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Design, Synthesis, And Evaluation Of Class Iia Histone Deacetylase (Hdac) Inhibitors, Lauren Nicole Kotsull

Wayne State University Dissertations

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) proteins are linked to disease states, including cancer, and have become important targets for therapeutic development. Many inhibitors have been developed to target HDAC proteins, including FDA-approved inhibitors Vorinostat (SAHA), Belinostat, Romidepsin, and Panobinostat. These inhibitors non-specifically influence most of the 11 metal-dependent HDAC isoforms, which might contribute to the side effects that patients experience during treatment. The lack of selectivity also diminishes the use of HDAC inhibitors as biomedical research tools. To address these drawbacks, the development of selective inhibitors has been heavily studied. Yet, reported inhibitors are predominantly selective for class I HDAC isoforms (HDACs …

Supply And Consumption Of Dissolved Organic Phosphorus Across The Subtropical Indian Ocean, Corinne Richard

Honors Theses and Capstones

The Indian Ocean is an understudied region for marine phosphorus (P) biogeochemistry. Emerging evidence indicates marine phytoplankton can adapt to decreasing supplies of inorganic P, a required nutrient for growth, by alternatively utilizing organic forms of P. Here we investigate the dissolved organic phosphorus concentration ([DOP]) distribution across the southern Indian Ocean using observations collected on the I05 US GO-SHIP Cruise (2023) across ~33ºS latitude. We quantify the longitudinal variability of [DOP] in the upper 350 m of the Indian Ocean and infer its rate of biological consumption from surface waters, contributing as an organic nutrient to sustain marine autotrophs …

Discovery Of Dna Aptamers As Probes For Detecting Ranavirus Mcp, Corbin Hudson

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Global amphibian populations have been declining since the late 20th century; one of the most significant contributors to these declines is a genus of viral pathogens known as Ranavirus (Rv). Frog virus 3 is one of these viral agents and is currently found affecting frog populations throughout NJ, MD, PA, DE, and VA. While Frog virus 3 is most known for afflicting frogs, the Ranavirus genus can also infect bony fish species as well as reptiles, allowing for a wide vector of transmission and making its spread a danger both locally and globally. In the absence of a cure, it …

Plasmid-Borne Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Within A Permanently Stratified Marine Water Column, Paraskevi Mara, David Geller-Mcgrath, Elizabeth A. Suter, Gordon T. Taylor, Maria G. Pachiadaki, Virginia P. Edgcomb

BCES: Faculty Publications

Plasmids are mobile genetic elements known to carry secondary metabolic genes that affect the fitness and survival of microbes in the environment. Well-studied cases of plasmidencoded secondary metabolic genes in marine habitats include toxin/antitoxin and antibiotic biosynthesis/resistance genes. Here, we examine metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from the permanently-stratified water column of the Cariaco Basin for integrated plasmids that encode biosynthetic gene clusters of secondary metabolites (smBGCs). We identify 16 plasmid-borne smBGCs in MAGs associated primarily with Planctomycetota and Pseudomonadota that encode terpenesynthesizing genes, and genes for production of ribosomal and non-ribosomal peptides. These identified genes encode for secondary metabolites that are …

Development Of Small Ligands Targeting Pathogenic Rna Repeats In Neurodegenerative Diseases, Zhihua Chang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Pathogenic microsatellite RNA expansions are toxic and can cause neuronal degeneration and dysfunction. Therapeutics that eliminate or neutralize these RNA repeats hold great promise for the treatment of many neurodegenerative diseases because they are uniformly fatal but there is no effective treatment available today. New compounds targeting these pathogenic RNA repeat sequences represent new hope to treat these diseases. The overall goal of my dissertation is to develop a high-throughput screening assay to identify small ligands as potential drug candidates against disease-associated RNA repeats and probe binding mechanisms to guide the design of optimized drug candidates, and eventually validate therapeutic …

Pharmacology Of Veratrum Californicum Alkaloids As Hedgehog Pathway Antagonists, Madison L. Dirks, Owen M. Mcdougal

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Veratrum californicum contains steroidal alkaloids that function as inhibitors of hedgehog (Hh) signaling, a pathway involved in the growth and differentiation of cells and normal tissue development. This same Hh pathway is abnormally active for cell proliferation in more than 20 types of cancer. In this current study, alkaloids have been extracted from the root and rhizome of V. californicum, followed by their separation into five fractions using high performance liquid chromatography. Mass spectrometry was used to identify the presence of twenty-five alkaloids, nine more than are commonly cited in literature reports, and the Bruker Compass Data Analysis software …

Developing Methods For Analysis Of Chiral Small Molecules And D-Amino Acid Containing Peptides, Joshua I. Putman

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation covers the development of methods to analyze chiral small molecules and d-amino acid containing peptides. The first section covers the development of liquid chromatographic chiral screening approaches for newly synthesized chiral molecules. The next part of the dissertation covers methodologies for the analysis of d-amino acid containing peptides. Lastly the bacterial degradation of three commonly used pesticides by bacteria harvested from Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemliniata) is presented.

