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Studies on Luminescent Gold and Platinum Nanoclusters for Biological Sensing and Catalysis
Get PDFNanoclusters are small nanoparticles that usually range around a micrometer in diameter. Gold Nanoclusters are known for their unique size and surface qualities and do not share metallic properties with nanoparticles or their respective bulk material. Some metal nanoclusters show high fluorescence and can be synthesized with protein mediation. Nanocluster formation depends on a number of variables, including temperature, pH, and type of reducing agent. This experiment was done to begin to understand how these variables may affect synthesis and what exactly they are.
Pure Wild Type CSP-1 protein was induced, transformed, and purified in order to mediate gold and platinum nanocluster synthesis in a variety of different situations. When mixed in solution, the free Au3+ ions from HAuCl4 form clusters by attaching to the many cysteine side chains of the protein. Data was collected showing that in a neutral pH, using a solution of 50mM Tris and 150mM NaCl, highly fluorescent gold nanoclusters formed. These nanoclusters synthesized using 1M sodium hydroxide reducing agent showed the brightest fluorescence, a bright red-orange. Nanocluster formation in this experiment was confirmed through a matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization test. It was found that in the samples showing fluorescence, gold nanoclusters could be observed with a mass of 4kDa. This means that a nanocluster formed with around 20 Au atoms
Teacher Perceptions of Arts Integration in Lower Elementary School Classrooms
Get PDFIn this thesis, I will address the perceptions of elementary school teachers on the use of arts integration as a teaching practice in their classrooms and how those perceptions impact student performance. Throughout my student teaching experience this year, I engaged in a reflective practice of making field notes as I observed, assisted with, and taught arts-integrated lessons in a kindergarten classroom. Additionally, I conducted one-on-one interviews with three in-service teachers at the rural Mississippi elementary school in which I was placed. I made this a mixed methods study by adding a third source of data via an online questionnaire taken by in-service teachers at the same Mississippi elementary school. I went through a process of coding and analyzing the data from both the personal field notes and the teacher interviews in order to establish the perceptions on arts integration, as well as the reasoning behind the perceptions, of both the in-service teachers and myself as a pre-service teacher. I analyzed the data from the questionnaire as well to create a more comprehensive understanding of the results of the study. Based on the findings, I highlighted ways in which teachers can learn to engage in the use of arts integration in their classrooms. I found that while teachers may perceive constraints that hold them back from using the arts, they do see a high level of value in using arts integration in order to improve students’ cognitive, social, and emotional skills
The Effect of Familiarity on Joint Attention in Children with ASD
Get PDFJoint attention is the ability to share focus on an object with a conversational partner and the awareness that this attention is shared (Moore, Dunham, & Dunham, 2014). Joint attention is an important building block for learning, language, and social development (Mundy & Newell, 2007; Thurm, Lord, Lee, & Newschaffer, 2007). However, previous research has documented that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have significant deficits and delays in the acquisition of joint attention when compared to typically developing peers of similar chronological ages (Mundy, Sigman, & Kasari, 1994; Osterling & Dawson, 1994; Chiang, Soong, Lin, & Rogers, 2008). Other lines of research suggest that familiarity between individuals with ASD and another person can positively impact behaviors such as reward anticipation, eye tracking, and empathy (Hudry & Slaughter, 2009; Stavropoulos & Carver, 2014; Sterling et al., 2008). Therefore, the following research questions were posed: 1.) Does familiarity with a conversational partner impact total time spent in joint attention in children with ASD? 2.) Will interacting with a familiar conversational partner increase time spent initiating joint attention in children with ASD? To answer these questions, therapy videos were coded from six males between the ages of 3;6 and 5;5. Of these six males, all were enrolled in the HILL program at the University of Mississippi. Five of them had an official ASD diagnosis while one was strongly suspected of ASD. Videos of the child’s therapy sessions were recorded across three to four semesters. One video was recorded at the start of the semester when the child and graduate clinician were still unfamiliar with each other. A second video was recorded at the end of the semester when the child and clinician were familiar with each other. To measure joint attention, videos were coded using a modified Early Social Communication Scale scheme (Mundy et al., 2003). Results of the study support that familiarity positively impacts total time spent in joint attention in children with ASD, but it does support that children will initiate joint attention more in familiar conditions. This research implies the importance of the clinician-client relationship for improvements in joint attention, and it allows for future research on how joint attention can be improved with unfamiliar conversational partners
Deducing the Reproductive, Behavioral, and Learning Effects of Developmental Cannabinoid Exposure in Zebrafish
Get PDFWith the spreading legalization of marijuana, it is important to investigate the effects of two of its active ingredients—Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC and CBD differ in that THC exerts psychoactive effects, while CBD does not. Thus, CBD is renowned for its analgesic effects in treating a variety of ailments, for example, childhood drug-resistant epilepsy. In addition, there is an increase in reports of prenatal CBD usage. As it is increasingly used, research has fallen far behind the proliferation of CBD and more needs to be done, particularly in the developmental realm. This study utilizes a developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) multigenerational paradigm after an embryo-larval exposure of F0 zebrafish to several low concentrations of THC (0.024, 0.12, 0.6 mg/L; 0.08, 0.4, 2 μM) and CBD (0.006, 0.03, 0.15 mg/L; 0.02, 0.1, 0.5 μM). Three primary tests were conducted: a reproductive assessment, an adult behavioral Open Field Test, and a learning and memory T-maze test. In terms of reproduction, fecundity was significantly reduced in several exposed F0 groups, but not in F1 groups. In the Open Field Test, there were no significant findings in the F0 fish, but there were significantly altered behaviors measured in the F1 fish whose parents were exposed to the highest concentration of THC. The T-maze is an ongoing experiment and has not produced any significant outcomes in relation to learning and memory. The results of this experiment reveal the need for increased investigation into the lifelong and multigenerational effects of developmental THC and CBD exposure
A Comprehensive Review of Accounting through Case Studies
