Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2024, Materials Science and Engineering

This dissertation presents biochemical sensing systems for wearable, implantable, and high-resolution chemical sensing applications. By integrating biorecognition elements, sensing interfaces, and wireless communication strategies, we aim to provide a low-cost, reliable, and highly accurate platform for real-time biochemical monitoring in clinical and experimental settings. We first demonstrate a wireless sensing system that is miniaturized, lightweight, and compatible with common biochemical sensing interfaces. Inspired by RF tuning circuits, our simple circuit design allows battery-free operation and accurate monitoring of multiple biomarkers. The modular design separates the inductive coupling unit and the electrochemical sensing interface, minimizing strain-induced changes and ensuring accurate recording. This system is compatible with common electrochemical sensing methods, including ion-sensitive membranes (ISM), aptamer-based sensors, and enzymatic interfaces. And allow for the detection of ions, neurotransmitters, and metabolites across different application scenarios. For instance, a "smart necklace" consists of glucose sensors, that are capable of wirelessly detecting sweat glucose during exercise. A wearable skin patch monitored cortisol levels in sweat showcases the functional adaptability for stress-related biomarker detection. Additionally, a miniaturized implant prototype illustrated the potential for continuous in vivo monitoring. Our work also introduces a portable vector network analyzer (pVNA) designed to overcome the size limitations of traditional VNAs. This research provides the design and working principle for a wearable reader, which allows for real-time monitoring of resonance frequency and Q factor of the inductive coupling wireless sensor. Furthermore, we introduce “NeuroThread”, a neurotransmitter-sensing platform that utilizes the cross-section of commercially available ultrathin microwires to serve as microelectrode. This cost (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jinghua Li (Advisor); Heather Powell (Committee Member); Pelagia-Irene Gouma (Committee Member) Subjects: Engineering; Materials Science; Nanoscience; Neurosciences

Master of Science, Miami University, 2024, Computer Science and Software Engineering

Drawing inspiration from lateral thinking, synergetics, psychology, creativity, and business, this research project employs an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the research process which drives innovation in the field of artificial intelligence. This research project explores methods for harnessing the synergy present in the latest, neuro-symbolic paradigm of artificial intelligence, while noting similarities between the first two waves of AI and dual process theory. It attempts to integrate unconventional, yet potentially promising interdisciplinary ideas into a proof of concept, including creative tools and techniques like the Six Thinking Hats, methods of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and internal family systems, as well as principles related to conflict resolution and ``tensegrity". The proof of concept is a hybrid semantic search system for research papers in computer science, constructed using a process of rapid prototyping and iteration, with special consideration for evaluating how more modular, interpretable, and human-centric approaches to system design can help narrow the gap between cutting-edge AI research and ethical, practical application in business. This research is conducted with the hope of opening the research field to greater creative possibility, as well as deliberate action towards creating more sustainable and human-centric artificial intelligence systems.

Committee: Daniela Inclezan (Advisor); Hakam Alomari (Committee Member); John Femiani (Committee Member) Subjects: Computer Science

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2024, Vision Science

Purpose: Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) is experienced by astronauts in microgravity and is characterized by a hyperopic shift, globe flattening, optic disc edema and choroidal folds. The pathophysiology of SANS is not yet known, but it is thought to be caused by the loss of ground-based hydrostatic pressure gradient, which results in a head-ward fluid shift. It has been recently hypothesized that this fluid shift elicits congestion of the orbital fat. Thyroid eye disease (TED) may be a novel terrestrial analog to SANS because the physical manifestations in both pathologies can be similar. The purpose of this study is to assess the performance of an established magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence to measure fat/water fractions in the orbit, first in phantoms and then in one initial TED subject. Methods: Fat-water fractions in orbital phantoms were quantified using a q-Dixon Multi-Echo Chemical Shift Encoded MRI at 3 Tesla. Images were acquired in triplicate to evaluate test-retest reliability, as well as in 3 orientations. The first subject with TED was enrolled, provided informed consent, and triplicate orbital images were acquired. These images were processed with the imaging software ImageJ and orbital fat volume and fat fraction measurements were obtained from selected orbital fat. Results: The MRI sequence measured fat-fraction in the phantom models with good accuracy, and there was a strong linear association in all three positions between measured fat values and true fat values (R2 = 0.9978). The sequence was found to be repeatable, with good test-retest reliability between the positions and with triplicate acquisitions. Preliminary results for the initial TED subject show successful procurement of overall average fat-fraction (approximately 43% fat in the right orbit and 42% in the left orbit). Statistical analysis suggests generally good agreement between the triplicate scans, with low coefficient of variation in both orbits (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Phillip Yuhas (Advisor); Jennifer Fogt (Committee Member); Nicklaus Fogt (Committee Member); Cynthia Roberts (Advisor) Subjects: Medical Imaging; Medicine; Ophthalmology

