% of the STEM Education workforce [8]. One effective way to reach this population, particularly Latinas, is by providing stories and ethnographic biographies of successful Latinas they can relate to. It is important to note that Latinas have been earning PhDs in STEM disciplines outside of the US much longer than US-born Latinas have been earning them inside. Thus we offer the story of a mathematics educator, from Peru, Dr. Luz Antonia Mendizábal Gálvez de Rodriguez, a girl who was given a chance to be …

Inquiry Based Learning: A Teaching And Parenting Opportunity, Aliza Steurer

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

In this paper, I discuss what appears to be a new perspective on inquiry based learning (IBL) by describing its parallels with parenting. IBL is a student-centered learning method involving collaborative work on carefully sequenced exercises, oral and written communication of solutions, and peer review. Students create their own knowledge and present their ideas, and the instructor acts as a facilitator. The parallels between IBL and parenting include a growth mindset, emphasizing process over outcome, learning from mistakes, learning how to get unstuck, and deconstructing tasks. IBL and parenting also involve similar social interactions, such as responding to difficult questions …

The Upside Of Down Syndrome: Math Is My Superpower!, Heidi Berger

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

My son Isaac has Down syndrome. He was born in 2015, within a year of me receiving tenure at Simpson College. The experience of being his mother has had a profound effect on me as a mathematician. Having been with him through eleven surgeries over sixteen hospitalizations, I wanted to learn about his medical complexities and, more generally, about coordinated health care for those with chronic illness. To accomplish these goals, I’ve looked to my teaching and research. In the spring of 2016, I designed a sophomore-level mathematical modeling course on the respiratory system. In the summer of 2016, I …

A Math Research Project Inspired By Twin Motherhood, Tiffany N. Kolba

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The phenomenon of twins, triplets, quadruplets, and other higher order multiples has fascinated humans for centuries and has even captured the attention of mathematicians who have sought to model the probabilities of multiple births. However, there has not been extensive research into the phenomenon of polyovulation, which is one of the biological mechanisms that produces multiple births. In this paper, I describe how my own experience becoming a mother to twins led me on a quest to better understand the scientific processes going on inside my own body and motivated me to conduct research on polyovulation frequencies. An overview of …

Pth1r-Casr Cross Talk: New Treatment Options For Breast Cancer Osteolytic Bone Metastases., Yanmei Yang, Bin Wang

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Metastatic breast cancer (BrCa) is currently incurable despite great improvements in treatment of primary BrCa. The incidence of skeletal metastases in advanced BrCa occurs up to 70%. Recent findings have established that the distribution of BrCa metastases to the skeleton is not a random process but due to the favorable microenvironment for tumor invasion and growth. The complex interplay among BrCa cells, stromal/osteoblastic cells, and osteoclasts in the osseous microenvironment creates a bone-tumor vicious cycle (a feed-forward loop) that results in excessive bone destruction and progressive tumor growth. Both the type 1 PTH receptor (PTH1R) and extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) …

Effects Of Xylitol And Mannitol On The Structural And Functional Properties Of Peanut Proteins, Zhou Xiangjun, Yang Xuechun, Liu Haiyu, Gao Yixia

Food and Machinery

The changes of solubility, emulsibility, ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence emission spectroscopy and surface hydrophobicity of peanut proteins (PP) were investigated using the methods of 1-naphthalenesulfonicacid-8-(phenylamino)-sodium salt (ANS), ultraviolet and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results showed that, with the increasing of xylitol and mannitol, the solubility of PP increased within pH 3.0～6.0, reached minimum value almost at pH 4.0, while the emulsibility increased first and declined finally. We supposed that the tyrosine was wrapped into the inner core of PP, while the tryptophan exposed to the surface of PP, resulting in the fluorescence intensity of them reduced with the increasing of xylitol …

Separation And Screening Of Lactic Acid Bacteria From The Traditional Yak Yogurt Resistant Against Of Acid And Bile Salts, Li Yang, Zhao Xin, Zhang Yu, Wang Hongwei, Suo Huayi

