Digital Commons Network^™

Adenovirus As A Platform For Assembly And Targeted Delivery Of Gold Nanoparticles To Tumor Cells, Vaibhav Saini

All ETDs from UAB

Novel combinatorial strategies need to be explored to achieve tumor eradication. In this regard, viral vector based gene therapy and nanotechnology offer unique possibilities for cancer therapy. As an example, multifunctional adenoviral (Ad) vectors capable of targeting, imaging, and successful cancer gene therapy have been advanced into multiple clinical trials. Similarly, novel multifunctional gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been utilized for drug delivery, targeting, imaging, and hyperthermia tumor therapy. Therefore, to accrue the benefits of both gene therapy and nanotechnology for cancer therapy, we proposed to combine Ad vectors and AuNPs in a single multifunctional nanodevice. Towards this goal, herein, we …

The Role Of Tgf-Ss And Wnt5a In Mammary Gland Development And Tumurorigenesis, Kevin Patrick Roarty

All ETDs from UAB

cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide behind lung cancer, affecting women of all ages, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic strata. Concerted efforts have been made to understand this heterogeneous disease from the clinical stage down to the molecular level. Importantly, it has become clear that an understanding of the normal biology of the breast at all stages of development is needed to gain insight into how alterations in normal regulatory networks contribute to the initiation and development of breast cancer. TGF-ß plays a role in growth and patterning of the mammary gland and alterations in its signaling exhibit biphasic …

Correction Of Sickle Cell Disease By Homologous Recombination, Li-Chen Wu

All ETDs from UAB

The hematological disorder sickle cell disease (SCD) is a prevalent human genetic disease. It causes severe tissue damage that can result in strokes, splenic infarction, kidney failure, liver and lung disorders, painful crises, and other complications. Although palliative therapies and allogenic stem cell transplantation therapies have been developed for this disorder, there is still no optimal treatment and SCD patients continue to suffer significant morbidity. Recently, several powerful technologies have been developed that increase the possibility for developing therapeutic treatments for SCD. Previously, our lab group demonstrated that SCD can be corrected in our humanized mouse model by transduction of …

Physiological Charactterization Of The Light Response Of Rod Photoreceptors In The Light Damaged Rat, Yuquan Wen

All ETDs from UAB

Constant light exposure has long been known to induce photoreceptor degeneration. However, it is not known whether photoreceptors alter their physiology to adapt to the environmental stress caused by constant light exposure. In this study, we have developed a slow light damage model in rats to study changes in single rod physiology and retinal morphology after light damage. Rod physiology was documented by single rod recording using a suction electrode at 3 days (R3), 5 days (R5), 15 days (R15), and 30 days (R30) after 10 days of light damage, or sham light damage for controls. In addition, we used …

The Use Of Molecular Imaging To Evaluate Te Efficacy Of Treatments For Metastatic Breast Cancer, April Adams Szafran

All ETDs from UAB

The development of molecular imaging technologies has allowed biomedical researchers to study the process of cancer metastasis in animal models of disease. Bioluminescence imaging has been a crucial tool for non-invasive monitoring of tumor growth, dissemination, and response to therapies. In this report, we have applied bioluminescence imaging to evaluate the efficacy of Death Receptor 5 agonist therapy for the treatment of breast cancer metastasis, predominately to the skeleton, in an athymic nude mouse model. Initially, we determined that bioluminescence imaging was the most ideal technology for studying secondary bone lesions in vivo when compared to both x-ray Computed Tomography …

Characterization Of Suds3 As A Brms1 Family Member In Breast Cancer, Alexandra C. Silveira

All ETDs from UAB

BRMS1 and SUDS3 belong to a protein family characterized by the Sds3-like domain. These proteins are core members of SIN3-HDAC chromatin remodeling complexes and thus, regulate transcription. BRMS1 decreases the expression of various metastasis-promoting proteins. This regulation contributes to BRMS1-mediated metastasis suppression through the inhibition of motility and by sensitizing cells to anoikis, as well as through other unidentified mechanisms related to growth at a secondary site. Although BRMS1 and SUDS3 share high sequence similarity and are found in the same complexes, studies have yet to address whether these similarities result in overlapping functions. Additionally, it is unclear how BRMS1 …