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2023, Medicine: Genetic Counseling

Recent studies have found that approximately 8.6% of all pediatric patients with central nervous system tumors (CNSTs) have underlying hereditary cancer predisposition. Despite the clinical significance of identifying a hereditary cancer syndrome and the growing evidence of their prevelance, there is a lack of national consensus on the optimal germline testing approach for pediatric patients with CNSTs. As a first step in addressing the need for consensus, we surveyed 60 oncology and genetics providers from 47 separate institutions in professional organizations across the United States. We investigated their current practice (e.g., provider roles, testing decisions and process of ordering germline genetic testing) when assessing pediatric patients with CNSTs for germline risk of genetic predisposition. Our results suggest variability in germline testing practices for pediatric patients with CNSTs among oncology and genetics providers. Respondents reported that multiple providers are involved in different steps of the germline testing process, with genetic counselors and pediatric oncologists completing most of these roles. Even though participants reported mostly ordering muti-gene panels, the circumstances and diagnoses influencing when each type of provider would offer this testing differed. Even for the CNSTs most commonly known to be associated with genetic predisposition regardless of family history, such as atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor, choroid plexus carcinoma, schwannoma, subependymal giant cell astrocytoma and hemangioblastoma, there was variability in providers' decisions to offer germline testing. Overall, this variability demonstrates a need for national guidance on germline testing practices to promote consistent genetics care for pediatric patients with CNSTs.

Committee: Melanie Myers Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Carrie Atzinger M.S. C.G.C. (Committee Member); Sara Knapke M.S. (Committee Member); Xue Zhang Ph.D. (Committee Member); Kate Queen M.A. (Committee Member); Rebecca Sisson M.S. L.G.C. (Committee Member); Natasha Pillay-Smiley D.O. (Committee Member) Subjects: Genetics

Master of Science (M.S.), University of Dayton, 2023, Interdisciplinary Studies

The SARS-CoV2 virus was responsible for the COVID-19 Pandemic, one of the most fatal international public health emergencies experienced in the past century. SARS-CoV2 induces symptoms like increased inflammatory response, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), cognitive dysfunction like brain fog, and cardiovascular defects. Prolonged or long-term infection led to the emergence of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome, or PCS. PCS is characterized by chronic cardiovascular, autoimmune, and neurological manifestations and remains understudied. Individuals with pre-existing neurological insult like those with neuroinflammatory or neurodegenerative diseases are likely more vulnerable to such PCS effects. Furthermore, individuals with pre-existing neurological conditions often have comorbidities like obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and low activity levels. However, little is understood about the molecular effects of SARS-CoV2 on neuron in both healthy and neuro-compromised individuals. Currently, many individuals experiencing PCS-related neurological symptoms require management of their symptoms even though our knowledge in this area is still limited. Therefore, this study utilized an interdisciplinary approach to better understand how SARS-CoV2 impacts both neurons at a cellular level and clinically in neurologically compromised populations such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This interdisciplinary approach sheds light on how translational work is being done where basic science efforts complement efforts made clinically to make connections and identify relationships between observed effects and known science. To do so, SARS-CoV2 proteins were misexpressed in the Drosophila eye and through a forward genetic screen evaluated for changes to cellular structure or function. To corroborate these findings, SARS-CoV2 proteins were also transfected into Neuro-2a cells to assess how these proteins affected cellular functioning. Furthermore, SARS-CoV2 protein structure-function analys (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Kurt Jackson (Advisor); Mrigendra Rajput (Advisor) Subjects: Biomedical Research; Neurology; Neurosciences; Physical Therapy; Virology

