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Regulation Of The Mouse And Human Β-Globin Genes By Krüppel Like Transcription Factors Klf1 And Klf2, Yousef N. Alhashem Dec 2012

Regulation Of The Mouse And Human Β-Globin Genes By Krüppel Like Transcription Factors Klf1 And Klf2, Yousef N. Alhashem

Theses and Dissertations

Krüppel-like factors KLF1 and KLF2 are closely related transcription factors with three zinc finger domains in their carboxy-termini. KLF1 (erythroid Krüppel-like factor, or EKLF) plays essential roles in embryonic and adult erythropoiesis. KLF2 is a positive regulator of the mouse and human embryonic β- globin genes. KLF1 and KLF2 have overlapping roles in embryonic erythropoiesis, as demonstrated using single and double knockout (KO) mouse models. Ablation of the KLF1 or KLF2 gene causes embryonic lethality, and double KO embryos are more anemic and die sooner than either single KO. We have shown that KLF1 and KLF2 positively regulate the human …


Bereavement In Emerging Adulthood: The Influence Of Religion And Type Of Loss, Elizabeth Collison Dec 2012

Bereavement In Emerging Adulthood: The Influence Of Religion And Type Of Loss, Elizabeth Collison

Theses and Dissertations

Bereavement is an important area of research as it may result in grief reactions that lead to serious psychological and health consequences (Stroebe, Schut, & Stroebe, 2007). Positive outcomes, such as personal growth or spiritual well-being, may also transpire post-loss (Hogan & Schmidt, 2002; Paloutzian & Ellison, 1982). Though research on bereavement has grown, few studies have focused on the at-risk group of emerging adults (Hardison, Neimeyer, & Lichstein, 2005; Arnett, 2000). The current study aims to add to the bereavement in emerging adulthood literature through analyzing descriptive data and assessing the impact of type of loss (i.e., nonviolent vs. …


Plantar Measurements To Determine Success Of Surgical Correction Of Stage Iib Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity, Erika Matheis Dec 2012

Plantar Measurements To Determine Success Of Surgical Correction Of Stage Iib Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity, Erika Matheis

Theses and Dissertations

Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity (AAFD) is a progressive disease characterized by mechanical degeneration of the soft tissue structure in the arch of the foot that leads to changes in joint alignment. Surgical intervention commonly via tendon transfer and bony osteotomy is used to restore arch architecture, however there is a lack of quantitative assessments that measure the success of the surgical correction in vivo. Using plantar pressures via Tekscan® HR Mat and surveys (SF-36, FAOS), pre-operative and post-operative measures for six participants were defined, analyzed and compared. A paired t-test showed significant lateral shift for percent body weight during walking …


The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna: A Public Policy Approach To Saving An Iconic Species, Timothy Patrick O'Brien Dec 2012

The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna: A Public Policy Approach To Saving An Iconic Species, Timothy Patrick O'Brien

Theses and Dissertations

The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is perhaps the most magnificent and most marvelous nomadic wild animal living in the world. It lives in the deep blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the largest of the world’s fin fish and the largest of the 48 other species of tuna (Kuhn, 1996). It is a species that seems to have been designed and sculpted by an artist—sleek, smooth, and beautiful—instead of having been a product of an evolutionary process. Today, the existence and future of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is in question because of the constant overexploitation …


Information Theoretic Approaches Towards Regulatory Network Inference, Vijender Chaitankar Dec 2012

Information Theoretic Approaches Towards Regulatory Network Inference, Vijender Chaitankar

Theses and Dissertations

In spite of many efforts in the past, inference or reverse engineering of regulatory networks from microarray data remains an unsolved problem in the area of systems biology. Such regulatory networks play a critical role in cellular function and organization and are of interest in the study of a variety of disease areas and ecotoxicology to name a few. This dissertation proposes information theoretic methods/algorithms for inferring regulatory networks from microarray data. Most of the algorithms proposed in this dissertation can be implemented both on time series and multifactorial microarray data sets. The work proposed here infers regulatory networks considering …


