Digital Commons Network^™

Effect Of Vigilance On Driving Performance In Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers, Ben Mcmanus

All ETDs from UAB

Driving is a complex task requiring constant information processing made possible by attention. Because there are 5.7 million commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers in the United States, it is imperative to investigate factors affecting driving performance as well as methods to reduce motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) with the primary goal of eliminating transportation-related unintentional fatal and nonfatal injuries. Vigilance is a cognitive processing component that may play an important role in CMV driving safety. Two experiments were conducted to examine the effect of vigilance on simulated driving performance in varying conditions. Experiment 1 focused specifically on the effect of vigilance …

Dna Methylation Regulates Neuronal Synaptic Scaling And Intrinsic Membrane Excitability, Jarrod P. Meadows

All ETDs from UAB

Learning and memory rely on long-lasting, experience-dependent adaptations in synaptic and non-synaptic forms of neuronal plasticity. Previous evidence implicates transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA cytosine methylation, as critical regulators of site-specific, Hebbian alterations in synaptic efficacy such as long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). However, whether DNA methylation modulates cell-wide, non-Hebbian homeostatic adaptations like synaptic scaling and intrinsic plasticity (IP) is unclear. Whereas synaptic scaling involves bidirectional changes in postsynaptic receptor density in response to chronic alterations in neuronal activity, IP involves the activity-dependent attunement of passive and/or active membrane properties that govern action potential (AP) firing. This …

The Impact Of Meal Timing On Cardiometabolic Syndrome Indicators In Shift Workers, Hylton Elisabeth Molzof

All ETDs from UAB

Shift workers exhibit a greater risk for several cardiovascular and metabolic diseases including heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and type II diabetes (Boivin, Tremblay, & James, 2007; Chen, Lin, & Hsiao, 2010; Knutsson, Jonsson, Akerstedt, & Orth-Gomer, 1986; Kroenke et al., 2007). Shift workers have been reported to consume more pro-inflammatory diets than day workers (Wirth, Burch, Shivappa, Steck, et al., 2014) and to redistribute their food intake to the night during work (Lennernas, Hambraeus, & Akerstedt, 1995; Pasqua & Moreno, 2004). Numerous studies in animal models and humans have shown that eating during the sleep or inactive period is associated …

High Pressure High Temperature Phase Diagrams Of Heavy Rare Earth Metals, Jeffrey M. Montgomery

All ETDs from UAB

Two new high-pressure apparatus are developed and used to explore the phase diagrams of rare earth metals gadolinium, thulium, and lutetium. The first device incorporates natural diamond anvils that have been surface modified with a homoepitaxially-grown chemical-vapor-deposited layer of conducting boron-doped diamond. This layer is used as a direct electrical heating element to heat the diamond anvils independently of the rest of the diamond anvil cell. This allows for comparatively rapid, but controlled, changes in temperature at high pressure, primarily while cooling of a sample without a large energy or time expenditure. The second device incorporates a homoepitaxially-grown micro-anvil on …

Self-Perceptions And Social Comparison With A Primary Focus On Racial Identity In African American, Hispanic And Caucasian Fifth-Grade Children, Jeffrey G. Moore

All ETDs from UAB

Understanding the significance of one’s ethnic group is pivotal to comprehending and defining one’s overall process of self-perception, its influence on academic achievement, and probability for future success as well as personal fulfillment, especially among adolescents (Hill, Mance, Anderson, & Smith, 2012). Consequently, an adolescent’s view of self is often directly associated with personal interactions with individuals closest in nature and proximity. To explore the effects of self-perception among fifth-grade adolescents, a quantitative study was conducted to examine physical appearance and self-worth disparities among pre-adolescent Black, Hispanic, and White youth. For this research, three racial identity developmental theories were applied, …

Nadph Oxidase-Derived Superoxide: A Potentiator Of Autoimmune Responses In Type 1 Diabetes, Lindsey E. Padgett

