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De Novo Synthetic Studies On Tetracyclic Triterpenoid Systems: Stereoselective Preparation, Biological Evaluation And Total Syntheses Of Euphol And Tirucallol, Joshua Nicholson

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Tetracyclic triterpenoids have a rich history in biology, medicine, and chemistry. In terms of pharmaceutical relevance, compounds with this scaffold are one of the most successful classes with over 100 FDA approved examples. Despite this success, the vast majority of compounds within this class are prepared through semisynthesis. While this approach is undeniably successful, judged by the sheer number of medications generated, it also has limitations. Namely, semisynthesis requires the use of complex starting materials that have fixed absolute stereochemistry and often sparse functionality. One approach to address the inherent limitations with semisynthesis is through de novo synthesis. Recently, our …

Archaeology In Space: The Sampling Quadrangle Assemblages Research Experiment (Square) On The International Space Station. Report 1: Squares 03 And 05, Justin St. P. Walsh, Shawn Graham, Alice C. Gorman, Chantal Brousseau, Salma Abdullah

Art Faculty Articles and Research

Between January and March 2022, crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) performed the first archaeological fieldwork in space, the Sampling Quadrangle Assemblages Research Experiment (SQuARE). The experiment aimed to: (1) develop a new understanding of how humans adapt to life in an environmental context for which we are not evolutionarily adapted, using evidence from the observation of material culture; (2) identify disjunctions between planned and actual usage of facilities on a space station; (3) develop and test techniques that enable archaeological research at a distance; and (4) demonstrate the relevance of social science methods and perspectives for improving life …

A Machine Learning Based Approach For The Identification Of Fake Bills, Tianyang Lu, Hongyang Pang

Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Mathematics Journal

Fake or counterfeiting currency, which has been around as long as money has existed, is a major economic problem. Since the US dollar is the most popular form of currency globally, it is the most popular currency to counterfeit. The United States Department of Treasury estimates that between $70 million and $200 million in fake bills are in circulation. The Federal Reserve Bank uses special banknote processing systems to count each bill deposited by the bank and examine them for the possibility of counterfeits. These machines have sensors designed to detect general quality of the bills, including paper type, quality …

Charlotte: A Modern Tool For Cave Surveying, Luca Tringali Mr., Giacomo Canciani Dr., Alexander Debenjak, Tecla Tripari

International Journal of Speleology

The future of cave surveying is a full 3D scan, as automatic as possible, capturing all morphologically relevant details. However, the vast majority of cavers are still using tools designed more than 15 years ago. The advancements in tools for architects, CAD designers, programmers of VR and robotics could be helpful also for the caving community. That’s why Charlotte, a cheap DIY 2.5D scanner designed for cave surveying, was developed and built. To demonstrate its capabilities, a new survey of Grotta Regina del Carso cave (cad. nr. 2328/4760VG), the biggest cave in the Gorizia Karst, has been realized and published. …

Maximizing Legged Accelerations: A Matter Of Force, Time, And Gravity, Lance Brooks

Applied Physiology and Wellness Theses and Dissertations

Sprint running accelerations require runners to apply surface forces that: support body weight by pushing downward, accelerate the body horizontally by pushing backward, and align the direction of the push with the body’s mass center to maintain balance and posture, which imposes an upper limit on the average forward acceleration force equal to the average gravitational force (1.0 G) acting on the runner. This expectation arises from the mechanical constraints imposed by the need to generate sufficient vertical force to support body weight against gravity while simultaneously producing horizontal force to accelerate forward and aligning the push through the center …

Bayesian And Deep Generative Modeling In Immunology, Yuqiu Yang

Statistical Science Theses and Dissertations

Due to the accumulation of a large volume of data of different natures such as sequencing data, proteomics data, and clinical data, statistical methods and deep learning algorithms have become increasingly important in the field of immunology. By leveraging the diverse datasets as well as interdisciplinary knowledge from areas like biology and public health, these quantitative methods have revolutionized this field by providing powerful tools for data analysis, modeling, and prediction. This has led to a deeper understanding of the immune system, accelerated the development of novel therapies, and paved the way for personalized and precision medicine approaches in immunology. …

Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry Applications For Metabolomics, Darcy Cochran, Robert Powers

