Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 1801 - 1830 of 35959

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Neighborhood Disadvantage, Parenting, And Dna Methylation During Childhood, Malcolm Barker-Kamps Sep 2024

Neighborhood Disadvantage, Parenting, And Dna Methylation During Childhood, Malcolm Barker-Kamps

All ETDs from UAB

Being raised in a disadvantaged neighborhood increases the risk of adult obesity, chronic inflammation, and epigenetic aging even when adjusting for family socioeconomic status (SES). Because little is understood regarding the timing of these outcomes through development and possible moderating effects of the family environment, this project investigated the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and DNA methylation in children and whether this association varies across child age, parenting behaviors, or neighborhood cohesion. The study included 112 parents (Mage=27.5; SD=1.06) and 160 children, ages 0-14 (Mage =3.89, SD=3.29; 54% female; 90% African American; 10% White), from the Birmingham Youth Violence Study. Neighborhood …

Go to article

Beyond Chronic Fatigue: Studying The Role Of Neuroinflammation, Glutamate, And Glutamine, Indonesia Alohn Jordan Sep 2024

Beyond Chronic Fatigue: Studying The Role Of Neuroinflammation, Glutamate, And Glutamine, Indonesia Alohn Jordan

All ETDs from UAB

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex, multifaceted disease characterized by persistent, severe fatigue lasting six months or longer that is not relieved by rest. An estimated 20 million people worldwide suffer from ME/CFS. ME/CFS has long been suspected to be a post-viral illness, as viral infections can stimulate inflammatory cytokine production. Millions of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients are also predicted to develop persistent symptoms that mimic ME/CFS symptomology after the resolution of the acute infection, referred to as Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Inflammatory mediators produced by sustained microglia activation have been shown to lead to illness …

Go to article

Investigating The Role Of The Static And Hyperviscous Mucus Defect On The Development Of Bacterial Infection In The Cystic Fibrosis Rat, Mikayla Murphree-Terry Sep 2024

Investigating The Role Of The Static And Hyperviscous Mucus Defect On The Development Of Bacterial Infection In The Cystic Fibrosis Rat, Mikayla Murphree-Terry

All ETDs from UAB

INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF THE STATIC AND HYPERVISCOUS MUCUS DEFECT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF BACTERIAL INFECTION IN THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS RAT MIKAYLA MURPHREE-TERRY GRADUATE BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES - MICROBIOLOGY ABSTRACT Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, resulting in dysfunctional CFTR. In the lungs, CFTR dysfunction results in dehydrated mucus that is adherent to epithelia. In the gut, thick mucus can mix with feces to form an obstruction, known as distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS). Additionally, CF mucus has a higher percentage of solids. The main solid component of …

Go to article

The Effects Of Intraindividual Factors On Distracted Car Following Behavior In Newly Licensed Teen Drivers, Gabriela Marie Sherrod Sep 2024

The Effects Of Intraindividual Factors On Distracted Car Following Behavior In Newly Licensed Teen Drivers, Gabriela Marie Sherrod

All ETDs from UAB

Rear-ending a stopped lead vehicle is the most common motor vehicle crash (MVC) scenario among all drivers. However, novice teen drivers experience a higher rate of rear-end MVCs relative to experienced adults. Given that MVC risk among novice teen drivers is at its highest during the first three months of licensure, it is especially relevant to better understand car following behaviors of novice teen drivers during this critical developmental window, as well as factors that may affect a teen’s attentional capabilities. The present study examined how recently-licensed teens negotiated a simulated car following task with and without cellular phone distractions. …

Go to article

Optimization And Machine Learning Techniques For Analyzing Spatiotemporal Dynamics, Dipak Prasad Dulal Sep 2024

Optimization And Machine Learning Techniques For Analyzing Spatiotemporal Dynamics, Dipak Prasad Dulal

