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Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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Characterizing Runoff Responses In A Mountaintop Mine Impacted And Forested Catchment In The Coalfields Of West Virginia, Andrew J. Miller Jan 2013

Characterizing Runoff Responses In A Mountaintop Mine Impacted And Forested Catchment In The Coalfields Of West Virginia, Andrew J. Miller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mountaintop mining (MTM) represents the largest land cover/landuse change in the Central Appalachian region. By 2012, the U.S. EPA estimates that MTR will have impacted approximately 6.8% of the predominately forested Appalachian Coalfield region of West Virginia (WV), Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia with nearly 4,000 miles of headwater streams buried under valley fills (VF). In spite of the scale and extent of MTM, its hydrologic impacts are poorly understood. Several devastating floods in the region have been attributed to MTM, but there is little evidence to either confirm or refute this belief. Existing research on the hydrologic impacts of MTM …

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Patterns Of Lung Cancer Care And Associated Health Outcomes Among Elderly Medicare Fee For Service Beneficiaries In West Virginia And In The United States, Pramit Amrutlal Nadpara Jan 2013

Patterns Of Lung Cancer Care And Associated Health Outcomes Among Elderly Medicare Fee For Service Beneficiaries In West Virginia And In The United States, Pramit Amrutlal Nadpara

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The elderly carry a disproportionate burden of lung cancer in the US. Although significant improvements have been made during the past decade in cancer treatment, substantial disparities still exist in guideline-based lung cancer care and outcomes. Such variation in lung cancer care is a cause for major concern in rural areas like West Virginia (WV). The purpose of this study was to do a comprehensive evaluation of variations in lung cancer care and associated health outcomes in the elderly. This retrospective study was conducted using SEER-Medicare and WVCR--Medicare linked data files for the years 2002-2007. As part of the project, …

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Effectiveness Of Multi-View Face Images And Anthropometric Data In Real-Time Networked Biometrics, Sriram Sankar Jan 2013

Effectiveness Of Multi-View Face Images And Anthropometric Data In Real-Time Networked Biometrics, Sriram Sankar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Over the years, biometric systems have evolved into a reliable mechanism for establishing identity of individuals in the context of applications such as access control, personnel screening and criminal identification. However, recent terror attacks, security threats and intrusion attempts have necessitated a transition to modern biometric systems that can identify humans under unconstrained environments, in real-time. Specifically, the following are three critical transitions that are needed and which form the focus of this thesis: (1) In contrast to operation in an offline mode using previously acquired photographs and videos obtained under controlled environments, it is required that identification be performed …

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Effect Of Electron Beam Radiation On Microbial Inactivation, Radio-Resistance And Nutritional Quality Of Food, Adiam Tsegai Tesfai Jan 2013

Effect Of Electron Beam Radiation On Microbial Inactivation, Radio-Resistance And Nutritional Quality Of Food, Adiam Tsegai Tesfai

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A non-thermal food processing method, Electron beam radiation efficiently inactivates foodborne pathogens. However, foodborne pathogens may develop resistance in response to sublethal stresses. Thus it is important to study the response of food microorganisms to e-beam and understand the mechanism underlying their survival abilities. The overall objective of this study was to examine the inactivation of foodborne microorganisms by electron beam radiation at sublethal levels, understand the radio-resistance development to this processing method and also to determine the effects of e-beam on chemical changes of nutrients in infant formula.;Four independent studies are included in this dissertation, in the first study, …

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Investigations In Molecular Recognition Element Selection And Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Properties, Ryan Martin Williams Jan 2013

Investigations In Molecular Recognition Element Selection And Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Properties, Ryan Martin Williams

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The in vitro selection of Molecular Recognition Elements (MREs) is a powerful tool for identifying molecules useful in numerous applications. This is achieved using the iterative Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential Enrichment (SELEX) process. This technique utilizes a large library of 10 9-1015 different molecules which is enriched for those that bind to a target of interest. It also can be designed to enrich for molecules which do not bind to other, closely-related negative targets. We have developed a novel variation of this process called Decoy-SELEX. This enriches molecules that bind to the target of interest, but focuses on …

