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Evaluation Of Ventilation Performance And Respirable Particles In Food Trucks, Dong Lee Yang Jan 2022

Evaluation Of Ventilation Performance And Respirable Particles In Food Trucks, Dong Lee Yang

All ETDs from UAB

Background: The food truck industry in the U.S. has rapidly expanded, with an average growth of 7.9 % from 2017 to 2022. Food truck workers are potentially exposed to harmful airborne contaminants such as particulate matter (PM) and aldehydes produced during cooking process. Kitchen exhaust hoods are designed to capture the cooking emissions, but it is not well understood whether the commercial kitchen exhaust hoods in food trucks are properly, efficiently operated to reduce the workers' exposure to such harmful contaminants. The purpose of the study was to evaluate food truck workers' exposure to respirable particulates generated from cooking process …

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Predictors Of Us Hospital Responsiveness To International Patient Inquiries, Suzanne M. Garber Jan 2022

Predictors Of Us Hospital Responsiveness To International Patient Inquiries, Suzanne M. Garber

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Medical travel has been growing at a steady rate as global travel has also increased. However, with the advent of COVID-19, all global travel came to a screeching halt, including travel intended for medical purposes across borders. Now that travel is resuming worldwide, American hospital administrators are anxious to fill their beds with more profitable, international patients to make up for revenue losses incurred during the pandemic. Existing literature on the topic of medical tourism focuses on the role of patient initiative, choice, and risk-taking behaviors with little mention of hospital leadership’s ability or desire to construct a management strategy, …

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The Effect Of Federally Qualified Health Centers (Fqhcs) Prevalence On Uncompensated Care In Us Hospitals, Kena R. Norris Jan 2022

The Effect Of Federally Qualified Health Centers (Fqhcs) Prevalence On Uncompensated Care In Us Hospitals, Kena R. Norris

All ETDs from UAB

Over the past two decades, uncompensated care in U.S. hospitals has grown at a staggering rate and reached $46.4 billion in 2013. It began to decline in 2014, due to the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), but is now on the rise again. Uncompensated care is typically affected by policy and market factors such as legislative changes and an increase in the number of uninsured. While hospitals continue to serve as critical safety net providers, they are often not the only or most appropriate facility to serve the indigent in U.S. communities. Instead, federally qualified …

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The Effect Of Integrative Medicine Interventions On Patient Activation Measure, Rochelle F. Richards Jan 2022

The Effect Of Integrative Medicine Interventions On Patient Activation Measure, Rochelle F. Richards

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Activated patients believe they have essential roles in achieving and maintaining their health. Patient activation is strongly related to improved clinical outcomes (Hibbard, 2017; Greene, 2013). The study’s primary purpose is to evaluate the use of Integrative Medicine Interventions (IMIs) and their relationship to patient activation levels; and to investigate the association between IMI protocols and patient activation levels on patient reported outcomes (PROs) for those with chronic diseases, specifically chronic fatigue and mental health-related conditions of anxiety and depression, using the principles of Integrative Medicine’s (IM) whole-person approach as the model of care in independent IM practices across the …

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Alterations In Synaptic Structure And Tau Phosphorylation In Alheimer's Disease, Courtney K. Walker Jan 2022

Alterations In Synaptic Structure And Tau Phosphorylation In Alheimer's Disease, Courtney K. Walker

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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in individuals over the age of 65. Of the two hallmark pathologies of AD, tau neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) correlate more strongly with cognitive decline than do Aβ plaques. NFTs form in the entorhinal cortex (EC) and appear in anatomically connected regions over time as disease progresses. This tau spreading may occur via synaptic connections. Most excitatory synapses occur on dendritic spines, which house the postsynaptic machinery. Spines are actin-rich, plastic structures that change their size and shape in response to synaptic activity in a process that is dependent on actin …

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Care-Resistant Behavior Trajectories Of Individuals Living With Dementia In Nursing Homes And Distal Outcomes In Oral Health: A Secondary Analysis, Chunhong Xiao Jan 2022

Care-Resistant Behavior Trajectories Of Individuals Living With Dementia In Nursing Homes And Distal Outcomes In Oral Health: A Secondary Analysis, Chunhong Xiao

