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Item PRODUCTIVE AND LATENT HIV INFECTION OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: VIRUS AND HOST WRESTLE FOR CONTROL OF THE SUMOYLATION SYSTEM(Temple University. Libraries, 2025-05)SUMOylation (small ubiquitin-related modification) is a post-translational modification that involves the covalent attachment of SUMO proteins to target substrates. The dynamic process regulates several aspects of cellular functions, including gene expression, protein stability, subcellular localization, and cellular signaling. SUMOylation is essential in maintaining cellular homeostasis and its dysregulation is implicated in various diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and autoimmune disorders. SUMOylation has also been increasingly recognized in its regulation of innate immune responses. SUMOylation has been shown to regulate the activity of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and transcription factors like NF-B, which are essential in innate immunity. As such, SUMOylation has significant implications in immune regulation for viral infections. Many viruses like, herpesviruses, influenza, and HIV have evolved mechanisms to hijack the host SUMOylation system to enhance their replication and evade host immune responses. Conversely, host cells can use SUMOylation to mount an antiviral response by modifying key immune factors that limit viral replication. This dichotomous role of SUMOylation makes SUMOylation a critical area of research. Despite significant advances in understanding SUMOylation’s role in cellular functions and viral infections, several important questions remain unanswered. What are the precise mechanisms through which SUMOylation regulates immune signaling pathways in response to viral infections, particularly HIV? What are the broader implications of SUMOylation in the context of viral persistence or latency? To what extent can targeting SUMOylation be used as a therapeutic strategy in viral infections? The work presented in this thesis uses a multi-faceted approach to begin to address these questions. First, we explored a relationship between HIV infection and SUMOylation in microglial and T cells. Prior literature suggested an impairment in global SUMO conjugation during HIV infections, though comprehensive evidence from our experiments to support this was lacking. We instead observed a translocation of the SUMO paralogs following HIV infection. One potential explanation is that HIV is capable of manipulating which proteins are modified by SUMO. To further explore this relationship, we performed proteomic analysis on a novel cellular model of HIV latency in microglia. Using quantitative immunoassays, we demonstrate that global SUMO conjugation is significantly increased in HIV latently infected microglia, with global SUMO conjugation levels decreasing following HIV reactivation. Here, we also demonstrate a unique proteomic landscape between HIV latent and HIV induced reactivation cell populations. Finally, we explored targeting SUMOylation as a therapeutic strategy for viral infections. Here, we observed a significant reduction in HIV reactivation in T cells through inhibition of SUMOylation. Both SUMO E1-activating and SUMO E2-conjugating enzymatic inhibition resulted in fewer GFP+ cells in a dose-dependent manner, with almost complete blocking of reactivation at higher concentrations. Altogether, these studies highlight the importance of SUMOylation in cellular processes, its emerging role in innate immunity, and its implications in productive and latent HIV infection. Our work suggests that targeted modulation of SUMOylation may offer new therapeutic strategies for treating viral infections.Item COMORBIDITY CONUNDRUM: ASSESSING TREATMENT PARTICIPATION AND RECIDIVISM OUTCOMES AMONG INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WITH CO-OCCURRING OPIOID USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS(Temple University. Libraries, 2025-05)Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a serious and prevalent issue, particularly among justice-involved individuals. Formerly incarcerated individuals with OUD are at an increased risk for overdose death and recidivism and often have co-occurring mental health disorders (COD). Further, there are serious gaps between the treatment and service needs of people with CODs and receipt of treatment. The purpose of this dissertation research is to examine connections between treatment participation and completion, and reincarceration, among formerly incarcerated individuals by behavioral health (BH) statuses of opioid use disorder (OUD-only), co-occurring opioid use and mental health disorders (Co-COD), other substance use disorders (other SUD), and other CODs. The following primary research questions are posed: 1) What percentage of individuals participate in each type of program by BH status? (e.g., therapeutic community (TC), outpatient (OP), co-occurring (CO), medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), 2) What are the differences in treatment participation and completion by BH status? 