Master of Science / Department of Apparel, Textiles, and Interior Design / Sherry J. Haar / The overarching goals of the project were to acknowledge both traditional and modern aspects of Turkish culture, inform designers and researchers of natural dye and screen printing methods, and advance the developing practices of sustainable design. Mixed methodologies of scientific and practice-based research guided the project. A collection of 25 prints inspired by the Anatolian region of Turkey were screen-printed with thickened natural dyes onto sustainable fibered fabrics. The research of traditional Turkish art and culture led to the inspirational concepts and brought the textile prints to fruition. Understanding the dyeing practices, regional traditions, and political rule of this nation informed the design process and directly influenced the composition and imagery of the designs. The final outcomes were exhibited at the Kansas State University student union art gallery. Research was conducted on the use of natural plant-based dyes madder, weld, and woad for screen-printing by determining the most effective thickener and thickening method. Thickening agents gum tragacanth and gum arabic were tested for fabric hand and the printed natural dyes were tested for colorfastness to light. Gum tragacanth at a ratio of .9875 g agent to 10 ml water emerged as the most smooth and pliable when evaluating fabric hand. Colorfastness to light was as expected for madder and woad with excellent to good fastness. Weld had an unexpectedly low rating indicating further study is needed. The developing practices of sustainable design were advanced as I used sustainable materials (natural dyes, natural gums, naturally fibered fabrics) and methods (hand screenprinting) throughout the project. The information from this project may be valuable to artisans to further develop their natural dye and screen-printing techniques; to researchers to provide a foundation for testing additional thickened dyes; and to industry professionals to modify their practices.

This review examines the effectiveness of digital media on emergent literacy skills, specifically alphabet knowledge, print awareness, and phonological awareness, on children birth to four. A systematic search of the literature identified 13 studies that met the pre-determined inclusion criteria. Two independent raters evaluated each study for methodological quality and assigned appropriate levels of evidence based on ASHA levels of evidence. Results found that specific features of digital media can lead to positive effects on emergent literacy skills. A checklist with the highlighted features was created to guide clinicians, parents, and others in making decisions about the true educational quality of various screen media.

Hollywood film editing remains on the theoretical margins of contemporary film scholarship, and the cause of this is three-fold. First, despite advances in collaborative authorship studies, the Hollywood film director is still largely regarded as the sole creative lynchpin upon which the film’s success or failure ultimately lies. Second, Classical Hollywood film editing—commonly referred to as the continuity aesthetic—is considered successful if it remains unnoticed, if it remains invisible. Therefore, within this continuity aesthetic, the editor’s ultimate goal is to hide his or her own labor. Third, determining exactly how and where a film editor contributed to a film text during post-production is an incredibly difficult task. So, what is the solution? This dissertation explores how film archives can contribute to knowledge about the cinematic post-production process. My central research questions are: what kinds of information do film archives contain regarding the creative collaboration between the director and the editor? And, what does available archive material tell us about the changes and creative revisions in post-production? To answer these questions, I conducted original archival research on the following Hollywood Renaissance films: Bonnie and Clyde (1967), The Conversation (1974), Annie Hall (1977), and Raging Bull (1980). These films reflect a highly creative era in the Hollywood industry and are well-known for the collaborative relationship between the directors and the editors. To determine how and where collaborative authorship occurred in these films, I compared archival documents such as the storyboards and shooting scripts to the final film texts. These documents contain explicit instructions about how the scenes should be lit, decorated, and shot and how the film itself should be edited together. Therefore, I argue that any editing discrepancies between these documents and the final films were the result of a creative collaboration between the director and the editor. Ideally, this model of “script-to-screen” archival research will inspire other academics to investigate how and where a film’s creative revision occurs during post-production—and to what effect. / text

Antibiotic resistance is a worsening threat to human health. Increasing our understanding of the mechanisms causing this resistance will be of great benefit in designing methods to evade resistance and in developing new classes of antibiotics. In this thesis, I have used the TetR Family Transcriptional Regulators (TFRs), which constitute one of the largest antibiotic resistance regulator families, as a model system to study the structure, function and evolution of antibiotic resistance determinants. I performed a thorough examination of the variation and conservation seen in TFR sequences and structures using computational approaches. Through structure comparison, I have identified the most conserved features shared by the TFR family that are crucial for their stability and function. Based on my findings on conserved TFR structural features, a quantitative assay of binding affinity determination was developed. Through sequence comparison and a residue contact map method, I discovered the existence of a conserved residue network that correlates well with the known allostery pathway of TetR. This predicted allosteric communication network was experimentally tested in TtgR. I have also developed methods to identify TFR operator sequences through genomic comparisons and validated my prediction through experiments. In addition, I have developed an in vivo system that can be used to identify and characterize proteins that mediate resistance to almost any antibiotic. This system is simple, fast, and scalable for high-throughput applications, and could be used to discover a wide range of novel antibiotic resistance mechanisms. The principles that I applied to the TFR family could also be applied to other protein families.

