Inter-pregnancy weight change impacts placental weight and is associated with the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the second pregnancy

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

General Grant and the Rewriting of History: How the Destruction of General William S. Rosecrans Influenced Our Understanding of the Civil War

A Reconsideration of an Civil War Hero This book makes a compelling argument that Ulysses S. Grant was a master manipulator. Not only did Grant manipulate the historical record to enhance his reputation at the cost of destroying others, in this case General William S. Rosecrans, but he h...

Synthesis of Histidine Derivatives Present in Cardiac Muscle

N-Acyl-L-histidine derivatives, a number of N-acyldipeptides containing L-histidine (A), and dipeptides containing 1-methyl-L-histidine (B) or 3-methyl-L-histidine (C) are thought to be present in cardiac muscle. These compounds are believed to play an important role in the healthy functioning of the heart. The work presented in this thesis investigates the synthesis of optically active forms of some of these L-histidine derivatives. The results obtained when these compounds were tested by the physiologists for their individual effects on cardiac muscle are presented. (A). N-Acyl-L-histidine Derivatives and N-Acyldipeptides Containing L-Histidine N-Acetyl-L-histidine and A-propionyl-L-histidine were successfully synthesised in good yield and high optical purity by the direct acylation of L-histidine with acetic or propionic anhydride. Two routes aimed at providing a range of N- acyldipeptides containing L-histidine in chemically and optically pure form were studied. A series of N-acylamino acids were coupled to L-histidine protected on the carboxyl function. The first route used the benzyl ester of L-histidine but a number of problems were encountered which made this route unattractive. The second route involved L-histidine protected as a metal salt. The mixed anhydride method of peptide coupling was employed to produce the compounds in chemically pure form. A number of methods were used in an attempt to determine the optical purities of the histidine derivatives synthesised. The most promising method involved the coupling of (R)-a-methylbenzylamine to the carboxyl function of the N-acyldipeptides. The diastereoisomeric mixtures formed were then analysed using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The solvent mixture used to elute the column was adjusted to find a composition which would allow the separation of the diastereoisomers. The areas under the peaks were then used to estimate the optical purities of the compounds under investigation. The L-histidine derivatives were examined by physiologists at Glasgow University. They discovered, using HPLC techniques, that N-acetyl-L-histidine, N-acetyl-L-carnosine and N-acetyl-L-homocarnosine were present in cardiac muscle. The N-propionyl derivatives synthesised had an adverse effect on the Ca-sensitising apparatus of cardiac muscle. N-Acetyl-L-histidine, N-acetyl-L-alanyl-L-histidine and N-acetyl-D-alanyl-L-histidine were weak Ca-sensitisers. N-Acetylglycyl-L-histidine, N-acetyl-L-carnosine and N-acetyl-L-homocarnosine produced more positive action on the Ca-sensitising apparatus of the heart muscle. (B). 1-Methyl-L-histidine. 3-Methyl-L-histidine and Dipeptides Containing L-Histidine Methylated on the Imidazole Ring Because the imidazole function of L-histidine has two possible sites for N-alkylation to take place, routes were developed to obtain selectively the desired N-methylated histidine derivatives as pure isomers. A synthesis of 1-methyl-L-histidine, reported in the literature, was attempted. Problems were encountered in introducing the protecting group onto the 3-position of the imidazole ring. This could not be achieved in the manner described in the literature, thus an alternative route was studied. N(a),3-bis(t-Butoxycarbonyl)-L-histidine methyl ester was alkylated using methyl iodide. The residue obtained from the reaction was found to be a mixture of the desired 1-methyl compound and the 1,3-dimethyl compound. This mixture was successfully separated. The final stage was to remove the protecting groups. A number of different methods were used. Each procedure removed the protecting groups without any difficulties but each attempt yielded 1-methylhistidine which was not optically active. The synthesis of 3-methyl-L-histidine, reported in the literature, was attempted. The synthetic sequence was successful until the final deprotection stage which yielded 3-methylhistidine in chemically pure form, but contrary to the data published, the product was not optically active. An alternative route was investigated. N(a)-t-Butoxy carbonyl-1-benzoxy methyl-3-methyl- L-histidinium methyl ester iodide was synthesised. 3-Methyl-L-histidine should then be obtained upon removal of the protecting groups. The removal of the methyl ester resulted in a racemic product. Attempts to remove the benzoxymethyl group were consistently unsuccessful. 3-Methylhistidine could not be obtained in chemically or optically pure form from this route. A route to dipeptides containing 1-methylhistidine was established. 1-Methylglycylhistidine, 1-methylcarnosine and 1-methylhomocarnosine were synthesised in chemically pure form. The intermediates in this route all possessed some degree of optical purity but the hydrolysis of the methyl esters at the end of the route resulted in racemic products. The route established for the synthesis of dipeptides containing 3-methylglycylhistidine and 3-methylcarnosine produced these compounds as pure isomers. Problems in removing the methyl esters in the final stage resulted in the products being racemic

On the detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons within dynamic surface features on Mars

The aim of this thesis is to identify suitable environments for the detection of organic signatures on the Martian surface, to produce diagnostic spectra for organics in various Mars analogues, to establish the detectability limit of those organics using laboratory experiments and then compare laboratory results to measurements from Mars. The organics searched for in this work are Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are considered to be ‘building blocks’ for life, and can be a biomarker for extant life; they are abundant on Earth and throughout the universe, but so far are conspicuously absent on Mars, likely due to the high levels of ultraviolet radiation present on the Martian Surface. Therefore, dynamic processes on Mars that uncover previously shielded material on the Martian surface are identified, and various sites examined, to look at their suitability as potential candidates for PAH detection. The Martian South Polar Residual Cap (SPRC) has been chosen as a primary study site due to the abundance of CO2 ice sublimation features known as Swiss Cheese Terrain (SCT). These quasi-circular pits exhibit seasonal and long term retreat, exposing dust that had previously been trapped within the ice. The morphology and compositional changes of SCT over time are examined, and laboratory experiments in environmental cells have been carried out to establish base-line spectra for PAHs in SPRC and Mars regolith analogues, as well as the minimum amount of PAH necessary for detection from orbit by the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM). In addition, Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL) sites and analogues have been examined to provide baseline spectra and detectability limits for PAHs in non-polar dynamic features. This work intends to shed light on the question of these ‘missing’ organic molecules on Mars, and assist in the search for life on the Red Planet

