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Foreward: The Brain Sciences And Criminal Law Norms, Theodore Y. Blumoff

Mercer Law Review

In general, researchers hope to answer the same ontological question: "Who are we?" Practitioners address the question in their own unique ways, employing the rhetoric and idioms, and the agenda and metrics, that express their respective domains. Researchers in the various brain sciences work at the frontier of knowledge about our brains, the final material cause of all of our endeavors. They fully share the commitment to this fundamental question. From the perspective of the brain sciences, the answer to this question-though certainly not now and perhaps never fully elaborated-is nonetheless more widely understood than at any time in human …

Cave Research Foundation Quarterly, Volume 39, No. 2, May 2011, William Payne

KIP Articles

Contents: Mammoth Cave Reports -- Restoration Field Camp Carlsbad Caverns National Park June 26-July 1, 2011 -- From the President: / Scott House -- Regional Expedition Reports -- 2011 Expedition Calendar

University Of Minnesota, Morris 2011 Commencement, University Relations

UMM Commencement

The University of Minnesota, Morris’s Forty-eighth Commencement Saturday, May 14, 2011 1:30 p.m., campus mall

Demography Of The Monocled Cobra (Naja Kaouthia) In The Central Region Of Thailand., Apinya Chaitae 1977-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Naja kaouthia is a significant species because it feeds primarily on agricultural pests, causes human mortality, and is commercially exploited. Understanding the life history and demography of harvested populations is essential to providing guidelines for proper management. This study was conducted within two rice fields in central Thailand. I found that all age classes of N. kaouthia primarily prey on rats. Prey size increases ontogenetically with snake size. Besides rats and mice, first year snakes feed on frogs. Adults add snakes, lizards, fish, birds, and bird's eggs. Young cobras grow significantly faster than older cobras and the growth rate did …

A Positive Feedback Synapse From Retinal Horizontal Cells To Cone Photoreceptors., Skyler L. Jackman, Norbert Babai, James J. Chambers, Wallace B. Thoreson, Richard H. Kramer

Journal Articles: Ophthalmology

Cone photoreceptors and horizontal cells (HCs) have a reciprocal synapse that underlies lateral inhibition and establishes the antagonistic center-surround organization of the visual system. Cones transmit to HCs through an excitatory synapse and HCs feed back to cones through an inhibitory synapse. Here we report that HCs also transmit to cone terminals a positive feedback signal that elevates intracellular Ca(2+) and accelerates neurotransmitter release. Positive and negative feedback are both initiated by AMPA receptors on HCs, but positive feedback appears to be mediated by a change in HC Ca(2+), whereas negative feedback is mediated by a change in HC membrane …

Integration Of Refractory Periods In The Administration Of Low-Magnitude Mechanical Signals Increases Mesenchymal Stem Cell Numbers In The Bone Marrow, Kofi Appiah-Nkansah

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

High-frequency, low-magnitude mechanical signals (LMMS) applied exogenously as low-intensity vibrations (LIV) have been shown to bias mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation towards osteoblastogenesis at the expense of adipogenesis. Recent in-vitro work has indicated that refractory periods allow additional benefit from these mechanical signals when scheduled into the loading routine. Work is presented here from three distinct 6-week experiments conducted to investigate the role of refractory periods allowed in the administration of LMMS in an in-vivo animal model. Results from the first experiment using 7-week old male C57BL/6J mice suggested that multiple animal handling had an adverse effect on bone morphology, …

Coupled Ra And Mn Cycling In Long Island Sound, John Wallace Roland Daniel

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

The four naturally occurring Ra isotopes serve as tools to quantify submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in coastal areas. In constructing the Ra mass balance for a given system, Ra sources and sinks must be accurately determined, then measured or eliminated as negligible. SGD &mdash a Ra source &mdash is commonly determined by difference. In Long Island Sound (LIS), a significant Ra source is diffusive flux from muddy sediments. This study investigates the seasonality of 223,224Ra diffusive fluxes linked to seasonal Mn redox cycling correlated with hypoxia (dissolved oxygen &le 3.0 mg l-1) in LIS. The three components of this study …

Estimating Load Distribution Across The Radius And Ulna In Human And Non-Human Primates, Molly Elmer

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

The hominoid wrist joint has changed substantially during the course of primate evolution. One of these changes is the retraction of the ulna from direct contact with the carpals and the insertion of a triangular fibrocartilaginous disc. This change permits a greater degree of mobility at the wrist in apes and is functionally linked to suspensory behaviors. However, the implications of this more mobile wrist joint on how loads are distributed from the hand to the forearm across the wrist joint remains unclear. The goal of this study is to investigate forearm loading by estimating how loads may be distributed …

