Digital Commons Network^™

Improving Aav Transduction Efficiency In Retinal Bipolar Cells For Optogenetic Vision Restoration, Shengjie Cui

Wayne State University Dissertations

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are the most promising vehicles for therapeutic gene delivery to the retina. We are developing AAV-mediated expression of optogenetic tools in surviving inner retinal neurons as a potential strategy to restoring vision after the death of photoreceptor cells in retinal degeneration. Targeting optogeneitc tools, such as channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), to retinal bipolar cells (RBCs) is particularly attractive. In particular, our lab has recently developed an optimized mGluR6 promoter-based virus vector that can mainly target ChR2 to rod bipolar cells. However, AAV-mediated transduction efficiency in RBCs is relatively low. The transduction efficiency could be affected by a …

The Role Of Neurokinin Receptors And Satellite Glial Cells In Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Latency, Andrew Jerome

Wayne State University Dissertations

The ability of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) to establish a lifelong infection in neurons of the trigeminal ganglion (TG) make it a constant public health threat. Viral reactivation from its latent state is currently the leading cause of viral induced blindness in the United State, as well as the leading cause of herpes simplex encephalitis. Unfortunately, how the virus is able to both establish and maintain its latent state in the TG is not well understood. The purpose of this work was to better understand how neuropeptide signaling through neurokinin receptors, as well as how satellite glial cells (SGCs) …

Carbazole Based Multifunctional Dopamine Agonists And Related Molecules As Potential Symptomatic And Disease Modifying Therapeutic Agents For Parkinson’S Disease, Asma S.Mohamed Elmabruk

Wayne State University Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that develops from gradual depletion of dopamine (DA) and dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) with the accumulation of intraneuronal proteinaceous matter named as Lewy bodies. The four cardinal symptoms associated with PD are tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability. Although the exact mechanism and etiology of PD are not fully understood, several factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of PD including protein aggregation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, environmental, and genetic factors.

The current therapy of Parkinson’s disease is categorized into four classes: levodopa, DA agonists, …

Sensitivity Of Quagga Mussels (Dreissena Rostriformis Bugensis) To Cyanobacteria At Multiple Life History Stages, Anna Boegehold

Wayne State University Dissertations

Quagga mussels (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) originate from brackish waters of the Ponto-Caspian area and are nuisance invasive species in North American and European freshwaters. Their invasion has caused major economic and ecological damages in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Through selective filter feeding, quagga mussels have promoted the growth of cyanobacteria. Harmful cyanobacteria blooms have the potential to produce toxins, which can be toxic to humans and wildlife. Although quagga mussels can increase the prevalence of cyanobacteria blooms, it is unknown how they are physiologically affected by cyanobacteria and understanding these dynamics can be useful in the management of this invasive …

Identification Of Streptococcus Pyogenes Using Raman Spectroscopy, Ehsan Majidi

Wayne State University Dissertations

Despite the attention that Raman Spectroscopy has gained recently in the area of pathogen identification, the spectra analyses techniques are not well developed. In most scenarios, they rely on expert intervention to detect and assign the peaks of the spectra to specific molecular vibration. Although some investigators have used machine-learning techniques to classify pathogens, these studies are usually limited to a specific application, and the generalization of these techniques is not clear. Also, a wide range of algorithms have been developed for classification problems, however, there is less insight to applying such methods on Raman spectra. Furthermore, analyzing the Raman …

Republicanism In America, Examples Of Self-Government From 1775 Through 1819, John Renard Girdwood

Wayne State University Dissertations

In my three empirical chapters, I provide documentation for my claims that (1) the people did petition the General Government, such as through petitions and resolutions of instruction and, (2) the national representatives did acknowledge and respectively act on the people’s political documents, with attention paid to the defense of republican self-government, during the decades before and after Ratification. The evidence suggests that Americans did peripheralize the General Government before and after Ratification because of a belief in the republican values of freedom, virtue, and equality.