Get PDFAn in-depth analysis of accounting was performed through a progression of case studies which covered technical, as well as disputed, accounting concepts and theory. This was performed through the Accounting 420 class which met to further discuss and debate these topics with instructors, accounting firms, and other academic peers. These cases create scenarios from real life examples in order to portray the actual nature of accounting and its basis. This thesis contains analysis cases each with a specific emphasis and idea pertaining to an aspect of accounting. Note that Case 4 is not included as it was a calculation based exercise
A Modular Data Acquisition Device and Biosignal Amplifier Design
Get PDFThe purpose of this research project is to revise a previous design of a modular data collection device and to develop a biosignal amplifier for use in EEG research. The primary goals of the device redesign were to address the challenges identified at the conclusion of the previous research and to either reaffirm or update various aspects of the implementation – primarily the main components that make up the device. The amplifier circuitry is designed to provide both amplification of the input signals and preliminary filtering of undesirable noise artifacts caused by common environmental sources. Both the collection device and the amplifier circuit were tested individually to verify their viability. These systems are designed to be implemented as part of a larger system, although the specifics of these systems are left up to the requirements of the desired project. This thesis primarily focuses on the design details of these two components
The Neighbor Before the House: Jordan's Internal and External Drivers Regarding the Refugee Crisis
Get PDFJordan has the second highest number of refugees in the world per capita next to Lebanon and relies very heavily on aid from the global community, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the European Union (EU). Furthermore, they lack a legal framework regarding the high amount of refugees that inhabit the country. This raises the question: What are the drivers of Jordanian refugee policy? I argue that the drivers of Jordan’s current refugee policies are their internal pressures, which are Jordan’s ongoing water crisis, unemployment, and education, as well as external funding that comes from their reliance on the UNHCR and allies, such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Using a qualitative approach, I explored Jordan’s main points of concern, regarding their security and the wellbeing of its inhabitants. My data consists of global policies created by the UNHCR and other entities in collaboration with Jordan; the United States and the United Kingdom government websites; and the UNHCR and EU websites. Through my research, I discover that external pressures, border security and international aid (monetary and humanitarian) are directly related to these internal pressures, as they directly affect Jordan’s national security and foreign relations. Furthermore, by not having a national refugee policy, Jordan is internationalizing the crisis, providing a gateway for assistance from the rest of the world
The Fundamentals of Financial Accounting: A Case Report Series
Get PDFThis thesis is a compilation of twelve case reports completed and submitted in accordance with the alternative thesis requirements of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. These cases were completed during the 2017-2018 school year under the direction and advising of Dr. Victoria Dickinson. These case reports are designed to align with the main topics of financial accounting and reporting covered in ACCY 303 and ACCY 304 at the University of Mississippi. Most of the case reports are from a case material publisher, while two others were created by Dr. Dickinson. The content of this thesis are my calculations, journal entries, and account tracking created in response to questions in the case related to the area of financial reporting covered by the case. Additionally, the content of these cases are my opinion, calculations and analysis and should be regarded as such
Financial Reporting Standards and Techniques Through Case Analyses
Get PDFDuring my time at the University of Mississippi, I joined The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College (SMBHC) through the junior year entry program, while studying accountancy in The Patterson School of Accountancy. The opportunities provided by the SMBHC were endless, including the option of completing an alternate thesis. The alternate thesis truly changed the direction of my career and success in my accounting academic courses. On a bi-weekly basis for one academic year, I researched and analyzed twelve unique case studies to further my knowledge of accounting principles and standards. These cases helped me explore the unique challenges that arise throughout different clients in the work environment and showed me how to determine a reasonable solution for these issues. Every week without a case, I was granted the opportunity to build relationships with accounting firms and professionals throughout the world. Dr. Dickenson encouraged students to connect with the professionals and attend case competitions, while challenging our minds throughout the cases. This course, the Honors College, and Dr. Dickenson all allowed me to connect with firm employees and recruiters on a more specialized, one-on-one basis, and ultimately led me to an internship and future career at KPMG in the St. Louis, Missouri office. Throughout my internship, I was able to grasp many of concepts discussed as results of the following case studies. My performance and understanding led me to accept a full time job with KPMG and further my academic career at the Patterson School of Accountancy’s Data and Analytics Master’s Program
Interactions of Fentanyl with gp120 in the Central Nervous System
Get PDFThe Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has affected more than 75 million individuals worldwide. HIV not only affects the peripheral system through the targeting of T cells, but also causes adverse effects in the central nervous system. Individuals suffering from HIV often experience neuropathic pain and are prescribed opioids to combat the chronic pain. Along with the increase of opioids prescribed to HIV patients, the number of deaths related to the synthetic opioid, fentanyl, has increased drastically. Drug abuse and HIV are interlinked epidemics; individuals who are HIV positive and referred to as “NeuroAIDS.” The HIV envelope protein, gp120, has been shown to have a wide variety of neurotoxic effects on the CNS through increasing cell death of astrocytes through stress-mediated apoptosis, increasing the permeability of the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB), increasing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and altering and damaging mitochondria. The purpose of these experiments was to determine whether gp120 showed direct neurotoxic effects and/or indirect neurotoxic effects and whether fentanyl would act synergistically with gp120. Through conducting a Live/Dead Assay, Immunocytochemistry for GFAP/IBA1, and a Cytokine Array, it was determined that gp120 shows neither direct nor indirect neurotoxic effects, and fentanyl does not exacerbate the effects of gp120