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All ETDs from UAB

Theses/Dissertations

2007

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The Association Between Insulin And Inflammation In African American And European American Children, Jessica A. Alvarez Jan 2007

The Association Between Insulin And Inflammation In African American And European American Children, Jessica A. Alvarez

All ETDs from UAB

Insulin has anti-inflammatory properties. Markers of inflammation (MOI) increase in the postprandial state. African Americans (AA) have higher post-challenge insulin concentrations compared to European Americans (EA). The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between insulin and MOI in both the fasting and postprandial state. We hypothesized that, after accounting for confounding factors, fasting and postprandial insulin would be inversely associated with MOI, and that AA would have a lower postprandial inflammatory response because of a higher insulin response. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL6), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type 2 (sTNF-R2), and insulin concentrations were assessed at …

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An Exploration Of Local Smart Growth Initiatives Within The United States, William Patrick Bryant Jan 2007

An Exploration Of Local Smart Growth Initiatives Within The United States, William Patrick Bryant

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This thesis provides a comprehensive analysis of smart growth policy mechanisms available to local governments within the United States. It begins with a description a sprawl, including its causes, impacts, and effects on society. The thesis then transitions to a discussion of the smart growth philosophy, including a definition of smart growth, a discourse debunking common smart growth myths, and an explanation of the economic benefits resulting from smart growth implementation. The discussion concludes with recommendations and examples of specific smart growth techniques that local governments can adopt in pursuit of a smart growth planning agenda.

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Molecular Determinants Of Picrotoxin Inhibition, Brian E. Erkkila Jan 2007

Molecular Determinants Of Picrotoxin Inhibition, Brian E. Erkkila

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PTX is a non-competitive antagonist of many LGICs, and its site of action is believed to be within the ion-conducting pore. This study will examine, through the use of mutagenesis, electrophysiology and homology modeling, the binding interaction between the LGIC receptors and the PTX molecule. The data provides evidence that an interaction between the PTX molecule and uncharged polar amino acids at the 6’ level of the M2 transmembrane domain are essential for PTX inhibition. While the work will focus on the γ-aminobutyric type A receptor, the pharmacological and structural relevance is attributable to the LGIC family as a whole.

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Synthesis And Control Of Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, And Bioactivity In Biphasic And Preferentially Oriented Calcium Phosphate Bioceramics, Hyunbin Kim Jan 2007

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

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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 …

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Qospl: A Quality Of Service-Driven Software Product Line Engineering Framework For Design And Analysis Of Component-Based Distributed Real-Time And Embedded Systems, Shih-Hsi Liu Jan 2007

Qospl: A Quality Of Service-Driven Software Product Line Engineering Framework For Design And Analysis Of Component-Based Distributed Real-Time And Embedded Systems, Shih-Hsi Liu

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Software complexity may be reduced and productivity may be increased by the synergy of Component-Based Software Engineering and Software Product Line En- gineering. The synergistic techniques decrease complexity by uplifting software ar- tifacts to a higher abstraction level, namely the component level, and de¯ning the interfaces, interactions, and contexts of such artifacts for composing software systems. Such synergistic techniques also facilitate productivity increase by promoting feature reusability, leveraging component replacement and o®ering selectivity among prod- uct variants. When applied to Distributed Real-time and Embedded (DRE) systems, however, these technologies must ful¯ll such systems' time-critical missions and nu- merous functional and …

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Insulin Dynamics In African Americans And European Americans: Mechanistic Aspects, And Association With Inflammation, Radhika P. Phadke Jan 2007

Insulin Dynamics In African Americans And European Americans: Mechanistic Aspects, And Association With Inflammation, Radhika P. Phadke

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Identification and characterization of ethnic differences in insulin dynamics, insulin sensitivity (SI), and inflammation may shed light on the greater risk for type 2 diabetes in African Americans (AA), relative to European Americans (EA). Ideally, such studies should take into account the potential confounding roles of adiposity, fat distribution, genetic background, and socioeconomic status (SES). The objectives of this study were, 1) to evaluate ethnic differences in insulin dynamics in AA and EA children and adults using robust measures of insulin secretion and clearance; 2) to identify the contributions of genetic admixture and SES to insulin dynamics; 3) to examine …