Breast cancers with overexpression or amplification of the HER2 tyrosine kinase receptor are more aggressive, resistant to chemotherapy, and associated with a worse prognosis. Currently, these breast cancers are treated with the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin®). Unfortunately, not all patients respond to trastuzumab drug therapy; some patients show de novo resistance, while others acquire resistance during treatment. This thesis describes our RNAi studies to identify novel regulators of the HER2 signaling pathway in breast cancer. Three kinome-wide siRNA screens were performed on five HER2 amplified and seven HER2 non-amplified breast cancer cell lines, two normal breast cell lines, as well as two HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines with acquired trastuzumab resistance and their isogenic trastuzumab-sensitive controls. To understand the main kinase drivers of HER2 signaling, we performed a comprehensive screen that selected against growth inhibitors of the non-HER2 amplified breast cancer cell lines. This screen identified the loss of the HER2/HER3 heterodimer as the most prominent selective inhibitor of HER2-amplified breast cancers. In a trastuzumab sensitization screen on five trastuzumab-treated breast cancer cell lines, we identified several siRNA against the PI3K pathway as well as various other signaling pathways that inhibited proliferation. Finally, in a screen for acquired trastuzumab resistance, PKCη and its downstream targets were identified. Loss of PKCη resulted in a decrease in G1/S transition and upregulation of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p27. Initial data suggest that PKCη promotes p27 ubiquitination and degradation. Taken together, these studies provide novel insight into the complex signaling of HER2-positive breast cancers and the mechanisms of resistance to trastuzumab therapy. This work describes how various kinases can modulate cell proliferation, and points to possible novel drug targets for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancers.

We have investigated electropolymerisation for fabrication of a chemically modified working electrode for the determination of dopamine and catechol neurotransmitters in the presence of ascorbic acid. A variety of film compositions were investigated that would allow discrimination of the neurotransmitters through a combination of electrostatic barrier and the film porosity. The films investigated were based on different compositions of () poly-o-toluidine-co-aniline (POT-co-PA), () poly-o-toluidine-co-o-anisidine (POT-co-POA) and () polyacriflavine (PAF). The POT-co-PA and POT-co-POA gave the most promising result although the POT-co-PA was preferred because of higher current enhancement and better separation of dopamine and catechol neurotransmitters in the presence of ascorbic acid. The uses of electropolymerisation make the investigated films attractive candidates for the fabrication of a chemically modified microelectrode with application in capillary electrophoresis separation with electrochemical detection. The active area of nano particle (Au, Pt and Ag) screen printed electrodes was determined using cyclic voltammogram with ferro/ferricyanide couple. The active surface of the nano particle coated electrode was found surprisingly to be 5% - 65% lower than that geometrically calculated surface area for the electrode. This is ascribed to the limitation of the screen printing approach that was used. A low cost high replication approach that would allow development of a capillary electrophoresis microfluidic chip with electrochemical detection (CE-ECD) on a polymer substrate was investigated. A fluidic top layer was fabricated using hot embossing and an electrode bottom layer by metal patterning on a polymer substrate using metallisation and photolithography.

