Digital Commons Network^™

Determination Of The Functional Role Of Rab-Ggt In Physcomitrium Patens., Hyun Jin Jung

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Protein prenylation, a common lipid post-translational modification, is required for growth and development in eukaryotes. Rab geranylgeranylation involves the addition of one or two 20-carbon geranylgeranyl moieties to Rab-GTPase target proteins, which regulate intracellular vesicle trafficking. The reaction is carried out by heterodimeric Rab geranylgeranyltransferase (Rab-GGT), which is composed of two associated α- and β-subunits, with the assistance of an additional protein called Rab escort protein (REP). Loss of function of the Rab-GGT α subunit RGTA1 has not been reported in any plant. While knockout of either of the two β subunits RGTB1 or RGTB2 results in …

Classifying The 2022 Status Of Tsuga Canadensis (Eastern Hemlock) Along The Kentucky Portion Of The Pine Mountain Wildlands Corridor., Grace M. Embree

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The invasion of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) (Adelges tsugae) has posed a continual threat in the United States to the Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) trees since the 1950s. HWA feed on eastern hemlock needles, reducing the amount of healthy photosynthesizing vegetative area. The use of satellite imagery has been instrumental in identifying areas of eastern hemlock presence. Satellite platforms like Landsat and AVIRIS are commonly used for identification, classification, and mapping of eastern hemlock. Sentinel-2 imagery was released in 2015 for free access. It has a finer spatial grain of with the majority of the …

The A-Word: Destigmatizing Abortion In American Culture., Kathryn Lafferty Danner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation uses an interdisciplinary perspective and explores the topic of abortion through legal, medical, philosophical, and cultural perspectives, providing alternative ways to talk about abortion. In some states, especially since the overturning of Roe, abortion has become almost impossible to access, particularly in the South and Midwest. Abortion as a medical procedure is highly stigmatized and although it is a common procedure, it is taboo to discuss in American culture. Exploring how different media work to destigmatize abortion in the United States can lead to a deeper, more nuanced understanding of an overly politicized topic. The introduction is a …

Defining The Importance Of The Hnrnp I Interaction To The Sindbis Virus Subgenomic Viral Rna Using An Innovative Tethering Approach., Claire Westcott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Old World alphaviruses cause significant outbreaks of illness and debilitating multi-joint arthritis for prolonged periods. Currently, there are no FDA approved vaccines or antiviral therapies; and thus, there is a critical need to identify and characterize the molecular biology of alphaviruses. Alphaviruses rely on the host cell machinery to complete the viral lifecycle and are dependent on interactions with host RNA binding proteins. Accordingly, several host heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein proteins (hnRNPs) have been found to bind to the Sindbis virus (SINV) RNAs. Disrupting the interaction sites in the viral RNAs of these RNA:Protein interactions results in decreased viral titers in …

“…You Can't Unknow It, It's A New Reality": A Case Study Exploring A Social Justice Public Health Intervention's Impact On Critical Consciousness Development In Youth., Monique Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Even though public health purports to be rooted in social justice, it is not clear how social justice frameworks are integrated in public health research and intervention. The discipline focuses on groups/populations on the margins, without integrating the social and political factors that cause marginalization into the intervention. Seeing communities, and individuals, as assets and experts in their own experiences is key to population-level health improvement. Particularly for public health youth intervention, how youth are labeled and engaged in social change is critical to their healthy development. While public health lags in practically applying asset-based approaches to youth intervention, research …

The Combined Benefits Of Dispositional Mindfulness And Trait Self-Compassion As Potential Buffers Of The Effects Of Perceived Stress On Sleep Quality In College-Aged Young Adults., Jackie Ma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Using a nonclinical sample of 108 undergraduates between the ages of 18 to 25 years old, this cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between dispositional mindfulness (as measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire; Baer et al., 2006) and sleep quality (as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; Buysse et al., 1989). Second, it evaluated the association between trait self-compassion (as measured by the Self-Compassion Scale; Neff, 2003b) and sleep quality. Third, it aimed to test for an interaction effect between dispositional mindfulness and trait self-compassion as buffers against the adverse effects of perceived stress on sleep quality. Results showed …

