Digital Commons Network^™

Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Provides Protection Against Injury-Induced Thrombosis In Female Mice, Rita K. Upmacis, Hao Shen, Lea Esther S. Benguigui, Brian D. Lamon, Ruba S. Deeb, Katherine A. Hajjar, David P. Hajjar

Faculty Papers and Publications

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important vasoactive molecule produced by three NO synthase (NOS) enzymes: neuronal (nNOS), inducible (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS). While eNOS contributes to blood vessel dilation that is generally thought to protect against the development of hypertension, iNOS has been primarily implicated as a disease-promoting isoform leading to protein-bound 3-nitrotyrosine formation in aortic lesions and select organs during atherogenesis. Despite this, iNOS may also play a physiological role, via the modulation of cyclooxygenase and thromboregulatory eicosanoid production. Herein, we examined the role of iNOS in a murine model of thrombosis. Blood flow was measured in carotid …

Access To Adequate Outpatient Depression Care For Mothers In The Usa: A Nationally Representative Population-Based Study, Whitney P. Witt, Abiola O. Keller, Carrisa Gottlieb, Kristin Litzelman, John Hampton, Jonathan Maguire, Erika W. Hagen

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Maternal depression is often untreated, resulting in serious consequences for mothers and their children. Factors associated with receipt of adequate treatment for depression were examined in a population-based sample of 2,130 mothers in the USA with depression using data from the 1996–2005 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Chi-squared analyses were used to evaluate differences in sociodemographic and health characteristics by maternal depression treatment status (none, some, and adequate). Multivariate regression was used to model the odds of receiving some or adequate treatment, compared to none. Results indicated that only 34.8% of mothers in the USA with depression received adequate treatment. Mothers …

Evaluation Of Species Distribution Model Algorithms For Fine-Scale Container-Breeding Mosquito Risk Prediction, C. Khatchikian, Florencia Sangermano, D. Kendell, T. Livdahl

Geography

The present work evaluates the use of species distribution model (SDM) algorithms to classify high densities of small container-breeding Aedes mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) on a fine scale in the Bermuda Islands. Weekly ovitrap data collected by the Department of Health, Bermuda for the years 2006 and 2007 were used for the models. The models evaluated included the algorithms Bioclim, Domain, GARP (genetic algorithm for rule-set prediction), logistic regression and MaxEnt (maximum entropy). Models were evaluated according to performance and robustness. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate each model's performance, and robustness was assessed according …

Anatomical Identification Of Primary Auditory Cortex In The Developing Gerbil, Luis Pendola

Dissertations and Theses

Cortical development is an active field of study. The gerbil provides an excellent model for research because at the moment of birth its brain is rather immature, anatomically and functionally. Furthermore, the gerbil auditory cortex is particularly amenable to investigation in that the gerbil's onset of hearing occurs approximately after 14 days of postnatal life. Despite these advantages of the gerbil for auditory cortex development not much is known about the anatomy of the postnatal gerbil auditory cortex. For example, where is the gerbil auditory cortex? Prior to the onset of hearing, sounds cannot be used to localize auditory cortex. …

Healthy Choices; Preferential Foraging Of Insects Within Senescent, But Nutrient-Rich, Tropical Flowers., Amie Whigman

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

The Development Of Hearing In Rats; Reliability Of Wave 1 As A Determinant Of Auditory Maturation And Contributions Of Peripheral Structure Progression, Aminat Saliu

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Bone Tissue Quality Determination Of Mice Through A Novel Reference Point Indentation Technique, Matin Lendhey

Dissertations and Theses

"Bone strength deteriorates with age; which increases the susceptibility to fracture. Current clinical techniques for the estimation of bone strength are largely Bone Mineral Density (BMD) based. However, toughness, which is the ability to resist crack growth, plays a critical role in bones‟ fracture resistance. Traditionally, toughness measurements involve large samples, obviating their use clinically. Recent data suggest that a reference point indentation approach provides a novel, localized measure of toughness from whole bones. In the current research, we evaluated the sensitivity of this method to discriminate small known differences in fracture toughness that exist between inbred mouse strains with …

Development Of An Approach To Increase Drug Uptake To Bone Tumors Using Non-Invasive Mechanical Loading, Paolo E. Palacio

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis develops an approach to enhance drug delivery to bone tumors by implementing a non-invasive mechanical loading technique. An imaging protocol that characterizes the load-enhanced drug uptake is also presented. The long-term goal of this work is to develop a clinical protocol that enhances the delivery of therapeutic agents to bone tumors by utilizing load-bearing activity. This easy-to-implement approach could help increase drug uptake into the tumor interstitial fluid space as well as into tumor cells, thereby enhancing a drug's clinical effect while decreasing systemic drug dosage and unwanted side effects. This thesis details the process used to grow …