Practically, political scientists researching political culture should consider the conceptualization and application of republican …

The Role Of Alström Syndrome 1 (Alms1) In Hypertension, Salt Sensitivity And Metabolic Syndrome, Keyona Nicole King-Medina

Wayne State University Dissertations

In humans, inactivating mutations in the Alström syndrome 1 (ALMS1) gene cause obesity, insulin resistance and hypertension (metabolic syndrome). More so, SNPs in the ALMS1 gene have been associated with kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. The

mechanisms causing these alterations are unclear. We recently found that the ALMS1 is expressed in the kidney thick ascending limb (TAL) where it mediates endocytosis of the renal Na/K/2Cl cotransporter termed NKCC2. To study the role of ALMS1 in renal

physiology we generated ALMS1 knockout (KO) rats in a Dahl salt-sensitive genetic background via zinc-finger nuclease targeting. We previously found that the amount of …

To What Extent Does Clinical Supervision And Experience Relate To The Self-Efficacy Of Counselors-In-Training, Thomas Michalos

Wayne State University Dissertations

TO WHAT EXTENT DOES CLINICAL SUPERVISION AND EXPERIENCE RELATE TO THE SELF-EFFICACY OF COUNSELORS-IN-TRAINING

by

THOMAS MICHALOS

December 2018

Advisor: Dr. John Pietrofesa

Major: Counselor Education

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Clinical supervision is an integral part of the education and formation of a counselor. The following study focuses on measuring to what degree clinical supervision and experiences relates to the self-efficacy of counselors-in-training. A sample of 106 graduate level counselor education students were surveyed. Those students who have received clinical supervision had significantly higher levels of self-efficacy than who have never experienced clinical supervision. Additionally for those students in the …

Democratic Communication: Lessons From The Flint Water Crisis, Mindy Myers

Wayne State University Dissertations

This dissertation develops an approach to institutional critique that re-works Porter, Sullivan, Blythe, Grabill, and Miles’ foundational configuration. This project argues that John Dewey’s concept of democratic communication articulated in his debate with Walter Lippmann provides a useful heuristic for developing democratic communicative practices that allow citizens and experts to communicate with one another about technical issues such as water quality and safety. Through an analysis of Michigan’s emergency manager law, the relationship between citizens and experts that exposed the crisis, and the Flint Water Advisory Task Force’s Final Report, this dissertation establishes that citizens must participate in technical decision-making …

The Process Of Ostracism Message Reception And Meaning Making, Lukas John Pelliccio

Wayne State University Dissertations

Ostracism is defined as the exclusion of an individual or group by an individual or group. Research suggests that being ostracized can create severe negative psychological reactions in targets. However, there is much less research explicitly focused on how ostracism is communicated and the process of meaning making that allows a target to interpret communication as an ostracism message. Through grounded theory and qualitative interviews, this study asked: What is the process of interpersonal ostracism message meaning making, and what are the key elements that influence this process? Analysis revealed a seven-phase process that explains the stages of meaning making …

Acclimating To The Mayhem: Field Training Officer's Perspectives Of New Police Recruits From A Problem Based Learning Academy, Steven Amey

Wayne State University Dissertations

Field Training Officers (FTO) are the first line of observation when a new police recruit enters the work force from a training academy setting. Interviews into this area of research with FTO’s is minimal at best, specifically if any differences are noticed by FTO’s between problem-based learning trained academy recruits and those that are from a non-problem based learning training academy environment. This research study focuses on the perceptions that FTO’s observed with training new police officers and specifically what was exemplar and what was non-exemplar when it came to observations from FTO’s of new police officers. A qualitative approach …

Faith-Based Mediation In The Pakistan-India Conflict, Sarah Khan

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

Section II of this Note explores the background history of Muslims and Hindus in India, the partition, and some of the most prominent issues that stand in the way of resolution. Section III discusses how religious mediation methods have been, and continue to be, used successfully in the contexts of other countries and conflicts. Section IV proposes that these methods be applied in the Pakistan-India situation to target specific issues facing the two countries, while incorporating the already proposed solutions that are on the table by politicians today.

Pitx1 Regulates Cement Gland Development In Xenopus Laevis Through Activation Of Transcriptional Targets And Inhibition Of Bmp Signaling, Ye Jin, Daniel C. Weinstein

Publications and Research

The cement gland in Xenopus laevis has long been used as a model to study the interplay of cell signaling and transcription factors during embryogenesis. It has been shown that an intermediate level of Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling is essential for cement gland formation. In addition, several transcription factors have been linked to cement gland development. One of these, the homeodomain-containing protein Pitx1, can generate ectopic cement gland formation; however, the mechanisms underlying this process remain obscure. We report here, for the first time, a requirement for Pitx proteins in cement gland formation, in vivo: knockdown of both pitx1 …

Random Ramblings — Alabama Story, Ala, And Intellectual Freedom: The Hidden Secret, Bob Holley

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

If Rumors Were Horses, Katina Strauch

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Booklover — Black And White, Donna Jacobs

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Understanding Bullying In American Schools: Continuing Challenges For Public Policy, Carol P. Mclain

