Digital Commons Network^™

Curcumin Reactivates Epigenetically Silenced Tumor Suppressor Gene Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor-2 In Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells., Akshata Moghe 1983-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the third most fatal, with a rising incidence in the US as a result of the increase in alcoholic liver disease and obesity. Current therapeutic strategies are unsatisfactory with poor treatment outcomes and efficacious therapies are acutely needed for better management of this deadly disease. Curcumin, a phenolic compound from the rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa has been shown to inhibit growth and induce cell death in various types of cancer cells including HCC. However, the anti-HCC mode of action of curcumin has not yet been elucidated. In …

Munc13-3 Mutation Prevents Critical Period Neuronal Plasticity In Visual Cortex., James Geoffrey Morris 1984-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Through differential display PCR, Munc13-3 was identified as a gene whose relative expression in the visual cortex corresponds to critical period plasticity. Expression of the gene was low at the peak of the critical period and expression was high in the weeks near the end of the critical period. Expression of the gene also shifted during dark rearing, a process known to delay the time course of the critical period. Using electrophysiology and monocular deprivation (MD) in mice at different points within the critical period, it is possible to compare normal MD mice's visual evoked potentials to Munc13-3 mutant MD …

Effect Of Finger Rings On Microbial Cross-Contamination During Dental Clinical Procedures., Swapna Nadikuda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

CDCIWHO only "recommends" that rings be removed under gloves because of cross-contamination between health care workers and patients. Microbiological samples of oral streptococci beneath rings and between fingers under non-sterile exam gloves were taken before and after dental procedures (before and after washing with antimicrobial soap) from 50 junior/senior dental students. Subjects wore two rings on one hand, with none on the other (control). Rings were worn on the opposite hand at another session. Handedness, glove tears, and leaks, were also measured. There were significant glove tears and leakage in the glove on the dominant hand, especially when wearing rings …

Design, Fabrication, And Testing Of A Microfluidic System For Cardiac Cell Culture., Mai-Dung Thi Nguyen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and accounts for nearly 1,372,000 deaths each year. In addition, ~81 million Americans suffer from some form of CVD. Understanding the molecular basis of various manifestations of CVD requires cellular-level studies. However, current technologies for cell culture, fail to recreate the in-vivo environment where cells are subject to pressure and stretch as a consequence of normal hemodynamic loading and unloading. Therefore, to study cardiac cells with physiological relevance, the mechanical loading environment needs to be accurately replicated in-vitro. In order to create an appropriate platform for cardiac …

Small Farmers, Slavery, And The Political Economy Of Kentucky's Green River, 1790-1850., Christopher P. Petzold 1982-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the expansion of the Green River's economic and political importance within Kentucky and how it impacted small farmers of the region. It challenges the idea that small farmers played an insignificant role in the agriculture and industry of the antebellum South. Qualitative data, including journals and letters, are used to understand small farmers' reactions to market expansion. Quantitative data, including agricultural and population censuses, are used to determine small farmers' participation in the economy. Small farmers actively participated in commercial exchanges of crops and livestock and encouraged the growth of a transportation infrastructure to market their …

Ridge Preservation Comparing The Clinical And Histologic Healing Of A Mineralized Cortical Vs. Mineralized Cancellous Allograft With An Acellular Dermal Matrix Barrier Membrane., Marquez J. Sams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Aim. To compare two techniques of ridge preservation using a mineralized cancellous particulate allograft to a mineralized cortical particulate allograft plus an acelluar dermal matrix barrier membrane using clinical and histologic data to assess the outcome. Methods. Twelve positive controls received a intrasocket mineralized cortical particulate allograft (500-800 µm) while twelve test patients received an intrasocket mineralized cancellous particulate allograft (500 to 800 µm). All sites were covered with acellular dermal matrix barrier. Following tooth extraction, horizontal ridge dimensions were measured with a digital caliper and vertical ridge dimensions were measured from a stent. Each site was re-entered for implant …

