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Correlating High Reliability Organization Practices With Preventable Harms Across Children’S Hospitals Participating In The Children’S Hospitals’ Solutions For Patient Safety Collaborative, Kelly H. Randall Jan 2016

Correlating High Reliability Organization Practices With Preventable Harms Across Children’S Hospitals Participating In The Children’S Hospitals’ Solutions For Patient Safety Collaborative, Kelly H. Randall

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Background: Despite significant effort, focus, and resources dedicated to reducing patient safety risk, the healthcare system continues to have high error rates. Approaches and strategies implemented to decrease human error have been marginally successful in achieving sustainable reduction in patient harm. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between high reliability and patient safety outcomes by testing the following hypotheses: Organizations exhibiting more advanced high reliability practice will have fewer hospital acquired conditions (as defined by the Serious Harm Event Index (SHE) than organizations exhibiting less advanced high reliability practices; and organizations exhibiting more advanced high …


Reorganization Of The Golgi Apparatus During Human Cytomegalovirus Infection, George Michael Rebmann Jan 2016

Reorganization Of The Golgi Apparatus During Human Cytomegalovirus Infection, George Michael Rebmann

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Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the largest and most structurally complex of all the herpesviruses. HCMV is an important human pathogen that results in significant morbidity and disease in immunocompromised individuals. The assembly of herpesviruses is complex and involves a nuclear and cytoplasmic phase. The nuclear events of capsid assembly and genome incorporation as well as nuclear egress are believed to be similar in all herpesviruses and as such, are more clearly defined then the cytoplasmic phase; including the process of tegument and envelope acquisition. Human Cytomegalovirus induces the reorganization of the cellular secretory pathway including the Golgi apparatus and membranes …


Influence Of Maternal Age On The Effects Of Organic Selenium In The Animal Model Daphnia Pulex, Jordan E. Roberts Jan 2016

Influence Of Maternal Age On The Effects Of Organic Selenium In The Animal Model Daphnia Pulex, Jordan E. Roberts

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As a necessary micronutrient, seleno-L-methionine (SeMet) exhibits a U-shaped dose-response with deficiency and toxicity leading to adverse health outcomes. Some studies suggest dietary selenium may offer protection against toxicity from other metals, but excessive dietary levels can also lead to toxicity. In addition, increased maternal age has been shown to increase the risk of adverse developmental outcomes. We hypothesize that older maternal age will increase susceptibility in offspring exposed to toxic concentrations of SeMet. The goal of this project was to evaluate the effects of SeMet treatment on lifespan and determine if the effects are altered by maternal age using …


Cd4 Regulatory T Cells Augment Hiv-1 Expression Of Polarized M1 And M2 Monocyte Derived Macrophages, Tanya Robinson Jan 2016

Cd4 Regulatory T Cells Augment Hiv-1 Expression Of Polarized M1 And M2 Monocyte Derived Macrophages, Tanya Robinson

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Polarization of macrophages is critical for an effective host immune response against invading pathogens. However, the HIV-1 virus can alter the cytokine/chemokine profile of polarized macrophages which may ultimately lead to their increased susceptibility to viral infection. M1 monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) have been shown to suppress CCR5-tropic HIV-1 replication, while M2 MDM promote it. We generated M1 (GM-CSF + IFN-γ + LPS) and M2 (M-CSF + IL-4) MDM with predicted phenotypes and exposed them to a CCR5 (R5) “highly macrophage-tropic” viral strain, HIV-1BaL. M2 MDM had notably higher levels of HIV-1 infection than M1 MDM. We also investigated R5 HIV-1 …


Lgbt Campus Climate Analysis Of The University Of Alabama At Birmingham, Steven Romeo Jan 2016

Lgbt Campus Climate Analysis Of The University Of Alabama At Birmingham, Steven Romeo

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problems. No cure exists so experts stress early practice of bone protective behaviors,


