Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2018, Nuclear Engineering

Safety is the utmost important requirement in nuclear power plant operation. An approach to develop a real-time operator support tool (OST) for declaring site emergency is proposed in this study. Temporal behavior of the early stages of a severe accident can be used to project the likelihood of different levels of offsite release of radionuclides based on the results of accident simulations with severe accident codes. Depending on the severity of the accident and the potential magnitude of the release of radioactive material to the environment, an offsite emergency response such as evacuation or sheltering may be warranted. The approach is based on the simulation of the possible nuclear power plant (NPP) behavior following an initiating event and projects the likelihood of different levels of offsite release of radionuclides from the plant using deep learning (DL) techniques. Two convolutional neural network (CNN) models are implemented to classify possible scenarios under two different labels. Training of the DL process is accomplished using results of a large number of scenarios generated with the ADAPT/MELCOR/RASCAL computer codes to simulate the variety of possible consequences following a station blackout event involving the loss of all AC power for a large pressurized water reactor. The ability of the model to predict the likelihood of different levels of consequences is assessed using a separate test set of MELCOR/RASCAL calculations. The set of data to be used in training and testing the machine were obtained previously from the Ph.D. dissertation work performed by Dr. Douglas Osborn. The OST is illustrated for a station blackout event in a pressurized water reactor for possible offsite dose outcomes at: 1) 2-mile area, 2) 10-mile area, 3) 2-mile boundary, and, 4) 10-mile boundary which are being considered as key locations for emergency response planning 4 days after release starts. Also, two meteorological conditions, historical and standard meteorology, a (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Tunc Aldemir PhD (Advisor); Alper Yilmaz PhD (Advisor); Richard Denning PhD (Committee Member); Carol Smidts PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Computer Engineering; Nuclear Engineering

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2024, Chemical Engineering

Hydrogen and Syngas are versatile chemicals dense in energy with numerous applications in the industry. Reducing the carbon footprint of their production can help counter global warming. Since conventional methods using fossil fuels lead to copious amounts of CO2 emissions, using renewable, carbon-neutral fuel sources like biogas and biomass while sequestrating CO2 can make the process carbon-negative. This can be achieved using multi-reactor iron oxide chemical looping (CL) systems. A 3-reactor Chemical Looping Hydrogen Generation System (CLHG-3R) generates a pure stream of Hydrogen, and a 2-reactor system converts biomass to high-purity syngas efficiently. The reactor conditions are optimized in this study to account for the high composition variability of these feedstocks. These fuels although renewable, have their challenges. Biogas contains high amounts of CO2 and numerous trace impurities while tars are formed significantly during biomass gasification. Chemical looping systems have a proven capability of dealing with these issues. Experimenting with process parameters like reactor temperatures, residence times, feed composition and flowrates of reactants leads to optimizing the system.

Committee: Nicholas Brunelli (Committee Member); Liang-Shih Fan FREng (Advisor) Subjects: Chemical Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 0, Pathology

Regulatory mechanisms of the immune system are essential for human health by maintaining homeostasis and preventing disease states such as excessive inflammation and autoimmunity. These vital functions are coordinated by a wide range of cells from multiple lineages that employ unique and inventive techniques to suppress immune overactivation. Here, we describe four instances of novel regulatory mechanisms, which all in their own capacities are rooted in host and microbial glycans. In one case, we report that FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) respond to a dual cytokine signal discovered downstream of the microbial factor polysaccharide A (PSA) by eliciting robust immunosuppression through the production of IL-10 and the selective proliferation of IL-10-expressing Tregs. In another study, we find that the suppressive T cell phenotype downstream of PSA that has been the focus of decades of work is preceded by the ability of PSA to polarize an anti-inflammatory macrophage subtype. Another study examines the cellular compensation that occurs during genetic ablation of IL-10 in FoxP3+ Tregs, where type I regulatory T cells (Tr1) in the colon upregulate their production of IL-10 to prevent the spontaneous development of disease. In the final study, we describe a new role for CD22 on macrophages that transduces tissue sialylation status and drives the polarization of anti-inflammatory macrophages that are critical for shaping immune tone over time. Using the modalities described in this work, multiple mouse models of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including asthma, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease were therapeutically prevented or reversed, demonstrating the astounding power of glycans and the immune cells that respond to them.

