Digital Commons Network^™

Quelling The Silver Tsunami: Compassionate Release Of Elderly Offenders, Jalila Jefferson-Bullock

Law Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Resolving Legal Claims Between The United States And Cuba: Applying International Law Where Diplomacy Alone Falls Short, Joyce Rodriguez

South Carolina Journal of International Law and Business

No abstract provided.

Sphingomyelin And Gm1 Influence Huntingtin Binding To, Disruption Of, And Aggregation On Lipid Membranes, Maxmore Chaibva, Xiang Gao, Pranav Jain, Warren A. Campbell, Shelli L. Frey, Justin Legleiter

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Huntington disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion beyond a critical threshold of a polyglutamine (polyQ) tract near the N- terminus of the huntingtin (htt) protein. Expanded polyQ promotes the formation of a variety of oligomeric and fibrillar aggregates of htt that accumulate into the hallmark proteina- ceous inclusion bodies associated with HD. htt is also highly associated with numerous cellular and subcellular membranes that contain a variety of lipids. As lipid homeostasis and metabolism abnormalities are observed in HD patients, we investigated how varying both the sphingomyelin (SM) and ganglioside (GM1) contents modifies the interactions …

Isolation And Characterization Of Stem Cell Population In Human Proximal Tubule Cells And The Effect Of Cadmium In The Isolated Proximal Tubule Stem/Progenitor Cell Line., Swojani Shrestha

Theses and Dissertations

The proximal tubules of the kidney are target sites of injury by various toxicants. Cadmium (Cd2+), an environmental nephrotoxicant can cause adverse effects and overt renal damage. To decipher the mechanisms involved in nephrotoxicity, an in-vitro model system is required. Mortal cultures of human proximal tubule (HPT) cells isolated from the renal cortex are used as models, but are difficult to acquire and have limited passage number. The immortalized HK-2 cell line, has served as a model but it lacks vectorial active transport and shows signs of lost epithelial features. Recently a new proximal tubule cell line, the RPTEC/TERT1, was …

Effects Of Early Cadmium And Selenium Exposure On Zebrafish Neural Development And Behavior, Marissa Wold

Theses and Dissertations

Cadmium is a naturally-occurring trace metal frequently found in soil that has been linked with increased prevalence of various cancers via formation of reactive oxygen species. Selenium, a widely-prevalent metalloid, antagonizes the detrimental action of cadmium and has been demonstrated to exert a rescue effect. The present work focuses on the short- and long-term effects of exposure to ecologically-relevant cadmium concentrations on zebrafish development and behavior, and compares this to co-treatment with selenium. This study has demonstrated a decrease in overall brain size, specifically telencephalic area, in response to cadmium exposure, and has documented a sparing effect of selenium treatment. …

Quantifying Extravehicular Activity Performance Degradation Due To Sustenance Deprivation, Eryn Beisner

Theses and Dissertations

Modern EVAs (spacewalks) performed onboard the International Space Station require astronauts to endure up to twelve hours of intense mental and physical exertion without food, as they do not stop to eat nor do they currently have the capabilities to consume sustenance in their spacesuits. With the future of space exploration taking aim at the Moon, Mars, and beyond, EVAs are expected to become more demanding than ever. This is a pilot study to attempt to quantify astronaut performance during an EVA to determine if there is significant performance degradation because of acute starvation. Astronauts conducting EVA training at NASA’s …

A Cmip5 Ensemble Assessment Of Durum Wheat Production & Climate Change In North Dakota, Usa, Timothy Douglas Hochstetler Dillon

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States (US), North Dakota is the largest producer of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum), hereinafter referred to as Durum. Durum grain has a high protein content and multiple utilities in food products. We investigated the historical trends in Durum production and yield as influenced by changes in precipitation (precip) and temperature (temp). The study accounted for variations in environmental conditions by running a dynamic crop model in thirteen Durum producing counties.

