Chemistry Commons^™

The Acute Physiological Response Of Polar Bears To Helicopter Capture, John P. Whiteman, Henry J. Harlow, George M. Durner, Eric V. Regehr, Steven C. Amstrup, Anthony M. Pagano, Merav Ben-David

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Many wildlife species are live captured, sampled, and released; for polar bears (Ursus maritimus) capture often requires chemical immobilization via helicopter darting. Polar bears reduce their activity for approximately 4 days after capture, likely reflecting stress recovery. To better understand this stress, we quantified polar bear activity (via collar‐mounted accelerometers) and body temperature (via loggers in the body core [T_abd] and periphery [T_per]) during 2–6 months of natural behavior, and during helicopter recapture and immobilization. Recapture induced bouts of peak activity higher than those that occurred during natural behavior for 2 of 5 bears, …

Ozonized Biochar Filtrate Effects On The Growth Of Pseudomonas Putida And Cyanobacteria Synechococcus Elongatus Pcc 7942, Oumar Sacko, Nancy L. Engle, Timothy J. Tschaplinski, Sandeep Kumar, James Weifu Lee

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Background

Biochar ozonization was previously shown to dramatically increase its cation exchange capacity, thus improving its nutrient retention capacity. The potential soil application of ozonized biochar warrants the need for a toxicity study that investigates its effects on microorganisms.

Results

In the study presented here, we found that the filtrates collected from ozonized pine 400 biochar and ozonized rogue biochar did not have any inhibitory effects on the soil environmental bacteria Pseudomonas putida, even at high dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations of 300 ppm. However, the growth of Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 was inhibited by the ozonized biochar filtrates at …

Here, There, And Everywhere: Probing Ubiquitin-Cavitand Binding Via 15n-1h Hsqc, Julia Didziulis

Scripps Senior Theses

Ubiquitination and other post-translational modifications play a major role in the proliferation of many neurodegenerative diseases, developmental disorders, and cancers, and as such are subjects of recently increased biochemical interest. Expanding upon such research, this study confirmed a robust method of ubiquitin expression and purification, then used 15N-1H HSQC to analyze ubiquitin samples containing varying concentrations of a deep cavitand with affinity for lysine and arginine side chains. In the pure ubiquitin spectrum, arginine side chain chemical shifts were detected in the nitrogen 80-85 ppm range and lysine side chain signals were undetected. However, upon introduction of the cavitand, collection …

Sequential Block Copolymers Of Polyisobutylene And Polyolefins, Manwel Labib

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

A two-step approach will be utilized to synthesize random polyolefin multiblock-copolymers. This strategy takes advantage of a,w-terminated telechelic polyolefins. Polypropylene (iPP)/polyethylene (PE) are picked because of their strength, and polyisobutylene (PIB) because of its hemocompatibility. This copolymer is theorized to make for robust bio-inert plastic, which can be used for surgical mesh implants.

Determining The Effects Of Chemical Exposure On Hepatocyte Mitochondrial Networks And Cell Viability, Bethany Eaton

All Master's Theses

Mitochondria are cellular organelles that are becoming more recently studied. One of their main functions is the production of energy through cellular respiration, which is crucial to cell life. However, they are also associated with numerous disease states. It is hypothesized that reactive oxygen species (ROS), largely produced in mitochondria, induce oxidative stress and affect mitochondrial morphology along with cell viability. This study compares chemical exposure of menadione, an ROS producer, and phthalates (plasticizers) on two mouse hepatocyte cell lines to determine the effects they have on mitochondrial morphology and cell viability. Three experiments were performed to analyze the effects …

Synthesis Of Rna Nucleotides Under Probable Prebiotic Conditions, Ryan Stimson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

