Digital Commons Network^™

Relationship Of Time Pre-Registration And Academic Achievement Of University Freshman, Nancy C. Moredock

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Creep And Oxidation Of Hafnium Diboride-Based Ultra High Temperature Ceramics At 1500°C, Anthony J. Degregoria

Theses and Dissertations

Ultra high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) are leading candidates for aerospace structural applications in high temperature environments, including the leading edges of hypersonic aircraft and thermal protection systems for atmospheric re-entry vehicles. Before UHTCs can be used in such applications, their structural integrity and environmental durability must be assured, which requires a thorough understanding and characterization of their creep and oxidation behavior at relevant service temperatures.

How To Look At Monsters: Staging Female Bodies From The Periphery Of The Seventeenth-Century Spanish World In Baroque Portraiture And Hapsburg Collections, Risa A. Puleo

Theses and Dissertations

This inquiry examines portraits of “monsters”—an early modern term describing those whose bodies challenged socially-constructed categories by deviating from the social norm through differences of race, gender and physical or mental capacity, painted for Hapsburg royals across Europe, who collected specimens, including people, representing the scope of their territories.

Characterization Of Cytidylyltransferase Enzyme Activity Through High Performance Liquid Chromatography, James Brault

Theses and Dissertations

The cytidylyltransferases are a family of enzymes that utilize cytidine 5â?? triphosphate (CTP) to synthesize molecules that are precursors to membrane phospholipids. There are four well known enzymes: CTP: phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase (ECT), CTP: glycerol-3-phosphate cytidylyltransferase (GCT), 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate cytidylyltransferase synthetase (CMS), and CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT). Previously, a radioisotope tagging method was employed to study cytidylyltransferase catalysis. Using CCT as a model, a method utilizing high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed to replace the radioisotope scintillation technique. The development of this new HPLC method is cheaper, more efficient, and more accurate than the previously established method.

The targets of separation …

A Statement, Cein Watson

Theses and Dissertations

The thesis paper is a map of my studio practice. It is meant to be a resource to help the viewer read my artwork. By laying out the tools of my practice the paper gives the reader a context on how I digest and synthesis works of art. These tools range from references to art history, architecture, and a grounding in traditional craftsmanship. The result is a culmination of influences that situate the work and give the reader an intimate understanding of the final art exhibition. With this map, the viewer can navigate the processes and contexts of the artwork.

Genetic And Epigenetic Variations In Asthma And Wheeze Illnesses, Todd M. Everson

Theses and Dissertations

Asthma, a chronic respiratory condition, is common worldwide with no cure and limited effective prevention strategies. It is well recognized that asthma has a multifaceted etiology, though many of the underlying mechanisms involved in asthma development, persistence and remission are still convoluted. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, regulate gene-expression but are not related to changes in the actual DNA sequence. Recently, differential patterns of DNA methylation within many genes have been associated with asthma, particularly within genes involved in the differentiation of pro-inflammatory T-helper 2 (Th2) cells. DNA methylation patterns within less known biologic pathways undoubtedly are involved in …

Nd − Pdpa: N Dimensional Probability Density Profile Analysis, Arjang Fahim

Theses and Dissertations

Proteins are often referred as working molecule of a cell, performing many structural, functional and regulatory processes. Revealing the function of proteins still remains a challenging problem. Advancement in genomics sequence projects produces large protein sequence repository, but due to technical difficulty and cost related to structure determination, the number of identified protein structure is far behind. Novel structures identification are particularly important for a number of reasons: they generate models of similar proteins for comparison; identify evolutionary relationships; further contribute to our understanding of protein function and mechanism; and allow for the fold of other family members to be …

Establishing The Microcrustacean Daphnia As A Model System For Research On Aging, Charles Andrew Shumpert

Theses and Dissertations

Aging is a ubiquitous process pertaining to all biological systems around the planet. Although much has been learned from studies so far on the molecular mechanisms that lead to aging, a complete understanding of a healthy life span and longevity still eludes us. In this dissertation, we will examine the use of a freshwater microcrustacean Daphnia as a model system for studies on the biology of aging. The Introduction chapter presents a review of the general molecular alterations associated with cellular and organismal aging, and discusses the core model organisms currently used to study the aging process. The introduction chapter …

The Effects Of Elevated Circulating Levels Of Lipocalin 2 On Liver Metastasis Of Colorectal Cancer, John Gerard Bonapart

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. In 2015, approximately 143,000 new cases will be diagnosed and 50,000 deaths are predicted. Liver metastasis is the major cause of death. To understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of liver metastasis, we used an orthotopic mouse model of CRC liver metastasis that recapitulated all stages of tumor growth and metastasis to perform whole genome microarray analysis to identify genetic changes in the liver microenvironment in response to primary tumor growth in the cecum. We identified lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) …

