Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Protein Function And Stability: Case Studies On Cryoprotection And Thermal Stability Of Antifreeze Proteins, Enzyme Inhibition Of Sars-Cov-2 Main Protease, And B. Subtilis Protein Stability, Katarina Jovic

Doctoral Dissertations

In this work, I have explored basic questions related to protein structure, function, and stability, which are critical for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of biology. The dissertation is divided into four chapters, which are different topics I have worked on. In Chapters 1 and 2, I will discuss my work on two different antifreeze proteins, in Chapter 3 my work on the main protease from SARS-CoV-2 is presented, while Chapter 4 details the characterization of protein stability of four B. subtilis proteins. While the projects are distinct from one another, they all contribute to deciphering the molecular basis of life …

Towards Improved Genomic Surveillance Of Organisms, Joseph L. Sevigny

Doctoral Dissertations

DNA and RNA sequencing is an indispensable tool for the surveillance and monitoring of organisms. Technological advances and research opportunities over the past several years have transformed and driven my research questions; from understanding the impacts of environmental perturbations on complex benthic communities, to tracking and understanding emerging pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. All of them revolve around the use of DNA sequencing to ask fundamental questions about our understanding genomes and their relationship to phenotype and the environment. The advent of sequencing-based characterization has revolutionized our approach to studying organismal communities on a large scale, offering the ability to analyze vast …

Understanding The Role Of Impounded Water Bodies In River Network Nutrient Exports In A Dynamic Landscape, Christopher Thomas Whitney

Doctoral Dissertations

Impounded water bodies are a significant component of aquatic networks and various forms have been studied extensively. However, knowledge gaps exist in the research on human-made dams and their reservoirs as well as beaver ponds as both uniquely affect water quality and nutrient exports in different ways. This study fills those knowledge gaps by investigating fluxes of all forms of dissolved nitrogen from small, human-made reservoirs at seasonal timescales. This study found that small reservoirs have a significant effect on nitrogen concentrations but this effect is seasonal and fluxes transported downstream are highly dependent on discharge. Removal of small dams …

Investigating Posttranslational Modifications Of Hsp90 And The Epichaperome In Embryonic Stem Cells, Seth William Mcnutt

Doctoral Dissertations

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a highly conserved and essential molecular chaperone in eukaryotes. Through interactions with various co-chaperones, Hsp90 is able to adapt to meet the specific needs of a structurally and functionally diverse, but specific set of clienteles. The diversity of its clients makes it a key regulator of nearly all cellular processes, and it serves as a central hub for many different signaling networks. One of the major functions of the Hsp90 chaperone machinery is in the modulation of protein homeostasis, a protective function often exploited in cancer cells in order to buffer oncogenic mutations and …

A Global Gene Expression Approach To Exploring Rock Colonization By Blastococcus Saxobsidens, Ryan Patrick Wilmot

Doctoral Dissertations

Introduction: Blastococcus saxobsidens is an endolithic bacterium associated with biodegradation of stone monuments across the Mediterranean basin. Recently, strains of the bacterium have been isolated from high altitude deserts in Chile, volcanic glass in Iceland, and from masonry of several cultural heritage sites across Europe and the Americas. Blastococcus saxobsidens global dispersion has been linked to patterns of wind distributed dust particles. The physiology that this bacterium uses to colonize a wide range of rock types in such distinct locations has not been previously explored however. This project has established that B. saxobsidens colonizes and respires a variety of chemically …

Displaying Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyases On Bacillus Subtilis Spore Surface For The Treatment Of Phenylketonuria Through Oral Administration, Guo Wu

Doctoral Dissertations

Bacillus subtilis spores are formed in response to adverse conditions as a survival mechanism. These spores are in a dormant state and do not require any nutrients. Their DNA is wrapped with self-assembled multilayers of protective proteins. These spores are highly resistant to various harsh conditions. B. subtilis spores serve as a well-characterized model for studying endospore formation and have been developed as a platform system for displaying heterologous proteins of various functions. It has been demonstrated that proteins displayed on the spore surface can enhance their robustness and extend their shelf-life, including enzymes as robust biocatalysts and antigens as …

Lessons From Hiv, Boriana Marintcheva

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Understanding Riverine Plastic Accumulation Along An Urbanization And Spatial Gradient: A Plastics Study In The Ipswich River Watershed, Emily Kathryn Lever