Expression And Function Of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors In Human Vascular Endothelial Cells, Ryan C. Splittgerber

All ETDs from UAB

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are widely expressed in neural and non-neural tissues and have been reported to play a role in neovascularization and vascular diseases of the eye, specifically age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). However, the subunit composition of functional nAChRs, their mechanisms of action, and the downstream signaling pathways in non-neuronal tissues are not well understood. Since some nAChR subtypes have high Ca2+ permeability, we investigated the possible role of Ca2+ in activating signaling cascades that underlie the affects of nAChR activation in Human Dermal Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HDMECs). RT-PCR experiments revealed message for nearly all of the known …

Degradation Of The Huntingtin Polyglutamine Domain By The Proteasome: Implication To Huntington’S Disease, Marie Antoinette Blaize

All ETDs from UAB

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder. HD results from the genetic mutation that leads to an abnormally expanded polyglutamine (PolyQ) sequence within the protein. The disease is characterized by the accumulation of ubiquitinated mutant htt, suggesting dysfunction of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Interestingly, there is data suggesting that the proteasome may not have the ability to efficiently degrade abnormally expanded polyglutamine. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that there is proteasome impairment in HD and in cell models that expressed mutant htt, suggesting that mutant htt may cause dysfunction of the proteasome. Therefore, in this study, we further …

Picking Up Rocks, Frankie M. Bradley

All ETDs from UAB

The five short stories in this collection focus thematically on the experiences of a fictional character named Elizabeth Fuller. Each story presents an episode in Fuller’s life in which she develops as an autonomous individual, making independent choices, recognizing her relationships to the surrounding world and other people. At the beginning of the writing process I proposed creating a collection in which transcendentalism served as the philosophical undercurrent in Fuller’s progression through various life stages, working in the literary and philosophical traditions of Thoreau, Hawthorne, Jewett, Alcott, Stoddard, and Dillard. Initially I tried too hard to create ‘transcendentalist’ writing, inundating …

Age And Gender Differences In Hip Extension And Flexion Torque Steadiness, Iveta Grunte

All ETDs from UAB

Purpose of this study was to compare age and gender differences in hip extension (HE) and flexion (HF) relative (5, 25, and 50% of maximal voluntary contraction [MVC]) and absolute (25 Nm) torque steadiness measured as standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) of torque fluctuations, and torque accuracy (TA). MVC and steadiness were assessed for 20 young (24.0 + 2.2 yrs) and 11 older (65.4 + 4.5 yrs) men and women. MVC was lower for HF, but HE had greater torque fluctuations. For HE, CV of 5% MVC was greater for older compared to young adults and women …

Micro-Raman Spectroscopy And Dry Turning Evaluations Of Nanostructured Diamond Films Deposited On Tungsten-Carbide Lathe Inserts, Thomas Ryan Lawson

All ETDs from UAB

Synthetic diamond is increasingly called upon to play important roles in high-tech machining. This thesis follows the progress of nanostructured diamond films deposited on tungsten-carbide lathe inserts by means of MPCVD. Testing of films was done under the rigors of dry turning. Comparisons were made to the performance of uncoated WCCo, polycrystalline diamond compacts (PCD) and microcrystalline diamond (MCD) coated lathe inserts in the categories of surface finish and lifespan. Attempts were also made to correlate nanodiamond film performance to indentation tests and Raman spectroscopy. Raman results indicate that specifically the peak at 1556 cm-1 is detrimental to film lifespan …