Induction Of Trained Immunity By Particulate Β-Glucan Controls Cancer Metastasis Through The Sphingolipids-Mediated Mitochondrial Fission Pathway., Rejeena Shrestha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and innate immune cells are critical players in the metastatic microenvironment. Here, we explore the implications of harnessing the pre-metastatic niche myeloid cells through induction of trained immunity using a natural compound yeast-derived whole β-glucan particle (WGP). WGP training in macrophages results in an increased responsiveness to not only the conventional secondary stimulus LPS but also specifically to tumor cells and tumor-derived factors. WGP in vivo treatment leads to a trained immunity phenotype in lung interstitial macrophages (IMs). Induction of trained immunity by WGP inhibits tumor metastasis and enhances tumor-free survival in …

Investigating The Shared And Unique Mechanisms Of The Development Of Comorbid Eating Disorder-Anxiety Symptoms During Adolescence., Leigh Cara Brosof

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Eating disorders are associated with significant morbidity, psychiatric comorbidity, and impairment. Despite the detrimental outcomes associated with eating disorders, effective treatments for eating disorders are lacking. One factor that has impeded the identification of targets for intervention in eating disorders is the high comorbidity rate with other psychiatric disorders. Comorbidity models can inform treatments by showing which mechanisms are shared in comorbidity and which mechanisms are unique to specific disorders. Anxiety disorders are the most frequently co-occurring disorders with eating disorders, as 85% of individuals with eating disorders have a comorbid anxiety disorder. One mechanistic process in both anxiety …

Pediatric Oncology Social Work Job Analysis., Alyssa Ashlyn Middleton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an examination of the tasks most important to the pediatric oncology social work role. It begins with an argument that pediatric oncology social work is a blend of four social work specialties: generalist medical social work, oncology social work, pediatric social work, and hospice and palliative care social work. Studies report pediatric oncology social workers feel unprepared for numerous tasks related to their role. Despite calls for increased education and training opportunities, few are available. Until now, there has been no study evaluating the tasks that pediatric oncology social workers deem most important to their role, nor …

Dimension And Ramsey Results In Partially Ordered Sets., Sida Wan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, there are two major parts. One is the dimension results on different classes of partially ordered sets. We developed new tools and theorems to solve the bounds on interval orders using different number of lengths. We also discussed the dimension of interval orders that have a representation with interval lengths in a certain range. We further discussed the interval dimension and semi dimension for posets. In the second part, we discussed several related results on the Ramsey theory of grids, the results involve the application of Product Ramsey Theorem and Partition Ramsey Theorem

Role Of Deep Learning Techniques In Non-Invasive Diagnosis Of Human Diseases., Hisham Abouelseoud Elsayem Abdeltawab

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Machine learning, a sub-discipline in the domain of artificial intelligence, concentrates on algorithms able to learn and/or adapt their structure (e.g., parameters) based on a set of observed data. The adaptation is performed by optimizing over a cost function. Machine learning obtained a great attention in the biomedical community because it offers a promise for improving sensitivity and/or specificity of detection and diagnosis of diseases. It also can increase objectivity of the decision making, decrease the time and effort on health care professionals during the process of disease detection and diagnosis. The potential impact of machine learning is greater than …

Alkylthiocarbamate Metal Complexes With Antiproliferation Activity., Kritika Bajaj

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bis(thiosemicarbazones) (BTSCs) and their metal complexes have been extensively studied for various applications including catalysis for hydrogen evolution reactions, treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, hypoxia imaging, and a wide range of pharmacological purposes including antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal agents. The paramount property that makes BTSC metal complexes interesting for their use in these applications is the reduction potential of the coordinated metal, which can be selectively tuned by varying the substituents present on the ligand framework. Although the BTSCs have shown a great deal of success as potential cancer therapeutic agents, they lack selectivity towards cancer cells. For this matter, …

