Digital Commons Network^™

Usp11 And Usp7 Deubiquitinases Regulate Sprtn Auto-Proteolysis And Sprtn-Mediated Dna-Protein Crosslink Repair, Megan C. Perry

Theses & Dissertations

DNA repair pathways that recognize and remove damaged DNA are vital for maintenance of genomic stability and prevention of tumorigenesis. Conversely, these pathways may be robust in tumor cells, thus diminishing the anti-cancer potential of available therapies. DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) are particularly deleterious DNA adducts that occur when proteins become irreversibly covalently bound to the DNA. DPCs represent a diverse group of lesions, as any protein can be crosslinked to the DNA duplex by non-specific crosslinking agents like reactive aldehydes and radiation. Additionally, functional DNA-binding proteins such as topoisomerases may become permanently crosslinked to DNA ends by abortive enzymatic processes …

Engineering Advanced Micro And Nanofiber Materials For Biomedical Applications, Alec D. Mccarthy

Theses & Dissertations

At the functional crossroads of engineering and biomedical sciences lies the interdisciplinary field of biomedical engineering. Principles of biomedical engineering are vast, and the rigorous application of engineering towards clinically-relevant medicine has the ability to take novel concepts from bench to bedside. Arguably one of the most promising and productive sub-fields within the biomedical engineering discipline is biomaterial engineering. Here, novel biomaterials, synthesized from natural, synthetic, or hybrid materials, can be used in tissue repair and regeneration, hemostasis, as anatomical support and drug delivery vessels, or as diagnostic devices.

Of particular interest are applications of nanofiber and microfiber objects, which …

Hatred And Harm: The Influence Of Digital Pimps And The Miseducation Of The Hyper-Masculine Man, Justin Lantier-Novelli

Justice

The purpose of this research project is to measure the effects of a correlation between exposure to violent, hardcore sexually-explicit Internet materials, or SEIM (also known as pornography), and behaviors and attitudes that demean, degrade, subjugate, and abuse women and girls resulting in systemic gender inequality. Research is based on peer-reviewed journal articles, subject-matter publications, crime statistics, personal interviews with experts, and meta-analyses of previous research on related topics. The research has demonstrated a very strong correlation between exposure to SEIM and hyper-masculine attitudes and behaviors of gender-inequality toward women, beginning at one end of the spectrum with verbal micro-aggressions …

Implementing A Proctored Aleks-Based Adaptive Learning Strategy To Evaluate Student Preparedness And Predict Success In Calculus I At The University Of Alaska Fairbanksanks, Md Azizul Islam

Mathematics and Statistics

In Fall 2016, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics (DMS) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) initiated a study to determine if the Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces Placement, Preparation, and Learning test (ALEKS PPL), given under proctored conditions, can be an effective tool for measuring student preparedness and predicting success in Calculus I while controlling for enrollment and demographic information. The study includes 583 students who took a Calculus I course in Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, and Spring 2020 semesters and took a Proctored ALEKS PPL test (PAPL). Of the 583 …

A Literature Review Of Wetland Treatment Systems Used To Treat Runoff Mixtures Containing Antibiotics And Pesticides From Urban And Agricultural Landscapes, Emily R. Nottingham, Tiffany L. Messer

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Wetland treatment systems are used extensively across the world to mitigate surface runoff. While wetland treatment for nitrogen mitigation has been comprehensively reviewed, the implications of common-use pesticides and antibiotics on nitrogen reduction remain relatively unreviewed. Therefore, this review seeks to comprehensively assess the removal of commonly used pesticides and antibiotics and their implications for nitrogen removal in wetland treatment systems receiving non-point source runoff from urban and agricultural landscapes. A total of 181 primary studies were identified spanning 37 countries. Most of the reviewed publications studied pesticides (n = 153) entering wetlands systems, while antibiotics (n = 29) had …

Fsec Meeting Minutes December 17, 2021, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Spin-Dependent Electronic Transport In Noncollinear Antiferromagnetic Antiperovskites, Gautam Gurung

Department of Physics and Astronomy: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Spin-dependent properties are the heart of spintronic devices. Spintronics exploits electron’s spin, in addition to charge, to process and store the information. Recently, antiferromagnetic (AFM) spintronics has emerged as a subfield of spintronics, where an AFM order parameter (the Néel vector) is exploited to control spin-dependent transport properties. Due to being robust against magnetic perturbations, producing no stray fields, and exhibiting ultrafast dynamics, antiferromagnets can serve as promising functional materials for spintronic applications.

