Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Kinases Signaling In Organogenesis, Fatemeh Nasehi

All Dissertations

Kinases are crucial regulators of organ development and differentiation. This thesis investi- gates the roles of TAK1, TGFbeta-Activate Kinase 1 (TAK1/Map3K7), and Akt3 kinases in skeletal, cardiac muscle, and cartilage. TAK1 is pivotal for the differentiation of various organ systems, including sinoatrial node and cartilage, and is responsible for phosphorylat- ing a diverse array of downstream kinases. We identified several novel proteins, including phospho-Akts, that are upregulated in response to TAK1 activation. We discovered severe Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) and cartilage defects in Akt3 mutant mice. Although this mouse mutant has been studied for over two decades, we are the first …

Exploring Equity In Introductory Biology Genetics Education, Sandy G. Phillips-Long

All Dissertations

The dissertation “Exploring Equity in Introductory Biology Genetics Education” delved into the critical examination of equity within undergraduate genetics education. Chapter One outlined the background, significance, research framework, and manuscripts included in this study. Chapter Two was a scoping review that provided an overview of the current pedagogical approaches in undergraduate genetics education. It identified six active learning pedagogies: Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE); group work; case-based learning; inquiry-based learning; Virtual Reality (VR); and Consider, Read, Elucidate the hypothesis, Analyze and interpret the data, and Think of the next Experiment (CREATE). Chapter Three was a systematic literature review investigating pedagogical …

Pelvic Sucker Form And Function In Waterfall Climbing Gobies: Variation In Morphology And Adhesive Performance Can Inspire Biomimetic Innovation, Amanda Palecek Mcclung

All Dissertations

Adhesive systems have evolved in many animal lineages and have appeared multiple times among the fishes. Bioadhesion in the gobies, a group found around the world, plays a role in both station-holding and even climbing. Among the Hawaiian streams, we find four species of amphidromous gobies which must face predators as juveniles and climb streams up to hundreds of feet tall to reach adult habitats. These gobies exhibit a range of climbing and adhesive abilities that result in an elevation-dependent species stratification, in which increasingly proficient climbing species are found in streams at increasingly higher elevations. This group is therefore …

The Development Of A Novel Cartilage Analog Scaffold For Chondral Regeneration, Vishal Thomas

All Dissertations

Focal Chondral Defects (FCDs) are cartilage injuries that affect about 900,000 Americans every year. Left untreated, these may lead to osteoarthritis and eventually necessitate painful knee replacements. Current treatment options are limited in terms of durability, cost, and availability of grafts. Tissue engineering, using natural scaffolds, are a highly attractive alternative promising cost efficiency, abundance, and long-term benefits. However, their low mechanical strength and dense matrices are impediments that could lead to sub-optimal repair.

In this work, a natural biomaterial, the bovine nucleus pulposus (bNP), derived from intervertebral disc tissue, was identified as a candidate scaffold for cartilage regeneration. Mechanical …

Virtually Coached Nature-Based Activities For Perceived Stress In Rural-Dwelling Families With A Teenager With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Deborah R. Logan

All Dissertations

Families with teenagers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can experience more stress than families without teenagers with ASD due to individuals with ASD often exhibiting social behaviors that differ from social norms, and parents having to adjust their expectations and future goals for their child with ASD. Rural-dwelling families of teenagers with ASD may experience additional stress due to their having to travel to access therapeutic services. Research focused on family-based services aimed at decreasing stress among rural-dwelling families of teenagers with ASD is lacking. The purpose of this convergent mixed methods study was to explore the feasibility of an …

Play Therapists Attitudes, Knowledge, And Skills In Identifying Disordered Eating In Children And Adolescents., Hailey Thomas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of disordered eating among children and adolescents has been steadily increasing, posing an increase in the need for treatment. Recognizing and addressing disordered eating in childhood and adolescence is critical to fostering a healthy relationship with food and body image and ensuring the overall well-being of youth. Play has long been considered an important factor in understanding children's lives and experiences and is the recommended counseling approach for children and adolescents (Landreth, 2012). Play therapy is grounded in the fundamental understanding that play is children's and adolescents' natural mode of expression, where toys are their words, and play …