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Effects Of Pulsed Electromagnetic Stimulation On Cultured Dermal Fibroblasts From Diabetic And Non-Diabetic Rats, Cara Rouse Davis Jan 2007

Effects Of Pulsed Electromagnetic Stimulation On Cultured Dermal Fibroblasts From Diabetic And Non-Diabetic Rats, Cara Rouse Davis

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Diabetes is a disease affecting an increasing number people each year. The medical costs of patients with diabetes are substantial due to the many complications associated with the disease. Dermal wounds are one of these complications and are often very difficult to properly heal. Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMFs) have been introduced as a method by which to speed the healing of dermal wounds. In this study, a device (provided by Biomet/EBI, Parsippany, NJ) for supplying PEMFs in vitro was used to stimulate dermal fibroblasts, one of the key cells in wound healing. These cells were isolated from the genetically diabetic …

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Quantitation Of Antiretrovirals In Alternative Matrices, Chantelle Bennetto Hood Jan 2007

Quantitation Of Antiretrovirals In Alternative Matrices, Chantelle Bennetto Hood

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The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic is a growing concern, affecting almost 40 million people worldwide. Treatment for HIV infection consists of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to block different steps in the viral lifecycle, ultimately reducing HIV RNA to undetectable levels in the plasma. However, HIV RNA can be detected in numerous reservoirs outside of the blood despite the use of HAART. Therefore, measurement of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in other biological matrices is important to broaden our understanding of HIV transmission, the development of viral resistance with sub-optimal ARV exposure, and fetal and neonatal drug exposure. This work describes …

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The Role Of Complement In Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis, Russell W. Read Jan 2007

The Role Of Complement In Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis, Russell W. Read

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The complement system has been increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of autoimmune disease. Complement expression in the normal human eye had not been previously completely defined. We performed immunohistochemical studies for membrane complement proteins in normal human retina to provide a baseline for future studies. We found expression of the anaphylatoxin receptors, CD55, and CD59 in the inner retina and CD46 in a polarized fashion on the retinal pigment epithelium. Previous studies in uveitis have shown activated fragments of complement in human eyes with uveitis and animal models have shown an effect on disease by complement depletion with cobra venom …

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Mri Evaluation Of A Stented Abdominal Aorta Of A Rabbit, Minchul Shin Jan 2007

Mri Evaluation Of A Stented Abdominal Aorta Of A Rabbit, Minchul Shin

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No abstract provided.

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The Role Of Complement In The Clearance Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Through Immune Adherence, Jie Li Jan 2007

The Role Of Complement In The Clearance Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Through Immune Adherence, Jie Li

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Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequently isolated pathogen causing bacteremia in young children and elderly adults. Complement-dependent opsonophagocytosis is thought to be essential to eliminate pneumococci from the circulation. Pneumococci are reported to attach to erythrocytes through immune adherence (IA), a complement and antibody- dependent process that facilitates phagocytosis of pneumococci. In these studies we have determined that protein (chapter 1) and polysaccharide (chapter 2) virulence factors of pneumococci can interfere with this process and that antibody to pneumococci can enhance this process. Using PspA and/or PspC negative strains and complement-deficient mouse sera, we demonstrated that PspA inhibits complement C1q …

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Teaching Reading Using Informational Texts In Third Grade Classrooms: A Case Study In An Urban School District, Dimple J. Martin Jan 2007

Teaching Reading Using Informational Texts In Third Grade Classrooms: A Case Study In An Urban School District, Dimple J. Martin

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The purpose of these multiple descriptive case studies was to describe and analyze the perspectives of three third grade classroom teachers and two third grade reading coaches regarding the use of informational texts and their influence on reading instruction. The research design involved interviews, and observations using a sample composed of three third grade classroom teachers and two third grade reading coaches in five urban, public elementary schools in the Southeastern United States. The aim of this research was to portray a vivid description of the reading episodes in third grade classrooms. The key findings from the study were that …

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Mirror, Mirror: A Phenomenological Study Of The Role Of Reflection In Teaching In Elementary School, Amy Ferguson Morgan Jan 2007

Mirror, Mirror: A Phenomenological Study Of The Role Of Reflection In Teaching In Elementary School, Amy Ferguson Morgan

