Computing for the Masses: Extending the Computer Science Curriculum with Information Technology Literacy

Enrollments in computer science programs continue to drop as demand for workers skilled in computing increases. Information technology scholars face the ironic challenge of attracting more students into computing disciplines in the age of ubiquitous computing. This paper chronicles a decision by a department of computer science and information systems to offer an information technology literacy course as a service to its institution. Educational and curricular justifications for the course progressed in parallel with recognition of the course\u27s strategic value to the department in the face of sharp declines in the number of students majoring in CS or IS. Following our approach, other departments in the computing disciplines can ride the coming wave of information technology literacy in higher education

Freedom of Choice as a Motivational factor in Active Learning

Freedom to choose what, when, and how to contribute in a learning process can motivate students to actively engage and achieve more in their studies. However, freedom of choice complicates course management and may deter instructors from allowing such freedom. Our approach is to utilize existing functionality of course management systems such as Moodle to automatically facilitate and coordinate free student choices and provide much needed relief for instructors at the same time. Using Moodle we have developed novel digital study packs that blend freedom of choice with guidance and control. Our survey shows that assisted freedom of choice is ranked highest in 51% of student responses -- in contrast to unlimited choice at 28% or no choice at all at 21%. Experience reported in this paper may be beneficial for instructors who would like to expand their courses with new motivational learning techniques

Anaerobic microbial degradation of organic pollutants with chlorate as electron acceptor

Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons are two groups of compounds that are widespread pollutants. The aerobic microbial degradation of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons proceeds in general fast and has been widely studied, while the biodegradation in anoxic environments is often incomplete, proceeds at lower rates and is less characterized. Chlorate reduction is a unique process, which yields molecular oxygen upon microbial reduction in anoxic environments. This can be of practical importance, since the oxygen released can be incorporated into the anaerobically recalcitrant compounds by oxygenases to form hydroxylated derivatives, which can be further degraded easily either aerobically or anaerobically. We have found that Pseudomonas chloritidismutans AW-1T, which is a known chlorate-reducing bacterium, can combine the oxidation of n-alkanes and the reduction of chlorate. Similarly this bacterium can combine the degradation of benzoate and catechol with chlorate reduction. We studied the physiological and biochemical properties of this bacterium. With the help of proteogenomics we annotated the key proteins involved in alkane and benzoate oxidation with chlorate. Our findings suggest that oxygen released during chlorate reduction can be used to degrade the anaerobically recalcitrant compounds and chlorate reduction has a very high potential for bioremediation of anoxic soils. <br/

The effect of surfactants and grain hulls on the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in aqueous environments

The biodegradation of diesel fuel, crude oil and used motor oil was evaluated in the presence of 0, 10, 100, 500, and 1,000 mg L-1 of lecithin, Triton X-100 and Tween 80 at 25°C. CO2 evolution was measured from bubbler tubes containing 20 ml of 0.1% yeast-extract (YE) medium, surfactant, and 2 ml of petrochemical as the principal carbon source. Sixty one microbial isolates from various sources were evaluated. From this screen, four were chosen for further studies. Diesel fuel degradation by Yarrowia lipolytica CP.D-N exhibited optimum activity with Tween 80 and low levels of Triton X-100. Low levels of lecithin were inhibitive. Degradation of crude oil by Bacillus sp. SH.7.C-P was enhanced by lecithin. Crude oil degradation by Y. lipolytica CP.D-N was higher than that of Bacillus SH.7.C-P and inhibited by Tween 80. Used motor oil degradation by Rhodococcus equi MO.M-N was enhanced by lecithin, whereas used motor oil degradation by R. equi CP.M-P was inhibited by Triton X-100;Diesel fuel biodegradation by Yarrowia lipolytica CP.D-N was further evaluated in the presence of soybean, rice and oat hulls (1 g per 20 ml media) pre-coated with 1,000 mg surfactant kg-1 hull. Two procedures were used: (a) hulls were added to the YE medium, then diesel fuel was added; and (b) the hulls were soaked in 2 ml of diesel fuel and then YE medium was added. CO, evolution increased in bubbler tubes with both Yarrowia lipolytica CP.D-N and diesel for both procedures, however, GC analysis revealed no enhancement in diesel fuel degradation. Pre-exposure of the hulls to diesel fuel using the second procedure reduced the extent of diesel fuel removal for most treatments;Soybean hulls were pre-coated with a 5-ml suspension containing 100 mg surfactant kg-1 hull and Y. lipolytica CP.D-N (2.4x109 g-1 hull). The presence of surfactants and Y. lipolytica CP.D-N did not enhance diesel fuel degradation based on CO2 evolution;This research gives evidence that lecithin may promote the bioremediation of used motor oil and crude oil. Triton X-100 exhibited greater emulsification, however, this often corresponded to greater inhibition