An Analysis Of Public Comments On The Implementation Of The Ngss In Kentucky., Matthew David Trzaskus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Feedback has been a highly effective means to enact change. In the classroom teachers provide feedback to students concerning their performance, how they compare to the learning goal, and what students need to achieve those goals. For teachers, they utilize feedback from students to examine content focus and instructional practice in order to reflect and make positive changes. In this study, feedback is once again provided in order to enact change. Kentucky stakeholders, mainly teachers, in science education offered feedback about the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). In their feedback they highlighted the challenges that occurred after …

Characterization Of Microbotryum Lychnidis-Dioicae Secreted Effector Proteins That Manipulate Its Host Plant, Silene Latifolia., Ming-Chang Tsai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The smut fungal species Microbotryum lychnidis-dioicae is an obligate phytopathogen colonizing the plant host, Silene latifolia. A significant feature of M. lychnidis-dioicae infection is that the fungus can replace pollen on the anthers of susceptible host plants with fungal teliospores, thus earning the fungus the name: anther smut disease of flowers. The fungus synthesizes and secretes effector proteins into the cells of the plant host during infection, and the protein-protein interactions may interfere with and modify metabolism, plant development, and gene expression of the host to allow fungal colonization. Two potential fungal effector proteins, MVLG_06175 and MVLG_05122, were identified …

Cultivating The Human Narrative: On Nietzsche, Science Fiction, And The Aesthetics Of Life., Derek Carpenter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, I will argue that there is a specific model of morality which can account for the intuition about moral features that we take to be intrinsic to the human type. This model of morality is that of Virtue Ethics, but not a conventional kind of Virtue Ethics. Instead, I will argue that the moral philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche presents a model of cultivating narrative types that we take to be grounded in the kinds of beings we are, without resorting to any problematic metaphysical systems. This will require that I defend a novel interpretation of Nietzsche’s ethics …

A New Sir Model With Mobility., Ciana Applegate

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this paper, a mobility-based SIR model is built to understand the spread of the pandemic. A traditional SIR model used in epidemiology describes the transition of particles among states, such as susceptible, infected, and recovered states. However, the traditional model has no movement of particles. There are many variations of SIR models when it comes to the factor of mobility, the majority of studies use mobility intensity or population density as a measure of mobility. In this paper, a new dynamical SIR model, including the spatial motion of three-type particles, is constructed and the long-time behavior of the first …

Ecological Differences In The Associations Between Air Pollution, Greenness, And Risk Of Stroke: The Regards Study., Daniel W. Riggs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The adverse health effects of air pollution have long been recognized, with the majority of morbidity and mortality due to its effects on the cardiovascular system. Alternatively, living in areas with higher greenness has been found to be beneficial to a wide range of health outcomes. However, few studies have considered that these relationships may vary depending on the surrounding ecosystem. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the effects of long-term exposure to air pollution and greenness on incidence of stroke, and how these relationships vary with the major ecological regions of the United States. We utilized the …

Dibutyl Amine Detection, Quantification, And Removal With Iron(Ii)Tetrasulfophthalocyanine (Fetspc), Kyle Bittner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pesticide testing is of practical interest in various areas of today’s world due to their prevalence and toxicity. These areas include agriculture, environmental, chemical plants, and many others. Herbicides, like Roundup, contain secondary amines such as glyphosate. The ability to detect secondary amines could offer a method for glyphosate detection in agricultural and environmental samples. Secondary amines can interact with metal complexes through electron charge transfer. Such interactions can cause a change in the metal’s electron configuration and energy state and can be seen in the UV-Vis spectrum. Metal phthalocyanines (MPc’s) and other organometallic complexes have been of interest for …

Flora Of Doe Mountain Recreation Area, Johnson County, Tennessee, Benjamin Mccullough

