The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of ozone treatments on the production of methane from three samples of native cellulose. Ozone has been used to increase hydrolysis of native cellulose but not in conjunction with methane generation studies. One sample was not treated with ozone to serve as a control, while the second sample was treated with 0.1 ppm ozone and third sample was treated with 1.0 ppm ozone. The gas chromatographic measurements of methane from each sample was used to determine the effectiveness of ozone.The difference in methane production between the three sample means was analyzed by the Analysis of Varience test. The analysis of the mean methane data from the three samples were significantly different from each other and based upon this analysis, it was concluded that ozone was effective. However, as the study proceeded the methane production of the treated samples was converging. Thus, it was suggested that further research using ozone concentration levels between 0.1 ppm and 1.0 ppm should be tested to determine the optimal ozone level needed for the enhancement of methane production from a cellulosic source.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

The methylation of specific gene sites is thought to play a controlling role in gene expression in microorganisms, higher plants, and animals. The relationship between methylation of DNA and gene expression has been well documented in microorganisms and animals; however, the regulatory role of methylation in higher plants has remained relatively unresearched. The focus of this study was to investigate fluctuations in DNA methylation during the early development of the pea (Piston sativum).Pea seeds were grown for 12 days (in Vermiculite) in a growth chamber. Duplicate samples of 30 seedlings were harvested daily. The samples were pulse-labeled with S-adenosyl-L-methionine-C3H3 for 10 hr. The labeled methyl group was allowed to be incorporated into the DNA as the samples continued to grow and differentiate. The methyltransferase action was stopped by freezing.DNA was then extracted, purified, and quantitated. Included in the analysis was the quantitation of RNA. The methylation was quantitated through liquid scintillation spectroscopy.Analysis of the fluctuations in the methylation of nucleic acids, over the growth period of seedling differentiation, was done. Methylated DNA was quantitated based on a comparison of radioactivity in extracted DNA minus the radioactivity' attributed to the extracted RNA. Fluctuations in methylation of DNA correlated to the growth patterns observed in the pea seedlings. This study supported the current hypothesis that differentiation in plants may be the result of methylated DNA masking the expression of selective genes. The results suggested that methyl group alterations on RNA follow the DNA pattern and may also play a significant role in gene expression.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

Roads and parking lots make up the largest percentage of manmade impervious surfaces in the world. Large amounts of runoff contribute to wastewater treatment plant overloads and subsequent raw sewage discharges. A high runoff rate reduces the groundwater recharge potential, causes stream bed erosion, and flooding which frequently results in the loss of life, property and /or crop damage. High runoff rates also cause surface pollutants to be washed into storm sewers, streams and other waterways, causing damage to aquatic plant and animal life. Pourous pavements are one of the tools which environmental engineers, landscape architects and planners may use in design for stormwater management to help reduce runoff.Previous investigators have assumed that compressed concrete block unit pavements, on a sand bed and gravel base, with sand joints, become impermeable over time. This study sought to determine the runoff coefficient for a trafficked pavement that has been in use for ten months. A Variable Intensity Portable Rain Simulator was used in 120 tests on nine plots from a pedestrian plaza and three plots from an intersection of a neighborhood outlet and a city street, paved with Unidecor (or Cobble-) Pavers. Three rainfall intensity ranges were tested for each pavement type; 0 to 7 millimeters per hour, 7 to 15 millimeters per hour, and 15 to 30 millimeters per hour. For storms with an intensity level of twelve millimeters per hour average, the runoff coefficient on the plaza was significantly different than that for the intersection. Additionally, it was found that for the three intensity ranges tested the runoff was significantly different for each range.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

Guanidine-stable chymoelastase (GUSCE), a component of the protease mixture known as Pronase, has been shown to be stable and active under conditions which denature and inactivate most proteins. In the absence of denaturant, this enzyme has shown proteolytic specificity for phenylalanyl, tyrosyl, and leucyl peptide bonds. In the presence of denaturant, however, the cleavage specificity has not been defined.In order to determine the effects of denaturant on the cleavage specificity of GUSCE, six small peptides of known amino acid sequence were hydrolyzed by GUSCE in the presence and absence of 6.OM guanidinium chloride. The site of GUSCE cleavage was acertained by dansylation of the new N-terminal amino acids, which were produced by proteolysis, followed by thin layer chromatographic identification of the resulting dansylated amino acids.The results indicate that GUSCE catalyzed the hydrolysis of phenylalanyl and tyrosyl peptide bonds in the absence as well as the presence of 6.OM guanidinium chloride. Of the tyrosyl and phenylalanyl peptide bonds hydrolyzed, all were between non-terminal amino acids, which illistrates the endo-peptidase characteristics of GUSCE. With one exception, only those peptide bonds cleaved by GUSCE in the absence of denaturant were cleaved in the presence of denaturant. In the case of oxytocin, the presence of denaturant was actually required for the cleavage of the Tyr(2)-Ile(3) peptide bond. The demonstrated predictablilty of GUSCE cleavage in the presence of denaturant should greatly enhance its utility in the sitespecific proteolysis of insoluble or otherwise proteolysisresistant protein substrates.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

Lupus anticoagulants (LA) have been identified as antiphospholipid antibodies which can alter certain membrane-related endothelial activities, resulting in increased thrombogenesis. The effects of LA-containing patient plasmas on selected thrombosis-related endothelial functions were examined; 68% of 25 patient plasmas exhibited significant antiphospholipid antibody (APA) IgG and/or IgM directed against one of the four phospholipids tested in vitro; 44% exhibited anti-endothelial antibody. Eighty percent of plasmas with anti-endothelial IgM exhibited APA reactive with phosphatidyl inositol; antiphospholipid IgG did not correlate well with antiendothelium IgG. Patient plasmas that significantly stimulated EC PGI2 secretion uniformly exhibited anti-phosphatidyl serine IgM.Multiple mechanisms of induction of LA, and strong association of anti-PS and anti-EC antibody with thrombosis and related disorders were observed.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

The present study investigated the effect of an educational message on the knowledge and choice of infant feeding practices of expectant mothers. A convenience sample totaling 4.2 women attending prenatal classes from one community hospital completed the pre-test questionnaire designed for the study. A content validity jury was employed to increase the reliability and validity of the instrument. The educational message followed the pre-test and included a videocassette, educational handout, and a question and answer period. A total of 36 women returned to complete the post-test questionnaire. The results revealed a significant difference in knowledge level scores beyond the 0.001 level of mothers receiving the educational message. Also, the data revealed a significant difference beyond the 0.001 level in pre-test/posttest scores of bottle- and breast-feeding mothers. There was no significant improvement in mothers choosing to breast-feed following the educational message. The conclusions drawn from the study are that an educational message improves infant feeding knowledge level and may better prepare mothers for their infant feeding choice. The educational message does not influence the mothers' planned infant feeding method.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

Ball State University LibrariesLibrary services and resources for knowledge buildingMasters ThesesThere is no abstract available for this thesis.

Ball State University LibrariesLibrary services and resources for knowledge buildingMasters ThesesThere is no abstract available for this thesis.

Ball State University LibrariesLibrary services and resources for knowledge buildingMasters ThesesThere is no abstract available for this thesis.

Ball State University LibrariesLibrary services and resources for knowledge buildingMasters ThesesThere is no abstract available for this thesis.