Digital Commons Network^™

Functional Characterization Of Rai1 In Zebrafish, Joshua S. Beach

Theses and Dissertations

Smith-Magenis Syndrome (SMS; OMIM #182290) is a multiple congenital abnormality and intellectual disability (ID) disorder caused by either an interstitial deletion of the 17p11.2 region containing the retinoic acid induced-1 (RAI1) gene or a mutation of the RAI1 gene. Individuals diagnosed with SMS typically present characteristics such as ID, self-injurious behavior, sleep disturbance, ocular and otolaryngological abnormalities, craniofacial and skeletal abnormalities, neurological and behavioral abnormalities, as well as other systemic defects and manifestations. Previous work by Vyas in 2009 showed temporal expression of rai1 in zebrafish embryos as early as 9 hpf. We hypothesize that there is maternal …

Reconnect: Designing To Touch, Dana Seros Rohani

Theses and Dissertations

Our everyday lives are surrounded by gadgets and digital devices that help us perform our daily chores with ease and efficiency. However, these digital devices can also separate us from what we should do ourselves. Although children who are exposed to high levels of technology might become attuned to the latest and the best gadgets, they might not learn to use their physical abilities. Another implication of a child’s over dependence on technology is that parental interactions such as encouragement, tutoring and reinforcement are provided by gadgets rather than living, breathing parents. Research done by Padma Ravichandran and Brandel France …

Genetic Integrity Assessment Of Cryopreserved Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill.) Genotypes, Ana Coste, Dana Suteu, Ioan Bacila, Constantin Deliu, Sergiu Valimareanu, Adela Halmagyi

Turkish Journal of Biology

Shoot tips of five tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) genotypes were successfully cryopreserved by droplet vitrification. Recovered plants were studied for genetic stability by two different assays: amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) using 4 primer combinations and sequencing of lycopene $\beta$-cyclase gene (LCY-B) from leaves. The highest shoot regeneration after cryopreservation was 70% (Pontica) following 24 h osmoprotection in 0.5 M sucrose and 30 min dehydration in plant vitrification solution 2 (PVS2). The data inferred from AFLP showed no genetic dissimilarities between in vitro regenerants derived from cryopreserved tissues compared with the noncryopreserved controls. Although a single nucleotide polymorphism, a G→T …

Small Sample Saddlepoint Confidence Intervals In Epidemiology, Pasan Manuranga Edirisinghe

Doctoral Dissertations

"In section 1, we develop a novel method of confidence interval construction for directly standardized rates. These intervals involve saddlepoint approximations to the intractable distribution of a weighted sum of Poisson random variables and the determination of hypothetical Poisson mean values for each of the age groups. Simulation studies show that, in terms of coverage probability and length, the saddlepoint confidence interval (SP) outperforms four competing confidence intervals obtained from the moment matching (M8), gamma-based (G1,G4) and ABC bootstrap (ABC) methods.

In section 2, we first consider Brillinger's classical model for a vital rate estimate with a random denominator. We …

Aicpa Audit Committee Toolkit : Government Organizations, American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants. Audit Committee Effectiveness Center, Cna Financial Corporation

Guides, Handbooks and Manuals

No abstract provided.

Tax Research Techniques, Robert L. Gardner, Dave N. Stewart, Ronald G. Worsham

Guides, Handbooks and Manuals

No abstract provided.

Universal Computation With Arbitrary Polyomino Tiles In Non-Cooperative Self-Assembly, Sándor P. Fekete, Jacob Hendricks, Matthew J. Patitz, Trent A. Rogers

Computer Science Faculty Publications

In this paper we explore the power of geometry to overcome the limitations of non-cooperative self-assembly. We define a generalization of the abstract Tile Assembly Model (aTAM), such that a tile system consists of a collection of polyomino tiles, the Polyomino Tile Assembly Model (polyTAM), and investigate the computational powers of polyTAM systems at temperature 1, where attachment among tiles occurs without glue cooperation (i.e., without the enforcement that more than one tile already existing in an assembly must contribute to the binding of a new tile). Systems composed of the unit-square tiles of the aTAM at temperature 1 …

Neoliberalism, Interrupted. Edited By Mark Goodale And Nancy Postero. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2013. Pp. 317, Rosalynn A. Vega

Anthropology Faculty Publications

Neoliberalism, Interrupted presents Latin America as a global laboratory for new forms of governance, economic structures, and social mobilization. The volume’s title signals a repeated theme throughout the chapters: in Latin America, neoliberalism is simultaneously being challenged and naturalized. At present, Latin America is a site of social, political, and economic experimentation on the one hand and intractable structural vulnerability, violent resistance, and retrenchment on the other. New forms of contestation render other potential ideologies for radical social change unthinkable.

