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Engineering Hiv-1 Env Protein To Elucidate In Situ Structural Dynamics Of Env, Narendra Kumar Gonepudi

Biotechnology Theses

The HIV-1 Envelope (Env) glycoprotein trimers undergo structural changes upon interacting with host receptor CD4 and coreceptors (CCR5/CXCR4) for virus entry. As the only surface-exposed viral protein, Env is a key antibody target but evades recognition through structural changes. Studying Env dynamics with respect to the coreceptor binding region (V3 loop) provides insights into virus entry and immune evasion. Fluorescence labeling via genetic code expansion (amber–TAG suppression) offers a minimally invasive approach for fluorescence microscope-based Env dynamics studies. Here, two V3-related dual-amber Env constructs (A135_TAG-P308_TAG, P308_TAG-E395_TAG) were generated by incorporating two non-canonical …

Myocardin Effector Proteins Affect Tgf-Beta-Induced Myofibroblast Differentiation In Ipf Cells, Allison Gonzalez

Biotechnology Theses

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an incurable interstitial lung disease defined by the progressive, irreversible scarring of the tissues between the lung’s alveoli. To date, only two drugs have received approval for treatment. However, these medications are not considered cures since they do not stop the progression of the disease. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying IPF could aid in discovering a cure. We recently found that myocardin (MyoCD) regulates SMAD2/3 transcription factors in the TGF-β signaling pathway and governs the genes involved in pleural fibrosis. However, it is unclear whether MyoCD plays a critical role in IPF by …

The State Of Municipal Scale Highest Use Urban Wood Reclamation Projects, Bradley C. Almond

Graduate Liberal Studies Theses and Dissertations

Millions of urban trees are downed annually for various reasons, such as storms, disease, or development. We are all witnesses to the loss of trees as we see the piles of woody waste assembled on the curbside, ready for public works pickup. Today, most urban wood waste ends up in landfills, mulching/chipping facilities, or firewood production. Each of these alternatives results in the release of sequestered carbon back into the atmosphere.

The initial research led to successful diversion from landfills to mulch and firewood operations. Then, the research shifted to converting urban wood waste for its best use, which outlined …

Assessing The Efficiency Of Methotrexate (Mtx) As An Antiviral Drug Against Gammaherpes Virus Replication, Yennifer A. Gaspar Garcia

Honors Projects

It is estimated that ~15% of all cancers are caused by oncogenic virus infections. Two of the top seven cancer-causing human viruses are members of the gammaherpesvirus family: Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV). Our lab uses Murine Herpesvirus 68 (MHV-68), a mouse gammaherpesvirus with shares significant genetic homology to KSHV and EBV, as a model system to understand how gammaherpesviruses alter the metabolism of their host during lytic infection to promote their replication. We recently metabolically profiled MHV-68 infected host cells at various time points during the lytic infectious cycle. Our data showed nucleotide metabolism is …

Sirex Nigricornis (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) Oviposition Preference And Development In Relation To Host Age, And A Novel Live-Trapping System For Wood-Borers, Jessica A. Hartshorn, Larry D. Galligan, Ace J.W. Lynn-Miller, Fred M. Stephen

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Sirex nigricornis F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) is a pine-inhabiting woodwasp native to eastern North America. A non-native congener, S. noctilio F., was discovered along the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario in New York in 2004 and its current distribution now includes seven northeastern states, Ontario, and Quebec. Its discovery led to a sharp increase in research focusing on S. noctilio as well as S. nigricornis. Research on these two species, and their associates, requires efficient methods for field collection and laboratory rearing. Success of these programs relies on successful collection of, and oviposition by, live females in artificial conditions. Moisture content …

Analyzing Ballast Water Treatments, Invasive Species, And Pathogens, And A Decade-Long Analysis On The San Francisco And Baltimore Ports, Jasmin Ibarra-Cortes

Master's Projects and Capstones

Installation of advanced technologies to treat ballast water on ships is necessary to meet current ballast water management standards and reduce the secondary spread of invasive species during intracoastal voyages. This research includes a literature review on non-native aquatic species, particularly diapausing eggs, and available treatment methods for installation. A comparative analysis from 2014 - 2024 on bulker, tanker, and container vessels arriving coastwise to the ports of San Francisco and Baltimore was performed to evaluate treatment installation trends, traffic patterns, and the effectiveness of treatment(s) on targeting diapausing eggs. Use of ultraviolet (UV) radiation combined with filtration has increased …

