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Diastolic Dysfunction With Vascular Deficits In Hiv-1-Infected Female Humanized Mice Treated With Antiretroviral Drugs, Fadhel A. Alomar, Prasanta K. Dash, Mahendran Ramasamy, Zachary L. Venn, Sean R. Bidasee, Chen Zhang, Bryan T. Hackfort, Santhi Gorantla, Keshore R. Bidasee Jan 2025

Diastolic Dysfunction With Vascular Deficits In Hiv-1-Infected Female Humanized Mice Treated With Antiretroviral Drugs, Fadhel A. Alomar, Prasanta K. Dash, Mahendran Ramasamy, Zachary L. Venn, Sean R. Bidasee, Chen Zhang, Bryan T. Hackfort, Santhi Gorantla, Keshore R. Bidasee

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Early-onset heart failure is a major treat to healthy aging individuals with HIV-1 infection. Women with HIV-1 infection (WLWH) are especially vulnerable and develop heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), of which left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, vascular deficits, myocardial infarction, and fibrosis are major components. HIV-infected rodent models that exhibit these pathophysiological features remain under-reported, and this has left a void in our understanding of their molecular causes and therapeutic strategies to blunt its development. Here, we show that female NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ humanized mice (Hu-mice) infected with HIV-1ADA and treated for 13 weeks with dolutegravir …


Development Of The Mechanoresponsive Pericellular Matrix Of Chondrons, Donghee Lee, Sydney E. Greer, Andrew T. Dudley Jan 2025

Development Of The Mechanoresponsive Pericellular Matrix Of Chondrons, Donghee Lee, Sydney E. Greer, Andrew T. Dudley

Journal Articles: Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy

Physical properties of cartilage are conferred by the composition and ultrastructure of the extracellular matrix. This study focuses on the development of the pericellular matrix (PCM), a domain that directly contacts the chondrocyte and is a key regulator of biomechanical and biochemical signaling. Using three-dimensional cell culture, microfluidic cell compression platforms, and genetic mouse models, we demonstrated that collagen VI is initially assembled at the cell surface and then displaced to form a shell at the PCM-territorial matrix boundary. Cell surface-bound hyaluronan is crucial for the assembly process, and hyaluronan-aggrecan complexes drive displacement. Integrin adhesion is not required early but …


Fiber Photometry Analysis Of Spontaneous Dopamine Signals: The Z-Scored Data Are Not The Data, Conner W. Wallace, Clare Y. Slinkard, Rachael Shaughnessy, Katherine M. Holleran, Samuel W. Centanni, Christopher C. Lapish, Sara R. Jones Jan 2025

Fiber Photometry Analysis Of Spontaneous Dopamine Signals: The Z-Scored Data Are Not The Data, Conner W. Wallace, Clare Y. Slinkard, Rachael Shaughnessy, Katherine M. Holleran, Samuel W. Centanni, Christopher C. Lapish, Sara R. Jones

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Fluorescent sensors have revolutionized the measurement of molecules in the brain, and the dLight dopamine sensor has been used extensively to examine reward- and cue-evoked dopamine release, but only recently has the field turned its attention to spontaneous release events. Analysis of spontaneous events typically requires evaluation of hundreds of events over minutes to hours, and the most common method of analysis, z-scoring, was not designed for this purpose. Here, we compare the accuracy and reliability of three different analysis methods to identify pharmacologically induced changes in dopamine release and uptake in freely moving C57BL/6J mice. The D1-like receptor antagonist …


A Novel D-Peptide Modulates Dclk1 Gelsolin Interactions, Reducing Pdac Tumor Growth, Landon L. Moore, Dongfeng Qu, Parthasarathy Chandrekesan, Kamille Pitts, Randal May, Byron E. Anderson, Milton L. Brown, Courtney W. Houchen Jan 2025

A Novel D-Peptide Modulates Dclk1 Gelsolin Interactions, Reducing Pdac Tumor Growth, Landon L. Moore, Dongfeng Qu, Parthasarathy Chandrekesan, Kamille Pitts, Randal May, Byron E. Anderson, Milton L. Brown, Courtney W. Houchen

