Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Surface Mutation Thr34his Facilitates Purification Of Haemophilus Influenza Carbonic Anhydrase Via Metal Affinity Chromatography, Caroline Foley, Dr. Kathleen Cornely

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

In order to pursue Haemophilus influenza carbonic anhydrase (HICA) as a potential drug target, easy and efficient purification methods must be developed. While immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) may be used, complications with polyhistidine tags is a concern. Inspired by the endogenous metal affinity of Escherichia coli β-carbonic anhydrase (ECCA), we suggest that the generation of histidine clusters on HICA’s surface will facilitate its purification by metal affinity chromatography without the potential interference of His-tags. Here we investigate the Thr34His mutation as a method to generate metal affinity in HICA. Since Thr34His is located only 5.3 Å away from His32, …

Ion Separations: Achieving Selectivity Through Rational Design In Solvent Extraction And Crystallization Systems, Neil Justin Williams

Doctoral Dissertations

The selective separation of ions from aqueous solutions has been a difficult challenge to address in the separation sciences. The difficulties associated with selective separations of ions are due to a multitude of chemical and physical differences between them. Additionally, the term ions encompass both positively charged cations and their counter parts the negatively charge anions. The work covered in this dissertation discusses the difficulties encountered during the selective separation of both oxoanions and cations. Apart from the Introduction Chapter 1 and Conclusion Chapter 10, the selective separations oxoanions and cations will be discussed separately with the dissertation being …

Pro- And Antioxidant Activity Of Selenomethionine: Preventative Measures Against Metal-Mediated Dna Oxidation, Austin Mroz

Graduate Theses - Chemistry and Biochemistry

DNA damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been linked to several diseases.

Antioxidants are one method of combating the effects of ROS; selenium-containing antioxidants have shown promise in alleviating in vitro DNA damage. This study aims toelucidate the effects of selenomethionine (SeMet) on DNA damage mediated by Cu(II),Fe(II), or Cr(III) metal ions. HPLC analysis was used to probe the oxidative effects of SeMet by quantifying the oxidative damage marker, 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine. Prior literature indicates that the antioxidant activity of SeMet is potentially concentration dependent; however, HPLC results in this study indicate a metal-ion dependency. In order to better understand the …

Application Of Dft-Derived Relationships Between Chemical Environment And ²⁹Si Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy To Determine Structure In Silicon Oxycarbide Ceramics, John Paul Nimmo

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses

Silicon oxycarbide (SiCO) is an amorphous ceramic material widely used in industrial applications, for its useful electronic and biologically-compatible properties.1-3 SiCO is resistant to crystallization, remaining amorphous even above temperatures at which amorphous SiO2 would crystallize. Though silica (SiO2¬) and silicon carbide (SiC) are almost immiscible, it is useful to consider the material as a phase composition of these along with carbon, according to the formula below. The first two terms in braces can be considered as being the “SiCO glass” into which a third term representing excess or “free” carbon is incorporated as graphite-like nano-flakes and bands. SiC_x O_y={y/2 …

Persistence In Stem: Development Of A Persistence Model Integrating Self-Efficacy, Outcome Expectations And Performance In Chemistry Gateway Courses, Shalini Srinivasan

Theses and Dissertations

STEM persistence has been an important issue, especially in the context of underrepresented groups based on race and gender. Researchers in the last decade or so have been examining the powerful impact that affective and cognitive factors can exert individually on performance and persistence. It is only reasonable to hypothesize that combining affective and cognitive measures would offer a more thorough understanding of factors that impact students’ performance and STEM persistence. Evaluating these outcomes in the context of gateway courses is particularly essential due to the non-negligible percentage of students who drop out of these courses or decide to change …

An Electrochemical Characterization Of A Vanadium-Based Deoxydehydration Catalyst, Joel Eric Baker

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Alternative methods for the conversion of polyols into olefins, be it for carbon storage or hydrocarbon fuel production, have become prevalent in today’s chemical industry. One process in particular, deoxydehydration (DODH) has been proven effective in taking sustainable biomass derivatives and converting them through the utilization of various homogenous metal catalysts. While this process may show productive yields and material conversion, it is hindered by the need of a sacrificial reductant. This makes a novel process economically unviable and relatively unused outside of scientific research. That fact begs the question: Can the process be improved? It is proposed here that …

College Of Science And Mathematics Newsletter, Spring 2017, College Of Science And Mathematics, Wright State University

College of Science and Mathematics Newsletters

This 9 page newsletter discusses various happenings within the College of Science and Mathematics. It begins with a letter from the dean, and continues on with news, events, alumni news, and other community news.

