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The Characteristics Of Soft Tissue Following Root Coverage Procedures With Two Types Of Acellular Dermal Matrix Allografts, Ramzi Abou Arraj Jan 2012

The Characteristics Of Soft Tissue Following Root Coverage Procedures With Two Types Of Acellular Dermal Matrix Allografts, Ramzi Abou Arraj

All ETDs from UAB

Acellular dermal matrix allograft (ADMA) has emerged as a reliable substitute for autogenous soft tissue grafts in the treatment of gingival recessions and lack of keratinized gingiva (KG). ADMA has been hypothesized to create a zone of "immobile tissue" extending apical to the mucogingival junction (MGJ). This project aims to investigate the presence of this zone associated with the use of a coronally advanced flap in combination with either AlloDerm® (ADMA A) or Puros Dermis® (ADMA B) for root coverage procedures. Twenty patients, each presenting with one Miller Class I or II recession defect, were randomized to receive either ADMA …

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Contracted Hospitalists And Non-Contracted Hospitalists: Impact On Hospital Cost And Quality Care Outcomes, Kathleen L. Adams Jan 2012

Contracted Hospitalists And Non-Contracted Hospitalists: Impact On Hospital Cost And Quality Care Outcomes, Kathleen L. Adams

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Background Changes in the health care delivery and policy environment are creating increased need for attention to health care costs and efficiency. Hospitals need to develop and implement oversight processes to effectively control costs and provide quality services. It is common for hospitals to contract with physician groups to staff various departments throughout the facility. Hospitalists are the most recent addition to hospital rosters. While some hospitals hire hospitalists directly as employees, others contract with physician groups to provide hospitalist services. The purpose of this study was to compare the potential benefits for hospitals that contracted with a hospitalist group …

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Exploring Health Disparities For Children In The City Of Milwaukee, Mark Edwin Anderson Jan 2012

Exploring Health Disparities For Children In The City Of Milwaukee, Mark Edwin Anderson

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This study investigated whether school-based oral health programs as a public policy intervention increased dental sealant applications among children from low-income families and minorities in public schools in inner city Milwaukee. By using a difference-in-differences analysis, we examined pre-post time frames, 2001-2003 and 2008-2009, to determine sealant application usage in public schools in nine inner city Milwaukee zip codes after the intervention of a public policy initiative to expand school-based oral health programs with the expressed intent of increasing placement of dental sealants in children at high risk for dental decay and disease. Results of a binary logistic regression revealed …

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Finding A Cure For Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (Veev) Infection: The Search For The Antiviral Genes And Vaccine Development., Svetlana Atasheva Jan 2012

Finding A Cure For Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (Veev) Infection: The Search For The Antiviral Genes And Vaccine Development., Svetlana Atasheva

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Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a re-emerging virus that causes a severe and often fatal disease in equids and humans. To date, despite a continuous public health threat, no vaccines or antiviral drugs against VEEV infection have been developed for human use. In this study we took advantage of accumulated knowledge of capsid protein function in viral replication, assembly and virus-host interactions. Besides being an integral part of the virion, capsid protein is the major determinant of VEEV pathogenesis. This protein is cytotoxic and induces cellular transcriptional shutoff as a countermeasure to the cellular antiviral response. We introduced targeted …

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Methylxanthine-Induced Neuroprotection In Neural Stem Cells, Stacy I. Ejem Jan 2012

Methylxanthine-Induced Neuroprotection In Neural Stem Cells, Stacy I. Ejem

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Neonatal brain injury is a significant health concern of premature low birth weight babies that often leads to devastating developmental complications. Many of these babies do not survive and those that survive could end up with social and mental disorders. Premature babies are susceptible to brain injury due to their unique and underdeveloped anatomy. The insufficiency of the neonatal defense and antioxidant system prevents the body from buffering against ROS, causing oxidative stress. Adenosine, known as a modulator of cerebral blood flow, has been shown to be neuroprotective; it prevents excessive neuronal firing. However, depending on the cell type and …

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Modulation Of Capsule Production In Serotype 3 Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Melissa Ellis Jan 2012

Modulation Of Capsule Production In Serotype 3 Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Melissa Ellis

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Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive pathogen and an important cause of community-acquired pneumonia and meningitis, and it can also cause otitis media and bacteremia. A major virulence factor of S. pneumoniae is its polysaccharide capsule which functions to prevent complement-mediated opsonophagocytosis. At least 93 distinct serotypes that vary in sugar composition and structure exist. S. pneumoniae can asymptomatically colonize the nasopharynx and transition to other body sites such as the lungs and blood causing invasive disease. The ability to regulate capsule production in these vastly different environments is critical for survival as low levels of capsule are necessary for colonization, …

