Digital Commons Network^™

Layers, Cycles And Stages, Kathleen Cluverius Calhoun

Theses and Dissertations

Deserted and disintegrating barns, houses, and silos have always perplexed me when driving through the country. I am fascinated by how this leisurely decay reveals their structural integrity in a slow, reverse process of construction. It is as if humanity and nature consciously collaborated to create these gigantic memento mori for a steady stream of highway viewers. These monumental tributes to inevitable decline, along with my own adventures in gardening, childrearing, eldercare, and travels, have led me to explore the universal cycles of life. The dilapidated buildings in my work are rendered in a tight, sharp, close-up viewpoint so that …

Adolescent Girls' Experience Of Binge And Loss Of Control Eating, Allison Palmberg

Theses and Dissertations

The current investigation used qualitative methodology to examine adolescent girls’ perceptions of control over their eating, as well as triggers, and consequences of binge and related eating behaviors. Focus groups were completed with 19 adolescent girls (aged 13-17, 58% African American, 41% White) who endorsed the behaviors. Responses to focus group questions were qualitatively analyzed using a grounded theory approach and constant comparison coding. Results reflected a fundamental lack of awareness of the loss of control (LOC) eating behaviors. Yet, the data did reflect a central theme of the need to affirm independence and autonomy through eating behaviors via three …

Commonwealth Times 2012-03-01

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2012-02-27

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Steriplex™ Hc And Sodium Hypochlorite Cytotoxicity On Primary Human Gingival Fibroblasts, Jesse Harris

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the cytotoxic effects of STERIPLEX™ HC (sBioMed, Orem, UT) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) on human fibroblast cells in vitro. Fibroblasts exposed to various concentrations of NaOCl or STERIPLEX™ HC were visualized via light microscopy. Dilutions of either NaOCl or STERIPLEX™ HC that did not appear to disrupt the integrity of the cells were recorded for further analysis. Cells were then cultured and grown to confluence in five separate plates. A void was created down the middle of each plate. If the cells were viable, cellular confluence was seen. If nonviable, confluence of the cells did not occur. …

Commonwealth Times 2012-02-23

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2012-02-20

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2012-02-16

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2012-02-13

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Traumatic Brain Injury Assessment Using The Integration Of Pattern Recognition Methods And Finite Element Analysis, Aghazadeh Babak Seyed

Theses and Dissertations

The overall goal of this research is to develop methods and algorithms to investigate the severity of Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to estimate the intracranial pressure (ICP) level non-invasively. Brain x-ray computed tomography (CT) images and artificial intelligence methods are employed to estimate the level of ICP. Fully anisotropic complex wavelet transform features are proposed to extract directional textural features from brain images. Different feature selection and classification methods are tested to find the optimal feature vector and estimate the ICP using support vector regression. By using systematic feature extraction, selection and classification, promising results on ICP estimation are …

Commonwealth Times 2012-02-09

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2012-02-06

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Spatial Distribution And Modulation Of Nitric Oxide Synthase In A Hypertensive Rat Model, Andrew Yannaccone

Theses and Dissertations

There are gaps in the fundamental understanding of the expression of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) in the microvasculature. We examined co-localization of NOS1 (nNOS), NOS2 (iNOS) and NOS3 (eNOS) in the spinotrapezius muscle of young adult male Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Spontaneously Hypertensive (SHR) rats according to fiber type using immunohistochemistry and brightfield microscopy. Data regarding fiber distribution, population and morphology data were collected. Alkaline phosphatase staining was used to determine capillary density and average number of capillaries around a fiber. Gel electrophoresis and Western blot techniques were used to compare myosin heavy chain (MHC) protein expression with fiber type population …

Commonwealth Times 2012-02-02

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Ink (2012-02)

Ink, 2008-

The student-run features magazine covering the fashion, art, music and culture worlds at VCU and in Richmond. Published annually in print and updated regularly online.

