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Developing Machine Learning Models For Selection Of Management Zones, Sravanthi Bachina Jan 2024

Developing Machine Learning Models For Selection Of Management Zones, Sravanthi Bachina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soil sampling and analyses play a crucial role in optimizing nutrient management and enhancing crop productivity. However, collecting representative samples across diverse landscapes is challenging due to knowledge gaps about spatial variability of soil properties, large fields, multiple samples, and analysis costs. Collecting soil samples based on the management zones can help farmers gather precise information about soil properties with fewer samples. Recent developments in precision agriculture and machine learning. This study aimed to develop machine learning models that can learn, analyze, and refine landscape and soil properties data for automated selection of soil sampling zones and generating prediction maps. …


Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry For Sensing Salinity And Sodicity In Glacial Northern Great Plains Soils With Machine Learning Models, Adam Devlin Jan 2024

Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry For Sensing Salinity And Sodicity In Glacial Northern Great Plains Soils With Machine Learning Models, Adam Devlin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Saline and sodic soils are an increasing concern across the Northern Great Plains (NGP) due to factors of climate change and land management that are drawing geologically derived salts to the land surface. Traditional laboratory assessments, such as electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), are time and resource consumptive. Portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) may be a viable proximal sensing alternative, as it is able to provide elemental data in minutes, in situ or ex situ, and can directly quantify salinity-associated elements like Ca, Mg, and S. PXRF paired with predictive models has proven useful for a range of …


Species Distribution Modeling Of Aquilegia Brevistyla (Ranunculaceae): A Critically Imperiled Black Hills Disjunct Species, Eric Daniel Puetz Jan 2024

Species Distribution Modeling Of Aquilegia Brevistyla (Ranunculaceae): A Critically Imperiled Black Hills Disjunct Species, Eric Daniel Puetz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Unchecked human activity is contributing to rising levels of greenhouse gas emissions, changes in land use, altered disturbance/fire regimes, spread of invasive species, and loss of biological diversity and related breakdown of ecosystem services. Additionally, climatic shifts may lead to phenological mismatches between species and their environments if these changes outpace a species’ ability to adapt or migrate to a more suitable habitat. Isolated mountain populations are particularly threatened by unpredictable climatic conditions, as they may have limited migration corridors and often lower levels of genetic diversity to move or adapt, respectively. As these negative feedbacks compound on the landscape, …


Mechanical Testing Of Novel Biopolymers For The Replacement Of Petroleum-Based Plastic Hay Bale Net Wrapping, Logan Wolf Jan 2024

Mechanical Testing Of Novel Biopolymers For The Replacement Of Petroleum-Based Plastic Hay Bale Net Wrapping, Logan Wolf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to test biopolymers synthesized from oilseeds or produced from agricultural wastes for large bale net wrapping as a viable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics (PBP). The goal is to test and assess novel polymers to guide the synthesis of a benign biodegradable polymer. Biobased net wrapping will significantly reduce ingestion of PBPs in animals such as ruminants to improve digestive health and minimize cattle loss due to plastic disease. Biobased plastics will also achieve partial or complete breakdown shortly after service without depositing microplastics in the environment. This will reduce the risk of damage …


The Hutton Project: Long-Term Agricultural Impacts On Soil Loss And Carbon Dynamics In Eastern South Dakota, Eli Halverson Jan 2024

The Hutton Project: Long-Term Agricultural Impacts On Soil Loss And Carbon Dynamics In Eastern South Dakota, Eli Halverson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Long-term and intensified agricultural land management has resulted in increased rates of soil erosion and has altered much of the carbon cycle at regional and global scales. Anthropogenic degradation of soil resources is a barrier to sustainable production, soil functioning, and ecosystem services. It is difficult to quantify the scope of pedogenic changes due to the lack of legacy data and short temporal scales. This study utilized decades to century-old soil information to quantify historical soil erosion losses and changes in soil carbon pools of eastern South Dakota soils. The results show that soils in the region have been significantly …


Delivery Of Gemcitabine, Stearoyl Gemcitabine And Paclitaxel Through Plga Nanoparticles And Its Effect On The Desmoplasia Of Pancreatic Cancer Spheroids, Rishabh Bahl Jan 2024

