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Investigating Regulatory Mechanisms Of Transcription By Rna Polymerase I, Abigail Kate Huffines Jan 2023

Investigating Regulatory Mechanisms Of Transcription By Rna Polymerase I, Abigail Kate Huffines

All ETDs from UAB

There are at least three eukaryotic RNA polymerases (Pols), Pols I, II, and III. These Pols are essential for transcription, where RNA is synthesized from various DNA templates. While transcription has been well-studied for decades, there are still many questions that remain unanswered about how this process is regulated for each of the three Pols. Transcription is highly regulated and complex, therefore, many different mechanisms exist to tightly control it in the cell. Some of these mechanisms include regulation by transcription factors and co-transcriptional RNA processing. While these regulatory mechanisms are of great interest, they have not yet been fully …

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Biochemical Characterization Of Rna Polymerases I, Ii, And Iii And Its Therapeutic Implications, Ruth Qian Jacobs Jan 2023

Biochemical Characterization Of Rna Polymerases I, Ii, And Iii And Its Therapeutic Implications, Ruth Qian Jacobs

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In contrast to Bacteria and Archaea that express a single DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP), eukaryotes express at least three structurally distinct, nuclear, DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (Pols I, II, and III) that are responsible for synthesizing all the genome-encoded RNA required by the cell. Despite the discovery of the Pols over 50 years ago, there remains a knowledge gap concerning their enzymatic properties. Over the course of evolution, we know that Pols I, II, and III have diverged in structure and function. They share a 10-subunit core and are each responsible for transcribing unique genetic loci. What remains to be understood …

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Molecular Phenotyping Of Serum Iga1 0-Glycoforms In The Context Of Iga Nephropthy, Ellenore P. Craine Jan 2023

Molecular Phenotyping Of Serum Iga1 0-Glycoforms In The Context Of Iga Nephropthy, Ellenore P. Craine

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IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is an autoimmune disease that is the most common form of glomerulonephritis in the world, and results in end-stage renal disease in 40% of patients. In IgAN, human immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) has reduced levels of galactose (Gal) in the IgA1 O-glycosylated hinge region (HR) known as Gal deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1). These Gd-IgA1 glycoforms, which are elevated in circulation of IgAN patients, are recognized by Gd-IgA1-specific IgG autoantibodies, resulting in the formation of pathogenic immune complexes (CICs). Some of these CICs accumulate in the mesangium of glomeruli and induce kidney injury. Although the link between these deposits and …

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Neural-Glial-Vascular Interactions In Human Outer Retina, Deepayan Kar Jan 2023

Neural-Glial-Vascular Interactions In Human Outer Retina, Deepayan Kar

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The outer retinal metabolic ecosystem is a complex interplay among photoreceptors, RPE and blood supply from the retinal and choroidal microcirculation. Breakdown of any component of this ecosystem has detrimental effects and can lead to cellular dysfunction. For example, in age-related macular degeneration a major cause of vision loss in older adults, breakdown of this metabolic unit has severe structural and functional implications. Thus, every feature and component of this ecosystem seems to be optimized to protect non-replicating, terminally differentiated cells from being damaged. Remarkably, much of the cellular and subcellular organization of this system is available for observation in …

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In The Shadows, But Not Left Behind: Female Sex Workers' Acceptance Of Social Media For Hiv Prevention In Northwest And Southwest Provinces, Cameroon, Hassanatu Blake Jan 2023

In The Shadows, But Not Left Behind: Female Sex Workers' Acceptance Of Social Media For Hiv Prevention In Northwest And Southwest Provinces, Cameroon, Hassanatu Blake

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The purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate the acceptance of social media in HIV prevention education for female sex workers in Cameroon. The objectives included: (1) provide a review of literature on the use of social media in HIV prevention education among Female Sex workers (FSWs); (2) determine the acceptance of Secret Facebook Group (SFG) for HIV prevention education among FSW in Cameroon; and (3) explain the acceptance of SFG in HIV prevention education and social media platform alternatives to SFG in Cameroon. Utilizing a sequential explanatory mixed methods design, three methods were employed for this dissertation and guided …

