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Fracture Resistance And Marginal Discrepancy Of Porcelain Laminate Veneers Influenced By Preparation Designs And Restoring Materials, Tai-Min Lin Jan 2009

Fracture Resistance And Marginal Discrepancy Of Porcelain Laminate Veneers Influenced By Preparation Designs And Restoring Materials, Tai-Min Lin

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No abstract provided.


Runx2 Mediated Transcriptional Regulation Of Fgf3 In Epithelial And Mesenchymal Cells, Arjun Sarof Jan 2009

Runx2 Mediated Transcriptional Regulation Of Fgf3 In Epithelial And Mesenchymal Cells, Arjun Sarof

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No abstract provided.


The Effects Of Progressive Intraubular Dentin Deposition On Bacterial Penetration Of Radicular Dentin, Shaun E. Soucie Jan 2009

The Effects Of Progressive Intraubular Dentin Deposition On Bacterial Penetration Of Radicular Dentin, Shaun E. Soucie

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No abstract provided.


The Effects Of The Renewable Portfolio Standard In The State Of Alabama, Candace Watson Jan 2009

The Effects Of The Renewable Portfolio Standard In The State Of Alabama, Candace Watson

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No abstract provided.


Structural Basis For Thrombospondin-1 - Calreticulin Interactions Underlying Calreticulin - Induced Focal Adhesion Disassembly, Qi Yan Jan 2009

Structural Basis For Thrombospondin-1 - Calreticulin Interactions Underlying Calreticulin - Induced Focal Adhesion Disassembly, Qi Yan

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No abstract provided.


The Molecular Identification And Evaluation Of The Effects Of Cold Temperatures On Antarctic Pseudomonas Spp., Genola Burke Jan 2009

The Molecular Identification And Evaluation Of The Effects Of Cold Temperatures On Antarctic Pseudomonas Spp., Genola Burke

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No abstract provided.


The Effects Of Agricultural Disturbance On The Life History Of The Central Stoneroller ( Campostoma Anomalum ), Danyelle N. Dehner Jan 2009

The Effects Of Agricultural Disturbance On The Life History Of The Central Stoneroller ( Campostoma Anomalum ), Danyelle N. Dehner

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No abstract provided.


The Role Of Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1 In Bone Remodeling, Yi Tang Jan 2009

The Role Of Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1 In Bone Remodeling, Yi Tang

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Bone remodeling depends on the precise coordination of bone resorption by the osteoclasts and bone formation by the osteoblasts. It is proposed that osteoclastic bone resorption releases factors to initiate bone formation, thereby, coupling the bone resorption and formation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are progenitors of osteoblasts. Recruitment of MSCs in response to osteoclastic bone resorption may be an initial step for bone formation during bone remodeling process. Therefore, we have established an in vitro osteoclastic bone resorption system. Bone resorption condition medium have been tested to identify the factor inducing the migration of human bone marrow mesechymal stem cells …


Characterizing The Role Of Primary Cilia In The Hair Follicle And Skin, Jonathan Merle Lehman Jan 2009

Characterizing The Role Of Primary Cilia In The Hair Follicle And Skin, Jonathan Merle Lehman

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Primary cilia have been established as a nearly ubiquitous microtubule based signaling organelle, yet their function in many organs, including the hair and skin, is unknown. We hypothesized that the primary cilium would play vital roles in the hair follicle and skin based on the cilium's well characterized interactions with the Shh and Wnt developmental signaling pathways. This dissertation describes our efforts to determine the localization of the primary cilia in the murine hair follicle and assess the function of this organelle in the hair and skin. We used confocal immunofluorescence microscopy to virtually section the entire hair follicle and …


Analysis Of The Malaria Vaccine Potential Of Plasmodium Falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein-3, Stephen James Jordan Jan 2009

Analysis Of The Malaria Vaccine Potential Of Plasmodium Falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein-3, Stephen James Jordan

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Malaria causes an estimated 1-3 million deaths each year, with the majority of deaths being a result of infection with Plasmodium falciparum. No commercially available vaccine currently exists, but multiple subunit-based vaccines are in development including one based on the promising vaccine candidate P. falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein-3 (PfMSP3). PfMSP3 varies in sequence between P. falciparum isolates, but all variation is restricted to the N-terminal domain. This observation has lead to the development of a PfMSP3-based vaccine comprised solely of the highly conserved, yet poorly immunogenic, C-terminal domain. The rationale for supporting the C-terminal domain relies entirely on its conserved …


Polysaccharide Specific B Cells: A Study Of Their Development And Function, Jeremy B. Foote Jan 2009

