Digital Commons Network^™

Synthesis Of Dyes Sulfamidazole: Characterization, Evaluation, Molecular Docking And Global Descriptors By Density Functional Theory (Dft)., Athra G. Sager, Jawad Kadhim Abaies, Zeena R. Katoof

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

In the present work, novel azo compounds of sulfamidazole were created via the reaction of diazonium salt of sulfamidazole with several aromatic molecules including (resorcinol, 2-nitro phenol, 3-nitro phenol, and 4-nitro phenol)) (Z1–Z4). The new compounds (Z1-Z4) were identified using FTIR, ¹HNMR techniques, in addition to melting point measurements. The biological activity of compounds (Z1-Z4) was studied against four kinds of bacteria including E. coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus. The findings showed that all compounds (Z1-Z4) were active against the examined bacteria. Theoretical studies of the antibacterial ability of the prepared compound against DNA gyrase enzyme …

Crisis Management: Unveiling Information And Communication Technologies’ Revamped Role Through The Lens Of Sub-Saharan African Countries During Covid-19, Ruthbetha Kateule, Egidius Kamanyi, Mahadia Tunga

The African Journal of Information Systems

The management of COVID-19 pandemic has revealed inefficiencies in coordinating global response, particularly in African countries. Therefore, creating an urgent need to examine the literature on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in crisis management to appreciate its contextual role. Employing a systematic review, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), this paper critically assessed the extent of the use of ICT in crisis management in Africa’s response to COVID-19 to reconstruct its resilience against future crises. Findings indicate that while countries with limited ICT infrastructure faced considerable challenges in utilizing ICT solutions in COVID-19 management, countries …

Reports Of Autosomal Recessive Disease And Consanguineous Mating Within The Human Population, Johnathon L. Schluter

Master's Theses

It is anecdotally evident when investigating published reports of autosomal recessive disease that a substantial number of cases are the result of related (consanguineous) mating. This research seeks to quantify the percent of manuscripts describing autosomal recessive diseases published between 2000 and 2020 in which consanguineous mating is indicated. We analyzed 602 peer-reviewed manuscripts to identify the percentage of cases presented in which consanguineous mating was indicated, the underlying genes (novel gene or new mutation) and geographical region. These papers were accessed through a specific set of parameters on the free access PubMed Central (PMC) database. A total of 552 …

Employing Digital Pcr For Enhanced Detection Of Perinatal Toxoplasma Gondii Infection: A Cross-Sectional Surveillance And Maternal-Infant Outcomes Study In El Salvador, Mary K. Lynn, Marvin Stanley Rodriguez Aquino, Pamela Michelle Cornejo Rivas, Xiomara Miranda, David F. Torres-Romero, Hanson Cowan, Madeleine M. Meyer, Willber D. Castro-Godoy, Mufaro Kanyangarara Ph.D., Stella Coker Watson Self Ph.D., Ms, Berry A. Campbell, Melissa Nolan Ph.D., Mph

Faculty Publications

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic infection that can be transmitted in utero, resulting in fetal chorioretinitis and other long-term neurological outcomes. If diagnosed early, pregnancy-safe chemotherapeutics can prevent vertical transmission. Unfortunately, diagnosis of acute, primary infection among pregnant women remains neglected, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries. Clinically actionable diagnosis is complex due to the commonality of infection during childhood and early adulthood which spawn long-last antibody titers and historically unreliable direct molecular diagnostics. The current study employed a cross-sectional T. gondii perinatal surveillance study using digital PCR, a next generation molecular diagnostic platform, and a maternal-fetal outcomes survey to ascertain …

A Potential Of Watercress Nasturtium Officinale Bioactive Compounds In Inhibiting Infectious Myonecrosis Virus (Imnv) By Targeting Rna-Dependent Rna Polymerase (Rdrp) Virus From Several Countries: In Silico Approach, Qurrota A’Yunin, Fatchiyah Fatchiyah, Maftuch Maftuch, Feri Eko Hermanto, Muhammad Hermawan Widyananda, Narendra Santika Hartana, Muhaimin Rifa’I, Yoga Dwi Jatmiko