Theses and Dissertations

Bullying is a pernicious problem among youth today with many contextual factors that must be considered when attempting to understand and implement interventions to address it. Despite the attitudes about bullying being a normal part of growing up, numerous studies have found that harmful effects are associated with bullying and victimization, many of which persist into adulthood. The extent of this problem appears to be associated with the absence of effective ways for children, parents, schools, researchers, policymakers, and governments to manage it. This study provides a comprehensive qualitative analysis on a representative sample of U.S. state laws and regulations …

Studying The Phenomenon Of Expressive Arts With Male Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Megan Hogg

Theses and Dissertations

Male childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a traumatic experience that is prevalent, under-reported, and under-treated. CSA leaves males with feelings of shame, low self-esteem, and interpersonal problems, which put them at risk of developing mental health disorders that persist into adulthood. Although expressive arts therapy has been used as a treatment for trauma in children and adolescents, existing literature on the use of expressive arts with adult CSA survivors is limited to female survivors. The current study aims to explore the experiences of male CSA survivors who have participated in expressive arts therapy, including the effects that expressive arts has …

Characteristics Of Global Thai Leaders, William Vaughn

Theses and Dissertations

The global trade across multiple countries has greatly increased in the last few decades. Nationalist organizations are focusing on global trade (Rhinesmith, Williamson, Ehlen, & Maxwell, 1989). China and Japan are the driving forces in Asian global trade; but countries like Thailand are developing their global economies as well. The volume of western based leadership research benefits global businesses entering the U.S. market place compared to Japanese or Chinese culture. The lack of leadership research on Thailand creates challenges for large corporations wanting to outsource or manufacture in Thailand. Large multinational companies can enter Thailand but understanding how the culture …

A Spectrum Of Treatments For Autism Spectrum Disorder, Megan Lawson

Theses and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders with varying severity, presents in early childhood as repetitive or stereotyped behaviors affecting social and emotional functioning, is a complex disorder often misunderstood as a single illness, resulting in suboptimal evaluations and overly-general treatment. However, new research suggests more comprehensive evaluations and targeted treatments. This manual aims to combine the best available research on ASD and attachment to guide practitioners in evaluating and treating children with ASD (a) by clarifying what a comprehensive ASD evaluation looks like, (b) linking assessment results to DSM-5 severity levels, and (c) providing targeted optimal treatment …

Meeting The Challenges Of Massive Open Online Courses In Higher Education, Douglas Scott May

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study is to analyze the impact that Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have had on institutions of higher learning and explore successful strategies implemented by educational leaders in meeting the challenges of these new learning platforms. As online learning has exploded in recent years—with MOOCs representing the latest evolutions of that process—traditional educational methods at brick and mortar colleges and universities have been challenged by the scope and reach of virtual scholarship. With this rapid development of online learning, and MOOCs specifically, educators must learn to adapt and embrace these new cyber-driving educational venues to …

Qualitative Analysis Of Emotion Regulation As Seen In Middle Eastern American Psychotherapy Clients, Jennifer Nehme

Theses and Dissertations

Middle Eastern individuals represent a heterogeneous group comprised of different nationalities, languages, and religious identifications. Yet, Middle Eastern Americans are widely underrepresented in the psychotherapy literature. Extant literature appears to focus on professional opinions about what psychotherapists should do when working with this population, including understanding cultural factors, such as incorporating family in treatment and acculturation status. Considering cultural communication patterns among this population, emotion in generally understood to be inhibited or suppressed, as disclosing personal problems and expressing emotion outside the family sphere can be viewed as disloyal and/or shaming. Thus, one of the many areas mental health clinicians …

The Theory, Process, And Outcomes Of Culturally Adapted Psychotherapy And Psychosocial Interventions, Caitlin Sorenson

Theses and Dissertations

Massive demographic changes have coincided with rise of the importance of evidence-based treatment among the health sciences and widespread awareness of the failure of psychology to address and serve the mental health needs of historically underrepresented groups. Researchers, theorists, and clinicians demand that empirically supported treatments be adapted to better address and better "fit" clinical needs. Based on existing approaches in the literature, this dissertation presents a four-part model of cultural adaptation of psychological interventions and reviews 101 current culturally adapted empirically supported treatments through the lens of this model. The dissertation project comprehensively describes the current state of the …

Shifting Personal Agency During Transition From Military To Civilian Workforce, Sara B. Mcnamara