Session A-1: Bca Method, Focusing On Mole Ratios In Stoichiometry, Carmela Jones, Deb Scarano, Anita White

Professional Learning Day

Traditionally stoichiometry is done using dimensional analysis. Although effective, it is confusing, messy, and does not focus on mole ratios. On the other hand, the BCA method (Before-Change-After), is clear, clean, and highlights the mole ratios in a chemical reaction. Participants will collect mass data in an experiment and learn how to use a BCA table. Teachers will bring the BCA method back to their classrooms and provide an extremely useful tool for the next generation of chemistry savvy students.

Using Nucleotide Analogs As Biochemical Probes To Evaluate The Mechanisms Involved In Translesion Replication By A High Fidelity Dna Polymerase, Anvesh Dasari

ETD Archive

Translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) allows DNA polymerases to incorporate nucleotides opposite and beyond damaged DNA. This activity is an important risk factor for the initiation and progression of genetic diseases including cancer. My study evaluates the ability of a high-fidelity DNA polymerase to perform TLS with 8-oxo-guanine, a pro-mutagenic DNA lesion formed by reactive oxygen species. Using modified purine and non-natural indole analogs as biochemical probes, I have evaluated the influence of desolvation, hydrogen bonding interactions, and shape complementarity towards nucleotide binding and incorporation opposite the miscoding lesion 8-oxo-guanine by the high fidelity gp43exo- DNA polymerase. In Chapter II, I …

Identification Of “Kratom” (Mitragyna Speciosa) Alkaloids In Commercially Available Products, Julia Grzymkowski, Michelle R. Peace, Justin Poklis

Undergraduate Research Posters

“Kratom” is the common name for the botanical mitragyna speciosa. It is a tree native to Southeast Asia in which leaves contain the psychoactive alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Kratom is often ingested as teas, chewed, or smoked. It acts as a stimulant in small doses and as an opioid in large doses. Overdoses can result in vomiting, seizures, and death. Recently the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) placed Kratom on Schedule 1, but, due to public outcry, it was almost immediately removed.

Eleven kratom based products were obtained from various tobacco shops, “headshops” and via the internet including: Choice brand …

Improving Binding Affinity Through Cyclization, Kaylee M. Newcomb, Nicolas Abrigo

Undergraduate Research Posters

Cancer chemotherapy results in systematic damage as the drugs used are also toxic to benign tissue. Sensitizing a cancer cell to therapy by interfering with the DNA repair mechanisms would decrease overall toxicity, as the necessary dosage of chemotherapy drugs would be lowered. The Hartman lab developed a peptide (8.6) that binds with a KD of 1 μM to the C-terminal domain of breast cancer associated protein (BRCA1), blocking homologous recombination. The crystal structure of the peptide shows the tyrosine and threonine residues are close together, suggesting that by cyclizing these positions, the peptide may already be constrained into its …

Multiscale Modeling Of Carbon Nanotube Synthesis In A Catalytic Chemical Vapor Deposition Reactor, Jonathan Troville

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The bottom-up analysis of Carbon Nanotube synthesis is not well understood. Specifically, the question as to how carbon adsorbs to a substrate inclusive of a supported catalyst may lead to the energetically favorable structure of a hexagonal close- packed structure along the wall, or walls, of the tube. A first time simulation using COMSOL Multiphysics has been generated in order to capture the gas-phase mech- anism which leads to carbon production. It is thought that the carbon adsorbs and the walls are formed from the bottom up and the inside out for multi-wall CNTs. The studies involved accurately setting up …

Synthesis Of 4-Iodo-3-(2-Iodoaryl) And 4-Bromo-3-(2-Bromoaryl) Sydnones And Their Reactions With Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Borohydride, And Iodine Monochloride, Kyle Jacob Liddy

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

One goal of the Turnbull research group has been the synthesis of dihalogenated arylsydnones; i.e. sydnones with halogen substitution on the sydnone ring itself, as well as at the position on the aryl ring ortho to the sydnone. Further, it has been of interest to explore the reactivity of these compounds, once obtained. The present study examined the synthesis of 4-iodo-3-(2-iodoaryl)-, or “diiodo”, and 4-bromo-3-(2-bromoaryl)-, or “dibromo”, sydnones and the reactions of these compounds with Na2SO3 (sodium sulfite) and NaBH4 (sodium borohydride) to create a better understanding of the reactivity of diiodo and dibromo arylsydnones in general. Additionally, the reactivity …