Master's Theses and Capstones

Plastic pollution in marine and freshwater ecosystems is a pervasive issue on regional, national, and global scales. A portion of land-based plastics ends up in the world’s oceans through river transport; some land-based plastics are retained within the surface freshwater network. Little is known about how much plastic pollution entering the surface water network is stored vs. exported to oceans. We studied macro- and microplastic in a suburban coastal watershed, the Ipswich River Watershed of Massachusetts, USA in 2022 to gain a better understanding of plastic accumulation in sediments versus downstream flux during baseflow versus storms in streams of different …

Chemical And Biological Catalysis Using A Functionalized Fluorinated Phthalocyanine, Mary Chiọma Okorie

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Phthalocyanines, a class of photosensitizers that generate ¹O₂ using visible light, have been widely used in a variety of applications such as catalysis, solid-state materials, and photodynamic therapy. A 3^rd generation, namely functionalized fluorinated phthalocyanines, F₄₈H₇(COOH)PcMetal, containing a carboxylic acid “tail” allows the Pc to be anchored onto supports such as metal oxides, producing a new family of supported photocatalysts, F₄₈H₇(COOH)PcZn-Oxides.

These new materials photooxidize toxic thioethers mainly to less toxic sulfoxides using visible light and air, a genuine green chemistry pathway. The catalysts are robust and survive reactive …

The Role Of Quality Of Work Life In Reinforcing Core Competencies: A Descriptive And Analytical Research In The Ministry Of Health, Ali Adnan Hasan, Haider Fadhel Kadhem, Alaulddin B. Jawad

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

The research aims to diagnose the shortcomings and weaknesses in applying the dimensions of the quality of work life and the extent of their impact on employees’ attitudes and behaviors, and thus their relationship to enhancing their core competencies. The scientific value of the research stems from highlighting the importance of the dimensions of the quality of professional life in improving the productive efficiency of workers in the public sector and raising the level of organizational performance. Because the quality of working life plays an important role in enhancing the core competencies of employees in the public sector, it can …

Designing, Cloning, And Testing Genetically Engineered Metabolic Pathways To Produce Therapeutics In Gut Bacteria, Teresa Le

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Potential Effects Of Ketosis Through Diet & Nutrition To Mitigate Cancer, Sandra Channeary Khoun

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Nuclear Argonaute Hrde-1 Is Required For Proper Development And Maturation In C. Elegans, Hadeel Zourkout

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Calorie Restriction Modulates The Transcription Of Genes Related To Stress Response And Longevity In Human Muscle: The Calerie Study, Jayanta Kumar Das, Nirad Banskota, Julián Candia, Michael E. Griswold, Melissa Orenduff, Rafael De Cabo, David L. Corcoran, Sai Krupa Das, Supriyo De, Kim Marie Huffman, Virginia B. Kraus, William E. Kraus, Corby K Martin, Susan B. Racette, Leanne M. Redman, Birgit Schilling, Daniel W Belsky, Luigi Ferrucci

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

The lifespan extension induced by 40% caloric restriction (CR) in rodents is accompanied by postponement of disease, preservation of function, and increased stress resistance. Whether CR elicits the same physiological and molecular responses in humans remains mostly unexplored. In the CALERIE study, 12% CR for 2 years in healthy humans induced minor losses of muscle mass (leg lean mass) without changes of muscle strength, but mechanisms for muscle quality preservation remained unclear. We performed high-depth RNA-Seq (387–618 million paired reads) on human vastus lateralis muscle biopsies collected from the CALERIE participants at baseline, 12- and 24-month follow-up from the 90 …

December 2023 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Crushability Analysis Of Immediate-Release Oral Tablets And Capsules Approved By Fda In 2020-2022, Kamaladdin Saei, Anne Schweighardt, Fang Zhao

Doctoral External Publications

Healthcare providers often need to explore dosage form options for patients who are unable to swallow whole tablets or capsules. Most newly approved immediate-release (IR) oral solid drugs carry a "do not crush" warning or similar language in their labeling due to the lack of supporting clinical data. A 2021 publication by Uttaro et al. presented a crushability analysis strategy for risk assessment and demonstrated its utility for the questionable drugs on the ISMP do-not-crush list. This study aimed to extend the crushability analysis to newly FDA-approved drugs.

