Academic Library Cooperation in Fairfield County

This study, commissioned by HECUS, discusses the history and structure of interlibrary cooperation throughout the country with particular attention paid to academic and intertype library consortia. The barriers to cooperation are examined. The history and present level of development of library cooperation in Connecticut are traced including a detailing of SCLS planning and activity. The study includes an analysis of the library strengths of the Fairfield County institutions: public, academic, and special libraries. The next section is the heart of the study. Interlibrary Cooperation - Guidelines for the Future. This section analyzes the responses of the directors of the eight HECUS institutions with separate library facilities to a questionnaire covering interlibrary organization and activity

Disruption of Arabidopsis thaliana dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase gene expression using T-DNA and RNA interference [abstract]

Abstract only availableFaculty Mentor: Douglas Randall, BiochemistryArabidopsis thaliana is commonly used as a model organism for plant functional genomics research. The genome is relatively small and has been completely sequenced, the complete life cycle is relatively short, it is amenable to genetic manipulation, and is closely related to economically important crop plants. It is evident from the results of the A. thaliana genome sequencing project that many proteins are encoded by small multi-gene families. What is the reason for this apparent redundancy? One possibility is that the functions of the genes are vital for plant survival and the genome has accumulated "backup" copies, in case the primary gene is damaged. Another possibility is that genes that appear alike actually play some specialized role. For example, one gene might be expressed only in flowers while another is expressed in the leaves. The A. thaliana includes three genes for the important respiratory enzyme dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase (E2). Two of the genes encode a protein with a single lipoyl domain, while the third has two lipoyl domains. A good way to study the function of multiple genes is to disrupt their expression. The most common method of gene disruption in plants uses what is called "T-DNA insertional mutagenesis." This method produces non-functional proteins. Another, relatively new, method uses RNA interference (RNAi) to prevent protein translation. RNAi uses a naturally occurring pathway to destroy the mRNA prior to translation of the protein. By using a combination of these two methods of molecular manipulation we will be closer to answering the question of why these genes exist in duplicate.MU Monsanto Undergraduate Research Fellowshi

Electrochemically Activated Persulfate for Ciprofloxacin Degradation

Electrochemically activated persulfate (EAP) is a potential point source treatment for wastewater effluents containing high pharmaceutical content. This dissertation explores the fundamental mechanisms of EAP to better understand this technology for practical application. Ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, was chosen as the model compound to assess parameters of EAP. Ciprofloxacin was selected for its high environmental risk factor and prevalence in hospital wastewater, a potential application for EAP. During the evaluation of EAP as a point source treatment, degradation kinetics and pathways of ciprofloxacin were elucidated.In the first stage of this study, persulfate activation by solid iron with and without applied current was characterized and applied to the degradation of ciprofloxacin. It was found that persulfate activation increased with iron surface area and increased to a plateau with increasing current. Ciprofloxacin degraded via first-order kinetics; however, applied current did not affect ciprofloxacin removal.In the second part of this study, electrochemical persulfate activation without iron, using boron-doped diamond (BDD) anodes and graphite or platinum cathodes, was examined. Sulfate radical formation at a BDD anode and persulfate activation at a graphite cathode were elucidated using different electrolytes and electrochemical set-ups. In this system, ciprofloxacin degraded via first order-kinetics, with persulfate electrolyte enhancing ciprofloxacin removal over sulfate or nitrate.In the final phase of this study, parameters such as reactor configuration, electrode surface area, persulfate concentrations and the presence of a complex matrix were examined to determine their impact on contaminant removal. Due to mass transfer limitations and relative cathode sizes, a flow-through reactor was least benefited by persulfate addition while a rotating-disk electrode reactor showed enhanced ciprofloxacin removal with persulfate electrolyte. Ciprofloxacin removal from synthetic hospital effluent using electrochemically activated persulfate was found to be less than that in pure electrolyte but still followed a first-order mechanism. Considerable total organic carbon removal of ciprofloxacin and other organic components of the effluent was achieved. Similar degradation was achieved with persulfate and sulfate electrolyte in the effluent. Chlorate, chlorite and perchlorate were formed in significant amounts during the electrochemical process, with formation independent of the presence of persulfate

