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Exploring Normalization Of Deviance And Examining Factors That Predict Culture Of Safety In The Operating Room., M. Imelda Wright

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Patient safety in the operating room is a prodigious responsibility of OR nurses as the OR environment is complex and laden with risk, which increases surgical patients’ risk for adverse events. The dissertation presents the topic of patient safety in the operating room (OR), the concept of normalization of deviance, and a mixed-methods study with an exploratory sequential design that involved three phases. The dissertation comprises of five chapters. Chapter One presents an introductory overview of the salience of patient safety as well as its relevance to the unique environment of the OR. Chapter Two presents a concept analysis of …

Investigation Of Phosphoserine Aminotransferase 1(Psat1) In Breast Cancer Progression., Stephanie Metcalf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation describes my research into the involvement of phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1) in breast cancer progression; specifically, in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) metastasis and endocrine resistance in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer (ER+BC). Breast cancer is the most common tumor diagnosis among women. While the overall 5-year survival for breast cancer is reaching 90%, the 5-year survival for metastatic disease is only 22%. Metastasis and endocrine resistance combined can affect over 50% of patients. One of the proteins and pathways implicated in both metastasis and endocrine resistance in breast cancer is phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1) and the serine …

Electrospun Fibers And Nanoparticles For The Prevention Of Sexually Transmitted Infections., Kevin Michael Tyo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, with women disproportionately impacted by these infections. Currently, only oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is approved specifically for the prevention of HIV-1, but is challenged with adverse side effects associated with long-term use. Topical delivery platforms, such as gels and films, deliver agents directly to the female reproductive tract, but are limited in providing transient-release. The technology of polymeric electrospun fibers may serve as alternative topical delivery platform to the female reproductive tract. In these studies, we fabricated electrospun fibers comprised of different polymers …

Characterizing The Roles Of Neutral Ceramidase In Cisplatin-Induced Kidney Injury., Sophia M. Sears

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cisplatin is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent with a dose-limiting nephrotoxicity. 30% of patients given cisplatin develop acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI increases risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) development and mortality. Patients that don’t develop clinical AKI are still at risk for long term declines in renal function. Currently, there are no FDA approved agents to treat or prevent cisplatin-induced kidney injury (CDDP-KI). In this study, we demonstrated that neutral ceramidase (nCDase) knockout provides protection from AKI in the high-dose model of CDDP-KI. However, in the repeated low dose cisplatin (RLDC) model of injury and we found nCDase knockout …

Charting A Course Through Confusion: Mapping Pathological Cranial Lesions In An Archaic Population From Kentucky., Austin Warren

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Osteological observations interpreted as evidence for anemia (porotic hyperostosis and cribra orbitalia) have been used to interpret health and diet of past populations. These observations have contributed significantly to arguments that a deterioration of human health over time can be attributed to the adoption of agricultural subsistence practices and increased settlement aggregation. This study utilized a sample (n=110) from the Ward site (15Mcl11), a pre-agricultural, fisher-hunter-gatherer cemetery site dated to the Archaic Period in Kentucky, a part of the Shell Midden Archaic cultural complex. The impact of porotic alteration on differential mortality was assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The Ward …

.Pause., Richelle M. Dorris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

.Pause. is a series of fifteen abstract oil paintings that represent a visual inspection of changing mental/emotional states of being as we navigate life. My subject matter consists of natural and organic forms that twist, contort, overlap, and flow. These aspects—combined with dramatic and gradual shifts in color, movement, layering and lighting—create a bizarre environment of conflict and growth as well as a space for contemplation.