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In this era of increasing accountability in education, teachers are being asked to move away from the role of intuitive guide to being a more deliberate reflective practitioner. The need exists to understand the experience of reflection and its meaning from the perspective of practicing teachers. Existing studies describe an effective teacher as one who reflects upon her/his teaching. However, they do not illuminate the perspective of teachers to assist other teachers in knowing how to reflect effectively. Guided by works of Dewey (1909/1933) and Schon (1983, 1987), this phenomenological study explored the reflective experiences of practicing teachers in order …

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Synthesis And Characterization Of Phosphorus-Containing Inorganic Polymers, Ronald Dustan Myrex Jan 2007

Synthesis And Characterization Of Phosphorus-Containing Inorganic Polymers, Ronald Dustan Myrex

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This research project involves the synthesis of novel phosphorus-containing inorganic polymers. These materials share similar structures to their organic counterparts but are not comprised entirely of hydrocarbons as the latter. As such they may serve as replacements for organic materials, a growing concern as the price of petroleum feed stocks continues to increase. Paper 1 investigates transesterification polymerizations of poly(alkylene phosphonates) through phosphorous and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A methyl-transfer side reaction was identified and steps to eliminate it’s occurrence were created. This also allowed for the elimination of a dangerous step in the synthesis procedure. Paper 2 investigates …

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Association Between The Exposure To Aflatoxin And Micronutrient Status Of Hiv Infected Adults In Ghana, Francis Ayodele Obuseh Jan 2007

Association Between The Exposure To Aflatoxin And Micronutrient Status Of Hiv Infected Adults In Ghana, Francis Ayodele Obuseh

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Aflatoxins, found naturally in some foods are toxic metabolites of some Aspergillus species.They constitute the most potent hepatocarcinogens known and are also mutagenic and hepatotoxic. The preponderance of evidence indicates that aflatoxin is the major cause of hepatocellular cancer. In studies conducted in Africa, food-borne aflatoxin exposure is common (Oyelami et al. 1996; Egal et al. 2005). There is a critical need for additional information on health outcomes associated with exposure to aflatoxin in humans, especially in developing countries with a higher degree of malnutrition and likelihood of HIV infections. We sought to test the hypothesis that aflatoxin B1 and …

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A Perception Of Parents, Teachers, And Community Leaders Regarding A School District's Strategic Plan As Related To The Use Of Assessment Data, Zanetta Andrea Simmons Jan 2007

A Perception Of Parents, Teachers, And Community Leaders Regarding A School District's Strategic Plan As Related To The Use Of Assessment Data, Zanetta Andrea Simmons

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The purpose of this study was to find out if school personnel and community stakeholders were using assessment data from the strategic plan to help meet the No Child Left Behind mandates for achieving Adequate Yearly Progress. This study examined the perceptions of ten public school stakeholders. Information for this study was gathered by interviewing and analyzing qualitative data of ten purposely-selected subjects from the faculty, central office personnel, community leaders, and parents who were involved in the strategic planning process and helped with the development of various plans that had an influence on student learning outcomes. The constant comparative …

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Effects Of Optical Blur On Visual Performance And Comfort Of Computer Users, Ferial M. Zeried Jan 2007

Effects Of Optical Blur On Visual Performance And Comfort Of Computer Users, Ferial M. Zeried

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Background. The study examined the effects of optical blur on the visual performance and comfort of computer workers. Since most workers have significant degrees of optical blur, the study may elucidate improved methodology for workplace comfort and function. Methods. Since young and old workers experience blur from different sources, the study incorporated two different designs. The study examined the correction of optical blur using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. The primary outcomes of the study were visual comfort and productivity. In study one, subjects were required to be 19-35 yrs of age, have at least 0.50D uncorrected refractive error …

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The Effect Of Amine Structures On Cure Behavior Of A New Epoxy Monomer., Yanxi Zhang Jan 2007

The Effect Of Amine Structures On Cure Behavior Of A New Epoxy Monomer., Yanxi Zhang

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No abstract provided.