RNA being composed of multiple covalently linked nucleotides is thought to have been a precursor to life circa 4.3-3.8 billion years ago. Non-enzymatically formed adenosine monophosphate (AMP), more specifically, is a vitally important subtopic of the self-assembly of the first RNA sequence. The goal of this study was to synthesize AMP non-enzymatically under benign conditions that are likely to have existed on early Earth. In this experiment, 3’,5’-cAMP was successfully formed using wet-dry cycles at 80°C paired with the minerals zeolite beta, hydroxyapatite, and aerosil 300 in the presence of adenosine, urea, and pyrophosphate. A nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer was …

The Influence Of Hydrogen Peroxide On The Enrichment Of Fe(Iii) Reducing Bacteria From Acid Mine Drainage, Susami Seth

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

It is hypothesized that the ocean of Europa, a Jupiter moon, hosts bacteria on its oceanic floor. Understanding how Fe(III) reducing bacteria (FeRB) from AMD utilize organic materials within its surrounding environment outlines how FeRB could thrive and tolerate extreme conditions. FeRB are known to tolerate metals and highly reactive oxidants species (ROS), but in this experiment, H₂O₂ was the experimental factor to further test FeRB tolerance. H₂O₂ is a common ROS and is damaging to living material such as proteins, DNA, and RNA. A range of H₂O₂ concentrations were fed …

Nonhematopoietic Erythropoietin: A Study Of Signaling, Structure, And Behavior, Nicholas John Pekas

Dissertations and Theses

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a cytokine hormone known for initiating red blood cell proliferation by binding to its homodimer receptor (EPOR)2 in the bone marrow. Recent progress in neurobiology has shown that EPO also exerts robust neurotrophic and neuroprotective activity in the CNS. It is widely thought that EPO’s neurotrophic activity is centrally involved in its antidepressant and cognitive enhancing effects. However, EPO’s potent erythropoietic effects prevent it from being used in the clinic to treat psychiatric disorders. A chemically engineered non-erythropoietic derivative of EPO, carbamoylated EPO (CEPO), produces psychoactive effects without activating hematopoiesis. However, CEPO is expensive to produce and …

Copper(Ii) And Silver(I)‑1,10‑Phenanthroline‑5,6‑Dione Complexes Interact With Double‑Stranded Dna: Further Evidence Of Their Apparent Multi‑Modal Activity Towards Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Anna Clara Milesi Galdino, Lívia Viganor, Matheus Mendonça Pereira, Michael Devereux, Malachy Mccann, Marta Helena Branquinha, Zara Molphy, Sinéad O'Carroll, Conor Bain, Georgia Menounou, Andrew Kellett, André Luis Souza Dos Santos

Articles

Tackling microbial resistance requires continuous efforts for the development of new molecules with novel mechanisms of action and potent antimicrobial activity. Our group has previously identified metal-based compounds, [Ag(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione)2]ClO4 (Ag-phendione) and [Cu(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione)3](ClO4)2.4H2O (Cu-phendione), with efficient antimicrobial action against multidrug-resistant species. Herein, we investigated the ability of Ag-phendione and Cu-phendione to bind with double-stranded DNA using a combination of in silico and in vitro approaches. Molecular docking revealed that both phendione derivatives can interact with the DNA by hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Cu-phendione exhibited the highest binding affinity to either major (− 7.9 kcal/mol) or minor (− 7.2 kcal/mol) …

Advancing Competency In Managing Risk And Knowledge: Steps Toward Operationalisation Of The Risk-Knowledge Infinity Cycle (Rki Cycle) - Part 1: Improving Effectiveness Of Risk-Based Decision Making (Rbdm), Martin Lipa, Paige Kane, Anne Greene

Articles

To date, literature on the Risk-Knowledge Infinity Cycle (RKI Cycle) has mainly been theoretical. This paper series intent is to focus on the operationalisation of the RKI Cycle by describing a series of steps – the “How to” – for RKI Cycle deployment, to help move the RKI Cycle from theory to practice. The first paper in this series focuses on how the RKI Cycle can support effective Risk-Based Decision Making (RBDM).

