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2012

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Uvas Unidas: A Research Study And Campaign Design For Hispanic Millennials, Candace Margaret Rodriguez Jan 2012

Uvas Unidas: A Research Study And Campaign Design For Hispanic Millennials, Candace Margaret Rodriguez

Honors Theses

The Hispanic market is a fast growing demographic that has begun to drastically reshape the population composition of the United States. Many unique and different cultures and identities are represented under the label, “Hispanic." Many companies have started l recognizing the value and importance of the Hispanic demographic. Along with the rising Hispanic population, Millennials are becoming an increasingly significant market. Hispanics have a lower median age, 25.4, than both African Americans and Caucasians in the United States and play a vital role as members of the Millennial generation. Hispanic Millennials are a market segment that is often overlooked. A …

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Angiotensin Ii As A Potential Regulator Of Inflammatory Cytokines In Inducing Hypertension In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Khush Singh Aujla Jan 2012

Angiotensin Ii As A Potential Regulator Of Inflammatory Cytokines In Inducing Hypertension In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Khush Singh Aujla

Honors Theses

The disease Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune disorder that primarily affects women during their reproductive years. Women with SLE are at a greater risk of developing hypertension, which increases their risk of mortality from a cardiac related event. A proposed mechanism for SLE hypertension suggests that inflammation in the kidneys causes renal dysfunction, presumably resulting in less water excretion, increased plasma volume, and thus high blood pressure. This experiment tests the hypothesis that the T-cells from a mouse model of SLE hyper secrete the inflammatory cytokines IL-17, IL-10, and DFN- y, and are more sensitive to the …

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An Alternative Explanation For No-Fault's Demise, Nora Freeman Engstrom Jan 2012

An Alternative Explanation For No-Fault's Demise, Nora Freeman Engstrom

DePaul Law Review

No abstract provided.

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Why No Duty?, Stephen D. Sugarman Jan 2012

Why No Duty?, Stephen D. Sugarman

DePaul Law Review

No abstract provided.

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Deeds Of Death, And Blood': The Introduction Of Sensational Crime Reporting Into Nineteenth Century Penny Press, Marta Catherine Toczylowski Jan 2012

Deeds Of Death, And Blood': The Introduction Of Sensational Crime Reporting Into Nineteenth Century Penny Press, Marta Catherine Toczylowski

Honors Theses

This thesis investigates the development of sensational crime reporting in New York in the early-Nineteenth Century. In order to fully understand the introduction of crime reporting into newspapers, I used a significant amount of secondary sources to understand the changes in the city, culture and the history of newspapers. I also took advantage of microfilm of newspapers from the 1830s and 1840s to look firsthand at the development of crime reporting in New York City newspapers. Through studying three significant murders and their coverage in the newspaper, I was able to establish and understand the development of a new type …

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The Effectiveness Of Common Language: A Contextual Analysis Of Thomas Paine's Common Sense And Rev. Martin Luther King's 'Letter From A Birmingham Jail', Mack-Arthur Turner, Jr Jan 2012

The Effectiveness Of Common Language: A Contextual Analysis Of Thomas Paine's Common Sense And Rev. Martin Luther King's 'Letter From A Birmingham Jail', Mack-Arthur Turner, Jr

Honors Theses

People are different in several ways; however, we are also share many similarities. For example, we all have ways in which we can communicate others. One of the problems in communicating is connecting with one's intended audience. The way that people construct their ideas and convey them could be effective based on the audiences' ability to understand, interpret, and react. In this paper, I examine the way in which many powerful and influential American leaders have used a particular form of communication to inspire the masses. I analyze the way in which two powerful figures, Thomas Paine and Rev. Martin …

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Correlating Taxation And Income Inequality: An Interregional Study, Shantala Fabiola Weiss Jan 2012

Correlating Taxation And Income Inequality: An Interregional Study, Shantala Fabiola Weiss

Honors Theses

The purpose of conducting this study is to identify the nature of the relationship between income inequality and taxation by correlating the taxes and their observed impact on the Gini coefficient. It is hypothesized that the greater tax rates result in greater impact on the Gini coefficient — the independent variable, also called redistribution. Data is run through a regression analysis to determine the strength of the hypothesis. A positive relationship between redistribution and the level of taxation is determined to exist. It is also found that fiscal redistribution is driven primarily by the level of taxation, not by its …

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Dotphotozine Issue 2, 2012, Students Of The Csusb Art Department, Thomas Mcgovern Jan 2012

Dotphotozine Issue 2, 2012, Students Of The Csusb Art Department, Thomas Mcgovern

Dotphotozine

No abstract provided.