All ETDs from UAB

In a numerical context, the tensor CP decomposition challenge can be reformulated into a series of least squares subproblems, which can be addressed using the renowned Alternating Least Square algorithm (ALS). The ALS algorithm is often characterized by a 'swamp phenomenon' that slows down its convergence, especially when dealing with extensive data structures. One of the goals of our research is to find ways to speed up the convergence of the ALS algorithm. This thesis discusses the use of Canonical Polyadic decomposition techniques and machine learning models in various data-driven domains, such as COVID-19, higher-order images and videos (e.g. RGB …

Go to article

Oral Administration Of Alpha-Cyclodextrin Corrects Diabetes Induced Retinopathy And Bone Marrow Pathology By Modulation Of The Gut-Retina Axis., Yvonne Adu-Agyeiwaah Sep 2024

Oral Administration Of Alpha-Cyclodextrin Corrects Diabetes Induced Retinopathy And Bone Marrow Pathology By Modulation Of The Gut-Retina Axis., Yvonne Adu-Agyeiwaah

All ETDs from UAB

Diabetic retinopathy represents a common complication of diabetes, exerting a significant financial burden globally across nations, particularly impacting the working-age population and thereby affecting productivity. Extensive investigations have unveiled its multifaceted etiology, implicating a convergence of diverse causative factors. Notably, seminal studies such as the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) Eye Study have underscored the pivotal role of cholesterol dysregulation and dyslipidemia in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. This dysregulation stems from an imbalance characterized by heightened cholesterol production coupled with deficient cholesterol efflux or removal mechanisms. Liver X receptors (LXRs), ligand-activated nuclear receptors function in transcriptional …

Go to article

Effects Of Probiotic Lactobacilli On Candida Albicans: Implications For Early Childhood Caries, Leena Unnikrishnan Menon Sep 2024

Effects Of Probiotic Lactobacilli On Candida Albicans: Implications For Early Childhood Caries, Leena Unnikrishnan Menon

All ETDs from UAB

Purpose: Probiotic Lactobacillus species are shown to have beneficial effects against early childhood caries (ECC). On the other hand, the wide use of probiotic Lactobacillus spp. in dairy foods is believed to underline the global increase in ECC prevalence. Candida albicans has been frequently detected in children with ECC and has shown cariogenic potential in animal models of dental caries. The objective of this study was to determine the interactions between lactobacilli and C. albicans in growth competition, biofilm formation and acid production. Methods: Growth competition between C. albicans SC5314 and probiotic L. rhamnosus GG or caries-associated L. rhamnosus M72-26 …

Go to article

Coyote Play: A Critical Inquiry Of Power At A Nature-Based Preschool, Timothy Mckenzie Sep 2024

Coyote Play: A Critical Inquiry Of Power At A Nature-Based Preschool, Timothy Mckenzie

All ETDs from UAB

The distribution of power in the educational institution exists as a hierarchy from governing bodies to the masses. This causes children within the institution to align themselves with the institution rather than the institution meeting the needs of the children it serves. The purpose of this study is to examine how children engage with power at a nature-based preschool. The researcher used data from field observations and programmatic resources to analyze the power enacted by children. The researcher found that the children enact power through structures, to define place, care for themselves, and care for others. The implications of this …

Go to article

Experiences Of Discrimination And Stress In People With And Without Hiv: Associations With Experimental Pain Sensitivity And Substance Use, Joanna Hobson Sep 2024

Experiences Of Discrimination And Stress In People With And Without Hiv: Associations With Experimental Pain Sensitivity And Substance Use, Joanna Hobson

All ETDs from UAB

People living with HIV (PLWH) are at an increased risk for experiencing not only discrimination, but the adverse health outcomes that are related to discrimination. Specifically, studies have identified direct relationships between HIV, discrimination and substance use, pain, poor sleep (e.g. insomnia symptoms) and depression. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the relationships between discrimination, stress, experimental pain sensitivity, mood and substance abuse. We used various questionnaires to measure mood and health behavior. Lastly, participants underwent a series of pain experiments to measure group differences in experimental pain sensitivity. We found group differences in cortisol levels (p = .031) and …