Delivery Of Gemcitabine, Stearoyl Gemcitabine And Paclitaxel Through Plga Nanoparticles And Its Effect On The Desmoplasia Of Pancreatic Cancer Spheroids, Rishabh Bahl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers to treat. The primary cause for the drug resistance is the dense extracellular matrix (ECM) that surrounds the tumor and restricts blood supply. Gemcitabine (GEM) and paclitaxel (PTX) are drugs that are clinically used in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. GEM, however, is rapidly metabolized by cytidine deaminase (CDA) and eliminated from the body, and paclitaxel is a substrate for P- glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux receptors. Drug delivery using nanoparticles has been reported to help improve drug half-lives and bypass efflux receptors. This thesis aims to encapsulate PTX in PLGA nanoparticles (PTX-NP) and …


Climate Change Adaptation For Embankment Through Biogeotechnics, Debayan Ghosh Jan 2024

Climate Change Adaptation For Embankment Through Biogeotechnics, Debayan Ghosh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Problematic soil like expansive soil, and frost-susceptible soil causes significant damage to civil infrastructure. The use of calcium-based stabilizers in the treatment of sulfate-rich expansive soils is not suggested due to the formation of ettringite. Infrastructure such as pavements and embankments built on expansive soil are often exposed to the damaging impacts of freeze-thaw cycles in areas prone to seasonal freezing making them vulnerable to cracking and spalling. In this study, a native expansive soil from South Dakota with a sulfate content of more than 10,000 ppm was stabilized using biopolymer and cement. The experimental study investigated the strength and …


Field Scale Evaluation Of A Flow-Through Filtration System With Mixed Media To Remove E. Coli From Stormwater, Ankur Debnath Jan 2024

Field Scale Evaluation Of A Flow-Through Filtration System With Mixed Media To Remove E. Coli From Stormwater, Ankur Debnath

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The main goal of this research was to establish a field-scale stormwater filtration system which is flow-through and cost-effective in terms of construction and maintenance. The filter is constructed in a downstream drainage of a retention pond where the stormwater goes through the porous space of media so that it maintains low retention time with minimum disturbance in flow. The filter consists of two 20ft long sections with concrete channel and ripraps on the inlet & outlet side. 30% Steel chips and 70% steel slags in the size range of 6.00-12.5 mm have been used as media which has been …


The Effects Of Temperature, Flooding, And Goose Feces Addition On Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Ammonification In Four High-Latitude Soils From Western Alaska, Jenna M. Ross Jan 2024

The Effects Of Temperature, Flooding, And Goose Feces Addition On Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Ammonification In Four High-Latitude Soils From Western Alaska, Jenna M. Ross

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The large carbon (C) stock of wetlands is vulnerable to climate change, especially in high latitudes that are warming at a disproportional rate. Likewise, low-elevation Arctic coastal areas will flood more frequently under climate change and sea-level rise, which may alter goose herbivory and fecal deposition patterns if geese move inland. While temperature, flooding, and feces impact soil C emissions, their interactive effects have been rarely studied. Here, I explore the impact of these interactions on CO2 and CH4 emissions and nitrogen (N) mineralization (ammonification) in soils collected from four plant communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta, a high latitude …


Plant Pathways Associated With Competition For Soybean Root Colonization By Bradyrhizobium Strains, Athira Sethu Madhavan Jan 2024

Plant Pathways Associated With Competition For Soybean Root Colonization By Bradyrhizobium Strains, Athira Sethu Madhavan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen is a crucial nutrient for the growth and development of plants. Legume crops like soybeans develop symbiotic associations with soil bacteria from the genus, Bradyrhizobium to obtain fixed nitrogen. In this mutualistic association, rhizobia are released into root nodules that provide a compatible environment for rhizobia to grow and fix nitrogen (Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation (SNF)). A caveat in such beneficial associations is the competition between different rhizobium strains in soil for infection and nodule occupancy. The elite inoculant strains encounter competition by indigenous rhizobial population in the soil to infect and nodulate a susceptible legume host, because of which …


Movement Ecology Of Paddlefish And Walleye Reveal The Importance Of Continued Interjurisdictional Management In Riverine And Lacustrine Systems, Kaitlyn Bearden Jan 2024