The Manifestation Of Synesthesia In The Deaf, Hard-Of-Hearing, And Sign Language User Population, Elizabeth Droubi

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

This capstone project investigated the prevalence and manifestation of synesthesia—a perceptual condition where stimulation in one sensory pathway triggers automatic, involuntary experiences in another—within d/Deaf, hard-of-hearing (DHH), and sign language user populations. Despite an estimated prevalence of over 4% in the general population and findings that many synesthetic experiences are language-based, little is known about how synesthesia presents across different language modalities, including signed languages. This project explored the phenomenon in two phases: an initial online survey assessing the prevalence and characteristics of synesthesia among DHH and signing individuals and follow-up interviews with self-reported synesthetes along with a test-retest procedure …

Kid Eats App: Supporting Parents And Children Cooking Together, Amy S. Muise, Gabrielle A. Longo, Pamela N. Martinez, Umekia R. Taylor, Linda E. Torv, Barbara A. Chamberlin

Journal of Extension

Kid Eats is a free app for iPad encouraging children and parents to cook together at home using fruits and vegetables. A preliminary study with parents and children showed children enjoyed using the app and that it provided useful information to support children’s involvement in the kitchen, including guidance around safety concerns. Every family in the study voluntarily completed at least one of the recipes with their child at least once following the in-person activity. Parents reported that their children actively asked to cook the recipes from the app and felt the app helped increase their time spent cooking with …

Assessing One-Year Health Impacts From Wildfires In Rural Communities: Roles For Extension In Promoting Wildfire Preparedness And Recovery, Marc T. Braverman, Sandi Cleveland Phibbs, Emily Jane Davis, Amanda Rau, Elijah Penner

Journal of Extension

Wildfires can produce health impacts that persist for years in affected communities. This article describes an Extension-led study of health impacts in rural Oregon communities one year after a destructive wildfire. Data collection included key informant interviews (n=36), an online survey (n=80), and three focus group interviews with survivors (n=23). Mental health, exposure to contaminants, physical stress, food insecurity, and other issues were frequently identified health concerns. Survivors’ difficulties in dealing with housing displacement significantly exacerbated health challenges. We describe potential roles for Extension in addressing wildfire risk and mitigating health impacts, including a description of the Oregon Fire Program.

Taking Flight: Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Systems To Sample Insects In Soybean, William "Covey" Lockhart

Theses and Dissertations

Insect scouting in soybean is a labor-intensive task but is needed throughout the season to minimize losses. When soybeans are tall, soils are wet, or soybeans are planted in narrow rows, walking through these fields can be difficult. To overcome these limitations of manual sampling, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sampling platform was developed that can collect insects in a sweep net attached to the bottom of a UAV. This system has been named the “Drone Insect Net Sampling System” (DINSS). Previous research with this system has shown positive correlations to traditional manual sampling methods. To improve this system, modifications …

Evaluation Of Plant Growth Regulators On Sweetpotato Slip Propagation, Kerington Lyn Bass

Theses and Dissertations

Sweetpotato production is often impacted by high mortality of slips during transplantation to the field, particularly with greenhouse-grown slips. These slips develop thinner stems, thus being more vulnerable to transplant shock, resulting in reduced establishment. To address this issue, the study evaluated the effects of four plant growth regulators on the morphological and anatomical characteristics of sweetpotato slips. In the first experiment, external growth parameters were recorded over four weeks, followed by post-harvest assessments of plant and root material. In the second experiment, the widths of various stem structures in stained cross-sections of slip stems were measured. Results showed that …

Climate Resilience For Organic Vegetable Growers In The Midwest: Views, Needs, And Priorities Of Technical Service Providers, Natalie Hoidal, Greta Gramig, James Dedecker, Nicholas Frillman, Katie Black, Sarah Hayward, Rue Genger

Journal of Extension

As organic vegetable production becomes increasingly important in Upper Midwest food systems, Extension programs and partners must rise to the challenge of supporting growers with climate resilience. These growers are uniquely vulnerable to climate impacts, and addressing this challenge requires a networked approach. We report on a needs assessment and social network analysis process with technical service providers across the region to define the challenges, needs, and opportunities for building individual and institutional capacity to address climate change with growers. Results highlighted several focus areas, including improved communication, better access to funding, sound information, and cultural appropriateness.