Influence Of Invasive Species, Drought, And Stream Permanence On Stream Crayfish Species With A Focus On The Imperiled Mammoth Spring Crayfish (Faxonius Marchandi), Leah Marie Bayer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Freshwater crayfish constitute one of the most-threatened taxonomic groups in North America. Invasion by other crayfish species as well as habitat degradation through alteration of natural flow regime are two of the most prominent threats to crayfish persistence. Additionally, extreme weather events like droughts can amplify threats posed by other stressors on crayfish populations and are expected to increase in frequency, magnitude, and/or duration in the future, which may negatively influence narrow-ranged endemic crayfish populations typical of the Southeast. The Mammoth Spring Crayfish, Faxonius marchandi, is a narrow-ranged endemic that occurs in the Spring River drainage of Arkansas and Missouri …

What Is A Person? How Does One Become A Morally Good Person? The Intuitive View!, Tancredo Tivane

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis centers around two philosophical problems: the concept of a person and the process by which one becomes a morally good person. Drawing on the works of philosophers such as Harry Frankfurt, Strawson, and A.J. Ayer, it begins with an inquiry into what it means to be a person. It argues that while humanhood, with its rational capacities, is a contingent rather than a necessary condition, it can serve as an accurate predictor of personhood. The thesis posits that personhood is an achievement rather than an inherent state, facilitated by interactions within a social framework that refine these rational …

Development Of Iii-V And Iv Epitaxy On Sapphire Technology, Emmanuel Wangila

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research presents comprehensive insights into the epitaxial growth of germanium (Ge) on c-plane sapphire substrates using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The direct growth of Ge on sapphire typically yields three-dimensional (3D) Ge islands with diverse growth directions, multiple primary domains, and twinned crystals. However, incorporating a thin AlAs nucleation layer proves instrumental in enhancing surface and material quality. With a 10 nm AlAs layer, the achieved surface exhibits improved characteristics, including a smoother surface, single epitaxial orientation, sharper rocking curve, and a single domain. This study surpasses previous works by achieving a single primary domain and reducing twinning. Furthermore, …

Optimization Of And Mechanistic Insights Into Photocatalytic And Non-Thermal Plasma Degradation Of Organic Pollutants For Sustainable Wastewater Treatment, Yiting Xiao

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Water pollution by organic pollutants poses a significant environmental threat, necessitating the development of advanced treatment technologies to ensure sustainable and efficient remediation. This dissertation explored innovative approaches to enhance the degradation of organic pollutants through the integration of photocatalytic and plasma-assisted systems, with a focus on optimizing these processes using methodologies ranging from response surface methodology (RSM) to advanced machine learning techniques. The first part of the dissertation investigated the degradation of organic pollutants in flocculated liquid digestate using photocatalytic titanate nanofibers (TNFs) synthesized via a hydrothermal method. This study represents the first application of TNFs, with a bandgap …

Computational Models That Exploit Spatial, Temporal, And Voltage-Current Relationships In The Electrochemical Generation-Collection Of Redox-Active Molecules, Miguel Angel Abrego Tello

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The numerical studies in this dissertation explore the application of redox cycling, an advanced electrochemical technique, for analyzing bioelectrochemical systems with a particular focus on small-volume samples and involves electrodes that can be activated to oxidize and reduce, separated by varying distances and featuring different geometries. The redox cycling approach facilitates the spatio-temporal interrogation of kinetics, mass transport, and the quantification and identification of chemical systems. We optimize a previously fabricated neural probe design on an SU-8 substrate, featuring coplanar arrays of nine microband electrodes suited for in vivo applications. Through comprehensive in situ and in silico redox cycling studies …

A Robust Genome Assembly With Transcriptomic Data From The Striped Bark Scorpion, Centruroides Vittatus, Tsunemi Yamashita, Douglas D. Rhoads, Jeff Pummill

