Digital Commons Network^™

Rapid Functionalization Of Gold Monolayer Protected Clusters For Fabricating Electronic Noses., Yang Yang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes 1) the kinetics of vapor phase place exchange reactions on films of gold monolayer protected clusters (Au MPCs) to alter the functionality of the Au MPCs, 2) applications of the reaction for altering chemiresistive sensing selectivity for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and 3) the fabrication of a chemiresistive electronic nose for detecting VOCs based on sensor arrays and vapor phase place-exchange reaction. The motivation of this work was to develop a simple and effective method to synthesize and functionalize films of Au MPCs for applications in nanoelectronics, sensing, and catalysis. We first synthesize hexanethiolate-coated gold monolayer-protected clusters …

Addressing Identity/Redressing The Museum., Sarah Guadalupe Cassidy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis paper expands upon the aspects of identity and power explored in the exhibition that I curated, entitled "Being & Making: Artists Investigating Identity," at the Speed Art Museum. The developments on topics of identity prominent in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s fundamentally changed the creation, exhibition, collection and interpretation of art. These changes related to power investigations originating from artists in marginalized groups. The change affected not just the art itself, but also the function of museums and the role they play in forming identity in contemporary visual practice. As institutions of power, art museums …

An Investigation Of A Middle-High School System As A Learning Organization During The Implementation Of A Grade Eight To Grade Nine Transition Program., Carol Jean Christian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of articulation activities and the extent to which the Grant County Kentucky school district operated as a learning organization during the implementation of a research-based middle to high school student transition initiative. Grant County is predominantly rural, located between Louisville, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio, and includes the town of Williamstown, Kentucky. This study analyzed the Grant County schools' to determine if they functioned as a learning organization to the characteristics common to organizational learning, high reliability organizations and effective schools that included the characteristics of systemic process, leadership/vision, collaboration, and the use of measures. This …

Age-Associated Periodontal Bone Loss In Normal And Tlr2- Or Myd88-Deficient Mice., Paul A. Ciero 1986-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Age-related alterations in innate immunity are poorly understood. The identification of those mechanisms, which are dysfunctional in old age, will shed light on potential therapeutic strategies for chronic inflammatory diseases prevalent in the elderly, such as periodontitis. Mice naturally develop chronic periodontitis as a function of age, which is characterized by periodontal bone loss. TLR2, a pattern-recognition receptor of leukocytes which mediates inflammatory responses in the periodontium, was expressed at higher levels in the gingivae of old mice (>18 months) compared with young mice (8 to 10 weeks). MyD88 is a signaling adaptor protein for TLR2 and other TLRs. …

Acute Myocardial Infarction Patient Data To Assess Healthcare Utilization And Treatments., Pedro Ramos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study is to use a data mining framework to assess the three main treatments for acute myocardial infarction: thrombolytic therapy, percutaneous coronary intervention (percutaneous angioplasty), and coronary artery bypass surgery. The need for a data mining framework in this study arises because of the use of real world data rather than highly clean and homogenous data found in most clinical trials and epidemiological studies. The assessment is based on determining a profile of patients undergoing an episode of acute myocardial infarction, determine resource utilization by treatment, and creating a model that predicts each treatment resource utilization …

Pharmacists As Mid-Level Healthcare Providers And The Clinical Results Of A Pharmacist-Led Diabetes Disease Management Program., Benjamin Maurice Risner 1983-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Advancements in medical therapy have augmented resources available to physicians to treat disease and, because of this, spending on prescription drugs has doubled in the past decade. Increasingly, clinical trials are demonstrating the benefits of aggressive disease management in reducing morbidity and mortality. Physicians treating patients with chronic conditions must balance the benefits of combination drug therapy against the risk of adverse drug events and drug interactions. For instance, evidence-based practice guidelines in patients with diabetes and multiple comorbidities require combination therapy in order to reduce morbidity and mortality. Patients with polymorbidity require the attention of multiple physicians, further fragmenting …

