Digital Commons Network^™

Erythropoiesis In The Absence Of Adult Hemoglobin, Shanrun Liu

All ETDs from UAB

The mammalian erythrocyte is a highly specialized blood cell that differentiates via an orderly series of committed progenitors in the bone marrow in a process termed erythropoiesis. During erythroid development, hemoglobin synthesis increases from early erythroid progenitors to mature enucleated red blood cells (RBCs). Although hemoglobin is the most extensively studied protein in history, the role, if any, that hemoglobin plays in erythroid development remains obscure. In this study, I ask the question what happens during erythropoiesis in the absence of hemoglobin. I demonstrate that my original hypothesis that excess free heme would accumulate in the absence of globin chain …

Sexual Orientation And Risk: Patterns Of Association Across Outcomes, Penny S. Loosier

All ETDs from UAB

This study highlights associations between sexual orientation and risk outcomes in late adolescence and early adulthood using an expanded measure of sexual orientation. Recent data indicate higher levels of risk behavior in a newly identified population, mostly heterosexuals, as compared to heterosexuals. Comparisons among groups using an expanded measure of sexual orientation such as this, however, often do not include all possible groups or may restrict comparisons between groups. Data were derived from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health); participants identified as heterosexual, mostly heterosexual, bisexual, mostly gay, or gay. Risk outcomes were parental mistreatment, home displacement, …

Identification Of Putative Gene Targets Of Pgc-1alpha In The Brain: Insights Into Inhibitory Neuron Maturation, Physiology, And Behavior, Elizabeth Lucas

All ETDs from UAB

The transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) is a master regulator of energy homeostasis in peripheral tissues, and it has been assumed that PGC-1α plays a similar role in the brain. Previous work has shown that PGC-1α localizes to neurons that express high levels of the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase of 67 kDa (GAD67) during early postnatal development, leading us to hypothesize that PGC-1α regulates gene expression primarily in GABAergic neurons. We initially investigated the distribution of inhibitory neuron markers in PGC-1α -/- mice and observed a striking reduction in expression of the Ca2+-binding protein parvalbumin …

The Effects Of Simvastatin On Learning And Memory Mechanisms In Mice, Robert Mans

All ETDs from UAB

Statins, a widely prescribed class of cholesterol-lowering drug, inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Due to the identification of cholesterol as a risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), a number of studies have examined whether statins are neuroprotective against developing AD or dementia. While some epidemiological studies do indicate a lower prevalence of AD in people taking statins, other reports are contradictory. A consensus has therefore not been reached regarding the neuroprotective effects of statin treatment. Aside from the well-characterized reduction in circulating cholesterol resulting from statin therapy, numerous cholesterol-independent, pleiotropic effects have been …

Analysis Of Nphp Complex Genetic Interactions Associated With Human Cilia Disorders, Svetlana Viktorovna Masyukova

All ETDs from UAB

Primary cilia are antenna-like organelles that extend from the surface of almost all mammalian cell types. They regulate many signaling pathways and sense physical and chemical changes in the extracellular environment. Defects in primary cilia cause several human disorders of different severity collectively called ciliopathies, including nephronophthisis (NPHP), Joubert syndrome (JBTS), and Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS). Numerous MKS, JBTS and NPHP genes have been identified but in most cases of these ciliopathies the genetic defect is unknown. Despite the fact that NPHP, JBTS and MKS patients present with distinct clinical features, they have mutations in identical genes. This can be explained …

Hemoglobin Switching, Thalassemia And Sickle Cell Disease In Humanized Knockin Mice, Sean Mcconnell

All ETDs from UAB

In this dissertation we describe knockin mouse models for the study of human hemoglobin disorders. These knockin human globin genes, in contrast to transgenes, replace the adult mouse globin genes, remain under control of endogenous mouse globin enhancer sequences and are inherited in a manner identical to globin alleles in man. Starting with various knockin alleles composed of unique human alpha, beta and gamma globin gene sequences, we evaluate several allele combinations towards our goal of generating improved models of thalassemia and sickle cells disease. We show that humanized knockin mice complete a fetal to adult hemoglobin switch during postnatal …

