Digital Commons Network^™

Fractional Brownian Motion In A Finite Interval: Correlations Effect Depletion Or Accretion Zones Of Particles Near Boundaries, T. Guggenberger, G. Pagnini, Thomas Vojta, R. Metzler

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fractional Brownian motion (FBM) is a Gaussian stochastic process with stationary, long-time correlated increments and is frequently used to model anomalous diffusion processes. We study numerically FBM confined to a finite interval with reflecting boundary conditions. The probability density function of this reflected FBM at long times converges to a stationary distribution showing distinct deviations from the fully flat distribution of amplitude 1/L in an interval of length L found for reflected normal Brownian motion. While for superdiffusion, corresponding to a mean squared displacement (MSD) ⟨X²(t)⟩ ≃ t^α with 1 < α < 2, the probability density function is lowered in the centre of the interval and rises towards the boundaries, for subdiffusion (0 < α < 1) this behaviour is reversed and the particle density is depleted close to the boundaries. The MSD in these cases at long times converges to a stationary value, which is, remarkably, monotonically increasing with the anomalous diffusion exponent α. Our a priori surprising results may have interesting …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And The Effects On Teachers' Beliefs About Classroom Behavior Management, Hilarie Fotter Kennedy Psyd

All Student Scholarship

The aim of this survey research pilot study was to determine if there is a relationship that exists between a teacher’s perceptions about their disciplinary style and early life exposure to adverse experiences. The method consisted of two brief questionnaires (the Adverse Childhood Experience questionnaire and the Behavior and Instruction Management Scale) which was completed electronically by 2,149 teachers (response rate 16.51%) practicing within the state of Maine.

Functionalized Carbon Nanotube Adsorption Interfaces For Electron Transfer Studies Of Galactose Oxidase, Mulugeta B. Wayu, Michael J. Pannell, Najwa Labban, William S. Case, Julie A. Pollack, Michael C. Leopold

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Modified electrodes featuring specific adsorption platforms able to access the electrochemistry of the copper containing enzyme galactose oxidase (GaOx) were explored, including interfaces featuring nanomaterials such as nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Electrodes modified with various self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) including those with attached nanoparticles or amide-coupled functionalized CNTs were examined for their ability to effectively immobilize GaOx and study the redox activity related to its copper core. While stable GaOx electrochemistry has been notoriously difficult to achieve at modified electrodes, strategically designed functionalized CNT-based interfaces, cysteamine SAM-modified electrode subsequently amide-coupled to carboxylic acid functionalized single wall CNTs, were significantly more …

Composition Of The Survival Motor Neuron (Smn) Complex In Drosophila Melanogaster, A. Gregory Matera, Amanda C. Raimer, Casey A. Schmidt, Jo A. Kelly, Gaith N. Droby, David Baillat, Sara Ten Have, Angus I. Lamond, Eric J. Wagner, Kelsey M. Gray

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is caused by homozygous mutations in the human survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. SMN protein has a well-characterized role in the biogenesis of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs), core components of the spliceosome. SMN is part of an oligomeric complex with core binding partners, collectively called Gemins. Biochemical and cell biological studies demonstrate that certain Gemins are required for proper snRNP assembly and transport. However, the precise functions of most Gemins are unknown. To gain a deeper understanding of the SMN complex in the context of metazoan evolution, we investigated its composition in Drosophila …

Effect Of Lianas On Forest‐Level Tree Carbon Accumulation Does Not Differ Between Seasons: Results From A Liana Removal Experiment In Panama, Geertje M. F. Van Der Heijden, Jennifer S. Powers, Stefan A. Schnitzer

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

1. Lianas are prevalent in Neotropical forests, where liana‐tree competition can be intense, resulting in reduced tree growth and survival. The ability of lianas to grow relative to trees during the dry season suggests that liana‐tree competition is also strongest in the dry season. If correct, the predicted intensification of the drying trend over large areas of the tropics in the future may therefore intensify liana‐tree competition resulting in a reduced carbon sink function of tropical forests. However, no study has established whether the liana effect on tree carbon accumulation is indeed stronger in the dry than in the wet season. …

A Concept Of Biopharmaceutical Nanosatellite, Jakub Mielczarek, Adam Zadrozny

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The article is a short overview of a proposal of a CubeSat type nanosatellite designed to conduct biopharmaceutical tests on the low earth orbit. Motivations behind the emerging demand for such solution nowadays and in the close future are emphasized. The possible objectives and challenges to be addressed in the planned biopharmaceutical CubeSat missions are discussed. In particular, it is hard to imagine progress of the space tourism and colonization of Mars without a wide-ranging development of pharmaceutics dedicated to be used in space. Finally, an exemplary layout of a 3U type CubeSat is presented. We stress that, thanks to …

