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The Association Between Aggressive Behaviors And Academic Self-Esteem Of Preschool Children, Chrische' Marie Walker Dec 2006

The Association Between Aggressive Behaviors And Academic Self-Esteem Of Preschool Children, Chrische' Marie Walker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The intent of this study was to investigate the association between preschooler's aggressiveness behavior and their academic self-esteem in the classrooms. The participants in this study consisted of 63 preschoolers who attended the West Virginia University Laboratory Nursery School or the Pierpont Christian Preschool during the school year of 2005-2006. The preschoolers were rated by their teachers at each school on their student initiative, social attraction, success/failure, social attraction, self-confidence on the Behavioral Academic Self-Esteem Scale (BASE) and their aggressiveness with peers on the Child Behavior Scale (CBS).;Results of the study indicated that the preschooler's academic self-esteem and aggressive behaviors …

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A Socioeconomic And Spatial Analysis Of Obesity In West Virginia: Policy Implications, Anura Kumara Amarasinghe Dec 2006

A Socioeconomic And Spatial Analysis Of Obesity In West Virginia: Policy Implications, Anura Kumara Amarasinghe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation integrates both theoretical and empirical insights to facilitate understanding of the current obesity epidemic in WV given heterogeneity in socioeconomic, demographic and built environment characteristics of the state. In meeting this objective, county-level and individual-level health demand analyses using secondary data sources were conducted. County-level obesity differences were studied using spatial and non-spatial random and fixed effects frameworks under a panel data structure. Individual health demand was investigated by recursive estimation of individual health responses to ordered self-assessed health (SAH) in terms of lifestyle choices, socioeconomic, demographic and built environment characteristics using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) …

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Child Distress During Immunization: The Influence Of Child And Parent Individual Difference Variables, Melissa Demore Dec 2006

Child Distress During Immunization: The Influence Of Child And Parent Individual Difference Variables, Melissa Demore

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Routine childhood immunization injections result child distress, which may have lasting negative effects on children, parents, and staff, and impact adherence to schedules of immunization. Aims of the current study were to (a) examine the role of child and parent individual difference variables in relation to child immunization distress, and (b) determine whether child distress predicts future immunization schedule adherence.;Parents of 50 children (aged 12--18 months) attending a visit to a pediatric medical clinic for purposes of immunization completed measures of child temperament, parent psychopathology, immunization beliefs, and prior medical distress of the child. Child distress during the immunization injection …

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The Effects Of Age, Instructions, And Problem Content On Everyday Problem -Solving Outcome Using Two Scoring Procedures, Tara L. Neely Dec 2006

The Effects Of Age, Instructions, And Problem Content On Everyday Problem -Solving Outcome Using Two Scoring Procedures, Tara L. Neely

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Prior literature has relied on varied methodology to infer conclusions about adult problem solvers; possibly leading to erroneous assumptions about everyday problem-solving performance in adulthood. The present study examined everyday problem-solving performance of 133 younger, middle-aged, and older adults. The goal of the study was to investigate whether different scoring procedures (number vs. strategy type) or participant instructions (self target vs. others target) affected how adults performed on two types of open-ended problem-solving vignettes (home vs. friend problem domains). Differential age patterns were found when comparing the number and types of strategies reported. When assessing total number of solutions generated, …

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The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway In Aged Skeletal Muscle: Roles Of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha And Interleukin-15, Emidio E. Pistilli Dec 2006

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway In Aged Skeletal Muscle: Roles Of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha And Interleukin-15, Emidio E. Pistilli

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Apoptosis is implicated in the loss of skeletal muscle mass following periods of reduced activity (i.e.-disuse) as well as during the normal aging process (i.e.-sarcopenia). Aging is also characterized by elevations in circulating cytokines, specifically TNF-alpha, which has been associated with the sarcopenic process. The specific signaling components that participate in the pro-apoptotic pathway downstream of the type I TNF receptor (i.e.-extrinsic apoptotic pathway) within skeletal muscle have not been clarified. Additionally, few studies have been performed with the aim of disrupting this apoptotic pathway, and thereby sparing muscle mass in the aged. Therefore, the purposes of this dissertation were …