Twelve new azole compounds and eleven racemic ethanolamine derivatives were synthesized. These twenty-three compounds were evaluated using eight chiral columns, four macrocylic glycopeptides, a cyclodextrin derivative …

Gemstone Identification By Raman Spectroscopy Combined With Chemometric Methods, Nontawat Sricharoen

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Accurate and reliable gemstone classification is critical in gemology for authentication and identification purposes. A one-class classifier using self-organizing maps (SOMs), combined with Monte Carlo permutation testing, was successfully developed for gemstone classification based on Raman spectroscopy data. The developed SOM model was optimized by adjusting the map size and training iteration counts, and Monte Carlo permutation tests were conducted to evaluate prediction score through empirical p-values by generating random permutations of the data, allowing for a statistically robust assessment of classification reliability. Using the Raman spectra of RRUFF database and certain garnet gemstones, the model demonstrated high classification accuracy …

Computational Fluid Dynamics And Artificial Neural Network Based Modeling Of Microplastics Seperation Using Hydrocyclone, Dulyapat Thiemsakul

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Microplastics represent a considerable environmental hazard, particularly to aquatic ecosystems. These particles can adversely impact marine organisms and infiltrate the food chain, potentially posing risks to human health. Due to their small size and ubiquitous distribution, the removal of microplastics from water presents a significant technical challenge. This study focuses on the separation of microplastics using hydrocyclones. A three-dimensional Eulerian–Eulerian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was used to investigate this process. The model showed strong agreement with experimental data in terms of pressure drop, water split, and axial velocity, confirming the reliability of the simulation results. In this work, design …

Nanofluid Flow Behavior And Heat Exchange In Polymer Based Microchannel Heat Exchanger Using Computational Fluid Dynamics And Fluid-Structure Interaction, Chaiyanan Kamsuwan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Energy is the main factor that driving human society for century, but rapid growth of population tends to raise world energy demand. Many researchers suggest many ideas such as using new energy resources and alternative energies. However, an interested alternative is to utilize waste heat from flue gas. To utilize energy embedded in the flue gas, two challenges remaining include their low heat potential in 100 – 200 oC and corrosion risk in the equipment due to corrosive gas such as CO2 and H2S. To encounter the challenges polymer-based microchannel heat exchanger (PMHE) was developed for reutilizing waste heat in …

Biological Fluorescence Sensor Derived From Naphthalimide-Functionalized Pillar[5]Arene, Yanisa Sanguansap

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Lung cancer has unavoidably encountered the most substantial fatality rate in recent years worldwide. The development of efficient and accessible diagnostic methods is required to assess disease severity. Prior studies have discovered the highest levels of long-chain aldehyde compounds particularly octanal (C8), nonanal (C9), and L-glutathione (L-GSH) as potential biomarkers for lung cancer. Herein, the novel artificial fluorescence sensor HNP5A containing bis-hydrazine naphthalimide decorated pillar[5]arene and 1,2-bis(6-bromohexyl)disulfane (BS) containing a disulfide part linked to a terminal bromoalkane were designed for two conceptual approaches. The first concept, sensor HNP5A has been accomplished for sensitive and selective detection of long-chain aldehydes. This …

การดัดแปรคุณภาพของสตาร์ชมันสำปะหลังโดยการคัดแยกขนาดแกรนูลและการทำให้แกรนูลสตาร์ชเสียหาย, ภูมิพิทักษ์ รักเรือง