Alcoholic Women In Recovery: A Phenomenological Inquiry Of Spirituality And Recidivism Prevention, Jennifer Irene Mcleod

All ETDs from UAB

In the United States, 7-12% of women compared to 20% of men, abuse alcohol, yet the social and medical consequences impact women much harder and faster than men. Women aggrieved by alcoholism have unique health and social consequences which are not well understood because women have been marginalized in studies of alcoholism. Little is known about the nature of the lived experience of the recovery process in women who have achieved a stable recovery and prevented recidivism. The aim of this study was to describe the lived experiences of alcoholic women in a stable recovery, defined as sustained abstinence for …

Developmental Factors For Different Strains Of Medically Important Mosquitoes, Joel Abraham Morris

All ETDs from UAB

Competition between northern sympatric mosquitoes, Culex restuans and Culex pipiens pipiens, was evaluated in Illinois using different ratios of the two species. Similarly, competition between southern sympatric species, Culex restuans and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus, was evaluated in Alabama. Species ratios were repeated at biologically relevant temperatures and densities. Results for the northern study suggested that Cx. restuans survival was greater than Cx. pipiens across all treatment variables, whereas survival did not differ between the southern strains. Survival of both northern and southern strains of Cx. restuans increased with increasing competition, but southern strains of this species had poor survival in …

Factors Associated With Prescribing Antiviral Medications For Treatment Of Influenza Among Primary Care Physicians In The United States, Payal Patel

All ETDs from UAB

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that affects millions each year. The illness, if not contained, can be a paramount public health threat in the U.S. and the world. Primary care physicians play an essential role in administering antiviral medications as a treatment for influenza yet the factors that influence their prescribing of these medications remain unclear. The present study aims to identify factors associated with physicians' prescribing of antiviral medications in the ambulatory care setting. The data utilized for this study were obtained from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for each influenza season between the years of 2005-2008. …

The Aga Khan University Department Of Anaesthesiology (Resident's Manual), Aga Khan University

Department of Anesthesiology Archives

Historical Background and Introduction, List of Current Faculty, List of Graduates of the Programme To date, General and Specific Training Objectives, Handouts Given to Residents at the Beginning of Academic Year, Schedule of Rotations (YI YII YIII YIV), Rotation Specific Handouts (YI YII YIII YIV), Evaluation Forms, Teaching and Other Academic Activities, Educational Core Curriculum, List of Problem based Cases Currently Used, Leave Policy, Miscellaneous Guidelines and Forms, Acknowledgement

A Psychometric Analysis Of The Leader Resilience Profile©, Pamela E. Paustian

All ETDs from UAB

This study assesses the validity and reliability of the Leader Resilience Profile (LRP©), a quantitative survey instrument designed to measure the strength of multiple dimensions of resilience typically evident in leaders. Although content of the LRP© was initially tested for construct validity by a panel of experts, reliability and internal validity were not tested. The current research uses data gathered in a cross-sectional survey to analyze the individual instrument items and the instrument as a whole for internal consistency, validity, and reliability utilizing exploratory factor analysis. The study sample consisted of 327 LRP© surveys completed from January 2011 through August …

Labrad : Vol 36, Issue 1 - January 2011, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

LABRAD - Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Radiology Archives

• Routine and Special Liver Function Tests
• Management of Coagulopathy Associated with Liver Disease
• Significance of Clinical and Laboratory Scoring System in Diagnosis of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation in Chronic Liver Disease
• Laboratory Diagnosis of Hydatid Disease
• Laboratory Diagnosis of Amoebiasis
• Improvement of Bacteriological Yield of Liver Abscess by use of Anaerobic Chambers
• Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Tumours
• HER2 in Breast Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions
• Clinical Laboratory Continuing Medical Education (CME) Seminar
• World Blood Donor Day at Aga Khan University Blood Bank

Knowledge Of Management Of Musculoskeletal Problems: Assessment Of Students Enrolled In Four Professional Programs At The University Of Alabama At Birmingham, Patricia Lee Perez

