Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Benthic Algal And Macroinvertebrate Response To The Removal Of Dreissenid Mussels In The Nearshore Zone Of Lake Michigan, Tyler Alexander Kunze

Theses and Dissertations

Dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) have changed the fundamental community structure and biogeochemical processes of the Lake Michigan nearshore zone. There is evidence that dreissenids promote the nuisance growth of benthic algae, especially Cladophora sp. In addition, benthic macroinvertebrates have benefitted from the presence of dreissenid mussels due to the increased structural complexity along with greater nutrient availability in the benthos. These effects of the dreissenid mussel invasion are well documented; however, little is known about how these systems respond to the removal of dreissenid mussels from a once-populated area. Therefore, it is important to further our …

Addressing Learning Gaps In Acid-Base Chemistry Using Novel Three-Dimensional Models With Learning Module, Gabrielle Marie Grimes

Theses and Dissertations

Teaching scientific concepts is very complex and includes the discussion and use of different models that support students’ understanding of particle-level interactions and behavior of chemical phenomena. The presented research describes the development of three-dimensional acid-base models and an accompanying learning module to support students’ understanding of the autoionization of water, acidic strength, pH, and Ka in aqueous acid-base chemistry. The model set includes acid and base models embedded with magnets and removable hydrogen atoms or hydroxide groups to model particle-level interactions. The magnetic models allow students to investigate particle-level processes with student-built models of aqueous acid and base systems. …

Implementation Of Reading Interventions In Introductory Chemistry And Its Impact On Student Performance, Fatoumata Diawara

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

IMPLEMENTATION OF READING INTERVENTIONS IN INTRODUCTORY CHEMISTRY AND ITS IMPACT ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE

by

Fatoumata Diawara

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, 2023Under the Supervision of Professor Anja Blecking, PhD

Research studies conducted in disciplinary literacy in the last 15 years have shown that students' reading comprehension is as much a predictor of student success in college science courses as in students' math skills (O’Reilly & McNamara, 2007). However, college STEM programs often focus solely on teaching STEM content, assuming students' reading comprehension skills have been developed in high school. Thus, only a few examples of reading interventions for students in …

Impact Of The Pre-A Motif On Truncated Hemoglobin N Activity, Alexander Shayne Drena

Theses and Dissertations

Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading cause of death by an infectious agent and therefore a global health crisis, according to the most recent report by the World Health Organization. This is due, in part, to Mycobacterium tuberculosis’ impressive defensive mechanisms against immune response, as well as the rise of Multi-Drug Resistant strains that have recently developed. Towards the turn of the century, a small heme protein called truncated hemoglobin N (trHbN) was discovered to protect the bacteria against reactive nitrogen species by converting nitric oxide (NO) to nitrate at rates far exceeding those of myoglobin and closer to those of …

The Search For The Four-Electron Reduced Intermediate In The Cytochrome C Nitrite Reductase (Ccnir) - Catalyzed Reduction Of Nitrite, Victoria Lynn Mandella

Theses and Dissertations

Although there are many nitrogen species in the nitrogen cycle, nitrite occupies a centralrole. Nitrite can either reduce to ammonium or dinitrogen or oxidize to nitrate. Ammonium and nitrate can be found in the environment; however, problems arise when the accumulation of these nitrogen species leads to eutrophication in aquatic environments. High ammonium or nitrate levels in lakes or other bodies of water can lead to the overgrowth of algae, which causes the blockage of sunlight to different species below the water surface. Imbalance in the ecosystem is a serious environmental issue that can be addressed by further studying and …

Hydrogel And Soluble Polymers To Support Metal Ion Chemosensors, Rebecca Adel Dominguez

Theses and Dissertations

Most water systems contain metal ions. Some of these ions, such as lead, arsenic, and mercury, are extremely toxic. It is of great concern when those ions make their way into drinking water. There is a need for a device that can detect small amounts of dissolved metal ions in real-time. The Schwabacher group has designed such a device, based on azo dyes as the chemo sensors that change color in the presence of metal ions. These sensors can detect very small concentrations of metal ions into the parts per billion range. The sensor dyes are connected with covalent bonds …

Utilizing Fluorescent Nanoscale Particles To Create A Map Of The Electric Double Layer, Quintus Owen

Theses and Dissertations

The interactions between charged particles in solution and an applied electric field follow several models, most notably the Gouy-Chapman-Stern model, for the establishment of an electric double layer along the electrode, but these models make several assumptions of ionic concentrations and an infinite bulk solution. As more scientific progress is made for the finite and single molecule reactions inside microfluidic cells, the limitations of the models become more extreme. Thus, creating an accurate map of the precise response of charged nanoparticles in an electric field becomes increasingly vital. Another compounding factor is Brownian motion’s inverse relationship with size: large easily …

