MA, Kent State University, 2023, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Philosophy

What is law, and how do judges apply laws? What factors affect how judges interpret laws and reach decisions? I will defend Dworkin's conception of law as integrity, in terms of how judges' decisions and application of laws create a coherent and predictable system of laws. I will use the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and stripped women of their long-standing abortion rights, to illustrate the importance of the principles of stare decisis and integrity in a legal system. I will examine the HartDworkin debate regarding the nature of law and adjudication. I will then examine the views of Hart and Dworkin and the nature of their disagreement. I will move to evaluate their views in the context of the argument and the need for stability, predictability, and coherence in a legal system. I will argue that Dworkin's conception of law as integrity, which is grounded in the principle of stare decisis, is preferable to Hart's positivist conception of law and adjudication. I will use the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, to substantiate my argument by indicating that the Dobbs decision violates law as integrity and the principle of stare decisis.

PHD, Kent State University, 2016, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Computer Science

Proper access control is one of the most important issues in computer security. It consists of securing a system in the form of availability, confidentiality, and integrity. Integrity is about making sure that only proper modifications take place. Some integrity models are static in nature, which may limit their capabilities for better protection of a system. In some cases like in the collaborative authoring systems (e.g. Wikipedia), such static models are not desired because there is a need for continuous evaluations of posted work. This motivated us to present a dynamic integrity model based on a metric we call the modification factor to evaluate whether the integrity level should be changed up or down. Furthermore, our dynamic model allows us to establish a level of trustworthiness that an entity has as a source or destination of information.

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2006, Environmental Studies (Arts and Sciences)

Ohio's Western Allegheny Plateau ecoregion has been studied to understand the processes controlling streamwater and sediment chemistry, and the relationship to aquatic organisms. Water and sediment samples collected from fifty reference sites in summer, 2005 were analyzed for pH, DO, conductivity, TDS, alkalinity, acidity, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, SO42-, NO3-, HCO3-, total P and Cl-. In general, the chemical species all met the USEPA standards for drinking water and the criteria for aquatic life except for phosphorous and oxygen at a few sites. The streamwater chemistry was controlled by the weathering of carbonate rocks with minimal anthropogenic impact. The dominant ions Ca and bicarbonate were found to be undersaturated with respect to calcite. Correlation analyses showed that the biologic indicators macroinvertebrate (ICI), fish (IBI), and algae (PIBI) assemblages were sensitive to streamwater chemical parameters. ICI was correlated with alkalinity, DO and pH, while IBI and PIBI were correlated with sulfate, Mg and Ca. Sediment chemistry did not correlate with biological indices in the WAP. Alkalinity provided by carbonate rocks in the WAP seems to favor aquatic life.

Specialist in Education, Miami University, 2012, Educational Psychology

The emergence of response to intervention (RTI) models of service delivery has resulted in widespread use of curriculum-based measurement (CBM) to make high-stakes educational decisions. This paper presents the results of an exploratory study investigating integrity in the administration of CBM. Assessment integrity rates were measured through observation of CBM administration at three public K-12 schools. Questionnaire and interview data were collected to measure variables thought to relate to integrity: training, acceptability, attitude toward integrity, adequacy of time, and administrator support. Statistical analysis did not reveal significant relationships between assessment integrity and those variables. Descriptive analyses of the results reveal significant departures from standardized assessment procedures and suggest needed reforms to ensure the defensibility of decisions made using CBM data.

Specialist in Education (Ed.S.), University of Dayton, 2010, School Psychology

Previous research suggests that repeated reading interventions improve student reading rate (Strong, Wehby, Falk, & Lane, 2004; Welsch, 2006; Yurick, 2006). However, little research exists in the literature regarding the degree to which the intervention must be implemented in order to obtain positive student outcomes. The current study used a repeated reading intervention at varying levels of treatment integrity with 16 second grade students identified as struggling readers in a quasi-experimental design. The repeated reading intervention was applied to three groups of students at either: 100%, 80%, or 60% integrity, and the results were compared to students in a control group. Three out of four students receiving the intervention at 100% integrity demonstrated positive g-index scores. Only half of students in the 80% and 60% groups, and none of the students in the control group achieved positive g-index scores. Potential implications, suggestions for future research, and limitations are included.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), University of Dayton, 2025, Materials Engineering