Genome-Wide Analysis Of Chromatin Binding Proteins In D. Melanogaster And C. Elegans, Xin Feng

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

The mechanisms of regulating the translation of information encoded in DNA into gene expression have been intensively investigated since last century. A large portion of the efforts concentrate on characterizing the proteins that bind to specific chromatin or DNA regions. These proteins play important roles in the regulating hierarchy. Until the beginning of the 21st century, studies probing these chromatin binding proteins are generally conducted at the scale of a single gene or a limited region of the whole genome. The recent advancement in next-generation sequencing has provided a revolutionary method named as ChIP-seq that accurately generates genome-wide profiles of …

Templating Biomineralization: Surface Directed Protein Self-Assembly And External Magnetic Field Stimulation Of Osteoblasts, Xiaolan Ba

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Biomineralization is a wide-spread phenomenon in the biological systems, which is the process of mineral formation by organisms through interaction between its organic contents and the inorganic minerals. The process is essential in a broad spectrum of biological phenomena ranging from bone and tooth formation to pathological mineralization under hypoxic conditions or cancerous formations. In this thesis I studied biomineralization at the earliest stages in order to obtain a better understanding of the fundamental principals involved. This knowledge is essential if we want to engineer devices which will increase bone regeneration or prevent unwanted mineral deposits. Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins …

Design, Synthesis And Biological Evaluation Of Novel Trisubstituted-Benzimidazoles As A New Class Of Antitubercular Agents, Targeting Ftsz, Kunal Kumar

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Despite extensive research in last 40 years, the treatment of TB is still limited to a cocktail of classical drugs that mostly target cell wall biosynthesis, DNA coiling, transcription, translation. Knowing the bacterial ability to develop resistance, there is a dire need for the discovery of new cellular targets to develop novel antitubercular agents which can surpass the resistance. In this context, FtsZ, a highly conserved and ubiquitous cytokinesis protein, offers an extremely promising therapeutic target. It has been observed that inhibition of FtsZ assembly leads to absence of septum formation, eventually causing cell lethality. Hence, compounds targeting FtsZ can …

Mechanical Analysis Of Smart Receptacles And Intelligent Fault Detection And Diagnosis For Arcing And Energy Monitoring, Roosevelt Moreno Rodriguez

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Intelligent fault detection and diagnostic (iFDD) is a technology with growing interest and importance in engineering. The developments of several mathematical modeling and pragmatic techniques have facilitated the R/D with better approaches to improve the iFDD technology from biological to electronics fields. These techniques are applied from the component level to the system level. During the last years, many research efforts have been presented in the field of fault detection and diagnosis. This dissertation presents the research in intelligent fault detection and diagnostic for low-power electrical systems, which are often found in household for daily use of electrical appliances. The …

Low Intensity Vibrations Applied Locally Can Be Transmitted To The Alveolar Bone Thereby Enhancing The Quality Of The Bone In Adult Rats, Nirukta Patri

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Oral bone loss is a major concern amongst a large population suffering from estrogen deficiency, osteoporosis and periodontal diseases. The clinical implication of oral bone loss is premature tooth loss. Mechanical loading has proven to be vital in maintaining the quantity and quality of the bone, particularly in impacted bone. Studies have shown that long bones (post-cranial) and alveolar bone (cranial) are both sensitive to mechanical environment through static and dynamic loading. It also has been suggested that whole body vibrations (WBV) at low-magnitude and high frequency are a non-invasive and non-pharmacological method to prevent bone loss, particularly in the …

The Social, Academic, And Health Implications Of Polyculturalism For College Students At A Diverse University, Lisa Rosenthal

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Intergroup conflict continues to be prevalent in diverse societies such as the United States and to have a variety of negative consequences. Research on intergroup ideologies, particularly multiculturalism and colorblindness, has demonstrated their importance in the study of intergroup relations. While research shows that each of these ideologies has positive associations with intergroup attitudes and behaviors, each also has some negative associations, prompting calls for studying other ideologies. This dissertation presents some of the first empirical tests of a newly studied intergroup ideology, polyculturalism, which emphasizes that different racial, ethnic, and cultural groups have interacted and greatly influenced each other …

De-Territorializing Cartographies: Examining Situationist Tactics In Contemporary Art, Helena Shaskevich

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Over the course of the last several years an increasing number of artists, critics and scholars have begun to (re)examine the relationship between artistic and geographic practices. This has brought about a proliferation of hybridized artistic projects, exhibitions and texts. While a number of the works raise important issues and engender dialogue, the saturation of the art market has also resulted in the production less cohesive and thought-out projects This project focuses on a very specific subset of the intermingling between artistic and geographic practices: artistic experimentations with cartography. In an effort to examine the political efficacy of such experimentations, …

