Digital Commons Network^™

The Influence Of Parenting Style Towards Cooperative Levels In Children Aged 3-5 Years During Dental Treatment, Andi Sh. Yusuf, Nurhaedah Galib

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

No abstract provided.

Identification Of Inorganic Compounds In Eggshell As A Dental Remineralization Material, Asmawati

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

No abstract provided.

A Case Involving The Spontaneous Reduction Of An Ameloblastic Fibroma, Mekaru Yasuaki, Ueda Gousei, Higa Tsutomu, Kouchi Masato, Tatetsu Masaharu, Irei Mitsutaka

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

No abstract provided.

Sandwich Bone Augmentation (Sba) In Immediate Implant Placement Post Dentoalveolar Trauma: A Case Report, Anton, Poerwati S. Rahajoe, Bambang Dwirahardjo

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

No abstract provided.

Aquatic Insect Community Structure And Secondary Production In Coastal Wetland Ponds Of The Copper River Delta, Alaska: Influence Of Water Temperature And Macrophyte Community Structure, Chantel Caldwell

Master's Theses

The Copper River Delta (CRD), southcentral Alaska, is one of the world’s largest continuous coastal wetlands and is largely composed of sloughs, lakes, and ponds. Due to coastal topography the east side of the Copper River (East Delta) is disproportionately impacted by a cold continental air mass. Wetland communities of the CRD were also impacted by a 9.2 magnitude earthquake in 1964 that shifted the more coastal portion of the CRD from tidally influenced ponds to freshwater ponds.

The West-East temperature gradient across the CRD coupled with landscape type (uplifted marsh (UM) and outwash plain (OP)) creates four regions (West-UM, …

Using Tcr Transgenic, Gp100 Reactive T Cells And Checkpoint Inhibition To Target Lymphangioleimyomatosis, Christian Ankney

Master's Theses

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a low-grade neoplastic disease affecting primarily women. It is characterized by cystic lung disease as well as renal and retroperitoneal tumors called angiomyolipomas and lymphangiomas. Tumor cells have smooth muscle features as well as neuroendocrine cell surface markers, and the disease can be diagnosed by HMB45 staining of tumor cells. We questioned whether expression of melanocytic antigens, specifically gp100, creates an opportunity to treat LAM by adoptive T cell transfer. LAM lung lesions demonstrate poor immune surveillance, therefore adoptive T cell transfer could offer benefits in this disease.

A link was made between melanoma and depigmenting vitiligo …

Utilizing Single-Molecule Fret Methods To Study Conformational Changes In Trim5Α, Margret Suzanne Bradley

Master's Theses

Single-molecule FRET (smFRET) is a method by which dynamic conformational changes can be monitored in a protein microscopically and in real time. smFRET relies on the creation of FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer) between small molecule fluorophores conjugated to the biomolecules of interest. FRET efficiency allows calculation of interfluorophore distances. Changes in FRET efficiency represent changes in protein conformation which can inform further structural and molecular studies of the protein of interest. For example, in the Campbell Lab, we study the protein TRIM5α, an antiretroviral cellular protein which can cause premature dissociation of the HIV capsid core by an unknown …

Creating A Bret Assay To Monitor The Interaction Between Β-Arrestin-1 And Stam-1, James Buhrmaster

Master's Theses

CXCR4 is a chemokine receptor that is overexpressed in multiple disease states, including cancer. Understanding the mechanisms by which cells regulate CXCR4 expression is of high importance, as they can reveal downstream effectors that can potentially be targeted pharmacologically to more effectively treat diseases with fewer side effects.

CXCR4 is internalized in response to stimulation by its ligand CXCL12, and localizes to early endosomes as part of a homologous desensitization mechanism. From the endosome, CXCR4 can enter one of two pathways whereby it is either recycled back to the plasma membrane, where it can undergo another signaling event, or it …

Nutrient Removal And Vegetation Recovery Through Successive Harvesting Of The Invasive Hybrid Cattail (Typha X Glauca) In Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands, Kelsey Berke

Master's Theses

Excess nutrient levels have led to invasive hybrid cattail (Typha × glauca) dominance in many Laurentian Great Lakes coastal wetlands. Its ability to alter wetland structure and function has made T. × glauca a target invasive species with respect to Great Lakes coastal wetland

restoration. This study investigated the effect of harvesting invasive T. × glauca biomass on nutrient removal, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, and plant diversity recovery in Great Lakes coastal wetland ecosystems. This study demonstrated that without considering external nutrient inputs and outputs, a single harvest at Cheboygan Marsh, MI could remove ~2% of the total N and …

The Impact Of Chronic Stress On Childhood Obesity And The Protective Effects Of Parental Warmth, Laura M. L. Distel