The Convergence Envelope For Iterative Estimation In Ss-Parse, Ningzhi Li

All ETDs from UAB

A novel and recently developed fast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique, Single-Shot Parameter Assessment by Retrieval from Signal Encoding (SSPARSE), promises significant improvements in robustness and accuracy of local signal parameter estimates compared to the conventional MRI methods. In using a more accurate signal model, the reconstruction for SS-PARSE differs from the traditional Fourier transform method. An iterative estimation algorithm, progressive length conjugate gradient (PLCG), is currently employed by SS-PARSE to reconstruct independent parameter maps of local magnetization, transverse relaxation rate and frequency. In practice, the large number of degrees of freedom and partial poor conditioning of the problem itself …

Endodontic Sealers-Their Properties And Effects On Fiber Post Retention, Farrah Huthail Najib

All ETDs from UAB

Zinc oxide eugenol sealers have been used clinically for several years. Glass ionomer sealers were introduced due to their adhesion to the dental hard tissues and excellent sealing ability. During the process of endodontic treatment a post, core and final restoration is required for tooth restoration. Recently fiber reinforced composite posts have become more popular because of their mechanical properties and esthetics. However, fiber posts have to be adhesively cemented into root canal which can be affected by the endodontics sealers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of eugenol and non-eugenol containing sealers on the retention …

The Barbary Wars: Ideology And Politics In Post-Revolutionary America, Christopher R. Null

All ETDs from UAB

This thesis examines the build-up to and the events of the First Barbary War (1801-1805) with the purpose of demonstrating that ideological factors significantly influenced the decision to go to war – specifically the republican ideology of Thomas Jefferson and his belief that this ideology represented the essence of the United States and its Revolutionary heritage. As such, Jefferson will be the main focus of this analysis. This focus is justified because it is Jefferson who broke with the policies set by his predecessors and directly engaged the Barbary States with military force. Therefore, to understand why the United States …

Bone Formation Around Implants In Adult Transgenic Mice With Selective Runx2-Ii Deficiency, Jaime Rodrigo Rivera

All ETDs from UAB

Titanium-aluminum-vanadium (Ti-6Al-4V) tacks were placed in the tibiae of 10 female wild type (Runx2 flox/+ or Runx2 flox/flox) and heterozygous (Runx2+/-, ColII Cre) mice littermates to examine healing and bone response. Animals were divided into control and test groups of 5 each. A novel generation of Runx2 knock-out mice where the gene is only deleted in chondrocytes was used. Ten days after implant surgery, specimens were recovered and prepared for histological, histomorphometric, and micro-CT morphometric analysis. Histological examination revealed that wild type animals presented larger regions of bone formation and endochondral ossification when compared to heterozygous mice. Micro-CT morphometric analysis …

Oral Mucositis In Children Receiving Bone Marrow Transplantation, Francisco Jose Rodriguez

All ETDs from UAB

Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective study was to identify the factors that influence the incidence, severity, onset, and resolution of oral mucositis in children undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Methods: One hundred and fifty medical records were reviewed of patients that received BMT. Daily values of white blood cell (WBC) counts were obtained to associate it’s correlation with the incidence, severity, onset, and resolution of oral mucositis. Age group and gender of the patients, type of bone marrow transplant, the use of methotrexate, the use of total body irradiation, and the previous treatment with chemotherapy were obtained to analyze …

Conservational Implications Of Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination, Corie L. Therrien

All ETDs from UAB

A variety of reptiles have temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), where incubation temperature determines gender. This form of sex determination has significant conservational implications because it has the potential of producing highly biased sex ratios which can affect the reproductive output of a population. TSD is of particular interest to conservation programs that use hatcheries to artificially incubate the eggs of endangered sea turtles because such programs need to select specific incubation temperatures in an effort to produce a desired sex ratio. This type of sex determination also has evolutionary implications as it may be advantageous for an animal to produce …

Study Of Nano-Mechanical Properties Of 3d Scaffolds Prepared From Polycaprolactone And Hydroxyapatite, Parul Tyagi