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A botanical inventory of Doe Mountain Recreation Area (DMRA) in northeastern Tennessee was conducted to help guide conservation-based management. A total of 484 species were found in DMRA, comprising 94 families, and 285 genera, 10 species listed in the state rare plant list, and 76 exotic species. Two species, Liatris virgata and Lycopodiella inundata, were new state records. Water in the Lycopodiella seep was an order of magnitude more acid than at other sites. An analysis of the wildland-urban interface showed that only 13% of the area was classified as uninhabited. The inventory-invasion index, introduced to quantify the relative …

Perceptions Of Tenured Science Faculty Regarding The Provision Of Reasonable Accommodations For Students With Disabilities, Rebecca J. Riggs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study used qualitative research methods to explore the perceptions of tenured science faculty regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Thirteen tenured science faculty at postsecondary institutions throughout the United States participated in one-on-one interviews. The participants provided their perceptions and experiences regarding the provision of academic accommodations for students with disabilities in a laboratory science. In these interviews key themes emerged, such as the importance of providing reasonable accommodations for successful academic outcomes for students with disabilities, the perception that providing reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities is fair, the concern that providing reasonable …

Personal Narratives Of English Language Learners With Learning Disabilities: Paving The Way To Success At A Private University In Central Texas, Oralia Guzman-Wheeler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

© Copyright by Oralia Guzmán-Wheeler (2022) All Rights Reserved iv Abstract More than half of English language learners with learning disabilities who enroll in college to obtain an undergraduate degree drop out. This narrative study’s purpose was to examine the ways English language learners with disabilities navigate the system of higher education and overcome challenges along the path toward college graduation. The participants in this qualitative interview study included six undergraduate students attending a 4-year college in central Texas. The narrative design involved participants sharing their lived stories and experiences in semistructured interviews. The data analysis revealed the following four …

Soil Quality Indicators And Vegetation Responses Following Ecological Restoration Thinning Of Ponderosa Pine On Three Soil Parent Material Types Under Grazing And Non-Grazing In Northern Arizona, Christopher Macdonald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research was performed in a northern Arizona ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa P. & C., Lawson) forest. The objectives were to a) increase understanding of long-term vegetation responses to ecological restoration treatments on three soils types, with and without grazing, b) evaluate the responses soil physical, chemical, and biological properties to restoration treatments, with and without grazing, c) determine the utility of measured soil quality indicators to informing risks to sustainable soils management in southwestern ponderosa pine forests.

There were no significant differences in soil bulk density by soil type, treatment type, or grazing treatment. No significant differences …

Differences Between African American And White Males In Grades 6-8: Comparative Evidence From Selected Texas Rural Schools, Sheenah Maria Hopkins-Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The academic achievement gap among Black males in grades 6-8 across Texas is a growing concern. Based on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR), secondary data from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) was used to evaluate scores from a sample of Texas rural schools. In this quantitative, non-experimental methods study, the dependent variable examined was the STAAR reading score at the “meets grade level,” and the independent dichotomous variables examined were: race, whether or not the student was classified in one of the following groups: ECD, at-risk, and special education. Academic trends from the 2017-2019 academic school …

Development Of Anti-Inflammatory Theranostic Nanocolloids Using Quality By Design Approaches, Michele Herneisey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nanocolloids are attractive delivery vehicles for drugs with poor aqueous solubility. Despite this, relatively few nanocolloid products exist on the market. Currently, there is a lack of standardization in the pre-clinical, academic setting regarding nanocolloid development and quality control testing. Adaptation of quality by design (QbD) methods used in the pharmaceutical industry to nanocolloid development is a desirable approach that can improve nanocolloid product and process understanding, resulting in an increased number of marketable products.

