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The Evolution Of Racism Through The Lens Of Lynching Rhetoric And Memory, Tammy Blue
The Evolution Of Racism Through The Lens Of Lynching Rhetoric And Memory, Tammy Blue
All ETDs from UAB
The Evolution of Racism Through the Lens of Lynching Rhetoric and Memory, examines the use of ‘lynching’ in its definition, legislation and politics. Rhetoric has the power to influence and persuade, therefore when public figures manipulate lynching rhetoric, the meaning of lynching becomes distorted. In part, this thesis explores the difficulty of defining lynching. Among others, key players in this process included Walter White of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Monroe Work of the Tuskegee Institute, and Jessie Daniel Ames of the Association of Southern Women for the Prevention of Lynching (ASWPL). Their battle to …
Context Fear Memory Formation Is Regulated By Hippocampal Lncrna-Mediated Histone Methylation Changes, Anderson Alan Butler
Context Fear Memory Formation Is Regulated By Hippocampal Lncrna-Mediated Histone Methylation Changes, Anderson Alan Butler
All ETDs from UAB
The post-translational modification of histones regulates gene expression and is critical for the formation and maintenance of hippocampus-dependent long-term memories. Changes in gene-specific expression of various epigenetic marks during the aging pro-cess are sufficiently consistent as to be used as an aging landmark or epigenetic clock in both humans and other species; however, the molecular mechanisms which govern the application of these marks aging are poorly explored. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated as regulators of histone methyltransferases and other chromatin-modifying enzymes (CMEs). Despite the relevance of such mechanisms to both aging and memory formation, the behavioral relevance …
Meta-Analysis Of Cognitive Performance In Fibromyalgia, Tyler Reed Bell
Meta-Analysis Of Cognitive Performance In Fibromyalgia, Tyler Reed Bell
All ETDs from UAB
Fibromyalgia is a disease that encompasses difficulties with pain, physical function, and emotion, but is also characterized by complaints of poor cognition. Over the last two decades, a vast amount of literature has tested for cognitive differences between individuals with and without fibromyalgia. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a quantitative synthesis on these differences across multiple cognitive domains. After a systematic search of eligible studies, random-effect meta-analyses were conducted on effect sizes (Hedges’ g) derived from 37 cross-sectional studies covering domains of processing speed, memory and executive function. Participants included persons with fibromyalgia (total n = …
Dna Methylation Regulates Neuronal Synaptic Scaling And Intrinsic Membrane Excitability, Jarrod P. Meadows
Dna Methylation Regulates Neuronal Synaptic Scaling And Intrinsic Membrane Excitability, Jarrod P. Meadows
All ETDs from UAB
Learning and memory rely on long-lasting, experience-dependent adaptations in synaptic and non-synaptic forms of neuronal plasticity. Previous evidence implicates transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA cytosine methylation, as critical regulators of site-specific, Hebbian alterations in synaptic efficacy such as long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). However, whether DNA methylation modulates cell-wide, non-Hebbian homeostatic adaptations like synaptic scaling and intrinsic plasticity (IP) is unclear. Whereas synaptic scaling involves bidirectional changes in postsynaptic receptor density in response to chronic alterations in neuronal activity, IP involves the activity-dependent attunement of passive and/or active membrane properties that govern action potential (AP) firing. This …
Obesity Weighs Down Memory: Emerging Insights Into The Epigentic Basis Of Obesity-Induced Memory Impairment In Adult Mice, Frankie Darryn Heyward
Obesity Weighs Down Memory: Emerging Insights Into The Epigentic Basis Of Obesity-Induced Memory Impairment In Adult Mice, Frankie Darryn Heyward
All ETDs from UAB
A preponderance of evidence has established that obesity contributes to memory impairments in mid-age adults. Empirical evidence has revealed that diet-induced obesity contributes to memory impairments in adult rodents. Precisely how obesity disrupts memory remains an open question. Bourgeoning data indicate that molecular epigenetic mechanisms mediate the changes in gene transcription that are necessary for hippocampus-dependent memory consolidation. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, stably regulate gene expression without affecting the DNA sequence. Moreover, DNA methylation of memory-related genes with in the hippocampus is indispensible for memory formation. There is recent evidence of obesity-induced aberrantions in DNA methylation both peripherally …
Intrinsic And Extrinsic Factors Required For Cd4 T Memory Cell Formation And Function, Sarah B. Mollo
Intrinsic And Extrinsic Factors Required For Cd4 T Memory Cell Formation And Function, Sarah B. Mollo
All ETDs from UAB
