I Am the Night, Color Me Black: The Vampiric Positionality of the Black Pedagogue in Ganja & Hess

For me - an Afro-L’nu interdisciplinary doctorate candidate rooted in cinema and media studies - vampirism resembles cinematic realism: a visuality of authenticity effected in scene, setting, and storyline on-location respective to narrative milieux. However, what often defines reality as opposed to preferred realism is that Black positionalities continue to be afflicted by disparity, exploitation, exclusion, and inaccessibility alongside systematic anti-Blackness which extenuate our adversities. This contrasts with the avid albeit ambiguous initiative of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) sweeping through academic spaces in the wake of reconciliation campaigns. Moreover, this initiative is vampiric in its avid solicitation of efforts and insights from the very marginalized positionalities it purports to uplift. Too little, if anything. Too late, if ever. The wealth of lip service paid in comparison to what pittances we marginalized peoples are afforded. I find myself immortalized by pearls of wisdom which speak to ancestral strength and blood memory, akin to how kernels from an artifact transform Dr. Hess Green and Ganja Meda into the vampiric undead. This personal essay offers a discourse analysis of Ganja & Hess (1973) that incorporates my own positionality and academic exegesis, notably revelations as to what vampiric contingency underlays my transformation, survival, and eventual demise

Detection of Soybean Amino Acid QTLs and Seed Yield QTLs Using Selective Genotyping

The U.S. Census Bureau projects the world’s population will top more than nine billion by 2050. Today, soybeans account for 56 % of the world oilseed production and 68 % of the world protein meal consumption, with U.S. soybean production accounting for 33 % of the world soybean production. So, to meet the demand of the world’s growing population and of the livestock industry improvements in both the composition and the yield of soybean is essential. The primary objective of this project was to use molecular markers to identify genomic regions associated with amino acid composition and yield in soybean. For amino acid quantitative trait loci (QTL) detection 282 F5:9 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) developed from a cross between Essex and Williams 82 were used. The Universal Soy Linkage Panel (USLP) 1.0 of 1536 single nucleotide polymorphic markers (SNPs) was used to identify 480 polymorphic molecular genetic markers and to genotype the 282 RILs. A total of ten QTL were detected on chromosomes 5, 7, 9, 10, 13 and 20 that explained 5 to 14 % of the total phenotypic variation for a particular amino acid. To detect yield QTL 875 F5:9 RIL developed from a cross between Essex and Williams 82 were used. The 875 RILs were divided into four groups based on maturity and each group was grown in Knoxville, TN and one other location of adaptability. Each RIL was genotyped with \u3e50,000 SNPs of which 17,232 were polymorphic across the population. A total of forty-six yield QTLs were detected in this study, explaining 4.5 % to 11.9% of the phenotypic variation for yield. In addition, marker assisted selections (MAS) were made using only additive effects and using a yield prediction model (YPM) in each environment and across environments for each group. By including additive by additive effects in addition to additive effects into the YPM, more top yielding lines were selected than by just using only additive effects. This study provides new information concerning amino acid research in soybean and may offer some important insights into using an YPM that includes epistasis in soybean

Soybean Enhancement for Improved Biodiesel Production

As energy prices continue to rise, concern grows about the economy and about petroleum supplies. On January 1, 2009 The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2009 was enacted. It states that 500 million gallons of biomass-based biodiesel must be produced in 2009 and 1 billion gallons by 2012. In the United States 90 % of the biodiesel is produced from soybean oil, despite its shortcomings. The biggest problem facing the soy diesel industry is the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifications for Biodiesel and Biodiesel Blends. The two categories that are in need of immediate improvement to enhance test results and produce a better burning fuel are cloud point and oxidation stability. Monounsaturated fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) are reported to strike the best balance between cold flow properties and oxidative stability to enhance biodiesel test results and produce a better burning fuel. In addition, treating fuels derived from fatty acid alkyl esters with oxidation inhibitors (antioxidants) has been reported to increase resistance to oxidation. Fuel properties: acid value, cloud point, iodine value, pour point, peroxide value, induction period, onset temperature, and kinematic viscosity were used to evaluate a newly developed Roundup Ready® soybean recombinant inbred line with a novel oil profile, exhibiting an elevated level of monounsaturated FAME and the possibility of using selenium as a natural antioxidant for use in the biodiesel industry. We were able to demonstrate higher polyunsaturated content lead to lower IP values, lower PV values were indicative of increased monounsaturated FAME content and elevated levels of saturated FAME content resulted in higher CP and PP values