Among antiferromagnets, high Néel temperature noncollinear antiperovskites ANMn₃ (A = Ga, Ni, Sn, and Pt) are interesting due to their magnetic group symmetry supporting non-trivial spin-dependent …

Are Polypills A Viable Option To Improve Health Outcomes In Those With Cardiovascular Disease?, Alexander Voytovich, Cara Mckee

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Objective: Does the use of polypill therapy improve systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels more than usual care in adults with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) or with 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk >10%. Design: Systematic literature review. Methods: Searches were performed in PubMed and UpToDate using the following search terms polypill and cardiovascular. Other limits included: randomized control trials, adults, published in the last 10 years, LDL-C and systolic blood pressure. Results: Analysis of articles to ensure similar design, intervention and fit with the other inclusion/exclusion criteria yielded three studies: Labefer et al, Muñoz et al, and …

Dm Ii Bugging You? Probiotics May Help Reach Your Glycemic Goals, Robert Kime, Kayla Siford

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Objective: To determine the effects of probiotics on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) in patients with Type II Diabetes (T2DM) controlled with oral medications. Design: Systematic Literature Review. Methods: Searches were conducted on PubMed using the terms: prebiotic, probiotic, type 2 diabetes, non-insulin dependent, and microbiota. Searches refined with parameters for Randomized Control Trials, written in English, and available texts. Results: Firouzi et al. did not show a significant change in the FBG between groups and a decrease in the HbA1c in the intervention group. Ejtahed et al. showed a significant decrease in …

The Effect Of Platelet Rich Plasma On The Treatment Of Androgenetic Alopecia Compared To Placebo, Mackenzie D. Comstock, Hannah E. Stephenson

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Objective: To assess the efficacy of plasma rich proteins (PRP) compared to placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

Design: Systematic literature review

Methods: Searches were done in PubMed utilizing the terms PRP, plasma rich protein, autologous activated PRP, autologous activated plasma rich protein, androgenetic alopecia, placebo, hair count, hair density, hair follicles, hair loss, therapeutic effect, growth factors, dermatology, and regenerative medicine. Articles were excluded if they were published before 2013, involved animal studies, compared minoxidil only in their research, included only female participants, non-English articles, studies with no quantifiable data, review research articles, and injections besides the …

Development Of Polymeric Cxcr4 Targeting Carriers For Sirna Delivery To Treat Acute Kidney Injury, Weimin Tang

Theses & Dissertations

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major kidney disease that is characterized by a sudden loss of renal function which manifests by a decrease in urine output and an increase in serum creatinine. AKI is a global healthcare burden associated with high morbidity, mortality, and increasing cost. Currently there are no effective pharmacological treatments available. Apoptosis induced by p53 has been demonstrated as an important pathological mechanism for the development of AKI. Meanwhile, CXCR4/SDF-1 axis has been associated with the inflammation during AKI, and CXCR4 is overexpressed on injured tubules. This dissertation hypothesized that polycations with CXCR4 targeting ability could …

Development Of A Muc16-Targeted Near-Infrared Antibody Probe For Fluorescence-Guided Surgery Of Pancreatic Cancer, Madeline T. Olson

Theses & Dissertations

Pancreatic cancer (PDAC) is an extremely lethal disease with an overall survival rate of 10%. Surgery remains the only potentially curative treatment option, but resections are complicated by infiltrative disease, proximity of critical vasculature, peritumoral inflammation, and dense stroma. Surgeons are limited to tactile and visual cues to differentiate cancerous tissue from normal tissue. Furthermore, translating preoperative images to the intraoperative setting poses additional challenges for tumor detection, and can result in undetected and unresected lesions. Thus, PDAC has high rates of incomplete resections, and subsequently, disease recurrence. Fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) has emerged as a method to improve intraoperative detection …

The Rotator Cuff Tendon-To-Bone Interface: Maturation, Aging, And 3d Bioprinting For Regeneration, Xiping Jiang

Theses & Dissertations

Rotator cuff tendon injuries often occur at the tendon-to-bone interface (i.e., enthesis) area with a high prevalence for the elderly population. In addition, regeneration of the gradient structure of the enthesis is still a significant clinical challenge. Our studies aim to identify the histological, molecular, and biomechanical alterations of the rotator cuff enthesis with maturation and aging, and develop a novel therapeutic method using three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technique to regenerate a functional enthesis. Striking variations of the entheses were observed both histologically and biomechanically during the maturation process. The histological features did not show many differences at the insertion site …

Understanding The Impact Of Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection On Host Vesicular Trafficking, Lisa M. Jorgenson

Theses & Dissertations

Chlamydia trachomatis is a highly evolved obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen. During infection, organisms reside within a host epithelial cell in a membrane-bound vacuole called the inclusion. The inclusion membrane contains both pathogen and host components, including unique chlamydial type III effector proteins called Incs and host lipids like cholesterol and sphingomyelin. The inclusion membrane serves as the main barrier between the bacteria and the host cytosol, and thus, functions as the platform supporting host-chlamydial interactions. Via the inclusion membrane, C. trachomatis intercepts components of host vesicular traffic including many host SNARE proteins, which are a conserved family of eukaryotic proteins …

Winsupply Inc. To Double Internship Opportunities For Students, University Of Dayton

News Releases

Winsupply Inc. is working with the University of Dayton to double the number of internship opportunities, providing work experience and hands-on learning opportunities to 20 students next year.