Impact Of Post-Synthesis Modification Of Nanoporous Organic Frameworks On Selective Carbon Dioxide Capture, Timur İslamoğlu Dec 2012

Impact Of Post-Synthesis Modification Of Nanoporous Organic Frameworks On Selective Carbon Dioxide Capture, Timur İslamoğlu

Theses and Dissertations

Porous organic polymers containing nitrogen-rich building units are among the most promising materials for selective CO2 capture and separation applications that impact the environment and the quality of methane and hydrogen fuels. The work described herein describes post-synthesis modification of Nanoporous Organic Frameworks (NPOFs) and its impact on gas storage and selective CO2 capture. The synthesis of NPOF-4 was accomplished via a catalysed cyclotrimerization reaction of 1,3,5,7-tetrakis(4-acetylphenyl)adamantane in Ethanol/Xylenes mixture using SiCl4 as a catalyst. NPOF-4 is microporous and has high surface area (SABET = 1249 m2 g-1). Post-synthesis modification of NPOF-4 by nitration afforded (NPOF-4-NO2) and subsequent reduction resulted …


Life History Analysis Of James River Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus) With Implications For Management And Recovery Of The Species, Matthew Balazik Dec 2012

Life History Analysis Of James River Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus) With Implications For Management And Recovery Of The Species, Matthew Balazik

Theses and Dissertations

Sturgeon species (family Acipenseridae) are threatened globally due to habitat destruction, pollution, and overfishing. The Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus was listed as a federally endangered species in 2012. Atlantic sturgeon have a complex life history that utilizes a wide range of habitats. Timing of life history varies in different areas requiring each population to be studied. Very little work has been published on Atlantic sturgeon reproduction in the James River, Virginia. To aid the recovery of James River Atlantic sturgeon, aspects of life history need to be addressed. To increase understanding of Atlantic sturgeon life history a length at …


From Linkage To Gwas: A Multifaceted Exploration Of The Genetic Risk For Alcohol Dependence, Amy Adkins Dec 2012

From Linkage To Gwas: A Multifaceted Exploration Of The Genetic Risk For Alcohol Dependence, Amy Adkins

Theses and Dissertations

Family, twin and adoption studies consistently suggest that genetic factors strongly influence the risk for alcohol dependence (AD). Although the literature supports the role of genetics in AD, identification of specific genes contributing to the etiology of AD has proven difficult. These difficulties are due in part to the complex set of risk factors contributing to the development of AD. These risk factors include comorbidities with other clinical diagnoses and behavioral phenotypes (e.g., major depression), physiological differences that contribute to the differences between people in their level of response to ethanol (e.g., initial sensitivity) and finally the large number of …


The Economic Burden Of Opioid Poisoning In The United States And Determinants Of Increased Costs In Opioid Poisoning, Timothy Inocencio Dec 2012

The Economic Burden Of Opioid Poisoning In The United States And Determinants Of Increased Costs In Opioid Poisoning, Timothy Inocencio

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Opioid poisoning has been rapidly increasing in the past decade, and has been driven in large part due to increases in opioid prescribing. This has been accompanied by intervention efforts aimed at preventing and reversing opioid poisoning through naloxone prescription programs. Current literature have not quantified the economic burden of opioid poisoning. Understanding this information can help inform these efforts and bring light to this growing problem. In addition understanding various determinants of increased costs can help to identify the types of populations more likely to have greater costs. Main Objectives: The objectives are 1) to quantify the economic …


Interpreting The War Anew: An Appraisal Of Richmond’S Civil War Centennial Commemoration, Brandon Butterworth Dec 2012

Interpreting The War Anew: An Appraisal Of Richmond’S Civil War Centennial Commemoration, Brandon Butterworth

