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Articles 31 - 59 of 59
Full-Text Articles in Analytical Chemistry
A Consideration Of Ancient Residues And Their Analysis, Jennifer A. Cardinal
A Consideration Of Ancient Residues And Their Analysis, Jennifer A. Cardinal
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Identification of specific use(s) of ancient pottery vessels through empirical verification is currently very limited for archaeological investigations. Although we can postulate a range of purposes or functions for certain vessels, empirical confirmation of actual use has been determined only for a minuscule portion of the available vessels. This thesis will provide a broad review of organic analyses as applied to foodstuff residues left on ancient artifacts as well as discuss several considerations for such analysis that are unique to their application to archaeological specimens.
Further Development Of Raman Spectroscopy For Body Fluid Investigation : Forensic Identification, Limit Of Detection, And Donor Characterization, Claire K. Muro
Further Development Of Raman Spectroscopy For Body Fluid Investigation : Forensic Identification, Limit Of Detection, And Donor Characterization, Claire K. Muro
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
The challenges to forensic body fluid analysis have placed limitations on the type of information that investigators can acquire and how that information can be collected. In recent years, Raman spectroscopy has proven itself useful for characterizing body fluids. In 2008, a large-scale investigation was undertaken to explore the use of Raman spectroscopy as a means of identifying body fluids. This work resulted in multidimensional Raman spectroscopic signatures for the five main body fluids: semen, peripheral blood, saliva, vaginal fluid, and sweat. These studies were incredibly successful and created the foundation for years of continued research. Accordingly, the studies included …
Development Of Direct Analysis In Real Time-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (Dart-Hrms) And Statistical Analysis Tools For The Identification And Classification Of Psychoactive Plant Drugs, Ashton Danielle Lesiak
Development Of Direct Analysis In Real Time-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (Dart-Hrms) And Statistical Analysis Tools For The Identification And Classification Of Psychoactive Plant Drugs, Ashton Danielle Lesiak
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
In current forensic testing, a new pattern is emerging where the drugs that are submitted to crime labs for analysis are no longer restricted to well-characterized substances such as cocaine, heroin and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The appearance of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in forensic laboratories, including synthetic alternatives to scheduled substances and plant-based psychotropics, has highlighted issues that traditional analytical methods such as gas chromatography- and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry impose in the characterization of these samples. These can include lengthy extractions, derivatization steps, pH adjustments and/or a host of other procedures. Since the creation of legislation to address the use of …
The Chemistry Of New Garlic-Derived Organosulfur Compounds And The Molecular Basis Of Olfaction, Berenice Dethier
The Chemistry Of New Garlic-Derived Organosulfur Compounds And The Molecular Basis Of Olfaction, Berenice Dethier
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Garlic is a very popular condiment that has been used around the world for centuries. It is also a source of a remarkably extensive range of organosulfur compounds, whose chemistry is the focus of this thesis. The central reaction in formation of these compounds is the enzymatic cleavage of alk(en)yl cysteine sulfoxides by alliinases, which leads to sulfenic acids. The latter can then undergo condensation and rearrangement into various organosulfur compounds. Three aspects of the chemistry of garlic have been investigated in this thesis.
The Use Of Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry For The Structural Elucidation Of Progressively Larger Nucleic Acids, Jennifer Lynn Lippens
The Use Of Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry For The Structural Elucidation Of Progressively Larger Nucleic Acids, Jennifer Lynn Lippens
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
The biomedical community and pharmaceutical industry have come to rely in ever
Structure And Stability Of Amyloid Fibrils Studied By Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy, Marudachalam Shanmugasundaram
Structure And Stability Of Amyloid Fibrils Studied By Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy, Marudachalam Shanmugasundaram
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Protein misfolding often leads to the formation of refractory protein aggregates like amyloid fibrils. These fibrils possess a highly ordered structure and are implicated in over 25 severe diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and prion diseases. This work was focused on understanding the morphology and conformation of amyloid fibrils and their stability after formation. The deconstruction of fibrils as well as other aggregates like inclusion bodies under mild conditions was also investigated using Archaeal chaperones.