This series is a mixture of stylistic directions, including abstract representation, gestural, and nonobjective work. Perception is called into question as the visual information becomes more obscure. Outside elements, such as lighting and the …

The Manipulation Of Host Transcription By The Ankh Effector Of Legionella., Juanita E. Von Dwingelo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Legionella pneumophila is a Gram-negative facultative intracellular bacterium that can be found dispersed throughout freshwater environments, where it primarily parasitizes amoebae and other protozoan species. Humans are an accidental host for L. pneumophila, and infection occurs upon inhalation of aerosolized water droplets that contain the bacteria. L. pneumophila is the causative agent of Legionnaires’ Disease, which is the result of intracellular proliferation within alveolar macrophages. Pathogenesis of L. pneumophila is dependent on the Dot/Icm type 4 secretion system (T4SS) apparatus, which is comprised of 27 proteins and is responsible for translocating over 330 effector proteins into the host cell. Many …

An Electrochemical Instrument For The Analysis Of Heavy Metals In Water Via Anodic Stripping Coulometry For Applications In Remote Sensing., Kelsey Lynn Kaht

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

From the high levels of arsenic in groundwater in Bangladesh to the lead contamination of drinking water in Flint, Michigan, there are incidents across the globe that highlight the need for a reliable instrument capable of monitoring heavy metals remotely and continuously in a variety of geographical locations. Typical instrumentation for water analysis, such as ICP and AAS, must be housed in a central lab and relies on an operator traveling to the collection site, obtaining a sample, and transporting it back to the lab. This analysis provides a snapshot of the water quality that is limited to the specific …

Electrochemical Determination Of Surface Area-To-Volume Ratio For Metal Nanoparticle Analysis., Jay Narayan Sharma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation describes an electrochemical approach for measuring the surface area-to-volume ratio (SA/V) of electrode-attached metal nanoparticles (NPs), which was used to analyze their size, aggregation state, and porosity. This dissertation further describes the effect of the metal NP electrode assembly method on the SA/V, which is related to metal NP catalytic activity and stability. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) in acid electrolyte followed by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) in KBr electrolyte allows the electrochemical measurement of the SA/V of electrode-attached Au nanospheres (NSs). In CV, the forward scan produces a thin surface Au₂O₃ layer on the Au NSs. …

The Effects Of Nicotine And Cigarette Smoking On Cardiac Electrophysiology., Affan B. Irfan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of preventable disease and premature death worldwide. The adverse effects of cigarette smoking, including proarrhythmia, are related to the mixture of chemicals, including nicotine (which sustains tobacco addiction). However, it remains unclear which individual tobacco smoke constituents and biological pathways mediate this increased risk. The purpose of this research was to explore the chronic effects of cigarette smoking, as well as compare the acute effects of nicotine and cigarette smoking, and the possible role of β-adrenoreceptors, on human cardiac electrophysiology. Chapter 1 is a comprehensive literature review of (a) the ex vivo and in …

Therapeutic Potential Of Withaferin A Against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer., Al Hassan Kyakulaga

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and in the United States. Despite recent advancements in treatment approaches, chemoresistance and metastasis remain a major therapeutic challenge. Withaferin A (WFA), a plant-derived compound has recently emerged as a promising antitumor agent. In the present study, we explored the therapeutic potential of WFA against advanced NSCLC. Briefly, WFA was evaluated for its efficacy, toxicity and pharmacokinetic properties against advanced NSCLC using in vitro and in vivo models. Two human NSCLC cell lines, H1299 and A549 were used in cell culture to determine the anticancer properties of WFA. Repeat dose …

Laser Spectroscopy Investigations Of Jet-Cooled Metal-Containing Free Radicals., Anam Chandra Paul

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Metal-containing free radicals are important intermediates in metal-surface reactions and the interactions between metals and organic molecules. Among metal-containing free radicals, monovalent derivatives of alkaline earth metals have been extensively investigated by using spectroscopic techniques in a gas phase, mainly in Broida ovens or under supersonic-jet-cooled conditions. In the present study, the results of performed spectroscopic investigations of both metal-containing monoalkoxides (CaOR) and metal oxides (MO) radicals have been reported. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and dispersed fluorescence (DF) spectra of the electronic transition of the calcium CaOR radicals have been obtained under jet-cooled conditions. Complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) and …

