Sequencing and analysis of genes expressed in the cambial tissue of Quercus rubra using a normalized, large-insert cDNA library

The logistical issues associated with completely sequencing a very large genome greatly limit the number organisms that can have such a project devoted to them. One of the methods developed to circumvent this impasse is the sequencing of expressed sequence tags (ESTs), that is, partial cDNAs. The technique is often used as an introduction to completely unsequenced genomes as well as a more detailed analysis of previously characterized genomes. In the case of poorly characterized genomes, EST sequencing provides a quick, efficient profile of the nucleotide sequences of messenger RNA. Furthermore, many plant ESTs have been quickly annotated via regions of sequence similarity comparisons with genes of model organisms such as the mustard, Arabidopsis thaliana Heynh, and the hardwood, Populus trichocarpa Torr. & A.Gray. This project focused on rapidly dividing cambial tissue from a Quercus rubra L. individual with a partially characterized ancestry. That individual was recovered from one of the few oak nurseries in the world, namely the Watauga Genetic Research Orchard near Elizabethton, TN. The cambial transcriptome provided 984 cDNA clones resulting in 870 unique sequences. After appropriate filtering the unique sequences were submitted for homology comparison against the gene databases of Arabidopsis, Populus, as well as the generalized UniProt database. Putative function was assigned to more than 90% of the unique sequences; however forty sequences have no significant homology to any known protein. The nucleotide sequences produced in this study will be submitted to the GenBank database where they will become the foundation for a Q. rubra sequence resource. Since the sequences were recovered from cambial tissue of spring wood, they will assist in better understanding wood formation within this species. Such studies should lead to increases in both the quality and quantity of this valuable hardwood found in western North Carolina

Application of chemostratigraphy of slackwater deposits to enhance paleoflood reconstruction, Rio Salado, Antofagasta Region, Chile

This thesis reports a study of novel chemostratigraphic methods applied to flood deposit identification/correlation and subsequent paleoflood hydrology and flood frequency analysis in the Rio Salado, Chile. Flood deposit identification at 4 stratigraphic sections and inter-reach correlations are made on the basis of stratigraphic analysis, radiocarbon dating, concentration-depth profile evaluation of trace elements, and discriminant function analysis of trace elements. Concentrations of trace metals were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Inherent uncertainty and limitations of radiocarbon dating make unit correlation difficult by this method alone. Chemostratigraphic methods including a multivariate statistical approach show promise for improving the delineation and correlation of slackwater flood deposits in the Rio Salado. Flood deposit correlation by these methods is used to determine the discharge that produced a geologically defined water surface profile employing step-backwater methods. Paleoflood analysis is used to extend the time scale of a short systematically measured gaging record (25 years) in order to better characterize flood magnitude-frequency relationships. Analysis is performed on a well preserved record of 10 floods with discharges ranging from 240 to 515 m3s-1. The oldest of these floods dates to the early 1600’s AD. Using only gaging data, the 100 year flood event has a discharge of 856 m3s-1. The gaging data plus paleoflood data indicates the discharge of the 100 year flood event is 429 m3s-1, a reduction of about 50 %. The recurrence interval of the 2001 flood changes from ~40 years based on gaging data only to ~100 years using the gaging data plus the paleoflood data. A comparison to studies for the well documented and widely destructive 2001 Atacama flood indicates floods of this magnitude have a shorter recurrence interval than previously suggested

THE IMPACT OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE USE ON THE PARTICIPATION LEVELS AND LIVING ARRANGEMENT DECISIONS OF OLDER ADULTS

Using a nationally representative sample of older adults, this dissertation examines the use of assistive technology devices (ATDs) designed to aid with mobility and sensory functioning and to improve one’s capacity to perform activities of daily living. It measures the impact of ATDs on the participation levels and living arrangement decisions of those needing help. Although the use of these devices has been found to improve functionality, their effectiveness in relation to further outcomes has not been affirmed. The first essay considers whether an individual's ATD use has a positive impact on active participation in activities such as visiting family and friends, attending religious services, joining clubs, going out for enjoyment and volunteering. Another advantage of improved physical functioning would be the older individual's ability to remain in his or her home, as opposed to transferring to a residential care setting. Little research has examined the determinants of living in residential care, versus in the community, and none has examined the use of ATDs in this choice. The second essay considers correlations between living arrangements and the use of ATDs. Finally, the third essay considers whether using assistive devices is associated with a lower probability of living in a residential care environment, controlling for many other health, social and economic factors

Structural Chemistry of Necessarily Distorted Bis(Bipyridine) Complexes. The Crystal Structure of the Trans-[Bis(2,2'-Bipyridine)Bis(Triphenul-Phosphine)Ruthenium(II)] and Trans-[Bis(4,4'-Dimethyl-2,2'-Bipyridine)Bis(Pyridine)Ruthenium(ii)] Cations

The cation trans-[Ru(bpy)2(PPh3)2]2+ and trans-[Ru(Me2bpy2)2(py)2]2+ both contain bipyridine ligands which are distorted because of the crowding of the two chelate units. The hexafluorophosphate salt of the first cation crystallizers in space group P21/n, with a = 11.630(1), b = 20.245(2), c = 11.299(1)Å, &#x03B2 = 103.99(1)°, and Z = 2. R = 0.047 for 2396 observed reflections. The hexafluorophosphate salt of the second cation crystallizers in space group C2/m, with a = 18.392(2), b = 11.265(1), c = 13.383(1)Å, &#x03B2 = 139.42(2)°, and Z = 2. R = 0.047 for 1403 observed reflections. The Ru of the first cation lies on an inversion center and the Ru of the second cation lies on a special position of 2/m symmetry. The distortions of a number of bipyridine complexes with the trans geometry are analyzed and found to fall into two categories, bowed or twisted. The two complexes of this report were found to have a bowed conformation

