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Study Of The Processing-Structure-Property Relationship In Recycled Thermoplastic Composites, Carlos Gerardo Angulo Ruiz Jan 2023

Study Of The Processing-Structure-Property Relationship In Recycled Thermoplastic Composites, Carlos Gerardo Angulo Ruiz

All ETDs from UAB

The quest for sustainable materials and manufacturing techniques has spurred research into distinct composite materials that utilizes recycled thermoplastics in combination with natural hemp fibers and recycled carbon fibers. This dissertation delves into the processing of recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) with hemp fiber and separately, with recycled carbon fiber (rCF), scrutinizing their suitability as environmentally friendly and economically viable materials. The study focuses on distinct processing methods used for hemp fiber and recycled carbon fiber: compression molding with hemp mats as well as extrusion compression molding, additive manufacturing, and injection molding for recycled carbon fiber, while the recycled carbon fiber …


Modifiable Risk Factors And Subsequent All-Cause And Cause-Specific Late Mortality After Blood Or Marrow Transplanta-Tion (Bmt), Nora Balas Jan 2023

Modifiable Risk Factors And Subsequent All-Cause And Cause-Specific Late Mortality After Blood Or Marrow Transplanta-Tion (Bmt), Nora Balas

All ETDs from UAB

The objective of this dissertation was to examine the association between modifiable risk factors and subsequent all-cause and cause-specific late mortality among blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) recipients. I analyzed data for participants who were ≥18 years (y) at study participation from the BMT Survivor Study (BMTSS). BMTSS (U01 CA213140, PI: Bhatia) is a cohort study designed to examine the long-term outcome of individuals who survived ≥2y after undergoing BMT between 1974 and 2014, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, City of Hope, or University of Minnesota. BMTSS also examines outcomes in an unaffected comparison group drawn from the …


The Noahic Pattern In Nicolas Rolin's Patronage: Jan Van Eyck's Rolin Madonna And Rogier Van Der Weyden's Beaune Altarpiece, Elizabeth Deschamps Blackford Jan 2023

The Noahic Pattern In Nicolas Rolin's Patronage: Jan Van Eyck's Rolin Madonna And Rogier Van Der Weyden's Beaune Altarpiece, Elizabeth Deschamps Blackford

All ETDs from UAB

In Rogier van der Weyden’s (1399/1400-1464) Beaune Altarpiece (fig. 1, c.1445-1451), Christ presides over the Day of Judgment while seated atop a rainbow. Previous analyses of the polyptych briefly mention the rainbow’s presence. However, in this thesis, I will show how the rainbow motif symbolizes a significant and, until now, undiscovered allusion instigated by the patron Nicolas Rolin (1376-1462), the chancellor of Burgundy, to Noah, the Old Testament patriarch. In the chancellor’s previous commission to Jan van Eyck (1390-1441), the Virgin and Child with Chancellor Nicolas Rolin (fig. 3, c.1435), Rolin first exhibited the Noahic allusion through the Drunkenness of …


Regulatory Elements Of Polyphosphate Biosynthesis, Marvin Qortez Bowlin Jan 2023

Regulatory Elements Of Polyphosphate Biosynthesis, Marvin Qortez Bowlin

All ETDs from UAB

Polyphosphate (polyP) is an ancient, conserved, inorganic biomolecule. Biological systems have adapted many functions for this high-energy molecule, ranging from immune regulation in mammals to gene regulation in prokaryotes. Of particular interest is its use in bacterial stress responses. Bacteria use polyP to resist hazardous environmental elements like toxic molecules or nutrient starvation. In many bacterial species, polyP is synthesized by polyphosphate kinases (PPKs). PPK – discovered in Escherica coli (E. coli) – hydrolyzes adenosine-5’-triphosphate (ATP) to synthesize polyP. Species that use PPK develop multiple pathogenic defects when PPK activity is impaired, including, among others, antibiotic susceptibility. There is no …