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Persons living with dementia who exhibit care-resistant behaviors (CRB) are likely to resist mouth care and have poor oral health. Knowing the “balance” between providing optimal mouth care while managing CRB is critical for developing tailored interventions. No evidence has demonstrated a balance between CRB level, mouth care completion, and oral health status. The overarching goal of this study was to identify a balance or “sweet spot” between enough mouth care to maintain oral health and a manageable level of CRB intensity. The purpose of this study was to examine and describe the characteristics of CRB trajectories as they relate …

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The Effect Of Training On Eye Movement While Learning To Use A Non-Foveal Retinal Locus, Jason Eugene Vice Jan 2022

The Effect Of Training On Eye Movement While Learning To Use A Non-Foveal Retinal Locus, Jason Eugene Vice

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Vision is our most far-reaching sense. It allows us to quickly detect information about the environment and enhances our ability to interact with the world around us. Accordingly, many neural areas are devoted to obtaining, processing, and interpreting visual information. When vision is impaired through normal aging or disease processes, the functional implications for a person can be quite significant. This is particularly true when a person is deprived of high acuity, central vision. Many people with bilateral central visual impairments learn to compensate for vision loss by adopting a viewing strategy that involves the use of the peripheral retina. …

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The Adoption Of New Cancer Drugs In Non-Academic Cancer Centers, Warren M. Smedley Jan 2022

The Adoption Of New Cancer Drugs In Non-Academic Cancer Centers, Warren M. Smedley

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Advancements in medical knowledge are producing significant improvements in medical technology, developing breakthrough drug therapies, advancing the practice of medicine, and improving outcomes for cancer patients. However, there are delays in getting new and improved therapies incorporated into routine clinical use, depriving cancer patients of valuable and potentially lifesaving treatments. The purpose of this study was to examine the rate of adoption of new cancer drug discoveries into routine clinical practice in non-academic cancer centers. The process of adoption takes a period of time to embrace new therapies, due in part to a prescriber’s need to gain greater comfort with …

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Guided Exploration Of Military Servicewomen's Healthcare Experiences And Related Outcomes (Gems Hero), Princess Victoria Jane Nash Jan 2022

Guided Exploration Of Military Servicewomen's Healthcare Experiences And Related Outcomes (Gems Hero), Princess Victoria Jane Nash

All ETDs from UAB

Purpose: This study focuses on factors related to healthcare seeking behaviors and utilization of Veterans Affairs primary care services by female African American Veterans. The purpose of this mixed methods study is to assess what factors influence seeking care at VA healthcare facilities. Research Design: This study used a modified explanatory sequential mixed methods design to assess health services utilization and healthcare experiences of African American female Veterans. This research utilized items from the Health Belief model as a guiding framework to highlight factors that could impact VA healthcare utilization. Methodology: Health services utilization analysis used national data from the …

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Effects Of Exercise On Cerebral Oxygen Extraction Fraction, Hippocampal Subfields, And Cognition In Older Women, Amani M. Norling Jan 2022

Effects Of Exercise On Cerebral Oxygen Extraction Fraction, Hippocampal Subfields, And Cognition In Older Women, Amani M. Norling

All ETDs from UAB

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with enhanced cognitive functions in aging. The relationship between fitness and brain function is supported by evidence of improvements or maintenance of gray matter volume, and cerebral blood flow (CBF). Research focused on interactions between CRF and changes in cerebral structure and function have not identified the underlying mechanisms of exercise-induced improvements, and none included the effects of CRF on cerebral oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), which is a measure of the ratio of oxygen that a tissue extracts from the blood to maintain morphological and functional integrity. Here, we present evidence from existing studies that …

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Renal Lactate Dehydrogenase A: Underlying Mechanisms And Inflammatory Roles In Acute Kidney Injury, Gunars Osis Jan 2022

Renal Lactate Dehydrogenase A: Underlying Mechanisms And Inflammatory Roles In Acute Kidney Injury, Gunars Osis

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Kidneys are physiologically vital organs responsible for blood homeostasis preservation through fluid balance maintenance, blood pressure regulation, hormone production, and toxic compound removal. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a global condition affecting more than 13 million people yearly, and is characterized by a rapid decline in renal filtration capacity, consequent rise in serum creatinine and nitrogenous waste levels, and is associated with an elevated risk of morbidity in the form of progressive chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, and mortality. AKI-induced renal epithelial cell death forces surviving tubular cells to undergo de-differentiation, rapid proliferation to replace lost cells, and re-differentiation to …