Photo-Reactivity Of Bifunctional Naphthalene Compounds Toward Dna, Qi Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

DNA interstrand cross-link (ICL) can covalently bind two DNA strands, preventing DNA strands separation, and therefore, blocking DNA transcription and replication, which are essential biological processes for cell division. Among different methods to induce DNA interstrand cross-linking, photoinduction is an important way to activate the cross-linking reactions due to its many characteristics, such as non-invasive, controllability, selectivity and biorthogonality. My research mainly focuses on developing novel binaphthalene compounds which can be activated by 350 nm UV light to produce DNA interstrand cross-linking via alkylation. We designed and synthesized a series of binaphthalene analogues with different substituents at the position-4’ on …

Enhancement Of Energy Efficiency For Thermal Energy And Biomass Driven Applications, Osama Mansour Selim Elsayed

Theses and Dissertations

The importance of gas turbine blades is to convert the thermal energy into shaft work output, which makes the turbine blades are one of the critical components of the gas turbines. Besides the mechanical stresses caused by the centrifugal force and the fluid forces, the thermal stresses arise because of the temperature gradient within the blade materials. This paper aims to have a uniform circumferential temperature field at the combustor exit, consequently reducing the thermal stresses caused by the non-uniform temperature distribution along the turbine blade. The validation of the simulation results with the experiments showed an acceptable agreement with …

Inducible Dna Interstrand Cross-Linking Agents: Design, Synthesis, Mechanism, And Biomedical Applications, Muhammad Asad Uz Zaman

Theses and Dissertations

DNA is the carrier of genetic information, making its chemical reactivity and function extremelyimportant. DNA interstrand cross-links (ICL) leads to covalent bind of two strands, which prevents the separation of double helix. DNA ICLs are the sources of the cytotoxicity of antitumor and anticancer agents. This thesis focuses on investigating the reactivity of a varieties of aromatic compounds towards DNA. Some of these molecules can be activated by photo irradiation to induce DNA ICL formation via alkylation. Others undergo activation by H2O2 to release DNA cross-linking agents. We investigated the mechanism of function of these inducible DNA cross-linking agents as …

The Effects Of An R103q Mutation On The Chemical And Physical Properties Of The Enzyme Cytochrome C Nitrite Reductase (Ccnir), Shahama Alam

Theses and Dissertations

Cytochrome c Nitrite Reductase (ccNiR) is a periplasmic homodimeric decaheme enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of nitrite to ammonium in a process that involves six electrons and eight protons. The project described herein explored the properties of the Shewanella oneidensis R103Q ccNiR variant and compared them to the properties of the wild type enzyme. Under standard assay conditions, which use the strong reducing agent methyl viologen monocation radical (MVred) as an electron source, the R103Q variant still catalyzes reduction of nitrite to ammonium, albeit with an MVred turnover rate that is 20% of the wild type’s (780 ± 50 s-1 …

Guest Host Chemistry Part I: The Synthesis Of Metal Selective Sensors Part Ii: The Synthesis Of Antibiotic Precursors And Intermediates, Trevor Moss Hagemann

Theses and Dissertations

Part 1: Metal Selective Sensors

The work herein describes the creation of a library of sensors for the detection of metal ions in aqueous systems. The solid support these dyes are attached to facilitates a continuous measurement of metal ion concentrations in aqueous systems. The sensors are based on an azo dye core structure wherein detection of metal ions is observed by the change in absorbance of the dye upon binding. These sensors are capable of detecting metal ions in the ppb range, specific dyes interacting with specific metal ions cause distinct spectral changes, providing substantial information. the aggregate response …

Study Of The Chemical Fabrication Process Of Nsom Probes And The Modification Of The Probe Surface, Muhammad Nazmul Hussain

Theses and Dissertations

Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) merges scanning probe technology with the power of high-resolution optical microscopy and provides a natural view into the nanoworld. NSOM requires tapered probes with subwavelength optical apertures and wide cone angles to efficiently channel the illumination light to the tip apex so that it can acquire optical images beyond the diffraction limit. Tapered probes with a range of cone angles can be fabricated through chemical etching of optical fibers using hydrofluoric acid (HF) by varying the etching time. Apart from their use for NSOM imaging, such optical probes can also be transformed into nanosensors by …