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Influences Of Habitual Diet, Ethnicity, And Age On Circulating Total Ghrelin, Amy Ellis Jan 2012

Influences Of Habitual Diet, Ethnicity, And Age On Circulating Total Ghrelin, Amy Ellis

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Ghrelin is a hormone known to stimulate appetite and food intake. Although certain macronutrients differentially suppress ghrelin on an acute basis, it is unknown whether habitual macronutrient intake affects circulating ghrelin. Thus, the first experimental aim was to determine whether 8-week habituation to diets differing in carbohydrate or fat would affect fasting ghrelin or ghrelin response to a mixed meal. Recent reports also suggest that ghrelin regulation may relate to propensity for obesity. Obesity is more prevalent among AA compared to EA, with the highest rates among AA females. This disparity becomes apparent before puberty, and childhood obesity tends to …

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Novel Device To Quantify The Mechanical Properties Of Electrospun Nanofibers, Timothy John Fee Jan 2012

Novel Device To Quantify The Mechanical Properties Of Electrospun Nanofibers, Timothy John Fee

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Electrospun biomaterials are gaining popularity as scaffolding for engineered tissues. These fibrous scaffolds of natural or synthetic polymers can mimic the nano-scale properties of the natural extra-cellular matrix. It is becoming clear that the mechanical deformation of any electrospun matrix plays an important role in cell signaling. However, electrospun biomaterials have inherently complex geometries due to the random deposition of fibers during the electrospinning process. This complex fiber geometry complicates any attempt at quantifying forces exerted on adherent cells during electrospun matrix deformation. In order to quantify the mechanical properties of arrays of individual electrospun fibers in physiological conditions, a …

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Sleep Quality, Stress, Caregiver Burden, And Quality Of Life In Maternal Caregivers Of Young Children With Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Christine A. Feeley Jan 2012

Sleep Quality, Stress, Caregiver Burden, And Quality Of Life In Maternal Caregivers Of Young Children With Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Christine A. Feeley

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Mothers are usually the primary caregivers of young children with a chronic illness such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and may have no formal caregiver training. Children with BPD often require complex healthcare at home (complex medication regimens, oxygen via nasal cannula, Gastrostomy feedings, etc.), thus many maternal caregivers experience difficulty balancing the needs of their child with their own needs and other responsibilities. As such, maternal caregivers may report increased levels of stress and caregiver burden, as well as decreased quality of life (QOL). Additionally, a great number of maternal caregivers report poor sleep quality due to nighttime caregiving duties. …

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Distribution/Localization And Relative Quantitation Of C-Terminal Αa-Crystallin Truncation Products Within Lenses Of Icr/F Rats Treated With Dietary Supplemented Genistein, Kyle Anthony Floyd Jan 2012

Distribution/Localization And Relative Quantitation Of C-Terminal Αa-Crystallin Truncation Products Within Lenses Of Icr/F Rats Treated With Dietary Supplemented Genistein, Kyle Anthony Floyd

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The ocular lens functions to focus light coming into the eye onto the retina. Lens development begins in utero, and continues over an individual's lifetime. Lens fiber cells and their proteins are only synthesized once and have no repair mechanisms, so they remain for an individual's lifetime. The α-crystallins, the most abundant lens proteins, act as chaperones to keep damaged/unfolded proteins in-solution. Cataract disease is associated with protein damage, leading to a light scattering opacity. It has been suggested that truncation of αA-crystallin leads to a loss of chaperone function. Cataract disease is the leading cause of blindness in the …

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Functional Collaboration Between Igf-1 Receptor And Growth Hormone Signaling Pathway, Yujun Gan Jan 2012

Functional Collaboration Between Igf-1 Receptor And Growth Hormone Signaling Pathway, Yujun Gan

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GH receptor (GHR) binds GH in its extracellular domain (ECD) to activate the GHR-associated cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase, JAK2. IGF-1 binds IGF-1R, a disulfide-linked heterotetramer with tyrosine kinase activity in its intracellular domain (ICD). Classically, IGF-1 is a GH effector in a “linear” GH→GHR→IGF-1→IGF-1R pathway. Our recent studies suggest IGF-1R also subserves GH signaling in several novel ways: 1) GH induces a GHR-JAK2-IGF-1R complex, whose formation is independent of tyrosine phosphorylation of any of the partners; 2) Cotreatment with IGF-1 augments acute GH signaling; 3) deletion of IGF-1R in primary osteoblasts or human prostate cancer cells blunts acute GH signaling. In …

