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Analysis Of The Structural And Kinetic Properties Of Sult2a1 Induced By The Binding Of 3'-Phosphoadenosine-5'-Phosphosulfate, Ian Thomas Cook Jan 2011

Analysis Of The Structural And Kinetic Properties Of Sult2a1 Induced By The Binding Of 3'-Phosphoadenosine-5'-Phosphosulfate, Ian Thomas Cook

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Sulfation is an important Phase II drug metabolism reaction catalyzed by the cytosolic sulfotransferases (SULTs). SULT2A1 is a major SULT in liver and adrenal cortex that has been reported to sulfate a wide variety of substrates including bile acids, steroids, and drugs. The crystal structures of SULT2A1 suggest that PAPS binding causes a structural change. This study examines the kinetic changes in SULT2A1 caused by PAPS binding using computer modeling, enzyme kinetics, binding studies, and mammalian cells expressing SULT2A1. The data presented clearly demonstrate that the binding of PAPS changes the affinity of some substrates to SULT2A1 resulting in different …

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Understanding Molecular Mechanisms Of Breast Cancer Metastasis Using Genetically-Engineered Mice, Leah M. Cook Jan 2011

Understanding Molecular Mechanisms Of Breast Cancer Metastasis Using Genetically-Engineered Mice, Leah M. Cook

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Morbidity and mortality of breast cancer patients are drastically increased when primary tumor cells metastasize to distant organ sites. Effective treatment of metastatic disease has been limited; therefore, an increased molecular understanding to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets is needed. Breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1) suppresses development of metastases when expressed in a variety of cancer types, including metastatic mammary carcinoma. Little is known of Brms1 function throughout the initiation and progression of mammary carcinoma. Thus Brms1 transgenic mice (derived on C57BL/6 background) were generated by utilizing MMTV promoter expression (for mammary-selective overexpression) or the beta-actin promoter (for ubiquitous …

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Behavior Of Midbrain Vergence Cells During Stepwise Transfers Of Gaze And Oblique Tracking In Depth, Leah Corthell Jan 2011

Behavior Of Midbrain Vergence Cells During Stepwise Transfers Of Gaze And Oblique Tracking In Depth, Leah Corthell

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A long standing debate regarding the neural organization of oculomotor control began in the late 1800's with Hering and von Helmholtz proposing two opposing ideologies. Von Helmholtz proposed a monocular structure of the oculomotor circuitry in which each eye receives separate motor commands. Hering offered his law of equal innervation, which states that all eye movements are the sum of binocular vergence and conjugate commands. As a test of Hering's binocular proposal, this project compared the behavior of midbrain vergence cells during: 1) saccade-free stepwise transfers of gaze in depth; 2) combined saccade-vergence eye movements; 3) pure vergence tracking, and …

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Structural And Mechanistic Studies On Er Upr Sensor Perk And Mitochondrial Translocon Element Tim44, Wenjun Cui Jan 2011

Structural And Mechanistic Studies On Er Upr Sensor Perk And Mitochondrial Translocon Element Tim44, Wenjun Cui

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The unfolded protein response is one mechanism utilized by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to maintain the homeostasis between ER protein folding machinery and ER proteins. UPR is induced by three ER transmembrane sensors: IRE1, ATF6 and PERK. PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) can sense the ER stress signal through its luminal domain to activate its cytoplasmic kinase domain catalytic activity. PERK kinase domain belongs to the eIF2α family. Members in this family are activated after being autophosphorylated at their activation loops and then specifically phosphorylate eIF2α at its Ser51 position. Phosphorylation of eIF2α can shutdown the cytosol protein translation from the initiation …

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Characterization Of Tbx20 Isoforms And Protein Interactions In Heart Development, Paige Debenedittis Jan 2011

Characterization Of Tbx20 Isoforms And Protein Interactions In Heart Development, Paige Debenedittis

