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Articles 11041 - 11070 of 14983
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Expression Of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Mrna As A Function Of Age In Whole Hippocampus Preparations From Wistar Rats, Kasey C. Welch
Expression Of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Mrna As A Function Of Age In Whole Hippocampus Preparations From Wistar Rats, Kasey C. Welch
Theses and Dissertations
Whole hippocampus preparations, isolated bilaterally, from untreated Wistar rats at various ages (10-90 days old) were analyzed for the mRNA expression of the alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, alpha 7, beta 2, beta 3, and beta 4 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits. To do so, RNA was isolated from acutely isolated hippocampal samples, converted to cDNA by means of a reverse transcription reaction, then analyzed with quantitative real-time PCR to determine the relative levels of the mRNAs the cells were expressing at the age when the samples were obtained. The relative expression of the levels of RNA …
Toward A New Perspective In Literary Criticism: Transgenerational Psychoanalysis And Anasemic Procedures, Gustav Arnold
Toward A New Perspective In Literary Criticism: Transgenerational Psychoanalysis And Anasemic Procedures, Gustav Arnold
Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation—Toward a New Perspective in Literary Criticism: Transgenerational Psychoanalysis and Anasemic Procedures"—is a contribution to literary criticism. It offers a new perspective in psychoanalytical criticism on how characters in literary narratives can be interpreted. By examining key concepts in psychoanalysis, which have been used in the humanities for decades, the present inquiry draws on transgenerational psychology, as elaborated by German and French theorists, and anasemic interpretations generated by M. Torok and N. Abraham's psychoanalytical approach. Based on the assumption that a character's psychic life is determined by factors that cannot be confined to intrapsychic processes alone, the transgenerational perspective …
Altered Signaling By Fibronectin Fragments Creates A Potent Chondrolytic State, Lei Ding
Altered Signaling By Fibronectin Fragments Creates A Potent Chondrolytic State, Lei Ding
Theses and Dissertations
It has been shown that fibronectin fragments (Fn-fs) greatly augment cartilage proteoglycan (PG) depletion by up-regulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and catabolic cytokines. The activities of three different Fn-fs have been studied: an amino terminal 29-kDa which is most potent with a weak affinity to the α5β1, integrin, the receptor for native fibronetin (Fn); a 50-kDa gelatin-binding Fn-f with no known interaction with Fn receptor; and a 140-kDa Fn-f which is the least potent and has a RGDS sequence which can bind to the α5β1 integrin. Confocal studies showed that Fn-fs caused diffusion of α5β 1 integrin clusters which were seen …
Regulation Of Pro-Inflammatory Responses By Ligands Of The Nuclear Receptor Pparγ, Andrew P. Woster
Regulation Of Pro-Inflammatory Responses By Ligands Of The Nuclear Receptor Pparγ, Andrew P. Woster
Theses and Dissertations
Inflammation-related neurotoxicity is evident in a number of different models neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, Multiple Sclerosis, and HIV-associated dementia. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists inhibit a number of select pro-inflammatory changes in models of CNS and systemic inflammation. Recent reports suggest that these anti-inflammatory effects are due to mechanisms other than canonical nuclear receptor-mediated transcriptional alteration. Results reported here demonstrate that rosiglitazone, a PPARγ-activating thiazolidinedione, decreases tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) secretion in both primary microglia and the monocytic cell line, THP-1. Cells were pretreated with various PPARγ ligands, including rosiglitazone, prior to stimulation with lipopolysaccharide …
Light Induced Changes In The Photoreceptor Outer Segments, Vikram Palamalai
Light Induced Changes In The Photoreceptor Outer Segments, Vikram Palamalai
Theses and Dissertations
Light induced retinal degeneration in animals has been used to study human retinal degenerative disorders. Apoptosis is the final common pathway for photoreceptor degeneration in both the experimental model and human disease but the mechanism is unknown. Oxidative stress plays a role because antioxidants have been shown to be protective against experimental degeneration. Inhibitors of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) are also protective suggesting a role for nitric oxide. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) a key enzyme in glycolysis was identified as one of the proteins undergoing significant nitration in our studies on light induced retinal degeneration. This study focuses on the changes …