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Retention Strategies For Non-Traditional Pathway Teachers: Keeping New Teachers In The Profession, Leslie Cranford Richards Jan 2022

Retention Strategies For Non-Traditional Pathway Teachers: Keeping New Teachers In The Profession, Leslie Cranford Richards

All ETDs from UAB

Over the past 30 years, teacher turnover has increased significantly (Simon & Johnson, 2015), contributing to the teacher shortage in the United States. This shortage of teachers has necessitated the employment of more teacher candidates from non-traditional teacher certification pathways. Espinoza et al. (2018) found that teachers from non-traditional certification pathways are “2 to 3 times more likely to leave teaching than fully prepared teachers” (p. 1). Given that teacher retention would help solve the teacher shortage problem (Ingersoll, 2001), it is important to determine what working conditions and support would encourage these non-traditional certification pathway teachers to stay in …

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Study Of The Effects Of Contusion Spinal Cord Injury And Optogenetic Stimulation On Lower Urinary Tract Function, Salvador A. Lopez Jan 2022

Study Of The Effects Of Contusion Spinal Cord Injury And Optogenetic Stimulation On Lower Urinary Tract Function, Salvador A. Lopez

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Lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction is a detrimental ailment that negatively affects a person’s independence, health, and overall quality of life. More specifically, LUT dysfunction as a result of spinal cord injury (SCI) is seen in more than 17,000 cases per year and of those cases, <20% are discharged from care with normal micturition1. Initially, after SCI, there is an acute period of spinal shock when the urinary bladder is flaccid and underactive, while the external urethral sphincter (EUS) that constricts the bladder outlet quickly becomes tonically active. In days to weeks after injury, spinallymediated, reflex bladder contractions re-emerge2-4. Numerous studies have examined aspects of LUT function using various models of SCI, primarily utilizing complete transection injuries. This set of studies first examined the effect of moderate to severe midthoracic contusion SCI on LUT function by examining cystometrogram (CMG) and EUS recordings, bladder/spinal cord morphology, sensory innervation of bladder tissue, and spinal neuronal activation in female mice. This model of SCI produced significant changes in normal bladder function as well as altered bladder morphology, including a robust loss of bladder afferent nerve fibers necessary for micturition. Inhibition of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) has been shown to prevent the loss of sensory nerve fibers in mouse hind paw tissue5, thus HDAC6 inhibition was examined as a possible strategy to prevent the observed loss of sensory nerve fibers in bladder tissue post-SCI. iv Mice were treated using intraperitoneal injections of inhibiting compounds ACY-1083 (10 mg/kg) or Tubacin (5 mg/kg). Treatment resulted in significant improvements in CMG measures and sensory innervation of the bladder wall. Finally, optogenetic stimulation was examined using an adenoassociated virus containing cre-recombinase for cre-dependent expression of channelrhodopsin (ChR2) in both spinal intact and SCI mice. The ability to spare afferent axons in bladder tissue post-SCI through HDAC6 inhibition allowed ChR2 expression in sensory nerve fibers. Direct photostimulation of the bladder using various parameters of duration (1, 2, 5, 10 sec continuous stimulation) and power (0.1mW/mm2, 0.95mW/mm2, 6.50mW/mm2) resulted in the ability to control bladder contractions in both spinal intact (SI) and SCI animals, allowing for on-demand voiding post-injury.

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On The Privacy Leakage Via Neural Devices, Anuradha Mandal Jan 2022

On The Privacy Leakage Via Neural Devices, Anuradha Mandal

All ETDs from UAB

Brain-computer interfaces, such as consumer-grade EEG headsets, are getting popularity in gaming and entertainment industries, and among people with certain disabilities. However, the increasing popularity of EEG headsets creates significant privacy risks. Silently conversing with the computing system is now possible using neuromuscular signals, for instance, untold digit recognition with higher accuracy is possible, which can inadvertently retrieve PIN or password merely from brainwave signals. These applications can reveal much more private information than their designated benign purpose, for instance, while detecting the job performance of a worker, sensitive information like Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, substance abuse disorder or heart disease, …

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Relationship Between Neighborhood Deprivation And Epigenetic Age Acceleration With Pain In Adults With Musculoskeletal Pain, Pamela Jackson Jan 2022

Relationship Between Neighborhood Deprivation And Epigenetic Age Acceleration With Pain In Adults With Musculoskeletal Pain, Pamela Jackson