The central hypothesis of this work is that QbD approaches can be utilized to optimize theranostic (therapeutic and diagnostic) nanocolloid stability, drug loading, and imaging …

A Bioaffinity Self-Assembling Gel For Localized Delivery Of Immunotherapeutics, Ngoc Pham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a type of cancer in which malignant cells develop in the kidney tubules. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), including anti-PD-1 antibodies (aPD1), as monotherapies or in combination settings have advanced to the front-line treatment for patients diagnosed with RCC. Systemic infusion of ICI may render subtherapeutic concentrations in the lesions and increase risks of immune-related adverse events. To overcome these limitations, locoregional drug delivery has gained substantial interests as a modality in immuno-oncology. However, conventional intratumoral injections may be ineffective because the high interstitial fluid pressure in tumors resists drug retention and results in rapid local …

Sex-Specific Effects Of Chaperone And Glial Defenses On Experimental Lewy Body Disease, Tarun Bhatia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lewy body disorders are a group of neurodegenerative conditions characterized by the pathological misfolding and aggregation of the abundant protein, α-synuclein. The most common Lewy body disorders are Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Apart from ageing, male sex is a major risk factor for Lewy body disorders, as men are at ~1.5-fold higher risk for these diseases than women. Yet, preclinical studies on Lewy body disorders rarely examine sex as a biological variable, and the mechanisms underlying sex-skewedness in disease risk remain undetermined.

Here, we developed a sex-stratified model of Lewy body disorders by exposing primary neurons harvested …

Design And Synthesis Of Fused Pyrimidines As Multi-Targeted Potential Anticancer Agents, Nian Tong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dissertation supervised by Dr. Aleem Gangjee

Targeted cancer chemotherapy represents agents that inhibit cancer cell growth by interfering with specific processes that are required for tumor growth. The crucial aim of the treatment administered to cancer patients should be to improve the quality of life and inhibit the progression of the disease. The current failure of conventional cancer chemotherapy is attributed to both toxicities and the development of resistance. There is an unmet need for new cancer therapies of tumor-targeted agents (that work without harming normal cells or tissues) with a low propensity to develop resistance. Multi-targeted single agents with …

Aerodynamics And Turbulent Wake-Flow Characteristics Of Owls During Flapping Flight, Krishnamoorthy Krishnan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Owls exhibit unique flight capabilities in the low Reynolds number flow regime which is prone to complex viscous flow phenomena. They possess unique feather features and flexible wing structures which are postulated to help them fly nearly silently and stably at low speeds in a complex flow setting. Understanding the aerodynamics of owls could pave the way to enhance the future designs of small flying vehicles. Though it has been a focus of research over multiple decades, no conclusive agreement has been attained on the aerodynamic mechanisms associated with owl flight. Particularly, the aerodynamics of flapping owl flight is severely …

Loggerhead Shrike Detectability And Occurrence In Coastal South Carolina Urban Areas, Michelle Krauser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Grassland birds, such as the loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), are threatened by extensive land-use change, including urbanization. Loggerhead shrikes have been declining since the early 1900s and are rare or extirpated in portions of their former range. Obtaining reliable population estimates of loggerhead shrikes is important to identify demographic trends and ensure conservation decisions are based on an accurate assessment of their current status. Imperfect detection, or the inability to detect every shrike during a survey, can result in biased population estimates. Estimating detection probability is labor-intensive and requires assumptions that are difficult to satisfy in most field studies. Understanding …

Enzootic Trends Of Crassostrea Virginica And Perkinsus Marinus In North Inlet Estuary, South Carolina, Nico Martin D'Amico

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) co-occurs with the protozoan parasite Perkinsus marinus (the causative agent for "Dermo") in US Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico estuaries. Oyster host functions as an ecological engineer and agent for benthic-pelagic coupling are compromised when P. marinus infections are common in populations (prevalence) and high in individuals (intensity). P. marinus infections in oysters from North Inlet estuary, South Carolina were quantified in relation to shell height (60-76 mm, ≥76 mm), sex (functional female, male, indeterminate), water temperature, and salinity. Three fringing reefs on a longitudinal transect from the inlet mouth into the watershed were sampled …