A Framework For Collaborative Knowledge Management: Using Distributed Mentoring, Ramaraju Rudraraju Jan 2016

A Framework For Collaborative Knowledge Management: Using Distributed Mentoring, Ramaraju Rudraraju

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Knowledge management consists of four key processes, generation, distribution, storage, and application. Today, with the simultaneous growth of World Wide Web and usage of computing devices, including smart phones, tablets, and laptops, knowledge is also being generated and modified by knowledge-contributors, labeled mentors. Output of this process makes its way into various sources, such as wikis, blogs, and Question- and-answer websites. New storage technologies are continuously being evolved in order to efficiently handle huge volumes of this kind of unstructured data. However, distribu-tion of knowledge to knowledge-consumers, labeled mentees, has not been evolved to keep up with the exponential growth …


Changes In Intrinsic Local Functional Connectivity In Children With Autism Followed By A Visualizing/Verbalizing Reading Intervention, Jose Omar Maximo Jan 2016

Changes In Intrinsic Local Functional Connectivity In Children With Autism Followed By A Visualizing/Verbalizing Reading Intervention, Jose Omar Maximo

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Deficits in language are a major clinical feature of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Previous studies suggest that individuals with ASD may rely on visuospatial skills to compensate for these deficits. Existing intervention programs in autism have not been tested at the neural level, thus falling short of quantifiable neurobiological changes underlying behavioral improvement. The current study takes a translational neuroimaging approach to test the impact of a structured visual imagery-based reading intervention on improving reading comprehension and its underlying neural circuitry. Changes in connectivity of a set of brain regions commonly known as the “reading network” were examined in children …


Rural Hos[Ital Closure In Alabama - Post Aca, Dennis Otto Mccay Jan 2016

Rural Hos[Ital Closure In Alabama - Post Aca, Dennis Otto Mccay

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RURAL HOSPITAL CLOSURES IN ALABAMA: POST ACA DENNIS O. MCCAY HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ABSTRACT Rural hospitals differ from their urban counterparts with regard to two main areas. First, rural hospital patients are usually older, of lower income, and less healthy than those in urban areas. Second, their facilities tend to be smaller, older, and more prone to staff shortages than those in an urban environment. Rural hospitals have been closing at higher rates than their urban counterparts for a number of years, but more so since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. The objective of this research …


Atp6v1c1 Enhances Breast Cancer Growth By Activating V-Atpase Mediated Mtorc1 Signaling And Metastasis By Increasing V-Atpase Activity In Cancer Cells, Matthew J. Mcconnell Jan 2016

Atp6v1c1 Enhances Breast Cancer Growth By Activating V-Atpase Mediated Mtorc1 Signaling And Metastasis By Increasing V-Atpase Activity In Cancer Cells, Matthew J. Mcconnell

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It is known that the vacuolar ATPase has a number of functions related to tumor growth and progression such as involvement in drug resistance, pH regulation, autophagy, and lysosomal acid protease activation, as well as invasion and metastasis. Here we specifically describe the role of ATP6v1c1 in murine and human models of breast cancer. ATP6v1c1 is the dominant isoform of the coordinating subunit (ATP6v1c) involved in the assembly of the vacuolar ATPase complex which plays a key role in cancer growth and progression. We also describe how ATP6v1c1 knockdown impairs tumor nutrient signaling through mTORC1 and tumor cell proliferation, by …


Neurodevelopmental Alterations In A Rodent Model Of Temperamental Differences, Chelsea Mccoy Mccoy Jan 2016

Neurodevelopmental Alterations In A Rodent Model Of Temperamental Differences, Chelsea Mccoy Mccoy

