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Comparative Ultrasonographic Study Of The Prostate Complex And Bulbourethral Glands Of The Domestic Rabbit (Oryctolagus Cuniculus), Rosen Dimitrov, Kamelia Stamatova

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of the present study was to provide a comparative description of the rabbit prostate complex and bulbourethral glands by means of ultrasonography, in order to obtain results that may be useful for the diagnosis of reproductive pathology in this species. The prostate and bulbourethral glands were studied sonographically in 12 sexually mature, clinically healthy male New Zealand rabbits that were 12 months old and weighed 2.8 to 3.2 kg. The prostate complex, composed of proprostate, prostate, and paraprostate parts, was observed using prepubic ultrasonography in sagittal and transversal planes and presented a hyperechoic stroma. The bulbourethral glands were …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

No abstract provided.

Happily Ever After: Construction Of Family In Disney Princess Collection Films, Jennifer Hecht

Master's Theses

This thesis examined the role and characterization of family members in Disney princess films. The purpose of this study was to fill gaps in previous research on the Disney princess films by analyzing the themes and collection as a whole, including the newest film in the collection, The Princess and the Frog. Using content analysis, this study identified three variables that were present in every Disney princess film in the collection - nuclear family, love, and appearance. The researcher found little family diversity in terms of types of households, parenting roles, and characterization of family members. Siblings were especially underrepresented. …

Halogenation Enzymes In Bacteria Associated With The Red-Banded Acorn Worm, Ptychodera Jamaicensis, Milena May Lilles

Master's Theses

Organohalogens have diverse biological functions in the environment. Marine acorn worms produce brominated products that may act as antifoulants, chemical deterrents, and substrates in bioluminescence reactions. Haloperoxidases purified from the homogenates of acorn worms synthesize bromophenols. Commensal or mutualistic bacteria living on the worms may produce halogenation enzymes that brominate organics.

The genomic DNA of 48 bacterial isolates from the surface of the red-banded acorn worm, Ptychodera jamaicensis, was extracted and screened for bromoperoxidase and FADH2-dependent halogenase genes. A 16S rDNA phylogenetic tree showed that the isolates were gram-positive bacteria and included 36 Firmicutes and 12 Actinobacteria. Nineteen isolates had …

Emancipatory Pedagogy Through Serialized Heuristic Reflection: Fostering Self-Awareness Of Dental Students' Prejudicial Beliefs, Deborah Narcisso

Master's Theses

This study investigated dental students' prejudicial beliefs towards underserved patient populations as an upstream constituent of provider attitudinal barriers to care. The objectives were to explore the nature of prejudicial beliefs, to assess the value of critical reflection as essential preparation for patient care, and to identify insights that would inform the preclinical curriculum that, ultimately, reduce oral health disparity.

An original reflection assignment was introduced into the preclinical curriculum of first year dental students to journal about the legitimacy of their prejudicial beliefs. Results indicated dental students identified a range of prejudicial beliefs and, through self-direction, experienced awareness and …

Developing Criteria And Metrics For Assessing Recycled Water Program Effectiveness, Michelle Arias

Master's Theses

Many U.S. states are currently experiencing or expect to experience water shortages in the next ten years. Recycling water is one strategy states are pursuing to minimize water shortages. Many states, however, have been unable to reach goals for volume of water recycled, and many regional and municipal programs have been ineffective in meeting production goals. Existing literature focuses primarily on how to implement a program and defines success as the ability to establish a program. After several decades of recycled water use in the United States, there is a lack of accepted metrics that allow for a cross comparison …

Evaluation Of The Physicochemical Properties And Stability Of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Designed For The Delivery Of Dexamethasone To Tumors, Melissa Howard

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Pre-clinical and clinical trials suggest that pre-treatment with dexamethasone (Dex) may facilitate enhanced uptake of subsequently administered chemotherapeutic agents. To reduce the side effects associated with systemic administration of Dex, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) containing dexamethasone palmitate (Dex-P) were prepared as a means of achieving tumor-targeted drug delivery. These studies were aimed at evaluating the physicochemical properties and both the physiological and storage stability of the SLNs.

