Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 22 of 22

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Design, Synthesis And Characterization Of New Analogs Of Tetraiodothyroacetic Acid (Tetrac) As Novel Angiogenesis Modulators And Their Binding Studies With Αvβ3 Integrin, Mary Adeyeye May 2017

Design, Synthesis And Characterization Of New Analogs Of Tetraiodothyroacetic Acid (Tetrac) As Novel Angiogenesis Modulators And Their Binding Studies With Αvβ3 Integrin, Mary Adeyeye

Chemistry

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting blood vessels. Design and development of novel angiogenesis inhibitors has been validated as a target in several tumor types. Integrins are important ligands that play a critical role in the angiogenesis process, particularly blood formation and local release of vascular growth factors, and they are members of a family of cell surface receptors. Tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac), a deaminated derivative of thyroid hormone T4, is a thyroid antagonist and blocks the actions of T3 and T4 with an interaction site that is located at or near the RGD recognition site identified …


Differentiation Of Hair Using Atr Ft-Ir Spectroscopy: A Statistical Classification Of Dyed And Non-Dyed Hairs, Matthew S. Boll May 2017

Differentiation Of Hair Using Atr Ft-Ir Spectroscopy: A Statistical Classification Of Dyed And Non-Dyed Hairs, Matthew S. Boll

Chemistry

Although hair is one of the most common and abundant types of evidence found at a crime scene, the current forensic analyses employed underutilize its full potential evidentiary value. Microscopy is the fundamental technique used to analyze forensic hair evidence, but even this routine and well-accepted method has limitations. In this study, non-dyed and dyed hairs from individuals varying in race, biological sex, and age, were analyzed using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform-infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy. Through the incorporation of multivariate statistical analysis, spectra collected from dyed and non-dyed hairs were differentiated with high accuracy. After hair spectra were determined …


Determining The Role Of Secondary Structure In Translational Control, Dhruv S. Patel May 2017

Determining The Role Of Secondary Structure In Translational Control, Dhruv S. Patel

Chemistry

The central dogma of cellular biology asserts that DNA is transcribed to mRNA, which in turn is translated to a protein. This simplistic conduit of gene expression is heavily regulated at multiple levels to ensure proper temporal and spatial expression of genes. One such mode of regulation occurs at the juncture at which RNAs are translated to proteins, known as translational regulation. mRNAs can be translationally regulated by trans-acting factors, such as RNA binding proteins (RBPs), and/or cis-acting factors. Regulation via these two modalities can depend on structure as well as RNA sequence. Secondary structures, such as stem loops, are …


Raman Spectroscopy Capabilities Of The Cbex Handheld Raman Instrument, Samantha Ingenito Jan 2017

Raman Spectroscopy Capabilities Of The Cbex Handheld Raman Instrument, Samantha Ingenito

Chemistry

Raman spectroscopy is a reliable, nondestructive method of identifying and distinguishing between different types of biological fluids. However, forensic studies have been restricted to indoor desktop Raman instruments when it would be optimal if Raman spectroscopic analysis could be performed at a crime scene. The CBex Handheld Raman Instrument was developed as a portable tool that could perform Raman spectroscopy outside the lab. Unfortunately, the CBex cannot obtain viable spectra of biological fluids. The handheld was compared to the Renishaw invia Raman Microscope by quantifying the signal-to-noise ratio of each by acquiring Scotch tape spectra. The handheld has a significantly …


Structural Characterization Of The Interactions Of Nicotinamide And Analogs With Human Sirt6 By Saturation Transfer Difference (Std) Nmr And Site Directed Mutagenesis, Beatriz Elena Bolivar-Vega Jan 2017

Structural Characterization Of The Interactions Of Nicotinamide And Analogs With Human Sirt6 By Saturation Transfer Difference (Std) Nmr And Site Directed Mutagenesis, Beatriz Elena Bolivar-Vega

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The allosteric regulation of SIRT6 by nicotinamide (NAM), along with the growing evidence of this enzyme's key role in the immune response, prompted the mechanistic study of SIRT6 inhibition by pyrazinamide (PZA) and analogs. In our current study, PZA, an analog of NAM, was revealed to have a modest modulatory effect on SIRT6, an enzyme that regulates the NF-κB signaling pathway at the transcriptional level (a relevant pathway to inflammation). Similarly, the analogs of PZA, 5-Cl PZA, 5-MeO PZA, and POA exhibited a modulatory effect against SIRT6 in our in vitro studies, enabling identification of a potential new target for …


Homo- And Heterometallic Bis(Pentafluorobenzoyl)Methanide Complexes Of Copper(Ii) And Cobalt(Ii), Janell Crowder Jan 2017

