Digital Commons Network^™

Biomarkers For Radiation Pneumonitis Using Noninvasive Molecular Imaging, Meetha Medhora, Steven Haworth, Yu Liu, Jayashree Narayanan, Feng Gao, Ming Zhao, Said H. Audi, Elizabeth R. Jacobs, Brian L. Fish, Anne V. Clough

Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

Our goal is to develop minimally invasive biomarkers for predicting radiation-induced lung injury before symptoms develop. Currently, there are no biomarkers that can predict radiation pneumonitis. Radiation damage to the whole lung is a serious risk in nuclear accidents or in radiologic terrorism. Our previous studies have shown that a single dose of 15 Gy of x-rays to the thorax causes severe pneumonitis in rats by 6–8 wk. We have also developed a mitigator for radiation pneumonitis and fibrosis that can be started as late as 5 wk after radiation. Methods: We used 2 functional SPECT probes in vivo in …

Computational Evaluation Of Ventricular Assist Device Implementation In The Single Ventricle Circulation, Tyler Matthew Schmidt

All Theses

Patients with a single ventricle congenital heart defect are prone to increased volume loading, which can lead to heart failure and require mechanical circulatory support. A ventricular assist device (VAD) can serve as a bridge treatment option for these patients. However, in VAD support cases, pediatric patients possessing congenital heart defects have lower survival rates than patients without and outcomes worsen further in single ventricle cases. Performance differences between pulsatile and continuous flow VADs have also been clinically observed, but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood.

Six pediatric, stage 1 single ventricle patients (cohort mean BSA = 0.30 m2) were …

Development And Initial Validation Of A Surgical Instrument For In Situ Mechanical Characterization Of Surgical Mesh-Tissue Composites, Jorge Ivan Hernandez Sanchez

All Theses

Approximately 5 million Americans have an abdominal wall hernia, and over 700,000 undergo surgical procedures every year to treat them. Surgical procedures have evolved with the goal of preventing recurrences, leading to the current gold standard of treatment: hernia repair with mesh. Hernia repair with mesh consists on augmenting the weakened abdominal wall by implanting a synthetic or biological mesh. Although the adoption of hernia repair with mesh has improved outcomes, recurrence from primary repair procedures with large incisions (>10 cm) remains an alarming 32%.

The wide variety of implanted surgical mesh (materials, structure) and surgical variability (attachment method, …

Mixotrophic Cultivation Of Microalgae For Biomass Production Optimization Using Statistical Methods, Ning Zhang

All Theses

Microalgae have received considerable attention as a potential source for the thirdgeneration biofuel. Various products including biodiesel could be obtained from the algalbiomass. In this study, the green algae Chlorella protothecoides was cultured inmixotrophic mode – under the light from a LED lamp and supplemented with organiccarbon and nitrogen sources. The carbon and nitrogen sources were selected for theircapabilities to sustain algae growth, and their low cost as industrial by-products. Crudeglycerol was derived from the biodiesel production process and the spent brewer’s yeastwas the remaining yeast after beer fermentation. Both were subject to certainpretreatment steps before being mixed with the …

A Family Dispute: The African-American Community's Response To Uncle Tom, Spencer York

All Theses

This thesis is an attempt to understand the complex relationship between theAfrican-American community and Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Itargues that a large reason for the negative connotation of “uncle Tom” within theAfrican-American community was caused by conflicts between intellectual patternsand traditions of the community and Stowe’s vision in her novel. This thesis looks atthe key texts in the intellectual history of the African-American community,including the literary responses by African Americans to the novel. This thesis seeksto fill gaps in the history of the African-American community by looking at howmembers of the community exercised their agency to achieve the …

Enhancing The Methane Yield Of A Landfill Leachate Bioreactor, Paul Vecchiarelli

All Theses

Our thriving modern society requires unprecedented amounts of natural resources to maintain pace with rapidly evolving standards of living in industrialized regions. Due to population growth and wide-scale urbanization, over 3.5x106 metric tons of solid wastes are produced daily around the world. In addition to land, water, and raw material strain generated by solid waste dumping, pristine resources are needed for food, energy, and potable water — instead being used through waste management. Reducing landfill leachate volume and toxicity while deriving value-added products from leachate is a sustainable alternative to traditional solid waste management. Carbon mass balances of biomass grown …

An Approach To The Procedural Generation Of Worn Metal Surfaces, Junyan Wang

All Theses

Motivated by the phenomenon that wear and tear tends to happen more near sharp cornersof a surface, this thesis presents a method for procedurally generating photorealistic metal surfacesbased upon evaluating curvature values. The thesis describes the development of eight metal shadersthat are used to replace the manual texture painting typically used in production. The approach isdemonstrated by applying these metal shaders to a robotic dog model from a short film involvinglive action and CG elements. Frames from a short animation of the robotic dog are presented, anda discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of this methodology.

