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Wireless Communication Systems Modeling And Design Using Communication Theory, Saleh Saeed S Allehaibi
Wireless Communication Systems Modeling And Design Using Communication Theory, Saleh Saeed S Allehaibi
All ETDs from UAB
The demand for reliable wireless communication systems has dramatically increased in recent years. Developing new methods, that exploit limited resources of power and bandwidth, is necessary to satisfy such a huge communication demand. Thus, the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system is considered an efficient solution for wireless communication systems. MIMO system provides high data rates by exploiting the spatial domain under the constraints of limited transmit power and bandwidth. One of the MIMO systems transmitting strategy is the Space-Time Block Codes (STBCs) that exploits transmit diversity and high reliability. Also, the least action principle (LAP) of information theory seeks optimal effectiveness …
Cerebral Vasospasm Detection And Treatment Using Transcranial Doppler Signal Analysis And Adaptive Medication Pump Mechanism, Khaled Elzaafarany
Cerebral Vasospasm Detection And Treatment Using Transcranial Doppler Signal Analysis And Adaptive Medication Pump Mechanism, Khaled Elzaafarany
All ETDs from UAB
In the United States, many patients pass away due to delayed detection of Cerebral Vasospasm (CV). Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is an efficient noninvasive, reliable device that can monitor the blood flow in various parts of the human brain like middle cerebral artery and basilar artery without any surgical intervention. It can help neurologists to diagnose many brain problems like edema, trauma, hemorrhage, and aneurysm. Unfortunately, continuous or even daily TCD monitoring is challenging due to the operator expertise and certification required in the form of a trained technologist, and certified physician to perform these studies. This barrier exists due to …
Securing Authentication And Communications Amidst Humans-In-The-Loop, Maliheh Shirvanian
Securing Authentication And Communications Amidst Humans-In-The-Loop, Maliheh Shirvanian
All ETDs from UAB
Authentication is one of the most crucial security aspects of almost any system that demands interaction between humans and machines, often serving as the pre-requisite for secure communications. Besides, authentication usually involves a human user in the loop (i.e., as a verifier, a verifiee, or a facilitator), which implies the significance of the usability of any authentication scheme. Numerous authentication schemes exist today, namely, “something you know” (e.g., passwords), “something you are” (e.g., voices), “something you have” (e.g., mobile phones), and combinations thereof. However, most of them suffer from various well-documented security and usability issues. In this dissertation work, we …
The Habitual Offenders, Beth Storr
The Habitual Offenders, Beth Storr
All ETDs from UAB
The Habitual Offenders is a work of literary journalism, written as a piece of first-person creative nonfiction. The collection of chapters explores a specific class of prison inmates in Alabama, sentenced to life without parole under a three strikes law. Major themes include fairness and disparity in the criminal justice system, politics, race and the community fallout from mass incarceration. This work reflects writing traditions from both investigative/narrative journalism and personal memoir.