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Scorpions, a seemingly primitive, stinging arthropod taxa, are known to exhibit marked diversity in their venom components. These venoms are known for their human pathology, but they are also important as models for therapeutic and drug development applications. In this study, we report a high-quality genome assembly and annotation of the striped bark scorpion, Centruroides vittatus, created with several shotgun libraries. The final assembly is 760 Mb in size, with a BUSCO score of 97.8%, a 30.85% GC, and an N50 of 2.35 Mb. We estimated 36,189 proteins with 37.32% assigned to Gene Ontology (GO) terms in our GO …

Genotype-By-Environment Interactions In Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease And Chronic Illness Among Mexican Americans: The Role Of Acculturation Stress, Eron Manusov, Vincent Diego, Marcio Almeida, David Ortiz, Joanne E. Curran, Jacob Galan, Ana C. Leandro, Sandra Laston, John Blangero, Sarah Williams-Blangero

School of Medicine Publications

This study examines the complex interplay of genetic and environmental interactions that shape chronic illness risk. Evidence is mounting for the role of genetic expression and the immune response in the pathogenesis of chronic disease. In the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, where 90% of the population is Mexican American, chronic illnesses (including obesity, diabetes, nonalcoholic liver disease, and depression) are reaching epidemic proportions. This study leverages an ongoing family study of the genetic determinants of risk for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and depression in a Mexican American population. Data collected included blood pressure, BMI, hepatic transaminases, HbA1c, depression …

Cortical And Subcortical Brain Alterations In Specific Phobia And Its Animal And Blood-Injection-Injury Subtypes: A Mega-Analysis From The Enigma-Anxiety Working Group, Kevin Hilbert, Ole Jonas Boeken, Till Langhammer, Nynke A. Groenewold, Janna Marie Bas-Hoogendam, Moji Aghajani, André Zugman, Fredrik Åhs, Volker Arolt, Anderson M. Winkler

School of Medicine Publications

Objective: Specific phobia is a common anxiety disorder, but the literature on associated brain structure alterations exhibits substantial gaps. The ENIGMA Anxiety Working Group examined brain structure differences between individuals with specific phobias and healthy control subjects as well as between the animal and blood-injection-injury (BII) subtypes of specific phobia. Additionally, the authors investigated associations of brain structure with symptom severity and age (youths vs. adults).

Methods: Data sets from 31 original studies were combined to create a final sample with 1,452 participants with phobia and 2,991 healthy participants (62.7% female; ages 5-90). Imaging processing and quality control were performed …

Reverse Phase -High Performance Liquid Chromatography Technique With Ultra-Violet Detector For The Determination Of Tenoxicam And Ibuprofen Drugs In The Pure And Pharmaceutical Tablets, Allaa Hussein Mhdi, Sadeem Subhi Abed

Baghdad Science Journal

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) equipped with an ultraviolet (UV) detector is capable of detecting drugs in trace amounts. In this study, a simple and rapid method for quantifying tenoxicam (TNX) and ibuprofen (IBU) in pure and pharmaceutical samples was developed and validated. The target analytes assessed in the present study were separated with a C18 column (HPLC column, 5 µm, 150 × 4.6 mm). Acetonitrile and acidified water [0.7 mL of phosphoric acid (H3PO4) in 1000 mL water at 50/50%] were employed as the mobile phase at a 1 ml/min flow rate and a 20 µl sample injection volume …

Estimation Of Some Biochemical Markers In Acute Myeloid Leukemic Patients Before And After Chemotherapy, Ayinda Mariwan Mohsen, Zeyan Abdullah Ali

Baghdad Science Journal

The aim of this study was to measure the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), peroxynitrite (PN), homocysteine (HCY), and uric acid (UA) in acute myeloid leukemic patients (AML) (before and after taking chemotherapy) and compare results with a healthy control group. The present study includes 120 age ranged 18-70 years old suffered from AML as well as 40 healthy group. Subjects were collected from patients and a control group at Erbil’s Nanakali Hospital, they were classified into four groups: Group 1 (G1) which includes 40 healthy subjects, Group 2 (G2) includes 40 AML patients before taking chemotherapy (newly diagnosed cases), Group …