Investigation Into The Measurement Of Student Ability: Refinements, Improvements And Enhanced Understanding Of Factors That Influence Performance, David Schreurs

Theses and Dissertations

The following series of experiments were all designed and implemented with the goal of understanding and improving undergraduate students understanding of chemistry. In order to accurately access changes in student’s chemistry understanding, the first chapter focuses on how a student’s chemistry proficiency can be most effectively measured. This includes practical recommendations for the average instructor as well as advanced methods more appropriate for researchers who require highly precise scores. With a better understanding on how to measure student proficiency, the next step was working to improve student understanding through various types of feedback following assessments. On top of establishing a …

Construction Of Fluorescent Helicase Fusion Proteins For Use In Fret Studies On Helicase Function And Stoichiometry, Moneer Arabiyat

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis details the construction of N-terminal fusions of the E. coli helicase DnaB to fluorescent proteins mT-Sapphire and mVenus, and of C-terminal fusions of the hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase (NS3h) to mT-Sapphire and mVenus. These fluorescent fusion proteins were constructed to be used in FRET studies of helicase function and stoichiometry. One example is in assessing the potential oligomerization and cooperativity of NS3h protomers in unwinding RNA. Another potential use is in assessing the stoichiometry of the replisome of E. coli; older studies support a dimeric polymerase model of the replisome. Recent studies however suggest that an active …

Functional Material Systems For Stimuli-Responsive Interference Coloration, Milad Momtaz

Theses and Dissertations

Part I: Responsive Interference Coloration (RIC) Systems for High-Performance Humidity Sensing

High-humidity conditions (85−100% relative humidity) have a variety of effects on many aspects of our daily lives. In spite of significant progress in the development of structural coloration-based humidity sensors, enhancing the sensitivity and visual humidity resolution of these sensors at high-humidity environment remains a big challenge. In this work, high-performance colorimetric humidity sensors based on environment-friendly konjac glucomannan (KGM) are introduced. These sensors are fabricated via thin-film interference and prepared using a simple, affordable, and scalable method. An effective approach is shown for markedly improving the sensitivity and …

Part I: A Concise Synthesis Of Microtubule Inhibitor Tryprostatin A And B And Its Analogs Part Ii: Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Reactions Of Aromatic Ketones With Ethyl Diazoacetate And Its Synthetic Scope, Khorshada Jahan

Theses and Dissertations

PART I: A CONCISE SYNTHESIS OF MICROTUBULE INHIBITOR TRYPROSTATIN A AND B AND ITS ANALOGSMicrotubules are promising targets for treating cancer by stopping the cell division in mitosis(M). Tryprostatins A and B (TPS A and B) are one of the important alkaloids for treating cancer, via microtubule inhibition. Studied found that Tryprostatins A and B act as an antimitotic agent by inhibiting cell cycle progression of tsFT210 cells in the G2/M phase at a final concentration of 50 µg/ml of TPS A and 12.5 µg/ml of TPS B, respectively. Usually, Tryprostatins A and B are isolated from natural source Aspergillus …

Mass Spectrometry Directed Pre-Clinical Studies Of Asthma Candidate Midd0301 And Its Analogs, Md Shadiqur Rashid Roni

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACTMASS SPECTROMETRY DIRECTED PRE-CLINICAL STUDIES OF ASTHMA CANDIDATE MIDD0301 AND ITS ANALOGS by Md Shadiqur Rashid Roni The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2021 Under the Supervision of Professor Alexander (Leggy) Arnold

Asthma is one of the most prevalent global health problems. More than 25 million Americans are suffering from asthma and their symptoms especially in children are not well controlled with current medications. The current therapeutic options to control symptoms are limited and are commonly based on inhaled corticosteroids. There are several reasons for uncontrolled asthma symptoms that includes steroid resistance, improper use of inhalers and very few orally available medications. …

Solid Sorbents For Improved Chemical Separations: Applications In Nuclear Medicine And Environmental Remediation, Kevin Wolters

Theses and Dissertations

Solid sorbents have been applied to the separation of radionuclides since the advent of nuclear technology itself. First used for the cleanup and storage of radionuclides remaining from nuclear testing and nuclear power plants, these materials (e.g., inorganic and organic ion-exchange resins) were used to create solid nuclear waste forms as a way of reducing the potential for environmental contamination arising from storage of liquid wastes. The invention of nuclear medicine, which coincided with the introduction of nuclear technology, led to the need for high purity radionuclides for human use. One of the most widely used radionuclides in nuclear medicine …

Evaluating The Biological Activities Of Novel Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (Hdaci) In Adherent And Nonadherent Tumor Cell Lines, Samer Alanani