Hydrothermal Atomic Force Microscopy Investigation Of Barite Growth: The Role Of Spectator Ions In Elementary Step Edge Growth Kinetics And Hillock Morphology, Sarah A. Jindra

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

To better understand the role of spectator ions in barite growth, the kinetics of step edge growth on barite (001) surfaces were studied under various salt solutions. Hydrothermal Atomic Force Microscopy (HAFM) was used to investigate the effect of background electrolytes (NaCl, NaBr and NaNO3) as a function of saturation index and ionic strength (I) on barite growth sourced at dislocations at 108 oC. Results show that hillock morphology is affected by I, as well as type of anion, where the prevalence of steps aligned on the [010] direction is highest under Cl- There is a modest increase in kinetic …

Investigating Potential Pollutant Sources Causing Lack Of Biodiversity In Lytle Creek And Indian Run, Amira Moayad Alsenbel

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Limited macroinvertebrate biodiversity in Lytle Creek that runs through downtown Wilmington, Ohio has been documented over decades with the lowest in Lytle Creek at Sugar Grove Cemetery. Lytle Creek, a tributary of the Little Miami River, is a conduit for storm water and wastewater from an airport, downtown storm water with input from local businesses, and a wastewater treatment plant. This study was conducted to see if heavy metal pollution in the sediment, water quality, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) could be contributing factors in reduced macroinvertebrate populations. Eight sites were chosen for sediment sampling to measure trace metals. Mercury …

Tying The Knot: Applications Of Topology To Chemistry, Tarini S. Hardikar

Honors Theses

Chirality (or handedness) is the property that a structure is “different” from its mirror image. Topology can be used to provide a rigorous framework for the notion of chirality. This project examines various types of chirality and discusses tools to detect chirality in graphs and knots. Notable theorems that are discussed in this work include ones that identify chirality using properties of link polynomials (HOMFLY polynomials), rigid vertex graphs, and knot linking numbers. Various other issues of chirality are explored, and some specially unique structures are discussed. This paper is borne out of reading Dr. Erica Flapan’s book, When Topology …

Further Development Of Raman Spectroscopy For Body Fluid Investigation : Forensic Identification, Limit Of Detection, And Donor Characterization, Claire K. Muro

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The challenges to forensic body fluid analysis have placed limitations on the type of information that investigators can acquire and how that information can be collected. In recent years, Raman spectroscopy has proven itself useful for characterizing body fluids. In 2008, a large-scale investigation was undertaken to explore the use of Raman spectroscopy as a means of identifying body fluids. This work resulted in multidimensional Raman spectroscopic signatures for the five main body fluids: semen, peripheral blood, saliva, vaginal fluid, and sweat. These studies were incredibly successful and created the foundation for years of continued research. Accordingly, the studies included …

Hydrothermal Atomic Force Microscopy Investigation Of Barite Growth: The Role Of Spectator Ions In Elementary Step Edge Growth Kinetics And Hillock Morphology, Sarah A. Jindra

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

To better understand the role of spectator ions in barite growth, the kinetics of step edge growth on barite (001) surfaces were studied under various salt solutions. Hydrothermal Atomic Force Microscopy (HAFM) was used to investigate the effect of background electrolytes (NaCl, NaBr and NaNO₃) as a function of saturation index and ionic strength (I) on barite growth sourced at dislocations at 108 ^oC. Results show that hillock morphology is affected by I, as well as type of anion, where the prevalence of steps aligned on the [010] direction is highest under Cl^{- …}

The Synthesis Of 3,5-Difluorobenzophenone Derivatives And Their Corresponding Peek Copolymers, Rachael Stuck

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Poly(aryl ether ketone)s (PAEK) are high performance thermoplastics, which are chemically robust, semi-crystalline, and stable at high temperatures. Of the family of PAEKs, poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) is a well-known semi-crystalline thermoplastic widely used for electronics, energy, industrial, and medical applications due to its resistance to solvents, radiation, heat, and other environmental factors. The traditional PEEK is prepared from 4,4’-difluorobenzophenone (2) and disodium hydroquinone. However, a challenge is processability, since due to its highly crystalline nature, PEEK possesses very limited solubility. An approach to solve these issues is to pre-functionalize PEEK polymers synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution from 3,5-difluorobenzophenone (1) …

