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A Replicating Rna Vaccine For Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Protects Via Non-Neutralizing Anti-Nucleoprotein Antibodies And Trim21, Shanna Star Leventhal

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) is a negative-sense, tick-borne bunyavirus endemic to Europe, Asia, and Africa. CCHFV may cause a severe hemorrhagic disease with a case fatality rate of 5-70% and, to date, there are no widely available or highly efficacious vaccines or therapeutics. Because of its widespread distribution and lack of countermeasures, the WHO has listed CCHFV as a high priority pathogen.

Here, we report a self-replicating, alphavirus-based RNA vaccine that expresses the CCHFV nucleoprotein (repNP) and glycoprotein precursor (repGPC). Initial studies showed that repNP induces high titers of non-neutralizing anti-NP antibodies while repGPC stimulates a robust T-cell response. …

Pelletizing Of Attapulgite/Carbon Nanocomposite From Used Bleaching Earth For Continuous Treatment Of Wastewater From A Natural Rubber Factory, Lilis Hermida, Joni Agustian, Yin Fong Yeong

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The increase in global natural rubber production has correspondingly elevated the generation of wastewater. To address this, various wastewater treatment methods are being implemented, with continuous adsorption emerging as a promising approach. In this recent study, pelletizing of attapulgite/carbon nanocomposite was conducted to obtain pellet adsorbent for continuous adsorption of wastewater from natural rubber industry. The study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and performance of the pellet adsorbent in wastewater treatment. In the preparation, spent bleaching earth (SBE) with a 200-mesh particle size was calcined to obtain attapulgite/carbon nanocomposite. This nanocomposite was mixed with bentonite clay at a 70:30 (w/w) …

Lessons Learned From Laboratory Study And Field Application Of Re-Crosslinkable Preformed Particle Gels Rppg For Conformance Control In Mature Oilfields With Conduits/Fractures/Fracture-Like Channels, Baojun Bai, Thomas P. Schuman, David Smith, Tao Song

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This Paper Surveys the Role of Re-Crosslink able Preformed Particle Gels (RPPG) in Addressing Conformance Challenges within Mature Oilfields. Despite Widespread Preformed Particle Gel (PPG) Application in 15,000+ Wells, their Limitations in Sealing Fractures and Conduits Prevalent in Mature Reservoirs Have Driven the Development of RPPG Formulations. Synthesized in Various Sizes from Micrometer to Millimeter Levels, These Environmentally Friendly RPPGs Are Tailored for Diverse Reservoir Conditions. Findings Showcase the Successful Laboratory-Scale Creation and Upscaling of RPPG Products, Offering Adaptability to Temperatures from 20 to 175°C, Customizable Sizes, Swelling Ratios (5 to 40 Times), and Re-Crosslinking Times Spanning Minutes to Days. …

Bioprinting With Adipose Stem Cells And Hydrogel Modified With Bioactive Glass, Krishna C.R. Kolan, Apurv Saxena, Bradley A. Bromet, Lesa B. Steen, August T. Bindbeutel, Julie A. Semon, Delbert E. Day, Ming C. Leu

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Bioprinting research is focused on utilizing growth factors and multiple cell types to create clinically relevant three-dimensional (3D) tissue models using hydrogels. Rheological and biological challenges are two main factors that limit the creation of extrudable bioactive hydrogels. In this study, we investigate incorporation of fast dissolving and bioactive borate glass in different weight to volume percentages (0.075 to 0.6%) to alginate-gelatin (1:1) hydrogel to improve rheological properties and enable bioprinting with bioactive glass. The addition of glass improved the stiffness of the hydrogel. Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) were uniformly mixed in this bioink at 1 x 106 …

Borate-Based Bioactive Glasses Properties: Clinical And Biomedical Applications, Sarah Fakher, David J. Westenberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Borate bioactive glasses (BBGs) constitute the recently produced bioactive glasses (BGs) in the domain of bioactive materials, offering enhanced functionalities over conventional silicate and phosphate BGs. This advancement is primarily characterized by BBGs' rapid yet controllable degradation rates, superior bioactivity, and the ability to swiftly form a hydroxyapatite layer (HAP) upon interaction with physiological fluids. A distinguishing feature of BBGs lies in their customizability; doping with therapeutic metal ions tailors their bioactivity towards specific physiological responses, including promoting angiogenesis, antibacterial activity, and osteogenesis. This versatility of BBGs' applications extends to bone regeneration, wound healing, drug delivery systems, and potentially nerve …