A Recombinant Cholera Toxin B Subunit Variant (Ctb-Kdel) Exhibits Unique Colon Mucosal Healing Effects That Have Therapeutic Implications For Inflammatory Bowel Disease., Joshua Mark Royal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation uncovers the mechanism and explores the utility of a recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) variant containing a KDEL endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention motif (CTB-KDEL) as a drug candidate for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). CTB is a mucosal immunomodulatory protein that induces robust mucosal and systemic antibody responses. This well-known biological activity has been exploited in cholera prevention (as a component of Dukoral® vaccine) and vaccine development for decades. On the other hand, several studies have investigated CTB’s immunotherapeutic potential in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s disease and asthma. Here, we reveal …

The Identification Of Long Non-Coding Rna Zfas1 Through An Exploratory Rna-Sequencing Analysis And Its Association With Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition In Colon Cancer Adenocarcinoma., Stephen J. O'Brien

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Colorectal adenocarcinoma is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed worldwide and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. This dissertation performed an exploratory RNA-sequencing analysis comparing gene expression between colon adenocarcinoma tissue and paired normal colon epithelium. After identification of a number of lncRNAs that were increased in expression in colon adenocarcinoma compared to normal colon epithelium, we aimed to validate the expression and investigate their function in vitro. Specifically, we focused on the lncRNA ZFAS1 and its association with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. These studies found the following: 1. Seven candidate lncRNAs were identified from the exploratory RNA-sequencing analysis to …

The Relationship Between Employee Engagement And Work Performance For Individuals Working In Active Asset Management: Examining The Moderate Effect Of Age, Gender, And Job Function., Elizabeth Aubrey Brenner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The construct of employee engagement and its relationship to desirable organizational outcomes has received a great deal of attention within Human Resource Development (HRD) literature. However, little research has examined the influence of employee engagement on work performance in the active asset management industry, and no academic study has explored employee engagement in the active asset management industry using the lens of HRD. This study examined the relationship between employee engagement and work performance, and the moderating effect of age, gender, and job function on the relationship between employee engagement and work performance, for individuals employed within active asset management. …

Gc×Gc-Ms And Parallel 2dlc-Ms Based Untargeted Metabolomics., Md Aminul Islam Prodhan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Untargeted metabolomics aims to analyze as many metabolites as possible in a biological system. Due to the vast complexity of the metabolome, bioanalytical platforms have been developed for untargeted metabolomics. While comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC×GC-MS) has been used in different scientific fields, its use in untargeted metabolomics is limited due to several challenges, such as complicated data analysis and limited accuracy of metabolite identification. Two-dimensional liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (2DLC-MS) has also been employed in untargeted metabolomics, but with limited metabolite coverage. This dissertation describes the efforts in developing new data analysis algorithms to improve the accuracy …

Police Stress, Depression, And Substance Use Among Police Officers: A General Strain Perspective., Kyra Nicole Fritz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the utility of general strain theory in explaining substance use as a form of coping among a sample of police officers in a Midwestern, metropolitan city. The dissertation is comprised of five chapters, including the introduction, literature review, method, results, and discussion. Chapter one describes the stressful nature of a career in law enforcement, concentrating on the adverse consequences of prolonged stress, including depression and substance use. Chapter one also examines strain, depression, and substance use among police officers using a general strain perspective, highlighting the limitations of existing empirical studies. Chapter two details the theoretical premise …

Understanding Object Motion Encoding In The Mammalian Retina., Victor Julian Depiero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phototransduction, transmission of visual information down the optic nerve incurs delays on the order of 50 – 100ms. This implies that the neuronal representation of a moving object should lag behind the object’s actual position. However, studies have demonstrated that the visual system compensates for neuronal delays using a predictive mechanism called phase advancing, which shifts the population response toward the leading edge of a moving object’s retinal image. To understand how this compensation is achieved in the retina, I investigated cellular and synaptic mechanisms that drive phase advancing. I used three approaches, each testing phase advancing at a …