Theses and Dissertations

In existence from 1959 to 1965, the Richmond Civil War Centennial Committee was formed for the purpose of planning and executing Richmond’s Civil War centennial commemoration. In this thesis, the author will examine the history of the Richmond Civil War Centennial Committee (RCWCC) and its efforts to develop a new historical narrative of Richmond and the Civil War. This paper will assess Richmond’s previous attempts to commemorate the Civil War and will argue that the RCWCC contributed to the advancement of Richmond’s Civil War narrative by de-emphasizing past Confederate celebration attempts led by heritage groups and advancing a “reconciliation” narrative. …


Characterization Of The Expression Of The Intercellular Adhesin Locus In Staphylococcus Aureus, Jamie Brooks Dec 2012

Characterization Of The Expression Of The Intercellular Adhesin Locus In Staphylococcus Aureus, Jamie Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

Poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG) is an important Staphylococcus aureus virulence factor. It is a major component of the extracellular polymeric matrix in biofilms, and contributes to resistance to the innate immune response. The proteins encoded in the icaADBC (intercellular adhesin) operon are responsible for PNAG production. Here, we present evidence of a new mechanism of phase variation for switching off PNAG production that involves slipped strand mutagenesis, along with further insight into the regulation and expression of the icaADBC operon. S. aureus strain MN8m (mucoid) is a spontaneous mutant of strain MN8 (non-mucoid). It is characterized by constitutive overproduction of PNAG, resulting …


Text Messaging As Adjunct To Community Based Weight Management Program, Claudia Bouhaidar Dec 2012

Text Messaging As Adjunct To Community Based Weight Management Program, Claudia Bouhaidar

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity ascending rates are still a public health priority. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of tailored text messages on body weight change in overweight and obese adults in a community based weight management program. A secondary aim was to detect behavioral changes in the same population. The study design was quasi-experimental with pre and posttest analysis, conducted over 12 weeks. A total of 28 participants were included in the analysis. Body weight, eating behaviors, exercise and nutrition self-efficacy, attitude toward mobile technology, social support and physical activity were assessed at baseline and at 12 …


Investigation Of Possible Novel Peptide Inhibitors To Bag-1 Based On Peptidyl-Biomimetics, Jonathan Brunn Dec 2012

Investigation Of Possible Novel Peptide Inhibitors To Bag-1 Based On Peptidyl-Biomimetics, Jonathan Brunn

Theses and Dissertations

In this Master’s Thesis Research the results can be summarized from two major tasks: (1) In our first task, we utilized our two protein system (BAG-1 and HSP 70) as part of beta testing of a computational software 1 that can take three dimensional x-ray crystallography information about protein complexes and predict the strength of atom –atom interactions between amino-acid residues Open Contact predicts binding hotspots that can be used to identify short amino acid chains or peptides that mimic that particular binding segment of the larger protein. These peptides are called pepidyl-biomimetics. The peptide can potentially act as an …


Medication-Related Problems Experienced By Patients During Transitions To Assisted Living, Deanna Flora Dec 2012

Medication-Related Problems Experienced By Patients During Transitions To Assisted Living, Deanna Flora

Theses and Dissertations

Medication reconciliation is a systematic and comprehensive review of medication regimens during care transitions aiming to prevent adverse drug events. Poorly executed transitions negatively impact patient welfare and cause financial burden. Medication-related problems (MRPs) experienced during transitions to an assisted living facility (ALF) were evaluated. Data was collected from pharmacy records for transitions to an ALF over three months, including demographics, medications, potentially inappropriate medications, and MRPs. MRPs were categorized and summarized using descriptive statistics. Forty-five patients (71% female) experienced 59 transitions. Average age was 85.6 years. Median length of stay away from the ALF was three days. There were …


