Preparation, Characterization and Flotation of Colloidal Coal

Summary -- Table of Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Introduction -- Experimental Methods and Materials -- Experimental Results -- Discussion and Conclusions -- Reference

Disentangling Electronic and Vibronic Coherences in Two-Dimensional Echo Spectra

The prevalence of long-lasting oscillatory signals in two-dimensional (2D) echo spectroscopy of light-harvesting complexes has led to a search for possible mechanisms. We investigate how two causes of oscillatory signals are intertwined: (i) electronic coherences supporting delocalized wavelike motion and (ii) narrow bands in the vibronic spectral density. To disentangle the vibronic and electronic contributions, we introduce a time-windowed Fourier transform of the signal amplitude. We find that 2D spectra can be dominated by excitations of pathways which are absent in excitonic energy transport. This leads to an underestimation of the lifetime of electronic coherences by 2D spectra.Chemistry and Chemical BiologyPhysic

Development and testing of hermetic, laser-ignited pyrotechnic and explosive components

During the last decade there has been increasing interest in the use of lasers in place of electrical systems to ignite various pyrotechnic and explosive materials. The principal driving force for this work was the requirement for safer energetic components which would be insensitive to electrostatic and electromagnetic radiation. In the last few years this research has accelerated since the basic concepts have proven viable. At the present time it is appropriate to shift the research emphasis in laser initiation from the scientific arena--whether it can be done--to the engineering realm--how it can be put into actual practice in the field. Laser initiation research and development at EG&G Mound was in three principal areas: (1) laser/energetic material interactions; (2) development of novel processing techniques for fabricating hermetic (helium leak rate of less than 1 x 10(exp -8) cu cm/s) laser components; and (3) evaluation and testing of laser-ignited components. Research in these three areas has resulted in the development of high quality, hermetic, laser initiated components. Examples are presented which demonstrate the practicality of fabricating hermetic, laser initiated explosive or pyrotechnic components that can be used in the next generation of ignitors, actuators, and detonators

Understanding Music: Past and Present

Understanding Music: Past and Present is an open Music Appreciation textbook co-authored by music faculty across Georgia. The text covers the fundamentals of music and the physics of sound, an exploration of music from the Middle Ages to the present day, and a final chapter on popular music in the United States. Accessible files with optical character recognition (OCR) and auto-tagging provided by the Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation.https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/arts-textbooks/1000/thumbnail.jp

Understanding How Students from Rural Culture Make Meaning of Campus Recreation Engagement

Research indicates that students are more likely to persist when they are involved in extracurricular programs such as campus recreation. Because institutional funding is predicated upon graduation rates, ascertaining persistence impact of these programs is crucial. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding of the persistence needs of students from rural backgrounds relative to their engagement in campus recreation within the framework of Astin’s Input-Environment-Outcomes model. Data were collected from nine students at a residential, agricultural State College in the southeastern United States. Results indicated 1) participants (7/9) became involved immediately in campus recreation; 2) all participants were aware of wellness benefits derived; 3) participants (8/9) perceived that campus recreation involvement positively influenced persistence by complementing their academic responsibilities; and 4) participants (8/9) believed their rural background provided extra motivation to persist. Results can be used to assist administrators making intentional extracurricular investment decisions.Chapter I: INTRODUCTION 1 -- National Focus on Student Persistence in Higher Education 2 -- Campus Recreation and Holistic Wellness 4 -- Impact on College Persistence 5 -- Students from Rural Cultures 5 -- Statement of the Problem 6 -- Purpose of the Study 7 -- Research Questions 7 -- Significance of the Study 9 -- Organization of the Study 11 -- Chapter II: LITERATURE REVIEW 12 -- Conceptual Framework 13 -- Student Development 16 -- Persistence 19 -- Persistence and Rural High School Students 20 -- Momentum Year 21 -- Mindset 22 -- Grit 23 -- Students from Rural Background 24 -- Framing Rural Culture 25 -- Socioeconomic Challenges of Rurality 27 -- Rural Culture in Higher Education 30 -- Rurality and First-Generation College Students 32 -- Extracurricular Programming and Persistence 35 -- Physical Activity 37 -- Structured 38 -- Unstructured 40 -- Campus Recreation 41 -- Campus Recreation and Persistence 43 -- Campus Recreation and Wellness 44 -- National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association 48 -- Summary 48 -- Chapter III: METHODOLOGY 51 -- Research Design 51 -- Research Questions 52 -- Setting 52 -- Data Collection 53 -- Approval to Conduct the Study 53 -- Consent to Participate in Study 53 -- Sampling Procedure 54 -- Participant Selection 55 -- Student Interviews 55 -- Data Processing and Analysis 56 -- Validity 58 -- Researcher-Interviewer 58 -- Beliefs and Biases 60 -- Reactivity 62 -- Trustworthiness 63 -- Summary 64 -- Chapter IV: RESULTS (FINDING) 66 -- Brief Profiles of the Participants 69 -- How Campus Recreation is Experienced 77 -- Immediate Involvement 78 -- Wellness Appreciation 80 -- Perceptions of Campus Recreation Impact on Persistence 83 -- Miscellaneous Gem 86 -- Rural Background Input and Extra Motivation to Persist 86 -- Summary 88 -- Chapter V: JOURNAL READY ARTICLE 89 -- Abstract 89 -- Literature Review 90 -- Physical Activity and Wellness 92 -- Persistence 95 -- Momentum Year 95 -- Mindset 96 -- Grit 98 -- Research Design and Methods 99 -- Research Questions 100 -- Participants 101 -- Data Collection 101 -- Data Processing and Analysis 103 -- Validity and Trustworthiness 104 -- Findings 105 -- Immediate Involvement 105 -- Wellness Appreciation 106 -- Academic Complement 107 -- Discussion and Conclusions 108 -- Practical Implications 112 -- Limitations 113 -- Future Research 115 -- REFERENCES 116 -- APPENDIX A: Institutional Review Board Protocol Exemption Report 149 -- APPENDIX B: Letter of Cooperation 151 -- APPENDIX C: Consent Statement 153 -- APPENDIX D: Invitation to Participate 156 -- APPENDIX E: Interview Guide 158 -- APPENDIX F: Researcher Identity Memo 162 -- APPENDIX G: Questions and Methods Matrix 169.Hull, Karla M.Archibald, JamesWorkman, JamieCruz, Becky K. daEd.D.Education in Leadershi