3) How does BH status affect reincarceration? 4) How does treatment participation affect reincarceration? 5) From the perspective of treatment staff, how does the treatment process differ between individuals by BH status? This mixed-methods study was conducted using secondary, de-identified data for incarcerated individuals released between 2017-2021 (N = 51,914) obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PADOC) and through qualitative, semi-structured interviews with PADOC treatment staff (N = 20). Results revealed that those with any COD, including both Co-OUD and other CODs, were more likely to participate in treatment, but less likely to complete treatment. Among those with OUD, participation in MOUD increased the odds of treatment participation and completion by 65% and 95% (p < .001), respectively. Finally, those with Co-OUD, OUD-only, and other CODs had a higher risk for a recidivism event to occur within the study period compared to those with no substance use issues or other SUDs (p < .001). Treatment participation also reduced the risk of reincarceration (HR = 0.83, p < .001), but this relationship was moderated by BH status, indicating that the effect of treatment may depend on different BH conditions. This research has both scholarly and policy implications regarding the impact of treatment programs in the PADOC and is the first study to compare treatment outcomes and recidivism among individuals with COD and SUD in the same prison system. It also makes theoretical contributions that inform the risk-need-responsivity framework in the BH treatment of individuals in correctional settings.Item HOW TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION, HUMAN BEHAVIOR, AND COST EFFICIENCY INFLUENCE HOSPITAL TASK ALLOCATION: A RESOURCE-BASED VIEW AND TECHNOLOGICAL UNEMPLOYMENT PERSPECTIVE(Temple University. Libraries, 2025-05)Policy mandates and cost constraints, including reduced Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement levels, pressure hospitals to balance financial sustainability with delivering high-quality patient care. In response, hospitals are increasingly investing in Artificial Labor (AL) technologies to optimize operations. This study investigates factors influencing hospital management’s preference for allocating tasks to AL rather than Human Labor (HL), focusing on cost efficiency, negative human behaviors, and the irreversible "lock-in" effect of technology adoption. Adopting Autor’s (2013) definition of tasks and building on Acemoglu and Restrepo’s (2018) framework, this study distinguishes between Capital—represented by AL—and Labor, encompassing HL contributions. This distinction highlights growing competition between AL and HL as strategic resources within hospital environments. Grounded in Resource-Based View (RBV) and Technological Unemployment Theory (TUT), the findings demonstrate that hospital managers overwhelmingly prefer AL over HL. Managers cited cost efficiency, labor shortages, productivity, and improved patient outcomes as key drivers, while negative human behaviors such as absenteeism, insubordination, and workplace hostility further motivated AL adoption. Once tasks are allocated to AL, the study confirms a technological "lock-in" effect, reducing the likelihood of task reallocation to HL. These findings contribute to the discourse on Technological Unemployment in hospitals and offer practical insights for policymakers and healthcare leaders tasked with addressing AL’s looming ethical and operational implications.Item The HUNTER Experiment: A precision massive-neutrino search based on a laser-cooled atomic source(Temple University. Libraries, 2025-05)The HUNTER (Heavy Unseen Neutrinos from Total Energy-momentum Reconstruction) experiment bridges Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) physics with nuclear physics to search for a long-theorized particle. This elusive particle could provide key insights into the universe's mysteries, including dark matter and baryon asymmetry. The hypothesis of the sterile neutrino emerged from the discovery of neutrino oscillations, where experiments observed a discrepancy between the expected and detected neutrino flux, prompting deeper investigations into the nature of neutrino mass. The leading explanation for the small mass of neutrinos is the `see-saw' mechanism, which proposes that all neutrino flavor eigenstates arise from the mixing of active neutrinos with small masses and (left-) right-handed `sterile' (anti-) neutrinos with large masses. The sterile neutrino is considered a candidate for new physics beyond the Standard Model, and the HUNTER experiment is searching for these neutrinos in the 20-280 keV mass range using high-precision measurements. The HUNTER experiment studies the electron capture decay of laser-cooled, magneto-optically trapped 131-Cs. During decay, 131-Cs produces a 131-Xe ion, X-ray, Auger electrons, and a neutrino. Assuming the 131-Cs was initially at rest, the momenta of all decay products, except the neutrino, will be measured with high-precision detectors. The missing neutrino mass will then be reconstructed using energy-momentum conservation. The thesis will cover the design and testing of the X-ray detector, the simulation of the electron spectrometer coils, and the development of the MOT system and hyperfine experiment.Item COMPREHENSIVE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: INVESTIGATING POTENTIALLY TOXIC ELEMENT (PTE) FATE AND TRANSPORT, BIORETENTION MEDIA AMENDMENT, BIOCHAR, AND INNOVATIVE DESIGN FOR WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT(Temple University. Libraries, 2025-05)Stormwater runoff contains a wide range of inorganic pollutants, including potentially toxic elements (PTEs), whose fate and transport are influenced by water quality parameters (e.g., dissolved organic carbon (DOC), salinity, and pH) and storm characteristics (e.g., depth, duration, and intensity). Managing stormwater runoff remains a persistent challenge due to concerns over pollutant loads and ecosystem health. To mitigate these impacts, stormwater management practices (SMPs) are widely implemented. Among SMPs, bioretention systems are constructed with engineered soil media designed to intercept and retain pollutants from infiltrating stormwater. However, due to the variability in stormwater quality, a comprehensive understanding of PTE fate and transport within bioretention systems remains incomplete. Key knowledge gaps remain regarding the governing mechanisms of PTE desorption from bioretention systems under varying DOC concentrations and environmental conditions. The pH buffering capacity of amended engineered media for PTE immobilization has been assessed in other environmental contexts but remains poorly evaluated in stormwater bioretention applications. Sustainable media amendments for enhanced PTE removal and innovative bioretention bed designs also require further evaluation to assess their effectiveness in achieving treatment objectives. To address these knowledge gaps, this study aims to advance stormwater management by focusing on four key objectives: 1. Investigating the influence of DOC on PTE desorption within bioretention media; 2. Evaluating the efficacy of dolomite-amended engineered media for pH neutralization and PTE immobilization; 3. Assessing the capacity of spent coffee ground-derived biochar (SCGB) to sequester PTE from stormwater; and 4. Analyzing the effectiveness of a step-tiered bioretention bed in improving water quality. To examine the effects of DOC on PTE mobility in bioretention media, soil samples were collected from a vegetated bioretention bed and subjected to DOC concentrations of 0, 15, and 50 mg-C/L to assess the desorption of ten PTEs (Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sn, Sb, and Pb). Results indicated that increasing DOC concentrations increased all monitored PTE desorption except Sb. The buffering capacity and immobilization of PTEs by dolomite-amended media were assessed through batch experiments using both laboratory-formulated and field-collected bioretention media, as well as column experiments. Dolomite dissolution (e.g., 0.282 mole fraction) rapidly neutralized pH to the recommended range (pH 5–8) within five minutes and immobilized all PTEs (Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) except As. To explore a sustainable alternative, SCGB was produced and evaluated for Pb removal. SCGB synthesized at 700°C effectively sequestered Pb from simulated stormwater, reducing solution concentrations below the action level (10 µg/L). Lastly, the effectiveness of a step-tiered bioretention bed was assessed by monitoring key water quality parameters, including conductivity, PTEs (Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb), major cations (Na, Mg, K, and Ca), and Cl at different steps. Results indicated that the step-tiered design successfully reduced pollutant concentrations, with decreased concentrations observed as stormwater moved through successive steps. Overall, this research addresses critical gaps in stormwater management, providing novel insights into bioretention system performance and contributing to the development of more effective, sustainable stormwater treatment solutions.