Digital Commons Network^™

Distribution, Density, Movement, And Support For Management Of Mountain Sucker, Pantosteus Jordani, In The Black Hills Of South Dakota, Seth J. Fopma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mountain Sucker, Pantosteus jordani, is a cold-water species native to the Intermountain West. Fringe populations of Mountain Sucker have experienced declines in recent decades. The population of Mountain Sucker found in the Black Hills of South Dakota represents the eastern fringe of the species’ native range. Recognized as both an indicator of biologic health and as a species of greatest conservation need in South Dakota, recent studies have suggested significant declines in both distribution and abundance. Despite the recent study of Mountain Sucker in the region, increased understanding of Mountain Sucker ecology is needed to effectively manage for the conservation …

Profiling Transcription And Retrotransposition Of Mouse L1 Subfamilies, Lingqi Kong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transposable elements, also called jumping genes, comprise almost 45% of the human genome. In contrast, only 1% of the human genome is protein-coding sequences. The function and advantages of maintaining such massive copies of transposable elements in the human genome are still unclear. Long interspersed element 1 (L1), the most substantial group and the only active autonomous transposable element in the human genome, has revealed its unique roles in many diseases. The insertional mutagenesis induced by L1 retrotransposition events could threaten human genomic stability and generate unexpected mutations. L1 overexpression has been documented in both somatic and germline cells and, …

Investigating Administrators’ Resistance To Implementing Restorative Practices, Beri Deister

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this case study, the researcher investigated the barriers to school administrators’ implementation of restorative practices as a management approach to student behavior. Based on the claim that restorative practices is a promising alternative to exclusionary disciplinary placements for changing behavior, the researcher used an emergent explanatory mixed methods design to better understand administrators’ resistance to change despite overwhelming evidence that exclusionary disciplinary practices are the primary contributors to national trends in disciplinary disproportionality and institutional discrimination. The researcher identified and analyzed barriers to create recommendations for addressing administrators’ resistance through organizational change strategies using systems theory.

Does Thermotolerance In Daphnia Depend On The Mitochondrial Function?, Rajib Hasan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Thermotolerance limit in aquatic organism is set by the ability to sustain aerobic scope to sudden temperature shifts. This study tested the genetic and plastic differences in thermotolerance of Daphnia that can be explained by the differences in the ability to retain mitochondrial integrity at high temperatures. Five genotypes with different biogeographic origins were acclimated to 18^ᵒC and 25^ᵒC. We developed a rhodamine 123 in-vivo assay to measure mitochondrial membrane potential and observed higher fluorescent in heat damaged tissues as the disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Significant effects on temperature tolerance were observed with CCCP …

Designing And Sample Size Calculation In Presence Of Heterogeneity In Biological Studies Involving High-Throughput Data., Sudhir Srivastava

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The designing and determination of sample size are important for conducting high-throughput biological experiments such as proteomics experiments and RNA-Seq expression studies, thus leading to better understanding of complex mechanisms underlying various biological processes. The variations in the biological data or technical approaches to data collection lead to heterogeneity for the samples under study. We critically worked on the issues of technical and biological heterogeneity. The quantitative measurements based on liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) often suffer from the problem of missing values (MVs) and data heterogeneity. We considered a proteomics data set generated from human kidney …

Miami-Dade Task Force: A Content Analysis Of How Coastal Communities View Sea Level Rise As A Threat, Francisco Alvaro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sea level rise (SLR) has become a serious threat for coastal communities in recent years. Many communities, including South Florida, are already having the security of their daily lives impacted as climate change causes SLR and other environmental impacts to worsen. This study reviews the Miami-Dade Sea Level Rise Task Force Report to determine how this coastal county government views SLR as a threat. Using mixed content analysis to analyze the report qualitatively and quantitatively, the Task Force's recommendations are categorized based on their focus on security, infrastructure, economics, and the environment. One finds the concerns of the people to …

Ecometric Estimation Of Present And Past Climate Of North America Using Crown Heights Of Rodents And Lagomorphs: With Application To The Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum, Julia Schap