All ETDs from UAB

Nanocomposite scaffolds based on nanofibrous polycaprolactone (PCL) and nanohydroxyapatite (nanoHA) with fixed polymer compositions (7.5wt%) but different total wt% were prepared by electrostatic co-spinning to mimic the nanofeatures of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) for natural bone tissue. Electrospinning is used to produce ultra-fine fibers using a high-voltage electrostatic field. The proposed concentrations of NanoHA in polymer were 0wt%, 10wt%, 20wt%, 30wt%, 40wt%, 50wt%. NanoHA was found to be well dispersed in polymers up to the addition of 30wt%, whereas substantial beading, electro-spraying and agglomeration of HA particles was observed in 40wt% and 50wt%. There are several factors which may …

Quantitative Protein Detection In Serum Samples Using Fiber-Optic Biosensors, Chun-Wei Wang

All ETDs from UAB

We report highly specific and sensitive detection of proteins in serum samples using a combination tapered fiber-optic biosensor (CTFOB) dip-probe. Sandwich immunoassay was used to generate specific fluorescence signal. A novel competitive adsorption strategy was used to reduce the false signal from non specific binding to a negligible level. Moreover, the similar strategy was also used to reduce the loss of target protein and increase the accuracy of immunoassay. The probes do not require pre-treatment with any blocking buffer. The specificity of the sensor was established by using negative control probes. The CTFOB probes were able to detect human interleukin-6 …

Comparison Of Two Methods For Differentiating Negative From Inconclusive Gc-Ms Test Results Using An Isotopic Analog Of The Analyte As The Internal Standard - 11-Nor-Δ9- Tetrahydrocannabinol-9-Carboxylic Acid Example, Laura S. Waters

All ETDs from UAB

In the testing of urine samples for illicit drugs by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), a drop in internal standard response is an indicator of possible sample adulteration. In 2007, Dennis V. Canfield (Liu et al. 2007) developed a formula to calculate factor A, an empirically determined value for the lowest acceptable internal standard (IS) signal-to-noise (S/N) response. Using this method, Liu et al. were able to distinguish true negatives from samples showing interference by ibuprofen and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the detection of 11-nor-9-carboxy-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) in urine samples. To determine if Liu’s method can be universally applied, a set of …

Trp-Ing Down A Trk: A New Role For Transient Receptor Potential Channels As Novel Mediators Of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Actions At Both Sides Of The Excitatory Synapse, Michelle Dawn Amaral

All ETDs from UAB

Over the years, various roles for neurotrophins have been revealed, being initially described as survival signals for neurons making their initial synaptic contacts in the developing brain. Eventually, it was discovered that these molecules also play important modulatory roles in the adult brain. The work encompassed in this dissertation serves to characterize one particular neurotrophin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which has been implicated in long-term potentiation (LTP), and its effects at CA3-CA1 synapses in the hippocampus following acute application in vitro. To this end, we have demonstrated the presence of a novel, non-selective cationic current that is initiated by BDNF …

Characterization Of Sortase And Its Effect On The Virulence Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Allison E. Bennett

All ETDs from UAB

Sortases are transpeptidases that covalently link surface proteins to the stempeptide on the cell wall peptidoglycan of Gram-positive bacteria. This work endeavored to characterize the various sortase enzymes and their effect on the virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The genome of S. pneumoniae may encode up to four sortase enzymes. We found that 38 of 54 strains of serotype 6B clonal complex 14 (CC14) carry the genes for the secondary sortases srtB, srtC, and srtD. The presence of these sortases did not seem to influence the ability of strains within CC14 to infect the nasopharynx, lungs, or blood of strains within …

Gladys Mcqueen Becomes The University's First "Employee Of The Month," January 1978, Uab Archives

Images of the Month from UAB Archives

Image ID: P7.2.1, #0574

A woman sits in front of a computer and looks to the side at the camera

Watch Out For Holiday E-Mails Warns Uab's Computer Forensics Researchers, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

David Klock Named Dean, Uab School Of Business, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Uab Theater Student Awarded Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship To Study In Belfast, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Uab Microbiologist Wins Top Czech Science Honor, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Uab Optometrists: Got The Flu? Take Out Your Contacts, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Uab Announces Health System Interim Leadership, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

December 17, 2007 Reporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.