Digital Commons Network^™

Fabrication Of Nanoporous Gold And Biological Applications, Badharinadh Uppalapati

Theses and Dissertations

FABRICATION OF NANOPOROUS GOLD AND BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS By Badharinadh Uppalapati A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2014 Major Director: Maryanne M. Collinson, Professor, Department of Chemistry Fabrication of nanoporous gold electrodes by dealloying Au:Ag alloys has attracted much attention in sensing applications. In the first part of this work, the electrochemical response of the redox active molecule, potassium ferricyanide, in a solution of bovine serum albumin in buffer, serum or blood was studied using nanoporous gold and comparisons made to planar gold. Nanoporous …

Development Of Bivalent Ligands Targeting The Putative Ccr5-Mor Heterodimer, Thomas Raborg

Theses and Dissertations

Chemokine receptor CCR5 (CCR5) is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) predominantly expressed on leukocytes, or white blood cells.1–3 During inflammation, the body releases chemokines that bind to receptors such as CCR5 and attract leukocytes to the area of inflammation, leading to an immunological response.1 CCR5 is also an important receptor in the human immunodeficiency virus's (HIV-1) invasion of host cells, as CCR5 acts as a co-receptor that facilitates HIV-1 viral entry.4,5 The continued destruction of leukocytes as a result of HIV-1 viral entry produces a disease state called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).5 Of note, this receptor is also expressed on …

Fabrication Of Micropatterns For The Spatial Control Of Cell Propagation And Differentiation, Mahmoud Moustafa

Theses and Dissertations

Challenges in the development of successful cell therapies involve engineering and control of cues to regulate the balance between differentiation and self-renewal. However, the complexity of architecture and function make this an intriguing problem in the context of forming functional connections. Here we present the design and fabrication of microstructured scaffolds that present a biomimetic framework along which neural cell lines can organize into oriented constructs. Specifically, we show microfabricated non-linear architectures that promote cellular fate related to propagation of human neuroblastoma cells and directed differentiation towards neurons. By mimicking biological networks that allow for spreading of the cells instead …

A Route To Discover Small Molecule Inhibitors Of Psaa, A Potential Target For Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Ahmad J. Obaidullah

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the development of multidrug resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae, research has begun to define new drug targets for pneumonia therapy. Different research groups have identified a lipoprotein, PsaA that is important for pneumonia virulence. PsaA is a manganese transporter that is required for bacterial virulence and growth. We have employed computer modeling to virtually screen a small-molecule database for inhibition of PsaA function by targeting the metal binding pocket, performing receptor-based virtual screening and molecular docking and scoring to identify potential inhibitors of PsaA function. We have developed an assay for screening compounds, including the use of a PsaA …

Therapeutic Efficacy Of Combination Of Mtor Inhibitors And Ampk Activators In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer., Grinal Corriea

Theses and Dissertations

Pemetrexed (PTX), an antifolate drug, has been approved by the US FDA for first line therapy of mesothelioma and non-small cell lung cancer. In addition to its primary site of action on thymidylate synthase (TS), PTX also inhibits the second folate-dependent enzyme of purine biosynthesis aminoimidazolecarboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (AICART). The accumulation of the substrate for AICART, ZMP, in PTX-inhibited cancer cells leads to activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) with subsequent inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and hypophosphorylation of its downstream targets responsible for protein synthesis and cell proliferation. Inhibitors of mTORC1 like Rapamycin and its analogs (rapalogs) …

An Investigation Of Nurbs-Based Deformable Image Registration, Travis J. Jacobson

Theses and Dissertations

Deformable image registration (DIR) is an essential tool in medical image processing. It provides a means to combine image datasets, allowing for intra-subject, inter-subject, multi-modality, and multi-instance analysis, as well as motion detection and compensation. One of the most popular DIR algorithms models the displacement vector field (DVF) as B-splines, a sum of piecewise polynomials with coefficients that enable local shape control. B-splines have many advantageous properties in the context of DIR, but they often struggle to adequately model steep local gradients and discontinuities. This dissertation addresses that limitation by proposing the replacement of conventional B-splines with a generalized formulation …

