Digital Commons Network^™

Survival Analysis With Censored Outcomes, Henry T. Robertson

All ETDs from UAB

This dissertation is arranged in the three-paper format. The unifying theme of the dissertation is estimating longevity in terms of years of life lost (YLL). The papers are presented in order of increasing methodological focus. The first paper, No compelling evidence that sibutramine prolongs life in rodents despite providing a dose-dependent reduction in body weight, was published in the International Journal of Obesity in 2010. Although sibutramine reduced food intake and body weight, it had no association with longevity. The conclusions were based on data from a 2-year toxicology trial required by the FDA. Although this paper was largely applied …

Daoist Elements In Cai Guo-Qiang's Inopportune And Head On, Kelley Wockenfuss

All ETDs from UAB

This thesis explores the Daoist elements in two of contemporary Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang's (1957 - ) largest installations to date, Inopportune (2004) and Head On (2006). Comprising multi-media works including gunpowder paintings, simulated animal forms, and firework displays, the two installations explore themes related to the global threat of terrorism in Inopportune and the history of the Berlin Wall in Head On. In exploring these themes, Cai attempts to create a globally accessible dialogue by emphasizing universal elements related to the forces of creation and destruction. For this reason he implements the Daoist characteristics of yin and yang in …

High Resolution Analysis Of Clonal Pluripotent Stem Cell Lentiviral Gene Therapy In A Mouse Model Of Beta-Thalassemia, Rui Yang

All ETDs from UAB

Gene therapy for hematopoietic disorders using viral vectors has achieved significant clinical benefit. However this approach has been held back by adverse genotoxic events due to random viral integration into the genome. A better understanding of viral transgene chromosomal position effects is critical for the design of safer viral vectors and clinical protocols. However, detailed analysis of viral transgenes is hampered by the heterogeneity of the viral-transduced bone marrow cell populations. I hypothesized that viral transduction of pluripotent stem cells would enable the clonal analysis of viral transgene expression, safety, and efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. Here I …

Piggybac Transposon Mutagenesis In Human And Mouse Stem Cells, Tingting Zhang

All ETDs from UAB

The most common genetic diseases worldwide, £] thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) result from mutations in the adult £] globin gene. One promising therapeutic method to ameliorate these diseases is to reactivate the endogenous fetal f× globin gene. I hypothesize that an erythroid mutagenic transposon system can be used to activate f× globin gene expression. To test this hypothesis three lines of genetically modified mice were generated and bred together. The first is a transgenic mouse line that contains a multicopy array of erythroid mutagenic PiggyBac (PB) transposons. The second transgenic mouse line expresses the PB transposase (TPase) from …

Determining The Functional Role Of Trem-Like Transcript 2 In The Innate Immune Response, Matthew Martin Halpert

All ETDs from UAB

TLT2 is one of four receptors conserved between mouse and human within the TREM locus, and is expressed on B cells, macrophages, and neutrophils. TLT2 ligation on murine macrophages induces the production of chemokines and growth factors, as evidenced by ex vivo treatment with anti-TLT2 mAbs. This treatment did not lead to the upregulation of activation markers such as CD69 or costimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD86, indicating a specific response following TLT2 ligation. This is recapitulated in vivo following injection of anti-TLT2 mAbs resulting in the production of chemokines and growth factors, which ultimately lead to enhanced neutrophil …

Ampa Receptor Trafficking In Schizophrenia, John Hammond

All ETDs from UAB

The glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia is based primarily on NMDA receptor dysfunction. Recent studies have led to an expansion of this hypothesis to include AMPA receptors which are essential for neurotransmission through NMDA receptors. Examination of total AMPA receptor protein expression in schizophrenia has been inconsistent and led to examination of AMPA receptor interacting proteins and trafficking and subcellular localization of the receptors. AMPA receptors are highly trafficked from the endoplasmic reticulum to the synapse and in a complex system of endosomes. Alterations in the subcellular localization of these receptors may be a part of the underlying pathophysiology of schizophrenia. …

Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling Pathways During Mouse Heart Development: Roles For Chd7 And Mycn, Cristina Harmelink