The Intermediate Subunit Of The Gal/Galnac Lectin May Play A Role In Erythrophagocytosis In Entamoeba Histolytica, Michelle Lynne Rock

All Theses

Entamoeba histolytica is a parasite responsible for amebic dysentery and liver abscess in humans. This pathogen causes ~100,000 deaths annually in regions that cannot prevent the fecal-oral route of transmission. Adhesion to host colonic epithelium is a hallmark of infection. The galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine (Gal/GalNAc) lectin is a parasite surface receptor that regulates adhesion to host cells. This lectin is a heterotrimer consisting of Heavy (Hgl), Light (Lgl) and Intermediate (Igl) subunits. Hgl and Lgl are covalently attached to each other by disulfide bonds and interact non-covalently with Igl. Little is known about how the trimer assembles, but lipid rafts, cholesterol- and …

Gender Hybridity In H.G. Wells' The Island Of Dr. Moreau, Charlotte Rene Powell

All Theses

Critical scholarship regarding The Island of Dr. Moreau typically concerns themes of evolution and internal corruption. However, the unstudied question of evolution in The Island of Dr. Moreau remains the places where Edward Prendick’s performances of unconventional masculinity on the island inhabit language used to describe bestial regression and indicate a place where rhetoric regarding evolution and gender intersect. The gap in the critical conversation surrounding the representation of Prendick is an important place where the concept of hybridity and evolution can and should be extended. Through a close reading of Prendick’s reactions to events that occur over the course …

Aerosol Removal In A Cylindrical Ultrasonic Standing Wave Field, Tyler Merrell

All Theses

Aerosols are solid particles or liquid drops typically less than 100 microns in diameter, suspended in a gas. Some types of aerosols can be very hazardous. Particulate pollution from the combustion of fossil fuels and other sources is of great concern due to health problems those exposed can experience. One method for removing these particles from industrial sources is wet scrubbing, where water sprays are used to capture particles before exhausting to the environment. Wet scrubbers work well for a large range of particle diameters, but are ineffective for particles on the order of 1 µm in diameter. Particles of …

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Uav)-Assisted Water Sampling, Cengiz Koparan

All Theses

Water quality assessment programs require the collection of water samples for physical, chemical, and bacteriological analysis. Lack of personnel, accessibility of water bodies, and time constraints for water sampling, especially after natural disasters and emergencies, are some of the challenges of water sampling. To overcome these challenges, a water collection mechanism was developed and mounted on a multirotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for autonomous water sampling from water bodies. The payload capacity and endurance of the UAV (hexacopter) were verified using an indoor test station. The hexacopter was equipped with floating foam, and the electronic components were coated against water …

Between Flesh And Being: Theorizing The Racial Body And The Position Of Personhood In Claudia Rankine's Citizen, Lanja Najmalddin Karim

All Theses

In this paper I argue that Claudia Rankine, in Citizen (2014), by concentrating on the place and position of the radicalized body, creates a technique of resistance that emerges as assemblages against contemporary racism. Citizen narrates the stories of a range of racist incidents that happen to individuals, including the author herself and celebrities in Western societies. Those incidents have been narrated and re-contextualized through a unique technique of representation, where multiple genres, such as lyric, prose, and visual images, all collaborate in telling those stories in the text. In Citizen, resistance is the predominant mode of narration. The text …

Characterization Of A Microbial Community In Response To Mtbe Contamination In Marine Sediment, Nicholas Hotzelt

All Theses

On March 9, 2015, the Carla Maersk, which was carrying 216,049 barrels of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) outbound for Venezuela, was struck port side by the bow of the Conti Peridot. An unspecified amount of MTBE spilled into the Port of Houston. MTBE has an exceptionally high water solubility and a large volume of the contaminant likely diluted and dispersed throughout the channel. MTBE was the most common fuel oxygenate because of its low cost, ease of production, and favorable transfer and blending characteristics. After only a few years of intense use, MTBE has become one of the most frequently …

Morphological And Ecological Characterization Of Opuntia Miller On The Coast Of South Carolina, Kirk Holmes

All Theses

The genus Opuntia Miller is one of the most misunderstood and ignored genera of plants occurring in the southeastern United States. This study focused on the clarification of Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw., Opuntia macrarthra Gibbes, Opuntia pusilla (Haw.), Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw. and Opuntia tunoidea Gibbes on the coast of South Carolina. A comprehensive literature review was completed to gather an understanding of Opuntia biology, species concepts and geographic range. The objectives of the morphological study were to determine if Opuntia taxa matching past descriptions of the five species chosen were present, what the morphological characteristics of the individuals …

The Role Of Developmental Plasticity In Response To Salinity On The Evolution Of Alternative Reproductive Tactics In The Sailfin Molly, Poecilia Latipinna (Poeciliidae: Poecilia: Mollienesia), Kelly Elise Hogan