Go to article

Non-Invasive Pet Imaging Probes For Immune Activation And Fibrosis In Cancer And Pulmonary Fibrosis, Yujun Zhang Sep 2024

Non-Invasive Pet Imaging Probes For Immune Activation And Fibrosis In Cancer And Pulmonary Fibrosis, Yujun Zhang

All ETDs from UAB

Immune activation plays an important role in the development and treatment of tumor and fibrotic diseases. Granzyme B is a serine protease granzymes secreted by cytotoxic T cells or natural killer (NK) cells, which induces target cell apoptosis. Measuring granzyme B level is a way to quantify immune activation non-invasively. [68Ga]-NOTA-GZP PET imaging was applied in 4T1 breast cancer mouse model and LLC non-small cell lung cancer mouse model after treated with combination of 12 Gy irradiation and dual checkpoint inhibitors. There was a tumor growth and metastasis inhibition in the combination treatment group. The uptake of [68Ga]-NOTA-GZP on day …

Go to article

Multi-Omics Analysis Of Nf1 Deficiency In Various Cell Types Implicates Roles Outside Of Ras For Cells And Their Microenvironment, Christian Xavier Fay Sep 2024

Multi-Omics Analysis Of Nf1 Deficiency In Various Cell Types Implicates Roles Outside Of Ras For Cells And Their Microenvironment, Christian Xavier Fay

All ETDs from UAB

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominant disease in which many patients develop the hallmark feature, neurofibromas, benign tumors that develop along the peripheral nerves. Currently there is no known cure for NF1, and more than 3000 germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in NF1 have been observed. The neurofibromin gene encodes the 320kDa NF1 protein which has multiple predicted functions. Its most under-stood molecular role is in binding GTP-Ras and stimulating Ras-GTPase to cleave GTP to GDP and inactivate Ras signaling. In fact, the only FDA-approved therapeutic is the MEK inhibitor selumetinib which acts downstream of Ras. NF1 also has Ras …

Go to article

Unraveling The Lymphatic Landscape In The Normal And Injured Kidney, Gelare Ghajar-Rahimi Sep 2024

Unraveling The Lymphatic Landscape In The Normal And Injured Kidney, Gelare Ghajar-Rahimi

All ETDs from UAB

The lymphatic vascular system, tasked with managing interstitial fluid homeostasis, clearing cellular debris, and trafficking immune cells, is a promising yet largely untapped area for therapeutic intervention in kidney diseases. Clinically, kidney biopsies of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) show evidence of injury-associated lymphangiogenesis. Recent pre-clinical studies have established that manipulation of the lymphangiogenic response greatly impacts the pathophysiology of serval kidney diseases. However, conflicting results in the literature, unresolved knowledge gaps, and technical challenges hinder the development of lymphatic-modifying therapeutics. Here, we interrogate the long-term effects of ischemia-reperfusion and aging in AKI and …

Go to article

Biomedical Informatic Analysis Of Critical Care Outcomes & Chronic Sequelae Of Sars-Cov-2 Infection, Michael John Patton Sep 2024

Biomedical Informatic Analysis Of Critical Care Outcomes & Chronic Sequelae Of Sars-Cov-2 Infection, Michael John Patton

All ETDs from UAB

Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative pathogen of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resulted in an unprecedented loss of life over the past 4 years and has left an indelible mark on nearly every facet of medical care. Unlike pandemics of the 20th century or earlier, global adoption of electronic medical records (EMR) in the decade prior to the COVID-19 pandemic provided the bedrock for real-time healthcare innovation guided by biomedical informatics research. Mirroring the needs of healthcare providers, early informatics studies focused on identifying biomarkers and risk factors for severe presentations of COVID-19 and their …

Go to article

Factors Associated With Early Onset Anal Cancer And Facilitators And Barriers To Screening Among Men Living With Hiv And Their Providers In The Deep South: A Mixed Methods Investigation, Anna Junkins Sep 2024

