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Mechanoactivation Of Vegfr-2 Promotes Angiogenesis In The Tumor Microenvironment, Bronte Johnson Jan 2025

Mechanoactivation Of Vegfr-2 Promotes Angiogenesis In The Tumor Microenvironment, Bronte Johnson

All ETDs from UAB

Cancer progression relies on blood vessel growth; without vasculature, tumors would be limited to less than 200µm in diameter. With this reasoning, several cancer therapies have been developed that target the process of angiogenesis, or the growth of vessels off pre-existing vasculature. These treatments target the major promoters of angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2); however, anti-angiogenic therapies are not effective by themselves. This is likely due to mechanoactivation of VEGFR-2 through physical alterations in the tumor microenvironment (TME). One prevalent mechanical change is increased strain on surrounding cells and matrix due to highly contractile …


Analysis Of Gas Station Drugs Using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry And Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Megan Joos Jan 2025

Analysis Of Gas Station Drugs Using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry And Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Megan Joos

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Gas stations and head shops are a seemingly safe and legal marketplace for drug purchase. However, although marketed as dietary supplements or cognitive enhancers, the products sold there have been known to contain psychoactive substances which may be mislabeled or actually contain regulated substances. This study investigates the composition of such products, specifically those labeled as kratom and non-kratom Mitragyna species using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and those labeled as phenibut using GC-MS and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Samples were acquired from retailers in the Birmingham, AL area. The products underwent both qualitative and quantitative analysis of their ingredients …


In Pursuit Of Sovereignty: Transformations Of Colonial Medicine From Wilhelmine To Nazi Germany, Veda Joshi Jan 2025

In Pursuit Of Sovereignty: Transformations Of Colonial Medicine From Wilhelmine To Nazi Germany, Veda Joshi

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After the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, the Great Powers of Europe, including the newly-born German Empire, greatly expanded their influence and colonial possessions in Africa, with colonies in East Asia and the South Pacific quickly following suit. The German Empire, like its contemporaries, engaged with medicine as a necessary part of its colonial endeavors in order to keep both its native laborers and European settlers healthy. Using documents from the German Bundesarchiv (Federal Archive), including official reports made to the German Colonial Office and documenting of formally conducted expeditions, as well as the writings of colonial doctors, this research examines …


Investigating The Role Of Notch1 On Cell Viability In Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Cells In Hypoxia, Alexis Kennedy Jan 2025

Investigating The Role Of Notch1 On Cell Viability In Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Cells In Hypoxia, Alexis Kennedy

All ETDs from UAB

INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF NOTCH1 ON CELL VIABILITY IN PANCREATIC NEUROENDOCRINE TUMOR CELLS IN HYPOXIA ALEXIS KENNEDY MULTIDISCIPLINARY BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE ABSTRACT Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are rare neoplasms originating from neuroendocrine cells in the pancreas. Patients with advanced disease pose a complex challenge due to poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Notch signaling is a juxtracrine cell-cell communication mechanism whereby transmembrane Notch receptors (Notch 1-4) interact with neighboring cells through ligands binding, resulting in a cascade that regulates various developmental processes and cell fate decisions. Dysregulated Notch1 signaling is implicated in PNETs, affecting neuroendocrine tumor biology and potentially interacting with …


Evaluation Of In Vitro Cardiac Models For Characterizing The Role Of Autophagy In Streptococcus Pneumoniae Infection, Georgianna Khong Jan 2025

Evaluation Of In Vitro Cardiac Models For Characterizing The Role Of Autophagy In Streptococcus Pneumoniae Infection, Georgianna Khong

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Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is a gram-positive bacterium that causes community-acquired pneumonia, the most prevalent type of pneumonia and a predominant infectious disease. There is evidence linking Spn infection to cardiovascular damage through the ability of Spn to invade and replicate in the myocardium, inducing cardiomyocyte death and disrupting cardiac function. Spn infects cardiomyocytes intracellularly through clathrin-mediated endocytosis, with demonstrated evidence of inhibitory mechanisms including clathrin-mediated endocytosis inhibitors and antioxidants. As a result, autophagy is being investigated as a potential pathway for cardiomyocyte self-defense against Spn, as it may protect cardiomyocytes intracellularly. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate …


Optic Nerve Head Remodeling In Experimental High Myopia, Mahmoud Khalafallah Jan 2025

Optic Nerve Head Remodeling In Experimental High Myopia, Mahmoud Khalafallah

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Myopia is a global health concern, with projected estimates that nearly half of the world's population will be myopic by 2050. While its refractive aspect can be corrected, the heightened susceptibility to sight-threatening comorbidities, particularly with high myopia, remains a challenge. Among these comorbidities, glaucoma is a major concern, with myopia recognized as an independent risk factor. However, the mechanistic link between myopia and glaucoma remains poorly understood. This dissertation investigates the multiscale remodeling changes in experimental high myopia and their potential implications for increased risk of glaucoma later in life. Using a multimodal approach, this dissertation investigates: (1) neural …


Mesenchymal Hippo Signaling In Lung Development And Disease, Kylie Klinkhammer Jan 2025

Mesenchymal Hippo Signaling In Lung Development And Disease, Kylie Klinkhammer

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During both lung development and regeneration, the proper coordination of different cellular populations working in concert are vital to proper development and wound repairs. Myofibroblasts, highly contractile mesenchymal cells, are vital the organization of cells during lung development and to the remodeling of the extra cellular matrix (ECM) during regeneration. As important as myofibroblasts are, their apoptosis or differentiation to a less contractile phenotype is equally important to normal development and regenerative processes. Excessive differentiation of myofibroblasts or the improper localization of myofibroblasts are associated with pulmonary fibrosis, which is characteristic of lung disease, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia or idiopathic …


Endothelial Cell Cd36 In Alzheimer’S Disease And Breast Cancer Progression, Atul Kumar Jan 2025

Endothelial Cell Cd36 In Alzheimer’S Disease And Breast Cancer Progression, Atul Kumar

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Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) are increasingly recognized as a distinct class of innate immune cells, with CD36, an innate immunity receptor, playing a pivotal role in regulating immune function and its regulation, angiogenesis, cancer progression, brain related disorder as well as the exchange of nutrients and waste. To investigate this further, we developed EC-specific CD36 knockout mice using the translating ribosome affinity purification (TRAP) technique. By isolating ribosome-bound mRNA directly from vascular endothelial cells in vivo in these knockout and control mice, we conducted deep RNA sequencing and transcriptional profiling. Our findings revealed that CD36 deficiency in brain endothelia led …


Synergistic Effects Of Hyaluronic Acid And Mechanical Strain On Ovarian Cancer Cell Behaviors, Maranda Erin Kramer Jan 2025

Synergistic Effects Of Hyaluronic Acid And Mechanical Strain On Ovarian Cancer Cell Behaviors, Maranda Erin Kramer

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Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological cancer, but despite this, the effects of the ovarian tumor microenvironment (TME) on disease progression are poorly understood. The TME consist of the extra cellular matrix (ECM), cellular components, and mechanical forces. Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are stromal cells that secrete several ECM components including collagen, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid (HA). CAFs also have increased motility and contractility, this increased movement creates micro-strains experienced by the tumor cells in the TME. HA interacts with cancer cells as both a serum and stromal component. Increases in stromal HA in the ovarian TME are associated …


An Exploratory Study Into The Utility Of Toca Boca's Creative Play Model In Enhancing Social Skills And Creative Play For Autistic And Non-Autistic Children, Braden Laboret Jan 2025

An Exploratory Study Into The Utility Of Toca Boca's Creative Play Model In Enhancing Social Skills And Creative Play For Autistic And Non-Autistic Children, Braden Laboret

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This study examines the potential of Toca Boca World, a creative play app, to enhance social skills and creative play in autistic and non-autistic children aged 4-13. As children's screen time continues to rise, particularly among autistic individuals, it is essential to examine the quality and impact of digital media. The study included 18 children (7 autistic, 11 non-autistic), who participated in eight 5-minute sessions, monitored remotely by caregivers. Social skills were assessed before and after the sessions, while creative play was measured via touch efficiency during the sessions. Enjoyment was also tracked through brief post-session surveys. Results showed significant …


"The Association Between Serious Psychological Distress And Life Satisfaction Among U.S Adults With Hypertension", Kellen Michael Lenz Jan 2025

