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2013

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Influence Of Implant Angulation On The Fracture Resistance Of Zirconia Abutments, Shreedevi Thulasidas Jan 2013

Influence Of Implant Angulation On The Fracture Resistance Of Zirconia Abutments, Shreedevi Thulasidas

All ETDs from UAB

Zirconia-based implant abutments are widely used in prosthetic dentistry. Custom made abutments are utilized to correct for non-ideal implant positions and can successfully accommodate the morphologic requirements of the overlying crown. It was hypothesized that there will be difference in fracture strength and fracture mode of artificially aged zirconia implant abutments supported by implants at varying angulation, when load is applied to failure on overlying zirconia crowns. The implant-abutment-crown assemblies were subjected to steam autoclaving to induce some degree of phase transformation from tetragonal to weaker monoclinic form and to thermo-cycling to artificially age the samples. The effects of loading …

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Neutropenia And Progenitor Cell Mobilization In Ap3-B1 Mutant Pearl Mice, Matthew Vallejo Jan 2013

Neutropenia And Progenitor Cell Mobilization In Ap3-B1 Mutant Pearl Mice, Matthew Vallejo

All ETDs from UAB

Mutations in the AP3-ß1 gene are known to cause Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type 2 (HPS2) in humans and canine cyclic hematopoiesis (CH) in gray collie dogs. HPS2 patients have severe congenital neutropenia (SCN), and dogs have cyclic neutropenia (CN). The mechanism behind neutropenia is uncertain. Pearl mice have an AP3-ß1 mutation, but whether they actually have neutropenia has not yet been evaluated. This dissertation presents a discussion of the evaluation of neutropenia in pearl mice, hematopoietic progenitor cell mobilization defect in pearl mice and finally an evaluation of methods of dog-to-mouse xenotransplantation to establish a xenotransplant model of the dog hematopoietic …

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Intrinsic Properties Of Rna Polymerase I And Trans-Acting Factors Control Transcription Elongation Efficiency, Olga V. Viktorovskaya Jan 2013

Intrinsic Properties Of Rna Polymerase I And Trans-Acting Factors Control Transcription Elongation Efficiency, Olga V. Viktorovskaya

All ETDs from UAB

Transcription of ribosomal (r) DNA by RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is the initial step of ribosome synthesis. Pol I transcription is unique in its high rate of initiation, specific organization within the nucleolus and tight connection to cell growth and proliferation. Moreover, transcription elongation by Pol I is functionally coupled with rRNA processing and assembly of the ribosomes. Regulatory insights into transcription elongation by Pol I and its interface with rRNA processing are limited, despite decades of research. To fulfill that gap, we asked several important questions: Do the obvious functional divergences between Pol I and other eukaryotic polymerases …

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Association Between Cruciferous Vegetable Intake And Risk Of Colorectal Cancer Among Men In Shanghai, China, Emily Vogtmann Jan 2013

Association Between Cruciferous Vegetable Intake And Risk Of Colorectal Cancer Among Men In Shanghai, China, Emily Vogtmann

All ETDs from UAB

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health concern and the intake of certain foods, such as cruciferous vegetables, has been studied for their potential protective effects against cancer development. The observed association between cruciferous vegetable consumption and CRC has been inconsistent, possibly related to glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphisms. Therefore, we aimed to (1) evaluate the association between fruits and vegetables, including cruciferous vegetables, on the risk of CRC; (2) determine factors associated with urinary isothiocyanate (ITC), a biomarker of cruciferous vegetable intake; and (3) evaluate the association between cruciferous vegetable consumption and CRC and to estimate the potential …

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Age Cohorts And Emotional Attachment To Mobile Phones, Amanda Warr Jan 2013