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

What drives inflammation-associated tumorigenesis and progression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)? Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is a central driver of inflammation-associated tumorigenesis, with elevated expression linked to worse clinical outcomes. Two isoforms of DCLK1 possess a unique extracellular domain (ECD). DCLK1 isoform 2 contains two microtubule-binding domains, while isoform 4, lacks the microtubule-binding domains but, plays a pivotal role in tumor progression. We identified novel D-peptides that selectively target this ECD, significantly suppressing PDAC cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in xenograft models without inducing cell death. In silico modeling and binding assays revealed DCLK1 isoform 4 interacts with …


Cardiomyopathies Of Endocrine Origin: A State-Of-The-Art Review, Jenyfer M. Fuentes-Mendoza, Marcio J. Concepción-Zavaleta, Juan C. Morón-Siguas, Juan M. Muñoz-Moreno, Aranza I. Pérez-Reyes, Rodrigo Martinez-Galaviz, Raúl D. Aguilar-Castañeda, Oziel González-Godoy, Luis A. Concepción-Urteaga, José Paz-Ibarra Jan 2025

Cardiomyopathies Of Endocrine Origin: A State-Of-The-Art Review, Jenyfer M. Fuentes-Mendoza, Marcio J. Concepción-Zavaleta, Juan C. Morón-Siguas, Juan M. Muñoz-Moreno, Aranza I. Pérez-Reyes, Rodrigo Martinez-Galaviz, Raúl D. Aguilar-Castañeda, Oziel González-Godoy, Luis A. Concepción-Urteaga, José Paz-Ibarra

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Endocrine disorders are increasingly recognized as potentially reversible causes of secondary cardiomyopathies, yet they often remain underdiagnosed in clinical practice. These conditions-including thyroid dysfunction, acromegaly, pheochromocytoma, diabetes mellitus, adrenal disorders, among others-can significantly alter cardiac structure and function through hormonal excess, metabolic remodeling, and neurohumoral activation. Hyperthyroidism may lead to high-output heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation, while hypothyroidism is associated with diastolic dysfunction, pericardial effusion, and accelerated atherosclerosis. Acromegaly promotes biventricular hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis via insulin-like growth factor 1 overproduction. Pheochromocytoma triggers catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy, resembling Takotsubo syndrome and carrying a high risk of mortality if left untreated. Diabetes …


Meant To Burn: Wildfire In The West (2025), University Of Montana--Missoula. School Of Journalism Jan 2025

Meant To Burn: Wildfire In The West (2025), University Of Montana--Missoula. School Of Journalism

Byline

Learning to Live -- Behind the Fireline -- Nowhere to Hide -- Empowered to Fight -- Mann Gulch -- A Way of Life


Pregnancy Outcomes After Exposure To Tuberculosis Treatment In Phase 3 Clinical Trial, 2016-2020, Ekaterina V. Kurbatova, William C. Whitworth, Kia E. Bryant, Meredith G. Dixon, Kelly E. Dooley, Nigel A. Scott, Rosanna Boyd, Nicole E. Brown, Kimberley N. Chapman Hedges, Wendy Carr, Lakshmi P. Peddareddy, Grace Muzanyi, Rodney Dawson, Ziyad Waja, Neil Martinson, Jyoti S. V. Mathad, Payam Nahid, Susan Swindells, Richard E. Chaisson, Susan E. Dorman, Patrick P. J. Phillips, Aids Clinical Trials Group A5349, Tuberculosis Trials Consortium Study 31 Jan 2025

