The Adar-Mavs Pathway Is A Critical Mediator Of The Innate Immune System In Pancreatic Development And Cancer, Dhwani Rupani

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) is an RNA-binding protein that deaminates adenosine (A) to inosine (I). A-to-I editing is an important post-transcriptional mechanism to prevent recognition of endogenous RNA by MDA5, a cytosolic RNA sensor. Activation of MDA5 by viral RNA can stimulate the innate immune system. Thus, ADAR-mediated RNA editing is crucial to distinguish “self” from “non-self”. ADAR has an important role in gene regulation as A-to-I editing alters RNA processing affecting both RNA and protein abundance. Given its importance in regulating innate immunity and transcript abundance, aberrations in Adar expression are implicated in developmental deformities and carcinogenesis. …

Bayesian Adaptive Clinical Trial Design, Mengyi Lu

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The landscape of drug development in oncology has changed from conventional chemotherapies to molecular targeted therapies and immunotherapies, which provide innovative therapeutic modalities for treating cancers. These novel therapeutic agents work through mechanisms that fundamentally differ from standard chemotherapeutic agents, making the conventional trial design paradigm inefficient and dysfunctional. Specifically, the focus of dose-finding trials has shifted from finding the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) to the optimal biological dose (OBD), defined as the dose that optimizes the risk–benefit tradeoff. How to accurately identify the OBD and its dosing schedule is of great importance to maximize efficacy and safety of targeted …

Risk-Factor Induced Changes In The Breast Microenvironment Facilitate Inflammatory Breast Cancer Progression And Lymphovascular Invasion, Wintana Balema, Wintana Balema

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rapidly progressing, rare and highly lethal form of breast cancer. IBC is a clinical diagnosis, requiring >1/3 involvement on the affected breast and/or skin by erythema, and disease onset of < 6 months. The clinical symptoms of IBC vary in severity and presentation, these include redness, warmth, skin thickening and bruised or pink/purple discoloration appearance and skin changes such as peau d’orange. These skin symptoms are not attributed to inflammation, rather IBC is characterized by florid lymphovascular tumor emboli clogging dermal lymphatics. This leads to “classic” symptoms of breast swelling and skin edema or discoloration. To date, unique genomic drivers which differentiate IBC from non-IBC invasive breast cancers have not been identified highlighting a role for the microenvironment. Several epidemiological studies have unveiled subtype-specific risk factors associated with IBC that are known to alter the microenvironment. Obesity is an established risk factor for all subtypes of IBC. Never-breastfeeding increases risk for developing the most aggressive, triple-negative IBC. Further, never breastfeeding is associated with later clinical stage and worse outcomes. We worked to model these overlapping risk factors to understand microenvironment changes that may lead to the lymphatic change’s indicative of IBC.

First, we investigated the association of a “classic” triad of clinical IBC signs with overall survival among patients to demonstrate the most overt clinical findings of lymphatic involvement were impacting prognosis. We evaluated a triad of IBC signs, including swollen involved breast, nipple change, and diffuse skin change, using breast medical photographs from patients enrolled on a prospective IBC registry. We reported that the …

Genetic Analysis Of Rna Exosome Complex Cofactors, Luisa Orlando

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The RNA exosome complex is known to process and/or degrade many classes of RNA, including mRNA, rRNA, tRNA and snRNA, through its 3’-to-5’ exoribonuclease catalytic activity. The RNA exosome complex comprises a 9-unit core (exo-9), with six proteins making up a PH-Ring barrel and three proteins making up a S1-KH cap. The RNA exosome complex exo-9 core is inactive by itself and requires different cofactors in the nucleus and cytoplasm to perform different localized functions. This exo-9 core can associate with one or two catalytic subunits, including Rrp44/Dis3 and Rrp6 in yeast and DIS3 or DIS3L and RRP6/EXOSC10 in humans. …

Concomitant Inhibition Of Flt3 And Mcl-1 In Flt3 Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Paul Panis

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The MCL-1 inhibitor S63845 synergizes with the FLT3 inhibitor midostaurin for potent anti-leukemic effect in preclinical human models of FLT3-ITD mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Acute Myeloid leukemia (AML) is a neoplastic blood disorder defined by a characteristically rapid growth rate and altered behavior of myeloid cells in the bone marrow. The FLT3 receptor is responsible for the upstream regulation of many key processes in hematopoietic cells. FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations are common in leukemia and have been observed in up to a third of newly diagnosed AML patients. FLT3-ITD have been implicated as a driver mutation partly …