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Proper cardiogenesis is critical for the development of vertebrates. Abnormalities in cardiogenesis can lead to congenital heart defects (CHDs), which occur in approximately 1% of live births. The cardiac transcription factor network contains different transcription factor families which direct the expression of critical cardiac genes. Determining how the cardiac transcription factors are regulated will provide insight in the mechanisms of cardiogenesis and CHDs. The T-box (TBX) transcription factor family is an ancient gene family important for development. Several TBX genes are expressed within the developing heart and play critical roles in differentiation, proliferation, and morphogenesis. One important TBX protein is …

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Limited Transplantation Of Antigen-Expressing Hematopoietic Stem Cells Induces Long-Lasting Cytotoxic T Cell Responses And Effect Of Altered Suppressive Myeloid Population On Hiv-Disease Progression, Warren L. Denning Jan 2011

Limited Transplantation Of Antigen-Expressing Hematopoietic Stem Cells Induces Long-Lasting Cytotoxic T Cell Responses And Effect Of Altered Suppressive Myeloid Population On Hiv-Disease Progression, Warren L. Denning

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While each type of cancer and chronic viral infection has its own specific pathology, they share two common mechanisms of immune evasion. The first mechanism is the exhaustion or deletion of antigen-specific T cells. The second mechanism is the formation of an immunosuppressive environment responsible for the block of T cell function. Elicitation of antigen-specific T cells be accomplished by immunotherapy in place of conventional treatments such as HAART and chemotherapy. In addition, immunotherapy can alleviate the side-effects associated with long-term use of conventional therapies while reducing the total cost. The results presented here provide an alternative to conventional methods …

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Health Literacy: A Community-Based Mixed Methods Study Of Prescription Medication Self-Management Among Community Dwelling Older Adults, Joy P. Deupree Jan 2011

Health Literacy: A Community-Based Mixed Methods Study Of Prescription Medication Self-Management Among Community Dwelling Older Adults, Joy P. Deupree

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During the next decade, it is estimated that 7,918 Americans will turn 60 years old every day. This increase is expected to impact future health care costs. The aging population must be knowledgeable about health care needs to self-manage chronic conditions requiring multiple medications. Nearly half of all American adults have limited literacy skills. Adults at the lowest literacy levels may misunderstand instructions from a health care professional. Confusion about health care instructions can put patients at risk for adverse drug events. The purpose of this two-phase, explanatory mixed methods study was to explore how community dwelling adults ages 60 …

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Role Of The Cardiomyocyte Circadian Clock In Modulating Myocardial Physiology And Pathophysiology, David Joseph Durgan Jan 2011

Role Of The Cardiomyocyte Circadian Clock In Modulating Myocardial Physiology And Pathophysiology, David Joseph Durgan

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It is well established that multiple parameters of cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology exhibit diurnal variations. For example, human heart rate and blood pressure peak during the morning and trough in the evening. Similarly, there is a morning prevalence for the onset of multiple adverse cardiovascular events, including myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Traditionally these rhythms have been attributed to rhythms in neurohumoral stimulation. However recent identification of the circadian clock mechanism in cardiovascular relevant cell types, including the cardiomyocyte, has prompted investigation into its role in modulating myocardial physiology and pathophysiology over the course of the day. Preliminary …

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Effects Of Growth Factor Induced Pathways On Differentiation Of The Human Neuronal Cell Line Sh-Sy-5y., Ashish D. Dwary Jan 2011

Effects Of Growth Factor Induced Pathways On Differentiation Of The Human Neuronal Cell Line Sh-Sy-5y., Ashish D. Dwary

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Background: The VSNL1 gene product, Visinin-like-protein-1 (VILIP-1), is a member of the neuronal EF-hand Ca2+-sensor protein family. Previously, VILIP-1 mRNA and protein expression were shown to be altered in animal models and in schizophrenia patients. VILIP-1 influences cytosolic cAMP levels, cell migration, exocytotic processes and differentiation in the periphery. This raises the question, whether similar to other potential schizophrenia susceptibility genes, such as Disc1, PDE4B and Akt, VILIP-1 may be associated with schizophrenia-related measures, and if it could mechanistically affect cAMP signaling and neurite outgrowth in neurons. Methods: 627 people with schizophrenia and 541 control subjects were ascertained and the …