Affinity Enrichment And Mass Spectrometric Quantitation Of Protein Carbonyls, Suresh Narayanasamy

Theses and Dissertations

The importance of the role of oxidative stress in aging and numerous age-related diseases has become undeniable due to enormous weight of supporting evidence from the field of free radical biology. One of the most prominent oxidative modifications of proteins is the introduction of carbonyl groups. As with oxidative stress, protein carbonylation has been correlated with various disease states and natural aging. While protein carbonyls are relatively stable, reproducible detection and modification site localization are still challenging. This thesis details attempts to improve the analytical methodology used for the identification and quantitation of carbonylated proteins. We have studied the impact …

An Automated Dental Caries Detection And Scoring System For Optic Images Of Tooth Occlusal Surface, Leila Ghaedi

Theses and Dissertations

Dental caries are one of the most prevalent chronic diseases. Worldwide 60 to 90 percent of school children and nearly 100 percent of adults experienced dental caries. The management of dental caries demands detection of carious lesions at early stages. The research of designing diagnostic tools in caries has been at peak for the last decade. This research aims to design an automated system to detect and score dental caries according to the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) guidelines using the optical images of the occlusal tooth surface. There have been numerous works that address the problem of …

Development Of A Compact, Low-Cost Wireless Device For Biopotential Acquisition, Graham Kelly

Theses and Dissertations

A low-cost circuit board design is presented, which in one embodiment is smaller than a credit card, for biopotential (EMG, ECG, or EEG) data acquisition, with a focus on EEG for brain-computer interface applications. The device combines signal conditioning, low-noise and high-resolution analog-to-digital conversion of biopotentials, user motion detection via accelerometer and gyroscope, user-programmable digital pre-processing, and data transmission via Bluetooth communications. The full development of the device to date is presented, spanning three embodiments. The device is presented both as a functional data acquisition system and as a template for further development based on its publicly-available schematics and computer-aided …

Comparison Of Two Different Sprint Interval Training Work-To-Rest Ratios On Acute Metabolic And Inflammatory Responses, Christopher R. Harnish

Theses and Dissertations

High intensity exercise is believed to yield greater results on health and human performance than moderate intensity exercise. Extensive research indicates that not only do high-intensity interval training (HIT) and sprint interval training (SIT) produce significant improvements in cardiovascular fitness and disease, they may be more effective at improving long-term metabolic function, including insulin sensitivity (Si), by producing more mitochondria. Moreover, compliance rates for HIT and SIT participation are reported to be the same or better than traditional moderate intensity exercise. Because lack of time is often cited as major hindrance to exercise participation, SIT is also seen as a …

Domestic Violence: Contemporary Interventions And The Rise Of Specialized Domestic Violence Units, Laura E. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines recidivism for domestic violence offenders under both traditional probation and specialized probation conditions. This research compares recidivism at a traditional probation locality (Riverside Criminal Justice Services) and a specialized domestic violence unit (Chesterfield Community Corrections Services) in order to determine the nature of recidivism at both localities. In addition, the research aims to identify individual risk factors which are statistically associated with recidivism. The research is based on secondary data and draws on offender criminal records generated by the Virginia State Police, as well the extraction of information from probation files at both localities. The multivariate models …

Novel 3d Head And Neck Cancer Model To Evaluate Chemotherapeutic Efficacy, Kelly Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

HNSCC accounts for 7 percent of all new cancer occurrences. Despite currently available treatments, there continues to be a high mortality and recurrence rate in HNSCC. Well over 50 percent of all cancer patients receive chemotherapy as a standard treatment. However, only 5 percent of these cases have been shown to help with treatment of the disease. Formerly, two options were available for drug testing: in vivo animal models, and in vitro two-dimensional models. While in vivo models remain the most representative, their use is burdened by high costs, time constraints, and ethical concerns. 2D models are simple to use …

