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2015

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Assessing Changes In Social Status And Behavior Problems In Preschool Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asd) After Exposure To A Peer-Mediated Social Skills Intervention, Sarah Leger Jan 2015

Assessing Changes In Social Status And Behavior Problems In Preschool Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asd) After Exposure To A Peer-Mediated Social Skills Intervention, Sarah Leger

All ETDs from UAB

The social status and social relationships of preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) were assessed as developmentally relevant outcomes of a social skills intervention with a large peer-training component. Changes in teacher-reported behavior problems were also measured and used to predict social status before, immediately after, and twelve weeks after the social skills intervention. Patterns of children’s social associations were measured utilizing child- and teacher-report. Additional steps were taken to establish test-retest reliability for the sociometric measures used in this study in order to contribute to the psychometric literature focused on the social functioning of young children with ASD. …


Transferring Virtual Reality Training To Real World Settings In Individuals With Low Vision And Dual-Sensory Impairments, Ellen Lambert Bowman Jan 2015

Transferring Virtual Reality Training To Real World Settings In Individuals With Low Vision And Dual-Sensory Impairments, Ellen Lambert Bowman

All ETDs from UAB

TRANSFERRING VIRTUAL REALITY TRAINING TO REAL WORLD SETTINGS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH LOW VISION AND DUAL-SENSORY IMPAIRMENTS ELLEN LAMBERT BOWMAN VISION SCIENCE GRADUATE PROGRAM ABSTRACT The goal of this study was to determine if individuals with low vision could learn useful visual skills in Virtual Reality and could transfer these skills to the real world. To achieve this goal, one set of Orientation & Mobility (O&M) skills, using the near lane parallel traffic surge to decide the safest timing to cross a signal controlled street, was selected. Twelve participants with vision too poor to use pedestrian signals were randomly assigned to …


Predictive Modeling Of Ocular Surface Disease States Using Multiple Inflammatory Biomarkers, John L. Bradley Jan 2015

Predictive Modeling Of Ocular Surface Disease States Using Multiple Inflammatory Biomarkers, John L. Bradley

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT Purpose The aim of this study was to adapt conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) and RNA isolation and processing procedures for gene expression analysis of ocular surface inflammatory biomarkers. The RNA yield and quality should be sufficient to enable quantitative real-time PCR of no less than 12 key target genes, with the goal of differentiating among dry eye groups. This study used the optimized inflammatory biomarker gene expression assay in a patient study to identify differences between dry eye and control participants. Materials and Methods CIC was used to collect conjunctival surface cells from 53 qualifying dry eye and control …


Three-Dimensional Soft Tissue Analysis Of Facial Morphology Of A Colombian Population Compared To Adult Caucasians, Sonia Bravo-Hammett Jan 2015

Three-Dimensional Soft Tissue Analysis Of Facial Morphology Of A Colombian Population Compared To Adult Caucasians, Sonia Bravo-Hammett

All ETDs from UAB

Aim: The purpose of this study is to describe the facial morphology of a Colombian population with three-dimensional imaging; and comparing their facial morphology with the Caucasian to create a database for this ethnicity. Materials and Methods: The study included 170 subjects selected from the Valle University in Cali-Colombia; and 1346 Caucasian subjects selected from the Face-Base Data funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. All images were taken on Natural Head Position and captured using a stereo-photogrammetric camera system (3dMDfaceTM); to obtain a three dimensional image of each patient. The subjects were between 19 to 31 …


Development Of A Conceptual Framework For Pediatric Preparedness Healthcare Coalitions: A Pilot Study, Bryan K. Breland Jan 2015

Development Of A Conceptual Framework For Pediatric Preparedness Healthcare Coalitions: A Pilot Study, Bryan K. Breland

All ETDs from UAB

Natural or man-made disasters overwhelm the resources of a healthcare organization and strain or compromise the provision of medical services to rapidly expanding patient populations. Public and private healthcare organization routinely plan and exercise systems and responses intended to bolster medical care capabilities and increase the capacity of the organization during crisis events. Providers of pediatric emergency medical service are particularly vulnerable to disaster surge, since many pediatric emergency services operate consistently at near capacity. In recent years, policy-makers and medical professionals have begun to look toward healthcare coalitions as a mechanism to rapidly expand resources and capacity for patient …


The Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor Acarbose As A Calorie Restriction Mimetic To Modify Metabolic Outcomes In Mice, Rachel Ann Brewer Jan 2015

The Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor Acarbose As A Calorie Restriction Mimetic To Modify Metabolic Outcomes In Mice, Rachel Ann Brewer

All ETDs from UAB

Age-related diseases continue to be a leading cause of death. One of the only replicable methods proven to decrease age-related morbidity and mortality in multiple species is calorie restriction (CR). CR is difficult for human populations to implement, and has a number of associated risks and side effects. A CR mimetic could provide the healthspan- and lifespan-extending benefits of CR without the limitations. Acarbose (ACA), an α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitor approved to treat type 2 diabetes in humans, was recently identified as able to extend lifespan in healthy mice. The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of …


Preparation Of Zirconia For Bonding Following Salivary Contamination, Pattarika Angkasith Jan 2015

Preparation Of Zirconia For Bonding Following Salivary Contamination, Pattarika Angkasith

All ETDs from UAB

Purpose: To determine the best method of cleaning saliva-contaminated zirconia in order to regain its bond strength. Methods: Flat blocks of zirconia were particle-abraded with aluminum oxide and divided into eight groups (n=10). Groups 1-5 were first treated with 1 coat of an MDP-primer (Z-Prime Plus, Bisco) and groups 5-8 were left untreated. All specimens were contaminated with human saliva for 3 minutes other than the control (group 1). The specimens were then cleaned by rinsing with water for 20 sec (groups 2 and 5), cleaning with 35% phosphoric acid for 20 sec and rinsing (group 3 and 6), cleaning …


Transient-State Kinetic Analysis Of The Rna Polymerase I Nucleotide Incorporation Mechanism, Francis Dean Appling Jan 2015

Transient-State Kinetic Analysis Of The Rna Polymerase I Nucleotide Incorporation Mechanism, Francis Dean Appling

All ETDs from UAB

The diversity of enzymes and the reactions which they catalyze is enormous. Careful study of enzymatic reaction mechanisms has taught us a great deal about chemical reactivity and has given us insight into the chemical and physical basis of life. One particularly ubiquitous class of enzymes, the RNA polymerases, are expressed in all forms of life. RNA polymerases are central components of nucleic acid metabolism and display a variety of distinctive enzymatic features; two points which solicit their thorough study. The central theme of this dissertation is the use of kinetic techniques to describe enzymatic reaction mechanisms. Although the main …


Assessment Of Streams And Aquatic Organisms In The Vicinity Of Birmingham, Alabama For The Presence And Biological Activity Of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals, Bryan Stuart Arwood Jan 2015

Assessment Of Streams And Aquatic Organisms In The Vicinity Of Birmingham, Alabama For The Presence And Biological Activity Of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals, Bryan Stuart Arwood

All ETDs from UAB

Freshwater ecosystems play a central role in the environment. Through various processes such as nutrient recycling, groundwater recharging, and the attenuation of many pollutants these biological systems help to maintain environmental health. Unfortunately, many recent studies have identified emerging threats to these special environments and the life they sustain. One source of mounting concern is a group of compounds that interact with the endocrine systems of humans and wildlife. Known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), these natural and synthetic chemicals may mimic or interfere with the action of natural hormones—thus disrupting the endocrine system. Multiple studies have reported negative effects …


Transcriptional Regulation Of The Human Ribosomal Rna Gene, Blake L. Atwood Jan 2015

Transcriptional Regulation Of The Human Ribosomal Rna Gene, Blake L. Atwood

All ETDs from UAB

The ribosome has the major role of synthesizing almost all the proteins of the cell. One of the main structural components of the ribosome are the ribosomal RNAs 18S, 28S, 5.8S and the 5S which are bound by numerous proteins to make up a fully functional unit. In the human genome there are approximately 400 copies of the rRNA gene, which contains all but the 5S rRNA in one long transcription unit. This gene is found in tandem repeats on the acrocentric arm of chromosomes 13, 14, 15, 21 and 22. It is critical that this gene is tightly regulated …