Ankyrin Dependent Mitochondrial Function And Bioenergetics In The Heart, Janani Subramaniam, Janani Subramaniam

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

ANK2 mutations in patients are associated with numerous arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, and other heart defects. In the heart, AnkB, the protein encoded by ANK2, clusters relevant ion channels and cell adhesion molecules in several important domains; however, its role at Mitochondria Associated ER/SR Membranes (MAMs) has yet to be investigated. MAMs are crucial to mitochondrial function and metabolism and are signaling hubs implicated in various cardiac pathologies. Among several functions, these sites mediate the direct transfer of calcium from the ER/SR to the mitochondria to modulate ATP synthesis. Given that mitochondrial function and energy production are paramount to cardiovascular heath, …

Shelf-Life Extension And Campylobacter Jejuni Inhibition By Application Of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles In Chicken Fillets, Amina Elrais, Reyad Rabea, Wlaa Abdel Megid, Mona Abdallah, Walid Sobhy Arab

Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal

Because of its unique physical and chemical features, zinc oxide can be considered a versatile material. Campylobacter jejuni was intentionally inoculated into broiler breast fillets, and the practical application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) suspension with varying concentrations (5 mM and 10 mM) with 3 different sizes (25 nm, 50 nm, and 75 nm) for each concentration was examined. The results showed that ZnO suspensions had a strong inhibitory effect on Campylobacter jejuni growth after 8 days in the refrigerator at 4°C. When compared to other concentrations of 5 mM, ZnO NPs, 10 mM demonstrated the largest reduction percentage …

Molecular Characterization Of Some Pathogenic Bacterial Strains And Hematobiochemical Profile In Barki Sheep With Diarrhea In Siwa Oasis, Amani A. Hafez, Mohamed T. Ragab, Marwa A. Fawzy, Adel M. El-Kattan, Ahmed A. Elsayed

Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal

Objective: To explore the incidence of several bacterial enteropathogens in Barki sheep with diarrhea and their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) trends and their hematobiochemical alteration in Siwa Oasis.Design: Descriptive study.Animals: A total of 500 adult Barki sheep were allocated into two equal-sized groups: 250 Barki ewes with diarrhea and 250 normal sheep taken as the control group. 250 faecal samples were taken from sheep with diarrhea. The bacterial enteropathogens were extracted, identified biochemically and determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The Kirby-Bauer Disk-Diffusion Method was used to determine the sensitivity of positive samples from each organism to ten antimicrobials. Blood samples …

Effect Of Protein Reduction With Indispensable Amino Acid Supplementation At Different Levels In Practical Diets Of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) Fish., Sara Youssef, Shimaa Salem, Rania Mahmoud, Tarek Ibrahim

Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal

Objective: To estimate the effect of reducing dietary protein levels in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with dietary supplementation of commercially-available synthetic amino acids at different levels on growth performance, whole-body composition, morphometric indices, and serum metabolites.Design: Randomized controlled experimental study.Animals: One hundred eighty male Nile tilapia fingerlings.Procedures: One hundred eighty male Nile tilapia fingerlings were equally distributed in twelve glass aquaria (15 fish per aquarium) and fed the formulated diets at 4-5% of the body weight. Every two weeks, tilapia were weighed and the amount of feed intake was adjusted according to the increase in the tilapia weight. Results: By …

Whither The Weather? 130 Years Of Weather Recording At Saint John’S, Peggy L. Roske

Archives History Lessons

Saint John's started keeping weather records in October 1892, and monks have been reporting weather measurements to the U.S. Government ever since. The weather stations' various locations over the decades are documented in this history lesson.