Mass Spectrometry-Based Rnomics : Global Surveys Of Ribonucleotide Modifications As Possible Indicators Of Cell Identity, Epigenetic, Metabolic And Pathological State, Rebecca Erin Rose
Mass Spectrometry-Based Rnomics : Global Surveys Of Ribonucleotide Modifications As Possible Indicators Of Cell Identity, Epigenetic, Metabolic And Pathological State, Rebecca Erin Rose
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Discovery of the regulatory roles of non-protein coding RNAs (ncRNAs), once considered “junk” or “transcriptional noise”, has prompted a reassessment of the significance of the multifaceted activities of RNA in cellular response, which can result in cell transformation and diseased states. This reassessment, however, can only be accomplished if techniques are developed to capture, characterize and quantify the more than 100 covalent post-transcriptional modifications (PTMs) that adorn natural RNAs. Undoubtedly, the creation of high-throughput platforms such as next-generation sequencing and RNA-seq have provided unparalleled accuracy and sensitivity, however, they rely on strand amplification procedures that are blind to the known …
An Investigation Of Alkaline Earth And Rare Earth Elements In Human Bone Following Long-Term Parenteral Nutrition, Aubrey L. Galusha
An Investigation Of Alkaline Earth And Rare Earth Elements In Human Bone Following Long-Term Parenteral Nutrition, Aubrey L. Galusha
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
This investigation focused on a unique collection of archived human bones obtained post-mortem from 7 patients, who had received long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) for up to 21 years. Parenterals are administered intravenously as a nutritional supplement, and may be contaminated with metals, which are completely absorbed into the blood compartment. Some metal contaminants may be deposited in the body’s reservoir for inorganic elements – bone.
Characterization Of Metallic And Semimetallic Oxide Nanoparticles In Industrial Wastewater And Associated Toxicity, Gary Roth
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) play an increasing role in manufacturing and consumer products. Currently, there is no standard approach to studying ENM toxicity, and a growing body of literature suggests that ENMs may have toxicity differing from similar compounds in bulk or dissolved form. I examined ENMs used in the semiconductor manufacturing process called chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) for their properties, removal in the wastewater treatment system (WWT), in-vitro toxicity, and location post-inhalation in-vivo. It was found that ENMs in CMP slurries have morphology determined by their elemental composition, but assessment of size and concentration can differ substantially between accepted techniques. Particles …
Advanced Raman Spectroscopic Methods For Structural Characterization Of Amyloid Fibrils And Bionanotubes, Valentin Sereda
Advanced Raman Spectroscopic Methods For Structural Characterization Of Amyloid Fibrils And Bionanotubes, Valentin Sereda
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Amyloid aggregation is a specific form of protein misfolding and self-assembly related to several degenerative pathologies like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, type-II diabetes, etc. This association with deadly diseases has made amyloid fibrils the focus of intensive research for many decades. Most recently, a significant interest to protein fibrils was also due to the application of the remarkable self-assembling capabilities to form well-structured nano-biomaterials. Self-assembly of short peptide sequences into well-organized structures is another important strategy for bottom-up fabrications of nano-biomaterials. One of the most commonly used building blocks is diphenylalanine, a short dipeptide that has been identified as playing …
Monitoring Ligand-Induced Nucleic Acid Conformational Changes Using Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry, Bill Kenneth Redick
Monitoring Ligand-Induced Nucleic Acid Conformational Changes Using Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry, Bill Kenneth Redick
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Three-dimensional structures of biopolymers frequently dictate the biological role those molecules play. As such, investigation into structure of nucleic acids can provide important information pertaining to how those nucleic acids work. Many nucleic acid species, especially single-stranded RNA, fold into unique structures that allow them to function properly. Metals, and other cationic species, are often bound to the nucleic acid to make folding into the proper structure more favorable by neutralizing the negative charge on the nucleic acid imparted by the phosphate group. This investigation explores tertiary structure of nucleic acids that have been folded in the presence of ligands …
Improving The Microbial Source Tracking Toolbox : Evaluating The Use Of Selective Enrichments And Artificial Sweeteners In A Multi-Tiered Approach, Stacey A. Helming
Improving The Microbial Source Tracking Toolbox : Evaluating The Use Of Selective Enrichments And Artificial Sweeteners In A Multi-Tiered Approach, Stacey A. Helming
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Microbial contamination of surface waters is a public health concern world-wide, with non-point source fecal input contributing to millions of cases of waterborne illness annually. Numerous techniques have been proposed to monitor for non-point source fecal contamination, but few studies have explored the correlation of multiple chemical and microbial fecal source tracking markers in ambient waters. Therefore, the purpose of these studies was to evaluate the use of multiple "ideal" markers of fecal contamination and improve upon any analytical techniques required to identify species-specific fecal contamination in surface waters. The use of selective enrichments to improve the sensitivity of end-point …
Raman Spectroscopy Of Blood Serum And Cerebrospinal Fluid And Multivariate Data Analysis For Alzheimer's Disease Diagnostics, Elena Ryzhikova
