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Structural Characterization Of Metal Binding In Metallo-Β-Lactamases Using X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy, Robert M. Breece

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

In an effort to probe the structure and mechanism of metallo-β-lactamases, the metal-binding behaviors of several enzymes were studied using EXAFS (Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure). Three members of the metallo-β-lactamase subclass B1, BcII from Bacillus cereus, Bla2 from Bacillus anthracis and CcrA from Bacillus fragilis, were compared to examine metal-binding behavior within a subclass. Each system exhibits different metal-binding behavior including cooperative binding (BcII), sequential binding (CcrA), and differential binding between zinc(II) and cobalt(II) forms (Bla2). The metal-binding behavior of subclass B3 of L1 from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was explored with RFQ (rapid-freeze quenched) EXAFS and site selective metal …

The Characterization Of Avian Polyomavirus, Satellite Tobacco Mosaic Virus, And Bacteriophage Cw02 By Means Of Cryogenic Electron Microscopy, Peter S. Shen

Theses and Dissertations

Viruses are the most abundant biological entity in the biosphere and are known to infect hosts from all domains of life. The aim of my work is to identify conserved and non-conserved features among the capsid structures of related and divergent icosahedral viruses via cryogenic electron microscopy, sequence analysis, molecular modeling, and other techniques. Bird polyomaviruses often cause severe disease in their hosts whereas mammalian polyomaviruses generally do not. Avian polyomavirus is a type of bird polyomavirus with an unusually broad host range compared to the restricted tropism of other polyomaviruses. Although most polyomaviruses have a conserved, rigid capsid protein …

Isu Chem-Letter, Fall 2011, Illinois State University, Department Of Chemistry

Chem Letter

Newsletter of the Illinois State University Department of Chemistry

Estimating Cost Efficiencies Of Propane Use In Broiler Production: Case Study From Savoy, Arkansas And Trnaca Pri Laborci, Slovak Republic, Zuzana Petrikova

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on analyzing the common practice of U.S. broiler farmers to operate on cash basis instead open credit lines for operating cost of propane gas for heating. Data for analysis were taken over from U.S. ABRF at Savoy and Slovak Farm Univerza at Trnava pri Laborci. Predicting the propane gas usage and propane gas cost was analyzed using the OLS model. It describes impact of selected factors on gas usage and cost. The overall purpose of the thesis is to find out which approach from designed scenarios is more economically efficient for farmer: (a) to pre-purchase propane gas …

Avian Influenza In Migratory Birds In The United States, 2007–2009, And Effects Of September Hunting Seasons On Survival, Harvest, And Recovery Rates Of Canada Geese Banded In Southeast Nebraska, Scott R. Groepper

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Highly-pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV H5N1) poses risks to wild birds, poultry, and humans. Personnel with the United States Department of Agriculture-Animal Plant Health Inspection Service-Wildlife Services, state, and tribal wildlife agencies collected 168,940 samples from migratory birds from 2007 to 2009 to test for presence of HPAIV H5N1. No HPAIV was found, but other subtypes were discovered, including H5 and H7. I estimated prevalence of avian influenza virus by flyway and found prevalence was lowest each year in the Atlantic Flyway (6.7%–8.3%), highest in the Pacific Flyway in 2007 (13.3%) and 2008 (13.4%), and highest in the Mississippi Flyway …

Synthesis Of A Chemical Probe For Identification Of Ger Receptor Proteins Of Bacillus Anthracis, Hyelee Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Bacillus anthracis,a gram positive, endospore-forming, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, is the causative agent of anthrax. A key step in the pathogenic cycle is the spore germination, where the dormant spore transforms into a metabolically active cell. This allows B. anthracis to proliferate and secrete toxins. It is believed that spore germination is triggered when small molecules, known as germinants, are recognized by germination (Ger) receptor proteins located in the inner membrane of spores. Most Ger proteins are encoded by tricistronic operons, resulting in three distinct products, the A-, B-, C-subunits. Genomic sequencing showed that B. anthracis has seven ger receptor …

Redefining Security In Sub-Saharan Africa, Winta Sintayehu Gebremariam

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

New and challenging threats to humans are currently on the rise. These threats to human well being have been neglected and ignored within the traditional conception of security. Security studies have mainly focused on traditional threats, mostly military and political. Although still important, this perspective lacks the ability to address nontraditional threats that are killing and injuring millions each year. Each year, millions die of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, hunger, and water related diseases among others. Although these threats are widespread throughout the world, Sub-Saharan Africa bears the brunt of these threats. This thesis proposes an ecological approach …