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Continental scale studies on ungulate crown heights in relation to climate and habitat changes have revealed a correlation between increasing hypsodonty and a shift to more arid environments. Small mammals have been shown to adapt to changing habitats millions of years earlier than larger mammals. In this study I examined fossil localities throughout the last 37 Ma across North America. Diversity of rodents and lagomorphs were analyzed through this time period, with examination of community structure characterized by relative percentages of taxa with different crown heights. Overall, a decrease in precipitation and temperature was found across North America from 37 …

Synthesis And Evaluation Of 1,2,4-Oxadiazolidinones: The Search For A Potential Non-Β-Lactam Β-Lactamase Inhibitors., Chimdi Eke Kalu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

β-lactam antibiotics have been the most widely used drug of choice to combat infectious disease caused by bacteria. Unfortunately, their effectiveness is drastically threatened by bacterial β-lactamases. β-lactamases is responsible for the resistance to most antibiotic drugs. For decades, β-lactam β-lactamases inhibitors have been used to reduce bacterial resistance; however, in this study 1,2,4-oxadiazolidinone derivatives as a non-β-lactam β-lactamases inhibitor against TEM-1 and P99 β-lactamases. The significance of oxadiazolidinone is the prominent five-membered ring scaffold in its structure, which is configurationally stable and present in other biologically active compounds such as linezolid and avibactam. Oxadiazolidinones were synthesized by treating nitrones …

Synthetic Methods And Biological Applications Of Nitrogen Heterocycles To Compounds Of Biological Interest., Jarrid Ronnebaum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Thalidomide analogues were synthesized utilizing optimized click conditions from 3-azidoglutarimide and an array of arylacetylenes or N-ethynyl/N-propargyl phthalimide derivatives. The intermediate, 3-azidoglutarimde, was pivotal and yielded a new and scalable synthesis. The reaction conditions utilized a copper sulfate/sodium ascorbate system in aqueous tetrahydrofuran to propagate the dipolar cycloaddition reactions between the azidoglutarimide and the alkynyl coupling partners. The first explored substrates were substituted arylalkynes to optimize the click reaction. Arylalkynes selected were to exhibit similar electron deficient rings to mimic phthalimide. Along with the synthesis of click thalidomide analogues, click analogue of the antiangiogenic and more potent …

Translation Of Partially Decayed Messenger Rnas In Yeast, Ana Luisa Franklin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Flaviviruses are positive-strand single-stranded RNA viruses that are known to form pseudo-knot RNA structures that halt the progression of 5’→3’ exonuclease Xrn1. We show that these viral Xrn1-resistant structures (xrRNAs) can be used to protect specific homologously-expressed messenger RNAs from 5’→3’ degradation. We investigated the effects of addition of xrRNAs, artificially-installed into the intergenic region of bicistronic mRNA reporters, in the observed levels of protein expression in yeast. The reporters also contain an internal ribosome entry site from the cricket paralysis virus (CrPV IRES) to allow for cap-independent translation of the decay-protected gene, LacZ, encoding the enzyme β-galactosidase. Through …

In-Silico Design And Synthesis Of Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators Targeting Ovarian Cancer, John Apraku

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The established records of the safety of Ormeloxifene along with its favorable bioavailability and ability to inhibit rapid cell proliferation in the endometrium during embryonic implantation has made it one of the best drug candidates for controlling undesirable rapid cell growth such as endometriosis and cancerous tumor conditions. Recent studies have confirmed the effectiveness of Ormeloxifene to suppress and inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition process as evidenced by repression of N-cadherin, slug, snail, vimentin, MMPs, β-catenin/TCF-4 transcriptional activity and induce the expression of pGSK3b. Recently conducted studies have revealed the dynamic binding of ormeloxifene with β-catenin, GSK3b, CDK4, and other downstream EGFR. …

Phytochemical Investigation And Drug Interaction Potential Of Cyanotis Vaga, Ibrahim Almarabi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cyanotis. vaga (Lour.) Schult, & Schult. f. (C. vaga) previously called Tradescantia vaga and Cyanotis barbata, is a perennial herb. It is native to Eastern Asia and Tropical Africa. It has been reported that its decoction reduces fever and enhances well-being. Recently, C. vaga has been used widely for its anabolic effects, due to its richness of ecdysteroids. Even though C. vaga is a commedicinal plant (dietary supplement), there are no reports about its effect on the drug metabolizing enzyme Cytochromes P450 to predict its interaction with concomitantly used medications. In this study, eight ecdysteroids were isolated …