Pregnancy Outcomes After Exposure To Tuberculosis Treatment In Phase 3 Clinical Trial, 2016-2020, Ekaterina V. Kurbatova, William C. Whitworth, Kia E. Bryant, Meredith G. Dixon, Kelly E. Dooley, Nigel A. Scott, Rosanna Boyd, Nicole E. Brown, Kimberley N. Chapman Hedges, Wendy Carr, Lakshmi P. Peddareddy, Grace Muzanyi, Rodney Dawson, Ziyad Waja, Neil Martinson, Jyoti S. V. Mathad, Payam Nahid, Susan Swindells, Richard E. Chaisson, Susan E. Dorman, Patrick P. J. Phillips, Aids Clinical Trials Group A5349, Tuberculosis Trials Consortium Study 31

Journal Articles: Infectious Diseases

A previous study demonstrated noninferior efficacy of 4-month rifapentine/moxifloxacin regimen for tuberculosis (TB) treatment compared with the standard regimen. We analyzed pregnancy outcomes of women who became pregnant during the study. Among 740 women, 97 (13.1%) became pregnant. Of 102 pregnancies (in 97 participants), 30 (29.4%) participants were exposed to study drugs. Fetal loss was reported for 3/13 (23.1%) in the control regimen, 1/9 (11.1%) in the rifapentine/moxifloxacin regimen, and 1/8 (12.5%) in the rifapentine regimen. Among 21 live births in exposed pregnancies (7 in each arm), 1 infant with a congenital anomaly was reported in a participant on the …


Consider The Lilies: How Jesus Saves People And The Land, Howard A. Snyder Jan 2025

Consider The Lilies: How Jesus Saves People And The Land, Howard A. Snyder

Academic Books

No abstract provided.


Rvd2 Mitigates Tnfɑ-Induced Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Through Nrf2 Signaling In Placental Trophoblasts, Taija Hahka, Deekshika Sekar, Prakash Kumar Sahoo, Aiswariya Ravi, Colman Freel, Chandan Krishnamoorthy, Sankar Ramamurthy, Rebekah Rapoza, Rebecca Drakowski, Anum Akbar, Matthew Van Ormer, Melissa Thoene, Corrine K. Hanson, Tara Nordgren, Sathish Kumar Natarajan, Ann Anderson-Berry Jan 2025

Rvd2 Mitigates Tnfɑ-Induced Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Through Nrf2 Signaling In Placental Trophoblasts, Taija Hahka, Deekshika Sekar, Prakash Kumar Sahoo, Aiswariya Ravi, Colman Freel, Chandan Krishnamoorthy, Sankar Ramamurthy, Rebekah Rapoza, Rebecca Drakowski, Anum Akbar, Matthew Van Ormer, Melissa Thoene, Corrine K. Hanson, Tara Nordgren, Sathish Kumar Natarajan, Ann Anderson-Berry

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

INTRODUCTION: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are marked by elevated levels of TNFα, which increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disrupts metabolism of trophoblasts. Resolvin D2 (RvD2), an omega-3 fatty acid-derived lipid mediator, is known to resolve inflammation, but its role in protecting trophoblasts by promoting antioxidant responses to alleviate ROS remains unclear. Nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) controls cellular defense mechanisms against oxidative stress and helps with the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis. Upon translocation to nucleus, NRF2 activates the antioxidant response element (ARE), inducing the expression of genes that can mitigate ROS. Hence, …


Cholesterol Modulation Of Bk Currents And Cerebral Artery Diameter Via Channel-Forming Alpha-Subunit, Elizabeth Schneider Jan 2025

Cholesterol Modulation Of Bk Currents And Cerebral Artery Diameter Via Channel-Forming Alpha-Subunit, Elizabeth Schneider

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Voltage- and calcium-gated, large conductance potassium channels (BK; MaxiK) are ubiquitously expressed and subsequently mediate numerous physiological processes. Cholesterol is consumed in high amounts with the diet and accumulates in cellular membranes when plasma levels become elevated. Cholesterol is a known inhibitor of BK channels and is suspected of contribution to many pathophysiological issues via its interaction with these channels. However, the molecular mechanisms that drive cholesterol inhibition of BK channels remain largely unexplored. This dissertation hypothesized that cholesterol inhibits BK currents via binding to specific amino acid(s) of the channel-forming alpha subunit, and involving distinct modifications of channel gating. …