This dissertation investigates the development and application of non-halogenated, phosphorus-based reactive flame retardants in epoxy resin systems, focusing on optimizing the balance between fire resistance, mechanical properties, ease of processing, and cost-efficiency. Traditional halogenated retardants, while effective, pose significant environmental risks, necessitating the exploration of safer alternatives. Chapter 1 discusses the challenges of enhancing fire resistance in epoxy resins without relying on halogenated compounds. It emphasizes the need for solutions that integrate seamlessly with epoxy matrices, maintaining or enhancing mechanical performance cost-effectively. This chapter underscores the significance of this research in modern material science, highlighting the need for materials that can resist rapid combustion and meet stringent fire safety standards while being economical and easy to process. Chapter 2 presents a literature review showing the state-of-the-art in reactive phosphorus-based retardants and their ability to improve fire resistance through multiple mechanisms. It also identifies existing gaps in achieving an optimal balance with mechanical properties. Chapter 3 details the testing of FR5, an amine-functionalized phosphorus hydrazide, noting its effectiveness in improving char formation and smoke reduction but its limited impact on peak heat release rates. This result indicates the need for further development or combinations with other retardant chemistries to enhance effectiveness. Chapter 4 explores the use of P-DGEBA, a phosphorus-modified epoxy monomer, in carbon fiber composites, revealing its ability to enhance the glass transition temperature and reduce heat release. However, further studies are needed to fully understand its impact on composite properties and processing. Chapter 5 investigates the effects of commercially available phosphorus-based flame retardants like Fyrol PMP and DOPO on blends of DGEBA epoxy (EP) w (open full item for complete abstract)

PHD, Kent State University, 2025, College of Public Health

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence has established that endothelial damage represents an essential pathogenic mechanism of respiratory and multiorgan dysfunction seen in the post-acute phase of COVID-19. However, the underlying mechanisms in long COVID are not well understood. The objective of this research is to investigate temporal changes in factors associated with long COVID and better understand sex-specific differences in endothelial function. METHODS: Confirmed COVID negative participants were 1:1 propensity score matched to COVID positive participants. Endothelial function was assessed using reactive hyperemic index (RHI; lower RHI=worse endothelial function) and augmentation index (AI; higher AI=worse arterial stiffness). The presence of two or more persistent symptoms occurring at least one-month following COVID-infection was defined as long-COVID. Participants with any prior history of cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, were excluded from the study. Cumulative logit models with general linear model parameterization were used to estimate the effects of sex, inflammation, and gut permeability on the log-odds of having long-COVID and worse endothelial function (AI≥11.0). P-values less than alpha <0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Among COVID positive participants, the median age was 42.92 years, 46.07% were female sex, 34.83% were non-white race, and 57 had long-COVID. Overall, the distribution of age, BMI, lipids, and the proportion of sex, race, current smokers, and pre-existing co-morbidities were similar (P>0.05) between COVID-positive and COVID-negative participants. In adjusted models, elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor receptor-1, oxidized LDL, zonulin, and β-D-glucan were associated (P<0.05) with at least a two-fold increase in the odds of having long-COVID. Female sex was 4x more likely to have worse AI compared to male sex (P<0.0001) and among female sex with long-COVID, having worse levels (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2025, Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Monocytes play a critical role in HIV infection, mediating immune dysregulation through persistent inflammation and as viral reservoirs. This study focuses on the relationship between monocyte dynamics and markers of inflammation and gut integrity in HIV patients before and after antiretroviral therapy (ART). Using high-dimensional flow cytometry of peripheral blood monocytes and plasma biomarker analysis, we investigated alterations in peripheral blood monocyte populations and plasma biomarkers of inflammation and gut microbial translocation in ART-naive and long-term ART-treated individuals. We observed significant shifts in monocyte phenotypic clusters between pre- and post-ART PBMC samples. Additionally, we saw pronounced increases in biomarkers of inflammation and gut integrity between pre- and post-ART plasma samples. Moreover, we observed correlations between monocyte clusters and plasma markers of immune dysregulation, suggesting relationships between specific monocyte clusters and comorbidities associated with long-term ART-suppressed HIV. In pre-ART patients, we found cluster-specific correlations between clusters 2, 6, and 8, and biomarkers IFAB (intestinal fatty acid binding protein) and TNFR-II (tumor necrosis factor receptor II), suggesting associations with gut inflammation markers during early, untreated HIV. Post-ART results showed roles for cluster 1 and ox-LDL, implicating it in cardiovascular conditions. Distinctly, we saw a negative correlation between cluster 5 and IFAB, suggesting a role in the modulation of gut dysregulation. This comprehensive analysis underscores the heterogeneity of monocytes and their critical role in HIV pathogenesis and ART-associated comorbidities. These findings provide promising avenues for targeting monocyte subsets to help mitigate immune activation and lessen its impact on gut dysregulation and cardiovascular risk in PLWH undergoing long-term ART.