All ETDs from UAB

Background: Previous studies point to inadequate knowledge of musculoskeletal medicine for both student and practicing physicians and physical therapists. Professions with practice regulations that allow direct access by the consumer to healthcare should be assessed to determine competence in managing musculoskeletal conditions. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if there is a difference in knowledge of the management of musculoskeletal conditions in students enrolled in four professional programs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Methods: Students enrolled in the last semester of medical school (MD), adult nurse practitioner (NP), physical therapy (PT) and physician assistant …

Robust Nonparametric Regression Approach For Competing Cause Censored Survival Mortality Data With Covariates, Milind Arvind Phadnis

All ETDs from UAB

In the case of two or more competing risks when only the time to the event due to one risk is observable with times due to the other outcomes treated as censored observations, standard methods of survival analysis fall short of assessing the association of a set of predictors with the outcomes of interest. This problem is particularly severe when there is a differential association of a predictor with two competing risks (harmful for one risk and protective for the other risk) such as stroke and myocardial infarction and in situations where the predictor is associated with only one risk …

The Association Between The Body Mass Index (Bmi) Of African American College Women And Their Exposure To Magazine Advertisements, Candice P. Prince

All ETDs from UAB

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and exposure to magazine advertisements among African-American college women aged 19 to 29. This study also sought to determine how personal, behavioral, and environmental factors affect the BMI of African-American college women. A sample of 252 African-American college women enrolled in undergraduate degree programs in the Southeast United States completed a web-based survey on their weight-related health behaviors and magazine usage. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and multivariable regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Bivariate correlations showed significant associations between BMI and several …

How Do Proponents And Opponents Of The United Nations Convention On The Rights Of The Child Explain Their Views Regarding Children's Participatory Rights? A Multiple Case Study, Marilee Manning Ransom

All ETDs from UAB

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), an international human rights treaty, has been ratified by every State except the United States and Somalia. It contains enumerated rights, including five articles pertaining to children's participation rights such as the right to speech, privacy, association, and religion. Ratification of the CRC is controversial, particularly because religious and social conservatives deem the CRC potentially harmful to families. Major education groups are among the myriad of CRC supporters in the Untied States. Thus far, supporters have been unable to achieve ratification. The purpose of this multiple case study was …

Parental Influences On Late Adolescents' Autonomous Motivation And Sexual Risk Knowledge And Behavior, Bettina Hornbuckle Riley

All ETDs from UAB

Adolescent risky sexual behavior is associated with unprotected sex, unplanned pregnancy, abortion, and contraction of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV/AIDS. During their time of transition to adulthood, late adolescents make decisions about their sexual health that may or may not be motivated by parental (mother and father) sexual risk communication and autonomy support. While the adolescent may be physically independent or semi-independent from his/her parents, parents continue to influence their adolescents through past and present endorsement of certain behaviors. This research examined how parent-sexual risk communication and parental autonomy support may individually and collectively …

Design Space Decomposition Using Concept Maps, David E. Robbins

All ETDs from UAB

Decomposition of engineering design spaces has been performed primarily through statistical and system identification techniques. However, no approach has yet attempted to capture the semantics of a design through decomposition. This thesis presents graphical techniques for capturing the semantics of a design by developing an information architecture through design space decomposition using concept maps. In particular, concept maps are used to begin identifying the top layers of the information architecture of a problem, which has the dual effects of performing an initial decomposition of the design space and refining the parameters that will define more detailed design spaces for further …

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 …

The Impact Of Stressful Neighborhoods On The Mental Health Of Emerging Adolescents, Vicki P. Winstead

All ETDs from UAB

Life within the ecological context of a disadvantaged and disordered neighborhood is characterized by daily exposure to chronic stressors which are often outside the realm of control of the individual and have negative consequences for the mental health of its residents and in particular, adolescents Using data from Healthy Passages, a multilevel, multi-method longitudinal study which examines health trajectories of adolescents over a ten year period, this paper examines whether daily exposure to a threatening environment in disadvantaged and disordered neighborhoods lead to depression in young people who are on the verge of adolescence. The current study tested the relationships …

