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Investigating Tolfenamic Acid And Its Analogs As Potential Alzheimer’S Disease Therapeutics, Jaunetta Hill

Open Access Dissertations

Dementia is an umbrella term describing several diseases which cause cognitive impairment, confusion, difficulty completing tasks and social withdrawal. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, and the incidence is rapidly increasing as the ‘baby boomers’ age. Currently, there is one disease-modifying treatment approved for AD patients, however, its ability to decrease or reverse cognitive decline has yet to be confirmed.

The etiology of AD is unknown, however, there are two forms of AD associated with onset age. Early-onset AD (EOAD) is considered genetic and accounts for less than 5% of AD cases worldwide. Typically, EOAD is …

Entry And Replication Of Negative-Strand Rna Viruses, Kerri Boggs

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Hendra virus (HeV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) are negative-sense, singled-stranded RNA viruses. The paramyxovirus HeV is classified as a biosafety level 4 pathogen due to its high fatality rate and the lack of a human vaccine or antiviral treatment. HMPV is a widespread pneumovirus that causes respiratory tract infections which are particularly dangerous for young children, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly. Like HeV, no vaccines or therapies are available to combat HMPV infections. These viruses fuse their lipid envelopes with a cell to initiate infection. Blocking cell entry is a promising approach for antiviral development, and many vaccines are designed …

A Biochemical Characterization Of The Fusion Proteins From Enveloped Rna Viruses, Chelsea T. Barrett

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Enveloped viruses must bind target cells and then fuse the viral membrane with a cell membrane to enter a host cell. These viruses use one or more surface glycoproteins to carry out these critical functions. The surface glycoprotein that carries out the fusion function, termed a fusion protein, is divided into three classes based on structural similarities. Some of the most studied human viral pathogens, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Ebola virus, influenza, measles, and the recently emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), possess class I fusion proteins. Following synthesis, class I fusion proteins associate as non-covalently …

Entry And Early Infection Of Non-Segmented Negative Sense Rna Viruses, Jean Mawuena Branttie

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Paramyxoviruses, pneumoviruses, and other non-segmented negative sense (NNS) RNA viruses have historically been of public health concern. Although their genomes are typically small (up to 19kbs) they are able to inflict large-scale detrimental pathologies on host cells. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a widespread pathogen and is a NNS RNA virus. HMPV results respiratory tract infections and is particularly dangerous for preterm infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Other viruses within the NNS RNA virus order include the deadly Ebola, Hendra, and Nipah viruses (EBOV, HeV, and NiV), as well as the re-emerging measles virus (MeV). Despite their public impact, there …

Therapeutic Targeting Of Leukemia Stem Cells To Prevent T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Relapse, Meghan G. Haney

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

The survival rate of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) relapse is a dismal 10% of affected adults and 30% of children, largely due to the relapsed disease being more aggressive and treatment resistant than the initial disease. Relapse is thought to occur because conventional chemotherapies are unable to reliably eliminate a unique cell type known as leukemia stem (or propagating) cells (LSCs). LSCs are the only cells within the leukemia with the ability to self-renew and remake or replenish the ALL from a single cell. Currently, the pathways governing self-renewal in LSCs are largely unknown, precluding our ability to successfully …

Substrate Trafficking Within The Type Vii Secretion Systems Of Pathogenic Mycobacteria, Zachary A. Williamson

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Tuberculosis (TB), primarily caused by infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in the lungs, is the deadliest infectious bacterial disease killing 1.5 million people annually. A major determinant of virulence is active secretion through three specialized type VII secretion (ESX) systems; ESX-1, ESX-3, and ESX-5. A large group of substrates exported by the ESX systems is the PE (Proline-Glutamine) and PPE (Proline-Proline-Glutamate) families of proteins, which are highly expanded in the pathogenic species of Mycobacteria and encompass over 7% of Mtb’s genome coding capacity. PE and PPE proteins interact together to form PE-PPE heterodimers, and are secreted through …

Reversible Glucan Phosphorylation In The Red Alga, Cyanidioschyzon Merolae, Corey Owen Brizzee

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Starch and glycogen are an essential component for the majority of species and have been developed to maintain homeostasis in response to environmental changes. Water-soluble glycogen is an excellent source of quick, short-term energy in response to energy demands. In contrast, plants and algae have developed the macromolecule starch that is elegantly suitable for their dependence on external circumstances. Semi-crystalline starch is water-insoluble and inaccessible to most amylolytic enzymes, thus plants and algae have developed a coordinated system so that these enzymes can gain access to the denser starch energy cache. Starch-like semi-crystalline polysaccharides are also found in red algae, …

True Crime, Women, And Sensationalized Representations In The Italian American Imaginary, Francesca Borrione

