Digital Commons Network^™

The Hematopoietic Compartment Regulates Osteoblast Differentiation And Apoptosis During Cytokine Treatment, Matthew Christopher

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Adult hematopoiesis normally occurs in bone marrow, where hematopoietic stem cells: HSC) reside within a specialized microenvironment. At steady state, hematopoiesis state is regulated such that immature hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells: HSPC) are restricted to the bone marrow and are rarely observed in peripheral blood. Under certain circumstances, however, this regulation is loosened and significant numbers of HSPC are released to the circulation, a process termed "mobilization." Mobilization can be induced pharmacologically by a wide range of agents. Of these, the best characterized and most widely used mobilizing agent is Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor: G-CSF). G-CSF is widely used clinically …

La Vanguardia Y Sus Retornos: Confabulaciones Del Presente En Cuatro Escritores Latinoamericanos, Maria De Los Angeles Donoso Macaya

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

La vanguardia y sus retornos: confabulaciones del presente en cuatro escritores latinoamericanos [The Avant-garde and its Returns: Confabulating the Present in Four Latin American Writers] When reading contemporary Latin American writers from different countries and distinct cultural backgrounds, the relevance of the avant-garde in their work becomes apparent. By placing close readings of texts by C├⌐sar Aira, Mario Bellatin, Roberto Bola├▒o, and Diamela Eltit, in dialogue with theoretical and philosophical works by Bergson, Nietzsche, Spinoza, and Deleuze, I argue that it is possible to recognize an unexpected and engaging return to the avant-garde in a present which has been commonly …

Local And Systemic Consequences Of Reducing Notch Signaling In Skin Keratinocytes, Shadmehr Demehri

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Notch is a transmembrane receptor that mediates short-range signaling between neighboring cells. Notch signaling has been implicated in various cellular and developmental processes essential in the life of metazoans. Specifically, Notch signaling plays a critical role in mammalian skin. Removal of Notch alleles in skin keratinocytes has been associated with an array of phenotypes with varying severity based on the identity and number of remaining Notch receptors. Phenotypes include carcinogenesis: in the case of Notch1 loss), transformation of hair follicles to epidermal cysts and neonatal lethality, the latter seen in the absence of all Notch signaling. Although these phenotypes were …

A Laboratory-Based Study Of Mood And Eating Behavior In Overweight Children, Andrea Goldschmidt

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Loss of control over eating refers to the sense that one cannot control what or how much one is eating. Loss of control eating is prevalent among overweight children and is associated with psychosocial impairment. Self-report data suggest that pediatric loss of control eating may be related to the experience of aversive emotions, with investigators theorizing that loss of control eating is a maladaptive means of alleviating negative mood. However, these data need to be substantiated using more objective methodology. The current study utilized a feeding laboratory paradigm to further explore the relation between mood and eating in 46 overweight …

Roles Of Inhibitory Interneurons In Cerebellar Cortical Processing For Oculomotor Control, Shane Heiney

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

The cerebellar cortex is usually offered up as the prime example of a well-worked out circuit; indeed, its basic neuronal composition and organization has been known for over one hundred years. Yet mysteries still abound about the computations that are performed within its layers, and how these computations contribute to sensation and behavior. This project was an effort to look inside the cerebellar cortical circuit during behavior to see if I could shed some light on the computations being performed. The dissertation is divided into three main sections. In the first, I present the results of preliminary work performed by …

Conservation Of The Intracellular Bacterial Community Pathogenic Pathway In Urinary Tract Infection, David Rosen

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Urinary tract infections: UTIs) affect 13 million women annually in the United States. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli: UPEC) is the predominant etiologic agent of UTI; however, several other uropathogens, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, are also significant causative agents. In a murine cystitis model, UPEC utilize a multistep pathogenic pathway in which they invade and form intracellular bacterial communities: IBCs) within bladder facet cells. Type 1 pili, adhesive fimbriae, are necessary for UPEC binding and invasion of urothelial cells and formation of IBCs. UPEC ultimately disperse from the IBC, many with filamentous morphology, and proceed to infect other host urothelial cells. This work …

The Mechanisms And Roles Of Neural Feedback Loops For Visual Processing, Debajit Saha