Discourse And Narrative: Creating Gender Control In Junot Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao, Charles Lee

Honors Theses

Junot Diaz's Pulitzer-Prize-Winning 2007 novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao explores Dominican masculinity through narrator Yunior de Las Casas's portrayal of protagonist Oscar de Leon's family history. Yunior's perceived virility shapes his understanding of masculinity, which he stresses through the novel's plot and structure. This analysis considers how Yunior constructs Dominican masculinity through his narrative by marginalizing and emasculating passive character such as Oscar. I argue that Yunior's narrative closely links definition of masculinity and power as he strives to dominate passive characters in order to assert his virility as the "best" method for being a Dominican man.

The Story Which He Never Stops Telling Himself: Autobiography, Narrative Community, And The Deconstruction Of Selfhood In Virginia Woolf's The Waves, Melodie Roschman

Honors Theses

This paper examines narrative, biography, and selfhood in Virginia Woolf's The Waves (1931). The novel, a "play-poem," follows six friends' monologues from childhood to death. I analyze aspiring writer Bernard from his childhood of telling stories about companions to his inability to narrate his autobiography, arguing that he fails because he has no self to narrate. Referencing Jacques Derrida's Of Grammatology's (1974) theory of the deconstructed self identifiable only in conversation, I argue that Bernard destroys his identity by silencing his friends and becoming the sole speaker; Woolf's biographical theory thereby establishes the communal self, prefiguring tenets of postmodern philosophy.

Equine Misbehavior And Its Relationship To Temperament And Rider Induced Stress, Taylor Huffman

Honors Theses

The goal of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between horse temperament and incidence of misbehavior due to the stress of being ridden by riders with a wide range of ability during the course of a summer camp session (9 weeks). It was hypothesized that horses with a social or aloof temperament would be able to adjust with more ease, while those with a fearful or challenging temperament would have a higher incidence of misbehavior. Each horse was evaluated for temperament at the beginning of the summer camp season. In the following weeks every rider was …

The Behavior Of Glaucous-Winged Gull Egg Cannibals, Ashley A. Reichert

Honors Theses

Cannibalism leads to a variety of behavioral, demographic, and ecological consequences and is influenced by a range of environmental circumstances among numerous taxa. Although multiple studies have linked cannibalism to egg and chick failure in gull populations, few characterizations of gull cannibal behavior and reproductive success exist. During the 2014 breeding season, we observed the territories of 16 Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) and Glaucous-winged x Western Gull (L. glaucescens x occidentalis) egg cannibal specialists on Protection Island, Washington, USA. We also monitored cannibal foraging behavior, relative reproductive success, and colony-wide egg loss. Cannibal specialists employed a variety of foraging and …

Exposure To Narratives And Social Reasoning, Cassandra Chlevin

Honors Theses

This study drew predominantly from previous work on the relationships of narrative and non-narrative texts with empathy and social reasoning. It has been posited that fiction -- due to the parallels between narrative texts and the social world -- may help readers maintain if not cultivate their social skills, whereas readers of non-narrative material may not have this benefit. This project attempted to both replicate and extend this pattern in a Seventh-day Adventist Christian sample by using instruments employed in previous research as well as a set of Bible-based instruments. Correlational analysis and nested linear regression were used to examine …

Changing Attitudes Towards Sexual Orientation And The Effect Of Documentary Film, Michael Jon Vanderwaal

Honors Theses

Attitudes towards LGBT people are shifting rapidly, with over half (51%) of the US population now favoring same-sex marriage. LGBT issues are also being hotly debated in the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church. The purpose of this research is to examine how the film, Seventh-Gay Adventist (SGA) influences SDA college students' attitudes regarding homosexuality. My study compares attitude scores of students (N=46) using an experimental design with random assignment. Both the experimental group and the control group completed a commonly used Homosexuality Attitude Scale and modified version of Fulton's Adventists and LGB's survey at pretest and posttest. Results show that the …

