Digital Commons Network^™

The Silhouettes Of Autism, Chloe J. Dobbert

CMC Senior Theses

My passion as a student at the Claremont Colleges is to help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder grow and learn as normal children and to help prepare them for life outside the Autism Center at Claremont McKenna College. In my thesis project, I am exploring the concept of silhouettes through photography and my perceptions of the stories told to me by the children I teach. Esthetically, I am inspired by Kara Walker’s installation of large cutout silhouettes but I am using different mediums to accomplish my project: Artistically, I am inspired by the detailed descriptions of the obsessive stories and …

Medicine@Yale March 2013 Volume 9, Issue 1, Yale School Of Medicine Office Of Communications

Medicine@Yale - development newsletter

Medicine@Yale : advancing biomedical science, education and health care was a print and online newsletter which published news about academics, research and philanthropy for alumni, donors, faculty, students and the general public. It was initially published 6 times a year and then changed to a quarterly schedule. The first issue came out June/Jul. 2005. The final issue was published in May/June 2022, vol. 17, issue 1. Published by Yale School of Medicine, Office of Communications.

Molecular Mechanisms Related To Endotoxemia In Primary Human Cardiomyocytes In Culture, Atijah J. Collins

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and has been for the past 80 years. Development of novel therapeutic agents to address the large number of CVD deaths requires an in depth understanding of the structural and functional properties of human cardiomyocytes. Over the last few years we have been developing an in vitro paradigm to assess molecular cardiodynamics in Primary Human Cardiomyocyte in culture (PHCC). We tested the hypothesis whether endotoxemia would exhibit a marked decrease in contractile proteins and cause apoptosis in PHCC. In the current series of experiments, we induced endotoxemia …

Bulletin Of Yale University School Of Nursing 2013-2014, Yale School Of Nursing

Yale School of Nursing Bulletins and Catalogues

Series 109, Number 15

September 5, 2013

Energetic Salts: Degradation And Transformation, Sravanthi Vadlamannati

Open Access Dissertations

The first part of this work mainly focuses on distinguishing and characterizing two white solids namely urea nitrate (UN) and nitrourea (NU) with similar melting point (~160oC). Urea Nitrate is an inorganic salt. It has found use as an improvised explosive and was used in the first world trade center bombings. Nitrourea, a dehydrated product of UN, is an organic salt. In this study we reported and compared two routes to NU synthesis. We also proposed a decomposition route for UN.

The second part of the work investigates perchlorate contamination in soils following fireworks displays. A total of two hundred …

The Effects Of N-Butonol On The Model And Reconstituted Membrane Of Clostridium Pasteurianum, Yogi Kurniawan

Open Access Dissertations

During n-butanol fermentation, n-butanol partitions into microbial membranes result in destabilizing cellular lipid membranes by altering their lipid composition (generally the ratio of saturated to unsaturated lipids) whereas adapted microorganisms respond by altering the ratio of unsaturated to saturated lipids. The mechanism of how microbes achieve a high adaptation in response to n-butanol is barely known. This dissertation describes the role of unsaturated lipids and charged lipid composition in modulating n-butanol partition into membrane using model bacteria (i.e. lipid bilayer vesicles or liposomes and Langmuir monolayers) and those studies were compared with reconstituted membranes (Clostridium pasteurianum) that represented …

In Vitro And In Vivo Pro-Apoptotic And Chemosensitizing Effects Of Alpha-Tomatine On Human Prostate Adenocarcinoma / Lee Sui Ting, Sui Ting Lee

Student Works (2010-2019)

Alpha (α)-tomatine is a major saponin found in tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum). The present study investigates the molecular mechanisms by which α-tomatine exerts its anti-cancer effect on human prostatic adenocarcinoma cells. Treatment of human androgen-dependent LNCaP and androgen-independent PC-3 prostate cancer cells with α-tomatine resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of cell growth with a halfmaximal efficient concentration (EC50) value of 2.65 ± 0.1 μM and 1.67 ± 0.3 μM, respectively. PC-3 cells appear to be more sensitive to α-tomatine-induced growth inhibition compared to LNCaP cells. Importantly, α-tomatine treatment is also less cytotoxic to non-tumorigenic human liver WRL-68 and human prostatic epithelial …

Copper Removal By Cellulose Xanthogenate Derived From Imperata Cylindrica L. Leaf Powder / Zubir Bin Othman, Zubir Othman

Student Works (2010-2019)