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาผลของการคัดแยกขนาดแกรนูลและการทำให้แกรนูลของ สตาร์ชมันสำปะหลังเสียหายด้วยวิธีทางกายภาพต่อสมบัติทางกายภาพและสมบัติเชิงหน้าที่ของสตาร์ช โดยไม่ใช้สารเคมี เพื่อพัฒนาแนวทางในการปรับปรุงคุณภาพของสตาร์ชให้เหมาะสมกับการใช้งานในอุตสาหกรรมอาหาร ซึ่งให้ความสำคัญต่อความปลอดภัยและความยั่งยืนของวัตถุดิบ การทดลองเริ่มต้นด้วยการคัดแยกขนาดแกรนูลโดยใช้วิธีตกตะกอนด้วยแรงโน้มถ่วง การเหวี่ยงแยก และการร่อนแห้ง ซึ่งส่งผลให้ได้แกรนูลขนาดเล็กลงและมีการกระจายตัวที่แคบลง โดยลักษณะของแกรนูลยังคงมีรูปทรงกลมหรือรี ผิวเรียบ และมีความสม่ำเสมอ ตัวอย่างขนาด 25 – 44 ไมโครเมตร มีพื้นที่ผิวต่อปริมาตรสูง ช่วยส่งเสริมการดูดซึมน้ำและการพองตัวได้ดี ส่งผลให้ค่าความหนืดสูงสุด (PV) และค่าความหนืดลดลง (BD) เพิ่มขึ้น ขณะที่อุณหภูมิการเกิดเพสต์ (PT) ลดลงอย่างมีนัยสำคัญ สำหรับการดัดแปรแกรนูลโดยการบดด้วยเครื่องบดแบบล้อและแบบลูกบอล พบว่าแกรนูลมีการแตกหักและมีขนาดลดลง ส่งผลให้ค่า PV, BD, FV และ PT ลดลง ขณะที่ค่าการพองตัวและการละลายน้ำเพิ่มขึ้น ผลการวิเคราะห์ด้วย X-ray Diffraction (XRD) และการวิเคราะห์สมบัติทางความร้อนด้วยเทคนิค Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) พบว่าความเป็นผลึกและเอนทัลปีของการเกิดเจลาติไนซ์ลดลงตามระดับ ความเสียหายของแกรนูล โดยตัวอย่างที่ผ่านการบดด้วยเครื่องบดแบบลูกบอลที่ความเร็วและเวลาสูงสุด (BM590) มีปริมาณสตาร์ชเสียหายสูงสุดถึงร้อยละ 18.17 และอุณหภูมิการเกิดเจลาติไนซ์ต่ำสุดที่ 56.55 องศาเซลเซียส อีกทั้งยังพบปริมาณแอมิโลสเพิ่มขึ้นสูงสุดถึงร้อยละ 26.52 จากการวิเคราะห์โครงสร้างโมเลกุลโดยเทคนิค Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) พบว่าอัตราส่วนค่าการดูดกลืนแสง 1022/995 และ 1045/1022 cm-1 เปลี่ยนแปลงเพียงเล็กน้อยและไม่แตกต่างอย่างมีนัยสำคัญทางสถิติ สะท้อนว่าโครงสร้างระดับโมเลกุลระยะสั้นของสตาร์ชยังคงมีเสถียรภาพ โดยสรุป การดัดแปรด้วยวิธีทางกายภาพสามารถเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพของสตาร์ชมันสำปะหลังให้เหมาะสมกับผลิตภัณฑ์ที่มีความซับซ้อนเพิ่มมากขึ้น สามารถแปรรูปที่อุณหภูมิต่ำได้ง่าย และละลายน้ำดี เช่น ซอส ผลิตภัณฑ์เบเกอรี่ และฟิล์มชีวภาพ อีกทั้งยังเป็นทางเลือกที่ปลอดภัยและเป็นมิตรต่อสิ่งแวดล้อม พร้อมต่อยอดสู่การใช้งานในระดับอุตสาหกรรมต่อไป

Green Materials For Electromembrane Microextraction For Determination Of Norfloxacin, Thidarat Samkumpim

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The gel electro membrane extraction (G-EME) has undergone many developments, including the in-gel electro membrane extraction (IG-EME) and the minimization of G-EME. First, IG-EME is a two-phase version of G-EME; its development started with suppressing the electroendoosmosis phenomenon (EEO). The EEO effect is a major problem in G-EME, which is caused by the induced water movement of the agarose membrane during the extraction. A removal acceptor phase can reduce the chance of excessive water movement. IG-EME enhances the extraction efficiency and moves the extraction to the sensing platform. In this work, IG-EME was studied with fluorescence detection for the first …

Synthesis And Biophysical Properties Of Zwitterionic Pyrrolidinyl Peptide Nucleic Acid, Wachiraya Pinthongnoi