Incorporation Of Indeno[2,1-C]Fluorenes Into Polymers Via Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution, Nathaniel Brackett

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A difluoro indeno[2,1-c]fluorene monomer was synthesized by a four-step process. The first compound synthesized by a two-step process was 2,5- bis(ethoxycarbonyl)-3,4-di(4-fluorophenyl)cyclopentadienone. The next two compounds synthesized were diethyl 2,3-bis(fluorophenyl)-5-hexylterephthalate and 2,3- bis(fluorophenyl)-5-hexylterephthalic acid. The final step involved an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation of the terephthalic acid derivative to form 3,10-difluoro-5,8- dioxo-5,8-dihydro-6-hexylindeno[2,1-c]fluorene. The difluoro monomer was reacted in a series of nucleophilic aromatic substitution (NAS) polymerization reactions with bisphenol-A in N-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP) in an attempt to form novel poly(ether ether ketone ketone)s containing the indeno[2,1-c]fluorene structure. Analysis of the product by NMR and TLC showed the reaction was unsuccessful and the difluoro …

Antimicrobial Activity Of Fractionated Borohydride-Capped And Electrochemical Colloidal Silver, Marjorie M. Markopoulos

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Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and ionic silver (Ag+) are known to be broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. Recent studies show these agents may be an alternative to the most widely used drinking water disinfectant, chlorine. Chlorine is a toxic industrial chemical with a lethal concentration of 430 ppm after 30 minutes. Additionally, chlorine can react with naturally occurring materials to produce a number of disinfection byproducts such as chloroform and trihalomethanes. Some of these byproducts pose cancer risks in addition to other negative impacts to human health. These would be eliminated with the use of Ag+ or AgNPs. The main goal of this …

Synthesis Of Alkyl Substituted Phenylated Poly(Ether Ether Ketone Ketone)S, Matthew Cerone

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A phenylated bis(fluorobenzoyl) monomer, 5-hexyl-2,3-diphenyl-1,4-bis(fluorobenzoyl)benzene, was synthesized via a four-step process. The first three compounds synthesized were diethyl 5-hexyl-2,3-diphenyl-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate, 5-hexyl-1,4-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2,3-diphenylbenzene and 5-hexyl-2,3-diphenyl-1,4-benzenedicarboxaldehyde. The final step involved the reaction of the Grignard formed from p-bromofluorobenzene with the dialdehyde to yield a diol intermediate which was oxidized to the bis(fluorobenzoyl) monomer by use of a Jones oxidation. The monomer was polymerized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution (NAS) with bisphenol-A, resorcinol, and hydroquinone in N-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP) to yield novel, phenylated PEEKKs. The number-average molecular weights (Mn) for the polymers were found to be 35,700 g/mol, 34,800 g/mol and 28,000 g/mol, respectively and the weight-average …

Synthesis Of 4-Iodo-3-(2-Iodoaryl) And 4-Bromo-3-(2-Bromoaryl) Sydnones And Their Reactions With Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Borohydride, And Iodine Monochloride, Kyle Jacob Liddy

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

One goal of the Turnbull research group has been the synthesis of dihalogenated arylsydnones; i.e. sydnones with halogen substitution on the sydnone ring itself, as well as at the position on the aryl ring ortho to the sydnone. Further, it has been of interest to explore the reactivity of these compounds, once obtained. The present study examined the synthesis of 4-iodo-3-(2-iodoaryl)-, or "diiodo", and 4-bromo-3-(2-bromoaryl)-, or "dibromo", sydnones and the reactions of these compounds with Na2SO3 (sodium sulfite) and NaBH4 (sodium borohydride) to create a better understanding of the reactivity of diiodo and dibromo arylsydnones in general. Additionally, the reactivity …

The Synthesis And Characterization Of Double And Triple Tethered Indeno[2.1-C]Fluorendiones, Daniel K. Greene

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

A series of terephthalate esters was synthesized via a Diels-Alder reaction between 2,5-dicarboethoxy-3,4-diphenylcyclopentadienone and various alkynes in order to study reaction conditions necessary to synthesize poly(indeno[2,1-c]fluorene-5,8-dione)s. Diethyl 2,3-diphenyl-5-butylterephthalate, 1,4-bis(3,4-diphenyl-2,5-di(ethoxycarbonyl) phenyl)butane and N,N,N-tris(3,4-diphenyl-2,5-di(ethoxycarbonyl)phenylmethyl)amine were synthesized and characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 13C NMR DEPT135 spectroscopies as well as elemental composition. Hydrolysis conditions of the terephthalates using potassium hydroxide were also investigated. It was found that large stoichiometric equivalents of base coupled with reaction times over twenty-four hours afforded only partially hydrolyzed products. The synthesis of 6-butylindeno[2,1-c]fluoren-5,8-dione was successfully carried out by the sulfuric acid catalyzed, intramolecular, Friedel-Crafts cyclization of …