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 0, Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Gene therapy is a highly promising disease treatment and prevention strategy through addition, inhibition, editing, or functional replacement of a gene, aiming to address the root cause of a disease. One critical issue in gene therapy is effective delivery of the therapeutic DNA into target cells through a viral or non-viral vector. About 70 % of vectors in clinical trials are recombinant viral vectors. The commonly used viral vectors, such as lentivirus and rAAV, are highly efficient in carrying DNA into many cell types and enable long-term expression of the cargo gene. However, viral vectors are of limited gene carrying capacities and very difficult and extremely costly to produce in therapeutic quantities, and they induce immune responses and often carry long-term cancer risks. These serious caveats associated with viral vectors are largely absent for non-viral vectors. However, non-viral vectors have their own shortcomings, one of which is the very poor cell entry by naked non-viral DNA vectors, necessitating the assistance of a DNA delivery agent. My research focuses on developing effective and adjustable polyethylenimine (PEI)-based DNA delivery agents for in vitro and validating their performance in vivo for future applications in gene therapy. PEIs are inexpensive and have shown good DNA delivery capacities in vitro. I first utilized GFP reporter plasmid DNAs and muscular and neuronal cell lines to identify the most promising PEI forms, then I subjected the select PEIs to systematic optimizations using the same cell culture systems. Finally, I applied the optimized PEIs, in comparison with a popular commercial DNA delivery agent, to deliver a few therapeutic genes carried on naked plasmid DNA vectors into cultured cells in vitro or into muscle or brain tissues in mice. The results show that the optimized PEIs are highly effective and significantly superior to the commercial reagent, especially in in vivo experiments, demonstrating the huge potential of our o (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Qingzhong Kong (Advisor) Subjects: Animal Diseases; Biochemistry; Biology; Biomedical Engineering; Biomedical Research; Cellular Biology; Developmental Biology; Engineering; Environmental Health; Health; Health Sciences; Immunology; Materials Science; Medicine; Molecular Biology; Molecules; Nanoscience; Nanotechnology; Neurobiology; Neurology; Neurosciences; Organic Chemistry; Pharmaceuticals; Pharmacy Sciences; Polymer Chemistry; Polymers; Public Health; Therapy; Toxicology; Virology

Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, 2019, Anatomy

Aluminum has been shown to cause significant impairments in synaptic plasticity. The goal of this study was to determine proper dosing of aluminum chloride (AlCl3) needed to induce detectable changes in neuro-electrophysiological parameters and biochemical endpoints. In this study, we measured input-output function, paired pulse facilitation (PPF), long term potentiation (LTP), and spontaneous spiking using a MED 64 microelectrode array system. These measurements were taken from the synaptic connection of the Schaffer-collateral region and the pyramidal cells of the CA-1 region in the hippocampal formation. We saw no statistically significant changes between the groups in the input-output function, PPF, LTP, or spontaneous spiking. However, we saw trends of decreasing LTP and increasing input-output function with increased AlCl3 exposures. There was a statistically significant difference among the experimental groups in inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-10, and IFN-γ in the blood plasma. In these cytokines, we saw a consistent trend with the low exposure group having significantly lower levels than the high exposure group. We also saw a significant decrease in serotonin level of hippocampus in the low exposure group compared to the control and high groups. In the striatum, there was a significant serotonin increase in the low exposure group compared to the high exposure group, but there was only a trending serotonin increase in the low exposure group compared to the control group These results indicate that 14 day AlCl3 exposures show trending changes in EP parameters, cause a significant difference in inflammatory cytokines between the low and high exposure groups, and cause significant changes in serotonin with low exposures.