Musik-applikationen c3n play används på surfplattor och mobiltelefoner som har den kapacitiva pekskärmstypen. I dagsläget kan musik-applikationen enbart styras med fingrarna. Spelpjäser, utvecklades för att målgruppen skulle kunna kombinera fingerinmatning med något fysiskt och för att underlätta spelandet. En konvergerande produktutvecklingsprocess innefattande faser och aktiviteter tillämpades. Inledningsvis genomfördes en detaljerad informationsinsamling som grund för det fortsatta arbetet. Analys av konkurrenternas produkter och en benchmarking implementerades, för att både identifiera kraven som ställts på produkten och upprätta en kravspecifikation. Spelpjäsen delades in i tre delar: formen på hela spelpjäsen, mönster som gör att användarna kan identifiera varje spelpjäs och mönster på undersidan som programvaran kunde identifiera. Därefter genererades flera idéer på formen av spelpjäsen, vilka utvärderades med hänsyn till de uppsatta kraven. Idéer som ansågs uppfylla kraven bäst gick vidare till konceptgenereringsfasen, där fem olika förslag kunde visualiseras i skisser och CAD-modeller (Computer Aidid Design). Koncepten utvärderades och förbättrades för att tillfredsställa användarnas behov och förväntningar. Det slutliga konceptet på formen gjordes i fyra olika varianter, vilka framställdes som prototyper för vidare test av målgruppen. Konceptlösningar på spelpjäsens identifieringsmönster av användaren analyserades för att passa in i c3n play-användargränssnitten. Tekniken för att identifiera spelpjäsen mot den kapacitiva pekskärmstypen utvecklades via tester, där avstånd och vinklar på kontaktpunkterna bestämdes. Viktiga produktutvecklingsverktyg implementerades för att säkerställa såväl spelpjäsernas hållbarhet som miljövänlighet, med hänsyn till produktlivscykel, tillverkning, montering och tillförlitlighet samt kostnadsmedvetenhet. Därefter valdes lämpliga material samt en lämplig tillverkningsmetod. Detta resulterade i en produktfamilj bestående av åtta stycken spelpjäser som ändrar på var sin funktion i c3n play-applikationen. En spelpjäs som förändrar amplitud, resonans, högtpassfilter, lågt-passfilter, delay, zoom + pan, kompression och feedback. / The application c3n play can be used on tablets and mobile phones that have capacitive multi touchscreens. The application can only be controlled by using the finger input. Tangible user interface was developed so the target group can use something physically “checkers” in a combination with the finger input. A product development process comprising phases and activities was implemented. Initially a detailed information collection were conducted and used as underlying to the continued work. Competitors’ products were analyzed and a benchmarking was implemented to identify user needs and to be able to make a target specification. Checkers was divided in three parts, shape of the whole checker, pattern so users can identify every checker and a pattern on the bottom so the software can identify the checkers on the screen. After that ideas were generated and the shape of the checker was evaluated. Ideas that was considered to meet the user needs went on to concept generation phase, where five different proposals was visualized in sketches and CAD (Computer Aided Design) - models. Concepts was evaluated and improved to satisfy customer needs and expectations. Final concept of the shape was developed into four different variants that was prepared as prototypes for further testing by target group. Concept solutions on identification pattern was analyzed to fit c3n play user interface. Technology to identify the checker against capacitive screen was developed by tests. Where distance and angles of contact points was determined. Important product development tools was implemented to ensure the checkers sustainability. With respect to the product life cycle, environment, manufacturing, assembly, reliability and cost consciousness. Suitable materials and manufacturing method was then chosen. Resulted in a product family consisted of eight different checkers. Each checker can change a different function in the c3n play-application. Amplitude, Resonance, Highpassfilter, Low-passfilter, Delay, Zoom + Pan, Compression and Feedback.