Theory Of Mind, Social Functioning, And Awareness Of Ability In Older Adults., Sarah Vedrody Rowe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Declines in social resources and in the quality of interpersonal interactions have been observed in some older adults. Unawareness of ability is a clinical problem that has been found in some older adults with dementia, but has also been found in non-demented older adults, and the clinical correlates have not been reliably established. Theory of mind (ToM) is a social-cognitive construct that refers to the ability to infer the mental states of others and the self. ToM has been linked with social functioning and self-awareness, but few studies have examined these variables in older adults. The current study tested the …

An Examination Of Teacher Instruction And Student Engagement Involving Adolescents With And Without Challenging Behavior., Regina Gilkey Hirn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The interactions between teachers and students provide a venue for instructional delivery and ultimately student achievement in the school setting. However, not all students experience positive interactions with teachers in the typical classroom setting, especially those students exhibiting behavioral challenges. These students are observed with greater off task behavior and increased classroom disruptions when compared with their peers. This dissertation examined teacher and student behavior observed in a typical high school classroom exemplifying these interactions. Direct observations of students and teachers were conducted to answer several research questions addressing teacher behaviors: classroom instruction, opportunities to respond, and feedback to students …

Professionalism And Social Networking: Can Patients, Physicians, Nurses, And Supervisors All Be ‘Friends’?, Joy Peluchette, Katherine Karl, Alberto Coustasse, Philip Rutsohn, Dennis Emmett

Management Faculty Research

This study examines the use of Facebook by certified nurse anesthetist students. Our results showed that, contrary to expectations, most were neutral about faculty, physicians, and supervisors viewing their Facebook profiles but expressed concerns about patients seeing such information. Many (30%) of our respondents had observed unprofessional content posted on the social network sites of their classmates including: intoxication or substance abuse, profanity, sexually suggestive photos or comments, and negative work-related comments. A vast majority indicated they would accept a ‘friend’ request from their supervisor and a physician but not a patient. Surprisingly, about 40% had initiated a ‘friend’ request …

Widespread Regulation Of Mirna Biogenesis At The Dicer Step By The Cold-Inducible Rna-Binding Protein, Rbm3, Julie Pilotte, Esther E. Dupont-Versteegden, Peter W. Vanderklish

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in diverse cellular events through their effects on translation. Emerging data suggest that modulation of miRNA biogenesis at post-transcriptional steps by RNA-binding proteins is a key point of regulatory control over the expression of some miRNAs and the cellular processes they influence. However, the extent and conditions under which the miRNA pathway is amenable to regulation at posttranscriptional steps are poorly understood. Here we show that RBM3, a cold-inducible, developmentally regulated RNA-binding protein and putative protooncogene, is an essential regulator of miRNA biogenesis. Utilizing miRNA array, Northern blot, and PCR methods, we observed that over …

Mathematical Modeling Of Peristaltic Flow Of Chyme In Small Intestine, Daniel N. Riahi, Ranadhir Roy

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

Mathematical models based on axisymmetric Newtonian incompressible fluid flow are studied for the peristaltic flow of chyme in the small intestines, which is an axisymmetric cylindrical tube. The flow is modeled more realistically modeled by assuming that the peristaltic rush wave is a non-periodic mode composed of two sinusoidal waves of different wavelengths, which propagate at the same speed along the outer boundary of the tube. Both cases of flow in a tube and in an annulus that are modeled and investigated in the present paper correspond respectively to the cases of flow of chyme in the small intestine in …

The Singular Perturbation In The Analysis Of Mode I Fracture Based Upon A New Multiscale Theory, Kai-Bin Fu

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

A theory of fracture is presented that is based upon an extension of continuum mechanics to the nanoscale fracture through the incorporation of long-range intermolecular forces which correct bulk material descriptions near interfaces. To be consistent with the literature, constant surface energies are assigned to interfaces. In the analysis of mode I fracture for quasi-brittle material, it is observed that the incorporation of these long-range intermolecular forces predicts sharp fracture tip rather than blunt and avoids stress singularity. The details of the singular perturbation employed in this analysis are also presented.

