Seeding is an important variable in controlling or directing the assembly of peptides. The presence of impurities, responsible for creating a 'dip' in the surface tension versus peptide concentration profile, is used to determine the critical aggregation concentration (CAC). This phenomenon is investigated to differentiate crude and high purity EAK16-II peptide. The purified peptide did not show this 'dip' and clearly indicated a critical aggregation concentration for EAK16-II at 0. 09 mg/mL by surface tension measurements. Conversely, a surface tension 'dip' is clearly observed for the crude EAK16-II peptide. Atomic Force Microscopy imaged the nanostructures of aggregates. The presence of impurities induces fibre formation below the CAC. This study provides information about the seeding effect of peptide assembly at low concentrations as well as the modification of surface activity of assembled peptide particles. Alanine, glutamic acid and lysine were used as model seeding agents to simulate the seeding phenomenon and better understand the nucleation mechanism of peptide assembly. All amino acid monomers were able to induce fibre formations at low peptide concentrations. However, only glutamic acid and lysine were able to produce the surface tension dip profile observed in the crude peptide. This information may be of importance in understanding fibrillogenesis occurring in conformational diseases and other biomedical applications including drug delivery.

Seeding is an important variable in controlling or directing the assembly of peptides. The presence of impurities, responsible for creating a 'dip' in the surface tension versus peptide concentration profile, is used to determine the critical aggregation concentration (CAC). This phenomenon is investigated to differentiate crude and high purity EAK16-II peptide. The purified peptide did not show this 'dip' and clearly indicated a critical aggregation concentration for EAK16-II at 0. 09 mg/mL by surface tension measurements. Conversely, a surface tension 'dip' is clearly observed for the crude EAK16-II peptide. Atomic Force Microscopy imaged the nanostructures of aggregates. The presence of impurities induces fibre formation below the CAC. This study provides information about the seeding effect of peptide assembly at low concentrations as well as the modification of surface activity of assembled peptide particles. Alanine, glutamic acid and lysine were used as model seeding agents to simulate the seeding phenomenon and better understand the nucleation mechanism of peptide assembly. All amino acid monomers were able to induce fibre formations at low peptide concentrations. However, only glutamic acid and lysine were able to produce the surface tension dip profile observed in the crude peptide. This information may be of importance in understanding fibrillogenesis occurring in conformational diseases and other biomedical applications including drug delivery.

Eak Tai Ahn is not only the first generation of Korean musicians, composers and conductors to have studied Western music and given successful musical performances in Western countries, but also is among the first to introduce the music of Korea to the West utilizing the Western music system. Korea Fantasy is an important work that helped Ahn win international acclaim. Korea Fantasy is an orchestral piece that evolved along with Ahn's unique life experiences shaped by the state of his native country. The piece is programmatic, depicting the history of Korea, which utilizes musical devices, such as rhythms and quotation that are distinctive musical elements of Korea. This document discusses the political and social history of Korea during Ahn's life time, offers an overview of Ahn's education and musical footsteps, and describes the premiere and reception of Korea Fantasy. Moreover, a discussion of his compositional traits and a musical analysis of Korea Fantasy are presented.