Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2007, Biomedical Engineering

In Chapter I. Introduction, two important physiological phenomena in breast cancer, apoptosis and angiogenesis, are described. Two molecular biomarkers, caspases for apoptosis and matrix metalloproteinase's for angiogenesis, are described particularly in the context of molecular imaging detection methods. In Chapter II. Responsive MR contrast agents, the responsive contrast agents in MR imaging are reviewed based on the response mechanisms, such as tumbling time, water accessibility and water exchange rates. Detecting enzyme activity has wide applications and is a hot issue in molecular imaging research. In Chapter III. Solution phase synthesis of peptidyl contrast agents, a new facile synthetic methodology for creating peptidyl DOTA using an aminoDOTA core compound is described. The solution phase synthesis methodology has limitations for the introduction of diverse sequences of peptides on a DOTA moiety. To overcome this limitation, in Chapter IV. Solid phase synthesis of peptidyl contrast agents, a solid phase synthetic approach was investigated. The solid phase synthetic method has been applied for the synthesis of diverse peptidyl DOTA structures for research presented in this dissertation, and for other molecular imaging research. In Chapter V. Detection of enzyme activity based on PARACESET effect, the newly synthesized caspase-3 targeting peptidyl MR contrast agent was evaluated for the physico/chemical properties. The in vitro enzyme activity detection was demonstrated using caspase-3 and the newly synthesized peptidyl DOTA MR contrast agent. Kinetics studies were conducted by measuring PARACEST effects and the PARACEST kinetics results were compared with the results from fluorescence enzyme kinetics studies. In Chapter VI. Review of DCE-MRI contrast agents, the contrast agents used for DCE-MRI were reviewed according to the criteria of molecular weight. The conventional DCE-MRI method was implemented and tested to show the utility of this technique to stud (open full item for complete abstract)

DNP, Otterbein University, 2025, Nursing

Neuromuscular blocking agents play a vital role in the safe delivery of modern anesthetic practice. These medications provide patient paralysis for anesthesia staff to perform tracheal intubation and for surgeons to have a motionless surgical field. At the end of surgery, the effects of these paralytic agents must be fully reversed by reversal agents. Incomplete reversal impairs the patient's ability to maintain an airway, which can lead to various postoperative pulmonary complications such as respiratory failure, pneumonia, and atelectasis. Patients undergoing thoracic surgery are at high risk for this incomplete reversal due to deep levels of paralysis required to keep the diaphragm motionless for surgical manipulation. Therefore, optimal paralytic reversal strategies must be analyzed and incorporated into clinical practice to decrease residual paralysis and subsequent complications. Neostigmine has traditionally been the primary agent used for paralytic reversal. However, a newer alternative is available with the relatively recent introduction of Sugammadex. Literature has shown that in patients undergoing thoracic surgery, utilizing Sugammadex for reversal of neuromuscular blockade, compared to Neostigmine, improves patient outcomes by reducing postoperative pulmonary complications. This evidence-based practice project evaluates the most up-to-date literature to identify, plan, and implement recommendations for an optimal paralytic reversal strategy in patients undergoing thoracic surgery at a level-one trauma center in the Midwest United States.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Wright State University, 2021, Computer Science and Engineering PhD

Autonomous agents in a multi-agent system coordinate to achieve their goals. However, in a partially observable world, current multi-agent systems are often less effective in achieving their goals. In much part, this limitation is due to an agent's lack of reasoning about other agents and their mental states. Another factor is the agent's inability to share required knowledge with other agents and the lack of explanations in justifying the reasons behind the goal. This research addresses these problems by presenting a general approach for agent goal management in unexpected situations. In this approach, an agent applies three main concepts: goal reasoning - to determine what goals to pursue and share; theory of mind - to select an agent(s) for goal delegation; explanation - to justify to the selected agent(s) the reasons behind the delegated goal. Our approach presents several algorithms required for goal management in multi-agent systems. We demonstrate that these algorithms will help agents in a multi-agent context better manage their goals and improve their performance. In addition, we evaluate the performance of our multi-agent system in a marine life survey domain and a rover domain. Finally, we compare our work to different multi-agent systems and present empirical results that support our claim.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2017, Chemistry