The Effect Of The Blue Light Diode Laser On Shear-Peel Bond Strength Of Orthodontic Brackets With Varying Curing Time And Distance., Kamran Shaikh 1978-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Light cured composite resin can be time consuming for bonding orthodontic brackets. A new Blue light diode laser may reduce curing times for composite resins. Hypothesis: The laser will achieve similar bond strengths in half the time and at greater distances as the LED. Methods: 90 extracted premolars will be bonded and cured using Laser and LED curing units at varying times, another 120 extracted premolars will be bonded and cured at varying distances. An Instron machine will be used to test shear bond strength. Results: The laser was not able to achieve similar bond strengths as the LED …

The Personal And Social Benefits Of Airplane Piloting As A Serious Leisure Activity For Women., Frances Louise Shupe 1956-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Serious leisure theory (Stebbins, 1992) is used to frame this examination of women's long-term involvement in airplane piloting. Through in-depth, semi-structured telephone and e-mail interviews with women having over 15 years experience as private pilots, this study examines their leading motivations and their personal and social benefits realized through airplane piloting as a leisure activity. Women's participation in amateur airplane piloting displays the six characteristics of serious leisure. In addition to the durable benefits ascribed to serious leisure, the respondents demonstrated several other personal and social benefits. The interview data revealed that women pursue airplane piloting as independent, interdependent, or …

De-Differentiation Of Parotid Acinar Cells In Vitro., Andrew Scott Currie 1983-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: When rat salivary gland cells are cultured in vitro, they dedifferentiate within 24 h. Hypothesis: Growth factors will prevent de-differentiation of primary cultures of parotid gland cells, and they will induce differentiation of ParC5 cells. DNA methylation drives de-differentiation and the loss of expression in cultured parotid cells. Methods: Rat parotid glands were collected and cultured in media using different combinations of growth factors. DNA was evaluated for methylation at various time points. Results: No media tested prevented the de-differentiation of parotid cells, and none induced differentiation of ParC5 cells. Limited variation in methylation of CpG sites was seen. …

Emission Difference Between Natural Gas Usage And Digester Gas Usage., Mahyar Ghorbanian 1986-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is important to burn the air toxics and harmful gases which come from water and wastewater treatment processes. In common practice, instead of natural gas, digester gas is used for economical reasons. This burning process takes place in the Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO). The current research was conducted to identify if there exists any differences between natural gas and digester gas in outlet emission. The location of the experiment was at Morris Forman Wastewater Treatment Plant of Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) of Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA. In this experiment, the RTO was run in two cases: one fueling by …

An Examination Of Professional Niche Sport Sponsorship : Sponsors' Objectives And Selection Criteria., Greg P. Greenhalgh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sport organizations face tremendous pressure to secure sponsorship support (Copland et aI., 1996). Professional niche sports face even greater pressure as sponsorship support often determines whether an event can even take place (Sutton, 2009). Kuzma et al. (1993) stated the number one principle in selling sponsorships is establishing a close match between sponsor objectives and event characteristics. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the objectives sponsors aim to achieve through niche sport sponsorship as well as understand the selection criteria used to screen niche sport sponsorship opportunities. A survey of 352 sport sponsorship decision-makers, yielding a response …

Arsenic In Drinking Water Causes Gene Expression Changes In The Liver Related To Inflammation And Metabolic Dysfunction And Accelerates Atherosclerosis In Apoe-/-Mice, Matthew R. Zajack

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arsenic exposure in drinking-water is a significant worldwide health problem. It causes adverse human health effects, such as cancer, increases the risks for others such as cardiovascular disease, and accelerates atherosclerosis. In this study, we analyze arsenic-induced gene expression changes in the liver of ApoE-knockout mice given 49 ppm arsenic in drinking-water. We hypothesize chronic arsenic exposure accelerates atherosclerosis by disrupting liver homeostasis, causing aberrant gene expression changes. Networks revealed hubs on 3 stress-response MAP kinase pathways, ERK, JNK, and p38. Pathways revealed mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative phosphorylation enrichment from the gene set. Transcription factor binding site analysis revealed specific …