All ETDs from UAB

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease culminating in pancreatic β-cell destruction, inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS), pro-inflammatory cytokines, and islet-infiltrating leukocutes. Macrophages, one of the first islet-infiltrating cells in T1D, secrete ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines, which lyse pancreatic β-cells and activate diabetogenic T cells to further propagate β-cell destruction, while autoreactive CD4 T cells recruit islet-infiltrating, pro-inflammatory, M1 macrophages, and enhance CD8 T cell cytotoxicity. We previously demonstrated the importance of NADPH oxidase (NOX)-derived ROS synthesis in T1D, as Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice lacking NOX-derived superoxide (NOD.Ncf1m1J) exhibited a delay in spontaneous and adoptive transfer of T1D. In …

Comparison Of Three Fluoride Dentifrice Products In The Prevention Of White Spot Lesions In Orthodontic Treatment, Anna B. Palombini

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction:. During the course of orthodontic treatment, enamel decalcification is a common problem. Demineralized enamel, the precursor to caries formation, can be attributed to fixed orthodontic appliances and prolonged exposure to bacterial plaque. Progression to clinically detectable white spot lesions may occur as early as one month following the placement of orthodontic appliances. Such problems have influenced clinicians to search for a solution. Because fluoride treatment immediately upon debonding is not advocated, clinicians have proposed fluoride treatment and fluoride-releasing materials at the commencement of the therapy. The two new anti-cavity toothpastes, ClinproTM 5000 with 1.1% Sodium Fluoride and ClinproTM Tooth …

Akhuwat Issue No. 98, Aga Khan University

AKHUWAT Newsletters

• Dr Sadia Rasul receives Order of British Columbia
• Dr Bhutta receives CPBC's Professional of the Year Award
• AKU and DW sign a memorandum of understanding to develop world-class professional development programmes
• Farewell to Dr Greg Moran and Dr Yasmin Amarsi
• A time to bid farewell
• Leadership workshop to accelerate reduction of maternal and newborn deaths
• Africa's First Ladies visit AKUH Heart and Cancer Centre
• Enhancing Research Ethics Committee Reaccredited
• First PGME Open Day in East Africa
• Grid Station to meet University's future needs
• AKU-EB Middle School Programme Developing 21st Century Skills
• AKU-EB's unwavering commitment to education
• The Spirit of Service! …

The Role Of C-Reactive Protein In Acute Kidney Injury, Melissa A. Pegues

All ETDs from UAB

Acute kidney injury (AKI), which manifests as an abrupt decline in renal function, occurs in ~1% of all hospitalization. Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI), a common cause of AKI, can occur in any situation where blood flow to the kidney is significantly reduced such as hypertensive crisis, cardiovascular surgery, and inevitably during renal transplantation. Mortality from AKI is up to 80% due to incomplete knowledge of the pathogenesis of IRI and the lack of an effective therapy. It is thought that cellular damage as a result of hypoxia signals the release of proinflammatory cytokines that lead to a systemic inflammatory response. …

With Love, Flint, Sharanna Polk

All ETDs from UAB

While With Love, Flint includes nine short stories that work together to tell the story of a slave woman’s descendants, each story is written so that it can stand separate from the entire piece. With Love, Flint begins in the year 1849 in Madison Mississippi, and travels through Memphis, New Orleans, Mobile and finally settles in Flint, Michigan, ending in 2013. The first five stories detail how each character eventually arrives in Flint, detailing some of America’s history along the way. The stories and characters are meant to reflect and offer exploration of Flint Michigan’s detriment. Through the characters, the …

Orthogonal Pulse Based Wideband Communication For High Speed Data Transfer In Sensor Applications, Kushal Prasad Pradhan

All ETDs from UAB

There has been an ever increasing demand and need for high speed and reliable data transfer between a remote transmitter and a receiver station. We have proposed a novel scheme for Ultra Wide Band (UWB) communication technology, to enhance the data rate in single user scenario and to increase the number of sources for simultaneous data transmission in the multi-source scenario. We have proposed to exploit the orthogonal property of Modified Hermite Pulse (MHP) by transmitting the composite pulse (Pulse shape modulation, PSM) instead of transmitting a single orthogonal pulse. With the proposed scheme for data modulation with 4 different …

Teacher And Student Perceptions Of What Motivates Reading In African American Males Enrolled In Developmental Reading Classes: A Qualitative Multiple Case Analysis, Dominique Prince