Development Of Biosensor For Detection Of Thrombin In Blood By Polyaniline Nanofibers, Adityakeshav Thakar

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Development of Biosensor for Detection of Thrombin in Blood by Polyaniline Nanofibers Conducting polymers have always been a fascinating set of materials for researchers over the years. Their versatility in application makes them unique along with their easy processing techniques and low cost. Polyaniline is one of the most important members of this family. It has been widely used for various applications like corrosion resistance, EMI shielding, sensor development etc. Gas sensors and bio sensors have been developed by a lot of researchers having the basic working block as polyaniline. The ease of processing of polyaniline and its capability to …

Mechanisms Of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Cell Death, Erica Marie Ullman

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

In cells, incorrectly folded proteins or compromised protein turnover induce cellular stress known as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Significantly, ER stress plays an important role in numerous physiological and pathological conditions, including degenerative diseases and cancer. In an attempt to resolve ER stress cells activate a response known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). While, initially a protective response, the UPR can induce cell death if ER stress is not overcome. As the precise molecular mechanisms that regulate ER homeostasis and UPR-related cell death remain elusive, I focused my initial studies on understanding these processes. In the course of this …

Blend Polymer Masks For Transfer Of Nanometer-Scale Patterns Into Ti Surface, Yingjie Yu

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

The purpose of the project is to produce high resolution pattern on titanium substrate. As we known, titanium, as an important material, has been widely used in medicine area, such as dental and orthopedic implants. Moreover, their integration in the bone is very good without fibrous interface layer. However, titanium and its alloys have certain limitations. It is possible that metal ions are released to the human environment. As a result, the release of these elements may lead to many problems such as local irritation of the tissues. Cell and tissue responses are influenced by the surface topography or roughness …

Growth Mechanisms And Defect Structures Of B12as2 Epilayers, Yu Zhang

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

As a member of icosahedra boride family of materials, icosahedral boron arsenide (B₁₂As₂), with a wide band gap of 3.2eV at room temperature, possesses extraordinary resistance against radiation damage mediated via a self-healing mechanism which makes it attractive for applications in high radiation environments. Such properties could potentially be exploited in developing high-power beta-voltaic cells which are capable of converting nuclear power into electrical energy. In addition, B₁₂As₂ has exceptional mechanical properties, high melting point and large Seebeck coefficient at high temperatures which make it promising for the fabrication of high temperature thermoelectronics. …

Opening The Industry Playbook: Myths And Truths In The Debate Over Bpa Regulation, Thomas Mcgarity, Rena I. Steinzor, Matthew Shudtz, Lena Pons

Faculty Scholarship

For the last two decades, scientists have amassed evidence that bisphenol A (BPA) poses a threat to human health.  Although scientists have targeted BPA as a public health concern, plastics industry lobbyists have attempted to thwart the efforts of federal, state, and local authorities to reduce exposure to BPA.  This paper reviews the major arguments advanced by the plastics industry and debunks them as “myths” that public health officials must reject.  The five topics covered include:  the myth of scientific consensus on safety; the myth that only studies complying with “Good Laboratory Practices” guidelines are adequate for making regulatory decisions; …

Tierra Sagrada: Stories, Jose Rene Martinez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This thesis consists of fourteen stories and a critical introduction. Each story is set in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and features Mexican American characters. The critical introduction discusses the history of the Rio Grande Valley and traces my development as a writer. It also shows the influences Mexican American writers such as Américo Paredes have had on my work.

Tremblings, May 2011, Western Aspen Alliance

Tremblings

Landscape genetic studies raise new questions about old paradigms

Karen E. Mock

James N. Long

Conventional wisdom on the management of aspen is based on a long history of solid research and a wealth of practical experience. However, recent discoveries using molecular tools are changing our understanding of aspen regeneration ecology in ways that could change management practices. Our traditional view of aspen dynamics is that aspen forests consist of small numbers of large clones, that reproduction from seed is negligible, and has been so since perhaps the Pleistocene, and that aspen is best regenerated by coppicing. According to this …

Effectiveness Of Subglottic Suctioning In The Prevention Of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, Cody Winston Amato

HIM 1990-2015

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the leading healthcare-acquired infection among ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICU). VAP is a serious patient complication that results in increased hospital length of stay, cost, morbidity, and mortality. The accumulation of subglottic secretions above the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff increases the risk of VAP, as these secretions may leak around the cuff of the ETT resulting in aspiration and an increased risk for infection. An in depth literature review was done to determine the effectiveness of subglottic secretion aspiration (by means of specialized ETT tubes with intrinsic suction lumens) in decreasing the incidence rate …

The Impact Of Internet Experiences On Embarrassment, Joseph Tucciarone Jr.