Food and Machinery

There are abundant lactic acid bacteria resources in traditional yak yoghurt. 48 strains of lactic acid bacteria were isolated and identified from yak yoghurt collected from Qinghai region. Screening of acid-tolerant and bile-resistant salts for 11 strains of lactic acid bacteria that thrive and can be used in foods. The results showed that 6 strains had a survival rate of >50.00% in pH 3.00 artificial gastric fluid, and 2 strains had a growth efficiency of >15% in 0.30% bile salt. Lactobacillus rhamnosus 2016SWU.05.0601 was the best resistant strain. The survival rate in artificial gastric juice is 119.53%, and the growth …

Electronic Nose And Gc-Ms Analysis On Volatile Compounds In Essential Oils From Mandarin （Citrus Reticulata Blanco） Peels, Cao Xuedan, Fang Xiugui, Li Erhu, Xu Jianguo, Zhao Kai

Food and Machinery

The essential oils were extracted from four varieties of Citrus Reticulata peels (Citrus poonensis Hort. ex Tanaka, Citrus unshiu Marc., Citrus suceosa Hort.ex Tanaka and Citrus tardiferax Hort. ex Tanaka）by roll-pressed, and then volatile compounds were analyzed by electronic nose and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technology. The results shows that: 5 kinds of the 18 sensors have a significant difference in the response values of the four kinds of Citrus Reticulata Blanco oils (P＜0.05), electronic nose was applied to distinguish the essential oils through the principal component analysis (PCA) and the classification index was above 86%. GC-MS analysis showed there …

Effect Of Calcium Ascorbate And Ε-Polylysine Treatment On Preservation And Color-Protection Of Fresh-Cut Sweet Potato, Liu Shuo, Wang Liqun, Zhang Xinyi, Deng Lili, Zeng Kaifang

Food and Machinery

“Erlang Shao” were used to evaluate the effects of calcium ascorbate and ε-polylysine on improving the quality of fresh-cut sweet potato during 4℃ storage. To reveal the mechanism, the browning degree, the total number of colonies, the content of total phenol, as well as the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD) and phenylalnine ammonialyase (PAL) of fresh-cut sweet potato were measured. The results indicated that comparing with control, 5% calcium ascorbate + 0.03% epsilon-polylysine could significantly retard the increase of the browning index, the total number of colonies and maintain a higher levels of total phenol content, inhibit the …

Optimization Of Extraction Process Of Heparinoid From Swim Bladder And Evaluation Its Anticoagulant Activity, Zhou Siyi, Qu Yi, Zhong Saiyi, Du Zhenxing, Su Weimin, Chen Suhua, Hong Pengzhi, Wu Xiaohe

Food and Machinery

A natural heparin-like compound was isolated from swim bladder and its anticoagulant activities were determined. The response surface analysis based on Box-Behnken design was adopted to examine effects of protease consumption, extracting time and temperature on heparin-like compound extraction. The anticoagulant activity of swim bladder heparin-like compound was evaluated by APTT， PT and TT method. Consequently, the optimum conditions were as follows. The concentration of protease from Bacillus licheniformis was 5.4 mg/mL, extracted at 50 ℃ for 20 h. Under the control of these conditions, the predicted extraction rate by mathematical model was (1.79±0.05)%, and the standard error was 3.24%. …

Development On The Alcoholic Drink Mixed With Extracts Of Alpinia Offcinarum And Turmeric Circuma And Its Sensory Quality, Ye Xiaohong, Tang Wenshi, Li Li

Food and Machinery

In order to develop a novel unique flavor healthy alcoholic product, the reflux technology was used to extract effective constituents from the plant materials including Alpinia offcinarum Hance and Turmeric Circuma Longa, respectively, and obtained the alcoholic drink mixed with Alpinia offcinarum and alcoholic drink mixed with Turmeric Ciruma through blending and aging. Then the quality, sensory and volatile aroma components of the 2 products were further analysed. The results indicated that the products meet the demand of standard GB/T 27588—2011, appeared as golden and transparency colour, with evident plant aroma characteristic. Among them, the alcoholic drink mixed with Alpinia …

