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Biodiversity And Conservation Study Of Chambers Island, Wisconsin - 2017 Annual Report, Mackenzie Hennes, Mikaela Nowak, Adam L. Brandt

Student Creative and Scholarly Works

Long term biological studies are rare but incredibly valuable for examining natural phenomena. Data collected over many years or decades allows for analyses of trends that would never be apparent in a single season. The research presented here is for the completion of the first field season in a long term study analyzing biodiversity trends on Chambers Island. Using visual searches, live trapping, and trail cameras, the biodiversity and abundance of species was examined. Special emphasis was placed on small mammals, though other species were observed and documented. The goals of this project were to (1) provide preliminary diversity and …

Measuring The Interaction And Cooperativity Between Ionic, Aromatic, And Nonpolar Amino Acids In Protein Structure, Mason Scott Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Protein folding studies have provided important insights about the key role of non-covalent interactions in protein structure and conformational stability. Some of these interactions include salt bridges, cation-π, and anion-Ï€ interactions. Understanding these interactions is crucial to developing methods for predicting protein secondary, tertiary, quaternary structure from primary sequence and understanding protein-protein interactions and protein-ligand interactions. Several studies have described how the interaction between two amino acid side chains have a substantial effect on protein structure and conformational stability. This is under the assumption that the interaction between the two amino acids is independent of surrounding interactions. We are interested …

The Diversity Found Among Carbapenem-Resistant Bacteria, Galen Edward Card

Theses and Dissertations

This work will look at two factors that add to the diversity of carbapenem resistant bacteria. First, it focuses on the diversity of carbapenemase resistance plasmids. 446 plasmids were characterized by size, gene content and replicon groups. We identified that on average, over 30% of the encoded proteins on each plasmid have an unknown function. Plasmid sizes ranged from 1.6kb to 500kb, with an average of around 100kb and median of 80kb. Additionally, six replicon groups account for 80% of all the carbapenemase resistance plasmids. We also highlight the lack of data available for carbapenemase carrying plasmids from bacterial genera …

Biology, Saint Mary's College Of California

Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

Photochemical Expulsion Of Leaving Groups From A Naphthothiophene-2-Carboxamide Linked To A Chromophore, Lingzi Li

Dissertations (1934 -)

Two bichromophoric systems were synthesized which have thioxanthone as the chromophore that absorbs the incident light and a naphthothiophene-2-carboxanilide, which serves as a triplet excited state energy acceptor. Upon excitation the triplet excited state of the thioxanthone is populated via intersystem crossing, which is efficient with isc = 0.68. Based on the relative energies of the triplet excited states of thioxanthone (ET = 65 kcal mol-1) and naphthothiophene (ET = 51 kcal mol-1), the subsequent triplet excited state energy transfer to generate the triplet excited state of the naphthothiophene-2-carboxamide should be a very rapid process that is 14 kcal mol1 …

Chemical Investigation Of Bioactive Marine Extracts, Selam Hagos

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Natural products have been a fundamental source of medicinal scaffolds for decades; with sixty percent of marketed drugs. Many synthetic chemists are focused on synthesizing potent and nontoxic compounds for pharmaceutical targets, however, nature is still proving to be a source of new bioactive compounds. Produced by the host organism for defense, reproduction and communication, secondary metabolites also demonstrate promising bioactivity against human pathogens. Hence, natural product chemists continue their quest for new leads.

As a continuation of these efforts, this thesis attempts to explore fungi and sponges for new chemistry, and ultimately, new drug candidates. Antarctica is largely untapped; …

Social Genomics Of Healthy And Disordered Internet Gaming, Jeffrey G. Snodgrass, Henri J. François Dengah Ii, Michael G. Lacy, Robert J. Else, Evan R. Polzer, Jesusa M. G. Arevalo, Steven W. Cole

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Objectives: To combine social genomics with cultural approaches to expand understandings of the somatic health dynamics of online gaming, including in the controversial nosological construct of internet gaming disorder (IGD).

Methods: In blood samples from 56 U.S. gamers, we examined expression of the conserved transcriptional response to adversity (CTRA), a leukocyte gene expression profile activated by chronic stress. We compared positively engaged and problem gamers, as identified by an ethnographically developed measure, the Positive and Negative Gaming Experiences Scale (PNGE-42), and also by a clinically derived IGD scale (IGDS-SF9).