Identifying And Minimizing Sources Of Variability Within Modern Spectroscopic Techniques For The Forensic Analysis Of Glass, Oriana Christy Ovide

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Broken glass is a trace material frequently found at crime scenes such as hit-and-runs, burglaries, assaults, and homicides. Existing research encompassing the forensic analysis of glass evidence is vast. Published studies cover the analysis and interpretation of various types of glass. However, organizations such as the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), National Institute of Standards and Technology Organization of Scientific Area Committees (NIST-OSAC), and American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners (ASTEE) continue to identify glass-specific research needs to strengthen the scientific foundations of the field. Current gaps within the forensic glass community involve understanding modern glass formulations, re-evaluating the performance …

Efficient Removal Of Lead Ions From Aqueous Media Using Sustainable Sources On Marine Algae, Hannah Namkoong, Erik Biehler, Gon Namkoong, Tarek M. Abdel-Fattah

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The goal of this project is to explore a new method to efficiently remove Pb(II) ions from water by processing Undaria pinnatifida into immobilized beads using sodium alginate and calcium chloride. The resulting biosorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Using immobilized U. pinnatifida, we investigated the effect of various factors on Pb(II) ion removal efficiency such as temperature, pH, ionic strength, time, and underlying biosorption mechanisms. For Pb(II) ion biosorption studies, Pb(II) ion biosorption data were obtained and analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models. It …

Synthesis Of 6,6- And 7,7-Difluoro-1-Acetamidopyrrolizidines And Their Oxidation Catalyzed By The Nonheme Fe Oxygenase Lolo, Nabin Panth

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

One of the remarkable steps in loline alkaloid biosynthesis is the installation of an ether bridge between two unactivated C atoms in 1-exo-acetamidopyrrolizidine (AcAP). LolO, a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent nonheme Fe oxygenase, catalyzes both the hydroxylation of AcAP and the resulting alcohol's cycloetherification to give N-acetylnornoline (NANL). The mechanism of hydroxylation is well understood, but the mechanism of the oxacyclization is not. I synthesized difluorinated analogs of AcAP in an attempt to further understand the mechanism of the unusual cycloetherification step.

I prepared 6,6-F₂-AcAP in eight steps from N,O-protected 4-oxoproline. The key step was a Dieckmann …

The Role Of Charge On Dna Packaging And Integrity Within Reconstituted Peptide-Dna Assemblies, Ehigbai Oikeh

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

In nature, DNA exists primarily in a highly compacted form. The compaction of DNA in vivo is mediated by cationic proteins; histone in somatic nuclei and arginine-rich peptides called protamines in sperm chromatin. The packaging in the sperm nucleus is significantly higher than somatic nuclei resulting in a final volume roughly 1/20^th that of a somatic nucleus. This tight packaging results in a near crystalline packaging of the DNA helices. While the dense packaging of DNA in sperm nuclei is considered essential for both efficient genetic delivery as well as DNA protection against damage by mutagens and oxidative species, …

Development Of Fluorescence Based Approaches To Understand Astrocyte Biology In The Context Of Nicotine And Nicotinic Receptor Activity, Surya P. Aryal

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Smoking and tobacco use (STU) is a major global health problem and worldwide more than six million people die due to tobacco related diseases each year. Although majority of smokers try to quit smoking several times in their life, traditional therapeutic approaches, which focus only on neuronal cells, have a very low success rate. Understanding the effect of nicotine on glial cells, synaptic communication and blood vasculature in the brain can provide further insights on the neurobiology of substance abuse and can potentially help to design better therapeutic approaches. Glial cells are non-excitable cells in the brain which do not …

Application Of Mass Spectrometry For Characterization Of Plant-Based Phenolics And Alkaloids, Masoumeh Dorrani