All ETDs from UAB

Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling pathways are imperative for proper heart development. BMP ligands bind serine threonine kinase receptors, which activate intracellular receptor-regulated SMAD proteins. SMAD1, SMAD5, and SMAD8 transduce BMP signals from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, where they regulate transcription. We have investigated two aspects of BMP signaling during mouse cardiogenesis: identifying SMAD1-interacting proteins and exploring the roles of a known BMP target, Mycn, in the developing myocardium. Chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 7 (CHD7) is a highly conserved transcription factor that promotes protein synthesis, proliferation, and differentiation. Haploinsufficiency for CHD7 causes CHARGE syndrome, a developmental disorder characterized …

The Role Of Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress In Cardiovascular Disease Development, Corey Michael Harrison

All ETDs from UAB

An estimated 70 million Americans have one or more types of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although the sequence of events leading to CVD are still controversial, there is a general consensus that atherosclerotic lesions result from oxidative stress associated with risk factor. For this study, it was hypothesized that endogenous mitochondrial oxidative stress would influence susceptibility to atherogenesis and mitochondrial damage mediated by CVD risk factor exposure. To test this hypothesis, atherosclerotic lesion formation, oxidant stress, and mitochondrial DNA damage were assessed in hypercholestoremic mice (apolipoprotein E null - apoE -/- SOD2 +/+) and mice with significantly decreased levels of the …

The Role Of Ll-37 In Prostate Cancer And Its Potential As A Therapeutic Target, Jonathan Adam Hensel

All ETDs from UAB

LL-37 is the only cathelicidin-derived anti-microbial peptide in humans and has been shown to stimulate proliferation, angiogenesis, cellular migration and inhibit apoptosis, in addition to serving as a chemoattractant for leukocytes. It is produced primarily by epithelial cells and leukocytes, and has recently been discovered to be over-expressed in breast, ovarian and lung cancers. Based on these findings, we compared levels of LL-37 expression in benign and cancerous human prostate tissues. Results of this investigation demonstrated that LL-37 is increasingly over-expressed in primary prostate tumors in a grade dependent manner and in metastatic lesions. Since the physiological mechanisms of LL-37 …

Protein Modifications And The Response To Oxidized Lipids In Cardiovascular Cells, Ashlee Higdon

All ETDs from UAB

Free radical catalyzed oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as arachidonic acid is increased in cardiovascular disease states, including atherosclerosis and heart failure. Oxidized lipids have been extensively studied and found to recapitulate several key steps in atherogenesis. However, clinical trials with antioxidants such as alpha-tocopherol have been less promising than originally predicted. Now appreciated as more than just biomarkers of disease, lipid peroxidation products have been shown to have roles in pathogenesis as well as physiology. Of particular interest are reactive lipid species that possess electrophilic carbonyls enabling them to act in a receptor-independent manner. To date, the …

The Role Of Cd19 In Follicular Dendritic Cell Activation, Riley Croom Myers

All ETDs from UAB

Germinal Centers (GC) are organized foci in secondary lymphoid organs of birds and mammals and are the principle sites of memory B cell generation and plasma cell formation. GC concentrate antigen within follicles to facilitate recognition by responding B cells to promote somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation. Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) reside within the light zones of GC and serve to facilitate B cell interactions with antigen, as well as B cell selection, proliferation, and survival. The work contained within this dissertation addresses the collaborative interactions between B cells and FDC. FDC within an active, GC-containing follicle express an array …

Sacred Times: The Book Of Jubilees At Qumran, J. Amanda Mcguire

Papers

Given the evidence that Jubilees was so influential at Qumran, this paper seeks to answer the following questions: How did the book of Jubilees understand sacred times in general and the Sabbath in particular? How did its sacred time theology affect the theology of the Qumran community? This paper will not contribute any novel or unique ideas regarding either Jubilees or the Qumran community, as such. It will, however, endeavor to bring the various facets of scholarship on the subjects together, making the relationship between the two more concrete.

The European Union After Lisbon: Is The Ugly Duckling A Swan Yet, James D. Dinnage

Villanova Law Review (1956 - )

An essay is presented on the political and social conditions in the European Union (EU) as of July 2011, focusing on the impact felt by the EU from the 2007 signing of the Treaty of Lisbon which amends the Treaty of Maastricht. A historical overview of the EU is presented, as well as information on the requirement that the EU countries abide by the terms of the European Convention on Human Rights.

2011-2012 Risd Course Announcement, Risd Registrar's Office, Risd Archives

RISD Course Catalogs / Announcements

No abstract provided.