Results: CTRA profiles showed a clear relationship with PNGE-42, with a …

Ripple Effects Of The Belo Monte Dam: A Syndemic Approach To Addressing Health Impacts For The Downstream Community Of Gurupá, Cynthia A. Pace

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the public health impacts of a large dam project on a downstream community using the framework of Syndemic Theory. The particular focus is the Belo Monte Dam, located in the Brazilian Amazon, and its impact on the community of Gurupá, Pará. At the present time the Belo Monte Dam, which is nearing completion, stands out in scale as being the world’s third largest dam complex. Gurupá is a community well known (and well-studied) in the social science literature as Amazon Town. The aims of this study are to assess the pre-existing public health of Gurupá, as well …

Visualization And Quantification Of Cancer-Associated Enzymes With Fluorescent Small-Molecule Substrate Probes, Zhenhua Shen

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Fluorescence imaging can be used both as a tool to diagnose diseases and guide treatment in clinical settings, and as a technique to monitor dynamic events or biological species in basic research. Therefore, there is a great need for the development of a multitude of fluorescent probes that can be incorporated with fluorescence imaging techniques to track and report endogenous enzymes with high specificity and selectivity. In contrast to always-on and targeted always-on fluorescent probes that continually emit light, activity-based substrate probes either emit low numbers of photons or are completely quenched. They can be converted to highly fluorescent reporters …

Gesture: An Online Hand-Drawing Tool For Gene Expression Pattern Search, Chunyan Wang, Yiqing Xu, Xuelin Wang, Li Zhang, Suyun Wei, Qiaolin Ye, Youxiang Zhu, Hengfu Yin, Manoj Nainwal, Luis Tanon-Reyes, Feng Cheng, Tongming Yin, Ning Ye

Molecular Biosciences Faculty Publications

Gene expression profiling data provide useful information for the investigation of biological function and process. However, identifying a specific expression pattern from extensive time series gene expression data is not an easy task. Clustering, a popular method, is often used to classify similar expression genes, however, genes with a ‘desirable’ or ‘user-defined’ pattern cannot be efficiently detected by clustering methods. To address these limitations, we developed an online tool called GEsture. Users can draw, or graph a curve using a mouse instead of inputting abstract parameters of clustering methods. GEsture explores genes showing similar, opposite and time-delay expression patterns with …

Bird Abundance At Bird Feeders In Response To Temperature, Wind Speed And Precipitation During The Winter Season, Siddhant Kahal

Master's Theses

The goal of this project is to explore how 23 different bird species respond to 3 climatic attributes. These attributes are lower than average temperatures, wind speed and precipitation level. Information about the bird species and all of the data associated with them is provided by Project FeederWatch (PFW). This is a citizen based survey study that provides key information about bird species abundance through the use of backyard and community feeders. The study volunteers from across the United States and Canada monitor these bird feeders and note important information about the species such as the number of individuals seen. …

Novel Antifolates To Target Antibiotic Resistant Gram-Negative Pathogens, Michael Lombardo

Doctoral Dissertations

Antibiotic resistance has limited our ability to treat life-threatening infections putting pressure on the scientific community to discover new effective therapeutics. There have been significant research efforts to develop drugs for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens as they are the leading cause of healthcare-associated infections and have a high propensity to accumulate antibiotic resistance genes. The two major challenges to Gram-negative antibiotic development are finding drug chemotypes that are able to penetrate the cell envelope and accounting for plasmid-associated resistance genes. We have developed a novel class of antifolates, designated as propargyl-linked antifolates, as effective antimicrobials against …

The Association Of Kangaroo Mother Care, Energy Conservation, And Bonding In Preterm Neonates, Dorothy Forde

Dissertations

Purpose:To examine the association of kangaroo mother care (KMC) on energy utilization and bonding as evidenced by reduced biochemical markers of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) degradation, hypoxanthine (Hx), xanthine (Xa), and uric acid (UA), and (allantoin), a measure of oxidative stress in preterm infants 24-36 weeks gestation. A secondary objective was to compare specific physiological parameters using bedside monitoring and perfusion and oxygenation of the gut using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during 1 hour of KMC compared to incubator care.

Study design: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) examining the effects of 1-hour of KMC or 1-hour incubator care on urinary markers …

Characterizing Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation, Caroline Riedstra

Creative Collaborations: Annual Showcase of Undergraduate Research

The process of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) has been explored in polymer physics and colloidal science, and recently, researchers have studied this process to better understand intracellular organization. LLPS is the process by which a liquid mixture will separate into two fluid phases. Currently, many research labs are working to understand how and why certain cellular organelles are liquid bodies that are the result of phase separation. Investigations of how the cell uses phase separation to organize and compartmentalize has demonstrated a wealth of biological implications. We experimentally study the process of de-mixing in a model system in order to …

Site-Selective Modification Of Peptides And Proteins Via Organocatalyzed Henry Reaction, Zilma Pereira Muneeswaran