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Plant-derived compounds have the potential to produce value-added compounds with a variety of applications. For example, the lignin part of the lignocellulosic biomass, produced in large quantities as waste from the paper and pulp industries, is a rich source of phenolics with potential applications in the renewable energy sector, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. On the other hand, plant alkaloids are the primary source for developing plant-derived therapeutics. Unfortunately, the recalcitrant nature of plant cell walls, low extraction yields of small secondary metabolites, and the lack of effective analytical methods for a rapid and accurate identification of plant-based compounds and plant’s …

Assembly Mechanism Of Early Hsp90-Cdc37-Kinase Complexes, Dimitra Keramisanou, M.V. Vasantha Kumar, Nicole Boose, Rinat R. Abzalimov, Ioannis Gelis

Advanced Science Research Center

Molecular chaperones have an essential role for the maintenance of a balanced protein homeostasis. Here, we investigate how protein kinases are recruited and loaded to the Hsp90-Cdc37 complex, the first step during Hsp90-mediated chaperoning that leads to enhanced client kinase stability and activation. We show that conformational dynamics of all partners is a critical feature of the underlying loading mechanism. The kinome co-chaperone Cdc37 exists primarily in a dynamic extended conformation but samples a low-populated, well-defined compact structure. Exchange between these two states is maintained in an assembled Hsp90-Cdc37 complex and is necessary for substrate loading. Breathing motions at the …

Genomic Analysis Of Pollen Grains For Forensic Applications, Luz Kelley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

With over 300,000 plant species on the planet and more than 90% of them relying on pollen for reproduction, palynology, the study of pollen grains plays a vital role in many research fields. One of them is forensic palynology, which uses pollen as a proxy to link individuals or objects to a location or instance. It relies on the fact that (1) pollen is an ever-present feature of the environment; (2) different locations have different pollen signatures, allowing for inference related to spatial tracking; (3) plants bloom at different times, allowing for temporal inference; and (4) pollen is exceptionally durable …

Design And Synthesis Of Purine Based Neuroprotectors And Novel Synthetic Methods For The Trifluoromethylation Of Aldehyde Hydrazones, Puspa Aryal

Doctoral Dissertations

"Purine-derived compounds are widely investigated as cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors that have broad applications in the design of pharmaceuticals for treating diseases, such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cancers. Towards the goal of effective AGE-inhibitors, and neuroprotector compounds we have synthesized a series of novel purine-based triazoles and investigated their neuroprotective effects, using SHSY-3Y human neuroblastoma cell line. Through these studies, we have identified purine-based neuroprotector compounds that favorably modulate oxidative stress induced by the Fenton reaction-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS).

The C(sp²−H)-trifluoromethylation of hydrazones would give access to the αtrifluoromethylated hydrazones that can serve as intermediates in the synthesis …

การหาภาวะเหมาะที่สุดในการะบวนการผลิตยางรีเคลมสำหรับขยะยางที่ประกอบด้วยยางธรรมชาติและยางอีพีดีเอ็ม, ภัสรา สุวรรณสิงห์