Investigating Ammonium Toxicity In The Performance Of Recirculating Periphytic Algal Wastewater Treatment Systems, Oluchuku Richie Ochonogor

Theses and Dissertations

Freshwater nutrient enrichment from wastewater facilities and other sources can lead to freshwater eutrophication, a threat to global aquatic ecosystems. Mechanical and chemical ways to curb this threat are either too expensive or not sustainable, and thus, not feasible. Compared to mechanical and other methods, sustainable, inexpensive biological methods (for example, algal treatment systems) have therefore been developed for the removal of excess nutrients from wastewater. By design, secondary waste treatment facilities (WWTF) remove organics and solids and lower oxygen demanding substances; however, they may not remove enough nutrients to protect freshwater ecosystems in all cases. While algae-based biological methods …

School-Based Educators’ Perceptions Of Professional Development And Its Impact On Their Ability To Improve Literacy Instruction For Underperforming K-2 Students, Monica Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to examine school-based educators’ perceptions of professional learning and its impact on their ability to improve literacy instruction. The perceived role of the principal in the implementation, monitoring, and sustaining professional learning was also explored. A total of eight teachers, two media specialists, two instructional coaches, and five school leaders at two elementary schools in the Southeast United States participated in the study. Findings include the importance of quality, ongoing professional development, the leader’s role in planning, participation in, and supporting teachers through the professional development process, and everyone’s role in …

A Phytochemical Analysis Of Secondary Metabolites In Eupatorium Serotinum, Elise Snow

Theses and Dissertations

Phytochemistry, a subset of Natural Products Chemistry, studies chemically derived products from natural substances. Advances in this field have important applications in medicinal research due to the distinctive and unique properties of natural compounds. All metabolites are produced from the metabolic cycle, which is a pathway that provides energy for the organism. These metabolic compounds vary greatly and are classified based on their function within the organism. Primary metabolites are abundant and contribute to organism growth, development, and maintenance of energy. Secondary metabolites are found in lesser quantity and correlate to natural defense mechanisms. For example, salicylic acid is a …

K-12 Teacher Perceptions Of Online Learning And Information Technology Support Post Covid-19 Pandemic, Michael Wayne Carraway Ii

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines K-12 teacher technology acceptance through their perceptions of the learning management system Google Classroom, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This correlational research study is conducted through a survey adapted from the Technology Acceptance Model, Information technology support analysis, and a functionality usability survey. This study examines the relationships between functionality, usability, IT support, perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), attitudes towards use (ATU), behavioral intention to use (BI), and actual usage (AU). Structural equation modelling is conducted at the construct level in order to determine relationships between constructs. Additionally, this study explores assessment …

A Comparative Study Of Cationic Copper(I) Reagents Supported By Bipodal Tetramethylguanidinyl-Containing Ligands As Nitrene-Transfer Catalysts, Suraj Kumar Sahoo, Brent Harfmann, Himanshu Bhatia, Harish Singh, Srikanth Balijapelly, Amitava Choudhury, Pericles Stavropoulos

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Bipodal Compounds [(TMG2biphenN-R)CuI-NCMe](PF6) (R = Me, Ar (4-CF3Ph-)) And [(TMG2biphenN-Me)CuI-I] Have Been Synthesized With Ligands That Feature A Diarylmethyl- And Triaryl-Amine Framework And Superbasic Tetramethylguanidinyl Residues (TMG). The Cationic Cu(I) Sites Mediate Catalytic Nitrene-Transfer Reactions Between The Imidoiodinane PhI = NTs (Ts = Tosyl) And A Panel Of Styrenes In MeCN, To Afford Aziridines, Demonstrating Comparable Reactivity Profiles. The Copper Reagents Have Been Further Explored To Execute C-H Amination Reactions With A Variety Of Aliphatic And Aromatic Hydrocarbons And Two Distinct Nitrene Sources PhI = NTs And PhI = NTces (Tces = 2,2,2-Trichloroethylsulfamate) In Benzene/HFIP (10:2 V/v). Good Yields …

Policy Assessment Of Fisheries Management In The Face Of Climate Change: Implications For The New England Fishery Management Council, Grace Omer