Master of Technology Management (MTM), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Technology Management/Quality Systems

In the contemporary landscape of digital information, safeguarding data integrity has become imperative for organizations across various industries alike. This thesis addresses the escalating challenges associated with potential compromises to data integrity and introduces a framework tailored for effective risk mitigation. Through an in-depth examination of current available data, this research identifies vulnerabilities that expose systems to integrity threats, drawing insights from existing literature and pertinent case studies. The proposed framework synthesizes industry best practices, integrating key elements such as encryption, authentication, and continuous monitoring. Emphasizing a proactive stance, the framework aligns with established industry standards and regulatory guidelines to establish a robust defense against threats, both internal and external. Real-world applications of failure stories are examined to validate the framework's effectiveness, or lack thereof, in diverse organizational settings. This research aims to make a meaningful contribution to the field of data integrity security by offering practical solutions to the complex challenge of data integrity risks in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. There are numerous similarities between these two industries, one of which being that each have the same rigorous data integrity requirements which must be met, therefore the framework constructed within this document is applicable to both industries alike. The insights derived from this study are intended to empower organizations, enabling them to fortify their digital and personnel infrastructure and maintain the resilience and trustworthiness of their data in the face of an ever-evolving threat landscape.

Master of Science (M.S.), Xavier University, 2024, Psychology

This study examined the effect of organizational behavioral integrity (BI) related to strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) on participant perceptions of a hypothetical organization (Windscheid et al., 2016). It utilized a three-group between-subjects design (no BI, low-level BI, high-level BI) to manipulate the level of organizational BI when strategic CSR was present, and measured perceptions of organizational BI and favorability. Out of the total 210 participants, 57 participants demonstrated the potential for insufficient effort responding (Huang et al., 2015) and analyses were run with and without these participants. Results showed a significant effect of BI on participant perceptions of the organization. In comparison to an organization without BI and with low BI, participants had significantly more positive perceptions of an organization with high BI. Compared to an organization with no BI, participants had significantly more positive perceptions of an organization with low BI. The potential IER did not impact results. This study demonstrates people can distinguish between different levels of organizational BI for a strategic CSR initiative and perceive organizations with more BI more favorably. Future research should investigate whether attitudes toward different CSR issues influence perceptions and how these perceptions are manifested for organizations.

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Architecture

For inscription on the World Heritage List, a nominated site must possess “Outstanding Universal Value” and meet additional qualifying conditions, namely authenticity and integrity. These terms represent the essential ethics of monumental conservation but often cause confusion and are frequently misunderstood. Migrating these concepts from monuments to the broader notion of cultural heritage raises more profound issues akin to the incompatibility caused by directly transplanting conservation theories from artifacts to monuments. The evolution of authenticity and integrity in World Heritage practice reflects the intriguing ideas of pioneers grappling with challenges such as reconstruction, monitoring, historic towns, cultural landscapes, material fetishism, and cultural relativism. Their efforts culminated in the 1994 Nara Conference on Authenticity and the significant 2005 revision of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention. With the rise of critical heritage studies and community-based values, the entire heritage conservation movement has faced criticism as a Western-dominated “authorized heritage discourse,” with World Heritage practice as the leading institution prioritizing esoteric elitist values and propagating hegemonic control over heritage. Although there have been calls for a paradigm shift toward “conservation as managing change,” the application of authenticity and integrity as World Heritage qualifying conditions has remained essentially unchanged for almost two decades. Reconstruction in the urban context epitomizes new challenges. The traditional European approach to heritage conservation considers reconstruction an exceptional circumstance that would compromise a site's authenticity, reflecting a narrow understanding of authenticity focused exclusively on material substance. However, reconstruction at the urban level parallels restoration on a monument scale. Restoration involves reconstructing (open full item for complete abstract)

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Medicine: Cancer and Cell Biology

