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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
The Conformational Analysis And Biophysical Studies Of Retinoic Acid Interactions With Nuclear Receptor Homodimers And Heterodimers, Bryan Dean Cox
The Conformational Analysis And Biophysical Studies Of Retinoic Acid Interactions With Nuclear Receptor Homodimers And Heterodimers, Bryan Dean Cox
All ETDs from UAB
Vitamin A metabolites are compounds that perform critical functions for mammalian life. The retinoic acid metabolites of vitamin A regulate genetic transcription. Retinoic acids function by binding to type II nuclear receptor proteins (NRs), which modulates interactions between nuclear receptors and transcription initiation machinery (such as coactivator proteins). It is the focus of this dissertation to expand our understanding of retinoic acids in their interactions with the nuclear receptor protein Retinoid X Receptor alpha (RXR&alpha). Retinoic acids are composed of a trimethylcyclohexenyl ring, polyene chain, and terminal carboxylic acid. The first chapter investigates the energetics of the ring-chain conformation using …
Parental Influences On Driving Behavior In Adolescents With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Annie Artiga Garner
Parental Influences On Driving Behavior In Adolescents With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Annie Artiga Garner
All ETDs from UAB
Drivers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are approximately six times more likely to become involved in a motor vehicle crash (MVC) than drivers without the disorder. Moreover, adolescent drivers with ADHD are likely at greater risk because their attention regulation difficulties are exacerbated by their driving inexperience. Research has primarily focused on the impact of ADHD on driving outcomes among adults. Thus, there is little literature assessing the role of parents in influencing driving outcomes of adolescents with ADHD. The present study was conducted to examine the impact of parenting practices during middle adolescence on the driving outcomes of adolescents with …
Early-In-Life Bladder Inflammation Alters Kappa-Opioid Modulation Of Inflammatory Bladder Pain, Amber Dianne Shaffer
Early-In-Life Bladder Inflammation Alters Kappa-Opioid Modulation Of Inflammatory Bladder Pain, Amber Dianne Shaffer
All ETDs from UAB
In adult female rats, zymosan-induced inflammation of the bladder leads to bladder hypersensitivity, as reflected in augmented visceromotor reflex (VMR) responses to urinary bladder distension (UBD). Prior early-in-life (EIL) experience with bladder inflammation further increases bladder hypersensitivity. Naloxone increases bladder hypersensitivity in animals inflamed only as adults, but not in animals inflamed EIL, indicating that bladder inflammation recruits an inhibitory opioid system which may be impaired by EIL inflammation. This thesis examined what role the dynorphin/κ-opioid system played in mediating bladder hypersensitivity through the impairment of opioid inhibition. In all experiments, animals were treated EIL (P14-P16) and as adults with …
A Minimally Invasive Multifunctional Nano-Enabled Approach For Selective Targeting, Imaging, And Near Infrared Photothermal Therapy Of Malignant Tumors, Hadiyah-Nicole Green
A Minimally Invasive Multifunctional Nano-Enabled Approach For Selective Targeting, Imaging, And Near Infrared Photothermal Therapy Of Malignant Tumors, Hadiyah-Nicole Green
All ETDs from UAB
This dissertation describes how the mastery of active tumor targeting and subsequent tumor regression is a great challenge for cancer therapy. Near infrared (NIR) photothermal therapy (PTT) as a localized minimally invasive therapy utilizes nanoparticles (NPs) as a physical contrast agent. The NIR laser irradiation, transparent to normal tissue, overlaps with plasmon resonance absorption of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The AuNPs convert the absorbed NIR light energy into thermal energy and cause localized destruction of surrounding tissue. To improve efficiency for targeting of AuNPs to malignant tumors, we developed a technique for conjugating gold nanoparticles to tumor-specific antibodies. We demonstrated that …
Synthesis And Properties Of Poly(Α-Hydroxy Acid)S With Poly(Ether) Cores, Jeffrey Larry Atkinson
Synthesis And Properties Of Poly(Α-Hydroxy Acid)S With Poly(Ether) Cores, Jeffrey Larry Atkinson
All ETDs from UAB
Novel biomaterials composed of a polyglycidol backbone with polyester branches consisting of poly(lactide) or poly(lactide-co-glycolide) are synthesized and characterized. Thermal stability, mechanical properties, and hydrolytic degradation of these polymers are essential factors of their processing and practical application. Data from the analysis of the polymer properties is used to determine structure-property relationships for the branched polyesters. Poly(glycidol) (PG), poly(glycidol)-g-L-lactide (PG-g-La), and poly(glycidol)-g-glycolide (PG-g-Gly) are synthesized for evaluation of the core material and simple branched systems. Thermogravimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and isoconversional kinetic analysis are used to evaluate the kinetic and mechanistic aspects of nonoxidative thermal degradation. It is found …
