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Expression And Function Of Ca2+-Activated K+ Channels In Uterine Arteries, Ronghui Zhu

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Chronic hypoxia during pregnancy is one of the most common insults to the maternal cardiovascular system and fetal development, and is associated with increased uterine vascular tone and heightened risk of preeclampsia and fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The present study tested the hypothesis that calcium-activated potassium (KCa) channels play an essential role in uterine vascular adaptation to pregnancy, which is inhibited by chronic hypoxia during gestation. Uterine arteries (UAs) were isolated from nonpregnant ewes (NPUAs) and near-term pregnant ewes (PUAs) that had been maintained at sea level (~300 m) or exposed to high altitude (3,801 m) for 110 days. …

Radiosensitization Of Head & Neck Carcinoma Cells By Linifanib, A Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, Heng-Wei Hsu

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Tumor angiogenesis is a hallmark of advanced cancers and promotes invasion and metastasis. Over 90% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) express angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Since radiotherapy is one of the most commonly used treatments for HNSCC, it is imperative to identify the interactions between antiangiogenic therapy and radiotherapy, and to develop combination therapy to improve clinical outcome. The mechanisms between antiangiogenic agents and ionizing radiation are complicated and involve many interactions between the vasculature, tumor stroma and tumor cells. The proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells rely on angiogenesis/blood vessel formation. …

The Log-Beta Generalized Half-Normal Regression Model, Rodrigo R. Pescim, Edwin M. M. Ortega, Gauss M. Cordeiro, Clarice G. B. Demtrio, Gholamhossein Hamedani

Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

We introduce a log-linear regression model based on the beta generalized half-normal distribution (Pescim et al., 2010). We formulate and develop a log-linear model using a new distribution so-called the log-beta generalized half normal distribution. We derive expansions for the cumulative distribution and density functions which do not depend on complicated functions. We obtain formal expressions for the moments and moment generating function. We characterize the proposed distribution using a simple relationship between two truncated moments. An advantage of the new distribution is that it includes as special sub-models classical distributions reported in the lifetime literature. We also show that …

Consequences Of Prenatal Ethanol Exposure And Maternal Stress On Offspring, Miranda C. Staples

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Extensive evidence in humans suggests that exposure to insults during gestation, such as ethanol or maternal stress, can negatively impact the developing fetus in manners which can last into adulthood. These deleterious effects can include various behavioral challenges including cognitive impairments and increases in anxiety. These findings have been replicated in animal models of prenatal ethanol exposure and prenatal stress exposure, but little work has been conducted on measuring the interactive effects of the two prenatal insults in combination. Currently, there is no animal model of combined prenatal ethanol and prenatal stress exposures which has been utilized to systematically evaluate …

Procedural Design And Terror Victim Compensation, Janet Cooper Alexander

DePaul Law Review

No abstract provided.

Introducing A Novel Method For Genetic Analysis Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sepideh Nouri

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Autism is a spectrum of neurological disorders that is characterized by repetitive and stereotyped behaviors, lack of social skills in verbal and non-verbal communications, and intellectual disability. Recent statistics shows that 1 out of every 88 children in the US is affected by autism.

In this thesis, I first review previous studies on genetic association analyses of autism spectrum disorder. A large number of these studies fall into two categories: Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and sequencing studies. Although GWAS are able to identify multiple common risk variants associated with different diseases, these common variants explain only a small portion …

Identification Of Biomarkers Associated With Ascites Incidence In Broilers, Kaylee Rowland

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Poultry is key in genetic research due to breeding feasibility, relatively short generation interval, and distinct phenotypes. It is estimated that 8% of broiler deaths annually can be attributed to ascites, an economically important disease that has been challenging the industry for the past 2 decades. Genetically selected ascites resistant (RES) and susceptible (SUS) chicken lines have been established and maintained by the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Intensive research efforts have been made to reveal physiological and biochemical characteristics for the incidence of ascites. Since the whole genome of the major ancestral chicken, the Red Jungle Fowl, has been sequenced, …

Peregrination Of The Selectivity Filter Delineates The Pore Of The Human Voltage-Gated Proton Channel Hhv1, Deri Morgan, Boris Musset, Kethika Kulleperuma, Susan M. E. Smith, Sindhu Rajan, Vladimir V. Cherny, Régis Pomès, Thomas E. Decoursey