SLNs were prepared using nanotemplate engineering technology. Stearyl alcohol (SA) was used as the lipid phase with Brij^® 78 and Polysorbate 60 as surfactants and PEG6000 monostearate as a long-chain PEGylating agent. …

Ruminative Thought In Individuals With Borderline Personality Features, Brian Thomas Upton

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by patterns of intense negative affect, interpersonal difficulties, and maladaptive impulsive behaviors, and is associated with impairments in social and occupational functioning. Rumination is a maladaptive form of repetitive thought that maintains and intensifies emotional disturbance and is associated with behavioral dysregulation. This study tested several hypotheses about relationships between rumination and borderline personality features. This study included 117 college student participants, 88 female students and 29 male students, most of whom (84%) identified themselves as Caucasian. Participants completed a series of measures which included a writing sample to sample repetitive thought. Findings consistently …

Initial Design, Manufacture, And Testing Of A Cubelab Module Frame For Biological Payloads Aboard The International Space Station, Twyman Samuel Clements

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

This thesis investigates the design of a CubeLab Module frame to facilitate biological research aboard the International Space Station (ISS). With the National Laboratory designation of the ISS by the United States Congress the barriers for use of the facility have been lowered for commercial and academic entities, allowing greater volume and diversity in the research that can be done. Researchers in biology and other areas could benefit from development and adoption of a plug-and-play payload containment system for use in the microgravity/space environment of the ISS. This research includes design and analysis of such a system. It also includes …

Perch Landing Maneuvers And Control For A Rotating-Wing Mav, Jonathan Louis Lubbers

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

This thesis addresses flight control of the perch landing maneuver for micro-aerial vehicles. A longitudinal flight model is constructed for a pigeon-sized aircraft. In addition to a standard elevator control surface, wing-rotation also considered as a non-standard actuator for increasing low-speed aerodynamic braking. Optimal state and control trajectories for the perch landing maneuver are computed using commercial software. A neighboring optimal control law is then developed and implemented in a set of flight simulations. Simulations are run with both a quasisteady and an unsteady aerodynamic model. The effectiveness of wing rotation and of the neighboring optimal control law is discussed, …

Role Of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (Ace2) In Obesity-Associated Hypertension, Manisha Gupte

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine whether adipocytes express ACE2 and its role in obesity-associated hypertension with diet-induced obesity.

To determine if ACE2 was expressed in adipose tissue and its regulation in the setting of diet-induced obesity, we fed male mice either a low fat (LF) or high fat (HF) diet acutely (1 week) or chronically ( 4 months). We demonstrated that ACE2 was regulated specifically in adipose tissue with consumption of a HF diet. However, with chronic HF feeding adipose ACE2 was dysregulated resulting in activation of the systemic RAS and increased blood pressure.

To determine the …

Structures, Roles And Relationships Within Public Health’S Response To The 2009-2010 H1n1 Outbreak: The Ties That Bind Public Information Officers And Emergency Risk Communication Efforts, Kathleen G. Vidoloff

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Little is known about the role of public health public information officers (PIOs) during public health emergencies. This study uses interpretative methods to learn about the organizational structures that facilitate and constrain emergency risk communication efforts during public health emergencies. Interpretive thematic comparative analysis of PIOs experiences and reflections about their involvement in the 2009-2010 H1N1 response will be used to illustrate how social interactions between and among PIOs, public health staff, and representatives from other agencies create implicit and explicit structures that facilitate and constrain emergency risk communication. The application of three specific concepts from structuration theory, namely, agent, …

Lycopene And Its Potential Nutritional Role For Patients With Heart Failure, Martha J. Biddle

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Lycopene is a antioxidant found in natural and processed foods. The connection between antioxidants and heart disease has been explored in several observational studies^1-4, yet very few investigators have examined the impact of dietary antioxidants in patient with advanced heart disease such as heart failure (HF). A novel strategy for preventing or delaying the complications of HF related to inflammation and oxidative stress may be to increase dietary lycopene.

The purpose of this dissertation was to test the impact of dietary intervention consisting of lycopene (V8® juice) on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with HF; …

Biological Control Of The Black Cutworm, Agrotis Ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), And Endophyte Mediated Tritrophic Interactions In Turfgrass, Andrea Jeanne Bixby-Brosi

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Components of successful pest management programs must be complementary and not antagonistic. This project examined interactions between natural enemies of the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel), an important turfgrass pest, and host plant resistance by endophytic grass.

