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Selective Transfection of a Transferrin Receptor-Expressing Cell Line With DNA-Lipid Nanoparticles and Synthesis of Parasite-Derived Glycans as Biomarkers for Leishmaniasis
No full textDespite notable progress in lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-mediated gene delivery, achieving selective transfection of specific cell types, such as cancer cells, remains a significant hurdle, hindering the advancement of innovative gene therapies. In this study, we engineered an LNP formulation encapsulating plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding the monomeric Green Lantern (mGL) fluorescent reporter protein. The DT7 peptide ligand targeting human transferrin receptor 1 (hTfR1) was also conjugated to the LNP surface for targeted delivery to hTfR1-expressing cells. Optimization of LNP composition yielded favorable particle diameter, ζ-potential, yield, and pDNA encapsulation efficiency. Evaluation of transfection selectivity using a panel of two engineered cell lines, CHO-TRVb-hTfR1 expressing hTfR1 and CHO-TRVb-neo lacking this receptor, was accomplished through flow cytometry, measuring the expression of the fluorescent mGL protein. Our experiments revealed a dose-dependent mGL expression in the evaluated range of LNP concentrations, with up to 20% transfection efficiency in CHO-TRVb-hTfR1 cells and markedly lower efficiency (up to 4%) in CHO-TRVb-neo cells, indicating a five-fold enhanced selectivity for hTfR1-expressing cells. These findings suggest the potential of this LNP platform, or similar ones modified with DT7, for in vivo applications, particularly in the selective targeting of malignant cells overexpressing hTfR1. Further work aims to enhance LNP selectivity, including the development of dual-targeting LNPs and exploring additional ligands for improved therapeutic precision
Risk and Protective Factors Associated With the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Alcohol Expectancies in Latina College Students
No full textAlcohol use among college students is a public health concern, with rates increasing in recent years. Several constructs have been studied in past research to assess alcohol use, alcohol consequences, and motives to drinking. However, to the author’s knowledge, no study has assessed risk and protective factors that may influence the relationship between alcohol expectancies and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) among Latina college students living on the U.S/Mexico border. The present study assessed the relationship between ACEs and positive and negative alcohol expectancies, as well as the impact of risk and protective moderating factors on the relationship. Latina college students (N=341) were recruited from a Hispanic Serving Institution and completed an online survey which included: demographics, the Center for Youth Wellness Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire (CYW ACE-Q) Teen Self-Report, the Comprehensive Effects of Alcohol (CEOA) measure, the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST), the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale – 21 (DASS), The Family Health Scale -Long Form (FHS-LF), and the Brief-Resilience Scale (BRS). Descriptive analyses were conducted to yield participant characteristics. Hierarchal linear regressions were used to test for main and interactive effects. Results indicated a positive association between positive alcohol expectancies (β = .049, p \u3c.001) and negative alcohol expectancies (β = .049, p \u3c.001) with adverse childhood experiences. However, no moderators influenced the relationship between ACEs and positive and negative alcohol expectancies. Results of this study will inform alcohol prevention programs to target Latina college students, particularly those who have experienced childhood trauma
Promoting Social Sustainability: Implementing a Dynamic Stem Driven Framework to Empower Underrepresented Communities in West Texas Schools
No full textThis dissertation explores how environmental engineering can utilize STEM education as a strategic tool, enhancing social sustainability and thereby empowering underserved Hispanic communities in West Texas. Responding to significant educational and resource disparities, this research introduces an innovative interdisciplinary framework that combines instruction-initiated resource activation (I2RA), culturally attuned parent engagement (CAPE), and community- centered STEM education (CCSE). This approach uniquely addresses the challenges faced by these communities, integrating environmental solutions with educational advancements to forge a path toward equitable STEM access and achievement. Additionally, the “Elevate and Empower” case study exemplifies the practical application of this comprehensive framework, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing STEM education outcomes and narrowing the educational and social divides. Furthermore, this research highlights the framework\u27s potential to catalyze policy-driven change, advocating for continued innovation and collaboration in engineering solutions for social sustainability and community empowerment. Placing environmental engineering at the center of societal progress, this study aims to demonstrate how targeted STEM educational initiatives can lead to significant social and environmental improvements