Liposome-Coated Magnesium Phosphate Nanoparticle For Delivery Of Cytochrome C Into Lung Cancer Cells A549, Weizhou Yue

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Proteins are large biomolecules that have great therapeutic potential in treating many human diseases. However, chemical/enzymatic degradation, denaturation, and poor penetration into cells are some of the challenges for clinical use of intracellular proteins.

Previously, our group has developed cationic lipid-coated magnesium phosphate nanoparticle (LP MgP NP-CAT) formulations to enhance the intracellular delivery of the negatively charged protein catalase. The goal of the current research is to develop a formulation to deliver cytochrome c (CytC), a positively charged protein into lung cancer cells A549. Specifically, this thesis research prepares and tests liposome-coated magnesium phosphate nanoparticle for delivery of cytochrome c …

Improvement And Development Of Analytical Forensic Methods: Arson Investigation And Drug Detection In Fingerprints And Hair, Sarah Anne Glenn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Forensic science is the cornerstone of criminal investigations. Due to the overexposure of forensic science in the media, the true nature of forensic science is often overlooked. Forensic science is a rigorous exacting science that applies methods developed in the wider scientific community to the analysis of evidence collected from crime scenes. As far back as the 6th century people were using forensics to solve crimes. Since then the science behind forensic science has increased exponentially with new methods being researched and developed. This research aims to address two of the larger subsections of forensic science, arson and drug detection. …

Synthetic Methods For Ester Bond Formation And Conformational Analysis Of Ester-Containing Carbohydrates, Sven Hackbusch

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation encompasses work related to synthetic methods for the formation of ester linkages in organic compounds, as well as the investigation of the conformational influence of the ester functional group on the flexibility of inter-saccharide linkages, specifically, and the solution phase structure of ester-containing carbohydrate derivatives, in general.

Stereoselective reactions are an important part of the field of asymmetric synthesis and an understanding of their underlying mechanistic principles is essential for rational method development. Here, the exploration of a diastereoselective O-acylation reaction on a trans-2-substituted cyclohexanol scaffold is presented, along with possible reasons for the observed reversal of stereoselectivity …

The Periodical Winter 2017, Southern Adventist University

the Periodical – Chemistry Department Newsletter

Volume 4, issue 2 of the Periodical includes articles about the Chemistry Club's service activities, a student missions feature, student research at N.C. State, a pictorial directory of May 2017 graduates, and an alumni spotlight.

Phytoplankton Plastid Proteomics: Cracking Open Diatoms To Understand Plastid Biochemistry Under Iron Limitation, Skyler J. Nunn, Phoebe Dreux Chappell, Kristofer Gomes, Anasthasia Bonderenko, Bethany D. Jenkins, Brook L. Nunn

OES Faculty Publications

Diatoms, such as Thalassiosira pseudonana, are important oceanic primary producers, as they sequester carbon dioxide (CO₂) out of the atmosphere, die, and precipitate to the ocean floor. In many areas of the world’s oceans, phytoplankton, such as diatoms, are limited in growth by the availability of iron (Fe). Fe is an essential nutrient for phytoplankton, as it is central in the electron transport chain component of photosynthesis. Through this study, we examined if Fe-limitation makes a significant difference in the proteins expressed within the chloroplast, the power source for diatoms. Here, we utilized a new plastid isolation technique specific …

Coordination Chemistry Of Carboranes And Furan Ligands On Transition Metal Cluster Complexes, Emmanuel Joseph Kiprotich

Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1 presents the most relevant literature in the field of carborane chemistry. The focus is on icosahedral carboranes and the different methods of boron or carbon atoms substitution and functionalization. The direct addition of transition metal to boron atoms is covered in detail as well as strategies for cage opening of icosahedral carboranes.

Chapter 2 reports the preparation of some of the first polynuclear metal carbonyl cluster complexes where the closo-carborane cage: o-C₂B₁₀H₁₂ serves as a ligand on the face of one (Os₃(CO)₉(µ₃-4,5,9-C₂B₁₀H_{10 …}