Isolation Of Obligately Alkaliphilic Magnetotactic Bacteria From Extremely Alkaline Environments, Christopher T. Lefevre, Richard B. Frankel, Mihály Pósfai, Tanya Prozorov, Dennis A. Bazylinski

Physics

Large numbers of magnetotactic bacteria were discovered in mud and water samples collected from a number of highly alkaline aquatic environments with pH values of ~ 9.5. These bacteria were helical in morphology and biomineralized chains of bullet-shaped crystals of magnetite and were present in all the highly alkaline sites sampled. Three strains from different sites were isolated and cultured and grew optimally at pH 9.0–9.5 but not at 8.0 and below, demonstrating that these organisms truly require highly alkaline conditions and are not simply surviving/growing in neutral pH micro-niches in their natural habitats. All strains grew anaerobically through the …

Stressors Across The Lifespan And Dementia Risk: A Statistical Method Analysis, Megan Platt Borrowman

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The Cache Lifespan Stressors and Alzheimer's Disease (LSAD) study has access to data from the Cache County Study on Memory Health and Aging (CCS) that have been linked to the extensive genealogical and vital records from the Utah Population Database (UPDB). Information about stressful life events experienced by the original 5092 CCS participants has been extracted objectively from the UPDB, without the possibility of recall bias. This information was then statistically analyzed to look for relationships between key stressors and dementia risk. The LSAD study made it possible to examine the correlation between stressors as well as look at patterns …

Structures Of Poliovirus And Antibody Complexes Reveal Movements Of The Capsid Protein Vp1 During Cell Entry, Jun Lin

Theses and Dissertations

In the infection process, native poliovirus (160S) first converts to a cell-entry intermediate (135S) particle, which causes the externalization of capsid proteins VP4 and the N-terminus of VP1 (residues 1-53). The externalization of these entities is followed by release of the RNA genome, leaving an empty (80S) particle. Three antibodies were utilized to track the location of VP1 residues in different states of poliovirus by cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). "P1" antibody binds to N-terminal residues 24-40 of VP1. Three-dimensional reconstruction of 135S-P1 showed that P1 binds to a prominent capsid peak known as the "propeller tip". In contrast, our initial …

Scwds Briefs: Volume 27, Number 2 (July 2011), Jeanenne Brewton, Michael J. Yabsley

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study: Publications

Guilty Deer Breeder Fined $1,500,000

EHDV-7 Research at SCWDS

Jack Crockford

Gary Doster Retires, Again

Time to Move On

Recent SCWDS Publications Available

Mathematical Modeling And Dynamical Analysis Of The Operation Of The Hypothalamus - Pituitary - Thyroid (Hpt) Axis In Autoimmune (Hashimoto's) Thyroiditis, Balamurugan Pandiyan

Dissertations (1934 -)

This thesis is a mathematical modeling study of the operation of the negative feedback control through the hypothalamus-pituitary- thyroid (HPT) axis in autoimmune (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis. Negative feedback control through the HPT axis is a mechanism in which the high levels of thyroid hormone; free thyroxine (FT4) in the blood inhibits the secretion of the pituitary hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) into the blood. Similarly, the low levels of free thyroxine (FT4) sensed by the pituitary gland and then it secretes thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) into the blood. Autoimmune (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis is a disease in which the immune system turns against …

Stability Analysis And Application Of A Mathematical Cholera Model, Shu Liao, Jim Wang

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

In this paper, we conduct a dynamical analysis of the deterministic cholera model proposed in [9]. We study the stability of both the disease-free and endemic equilibria so as to explore the complex epidemic and endemic dynamics of the disease. We demonstrate a real-world application of this model by investigating the recent cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, we present numerical simulation results to verify the analytical predictions.

Exact Solutions For Social And Biological Contagion Models On Mixed Directed And Undirected, Degree-Correlated Random Networks, Joshua L. Payne, Kameron Decker Harris, Peter Sheridan Dodds

Dartmouth Scholarship

We derive analytic expressions for the possibility, probability, and expected size of global spread- ing events starting from a single infected seed for a broad collection of contagion processes acting on random networks with both directed and undirected edges and arbitrary degree-degree correla- tions. Our work extends previous theoretical developments for the undirected case, and we provide numerical support for our findings by investigating an example class of networks for which we are able to obtain closed-form expressions.

