2,533 research outputs found
As Expectations for Libraries Evolve, How Can We Rise to the Challenge?
No full textHigher Ed 360 author Jennifer Leigh Hoyt interviewed Maletta Payne, Head Technology and Information Services Librarian and Associate Professor at Southern University and A&M College, and Laura Saunders, Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Library and Information Sciences at Simmons University, for the article As Expectations for Libraries Evolve, How Can We Rise to the Challenge
Cult: A Composite Novel
No full textCult (redacted)
The first component of the thesis is a composite novel called Cult which falls into two parts with seven narratives in each. Part 1 tracks the protagonist, Ellen, from her first involvement with the cult through to her eventually leaving it. Although fiction, the first half of the book answers the kinds of questions the author is asked when people discover that she was once a sannyasin (a follower of the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh). While the experiences of meditation, group therapy and communal living are all faithfully rendered within the stories, the need for strong characters, narrative drive and a lightness of touch takes precedence.
Part 2 picks up Ellen’s story some twenty or so years later and explores what becomes of her in middle age. It also looks at other groups in society, such as academia, the law and the internet dating community which each have their own jargon, hierarchies, rituals and rules but are not considered to be cults.
The book examines the question raised in the Epigraph, ‘how do we be together when we feel so alone’ with a focus on relationships other than the familial and the romantic.
Collisions, Chasms and Connections: a Performative Exploration of the Composite Novel Form
The second part of the thesis is both a critical and creative response to three contemporary American books: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout; A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan; and Legend of a Suicide by David Vann. The critical element comprises a close reading of the three books; a chronological reconstruction of their overarching storylines; and a consideration of what their authors have said about writing the books. It concludes that, in the composite novel, the simultaneous presentation of multiple views and storylines operate much like a 3D image to give the impression of depth to the characters and situations rendered. The creative element of the essay is a playful and personal response to the texts
Characterization of allantoinase from Eschericia coli
No full textThe purpose of this research was to characterize the Escherichia coli, E. coli,
allantoinase enzyme. Allantoinase catalyses the conversion allantoin to allantoate via
the hydrolysis of a cyclic amide bond and is coded for by the allB gene. The enzyme is
a member of the amidohydrolase superfamily. Amidohydrolase superfamily enzymes
have a common (αβ)8-barrel structure but catalyze the hydrolysis of many different
substrates by a common mechanism. The structural characteristics and roles of divalent
cations of enzymes in this superfamily will be discussed and related to previous work
conducted on allantoinases. In this work, the metal dependence of allantoinase was
initially studied by Mn, Co, Zn, Cd, and Ni-supplemented assays of enzyme of very low
metal content. By changing the growth conditions under which the allB was
overexpressed in E. coli, and the addition of Zn, Co or Mn to the culture, enzyme with
bound Zn (ZnALN), Co (CoALN) or Mn (MnALN) was produced. The pH dependence
of log (kcat/KM) for allantoinase in the presence of MnCl2, ZnALN and CoALN followed
a bell-shaped curve, indicating that one ionizable group needed to be deprotonated and
the deprotonation of a second group caused a decrease in catalytic activity. The pK1 for
ionization at low pH was dependent upon which divalent cation was present and is concluded to be that of the deprotonation of water. A structural model of allantoinase
with bound allantoin was constructed and used to determine which amino acid residues
may be involved in catalysis. Allantoinase mutants R67K, C152A, C152S, C287A,
C287S, S317A, D315N and W332F were purified. The kinetic parameters kcat, KM and
kcat/KM of wild type and mutant allantoinases were compared. The possible roles of
these amino acid residues in catalysis and substrate binding, and the results of the pH
rate profiles are discussed. A catalytic mechanism for allantoinase is proposed
Partner Facilitation and Partner Interference in Individuals' Weight Loss Goals
No full textDrawing on the logic of the relational turbulence model, this study examined the ways in which romantic partners facilitate and interfere with individuals’ weight loss goals. Participants (N = 122) described the ways in which their romantic partner had recently helped or hindered their weight loss at four times over the course of 2 months. We conducted a content analysis of responses to identify themes of partner facilitation (Research Question 1 [RQ1]) and partner interference (RQ2) in individuals’ weight loss goals. Results revealed seven themes of partner facilitation: (a) partner enabling diet, (b) motivation and encouragement, (c) emotional support and positive reinforcement, (d) exercising together, (e) partner enabling exercise, (f) dieting together, and (g) relationship influence and priorities. Four themes of partner interference emerged in the data: (a) inability to plan for healthy meals, (b) inability to control the food environment, (c) preventing or discouraging exercise, and (d) emotional or relational discouragement.Peer reviewe
A longitudinal assessment of relationship characteristics that predict new parents’ relationship satisfaction
No full textDrawing on the relational turbulence model, this study queries whether it is the amount of relational uncertainty and partner interference in a relationship, or the magnitude of an increase in these mechanisms over time, that accounts for decreased relationship satisfaction for new parents. To test these competing hypotheses, we conducted a longitudinal study of 78 couples in which both partners completed surveys about their relationship at four time points during the transition to parenthood. Multi-level modeling revealed that the amount and the increase of relational uncertainty and partner interference were negatively associated with relationship satisfaction when considered separately, but when evaluated in combination, the magnitude of an increase in these variables was the stronger predictor of relationship satisfaction.Peer reviewe