Raman Spectroscopy Of Blood Serum And Cerebrospinal Fluid And Multivariate Data Analysis For Alzheimer's Disease Diagnostics, Elena Ryzhikova
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
The efficient and accurate diagnosis at the early stages of dementia is a key moment for effective treatment and productive research to find a new ways to combat the disease. It is especially true for Alzheimer's disease (AD) for which there is no effective cure, but several treatments are known to allow slowing down the degenerative processes. Alzheimer's disease (AD) displays only non-specific clinical symptoms of mental decline for decades after the initiation and is very challenging to differentiate even at the later stages when it becomes very aggressive. Despite the great need, current diagnostic tests are unable to diagnose …
Raman Spectroscopy For The Identification Of Body Fluid Traces : Mixtures And Contaminations, Race And Gender Differentation, Aliaksandra Sikirzhytskaya
Raman Spectroscopy For The Identification Of Body Fluid Traces : Mixtures And Contaminations, Race And Gender Differentation, Aliaksandra Sikirzhytskaya
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Body fluid traces are an important type of forensic evidence, which play a significant role in the reconstruction of a violent crime and often help to identify a victim or suspect based on DNA analysis. Despite a great need, there is no a single method, which could identify multiple body fluids. In addition, majority of current methods are destructive for the evidence. For about eight years, our laboratory has been working on the development of a new nondestructive method for identification of body fluid traces based on Raman microspectroscopy combined with advanced statistics. High differentiation power of the method has …
Vibrational Spectroscopic Analysis Of Gunshot Residue : A Novel Approach For Detection And Characterization, Justin J. Bueno
Vibrational Spectroscopic Analysis Of Gunshot Residue : A Novel Approach For Detection And Characterization, Justin J. Bueno
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Due to the increasing prevalence of firearm related crimes, there is a need for an all-encompassing analytical technique which can rapidly detect and analyze trace crime scene firearm evidence. There are several forms of ballistics and trace evidence associated with firearm offenses. Historically, the most neglected piece of evidence has ironically been the most prevalent. Each firearm discharge produces a so called gunshot residue (GSR) sample, expelling dust and particles numbering from hundreds to thousands throughout the shooting environment. The detection of GSR at a crime scene or on a suspect is critical for determining what actually happened during a …
Assessment Of Human Exposure To Perchlorate And Perfluoroalkyl Substances In The United States : Biomonitoring And Environmental Monitoring Approaches, Qian Wu
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Perchlorate is an oxidant in solid fuels and explosives and is produced in large quantities worldwide. Perchlorate is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant and is present in water, food, indoor environment and humans. Human exposure to perchlorate is a concern due to its ability to disrupt the thyroid gland functions.
Raman Spectroscopic Analysis Of Body Fluids : Species Differentiation And The Effect Of Substrate Interference And Laser Power, Gregory Keith Mclaughlin
Raman Spectroscopic Analysis Of Body Fluids : Species Differentiation And The Effect Of Substrate Interference And Laser Power, Gregory Keith Mclaughlin
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Several recent discoveries demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy has a unique capability to characterize body fluid traces in a forensic capacity. This approach has thus garnered interest in the forensic community since 2008, when a proof of concept experiment established that blood, semen, vaginal fluid, sweat and saliva are easily differentiable through their Raman spectra. Several possible methods of identification have been described in the literature, one approach uses chemometrical models, and another applies recently formulated multidimensional Raman signatures. The analytical sampling method and the identification procedure provide several desirable traits for the field of forensic science. In particular, Raman spectroscopy …
Trace Element Analysis Of Environmental And Clinical Materials Using Novel Instrumentation Based On X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry : New Capabilities For Public Health Laboratories, Kathryn G. Mcintosh
Trace Element Analysis Of Environmental And Clinical Materials Using Novel Instrumentation Based On X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry : New Capabilities For Public Health Laboratories, Kathryn G. Mcintosh
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry is a well-established analytical technique for determining the elemental content of many different materials. XRF has long been used for public health applications, particularly for identifying lead-based paint hazards. The primary advantage of XRF over other atomic spectrometric techniques is that it is nondestructive. In addition, little sample preparation is required, so results are obtained rapidly and at low cost. The principal aim of this study was to characterize the utility and reliability of current XRF instrumentation for use in the environmental health sciences. Interest in the use of XRF for detecting lead in children's toys …
Fractional Comparison Of Arson Accelerants Using Advanced Distillation, Sarah Clickner
Fractional Comparison Of Arson Accelerants Using Advanced Distillation, Sarah Clickner
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Detection of accelerants is often critical in proving a fire was intentional. Establishing a fire was intentionally set is not an easy task and hinges on the preservation of accelerant present in fire debris. Various accelerants have previously been studied using the advanced distillation method to get fractional composition information. The resulting fractions from advanced distillations were compared to evaporation and burn samples to determine if there were any similarities.