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Neutrophil Heterogeneity And Alternative Granulopoiesis In Chronic Inflammatory Conditions, Ashley N. Connelly Jan 2023

Neutrophil Heterogeneity And Alternative Granulopoiesis In Chronic Inflammatory Conditions, Ashley N. Connelly

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Neutrophils, the most abundant type of circulating leukocyte, represent a heterogeneous population with distinct roles in immune regulation and disease pathogenesis. A major obstacle to our understanding of neutrophil biology is that neutrophils are readily activated during preparation. The lack of standardized methodology for neutrophil characterization makes the comparison of results across studies challenging. Here we provide a careful comparison of eight characterization methods and present a novel, optimized protocol for the characterization of whole blood neutrophils minimizing activationinduced phenotypic alterations during processing. Despite successful virological control, HIV-1-infected individuals maintain an increased risk of life-threatening comorbidities including liver, cardiovascular, and …

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Patterns Of Fatal Drug Overdose_ A Multi-City Investigation Of Geospatial Correlates, Keith R. Chichester Jan 2023

Patterns Of Fatal Drug Overdose_ A Multi-City Investigation Of Geospatial Correlates, Keith R. Chichester

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Fatal drug overdoses are now the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., responsible for over 107,600 deaths in 2021. Since 2000 the rate of overdose fatalities has increased over 140%. This epidemic has been particularly impactful in rural areas as from 2006-2016, the rural overdose death rate surpassed those in urban areas. Geospatial analytics provide an effective strategy for identifying profiles and patterns in the spatial distribution of overdose locations as well as geographic and demographic variables that associate with overdose occurrences. Furthermore, predictive risk modeling platforms allow for the identification of anticipated overdose hotspots across a geography …

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Contributions Of Off-Season Training And Food Security Status On Body Composition And Performance In Collegiate Football Players, Kathryn Lee Stowers Jan 2023

Contributions Of Off-Season Training And Food Security Status On Body Composition And Performance In Collegiate Football Players, Kathryn Lee Stowers

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Body composition measurements are collected periodically in the collegiate athletic setting to evaluate health and predict athletic performance of individual athletes. However, the effects of remote training and food insecurity on body composition have yet to be fully investigated in this population. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the influence of remote training and food security status on body composition and performance changes during off-season training. Aims 1 and 2 focus specifically on how factors affect body composition changes in collegiate football players during off-season training. Data were collected from routine body composition testing and food security screening …

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Induction Of Antibiotic Activity Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus In Small Molecules Through Zinc Activation, Rachel Michaela Andrews Jan 2023

Induction Of Antibiotic Activity Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus In Small Molecules Through Zinc Activation, Rachel Michaela Andrews

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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a serious human pathogen with a staggering potential for multi-drug resistance. Because of this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization monitor the spread of MRSA and encourage antibiotic development efforts targeting this pathogen. Despite this, few antibiotics have been developed and brought to market in recent decades. To continue treating infections caused by this organism, we must identify novel antibiotic molecules with different mechanisms of action from known antibiotics. Bacterial copper-dependent inhibitors (CDIs), molecules that become antibacterial in the presence of copper (Cu), have been studied as a novel …

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Eating Disorder Symptoms In Transgender Adults: The Impact Of Gender Dysphoria And Minority Stress On Eating Disorder Symptomatology, Elliott Botelho Jan 2023

Eating Disorder Symptoms In Transgender Adults: The Impact Of Gender Dysphoria And Minority Stress On Eating Disorder Symptomatology, Elliott Botelho

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Background: Transgender individuals experience more mental health challenges than their cisgender counterparts, and a growing area of research suggests that transgender in-dividuals are at increased risk of eating disorder symptoms. The Gender Minority Stress and Resilience model may help explain this health disparity in eating disorder symptoms. The model theorizes that this disproportionate mental health burden, such as eating disor-der symptoms, may arise from the stresses of belonging to a minoritized group. Another factor that may account for eating disorder disparities is gender dysphoria, a distressing and clinically significant state many transgender individuals experience when their physi-cal appearance is incongruent …