LiDAR Assessment of Sediment Transport Related to the Removal of the Marmot Dam, Sandy River, Oregon

Four Aerial LiDAR survey were used to examine the impacts of the 2007 removal of the Marmot Dam on the Sandy River, Oregon. Geomorphic Change Detection software was used to answer three project goals: 1) to investigate how the dam removal affected sediment distribution in the lower reach of the river, several km downstream of the dam, 2) to determine whether the pulse of sediment from the dam removal created a detectable, successive downstream accumulation of sediment through time, and 3) to assess the effect of natural high-flow events on the sediment distribution related to the dam removal. The results showed that a sediment pulse could be identified and tracked up to 13 km downstream from the former dam, but below that the pulse could not be detected from normal river processes. A majority of the sediment deposited from the dam release moved downstream as a result of high-flow events during winter months

The association between raising grandchildren and grandparent caregiver marital relationships

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on October 30, 2007)Includes bibliographical references.Thesis (M.A.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Human development and family studies.Few studies have examined how raising grandchildren influences the marital relationship of grandparent caregivers even though raising grandchildren may strain marital relationships. This study used nationally representative data from MIDUS to contrast perceptions of spousal relations for grandparents who had recently provided care for grandchildren along with their own young children (n=21), with those of grandparents who had recently cared for grandchildren only (n=91). Unweighted and weighted ANOVA results revealed an interaction between sex and generation with grandmother caregivers raising two generations reporting poorer spousal relations than grandfather caregivers raising two generations. An unweighted interaction effect was also found, where grandmother caregivers raising two generations reported lower scores on the marital relations measure than those raising one generation. Grandmother caregivers with recent experience raising two generations appear to have a more negative experience, as indicated by lower levels of marital affective solidarity. These results parallel other studies that suggest that grandparent caregivers show poorer outcomes when they possess multiple caregiving roles that can produce a pile-up of stress and role strain

Effect of Carbon Nanofiber-Matrix Adhesion on Polymeric Nanocomposite Properties—Part II

A successful integration of two independent phases with good adhesion is imperative for effective translation of superior carbon nanofiber filler properties into a physically superior carbon nanocomposite. Carbon nanofibers were subjected to electrochemical oxidation in 0.1 M nitric acid for varying times. The strength of adhesion between the nanofiber and an epoxy matrix was characterized by flexural strength and modulus. The surface functional groups formed and their concentration of nanofibers showed a dependence on the degree of oxidation. The addition of chemical functional groups on the nanofiber surface allows them to physically and chemically adhere to the continuous resin matrix. The chemical interaction with the continuous epoxy matrix results in the creation of an interphase region. The ability to chemically and physically interact with the epoxy region is beneficial to the mechanical properties of a carbon nanocomposite. A tailored degree of surface functionalization was found to increase adhesion to the matrix and increase flexural modulus

Closing the Knowing-Doing Gap in Invasive Plant Management: Accessibility and Interdisciplinarity of Scientific Research

Like many conservation disciplines, invasion biology may suffer from a knowing-doing gap, where scientific research fails to inform management actions. We surveyed California resource managers to evaluate engagement with scientific research and to identify research priorities. We examined managers\u27 access to information, judgment of the usefulness of existing research, ability to generate scientific information, and priorities for future research. We found that practitioners rely on their own experience, and largely do not read the peer-reviewed literature, which they regard as only moderately useful. Less than half of managers who do research carry out experiments conforming to the norms of hypothesis testing, and their results are not broadly disseminated. Managers\u27 research needs are not restricted to applied science, or even basic ecology, but include social science questions. Scientists studying invasions can make their research more useful by crossing disciplinary boundaries, sourcing research questions from practitioners, and reporting results in accessible venues