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Fountain, Sadaf Azadehfar

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the intersections of water, power, identity, and architecture through the lens of colonial and postcolonial landscapes, focusing particularly on Persian gardens and fountain sculptures. Drawing on historical, cultural, and symbolic frameworks, the study explores how water systems embody both practical and spiritual roles, positioning water as a force of control, resistance, and regeneration. Central to this work are analyses of arches and garden designs, which serve as architectural metaphors for cosmic harmony, community gathering, and contested space. Through a combination of visual analysis, historical research, and personal artistic practice—including ceramic sculptures and multimedia installations—this thesis traces the …

A Status Review Of ``The Unreasonable Effectiveness Of Mathematics'', Melvin Royer

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2024

No abstract provided.

Kinasefusiondb: An Integrative Knowledge Of Kinase Fusion Proteins In Multi-Scales, Himansu Kumar, Zikang Chen, Abayomi Adegunlehin, Loren Trowbridge, Leonardo Aguilar, Pora Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Kinase fusion genes were the most targeted fusion gene group among multiple major cellular gene groups. Kinase inhibitors disrupt aberrant signaling cascades and inhibit tumor progression, yet the specific mechanisms of action of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved inhibitors in the context of kinase fusion oncoproteins remain largely unknown. This gap limits our ability to develop personalized therapies and next-generation kinase inhibitors. To address this, we developed a novel in silico pipeline for predicting 3D structures of kinase fusion proteins and performing structure-based virtual screening. This approach enables large-scale structural annotation and drug screening across pan-cancer kinase fusions. …

Development Of Small-Molecule Inhibitors For Bacteroides, Naegleria, And Toxoplasma Microorganisms And Synthesis Of N-Heterocycles From Thiolated Ene-Ynes And Azodicarboxylates, Samuel Kwain

All Dissertations

Humans and microorganisms are intricately interconnected, with microbes constituting an essential component of human biology and ecology. This interdependence necessitates a delicate balance between leveraging beneficial microbes and mitigating the impact of harmful ones. The human gut microbiome, home to trillions of microorganisms, predominantly comprises commensal species that support health. However, dysbiosis within this ecosystem has been linked to serious diseases. For instance, an overrepresentation of Bacteroides species is associated with Type I diabetes mellitus (T1D) and various chronic gut disorders, including ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and colorectal cancer. Similarly, Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba, causes …

Quantifying Temperature Effects On Developmental Rate And Plant Quality Of Compact Container-Grown Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum), Morgan Humphrey

Horticulture Undergraduate Honors Theses

Mean daily temperature effects on plant development rates and quality were evaluated for compact container-grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Compact tomato varieties ‘Siam’ and ‘Red Velvet’ were grown in greenhouses at 18 to 26 °C (Experiment 1) and 20 to 30 °C (Experiment 2) under supplemental high-pressure sodium lighting and 16-hour photoperiod. The number of days to first open flower, first ripe fruit, and from flower to ripe fruit were measured and development rates calculated by taking the reciprocal (e.g. 1/days). Temperature effects were predicted by fitting a linear (for first open flower) and a nonlinear exponential function (for …

The Living Library Of Dune, Josey W. Wilson

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates how language – as a natural, poetic force – can serve as a generative tool in architectural design. It argues that architecture must reclaim its mythopoetic roots, and that through the reintegration of narrative and literary language, built space can once again become a vessel for memory, cultural identity, and transformation.

As both a method and muse, Frank Herbert’s Dune becomes the central literary source for my resulting architectural design. This subjective translation takes form in The Living Library of Dune, a project located in Tacoma, Washington.