Developing Novel And Effective Treatments For Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Aubrey Miller
Developing Novel And Effective Treatments For Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Aubrey Miller
All ETDs from UAB
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive tumor with a 5-year survival rate of 8%. Over 80% of patients are diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic disease and undergo systemic chemotherapy with gemcitabine. Virtually all patients develop gemcitabine-resistant disease and median survival for these patients is ~6 months. Thus, identification of novel molecular targets and pre-clinical evaluation of therapeutics is essential to improving patient outcome. The bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins are important regulators of transcription and have recently become a potentially effective target to treat PDAC. We have shown that the BET inhibitor JQ1 suppressed PDAC tumor …
Novel Insights Into Neurofibromin Function And Human Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Mutations Using Genetically Engineered Mouse Models, Ashley Nicole Turner
Novel Insights Into Neurofibromin Function And Human Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Mutations Using Genetically Engineered Mouse Models, Ashley Nicole Turner
All ETDs from UAB
Loss of NF1 in different developmental and cellular contexts leads to unique physiological outcomes due to loss of neurofibromin function, including embryonic lethality, sporadic cancers, and the genetic disorder NF1. Neurofibromin acts as a tumor suppressor by modulation of RAS signaling, with other functions of this multi-domain protein being less clear. Even within the monogenic disorder of NF1, the clinical heterogeneity and mutational spectrum are immense, revealing the complexity underlying this disorder. There is a huge urgency and need for NF1 therapeutic treatments, and the same urgency to develop in vivo models to better understand NF1 that can be utilized …
The Influence Of Child, Parent, And Context Factors On Children’S Traffic Injury Risk, Emma Sartin Goodman
The Influence Of Child, Parent, And Context Factors On Children’S Traffic Injury Risk, Emma Sartin Goodman
All ETDs from UAB
Child restraint systems, like car seats and booster seats, are effective at preventing serious injury and death for children involved in motor vehicle collisions. Despite this, the majority of families in the United States either do not use, or incorrectly use, child restraint systems. Further, racial minorities are consistently reported to have higher rates of child restraint system non- and misuse than their White peers; research has yet to explain this relationship with previously hypothesized factors (e.g., caregiver education, sources of information). The overall objective of this project was to explain how child, caregiver, and context factors interacted to influence …
Role Of Diminished Pulsatility From Continous Flow Ventricular Assist Devices On Small Vessel Endothelial Dysfunction, Thomas Haglund
Role Of Diminished Pulsatility From Continous Flow Ventricular Assist Devices On Small Vessel Endothelial Dysfunction, Thomas Haglund
All ETDs from UAB
Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are standard therapy for patients with advanced heart failure that is refractory to medical therapy. VADs can be categorized as pulsatile flow VADs (PF-VADs) and continuous flow VADs (CF-VADs). Both PF-VADs and CF-VADs are similarly effective in providing hemodynamic benefit and improving the quality of life and functional capacity of patients. CF-VADs are preferred over the PF-VADs due to advantages such as compact size, reliability, energy efficiency, installation and operation. However, CF-VAD support results in non-physiological diminished arterial pressure and flow pulsatility. Using the endothelial cell culture model (ECCM), we previously established that diminished pulsatility resulted …
Molecular Characterization Of The Rare Cftr Mutation P67l As A Model For Genotype-Specific Drug Development And Personalized Medicine In Cystic Fibrosis, Carleen Mae Pomperada Sabusap
Molecular Characterization Of The Rare Cftr Mutation P67l As A Model For Genotype-Specific Drug Development And Personalized Medicine In Cystic Fibrosis, Carleen Mae Pomperada Sabusap
All ETDs from UAB
The traditional CFTR functional defect subcategories (i.e. protein misfolding, gating, conductance, etc.) are sometimes inadequate for determining patients most likely to benefit from emerging modulator treatment. We employ the P67L variant as emblematic of ways a thorough biochemical analysis of a rare CF defect can guide new therapeutic approaches, help predict drug response, and facilitate clinical precision. Historically, P67L has been designated a class IV conductance abnormality (i.e., malformed ion pore). In contrast, our studies demonstrate P67L disrupts CFTR protein maturation, prompts misfolding, causes gating defects, and exhibits wild-type like conductance. We show that P67L CFTR is robustly rescued by …
A Qualitative Examination Of College Health Nurses’ Perception Of Their Role In Nursing Practice, Oyetunji Akisanya
A Qualitative Examination Of College Health Nurses’ Perception Of Their Role In Nursing Practice, Oyetunji Akisanya
All ETDs from UAB
ABSTRACT College health nurses (CHNs) play an essential role in student health services where they address a myriad of students’ health concerns. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the CHNs’ perception of their role in nursing practice. The study focused on hearing nurses’ perspectives on what they considered their role to be in college health (CH) practice, and the challenges encountered in their role performance. This qualitative study utilized a phenomenological design to explore the lived experience of the CHN. The study comprised of 11 CHNs currently employed in five 4-year universities across a …
A Mixed Methods Study Evaluating A Pediatric To Adult Care Transition Program For Sickle Cell Disease, Ardie Vanessa Pack-Mabien
A Mixed Methods Study Evaluating A Pediatric To Adult Care Transition Program For Sickle Cell Disease, Ardie Vanessa Pack-Mabien
All ETDs from UAB
A MIXED METHODS STUDY EVALUATING A PEDIATRIC TO ADULT CARE TRANSITION PROGRAM FOR SICKLE CELL DISEASE ARDIE VANESSA PACK-MABIEN SCHOOL OF NURSING ABSTRACT Sickle cell disease is a potentially life-threatening hereditary hematological disorder. Transition from pediatric to adult care is a challenging process for many adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease. These challenges involve the adolescent, young adult, family caregiver, health care provider, and health care system. To address the challenges, a limited number of sickle cell centers have developed transition programs to facilitate the transition process. However, research on transition programs is sparse. To address this gap, …
Neighborhood Disorder And Risky Sexual Behaviors In Adolescents, Catheryn Orihuela
Neighborhood Disorder And Risky Sexual Behaviors In Adolescents, Catheryn Orihuela
All ETDs from UAB
This present study addresses the effect of neighborhood decay and a need for security on early sexual initiation, use of contraception, number of sexual partners, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STI). As part of a larger investigation of adolescent health (Healthy Passages) the sample included 1,253 youth who were recruited from 5th grade classrooms in public schools in Birmingham, Alabama and followed throughout adolescence [1]. At baseline (Mage=11 years), trained observers completed assessments of neighborhood decay and security; geocoded census tract data yielded a composite measure of concentrated poverty; and youth and parents reported on their demographics and family …
An Interdisciplinary Model For The Development Of Alabama Oil Sands, Daniel Edward Smith
An Interdisciplinary Model For The Development Of Alabama Oil Sands, Daniel Edward Smith
All ETDs from UAB
In July 2013, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by the Governors of the states of Alabama and Mississippi to jointly conduct a comprehensive geologic, engineering, and legal assessment of oil sands resources associated with the Hartselle Sandstone formation including the identification of environmental best practices associated with developing these resources. Pursuant to the MOU, the Geological Survey of Alabama (GSA) began a limited geological evaluation of the potential development of Alabama’s oil sand resources. This dissertation compliments those GSA efforts by identifying and assessing environmental and social sustainability risks associated with the potential development of Alabama’s oil sands …
Bioprocess Development For Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies And High Value Biochemical, Jianfa Ou
Bioprocess Development For Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies And High Value Biochemical, Jianfa Ou
All ETDs from UAB
Cancer treatment is one of the most daunting challenges of human health improvement. Bioprocess development, or biomanufacturing, is an important step in anti-cancer therapy developments. Novel surface receptors were revealed by integrating proteomics data and live-cell characterization, and were used for antibody design with improved specific targeting. A high titer (>2 g/L) of monoclonal antibody (mAb) was produced by Chinese hamster ovary cells from fed-batch cell culture. Live-cell confocal microscopy imaging and flow cytometry analysis demonstrated the strong and specific binding of the produced mAb to cancer cell lines. The cancer treatment effect of mAb was enhanced through the …