Hospital-acquired infections are to date a major challenge in the patient safety. The proliferation of pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae is often reported in connection with textiles, which represent a significant source of transmission. This leads most often to the contamination and cross-contamination of the hospitalized patient and the hospital staff. A promising approach and the immediate objective of this research is the application of probiotics to a textile fabric. They provide preliminary evidence in being able to inhibit pathogenic bacteria growth through their competitive mechanism. During this study, screen-printing was used as a method to apply probiotics on a polyester fabric. The viability of probiotics on the fabric was evaluated in the agar plate test method. Samples that exhibited a growth of grown out colonies were further tested regarding their efficacy towards the abovementioned pathogens. This was determined in a competition test, that included the individually inoculation of the samples with the different bacteria strains. Contact-angle measurements and abrasion resistance as well as the durability were tested in order to investigate the applicability of the fabric and scanning electron microscope images were taken to detect probiotics and to evaluate the quality of the print on the fabric. Major findings included that probiotics were able to survive on the polyester fabric and that these viable probiotics are further successful in the growth inhibition of pathogenic bacteria. Thereby their efficacy against pathogens is related to the viability the probiotics. As neither the probiotics used in this study, nor the other ingredients are considered as hazardous, this process is environment-friendly. This work increases the understanding of probiotics mechanism and their survival and competition behaviour on a textile material. It opens a way in the reduction of hospital-acquired infections through the beneficial effects of probiotics.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) est l’agent étiologique de la pleuropneumonie porcine, une infection pulmonaire contagieuse chez les porcs. Parmi les nombreux mécanismes de virulence retrouvés chez les bactéries, la formation de biofilms joue souvent un rôle important dans la pathogenèse. Il a été récemment démontré qu’App avait la capacité de former des biofilms in vitro. Dans notre laboratoire, la formation de biofilms par App a été évaluée en microplaques dans différents milieux de culture. Nous avons démontré que la souche de référence de sérotype 1 est capable de former des biofilms. Le but de ce travail est d’identifier des gènes impliqués dans la biosynthèse et dans la régulation de l’expression des biofilms chez App. L’objectif de cette étude était de générer une banque de mutants d’App 4074NalR à l’aide du transposon mini-Tn10. Cette banque de 1200 mutants a été criblée à l’aide du modèle in vitro de formation de biofilms en microplaques et en tubes : 24 mutants démontrant une formation de biofilms modifiée par rapport à la souche mère App 4074NalR ont été sélectionnés et identifiés, nous permettant ainsi de localiser le site d’insertion du transposon. Une analyse a permis d’identifier de nouveaux gènes impliqués dans la biosynthèse et dans la régulation de l’expression des biofilms chez App. Notre criblage a permis d’identifier 16 gènes connus impliqués dans la formation de biofilms chez App (hns) ou chez d’autres pathogènes (potD2, ptsI, tig and rpmF) mais également de nouveaux gènes impliqués dans la formation de biofilm (APL_0049, APL_0637 and APL_1572). Une caractérisation plus poussée de ces gènes nous permettra d’améliorer la compréhension des mécanismes impliqués dans la formation de biofilm chez App. / A. pleuropneumoniae (App) is the causative agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, a contagious pulmonary infection in swine. Among the numerous virulence mechanisms found in bacteria, the formation of biofilms often plays an important role in pathogenesis. It has been recently demonstrated that App has the ability to form biofilms in vitro. In our laboratory, the formation of biofilms by App has been evaluated in microplates under different growth conditions. We showed that the reference strain of serotype 1 is capable of forming biofilms when cultured in a specific growth medium. The objective of this work is to identifiy genes implicated in the biosynthesis and regulation of biofilm formation in App. The objective of this study was to generate a mutant library of App using the mini-Tn10 transposon. A total of 1200 mutants has been screened with the help of in vitro models for biofilm formation which use microtiter plates or test tubes; 24 mutants exhibited modified biofilm formation when compared to the parental strain 4074NalR. The selection and identification of these mutants allowed the identification of the insertion site of the transposon. Analysis revealed novel genes implicated in biosynthesis and regulation of the biofilm formation in App. Our screen allowed the identification of genes already associated in biofilm formation of App (hns) or other pathogens (potD2, ptsI, tig and rpmF). Genes (APL_0049, APL_0637 and APL_1573) that have not yet been associated with biofilm formation were also identified. Further characterization of the genes mentioned above would permit a greater understanding of the mechanisms implicated in biofilm formation of App.

In rivers, association of organic contaminants with dissolved organic carbon may limit freely dissolved or bioavailable fractions and toxicity of organic contaminants. Consequently, assessment of toxicity of organic contaminants on the basis of their total chemical concentrations may lead to overestimation of risks to organic contaminants. Therefore, to achieve reliable and accurate risks assessment for organic contaminants, determination of bioavailability is important. The influence of humic acid on the bioavailability of organic contaminants in rivers was studied, using three chemicals with different properties as model contaminants, which at the start of the study were detected in wastewater effluents. It was hypothesized that in the presence of dissolved organic carbon, a fraction of the total concentration of an organic contaminant would not be bioavailable in river water. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine bioavailability and its impact on toxicity. Bioavailability in the presence of humic acid was determined chemically and using a yeast estrogen screen assay. The chemical method comprised solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine freely dissolved and the fraction of the chemicals associated with dissolved organic carbon. The results indicated increased binding to dissolved organic carbon with the hydrophobicity of the test compounds except for perfluorooctane sulfonate. The dissolved organic carbon-water partition coefficient for ethinylestradiol was determined to be Log KDOC 2.36. Log KDOC values of 4.15 and 4.41 at 10 and 100 mg/L humic acid, respectively, were derived for hexabromocyclododecane indicating greater binding than ethinylestradiol due to the more hydrophobic character. The yeast estrogen screen was used as a biological method to measure the effect of humic acid on the bioavailability of ethinylestradiol and a more hydrophobic compound, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. Results of the yeast estrogen screen indicated that the presence of humic acid had no effect on bioavailability of either of the chemicals.