The final design of this thesis does not simply present …

Identification Of Mitochondrial Defects And Metabolic Consequences In Lynch Syndrome-Related Endometrial Cancer, Mikayla Bowen

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Lynch syndrome (LS), defined by mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes including MSH2, carries a 60% lifetime risk of developing endometrial cancer (EC). Mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd) causes hypermutability, which is assumed to be the main driver of LS-related EC development. However, incomplete penetrance of EC development in women with LS suggests that other modulators are at play. The broad hypothesis of this dissertation is that MMRd causes consequences beyond hypermutability to impact LS-related EC development. Recent studies utilizing our lab’s Msh2-deficient mouse model for LS-EC revealed mitochondrial dysfunction in EC pathogenesis. This new insight led to the …

Development Of Lineal Energy Spectrum-Based Biological Effects Models For Protons, Joseph M. Decunha, Fada Guan, David Grosshans, Zhongxing Liao, Dragan Mirkovic, Oleg Vassiliev, Radhe Mohan

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

In this dissertation, methods are developed and described to allow for the rapid calculation of microdosimetric spectra (specifically, lineal energy) for protons. SuperTrack, a GPU-accelerated tool for calculation of microdosimetric spectra was developed and is capable of computing lineal energy spectra up to 5000x faster than using Geant4 directly. Proton lineal energy spectra generated by SuperTrack are indistinguishable from those generated by Geant4. With SuperTrack, large libraries of lineal energy spectra for monoenergetic protons spanning 0-300 MeV have been developed. The proton lineal energy spectra calculated by SuperTrack have been compared to experimental measurements made by a tissue equivalent proportional …

Gene Promoters Are Genomically Encoded To Facilitate Histone Exchange/Incorporation, Blaine Bartholomew

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Gene promoters are intrinsically hardwired not only to facilitate transcription preinitiation complex formation but also the release of paused RNA polymerase by H2A.Z. A new PLOS Biology study reveals poly (dA) tracts at promoters positively stimulate H2A.Z incorporation by the SWR complex in yeast.

Neutrosophic Wald Distribution With Applications To Reliability Analysis, Afrah Al Bossly, Adnan Amin

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Risky Genes: The Impact Of Social Determinants Of Health On Dna Methylation In Indigenous Communities, Ella Martin

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Epigenetics is the study of molecular modifications to DNA structure that do not impact the sequence of the DNA itself. This biological study works to link health outcomes later in life with environmental interactions that affect our genetic predispositions. These complex factors can greatly impact longevity and quality of life. DNA methylation is one type of epigenetic mark that happens through natural biological processes. However, this marking has been shown to be detrimental to the process of aging and can be accelerated by harmful exposures such as stress, substance-use, or chemicals in the environment. Exposure to these compounds is exasperated …

Author Biographical Notes

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

An Annotated Checklist Of The Mammals Of Kuwait, Peter J. Cowan

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

An annotated checklist of the mammals of Kuwait is presented, based on the literature, personal communications, a Kuwait website and a blog and the author’s observations. Twenty five species occur, a further four are uncommon or rare visitors, six used to occur whilst another two are of doubtful provenance. This list should assist those planning desert rehabilitation, animal reintroduction and protected area projects in Kuwait.

Metabolic And Microbial Crossroads: Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors And Urinary Tract Infections In (Asian) Diabetes Care, Rob E. Carpenter

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

The global rise of type 2 diabetes, particularly in Asian populations, has led to widespread adoption of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors for glycemic control. While effective, these agents elevate the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) by inducing glycosuria, which creates a nutrient-rich environment that favors uropathogen growth. Asian individuals may be disproportionately vulnerable to SGLT2 inhibitor–associated UTIs due to a confluence of factors, including lower body mass index, increased visceral adiposity, congenital urinary tract anomalies, and genetic polymorphisms that impair uroepithelial integrity and immunity. This review integrates emerging evidence on the molecular, anatomical, and immunometabolic mechanisms that underlie infection …