The Oxidative Tyrosine Modification, O,O’-Dityrosine, In Lung Disease, Morgan Locy
The Oxidative Tyrosine Modification, O,O’-Dityrosine, In Lung Disease, Morgan Locy
All ETDs from UAB
The oxidative tyrosine modification, o,o′-dityrosine, has been identified in various pathologic conditions associated with oxidative stress in mammalian systems, and demonstrated to be important in physiologic processes in invertebrate organisms. The formation of o,o’-dityrosine is catalyzed by a heme peroxidase (hPx) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The understanding of this stable, covalent tyrosine modifica-tion in lung biology is limited. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various lung diseases, including interstitial lung disease (ILD) and cystic fibrosis (CF). We observed that the oxidative protein modification, o,o’-dityrosine, was markedly ele-vated in the circulating plasma of ILD patients …
Financial Distress – Causes And Consequences: An Examination Of The Nursing Home Industry, Justin Caleb Lord
Financial Distress – Causes And Consequences: An Examination Of The Nursing Home Industry, Justin Caleb Lord
All ETDs from UAB
Nursing homes operate in a tumultuous and changing environment and are under increasing financial pressure, risk of closure, and financial distress. The issue of financial distress has been explored tangentially within the nursing home industry. This study is the first to validate the Altman Z-Score, a financial distress prediction model, within the nursing home context. The Altman Z-Score model uses multiple discriminate analysis (MDA) to examine multiple financial ratios (liquidity, efficiency, profitability and net worth) simultaneously to predict the likelihood of a firm’s financial distress. After calculating the Z-Score, clustering was used to classify the observations into three groups, distressed, …
Effects Of Proanthocyanidins In Combination With Resveratrol And Sulforaphane Respectively On Human Breast Cancer Cells, Yifeng Gao
All ETDs from UAB
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer and the second leading cause of death from cancer among women in the United States. Cancer prevention and therapy through use of phytochemicals that have epigenetic properties has gained considerable popularity during the past few decades. Such dietary components include but are not limited to grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs), resveratrol (Res) and sulforaphane (SFN). Here we report for the first time that GSPs and Res in combination dose- and time-dependently inhibited cell viability and posttreatment colony forming ability synergistically in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, while GSPs and SFN in …
Sleep Transistors Aided Side-Channel Analysis For Hardware Trojan Detection, Lin Yi
Sleep Transistors Aided Side-Channel Analysis For Hardware Trojan Detection, Lin Yi
All ETDs from UAB
Modern integrated circuits (ICs) are vulnerable due to the emergence of Hardware Trojans (HTs). The semiconductor industry has been split into several sections caused by the market demand. This trend increased the risk that ICs could be embedded with Trojans for malicious purpose. Hardware Trojan (HT) is an extra circuity, which carried malicious functions. Hardware Trojan can be tiny-size and stealthy to detect, due to their sophisticated design and rare activation. Detecting methodologies are mainly focused on three directions: Supply chain phase detection, Run time phase detection and Design phase detection. Recently, most of the researchers trend to utilize logic …
Hiv Disclosure, Retention In Hiv Care, And Viral Load Suppression : A Study Among New To Hiv Care Patients, Riddhi Modi
Hiv Disclosure, Retention In Hiv Care, And Viral Load Suppression : A Study Among New To Hiv Care Patients, Riddhi Modi
All ETDs from UAB
HIV remains a major ongoing public health problem globally and in the United States (US). Despite the advances in the antiretroviral therapy (ART), new HIV cases continue to occur. Hence, understanding the factors that influence patient’s decision to HIV treatment and prevention is of paramount. HIV disclosure, an important modifiable behavior, is a barrier to linkage and engagement in HIV care. Thus far, studies examining HIV disclosure and its impact on HIV related outcomes, retention in care (RIC) and viral load (VL) suppression among HIV patients newly initiating care are scant. While these studies provide insights on risk factors of …
Growth And Analysis Of Transition-Metal-Doped Znse-Based Materials And Thin Film Structures For Mid-Infrared Optoelectronic Applications, Zachary R. Lindsey
Growth And Analysis Of Transition-Metal-Doped Znse-Based Materials And Thin Film Structures For Mid-Infrared Optoelectronic Applications, Zachary R. Lindsey
All ETDs from UAB