Effects Of Predation Risk, Density And Disease On Energy Efficiency In A Larval Anuran, Sarah Crane
Effects Of Predation Risk, Density And Disease On Energy Efficiency In A Larval Anuran, Sarah Crane
Theses and Dissertations
Predation, density and disease affect behavior, morphology and growth. There is a lack of information on how these changes relate to efficiency of energy transfer in anuran larvae, although previous studies suggest that predation should decrease and competition should increase efficiency. Using a 2 x 2 factorial design, we manipulated predation presence and larval density to test how predation risk and density affect energy efficiency. During the experiment, approximately half of the tadpoles were infected by an unknown disease. Neither predation risk nor density affected assimilation or growth efficiency, despite changes in growth and development. Disease, however, decreased gut length …
Biological Functions Of The Novel Lysophosphatidic Acid (Lpa) Receptor, Lpa4/P2y9/Gpr23, Peilun Lee
Biological Functions Of The Novel Lysophosphatidic Acid (Lpa) Receptor, Lpa4/P2y9/Gpr23, Peilun Lee
Theses and Dissertations
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a naturally occurring phospholipid present in serum and malignant effusions, elicits diverse biological functions through binding and activating specific cell surface G-protein coupled receptors. In addition to the conventional LPA1/Edg2, LPA2/Edg4 and LPA3/Edg7 receptors of the endothelial differentiation gene (Edg) family, LPA4/p2y9/GPR23 of the purinergic receptor family and the related LPA5/GPR92 and LPA6/p2y5 have been identified as novel LPA receptors. These newly identified LPA receptors are structurally distant from the Edg LPA1-3 receptors and couple to Gq, G12/13 and probably Gs subunits. However, the roles of the LPA4-6 receptors in LPA signal transduction and physiology are poorly …
Designing Non-Saccharide Heparin/Heparan Sulfate Mimics, Arjun Raghuraman
Designing Non-Saccharide Heparin/Heparan Sulfate Mimics, Arjun Raghuraman
Theses and Dissertations
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are complex biopolymers that play important roles in inflammation, coagulation, angiogenesis, cell adhesion and viral invasion by interacting with several different proteins.1,2 Structurally, GAGs are built up of several different sulfated disaccharide units.3 Specific GAG sequences that uniquely recognize their cognate proteins exist. Such specificity typically arises from the binding of unique sulfation patterns on the linear GAG chain to highly electropositive protein domains. Thus, these highly charged, sulfated biopolymers potentially represent a new class of therapeutics. Yet, the major stumbling block to the development to these agents is their extremely complicated and tedious chemical synthesis. We hypothesized …
Tightly Integrating Optical And Inertial Sensors For Navigation Using The Ukf, Sedat Ebcin
Tightly Integrating Optical And Inertial Sensors For Navigation Using The Ukf, Sedat Ebcin
Theses and Dissertations
The motivation of this research is to address the benefits of tightly integrating optical and inertial sensors where GNSS signals are not available. The research begins with describing the navigation problem. Then, error and measurement models are presented. Given a set of features, a feature detection and projection algorithm is developed which utilizes inertial measurements to predict vectors in the feature space between images. The unscented Kalman filter is applied to the navigation system using the inertial measurements and feature matches to estimate the navigation trajectory. Finally, the image-aided navigation algorithm is tested using a simulation and an experiment. As …
Nano-Mechanical Properties Of Heat Inactivated Bacillus Anthracis And Bacillus Thuringiensis Spores, Jessica L. Poindexter
Nano-Mechanical Properties Of Heat Inactivated Bacillus Anthracis And Bacillus Thuringiensis Spores, Jessica L. Poindexter
Theses and Dissertations
B. thuringiensis spores must have similar properties to B. anthracis spores to be a good simulant in counter-proliferation studies. In particular, they must behave in a similar way when exposed to high temperatures for short periods of time as would be caused by an explosion. This research project compares surface elasticities for four different spore sample types, B. anthracis spores, heat inactivated B. anthracis spores, B. thuringiensis spores, and heat inactivated B. thuringiensis spores. Heat inactivated spores were exposed to a temperature just high enough that no spores were observed to germinate. Elasticity values for the spore surfaces were determined …