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Efficacy Of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy With Parents With Intellectual Disability., Karishma Chengappa Jan 2013

Efficacy Of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy With Parents With Intellectual Disability., Karishma Chengappa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Parents with intellectual disability are faced with the challenges of parenting as well as with having to deal with cognitive difficulties and limited financial and social supports. Deficits in parenting ability often are associated with poor child outcomes such as developmental delays, mental health concerns, neglect, and disruptive behavior disorders. Parents with intellectual disabilities frequently come under the scrutiny of child protective services for neglect and inadequate parenting and are often overrepresented in child maltreatment proceedings. When given systematic skills training using applied behavior analysis, these parents have been shown to improve a narrow range of basic child care skills. …

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Forensic And Toxicological Applications Of Franz Diffusion Cells Assessed By Gas Chromatograhy Mass Spectrometry And Ion Mobility Spectrometry., Jordan Wade Moran Jan 2013

Forensic And Toxicological Applications Of Franz Diffusion Cells Assessed By Gas Chromatograhy Mass Spectrometry And Ion Mobility Spectrometry., Jordan Wade Moran

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The first portion of this work evaluated the efficacy of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) as a tool for determining remediation success at clandestine methamphetamine laboratory sites. Specifically, limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantitation (LOQ), and matrix effects were investigated as relevant to typical remediation sites and situations. The recoveries of pseudoephedrine and methamphetamine from a range of various surfaces likely to be found in a clandestine laboratory were examined. Portable IMS instruments with thermal desorption were found to be a reliable tool for evaluating the degree of remediation if sufficient procedural and instrumental controls are put into place. In …

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Application Of Liquid Chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry Techniques To Forensic, Environmental And Clinical Analyses., Lucy Sian Oldfield Jan 2013

Application Of Liquid Chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry Techniques To Forensic, Environmental And Clinical Analyses., Lucy Sian Oldfield

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is a powerful technique offering superior selectivity, sensitivity and flexibility for a diverse range of applications. This document describes the application of LC-MS/MS to analytical problems in environmental, clinical and forensic fields. LC-UV and LC-MS/MS methods were implemented and compared for the analysis of nitroaromatics, nitramines and nitrate esters in soil. Analysis of soils collected at detonation sites showed the presence and concentration of contaminants to be a function of parameters such as: time since detonation, type of charge employed, nature of detonation and size of charge used. Multi-increment (MI) sampling strategies recommended …

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"Thir They Byen Thralls…" Chaucer's Boethian Poems And Usk's "Testament Of Love": Foundations Of English Prison Literature., Phillip Scott Dennis Jan 2013

"Thir They Byen Thralls…" Chaucer's Boethian Poems And Usk's "Testament Of Love": Foundations Of English Prison Literature., Phillip Scott Dennis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fourteenth-century English society bore witness simultaneously to a marked increase of dedicated prison spaces and a proliferation of imaginative writing in English. Volumes of study have focused on the social implications of carceral practice, and many studies have also been dedicated to the rapid development of English as a literary and philosophical vehicle in the late Middle Ages. This study seeks to bridge these areas of scholarship by focusing on the political implications of early English prison writing. Close readings of Chaucer's "Boethian texts and Thomas Usk's Testament of Love, matched for their close overlaps in subject matter, audience, dates …

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Water Chemistry And Benthic Macroinvertebrate Ecology In Response To Acid Mine Drainage, Brian Carlson Jan 2013

Water Chemistry And Benthic Macroinvertebrate Ecology In Response To Acid Mine Drainage, Brian Carlson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Benthic macroinvertebrates, especially aquatic insects, are documented indicators of environmental quality, and often respond predictably to changes within a freshwater system. Within West Virginia, acid mine drainage (AMD) forms as a result of oxidizing sulfide rich minerals which occur alongside coal. The resulting effluent is acidic and laden with heavy metals. As a result, valued services and ecological functions provided by freshwater resources are lost. Treatment of AMD is expensive and therefore studies documenting their effect on aquatic resources are valuable. Benthic macroinvertebrate and stream water samples are often used as the deciding factors for the condition of a stream …