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) disease causes mass mortality and decreased shrimp production. The RdRp region projects to the interior, where it may function in transcription. The focus of this study was to determine the effect of amino acid polymorphisms from several countries on the structure of RdRp and identify the potential of watercress in inhibiting IMNV by targeting the RdRp protein of IMNV through an in silico approach. The results showed that the structure of the IMNV RdRp protein from Indonesia was similar to Mexico, and the protein structure from India_QDN was identical to India_QIL. Ligand binding affinity values showed …

Pod-Ifying Mass Media: An Exploration Of Journalistic Integrity In Podcasting, Sam Graham

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Podcasting is a rapidly growing form of media that has expanded into nearly every genre of consumption from news to comedy to sports. It operates similarly to on-demand television or television streaming, though its reach has the potential to be much greater due to its on-demand structure. In past studies, audio has been found to be one of the most effective mediums of communication. As a result, it is my belief that the medium has the ability to shape the perceptions of large groups of people, and specific niches, leading them to opinions that are at times inaccurate, misguided, or …

U.S. International Climate Finance: An Analysis Of Historical Shortfalls And A Proposal For More Equitable Distribution, Maria-Cristina Kealey

Master's Projects and Capstones

Least-developed countries experienced 69% of deaths from climate disasters over the past 50 years despite comprising only 13% of the world’s population. Low-income and climate vulnerable nations around the world are suffering disproportionately as wealthy, high-emitting countries, such as the U.S., profit from the climate crisis. This research provides a comprehensive overview of past U.S. contributions to international climate finance efforts, assesses the climate finance deficit globally and specifically for developing countries, and proposes a more equitable share of U.S. funding from a quantitative and restorative climate justice approach. The primary analyses included quantifying the U.S. share of global greenhouse …

Modeling Fast Information And Slow(Er) Disease Spreading: A Geometric Analysis, Iulia Martina Bulai, Mattia Sensi, Sara Sottile

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Mathematical Modeling Suggests Pathways Of Systemic Dissemination Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis In Mice, Vitaly V. Ganusov

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Dual-Domain Clustering Of Spatiotemporal Infectious Disease Data, Samuel R. Thornton, Erin C.S. Acquesta, Patrick D. Finley, Mansoor A. Haider

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Graphing The Curve: A Mathematical Expedition Into Social Distancing's Role In The South African Covid-19 Narrative, Chidozie Williams Chukwu

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Information Feedback Delays Within Epidemic Models And Their Effect On Model Dynamics., Maria K. Bouka, Christopher Strickland Dr

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Examining The Authenticity Of The 'Ether Model' In Certain O-Glycosylation Reactions, Varad Vinayak Agarkar

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Acinetobacter baumannii is a gram-negative bacterium species that is responsible for nosocomial infections. It has shown antibiotic resistance and has been designated an urgent threat by the CDC. In Chapter 1, I highlight my efforts in the synthesis of a Kdo building block in the journey towards the construction of an A. baumannii lipooligosaccharide (LOS) core pentasaccharide- a potential candidate for glycoconjugate vaccine against A. baumannii infection. I talk about various optimizations and improvements in the Kdo monosaccharide synthesis and the mechanistic insights I provided about a critical transformation in the synthetic sequence.

Chemical O-glycosylation is a significant research …

Photodynamic Treatment Of Staphylococcus Aureus With Non-Iron Hemin Analogs In The Presence Of Hydrogen Peroxide, Badhu Prashanthika Sivasubramaniam, Benjamin M. Washer, Yuichiro Watanabe, Kathryn E. Ragheb, J. Paul Robinson, Alexander Wei

Department of Chemistry Faculty Publications

Bacteria subjected to antiseptic or antibiotic stress often develop tolerance, a trait that can lead to permanent resistance. To determine whether photodynamic agents could be used to counter tolerance, we evaluated three non-iron hemin analogs (M-PpIX; M = Al, Ga, In) as targeted photosensitizers for antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) following exposure to sublethal H2O2. Al-PpIX is an active producer of ROS whereas Ga- and In-PpIX are more efficient at generating singlet oxygen. Al- and Ga-PpIX are highly potent aPDI agents against S. aureus and methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA) with antimicrobial activity (3 log reduction in colony-forming units) at nanomolar concentrations. The …