Committee: Brian Cobb (Advisor); George Dubyak (Committee Chair); Clive Hamlin (Committee Member); Booki Min (Committee Member); Robert Fairchild (Committee Member) Subjects: Cellular Biology; Immunology; Pathology

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2021, Pathology

Multifactorial diseases such as diabetes, allergy and asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and neurodegenerative disorders have increased in recent years. Genetic predisposition is unable to fully account for this sudden increase, yet our environment is a factor that has seem similar dramatic changes even in the last 100 years. It has since become apparent that the gene pool of endogenous microbes that populate our bodies might be more susceptible to these changes due to their shorter life span and generation turnover. Thus, examination of the microbiome has become a major focus in the hopes of identifying underlying changes in the microbiome which may give rise to or be compounded due to disease. Study of these interactions have revealed the involvement of the microbiome in many functions ranging from processing of nutrients, neuronal and immune system development. The host immune interactions with gut commensal microbes have demonstrated their importance in establishing tolerance and maintenance of homeostasis. Here, we utilized the capsular polysaccharide PSA produced by the gut commensal Bacteroides fragilis to better understand the impact on the host immune system locally and systemically. Prior work established that PSA is endocytosed, processed and presented by APCs to CD4+ T cells via MHCII molecules. This exposure lead to the expansion of a population of C45Rblow effector memory (Tem) cells capable of protecting from induction of inflammation. This protection was shown to be IL-10 dependent, the source of which was endogenous Tregs and not the PSA expanded cells. Through in vitro co-culture experiments with regulatory T cells, we demonstrated a novel T cell communication axis by which Tem cells secrete IL-2 and IL-4 to synergistically stimulate IL-10 production by Tregs. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PSA exposure results in potent interferon response, which results in the upregulation of immune-regulatory markers. These markers were primarily found (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Brian Cobb PhD (Advisor); Booki Min DVM, PhD (Committee Chair); Kristie Ross MD (Committee Member); Pushpa Pandiyan PhD (Committee Member); Clive Hamlin PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Immunology

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, 2017, Biology (Cell-Molecular Biology)

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men in the U.S. Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HPC) accounts for 43% of early onset cases and 9% of all cases of cancer. Positional cloning and linkage studies mapped Hereditary Prostate Cancer 1 (HPC1) to an antiviral gene, RNase L. RNase L is a latent endoribonuclease that is activated by a unique ligand, 2-5A, produced from cellular ATP in virally-infected cells. To date there is no correlation of viral infections with prostate cancer, suggesting that RNase L may play additional roles in tumor suppression. In these studies we demonstrate the role of RNase L, which does not require nuclease activity, in regulating transcription of androgen-responsive genes, cell migration and activity of matrix metalloproteinases, suggesting a novel role as a tumor suppressor. Here we show that both RNase L and Filamin A bind to AR, and the interaction is regulated by androgens. Further, RNase L regulates ligand-dependent AR translocation to the nucleus and transcription of androgen-response genes. Cells with reduced levels of RNase L or Filamin A show increased AR translocation to the nucleus and this is accompanied by an increase in expression of androgen-response genes, PSA, ETV1 and SGCa1. Expression of RNase L mutants R462Q and E265X, which are most prevalent in HPC patients, in cells lacking endogenous RNase L resulted in increased AR translocation accompanied by increased transcription of AR-responsive genes. In addition, RNase L negatively regulates cell migration and cell attachment on various extracellular matrices. Cells with reduced RNase L levels promote cell surface expression of integrin ß1 which in turn activates FAK-Src pathway and Rac-GTPase activity to increase cell migration. Activity of MMP-2 and -9 is significantly increased in cells where RNase L levels are ablated. Mutants of RNase L with defects in binding the ligand 2-5A, defective in dimerization or lacking nuclease activity suggest that (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Malathi Krishnamurthy (Committee Chair); Lirim Shemshedini (Committee Member); Roger Taylor (Committee Member); Douglas Leaman (Committee Member); Eda Yildirim (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2015, Mass Communication (Communication)