Gardening Through The Pages: Making A State-Specific Catalog With Community Science Data, Stephen Stresow, Stephen Reiners, Ashley Miller Helmholdt

Journal of Extension

Taking a page from commercial seed catalogs, Cornell Garden-Based Learning created a state-specific catalog using top-rated vegetable varieties. Taste, yield, ease-to-grow, and overall ratings were collected over the past decade through community science garden programs. The catalog combines the reputable, research-backed information Extension information with the marketability of a seed catalog. This project streamlined information across multiple sites into a single document while presenting it in a novel way (for Extension). We note how we collected data, created it, feedback from gardeners, and offer suggestions for improvements.

Exploring Sustainable Biopolyesters: Synthesis From 1,4-Butanediol And Aliphatic Diacids, Vinashkumar Jayantibhai Chaudhari

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis, we applied 1,4-butanediol, which is an emerging biobased and low-cost monomer, was synthesized with a series of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, namely succinic acid, adipic acid, and sebacic acid using melt polycondensation to Biobased polyesters. The resulting polymers poly(butylene succinate) (PPeS), poly(butylene adipate) (PPeA), and poly(butylene sebacate) (PPeSe) chemical structures were analysis through Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) revealed the elimination of side reactions in the obtained polyesters. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was employed to analyze physical properties, and the impact of dicarboxylate chain length and long short diol on crystalline structure and …

High-Entropy (Feconimnal)3o4/Cnt And (Feconimnal)3o4/Rgo Hybrid Bi-Functional Catalyst For Hydrogen And Oxygen Evolution Reactions, Bhumikaben V. Makawana

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Developing efficient and durable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for advancing sustainable energy conversion technologies. In this study, high-entropy (FeCoNiMnAl)₃O₄ and its hybrid forms supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were synthesized with varying carbon concentrations (5 mM, 10 mM, and 15 mM) and evaluated for their bifunctional electrocatalytic performance in alkaline media. The rGO-supported catalyst with 10 mM concentration exhibited the best HER performance, achieving a low overpotential of 162 mV at 10 mA/cm², followed by rGO (15 mM) and rGO (5 mM) …

Generation Of A Transgenic Vector For The Purpose Of Transforming Charcoal Rot Resistance Into Soybeans (Glycine Max), John M. Bear Jr

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Charcoal rot, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, is among the most devastating fungal pathogens affecting G. max, particularly in drought-susceptible regions such as the midwestern United States. Traditional agricultural practices have included crop rotation and irrigation, which have proved ineffective or economically unfeasible. Charcoal rot infects over 500 other species of plants and can overwinter as dormant sclerotia which can germinate once soybeans are re-planted and infect young plants. As a result, transgenic solutions have offered a promising alternative for the development of disease-resistant soybeans. This thesis documents the construction of a transgenic vector to express BOZO, a …

Zn–Assisted Synthesis Of M (Mn/Fe/Co/Ni)-N-C Catalysts For Multifunctional Electrochemical Activity, Kemila A. Chaudhary

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The design and development of atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts (metal (M) supported on an nitrogen-carbon (NC) matrix with high multifunctional electrocatalytic performance is desirable but proved to be very challenging. Herein, we synthesized M-N-C catalysts (M = Fe, Co, Mn, and Ni) using Zn-assisted high temperature treatment and characterized using various techniques. The prepared catalysts were tested for their electrocatalytic performance towards oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction (OER and HER) as well as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. The results indicated that Mn-N-C catalyst showed higher performance towards both the ORR (E_1/2 = 0.90 V) and …

Evergreen Products Training Yields Additional Income Results, James M. Delprince, Patricia R. Knight, Jeff Wilson, Anthony Bowden, Lauren C. Nickels, Laura H. Downey

Journal of Extension

Christmas tree growers can increase farm revenue through the design, marketing, and sales of value-added evergreen products. Three value-added training sessions in growing, designing, marketing and cold storage of evergreen wreaths, garland, and arrangements were conducted. Of the eighty tree growers invited to participate, twenty-six sought training. Sixteen followed up with post-holiday sales reports, 8 of whom generated sales of $6585 on 177 units with an average sales price of $35 per unit. Extension professionals can provide education, training, and market connections to help tree growers develop and increase value added product sales.

Evaluation Of The Development Of Critical Life Skills As A Result Of Participating In Texas Youth Horse Judging Programs, Ashley N. Dibbs, Jennifer Zoller, Chelsie Huseman, Scott Cummings

Journal of Extension

Competitive judging teams are valued forms of extracurricular learning tools for many youth students. Unfortunately, unless individuals have direct involvement in these programs the benefits often go unnoticed and undocumented. A survey was designed to assess self-perceived life skill development from current and past horse judging participants, as well as youth life skill development observed by adults. Participants identified critical thinking, decision making, and public speaking as the highest rated life skills developed. Adults ranked self confidence, critical thinking and decision making as the skills they observe develop most frequently.

