Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Role Of Aeg-1 In Mouse Models Of Pain, Bryan Mckiver, Wisam Toma, Deniz Bagdas, Devanand Sarkar, M. Imad. Damaj

Graduate Research Posters

Background: Astrocyte Elevated Gene 1 (AEG-1) is a multifunctional protein shown to be a regulator of transcription and multiple intracellular signaling pathways. The role of AEG-1 in cellular inflammation appears to be primarily facilitated by its direct interaction with the transcription factor NFκB, transcriptional regulator of inflammatory cytokines. May be have a potential role in models of pain, particularly chronic inflammatory and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods: C57BL6/J male and female mice, 8-14 weeks old. AEG-1 wild type (WT) and global knockout (KO) male and female mice, 8-14 weeks old. Chronic Inflammatory Pain induced via i.pl. injection of 50% …

Shedding Psychological Light On The Racial Disparities In School Disciplinary Measures: The Role Of Dehumanization As A Potential Mechanism, Ebony Lambert, Nao Hagiwara

Graduate Research Posters

Schools should be safe and supportive spaces for all students, yet Black students tend to face biased treatment in the education system, which often results in harsh disciplinary measures. This research examined the role of animalistic dehumanization (i.e., perceiving others as animal- like and uncultured and denying uniquely human characteristics), in predicting choice of harsher disciplinary measures for Black students as opposed to White students. It was hypothesized that individuals who dehumanize Black students to a greater degree would be more likely to believe that Black students need to be disciplined through harsher measures. Both Study 1 (in which dehumanization …

The Moderating Effect Of Comfort From Companion Animals And Social Support On The Relationship Between Microaggressions And Mental Health In Lgbtq+ Emerging Adults, Angela Matijczak, Jennifer L. Murphy, Camie A. Tomlinson, Kelly O'Connor, Shelby E. Mcdonald

Graduate Research Posters

Introduction: Sexual and/or gender minority (SGM; e.g., lesbian, transgender, nonbinary, LGBTQ+) individuals are frequently exposed to various forms of minority stress that impact their mental health and wellbeing. Microaggressions, a form of minority stress, are defined as unconscious behaviors or statements directed at members of marginalized groups that reflect a hostile or discriminatory message. Microaggressions have been associated with several detrimental outcomes, such as depression and anxiety. Social support has been found to be an important protective factor for SGM emerging adults. Additionally, relationships with companion animals are an underexplored source of support that may be important for SGM individuals. …

Evidence Based Practice Question Development & Search Checklist, Roy E. Brown

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

The Evidence Based Practice Question Development and Search Checklist is a tool that is used in instructional sessions with nurses in reference to evidence-based practice and literature searching. It is intended as a reference handout.

It is under a creative commons license. If you would like a version that can be rebranded for your organization to use, please contact the author for an editable version.

Genetic And Cellular Models For The Study Of Ptk2b And Adam10 In Adaptive Thermogenesis And Metabolism, Jared S. Farrar

Theses and Dissertations

In a cellular model, we demonstrate that the non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase 2 beta (PTK2B) plays a critical role in mouse cultured beige adipocyte differentiation. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-out of Ptk2b results in non-differentiating white adipocytes and differentiated beige adipocytes with significantly reduced thermogenic gene and protein expression, enlarged lipid droplet size, and altered mitochondrial respiration. Together, these data in a cell culture system provide evidence for a role of PTK2B in the differentiation of mouse beige adipocytes.

In the process of developing a new mouse model utilizing the adipocyte selective Adipoq-Cre transgenic mouse, strong genetic linkage between a gene …

Mass Spectrometry Based Lipidomic Investigation Of Staphylococcus Aureus Lipid Metabolism And Characterization Of Lipase A, Naren Gajenthra Kumar

Theses and Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus produces an arsenal of virulence factors and is adept at colonizing multiple hosts by employing specific processes to persist at different sites of infection. Infections caused by this pathogen range from self-limiting infections of the skin like folliculitis to life threatening and chronic conditions like infective endocarditis, non-healing diabetic foot ulcers and atopic dermatitis. As the field continues to expand its understanding of the mechanisms by which this pathogen rapidly develops resistance to new antibiotics, the underlying mechanisms that facilitates niche adaptation and host colonization among healthy individuals remain elusive.