Factors Associated With Early Onset Anal Cancer And Facilitators And Barriers To Screening Among Men Living With Hiv And Their Providers In The Deep South: A Mixed Methods Investigation, Anna Junkins

All ETDs from UAB

For my dissertation work, I aimed to 1) determine the occurrence of early onset (diagnosis at <50 years) anal cancer and the impact of HIV infection and other risk factors, and 2) utilize a mixed methods research approach to identify and explain factors associated with screening among men living with HIV (MLHIV) and their providers. In Aim 1, I used logistic regression to estimate the odds of early onset cancer by sociodemographic and clinical characteristics among anal cancer patients in the Alabama cancer registry from 2012-2018. Among 519 patients, 17.7% were diagnosed at <50 years. Male sex, Black race, and HIV infection were associated with younger age at diagnosis. Black patients had a 4-fold increased odds of early onset anal cancer compared to White patients and disproportionately lived in areas with higher social vulnerability. In Aim 2, I used logistic regression to estimate the odds of anal cancer screening by sociodemographic and sexual risk characteristics among MLHIV using retrospective survey data from 1917 Clinic in 2018. Among 1,114 men, 52% had received an anal pap within one year of completing the survey. Men who were screened were more likely to have multiple sexual partners. Heterosexual men had lower odds and men who reported unprotected anal sex had higher odds of screening. Older Black men were less likely to be screened. In Aim 3, I used thematic analyses to identify themes related to health beliefs, barriers and facilitators, and perceived and evaluated need of screening using in-depth interviews among MLHIV and their providers. Benefits of screening among MLHIV were early detection and awareness about one’s body. Suggestions for overcoming barriers to screening among providers included screening guidelines, patient education, inclusion of screening into routine care, and self-collection. Among men that were aware of HPV-associated cancers, there was perceived risk and desire to receive HPV vaccination. Individuals who are male, Black, or living with HIV may be at increased risk of developing anal cancer younger. Among MLHIV, improving education about HPV-associated cancer, and offering self-collected screening as part of routine care could facilitate screening in the South.

Go to article

Phylogenetic Diversity Of Flagellin Differentiates Commensal Gut Bacteria That Induce Distinct Intestinal Epithelial Cell Responses, Melissa Simone Jennings Sep 2024

Phylogenetic Diversity Of Flagellin Differentiates Commensal Gut Bacteria That Induce Distinct Intestinal Epithelial Cell Responses, Melissa Simone Jennings

All ETDs from UAB

Flagellins belonging to bacteria from the Lachnospiraceae family are immunodom-inant antigens in inflammatory bowel disease. Flagellin, the basic unit of flagella utilized by bacteria for motility, is recognized by the host via toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5). Due to the diversity of flagellated bacteria, we investigated if this diversity results in distinct interac-tions between the bacteria and the host. Phylogenetic analysis on over 200 flagellin se-quences, primarily from Lachnospiraceae bacteria, revealed two divergent clusters we refer to as Group 1 (G1) and Group 2 (G2). In gnotobiotic mice colonized with G1 or G2 bacte-ria, both groups induce colonic interleukin 10 (IL-10)-producing …

Go to article

Spatiotemporal Characterization Of The Immune Response In Acute Kidney Injury And Pig-To-Human Kidney Xenotransplantation, Matthew David Cheung Sep 2024

Spatiotemporal Characterization Of The Immune Response In Acute Kidney Injury And Pig-To-Human Kidney Xenotransplantation, Matthew David Cheung

All ETDs from UAB

The kidney is an intricate organ responsible for filtering our blood, maintaining bone health, regulating blood pressure, and numerous other vital functions. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a temporary loss of kidney function, affecting up to 20% of hospitalized and 60% of critically ill patients. Despite the high mortality rate and frequency of occurrence, targeted therapies to treat AKI have not been successfully developed. Unresolved AKI confers an increased risk for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ultimately end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Although dialysis can sustain life for individuals with ESKD, transplantation is the only definitive cure. With …