Movement Ecology Of Paddlefish And Walleye Reveal The Importance Of Continued Interjurisdictional Management In Riverine And Lacustrine Systems, Kaitlyn Bearden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fisheries systems function at broad spatial and temporal scales. Fishes within these systems are often highly mobile and move to locate adequate habitat, to feed and reproduce. As individuals navigate their environment, they potentially cross regulatory boundaries (state or federal) and or encounter physical barriers such as dams. Regulatory boundaries may not physically impede fish movement, but they are visible to fisheries managers thus the fishes within them may be vulnerable to varying management and harvest regulations. Physical boundaries (e.g., dams) are also particularly problematic for highly mobile species in large river systems. In chapter two, I documented that apparent …


Feeding Isoacids To Swine: Inclusion Level And Interactions With Dietary Fiber And Protein, Angie Patricia Benavides Infante Jan 2024

Feeding Isoacids To Swine: Inclusion Level And Interactions With Dietary Fiber And Protein, Angie Patricia Benavides Infante

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In animal production, research is continually being carried out into implementing new feeding strategies, such as incorporating new alternative ingredients or additives that improve the quality of the diet, reduce the cost of diets, or have effects on intestinal health. The inclusion of branched-chain volatile fatty acids has been investigated in ruminants, and it has been found that a diet supplemented with BCVFA increases fiber digestibility as well as increases cellulolytic bacteria in the rumen. There is little information about the possible effects on pigs supplemented with BCVFA. According to this, the first study aims to evaluate the optimal inclusion …


Effects Of Low-Cost, Low-Tech Tools For Riparian Restoration On Prairie Streams In Western South Dakota, James Andrew Joseph Bolyard Jan 2024

Effects Of Low-Cost, Low-Tech Tools For Riparian Restoration On Prairie Streams In Western South Dakota, James Andrew Joseph Bolyard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite making up less than two percent of the overall landscape in the arid and semi-arid western US, riparian areas are a crucial resource for agriculture, livestock, and wildlife. However, many have impaired function and reduced riparian cover. Low-Cost, Low-Tech Tools (LCLTT) are a subset of Process-Based Restoration (PBR) used for riparian restoration that were chosen for their cost-effectiveness and minimal technical requirements. LCLTT has been tested in mountainous areas of the western US but only recently implemented in the Northern Great Plains (NGP). Given their novelty as an approach toward restoration for the region, professional restoration and landowner communities …


Development Of Innovative Flocculation Technologies For Agricultural Water Treatment, Noor Haleem Jan 2024

Development Of Innovative Flocculation Technologies For Agricultural Water Treatment, Noor Haleem

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The development of innovative flocculation technologies is essential for addressing the challenges of agricultural water treatment. These technologies play a crucial role in removing contaminants such as suspended solids and nutrients, thereby ensuring safer water for irrigation and livestock consumption. By enhancing water quality and wastewater management, they contribute significantly to environmental sustainability and public health in agricultural communities. This comprehensive thesis extensively explores various dimensions of flocculation, with a focused effort on methodologies and resources aimed at strengthening sustainability and efficiency. A pivotal aspect of the research involves synthesizing cationic starch (CS), a flocculant derived from an underutilized resource, …


Advancing Biological Applications Through Microfluidic-Based Tool Development, K.M. Taufiqur Rahman Jan 2024

Advancing Biological Applications Through Microfluidic-Based Tool Development, K.M. Taufiqur Rahman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research undertook an interdisciplinary approach, integrating bioengineering, microbiology, molecular biology, and systems biology to investigate bacterial dynamics behavior. Specifically, it delved into the development of microfluidic devices for biological applications such as bacterial cell counts, real-time observation of plant roots (here, specialized lectin-coated microbeads are used that mimic root characteristics), and soil microbe interactions. Furthermore, Next-Generation Sequencing and systems biology methodologies were employed to explore the intricate, multifaceted survival mechanisms of Escherichia coli persister population. Studying and quantifying persisters or testing for the existence of VBNC (viable but nonculturable) is challenging. These experiments require precise counts. It has been …


The Relationship Of Macronutrient Intake With Growth In Children With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Jessica L. Freeling Jan 2024

The Relationship Of Macronutrient Intake With Growth In Children With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Jessica L. Freeling

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Child growth, a sensitive metric of overall health, results from the intricate interplay of nature and nurture. While the importance of nutrition in child growth is well established, growth trajectories exhibit substantial individual variability, influenced by sex and age, and often characterized by nonlinear patterns. Inadequate nutrition or disease can hinder growth, with potential for recovery upon proper nutrition or acute disease resolution. However, chronic disease or persistent malnutrition may lead to permanent growth perturbation. Notably, before the advent of insulin, chronic stunting and wasting were hallmarks of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), though the specific impacts under modern standard …