The purpose of this dissertation is to highlight three unique approaches towards discovering a catalytic treatment towards organophosphorus (OP) poisoning. All three potential approaches focus on developing catalytic treatment methods that focus on hydrolyzing OP nerve agents before they can inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE). AChE is a serine hydrolase which is responsible for hydrolyzing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). AChE operates near diffusion control and can hydrolyze upwards of 25,000 ACh molecules every second. However, when AChE is inhibited by a nerve agent, an excess amount of ACh will build up at neurosynaptic gaps, thereby causing a cholinergic crisis. Once this occurs, a person will start to develop symptoms of muscle contractions, blurry vision, seizures and/or respiratory failure. An OP nerve agent has this effect because it is a structural analog to ACh; however, phosphylation of the active site is more difficult to reverse. Reactivation of AChE can occur by hydrolyzing the phosphylated enzyme with a nucleophile such as 2-PAM (often administered after OP exposure has occurred). Unfortunately, if this reactivation does not occur, the phosphylated enzyme will undergo a spontaneous dealkylation step (termed aging) to give a “dead” enzyme, which to date cannot be reactivated. The first therapeutic design focuses on the research and development of phosphorane haptens. These haptens are conjugated to some mutagen and administered into mice. This causes an immune response and can generate catalytic antibodies which are capable of hydrolyzing the nerve agent VX. In total, ten different haptens were synthesized, mimicking the hydrolysis transition state of VX, and all generated specific antibodies. Each titer of antibodies were then tested against authentic VX samples. The second approach focuses on the development of a combinatorial approach to synthesizing a random library of cyclic peptides. These cyclic peptides are meant to model the activ (open full item for complete abstract)

PHD, Kent State University, 2015, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Chemistry

The combination of nanotechnology with medicinal chemistry has developed into a burgeoning research area. Nanomaterials (NMs) could be seamlessly interfaced with various facets in biology, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry and environmental chemistry that may not be available to the same material in the bulk scale. This dissertation research has focused on the development of nanoparticulate coordination polymers for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Modern imaging techniques include X-ray computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). We have successfully developed several types of nanoparticulate diagnostics and therapeutics that have some potential usefulness in biomedicine. Synthesis and characterization of nanoparticulate based PET (Positron emission tomography)/SPECT (Single photon emission computed tomography) are discussed in chapter 3. For the preparation of 68Ga-radiopharmaceuticals, fast formation kinetics are required owing to the short half-life of 68Ga. Our accelerated synthesis involving the aqueous solution and efficient-easy purification of PB NPs would be highly desirable. In addition, easy preparation and fast purification allow physicians to gain considerable time for imaging even with relatively low concentration of radiopharmaceuticals. We demonstrate for the first time the use of Ga(III) doped colloidal solutions of Prussian blue (PB) as a novel radioactive Ga(III) delivering agent. The PET/SPECT imaging modalities provide information on molecular processes using radiolabeled imaging agents; on the other hand PET and SPECT gives limited anatomical details and spatial resolution as a major disadvantage, regardless of their high-sensitivity in tracking in vivo biomarkers. Also we have described for the first time a novel nanoparticulate solid-state compound that contains both Gd(III) (f7, S=7/2) and Ga(III) as dopants in the network s (open full item for complete abstract)

MS, Kent State University, 2010, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Chemistry

There are insufficient achievements in the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment for new dual agents, which would provide health care specialists the ability to simultaneously image patients' cancerous tissues as well as treat the diseases. Prussian blue (ferric hexacyanoferrate) is a nontoxic FDA approved compound used clinically as an antidote for thallium and radioactive cesium poisoning. In this thesis development of simple methods for the synthesis of biocompatible Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) and its analogues as well as their applications for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents and drug delivery have been studied. The extensive magnetic properties investigations show that Prussian blue nanoparticles and gadolinium doped analogue nanoparticles significantly shorten the T1 relaxation time in aqueous solution and in HeLa cells treated with PBNPs, demonstrating their potential use as MRI contrast agents. Although the relaxivity values of Prussian blue nanoparticles are approximately an order of magnitude lower than the typical commercial Gd3+-based T1 contrast agents but it is found to be comparable to the values obtained for the MnO nanoparticles-based T1 agents. In order to provide high contrast, gadolinium doped Prussian blue nanoparticles (Gd-PBNPs) were prepared. It was also found that the Gd-PBNPs can shorten the T1 relaxation time significantly and provide potential use for clinical applications. In order for Prussian blue and its analogues nanoparticles to be concurrently utilized as drug delivery agents they must be biocompatible and capable of crossing the plasma membrane. Therefore, Prussian blue nanoparticles and related analogues were synthesized and functionalized by carboxylic acids such as citric acid as capping agents to control size distribution. To study the intracellular uptake of Prussian blue and analogue nanoparticles, their surfaces were functionalized separately with the small molecule dyes such (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 1967, Graduate School