The Impact Of Parental Risk Factors On Child Outcomes : Examining Parental Incarceration Within A Multiple-Risk Model., Melody Lynn Hyppolite 1976-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The impact of four primary parental risk factors (parental mental illness, parental substance use, parental mental illness, and poverty) on seven child outcomes (school failure, criminal behaviors, being arrested, behavioral difficulties, emotional difficulties, alcohol, and drug use) was examined. The accumulation of multiple risk factors in a child's life was found to significantly increase the likelihood that several negative outcomes would occur. The research, however, suggests further that this is an over simplification of the phenomenon and that specific risk factors are more likely to contribute to specific child outcomes. Depending on the outcome being addressed by programming and policies …

From Kabul To The Academy: Narratives Of Afghan Women's Journeys To And Through U.S. Doctoral Programs, Bushra Aryan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the experiences of seven Afghan women pursuing doctoral degrees in a variety of disciplines and programs across the United States. The guiding question for this study was: What factors influence Afghan women's journeys to and experiences in doctoral programs?

In an attempt to understand Afghan women doctoral students, I provided a historical background of Afghanistan and education in Afghanistan followed by a literature review on South Asian women, the broader category for Afghan women. Within this literature review I explored the following components: culture, gender, immigration, experiences in postsecondary education; all factors that may be influential in …

Rescued, Rehabilitated, Returned: Institutional Approaches To The Rehabilitation Of Survivors Of Sex Trafficking In India And Nepal, Robynne A. Locke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite participating in rehabilitation programs, many survivors of sex trafficking in India and Nepal are re-trafficked, ‘voluntarily’ re-enter the sex industry, or become traffickers or brothel managers themselves. This thesis discusses the challenges of institutional rehabilitation from a critical theory perspective. Drawing from three months of participant observation, interviews, and focus groups with rehabilitation professionals, this thesis will show that there has been a recent, positive shift in the discourse of survivor rehabilitation at the institutional level. However, a focus on individual rather than holistic change, the structure of the rehabilitation process, and a lack of assessment tools has made …

Mario Math With Millennials: The Impact Of Playing The Nintendo Ds On Student Achievement, Adam Gelman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the biggest innovations of the last century has been the invention of the video game. Video games are an extremely popular form of entertainment today. While some question the use of video games in education, others argue that video games are one innovation that if introduced into the classroom, might change how teachers effectively engage learners. This quantitative study examined the impact of Brain Age 2 for the Nintendo DS on seventh grade achievement in math and on student attitude towards school. A sample of eighty seventh graders from the same school played the Nintendo DS daily for …

An Examination Of Caregiving Dyads: Community Dwelling Chronically Ill Older Adults And Their Caregivers, Jessica E. Haxton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increases in life expectancy among older adults raise important concerns about the availability of resources for an aging population living with chronic and debilitating illnesses. Living longer is complicated by the fact that many elders prefer to reside in their homes until medical or other conditions require an alternative living arrangement. The strong desire to remain at home expressed by older persons in the United States has in turn created an increased demand on informal caregiving. Consequently, adult children often bear the burden of providing care to their aging parents. In view of this demand it is critical that research …

Women's Participation In Transitional Justice Mechanisms: Comparing Transitional Processes In Timor Leste And Sierra Leone, Holly L. Guthrey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women tend to suffer a disproportionate amount of sexual and reproductive violence during periods of conflict, though they generally participate at a lower rate than men in transitional justice processes. Because participation is discussed in procedural justice literature as being crucial to securing feelings of justice and dignity within victims of violence, the lack of women’s participation in transitional process indicates that justice outcomes could suffer without equitable participation of women. In light of this issue, this study uses a comparative case study analysis method to investigate women’s involvement in the transitional justice processes in Timor Leste and Sierra Leone …

