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The purpose of this study was to investigate achievement factors of African American males on a college campus in the state of Texas, primarily a private 4-year college that serves a predominantly African American student population. The researcher used a case study approach to determine factors that affect the persistence of these college-aged men. A major goal of this study was to monitor a group of participants as they spoke about factors of persistence, family life, educational strides, stereotypes, perseverance, and resilience that might have aided their motivation to achieve academically. The researcher conducted a series of open-ended interviews that were 30 to 45 minutes in length. Individuals participated in one to three interview sessions based on their availability to answer the interview questions during each session. An interview guide included open-ended questions that were used to capture participant feedback for data analysis. Findings may begin to drive new approaches to studying African American males in college and increase awareness to support the efforts of these students. While this one study may not change policy, it sought to point leaders in this direction as a snapshot of one group was revealed. After reviewing the data from these African American male students, several themes resonated with the researcher as they constantly affected and went against findings of previous literature for this demographic. The young men in this study took what was given to them and became responsible for the paths they chose to manifest and fulfill each of their destinies. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

Microaerophilic and chemotaxic diazotrophs, azospirilla are found in close association with certain cereals such as durum wheat and maize and are active in enriching these ecological niches with the macronutrient nitrogen as ammonia. Regarded as highly pleomorphic, Azospirillum spp. are highly motile, using either a single polar flagellum when grown in liquid environments or peritrichous lateral flagella in viscous environments. Additionally, azospirilla are able to adhere onto surfaces as a biological film or aggregate cell-to-cell as nonproliferating flocculi, and these two processes having been suggested as positively affecting the survival and dispersal of the bacteria in the soil. Even though both biofilm formation and flocculation have been characterized via the presence of bacterial extracellular polysaccharides, the nature of the observed exopolysaccharides is still obscure, as are the underlying molecular mechanisms facilitating their organization. Here, we identified the optimal conditions for biofilm formation as a high C:N ratio under conditions of low aeration. Cells showed an increased preference for hydrophobic plastic rather than hydrophilic glass when the bacteria were first grown in a rich medium, TY, then were subcultured in a minimal media under these conditions. Using transposon mutagenesis, we also identified metabolic and cell-surface functions perhaps involved in the flocculation potential of these bacteria and we present an initial characterization of their contribution to this cellular differentiation process.