Hidden Village (42sa2112): A Basket Maker Iii Community In Montezuma Canyon, Utah, Donald G. Montoya
Hidden Village (42sa2112): A Basket Maker Iii Community In Montezuma Canyon, Utah, Donald G. Montoya
Theses and Dissertations
ABSTRACT This thesis focuses on the Basketmaker III period of the Ancestral Puebloan culture commonly known as the Anasazi, which means ‘ancient stranger’ or ‘ancient enemy’ in the Navajo language, or as preferred by the Hopi; "Hisatsinom" for "The Ones Who Came Before." I use the terms Anasazi and Ancestral Puebloan interchangeably in this study. My particular focus concentrates on a Basketmaker III settlement (42Sa2112 – Hidden Village) in Montezuma Canyon in southeastern Utah. My thesis presents data and an interpretive hypothesis that village formation and complex social organization emerged earlier than most standard texts (Plog 1997) assume. Analysis of …
Cultic Niches In The Nabataean Landscape: A Study In The Orientation, Facade Ornamentation, Sanctuary Organization, And Function Of Nabataean Cultic Niches, Holly A. Raymond
Cultic Niches In The Nabataean Landscape: A Study In The Orientation, Facade Ornamentation, Sanctuary Organization, And Function Of Nabataean Cultic Niches, Holly A. Raymond
Theses and Dissertations
Niches are common features in the Nabataean landscape (Healey 2001; Starcky 1966: cols. 1008-10; Patrich 1990:50-113). From their frequent appearance in the archeological record, it is evident that the Nabataeans placed great importance on these cultic features. However, very little is known about them. The purpose of this study was to find and record Nabataean cultic niches in a field survey and then to interpret these niches as part of a research design that proposed purposes of niche variation in construction, orientation, and placement of niches on the landscape. My research addresses several neglected issues in the study of cultic …
Three Models Of Anthrax Toxin Effects On The Map-Kinase Pathway And Macrophage Survival, Daniel J. Schneider
Three Models Of Anthrax Toxin Effects On The Map-Kinase Pathway And Macrophage Survival, Daniel J. Schneider
Theses and Dissertations
Lethal factor (LF), a component of anthrax toxin, is the primary virulence factor that allows Bacillus anthracis to evade the immune response by blocking the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) enzymes. This research modifies three published MAPK models to reflect this signal inhibition and to estimate a first-order reaction rate by fitting the models to published viability data for two macrophage cell lines cultured with the LF-producing Bacillus anthracis-Vollum1B strain. One model appears to be ill-suited for this purpose because not all relevant MAPK components could be integrated into the inhibition equations. Despite different underlying parameters and values, the …
Micro-Etched Platforms For Thermal Inactivation Of Bacillus Anthracis And Bacillus Thuringiensis Spores, Leslie S. Hawkins
Micro-Etched Platforms For Thermal Inactivation Of Bacillus Anthracis And Bacillus Thuringiensis Spores, Leslie S. Hawkins
Theses and Dissertations
This research developed and applied microlithography techniques to etch microscope slide platforms in order to measure thermal inactivation of Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus anthracis spores, two closely related Bacillus species. B.t. is widely used as a surrogate for B.a. in response studies and in some field studies. This work addressed the previously identified problem of measuring both spore growth and spore thermal kill threshold using the traditional method of spreading a diluted spore solution on a plate. The micro-etched platforms forced spore separation thereby preventing neighbor growth from obscuring germination and initial vegetative growth measurements using a microscope. The technique …
The Maya Footprint: Soil Resources Of Chunchucmil, Yucatan, Mexico, Ryan V. Sweetwood
The Maya Footprint: Soil Resources Of Chunchucmil, Yucatan, Mexico, Ryan V. Sweetwood
Theses and Dissertations
Agricultural yields in Northwest Yucatán are constrained by climate, thin soils, and low fertility. Despite this, the ancient Maya city of Chunchucmil Yucatán, Mexico, boasted an immense, dense, and wealthy population during the Middle Classic period (ca A.D. 400-700). Soil physical and chemical properties were explored to determine how the ancient Maya of Chunchucmil fed themselves. Soil profiles were collected from various locations within ancient Chunchucmil's suspected sustaining area. The physical and chemical properties, carbon isotopes, black carbon, and coprostanols of soil profiles sampled were compared to ancient rural settlement and remotely sensed images, such as AIRSAR (airborne synthetic aperture …