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Sexual Objectification, Self-Objectification, Self-Efficacy, And Female Identity Development: A Preliminary Study, Kathleen Reilly Coffers Dec 2006

Sexual Objectification, Self-Objectification, Self-Efficacy, And Female Identity Development: A Preliminary Study, Kathleen Reilly Coffers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sexual and self-objectification, self-efficacy and identity status were investigated using data collected from undergraduate and graduate classes from West Virginia University. Subjects were 267 females, ages 18--23. The four variables were measured as follows: (a) Cultural Sexual Objectification Questionnaire, (b) Self-Objectification Questionnaire, (c) Self-Efficacy Scale and (d) Extended Version of the Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status. Cronbach's Alphas were performed on all measures with good to adequate reliabilities (.69 through .89), with the exception of the identity diffusion subscale which resulted in marginal reliability (.57). Chi-square analyses performed for sexual and self-objectification in each of the four identity statuses …

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Differential Binding Of Hnrnp K, L And A2/B1 To An Exonic Splicing Silencer Element Located Within Exon 12 Of Glucose -6 -Phosphate Dehydrogenase Mrna, Brian Nelson Griffith Dec 2006

Differential Binding Of Hnrnp K, L And A2/B1 To An Exonic Splicing Silencer Element Located Within Exon 12 Of Glucose -6 -Phosphate Dehydrogenase Mrna, Brian Nelson Griffith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The expression of most lipogenic enzymes is regulated through the effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids on transcription. However, we have observed that the regulation of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) by polyunsaturated fatty acids occurs through a novel posttranscriptional mechanism. RNA reporter assays were used to map the cis-acting element by measuring the regulation of each RNA reporter construct transfected into primary rat hepatocytes. All RNA reporter constructs were regulated by polyunsaturated fatty acids with the exception of RNA reporter constructs lacking exon 12. Therefore, polyunsaturated fatty acids regulate the constitutive splicing of G6PD mRNA through a cis-acting element located within …

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Comparison Of The Obturation Density Of Gutta Percha Using Cold Lateral Condensation And Varying Continuous Wave Of Condensation Techniques, Jamie Michelle Day Aug 2006

Comparison Of The Obturation Density Of Gutta Percha Using Cold Lateral Condensation And Varying Continuous Wave Of Condensation Techniques, Jamie Michelle Day

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study compared the density of gutta percha when using cold lateral condensation (CLC) and continuous wave of condensation (CWC) under varying temperature and plugger depths. Seventy acrylic blocks were instrumented. The blocks were weighed and assigned to seven groups. Group 1 was obturated with CLC. The remaining six groups were obturated with CWC. Groups 2-4 were obturated by advancing the plugger to 3 mm short of the working length at 100°C, 200°C, and 300°C, respectively, and then backfilled. In groups 5-7 the plugger was advanced to 5 mm short of working length. The blocks were weighed again after obturation. …

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To What Extent Does Personal Relevance Impact Behavior After Attending A Laboratory Safety Training Session?, Sandra E. Fouch Aug 2006

To What Extent Does Personal Relevance Impact Behavior After Attending A Laboratory Safety Training Session?, Sandra E. Fouch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Each year in the United States, millions of dollars are spent to educate adults. Therefore, there has been a flurry of interest in answering the question, ''How do adults learn?'' There are different answers and therefore, different theories. The method selected for this study incorporated Andragogic learning into the laboratory safety training at Carnegie Mellon University. This design involved a number of features that recognized the essential maturity of the learner.;The training was developed to present the Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Waste Trainings at Carnegie Mellon University. The new training provided additional discussion points to allow the adults to interact …

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Measuring Chemotaxis In Borrelia Burgdorferi The Lyme Disease Spirochete, Richard Gerrit Bakker Aug 2006

Measuring Chemotaxis In Borrelia Burgdorferi The Lyme Disease Spirochete, Richard Gerrit Bakker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Borrelia burgdorferi is the spirochete causative agent of Lyme disease. The chemotaxis and motility systems of these bacteria are far less well described than that of Escherichia coli or Salmonella enterica. This dissertation explores the role of the CheA proteins in the chemotactic response and describes the first defined attractants for B. burgdorferi.;In order to test hypotheses, we developed or optimized three protocols. To characterize the motion of cells, two motion tracking systems were optimized. The Hobson BacTracker allowed for tracking cell motions in real time. This hardware/software chimera, while powerful for the specific application, utilizes a cumbersome interface. Therefore, …