Bacterial and host lipid metabolism presents and area …

Caffeine Use And Associations With Sleep In Adolescents With And Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd), Caroline N. Cusick

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to compare caffeine consumption in the morning, afternoon, and evening in adolescents with and without Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and examine associations with sleep functioning. Participants were 302 adolescents (ages 12-14) with (n=140) and without (n=162) ADHD. Adolescents wore actigraph watches to assess total sleep time and wake after sleep onset and reported on their sleep-wake problems and the number of caffeinated beverages consumed per day in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Parents reported on adolescents’ difficulties initiating and maintaining sleep. Chi-square analyses, odds ratios, and path analyses were conducted. Analyses controlled for sex, …

The Effects Of Exosomes On The Regeneration Of Rat Calvaria, Jill T. Beitz

Theses and Dissertations

Periodontal disease is a bacterial induced chronic inflammatory condition that occurs in a susceptible host, affecting the teeth, gingiva, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. The resultant pathological bone defects often require surgical intervention, with the ultimate goal being regeneration of the periodontium through the application of grafting materials and biologics. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show great potential in regenerative medicine for their ability to enhance cell proliferation and differentiation, increase angiogenesis, and modulate the immune response. Stem cell-derived by-products, known as exosomes are a specific class of lipid-membrane-bound extracellular vesicles that are proliferative and chemotactic, are able to inhibit cytokine …

Characterization Of The Dyrk1a Protein-Protein Interaction Network, Varsha Ananthapadmanabhan

Theses and Dissertations

Human Dual specificity tyrosine (Y)-Regulated Kinase 1A (DYRK1A) is a protein kinase encoded by a dosage-dependent gene. An extra copy of DYRK1A contributes to Down syndrome (DS) pathogenesis while loss of one allele causes severe mental retardation and autism. DYRK1A is involved in phosphorylation of several proteins that regulate cell cycle control and tumor suppression. However, the function and regulation of this kinase is not well understood and current knowledge does not fully explain dosage-dependent function of this important kinase. Our previous proteomic studies identified several novel DYRK1A interacting proteins including RNF169, FAM117B, TROAP, LZTS1, LZTS2 and DCAF7. In this …

Extracellular Matrix Nanoparticles Effects On The Lung In Vivo, Brittaney E. Ritchie

Theses and Dissertations

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition that causes diffuse alveolar damage and a loss of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This leads to pulmonary edema and lung function deterioration. Our lab has created decellularized porcine lung, electrosprayed ECM nanoparticles that have been previously shown to have pro-regenerative capabilities in vitro.

In this study, the ECM nanoparticle effects on young murine lungs were tested in vivo. An ECM nanoparticle suspension, previously used for the in vitro studies, was aerosolized intratracheally into the lungs using a microsprayer. 24 hours later, the lung mechanics, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and histology …

The Immediate And Persistent Effects Of Binge Ethanol Exposure On Myelin Protein Expression In Dba/2j Mice, Aminatta Z. Tejan-Kamara

Theses and Dissertations

Binge drinking is the most lethal of drinking patterns, responsible for 77% of all U.S. alcohol misuse costs. Adolescents have increased sensitivity to ethanol’s rewarding properties and decreased sensitivity to ethanol’s aversive effects likely allowing for their increased binge drinking, as compared to adults. Ethanol consumption during adolescent neurodevelopment can lead to immediate and lasting neurobiological-consequences. We have previously shown that adolescent intermittent binge ethanol exposure decreases myelin-related gene expression in DBA/2J mice. Here, we hypothesize intermittent binge ethanol exposure in adolescent DBA/2J mice will decrease myelin protein expression in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) immediately following binge ethanol and this …

Pharmacological Characterization Of Novel Low Efficacy Mor Modulators: Implications For Opioid Use Disorder Treatment, Abdulmajeed Jali

