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SYNTHESIS OF HYDROGELS VIA UV PHOTO-INITIATED POLYMERIZATION AND THEIR APPLICATIONS
No full textHydrogels, derived from natural or synthetic polymers, have superior swelling and adsorption properties and are being used in environmental chemistry and engineering as well as medicine and agriculture. Previously reported methods include synthesis using sonication and low-temperature polymerization using liquid nitrogen, which are used to synthesize simple hydrogels. Specific properties can be derived from co-polymers, and UV photo-initiation is considered as a means of producing such co-polymers. While hydrogels can be synthesized using various methods which yield products capable of different functions, studies have been conducted to make use of their adsorption behavior toward organic compounds. This involves specific adsorption/desorption characteristics, and therefore, it is critical to understanding the properties of synthesized hydrogles via the structural analysis using FT-IR and other characterization methods. Hydrogel co-polymers were successfully synthesized via UV photo-initiated polymerization and tested for their performance in adsorption and release of urea from human urine. This method provided a superior way of synthesis of acrylamide, cellulose and acrylic acid hybrids, and the optimization of the polymerization is being conducted to achieve higher precision and efficiency. Along with the details of optimization within the photo-initiated polymerization process, this work presents the comparative characteristics and performance results of acrylamide, cellulose and acrylic acid hybrids, and those of micro-crystalline cellulose reinforced polyacrylic hydrogels synthesized using a photo initiator and a UV light source. Additional comparison is being made through further investigation into hydrogels polymerized using sonication and molds to produce specific and structurally sound shapes
The Impact of Phosphate Regulations on the Total Phosphorus Levels in The Lake Lanier Watershed from 1987 to 2020
No full textConcern due to increasing phosphorus levels in lakes and their watersheds has been growing since the 1960s. There is a long history of water regulations regarding household detergents that attempt to reduce unnatural sources of phosphorus running off into lakes. Total phosphorus analysis has been performed by the University of North Georgia Water Lab which has maintained a continuous baseline water quality-monitoring program of the Lake Lanier Watershed since 1987 for The Upper Chattahoochee Basin Group (and its predecessors). Data from the University of North Georgia Water Lab demonstrates a change in total phosphorus levels in the Lake Lanier Watershed with data that starts in 1987 and ends in 2020. Due to the little research that has been done regarding the impact of household detergent phosphate bans on southern watersheds, this project seeks to use the Water Lab’s longitudinal data in conjunction with environmental policy review and statistical analysis to assess the efficacy of household detergent phosphate bans
Effect of Estrogen Pretreatment on Glial-Like Cell Viability Following Stress Response Hormone Treatment
Get PDFThe role of steroid hormones is critical in cellular function. Previous studies have found a positive correlation between the endogenous estrogen 17β-estradiol and cellular protection. Conversely, exogenous conjugated equine estrogens provide less protective mechanisms than endogenous hormones, and little is known about the role of estrogens in cellular protection during a stress response. In the present study, we compare the effects of short-term estrogen pretreatments (alone and in combination) on cell viability when cells with glial cell morphology are exposed to either epinephrine or cortisol. Results showed that 1 µM 17β-estradiol resulted in decreased cell viability following the epinephrine treatment; none of the 17β-estradiol pretreatments affected viability following the cortisol treatment. The highest concentration (10 µM) of the conjugated equine estrogen equilenin, either alone or in combination with 17β-estradiol, yielded significantly lower cell viability following epinephrine and cortisol stressors. The results of this study suggest certain estrogens, especially in combination, could be detrimental to cells associated with the nervous system during a stress response
Macroinvertebrates, Watershed Imperviousness, and a Water Quality Index: A Confluence of Georgia Adopt-A-Stream’s Volunteer Data
Get PDFThe relationship between a stream’s macroinvertebrate community as quantified by Georgia Adopt-A-Stream’s Water Quality Index and the impervious surface of an adopted stream’s watershed was weak. Although the average WQI decreased with increasing watershed imperviousness, the R2 was only 8.3%--an admittedly poor fit. To further investigate, a more comprehensive analysis was performed using forward stepwise regression. This model, which included both imperviousness and the abundance of just 15 out of the 20 kinds of macroinvertebrates, achieved an R2 of 59.4%. Imperviousness alone may not be a good predictor of WQI, but a combination of selected macroinvertebrate data and imperviousness can yield a better fitting model. Furthermore, mayflies, aquatic sowbugs, clams/mussels, midges, and lunged snails, all of which were excluded from the model because they did not have a significant predictive value for WQI, generally seem to have specific habitat requirements which are dictated by stream-reach, rather than whole watershed characteristics
J AND H FILTER BRIGHTNESS OF VENUS: 2014-2020
No full textThis paper summarizes J and H filter brightness measurememnts made of Venus between 2014 and 2020. Equations describing Venus\u27 brightness at different solar phase angles are presented. There is also evidence, Venus is a bit dimmer (H filter) when its longitude is between 0 and 90 degrees than aother other longitudes. More measurements, however, are need to make firmer conclusions
Statistical Exploration of the Data for the Georgia Mountain Food Bank
No full textHunger relief is one of the major needs during humanitarian emergencies. Georgia Mountain Food Bank’s (GMFB) mission is to address hunger, health and quality of life by serving those in need throughout North Georgia. GMFB provides a vital link between sources of food supplies and hardworking community-based partner agencies who help distribute the food into the hands of families and individuals who need it. GMFB is invited to participate in this project by providing data on the “People in Need” program for the past two years. GMFB provides the demographic and food picking up information for FY17 & FY18. The data are completely anonymous without any ethical concerns. GMFB would like to obtain a better understanding of the data through mathematics research and analytic study with this project