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The Effect Of The Release Of A Thermal Stressor On Bluegill (Lepomis Macrochirus) Morphology And Physiology, Jessica Eagar Jan 2011

The Effect Of The Release Of A Thermal Stressor On Bluegill (Lepomis Macrochirus) Morphology And Physiology, Jessica Eagar

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Temperature is considered a very important abiotic factor in fish communities. An increase in water temperature, as is found with the use of nuclear production reactors, can act as a stressor in aquatic systems. The P-reactor, operational from 1954-1988, on the Savannah River Site near Aiken, South Carolina, utilized the Par Pond Reservoir System as part of its cooling mechanisms. During reactor operation, heated effluents were displaced into Pond C, causing the water to be heated to around 45° C. Fischer (1994) found that the bluegill population had adapted with changes to their morphology and physiology. The bluegill from the …

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Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Caenorhabditis Elegans Sperm Migration, Johnathan Wesley Edmonds Jan 2011

Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Caenorhabditis Elegans Sperm Migration, Johnathan Wesley Edmonds

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Fertilization is the process by which male and female gametes join to give rise to a new organism. Union of sperm and ova requires that sperm be able to successfully locate and migrate towards oocytes in the female reproductive tract. By analyzing the in vitro migration of sperm from diverse species and mapping the complex architecture of their female reproductive tracts, we can infer that sperm must respond to directional cues to seek out the mature oocyte. However, the internal fertilization schemes of most complex animals complicate the analysis of in vivo sperm migration. The transparent epidermis of the nematode …

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Biological Characterization Of Transmitted Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1, Tara Grant Edmonds Jan 2011

Biological Characterization Of Transmitted Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1, Tara Grant Edmonds

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Heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type&ndash1 (HIV&ndash1) accounts for the majority of infections worldwide, with women representing the larger percentage of infected individuals. The events leading to the transmission of HIV&ndash1 at mucosal surfaces are not well defined. Based on the observations that transmitted viruses nearly exclusively utilize the CCR5 coreceptor, and that in 80% of heterosexual transmissions a single virus variant establishes infection, there appears to be a selection mechanism that allows only a subset of viruses to be transmitted. This genetic bottleneck suggests that transmitted viruses may possess specific phenotypic and/or genotypic properties that allow for their …

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From Brown To Bakke: Race Change And The Birmingham City Schools, 1963-1983, Johnmark Allen Edwards Jan 2011

From Brown To Bakke: Race Change And The Birmingham City Schools, 1963-1983, Johnmark Allen Edwards

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When in 1954 the US Supreme Court declared that "separate but equal" was inherently not equal, every segregated school system in America was supposed to desegregate. This was easier said than done, and more successful in some systems than others. Here is a case study of that episode in American history focused on Birmingham, Alabama. This city's tumultuous road to educational desegregation unfolded in four phases: non-compliance (1954-1963), incremental desegregation (1963-1967), "freedom of choice" (1967-1970) and zoned integration (1970-1983). In this context, the thesis has three objectives: first, to explore how people of Birmingham - black and white, male and …

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Characteristics Of Juveniles Charged With Domestic Violence In The Jefferson County Family Court And The Effect Of Prior Domestic Violence Conviction On Case Disposition., Omobolanle Atinuke Ene-Korubo Jan 2011

Characteristics Of Juveniles Charged With Domestic Violence In The Jefferson County Family Court And The Effect Of Prior Domestic Violence Conviction On Case Disposition., Omobolanle Atinuke Ene-Korubo

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Juvenile violence has received considerable attention both in criminological literature and policy circles, but this attention has largely ignored juvenile domestic violence offending, which is a growing problem in the Jefferson County Family Court. This study identifies the characteristics of juvenile domestic offenders in the Jefferson County Family Court, and examines the effect of prior domestic violence conviction on case disposition. Results indicate that these juveniles are black, males, inschool and the most likely victim of the violence is the juveniles mother. Prior domestic violence offending has no statistically significant effect on case disposition.