Theses and Dissertations

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a major public health concern in the Unites States, resulting in an estimated 128 overdose deaths per day. Although presently approved OUD pharmacotherapies are partially effective, they are accompanied by undesirable side effects or low compliance. m-Opioid receptor (MOR) agonists (methadone and buprenorphine) are associated with physical dependence, abuse liability and respiratory depression, whereas the MOR antagonist naltrexone is associated with withdrawal precipitation, dysphoria and low patient compliance. Therefore, development of novel medications with fewer side effects and higher compliance than current OUD pharmacotherapies is needed. The objective of this dissertation was to pharmacologically characterize …

Development Of An Anatomically And Electrically Conductive Brain Phantom For Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Hamzah A. Magsood

Theses and Dissertations

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive technique for diagnostics, prognostic, and treatments of various neurological diseases. However, the lack of anatomically realistic brain phantoms has made the experimental verification of stimulation strength in the form of induced electric fields/voltages in the brain tissues an impediment to developing new TMS coils, stimulators, and treatment protocols. There are significant technological, safety, and ethical limitations to test the potential TMS treatment procedures or develop enhancements and refine them on humans or animals. This work aims to bridge the gap by introducing and developing an innovative manufacturing and fabrications process to produce a …

Assessing The Role Of Planar Cell Polarity Protein Ptk7 In Axon Pathfinding Of Spinal Commissural Neurons, Joseph Paul Miano

Theses and Dissertations

Axon pathfinding is a fundamental step that establishes the vast networks of the nervous system. Understanding this process is important because disruptions to these neural networks can impair quality of life. During axon pathfinding, an axon’s growth cone comes in contact with a variety of secreted chemotropic signaling cues that control growth cone behavior through activation of signal transduction pathways which cause changes to the cytoskeleton. One such pathway is the Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) signal transduction pathway that responds to gradients of non-canonical Wnt ligands. PCP has a well-known role in axon pathfinding, including axon pathfinding in the spinal …

Ndrg1 And Myelin-Related Disease: Alcoholism And Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy, Guy Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a prevalent neuropsychiatric disease with profound health, social, and economic consequences. With an estimated 50% heritability, identifying genes that engender risk and contribute to the underlying neurobiological mechanisms represents an important first step in developing effective treatments. Gene expression studies are an important source of candidate genes for studying AUD, providing windows into the molecular machinery engaged by the brain in response to ethanol. Our laboratory has implicated N-myc down-regulated gene 1 (Ndrg1) as a potential candidate gene that modulates ethanol-induced changes in myelin-related gene expression and acute sensitivity to ethanol. Analysis of …

Characterizing A20 Function In Periodontal Tissue Homeostasis, Erin Mooney

Theses and Dissertations

The regulation of inflammatory signaling pathways is critical for proper innate immune responses to pathogens as well as the prevention of chronic inflammation. Ubiquitination, a covalent posttranslational modification, has been identified as a key regulator of multiple signaling cascades, including nuclear factor (NF)-κB. A20 (also known as TNF alpha induced protein 3 or TNFAIP3) has emerged as critical ubiquitin-editing enzyme that functions as an endogenous regulator of inflammation through termination of NF-κB activation as part of a negative feedback loop. Through its function in a plethora of biological processes, aberrant expression and/or function of A20 has been implicated in gastrointestinal, …

Transcriptomic Profiling Of Postmortem Prefrontal Cortex And Nucleus Accumbens From Chronic Alcohol Abusers., Eric S. Vornholt

Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a debilitating psychiatric illness that develops from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. While it is well documented that AUD is heritable, the shift from recreational alcohol use to abuse/dependence is poorly understood. In this dissertation, using postmortem brain tissue from individuals with alcohol dependence (AD), we profiled the genome-wide expression of circular RNA (circRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA) to better understand the impact of gene expression on the development of AUD. To achieve this, we performed two independent studies that explore transcriptome differences between AD cases and controls. The first of …