Robert Powers Publications

Metabolomics is an interdisciplinary field that aims to study all metabolites < 1500 Da that are ubiquitously found within all organisms. Metabolomics is experiencing exponential growth and commonly relies on high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) is a form of HRMS that is particularly well suited for metabolomics research due to its exceptionally high resolution (10⁵–10⁶) and sensitivity with a mass accuracy in parts per billion (ppb). In this regard, FT-ICR-MS can provide valuable insights into the metabolomics analysis of complex biological systems due to unique capabilities such as the easy separation of isobaric and isomeric species, isotopic fine structure analysis, spatial resolution of metabolites in cells and tissues, and a high confidence (error) in metabolite identification. Alternatively, the large and complex data sets, long acquisition times, high cost, and limited access mainly through national mass spectrometry facilities may impede the …

Knowledge Management Of Historical Data: Ontology Development For Chemical Reactions, Quynh D. Tran, Alexander Harding Bradley, Balashanmuga Priyan Rajamohan, Jonathan E. Gordon, Van D. Tran, Kiefer Lin, Erika I. Barcelos, Laura S. Bruckman, Roger H. French

Researchers, Instructors, & Staff Scholarship

Knowledge management of the literature and historical data is critical to accelerated drug and materials discovery. Currently, literature knowledge is scattered in journal articles in various formats: diagrams, texts, plots, etc. Historical data from past experiments are saved in a number of local computers under confusing folder structures with ambiguous file names. To manage and organize historical data and knowledge, our group (SDLE) at CWRU follows FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles, which outline the best practices for data stewardship and data provenance, and ontology, a formal representation of terms and concepts and their relationships, as a tool to improve …

Investigation Of The Prevalence Of Fentanyl Analogs In A Drug Testing Population Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (Lc-Ms-Ms), Ivan Cordova

Student Theses

This study serves to determine the prevalence of novel fentanyl analogs that are present within a drug testing population in New York State. Samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to qualitatively determine the presence of various possible fentanyl analogs. The sample preparation of this assay consisted of a simple dilute and shoot. This method of sample preparation can be quicker, eliminating sample preparation times as well as being less financially strenuous to clinical laboratories as it eliminates the need for various solvents and solid/liquid phase cartridges. The assay was aimed to see if analytes can be …

I. Degradable Polymers And Networks Based On Furan-Maleimide Diels-Alder Reactions Of Silyl Ether Derivatives And Maleimides, And Ii. The Michael Addition Of Amines To 1,3,5-Triacryloylhexahydro-1,3,5-Triazine (Tat) As A Synthetic Route To Novel Chelating Agents, Reyad Alkhazalah

Chemistry Theses and Dissertations

Degradable Polymers and Networks Based on Furan-Maleimide Diels-Alder Reactions of Silyl Ether Derivatives and Maleimides. I.

I. Part 1. Two groups of silyl ether monomers, A and B, were synthesized, each containing four different monomers. The monomers of group A were obtained by reacting furfuryl alcohol with four dichlorosilanes with varying siloxane spacers. The monomers of group B were obtained by reacting n-(2-hydroxyethyl)maleimide (HEMI-1c) with the same four dichlorosilanes. Each monomer from group A was individually reacted with each monomer from group B via a Diels-Alder reaction to produce a series of sixteen degradable linear polymers with a variety …

A ‘Nuclear Bomb’ Or Just ‘A Joke’? Groundwater Models May Help Communicate Nuanced Risks To The Great Salt Lake, Matthew D. Laplante, Piyush Dahal, Shih-Yu Simon Wang, Kirsti Hakala, Avik Mukherjee

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

The Great Salt Lake entered the zeitgeist of environmental concern in 2022 when a coalition of scientists and activists warned in a highly publicized report that the lake might be just five years away from complete desiccation, a possibility one state official warned was tantamount to an “environmental nuclear bomb”. Shortly thereafter, an unpredicted and unprecedented pluvial winter resulted in an increase in inflow, temporarily halting the lake’s decline and prompting Utah’s governor to mock the dire prediction as “a joke”, an outcome that speaks to the tension between agenda-setting and trust-building that researchers face when sharing worst-case warnings, particularly …

Application Of Machine Learning For Multi-Omics Data Integration, Dhoha Abid

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Traditionally, machine learning (ML) is used to train a model to predict scores for instances that were not seen by the model during training. In this conventional use of ML, the model is trained to learn general patterns that relate features to labels, so it can predict accurate scores for unseen data. Here, we use ML, unconventionally, to integrate different types of noisy data. Specifically, for biological investigations, in which there is no mean to measure a ground truth. We propose to train a ML model to predict scores on the same instances that were used in its training. In …