Where are they today? A follow-up of agricultural education graduates at the University of Missouri 1999-2003 [abstract]

Abstract only availableFaculty Mentor: Dr. Bryan Garton, Ag EducationThe purpose of this study was to determine the employment and occupational status of agricultural education graduates. The study further sought to assess graduates' level of job satisfaction, factors leading to their changes in employment, and the employability skills needed and the contribution of curriculum in preparing students for the skills. Agricultural Education graduates from May 1999 through May 2003 (n = 112) participated in the study. The Dillman Total Design Method (Dillman, 2000) was followed in the data collection process. Mailings of postcards and questionnaires assisted in the collection of data for the 96 respondents. A majority of the graduates (87%) reported they were employed full-time. Of those graduates, there was a wide dispersement of careers with nearly two-thirds employed as teachers in public schools, or in sales or management positions. The remaining 13% reported being in graduate school (7%), employed part-time (5%), or caring for family (1%). The level of job satisfaction was compared between graduates teaching secondary agriculture with graduates in industry careers. There was no difference in the level of job satisfaction between graduates in teaching versus industry. Factors influencing a career change were examined among those who had changed occupations since graduation. Of the 14 identified factors, "career goals/ambitions changed" was reported as the major factor for a career change while "personality conflicts with co-workers" had little influence on changing careers or occupations. Graduates were split into two categories, teaching in a public school and working in an industry career, to examine employability skills needed and the contribution of the agricultural education curriculum to the development of necessary employability skills. To factor in the contribution of curriculum with the importance of the employability skills, the Borich Needs Assessment Model (Borich, 1980) was utilized to create Mean Weighted Discrepancy Scores. Based upon the mean weighted discrepancy score, "analyzing information to make decisions" was reported as the skill with the greatest need for curriculum modification. "Working as a team member" had the least implication for curriculum changes. The overall program and academic advising toward the preparation of students for careers was assessed to confirm graduates were prepared for careers in teaching or industry. "Quality of instruction" was found to be the highest rankeWilliam Boatright Endowmen

The Student Teaching Internship: The Learning Continues...

The thesis from which this item is derived can be found at http://hdl.handle.net/10355/4305.Agricultural Education teaching interns from the University of Missouri-Columbia and their respective cooperating teachers participated in the study (n = 16). The purpose of the study was to assess teaching interns' level of proficiency regarding the 11 Missouri Standards for Teacher Education Programs (MoSTEP) quality indicators at the beginning and completion of the student teaching internship. Self-assessments were completed by the teaching interns at the beginning and completion of the student teaching internship and were compared to cooperating teachers' assessments of the teaching interns at the mid-point (8 weeks) and completion of the internship (16 weeks)

Developing an Alternative Juvenile Programming Effort to Reduce Detention Overreliance

The assumption underlying juvenile detention alternatives is that youth on probation receiving programming or treatment are less likely to recidivate, whereas youth in detention will be more likely to recidivate. Under a coordinated justice reform effort, a juvenile justice court system serving two southeastern counties in Washington state developed a program (the FAST program) for probation violators that offered 2 sessions of accountability skill development to address targeted criminogenic needs in lieu of a formalized hearing and a subsequent stay in detention. The goal of the FAST program for participating youth was to reduce future probation violations and detention stays. This paper presents an evaluation of the FAST program using propensity score modeling of 434 juvenile probation violators. A comparison of matched groups shows the program does not reduce recidivism or future probation violations among participants, though it does produce the same result as those who received detention. Our explanation makes the case for increasing the dosage (number of sessions) of violator programs, which may be what is necessary to provide a more effective alternative to detention

FUNCTIONAL SCREENING TEST ASSOCIATED WITH ALTERED TRUNK AND PELVIS KINEMATICS AND LOW BACK INJURY INCIDENCE IN ADOLESCENT FAST BOWLERS

This study investigated the relationship between pelvi-femoral stability and low back injury incidence in adolescent fast bowlers using the single leg decline squat test, and examined the relationship between knee kinematics during this clinical test and bowling kinematics during the delivery stride. Twenty-five uninjured male fast bowlers participated in a prospective cohort study. Bowlers who suffered a low back injury had significantly increased knee valgus angle during the single leg decline squat on the dominant leg (8.6° ±3.2 vs 4.5° ±2.6, t=3.495, p=0.002) and non-dominant leg (9.1° ±4.2 vs 5.5° ±3.3, t=2.362, p=0.027). Increased knee valgus angle during the test was associated with increased frontal plane hip and knee motion, pelvis rotation and thorax lateral flexion during bowling, which may lead to increased torsional stress on the lumbar spine

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SHOULDER COUNTER-ROTATION ANDLUMBAR MECHANICS DURING FAST BOWLING

The purpose of this study was to quantify lumbar kinematics and kinetics during fast bowling using a novel inverse dynamics model, and to explore the relationship between shoulder counter-rotation (SCR) (a variable that has been associated with the development of spondylolysis in fast bowlers) and lumbar range of motion and moments. Ten fast bowlers participated in the study. A large correlation was found between SCR and lumbar rotation range of motion between front foot contact and ball release (r=0.628,