Open Access Master's Theses

A comparative policy analysis was conducted to examine the current efforts, priorities, and goals for climate adaptive fisheries management at the Federal, Regional, and State level from 2014-2024 by categorizing the resulting documents into 4 climate adaptive management elements. We are currently encountering a novel challenge in effectively responding to environmental changes resulting from the effects of climate change. This study establishes the expectations of the Federal and State governments and how the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) is responding to those expectations. The federal government (through documents, legislation, and Executive Orders) has established a low bar of expectations, …

Stormwater Management Within Greenwich Bay Rhode Island, Vincent Deingeniis

Open Access Master's Theses

Stormwater runoff from municipalities bordering Greenwich Bay degrades the water quality and potentially the health of stakeholders. Monitoring bay water and effluent from sewage treatment plants is used to identify where management efforts need to be directed. Hypoxic water conditions and high concentrations of fecal coliform are the most pressing issues within Greenwich Bay. Observed concentrations of fecal coliform in shallow embayment’s within the northern reaches of Greenwich Bay are often unsafe for the consumption of shellfish and unsafe for primary contact through swimming. Regional precipitation and discharge from a major river through statistical analysis suggest that the likelihood of …

Knockoff Methods For Nonlinear Feature Selection In Data With Categorical Features, Behrooz Khalil Loo

Open Access Master's Theses

This thesis addresses the challenge of nonlinear feature selection in datasets that include categorical features. Conventional feature selection methods often struggle with nonlinear relationships and are ineffective in handling categorical variables. This limitation leads to suboptimal model performance and interpretability issues. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop methodologies that can robustly handle nonlinearities and categorical features simultaneously.

To tackle this problem, this thesis proposes and explores novel knockoff methods. Knockoff methods have shown promise in feature selection tasks by generating "knockoff" features that mimic the statistical properties of the original features, enabling robust variable selection while controlling the …

The Interaction Of Early Life Experiences, Physical Health, And Socio-Economic Status On Neurocognitive Function In Youth, Janis Gaudreau

Open Access Master's Theses

Previous research demonstrates that cognitive and brain function and development during childhood are associated with greater physical activity (PA) levels, fitness, income, less adverse early life experiences (ELE), healthier body mass index (BMI), body composition of lean and fat mass, and fewer experiences of mental health disorders.

We used the Child Mind Institute’s Healthy Brain Network open-access dataset to evaluate neurocognitive outcomes in children. We predicted that children with combined greater SES and positive physical health outcomes, alongside fewer adverse ELE, will exhibit greater cognitive function and resting state electroencephalography (EEG) outcomes, and fitness and PA will positively protect neurocognitive …

Probing The Anoxic World Of Coastal Marine Sediments In New England: Understanding The Novel Partnership Between Protists And Their Bacterial Symbionts, Raúl A. Gutiérrez

Open Access Master's Theses

In the oxygen-depleted environments of New England's coastal marine sediment, microbial communities engage in symbiotic interactions to overcome energy deficiencies from oxygen limitation. Among these interactions, ciliates, known for their ability to form diverse symbiotic relationships, play a prominent role. The ciliated protozoa, Metopus sp. commonly form symbiotic relationships with bacteria and archaea that support their fermentative metabolism (Fenchel and Finlay, 1995), though the diversity of these partnerships, particularly in the ocean, is poorly known. To gain insights into the interactions between Metopus ciliate cultures and their microbial partners, we employed Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH) with species-specific probes. We …

Surveying Seafood Preferences And Potential Neophobia Of Underutilized Species In Rhode Island Consumers, Alejandro Rojas

Open Access Master's Theses

Commercial fish stocks are currently in decline with over eighty seven percent at fully exploited or overexploited levels. The overfishing of economically valuable target species is one major cause of these population declines, which is why there has been significant focus on urging consumers to try more underutilized or unheard-of species. However, the question remains: are consumers willing to try these species? Given potential barriers like food neophobia, which is a biological human avoidance of unknown foods, it is important to find out the current seafood preferences of consumers to influence marketing and legislation. The goals of this study were …

Testing The Ontogenetic Migration Hypothesis In The Emerging Rhode Island Jonah Crab (Cancer Borealis) Fishery Using Stable Isotope Analysis, Lindsay Agvent