Homo- And Heterometallic Bis(Pentafluorobenzoyl)Methanide Complexes Of Copper(Ii) And Cobalt(Ii), Janell Crowder

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

β-Diketones are well known to form metal complexes with practically every known metal and metalloid. Metal complexes of fluorinated β-diketones generally exhibit increased volatility and thermal stability compared to the non-fluorinated analogues, and thus are used extensively in various chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes for the deposition of metal, simple or mixed metal oxides, and fluorine-doped metal oxide thin films. Furthermore, the electron-withdrawing nature of the fluorinated ligand enhances the Lewis acidity of a coordinatively unsaturated metal center which facilitates additional coordination reactions. The physical and structural properties of fluorinated β-diketonate complexes are discussed in Chapter 1 …


Study Of Biologically Important Macromolecules By Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Christopher Michael Demott Jan 2017

Study Of Biologically Important Macromolecules By Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Christopher Michael Demott

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Intrinsically disordered proteins or unstructured segments within proteins play an important role in cellular physiology and pathology. A combination of peptide aptamers selected by using the yeast-two-hybrid scheme, and in-cell NMR identified high affinity binders to a transiently structured intrinsically disordered proteins (IDP). This method was validated using the prokaryotic ubiquitin-like protein, Pup, of the Mycobacterium proteasome. We discover two peptide aptamers that bind to opposite sites of a transient helix in Pup, an intrinsically disordered protein, that have vastly different effects on the survival of Mycobacterium bovis BCG.


Raman Spectroscopy And Chemometrics For Forensic Bloodstain Analysis : Species Differentiation, Donor Age Estimation, And Dating Of Bloodstains, Kyle C. Doty Jan 2017

Raman Spectroscopy And Chemometrics For Forensic Bloodstain Analysis : Species Differentiation, Donor Age Estimation, And Dating Of Bloodstains, Kyle C. Doty

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The field of forensic science is constantly growing, so the advancement of old and unreliable techniques is at the forefront of what will lead to future progress and improvement. Current methods for identification and analysis of bloodstains are underwhelming due to the insignificant amount of information provided in a destructive, unreliable, and unsafe manner. As is the purpose of this research, creating new methodologies that are rapid, nondestructive, robust, statistically reliable, and safe would significantly advance the way bloodstains are currently analyzed, while providing more useful and relevant information for investigations and criminal proceedings. Raman spectroscopy, along with advanced statistical …


Site-Specific Functionalization Of Corannulene : Tailoring Structures And Properties, Cristina Dubceac Jan 2017

Site-Specific Functionalization Of Corannulene : Tailoring Structures And Properties, Cristina Dubceac

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Bowl-shaped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (also referred to as buckybowls or π-bowls) are curved polyarenes that are structurally related to fullerenes. Corannulene, the smallest buckybowl which maps onto a one-third of the surface of C60, provides a great platform for functionalization. Various synthetic methods have been developed over the years to give access to a wealth of corannulene derivatives with many different properties and practical applications. In this work, we report on the controlled functionalization of the corannulene interior, while also employing the addition of different functionalities to its periphery for fine-tuning of the packing and bowl properties.


Towards A Biomimetic Elastin-Based Nanofiber Scaffold For Salivary Gland Tissue Regeneration And Growth Factor Delivery, Zahraa Ismail Ahmed Foraida Jan 2017

Towards A Biomimetic Elastin-Based Nanofiber Scaffold For Salivary Gland Tissue Regeneration And Growth Factor Delivery, Zahraa Ismail Ahmed Foraida

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Development of electrospun nanofibers that mimic the structural, mechanical and biochemical properties of natural extracellular matrices (ECMs) and the basement membranes is a promising approach for tissue regeneration. Electrospun fibers of synthetic polymers partially mimic the topography of the ECM, however, their high stiffness, poor hydrophilicity and lack of in vivo-like biochemical cues is not optimal for epithelial cell self-organization and function. In search of a biomimetic scaffold for salivary gland tissue regeneration, we utilized proteins and peptides to induce biomechanical and biochemical cues that resembles the native tissue environment. These functional molecules were introduced to our previously-developed poly lactic-co-glycolic …


The Technology Development And Commercialization Of 'Smart' Scientific Instrumentations, Tony Hoang Jan 2017

The Technology Development And Commercialization Of 'Smart' Scientific Instrumentations, Tony Hoang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The technology development of two centrifuge-based instruments gave rise to an Internet-of-Things (IOT) biotech startup. The first instrument: the centrifuge force microscope (CFM) was recently introduced as a platform for massively parallel single-molecule manipulation and analysis. Here we developed a low-cost and self-contained CFM module that works directly within a commercial centrifuge, greatly improving accessibility and ease of use. Our instrument incorporates research grade video microscopy, a power source, a computer, and wireless transmission capability to simultaneously monitor many individually tethered microspheres. Building off of the first project, the second instrument we introduced was the “smart” centrifuge-test tube holder. The …