Comparing Parent-Report And Performance-Based Measures Of Vestibular Processing, Elisha D. Chambers

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Comparing Parent-report and Performance-based Measures of Vestibular Processing

By Elisha Chambers, MS. OTR/L

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2020

Major Director: Stacey Reynolds, Ph.D OTR/L

Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy

In the field of occupational therapy, there is a need to explore the relationship between performance based-measures and parent-report measures of vestibular functioning because thorough assessment sets the foundation for effective intervention. Time constraints, child distractibility, and limited participation are all issues that pediatric occupational therapists face during evaluations. It …

Impact Of A Culturally-Relevant Support Program And Latinx Adolescents' Help Seeking Services: An Academic-Latinx Community Service Partnership To Enhance Culturally Responsive Services For Latinx Immigrant Youth., Lisa S. Fuentes

Theses and Dissertations

Latinxs, in general, report logistical barriers that contribute to utilizing fewer healthcare services and/or not knowing how to navigate the healthcare system. In addition to underutilizing healthcare services, Latinx immigrant youth also report higher levels of negative attitudes towards mental health. However, little is still known regarding factors that impact these attitudes with Latinx immigrant youth, as well as the community support efforts that are available to this specific group. Using a semi-structured interview on 12 Latinx immigrant youth, this master’s thesis explored: (1) the attitudes towards mental health, (2) attitudes towards mental health services, (3) and the experiences of …

Discerning The Spectroscopic Properties And Chemical Reactivity Of Bioinspired Metallocomplexes, Ashley K. Forney

Theses and Dissertations

In Nature, metalloenzymes catalyze a variety of thermodynamically demanding reactions with remarkable performance under mild, physiological conditions. This innate ability is a driving force for the development of nature inspired, synthetic analogues that are robust and can catalyze a variety of organic transformations. This work involves the successful syntheses of four coordinate, bioinspired complexes, [M^II(n-DOB)] (M = Ni, Co, and Cu; n = 12 and 13), which have been characterized by NMR, ESI-MS, UV/Vis, EPR, and CV. Spectroscopic evidence presents the generation of reactive metal-(di)oxygen species that display amphoteric reaction behavior, making these rarities among inorganic oxidants. These …

Profiles Of Adjustment Among Children In Institutional Care In Ghana: Predictors Of Positive Functioning, Anna W. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

Worldwide, approximately 2-8 million children reside in institutional care, which can lead to developmental setbacks. Given the need for institutional care persists, it is important to continue investigating which improvements can be made to provide optimal care. The current mixed-methods study included participants from Accra, Ghana. Study 1 involved cluster analyses to determine patterns of adjustment for 100 children in institutional care (CIC) (M age = 13.31 years, SD = 3.14; 40% female) and 100 children in families (CIF) (M age = 13.37 years, SD = 3.08; 40% female) across several domains. ANOVA was used to evaluate whether …

Mother Is How I Got Down Pat, Kyrae Dawaun

Theses and Dissertations

This essay gathers concepts of matriarchal studies, theatre and hospitality in thinking beyond the contemporary venue of painting. Recognizing the limits of fine arts, as it is today, a product of a patriarchal, capitalistic societal structure, in its service to an inclusive, public sphere, my work is insistent on the value of installation. Accessibility to space (the art space), language, and the right to politics are goals inspiring the evolved features in my studio practice. The use of word is central in my study of our human behaviors as they can be best modeled according to the appreciation of mother(ing). …

Exploring The Creation Of Immersive And Responsive Spaces For Interrelationship Through The Concept Of Playfulness, Yonghun Jung

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020 is causing serious damage to many countries. As of May, the number of confirmed patients worldwide is at 3.35 million and the death toll stands at 239,000 people. As a way to prevent the pandemic, most countries encourage people to keep social or physical distance and self-quarantine. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they recommend that people stay at least six feet away from each other and the South Korean government also recommend keeping their distance from each other at least two meters.