Regulatory Landscapes: Transcriptome And Microrna Regulated Senescence And Dormancy In Grapevines And Gene Regulatory Networks In Nitrogen-Fixing Soybean Nodules, Ramandeep Kaur Jan 2024

Regulatory Landscapes: Transcriptome And Microrna Regulated Senescence And Dormancy In Grapevines And Gene Regulatory Networks In Nitrogen-Fixing Soybean Nodules, Ramandeep Kaur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Grapevine and soybean are two economically important crops, each with unique yet equally crucial physiological processes that profoundly influence their growth and productivity. Grapevine (Vitis sp.), a temperate fruit crop, employs dormancy to withstand winter challenges and can grow in various regions worldwide. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in dormancy in Vitis species, is crucial for improving grapevine selection for resilience in northern temperate regions. Dormancy induction is modulated by decreasing photoperiods in some Vitis species, enhancing their ability to prepare for winter stress conditions. Understanding the molecular underpinnings of response to photoperiod will provide potential markers for selecting genotypes …


Impacts Of Cover Crops And Diversified Crop Rotations On Soil Biochemical Properties, Hydrophysical Characteristics, And Water Dynamics In Long-Term No-Till Cropping Systems, Sainfort Vital Jan 2024

Impacts Of Cover Crops And Diversified Crop Rotations On Soil Biochemical Properties, Hydrophysical Characteristics, And Water Dynamics In Long-Term No-Till Cropping Systems, Sainfort Vital

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research assessed the impacts of crop rotations and cover crops on the soil's biochemical and hydrophysical properties within long-term no-till systems. The research was conducted at the Southeast Research Farm, near Beresford, South Dakota. The crop rotations contain two levels: 4-year corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max L.)-oat (Avena sativa L.)-rye (Secale cereale L.) (CSOR) and 2-year corn-soybean (CS) rotations. The cover crop factors also had two levels within each rotation treatment: cover crops (CC) and no cover crops (NCC). All plots were managed under long-term no-till (NT), with soils mapped as Egan silty clay loam (fine-silty, mixed, superactive, …


Plant Available Water Drives Semi-Arid Forage Quality And Quantity In A Common Garden Greenhouse Experiment, Parker J. Witt Jan 2024

Plant Available Water Drives Semi-Arid Forage Quality And Quantity In A Common Garden Greenhouse Experiment, Parker J. Witt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rangeland forage nutrition and biomass production are integral components of sustainable livestock grazing systems and are controlled by soil quality and precipitation. I examined the effects of precipitation on growth and nutrition of three forage species in four different soils that span the longitudinal moisture gradient in South Dakota. I grew little bluestem (Schizachyrum scoparium), western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), and smooth brome (Bromus inermis) in soils representing the eastern tallgrass/mid-grass prairie (Brookings, 700 mm avg. precipitation.), an eastern mid-grass prairie (Highmore, 550 mm avg. precipitation.), a western mid-grass prairie (Cottonwood, 450 mm avg. precipitation.), and a western mid-grass/short-grass prairie (Sturgis, …


Soil Responses To Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus Virginiana L.) Afforestation And Prescribed Fire In South-Central South Dakota, Robert Schaefer Jan 2024

Soil Responses To Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus Virginiana L.) Afforestation And Prescribed Fire In South-Central South Dakota, Robert Schaefer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research was conducted in 2019 and 2020 on rangelands located in south-central South Dakota assessing a number of physical, chemical, and biological properties of mineral ustepts and ustents soils associated with eastern redcedar (ERC) (Juniperus virginiana) afforestation and prescribed fire. ERC afforestation appeared to be associated with significantly higher field-condition soil aggregate stability, cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil pH, and fungi:bacteria (F:B) as well as significantly lower soil moisture, nitrate-N, phosphorus, bacteria biomass, and Gram-positive:Gram-negative (GP:GN) bacteria compared to native grassland conditions, while other mineral soil properties appeared relatively unaffected. Compared to soil conditions under dense, living ERC canopies, prescribed …


Isolation, Molecular Characterization, And Epidemiological Analysis Of An Emerging Avian Metapneumovirus Subgroup B In Us Poultry, Sumit Jangra Jan 2024