The Power Series Solution Of Fingering Phenomenon Arising In Fluid Flow Through Homogeneous Porous Media, Kinjal Patel, M. N. Mehta, Twinkle R. Patel

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

The present paper deals with the approximate solution of the fingering phenomenon occurring when water is pushed into oil in homogeneous porous media with capillary mean pressure. The phenomenon is formulated mathematically as a water-oil double phase flow problem. The solution of the nonlinear partial differential equation of fingering phenomenon has been discussed in terms of the power series using appropriate boundary conditions for any timeT>0 . The solution is in ascending power series which represents saturation of injected fluid in fingering phenomenon & its graphical and numerical presentation is given in MATLAB coding.

The Dynamics Of Stage Structured Prey-Predator Model Involving Parasitic Infectious Disease, Raid K. Naji, Dina S. Al-Jaf

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

In this paper a prey-predator model involving parasitic infectious disease is proposed and analyzed. It is assumed that the life cycle of predator species is divided into two stages immature and mature. The analysis of local and global stability of all possible subsystems is carried out. The dynamical behaviors of the model system around biologically feasible equilibria are studied. The global dynamics of the model are investigated with the help of Suitable Lyapunov functions. Conditions for which the model persists are established. Finally, to nationalize our analytical results, numerical simulations are worked out for a hypothetical set of parameter values.

Pattern Avoiding Partitions, Sequence A054391 And The Kernel Method, Toufik Mansour, Mark Shattuck

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

Sequence A054391 in OEIS, which we will denote by a_n , counts a certain two-pattern avoidance class of the permutations of size n . In this paper, we provide additional combinatorial interpretations for these numbers in terms of finite set partitions. In particular, we identify six classes of the partitions of size n , all of which have cardinality a_n and each avoiding two classical patterns. We use both algebraic and combinatorial methods to establish our results. In one apparently more difficult case, to show the result, we make use of the kernel method in solving a system …

Reflection Of Waves In Transversely Isotropic Thermoelastic Solid, Raj R. Gupta

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

The main objective of the present paper is to study the propagation of waves in the transversely isotropic medium in the context of thermoelasticity with GN theory of type-II and III. By imposing the boundary conditions on the components of displacement, stresses and temperature distribution, wave equation have been solved. Numerically simulated results have been plotted graphically with respect to frequency to evince the effect of anisotropy. Keywords: Thermoelasticity, transversely isotropic, reflection, plane wave AMS 2010 No.: 74JXX, 74F, 74B, 80A. 1. Introduction In last three decades, non-classical theories involving finite speed of heat transportation in elastic solids have been …

Stability Of Stratified Couple-Stress Dusty Fluid In The Presence Of Magnetic Field Through Porous Medium, Vivek Kumar

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

The combined effect of magnetic field and dust particles on the stability of a stratified couplestress fluid through a porous medium is considered. For stable stratification, the system is found to be stable for disturbances of all wave numbers. The magnetic field succeeds in stabilizing the potentially unstable stratifications for a certain wave-number range which were unstable in the absence of the magnetic field. Discussions of oscillatory and non-oscillatory modes are also made.

Robust 𝒍𝟏 And 𝒍∞ Solutions Of Linear Inequalities, Maziar Salahi

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

Infeasible linear inequalities appear in many disciplines. In this paper we investigate the 𝑙₁ and 𝑙_∞ solutions of such systems in the presence of uncertainties in the problem data. We give equivalent linear programming formulations for the robust problems. Finally, several illustrative numerical examples using the cvx software package are solved showing the importance of the robust model in the presence of uncertainties in the problem data.