Because of the current situation, …

In Vivo Effects Of The Cb1 Allosteric Modulator Ldk1258, A Structural Analog Of Org-27569, Mohammed A. Mustafa

Theses and Dissertations

CB1 receptor allosteric modulators are an area of growing interest for their potential novel therapeutic actions. In the present study, we examined LDK1258 in a series of pharmacological in vivo tests sensitive to CB1 receptor stimulation. In the tetrad assay, LDK1258 produced significant decreases in locomotor activity and body temperature measures but did not produce either antinociception as measured in the tail-withdrawal assay or catalepsy as assessed in the bar test. These same effects were observed in both CB1 (-/-) and (+/+) mice. Moreover, LDK1258 failed to shift the dose-response curves of two orthosteric CB1 receptor agonists in the triad …

I Hope My Black Skin Don't Dirt This White Tuxedo, Luis A. Vasquez La Roche

Theses and Dissertations

I Hope My Black Skin Don't Dirt This White Tuxedo is a series of works--sculpture, installations, and performances--that explore themes of shame, failure, commodity, ephemerality, ritual, resilience, erasure, race, and death. The research and interest in these themes stem from a page of the Trinidad and Tobago Slave Registry. I use the research that surrounds this document to highlight different moments in history, in my personal life, and to imagine near futures.

Paul By Paul By Paul, Paul Finch

Theses and Dissertations

In 2020 flamboyant fashion is associated with queer performativity. Psychologist Alan Downs and queer theorist madison moore understand this to be a response to a culture that is hostile to sexual behaviour and gender expression that falls outside a rigid binary. I study the history of flamboyant aesthetics and camp sensibilities from an intersectional perspective, and locate designers and artists who have produced clothes in ways that materialize the political implications of fashion. As a studio-based artist, I employ traditional sewing techniques, digital technologies, and performance to create clothes and new media works that demonstrate a circular understanding of time, …

Moving Parts, Andrew Lowrie

Theses and Dissertations

Material bodies, human and non-human, exist in a constant state of doing and undoing. As bodies change over time, so too do the objects they wear. In this way, a jewelry object is never finished and is constantly being made. In contemporary art practice, this is described as relational ontology by Amelia Jones, who reaches this terminology through the eco-political writings of Jane Bennett and Karen Barad. Through this framework we are able to understand the way artists like Gabriel Orozco and Helen Carnac resist the notion of a finished object or artwork. By engaging with the ways that process …

...And Yet The Devil Exists, John Hee Taek Chae

Theses and Dissertations

...And Yet the Devil Exists is a project that explores the ways in which ideology determines reality. It is an installation that plots and connects the historical and personal narratives that have defined my sense of identity–narratives in which perceptions of reality shatter, mutate, or hybridize when confronted with power, opportunity, or coercion. The installation component of the project consists of three parts. The first is an infrastructure made of wooden beams upon which paintings and images are installed; I call this the lantern. In the center of this is a round table on top of which is a nonsensical …

The Effects Of An Inflammasome Inhibitor Olt1177 On The Development Of Ischemic Heart Failure, Joseph S. Aliaga

Theses and Dissertations

Thesis Abstract

THE EFFECTS OF AN INFLAMMASOME INHIBITOR OLT1177 ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ISCHEMIC HEART FAILURE

By Joseph S. Aliaga, BS

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2020

Background: Evidence suggests that prolonged and enhanced pro-inflammatory signaling, modulated by the NLRP3 inflammasome, plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of several different types of cardiovascular diseases such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI), adverse ventricular remodeling, and heart failure (HF). Consequently, we hypothesize that attenuating the enhanced inflammatory response using a pharmacological NLRP3 …

See As One, Min Haeng Kang

Theses and Dissertations

Everything that exists in the world is made from “nature.” Humans who initially coexisted with nature began to distinguish themselves from what is human and what is not. Unlike past systems that used to reuse all materials, Society so far has focused on maximizing economic profits along with advancing technology. As a result, the nature of the earth is being irrevocably destroyed, and I think the basis for this lies in the distinctions made between the human and the non-human.

I am always seeking to be in a state where I do not have an atman, like the Buddhist concept …