Phenolics in red wine pomace and their potential application in animal and human health

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 14, 2009)Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2008.Grape pomace by-products, from wine-making, have some beneficial antioxidant compounds left in them after vinification and could be a cheap source of these compounds for value added products. One of the most common antioxidant groups found in grapes are the phenols. These antioxidants have the potential to reduce cardiovascular disease, prevent some cancers, have chemoprotective roles, reduce signs of skin aging, aid in glucose transport, and prevent other diseases such as iron storage disease (ISD). In this research, five Missouri red wine pomace samples were evaluated; Chambourcin, Grenache, Michigan, Norton and Vincent varieties. They were analyzed for total phenolic content using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, total condensed tannin content using the Vanillin-HCl assay, procyanidin degree of polymerization using normal-phase HPLC, iron-binding potential using the iron-binding phenolic capacity assay, and antioxidant activity using the ABTS and ORAC assays. The results showed that the vinification method applied to the grape variety greatly affected the pomace properties and composition. Red wine pomace, produced from lightly pressed grapes, has higher phenolic and antioxidant activities. This type of pomace has the greatest potential for applications that will benefit animal and human health.Includes bibliographical reference

Photoacoustic detection of circulating melanoma cells in the plasma layer of the blood [abstract]

Abstract only availableWhen a melanoma patient is diagnosed, aggressive treatment is advised in an effort to contain the disease. Although the initial malignant cells are destroyed, it is impossible to determine whether or not the cancer has metastasized until a secondary tumor forms. This can take months to discover, by which time the cancer could be advanced. Our research focuses on using photoacoustic signals to detect melanoma cells circulating in the blood, allowing for much earlier discovery and treatment of this type of cancer. Photoacoustic signals are produced when a laser illuminates a medium - blood, in this case - and the resultant pressure created by the light causes the medium to emit a sound wave. These waves are specific to the medium being illuminated, and melanoma cells can therefore be differentiated from surrounding blood cells based on the waveform it produces. Our current technique involves the in vitro separation of blood through centrifugation to isolate and test only the white blood cell layer since the contrast between these cells and melanoma cells is clear. Using this method, we have detected a single cancerous cell in the blood stream. However, the process could be made simpler if the plasma layer were used for detection instead of the white blood cell layer. This layer is easier to obtain after blood has been centrifuged, the optical difference between plasma cells and melanoma cells is more pronounced in this layer than in the white blood cell layer, and the possibility that any stray red blood cells could distort the results is eliminated. The primary focus has therefore been to determine whether or not melanoma cells are commonly found in the plasma layer of the blood. If such is the case, this research will be one step closer to revolutionizing the treatment of melanoma patients around the world.College of Engineering Undergraduate Research Optio

The Impact of Demographic Factors and News Exposure of Child Sexual Abuse in the Mass Media Toward Communication Quality of Parents in Providing Sex Education for Children

Many cases of child sexual abuse become media spotlight, such as print media, TV, and online. However, not all the audience watch the news. They are motivated by differences in demographic factors, such as gender, age, education level, and income level. The cases spread in the mass media should be concern of many parents to pay more attention to the patterns of communication as a way of parents to control the safety of their children. Sex education is considered to be an appropriate way to provide sexual knownledge to children who are vulnerable from the damage of sexual crimes. However, not all parents are willing to deliver sex education to their children.This study employed the theory of social categories explain the difference between social categories can affect the audience\u27s response when receiving message from mass media (Rakhmat, 2011) and media functionalist theory that explain how media exposure can affect their communication activities that occur between the audience (Mc Quail, 1972). The population of this study were the parents of SD Negeri Padangsari 02 Semarang, who have child 10-12 years old. Sampling was done by simple random technique with a number of 63 respondents.The first hypothesis test indicate that the demographic factors of the three variables, those are gender, age, and educational level when calculated simultaneously using regression analysis techniques, do not affect the news exposure of child sexual abuse in the mass media. While the variable of income level has an impact to the news exposure of child sexual abuse in mass media with significance value of 0,011. The second hypothesis test prove that the news exposure of child sexual abuse in the mass media affects the communication quality of parents in providing sex education with a significance value of 0,001.Advice can be given from this study is that parents should pay more attention to their way to communicate with children, especially regarding sex education. Sex education can be good when it is given according to the child\u27s age and their understanding level considering the number of cases of sexual abuse is increase as in the media