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The Role Of The Classical Nf-Kb Pathway In Hsc Self-Renewal And Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Robert Jason Flynn Jan 2011

The Role Of The Classical Nf-Kb Pathway In Hsc Self-Renewal And Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Robert Jason Flynn

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Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) comprises approximately 25% of newly diagnosed cases of leukemia each year. The constitutive activation of the classical NF-κB signaling pathway has been observed in up to 70% of AML cases, and could be due to mutations upstream involving the PI3K-Akt cascade, which is also constitutively active in a majority of cases. In mice, constitutive activation of Akt either through deletion of the negative regulator of PI3K-Akt, PTEN, or by expression of Myr-Akt induces rapid stem cell loss along with a lethal, transplantable myeloproliferative disorder and AML. These studies show that constitutive Akt and NF-κB signaling distinguish …

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Occupational Stress In Veterinary Support Staff, Sandra Morales Foster Jan 2011

Occupational Stress In Veterinary Support Staff, Sandra Morales Foster

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OCCUPATIONAL STRESS IN VETERINARY SUPPORT STAFF Sandra Morales Foster DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH ABSTRACT Limited information exists about veterinary support staff and the occupational stressors of this workforce. Concern for workers in occupations of high or prolonged stress such as caregivers in hospitals and emergency situations has been noted in many studies. Occupational stress can cause harmful physical and emotional outcomes when the homeostatic balance is upset. This study explored occupational stress, health status, and coping strategies of veterinary support staff. A mixed-method collected quantitative and qualitative data. Demographic information and three validated instruments were ad-ministered using a web-based survey; …

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Associations Among Measures Of Engagement With Kp.Org And Clinical Outcomes, Heather J. Sobko Jan 2011

Associations Among Measures Of Engagement With Kp.Org And Clinical Outcomes, Heather J. Sobko

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USING MEASURES OF ENGAGEMENT WITH KP.ORG TO DETERMINE ASSOCIATIONS WITH SELECTED CLINICAL OUTCOMES HEATHER J. SOBKO SCHOOL OF NURSING ABSTRACT Introduction The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to examine patterns of use of an electronic personal health record among adults diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension or hyperlipidemia. Intermediate behavioral measures (medication possession ratios) and physiological measures of metabolic control for diabetes (hemoglobinA1c), hypertension (blood pressure) and hyperlipidemia (low density lipoprotein) were examined. Methods Administrative data from Kaiser Permanente Georgia were analyzed. Adult members of with selected chronic diseases of diabetes, hypertension or hyperlipidemia who used the Kaiser Permanente electronic …

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Ionic Mechanism Of Post-Shock Arrhythmias: Role Of Intracellular Calcium, Brittany Sowell Jan 2011

Ionic Mechanism Of Post-Shock Arrhythmias: Role Of Intracellular Calcium, Brittany Sowell

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Background: Defibrillation shocks are commonly used to interrupt life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, but these strong electrical shocks may cause post-shock arrhythmias, the ionic mechanism of which is not well known. Strong shocks cause electroporation and diastolic Cai2+ increase, which may possibly lead to focal arrhythmias via spontaneous Cai2+ rise (SCR), activation of inward Na+-Ca2+ exchange current (INCX), and rise in membrane potential (Vm). The objective of this study was to examine the role of intracellular calcium and the Cai2+-dependent ionic mechanism in post-shock arrhythmias. Methods: Experiments were performed in patterned cultures of neonatal rat myocytes. Fluorescent dyes and two 16x16 photodiode …

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Ultrasound Elasticity Measurements As A Predictor For Arteriovenous Fistula Maturation, Anna Sorace Jan 2011

Ultrasound Elasticity Measurements As A Predictor For Arteriovenous Fistula Maturation, Anna Sorace

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This research thesis examines the applicability of using ultrasound imaging to quantify arterial elasticity and assess potential of arteriovenous fistula maturation in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Tissue-specific abnormalities have proven useful for identifying disease states within oncology, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal system. Using ultrasound-based imaging to evaluate arterial elasticity is a noninvasive and novel technique. It has the potential to contribute further insight into chronic kidney disease fistula failure and become a noninvasive prognostic indicator. Reliable vascular access is critical for delivery of adequate hemodialysis treatment to CKD patients and to maintain long-term connections for dialysis. An arteriovenous fistula is …