Open Access Master's Theses

In southern New England, rapid ocean warming over the past two decades has caused substantial redistributions of fishes, invertebrates, and the fisheries they support. The rapid emergence of the warm water-tolerant Jonah crab (Cancer borealis) fishery, once discarded as bycatch from the now declining lobster fishery, illustrates a prime example of climate-adaptive shifts in southern New England fisheries. However, limited data exist on the basic life history of Jonah crab, despite their growing economic and societal value. This lack of knowledge hinders ocean management capacity to meet multiple ecological, economic, and socio-cultural goals of sustainable harvest. Off the …

Benthic Landers In Oceanography – The Design And Justification Of A Multi-Use Novel Benthic Lander System, David M. Nadeau

Open Access Master's Theses

Benthic lander systems can empower researchers with access to long-term high-resolution data streams in challenging to access marine environments. In recent years, landers have emerged as key components for oceanographic research, particularly in the deep ocean due to their ability to work autonomously over long periods. However, these systems are expensive and complex, requiring specialized equipment and knowledge to design, develop, deploy, and recover that reduces broad accessibility to ocean data. Lightweight, cost effective, and multi-use benthic lander systems have the potential to provide economical platforms that reduce logistical barriers to support the next generation of oceanographic research. This project …

Underwater Vehicle Maneuvering With A Singlebladed Propeller, Benjamin C. S. Rahming

Open Access Master's Theses

Current convention in underwater vehicle propulsion utilizes a symmetrical propeller with fins or additional thrusters for maneuvering. These systems can become mechanically and electronically complex requiring multiple sensors and actuators such as motors, motor controllers, encoders and water tight seals. This creates many failure modes. Conversely, an asymmetrical propeller has fewer failure modes as the propeller can maneuver the vehicle by itself. By varying the speed of the blade within the rotation, the resulting force imbalance creates a turning moment in addition to forward thrust. This thesis designs, develops and utilizes a test bed to decipher the six axis dynamic …

Characterization And Dynamics Of Beach-Upland Transition: Insights From Southwestern Rhode Island, U.S.A, Bess Points

Open Access Master's Theses

Ocean coastlines, including barrier systems, are important environmentally and economically, providing valuable habitat as well as key infrastructure for communities and coastal resilience. Oceanfront relief, including foredunes, varies along coastlines and serves as the first barrier to ocean-driven wave and surge damage. Forecasted increases in storm frequency, intensity, and sea levels are anticipated to enhance coastal erosion, and as a result, the beach and upland transition areas are likely to continue to undergo changes. The land-sea transition is variable along the New England coast with a mixture of sedimentary and rocky coasts, hardened structures, and a geology that reflects its …

Comparative Analysis Of Smartwatch Data In Children With Adhd And Non-Adhd, Friederike Hicking

Open Access Master's Theses

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which often lead to significant challenges in academic and social settings. Diagnostic methods for ADHD rely on subjective assessments which are prone to bias. Researchers have explored technology-based objective assessment methods to help diagnose ADHD. In particular, this thesis investigates behavioral differences between children with ADHD and neurotypical children (6-11 years old) using smartwatch data collected from both hands during various classroom-like activities including drawing, math and English worksheets, and magnetic tiles puzzles. The primary objective is to identify distinct behavioral patterns to enhance …

Cysteine Arylation Via Unconventional Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution, Gregory Bassett

Open Access Master's Theses

Bioconjugation is a synthetic technique enabling the construction of a covalent bond between two molecules, at least one of which is a biomolecule.^[1] Such modifications of biomolecules can impart various new functions, including modified enzymatic activity, enhanced fluorescence emission, and improved metabolic stability. Moreover, bioconjugation is applied to produce antibody-drug conjugates, a novel class of targeted therapeutics for cancer treatment.

Previous work by our group using pyridinium salts has enabled us to achieve effective cysteine arylation with rapid kinetics and remarkable selectivity. The bioconjugates produced with these reagents are susceptible to carbon-sulfur bond cleavage under certain conditions, such as …

Effects Of Water Temperature On Solemya Velum Porewater Nutrient Consumption, David Jay Dickey

Open Access Master's Theses

Despite playing a potentially important role in seagrass bed climate resilience, the effects of global warming on Solemya velum metabolism have not been thoroughly explored. The Atlantic Awning clam (Solemya velum) is a gutless, soft shelled, infaunal clam native to the intertidal, eastern coast of North America, which hosts endosymbiotic bacteria in its gills that oxidize sulfide as the energy source for its nutrition. This clam and other symbiotic species with similar metabolisms increase seagrass bed resilience to global warming by oxidizing excess sulfide in sediment porewater. This study used an outdoor temperature controlled mesocosm system to simulate …