The efficiency of cellulose xanthogenate derived from Imperata cylindrica L. leaf powder (CXIC) for removing Cu(II) from aqueous solutions has been investigated. The effects of physicochemical parameters on biosorption capacities such as biosorbent dosage, pH, initial concentration of Cu(II) and contact time were studied. The biosorption capacities of CXIC increased with the rise in pH and Cu(II) concentration but decreased with the increase in biosorbent dose. Biosorption of Cu(II) was considered fast as the time to reach equilibrium was 60 min. Two kinetic models; pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order were applied to analyse the Cu(II) biosorption process, and it was …

Enhancing The Uptake Of Learning Through Simulation In Health, Cobie Rudd

Research outputs 2013

The initial reason that a simulated learning environment (SLE) was pursued was to offer university-based health students a safe and authentic environment in which to learn and practise their skills. Since that time, some eight years later, experience has shown that an SLE needed multiple dimensions to its work, based on evidence. In addition, a new approach to applying and integrating learning through simulation within health curricula, that was replicable and affordable, was required...

Making Knowledge And Making Drugs? Experimenting With University Innovation Capacity, Liza Vertinsky

Emory Law Journal

The innovation process for novel medical therapies needs repair. The United States spends more than ever before on drug discovery without a corresponding increase in new medical therapies.

Energy Efficient Distributed Wearable Physiological Monitoring : Framework And Implementations, Mladen MilošEvić

Dissertations

Recent technological advances in sensors, wireless networking, mobile and cloud computing promise to fundamentally change the way health care services are delivered and used. The development and proliferation of the wearable physiological monitors enable a shift in healthcare services from centralized hospitals and medical centers to individuals and their homes. Continuous wearable health monitoring has the potential to engage users, improve wellness management, prevent disease by early detection, and assist rehabilitation and treatments. This dissertation presents a general framework and a practical implementation of computing infrastructure (both hardware and software aspects) to support mobile health and wellness monitoring applications as …

Pulse Patency And Oxygenation Sensing System Development To Detect G-Induced Loss Of Consciousness, Herman Pretorius

Master's Theses and Capstones

A fighter pilots greatest strength is the weakness of his or her opponent. Commonly, this strength comes down to the maneuverability of the aircraft, particularly the ability to out-climb. Since the 1980's, the thrust produced by these engines have the ability to drain the pilots head of blood causing a state of unconsciousness due to the overwhelming forces of gravity for upwards of 30 seconds; often times having fatal outcomes.

This thesis explores the feasibility of detecting of blood flow by means of arterial wall expansion (pulse patency) and blood oxygenation using a microprocessor to continually monitor the signals from …

Role Of Nicotine In Oxidative Stress, Rakesh Kacham

Masters Theses

"Nicotine, a major alkaloid, is present in tobacco products as well as in smaller amounts in potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants. Although it is the addictive compound in cigarettes, nicotine is believed to play a protective role in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Researchers have found that the short-term administration of nicotine may help improve the memory process by reducing oxidative stress in the brain. Our studies have shown that, by blocking Fenton's reaction, nicotine is able to inhibit free radical generation, so this research has focused on the antioxidant properties of nicotine. The cell lines of the alveoli, blood …

Design Of A Running Robot And The Effects Of Foot Placement In The Transverse Plane, Timothy James Sullivan

Open Access Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to make advances in the design of humanoid bipedal running robots. We focus on achieving dynamic running locomotion because it is one metric by which we can measure how far robotic technologies have advanced, in relation to existing benchmarks set by humans and other animals. Designing a running human-inspired robot is challenging because human bodies are exceptionally complex mechanisms to mimic. There are only a few humanoid robots designed specifically for running and the existing robots are either constrained to a plane, do not yet exhibit human-like motion, or are unstable.

One aspect of …

Using Academic Advising To Increase Motivation And Engagement In First-Year College Students, Lisa Remsing

Wayne State University Dissertations

According to ACT Educational Services (2010), more than one-third of college freshmen will not progress to their sophomore year. Several states, including Michigan, have proposed higher education performance funding models, which directly correlate state funds to student retention and graduation rates (Jesse, 2012). As higher education suffers from diminishing resources, there is a heightened focus to increase retention and graduation rates (Tinto, 2007).