Transition metal (TM)-doped II-VI semiconductor thin films have been shown to be attractive materials for mid-infrared (mid-IR) laser sources due to broad applicability in the sensing and detection of a wide range of organic molecules. Specifically, when ZnSe is doped with Cr2+ ions, the resulting broadband emission characteristics in the 2-3 µm spectral range create the potential for tunable lasing in the mid-IR. This dissertation research is motivated by the need for low cost, efficient, portable materials to be incorporated into multilayered mid-IR optoelectronic devices providing appropriate optical confinement, efficient quantum confinement of carriers, and optical emission in the mid-IR …
Bone Marrow Transplantation In A Mouse Model Of Cooley’S Anemia, Jonathan Russell Lockhart
Bone Marrow Transplantation In A Mouse Model Of Cooley’S Anemia, Jonathan Russell Lockhart
All ETDs from UAB
β-thalassemia is a group of inherited blood disorders that result in defects in β-globin chain production. Cooley’s anemia (CA), or β-thalassemia major, is the most severe form of the disease and occurs when an individual has mutations in both copies of the adult β-globin gene. Patients with CA fail to make adult hemoglobin, have ineffective erythropoiesis, suffer from severe anemia, and are transfusion dependent for life. Currently, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is the only cure; however, few patients have suitable donors for this procedure that carries a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. To develop new and safer alternatives …
Nf-Κb And Methyl-Lysine Signaling In The Epigenetic Regulation Of Memory, William Mitchell Webb
Nf-Κb And Methyl-Lysine Signaling In The Epigenetic Regulation Of Memory, William Mitchell Webb
All ETDs from UAB
Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone methylation are critical regulators of gene transcription during memory consolidation and retrieval. However, the means by which these mechanisms are themselves initiated and directed to specific gene regions, and the extent to which these marks coordinate control of gene expression, remain poorly understood. In this dissertation, we explore the role of methyl-lysine signaling in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression in two contexts. First, we investigated the role of histone H3 lysine 4 tri-methylation (H3K4me3) and DNA 5-hydroxymethylation (5hmC) during memory retrieval, finding that these marks increased globally and at CpG-enriched coding …
Optical Mapping Of Cardiac Electromechanics, Hanyu Zhang
Optical Mapping Of Cardiac Electromechanics, Hanyu Zhang
All ETDs from UAB
Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the world. One of the common causes of sudden cardiac arrest is acute regional ischemia due to coronary occlusion. However, the mechanism of arrhythmia onset in this setting is still unclear. Previous stud-ies suggest that abnormal mechanical stretch during acute regional ischemia may play a role in initiating arrhythmia through triggering ectopic electrical activation. Optical map-ping has been widely used in cardiac electrophysiological research in the past decades. Compared with conventional electrical mapping techniques, optical mapping offers a number of advantages. But a major limitation of optical mapping is that …
Cancer Survivorship In Young Adults: Addressing Disparities In An Invisible Population, Debran Tarver
Cancer Survivorship In Young Adults: Addressing Disparities In An Invisible Population, Debran Tarver
All ETDs from UAB
Young adult survivors are an understudied group and have been considered invisible in cancer care and research. This population has unique medical and psychosocial needs that can influence health outcomes and behaviors. There are also health disparities that exist within this population in treatment and survivorship. Receiving a survivorship care plan (SCP) can equip young adults with the knowledge to advocate for risk-based cancer follow-up and impact health outcomes and behaviors. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between receipt of an SCP and age at diagnosis, health outcomes, and health behaviors. Study data were obtained from …
Pharmacological Inhibition Of Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein To Protect Against Diabetes, Lance Thielen
Pharmacological Inhibition Of Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein To Protect Against Diabetes, Lance Thielen
All ETDs from UAB
The loss of functional beta cell mass represents a major factor in the pathogenesis of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Inadequate production of insulin, a glucose-lowering hormone, and elevated glucagon production, a gluconeogenic hormone, contribute to impaired glycemic control and hyperglycemia. This promotes a vicious cycle involving glucotoxicity and additional beta cell dysfunction. Currently there are no therapies that halt this process; however, thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic target. TXNIP was found to be the top glucose-induced gene in a human pancreatic islet microarray, is increased in mouse models of diabetes and diabetic human …