All ETDs from UAB

TEACHER AND STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF WHAT MOTIVATES READING IN AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES ENROLLED IN DEVELOPMENTAL READING CLASSES DOMINIQUE PRINCE EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP ABSTRACT Research has indicated that effective literacy skills are needed participate fully in society and become productive employees. Still, many high school graduates lack the essential literary skills needed. In spite of African American males continuing to value literacy, some are not performing to levels of proficiency. Understanding the impact teachers and educational leaders have on students’ reading achievement, attention has been placed on students’ motivation to read. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case analysis was to explore …

Bond Of Dual Cure Resin Cements To Enamel And Dentin In Self Cure Mode, Rashmi Radhakrishnan

All ETDs from UAB

Dual cured resin cements are frequently used to cement all ceramic restorations. The increased thickness and /or opacity of restorations block light transmission. In these situations, where little or no light can be transmitted through the restorations, the polymerization of the cement is in the self-cure mode. Purpose: This study measures the bond strength and mode of failure of dual cure resin cements to enamel and dentin in a self-cure mode using e.max rods. Methods: 160 extracted human molars were ground to mid-coronal dentin (N=80) or superficial enamel (N=80) and finished to 320 grit disks. Four adhesive/cement combinations - Multilink …

Cash, Conscience, Corpse: The Culture Of Death In The Victorian Novel, Harvey Ragland

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT This thesis discusses Victorian notions of respectability at death and burial as they are portrayed in Jane Eyre, David Copperfield, Middlemarch, and The Nether World. Because such notions are, by nature, fluid in that the death of an individual is spread across a canvas of public ritual, the novel provides a better way than newspaper accounts or diaries to bring together divergent and competing perspectives to form a more complete account of respectability's meaning for Victorians. Each of the four novels takes a different position on the idea of the respectable death and customs associated with it. From the …

A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial To Assess The Performance Of Microtextured Dental Implants With Or Without A Machined Collar- 1 Year Results, Elizabeth Felts Randall

All ETDs from UAB

Aim: To assess the performance of microtextured dental implants with or without a machined collar at one year after placement. Material and Methods: Fifty-eight patients received dental implant therapy to restore missing teeth in one area of the maxilla or man-dible at the UAB Department of Graduate Periodontology. Residents in the program placed microtextured implants with a microtextured collar with microgrooves (test group) and microtextured implants with a machined collar (control group). Sites were randomized to the test group or control group. Study visit protocol was followed and implants were restored by off-site dentists. Sixty-nine (69) implants were assessed at …

Energy Metabolism Of Platelets During Activation, Oxidative Stress And Storage, Saranya Ravi

All ETDs from UAB

The principal function of platelets is to regulate hemostasis, and dysfunction of platelet aggregation or activation can lead to either excessive thrombotic or hemorrhagic complications. It has been shown that the ability to generate ATP and exposure to oxidative stress can affect platelet thrombotic potential. While platelet metabolism has been extensively studied, the importance of substrate availability and metabolic plasticity in regulating aggregation under physiological or pathological conditions is not well understood. In this dissertation, we examined the reliance of platelets on different metabolic substrates, the importance of ATP production for aggregation in response to thrombin stimulation, metabolic stress following …

Perceptions Of Facial Attractiveness: Outcomes Of Orthognathic Surgery, Brittany Bross Reid

All ETDs from UAB

PERCEPTIONS OF FACIAL ATTRACTIVENESS: OUTCOMES OF ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY BRITTANY REID DEPARTMENT OF ORTHODONTICS ABSTRACT Perceptions of physical attractiveness contribute to generalized assumptions that can create significant bias in social decision-making. Because these biases exist, patients often seek ways to improve facial harmony and overall appearance. Orthodontics and orthognathic surgery are treatment modalities that may be considered as a means to achieve facial balance. Orthodontists and oral surgeons must have an understanding of facial beauty and how to properly carry out techniques in order to preserve or improve facial balance. More importantly, the treatment goals of the patient and clinician(s) must …

Patient Activation: An Examination Of The Relationship Between Care Management With Patient Activation-Customized Coaching And Patient Outcomes, Cindy L. Reistroffer

