Structural Design and Finite Element Analysis of DESCENT CubeSats

This thesis outlines the development of a two custom CubeSat structures used for the DESCENT mission. DESCENT aims to test the feasibility of Electrodynamic Tethers (EDT) to deorbit spacecrafts. The payloads and bus components require DESCENT to have its own custom structures. The design is initially completed using a Computer Aided Design (CAD) software to create a solid model that fulfills the requirements stated by the launch provider. Next, a Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) tool is then used to create a Finite Element Model (FEM) of the satellites. The FEM is then used to run a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to validate the structural integrity of the satellites in the launch and thermal environments. After the structure had been validated, technical drawings of components were completed, and the parts were manufactured. Finally, the manufactured parts were assembled together, and a fit check was completed to confirm the satellites outer dimensions

THE BIG PICTURE - SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING APPLICATIONS IN RANGELAND ASSESSMENT AND CROP INSURANCE

Livestock Production/Industries, Risk and Uncertainty,

Building a Better Vector: The Manipulation of AAV Virions

This review will focus on research directed at manipulating the virion of adeno-associated virus (AAV) with the goals of circumventing the immune response of the virion, as well as retargeting the virus to specific cell types of interest. The use of five AAV serotypes for addressing questions of Ab neutralization, novel tropism, as well as providing natural templates for targeting by virion modification will be discussed

Associations Between Substance Use and Obesity Among Native American Adolescents

Obesity and substance use are two significant public health issues among Native American adolescents. Despite much evidence linking obesity and substance use during adolescence to several long-term health conditions and increased morbidity and mortality, evidence describing the relationship between current substance use and obesity among Native American adolescents is lacking. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate associations between current substance use – specifically alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco products – and obesity among Native American high school students, when adjusted for sex, soda consumption, and physical activity. Rosenstock’s health belief model served as the theoretical foundation for this investigation which used a cross-sectional study design to investigate these associations among Native American high school students using data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Chi-Square Tests of Independence determined that there was a significant relationship between obesity and sex (χ²(1) = 6.206, p = .013) and current physical activity and sex (χ²(1) = 7.567, p = .006) while a two-step hierarchical binary logistic regression determined that the odds of being obese were 25.6% more likely for males than females (95% CI [.072-.902]). The results of this study can be used to provide a better understanding of the impact of specific adolescent behaviors on health among Native American adolescents, foster collaboration among healthcare providers and school district personnel who prioritize obesity prevention interventions among Native American adolescents, and develop new or enhance existing programs designed to discourage substance use among Native American adolescents

Insertional Mutagenesis of AAV2 Capsid and the Production of Recombinant Virus

The structural genes of adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2) have been altered by linker insertional mutagenesis in order to define critical components of virion assembly and infectivity. An in-frame restriction site linker was inserted across the capsid coding domain of a recombinant plasmid. After complementation in vivo, recombinant AAV2 viruses were generated and assayed for capsid production, packaging, transduction, heparin agarose binding, and morphology. Three classes of capsid mutants where identified. Class I mutants expressed structural proteins but were defective in virion assembly. Class II mutants generated intact virions that protected the viral genome from DNase, but failed to infect target cells. The majority of these mutants bound the heparin affinity matrix, suggesting that attachment to the AAV primary receptor was not rate limiting. One class II mutant, H2634, assembled virions and bound heparin using only Vp3, indicating that this subunit is responsible for mediating AAV receptor attachment. Finally, class III mutants assembled virions, encapsidated DNA, and infected target cells. Infectivity of these mutants ranged from 5 to 100% of that of the wild-type, demonstrating for the first time the ability to alter capsid proteins without interfering with infectivity. These AAV virions with altered capsid subunits will provide critical templates for manipulating AAV vectors for cell-specific gene delivery in vivo. In summary, the AAV capsid variants described here will facilitate further study of virus assembly, entry, and infection, as well as advance the development of this versatile vector system

Insertional Mutagenesis of AAV2 Capsid and the Production of Recombinant Virus

The structural genes of adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2) have been altered by linker insertional mutagenesis in order to define critical components of virion assembly and infectivity. An in-frame restriction site linker was inserted across the capsid coding domain of a recombinant plasmid. After complementation in vivo, recombinant AAV2 viruses were generated and assayed for capsid production, packaging, transduction, heparin agarose binding, and morphology. Three classes of capsid mutants where identified. Class I mutants expressed structural proteins but were defective in virion assembly. Class II mutants generated intact virions that protected the viral genome from DNase, but failed to infect target cells. The majority of these mutants bound the heparin affinity matrix, suggesting that attachment to the AAV primary receptor was not rate limiting. One class II mutant, H2634, assembled virions and bound heparin using only Vp3, indicating that this subunit is responsible for mediating AAV receptor attachment. Finally, class III mutants assembled virions, encapsidated DNA, and infected target cells. Infectivity of these mutants ranged from 5 to 100% of that of the wild-type, demonstrating for the first time the ability to alter capsid proteins without interfering with infectivity. These AAV virions with altered capsid subunits will provide critical templates for manipulating AAV vectors for cell-specific gene delivery in vivo. In summary, the AAV capsid variants described here will facilitate further study of virus assembly, entry, and infection, as well as advance the development of this versatile vector system

A GEOMETRIC MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF HOMINID MAXILLAE AND MANDIBLES

Fossil mandibular elements assigned to the taxon Australopithecus sediba were found at Malapa, South Africa. The mandibular elements have since been used to create a fully reconstructed version of the mandible of the animal. In order to better understand how fossil species separate with jaw bones an analysis will be done on extant species of great apes, gibbons, and humans. If the jaw bones do separate as expected it will be possible to then diagnose species based on jaw bone data, particularly if only data from one of the jaw bones is available

Associations Between Substance Use and Obesity Among Native American Adolescents

Obesity and substance use are two significant public health issues among Native American adolescents. Despite much evidence linking obesity and substance use during adolescence to several long-term health conditions and increased morbidity and mortality, evidence describing the relationship between current substance use and obesity among Native American adolescents is lacking. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate associations between current substance use – specifically alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco products – and obesity among Native American high school students, when adjusted for sex, soda consumption, and physical activity. Rosenstock’s health belief model served as the theoretical foundation for this investigation which used a cross-sectional study design to investigate these associations among Native American high school students using data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Chi-Square Tests of Independence determined that there was a significant relationship between obesity and sex (χ²(1) = 6.206, p = .013) and current physical activity and sex (χ²(1) = 7.567, p = .006) while a two-step hierarchical binary logistic regression determined that the odds of being obese were 25.6% more likely for males than females (95% CI [.072-.902]). The results of this study can be used to provide a better understanding of the impact of specific adolescent behaviors on health among Native American adolescents, foster collaboration among healthcare providers and school district personnel who prioritize obesity prevention interventions among Native American adolescents, and develop new or enhance existing programs designed to discourage substance use among Native American adolescents