Influence Of Competitive Sports On Disordered Eating Behaviors In Young Female Athletes, Jill Bernstorf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The field of treating and learning about eating disorders in athletes is a growing field that continues to flourish as more knowledge is acquired. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence that length of time in the sport, age at which an individual starts a competitive sport, level of competitiveness, and type of sport (leanness vs. non-leanness focused) has on disordered eating behaviors. The participants were college students who were involved in at least one competitive sport in their life. They completed the EAT-26 questionnaire as well as a basic questionnaire. There was not enough data collected …

Stories Of Color: An Exploration Of Storytelling And Racial Microaggression, Tama Lunceford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines experiences of racial microaggressions as related to an audience through the art of Storytelling. Integrating Performance Ethnography and Critical Race Theory, it examines how storytelling may serve to illuminate the concept of racial microaggressions. After examining the current body of work on Racism, Storytelling and Microaggression, the author moves through the stories of experiences with racial microaggression from four individuals, gathered and performed as a storytelling event, before a live audience. The communicative management methods individuals use when talking about race and racial microaggressions are explored in presentation of the audience discussion which followed the performance. The …

Education Abroad Participation: Predicting Participation Through High School Academic Record And Intent To Be Involved In College As Reported In The Freshman Survey (Tfs) And In The College Senior Survey (Css)., Elizabeth Karen Liebschutz-Roettger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Globalization is a topic of great interest in higher education yet fewer than 10% of college graduates participate in a formal study abroad program. While according to The American Council on Education [ACE] (2008) data, nearly 80% of incoming first-year students intend to go abroad, the reality is most students do not. Practitioners in Education Abroad (EA) are continually looking at ways to help increase student participation in overseas programs and opportunities. The study looks at frequencies and predictor models to help determine factors that influence student participation in study abroad. The study utilized HERI’s 2009 The Freshman Survey (TFS) …

Laser Spectroscopy Investigations On Molecular And Free Radicals Dynamics., Hamzeh Telfah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studying molecular dynamics and chemical kinetics is important to understand the chemical behavior of renewable energy sources. Laser spectroscopy techniques are powerful tools for the identification and diagnosis of such processes. In this dissertation, using our laser spectroscopy techniques, biofuels and solar energy were targeted as renewable energy sources study. We have studied the ultrafast exciton dynamics for a series of methylammonium lead bromide (CH3NH3PbBr3) nanostructures, nanocrystals (NCs, 0D), nanowires (NWs, 1D), and nanoplatelets (NPs, 2D) as a promising solar energy materials.1-2 Aided by analysis of UV−visible absorption and photoluminescence spectra, features in the transient absorption (TA) spectra are assigned …

Development And Characterization Of A Biopolymer Direct-Write Process For 3d Microvascular Structures Formation., Xiaoming Fan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Engineering of bulk tissues has been limited by the lack of nutrient and waste exchange in these tissues without an adjacent capillary network. To produce microvasculature, a scaffold must be produced that provides temporary mechanical support and stimulate endothelial cell adhesion, growth, and morphogenesis into a vessel. However, current well-established techniques for producing microvasculature, such as electrospinning, are limited since they lack both the precision to control fiber placement in three-dimensional space and the ability to create fiber networks with predefined diameters to replicate the physiological microvascular progression from arteriole to capillary to venule. Our group has developed a “Direct-write” …

Stability And Reactivity Analysis Of Single Metal And Bimetallic Nanostructures By Anodic Stripping Voltammetry., Dhruba Kumar Pattadar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation has two main themes. The first involves studies aimed at developing anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) as an analytical tool to characterize metal nanoparticles (NPs), with a focus on the size and aggregate structure of single metal NPs and the composition and atomic arrangement of bimetallic NPs. The second main theme involves studies that use ASV and electrochemical surface area-to-volume (SA/V) measurements to study the unique reactivity and transformations of single metal and bimetallic NPs. The transformations involve size and composition changes in response to ozone and electrochemical potential. Reactions involve size dependent galvanic exchange and electrocatalytic activity. The …