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Understanding biological mechanisms that shape brain development and susceptibility to emotional dysfunction is crucial for generating improved treatments for depression and anxiety disorders. To study neurodevelopmental factors that influence emotionality, we use model rats that were bred for distinct behavioral responses to novelty. Rats bred for low novelty response (LRs) exhibit a high anxiety-/depressive-like phenotype compared to high novelty responder rats (HRs), which vigorously explore novelty and exhibit high impulsivity, aggression, and risk-taking. Transcriptome profiling revealed multiple gene expression differences in the early postnatal hippocampus and amygdala and in the adult amygdala of HR/LR rats. Through gene ontology analysis, we …


Cell-Specific Pgc-1Α-Dependent Transcription: Implications For Cognitive And Motor Dysfunction, Laura Mcmeekin Jan 2016

Cell-Specific Pgc-1Α-Dependent Transcription: Implications For Cognitive And Motor Dysfunction, Laura Mcmeekin

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health beliefs in young women. The Prevention of Osteoporosis in Women (POW)


A Comprehensive Investigation Of Hp1b, A Chromatin Protein, And Its Role In Aging, Benjamin Mills Mills Jan 2016

A Comprehensive Investigation Of Hp1b, A Chromatin Protein, And Its Role In Aging, Benjamin Mills Mills

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Genetic regulation determines which genes are expressed, in which tissues, at which time, and to which level. This regulation is necessary for proper organismal development, and loss of gene regulation can result in phenotypic consequences. As organisms grow older, gene regulation often begins to fail, resulting in negative phenotypic outcomes associated with aging. The exact reason for this failure of gene regulation remains unknown, but current models suggest that chromatin, and its associated proteins, plays a large role. The structure of chromatin impacts gene expression, directly affecting several phenotypes including aging. In this study, we investigate HP1B, a chromatin protein, …


Cyber Physical System For Monitoring And Controlling Loads, Yahya Mohammed Abdelrazek Ibrahim Mohammed Jan 2016

Cyber Physical System For Monitoring And Controlling Loads, Yahya Mohammed Abdelrazek Ibrahim Mohammed

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Bridges represent an important part of the transportation network. Many of these bridges have passed their life cycle and still in service. Monitoring of bridges is a vital component of any maintenance strategy as it can give an early warning if the bridge becomes unsafe. To ensure the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) remains safe for use, we need to control the loads that passed on the bridges. Monitoring loads on the bridges discussed in a significant number of studies, most of them represent the bridge as 1D or 2D elements using some of the finite elements programs. Comparatively, less research …


Molecular Analysis Of Streptococcus Mutans Genetic Diversity For The Epidemiological Study Of Oral Disease, Stephanie Stahlbuhk Momeni Jan 2016

Molecular Analysis Of Streptococcus Mutans Genetic Diversity For The Epidemiological Study Of Oral Disease, Stephanie Stahlbuhk Momeni

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Dental caries is chronic global infectious disease. Streptococcus mutans are most frequently associated with dental caries. The goal of this work is to use molecular genotyping methods to investigate the genetic diversity and evidence for transmission of S. mutans for the epidemiological study of dental caries. It was first necessary to validate methods proposed in this study including choice of selective media, choice of multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme, and the frequency of clonality. Analysis included 13,906 S. mutans isolates obtained from oral samples collected from children and their household members in an 8-year longitudinal epidemiological study. Two genotyping methods …


Conjunctival Gene Expression And Tear Biomarkers In Atopic And Non-Atopic Keratoconus Patients Relative To Matching Controls, Erika Marie Morrow Jan 2016

Conjunctival Gene Expression And Tear Biomarkers In Atopic And Non-Atopic Keratoconus Patients Relative To Matching Controls, Erika Marie Morrow

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Transcriptional Regulation Of Interleukin 10 In Cd4+ T Cells, Carson Edward Moseley Jan 2016

Transcriptional Regulation Of Interleukin 10 In Cd4+ T Cells, Carson Edward Moseley