A Muzzle for the Lamb: A Novel
No full textIn February 1534, a group of apocalypse-hopeful Anabaptists took over the German city of Muenster. Aided by the Catholic church, the government successfully conducted a siege of the city, and when the dust settled the next summer, the three surviving Anabaptist leaders were tortured before a cheering audience for an hour. Afterward, they were executed (to even greater cheers), and their bodies were left to rot inside metal cages strung up on the steeple of St. Lambert\u27s church. The cages were meant as a warning to anyone else who might test the church and the state\u27s dominance, but they are still there for admiring tourists as a reminder of a tragic year with a gruesome ending. The silver lining, depending on your perspective, is that the world did not end
Conserving One of Hawaiʻi’s Last Endemic Ducks: Genetics and Habitat Associations of Koloa, Feral Mallards, and Their Hybrids
No full textIncreases in anthropogenic hybridization through introduced species have accelerated the loss of genetic diversity and reductions in population size of native species that are already threatened by population and genetic diversity decline. Fertile hybrids that are common among waterfowl (order Anseriformes) are especially worrisome. A prime example is the endangered Hawaiian duck (Anas wyvilliana; “koloa maoli”), which is the remaining endemic duck species on the main Hawaiian Islands and is threatened by genetic extinction through ongoing hybridization with feral mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). Of note, koloa populations are known to be strongly male-biased (3:1), and this sex bias is known to stifle population growth rates in threatened species. Sex biases is known to occur as a result of hybridization, which can generate biases in offspring sex ratios due to rising genetic incompatibilities between sex chromosomes in the heterogametic sex (i.e., female birds), also known as Haldane’s rule. Alternative to Haldane’s rule is the potential for post-hatch female biased mortality that can also result in a male-biased population. Here, I tested for bias in offspring sex ratios among nests representing the remaining koloa populations of Kauaʻi, and the various koloa x feral mallard hybrid swarms found on the other Hawaiian Islands and investigated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity. Although adult koloa populations are highly male-biased, I found a slight, although non-significant, female- biased sex ratio among nests on Kauaʻi. Thus, I concluded that the evident male-biased adult populations must be a result of post-hatch higher female mortality. Conversely, sex ratios among feral mallard and known koloa x feral mallard hybrid nests showed signs of either a male bias or no bias in ratios, respectively. Next, I recovered all known mtDNA haplotypes from previous studies, but showed that general mitochondrial diversity continues to decline among koloa x feral mallard hybrid populations. Importantly, I not only determined that most areas outside of Kaua‘i are dominated by Old World “A” mtDNA haplotypes, but that the haplotypes present across hybrid populations are indeed due to hybridization with the game-farm mallard, a domestic mallard breed that continues to be released world-wide. Finally, I did not find any significant difference in habitat selection for nests amongst koloa, feral mallards, or hybrid populations. Together, my study fills critical knowledge gaps in sex ratios and hybridization rates that will be used in future koloa conservation efforts
The Lack of Representation of Mexican Women in Films
No full textRepresentation in film lacks the meaningful exposure of Mexican women, the lack of roles available tend to rely on the stereotypes of Mexicans therefore excluding room for Mexican women to be represented authentically. In this paper I discuss the lack of representation that Mexican women have in films, identifying that in roles of superheroes, especially women of color do not compare to the many white superhero films. To discuss representation of Mexicans in film, I used The Perfect Game (2009) and McFarland, USA (2015), films that share meaningful representation of Mexicans. While also using examples of representation in superhero films like Black Panther (2018) and Shang Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings (2021), both films share the representation of two minorities that have not been seen as leads in a superhero film. Finally, I discuss how the attempts of meaningful representation of Blue Beetle means to the representation of more Mexicans in films, even women, and how more could have been done in order to be successful with showcasing representation
Automated Composition of Multivariable Scientific Workflows Considering Scientific Assumptions
No full textMany ground-breaking scientific experiments require the execution of multiple complex scientific computations. Thus, scientific workflows (i.e., a sequence of scientific computations) have received significant attention, more specifically, the automated composition of scientific workflows. Scientific workflows that repurpose data may have unique scientific assumptions that need to be considered when composing a workflow. Workflow composition tools have enabled a wider range of stakeholders (e.g., policymakers, the general public, and researchers) to create and execute workflows; however, domain expertise is still required for these tasks. The overarching goal of this work is to further improve the automatic composition of scientific workflows by validating if the scientific assumptions taken during the creation of a dataset are aligned with the scientific assumptions required to use these datasets for a specific scientific computation. This work aims to answer the following research questions: How can metadata and provenance be used to describe scientific assumptions of data consumed by scientific computations for the improvement of automated scientific workflow composition and repurposing of data? and to what extent can current Artificial Intelligence (AI) planning techniques with a heuristic function be used to formulate a scientific workflow that considers scientific assumptions in a hydrology domain?Our initial work focused on exploring automatic workflow composition with components that require and produce multiple scientific variables for an abstract case study (i.e., domain-free) using graph traversal. In addition, a second case study was conducted for a real-world hydrology scenario, which provided us with insights into how scientific assumptions could be described to enable model-to-model integration. In both cases, abstract and real-world scenarios, we use domain-independent vocabulary to represent a workflow for interoperability between different workflow management systems. We extended existing and widely used ontologies and vocabularies for describing scientific assumptions that are used in the automated composition of workflows. In addition, we propose a heuristic function for optimizing the algorithm. Our work aims to support scientific decision-making by enabling a wider range of stakeholders (e.g., policymakers, the general public) to automatically generate scientific workflows leveraging additional domain knowledge captured in metadata that can be executed in frameworks compatible with the standard workflow language used in this work
On Hannah Arendt’s Study of Constitutionalism in the Aftermath of Totalitarianism: A Philosophical Search for the Principle to Secure the Foundations of Modern Politics
No full textHannah Arendt faces the grotesque appearance of totalitarianism, and with bravery goes on the offensive, herself armed with contemporary philosophical tools of analysis, to do battle in the field of existential-phenomenology against this modern monster. Totalitarianism, birthed from the seeds of lawless action, claims to be the most lawful mode of human existence. The monstrous existence of totalitarianism demonstrates a crisis in the very foundations of modern man’s political mode of being. In order to find a solution to this modern political crisis Arendt closely studies the experience of constitution writing at the moment that the men of action are about to will themselves into the abyss of freedom. The American Revolution, as a prior experience to constitution writing, gives Arendt the elements for a powerful instrument to wield against the modern monster of totalitarianism. From these revolutionary elements Arendt fashions an instrument to wield against totalitarianism, the vital activity of pluralistic power. But the shadow of totalitarianism runs deep in the spirit of man, who can easily be atomized. Arendt teaches one that one must enact thoughtfulness in our speech and be judicious in our action
Understanding the Limits of Deep Packet Inspection for Network Traffic Classification
No full textWe present our human network application labeling system that contributes a new level of distinction between the network traffic that should be labeled from the network traffic that should not be labeled. This distinction improves the label accuracy of the training data set produced from the human labeled data and will subsequently improve the performance of supervised machine learning classifiers used for network traffic classification. This system also allows for the human network user to label traffic, with little effort, in a manner consistent with normal network usage, i.e., no need for a contrived experiment. Lastly, we use human supplied ground truth network application labels to analyze the performance of deep packet inspection techniques, specifically the nDPI library
An Uprooted Orchid
No full textAn Uprooted Orchid, touches on the power of words as medicine to navigate grief or illnesses that have disrupted home and family life. The speaker processes her father’s health complications from pulmonary disease and her own diagnosis – aggressive breast cancer. This collection of poetry is about feeling the emotional and physical weight of losing – a loved one, a breast – but also about celebrating family and “the magic in ordinary/ bits and fragments of everyday life”. The poems serve as an ode to facing difficult journeys, “Dear Warrior, you are more than/ what happens to your body on the outside”, while acknowledging every obstacle in the climb away from the gray area of grief, “Even a crystal doesn’t do much in the dark/ until you hold her up to the beauty of day/ and watch her refract the light/ rainbow after rainbow”