Oral, nasal and pharyngeal exposure to lipopolysaccharide causes a fetal inflammatory response in sheep.

BackgroundA fetal inflammatory response (FIR) in sheep can be induced by intraamniotic or selective exposure of the fetal lung or gut to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The oral, nasal, and pharyngeal cavities (ONP) contain lymphoid tissue and epithelium that are in contact with the amniotic fluid. The ability of the ONP epithelium and lymphoid tissue to initiate a FIR is unknown.ObjectiveTo determine if FIR occurs after selective ONP exposure to LPS in fetal sheep.MethodsUsing fetal recovery surgery, we isolated ONP from the fetal lung, GI tract, and amniotic fluid by tracheal and esophageal ligation and with an occlusive glove fitted over the snout. LPS (5 mg) or saline was infused with 24 h Alzet pumps secured in the oral cavity (n = 7-8/group). Animals were delivered 1 or 6 days after initiation of the LPS or saline infusions.ResultsThe ONP exposure to LPS had time-dependent systemic inflammatory effects with changes in WBC in cord blood, an increase in posterior mediastinal lymph node weight at 6 days, and pro-inflammatory mRNA responses in the fetal plasma, lung, and liver. Compared to controls, the expression of surfactant protein A mRNA increased 1 and 6 days after ONP exposure to LPS.ConclusionONP exposure to LPS alone can induce a mild FIR with time-dependent inflammatory responses in remote fetal tissues not directly exposed to LPS

Rapid Targeted Gene Disruption in Bacillus Anthracis

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease recognized to affect herbivores since Biblical times and has the widest range of susceptible host species of any known pathogen. The ease with which the bacterium can be weaponized and its recent deliberate use as an agent of terror, have highlighted the importance of gaining a deeper understanding and effective countermeasures for this important pathogen. High quality sequence data has opened the possibility of systematic dissection of how genes distributed on both the bacterial chromosome and associated plasmids have made it such a successful pathogen. However, low transformation efficiency and relatively few genetic tools for chromosomal manipulation have hampered full interrogation of its genome. Results: Group II introns have been developed into an efficient tool for site-specific gene inactivation in several organisms. We have adapted group II intron targeting technology for application in Bacillus anthracis and generated vectors that permit gene inactivation through group II intron insertion. The vectors developed permit screening for the desired insertion through PCR or direct selection of intron insertions using a selection scheme that activates a kanamycin resistance marker upon successful intron insertion. Conclusions: The design and vector construction described here provides a useful tool for high throughput experimental interrogation of the Bacillus anthracis genome and will benefit efforts to develop improved vaccines and therapeutics.Chem-Bio Diagnostics program from the Department of Defense Chemical and Biological Defense program through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) B102387MNIH GM037949Welch Foundation F-1607Cellular and Molecular Biolog