Applications Of A Time-Dependent Polar Ionosphere Model For Radio Modification Experiments

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2010A time-dependent self-consistent ionosphere model (SLIM) has been developed to study the response of the polar ionosphere to radio modification experiments, similar to those conducted at the High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) facility in Gakona, Alaska. SCIM solves the ion continuity and momentum equations, coupled with average electron and ion gas energy equations; it is validated by reproducing the diurnal variation of the daytime ionosphere critical frequency, as measured with an ionosonde. Powerful high-frequency (HF) electromagnetic waves can drive naturally occurring electrostatic plasma waves, enhancing the ionospheric reflectivity to ultra-high frequency (UHF) radar near the HF-interaction region as well as heating the electron gas. Measurements made during active experiments are compared with model calculations to clarify fundamental altitude-dependent physical processes governing the vertical composition and temperature of the polar ionosphere. The modular UHF ionosphere radar (MUIR), co-located with HAARP, measured HF-enhanced ion-line (HFIL) reflection height and observed that it ascended above its original altitude after the ionosphere had been HF-heated for several minutes. The HFIL ascent is found to follow from HF-induced depletion of plasma surrounding the F-region peak density layer, due to temperature-enhanced transport of atomic oxygen ions along the geomagnetic field line. The lower F-region and topside ionosphere also respond to HF heating. Model results show that electron temperature increases will lead to suppression of molecular ion recombination rates in the lower F region and enhancements of ambipolar diffusion in the topside ionosphere, resulting in a net enhancement of slant total electron content (TEC); these results have been confirmed by experiment. Additional evidence for the model-predicted topside ionosphere density enhancements via ambipolar diffusion is provided by in-situ measurements of ion density and vertical velocity over HAARP made by a Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite

Proteomic Analysis of the Blood of \u3ci\u3eAlligator mississippiensis\u3c/i\u3e

My research focus was to investigate alligator blood using mass spectrometry-based proteomics methods to understand their innate immune systems. The first goal was to sequence peptides and proteins from the blood serum and leukocytes using tandem mass spectrometry and de novo sequencing. The second goal was to determine the function of these biological molecules and their relationship to the immune system. One- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was used to separate proteins from alligator leukocytes, which were enzymatically digested. The peptides were measured using reversed phase nano-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (nano-HPLC-MS/MS) followed with de novo sequencing. The results, as described in Chapter 3 show that alligator leukocytes contain proteins that are similar to proteins found in other vertebrates such as mammals and reptiles that are related to immune responses. Isolation of small molecule interferences and peptides exhibiting antimicrobial activity from alligator leukocyte extracts are described in Chapters 4 and 5. Reversed-phase HPLC was used to separate the leukocyte mixture and antimicrobial activity tests were used to determine the active fractions. Interferants, EDTA and spermine were present and showed activity in early fractions. Two major peptides measured at 4.7 and 4.9 kDa in an active fraction were further separated on the basis of their charge, size and shape using ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS). Due to the limited fragmentation of the peptides using IM-MS, the peptides were isolated and fragmented using MALDI TOF/TOF MS for de novo sequencing. Lectins are a class of carbohydrate selective proteins that are part of the complement immune system. Chapter 6 presents results for a lectin isolated from alligators that have mannan and mannose binding activity. In this study, the monomeric lectin was isolated and enzymatically digested using five different proteases to create small and large peptides which were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The peptides were determined via de novo sequencing and overlapped to generate the lectin sequence. Lectins may have varying degrees of glycosylation, therefore deglycosylation procedures suitable for mass spectrometry analysis are described in Chapter 7. Conclusions and future directions for the work in this dissertation will be summarized in Chapter 8