The I507-Atc→Att Silent Codon Change Contributes To The Misfolding Of ∆F508 Cftr, Vedrana Bali Jan 2015

The I507-Atc→Att Silent Codon Change Contributes To The Misfolding Of ∆F508 Cftr, Vedrana Bali

All ETDs from UAB

Synonymous codon changes (SCCs) do not alter the amino acid sequence of proteins, but may significantly change the phenotype. The frequency of synonymous codons is species- and gene-specific, described as codon usage bias (CUB). Over the past 50 years, research has shown that SCCs affect protein biogenesis, development of human disorders and the function of recombinant proteins developed for therapeutic applications. However, the molecular mechanisms by which SCCs alter the function of gene products are not completely understood. In Chapter 2 we summarize present knowledge in this field. The most common cause of cystic fibrosis (CF) is the deletion of …


In- Vitro Wear Of Four Cad-Cam Materials In The Uab Wear Simulating Device, Ritika Bansal Jan 2015

In- Vitro Wear Of Four Cad-Cam Materials In The Uab Wear Simulating Device, Ritika Bansal

All ETDs from UAB

In- vitro Wear of Four CAD- CAM Materials in the UAB Wear Simulating Device RITIKA BANSAL MS IN CLINICAL DENTISTRY ABSTRACT Hybrid ceramic/polymer blocks represent a new category of CAD/CAM materials that do not require heat treatment following milled fabrication and limited clinically relevant mechanical properties of these materials are available. Purpose: This study measures the hardness, flexural strength, modulus, and wear of 3 ceramic/polymer hybrid materials (LAVA Ultimate, Enamic, and Cerasmart), 2 reference glass ceramics (IPS e.max and Celtra Duo), and 1 reference composite material (Paradigm MZ100). Methods: Flexural strength specimens (n=10) (2.5 × 2.5 × 16 mm) were …


An Analysis Of Selecting Personal Protective Equipment Clothing Used In Foundries, Quachel Bazile Jan 2015

An Analysis Of Selecting Personal Protective Equipment Clothing Used In Foundries, Quachel Bazile

All ETDs from UAB

A foundry is a type of factory that deals with producing metal casting. The metals are casted in to shape by being melted into liquid and is then poured into the mold. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn to protect the worker from the hazard that engineering control cannot protect the worker from. A Private company wanted to evaluate their current PPE clothing to understand how well they protect a worker against molten metal splash PPE clothing was tested using the American Standard for Testing Material (ASTM) standard F955-07 entitled "Evaluating Heat Transfer through Materials for Protective Clothing upon Contact …


Modulation Of The Unfolded Protein Response To Delay Apoptosis In An Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa Animal Model, Yogesh Bhootada Jan 2015

Modulation Of The Unfolded Protein Response To Delay Apoptosis In An Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa Animal Model, Yogesh Bhootada

All ETDs from UAB

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of retinal degenerative diseases characterized by the loss of rod photoreceptor cells that can be followed by cone degeneration eventually culminating in total photoreceptor cell loss. This disease affects approximately 1.5 million people worldwide and can be transmitted in an autosomal dominant (ADRP) manner accounting for nearly 30% of all RP cases. Dominant rhodopsin mutations have been divided into class I and class II based on the folding of rhodopsin protein, thermal stability, and chromophore regeneration. A threonine-17-methionine (T17M) mutation in rhodopsin is a class II mutation, characterized by a thermal instability/folding defect and …


The Effect Of Bone-Implant Contact And Elastic Modulus In The Biomechanical Stability Of Temporary Anchorage Devices, Ghada Nimeri Jan 2015

The Effect Of Bone-Implant Contact And Elastic Modulus In The Biomechanical Stability Of Temporary Anchorage Devices, Ghada Nimeri