The Influence Of Proximity On Patient Outcomes For Differently Structured Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Wendy Michelle Smith Jan 2023

The Influence Of Proximity On Patient Outcomes For Differently Structured Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Wendy Michelle Smith

All ETDs from UAB

THE INFLUENCE OF PROXIMITY ON PATIENT OUTCOMES FOR DIFFERENTLY STRUCTURED AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERSWENDY SMITH HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ABSTRACT This study examines the complication rates and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for total hip and knee replacement surgeries conducted in one of two differently structured ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) with varying interprofessional surgical teams. There is an ongoing shift from in-hospital total joint replacement surgeries to ASCs. Additionally, there is specialization occurring within ASCs. In this study, we compare single specialty ASCs designed to perform solely TJR surgeries with one orthopedic group and interprofessional team, with multi-specialty ASCs that perform an array …


Prevalence And Phenotype Of Autism Spectrum Disorder Within Pitt Hopkins Syndrome, Helen Kay Root Jan 2023

Prevalence And Phenotype Of Autism Spectrum Disorder Within Pitt Hopkins Syndrome, Helen Kay Root

All ETDs from UAB

Pitt Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS) is an extremely rare genetic disorder which has been described as closely associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While individuals with PTHS have been observed to exhibit symptoms that closely mirror ASD (de Winter et al., 2016; van Balkom et al., 2012; de Pontual et al., 2009; Sweatt, 2013), there have been few studies which have specifically examined ASD-like symptomatology in this population. The current study aims to build understanding regarding the developmental and ASD-specific profile of individuals with PTHS using in-person, observational and elicited standardized assessment measures. Participants included 10 individuals with PTHS aged 2-12 …


Evaluation Of A Hospital Pdmp Ehr-Integration Implementation: A Mixed, Heather D. Martin Jan 2023

Evaluation Of A Hospital Pdmp Ehr-Integration Implementation: A Mixed, Heather D. Martin

All ETDs from UAB

Background: Many providers continue to over prescribe opioids for pain, and Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) can be used as a tool to assist with appropriate opioid prescribing decisions. Despite mandates requiring opioid prescribers to review patients’ prescribing history in their state’s PDMP, barriers to PDMP success still exist such as a difficult PDMP logon process and having to log on to a separate PDMP system, which can cause access, workflow, time commitment, and ease of use issues and deter providers from using the PDMP. Some health care organizations have implemented PDMP electronic health record (EHR) integration (PDMP EHR-integration) to …


Analytical Fundamentals For Advancing Aero-Road/Terrain Multibody Morphing Dynamics And Stability Of Autonomous Utility Truck In Hazardous Environments, Parth Y. Patel Jan 2023

Analytical Fundamentals For Advancing Aero-Road/Terrain Multibody Morphing Dynamics And Stability Of Autonomous Utility Truck In Hazardous Environments, Parth Y. Patel

All ETDs from UAB

Severe weather conditions have steadily increased over the last two decades. Therefore, the safety of the rescue and repair team is of paramount importance while they attend to emergencies due to these severe weather conditions. Utility trucks are the first responders in these extreme climate and weather situations for cutting trees to restore traffic, recovering life beings from destroyed properties, repairing electric posts, and restoring power. Such trucks with morphing capabilities of the boom equipment can increase the possibility of road accidents in several ways and create hazardous situations on the roads and off-road conditions while moving and performing critical …


Manipulation And Dependence On Host Cell Cycle By Human Rna And Dna Viruses: Human Coronavirus Oc43 And Bk Polyomavirus, Jason M. Needham Jan 2023

Manipulation And Dependence On Host Cell Cycle By Human Rna And Dna Viruses: Human Coronavirus Oc43 And Bk Polyomavirus, Jason M. Needham

