EUKARYOTIC INITIATION FACTOR 4F (elF4F) ENHANCES HIGH AFFINITY BINDING OF 40S RIBOSOMAL SUBUNIT TO TOBACCO ETCH VIRUS (TEV) INTERNAL RIBOSOME ENTRY SITE (IRES)
Year of Dissertation:
2010
Many viruses and some eukaryotic mRNAs employ a cap-independent pathway in which an RNA element called the internal ribosome entry site (IRES), drives preinitiation complex formation by positioning the ribosome on the message, either at or just upstream of the start site. We have studied binding of wheat germ 40S subunit of wheat germ ribosome to wild type PK1 RNA, which shows 100 % translation activity. To explore the specificity of the IRES RNA*40S interaction, we also measured the affinity for IRES RNA mutants, S2-3 RNA and to S1-3 RNA that have been previously characterized in terms of in vitro translation initiation activity (1). The level of expression from each mutant is calculated relative to the corresponding wild-type sequence, which is set at 100%.S2-3 RNA shows about 30% translation activity while S1-3 RNA shows about 7% translation activity.
Arylboronic Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolyses of Salicylaldehyde Imines
Year of Dissertation:
2011
ABSTRACT
Hybrid Fiber-Optic Device For Spatiotemporal Control of Photosensitizer Release and Singlet Oxygen Delivery
Year of Dissertation:
2011
Abstract: This thesis outlined the gradual progress towards the development of the first fiber-optic singlet-oxygen generator designed for releasing singlet oxygen locally, which can surmount the challenges associated with current photodynamic therapy and water disinfection.
Raman imaging and spectroscopy of individual single-wall carbon nanotubes
Year of Dissertation:
2010
Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) are unique one-dimensional materials that are promising for many potential applications in various important areas. Their vibrational properties reflect the electron and phonon confinement as well as the structures of the tubes. Resonant Raman spectroscopy has been proven to be an exceedingly powerful tool for the characterization of the vibrational and electronic properties of SWNTs. This thesis focuses on the study of Raman spectroscopy of individual single carbon nanotubes. Single tube spectroscopy allows probing the structure dependent properties of SWNTs.
SYNTHESIS OF SILICA NANOSTRUCTURES BY USING WET-CHEMISTRY METHODS
Year of Dissertation:
2013
For the sol-gel synthesis of silica particles under high pH catalytic conditions (pH>12) in water/ethanol solvent, we have deduced that the competing dynamics of chemical etching and sol-gel formation can explain the types of silica particles formed and their morphologies. We have demonstrated that emulsion droplets that are generated by adding tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to a water-ethanol solution serve as soft templates for hollow spherical silica (1~2 µm). And if the emulsion is converted by the sol-gel process, one finds that suspended solid silica spheres of diameter of ~900 nm are formed. Moreover, several other factors are found to play fundamental roles in determining the final morphologies of silica particles, such as by variation of the pH (in our case, using OH¯) to a level where condensation dominates; by changing the volume ratios of water/ethanol; and using an emulsifier (specifically, CTAB).
EMERGING ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS IN SURFACE AND GROUND WATERS OF NEW YORK
Year of Dissertation:
2010
The first study was about monitor estrogens (estrone, 17a-estradiol, 17b-estradiol, and estriol) in three headwater streams within a concentrated animal feed operation (CAFO) site on a monthly base for a year. In general, estrogen concentrations in the streams are low (<1 ng/l), and appeared to increase in spring, likely due to the mobilization of estrogens from soils upon snow melting/precipitation. Estrogens were detected in the streams during dry periods, indicating the contribution of estrogens from groundwater. The low concentrations of estrogens in stream water were probably the result of the long residence time (~8 months) of the manure in the lagoons where the majority of the estrogens were degraded during storage.
Development of Responsive Nano/Microgels for Materials Application
Year of Dissertation:
2012
Abstract