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation explores American true crime literary and visual narratives and focuses on historical cases involving Italian American women and the cross-cultural relations between Italy and the United States from the late-nineteenth century to the beginning of the twenty-first century. I investigate the influence of true crime narratives on the popular imagination, with attention to the construction of ethnicity, class, and gender. The focus on Italian American women functions as a case study to discuss the impact and persistence of racialized assumptions and cultural stereotypes in American literature and cinema and explores the resistance of women to the dominant narrative. …

Anti-Inflammatory Effects Of Polyphenol-Enriched Extracts, Chang Liu

Open Access Dissertations

Our laboratory initiated a comprehensive research program to investigate the phytochemical composition and biological effects of several botanical based natural products including pomegranate (Punica granatum), red maple (Acer rubrum), polyphenol-enriched maple (Acer saccharum) syrup extract, and various phytocannabinoids (Cannabis sp.). We hypothesize that these bioactive natural products can exert beneficial biological effects via their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

In Manuscript 1-4, we identified a series of phytochemicals from botanical extracts including pomegranate, red maple, phenolic-enriched maple syrup extract (MSX) and evaluated their biological activities for potential cosmeceutical and/or dermatological applications. In …

A Culture Of Corruption: A Case Study Of The National Culture Affecting The Socioeconomic Outcome Of Haiti, Dwindell Jean-Louis Sr

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the impact of organizational culture on Haiti from a socio-economic standpoint. The study used a case study approach in examining how Haiti’s national organizational culture influences the organizational structure of the various entities that make up the overall system. Overall, this study explored the influence that culture has in the shaping of a collective phenomenon. The established institutions are themselves products of the dominant cultural value systems, and in examining this system of shared assumptions, values, and beliefs, this study aims to better highlight how the current organizational structure is fueling corruption. Even with the extensive history …

Anthropology Minor, Sociology, Anthropoloy, And Criminology

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

Clinical Laboratory Science Major, Biological Sciences

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

What Sound Reveals To Our Eyes: The Intersection Between Subconscious Thought And Real Imagery In Experimental Film And Sound Design, Mireille G. Heidbreder

Theses and Dissertations

The impetus for making films that conjure up atemporal, interconnected spaces suggestive of a unique reality has been influenced in large part by Michel Foucault’s idea of heterotopia, or the creation of a new world by joining together discursive spaces. As such, my practice begins with the collection and re-imagination of these discursive spaces through a combination of an in-depth exploration of little-known landscapes and the organic observation of the natural realm in relation to the human world. By combining various mixed media including digital, film print, as well as re-purposed archival footage, I alter the filmic quality of the …

Development Of Analytical Methods For Analysis Of Glycosaminoglycans And Their Mimetics In Human Plasma, Rawan M. Fayyad

Theses and Dissertations

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are linear, polydisperse polysaccharides consisting of alternating amino sugars and either a uronic acid or galactose residue. They are ubiquitous components of the extracellular matrix and are present on cell surfaces and in basement membranes. GAGs are highly negatively charged as a result of many sulfate and carboxylic acid groups, and are extremely heterogeneous in both their structure and in their physicochemical properties. This complexity in structure is attributed to the alterations in residue types, glycosidic bond linkage, sulfation levels, sulfation positions, and chain lengths during biosynthesis. GAGs interact with a wide number of proteins and modulate various …

Ties That Bind Us, Christine M. Orr, Christine M. Orr

Theses and Dissertations

when objects converge in a space

they start a dialogue of their lives

lives that become entangled with your life

your memory

objects are the narrators of memory

a stain, a chip, a tear

materials embed meaning and metaphor within the process of creating

woven cloth, throwing lines, squeezed and pressed coils

all become remnants of the hand

as I make, play, and collect materials and objects

questions are brought forward

How do these components talk to one other?

What are they saying?

How do I listen?

knowledge is generated in the transformation of material through the process of

making …

Why We Follow Celebrities: An Examination Of Parasocial Interaction And Fan Engagement In A Celebrities’ Social Media Pages, Mohammed A. Alasmari

Theses and Dissertations

Social media sites have become essential for organizations and celebrities, allowing them to build relationships and interact with fans. Previous research found openness and perceived interactivity to improve social media engagement. The current study used the concepts of parasocial interactions and relationships to enhance the current knowledge of how celebrities influence their followers through Twitter. The study looked at perceived openness, perceived interactivity, and media engagement in relation to parasocial interaction and relationships using the Qualtrics survey response from 905 participants on Fayez Al-Malki’s Twitter page. The results indicated that both celebrities' and followers' posts employed openness and perceived interactivity, …