Influence Of Phosphate And Boron Addition To Mixed Liquid Fertilizer On The Growth And Yield Of Red Chili Cultivated In The Subsoil Layer, Stefina Liana Sari, Emma Trinurani Sofyan, Anni Yuniarti

Jurnal Kultivasi

This study assesses the impact of adding phosphate and boron in a mixed liquid fertilizer (MLF) on the growth and yield of red chili plants cultivated in a subsoil environment. The experiment was conducted to comprehend how these nutrients affect the performance of red chili plants, particularly when cultivated in less ideal conditions such as subsoil, a remnant of excavation for brick production. The research was carried out at the Ciparanje Garden of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran. The research design employed a Randomized Completely Block Design with the following treatments: A = Control (degraded soil without fertilizer), B …

Sustainability In The Specialty Mushroom Industry And The Fight Against Single-Use Plastic: A Case Study, Amanda Newman

University Honors Theses

Specialty mushroom cultivator, Bridgetown Mushrooms, generates approximately 3 metric tons of polypropylene plastic waste a year. This is just a fraction of the 1-2 million metric tons created by the specialty mushroom industry annually. With only 10% of plastic waste being used as secondary materials, the majority of this waste ends up in landfills or in the environment. Through collaboration with employees within Bridgetown’s operation and government agency mentorship, it was determined that the most viable and ecological solution to reduce on-farm plastic waste within Bridgetown’s operation was to develop a reusable growing apparatus as a direct replacement for polypropylene …

Searching For New Germplasm For The Year 2000 And Beyond, Rainer Schultze-Kraft, Warren M. Williams, John M. Keoghan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The likely germplasm needs for the next decades are discussed with major emphasis on tropical pastures, although many of the considerations apply also to temperate grasslands. The largest, and internationally most relevant, tropical-germplasm collections are held by CSIRO, CIAT and ILCA. Gerznplasm of <600 grass and <1500 legume species is available (with 6000-7000 and 26000-28000 accessions, respectively), representing 100-120 grass and 150-200 legume genera. Temperate germplasm collections are more numerous and hold larger numbers of accessions; they are, however, even more narrowly focused on very few genera (mainly four legume and eight grass genera). The numbers of species represented in the germplasm collections are only a fraction of considerably higher figures suggested in the literature as wild species with forage potential. Further collections to increase this fraction and to safeguard germplasm from genetic erosion and loss of biodiversity are warranted. International co-operation is suggested. Future germplasm needs are seen, in the tropics, mainly for low-input production systems on marginal, degraded lands and for agropastoral systems, and, in the temperate zone, for sustainable grasslands systems. Because of their dual­purpose characteristics legumes are expected to play a key role. It is suggested that the present collections might not contain a sufficiently broad base of germplasm with the required characteristics for the aforementioned production systems. Collection gaps can be identified only through thorough analyses of important genera and regions, based on a solid body of information that still needs to be assembled. A series of research topics is suggested to assist in future collection strategies, germplasm management and evaluation, and to create the basis for future breeding projects. However, expensive and long-term breeding programmes with tropical and many temperate forages are not encouraged for the near future unless the respective species and its natural variability are well enough known. The same applies to genetic manipulation via biotechnology. Implications arising from molecular biology are that new techniques are now available to improve understanding of genetic diversity and taxonomic relationships, and that the potential genetic resource now spans animals, micro-organisms and plants other than the target species. This wider genepool is also endangered and its conservation will rely on in situ preservation of the diverse ecosystems of which it is composed. The need of international support, co-operation and co-ordination regarding germplasm collection, related research and communication is emphasised. The creation of an JBPGR-sponsored, permanent, international working group on forages is suggested.

Establishing And Sharing Collections Of Valuable Global Resource, R Reid

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The conservation of forage plant genetic resources has attracted growing public and scientific interest in recent times. The number of genebanks has risen significantly with a concomitant increase in the total number of accessions. Competition for funds and some duplication of effort has led to an increasing need for co-operation between the curators if the full potential of the germplasm is to be realised. International organisations such as PAO, the mandated CGIAR Centres and IBPGR, have played a major role in establishing sustainable forage genetic resource programmes; and despite the restrictions of limited funding, have made some significant achievements in …

Plant List Of Accepted Nomenclature, Taxonomy And Symbols, J S. Peterson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Plant List of Accepted Nomenclature, Taxonomy & Symbols (PLANTS) is a dynamic database providing scientific and vernacular names, distributional, growth form, origin, symbols and bibliographic standardised botanical data to US federal agencies. PLANTS encompasses the vascular plant, moss, lichen and liverwort flora of North America, north of the Mexico border, including US states and territories.