The Optimization Of Fermentation Process Of Pure Black Rice Glutinous Rice, He Yong, Yi Xiaocheng, Zhao Bin, Wei Zuchen, Chen Pei, Wan Ping

Food and Machinery

Five main influencing factors, including the time and the temperature of steeping rice, the amount of yeast addition, and the fermentation temperature and time were used as single factor, and their influences in fermentation of black rice fermented glutinous rice was studied by single factor experiments. Moreover, the sensory scale was used as the response value, and the fermentation process of black rice fermented glutinous rice was optimized by response surface method. The optimum fermentation conditions were as follows, the black rice was immersed at 63 ℃ for 1.0 h, with the addition of 4.4% wine , and thenthe fermented …

Α-Synuclein Concentration Increases Over Time In Plasma Supernatant Of Single Donor Platelets, Catherine M. Stefaniuk, Clifford V. Harding, Robert W. Maitta

Faculty Scholarship

OBJECTIVES: In platelets, α-synuclein is important in calcium-dependent granule release. Notably, cells release α-synuclein in setting of cell damage or death. Therefore, we investigated α-synuclein levels in plasma of single donor platelet (SDP) units during storage. METHODS: Aliquots were obtained from same SDP units for 7 days from day of donation. Additionally, randomly sampled SDP units at same storage time points were also assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: α-Synuclein in SDP plasma increased continuously over time at each assayed time point. Significant increases were measured on day 3 (11.7 ± 9.6 ng/mL, P = 0.025), day 5 (15.3 ± …

Fast Examination Of Total Colony Numbers In Electronic Cigarette Liquids Based On Adenosine Triphosphate (Atp) Bioluminescence Method, Zhang Tingting, Feng Yingjie, Yang Zongcan, Liu Xiangzhen, Hao Hui, Zhang Dongyu, Zhu Qi, Zhang Zhan

Food and Machinery

In order to fast evaluate the hygiene situation of electronic cigarette liquids, the fast examination of total colony numbers in electronic cigarette liquids has been achieved which was based on the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence method.The method has been optimized, and the examination results of total colony by ATP method was compared with the results by National standard microbial detection method . Results showed: (1) the optimal temperature for ATP examination was 25 ℃, optimal time for bioluminescence reaction was 30 s, the detection limit of ATP was 2.36 × 10^-12 mol/L, RSD was 3.5%～8.2%, and the sample recovery …

Optimization Of Polysaccharide Extraction Process From Morinda Officinalis How And Its Biological Activity In Vitro And In Vivo, Liang Xiaojun, Wei Bingdun, Chen Qian, Ma Jinkui, Li Ke, Huang Xiaochen

Food and Machinery

Morinda officinalis polysaccharide is an important bioactive substance, in terms of its anti-depression, immune enhancement, anti-viral and anti-tumor effects, and polysaccharide holds great potential in function food and drug development. In this study, the Box-Behnken design principle and one-factor-at-a-time experiments were employed to optimize the extraction parameters of polysaccharide from Morinda officinalis How in Deqing area, Guangdong province. The in vitro antioxidant activities of extracted polysaccharides were also investigated. The results showed that the optimal extraction conditions were as follows: extraction time was 2 h, extraction times was 3, and solid-liquid ratio was 1∶11 （g/mL）. Under the control of these …

Relationships Between Landscape Constraints And A Crayfish Assemblage With Consideration Of Competitor Presence, Joshua B. Mouser, Robert Mollenhauer, Shannon K. Brewer

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Aim: Crayfish are globally diverse and one of the most important taxa in North American streams. Despite their importance, many species are of conservation concern and efforts to improve conditions are limited. Here, we address two major impediments to improving conditions: (a) our lack of knowledge of the interplay among natural landscape and human-induced changes; and (b) a very limited understanding of how species interactions affect overall crayfish distributions.

Location: Ozark Highlands ecoregion, USA.