Committee: Joyce G. Rohan Ph.D. (Committee Co-Chair); Kathrin L. Engisch Ph.D. (Committee Co-Chair); David R. Ladle Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Neurosciences; Toxicology

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2018, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology

Few projects have combined quantitative and qualitative approaches in the analysis of facilitated communication as did this study of a 17-year-old nonverbal autistic male responding to homework questions using facilitated communication. Findings were consistent with prior studies: Tim was minimally able to produce correct responses independent of facilitator influence under controlled conditions; whereas, at least some typed messages in the spontaneous narratives appear to be his authentic communications independent of facilitator control. An overview of the history of facilitated communication, its related research, and the heated debates around its validity are presented. Disparate findings between controlled and non-controlled circumstances are examined, first within a traditional paradigm, and then within the framework of the past decade's sensorimotor and neuroimaging research. EEG, fMRI, and DTI neuroimaging studies indicate autism is a disorder of disrupted cerebral neural connectivity - specifically of long-range neural underconnectivity and short-range over- and, to a lesser degree, under-connectivity. Research linking these findings with the long-discounted sensorimotor behavioral research (and firsthand accounts) indicating aberrant sensory integration and motor planning processes are core features of autism has just begun. A key argument against advocates' explanations for FC being authentic in some situations but not in others has been with their lack of a substantiating theory. Based on combined evidence from neuroimaging and sensorimotor research, this author theorizes that dyssynchronous activation of brain regions and long-range underconnectivity necessary for higher order integration of sensory input and motor planning, which are exacerbated by increased anxiety and cognitive and emotional demands imposed by controlled designs, explain the disparities between abilities to respond under controlled versus non-controlled conditions. As demonstrate (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Alejandra Suarez PhD (Committee Chair); Jane Harmon-Jacobs PhD (Committee Member); Sara Paul EdD (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Developmental Biology; Developmental Psychology; Educational Psychology; Language; Linguistics; Medical Imaging; Neurosciences; Occupational Therapy; Preschool Education; Psychobiology; Psychology; Quantitative Psychology; Special Education; Speech Therapy

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2017, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology

This investigation studied implicit learning differences in individuals with schizophrenia. Three implicit learning strategies were examined: priming, procedural, and incidental learning. Twenty-six participants with schizophrenia were recruited from various outpatient clinics and programs in Orange, CA to participate in this study. Participants were administered a psychological battery composed of tests to measure individual differences in implicit learning abilities within the group. Differences in crystallized and fluid knowledge abilities within the different implicit learning conditions were tested. Demographic information was also collected and where possible included for the purpose of accounting for demographic variations amongst participants. Demographic variables included the participant's age, gender, years of education, and ethnicity. Following data collection, raw scores were converted to T-scores (and normed when possible per demographic variations) and run through SPSS. The first analysis conducted was a path analysis to estimate the causal relationships amongst the variables. Following this initial analysis, six separate t tests were run through SPSS. Differences between individual learning conditions were identified, and three of the four hypotheses were found to be significant. The electronic version of this dissertation is accessible at the Ohiolink ETD center http://www.ohiolink.edu /etd

Committee: Henry V. Soper PhD (Committee Chair); Brett Kia-Keating EdD (Committee Member); Bernice Marcopulos PhD, ABPP (Other) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Wright State University, 2016, Biomedical Sciences PhD

Plasmalogens are glycerophospholipids abundant in brain and heart tissues. Evidence suggests that they have antioxidant properties. Studies from our laboratory showed that rats treated with myo-inositol plus ethanolamine (ME) have elevated ethanolamine plasmalogens (PE-Pls) in brain and are protected against phosphine-induced oxidative stress. We hypothesized that ME elevates PE-Pls levels and protects against oxidative stress through oxidation of its vinyl ether bond. We tested this hypothesis in Neuro-2A cell culture and assessed the effects of treatments with myo-inositol (M), ethanolamine (Etn), or a combination (ME) on the: (1) effects on phospholipid (PL) classes, especially Etn PLs; (2) effects on cell viability in response to H2O2-induced oxidative stress; and (3) molecular species of Etn PLs preferentially affected by ME and H2O2 treatments, especially PE-Pls and their degradation byproducts – lyso-phosphatidylethanolamines (LPE). 31P NMR data show that treating the cells with equimolar amounts (500 uM) of M or Etn for 24 h did not influence PL levels, but ME yielded a 3-fold increase in both PE-Pls and PE (p<0.001). Cells exposed to 650 uM H2O2 for 24 h decreased cell viability to 53% ± 1.7. While pretreatment with M or ME significantly increased cell survival to 62% ± 1.2 or 80% ± 0.6, respectively (p<0.05), Etn alone had no effect. Mass spectrometry showed that ME preferentially elevated the levels of PE-Pls species containing saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) by 60%, while PE-Pls containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increased by only 10%. H2O2 caused a significant decrease in PE-Pls (27%), producing a 39% increase in LPE and a 4-fold increase in glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPE), but had no impact on PE levels, suggesting that LPE and GPE were primarily byproducts of PE-Pls degradation. Surprisingly, all these effects were blocked by pre-treating cells with ME prior to H2O2 exposure. Taken together, these data su (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Nicholas Reo Ph.D. (Advisor); Nicholas DelRaso Ph.D. (Committee Member); Michael Raymer Ph.D. (Committee Member); James Olson Ph.D. (Committee Member); Jeffery Gearhart Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Biochemistry; Neurosciences

Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, 2015, Microbiology and Immunology

This study examines the effects of blocking the nectin-1 and Herpes Virus Entry Mediator (HVEM) receptors on Neuro-2a (N2a) cells in order to prevent HSV-1 infection. These two receptors have been identified as a primary and secondary mode of entry for HSV-1. Since there was some debate about the correct serum level to be used in growth media for healthy N2a cells, three concentrations (2%, 5%, 10%) were used to examine relative growth and neurite development, in addition to examining possible differences in infectivity levels in all other experiments. There was a difference in general morphology, with neurite abundance and length increasing as the serum concentration decreased. However, the three concentrations led to no visible differences in immunofluorescence staining of Nectin-1, HVEM or Nectin-1, or significant differences in the cell viability trials. Immunofluorescence was performed to identify the presence of the nectin-1 and HVEM receptor on the N2a cells, as well as the general localization of the receptors on the cell and the relationship to each other. On the N2a cells, the nectin-1 seemed to occupy the non-contact regions of the cells and the HVEM was concentrated at the cell-to-cell contact regions. Based on this analysis, nectin-1 was also examined in conjunction with filamentous-actin (F-Actin). Nectin-1 was directly associated to the actin cytoskeleton, consistent with the literature. Immunofluorescence was also performed on the keratinocyte cell line PAM212 on which the nectin-1 and HVEM focused at the cell contact regions at the adherens junctions. These results illustrate that receptor location is dependent on cell type, but in general the receptors localize near each other, but do not directly overlap. Cell viability and plaque formation studies were performed to determine the effectiveness of blocking the nectin-1 and HVEM, separately and together, in preventing HSV-1 entry into the cell. In all trials, the appropriate con (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Nancy Bigley Ph.D. (Advisor); Barbara Hull Ph.D. (Committee Member); Cheryl Conley Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Immunology

Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, 0, Microbiology and Immunology

To more closely mimic the in vivo progression of HSV-1 a novel in vitro method was created. In this study HEL-30 keratinocytes were infected with a 0.1 MOI of HSV-1 and plated unto a membrane with 8μm diameter pores. The membrane insert was then placed into culture wells that contained Neuro-2a cells (N2A). The neurites from the neuronal cells made cell-to-cell contact with the infected HEL-30 cells and the virus was transmitted into the neuronal cells. To determine if infection occurred in the N2A cells the cells were lysed and the lysate incubated with Vero cells to titrate virus plaque forming units. After incubation a virus plaque assay was performed and the results compared with those of uninfected control cells. Methylcellulose was used to protect against the HEL-30 cells lysing and releasing free virus particles into the medium and infecting the N2A cells without cell-to-cell contact. The methylcellulose is viscous enough to stop free virus particles from passage through the pore membrane in the chamber infecting the N2A cells. Therefore, the only way that the N2A cells were infected was if the neurites made direct contact with the infected keratinocytes, which would mimic the "real world" progression of the virus from primary site of infection to neuronal tissue infection. The use of methylcellulose in the co-culture system exerted a profound inhibitory effect on free-floating virus particles. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to confirm cell-to-cell contact between the N2A and HEL-30 cells and to determine morphological differences that occur when the co-culture system is used versus monoculture. This model provides a new system for studying host/virus interactions.