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Establishing A Historic Benchmark For Rimrock Pine Communities At New River Gorge National River, West Virginia, Richard Stockton Maxwell Aug 2006

Establishing A Historic Benchmark For Rimrock Pine Communities At New River Gorge National River, West Virginia, Richard Stockton Maxwell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The structure and composition of a rimrock pine community was studied in the New River Gorge National River, West Virginia. A forest survey found that the overstory was dominated by Pinus virginiana, Nyssa sylvatica, Oxydendrum arboreum, Acer rubrum, and Quercus spp. The importance of Pinus virginiana decreased rapidly with increasing distance from the cliff edge and was replaced by hardwood competitors. Regeneration of Pinus virginiana (∼4,200 stems/ha) was deemed inadequate to sustain a pine forest except on the harshest sites near the cliff edge. A 108-year (1897-2005) fire chronology was constructed from 51 fire scars recorded by 23 pines along …

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Characterization Of Laboratory Simulated Road Paving-Like Asphalt By High Performance Liquid Chromatography And Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Brandon F. Law Aug 2006

Characterization Of Laboratory Simulated Road Paving-Like Asphalt By High Performance Liquid Chromatography And Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Brandon F. Law

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Prolonged, extensive exposure to asphalt fume has been associated with several adverse health effects. Inhaled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from asphalt fume exposure are of concern. The objective of this study was to characterize both qualitative and quantitative differences between fumes generated at 150°C and 180°C using a well controlled laboratory road paving fume generation system. Fumes were characterized by (1) total vapor and particulate concentration, (2) simulated boiling point profile and (3) specific PAH content. The mean concentrations of the vapor fractions generated at 180°C and 150°C were 23.3 mg/m3 and 11.2 mg/m3, respectively, demonstrating a statistically significant increase …

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Filter Weighing Procedure For 2007 And Newer Heavy Duty Diesel Engines, Eric Taylor Aug 2006

Filter Weighing Procedure For 2007 And Newer Heavy Duty Diesel Engines, Eric Taylor

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The 2007 heavy-duty on road diesel engine particulate matter standards will require that the particulate matter (PM) levels being emitted from the exhaust will be less than 0.01 g/bhp-hr. This ten-fold decrease in the existing regulations created the need for changes in the PM filter-weighing environment and procedures. The Code of Federal Regulations Title 40, Part 86 Subpart N (40 CFR 86) has stated that a weighing environment must meet Federal Standard 209E class 1000 classification. This regulation required a new cleanroom facility in the West Virginia University Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions laboratories.;Weighing procedures were determined by …

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Soil Microbial Communities From The Alimentary Canal Of The Earthworm Lumbricus Terrestris (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae), Joshua A. Chapman Aug 2006

Soil Microbial Communities From The Alimentary Canal Of The Earthworm Lumbricus Terrestris (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae), Joshua A. Chapman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The effect of earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) activity on microbial community composition was investigated in a silt loam soil. Fingerprints were constructed using PCR amplicons of bacterial 16S rDNA separated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Analysis of similarity established that significant differences existed between community fingerprints. Differences were explored using non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS) and unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). Microbial communities of earthworm casts separated from soil treatments for both CD DGGE and CI DGGE profiles. Cast communities were determined by the worm's food source. Soils with earthworms and manure separated from all other soil treatments. Major trends …

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Optical-Based Atr Algorithms For Applications In Swarmed Uavs, Vasavi Rangammagari Aug 2006

Optical-Based Atr Algorithms For Applications In Swarmed Uavs, Vasavi Rangammagari

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Swarmed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) technology are becoming an important element of electronic warfare. The advantages of UAVs over piloted vehicles have increased the need to develop robust and reliable ATR algorithms. Various issues like changing weather, camouflage, low contrast and resolution, clutter, inadequate databases place a limit on the performance capabilities of a typical ATR algorithm. In an effort to deal with these issues, a correlation-based algorithm is proposed in this thesis. This algorithm calculates the correlation between the input image and a target template which is created by projecting a 3-D model from …