Sars-Cov-2 Variants Of Concern: Biological Implications Of Immunogenicity And Comorbidity, Jacob Nichols Jan 2025

Sars-Cov-2 Variants Of Concern: Biological Implications Of Immunogenicity And Comorbidity, Jacob Nichols

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in human populations in late 2019, there was nothing known about the virus, SARS-CoV-2, besides that it had a high degree of similarity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The prior published research on these viruses set a strong foundation for the research approaches needed to quickly stand-up medical countermeasures for treatment of COVID-19. However, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) soon revealed a high propensity to evolve new variants that could engage host cell receptors with greater affinity and escape host immunity. With each wave …


Characterization Of Novel Hantaviruses In Paraguay, Ifebuche Nnamani Jan 2025

Characterization Of Novel Hantaviruses In Paraguay, Ifebuche Nnamani

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The genus Orthohantavirus, is a group of tripartite, negative-sense RNA viruses of which some members are the etiologic agents for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) or orthohantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in the Old and New Worlds, respectively. Sampling of wild rodents for these viruses has increased our knowledge of their host range and continues to lead to the discovery of new orthohantaviruses species and strains. HFRS and HPS have case fatality rates of up to 15% and 40%, respectively. And in some years, morbidity rates of up to 100,000 cases can be reached, globally. The epidemiological evidence of human-to-human …


Utilization Of Model-Based Approaches To Maximize Efficacy Of Antibiotics For The Treatment Of Mycobacterium Abscessus Pulmonary Infection, Hyunseo Park Jan 2025

Utilization Of Model-Based Approaches To Maximize Efficacy Of Antibiotics For The Treatment Of Mycobacterium Abscessus Pulmonary Infection, Hyunseo Park

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Prevalence and incidence of Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) pulmonary infections have increased and been recognized as a major cause of mortality, particularly in certain patient populations, such as cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Due to the intrinsic multidrug resistance mechanisms and biofilm (BF) formation properties of Mab, effective treatment remains challenging, as these factors significantly diminish the antibacterial activity of drugs. Current treatment guidelines recommend prolonged therapy, generally more than 12 months with a multidrug combination of at least four agents. However, no optimal combination, regimen, or treatment duration has been universally established for Mab pulmonary infections (Mab-PI). Therefore, the selective and …


Protein Kinase D1 In Myeloid Cells Promotes Disease Progression And Severity In S. Rectivirgula Induced Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, John David Snyder Jan 2025

Protein Kinase D1 In Myeloid Cells Promotes Disease Progression And Severity In S. Rectivirgula Induced Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, John David Snyder

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Introduction: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an inflammation driven interstitial lung disease characterized by inflammation of the interstitium, bronchioles, and alveoli of the lung that leads to granuloma formation. Myeloid lineage immune cells play a critical role in the early and late stages of the disease, and this activity is mediated through toll-like receptors (TLRs) expressed by these cells. Protein kinase D1 (PKD1) has previously been identified as a critical signaling molecule in the TLR signaling pathways of all TLR family members except for TLR3. Our previous research found that activation of protein kinase D1 (PKD1) in the lungs following exposures …


Teacher Perception On The Implementation Of A Culturally Responsive Ela Curriculum, Erica Tate Dial Jan 2025

Teacher Perception On The Implementation Of A Culturally Responsive Ela Curriculum, Erica Tate Dial

Theses and Dissertations

While the principles of culturally responsive and culturally relevant teaching hold transformative potential, they can only be fully realized if educators are genuinely equipped and empowered to implement them. This qualitative study examined teacher perceptions of an English Language Arts curriculum through the lens of culturally relevant and culturally responsive teaching. A diverse group of teachers, varying in experience, age, gender, and race, were interviewed to gather a range of perspectives on the implementation of this curriculum. The study focused on addressing the following research questions: 1. What are teachers’ perceptions of culturally responsive and culturally relevant instruction and academic …