Adsorption Of Bromothymol Blue Dye Onto Bauxite Clay, Asmaa Nihad Zaki, Kawther Ahmed Sadiq, Shaymaa K. Ghati, Jasim M. S. Jamur, Sarab Jassim Mohammed

Baghdad Science Journal

The goal of the current work is to use an inexpensive, non-toxic material with a high water absorption capacity, bauxite clay, to adsorb the bromothymol blue dye from an aqueous solution. In the production of textiles, leather, paint, food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, synthetic organic compounds are used as dyes almost exclusively in modern industrial processes. Because to their harmful side effects, which include their inherent carcinogenicity, toxicity, and mutagenicity as well as the results of their biological transformation, these dyes pose a serious hazard to the environment when they are released. Clay minerals are valuable as depolluting agents due to …

Synthesis, Structural, Morphological Characterization, And Cytotoxicity Assays Of Metal Complexes Decorated Sio2 Nanoparticles Against Breast Cancer Cell Lines (Mda-Mb-231), Alya'a J. Ahmed, Mahasin F. Alias

Baghdad Science Journal

This study examines the new synthesis of Pt (IV) and Au (III) Mannich base complexes derived from ciprofloxacin. The complexes were then used as precursors to prepare SiO2/PtO2 and SiO2/Au2O3 nanoparticles by depositing the synthesized complexes on porous silica nanoparticles. Elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-vis, molar conductivity measurements, and melting point were used to characterize this ligand and its metal complexes. Elemental analysis data show that the general formula of the metal complexes formed is [M(L)2Cl2] nCl.H2O, where L = Mannich base ligand and M = Au(III) and Pt(IV), and n = 1,2 respectively with octahedral structure. The chemical structure and …

Continuous Flow Injection Analysis Method For The Determination Of A Drug Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride By Using Phosphomolybdic Acid, Muntadhar M. Jabbar, Elham N. Mezaal

Baghdad Science Journal

The study presented a new method for determining diphenhydramine hydrochloride (DPH) in its pure form and some pharmaceutical preparations, within CFIA technique. The method is simple, fast, sensitive, easy to operate, and of a low cost. It is based on the reaction of DPH with phosphomolybdic acid (PMA), in aqueous media, forming a white, slightly yellowish precipitate. The precipitate formed was studied using an Ayah 6S×1-ST-2D solar cell CFI analyzer, by the reflection of incident light off the surfaces of the deposited particles at (0–180°), expressed as the response measured in (mV) . Some chemical and physical variables were studied …

In Vivo Study The Cytogenetic Effect Of Ammi Majus Methanolic Extract On Mitotic Index, Micronucleus Formation And Dna Damage On Mitoxantrone Treated Albino Male Mice, Ruqaya Mohammed Al-Ezzy, Maysaa Hamid Ahmed, Hadeel Mohamed Khalaf

Baghdad Science Journal

Medicinal plants or their secondary metabolites have shown different biological effects with a wide range of pharmacological properties; for instance, immune stimulator, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-mutagenic, anticancer, hepatoprotective, and many other properties. One of these medicinal plants is Ammi majus. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the cytogenetic impact of a methanolic extract of the Ammi majus plant on micronucleus formation, mitotic index and DNA damage in mice that had been given intraperitoneally mitoxantrone medicine (anticancer drug). Mice were divided into four groups, each group consisting of four mice: group I (positive control), mice treated with 0.008 …

Grhpr Gene Variations In Iraqi Patients Infected With Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stones, Duha Abed Almuhssen Muzahim Alzubaidy, Luma Hassan Alwan Al Obaidy