Age Cohorts And Emotional Attachment To Mobile Phones, Amanda Warr

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT Mobile phones have become integral to the way people communicate. Although mobile phone ownership is nearing saturation in the United States, use patterns differ among age cohorts. Another difference is the degree to which members of different age cohorts depend on their mobile phones. I explore emotional attachment to mobile phones and how it differs by age cohorts. Using data from a national survey of U.S. adults, I examine whether cohorts differ in attachment to their mobile phones, even when controlling for diversity of technology use. The results illustrate that there are important differences in attachment to mobile phones …

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Glioma-Vasculature Interactions, Stacey Watkins Jan 2013

Glioma-Vasculature Interactions, Stacey Watkins

All ETDs from UAB

Malignant gliomas are highly invasive brain tumors, which lack effective treatment options. To date, the standard therapy includes surgical debulking followed by chemotherapy and radiation. Despite efforts to eradicate the disease, the median patient survival time is only 14 months. In an attempt to discover novel therapies, research has focused on understanding the heterogeneous biological mechanisms employed by these cells. Uniquely, they do not metastasize through the vasculature or lymphatics like other solid cancers but alternatively, glioma cells utilize the abluminal surface of the vasculature to guide invasion and migration throughout the brain. The intimate association between glioma cells and …

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Effect Of A Faith-Based Initiative On Hospital Readmissions, Joseph Webb Jan 2013

Effect Of A Faith-Based Initiative On Hospital Readmissions, Joseph Webb

All ETDs from UAB

EFFECT OF A FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE ON HOSPITAL READMISSIONS JOSEPH WEBB ADMINISTRATION-HEALTH SERVICES ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between a faith-based initiative and hospital readmissions. The main data source used was the inpatient data-base of Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare System (MLH) in Memphis, TN. Data were collected from admissions that occurred during years 2008 through 2012 at four of MLH's five adult acute-care hospitals. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey were also used in the study. This study uses theoretical tenets from the Social Justice and Equity Theory and the Chronic Care Model …

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Hur Regulation In Central Nervous System Disorders, Crystal G. Wheeler Jan 2013

Hur Regulation In Central Nervous System Disorders, Crystal G. Wheeler

All ETDs from UAB

In inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), astrocytes play a major role in the systemic response to disease by either enhancing or limiting the inflammatory response through secretion of growth factors or cytokines. HuR RNA binding protein regulates many genes involved in inflammation. Inflammatory diseases such as brain tumors, Amylotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), have been linked to HuR, by our laboratory and others. To determine whether astrocytic overexpression of HuR would regulate inflammation in diseases of the CNS, we designed a transgenic mouse in which the HuR gene is overexpressed. In the first study, …

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Impulsivity As A Predictor Of Smoking Cessation Outcomes In Bupropion Treatment Of Community Corrections Smokers, Adam Clay Perkins Jan 2013

Impulsivity As A Predictor Of Smoking Cessation Outcomes In Bupropion Treatment Of Community Corrections Smokers, Adam Clay Perkins

All ETDs from UAB

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Prevalence of smoking among participants in community corrections far exceeds those in the general population. The purpose of the study was to examine predictors of smoking cessation outcome among community correction participants who were enrolled in a randomized control trial that used bupropion to treat tobacco dependence. This study found that inattention was a significant barrier to treatment. Specifically, performance on measures of attention including number of omissions errors on the Conner's Continuous Performance Task - Second Edition (CPT-II) and time to complete Trails A were …

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Insulin Resistance, Lipids, And The Metabolic Syndrome Trait Cluster: Impact Of Race And Very Low Calorie Diet, Veeradej Pisprasert Jan 2013

Insulin Resistance, Lipids, And The Metabolic Syndrome Trait Cluster: Impact Of Race And Very Low Calorie Diet, Veeradej Pisprasert

All ETDs from UAB

Insulin resistance (IR) is central to the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic disorders. Early detection, along with appropriate interventions, is paramount to reduce the morbidity and mortality of IR-related diseases. The gold standard measurement for IR is the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, which is markedly sophisticated for clinical evaluation but costly and invasive for clinical practice. Several alternative surrogate indicators of IR have been identified and used by clinicians, including insulin sensitivity indices derived from plasma glucose and insulin values, as well as other indicators that are independent of direct insulin measurements. In addition, lipid panel and lipoprotein subclass profile have emerged as markers …