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยนี้ได้ทำการศึกษาภาวะที่เหมาะสมของเครื่องอัดรีดแบบสกรูคู่สำหรับเตรียมยางรีเคลมจากขยะยาง 2 ชนิด ประกอบด้วยขยะยางที่มียางธรรมชาติเป็นองค์ประกอบหลักและขยะยางอีพีดีเอ็ม ผลการวิเคราะห์การสลายตัวด้วยความร้อนโดยเทคนิคเทอร์โมกราวิเมทริกแอนนาไลซิส พบว่าขยะยางที่มียางธรรมชาติเป็นองค์ประกอบหลักและขยะยางอีพีดีเอ็มมีสัดส่วนของเนื้อยางอยู่ที่ร้อยละ 53.5 และ 56.0 ตามลำดับ สำหรับการเตรียมยางรีเคลมจากขยะยางที่มียางธรรมชาติเป็นองค์ประกอบหลักภาวะของเครื่องอัดรีดแบบสกรูคู่ที่ได้ทำการศึกษาคือ ความเร็วรอบในการหมุนของสกรูที่ 150, 200 และ 250 rpm โดยแต่ละความเร็วรอบจะใช้อุณหภูมิโซนผสมที่ 200, 225 และ 250 องศาเซลเซียส ในขณะที่การเตรียมยางรีเคลมจากขยะยางอีพีดีเอ็มจะใช้ความเร็วรอบในการหมุนของสกรูเหมือนกับกรณีแรก แต่อุณหภูมิโซนผสมจะอยู่ที่ 250, 275 และ 300 องศาเซลเซียส ผลการศึกษาพบว่า การเพิ่มความเร็วรอบในการหมุนของสกรูและอุณหภูมิโซนผสมส่งผลทำให้ยางรีเคลมทั้งสองชนิดมีความหนืดมูนีลดลง เมื่อนำยางรีเคลมที่ได้ไปขึ้นรูปตามมาตรฐาน ISO/TS 16095:2021 และทดสอบสมบัติเชิงกล พบว่ายางรีเคลมจากขยะยางที่มียางธรรมชาติเป็นองค์ประกอบหลักที่เตรียมที่ภาวะความเร็วรอบในการหมุนของสกรูที่ 250 rpm และอุณหภูมิโซนผสมที่ 200 องศาเซลเซียส และขยะยางอีพีดีเอ็มที่เตรียมที่ภาวะความเร็วรอบในการหมุนของสกรูที่ 150 rpm และอุณหภูมิโซนผสมที่ 275 องศาเซลเซียส จะมีความต้านทานต่อแรงดึงและระยะยืด ณ จุดขาด สูงที่สุด ทั้งนี้เป็นผลมาจากยางรีเคลมทั้ง 2 ชนิด ที่ได้จากภาวะข้างต้นมีร้อยละการดีวัลคาไนซ์สูงที่สูด ทำให้มีสภาพเป็นเทอร์โมพลาสติกสูงที่สุด เมื่อนำไปขึ้นรูปซ้ำจึงให้สมบัติเชิงกลดีที่สุด เมื่อนำภาวะข้างต้นไปศึกษาอิทธิพลของชนิดและปริมาณสารรีเคลมประเภทเททระเบนซิลไทยูแรมไดซัลไฟด์และเททระไอโซบิวทิลไทยูแรมไดซัลไฟด์ พบว่ายางรีเคลมคงรูปจากขยะยางที่มียางธรรมชาติเป็นองค์ประกอบหลักและยางรีเคลมคงรูปจากขยะยางอีพีดีเอ็มที่เติมสารรีเคลมชนิดเททระไอโซบิวทิลไทยูแรมไดซัลไฟด์ 1 และ 3 ส่วนในร้อยส่วนของยางจะมีความต้านทานต่อแรงดึงและระยะยืด ณ จุดขาด สูงที่สุดทั้งสองชนิดที่เติม ทั้งนี้เป็นผลมาจากยางรีเคลมดังกล่าวมีร้อยละการดีวัลคาไนซ์สูงที่สูด เมื่อนำยางรีเคลมทั้ง 2 ชนิดที่ไปใช้ทดแทนยางบริสุทธิ์ตามสูตรที่กำหนด พบว่าเมื่อเพิ่มปริมาณยางรีเคลมเป็นผลให้สมบัติเชิงกลของยางคงรูปลดลงตามลำดับ อย่างไรก็ตามพบว่าที่มีการใช้ยางรีเคลมทดแทนยางบริสุทธิ์จะได้ยางคงรูปมีความต้านทานต่อการเสื่อมสภาพเนื่องจากความร้อนสูงที่ขึ้น