Pleistocene Rodents from Southeast Georgia
No full textLate-Pleistocene fossil sites are uncommon in Georgia. However, Clark Quarry, a locality near Brunswick, Georgia, has yielded a large and diverse collection of vertebrate skeletal material dominated by cranial and post-cranial fossils of Columbian mammoths (Mammuthus columbi) and giant bison (Bison latifrons). Screen washing of the fossiliferous sediment associated with the bones of the megafauna has produced a large number of microfossils. Here we describe fossil rodents from Clark Quarry. Cranial and post-cranial material of eight rodent taxa have been identified to date. Of these, five are found in the area today: Sigmodon hispidus, Peromyscus sp., Oryzomys palustris, Neofiber alleni, Reithrodontomys humulis. For the other three, the Florida bog lemming (Synaptomys australis) is now extinct, Clark Quarry is south of the current range of the groundhog (Marmota monax), and the capybara (Hydrochoerus) is only found in Central and South America today. The fossils found in Clark Quarry provide a glimpse of the diversity of Late-Pleistocene rodent fauna in Georgia
PROTECTION BY FRUCTOSE FROM DENATURATION OF PHYCOCYANIN BY OCTANOL**
No full textWe have been developing an approach to monitoring environmental water bodies for the presence of cyanobacteria. The established approach to monitoring water for aqueous vegetation and cyanobacteria is to separately extract chlorophyll for the estimation of all aquatic vegetation and to extract phycocyanin for the estimation of cyanobacteria. The approach reported here uses a biphasic system composed of octanol and water for the simultaneous extraction of chlorophyll and phycocyanin from aquatic vegetation, resulting in the separation of the two pigments into different phases; chlorophyll in the upper octanol layer, and phycocyanin in the lower aqueous layer. Such separation of the two pigments allows for more sensitive detection of either pigment. A potential flaw in this approach is that phycocyanin (a protein) exposure to octanol during the extraction process tends to reduce the blue color used to measure the phycocyanin. We have now discovered that this loss of blue color, which we assume to be due to denaturation of the phycocyanin, can be prevented by making the aqueous phase 3M fructose. Others have shown a similar protective effect of fructose against protein denaturation. The data presented here show the protective effect observed in the extraction of phycocyanin from different strains of cyanobacteria. We also show relative detection limits for phycocyanin and chlorophyll by both optical density and intrinsic fluorescence measurements. In contrast, neither glycerol nor polyethylene glycol has this protective effect. The basis for the protective effect of fructose is under investigation. This work is funded by the Biology Department of East Georgia State College
GROUNDHOG (MARMOTA MONAX) BURROW SITE SELECTION BASED ON SOIL MOISTURE, PH, AND TEMPERATURE
No full textThe groundhog, Marmota monax, is a species of marmot (giant ground squirrels) found in north Georgia and throughout the Appalachian region into Canada. These large rodents are often trapped or hunted due to their garden infestations and excessive burrowing causing infrastructure issues. However, their underground burrow networks could play an important ecological role by providing vital shelter for foxes, skunks, snakes, and other animals. Very little is known about groundhog ecology, but given their potential role both in food-web dynamics (i.e. prey for mesopredators) and providing habitats for other species, it is an important topic to investigate further. In this study we are measuring soil moisture, pH, and temperature across seasons to determine if there is a correlation in soil characteristics and burrow location preference by groundhogs. To date, we have investigated 15 burrows around Lumpkin County, GA and continue to work on identifying more burrow locations and analyzing the data to determine if any trends exist. Due to the lack of current data, this research could potentially be a step in further understanding the lifestyle and ecological role of these large mountain rodents
Avian Reproductive Success is Associated with Multiple Vegetation Characteristics at an Active Grassland Restoration Site in Central Georgia
Get PDFGrassland bird populations are experiencing major declines due to habitat degradation, pesticide use, and fire suppression throughout North America. Large-scale grassland restoration efforts to improve and provide suitable habitat are ongoing, but there is little data on productivity of birds breeding in restored habitats, nor on the impact of specific vegetation characteristics on reproductive success. Since 2005, agriculture fields at Panola Mountain State Park in central Georgia have been undergoing restoration to warm-season grasslands; however, until now, data on nest success or productivity was lacking. The goals of this project were to: (1) quantify reproductive success and (2) determine which vegetation characteristics were associated with successful nests. From March-August 2019, we monitored all active nests, recorded nest outcome, and measured several vegetation characteristics. We used Akaike’s Information Criterion (AICc) to determine which variables were most strongly associated with success. We found 52 nests of 11 species, with an overall success rate of 34.62%. Seventeen nests were cup nests, 35.29% of which were successful. The most common cause of failure for all nests was predation (91.18%). Nest type, plant height, plant height above the nest, and distance to water were most strongly associated with nest success overall; nest success was higher for nests in taller grasses with more grass above the nest, and those located further from water edges. All of these factors are linked with predation risk because they provide more concealment and/or are farther from areas where predators concentrate. We recommend that prescribed fires occur either in the winter or early enough in the spring so grasses can grow to appropriate heights and, when possible, that managers create natural buffers around abrupt water edges near nesting areas to ensure high quality, productive habitat for grassland birds