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Epigenetic Regulation Of Hippocampus-Dependent Learning, Laura Qadri Jan 2013

Epigenetic Regulation Of Hippocampus-Dependent Learning, Laura Qadri

All ETDs from UAB

Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that underlie learning and memory has advanced a great deal. Research into the role of epigenetics, or modifications above the genome, has the promise of providing an even greater understanding of the precise mechanisms involved in memory formation. Studies of epigenetic regulation of memory in the rodent hippocampus have primarily focused on associative learning using contextual fear conditioning. While these studies have provided valuable insight into the role that epigenetics plays in cognition, it remains to be seen whether the findings generalize to other forms of hippocampus-dependent learning. This work examines the role of epigenetic …

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Socioeconomic Predictors Of 30-Day Readmission Of Elderly Patients With Initial Discharge Destination Of Home Health Care, Dianne Marrie Richmond Jan 2013

Socioeconomic Predictors Of 30-Day Readmission Of Elderly Patients With Initial Discharge Destination Of Home Health Care, Dianne Marrie Richmond

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction The purpose of this study was to examine the association of social determinants of health with 30-day rehospitalization among elderly patients who were discharged from an acute care hospital with an initial discharge destination of home with home health care support and to explore the social determinants' ability to accurately predict the odds of rehospitalization. Methods A secondary data analysis was performed on data obtained from the home healthcare agency. A total of 4,717 unique patients found in the data set. Some patients were represented in the data more than once during the observation period. To examine the relationship …

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A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of African American Female School Leaders In Suburban School Districts, Armentress Denise Robinson Jan 2013

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of African American Female School Leaders In Suburban School Districts, Armentress Denise Robinson

All ETDs from UAB

Abstract The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the personal, professional, and sociocultural experiences of African American female school leaders in suburban school districts. These school districts were identified as suburban locations because of low to no student poverty, stellar performances on standardized tests, high graduation and college going rates, and champion academic and athletic team honors. This qualitative study employed a phenomenological design to allow the researcher the opportunity to investigate and gather data through open-ended, face-to-face, one hour interviews with study participants. Three theoretical frameworks--critical race theory, racial identity development …

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Studies Of Dna Gyrase Activity In Escherichia Coli And Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium., Nikolay Sergeyevich Rovinskiy Jan 2013

Studies Of Dna Gyrase Activity In Escherichia Coli And Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium., Nikolay Sergeyevich Rovinskiy

All ETDs from UAB

Gyrase introduces negative supercoils into bacterial DNA. In balance with topoisomerase I, it contributes to the maintenance of constant negative DNA supercoiling. It was shown that in Escherichia coli negative supercoil density of pBR322 plasmid is higher than in Salmonella typhimurium. One of the possible explanations of this phenomenon is a difference of DNA gyrase activity between E. coli and S. typhimurium. We developed in vitro assay of gyrase activity which has shown that DNA gyrases of E. coli and S. typhimurium have the same supercoiling end point, but E. coli gyrase works slightly faster than the S. typhimurium enzyme. …

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Role Of Gsk3 In The Immunopathogenesis Of Eae, Amber Rowse Jan 2013

Role Of Gsk3 In The Immunopathogenesis Of Eae, Amber Rowse

All ETDs from UAB

Lithium, a glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) inhibitor, ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the murine model of multiple sclerosis (MS) in different mouse models. However, the mechanism of lithium's attenuation of EAE and the role of GSK3 in these processes are currently unknown. IFN-g producing Th1 cells and IL-17-producing Th17 cells are both effector cells in MS and in EAE models. However, relapsing remitting MS patients segregate into Th1 or Th17 serum cytokine signatures and each is differentially responsive to IFN-ß therapy, a first line therapy for MS. Studies in this dissertation revealed a differential effect of lithium on Th1 …

