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An Analysis of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990: Regulatory Calibration in Anticipation of 21st Century Environmental Disasters
No full textAfter federal the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) was promulgated in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, it helped restructure the nation’s environmental response capabilities and modernize the commercial shipping industry to effectively decrease environmental shipping disasters. However, in the 33 years since OPA 90’s inception, the oil and gas industry has transformed, especially in the offshore realm, as industry adopts new drilling technologies to gain access to deeper and heretofore untapped maritime environments. Though there have been two catastrophic offshore drilling accidents since the turn of the 21st century, OPA 90 remains categorically unchanged, with only a few minor amendments approved through Authorization Acts for the US Coast Guard (CG). Climate change also continues to modify the landscape in which OPA 90 operates. This legislation’s original regulatory intent has been fulfilled and continues to be successful. During data collection, 15 leaders and regulators that have over 320 years of combined experience in managing and overseeing implementation of OPA 90 were interviewed. When combined with analysis of law (OPA 90), and important case studies, it was concluded that OPA 90 has been successful and is sufficient in its current form. However, addressing shortcoming identified could be achievable short of a legislative overhaul, which could lead to increased preparedness and national readiness ahead of the next SONS or a major oil pollution event. The highest, most commonly mentioned priority initiatives revolve around a modernization of OSLTF funding mechanisms to fund increase preparedness efforts. Prioritized areas for additional research and preparedness efforts include the vulnerability of the aging infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico, and future impacts from Natechs. This thesis provides a comprehensive analysis and policy review of OPA 90 as the oil industry and the environment in which it operates continue to evolve which has led to some unanticipated emerging issues
Supported perovskite-oxide composites for enhanced low temperature thermochemical conversion of CO2 to CO
No full textDisclosed herein is a catalyst composite containing a perovskite-oxide and an oxide support, methods of preparing a catalyst composite containing a perovskite-oxide and an oxide support, and the use thereof for CO2 conversion by a reverse water gas shift chemical looping (RWGS-CL) process
Content masking attacks against information-based services and defenses thereto
No full textThe embodiments present a new class of content masking defenses against the Portable Document Format (PDF) standard. The defenses can identify attacks that cause documents to appear different than the underlying content extracted from the documents. A content masking defense method can include identifying a content masking attack by scanning a document file to extract a character code of a character appearing in the file. Next, the character is rendered based on a font that is embedded in the document file. Optical character recognition can be performed on the rendering, and a content masking attack can be identified based on a comparison of a result of the optical character recognition against the character code of the character
Becoming Knowledgeable Agents of Change: Early Career Teachers Enacting Inquiry-Oriented Professional Learning
No full textIn pursuit of more effective professional learning for early career teachers, this paper presents findings from a multiple case study of practitioner inquiry with beginning teachers. The study examined the lived experiences of Kelly, Sally, and Donna as they took up inquiry-oriented professional learning in their literacy classrooms. Over the course of a semester, the teachers identified a problem of practice, co-constructed professional learning plans, explored relevant professional learning, and implemented new literacy practices. The findings demonstrated that the individualized and responsive nature of inquiry-oriented professional learning supported the teachers in developing agency and self-efficacy as they addressed areas of dissonance in their classrooms
Proceedings of the Conference on Managing Tourism Across Continents: Volume 3
No full textISSN: 2834-473
Identifying Trends in Interpretation and Responses to Hurricane and Climate Change Communication Tools
No full textCoastal regions such as the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts are highly vulnerable to extreme coastal hazards such as tropical cyclones and major hurricanes. The effects of these hazards pose a threat now and are expected to increase in the future, which highlights the need for coastal communities to receive and understand information regarding risks involved with these hazards. Through this study, we identify points of improvement in the tools used to communicate the short and long-term risk associated with hurricane hazards through three surveys in Mobile, AL, Savannah, GA, and Houston TX. These surveys identify public response to hurricane descriptions, Cone of Uncertainty graphics, and long-term trend graphics. Analysis of trends in responses to these communication tools identifies relationships between risk perceptions and existing factors in each study location. Further, public response to these tools is identified and analyzed using structural equation models for each location with a “response” latent variable containing information from endogenous variables in the survey. Response was measured as action intent, concern for the scenario, reported evacuation likelihood, and interpretation of long-term trends. We identify points of improvement for all three communication tools to aid in public comprehension of the information provided as well as to increase response to hurricane hazards by more effectively communicating risk information. These would help to improve comprehension and increase different responses to tropical storm and hurricane damage from high winds and storm surge with the intent to improve resident response to hazards along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts
Protein Folding Kinetics Analysis Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy
No full textThe conformational changes that occur during the folding of a protein is an intensely researched area because of the impact that it has on human health and cellular functions. Protein stability is crucial in the context of protein misfolding and aggregation due to its implications on misfolding diseases such as amyloid fibril degenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s). By examining the kinetics of protein folding, we can gain valuable information about the folding mechanism and help us identify potential targets for many of the protein misfolding diseases.