Televised advertisements form a major part of the HIV prevention efforts in Jamaica. Though much progress has been made in reducing HIV infection rates, this Caribbean country still has features of a low-level generalized and a concentrated HIV epidemic among key-risk groups. The significance of gender and sexuality in health and other development issues has also become increasingly apparent in the last few decades. The types of gender and sexual representations utilized in media campaigns have the power to help or hinder HIV prevention programs, especially when the messages are misinterpreted. Through textual analysis and from a critical/cultural studies perspective, this dissertation explores the gender and sexual representations present in Jamaican HIV prevention advertisements. Additionally, it addresses the socio-cultural norms that underlie these representations, as well as the message features of the advertisement. The study found a progression from more stereotypical representations of men and women in earlier advertisements to counter-hegemonic and empowering gender and sexual representations in more recent advertisements. The results also highlight several socio-cultural norms underlying the gender representations, such as male promiscuity, irresponsibility, male dominance and expectations of superior sexual knowledge in men. The norms of female assertiveness, love and trust were also underscored. Regarding the message features, this study found that most of the advertisements lacked features that would likely gain the attention of audience members; they also had low information load which facilitates comprehension and used more proximal sources and emotional appeals to increasing audience yielding and retention. Finally, the findings revealed overwhelmingly heteronormative representations, with no reference to homosexuals or bisexuals, despite the high rate of infection among this key risk group.

Committee: Joseph Slade Ph.D. (Advisor); Roger Cooper Ph.D. (Committee Member); Benjamin Bates Ph.D. (Committee Member); E. Edna Wangui Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Gender Studies; Health; Mass Communications; Mass Media; Public Health

Master of Applied Communication Theory and Methodology, Cleveland State University, 2014, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

This study examined the role of brief narratives, such as those found in television commercials (TV Ads) and Public Service Announcements (PSAs), in the dissemination of values messages as mediated by narrative transportation and second-order cultivation effects. Undergraduate students from a midwestern university participated in an experiment administered through the SurveyMonkey website; two experimental groups (TV Ads n=85 and PSAs n=69) each viewed two separate (one dramatic, one humorous) value-laden brief narrative video segments completing transportation, attention, materialism, and altruism response scales following each exposure. Measures taken prior to exposure included television affinity and need for cognition among others. Findings confirm brief narratives do elicit transportation, and among those who watch more television higher levels of transportation were reported. Psychological processes were found to increase the likelihood of experiencing transportation; in particular those paying more attention and having a high need for cognition were more likely to be transported. Additionally, transportation had a modest impact on a number of materialism measures including the summed materialism scale while altruism produced contradictory results. An anomaly was found with the humorous TV ad, raising questions about the role of character identification in the production of narrative transportation.

Committee: Kimberly Neuendorf PhD (Advisor); Cheryl Bracken PhD (Committee Member); Richard Perloff PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Cognitive Psychology; Communication; Mass Communications; Mass Media; Social Psychology

Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 2014, Washkewicz College of Engineering

Oxygen is used in a variety of chemical processes and for medical purposes throughout the world. Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) has become a viable alternative to cryogenic distillation for the separation of oxygen from air with the development of advanced adsorbents like zeolites. PSA processes are inherently complex because it is a dynamic process. Efficient operation of a PSA process is necessary in order to utilize the capacity of the adsorbent as much as possible and reduce the power requirements of the process. In this thesis, a novel zeolite adsorbent was utilized in a PSA process for oxygen generation with the goal of designing cycles for high recovery and a low bed size factor (BSF). A secondary goal was to determine the kinetic limit of the novel zeolite to determine how fast of an adsorption rate the zeolite has and if it is a candidate for rapid PSA processes. This thesis demonstrates cycles that efficiently utilize the new adsorbent at different operating conditions. This provides a range of operating conditions from which to determine how to best utilize the zeolite to develop larger PSA processes. Also, it was found that this novel zeolite is in fact an enhanced zeolite with a fast adsorption rate capable of supporting rapid PSA processes. Unfortunately due to system constraints, the kinetic limit was not found.