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Aluminum Resistance Of Mycorrhizal Plants, Katrina R. Klugh Aug 2006

Aluminum Resistance Of Mycorrhizal Plants, Katrina R. Klugh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Aluminum (Al) in acidic soils is toxic to plants, affecting growth, water uptake, and nutrient assimilation. Aluminum resistance of plants has been ascribed to organic acid exudation from roots and changes in plant physiology resulting from the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal symbiosis. This dissertation describes four studies that address questions regarding Al resistance of mycorrhizal plants.;In chapter 2, Liriodendron tulipifera, a common tree species in northeastern U.S. forests, was inoculated with several species of AM fungi and exposed to Al. Biomass and plant nutritional data showed that the AM species Glomus clarum conferred the most benefit to plant hosts. Organic …

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Proton Coupled Electron Transfer Kinetics Of Redox Centers Attached To Self -Assembled Monolayers On Electrodes, Nicholas Madhiri Aug 2006

Proton Coupled Electron Transfer Kinetics Of Redox Centers Attached To Self -Assembled Monolayers On Electrodes, Nicholas Madhiri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions play an important role in many biochemical systems and have been focus of great interest recently. These reactions can be represented by a general equation: Ox + ne - + hH+ ↔ Red.;Traditionally, these reactions have been studied by applying predictions from the stepwise model developed by E. Laviron in the early 1980s. This model is based upon treating the proton transfer step and electron transfer step as discrete steps. Proton transfer is assumed to be at equilibrium under all conditions. However, there is also evidence suggesting a concerted mechanism in which the electron and …

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Effects Of Pesticide Exposure On The Humoral Immune Response Following Streptococcus Pneumoniae Vaccination, Keith Douglas Salazar Aug 2006

Effects Of Pesticide Exposure On The Humoral Immune Response Following Streptococcus Pneumoniae Vaccination, Keith Douglas Salazar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As pesticide use rises in the US annually, the need for extensive characterization of the risks associated with these substances also increases. Herbicides represent the most frequently used type of pesticides. 3,4-dichloropropionanilide (propanil) and 2,4-dicholorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) are two of the most commonly used herbicides. These experiments evaluated the effects of propanil and 2,4-D on the humoral immune response in C57BL/6 mice following heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae (HKSP) immunization. Intraperitoneal exposure of 150 mg/kg propanil on the same day as HKSP immunization enhances the splenic T-independent type 2 antibody response to phosphorylcholine (PC) antigen 4-6-fold. Maximal PC enhancement occurs 7 days …

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Analysis Of The Mechanisms Mediating The Regulation Of Acetyl -Coa Carboxylase Transcription By The Liver X Receptor And Chenodeoxycholic Acid, Saswata Talukdar Aug 2006

Analysis Of The Mechanisms Mediating The Regulation Of Acetyl -Coa Carboxylase Transcription By The Liver X Receptor And Chenodeoxycholic Acid, Saswata Talukdar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Agonists of the liver X receptor (LXR) prevent and decrease arterial plaque formation in experimental models of atherosclerosis. The anti-atherosclerotic effects of LXR agonists are mediated by an increase in expression of genes involved in cholesterol export. Currently, the therapeutic utility of LXR agonists is limited by the fact that these agents increase triglyceride levels in the blood and liver. These undesired effects are caused by an increase in transcription of genes controlling triglyceride synthesis, such as acetyl CoA carboxylasealpha (ACCalpha). We have demonstrated that a synthetic LXR agonist, T0-901317 increases ACCalpha via both a direct mechanism involving the activation …

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Efficacy Of In-Home Parent -Child Interaction Therapy, Lisa M. Ware Aug 2006

Efficacy Of In-Home Parent -Child Interaction Therapy, Lisa M. Ware

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In recent years, there has been much discussion of the efficacy and effectiveness of mental health interventions for children as well as the transportation of empirically-supported treatments (ESTs) to field settings. While there have been efforts to improve dissemination of ESTs, little research has examined the efficacy of treatments in settings other than the traditional clinic. A logical initial step in this line of research is to examine whether the efficacy of ESTs can be demonstrated in community settings such as in the home environment. There are many hypothesized benefits to providing services in the home setting. Based on the …