A First-Tier Framework For Assessing Toxicological Risk From Vaporized Cannabis Concentrates, Shawna Vreeke, David M. Faulkner, Robert Strongin, Echoleah Rufer

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Vaporization is an increasingly prevalent means to consume cannabis, but there is little guidance for manufacturers or regulators to evaluate additive safety. This paper presents a first-tier framework for regulators and cannabis manufacturers without significant toxicological expertise to conduct risk assessments and prioritize additives in cannabis concentrates for acceptance, elimination, or further evaluation. Cannabinoids and contaminants (e.g., solvents, pesticides, etc.) are excluded from this framework because of the complexity involved in their assessment; theirs would not be a first-tier toxicological assessment. Further, several U.S. state regulators have provided guidance for major cannabinoids and contaminants. Toxicological risk assessment of cannabis concentrate …

The Relationships Between College And Career Readiness Assessments, Charlotte M. Bruner

All Dissertations

This study explored the effects of taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses on college and career readiness in a rural school district in the southeastern United States. I examined student performance data using American College Test (ACT) scores, Ready to Work (R2W) examination scores, and AP examination scores. The results of the study show that taking a single AP course leads to significant improvement on the ACT exam over a student who has not taken an AP courses and the optimal number of courses a student should take. The results of the study also show that taking an AP course leads …

Large Genomes Assembly Using Mapreduce Framework, Yuehua Zhang

All Dissertations

Knowing the genome sequence of an organism is the essential step toward understanding its genomic and genetic characteristics. Currently, whole genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing is the most widely used genome sequencing technique to determine the entire DNA sequence of an organism. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques have enabled biologists to generate large DNA sequences in a high-throughput and low-cost way. However, the assembly of NGS reads faces significant challenges due to short reads and an enormously high volume of data. Despite recent progress in genome assembly, current NGS assemblers cannot generate high-quality results or efficiently handle large genomes …

Data-Driven Biomarker Panel Discovery In Ovarian Cancer Using Heterogenous Data Fusion On Exosomal And Non-Exosomal Microrna Expression Data, Paritra Mandal

All Dissertations

Ovarian cancer (OC) is an aggressive gynecological cancer and is currently the 5th leading cause of deaths due to cancer in women. High mortality rates are attributable to the vague pathogenesis and asymptomatic nature of the early stages. The development of a liquid biopsy for routine OC screening could help identify the disease at an earlier stage, making treatments more likely to be effective thereby increasing survival rates. Exosomes, small (~100nm) extracellular vesicles present in body fluids, have been shown to contain cancer-progression, onset, and related factors, making them good candidates for use in liquid biopsies. However, to date, only …

Behavioral Ecology Of The American Alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis) In Human-Dominated Landscapes Of Coastal South Carolina, Anjelika Kidd-Weaver

All Dissertations

When wildlife habitat is developed to accommodate growing human populations, wildlife are forced to move to undisturbed landscapes or to acclimate to a novel, anthropogenic environment. In this dissertation, we investigated the behavior and ecology of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) in coastal, residential resort communities with an overarching goal of identifying behavioral patterns of alligators that can inform risk management strategies. In Chapter One, we compared the space use of male and female alligators in primarily wetland versus residential landscapes across three seasons to determine if and how space use behaviors of alligators differ. We found that …

Highly Adherent Antimicrobial Coatings For Orthopedic Implants, Mikhail Bredikhin

All Dissertations

Fracture-related infections (FRIs) are the most devasting sort of complications associated with fracture fixation devices, as they lead to patients’ morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, amputations, and even death.External fixators additionally suffer from pin site infections (PSIs), which initiate at the skin entry points of the skin-metallic pin interface present in the external fixation of the damaged bones, often causing deep tissue infection and osteomyelitis. Small percutaneous pins, commonly known as Kirschner wires (K-wires), are used to treat complex fractures and deformities.They are drilled inside the diseased bone for the healing period and are left protruding outside the skin for fixation adjustments …

Investigating Spatial Heterogeneity In Myocardial Wound Environments To Improve Therapy, Michael Potter

All Dissertations

Heart failure is a broad pathology manifestation categorized by an inability of the heart to successfully pump blood throughout the vast vessel network of the body. Within the United States, heart failure is projected to increase by approximately 46% from 2012 to 2030. Modalities of heart failure are generally related to wall mechanics that are impacted following myocardial infarction events. Interplay exists between the wall mechanics, responding cell populations, and the spatial heterogeneities in the resultant scar. This interplay directs the myocardium towards heart failure modalities governed by overly stiff or compliant states. It is essential to elucidate details underlying …

Scuba Diving Social Identity, Type Of Experience, Sociopsychobio Health, Health-Related Quality Of Life, Self-Efficacy, Disability Level, And Personality Among People With Physical Impairments: A Mixed Methods Study, Tania Santiago Perez