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Expanding Genetic Analysis Of Patients With A Neurofibromatosis Type 1-Like Phenotype, Emily Spencer Jan 2011

Expanding Genetic Analysis Of Patients With A Neurofibromatosis Type 1-Like Phenotype, Emily Spencer

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Neurofibromatosis Type 1, a common autosomal dominant disorder with neuro-cardio- facio-cutaneous presentation, is caused by mutations in the NF1 gene, a negative regulator of RAS-MAPK signaling. The presentation of NF1 is overlapping, yet clinically distinct from other diseases of RAS-MAPK signaling. An RNA-based comprehensive approach for mutation detection identifies an NF1 alteration in over 95% of non-founder NF1 patients with a classical NF1 presentation. However, no NF1 mutation was identified in 54.2% of the 2432 patients referred for molecular diagnostics due to the presence one or more NF1 related sign between August 2003 and July 2007. In order to clarify …

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"The Role Of Health Promotion In Physical Therapy Survey" Reliability And Validity Testing", Jaca Stephens Jan 2011

"The Role Of Health Promotion In Physical Therapy Survey" Reliability And Validity Testing", Jaca Stephens

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ABSTRACT Purpose: Physical therapists (PTs) have a unique opportunity to play a meaningful role in educating patients on health and wellness to prevent chronic conditions, such as cardiac disease, cerebrovascular disease, pulmonary disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. No instrument has been validated to measure physical therapists' views on health promotion and their practices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of a health promotion survey designed for physical therapists. Method: An expert panel of 9 physical therapists assessed the content validity of "The Role of Health Promotion in Physical Therapy Survey." as developed by Rea …

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Calcium Dynamics Of Glial Cells And Genetic Influences On Behavior Of The Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans, Randy Franklin Stout Jan 2011

Calcium Dynamics Of Glial Cells And Genetic Influences On Behavior Of The Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans, Randy Franklin Stout

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A major challenge in neuroscience is understanding how the different neural cell types work together to process information and produce a behavioral output. Glial cells of the human brain have long been thought to act as support for the fundamental cell to cell communication at the core of cognition: neuronal synaptic communication. Research over the past several decades measuring glial activity and experimentally controlling glial cells in rodent model systems has shown that the two macroglia sub-types of glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) have active roles in establishment, maintenance, and modulation of synaptic communication in the mammalian brain. Much of …

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The Effects Of Runx2 Deficiency In Cartilaginous And Mineralized Craniofacial Element, David Summerford Jan 2011

The Effects Of Runx2 Deficiency In Cartilaginous And Mineralized Craniofacial Element, David Summerford

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The development of the orofacial structure in mammals is a highly ordered process that is coordinated activity of epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Chondrocytes and osteoblasts work in close association for development of many cartilaginous skeletal structures and cartilaginous orofacial structures. Two major orofacial structures are the palate and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The transcription factor, Runx2, is obligatory for differentiation of mesenchymal cells into chondrocytes and osteoblasts. However, specific contributions of chondrocyte in cartilaginous and mineralized structures of the craniofacial skeleton are not known. Thus, the objective of this study was to discover the regulatory role of Runx2 in chondrocyte …

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Model Transformation By Demonstration: A User-Centric Approach To Support Model Evolution, Yu Sun Jan 2011

Model Transformation By Demonstration: A User-Centric Approach To Support Model Evolution, Yu Sun

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Domain-Specific Modeling (DSM) is an innovative software development methodology that raises the specification of software to graphical models at a high-level of abstraction using domain concepts available in a language that is defined by a metamodel. Using DSM, models become first-class entities in the construction of software systems, and therefore model evolution becomes as important as code evolution in traditional software development. Model transformation is a core technology of DSM that converts a source model to a target model, which plays a significant role in supporting model evolution activities. A common approach toward model transformation is to write transformation rules …

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Ethnic Differences In The Consistency Of Accuracy Of Perceived Exertion, Sarah Katherine Sweatt Jan 2011

Ethnic Differences In The Consistency Of Accuracy Of Perceived Exertion, Sarah Katherine Sweatt