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Gender-Role Development In Toddlers: The Association Between Parental Gender-Role Orientation And Toddler's Gender-Typed Behavior, Jennifer K. Hartley Aug 2006

Gender-Role Development In Toddlers: The Association Between Parental Gender-Role Orientation And Toddler's Gender-Typed Behavior, Jennifer K. Hartley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Associations between the gender-role orientation of parents and the toy-play behavior of first-born infants were investigated. Fifteen fathers ( M age = 31.13, SD = 4.26) and 46 mothers ( M age = 28.13, SD = 4.97) completed self-administered questionnaires which included questions on feedback to play with gender-typed toys. ANOVA results indicated that mothers provided more masculine-typed toys for their sons than their daughters, and more feminine-typed toys for their daughters than their sons; fathers provided more feminine-typed toys for their daughters than their sons. In addition, mothers provided more encouragement to same-gender-typed play than cross-gender-typed play for both …

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The Effect Of A Diet Supplemented With Flaxseed Oil On The Lipid Content And Fatty Acid Profile Of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) Muscle Tissue, Jason P. Nguyen Aug 2006

The Effect Of A Diet Supplemented With Flaxseed Oil On The Lipid Content And Fatty Acid Profile Of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) Muscle Tissue, Jason P. Nguyen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This experiment examined the effect of nine diets supplemented with varied combinations of flaxseed oil and vitamin E on the total lipid content and fatty acid profile of rainbow trout over four months. Mean values were tested for significant differences between groups using one-way analyses of variance.;The most flaxseed oil supplementation, 23.5%, resulted in the highest concentration of total omega-3 fat in fillets (P<0.05). This was due to the increased (P<0.05) concentration of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The 23.5% flaxseed oil trout had the lowest (P<0.05) proportion of saturated fatty acids and the highest amount of total unsaturated fatty acid. Unexpectedly, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contents significantly decreased as the experiment progressed. No significant differences were seen among total fat contents. The results indicate that feeding a diet supplemented with flaxseed oil and vitamin E produces omega-3 enhanced trout with higher ALA but lower EPA and DHA.

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Development Of Microfluidic Devices For Proteomics, Trust T. Razunguzwa Aug 2006

Development Of Microfluidic Devices For Proteomics, Trust T. Razunguzwa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

We have developed functional components for a comprehensive microfluidic system for proteomic analyses. This dissertation presents development of an electroomsotic pump for delivery of fluids to other microfluidic channels, a hydrodynamic flow restrictor for combining electrokinetic and hydrodynamic flow on a microfluidic chip-ESI-MS interface, and surface coatings to prevent analyte adsorption to microfluidic channels. A microfluidic chip ESI-MS interface with a novel voltage switching component is also developed for the separation of negative analytes at high pH, with positive ion mode ESI-MS detection of the analyte, converted to positive ions via a make-up solution induced pH change.

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Machine Vision Applications In Uavs For Autonomous Aerial Refueling And Runway Detection, Larry W. Rowe Ii Aug 2006

Machine Vision Applications In Uavs For Autonomous Aerial Refueling And Runway Detection, Larry W. Rowe Ii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research focuses on the application of Machine Vision (MV) techniques and algorithms to the problems of Autonomous Aerial Refueling (AAR) and Runway Detection. In particular, real laboratory based hardware was used in a simulated environment to emulate real-life conditions for AAR. It was shown that the K-Means Clustering Algorithm solution to the Marker Detection problem could be executed at a frame rate of 30 Hz and it averaged a tracking error of less than one pixel while utilizing only 0.16% of the image. It was also shown that the solution to the Runway Detection problem could be executed at …

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The Role Of Pi3k/Akt/Tsc/P70s6k1 Pathway In Tumor Growth And Angiogenesis, Qiao Meng Aug 2006

The Role Of Pi3k/Akt/Tsc/P70s6k1 Pathway In Tumor Growth And Angiogenesis, Qiao Meng

