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A Study On The Mechanism Of Clp290 Restoration Of Kcc2 And Neuroprotection After Traumatic Brain Injury, Ekaterina Stepanova

Theses and Dissertations

The research of this thesis investigated the mechanism of action for the therapeutic compound CLP290, which our laboratory has previously demonstrated to reverse degradation of the protein potassium-chloride co-transporter 2 (KCC2) and restore neuronal function following modeled traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the rat. The loss of membranous KCC2 from the plasma membrane after TBI worsens the excitation/inhibition imbalance common in neurotrauma. Addressed here were the specific aims to: 1) assess that CLP290 treatment restores the functional oligomeric form of KCC2 to the neuronal plasma membrane as necessary to provide chloride homeostasis; 2) investigate the signaling mechanism by which CLP290 …

Disruption Of The Dream Complex Results In Cell Cycle Deregulation, Hayley C. Walston

Theses and Dissertations

The Dimerization Partner, Rb-like, E2F, And MuvB (DREAM) complex was identified in humans due to homology of the genes involved in the D. melanogaster dREAM complex. It assembles during cellular arrest, or G0, to function as a transcriptional repressor of cell cycle genes. It is known that phosphorylation of LIN52 at serine 28 is necessary for the critical DREAM forming interaction between LIN52 and the pocket protein p130. Our laboratory has previously shown that gene editing of LIN52 to replace serine 28 with alanine (S28A) prevents phosphorylation by the kinase DYRK1A and inhibits DREAM formation. Here we have confirmed this …

Pseudo-Data Generation For Improving Clinical Named Entity Recognition, Jeffrey T. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

One of the primary challenges for clinical Named Entity Recognition (NER) is the availability of annotated training data. Technical and legal hurdles prevent the creation and release of corpora related to electronic health records (EHRs). In this work, we look at the imapct of pseudo-data generation on clinical NER using gazetteering and thresholding utilizing a neural network model. We report that gazetteers can result in the inclusion of proper terms with the exclusion of determiners and pronouns in preceding and middle positions. Gazetteers that had higher numbers of terms inclusive to the original dataset had a higher impact. We also …

Multicultural Literature In The Elementary Classroom: A Comparison Of Traditional And Dual Language Classroom Teachers, Virginia Massaro

Theses and Dissertations

The number of English learners in the United States continues to increase and these students’ literacy scores are dramatically lower than their native English-speaking peers. White, female teachers dominate the teaching workforce, creating a cultural mismatch between teachers and students. Culturally relevant education can benefit student outcomes and incorporating multicultural literature is one way to do so. This non-experimental quantitative study examined the relationships between teachers’ multicultural characteristics, teachers’ use of multicultural literature, classroom level factors, and teacher demographics. A total of 35 teachers participated in an online survey and completed a book log, indicating texts used in their instruction. …

Accounting For The Uncertainty Due To Chemicals Below The Detection Limit In Mixture Analysis, Paul M. Hargarten

Theses and Dissertations

Humans are exposed to multiple chemicals every day. Epidemiological studies have shown that chemical mixtures are associated with cancers, allergies, neurodevelopmental disorders, and other adverse health effects. To assess these associations, investigators are increasingly using chemical mixture approaches like weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression. In these studies, the research objectives are to determine whether a mixture of correlated chemicals is associated with an adverse health outcome and to identify the important chemicals. However, as experimental equipment measures each exposure to a chemical-specific detection limit, the exposures are unknown between zero and the detection limit. Indeed, the number of exposures below …

The Moderating Role Of Developmental Assets On Relations Between Child Maltreatment, Trauma, And Dating Violence, Stephanie A. Hitti