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Magic! Missed Or Miracle?, Curt C. Anderson Jan 2023

Magic! Missed Or Miracle?, Curt C. Anderson

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Truth default theory holds that people do not expect or notice deception unless they are triggered to think outside their natural tendency to believe others (Levine, 2020). It follows that people may not notice something deceptive or seemingly impossible if they are not first primed to raise suspicion. This study tests truth-default theory and triggering in the context of magic tricks. It hypothesized that people could watch two magic tricks performed without realizing they just witnessed something impossible because they were not primed to be aware of the presence of the possibility of deception. The research design is a three-group …

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The Impact Of Socioeconomic Status On Pain Severity And Functioning In A Pediatric Rheumatic Pain Population, Tolulope Adetayo Jan 2023

The Impact Of Socioeconomic Status On Pain Severity And Functioning In A Pediatric Rheumatic Pain Population, Tolulope Adetayo

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Background: Low socioeconomic status (SES) may exacerbate pain and impede functioning in children with chronic widespread pain. SES can be categorized as objective or subjective and assessed at individual, family, and neighborhood levels. However, most studies do not assess SES this comprehensively, thus, the true impact of SES on child health is likely unknown. The proposed study examined the unique and interactive effects of different measures of SES on pain severity and functioning in children with rheumatic conditions including juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome (JPFS), and non-specific musculoskeletal pain (NSMP). Methods: 88 children (32 JIA, 31 JPFS, …

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The Effect Of Temperature On The Rate Of Antibiotic Resistance Development In Vibrio Vulnificus, Amber Marie Richardson Jan 2023

The Effect Of Temperature On The Rate Of Antibiotic Resistance Development In Vibrio Vulnificus, Amber Marie Richardson

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Vibrio vulnificus is an environmentally encountered pathogen that humans may be exposed to through open wound contact with brackish waters or by ingestion of contaminated shellfish. In susceptible individuals, a V. vulnificus infection can spread rapidly, resulting in hospitalization, amputation, or even death. This bacterial species can cause aggressive infection, so treatment must often be aggressive as well. A typical treatment regimen includes combination therapy with a third-generation cephalosporin along with either a tetracycline or a fluoroquinolone. Although this method can work for now, antibiotic resistance is a looming threat that has emerged in many bacterial pathogens, including V. vulnificus. …

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Comparing Volumetric Wear Of Lithium Disilicate Against Different Ceramics And Enamel Antagonist An In-Vitro Study, Krisha Shah Jan 2023

Comparing Volumetric Wear Of Lithium Disilicate Against Different Ceramics And Enamel Antagonist An In-Vitro Study, Krisha Shah

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Background: In patients with restored dentitions, it is possible for crowns on opposing teeth to gradually wear each other through chewing and bruxism. Therefore, the wear of restorative materials used for dental crowns is an important mechanical property for their long-term clinical success. Lithium disilicate is a widely used dental ceramic due to its strength, machinability, and translucency. Due to the rising use of ceramic restorations, a comparison of the wear resistance of lithium disilicate against different ceramic crown materials is useful for the clinician when selecting a crown material to oppose an existing lithium disilicate crown. Objective: To compare …

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Adaptive Behavior And Clinical Characteristics Of Children Referred For An Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluation, Brianna Stein Jan 2023

Adaptive Behavior And Clinical Characteristics Of Children Referred For An Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluation, Brianna Stein

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The current study aimed to identify patterns of adaptive functioning in autistic children. Additionally, this study assessed predictors of adaptive functioning by examining whether cognitive ability predicted adaptive functioning in children with and without ASD and exploring whether expressive and receptive language predicted adaptive behavior and whether those relationships were moderated by an ASD diagnosis. Participants included 196 children who were evaluated for ASD at a tertiary care clinic. In this sample, 89 participants (45%) were diagnosed with ASD, 143 (73%) were male, and the average age was 6.63 years old (SD= 3.08). Profile analysis was used to evaluate the …