Methods: We used both existing data and field-collected data to examine the relationships between 12 Faxonius species and physicochemical variables at multiple spatial scales. Data were …

Effect Of Distilled Spirit On The Structural Changes And Functional Properties Of Myofibrillar Protein In Saury, Dong Wei, He Xuehua, Dou Chuanlin, Shang Yongbiao

Food and Machinery

In this study, the effect of distilled spirit on the myofibril protein solubility, emulsification, turbidity, surface hydrophobicity, gel properties and sulfhydryl content were investigated in the saury. The results showed that, with the increase of the additive amount of distilled spirit, the solubility, emulsification, gel hardness, elasticity, mastication, cohesion and water retention of myofibril protein first increased and then decreased. However, no significant change was found in the gel whiteness, and the turbidity, surface hydrophobicity and sulfhydryl content were first decreased and then increased. In conclusion, the distilled spirit processing had a great influence on the functional characteristics of the …

Effects Of Roasting Temperature On The Fatty Acid, Pigment And Ethanol-Extracts And Their Antioxidant Activities In Chlorella Pyrenoidosa, Wang Baobei, Jia Jing, Sun Hui, Liu Lei, Cai Shulin, Li Liting

Food and Machinery

Effects of roasting temperature and duration on the composition fatty acid and pigment and antioxidant attribute of Chlorella pyrenoidosa were studied. The results showed that oleic acid (C_18:2) and linolenic acid (C_18∶3,n3) were the predominant fatty acids species, and poly unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) accounted for ca. 76.69% of total fatty acids in Chlorella. Roasting treatment had little effect on fatty acid content and composition when the temperature no higher than 150 ℃. However, remarkably decrease of PUFA content was found with 200 ℃. Both pigments and the antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts (scavenging DPPH) from …

Composition Analysis And Calculation Of Food-Grade Galacto-Oligosaccharides Based On Hplc Fingerprint, Dong Yining, Chen Wei, Deng Wenjun, Chen Haiqin

Food and Machinery

In this study, the High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Evaporative Light Detection (HPLC-ELSD) was used to establish the rapid comparison and content calculation of effective components of galacto-oligosaccharides based on the fingerprint analysis. Using this method, 11 anonymous commercial food-grade galacto-oligosaccharides products were compared based on the fingerprint composition comparison and content calculation of the effective component. The results showed that the composition of the commercial food-grade galacto-oligosaccharides product composition close to each other, and the non-effective components generally included glucose, galactose and lactose constitute. The number of effective ingredient peaks was 1 to 2, and the mass concentration range was 73.65～100.00 …

Freshness Detection Of Fresh Rice Noodles Based On Electronic Nose, Zhu Hong, Guo Yubo, Yi Cuiping, Wu Suxi, Mei Xiaodi

Food and Machinery

Flavor of fresh rice noodles at different temperature were detected during 0～30 h storage through electronic nose to evaluate the freshness of fresh rice noodles, verified by total plate count and sensory evaluation by electronic nose. Results: The freshness of fresh rice noodles worsen with the storage temperature rise and time extension. At 4 ℃, there was no significant change in flavor of fresh rice noodles, the fresh rice noodles could maintain freshness for more than 30 h. At 25 ℃ and 37 ℃, respectively, the fresh rice noodles with peculiar smell at 24 h and 18 h. Response values …

Effect Of Pla/Pha Active Films On Preservation Of Blueberries During Cold Storage, Shen Chunhua, Li Li, Du Yunfei

Food and Machinery

The degradable active antibacterial PLA/PHA films were prepared with 5% tea tree oil and 5% eucalyptus essential oil, respectively by extrusion-casting method. Fresh blueberries were stored at (4±1) ℃ and then packaged in PLA/PHA cling film, tea tree oil/PLA/PHA cling film and eucalyptus oil/PLA/PHA cling film, respectively. The basic properties of the three films were measured. The content of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bags, decay rate, weight loss rate, firmness, total soluble solids content, total phenol, anthocyanin, and vitamin C content of blueberries were measured every 7 days. The quality of blueberries with different films were compared during …

Antibacterial Activity Of NΑ-Lauroyl-L-Arginate Ethylester Against Five Pathogenic Microorganisms Of Fruits And Vegetables, Li Yang, Xu Xiaohui, Li Yang, Feng Fengqin