The climate of North Dakota is representative of the highly productive agricultural lands of the Northern Great Plains, encompassing five US states and two Canadian provinces. The …

Parting A Read Sea Of Images: An Exploration Of Field Dependent-Independent Responses To Minimalist, Pictographic And Infographic Data Displays, Debra Kaye Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations

Western society reflects an “eikoncentric era” when contemporary instruction has become image -centered. Textbooks, journals, popular media as well as computer-based and web- based instructional media are filled by pictures that are intended to accomplish learning. Imagery is widely believed to represent an efficient, understandable method for relaying information and clarifying instruction for nearly all learners. However, those who subscribe to the adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” often fail to acknowledge individual differences in visual comprehension and cognition. The field dependent-independent (FDI) cognitive style describes individual learner differences that can thwart visual learning. Information graphics are among …

Trpc1-Mediated Ca2+ Entry Regulates Metabolism By Modulating Adipose Differentiation, Autophagy, And Adiponectin Secretion, Anne Schaar

Theses and Dissertations

A multitude of organs play a critical role in managing metabolism including the liver, pancreas, gut, brain, muscle, and adipose tissue. Abnormal function in any one of these can offset the metabolic balance and negatively affect whole body function thereby contributing to the development of metabolic complications and obesity. Although no single metabolic abnormality is responsible for obesity, understanding how normal cellular processes are regulated provides us with knowledge to reverse them during times of dysfunction. The main focus of this dissertation is on the regulation of adipose tissue due to its dual role of storing excess lipids and endocrine …

Thermoresponsive, Redox-Polymerized Cellulosic Hydrogels Undergo In Situ Gelation And Restore Intervertebral Disc Biomechanics Post Discectomy, Devika Varma, H. A. Lin, R. G. Long, G. T. Gold, A. C. Hecht, J. C. Iadridis, Steven B. Nicoll

Publications and Research

Back and neck pain are commonly associated with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Structural augmentation of diseased nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue with biomaterials could restore degeneration-related IVD height loss and degraded biomechanical behaviors; however, effective NP replacement biomaterials are not commercially available. This study developed a novel, crosslinked, dual-polymer network (DPN) hydrogel comprised of methacrylated carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and methylcellulose (MC), and used in vitro, in situ and in vivo testing to assess its efficacy as an injectable, in situ gelling, biocompatible material that matches native NP properties and restores IVD biomechanical behaviors. Thermogelling MC was required to enable consistent and timely …

Altered Spring Phenology Of North American Freshwater Turtles And The Importance Of Representative Populations, Fredric J. Janzen, Luke A. Hoekstra, Ronald J. Brooks, David M. Carroll, J Whitfield Gibbons, Judith L. Greene, John B. Iverson, Jacqueline D. Litzgus, Edwin D. Michael, Steven G. Parren, Willem M. Roosenburg, Gabriel F. Strain, John K. Tucker, Gordon R. Ultsch

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Globally, populations of diverse taxa have altered phenology in response to climate change. However, most research has focused on a single population of a given taxon, which may be unrepresentative for comparative analyses, and few long-term studies of phenology in ectothermic amniotes have been published. We test for climate- altered phenology using long-term studies (10–36 years) of nesting behavior in 14 populations representing six genera of freshwater turtles (Chelydra, Chrysemys, Kinosternon, Malaclemys, Sternotherus, and Trachemys). Nesting season initiation oc- curs earlier in more recent years, with 11 of the populations advancing phenology. The onset of nesting for nearly all populations …

Characterization Of Worm-Eating Warbler (Helmitheros Vermivorum) Breeding Habitat At The Landscape Level And Nest Scale, Patrick J. Ruhl, Kenneth F. Kellner, Jameson M. Pierce, Jeffrey K. Riegel, Robert K. Swihart, Mike R. Saunders, John B. Dunning Jr

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum) is typically described as a mature forest species requiring moderate to steep slopes and dense understory vegetation for breeding. However, nesting microhabitat characteristics vary regionally. Given the extensive variation in landscape topography, forest composition, and habitat structure across the breeding range, identification of important local landscape features and microhabitat characteristics is needed to formulate and implement improved conservation actions for the species. We characterized important habitat associations at two distinct scales (the landscape scale and the nest scale) to provide a detailed description of Worm-eating Warbler breeding habitat requirements in southern Indiana. Results from our …

Hon 1290 : Honors Exploration Seminar, Honors College

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Toward A Sociology Of Forensic Knowledge? A (Supplementary) Response To Cole, David S. Caudill

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

The National Commission On Forensic Science: Impactful Or Ineffectual?, Jules Epstein

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Bio 3080g : Behavior Of Domestic Animals And Their Wild Kin, Biological Sciences

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Institutionalizing Resilience In Us Universities: Prospects, Opportunities, And Models, Morris Foster, James O'Donnell, Mark Luckenbach, Elizabeth Andrews, Emily Steinhilber, John Wells, Mark Davis