"The Association Between Serious Psychological Distress And Life Satisfaction Among U.S Adults With Hypertension", Kellen Michael Lenz

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Purpose: Given the observed link between psychosocial and physical health outcomes, this study investigates the association between serious psychological distress and life satisfaction among U.S adults with hypertension. Methods: A cross-sectional study using 2021 National Health Interview Survey data among U.S adults was conducted to investigate the association between serious psychological distress and hypertension and assess the role of life satisfaction in modifying this relationship. Hypertension (diagnosed, undiagnosed), serious psychological distress (≥ 13 on the Kessler 6 nonspecific distress scale), and life satisfaction (Very satisfied, Satisfied, Dissatisfied, Very dissatisfied) were self-reported by participants. Ordinal logistic regression was used to investigate …


Young Adult Chronic Disease And Midlife Subjective Well-Being And Mental Health: Does Social Milestone Achievement Mediate The Link?, Hannah M. Lindl Jan 2025

Young Adult Chronic Disease And Midlife Subjective Well-Being And Mental Health: Does Social Milestone Achievement Mediate The Link?, Hannah M. Lindl

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Nearly one-in-four young adults ages 18-34 have a chronic disease, which has been linked to worse midlife mental health. Prior studies have little-examined the mechanism behind this association. The life course perspective suggests that because chronic disease in young adulthood is an unexpected and “off-time” event it may disrupt the achievement and timing of key social milestones. Inability to achieve or perceived delays in achieving the social markers of adulthood (e.g., completing school, homeownership, marriage) may therefore lead to worse midlife mental health. To address this proposition, I used panel data from the Youth Development Study (YDS and multivariate regression …


Accuracy Of 3d Printed Models With Various Range Of Crowding Created By Dlp Printer With Different Designs Of Model Base, Chih Yen Liu Jan 2025

Accuracy Of 3d Printed Models With Various Range Of Crowding Created By Dlp Printer With Different Designs Of Model Base, Chih Yen Liu

All ETDs from UAB

Objective: Treatment planning and appliance fabrication depend on the accurate representation of dentition. Research on the accuracy of digital light processing (DLP) printed models with different base designs across various levels of dental crowding remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the fidelity of DLP printed models and the suitability of different base designs for representing dentition with mild, moderate, and severe crowding. Materials and Methods: The objective is to determine the optimal base designs for DLP-printed models to address varying degrees of dental crowding. A two-way ANOVA was used to compare root mean square (RMS) error across different base …


Molecular Imaging Of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Characterization And Modulation Of The Tumor Microenvironment, Shannon E. Lynch Jan 2025

Molecular Imaging Of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Characterization And Modulation Of The Tumor Microenvironment, Shannon E. Lynch

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Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive, heterogeneous subset of breast cancer which currently has no targeted therapies available due to lack of molecular therapeutic targets. Importantly, various radiopharmaceuticals can be imaged via positron emission tomography (PET) to quantify cellular and molecular features of the tumor microenvironment including glucose metabolism, receptor status, and immune activation. Somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2) is G-protein coupled receptor overexpressed in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) which can be imaged and targeted for theranostics via FDA-approved radiotherapy. SSTR2 expression is increased in hormone positive breast cancer but is expressed at low or variable levels in TNBC. However, …


A Lament For The Perishing Barbarians Of Edith Wharton’S Summer, Anna Marsh Jan 2025

A Lament For The Perishing Barbarians Of Edith Wharton’S Summer, Anna Marsh

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This thesis considers Edith Wharton’s Summer through a Darwinian perspective. Wharton studied Darwin’s works extensively, so applying The Descent of Man to Summer’s communities has merit. Specifically, I consider Darwin’s writings on evolution as evolution may be altered by feelings of sympathy. In Summer, it is sympathy, loyalty, and ultimate benevolence for one’s people that furthers community evolution as a whole. This relationship between sympathy and community evolution seems to be one Wharton focuses on in Summer. The urban communities of Wharton’s novel pretended to be the most civil and therefore the most evolved, but it is their Mountain neighbors …


Origins Of An Evil God: Conceptualization Of The Demiurge Figure In Plato And Beyond, Brendyn David Matthews Jan 2025