Investigating The Role Of Epitranscriptomics In Viral Immunity, Kaycie S. Lawson Jan 2017

Investigating The Role Of Epitranscriptomics In Viral Immunity, Kaycie S. Lawson

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The characterization of host-virus relationships is essential for understanding the process of viral replication and driving the development of effective viral targeting strategies. In this work, I tested the hypothesis that ribonucleic acid (RNA) post-transcriptional modifications (PTMs) may play a significant role in defining host-virus interactions. The model system consisted of a yeast strain capable of harboring the endogenous L-A virus, which allowed me to evaluate the possible involvement of PTMs in the process of cellular immunity to virus-borne toxicity. A mass spectrometry-based platform was utilized to compare the global PTM profile of wild-type yeast with those of the same …


Further Development Of Raman Spectroscopy For Body Fluid Investigation : Forensic Identification, Limit Of Detection, And Donor Characterization, Claire K. Muro Jan 2017

Further Development Of Raman Spectroscopy For Body Fluid Investigation : Forensic Identification, Limit Of Detection, And Donor Characterization, Claire K. Muro

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The challenges to forensic body fluid analysis have placed limitations on the type of information that investigators can acquire and how that information can be collected. In recent years, Raman spectroscopy has proven itself useful for characterizing body fluids. In 2008, a large-scale investigation was undertaken to explore the use of Raman spectroscopy as a means of identifying body fluids. This work resulted in multidimensional Raman spectroscopic signatures for the five main body fluids: semen, peripheral blood, saliva, vaginal fluid, and sweat. These studies were incredibly successful and created the foundation for years of continued research. Accordingly, the studies included …


Mechanisms Of Euv Exposure : Photons, Electrons And Holes, Amrit Kausik Narasimhan Jan 2017

Mechanisms Of Euv Exposure : Photons, Electrons And Holes, Amrit Kausik Narasimhan

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The microelectronics industry’s movement toward smaller and smaller feature sizes has necessitated a shift to Extreme Ultra-Violet (EUV) lithography to be able to pattern sub 20-nm features, much like earlier shifts from i-line to 248 nm. However, this shift from 193-nm lithography to EUV (13.5 nm) poses significant obstacles. EUV is the first optical lithography to operate in an energy range (92 eV per photon vs. 6.4 eV per photon for 193 nm lithography) above the electron binding energies of common resist atomic species. This significant energy increase complicates resist design. For exposures of equal dose, resists receive 14 times …


Chemical Reduction Of Planar And Curved Polyarenes : From Group I To Group Ii Metals, Natalie Jean O'Neil Jan 2017

Chemical Reduction Of Planar And Curved Polyarenes : From Group I To Group Ii Metals, Natalie Jean O'Neil

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

To further advance energy storage materials research, the structural studies of carbonaceous compounds intercalated with alkali and alkaline earth metal ions are of great interest and importance. Structure-property relationships of electrode and superconductive materials can be better understood with the gained fundamental knowledge stemming from a synergistic use of solid state and solution studies. Due to the polymeric structures and insolubility in common solvent of intercalated carbonaceous materials, studies of structures and properties must be conducted on smaller subunits. Planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can serve as models for the infinite π-carbon layers of graphite or graphene, while nonplanar PAHs …


Discovering Small Molecule Inhibitors Targeted To Ligand-Stimulated Rage-Diaph1 Signaling Transduction, Jinhong Pan Jan 2017

Discovering Small Molecule Inhibitors Targeted To Ligand-Stimulated Rage-Diaph1 Signaling Transduction, Jinhong Pan

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The receptor of advanced glycation end product (RAGE) is a multiligand receptor of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell surface molecules, which plays an important role in immune responses. Full-length RAGE includes three extracellular immunoglobulin domains, a transmembrane domain and an intracellular domain. It is a pattern recognition receptor that can bind diverse ligands. NMR spectroscopy and x-ray crystallization studies of the extracellular domains of RAGE indicate that RAGE ligands bind by distinct charge- and hydrophobicity-dependent mechanisms. It is found that calgranulin binding to the C1C2 domain or AGEs binding to the V domain activates extracellular signaling, which triggers interactions of …


A Laser-Pulse Photolysis Study Of The Mechanism Of Potentiation Of The Glua2qflip Ampa Receptors By Cx546, Yu-Chuan Shen Jan 2017