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Parental Influences On Driving Behavior In Adolescents With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Annie Artiga Garner Jan 2012

Parental Influences On Driving Behavior In Adolescents With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Annie Artiga Garner

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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 …

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Regulation Of Neuronal Cell Death By Bh3-Only Proteins, Arindam P. Ghosh Jan 2012

Regulation Of Neuronal Cell Death By Bh3-Only Proteins, Arindam P. Ghosh

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Apoptosis in metazoan organisms plays critical roles in normal development, tissue homeostasis and immunity, and its disturbed regulation leads to many pathological states, including cancer, autoimmunity, infection and degenerative disorders. Apoptosis can be triggered by the engagement of `death receptors' of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family on the cell surface or by diverse intracellular signals that act upon the BCL2 (B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2) protein family, which controls the integrity of the mitochondrial outer membrane through the complex interactions of family members. Both the pathways lead to cellular demolition by dedicated proteases termed caspases. Different BH3-only proteins (or combinations of …

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Fat Distribution And Metabolic Health: The Effects Of Macronutrient Manipulation On Fat Distribution, Weight Loss, And Glucose Metabolism, Amy Miskimon Goss Jan 2012

Fat Distribution And Metabolic Health: The Effects Of Macronutrient Manipulation On Fat Distribution, Weight Loss, And Glucose Metabolism, Amy Miskimon Goss

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Fat distribution pattern may contribute to risk of development of metabolic diseases such and type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, the precise nature of the relationships between adipose tissue depots and metabolic health remains controversial. Additionally, further research is needed to identify optimal dietary approaches to reduce disease risk and visceral adiposity among overweight and obese individuals, who may already be on a trajectory for development of metabolic disease. Therefore, the goal of this project was to examine relationships of adipose tissue depots with insulin sensitivity, and then to determine if diets differing in CHO and fat content can …

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Becoming Scholars: Examining The Link Between Moral Problem-Solving And Academic Authorship Practices In Future Educational Leaders In One Southern State, Jennifer L. Greer Jan 2012

Becoming Scholars: Examining The Link Between Moral Problem-Solving And Academic Authorship Practices In Future Educational Leaders In One Southern State, Jennifer L. Greer

All ETDs from UAB

The public expects its educational leaders - from instructional leaders and principals to college administrators and deans - to be moral exemplars. Nowhere is moral behavior more central to the central mission of teaching and learning than in the realm of academic integrity, where decisions are made daily about grading, testing, promotion, admissions, placement, and awards. Moral problem solving, one essential and teachable component of moral behavior, has been studied in teachers and, to a lesser extent, principals. Yet little empirical research has been conducted on moral problem solving, or reasoning, among educational leadership graduate students in training for positions …

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Predictors Of Vaginal Douching Behavior And Sexual Risk Taking Among A Population Of Women In The South: The Influence Of Sexual Concurrency And Partner Incarceration, Keri J. Griffin Jan 2012

Predictors Of Vaginal Douching Behavior And Sexual Risk Taking Among A Population Of Women In The South: The Influence Of Sexual Concurrency And Partner Incarceration, Keri J. Griffin

All ETDs from UAB

In the United States, adolescent women between the ages of 14 and 19 are estimated to bear the largest burden of sexually transmitted infections. Left untreated, these infections have the potential to result in several adverse reproductive health outcomes. Sexually risky behaviors, including early sexual initiation, sexual partner concurrency, and the use of vaginal douche products increase the risk for the contraction of sexually transmitted infections. Further, having a sexual relationship with a male partner who is known to have other partners or a history of contact with the justice system might put a woman at additional risk. Utilizing a …

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Development And Validation Of The Alumni Loyalty Scale, Jennifer Rogers Breland Jan 2012

Development And Validation Of The Alumni Loyalty Scale, Jennifer Rogers Breland

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Developing and maintaining alumni support of higher education institutions is continuously an area of interest for institutional administrators. The role that alumni play in the overall picture has somewhat changed throughout the decades, but what encourages this support has remained the same. A graduate of a higher education institution must have a sense of loyalty, along with other contributing factors, that will create the necessary motivation in order for an alumnus to support his or her alma mater. The purpose of this study is to identify the psychometric properties of an instrument intended to assist institutions with determining the level …

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Mental Health Disparities In Racial And Ethnic Minorities: The Impact Of Nativity And Ethnicity On Depression And Anxiety, Henna Budhwani Jan 2012