All Dissertations

The most common type of disability in the US is mobility or physical impairment, occurring in one in seven adults. Globally, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions account for nearly two-thirds (65.6%) of total physical rehabilitation needs. Approaches that promote healthy community living, rehabilitation, and reduce relapse and rehospitalization among people with physical impairments are critical. Participation in recreational activities and identification with social recreational groups may promote the health, quality of life, and functional abilities of people with physical impairments, contributing to reducing their hospitalization and healthcare needs. This explanatory sequential mixed methods research study had two aims. Using the experience-type …

The Role Of Leisure Engagement In Fostering Cognition In Aging, Karen Wenzel

All Dissertations

Leisure activities are a major component of healthy aging, associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline and enhanced cognitive function. However, there is wide variation in the conceptualization and measurement of leisure. Specific leisure activities or domains have been studied in association with cognition in aging. More recently, researchers have noted that attributes of the activity, rather than the activity itself, may be significant. This study explored the current state of knowledge regarding attributes of leisure activities that foster cognition in aging. A literature review using PRISMA Scoping Review guidelines identified objectively and subjectively measured attributes of leisure engagement in …

The Role Of Fatty Acid Metabolism In The Pathogenesis Of Trypanosoma Brucei, Nava Poudyal

All Dissertations

Trypanosoma brucei is the protozoan parasite that causes African Sleeping Sickness in humans and nagana, a wasting disease in cattle. T. brucei completes its life cycle in two hosts, mammals and the tsetse fly insect vector. Due to the geographical restriction of the tsetse fly, the disease is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Both the insect and mammalian forms of the parasite need fatty acids to anchor their surface proteins. We worked on three projects on fatty acid metabolism and its role in immune evasion strategies of T. brucei. First, we assessed the role of T. brucei surface proteins in …

Metabolic Engineering Of Yarrowia Lipolytica For Enhanced Peroxisomal Production Of Polyhydroxyalkanoates, Michael Spagnuolo

All Dissertations

Traditional chemical processes are made inefficient by the generation of side products and reactions that fail to reach completion. Bioprocesses, on the other hand, lose product potential due to the necessity of growing the organism required to produce the desired compounds. The field of metabolic engineering often seeks to alter this balance between product formation and cell growth to generate more product from the same quantity of feed (reagent). In addition to balance, such organisms may also be engineered to produce the desired products from nontraditional substrates, such as waste compounds. In resource-poor environments, the ability to produce a wanted …

Exploring Soil-Tree Interactions After Applying Organic Matter Amendments To Peach Orchards In The Subtropical Climate Of The Southeastern United States, Brian Lawrence

All Dissertations

Soil disturbance from the cultivation and intensive management of orchards in hot and humid subtropical climates can reduce soil organic matter (OM). This research explored how the addition of OM amendments impact soil and tree parameters in two field studies and how proximity to OM may elicit unique genomic response of peach roots in a split-root pot study. The first field study applied two rates of compost (1x and 2x) and subsequently reduced fertilizer applications annually to a virgin and replant orchard location. While both compost rates successfully replaced fertilizers, only the 2x rate in the replant location increased soil …

Ligand-Promoted Dissolution Of Uranyl Phosphate Across Scales, Brennan Ferguson

All Dissertations

The formation of uranyl phosphate precipitate is a remediation strategy because the low solubility of uranyl phosphate minerals, like chernikovite, limits the mobility of uranium in contaminated soils. However, organic ligands can complex with aqueous metal cations to form more soluble species. For example, citrate is a commonly occurring organic ligand produced by plants and microbes that increases the solubility of uranium and therefore the dissolution of uranyl phosphate minerals in the uranyl phosphate-citrate system. This effect is an important control on the mobility of uranium in organic-rich, and near-surface vegetated environments. Nevertheless, key aspects of the citrate-uranyl phosphate system …

Statistical Methods For Modern Threats, Brandon Lumsden

All Dissertations

More than ever before, technology is evolving at a rapid pace across the broad spectrum of biological sciences. As data collection becomes more precise, efficient, and standardized, a demand for appropriate statistical modeling grows as well. Throughout this dissertation, we examine a variety of new age data arising from modern technology of the 21st century. We begin by employing a suite of existing statistical techniques to address research questions surrounding three medical conditions presenting in public health sciences. Here we describe the techniques used, including generalized linear models and longitudinal models, and we summarize the significant associations identified between research …