Clear Rules - Not Necessarily Simple Or Accessible Ones, Lumen N. Mulligan

Faculty Works

In The Complexity of Jurisdictional Clarity, 97 VA. L. REV. 1 (2011), Professor Dodson argues that the traditional call for clear and simple rules über alles in subject matter jurisdiction is misplaced. In this response essay, I begin by arguing that Dodson, while offering many valuable insights, does not adequately distinguish between the separate notions of simplicity, clarity, and accessibility. Second, I note that crafting a clarity enhancing rule, even if complex and inaccessible, may be a more promising endeavor than the search for a regime that is at once clear, simple and accessible. In the third section, I contend …

The Garden State Just Got Greener: New Jersey Is The Fourteenth State In The Nation To Legalize Medical Marijuana, Melissa Brown

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Jury's Second Coming, Jenny E. Carroll

Articles

This article explores the controversial issue of jury nullification by reconceptualizing nullification through the lens of the Supreme Court's recent decisions beginning with Apprendi v New Jersey Apprendi's embrace of the jury's historical powers "” require a rejection of the formalized and static paradigm in favor of a more fluid vision of the law Despite extensive scholarship surrounding Apprendi an innovative though admittedly counterintuitive reading of the case line has been overlooked This reading draws on Apprendi's embrace of a vision of the law constructed and completed through jury interpretation and verdict Interpreted in this way the Apprendi case line …

Milton Three Ponds, Cooperative Extension

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Cupola, 2011, Western New England College

Yearbooks

Western New England University was founded in 1919 as the Springfield Division of Northeastern University. The senior yearbooks bore the name of Northeastern University in some way until 1953. The yearbook was given its present day title, The Cupola, in 1961. Yearbooks contain photos of graduating seniors, campus events, student clubs and organizations, faculty and staff, athletic teams and events, and other memorable occasions from the academic year.

(Wp 2011-01) Kenneth Boulding As A Moral Scientist, John B. Davis

Economics Working Papers

Kenneth Boulding’s AEA presidential address argued that economics is a moral science. His view derived from his general systems theory thinking, his three systems view of human society, and his early contributions to evolutionary economics. Boulding’s argument that economics could not be value-free should be distinguished from other well-known views of economics as a moral science, such as Gunnar Myrdal’s. This paper discusses the development and nature of Boulding’s thinking about economics as a moral science in the larger context of his thinking.

The Globalization Of Corporate Law: The End Of History Or A Never-Ending Story?, Franklin A. Gevurtz

McGeorge School of Law Scholarly Articles

Considerable scholarship during the last few decades addresses the question of whether corporate laws are becoming global by converging on commonly accepted approaches. Some scholars have asserted that such convergence is occurring around the most efficient laws and institutions, thereby marking the “End of History” for corporate law. This Article responds to such assertions by developing three claims not previously given due attention in the convergence literature. First, it demonstrates that the history of corporations and corporate law has been one of seemingly constant movement toward global convergence, yet the resulting convergence is always incomplete or transitory. Next, it points …

Effects Of Solids Loadings And Particle Size Distribution On Siphon Ceramic Candle Filters, Danielle Renzi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the rural areas of Madagascar only 29% of the population has access to clean water and 10% has access to improved sanitation. It has been estimated that environmental risk factors, such as inadequate access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation, are responsible for 94% of the diarrheal disease burden. This study was focused on testing a point-of-use technology called the Tulip filter, which is a siphon ceramic candle filter impregnated with silver. The purpose is to assess its feasibility for implementation in rural regions of Madagascar through a laboratory study performed at the University of South Florida.

The …

Decision Aid Models For Resource Sharing Strategies During Global Influenza Pandemics, Alfredo Santana Reynoso

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Pandemic influenza outbreaks have historically entailed significant societal and economic disruptions. Today, our quality of life is threatened by our inadequate preparedness for the imminent pandemic. The key challenges we are facing stem from a significant uncertainty in virus epidemiology, limited response resources, inadequate international collaboration, and the lack of appropriate science-based decision support tools. The existing literature falls short of comprehensive models for global pandemic spread and mitigation which incorporate the heterogeneity of the world regions and realistic travel networks. In addition, there exist virtually no studies which quantify the impact of resource sharing strategies among multiple countries. This …

Generation And Application Of Antigen-Specific Induced Regulatory T Cells In Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation, Kenrick Semple