Synthesis Of Poly-N-Methylated Peptides Against Malaria, Kaitlyn Watson

Theses & Dissertations

Malaria, a life-threatening global health concern, is primarily targeted by mainstream treatments such as artemisinin-based combination therapies, focusing on the blood stage of the disease. Primaquine, one of the few drugs active against the liver stage, faces challenges with reports of resistance in Plasmodium vivax strains and relapsing infections. With the scarcity of liver-stage-targeting drugs and increasing cases of drug-resistant malaria, the World Health Organization emphasizes the urgent need for novel therapeutic agents. Marine organisms are a rich source of new bioactive compounds, and extracts from the Antarctic Sea sponge Inflatella coelosphaeroides revealed new N-methylated peptides exhibiting promising antimalarial activity, …

Impact Of Pollution On Marginalized Communities: Case Study Of Omaha, Nebraska, Miqaela Davis

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Environmental justice has been a struggle within our country for years. The goal of Environmental justice is for the fair treatment and equal voice for every single individual regardless of race, income, gender, etc. There has been environmental injustice and racism in many cities, but this study focuses on Omaha, Nebraska. Key questions include: What are some specific pollutants that are prevalent in areas with differing racial majorities in Omaha? What are some of the health patterns in these areas and does it relate to environmental racism? How has Omaha reinforced environmental racism through city planning? Using the Climate and …

Global To Glocal: A Confluence Of Data Science And Earth Observations In The Advancement Of The Sdgs, Rejoice Thomas

Computational and Data Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

The United Nations' (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), part of Agenda 2030, comprise 17 interconnected goals and 169 actionable targets, providing an effective framework for addressing diverse issues ranging from individual challenges such as poverty, hunger, and health to broader corporate and global challenges like climate change and equality. Among these interconnected SDGs, this dissertation focuses on the role of climate and infrastructure in global and local sustainability. To this end, earth observations have been conducted utilizing data science techniques to advance these SDGs. For this dissertation, the author has conducted earth studies serving the following SDGs:

1. SDG 3 (Good …

Water Justice And Equity: The Disproportionate Effects Of Pollution On Black, Indigenous, And Other Communities Of Color, Rae Cade

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Access to clean drinking water is a basic human right, regardless of an individual’s background. Yet, discriminatory practices in the United States have disproportionately burdened Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) with contaminated sources of water. Understanding how and why water is disproportionately contaminated in areas with increased diversity, and identifying and targeting areas of environmental injustice, are essential steps for ensuring future water equity. Here, I examine the drivers of inequitable access to clean drinking water within the northeastern United States. In chapter one, I look at the historical drivers of land inequity within the United States. …

A Revised Synthesis Of The Cationic Lipids Dmri And Mlri, Benjamin A. Kostic

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are an increasingly utilized method of intracellular delivery for nucleic acids. The COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech have used LNP technology to combat the recent global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, saving millions of lives.^1,2 These vaccines consist of a lipid formulation that binds to the anionic phosphate groups of mRNAs and serves as an effective way to transport the nucleic acid across membranes into cells.⁹The mRNA encodes a viral protein. When introduced to cells, the viral protein is produced so that the immune system then can generate an appropriate antibody response.³ However, this approach …

Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure Risks In Us Carceral Facilities, 2022, Lindsay Poirier, Derrick Salvatore, Phil Brown, Alissa Cordner, Kira Mok, Nicholas Shapiro

Statistical and Data Sciences: Faculty Publications

Objectives. To assess the US incarcerated population’s risk of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Methods. We assessed how many of the 6118 US carceral facilities were located in the same hydrologic unit code watershed boundaries as known or likely locations of PFAS contamination. We conducted geospatial analyses on data aggregated from Environmental Protection Agency databases and a PFAS site tracker in 2022 to model the hydrologically feasible known and presumptive PFAS contamination sites for nearly 2 million incarcerated people. Results. Findings indicate that 5% (∼310) of US carceral facilities have at least 1 known source of PFAS contamination …