The Application Of Raman Spectroscopy As A Confirmatory Blood Test In The Presence Of Sodium Hypochlorite Cleaners In In Comparison With Presumptive Blood Tests, Aliea Anoshaa Afnan
The Application Of Raman Spectroscopy As A Confirmatory Blood Test In The Presence Of Sodium Hypochlorite Cleaners In In Comparison With Presumptive Blood Tests, Aliea Anoshaa Afnan
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Popular presumptive tests for blood include: Luminol, tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), leucomalachite green (LMG), phenolphthalein, and Hemastix® [3]. These presumptive tests have been reviewed with respect to their sensitivity, specificity, and DNA degradation. In this study, the aforementioned presumptive tests were subjected to bloodstains deposited on cotton contaminated with all-purpose bleach and compared with Raman spectroscopy as an application of a confirmatory blood test. Samples were tested for interference with the all-purpose bleach to determine the selectivity of the presumptive tests. Tetramethylbenzidine, leucomalachite green, and phenolphthalein all yielded inconclusive results when applied to a contaminated sample. Luminol and Hemastix® yielded a positive …
Amyloid Fibril Polymorphism : Structure, Supramolecular Chiraliy And Spontaneous Interconversion, Dzmitry Kurouski
Amyloid Fibril Polymorphism : Structure, Supramolecular Chiraliy And Spontaneous Interconversion, Dzmitry Kurouski
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Specific protein aggregation has been linked to more than 25 severe human maladies including prion, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases. These important malfunctions are often referred to as 'conformational' disorders and result from the conversion of a normal isoform of a protein into a specific b-sheet rich polymeric amyloid form. This work elaborates a comprehensive characterization of amyloids and dedicated to the investigation of the fibril polymorphism using advanced microscopic tools, such as Atomic Force and Scanning Electron microcopies, together with several vibrational spectroscopy techniques, such as Raman, Infrared and Vibrational Circular Dichroism. A new type of protein folding-aggregation phenomenon, spontaneous …
Single Cell Analysis For The Characterization Of Cell Populations Using A Live Cell Array, Maureen Ann Walling
Single Cell Analysis For The Characterization Of Cell Populations Using A Live Cell Array, Maureen Ann Walling
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
In the past decade, the shift from whole cell population analyses towards single cell measurement methods and techniques is based on experimental results that reveal significant levels of non-genetic heterogeneity in clonal cell populations. This heterogeneity manifests in multiple aspects of cell activity and is, in part, a result of stochastic noise in processes leading to gene expression, namely transcription and translation. The growing understanding of this occurrence has led to the development of methods to monitor and analyze heterogeneity for a more thorough description of cell populations and overall activity.