Where Have All The Utopias Gone? Ritual, Solidarity, And Longevity In A Multifaith Commune In New Mexico, Linda Prueitt Hansen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Utopian experiments creating new forms of community have dotted the globe throughout human history. Despite grandiose visions, a majority of communal experiments have faded quickly into oblivion. A wealth of scholarship has focused on reasons why communes typically fail. My research of an ecumenical commune in northern New Mexico examines what has facilitated its perpetuation for over 42 years. I participated in this community for different periods of time for over three years. With the assistance of a resident oral historian, I was able to expand my study into a diachronic view that spanned decades. I conclude that there are …

Gender, Empowerment And Coffee In Mexico And Central America: A Policy Analysis, Lisa M. Fry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Coffee is an important commodity for Central American countries. Like other agricultural production, coffee production in the region is undergoing a “feminization” in which women become the primary producers. However, female agricultural producers face constraints that their male counterparts do not. This study analyzes policies to determine if they promote or continue the inhibition of empowerment of female coffee producers. The results of the study indicate that policies relating to Central American coffee production are promoting women’s empowerment, but implementation remains weak. Policy recommendations are included.

Process For Selecting An Outside Provider For The Closing The Achievement Gap Project, Dianna Rae Hulbert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the spring of 2008, Dwight Jones, Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Education, invited six Colorado school districts to partner with the department and an outside provider to close their achievement gaps in reading and math between minority and poverty students and White students and non-poverty students. Districts were invited to partner based on an achievement gap that exceeded the state‟s average gap in reading and math, and its perceived leadership capacity to initiate change.

This study examined the process the six districts used to select a provider to assist in closing its achievement gap. The multi-case study analyzed …

Greening The Green Revolution: Moving Beyond Chemicals To Sustainable Agricultural Practices, Elizabeth G. Crawley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Agriculture has dominated the economy of many developing countries for centuries, which has led to development policies that center on agricultural development. An obvious approach to improved production is to decrease agricultural losses in the fields and increase efficiency to markets. This study focuses on the developmental role of pesticides and chemical fertilizers on non-traditional agricultural export farming and the adoption of IPM techniques. With farmers in the Comayagua Valley of Honduras, an Asian vegetable production center for the country, as the study population, the costs and benefits of planting oriental vegetables was examined. Statistical analysis was used to examine …

Dogs And Technology: Our Most Beloved Companions In Twentieth And Twenty-First Century America, Claire V. Bow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since the suburban rush and steep rise in household technological devices in the mid-twentieth century, Americans have drawn apart from each other, a shift that has coincided with a rise in both dog ownership and the adoption of handheld mobile devices. This paper argues that these phenomena, which are both ubiquitous and intimate in many American households, reflect one of the most basic and static human needs: the need for emotional connection. Furthermore, it is the unique combination of canine and digital elements that replace human-to-human social networks; networks that were once both literally and figuratively tightly drawn. In the …

An Investigation Into Associations With Attachment, Companion Pet Attachment, Empathy, And Prosocial Behaviors In 18–20 Year Old College Students, Christian Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines empathy, parental attachment, companion pet attachment and social behaviors in a sample of 120 students between the ages of 18-20 enrolled at Front Range Community College in Westminster CO during the fall semester 2008. The study is based on the research questions posed by Thompson and Gullone (2008) but pays particular attention to the relationships between and among variables measured in that study as well as their association with variables indicating companion pet companionship. The research questions are: (1) does parental empathic attachment predict prosocial and antisocial behaviors during older adolescence or young adulthood? And (2) does …