A Study To Regioselectively Access Fluorinated Triazoles And Isoxazoles, Sweta Adhikari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the thesis is to develop regioselective methods for mono-fluorination of disubstituted triazoles, both 1,4- and 1,5-regioisomer, and isoxazoles. These strategies focus on one-pot direct access to final mono-fluorinated triazoles and isoxazoles. Eventually, these fluorinated substrates will be screened against various biological targets. Similarly, the optimization study of a regioselective method to generate 5-fluoro-1,4-disubstituted triazole was conducted. This reaction also utilized 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to synthesize fluorinated triazole. However, difluoroalkene was used as a synthetic equivalent of fluoroalkyne for this method. This resulted into the inversion of polarity affording a different regioisomer. Here, fluoronitroalkene was identified as a synthetic …

Synthesis And Bioevaluation Of Methionine Depletion Agents, Houssine Ikhlef

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The native polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are low molecular weight amines that exist as polycations at physiological pH. These polycations interact with DNA, RNA, and influence many cellular processes. Intracellular polyamine levels are maintained via a balance of polyamine biosynthesis, catabolism, and transport. Ornithine, an amino acid obtained from L-arginine, is decarboxylated by ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) to form putrescine. The biosynthesis of the higher polyamines, spermidine and spermine, requires the addition of an amino-propyl group donated by decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine (dc-SAM), which itself is derived from the amino acid L-methionine (Met). Tumor cells are heavily reliant on methionine because it …

Play And Exhibitions: Expanding Definitions Within Museums, Helena Sizemore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an exploration of the utilization of play, as a method for visitor engagement, within the context of the museum. Play, as a method for learning and engagement, is often a contested topic between scholars and practitioners within the museum field. This is in part due to the ambiguous nature of defining play, the ever-present dichotomy between work and play, and the struggles museums find in balancing education and entertainment. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science in Denver, Colorado names play as part of one of its core values. Using anthropological theoretical and methodological approaches, I examine …

Deciphering The Role Of Human Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase 1 (Nat1) In Breast Cancer Cell Metabolism Using A Systems Biology Approach., Samantha Marie Carlisle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Human arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) is a phase II xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme found in almost all tissues. NAT1 can additionally hydrolyze acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) in the absence of an arylamine substrate. NAT1 expression varies inter-individually and is elevated in several cancers including estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancers. Additionally, multiple studies have shown the knockdown of NAT1, by both small molecule inhibition and siRNA methods, in breast cancer cells leads to decreased invasive ability and proliferation and decreased anchorage-independent colony formation. However, the exact mechanism by which NAT1 expression affects cancer risk and progression remains unclear. Additionally, consequences …

Living Through Terror And Terror Through Living: The Biopolitical Dimensions Of Religion, Security, And Terrorism, Donnie Featherston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent emphasis and attention by thinkers, media pundits, and politicians on terrorism requires new, critical evaluation of the processes by which terrorism is understood. By investigating the concept of biopolitics, as developed specifically through Michel Foucault and Giorgio Agamben, new insights into the interactions between terrorism, politics, and religion can emerge. Most notably, the attempts to explain terror as simply an economic problem, an excessive form of violence, and/or as religious fervency gone awry rely on embedded biopolitical concepts. The continual attempts to solve terrorism through increased biopolitical strategies, thereby making terrorism a problem for biopolitics, only further substantiate the …

Universal Swine Influenza Antigen And Vaccine, Zhao Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Swine influenza A viruses pose a serious concern for global health and worldwide swine industry considering their evasion from vaccine-induced immune responses. Formulation of effective influenza vaccines can be complicated by both antigenic shift to a different subtype of hemagglutinin (HAs) and antigenic drift within a particular HA subtype. To address these concerns, we employed a systematic approach to determine the antigenic determinants of swine influenza A viruses by focusing on H1 and H3 subtypes. In parallel, we used a cross-disciplinary approach including structural biology and modeling, virology, and immunology to identify swine influenza A virus-derived HA fusion intermediates broadly …