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Media technology (e.g., Internet via social networking, email, and texting) has changed the way we interact with one another. For instance, the more time college students spend communicating on Facebook, the less time they spend socializing in face-to-face settings. Although studies have predominantly examined Internet experiences of college students in general, specific attention has also been paid to Internet experiences of shy and socially anxious individuals. Prior research suggests that individuals who fear social rejection prefer the anonymous nature of the Internet (Shepherd & Edelmann, 2005). Additionally, shy and socially anxious individuals seem to prefer online relationships to in-person relationships, …

Exploitation Of Costimulatory Sa-4-1bbl In The Development Of Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines., Abhishek K. Srivastava

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cancer accounts for nearly one-quarter of deaths in the United States, exceeded only by heart diseases. Despite the development of various strategies to treat cancer, it remains one of the most deadly diseases worldwide due to the limited effects of treatments available. The limited efficacy of these current treatment modalities, such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, are often due to their association with adverse side effects arising from lack of specificity for tumors, and most importantly their failure of eliminating residual and micro-metastatic tumors, which can lead to recurrences. Therefore, there is a dire need to develop tumor-specific therapies that …

Evaluation Of A Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Group For Female Inmates Who Voluntarily Seek Treatment : A Pilot Study., Clare Thompson Wahl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the effectiveness of a partial skills group component of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in female prison inmates. DBT is an evidence-based comprehensive treatment which addresses emotional reactivity, impulsivity and distress tolerance. The psychology staff at the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women (KCIW) had noted that many of the behaviors leading to disruptive and dangerous situations within their female inmate population are related to inmates reacting to extreme emotionality. In response KCIW staff had implemented DBT on a limited basis. Although the treatment was in place, its effectiveness in promoting safety and security at KCIW had yet to …

Cardiac Abnormalities After Transaortic Constriction Are Worsened By Changing Glucose Metabolism And Benefited By Repair Of Mitochondrial Dna., Jianxun Wang 1969-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Heart failure is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the USA. During the development of heart failure, many cardiac parameters change at the same time including fuel metabolism, oxidative stress and mitochondrial function. Each of these changes occurs in the context of multiple other abnormalities in the failing heart. This complexity makes it difficult to discern the importance of each of these parameters. In this dissertation changes in glucose metabolism and mitochondrial DNA repair have been targeted separately and specifically in the heart to test their roles in heart failure independently. Abnormal glucose metabolism is always found in …

Riparian Corridor Vegetation Structure And Soil Function Along Urban, Suburban, And Rural Streams In Louisville, Ky, Usa., R. Jonathan White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stream riparian zones are ecotones between terrestrial and aquatic environments. Studying these areas in urban environments is important since they lie adjacent to stream water supplies. I conducted a study of riparian woody and groundcover vegetation along urban, suburban, and rural streams (land-use designations based on % impervious surface) to assess how cities are affecting plant community structure. I also studied riparian soil gas flux (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) in relation to water table depth and groundwater nutrient concentrations spanning a 10-month period (January to October, 2008). I found distinct woody and groundcover communities associated with proportion of …

Integration Of Ag2ga Nanoneedles On Batch Fabricated Micro-Grippers For Material Property Measurement., Peng Xu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis self-assembled growth of Ag2Ga nano-needles on batch fabricated micro-grippers are reported. The room temperature growth of Ag2Ga nano-needles have been recently developed as stylus for Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Integration of such nano-needles onto batch fabricated micro-grippers can potentially lead to the development of nano-grippers for nano-manipulation of materials, measurement of electrical properties of nanostructures and finally measurement of electrochemical properties of cells. We explored the growth process of nano-needles on batch fabricated microgrippers. Micro-grippers were first batch fabricated using carbon nanotube/SU8 process at the University of Louisville's clean room facility. Following the gripper fabrication, 20 nm …

Heat Transfer Measurement In Oil-Based Nanofluids., Kan Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nanoparticles are a class of materials that exhibit unique physical and chemical properties compared to those of the same material at the bulk scale. One method of enhancing the thermal conductivity, and hence the heat transfer coefficient, of a fluid is to add nanoparticles to the fluid creating a so called nanofluid. The term "nanofluids" was coined by researchers at Argonne National Laboratory and refers to a two-phase mixture composed of a continuous liquid phase and dispersed nanoparticles in suspension. Nowadays, nanofluids are considered to be the next-generation heat transfer fluids as they offer exciting new possibilities to enhance heat …