Theses and Dissertations

Teenage dating violence (TDV) is prevalent and associated with an array of psychosocial and health problems. Thus, numerous studies have focused on the identification of risk and protective factors for TDV. Child maltreatment has been consistently identified as a risk factor for TDV victimization and perpetration. However, potential underlying mechanisms that may partially explain the relations between child maltreatment and TDV victimization and perpetration are not well understood. The present study explored indirect relations between child maltreatment and TDV victimization and perpetration via trauma symptoms, and examined whether internal and external developmental assets moderated relations between (a) child maltreatment and …

Non-Invasive Retrieval Of Prefabricated Zirconia Crowns With Er,Cr:Ysgg Laser From Primary And Permanent Teeth, Connor W. Mccall Dds

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Compromised tooth structure on permanent and deciduous teeth in the pediatric population is increasingly being restored with tooth-colored prefabricated zirconia crowns. These restorations may need to be removed or replaced with permanent crowns. The purpose of this in vitro study was to explore the use of an Er,Cr:YSGG laser for removal of prefabricated zirconia crowns cemented with RMGI as a non-invasive alternative to rotary instruments.

Methods: Thirteen permanent and 12 primary molars were prepared to dentin and prefabricated zirconia crowns were passively fitted and cemented with two resin modified glass ionomer cements. The irradiation parameters for ErCR:YSGG were 4.5 …

Process Factors Affecting Reperfusion Time In Patients Presenting With St-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (Stemi), Richard R. Wall

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract PROCESS FACTORS AFFECTING REPERFUSION TIME IN PATIENTS

PRESENTING WITH ST-SEGMENT ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION (STEMI) By Richard R. Wall MSRS, RT(R)(CT)(CI), RCIS

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

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2020.

Dissertation Chair: Jeffrey S. Legg Ph.D. Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Radiation Sciences

An ST-segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) occurs when the blood flow to the myocardium is suddenly and completely blocked causing the myocardium to become ischemic. A STEMI is a life-threatening condition that necessitates emergent medical treatment. Research has shown that longer …

Social Capital And The Higher Education Academic Achievement Of American Students: A Cross-Classified Multilevel Model Approach To Understanding The Impact Of Society On Educational Outcomes, Olubowale Emiola Oyefuga

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, especially after the publication in 2000 of Robert Putnam’s book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Society, there has been a heightened interest in the concept of social capital. Many scholars have made the connection between social capital and education by examining its effects on educational outcomes. However, a lot still needs to be understood. The aim of this dissertation is to provide a better understanding of the influence of social capital on the higher education academic achievement of American students. Using data from Waves I, II, and IV of the National Longitudinal Study …

Selenomonas Sputigena: Growth Conditions And Projected Virulence Factors Of An Emerging Oral Pathogen, Kayla A. Keller

Theses and Dissertations

Periodontal diseases are ubiquitous diseases. They can affect people through a chronic infection that happens over a lifetime, but also as an aggressive infection that afflicts the younger population. It not only results in tooth loss and a lower quality of life, but it can also lead to fatal secondary infections like cervical cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. This study looks at Selenomonas sputigena, an emerging oral pathogen, that has been hypothesized to contribute to periodontal disease. It has been linked to fatal septicemia and has been found in increased abundance within the oral biofilm during peak infection. …

An Investigation Of Elementary School Teachers’ Culturally Relevant Teaching Practices In Two Cultures: A Comparative Study In China And The United States, Alicia R. Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Effective teaching is one of the most important factors in student achievement. Throughout the world, there are high expectations for teacher and student performance. Teachers and students need to navigate the demographic and cultural shifts occurring around the world. Teachers’ cultural awareness and knowledge base of culturally relevant teaching practices is critical to their effectiveness. Based on the need to better understand the cultural responsiveness of teachers, this comparative study investigated elementary school teachers’ culturally relevant teaching practices in China and the U.S. through the use of video-cued ethnography. The following findings were revealed from the study: (a) differences in …

