The sensitivity of biological studies performed between 190 and 650 nm is greatly reduced due to the autofluorescence of biomolecules and impurities in this region. Therefore, the enhanced signal-to-noise ratios encountered at longer wavelengths makes biological analysis within the near infrared (NIR) region from 650 nm to 1100 nm far more advantageous. This dissertation describes the noncovalent binding interactions of near-infrared (NIR) carbocyanine dyes with human serum albumin (HSA) and poly-L-lysine (PLL) using UV-Vis/NIR absorption spectroscopy, emission spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), and fluorescence detected circular dichroism (FDCD). The optical spectroscopy methods used in this work are described in detail in Chapter 1. The various applications of NIR dyes in protein analysis are introduced in Chapter 2. In general, the sensitivity of cyanines to the polarity of their local environment makes them quite suitable for protein labeling schemes. In aqueous media, cyanines have a high propensity for self-association. Yet in the hydrophobic binding sites of globular proteins, these aggregates often dissipate. Absorption and emission spectroscopy can be utilized to observe the differential spectral properties of monomer, intra-molecular and intermolecular aggregates. In Chapter 3, the photophysical properties of bis(cyanine) NIR dyes containing di-, tri-, and tetraethylene glycol linkers were each examined in the presence of HSA are discussed. Variations in chain length as well as probe flexibility were demonstrated through distinct differences in absorption and emission spectra. The observed changes in the spectral properties of the NIR dyes in the presence and absence of HSA were correlated to the physical parameters of the probes' local environment (i.e., protein binding sites and self-association). All three bis-cyanines examined exhibited enhanced fluorescence in the presence of HSA. The bis-cyanine dye containing the tri(ethylene glycol) spacer allowed for a complete overlap of the benzene rings, to form π-π interactions which were observed as intra-molecular H-aggregate bands. The dye exhibited no fluorescence in buffer, owing to the H-aggregation observed in the absorption data. In the presence of HSA, the intra-molecular dimers were disrupted and fluorescence was then detected. The "cut-on" fluorescence displayed by the dye in the presence of HSA made it ideal for noncovalent labeling applications. The utility of several NIR dyes for use as secondary structural probes was investigated in Chapter 4. NIR dyes were screened thoroughly using UV-Vis/NIR absorption spectroscopy dyes with spectral properties which were sensitive to protein secondary structure models of such as PLL in basic solution. Two NIR dyes were found to be quite sensitive to the structural features of uncharged α- and β-PLL. The chiral discrimination of these probes for basic protein secondary structures was also evaluated through CD measurements within the NIR probes' absorption bands.

Type 1 diabetes is the direct result of an autoimmune attack on the pancreatic islet cells. The islets contain b cells, which are the only type of cell capable of supplying insulin in the human body. The destruction of these cells leaves the diabetic to rely on exogenous insulin to maintain a normal blood sugar level. Insulin therapy allows the diabetic to deal with the symptoms of the disease, but does nothing for the underlying condition. In order to truly cure the disease, the strategy is to replenish the b cells in the diabetic. Islet neogenesis associated protein (INGAP) has been shown to regenerate islet cells and reverse experimentally-induced diabetes in animal models. The INGAP pentadecapeptide is a 15 amino acid peptide from INGAP with comparable activity to the full-length protein. This 15-mer is undergoing clinical trials for treating diabetes. The overall goal of the project described in this work is to determine the structure of the INGAP pentadecapeptide for use in structure-based drug design of non-peptide mimics of the 15-mer. The first set of experiments in the present work directly examined the 15-mer in solution using NMR. No stable structure of the small peptide was found. The second set of experiments involved a homolog of INGAP, called INGAP-related protein, or INGAPrP. INGAPrP was recombinantly produced in E. coli and subsequently purified and refolded. Refolding of INGAPrP was verified by a 1H-15N HSQC experiment. CD experiments supported the NMR study, indicating helical content in INGAPrP. The folded nature of the protein will allow for the three-dimensional structure of INGAPrP to be determined. The protein structure will show the fold of the 15-mer within the full-length protein. This information will be valuable for the ultimate goal of producing structural mimics of the INGAP pentadecapeptide. Non-peptide mimics should have better oral bioavailability and longer half-lives in vivo.

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This study aims to examine the foreign policy of Azerbaijan toward Turkey in a historical perspective on the one hand and to analyze foreign policy formations during the Abulfaz Elchibey, Heydar Aliyev and Ilham Aliyev periods on the other. The thesis argues that One nation, two states principle does not have a validity in dictating the bilateral relations, instead a realist engagement is being favored by Azerbaijan with an emphasis on national interest. As a result, it is asserted that Azerbaijan&rsquo / s foreign policy remains in a cautious and consistent manner toward Turkey.

Mit der Verbreitung von Linux als Desktopsystem steigen auch die Anforderungen des Nutzers an multimediale Fähigkeiten wie z.B. das Anhören eines digitalisierten Musikstückes, die Einbindung einer Digitalkamera in die Bildverarbeitung, die Nutzung einer Radio/TV-Karte oder gar das Bearbeiten eines kleinen Videofilms.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 177-206). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-125).

The purpose of this study was to investigate characteristics associated with resilient school leaders. Principals juggle multiple responsibilities and work under increasingly stressful conditions. Despite recent role changes, added job responsibilities, and increased accountability, some principals remain remarkably resilient while working in a tumultuous environment. Using Henderson and Milstein's (2003) definition, principal resiliency was described as "the capacity to spring back, rebound, successfully adapt in the face of adversity, and develop social, academic, and vocational competence despite exposure to severe stress or simply to the stress that is inherent in today's world" (p. 7). This empirical study tested the theory that principals with higher levels of job satisfaction and work commitment would also likely have higher levels of resilience. This study also investigated whether years of experience, school location, school poverty rate, school level, principal salary, and student enrollment shared a significant relationship with principal resilience. This study used a questionnaire to measure participants' levels of resiliency, job satisfaction, and work commitment. The survey consisted of three research-based, established psychometric tools: 1) the abbreviated Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 10) (Connor & Davidson, 2003); 2) Brayfield-Rothe Job Satisfaction Index (JSI) (Brayfield & Rothe, 1951); and 3) Three-Component Model (TCM) of commitment (Meyer & Allen, 1991). An analysis of 627 surveys completed by public school principals from the state of Florida revealed that years of experience, school location, school poverty rate, school level, principal salary, and student enrollment shared no significant relationship with principal resilience. However, results from this empirical study indicated that there was a significant relationship between job satisfaction and resiliency for principals as well as a significant relationship between affective work commitment and resiliency.

This dissertation describes the approach taken in measuring two neutrino double beta decay of Cd-116 to the ground state of Sn-116 and in searching for the effective Majorana neutrino mass by placing a lower limit on the half-life for neutrinoless double beta decay of Cd-116 using the powerful technique of a combined tracking chamber and calorimeter with the NEMO-3 detector. The description of the detector, its natural background contamination, and the tools used to perform the analysis are discussed. The single electron channel was used to identify source foil contamination from [beta]-emitters and the electron-gamma channel was used to confirm the previous measurements of Tl-208 and Bi-214 contaminations in the source foil. Using these backgrounds, the two neutrino double beta decay half-life of Cd-116 was measured for the single states dominance hypothesis and the higher states dominance hypothesis. The final data set was defined to be data from Phrase One and Phase Two for the medium and low activity regions. Using 1471 days of data, the values of the half-life for the single data dominance hypothesis and the higher states dominance hypothesis were found. / text