Faculty Articles

Extraordinary selectivity is crucial to all proton-conducting molecules, including the human voltage-gated proton channel (hH_v1), because the proton concentration is >10⁶ times lower than that of other cations. Here we use "selectivity filter scanning" to elucidate the molecular requirements for proton-specific conduction in hH_v1. Asp¹¹², in the middle of the S1 transmembrane helix, is an essential part of the selectivity filter in wild-type (WT) channels. After neutralizing Asp¹¹² by mutating it to Ala (D112A), we introduced Asp at each position along S1 from 108 to 118, searching for "second site suppressor" activity. …

Ecological Importance Of Ectomycorrhizal Linkages In The Ozark Mountains And The Fernow Experimental Forests, Shelly Kendra Bursick

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Underground stem-to-stem linkages involving ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are probably important in forest ecosystems, since these linkages could assist in the survival of established trees as well as increasing the growth and development of seedlings and saplings. This study compared forest communities of the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas and the Fernow Experimental Forest in West Virginia by examining species richness, diversity, relative abundance, and the potential for stems to exhibit spatial distribution and clustering patterns that reflected the existence of linkages by ECM fungi. Data on forest communities in the Ozarks were obtained from eight plot locations in Devil's Den …

Analysis Of Social Networks In A Virtual World, Gregory Thomas Stafford

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As three-dimensional virtual environments become both more prevalent and more fragmented, studying how users are connected via their avatars and how they benefit from the virtual world community has become a significant area of research. An in-depth analysis of virtual world Social networks is needed to evaluate how users interact in virtual worlds, to better understand the impact of avatar Social networks on the virtual worlds, and to improve future online Social networks.

Our current efforts are focused on building and exploring the Social network aspects of virtual worlds. In this thesis, we build a Social network of avatars based …

Zinc Oxide Nanorod Based Ultraviolet Detectors With Wheatstone Bridge Design, Arun Vasudevan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research work, for the first time, investigated metal semiconductor-metal (MSM) zine oxide (ZnO) nanorod based ultra-violet (UV) detectors having a Wheatstone bridge design with a high

responsivity at room temperature and above, as well as a responsivity that was largely independent of the change in ambient conditions. The ZnO nanorods which acted as the sensing element of the detector were grown by a chemical growth technique. Studies were conducted to determine the effects on ZnO nanorod properties by varying the concentration of the chemicals used for the rod growth. These studies showed how the rod diameter and the deposition …

Delivering Access: Home Birth For Women Of Families Of Color In New Mexico, Micaela Lara Cadena

Architecture and Planning ETDs

This thesis examines the access that low-income women of color have to home birth in New Mexico through qualitative research with home birth providers, New Mexico Licensed Midwives. New Mexican women and families have been birthing their children in homes and community settings for generations. In contemporary New Mexico, pregnant women can birth at home, in a free-standing birth center, or in a hospital setting. This thesis seeks to explore: 1) The central tenets of home birth, as explained by Licensed Midwives; 2) The factors that impact access to home birth in New Mexico as perceived by Licensed Midwives; 3) …

Climate Impact Assessment - Appendix - A Upper Rio Grande System And Operations, U.S. Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Reclamation

Law of the Rio Chama

No abstract provided.

Random Search Models Of Foraging Behavior: Theory, Simulation, And Observation, Ben C. Nolting

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Many organisms, from bacteria to primates, use stochastic movement patterns to find food. These movement patterns, known as search strategies, have recently be- come a focus of ecologists interested in identifying universal properties of optimal foraging behavior. In this dissertation, I describe three contributions to this field. First, I propose a way to extend Charnov's Marginal Value Theorem to the spatially explicit framework of stochastic search strategies. Next, I describe simulations that compare the efficiencies of sensory and memory-based composite search strategies, which involve switching between different behavioral modes. Finally, I explain a new behavioral analysis protocol for identifying the …

Neanderthal Hand And Foot Remains From Moula-Guercy, Ardèche, France, Ben Mersey, Rebecca S. Jabbour, Kyle Brudvik, Alban Defleur

School of Science Faculty Works

The hand and foot remains from Moula-Guercy cave (Ardèche, France) comprise 24 specimens of Eemian age (ca. 120 ka). The specimens include primarily complete elements, which are rare among the Moula-Guercy postcrania. The hand remains have several characteristic Neanderthal traits including a laterally facing (parasagittally oriented) second metacarpal-capitate articulation, a short styloid process, a wide proximal articular surface on the third metacarpal, and absolutely expanded apical tuberosities on the distal hand phalanges relative to modern humans. The foot remains include several incomplete elements along with an antimeric pair of naviculars, a medial cuneiform and cuboid, and a single complete element …