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

PI3K/AKT pathway plays an important role in tumor progression and angiogenesis. To determine the specific role of PI3K isoform p110alpha in ovarian cancer, we designed small interfering RNA (siRNA) against p110alpha. The expression of p110alpha siRNA significantly decreased cell migration, invasion, and proliferation. AKT has three different isoforms: AKT1, AKT2 and AKT3. We found that downregulation of AKT1 is sufficient to inhibit cell migration, invasion, and proliferation in ovarian cancer cells. The activation of p70S6K1 was decreased in both p110alpha and AKT1 siRNA-expressing cells. Inhibition of p70S6K1 activity also decreased cell migration, invasion, and proliferation.;The tuberous sclerosis complex-2 (TSC2) lies …

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Modeling Operating System Crash Behavior Through Multifractal Analysis, Long Range Dependence And Mining Of Memory Usage Patterns, Vijai Gandikota May 2006

Modeling Operating System Crash Behavior Through Multifractal Analysis, Long Range Dependence And Mining Of Memory Usage Patterns, Vijai Gandikota

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Software Aging is a phenomenon where the state of the operating systems degrades over a period of time due to transient errors. These transient errors can result in resource exhaustion and operating system hangups or crashes.;Three different techniques from fractal geometry are studied using the same datasets for operating system crash modeling and prediction. Holder Exponent is an indicator of how chaotic a signal is. M5 Prime is a nominal classification algorithm that allows prediction of a numerical quantity such as time to crash based on current and previous data. Hurst exponent measures the self similarity and long range dependence …

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Dewatering Of Fine Coal Slurries By Selective Heating With Microwaves, Aashish Kalra May 2006

Dewatering Of Fine Coal Slurries By Selective Heating With Microwaves, Aashish Kalra

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Since water is used extensively in coal preparation and cleaning, dewatering of coals is required prior to shipment to power plants. However, finer fractions of coals are difficult to dewater and consequently these fractions are stored in settling ponds, causing environmental problems and loss of a large fraction of coals. Thermal drying of coals is not an efficient process since hot air heats both coal and water. Mechanical processes for dewatering fine coal slurries have a limit for dewatering coal. Consequently, dewatering using selective heating by conventional microwaves at 2.45 GHz and IR heating at 10 14 Hz was undertaken …

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Models For Calculating Confidence Intervals For Neural Networks, Ashutosh R. Nandeshwar May 2006

Models For Calculating Confidence Intervals For Neural Networks, Ashutosh R. Nandeshwar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research focused on coding and analyzing existing models to calculate confidence intervals on the results of neural networks. The three techniques for determining confidence intervals determination were the non-linear regression, the bootstrapping estimation, and the maximum likelihood estimation. Confidence intervals for non-linear regression, bootstrap estimation, and maximum likelihood were coded in Visual Basic. The neural network used the backpropagation algorithm with an input layer, one hidden layer and an output layer with one unit. The hidden layer had a logistic or binary sigmoidal activation function and the output layer had a linear activation function. These techniques were tested on …

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Workforce Competencies And Work -Based Learning In Maryland Community College Nursing Programs, Richard F. Ammon May 2006

Workforce Competencies And Work -Based Learning In Maryland Community College Nursing Programs, Richard F. Ammon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study assessed whether Maryland community college students who participated in the first semester of a nursing work-based learning clinical experience during the fall 2004 semester perceived that they developed basic workplace competencies necessary to work effectively in the workplace. The total population of the study consisted of 264 nursing students from eight Maryland Community Colleges. The research questions guiding this study were answered using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and an analysis of variance (ANOVA).;Major findings indicated that contrary to the hypothesis of the study, instead of showing a gain in competency scores, eight of nine workplace competencies decreased and three …

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Colorectal Cancer: Cost-Effectiveness Of Screening And Chemoprevention In Average Risk Males, Jarrett W. Coffindaffer May 2006

Colorectal Cancer: Cost-Effectiveness Of Screening And Chemoprevention In Average Risk Males, Jarrett W. Coffindaffer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study is an economic evaluation of currently recommended colorectal cancer (CRC) screening procedures, and strategies that incorporate chemopreventive options such as aspirin or a cycooxygenase-2 inhibitor. A decision analysis model was constructed to compare alternative CRC screening strategies. A Markov model was employed to simulate the natural history of CRC. Quality adjusted life years were used as the primary outcome measure. The base case analysis represents the overall cost and effectiveness associated with each screening strategy. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated for each screening strategy. One-way sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the factors that have the greatest …

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