Lactate's Role In Appetite Suppression, Seth Mccarthy Jan 2025

Lactate's Role In Appetite Suppression, Seth Mccarthy

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Once considered metabolic waste produced during exercise, lactate is now known to have diverse roles in biology. Muscle-derived lactate can travel through the bloodstream and be taken up by other tissues and i) oxidized, ii) converted to glucose via gluconeogenesis, or iii) bind to its receptor to trigger molecular signaling cascades. Lactate has been described as a “myokine” capable of inter-organ crosstalk and compelling evidence demonstrates lactate’s role as a signalling molecule in pathways related to the regulation of appetite. The purpose of this dissertation was to further elucidate lactate’s role in appetite regulation using series of studies aimed at …


Examining The Impact Of Early Literacy Interventions On Teachers’ And Parents’ Learning And Perceptions Of Early Literacy Development, Abigael Mary Hogarth Todd Miss Jan 2025

Examining The Impact Of Early Literacy Interventions On Teachers’ And Parents’ Learning And Perceptions Of Early Literacy Development, Abigael Mary Hogarth Todd Miss

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Parents and teachers play a vital role in fostering early literacy development; however, many require additional training to enhance their understanding of alphabet knowledge and phonological awareness. This study examined the effectiveness of two instructional videos—one on phonological awareness and one on evaluating alphabet books—in increasing teachers’ (n = 35) and parents’ (n = 34) perceptions about these domains and the practical application of information covered in the videos. The 69 participants viewed each video, and results indicated a general decrease in confidence following exposure to these videos, likely reflecting an increased awareness of the complexity of the …


Safe Sex In The Age Of Big Tech Feminism, Brenda Dvoskin, Thomas E. Kadri Jan 2025

Safe Sex In The Age Of Big Tech Feminism, Brenda Dvoskin, Thomas E. Kadri

Scholarship@WashULaw

Lawmakers and technology companies are regulating online sexuality in the name of feminism. Whereas libertarian ideals dominated early debates about internet governance, “safety” became a rallying cry to regulate online activity in the age of Big Tech. As these regulatory paradigms now clash once again, one trend remains: legislators across the political spectrum and companies around the world are devising interventions that purportedly keep people—and especially women—safe from the risks of online sexuality. Through law and technology, they are targeting everything from privacy invasions to unwanted messages to sexual deepfakes. We call this regulatory and ideological trend Big Tech feminism. …


Venturing Into Health, Rachel Sachs Jan 2025

Venturing Into Health, Rachel Sachs

Scholarship@WashULaw

In recent years, the landscape of venture capital (VC) investment in healthcare technologies has been altered by the introduction of new types of VC firms: those that have emerged from hospital systems and health insurers. However, the legal literature has not yet analyzed these new VC firms, the role they may play in healthcare innovation, and how innovation law and policy ought to consider their involvement. Hospital system and health insurer VC firms operate very differently than do traditional VC firms, even those that have historically developed healthcare specializations. Instead of simply investing capital into start-up firms, hospital system and …


Abolish What?, Benjamin Levin Jan 2025

Abolish What?, Benjamin Levin

Scholarship@WashULaw

From leading academic journals to popular press outlets, abolitionist activism and scholarship have earned airtime in national debates about criminal justice reform. But what is "abolition?" When scholars, lawyers, and activists talk about abolition, they seem to mean very different, even conflicting, things. In this Essay, I focus on a core question that might divide different abolitionists-and different critics of abolition: what is to be abolished? Abolitionists argue that it's critically important to abolish something, while critics of abolition insist that something is necessary to a well-functioning society. Yet, it's not always clear what that something is-both for abolitionists and …


Tides Of Power: Coastal Conservation Association V. State And The Clash Of Environmental Rights, Legislative Authority, And Judicial Limits In North Carolina, Dylan Long Jan 2025

Tides Of Power: Coastal Conservation Association V. State And The Clash Of Environmental Rights, Legislative Authority, And Judicial Limits In North Carolina, Dylan Long