All ETDs from UAB

As part of healthcare reform, patient engagement is becoming an important area of focus. Most recently, patient activation, as part of engagement, has been studied; however, interventions to improve activation are not well identified. The purpose of this dissertation was to empirically examine whether enrollment in care management with patient activation (PA)-customized coaching was associated with patient outcomes of utilization, medication adherence, and clinical outcomes. The study utilized the chronic care model framework and theoretical insights from social cognitive theory to examine the relationships among three hypotheses. Secondary data related to commercially-insured enrollees in Priority Health were used to test …

Geographic Access To Interventional Cardiology Services In Maine, James P. Rhudy

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction: Acute coronary syndrome is the most common cause of death in the U.S. and the world; ST segment elevated myocardial infarction is the most acute form. The preferred reperfusion therapy is immediate primary percutaneous coronary intervention at an interventional cardiology center. It is intuitive, but not known, whether delay in receipt of reperfusion therapy because of geographic distance is associated with increased coronary mortality. Even so, clinical practice guidelines recommend organizing coronary care in each community in regional systems. Hub-and-spoke has been proposed as a regionalized coronary care model. Article synthesis: The first article in this dissertation, titled Effectiveness …

Glutamate And The Biology Of Malignant Glioma, Stephanie Marie Robert

All ETDs from UAB

Malignant gliomas are the most prevalent primary brain tumor. They are highly aggressive and lack effective treatment options. Standard therapy includes a combination of radiation, chemotherapy, and tumor resection; however, even with aggressive treatment, median patient survival remains a dismal 12 – 14 months after diagnosis. Research has focused on understanding the unique biological mechanisms involved in glioma growth and survival in an effort to design novel therapies to treat this devastating disease. In the unique environment of the brain, gliomas have developed the ability to grow and survive at the cost of the normal surrounding brain tissue. Glutamate, the …

Stress, Bullying, Cortisol, And Depresive Symptoms In 9th Grade Adolescents, Susan Gordon Williams

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT Stress and bullying are known contributors to depressive symptoms in adolescents. Prevalence of depressive symptoms in adolescents is estimated to range from13% to 34% in recent studies. Ninth graders are in a transitional period developmentally,biologically, physically, and psychosocially. Few studies have examined the relationship between stress, bullying, and depressive symptoms from a biobehavioral perspective in 9th graders. The purpose of this study was to examine stress, bullying, and depressive symptoms including a biomarker of stress, salivary cortisol diurnal rhythm, to determine if there is mediation between the individual variables of stressful life events, perceivedstress, bullying, and depressive symptoms. The …

Exploring The Effects Of Direct Contact Compression On Osteogenesis, Shannel Wright

All ETDs from UAB

Clinically, the concept of bone building being the result of mechanical adaptation in healthy individuals has been accepted since Wollf’s Law in 1892. Despite many attempts to understand this mechanism, very little is known about the role mechanical forces play on bone molecularly. Current biomechanical theory supports the concept of osteocytes and bone lining cells creating a three-dimensional network that provides biochemical signaling as a result of mechanical loading. With pressure gradient and interstitial fluid flow models being used as methods of mechanical loading, yet there are still unanswered questions about the validity of both models. The suggested solution lies …

Nonsense Suppression In A Cftr Mouse Model And Analysis Of Animo Acids Inserted At Cftr Premature Termination Codons In Mammalian Cells, Xiaojiao Xue

All ETDs from UAB

A nonsense mutation introduces a premature terminations codon (PTC) into an open reading frame (ORF) upstream of a normal stop codon and results in truncated protein production. In frame PTCs account for ~11% of all mutations that cause human genetic diseases. To treat PTC-associated disorders, one approach is to use drugs that facilitate the insertion of amino acids carried by near-cognate aminoacyl-tRNAs at PTCs. Aminoglycosides were shown to suppress nonsense mutations and restore full-length protein production. This process is also termed as readthrough. However, their low efficiency and their potential to induce ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity limits their long-term application for …

Computational Studies On Alpha-Synuclein In Explicit Solvent: Implications In Parkinson’S Disease, Hongyi Yang

All ETDs from UAB

α-Synuclein (αS) is a cytosolic protein expressed at high levels in the human brain and concentrated in presynaptic nerve terminals. Although the precise nature of αS in vivo remains unclear, the aggregation of αS, from its soluble, functional forms into highly organized amyloid fibrils, has been substantially implicated in the pathology of a number of neurodegenerative diseases collectively known as synucleinopathies. The long-term goal of this project is to understand the molecular mechanisms that initiate αS oligomerization in aqueous solution. A novel computational methodology involving protein modeling and atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations is used in this work. The objective …