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to analyze the microstrains of compact and trabecular bone caused by loading of different miniscrews at different healing times, and to compare these results to the limits of bone stability maintenance based on the Frost Mechanostat Theory. Materials and Methods: Theoretical calculations of microstrains of bone surrounding 10 different miniscrews were done. These miniscrews were considered under loading forces of 500 gm., and the microstains of both trabecular and compact bone were calculated separately when the thickness of the compact bone was at 1mm or 2mm. The microstrains were calculated at 4 different …


Designed Multipurpose Nanoparticles For Targeted Delivery Of Anticancer Therapeutics For Malignant Mesothelioma, Yasin Oduk Jan 2015

Designed Multipurpose Nanoparticles For Targeted Delivery Of Anticancer Therapeutics For Malignant Mesothelioma, Yasin Oduk

All ETDs from UAB

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive deadly pleural cancer overexpressing Ephrin A2 receptors which are biomarkers for malignant mesothelioma. The Ephrin A1 ligand binding to the Ephrin A2 receptor downregulates overexpression of the Ephrin A2 in malignant mesothelioma cells (MMC). Similarly, the YSA peptide can mimic the Ephrin A1 ligand and both could be suitable as targeting agents and tumor suppressing agents for MMC. In this work, we conjugated the surface of nanoparticles with the YSA peptide and Ephrin A1 ligand to deliver paclitaxel with low solubility by targeting the MMC. We have obtained nanoparticles ranging 188-278 nm with the Ephrin …


Presence And Mobilization Of Staphylococcus Aureus Pathogenicity Islands (Sapis) Among Bovine Mastitis Isolates, Laura Kate Parker Jan 2015

Presence And Mobilization Of Staphylococcus Aureus Pathogenicity Islands (Sapis) Among Bovine Mastitis Isolates, Laura Kate Parker

All ETDs from UAB

Bovine mastitis is inflammation of the mammary gland that occurs in cattle, as a result of invading bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus, a causative agent of bovine mastitis, produces toxins such as the toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1) and the staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs). The genes for these toxins are coded on S. aureus pathogenicity islands (SaPIs), which are mobile genetic elements associated with virulence factors. SaPIs can be mobilized by bacteriophages, resulting in the production of transducing particles that can spread virulence factors throughout a bacterial population. This research assessed the role and prevalence of SaPIs among bovine mastitis samples. In this …


Gsk3 Regulation Of Suprachiasmatic Neuronal Excitability And Light Entrainment, Jodi Paul Jan 2015

Gsk3 Regulation Of Suprachiasmatic Neuronal Excitability And Light Entrainment, Jodi Paul

All ETDs from UAB

Circadian rhythms are approximately 24-hour cycles in behavioral and physiological processes, such as sleep/wake cycles and cognition. In mammals, these rhythms are endogenously generated and entrained to the external light cycle by the primary circadian pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). A hallmark characteristic of SCN neurons is the daily rhythm in the spontaneous action potential frequency, with high activity during the day and low activity at night. These SCN firing rate patterns are critical for maintaining robust, consolidated behavioral rhythms, and persistent changes in SCN neuronal activity are involved light-induced behavioral shifts. Many of the ionic components underlying daily and …


The Mspa Nanopore As A Sensor For Dna Sequencing, Mikhail Pavlenok Jan 2015

The Mspa Nanopore As A Sensor For Dna Sequencing, Mikhail Pavlenok

All ETDs from UAB

Nanopore sequencing is a novel and promising DNA sequencing method. This single molecule technique is capable of long reads, retains epigenetic information, and is inexpensive and fast. In this method ionic current is measured while single-stranded DNA is electrophoretically translocated through a nanometer-scale pore. Each passing nucleotide blocks current with characteristic amplitude and duration which are used to identify DNA sequence. MspA is the primary porin of M. smegmatis and mediates the diffusion of small, hydrophilic nutrients across the outer membrane. MspA is an octameric, channel-forming protein and represents the founding member of a new class of mycobacterial outer membrane …


Exploiting Novel Interactions With Parp1 In Dna Repair Proficient Human Breast Cancers, Jennifer Anne Stanley Jan 2015

Exploiting Novel Interactions With Parp1 In Dna Repair Proficient Human Breast Cancers, Jennifer Anne Stanley

