A Collection of Poems

Student generated description: “A collection poems I wrote of what spoke to me during this Covid-19 experience. Five poems that range from free verse, haiku, ballad, and narrative

The Anxiety Within Us

This zine focuses on G.A.D. (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) in the black community, more specifically with black women.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/illustrationstudents/1001/thumbnail.jp

Fentanyl Kills

An editorial piece addressing the epidemic of Fentanyl overdose in our country today. While often it can be caused by misuse from a medical standpoint. It is also being abused to lace or create counterfeit recreational drugs and drinks.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/illustrationstudents/1037/thumbnail.jp

Son of a gun: military contributions to science

The race to out-tech the enemy has been fuelling scientific discovery for thousands of years, generating some extraordinary inventions and thrusting humanity forwards into a modern age. In the wake of a succession of defence budget cuts in the UK and abroad, this article considers the legacy of military research

Photoimmunotheranostic targeting of CSPG4-positive melanoma cells using SNAP-tag technology

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and inherently resistant cancers and the most dangerous skin cancer. While it accounts for fewer than 5% of skin cancer cases, 80% of skin cancer related deaths are attributed to melanoma. While resection remains the gold standard for melanoma treatment, surgery is only effective in providing local control of the disease if the cancer is detected in the early stages. Once melanoma enters the later stages, and particularly in the metastatic phase, recurrence is probable, and no adequate treatment exists. Previous work in this group has shown that photodynamic therapy (PDT) presents an opportunity to induce cell death in melanoma cells through the production of ROS and singlet oxygen at doses high enough to overwhelm the resistance mechanisms of the cancer. In this study, we investigated the use of recombinant SNAP-tag-based antibody fusion proteins as a means of delivering phototoxic molecules directly to cancer cells expressing the CSPG4 and PD-L1 cell surface receptors. SNAP-tag is an engineered version of the human DNA repair enzyme O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase. It reacts autocatalytically and in a strictly 1:1 coupling chemistry with substrates that have been modified with benzylguanine (BG). Through genetic fusion of this self-labelling protein with a tumour targeting antibody, we developed a recombinant immunoconjugate able to carry BG-modified photosensitizers to selectively target and eliminate malignant melanoma cells. Conjugation of the SNAP-tag fusion protein with the fluorescent dye Alex Fluor 488 showed that anti-CSPG4-SNAP binds specifically to melanoma cells expressing the CSPG4 surface antigen. Binding was tested across a range of cell lines presenting melanoma in its radial and vertical growth phases, in the metastatic growth phase, in its chemoresistant form, and in both its pigmented and unpigmented forms. This binding data thus confirms CSPG4 as a suitable targeted for this treatment strategy. Conjugation of the fusion protein with the BGmodified photosensitizer IRDye 700DX (IR700) has produced no phototoxicity as of yet. In light of the convincing binding analysis, it is concluded that inefficient solubilization of the lyophilized product resulted in inadequate conjugation of BG-IR700 with SNAP-tag. Nonetheless, steps have been planned to resolve the problem in future ongoing work on this project, and we remain confident in the applicability of this technology. The results for the PD-L1 fusion protein were inconclusive. In summary, SNAP-tag technology offers a simple and efficient method for immunofluorescent detection of cancerous cells. These fusions proteins are versatile as they 1) can contain any antibody targeting a tumour-associated or tumour-specific antigen of choice and 2) can be endowed with a wide variety of substrates, as long as the latter contains the BG moiety

Soil and Water Contamination due to Illegal Artisanal Refinery Activities: A Case Study of Okarki Community, Niger Delta Area, Nigeria

Using a combination of field visits, laboratory experiments and analyses, this study examined the impacts of illegal artisanal crude oil refineries on the environment. Total Hydrocarbons (THC) and heavy metals in the soil and water bodies as well as pr were determined and compared with both national international standards. The study found THC and heavy metals such as Iron and Manganese to be significantly high in both soil and water samples. It was found that the artisanal crude oil refining activities in the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria generate and discharge environmental safety hazards that are far beyond the statutory and intentional acceptable limit

Investigation of Key Mechanisms of Contact Dependent Growth Inhibition Systems in \u3ci\u3eBurkholderia cepacia\u3c/i\u3e Complex Species

Burkholderia cepacia complex is a group of closely related environmental bacteria that can exacerbate disease in immunocompromised individuals. B. cepacia bacteria are equipped with an arsenal of mechanisms to cooperate and compete for nutrients in various polymicrobial environments. Contact-dependent growth inhibition (CDI) systems are antagonistic mechanisms widespread among proteobacteria. CDI systems consist of Two Partner Secretion pathway proteins that function to deliver the toxic C-terminal portion of the large effector exoprotein (termed ‘BcpA’ in Burkholderia-type CDI systems) to the cytoplasm of a compatible recipient bacterial cell upon direct cell to cell contact. The translocation of BcpA out of the producing cell is mediated by the outer membrane transporter, BcpB. While the production of a cognate immunity protein, BcpI, prevents autotoxicity and mediates the discrimination between kin and non-kin cells. Many Burkholderia CDI systems contain an accessory protein, BcpO, that can enhance specific CDI mediated killing, however the precise role remains unknown. This body of work identifies key factors and mechanisms that influence CDI activity in Burkholderia species. Studies contained in this dissertation are outlined into two major sections: (i) the examination of the role the accessory lipoprotein, BcpO, plays in B. dolosa AU0158 CDI activity; (ii) the identification of the interaction between CDI systems produced within the same B. cepacia complex bacterium. Previous work identified BcpO as an accessory protein required for maximum CDI activity for two CDI systems; however, the precise function of BcpO remains to be understood. Work done to understand the role of BcpO demonstrates that the accessory protein likely functions in a system specific manner. Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analysis was used to identify potential binding partners of BcpO. Though unsuccessful in elucidating the role of BcpO, inquiry into BcpO led to the discovery of relaxed specificity among the BcpB transporters. This work shows that various B. cepacia complex BcpB proteins can secrete cognate and non-cognate BcpA substrates. The promiscuity among BcpB transporters influences the interplay between CDI systems produced within the same B. cepacia complex bacterium. This work demonstrates that genes that encode the CDI systems of B. dolosa AU0158 may not function independently. Instead, the presence of multiple CDI system proteins is required to induce specific BcpA mediated CDI killing. The examination of BcpB flexibility also led to the identification of a fourth B. dolosa CDI system capable of mediating interbacterial competition. All together this dissertation adds valuable information that drives the field of CDI forward. Understanding the interactions that occur between distinct CDI systems provides further insight into the complexity of bacterial antagonism