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Angiotensin Ii: A Potential Link Between Inflammation And Hypertension In Sle, Khush Singh Aujla Jan 2012

Angiotensin Ii: A Potential Link Between Inflammation And Hypertension In Sle, Khush Singh Aujla

Honors Theses

The disease Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune disorder that primarily affects women during their reproductive years. Women with SLE are at a greater risk of developing hypertension, which increases their risk of mortality from a cardiac related event. A proposed mechanism for SLE hypertension suggests that inflammation in the kidneys causes renal dysfunction, presumably resulting in less water excretion, increased plasma volume, and thus high blood pressure. This experiment tests the hypothesis that the T-cells from a mouse model of SLE hyper secrete the inflammatory cytokines IL-17, IL-10, and IFN- y, and are more sensitive to the …

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Book Review: The Blue Wall Of Silence: The Morris Tribunal And Police Accountability In Ireland, Shane Kilcommins Jan 2012

Book Review: The Blue Wall Of Silence: The Morris Tribunal And Police Accountability In Ireland, Shane Kilcommins

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

No abstract provided.

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Using Intelligence To Shape Reforms In Child Protection, Helen Buckley Jan 2012

Using Intelligence To Shape Reforms In Child Protection, Helen Buckley

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

The Ryan Report, published in 2009, was not the first review of child welfare services to raise disquiet. Nevertheless it was unique in that its recommendations went beyond the deficits exposed by the report to comment on the entire child protection system. It is generally acknowledged that the model of child welfare that was the object of the Ryan Report no longer operates, and has been replaced by community based services and a system of regulated out of home care. However, on publication of the report, the government appeared to question whether, with what we now know, we can be …

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International Pen Pals Engaging In A Transformational Early Childhood Project, Marcie Hill Jan 2012

International Pen Pals Engaging In A Transformational Early Childhood Project, Marcie Hill

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to utilize an international pen pal project to enact transformation education by enabling students to gain a stronger respect for cultural diversity and changing students' perceptions of a diverse culture. A total of 39 sixth grade students, 16 second grade students, and two teachers participated in this study. One sixth grade teacher in Jakarta, Indonesia and one second grade teacher in north Alabama were participants and served as collaborative member checkers. Limited literature exists on the topic of pen pal writing between children who live in different nations with the goal …

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Retinoids And Abnormal Alveolar Development, Masheika L. James Jan 2012

Retinoids And Abnormal Alveolar Development, Masheika L. James

All ETDs from UAB

Extremely preterm infants are at high risk for a form of chronic lung disease called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which is characterized by impaired alveolar development. Exposure to hyperoxia and deficiency of vitamin A (VA) contribute to the development of BPD in preterm infants. Randomized controlled trials indicate VA supplementation decreases BPD and/or death. However, 25% of preterm infants continue to remain VA deficient despite supplementation, probably due to impairment in VA transport, VA is stored in the liver as retinyl esters which are transported to the lung and irreversibly metabolized into all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), the active metabolite. A combination of …

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Wear Of Ceramics And Enamel In A Chewing Simulator, Sridhar Janyavula Jan 2012

Wear Of Ceramics And Enamel In A Chewing Simulator, Sridhar Janyavula

All ETDs from UAB

Dental ceramics are known for their excellent chemical and optical properties. The wear of human enamel and of the restorative material is often a vital and esthetical concern when selecting a restorative material for any given clinical restorative treatment. Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate effect of zirconia (polished, glazed, polished then glazed, adjusted, glazed and adjusted, adjusted and polished and aged zirconia) against human enamel antagonist. A comparison was made between different zirconia, veneering porcelain (Ceramco 3) and natural enamel. Additionally, the surface roughness (Ra) of the ceramic surface was measured before and after wear testing …

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Forensic Facial Reconstruction Using Computational Approach, Wenzhen Jia Jan 2012