All ETDs from UAB

Residents of high-deprivation neighborhoods shoulder a greater burden of age-related health conditions, including experiencing worse chronic musculoskeletal pain outcomes, compared to residents of more affluent neighborhoods. Advancing age is a risk factor for chronic health conditions, which epigenetic modifications may explain. Epigenetic age acceleration occurs when an individual’s epigenetic age is older than their chronological age, and that discordance has been identified as a strong predictor of age-related conditions. Epigenetic age acceleration has also been correlated with neighborhood deprivation. However, the mechanisms for neighborhood disparities in chronic musculoskeletal pain remain unclear. The purpose of this dissertation study was to examine …

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Impact Of Nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae And Pseudo Aeruginosa Polymicrobial Infections On The Cystic Fibrosis Lung, Natalie R. Lindgren Jan 2022

Impact Of Nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae And Pseudo Aeruginosa Polymicrobial Infections On The Cystic Fibrosis Lung, Natalie R. Lindgren

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Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a Gram-negative commensal of the healthy nasopharynx; however, this organism can function as an opportunistic pathogen as a result of disruptions to the microbiome, as is the case in cystic fibrosis (CF) disease. People with CF experience changes in microbial residents of the respiratory tract over the course of their lifespan, seen in shifts from early-life pathogens, such as NTHi, to late-stage pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, that accompany a decrease in organismal diversity of the microbiome. In this work, we characterized the pathogenicity of NTHi alone and in polymicrobial respiratory infections. Using CF specific …

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Not All That Glitters Is Growth: Cultivating Stem Identity And Self-Efficacy In Elementary Teacher Candidates Through The Habits Of Mind, Amanda Rachelle Cramer Jan 2022

Not All That Glitters Is Growth: Cultivating Stem Identity And Self-Efficacy In Elementary Teacher Candidates Through The Habits Of Mind, Amanda Rachelle Cramer

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This study utilized constructivist grounded theory to examine teacher candidates’ STEM confidence, preparedness, and self-efficacy before and after participation in an elementary STEM methods course. The study aimed to identify characteristics of the course that impacted teacher candidates’ growth. Twenty teacher candidates and the course instructor consented to participate in the study. Course artifacts and interview transcripts were analyzed using the constant comparative method and themes were identified. Data analysis revealed teacher candidates’ STEM confidence, preparedness, and self-efficacy to be positively impacted by participation in an integrated STEM methods course. The three main themes are: the Intersections of Theory, Constructed …

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Three Heads Are Better Than One: A Structural Look At Staphylococcal Bacteriophage Capsids, N'Toia Chivon Hawkins Jan 2022

Three Heads Are Better Than One: A Structural Look At Staphylococcal Bacteriophage Capsids, N'Toia Chivon Hawkins

All ETDs from UAB

Staphylococcal species such as S. aureus and S. epidermidis are opportunistic pathogens that are the leading causes of nosocomial infections. They have become of growing concern due to the virulence factors that they have acquired as well as their inability to be treated due to resistance to antibiotics. Bacteriophages have increasingly become a popular contender for eliminating these pathogens, however not every phage is suitable for the job. Size of the genome, life cycle, the ability to mobilize genomic material, and host range all factor into how well-suited a phage is to be used as a therapeutic. In this dissertation …

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Hedgehog Signaling Rewires M2 Macrophage And Regulatory T Cell Metabolism Within The Tumor Microenvironment Of Breast Cancer, Dominique C. Hinshaw Jan 2022

Hedgehog Signaling Rewires M2 Macrophage And Regulatory T Cell Metabolism Within The Tumor Microenvironment Of Breast Cancer, Dominique C. Hinshaw

All ETDs from UAB

Current treatments for breast cancer offer little relief to patients with metastatic disease. A contributory factor to tumor growth and metastasis is aberrant up-regulation of developmental signaling pathways such as the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. This pathway is aberrantly activated in breast cancer and contributes to tumor progression and metastasis. The success of these events is highly influenced by the surrounding immune microenvironment. Macrophages exist along a spectrum of M1 (tumor-eradicating) to M2 (tumor-promoting), while regulatory T cells (Tregs) are an immunosuppressive cell type. The predominant functions of M2 macrophages and Tregs include dampening the immune response and promoting wound …

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Towards A Holistic Framework For Secure And Trustworthy Connected Autonomous Vehicles, Mohammad Aminul Hoque Jan 2022