Developing Smart Textiles Encapsulated With Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes For Biomedical Applications, Devleena Chowdhury

Open Access Master's Theses

This thesis investigates the creation of core-shell nanofibers for enhanced wound healing applications using a variety of polymer combinations. Chronic wounds are a major worry in the biomedical sector, and researchers are looking at new materials to help the healing process. The PVDF/PVA core-shell structure with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was chosen due to its balanced mechanical strength, high biocompatibility, and DNA-SWCNT complex stability. PVDF is a preferred shell material due to its biocompatibility and water solubility, making it excellent for wound dressings, implanted scaffolds, and sensors that monitor healing.

The study focuses on improving the electrospinning method to produce …

Differential Expression Analysis Of Treatment Resistant And Treatment Susceptible Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Paired With Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, Kinzie Bailey

Theses

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium which causes gonorrhea, is a public health threat as recognized by the CDC due to the risk of untreatable gonorrhea due to the high prevalence of resistance to antibiotics in the gonococcal population [1]. Current screening methods for resistance to antibiotics for clinical infections may take up to 2 days to produce results, which could result in delays in treatment, unnecessary follow-up appointments, inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions, and overall poor treatment outcomes [2]. In this study, we utilize RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to characterize the expression patterns of resistant and susceptible strains of N. gonorrhoeae. Here, we look …

A C-Met Receptor Targeting Nanoparticle Platform For Combination Therapy Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Subarna Das

Open Access Master's Theses

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses a significant global health challenge, being the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death, with over 906,000 new cases and 830,000 fatalities globally in 2020. Conventional HCC treatments like surgery, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and chemotherapy are limited by high recurrence rates, limited patient eligibility - particularly applicable only to a subset with early-stage disease and optimal liver function - and chemoresistance, complicating effective disease management. Existing targeted drug therapies are often hampered by limited efficacy, with many patients experiencing rapid disease progression or significant adverse effects. This situation is further exacerbated …

Identifying Functional And Potential Therapeutic Sites In Reverse Transcriptase Using Comparative Short-Term Molecular Dynamics, Richmond Asare-Bediako

Theses

Drug escapes due to mutations in the HIV-1 virus genome have been a global menace over the last few decades. A major focus in dealing with this issue has revolved around taking advantage of the structural view of the virus to investigate how these mutations affect target drugs. The role of comparative molecular dynamics (MD), which provides valuable insights on motions involved in the functional interactions and dynamic fluctuations of the atoms in the amino acid residues on the protein chains. Although less explored than structural analyses of drug-target interactions, this study provides substantial and critical information needed to fully …

Early Identification Of Pcos In Adolescents And Alternatives In Management, Melissa Nortz

Theses

Objectives:

This paper reviews the evidence relating to the clinical screening of PCOS in adolescents and alternative management.

Methods:

Using Web of Science, phrases such as “PCOS Screening”, “Adolescents”, “Alternative Therapy”, and “PCOS Overview” were searched. Only articles published between 2000 - 2023 were allowed in this literature review resulting in 25 articles being utilized.

Results:

Studies using 2D ultrasonography revealed adolescents with PCOS had a mean ovarian volume of 9.29 +/- 4.62 milliliters, while the control group had a volume of 4.77+/- 2.30 milliliters (p < 0.001)

A prospective correlation study found that PCOS adolescents had an elevated mean LH level …

Documents From The January 31. 2024 Meeting Of The Associated Students Of The University Of Montana (Asum), University Of Montana--Missoula. Associated Students

Senate Meeting Agendas and Minutes, 2007-Present

Agenda and meeting minutes from the January 31, 2024 meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM).

Domain Switch On Sentiment Analysis Using Gradient Reversal Layer, Hemish Veeraboina

Master's Projects

Switching domains in sentiment analysis presents the challenge of transferring learned knowledge from one context to another without the need to label data. Traditional methods often struggle when dealing with differences in data distribution a problem known as the domain shift issue. To tackle this using Gradient Reversal Layers (GRL) has emerged as a solution for adapting to different domains in an unsupervised learning setting. This study introduces an enhancement to the standard GRL approach by incorporating a sigmoid function that gradually adjusts how intensely domain adaptation occurs during training. This upgraded GRL technique ensures controlled learning outcomes making it …