Acquired Epigenetic And Chromosomal Changes In Women Treated For Breast Cancer, Noran Aboalela

Theses and Dissertations

Improved survival for women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer (BC) has been accompanied by the development/persistence of psychoneurological symptoms (PNS) that compromise their quality of life. The biological basis for these PNS is unknown, but could reflect the acquisition of soma-wide chromosomal/epigenetic alterations. An important first step in testing this hypothesis is to determine if somatic genetic/epigenetic changes arise and persist following treatment. To answer this question we longitudinally studied 71 women (ages 23-71) with early-stage BC and collected measures before chemotherapy (baseline), and 4 weeks (mid-chemo); six months (during radiation therapy for a subset of women); and one year …

Effect Of Leg Geometries, Configurations, And Dimensions On Thermo-Mechanical And Power-Generation Performance Of Thermoelectric Devices, Ugur Erturun

Theses and Dissertations

Environmental challenges, such as global warming, growing demand on energy, and diminishing oil sources have accelerated research on alternative energy conversion methods. Thermoelectric power generation is a promising method to convert wasted heat energy into useful electrical energy form. A temperature gradient imposed on a thermoelectric device produces a Seebeck potential. However, this temperature gradient causes thermal stresses due to differential thermal expansions and mismatching of the bonded components of the device. Thermal stresses are critical for thermoelectric devices since they can generate failures, including dislocations, cracks, fatigue fractures, and even breakdown of the entire device. Decreases in power-generation performance …

Group Home Care: The Influence Of Positive Youth Development Factors And Social Capital On Youth Outcomes, Sundonia J. Wonnum

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the influence of positive youth development factors and social capital on outcomes among youth in group home care. One of the major assumptions of this study was that existing research is deficit-focused and provides little evidence of what practices are linked to positive outcomes among youth residing in and exiting group homes. A conceptual model was developed to depict the influence of predictors (derived from the Positive Youth Develop Framework and Social Capital Theory) on youth outcomes – change in psychosocial problem severity and prosocial behavior, living environment, school involvement, employment, delinquency, and extracurricular activity. An exploratory …

Structural Studies Of Interferon Regulatory Factor 4: A Molecular Perspective Of Its Regulatory Mechanism, Soumya Govinda Remesh

Theses and Dissertations

Interferon (IFN) regulatory factor family member 4 (IRF4) is a transcription factor that serves specific roles in transcriptional regulation of IFN responsive genes and is indispensable in B- & T-cell differentiation. IRF4 like the other members of the family has two major domains- the N-terminal DNA binding domain (DBD) essential for its recognition and binding to the Interferon Stimulated Response Element DNA sequence and a C-terminal Interferon activation domain (IAD) thought to maintain IRF4 in an auto-inhibited inactive state and is also critical in its activation. A putative unstructured linker connects the DBD and IAD. Activation in most members of …

Food Landscapes: A Case Study Of A Cooking And Art- Focused Program For Teens Living In A Food Desert, Jessica R. Norris

Theses and Dissertations

This study constructs themes and propositions about the experiences of youth participants in the fall 2013 Food Landscapes program at the Neighborhood Resource Center in Richmond, Virginia. During the program, youth participated in cooking-based volunteerism with adults with disabilities and created short videos about their experiences. In this study, I analyzed pre- and post-program participant interviews, twice-weekly program observations, and facilitator reflections to understand how Food Landscapes affected youths’ conception of community engagement and communication strategies. This case study offers insight into how youth experience after-school programming of this design. Based on my findings, youth develop and rely upon a …

Seeing The Sausage Made: How Compromise Works In Large Groups And Representative Bodies, James E. Crawford Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Inspired by the lack of Congressional compromise during the 2013 federal shutdown, I explore how compromise works in large groups and representative bodies. An on-line survey, personal interviews, and a discourse analysis of the Congressional Record yield a diverse collection of data, including personal and public stories of compromise. I examine the stories and other data through an eclectic mix of contemporary scholarship, borrowing literary theory from the Russian critic Mikhail Bakhtin, socio-linguistic concepts from American linguist James Paul Gee, and moral philosophy from Israeli thinker Avishai Margalit. I also incorporate the work of political scientists Amy Gutmann and Dennis …