Towards A Holistic Framework For Secure And Trustworthy Connected Autonomous Vehicles, Mohammad Aminul Hoque

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Recently, Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have achieved tremendous improvement and started moving out to the road from laboratories and constrained testing environments. AVs are expected to significantly improve the urban transportation system by reducing accidents and drivers’ burdens. However, this complex cyber-physical system incurs some unique security challenges. Addressing such security issues is essential because AVs can directly impact the safety of human life. Current autonomous driving systems do not emphasize security issues. Therefore, sophisticated attack methodologies continue to evolve to threaten the safety of AVs. Although some research works have been proposed to enhance AV security, the holistic approach towards …

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Comprehensive Characterization Of Structural Variations Using Long-Read Sequencing Data, Yu Chen Jan 2022

Comprehensive Characterization Of Structural Variations Using Long-Read Sequencing Data, Yu Chen

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Structural variants (SVs) contribute to genomic diversity and play pathogenic roles in a wide range of genetic disorders. Accurate characterization of SVs is critical for genomic research and studies of disease mechanisms. The rapid development of Third-Generation Sequencing (TGS) technologies has largely increased sequencing read length compared to Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), bringing both great potentials and challenges in SV discovery through alignment-based and assembly-based approaches. In order to take full advantage of TGS data, I have developed a suite of bioinformatics tools focusing on comprehensive characterization of SVs. For the alignment-based SV discovery, I have developed DeBreak to identify SVs …

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Multilevel Influences On Physical Activity Participation In Rural And Cancer Populations With Obesity, Nashira Inika Brown Jan 2022

Multilevel Influences On Physical Activity Participation In Rural And Cancer Populations With Obesity, Nashira Inika Brown

All ETDs from UAB

espite the strong evidence of physical activity benefits, the prevalence of physical inactivity and associated obesity continues to increase. Rural and cancer survivor populations with obesity, in particular, remain highly inactive and are at increased risk of comorbidities. Thus, physical activity interventions are needed to promote active lifestyles. However, before developing or adapting existing multi-level physical activity interventions, more research is needed to understand the necessary components to meet the needs and preferences of these unique populations. Therefore, this project involved identifying the gaps in literature followed by three studies to investigate the multilevel influences on physical activity in rural …

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The Role Of International Faculty In Comprehensive Campus Internationalization, Melissa Williamson Hawkins Jan 2022

The Role Of International Faculty In Comprehensive Campus Internationalization, Melissa Williamson Hawkins

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Faculty engagement is an acknowledged imperative for accomplishing the goals of comprehensive campus internationalization. In addition, transformational international and intercultural experiences are known to motivate faculty involvement in internationalization (Childress, 2018). This study proposes that the large numbers of international faculty working in permanent positions on university campuses, who have already had these transformational experiences by having adapted to a new country and culture, are an underutilized resource towards internationalization goals. In a mixed methods study conducted at a large, research university in the southeastern United States, the perspectives of international faculty on their current and potential role in internationalization …

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Adapting Nlp Techniques In Transfer Learning For Forensic Authorship Profiling, Esam Alzahrani Jan 2022

Adapting Nlp Techniques In Transfer Learning For Forensic Authorship Profiling, Esam Alzahrani

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Cybercrimes have risen and caused threats to regular internet users. In recent times, the increased use of online social networks (OSNs) allows people to easily share opinions, personal information, and others. Since a major part of OSNs content is textual content, immense research has focused on text analysis techniques using machine learning and Natural Language Processing (NLP). One important area of research focused on text analysis using machine learning is forensic text analysis. Digital forensics is a discipline concerns finding, preserving, and presenting admissible evidence in court. Sadly, the convenience of OSNs creates an optimal venue for cybercriminals to perform …

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First-Principles Modeling Of Mechanical Behavior And Thermoelectric Property Under Strain And Pressure, Chia-Min Lin Jan 2022

First-Principles Modeling Of Mechanical Behavior And Thermoelectric Property Under Strain And Pressure, Chia-Min Lin

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Progresses in computer hardware and numerical algorithms in the past decade have made it possible to use first-principles calculations to model material properties, with the prediction results typically in good agreement with experiments. In this dissertation, density functional theory (DFT) calculations enable the studies of shear and tensile deformations. The theoretical ideal shear stress for transition metal osmium is found along the (001)[1–10] shear direction with the maximal shear stress ∼24 GPa at critical strain ∼0.13. DFT results indicated that transition metal borides ReB2 becomes more ductile with enhanced tendency towards metallic bonding under compression. The ReB2 DFT results also …

