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Structural And Signaling Elements Important For The Efficient Degradation Of Bhmt Through Macroautophagy, Carol A. Mercer

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Healthy cells maintain a dynamic and responsive intracellular environment that is marked by the synthesis and degradation of proteins, complex macromolecules and organelles. Autophagy, literally "self-eating," is a mechanism that delivers cellular cargo to the lytic compartment for digestion. Defects in the regulation of autophagy have been implicated in pathologies such as cancer and neurodegenerative disease, making the study of its regulation compelling. However, few studies have looked at the regulation of mammalian autophagy as a function of a specific cargo protein. Previous studies had indicated that the metabolic enzyme betaine homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) is degraded through an autophagic mechanism. …

Data Mining And Analysis On Multiple Time Series Object Data, Chunyu Jiang

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Huge amount of data is available in our society and the need for turning such data into useful information and knowledge is urgent. Data mining is an important field addressing that need and significant progress has been achieved in the last decade. In several important application areas, data arises in the format of Multiple Time Series Object (MTSO) data, where each data object is an array of time series over a large set of features and each has an associated class or state. Very little research has been conducted towards this kind of data. Examples include computational toxicology, where each …

Computational Methods For The Objective Review Of Forensic Dna Testing Results, Jason R. Gilder

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Since the advent of criminal investigations, investigators have sought a "gold standard" for the evaluation of forensic evidence. Currently, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology is the most reliable method of identification. Short Tandem Repeat (STR) DNA genotyping has the potential for impressive match statistics, but the methodology not infallible. The condition of an evidentiary sample and potential issues with the handling and testing of a sample can lead to significant issues with the interpretation of DNA testing results. Forensic DNA interpretation standards are determined by laboratory validation studies that often involve small sample sizes. This dissertation presents novel methodologies to address …

Design Of A Controller To Control Light Level In A Commercial Office, Saeid Javidbakht

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Proper amount of light in a business office is important for health and productivity of the employees. On a sunny day, there may be more than enough light entering the office from outside to carry out the necessary tasks. Presently, the main source of light in most offices is the fluorescent lamp. Thus, It is possible to save energy by dimming the fluorescent lamp. Dimming of the fluorescent lamp is possible by changing the frequency of the sinusoidal voltage or current. Hence, there is a need of a control system to adjust the light from the fixtures based on the …

Functional Interplay Between Subthreshold Ion Channels In Preautonomic Neurons Of The Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus In Health And Disease Conditions, Patrick M. Sonner

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Under normal conditions, blood pressure is tightly regulated through autonomic tonic and reflex mechanisms. However, when the set-point for blood pressure is chronically elevated, hypertension occurs. Hypertension if untreated can lead to further complications including heart failure, stroke and kidney failure. Elevated sympathetic outflow is known to contribute to the development and/or maintenance of hypertension, and while the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), a preautonomic center, has been implicated in the elevation of sympathetic activity during hypertension, the precise pathophysiological mechanisms underlying sympathoexcitation remain unclear. Subthreshold ion channels, including the A-type K ⁺(I _A) and the T-type Ca ^{2+ …}

Fabrication And Testing Of Scaffolds For Cell Growth From Ionic Liquid Solubilized Fibroin, Maneesh Kumar Gupta

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The advent of tissue engineering has spurred research into developing materials to act as scaffolds for tissue growth. These scaffolds require materials capable of mimicking the in vivo conditions so that tissues can be grown effectively in vitro. Silk is an attractive biomaterial for use in tissue engineering applications because of its slow degradation, excellent mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. The major objective of the research in this thesis is to demonstrate a simple method to cast films directly from silk fibroin dissolved in an ionic liquid. The films cast from the silk ionic liquid solution were found to support normal …

Efficacy Of Removal Of Ccl Viruses Under Enhanced Coagulation Conditions, Morteza Abbaszadegan, Brooke K. Mayer, Hodon Ryu, Nena Nwachuku

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The focus of coagulation as a water treatment process is shifting to accommodate recent regulatory additions that strive to balance the risks between microbial and chemical contamination of drinking water. In this work, enhanced coagulation using increased ferric chloride dose and/or pH adjustment was evaluated for removal efficacy of viruses on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Contaminant Candidate List (CCL), their surrogates, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Jar tests demonstrated that optimal DOC removal was achieved using 40 mg/L FeCl₃ at a pH between 5 and 6. Under these conditions, bench-scale testing resulted in a maximum removal …