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

CD28 co-stimulation is required for the generation of naturally occurring regulatory T cells (nTregs) in the thymus through Lck-signaling. However, high level of CD28 suppresses the generation of induced Tregs (iTregs) from naïve CD4 T cells, although underlying mechanism(s) has not been defined. Here we investigated the role of CD28-mediated signaling pathways in the suppression of Treg generation. We used a series of transgenic (Tg) mice on CD28-deficient background that bears WT CD28 or mutated CD28 in its cytosolic tail incapable of binding to Lck, PI3K or Itk. Regardless of exogenous IL-2, strong CD28 costimulation suppressed iTreg generation through Lck …

Novel Roles For The Transcriptional Repressor Prdm1 In Human Natural Killer Cells And Identification Of An Inhibitor Of Its Interacting Methyltransferase G9a, Matthew Adams Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The studies presented within this dissertation provide the first description of PRDM1 (also known as Blimp-1 or PRDI-BF1) function in natural killer cells. NK cells are major effectors of the innate immune response via antigen-independent cytotoxicity and link to the adaptive immune response through cytokine release. Molecular mechanisms mediating NK activation are relatively well-studied; however, much less is known about the mechanisms that restrain activation.

In the first study, the transcriptional repressor PRDM1 is shown to be a critical negative regulator of NK function. Microarray analysis was used to characterize transcriptional changes associated with cytokine-mediated activation. PRDM1 is expressed at …

Late Cretaceous Faunal Dynamics In The Western Interior Seaway: The Record From The Red Bird Section, Eastern Wyoming, Joshua Stephen Slattery

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Studies examining bioevents (e.g., mass extinctions, faunal turnovers, diversification events) usually only scrutinize a short interval prior to such events, however, understanding their actual paleobiological implications requires a thorough understanding of the background conditions. The objective of this study is to document the background biodiversity dynamics in a single lithofacies of the Upper Cretaceous Pierre Shale that was deposited in an offshore setting of the Western Interior Seaway (WIS) and to place these changes into an environmental context. To assess the background biodiversity dynamics, the concretionary faunas of the Baculites eliasi through B. clinolobatus biozones of the Pierre Shale in …

Evolution/Creationism Controversy: Analysis Of Past And Current Policies In Public Schools And The Practice Of Allowing Students To Opt-Out Of Learning Evolution Concepts, Jacquelyn Hoffmann Speake

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent anti-evolution legislation, in the form of Academic Freedom bills, has been introduced in many state legislatures over the last three years. The language in the proposed Academic Freedom bills may allow different interpretations of what can be taught in the science classrooms, and possibly spur parents to take advantage of their perceived parental rights to request their child be opted-out of class when the scientific theory of evolution is taught. Five research questions guided the analysis of participant responses to questions and perception statements focusing on secondary school administrators' actions, perceptions, and awareness as they relate to their decision …

An Archaeological And Archival Appraisal Of "Spanish Indians" On The West Coast Of Florida In The Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries, Margaret Stack

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Spanish Indian is a generic term that has been used repeatedly in written documents over the past three centuries to describe a range of different social, ethnic, and economic groups in the southeastern United States. In this thesis, a comparative analysis of the material culture from Cuban fishing ranchos of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries on the west coast of Florida addresses the ways in which specific Spanish Indian artifact assemblages fit into the archaeological record. Three archaeological assemblages from known Rancho sites are detailed and analyzed. In addition, this thesis details a public archaeology project undertaken in conjunction with …

National Identity, Gender, And Genre: The Multiple Marginalization Of Lotte Reiniger And The Adventures Of Prince Achmed (1926), K. Vivian Taylor

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Contemporary American visual culture is saturated with animation, from websites and advertisements to adult and children's television programs. Animated films have dominated the American box office since Toy Story (1995) and show no signs of relenting, as demonstrated by Up (2009) and Alice in Wonderland (2010). Scholarly interest in animation has paralleled the steady rise of the popularity of the medium. Publications addressing animation have migrated from niche journals, such as such as Animation Journal and Wide Angle, to one of the most mainstream English-language publications, the Modern Language Association's Profession, which included Judith Halberstam's article "Animation" in …

The Abjection Of The Pythia, Alaina Dyann Tackitt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent academic research has garnered considerable popular interest on the matter of whether the Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi, was high. Current findings aim to prove that vapors emitted from beneath the tripod on which the Pythia prophesied were intoxicating, thereby causing her frenzied state and statements. Contemporary scientists’ intense interest in proving that the Pythia was not prophetic evokes the question of why the once widely accepted, now generally rejected, idea that a female body can serve as a vessel for the words of the immortal deity holds such significance for modern science. When this curiosity is considered in …