Loneliness, Interpersonal Goals, Life Satisfaction, And Subjective Well-Being In Older Adults, Francesca C. Ezeokonkwo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Loneliness is detrimental to health and is linked to numerous physiological and psychological problems. People across the age spectrum can be affected by loneliness at one point or another in their lives; however, older adults are disproportionally affected.

Aims: This study investigated the effect of interpersonal goals (compassionate and self-image goals), life satisfaction, and subjective well-being on loneliness in older adults and the influence of demographics and social support. The Ecosystem-Egosystem Theory of Social Motivation served as the theoretical framework.

Design and Method: This descriptive cross-sectional correlational study used the 2016 Health and Retirement Study. Participants were 65 years …

Identifying And Knocking Out Non-Visual Opsins In The Optic Tectum Of Zebrafish Larvae, Sarah Jarrett

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Deep brain photoreceptors (DBPs) are non-visual photoreceptors found in the brains of non-mammalian vertebrates like zebrafish. While using optogenetic techniques in our lab to photo-activate the ear (by expressing the light-gated channel: channelrhodopsin) in efforts of identifying optic tectum (OT) neurons that respond to and integrate auditory and visual stimuli, we found that violet light was able to elicit OT neuronal activity. OT activity was also detected in cases when visual and auditory stimulation was not possible due to removal of the eyes and absence of the exogenously expressed channelrhodopsin, respectively. Analyzing OT single-cell sequencing data of 7day post fertilization …

Using Eugenecid And Eugenecim Computational Tools For Synthetic Biology, Wheaton L. Schroeder, Anna S. Baber, Rajib Saha

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Synthetic biology often relies on the design of genetic circuits, utilizing ‘‘bio parts’’ (modular DNA pieces) to accomplish desired responses to external stimuli. While such designs are usually intuited, detailed here is a computational approach to synthetic biology design and modeling using optimization-based tools named Eukaryotic Genetic Circuit Design and Modeling. These allow for designing and subsequent screening of genetic circuits to increase the chances of in vivo success and contribute to the development of an application development pipeline. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Schroeder, Baber, and Saha (2021).

Fort Hays State University Tiger Weekly, December 17, 2021, University Relations

Tiger Weekly Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of Phase Behavior In Idp Solutions By Uv-Vis Spectrophotometry And Phase Volume Fraction Measurements In Capillaries, Qing Sun

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) play vital roles in cell signaling and regulation by changing conformation dynamically under various stimulus. Thus, it is crucial to understand their physical properties in vitro especially liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Here, we first used UV-vis spectrophotometry to investigate two of IDPs' physical properties – transition temperature (Tt) and coacervate size. This deeper insight allows us to further understand the dynamics of phase growth. We then constructed a binodal curve in the phase diagram by measurement of volume ratios in phase separated IDP solution in glass capillaries.

The Analysis Of Microdroplet Arrays, Alex Austin

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study

The primary objective of my research this semester was the investigation into the optimization of the micropillar array both through simulations and physical testing. Where ancillary objectives include the familiarization of SEM imaging, Surface Evolver, and COMSOL. Significant progress has been made in all these objectives. Specifically in the construction of different asymmetrical droplets that were combined to form an array.

The Struggle For Self-Determination: A Comparative Analysis Of East Timor And Western Sahara, Emma Baratta

Honors Theses

Self-determination is accepted as an international right of all people, yet in many cases it still takes decades of struggle to achieve it. Through comparative analysis of the selfdetermination and independence struggles of East Timor and Western Sahara, conclusions can be drawn as to why some former colonies are able to achieve these goals while others do not. In order to better understand the challenges associated with self-determination, I evaluate the two cases based on four overarching factors which influence the process: statehood criteria and imagined community status, colonialism and occupation, presence of natural resources, and international recognition. I argue …

Environmental Influence On Size Frequency Distributions Of The Pacific Blue Mussel (Mytilus Trossulus) In Two Glacially Inlfuenced Estuaries, Amy Dowling

Marine Biology

The Pacific blue mussel (Mytilus trossulus) is a foundation species in high-latitude intertidal and estuarine systems that can create complex habitats, provide sediment stability, serve as food for top predators, and act as connectors between the water column and the benthos. M. trossulus also makes an ideal model species to assess biological responses to environmental variability, as its size frequency distributions can be influenced by the environment in which it lives. Size frequency distributions can provide valuable information about ecological systems that are experiencing environmental change (e.g., increased global temperatures). M. trossulus populations in high latitude estuaries receive freshwater runoff …