Commonwealth Times 2012-01-30

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2012-01-26

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2012-01-23

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Epigenetic Regulation Of Genes Involved In Vascular Dysfunction In Preeclamptic Women, Ahmad Mousa

Theses and Dissertations

DNA methylation is the most recognizable epigenetic mechanism. In general, DNA hypomethylation is associated with increased gene expression whereas DNA hypermethylation is associated with decreased gene expression. To date, little is known about the role of DNA methylation in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. In this study, we examined the differences in DNA methylation in omental arteries of normal pregnant and preeclamptic women using the high throughput Illumina HumanMethylation27 BeadChip assay. We found 1,685 genes with a significant difference in DNA methylation at a false discovery rate of < 10% with many inflammatory genes having reduced methylation. The thromboxane synthase gene was the most hypomethylated gene in preeclamptic women as compared to normal pregnant women. When we examined the expression of thromboxane synthase in omental arteries of normal pregnant and preeclamptic women we found it to be significantly increased in preeclamptic women. The increased expression was observed in vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and infiltrating neutrophils. Experimentally induced DNA hypomethylation increased the expression of thromboxane synthase in the neutrophil-like HL-60 cell line, whereas tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), a neutrophil product, increased its expression in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). These finding suggest that DNA methylation and release of TNFα by infiltrating neutrophils could contribute to the increased expression of thromboxane synthase in systemic blood vessels of preeclamptic women, contributing to the hypertension and coagulation abnormalities. We also explored the possible contribution of DNA methylation to the altered expression of genes involved in collagen metabolism in preeclampsia. Several matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes, including MMP1 and MMP8, were significantly less methylated in preeclamptic women, whereas TIMP and COL genes were either significantly more methylated or had no significant change in their DNA methylation status. Experimentally induced DNA hypomethylation increased the expression of MMP-1, but not TIMP-1 or COL1A1, in cultured VSMCs and increased the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-8 in HL-60 cells. These findings suggest that DNA methylation contributes to the imbalance in genes involved in collagen metabolism in blood vessels of preeclamptic women.

Commonwealth Times 2012-01-19

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Dispositional Mindfulness In People Diagnosed With Cancer: The Relationship To Depressive Symptoms And Well-Being, Karen Kersting

Theses and Dissertations

Coping with a cancer diagnosis is known to be a stressful experience that can be related to declines in personal well-being and increases in distress. Dispositional mindfulness is known to be related to depressive symptoms and well-being. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between mindfulness and experiences of depressive symptoms and well-being in people recently diagnosed with cancer. Seventy-four participants who were diagnosed with cancer in the last 12 months completed an initial self-report survey, and 43 of those completed another survey 3 months later. Cross-sectional regression analysis showed that higher levels of mindfulness were …

Evolutionary Optimization Of Electronic Circuitry Cooling Using Nanofluid, Manu Mital

Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Publications

Liquid cooling electronics using microchannels integrated in the chips is an attractive alternative to bulky aluminum heat sinks. Cooling can be further enhanced using nanofluids. The goals of this study are to evaluate heat transfer in a nanofluid heat sink with developing laminar flow forced convection, taking into account the pumping power penalty. The proposed model uses semi-empirical correlations to calculate effective nanofluid thermophysical properties, which are then incorporated into heat transfer and friction factor correlations in literature for single-phase flows. The model predicts the thermal resistance and pumping power as a function of four design variables that include the …

Wettability Of Pristine And Alkyl-Functionalized Graphane, Davide Vanzo, Dusan Bratko, Alenka Luzar

Chemistry Publications

Graphane is a hydrogenated form of graphene with high bandgap and planar structure insensitive to a broad range of chemical substitutions. We describe an atomistic simulation approach to predict wetting properties of this new material. We determine the contact angle to be 73°. The lower hydrophobicity compared to graphene is explained by the increased planar density of carbon atoms while we demonstrate that the presence of partial charges on carbonand hydrogen atoms plays only a minor role. We further examine the effects of graphane functionalization by alkyl groups of increasing chain lengths. The gradual increase in contact angle with chain …

Mice Deficient In Gem Gtpase Show Abnormal Glucose Homeostasis Due To Defects In Beta-Cell Calcium Handling, Jenny E. Gunton, Mary Sisavanh, Rebecca A. Stokes, Jon Satin, Leslie S. Satin, Min Zhang, Sue M. Liu, Weikang Cai, Kim Cheng, Gregory J. Cooney, D. Ross Laybutt, Trina So, Juan-Carlos Molero, Shane T. Grey, Douglas A. Andres, Michael S. Rolph, Charles R. Mackay