การศึกษาปัจจัยที่ส่งผลต่อสมบัติของยางแผ่นรมควันเกรดพรีเมียม, สายสุณี จิตกล้า

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

ถึงแม้ว่าสมบัติเชิงกลของยางแผ่นรมควันจะเหนือกว่ายางแห้งชนิดอื่นก็ตาม แต่ความไม่สม่ำเสมอในคุณภาพของยางส่งผลให้ปริมาณการใช้งานยางแผ่นรมควันในอุตสาหกรรมล้อยางลดลงอย่างต่อเนื่อง ปัจจุบันการยางแห่งประเทศไทยได้กำหนดมาตรฐานการผลิตยางแผ่นรมควันขึ้นเพื่อควบคุมและให้ได้ยางแผ่นรมควันที่มีสมบัติต่าง ๆ คงที่ ซึ่งยางที่ได้จะเรียกว่า “ยางแผ่นรมควันเกรดพรีเมียม” หรือ “ยางแผ่นรมควันเกรด P” เพื่อให้เข้าใจถึงสาเหตุที่ส่งผลให้สมบัติต่าง ๆ ของยางแผ่นรมควันแปรปรวนดียิ่งขึ้น งานวิจัยนี้ได้ศึกษาถึงอิทธิพลด้านภาวะการผลิต ช่วงฤดูกาลกรีดยาง รวมไปถึงพิ้นที่ปลูกยางต่อสมบัติทั้งทางกายภาพและเชิงกลของยางแผ่นรมควัน ผลการทดลองที่ได้พบว่า เมื่อใช้น้ำยางที่มีปริมาณเนื้อยางแห้งแตกต่างกันและใช้ความเข้มข้นกรดฟอร์มิกในการจับตัวเนื้อยางแตกต่างกัน สมบัติของยางแผ่นรมควันจะแตกต่างกันไป โดยพบว่าเมื่อปริมาณเนื้อยางแห้งและความเข้มข้นกรดฟอร์มิกเพิ่มขึ้นส่งผลให้ค่าสิ่งระเหยในยางแผ่นรมควันเพิ่มขึ้น เนื่องจากก้อนยางที่ได้จากการจับตัวของเนื้อยางด้วยกรดค่อนข้างแข็ง ทำให้เมื่อนำไปรีดเป็นแผ่นบางทำได้ยาก น้ำในเนื้อยางจึงระเหยออกมาได้ไม่ดี เมื่อเพิ่มปริมาณเนื้อยางแห้งจะทำให้ค่า PO, PRI และความหนืดมูนีเพิ่มขึ้น การแปรปริมาณเนื้อยางแห้งในน้ำยางจาก 20% (ภาวะใช้ในการผลิตยางแผ่นรมควันพรีเมียม) เป็น 18, 20 และ 25% โดยน้ำหนัก ส่งผลให้ความทนต่อแรงดึงของยางแตกต่างกันมากที่สุดอยู่ที่ 2.1 MPa การเพิ่มความเข้มข้นกรดฟอร์มิกจะส่งผลทำให้ค่า PO, PRI และความหนืดมูนีลดลง การแปรความเข้มข้นกรดฟอร์มิกจาก 4% (ภาวะที่ใช้ในการผลิตยางแผ่นรมควันเกรดพรีเมียม) เป็น 2, 3, 5, 8 และ 10% โดยปริมาตร ส่งผลให้ความทนต่อแรงดึงของยางแตกต่างกันมากที่สุดอยู่ที่ 3.2 MPa เมื่อพิจารณาฤดูกาลกรีดยางแตกต่างกัน น้ำยางที่ได้จากช่วงการผลัดใบของต้นยางจะมีปริมาณเนื้อยางแห้งในน้ำยางลดลง และปริมาณธาตุต่างๆ ในยางเพิ่มขึ้น ซึ่งจะส่งผลต่อค่าเถ้าและไนโตรเจนในยางแผ่นรมควันแตกต่างกัน ค่าความหนืดมูนีของยางแผ่นรมควันขึ้นอยู่กับช่วงฤดูกาลกรีดยางค่อนข้างชัดเจน โดยยางแผ่นรมควันที่เตรียมจากน้ำยางที่ได้จากการกรีดในช่วงกรีดปกติจะมีความหนืดมูนีที่สูงกว่ายางแผ่นรมควันที่เตรียมจากน้ำยางที่ได้จากการกรีดในช่วงก่อนปิดกรีด ยางแผ่นรมควันที่ได้จากภาคตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือมีปริมาณเถ้ามากกว่าที่ได้จากภาคใต้ ซึ่งปริมาณเถ้าเกิดจากปริมาณสารและแร่ธาตุต่าง ๆ ในดินที่ไม่เหมือนกัน อย่างไรก็ตาม ยางที่ได้จากทั้งสองบริเวณที่มีค่า PO , PRI และ ความหนืดมูนี ไม่ได้แตกต่างกันอย่างเห็นได้ชัด