The transition from high school to college can be a traumatic time for adolescents. This age group has unique motivational needs as they adjust to an unfamiliar academic environment (Perry et al., 2005). The first year of …

Headbanging By Pigeons Iii. A Systematic Replication And Extension Of An Animal Model Of Psychopathology, Darin Allen Casler

All NMU Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Relationship Between A Proxy Of Prenatal Testosterone (2d:4d) And Determinants Of Endurance Running Performance, Simon D. Holzapfel

Online Theses and Dissertations

Low ratios of the length of the second finger to the length of the fourth finger in the right (right 2D:4D) and the left hand (left 2D:4D) have been linked to high prenatal testosterone concentrations. Low R-L 2D:4D (subtracting left 2D:4D from right 2D:4D) has been associated with high androgen sensitivity as indicated by low numbers of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) triplet repeats on exon-1 of the androgen receptor gene. Endurance training has led to higher increases in maximal oxygen uptake capacity (VO2max) in men with relatively low numbers of CAG triplet repeats, suggesting a relationship between R-L 2D:4D and VO2max. Moreover, …

The Bio-Nano-Interface In Predicting Nanoparticle Fate And Behaviour In Living Organisms: Towards Grouping And Categorising Nanomaterials And Ensuring Nanosafety By Design, Hugh Byrne, Arti Ahluwalia, Diana Boraschi,, Bengt Fadeel, Peter Gehr, Arno C. Gutleb, Michaela Kendall, Manthos Papadopoulos, Iseult Lynch

Articles

In biological media, nanoparticles acquire a coating of biomolecules (proteins, lipids, polysaccharides) from their surroundings, which reduces their surface energy and confers a biological identity to the particles. This adsorbed layer is the interface between the nanomaterial and living systems and therefore plays a significant role in determining the fate and behaviour of the nanoparticles. This review summarises the state of the art in terms of understanding the bio-nano interface and provides direction for potential future research directions and some recommendations for future priorities and strategies to support the safe implementation of nanotechnologies. The central premise is that nanomaterials must …

Model-Based Approaches To Characterize Clinical Pharmacokinetics Of Atorvastatin And Rosuvastatin In Disease State, Joyce Macwan

Open Access Dissertations

Cardiovascular disorders are the leading cause of death in the United States. Members of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) class of lipid-lowering drugs are used worldwide for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disorders. Cardiovascular disorders are the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus and obesity as well as renal and liver transplantation. The rising global burden of these chronic disorders has resulted in long-term use of statins to prevent and treat cardiovascular disorders in diverse patient populations. Several statins are commercially available; however, atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor^®, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, NY) is the …

Chronic Swim Stress Attenuates Endocrine Response And Improves Cardiac Function In Mice Lacking The Angiotensin Ii Type 1a Receptor, Najat Khalifa Almahroug

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Stress is a stimulus that causes an often abrupt but always large change in autonomic activity and hormone secretion. Angiotensin II (AngII) is one of the main neurohormonal mediators that are stimulated by stress. AngII mediates most of its relevant biological effects via AngII type1 receptor (AT1R) activation. Stress increases tissue and circulating levels of Ang II which contributes to stimulation of adrenal AT1R, mediating stressinduced hormone release. Ang II through the activation of AT1R not only elevates blood pressure but also has a patho-physiological relevance in cardiac remodeling. The goal of this study was to assess the influence of …

Application Of Computational Fluid Dynamics As A Simulation-Based Design Guide In A Microfluidic 3d Living Cell Array (3d Lca) Device, A.H. Rezwanuddin Ahmed

Dissertations and Theses

The use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) as a tool in the aerodynamics and oil industry provides a reinforcement to efficiency in the design of aircrafts or for understanding the flow through pipes. A similar approach can be taken towards microfluidics, where traditionally devices have been designed based on experience or physiological replication, and a CFD simulation is shown post-manufacture to show the flow and diffusion patterns present. In this study, a reverse approach is suggested, by designing the device first in CFD and perform simulations on variations of alterable parameters to get insight on how the changing parameters affect …

Music And Instrument In Chaucer, Philip Feller

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

If You Can't Beat Them, Kill Them: Complex Adaptive Systems Theory And The Rise In Targeted Killing, Carla Crandall

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Gender Differences And Fast Food Preferences Among U.S. College Students, Donald Persaud

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this research is to examine the relationship of corporate fast food and health within the context of gender. It tests the hypothesis that Western perceptions of masculinity and femininity inform a differentiated pattern of food preference, which will correlate with health as measured by Body Mass Index (BMI). The targeted sample population for the study is the undergraduate community of the University of Central Florida, and fast food is a chosen dietary medium because it is an increasingly ubiquitous source of caloric energy in the American foodscape, representative of the mass production model applied to cuisine in …