Fmri Investigation Of Intertemporal Discounting In Schizophrenia, Kathy Burton Avsar
Fmri Investigation Of Intertemporal Discounting In Schizophrenia, Kathy Burton Avsar
All ETDs from UAB
Schizophrenia is most recognizable by positive symptoms of hallucinations and delusions, but the cognitive deficits and negative symptoms contribute more to functional deficits. The delay discounting (DD) task, with choices between a small immediate reward and a larger delayed reward, tapping into both executive function and reward processing, may prove useful in identifying cognitive and reward processing abnormalities relevant to schizophrenia. In the present study, we used the discounting parameter, k, to assess whether patients with schizophrenia preferred more immediate rewards than healthy controls. We used a model fit statistic, R2, as a measure of choice consistency, quantified using a …
Multiple Object Retrieval In Image Databases Using Hierarchical Segmentation Tree, Wei-Bang Chen
Multiple Object Retrieval In Image Databases Using Hierarchical Segmentation Tree, Wei-Bang Chen
All ETDs from UAB
The purpose of this research is to develop a new visual information analysis, representation, and retrieval framework for automatic discovery of salient objects of user's interest in large-scale image databases. In particular, this dissertation describes a content-based image retrieval framework which supports multiple-object retrieval. The proposed research, unlike most existing works that are designed for single object retrieval or adopt heuristic multiple object matching scheme, aims at contributing to this field through the development of an image retrieval system that enables effective and efficient multiple-object retrieval and automatic discovery of the objects of interest through users' relevance feedback. The key …
Neural Networks Involved In Eye Movements In Humans, Demet Gurler
Neural Networks Involved In Eye Movements In Humans, Demet Gurler
All ETDs from UAB
Saccades, smooth pursuit and vergence eye movements either shift or maintain gaze on objects of interest so that the image of the object is, respectively, either brought to, or maintained on the fovea for detailed analysis. To date, the neural substrates of these eye movements have been characterized individually using a variety of techniques including electrophysiology, positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) both in non-human primates (NHPs) and humans. The non-invasive nature of fMRI allows us to use the same tasks and techniques in both humans and nonhuman primates. The purpose of the present study was …
The Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, And Thermal Stability Of Ternary Cr1-Xmoxny Thin-Films, Yujiao Zou
The Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, And Thermal Stability Of Ternary Cr1-Xmoxny Thin-Films, Yujiao Zou
All ETDs from UAB
The microstructure, thermal stability and mechanical properties of ternary chromium molybdenum nitride (Cr-Mo-N) films were studied. In this work, a series of Cr-Mo-N films with different Cr/Mo ratios were deposited on CoCrMo and silicon substrates at various deposition temperatures by using a dual rf-magnetron sputtering system with Cr and Mo targets and nitrogen as reactive gas. Thermal processing at temperatures up to 700°C in air and up to 800°C in microwave plasma with H2/N2 gas mixture were employed to evaluate the thermal stability of films. The films' microstructure was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The …
Explaining The Link Between Parental Educational Expectations And Chinese High School Students' Academic Achievement: The Roles Of Psychological Distress, Parental Involvement, And Filial Piety, Wei Su
All ETDs from UAB
The current study addressed the relationship between short-term and long-term parental educational expectations and Chinese high school students' academic achievement. We proposed five factors and mechanisms to explain this relationship, including nonlinear associations of parental educational expectations with adolescents' academic achievement, mediation effects of child psychological distress, mediation effects of parental involvement, effects of parent-child discrepancies in educational expectations, and moderating effects of filial piety. Four hundred and ninety-one 12th graders from a mainland Chinese high school and their parents were recruited in this study, with a mean age of 18.4 years and 57% girls. When not adjusting for previous …
Mental Health Disparities In Racial And Ethnic Minorities: The Impact Of Nativity And Ethnicity On Depression And Anxiety, Henna Budhwani
Mental Health Disparities In Racial And Ethnic Minorities: The Impact Of Nativity And Ethnicity On Depression And Anxiety, Henna Budhwani
All ETDs from UAB
This research examined factors associated with mental health outcomes for minority groups residing in the United States, with an emphasis on racial and ethnic minorities and a further segmentation between those born in the United States and those born outside the United States. Two theories were used: the Healthy Migrant Theory and Health Lifestyles Theory. In combination, they identified important elements, such as race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, exposure to discrimination, and health lifestyle behaviors, thought to influence mental health outcomes. Nine hypotheses were presented; support was mixed. Some support was found to support the idea that nativity, independently, influenced mental health …