Origins Of An Evil God: Conceptualization Of The Demiurge Figure In Plato And Beyond, Brendyn David Matthews

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This thesis explores the creation of the Demiurge from Plato to the Gnostics. I investigate this early Christian group taking the idea of the Demiurge from Plato and twisting this figure into an evil, malevolent creator. This process involves the Gnostics taking several nodes of development: Plato’s initial conception and Hellenized Egyptians syncretizing Seth with YHWH and mixing them into their worldview to craft their Demiurge. I then answer why these Gnostics made such an entity, understanding that it was them not only trying to supersede Judaism, but the Proto Orthodoxy of Christianity at this time.


Evaluating Multiparametric Imaging Biomarkers For Guiding Targeted Therapies In Her2+ Breast Cancer, Ameer Mansur Jan 2025

Evaluating Multiparametric Imaging Biomarkers For Guiding Targeted Therapies In Her2+ Breast Cancer, Ameer Mansur

All ETDs from UAB

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer is a biologically diverse disease, in which intratumoral heterogeneity plays a significant role in tumor progression. Advanced medical imaging and image processing techniques offer the potential to noninvasively characterize the underlying intratumoral biology. Capturing these complex changes can allow for assessing therapeutic response and eventually guiding personalized therapeutic strategies. This work evaluates single and multiparametric imaging biomarkers to characterize tumor biology, identify treatment-induced changes, and predict response to targeted therapies. First, the utility of 3’-Deoxy-3’-[18F]Fluorothymidine positron emission tomography ([18F]FLT-PET) was assessed as a biomarker of proliferation for monitoring response to …


Investigating Potential Therapeutic Vulnerabilities And Elucidating Molecular Mechanisms For The Tumor Suppressors Nfkbia And Anxa7 In Diffuse Gliomas, Aran Merati Jan 2025

Investigating Potential Therapeutic Vulnerabilities And Elucidating Molecular Mechanisms For The Tumor Suppressors Nfkbia And Anxa7 In Diffuse Gliomas, Aran Merati

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Gliomas, and especially diffuse gliomas, can be a devastating disease when attempting treatment in the clinic. Diffuse gliomas are typically malignant and pose definitive problems with respect to patient care predominantly due to their ability to exist outside of the bulk tumor by invading into the surrounding brain parenchyma. Consequently, not every cancerous cell can be fully removed by surgical resection and therapeutic resistance, so the stem-like population left behind can repopulate a recurrent tumor from a single cell. There is a desperate need for pinpointing novel therapeutic vulnerabilities in diffuse gliomas, which could potentially involve the targeting of key …


Maternal Immune Activation Causes Oligodendrocyte Deficits In The Hypothalamus, Kate Miller Jan 2025

Maternal Immune Activation Causes Oligodendrocyte Deficits In The Hypothalamus, Kate Miller

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Maternal immune activation (MIA) refers to the occurrence of an inflammatory immune response during any stage of pregnancy. This manifests as the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and can be caused by air pollution, obesity, or viral infection. When this occurs during the first trimester in humans, it increases the offspring’s susceptibility to developing neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism (ASD) and schizophrenia (SZ), in males more commonly than females. In addition to behavioral manifestations of neuropsychiatric disorders, metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a common comorbidity, defined as the co-occurrence of three or more symptoms including but not limited to hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and …


Reducing Stress: The Role Of The Rcl Operon In Bacterial Stress Response To Hypothiocyanite, Julia Meredith Jan 2025

Reducing Stress: The Role Of The Rcl Operon In Bacterial Stress Response To Hypothiocyanite, Julia Meredith

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The human immune system utilizes a variety of weapons against bacterial communities within the body, which allow it to control the overall microbial population. Understanding how some bacterial species are able to better deal with and survive damage by the immune system while others are not, can help us elucidate the complex relationship between us and our microbiome. One tool that immune cells use for microbial control is the potent oxidant hypothiocyanite/hypothiocyanous acid (-OSCN/HOSCN). The response mounted by Escherichia coli and other bacterial species in order to survive damage caused by HOSCN is the focus of this dissertation. In the …