The Effects Of A Resveratrol Derivative On Regulatory Behaviors And Reproductive Health In Male And Female Long-Evans Rats, Kimberly Michelle Fabick
The Effects Of A Resveratrol Derivative On Regulatory Behaviors And Reproductive Health In Male And Female Long-Evans Rats, Kimberly Michelle Fabick
Theses and Dissertations
Phytoestrogens are chemicals produced by plants that act like estrogens and have the ability to bind to the mammalian estrogen receptor system. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a new phytoestrogen analog called 4-acetoxy Resveratrol. Resveratrol is a phytoestrogen that has been found in the skin of grapes. Resveratrol has been shown to be able to bind to the estrogen receptors and has a similar molecular structure as estradiol. Resveratrol has been shown to have many positive health benefits such as improving cardiovascular health, serving as a neuroprotective agent, acting as an anti-inflammatory agent, working as an anti-cancer …
The Effects Of Deep Brain Stimulation On The Speech Of Patients With Parkinson's Disease, Erin Suzanne Bjarnason
The Effects Of Deep Brain Stimulation On The Speech Of Patients With Parkinson's Disease, Erin Suzanne Bjarnason
Theses and Dissertations
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has received more attention in recent years as a treatment option for regulating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Previous studies of DBS documented consistent improvements in motor function but more variability in speech outcomes. In the present study, six participants diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease who reported worsened speech with stimulation were recorded performing speech acoustic tasks with the stimulators on, and again with the stimulators off. Improvements were noted for most participants in measurements of formant slopes, long term average spectrum (LTAS) of a sustained vowel, and spirantization with stimulation …
The Effects Of Prenatally Administered Phytoestrogens On The Reproductive And Behavioral Development Of Long-Evans Rats, Crystal Blake
The Effects Of Prenatally Administered Phytoestrogens On The Reproductive And Behavioral Development Of Long-Evans Rats, Crystal Blake
Theses and Dissertations
Equol is known to be a selective androgen modulator and has the ability to bind and inhibit 5-alpha dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT). Equol is also a selective estrogen receptor modulator and is able to bind beta estrogen receptors with high affinity. As estrogen receptors are found in the hypothalamus, pituitary, and gonads, prenatally administered equol could affect the morphological and reproductive development of offspring. To test this hypothesis, during gestational days 14 to 20, forty-two pregnant Long-Evans rats were given one of six treatments: 1) no treatment, 2) injection with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 3) injection with 10 mg/kg equol, 4) injection with …
Biomimetic Micro Air Vehicle Testing Development And Small Scale Flapping-Wing Analysis, Craig E. Svanberg
Biomimetic Micro Air Vehicle Testing Development And Small Scale Flapping-Wing Analysis, Craig E. Svanberg
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research was to develop testing methods capable of analyzing the performance of a miniature flapping-wing mechanism that can later be adapted to a biomimetic micro air vehicle (MAV). Three small scale flapping mechanisms capable of single plane flapping, flapping with active pitch control, and flapping/pitch with out-of-plane movement were designed using SolidWorks. The flapping-only model was fabricated on an Objet Eden 500V 3-dimensional printer. The flapping mechanism was mounted on an aluminum plate supported by air bearings, and thrust was measured for a variety of conditions. The testing was conducted using wings composed of carbon fiber …
Transcendental Exchange: Alchemical Discourse In Romantic Philosophy And Literature, Elizabeth Olsen Brocious
Transcendental Exchange: Alchemical Discourse In Romantic Philosophy And Literature, Elizabeth Olsen Brocious
Theses and Dissertations