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Ethnic Differences In Markers Of Inflammation With Weight Loss, Tanya C. Hyatt Jan 2007

Ethnic Differences In Markers Of Inflammation With Weight Loss, Tanya C. Hyatt

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Chronic diseases such as type 2 Diabetes Mellitis (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are accompanied by chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and are related to obesity and ethnicity. For instance, African-Americans (AA) have increased risk for developing T2DM and are more likely to be overweight relative to Caucasians (C). However, C have more intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) and have higher risk for CVD than AA. The influence that ethnicity has on disease risk is obscured by ethnic differences in fat distribution and sensitivity to insulin. Ethnic differences in markers of inflammation (MOI) have not been investigated. It is also unclear if …

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Fuzzy Systems Simulation: Models, Foundations, And Systems Development, Leonard J. Jowers Jan 2007

Fuzzy Systems Simulation: Models, Foundations, And Systems Development, Leonard J. Jowers

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Simulations of modeled systems are e®ective tools for evaluating system attributes; fuzzy logic provides for simulation of systems with inherent uncertainties. This re- search to advance simulation of fuzzy systems involves several studies in a planned sequence. Continuous fuzzy system modeling activities constitute a ¯rst stage of re- search action, a natural °ow from earlier work on modeling discrete fuzzy systems; the notion of using crisp simulation to carry out fuzzy computations is at the heart of the work. This activity requires choosing tools and problems with which to demon- strate feasibility and broad applicability of the approach. Some fundamental …

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Mcmv Induced Cerebellar Maldevelopment, Thadeus B. Koontz Jan 2007

Mcmv Induced Cerebellar Maldevelopment, Thadeus B. Koontz

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Congenital Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and children. While most of the systemic damage incurred by the infant in the course of the infection resolves without permanent consequence, the pathological manifestations of infection in the central nervous system (CNS) are often permanent. Children born with congenital HCMV infection may exhibit hearing loss and cognitive impairment in various degrees. These neurological disabilities are correlated with pathological findings in various permutations including infection of the inner ear, ventricular calcifications, ventriculomegaly, microgyria, lissencephaly, and cerebellar hypoplasia. To develop a therapeutic or preventive strategy, HCMV …

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Predictors Of Indoor Dust Mite And Cockroach Levels, J Mark Brooks Jan 2007

Predictors Of Indoor Dust Mite And Cockroach Levels, J Mark Brooks

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Exposures to dust mite and cockroach indoor allergens are important environmental risk factors in allergic sensitization and the development and exacerbation of asthma. To determine the relationship of indoor allergen levels and residence characteristics, dust samples were collected from indoor surfaces in residences in the Birmingham, Alabama area. The dust samples were analyzed for specific dust mite (Der p 1 and Der f 1) and cockroach (Bla g 1) antigens, the results of which were used to represent the level of indoor allergen present in each residence. The presence, and in some cases the degree, of potential allergen-predicting characteristics of …

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An Entropy-Based Measurement Framework For Component-Based Hierarchical Systems, Ozgur Aktunc Jan 2007

An Entropy-Based Measurement Framework For Component-Based Hierarchical Systems, Ozgur Aktunc

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Component-based software systems are becoming larger and more complex. The quantification of these systems is possible through representation in a hierarchical structure with the use of software metrics. Metrics provide information about such features as complexity, design, quality, size, development time, effort, and cost. Entropy-based software metrics promise important improvements in measuring complexity, design quality, and information flow. The entropy-based measurement framework, the core of this dissertation, offers quantitative representation and decomposition processes to apply the entropy-based metrics that we developed: Design Information Content, Interaction Complexity, Interaction Coupling, and Interaction Cohesion. The objective is to achieve a hierarchical representation of …

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Grassroots Policy Prescription: A Case Study In Light Pollution And Night Sky Preservation And Natural Resource Policy Making, Brandi L. Smith Jan 2007

Grassroots Policy Prescription: A Case Study In Light Pollution And Night Sky Preservation And Natural Resource Policy Making, Brandi L. Smith

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The grassroots path to public policy is characterized by citizen pressure on policy makers to produce desired change and has been especially successful in the realm of natural resources. It has proven successful in the obtainment of various local and state level policy to control light pollution in the United States. Light pollution, defined as misdirected, obtrusive, or unwanted man-made outdoor lighting is a modern phenomenon that, among other effects, is resulting in the rapid loss of visible starscape throughout the world. Independent grassroots-initiated policies have sprung up around the globe in attempt to control light pollution. The present thesis …

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Characterization Of A Novel Acetyltransferase Found Only In Pathogenic Strains Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, David K. Crossman Jan 2007

Characterization Of A Novel Acetyltransferase Found Only In Pathogenic Strains Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, David K. Crossman