Campbell Law Review

Environmental policy in North Carolina has primarily been within the discretion of the General Assembly. There has been little judicial determination as to what duty, if any, the state has in maintaining its natural resources for public use. North Carolina courts have provided limited judicial input on the General Assembly’s minimum, constitutionally required duty to protect the state’s natural resources. The courts’ sparse decisions have been inconsistent on what the legislature’s minimal obligations are. A recent and ongoing case has brought this issue to a head. The courts will soon be required to rule on the merits of this issue, …


Disagreement And Historical Argument Or How Not To Think About Removal, Andrea Scoseria Katz, Noah A. Rosenblum, Jane Manners Jan 2025

Disagreement And Historical Argument Or How Not To Think About Removal, Andrea Scoseria Katz, Noah A. Rosenblum, Jane Manners

Scholarship@WashULaw

Scholars have debated the reach of the President’s power to remove government officers for over one hundred years. This old fight is now suddenly urgent as President Trump asserts far-reaching powers to control the federal bureaucracy and the Supreme Court transforms Unitary Executive Theory into caselaw. Yet the scholarly case for an indefeasible presidential removal power has never been weaker.

This Essay continues an ongoing conversation about how to read some critical early republic evidence about removal. It briefly recapitulates the stakes of the disagreement before offering in-depth analyses of developments in Pennsylvania removal practice, including a reading of the …


Multi-Source Remote Sensing–Based Soil Moisture Prediction Using Machine Learning, Niraj Neupane Jan 2025

Multi-Source Remote Sensing–Based Soil Moisture Prediction Using Machine Learning, Niraj Neupane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soil moisture (SM) plays a central role in climatic and environmental processes, influencing shear strength of soil, agricultural productivity, land–atmosphere interactions, and hydrologic functioning. However, accurately estimating SM across diverse climatic regions remains challenging due to spatial heterogeneity, limited in situ measurements, and inconsistencies in sensor resolution. Machine learning (ML) and remote sensing offer promising avenues for improving SM prediction, yet many existing approaches struggle with generalization across climatic gradients and often fail to capture temporal variability. This study integrates multi-source satellite and climate datasets, including SMAP L4_SM, MODIS land surface temperature, Daymet meteorological variables, and in situ observations from …


Evaluating And Mapping Habitat Suitability And Effects Of Woodland Treatment On Breeding Pinyon Jays In Colorado, Emily Diane Macklin Jan 2025

Evaluating And Mapping Habitat Suitability And Effects Of Woodland Treatment On Breeding Pinyon Jays In Colorado, Emily Diane Macklin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The pinyon jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) is a highly social, colonially nesting corvid endemic to the interior western United States whose populations have declined by ~72% since 1966, prompting the species’ current review for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Pinyon jays inhabit pinyon pine (Pinus subsect. Cembroides) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodlands and other dry conifer woodlands, portions of which are treated through tree thinning and removal for fuels reduction, ecological restoration, and habitat improvement for wildlife. As a result there is pressing need to better understand how woodland treatment and other potential drivers impact pinyon jay habitat suitability and …


Spatiotemporal Habitat Use, Sex-Specific Movement, And Site Fidelity Of Walleye In Lake Sharpe, Sd, Carter S. Dollen Jan 2025

Spatiotemporal Habitat Use, Sex-Specific Movement, And Site Fidelity Of Walleye In Lake Sharpe, Sd, Carter S. Dollen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Walleye Sander vitreus are a popular sportfish among anglers in South Dakota with large economic impacts to local communities. A popular destination for Walleye anglers is Lake Sharpe, a 25,000-ha reservoir on the Missouri River, in central South Dakota. Gill net catches in Lake Sharpe show high annual variation, prompting concern that gill net catch rates may be poorly related to population abundance. A better understanding of Walleye movement and distribution could lead to increased precision in annual abundance estimates and improved active management that increases angler success. The goals of this study were: 1) determine spatiotemporal movement patterns of …


Mid-Scale Rover Gravity Offloader (Mrgo): Design, Implementation, And Experimental Validation, Alexander Schaar Jan 2025