Go to article

Effect Of Correlation Boundaries On Collinearity And Bias In Ordinary Least Square Regression, Yumo Xue Sep 2024

Effect Of Correlation Boundaries On Collinearity And Bias In Ordinary Least Square Regression, Yumo Xue

All ETDs from UAB

Linear regression (LM) stands as one of the prevailing methods used to assess the association between a dependent variable and independent variables, typically estimated using ordinary least squares. However, this approach frequently faces obstacles when applied to biomedical data, due to the issue of correlated independent variables (collinearity). Collinearity is a potential issue in observational studies, where researchers might omit less significant correlated variables from their model. This is often guided by the rule of thumb that a Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) of 10 indicates severe collinearity. Our hypothesis is that relying on this rule of thumb is arbitrary, and …

Go to article

Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study To Determine The Prevalence Of Periodontal Bone Loss As A Function Of Age In The Predoctoral Clinic Patient Population, Lincoln Nguyen Sep 2024

Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study To Determine The Prevalence Of Periodontal Bone Loss As A Function Of Age In The Predoctoral Clinic Patient Population, Lincoln Nguyen

All ETDs from UAB

Age has a significant effect on the body’s ability fight off disease, recover, and maintain collagen structures, and it has been observed that older adults have a higher prevalence of periodontal diseases. Studies have shown that age is a risk factor for alveolar bone loss. However, there is a lack of research done looking at if this is a linear progression or if there is a specific age that susceptibility increases. The aim of this study is to investigate (1) changes in radiographic bone loss in varying age groups in the University of Alabama patient population and (2) to evaluate …

Go to article

Elucidating The Role Of Glut3 In Glioblastoma Invasion And The Tumor Microenvironment, Sarah Elizabeth Williford Sep 2024

Elucidating The Role Of Glut3 In Glioblastoma Invasion And The Tumor Microenvironment, Sarah Elizabeth Williford

All ETDs from UAB

GBM is characterized by aggressive growth and therapy resistance, with a median survival of 14 months despite treatment. Brain tumor initiating cells (BTICs), as a subset of stem-like GBM cells known for their invasiveness, therapy resistance, and immune evasion. BTICs have increased GLUT3 expression, which is correlated with poor patient prognosis. This study identifies a novel role of GLUT3 in GBM invasion, distinct from its canonical function in glucose uptake and glycolysis, as well as a mechanism by which GLUT3 contained in exosomes promotes monocyte migration. Our data show that blocking phosphorylation of GLUT3 at T492, abolishes its pro-invasive phenotype, …

Go to article

Improving Direct Oncolytic Effect Of Oncolytic Hsv To Overcome Therapeutic Resistance Of Brain Tumors, Sam Edward Gary Sep 2024

Improving Direct Oncolytic Effect Of Oncolytic Hsv To Overcome Therapeutic Resistance Of Brain Tumors, Sam Edward Gary

All ETDs from UAB

Central nervous system tumors, especially malignant brain tumors, account for the most years of potential life lost in adults and children with cancer. Malignant brain tumors are typically fatal cancers due to their highly aggressive nature, inability to obtain gross total resection, location in sensitive brain areas, and intra- and intertumoral heterogeneity, making therapeutic targeting difficult. High-grade glioma (HGG), malignant brain tumors of glial cell origin invariably recur due to intrinsic and adaptive resistance mechanisms against standard therapies. Therefore, novel treatments that overcome therapeutic resistance are desperately needed. One promising approach is oncolytic viruses (OVs), which achieve tumor regression by …

Go to article

Uncovering The Contribution Of Desmoplakin Isoforms To Desmosome Structure And Function, Krishna Patel Sep 2024

Uncovering The Contribution Of Desmoplakin Isoforms To Desmosome Structure And Function, Krishna Patel