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Validation Of 'Bath Salts' Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Andrew Harris Jan 2023

Validation Of 'Bath Salts' Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Andrew Harris

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New designer drugs are now being called “legal highs” because they were created to get around existing drug laws. This was done by modifying the molecular structures to create different chemical structures with similar effects to those illicit drugs. Synthetic cathinones, also referred to as ‘Bath Salts’, are the newest type of designer drugs that have stimulant effects. This research set out to validate a method for the separation and analysis of 3,4-Methylenedioxy Pyrovalerone 8 (3,4-Methylenedioxy PV8) 3,4-Methylenedioxy- N-Benzylcathinone (3,4-Methylenedioxy-N-BC), 4-Fluoro-alpha-Pyrrolidinohexanophenone (4-Fluoro-alpha-PHP), 4-Methyl-alpha-Ethylaminopentiophenone (4-Methyl-alpha- EAPP), and N-(1,4-dimethylpentyl)-3,4-Dimethoxyamphetamine (N-(1,4-dimethylpentyl)- 3,4-DMA). The parameters evaluated were limit of detection (LOD), interference, reproducibility, and …

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"Generous And Self-Devoted Being": Grief Psychology And Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Madison Hogg Jan 2023

"Generous And Self-Devoted Being": Grief Psychology And Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Madison Hogg

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Scholarly discussion of the character Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein generally determines his fatal flaw to be an overly ambitious nature, deter-mining a denouncement of ambition as the novel's core moral aim. However, Franken-stein's experience of and avoidance of grief shapes his actions. Exploring how modern understandings from the field of grief psychology reflect Shelley's description of Frankenstein's inner life and experiences, the novel can be treated as a metaphor for grief and grieving. A grief-informed reading of the novel brings many of the novel's main themes—connection versus isolation, belonging, and empathy—into sharper relief than ambition-focused readings, casting more …

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Use Of Atr-Ftir Spectroscopy For Estimating Postmortem Interval, Age Of Bloodstains, Sex Og Blood Donor, And Species Differentiation, Olivia Glaze Jan 2023

Use Of Atr-Ftir Spectroscopy For Estimating Postmortem Interval, Age Of Bloodstains, Sex Og Blood Donor, And Species Differentiation, Olivia Glaze

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Blood is a powerful form of evidence that can provide valuable information about a crime. Most commonly blood is a source of DNA, however, generating a DNA profile can be costly, time consuming, and sometimes is not possible. Consequently, it is important to have methods for gathering additional information from blood evidence. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy is a method commonly used in confirmatory testing of drugs, fibers, paints, and other substances of forensic interest. This method only requires a small amount of sample, is non-destructive, sample preparation is minimal, and analysis is relatively fast. Recent research …

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A Colorblind Approach To Silencing African American Voices Through The Banning Of Critical Race Theory, Mia J. Freeman Jan 2023

A Colorblind Approach To Silencing African American Voices Through The Banning Of Critical Race Theory, Mia J. Freeman

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This thesis focused on addressing the framing of criticisms of Toni Morrison's Beloved in the state of Virginia through the context of African American Criticism and Critical Race Theory. The methodology undertaken addresses the central research question, How might African American Criticism and Critical Race Theory provide a theoretical framework for responding to recent criticisms about Beloved? The researcher approached Beloved by historicizing select passages from the novel and situating those passages and the realities they reflect in the context of criticisms waged by parents and politicians. The thesis also explained how tenets of African American Criticism and Critical Race …

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Effect Of Different Supporting Die Materials And Crown Thicknesses On The Fracture Load Of Monolithic 3y-Tzp Zirconia And Lithium Disilicate Crowns, Akram Mohamed Mohamed Gad Sayed Ahmed Jan 2023

Effect Of Different Supporting Die Materials And Crown Thicknesses On The Fracture Load Of Monolithic 3y-Tzp Zirconia And Lithium Disilicate Crowns, Akram Mohamed Mohamed Gad Sayed Ahmed