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Swedish Legislation Targeting Trafficking For Sexual Exploitation And The Possibilities For Implementation In Estonia, Jennifer E. Lyall Jan 2013

Swedish Legislation Targeting Trafficking For Sexual Exploitation And The Possibilities For Implementation In Estonia, Jennifer E. Lyall

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Human trafficking is a human rights problem affecting all regions of the world. Various approaches have been utilized in attempts to eliminate the trade in human beings. In 1999, Sweden instituted a law to ban the purchase of sexual services, viewing prostitution as inherently violent and a contributing factor of human trafficking for sexual exploitation. This thesis determines that banning the purchase of sex is a legitimate and effective measure in combatting human trafficking for sexual exploitation. This thesis then discusses the Estonian sex industry and the possibilities for implementation of a similar sex purchase ban. Obstacles include Estonia's historical …

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Characterization Of Fate And Biological Degradation Processes Attenuating Imx-101 Munition Constituents In The Environment, Thomas Richard Jan 2013

Characterization Of Fate And Biological Degradation Processes Attenuating Imx-101 Munition Constituents In The Environment, Thomas Richard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As trinitrotoluene (TNT) is replaced with insensitive munition formulations (i.e., IMX-101) that are safer to handle in military mortars, the potential release of IMX-101 munition constituents to the environment is likely to increase. IMX-101 is a composition of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), 3-nitro-1,2,4-trizole-5-one (NTO), and 1-nitroguanidine (NQ). Currently there is little data on transport and fate of DNAN and NTO in the environment. Reported herein is an evaluation of various attenuation processes that explosives are commonly subject to in the environment, specifically: 1) rainfall driven dissolution of munition fragments, 2) adsorption of dissolved munitions onto soils, 3) biological degradation of munitions, and …

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Evaluating Biodegradable Containers As Alternatives To Plastic Pots, Renee L. Conneway Jan 2013

Evaluating Biodegradable Containers As Alternatives To Plastic Pots, Renee L. Conneway

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Marked improvements in the sustainability of the horticulture industry have occurred over the last few decades. Movement towards better management practices in areas such as pesticide (IPM), fertilizer application and water usage characterizes today's industry. However, several obstacles have to be overcome for true long-term sustainability of the ornamental horticulture industry. One of these obstacles is the abundant use of plastics in the horticulture industry. This research focused on reducing the industry's plastic waste stream by evaluating the effects of biodegradable pots on plant growth parameters and substrate chemistry, as well as characteristics of biodegradable pots such as strength and …

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3d Seismic Interpretation And Well Log Analysis Of The Marcellus Shale Of Appalachian Basin At Taylor County, West Virginia, Lierong Zhu Jan 2013

3d Seismic Interpretation And Well Log Analysis Of The Marcellus Shale Of Appalachian Basin At Taylor County, West Virginia, Lierong Zhu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The organic-rich Marcellus Shale unit of Middle Devonian section in Appalachian basin currently is one of the most successful unconventional shale-gas reservoirs in the world because of the modern technology development including; advanced seismic imaging, hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. This study extracts the geologic structure and discontinuity systems from seismic data in Taylor County, West Virginia to better understand the regional and local geologic setting with special emphasis on the orientation of structural features (e.g., folds, faults and joints) that can guide horizontal well drilling and fracture stimulation design.;A southwest-northeast synclinal fold was mapped in the northern part of …

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Survival, Injury, And Antibiotic Resistance Patterns Of Cronobacter Sakazakii And Escherichia Coli Resulting From Exposure To Low-Temperature Ground Water, Alisha L. Dailey Jan 2013