Forensic Facial Reconstruction Using Computational Approach, Wenzhen Jia

All ETDs from UAB

Forensic facial reconstruction is an application of forensic anthropology. It is a process of recreating the face of a human being based on skull remains. The process of recreating faces can be used to identify otherwise unknown individuals or to reconstruct faces of historical figures, such as the famous effort of reconstructing King Tut in 2005. There are many approaches to perform facial reconstruction in both two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D). In 2-D cases, an artist works from photos of the skull and sketches the facial features based on his or her scientific training and artistic intuition. In 3-D cases, …

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Mycobacterial Iron Acquisition Systems, Christopher M. Jones Jan 2012

Mycobacterial Iron Acquisition Systems, Christopher M. Jones

All ETDs from UAB

Iron is an essential nutrient for the vast majority of organisms; yet, the availability of iron is limited to microorganisms due to the insolubility of ferric hydroxides and to pathogens by iron withholding strategies of their hosts. Many bacteria produce small, high-affinity iron chelators called siderophores to scavenge iron from the environment. In addition, many bacterial pathogens have evolved mechanisms to steal host iron contained in heme, hemoglobin, or transferrin. Mycobacteria are unique genera of bacteria represented by the notorious pathogens Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agents of tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy, respectively. Tuberculosis remains a global health …

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"A Very Amusing Bit Of Blasphemy": Honoré Daumier's Histoire Ancienne, Nicole Jordan Jan 2012

"A Very Amusing Bit Of Blasphemy": Honoré Daumier's Histoire Ancienne, Nicole Jordan

All ETDs from UAB

During the early nineteenth century, Neoclassical artists depicted scenes of antiquity, both real and imagined, by exemplifying their nobility and idealism. The first artist to break the walls around this infallible representation was the caricaturist Honoré Daumier (1808-79). Daumier explored the myths and legends of antiquity minus the trappings of a classical education. The result was Histoire ancienne, a series of fifty prints published in Le Charivari between December 1841 and January 1843 that ridiculed the same subjects that artists such as Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867) and Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) exalted. In 1857, critic Charles Baudelaire said of Histoire ancienne, "Daumier …

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Development, Characterization, And Modeling Of Ballistic Impact On Composite Laminates Under Compressive Pre-Stress, Eric Oscar Kerr-Anderson Jan 2012

Development, Characterization, And Modeling Of Ballistic Impact On Composite Laminates Under Compressive Pre-Stress, Eric Oscar Kerr-Anderson

All ETDs from UAB

Structural composite laminates were ballistically impacted while under in-plane com-pressive pre-stress. Residual properties, damage characterization, and energy absorption were compared to determine synergistic effects of in-plane compressive pre-stress and impact velocity. A fixture was developed to apply in-plane compressive loads up to 30 tons to structural composites during an impact event using a single-stage light-gas gun. Observed failure modes included typical conical delamination, the development of an impact initiated shear crack (IISC), and the shear failure of a pre-stressed composite due to impact. It was observed that the compressive failure threshold quadratically decreased in relation to the impact velocity up …

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The Effect Of Acetylcholine Receptor Activation On The Response Properties Of Retinal Ganglion Cells, Ye Long Jan 2012

The Effect Of Acetylcholine Receptor Activation On The Response Properties Of Retinal Ganglion Cells, Ye Long

All ETDs from UAB

Acetylcholine (ACh) is the first identified neurotransmitter and acts in areas including the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the central nervous system (CNS). The effects of ACh are mediated by nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), both of which are extensively distributed in CNS, including the retina. The expression and distribution of nicotinic AChRs (nAChRs) and muscarinic AChRs (mAChRs) have been studied with RT-PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemical techniques in the retinas of different species (Kaneda et al., 1995; Keyser et al., 2000; Yamada et al., 2003; Strang et al., 2005; Dmitrieva et al., 2007; Liu et al., 2009; Strang …

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Connectivity And Collaboration: The Use Of Blogs In First-Year Composition, Melissa Peterson Jan 2012

Connectivity And Collaboration: The Use Of Blogs In First-Year Composition, Melissa Peterson