Production of biodiesel from microalgae

Biodiesel production from microalgae is a promising technique, with advantages of high biomass yield with high lipid content. Challenges include effective techniques to harvest the grown microalgae, extraction of the algal oil and its transesterification to biodiesel. A microalgae strain was selected from 8 different species screened for growth rate and lipid content. A Tubular Photobioreactor was designed and constructed to study microalgae growth. Productivity of 1 g of dry algal biomass per liter of medium within 12 days was achieved, with lipid content up to 20 %. The observed 10 fold increase in biomass is higher than those reported for open ponds and helical photobioreactors In situ transesterification of dry algae to fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs) was achieved using ultrasonication. A Gas Chromatograph was used to analyze the FAMEs. Biodiesel produced through 20 minutes of in situ transesterification yields up to 3.679 mg of FAMEs per g of dry algal

Effects of prolonged drought on plant-soil feedbacks and implications for plant community dynamics

Plant-soil feedback (PSFs) refers to the ability of a given plant to alter soil physicochemical properties in ways that modify the growth of a plant subsequently grown in the same soil. It is well established that PSFs influence plant community structure and dynamics, plant succession and invasion process. There is also evidence that change in climate will affect PSFs impacting plant community dynamics and, through this, ecosystem functioning and stability. However, our knowledge about the effects of climate change, specifically prolonged drought, on PSFs and its role in shaping plant community dynamics under natural conditions is limited. Therefore, in this thesis, I (i) experimentally assessed shifts in PSFs in response to prolonged drought legacies across plant species, functional types, and community level under laboratory condition; (ii) investigated drought induced shifts in plant-soil feedbacks under field conditions utilizing an experimental rainfall manipulation in a mesic grassland; (iii) assessed the effects of a foliar herbivore on PSFs in monocultures and mixtures in soils with prolonged drought legacies; (iv) investigated the role of long-term drought soil legacies on the performance of two globally recognized notorious foliar herbivores, and their influence on PSFs; (v) assessed the contribution of potential belowground mechanisms, specifically changes in litter decomposition, belowground carbon allocation and competition for nitrogen, to shifts in the strength and direction of PSFs under prolonged drought using stable isotope (13C and 15N) labelling; and (vi) conducted a literature review quantifying shifts of PSFs in response to drought and warming using a meta-analytical approach and identify key future knowledge gaps. I conclude that drought effects on PSFs are context-dependent and may differ within and among plant functional types. Belowground biota, such as plant-parasitic nematodes, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and bacteria, contribute to shifts in PSFs between ambient rainfall and drought. Aboveground biota, such as foliar herbivores, are likely to be key drivers involved in altering PSFs under prolonged drought through affecting plant foliar N and CN ratio and herbivore-induced shifts in plant-soil biotic interactions, including beneficial relationships with rhizobia. Belowground mechanisms, such as litter decomposition, significantly contributed to shifts in PSFs in drought. Moreover, changes in relative belowground carbon allocation and competition for nutrients are also likely to contribute to contrasting outcomes under drought conditions; additional analyses of archived samples will provide further insight into the role of these mechanisms

Full issue for TGLE Vol. 53 Nos. 3 & 4

Full issue for TGLE Vol. 53 Nos. 3 &

The BG News March 25, 2009

The BGSU campus student newspaper March 25, 2009. Volume 99 - Issue 121https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/bg-news/9061/thumbnail.jp

Circum-Pacific Prehistory Conference Bringing a million years of human heritage to Washington State, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A., August 1-6, 1989, reprint proceedings

Conference program and abstracts