Survival, Injury, And Antibiotic Resistance Patterns Of Cronobacter Sakazakii And Escherichia Coli Resulting From Exposure To Low-Temperature Ground Water, Alisha L. Dailey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Bacteria are constantly being exposed to changing conditions in the environment. Exposure to adverse conditions such as pH, temperature, and desiccation may cause stress to the bacteria, potentially resulting in loss of viability and growth. Cronobacter sakazakii and Escherichia coli were exposed to cold temperature (4°C) and room temperature (24°C) nutrient-limiting groundwater. As a function of time (0 to 15 days), samples were removed from the stress and analyzed. Response of stressed cells was evaluated by three approaches: (i) traditional viable cell counts (nonselective and selective media), (ii) substrate utilization patterns (BIOLOG GN microplates), and (iii) antibiotic resistance patterns (modified …

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Identification Of Conserved Protein Kinase Ck2 And 14-3-3 Target Sites In Neurogenic Transcriptional Regulators, Lucas Matthew Jozwick Jan 2013

Identification Of Conserved Protein Kinase Ck2 And 14-3-3 Target Sites In Neurogenic Transcriptional Regulators, Lucas Matthew Jozwick

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the decades following the identification of CK2 as the first 'phosphotransferase', a great deal has been learned regarding its biological importance. In one developmental context, CK2 regulates cell fate decisions during Drosophila neurogenesis by activating the E(spl)M8 repressor, a terminal effector of the Notch pathway. The finding that CK2 is intimately involved in retinal cell determination propelled a search for additional neurogenic factors regulated by CK2. Here, using bioinformatics and biochemical assays, the transcription factors E(spl)Mgamma, Extramacrochaetae, and Sine Oculis were identified and characterized as targets of CK2. Significantly, each of these factors is expressed at distinct time points …

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Modeling Of High Pressure Confined Inflatable Structures, Jerry C. Wong Jan 2013

Modeling Of High Pressure Confined Inflatable Structures, Jerry C. Wong

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Safety of transportation tunnels is a top priority among transportation agencies and public administrators and a very important aspect in the daily operation of a tunnel system. However, it is always a challenge to create and integrate protection systems in existing tunnels to prevent or at least mitigate the occurrence of hazardous events such as spread of smoke or noxious fumes, flooding, among others. Typically there two ways for preventing or mitigating the occurrence of hazardous events: one is the implementation of permanent solutions and, the second one, is the use of temporary solutions. Permanent solutions usually have relatively high …

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An Environmental History Of Malawi's 'Island In The Sky': The Mulanje Cedar And Imperial Forestry In British Nyasaland, 1890-1964., Kathleen J. Fichtel Jan 2013

An Environmental History Of Malawi's 'Island In The Sky': The Mulanje Cedar And Imperial Forestry In British Nyasaland, 1890-1964., Kathleen J. Fichtel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Mulanje cedar is a unique and endangered tree that is found only within the confines of the Mt. Mulanje Forest Reserve in southeastern Malawi. This dissertation examines the relationship between scientific forestry as introduced by British experts and the role and status of the endangered cedar. The British, like forest experts and other natural scientists today, believed the tree to be in danger of imminent demise. Economic expediency made it so that the tree was harvested by colonial officials from the beginning though they attempted to replace what they had taken. This did not work. Throughout the past century, …

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The Role Of Polyglutamine Expansion And Protein Context In Disease-Related Huntingtin/Lipid Interactions., Kathleen Anne Burke Jan 2013

The Role Of Polyglutamine Expansion And Protein Context In Disease-Related Huntingtin/Lipid Interactions., Kathleen Anne Burke

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Huntington's Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is defined by the accumulation of nanoscale aggregates comprised of the huntingtin (htt) protein. Aggregation is directly caused by an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) domain in htt, leading to a diverse population of aggregate species, such as oligomers, fibrils, and annular aggregates. Furthermore, the length of this polyQ domain is directly related to onset and severity of disease. The first 17 amino acids on the N-terminus (N17) and the polyproline domain on the C-terminal side of the polyQ domain have been shown to further modulate the aggregation process. Additionally, N17 appears to have …

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Parents' Perceptions Of Children's Emotions: Relations With Meta-Emotion Philosophy And Adult Attachment., Jennifer N. Morey Jan 2013