The C3 Plants And C4 Plants Growing On Semi-Arid Steppes Of North-East China, Yin Lijuan, Zhu Tingcheng

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The north-east steppe of China is semi-arid. Forty-seven species of C3 plants and 53 species of C4 plants were defined. The C pathway of the 42 forage species among the total l 00 species is firstly identified by determining the ratio between RuBPCase/PEPCase (RIP) and observing the Kranz leaf anatomy. The abundance of C4 plants decreases with decreasing precipitation and the intensity of soil sandesation, and increases with lower latitude and increased soil salinisation.

Indigenous Populations Of Lolium Perenne L. Identification, Evaluation And Conservation, G Spatz, A Oetmann, C Paul

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

One hundred indigenous ryegrass populations were identified along 2 geographical gradients in Germany (west-east and north-south), Each population was sampled by collecting 180 tillers in 1991. The total 18 000 tillers were cultivated and will be examined as spaced plants (ex situ) in 1992 Nine selected populations were investigated in situ 1991. The results of the i11 situ investigations show high variability between and within the populations. The most valuable populations will be conserved as gene reserves within their environments (i11 situ). Promising material will in future be handed over to private breeders.

A Study On The Promising Ecotypes Of Secale Montaanum Guss., Bahram Peymani-Fard

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Secale montamum (mountain rye) has been identified as a well-adapted species for rehabilitation of the substeppic rangelands of Iran. Further investigation on the quality and quantity values of different ecotypes of this species was required. The main objective of this study was to determine phenological stages, herbage yield and protein percentage of the promising native ecotypes of Secale montanum. This research was conducted on 7 ecotypes in which early growth started in late April and heading occurred in late May. Comparison of the 4-year total herbage yield indicated significant differences among the ecotypes, Secale momtanum (10091), which was the previously …

Breeding Systems Of Several Vicia Species, J A. Mosjidis, X Zhang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Lack of or limited knowledge of 1he breeding systems of most of the Vicia speci1;s in the National Plant Germplasm System (USA) makes difficult the regeneration of the accessions as well as the maintenance of their genetic variability. Twenty-three accessions of V. arliculata, V. benghalensis, V. cracca, V. ervilia, V. lutea, V. narbonensis, V. pamionica and V. villosa were grown in the field in 1989 and 1990. Some plants were left uncovered outside"cages until fully mature while others were enclosed in cages when the first flower buds appeared. Plowers of the plants placed inside cages were subjected to the following …

Forage Quality Determinants Of Mott Elephantgrass And Pennisetum Hybrids, L E. Sollenberger, J E. Moore, J A. Flores-C, C J. Chaparro, B Macoon

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Daily gains of cattle grazing Mott elephantgrass (MB; Pennisteum purpureIum Schum.) arc approximately twice those obtained on other warm-season perennial grasses grown in Florida, USA, but plant characteristics responsible for the high forage quality of MB have not been identified. Three experiments were conducted during 1987- 1991 to determine factors that explain the high forage quality of MB and to assess the quality potential of P. purpureum x P. glaucum (L.) [R.Br.J x clephantgrass hybrids. Higher organic matter (OM) digestibility and intake of MB than Pensacola bahiagrass (PB; Paspalum nonatum Flugge) were associated with a lesser percentage of sclercnchyma (1.6 …

Characterisation Of Us Collection Of Clover And Special Purpose Legume Germplasm, R R. Smith, K H. Quesenberry

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Systematic collection of forage legume germplasm by the USA from the centers of origin was initiated in the 1890s. Since then over 11 000 accessions of clover and special-purpose legume species have been introduced into the US. These accessions are catalogued and maintained by the National Plant Germplasm System with working collections located at 4 locations in the US. Appropriate passport and evaluation data are available in the US Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). The Clover and Special Purpose Legume Crop Advisory Commitlee is responsible for providing advice to the National Plant Germplasm System on the collection, mnintenance, evaluation and …