THE IMPACT OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE USE ON THE PARTICIPATION LEVELS AND LIVING ARRANGEMENT DECISIONS OF OLDER ADULTS

Using a nationally representative sample of older adults, this dissertation examines the use of assistive technology devices (ATDs) designed to aid with mobility and sensory functioning and to improve one’s capacity to perform activities of daily living. It measures the impact of ATDs on the participation levels and living arrangement decisions of those needing help. Although the use of these devices has been found to improve functionality, their effectiveness in relation to further outcomes has not been affirmed. The first essay considers whether an individual's ATD use has a positive impact on active participation in activities such as visiting family and friends, attending religious services, joining clubs, going out for enjoyment and volunteering. Another advantage of improved physical functioning would be the older individual's ability to remain in his or her home, as opposed to transferring to a residential care setting. Little research has examined the determinants of living in residential care, versus in the community, and none has examined the use of ATDs in this choice. The second essay considers correlations between living arrangements and the use of ATDs. Finally, the third essay considers whether using assistive devices is associated with a lower probability of living in a residential care environment, controlling for many other health, social and economic factors

Preparation and X-ray Structure of 2-Tetrahydroborato-2-berylla-<i>nido</i>-hexaborane(11) : Insertion of Beryllium into a Borane Cage

Reaction of beryllium borohydride with 1-chloropentaborane(9) results in insertion of a beryllium atom into the borane cage to give 8-tetrahydroborato-2-berylla-nido-hexaborane(11)

A ruthenium complex with 1,5-di- phenyl-3-thiocarbazone (dithizone) as monodentate ligands: bis(2,2'- bipyridyl-<i>&#x03BA</i>²N,N')bis(dithizonato-<i>&#x03BA</i>S)- ruthenium(II)

The title compound, [Ru(C13H11N4S)2(C15H8N2)2], has C2 symmetry, with bidentate 2,2'-bipyridyl ligands dictating a cis geometry around the RuII center. The monodentate S-bonded dithizone ligands are almost planar, except for one of the phenyl rings, which is twisted by 34.2 (4)&amp;#x00B0 from the N/N/C(S)/ N/N plane. The RuÐS bond length is 2.4140 (13) &amp;#x00C5, and the RuÐN bond lengths are 2.048 (4) and 2.074 (4) &amp;#x00C5

Gas-phase Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Study of the Molecular Structure of Beryllium Borohydride, Be(BH₄)₂

Gas-phase and solution n.m.r. spectral studies of beryllium borohydride, Be(BH4)2, indicate that it contains magnetically equivalent BH4 groups which undergo rapid internal hydrogen exchange; previously postulated triangular boron-beryllium-boron molecular configurations are inconsistent with the n.m.r. data

A 3-Year longitudinal study of risk for bipolar spectrum psychopathology

Current clinical and epidemiological research provides support for a continuum of bipolar psychopathology: a bipolar spectrum that ranges from subthreshold characteristics to clinical disorders. The present research examined the predictive validity of the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) as a measure of bipolar spectrum psychopathology in a nonclinically ascertained sample of young adults at a 3-year follow-up assessment. Thus far, 100 of the original 145 participants have been re-interviewed for bipolar psychopathology, borderline and schizotypal personality disorder symptoms, substance use, treatment history, family history, and psychosocial functioning. At the original assessment, 15 of the 100 participants met criteria for a bipolar spectrum disorder. At the follow-up assessment, an additional 13 had developed bipolar spectrum disorders. A total of 26% of participants met criteria for bipolar spectrum disorders at the follow-up, including 10% with DSM-IV-TR disorders. The HPS predicted new cases and total number of cases of bipolar spectrum disorders, as well as total number of DSM-IV-TR bipolar disorders at the follow-up assessment. The HPS also predicted current hyperthymic temperament or history of hypomania, grandiose traits, impulsivity, substance use disorders, global impairment, and borderline and schizotypal traits. The majority of these effects were significant after removing participants with DSM-IV-TR bipolar disorders from the analyses, suggesting that the results were not driven by a subset of participants with clinical disorders. Contrary to hypotheses, impulsivity did not moderate the predictive validity of the HPS. Overall, these results offer further support for the bipolar spectrum construct and the predictive validity of the HPS as a measure of bipolar spectrum psychopathology

Preparation and X-ray crystal structure study of a polypyridyl ruthenium(II) complex containing a dehydrodithizone ligand

Coordination of 2,3-diphenyltetrazolium-5-thiolate (tet) to an Ru(trpy)(bpy)(OH2)2+ (trpy=2,2':6',2"-terpyridine; bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) centre resulted in the formation of [Ru(trpy)(bpy)(tet)](ClO4)2. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed that the tet ligand is bound through the sulfur atom to a somewhat distorted-octahedral ruthenium centre. The Ru–S bond distance is 2.393(2) Å, and the Ru–S–C bond angle is 115.1(2)°; the tet N-N bonded distances [1.306(10)Å 1.316(9)Å] are essentially equal. These data, as well as spectroscopic and electrochemical evidence, suggest that the tetrazolium ring exhibits delocalized, mesoionic character with some thiolate character on the sulfur atom