Finding A Place For World War I In American History 1914-1918, Jennifer D. Keene

History Faculty Books and Book Chapters

"World War I has occupied an uneasy place in the American public and political consciousness.1 In the 1920s and 1930s, controversies over the war permeated the nation’s cultural and political life, influencing memorial culture and governmental policy. Interest in the war, however, waned considerably after World War II, a much larger and longer war for the United States. Despite a plethora of scholarly works examining nearly every aspect of the war, interest in the war remains limited even among academic historians. In many respects, World War I became the 'forgotten war' because Americans never developed a unifying collective memory about …

Regulation Of Osseous Healing By Macrophage-Derived Wnt Ligands, Jefferson Overlin Abaricia

Theses and Dissertations

Osseous healing is regulated by various classes of cells and signaling mechanisms. Of these, Wnt signaling has long been known to be critically important in directing the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into osteoblasts during bone healing. However, the source of these Wnt ligands is not known. Recently, a body of literature has arisen finding both beneficial and detrimental effects of macrophage-derived Wnt ligands on the regeneration of other tissues (liver, kidney, heart, and intestine), often by regulating inflammatory activation and stem cell behavior. As macrophages have been well-characterized as orchestrators of healing, their use of Wnt signaling to …

Implementing Ecosystem-Based Management, Brian Gray, Jennifer L. Harder, Karrigan Bork

McGeorge School of Law Scholarly Articles

Most freshwater ecosystems in the United States are in a state of collapse. Existing management efforts take a piecemeal approach, addressing individual stressors, managing the systems for individual benefits, and protecting individual species. These disjointed efforts are doomed to fail. Both the legal literature and the scientific literature are rich with articles extolling the advantages of ecosystem-based management; that is, simultaneous management of water, land, and organisms to achieve a desired ecosystem condition benefiting both native biodiversity and human well-being. This approach has succeeded in other aquatic systems, particularly marine ecosystems, but the ecosystem-based management approach has struggled for adoption …

Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation: Application To Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation And Computational Modeling, Neil Mittal

Theses and Dissertations

Loss of motor function from spinal cord injuries (SCI) results in loss of independence. Rehabilitation efforts are targeted to enhance the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), but outcomes from physical therapy alone are often insufficient. Neuromodulation techniques that induce neuroplasticity may push the limits on recovery. Neuromodulation by intermittent theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (iTBS) induces neuroplasticity by increasing corticomotor excitability, though this has most frequently been studied with motor targets and on individuals not in need of rehabilitation. Increased corticomotor excitability is associated with motor learning. The response to iTBS, however, is highly variable and unpredictable, …

Effects Of Fluoxetine/Simvastatin/Ascorbic Acid Combination Treatment On Neurogenesis And Functional Recovery In A Model Of Multiple Sclerosis, Olivia Cameron Webb

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Whereas immune modulation has proven beneficial in multiple sclerosis (MS), we hypothesized that targeting down-stream modulators of neurogenesis and subsequent remyelination may offer an additional, if not superior, point of intervention in an attempt to repair damage and recover lost function. As such, the present study assessed the effectiveness of 30-day administration of the drug combination fluoxetine (5 mg/kg), simvastatin (1 mg/kg), and ascorbic acid (50 mg/kg) (FSA) on an early marker of neurogenesis, doublecortin (DCX), and functional recovery using the Montoya Staircase following lysolecithin-induced focal demyelination of the corpus callosum in middle-aged (10-11 month) male and female rats. Lysolecithin …

Analyses Of Coyote (Canis Latrans) Consumption Of Anthropogenic Material And Dietary Composition In Urban And Non-Urban Habitats, Audrey A. Hayes

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Coyotes are a generalist species that have adapted to nearly every terrestrial habitat in the United States. The species’ success is heavily attributed to their omnivorous diets and tolerance for environments that are regularly disturbed. Because the larger predator species that typically act as apex predators are sensitive to highly fragmented landscapes, the coyote is the functioning apex predator in many ecosystems where large predators, such as wolves, have been extirpated. The coyotes’ ecological role in urban ecosystems has received much attention in the last few decades as the species’ presence in cities and suburbs has increased, along with human-coyote …

A Model Of Regime Change: The Impact Of Arab Spring Throughout The Middle East And North Africa, Omar Khalfan Bizuru

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the catalysts for social movements around the globe; specifically, why and how the Arab Spring uprisings led to regime change in Tunisia, why they transformed into civil war in some countries of the Middle East and North Africa (Syria), and why they did not lead to significant change at all in other places (Bahrain). The overall results of the study confirmed that political and socio-economic grievances caused the Arab uprisings in Tunisia, Bahrain, and Syria. Tunisian protesters succeeded in regime change because of a united and structured social movement leading to an effective transitional democracy in the …

The Effect Of Circadian Clock Modulation On Cisplatin Cytotoxicity, Nadeen Nibal Ahmad Anabtawi