All ETDs from UAB

Cell cycle is a universal necessity of cellular life and impacts nearly every process within the cell. However, despite over one hundred years of research, there still remain questions concerning the mechanisms and regulation of eukaryotic cell cycle. From the beginning, viruses have informed our knowledge of cell cycle. Many key regulators such as the E2F transcription factors, Src kinase, and p53 were originally discovered while studying the interactions between viruses and the cell. Herein, we continue the investigation of viral interactions with cell cycle machinery by researching an RNA virus and a DNA virus. These viruses, human coronavirus OC43 …


A Tale Of Two Waves: The Role Of Genomic Enhancers In Regulating Transcriptional And Epigenetic Responses To Neuronal Activitiy, Robert A. Phillips Jan 2023

A Tale Of Two Waves: The Role Of Genomic Enhancers In Regulating Transcriptional And Epigenetic Responses To Neuronal Activitiy, Robert A. Phillips

All ETDs from UAB

The mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway, which consists of dopaminergic neurons that project from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc), is heavily implicated in drug addiction. Exposure to drugs of abuse results in increases in extracellular concentrations of DA in the NAc, which in turn activates an immediate early gene (IEG) expression program that primarily consists of activity-dependent transcription factors, such as the AP1 subunits Fos and JunB. IEGs engage a set of temporally and functionally distinct genes, termed the late response gene (LRG) expression program. While gene expression changes are critical for drug-dependent adaptations, two major …


A Simulation Framework For Identity And Access Management Based On Internet Of Things Architecture, Vahid Moghaddasi Jan 2023

A Simulation Framework For Identity And Access Management Based On Internet Of Things Architecture, Vahid Moghaddasi

All ETDs from UAB

The swift progression of the Internet of Things (IoT) architecture has revolutionized various industrial processes, including enterprise Identity and Access Management (IAM). This dissertation develops a dynamic process framework for Identity and Access Management based on the Internet of Things architecture. System analysis with Digital Twin simulation explores the integration of IoT devices to enhance IAM in enterprises. Digital Twin is a virtual service that enabled us the creation of a comprehensive digital IAM environment to explore alternative designs. This dissertation begins by providing an overview of IoT architecture and its impact on enterprise IAM. It discusses the challenges enterprises …


Randomized Control Trial Of A Novel Dental Gel As An Adjunct To Scaling And Root Planing In Subjects With Stage Ii & Iii Periodontitis, Sarah Pham Jan 2023

Randomized Control Trial Of A Novel Dental Gel As An Adjunct To Scaling And Root Planing In Subjects With Stage Ii & Iii Periodontitis, Sarah Pham

All ETDs from UAB

The current standard of care for treating chronic periodontitis is scaling and root planing (ScRP) followed by supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) (Cobb et al., 2021; Ramfjord et al., 1987). The goal of ScRP is to eliminate supra- and subgingival bacterial deposits and to reduce periodontal pathogens, inflammation, and pocket depths (Greenstein, 2000). Although ScRP has been shown to significantly improve baseline clinical parameters, moderate to advanced cases may require additional surgical therapy which many patients resist (Stambaugh, 1981; Becker et al., 2001). Currently, no dentifrice used adjunctively has been proven to increase the therapeutic effects of scaling and root planing. …


Physical Activity And Related Social Cognitive Theory Constructs By Major Depression Status In Persons With Multiple Sclerosis, Catherine Danielle Jones Jan 2023

Physical Activity And Related Social Cognitive Theory Constructs By Major Depression Status In Persons With Multiple Sclerosis, Catherine Danielle Jones

All ETDs from UAB

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent among the 1 million per-sons living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the United States. The prevalence of MDD is nearly 1.7 times higher in persons with MS than in the general population. MDD is associated with negative outcomes in MS, including worse neuropsychological functioning, lower quality of life (QOL), and worse disability. Higher levels of physical activity (PA) are associated with lower depressive symptoms in MS and participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) has been recommended for managing depression se-verity in the general population. However, the rates, patterns, and behavioral correlates …


Controlling Mechanical Properties In Thim Multilayer Hydrogels Through Network Structure, Maksim Dolmat Jan 2023