Committee: Orhan Talu PhD (Advisor); Sridhar Ungarala PhD (Committee Member); Dhananjai Shah PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Chemical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2014, Public Health

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are significant public health problems. While these diseases are associated with detrimental health outcomes in many populations, no group is more affected than men who have sex with men (MSM). Despite this, significant gaps exist in the understanding of the increased incidence of infection in this population. We examined three distinct topics that would make substantial contributions to the HIV/STI prevention among MSM literature. First, research related to HIV/STI transmission from sexual intercourse in MSM has relied on self-reports of sexual activity, which is flawed because participants may misreport behavior. A biological marker of semen exposure in rectal swabs, indicative of unprotected receptive anal intercourse (uRAI), would reduce or eliminate researchers' reliance on self-reported behavior. Second, little is known about the spectrum of sexual behaviors being practiced within the MSM community. Because of the paucity of information on the prevalence of specific sexual practices, even less is known about the risks associated with these behaviors. Third, preliminary information suggests that MSM with negative or positive body image, compared to MSM with moderate body image, may be more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors. No prior study has examined the direct association between body image and STI in MSM. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of MSM (N=235) recruited from the Sexual Health Clinic (SHC) at an urban health department. Clinical and behavioral data were collected from each participant. For the first aim (n=54), we quantified PSA from rectal swabs collected from MSM and compared PSA results to self-reports of unprotected RAI. For the second aim (n=231), we used data from the self-administered behavioral survey to calculate the prevalence of specific sexual behaviors and substance use in the past three months and over a man's li (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Abigail Norris Turner PhD (Advisor) Subjects: Public Health

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2001, Engineering : Chemical Engineering

Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technique is a common method for air separation. PSA technology is responsible for 20 % of the world's oxygen production. Air separation plants utilize large industrial PSA units to obtain enriched oxygen concentration. Produced oxygen is stored in the collection tanks and used by medical and other industries upon demand. In 1999 alone 16.4 million Americans suffered from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The need for smaller and more efficient oxygen separation technique is emphasized by the fact that the smallest conventional PSA unit that can provide oxygen for COPD patients weighs 25 kg; and that conventional PSA process suffers from low productivity per unit mass of adsorbent. The lives of 16.4 million Americans can be improved by availability of small, efficient, and portable air separation device. Oxygen separation technique on the micro scale would provide oxygen to people living in hard to reach places, where oxygen-refilling facilities are thousands of miles away. It can also serve its purpose in aircraft industry where pilots use oxygen-enriched air at high altitudes. In addition, portable oxygen concentrators can be used in automotive industry. Car carburetor working on enriched oxygen would maximize car performance and minimize the production of nitrogen oxides during combustion of fuel. Finally, portable oxygen concentrator would provide oxygen-enriched air for mountain climbers at high altitudes. There is a need to take conventional Pressure Swing Adsorption technology to a micro scale and investigate a potential of Ultra-Rapid Pressure Swing Adsorption (URPSA). In this thesis mathematical model of URPSA will be developed to prove the viability and superior separation efficiency per unit mass of adsorbent material of Ultra-Rapid PSA. A mathematical model of Ultra-Rapid PSA process is the first step in determining the viability of this novel technology. The proposed mathematical model will investigate the rea (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Dr. William Krantz (Advisor) Subjects: Engineering, Chemical

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2012, Communication

This study aims to specify if and how particular musical features in persuasive messages impact processing of the messages. Specifically, based upon the theoretical frameworks of the musical expectancy theory (Meyer, 1956), and the modern interpretation of expectancy the ITPRA (Huron, 2006), and the Limited Capacity Model of Motivated Mediated Message Processing (Lang, 2006), this study specifies experiential and physiological correlates to typical music elements including changes in style, mode, melody, dynamics and tempo, used in televised public service announcements (PSAs). Initial coding was performed to determine the most prominent musical element(s) within a 30 PSA. Repetition of the melodic pattern was a commonly occurring element throughout the PSAs and was chosen as the manipulation for the main experiment. The main experiment measured subject's heart rate as they viewed PSAs with high, medium and low repetition of the melody in two genres: theme and hip hop music. Individual difference measures were also collected to determine if there is an impact on processing. Results show an interaction between genre, repetition and sensation seeking. Music is often used to provide emotional support to mediated messages, and often persuasive mediated messages. Determining how the music works with the narrative can help practitioners create more effective persuasive messages.