Executive Functioning And Behavior Among Very Low Birth Weight Children At School-Age, Desiree Maria De Jong
Executive Functioning And Behavior Among Very Low Birth Weight Children At School-Age, Desiree Maria De Jong
All ETDs from UAB
Children born prematurely and/or with low birth weight (LBW) are at significantly higher risk than their full-term peers for developing cognitive, behavioral, attention, and executive functioning (EF) difficulties by school-age. The difficulties experienced by this population typically persist well into adolescence and vary as a function of birth weight, with infants weighing less at significantly higher risk for long-term problems. However, there is little consensus with regard to the specific factors that place preterm and LBW children at greatest risk for EF and behavioral impairments. A primary purpose of the current study was to examine the degree to which neonatal/ …
An Information Theory Based Representation Of Software Systems And Design, Zekai Demirezen
An Information Theory Based Representation Of Software Systems And Design, Zekai Demirezen
All ETDs from UAB
Software designers can benefit from the experience of engineering designers and information theory formalism. Every design starts with uncertainty and the art of software design involves uncertainty reduction. Information theory enables software designers to adopt a systems view that facilitates intellectual control over a given software design. Since design imposes organization through successive transformations in reaching the final product, it is possible to formalize design with information theory. We investigated software design as a hierarchical decomposition of design spaces. We realized that before initiating the software design process there is minimal organization, representing higher entropy. The design decisions carrying out …
Geometric Fitting In Error-In-Variables Model, Qizhuo Huang
Geometric Fitting In Error-In-Variables Model, Qizhuo Huang
All ETDs from UAB
This dissertation is devoted to the study of a popular regression model: Error-In-Variable Model, which has been commonly recognized as one of the key components of computer vision research. In EIV model, a set of data points whose (x,y) coordinates are subject to random errors is fitted by some geometric shapes such as lines, circles and ellipses. The geometric fitting which minimizes the sum of orthogonal distances from points to geometric shapes is universally recognized as the most desirable solution of the fitting problem. However, there is no explicit form of the solution for nonlinear models (circles, ellipses etc). The …
Surviving Stem: Mentoring, Self-Effiacay And Career Intentions Of Female Graduate Students In Science, Technology, Engineering, And Math, Elizabeth Allyne Yost
Surviving Stem: Mentoring, Self-Effiacay And Career Intentions Of Female Graduate Students In Science, Technology, Engineering, And Math, Elizabeth Allyne Yost
All ETDs from UAB
The state of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is not equitable to that of their male counterparts. While great strides have been taken in the last few years, many areas of STEM are still unable to draw equitable numbers of women into the academy. One way to encourage women to enter in and remain in the academy is through mentoring. Through mentoring, women are able to see that a career path is possible for them and better learn how to navigate the structure of the academy. Mentoring has also been shown to increase self-efficacy, which the Social …
Evaluating The Efficacy Of Computer Social Skills Game In Improving The Social-Emotional Development Of Head Start Children, Trista Perez
Evaluating The Efficacy Of Computer Social Skills Game In Improving The Social-Emotional Development Of Head Start Children, Trista Perez
All ETDs from UAB
The preschool years are an important time for cognitive and social development. Children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are often subject to difficulties in social-emotional competence. Head Start programs have a goal of improving social-emotional development of children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Social skills interventions teach fundamental social skills. FaceSayTM, a computer-based intervention teaches skills such as eye gaze and face processing with a goal of improving face and emotion recognition. FaceSayTM performance was not predictive of post intervention face and emotion recognition. Based on the results, cognitive scores predicted increased face recognition scores post intervention; however, the assignment to FaceSayTM …
Cognitive Functioning In Adults Aging With Hiv: Exploring Cognitive Subtypes And Influential Factors, Pariya L. Fazeli
Cognitive Functioning In Adults Aging With Hiv: Exploring Cognitive Subtypes And Influential Factors, Pariya L. Fazeli
All ETDs from UAB
Research suggests that individuals with HIV may be at risk for declines in cognitive functioning. Cluster analytic studies have suggested that there may be unique cognitive subgroups in HIV, with some individuals exhibiting normal cognitive performance, some with global cognitive deficits, and some with unique cognitive deficits in specific domains. The purpose of the current study was to perform a cluster analysis in a sample of adults (N = 78; Mage = 46.61) with HIV and to compare these clusters with an HIV-negative reference group (N = 84; Mage = 47.93) on cognitive, functional, demographic, and mental and physical health …
