Research Partners,Teaching Partners: A Collaboration between FYC Faculty and Librarians to Study Students’ Research and Writing Habits

In Spring 2012, instruction librarians collaborated with first year composition (FYC) faculty to study students’ research habits as they related to writing. We collected process narratives from students in the introductory FYC course at the beginning and end of the fall semester, and a group of librarians and FYC faculty coded them together. Although we did not achieve one of our initial research goals, we still gained valuable insight into how our students perceive sources and the research process. We applied what we learned to create new instructional materials and developed a valuable relationship with FYC faculty.     

The distribution and phylogenetic significance of desmethylsterols inChenopodium andAtriplex: Coexistence of Δ7- and Δ5 -sterols

Twenty-one species in the Chenopodiaceae were analyzed for sterol composition. In ten of eleven species ofChenopodium, the major desmethylsterols were Δ⁷-sterols accompanied by lower proportions of Δ⁵-sterols. InC. fremontii this pattern was reversed. The sterol profiles of five species ofAtriplex were characterized by the coexistence of Δ⁷- and Δ⁵-sterols in ratios of 0.3∶1 to 0.4∶1. MaleAtriplex plants contained higher proportions of Δ⁵-sterols than femaleAtriplex plants. OneCeratoides and twoSalicornia species contained Δ⁵-sterols as their predominant sterols.     

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF ORGANOSULFUR EXTRACTION DATA OF OHIO 5/6 COAL USING THE PERCHLOROETHYLENE COAL CLEANING PROCESS

The perchloroethylene coal cleaning process removes both organic and pyritic forms of sulfur using perchloroethylene as the solvent medium. The effect of process variables including temperature, extraction time, solvent to coal ratio and particle size of coal has been studied by a systematic 2⁴ full factorial experimental design with a single replicate. The process was found to be strongly dependent on the type of coal. Hence, this variable was controlled by choosing one single type of coal, i.e., Ohio 5/6 (1:1 mixture of Ohio 5 and Ohio 6 coals) throughout this entire investigation. The significant effects and interactions have been quantified by F-tests. The estimates of significant effects have been obtained by Yates algorithm. Residual probability and normal probability plots have been obtained to test model adequacy. Finally, a computational model has been developed to predict the organosulfur extraction efficiency of this coal at various values of process variables. The parity plots conclude that the model has a good interpolational predictive capability.     

An X-ray absorption approach to mixed and metallicity-sorted single-walled carbon nanotubes

Carbon based structures have been widely studied by X-ray absorption (XAS), also called NEXAFS, which is a very useful bulk probing method that allows examining the unoccupied density of states (DOS) and the site selective bonding environment. Two very well known spectral features in the XAS core level spectrum are the σ* and π* bands, and both have been analyzed in several studies for graphitic-like systems. However, among all the carbon materials, the unique one-dimensional electronic properties attributed to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) exhibit features that reveal clearly their electronic structure in the core level XAS spectrum. In this article, we outline the C1s response in XAS, which is related to the DOS of the conduction band in SWCNTs and its fine structure, revealed by experiments performed on metallicity-sorted SWCNT material. The progress in the identification of changes in the site selective conduction band electronic structure with XAS is discussed in detail.     

High Salinity Relaying to Reduce Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus in Chesapeake Bay Oysters (Crassostrea virginica)

Cases of Vibrio infections in the United States have tripled from 1996 to 2009 and these infections are most often associated with the consumption of seafood, particularly oysters (Crassostrea virginica). Information is needed on how to reduce numbers of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus in bi‐valve molluscan shellfish (for example, oysters). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of high salinity relaying or treatment in recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs) as methods to reduce the abundance of V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in oysters. For relaying field trials, oysters were collected from approved harvest waters, temperature abused outside under a tarp for 4 h, and then transferred to high (29 to 33 ppt.) and moderate (12 to 19 ppt.) salinities. For RAS treatment trial, oysters were transferred to 32 to 34 ppt. salinity at 15 °C. After 7, 14, 21, and in some instances 28 d, oysters were collected and analyzed for V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus levels using multiplex real‐time PCR. Initial levels of V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus ranged from 3.70 to 5.64 log₁₀ MPN/g, and were reduced by 2 to 5 logs after 21 to 28 d in high salinity water (29 to 34 ppt.). Oyster mortalities averaged 4% or less, and did not exceed 7%. Relaying of oysters to high salinity field sites or transfer to high salinity RAS tanks was more effective in reducing V. vulnificus compared with V. parahaemolyticus. These results suggest that high salinity relaying of oysters is more effective in reducing V. vulnificus than V. parahaemolyticus in the oyster species used in this study.     

Policy Analysis, Peer Reviewed: Evaluation of Bioaccumulation Factors in Regulating Metals

Regulations.     

The fine structure of a microplate-microtubule array, microfilaments and polyhedral body associated microtubules in several species of Anabaena

A microplate-microtubule array was observed in Anabaena sp. (B-378). This structure consists of an arched plate, about 8 nm thick, and various microtubules, 12 nm in diameter and 50 nm long, arranged in rows. The microtubules project at right angles from one side of the plate into the cytoplasm or towards the plasma membrane. Up to twelve microplate-microtubule arrays were observed in a single section of a cell. Microfilaments, about 2.8 nm in diameter and of undetermined length, were observed in four isolates of Anabaena. The microfilaments were always found in bundles, nwhich varied in size, up to 0.63 mum across and 0.91 mum long. Microtubules, 10 nm in diameter and about 150 nm in length, were observed associated with one facet of polyhedral bodies in 8 out of 20 isolates of Anabaena. The microtubules occurred in groups of up to 20 or more, and were always oriented with the long axis parallel to the facet of a polyhedral body. In cross section, the microtubules had an electron transparent lumen 5 nm wide and a wall 2.5 nm thick. These structures are compared to previously described microtubules and microfilaments.     

Drying of persimmons (Diospyros kaki L.) and the following changes in the studied bioactive compounds and the total radical scavenging activities

Fresh persimmons were subjected to two different processes: sun-drying during 1 month and dehydration at 60 °C during 12 h. To assess the effect of this process on nutritional and health-related properties of persimmons dietary fibers, minerals, trace elements, polyphenols and the total radical scavenging activities (TRSAs) were determined before and after processing. It was found that the contents of dietary fibers, minerals and trace elements in fresh and dried persimmons fruits were comparable. Total polyphenols in fresh persimmons was higher than in dried fruits (1.3 vs. 0.9 and 0.8 mg/100 g FW, respectively) and percentage of inhibition was higher than in dried fruits (70% vs. 59% and 55% and 58% vs. 53% and 46% for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) [ABTS] radicals, respectively (P>0.05 in all cases). In conclusion: (1) the differences in the contents of dietary fibers, minerals and trace elements in fresh and dried persimmons are not significant; (2) the contents of polyphenols and the level of the TRSA are higher in fresh persimmons than in dried fruits; however, both variables are also high in dried persimmons; (3) when fresh fruits are not available, proper dried persimmons could be used as a valuable substitute.