Antibacterial Activity Of Conjugated Electrolytes, Thomas S. Corbitt

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

A series of water soluble, cationic, anionic and zwitterionic conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) with main chains based on an arylene ethynylene repeat unit structure with tetraalkylammonium and/or alkylsulfonate side groups were found to exhibit significant antibacterial activity. A number of these complexes also showed pronounced light-induced modulation of their effectiveness, with either biocidal enhancement or suppression, depending on such properties as singlet oxygen sensitization potential and lipophilicity. These collected studies examine the biocidal activity of the CPEs, as determined by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) and Flow Cytometry, correlating this activity with the photophysical properties of the polymers. We demonstrate biocidal …

A Cellular Automata Model Of Infection Control On Medical Implants, Alicia Prieto-Langarica, Hristo Kojouharov, Benito Chen-Charpentier, Liping Tang

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

S. epidermidis infections on medically implanted devices are a common problem in modern medicine due to the abundance of the bacteria. Once inside the body, S. epidermidis gather in communities called biofilms and can become extremely hard to eradicate, causing the patient serious complications. We simulate the complex S. epidermidis-Neutrophils interactions in order to determine the optimum conditions for the immune system to be able to contain the infection and avoid implant rejection. Our cellular automata model can also be used as a tool for determining the optimal amount of antibiotics for combating biofilm formation on medical implants.

Human P38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Inhibitor Drugs Inhibit Plasmodium Falciparum Replication, Michael J. Brumlik, Standwell Nkhoma, Mark J. Kious, George R. Thompson, Thomas F. Patterson, John Siekierka, Tim J.C. Anderson, Tyler J. Curiel

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

We recently demonstrated that human p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors reduced in vitro and in vivo replication of the protozoan parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Encephalitozoon cuniculi. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of five p38 MAPK inhibitors to block the replication of Plasmodium falciparum in human erythrocytes cultured ex vivo and demonstrate that the pyridinylimidazole RWJ67657 and the pyrrolobenzimidazole RWJ68198 reduced P. falciparum replication, yielded trophozoites that were greatly diminished in size at 24. h, and that these two agents interfered with stage differentiation. Interestingly, the chloroquine-resistant strain W2 was significantly more sensitive to these drugs than was …

Climate Change And Climate Variability: Personal Motivation For Adaptation And Mitigation, Jan C. Semenza, George B. Ploubidis, Linda Acha George

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Global climate change impacts on human and natural systems are predicted to be severe, far reaching, and to affect the most physically and economically vulnerable disproportionately. Society can respond to these threats through two strategies: mitigation and adaptation. Industry, commerce, and government play indispensable roles in these actions but so do individuals, if they are receptive to behavior change. We explored whether the health frame can be used as a context to motivate behavioral reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation measures. Methods: In 2008, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in the United States using random digit dialing. Personal …

Pcr Amplification Of Trypanosoma Cruzi - Specific Dna From Raccoon Blood Samples, Colin Moss

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The parasitic protist Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas Disease. Chagas Disease causes greater than 15,000 deaths each year, and nearly 28 million people are believed to be at risk of infection in Central and South America. This parasite has been described in many mammalian host species and has also been described in the United States. The purpose of this study was to attempt to use PCR to amplify T. cruzi-specific DNA directly from blood samples obtained from raccoons (Procyon lotor) trapped in Warren and Barren Counties of Kentucky in 2007 and 2008. DNA was …

Adaptive Threat Detector Testing Using Bayesian Gaussian Process Models, Bradley Thomas Ferguson

Theses and Dissertations

Detection of biological and chemical threats is an important consideration in the modern national defense policy. Much of the testing and evaluation of threat detection technologies is performed without appropriate uncertainty quantification. This paper proposes an approach to analyzing the effect of threat concentration on the probability of detecting chemical and biological threats. The approach uses a probit semi-parametric formulation between threat concentration level and the probability of instrument detection. It also utilizes a bayesian adaptive design to determine at which threat concentrations the tests should be performed. The approach offers unique advantages, namely, the flexibility to model non-monotone curves …

Modeling Human Immune Response To The Lyme Disease-Causing Bacteria, Yevhen Rutovytskyy

Honors Scholar Theses

The purpose of this project is to develop and analyze a mathematical model

for the pathogen-host interaction that occurs during early Lyme disease.

Based on the known biophysics of motility of Borrelia burgdorferi and a

simple model for the immune response, a PDE model was created which tracks

the time evolution of the concentrations of bacteria and activated immune

cells in the dermis. We assume that a tick bite inoculates a highly

localized population of bacteria into the dermis. These bacteria can

multiply and migrate. The diffusive nature of the migration is assumed and

modeled using the heat equation. Bacteria …

Cumulative Risks To Eastern Oysters, Crassostrea Virginica In The James River, Va, Vrushali Lele

Theses and Dissertations

In an effort to apply Cumulative Risk Assessment (CRA) as developed by the U.S. EPA, the present study investigates the cumulative risks to Eastern oysters due to multiple stressors such as salinity, temperature and oxygen and carbon dioxide. I also compared the effectiveness of the Hazard Quotient Method (HQ) in CRA. Ambient conditions in the James River, VA were obtained from the Virginia DEQ database and respiratory responses were estimated using values from the literature. The multiple environmental stresses are evaluated using a probabilistic analysis that combines the environmental conditions. It was concluded that salinity was the most influential stressor …