Parents' Perceptions Of Children's Emotions: Relations With Meta-Emotion Philosophy And Adult Attachment., Jennifer N. Morey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to investigate how parents’ perceptions of, feelings toward, and anticipated responses to children’s emotions related to parents’ meta-emotion philosophy (MEP) and attachment. Parents (mothers and fathers) completed an online research study where they viewed photographs of children (aged 10-14 years) displaying varying intensities of happiness, sadness, fear, anger, and neutral expressions. Parents labeled the emotion and identified the emotion’s intensity, their own emotion, and their anticipated responses. They also completed measures assessing their MEP and attachment. Results were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The model for MEP predicting happiness did not fit well, but …

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The Association Of Urinary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Biomarkers And Markers Of Inflammation, Diabetes Mellitus And Cardiovascular Disease, Omayma Alshaarawy Jan 2013

The Association Of Urinary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Biomarkers And Markers Of Inflammation, Diabetes Mellitus And Cardiovascular Disease, Omayma Alshaarawy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are potent atmospheric pollutants, released into air during incomplete combustion of fuel, industrial or domestic coal, wood, cigarette smoke and other organic materials. In addition to being carcinogenic, several animal studies have reported positive associations between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and inflammation, oxidative stress and the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Occupational studies have reported positive associations between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Moreover, there is evidence that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons may cause disruption of the endocrine system. It is still not clear if lower background exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, independent of the adverse …

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The Role Of Focal Adhesion Kinase In Nonmuscle Cell Contraction, Kimberly M. Arnold Jan 2013

The Role Of Focal Adhesion Kinase In Nonmuscle Cell Contraction, Kimberly M. Arnold

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Focal adhesions are specialized cell contact sites of distinct molecular composition and structure that bridge the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix and provide for efficient bidirectional transmission of biochemical and mechanical signals between the intra- and extracellular compartment. Many proteins within the focal adhesion have been discovered to be an integral component of the adhesion structure and function; however, a key molecule in the organization and physiological activity of focal adhesions is focal adhesion kinase (FAK). FAK is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that is essential for cell processes including cell migration, growth, and survival. Due to its connection between …

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Novel Techniques For Automated Dental Identification, Nourdin Al-Sherif Jan 2013

Novel Techniques For Automated Dental Identification, Nourdin Al-Sherif

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Automated dental identification is one of the best candidates for postmortem identification. With the large number of victims encountered in mass disasters, automating the process of postmortem identification is receiving an increased attention. This dissertation introduces new approaches for different stages of Automated Dental Identification system: These stages include segmentations, classification, labeling, and matching:;We modified the seam carving technique to adapt the problem of segmenting dental image records into individual teeth. We propose a two-stage teeth segmentation approach for segmenting the dental images. In the first stage, the teeth images are preprocessed by a two-step thresholding technique, which starts with …

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Skeletal Muscle Regeneration And The Role Of Sirtuin 1, Brian T. Bennett Jan 2013

Skeletal Muscle Regeneration And The Role Of Sirtuin 1, Brian T. Bennett

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The main objective of this master's thesis project was to elucidate the role of the deacetylase Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) in skeletal muscle regeneration. We developed two specific aims to accomplish this task, which involved separate studies in order to study the effects of Sirt1 in multiple models of regeneration. The results from these studies may potentially lead to the development of novel therapies to treat various clinical conditions which require muscle regeneration.;Specific aim 1 utilized resveratrol, a Sirt1 activator, as a supplement to improve muscle regeneration following a period of disuse in aged animals. Aged Fisher 344 x Brown Norway …

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Occupational Risk Factors In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Bent C. Doney Jan 2013

Occupational Risk Factors In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Bent C. Doney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes increased disability and mortality in the U.S. population. Approximately 15% of cases of COPD can be attributed to occupational exposure. There are gaps in the knowledge of the relationships between occupational exposure and COPD and further investigation can provide information helpful in improving COPD preventive strategies in the workplace. The objective of this project was to assess COPD prevalence in population based studies and characterize the relationship between COPD and occupational exposure.;Methods/Results: Three separate U.S. population-based cross-sectional studies of COPD were conducted. In the first study, a COPD job exposure matrix (JEM) was …

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Effectiveness Of A Theory Based Comprehensive Sexual Education Program At A Baltimore City High School, Darlene Hinds Jan 2013