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Autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases are a collection of disorders that are mediated by reaction of the adaptive immune system against self or commensal antigens. Altered transcription of genes involved in T cell activation and function is a key mediator of predisposition to numerous autoimmune disorders, including Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, we have an inadequate understanding of how the transcriptional circuits controlling these genes are dysregulated in disease. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is cytokine with potent anti-inflammatory activity that is critical for restraining immune-mediated pathology to self-tissues. Notably, patients with nullifying mutations in IL10 develop a severe IBD …


Examining The Impact Of Emergency Department (Ed) Registered Nurse (Rn) Staffing On Ed Patient Experience, Deana L. Nelson Jan 2016

Examining The Impact Of Emergency Department (Ed) Registered Nurse (Rn) Staffing On Ed Patient Experience, Deana L. Nelson

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EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) REGISTERED NURSE (RN) STAFFING ON ED PATIENT EXPERIENCE DEANA NELSON DOCTOR OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ABSTRACT Patient experience ratings are important to healthcare organizations from both a clinical and financial perspective. Studies examining the relationship between patient experience and nurse staffing are prevalent in the inpatient setting, but not as much is known about how staffing affects these ratings in the Emergency Department (ED). This study examined the relationships between ED RN staffing, patient expectations and patient experience ratings, using a conceptual framework adapted from Donabedian’s structure/process/outcome model, and expectancy disconfirmation …


The Influences Of Exercise And Mental Work On Eating Behavior And Predictors Of These Effects, William H. Neumeier Jan 2016

The Influences Of Exercise And Mental Work On Eating Behavior And Predictors Of These Effects, William H. Neumeier

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Physical activity levels have decreased and obesity rates have increased. Individuals now primarily perform mental work while remaining sedentary. Mental work has been associated with increased calorie consumption and decreased cognitive performance. The increased energy consumption and decline in cognitive performance following mental work may be due to the brain’s utilization of limited energy resources. The brain may seek food to replenish energy sources, and increased food consumption without changes in energy expenditure may contribute to positive energy balance. Exercise is known to contribute to negative energy balance. In addition, acute exercise and physical fitness levels are positively associated with …


Exploring The Lived Experience Of Young African American Breast Cancer Survivorship To Inform The Adaptation Of A Psychoeducational Intervention: Y-Ambient, Timiya S. Nolan Jan 2016

Exploring The Lived Experience Of Young African American Breast Cancer Survivorship To Inform The Adaptation Of A Psychoeducational Intervention: Y-Ambient, Timiya S. Nolan

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In the United States, 26,393 young women (≤ 45 years) will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. Though survival rates are improving, there are health disparities among young African American women when compared to young Caucasians (e.g., poorer quality of life). Despite recommendations to provide targeted evidence-based survivorship care, there are about 23,000 young African American breast cancer survivors (YAABCS) in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi for whom this care does not exist. Few studies have examined survivorship experiences and/or tested intervention efficacy among this group. Further study is warranted to understand the experiences of YAABCS and adapt targeted interventions …


The Relationships Between Patient Satisfaction, Market Share, And Hospital Financial Performance, David W. Au Jan 2016

The Relationships Between Patient Satisfaction, Market Share, And Hospital Financial Performance, David W. Au

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Quantitative scores enumerating patient experience with care have been introduced to healthcare via the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Consumers can now compare with relative ease, different healthcare providers on the basis of standardized metrics. As government mandated transparency initiatives become commonplace as a result of the law, hospitals are more cognizant of how patient experience with care (operationalized using Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems: HCAHPS) has an impact on where patients decide to seek treatment. The proliferation of technological tools now enables patients to make meaningful quality and cost comparisons across providers. HCAHPS …


Regulation Of Vibrio Cholerae Biofilm Formation By H-Ns Repression And Anti-Repression, Julio Cesar Ayala-Figueredo Jan 2016

Regulation Of Vibrio Cholerae Biofilm Formation By H-Ns Repression And Anti-Repression, Julio Cesar Ayala-Figueredo