Vulnerable Species In A Changing Climate: The Genomic Response Of Antarctic Notothenioid Fishes To Predicted Oceanic Conditions As A Model Of Physiological Plasticity And Adaptive Capability, Troy James Huth

Theses and Dissertations

In its fifth report in 2014 the IPCC reinforced the contribution of anthropogenic CO2 to global climate change predicting widespread and significant changes to the global climate over a relatively short time scale. The polar regions, including the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica, were identified as ecosystems that may experience the most rapid and severe changes. As the Southern Ocean is one of the coldest and most oceanographically stable regions on earth, the endemic fauna likely have no alternative habitats available for migration. Further compounding the challenge these species will face is the substantial degree of adaptation to the extreme cold …

Effects Of Cell Adhesion Peptides, Ph, And Matrix Shape On Maintenance Of Breast Cancer Stem Cells In An Engineered Hydrogel Matrix, Leily Daneshian

Theses and Dissertations

Metastasis, resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy, and eventual relapse has been attributed to a tumor subpopulation known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are regulated in their tumor microenvironment by various factors. Synthetic hydrogels can be used to investigate the effects of individual environmental factors on CSCs by providing inert 3D matrices. In this thesis, poly ethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel with 5kpa modulus has been used as a culture system to study the effect of; I) integrin and heparin binding peptides, 2) pH, and 3) the shape of the microenvironment on breast CSCs maintenance and tumorsphere formation in PEGDA. …

Experiences Of Lgbtq Students At A Primarily White Institution In The South, Leia Kristin Cain

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, often Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and/or Questioning (LGBTQ) students are targets of verbal harassment and violence due to their sexual orientation or gender identity and gender expression. Further, 31 states do not offer protection against sexuality- or gender identity-based discrimination (ACLU, 2015). Schools are particularly vexing places, where L, G, B, T, and/or Q-identified students face difficulties due to the privileging of heterosexual students and heternormativity. In universities across the nation, suicide rates continue to climb for LGBTQ populations due to heterosexist policies, procedures, and practices, which lead to negative campus climates (Gortmaker & Brown, …

Viruses And Metals In Ocean Food Webs: Top-Down And Bottom-Up Effects Of Marine Viruses And Trace Elements On Marine Picophytoplankton, Brady Robert Cunningham

Theses and Dissertations

Viruses are the most numerous biological entities in the ocean, playing a key role in microbial ecology and biogeochemical cycling. In order to replicate, viruses must first infect a host and then use the host’s cellular machinery to produce new viral particles. Some of the most abundant viral hosts in the subtropical open ocean are picophytoplankton. However, picophytoplankton growth is typically constrained by nutrient availability. In many regions of the ocean, iron (Fe) is only available in very low concentrations causing growth-limitation of picophytoplankton. Interestingly, the interactions between Fe-limitation and viral infection of picophytoplankton have not been extensively studied. This …

Approaching Aromatic Interactions With Small Molecule Model Systems: Assessing N-Heteroarene In ∏ -Stacking And Ch-∏ Interactions, Crystal Engineering Of Atropisomeric Rotors, And Developing Responsive Organic Charge-Transfer Complex, Ping Li

Theses and Dissertations

Non-covalent interactions involving aromatic species are important in many areas in chemistry, biochemistry, and materials sciences. During the past two decades, small molecule model systems have emerged as a powerful tool to advance our knowledge of the stability trends for aromatic interactions in the condensed phase. Among these, the Cshape N-arylimide molecular balances developed by our laboratory have proven to be one most successful and versatile model systems that can be readily adapted to investigate various types of aromatic interactions. These molecular balances are particularly apt at isolating and accurately measuring the targeted weak aromatic interaction energies for different geometries. …

The Role Of Ovarian Function In The Progression Of Cachexia In The ApcMin/+ Mouse, Kimbell Louise Hetzler

Theses and Dissertations

Cachexia is a devastating a life-threatening condition that occurs secondary to underlying disease including cancer, AIDS, COPD and comprises severe loss of muscle and fat mass. Muscle mass atrophy and wasting with cachexia is especially dire, as skeletal muscle mass is associated with quality of life, functionality, and ability to respond to chemotherapeutics. While much investigation has been done in the male animal to elucidate the inflammatory pathways and muscle signaling underlying cachexia, very little work has occurred in the female. The overall purpose of this study is to determine if ovarian function can alter cachexia progression in the female …

Dietary Patterns And Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness In African-American And European-American Men, Lara Ryan Schneider