Complex Interactions Between Marine Sponges And Their Symbiotic Microbial Communities, Christopher John Freeman
Complex Interactions Between Marine Sponges And Their Symbiotic Microbial Communities, Christopher John Freeman
All ETDs from UAB
Microbial communities spanning nearly all evolutionary lineages of bacteria and archaea are found within many species of marine sponges. Although diverse microbial metabolic pathways may benefit sponge hosts, minimal experimental evidence exists supporting host assimilation of symbiont-derived nutrients. By coupling manipulative shading experiments with stable isotope analyses of isolated microbial and sponge cell fractions, I provide evidence that some sponge hosts assimilate a large proportion of their C and N from microbial symbionts and that these inputs are crucial to host performance. Interestingly, however, these interactions are highly variable across host species, suggesting that overall symbiont abundance alone does not …
Effects Of Mobile Internet Use On College Student Pedestrian Injury Risk, Katherine Walker Byington
Effects Of Mobile Internet Use On College Student Pedestrian Injury Risk, Katherine Walker Byington
All ETDs from UAB
Unintentional pedestrian injury is a leading cause of death in the United States. Given the complexity of accurately judging the safety of a street crossing, the task likely becomes even more challenging when pedestrians become distracted by attempting to multitask. Newly introduced cell phone functionalities such as mobile internet may introduce distraction that goes beyond the basic cognitive demand of a phone conversation or even text messaging, both of which distract pedestrians and increase unsafe behavior. The present study examined participants' pedestrian behavior while distracted by mobile internet applications. In addition, we aimed to explore college students' perceptions of the …
Analysis Of Abundance And Biodiversity Of Mosquitoes And Their Epidemiological Implications In Three Urban Neighborhoods In The Southeastern United States, Erick Xavier Caamano
Analysis Of Abundance And Biodiversity Of Mosquitoes And Their Epidemiological Implications In Three Urban Neighborhoods In The Southeastern United States, Erick Xavier Caamano
All ETDs from UAB
Birmingham, Alabama has experienced several mosquito-borne epidemics, including Saint Louis encephalitis (SLE) and West Nile virus (WNV). Despite the outbreak of these diseases, the city lacks a mosquito surveillance program that would assist in vector control efforts. In order to assess the possible advantages of implementing a surveillance system for the city, three neighborhoods were chosen for surveys based on the fact that past epidemics have been concentrated in these areas. During the two surveillance years, 2009 had more abundance of mosquitoes and more species variability than the 2010 season. Overall, as abundance of mosquitoes increased in a particular site, …
Calcium Signaling And The Regulation Of Ecdysteroid Hormone Synthesis By Blue Crab (Callinectes Sapidus) Molting Glands, Hsiang-Yin Chen
Calcium Signaling And The Regulation Of Ecdysteroid Hormone Synthesis By Blue Crab (Callinectes Sapidus) Molting Glands, Hsiang-Yin Chen
All ETDs from UAB
In crustaceans, cellular events that lead to molting are triggered by steroid molting hormones, ecdysteroids. The synthesis of ecdysteroids is negatively regulated by molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH) mediated by one or more cyclic nucleotide second messengers. Existing data indicate ecdysteroidogenesis is positively regulated by Ca2+ through the activation of phosphodiesterases (PDEs). The studies presented in this dissertation composed the first report of intracellular Ca2+ measurement in Y-organ cells from any crustacean species. Studies demonstrated that elevated cytosolic Ca2+ levels in Y-organ cells were associated with increased hemolymphatic ecdysteroid titer. Measurement of Ca2+ levels in Y-organ cells in a natural molting cycle …
Factors Associated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Mild Traumatic Brain Injury In Veterans Of Operations Iraqi Freedom And Enduring Freedom: The Role Of Neuropsychological Assessment, Donald R. Labbe
All ETDs from UAB
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have been referred to as "signature injuries" among veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The aims of the current study were to identify demographic and injury related variables associated with the co-occurrence of mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and PTSD and to identify neuropsychological assessment measures that differentiate individuals with mTBI from those with co-occurring mTBI and PTSD. A total of 81 OIF/OEF veterans participated in this study comprising the mTBI (n=21) and combined (n=60) groups. The results of logistic regression analyses indicated that Caucasians were …
Inference Technology Solving Model Evolution Problems, Qichao Liu
Inference Technology Solving Model Evolution Problems, Qichao Liu