Towards A Theory Of Human Mobility And Wall-Building: A Comparative Analysis Of Hadrian's Wall And The Iron Curtain., Timothy Heine

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis contributes a theory on human bordering practices that encompasses diverse types of borders and border experiences. In order to flesh out the factors underlying human wall-building, it is vital to first understand the mobile nature (both as an innate characteristic and adaptive strategy) of our species. A clearer appreciation of the biology of human mobility elucidates the seemingly counterintuitive process of the establishment of cultural boundaries. Such an inquiry into the available inter-disciplinary literature on the topics of human mobility and wall-building reveals much about the manner in which humans interpret and utilize space, the variety of walls …

The Genesis And Development Of Deathscapes In America -- A Story Of How Chicago And Louisville Cemeteries Demonstrate The Shifting Rationale Of Cemetery Placement During The 19th And 20th Centuries., Thomas D. Cleven

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Today, most construction projects require a systematic site qualification based on a suitability analysis utilizing parameters such as slope, soil type, elevation, distance to open water, and distance to transportation. The proper siting determines the success of a project in terms of project stability and longevity. However, has this suitability analysis exist for one of the most significant phases of humanity – death. Historically dead bodies seem to have been placed without suitable qualification being many cemeteries have created environmental problems for the living. Hence, with which placement rationale has been used comes to mind. With a varied array of …

In Search Of Work-Life Balance: Organizational And Economic Challenges Confronting Women In Banking And Management Consulting Firms In Southwest Nigeria, Oluwafisayo Ogundoro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Married women in the banking and management consulting firms in Nigeria encounter challenges that affect their commitment to their families while working long hours in demanding jobs. This study explores the challenges married women encounter and the impacts they have on women’s family lives, social lives, and health. I analyze primary and secondary sources to understand how organizational work culture such as long working hours, work competitiveness, and Nigeria’s unstable economy negatively affect the work-life balance of married women in banking and management consulting firms. Although participants shared the belief that their workplaces practiced “equality,” their descriptions of daily life …

Synthesis And Study Of Hydroxytyrosol Derivatives, Ebenezer Ametsetor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hydroxytyrosol is one of the most powerful known antioxidants. It is a naturally occurring polyphenol, most commonly produced in olive trees, (Olea europaea). The remarkable antioxidant and pharmacological properties of hydroxytyrosol has made it an outstanding compound in the polyphenol family and of great interest to many researchers. Hydroxytyrosol can scavenge free radicals produced during cellular oxidative stress and helps to protect the integrity of cells in living systems. Despite its numerous biological and pharmacological uses, it is found in very low concentration in olive oil, this limits its availability for biomedical applications. This work reports a novel and effective …

Role Of Topoisomerase Ii Alpha In Dna Topology And T Cell Responses During Chronic Viral Infections, Stella Chinyere Ogbu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The clearance of viruses is largely dependent upon the activation of T cells to generate a robust immune response. However, host responses are suppressed during chronic viral infections. In this thesis, we explored the role of Top2α in DNA topology in individuals with chronic HBV, HCV, and HIV infections. We found that Top2α protein expression and activity were low in T cells derived from chronically virus-infected individuals compared to healthy subjects. Using CD4⁺ T cells treated with Top2α inhibitor or poisoner as a model, we demonstrated that Top2α inhibition disrupts the DNA topology, suppresses DNA repair kinase (ATM), and …

Age And Seasonal Change In The Chronobiology Of A Spider With An Exceptionally Long-Period Circadian Clock, Shae Crain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines locomotor activity in samples of Frontinella pyramitela collected over its active season (April-October) to investigate whether seasonality and/or age may help explain the exceptional variability typically found in spider clock systems. Despite its noteworthy variability (%CV= 7.7), we have found that Frontinella has a mean free-running period of 28.4±2.18 hours that does not significantly vary over time. There is no correlation between day length and free-running period, indicating that varying length of FRP is not a function of photoperiod length. In LD 12:12 h, the window of activity is significantly smaller in April, gradually widening as the …