Can Using The Internal Audit Function As A Training Ground For Management Deter Internal Auditor Fraud Reporting?, Christopher K. Eller

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the effects of using the internal audit function as a training ground for management and fraud magnitude on internal auditor fraud reporting decisions. Using a 2x2 between-participants experiment, the current study manipulates the use of the internal audit function as a management training ground (used as a training ground vs. not used as a training ground) and fraud magnitude (large fraud, defined as 30 percent of net income vs. small fraud, defined as one percent of net income). The results indicate that internal auditors may be less likely to report a fraud to their superior when the …

Analysis Of The Role Of Astrocyte Elevated Gene-1 In Normal Liver Physiology And In The Onset And Progression Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Chadia L. Robertson

Theses and Dissertations

First identified over a decade ago, Astrocyte Elevated Gene-1 (AEG-1) has been studied extensively due to early reports of its overexpression in various cancer cell lines. Research groups all over the globe including our own have since identified AEG-1 overexpression in cancers of diverse lineages including cancers of the liver, colon, skin, prostate, breast, lung, esophagus, neurons and neuronal glia as compared to matched normal tissue. A comprehensive and convincing body of data currently points to AEG-1 as an essential component, critical to the progression and perhaps onset of cancer. AEG-1 is a potent activator of multiple pro-tumorigenic signal transduction …

Perceptions Of Acupuncture And Acupressure By Anesthesia Providers, Amanda Faircloth

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Randomized controlled trials show acupuncture and acupressure support anesthesia management by decreasing anxiety, opioid requirements and treating post-operative nausea and vomiting. Acupuncture and acupressure have demonstrated clinical usefulness and received governmental support (NIH, PPACA, WHO, U.S. Military), but have not yet diffused into mainstream anesthesia practice. This study examined US anesthesia providers' perceptions of acupuncture and acupressure.

METHODS: Ninety-six anesthesiology departments stratified by geographic region (Northeast, South, West, and Midwest) and institution type (university medical centers, community hospitals, children’s hospitals, and VA hospitals) were selected for participation in an anonymous, online survey. The target sample was 1,728 providers …

Adaptive Radiation Therapy For Lung Cancer, Christian W. Dial

Theses and Dissertations

Prognosis for lung cancer patients remains poor. For those receiving radiation therapy, local control and survival have been shown to improve with increased doses; however, deliverable dose is often limited by associated toxicity. Therefore, methods that reduce dose to normal tissues and allow isotoxic escalation are desirable. Adaptive radiation therapy seeks to improve treatment by modifying the initial plan throughout delivery, and has been shown to decrease normal tissue dose. Studies to date suggest a trend of increasing benefit with increases in replanning frequency; however, replanning is costly in terms of workload and past studies implement at most weekly adaptation. …

A Cultural Lens Into The Story Underneath: A Resource Guide Of African American Art, Artists And Culture For Art Education, Valerie Graves

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study is to create a qualitative resource guide of African American culture, art, and artists for an art education curriculum. This project encompasses four main themes to reflect an area of African American culture via a work of art created by an African American artist. These themes are, Family with the sub themes African American Male, Matriarch, and Children; Spirit with the sub themes Faith, Spirituality, and Inspiration; Identity with the sub themes Artist’s Voice, Triumph, and Hope and Vision; Community with the sub themes Ancestors, Social Issues, and Cultural Voice. These themes constitute …

The Influence Of Dementia Caregiver Mental Health On Quality Of Care In Argentina, Alejandra Morlett Paredes

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the connections between cognitive functioning in individuals with dementia and caregiver burden, burden and mental health, mental health and quality of care. One hundred two dementia caregivers from San Lucas, Argentina completed questionnaires assessing these constructs. Caregiver burden, depression, anxiety, and satisfaction with life explained 18.8% of the variance in quality of care – respect and 14.7% of the variance in quality of care – provide. An SEM with generally adequate fit indices uncovered that cognitive functioning in individuals with dementia was inversely associated with caregiver burden, caregiver burden was inversely associated with mental health, and mental …

Disparities In Adverse Childhood Experiences And Sexual Health In The Us: Results From A Nationally Representative Sample, Monique J. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a major public health problem in the US, and have been linked to risky sexual behavior and psychopathology. However, studies examining the link between the wide range of ACEs and sexual health outcomes and behaviors, and the associated mediational role of psychopathology are lacking.