School Social Work 238 Exam Preparation: Resources And Handouts, Leticia Villarreal Sosa, Tiffany Nelson, Brenda Coble-Lindsey, Annette Johnson, Giesela Grumbach

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Rapid Reaction Studies On The Chemistry Of Flavin Oxidation In Urocanate Reductase, Niusha Delavari

Masters Theses

Urocanate reductase (UrdA) is a bacterial flavin-dependent enzyme that reduces urocanate to imidazole propionate, enabling bacteria to use urocanate as an alternative respiratory electron acceptor. Elevated serum levels of imidazole propionate are associated with the development of type 2 diabetes and, since UrdA is only present in humans in gut bacteria, this enzyme has emerged as a significant factor linking the health of the gut microbiome and the metabolic disorder insulin resistance. Here we investigated the chemistry of flavin oxidation by urocanate in the isolated FAD domain of UrdA (UrdA’) using anaerobic stopped-flow experiments at 4 °C. This analysis unveiled …

What Role Do Parents And Acculturation Play In Chinese Female International High School Students’ Mental Health?, You Wu

Doctoral Dissertations

This study examines the challenges and mental health issues faced by Chinese female international students in private Catholic female high schools in the U.S. It explores three main areas: the types of acculturation challenges students face, the impact of these challenges on their mental health, and the role of parental communication in shaping students' and parents' perceptions of acculturation and mental health. Using qualitative methods, the research involved interviews with nine students and five parents from a girls' Catholic high school in California. Data were collected via narrative-inspired Zoom interviews, and analyzed using phenomenological principles, focusing on understanding the lived …

Cultural Control Tactics For Managing Spotted Wing Drosophila, Drosophila Suzukii, In New Hampshire Highbush Blueberry, Catherine Doheny Coverdale

Master's Theses and Capstones

Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is an economically important pest that damages small, soft-skinned fruits. Female spotted wing drosophila (SWD) have a heavily sclerotized, serrated ovipositor which allows them to lay their eggs in ripe and ripening fruits. Woven polyethylene weed mat has been reported to influence ambient temperature and relative humidity within blueberry canopies. There is a lack of context-specific evidence regarding the mechanisms impacting its efficacy and how it may interact with other control methods, like crop sanitizer sprays containing peroxyacetic acid (PAA) and hydrogen peroxide (HP).This study was a two-year, split-plot field experiment in …

Population Viability Analysis Of A Remnant New England Cottontail Population In Southern New Hampshire, Brett Ferry

Master's Theses and Capstones

ABSTRACT

Population Viability Analysis of a Remnant New England Cottontail Population in Southern New Hampshire

ByBrett Ferry University of New Hampshire, December 2023

Early successional forest in the northeastern United States provides habitat for a rich diversity of wildlife. Historically, weather events, beaver activity, and fires were continually creating a mosaic of early successional habitat. However, with modern land use very little early successional habitat is created, leading to the decline of the species’ that rely on it. New England cottontail (sylvilagus transitionalis) is an early successional obligate species whose population has been in decline since the mid-twentieth century. In …

Avian Functional Diversity Response To Changes In Forest Structure And Degradation In Northern New England, Michael Christopher Thompson

Master's Theses and Capstones

Exploitative forest harvesting has led to widespread economic degradation of forests across the northeastern United States. Tree species composition and structure vary across degradation categories, which may lead to differences in wildlife communities and the ecosystem functions wildlife provide. Avian communities in particular respond quickly to changes in habitat, are easy to survey, and contribute to a variety of important ecosystem functions. Here, we investigated the relationship between economic degradation and avian functional diversity focusing on the ecosystem functions of seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and pest control. We found that avian functional diversity responded to degradation in a unimodal manner …

Serranidae Spp. Neurocranium, Justin Abonce, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Accounting For The Selfish State: Human Rights, Reproductive Equality, And Global Regulation Of Gestational Surrogacy, Claudia Flores

Chicago Journal of International Law

Gestational surrogacy is a relatively new method of procreation made possible by advances in assisted reproductive technology (ART). In gestational surrogacy, a woman (gestational carrier) gestates a fetus that is often biologically unrelated to her on behalf of a third party. While this form of procreation has often been celebrated for allowing infertile and fertility-challenged persons to parent biological offspring, it has also prompted a series of complex human rights-related debates. Inconsistent and extreme state responses to gestational surrogacy have led to myriad tragedies: states have arrested gestational carriers, forced carriers to raise children born through the process, denied individuals …

