Comparative Genomics Of Transposable Elements In The Grasses

Transposable elements (TE’s) are the most abundant genetic loci found in eukaryotic genomes and often occupy more than 70% of the genome landscape. These genetic elements were first described in maize (Zea mays) and have been found in all eukaryotic genomes investigated. The grass family (Poaceae), has long been used as a model system to study transposable elements. Transposable element content has been analyzed in many grass species including, Maize, Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), Rice (Oryza sativa), and many others. This project aims to explore and characterize the repetitive elements in six grass genomes that are closely related within the grass tribe Andropogoneae, with the ultimate goal of better understanding the mechanisms that have driven the diversification of this important grass clade. Bioinformatic software Galaxy was used to identify and characterize the abundance of TE’s in six grass species that have not been investigated to date. The presence/absences of specific TE’s were then mapped onto a phylogeny of the Andropogoneae to better understand the dynamics of TE evolution. An improved understanding of repetitive elements across the grass phylogeny may uncover the mechanism behind the explosive evolutionary radiation of the grasses

Comparing Water Immersion Skin Wrinkling and Tilt Table Testing in a Young Healthy Population

Tilt table testing (TTT) is the golden standard in evaluating vasovagal syncope, an autonomic function. Water immersion skin wrinkling (WISW) has recently been linked to autonomic function. The purpose of this study is to compare WISW and TTT in a young healthy population. Six subjects (male n=3, female n=3) were admitted to Charleston Forge Vascular Laboratory for testing. Subjects were randomized into groups starting with TTT and WISW. TTT consisted of 5 minutes supine monitoring, followed by 5 minutes of 80° tilting, finishing with 5 more minutes of supine monitoring. WISW was administered by placing a subject’s hand in lukewarm water for 20 minutes. Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded for TTT and degree of wrinkling was recorded for WISW. A two-tailed t-test determined that there is not a significant difference between WISW and TTT

Historic character preservation during neighborhood revitalization: a mixed methods analysis

The intent of this two-phase sequential mixed methods study is to assess the retention of historic character in neighborhoods listed on the National Register of Historic Places during redevelopment with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The first phase is a qualitative investigation of four North Carolina case studies to determine changes over time in their visual character by collecting archival photographs from the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, field survey data, and current photographs on site in the neighborhoods. Findings from this qualitative phase are then coded and thematically mapped with the Historic Character Retention Diagnostic to determine how the historic character of neighborhoods changed during redevelopment through comparisons of archival and current photographs. The second phase maps patterns of demolition, infill, and investment through Rehabilitation Tax Credits using CartoDB, a GIS mapping platform. Of the 65 total sites included in the Historic Character Retention Diagnostic, two-thirds have been maintained. As a tool, the Historic Character Retention Diagnostic excels in mapping patterns of rehabilitation and deterioration, which are two categories difficult to quantify with property tax data and Rehabilitation Tax Credit information

A study of the relationship between scores on the Minnesota vocational test for clerical workers and the 1946 national clerical ability test in stenography

One of the functions of education is the counseling of individuals in the selection of fields of work in which they will perform most effectively and in which they will be well adjusted. Many students registering for shorthand fail or drop out before the completion of the course for a number of reasons, one of which has been identified as the lack of the aptitudes and interests necessary to succeed in this type of work. According to a statement in the Tenth Yearbook of the Eastern Commercial Teachers’ Association, it is apparent that "many of those who are studying shorthand for vocational reasons lack the aptitudes, interests, and abilities required for this kind of work."

GIS Analysis of Impacts of TVA Dams on Upstream Residential Property Values in Eastern Tennessee

As cost benefit analyses are conducted by agencies such as the USACE and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), potential decline in upstream property value due to a large dam failure or removal should be addressed. The data used in this research include TVA owned and operated dam structures obtained from the USACE National Inventory of Dams (USACE NID), assessed property GIS parcel data from Blount County, Tennessee, and Median Household Values from the 2010 US Census. Analysis of the Median Household Value and USACE NID data indicate there is not a significant correlation between the lake storage capacity and median household value. Spatial analysis of the county-level land parcel data was conducted to determine impacts of reservoir depletion on upstream residential property values and potential usage within a future cost-benefit analysis for a dam structure’s removal or mitigation. Results show that properties within the studied buffer areas will become greater in distance from the water once a dam removal or failure resulted in depletion of the lake. This increased distance results in decline in overall property value, average property value, and decreased county property tax revenue

A study on how multi-cultural awareness training changes the cultural sensitivity of teachers

This study examined and described how the value systems and beliefs of teachers (both beginning and veteran) regarding culturally diverse student populations (and their families) influence teachers performance in their role as multi-cultural communicators. The study also sought to determine what changes (if any) occur in teacher performance when the teacher/educators take part in a professional development seminar designed to aid in the process of Rethinking the Education of Culturally Diverse Student Populations. The assertion was that when teachers and administrators are exposed to effective cross-cultural communication techniques, their ability to communicate information to diverse student populations will improve. The findings of this study indicated that a paradigm shift or a worldview change might be needed for teachers and their multi-cultural students. Educators must realize that change is a process that comes in stages. Within multi-cultural classrooms, one must realize that students will be in different stages of the change process. This will require teachers to utilize a variety of cross-cultural bridge building tools simultaneously

Memoirs of Ruth Hooper

This edition was created from the manuscript of the Memoirs of Ruth Hooper, as well as images from the accompanying materials contained on Western Carolina University’s Digital Collections website. As a whole manuscript, Ruth Hooper’s memoirs detail events related to her life, as well as her marriage to W. Carr Hooper. The manuscript begins by telling details of her life with W. Carr Hooper in the Philippines of the 1930s. The document also covers events related to the beginning of World War II, the couple’s time spent as prisoners in the Japanese-run Santo Tomas Internment Camp, and of the camp’s liberation in 1945 by the United States military. A vast majority of Ruth Hooper’s memoirs (including the entirety of my assigned section) relates to the details surrounding the Santo Tomas camp: through both depictions of daily life and general goings-on in the camp. Hooper’s manuscript has a unique tone of voice, which says many things about the experiences of Santo Tomas internees. Living there under Japanese control was not easy, and the amount of malnutrition in the camp was exceedingly tragic. Yet despite all of this, the Hoopers (as well as many others in the camp) were determined to make it through until their liberation day