Mental Health Disparities In Racial And Ethnic Minorities: The Impact Of Nativity And Ethnicity On Depression And Anxiety, Henna Budhwani

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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 …

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Analysis Of Abundance And Biodiversity Of Mosquitoes And Their Epidemiological Implications In Three Urban Neighborhoods In The Southeastern United States, Erick Xavier Caamano Jan 2012

Analysis Of Abundance And Biodiversity Of Mosquitoes And Their Epidemiological Implications In Three Urban Neighborhoods In The Southeastern United States, Erick Xavier Caamano

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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, …

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Effect Of Different Percentages Of Silica Nanofibers Filler Loads On Mechanical And Physical Properties Of Flowable And Hybrid Composite Resins, Qinyue Cai Jan 2012

Effect Of Different Percentages Of Silica Nanofibers Filler Loads On Mechanical And Physical Properties Of Flowable And Hybrid Composite Resins, Qinyue Cai

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Dental composites are used for a variety of applications in dentistry today. Dental composites are composed of a resin matrix containing a blend of Bis-GMA (bis-phenol A-glycidyldimethacrylate) or urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) along with TEGDMA (tetraethylglycidylmethacrylate). Exhaustive researches has been conducted in recent years to improve physical and mechanical properties of resin-based dental composites, since the existing resin-filler systems may not be suitable for long term applications in large as well as high stress restorations. Nanofillers reinforced composite resins have shown promising results. Silica-based nanoparticles and clusters are blended with larger-sized fillers and are available commercially for restoring large posterior restorations. …

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Effects Of Stress On Growth Hormone Receptor Signaling, Ryan Marshall Corrick Jan 2012

Effects Of Stress On Growth Hormone Receptor Signaling, Ryan Marshall Corrick

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Growth hormone (GH) regulates body composition via stimulation of protein synthesis and catabolism of adipose tissue, generally promoting maintenance of lean body mass. Following severe injury, GH resistance contributes to muscle protein wasting, adversely impacting morbidity and mortality. In this dissertation research, we sought to determine the mechanisms of GH resistance following injury. To accomplish this, we evaluated GH signaling in a mouse model of severe injury. In the first section of this thesis, we demonstrate severe impairments in hepatic GH signaling occurring in association with an apparent, hemorrhage-dependent cleavage of the GH receptor (GHR). In the second section, we …

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Risk Factors For Stroke In Rural African Americans And Factors That Influence Exercise Behaviors To Reduce Stroke Risk, Dawn M. Aycock Jan 2012

Risk Factors For Stroke In Rural African Americans And Factors That Influence Exercise Behaviors To Reduce Stroke Risk, Dawn M. Aycock

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Stroke has increased among young adults, which is concerning for African Americans (AA) who tend to have stroke at an earlier age and an increased risk for mortality and severe disability. Rural dwellers lack resources which may increase their susceptibility to stroke. Regular exercise can reduce stroke; however, physical activity among AA is low. The purpose of this research was to use an Expanded Health Belief Model to examine perceived and actual stroke risk among rural AA 19 to 54 years of age and factors that influence exercise behaviors to reduce stroke risk. A cross-sectional correlational design was used. Participants …

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How Older Adults With Age-Related Macular Degeneration Living In A Southeastern Metropolitan Area Develop Physical Activity Self-Efficacy, A Grounded Theory Study, Elizabeth Anne Barstow Jan 2012

How Older Adults With Age-Related Macular Degeneration Living In A Southeastern Metropolitan Area Develop Physical Activity Self-Efficacy, A Grounded Theory Study, Elizabeth Anne Barstow

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HOW OLDER ADULTS WITH AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION LIVING IN A SOUTHEASTERN METROPOLITAN AREA DEVELOP PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SELF-EFFICACY, A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY ABSTRACT This qualitative grounded theory study explored the process of Physical Activity Self-Efficacy development among older adults with age-related macular degeneration in a southeastern metropolitan area. According to the United States Administration on Aging, the population of individuals over 65 will be 88.5 million by the year 2050, doubling its 2010 estimates. As our population ages, so does the prevalence of chronic conditions. One of these chronic conditions, age-related macular degeneration, is the leading cause of vision loss in …

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Postpartum Health Outcomes Of Male Partners: The Paternity Role, Carrie Ann Betcher Jan 2012

Postpartum Health Outcomes Of Male Partners: The Paternity Role, Carrie Ann Betcher