The Effect Of Expressive Writing On The Math Anxiety Scores Of Middle School Students Enrolled In A Public School In East Texas, Angela D. Ruark

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Math anxiety is a serious concern for educators and students. Students who may otherwise be successful can find themselves incapacitated to think and perform to their abilities due to this issue. Math anxiety negatively affects academic performance and deters students from pursuing math-based careers. This is particularly true for female students. Effective interventions are needed to address these issues. Expressive writing is one such intervention that has shown promise in reducing math anxiety with older students. This study investigated the impact of expressive writing on the math anxiety levels of middle school students according to group and gender. An experimental, …

Comparison Of Microbial Communities In The Sediments And Water Columns Of Frozen Cryoconite Holes In The Mcmurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, Pacifica Sommers, John L. Darcy, Dorota L. Porazinska, Eli M. S. Gendron, Andrew G. Fountain, Felix Jacob Zamora, Kim Vincent, Kaelin M. Cawley, Adam J. Solon, Lara Vimercati, Jenna Ryder, Steven K. Schmidt

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Although cryoconite holes, sediment-filled melt holes on glacier surfaces, appear small and homogenous, their microbial inhabitants may be spatially partitioned. This partitioning could be particularly important for maintaining biodiversity in holes that remain isolated for many years, such as in Antarctica. We hypothesized that cryoconite holes with greater species richness and biomass should exhibit greater partitioning between the sediments and water, promoting greater biodiversity through spatial niche partitioning. We tested this hypothesis by sampling frozen cryoconite holes along a gradient of biomass and biodiversity in the Taylor Valley, Antarctica, where ice-lidded cryoconite holes are a ubiquitous feature of glaciers. We …

Rasagiline For Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Randomized, Controlled Trial, Jeffrey M. Statland, Dan Moore, Yunxia Wang, Maureen Walsh, Tahseen Mozaffar, Lauren Elman, Sharon Nations, Hiroshi Mitsumoto, J. Americo Fernandes, David Saperstein, Ghazala Hayat, Laura Herbelin, Chafic Karam, Jonathan Katz, Heather M. Wilkins, Abdulbaki Agbas, Russell H. Swerdlow, Regina M. Santella, Mazen M. Dimachkie, Richard J. Barohn, Rasagiline Investigators Of The Muscle Study Group And Western Als Consortium

Faculty and Staff Publications

Introduction:

Rasagiline is a monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitor with possible neuroprotective effects in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods:

We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 80 ALS participants with enrichment of the placebo group with historical controls (n = 177) at 10 centers in the United States. Participants were randomized in a 3:1 ratio to 2 mg/day rasagiline or placebo. The primary outcome was average slope of decline on the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R). Secondary measures included slow vital capacity, survival, mitochondrial and molecular biomarkers, and adverse-event reporting.

Results:

There was no difference in the …

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: A Clinicopathological Study, Hanan M. Alghamdi, Samir S. Amr, Mohamed A. Shawarby, Salwa S. Sheikh, Ahmed A. Alsayyah, Ali M. Alamri, Mona H. Ismail, Ahmed Almarhabi, Munir A. Alrefaee, Muhammad I. Ahmed

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical presentations and immunohistochemical (IHC) properties of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and to compare them to internationally published data. Methods: Thirty-six patients diagnosed with GISTs between January 1997 and December 2015 were retrospectively studied in 2 tertiary hospitals. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out prospectively when it has not been completed fully at the beginning. Results: The median age of patients was 54 years (range; 17-81 years). Predominantly, we found more females were affected. The male to female ratio was 1:1.7. The most frequently affected organs were the stomach (63.8%) followed by small bowel (25%) and colorectal …

Assessment Of Vancomycin Utilization Among Lebanese Hospitals, Diana N. Malaeb, Iqbal M. Fahs, Pascale Salameh, Souheil Hallit, Manal Saad, Jassem Bourji, Rabih Hallit

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To assess the appropriateness of vancomycin dosing and monitoring at Lebanese hospitals. Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study conducted at 3 Lebanese hospitals between January and March 2018. Patients 18 years of age and older treated with vancomycin for a systemic infection or prophylaxis were eligible for study enrollment. Consistency with the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines was evaluated to determine whether the dose of vancomycin was appropriate, as well as for the time of trough measurement, and the target concentration obtained. Results: From a total of 120 patients who met the inclusion criteria, only 11 (12%) …

Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease In Recent-Onset Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Lats1/2 Kinases Trigger Self-Renewal Of Cancer Stem Cells In Aggressive Oral Cancer, Masami Nozaki, Norikazu Yabuta, Moe Fukuzawa, Satomi Mukai, Ayumi Okamoto, Towa Sasakura, Kohshiro Fukushima, Yoko Naito, Gregory D. Longmore, Hiroshi Nojima

Open Access Publications

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), which play important roles in tumor initiation and progression, are resistant to many types of therapies. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying CSC-specific properties, including self-renewal, are poorly understood. Here, we found that LATS1/2, the core Hippo pathway-kinases, were highly expressed in the oral squamous cell carcinoma line SAS, which exhibits high capacity of CSCs, and that depletion of these kinases prevented SAS cells from forming spheres under serum-free conditions. Detailed examination of the expression and activation of LATS kinases and related proteins over a time course of sphere formation revealed that LATS1/2 were more highly expressed …

Association Between Asthma And Dental Caries Amongst 12 - 15 Years Old Children: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study In Karachi, Pakistan, Wajeeha Zahid, Shafquat Rozi, Farhan Raza Khan, Nida Zahid, Muhammad Masood Kadir

Community Health Sciences

Objective: The study aimed to determine an association between dental caries and asthma among 12 to 15 years old children.
Methods: This is a school-based cross-sectional study conducted from January to February 2016. A random sample of 544 children aged 12 - 15 years were enrolled from five private schools of Karachi. Dental caries was assessed using DMFT Index (Decayed, Missing, Filled teeth). The main exposure variable was asthma and information on it was collected through the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire.
Results: The data was analyzed using Cox Proportional Hazard algorithm. Crude and adjusted …

Researchgate Profiles Of Naval Architecture Scientists In India: An Altmetric Analysis, Sheeja Nk, Susan Mathew K.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study aims to conduct an altmetrics analysis of researchers on Indian Naval Architecture. The study covered sixty-fourfacultymembersonNaval Architecture discipline from six higher education institutions in India. The profile page of ResearchGate (RG) was visited to collect altmetrics indicators. The study also tried to perform scientometric analysis of publication outputs, citations and H-index of the researchers using the Scopus database. The study further investigated the correlation of altmetrics and scientometric indicators with Pearson correlation test. The study found that the 65 percent of the researchers has an account in RG with their publications being uploaded in RG. Most of them …

Locus‐Specific Concordance Of Genomic Alterations Between Tissue And Plasma Circulating Tumor Dna In Metastatic Melanoma, Leslie Calapre, Tindaro Giardina, Cleo Robinson, Anna L. Reid, Zeyad Al-Ogaili, Michelle R. Pereira, Ashleigh C. Mcevoy, Lydia Warburton, Nicholas K. Hayward, Muhammad A. Khattak, Tarek M. Meniawy, Michael Millward, Benhur Amanuel, Melanie R. Ziman, Elin S. Gray

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may serve as a surrogate to tissue biopsy for noninvasive identification of mutations across multiple genetic loci and for disease monitoring in melanoma. In this study, we compared the mutation profiles of tumor biopsies and plasma ctDNA from metastatic melanoma patients using custom sequencing panels targeting 30 melanoma-associated genes. Somatic mutations were identified in 20 of 24 melanoma biopsies, and 16 of 20 (70%) matched-patient plasmas had detectable ctDNA. In a subgroup of seven patients for whom matching tumor tissue and plasma were sequenced, 80% of the mutations found in tumor tissue were also detected in …

Predator-Prey Dynamics Of Bald Eagles And Glaucous-Winged Gulls At Protection Island, Washington, Usa, Shandelle M. Henson, Robert A. Desharnais, Eric T. Funasaki, Joseph G. Galusha, James W. Watson, James L. Hayward

Faculty Publications

1. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) populations in North America rebounded in the latter part of the twentieth century, the result of tightened protection and outlawing of pesticides such as DDT. An unintended consequence of recovery may be a negative impact on seabirds. During the 1980s, few bald eagles disturbed a large glaucous‐winged gull (Larus glaucescens) colony on Protection Island, Washington, USA, in the Salish Sea. Breeding gull numbers in this colony rose nearly 50% during the 1980s and early 1990s. Beginning in the 1990s, a dramatic increase in bald eagle activity ensued within the colony, after which began a significant …