Theses and Dissertations

Epigenetic dysregulations are linked to many human diseases including neurodegenerative disorders, immunodeficiencies, cardiac disease, and most notably cancer. Changes in the mechanisms of histone modifications have been recognized as hallmarks of carcinogenesis. One of these modifications is histone acetylation which is regulated by the activities of histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). The reversible actions of these enzymes govern the acetylome and maintain its balance allowing for activation and repression of gene transcription. However, aberrant overexpression of HDACs in certain tumors is associated with decreased levels of transcription leading to tumor progression and survival. Hence, small-molecule histone deacetylase inhibitors …

Investigating Provenance And Authenticity Using Icp-Ms In The University Of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Art Collection: A Case Study Of Luristan Bronzes, Hannah Rillie

Theses and Dissertations

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Art Collection (UWMAC) holds a group of supposed Luristan bronzes with limited provenances. The lack of provenance, archaeological or otherwise, coupled with the prevalence of forged Luristan bronzes across private and public collections introduced questions of authenticity regarding the UWMAC’s collection of bronzes. To address these questions, the typical art historical and visual analyses were conducted to supplement the chemical compositional analysis done using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Of the three artifacts successfully sampled and tested, the Ibex Whetstone Handle (1985.002.38) was determined to be iron while the Master of Animals Finial for Standard (1985.002.48) and …

Design And Synthesis Of Achiral And Chiral Benzodiazepines And Imidazodiazepines To Modulate The Activity Of Gabaa Receptors For The Treatment Of Cancer, Cns Disorders And Pain, Farjana Rashid

Theses and Dissertations

A series of α2/3-subtype selective GABAA receptor agonist imidazodiazepines (IBZs) were synthesized and investigated. The lead compound (KRM-II-81) exhibited anxiolytic, antinociceptive and anticonvulsant effects, displayed promising α2/3 GABAergic subtype selectivity in HEK cells and noteworthy anxiolytic activity and no sedation nor ataxia using a rotarod assay in mice (80mg/Kg) or rats (300 mg/Kg).Based on the "privileged imidazodiazepine (IMZD) structures" derived from the unified pharmacophore model of Milwaukee, the design, synthesis and biological activities of more than 30 novel 2’ Cl achiral GABAAR α2/α3 subtype selective imidazodiazepines (IMDZs) related to KRM-II-81 achiral ligand Hz-166 are described. Several compounds from the α2/3 …

Monitoring Of Soil Moisture And Human Breath Using Colorimetric Humidity Sensors, Emily Bialka

Theses and Dissertations

The monitoring of soil moisture is essential to optimize plant growth, harvest, and water use, and respiration monitoring is one of the major vital signs of human health. Current soil moisture sensors are either costly or ineffective, and current breath sensors which also detect humidity levels are electronic-based with narrow humidity ranges. The following study targets these two needs by developing a cost-effective, high-sensitivity soil moisture sensor and breath monitor. Responsive interference coloration humidity sensors which utilize thin-film interference are applied to track soil moisture content over time, and to monitor breath humidity levels and respiratory rate in various scenarios. …

Chapter 1: Part A: A Unique Approach Of Preparing 3,3-Disubstituted Oxindoles From Acyclic Tetrasubstituted Aldehydes: Total Synthesis Of (-)-Coerulescine And (-)-Coixspirolactam A, Chapter 1: Part B: Synthetic Scope Of Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Reactions Of Carbonyl Compounds And Ethyl Diazoacetate,, Md Shahnawaz Ali

Theses and Dissertations

CHAPTER 1: PART A: A UNIQUE APPROACH OF PREPARING 3,3-DISUBSTITUTED OXINDOLES FROM ACYCLIC TETRASUBSTITUTED ALDEHYDES: TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF (-)-COERULESCINE AND (-)-COIXSPIROLACTAM A(-)-Coerulescine and (-)-coixspirolactam A, two naturally occurring compounds characterized with an all-carbon quaternary center containing a spirooxindole, have been synthesized asymmetrically. The key feature of their total synthesis involves a novel rational construction of the chiral 3,3-disubstituted oxindole core from the acyclic chiral tetrasubstituted aldehyde. The later scaffold was prepared in high enantioselectivity (up to 86%) from the ethyl 3-hydroxy-2-(2-nitrophenyl)acrylate 1 by exploring both intermolecular and intramolecular Pd-mediated asymmetric allylic allylations (Pd-AAA). A through optimization of these approaches is …