A New Algorithm For Solving Shortest Path Problem On A Network With Imprecise Edge Weight, Amit Kumar, Manjot Kumar

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

Nayeem and Pal (Shortest path problem on a network with imprecise edge weight, Fuzzy Optimization and Decision Making 4, 293-312, 2005) proposed a new algorithm for solving shortest path problem on a network with imprecise edge weight. In this paper the shortcomings of the existing algorithm, (Nayeem and Pal, 2005) are pointed out and to overcome these shortcomings a new algorithm is proposed. To show the advantages of the proposed algorithm over existing algorithm the numerical examples presented in (Nayeem and Pal, 2005) are solved using the proposed algorithm and obtained results are discussed.

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness In People With Diabetes; Biomarkers And Nutritional Supplementation, Hani H. Al-Nakhli

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Exercise is important for controlling hemoglobin A1c, and maintaining proper glycemic control in people with diabetes. Exercise also increases the diabetics overall insulin sensitivity, and decreases their dependency on diabetes medication. However, people with diabetes are faced with metabolic and endothelial impairment, which could result in a prolonged sensation of muscle soreness following exercise. This would make it difficult for these people to sustain exercise regimes. Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a common problem in healthy individuals and in people who have diabetes. DOMS is a painful sensation experienced by individuals who have been recently inactive and then over-exercise. Yet, …

Neuropsychological, Psychosocial, And Mood Outcomes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Julia L. Evans

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adolescents and adults can result in cognitive, emotional, behavioral and neurological deficits that can persist more than a year after an injury. The aim of the current preliminary study was to use a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment to determine the nature of cognitive impairments and their relationship with specific psychosocial factors, including coping skills and perceived quality of life, following mild TBI (mTBI). Neuropsychological tests administered measured intelligence, pre-morbid intelligence, executive functioning, verbal memory, complex visual construction and non-verbal memory, sustained attention distractibility, and vigilance, verbal learning and memory, fine motor speed, and novel problem solving …

Mechanisms Of Brain Edema Formation In Mouse Models Of Intracerebral Hemorrhage, Qingyi Ma

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Perihematomal edema causes major neurologic deterioration following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), mainly resulting from the disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) by multiple mediators, including inflammatory mediators and thrombin. The objective of our study was to investigate the mechanisms by which inflammation and thrombin respectively lead to the formation of brain edema following ICH. Our long-term goal is to develop new therapeutic strategies against ICH-induced brain edema by targeting: (1) VAP-1 mediated inflammatory response and (2) PDGFR-α orchestrated BBB impairment. Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) was previously shown to promote leukocyte adhesion and transmigration. Additionally, PDGFR-α was also found to play a …

Age, Stratigraphy And Depositional Environment Of The Pliocene Copper Canyon Formation, Death Valley, California, Torrey Nyborg

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The Copper Canyon Formation, a fluvial-lacustrine deposit exposed within the Black Mountains of Death Valley National Park, has only previously been broadly included in regional tectonic and depositional analyses. The formation is significant because it preserves numerous shoreline-playa features including highly abundant and diverse mammal and bird tracks. The formation represents a basin fill sequence consisting of approximately 1800 m of conglomerates, basalt flows, and lacustrine deposits. A measured type section along with x-ray diffraction, isotopic analysis, and thin section petrography shows an evolution of the ancient Copper Canyon lake from an hypersaline evaporative lake to a perennial saline lake …

Trauma Of The Sudden Death Of A Child: The Impact On Couple Relationship, Blessing Okoro Rellias

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A traumatic life event such as the death of a child can be very devastating and confusing for many couples and people tend to respond in different ways to such trauma due to different factors such as gender differences. Research studies have traditionally focused on the personal effects of trauma on individual family members, whereas less attention centered on the systemic outcomes and consequences that trauma has on family functioning especially from the couples' perspective. Previous research has indicated that parents who lost their children to sudden death are likely to have serious mental distress and some disruption in functioning. …

Role Of Vima In Cell Surface Biogenesis In Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Devon Osbourne Jr.