Solvation Thermodynamic Mapping In Computer Aided Drug Design, Steven Ramsey

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The displacement of water from surfaces upon biomolecular recognition and association makes a significant contribution to the free energy changes of these processes. We therefore posit that accurate characterization of local structural and thermodynamic molecular water properties can improve computational model accuracy and predictivity of recognition and association processes. In this thesis, we discuss Solvation Thermodynamic Mapping (STM) methods that we have developed using inhomogeneous fluid solvation theory (IST) to better characterize active site water structural and thermodynamic properties on protein surfaces and the open source tools that we have developed, GIST-CPPTRAJ and SSTMap, which implement these methods which we …

The Determining Factors Of The Self-Assembly Of Collagen Mimetic Peptide, Fangfang Chen

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

We recently reported that a designed triple helix Col108 self-associates to form collagen-like mini-fibrils having a d-periodicity of 35 nm. Recombinant protein Col108 consists of 378-residue triple helix domain organized into three repeating sequence units, and a C-terminal foldon domain. The 35 nm d-period of Col108 mini-fibrils is consistent with the one unit staggered arrangement of the associating helices. To further investigate if the sequence periodicity is crucial for collagen mimetic peptide fibril formation, we studied the self-assembly of four other designed triple helical peptides. Peptide 2U108 has two repeating sequence units; peptide Col877 consists of three repeating …

Pretargeted Radioimmunotherapy Utilizing The Inverse Electron Demand Diels-Alder Reaction, Rosemery Membreno

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Radioimmunotherapy capitalizes on the specificity and affinity of antibodies for their antigens to localize radioactivity at the tumor site. One limitation in using antibodies is their long circulation time, which can take days to weeks to fully clear from blood circulation. When a radioisotope is directly conjugated to this immunoglobulin vector, the red marrow and other healthy organs are receiving a constant radiation dose while it is in blood circulation. This not only harms healthy organs, but limits the dose of radioactivity that can be administered thus prolonging treatment. A promising alternative to limit the radiation dose to non-tumor tissue …

Potential Degradation Of Hexabromocyclododecane (Hbcdd) In Sediments: Stereoisomer Specific Reaction Of Hbcdd With Reduced Sulfur Species Or Fe(Ii) Bound To Iron Oxides, Xianmiao Zhang

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The individual degradation rates of the three dominant stereoisomers (alpha, beta, gamma) of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) with bisulfide and polysulfides were investigated at pH 9-10 in methanol/water solutions at two different temperatures (25 °C and 40 °C). alpha-HBCDD reacts significantly slower than beta-HBCDD and gamma-HBCDD. It was also observed that the reaction of HBCDD with polysulfides is faster than with bisulfide. For the reaction of HBCDD with bisulfide, the experiments were performed in 20% water/80% methanol, 50% water/50% methanol and 80% water/20% methanol at 40 °C. It was determined that the solvent polarity affects the reaction and the second-order rate constants …

Deep Learning Based Medical Image Analysis With Limited Data, Jiaxing Tan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Deep Learning Methods have shown its great effort in the area of Computer Vision. However, when solving the problems of medical imaging, deep learning’s power is confined by limited data available. We present a series of novel methodologies for solving medical imaging analysis problems with limited Computed tomography (CT) scans available. Our method, based on deep learning, with different strategies, including using Generative Adversar- ial Networks, two-stage training, infusing the expert knowledge, voting based or converting to other space, solves the data set limitation issue for the cur- rent medical imaging problems, specifically cancer detection and diagnosis, and shows very …

Magnetic Resonance Studies Of Free Radicals Generation And Their Impact In Different Polymers, Sunita Humagain

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Studies of free radicals in the physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science have contributed to advancements in those fields. The presence of radicals can damage the material and system in some instances and, in some cases, they may enhance the property of the material as well. Knowledge of free radical transformations helps in resilience of certain polymers and inhibition of the oxidation of food and medicine. In this thesis, using the magnetic resonance techniques, EPR and NMR, the generation of free radicals and their effect on the structure of the material is being studied.

