Digital Commons Network^™

Serotonin Transporter Genotype Modulates Hpa Axis Output During Stress: Effect Of Stress, Dexamethasone Test And Acth Challenge, Andrea N. Sorenson, Erin C. Sullivan, Sally P. Mendoza, John P. Capitanio, James Dee Higley

Faculty Publications

Background—Studies show that the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is dysregulated in depression. Some studies suggest that variation in the serotonin transporter genotype (hereafter 5HTT) modulates both risk for depression and psychopathological HPA axis responsiveness. Rhesus monkeys are well suited to model such relationships. Rhesus macaque models of human psychopathology have assessed the effect of the serotonin transporter (rh5HTT) on levels of cortisol in stressed subjects. These studies show that that under conditions of stress, heterozygous females (Ls) reared under adversity exhibit high levels of cortisol. Studies have not to our knowledge, however, assessed the potential additive effect on the cortisol response …

Serotonin Transporter Genotype Modulates Hpa Axis Output During Stress: Effect Of Stress, Dexamethasone Test And Acth Challenge, Andrea N. Sorenson, Erin C. Sullivan, Sally P. Mendoza, John P. Capitanio, James Dee Higley

Faculty Publications

Background—Studies show that the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is dysregulated in depression. Some studies suggest that variation in the serotonin transporter genotype (hereafter 5HTT) modulates both risk for depression and psychopathological HPA axis responsiveness. Rhesus monkeys are well suited to model such relationships. Rhesus macaque models of human psychopathology have assessed the effect of the serotonin transporter (rh5HTT) on levels of cortisol in stressed subjects. These studies show that that under conditions of stress, heterozygous females (Ls) reared under adversity exhibit high levels of cortisol. Studies have not to our knowledge, however, assessed the potential additive effect on the cortisol response …

Comparing Stigmatizing Attitudes Toward Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Traumatic Brain Injury, Jason Jacobs-Lentz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The present study used an experimental design to compare stigmatizing attitudes toward a hypothetical target individual described, depending on condition, as having Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or no diagnostic label. Attributions for the diagnostic label varied across conditions as either biological or psychological in cause. Participants were queried about their attitudes toward the individual described in the vignette, and specific attitudes involving personal responsibility, pity, anger, fear, helping, and beliefs about coercion-segregation were examined. Based on modified labeling theory and attribution theory, we predicted that the highest levels of stigmatizing attitudes would be reported by participants …

R-Forest For Approximate Nearest Neighbor Queries In High Dimensional Space, Michael Charles Nolen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Searching high dimensional space has been a challenge and an area of intense research for many years. The dimensionality curse has rendered most existing index methods all but useless causing people to research other techniques. In my dissertation I will try to resurrect one of the best known index structures, R-Tree, which most have given up on as a viable method of answering high dimensional queries. I have pointed out the various advantages of R-Tree as a method for answering approximate nearest neighbor queries, and the advantages of locality sensitive hashing and locality sensitive B-Tree, which are the most successful …

Predicting Learning: A Fine-Grained Analysis Of Learning Within A Serious Game, Carolyn Mcgregor Forsyth

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The dissertation investigates predictors of shallow versus deep learning within a serious game known as Operation ARA. The game uses a myriad of pedagogical features including multiple-choice tests, adaptive natural language tutorial conversations, case-based reasoning, and an E-text to engage students. Students are expected to learn about 11 topics of research methodology across three distinct modules that target factual information, application of reasoning to specific cases, and question generation. The first goal of this dissertation is to blend Evidence-Centered Design(ECD) and educational data mining (EDM) in an effort to identify and discover the best predictors of shallow versus deep level …

Indigenous Knowledge And Science Unite To Reveal Spatial And Temporal Dimensions Of Distributional Shift In Wildlife Of Conservation Concern, Christina N. Service, Megan S. Adams, Kyle A. Artelle, Paul C. Paquet, Laura V. Grant, Chris T. Darimont

