Digital Commons Network^™

Electrochemical Separation Of Multivalent Species On A Liquid Bismuth Cathode In Licl-Kcl Eutectic For Used Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing, Michael Woods

Theses and Dissertations

The presence of group I/II fission products (Cs-137, Sr-90, and Ba-137) within molten salt nuclear processes degrades operational efficiencies by contributing to increased radiation levels in the case of material handling processes or to loss of criticality in the case of a reactor. While methods such as zone freezing and ion exchange have been proven for the separation of these fission products in LiCl-KCl salts, they require extra equipment and processing steps. Addition of a liquid metal electrode to molten salt media, such as the electrorefiner of a pyroprocessing scheme or the salt cleaning stage of a molten salt fast …

Testing For Cryptic Diversity And Inference Of Population Structure In The Cosmopolitan Hoplonemertean Emplectonema Gracile (Nemertea), Paul L. Delaney Iv

Theses and Dissertations

Emplectonema gracile (Johnston 1837) is a hoplonemertean of marine intertidal hard-bottom communities and is distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Although possessing a planktonic larval stage in its life history, the range of such cosmopolitan marine invertebrate species is often explained by cryptic speciation and anthropogenic transport. The purpose of this study is to test for possible cryptic species using mtDNA markers (COI and 16S rDNA) and to investigate population structure in E. gracile over a portion of its geographic range using mtDNA markers and ddRADseq nuclear SNP data. The results of both phylogenetic- and tree-based species delimitation revealed that E. …

Pharmacological Assessment Of Adjuncts To Enhance Mu-Opioid Receptor Agonist Antinociception In Male Rhesus Monkeys: Does One + One = Three?, Jeremy Cornelissen

Theses and Dissertations

Mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists are effective agents for pain management, but are also limited by a number of undesirable effects. One approach to enhance the therapeutic effects and minimize the undesirable effects of MOR agonists may be to combine MOR agonists with an adjunct targeting a different receptor system. This targeted medical approach, known as “combination therapy”, aims to augment the desired effects of the MOR agonist (i.e. antinociception) and/or diminish the undesirable deleterious side effects of the MOR agonist. This dissertation investigated the utility of this approach in an assay of thermal nociception and schedule-controlled responding in male rhesus …

Examining Sleep And Family Functioning In Pediatric Craniopharyngioma Using Ecological Momentary Assessment, Nour Al Ghriwati

Theses and Dissertations

Craniopharyngiomas are among the most common brain tumors in children and are associated with greater rates of sleep problems compared to other pediatric cancers. However, research examining sleep among youth with craniopharyngioma has been limited by a reliance on retrospective reports or sleep studies. Families also play a crucial role in children’s adjustment following a pediatric cancer diagnosis, yet remarkably little is known about transactional associations between family functioning and sleep in pediatric cancer. This study examined cross-sectional and daily associations among family functioning, affect, and sleep difficulties for youth with pediatric craniopharyngioma using retrospective reports and ecological momentary assessment …

Molecular Pharmacology Of Non-Phyto-Cannabinoid Approaches For Treatment Of Neuropathic Pain, Nadejda A. Blajkevich

Theses and Dissertations

Approximately twenty million people in United States have some form of peripheral neuropathy. It has been shown that the CB₂ cannabinoid receptor is upregulated when there is peripheral nerve injury and activating the CB₂ receptor produces anti-inflammatory effects that translate to a reduction in signs of “neuropathic pain” in animal models. Elevating endogenous cannabinoids by inhibiting degradative enzymes has also been used to reduce neuropathic pain signs in laboratory animal models of pain. We hypothesize that the molecular pharmacology of these two approaches can be leveraged to optimize CB₁/CB₂ activation to improve non-phyto-cannabinoid treatments for …

The Effect Of Quercetin In Periodontal Inflammation, Sara Holden

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To determine the effect of Quercetin, a plant based over the counter flavonoid, on periodontal inflammation in a murine model of periodontitis.

Methods: Periodontitis was induced in age and gender matched mice (C57BL/6) using ligatures on the left side of the maxilla and right side was left un-ligated as baseline control. The animals received daily Quercetin gavage or Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) starting 5 days prior to ligation which continued throughout the experimental protocol. Micro-computed tomography (micro CT) imaging was used to determine alveolar bone loss. Real Time quantitative (qRT) PCR was used to determine level of gingival tissue …

Microscale Direct Measurement Of Localized Photothermal Heating In Tissue-Mimetic Hydrogels, Benyamin Davaji, James E. Richie, Chung-Hoon Lee

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Photothermal hyperthermia is proven to be an effective diagnostic tool for cancer therapy. The efficacy of this method directly relies on understanding the localization of the photothermal effect in the targeted region. Realizing the safe and effective concentration of nano-particles and the irradiation intensity and time requires spatiotemporal temperature monitoring during and after laser irradiation. Due to uniformities of the nanoparticle distribution and the complexities of the microenvironment, a direct temperature measurement in micro-scale is crucial for achieving precise thermal dose control. In this study, a 50 nm thin film nickel resistive temperature sensor was fabricated on a 300 nm …