Alchemical imagery and ideology is present in many Romantic works of literature, but it has largely been overlooked by literary historians in their contextualization of the time period. The same can be said for mysticism in general, of which alchemy is a subset. This project accounts for alchemy in the works of transcendental philosophers and writers as it contributes to some of the most important conversations of the Romantic time period, particularly the reaction against empirical philosophy and the articulation of creative processes. The transcendental conversation is a transnational one, encompassing Germany, Britain, and America, with its use of alchemy …
Sugar Nine: A Creative Thesis, Emily L. Dyer
Sugar Nine: A Creative Thesis, Emily L. Dyer
Theses and Dissertations
This collection of short stories explores the different ways women tolerate violence in exchange for some form of validation. The narratives focus on women and the reverberations of small moments which carry violent mass. While the violence occasionally includes physical elements, the collection is more concerned with the ways women accept emotional and psychological violence—specifically from men. Themes, motifs and symbols from the Clytie-Helios myth are threaded throughout the collection as well as a concern for space and touch, art and the creation of art, silence and voice. All of these elements involve control as the women characters in these …
Evaluation Of The Applicability Of The Interactive Highway Safety Design Model To Safety Audit Of Two-Lane Rural Highways, Kaitlin Chuo
Evaluation Of The Applicability Of The Interactive Highway Safety Design Model To Safety Audit Of Two-Lane Rural Highways, Kaitlin Chuo
Theses and Dissertations
The Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM) is a suite of software developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for monitoring and analyzing two-lane rural highways in the United States. As IHSDM is a fairly "young" program a limited amount of research has been conducted to evaluate its practicability and reliability. To determine if IHSDM can be adopted into the engineering decision making process in Utah, a study was conducted under the supervision of the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to evaluate its applicability to audit safety of two-lane rural highways in Utah. IHSDM consists of six modules: Policy Review …
Error Sensor Strategies For Active Noise Control And Active Acoustic Equalization In A Free Field, Ryan T. Chester
Error Sensor Strategies For Active Noise Control And Active Acoustic Equalization In A Free Field, Ryan T. Chester
Theses and Dissertations
Several measurements may be used as error signals to determine how to appropriately control a sound field. These include pressure, particle velocity, energy density and intensity. In this thesis, numerical models are used to show which signals perform best in is free-field active noise control (ANC) using error sensors located in the near field of the sound sources. The second is equalization in a free field and a semi-free field. Minimized energy density total power output (MEDToPO) plots are developed; these indicate the maximum achievable attenuation for a chosen error sensor as a function of location. A global listening area …
Crew Exploration Vehicle (Cev) Skip Entry Trajectory, Emre Kaya
Crew Exploration Vehicle (Cev) Skip Entry Trajectory, Emre Kaya
Theses and Dissertations
This research effort develops a program using MATLAB® to solve the equations of motion for the atmospheric reentry of the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) which is assumed to be in the phase of a lunar return trajectory that could be initiated any time during the mission. The essential reason for this research is to find a solution for the problem of an unplanned lunar return in addition to the normal procedures. Unlike Apollo type missions, the CEV would still be able to land on any preplanned available landing sites without any additional delay. In Apollo type missions, the return phase …
An Analysis Of Groundwater Flow Patterns In A Constructed Treatment Wetland Cell, Rebecca S. Corbin
An Analysis Of Groundwater Flow Patterns In A Constructed Treatment Wetland Cell, Rebecca S. Corbin
Theses and Dissertations
This research effort analyzed groundwater flow paths within a treatment wetland constructed to degrade tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in groundwater. The treatment cell is a vertical flow wetland that allows the water to flow from the bottom to the surface breaking down PCE and daughter products. The method of conducting this research included collecting field data of hydraulic head contours nested piezometers and collecting data from sampling wells to determine hydraulic conductivities in the wetland. The field data was used to create a numerical computer model to determine groundwater flow patterns. The field data and the model demonstrate that there are areas …
In Vitro Toxicity And Inflammation Response Induced By Copper Nanoparticles In Rat Alveolar Macrophages, Brian M. Clarke
In Vitro Toxicity And Inflammation Response Induced By Copper Nanoparticles In Rat Alveolar Macrophages, Brian M. Clarke
Theses and Dissertations
Nanotechnology is a thriving industry and has the potential to benefit society in numerous ways. However, not all environmental and human health concerns of nanomaterials have been addressed. Thus, the purpose of this research was to investigate the toxicity and inflammation potential (using cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-6 as indicators) of various sized copper nanoparticles (40, 60, and 80 nm) in rat alveolar macrophages. Toxicity measurements were accomplished by means of in vitro techniques and toxicity mechanisms were studied by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In addition, cytokine measurements used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. Results show copper nanoparticles as …
A Hybrid Communications Network Simulation-Independent Toolkit, David M. Dines
A Hybrid Communications Network Simulation-Independent Toolkit, David M. Dines
Theses and Dissertations
Net-centric warfare requires information superiority to enable decision superiority, culminating in insurmountable combat power against our enemies on the battlefield. Information superiority must be attained and retained for success in today’s joint/coalition battlespace. To accomplish this goal, our combat networks must reliably, expediently and completely deliver over a wide range of mobile and fixed assets. Furthermore, each asset must be given special consideration for the sensitivity, priority and volume of information required by the mission. Evolving a grand design of the enabling network will require a flexible evaluation platform to try and select the right combination of network strategies and …
Microfluidic Power Generation, Aaron J. Sprecher
Microfluidic Power Generation, Aaron J. Sprecher
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis includes the detailed mathematical calculations used to determine the feasibility of harnessing electrical energy from the blood flow through human capillaries. The designs are inspired by human physiology and well established electromagnetic energy harvesting techniques and the fabrication methods have been proposed for the various components of the device. The fabrication and the design of these components have also been extensively analyzed using calculations based on the governing principles of microfluidics, kinetics, and electromagnetics. The analysis has confirmed that this design can produce sufficient energy to power a MEMS device using non-standard materials and fabrication methods. The designs …
Exploitation Of Self Organization In Uav Swarms For Optimization In Combat Environments, Dustin J. Nowak
Exploitation Of Self Organization In Uav Swarms For Optimization In Combat Environments, Dustin J. Nowak
Theses and Dissertations
This investigation focuses primarily on the development of effective target engagement for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms using autonomous self-organized cooperative control. This development required the design of a new abstract UAV swarm control model which flows from an abstract Markov structure, a Partially Observable Markov Decision Process. Self-organization features, bio-inspired attack concepts, evolutionary computation (multi-objective genetic algorithms, differential evolution), and feedback from environmental awareness are instantiated within this model. The associated decomposition technique focuses on the iterative deconstruction of the problem domain state and dynamically building-up of self organizational rules as related to the problem domain environment. Resulting emergent …
Collision Avoidance For Uavs Using Optic Flow Measurement With Line Of Sight Rate Equalization And Looming, Paul J. Shelnutt
Collision Avoidance For Uavs Using Optic Flow Measurement With Line Of Sight Rate Equalization And Looming, Paul J. Shelnutt
Theses and Dissertations
A series of simplified scenarios is investigated whereby an optical flow balancing guidance law is used to avoid obstacles by steering an air vehicle between fixed objects/obstacles. These obstacles are registered as specific points that can be representative of features in a scene. The obstacles appear in the field of view of a single forward looking camera. First a 2-D analysis is presented where the rate of the line of sight from the vehicle to each of the obstacles to be avoided is measured. The analysis proceeds by initially using no field of view (FOV) limitations, then applying FOV restrictions, …