Idh Status Dictates Ohsv Mediated Metabolic Reprogramming Affecting Anti-Tumor Immunity, Upasana Sahu, Matthew P Mullarkey, Sara A Murphy, Joshua C Anderson, Vasanta Putluri, Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, Jun Hyoung Park, Tae Jin Lee, Alexander L Ling, Benny A Kaipparettu, Ashok Sharma, Nagireddy Putluri, Pamela L Wenzel, Christopher D Willey, E Antonio Chiocca, James M Markert, Balveen Kaur

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Identification of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations has uncovered the crucial role of metabolism in gliomagenesis. Oncolytic herpes virus (oHSV) initiates direct tumor debulking by tumor lysis and activates anti-tumor immunity, however, little is known about the role of glioma metabolism in determining oHSV efficacy. Here we identify that oHSV rewires central carbon metabolism increasing glucose utilization towards oxidative phosphorylation and shuttling glutamine towards reductive carboxylation in IDH wildtype glioma. The switch in metabolism results in increased lipid synthesis and cellular ROS. PKC induces ACSL4 in oHSV treated cells leading to lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is critical to launch an …

Student Research Symposium Schedule 2025, Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Student Research Symposium 2025 (Archived)

No abstract provided.

Preparation And Characterization And Biological Activity Of New Complexes For Some Transition Elements With Schiff Bases Derived From One Antipyrine Substitute, Zeena U. Jasim, Amal M. Ali, Heba A. Mohammed, Maher A. Mohammed

Baghdad Science Journal

A group of divalent complexes was prepared in the formula [M(L)Cl₂] when M=Co⁺², Ni⁺², Cu⁺², Zn⁺², and Cd⁺² L= (Z)-4-((1-(H-indol-3-yl)ethylidene)amino)1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-one. The Schiff base ligand is prepared by reacting 4-aminoantipyrine with 3-acetylindol. The prepared ligand and complexes were identified by elemental analysis, an infrared spectrometer, the nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum, molar electrical conductivity, electronic spectra, magnetic susceptibility, atomic absorption of the elements, and biological efficiencies. The measurements showed that the synthesized ligand interacts with the central metal ion through the oxygen carbonyl group and nitrogen azomethine atoms, that the coordination …

Synthesis, Characterization And Biological Activity Of New Ligand Derived From 4-(Dimethylamino) Benzaldehyde And Nano Copper Complex, Enass J. Waheed

Baghdad Science Journal

The general formula of new complexes [M₂(BDS)Cl₄] are resulting from the reaction of a new ligand [N1, N4- bis (1H- benzo [d] imidazol- 2- yl) -N1, N4 -bis(4-(dimethyl amino) benzyl) succinimide] (BDS) with metal ions M(II) = Cd, Co, Hg, Cu and Ni. This ligand was derived from the reaction of the three substances 4-(Dimethyl amino) benzaldehyde, 2-amino benzimidazole, and succinyl chloride. The compounds are characterized by FT-IR, NMR, UV-Vis and Mass spectroscopy. The serine protease SplB of Staphylococcus aureus and the A chain of Rhomboid-protease-GLPG of Escherichia coli were chosen to study the binding strength …

Flow Characterization Past ​ Large Arrays Of Oscillating 2d Airfoils, Yi-Cheng Chen

Student Research Symposium

Oscillating or rotating array structures at distinct frequencies are prevalent in natural systems and engineering applications.

• Flow Control in Engineering Systems:

Arrays of vibrating plates can be used to manipulate free-shear and boundary layer flows, reduce drag, or delay flow separation in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics.

• Wave Mitigation Structures:

Arrays of oscillating structures may dissipate energy in coastal areas, reducing the impact of waves on structures or preventing erosion

• Biological Studies:

Simulations of synchronized oscillating arrays can provide insights into fish schooling behavior and hydrodynamic benefits in nature.