Understanding Submerged Plant Microbiome And Exploring Plant Microbe Interaction Through Plasma Optimization Studies, Binoop Mohan Jan 2025

Understanding Submerged Plant Microbiome And Exploring Plant Microbe Interaction Through Plasma Optimization Studies, Binoop Mohan

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The master's thesis presents research on enhancing plant resilience and growth through the study of the microbiome of submerged aquatic plants and the application of plasma technology in agriculture. We isolated 177 endophytic microbial strains from submerged plants collected from various locations. Screening revealed 50 strains producing ACC deaminase, an enzyme that mitigates plant stress by reducing ethylene levels. Predominant genera included Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Acinetobacter. Metagenomic analysis characterized the diverse bacterial communities associated with these plants. Different plasma treatments were tested to optimize their effects on plant growth. Atmospheric jet and globe plasma treatments significantly improved root length and …


An Investigation Into The Effects Of Preservatives On Ss-Hydroxybutyrate Concentrations Measured By Commercial Ketone Meter And Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Kerry F. Murr Jan 2025

An Investigation Into The Effects Of Preservatives On Ss-Hydroxybutyrate Concentrations Measured By Commercial Ketone Meter And Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Kerry F. Murr

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Ketoacidosis occurs when fatty acids are metabolized into ketone bodies in the liver and released into the bloodstream. This condition, which can be fatal, is commonly observed in diabetics, alcoholics, and individuals who experienced starvation or hypothermia. Although the ketone ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is an accepted biomarker of ketoacidosis, the effects of preservatives on BHB concentrations in postmortem blood are unaddressed. The first aim of this research was to determine whether preservatives affect ketone levels as measured by a point-of-care device. Paired preserved and unpreserved blood samples were obtained from the Jefferson County morgue: preserved samples in grey top tubes and …


Exploring The Impact Of Returning To Office Work Post-Pandemic On The Mental Health Of Workers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Jasmine M. Nelson Jan 2025

Exploring The Impact Of Returning To Office Work Post-Pandemic On The Mental Health Of Workers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Jasmine M. Nelson

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This study examines the association between work settings and mental health outcomes among Black working-aged women, with a focus on racial disparities and the role of self-care. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 Household Pulse Survey, this cross-sectional analysis includes responses from 196,293 employed women aged 18–65. Mental health outcomes, including anxiety, worry, lack of interest, and depressive symptoms—were assessed through self-reported measures. Work settings were categorized as telework (hybrid/remote) or in-office, and logistic regression models were used to assess associations between work setting and mental health outcomes, adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors. Findings indicate that Black …


Therapeutic Implications Of Fractionated Radiotherapy And Marcks’ Regulation Of Tunneling Nanotubes In Glioblastoma, Lauren Catherine Nassour-Caswell Jan 2025

Therapeutic Implications Of Fractionated Radiotherapy And Marcks’ Regulation Of Tunneling Nanotubes In Glioblastoma, Lauren Catherine Nassour-Caswell

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Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain malignancy in adults and the gradual development of treatment resistance prevents patients from achieving remission. A primary objective in the field is to devise strategies to overcome this. We predicted this could be achieved by improving existing therapies, creating better models to study GBM, and by identifying a potential therapeutic target. Fractionated radiotherapy (RT) has been used in GBM standard of care for over a century but does not account for GBM heterogeneity. We first hypothesized that in silico mathematical modeling would be a useful tool for cytotoxicity prediction. While this model …


Exploring Gaps In Hiv Prevention: Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Awareness, Attitudes, Utilization, Coverage, Hiv Testing And Risk Perception Among Sub-Saharan African College Students In The United States, Ikenna Obasi Odii Jan 2025

Exploring Gaps In Hiv Prevention: Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Awareness, Attitudes, Utilization, Coverage, Hiv Testing And Risk Perception Among Sub-Saharan African College Students In The United States, Ikenna Obasi Odii

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This dissertation focuses on increasing HIV awareness and contributing to efforts at reducing new HIV infections among Sub-Saharan African (SSA) college students. It begins with an introductory chapter one and ends in the concluding chapter five. Chapter two presents a systematic review identifying key gaps in HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) knowledge, attitudes, and utilization among Black college students in the United States (U.S). The review synthesizes findings from four studies, revealing that a third of participants demonstrated adequate PrEP knowledge, while PrEP utilization remained under-utilized at three percent. Key barriers to PrEP uptake included fear, low self-perceived HIV risk, infrequent …