All Theses

Variability in life history and morphology across conspecific populations is a widespread phenomenon and may be attributed to life history trade-offs in response to environmental variation. Such trade-offs between growth, maintenance, and reproduction often occur via developmental plasticity, which allows organisms to shift their developmental trajectories to maximize fitness in a given environment. Sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna) exhibit interpopulation variation in life history and morphological traits, and inhabit springs, tidal creeks, and estuaries that range from freshwater to seawater. Male size at maturity is smaller on average in freshwater springs than in brackish water marshes where these fish are most …

Responses Of Aquatic Organisms To Exposures Of Sodium Carbonate Peroxyhydrate, Tyler David Geer

All Theses

Sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate (SCP), a granular algaecide containing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), is used to mitigate risks associated with noxious algae. Episodic exposures of SCP algaecides in aquatic systems prompt the need for a fundamental understanding of exposure-response relationships for aquatic organisms, both target and non-target, exposed to H2O2 as SCP. In the first experiment, influences of organic carbon on exposures of H2O2 as SCP and consequent responses of a frequent problematic alga (cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa) were measured. Results indicate that the exposure of H2O2 as SCP necessary to control growth of a noxious alga is proportional to the density of …

Effect Of Irrigation Water On Growth And Physical Characteristics Of Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) And Mung Bean (Vigna Radiata) Sprouts, Kathryn Frances Cornelia Davis

All Theses

With resources to produce food predicted to become scarce and strongly limited,the need for producing more and consuming fewer resources will become increasingly important in the agricultural environment. Production methods that are ‘soil-less’ which are not tradition in-ground methods are viewed as creative solutions that have the potential of being sustainable. An aquaponic system is one of these productions methods that have the potential to be sustainable. Research demonstrates the water conservation an aquaponic system can establish if proper management is maintained, thus upkeep and monitoring of water quality parameters are crucial for successful growth of plants. The purpose of …

Handling Traffic For Major Events: Evaluating Traffic Officer Operations, Gowtham Cherukumalli

All Theses

The campus of Clemson University hosts numerous planned special events every year. The largest seasonal events are the home football games played at Clemson Memorial Stadium. These football games attract crowds in excess of 80,000 fans, most of whom arrive by private vehicle. Trying to maneuver traffic for 80,000 people into one venue is a daunting task in itself. However, trying to maneuver it through a local transportation system designed for a campus with approximately 20,000 students and a city that has approximately 12,000 permanent residents can be a nightmare for state and local traffic enforcement officials. One of the …

A Dynamic Hair Rigging System For Maya, Wyndham Batton

All Theses

This thesis will cover the creation, use, and process of an automated rigging tool in Maya. The dynamic hair-rigging system’s purpose is to help control the function, style, and movement of hair, along with other uses. A solution for controlling and manipulating sections of hair is using an automated rigging system that allows for full artistic freedom over styling and animating hair. An interface was designed to aid rigging artists with producing quick and efficient rigs for hair. Along with the use for hair, the dynamic hair-rigging tool could also be used to drive and control chain, rope, and other …

Controlling Thermal Gelation Properties Of Novel Tetronic® Hydrogel-Based Tissue Adhesive, Martin Fernando Alejos

All Theses

The advancement in laparoscopic and robotic surgeries is calling for innovation in wound closure methods where the classical mechanical ligatures are proving very challenging due to reduction in surgical spaces, even for seasoned surgeons.1–3 Tissue adhesives have been investigated as an alternative and/or adjuvant method to address some of these unmet needs. Previously in our lab, Sanders and co-workers4 developed a successful synthetic adhesive by modifying Tetronic 1107 to incorporate acrylate (ACR) for chemical crosslinking and N-hydroxisuccinimide (NHS) to enhance tissue bonding, improving the seminal work done by Cho et al.5 However, solutions of modified T1107 would undergo reverse thermal …

Fabrication And Characterization Of A Novel Porous Polymer Microsphere - Hydrogel Composite For Cell Therapy, Prathik Thulluri

All Theses

For patients with organ failure complications, organ transplantation is not alwaysan option due to a shortage of donors along with obstacles such as risk of pathogentransfer and the possibility of immune rejection. Tissue engineering approaches based oncell therapy provide a promising alternative that could potentially solve these problems.The success of cell therapy for tissue repair and regeneration requires reliable andefficient cell delivery methods. Currently, hydrogels are favored matrices for celldelivery because of their ability to be injected by minimally invasive techniques asviscous liquids and crosslinked in situ under mild conditions compatible with thehomogeneous incorporation of cells and bioactive molecules. However, …

Full Issue

Andrews University Seminary Student Journal

No abstract provided.