Polysaccharide Specific B Cells: A Study Of Their Development And Function, Jeremy B. Foote

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Polysaccharides are important structural components of bacterial capsule and cell walls. Polysaccharide-specific antibodies are an important component of serologic memory capable of protecting against infection by pathogenic microorganisms. An understanding of the biology and function of polysaccharide specific B cells is necessary for formulation of vaccines designed to induce polysaccharide specific memory and long-lived antibody production. The goal of this dissertation was to examine the development of naïve DEX-specific B cells and examine their capacity to generate memory and long-lived plasma cells in response to polysaccharide α 1→3-dextran (DEX), which is expressed by the opportunistic pathogens Enterobacter cloacae, Histoplasma capsulatum …


Mitochondrial Bioenergetics And Cellular Stress, Brian Dranka Jan 2009

Mitochondrial Bioenergetics And Cellular Stress, Brian Dranka

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Mitochondria are responsible for most of the energy produced in human tissues, and this is dependent on the reduction of oxygen (O2) to water by the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Defects in mitochondrial energy production are now recognized to be involved in diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other pathologies. To date, studies of these defects have employed quantification of O2 consumption in isolated, purified mitochondria. By using this strategy however, the cellular context, role of glycolysis, and normal regulation of mitochondrial function by metabolite availability are lost. Thus, an understanding of how mitochondria function and respond to stimuli in an intact …


Impact Of Genetic And Epigenetic Variability In Response To Two Test Drugs 5-Fluorouracil And Lansoprazole, Adam Michael Lee Jan 2009

Impact Of Genetic And Epigenetic Variability In Response To Two Test Drugs 5-Fluorouracil And Lansoprazole, Adam Michael Lee

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Pharmacogenetics has proven to be an invaluable tool in predicting variability in drug response; however, there are numerous incidences where genetics cannot fully explain interindividual drug variability. Other factors, such as the epigenetic mechanism of DNA methylation, may offer an alternate explanation. Therefore, this dissertation focuses on both genetic and epigenetic regulation in order to gain a better understanding of the molecular basis behind drug response variability. Initial investigations focused on the antineoplastic agent 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), which can produce severe toxicity in patients with deficiency in dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD). Genotypic studies have identified >32 sequence variants in the DPYD gene; …


The Effect That Intercollegiate Athletic Participation Has On The Grade Point Averages Of African American Male Student Athletes At A Four Year Public Institution In The Black Belt Region Of Alabama, William Earl Brophy Jan 2009

The Effect That Intercollegiate Athletic Participation Has On The Grade Point Averages Of African American Male Student Athletes At A Four Year Public Institution In The Black Belt Region Of Alabama, William Earl Brophy

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ABSTRACT There are many important factors that impact the grade point averages of African-American males at 4-year public institutions. Factors such as race, gender, SES, and ath-letic participation are potential influences that may have an effect on academic achieve-ment in a college setting in Alabama's Black Belt region as well. This study sought to de-termine if such factors coupled with other demands placed on African American male student athletes effected their respective academic achievement. Important questions an-swered in this study included how the variables above impacted the academic plights of the sample group that was examined. Research hypotheses examined the …


Oxidative Stress-Stimulated Vascular Calcification, Chang Hyun Byon Jan 2009

Oxidative Stress-Stimulated Vascular Calcification, Chang Hyun Byon

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Oxidative stress plays a critical role in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, the effect of oxidative stress-induced molecular signaling in development of vascular calcification, a feature of advanced atherosclerosis, has not been defined. Osteogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) is critical in development of vascular calcification. We determined hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress promoted a phenotypic switch of mouse primary VSMC from contractile to osteogenic phenotype. This effect was associated with increased expression and transactivity of Runx2, a key transcription factor for osteogenic differentiation. Inhibition of Runx2 using short hairpin RNA blocked oxidative stress-induced VSMC calcification. By contrast, adenovirus-mediated …


Oncostatin M-Induced Gene Expression And Regulation In Astrocytes And Microglia, Brandi Janece Baker Jan 2009

Oncostatin M-Induced Gene Expression And Regulation In Astrocytes And Microglia, Brandi Janece Baker

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Astrocytes and microglia are specialized glial cells of the Central Nervous System (CNS) that modulate neural activity and regulate immunological and inflammatory events. These cells perform their functions, in part, through the secretion of soluble mediators such as cytokines and chemokines. However, in response to the same neurological insult or inflammatory stimuli, the responses of these cells can vary greatly. This notion of differential responses was examined in our studies using Oncostatin M (OSM). OSM is a member of the IL-6 family of cytokines, which can be produced by microglia, astrocytes, neurons, and infiltrating leukocytes in the CNS, and is …