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Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is still a major threat to the human population. Roughly one third of the world population is asymptomatically infected and two million people die each year of TB. Effective treatments are available as a multi-drug regimen, but there is an ever increasing problem with the rise of multi-drug resistant strains that newer drug targets and a better understanding of how M. tuberculosis affects the host need to be elucidated. The primary target of M. tuberculosis in the human host is the macrophage where M. tuberculosis secretes virulence factors that inhibit various signal …

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Determinants Of Hospital Affiliation With Health Care Networks, Ting-Huan Chang Jan 2007

Determinants Of Hospital Affiliation With Health Care Networks, Ting-Huan Chang

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Since the 1990s, integrated health care delivery systems have proliferated rapidly in the U.S., but little research has been devoted to studying why hospitals decide to join such systems (e.g., health care networks or systems). The aim of this study was to identify environmental and organizational factors that encourage freestanding hospitals to affiliate with health care networks. Specifically, the relationships of hospital affiliation choice to environmental munificence, environmental uncertainty and organizational resources were examined. Additionally, the moderating effects of hospital setting on these relationships were also investigated. A nonexperimental, longitudinal design was used, with the individual hospital as the unit …

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The Role Of The Cytoskeleon In Achr Clustering, G Clement Dobbins Jan 2007

The Role Of The Cytoskeleon In Achr Clustering, G Clement Dobbins

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The human brain contains billions of neurons which are designed to receive and integrate a range of electrical and biochemical signals. The ability to convey information between these cells depends on synapses. A precise apposition between the pre and post synapse must exist for efficient transmission to occur. The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) has become a model for studying synaptogenesis. Although much is known about the steps in NMJ formation, only recently have there been insights into the mechanism behind NMJ development. Much of this research has focused on how acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at the postsynapse form clusters directly apposed to …

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Depressive Symptomatology And Suicide Attempts In Adolescents With Mobility Limitations, Ann I. Alriksson-Schmidt Jan 2007

Depressive Symptomatology And Suicide Attempts In Adolescents With Mobility Limitations, Ann I. Alriksson-Schmidt

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Adolescents with mobility limitations may be at increased risk of certain adverse outcomes because of unique or exacerbated pre-existing challenges. The current study examined the relationships among mobility limitations, depressive symptomatology, and suicidal behaviors. Moreover, it was examined if pain and perceived social support mod-erated the relationships between severity of mobility limitations and the three outcome variables, and whether depressive symptomatology mediated the relationships between mobility limitations and suicidal behaviors. Secondary analyses of the AddHealth data set were performed. The sample was 49.18% female, 16.02% African-American, 65.46% Caucasian, 12.20% Hispanic, and 6.33% coded as Other. The mean age was 15.96 …

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A Case Series Study Of Vitapex Pulpectomy Treatment In Primary Teeth Ii, Hsin-Ju Hsieh Jan 2007

A Case Series Study Of Vitapex Pulpectomy Treatment In Primary Teeth Ii, Hsin-Ju Hsieh

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Purpose. The aim of this case series study was to conduct a long-term follow-up and review of subjects with previous Vitapex® pulpectomies, to evaluate outcomes clinically and radiographically, and to ascertain whether there was any interference with exfoliation of deciduous teeth or abnormal development of succedaneous teeth. Methods. This case series study was conducted by following target groups of pediatric patients who had received Vitapex® pulpectomies in their primary teeth. Data were collected by reviewing charts, identifying patients who met our criteria, and recalling them for follow-up appointments. After sufficient data were accumulated, survival analysis was applied and presented by …

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The Educational And Psychological Experiences Of Children Orphaned By Aids In Western Kenya, Grace Jepkemboi Jan 2007

The Educational And Psychological Experiences Of Children Orphaned By Aids In Western Kenya, Grace Jepkemboi

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The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of teachers and caregivers concerning the psychological and educational experiences of children orphaned by AIDS in Western Kenya. On the basis of qualitative inquiry, the design of the study focused on phenomenology inquiry. Audio-taped interviews were used as the primary source to gather data for this study. The questions that guided the study were "What are the psychological characteristics of children orphaned by AIDS in Kenya?" "What are the educational experiences of children orphaned by AIDS?" and "What strategies do the teachers and caregivers at the orphanages use to help …

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