All ETDs from UAB

Breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer amongst women worldwide. Despite advances in treatment, patients with more aggressive basal-like and HER2-positive cancer experience high rates of recurrence and necessitate novel therapeutic approaches. A class of inhibitors targeted against poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARP), important DNA repair proteins, are effective in cancers with a defective DNA repair response. As such, extensive preclinical and clinical research has examined their efficacy in these cancers. Although this data is promising, it is only applicable to a lim-ited patient population. The main goal of this dissertation is to expand the utility of these well-tolerated drugs …


Long-Term Stability Of Lefort I Maxillary Downdraft With Rigid Internal Fixation, Stephen Leonard Strickland Jan 2015

Long-Term Stability Of Lefort I Maxillary Downdraft With Rigid Internal Fixation, Stephen Leonard Strickland

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the skeletal and dental stability of a Le Fort I maxillary downgraft after a minimum 4year follow up period. Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated 18 patients' post-surgical stability after Le Fort I maxillary downgraft performed by a Z-osteotomy. Pre-surgical (T1), post-surgical (T2), post-orthodontic (T3), and long-term follow-up (T4) cephalometric radiographs were digitized and analyzed with Dolphin Imagining via a custom analysis to evaluate linear and angular skeletal and dental relapse. Results - The average Le Fort I maxillary down graft was 3.6mm. The average post-surgical orthodontic phase was 7.4 …


Three-Dimensional Age-Related Changes Of The Adult Face; African American Female Population, Christina Theresa Sutherland Jan 2015

Three-Dimensional Age-Related Changes Of The Adult Face; African American Female Population, Christina Theresa Sutherland

All ETDs from UAB

Objectives: Treatment of older adults is one of the fastest growing areas in orthodontic practice. The objectives of this study are to: 1. Investigate the aging of the female African American face using three-dimensional surface imaging to understand how the soft tissue of the face matures in relation to the teeth and 2.) Compare the effects of aging on African American female faces to aging of Caucasian female faces. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 100 African American females with balanced faces. Five age groups (in years) were included: [20-30], [31-40], [41-50], [51-60], [61-70]. Three-dimensional (3D) surface images of …


Cost Effectiveness Of Hypertension Treatment: New Model, Methods, And Focus On African Americans, Gabriel Saidimu Tajeu Jan 2015

Cost Effectiveness Of Hypertension Treatment: New Model, Methods, And Focus On African Americans, Gabriel Saidimu Tajeu

All ETDs from UAB

This dissertation focuses on the potential benefits of hypertension (HTN) treatment for the general population and African Americans (AAs) specifically. We undertake three research projects that are interconnected. First, using a systematic review methodology we assess the current state of the cost-effectiveness of HTN treatment literature in order to identify potential gaps in the cost-effectiveness literature, methodological shortcomings, and provide policy makers and researchers with a summary of the current findings as well as methods used in the literature. Second, building off our findings in paper 1, we construct a cost-effectiveness model. We assess the cost-effectiveness of HTN treatment not …


Impact Of And Adoption Trends Of Hit In Cancer Care, Willi L. Tarver Jan 2015

Impact Of And Adoption Trends Of Hit In Cancer Care, Willi L. Tarver

All ETDs from UAB

The three discrete research projects which make up this dissertation provide empirical evidence on the impact of, and adoption trends of, health information technology (HIT) as it pertains to cancer care. The findings of these studies are important as they provide insight into the potential of HIT to improve the quality of cancer care in the US. The results of this dissertation suggest that based on the current literature, HIT interventions seem to be more successful when targeting physicians, care in the prevention phase of the cancer continuum, and/or decision making. Separately, when seeking to understand the adoption of electronic …


C-Reactive Protein, Autoimmunity, And Inflammation In The Central Nervous System, Tyler T. Wright Jan 2015

C-Reactive Protein, Autoimmunity, And Inflammation In The Central Nervous System, Tyler T. Wright