Evaluation Of A Novel Self-Assembled Nanocoating In Promoting Bone On-Growth And Apposition On Metal, Hani Ghazi

Dissertations and Theses

"Loosening of metal is the leading cause of clinical failures of orthopedic surgeries. A novel coating of self-assembled monolayer of phosphonate molecules (SAMP) that chemically enhances metallic surfaces by covalently bonding to their naturally occurring oxidized surfaces has been developed.1 The SAMP coating is chemically stable, and its in-vitro results showed that it promotes cell proliferation, osteoblast adhesion and enhances biological attachment to metal surfaces.1 The purpose of this study is to establish the efficacy of this novel chemical surface treatment in improving the fixation of metallic implants in both cortical and cancellous bone over a conventional untreated implant. We …

Synthesis Of Alkynyl Ribofuranosides, Christian Rodriguez

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Assessment And Classification Of The Coastal Regulation Zone Of Bhanvngar District And Digital Elevation Modeling Of Gujarat State, India; Using Remote Sensing And Gis, Pinak Pandya

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Development Of An Inline Cleaning Procedure And A Concentration Method For Analyzing Low Levels Of Organophosphate Flame Retardants And Plasticizers In Sediment, Olgica Vezmar

Dissertations and Theses

"To minimize the background contamination of organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizes (OPFPs) during sediment analysis, an inline cleaning procedure was developed to clean materials (extraction cell, glass fiber filters, diatomic earth, and aluminum oxide) involved in sediment extraction using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). The materials remain in the extraction cell until sediment extraction takes place, at which time the top 5 grams or so diatomic earth was taken out, sediment was added together with the surrogate standard, and extracted. This inline method minimizes transfer and exposure of diatomic earth and aluminum oxide with possible sources of OPFPs in the laboratory. …

Climate Torts And Ecocide In The Context Of Proposals For An International Environmental Court, Patrick Foster

Dissertations and Theses

"This thesis is an exploration of two questions that are neither novel nor lacking in exploration: Is an International Environmental Court (IEC) needed? Is such a court feasible? Proposals for an IEC have a rich history, are well founded and numerous. On the issue of necessity, this thesis attempts to pull together historical and current information on two distinct areas of international environmental law and use these analyses to contextualize the need for an international environmental tribunal. Arguments for and against an IEC are presented within a discussion of environmental diplomacy. This thesis begins with a legal discussion of potential …

Marxist Insurgencies And Indigenous Rights; The Cases Of Guatemala And Peru, Cocco Valentina

Dissertations and Theses

"The main purpose of this research is to understand the nature of the relationship between leftist armed guerrillas and indigenous rights in the Latin American region. I argue that the ethnic component and indigenous mobilization have greatly determined the political and social achievements of Marxist insurgencies active in many countries of the sub-continent during the second half of the twentieth century. In order to test my hypothesis, I devote particular attention to the historical exposition and critical analysis of both the ethnic problem and Marxism, in its European, Russian, Chinese, and Latin American versions. Subsequently, I focus on the case …

The Implementation Of The Rights Of The Child; Transcending The Traditional Practice Of Child Marriage In Niger, Yemen, And Thailand, Evette Rivera

Dissertations and Theses

"Child marriage is a harmful traditional practice that affects approximately 60 million children around the globe. This thesis examines the different laws that protect children from this practice and analyzes its implementation in countries where traditional practices violate children’s rights. International provisions, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, charges state parties with the responsibility to protect their children. Each state has the capacity to transcend traditional practices and implement local laws that protect their children. This thesis claims that mobilization of advocacy groups is vital in promoting the well-being of children even when the norms established …

The Influence Of Contraception On Abortion Among Women Of Reproductive Age In The United States, Richard J. Fehring

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

There is a common notion that contraception is necessary for women (and couples) to avoid unwanted pregnancies and abortions. The thesis of this paper is that contraception actually will lead to more (not less) abortions. On the other hand, the use of natural family planning (NFP) and the acceptance of fertility lend itself to the openness to life. The specific purpose of the paper is to describe the influence of contraceptive use and NFP on the likelihood of having an abortion among United States (US) women of reproductive age as found in Cycle 7 of the National Survey of Family …

Mikhail Gorbachev And His Role In The Peaceful Solution Of The Cold War, Natalia Zemtsova