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Cisplatin is a DNA damage-based chemotherapeutic drug widely used to treat various types of cancers; however, the treatment's toxicity restricts its efficiency. Studies have shown that the circadian rhythm controls the DNA damage response and affects the repair pathways of cisplatin-induced DNA damage. Circadian clock modulation, therefore, has been proposed to be a potential mechanism for enhancing cisplatin tolerability. Here we used clock-enhancing molecules to evaluate the effect of pharmacological clock modulation on cisplatin cytotoxicity. Using cultured human cell lines, cisplatin cytotoxicity was found to be attenuated following treatment with circadian-enhancing molecules KS15 and SR8278. Moreover, the protein and mRNA …

China’S Legal Environment For Domestic Ngos: Standardized Policies For Greater Party-State Control Over Civil Society, Kelly E. Tursic

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines one angle of state-society relations in authoritarian states through the lens of Chinese nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and their legal environment. While grassroots organizations have not prompted political liberalization in China, they have not been entirely co-opted by the party-state either. Through an examination of policy changes, a study of 120 organizations, and a case study of a non-profit incubator, this thesis explores whether the political environment for China’s domestic NGOs varies by geographic region and issue area. The findings suggest there is not significant variation as the party-state has implemented standardized policies for increased control over civil …

Diversity And Function Of Algal Biofilms In The Laurentian Great Lakes, Leon R. Katona

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Attached algae are ubiquitous components of lake benthic habitats wherever sufficient light reaches submerged surfaces. Attached algae interact with heterotrophic bacteria and fungi to form complex biofilms (“periphyton”) that provide a nutritious food source for consumers and influence biogeochemical cycling by regulating redox potential at the sediment-water interface. Despite their ecological importance, there are limited data on the role of periphyton in the Laurentian Great Lakes. I quantified wave exposure and light availability in rocky nearshore habitats in Lake Erie and Lake Huron. Periphyton biomass and productivity in nearshore Lake Erie was very high while algal biomass and productivity in …

Internal Loading Of Nitrogen (N) And Phosphorus (P), Reduced N Forms, And Periodic Mixing Support Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (Habs) In Shallow, Eutrophic Honeoye Lake (New York, Usa), Justin Adam Myers

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Cyanobacteria are important primary producers, but large cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs) have many negative ecological and health impacts and are becoming increasingly common. Honeoye Lake (New York, USA) is a shallow, eutrophic lake characterized by increasingly frequent HABs. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loads often drive HABs in lakes, and sediment processes can contribute to N removal (e.g., denitrification) or loading (e.g., N fixation, remineralization). Sediment cores and lake water were collected during May–October (2016–2018) at two sites and incubated with no amendments (controls) or 15N stable isotopes to measure sediment nutrient fluxes and N cycling dynamics in Honeoye …

Sediment-Water Fluxes Of Phosphorus And Trace Metals In The Maumee River, Northwest Ohio, Emily L. Holliday

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Excess phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) in the western basin of Lake Erie drive annual cyanobacteria blooms and associated hypoxia events. The Maumee River inputs ~5% of the water load into the western basin and ~50% of annual P loadings. I quantified seasonal variability of net P and metals fluxes from sediments in the Maumee River at four stations from Defiance, Ohio, to Maumee Bay. Upriver sediments were, on average, a total and filtered P sink throughout the year (−19 ± 7 and −6 ± 3, respectively; all fluxes represent `net flux’ reported in µmol m−2 h−1). At the river …

Benzotriazole And Tolytriazole Analysis In Select Surface Waters Near Wilmington Air Park, Lee A. Raska

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Previous investigations into the presence of benzotriazole (BTZ) and corresponding analogs done in early 2019 found elevated levels near the Wilmington Air Park in Wilmington, Ohio. The analogs detected were 4-methyl-1H-benzotriazole and 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole: known together as tolytriazole (TTZ). BTZ and TTZ are emerging environmental contaminants of concern that are often found in aircraft de-icing solutions, anti-icing solutions and detergents. The Wilmington Air Park has two facilities used to pre-treat runoff water before its subsequent release into surrounding streams. Three sites were chosen: Lytle Creek, Indian Run, and Cowan Creek. For the 2019 and 2019/2020 investigative projects, Cowan Creek was designated …

Alterations In Cardiac Motions Of The Failing Heart During Direct Mechanical Ventricular Actuation, Benjamin Allyn Schmitt

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Objectives: Heart failure (HF) refractory to medical management can be effectively treated with mechanical support. However, available devices are frequently associated with complications due to blood contact. Direct cardiac compression (DCC) devices augment LV systolic pump function by externally compressing the heart surface. Direct Mechanical Ventricular Actuation (DMVA) is a unique DCC method providing not only systolic but, importantly, diastolic support. However, DCC in general remains a relatively poorly understood modality. The purpose of this study was to examine DMVA’s effect on restoration of physiologic function in the failing heart. Methods: Global ischemic HF was induced with 5 mins of …