A Pcr/Sequencing Technique To Identify Species And Genotypes Of Haemonchus From Mixed Trichostrongyle Egg Dna Recovered From Livestock Fecal Samples, Pratiksha Khanal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Six primer pairs, each with a pair of genus-specific and universal second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) primers were evaluated to amplify and sequence the ITS2 region of nuclear ribosomal DNA to identify the species and genotypes of Haemonchus from livestock fecal samples containing mixtures of trichostrongyle nematode eggs. Based upon the use of universal ITS2 primers on Haemonchus adults, the ITS2 region has been shown to contain three fixed single-nucleotide differences between H. placei and H. contortus. It is clinically useful to identify the species and genotypes of Haemonchus infecting livestock, but it has not been possible in fecal …

Development Of Biclustering Techniques For Gene Expression Data Modeling And Mining, Juan Xie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The next-generation sequencing technologies can generate large-scale biological data with higher resolution, better accuracy, and lower technical variation than the arraybased counterparts. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) can generate genome-scale gene expression data in biological samples at a given moment, facilitating a better understanding of cell functions at genetic and cellular levels. The abundance of gene expression datasets provides an opportunity to identify genes with similar expression patterns across multiple conditions, i.e., co-expression gene modules (CEMs). Genomescale identification of CEMs can be modeled and solved by biclustering, a twodimensional data mining technique that allows clustering of rows and columns in a gene …

Synthetic Investigation Of Natural Products Causing Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration, Michael John Cunningham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The terrestrial organisms Streptomyces venezuelae and Rhaponticum repens produce toxic secondary metabolites that likely function as chemical deterrents. The polyketide SV-6 from S. venezuelae and the sesquiterpene lactone repin from R. repens both produce dose-dependent and selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. These molecules represent two possible tools that can be used to explore chemotoxic induction of Parkinson’s disease. In the case of SV-6, a newly isolated metabolite, total synthesis was undertaken to confirm its structure and biological activity. The natural product was produced from methacrolein and Roche ester starting materials that were elaborated to their respective fragments, a vinyl iodide …

Identification Of Qtl Modifying The Activity Of The Tcb1-S Locus And Characterization And Sequencing Of Two Plutonium-Beryllium Induced Reduced Gametophyte Transmission Mutants In Maize, Merritt Bryer Burch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is split into two independent projects both involving the male gametophyte generation of maize. The first project looks at how pollen interacts with the female gametophyte to reduce its transmission in cross-incompatible reactions controlled by the unilateral cross-incompatibility system, teosinte crossing barrier 1. The second project explores two plutonium-beryllium induced male gametophyte mutants and attempts to uncover their genetic basis.

Identification of QTL Modifying the Activity of the Tcb1-s Locus
Teosinte crossing barrier 1 (Tcb1) is a unilateral cross-incompatibility system present in maize that provides a pre-zygotic pistil barrier to plants carrying Tcb1-s (strong allele) from pollen …

Statistical Algorithms And Bioinformatics Tools Development For Computational Analysis Of High-Throughput Transcriptomic Data, Adam Mcdermaid

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Next-Generation Sequencing technologies allow for a substantial increase in the amount of data available for various biological studies. In order to effectively and efficiently analyze this data, computational approaches combining mathematics, statistics, computer science, and biology are implemented. Even with the substantial efforts devoted to development of these approaches, numerous issues and pitfalls remain. One of these issues is mapping uncertainty, in which read alignment results are biased due to the inherent difficulties associated with accurately aligning RNA-Sequencing reads. GeneQC is an alignment quality control tool that provides insight into the severity of mapping uncertainty in each annotated gene from …

Split Aptameric Turn-On Fluorescence Sensor For Detection Of Sequence Specific Nucleic Acid At Ambient Temperature, Nanami Kikuchi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) enable sensitive detection of low density infections that microscopy and rapid diagnostic test are not capable of detecting. They enable quantitative and qualitative nucleic acid detection, genotype analysis, and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection. Current state of the art molecular probes used with NAATs includes molecular beacon (MB), Taqman and its variations. This work presents novel molecular probe designed from Spinach and Dapoxyl aptamers. The aptamers are split into two parts (split aptamer), allowing greater sensitivity and selectivity towards fully complementary nucleic acid analyte. The major advantage of split aptamer probe over state-of-the-art fluorescent probes …