Quantifying And Identifying Mechanisms Of Resistance To Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) In Landraces Of Upland Cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum), Sophia Christian

All Dissertations

Throughout the southeastern USA, tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca Hinds) are the primary thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) pest species of cotton (Gossypium spp.) seedlings and are often detrimental to the establishing crop. In 2020, cotton yield losses from thrips and their management cost USA growers $70.7 million. Heavy reliance on prophylactic insecticides, primarily used as seed treatments, has led to insecticide-resistant populations of tobacco thrips. Currently, no known commercial cotton cultivar provides protection to prevent injury from thrips feeding. A sustainable, alternative management tactic is needed to address insecticide-resistant populations of and reduce damage from thrips in cotton. Our research evaluated day-neutral, …

Inactivation Kinetics Of Bacillus Atrophaeus In Liquid Hydrogen Peroxide For Aseptic Package Sterilization, Manoj Sawale, Xiang Cheng, Rishi Drolia, Patnarin Benyathiar, Ferhan Ozadali, Arun Bhunia, Dharmendra Mishra

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Liquid hydrogen peroxide is used as a common sterilant for the aseptic packaging materials. Based on the Food Safety Objective (FSO) for specific products, a surrogate organism, Bacillus atrophaeus, is used to validate the sterilization processes. This study aims to develop a methodology for the kinetic inactivation parameter estimation of B. atrophaeus. Spores of B. atrophaeus were challenged with various peroxide concentrations (20%, 28%, and 33%; v/v) and temperatures such as 23, 55, 71.1, and 82.2 °C. The log-linear and Weibull models were used for the inactivation models for liquid peroxide at different temperatures. The parameters …

In-Field And Greenhouse Assessments Of A Selection Of Preemergent Herbicides On Newly Planted Blackberries, Kayla Knepp

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This field trial assesses some of the preemergence herbicide options available to growers and their effect on newly transplanted blackberries (Rubus L. subgenus Rubus Watson). Weed control has recently been surveyed as a top priority for blackberry growers; however, limited preemergence herbicides are registered for new blackberry plantings. Weed control is an ongoing component of blackberry production and with few in-season postemergence herbicide options available, growers rely on preemergence herbicides to maintain clean fields. The preemergent herbicides assessed in this trial were chosen with the intention to broaden the chemical control options available to growers in new plantings. A two-year …

Life Cycle Assessment Of Novel Electrochemical Struvite Recovery In Municipal Wastewater Treatment At The Plant And U.S. Watershed Scales, Karla Morrissey

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the supply of phosphorus decreases, nutrient recovery in municipal wastewater treatment has become an important area of research. Recovery methods for phosphorus-containing fertilizers, such as struvite, and other products are currently being developed and assessed for their efficiency and economic feasibility. Potential environmental impacts from nutrient recovery are also being assessed as design for the environment is important, especially with regards to the eutrophying potential of phosphorus in phosphorus-limited freshwater aquatic systems. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool that can be used to estimate potential environmental impacts of a product or service focusing on its entire life cycle. …

Surface-Driven Instabilities At Oil-Water Interfaces, Anelisse Claros Mendieta

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fluid-fluid interactions are such a wide area and can be observed in different scenarios such as geothermal systems, waterflooding of reservoirs, oil recovery, and water treatment processes. This thesis aims to deepen the understanding of fluid-fluid interactions which include Marangoni flows, charge related instabilities, and surface activity. This thesis studied the interactions of micrometer-sized droplets of an oil (toluene) with surfactant Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (DEHPA) in the aqueous phase. One of the main goals is to understand several surface-driven instabilities and how those can be manipulated for future applications.Furthermore, this thesis aims to use these oil-surfactant droplets as a medium …

Hierarchical Structure And Material Integration For Electrocatalytic Co2 Reduction, Hamed Mehrabi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

CO2 released by the combustion of fossil fuels is driving significant changes to the earth’sclimate. The natural cycle for removing CO2 from the atmosphere, namely photosynthesis, cannot keep up with the rate at which it is being added. Developing engineering approaches to remove CO2 from the atmosphere is becoming essential to reduce these effects. Removal leads to further issues of carbon sequestration and favorable CO2 reuse strategies, including the electrochemical transformation of recovered CO2 to useful products such as fuels and materials. Copper is an important electrocatalyst for the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) because of its unique capability for producing …