Structure & Function Of Enzymes In Two Uncharacterized Gene Clusters From Pseudomonas Brassicacearum & Streptomyces Griseofuscus, Lamia Tabassum Badhon

Theses and Dissertations

Pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes harness this versatile cofactor to catalyze a variety of reactions including transamination, decarboxylation, racemization and various elemination/subsitution reactions. Several years ago, a new class of PLP-dependent enzymes was discovered that uses PLP and molecular oxygen to catalyze the 4-electron oxidation of L-arginine to 4-hydroxy-2-ketoarginine. Work with the prototypical enzyme of this class, MppP from Streptomyces wadayamensis (SwMppP), showed that the dioxygen consumed during the reaction is reduced to hydrogen peroxide, and that the hydroxyl group installed in the product derives from water. Thus, SwMppP is an L-arginine oxidase, and not an oxygenase. This was surprising given …

Determination Of The Metabolism, Distribution, And Concentration Of Calcitroic Acid, Elliot Di Milo

Theses and Dissertations

Near the turn of the 20th century scientist were beginning to discover compounds thatwere essential for humans beyond the previous establish, protein, grains, and fat. This ushered in a new field of studying a class of molecules that were considered “vital amines” later shortened to vitamins. Vitamin D was the fourth of this new class of compound that was identified and over the next decades was shown to play a vital role in the homeostasis of calcium and phosphorous. The dominant active form of vitamin D is formed within the body through a series of oxidation reactions acting upon its …

Approach Toward The Total Synthesis Of Some Sarpagine Related Indole Alkaloids: Histrixnine, Gelsempervine A, Gelsempervine B, O-Methylmacusine B & 19,20-Dihydro-O-Methylmacusine B,Design, Synthesis & Biological Study Of Some Novel Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Type (Gabaa) Receptor Ligands, Md Zubair Ahmed Khan

Theses and Dissertations

Indole alkaloids are chemically, biologically and commercially significant, as well as diversely distributed important group of natural products. These are of prominence because of their resemblance with various biologically essential molecules including tryptophan, tryptamine, and serotonin. The Sarpagine type indole alkaloids comprise one of the most diverse series of indole alkaloid natural products. These indole alkaloids are primarily isolated from three plant families: Apocynaceae, Rubiaceae, and Loganiaceae which have been used in traditional and folk medicines in many countries around the world. Biological screening of these alkaloids is not always possible, presumably, due to the paucity of the isolated natural …

Part I: Development Of Small-Molecule-Based Probes For The Vitamin D Receptor; Part Ii: Development Of A Scalable Manufacturing Process For Orcein Dye, Tania Roseann Mutchie

Theses and Dissertations

PART I:The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor and member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. VDR is expressed in the epithelia of endocrine organs, digestive system, bronchi, kidneys, and thymus, as well as being present in leukocytes and bone cells. Cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and immunomodulation, along with calcium and phosphate homeostasis, are all processes regulated by the receptor. Within the cell, VDR can be membrane-bound or located in the nucleus. Nuclear localization of VDR transpires following the binding of vitamin D metabolites, the most active of which is 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol). Within the nucleus, interactions …

Novel Approaches To The Determination Of Toxic Metals In Industrial Waste And Soil Extracts, Garrett Bruce Finn

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract:Because of their environmental impact, the contamination and migration of heavy metals is an important field of study. In this thesis, two novel methods for measuring toxic metals over a broad concentration range in complex matrices were successfully developed and applied to authentic samples. This research focused on toxic metals in two disparate environments: industrial effluent and soil. The primary work reported in this research focused on developing a Sequential Injection Analysis (SIA) process monitor to measure metals in industrial process waste streams in near real-time. Molecular Absorption Spectroscopy was used to determine levels of Zn and several other metals. …

A Mechanistic Investigation Of Cytochrome C Nitrite Reductase Catalyzed Reduction Of Nitrite To Ammonia: The Search For Catalytic Intermediates, Shahid Shahid

Theses and Dissertations

Cytochrome c Nitrite Reductase (ccNiR) is a periplasmic homodimeric decaheme enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of nitrite to ammonium in a process that involves six electrons and eight protons. Under standard assay conditions, which use a strong reducing agent as an electron source, catalysis takes place rapidly without producing detectable intermediates. However, intermediates do accumulate when weaker reducing agents are employed, allowing the ccNiR mechanism to be studied. Herein, the early stages of Shewanella oneidensis ccNiR-catalyzed nitrite reduction were investigated in isolation by using the weak reducing agents N,N,N’,N’-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) and the 2-electron reduced form of indigo trisulfonate. Experiments were …