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acid (pyrrolidinyl PNA) is a synthetic DNA mimic featuring a conformationally constrained backbone comprising alternating proline and cyclic b-amino acid dipeptide subunits. AcpcPNA is a typical example of pyrrolidinyl PNA that demonstrates excellent binding specificity to DNA targets along with high chemical and biological stability. Although pyrrolidinyl PNA holds strong promises for biological applications, it also has limitations due to its hydrophobic nature, which leads to poor water solubility and non-specific binding to hydrophobic molecules such as proteins, lipids, plastics, or even other PNA molecules. To address these issues, the pyrrolidinyl PNA backbone was modified to become …

Influences Of Shape Of Plasmonic Gold Nanoparticles Decorated On Titanium Dioxide For Photo-Oxidation Of Benzyl Alcohol, Naritsara Kornkanlaya

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The composite of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been extensively utilized to enhance photocatalytic activity due to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of AuNPs, which improves TiO2 photocatalytic performance. This study investigates the shape effect of AuNPs on TiO2-MPTMS surface for the aerobic photo-oxidation of benzyl alcohol. AuNPs with spherical, rod, and star shapes were synthesized by controlling plasmonic absorption within the 500-600 nm region and subsequently decorated on the TiO2-MPTMS surface via a deposition-precipitation method to compare their photocatalytic activity. The aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol was performed under 300 W Xe lamp irradiation …

Electromembrane Extraction With Flat Sheet Membrane For Determination Of Chromium(Vi), Preenapa Saengaroon

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

An electromembrane extraction with a flat sheet membrane platform was developed for colorimetric detection of chromium(VI). This study designed an electromembrane extraction device using a simple flat sheet membrane with an open area to reduce the effect of gas generation from the electrolysis reaction. In addition, a 1,5-diphenylcarbazide (DPC) colorimetric reagent for Cr(VI) was introduced into the acceptor phase to improve the mass transfer of Cr(VI) by simultaneously reacting with the transferred Cr(VI) facilitating the driving force due to concentration gradient in the acceptor phase. When a voltage was applied, the analytes were extracted, transferred from the sample solution (donor …

New Fluorescent Sensors Based On Thiazolinyl Quinoline Derivatives For Metal Ion Detection, Kavisara Srithadindang

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Heavy metals can severely impact human health by causing neurotoxicity and other serious disorders at high concentrations. This dissertation focuses on developing chemosensors designed for the selective detection and measurement of Cu2+ and Zn2+, two of the most abundant heavy metals on earth. The initial section outlines the design, synthesis, and characterization of four novel fluorescent sensors (8-TQ1, 2-TQ2, 3-TQ2, and 8-TQ2). Conceptually, these probes are designed to possess an aminoquinoline scaffold linked with a thiazoline unit as a receptor to enable selective metal ion detection. 8-TQ1 probe, which features a secondary amine group within its structure and is connected …

Lead-Free Perovskite/Metal Oxide Heterojunction Photocatalyst For Sustainable Toluene Oxidation, Zakarya Hazaea

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

An important field of study is the ecologically benign synthesis of useful compounds such as benzaldehyde and benzyl alcohol from the organic contaminant toluene. Lead-free halide perovskites are excellent options for photocatalysis due to their exceptional photoelectric properties. Nonetheless, they have notable challenges, such as fast charge recombination and ineffective charge separation. In this work, we present a simple anti-solvent technique to create a heterojunction between lead-free halide perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 (CABB) with Cu2O and Cu-Cu2O. This combination facilitates the photocatalytic activation of C(sp3)−H bonds, which in turn increases the oxidation of toluene. The Cu2O and Cu-Cu2O creating a Z-scheme heterojunction …

Assessment Of The Extraction And Quantification Of Pfbs From Sprague Dawley Rat Adipose Tissues, Joshua O. Osaghae

Honors College Theses

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of complex synthetic chemicals that have applications ranging from automotives to consumer products. PFAS have been found to bioaccumulate in the ecosystem as their carbon-fluorine bonds are among the strongest bonds in organic chemistry. Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) compounds are used as surfactants in water- and stain-repellent coatings for fabrics and carpets, cleaning agents, and paints. The persistence of PFAS has led to their accumulation in sources of groundwater, making them ubiquitous drinking water contaminants of concern with evidence linking PFAS exposure to adverse health effects, including reduced kidney function, thyroid disruption, and …

Assessment Of Conjugation Pathways In N-Methylporphyrins That Are Fused To Acenaphthylene, Phenanthrene Or Pyrene: Evidence For The Presence Of Alternative Aromatic Circuits, Jared S. Salrin, Brian G. Carpenter, Deyaa Abusalim, Timothy D. Lash