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The diarrheal disease cholera is caused by the Gram-negative and motile bacterium Vibrio cholerae of serogroups O1 and O139. V. cholerae can switch between planktonic (motile) and sessile (biofilm) lifestyles. Biofilms are sessile communities encased in a self-produced extracellular matrix mainly composed of exopolysaccharide, proteins and extracellular DNA. Biofilm formation enhances the capacity of V. cholerae to persist in environmental waters and increases its infectivity. The bacterial second messenger cyclic diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP) regulates the transition between motile and biofilm lifestyles in V. cholerae. At low cell density, two c-di-GMP receptors, the LuxR-type regulator VpsT and the NtrC-type regulator VpsR …


Cleaning Protocol For Implant Abutment Screws, Rocio Barocio Torano Jan 2016

Cleaning Protocol For Implant Abutment Screws, Rocio Barocio Torano

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Aim: To develop a time and cost effective cleaning protocol for implant abutment screws that are used throughout the fabrication of an implant restoration in the dental laboratory. Materials and Methods: Ninety (90) implant abutment screws (Biohorizons PXAS®) were collected from different dental laboratories after abutment milling and restoration fabrication. Seventy five (75) of these screws were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=15). Each group was cleaned for 1, 5, and 10 minutes in an ultrasonic cleaner and all screws were observed under 40x magnification before and after cleaning. Any debris was collected and weighed by using paper filters. The …


Racial Segregation: Slum Clearance And Urban Renewal In Birmingham, Alabama, 1950-1960, Michael Barrett Jan 2016

Racial Segregation: Slum Clearance And Urban Renewal In Birmingham, Alabama, 1950-1960, Michael Barrett

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RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION: SLUM CLEARANCE AND URBAN RENEWAL IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, 1950-1960 MICHAEL D. BARRETT HISTORY ABSTRACT In his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King, Jr. referred to Birmingham, Alabama as the “Most segregated city in America.” The city’s history of racial subjugation and conflict certainly validates King’s statement. Yet should Birmingham stand alone when it comes to racial segregation through the auspices of federal housing programs? The Housing Act of 1949 provided federal funds for slum clearance and urban renewal projects in city centers. Title I of the Act gave local housing agencies authority to determine the areas …


Fcrl5 Counter-Regulates Natural And T Cell-Independent Immunoglobulin Production By Innate-Like B Cells, Eugene John Becker Jan 2016

Fcrl5 Counter-Regulates Natural And T Cell-Independent Immunoglobulin Production By Innate-Like B Cells, Eugene John Becker

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At homeostasis and during the initial phases of primary responses to pathogens, humoral host defense is chiefly coordinated by specialized B cells known as splenic marginal zone (MZ) and body cavity-derived B-1 B cells. These front line immune mediators are termed “innate like” due to their ability to secrete broadly-reactive natural antibodies and respond rapidly to antigens in a T cell-independent manner. The production of natural antibodies possessing specificities for self-antigens allows clearance of cellular debris, maintenance of homeostasis and protection from infections that can also predispose the host to immunological disease. However, how the functions of these specialized cells …


Exploring Bacteriophage P22 As A Selective Molecular Scaffold And Molecular Sensor, Gregory Joseph Bedwell Jan 2016

Exploring Bacteriophage P22 As A Selective Molecular Scaffold And Molecular Sensor, Gregory Joseph Bedwell

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The virus capsids of many dsDNA bacteriophage are finely tuned macromolecular machines. Their functionality begins at assembly, when their capsids are built under the guidance of a class of proteins referred to as scaffolding proteins. The scaffolding protein of bacteriophage P22 is a flexible, highly elongated protein that binds to the interior surface of the P22 procapsid via its C-terminal domain. The finding that N-terminus is dispensable for procapsid binding prompted the development of chimeric scaffolding protein molecules, wherein N-terminal residues of scaffold are replaced with a variety of different peptide sequences or functional proteins that are then encapsidated within …