All ETDs from UAB

UNCOVERING THE CONTRIBUTION OF DESMOPLAKIN ISOFORMS TO DESMOSOME STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION KRISHNA PATEL MULTIDISCIPLINARY BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE ABSTRACT Desmosomes are cell-cell junctions that maintain the integrity of tissues that experience significant mechanical stress, such as the skin and heart. Desmosomal plaque proteins are connected to the intermediate filaments by desmoplakin (DP), and genetic variants in DP are associated with several skin and heart pathologies, including erythrokeratodermia and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. DP contains three domains: an N-terminal plakin head, a central rod, and an intermediate filament-binding C-terminal tail. Furthermore, DP has three splice isoforms (DPI, DPIa, and DPII) that differ only in the …

Go to article

Computational Approaches To Identify Circular Rnas In Parkinson's Disease, Lisa Shrestha Sep 2024

Computational Approaches To Identify Circular Rnas In Parkinson's Disease, Lisa Shrestha

All ETDs from UAB

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, affecting approximately a million individuals in the United States. Despite its high prevalence, PD is generally diagnosed at a progressed stage after the manifestation of characteristic motor symptoms (bradykinesia, tremor, rigidity, etc.). Hence, it is imperative to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the progression of PD at an early stage. Several non-coding RNAs have emerged as important regulators in several key cellular processes, among which circular RNAs' role has not been studied well enough. Here, we explore the changes in the expression of circRNAs with respect to the …

Go to article

Biochemical Characterization Of Rna Polymerases Across The Domains Of Life, Stephanie Lois Cooper Sep 2024

Biochemical Characterization Of Rna Polymerases Across The Domains Of Life, Stephanie Lois Cooper

All ETDs from UAB

RNA polymerases perform the essential function of RNA synthesis from a DNA template. This process, known as transcription, is critical for all living species and a key point for regulation of gene expression. The function of RNA polymerases allow species from all domains of life to not only survive, but also respond to environmental changes such as heat and nutrient deprivation. In biological taxonomy, the highest classification is domain. The three domains are Eukarya, Bacteria, and Archaea. The domain Eukarya contains all eukaryotic organisms, ranging from yeast, to plants, to metazoans. Bacteria and Archaea are both prokaryotic domains, the species …

Go to article

An Investigation Of Mitochondrial Dna (Mtdna) Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (Damps) In People With Hiv: Associations With Experimental Pain Sensitivity, Shannon Gilstrap Sep 2024

An Investigation Of Mitochondrial Dna (Mtdna) Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (Damps) In People With Hiv: Associations With Experimental Pain Sensitivity, Shannon Gilstrap

All ETDs from UAB

People with HIV (PWH) have a higher chance of developing comorbidities as they age. Two specific comorbidities found amongst PWH are chronic pain and sleep disturbances. The premise of this dissertation was to examine a potent driver of pain with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) as a key mechanism linking chronic pain and insomnia with pain sensitivity. It has yet to be tested in PWH, but it stands to reason that mitochondrial DAMPs might serve as a link between insomnia and pain in PWH. This study was designed to address whether chronic pain and insomnia promote pain sensitivity …

Go to article

Drug Resistance Mechanisms Of Trichomonas Vaginalis, Keonte Graves Sep 2024

Drug Resistance Mechanisms Of Trichomonas Vaginalis, Keonte Graves

All ETDs from UAB

Trichomonas vaginalis is a facultative anaerobic parasitic protozoan and the main causative agent of the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection, trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis affects both men and women but is more commonly observed in women. The majority of infections are asymptomatic, but those with symptomatic infections often experience malodorous and discolored vaginal discharge, pruritis, dysuria, and/or dyspareunia. T. vaginalis infections have been associated with multiple adverse health outcomes including an increased risk of acquiring HIV and other STIs, infertility, adverse birth outcomes, and cervical cancer. The only current FDA-approved treatments come from the 5-nitroimidazole class of drugs (metronidazole, tinidazole, and …

Go to article

Identifying Links Between Cardiovascular Disease And Insomnia Using Human Genetics And Drosophila Models, Farah Abou Daya Sep 2024

Identifying Links Between Cardiovascular Disease And Insomnia Using Human Genetics And Drosophila Models, Farah Abou Daya