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In this research, peptides and protein containing serine on the N-terminus underwent site-selective modification following organocatalyzed bioconjugation that offered an additional functional group. It was shown that transforming the N-terminus serine to an aldehyde allowed site-specific bioconjugation to occur by utilizing the well-known Henry reaction. This method also grants a safer pathway for bioconjugation utilizing “green-chemistry” and biocompatible conditions. Amino acids and amino acid derived organocatalysts were utilized in the Henry reaction resulting in yields of up to 86 % conversion. Promising preliminary results were achieved in this research using peptides and myoglobin as the bioconjugation targets. Further investigation to …

Hazardous Drug Administration In The Home Setting: Reducing Exposure Risks, Cynthia D. Huff Msn, Rn, Ocn, Crni, Cnl

Master's Projects and Capstones

Hazardous drug (HD) administration used to be contained in controlled-healthcare settings, however, the introduction of HDs for home administration has become a growing area of concern for home health agencies. The objectives of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) project aims to improve homecare nurses' knowledge of HDs and improve competency with personal protective equipment (PPE). The microsystem provides short-term homecare services for acute and chronically-ill patients. One team leader, two home infusion coordinators, and twelve registered infusion nurses participated in learning about exposure risks and PPE use with HD administration. Kotter's 8-step change theory was used to develop behavior change …

Synthesis Of Alpha-Galactosylceramide Analogs For Th1 Biased Inkt Cell Activation And Novel Reactions With Ketiminium Salts, Nicole Sassu

Doctoral Dissertations

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a subset of T cells that recognizes and is activated by glycolipid antigens. Glycolipids, specifically alpha-galactosylceramides, are a primary focus due to their ability to modulate immune responses based on interactions with NKT cells. KRN7000, the first synthetic glycolipid shown to potently activate NKT cells, has been the foundation of structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, providing insight to how glycolipids interact with components of the immune system to elicit specific responses. A glycolipid can produce a Th1 and/or Th2 response from NKT cells. A primary goal of many researchers is to produce a potent glycolipid, …

No One Belongs Here More Than You, Tania Y. Silver

Student Projects

Through collection, installation, and maintenance of discarded plant materials this body of work explores protection and care of the self.

Front Matter, Maria Cruz, Taylor-Dawn Francis, Marissa Smith

McNair Research Journal SJSU

No abstract provided.

Biosemiotics As An Argument For The Recontextualization Of Biological Discoveries: A Critical Analysis Of The Biosemiotic Model Of Marcello Barbieri., Augustus Morrissey Snyder

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The primary purpose of this project was to investigate and explain the philosophical approach of biosemiotics to understanding living systems in contrast to the current scientific paradigm. Secondary goals were to evaluate the potential merits and relevance of this approach to biology and to introduce such a topic for discussion to biologists in a formal academic setting. My method consisted of critical textual analysis supplemented by analogy and biological examples where appropriate. In general, contemporary biosemiotics argues for a teleologic recontextualization of biological discoveries in practice and education. This is accomplished in a sophisticated fashion through the application and modification …

The Economics Of Skin Tone In Nineteenth-Century Maryland, Yuree Kim

Theses and Dissertations

I analyze the effect of subtle differences in skin complexion on heights of free blacks in Maryland during the nineteenth century. I propose that lighter-skinned blacks were taller (indicating better nutrition) than their darker counterparts. I find the hypothesis holds - 15.9% taller for males and 16.5% taller for females.

Next Generation Of Translational Long-Acting Cabotegravir, Tian Zhou

Theses & Dissertations

Recent development of long-acting antiretroviral therapeutic regimens has opened a new chapter for HIV/AIDS management. Cabotegravir (CAB), as one of the very first long-acting antiretroviral regimens, has drawn tremendous attention. However, the remaining challenges include suboptimal dosing intervals, large injection volume, injection site reactions, lack of tissue penetration, etc. As one of the pioneers in this field, our lab was successful in harnessing mononuclear phagocytes as “Trojan horses” for antiretroviral drug delivery and transportation to viral reservoirs. We proposed this targeted delivery strategy could address the limitations of current CAB formulation. To this end, we developed folic acid decorated CAB …

Caged Molecules Released From Capsules: Photochemical And Photophysical Studies Of Coumarin Triggers, Nareshbabu Kamatham

Open Access Dissertations

This thesis comprises a detailed investigation on the photochemical and photophysical properties of various organic molecules encapsulated in molecular containers. Exploiting these photochemical and photophysical properties of fascinating organic molecules are often frustrating and tricky as they tend to get influenced by several environmental factors. For instance, in the solution phase, solvent can influence the properties of short-lived and reactive intermediates that are generated upon excitation. In order to control these properties, one of the promising approaches is to encapsulate them in an inert and confined environment. This strategy involves the encapsulation of the desired molecule in a stable enclosure, …