Advanced Statistical Methods For Biochemical And Forensic Applications Of Raman Spectroscopy, Vitali Sikirzhytski
Advanced Statistical Methods For Biochemical And Forensic Applications Of Raman Spectroscopy, Vitali Sikirzhytski
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
This work is dedicated to the development and application of advanced statistical methods for biochemical and forensic applications of Raman spectroscopy. We developed a new concept of multidimensional Raman signatures for forensic identification of body fluid traces, which was successfully applied to the study of dried blood, semen, saliva, sweat and vaginal fluid stains. Several alternative advanced chemometric techniques were also successfully tested for the problems of pure body fluids discrimination and mixture analysis. Studies of body fluid mixtures with low blood and semen concentrations indicated that the detection limit of a minor contributor was as low as a few …
Elucidating The Structure Of Protein Aggregates By Raman Spectroscopy, Ludmila A. Popova
Elucidating The Structure Of Protein Aggregates By Raman Spectroscopy, Ludmila A. Popova
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
The structures and properties of amyloid fibrils are of considerable interest due to their associations with numerous neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and transmissible spongiform encephalopaties (prion diseases). Understanding fibrillogenesis at a molecular level requires detailed structural characterization of amyloid fibrils. However amyloid fibrils are difficult objects to study due to their non-crystalline and insoluble nature. These properties make the application of classical tools of structural biology, such as X-Ray crystallography and solution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy, impractical for structural characterization of protein fibrils.
Arsenic Speciation Analysis Of Biological Fluids : A Study Of Liquid Chromatography Coupled To Analytical Atomic Spectrometric Instrumentation, Kanna Ito
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Arsenic exists as many different chemical forms including inorganic, methylated and dietary species. The toxicity of these species varies: some are highly toxic and can cause adverse health effects in many parts of the body; others are considered relatively non-toxic. Monitoring arsenic exposure is usually accomplished by its direct measurement in biological fluids. Urine is the specimen of choice for assessing arsenic exposure, because of its short biological half-life in blood. There have been very few studies of arsenic species in blood, yet such research can provide valuable information on arsenic distribution and its metabolism in the body.
Raman Spectroscopy Of Body Fluids : A Nondestructive Identification Technique For Forensic Applications, Kelly Virkler
Raman Spectroscopy Of Body Fluids : A Nondestructive Identification Technique For Forensic Applications, Kelly Virkler
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
The analysis of body fluid evidence during forensic investigations is a complicated process, yet it is a critical step in determining the key facts of a crime. There is no doubt that DNA analysis is an extremely useful tool that can identify a suspect or victim, but crime scene investigators must first locate and identify potential body fluid stains that can be collected for DNA analysis. Current screening tests are destructive to the sample and can give false positive results, so a nondestructive technique such as Raman spectroscopy, that can possibly confirm the presence of a particular fluid, could lend …
Genetically Engineered Repetitive Polypeptides : Design, Synthesis, Characterization, And Applications, Natalya I. Topilina
Genetically Engineered Repetitive Polypeptides : Design, Synthesis, Characterization, And Applications, Natalya I. Topilina
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
This work is dedicated to the investigation of protein folding with the emphasis on the aggregation and amyloid fibrils formation. The focus of the research is to elucidate the relationship between polypeptide chain sequence and folding/aggregation properties. For this purpose, i) libraries of the de novo macromolecular repetitive β-sheet forming polypeptides were designed, and ii) the strategy for their rapid creation was developed. The strategy enables retention of a basic polypeptide core, yet allowing variations in the repetitive sequence, degree of polymerization and distribution of specific amino acids. The polypeptides were expressed in E. coli, purified, and characterized by various …
Measurement Of Atmospheric Ammonia Species : Development, Validation, And Field Applications Of An Analytical Method, Jian Hou
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Ammonia is the primary base in the atmosphere. It reacts readily with atmospheric acids such as sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and hydrochloric acid to form ammonium salts that occur predominantly in the fine aerosol particle (PM2.5) fraction. The ability to measure ammonia species (NHx, the sum of gaseous NH3 and particulate NH4+) is essential for the investigation of atmospheric behaviors of NHx. In this dissertation work, a highly sensitive technique has been developed for the measurement of atmospheric NHx species. The method is based on aqueous scrubbing of the atmospheric NH3 and NH4+ using …
Biomonitoring For Exposure To Trace Elements In Utero : Analysis Of The Human Placenta, Pamela Catherine Kruger
Biomonitoring For Exposure To Trace Elements In Utero : Analysis Of The Human Placenta, Pamela Catherine Kruger
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
The placenta forms in eutherian mammals, and is responsible for the nutrition of the developing fetus. However, maternal exposure to environmental pollutants both before and during pregnancy may result in the passage of toxins through the placental barrier and into fetal tissues. The placenta is the only organ derived from both maternal and fetal tissues, and establishes a link between the fetus and the environmental exposures of the mother. The analysis of placentae for the presence of environmental pollutants offers the possibility of exposure measurements in both the mother and the developing fetus. Specifically, trace element determination in human placentae …