Controlling Mechanical Properties In Thim Multilayer Hydrogels Through Network Structure, Maksim Dolmat

All ETDs from UAB

Polymer thin films possess unique properties, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility, making them vital for enhancing surface functionality. Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly allows for synthesis of ultrathin polymeric films with precise control over film thickness, material selection, surface chemistry, and responsiveness. Current advancements in LbL assembly focus on understanding film formation and deposition conditions on film’s structure and properties. Covalent cross-linking of physically bonded LbL networks forms multilayer hydrogel networks capable of absorbing large amounts of water. The use of stimuli-responsive polymers has facilitated the advancement of "smart" materials capable of responding to external stimuli. Stimuli-responsive hydrogels exhibit reversible volume changes, making them …


Secure And Multimodal Personal Safety In Smart Cities With Applications In Interactions And Privacy Preservation For Pedestrians, Raiful Hasan Jan 2023

Secure And Multimodal Personal Safety In Smart Cities With Applications In Interactions And Privacy Preservation For Pedestrians, Raiful Hasan

All ETDs from UAB

The personal safety of pedestrians has increasingly been recognized as a global concern, with a multitude of contributing elements. These include distractions such as smart and wearable device usage, the absence of human-centric systems, infrastructure inadequacies, and traffic regulation. Individuals are increasingly experiencing physical harm as a consequence of reduced attention to their immediate environment, thereby compromising their personal safety. This phenomenon is becoming more prevalent in this fast-paced, technology-driven world, especially among the young. The proliferation of digital devices, such as smartphones and wearable technology, has led to a significant shift in people’s focus from their physical surroundings to …


Suicide Ideation And Risk Factors Among Correctional Officers, Logan Lavender Jan 2023

Suicide Ideation And Risk Factors Among Correctional Officers, Logan Lavender

All ETDs from UAB

The correctional work environment is detrimental to correctional officers’ (COs) health and wellness. While research shows that COs experience high rates of stress, PTSD, and other mental and physical health problems, relatively little research has examined the issue of CO suicide. The current study addresses this knowledge gap by drawing on a survey of COs from Washington state (N=420). Utilizing a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) framework, this study examines the prevalence of critical incidents (CIs), work stress, PTSD, and suicide ideation, estimates the degree to which exposure to CIs predicts suicide ideation, and assesses how work stress and PTSD moderate …


Acceptability And Tolerability Of Ketone Supplements And Their Effects On Capillary Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Concentrations In Young Adults, Mickey Bolyard Jan 2023

Acceptability And Tolerability Of Ketone Supplements And Their Effects On Capillary Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Concentrations In Young Adults, Mickey Bolyard

All ETDs from UAB

Increased concentrations of circulating ketones via ketogenic diet (KD) have been associated with beneficial effects on a number of chronic conditions, including obesity, fatty liver disease, refractory epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases. KD has been associated with low sustainability and compliance, which has led to the creation and commercialization of exogenous ketones. However, past studies examining the effects of exogenous ketones in humans are very limited. In this study, we compared two different commercially available exogenous ketones, a ketone monoester (KME) and a ketone monoester-salt mix (KME+S), at two different doses (5 g and 10 g ketones). Fourteen healthy young adults …


Increasing Patient Safety By Reducing Falls Among In-Hospital Community-Dwelling Patients 65 Years Old Or Older By Using A Shift Change Fall Safety Checklist, Janice Isaac Brooks Jan 2023

Increasing Patient Safety By Reducing Falls Among In-Hospital Community-Dwelling Patients 65 Years Old Or Older By Using A Shift Change Fall Safety Checklist, Janice Isaac Brooks