The Theory And Practice Of Leader And Leadership Development: A Multi-Level Perspective, Jacob P. Hahn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The understanding of leadership and how it is developed continues to evolve (Day & Harrison, 2007) and while some essential components of effective leadership have been identified, they have not been forged into a comprehensive framework for development (Avolio, 2005). This paper aims to create a theory of leader and leadership development that can aid individuals in understanding who they are as a leader. Of central importance to this paper is the presentation of the Leader and Leadership Identity Development Model, which provides a framework centered on the development of individual leader and leadership identities at personal, interpersonal, and collective …

Development Of A Men's Depression Inventory, Andrew Fields

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper details the development of a scale to more accurately assess depression in men. It first summarizes the literature on depression, depression assessment, and current research on men and masculinity. It is argued that current conceptualizations of both depression and masculinity influence prevalence studies, which consistently find that men experience depression half as often as women. It is argued that an assessment measure that accounts for masculine variants of depression (substance use, anger, withdrawal, and emotional restriction) may identify more frequent depression in men than previously expected. Next, the paper details the development of a men's depression scale using …

An Analysis Of The Tennessee Center For Performance Excellence Examiners' Continuous Improvement Process., Anita Paige Ricker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the continuous improvement process of the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCP). Results of surveys conducted annually by the TNCPE from postapplicants provided data from the state award applicants. Their responses offered indicators of satisfaction among different industry sectors (education, government, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit, and service) with the TNCPE services (criteria booklet, feedback report, site visit policy, TNCPE staff, and team of examiners). The survey data were obtained from the TNCPE office in Nashville, Tennessee in which award applicants were provided a series of survey questions. These questions involved the overall award …

Surviving Cancer In Appalachia: A Qualitative Study Of Family Cancer Communication And Changing Personal Identities Through The Cancer Journey., Kathryn L. Duvall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Appalachian region is known for its beautiful mountains, close-knit communities, and health care disparities including higher rates of cancer and premature mortality. Being diagnosed with cancer in the region may present a unique experience for survivors in regards to family cancer communication and changing personal identities. In a multiphasic study, the stories of 29 female Appalachian cancer survivors were collected through either a day-long modified story circle event (n=26) or an in-depth interview (n=3). Qualitative content analysis was used to identify emergent themes in the data. The analysis revealed 5 types of family cancer communication and five barriers to …

Overcoming: A Theory Of Accelerated Second-Degree Baccalaureate Graduate Nurse Transition To Professional Nursing Practice., Sandy K. Calhoun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A plethora of stressors are known to be related to the process of transition to professional nursing practice as the neophyte registered nurse (RN) transitions from student to professional nurse. Although not new, accelerated second-degree baccalaureate nursing (ASDBN) programs have opened in record numbers in recent years in the wake of the current nursing shortage. Little is known about the experience of professional practice for accelerated second-degree baccalaureate graduate nurses (ASDBGNs). The stressful graduate nurse transition, current nursing shortage, and lack of an empirical base for ASDBN programs illustrate the significance of the research problem. This modified grounded theory study …

Resistance Training Increases The Expression Of Ampk, Mtor, And Glut4 In Previously Sedentary Subjects And Subjects With The Metabolic Syndrome., Andrew Steven Layne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Exercise has been considered a cornerstone of diabetes prevention and treatment for decades, but the benefits of resistance training are less clear. Nineteen non-diabetic subjects (10 metabolic syndrome, 9 sedentary controls) underwent 8 weeks of supervised resistance training. After training, strength and V̇ O_2max increased by 10% in both groups. Percent body fat decreased in subjects with the metabolic syndrome. Additionally, lean body mass increased in both groups (p<0.05). Expression of glucose transporter protein-4 (GLUT4), the principle insulin-responsive glucose transporter, increased significantly in both groups. 5-adenosine monophosphateactivated protein kinase (AMPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) expression increased in both groups, indicating increased protein synthesis and mitochondrial biogenesis. Markers of insulin resistance measured by a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp did not improve in subjects with the metabolic syndrome but increased significantly in control subjects (13%). Resistance training upregulates intracellular signaling pathways that may be beneficial for ameliorating the metabolic syndrome.