All ETDs from UAB
In software engineering, new technologies and methodologies have been developed with the aim of simplifying the software development process and improving software productivity. Model-driven engineering (MDE) is considered as one potential alternative to the classical code-based software development and domain-specific modeling (DSM) is a MDE methodology that declaratively defines a software system using a Domain-Specific Modeling Language (DSML). In MDE, metamodels and models are created as the main software artifacts instead of code. Metamodels often evolve to address new concerns of customers resulting in the inapplicability of existing model instances, a condition known as the model evolution problem. Therefore, maintaining …
Geometric Fitting Of Quadratic Curves And Surfaces, Hui Ma
Geometric Fitting Of Quadratic Curves And Surfaces, Hui Ma
All ETDs from UAB
Fitting quadratic curves and surfaces to observed images is one of the basic tasks in pattern recognition and computer vision. The most accurate and robust fit is obtained by minimizing geometric (orthogonal) distances, but this problem has no closed form solution. All known algorithms are heuristic and either computationally costly or have drawbacks in accuracy and convergence. We develop a mathematically rigorous approach to the study of the geometric fitting problem. We begin with a thorough investigation of relevant theoretical aspects of the problem and then move on to its practical solution. We focus on image processing applications, where data …
The Impact Of Speed Of Processing Training On Physical Function And Mobility Trajectories In Old Age., Joan Elizabeth Dodson
The Impact Of Speed Of Processing Training On Physical Function And Mobility Trajectories In Old Age., Joan Elizabeth Dodson
All ETDs from UAB
Multiple research studies have shown transfer effects in everyday functioning with speed of processing training. Research has also shown that processing speed predicts physical function and mobility trajectories, with declining speed predicting weaker physical capacities and smaller life space. Additionally, it is well established that processing speed declines in older adults. As processing speed is a modifable cognitive ability, it is possible that speed of processing training may be useful to improve physical function and mobility outcomes in the aging population. The current study examined 5-year trajectories of mobility and physical function in 1400 older adults to ascertain if speed …
Nanocomposite Coatings Based On Quaternary Metal-Nitrogen And Nanocarbon Systems, Michael James Walock
Nanocomposite Coatings Based On Quaternary Metal-Nitrogen And Nanocarbon Systems, Michael James Walock
All ETDs from UAB
For this project, CrN-WC coatings are investigated as a hybrid hard and tough material. The use of a hard-carbide with a corrosion-resistant nitride may produce tailored coatings with the desired combination of properties for use as a stand-alone protective coating, or as a basis for nanocrystalline diamond deposition. The work is divided into three stages. The initial study determined the viability of the CrN-WC system, and its use as an interlayer for nanocrystalline diamond. This successful study was followed by a variation of deposition conditions at low deposition temperature. By varying the deposition parameters, the microstructure, chemical, mechanical, and tribological …
Fiber Optic Sensors For Detection Of Biomarkers, Chun-Wei Wang
Fiber Optic Sensors For Detection Of Biomarkers, Chun-Wei Wang
All ETDs from UAB
A combination tapered fiber-optic biosensor (CTFOB) dip-probe for rapid and cost effective quantification of proteins in serum samples has been developed. This device relies on diode laser excitation and a charged coupled device (CCD) spectrometer, and functions on a technique of sandwich immunoassay. As a proof-of-principle, this technique was applied in a quantitative estimation of interleukin (IL-6) and Carcinoembyonic antigen (CEA) in human sera. The probes detected IL-6 at picomolar levels in serum samples obtained from a patient with lupus, an autoimmune disease, and a patient with lymphoma. The estimated concentration of IL-6 in lupus sample was 5.9 +/- 0.6 …
Memory Profiles In Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment And Their Associations With Other Cognitive Domains And Functional Abilities, Timothy J. O'Brien
Memory Profiles In Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment And Their Associations With Other Cognitive Domains And Functional Abilities, Timothy J. O'Brien
All ETDs from UAB
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is thought to represent the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease. Current criteria for amnestic-MCI do not specify the nature of memory impairments, which could be in learning or retrieval of information in verbal or visual domains. While 1.5 standard deviations (SD) below normative samples has been accepted to define cognitive impairment, this standard may be relatively stringent, or may lack specificity to identify mild functional impairment. Baseline data for 71 individuals with consensus-diagnosed MCI enrolled in the Measuring Independent Living in the Elderly Study (MILES) was utilized to investigate patterns of verbal and visual learning and …