All ETDs from UAB

This manuscript is designed to promote and improve healthcare safety, quality, efficiency, and lower medical costs for hospitals and patients. Falls, fall injuries, and their devastating consequences are rising, yet falls are preventable even among senior patients. Search Engines and Key Terms SciWheel was used to save the literature and eliminate duplications. Key terms were used in the Boolean strings: elderly fall prevention, senior fall safety, in-hospital fall prevention, falls in the aging, and fall prevention tools. The CINAHL Plus yielded 58. PubMed search yielded 121. And Google Scholar yielded 32. The total of all three searches was 211. Thirteen …


Maternal, Infant, And Early Childhood Home Visiting And School Readiness In Alabama, Heather H. Johnson Jan 2023

Maternal, Infant, And Early Childhood Home Visiting And School Readiness In Alabama, Heather H. Johnson

All ETDs from UAB

This study examined the relationship between home visiting and school readiness in Alabama. Topics included a scoping review of the home visiting literature, statistical analyses of Alabama’s Teaching Strategies GOLD® (GOLD) data to determine if there were differences in performance among children who received home visiting compared to those who did not, and the development of a Key Driver Diagram (KDD) to inform improvement in home visiting practices that support school readiness. The scoping review of the literature indicated an absence of consistent definitions and measurement of the concept of school readiness. Through thematic analysis of the articles, contextual factors …


Exploring The Cognitive, Environmental, And Behavioral Factors That Impact Concussion Reporting Behavior In Division Iii Football Players, Brandon T. Wright Jan 2023

Exploring The Cognitive, Environmental, And Behavioral Factors That Impact Concussion Reporting Behavior In Division Iii Football Players, Brandon T. Wright

All ETDs from UAB

Purpose: This dissertation applies Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to understand concussion reporting behavior in D-III football players and explores the culture of concussion reporting through qualitative ethnography. Using the SCT constructs, the study investigates the cognitive, environmental, and behavioral factors influencing concussion reporting in D-III football players. The lack of research on how reciprocal determinism affects concussion reporting at the most vulnerable level of competition provides an opportunity to examine the cultural context of concussion reporting. The goal is to develop theoretically-based interventions that increase concussion reporting and change cultural narratives concerning concussion reporting behavior in under-resourced institutions. Methods: This …


Differential Mechanisms Of Intestinal Inflammation Drive Pathogenesis Of Diabetic Retinopathy In Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes, Jason Levi Floyd Jan 2023

Differential Mechanisms Of Intestinal Inflammation Drive Pathogenesis Of Diabetic Retinopathy In Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes, Jason Levi Floyd

All ETDs from UAB

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes and, along with diabetic macular edema (DME), accounts for the greatest source of vision-threatening eye disease in the working-age community. DR is caused by weakening of the retinal vasculature, the blood-retinal barrier (BRB), by high levels of blood glucose (hyperglycemia), exacerbations of oxidative stress, and systemic inflammatory factors. Many of these inflammatory factors are metabolic by-products and cell membrane constituents of the gut microbiota, the resident community of microbial species which inhabit the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract. These factors are collectively termed gut microbial antigens (GMAs). In diabetes, …


Factors Influencing Physical Activity Among Us Adults With Chronic Health Conditions: Mediation And Moderation Analysis, Sami M. Alqahtani Jan 2023

Factors Influencing Physical Activity Among Us Adults With Chronic Health Conditions: Mediation And Moderation Analysis, Sami M. Alqahtani

All ETDs from UAB

The prevalence of chronic health conditions (CHCs) is rising across all age groups, genders, and racial/ethnic groupings, making them the main cause of death globally. The majority of CHCs deaths occur in middle-to-low-income countries, although they are also a significant health issue in developed countries. A higher risk of developing CHCs is linked to physical inactivity. Global societies are experiencing increased prevalence of CHCs, which are directly assoicated with rising healthcare costs, workforce attendance, productivity challenges, and academic success. However, increased exercise and physical activity (PA) are linked to lower odds of developing CHCs. In fact, regular PA can help …


Protein-Carbohydrate Ratio Affects Blastema Formation During Wound Healing In The Zebrafish Danio Rerio, Jonathan T. Flowers Jan 2023