My Beautiful, Jacquetta Harvey Dec 2012

My Beautiful, Jacquetta Harvey

Theses and Dissertations

In creating my work I use bold, bright colors and fundamental shapes and patterns. My images reflect how I view the world and genuinely express my imagination, feelings, and thinking. Working this way allows me to apply a symbolic face to personal concerns, beliefs, fears, ideologies, and philosophies. I see a world where life and art blend to create images of triumph and tragedy, joy and pain, or growth and change. My ideas have grown from the desire to understand myself as a woman, as a Christian, and as a unique individual. Dealing with personal questions, I explore the varying …


A Lexicographic Product Cancellation Property For Digraphs, Kendall Manion Dec 2012

A Lexicographic Product Cancellation Property For Digraphs, Kendall Manion

Theses and Dissertations

There are four prominent product graphs in graph theory: Cartesian, strong, direct, and lexicographic. Of these four product graphs, the lexicographic product graph is the least studied. Lexicographic products are not commutative but still have some interesting properties. This paper begins with basic definitions of graph theory, including the definition of a graph, that are needed to understand theorems and proofs that come later. The paper then discusses the lexicographic product of digraphs, denoted $G \circ H$, for some digraphs $G$ and $H$. The paper concludes by proving a cancellation property for the lexicographic product of digraphs $G$, $H$, $A$, …


Transcendence, James Klinke Dec 2012

Transcendence, James Klinke

Theses and Dissertations

Artist Statement I have often created art with an organic quality because I have felt bound by the earth’s natural elements and forces. These extend to and influence my human qualities which influence my artwork. My paintings and mixed media works symbolize the issues and defects that affect me in various ways and represent my attempt at overcoming them. At its core, my body of work addresses psychological and emotional recovery work. I have been burdened for a long period of time with anxiety, various character defects, and difficulties but I find catharsis through creative expression. Because I have chosen …


The Role Of Megalin In The Transport Of Aminoglycosides Across Human Placenta, Amal Akour Dec 2012

The Role Of Megalin In The Transport Of Aminoglycosides Across Human Placenta, Amal Akour

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Intra-amniotic infections (IAIs) are common complications of labor and delivery. If inadequately treated, these infections can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in the mother and the fetus. Intrapartum aminoglycoside (AG) administration is recommended for the management of IAIs. AGs are known to cross the placenta and achieve bactericidal concentrations in fetal serum. However, the highest and most persistent fetal levels are achieved in renal tissue. So, the fetus may be vulnerable to the nephrotoxic effects of AGs. Megalin, a 600 kDaendocytic receptor, is responsible for the uptake of AGs into renal proximal tubular epithelial cells. This receptor is …


Surreal Numbers, Joshua Hostetler Dec 2012

Surreal Numbers, Joshua Hostetler

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the Surreal Numbers from an elementary, con- structivist point of view, with the intention of introducing the numbers in a palatable way for a broad audience with minimal background in any specific mathematical field. Created from two recursive definitions, the Surreal Numbers form a class that contains a copy of the real numbers, transfinite ordinals, and infinitesimals, combinations of these, and in- finitely many numbers uniquely Surreal. Together with two binary operations, the surreal numbers form a field. The existence of the Surreal Numbers is proven, and the class is constructed from …


Tuning Parameter Selection In L1 Regularized Logistic Regression, Shujing Shi Dec 2012

Tuning Parameter Selection In L1 Regularized Logistic Regression, Shujing Shi

Theses and Dissertations

Variable selection is an important topic in regression analysis and is intended to select the best subset of predictors. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) was introduced by Tibshirani in 1996. This method can serve as a tool for variable selection because it shrinks some coefficients to exact zero by a constraint on the sum of absolute values of regression coefficients. For logistic regression, Lasso modifies the traditional parameter estimation method, maximum log likelihood, by adding the L1 norm of the parameters to the negative log likelihood function, so it turns a maximization problem into a minimization one. To …


Acid-Base Catalysis In Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Reactions (Pcet): The Effects Of Brönsted Bases On The Oxidation Of Glutathione And Hydroquinone, Ramos Jonnathan Medina Dec 2012