Determination Of Extractable And Bound Condensed Tannins In Forage Species, G B. Douglas, P Donkers, A G. Foote, T N. Barry

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The levels of condensed tannins (CT) in 12 herbaceous species growing at 2 sites were determined using a recently modified butanol­HCL procedure. The method measured CT extractable in 70:30 acetone: water, and CT bound to protein and fibre, using ground, freeze-dried material. Total plant CT levels ranged from trace to 8% OM, with high concentrations (5-8% DM) being detected in 3 Dorycnium spp. and Lotus pedunculatus. Coronilla varia, Hedysarum coronarium and Lotus corniculatus had CT levels of 2-4% DM which may be appropriate for optimum nutritional value. CT content in ·n. rect11m, D. pe11taphyl/11m and L. pedunculatus was higher …

Herbaceous And Shrub Legumes Of Queensland: A Resource For Forage And Crop Improvement, J B. Hacker

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The potential for pasture or crop improvement of legume species native to Queensland, Australia is discussed. The most promising genera are Cajanus, Desmodlum, Glycine, Psoralea, Sesbanla and Vigna. Genera endemic to Australia offer little immediate scope for use in pasture or crop improvement. Some species, particularly in the genera Acacia, Crotalaria, Gastroloblum, Indigofera and Neptunia, can be toxic to livestock.

Morphological Characterization Of Brachiaria Germplasm, C B. Valle, B L. Maass, C B. Almeida, J.C G. Costa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Brachiaria is a grass genus native to the tropical savannas of Africa. It encompasses about 90 species, a: few of which have gained economic importance owing to their adaptation to acid soils. A study was conducted at Campo Grande, Brazil and Quilichao, Colombia, using a large Brachiaria collection assembled by CIAT in east Africa. The objectives were to describe the diversity of this germplasm and to classify the accessions in clusters based on 7 morphological characters, by applying numerical taxonomy. Principal Component and Cluster Analyses were used. Wide variation was observed among the 386 accessions of 13 different species in …

Potential Of European Perennial Ryegrass Germplasm In Southern New Zealand, K H. Widdup, D L. Ryan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

86 cullivars of perennial ryegrass from The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, France and Britain together with 9 New Zealand (NZ) cultivars were evaluated for agronomic potential in the cool, temperate southern region of NZ. Spaced plants of each cultivar were established in 1989 and screened for seasonal growth, moiphological features, head emergence, foliar diseases and endophyte presence. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to order the relative performance of the cultivars taking all characters into consideration. A group containing 5 elite tetraploid and 10 diploid European cultivars showed potential for improving the summer feed quality of ryegrass. These cultivars contained densely …

A Landino White Clover Breeding Programme In Northern Italy, P Annicchiarico, E Piano

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ladino wh ite clover (Trifolium repens L.) has traditionally been grown in pure stand rotational meadows throughout the Po Valley. Recent changes in the farming systems have drastically reduced the presence of this clover. Its rehabilitation depends on the cultivation of new, more productive cultivars in association with a grass. Thirty­two ecotypes including both farm land races and natural populations were collected and evaluated for dry mailer yield (OM) and seed yield, Significant variability was found among these materials for both traits. Compared with natural populations, land races yielded far more seed and as much DM . Some aspects …

Screening Trifolium Repens L. And T. Pratense L. Germplasm For Resistance To Cylindrocladium Crotalariae (Loos) Bell & Sobers, D S. Wofford, K H. Quesenberry

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Using a greenhouse screening technique, 200 plant introduction Jines of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and red clover (T. pratense L.) germplasm were evaluated for resistance to cylindrocladium root rot incited by Cyl/11drocladium crotalariae (Loos) Bell & Sobers. In general, white clover germplasm had much higher levels of resistance than red clover. Over 60% of white clover introductions had 30% or greater resistance to cylindrocladium root rot, with 21 % of the lines possessing more than 40% resistant plants. No relationship was found between level of resistance and geographic origin for white clover. Red clover was more susceptible to …

Domestication Of The Australian Perennial Native Grass, Microlaena Stipoides, R.D B. Whalley, C.H A. Huxtable

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Microlaena stipoides (Labill.) R.Br. is a year-long green perennial grass which is common throughout eastern and southern Australia. This species is a valuable component of pastures in parts of the New South Wales Tablelands because of its tolerance of acid soils and its ability to survive recent droughts.