Epidermal vulnerabilities in Fanconi Anemia (FA) disease are an unexplored trait that may confer extreme susceptibility to squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the head and neck and esophageal region, anogenital tract and the skin, where keratinocytes are the cells of origin. Previously, we reported that FA epidermal rafts and skin biopsies from FA individuals harbor defects in desmosome cell junctions, which clinically contribute to accelerated skin blistering when induced by mechanical stress. However, relevant mechanisms that stimulate epidermal fragility and SCC predisposition in FA disease are poorly understood. Our findings demonstrate that functional loss of the FA pathway results in transcriptional repression and reduced protein expression of desmosomes in the stratified epidermis. Diminished desmosome expression occurs in part via transcriptional suppression of the master transcriptional regulator, TAp63, and post-translationally via accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), membrane lipid peroxidation, and generation of the much stable reactive aldehyde, 4-hydroxy-no-nenal (4-HNE). Elevated ROS and lipid peroxidation were both sufficient and required to drive transcriptional repression and protein downregulation of TAp63 and subsequently desmosome proteins. TAp63 overexpression or treatment with a flavonoid antioxidant Quercetin restored TAp63 and desmosome transcript and protein levels as well as minimized ROS, lipid peroxidation, and 4-HNE in the FA epidermis. Quercetin supplementation over a period of 12 months in FA individuals improved epidermal integrity by increasing the time to form blisters upon induction with mechanical stress. Collectively, targeting the ROS-TAp63 signaling in FA individuals improves epidermal integrity and may help counteract SCC susceptibility both in the vulnerable FA population and in the general population where ROS plays a critical role in disease pathogenesis.

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2023, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: School Psychology

Over recent decades, numerous evidence-based practices have been identified for supporting students on the autism spectrum. These evidence-based practices, however, are typically not implemented consistently or as planned in school settings (Alexander et al., 2015). Implementation science highlights the importance of effective implementation and supporting evidence-based practice to ensure the intended outcomes of interventions. Treatment integrity is critically important as low levels of treatment integrity may render an evidence-based intervention less effective, less efficient, or produce less predictable responses (Wilder et al., 2006). Implementation prompts and performance feedback show promise for increasing treatment integrity, however there are significant gaps in the research regarding the effectiveness of these consultant supports to improve teachers' implementation of evidence-base practices with students on the autism spectrum (Alexander et al., 2015). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two consultant supports, implementation prompts and performance feedback, alone and in combination with one another. The study examined these consultant supports to increase treatment integrity of teachers' behavior specific praise (BSP) for students. A reversal research design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of implementation prompts and performance feedback for the purpose of increasing treatment integrity of BSP in the classroom. Results of the study provide preliminary evidence that a combination of implementation prompts and performance feedback increased treatment integrity of the evidence-based practice as compared with the implementation prompts and performance feedback only phases.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Wright State University, 2023, Biomedical Sciences PhD

Faithful DNA replication is essential to maintain genomic integrity. Compromises in this process are among the prime causes of cancer and other genetic disorders. Among several factors that can interfere with error-free DNA replication, the formation of non-B DNA structures by microsatellite sequences is critical. Microsatellites are 1-9 bp long tandem repetitive regions that can form secondary structures like hairpins, triplex, Gquadruplex etc. and undergo expansions due to replication fork stalling to cause several diseases. Hairpin forming microsatellites have been shown to induce DNA DSBs and lead to genetic instability and mutagenesis. The goal of this study is to understand the effects on genome stability of triplex and G quadruplex secondary structures formed by the homopurine-homopyrimidine (Pu/Py)88 microsatellite sequence. We hypothesize that this sequence can induce microsatellite instability, genetic instability, and mutagenesis through break induced replication (BIR). Our study shows that the (Pu/Py)88 sequence generates DNA DSBs, is unstable in a replication polarity dependent manner and shows a high frequency of mutagenesis. The pattern of mutagenesis suggests that BIR may function to repair replication- dependent DNA DSBs. To investigate whether triplex or G quadruplex structures are responsible for this instability, we generated cell lines that can specifically form either of these structures. Our data shows that both structures are unstable, but the G quadruplexes are more deleterious between the two. To determine other reasons leading to mutagenesis we studied the ability of triplex and G quadruplexes to form extrachromosomal DNA (eccDNA). Our data reveals that the non-B DNA structures can generate eccDNA which cause elevated mutagenesis and gross chromosomal rearrangements. Since our data suggests BIR functioning in the cells for DNA repair, we focused on understanding the role of fork remodeling proteins that operate in BI (open full item for complete abstract)

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2023, Engineering and Applied Science: Mechanical Engineering