Enhancing Chemosensitivity Of Lung Cancers By Manipulating The Tumor Microenvironment: Local Lung Delivery And Nanocarrier-Based Therapies, Hanming Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in United States causing an estimated six hundred thousand death in 2019. Among different types of cancer, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death in both male and female. While targeted therapy and immunotherapy have shown promising clinical outcomes, currently there remain a significant proportion of patients who do not benefit from these strategies or who cannot tolerate them, making Pt based doublet chemotherapy still an indispensable component in almost all stages of treatment. However, partially due to the poor tumor distribution of small molecule drug, the development of …

Detection Of Bacterial Lipopolysaccharides Of Escherichia Coli By Direct Analysis In Real Time/Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry, Dakotah M. Biller

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are a major component of the outer membrane in Gram-negative bacteria species and are responsible for toxicity caused by organisms such as Escherichia coli (E.coli). Conventional methods for characterizing LPS utilize mass spectrometry, particularly matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Although these are successful in analyzing intact LPS molecules, they can be time-consuming. Other mass spectrometry techniques, such as direct analysis in real time/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (DART-TOF-MS) could also be helpful in the rapid analysis of LPS molecules without sample extraction procedures. This research focuses on the application …

The Utilization Of Eukaryotic Cell Types In Microbiomes For Semen, Vaginal Fluid, And Menstrual Blood Identification Using 18s Rdna, Ines Benaissa

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

The accurate identification of body fluids is vital for crime scene investigation and forensic analysis. While many body fluids can be presumptively identified, there is a lack of confirmatory testing for verification. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if body fluids (menstrual blood, vaginal fluid, and semen) could be differentiated based on their eukaryotic microbial communities. The target area of interest was the V9 hyper-variable region of 18S ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA). The samples were extracted, barcoded using a duel-index strategy, and PCR amplified before undergoing high throughput sequencing using the Illumina Miseq FGx instrument. The samples …

Development Of An Untargeted Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Gc/Ms) Method For The Detection Of Drugs In Wastewater, Samuel A. Miller

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Monitoring current illicit drug trends and consumption rates of pharmaceuticals using a non-invasive collection technique is needed to address the present drug use and the growing drug epidemic. Reliance on self-reporting drug use surveys is not always a practical measure of illicit drug use. Wastewater analysis has been used globally as a targeted method for monitoring the consumption of specific illicit drugs. Current existing analytical techniques for wastewater analysis focus on the use of targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based techniques. Few gas chromatography (GC) procedures exist for wastewater analysis, and those that do concentrate their methods on a single …

Prediction Of Minimum Postmortem Submersion Interval (Pmsimin) Based On Eukaryotic Community Succession On Skeletal Remains Recovered From Aquatic Environments, Sala Randall

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Many recent studies were conducted concerning bacterial succession in decomposing animal carrion in terrestrial system. However, not much is known about the microorganisms involved in aquatic decomposition. To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no published studies which estimate minimum postmortem submersion interval PMSI_min based on eukaryotic community succession in aquatic system. The main goal of this study was to determine the eukaryotic community succession associated with porcine skeletal remains in a lentic environment, and to derive a statistical model for PMSI_min prediction. Henleys Lake in Crozet, VA was the location chosen for this research. Fresh …

The Effect Of Time And Temperature On The Quality Of Latent Fingerprints On Incandescent Lightbulbs, Varying Donors Age And Sex, Kinaysha M. Collazo Maldonado

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Fingerprints are used as a means of identification, but there are no established methodologies to determine time since deposition of latent fingerprints by visual means alone. This research considered the influence of age and sex on the quality of recovered latent prints from lit and unlit lightbulbs from 1 to 10 days, using accumulated degree hours (ADH) to account for both heat and time simultaneously. Two male and two female donors (one of each aged40 years) were used. A thermal imaging camera was used to monitor the lightbulbs top and middle regions, which were significantly different (p≤0.05) for the experimental …

Developing A Sustainable Model For Impactful Academic Advising, Ronda M. Bond, Stephen C. Byrd, Sandra J. Mazzoli, Reginald L. Stroble