Reaching Tomorrow’S Extension Customer: A Food And Health Needs Assessment, Morgan Szczepaniak, Sarah L. Francis, Ruth Litchfield, Ulrike Genschel, Shannon Coleman, Anirudh Naig

Journal of Extension

The food and health needs and preferences of Iowans (n=452) were examined. The leading food and health information sources were online platforms, social media, and print media. Program topics with high participation likelihood were cooking, food preservation, food safety, and gardening. Short, low-cost, online programs were preferred. Extension use was more likely among those who identified as persons of color, Hispanic/Latino, or were food insecure (p < 0.030). Those with less education and chronic disease were less likely to be interested in Extension programming (p < 0.040). These results provide valuable information regarding future directions for Extension programming.

Preparation , Performance , And Application Of A High-Performance Affinity Chromatography Medium Based On Staphylococcus Aureus Protein A, Zihao Guo, Chaoqing Yan, Haifeng Xia

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] Staphylococcus aureus protein A (SPA ) is widely used for the purification of monoclonal antibodies due to its high specificity for immunoglobulin G (IgG).However,the high costs of commercial media have limited the further development of SPA.To address this issue,this paper aims to prepare a high-performance affinity chromatography medium based on SPA as the substitute of introduced affinity chromatography media.[Method ] SPA expressed by the recombinant strain was purified via Ni2+ affinity chromatography and then coupled to the Rigose HF matrix to prepare an self-prepared affinity chromatography medium.[Result ] The self-prepared medium had a static saturated adsorption capacity of …

Effects Of Edible Fungal Polysaccharides On The Proliferation And Metabolism Of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Gg, Shengyao Wu, Zikun Ye, Weiyi Xie, Yi Wang, Haotian Ouyang, Chengcheng Zhang, Shenyan Ma

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] The aim of this study is to explore the effects of edible fungal polysaccharides on the proliferation and metabolism of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG ).[Method ] Flarnmulina velutipes polysaccharides (FVP ),Tremella fueiformls polysaccharides (TFP),Auricularia auricula polysaccharides (AAP ),lentinan (LNT ),Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides (HEP ),and Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCP ) were selected as carbon sources for the culture of LGG.The viable bacterial count and the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs ) were determined.Two polysaccharides were selected from the six polysaccharides and added in different mass ratios to the LGG-fermented milk,and then the pH and textural properties of the …

A Bitter Brew For Cancer: Egcg’S Impact On Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Lizzeth Holguin, Mary-Esther Leblanc, Mariana Reyes, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), a powerful antioxidant found in green tea, is an abundant treatment to treat Ewing Sarcoma cells, a pediatric cancer affecting the skeletal system. Given EGCG’s known role in other cancer treatments, these tests aim to investigate its effects as a standalone natural compound on Ewing Sarcoma cells. Focusing on the PI3K/AKT pathway, if the PI3K/AKT pathway is inhibited by EGCG, then it will lead to reduced cell survival and proliferation of EW8 cells. Using cell culture techniques, IncuCyte-based IC50 analysis, caspase 3/7, RNA purification, cDNA synthesis, and qRT-PCR, EGCG’s impact was assessed on cell apoptosis and gene …

The Effect Of Epigallocatechin Gallate (Egcg) And Alpha L-Mangostin On Tp53, Bax, And Vim Gene Expression And Apoptosis In Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Victoria Valdez, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing Sarcoma (ES) is a malignant pediatric bone tumor driven by chromosomal translocations and fusion oncogenes with limited targeted treatment options. This study investigated the chemopreventive potential of two natural compounds, Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) found in green tea, and Alpha L-Mangostin from mangosteen, on apoptosis and gene expression in ES cells. We hypothesized that EGCG and Alpha L-Mangostin treatment would induce apoptosis and downregulate cancer-promoting genes. To test this, we performed tissue culture, IC50 assays, caspase-based apoptosis detection, RNA purification, cDNA synthesis, and qRT-PCR on ES cell lines treated with a high and low concentration of the two compounds. Our …

Natural Microbial Consortium Construction Strategy From Rhizospheric Agricultural Soils To Improve Wheat (Triticum Durum Desf.) Seedling Growth, Ni̇da Arslan, Mi̇ne Gül Şeker, Özlem Akkaya, Yelda Özden Çi̇ftçi̇