Food and Machinery

Antibacterial activity of N^α-lauroyl-L-arginate ethylester(LAE) against five pathogenic microorganisms of fruits and vegetables were investigated in this study. Bacteriostatic test in vitro was taken to research the antibacterial activity of LAE. Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria alternate and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. Carotovorum were treated as the model bacteria of pathogenic microorganisms of fruits and vegetables, and the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) of LAE against these model bacteria were determined. The inhibition of LAE to the hypha growth for moulds and the bactericidal effect of LAE for bacteria were also determined. Then the combined antibacterial effects of LAE …

Curren Tstatus And Trends Of Theoretical Research On Subcritical Fluid Extraction Of Agricultural Products, Wu Qifei, Shi Jiachen, Sun Jun, Chen Zhongwei, Xu Bin

Food and Machinery

As a new extraction technology, subcritical fluid extraction has received more and more attention, due to its high efficiency and quality. The paper first introduces the basic principle of subcritical fluid extraction, and analyzes the effects of extraction solvent, temperature and pressure, time and frequency, and volume of solvent on the extraction efficiency. Furthermore, the kinetics and thermodynamics of the subcritical fluid extraction process are explained. Then, the quality of the oils obtained by subcritical fluid extraction and other extraction techniques is compared, indicating the migration of bioactive concomitants in the subcritical fluid. Finally, the future research direction of subcritical …

Functional Components In The Fruit Of Gardenia Jasminoides Ellis And Their Application, Wang Li, Li Na, Li Yan, Qian Haifeng, Zhang Hui, Qi Xiguang

Food and Machinery

The components of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis and their healthy functions were summarized in this review. The relative products of the leaves and fruits were also introduced, which was helpful to the development and application of the Gardenia fruit.

Sunshine ‘89, David O'Connor

English Language and Literature ETDs

Sunshine ’89 is a coming-of-age-novel, set in Canada in 1989, this creative work explores the travel of a young adoptee from a remote outpost to the bourgeois center of the country in order to pursue a life in the theatre. What ensues is a mentor-apprentice story exploring art, race, sexuality, performance, aging, dementia, alcoholism, politics, Canada, and other theme. Above all, a page- turner and picaresque romp meant to entertain and challenge.

The Fate Of Xylem-Transported Co2 In Plants, Samantha S. Stutz, David T. Hanson

Biology ETDs

The concentration of carbon dioxide in tree stems can be ~30-750 times higher than current atmospheric [CO2]. Dissolved inorganic carbon enters the xylem from root and stem respiration and travels with water through the plant. However, the fate of much of this xylem-transported CO2 is unknown. In these studies I examined the fate of xylem-transported CO2 traveling through the petiole and leaf. This was accomplished by placing cut leaves from a woody and herbaceous C3 species, and a Kranz-type C4 species, in a solution of dissolved NaH13CO3 at concentrations similar to those measured in nature. This allowed me to track …

From Olfaction To Immunity: Characterization Of Nasal Immunity In Bony Fish, Ali Sepahi

Biology ETDs

The olfactory system is a common route pathogen entry in vertebrates. As a consequence, the nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) needs to rapidly clear infections without compromising the sense of olfaction. NALT is present in teleost fish but its cellular and molecular mechanisms of action have not been investigated to this date. This dissertation focuses on three aims: 1. investigating the role of CCL19-like as a primordial chemokine in vertebrate nasal immunity, 2. determining the presence of tissue microenvironments within the olfactory organ (OO) of rainbow trout, and 3. understanding the immune contributions of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in teleosts against …

Capturing Stem Student Symposium Posters In Rowan Digital Works: Workflow And Statistics, Daniel G. Kipnis, Denise A. Brush

MADCUG

On April 20, 2018 Rowan University hosted the 21st annual undergraduate STEM symposium, where 227 posters from various disciplines were presented to the University community. Full-text abstracts of the posters are available on a dedicated web site (http://stem.rowan.edu). The Institutional Repository committee of Rowan University Libraries wanted to deposit digital copies of the posters in our IR (Rowan Digital Works) so they would be archived and globally accessible. Dan coordinated with the professor running the STEM Symposium ahead of time to advertise this opportunity to the student researchers. Working with BePress consulting services, we created a customized Submit Poster template …