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined US enlisted veterans' personal agency during their transition from the military to civilian workforce. Veterans currently working in a civilian corporate environment were involved: 41 were surveyed, 10 were interviewed, and 80 supplied comments to the researcher's LinkedIn request for responses. Participants were asked to describe their sense of personal agency and how it evolved over the time period before, during, and after military service. Participants offered slightly varying descriptions of their transition experience. In general, participants experienced low agency before military service, minimal agency at the start of military service that grew over time, and an …

Student Evaluations Of Teaching: Perceptions Of Faculty Knowledge And Their Relation To Learning, Donald L. Gruendler Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The majority of student evaluations of teaching (SET) related studies repeatedly consider matters related to the creation and validity of an assessment tool, as well as the validity, and reliability of SET scores. Not only to determine the usefulness of teaching; but also, the possible sources of student biases related thereto as well (Hofman & Kremer, 1980; Abrami & Mizener, 1983; Tollefson et al., 1989). However, limited research studies have considered SET and their relation to student learning outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify what relationships, if any, exists between the grade undergraduate college students; predict …

Informing Canada’S Commitment To Biodiversity Conservation: A Science-Based Framework To Help Guide Protected Areas Designation Through Target 1 And Beyond, Sarah Joy Bittick

Biology Faculty Works

Biodiversity is intrinsically linked to the health of our planet—and its people. Yet, increasingly, human activities are causing the extinction of species, degrading ecosystems, and reducing nature’s resilience to climate change and other threats. As a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Canada has a legal responsibility to protect 17% of land and freshwater by 2020. Currently, Canada has protected ∼10% of its terrestrial lands, requiring a marked increase in the pace and focus of protection over the next three years. Given the distribution, extent, and geography of Canada’s current protected areas, systematic conservation planning would provide decision-makers with …

Patterns Of Uncertainty In Life-History And Extinction Risk For Arctic Vertebrates, Sarah Joy Bittick

Biology Faculty Works

Conserving Arctic wildlife will be challenging given the ongoing environmental changes in the region. In addition, there is a lack of fundamental biological information for many Arctic species, including a dearth of knowledge surrounding conservation threats and the risk of extinction. In this study, we gather all available data on research effort and life-history traits to assess the current state of scientific knowledge surrounding 389 Arctic vertebrate species. We also quantify patterns of species evaluation by the IUCN Red List, a global database of conservation risk used to measure success and prioritize resources in many conservation programs. We find that …

Delivering On Seafood Traceability Under The New U.S. Import Monitoring Program, Demian A. Willette, Samantha H. Cheng

Biology Faculty Works

The United States is the world’s largest fish importer. Recent reports, however, indicate that 25–30% of wild-caught seafood imported into the US is illegally caught, heightening concerns over the country’s significant role in driving Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. In January 2017, NOAA enacted the Seafood Import Monitoring Program in an effort to combat IUU fishing through mandating improved seafood traceability requirements. This program requires reporting of fisheries data from harvest to arrival at the US border. Given the role of the US as a major global importer of seafood, this regulation could be a transformative action on fisheries …

Reduction In Musca Domestica Fecundity By Dsrna-Mediated Gene Knockdown, Neil D. Sanscrainte, Hanayo Arimoto, Christy M. Waits, Lucy Y. Li, Dana Johnson, Chris Geden, James Becnel, Alden S. Estep

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

House flies (Musca domestica) are worldwide agricultural pests with estimated control costs at $375 million annually in the U.S. Non-target effects and widespread resistance challenge the efficacy of traditional chemical control. Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) has been suggested as a biopesticide for M. domestica but a phenotypic response due to the induction of the RNAi pathway has not been demonstrated in adults. In this study female house flies were injected with dsRNA targeting actin-5C or ribosomal protein (RP) transcripts RPL26 and RPS6. Ovaries showed highly reduced provisioning and clutch reductions of 94±99% in RP dsRNA treated flies but …

Synthesis And Evaluation Of Dual-Acting Ligands For Mu Opioid And Neuropeptide Ff Receptors, Kelsey Gabrielle Mcpherson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pain, although subjective, is an unpleasant sensation caused by a noxious stimulus, that effects millions of people every year. Currently, the most frequently prescribed class of analgesics for moderate to severe acute and sometime chronic pain are opioid analgesics, most commonly ?-opioid receptor (MOP) agonists, such as oxycodone, morphine, and fentanyl. Although these drugs provide significant pain relief, they are also associated with unwelcome side effects such as constipation, addiction, physical dependence, respiratory depression, and physiological tolerance that leads to hyperalgesia. Receptor desensitization due to excessive receptor activation by an agonist is but one source of physiological tolerance; it can …