A Soils Data System for Kentucky

This report discusses the development of a computerized soils data system which facilitates collection, centralized storage, and retrieval of soils data developed by engineers and scientists for projects in Kentucky. Without such a system, much soils data are essentially lost after each project is completed. This system will provide data that can conveniently be used for developing preliminary sources of information for site investigation, for preparing regional soil maps, for land use planning, and for studying new and existing empirical relationships involving soil properties and characteristics. Various types of data systems, the design of the system to include software and hardware, and the contributers and users of the system are discussed. The system is divided into collection, storage, and retrieval subsystems. The operation of each subsystem is discussed. A computerized system was selected as the most efficient. A file definition and coding system was developed and is included in the appendices of the report

Sketches of Autumn

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Jeff Spradling on April 13, 1992

Role Based Hedonic Games

In the hedonic coalition formation game model Roles Based Hedonic Games (RBHG), agents view teams as compositions of available roles. An agent\u27s utility for a partition is based upon which role she fulfills within the coalition and which additional roles are being fulfilled within the coalition. I consider optimization and stability problems for settings with variable power on the part of the central authority and on the part of the agents. I prove several of these problems to be NP-complete or coNP-complete. I introduce heuristic methods for approximating solutions for a variety of these hard problems. I validate heuristics on real-world data scraped from League of Legends games

Generation X and Facebook: An Examination of the Behavioral and Cognitive Engagements of Generation X on Facebook

Mobile internet technologies and social media have radically altered the media landscape, and traditional media outlets are experimenting with ways to more efficiently reach and connect with audiences. Social media offers media outlets an opportunity and space to strengthen relationships with audiences while delivering content across multiple modalities and platforms. This study, through an online survey, open-ended questions, and focus group sessions, offers an examination of the cognitive and behavioral engagements of Generation X on Facebook through a uses and gratifications perspective. Results indicate Generation X uses Facebook for information seeking and to strengthen and maintain current relationships but seems willing to interact with media outlets in the same space. This willingness to connect represents an opportunity for traditional media managers to reach this socially and economically vital age group and develop brand-loyal relationships

Leaves of the Bodhi Tree from East to West: The Symbol of the Sacred Fig Tree in Ancient india, Southeast asia and Contemporary Contexts

This thesis examines the depiction of the Bodhi Tree, a common Buddhist symbol. Bodhi tree simply means tree of enlightenment and Buddha Shakyamuni reached enlightenment while in meditation beneath the particular tree species of ficus religiosa, or sacred fig. Though the sacred fig tree, as a native tree to India, has historically held significance, today it is principally known for its association with the Buddha, particularly his single most important life event, his enlightenment. Tree worship and its universal practice is well understood and many studies of the Bodhi Tree explore its associated pilgrimage site, Bodh Gaya, and monument, the Mahabodhi Temple, as well as its genealogy and role in the marking of sacred space. However, despite the fact that the symbol of the Bodhi Tree is ubiquitous, its visual depiction is not the focus of any previous study. The sacred fig tree has been a part of India’s material and visual culture since before the advent of Buddhism and has even spread to contemporary culture, for example its appearance in several American business logos and current use in the branding of traditional and natural products in Thailand. This study surveys the depiction of the sacred fig tree from its beginnings in India, through its application in Indian and Southeast Asian Buddhist art and finally its contemporary uses in the East and West, Thailand and the United States, respectively. In studying the appearance, use and meaning of this symbol from ancient to contemporary times and Buddhist to non-Buddhists contexts, this thesis adds to the history and myth of one of the world’s many sacred trees, beyond its association with the Buddha’s enlightenment