Psychosocial And Affective Mediators Of Ethnic Group Differences In Stressor-Evoked Changes In Systolic Blood Pressure And Pain Perception, Renata Okonkwo Jan 2009

Psychosocial And Affective Mediators Of Ethnic Group Differences In Stressor-Evoked Changes In Systolic Blood Pressure And Pain Perception, Renata Okonkwo

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African Americans, compared to non-Hispanic whites, report greater levels of clinical pain and experience more pain-related disability (AmericanHeartAssociation, 2005; C. L.Edwards, Fillingim, & Keefe, 2001; R. R. Edwards, Doleys, Fillingim, & Lowery, 2001; McCracken, Matthews, Tang, & Cuba, 2001; J. L. Riley et al., 2002). Furthermore, African Americans consistently differ from primarily non-Hispanic white samples on experimentally induced pain. We examined ethnic group differences in the effects of exposure to a brief stressor on individuals' pain responses and changes in SBP and heart rate (HR). In addition, we examined the mediational role of perceived racial discrimination, and differences in the …


Involvement Of Reactive Oxygen Species In The Acute Development Of Insulin Resistance Following Trauma And Hemorrhage, Lidong Zhai Jan 2009

Involvement Of Reactive Oxygen Species In The Acute Development Of Insulin Resistance Following Trauma And Hemorrhage, Lidong Zhai

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Hyperglycemia develops in the intensive care unit in many patients following injury, infection and critical illness. However, little is known about the mechanism of acute development of insulin resistance that causes this hyperglycemia, even though reducing or normalizing the elevated glucose levels has become a major therapeutic target in many ICUs. Using rodent models of injury, acute hepatic insulin resistance occurs within minutes and continues for at least several hours even following fluid resuscitation. We have previously reported that TNF-alpha; is necessary for the hepatic insulin resistance in the rat following resuscitation. However, whether TNF-alpha; plays a role in the …


The Effects Of Bisphenol A (Bpa) On Erbb2-Positive Breast Cancer, Sarah Jenkins Jan 2009

The Effects Of Bisphenol A (Bpa) On Erbb2-Positive Breast Cancer, Sarah Jenkins

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Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetically made compound used to produce a myriad of consumer goods. Recent studies have shown BPA to leach from these products in appreciable amounts, resulting in nearly ubiquitous exposure. In this study, we assessed whether chronic administration to a range of low concentrations of BPA could accelerate spontaneously developing mammary cancer using a transgenic model that over-expresses wild type ErbB2/neu transgene (MMTV-erbB2). MMTV-erbB2 mice were provided drinking water containing 0 (control), 2.5 (BPA 2.5), 25 (BPA 25), 250 (BPA 250), or 2500 (BPA 2500) µg BPA/L from eight weeks of age until sacrifice. This range …


Structural And Functional Studies On Heat Shock Protein Hsp40-Hdj1 And Golgi Er Trafficking Protein Get3, Junbin Hu Jan 2009

Structural And Functional Studies On Heat Shock Protein Hsp40-Hdj1 And Golgi Er Trafficking Protein Get3, Junbin Hu

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Molecular chaperones are a large group of proteins that bind and stabilize nascent polypeptides and facilitate protein folding. One major function of chaperones is to bind hydrophobic segments of nascent polypeptides to prevent them from aggregating. How chaperone Hsp40 recognizes and interacts with polypeptides and cooperates with chaperone Hsp70 is a fundamental question. The crystal structure of the putative peptide-binding fragment of Hdj1, a human member of the type II Hsp40 family was determined, suggesting the domain I of Hsp40 may possess significant flexibility which is important for Hsp40 to regulate the size of the cleft. The flexibility may be …


The Development Of Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Techniques For Studying The Surface Of Europa For Astrobiology, David A. Alvarez Jan 2009

The Development Of Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Techniques For Studying The Surface Of Europa For Astrobiology, David A. Alvarez

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No abstract provided.


Expression Of Sox 11 During Tooth Formation, Reem Atout Jan 2009

Expression Of Sox 11 During Tooth Formation, Reem Atout

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No abstract provided.