Environmental Exposure To Metals In Children And Their Effects On Autism Spectrum Disorder, Oludesola Ogunesan Jan 2025

Environmental Exposure To Metals In Children And Their Effects On Autism Spectrum Disorder, Oludesola Ogunesan

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ABSTRACT As scientific understanding of environmental determinants of health advances, growing attention has turned to the role of toxic metal exposures in exacerbating neurodevelopmental outcomes, particularly in vulnerable populations such as children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This dissertation investigates the intersection of environmental metal exposure, biomonitoring innovation, and social factors shaping ASD severity in Alabama. Using a multidisciplinary framework, four interrelated studies explore biological, environmental, and participatory dimensions of ASD research and public health. The first study evaluates the utility of Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling (VAMS) for measuring exposure to cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and mercury …


Everyday Decision-Making Involvement Among Hispanic & Latinx Dementia Caregivers And Its Associations With Daily Anxiety And Daily Depressive Symptoms, Abigail Poe Jan 2025

Everyday Decision-Making Involvement Among Hispanic & Latinx Dementia Caregivers And Its Associations With Daily Anxiety And Daily Depressive Symptoms, Abigail Poe

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Background: Hispanic and Latinx (H&L) caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) experience elevated caregiving burden and poorer mental health outcomes compared to caregivers from other racial and ethnic groups. Limited research has examined H&L caregivers’ involvement in everyday decision-making for persons living with dementia (PLWD), particularly how this involvement may relate to daily mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Purpose: This study examined baseline decision-making involvement (DMI), its associations with individual-level factors, and its relationship with daily anxiety and depressive symptoms in H&L ADRD caregivers. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted using data …


Investigating Risk Of Suboptimal Hiv Treatment Outcomes (Treatment Failure And Disengagement) Among Pregnant And Postpartum Women Living With Hiv, Kevin Owuor Jan 2025

Investigating Risk Of Suboptimal Hiv Treatment Outcomes (Treatment Failure And Disengagement) Among Pregnant And Postpartum Women Living With Hiv, Kevin Owuor

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The joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has set targets to end the HIV epidemic by improving HIV diagnosis, treatment, and viral suppression to reduce new infections and improve health outcomes for people living with HIV (PLHIV), including pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV (PPWH). After diagnosis, linking PPWH to antiretroviral (ART) treatment is critical to suppress the virus and prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. Continuous engagement in care is essential for achieving and maintaining virologic suppression in the peripartum and postpartum period for PPWH, both for their own health and the health of their family. Disengagement …


Unveiling The Other: Feminine And Colonial Subjugation In Mary Elizabeth Braddon's England, Kaylie Rastegar Jan 2025

Unveiling The Other: Feminine And Colonial Subjugation In Mary Elizabeth Braddon's England, Kaylie Rastegar

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Just a few years after England experienced major societal shifts, both domestically in the passage of revolutionary women’s rights legislation and internationally in the Indian Mutiny, Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s Lady Audley’s Secret (1862) offered Victorian readers a way to confront their anxieties and uncertainties about the nation’s future. The traditional power structures of British imperialism and patriarchy faced growing resistance as Indian rebels and women’s rights reformers challenged their assumed natural authority. Past scholarship contextualizes the novel within these major historical events, viewing them in relation to each other in which the struggles of Indian colonial subjects equate to those …


Precast Foundation For Steel Lattice Towers, Wessam Ramadan Jan 2025

Precast Foundation For Steel Lattice Towers, Wessam Ramadan

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Steel lattice towers are essential structures used in power transmission, telecommunications, and wind turbine towers, where they must withstand various loads to ensure stability and durability. The foundation system plays a crucial role in supporting these towers, with different types chosen based on soil conditions, environmental factors, and project requirements. Traditional foundations, such as drilled shafts, spread footings, and steel grillages have been widely used but often come with challenges, including long installation times, high labor costs, and difficult site conditions. As demand for transmission infrastructure grows, there is a need for faster, more efficient, and environmentally friendly foundation solutions. …