Investigating The Influence Of Surface Finishing Methods On Corrosion Of Additively Manufactured Ss316l, Joshua R. Fadeley

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Additive Manufacturing (AM), namely with metal, has seen a surge in growth and interest over recent years. A wide array of industries is developing new products to take advantage of this budding technology. In order to enable adoption of this technology, understanding of the differences of AM versus traditional manufacturing on the resultant materials properties of printed components is important. The work done for this study fell into two separate categories of work.

The first effort of this work involved the installation, certification, and operation of the first laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) printer at the Center for Advanced Energy …

Balancing Societal Demands For Agricultural Land: Insights, Innovations, And Conservation Priorities, Sarah Halperin

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

With an increasing global population and the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss intensifying, society faces many challenges in reconciling conflicting demands for the landscape. Covering roughly half of the land area of the United States, agricultural land is in direct competition with other land uses and will likely play an important role in addressing these important conservation challenges. In this dissertation, we used well-supported existing methodologies and principles from ecosystem services, message framing, and biodiversity conservation to create knowledge about how to better protect agricultural lands. We conducted our study in the Treasure Valley, Idaho, where the issue …

Mapping Density And Distribution Of Ptarmigan And Arctic Ground Squirrels Within Gyrfalcon Breeding Territories In Western Alaska, Michaela L. Gustafson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Shifting climate patterns are modifying Arctic habitats, stressing the need to understand how rapid climate and habitat changes affect Arctic trophic webs. Despite their crucial role in illuminating the impacts of Arctic changes and their ripple effects on predators, like Gyrfalcons, small Arctic primary consumers remain insufficiently studied across their range. To address this gap, I sought to estimate the distribution and abundance of Gyrfalcons' top three prey species (Willow Ptarmigan, Rock Ptarmigan, and Arctic ground squirrels) within Gyrfalcon breeding territories on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, USA. I also aimed to discern the relationships between different habitats and species’ abundance. …

Trio Upward Bound: A Mixed Methods Investigation Of Factors That Impact Postsecondary Enrollment And Degree Completion Of First-Generation, Low-Income, And Academically At-Risk Students, Megan Simila

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the factors that influence the college choice process for first-generation, low-income, and academically at-risk students in a TRIO Upward Bound program. The literature review theoretically explores the multi-level factors with Perna’s college choice model, social construction theory, and Bourdieu’s social, cultural, and financial capital definitions. This study hypothesizes students will enroll within 50 miles of home, a Greek and Latin root intervention will improve SAT scores, and GPA and concurrent credit classes are correlated to college enrollment, degree completion, and type of institution attended. This study also proposes that the students who …

Forecasting Natural Regeneration In The Great Basin With Ecological Theory And Remote Sensing, Andrii Zaiats

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Natural regeneration is the foundation of resilient ecosystems. Anthropogenic pressures across the globe have caused the decline of ecosystem diversity, distribution, and functional properties essential to global and local communities. An example of the Great Basin ecosystems in the Western United States demonstrates how foundational shrub species declines due to intensified wildfires and other anthropogenic pressures, undermining the resilience across ecological and social-ecological systems. Ecological restoration aims to assist ecosystems in recovery after wildfires. However, restoration efforts in the Great Basin have had limited success in great part due to highly unpredictable rates of natural regeneration and spatially variable ecosystem …

Predicting Flower Stalk Production Of A Native Shrub Using Uav Structure-From-Motion Photogrammetry, Ryan Scott Wickersham

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Climate change is threatening rangeland ecosystems, including increasing frequency of extreme weather, wildfire, and drought. Identifying which native plants are likely to be resilient to these ongoing changes is crucial for developing climate-smart restoration plans. Sagebrush is a foundational species across western rangeland, with variation in flower phenology and success that may indicate a pattern of resilience for the shrub and associated species. Analyzing sagebrush resilience through flowering success will help us understand how vulnerable sagebrush populations and post-restoration sites will respond to extreme weather events. We applied high-resolution remotely sensed data to map flower stalk production in sagebrush plants …