Theses and Dissertations

Several foods and nutrients have been linked to prostate cancer risk, but the effect of overall diet on prostate cancer outcomes is not well understood. Previous research has primarily examined a posteriori dietary patterns in relation to prostate cancer; studies that have used a priori dietary patterns and their relationship with prostate cancer have been inconclusive. Furthermore, racial differences in prostate cancer incidence and aggressiveness are not well understood. Data from the case-only North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP) was used to examine the association between overall dietary pattern, as measured by the Mediterranean Diet (MED) score and the Dietary …

Supramolecular Coordination Networks Of S- And F-Block Metals Featuring The 1,8-Naphthalimide Tecton, Andrew Paul Leitner

Theses and Dissertations

The reactions of (S)-2-(1,8-naphthalimido)propanoic acid (HLala), and (S)-2-(1,8- naphthalimido)-3-hydroxypropanoic acid (HLser), protonated forms of ligands that contain a carboxylate donor group, an enantiopure chiral center and a 1,8-naphthalimide π...π stacking supramolecular tecton and in the case of HLser an alcohol functional group, with the appropriate alkali metal hydroxide followed by a variety of crystallization methods leads to the formation of crystalline K(Lala)(MeOH) (1), K(Lala)(H2O) (2), Na(Lala)(H2O) (3), KLser (4), CsLser (5) and CsLala (6). Each of these new complexes has a solid state structure based on six-coordinate metals linked into homochiral helical rod SBU central cores. In addition to the …

Invective Drag: Talking Dirty In Catullus, Cicero, Horace, And Ovid, Casey Catherine Moore

Theses and Dissertations

Invective Drag: Talking Dirty in Catullus, Cicero, Horace, and Ovid, studies the relationship between invective texts and masculine self-fashioning. Using gender theory, rhetorical theory, and philology, I examine how invective speech in these authors operates outside the normative social parameters of Roman masculinity.. I examine the invectives of Catullus, Cicero, Horace, and Ovid to argue that in the speaker’s aggressive articulation of masculinity, he often ends up effeminizing or queering himself as he attempts to make his opponents radically other. I show that the hypermasculine speaker of the invective genre utilizes a strategy I term “invective drag,” the adoption of …

Empirical Connections Between The Construct Of Value, The Quality Of Stability, And The Construct Of Regret, William Samuel Morris Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The term value is a psychological construct frequently used in the social sciences. This research addresses the issue of stability of ratings of perceived value of participants for monetary, tangible, and intangible items that cross contexts. Also elucidated is the relationship of value to regret. Hypothesis one stated that value would be stable across time and different rating conditions. Forty-four participants rated the value of 72 stimulus items at two time points and in different contexts. Paired samples t-tests indicated 28 participants had no statistical difference in scores. Twenty-eight scores out of 44, when applied to a binomial test, indicates …

Framing Death: Politics, Meaning, And The Strategic Communication Of Organ Donation Messages In South Carolina, Jeremy T. Vanderknyff

Theses and Dissertations

This study applies framing theory within a critical-interpretive anthropological context to understand how organ procurement organizations (OPOs) design messages to promote organ donation registration and how cultural factors including notions of embodiment and structural inequalities influence audiences’ processing of those messages. The first part of the study employs content analysis to deductively identify OPO-produced message frames. The second part of the study uses focus groups across South Carolina to explore audience reactions to different message frames. Themes from donors and non-donors alike reflected a mistrust of the medical establishment, a keen awareness of structural inequality, and complex notions of embodiment …

Dental Insurance As A Mitigating Factor In Reducing The Risk Of Mortality Among Working-Age Adults With Dental Caries And Periodontitis, Naveed Sadiq

Theses and Dissertations

Background Poor oral health had been associated with increased risk of having systemic diseases and thus mortality. The purpose of this research was to find if dental coverage with health insurance could mitigate the risk of death due to untreated dental caries and periodontitis among working age U.S. adults. Methods Data were drawn from NHANES III (1988-1994) and linked to mortality updated till Dec. 31st, 2011. It was restricted to those in the age range of 20-64 years adults. Furthermore, it was restricted to those who had complete data collection on all measures. Unweighted propensity scores were calculated to control …

Forgotten Science Of Bird Eggs: The Life Cycle Of Oology At The Smithsonian Institution, Katherine Nicole Crosby

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis analyzes the influence the Smithsonian Institution had over the development of oology as a science from the mid-19th to the early 20th century. The Smithsonian promoted oology, or the study of bird eggs, through publications and collections of eggs in the mid-19th century, and the science enjoyed a brief period of proliferation and approval. In the end, however, the popularity of egg collecting as a hobby, in-fighting between oologists and ornithologists over the validity of oology as a science, and bird conservation groups opposed to collecting eggs, all conspired to halt oology’s professionalization, and ultimately led to the …

Defining The Effects Of Gdf-2 On TgfB Signaling In Tumorigenic Epithelial Cells, Tirthankar Bandyopadhyay

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer cells can be viewed as such cells, which have disrupted/aberrant signaling pathways for maintaining cellular homoeostasis. Identifying such altered signaling mechanisms can help us target these pathways in a better way. GDF-2 (Growth and differentiation factor – 2) or BMP9 (Bone morphogenetic protein – 9), a multifunctional cytokine, is a member of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein subfamily, under TGFβ superfamily, with roles distinct from BMP2/4/7. While GDF-2 is known to be one of the most potent ectopic inducers of bone and cartilage formation, it rose to significance with the identification of its receptor ALK1 in endothelial cells. TGFβ’s role …

Physical Activity And Breast Cancer In South Carolina, Chisom Onyeuku

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between breast cancer incidence and recreational physical activity. It was one of the first studies in the southeastern US to examine incident breast cancer and physical activity in an ethnically diverse cohort of women. In terms of physical activity, both lifetime and recent physical activity were analyzed. All physical activity data were from validated self-reported surveys. The study examined BMI, menopausal status and race as key confounders and effect modifiers. The study found evidence that for Black women, there was a positive relationship between the amount of lifetime physical activity and the odds of incident …

Optimization Of Shell Growth And Influence Of Surface Ligands For Colloidal Cdse/Cds Core/Shell Quantum Dots, Rui Tan

Theses and Dissertations

Progress in the colloidal synthesis of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) has triggered a burst of research toward applications in QD based light emitting diodes, biological imaging as fluorescent tags, and advanced solar cell designs. In order to adjust and optimize the photo physical properties of QDs, QD heterostructures have been introduced and widely explored. This dissertation is focused on studies of growth of semiconductor colloidal CdSe/CdS core/shell quantum dots and the influences of neutral surface ligands to their photo-physical properties. Chapter 1 provides an introduction of the concept of semiconductor colloidal nanoparticles, core/shell heterostructures and the synthesis methods as well …

Post-Fall Decision Making Among Older Women Living In Continuing Care Retirement Communities: A Mixed Methods Study, Caroline D. Bergeron

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: One in every three adults over the age of 65 experiences a fall every year, with women experiencing more falls than men. Falls can affect how older women perceive themselves and their independence. The purpose of this study was to examine older women's health decision making after experiencing a fall. Methods: I conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 older women living independently in continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) who had experienced a fall within the previous six months and 11 individuals the women identified as being involved in their post-fall decision making. I also conducted an exploratory survey on post-fall …

Regulation Of Stress Response And Innate Immunity By DsRna-Binding Proteins Pact And Trbp, Lauren S. Vaughn

Theses and Dissertations

An integral aspect of innate immune response to viral infections is the ability to detect non-self molecules to initiate antiviral signaling via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). One subset of these receptors are cytoplasmic receptors that contain double stranded (dsRNA) binding domains, which allow them to identify non-self dsRNA produced during a viral infection and mount a protective cellular response. PKR is a dsRNA-activated eIF2α kinase that is a key regulator of cellular antiviral and stress response pathways. Activation of PKR’s catalytic activity requires binding to one of its activators, viral dsRNAs or the cellular protein PACT (PKR activator). Although PACT …

Optimized Spectral Processing Of Infrared Diffuse Reflection Spectra For The Detection Of Blood On Fabric, Stephanie Ann Dejong

Theses and Dissertations

The detection of bodily fluids such as blood on interfering backgrounds is important to the forensic community. Luminol, which participates in a chemiluminescent reaction with the heme groups of blood, is one of the most commonly used presumptive tests. Luminol has a few drawbacks, including the requirement of use in a dark environment and potential to degrade the amount of recoverable DNA in blood stains. A potential complementary method is infrared (IR) spectroscopy. These two methods are compared in this work. Infrared diffuse reflection (DR) spectroscopy works well to measure the IR spectrum of samples that are highly absorbing or …

General Strain Theory And Bullying Victimization: Do Parental Support And Control Alleviate The Negative Effects Of Bullying, Jonathon Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

With growing reports of bullying victimization ranging from 8 percent to 46 percent in many countries, bullying victimization has been declared an international problem often affecting youth in or near one’s school with poor parental supervision. While there has been a growing body of research concerning bullying victimization, few studies have examined the collateral consequences of bullying victimization and the mediating role of family processes through the theoretical lens of general strain theory. This thesis attempts to shed light on such a complex social phenomena and contribute to the bullying and stress literature. This study posits that bullying victimization is …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Parents Of A Child Or Children Diagnosed With Deafness, David Patrick Leach

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the lived experiences of twelve parents who have a child or children diagnosed with deafness, and the meaning these parents have made of their experiences. The researcher conducted individual, semi-structured interviews and analyzed the data in accordance with the practices of phenomenological research. Thirty-seven themes were identified in the interview data, which were discussed in terms of their implications for efficacious clinical services to this population, as well as for the field of counselor education.