Witchcraft, The Occult, And The Church, Bruce Bauer

Andrews University Seminary Student Journal

This paper suggests that fear, unwillingness to talk about witchcraft issues, ignorance concerning the protecting power of God, embrace of a powerless Christianity, a weak grounding in the Word of God and several other factors and conditions have permitted witchcraft and occult practices to exist among members in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Several practical steps are then listed that can be taken to reduce such practices.

The Shema Through The Ages: A Pre-Modern History Of Its Interpretation, Esteban J. Hidalgo

Andrews University Seminary Student Journal

This article traces the history of the interpretation of Deuteronomy 6:4 from its original context, through the dawning of early Christianity in the Second Temple period up to the twilight of the late medieval period. The reader will appreciate the persistent centrality of an unchanging doctrine and simultaneously discern fluidity in its meaning and application in both Jewish and Christian perspectives. Proportionally, the focus is placed on how early Christian writers hermeneutically accommodated the doctrine of the Trinity in the oneness of God as stated in the Shema.

A Transcutaneous Data And Power Transfer System For Osteogenesis Monitoring Sensors, Deepak Dileepkumar

Masters Theses

Implant devices are widely used in health care applications such as life support systems, patient rehabilitation devices and patient monitoring devices. Medical implants have enabled physicians to obtain relevant real time information regarding an organ, or a site of interest with in the body and suggest treatment accordingly. In some cases, the position of the implant within the body or threats of infections prevents wired communication techniques to extract information from the implant. Wireless communication is the alternative in such cases. Distraction osteogenesis is one such application where wireless communication can be established with callus growth monitoring sensors to obtain …

Trophic Transfer Of A Naturally Occurring Algal Toxin From A Freshwater Lake To Little Brown Bats, Devin Jones

Masters Theses

Microcystis aeruginosa is a species of cyanobacteria capable of producing a hepatotoxin called microcystin. As toxic M. aeruginosa overwinters in the sediments of lakes, it is ingested by some mayfly larvae, such as those of Hexagenia spp., and thus

microcystin bioaccumulates in these insects. When Hexagenia emerge from lakes to

reproduce, they provide an abundant, albeit temporary, food source for many terrestrial

organisms such as bats. Little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus, likely feed opportunistically

on aquatic insects. To test if microcystin moves from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems via trophic transfer, we 1) tested bat feces for the presence of …

Examining The Effect Of Climate Change On The Upper Mesophotic Coral Montastrea Cavernosa (Linnaeus 1767), John Skutnik

Masters Theses

Coral reefs are under increasing pressure from global climate change. In particular, ocean warming is having a deleterious effect on many of the world’s shallow reefs. Some authors suggest that acute exposure is more detrimental than chronic, versus others who indicate the opposite. However, little knowledge exists regarding heat induced stress on deeper mesophotic reefs. Here, I examined the effect of acute (72 hrs.) and chronic (480 hrs.) heat stress using laboratory experiments on coral Montastraea cavernosa (Linnaeus 1767) collected from an upper mesophotic (~30 m) reef off Islamorada Florida. I examined a variety of putative immune and stress genes …

Applications Of The Gst- Affinity Tag In The Purification And Characterization Of Proteins, Wibke Beatrice Kachel

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the latest innovations in biological sciences, large quantities of biologically active polypeptides as well as high throughput screening methods to quickly evaluate if these biomolecules potentially have therapeutic, diagnostic, or industrial purposes are required. The synthesis and purification of peptides and small proteins continue to be demanding as the production of high yields through chemical synthesis can involve large costs. On the other hand, there are only few examples of acquiring those biomolecules through cloning and expression in bacterial systems in form of recombinant fusion proteins. Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) is not only a very commonly used affinity tag to …

Innate Immunity In Chickens: In Vivo Responses To Different Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns, Kristen Alicia Byrne

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on host cells recognize motifs known as pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that are common to groups of microbes. Examples include LPS on Gram-negative bacteria, the structural motif PGN common to all bacteria, MDP the smallest immunostimulatory unit of PGN, and poly I:C the dsRNA analog. PAMP recognition by and stimulation of the innate immune system is crucial to an individual’s ability to quickly limit microbial growth and stimulate the adaptive immune system. Characterization of the in vivo immune responses initiated by PAMPs has not been directly addressed. Using growing feathers (GF) as a novel intradermal …

An Inquiry Into The Distinction Between Belief And Imagination, Maxwell M. Gatyas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Theories of mind typically see belief and imagination as distinct cognitive attitudes. While most admit that imagination is belief-like in many ways—e.g. in its capacity to guide action, cause emotional responses, and aid in decision-making processes—the popular view is to separate the two attitudes when constructing a theory of mental architecture. The similarities are not enough for theorists to admit that the two attitudes are indistinct. Imagination, then, is construed as an “analogue” of belief, similar in many ways, but nevertheless fundamentally different. In what follows I examine these methods of distinguishing between belief and imagination. My method of examination …