Strategic Optimization Techniques For Frtu Deployment And Chip Physical Design, Chen Liao

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Combinatorial optimization is a complex engineering subject. Although formulation often depends on the nature of problems that differs from their setup, design, constraints, and implications, establishing a unifying framework is essential. This dissertation investigates the unique features of three important optimization problems that can span from small-scale design automation to large-scale power system planning: (1) Feeder remote terminal unit (FRTU) planning strategy by considering the cybersecurity of secondary distribution network in electrical distribution grid, (2) physical-level synthesis for microfluidic lab-on-a-chip, and (3) discrete gate sizing in very-large-scale integration (VLSI) circuit.

First, an optimization technique by cross entropy is proposed to …

Asleep Behind The Wheel: Experiences Of Night Shift Nurses On The Commute Home, Shirley A. Sargent

Open Access Dissertations

Aim: The aim of this study was to obtain descriptions of nurses’ perceptions and experiences of falling asleep behind the wheel on the drive home after a worked night shift.

Background: While the evidence suggests that the problem of drowsy driving and fall asleep driving is a strong contributor to vehicular accidents, little is known about nursing perceptions of the issue.

Methods: The design of the study is qualitative and descriptive. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 12 registered nurses who had experienced falling asleep behind the wheel on the drive home from work after a worked night shift. The interviews …

Doxorubicin-Induced, Tnf-Α-Mediated Brain Oxidative Stress, Neurochemical Alterations, And Cognitive Decline: Insights Into Mechanisms Of Chemotherapy Induced Cognitive Impairment And Its Prevention, Jeriel T. Keeney

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

The works presented in this dissertation provide insights into the mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI or “ChemoBrain”) and take steps toward outlining a preventive strategy. CICI is now widely recognized as a complication of cancer chemotherapy experienced by a large percentage of cancer survivors. Approximately fifty percent of existing FDA-approved anti-cancer drugs generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Doxorubicin (Dox), a prototypical ROS-generating chemotherapeutic agent, produces the reactive superoxide radical anion (O₂^-•) in vivo. Dox treatment results in oxidation of plasma proteins, including ApoA-I, leading to TNF-α-mediated oxidative stress in plasma and brain. TNF-α elevation in brain …

Spectroscopic Study Of Charge Transfer Induced Blue Shifting Of Pyrimidine/Water Mixtures On Silver Substrate, Annie Katherine Mcclellan

Honors Theses

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a chemical method gaining much popularity in recent years. With the use of a roughened metal surface or metal nanoparticles, surface plasmon resonances enhance the electromagnetic field allowing for increased Raman signal. Pyrimidine, having two lone pairs of electrons, is capable of charge transfer interactions contributing to a SERS chemical enhancement factor as well. It has recently been reported that hydrogen bonding with water results in the blue-shifting of certain normal modes of pyrimidine. By comparing experimental polarized Raman spectra with the results of electronic structure calculations, the origin of this blue-shifting was found …

Adsorption Of Arsenic, Chromium, And Uranium From Saline Water On Clinoptilolite And The Treatment Of The Spent Regenerant By Duffusion Dialysis, Mutiu Olaitan Tanimola

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Among various water purification and recycling technologies, adsorption is a fast, inexpensive and universal method. The development of low-cost adsorbents has led to the rapid growth of research interests in this field. The objective of this present study is the optimization of process parameters in adsorption of arsenic, chromium and uranium ions. The adsorption behavior of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) has been studied in order to determine its applicability in treating water containing arsenic, chromium and uranium. The multiple adsorption of arsenic As (V), trivalent chromium Cr (III)] and uranium (VI) on natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) in single component and multiple component …

Characterization Of Chronic Glucocorticoid Exposure On Natural Killer Cell Function: A Model For Stress Induced Alterations On The Epigenetic Landscape, Justin Lee Eddy

Dissertations

Psychological stress can impact immune function through altered glucocorticoid production. Natural killer (NK) cells and their effector functions are particularly susceptible to both psychological stress as well as exogenous glucocorticoids. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of chronic glucocorticoid (GC) exposure on NK cells to investigate the immune dysregulation associated with periods of psychological stress.

Chronic in vitro treatment of the NK92 cell line produced a dichotomous NK phenotype with enhanced proinflammatory cytokine production yet reduced NK cell lytic activity (NKCA). This dichotomy was at the individual cell level where mRNA and protein levels for proinflammatory …