Protective Effects Of Royal Jelly Against Testicular Damage In Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats, Turan Karaca, Seli̇m Demi̇rtaş, İhsan Karaboğa, Süleyman Ayvaz

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To examine the effects of royal jelly (RJ) on testicular damage in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Materials and methods: Eighteen adult Wistar albino rats were used, 6 in each of the 3 treatment groups: Group A: control, Group B: STZ-induced diabetes (untreated), Group C: STZ-induced diabetes plus RJ (400 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks). Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg). Four weeks after the onset of diabetes, testicular apoptotic cell death was examined using immunohistochemical staining for caspase-3 and Ki67 staining for localization of proliferative cells. Results: Compared with the control, the body and …

Prognostic Value Of Hemostasis-Related Parameters For Prediction Of Organ Dysfunction And Mortality In Sepsis, Dunja Mihajlovic, Dajana Lendak, Gorana Mitic, Tatjana Cebovic, Biljana Draskovic, Aleksandra Novakov, Snezana Brkic

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Clinical manifestations of sepsis are not caused directly by the invading pathogens, but rather mostly by systemic inflammation that leads to activation of the coagulation system. The aim of this study was to determine whether levels of hemostasis-related parameters measured in intensive care unit admissions are associated with mortality and severity in patients with sepsis. Materials and methods: Eighty-five patients who fulfilled criteria for a diagnosis of sepsis were included in our study. Platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time, D-dimer, and fibrinogen levels were determined within the first 24 h from sepsis onset. Differences …

An Alternative Marker Of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol In Coronary Artery Disease: Non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, Müjgan Ercan, Esra Oğuz, Fatma Meri̇ç Yilmaz, Ni̇hal Boğdaycioğlu, Kübranur Ünal, Deni̇z Şahi̇n, Sema Uysal

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Dyslipidemia is one of the most important risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is used to measure dyslipidemia. Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) seems to be an alternative parameter to LDL-C as it is not influenced by triglyceride (TG) levels. The aim of this study is to compare non-HDL-C and LDL-C levels as risk markers in CAD patients. Materials and methods: One hundred and ten CAD patients and 42 individuals with normal coronary angiography results were included in this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: TG < 200 mg/dL (n = 75) as group 1 and TG > 200 mg/dL (n = 35) as group 2. …

Hypo- And Hypervolemic Edema In Children With Steroid Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome, Mehmet Aki̇f Büyükavci, Mahmut Çi̇vi̇li̇bal, Murat Elevli̇, Hati̇ce Ni̇lgün Selçuk Duru

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The mechanism of edema formation in nephrotic syndrome is still poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate the volume status in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) and to emphasize the importance of echocardiography in demonstrating of volume changes. Materials and methods: Thirty-two SSNS patients and 30 healthy children were enrolled in this study. The volume statuses of patients were evaluated by clinical and laboratory features, including fractional sodium excretion (FENa) and distal sodium/potassium exchange (UK/UNa+K ratio). Inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVCCI), left atrial diameter (LAD), aortic diameter (AD), and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were measured using conventional echocardiographic …

Aberrant Expression Of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor (Lifr) And Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (Lif) Is Associated With Tubal Pregnancy Occurrence, Yong Li, Lizhou Sun, Denmei Zhao, Jun Ouyang, Mei Xiang

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Tubal pregnancy is a major cause of maternal death in the first trimester and exploration of its underlying molecular mechanism is of great importance. This study aimed to explore the association of tubal pregnancy with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) expression in oviduct tissues. Materials and methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed to probe the differential expression of LIF and LIFR in oviduct tissues among a control group (including NP group, n = 11; and IP group, n = 12), tubal pregnancy group (Ect-N group, n = 31; and Ect-A group, n = 40), and chronically inflamed …