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A Value-Based Framework For Process Alignment In Complex Provisioning Systems, Michael Lipscomb Jan 2022

A Value-Based Framework For Process Alignment In Complex Provisioning Systems, Michael Lipscomb

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Provisioning systems are human-built, process-based systems whose activities are directed toward providing something of value to another entity. The things provided are not limited to any one type but may include, for example, objects, services, and information. Systems under consideration herein are limited to those that are human based, decentralized, and complex. “Human based” means that many of the agents and all the customers of the system are human. “Decentralized” means that agents act beyond central control. Such a system presents different challenges from one in which tasks are delegated from a central authority. In a decentralized system, agents are …

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Primary Cilia Regulate Inflammation And Macrophage Accumulation During Injury And Cyst Formation In Mouse Pkd Models, Zhang Li Jan 2022

Primary Cilia Regulate Inflammation And Macrophage Accumulation During Injury And Cyst Formation In Mouse Pkd Models, Zhang Li

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Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is one of the most common inherited renal disorders. The most common form, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), affects more than 13 million people around the world, and over 50% of them will develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although ADPKD genetically is caused by mutations of PKD1 or PKD2 genes, there is increasing evidence showing that non-genetic factors such as renal injury and inflammation play important roles in cyst severity and progression in PKD. Macrophages are cells of the innate immune system known to be involved in kidney injury and repair. Data from our lab …

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Pkd-1 Signaling Inthe Regulation Of Cancer Stem Cell-Like Features And Cancer Cell Interactions With Endothelial Cells In Breast Cancer And Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor, Yichen Hailey Guo Jan 2022

Pkd-1 Signaling Inthe Regulation Of Cancer Stem Cell-Like Features And Cancer Cell Interactions With Endothelial Cells In Breast Cancer And Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor, Yichen Hailey Guo

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Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation cancer cells that play critical roles in tumor progression, recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance. CSCs are characterized by self-renewal and plasticity. Protein kinase D-1 (PKD-1) signaling regulates CSC/stemness features in both breast cancers and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. In PNETs, PKD-1 signaling regulates not only stemness properties of cancer, but also epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). PNETs are typically well vascularized and heterogeneous. Everolimus (an mTOR inhibitor and the 2nd generation derivative of rapamycin) has been approved as a targeted chemotherapy for PNET patients. Unfortunately, nearly all patients will progress on treatment due to drug resistance …

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The Role Of Protein Translation And Degradation In Aging And Alzheimer Disease Pathogenesis, Harper S. Kim Jan 2022

The Role Of Protein Translation And Degradation In Aging And Alzheimer Disease Pathogenesis, Harper S. Kim

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Protein translation (PT) is an essential cellular process playing crucial roles in growth and development. PT precipitously declines with age in multiple animal species, including humans. It has been implicitly assumed that elevated PT at young ages is beneficial to health while PT ends up dropping as a passive byproduct of aging. However, whether this holds true and how dynamic fluctuations in PT over time impact aging remain unknown. In Drosophila, we show that a transient PT spike in early-adulthood drives aging by triggering dysfunction in protein homeostasis (proteostasis) at old ages. We propose the early-adulthood spike in PT to …

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Determining The Impact Of Immune Dysregulation On Cd4 T Cell Responses To Hiv-1 And Sars-Cov-2, Jacob K. Files Jan 2022

Determining The Impact Of Immune Dysregulation On Cd4 T Cell Responses To Hiv-1 And Sars-Cov-2, Jacob K. Files

All ETDs from UAB

CD4+ T cells, often referred to as helper T cells, play a crucial role in the formation of antiviral immune responses following infection and vaccination. However, this can be disrupted by various forms of immune dysregulation. Many groups have described how HIV-1 adaptation and immune escape can lead to dysregulated HIV-specific immune responses. Our lab has previously shown that predicted HLA-II associated HIV-1 adaptation leads to dysregulated, poorly immunogenic CD4+ T cell responses in HIV-1 infection. Here, we focus on the impact of this HLA-II associated viral adaptation in the setting of HIV-1 vaccination. We show that HLA-II associated, vaccine-matched …

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