All ETDs from UAB

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and its in- cidence remains on the rise globally. In addition to other factors, CVD is associated with insomnia, which is the most common sleep disorder. It is defined as the persistent diffi- culty in initiating and/or maintaining sleep. Insomnia symptoms were found to double the risk of incident CVD. However, the specific shared causal pathways remain poorly un- derstood, making it difficult to identify new therapeutic targets that ameliorate insomnia- related CVD risks. Recently, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified genet- ic loci significantly associated with insomnia symptoms. Here, we …

Go to article

Investigating Molecular Mechanisms Behind Neuronotypic Gba1 Mutations In Lewy Body Dementias, Casey Mahoney-Crane Sep 2024

Investigating Molecular Mechanisms Behind Neuronotypic Gba1 Mutations In Lewy Body Dementias, Casey Mahoney-Crane

All ETDs from UAB

Nonmotor deficits are present in nearly all Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, with ~80% of these patients developing dementia. Importantly, expression of the severe GBA1 L444P heterozygous mutation increases the risk for Parkinson’s disease devel-opment by 5.43 times compared to mild mutation carriers. Currently, many PD treat-ments predominately focus motor symptoms, while treatments for nonmotor symptoms, such as visual-spatial difficulties and dementia, focus on symptom management and continue to remain elusive. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms behind these nonmotor symptoms is essential for the development of effective therapeutics leading to slower disease progression. The work presented in this dissertation sought to …

Go to article

Health Systems' Adaptations To "Disruptive Primary Care Models", Jolynn R. Suko Sep 2024

Health Systems' Adaptations To "Disruptive Primary Care Models", Jolynn R. Suko

All ETDs from UAB

Since the 1990s, hospitals and health systems have built primary care networks to establish market share and ensure sustainability. At this same time, the under?performance of the U.S. primary care system in terms of quality, service, and access has been widely documented. Value-based payment models have emerged. These trends created opportunities for new primary care market entrants. These market entrants may erode the primary care base of established health systems. This study examined how health systems may be adapting to a subset of new, disruptive primary care market entrants or disruptive primary care models. This study included disruptive primary care …

Go to article

The Role Of Micromobility In The Changing Urban Mobility Landscape, Mostafa Jafarzadehfadaki Sep 2024

The Role Of Micromobility In The Changing Urban Mobility Landscape, Mostafa Jafarzadehfadaki

All ETDs from UAB

The growing prevalence of micromobility has significantly impacted urban mo-‎bility, offering a sustainable and convenient alternative for short trips in urban settings. ‎As cities grapple with increasing congestion, pollution, and the demand for efficient ‎mobility solutions, micromobility options like e-scooters and e-bikes have emerged as ‎popular modes of transportation, particularly in densely populated areas. While earlier ‎research has contributed to understanding micromobility and its impact on urban set-‎tings, significant knowledge gaps still exist. Therefore, a comprehensive study is neces-‎sary to explore the multifaceted dimensions of e-scooter adoption, usage patterns of mi-‎cromobility, and their implications for urban transportation systems and traffic …

Go to article

O-Glcnacylation And Modulation Of Gabaergic Transmission, Shekinah Phillips Sep 2024

O-Glcnacylation And Modulation Of Gabaergic Transmission, Shekinah Phillips

All ETDs from UAB

Changes in the strength of GABAergic transmission is heavily influenced by posttranslational modifications and allosteric modulators like benzodiazepines and neurosteroids. O-GlcNAcylation (O-GlcNAc) is a post-translational modification that is tightly regulated by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA), which add or remove the O-GlcNAc moiety of β–N-acetylglucosamine to serine and threonine residues on proteins, respectively. Published reports from our lab have demonstrated that an acute increase in O-GlcNAcylation induces a long-term depression (LTD) of evoked GABAAR mediated IPSCs (eIPSCs) and reduces the amplitude and frequency of spontaneous IPSC (sIPSC) in hippocampal principal cells, however the mechanism in which this occurs is …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last