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Objective It has been previously found previously overweight women who over-perceived their exertion during a submaximal task gained more weight during the following year and reported lower vitality, poorer mental health, and poorer dietary control when compared to those who under-perceived exertion. Therefore, we investigated the effect of diet-induced weight loss on accuracy of perceived exertion (APE), and examined whether any changes persist one year following a weight loss intervention in premenopausal, previously overweight, African American (AA) and European American (EA) women. Design formerly overweight women (n=102, age 20-44 yrs) completed a weight loss program to achieve a normal body …

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Academic Advising And Retention Of First-Generation College Students At A Research University In The Southeast, Hadyn K. Swecker Jan 2011

Academic Advising And Retention Of First-Generation College Students At A Research University In The Southeast, Hadyn K. Swecker

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Student retention is an area of concern both academically and financially for higher education institutions. With the state of the current economy, finances are a critical component to higher education institutions. Retention rates, in addition to graduation rates, are used for assessing the overall success of an institution and in some instances future funding. According to Schneider (2010), only 60% of undergraduate students matriculate from four-year institutions within six years of initial enrollment. One population, first-generation college students, are 1.3 times more likely than their non-first-generation peers to leave an institution during their first year of college (Ishitani, 2006). The …

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The Effect Of Changes In Tort Laws On Cesarean Section Rates In The United States, Allison Jean Taylor Jan 2011

The Effect Of Changes In Tort Laws On Cesarean Section Rates In The United States, Allison Jean Taylor

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"Defensive medicine", medical practice decisions based on fear of malpractice litigation and where risks may outweigh health and cost benefits, is a proposed contributor to increasing cesarean rates in the U.S. Some studies suggest that changes in laws governing medical malpractice actions may decrease the cesarean rate by relieving pressures driving defensive medicine. This study examined whether, in states that have adopted certain tort reform measures, the probability of having a cesarean delivery is lower following implementation of the reform measures. A database of state legislation and court decisions and National Center for Health Statistics natality data files (1991-2004) were …

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Gossom Switch And The Zearn Master, Donna Gossom Thomas Jan 2011

Gossom Switch And The Zearn Master, Donna Gossom Thomas

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Gossom Switch is a creative nonfiction piece which traces my paternal roots. This narrative explores the family bond, racial segregation, slavery, and civil rights. Although Gossom Switch is a personal journey, my story is also universal and historical. The Zearn Master is a middle-grade fiction novel. While the main purpose of this novel is to entertain, like my creative nonfiction it focuses on family, especially the bond between siblings. This piece is also universal in that it centers around the sport of basketball.

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The Role Of Protein Folding And Protein Trafficking In Human Disease, Cristy Davette Tower-Gilchrist Jan 2011

The Role Of Protein Folding And Protein Trafficking In Human Disease, Cristy Davette Tower-Gilchrist

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This dissertation documents my findings in two unrelated projects. Project 1: Expansion of CAG repeats encoding glutamine in huntingtin and ataxin 3 causes the neurodegenerative diseases Huntington's disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3), respectively. Both poly-glutamine (polyQ) expanded proteins misfold and ag-gregate within the cell. Preventing aggregation of polyQ proteins through molecular or pharmacological approaches provide therapeutic advantage in animal models of HD and SCA3. I hypothesized that the UL97 kinase encoded by the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) may be able to prevent the aggregation of polyQ proteins. Initially, I showed that the UL97 kinase prevents the deposition of aggregates …

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Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: Characterization Of Gunshot Residue And Bullet Wipe, Kristina Jenee' Truitt Jan 2011

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: Characterization Of Gunshot Residue And Bullet Wipe, Kristina Jenee' Truitt

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Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) can be used to quickly determine the elemental composition of gas, liquid, and solid samples with minimal sample preparation. A LIBS instrument commonly incorporates a ND:Yag Laser and a CCD or Eschelle detector. The laser pulse ablates material from a sample, producing a high temperature plasma. The plasma emits light at wavelengths that are characteristic of the elements ablated from the sample. The emission of the plasma is collected and analyzed by a detector within the LIBS system. The advantages of LIBS are that the method is relatively non-destructive, very little sample preparation is required, …

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