All ETDs from UAB

In this thesis, I discuss the nature of digital communication at a very broad level, examine the evolution and definition of "blogs," and consider ways that blogs can be used in educational settings to improve the understanding and application of rhetorical principles. Although digital media have resulted in a dramatic shift in the way messages are created, transmitted, and consumed, digital technologies need not be viewed with skepticism and alarm. While these technologies present new challenges and opportunities for communication, the changes are more of a gradual evolution than a sudden overhaul. Within digital media, blogs are an incredibly difficult …

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Development Of Electrospun Bone-Mimetic Matrices For Bone Regenerative Applications, Matthew Christopher Phipps Jan 2012

Development Of Electrospun Bone-Mimetic Matrices For Bone Regenerative Applications, Matthew Christopher Phipps

All ETDs from UAB

Although bone has a dramatic capacity for regeneration, certain injuries and procedures present defects that are unable to heal properly, requiring surgical intervention to induce and support osteoregeneration. Our research group has hypothesized that the development of a biodegradable material that mimics the natural composition and architecture of bone extracellular matrix has the potential to provide therapeutic benefit to these patients. Utilizing a process known as electrospinning, our lab has developed a bone-mimetic matrix (BMM) consisting of composite nanofibers of the mechanically sta-ble polymer polycaprolactone (PCL), and the natural bone matrix molecules type-I colla-gen and hydroxyapatite nanocrystals (HA). We herein …

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Environmental And Organizational Characteristics Associated With A Critical Access Hospital Being Contract Managed Or Becoming Acquired, Virginia Anne Razo Jan 2012

Environmental And Organizational Characteristics Associated With A Critical Access Hospital Being Contract Managed Or Becoming Acquired, Virginia Anne Razo

All ETDs from UAB

The focus of this research is the relationship between environmental and organizational characteristics and critical access hospitals (CAHs) being contract managed or acquired. The resource dependence theory guided the methodology. Based on this theory, organizations prefer to remain autonomous until key resources become scarce. The scarcity of resources combined with a dynamic external environment causes environmental uncertainty that requires organizations to consider a variety of strategic responses in order to survive. Given the results of this study, contract managed CAHs were associated with markets that were less munificent and more dynamic with older facilities, relative to independent hospitals. Due to …

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Model System Using Controlled Receptor Expression For Molecular Ultrasound Imaging Applications, Reshu Saini Jan 2012

Model System Using Controlled Receptor Expression For Molecular Ultrasound Imaging Applications, Reshu Saini

All ETDs from UAB

Ultrasound is a noninvasive, inexpensive imaging modality used to characterize biological tissues. Targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging is an emerging preclinical strategy which uses contrast agents for characterization of biological processes on a molecular level. These microbubble agents are lipid shelled micron-sized particles that have the capability to be coated with ligands such as antibodies or small peptides in order to bind to their target receptors. Molecular ultrasound imaging, using these targeted contrast agents, allows for a quantitative assessment of molecular targets with a high sensitivity. Although this technique is in preclinical research, further advances in contrast agent design and potential …

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Regulation Of Alpha-Synuclein Accumulation By The Autophagy-Lysosome Pathway In A Preclinical Model Of Parkinson Disease, Leandra Rosa Mangieri Jan 2012

Regulation Of Alpha-Synuclein Accumulation By The Autophagy-Lysosome Pathway In A Preclinical Model Of Parkinson Disease, Leandra Rosa Mangieri

All ETDs from UAB

Finding novel therapeutics that delay or halt the progression of Parkinson Disease (PD) is key to providing symptomatic relief of debilitating symptoms. A defining pathological feature of PD is characterized by the formation of Lewy bodies, intraneuronal inclusions comprised mainly of α-synuclein (ASYN) (4). Vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase), an enzyme complex comprised of two multi-subunit-containing domains, critically regulates the acidification of vesicles such as lysosomes and thus proper function of the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP), which is critical for the degradation of ASYN. Compromises to V-ATPase have been shown to negatively affect lysosome function and its ability to clear toxic forms of …

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Real-Time Quantitative Pcr For Evaluation Of Mutans Streptococci And Dental Caries, Chanika Manmontri Jan 2012

Real-Time Quantitative Pcr For Evaluation Of Mutans Streptococci And Dental Caries, Chanika Manmontri