Population Distribution and Habitat Collection

Range shifts among wildlife can occur rapidly and impose cascading ecological, economic, and cultural consequences. However, occurrence data used to define distributional limits derived from scientific approaches are often outdated for wide ranging and elusive species, especially in remote environments. Accordingly, our aim was to amalgamate indigenous and western scientific evidence of grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) records and detail a potential range shift on the central coast of British Columbia, Canada. In addition, we test the hypothesis that data from each method yield similar results, as well as illustrate the complementary nature of this coupled approach. Combining information from …

Volume 51, Number 49: July 23, 2014, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Peer Mentoring For-Profit College Students, Diane Mcgeehan

Theses and Dissertations

A peer mentoring program for new students at a for-profit institution was implemented at a campus over five quarters. Peer mentors with high GPAs were matched with students for eleven weeks to help with academic success. A Business Club was created to support the mentoring program and campus activities. A professor monitored the program and collected data about the mentors, mentees, and the program's initiatives. Qualitative and quantitative research practices were used. Most mentees completed their first quarter coursework and re-enrolled for multiple quarters. The peer mentors learned valuable skills that they will apply to their workplaces. The campus was …

The Orientation Of The Pyrococcus Furiosus Transcription Factor Tfb2 In The Transcription Initiation Complex, Arati Bhattarai

Dissertations and Theses

The hyperthermophile archaeon, Pyrococcus furiosus encodes two eukaryotic TFIIB family proteins, TFB1 and TFB2. TFB1 is very similar to TFIIB in terms of sequence homology and function, whereas TFB2 is unusual as it is missing highly conserved sequences in its N-terminal domain that are present in TFIIB and TFB1. Despite this, TFB2 is effective in transcription process, albeit with lower efficiency compared to TFB1. Other archaea also contain multiple TFBs, but unlike Pyrococcus furiosus TFB2, these multiple TFBs have higher sequence homology to each other and have similar transcription efficiencies. Photochemical cross-linking experiments have shown that the B-reader of TFB …

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session July 23, 2014, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Minutes of the July 23, 2014 WMU Board of Trustees meeting include:

• Remarks by board chair James Hettinger
• Remarks by president John Dunn

A Proto-Architecture For Innate Directionally Selective Visual Maps, Sv Adams, Cm Harris

School of Psychology

Self-organizing artificial neural networks are a popular tool for studying visual system development, in particular the cortical feature maps present in real systems that represent properties such as ocular dominance (OD), orientation-selectivity (OR) and direction selectivity (DS). They are also potentially useful in artificial systems, for example robotics, where the ability to extract and learn features from the environment in an unsupervised way is important. In this computational study we explore a DS map that is already latent in a simple artificial network. This latent selectivity arises purely from the cortical architecture without any explicit coding for DS and prior …

"Vitalité": Race Science And Jews In France 1850-1914, Kendra Beth Hendrickson

Dissertations and Theses

Race science is built on ideas of division and categorization. In the historian's quest to tell the story of race science, certain frameworks have been used that can greatly inhibit our understanding of this fraught topic. The impulse to study race science in the framework of the nation-state has led to certain misconceptions and lends itself to a historical narrative wherein racist concepts stop at artificially imposed borders. In addition, the national framework detracts from the individual's contributions and instead lumps these contributions together on the level of the nation-state, thus opening the door for judgments about whole nations being …

The Effect Of Platelet-Rich Plasma (Prp) On Muscle Contusion Healing In A Rat Model., Demetris Delos, Matthew J. Leineweber, Salma Chaudhury, Saif Alzoobaee, Yingxin Gao, Scott Alan Rodeo

Faculty Publications

Background: Current therapy for muscle contusions is usually limited to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or use of the RICE principle (rest, ice, compression, elevation); thus, other forms of treatment that can potentially accelerate the rate of healing are desirable. Hypotheses: A local injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) would lead to accelerated healing rates compared with controls; also, delayed administration of PRP would lead to a blunted response compared with immediate treatment. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Forty-six male Lewis rats each underwent a single blunt, nonpenetrating impact to the gastrocnemius muscle via a drop-mass technique and subsequently received either a …