Ultrasonic Nanocrystal Surface Modification (UNSM) is a relatively new surface modification technique caused by severe plastic deformation,. UNSM involves scanning a CNC-controlled Tungsten Carbide ball tip across the surface of the specimen whilst it vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency backed by a static load. The ultrasonic vibration backed by the static load coupled with the scanning action have an overall effect that can be considered analogous to a hybrid of micro-cold forging and burnishing. Numerous studies have been undertaken toward understanding the underlying principles governing the outcome of the process, however, a comprehensive investigation into the effects of different processing parameters on the surface properties of the processed specimen has been missing from the literature. The objective of this study was to perform a comprehensive investigation of the effects of different processing parameters of UNSM on the surface properties of 300M steel, a material that is widely used for numerous applications such as aircraft landing gears and high-performance drive shafts. Experiments were performed using combinations of the following three processing parameters: scanning speed, scanning interval, and static load. The resulting surfaces were evaluated for surface hardness, roughness, wettability, appearance, and residual stresses. After analyzing the results, it was observed that the sliding action of the scanning motion caused trenches, visible under a microscope, to form on the surface of the specimen that was found to be one scanning interval apart. It was found that as the scanning speed is decreased the micro-cold forging action of the vibratory motion becomes the dominant governing mechanism of the process and the surface roughness increases as a result of decreasing scanning speed. The increase in static load was observed to intensify the peening action of the vibratory motion of the tungsten carbide tip resulting in surface damage, visible (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2022, Educational Leadership

We do not live in a post-racial society, and multiracial people are not the solution to the problem of the future of the racialized body. Research on multiracial identity focuses on "healthy" development and psychology (Renn, 2008), demonstrates a Black-white binary (Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2008), and pathologizes us with the intent to maintain monoracial (reliance on 5 racial categories) standards (Johnston & Nadal, 2010). We still err on the side of deficit-focus in educational research. This Dissertation Project explores critical multiracial wholeness with the assumptions of wholeness, inherent inter-connectedness, in-betweenness, agency, healing, and shapeshifting through time and space and figured worlds (Holland, Lachicotte, Cain, & Skinner, 1998). This project offers insight, and pushes us to question faulty (racial) category constructions, racial formation (Omi & Winant, 2015), and acknowledges the multiple and evolving truths of y/ourselves, that other possibilities exist, and have always existed, and always will exist. I utilized theoretical framing concepts interstitial integrity (Nakashima Brock, 2007), ancestor veneration (Iwamura, 2007), nepantla/nepantlera (Anzaldua, 2012; 2015), and liminal purgatory, to create a Critical Multiracial Wholeness Conceptual Framework / Methodology. I utilize critical autoethnography methods, which situates the lived experiences of my multiracial body as a site of inquiry in cultural contexts (Boylorn & Orbe, 2014), informed by co-interviews with other mixed race Asian people. The Research Questions include:1) How do I/we make sense of my past, present, and future-oriented/imagined embodied mixed race whole self? 2) In what ways do I/we shape-shift (nepantla) as a whole mixed race person, through past, present, and future time and space and constructed identities? 3) In what ways do I/we integrate/connect/create our whole mixed identities, in the past, present, and future? In what ways do we construct wholeness, ow (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2022, Psychology

Objective: The present study aimed to explore the relationships between Erik Erikson's adult stages of psychosocial development (intimacy/isolation, generativity/stagnation, ego integrity/despair) and suicidal ideation. It was hypothesized that more severe suicidal ideation would be significantly associated with poorer resolution of each of the three adult stages. It was also hypothesized that age would moderate the relationships between suicidal ideation and psychosocial development. Methods: Seventy-five Veterans (26-88 years old, Mage = 54.44 years) completed a diagnostic interview and met the inclusion criteria of a current depressive disorder. Self-report measures were administered to assess severity of suicidal thinking and degree of healthy psychosocial development. Results: More severe suicidal ideation was significantly associated with poorer psychosocial development across all three adult stages. Though age did not moderate this relationship for intimacy/isolation or generativity/stagnation, there was a small conditional effect of age on the relationship between integrity/despair and suicidal ideation. The strength of the integrity-ideation relationship was greatest for the youngest participants, tapering off after age 68. Conclusions: The significant associations between suicidal ideation and the adult psychosocial stages suggest that the developmental issues identified by Erikson are indeed important areas of mental health. Helping clients confront issues related to intimacy/isolation and generativity/stagnation may help reduce suicide risk across adulthood. Moreover, it may be useful to help clients resolve issues pertaining to dissatisfaction with life prior to entering older adulthood. Implications: The psychosocial issues identified by Erikson may help guide clinicians who work with suicidal clients. Results support current suicide prevention efforts to reduce loneliness and increase social supports. Findings also suggest that developing (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science in Cyber Security (M.S.C.S.), Wright State University, 2022, Computer Science