The Cultural Worldview Of Allopthic And Naturopathic Physicians, Cullen Clark Jan 2009

The Cultural Worldview Of Allopthic And Naturopathic Physicians, Cullen Clark

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Worldview is the socio-cultural compass with which we navigate the existential mysteries of life. It is our way of seeing – and being in – the world. As such it influences every aspect of culture from art to medicine. This exploratory study uses a sequential design combining quantitative and qualitative methodology to explore the worldview of allopathic and naturopathic physicians. Using survey research, the study identifies five basic components of competing worldviews among allopathic (n = 550) and naturopathic physicians (n = 399). It measures agreement among the two groups with these components and explores their influence upon support for …


The Effect Of Stearic Acid On Breast Cancer Development And Progression, Lynda Michelle Evans Jan 2009

The Effect Of Stearic Acid On Breast Cancer Development And Progression, Lynda Michelle Evans

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earate is an 18-carbon saturated fatty acid that is found in many foods in the western diet including beef and chocolate. Cell culture studies indicate stearate may have various anti-cancer properties including inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and invasion, morphological changes, and induction of apoptosis. Animal studies have found that dietary stearate delays tumor development and decreases tumor incidence. To date, many of the mechanisms underlying these processes are unclear. In this study, evidence is presented showing stearate induces morphological changes in breast cancer cells. Inhibition of de novo diacylglycerol (DAG) generation and subsequent protein kinase C (PKC) activation inhibits …


The Protective Role Of Transglutaminase 2 In Ischemic Stroke, Anthony J. Filiano Jan 2009

The Protective Role Of Transglutaminase 2 In Ischemic Stroke, Anthony J. Filiano

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Stroke is a leading cause of long term disabilities in the US. Currently, administration of thrombolytics is the only approved therapy. Due to the variability, small management time window, and lack of options for effective treatment, there is a clear need for new compounds to alleviate cell death post-stroke. Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) can decrease apoptotic signaling during stroke and lead to increased neuronal survival making it a potential target for therapeutic intervention. TG2, a multifunction enzyme that has both transamidase (TG) and GTPase activities, amongst others, has recently been shown to be upregulated in numerous neurodegenerative conditions, including stroke. In …


Erythrocyte Invasion By Plasmodium Falciparum, Matthew L. Jones Jan 2009

Erythrocyte Invasion By Plasmodium Falciparum, Matthew L. Jones

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Malaria poses a severe threat to global public health, with the majority of the world’s population living in malaria-endemic settings. Plasmodium falciparum is a major cause of malaria, and is the predominant cause of fatal malaria. This parasite, like other Plasmodium spp., has a complex life cycle, but causes disease only as a result of a lytic life cycle phase that occurs within the erythrocyte. As development within the erythrocyte is fully responsible for disease pathology, it follows that a detailed molecular understanding of the process of erythrocyte invasion by P. falciparum parasites would allow the development of new and …


Fabrication And Characterization Of Silica Nanofiber Reinforced Dental Composite Resins, Ayesha Swarn Jan 2009

Fabrication And Characterization Of Silica Nanofiber Reinforced Dental Composite Resins, Ayesha Swarn

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No abstract provided.


The Peptidyl-Prolyl Isomerase Pin1 Promotes Nf-Kappab And Stat3 Signaling In Glioblastoma, George Prescott Atkinson Jan 2009

The Peptidyl-Prolyl Isomerase Pin1 Promotes Nf-Kappab And Stat3 Signaling In Glioblastoma, George Prescott Atkinson

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Glioblastoma (GBM) is an incurable tumor of the central nervous system (CNS). Over the past 50 years, little progress has made in improving the quality of life and median lifespans of patients who are diagnosed with this devastating disease. However, new insights into the aberrant signaling pathways at the root of GBM pathology are providing new targets for next generation cancer therapies. Two signaling pathways that are commonly upregulated in GBM are NF-kappaB and STAT3. Importantly, tumor models in which NF-kappaB and STAT3 signaling are inhibited have demonstrated the importance of these pathways to GBM growth and proliferation. Therefore, better …


Clinical Comparison Of Two Indirect Bonding Systems On Retention Rates Of Orthodontic Brackets: Chemical Cured Custom Base Vs. Light-Cured Non-Custom Base, Alexander Davis Cranford Jan 2009

Clinical Comparison Of Two Indirect Bonding Systems On Retention Rates Of Orthodontic Brackets: Chemical Cured Custom Base Vs. Light-Cured Non-Custom Base, Alexander Davis Cranford

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No abstract provided.


Effects Of Locus Coeruleus Lesion On Α-Adrenoceptor Mediated Long-Term Depression At Ca3-Ca1 Synapses In Rat Hippocampus, Katie Lynn Dyer Jan 2009

Effects Of Locus Coeruleus Lesion On Α-Adrenoceptor Mediated Long-Term Depression At Ca3-Ca1 Synapses In Rat Hippocampus, Katie Lynn Dyer

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No abstract provided.