All ETDs from UAB

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant whose blood concentration rises in response all types of inflammation. And while CRP is widely used as a clinical marker of inflammation, it has several biological functions, e.g. activation of the classical complement cascade and binding Fcγ receptors in order to mediate multiple immune processes. The full extent of CRP’s physiological activities has not yet been fully elucidated, but there is significant evidence to establish that CRP plays an important role in the onset and progression of autoimmune disease. Seminal work from our lab showed that human CRP, hepatically expressed in transgenic …


Intestinal Microbiota And Its Role In Mucosal And Systemic Immune Responses, Qing Zhao Jan 2015

Intestinal Microbiota And Its Role In Mucosal And Systemic Immune Responses, Qing Zhao

All ETDs from UAB

Host-microbiota mutualism is established with long-term co-evolution. The abundant and diverse microbes colonizing on the surface of the host’s body, especially those in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, play an essential role in the development and maturation of the host’s immune system. Failure of intestinal microbial control may lead to the development of an array of autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As a well-recognized inflammation mediator, Th17 cells are actually among the most abundant effector CD4+ T cells in the normal adult gut. What the role of intestinal Th17 cells is under steady state conditions and how the intestinal …


Intensivists And Organizational Performance, Glenn Barthwick Liddle Jan 2015

Intensivists And Organizational Performance, Glenn Barthwick Liddle

All ETDs from UAB

Because of the high intensity of care and the extremely complex medical conditions being treated, intensive care units (ICUs) represent one of the most significant units within a hospital. Despite the significance of the ICU, the majority of the care provided in the ICU has historically been managed and coordinated by referring or attending physicians, who often do not have the specialized training needed to effectively care for the exceedingly acute patients in the ICU. More recently, however, a growing number of hospitals have begun staffing the ICU with intensivists. Intensivists are uniquely trained physicians that specialize in providing care …


The Role Of Job Embeddedness In The Relationship Between Bullying And Aggression., James P. Burton Jan 2015

The Role Of Job Embeddedness In The Relationship Between Bullying And Aggression., James P. Burton

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

In this paper, the role that job embeddedness plays in the relationship between workplace bullying and aggression both inside and outside the workplace is examined. In a sample of 165 working adults, individuals who report being the target of workplace bullying are more likely to act aggressively themselves, targeting their coworkers as well as their friends, family, and significant others. Furthermore, the relationship between workplace bullying and aggression is strengthened for individuals who are highly embedded in their job. These relationships are found even after controlling for two similar attachment constructs, namely job satisfaction and affective organizational commitment.


Doing Feminist Interpersonal Communication Research: A Call For Action, Two Methodological Approaches, And Theoretical Potentials, Jimmie Manning, Katherine J. Denker Jan 2015

Doing Feminist Interpersonal Communication Research: A Call For Action, Two Methodological Approaches, And Theoretical Potentials, Jimmie Manning, Katherine J. Denker

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

What does it mean to " do " feminist interpersonal communication research? Interpersonal communication studies hold great potential for practical insights into how relationships are (en)gendered, informed (and even constituted) by patriarchal histories, and subject to cultural and institutional inequalities based on the identities of those in (or not in) a given relationship. Unfortunately, little research has embraced feminist approaches to interpersonal communication studies. In this essay, we seek to remedy this shortcoming by exploring some of the ways that interpersonal communication scholars can continue to integrate feminist approaches and perspectives into their work. We specifically examine two possibilities: feminist-informed …


Popular Culture Studies And Autoethnography: An Essay On Method, Jimmie Manning, Tony E. Adams Jan 2015

Popular Culture Studies And Autoethnography: An Essay On Method, Jimmie Manning, Tony E. Adams

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

We begin this essay by defining autoethnography, paying special attention to the various orientations of autoethnographic research. We then review popular culture research that has used autoethnography as a method of inquiry before identifying key strengths of autoethnography. As those strengths reflect, autoethnography is a valid, viable, and vital method for popular culture research. We conclude by examining criteria for evaluating autoethnography, especially in terms of quality and risk. As we demonstrate, autoethnography offers another way to study popular texts and contexts, or, in the words of Stuart Hall, the “local hopes and local aspirations, local tragedies, and local scenarios …