Acid-Base Catalysis In Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Reactions (Pcet): The Effects Of Brönsted Bases On The Oxidation Of Glutathione And Hydroquinone, Ramos Jonnathan Medina

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the results and discussion of the investigation of the effects of Brönsted bases on the kinetics and thermodynamics of two proton-coupled electron transfer processes: the mediated oxidation of glutathione and the electrochemical oxidation of hydroquinone. Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) is the name given to reactions that involve the transfer of electron(s) accompanied by the exchange of proton(s). PCETs are found in many chemical and biological processes, some of current technological relevance such as the oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells, which involves the transfer of four electrons and four protons (4e-, 4H+); or the splitting of water …


Art Criticism, Scholarly Interpretation, And Curatorial Intent: A Reassessment Of The 1998 Jackson Pollock Retrospective At The Museum Of Modern Art, Andrea Alvarez Dec 2012

Art Criticism, Scholarly Interpretation, And Curatorial Intent: A Reassessment Of The 1998 Jackson Pollock Retrospective At The Museum Of Modern Art, Andrea Alvarez

Theses and Dissertations

In 1998, the Museum of Modern Art held a retrospective exhibition of artworks by Jackson Pollock. Curators Kirk Varnedoe and Pepe Karmel worked in an art historical context that had been significantly shaped by the early critical writings by Clement Greenberg and Harold Rosenberg. The curators’ stated intention for the exhibition installation was to provide “a fresh chance for new generations of artists to come to terms with a legendary figure” and to enable “the broader public to reassess a quintessentially American artist in light of three decades of new scholarship,” without “ hewing to any particular critical dogma.” Despite …


Diffuse Traumatic Axonal Injury Within The Visual System: Implications For Visual Pathway Reorganization, Jiaqiong Wang Dec 2012

Diffuse Traumatic Axonal Injury Within The Visual System: Implications For Visual Pathway Reorganization, Jiaqiong Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury is a major health problem with much of its morbidity associated with traumatic axonal injury (TAI). To date, significant insight has been gained into the initiating pathogenesis of TAI. However, the specific anterograde and retrograde sequelae of TAI are poorly understood because the diffuse nature of TAI complicates data analysis. To overcome this limitation, we subjected transgenic mice expressing yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) within the visual system to central fluid percussion injury, and consistently generated diffuse TAI within the optic nerve that could easily be followed in the organized YFP positive fibers. We demonstrated progressive axonal swelling, …


The Role Of Zinc Particle Size And Loading In Cathodic Protection Efficiency, Qiang Wang Dec 2012

The Role Of Zinc Particle Size And Loading In Cathodic Protection Efficiency, Qiang Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Metallic additives, also known as anticorrosive pigments, can provide sacrificial cathodic protection and complement the barrier protection afforded by heterogeneous organic coatings to metallic substrates. The unique systematic study of the corrosion resistance of an epoxy coating reinforced with different sizes (80nm, 500nm, 10um) and continuous multiple pigment volume concentration (0, 2%, 10%, 20%, 45%) below global critical pigment volume concentration of zinc particles were studied. The thesis is developing the fundamental understanding to optimize corrosion protection and predicting the protection with time. The properties of these cathodic coatings were investigated by a single-frequency electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and open …


There Is A Beginning, Catherine Stark Dec 2012

There Is A Beginning, Catherine Stark

Theses and Dissertations

Science and nature inspire me to create. I have always found a unique beauty in abstracted views of organic matter. I have built a visual vocabulary for my imagery through examinations of scientific images from topography and biology. In addition, my responses to the natural environment inform my abstract, expressionistic, mixed media paintings. Using oil paint in a nontraditional way, I rub, brush, and manipulate paper surfaces to create subtle texture and color. Then, I add a vast range of materials such as resin, varnish, and enamel to build depth and layers. My works suggest actual surfaces in nature and …