ODU Articles

[From Introduction]

The United States is taking a largely region-specific approach to addressing challenges posed by climate change, in contrast with national and international approaches in most of the rest of the world. In locations such as Hampton Roads, New Orleans, and coastal Connecticut, the impacts of climate change tend to be addressed as they become locally evident rather than as part of a larger anticipatory national plan. Given that regional focus, universities can play a unique role in how the United States responds to the challenges of a changing climate. Universities can be knowledge brokers positioned outside or across …

Repairing The Leaky Pipeline: A Motivationally Supportive Intervention To Enhance Persistence In Undergraduate Science Pathways, Lisa Linnenbrink-Garcia, Tony Perez, Michael M. Barger, Stephanie V. Wormington, Elizabeth Godin, Kate E. Snyder, Kristy Robinson, Abdhi Sakar, Laura S. Richman, Rochelle Schwartz-Bloom

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The current study reports on the efficacy of a multi-faceted motivationally designed undergraduate enrichment summer program for supporting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) persistence. Structural equation modeling was used to compare summer program participants (n = 186), who participated in the program between their first and second years in college, to a propensity score matched comparison sample (n = 401). Participation in the summer program positively predicted science motivation (self-efficacy, task value), assessed eight months after the end of the program (second year in college). The summer enrichment program was also beneficial for science persistence variables, as …

Takayasu Arteritis: An Update, Gökhan Keser, Kenan Aksu, Rafi̇ Haner Di̇reskeneli̇

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a challenging chronic, granulomatous, large-vessel systemic vasculitis, mostly due to difficulties in early diagnosis and assessing actual disease activity. Since there are no specific diagnostic laboratory tests, biomarkers, or autoantibodies, many patients experience considerable delay in diagnosis. Remembering the possibility of TAK together with the use of acute phase responses and appropriate imaging studies may be helpful for early diagnosis. Since there may be discrepancies between systemic and vascular wall inflammation, using only acute phase responses is not reliable in assessing current disease activity. Therefore, physical examination and new imaging findings should also be used to …

Immunohistochemical Localization Of Podoplanin In The Placentas Of Hiv-Positivepreeclamptic Women, Onankoy Onyangunga, Jagidesda Moodley, Frederick Odun-Ayo, Thajasvarie Naicker

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Impaired lymphatic function is associated with pathological conditions. The presence of placental lymphatics is still under debate. This study evaluates the placental podoplanin expression in normotensive and preeclamptic women with and without HIV. Materials and methods: Normotensive (n = 60) and preeclamptic (n = 120) pregnant women were stratified into early and late onset preeclampsia and further divided by HIV status. Immunostaining was performed using the podoplanin antibody prior to the morphometric image analysis. Results: Podoplanin was immunolocalized in a reticular-like stroma complex within the exchange and conducting villi. The immunoexpression of podoplanin was significantly upregulated in the exchange …

Clinicopathological Characteristics And Mutation Profile Of Braf And Nras Mutation Incutaneous Melanomas In The Western Turkish Population, Mustafa Kürşat Evrenos, Peyker Temi̇z, Fethi̇ Sirri Çam, Murat Yaman, Levent Yoleri̇, Ayli̇n Türel Ermertcan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Malignant melanoma is the most common cause of death due to skin cancers. The most common mutations in RAFRAS pathway from tumor oncogenes are BRAF and NRAS. In this study, we analyzed the frequency of BRAF and NRAS gene mutations and investigated their association with clinicopathological features of melanomas in the Turkish population. Materials and methods: 65 primary cutaneous melanoma were included in the study. The mutations were evaluated with real-time PCRbased PCR-array through allele-specific amplification, and the results were correlated with various clinicopathological characteristics. Results: 52.3% of the patients were female and 47.7% were male. The mean age …

Determining The Effect Of Long-Term Dexamethasone And Prednisolone Treatment Onsugammadex, Ebru Bi̇ri̇ci̇k, Ersel Güleç, Işil Öcal, Mehmet Bertan Yilmaz, Feri̇de Karacaer, Di̇lek Özcengi̇z

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: We aimed to investigate the effect of long-term use of dexamethasone and prednisolone on the reversal effect of sugammadex. Materials and methods: TTwenty-four male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups. Dexamethasone (600 µg/kg) was given to group D, prednisolone (10 mg/kg) was given to group P, and an equivalent volume of saline per day was administered intraperitoneally to group S for 14 days, respectively. The left hemidiaphragm with attached phrenic nerve was maintained in Krebs solution. Sugammadex (30 µmol/L) was applied while rocuronium (10 µmol/L) was present in an organ bath and a single twitch was obtained. …