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The purpose of this study was to investigate how assuming a paternal role for the first time affects the mental and physical health of males, and identify the key characteristics of the paternal role. The characteristics deemed most important by first-time fathers were providing love (51.3%), being a teacher (19.9%), participating in childcare responsibilities (11.8%), providing financially (9.6%), providing protection (3.7%), and being an authority figure (3.7%). Conversely, 21.1% of fathers stated financial obligations were not important, and 18.7% of fathers deemed participating in childcare not important. All fathers within this study self-reported being at least moderately active in their …

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Characterizing The Transcriptional Complexity Of Pkhd1/Pkhd1, Ravindra Boddu Jan 2012

Characterizing The Transcriptional Complexity Of Pkhd1/Pkhd1, Ravindra Boddu

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Mutations in PKHD1 gene cause autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease. Our previous studies have shown that human PKHD1 and its mouse orthologue, Pkhd1, undergo an extensive pattern of alternative splicing. Pkhd1 is primarily expressed in renal and biliary tubular structures. Translation products of these alternative spliced transcripts are predicted to generate isoforms expressed in plasma membrane, primary cilium and cytoplasm. We have characterized the cyli mouse model of ARPKD and identified a frameshift mutation, c.7589delGGinsT, in Pkhd1 exon 48. In this thesis we have characterized the mouse Pkhd1cyli/cyli model (liver restricted phenotype) and evaluated the transcriptome in terms of alternative …

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Schizophrenia And Vergence Eye Movements, Mark S. Bolding Jan 2012

Schizophrenia And Vergence Eye Movements, Mark S. Bolding

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Background: Compared to healthy controls (HC), patients with schizophrenia (SZ) have lower smooth pursuit gain and have been reported as having a higher prevalence of convergence insufficiency. To date, however, there have been no reports on vergence tracking gain in such patients. Therefore, we investigated both static and dynamic vergence behavior in healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Eye movements were recorded in multiple tasks including antisaccades, triangular waveform smooth pursuit at multiple frequencies, and triangular waveform vergence tracking of a real target at multiple frequencies. Eye position data were collected at 500 Hz using a binocular video eye …

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Scaffold-Mediated Size Determination Of Bacteriophage Capsids By Mobile Genetic Elements, Altaira Davida Dearborn Jan 2012

Scaffold-Mediated Size Determination Of Bacteriophage Capsids By Mobile Genetic Elements, Altaira Davida Dearborn

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Bacteriophage can mediate the transfer of unrelated mobile genetic elements (MGE) from a carrier bacterial cell to the susceptible population around it. This transfer results in the spread of virulence or other accessory genes encoded on the MGE. During viral particle assembly, the MGE can discourage the formation of viable bacteriophage progeny by limiting the size of the particles to those large enough to encapsidate the MGE, but too small to fit the complete bacteriophage genome which is three times larger. Here, I present models for size determination by an external scaffolding protein which is independent of and dominant over …

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Physical Activity Barriers Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Cognitive Mapping Study, Anna De Joya Jan 2012

Physical Activity Barriers Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Cognitive Mapping Study, Anna De Joya

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Background: Despite the strong evidence indicating the benefits of regular physical activity (PA) for health and functioning, individuals with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) do not engage in PA at levels consistent with public health recommendations. To eliminate the health disparities and promote PA in this population, the barriers unique to individuals with TBI should be identified by different stakeholders to establish effective health promotion programs that have sustainable outcomes. There is limited evidence to guide the development and delivery of effective PA interventions in the TBI field. Objectives: The specific aims of this study are: 1) to identify the …

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Executive Functioning And Behavior Among Very Low Birth Weight Children At School-Age, Desiree Maria De Jong Jan 2012

Executive Functioning And Behavior Among Very Low Birth Weight Children At School-Age, Desiree Maria De Jong

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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/ …

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Evaluation Of The Association Of Low-Level Prenatal Blood Lead Exposure And Auditory Brainstem Response Among Infants, Timothy A. Dignam Jan 2012

Evaluation Of The Association Of Low-Level Prenatal Blood Lead Exposure And Auditory Brainstem Response Among Infants, Timothy A. Dignam

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Hearing loss is one of the most common major abnormalities present among infants. Two to four infants per 1,000 are born in the United States with severe-to-profound newborn hearing loss (Chu 2003). Undetected, hearing loss delays speech, language, and cognitive development. Numerous studies have shown that prenatal lead exposure is associated with a variety of neurobehavioral and electrophysiological abnormalities (Abbate 1995, Bellinger 2004, Koller 2004). Studies focusing on hearing have primarily described pediatric cases or occupationally exposed adults where blood lead levels (BLLs) are much higher than currently seen in the United States (Otto 1985; Bleecker 2003; Schwartz 1987). Hearing …

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