To Lift The Leaden-Eyed: Ernest Boyer’S Career In Higher Education, Drew Moser

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Factors Predicting Internalizing And Externalizing Psychopathology In A Sample Of Inner City Minority Women, Antonio Gonzalez

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Monitoring Daily Evapotranspiration In Northeast Asia Using Modis And A Regional Land Data Assimilation System, Keunchang Jang, Sinkyu Kang, Yoon-Jin Lim, Seungtaek Jeong, Joon Kim, John S. Kimball, Suk Young Hong

Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group Publications

We applied an approach for daily estimation and monitoring of evapotranspiration (ET) over the Northeast Asia monsoon region using satellite remote sensing observations from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Frequent cloud cover results in a substantial loss of remote sensing information, limiting the capability of continuous ET monitoring for the monsoon region. Accordingly, we applied and evaluated a stand-alone MODIS ET algorithm for representative regional ecosystem types and an alternative algorithm to facilitate continuous regional ET estimates using surface meteorological inputs from the Korea Land Data Assimilation System (KLDAS) in addition to MODIS land products. The resulting ET calculations …

Neurovascular Unit Dysfunction With Blood-Brain Barrier Hyperpermeability Contributes To Major Depressive Disorder: A Review Of Clinical And Experimental Evidence, Souhel Najjar, Daniel M. Pearlman, Orrin Devinsky, Amanda Najjar, David Zagzag

Dartmouth Scholarship

About one-third of people with major depressive disorder (MDD) fail at least two antidepressant drug trials at 1 year. Together with clinical and experimental evidence indicating that the pathophysiology of MDD is multifactorial, this observation underscores the importance of elucidating mechanisms beyond monoaminergic dysregulation that can contribute to the genesis and persistence of MDD. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are mechanistically linked to the presence of neurovascular dysfunction with blood-brain barrier (BBB) hyperpermeability in selected neurological disorders, such as stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and Alzheimer’s disease. In contrast to other major psychiatric disorders, MDD is frequently comorbid with …

Cxcr2 Expression In Tumor Cells Is A Poor Prognostic Factor And Promotes Invasion And Metastasis In Lung Adenocarcinoma, Erminia Massarelli

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) is a G-protein coupled receptor which mediates signaling by binding to CXC chemokines CXCL1-3 and 5-8. In non-small cell lung cancer CXCR2 has been studied mainly in stromal cells and is known to increase tumor inflammation and angiogenesis. However, there is controversial data in the literature about CXCR2 expression in tumor cells and its role in the tumor microenvironment. We hypothesized that tumoral expression of CXCR2 and its ligands promote tumor invasion and metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer. The effect of CXCR2 expression on tumor cells was studied using stable knockdown clones derived from …

Pyruvate Carboxylase Is Upregulated In Nsclc To Support Proliferation And Anabolism., Katherine Sellers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the number one cause of cancer-related death and, like all cancers, requires metabolic reprogramming to support the energetic and biosynthetic demands of the tumor cells to proliferate and survive the tumor microenvironment. This dissertation sought to uncover novel metabolic dysfunctions in NSCLC that may lead to new, targeted therapeutic strategies. To this end, a stable isotope-resolved metabolomics approach was used to study NSCLC in human patients in vivo, in cell culture, and in mouse xenograft tumors. This approach involves treating biological samples with tracers containing stable isotopes, such as 13C6-glucose, and monitoring the incorporation …

The Design Of An Output Data Collection Framework For Ns-3, Luiz Felipe Perrone, Thomas R. Henderson, Mitchell J. Watrous, Vinícius D. Felizardo

Faculty Journal Articles

An important design decision in the construction of a simulator is how to enable users to access the data generated in each run of a simulation experiment. As the simulator executes, the samples of performance metrics that are generated beg to be exposed either in their raw state or after having undergone mathematical processing. Also of concern is the particular format this data assumes when externalized to mass storage, since it determines the ease of processing by other applications or interpretation by the user. In this paper, we present a framework for the \ns network simulator for capturing data from …

Community Detection In Complex Networks, Yaojia Zhu

Computer Science ETDs

The stochastic block model is a powerful tool for inferring community structure from network topology. However, the simple block model considers community structure as the only underlying attribute for forming the relational interactions among the nodes, this makes it prefer a Poisson degree distribution within each community, while most real-world networks have a heavy-tailed degree distribution. This is essentially because the simple assumption under the traditional block model is not consistent with some real-world circumstances where factors other than the community memberships such as overall popularity also heavily affect the pattern of the relational interactions. The degree-corrected block model can …

Locking Compression Plate In Musculoskeletal Oncology'a Nriend In Need', Masood Umer, Kashif Abbas, Shahid Khan, Haroon Ur Rashid

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We are presenting our experience in the use of locking compression plate (LCP) after juxta-articular oncological resections in addition to its use in pathologic fracture.

