Master of Science

thesisHypertension is one of the major causes of cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in America. A major risk factor of hypertension is metabolic syndrome. A promising method of treatment for reducing hypertension in individuals with metabolic syndrome is supplementation with polyphenolic compounds. Studies have shown that supplements of quercetin, grape seed extract (GSE), and green tea can reduce blood pressure. However, little research exists on the synergistic effects of these phytochemicals. It was hypothesized that a cocktail of GSE, resveratrol, green tea, and quercetin would decrease blood pressure in hypertensive individuals. Eighteen individuals with metabolic syndrome and hypertension were enrolled in a 10-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study to test whether this cocktail of phytochemicals, ProvexCV, would reduce hypertension. Differences between the effects of ProvexCV and placebo were analyzed using individual t-tests with a p-value of < 0.05. Although there was no significant difference between ProvexCV and placebo in regard to systolic blood pressure (SBP), there was a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (p < 0.05). Additionally, there was a trend toward increased nitrate concentration with treatment of ProvexCV when compared to placebo (p = 0.057). This trend was slightly correlated with a decrease in MAP. While we hypothesized that there would be a significant difference in platelet aggregation, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity and inflammatory activity, our data did not support this hypothesis. However, there was a significant decrease in MAP and DBP, as well as a near significant increase in nitric oxide. The decrease in MAP may be related to increased nitric oxide availability and/or production. Although there was a significant decrease in DBP, our data do not show a synergistic effect between the components of ProvexCV. However, the main component of ProvexCV, GSE, is known to affect blood pressure and nitric oxide levels. Therefore, although it seems that the other ingredients of ProvexCV are ineffective, it is possible that this is due to the low dosage of these ingredients. Thus, it appears that it is no more beneficial to supplement with ProvexCV than to supplement with GSE

Is Registering as an Animal Abuser in Illinois Abusive to the Offender? An Examination of the Proposed Illinois Animal Abuse Registry

This Comment explains why the proposed animal abuse registry in Illinois should not be passed because it pushes constitutional limitations, is impractical, and would be ineffective in meeting its goals. It first discusses background information on animal abuse registries, including Illinois’ proposed registry, and other relevant Illinois registries. The Comment then discusses the constitutional limits any registry in Illinois faces and focuses on how the proposed animal abuse registry pushes the constitutional bounds of due process. Lastly, the Comment analyzes the problems associated with an animal abuse registry in Illinois, most notably the lack of financial resources in Illinois and unlikely success of the registry

Secondary flow reduction techniques in linear turbine cascades

This thesis investigates a novel secondary flow reduction method. The inlet boundary layer to a linear turbine cascade is skewed by injection of air through an upstream slot to oppose regular generated negative stream wise vorticity. Other methods from the pertinent literature are reviewed on a broad basis. Detailed measurements of the flowfield in the Durham Linear Cascade facility have shown that substantial reductions in secondary flows and losses are possible. If the kinetic energy required for the blowing is taken into account by means of an availability analysis, no net gain in loss is achieved. Tests are performed at two different angles, of which the higher is typical for film cooling applications, and at a wide range of injection ratios. Calculation of the mixed-out losses show the tangential rather than spanwise momentum of the injected air is more effective in countering the generation of secondary flows. Computations using a state-of-the-art Navier-Stokes solver indicated shortcomings in modelling a flow governed by complex vortex dynamics. Improvements in the turbulence model and injection geometry could remedy this. The evaluation of turbulent and laminar production rates obtained without injection helps to explain total pressure loss generation mechanisms. The comparison of calculated and experimental eddy viscosities reveals the inadequacy of the Boussinesq assumption for high turning flows. The results obtained in this work are relevant to endwall film cooling applications. The tangential injection of air in front of the leading edge provides coolant in an optimum manner whilst possibly reducing secondary losses to a large extent. Disc cooling air, present in a real engine to prevent the ingestion of hot air from the mainstream, could be used to supply the injection