Master's Theses

Mexican American children have the highest rates of obesity in the U.S. Mexican American children may experience chronic stress, which has been linked to child obesity. Hair cortisol accumulation has been implicated as a mechanism for this association. Highly sensitive parenting may buffer the harmful effects of chronic stress and hair cortisol on obesity. Thus, the aims of this project were to 1) identify the direct and indirect effects of chronic stress and hair cortisol on children's zBMI and 2) examine the protective effects of parental warmth. This study examined hair cortisol levels, zBMI and chronic stress of children ages …

Coping With Exposure To Community Violence: Assessing The Role Of Avoidance In Reducing Delinquency And Aggression In Low-Income Urban Adolescents, Cara Marie Diclemente

Master's Theses

Exposure to community violence has disabling effects on the mental health of youth in the US, with high rates of exposure for African American adolescents from underserved, urban communities. Past literature suggests that avoidant coping, specifically behavioral avoidance, may be most useful for youth exposed to uncontrollable stress. The current study assessed the utility of coping strategies in reducing aggression and delinquency in 267 sixth through eighth grade African American youth. First, confirmatory factor analyses revealed a three-factor structure of coping: cognitive approach, behavioral approach, and avoidance. Next, moderated moderation findings showed that for boys, avoidance and approach strategies increased …

The Effects Of Treating Multispecies Biofilms With Bacteriophage, Alexandria Francis Cooper

Master's Theses

Biofilms can be found in any environment within proximity to water and are problematic in an assortment of industries. Numerous efforts have been employed to dislodge biofilms including bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria). Phage remediation is a promising solution for combatting biofilms that form on catheters in long term use patients. These biofilms often result in catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and are the most common type of healthcare related infection reported. Additionally, they result in longer hospital stays and increased morbidity. To date, most of the research on the topic focuses on single species biofilms, despite their rarity in …

Potential Efficacy Of Targeting Mll1 In Breast Cancer, Austin Gable Holmes

Master's Theses

In 2017, it is estimated that breast cancer will be the most prevalent newly diagnosed cancer in females, at 30% in the U.S. alone1. From the early 1990s to 2014 the death rate in females from breast cancer has dropped by 10% but still stands as the second highest cancer related death in females in the U.S.2. One of the biggest hurdles in breast cancer research is disease heterogeneity. New mechanisms of disease development and progression are encountered frequently. One mechanism studied in the past decades is epigenetics. It has been theorized that the cancer epigenome can maintain an abnormal …

The Novel Characterization Of Extracellular Vesicles Containing Proteins Which Have Been Implicated In The Pathogenesis Of Hiv Associated Neurocognitive Disorders, Grace Ispas

Master's Theses

Although Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) is practiced, HIV-1 positive individuals still experience HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND), collectively described as the presentation of neurocognitive, behavioral and motor dysfunctions that decrease the quality of life, while increasing the mortality in ART suppressed HIV-1 positive patients.

Current literature suggests that extracellular vesicles are involved in the pathogenesis of HAND as they are believed to be transferring HIV-1 proteins to nearby neuronal cells. Although most studies assume homogeneity among populations, characterizing cellular proteins or RNA levels in bulk, we hypothesize that distinct populations of extracellular vesicles are released and that environmental conditions, including viral infections, …

Optimizing Clean Catch Urine Collection And Its Applications In Urinary Microbiome Studies, Danielle Johansen

Master's Theses

Clean catch was developed before the advancement of more sensitive assays for culturing urinary bacteria. I reassessed clean catch, endeavoring to optimize this method. Periurethral swabs and voided urines were routinely collected, while analyzing different aspects of the method. I determined that midstream urine contained the least amount of vulvo-vaginal contamination and that the time of collection did not impact the results. I also determined that the use of antiseptic wipes prior to void increased the level of vulvo-vaginal contamination. A small cohort of females collected daily urines over a 17-day period and kept a strict alcohol diary. Females who …

Functional Studies Of Novel Mosquito Stage-Specific Genes In The Malaria Parasite, Plasmodium Berghei., Kaitlyn Kiernan

Master's Theses

The development and survival of the malaria parasite Plasmodium within its mosquito vector is not very well understood. When the parasite is taken up by an Anopheles mosquito, it is exposed to digestive enzymes, reactive oxygen species, increasing pH, decreasing temperature, and a diverse microbial flora. Our lab is studying the adaptive mechanisms underlying parasite survival in this hostile environment, one of which is movement out of the midgut. In order to escape the midgut, the parasite develops into an elongated, motile form called the ookinete. I am investigating two genes, thioredoxin-like protein 1 (trxl-1) and subpellicular microtubule protein 1 …

Comparing The Risk Factors Of Recidivism For Offenders With And Without Mental Illness, Meghan J. Mahoney