METHODS:

A retrospective audit of skeletal reconstruction using LCP in 25 cases of long bone tumors was performed from 2008 to 2010. Reconstruction following limb salvage surgery was done in 17 patients and internal fixation of pathological fracture was done in 8 patients. All patients were available for > 12 months of follow-up, and thus assessed for union at the resected ends.

RESULTS:

There were 8 males and 17 females in the study. The …

Juvenile Court Officers’ Perceptions Of Innovation Adoption; What Personal And Contextual Factors Make A Difference In Levels Of Adoption? An Exploratory Mixed-Method Study., Brenda Jean Moran

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This exploratory research examined levels of innovation adoption among Juvenile Court Officers (JCOs) in a Midwestern state. The researcher applied Everett M. Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation model as the study’s framework. According to Rogers (2003), innovation is “an idea, practice or object that is perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption” (p. 475). The study sought to determine the extent that demographic and work-life variables such as gender, office location, caseload, years of service, personality/temperament and employee engagement contributed to levels of innovation adoption by JCOs. This study examined the characteristics of individuals and contexts in …

Transcriptomic Analyses Of The Co2-Concentrating Mechanisms And Development Of Molecular Tools For Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Andrew J. Brueggeman

Department of Biochemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Microalgae, such as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, account for a large percentage of photosynthesis that occurs on the planet. Many algae possess a Carbon-Concentrating Mechanism, or CCM, that actively transports inorganic carbon (C_i) into the cell to create artificially high internal levels of CO₂, enhancing their rate of carbon fixation. The production of biofuels from algal sources can serve as both a renewable and carbon-neutral energy source. This thesis details research in Chlamydomonas, in the effort to both better understand the CCM in algae and improve laboratory and industrial manipulations with algae.

In the first chapter of this …

Population Occurrence And Pathogen Prevalence Of Lone Star Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Collected From Southeast Nebraska, Amanda C. Maegli

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.), has recently become established in Nebraska; therefore, local biology, ecology, and tick-borne disease risk are not known. Research was conducted to determine monthly questing activity, establishment, and pathogenic microorganisms associated with the lone star tick in Nebraska.

Lone star tick populations were collected from May through August, 2012 in six sites in southeast Nebraska using carbon dioxide (CO₂) traps. A total of 747 adults, 3,076 nymphs, and 1,289 larvae were collected. Total ticks collected and monthly activity were significantly different for each site.

A semi-randomized sample of 251 adult ticks were selected …

Toxic And Repellent Effects Of Pyrethroids Used In Orchards On The Honey Bee, Apis Mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Erin M. Ingram

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Managed honey bee colonies provide valuable pollination services and are rented by fruit orchards to improve fruit quality and yield. The placement of colonies in this agricultural setting increases the possibility of exposure to pyrethroids used for broad-spectrum pest control in orchards. Although highly toxic to bees, pyrethroids are believed to pose a relatively low hazard due to their low application rates in the field as well as their contact repellent properties. Previous studies have noted a decrease in foraging visits following pyrethroid application possibly preventing bees from acquiring a lethal dose in the field.

This research quantified behaviors associated …

Impact Of Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus And Triticum Mosaic Virus On Transmission By Aceria Tosichella Keifer (Eriophyidae) And Virus Epidemiology In Wheat, Camila F. De Oliveira

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The wheat curl mite (WCM), Aceria tosichella Keifer, transmits a complex of viruses, Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) and Wheat mosaic virus (WMoV), to wheat, Triticum aestivum, in the Great Plains. Co-infection of wheat by these viruses is frequently observed, increasing disease severity and yield loss.

Current genetic work classifies WCM populations into two genotypes, Type 1 and Type 2. It has been shown that different mite genotypes are able to transmit viruses at varying rates. WCM-virus relations are very specific and can impact vector biology. In this study, the primary objective was to determine …

Hardy, Darwin, And The Art Of Moral Husbandry, Owen Roberts-Day

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study of the influence of Charles Darwin on Thomas Hardy's tragic novels centers on two key concepts in the work of Darwin. The first is Darwin's narrative of the evolution of morality, which describes moral decisions as a struggle for survival between various instincts, habits, and customs, both within the individual and within society as a whole. Of particular importance is the role of reason and sympathy in overcoming base and selfish instincts. The second is the idea, introduced in Origin, that the work of scientific breeders represents an act of Conscious Selection, a separate form of evolution …