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Porphyromonas gingivalis is an important etiological agent of periodontal disease - a disease that affects an estimated 49,000,000 people in the United States of America. Periodontal disease includes gingivitis – inflammation of the gums, and periodontitis – destruction of the teeth and their supporting tissues. Porphyromonas gingivalis is associated with the chronic form of periodontal disease in addition to several systemic diseases.

The vimA gene of P. gingivalis has been previously shown to play a significant role in the biogenesis of gingipains (trypsin-like cysteine proteases). The vimA has also been demonstrated to play a role in hemolysis, hemagglutination, autoaggregation, posttranslational …

Chronic Hypoxia Induces Epigenetic Modifications In The Fetal Rat Heart, Andrew James Grant Patterson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. As a result of studies done by Barker and associates, our awareness of the significance of stress during gestation as a risk factor for heart diseases has expanded. We now know that events in utero can significantly alter gene expression patterns in heart tissue leading to increase susceptibility to ischemia reperfusion injury in adulthood. The focus of this project was to elucidate the role of chronic hypoxia in the programming of the cardio-protective gene, Protein Kinase C epsilon (PKCε) in fetal rat heart. We used an animal, organ base, and cell …

Parental Factors Impacting Neurobehavioral Late Effects In Latino Pediatric Cancer Survivors, Pamela R. Perez

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

While the survival rate for children with cancer has increased markedly over the past 50 years, the side effects resulting from cancer and cancer treatment have become a major concern for health care providers and families alike. Survivors of childhood cancers are at risk for late occurring sequelae, called late effects, which are associated with disease, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Neurobehavioral late effects are some of the most debilitating late effects found, particularly in survivors of central nervous system (CNS) cancers. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of clinical and socio-demographic parenting factors on neurological late …

Mechanisms Of Erythropoietin-Induced Neuroprotection In: In-Vivo And In-Vitro Models Of Hypoxia Ischema, Rhonda Andrea Souvenir

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIBI) is a common cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Approximately 60 % of preterm babies and 2% of full term infants suffer from asphyxia. Asphyxia related death accounts for approximately 23% of neonatal mortality annually. Many therapeutic interventions show promise in the laboratory but fail in clinics. A thorough understanding of mechanisms by which promising therapeutic intervention confers its neuroprotection is necessary to promote smoother transitions from bench to the bedside. Erythropoietin (EPO), a hematopoietic growth factor that increases oxygen availability during hypoxia/ischemia is associated with cell survival and neuroprotection in: in vivo and in …

Stakeholder Participation In Large Scale Complex Systems Modeling: Lessons From An Urbansim Users Community, Sandra H. Goff

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

Complex systems models for urban and regional simulation are increasingly being used as tools within decision-making processes underscoring the need to involve stakeholders in the modeling process. Stakeholder participation can serve both learning and community-building purposes, improving model legitimacy, saliency and accuracy and resolving conflicts over competing interests. However, the complex and highly technical nature of modeling activities has the potential to serve as an important barrier to stakeholder engagement. Members of an online UrbanSim user community were contacted in order to examine stakeholder participation in the development and implementation of UrbanSim models. For analysis purposes, a participation hierarchy was …

Allosteric Modulation Of Vla-4 With The Atypical Antipsychotic Thioridazine, Bart Williams

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

A recent primary drug screen by the University of New Mexico Center for Molecular Discovery uncovered a novel group of allosteric-modulators of VLA-4 integrins known as phenothiazines. Phenothiazine family compounds were initially discovered as organic dyes in the 1800's, the most well-known of which is methylene blue. Relatively soon thereafter phenothiazines were found to be useful clinically, a trend that has continued in the century since peaking as antipsychotics in the 1950's. Today, phenothiazines are still being pursued clinically as seen in a number of recent patents for phenothiazine use in autoimmune disorders. This study sought to further characterize the …