College Of Natural Sciences Newsletter, Spring 2024, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

Page 1 Dean's Message
Page 2 New Faculty and New Club on Campus
Page 3 2024 URSCAD Awards
Page 4 Day of Scholars 2024
Page 5 SDSU's First Representation at the Association for Anatomy's 2024
Annual Conference
Page 6-7 2024 Honor's College Convocation
Page 8 Other Student Activities
Page 9 Faculty Awards
Page 10-11 Other News
Page 12 2024 Drone Day and American Association of Geographers Convention - Hawaii
Page 13 55th Annual Geography Convention
Page 14 2024 Stethoscope Ceremony
Page 15 Open PRAIRIE Data

Bayesian Estimation Of Reproduction Numbers From Distributions Of Outbreaks Sizes: Branching Process Approach, Alberta Araba Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The Generalized Poisson distribution is useful in modeling epidemiological processes as a branching stochastic processes problem. Our goal is to construct accurate and reliable estimators for the reproduction number (R0) (i.e., the number of secondary infections), particularly in the context of disease outbreaks modeled by a Galton-Watson process. Towards this goal, we construct the classical Bayes estimator, the Maximum Likelihood estimator, and the Empirical Bayes (EB) estimator under the Square Error Loss function in Chapter II. We prove that the Empirical Bayes estimator is asymptotically optimal and estimate the rate of convergence. We then proceed to monotonize the Empirical Bayes …

Employing Digital Pcr For Enhanced Detection Of Perinatal Toxoplasma Gondii Infection: A Cross-Sectional Surveillance And Maternalinfant Outcomes Study In El Salvador, Mary K. Lynn, Marvin Stanley Rodriguez Aquino, Pamela Michelle Cornejo Rivas, Xiomara Miranda, David F. Torres-Romero, Hanson Cowan, Madeleine M. Meyer, Willber D. Castro-Godoy, Mufaro Kanyangarara Ph.D., Stella C.W. Self Ph.D., Ms, Berry A. Campbell, Melissa S. Nolan Ph.D., Mph

Faculty Publications

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic infection that can be transmitted in utero, resulting in fetal chorioretinitis and other long-term neurological outcomes. If diagnosed early, pregnancysafe chemotherapeutics can prevent vertical transmission. Unfortunately, diagnosis of acute, primary infection among pregnant women remains neglected, particularly in low-andmiddle-income countries. Clinically actionable diagnosis is complex due to the commonality of infection during childhood and early adulthood which spawn long-last antibody titers and historically unreliable direct molecular diagnostics. The current study employed a cross-sectional T. gondii perinatal surveillance study using digital PCR, a next generation molecular diagnostic platform, and a maternal-fetal outcomes survey to ascertain the …

Achieving Responsible Anomaly Detection, Xiao Han

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In the digital transformation era, safeguarding online systems against anomalies – unusual patterns indicating potential threats or malfunctions – has become crucial. This dissertation embarks on enhancing the accuracy, explainability, and ethical integrity of anomaly detection systems. By integrating advanced machine learning techniques, it improves anomaly detection performance and incorporates fairness and explainability at its core.

The research tackles performance enhancement in anomaly detection by leveraging few-shot learning, demonstrating how systems can effectively identify anomalies with minimal training data. This approach overcomes data scarcity challenges. Reinforcement learning is employed to iteratively refine models, enhancing decision-making processes. Transfer learning enables the …

Spatial Ecology Of Mule Deer Migrations From Grand Teton National Park And The Teton Range, Justin K. Schwabedissen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem hosts several of the longest, fully intact ungulate migrations remaining in the continental United States. However, expanding development and an increasing human footprint continue to truncate migratory routes. While the endpoints are often a seasonal range on protected lands, these migration corridors frequently cross other jurisdictional boundaries, including large tracts of private or multiple-use lands, with varying levels of protection. Thus, it is critical resource managers understand the dynamics of migratory movements to define population-level corridors and prioritize appropriate conservation strategies. Mule deer in Wyoming have been documented traveling long distances between summer and winter ranges; …

Vectors And Vector Borne Disease: Models For The Spread Of Curly Top Disease And Culex Mosquito Abundance, Rachel M. (Frantz) Georges

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Mathematical models are useful tools in managing infectious disease. When designed appropriately, these models can provide insight into disease incidence patterns and transmission rates. In this work, we present several models that provide information that is useful in monitoring diseases spread by insects.