Impact Of Medicare Part D Coverage Gap On Medicare Beneficiaries With Copd: Adherence, Healthcare Resource Use, And Cost, Yanni Fan Yu

All ETDs from UAB

Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage for beneficiaries to support their pharmacological treatment; however, the complex deductible structure within benefit plans creates a major coverage gap and unexpected consequences. Some evidence has demonstrated reduced adherence resulting from the coverage gap; however, little research has evaluated the effect on healthcare resource use (HRU) and cost, and no studies have been conducted for beneficiaries with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study examined the impact of the coverage gap on medication adherence as well as healthcare resource use and medical cost among beneficiaries with COPD. Claims data based on a 5% …

Socs3 Deficiency In Myeloid Cells Promotes Tumor Development, Hao Yu

All ETDs from UAB

STAT3 signaling is a major intrinsic pathway for cancer inflammation owing to its frequent activation in malignant cells, and key role in regulating many genes crucial for inflammation in the tumor microenvironment. Persistently activated STAT3 increases tumor cell proliferation, survival, and invasion while suppressing anti-tumor immunity. Suppressor Of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) proteins are negative regulators of the JAK/STAT pathway, and generally function as tumor suppressors. The absence of SOCS3 in particular leads to heightened activation of the STAT3 transcription factor. In the present study, we demonstrate that genetic deletion of SOCS3 specifically in myeloid cells significantly enhances tumor growth, which …

Internet Use And Depression: The Roles Of Emotional Support And Online Support Groups, Aowen Zhu

All ETDs from UAB

This paper explores the mediating mechanisms between internet use and depression among African Americans and Caribbean Blacks. The hypotheses are that emotional support and online support groups (OSGs) mediate the association between internet use and depression. Data come from the National Survey of American Life conducted between 2001 and 2003 that includes a nationally representative sample of African Americans and Black respondents of Caribbean descent (N=4771). Depression is measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale with 12 questions. Internet use is measured as frequency of use. Emotional support is measured by a scale of 3 questions. OSGs are measured …

Functional Role Of Mepe In Tooth Mineralization: Mediation By Tgf-Beta1, Angela Gullard

All ETDs from UAB

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is one of the most abundant cytokines of the dentin-pulp complex that regulates a broad range of biological processes related to matrix synthesis and ultimately tooth formation, including secretion and mineralization of the dentin extracellular matrix (DECM). TGF-β1 mediates odontoblast cytodifferentiation from precursor dental pulp cells, being up-regulated in odontoblasts and then incorporated into the DECM as a reservoir that can be utilized in times of mechanical, chemical, or bacterial insult. Formation of the DECM is modulated by the actions of small integrin-binding ligand N-linked glycoproteins (SIBLINGs), which include DMP-1, DSPP, BSP, SPP1, and MEPE, with …

Hospital-Based Skilled Nursing Facilities: Predictors Of Survival And Performance, Shivani Gupta

All ETDs from UAB

This three-paper dissertation examined the organizational and market factors predicting the response of hospital-based skilled nursing facilities (HBSNFs) to the changes in their environment such as the implementation of prospective payment system in 1998 and their role in coordination of care for patients in transition from acute care to home or a post-acute care facility. In the first study, population ecology of organizations framework was used to evaluate the organizational and market factors associated with HBSNFs’ closure after 1998. The event histories of all acute-care hospitals which had an open HBSNF in 1998 were examined across 15 years (1998-2012) to …

Drivers Of Inter-Organizational Network Participation, Kimberly S. Davey

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this dissertation was to study market and organizational drivers associated with inter-organizational network participation. Inter-organizational networks are increasingly emerging across industries as a strategy for adapting to fundamental changes in competitive market environments. Specifically, this study empirically examined the association between market and organizational drivers for a sample of U.S. hospitals relative to their participation or non-participation in Medicare ACOs as a newly emergent inter-organizational network in the healthcare sector. This was a cross-sectional study of U.S. hospitals participating in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) designated ACOs as of January 1, 2014 and hospitals not …