Baghdad Science Journal

The alterations in glyoxylate reductase and hydroxy-pyruvate reductase concentrations in the sera and the genetic alterations associated with calcium oxalate kidney stones in Iraqi patients were not studied previously so this study aimed to focus on these points. This study included 80 subjects; they were 50 patients with calcium oxalate stones compared to 30 apparently healthy controls. Biochemical investigations for kidney functions (creatinine, urea, and uric acid), were performed on the sera of both groups. Also, complete blood count, random blood sugar, and blood group tests. Furthermore, urine had been collected for General Urine Examination to visualize oxalate crystals in …

Development Of Iiot-Based Pd-Maas Using Rnn-Lstm Model With Jelly Fish Optimization In The Indian Ship Building Industry, Pnv Srinivasa Rao, Pvy Jayasree

Baghdad Science Journal

Building and repair of ships are considered the Evergreen industry nationally as well as globally. The ships are generally gone in by the periodic scheduled repairs by the Indian shipbuilding industries. Sometimes industries lack productivity and lack of modernization some modern methods should be followed. The study focuses on the optimization of predictive maintenance as a service on the industrial Internet of Things by machine learning algorithms. The main contribution of the study is the use of optimization techniques for feature selection and RNN-LSTM for improved accuracy. The selected data set is pre-processed and feature selection for the optimization for …

Evaluation Of Antioxidants, Antibacterial And Antidiabetic Activities Of Aqua-Alcoholic Marjoram Extract, Kadhim K. Ghudhaib, Fayhaa M. Khaleel

Baghdad Science Journal

Plant extracts possess special significance towards human health and vital activities for a wide range of diseases. The current study aims at verifying the presence of active ingredients in marjoram leaves extract, and determining antioxidants, antibacterial and antifungal activities, LD50 and its antidiabetic activity. The active ingredients were qualitatively analyzed by specific test methods. Antioxidant, LD50, antibacterial and antifungal activities were measured by their standard method. The antidiabetic activity was determined by assessed hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and liver functions by spectrophotometric methods. The results confirmed the presence of several active components including flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, and saponins. Also, the results …

Mechanobiology Of Podocyte Adhesion And Injury In The Kidney Glomerulus, Shumeng Jiang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Podocytes are specialized epithelial cells that form an essential part of the kidney’s glomerular filtration barrier (GFB). Their interdigitating foot processes create slit diaphragms that filter the blood, allowing only small (<60 kDa) molecules to enter Bowman’s space. However, podocyte injury leading to foot process effacement and detachment can disrupt this intricate structure, compromising kidney function and contributing to chronic kidney disease. This dissertation investigates the mechanical factors governing podocyte adhesion and injury through a combination of mathematical modeling, in vitro experimentation, and in vivo studies. We developed a model predicting how fluid shear stress and podocyte contractility influence integrin-mediated adhesion stability. The model suggests an optimal range of mechanical forces is needed to maintain podocyte attachment. To test these predictions, we established mouse models with altered glomerular filtration rates and pharmacologically modulated podocyte contractility. Super-resolution imaging revealed shear-dependent changes in integrin localization consistent with our model. We also identified and characterized sarcomere-like structures (SLSs) in podocytes that appear to enhance contractility and adhesion strength in injured podocytes. Using micropatterned hydrogels, we showed these SLSs to be mechanosensitive and associated with improved resistance to detachment under flow. Finally, we investigated how the protein CD2AP regulates podocyte contractility and adhesion through effects on myosin activity and the RhoA pathway. Collectively, this work provides new insights into the mechanical regulation of podocyte adhesion and injury. By elucidating key mechanical determinants of podocyte stability and mechanobiology, these findings may inform the development of future therapeutic strategies.