Doctor of Education Capstones

The primary focus of this research is advising delivery models for community colleges. This capstone focused on the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), namely John Tyler Community College (JTCC). The research focused on delivering the most consistently supportive advising framework for faculty, staff, and students. A mixed-methods study was used by way of an online survey and in-person focus groups. Secondary data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) was used to compare JTCC to other colleges in the VCCS. This study also focused on best practices regarding academic advising and advisor development, evaluated the needs of current advising …

Narrative For Expanding Visibility To Non-Black Students Through Enrollment Management Practices For Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Ladarius Thompson, Stephen Barr, Lisa Winn Bryan, Lisa Williams

Doctor of Education Capstones

As the U.S. is growing more diverse, at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) like VSU, non-Black students are considered underrepresented. Current declining enrollment numbers at VSU have become problematic, creating a budgetary shortfall that has impacted student facilities, programs, and services. In response, VSU is striving to increase student enrollment through strategic enrollment management. This study examines how VSU can expand its visibility with non-Black, domestic students in high schools, and community colleges. Further, this study adds to the understanding of enrollment management strategies at an HBCU, as administrators, faculty and other stakeholders collaborate to provide an inclusive environment …

The Eastern Goochland Greenway: Connecting Goochland's Past, Present, And Future, Scott A. Newhart

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The Eastern Goochland Greenway Plan proposes a shared-use trail that is nested within the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) conceptualization of a statewide trail system called the James River Heritage Trail (JRHT). The JRHT includes shared use bicycle and pedestrian facilities as well as water trail access points that would connect pre-existing trail systems to new proposed trails that are parallel with and in close proximity to Virginia’s James River corridor and all of the natural, cultural, and historic resource opportunities that the surrounding areas offer. Specifically, the Eastern Goochland Greenway aims to serve two major purposes; to …

Rehouse Richmond: Plan To Address The Eviction Crisis, Lark Washington

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Rehouse Richmond aims to recommend specific best practices and start-to-finish development of successful organizing strategies for anti-eviction work. The client for this plan, RISC, is an interfaith coalition of congregations across the Richmond region. Richmond has a compounding history of redlining, urban renewal, foreclosure crisis, and now evictions that has drained the wealth of its Black residents for generations. There is a wealth of academic literature indicating the prevalence of eviction as well as the people who are most vulnerable: rent-burdened tenants, and Black women especially with children. There are a lot of responses to the eviction crisis ranging from …

Infra-Sutures: New Perspectives In Responsive Design And Community Engagement, Shekinah Mitchell

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Whether considering the construction of highways, urban renewal, or concentrated poverty, many low-wealth communities of color bear the scars of inequity. These scars are symbols of racial and socioeconomic trauma with deep physical, cultural and economic impact; however, this plan asserts that if the built environment has the power to entrench and reinforce hierarchies, it also has the power to participate in dismantling oppressive ideologies and advancing racial and socioeconomic equity. With Richmond, Virginia serving as the case example, this plan proposes a community engagement process and culturally responsive design principles to activate public space redevelopment projects as infra-sutures. Developed …

Food Park, Houria Boumzairig

Theses and Dissertations

If climate change and population growth progress at their current pace, in roughly 50 years farming as we know it will no longer exist (Despommier, 2009). This means that the majority of people could soon be without enough food or water. But there is a solution that is surprisingly within reach: Move most farming into cities, and grow crops in tall, specially constructed buildings. It’s called vertical farming. “There is a close relation between the beginning of agriculture and the birth of architecture. Our cities were shaped by food” (Precht, 2019). The agricultural revolution ended our presence as hunters and …

Reducing Disparities In Smoking For Adults With Mental Illness: Are U.S. Tobacco Prevention Policies Effective?, L. Morgan Snell