Agrotis ipsilon nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgipMNPV) was examined as a bio-insecticide for controlling A. ipsilon in turfgrass. Fresh (1-week-old) AgipMNPV residues killed 76−86% of neonates hatching from eggs on golf course tees, however, residual control of implanted larvae lasted no more than a few weeks. Combinations of AgipMNPV with adjuvants, such as optical brightener and lignin, failed to accelerate or extend …

Development Of Luminescent Sensing Systems With Clinical Applications, Daniel F. Scott

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

As the move towards the miniaturization of many diagnostic and detection systems continues, the need for increasingly versatile yet sensitive labels for use in these systems also grows. Luminescent reporters provide us with a solution to many of the issues at hand through their unique and favorable characteristics. Bioluminescent proteins offer detection at extremely low concentrations and no interference from physiological fluids leading to excellent detection limits, while the vast number of fluorescent proteins and molecules available allows the opportunity to select a tailored reporter for a specific task. Both provide relatively simply instrumentation requirements and have exhibited great promise …

Analysis Of Differential Gene Expression And Alternative Splicing In The Liver And Gastrointestinal Tract In The Lactating Rat, Antony Thomas Athippozhy

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Rat exon microarrays were utilized to detect changes in mRNA expression and alternative splicing in the liver, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of the lactating rat when compared to age-matched virgin controls. Analysis of data at the level of gene expression revealed differential expression of genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis in each tissue examined, suggesting increased Sterol Response Element Binding Protein activity. We also detected decreased mRNA from components of the T-cell signaling pathway in the jejunum and ileum. We characterized expression of solute carrier and adenosine triphosphate binding cassette proteins. In addition to characterizing genes by pathway, we have also …

Nitrate Metabolism In The Epsilonproteobacteria: Campylobacter Jejuni And Sulfurospirillum Barnesii, Courtney Sparacino-Watkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study the nitrate metabolism of Campylobacter jejuni and Sulfurospirillum barnesii will be examined, specifically the periplasmic nitrate reductase (Nap) enzyme which is transforms of nitrate to nitrite. The catalytic subunit, NapA, is a molybdenum dependent enzyme. Isolation of molybdenum containing enzymes is not straightforward as co-factor can be lost during protein purification procedures. This study used two protein purification methods to isolate NapA. First, NapA was isolated directly from S. barnesii using protein fractionation and anion exchange chromatography. Second, molecular cloning was used to express the recombinant affinity-tagged S.barnesii and C. jejuni NapA proteins from E. coli. Immobilized …

Expanding The Arsenal Against Biopiracy: Application Of The Concession Agreement Framework To Prevent Misappropriation Of Biodiversity, Tak Jong Kim

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

Effects Of A Short-Term Mindfulness Intervention On Depression And Immune Function, Erin C. Walsh

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Pro-inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in the pathophysiology and maintenance of depression. This study investigated the effects of a short mindfulness intervention on pro-inflammatory correlates of depression (IL-6 and TNF-α) and selfreported psychological health. Sixty-four college females were assigned to a four-week mindfulness training group or a contact-control group. Cytokines and psychological health were assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up (mindfulness group only). IL-6 and TNF-α significantly decreased from baseline to post-treatment in the mindfulness group only; these changes were sustained at 3-month follow-up. No between-group differences in psychological health emerged. Although reductions in proinflammatory cytokines in the mindfulness …

Using Short-Term Memory Measures To Assess Long-Term Memory In Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease, Scott O. Burkhart

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

No abstract provided.

Ecological Strategies In California Chaparral: Interacting Effects Of Soils, Climate, And Fire On Specific Leaf Area, B L. Anacker, N Rajakaruna, D D. Ackerly, S P. Harrison, J E. Keeley, M C. Vasey

Faculty Publications, Biological Sciences

Background: High values of specific leaf area (SLA) are generally associated with high maximal growth rates in resource-rich conditions, such as mesic climates and fertile soils. However, fire may complicate this relationship since its frequency varies with both climate and soil fertility, and fire frequency selects for regeneration strategies (resprouting versus seeding) that are not independent of resource-acquisition strategies. Shared ancestry is also expected to affect the distribution of resource-use and regeneration traits. Aims: We examined climate, soil, and fire as drivers of community-level variation in a key functional trait, SLA, in chaparral in California. Methods: We quantified the phylogenetic, …

Changes In Apparent Molar Water Volume And Dkp Solubility Yield Insights On The Hofmeister Effect, Daryl K. Eggers, A. Y. Payumo, R. M. Huijon, D. D. Mansfield, L. M. Belk, A. K. Bui, A. E. Knight

Faculty Publications, Chemistry

This study examines the properties of a 4 × 2 matrix of aqueous cations and anions at concentrations up to 8.0 M. The apparent molar water volume, as calculated by subtracting the mass and volume of the ions from the corresponding solution density, was found to exceed the molar volume of ice in many concentrated electrolyte solutions, underscoring the nonideal behavior of these systems. The solvent properties of water were also analyzed by measuring the solubility of diketopiperazine (DKP) in 2.000 M salt solutions prepared from the same ion combinations. Solution rankings for DKP solubility were found to parallel the …