Epigenetic Dynamics In Zebrafish Development And Regeneration, Yujie Chen

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the mechanisms that underlie cell fate and status decisions remains a complex task in biological research. Despite sharing identical genetic content, cells can differentiate into diverse types or remain in different statuses based on epigenetic dynamics. Here, I have structured my thesis into two distinct but interconnected parts, each focusing on a specific aspect of epigenetic control during zebrafish development and regeneration. The first part of the thesis focuses on the differentiation of pigment cells from neural crest cells to understand how the same progenitor cell population can bifurcate into two different pigment cell lineages. Through a comprehensive analysis …

Effects Of Hypoxia On Monocyte Differentiation And Macrophage Specification During Ischemic Heart Injury, Farid Faridovich Kadyrov

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Myocardial infarction (MI) occurs following cessation of blood flow to an area of the heart and leads to ischemia, cardiomyocyte death, and inflammation. Chronically, MI initiates a compensatory process referred to as left ventricular remodeling, which is characterized by cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, fibrosis, and a decline in heart function. Left ventricular remodeling is central to the pathogenesis of heart failure. During myocardial infarction, Ly6chigh CCR2+ monocytes enter the heart and differentiate into a variety of macrophage populations including inflammatory CCR2+ macrophages. Resident cardiac macrophages are also present within the heart at homeostasis. Previous research from several groups has shown that once …

Gustav Mahler’S Naturlaut In The Anthropocene: A Musical Landscape Of Early Environmentalism, Alexis Rose

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an exploration of the perceived roles and potential functions of music and art in environmental movements. I focus on Gustav Mahler, a composer historically associated with nature, as a case study of the relationship between nature and art in Austro-German Romanticism and early environmentalism. In the first chapter, I connect Mahler’s idea of nature as influenced by Friedrich Nietzsche, Richard Wagner, and Arthur Schopenhauer to the ideas and rhetoric of nineteenth-century environmentalists in Austria and Germany. This context serves as the background for my second chapter, in which I analyze Mahler’s Seventh Symphony through an ecocritical lens. …

Bridging The Gap: Ai And The Hidden Structure Of Consciousness, Emily Barnes, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

The quest to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems that possess human-like consciousness necessitates a deep dive into both theoretical and practical aspects underpinning this ambitious goal. This article builds on initial philosophical explorations of AI consciousness by examining the intricate and often hidden structures that may facilitate conscious experiences in AI. Drawing from concepts in cognitive science and neuroscience, the article elucidates how AI systems can be designed to replicate the structural and functional aspects of human consciousness. The discussion includes the Hierarchy of Spatial Belongings proposed by Forti (2024), frameworks like the Integrated Information Theory (IIT), and models linking …

Artificial Intelligence And Administrative Justice: An Analysis Of Predictive Justice In France, Zouhaier Nouri, Walid Ben Salah, Nayel Al Omrane

All Works

This article critically analyzes the ethical and legal implications of adopting predictive analytics by the French administrative justice system. It raises a key question: Is it wise to integrate artificial intelligence into the administrative justice system, considering its potential benefits, despite the associated risks, ethical dilemmas, and legal challenges? The research employs a method based on an extensive literature review, a qualitative analysis of the adoption by the French administrative justice of predictive analytics tools, and a critical evaluation of the benefits and issues these tools bring. The study finds that AI can make the administrative justice system more efficient, …

Response Surface Methodology-Based Optimization Of The Chitinolytic Activity Of Burkholderia Contaminans Strain 614 Exerting Biological Control Against Phytopathogenic Fungi, Imen Ben Slimene Debez, Hayet Houmani, Henda Mahmoudi, Khaoula Mkadmini, Pedro Garcia-Caparros, Ahmed Debez, Olfa Tabbene, Naceur Djébali, Maria Camino Urdaci

All Works

As part of the development of alternative and environmentally friendly control against phytopathogenic fungi, Burkholderia cepacia could be a useful species notably via the generation of hydrolytic enzymes like chitinases, which can act as a biological control agent. Here, a Burkholderia contaminans S614 strain exhibiting chitinase activity was isolated from a soil in southern Tunisia. Then, response surface methodology (RSM) with a central composite design (CCD) was used to assess the impact of five factors (colloidal chitin, magnesium sulfate, dipotassium phosphate, yeast extract, and ammonium sulfate) on chitinase activity. B. contaminans strain 614 growing in the optimized medium showed up …