Comparison Of The Analgesic Effects Of Paracetamol And Tramadol In Lumbar Disc Surgery, Mehmet Zi̇ya Yilmaz, Bahri̇ye Bi̇nnur Sarihasan, Ebru Kelsaka, Ni̇lay Taş, Aysun Çağlar Torun, Ersi̇n Köksal, Eni̇s Kuruoğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: To compare the postoperative analgesic efficacy and side effects of paracetamol and tramadol in patients undergoing lumbar disc surgery. Materials and methods: Group P (paracetamol group) was given 1 g of paracetamol intravenously 30 min before the end of the operation and 1 g each day at 6-h intervals. Group T (tramadol group) was given 1.5 mg/kg of tramadol as a loading dose and patient-controlled analgesia for 1 day. Hemodynamic parameters, modified Aldrete score, Ramsay sedation scale score, patient satisfaction scale (PSS) score, visual analog scale (VAS) score, nausea/vomiting scale score, and additional analgesic needs/times were recorded. Results: PSS …

Serum Lp-Pla2: As A Novel Viewpoint In Periodontal Treatment Of Hyperlipidaemics, Özlem Fentoğlu, Fatma Yeşi̇m Kirzioğlu, Memduha Tözüm Bulut, Şi̇vge Kurgan, Havva Koçak, Recep Sütcü, Banu Kale Köroğlu, Meral Günhan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: To evaluate the effects of periodontal treatment on serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in hyperlipidaemic patients with periodontitis. Materials and methods: The study included 52 hyperlipidaemics and 28 systemically healthy controls (C) with periodontitis. Of the 52 hyperlipidaemics, 29 received a suggested diet (HD), and 23 of them were prescribed statin (HS). Clinical periodontal parameters, serum lipids, Lp-PLA2, and CRP levels were assessed at the baseline and 2 months after the completion of the nonsurgical periodontal treatment (2MPT). Serum parameters were also evaluated 1 week following the periodontal treatment (1WPT). Results: At the baseline, …

Human Semen Quality And Sperm Dna Damage Assessed Bycomet Assay In Clinical Groups, Muhammad Haris Ramzan, Muhammad Ramzan, Muhammad Mumtaz Khan, Faiqah Ramzan, Fazal Wahab, Muhammad Aslam Khan, Musharraf Jillani, Mohsin Shah

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: About 10%-15% of couples around the world suffer from infertility. Male infertility is responsible directly or indirectly in ~60% of cases. A deficiency in semen is the most common cause of male infertility. Materials and methods: The study included 180 male subjects aged 18-50 years with 26 fertile and 154 infertile. The infertile subjects were further subdivided according to the WHO guidelines of semen analysis (2010) into different clinical groups. Sperm DNA damage was estimated using a neutral comet assay. Plasma gonadotropin and testosterone levels were measured using a chemiluminescence assay. Results: The results of the study revealed no …

The Risk Of Tumor Cell Dissemination In Mediastinoscopy: A Cytological Study, Yasemi̇n Bi̇lgi̇n Büyükkarabacak, Ayşen Taslak Şengül, Bi̇lge Can Meydan, Burçi̇n Çeli̇k, Mehmet Gökhan Pi̇rzi̇renli̇, Selçuk Gürz, Zeynep Peli̇n Sürücü, Ahmet Başoğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Mediastinoscopy is an invasive procedure that is used in the diagnosis of mediastinal diseases and in staging lung cancer. Tumor cell seeding during mediastinoscopy along the mediastinum and the incision line is a very rare complication. This study aimed to test the safety of mediastinoscopy in terms of tumor seeding by cytological evaluation of mediastinal lavage samples taken before and after biopsy. Materials and methods: The patients who underwent mediastinoscopy in our hospital between 2011 and 2014 were studied prospectively. Seventy-three patients with a diagnosis of lung or mediastinal malignancy were included in the study. All patients underwent classical …

Epidemiological And Clinical Characteristics And Management Of Oropharyngeal Tularemia Outbreak, Mustafa Önder Uzun, Kerametti̇n Yanik, Müge Erdem, Uğur Kostakoğlu, Gürdal Yilmaz, Yeli̇z Tanriverdi̇ Çayci

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with tularemia and the effectiveness of the administered treatments. Materials and methods: Patients treated in our hospital between January 2009 and March 2011 and diagnosed with tularemia were evaluated retrospectively. Patients' epidemiological and clinical characteristics, administered treatments, and posttreatment findings were recorded on patient monitoring forms. Results: At anamnesis, 29% of patients used water from wells and 71% used water from the network supply; moreover, 48.4% had a history of contact with animals and 87.1% a history of lethargy. At physical examination, 96.8% …

