Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Theses and Dissertations

Discipline
Institution
Keyword
Publication Year
File Type

Articles 13861 - 13890 of 19641

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Model-Guided Systems Metabolic Engineering Of Clostridium Thermocellum, Christopher Gowen May 2011

Model-Guided Systems Metabolic Engineering Of Clostridium Thermocellum, Christopher Gowen

Theses and Dissertations

Metabolic engineering of microorganisms for chemical production involves the coordination of regulatory, kinetic, and thermodynamic parameters within the context of the entire network, as well as the careful allocation of energetic and structural resources such as ATP, redox potential, and amino acids. The exponential progression of “omics” technologies over the past few decades has transformed our ability to understand these network interactions by generating enormous amounts of data about cell behavior. The great challenge of the new biological era is in processing, integrating, and rationally interpreting all of this information, leading to testable hypotheses. In silico metabolic reconstructions are versatile …


Quick Xlthlx Fish, Andrew Brehm May 2011

Quick Xlthlx Fish, Andrew Brehm

Theses and Dissertations

A sequence of short stories both fact and fiction leading to, resulting from, or having nothing to do with the three sculptures that comprise The Crescent Club, an installation for the Anderson Gallery.


Synthesis Of Nanocomposites By Laser Ablation, Stephen Mutisya May 2011

Synthesis Of Nanocomposites By Laser Ablation, Stephen Mutisya

Theses and Dissertations

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-conjugated gold nanoparticles were produced via in situ conjugation of gold nanoparticles with immunoglobulin E by laser ablation of Au in a liquid solution. The colloidal stability and the size distribution of the resulting bio-nanoconjugates were examined with UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These techniques showed that the Au nanoparticles in aqueous solutions were highly monodispersed spherical particles with a very narrow size distribution. The particles net diameter using TEM, was found to be D5 =3.8±0.9nm and D10 =4.7±1.3nm while the hydrodynamic diameter obtained with DLS was found to be h5 …


Possible Molecular Mechanism To Account For Wavelength Dependence Of Equilibration Rates Of Patman And Laurdan In Phosphatidylcholine Bilayers, Hannabeth A. Franchino May 2011

Possible Molecular Mechanism To Account For Wavelength Dependence Of Equilibration Rates Of Patman And Laurdan In Phosphatidylcholine Bilayers, Hannabeth A. Franchino

Theses and Dissertations

Patman is a fluorescent membrane probe related to Laurdan. The structural distinctions between the two probes are the lengths of the aliphatic tails (eleven carbons in Laurdan and fifteen in Patman) and the presence of a trimethylammonium group on Patman that produces a positively-charged head. Preliminary studies exploring Patman as a probe to detect membrane properties during apoptosis revealed that the fluorescence intensity of two edges of the emission spectrum (435 and 500 nm) stabilizes at different rates as the probe binds to the cell membrane. To test whether these differences represent dissimilarities in probe binding to ordered and disordered …


Parent-Child Communication About Substance Use: Experiences Of Latino Emerging Adults, Kathryn Reid-Quiñones May 2011

Parent-Child Communication About Substance Use: Experiences Of Latino Emerging Adults, Kathryn Reid-Quiñones

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current studies was to identify messages that Latino parents communicate to their offspring about the use of legal and illegal drugs and to determine associations between parental messages and substance use outcomes. Previous research has identified parent-child communication as protective against tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use. However, most of these studies have failed to examine the specific messages communicated and those that have focused almost exclusively on non-Hispanic Caucasians. Study 1 identified messages that Latino parents communicate to their offspring regarding legal and illegal drugs through two focus groups with Latino college students (N = …


Plex, Jon-Phillip Sheridan May 2011

Plex, Jon-Phillip Sheridan

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the evolution of my practice as it developed over my two years of graduate school. I entered school interested in the built environment and how structures helped create subjectivity and provided sites for material and phenomenological transformations. Early in graduate school, I developed a photography series that investigated these issues. However, an awareness of a conversation occurring in the larger art world that questioned the efficacy of photography drove me to consider ways to extend my practice into sculpture and installation. Over the next two semesters, I developed my ideas of light, form and structure into video …


Meeting Sanford Meisner: An Investigation Of The Origins, Development, And Practical Application Of The Meisner Technique, Mandy Butler May 2011

Meeting Sanford Meisner: An Investigation Of The Origins, Development, And Practical Application Of The Meisner Technique, Mandy Butler

Theses and Dissertations

The Sanford Meisner Technique is among the most mysterious and misunderstood approaches to the craft of acting. Very often, it is taught poorly, incompletely, or even dangerously. Through the exploration of Meisner’s private life, as well as a detailed analysis of his system, this work aims to dispel some of the common misconceptions which plague the Technique and its most fervent supporters. After being made privy to his biography, readers will be taken through Meisner’s foundational exercises, beginning at the first phase of Repetition and ending with the introduction of text. In addition to the descriptions of student responsibilities, the …


Development Of Free-Label Sensing In Plastic Microfluidic Platforms Using Pulsed Streaming Potentials (Psp), Vera Fernando Luna May 2011

Development Of Free-Label Sensing In Plastic Microfluidic Platforms Using Pulsed Streaming Potentials (Psp), Vera Fernando Luna

Theses and Dissertations

This work deals with the development of a new label-free detection technique called Pulsed Streaming Potential (PSP). Its novelty relies on the adaptation of a classical electrokinetic phenomenon (streaming potential) into a tool which can evaluate molecular interplay in label-free fashion. Implementation of PSP to microfluidic platforms allowed the label-free sensing of binding events to plastic (modified and unmodified) surfaces. It was demonstrated the use of real time PSP in plastic microfluidic platforms for determination of kinetic parameters of the interaction of proteins and plastic surfaces. Moreover, initial change of PSP after adsorption of proteins showed to be proportional to …


Social Support Received Online And Offline By Individuals Diagnosed With Cancer, Jessye Cohen May 2011

Social Support Received Online And Offline By Individuals Diagnosed With Cancer, Jessye Cohen

Theses and Dissertations

Life after treatment for cancer has become a primary focus for health service provider communities as the number of individuals living longer grows. The medical and psychosocial needs of cancer survivors have been prominent in the popular and scientific literature. A major focus for psychologists has been the relationships and social support networks of individuals diagnosed with cancer. The current study explored a recent phenomenon within this realm, the use of Internet resources for online support. The purpose of this study was to compare social support received online and social support received offline among people diagnosed with cancer who use …


A Framework For Digital Emotions, Meghan Rosatelli May 2011

A Framework For Digital Emotions, Meghan Rosatelli

Theses and Dissertations

As new media become more ubiquitous, our emotional experiences in digital space are increasing exponentially as well. While there is much talk of “affective” computing and “affective” new media art, a disconnect exists between networked emotions and the popular media that they inhabit. This research presents a theoretical framework for assessing “digital emotions”—a term that describes the feedback process between digital technologies and the body with respect to short, networked inscriptions of emotion and the (re)experience of those inscriptions within the body and through digital space. Digital emotions display five basic characteristics that can be applied to a variety of …


The Superfund Program Past And Present Funding Implications, Nicole Franklin May 2011

The Superfund Program Past And Present Funding Implications, Nicole Franklin

Theses and Dissertations

The present research examines the impact of not reauthorizing the Superfund taxes on the operations of the program. EPA NPL site status data were obtained from the EPA CERCLIS database for analysis in this study. Data were selected for the fiscal years 1981 to 2009 in four NPL listing status categories: proposal to the NPL, final NPL listing, deletion from the NPL, and achievement of construction completion. Since the Superfund tax expired in 1995, data from the 1981 to 1995 fiscal years and data from the 1996 to 2009 fiscal years were analyzed to determine if there were mean differences …


Application Of Pharmacometric Methods To Improve Pediatric Drug Development, Mallika Lala May 2011

Application Of Pharmacometric Methods To Improve Pediatric Drug Development, Mallika Lala

Theses and Dissertations

Pharmacometrics is a quantitative science that is rapidly changing the landscape of drug development, and particularly so for the pediatric population. The motivation behind the research underlying this dissertation is to contribute towards the improvement of pediatric drug development by the astute application of pharmacometric methods. Two distinct research areas have been focused upon: 1- improving pediatric pharmacokinetic (PK) trial design and 2- improving pediatric dosing of warfarin by using a genetics-based dosing regimen. The first project examined in detail the feasibility of and simulation-based methodology for implementing a recent regulatory PK quality standard. The focus was on designing pediatric …


Craft Cyborg, Laina Seay May 2011

Craft Cyborg, Laina Seay

Theses and Dissertations

By merging the ancient associations that clay has with the human form and prosthetic science I question the relevancy and role of the human body in the future. As prosthetics heighten the awareness of the body through absence these additive limbs further this relevancy by presence. With greater advances in genetic engineering and plastic surgery biology will no longer dominate and these ridged clay extensions could become flesh.


Analysis Of The Mechanism By Which Ykl-40 Promotes Glioma Cell Migration, Bahiya Osrah May 2011

Analysis Of The Mechanism By Which Ykl-40 Promotes Glioma Cell Migration, Bahiya Osrah

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis elucidates the crucial role of YKL-40 in enhancing glioma cell migration and invasion in vitro. Increased levels of YKL-40 are specifically associated with the increased invasive capacity of glioma multiforme (GBM) tumors and lower survival rate of GBM patients. In order to examine the effects of YKL-40 on the migration and invasion of GBM cells, we overexpressed YKL-40 in three different glioma cell lines. The overexpression of YKL-40 significantly enhanced glioma cells migration and invasion in vitro and also increased ERK phosphorylation, which is believed to enhance glioma cell survival, and invasiveness. Although receptors for YKL-40 are still …


Comparison Of Adhesion Of Gutta Percha/Ah Plus® And Resilon/Epiphany® Se™ After A Final Rinse With Different Concentrations Of Ethanol, Suren Paravyan May 2011

Comparison Of Adhesion Of Gutta Percha/Ah Plus® And Resilon/Epiphany® Se™ After A Final Rinse With Different Concentrations Of Ethanol, Suren Paravyan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate effect of final rinse of ethanol on bond strength in teeth obturated with Gutta Percha (GP)/AH Plus® or Resilon/Epiphany®SE™. Thirty-two extracted human anterior teeth were shaped to size 30, 0.06 taper and subjected to an identical irrigation protocol. Specimens were randomly divided into eight groups according to final irrigating solution (saline, 70%, 95%, 100% ethanol) and obturation material. Two millimeter thick slices were obtained by sectioning each obturated root. Bond strength was determined using micropush-out assay. Data was analyzed using Student’s t-test. Obturation with GP/AH Plus® formed a statistically significant stronger bond …


Comparison Of Epiphany® And Ah-Plus® Root Canal Sealer Penetration Of Dentinal Tubules: A Sem Study, Kalisha Jordan May 2011

Comparison Of Epiphany® And Ah-Plus® Root Canal Sealer Penetration Of Dentinal Tubules: A Sem Study, Kalisha Jordan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a final rinse of ethanol on depth of sealer penetration in teeth obturated with Gutta Percha (GP)/AH-Plus® (Dentsply, De Trey GmbH, Konstanz, Germany) or Resilon/Epiphany® SE™ (Pentron Clinical Technologies, LLC, Wallingford, CT). Extracted human anterior teeth (n= 32) were shaped to size 30, 0.06 taper using nickel-titanium rotary files and subjected to an identical irrigation protocol. Specimens were randomly divided into eight groups according to final irrigating solution (saline, 70%, 95%, or 100% ethanol) and obturation material (GP/AH-Plus® or Resilon/EpiphanyÒ SE™). A 2mm thick slice was obtained by sectioning …


Vapor Transport And Aerosol Dynamics In The Respiratory Airways, Geng Tian May 2011

Vapor Transport And Aerosol Dynamics In The Respiratory Airways, Geng Tian

Theses and Dissertations

Predicting vapor transport and aerosol dynamics in the respiratory airways is important for analyzing both environmental exposure and respiratory drug delivery. A large number of analytical models, computational studies, and experiments on vapor and aerosol transport in the respiratory tract have been conducted previously. However, a number of critical questions remain unanswered. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is primarily employed with frequent comparisons to existing and new experimental data sets to address previously unanswered issues related to the transport of vapors and aerosol in the respiratory tract. The three objectives of this study are further described below. Objective …


A Parallel Genetic Algorithm For Placement And Routing On Cloud Computing Platforms, Jacob A. Berlier May 2011

A Parallel Genetic Algorithm For Placement And Routing On Cloud Computing Platforms, Jacob A. Berlier

Theses and Dissertations

The design and implementation of today's most advanced VLSI circuits and multi-layer printed circuit boards would not be possible without automated design tools that assist with the placement of components and the routing of connections between these components. In this work, we investigate how placement and routing can be implemented and accelerated using cloud computing resources. A parallel genetic algorithm approach is used to optimize component placement and the routing order supplied to a Lee's algorithm maze router. A study of mutation rate, dominance rate, and population size is presented to suggest favorable parameter values for arbitrary-sized printed circuit board …


Analysis Of Nfi-X3 And Stat3 Interaction And Its Functions, Etsegenet Tizazu May 2011

Analysis Of Nfi-X3 And Stat3 Interaction And Its Functions, Etsegenet Tizazu

Theses and Dissertations

YKL-40 is a secreted protein that is highly up-regulated in malignant glioblastoma (GBM). Its expression is correlated with the invasive nature of GBMs and poor diagnosis of patients (Nigro et al., 2005). Previous research has shown that in astrocytes and GBM cells, YKL-40 expression is regulated by two transcription factors, NFI-X3 and STAT3, which form a complex with each other (Singh et al., 2011). Here, we show that the N-terminal domain of NFI-X3 is sufficient and required for its interaction with STAT3. We also show that the DNA-binding domain of NFI-X3 is required to induce YKL-40 expression. Thus, the interaction …


Computational Modeling Of Mulitsensory Processing Using Network Of Spiking Neurons, Hun Ki Lim May 2011

Computational Modeling Of Mulitsensory Processing Using Network Of Spiking Neurons, Hun Ki Lim

Theses and Dissertations

Multisensory processing in the brain underlies a wide variety of perceptual phenomena, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms of how multisensory neurons are generated and how the neurons integrate sensory information from environmental events. This lack of knowledge is due to the difficulty of biological experiments to manipulate and test the characteristics of multisensory processing. By using a computational model of multisensory processing this research seeks to provide insight into the mechanisms of multisensory processing. From a computational perspective, modeling of brain functions involves not only the computational model itself but also the conceptual definition of the brain …


The Impact Of Overt And Relational Victimization On Adolescents' Well Being: Moderating Effects Of Ethnicity At The Individual And School Level, Krista Mehari May 2011

The Impact Of Overt And Relational Victimization On Adolescents' Well Being: Moderating Effects Of Ethnicity At The Individual And School Level, Krista Mehari

Theses and Dissertations

The sociocultural influence of ethnicity on peer victimization among youth has received little attention in the research literature. Individual ethnicity within school ethnic composition may influence the frequency of victimization and the effect of victimization on adolescents’ well being. The current study investigated these issues using a data set of 5,581 sixth grade students attending 37 schools located in four sites. Multilevel models examined the extent to which individual ethnicity within school ethnic composition influenced the frequency and impact of overt and relational victimization on changes in life satisfaction. Ethnic differences were found in the frequency of victimization, but these …


Changes In Leaf Morphology, Photosynthesis And Nitrogen Content In Two Coastal Shrubs, Elizabeth Kost May 2011

Changes In Leaf Morphology, Photosynthesis And Nitrogen Content In Two Coastal Shrubs, Elizabeth Kost

Theses and Dissertations

It is important to understand mechanisms that facilitate expansion of two common shrubs, Morella cerifera and Baccharis halimifolia in coastal environments. The purpose of my study was to investigate the physiological and structural changes that occur as leaves age. Photosynthesis, incident light, chlorophyll, and leaf C:N ratios were quantified for young, intermediate, and old leaves (distal, central and proximal leaves, respectively). Leaf structural differences were also compared. Leaves did not change morphologically with age. Light decreased with leaf age and during winter months. Photosynthesis showed no seasonal or age related patterns. Chlorophyll increased initially and then declined with age due …


Turning To The Bottle For Answers: Identifying Racial Differences In Predictors Of Risk Drinking Among College Women, Melody Mickens May 2011

Turning To The Bottle For Answers: Identifying Racial Differences In Predictors Of Risk Drinking Among College Women, Melody Mickens

Theses and Dissertations

Epidemiological data suggest that alcohol use and related problems have increased among college women. The current study examined psychosocial predictors of risk drinking in a sample of college women (N=360), whether race moderated this relationship. Potential predictors included: daily smoker; premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptom severity; age at first alcohol use, negative affect, parental history of alcohol problems and minority status. Analyses found that somatic PMS symptom severity score, age of first alcohol use, daily smoking, age of first alcohol use and non-minority status were related. Findings suggest that minority group membership was associated with low risk drinking, while somatic PMS …


Cumulative Risks To Eastern Oysters, Crassostrea Virginica In The James River, Va, Vrushali Lele May 2011

Cumulative Risks To Eastern Oysters, Crassostrea Virginica In The James River, Va, Vrushali Lele

Theses and Dissertations

In an effort to apply Cumulative Risk Assessment (CRA) as developed by the U.S. EPA, the present study investigates the cumulative risks to Eastern oysters due to multiple stressors such as salinity, temperature and oxygen and carbon dioxide. I also compared the effectiveness of the Hazard Quotient Method (HQ) in CRA. Ambient conditions in the James River, VA were obtained from the Virginia DEQ database and respiratory responses were estimated using values from the literature. The multiple environmental stresses are evaluated using a probabilistic analysis that combines the environmental conditions. It was concluded that salinity was the most influential stressor …


A Novel Bioactive Glass-Enhanced Orthodontic Bonding Resin: A Shear Bond Strength Study, Cole Johnson May 2011

A Novel Bioactive Glass-Enhanced Orthodontic Bonding Resin: A Shear Bond Strength Study, Cole Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Enamel decalcification caused by poor oral hygiene is a significant problem in orthodontics. Bioactive glass-containing resins have been shown to release Ca2+ ions into surrounding solution. The purpose of this study was to determine the shear bond strength of four different compositions of orthodontic resin prepared with bioactive glass (N=20). Premolars were bonded using one of four BAG-BOND compositions. Brackets were debonded and ARI scores were given. The mean shear bond strength was 7.23 ± 2.47 MPa (62 BAG-BOND), 8.25 ± 2.87 MPa (65 BAG-BOND), 8.78 ± 3.08 MPa (81BAG-BOND) and 5.80 ± 2.27 MPa (85 BAG-BOND). 65 and 81 …


The Natural Polyphenol Resveratrol Potentiates The Lethality Of Hdac Inhibitors In Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Cells Through Multiple Mechanisms., Alae Abod Yaseen May 2011

The Natural Polyphenol Resveratrol Potentiates The Lethality Of Hdac Inhibitors In Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Cells Through Multiple Mechanisms., Alae Abod Yaseen

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the mechanisms underlying the interactions between the natural polyphenol Resveratrol and HDAC inhibitors in both U937 myelomonocytic leukemia cell line and blood samples from AML patients and normal cord blood. Simultaneous exposure to Resveratrol and HDAC inhibitors (Vorinostat-SAHA or Panobinostat-LBH589) resulted in potentiating the lethality caused by any single agent of the combination, this interaction found to be synergistic at multiple concentrations. Exposing U937 cells to minimal toxic doses of Resveratrol and HDACIs results in release of mitochondrial pro-apoptotic proteins AIF and cytochrome c, pro-apoptotic caspase activation especially caspase-8, and induction of DNA damage. These events were …


Defining The Bacterial Flora Of Periodontal Pockets In Chronic Periodontitis Patients, Rafael Rodriguez May 2011

Defining The Bacterial Flora Of Periodontal Pockets In Chronic Periodontitis Patients, Rafael Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the subgingival bacterial biodiversity in untreated chronic periodontitis patients through the use of next generation 16S rRNA molecular analysis, and to determine similarities or differences between deep and shallow pockets within the same patients. METHODS: The analysis involved paired subgingival plaque samples from 24 subjects diagnosed with Generalized Moderate to Severe Chronic Periodontitis. One sample was selected from a single site having a probing depth >5 mm (i.e. Deep Site), and the other from a site with a probing depth <3mm (i.e. Shallow Site) within each subject. Bacterial DNA amplification of the V4-V6 region of the 16S rRNA was performed. The amplicons were sequenced via 454 Roche Genome Sequencer FLX System. The identified sequences were evaluated, and then compared to calculated false discovery rates. RESULTS: A total of 119 independent microbial genera were identified within the samples analyzed. Seven genera were identified to be statistically significant (p<0.05) in their association to deep or shallow sites following t-test and boot strap randomization: Actinomyces (p=0.004), Methylobacterium (p=0.028), Veillonella (p=0.028), and Rothia (p=0.038), and Streptococcus (p=0.033) in Shallow sites; while Mycoplasma (p=0.007) and Fusobacterium (p=0.016) were associated with deep sites. However, taking into account the calculated false discovery rates, it is suggested that none of the 119 microbial genera identified in this study were significantly associated with either deep nor shallow sites. CONCLUSION: The microbial genera identified within this study to be associated with deep and shallow sites follows the traditional pattern anticipated from the literature. However, the calculated false discovery rates suggest that these results may have occurred by chance and not due to a true difference.


What Are The Educational Aspirations Of African American Males Raised In Mother-Only Households?, Patsy Chavis May 2011

What Are The Educational Aspirations Of African American Males Raised In Mother-Only Households?, Patsy Chavis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of Black males being raised in a mother-only household and their career aspirations. The absence of the father in a home stands at the forefront as the cause of family dysfunction, which subsequently leads to the destruction of many hopes and dreams of the Black male.Is a mother-only household a preconceived environment for failure for the Black male?


Composition At Play: Blurring Binaries To Engage First Year Writing Students, Jessica Santini May 2011

Composition At Play: Blurring Binaries To Engage First Year Writing Students, Jessica Santini

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Evidence-Base Practice: Screening For Depression And Suicidality In High Functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorder Adolescents, Jennifer A. Durward May 2011

Evidence-Base Practice: Screening For Depression And Suicidality In High Functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorder Adolescents, Jennifer A. Durward

Theses and Dissertations

Research regarding assessing for suicide and depression in high-functioning autistic spectrum disorders (HFASDs) is very limited. An extensive literature review focusing on HFASDs was conducted, which resulted in adolescents with HFASDs are likely to experience depression and suicidality compared to those who are neurotypical or those not diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) because of limited social and communication skills. These deficits put these individuals at risk for depression, therefore, suicidality. PubMed, SCOPUS, PsychiatryOnline. and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (C1NAHL) were used to research information for this independent study. Implications for psychiatric nurse practitioners and …