PERAN KOMUNIKASI INTERPERSONAL ORANG TUA DAN ANAK DALAM MENUMBUHKAN MOTIVASI BELAJAR SISWA SD NEGERI SERAYU YOGYAKARTA SELAMA PANDEMI COVID-19 PERIODE NOVEMBER 2021 – MEI 2022

Penelitian ini membahas tentang peran komunikasi interpersonal yang terjalin antara orang tua dan anak dalam menumbuhkan motivasi belajar pada siswa SD Negeri Serayu Yogyakarta selama pandemi Covid-19. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada periode November 2021 sampai 2022 saat kegiatan belajar di SDN Serayu dilaksanakan secara daring atau online. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan wawancara mendalam dan observasi sebagai alat pengambilan data, sehingga peneliti akan mendapatkan hasil narasi dari wawancara berupa transkrip wawancara dengan enam orang narasumber yang masing-masing di antaranya berperan sebagai siswa, guru, dan orang tua murid. Data yang peneliti peroleh diolah secara naratif sehingga menghasilkan tulisan tentang komunikasi interpersonal. Melalui penelitian ini, peneliti menemukan bahwa komunikasi interpersonal yang terbentuk memiliki peran yang sangat penting dalam membangun motivasi belajar pada anak selama pembelajaran daring. Perputaran informasi yang terjadi antara anak dengan orang tua, orang tua dengan guru, dan guru dengan anak dapat berlangsung karena komunikasi interpersonal yang terjalin antara satu pihak dengan pihak yang lain karena dengan interaksi interpersonal, fungsi komunikasi dapat terwujud seperti dalam menyampaikan informasi, memecahkan masalahmasalah yang terjadi selama kelas online, sebagai wujud edukasi, dan fungsi lainnya yang berbeda-beda dalam tiap komunikasi yang terjalin antar pihak sehingga dengan komunikasi interpersonal yang terjadi secara tatap muka atau dengan media online, guru, orang tua, dan siswa dapat mewujudkan pengembangan motivasi belajar anak selama pembelajaran daring

Evaluation of soybean [\u3ci\u3eGlycine max\u3c/i\u3e (L.) Merr.] genotypes for yield, water use efficiency, and root traits

Drought stress has been identified as the major environmental factor limiting soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield worldwide. Current breeding efforts in soybean largely focus on identifying genotypes with high seed yield and drought tolerance. Water use efficiency (WUE) that results in greater yield per unit rainfall is an important parameter in determining crop yields in many production systems, and is often related with crop drought tolerance. Even though roots are major plant organs that perceive and respond to drought stress, their utility in improving soybean yield and WUE under different environmental and management conditions are largely unclear. The objectives of this research was to evaluate soybean cultivars and breeding and germplasm lines for yield, WUE, root penetrability of hardpan, and root morphology. Field experiments were conducted at two locations in South Carolina (southeastern United States) during the 2017 cropping season to test the genotypes for yield and root morphology under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. Two independent controlled-environmental experiments were conducted to test the genotypes for WUE and root penetrability of synthetic hardpans. The slow wilting lines NTCPR94-5157 and N09-13890 had equal or greater yield than the checks- cultivar NC-Raleigh and the elite South Carolina breeding line SC07-1518RR, under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. The high yielding genotypes NTCPR94-5157, N09-13890, and SC07-1518RR exhibited root parsimony (reduced root development). This supported the recent hypothesis in literature that root parsimony would have adaptational advantage to improve yield under high input field conditions. The high yielding genotypes NTCPR94-5157, N09-13890, NC-Raleigh, and SC07-1518RR and a cultivar Boggs (intermediate in yield) possessed high WUE and had increased root penetrability of hardpans. These genotypes offer useful genetic materials for soybean breeding programs for improving yield, drought tolerance, and/or hardpan penetrability