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Feedback pathways are widely present in various sensory systems transmitting time-delayed and partly-processed information from higher to lower visual centers. Although feedback loops are abundant in visual systems, investigations focusing on the mechanisms and roles of feedback in terms of micro-circuitry and system dynamics have been largely ignored. Here, we investigate the cellular, synaptic and circuit level properties of a cholinergic isthmic neuron: Ipc) to understand the role of isthmotectal feedback loop in visual processing of red-ear turtles, Trachemys scripta elegans. Turtle isthmotectal complex contains two distinct nuclei, Ipc and Imc, which interact exclusively with the optic tectum, but are …

High-Speed Photoacoustic Microscopy In Vivo, Liang Song

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

The overarching goal of this research is to develop a novel photoacoustic microscopy: PAM) technology capable of high-speed, high-resolution 3D imaging in vivo. PAM combines the advantages of optical absorption contrast and ultrasonic resolution for deep imaging beyond the quasi-ballistic regime. Its high sensitivity to optical absorption enables the imaging of important physiological parameters, such as hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation, which closely correlate with angiogenesis and hypermetabolism--two hallmarks of cancer. To translate PAM to the clinic, both high imaging speed and high spatial resolution are desired. With high spatial resolution, PAM can detect small structural and functional changes early; …

Virtue, Practical Guidance, And Practices, Carrie Vodehnal

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

No abstract provided.

Pacemaker Heterogeneity In The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus: Origins And Network Implications, Alexis Webb

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

In mammals, the suprachiasmatic nuclei: SCN) in the ventral hypothalamus function as a circadian pacemaker, controlling daily rhythms in behavior and physiology. Together the SCN contain approximately 20,000 neurons that maintain rhythms in firing rate and gene expression. Previous studies led to the assumption that single SCN neurons are capable of self-sustained circadian rhythms. Whether and which SCN neurons can maintain cell-autonomous daily oscillations has not been extensively tested. We measured PERIOD2::LUCIFERASE expression in isolated SCN neurons over multiple days to determine if all SCN neurons were circadian. We then examined neuropeptide content of the recorded neurons. We found that …

Dissolution, Formation, And Transformation Of The Lead Corrosion Product Pbo2: Rates And Mechanisms Of Reactions That Control Lead Release In Drinking Water Distribution Systems, Yanjiao Xie

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

As one of the major lead corrosion products in lead service lines, lead(IV) oxide: PbO₂) can react with water through reductive dissolution, resulting in elevated lead concentrations in tap water. Limited data are available on the rates and mechanisms of PbO₂ dissolution. Information regarding the impact of water chemistry on the rates and mechanisms of PbO₂ dissolution can provide potential strategies to control the release of lead from corrosion products to drinking water. The present study investigated effects of water chemistry on the rates and mechanisms of PbO₂ dissolution, the equilibrium solubility of PbO_{2 …}

Antimicrobial Effect Of Transition Metal Oxide Nanoparticles, Zhipeng Wang

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Therapeutic Alliance On Outcomes In Parent-Child Dyadic Interventions, Ryan M. Smith

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

An infant’s attachment relationship with primary caregivers has been demonstrated to have a long-term relationship to an individual’s social and emotional functioning throughout the lifespan. Recognizing the critical importance of this period, interventions to facilitate secure attachment are now being evaluated for treatment efficacy. Evaluation of these treatments has typically focused on the components of treatment, examining changes in maternal sensitivity, parental attachment representations, and concrete support to address basic needs, housing, or other contextual factors, and evidence has been found to support the inclusion of these factors. However, little is known regarding what elements of treatment impact the effectiveness …

Missouri County Profiles: Characteristics Of Missouri Tobacco Users, Center For Public Health Systems Science, Sarah Shelton, Amy Sorg, Stephanie Herbers

Center for Public Health Systems Science

This report is the first in a series of Missouri County Profiles. These reports were disseminated to tobacco control stakeholders throughout Missouri to support programmatic efforts and inform strategic planning of tobacco control activities. This report presents results from the first analysis, which sought to highlight characteristics of Missouri tobacco users and gather knowledge about tobacco use among Missourians.