Kapton Polyimide (PI, Kapton®) used in …

Bisthioether Stapled Peptides Targeting Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 Gene Repression, Gan Zhang

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Interactions between proteins play a key role in nearly all cellular process, and therefore, disruption of such interactions may lead to many different types of cellular dysfunctions. Hence, pathologic protein-protein interactions (PPIs) constitute highly attractive drug targets and hold great potential for developing novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of incurable human diseases. Unfortunately, the identification of PPI inhibitors is an extremely challenging task, since traditionally used small molecule ligands are mostly unable to cover and anchor on the extensive flat surfaces that define those binary protein complexes. In contrast, large biomolecules such as proteins or peptides are ideal fits …

Post-Synaptic Mechanisms Of Early And Late Prepulse Inhibition In The Goldfish, Daniel Bronson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Sensorimotor gating, or prepulse inhibition (PPI), attenuates the startle response during sensory processing by limiting sensory input to the startle circuit. In the goldfish startle circuit, a single action potential in the Mauthner-cell (M-cell) triggers the startle response. PPI in the M-cell is mediated by multiple post-synaptic mechanisms, including the activation of a tonic, shunting inhibition as well as a voltage-sensitive conductance, both of which briefly reduce M-cell excitability. However, the specific channels and pathways that modulate PPI are not fully known. This work further characterizes the post-synaptic conductances that mediate PPI by blocking voltage-gated and inward-rectifying potassium channels, antagonizing …

Estradiol And Daily Affective Experiences In Trauma-Exposed Women, Jenna Rieder

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

People who experience trauma can develop enduring trauma-related symptoms. In daily life, post-trauma symptoms (e.g., elevated physiological arousal) can be triggered by affectively salient cues in the environment, especially by cues that act as trauma reminders. Trauma exposure is associated with enduring changes in two biological stress systems: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In women, activity in both systems is additionally modulated by fluctuations in levels of sex hormones (e.g., estradiol), which could influence physiological responses to trauma reminders. Additionally, previous work has linked the sex hormone estradiol with affect, suggesting that menstrual cycle might …

Distribution And Population Structure Of The Invasive Nitellopsis Obtusa (Desv. In Loisel.) J. Groves And Native Species Of Characeae In The Northeast U.S.A., Robin Sleith

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Freshwater ecosystems are some of the most biologically diverse environments on Earth. Billions of humans rely on functioning freshwater ecosystems for drinking water and many other services. These ecosystems are increasingly threatened by human impacts including nutrient pollution, invasive species, and climate change. Here I contribute four research chapters that investigate freshwater diversity and ecosystem threats using the Characeae, a family of freshwater green macroalgae, as a study system. Characeae are a diverse and ancient group with more than 500 extant species and a fossil history spanning at least 250 million years. These algae are macrophytes in freshwater ecosystems, and …

Radical Solace And Young Adult Writing: Racialized Dis/Ability, Fan Fiction, And Feel(Ing)S In Composition, Jenn Polish

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Deficit-model pedagogies too often abound in our writing classrooms, in everything from punitive attendance policies to content selection and course design methodologies that inadvertently favor students whose bodies fit a white supremacist, ableist norm. I develop conceptions of fandom and consent-based pedagogical practices, and I argue that these can bring us closer to radical solace in our college writing classrooms, particularly when our classrooms are full of variously marginalized students. These students too often must endure deficit-model pedagogies that assume inexpert writing styles in both their written compositions and, indeed, in the very composition of their bodies. What happens, I …

Identification And Characterization Of Barrier Insulator Activity In The T-Cell Receptor Alpha Locus Control Region, Gayathri Devi Raghupathy

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Genes of different spatiotemporal expression profiles are often juxtaposed in the genome. This organization raises risks of cross-regulatory influences from neighboring genes; for instance heterochromatin can spread over euchromatin or long-range acting enhancers can inappropriately activate genes. Gene regulatory elements such as Locus Control Regions (LCR) and Insulators prevent such cross-communications and allow for normal gene expression patterns. In transgenic systems, LCRs limit influences from surrounding chromatin by providing site-of-integration independent and specific spatiotemporal expression upon a linked transgene. The field’s understanding of the ability of an LCR to overcome chromatin influences and allow site-of-integration independent expression is minimal. Interestingly, …

Refracting Immigration Rhetoric: The Struggle To Define Identity, Place And Nation In Southern Arizona, Emily Duwel

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis examines the refraction of immigration rhetoric in a local context through a collection of letters to the editor of southern Arizona’s largest and only daily newspaper, the Arizona Daily Star, for the period 2006-2010. The purpose is to further insight into the process by which xenophobic nationalism is both contested and legitimated ‘on the ground,’ within a violent paradigm of nativist rhetoric and exclusion. Findings reveal essential disjunctures between and within letter-writers’ conceptions of moral proximity and the social contract—as delimiting those obligations and expectations that inhere between society, the self and the stranger—as well as competing notions …