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Background: Conventionally, the strength of dental materials used for fixed restorations is measured using specimens of simplified geometry (i.e bars or discs). There is value in measuring the strength of these materials in their anatomic geometry (i.e crowns) under clinically relevant loading conditions. One advantage of performing the so-called crown fracture test is that the material may benefit from its ability to be strengthened by its bond to a tooth-mimicking die. When performing a crown fracture test, the ideal die material is natural tooth structure. However, the variability in natural tooth anatomy and microstructure makes the use of a standardized, …

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Systemic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Driving Impairments Associated With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Alecia Mercier Jan 2023

Systemic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Driving Impairments Associated With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Alecia Mercier

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A developmental milestone that both contributes to and facilitates a successful transition into adulthood is the ability to drive. Despite the importance of driving on independence, only one in three autistic adolescents successfully obtain a driver’s license by age 21 compared to over three-fourths of non-autistic adolescents obtaining their licensure by 21 (Curry et al., 2018; Federal Highway Administration [FHA], 2020). The current study identified published findings related to autistic drivers and quantified the statistical significance of the conditions and driving contexts in which autistic drivers show the greatest risk for negative driving outcomes. A systematic search yielded 37 articles …

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Reframing The Study Of Peace Through The Lens Of Complex Adaptive Systems, Nick Mauro Jan 2023

Reframing The Study Of Peace Through The Lens Of Complex Adaptive Systems, Nick Mauro

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Many researchers studying peace have posited that peace is a system. Although this approach has recently included steps to address complexity, current models have not sufficiently integrated their approach with complex adaptive systems to produce functionally dynamic models. Rather, current models describe peace systems as teleological and linear, which creates closed systems that do not incorporate feedback from the environment and, therefore, do not identify adaptive processes. Furthermore, these models reflect the state of a system, an arrangement of constituent parts in specific contexts, rather than capturing the complexity that is necessary for describing a dynamic system. To address these …

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Successful Aging Among Midlife Black Women: A Latent Class Analysis, Joshua Christian Julian Lewis Jan 2023

Successful Aging Among Midlife Black Women: A Latent Class Analysis, Joshua Christian Julian Lewis

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Successful aging (SA), as outlined by Rowe and Khan, with its objective focus on disease and disability avoidance, maintaining high physical and cognitive function, and sustaining engagement in social and productive activities, was meant to be a benchmark for assessing health and aging. However, given its rigid criteria virtually no one “ages successfully” despite being in otherwise relatively good health. The assumption of unsuccessful aging in populations who experience a higher prevalence of chronic disease, illness, disability, and other health disparities, is implicit in the SA framework outlined by Rowe and Khan and would preclude many Black women from being …

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Automated Structural Health Monitoring Of Pavements Using Google Street View Images, Ebisidor Jeremiah Agberebi Jan 2023

Automated Structural Health Monitoring Of Pavements Using Google Street View Images, Ebisidor Jeremiah Agberebi

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The Department of Transportation traditionally employed a structural health monitoring approach that involved training personnel to report the existing conditions of roadways. However, this approach is accompanied by huge costs that range from onboarding, vehicular equipment & maintenance cost, environmental costs from CO2 emission, safety costs, and the cost of errors made by personnel as each inspector would exercise his/ her discretion in analyzing the condition of the roadway. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt a more efficient and effective approach to SHM. The incorporation of google street view images [‘GSV’ a Google roadway street data repository, with high-resolution images], …

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Pieces Of Me, Lorice Tolbert Jan 2023

Pieces Of Me, Lorice Tolbert

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Pieces of Me is a compilation of thoughts and memories in the form of micro-memoirs and short stories. Themes range from darker subject matters discussing abuse and grief to lighter topics such as hope and friendship. While each narrative may feature a different aspect, they are all parts of the same unique life experience. This work is about persevering, sometimes under strenuous circumstances, and finding your way to the other side.