In the first part of this dissertation, we present two models that predict disease incidence patterns for Curly Top disease (CT) in tomato crops. CT affects a wide variety of plants and is spread through the bite of the Beet Leafhopper. This disease is particularly devastating to tomato crops. When infected, tomato plants present with stunted growth …

Selective Transfection Of A Transferrin Receptor-Expressing Cell Line With Dna-Lipid Nanoparticles And Synthesis Of Parasite-Derived Glycans As Biomarkers For Leishmaniasis, Irodiel Vinales Lozano

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Despite notable progress in lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-mediated gene delivery, achieving selective transfection of specific cell types, such as cancer cells, remains a significant hurdle, hindering the advancement of innovative gene therapies. In this study, we engineered an LNP formulation encapsulating plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding the monomeric Green Lantern (mGL) fluorescent reporter protein. The DT7 peptide ligand targeting human transferrin receptor 1 (hTfR1) was also conjugated to the LNP surface for targeted delivery to hTfR1-expressing cells. Optimization of LNP composition yielded favorable particle diameter, ζ-potential, yield, and pDNA encapsulation efficiency. Evaluation of transfection selectivity using a panel of two engineered cell …

Synthesis Of Neoglycoproteins As Potential Biomarkers For Chagas Disease And Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused By Leishmania (Viannia) Braziliensis, Eileni Rodriguez Gil

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Protozoan parasites are responsible for causing numerous diseases in humans and mammals worldwide. Among them are Chagas disease (CD), caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), and tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL), caused by the parasite Leishmania (Viannia). Both diseases coexist in many regions of Latin America, and current hurdles to differentially diagnose them and determine chemotherapy success need to be overcome. CD can be diagnosed by traditional serological tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), but disadvantages of these methods are that they may produce false negatives because the antigens used in commercial CD kits are not conserved across all T.cruzi …

Identifying Temporomandibular Disorder Morphological Risk Factors Via Explainable Deep Learning And Multiscale Biomechanical Modeling, Shuchun Sun

All Dissertations

Clarifying multifactorial musculoskeletal disorder etiologies supports risk analysis and development of targeted prevention and treatment modalities. Deep learning enables comprehensive risk factor identification through systematic analysis of disease datasets but does not provide sufficient context for mechanistic understanding, limiting clinical applicability for etiological investigations. Conversely, multiscale biomechanical modeling can evaluate mechanistic etiology within the relevant biomechanical and physiological context. We propose a hybrid approach combining 3D explainable deep learning and multiscale biomechanical modeling; we applied this approach to investigate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder etiology by systematically identifying risk factors and elucidating mechanistic relationships between risk factors and TMJ biomechanics and …

Silver Nanoparticle Biosynthesis Utilizing Ocimum Kilimandscharicum Leaf Extract And Assessment Of Its Antibacterial Activity Against Certain Chosen Bacteria, Horyomba Siaka Ouandaogo, Souleymane Diallo, Eddy Odari, Johnson Kinyu

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The use of plants in the biological production of silver nanoparticles for antibacterial applications is a growing field of research. In the current work, we formulated Ocimum kilimandscharicum extracts using silver nanoparticles, and evaluated its potential antibacterial activity. Aqueous and methanol plant extracts were used to reduce silver nitrate at different time intervals (30 to 150 minutes) and pH (2 to 11). The UV-visible absorption spectrum recorded for methanol and aqueous extracts revealed a successful synthesis of AgNPs for methanol and aqueous extracts. The antimicrobial activity of the AgNPs was evaluated against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Salmonella choleraesuius ATCC 10708, …