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The Relationship Between Inflammatory Biomarkers And Cognitive Function In Older Adults, Andrea C. Sartori Jan 2013

The Relationship Between Inflammatory Biomarkers And Cognitive Function In Older Adults, Andrea C. Sartori

All ETDs from UAB

Recent literature indicates associations between inflammation, aging, and cognitive function. Inflammatory processes have also been implicated in the onset of pathological and neurodegenerative conditions. Current study aims were to examine the associations between inflammatory biomarkers and cognitive function in older adults, and to explore the interrelationships of inflammatory biomarkers, depressive symptoms, health conditions, and cognitive function. Two studies were utilized for the current project: 1) a cross-sectional sample of sedentary older adults aged 65+ from the Physical and Cognitive Exercise Study (PACES; n=54); and 2) a longitudinal study (UAB Study of Aging) of community-dwelling older African Americans and Caucasians (n=393). …

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Role Of Endothelial Mannose Residues In Monocyte Adhesion Under Flow, David Wayne Scott Jan 2013

Role Of Endothelial Mannose Residues In Monocyte Adhesion Under Flow, David Wayne Scott

All ETDs from UAB

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the vessel wall and underlying cause of most cardiovascular disease. Much is understood about the nature of atherosclerosis development, including contributions from leukocytes that drive the disease process forward. The general process by which leukocytes are trafficked to sites of atherosclerosis development, and sites of inflammation in general, is understood and relies upon endothelial expressed protein adhesion molecules which serve as ligands for cognate leukocyte receptors. While these adhesion molecules share the post-translation modification of N-glycosylation, relatively little is known as to what functional role these modification plays in: i) interactions of leukocytes …

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Spatial Analysis Of Cardiovascular Mri Data, Samantha Seals Jan 2013

Spatial Analysis Of Cardiovascular Mri Data, Samantha Seals

All ETDs from UAB

The goal of this dissertation is to investigate applying currently available Frequentist spatial analysis methods to cardiovascular MRI (cMRI) data. This data is typically analyzed using methods dependent summary statistics; our goal is to analyze using the full dataset. In our first paper, we explore application of spatial covariance structures to cMRI data via a generalized linear model. In our second paper, we examine the effects of misspecification of the covariance structure when analyzing spatially correlated data utilizing generalized linear models via Monte Carlo simulation. Finally, in our third paper, we propose an alternative family of covariance structures that lends …

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Student Persistence Predictors And Community College Institutional Effectiveness, Jeffery Lee Shelley Jan 2013

Student Persistence Predictors And Community College Institutional Effectiveness, Jeffery Lee Shelley

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this study was to expand the literature on student persistence in community colleges through three research innovations. First, the literature on student persistence in community colleges was expanded by applying theory to the identification and testing of predictors. Second, it was expanded by validating retention prediction equations using independent data to test the generalizability of predictors. Third, it was expanded by determining the extent to which student major potentially mediates retention rates for community colleges. Aggregated student entry characteristic, external environment, and internal campus environment variables were obtained for 127 public community colleges in six states using …

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Epigenetic Markers In The Developing Postnatal Brain, Rebecca Kaye Simmons Jan 2013

Epigenetic Markers In The Developing Postnatal Brain, Rebecca Kaye Simmons

All ETDs from UAB

Epigenetic mechanisms provide a critical and plausible mechanism by which genes and the environment can interact and have been implicated in a number of diseases and disorders. In order to better understand how epigenetic mechanisms go awry in a diseased brain we must first understand how epigenetic mechanisms unfold during normal development. The present body of work begins to examine the role of DNA methylation in normal development and how it may contribute to a rodent model of emotion dysfunction. Using a variety of techniques, we evaluated the transcript, protein and functional output levels of DNA methyltransferase1, -3a, and -3b …

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Consumptive And Non-Consumptive Effects Of Predatory Fishes On Lobster In Southern Maine, Erin B. Wilkinson Jan 2013