Master's Theses

This study examined which risk factors were predictive of recidivism among inmates released from Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) who had no mental illness, a non-substance abusing mental illness (non-SUD MI), a substance use disorder (SUD), or a co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder (COD). The predictors of being returned to prison or being rearrested for a violent, property, or drug crime were compared across these four groups. A secondary data analysis was conducted on data obtained by Olson, Stalans, and Escobar (2016) for a study examining the predictors of recidivism for inmates released from IDOC in 2007. Logistic …

Comparative Studies On Biochemical And Pharmacological Profiles Of Bovine, Ovine And Porcine Heparins, Ahmed Kouta

Master's Theses

Heparin, a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG), is used extensively as an anticoagulant. It consists of repeating disaccharide units, containing iduronic acid (or glucuronic acid) and glucosamine, exhibiting variable degrees of sulfation. Heparin, and its analogues, are used during surgery and dialysis, and are often used to coat indwelling catheters and other devices where the vascular system is exposed. Administered parenterally, often continuously due to its short half-life, over 0.5 billion doses are required per year. Heparin is currently obtained from mucosal tissue of meat animals, mainly porcine intestine, and to a lesser extent bovine and ovine sources. The early stages …

Developing Integral Ecologists: Description And Analysis Of The State Of Environmental Education At Jesuit High Schools In Light Of Religious Ecological Commitments And Science Education Research, Philip Nahlik Nahlik

Master's Theses

This research responds to numerous calls to focus more immediately and deeply on environmental education in the context of local communities. Jesuit high schools offer a rich network to study this movement, as schools with long histories of scholarly and moral concerns for forming students to think about and act on worldwide problems. The key research question is: How can science education research inform environmental education in these schools? The research methodology includes data collection and analysis of publicly-accessible website data, phone interviews with teachers, and a literature review of science education research. Recommendations are given for vertically aligning the …

Multifunctional Regulatory T Cells From Human Umbilical Cord Blood And The Role Of Tumor Necrosis Factor In Immune Homeostasis, Alexander Nelson

Master's Theses

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are required to suppress inflammation and prevent autoimmunity. During fetal development Tregs are crucial to maintain tolerance between mother and child. After birth, neonates require tolerance to avoid harmful immune responses to foreign antigens in food and allow colonization with commensal microbes. We demonstrate a propensity for T cells in human umbilical cord blood to differentiate into Tregs in response to antigen receptor stimulation ex vivo. Cord blood-derived Tregs potently suppress T cell proliferation, but also produce pro-inflammatory cytokines known to activate innate immune responses. These results suggest that antigen exposure during early life results in …

Domestic Violence Among Asian Indian Immigrant Women In The United States, Teuta Peja

Master's Theses

This study looks at how domestic violence is conceptualized by the research studies on

Asian Indian immigrant communities in the United States through different periods of time, and

how sociocultural factors are associated with domestic violence. Using the meta-synthesis

descriptive method, I analyzed and interpreted the findings of four research studies conducted

between 1995-2016 that included in-depth interviews with Asian Indian immigrant women who

experienced domestic violence. The analysis focuses on changes of the patterns of abuse, helping behavior, and leaving the abusive marriage as an option. The changes in U.S. domestic

violence legislation and policy regarding immigration and domestic …

Chronic Effects Of Lead Exposure On Atherinops Affinis (Topsmelt): Influence Of Salinity And Organism Age, Erik Joseph Reynolds

Master's Theses

Pb (lead) appears in the environment as a consequence of both natural and anthropogenic processes. Mining, smelting, coal burning, lead acid batteries, and cement manufacturing substantially release Pb into aquatic environments. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of salinity and organism age on chronic toxicity of Pb to Atherinops affinis (topsmelt) in support of development of a species sensitivity distribution (SSD). Species sensitivity distributions assist in ecological risk assessments and establishing quality criteria for contaminants. Three chronic exposure studies were conducted for 28 days in a water flow-through testing system. Survival, standard length, dry weight, and …

A Mobile App Illustrating Sensory Neural Coding Through An Efficient Coding Of Collected Images And Sounds, Xiaolu Zhao

Master's Theses

Sensory neuroscience in the early auditory and visual systems appears distinct not

only to outside observers, but to many trained neuroscientists as well. However, to a computational neuroscientist, both sensory systems represent an efficient neural coding of information. In fact, on a computational level it appears the brain is using the same processing strategy for both senses - the same algorithm with just a change in inputs. Insights like this can greatly simplify our understanding of the brain, but require a significant computational background to fully appreciate. How can such illuminating results of computational neuroscience be made more accessible to …

Reference Intervals For Thyroid Stimulating Hormone And Free Thyroxine Derived From Neonates Undergoing Routine Screening For Congenital Hypothyroidism At A University Teaching Hospital In Nairobi, Kenya: A Cross Sectional Study, Geoffrey Omuse, Ali Kassim, Francis Kiigu, Ra'ana Hussain, Mary Limbe

Pathology, East Africa

Background: In order to accurately interpret neonatal thyroid function tests (TFTs), it is necessary to have population specific reference intervals (RIs) as there is significant variation across different populations possibly due to genetic, environmental or analytical issues. Despite the importance of RIs, globally there are very few publications on RIs for neonatal TFTs primarily due to ethical and technical issues surrounding recruitment of neonates for a prospective study. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report from Africa on neonatal RIs for TFTs.