Not So Black And White: The Color Of Perception In Corporate Layoffs, Carole A. Isom

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This research addressed the question of whether or not the perception exists that African Americans are disproportionately impacted during layoff periods within corporations. Portraiture was the selected method of inquiry for this research as it captures the experience of the participants and enables storytelling which is based upon perception as opposed to hard, quantitative data. Additionally, portraiture’s autobiographical roots supported my autoethnographic position, encouraging the artistic process while including aesthetic aspects. Portraiture allowed for the voice of the researcher everywhere: in the assumptions, preoccupations, and frameworks brought to the inquiry; in the questions asked; in the data gathered; in the …

The Art Of Caring: Woman And Restorative Justice, Peggy Lobb

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The process of restorative justice involves the caring compassion of others by providing support for the peaceful resolution of the conflict. The term restorative justice is used to describe a justice practice that has been in existence for hundreds of years in many indigenous communities. Recently, it is emerging in modern criminal justice systems as a way to obtain fair reparation for the victim and to offer an opportunity for the victim and the offender to mediate and reconcile after the offense to restore balance and peace to the community. The process involves the participation of the victim, offender, and …

Citizen Professionals: The Effective Practices Of Experts Helping Community Organizations, Sarah Hippensteel Hall

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Although numerous local, state, and federal laws and policies address water pollution, many problems remain. To address these problems thousands of groups of citizens, who are concerned with their water resources - rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and groundwater - organized around the U.S. over the past several decades. To succeed, these community organizations need the resources and capacity to reach their goals. To gain capacity, some community organizations turn to people outside the organization for assistance. Citizen professionals are helpers who work jointly with an organization to help develop an organization's adaptive capacity to deal with challenges and achieve goals. …

Special Education Teacher Tenacity: The Leadership And Commitment Of Those Who Stay In The Field, Marilyn Shea

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Those who choose to teach special education have accepted some of the most challenging jobs teaching has to offer. Unfortunately for their students, almost half of special education teachers leave the profession within their first five years (Singer, 1992). Finding and keeping qualified special education teachers in positions working with more challenging students has become a national problem. Through qualitative interviews, this study examines the stories of 14 Colorado special educators. These teachers have demonstrated their commitment to the field by teaching for four or more years. Their stories give valuable insight into the issue of teacher commitment in difficult …

Quality And Safety Assessment During The Ozonation Of Cloudy Apple Juice, Sonal Patil, B. Torres, Brijesh Tiwari, Hilda Wingaard, Paula Bourke, Patrick J. Cullen, C. O'Donnell, Vasilis Valdramidis

Articles

Traditionally, ozone processing within the food industry has focused on solid foods by either gaseous treatment or washing with ozonated water. However, with the FDA’s approval of ozone as a direct additive to food, the potential for liquid applications has emerged. This study investigates the effect of ozone processing on microbial inactivation (E. coli ATCC 25922 and NCTC 12900), and quality parameters (colour, phenolic content) of apple juice. Apple juice samples were ozonated at room temperature (20±1.5^oC) with an ozone concentration of 0.048 mg O₃ min^-1 ml^-1 and treatment time of 0 to 10 …

Capillary Electrophoresis Of Pteridines In Urine And Plants And Quantification Of Pharmaceutical And Personal Care Products In Missouri Waste Water, Stephen E. Gibbons

Doctoral Dissertations

"Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a powerful technique that separates molecules based on their respective charge and hydrodynamic size. The major advantages of CE are high separation efficiency, small sample volume requirements, simple to no sample preparation and often organic solvents are not required for the separation.

The work presented in this dissertation utilized capillary electrophoresis for the analysis two different classes of compounds in different matrices. The first project investigated pteridines in urine and plants. The second project investigated pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCP's) in Missouri waste water.

As cancer continues to be one of the top three causes …

The Potential For Conditional Cash Transfers To Influence Outcomes, Dawn Dziuba

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

No abstract provided.

Change Your Mind: Neuroplasticity & Buddhist Transformation, Laura Vollmer

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

No abstract provided.

The Struggle For Freedom, Justice, And Equality: The History Of The Journey Of Iranian Women In The Last Century, Poupak Tafreshi

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

No abstract provided.