• Advanced Cooling Systems:

Oscillating plates in fluid environments …

Effects Of Wetting Events On Mass Timber Surface Microbial Communities And Voc Emissions: Implications For Building Operation And Occupant Well-Being, Gwynne Á. Mhuireach, Susan Collins, Leslie Dietz, Patrick Finn Horve, Aurélie Laguerre, Dale Northcutt, Jason Stenson, Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg, Elliott Gall, Mark Fretz

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

IntroductionHumans have used wood as a construction material throughout history. Currently, mass timber products, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), are becoming more popular as a structural material, since they are renewable and have a lower carbon footprint than concrete or steel. Nonetheless, some building types, such as healthcare, veterinary, and food manufacturing, avoid using structural mass timber due to concerns about microbial growth in the event of wetting. One solution is to use protective coatings on mass timber products to increase moisture resistance, although the coatings themselves may generate concerns about volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Natural uncoated wood also …

Evaluation Of Physical And Chemical Properties And Total Phenolic Content In Baker’S Yeast Obtained From Grape Juice, Sawsan Mahmood, Ali Ali, Ayhem Darwesh, Wissam Zam

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Baker`s yeast is mainly produced from molasses in various parts of the world, and other sources, including grape juice. In this study, the grape juice was chosen. This study aimed to produce a biomass from dry baker`s yeast. Its physical and chemical properties was evaluated. The biomass from baker’s yeast S. cerevisiae was equal to 41.50±0.01 g/L. The following fermentation conditions, i.e. temperature (30.1oC), pH (4.75), sugar concentration (158.36 g/L), ratio of carbon to nitrogen (11.9), and initial concentration of yeasts (2.5 g/L) were used. The fermentation was carried out for a period 12 h. Grape juice was subjected to …

Antibacterial Activity And Chemical Composition Of Crude Extract And Oil Of Zygophyllum (Fagonia) Luntii (Baker) 1894 (Family Zygophyllaceae), Riaz Shah, Suad J.A. Alabri, Ameera S.M Ashehi Ashehi, Nasser S.S. Asiyabi Asiyabi, Wafa K.A. Almamari Almamari, Jamal N. Alsabahi Alsabahi, Huda Al-Ruqaishi

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Traditionally wild plants including Zygophyllum spp., containing many bioactive constituents, are used as medicine. Zygophyllum luntii from Zygophyllaceae family is wildly grown in Oman and has been used for medical purposes. The present study investigated the antibacterial activity of the crude extracts (leaves, stem and roots) and oil (leaves) from Z. luntii. These extracts were tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in well diffusion assays utilizing Muller Hinton Agar (MHA). The hydrocarbon contents and the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) components of the extracts were also determined by GC-MS. Significant antibacterial activity was observed in the Z. …

Biochemical And Structural Insights Into The Yersinia Effector Yopm And Its Negative Regulation Of The Pyrin Inflammasome, Bethany Wairimu Mwaura

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Bacteria utilize sophisticated secretion systems to inject effectors into host cells in order to facilitate their survival and replication in the host. Some pathogenic species of Gram-negative bacteria use a conserved contact-dependent T3SS to inject a wide array of effectors. While the effectors diverge in their structures, functions and cell-localization, the T3SS is well conserved. Several effectors discussed in this thesis target key host inflammasome responses. The focus of this work is how the Yersinia effector YopM inhibits the pyrin inflammasome. During Yersinia infection, two effectors, YopE and YopT inadvertently activate the pyrin inflammasome while targeting RhoA to avoid phagocytosis. …

Toxiverse: An Online Comprehensive Chemical Profiling, Modeling, And Data Analysis Platform, Yitao Shen

Theses and Dissertations

Massive chemical data is now publicly available through publications and various online databases. However, most online databases only provide data unsuitable for modeling purposes and limited machine learning (ML) modeling for those data. As a public chemical toxicity evaluation tool to resolve these issues, the Toxicology Universe (ToxiVerse) portal hosts curated chemical structures and toxicological/pharmaceutical data of 26,000 compounds which can be used directly for modeling purposes. Furthermore, users can upload chemical datasets to extract all involved bioassays for compounds inside as biological profiles. ToxiVerse also features automatic QSAR modeling of uploaded datasets using multiple chemical descriptors and algorithms provided …