Serum Proteome Profiling Detects Myelodysplastic Syndromes And Identifies Cxc Chemokine Ligands 4 And 7 As Markers For Advanced Disease, Manuel Aivado, Dimitrios Spentzos, Ulrich Germing, Gil Alterovitz, Xiao-Ying Meng, Franck Grall, Aristoteles A. N. Giagounidis, Giannoula Klement, Ulrich Steidl, Hasan H. Otu, Akos Czibere, Wolf C. Prall, Christof Iking-Konert, Michelle Shayne, Marco F. Ramoni, Norbert Gattermann, Rainer Haas, Constantine S. Mitsiades, Eric T. Fung, Towia A. Libermann

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are among the most frequent hematologic malignancies. Patients have a short survival and often progress to acute myeloid leukemia. The diagnosis of MDS can be difficult; there is a paucity of molecular markers, and the pathophysiology is largely unknown. Therefore, we conducted a multicenter study investigating whether serum proteome profiling may serve as a noninvasive platform to discover novel molecular markers for MDS. We generated serum proteome profiles from 218 individuals by MS and identified a profile that distinguishes MDS from non-MDS cytopenias in a learning sample set. This profile was validated by testing its ability to …

Regional Mechanical Properties And Stress Analysis Of The Human Anterior Lens Capsule, Ryan M. Pedrigi, G. David, J. Dziezyc, J. D. Humphrey

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The lens capsule of the eye functions, in part, as a deformable support through which the ciliary body applies tractions that can alter lens curvature and corresponding refractive power during the process of accommodation. Although it has long been recognized that characterization of the mechanical properties of the lens capsule is fundamental to understanding this physiologic process as well as clinical interventions, prior data have been limited by one-dimensional testing of excised specimens despite the existence of multiaxial loading in vivo. In this paper, we employ a novel experimental approach to study in situ the regional, multiaxial mechanical behavior of …

Biological Opinion On The Operation Of The Missouri River Main Stem System, Operation And Maintenance Of The Missouri River Bank Stabilization And Navigation Project, And Operation Of The Kansas River Reservoir System

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has prepared this annual report for interested parties in accordance with reporting requirements of the Biological Opinion (BiOp) on the Operation of the Missouri River Main Stem System (System), Operation and Maintenance of the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project and Operation of the Kansas River Reservoir System, prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) dated November 30, 2000, and the Amendment thereto, dated December 16, 2003. This annual report also documents the Corps activities implemented under the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Project, Iowa, …

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Omaha District Monthly Drought Report, August 2007

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

Current Conditions

Drought Outlook

Missouri River Region Mountain Snowpack Report

Ft. Peck, Montana

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Garrison, North Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Boat Ramp Information

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Other Areas of Interest/Concern

Oahe, South Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Mainstem Reservoir Information, Weekly Elevation Comparison 2 JULY 2007 through 30 JULY 2007

Mainstem Reservoir Storage Comparison Water Years 2004, 2005, 2006

Ft. Peck, MT

Garrison, ND

Oahe, SD

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Omaha District Monthly Drought Report, February 2007

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

Current Conditions

Drought Outlook

Missouri River Region Mountain Snowpack Report

Ft. Peck, Montana

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Garrison, North Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Boat Ramp Information

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Other Areas of Interest/Concern

Oahe, South Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Mainstem Reservoir Information, Weekly Elevation Comparison 1 JAN 2006 through 29 JAN 2006

Mainstem Reservoir Storage Comparison Water Years 2004, 2005, 2006

Ft. Peck, MT

Garrison, ND

Oahe, SD

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Omaha District Monthly Drought Report, June 2007

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

Current Conditions

Drought Outlook

Missouri River Region Mountain Snowpack Report

Ft. Peck, Montana

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Garrison, North Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Boat Ramp Information

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Other Areas of Interest/Concern

Oahe, South Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Mainstem Reservoir Information, Weekly Elevation Comparison 7 MAY 2007 through 28 MAY 2007

Mainstem Reservoir Storage Comparison Water Years 2004, 2005, 2006

Ft. Peck, MT

Garrison, ND

Oahe, SD

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Omaha District Monthly Drought Report, November 2007

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

Current Conditions

Drought Outlook

Ft. Peck, Montana

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Garrison, North Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Boat Ramp Information

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Other Areas of Interest/Concern

Oahe, South Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Mainstem Reservoir Information, Weekly Elevation Comparison 3 SEPT 2007 through 24 SEPT 2007

Mainstem Reservoir Storage Comparison Water Years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

Ft. Peck, MT

Garrison, ND

Oahe, SD

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Omaha District Monthly Drought Report, October 2007

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

Current Conditions

Drought Outlook

Ft. Peck, Montana

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Garrison, North Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Boat Ramp Information

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Other Areas of Interest/Concern

Oahe, South Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Mainstem Reservoir Information, Weekly Elevation Comparison 3 SEPT 2007 through 24 SEPT 2007

Mainstem Reservoir Storage Comparison Water Years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

Ft. Peck, MT

Garrison, ND

Oahe, SD

Sharing Distance Education Courses Among Universities, Leon Schmacher, Thomas Brumm, John Slocombe, Jack L. Schinstock

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

Four universities collaborated to develop mechanized systems management (agricultural systems management, agricultural systems technology, etc.) courses to be shared via distance education. Funded by a USDA Higher Education Challenge Grant, these undergraduate and graduate courses were initially offered to students at Iowa State University, Kansas State University, the University of Missouri, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This effort is affiliated with the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA).