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Family Members' Education And Cognitive Functioning Among Older Adults: Investigating The Mediating Role Of Health Behaviors, Lu Tian Jan 2023

Family Members' Education And Cognitive Functioning Among Older Adults: Investigating The Mediating Role Of Health Behaviors, Lu Tian

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Despite a well-established relationship between education and cognitive performance in later life, few studies have considered the effects of educational attainment of the family. The education of one's parents can help prevent cognitive decline, as parents (G1) with more education can transfer more health knowledge, teach health literacy, and cultivate healthy lifestyles. This downward spillover between parental education (G1) and older adults’ (G2) cognitive health is well documented. For the downstream effect, attention is often given to maternal education rather than paternal education. Another line of research examined intergenerational transmissions from children (G3) to parents (G2), finding that having well-educated …

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Us Tv News' Portrayal Of The Types Of Bystander Intervention In Public Scenes Of Conflict And/Or Duress, Audrey Shreiner Jan 2023

Us Tv News' Portrayal Of The Types Of Bystander Intervention In Public Scenes Of Conflict And/Or Duress, Audrey Shreiner

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This research aims to analyze the types of bystander intervention in public scenes of conflict and/ or duress as presented by United States (U.S.) broadcast media news sources, specifically television (TV). Stories of bystander intervention are regularly featured in news coverage of mass media. As a source of information and entertainment, media is a space of cultural (re)formation. Video analysis of real-life behavior, rather than lab constructs, expands the possibility of what can be observed of human behavior. This is what has expanded the understanding of the behavior of bystander intervention and has challenged the theory of the bystander effect. …

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Investigating The Reproductive Biology Of The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle And The Diamondback Terrapin: Implications For Conservation, Robby Joseph Brannum Jan 2023

Investigating The Reproductive Biology Of The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle And The Diamondback Terrapin: Implications For Conservation, Robby Joseph Brannum

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The studies conducted within this thesis used physiological-based methodologies to assess the reproductive and developmental biology of two threatened turtle species. Chapter one investigates the decreased clutch frequency hypothesis as a potential cause for the recent loss in the 19% annual recovery rate in the Kemp’s ridley, Lepidochelys kempii. This study combined ultrasonography, testosterone analysis, and PIT tag assessment methods to re-evaluate the clutch frequency of Kemp’s ridleys nesting at the primary nesting beach of Rancho Nuevo. Results estimated a clutch frequency of 2.6 nests per female per season, suggesting that decreases in clutch frequency are not a potential factor …

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Uncovering The Role Of Spt5 In Rna Polymerase I Transcription Through Targeted Protein Degradation Via The Auxin Inducible Degron System In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Nathan Bellis Jan 2023

Uncovering The Role Of Spt5 In Rna Polymerase I Transcription Through Targeted Protein Degradation Via The Auxin Inducible Degron System In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Nathan Bellis

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RNA Polymerases are the molecular machines responsible for the synthesis of RNA from the DNA template. The presence of these machines is an absolute requirement for the function and replication of all cellular organisms. In eukaryotic organisms, there are a minimum of three RNA polymerases (Pols I, II, II). Despite shared subunits and homology, these three protein complexes are functionally distinct, with many unique sub-units and additional trans-acting factors. Pol I is responsible for the synthesis of three of the four ribosomal RNA species which is the first and rate limiting step of ribosome biogenesis. Pol I synthesizes the majority …

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Characterizing A Unique Oprm1 Expressing Neuronal Population In The Rat Nucleus Accumbens, Emma Andraka Jan 2023

Characterizing A Unique Oprm1 Expressing Neuronal Population In The Rat Nucleus Accumbens, Emma Andraka

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Opioid-related overdose deaths have increased drastically in the past three decades, and especially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the addictive, analgesic, and euphoric properties of the drugs. To produce these effects, opioids bind to the mu opioid receptor (MOR) in GABAergic neurons. The MOR is encoded by the Oprm1 gene and is expressed in multiple brain regions that regulate reward and motivation, such as the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Previous studies of Oprm1 knockdown in medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the mouse NAc have shown that these neuronal populations are involved in reinforcing reward-context pairing as well …

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