Surface Reactivity And Dissolution Rate Of Galena: Potential Impact Of Co2 Leakage From Geological Carbon Sequestration On Groundwater Quality, Kathleen O'Malley

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Geological carbon sequestration is one promising solution to mitigating CO2 emissions and curtailing global

Female Humpback Whale (Megaptera Novaeangliae) Reproductive Class And Male-Female Interactions During The Breeding Season, Meagan E. Jones

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study examined whether female reproductive class (i.e., presence or absence of a calf) in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) affects female behavior and male-female interactions on the Hawaiian breeding grounds. From 2003-2008, 295 female-calf groups (with or without a male escort) and 256 female no-calf groups (with a male) were observed. Forty-one female no-calf groups were confirmed male-female pairs by genetic sexing or photo-identification. Focal follows of 36 male-female pairs and 50 female-calf groups (29 escorted and 21 unescorted female-calf groups) were analyzed for time budget and movement estimates. Relative fluke size (fluke photogrammetry, n=30) and sighting histories …

Characterization Of Phenolics Composition In Lamiaceae Spices By Lc-Esi-Ms/Ms, Mohammad Hossain, Dilip Rai, Nigel Brunton, Ana Belen Martin-Diana, Catherine Barry-Ryan

Articles

A total of 38 phenolic compounds in the solid/liquid extracts of five Lamiaceae spices such as rosemary, oregano, sage, basil and thyme were identified in the present study using LC-ESI-MS/MS. These compounds were distributed in four major categories namely hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, flavonoids and phenolic terpenes. Among them, the category of flavonoids was the largest with 17 compounds. Identification of the phenolic compounds was carried out by comparing retention times and mass spectra with those of authentic standards. In case of unavailability of standards, phenolic compounds were identified based on accurate mass of pseudomolecular [M-H]- ions and …

An Evaluation Of A Community Dietetics Intervention On The Management Of Malnutrition For Healthcare Professionals, Sharon Kennelly, N. P. Kennedy, G. Flanaghan-Rughoobur, C. Glennon-Slattery, Sheila Sugrue

Articles

Background: Healthcare professionals working in the community setting have limited knowledge of the evidence-based management of malnutrition. The present study aimed to evaluate a community dietetics intervention, which included an education programme for healthcare professionals in conjunction with the introduction of a community dietetics service for patients ‘at risk’ of malnutrition. Changes in nutritional knowledge and the reported management of malnourished patients were investigated and the acceptability of the intervention was explored. Methods: An education programme, incorporating ‘Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)’ training, was implemented in eight of 10 eligible primary care practices (14 general practitioners and nine practice nurses …

Quantitative Modelling Approaches For Ascorbic Acid Degradation And Non-Enzymatic Browning Of Orange Juice During Ultrasound Processing, Vasilis Valdramidis, Patrick J. Cullen, Brijesh Tiwari, Colm O’Donnell

Articles

The objective of this study was to develop a deterministic modelling approach for non-enzymatic browning (NEB) and ascorbic acid (AA) degradation in orange juice during ultrasound processing. Freshly squeezed orange juice was sonicated using a 1,500 W ultrasonic processor at a constant frequency of 20 kHz and processing variables of amplitude level (24.4 – 61.0 μm), temperature (5 – 30 oC) and time (0 – 10 min). The rate constants of the NEB and AA were estimated by a primary model (zero and first order) while their relationship with respect to the processing factors was tested for a number of …

Study Of The Microbial Diversity And Antimicrobial Properties Of Irish Edible Brown Seaweeds, Shilpi Gupta, Gaurav Rajauria, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam

Articles

Brown Irish edible seaweeds, Himanthalia elongata, Laminaria sachharina and Laminaria digitata, were evaluated for the microbiota in raw and heat processed form. Raw seaweeds showed complete absence of aerobic mesophiles, halophiles, yeasts and molds. However, heating at 85 C for 15 min resulted in spore germination. Bacterial counts as high as 107 were observed for aerobic mesophiles and halophiles. Heating above 95 C for 15 min resulted in complete inactivation of surface microflora. Bacteria belonging to Bacillaceae, Paenibacillaceae, Moraxellaceae and Enterobacteriaceae family were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. In vitro antimicrobial activity of the methanolic extracts of the seaweed on …

Modelling The Growth Inhibition Of Common Food Spoilage And Pathogenic Micro-Organisms In Presence Of Solvent Extract From Irish York Cabbage, Shilpi Gupta, Amit Jaiswal, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam

Articles

Preservatives are required to maintain the quality, extend shelf life, and ensure safety of fresh and processed food products. Although chemical preservatives form an essential part in food preservation, legislation has restricted their use in different foods. Vegetables in the Brassica family (Cabbage, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts) are a rich source of a number of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, glucosinolates and their breakdown products which may have antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer properties. The present study investigates the antimicrobial activities of solvent extract from Irish York cabbage, Brocolli and Brussels Sprouts on the growth inhibition of common food spoilage (Listeria monocytogenes …