The objectives of this cooperative effort were to: (1) develop a collaborative, multi-state educational effort to add depth and breadth to each university’s instructional program in mechanized systems management; …

Discrimination Of Bacteria And Bacteriophages By Raman Spectroscopy And Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, Lindsay J. Goeller, Mark R. Riley

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Detection of pathogenic organisms in the environment presents several challenges due to the high cost and long times typically required for identification and quantification. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods are often hindered by the presence of polymerase inhibiting compounds and so direct methods of quantification that do not require enrichment or amplification are being sought. This work presents an analysis of pathogen detection using Raman spectroscopy to identify and quantify microorganisms without drying. Confocal Raman measurements of the bacterium Escherichia coli and of two bacteriophages, MS2 and PRD1, were analyzed for characteristic peaks and to estimate detection limits using …

Introducing Journal Of Biological Engineering, Mark R. Riley

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Welcome to Journal of Biological Engineering (JBE), the flagship publication of the Institute of Biological Engineering. Biological Engineering is a new and unique discipline that encompasses a wide range of engineering theory and practice connected to and derived from biology. This emerging science-based engineering discipline and related applications are experiencing rapid growth. Prior to publication of JBE there is no refereed publication that encompasses the breadth and depth of biological engineering as a science- based discipline, rather than a collection of applications. Our goal in publishing JBE is to provide a forum for topics that address the foundational …

Biocompatibility Of Te–As–Se Glass Fibers For Cell-Based Bio-Optic Infrared Sensors, Allison A. Wilhelm, Pierre Lucas, Diana L. Derosa, Mark R. Riley

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The chemical stability and toxicity of Te–As–Se (TAS) infrared fibers are investigated. These fibers are used for biosensing applications that involve direct contact with live cultivated human cells. It is shown that TAS fibers exhibit a small oxidation layer after extended exposure to air. This layer is highly soluble in water and easily removed. However, the TAS glass itself is stable in water over several days. While oxidized fibers release arsenate ions, which result in toxic effects to the cells, fresh or washed fibers show no toxic effects. A good correlation is shown between surface etching and the disappearance of …

Integrating It-Enabled Social Networks With Transaction Cost Economics And The Resource Based View Of The Firm, Ganesh D. Bhatt, Jatinder N. D. Gupta, Sushil K. Sharma

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Prior research has mostly focused on transaction cost economics (TCE) to interpret the effect of information systems (IS) on organizational governance structures. A TCE based approach predicts that information technology (IT) will lead to increased use of electronic markets to coordinate economic transactions from electronic hierarchies. However, there is contradictory evidence in the literature regarding the rise and importance of cooperative relationships, joint ventures, and value-added partnerships integrated through information systems. To reconcile these contradictions, this paper analyzes the effect of IT on governance structures based on the TCE, social network theory, and the resource based view (RBV) of the …

In Search Of Factors To Online Game Addiction And Its Implications, Yangil Park, Jeng-Chung V. Chen

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Research has explored online users who are hooked on Internet applications such as chat rooms, web surfing, and interactive games. Online game addiction is one of the problems arisen from the use of the Internet. This study is motivated by a causal connection found from previous research of computer game addiction. The study describes two typical types of online games and looks further into the causes of the addiction by using two main theories. We also propose research hypotheses and discuss possible implications of online game addiction.

Project Management Practices In The Information Technology Departments Of Various Size Institutions Of Higher Education, Charles R. Johnston, David C. Wierschem

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

The demand for information technology at institutions of higher education is increasing at a rapid pace. It is fueled by student, faculty, and administrative needs. This paper examines project management practices at these institutions with respect to the sizes of the institutions. Survey results indicate an emphasis on operational concerns at small and medium size institutions when selecting IT projects. The prominence of the role of project manager and adoption of formal PM tools/techniques by IT departments generally increase with the sizes of the institutions. The importance of having a project plan is recognized by all sizes of institutions of …

Development Of A Maintenance System Based On Web And Mobile Technologies, Jaime Campos, Erkki Jantunen, Om Prakash

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

The paper reports the development of an e-monitoring and maintenance system based on web technology and mobile device, PDA. Rarity of experts led to the application of artificial intelligence and later, distributed artificial intelligence for condition monitoring and diagnosis of machine condition. Recently, web technology along with wireless communication is emerging as a potent tool in maintenance. It facilitates obtaining of the desired information by the relevant personnel at any time wherever he may be. The paper first describes the web and mobile architecture that formed the basis of the system and ICT tools used to communicate among the different …

Identifying University Minors To Support The Construction Specialization Area Within A Civil Engineering Technology Program, Vernon Lewis, Carol Considine

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Construction programs at many universities are diversified and provide students with opportunities to examine topic areas that include mechanical and electrical systems, safety, business administration, residential construction, real estate, and management. It is impossible for small civil engineering technology programs with a construction emphasis to encompass all of these expertise areas. As industry looks for students with a knowledge base in these areas, it is incumbent upon programs to find avenues to provide these educational opportunities to their students.

