Superalloys strengthened by γ′(L12)-precipitates in γ(f.c.c.)-matrix exhibit superior high temperature mechanical properties and environmental resistance over long periods of operation, making them ideal candidates for aerospace and energy conversion applications. The emerging class of superalloys based on Co-Al-W ternary system was identified with a melting temperature 50-100 ˚C higher than...
Self-Assembled Monolayers for MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry (SAMDI-MS) is a technique that combines self-assembling molecules of alkane disulfides on gold and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. By using well-defined monolayers with functionalizations that both prevent non-specific adsorption onto the surface and presents immobilization handles, it is possible to pull out analytes of interest,...
During influenza A virus (IAV) infection, severe lung injury and death result from an exuberant host inflammatory response, or “cytokine storm”, orchestrated by pulmonary epithelial cells. The linear ubiquitin assembly complex (LUBAC), composed of SHARPIN, HOIL-1L and HOIP, is a critical regulator of NF-κB-dependent inflammation. To determine the impact of...
The importance of concern for others in the lives of emerging adults has been underestimated by emerging adult theory. In this set of studies, I explore emerging adults’ concern for others in the higher education context. I use three different samples, a group of 10 Latino emerging adults working to...
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in adults in the United States. Despite its prevalence, the etiology of AF and its adverse effects are not completely understood, which has made treatment of AF difficult. However, left atrial (LA) fibrosis is associated with worsening and propagating AF. Additionally, research...
The histone methyltransferase DOT1L methylates lysine 79 (K79) on histone H3 and is implicated in active transcription. Here we show that DOT1L is overexpressed in Prostate cancer (PCa) and is associated with poor clinical outcome. Genetic and chemical inhibition of DOT1L selectively impaired viability of androgen receptor (AR)-signaling competent PCa...
This work is composed of two separate projects that contribute to the field’s understanding of Neisseria gonorrhoeae genetics and physiology. First, I showed that N. gonorrhoeae mounts a substantial transcriptional program in response to hydrogen peroxide (HP), a prominent reactive oxygen species (ROS) encountered during infection. We measured which strain...
The continued existence and use of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) have necessitated the development of materials which can safely and efficiently decontaminate these toxic chemicals in an environmentally benign fashion. Among the most prevalent CWAs, nerve agents (sarin, VX) and blistering agents (sulfur mustard [HD]) are considered the most toxic...
The viscoelastic properties of microbial biofilms have attracted great interests in recent years due to the ubiquity of biofilms and their wide range of industrial and municipal applications causing tremendous societal impacts. Biofilms are predominantly architected by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) matrices composed of bacterial cells and biopolymers secreted by...
In this dissertation, we study models and methods to address uncertainties that can vary in optimization problems. Robust optimization is a popular approach for optimization under uncertainty, especially if limited information is available about the distribution of the uncertainty. It models the uncertainty through sets and finds a robust optimal...