Consumptive And Non-Consumptive Effects Of Predatory Fishes On Lobster In Southern Maine, Erin B. Wilkinson

All Theses And Dissertations

The American lobster, Homarus americanus, is an important consumer in the Gulf of Maine benthic community and supports the most valuable fishery in New England. Many fish predators that feed on juvenile lobster are found in the Gulf of Maine, but their abundance has varied over the previous decades. For example, striped bass, Morone saxatilis, have recovered from near extinction to become a viable recreational fishery on the east coast, and previous work examining the gut contents of striped bass found that juvenile lobsters were a large component of their diet during the summer in Massachusetts. However, striped …

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Development And Validation Of A Survey Instrument To Assess Health Information-Seeking Behaviors Among African-Americanyoung Professionals, Shauntice Allen Jan 2013

Development And Validation Of A Survey Instrument To Assess Health Information-Seeking Behaviors Among African-Americanyoung Professionals, Shauntice Allen

All ETDs from UAB

The lay public has had more opportunities than ever before to take an active role in their own health care. Despite these opportunities, many questions remain regarding the basis for barriers relating to seeking preventive health information. Following publication of the report of the Secretary’s Task Force of Black and Minority Health, health education researchers have documented health disparities among populations of color, in particular African Americans (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 1985). Brashers, Goldsmith, and Heish (2002) pointed out the complexity of health information-seeking behaviors (HISB) and highlighted the increasing need to clearly understand the process …

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Climate And Demographic Change In Arctic Alaska, Lawrence C. Hamilton Jan 2013

Climate And Demographic Change In Arctic Alaska, Lawrence C. Hamilton

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

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The Bus Transit System In Birmingham: A Rider's Approach, Jennifer Elaine Harrell Jan 2013

The Bus Transit System In Birmingham: A Rider's Approach, Jennifer Elaine Harrell

All ETDs from UAB

Citizen participation has become an integral part of implementing bus transit oriented development in many U.S. cities. The method of bus rider surveying is a traditional technique used to encourage diverse citizen participation. From November 2012 to January 2013, a Birmingham bus rider survey questionnaire study was conducted in the BJCTA (Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority) Central Station lobby. Although previous BJCTA bus rider surveys have been used to gather accurate route and demographic data, there has never been a bus rider survey that addresses the quality of transit service and performance in the Birmingham-Jefferson County area. In 2000, the National …

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Kitten Has Claws: The Feminine, The Feline, And The Threat Of The New Woman In Cecilia Beaux's "Sita And Sarita", Alexa Hayes Jan 2013

Kitten Has Claws: The Feminine, The Feline, And The Threat Of The New Woman In Cecilia Beaux's "Sita And Sarita", Alexa Hayes

All ETDs from UAB

This thesis examines Cecilia Beaux's painting "Sita and Sarita" (1893-1894) as it expresses the conflicts of the women's rights movement, changing gender roles, and shifts in the perception of female sexuality and intellectualism in the late nineteenth century. The argument hinges on the quality of the woman's gaze and the anthropomorphic nature of the cat, which encompass growing interests in and fears of female mental capacity, sexuality, and animality. Examining how the portrait functions within three major traditions--depictions of young women in white dresses; women lost in thought or in reverie; and portraits of people with their pets, specifically women …

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Microrna Regulation Of Dlx3 During Odontoblast Differentiation, Hannah Maria Heair Jan 2013

Microrna Regulation Of Dlx3 During Odontoblast Differentiation, Hannah Maria Heair

All ETDs from UAB

MicroRNAs are endogenous non-coding RNA (~22nt) that bind to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of target messenger RNA (mRNA) and facilitate translational repression and degradation. Previous studies have demonstrated the essential role of miRNA in many biological processes, including skeletal development and tooth formation. Dlx3, a homeobox gene, is critical for craniofacial patterning and postnatal skeletal development. Mutations in the Dlx3 gene in humans result in two autosomal dominant phenotypes known as tricho-dento-osseous syndrome (TDO) and amelogenesis imperfecta with taurodontism (AIHHT). Dlx3 expression has been observed in cranial neural crest cells, endochondral osteoblasts, odontoblasts, ameloblasts, hypertrophic chondrocytes, and the developing …