Emulated Ecology, Erik Graves

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Natural versus built environment. Nature versus man made. Organic versus inorganic. These are arguments that have been stated and debated since the early architectural times of Vitruvius and are still prevalent even in today’s popular practice. As a whole architecture has moved towards a more green direction with the introduction of programs such as LEED and Architecture 2030. We have become more and more strict on the way we grade and evaluate the sustainability of a project, not just in the energy used and stored in the construction and operation of a building, but we have even begun to look …

Exploring Churn And Alignment Between Retention And Occupational Culture As Perceived By Professional Truck Drivers, Catherine M. Cole

Dissertations

Despite advances in logistics software and increased driver pay, the trucking industry continues a historic wave of human capital risks in the form of driver turnover and driver shortages. Previous efforts to understand the phenomenon of driver turnover rely heavily on supply chain, transportation, and logistics based disciplines. The current study provides a human capital ontology towards understanding professional truck driver perceptions. Within the interpretive framework of pragmatism, the study applied a simultaneous ethnographic and phenomenological research design to explore the phenomenon of churn and professional truck driver perceptions of environmental alignment between trucking industry retention strategies and the occupational …

From Pieces To Paths: Combining Disparate Information In Computational Analysis Of Rna-Seq., Yifan Yang

Open Access Dissertations

As high-throughput sequencing technology has advanced in recent decades, large-scale genomic data with high-resolution have been generated for solving various problems in many felds. One of the state-of-the-art sequencing techniques is RNA sequencing, which has been widely used to study the transcriptomes of biological systems through millions of reads. The ultimate goal of RNA sequencing bioinformatics algorithms is to maximally utilize the information stored in a large amount of pieced-together reads to unveil the whole landscape of biological function at the transcriptome level. Many bioinformatics methods and pipelines have been developed for better achieving this goal. However, one central question …

Trust Based Time-Varying Network Topology For Distributed Co-Operative Control Of Multi-Class Multi-Agent Systems, Ankur Vipulkumar Dalal

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses - Archive

With increased levels of autonomy in most of the engineering fields and booms in areas such as swarms, platoons and Internet of Things (IoT), communication and information flow has become a highly researched field. With advancements in autonomous vehicles (AVs) and drones in armed warfare, more and more focus is being laid on intercommunication between these vehicles and its surroundings as well as intra-communication among the fleets/swarms itself. It is easier to deal with individual agents whereas it is quite challenging to deal with multi-agent systems especially with highly dynamic agents. In this thesis, we propose a general protocol for …

Understanding The Molecular Mechanism Of Arsenic Tolerance And Accumulation In Pteris Vittata, Chao Cai

Open Access Dissertations

Arsenic is a toxic metalloid that is naturally occurring and widely distributed. The consumption of arsenic-contaminated food and water is threatening the health of millions of people in the world. The fern Pteris vittata is unusual in its ability to tolerate and hyperaccumulate exceptionally high concentrations of arsenic in its fronds. How P. vittata tolerates and accumulates arsenic is fundamentally different from that in angiosperms; however, the molecular mechanism underlying this trait in P. vittata is not well-defined. Because the haploid phase of the fern (the gametophyte) is morphologically simple, easy to grow and also tolerates and hyperaccumulates arsenic, the …

The Architecture Of Keeping Animals: Preservation Responses To Changing Animal Welfare Ideals In Mid-Sized American Zoos, Victoria Mccollum

All Theses

Beginning in the mid-20th century, most of America’s Zoos began to re-evaluate the spaces which housed their living creatures. As advances in science and technology brought forward new information on animal welfare and care, zoos were soon faced with choices on the treatment of their current building stock. A range of preservation treatments emerged, from abandonment to demolition/new construction. This thesis examines the range of preservation treatments that took place in zoo buildings built prior to 1950 at the Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago, IL), the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens (Cincinnati, OH), the Toledo Zoo and Aquarium (Toledo, OH) and …

Small Hive Beetle [Aethina Tumida (Murray)], Lori R. Spears, Ann M.M. Mull

All Current Publications

Small hive beetle (SHB) is an exotic pest of honey and bumble bee colonies that is native to Africa. SHB feeds on pollen and honey, kills bee brood and workers, and causes honey to discolor and ferment. This pest is now found throughout much of the U.S. with highest infestations occurring in the Southeast. It was first detected in Utah in 2016 and is now confirmed in Washington and Davis counties. Infestations can be prevented by early detection, using good husbandry techniques, maintaining a high ratio of bees to comb, and keeping hives in partial to full sun. Chemical control …