Characterization Of The Atcc Α-Tc1-6 Pancreatic Alpha Cell Line To Study Glucagon Secretion, Larissa M. Ikenouye

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The endocrine pancreas is responsible for maintaining glycemic equilibrium in the body. Given the importance of this blood-glucose homeostasis and the implication an unbalance has on Diabetes mellitus, the study of the glucose-sensing alpha and beta cells in the pancreas is a popular field for scientific researchers. In this study, we use immunofluorescence, qPCR analysis, intracellular calcium experiments, and biochemical glucagon secretion assays to determine if the commercially available tumor cell line clone, α-TC1-6 obtained from American Type Culture Collection, is an appropriate model system for glucagon secretion in pancreatic alpha cells. We confirm the production of the hormone peptide …

Design, Synthesis And Biological Evaluation Of Novel Estradiol-Triazole Analogs Targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors In Colorectal Cancer, Faez Alotaibi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Colorectal cancer is a life threatening and second cause of death from cancer in the United States. Several proteins (molecular targets) are highly expressed in Colorectal cancer (CRC). Among these molecular targets is Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors (EGFRs) which are overexpressed in cancer cells. Targeting and blocking the downstream signaling could lead to cease cell proliferation and division and hence control the spread of the disease. Molecular modeling is a powerful tool in drug discovery, which has been utilized to design many drug candidates that exhibit biological effect in many disease including cancer. Additionally, pharmacophores such as 1,2,3-triazole showed potency …

Identification Of Cdks As Novel Targets Of Aspirin And Its Metabolites: A Potential Role In Cancer Prevention, Rakesh Dachineni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background:
The pursuit of drugs that inhibit cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) has been an intense area of research for more than 15 years. Till date, although multiple CDK inhibitors have been identified and few are undergoing clinical trials, only two synthetic drugs have been approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the treatment of cancer. These two drugs are mainly used for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in combination with other drugs; however they have toxicity associated with their use and extends patients life not more than 24 months. Therefore, there is an urgent need for …

Novel Photodynamic Cancer Therapy Agent And Biochemical Phosphate Sensor Based On Nanomaterials, Alaa Fadhel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biochemical research and clinical studies have revolutionized the field of medicine in both diagnosis and therapy. Researchers in the field of biochemistry and biotechnology are using nanomaterials in different applications to develop devices and materials that offer benefits to both patients and the health care industry. These include biochemical sensors, enzyme encapsulation, biomarkers, and drug delivery improvements for the treatment of cancer. This dissertation focuses on investigating two biochemical aspects using nanomaterials; namely therapy and clinical diagnosis. For therapy purposes, Silica nanoparticles were used as drug delivery system to develop a new photodynamic cancer therapy agent photo-acid generator (PAG) that …

Changes In Wetland Conditions And Wetland Plant Communities In The Prairie Pothole Region After 50 Years, Ryann Cressey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wetlands in Stutsman County, North Dakota were revisited after 50 years to assess changes in wetland conditions and plant communities within wetland zones in the Prairie Pothole Region. In 1961-1966, Robert E. Stewart and Harold A. Kantrud conducted a study to investigate the relationship of wetland plant communities to variations of water permanence and chemistry on three study areas: Crystal Springs, Cottonwood, and Mt. Moriah. Within in this region, a severe drought occurred in 1988- 1992 followed by the longest deluge starting in 1993 with wetlands still impacted today. In 2013 and 2014, I revisited 80 of the original wetlands …

Bioinformatics Investigation On The Role Of Obox Gene Family In Preimplantation Embryo Development, Wei Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Preimplantation embryo development (PED) refers to the period from fertilization to implantation in mammals. This complex process is critical for successful implantation and pregnancy. Although studies on PED have been conducted, using mainly the mouse as a model organism, the gene regulatory mechanisms are still not well understood. The next-generation sequencing technologies enable researchers to obtain the genome-wide expression profiling with single-cell resolution, which are powerful tools to study early embryogenesis. We used the single-cell RNA sequencing datasets that are available in the public domain and conducted bioinformatics analysis of expression profiling from zygote to blastocyst. Through hierarchical clustering of …