In this study, we present the folding and unfolding kinetics of TEM-1 β-lactamase from Escherichia coli over a range of denaturant concentrations, implementing fluorescence spectroscopy as the tool for characterizing the changes in folding state, and then fitting the time-dependent measurements with equations that describe the folding and unfolding phases. The kinetics is reported as a chevron plot and we discuss further the different studies that were done to understand the folding mechanism of TEM-1 β-lactamase.
The chevron plot indicates a midpoint denaturant concentration of 1.0 M. The refolding kinetics are biphasic at lower denaturant concentrations and are attributed to the final two slow phases of folding of TEM-1.
These findings and methods can be used as a benchmark protocol to determine the folding kinetics of related proteins. Additionally, we imply the utilization of rapid mixing methods to determine the characteristics of the intermediate formed at the early stages of folding. This can provide insight for understanding protein structure-function relationships and the importance of kinetics in terms of stability and structure
The Transformative Impact of a Semester-Long US-based GELT Course on Pre-/In-Service Teachers\u27 Cognition and Classroom Practices
No full textAs English has become a global lingua franca used by a greater number of nonnative speakers than native speakers, a focus on native speaker norms in English language teaching (ELT) has become obsolete. There has been a call to incorporate different varieties of Englishes (native, nonnative, and nativized) and related cultures in both teacher education programs and the English classroom- an approach known as Global Englishes Teacher Education (GELT). This study investigates the influence of a GELT-informed teacher education course offered at a US state university on the cognition and (future) practices of pre-/in-service teachers, which aspects of the GELT course had the most significant and lasting impact, and what major barriers and enablers to GELT practices participants anticipated and experienced.
The data derive from pre- and post-intervention surveys and interviews, observations of the GELT course for 16 weeks, coursework, and lesson plans and materials developed/used by pre-/in-service teachers. The findings showed a positive influence of the course on participants’ approach to (G)ELT and their future practices which promoted linguistic and cultural diversity. Diverse contextual factors and teacher identity influenced the cognition and practices of participants. Participants found newly learned concepts such as native speakerism, WE, and EIL particularly helpful along with course content such as conversations with English language learners and teachers, micro-teaching practices, and preparing a lesson plan with a GELT component. Participants’ multilingual and multicultural identity emerged as a significant enabler of GELT practices, while diverse contextual factors were perceived as challenges to (future) GELT practices.
Given the influence of the GELT course on the professional development of the participants, the findings indicate the importance of teacher education programs informed by GELT framework. The study offers recommendations to improve GELT-informed teacher education courses and proposes a model of professional development to guide teacher educators
A Healthcare Claims Investigation of Parasomnia Epidemiology, Associations with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Correlates
No full textParasomnias, such as sleepwalking and nightmare disorder, are abnormal behaviors and emotions emanating from sleep or wake to sleep transitions. Parasomnias can lead to significant adverse outcomes – sleepwalking can result in injuries and hospitalizations, frequent nightmares are associated with self-harm and suicidal thoughts, and rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is linked to neurodegeneration. Despite a history of fascination with abnormal sleep behaviors in the general and medical communities, epidemiologic understanding of parasomnias remains limited, in part due to their amnestic nature and presumption that they are benign childhood problems. This work used the MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters Database, 2010-2012, to study three areas of parasomnia epidemiology in children and adults in the United States.