Antiviral Effects Of Metalloshielding: Differential Antiviral Activity Of Polynuclear Platinum And Cobalt Compounds, Mary Zoepfl

Theses and Dissertations

The majority of antiviral drug development has focused on virus-specific discovery targeting discrete steps in the individual life cycles. Although great strides have been made for a number of clinically relevant diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus, influenza virus, and hepatitis B, broad spectrum antivirals do not exist. Broad spectrum antivirals would offer (1) treatment for viruses without specifically-targeted antivirals, (2) treatment for viruses which have developed resistance to their available treatments, and (3) a rapidly deployable treatment option in viral epidemics. Many viruses including human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), HIV, and SARS-CoV-2. rely on heparan sulfate (HS), a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan …

Behavioral Screening And Chiral Bioanalysis Of Emerging Stimulant-Type Drugs In Rats, Tyson R. Baird

Theses and Dissertations

The epidemic of drug use in the United States and elsewhere in the world has resulted in tragic loss of life and substantial economic costs. Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are one of the contributors to this problem, and the lack of information about many of these drugs compounds their risk. This dissertation proposes a strategy to use intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) as a behavioral screening tool to assess emerging drugs of abuse for their abuse potential in order to generate a proactive threat assessment. A series of stimulant-type drugs including methcathinone, α-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (α-PHP), cocaine, and the phenyltropane analogs of cocaine WIN35428 …

Emissions, Shawn Urbanski, Susan O'Neill, Amara L. Holder, Sarah Green, Rick L. Graw

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

This chapter assesses the current state of the science regarding the composition, intensity, and drivers of wildland fire emissions in the USA and Canada. Globally and in the USA wildland fires are a major source of gases and aerosols which have significant air quality impacts and climate interactions. Wildland fire smoke can trigger severe pollution episodes with substantial effects on public health. Fire emissions can degrade air quality at considerable distances downwind, hampering efforts by air regulators to meet air standards. Fires are a major global source of aerosols which affect the climate system by absorbing and scattering radiation and …

Multilevel Computational Investigation Into The Dynamics And Reaction Mechanisms Of Non-Heme Iron And 2-Oxoglutarate Dependent Enzymes, Shobhit Sanjeev Chaturvedi

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Computational chemistry methods have been extensively applied to investigate biological systems. This dissertation utilizes a multilevel computational approach to explore the dynamics and reaction mechanisms of two groups of enzymes belonging to non-heme Fe(II) and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) dependent superfamily – histone lysine demethylases from class 7 and ethylene forming enzyme (EFE). Chapter 2 uncovers the role of conformational dynamics in the substrate selectivity of histone lysine demethylases 7A and 7B. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the two enzymes revealed the importance of linker flexibility and dynamics in relative orientations of the reader (PHD) and the catalytic (JmjC) domains. Chapter …

Review Of The Effects Of Asphalt Fume Emission (Vocs And Pahs) In Vitro, In Vivo And Human Studies, Omran Taqi, Nastassja Lewinski, Elham Fini, Eran Rozewski, Judith Klein-Seetharaman

Undergraduate Research Posters

Review of the effects of Asphalt fume emission (VOCs and PAHs) in vitro, in vivo and human studies

Omran Taqi, Nastassja Lewinski¹

1) Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Background

Asphalt is abundantly available around human operations including road paving and roofing sites. However, their emissions and fumes (specifically volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) have been found to have adverse effects on health. Asphalt fumes are a class 2A carcinogen and exposure can increase the risk of lung cancer, asthma, headache, fatigue, and other cardiovascular diseases.