Parameter Estimation of the Mountain Pine Beetle-Host Tree System

The spatial redistribution of organisms in an ecosystem is often a complex process. Many ecosystems exhibit spatial complexity on a broad range of scales, driven by the physical environment and biotic interactions [1]. As different species aggregate and disperse in spatially complex ways, even an initially uniform environment will soon evolve spatial heterogeneity

The effects of feedback protocol and learning environment perceptions on self -regulated learning

The current research investigated the effects of differing feedback protocols in a multimedia learning environment to determine if changes would occur over time in goal orientation, self-regulation, self-efficacy or achievement. Subjects from an traditional undergraduate chemistry course were assigned to either a norm-referenced or self-referenced feedback group. Goal orientation and self-efficacy were measured via self-report surveys pre-post instruction, self-regulation was measured as the cumulative number of times each subject opened a worked example/self-explanation prompt while engaged in weekly web-based quizzes, and achievement was measured using final semester course grades. Perceptions of the learning environment were also probed as a potential mediating variable via self-report surveys by using a median split to assign subjects to either a class-task group, where learners believed that the instructor valued effort more than ability or a class-ability group, where learners believed that the instructor valued innate ability more than effort; Results revealed that subjects did not significantly change their goal orientation type or magnitude as a result of the differing feedback protocols, even with the addition of learning environment perception as a potential mediating variable. Overall, subjects made significant decreases along the mastery approach and performance approach goal orientation subscales. While this was not anticipated, the results are consistent with other recent research within this context (Senko & Harackiewicz, 2005). Subjects also did not demonstrate significant differences in self-regulation, although a trend did emerge with those from the norm-referenced feedback group with a class-task perception of the learning environment less likely to use worked examples. Subjects from this group also demonstrated the greatest gains in self-efficacy over the course of the semester; however these changes failed to meet the criterion for statistical significance and these differences did not lead to any notable differences in achievement. While it remains unclear as to why these subjects used worked examples less, the increase in self-efficacy is contrary to other studies along this line of research (Crippen & Earl, 2007). However, increases in self-efficacy from subjects with a class-task learning environment perception are supported in the literature (Midgley, Maehr, Hicks, Urdan, & Roeser, 1995); Recommendations for future research within this context such as authenticating subjects\u27 perceptions of their assigned treatment condition, introducing additional feedback protocols such as a combined, choice, or control condition and building in a better gauge to track the time and context of potential changes in goal orientation, self-regulation, and self-efficacy are also discussed

Using Ozone To Clean and Passivate Oxygen-Handling Hardware

A proposed method of cleaning, passivating, and verifying the cleanliness of oxygen-handling hardware would extend the established art of cleaning by use of ozone. As used here, "cleaning" signifies ridding all exposed surfaces of combustible (in particular, carbon-based) contaminants. The method calls for exposing the surfaces of the hardware to ozone while monitoring the ozone effluent for carbon dioxide. The ozone would passivate the hardware while oxidizing carbon-based residues, converting the carbon in them to carbon dioxide. The exposure to ozone would be continued until no more carbon dioxide was detected, signifying that cleaning and passivation were complete

Intrinsic Metastabilities in the Charge Configuration of a Double Quantum Dot

We report a thermally activated metastability in a GaAs double quantum dot exhibiting real-time charge switching in diamond shaped regions of the charge stability diagram. Accidental charge traps and sensor back action are excluded as the origin of the switching. We present an extension of the canonical double dot theory based on an intrinsic, thermal electron exchange process through the reservoirs, giving excellent agreement with the experiment. The electron spin is randomized by the exchange process, thus facilitating fast, gate-controlled spin initialization. At the same time, this process sets an intrinsic upper limit to the spin relaxation time.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures (color

Math 1113 Precalculus Emporium: A Multi-Institutional Online Pre-Calculus Course

One stumbling block for students considering becoming a STEM major has been introductory math courses. A new, innovative precalculus course being developed and delivered by five USG institutions may provide a solution. MATH 1113e Precalculus Emporium combines lessons learned from the Math Emporium model pioneered at Virginia Tech with elements of MOOC delivery to create a highly interactive and support rich online course model. While the pilot debuted in January 2014 with students and faculty from five institutions, the larger vision is for the course to become available for all USG institutions in the near future