The current Routing Protocol for Low Power and Lossy Networks (RPL) standard provides three security modes Unsecured Mode (UM), Preinstalled Secure Mode (PSM), and Authenticated Secure Mode (ASM). The PSM and ASM are designed to prevent external routing attacks and specific replay attacks through an optional replay protection mechanism. RPL's PSM mode does not support key replacement when a malicious party obtains the key via differential cryptanalysis since it considers the key to be provided to nodes during the configuration of the network. This thesis presents an approach to implementing a secure authenticated key exchange mechanism for RPL, which ensures the integrity and authentication of the received key while providing tamper-proof data communication for IoTs in insecure circumstances. Moreover, the proposed approach allows the key to be updated regularly, preventing an attacker from obtaining the key through differential cryptanalysis. However, it is observed that the proposed solution imposes an increase in the cost of communication, computation, power consumption, and memory usage for the network nodes.

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2022, Computer Science and Engineering

In recent years, there has been considerable interest in developing streaming applications for IoT (or Edge Computing) environments. In this context, several studies have (manually) deployed application components on different nodes in the path from the extreme edge to the cloud. It is desirable to automate this mapping process. However, when considering this problem in the context of heterogeneous multi-layer wireless networks, we see challenges like limited computing and battery power at the extreme edge, modest transmission bandwidth, and different processing powers for different nodes. Automatic deployment or partitioning for streaming applications considering these challenges has not been addressed in the previous work. In the first chapter, a framework for automated deployment is presented with an emphasis on optimizing latency in the presence of resource constraints. A dynamic programming-based deployment algorithm is developed to make deployment decisions. With battery power being a key constraint, a major component of our work is a power model to help assess the power consumption of the edge devices at the runtime. Using three applications, we show the large reductions in both power consumption and response latency with our framework, as compared to a baseline involving cloud-only execution. At the same time, such an edge or fog processing model is increasingly being used for critical applications, often in environments where devices can be compromised. The second chapter considers a number of attacks that can negatively impact streaming IoT applications, and develop solutions to verify the integrity of the applications. We focus on premature code execution and overwriting of devices generated outputs, and propose a minimalist logging scheme for periodic verification with the use of hash-chains and Merkle Hash Tree (MHT).

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2022, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

Maintenance of genome stability and faithful transmission of genetic and epigenetic information comprises the foundation of cellular, and thus organismal fitness, within their environment. The greatest challenge to genome integrity is the process of genome duplication in preparation for cell division. This process is highly destructive to the genome's epigenetic and 3D organization information, yet accurately rebuilt after DNA sequence copying. The dynamic nature of genome replication requires a vast number of proteins and complexes, one of which is Histone acetyltransferase 1 (HAT1). HAT1 is responsible for acetylating Histone H4 Lysines 5 and 12 in the cytoplasm before H3:H4 dimers are translocated to and imported into the nucleus and deposited on nascent chromatin during DNA replication. HAT1 loss in mice is neonatal lethal with pups exhibiting developmental lung defects and craniofacial defects. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) isolated from HAT1 -/- mice experience slowed growth, heightened sensitivity to DNA damage, and genome instability indicators such as chromosome breaks and fusions and changes in chromosome number. Recently, multiple lines of evidence suggest that histone acetyltransferase 1's (HAT1) purpose extends far beyond its activity in new histone editing. In this study, we focus on HAT1's role at replication forks and explore its possible role in promoting the nascent chromatin-nuclear periphery relationship. First, we developed a proximity-based Chromatin Assembly Assay (CAA) to study replication fork dynamics with standardized data collection and analysis procedures. We then used this protocol and HAT1 +/+ and HAT1 -/- immortalized Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts (iMEFs) to investigate HAT1's role in the maintenance of genomic integrity. We show that HAT1 transiently associates with nascent DNA and that loss of HAT1 slows replication fork progression, due at least in part to an increase in fork stalling. In addition, fork stalling stabilizes HAT1' (open full item for complete abstract)