CD4 T cells are central to the organization of the immune response through the secretion of cytokines that recruit and activate other immune cells. Following infection and pathogen control, the majority of the effector CD4 T cells undergo apoptosis, leaving a subset that persists and gives rise to the memory T cell pool. Upon encountering the same pathogen, memory CD4 T cells respond rapidly, providing enhanced protection from re-infection. What determines which effector CD4 T cells will survive is unclear; however, there are a number of factors both intrinsic to the cell as well as external signals from the environment …
Epigenetic Regulation Of Hippocampus-Dependent Learning, Laura Qadri
Epigenetic Regulation Of Hippocampus-Dependent Learning, Laura Qadri
All ETDs from UAB
Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that underlie learning and memory has advanced a great deal. Research into the role of epigenetics, or modifications above the genome, has the promise of providing an even greater understanding of the precise mechanisms involved in memory formation. Studies of epigenetic regulation of memory in the rodent hippocampus have primarily focused on associative learning using contextual fear conditioning. While these studies have provided valuable insight into the role that epigenetics plays in cognition, it remains to be seen whether the findings generalize to other forms of hippocampus-dependent learning. This work examines the role of epigenetic …
The Role Of Gadd45b In Hippocampus-Dependent Cognition, Synaptic Plasticity And Activity-Associated Transcriptional Dynamics, Faraz Sultan
The Role Of Gadd45b In Hippocampus-Dependent Cognition, Synaptic Plasticity And Activity-Associated Transcriptional Dynamics, Faraz Sultan
All ETDs from UAB
An expanding body of literature argues for a pivotal role of molecular epigenetic mechanisms in memory. Defined as mechanisms that regulate gene expression in the absence of DNA sequence modifications, these regulate various stages of memory-associated transcription. These phenomena are present at diverse anatomical subregions of the central nervous system (CNS) and regulate corresponding behaviors. Epigenetic mechanisms comprise a unique category of behavioral and physiological modulators because of their potential to modify the cellular phenotype in a stable manner. Hence, epigenetics offers a novel potential solution to a central paradox in memory retention: the finding that most putative molecular substrates …
Adhesion Molecule Interactions Influence The Implementation Of Immune Responses To Infection, Maureen Ann Cox
Adhesion Molecule Interactions Influence The Implementation Of Immune Responses To Infection, Maureen Ann Cox
All ETDs from UAB
Interactions mediated by intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) enhance both the antigenic and cytokine signals that CD8 T cells perceive, and these interactions have been suggested to be required for the formation of memory CD8 T cells. Following acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection of ICAM-1-/- mice, we observe elevated numbers of "effector-phenotype" (CD127lo KLRG-1hi IL-2-) virus-specific CD8 T cells well into the memory phase, while the development of memory-phenotype CD8 T cells (CD127hi KLRG-1lo IL-2 producing) is not impaired. The enhanced maintenance of effector-phenotype cells is due to ICAM-1 deficiency on non-T cell subsets, suggesting a role for ICAM-1 mediated …
Myosin Ii In Hippocampal Synapses: Regulation Of Synaptic Plasticity, Strength And Actin Dynamics By Two Distinct Isoforms, Maria Dolores Rubio
Myosin Ii In Hippocampal Synapses: Regulation Of Synaptic Plasticity, Strength And Actin Dynamics By Two Distinct Isoforms, Maria Dolores Rubio
All ETDs from UAB
Cytoskeletal actin filaments underlie dendritic spine plasticity, critical for several forms of learning and memory. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that regulate actin dynamics is essential to elucidate memory formation pathways. Myosins, a superfamily of actin binding proteins, have emerged as candidates for regulation of actin dynamics in the brain. Several myosin class II isoforms have been identified in brain, but their individual contribution to synaptic activity is still unknown. Based on the finding that myosin IIB regulates actin polymerization in the growth cone of developing neurons and that it is necessary for maintenance of dendritic spine structure, I hypothesized that …
The Development Of Humoral And Cellular Responses To Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria In The Hypoendemic Peruvian Amazon And Potential Clinical Protection, Eva Helen Clark
The Development Of Humoral And Cellular Responses To Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria In The Hypoendemic Peruvian Amazon And Potential Clinical Protection, Eva Helen Clark
All ETDs from UAB
Each year 300-500 million cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria occur, leading to more than 1 million deaths. In high malaria transmission regions, development of immunity from severe infection requires 2-10 years of persistent parasitemia. This delay has been attributed to difficulties in the development of protective humoral responses. Indeed, anti-malarial antibody responses tend to be short-lived, and immunologic memory seems to be dysfunctional in high-transmission regions. In contrast, in the low-transmission Peruvian Amazon >60% of infections are asymptomatic, suggesting that clinical immunity occurs despite low parasite exposure. To analyze more precisely the naturally-acquired humoral responses to malarial antigens and their …