Meta-Analysis Of Cognitive Performance In Fibromyalgia, Tyler Reed Bell Jan 2016

Meta-Analysis Of Cognitive Performance In Fibromyalgia, Tyler Reed Bell

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Fibromyalgia is a disease that encompasses difficulties with pain, physical function, and emotion, but is also characterized by complaints of poor cognition. Over the last two decades, a vast amount of literature has tested for cognitive differences between individuals with and without fibromyalgia. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a quantitative synthesis on these differences across multiple cognitive domains. After a systematic search of eligible studies, random-effect meta-analyses were conducted on effect sizes (Hedges’ g) derived from 37 cross-sectional studies covering domains of processing speed, memory and executive function. Participants included persons with fibromyalgia (total n = …


Methods For Measuring Individually Experienced Temperature And Food Intake In Controlled Thermal Environments, Molly Bernhard Jan 2016

Methods For Measuring Individually Experienced Temperature And Food Intake In Controlled Thermal Environments, Molly Bernhard

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The three studies to be presented assess individual-level heat exposure in free-living urban and rural environments and assess food intake in randomized controlled trials in a 2-hour exposure, and a 7-hour crossover heat exposure. The first interest was broad: examining heat exposure and its relation to potential health outcomes. To examine whether heat exposure could be measured in free-living organisms, a light and temperature monitoring device was repurposed and used in a pilot study of individual-level heat exposure in urban and rural community members. Differences between the current and most commonly accepted way of estimating heat exposure, weather station datasets, …


A Comparison Of Soft Tissue Topographical Norms For The Local Ethnic People Of Zimbabwe And African American Norms Based On 3dmd Soft Tissue Photography, Elvin Bhaskar Jan 2016

A Comparison Of Soft Tissue Topographical Norms For The Local Ethnic People Of Zimbabwe And African American Norms Based On 3dmd Soft Tissue Photography, Elvin Bhaskar

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Introduction: The purpose of this study is to determine the soft tissue topographical norms for the local ethnic people of Zimbabwe and compare them with the African American norms based on 3dMD soft tissue photography. The rationale for the study is to evaluate how the soft tissue drape over the facial skeleton correlates with the different soft tissue analysis widely available today. This study seeks to establish an average base on which clinicians can treat people according to their cultural esthetic perceptions. Previous reported studies only evaluate small numbers of populations and it is well known that different races and …


Structure-Function Relationships In The Sec7 Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Gbf1, Jay Manoj Bhatt Jan 2016

Structure-Function Relationships In The Sec7 Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Gbf1, Jay Manoj Bhatt

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All eukaryotic cells contain a secretory pathway composed of membrane-bound compartments connected by vesicles that transport cargo from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through the Golgi apparatus to various destination within and outside the cell. The Golgi Brefeldin A-resistant Factor 1 (GBF1) is required for protein traffic between ER and Golgi and within the Golgi. GBF1 belongs to a family of Guanine nucleotide Exchange Factors (GEFs) that stimulate the nucleotide exchange of GDP for GTP on small GTPases called ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs). Once GTP-bound, ARFs become active and initiate a cascade of events that lead to vesicle formation. Thus, GBF1 is …


Evaluating Driving Performance Of Adolescents And Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders Around Social And Non-Social Hazards, Haley Johnson Bishop Jan 2016

Evaluating Driving Performance Of Adolescents And Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders Around Social And Non-Social Hazards, Haley Johnson Bishop

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The leading cause of death among adolescents is motor vehicle collisions, which may be due to a number of factors including inexperience and incomplete brain development. These risks may be even more prominent for young drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) because of additional impairments in processing speed, social communication and emotional regulation. Despite elevated safety risks, little research has considered the impacts of ASD on driving. This study aimed to characterize driving performance and hazard perception of drivers with ASD, specifically various types of hazards (e.g., pedestrians or other cars). The study also aimed to investigate factors that predict …