Theses and Dissertations

One in five people in the U.S. are estimated to experience “any mental illness” (AMI); however this group represents an estimated 40% of the annual, adult cigarette consumption in the U.S. Tobacco prevention policies have been successful at reducing smoking prevalence among the U.S. population as a whole, however it is unclear whether these efforts have had significant impact on tobacco use rates among individuals with AMI. The three papers that comprise this project combined longitudinal, nationally-representative data and online behavioral experiments from U.S. adults to compare demand for cigarettes among adult smokers with and without AMI. Taken together, our …

Structured Engagement For A Multi-Institutional Collaborative To Tackle Challenges And Share Best Practices, Rosalyn H. Hargraves, Stella K. Hofrenning, Janet Bowers, Mary D.R. Beisiegel, Victor Piercey, Erica Slate Young

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

A National Consortium for Synergistic Undergraduate Mathematics via Multi-institutional Interdisciplinary Teaching Partnerships (SUMMIT-P), funded by the National Science Foundation, is a multi-institutional consortium with members from twelve institutions. The consortium adapted two protocols developed by the School Reform Initiative to: 1. provide advice on challenges or dilemmas a consortium member is facing and 2. share project successes with consortium members. The two protocols—a Modified Descriptive Consultancy protocol and a Modified Success Analysis with Reflective Questions protocol—provide a structured format for these discussions. This paper provides an in-depth description of the two protocols and how they have been used for this …

Full Issue

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

No abstract provided.

Evaluating A Large-Scale Multi-Institution Project: Challenges Faced And Lessons Learned, Erica Slate Young, Bryanne Peterson, Sarah Schott, Jack Bookman

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

SUMMIT-P consists of nine participating institutions working toward common goals but from unique perspectives. Evaluating such a large-scale project with diverse stakeholders has presented challenges. For one, evaluation on this scale necessitates a team effort rather than a single evaluator. Communication is key among the evaluators as well as among the project players at large. Participation and reliable, timely feedback from participants are perhaps the most important issues while also posing some of our greatest challenges. We present strategies we developed to counteract these challenges. In particular, we discuss the development of an assessment tracking system used to not only …

Increasing Doctoral Student Completion Rates Within The College Of Humanities And Sciences At Virginia Commonwealth University, Victoria A. Keel, Michaela R. Bearden

Doctor of Education Capstones

Research on doctoral education primarily focuses on broad fields of study and general attrition. Often overlooked, is an examination of the student at each stage of their program and the challenges they face that can potentially lead to stopping out. This capstone project explored the doctoral student experience within the Department of Humanities and Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University. A mixed method study via an online survey was utilized to gather data about the student experience on their path towards candidacy. Quantitative and qualitative data was analyzed through Chi-square tests and thematic coding to identify answers to each research question. …

Work Hope And Work Volition: Exploring The Influence Of Community College Students’ Rurality And Socioeconomic Status, Jesse A. Wingate

Theses and Dissertations

Data from a sample of community college students (N = 478) in Virginia were used to examine relations among rurality, socioeconomic status, work hope, and work volition. Socioeconomic status, work hope, and work volition were positively associated. However, rurality, measured both as a continuous and categorical variable, was not correlated with work hope or work volition. Additional analyses showed convergence between measures of work hope and work volition confirming construct similarity. Results, limitations, implications, and recommendations for future study are included.

Preventative And Therapeutic Effects Of Bmsc Exosome On Periodontal Disease, Jin Ha Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease caused by the imbalance between host immune response and bacterial infection. Strategies to manage the uncontrolled, excessive immune response and to promote tissue healing are in great demand. Therapies based on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising and the clinical effects of MSCs are largely mediated by their secretome, especially exosomes. Previously, we isolated and purified exosomes secreted by human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSC). These exosomes have proliferative, chemotactic, anti-inflammatory and anti-osteoclastic function in vitro. In this study, we had two hypotheses: 1) hBMSC exosomes would prevent periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone loss …