The first study (Chapter 2) is a descriptive analysis of the prevalence and incidence of non-rapid eye movement and REM parasomnias according to age, sex, and US regions. We found lower estimates compared to survey-based studies, although age and sex trends are consistent with current understanding. Significant findings include a higher prevalence/incidence of sleepwalking and sleep terror among male children and adolescents, higher estimates of nightmare disorder among older men, and higher estimates in the western US region.
The second study (Chapter 3) evaluated the association between parasomnias, specifically the disorders of arousal and nightmare disorder, with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and ADHD pharmacotherapy in patients less than 21 years of age. Despite the recognition of poor sleep in ADHD and common features with parasomnias, associations between ADHD and parasomnias have been scantly investigated. Through retrospective cohort analyses and propensity-score adjustment, we found that patients with ADHD are at increased risk of parasomnias, independent of comorbidities and pharmacologic treatment. ADHD patients initiated on non-stimulant medication were additionally found to have increased parasomnia risks compared to patients initiated on stimulant medications.
The third study (Chapter 4) used the case-control design to assess and identify novel diagnoses and pharmaceuticals associated with RBD in adults 18-65 years of age. Increased odds of RBD with psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular disease, alcohol use, and antidepressants, described from prior studies were substantiated. Novel associations with respiratory infections, asthma, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, and evidence of age effect-modification were identified. Furthermore, antidiabetic medications were found associated with lower odds of RBD, which has important implications for drug-repurposing in prevention of neurodegeneration.
Collectively, these studies contribute to the dearth of epidemiologic studies of parasomnias and highlight ways in which administrative healthcare claims can be leveraged to investigate these intriguing sleep disorders
Gold-Catalyzed Diyne-ene Cyclization: Synthesis of Hetero Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons and 1,2-Dihydropyridines
No full textHomogeneous gold catalysts are known as a powerful tool for selectively activating alkynes and are well-developed in the construction of C-C, C-N, and C-O bonds to form complex compounds that are widely used in pharmaceuticals, industries, agriculture, etc. The investigation of gold(I) catalysis on conjugated diyne (compounds having two acetylene groups) enriches the complexity of the bond construction and allows the building of interesting skeletons in organic synthesis. One typical kind of substrate, diyne-ene, has both a conjugated diyne part and a 1,6- enyne part. We developed a new methodology to allow its divergent synthesis to heterocycles.
This dissertation mainly contains two parts: 1) The gold-catalyzed intramolecular styryl dehydro-Diels–Alder reaction (ISDDA) toward the synthesis of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); 2) The gold-catalyzed amine cascade addition to diyne-ene toward the enantioselective synthesis of 1,2-dihydropyridines.
In the first part, the styryl dehydro-Diels–Alder reaction with diyne-ene is reported. While typical alkyne–styrene condensation requires elevated temperatures (\u3e160 °C), the application of a conjugated diyne allowed for effective transformation under milder conditions (80 °C). The thermally stable triazole–gold (TA–Au) catalyst further improved the reaction yields (up to 95%), producing the desired alkynyl–naphthalene in a single step with molecular oxygen as the oxidant. Sequential alkyne activation resulted in various polyaromatic hydrocarbons in excellent yields, highlighting the efficiency of this new strategy for the preparation of PAHs with good functional group tolerance and structural diversity.
In the second part, the gold-catalyzed diyne-ene amination reaction is reported. With the well-documented chemical and biological applications, piperidine and pyridine are among the most important N-heterocycles, and a new synthetic strategy, especially one with an alternative bond-forming design, is of general interest. As the 1,2-dihydropyridine (1,2-DHP) is a valuable synthetic moiety of piperidine and pyridine, its new enantioselective synthesis development is important and urgent. Using the gold-catalyzed intermolecular condensation of amine and diyne-ene, we report herein the first example of enantioselective 1,2-dihydropyridine synthesis through a formal [3+2+1] fashion by gold catalysis with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities