Digital Commons Network^™

The Structural And Functional Studies Of Yeast Nucleotide Exchange Factor Sil1p And Its Complex With Bip, Ming Yan

All ETDs from UAB

Sil1 is an Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) localized protein. SIL1 was initially identified as a UPR-regulated gene. Later studies show Sil1 functions as the nucleotide exchange factor of ER lumenal Hsp70--Bip by directly interacting with the ATPase domain of Bip. Currently, the molecular mechanism how Sil1 catalyzes nucleotide exchange of Bip is still elusive. In this study we determine the complex structure of yeast S.cerevisia Sil1 and Bip (also called Kar2) ATPase domain at 2.3Å resolution by Single-anomalous dispersion (SAD) methods. The Sil1-Bip complex structure reveals that one sil1 molecule interacts with one Bip ATPase domain molecule to form the complex. …

The Role Of Map Kinase Cascade In Msp Signaling Response, Youfeng Yang

All ETDs from UAB

The MSP domain is an evolutionarily conserved immunoglobulin-like structure of about 120 amino acids (Miller et al., 2001). A P56S missense mutation in the MSP domain of the human vapb gene is associated with a dominantly inherited form of Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) (Nishimura et al., 2004). In C. elegans, secreted MSP binds to the VAB-1 Eph receptor and other receptors on oocyte and ovarian sheath cell surfaces (Miller et al., 2003). We have recently shown that the P56S mutation prevents secretion of the VAPB MSP domain, suggesting that the signaling function is important in …

Cross-Talk Between Marginal Zone B Cells And Marginal Zone Macrophages, Yuying You

All ETDs from UAB

the test of group differences and the test of covariate. When we force the predictors in the

The Role Of Usp14 In Regulating Synaptic Development And Function Of The Neuromuscular Junctions, Ping-Chung Chen

All ETDs from UAB

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) plays critical roles in regulating multiple cellular functions, including protein abundance, trafficking, and cell signaling. In the nervous system, the UPS has been implicated in controlling a wide diversity of cellular process such as synaptic transmission, axon outgrowth, axon targeting, and synapse development. Although impairment of the UPS is observed in both neurodegenerative and developmental diseases, the mechanisms underlying how UPS dysregulation contributes to disease pathogenesis are not known. The proteasome, an approximate 2.5 megadaltons protein complex composed of 19S and 20S assemblies, is the site of ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation. Recent studies have demonstrated dysfunction …

Parental Well-Being And Child Outcomes Among School-Aged, Prematurely-Born Children., Desiree Maria De Jong

All ETDs from UAB

Children born prematurely are at a significantly higher risk than their full-term peers for developing cognitive, behavioral, attention, and executive functioning difficulties by the time they reach school-age. Parents of children born prematurely are also at greater risk for developing symptoms of depression and stress compared to parents of full-term children. However, the literature is conflicting with respect to whether or not parental well-being remains compromised by the time the preterm child reaches school-age. Additionally, much of the research examining this relationship is conducted prior to school-age, with little research beyond these years. A primary purpose of the current study …

Sense Of Community Among Adolescents Participating In The Mobile Youth Survey: A Measurement Study, Randolph Stacer Devereaux

All ETDs from UAB

A measurement study was conducted to evaluate 11 items representing the latent variable labeled "sense of community" (SOC) employed by investigators of the Mobile Youth Survey (MYS). In previous research the 11 items representing the concept of SOC have been combined to form a composite variable, assuming that the concept was best represented by a single factor (e.g., Bolland, Bryant, Lian, McCallum, Vazsonyi & Barth, 2007). However, no systematic analysis has been conducted to determine the psychometric properties of the 11-item composite variable. The objects of the present study are a) to determine the component structure of the items used …

Brms1 Coordinately Regulates Microrna To Suppress Breast, Mick D. Edmonds

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The majority of cancer related mortality is attributed to complications associated with metastatic disease. Breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1) suppresses metastasis of multiple cancer types in vivo and loss of nuclear BRMS1 is associated with ER-negative cancers and a high rate of proliferation. Many groups have shown BRMS1 to regulate the expression of multiple metastatic genes, yet until now no one has been able to account for how these many changes in gene expression occur. In this work, we report that BRMS1 regulates a select set of genes called microRNA (miRNA), and these miRNA themselves can regulate metastasis. Using …

The Impact Of Social Support And Social Context On Incidence Of Suicidal Behavior In Low-Income African American Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study, Colin Farrell

All ETDs from UAB

Recognizing the considerable risk of suicidal behavior experienced by the adolescent population, the significant impact of suicide as the cause of death among adolescents, and the reported increasing rates of suicidal behavior among minority populations, there is a growing need for social research regarding the phenomenon. The current study proposes that suicidal behavior among adolescents residing within areas of extreme disadvantage is a direct result of the individual's acquisition of social capital, referred to as `social capital of the disadvantaged.' It is argued that, due to the nature and limited `reach' of the networks developed by teenagers, the resources acquired …

Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Tgf-B3, And An Albumin Scaffold To Promote Full Thickness Wound Healing, John Felix Mccauley

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

A Pilot Study Of A Computer-Tailored Program To Increase Calcium And Vitamin D Consumption In Young Women: Does Adding Heel Quantitative Ultrasound Feedback Change Outcomes?, Donald H. Lein

All ETDs from UAB

Osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related fractures are costly personal and national

Unleashing The Power Of Nonprofit Enterprise: The History And Economics Of Nonprofit Enterprise And How Equity Capital Can Multiply Its Impact, Kevin A. Hodgkins

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

Mmse/Lse Estimation And Equalization For Better Signal Quality And Packet Detection In Ultralwide Band Systems, Jebin Jacob

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

Exosomal Curcumin: Its Bioavailability And Potential Anti-Inflammation Activity, Dongmei Sun

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Curcumin, a pleiotropic polyphenol derived from turmeric plants Curcuma Longa with rhizome, exhibits strong evidence as an anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer reagent both in vitro and in vivo. Due to its low stability and systemic bioavailability, a large amount of curcumin has to be administrated to achieve therapeutic effects both in animal and in human. The major effort to overcome this barrier is making by encapsulation of curcumin into nanoparticles such as polymers and liposomes; some promising data have demonstrated the effectiveness of such method. Exosomes are vesicle-like nanoparticles secreted by living cells. Exosomes contain both cell surface molecules and …

Structural And Functional Study Of P58(Ipk), Jiahui Tao

All ETDs from UAB

P58(IPK) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein which is upregulated during unfolded protein response (UPR). In stressed cells, P58(IPK) functions to restore protein folding equilibrium in ER by suppressing protein aggregation and promoting protein folding. P58(IPK) associates with the unfolded protein via its N-terminal TPR domain and presents it to BiP (binding immunoglobulin protein) for subsequent folding. P58(IPK) belongs to the Hsp40 family. Collectively, P58(IPK) is a stress-inducible ER-resident molecular chaperone. In this dissertation, we report the crystal structure of P58(IPK) TPR domain to 2.5 Å resolution. In the crystal structure, the 43-kDa TPR domain consists of nine tandemly linked …

Development And Validation Of A Palliative Care Needs Assessment Instrument-English/Arabic Versions (Pcna-Eav), For Use With Patients With Advanced Cancer, Susan Edith Volker

All ETDs from UAB

The aim of this study was to develop and translate a psychometrically valid and reliable, population-based, needs assessment instrument, the PCNA-EAV, to measure the health care and support needs of patients with advanced cancer. The cross-sectional study design combined qualitative and quantitative methods, to test instrument reliability and validity, and to examine the association between sample characteristics and health care and support needs. The 116-item, PCNA-EAV, comprised 10 domains of need: physical/functional; social; psychological/emotional; information; communication; helpful resources; financial; religious/spiritual; priority of need; and preference for care The target population was all cancer patients in the department of oncology at …

Usp14: A Link Between The Proteasome And Synaptic Function, Brandon John Walters

All ETDs from UAB

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is a coordinated process by which the cell can control protein distribution and abundance. Proteins are marked for turnover by the construction of a polyubiquitin chain on the protein substrate. Once engaged by the proteasome, the ubiquitin side-chain is disassembled by proteasomal deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), preventing entry of ubiquitin into the proteasome and recycling it for use in future reactions. One of the DUBs that resides on the proteasome is Ubiquitin Specific Protease 14 (Usp14), which is mutated in the ataxia (axJ) mice. This mutation results in pronounced physical deficits and, unexpectedly, a deficit in …

Pre-Disaster Planning For Transportation Infrastructure Recovery, Stephanie Victoria Watson

All ETDs from UAB

The US is dependent upon a functioning transportation network for many aspects of daily life, and those aspects that become largely important during times of disaster. For example, emergency medical response is a crucial activity that relies upon a functioning transportation network during regular daily operations as well as during times of emergency. The US has experienced several natural and manmade devastating events within the past decade including the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina and Rita, and record flooding in Tennessee. When disasters occur, the potential of disrupting various infrastructures either individually or simultaneously exists. During a …

Clustering Spam Domains And Hosts: Anti-Spam Forensics With Data Mining, Chun Wei

All ETDs from UAB

Spam related cyber crimes, including phishing, malware and online fraud, are a serious threat to society. Spam filtering has been the major weapon against spam for many years but failed to reduce the number of spam emails. To hinder spammers' capability of sending spam, their supporting infrastructure needs to be disrupted. Terminating spam hosts will greatly reduce spammers' profit and thwart their ability to commit spam-related cyber crimes. This research proposes an algorithm for clustering spam domains based on the hosting IP addresses and related email subjects. The algorithm can also detect significant hosts over a period of time. Experimental …

Growth Of Chromium-Doped Zinc Selenide Thin Films By Pulsed Laser Deposition For Mid-Infrared Applications, Jonathan Ezekiel Williams

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Transition metal doped II-VI semiconductor materials features excellent spectroscopic and lasing characteristics in the middle infrared (mid-IR). Among this class of laser material, the most impressive results have been obtained from chromium-doped zinc selenide (Cr2+:ZnSe) crystals. To date, Cr2+:ZnSe materials are arguably the best choice of laser gain material for the advancements of high power mid-IR lasers broadly tunable over the 2-3 μm spectral range. The dissertation objectives are to demonstrate technological advancements in the development Cr2+:ZnSe thin films by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) thus establishing a viable route for the synthesis of mid-IR laser gain media based on Cr2+:ZnSe …

Accuracy And Reliability Of Plaster Models Vs Electronic Models, Thomas E. Berchtold

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

Heat Transfer Accuracy Study For Hypersonic Flow Using Overset Mesh, Erik Gunawan Winardi

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No abstract provided.

Expansion And Differentiation Of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells In A Perfusion And Surface Shear Stress Biore Actor For Engineered Tissue Cartilage, Carlos A. Carmona-Moran

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No abstract provided.

A Missionary's Journey, Denise Turner

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

Prayer As Communication, Part 1, Margaret Therkelsen

ATS Chapel Services

No abstract provided.

Determinants Of Self-Efficacy To Seek Care For Tuberculosis And Complete Tuberculosis Treatment Among Hiv-Positive Patients Attending Government Hiv/Aids Clincis In Honduras, Mayra Silvana Arias

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control

Fraspa: A Framework For Synthesizing Parallel Applications, Ritu Arora

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Scientists, engineers and other domain-experts have computational problems that are growing in size and complexity, thereby, increasing the demand for High Performance Computing (HPC). The demand for reduced time-to-solution is also increasing and simulations on high performance computers are being preferred over physical prototype development. Though HPC is gradually becoming indispensible for business growth, the programming challenges associated with HPC application development are a key bottleneck to embracing it on a massive scale. Current high-level approaches for generating HPC applications are either domain-dependent or do not leverage from existing applications. Message Passing Interface (MPI) is the most popular standard for …

Innovation Or Renovation In Criminal Procedure: Is The World Moving Toward A New Model Of Adjudication?, Gerald S. Reamey

Faculty Articles

A universal system of criminal procedure offers the allure of efficiency, predictability, and enhanced crime control. For the first time in modern history, universality seems achievable. The criminal procedures employed by the world’s major legal systems are converging. What was once distinctively “civil” or “common law” is now a blend of the two. The adversarial adjudicative approach of most common law countries now can be found in the most unlikely places, and civil law characteristics adorn the processes of some of the world’s most aggressively adversarial systems.

While this movement has not gone unnoticed, the pace of change has accelerated, …

H.D.'S Incantations: Reading Trilogy As An Occultist's Creed, Sarah Grace Harrell

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The focus of this thesis is H.D.'s epic poem, Trilogy, composed during 1942-1944, while she was living in World War II London. This project's primary aim is to investigate how the poet's participation in occult spiritual practices impacts the work's language. This reading examines terms, concepts, and ritualistic language from a range of esoteric traditions. While H.D. was involved in a wide range of occult practices, the specific traditions with which this investigation is mainly concerned are: astrology, spiritualism, Kabbalism, and gnostic Christianity. Explicating Trilogy exclusively through this lens places significantly more importance on the poem's metaphysical, historical, and archeological …

The Singer Did Not Approve This Message: Analyzing The Unauthorized Use Of Copyrighted Music In Political Advertisements In Jackson Browne V. John Mccain, David C. Johnston

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Information Technology And Quality Of Care In Pediatric Hospitals, Gouri Gupte

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The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the relationship between the adoption of information technology by pediatric hospitals and performance on several quality of care measures. This research is aimed at addressing a gap in literature by utilizing a relatively large sample size that examines health information technology adoption across institutions and utilizes validated quality indicators from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The Donabedian evaluation model that encompasses "structure, process, and outcomes" provides the conceptual framework for the organization of this research, selection of variables, and analysis. Three secondary datasets were used, 2005 Information Technology Survey of the …