A Critical Look At The Role Of Technology As A Transformative Agent, Grinell Smith

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Distribution Of The Hermit Crabs Clibanarius Vittatus And Pagurus Maclaughlinae In The Northern Indian River Lagoon, Florida: A Reassessment After 30 Years, Christopher J. Kelly, Richard L. Turner

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The present distribution of two hermit crabs, Clibanarius vittatus and Pagurus maclaughlinae, was assessed for comparison with a study done more than 30 yr ago on decapods of the region. Clibanarius vittatus presently occurs in low or moderate density only at Sebastian Inlet. Retreat of C. vittatus from sites that it formerly occupied is attributed to intolerance of its larvae to low salinities recorded in the lagoon during recent reproductive seasons. Pagurus maclaughlinae remains the most abundant and widespread hermit crab in the lagoon. Its present distribution seems unchanged from the reference study despite prolonged periods, sometimes years, during which …

The Relations Between Traumatic Exposures, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Anger In Male And Female Veterans, Miranda E. Worthen

Faculty Publications

Military personnel who have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom have experienced high rates of combat exposure, which is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder. Less is known about the relations between military sexual trauma (sexual harassment, assault, and rape while serving in the military) and posttraumatic stress disorder. Little is known about anger problems in this Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran population, which research from prior conflicts suggests may be a consequence of both traumas and posttraumatic stress disorder. Anger is an emotional state closely related to aggression, hostility, and violence. Veterans who have difficulty controlling …

Impact, Spring 2011, San Jose State University, Connie L. Lurie College Of Education

Impact (College of Education)

No abstract provided.

The Role Of T-Type Calcium Channels In Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Cycle Regulation, Abigail Prier

Master's Theses

Results from previous experiments have provided evidence for T-type channel expression in adult pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) using electrophysiology and qRT-PCR. Studies have also shown that when T-type channels are blocked, either pharmacological or with small hairpin RNA targeted against T-type channel Cav3.1 subunit, mRNA levels are reduced and cell proliferation is inhibited. These results suggest a connection between T-type calcium channels and cell proliferation. In this thesis, Cav3.1 and its possible interplay with cyclin D, an early marker of the cell cycle, was investigated. The time course of cyclin D's translocation to the nucleus to begin the …

The Effect Of Vitamin E, Selenomethionine And Sodium Selenite Supplementation In Laying Hens, Alia Aljamal

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In trial 1, 3 levels of dl-α-tocopheryl acetate (0, 50, 100 IU/kg), and 3 levels of supplemental sodium selenite (SS) (0, 0.25, 0.50 ppm), were added to a corn-soybean meal basal diet to evaluate their effects on egg quality variables, and deposition in egg yolk.  Adding 50 IU/kg dl- α-tocopheryl acetate in the diet lowered aged yolk pH.  Alpha-tocopherol in yolks increased with increasing vitamin E.  As Se level increased in the diet, yolk Se content increased.  There was a vitamin E by Se interaction affecting yolk Se content, but the highest level of Se in the yolk achieved when …

The Color(S) Of Perfection: The Feminine Body, Beauty Ideals, And Identity In Postwar America, 1945-1970, Elizabeth M. Matelski

Dissertations

Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, a number of models have existed offering women a spectrum of ideal body types and varying opinions about the role of fitness and diet in achieving these forms. In the years following World War II, prescriptive literature, Hollywood, and popular culture in general created and perpetuated the postwar feminine ideal of "the Sweater girl" - a busty, curvaceous figure more sexual than maternal. Yet, this ideal gave way in little more than a decade. In the late 1960s, youth culture placed a cult-like status on Twiggy, a model with a 31-inch bust and 32-inch …

Alternations In The Splenic Marginal Zone With Age, Shirin Z. Birjandi

Dissertations

Splenic marginal zones are architecturally organized to generate a rapid response against blood- borne antigens entering the spleen. The marginal zone is a distinct anatomical micro-environment whose main components include the marginal zone macrophages, the marginal zone B cells, the marginal zone sinus, and the metallophilic macrophages. Marginal zone macrophages, in partnership with marginal zone B cells, are particularly important in host defense against T-independent pathogens and are crucial for the prevention of diseases such as Streptococcus pneumonia. It has been widely reported that with the advancement of age there is a higher rate of mortality as a result of …