A Laser-Pulse Photolysis Study Of The Mechanism Of Potentiation Of The Glua2qflip Ampa Receptors By Cx546, Yu-Chuan Shen

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Insufficient activity of the α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-type glutamate ion channels is involved in neurological disorders and developmental problems, such as schizophrenia, one of the most serious psychiatric diseases. Use of regulatory agents to enhance AMPA receptor activity under the circumstance has been shown therapeutically beneficial. Specifically, small-molecule compounds generally termed as potentiators or positive modulators of AMPA receptors have long been pursued as drug candidates for a potential treatment of these neurological disorders and diseases. The goal of my MS thesis work is to investigate the mechanism of potentiation on AMPA receptor by a classic potentiator known as CX546. The …


Computational Optimization And Characterization Of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers, Jacob Jordan Terracina Jan 2017

Computational Optimization And Characterization Of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers, Jacob Jordan Terracina

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are a class of materials containing sites capable of selectively binding to the imprinted target molecule. Computational chemistry techniques were used to study the effect of different fabrication parameters (the monomer-to-target ratios, pre-polymerization solvent, temperature, and pH) on the formation of the MIP binding sites. Imprinted binding sites were built in silico for the purposes of better characterizing the receptor – ligand interactions. Chiefly, the sites were characterized with respect to their selectivities and the heterogeneity between sites.


Dna Aptamer-Based Smart Mri Contrast Agent For Dopamine, Angel D. Thompson Jan 2017

Dna Aptamer-Based Smart Mri Contrast Agent For Dopamine, Angel D. Thompson

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

A smart contrast agent is a molecule whose relaxivity changes in response to a biological trigger such as a biomolecule, enzymatic activity, or pH. The focus of my graduate project was to develop a DNA aptamer-based smart MRI contrast agent capable of sensing dopamine. Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides that form stable three-dimensional structures efficient in binding with high affinity and specificity for a range of targets. The DNA aptamer has an attached lanthanide-based probe, consisting of a metal ion Gd(III) and a macrocyclic DOTA ligand. The aptamer was assembled using solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis. Nuclear magnetic resonance was used to …


Coupling Of Sterically Demanding Peptides By Strain Driven Beta-Thiolactone Mediated Native Chemical Ligation, Yunxian Xiao Jan 2017

Coupling Of Sterically Demanding Peptides By Strain Driven Beta-Thiolactone Mediated Native Chemical Ligation, Yunxian Xiao

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The association between sterically requesting peptidyl destinations is hard to accomplish. The ligation between amino acids, for example, Val-Val has been ended up being amazingly testing with ordinary NCL strategies that are depending on exogenous thiol added substances. Besides, the extra of overabundance measures of outer thiol activators, for example, a 4-mercaptophenylacetic corrosive (MPAA) impede the consequent desulfurization, and it needs the additional progression to be expelled. Although various methodology has been produced to encourage MPAA expulsion, reverse phase preparative HPLC purification remains the best. Nevertheless, the additional purification decreases response proficiency and yield. Thus, we report a β-thiolactone-mediated additive-free …


A Kinetic Study Of Regulation Of Glua1 Homomeric And Heteromeric Ampa Receptors By 2,3-Benzodiazepines, Yin-Shuo (Andrew) Wu Jan 2017

A Kinetic Study Of Regulation Of Glua1 Homomeric And Heteromeric Ampa Receptors By 2,3-Benzodiazepines, Yin-Shuo (Andrew) Wu

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

AMPA receptors are a subtype of the ionotropic glutamate receptor family. They are ligand-gated or glutamate-activated, transmembrane ion channels that mediate the majority of excitatory synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. AMPA receptors are essential for neuronal development and brain functions, including learning and memory. Over-activation of calcium permeable AMPA receptors has been linked to some neurological diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Inhibitors of glutamate receptors are therefore drug candidates for the potential treatment of these neurological diseases. One of the most promising classes of AMPA receptor antagonists is 2,3-benzodiazepine derivatives, thought to be …


The Preparation And Characterization Of Tetrafluoro-Lambda~6~-Sulfanes, Linbin Zhong Jan 2017

The Preparation And Characterization Of Tetrafluoro-Lambda~6~-Sulfanes, Linbin Zhong

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Synthetic access to systematically substituted tetrafluoro-λ6-sulfanes was challenging and the research in this area had been largely abandoned. The original reports of disubstituted-tetrafluoro-λ6-sulfanes were limited to substitution by diphenyl and dialkyl groups. The dialkyl-tetrafluoro-λ6-sulfanes were reactive while the diphenyl substituted compounds showed decreased reactivity. In this dissertation, the systematic substitution on tetrafluoro-λ6-sulfanes has enabled the studies of the substitution effects on reactivity.