Effectiveness Of A Theory Based Comprehensive Sexual Education Program At A Baltimore City High School, Darlene Hinds

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background Sexual activity among adolescents can have lifelong consequences including teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS), reported 13.8% of high school students grades 9-12 admitted to having intercourse with four or more people and 34.2% report being sexually active (CDC, 2010b). Baltimore City has disproportionately high rates related to teen pregnancy, chlamydia and gonorrhea when compared to national statistics. In 2006, the rate of teen births among girls ages 15-19 in Baltimore City was 66.4 per 1,000, compared to Maryland's teen birth rate of 34.4 per 1,000 (Maryland Department of Health and Mental …

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Microfluidic Impedance-Metric Biosensor For Monitoring Carbon Nanotube-Induced Epithelial Permeability, Zhouchun Huang Jan 2013

Microfluidic Impedance-Metric Biosensor For Monitoring Carbon Nanotube-Induced Epithelial Permeability, Zhouchun Huang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Carbon nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs) gain increasing interest in commercial and biomedical applications. Adverse health effects of engineered CNTs may result from either direct exposure during production, inadvertent exposure during use of by-products, and/or release of these materials into the environment. Recent studies have shown that CNTs can induce cytotoxicity, apoptosis, DNA damage, and tumor formation in animals, suggesting their potential toxicity in humans. To address the current needs in developing in vitro cell assays for assessment of the adverse health effects of CNTs in lung respiratory, we have developed a microfluidic impedance-metric biosensor for investigation of multi-walled CNTs …

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A Study Of Determinants Of Coping In Childhood Cancer Survivors, Lea Helene Mallett Jan 2013

A Study Of Determinants Of Coping In Childhood Cancer Survivors, Lea Helene Mallett

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this research were to (1) determine the association between time since the completion of cancer treatment and the type of stressor (cancer-related versus non-cancer-related) identified; (2) determine whether the stressor identified (cancer-related or non-cancer-related) and strategies utilized to cope with that stressor change over time; (3) determine whether type of cancer and treatment are associated with specific coping strategies, and (4) determine if family characteristics (household structure, median household income, and presence of siblings) impact the endorsement and efficacy of coping strategies utilized to cope with a stressor.;BACKGROUND: Cancer alters children's lives in many ways, beginning …

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Characterization Of The Unique Flagellar Hook Structure Of The Spirochetes Borrelia Burgdorferi And Treponema Denticola, Kelly Ann Heintzelman Miller Jan 2013

Characterization Of The Unique Flagellar Hook Structure Of The Spirochetes Borrelia Burgdorferi And Treponema Denticola, Kelly Ann Heintzelman Miller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The long-term goal of this project is to better understand Borrelia burgdorferi and Treponema denticola motility as it relates to pathogenesis. The structure of the spirochete periplasmic flagella is unique when compared to externally located flagella. One unusual characteristic is the flagellar hook, which serves as a universal joint coupling rotation of the membrane bound motor complex to the flagellar filament. The hook is composed of approximately 120 FlgE monomers, and in bacteria with externally located flagella, these structures readily disassociate into monomers (~50 kDa) when treated with heat and detergent. However, in spirochetes the FlgE monomers form a large …

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Performance Enhancement Of Automatic Generation Control By Developing A Detailed Load Frequency Control Model And An Adaptive Performance Index Criterion, Kaveh Rahimi Jan 2013

Performance Enhancement Of Automatic Generation Control By Developing A Detailed Load Frequency Control Model And An Adaptive Performance Index Criterion, Kaveh Rahimi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The imbalance between electrical loads and power supplied by the system generators causes the frequency deviations in a power system. Maintaining the frequency close to its nominal value as well as in its allowed deviation range is the first objective of the automatic generation control (AGC). Nowadays, in interconnected power systems, several control areas are connected to each other by tie-lines and power is transferred between control areas based on a specific schedule. The second objective of automatic generation control is to keep the tie-lines power flow close to their secluded values.;An accurate and realistic load frequency control (LFC) model …

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