Isolation, Molecular Characterization, And Epidemiological Analysis Of An Emerging Avian Metapneumovirus Subgroup B In Us Poultry, Sumit Jangra

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) is one the most economically important poultry respiratory pathogens belonging to the family Pneumoviridae and genus Metapneumovirus, which can affect both domestic and wild birds. aMPVs are classified into four subgroups (A, B, C, and D) based on the level of genetic variations and antigenic differences. aMPV causes turkey rhinotracheitis (TRT) and swollen head syndrome (SHS) in turkeys and chickens respectively. Recently, outbreaks of respiratory disease in meat-type birds and a significant decline in egg production with respiratory signs in breeders were reported from different states in the USA. Isolating aMPV is challenging as it is a …


The Influence Of By-O-Reg+ Beef, An Oregano-Based Essential Oil Supplement, On Growth Performance, Carcass Traits And Meat Quality Of Finishing Beef Steers, Bergin Mackenzie Debruin Jan 2024

The Influence Of By-O-Reg+ Beef, An Oregano-Based Essential Oil Supplement, On Growth Performance, Carcass Traits And Meat Quality Of Finishing Beef Steers, Bergin Mackenzie Debruin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis was to determine the influence of an oregano-based essential oil (OEO; By-O-Reg+ Beef), on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of beef steers finished in an all-natural program. Yearling steers were allotted to 16 pens (n = 8 pens per treatment, 8 steers per pen). Treatments included: 1) control (CON) fed no oregano-based essential oil and 2) group fed 4 g/steer daily of By-O-Reg+ Beef. Steers were harvested on day 149 of the feeding period. Standard carcass data was collected and instrumental color (L*, a*, b*) was recorded. Strip loins were collected from a …


Role Of Interferon Induced Transmembrane Protein 3 (Ifitm3) And Neural Precursor Cell Expressed Developmentally Down Regulated Protein 4 (Nedd4) In Seneca Virus A (Sva) Replication, Shamiq Aftab Jan 2024

Role Of Interferon Induced Transmembrane Protein 3 (Ifitm3) And Neural Precursor Cell Expressed Developmentally Down Regulated Protein 4 (Nedd4) In Seneca Virus A (Sva) Replication, Shamiq Aftab

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study, we studied the role of IFITM3 in SVA replication in vitro by silencing the endogenous IFITM3 in NCI-H1299 cells. An average of 1.94-fold increase in SVA VP2 expression and an average of 4.4-fold increase in supernatant virus titer was observed after 24h SVA isolate SD15-26 infection. We have indeed observed an increase in viral mRNA copies by an average of 5-fold in IFITM3 silenced NCI-H1299 cells at 8 hpi indicating that IFITM3 restricts SVA replication post virus attachment and entry. A positive correlation between interferon-alpha induced IFITM3 upregulation and reduced SVA replication was observed. To further confirm …


Spatial Variation Of Microbial Communities In Aquatic Ecosystems In The Southeastern United States, Jordan Heiman Jan 2024

Spatial Variation Of Microbial Communities In Aquatic Ecosystems In The Southeastern United States, Jordan Heiman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spatial variation in bacterial communities, or bacterial biogeography, is important for understanding the role of microorganisms in biogeochemical cycles. In the Southeastern United States, aquatic ecosystems are highly biodiverse and imperiled, yet few studies have investigated bacterial biodiversity and biogeography in this region. In this dissertation, I aimed to understand the bacterial biogeography in aquatic ecosystems in the Southeastern United States and how this spatial variation relates to abiotic factors in these ecosystems. To do this, I analyzed biogeographic patterns in bacterial communities from three distinct types of aquatic ecosystems (rivers, a lake, and beaches) and conducted a microcosm experiment …


Quality & Credibility Ff Adhd Information On Social Media And Adhd Help-Seeking Intentions, Saara Zakkiya Nasruddin Jan 2024

Quality & Credibility Ff Adhd Information On Social Media And Adhd Help-Seeking Intentions, Saara Zakkiya Nasruddin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: There is an increased prevalence of adult Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and stimulant prescription use in the United States, especially when compared to years prior to 2020. Due to accessibility and popularity of ADHD on social media, many individuals gain information on ADHD from these sources. People may view information on social media as credible due to its ability to provide connection, community, and empowerment. However, content analyses of ADHD information on social media show the quality of content on social media is poor. These content analyses utilized outdated quality evaluation tools that are not specific for social media. Principles …