Deconstructing Ancient Allegories: Eleanor Antin’S 'Historical Takes' On Subverting Classical Motifs And Typologies, Lainey Tomasoski

Undergraduate Theses in Art History

The New York-born artist Eleanor Antin erupted into the male-dominated American conceptual photography art scene in the 1960s and 70s with feminist works that reimagined the female body in terms of representation and history. In congruence with the feminist and civil rights movements, conceptual photography represented a shift in how art was utilized to criticize the social and political institutions in which it is rooted. Antin and other feminist artists engaging in conceptual photography and video played with the embodiment of characters, performance of the body, and an intrinsic “self-reflexivity” of subject, viewer, and artist. However, Antin pivoted her work …

Valuing Worker Authenticity, Dallan F. Flake

William & Mary Law Review

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects workers from discrimination because of their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Controversially, courts do not typically extend this protection to individual expression tied to a protected trait, such as a Black employee who wears their hair in dreadlocks or a Latino employee who speaks Spanish on the job. Judicial unwillingness to protect employee self-expression tied to a protected trait causes employees who identify with marginalized groups to suppress their identities to conform with mainstream culture—often at tremendous costs to themselves and the organizations they work for.

This Article …

Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field And Plasma Jets For Cancer Therapy, Edwin Ayobami Oshin

Biomedical Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) employs nanosecond-duration, high voltage pulses to induce oxidative stress, leading to temporary or permanent damage to cells or tissue (also known as reversible and irreversible electroporation), and has been considered a promising approach for cancer therapy. In parallel to this, nanosecond pulsed atmospheric pressure plasma jets (ns-APPJs) have also shown to be effective in inactivating cancer cells or increasing sensitivity of cells to electric fields. ns-APPJs are known to generate reactive chemical agents, including reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) which induces oxidative stress resulting in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and necrosis. In this dissertation, a …

April 2025 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Phytochemical Analysis And In Vivo Anticancer Effect Of Becium Grandiflorum: Isolation And Characterization Of A Promising Cytotoxic Diterpene, Christeen Fahim, Maha R. A. Abdollah, Rola Milad, Nehal Sabry, Noha Swilam

Pharmacy

Background:Becium grandiflorum is a fragrant perennial shrub of the Lamiaceae family. Objectives: The current study aimed to explore the cytotoxic potential of the nhexane fraction from Becium grandiflorum aerial parts and, further, isolate its major diterpene and conduct in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities along with its molecular mechanism and synergy with doxorubicin. Methods: The hydroalcoholic extract of Becium grandiflorum aerial parts was fractionated, and the n-hexane fraction was analyzed via GC-MS. The major isolated diterpene, 18-epoxy-pimara-8(14),15-diene (epoxy-pimaradiene), was quantified using UPLC-PDA. Cytotoxicity assays were conducted on HCT-116, MCF-7, MDA-MB- 231, and HepG2 cell lines. The synergistic effect with …

Structural Assembly Of The Pas Domain Drives The Catalytic Activation Of Metazoan Pask, Sajina Dhungel, Michael Xiao, Rajesh Rajaian Pushpabai, Chintan K. Kikani

Biology Faculty Publications

PAS domains are ubiquitous sensory modules that transduce environmental signals into cellular responses through tandem PAS folds and PAS-associated C-terminal (PAC) motifs. While this conserved architecture underpins their regulatory roles, here we uncover a structural divergence in the metazoan PAS domain-regulated kinase (PASK). By integrating evolutionary-scale domain mapping with deep learning-based structural models, we identified two PAS domains in PASK, namely PAS-B and PAS-C, in addition to the previously known PAS-A domain. Unlike canonical PAS domains, the PAS fold and PAC motif in the PAS-C domain are spatially segregated by an unstructured linker, yet a functional PAS module is assembled …