Turkish Journal of Botany

Microbial consortia of compatible microorganisms play a key role in enhancing agricultural sustainability by optimizing nutrient uptake by promoting plant growth more effectively. This study aimed to identify local isolates with the most effective plant growth-promoting (PGP) properties and to form a consortium of isolates showing the optimal synergistic effect between plant and bacterial components to improve the growth of wheat plants. For this purpose, 48 isolates identified from 145 isolates were screened for their PGP activities. According to the results, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to identify the six isolates exhibiting the most promising activity. Different consortium groups …

Taxonomic Revision Of Korean Salix Section Subviminales Based On Comparative Morphology And Complete Plastome Analysis, Young Moon Kim, Shukherdorj Baasanmunkh, Nudkhuu Nyamgerel, Won Seok Lee, Dong Chan Son, In Kyu Park, Bom Bi Jin, Hyo Sig Won, Hyeok Jae Choi

Turkish Journal of Botany

Salix section Subviminales, including only three species, is endemic to East Asia. In this study, we revised three species, S. gracilistyla, S. graciliglans, and S. blinii in Korea based on their plastomes and extensive morphological analyses to provide a comprehensive understanding of their taxonomic relationships. Based on our findings, we identified the morphological characteristics of S. blinii endemic to Korea, including its small size and distinct leaf shapes, which are well distinguished from both S. gracilistyla and S. graciliglans. Most of the morphological characteristics of S. gracilistyla and S. graciliglans overlapped, particularly leaf shape, floral structure, and growth habits. Next, …

Using Cutting Immersion To Apply Rooting Hormone For Propagation Of Camellia Japonica., Tanner R. Marlow, Richard L. Harkess

Honors Theses

Few varieties of Camellia japonica have a high success rate in rooting cuttings. Once rooted, the subsequent growth rate is slow and differs by variety. This makes the commercial production of Camellia challenging. Previous research on C. japonica propagation confirms that using a basal cut dip in indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) is effective in rooting C. japonica. However, basal dip applications can be time-consuming. Foliar applications and total cutting immersion are more efficient methods of rooting hormone application, but they have not been thoroughly tested with Camellia. The objective of this research was to determine the effective IBA concentration applied as …

Unveiling The Physical Interaction Between Gsnor1 And Trx-H Isoforms, Anika Tabassum, Gary J. Loake

Turkish Journal of Botany

This study aims to investigate any possible interaction between two highly conserved regulators of cellular SNO levels: S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR1) and thioredoxin (TRX). These two enzymes control global S-nitrosylation levels and thus impact the cellular redox state during immune responses. A mutant line (Δtrx1trx2sfa1) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae MaV203 strain was generated to explore this possibility rather than using a classical strain. We identified and characterized the physical interaction between GSNOR1 and Arabidopsis cytosolic h isoforms in a yeast two-hybrid screen. Out of the seven TRX isoforms, AtGSNOR1 displayed a high interaction with AtTRXh3, AtTRXh4, and AtTRXh5 (AtTRXh5>AtTRXh4 & AtTRXh3). …

Peripheral Neuroimmune Mechanisms Of Chronic Back Pain, Aleyah Esther Goins

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Chronic back pain (CBP) affects 1 in 10 people worldwide, reducing mobility, productivity, and quality of life. Despite its prevalence, non-addictive treatments remain limited due to an incomplete understanding of chronic pain mechanisms. This dissertation examines peripheral neuroimmune interactions in CBP using a urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)-induced mouse model (uPA-CBP). uPA, a pro-inflammatory serine protease, was injected into the L2/L3 lumbar spinous ligament, inducing prolonged mechanical and cold hypersensitivity. Flow cytometry of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) showed increased CD45+CD11b+ myeloid cells in males and CD45+CD3+CD4+ lymphocytes in females. DRG neurons from male uPA-CBP mice exhibited heightened action potential firing. Pharmacological …

The Effects Of Sugar Alcohols On The Growth Of Cariogenic Bacteria, Jake Sanders Boone

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine the potential of sugar alcohols, commonly used as sugar substitutes to reduce the activity of dental caries causing bacteria. Specifically, the sugar alcohols xylitol, erythritol, sorbitol, and mannitol were placed into the growth media of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus. The effects on their bacterial growth were observed. 10% xylitol, 10% erythritol, 10% sorbitol, 10% mannitol, 5% xylitol + 5% erythritol, and 3.3% erythritol + 3.3% xylitol + 3.3% sorbitol combinations were compared to the control groups for differences in bacterial growth. S. mutans samples were significantly inhibited by all groups except …