Committee: Zheng Wang PhD (Advisor); David Ewoldsen PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2011, Neurosciences

Rhythmic spontaneous neural activity is widespread in the developing central nervous system. In the developing chick spinal cord this bursting activity has recently been shown to regulate motoneuron pathfinding in the limb (Hanson and Landmesser, 2004; Hanson and Landmesser, 2006). Moderate decreases in the frequency of bursting activity by inhibiting GABAA receptor signaling via in ovo picrotoxin application resulted in dorsal-ventral (D-V) pathfinding errors and a decrease in the expression of the guidance molecules involved in this pathfinding choice. In contrast, moderate increases in the frequency of bursting activity by application of the glycine reuptake inhibitor, sarcosine, resulted in major pool-specific pathfinding errors in the limb. However, it was still unclear whether the disruption in the frequency of rhythmic depolarizations or altered neurotransmitter signaling led to the pathfinding errors, since altering the frequency of bursting activity also perturbed GABAergic or glycinergic transmission. To distinguish between these possibilities, I conducted the experiments described in this thesis. Herein I show that driving bursting activity at normal frequencies by light activation of Channelrhodopsin-2 in the presence of the GABAA receptor blocker, picrotoxin, prevents the D-V pathfinding errors and maintains the expression of the guidance molecules involved in this pathfinding choice. I have also determined that increasing the frequency by light activation of Channelrhodopsin-2 without alteration of glycine signaling results in pool-specific projection errors. This body of work shows that normal patterns of spontaneous neural activity and not neurotransmitter signaling are necessary for proper pathfinding of motoneurons in the limb. Thus, these experiments clearly identify what aspect of bursting activity motoneurons are sensitive to and establish the foundation for further determination of the downstream signaling pathways through which bursting activi (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Lynn Landmesser PhD (Advisor); Heather Broihier PhD (Committee Chair); Wilson Chris PhD (Committee Member); Brady-Kalnay Susann PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Neurobiology; Neurosciences

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2004, Neurosciences

Over the last several decades, a general consensus has emerged that molecular mechanisms are required for proper axon pathfinding and initial circuit formation while activity dependent mechanisms primarily regulate the synaptic refinement important for proper connectivity of the circuit. Shortly after motoneurons are born, they begin to extend axons into the periphery and make early pathfinding decisions. Experiments described within this thesis demonstrate that spontaneous rhythmic bursting episodes of electrical activity as well as spontaneous unit activity could be recorded from these extending axons. Therefore, this spontaneous rhythmic activity during initial outgrowth might play an important role in early axonal decisions. In order to test this hypothesis, it was first essential to characterize the cellular mechanisms required for the initiation and propagation of these episodes. Experiments further demonstrated that the motoneurons, via cholinergic transmission, are essential for the production of this early spontaneous activity but that GABA and glycine acting in an excitatory manner also contribute. With this detailed characterization of the circuit that generates this activity, it was possible to pharmacologically alter the frequency of the spontaneous rhythmic episodes in ovo during precise stages of development while maintaining spontaneous unit activity. Altering the frequency of rhythmic bursting activity during early pathfinding at the nerve plexus not only induced motor axon pathfinding errors, but also altered the expression of EphA4 and polysialic acid on NCAM (PSA), molecules known to be required for early pathfinding. Thus, this work illustrates that both early motor axon pathfinding and the expression of specific guidance molecules is dependent on spontaneous rhythmic episodes of activity from the spinal cord.

Committee: Lynn Landmesser (Advisor) Subjects: Biology, Neuroscience