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 …

Characterization And Modeling Of Styrene Emission From A Thermoset Composite Material, Shaun Anthony Crawford

All ETDs from UAB

Diffusive emissions of volatile compounds from building materials have been well documented as a source of indoor air pollution. While laboratory testing can quantify these emissions and predict volatile concentrations in indoor air, the ability to precisely model emission rates from any given building material would provide a useful tool to air quality professionals to anticipate, identify and mitigate potential sources of indoor air pollution. Composite materials, some made with vinyl ester resins, are replacing metal in transportation applications (bus bodies, airplane fuselages) but contain volatile styrene. Here, a mass transfer model for predicting volatile emissions from a dry building …

Social Connectedness And Its Association With Violence Commission In Adolescents Living In Low-Income Inner-City Neighborhoods, Thomas Norton Creger

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT For nearly two decades, violence has been viewed as a major public health issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4,141 young people between the ages of 10 and 19 were murdered in 2008, and over 480,238 young people were treated for violence-related injuries in U.S. emergency rooms that same year. That translates to an average of 11 young people murdered each day, and a daily average of 1,315 young people who sustained violence-related injuries so severe that they required treatment at a hospital. The purpose of this study was to test a multilevel model linking …

Cyclic Elongation And Pull Out Of Unicortical And Bicortical Suture Anchor Designs, Richard Justin Lesley

All ETDs from UAB

CYCLIC ELONGATION AND PULL OUT OF UNICORTICAL AND BICORTICAL SUTURE ANCHOR DESIGNS JUSTIN LESLEY BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING ABSTRACT A novel suture anchor design was introduced and biomechanically tested. The novel design involved lengthening a standard metal screw type anchor so as to achieve greater fixation in bone. Along with utilizing a greater amount of trabecular bone, this design also allows a second layer of cortical bone to be involved in order to further enhance fixation. This "bicortcal" design is intended to be used under unique clinical circumstances. Such circumstances may include RC repair in patients with extreme osteoporosis, in cases where …

Characterization Of Tbx20 Isoforms And Protein Interactions In Heart Development, Paige Debenedittis

All ETDs from UAB

Proper cardiogenesis is critical for the development of vertebrates. Abnormalities in cardiogenesis can lead to congenital heart defects (CHDs), which occur in approximately 1% of live births. The cardiac transcription factor network contains different transcription factor families which direct the expression of critical cardiac genes. Determining how the cardiac transcription factors are regulated will provide insight in the mechanisms of cardiogenesis and CHDs. The T-box (TBX) transcription factor family is an ancient gene family important for development. Several TBX genes are expressed within the developing heart and play critical roles in differentiation, proliferation, and morphogenesis. One important TBX protein is …

Health Status And Health Behavior As Factors Predicting Online Health Seeking, Timothy Hale

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine why people use the Internet for health-related purposes and whether this usage is part of larger pattern of health-promoting behaviors, or health lifestyle. Pierre Bourdieu's concept of habitus provides the key theoretical concept that links health lifestyle theory and the digital inequality framework to explain how socioeconomic status and level of Internet access may contribute to status-specific attitudes and behaviors, or lifestyles. Two dependent variables are used to measure online health behavior: (1) online health information seeking, and (2) an index constructed from six types of online health-related activities. Path analysis is …

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 …

Dreams Of A Far Away Land: Japanese Immigration To Peru, 1899-1950, Cheyenne Nicole Haney

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this research is to address the Japanese immigration to Peru and Japanese cultural traditions within Peru. It is necessary to note the reasons for emigration and effects of the conditions in Peru. Through the use of various sources, I will study the transition of culture and history of the Japanese community in Peru. Diplomatic relations between Japan and Peru began in 1872 after tensions surrounding the Maria Luz incident. It was not until 1899 that the two countries established a formal relationship. The Peruvians viewed the Japanese as a source of cheap labor. Ergo, an immigration policy, …