Objectives: The main objectives of this dissertation project were: 1) To determine the association between ACEs and sexual health outcomes and behaviors (early sexual debut, intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, and HIV/STIs); 2) To examine the disparities among selected populations; and 3) To assess the mediational role of psychopathology in …

Fluid Realities: A Light On Life's Journey, Neta-Grace Coleen Shepherd

Theses and Dissertations

Images of nature and family comprise the gestural and abstracted interpretations of my life events. I use my photographs as inspiration for my work. I fuse layers of color, light, and line into glass and onto wood to suspend a personal memory. I want to capture those moments that flit by in life and envelop them in the media.

In my fused glass work, I manipulate color, light, and line. In these pieces, I layer frits and sheets of glass onto an abstract sculpted relief of fiberglass and fuse them into one thick slab. The sculpted relief creates a textured …

Regulation Of Pancreatic Α And Β Cell Function By The Bile Acid Receptor Tgr5, Divya Prasanna Kumar

Theses and Dissertations

The discovery that bile acids act as endogenous ligands of the membrane receptor TGR5 and the nuclear receptor FXR increased their significance as regulators of cholesterol, glucose and energy metabolism. Activation of TGR5, expressed on enteroendocrine L cells, by bile acids caused secretion of GLP-1, which stimulates insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells. Expression of TGR5 on pancreatic islet cells and the direct effect of bile acids on the endocrine functions of pancreas, however, are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to identify expression of TGR5 in pancreatic islet cells and determine the effect of bile acids …

How To Score Situational Judgment Tests: A Theoretical Approach And Empirical Test, Christopher E. Whelpley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine how the method used to a score situational judgment test (SJT) affects the validity of the SJT both in the presence of other predictors and as a single predictor of task performance. To this end, I compared the summed score approach of scoring SJTs with item response theory and multivariate items response theory. Using two samples and three sets of analyses, I found that the method used to score SJTs influences the validity of the test and that IRT and MIRT show promise for increasing SJT validity. However, no individual scoring method …

Stress Management For Cancer Survivors Using A Technologically Adapted Psychosocial Intervention: A Randomized Trial Determining The Effect Of Expressive Writing On Psychoneuroimmunology Based Outcomes, Utkarsh B. Subnis

Theses and Dissertations

Patients with cancer transitioning from completing their final cancer treatments to survivorship are particularly at risk for experiencing psychosocial stress, and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has referred to these cancer patients as “lost in transition.” In this study, patients with cancer in their transition phase after completing their final radiation treatment were defined as cancer survivors (CS). CS must deal with chronic stressors such as the fear of cancer recurrence as well as the resumption of their roles in their family and work lives. Chronic stress impacts the nervous system and increases secretion of stress hormones (e.g. cortisol) from …

A Novel Cytostatic Form Of Autophagy In Sensitization Of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells To Radiation By Vitamin D And Vitamin D Analogue, Eb 1089., Khushboo Sharma

Theses and Dissertations

The standard of care for unresectable lung cancer is chemoradiation. However, therapeutic options are limited and patients are rarely cured. While Radiation therapy is effective at killing tumor cells or inhibiting their growth initially, development of resistance to treatments and recurrence of tumors are major issues. One of the major goals of Dr. Gewirtz’s laboratory has been to develop strategies to overcome the resistance and attenuate disease recurrence. One of these attempts involve employing vitamin D and its analogs in combination with radiation therapy. Our proposed studies were based on a previous finding where vitamin D and vitamin D analogs …