Workplace Contextual Supports For Lgbt Employees: A Review, Meta‐Analysis, And Agenda For Future Research, Jennica R. Webster, Gary A. Adams, Cheryl Maranto, Katina Sawyer, Christian Thoroughgood

Management Faculty Research and Publications

The past decade has witnessed a rise in the visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. This has resulted in some organizational researchers focusing their attention on workplace issues facing LGBT employees. While empirical research has been appropriately focused on examining the impact of workplace factors on the work lives of LGBT individuals, no research has examined these empirical relationships cumulatively. The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive review and meta‐analysis of the outcomes associated with three workplace contextual supports (formal LGBT policies and practices, LGBT‐supportive climate, and supportive workplace relationships) and to compare …

Considerations Regarding The Digestive Development Of The Premature Neonate, Gretchen Clavey

A with Honors Projects

For most parents, adjusting to life with a typical newborn revolves around two main priorities: getting the baby sufficiently fed and watching for tell-tale signs of adequate digestion. Usually this does not involve much consideration for what is going on between the two ends of the digestive system. However, if the infant is born prematurely or needs to spend the start of life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), they find themselves thrust into a foreign world where life revolves around the baby’s fluid intake & output, oxygen saturations and heart rate. At this point, a conversation about the …

Yde And Olive, Mounawar Abbouchi

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

State Imperiled Species Legislation, Robert L. Fischman, Vicky J. Meretsky, Willem Drews, Katlin Stephani, Jennifer Teson

Articles by Maurer Faculty

State wildlife conservation programs are essential to accomplishing the national goal of extinction prevention. By virtue of their constitutional powers, their expertise, and their on-the-ground personnel, states could—in theory—accomplish far more than the federal agencies directly responsible for implementing the Endangered Species Act (ESA). States plausibly argue that they can catalyze collaborative conservation that brings together key stakeholders to improve conditions for imperiled species. Bills to revise the ESA seek to delegate greater authority to states. We evaluated states’ imperiled species legislation to determine their legal capacity to employ the key regulatory tools that prompt collaborative conservation. All but four …

Empirical Environmental Scholarship, Robert L. Fischman, Lydia Barbash-Riley

Articles by Maurer Faculty

The most important development in legal scholarship over the past quarter century has been the rise of empirical research. Drawing upon the traditions of legal realism and the law and economics movement, a variety of social science techniques have delivered fresh perspectives and punctured false claims. But environmental law has been slow to adopt empirical tools, and our findings indicate that it lags behind other fields. There are several clear benefits from an empirical agenda to explore how to make environmental law more effective. But no previous article has applied the lessons from empirical scholarship in other fields to environmental …

Nanopulse Stimulation (Nps) Induces Tumor Ablation And Immunity In Orthotopic 4t1 Mouse Breast Cancer: A Review, Stephen J. Beebe, Brittany P. Lassiter, Siqi Guo

Bioelectrics Publications

Nanopulse Stimulation (NPS) eliminates mouse and rat tumor types in several different animal models. NPS induces protective, vaccine-like effects after ablation of orthotopic rat N1-S1 hepatocellular carcinoma. Here we review some general concepts of NPS in the context of studies with mouse metastatic 4T1 mammary cancer showing that the postablation, vaccine-like effect is initiated by dynamic, multilayered immune mechanisms. NPS eliminates primary 4T1 tumors by inducing immunogenic, caspase-independent programmed cell death (PCD). With lower electric fields, like those peripheral to the primary treatment zone, NPS can activate dendritic cells (DCs). The activation of DCs by dead/dying cells leads to increases …

Bio 3988 : Evolutionary Medicine, Biological Sciences

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

"Because Of Sex", Jack B. Harrison

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

Many Americans currently believe that federal law prohibits discrimination because of sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace. While it is true that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”) prohibits employers from discriminating because of an employee’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, courts and legislators have historically been slow to extend these protections to LGBT workers. The result of this reluctance is that LGBT employees remain largely unprotected under an unpredictable patchwork of laws and policies, consisting of presidential executive orders, private employer initiatives, city and county ordinances, gubernatorial executive orders, and …