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The Role Of Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa Rhodopsin Mutant Ter349glu In Rod Cell Biogenesis And Retinal Inflammation, Tj Hollingsworth Jan 2013

The Role Of Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa Rhodopsin Mutant Ter349glu In Rod Cell Biogenesis And Retinal Inflammation, Tj Hollingsworth

All ETDs from UAB

Retinitis pigmentosa is one of the most common inherited blinding disorders, affecting 1 in 4000 individuals world-wide. Approximately 30% of retinitis pigmentosa cases are dominantly inherited and approximately 30% of these dominant mutations are found in rhodopsin. Most rhodopsin mutations result in misfolded protein aggregates and subsequent apoptosis while others have been shown to result in apoptosis associated with mislocalization, diminished/enhanced activity, or faulty protein-protein interactions. This work serves to test for mechanisms by which the naturally-occurring Ter349Glu rhodopsin mutation causes rod cell death. Ter349Glu rhodopsin was tested for the ability to bind the ligand 11-cis retinal, photoactivate, and activate …

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Identification And Biochemical Investigations Of Rhamnose And Glycoprotein In Mycoplasmas, David Jordan Jan 2013

Identification And Biochemical Investigations Of Rhamnose And Glycoprotein In Mycoplasmas, David Jordan

All ETDs from UAB

Mycoplasmas are host-specific human and animal pathogens within the class of wall-deficient bacteria named Mollicutes and have smaller sizes and genomes than the walled bacteria. Mycoplasma genome sequences reveal few if any genes for synthesis of a glycocalyx. Nevertheless, we find that mycoplasmas produce glycolipids, glycoprotein, and polysaccharides. Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, glucose, mannose, rhamnose, and galactose were detected in the glycolytic species Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pulmonis. All of these sugars except galactose was found in Mycoplasma arthritidis. Rhamnose was in the rare D configuration in the glycolytic species and in both D and L forms in …

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Modulation Of Intrinsic Activity In Sensory Cortex Facilitates Task Performance, Aburahman Elkhetali Jan 2013

Modulation Of Intrinsic Activity In Sensory Cortex Facilitates Task Performance, Aburahman Elkhetali

All ETDs from UAB

Due to the changing demands of the environment and our behavioral intentions the brain has to adapt in order to produce task appropriate responses. Part of the challenge is the large amount of sensory information received by the brain. Depending on individu-al goals, the brain must select and react to task appropriate stimuli while ignoring other irrelevant sensory input. Since behavioral intentions are dynamic, this requires the re-sponses within the brain to also be dynamic. Cognitive control, exerted by higher centers on sensory cortex allow for selection of task relevant stimuli. In this study we find that intrinsic, non-stimulus driven …

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Studies On Distracted Driving: Three Papers Examining The State Of The Literature And The Impact Of Texting Restrictions On Motor Vehicle Crash-Related Fatalities And Hospitalizations, Alva Oletia Ferdinand Jan 2013

Studies On Distracted Driving: Three Papers Examining The State Of The Literature And The Impact Of Texting Restrictions On Motor Vehicle Crash-Related Fatalities And Hospitalizations, Alva Oletia Ferdinand

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT This three-paper dissertation addresses gaps in the literature focused on distracted driving and the impact of regulations aimed at reducing its prevalence. With the widespread proliferation of mobile phone usage and more sophisticated in-vehicle entertainment and information systems, it is now commonplace for drivers to engage in non-driving activities (also referred to as "secondary tasks") while driving. It is widely believed that distracted driving is positively related to motor vehicle crashes and other undesirable driving outcomes. This dissertation specifically focuses on three topics: (1) the nature of the distracted driving literature given the numerous secondary tasks, driving performance outcomes, …

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