The Effect Of Vacancies On Plasmonic Response In Arrays Of Gold Nanoparticles, Jason Ceavash Fathi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Advances in nanotechnology are leading to promising possibilities in the field of cancer diagnostics and treatment. One proposed method is to coat metastasized cancer cells with a metamaterial constructed from gold nanospheres. Then a photothermal reaction may be induced to destroy the cancer cells by exploiting the fact that gold nanoparticles have a strong localized surface plasmon resonance at infrared wavelengths of light. This metamaterial could be manufactured through self-assembly by using DNA to bind the gold nanospheres together into an array. A material constructed in this manner would have flaws that are inherent in any self-assembly process and a …

The Development Of Hydrophobic And Superhydrophobic Cementitious Composites, S. W. Muzenski, I. Flores-Vivian, K. Sobolev

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Freezing and thawing of water in saturated concrete induces stresses, cracks, spalling, and eventually allows chlorides, sulphates and other ions to penetrate through the porous space of concrete causing the corrosion and ultimately structural failure. These detrimental factors are limited if concrete has the ability to repel water. Water repellant concrete was achieved through internal and external surface applications. Hydrophobicity, over- and super-hydrophobicity are demonstrated by the ability of a surface to repel water and are characterized by contact angles. In cementitious composites internal hydrophobization can be achieved through the addition of superhydrophobic admixtures to fresh concrete resulting in an …

Hamelin Pool Stromatolites: Ages And Interactions With The Depositional Environment, Paige E. Giusfredi

Open Access Theses

Stromatolites are lithified, laminated organosedimentary structures that dominate the fossil record for 80% of Earth History. Stromatolites form through two processes: the trapping and binding of detrital grains by microbial mats and precipitation of calcium carbonate within microbial mats. Stromatolites from Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay, Western Australia provide a unique opportunity to study depositional processes within the long-lived stromatolite ecosystem. This thesis focuses on investigating the applicability of various techniques for dating modern stromatolites and determining the role that stromatolites play as sediment sinks and sediment sources. Shark Bay stromatolites were dated using Uranium-Thorium geochronometry and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) …

Survivin As Potential Mediator To Support Autoreactive Cell Survival In Myasthenia Gravis: A Human And Animal Model Study, Linda Louise Kusner, Michael J. Ciesielski, Alexander Marx, Henry J. Kaminski, Robert A. Fenstermaker

Pharmacology and Physiology Faculty Publications

The mechanisms that underlie the development and maintenance of autoimmunity in myasthenia gravis are poorly understood. In this investigation, we evaluate the role of survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, in humans and in two animal models. We identified survivin expression in cells with B lymphocyte and plasma cells markers, and in the thymuses of patients with myasthenia gravis. A portion of survivin-expressing cells specifically bound a peptide derived from the alpha subunit of acetylcholine receptor indicating that they recognize the peptide. Thymuses of patients with myasthenia gravis had large numbers of survivin-positive cells with fewer …

Association Of Trauma Exposure With Proinflammatory Activity: A Transdiagnostic Meta-Analysis., M Tursich, R W J Neufeld, P A Frewen, S Harricharan, J L Kibler, S G Rhind, R A Lanius

Faculty Articles

Exposure to psychological trauma (for example, childhood/early life adversity, exposure to violence or assault, combat exposure, accidents or natural disasters) is known to increase one's risk of developing certain chronic medical conditions. Clinical and population studies provide evidence of systemic inflammatory activity in trauma survivors with various psychiatric and nonpsychiatric conditions. This transdiagnostic meta-analysis quantitatively integrates the literature on the relationship of inflammatory biomarkers to trauma exposure and related symptomatology. We conducted random effects meta-analyses relating trauma exposure to log-transformed inflammatory biomarker concentrations, using meta-regression models to test the effects of study quality and psychiatric symptomatology on the inflammatory outcomes. …

Fighting Invasive Plants At Edge Of Appalachia Preserve, Ohio University College Of Arts & Sciences

All Forum Articles

No abstract provided.