Keberkesanan Program Pembangunan Keusahawanan KETENGAH Dalam Meningkatkan Taraf Ekonomi Usahawan Bumiputera Luar Bandar

The aim of the research is to discuss about the effectiveness of the Entrepreneurial Development Program which is under the accountibility of government agency. One of the objectives and duties of the Terengganu Tengah Development Authority (KETENGAH) is to increase the income of rural bumiputera's entrepreneurs in the region. The reason of this research is to see the effectiveness of development programs in improving the economic income of rural of bumiputera's entrepreneur in KETENGAH region. The unsuccessful bumiputera's entrepreneurs in the industrial activities does not achieve the goal, will assume that the government the unsuccessful perform the development programs. This research adopts some quantitative methodologies where the result reveal from questionnaire and secondary data. Demographic factors such as age, gender and education and training having significant with increasing of economic income of rural entrepreneurs. With the results of this research, the unsuccessful of rural bumiputera's entrepreneurs does not mean that the programs under such governement agency is not effectively perform. It is the responsibility of every agency and implementors to improve and increase their performance in every methods and aspect of implementation. We hope this research will help the agency involved with the program be responsible in increasing the effectiveness of the Entrepreneurial Development Program

Evaluating the Impacts of Metals on Aquatic Birds in Lake Chapala, and the Use of Stable Isotopes for Predicting the Attwater’s Prairie-Chicken Diet

The largest tropical lake in Mexico, Lake Chapala, is a major fishery and a recipient of many contaminants (industrial and agricultural) via the Lerma River. The objectives were to evaluate concentrations of mercury (Hg), aluminum (Al), barium (Ba), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), strontium (Sr), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn) in fish and wildlife of Lake Chapala. I also used stable isotopes carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) to determine trophic differences between the 3 collected fish species. I collected water, sediment, fish, and feather samples and measured these samples for Hg and other metals. Mercury concentrations in water were higher compared to other lakes around the world, but not as high as those determined from the Jose Antonio Alzate reservoir in Mexico. Sediment Hg concentrations were similar to those reported by other studies from Lake Chapala. Also, the Hg concentrations measured in fish were similar to those from other studies. Feather samples collected had a wide range of δD values; therefore using these values were not useful for predicting significant relationships between areas of feather growth and areas of Hg acquisition. Concentrations of other metals in water, sediments, and fish were also similar to those reported in previous studies. An Attwater’s prairie-chicken (APC) study was conducted to determine the diet of wild APC populations once released from captivity with the use of stable isotope analysis of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N. I also compared historic and contemporary APC feather δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values to one another. I collected vegetation, insect, fecal, and blood samples from APCs on the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (APCNWR). The stable isotope analysis revealed the mixing model produces different results dependent on the number of diet sources used. When analyzing δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N from blood, the main diet source is C₃ vegetation (forbs) when 3, 4, and 5 diet sources are used. Historic feather’s δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values showed that spiders (3 and 4 diet sources) and rice (5 diet sources) contributed the most to APC diet. Contemporary feather δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values determined insects (3 sources), forbs (3 sources), and C₄ vegetation (grasses; 5 sources) contributed the most

Factors Contributing to Knowledge Integration

In contributing to the vision heading towards becoming industrialized and developed nation, most of the Malaysian organizations have played their role in the transition process from information age to knowledge age, from the era of industrial economy to the era of economy based on knowledge. Central during this transition period is the knowledge contribution of knowledge workers who are the valuable assets to the organizations and thus protecting and preserving knowledge of the knowledge workers is very crucial and need urgent attention. This is possible through knowledge integration by integrating information into knowledge base. This research examines the factors contributing to knowledge integration by looking at the influence of the content of knowledge work on knowledge work performance,and influence of knowledge workers’ characteristics and organizational characteristics on knowledge integration capacity. Knowledge work performance and knowledge integration capacity are then tested as the mediating factors. The key test in this research is the test regarding moderating factors for the three types of specific knowledge (context-specific, technology-specific, and context-and-technology-specific)to moderate the relationship between the content of knowledge work and knowledge work performance among knowledge workers. Capitalizing on quantitative approach, data from 471 knowledge workers is collected from March 2011 to May 2011.The collected data is tested and proven to support the research framework where all components have positive significant relationship. On the test regarding the moderating effect to the relationship in the model, it is found the general knowledge moderate the relationship between the content of knowledge work and knowledge work performance. Nevertheless,the tests on each component reveal otherwise. This shows that in the case of Malaysian knowledge workers the specific knowledge has to be considered together, not separately, to realize the moderating effect on the relationship between the content of knowledge work and knowledge work performance