Substance Use Amongst Veterans Following Post-Deployment Reintegration: An Examination Through The Lens Of Acculturation, Brittany Hampton Jan 2024

Substance Use Amongst Veterans Following Post-Deployment Reintegration: An Examination Through The Lens Of Acculturation, Brittany Hampton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Each year, approximately 46.3 million Americans are diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD), which costs the United States healthcare system approximately $13 billion in annual costs. One group particularly at risk for SUD is veterans due to the unique stressors that veterans face (e.g., being apart from loved ones, exposure to life threatening events, transitioning between military and civilian life) and a military culture that often reinforces maladaptive patterns of substance use. Little research has been done to examine substance use as a negative outcome associated with the acculturative experience veterans face when transitioning from military life back to civilian …


Pi3k Signaling And Its Role In Cardiac Morphogenesis, Rabina Shrestha Jan 2024

Pi3k Signaling And Its Role In Cardiac Morphogenesis, Rabina Shrestha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The formation of the heart tube in vertebrates involves the coordinated movement of bilateral myocardial precursors to the midline, where they merge in a process known as cardiac fusion to form the primitive heart tube. While external influences from the anterior endoderm and the endocardium are known to be essential for cardiac fusion, intrinsic myocardial mechanisms are less understood. Here, we identify an intrinsic PI3K-dependent mechanism directing myocardial cells toward the midline during cardiac fusion. We found that inhibiting the PI3K pathway throughout the embryo using chemical inhibitors and injection of dnPI3K mRNA results in cardiac fusion defects. PI3K-inhibited embryos …


Isolation Of Novel Myxobacteria And Progress Towards Heterologous Expression Of Uncharacterized Secondary Metabolites, Andrew Ahearne Jan 2024

Isolation Of Novel Myxobacteria And Progress Towards Heterologous Expression Of Uncharacterized Secondary Metabolites, Andrew Ahearne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Myxobacteria, first observed by Roland Thaxter in the late 19th century, are known for their unique swarming behavior, complex fruiting body formation and biosynthetic potential. Myxobacteria are noted for their large genomes and the presence of numerous biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that hint at their potential to produce novel metabolites with therapeutic properties. Isolation of myxobacteria utilizing E. coli and filter paper baiting yielded 20 myxobacteria isolated from rhizospheric soil samples in North America. Among these isolates, nine were identified as novel species, representing the genera Archangium, Myxococcus, Nannocystis, Polyangium, Pyxidicoccus, Sorangium, and Stigmatella. Comprehensive growth profiles, biochemical assays, and …


Make It Funny! Developing A Novel Humor-Based Digital Positive Psychology Intervention To Investigate The Influence Of Duchenne Laughter And Mirth On Psychological Distress In Daily Life, Joshua Semko Jan 2024

Make It Funny! Developing A Novel Humor-Based Digital Positive Psychology Intervention To Investigate The Influence Of Duchenne Laughter And Mirth On Psychological Distress In Daily Life, Joshua Semko

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the present research was to develop a novel digital humor-based PPI (Make it Funny!) to investigate the influence of Duchenne laughter and mirth on psychological distress in daily life. Participants (N = 159; Agemedian = 39 years; 47.77% biologically female; 68.15% White) were tasked with completing Make it Funny! or a placebo activity every day for 7 days. Duchenne laughter frequency had a small negative cross-sectional moderation effect on the relationship between the occurrence of stressful events and psychological distress (t(79.71) = -2.33, b = -10.89, p = .022). Within participants, Duchenne laughter frequency slightly increased the …


Formulation Development Of Simvastatin Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System Using Hot Melt Extrusion, Srikanth Chilamula Jan 2024

Formulation Development Of Simvastatin Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System Using Hot Melt Extrusion, Srikanth Chilamula

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Simvastatin, a potent HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, lowers cholesterol levels. It prevents cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes in patients with high cholesterol and heart disease. However, its oral bioavailability is limited due to its poor aqueous solubility The current study aims to enhance the solubility of the poorly water-soluble drug simvastatin through the development of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS). Gelucire® 48/16 (oil), Gelucire 44/14 (surfactant), and Cremophor RH40 (co-surfactant) were assessed as potential excipients for SEDDS formulation. Initial SEDDS (Before adsorption) formulations were created based on the solubility of simvastatin in solid lipid excipients, as determined by a …