Wmar: Maryland Terrapin Population Fighting Development, Predators And Crab Pots, Ohio University College Of Arts & Sciences

All Forum Articles

No abstract provided.

2014-07-22-Etsu Welcomes New Employees, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

Accent [newsletter]

No abstract provided.

2014-07-22-Alsop's Summer Course Investigate Flora And Fauna, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

Accent [newsletter]

No abstract provided.

2014-07-22-Honaker, Brown Receive Robertson Diversity Leadership Awards, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

Accent [newsletter]

No abstract provided.

2014-07-22-Navy Vet Uses Military Experience To Steer Ship At Etsu Clinics, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

Accent [newsletter]

No abstract provided.

July 22, 2014 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Post Protein Hydrolysis Removal Of A Potent Ribonuclease Inhibitor And The Enzymatic Capture Of Dna, Matt Ewert, Philip Amuso, Andrew Cannons

USF Patents

The present invention concerns compositions and methods of extracting infectious pathogens from a volume of blood. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of creating a fibrin aggregate confining the pathogens and introducing a fibrin lysis reagent to expose the pathogens for analysis. The present invention also concerns materials and methods for removing aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) from a sample.

Cell Type-Dependent Rna Recombination Frequency In The Japanese Encephalitis Virus, Wei-Wei Chiang, Chingkai Chuang, Mei Chao, Wei-June Chen

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is one of approximately 70 flaviviruses, frequently causing symptoms involving the central nervous system. Mutations of its genomic RNA frequently occur during viral replication, which is believed to be a force contributing to viral evolution. Nevertheless, accumulating evidences show that some JEV strains may have actually arisen from RNA recombination between genetically different populations of the virus. We have demonstrated that RNA recombination in JEV occurs unequally in different cell types. In the present study, viral RNA fragments transfected into as well as viral RNAs synthesized in mosquito cells were shown not to be stable, especially …

Nutrient Addition Dramatically Accelerates Microbial Community Succession, Joseph E. Knelman, Steven K. Schmidt, Ryan C. Lynch, John L. Darcy, Sarah C. Castle, Cory C. Cleveland, Diana R. Nemergut

Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences Faculty Publications

The ecological mechanisms driving community succession are widely debated, particularly for microorganisms. While successional soil microbial communities are known to undergo predictable changes in structure concomitant with shifts in a variety of edaphic properties, the causal mechanisms underlying these patterns are poorly understood. Thus, to specifically isolate how nutrients – important drivers of plant succession – affect soil microbial succession, we established a full factorial nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization plot experiment in recently deglaciated (~3 years since exposure), unvegetated soils of the Puca Glacier forefield in Southeastern Peru. We evaluated soil properties and examined bacterial community composition in …

Using Writing Studio Pedagogy To Help Students Reclaim Their Disabilities And Sexualities In A High School Writers' Workshop, Matthew Kim

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an exploration into what students stand to gain from being mentored in terms of reclaiming their disabilities and sexualities. Writing studio pedagogy supports the following ideas: an understanding that composition is a social process and, therefore, must take place in a social environment, an acceptance of multiple composing tools, multiple problem-solving strategies, an acceptance that students possess many and different creative thinking processes, an awareness that spatial design matters for successful teaching and learning, and, finally, an understanding of writing as play. My primary research question is how can practicing writing studio pedagogy transform the writing classroom …

Lubrication And Wear Analysis Of A Novel Squeeze Film Artificial Hip Joint, Sean A. Coots

Theses

Conventional artificial hip joints are characterized by inadequate `wedge film' lubrication due to cyclic non-reversing loading and low frequency oscillatory ball motion. A novel `squeeze film' design concept is presented which employs elastic restoring action and ellipsoidal cup geometry to enact separation of the bearing surfaces and improve lubrication behavior. Lateral and in-line design configurations were developed and analyzed using established finite element lubrication models with realistic gait cycle and bearing design specifications likely to be found in practice. An Archard-based wear formulation that relates contact pressure and sliding distance to linear wear depth was applied to the design configurations …