Understanding Associations Among Race, Socioeconomic Status, And The Experience Of Painful Knee Osteoarthritis: Clinical And Experimental Evidence, Kathryn Ann Thompson
Understanding Associations Among Race, Socioeconomic Status, And The Experience Of Painful Knee Osteoarthritis: Clinical And Experimental Evidence, Kathryn Ann Thompson
All ETDs from UAB
Knee OA is an active disease process involving cartilage destruction, subchondral bone thickening, and new bone formation affecting 22% of American adults (46.4 million) over age 18 years. Past literature suggests, a disproportionate number of racial/ethnic minorities, particularly non-Hispanic Blacks, are affected by knee OA. Furthermore, over one in four (28%) Blacks have an income below the national poverty level compared with 11% of Whites. Therefore, the overall aim of this study is to examine racial and SES differences in the experience of pain and physical functioning in adults with knee OA. 191 participants (62% female, 52% Black) were recruited …
Psychological Well-Being And Smoking Cessation, Christopher Thorne
Psychological Well-Being And Smoking Cessation, Christopher Thorne
All ETDs from UAB
Introduction: The substantial death toll from smoking combined with the low success rates of current treatment approaches warrants further investigation into mechanisms that promote cessation. While the role of negative affect has been studied extensively in relationship to smoking cessation, the role of psychological well-being (PWB; e.g., life satisfaction, optimism, positive affect, purpose in life, resilience) has received little attention. Treatment outcomes might improve with a better understanding of PWB’s role in smoking cessation. Methods: Relationships between smoking and PWB were examined in three studies. First, using panel data from the biennial, longitudinal Health and Retirement Study, I developed separate …
Immune Modulation Of Pain And Recovery Via Diet, Stacie Totsch
Immune Modulation Of Pain And Recovery Via Diet, Stacie Totsch
All ETDs from UAB
Chronic pain is the most common disability in the United States. Additionally, one out of three adults in America are obese and obesity and pain are often comorbid. Obesity is an inflammatory state due to the release of pro-inflammatory mediators from adipose tissue. Generally, obesity is a result of a poor-quality diet. Specific dietary components and patterns are independent activators of the immune system and can exacerbate the obesity-induced inflammatory state. It is known that immune system activation is a critical aspect in the development and progression of many chronic pain conditions. To address a general lack of preclinical investigations …
Susceptibility To Late-Onset Sepsis Is Controlled By The Neonatal Microbiome And Intestinal Immune System, Jeffrey Robert Singer
Susceptibility To Late-Onset Sepsis Is Controlled By The Neonatal Microbiome And Intestinal Immune System, Jeffrey Robert Singer
All ETDs from UAB
When mammals leave the womb, they encounter a world teeming with microbial life. Their intestinal tract, which will ultimately harbor an ecosystem of trillions of bacteria, must progress through a process called ecological succession. Late-onset sepsis (LOS) commonly occurs in preterm infants when pioneer members of the intestinal microbiome cause systemic infections. Both antibiotics and probiotics are used as prophylaxis for LOS, but mechanisms underlying susceptibility to the disease remain unclear. This is in large part due to a lack of animal models that mimic the relevant pathophysiology of LOS. This study begins with the development of a novel model …
Understanding The Role Of Social Media In Breastfeeding: A Mixed Methods Study, Kara Skelton
Understanding The Role Of Social Media In Breastfeeding: A Mixed Methods Study, Kara Skelton
All ETDs from UAB
Background: Breastfeeding is well known as the optimal source of nutrition for the first year of life. However, suboptimal exclusively breastfeeding rates in the US are still prevalent despite numerous calls to action at the national level. A mixed-methods study was conducted to explore social media group’ impact on breastfeeding related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. Participants were recruited from one online social media pro-breastfeeding group. Online Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 21 women; Key Informant Interviews were conducted with 12 mothers. Qualitative data were aggregated for thematic analysis. A survey was developed based on findings from the qualitative …