Herbal Self-Medication Use In Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Ivana Damnjanovic, Dusanka Kitic, Nikola Stefanovic, Snezana Zlatkovic-Guberinic, Aleksandra Catic-Djordjevic, Radmila Velickovic-Radovanovic

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: A considerable number of patients suffering from diabetes mellitus (DM) turn to self-medication using medicinal plants, preparations, and medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate self-medication using medicinal plants and the potential influence of health care professionals' advice or media information regarding the use of herbal dietary supplements with hypoglycemic effect in a population of patients with type 2 DM. Materials and methods: This research, in the form of an analytic cross-sectional study, was conducted in 6 pharmacies in the territory of Nis, Serbia, during October 2013. The criterion set for the study was to include patients …

Cognitive Problems Related To Vertebro-Basilar Circulation, Abdulkadi̇r Koçer

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by decreased regional cerebral blood flow. Supporting this concept, both cognitive training exercises and physical activity promote blood flow increase and correlate with healthy cognitive aging. The terminal branches of the posterior circulation supply blood to areas of the brain, such as the thalamus, hippocampus, occipital lobe, and cerebellum, involved with important intellectual functions, particularly recent memory, visual-spatial functioning, and visuomotor adaptations. Amnesia and visual agnosia may be a complication of not only posterior circulation infarctions but also vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) without accompanying structural infarcts. The cognitive impairment may be a manifestation of transient attacks and …

Evaluation Of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness In Alzheimer Disease Usingspectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography, Ali̇me Güneş, Seden Demi̇rci̇, Levent Tök, Özlem Tök, Serpi̇l Demi̇rci̇

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: To evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and to compare the results with those of healthy controls. Materials and methods: Forty patients (mean age: 75.02 ± 6.34 years; 23 women) with untreated AD and 40 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy patients were examined in this case-control prospective study. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmic and neurological examination. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was performed and RNFL thickness was measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The association between RNFL and MMSE score was also assessed. Results: The average RNFL thickness was 84 …

Test Your Memory-Turkish Version (Tym-Tr): Reliability And Validity Study Of A Cognitive Screening Test, İlknur Mavi̇ş, Belgi̇n Demet Özbabalik Adapinar, Çinar Yeni̇lmez, Ayşe Aydin, Engi̇n Olgun, Cengi̇z Bal

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The test your memory (TYM) is reported to be a sensitive cognitive function assessment scale for people with dementia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the reliability and validity of an adapted Turkish version of the TYM (TYM-TR) among Turkish dementia patients. Materials and methods: The TYM-TR was given to 59 patients with dementia aged 60+ and 336 normal controls aged 23-75+. The diagnostic utility of the TYM-TR was compared with that of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) to validate it. Results: The internal consistency of the TYM-TR was α = 0.85. The test-retest reliability was …

Mutation Analysis Of 6 Spinocerebellar Ataxia (Sca) Types In Patients From Southern Turkey, Perçi̇n Pazarci, Hali̇l Kasap, Ayşe Fi̇li̇z Koç, Şaki̇r Altunbaşak, Mehmet Ali̇ Erkoç

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are complex clinical and genetically heterogeneous, mostly autosomal dominant neurodegenerative diseases. At present, more than 30 hereditary SCA types have been associated with different gene mutations. In this study, the frequency distribution of the 6 SCA types 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 17 in the Turkish population was investigated with respect to clinical features. Materials and methods: 159 patients who received a diagnosis of SCA and 42 healthy controls from Adana, Mersin, Gaziantep, Hatay, and Osmaniye provinces were included in the study. DNA samples were isolated from 2 mL blood samples and the number of …

Workplace Physical Violence, Verbal Violence, And Mobbing Experiencedby Nurses At A University Hospital, Fatma Nur Baran Aksakal, Emi̇ne Füsun Karaşahi̇n, Asi̇ye Uğraş Di̇kmen, Emi̇ne Avci, Seçi̇l Özkan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of and risk factors for physical violence, verbal violence, and mobbing experienced by nurses in a university hospital. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Gazi University Medical Faculty Hospital. A questionnaire form recommended by the WHO and the International Labor Organization was administered through face-to-face interviews to determine the violence experienced in the past 12 months by nurses. Results: The prevalence of physical violence, verbal violence, and mobbing was 13.9%, 41.8%, and 17.1%, respectively. Working more than 40 h per week increased the risk of …