Faculty Publications – Chemistry

Acenaphtho-, phenanthro-, and pyrenopyrrole esters, readily available from Barton-Zard reactions of ethyl isocyanoacetate with nitroarenes, were reacted with methyl iodide and KOH in DMSO to give N-methylpyrroles and subsequent cleavage of the ester moieties was accomplished with KOH in ethylene glycol at 200 °C. Condensation with two equiv of an acetoxymethylpyrrole in refluxing acetic acid-2-propanol afforded a series of annulated tripyrranes. Cleavage of the terminal tert-butyl ester groups with trifluoroacetic acid, followed by condensation with a diformylpyrrole and oxidation with FeCl3, gave N-methyl acenaphtho-, phenanthro-, and pyrenoporphyrins. The N-methyl substituent effectively freezes the tautomeric equilibria to maximize interactions between the …

Dna Origami-Assisted Regioselective Organization Of Anisotropic Gold Nanotriangle Clusters, Wenyan Liu, Prashant Gupta, Yuwei Zhang, Krishna Thapa, Srikanth Singamaneni, Risheng Wang

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The manipulation of anisotropic nanoparticles, such as gold nanorods and nano prisms, has attracted great attention in nanotechnology due to their sensitive geometry-dependent properties. However. traditional synthesis and assembly methods for these particles face challenges in size uniformity and higher-order structuring. To address these limitations, this study presents a strategy using DNA origami triangles, not just as templates, but as encapsulating agents for gold nanotriangles (AuNTs). This method enables the construction of diverse nanoparticle clusters with precisely controlled distance and orientation. The formed clusters exhibit unique optical characteristics, demonstrated by UV-visible spectroscopy and supported by finite-difference time domain (FDTD) simulations. …

Enzymatic And Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction Of Bioactive Triterpenoids From Centella Asiatica, Zue Zue Win Myat

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, commonly known as gotu kola or bua-bok in Thai, is a medicinal herb valued for its rich content of pharmacologically active triterpenoids, notably asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid, and madecassic acid. These compounds contribute to a range of therapeutic effects, including wound healing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and neuroprotective activities. However, conventional extraction methods such as maceration and Soxhlet extraction are often constrained by long processing times, high solvent usage, and low extraction efficiency. To address these limitations, this study investigates an integrated green extraction strategy that combines enzymatic pretreatment with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for the efficient recovery …

Immobilization Of Thiol-Modified Horseradish Peroxidase On Gold Nanoparticles Enhances Enzyme Stability And Prevents Proteolytic Digestion, Faith E. Breausche, Annelise Somerlot, Jason Walder, Kwame Osei, Samuel Okyem, Jeremy D. Driskell

Faculty Publications – Chemistry

The specificity and efficiency of enzyme-mediated reactions have the potential to positively impact many biotechnologies; however, many enzymes are easily degraded. Immobilization on a solid support has recently been explored to improve enzyme stability. This study aims to gain insights and facilitate enzyme adsorption onto gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to form a stable bioconjugate through the installation of thiol functional groups that alter the protein chemistry. In specific, the model enzyme, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), is thiolated via Traut’s reagent to increase the robustness and enzymatic activity of the bioconjugate. This study compares HRP and its thiolated analog (THRP) to deduce the …

Permafrost Carbon: Progress On Understanding Stocks And Fluxes Across Northern Terrestrial Ecosystems, Claire C. Treat, Anna-Maria Virkkala, Eleanor Burke, Lori Bruhwiler, Abhishek Chatterjee, Joshua B. Fisher, Josh Hashemi, Frans-Jan W. Parmentier, Brendan M. Rogers, Sebastian Westermann, Jennifer D. Watts, Elena Blanc-Betes, Matthias Fuchs, Stefan Kruse, Avni Malhotra, Kimberley Miner, Jens Strauss, Amanda Armstrong, Howard E. Epstein, Bradley Gay, Mathias Goeckede, Aram Kalhori, Dan Kou, Charles E. Miller, Susan M. Natali, Youmi Oh, Sarah Shakil, Oliver Sonnentag, Ruth K. Varner, Scott Zolkos, Edward A.G. Schuur, Gustaf Hugelius