Mid-Scale Rover Gravity Offloader (Mrgo): Design, Implementation, And Experimental Validation, Alexander Schaar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the design, implementation, and validation of the Mid Scale Rover Gravity Offloader (MRGO), a terrestrial testbed developed to simulate partial-gravity conditions for planetary rover testing within a three-dimensional environment. The MRGO enables consistent, user-defined offloading force as a rover drives freely within a 20 by 18 ft test area, while a stepper motor rail gantry autonomously tracks the rover’s motion and maintains overhead alignment. Mounted to the moving gantry is a vertical carriage column that houses the offloading mechanism, which accommodates up to 5 ft of vertical displacement without loss of force accuracy. This configuration allows realistic …


Quantifying Avian And Vegetation Communities On Agricultural Conservation Easement Wetlands In Eastern South Dakota, Katherine Millman Jan 2025

Quantifying Avian And Vegetation Communities On Agricultural Conservation Easement Wetlands In Eastern South Dakota, Katherine Millman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Prairie Pothole Region of eastern South Dakota contains numerous small depressional wetlands, colloquially known as potholes, that provide important ecosystem services, including water storage, water quality improvement, and wildlife habitat. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) was established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to protect and restore wetlands and grasslands on private land through easements such as Wetland Reserve Easements. Although ACEP requires management practices intended to maintain or improve habitat quality, few studies have evaluated their effectiveness at supporting wildlife communities and vegetation integrity. To address this gap, we evaluated wetlands at 30 ACEP sites and 20 …


Enhancing Alfalfa Persistence In Rangelands: Evaluating Morphological Traits Of Medicago Sativa Subsp. Falcata Germplasm, Abdulallah Mohammed Alomair Jan 2025

Enhancing Alfalfa Persistence In Rangelands: Evaluating Morphological Traits Of Medicago Sativa Subsp. Falcata Germplasm, Abdulallah Mohammed Alomair

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rangelands cover nearly half of the Earth’s surface, representing about 54% (79 million km2), and occur in different types and climates worldwide. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a major component in rangelands and covers about (320 thousand km2), representing about 0.4% of total global rangeland area. As a critical perennial legume crop, alfalfa can improve soil health by fixing approximately 336 kg/ha/year of nitrogen and sequestering up to 614 kg/ha/year of carbon, while enhancing livestock production due to its high content level of vitamins, magnesium, minerals, fiber, and protein. However, environmental stresses such as drought, freezing, and grazing limit alfalfa …


Epidemiological And Diagnostic Approaches For Soybean Cyst Nematode In South Dakota, Nabina Karki Jan 2025

Epidemiological And Diagnostic Approaches For Soybean Cyst Nematode In South Dakota, Nabina Karki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines (HG) Ichinohe, is an endoparasitic nematode and one of the major yield-limiting pathogens of soybean (Glycine max L.) in the United States. Soybean cyst nematode alone accounts for more than $1.5 billion economic loss annually in North America. First reported in the U.S.A. in 1954 in New Hanover County, North Carolina and later in 1995 in Union County, South Dakota. Prior to this study, SCN has spread in 34 counties in the state. As a soil pathogen, which can adapt to most soil conditions under soybean production and beside soybean, it is hosted on …


Formulation And Immunogenicity Of L1 Orf1 Mrna Vaccine In Mice, Raj Nandani Jan 2025

Formulation And Immunogenicity Of L1 Orf1 Mrna Vaccine In Mice, Raj Nandani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents the design, formulation, and immunogenicity evaluation of a novel mRNA vaccine targeting the L1 ORF1p protein, a tumor-associated antigen. The vaccine was synthesized using in vitro transcription and encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), with both unmodified uridine and N1-methylpseudouridine variants tested. Physicochemical characterization confirmed optimal particle size (160–220 nm), acceptable zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency ranging from 74% to 92%, with preserved RNA integrity post-formulation. These results validate the robustness of the formulation workflow and its suitability for antigen delivery. Immunogenicity studies in C57BL/6 mice revealed modest but promising immune responses. While early activation markers (CD69) and …