All ETDs from UAB

Mutans streptococci (MS), e.g., Streptococcus mutans (Sm) and Streptococcus sobrinus (Ss), are associated with dental caries. Quantification of MS has been shown to predict caries risk. A new technology using PCR may streamline quantification compared to traditional culture methods. Purpose: To use real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and standard plate counting (SPC) for detection and quantification of levels of Sm, Ss and total streptococci (TS) in clinical samples from high-caries-risk children with no regular access to dental care and to study correlation of these bacterial levels and ratios to caries prevalence. Methods: Saliva and plaque samples were collected from school-aged children …

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Localization Of Proteins Involved In Trafficking In Frog And Mouse Retina, Amie Marsh Jan 2012

Localization Of Proteins Involved In Trafficking In Frog And Mouse Retina, Amie Marsh

All ETDs from UAB

The connecting cilium serves as the major route for protein transport from the inner to outer segment of photoreceptor cells. The hypothesis that all Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB) rhodopsin mutants travel properly to the rod outer segment in Xenopus laevis will be tested by preparing transgenic X. laevis expressing a rhodopsin mutation found in human CSNB, A295V. In addition, probing for the existence of potential proteins involved in regulating rhodopsin trafficking and monitoring their localization will contribute to a better understanding of the underlying pathway of intracellular photoreceptor trafficking.

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Genome-Wide Dna Methylation Changes During Breast Tumorigenesis, Natalie E. Mitchell Jan 2012

Genome-Wide Dna Methylation Changes During Breast Tumorigenesis, Natalie E. Mitchell

All ETDs from UAB

Neoplastic reprogramming generates cancerous cells from normal derivatives, enabling researchers to create a model of the early stages of oncogenesis and analyze molecular changes in real-time. Aberrations in DNA methylation are considered a major mechanism contributing to the acquisition and maintenance of a cancerous phenotype; however, little research exists regarding gene-specific changes in DNA methylation during the transition from a normal to neoplastic cell. Human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs) underwent neoplastic transformation through the addition of three defined genetic elements to generate one line of semi-transformed, pre-malignant cells (SHMECs) and two separate lines of fully transformed, malignant cells (THMECs). We …

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A Phenomenological Study Of Obesity And Its Impact On Functional Status, Life-Space Mobility, And Physical Activity In Southern African American Older Women, Pamela G. Bowen Jan 2012

A Phenomenological Study Of Obesity And Its Impact On Functional Status, Life-Space Mobility, And Physical Activity In Southern African American Older Women, Pamela G. Bowen

All ETDs from UAB

The majority of work on health disparities has focused on public policy and identifying disparate conditions. Obesity is a significant public health problem that has reached epidemic proportions, considered the second leading cause of preventable death, encourages a sedentary lifestyle, and can lead to a higher prevalence of functional impairments. Moreover, obesity increases the risk that persons may develop one or more serious medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and osteoarthritis, especially among African Americans. In the United States, African American women are more likely to be classified as overweight or obese. In fact, approximately …

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The Role Of Cd11c+ Cells In Response To Ozone, Jeffrey David Brand Jan 2012

The Role Of Cd11c+ Cells In Response To Ozone, Jeffrey David Brand

All ETDs from UAB

Environmental ozone exposure remains a major public health concern with over one-third of the United States population experiencing unhealthful levels. Epidemiological studies indicate exposure increases morbidity in those with pre-existing disease such as asthma, though the biological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain elusive. CD11c+ cells within the respiratory tract include dendritic cells (DCs), which are the most efficient antigen presenters and play major roles controlling immune responses. In addition, DCs are thought necessary for asthma pathogenesis and exacerbation. Therefore the link between ozone associated asthma morbidity may be DCs. We hypothesize ozone exposure may site specifically alter DC phenotypes, numbers, …

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Development And Validation Of The Alumni Loyalty Scale, Jennifer Rogers Breland Jan 2012

Development And Validation Of The Alumni Loyalty Scale, Jennifer Rogers Breland

All ETDs from UAB

Developing and maintaining alumni support of higher education institutions is continuously an area of interest for institutional administrators. The role that alumni play in the overall picture has somewhat changed throughout the decades, but what encourages this support has remained the same. A graduate of a higher education institution must have a sense of loyalty, along with other contributing factors, that will create the necessary motivation in order for an alumnus to support his or her alma mater. The purpose of this study is to identify the psychometric properties of an instrument intended to assist institutions with determining the level …

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