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2005, Graduate School

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2008, Graduate School

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 1974, Graduate School

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 1965, Graduate School

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2006, Graduate School

Master of Business Administration, The Ohio State University, 1966, Graduate School

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 1966, Graduate School

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2005, Graduate School

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 1970, Graduate School

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 1967, Graduate School

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

In the field of Artificial Intelligence, the usage of intelligent agents has increased significantly. The term intelligent agents refers to a computer program that doesn't need any human interference or help to make decisions working towards a goal. While the external controller of the agent may impose goals, it is up to the agent to come up with a plan to achieve them. This thesis introduces a framework using Answer Set Programming (ASP) and the policy specification language AOPL to enforce policy compliance in autonomous agents through penalization while considering goal prioritization as well. A systematic penalty system assesses and addresses violations by severity, enhancing safety and reliability. Validated across scenarios including self-driving agents and service robots, the framework demonstrates adaptability and effectiveness. This work advances autonomous agent governance, promoting safer AI integration in everyday applications and setting the stage for further research on scalable penalty mechanisms.

DNP, Otterbein University, 2025, Nursing

Obesity predisposes patients to heightened risks of adverse outcomes following surgery, including residual neuromuscular blockade and postoperative complications. The administration of non-depolarizing neuromuscular agents (NMBAs) is fundamental for muscle relaxation and optimal surgical conditions. However, the subsequent reversal of these blockers with agents like sugammadex or neostigmine is crucial to mitigate these risks. While sugammadex is recognized as a clinically superior choice due to its rapid and more complete reversal, its extensive use is often limited by cost, presenting challenges in obese patients who already face increased susceptibility to complications. This project evaluates the cost-effectiveness of sugammadex versus neostigmine in obese patients undergoing general anesthesia. Employing the PET process of the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Model, the project develops evidence-based recommendations. By conducting evidence review and analyzing literature on clinical and economic outcomes, including postoperative complications and costs, anesthesia providers will receive guidance in optimizing patient care and resource utilization.

Master of Fine Arts, The Ohio State University, 2024, Design

This thesis introduces a theoretical framework for applying behavioral animation to generate autonomous entities with social motivations in a digital setting. It focuses on designing characters that develop distinct personalities through their interactions with the environment and other co-existing social characters. These personalities play a significant role in shaping the characters' desires and behaviors A central aspect of this study is how the scarcity of resources within the digital environment fosters social interactions among the characters, thereby affecting where they congregate and how they interact. A key feature of these characters is their ability to remember past experiences, allowing them to establish positive and negative relationships based on past interactions. This capability to form memories enriches the characters' experiences and interactions, paving the way for the development of unique emergent narratives for each character. The content of this thesis unfolds as follows: It begins by examining the literature and previous works that have inspired the development of this framework, setting the stage for understanding the current state of research in behavioral animation and digital storytelling. Next, the author's exploration of various projects that lead to the conception of this thesis is detailed, highlighting the iterative process of discovery and innovation. The theoretical framework is introduced to provide the foundation for the video prototype later on. Following, the creation of a video prototype, Sociable Creatures, exemplifies the practical application of the concepts introduced with the theoretical framework. The impact of this work lies in its potential to transform how narratives are conceived and experienced in digital media, offering a richer, more immerse storytelling experience, thereby revolutionizing our engagement with digital narratives and opening up new possibilities for complex social interaction within the virtual w (open full item for complete abstract)