Prediction Equations To Determine Induced Force On Reinforcing Elements Due To Laterally Loaded Piles Behind Mse Wall And Lateral Load Test On Dense Sand, Pedro David Garcia Montesinos

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers performed 35 full-scale lateral load tests on piles driven within the reinforcement zone of a mechanically stabilized earth wall (MSE wall). Data defining the induced tensile force on the reinforcements during lateral pile loading was used to develop multi-linear regression equations to predict the induced tensile force. Equations were developed by previous researchers that did not consider the diameter of the pile, the fixed head condition, relative compaction, or cyclic loading. The purpose of this research was to include this tensile force data and develop prediction equations that considered these variables. Additionally, a full-scale lateral load test was performed …

Rooted In Environmental Justice: Phytogeography And Ethnoecology Of Serianthes, Else Demeulenaere

Biological Sciences

Serianthes Benth. (Fabaceae) is one of the most endangered plant genera in the world, with 12 of the 18 species listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Serianthes trees are culturally important to island communities of the Indo-Pacific region for canoes, boats, traditional houses, and medicine. Habitat loss and ecosystem degradation increased pressure on these trees, also threatening its Indigenous cosmology and traditional practices. This interdisciplinary study integrated genomic, biogeographic and ethnoecological approaches to develop appropriate policies that protect the Indigenous biocultural diversity of Serianthes. Phylogenomics of 401 nuclear exons and non-coding flanking regions using both a multi-species …

Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery And Sequestration In The Orion Oil Field In The North Slope Region Of Alaska, Banabas D. Dogah

Engineering

Carbon dioxide flooding in viscous oil systems has been proven to improve oil recovery and store CO₂ in several geologic basins worldwide. With global energy steadily transitioning towards decarbonization, CO₂-EOR and Sequestration can reduce the carbon footprint from crude oil production. Although well accepted globally, the potential of improved oil recovery and CO₂ storage capacity has not been extensively studied in Alaska. Since the CO₂ injection process involves phase transition, reservoir simulation becomes more complex. It requires reliable techniques to estimate the ultimate recovery factor, oil production rate, and CO₂ storage volumes precisely. This study focuses on carbon dioxide enhanced …

Application Of Vortex Tubes In An Underground Mine Ventilation System, Nelson K. Dumakor-Dupey

Engineering

A major challenge for deep underground mines in tropical regions is high-temperature climate conditions at a working face. The high-temperature conditions can cause discomfort to people working underground and lead to health and safety issues. In some instances, airflow from primary ventilation and central refrigeration systems is not adequate to reduce the ambient temperature below a permissible limit at remotely located working faces. In some mines, mobile cooling systems are used in conjunction with an existing central cooling system. However, mining companies are often skeptical about implementing the combined cooling system due to its high operating costs involved with refrigeration …

History Matching And Prediction Of A Polymer Flood Pilot In Heavy Oil Reservoir On Alaska North Slope, Xindan Wang

Engineering

The first-ever polymer flood pilot to enhance heavy oil recovery on Alaska North Slope is ongoing. After more than 3 years of polymer injection, significant benefit has been observed from the decrease in water cut from 65% to less than 15% in the project producers. The primary objective of this study is to develop a robust history-matched reservoir simulation model capable of predicting future polymer flood performance. In this work, the reservoir simulation model has been developed based on the geological model and available reservoir and fluid data. In particular, four high transmissibility strips were introduced to connect the injector-producer …

Understanding Permafrost Dynamics And Geohazards With A Terrain-Cryofacies Approach, Eva Stephani

Engineering

The Arctic and its permafrost terrain are inherently dynamic, complex, and sensitive environments. Understanding the past and current changes occurring in these systems is key in predicting future variations, including the response of permafrost to climate change, and to terrain modifications resulting from natural processes or anthropogenic activities. This study contributes to advance our understanding of permafrost dynamics in varying permafrost environments of northern Alaska and northwestern Canada using a terrain-cryofacies approach. This unique approach helps to increase our understanding of permafrost dynamics from the site-specific scale to over extended areas by recognizing linkages between terrain and subsurface properties, and …

Air Quality And Mental Health: Evidence, Challenges And Future Directions, K Bhui, J Newbury, R Latham, M Ucci, Z Nasar, B Turner, C O'Leary, Hl Fisher, E Marczylo, P Douglas, S Stansfeld, S Jackson, S Tyrrel, A Rzhetsky, R Kinnersley, P Kumar, C Duchaine, F Coulon

School of Biomedical Sciences

No abstract provided.