Methods: We used hospital based data largely derived from neonates attending the wellness clinic …

Quantitative Analysis Of X-Ray Fluorescence Absorption And Emission For Thickness Determination Of Ald-Grown Metal And Oxide Nanoscaled Films, Tarek M. Abdel-Fattah, Alex Wixtrom, Larry Arias, Kai Zhang, Helmut Baumgart

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This study describes the use of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) to determine the thickness of nanoscaled thin films of insulating oxides such as Al₂O₃, HfO₂, and ZrO₂, semiconducting oxides such as TiO₂, ZnO, and metals like Pt, on silicon substrates synthesized by atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology. XRF thickness measurements were compared with the predicted layer thickness based on calculations from known ALD growth rates for each metal or metal oxide films. The ALD growth rates have been calibrated with TEM cross-sectional measurements of the resulting film thickness. The results …

Inquiry-Based Laboratory Experiences Using Ecosystem Microcosms, Roger Sauterer

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Self-sustaining ecosystem microcosms, called ecosystem jars, can easily be collected from local ponds, streams, or lakes. Sealed and exposed to sunlight, these miniature ecosystems can sustain themselves for a decade or more. Unlike Winogradsky columns, ecosystem jars are optimized for protist, animal, and plant observations and experiments, and are not altered by addition of sulfur, carbon, or cellulose sources, more accurately representing natural ecosystems. Ecosystem jars can support a variety of inquiry-based experiments, including student-designed projects, from middle school to college levels. Students, with instructor assistance, formulate hypotheses, design experiments, observe and catalog organisms by microscopy, then record their data …

Deep Models For Engagement Assessment With Scarce Label Information, Feng Li, Guangfan Zhang, Wei Wang, Roger Xu, Tom Schnell, Jonathan Wen, Frederic Mckenzie, Jiang Li

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Task engagement is defined as loadings on energetic arousal (affect), task motivation, and concentration (cognition) [1]. It is usually challenging and expensive to label cognitive state data, and traditional computational models trained with limited label information for engagement assessment do not perform well because of overfitting. In this paper, we proposed two deep models (i.e., a deep classifier and a deep autoencoder) for engagement assessment with scarce label information. We recruited 15 pilots to conduct a 4-h flight simulation from Seattle to Chicago and recorded their electroencephalograph (EEG) signals during the simulation. Experts carefully examined the EEG signals and labeled …

Knowledge Of Polymath Walks, Talks, Makes Waves, Turns Into Deeds, Hamlet Isaxanli, Waqas Ahmed

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

In this interview, Hamlet Isaxanli shares his opinion on polymathy. What makes a polymath? Isaxanli stresses the importance of two factors: a person’s nature may lead him/her to an insatiable thirst for knowledge and the desire to explore different fields simultaneously. On the other hand, the education system encourages polymathy from the perspective of the richness and diversity of the high school curriculum. Isaxanli also goes into the relationship between math and poetry as well as the art-science-humanities connections. He then calls attention to Omar Khayyam, Nasr al-Din Tusi and some polymaths of the 20th century. Finally yet importantly, Isaxanli …

Death Spiral Convertible Bonds, Austin Dwyer

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Death spiral convertibles, are a type of loan lenders give to a firm in exchange for a right to convert into equity at below market prices. This differs from traditional convertibles because there is no fixed conversion price. Instead, the price can be reset lower if the firm's stock price falls below the conversion price at the time of issuance. As the process repeats itself the stock's price spirals downwards. This process benefits the bondholders at the cost of the shareholders. Based on a hand collected sample of 23 companies issuing a total of I 97 floating price convertibles, the …

Behavioural Monitoring Via Network Communications, Gaseb Alotibi

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

It is commonly acknowledged that using Internet applications is an integral part of an individual’s everyday life, with more than three billion users now using Internet services across the world; and this number is growing every year. Unfortunately, with this rise in Internet use comes an increasing rise in cyber-related crime. Whilst significant effort has been expended on protecting systems from outside attack, only more recently have researchers sought to develop countermeasures against insider attack. However, for an organisation, the detection of an attack is merely the start of a process that requires them to investigate and attribute the attack …