Describing High School Readiness; Implementing School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports, Emily Snead Dec 2012

Describing High School Readiness; Implementing School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports, Emily Snead

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to measure the current status and priorities of high school staff around effective behavior supports. The school district studied includes nine comprehensive high schools and one alternative education site. The use of effective behavior supports in the areas of school-wide supports, classroom supports, non-instructional supports, and individual student supports are the foundations for school-wide positive behavior supports, SWPBS, a tiered system of interventions designed to address the behavioral needs of all students within a school building. The study was designed as a mixed methods investigation. An online survey was created from the Effective Behavior Supports, Self-Assessment Scale, …


The Effects Of River Sediment, Endosulfan, And Moderate Hypoxia On Blue Crabs (Callinectes Sapidus) From The Tidal, Freshwater James River, Laura Williams Nov 2012

The Effects Of River Sediment, Endosulfan, And Moderate Hypoxia On Blue Crabs (Callinectes Sapidus) From The Tidal, Freshwater James River, Laura Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Juvenile male blue crabs move into the tidal, freshwater James River during warmer months to feed and grow by undergoing molting. In crustaceans, growth and molting are hormonally controlled. The physiological effects of a multiple-stressor environment are determined by comparing the blue crab’s oxygen uptake after exposure to pure sand, James River sediment, or endosulfan-spiked sand. The effect of multiple stressors on molting is measured by the activity level of N-acetyl-ß-glucosaminidase (NAG), an enzyme in epidermal tissue important to molting. The oxygen uptake was decreased by exposure to James River sediment but not for exposure to endosulfan for seven days. …


Performing Taboo: The Creation Of An Aesthetic Through The Exploration Of Censorship In Theatre And The Challenges Of Directing Killer Joe, David Todd Zimmerman Nov 2012

Performing Taboo: The Creation Of An Aesthetic Through The Exploration Of Censorship In Theatre And The Challenges Of Directing Killer Joe, David Todd Zimmerman

Theses and Dissertations

This document explores the performance of taboo on the stage. The exploration is focused around the establishment of my personal aesthetic, which was developed through my studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. Starting with my first trip to Broadway, my journey goes through the class work that I did at VCU and the two plays that I did on the Shafer Street Alliance Laboratory Theatre stage: my performance and use of latex costumes in Funnyhouse of a Negro, and my direction and the troubles with producing Killer Joe. The exploration concludes with a look at the theatre in parts of Virginia …


Stable Fluorinated Antimicrobial Coatings, Asima Chakravorty Nov 2012

Stable Fluorinated Antimicrobial Coatings, Asima Chakravorty

Theses and Dissertations

Contact antimicrobials for use in the medical device industry are being studied extensively to minimize the risk of hospital acquired infections, which are among the top ten leading causes of death in the US. Surfaces modified with quaternary ammonium containing side chains have been known to demonstrate excellent antimicrobial properties. Prior work has indicated that polyurethane surfaces with copolyoxetane soft blocks consisting of fluorinated and quaternary ammonium side chains can act as good antimicrobials. However, stabilizing the positive charge on the surface has been a challenge. The dissertation is aimed at creating a surface modifier that would confer a stable …


Perceived Stress And Surgical Wound Cytokine Patterns, Valentina Lucas Nov 2012

Perceived Stress And Surgical Wound Cytokine Patterns, Valentina Lucas

Theses and Dissertations

Normal wound healing is a complex process that occurs in overlapping phases and depends upon interactions of the patient, environment and a large number of cells, growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and other biochemical mediators. Psychological stress has been shown to adversely affect the normal wound healing process through its impact on cellular immunity. Cellular immunity impacts wound healing through the production and regulation of many of the above biochemical mediators of wound healing. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the relationships among pre- and post-operative psychological stress experienced by women who were undergoing either immediate or delayed …