Protein-Carbohydrate Ratio Affects Blastema Formation During Wound Healing In The Zebrafish Danio Rerio, Jonathan T. Flowers

All ETDs from UAB

Tissue damage, whether a traumatic injury or surgically-induced, can compromise organ structure and function. Traumatic injury affects 38 million people annually in the U.S alone, costing around 4.8 billion dollars. Much research has been accomplished on defining the pathways associated with recovery, but research on understanding the role of nutrition in wound healing is limited. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) provide a high-throughput model to elucidate nutrients that are important in the regenerative process due to their reproductive capacity, rapid development, cost compared to other animal models and, lastly, their ability for tissue regeneration. Specifically caudal fin amputation is of interest because …


Nero's Eastern Policy And The Peace Of Rhandeia, Henry Smith Jan 2023

Nero's Eastern Policy And The Peace Of Rhandeia, Henry Smith

All ETDs from UAB

This thesis will argue that Corbulo’s campaigns in Armenia and the subsequent Peace of Rhandeia were reflective of a longstanding foreign policy which had been adopted in the aftermath of the ambush at Teutoburg Forest and continued under Augustus’ successors. Nearly every aspect of the campaign, from the composition of the army, to the strategy employed by Corbulo, was an expression of the post-Augustan shift from expansion to defense. In place of conquest, the maintenance of prestige and the projection of power became the primary objectives of the Roman emperors, including Nero. The war in Armenia was fought to maintain …


Mechanical, Thermal, Flammability Analyses Of Composites Made Of Recycled High-Density Polyethylene And Perlite, Sergen Barçin Jan 2023

Mechanical, Thermal, Flammability Analyses Of Composites Made Of Recycled High-Density Polyethylene And Perlite, Sergen Barçin

All ETDs from UAB

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a widely used plastic for applications such as packaging for food industry and piping system in nuclear plants because of its beneficial properties, including lightweight, impact resistance, and chemical resistance. The use of HDPE can contribute to environmental problems, such as depletion of natural resources and accumulation of plastic waste in landfills and oceans. There is a growing need to find ways to recycle and reuse HDPE. While the use of recycled HDPE presents certain challenges such as relatively low thermal, mechanical properties, and flame retardancy, the addition of mineral-based additives can enhance these properties. By …


Examination Of The Bidirectional Relationship Between Anhedonia And Vaporized Cannabis Use In Adolescents: A Longitudinal Cohort Analysis, Cynthia Estrella Ortiz Jan 2023

Examination Of The Bidirectional Relationship Between Anhedonia And Vaporized Cannabis Use In Adolescents: A Longitudinal Cohort Analysis, Cynthia Estrella Ortiz

All ETDs from UAB

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance in the United States, and the prevalence of cannabis use has increased in recent years following changes in. One method that has become increasingly popular among adolescents is vaporized cannabis. Current research appears to be contradictory, whereas some studies indicate that vaporized cannabis use can boost mood, other investigations have indicated that vaporized cannabis use is associated with an increase in depressive symptoms. A limited number of research studies have also identified a relationship between cannabis use and anhedonia, however, this relationship is unclear, particularly among adolescents. Due to the reported adverse …


Birmingham Poetry Review 50 (Complete Issue), Birmingham Poetry Review Staff Jan 2023

Birmingham Poetry Review 50 (Complete Issue), Birmingham Poetry Review Staff

Birmingham Poetry Review

No abstract provided.


Resurrection, Paola Bruni Jan 2023

Resurrection, Paola Bruni

Birmingham Poetry Review

p. 79


The Armchair, Michael Bazzett Jan 2023

The Armchair, Michael Bazzett

Birmingham Poetry Review

p. 69


Gay Emancipation: The Effort To Delete Paragraph 175, Luke Goodwin Jan 2023

Gay Emancipation: The Effort To Delete Paragraph 175, Luke Goodwin

Vulcan Historical Review

pp. 8-21