Methods

We used …

Fluorescence Probes For Bioimaging: Synthesis, Photophysical Properties And Applications, Mehrun Nahar Uddin

Dissertations

Fluorescent probes are a vital tool in the study of cell imaging. There are many types of fluorescent probes ranging from inorganic and organic nanoparticles to organic molecules. When used judiciously, they can help provide essential information on cellular structure and function. The introduction of two-photon microscopy has expanded the need for new probes, in particular near-infrared (NIR) absorbing and emitting fluorescent probes. The photochemical and photophysical properties of NIR probes play a crucial role in their effectiveness in cell imaging by both conventional and two-photon excitation (2PE) microscopy. In this research, the synthesis, photophysical properties, and two-photon absorption (2PA) …

Bodipy Based Photodynamic Therapy And Potassium Probes, Xiangshan Liu

Dissertations

Boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) has become more and more popular in photophysical and biological applications. BODIPY based fluorescence compounds have numerous advantage properties including low toxicity, high absorption extinction coefficients, high fluorescence quantum yields, sharp fluorescence emissions, and resistance to photobleaching. All the good properties lead to the wide applications of BODIPY based compounds. In this research, two different kinds of BODIPY are synthesized. Firstly, BDBrC containing carbazole and BODIPY core is synthesized. Cellular uptake research shows BDBrC can target on lysosome and singlet oxygen generation research result indicates that BDBrC can be used in photodynamic therapy. BDBrC also shows pH-sensitive …

Optical And Chemical Properties Of Fragaria Ananassa And Galena: Potential Photosensitizers In A Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell, Ibukun S Akinsola, Aderemi B Alabi, Coppede Nicola

Tanzania Journal of Science

Dye is one of the major components for high power conversion efficiency in a dye-sensitized solar cell. There are challenges natural dyes encounter, especially with quick degradation of the dye molecules. This work considered mineral dye in comparison with plant dye to address the challenge of degradation of natural plant dyes. The optical properties and functional groups of the two natural dyes were studied in this work. The absorption spectra, the optical band gaps and the absorption coefficients of the dyes were reported and found to be suitable for use as photosensitizers in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), as they …

Physico-Chemical Properties Of Mechanically Extracted Banana Juice At Different Ripening Stages, Mathayo G Mathias, Lilian D Kaale, Oscar Kibazohi

Tanzania Journal of Science

This paper presents the findings of a study on physico-chemical properties of low viscosity banana juice from five banana cultivars: Pisang Awak (PSA) an ABB genome, Yangambi km5 (YKM5) an AAA genome and cultivars from AAA-EA genome, namely Mbilabile, Ndeshi and Mlonga. Low viscosity banana juice was extracted using improved mechanical method at five ripening stages. The physico-chemical properties significantly varied according to cultivars and ripening stages (p < 0.05). Yields, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA) and pH were in the range of 19.50–74.03%, 7.33–27.64 ºBrix, 0.37–0.76% malic acid equivalent and 4.09–4.70, respectively. Yields decreased in the order of Mbilabile > Ndeshi > Mlonga > YKM5 > PSA whereas the total soluble solids increased as follows Mlonga < Mbilabile < Ndeshi < YKM5 < PSA. Furthermore, ashes and mineral contents decreased with ripening stages whereas the low viscosity banana juice was rich in potassium and magnesium. Finally, the study recommends stage 5 of the ripeness as ideal for producing low viscosity banana juice. Keywords: Mechanical extraction, Banana cultivar, Ripening stage, Tannin, Banana juice.