Dissertations and Theses

"The role of a political leader has always been important for understanding both domestic and world politics. The most significant historical events are usually associated in our minds with the images of the people who were directly involved and who were in charge of the most crucial decisions at that particular moment in time. Thus, analyzing the American Civil War, we always mention the great role and the achievements of Abraham Lincoln as the president of the United States. We cannot forget about the actions of such charismatic leaders as Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Franklin D. Roosevelt …

Biological Reserves Under Climate Change; A Case Study In Brazil's Atlantic Rainforest, Maria Amin

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

A Study On The Use Of Inverse Opals Composed Of Zinc Oxide Aggregate Popcorn Particles To Improve The Efficiency Of Dye- Sensitized Solar Cells, Roger Chang

Dissertations and Theses

"In this work, modifications applicable to the working electrode of a dye--‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC) are explored in order to enhance efficiency. Certain compositional and structural changes to the architecture of the electrode are examined. First, the ZnO nanoparticles that are commonly utilized in DSSCs are replaced with ZnO nanoparticle aggregates, also known as ZnO popcorn particles. Subsequently, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is used to assemble the popcorn particles into an inverse opal structure. This is a unique application of EPD, which has previously been used to infiltrate nanoparticles (d ≤20nm range) Into opal templates, demonstrating the applicability of the technique …

Four Stories By Donato Silenzio, Domenick Acocella

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

The Gospel Of Winter, Brendan Kiely

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

The Significance Of The Other: Stories, Mara Lee Grayson

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Grunt Of Beauty Poems, Erienne Rojas

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Four Stories By Donato Silenzio, Domenick Acocella

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Factors Predicting Physical Activity Among Older Thais Living In Low Socioeconomic Urban Communities, Phachongchit Kraithaworn, Yupapin Sirapo-Ngam, Noppawan Piaseu, Dechavudh Nityasuddhi, Kimberlee A. Gretebeck

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This study was conducted to determine if specific factors (physical activity self-efficacy, sense of community, social support, perceived physical and mental health, and neighborhood environment and facilities) predicted physical activity among 258 older Thais living in six registered, low-socioeconomic, urban communities across metropolitan Bangkok. The theoretical model was based on integrated concepts from Pender’s Health Promotion Model and the Social Ecological Model. The hypothesized model was tested using path analysis.

The final model explained 33%, 51% and 22% of the variance in physical activity, physical activity self-efficacy and sense of community, respectively. Physical activity self-efficacy was the most powerful predictor …

Quantifying The Association Between Diet And Coronary Heart Disease Risk In The United States, John Giardina

Holster Scholar Projects

No abstract provided.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls Exposure And Breast Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis Of The Epidemiologic Evidence, Ye Sun

Holster Scholar Projects

No abstract provided.

Does The Mind Extend Out Into The World, Andrew D. Kishino

CMC Senior Theses

The extended mind debate juggles the possibilities of whether or not the mind extends out into the world. Today, with the rise in technology, we have an additional claim that our tools are responsible for extending our minds. The internet, smart phones, and other tools give us a foothold in the extended mind debate by providing real world examples of how our mind is perceived as extending out into the world. In discovering where the divide between mind and environment exists we can come up with a conclusion whether or not the mind truly extends out into the world.

The Human Color: Rooting Black Ideology In Human Rights, A Historical Analysis Of A Political Identity, Milan Reed

CMC Senior Theses

In the 20th century the relationship between African-Americans and Africa grew into a prominent subject in the lives and perspectives of people who claim African
heritage because almost every facet of American life distinguished people based on skin color. The prevailing discourse of the day said that the way a person looked was deeply to who they were.1 People with dark skin were associated with Africa, and the notion of this connection has survived to this day. Scholars such as Molefi Kete Asante point to cultural retentions as evidence of the enduring connection between African-Americans and Africa, while any person …

Sustainability Reporting Of Eighteen Fortune 500 General Merchandising Companies: How These Companies Address World Environmental And Social Issues, Jaclyn D'Arcy

CMC Senior Theses

Climate change affects the health of people and the environment.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published research that explains the danger of greenhouse gas emissions on humans, wildlife, and the planet.  Initiatives and policies are enacted every day to counter the harm that is done to the environment.  Many companies now publish environmental impact reports or Corporate Sustainability Reports (CSR) to promote industry transparency.  Participating in environmental and social initiatives is also a competitive advantage for these Fortune 500 companies.  Customers can support a company based on their environmental friendliness or social responsibility.  Companies are then encouraged to …