Pharmacology and Toxicology Publications

Aims and Hypothesis

Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from beta-cells is a tightly regulated process that requires calcium flux to trigger exocytosis of insulin-containing vesicles. Regulation of calcium handling in beta-cells remains incompletely understood. Gem, a member of the RGK (Rad/Gem/Kir) family regulates calcium channel handling in other cell types, and Gem over-expression inhibits insulin release in insulin-secreting Min6 cells. The aim of this study was to explore the role of Gem in insulin secretion. We hypothesised that Gem may regulate insulin secretion and thus affect glucose tolerance in vivo.

Methods

Gem-deficient mice were generated and their metabolic phenotype characterised by …

Design, Synthesis, And In Vitro And In Vivo Biological Studies Of A 3′-Deoxythymidine Conjugate That Potentially Kills Cancer Cells Selectively, Qiong Wei, Dejun Zhang, Anna Yao, Liyi Mai, Zhiwei Zhang, Qibing Zhou

Medicinal Chemistry Publications

Thymidine kinases (TKs) have been considered one of the potential targets for anticancer therapeutic because of their elevated expressions in cancer cells. However, nucleobase analogs targeting TKs have shown poor selective cytotoxicity in cancer cells despite effective antiviral activity. 3′-Deoxythymidine phenylquinoxaline conjugate (dT-QX) was designed as a novel nucleobase analog to target TKs in cancer cells and block cell replication via conjugated DNA intercalating quinoxaline moiety. In vitro cell screening showed that dT-QX selectively kills a variety of cancer cells including liver carcinoma, breast adenocarcinoma and brain glioma cells; whereas it had a low cytotoxicity in normal cells such as …

Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate And Professional Programs Bulletin [2012], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

Graduate and professional programs bulletin for Virginia Commonwealth University for the academic year 2012-2013. It includes information on academic regulations, degree requirements, course offerings, faculty, academic calendar, and tuition and expenses for graduate programs.

The Removal Of Pluto From The Class Of Planets And Homosexuality From The Class Of Psychiatric Disorders: A Comparison, Peter Zachar, Kenneth S. Kendler

Psychiatry Publications

We compare astronomers' removal of Pluto from the listing of planets and psychiatrists' removal of homosexuality from the listing of mental disorders. Although the political maneuverings that emerged in both controversies are less than scientifically ideal, we argue that competition for "scientific authority" among competing groups is a normal part of scientific progress. In both cases, a complicated relationship between abstract constructs and evidence made the classification problem thorny.

Menorah Review (No. 76, Winter/Spring, 2012)

Menorah Review

A Neo-Zionist Vison -- An Idiosyncratic Journey to God -- An Open Letter to Tarek Fatah -- Books in Brief: New and Notable -- Changing the Course of a River -- Leaves without Trees -- Moreshet: From the Classics - The Ethical Will of Eleazar of Mayence -- Zachor: John Locke's Letter Concerning Toleration

Spxa1 Involved In Hydrogen Peroxide Production, Stress Tolerance And Endocarditis Virulence In Streptococcus Sanguinis, Lei Chen, Xiuchun Ge, Xiaojing Wang, Jenishkumar R. Patel, Ping Xu

Philips Institute for Oral Health Research Publications

Streptococcus sanguinis is one of the most common agents of infective endocarditis. Spx proteins are a group of global regulators that negatively or positively control global transcription initiation. In this study, we characterized the spxA1 gene in S. sanguinis SK36. The spxA1 null mutant displayed opaque colony morphology, reduced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, and reduced antagonistic activity against Streptococcus mutans UA159 relative to the wild type strain. The ΔspxA1 mutant also demonstrated decreased tolerance to high temperature, acidic and oxidative stresses. Further analysis revealed that ΔspxA1 also exhibited a ~5-fold reduction in competitiveness in an animal model of …

Virginia Commonwealth University Fall Commencement Program [2012], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.