To meet the upper division general education requirements for Old Dominion University, students must have either a minor, second major or …

University Of Nevada, Las Vegas Transmutation Research Program Annual Report Academic Year 2006-2007, Anthony Hechanova, Rebecca Arbour

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

It is my pleasure to present the UNLV Transmutation Research Program’s sixth annual report that highlights the academic year 2006-2007. Supporting this document are the many technical reports and theses that have been generated over the past five years.

In the sixth year of our program, we continued to see growth in the Radiochemistry Ph.D. program with a total of 13 students in the third year of the program (we anticipated eight in the program proposal). Since our inception, the program has sponsored to their conclusion 42 M.S. and 4 Ph.D. degrees. The program supported 39 graduate students, 17 undergraduates, …

Transit Operations Under Emergency Conditions, Amar S. Chaukar

All ETDs from UAB

The events of September 11th and the recent terrorist attacks on transit systems around the world have increased interest in protection and emergency preparedness for the transit systems. Emergency preparedness planning for transit systems is necessary to prevent distractions and effectively respond to major man-made or natural disasters. In this thesis a large-scale dynamic simulation/assignment model was developed and used to evaluate the impact of emergency conditions on transit operations in the Birmingham, AL, area. The Birmingham regional model was developed using the Visual Interactive System for Transport Algorithms. After the base model was tested and calibrated, a major traffic …

Temporal And Spatial Correspondence Of Intramural Rotors And Epicardial Breakthrough Patterns During Ventricular Tachycardia And Fibrillation In The Swine Heart, Jong Jin Kim

All ETDs from UAB

The mechanisms of life threatening cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia (VT) and fibrillation (VF) are very complex. The 3D reconstruction of electrical activity helps us to understand these complex arrhythmias. A new isolated heart preparation and combined electrical and optical mapping system was developed to simultaneously record surface and intramural activation patterns. Epicardial activity on a 6 cm by 6 cm region of the left ventricular wall was recorded optically with 1mm by 1mm spatial resolution using voltage sensitive fluorescent dye (di-4-ANNEPS) and a high speed CCD video camera. Intramural activation patterns were recorded using specially fabricated fiberglass plunge …

Hole Patching In 3d Unstructured Surface Mesh, Amitesh Kumar

All ETDs from UAB

A three-dimensional object of interest in a volumetric data can be visualized using direct surface rendering methods or volume rendering approaches. Volume rendering is a visualization technique without providing the geometry information at all. However, an engineering analysis requires watertight surface geometry information of the object. Thus a three-dimensional object representation for the visualization using direct surface rendering may not necessarily be valid for engineering analysis, as such models are not necessarily watertight. Obtaining watertight surfaces has been a challenging task in the field of computational engineering due to presence of deficiencies such as gaps and holes in the surfaces. …

Synthesis And Control Of Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, And Bioactivity In Biphasic And Preferentially Oriented Calcium Phosphate Bioceramics, Hyunbin Kim

All ETDs from UAB

Calcium phosphate bioceramics are recognized as one of the most biocompatible materials and are widely used in systems for bone repair and regeneration. In this work, the pulsed laser deposition technique was chosen to produce calcium phosphate materials with different crystallographic texture and chemical composition for investigation of their structural, mechanical, as well as biological properties. Various calcium phosphate coatings were obtained on Ti6Al4V substrates using a KrF excimer laser (248 nm) with an energy density of 4−8 J/cm2 and substrate temperature of 625−730 °C. A method was developed that enables the deposition of highly textured hydroxyapatite by controlling the …

Load Distribution And Channel Assignment In Ieee 802.11 Wireless Local Area Networks, Mohamad Haidar

Theses and Dissertations

Recent growth in Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) deployment has generated considerable interest in load management and channel assignment among network designers. WLAN has become a major component of the modern telecommunication infrastructure. Load management and Channel assignment are among the critical aspects that face WLAN deployments. Well planned WLAN service environments require a network designed to provide not only radio coverage but also better load distribution and less interference across the service area, which in turn improves the Quality of Service (QoS). In this dissertation, a novel approach to the WLAN load distribution and channel assignment is proposed that …