The level of education and loss of earning capacity for Wisconsin worker's compensation claimants
No full textPlan BLoss of earning capacity is only one brief component of Worker’s Compensation. There are many factors involved in determining a person’s level of loss of earnings. Level of education is a factor that will affect a person’s lost earning capacity. In this study, the educational level of the individual will be correlated with their estimated loss of earning capacity
Study plan-leave tree and downed log monitoring
No full textJennifer M. Weikel (Monitoring Coordinator), Rod Krahmer (Fish and Wildlife Specialist), Jim Cathcart, Ph.D (Acting, Forest Health and Monitoring Manager).This archived document is maintained by the State Library of Oregon as part of the Oregon Documents Depository Program. It is for informational purposes and may not be suitable for legal purposes.Includes bibliographical references (pages 13-14).Mode of access: Internet from the Oregon Government Publications Collection.Text in English
Growth behavior of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris as a function of strain and culture conditions
No full textAlicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is an acidophilic, spore-forming spoilage organism of concern for the fruit juice industry. The occurrence of bacterial spore-formers in low pH foods was thought to be insignificant. However, in recent years, spoilage of acidic juice by Alicyclobacillus was recognized and the seriousness of this situation began to be appreciated. A. acidoterrestris has been associated with commercially pasteurized fruit juices as well as other low pH, shelf-stable products such as bottled tea and isotonic drinks. It has been isolated from garden and forest soils and may be introduced into the manufacturing process through unwashed or poorly washed fruit. If spores are not destroyed by processing, they can germinate, grow, and spoil product. The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of A. acidoterrestris growth as a function of strain, pH and temperature so that growth of A. acidoterrestris spores might be inhibited by environmental control and product formulation. Four strains of A. acidoterrestris were used to investigate the growth kinetics in response to pH (3.0, 4.0, 5.0) and temperatures (30, 37.5, 45ºC) by measuring the optical density (OD) every hour for 48 hours using a microtitre plate reader to develop the growth curves. The growth rates were calculated using the software program DMFit and were used to illustrate the relationship between the growth kinetics of A. acidoterrestris strains. When examining the generated data, we observed that there were some differences between growth kinetics of tested strains at various pH and temperature conditions. The differences were random and did not follow any specific trend. The use of a reference strain allows for greater availability and reproducibility. Accordingly, the ATCC 49025 strain is representative of the food isolates (strain N1100, N1102 and N1139) and can be used as a reference strain.M.S.Includes bibliographical referencesby Jennifer M. Merl
Gender-associated gene expression in two related strains of Schistosoma japonicum
No full textHost inflammatory responses directed against eggs laid by sexually-mature Schistosoma japonicum female worms instigate lesion formation and associated clinical pathologies during infection. To identify parasite gene transcripts that associate with egg production and to characterise sexually-mature adult gene expression profiles of two related Chinese strains, S. japonicum cDNA microarrays were fabricated using 457 ESTs originating from three parasite developmental stages. Twenty-two female-associated and 8 male-associated gene transcripts were identified in the adult Anhui strain whereas 21 female-associated and 7 male-associated gene transcripts were revealed in the adult Zhejiang strain. RT-PCR analysis, in situ enzyme localisation studies and enzymatic assays confirmed the cDNA microarray results, and importantly, provided information previously unappreciated in schistosome conjugal biology. Specifically, our novel findings include the female-specific expression of genes putatively involved in haemoglobin digestion and eggshell formation including extracellular superoxide dismutase, two histidine-rich proteins, a large blood-brain barrier amino acid transporter and two tyrosinase orthologues. In contrast, transcripts involved in mechanical support (actin), cytoskeletal infrastructure (e.g. dynein light chain 3 and myosin regulatory light chain) and tegumental biology (e.g. TM4SF and Sj25) were more highly represented in adult male schistosomes. Together these data establish a transcriptional basis for adult schistosome labour division and expands the list of novel S. japonicum gender-associated gene transcripts that may be considered targets for improved intervention strategies.</p
A Comparative Analysis of the Equity Outcomes in Three Sugarcane–Ethanol Systems
No full textThis article identifies equity outcomes associated with three biofuel systems in Brazil, Ethiopia, and Guatemala. Acknowledging that winners and losers are socially and politically generated, the article identifies some of the factors behind the distribution of winners and losers along different stages of three sugarcane–ethanol supply chains. Analyzing the outcomes for equity within each case study reveals an uneven distribution that, we argue, is related to the procedure and structure of the given sugarcane–ethanol system, and the recognition of the impacts on different actors within those structures. Increasing equity in sugarcane–ethanol systems will require greater openness in decision-making processes, in order that multiple voices are taken into account in the promotion, production, and consumption of biofuels—particularly those of smaller and less powerful actors
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