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Significant progress in permafrost carbon science made over the past decades include the identification of vast permafrost carbon stocks, the development of new pan-Arctic permafrost maps, an increase in terrestrial measurement sites for CO₂ and methane fluxes, and important factors affecting carbon cycling, including vegetation changes, periods of soil freezing and thawing, wildfire, and other disturbance events. Process-based modeling studies now include key elements of permafrost carbon cycling and advances in statistical modeling and inverse modeling enhance understanding of permafrost region C budgets. By combining existing data syntheses and model outputs, the permafrost region is likely a wetland methane …

Design Of Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonists For Potential Treatment Of Multiple Sclerosis, Lindsay Kornberger

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination and neuroinflammation. There is currently no cure for MS. There is a critically unmet need for the development of pharmacotherapies that can induce remyelination promoting both repair and recovery. The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) has been identified as a potential target for the development of remyelinating pharmacotherapies. KOR activation has been shown to promote functional recovery and remyelination preclinically. However, typical KOR agonists like U50,488 have limitations such as sedation and dysphoria limiting their use. This necessitates further development of new KOR agonists that maintain …

Inorganic Chemical Reasoning Skills: An Exploratory Study Into Understanding Students’ Choices And Thought Processes, Hannah P. Thompson

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Predicting the products of reactions is a fundamental skill for practicing inorganic chemists. However, the current knowledge of the strategies that students use to solve them is limited. Presumably, instructors of inorganic chemistry courses give complete-the-reaction assessment items hoping that students will use their knowledge of inorganic concepts to solve them; but it is conceivable that a successful student could use heuristics or domain general problem-solving methods. I proposed this study to determine which strategies were used by students when solving complete-the-reaction tasks in inorganic chemistry, and also to make qualitative connections between strategy and accuracy. This was done in …

The Kinetic Modulation Of Α - Synuclein Fibrillation And Toxicity By 4-Phenylbutyric Acid, Kristos Awuah Baffour

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The Protein misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) into neurotoxic amyloids underlies the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD). 4-Phenylbutyrate (PBA), an FDA drug approved for treating urea cycle disorders, has garnered significant attention as a potential chemical chaperone for targeting alpha-synuclein (α-syn) aggregation. Using in vitro assays, we demonstrated that PBA treatment alters the pattern of α-syn aggregation, as evidenced by reduced formation of oligomeric species and its increased susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage under the influence of PBA. Proteinase K assay, surface plasmon resonance, and Nile red studies indicate that PBA interacts with the extensive …

Development Of Functional Plasmonic Nanoceria For The Ultrasensitive Detection Of Ebola Glycoprotein, Carissa A. Sutton

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Infectious diseases have been increasing in both severity and prevalence, leading to increasing economic burdens and health concerns. Ebola hemorrhagic fever is an infectious disease that is both highly communicable and highly fatal. Current detection methods for the virus have high specificity and sensitivity but have long and/or complicated procedures that do not allow for early virus detection in highly affected areas. Compared to the lengthy procedure of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time RT-PCR is more time-efficient; however, specificity and sensitivity are reduced. Since early detection of the virus is the only way to increase survival rates, sensitive detection …

Development Of Lab-On-A-Chip Platforms Incorporating A Novel Acoustic Atomization Induced Pump Based On A Vibrating Sharp Edge Capillary., Balapuwaduge Lihini Tharanga Catherine Mendis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Capillary Vibrating Sharp-edge Ionization device (cVSSI device) was developed by our laboratory with a low cost and an easy fabrication procedure. The generation of small liquid droplets by this technique has been used as an ionization source for mass spectrometry analysis platforms. On usual applications incorporating the cVSSI device a syringe pump was connected to the back end of the vibrating sharp tip capillary to ensure continuous loading of sample into the capillary to sustain the ionization process at the tip end of the vibrating sharp tip capillary. We were able to observe that upon the generation of droplets the …

Nickel-Catalyzed Regioselective Three-Component Coupling Of Phenyl Vinyl Sulfones With Alkynes, Stephen M. Long

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Benzene rings are some of the most prevalent motifs found in small molecule drugs with only a few dominant substitution patterns, 1-, 1,2-, 1,4-, and 1,2,4-. Nucleophilic aromatic substitution and electrophilic aromatic substitution are traditional methods for the synthesis of substituted benzenes and are robust and commonly used by chemical manufacturers, which explains in part the observed distribution of substitution patterns. Current methods to access substituted benzenes comprise of transition-metal-catalyzed C-H activation, transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling, and aryne chemistry. In general, the present methods require directing/leaving groups in specific positions to proceed, which inherently puts a limitation on substrate scope. Transition-metal-catalyzed [2+2+2] …