Towards The Synthesis Of Alpha-Aminogalactosylceramides, Shaun C. Christian

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Analysis And Interpretation Of Factors Leading To Increased Aids Prevalence In Sub-Saharan Africa, William Kalhorn

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

My thesis research project focuses on the major factors that are contributing to the worst disease epidemic on the planet today. I have aimed to determine what may be some of the most important factors contributing to highly variable difference in HIV/AIDS prevalence rates are among the regions of East, West, and South Africa.  The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been growing and expanding to new areas of the world since the first case arose in 1959 in what is now called Kinshasa, Congo (Avert, 2011). The AIDS/HIV epidemic is believed to have originated on the African continent, and this is where …

Archaeoparasitology Of Chaco Canyon, Rachel Paseka

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Ancient cultures of the Colorado Plateau have been a focus of archaeoparasitology since its inception, and a vast parasitological history is recorded in coprolites preserved in this arid region. The inhabitants of Chaco Canyon dominated Ancestral Puebloan culture between 1050 and 1120 AD and were responsible for the construction of great towns, road systems, and early agriculture. Analysis of the parasites preserved in fecal remains contributes to an increased knowledge of ancient Chacoan health and culture. Nineteen coprolites from four sites in Chaco Canyon were rehydrated and analyzed microscopically for parasite remains. Rhabditiform and filariform nematode larvae were found from …

A Test That Combines Frequency And Quantitative Information, Norman Cliff

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

In many simple designs, observed frequencies in subclasses defined by a qualitative variable are compared to the frequencies expected on the basis of population proportions, design parameters or models. Often there is a quantitative variable which may be affected in the same way as the frequencies. Its differences among the groups may also be analyzed. A simple test is described that combines the effects on the frequencies and on the quantitative variable based on comparing the sums of the values for the quantitative value within each group to the random expectation. The sampling variance of the difference is derived and …

Spatial Analysis Of A Bioterrorist Attack On Four Major United States Cities Using An Aerosolized Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Kathryn Prinslow

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Before the attack on September 11,2001, the United States was very vulnerable to a biological attack. Since then, those responsible for the security of the United States Homeland Security have become more aware of the country's vulnerability. Biological agents have the potential to give small groups of people unprecedented power to terrorize, as indicate by the "Amerithrax" attack in 2001, and of all of these agents, none have more potential for destruction than Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (EHF). This research uses one of the deadliest viruses that have not been eradicated to identify the number of fatalities in an outbreak affecting …

Statistical Inference Of A Measure For Two Binomial Variates, Serena Petersen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

We study measures of a comparison for two independent binomial variates which frequently occur in real situations. An estimator for measure of reduction (MOR) is considered for two sample proportions based on a modified maximum likelihood estimation. We study the desirable properties of the estimator: the asymptotic behavior of its unbiasedness and the variance of the estimator. Since the measure ρ is approximately normally distributed when sample sizes are sufficiently large, one may establish approximate confidence intervals for the true value of the estimators. For numerical study, the Monte Carlo experiment is carried out for the various scenarios of two …

A Mark–Recapture Technique For Monitoring Feral Swine Populations, Matthew M. Reidy, Tyler A. Campbell, David G. Hewitt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Techniques to monitor populations of feral swine (Sus scrofa) relative to damage control activities are needed on rangelands. Our objectives were to describe and assess a mark–recapture technique using tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) for monitoring feral swine populations. We established bait stations at study sites in southern and central Texas. During 1 d, we replaced normal soured corn bait with bait containing TH and counted the number of feral swine that consumed bait with observers. We conducted feral swine removal using box-style traps and helicopters, at which time we collected teeth for TH analysis. In southern Texas, we estimated …

The Occurrence Of An Abdominal Fauna In An Articulated Tapir (Tapirus Polkensis) Recovered From The Miocene Gray Fossil Site Northeast Tennessee., Shannon M. Mcconnell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The analysis of samples recovered from the abdominal area of an articulated tapir from the Late Miocene (4.5-7 million bp) Gray Fossil Site, revealed a rich palyno-fauna comprised of about 94% egg/oocyst-like structures and 6% pollen and other palynomorphs. In addition, a tight grouping of six hickory nuts (Carya) was recovered from the same area suggesting that the samples represent the abdominal contents. The analysis of a sample from immediately outside the tapir produced a sample with 98% pollen and less than 0.5% egg-like structures. The size, shape, and general morphology of egg-like structures were analyzed with light …