Committee: Nancy Bigley Ph.D. (Advisor); Barbara Hull Ph.D. (Committee Member); Francisco Alvarez-Leefmans M.D., Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Immunology; Microbiology

Master of Sciences (Engineering), Case Western Reserve University, 2014, EECS - Computer Engineering

The integration of reusable IP blocks/cores is a common process in system-on-chip design and involves manually comparing/mapping IP specifications against system requirements. The informal nature of specification limits its automatic analysis. Ex- isting techniques fail to utilize the underlying conceptual information embedded in specifications. In this thesis, we present a methodology for specification analysis, which involves concept mining of specifications to generate domain ontologies. We employ a semi-supervised model with semantic analysis capability to create a col- laborative framework for cumulative knowledge acquisition. Our system then uses the generated ontologies to perform component retrieval and spec comparisons. We demonstrate our approach by evaluating several IP specifications.

Committee: Christos Papachristou (Advisor) Subjects: Computer Engineering; Computer Science; Information Systems; Systems Design

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2014, EECS - System and Control Engineering

In this study, several techniques for the variability analysis of electroencephalography (EEG) have been developed with application to the detection of high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) and suppressed EEG classification. EEG refers to the electrical activities in the subdural or cerebral cortex of the brain and can be recorded by several neurophysiological methods, including noninvasive and invasive recordings. EEG in the range of 40-500 Hz, referred to as HFOs, can be recorded in human brains using depth microelectrodes. Various studies in human or animal models supported that HFOs were related to epileptogensis, and evidence was also provided to suggest that neocortical seizures might begin with low-amplitude HFOs. We apply several HFO detection and FFT-based algorithms to 19 IEEG recordings from the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at University Hospitals Case Medical Center to further verify the connection between HFO activities and clinical seizure onset. Based on the confirmed onset channel from the recordings, the performance of these HFOs detection algorithms has been evaluated in both the time domain and the frequency domain including full band analysis. The frequency band from 35 to 80 Hz with no overlapping of analysis epochs has been selected for further investigations on the full 100/102 channel recordings. Results from various algorithms including Line-Length, Curve-Length, Benchmark and the algorithm proposed in this work indicated quantifiable changes in HFO energy before and after seizure onset. This suggests that HFOs may play an important role in the development of methods for the detection and prediction of epileptic seizures. Post-ictal generalized EEG suppression (PGES) is an Electroencephalographic (EEG) biomarker for risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). Breathing, movement and muscle artifact can render quantification of PGES difficult. An automated EEG suppression detection algorithm using a genetic algorithm (GA) and adapti (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Kenneth Loparo (Committee Chair); Marc Buchner (Committee Member); Vira Chankong (Committee Member); Samden Lhatoo (Committee Member); Farhad Kaffashi (Committee Member) Subjects: Biomedical Engineering; Biomedical Research; Electrical Engineering

Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, 2013, Pharmacology and Toxicology

Snake venom is composed of many different toxins and protein components such as metalloproteases and phospholipase A2. Together, these proteins cause an up regulation in cell death pathways and disrupt the overall homeostasis of a living cell. The Red Diamondback Rattlesnake is abundantly available and well-known specie and has been used as a source for development of new drugs. It has been mainly used for the purposes of making anti-venom but it has also been therapeutically used for surgical purposes to act as an anti-aggregate. Integrins derived from RDB venom has been used for cancer cell treatment as well. Specifically a hemotoxic venom, RDB venom contains high concentrations of the toxin Ruberlysin; also known as Hemorrhagic Toxin II. An animal or human bitten by a RDB snake will experience localized tissue swelling, pain, bruising, as well as necrosis at the bit site. Systematically, the venom will cause excess internal bleeding, nausea, vomiting, and due to being hemotoxic venom, it will cause hemolysis. Due to its rich protein content as well as possible therapeutic purposes, RDB venom proves to hold the potential for studying cancer. The purpose of this research is to test the effects of Red Diamond Back rattlesnake venom protein components on different neuronal and lung cell lines, identify specific protein components and determine the venom’s effects on specific cellular functions, i.e., intracellular prohormone trafficking and surfactant lipid secretion. To understand how the venom components work, the venom was fractionated by Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography and desalted through membrane dialysis using ddH2O. Neuro-2A and lung cells were incubated with individual snake venom fractions at different concentrations and over a 6 hour time. After analysis by specific cell death assays, i.e., MTT, LDH, propidium iodide, annexin and Hoechst, several specific fractions were observed to cause cell death, while other fractions ap (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: David Cool Ph.D. (Advisor); Khalid Elased R.Ph, Ph.D. (Committee Member); Sharath Krishna Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Cellular Biology; Pharmacology; Toxicology

Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, 2012, Microbiology and Immunology

This study examined the effects of HSV-1 infection and IFN-γ treatment on Neuro-2A cells. HSV-1 induces expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in infected cells, inhibiting the ability of these cells to produce the pro inflammatory, antiviral cytokine IFN-γ (Nowoslawski and Benveniste, 2011). SOCS1 and SOCS3 levels were determined in IFN-γ-treated cells, virus-infected cells, and cells that were both IFN-γ-treated and virus-infected. Results were compared with untreated, uninfected control cells. Flow cytometry data analysis showed a slight decrease in SOCS1 and SOCS3 protein levels in cells treated with IFN-γ for 6 hours compared to control cells. A significant decrease in SOCS1 and SOCS 3 levels was found in cells treated with IFN-γ for 18 hours. Up regulation of SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression was established in virus-infected Neuro-2A cells but this increase was not statistically significant when compared to control cells. However, culturing cells with IFN-γ for 6 hours prior to virus infection led to a significant (50%) decrease in SOCS1 and SOCS3expression compared to cells treated with IFN-γ alone. This showed that HSV-1 was not able to overcome the antiviral effects of IFN-γ to up regulate SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression. Cytopathic effects assays were performed to determine cell viability among cells treated with IFN-γ for 18 hours, cells infected with virus for 48 hours, and cells treated with IFN-γ for 18 hours followed by 48 hour HSV-1 infection. Pre-treating cells with IFN-γ for 18 hours prior to infection with HSV-1 (0.1 MOI) yielded a cell viability level similar to that of control cells (untreated/uninfected). This indicates that IFN-γ is providing antiviral protection to most, if not all of the cells. Applying these studies in a human cell line and eventually in an animal model would be necessary to find the efficacy of IFN-γ as a HSV-1 therapeutic.

Committee: Nancy Bigley PhD (Advisor); Barbara Hull PhD (Committee Member); Cheryl Conley PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Immunology; Molecular Biology; Virology

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2006, Engineering : Industrial Engineering

Maintenance is the set of activities performed on a system to sustain it in operable condition while Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) refers to the practice of triggering these activities as necessitated by the condition of the target system. CBM thus entails the process of diagnosis (of the target system) and timely identification of incipient or existing failures popularly known as Failure Detection and Identification (FDI). FDI has been given due research focus; however there is a dearth of autonomous yet interactive decision making tools that would perform diagnosis and prognosis under the precepts of CBM in a guided environment. The development of such an architecture along with the tools necessary for decision making in the realm of condition based maintenance constitute the focus of this research. The architecture and the tools developed in this research encompass the model based approach to FDI. These tools are built on Neuro-Fuzzy (NF) paradigms as they offer many advantages in the form of accuracy, adaptability and lucidity compared to other parametric and non-parametric approaches. Along with the development of a NF algorithm, suitable evaluation criteria are also explored and developed to gauge the applicability and efficiency of the developed models. Intelligent Condition Based Maintenance (ICBM) thus refers to the creation of adaptive and robust FDI models based on a model based architecture and their subsequent validation using suitable evaluation criteria. The efficiency and robustness of these ICBM tools are demonstrated by applying them in several scenarios – Simulated as well as real world.

Committee: Dr. Samuel Huang (Advisor) Subjects:

Honors Theses, Ohio Dominican University, 2007, Honors Theses

Investigates current literature surrounding police use of TASER devices. Topics investigated include the operation of TASER devices, issues surrouding the use of TASER devices, and the cardiac safety of TASER devices. Includes field research study to determine public and police attitudes toward TASER devices.

Committee: Nancy Beran (Advisor) Subjects: