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Fingerprints of Injustice: The Truth Behind Artificial Intelligence and Algorithmic-Driven Evidence,
Get PDFArtificial intelligence (AI) has steadily grown in prominence, reaching into nearly every aspect of daily life, and the legal system is not immune from its influence. As various forms of machine evidence have been admitted in court, there has been an accompanying rise in concerns from researchers, judges, and defense attorneys as to the trustworthiness and reliability of this new category of evidence.
Though AI and machine evidence takes various forms, this Note focuses on some of the most prominent programs being used in courtrooms today, namely the probabilistic genotyping software TrueAllele and the recidivism rate prediction software COMPAS. The creators of these programs guarantee their accuracy, yet several studies have demonstrated proven defects in their operation—defects which cannot be fully tested and resolved due to the proprietary or “black box” nature of the underlying source code.
Several solutions have been suggested for how to approach machine evidence moving forward, but this Note posits a new mechanism which has not been previously addressed: the creation of a new federal agency focused on AI within the United States with a department wholly dedicated to computer-driven evidence in the legal system. This agency would be able to analyze machine evidence and send out scientific advisors to courts to counsel judges about the potential dangers of this form of evidence in a way that is not possible under the current system
Engineering Lipid Nanoparticles for sIRNA Delivery to Silence Identified Targest in Cancer Cells
No full textRNA interference (RNAi) is a potentially powerful tool that can specifically target the expression of virtually any protein without the expensive and time-consuming drug development studies. Despite the initial excitement and extensive efforts, the potential impact of RNAi approaches is yet to be fully realized in clinical settings. This is mainly due to the challenges in delivering RNA structures effectively.
This dissertation focuses on the development and optimization of an LNP platform designed for siRNA delivery, addressing critical challenges such as cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and gene silencing efficiency. While the scope of this work is limited to LNPs, it lays the foundation for the future development of a lipid-polymer nanoparticle (LPNP) system.
Chapter 1 provides a comprehensive overview of the breast cancer treatment landscape, discussing established therapies like hormone therapy and HER family receptor inhibitors, as well as emerging and experimental strategies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and kinase inhibitors. This chapter establishes the foundation for understanding RNAi’s potential to address the therapeutic gaps in breast cancer.
Chapter 2 focuses on the development and optimization of an LNP platform to deliver siRNA efficiently to breast cancer cells. The LNP platform serves as a versatile foundation, capable ofincorporating additional components for enhanced delivery efficiency. This chapter highlights the platform\u27s refinement, achieving effective gene silencing, and sets the stage for future development of an advanced lipid-polymer nanoparticle (LPNP) system.
Chapter 3 investigates mechanisms of resistance to enzalutamide in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). By using gradual and shock resistance induction models, specific molecular targets associated with resistance are identified. These targets provide opportunities for RNAibased therapeutic interventions in prostate cancer.
Chapter 4 explores prostate cancer using tissue microarray (TMA) analysis to identify stagespecific molecular targets. Through advanced analysis, potential targets are revealed for future RNAi-based therapies, supporting a broader application of siRNA delivery platforms developed earlier.
This dissertation highlights the challenges and innovations in RNAi delivery systems. It bridges the identification of molecular targets in breast and prostate cancers with the development of an adaptable LNP platform, emphasizing the potential for RNAi to transform precision oncology
Abstract 2587 Recombinant Expression and Purification of A. vinelandii CowN in E. coli
Get PDFThe goal of this project is to study the protein CowN in the diazotroph Azotobacter vinelandii (Av) in comparison to CowN in Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus (Gd). Nitrogenase is an enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of nitrogen gas into ammonia in diazotrophic bacteria. In many diazotrophs, the protein CowN prevents nitrogenase inhibition from the environmental gas carbon monoxide (CO). Previous work studied CowN in the diazotroph G. diazotrophicus. In G. diazotrophicus, CowN binds to nitrogenase and weakens CO binding to its active site. The mechanism of CowN has only been investigated in G. diazotrophicus. Thus, we are interested in determining if CowN\u27s mechanism is similar in other diazotrophs and how the structure of CowN differs between them. This poster describes our efforts to express and purify Av-CowN. Av-CowN was cloned into a pET28a expression vector and expressed recombinantly in E. coli. The protein was then purified in a two-step process. While small amounts of Av-CowN were obtained, it did not appear active since it did not protect Av-nitrogenase from CO. Furthermore, Av-CowN was not folded, suggesting that it is either expressed as a misfolded protein or was damaged during purification. Future work will focus on expressing the protein using cell-free expression systems
Tellings of the Pacific Ocean: A Landscape-based Approach for Multispecies Design and HCI
Get PDFEnvironmental disturbances induced by climate change have caused significant changes in our ecosystems and are threatening the health of our environments. As a response to this issue, a growing body of work has emerged in HCI and design, which seeks to foreground more-than-human stories in support of making more sustainable and just futures. This research contributes to this broad agenda by probing graphic novels as a multispecies storytelling method for design and HCI. Combining ideas from Anna Tsing’s adventures of landscape and from HCI and design’s use of sequential art (e.g., storyboards), we use landscape as the main protagonist of the story and show how graphic novel features, such as the use of panels and the ability to represent different perspectives across times, scales and geographies, affords tellings of multispecies stories. Through a critical engagement with the creation of the graphic novel as a research process and product, we offer an approach to challenge the human-centeredness and solution-orientedness of designs and stories
Sickle Cell Mice Exhibit Elevated Plasma Bilirubin and Altered Intracranial Cerebral Blood Velocities That Are Exacerbated by Hypoxia-Reoxygenation
Get PDFSickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder characterized by sickle red blood cells (RBCs). Sickle RBCs cause cerebral vasculopathies including vaso-occlusive events, leading to ischemia-reperfusion injury and hypoxic tissue environment. To date, the physiological blood flow velocities in cerebral vessels of preclinical SCD models has not been evaluated under hypoxic-reoxygenation. In our study, we used transcranial ultrasound techniques to measure abnormal blood flow velocities in the internal carotid (ICA) and middle cerebral arteries (MCA) of transgenic sickle cell mice (SS) challenged with hypoxia-reoxygenation. Our study showed that SS mice that underwent hypoxic stress exhibited lower relative mean velocities in the MCA compared to wildtype mice (AA) (0.67 ± 0.18 vs. 0.95 ± 0.15; p \u3c 0.05). Comparison of the Lindegaard ratio between normoxia and hypoxia in SS mice suggested that the MCA underwent vasodilation (0.67 ± 0.18 vs. 0.95 ± 0.15; p \u3c 0.05). Bilirubin, a potential biomarker for cerebral vasculopathies in SCD, was higher in SS than AA mice (0.56 ± 0.28 vs. 0.05 ± 0.07 mg/dL; p \u3c 0.05). Correlation analyses revealed a significant association between bilirubin levels and blood velocities of MCA (r = −0.9377, p = 0.0002) and ICA (r = 0.8203, p = 0.0068), especially in hypoxic conditions of SS mice. We propose that the reactivity of cerebral vessels in SS mice is correlated with the elevated plasma bilirubin level
Government Trust and Its Influence on Voter Turnout during Wartime
Get PDFWhat impact does the public\u27s level of trust in government during wartime have on voter turnout in US elections? Previous research focuses primarily on the impact public trust has on political parties and tends to neglect the impact wartimes may have on these factors. I will argue that during wartime, there is a negative relationship between public trust and voter turnout. Oftentimes, those who find themselves not trusting the government have a stronger desire to vote in hopes of changing the system; in comparison to those who have a high level of government trust, they feel a weaker desire to vote as they trust the current government system to do what\u27s right. War often heightens these feelings of approval and disapproval of candidates, which can potentially explain these patterns in voter turnout. To explore this, I analyze the 1996 and 2008 American National Election Studies post-election datasets to compare the relationship between voter turnout and public trust during wartime and “peacetime.” The logistic regression showed no statistically significant evidence of war significantly impacting people\u27s trust in government and their likelihood to participate in forms of democracy like voting. Alternatively, I explored the impact interest in public affairs would have on the relationship between government trust and voter turnout. This logistic regression revealed that for both years, as interest in public affairs increased, the odds of voting in that year\u27s election also increased. However, in 1996, the peacetime year, the increase was more significant, possibly pointing to the idea that the various challenges international conflict poses can deter individuals from participating in democracy and taking an interest in government processes. Overall, this can suggest that the reasonings behind political engagement and interest are multifaceted, and the more factors citizens have to worry about, specifically during wartime, can push them further away from politics