Reviewers' Responses To Medical Research Articles, Saba Sohail, Jamshed Akhtar

Department of Radiology

Objective: To document the reviewers' responses in terms of reviewers' demographic and professional characteristics, promptness of reply, and duration of reply to the request to review medical research articles for a general biomedical research journal.
Study design: Cross-sectional, observational study.
Place and duration of study: Department of Publications, College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP), from October to December 2015.
Methodology: Peer reviewed articles edited by a single staff editor were included. Editorials and correspondence were excluded. Manuscript category, discipline, and the total number of reviewers per manuscript were noted. Responses were divided into no response, regrets, and responded, i.e. …

Leveling Down Gender Equality, Tracy Thomas

Con Law Center Articles and Publications

The U.S. Supreme Court recently revived its jurisprudence of “leveling down,” that is, curing an equal protection violation of gender discrimination by denying the requested benefit to all rather than extending the benefit to the excluded class. This article challenges the continuation of the conventional acceptance of leveling down as an equally legitimate remedial option for gender discrimination. Instead, it argues for the adoption of an alternative remedial calculus of a strong presumption of leveling up remedies, overcome only by limited equitable considerations. Such a presumption better effectuates the substantive right of gender equality, as well as the correlative due …

Efficacy Of A Mixture Of Neem Seed Oil (Azadirachta Indica) And Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera) For Topical Treatment Of Tungiasis. A Randomized Controlled, Proof-Of-Principle Study, Lynne Elson, Kithi Randu, Hermann Feldmeier, Ulrike Fillinger

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background Tungiasis is a neglected tropical skin disease caused by the female sand flea (Tunga penetrans), which burrows into the skin causing intense pain, itching and debilitation. People in endemic countries do not have access to an effective and safe home treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a traditionally used and readily available mixture of neem and coconut oil for treatment of tungiasis in coastal Kenya. Methodology Ninety-six children aged 6-14 years with at least one embedded viable flea were randomized to be treated with either a mixture of 20% neem (Azadirachta indica) seed …

Description Of Eniacomorpha Hermetiae Delvare Sp. N. (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Chalcididae) A Pupal Parasitoid Of Hermetia Illucens (L.) (Diptera, Stratiomyidae), And A Potential Threat To Mass Production Of The Fly As A Feed Supplement For Domestic Animals, Gérard Delvare, Robert S. Copeland, Chrysantus M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Eniacomorpha hermetiae Delvare sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae, Dirhininae), reared from pupae of black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera, Stratiomyidae), is described and illustrated from Africa and compared with other similar species newly considered as forming the ehrhorni species-group within Eniacomorpha Girault, 1915. The newly described parasitic wasp may have a negative impact on efforts to mass produce BSF in Africa as a feed supplement for domestic animals. Eniacomorpha is removed from synonymy under Dirhinus Dalman, 1818, revised status, for the Afrotropical species of Dirhininae previously placed in Dirhinus subgenus Pareniaca Crawford, 1913. A checklist of the 10 …

Sampling Adult Populations Of Anopheles Mosquitoes, Julie Anne A. Tangena, Alexandra Hiscox, Paul T. Brey

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

For the control and elimination of malaria, information on the local vector dynamics is essential. This information provides guidance on appropriate and timely deployment of vector control tools and their subsequent success. The data on the dynamics of local mosquito populations can be collected using many different Anopheles sampling methods. Dependent on the objectives, resources, time, and local environment, different traps and methods can be chosen. This chapter describes the sampling of adult populations, focusing on the important preparatory stages and some of the widely used sampling methods. The trapping methods discussed in this chapter are the human landing catch, …

Perception And Awareness Of Insects As An Alternative Protein Source Among Fish Farmers And Fish Feed Traders, G. Ssepuuya, C. Sebatta, E. Sikahwa, P. Fuuna, M. Sengendo, J. Mugisha, K. K.M. Fiaboe, D. Nakimbugwe

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The perception of key players in the fish farming sector towards the use of insects is important for their acceptance to adopt insects as an alternative protein source to the expensive fish meal. Perception was established through a cross-sectional study of 208 fish farmers and 71 fish feed traders and/or processors conducted in Gulu, Tororo and Masaka districts in Uganda, using descriptive, Chi-square, correlation and factor statistical analysis of the data collected. Males dominated the fish farming and fish feed trading and/or processing enterprises. Youths were involved to almost the same extent as adults. Fish farmers majorly practiced pond fish …

Lipoprotein Sub-Fractions By Ion-Mobility Analysis And Its Association With Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis In High-Risk Individuals, Emeka Osondu, Theodore Feldman, Emir Veledar

All Publications

AIMS:

There is limited knowledge about the association of lipoprotein particles and markers of coronary atherosclerosis such as coronary artery calcification (CAC) in relatively young high-risk persons. This study examines the association of lipoprotein subfractions and CAC in high cardiometabolic risk individuals.

METHODS:

The study presents analysis from baseline data of a randomized trial targeted at high-risk workers. Employees of Baptist Health South Florida with metabolic syndrome or diabetes were recruited. At baseline, all 182 participants had lipoprotein subfraction analysis using the ion mobility technique and participants above 35 years (N=170) had CAC test done. Principal components (PC) were computed …

An Analysis Of Writer's Block: Causes, Characteristics, And Solutions, Sarah J. Ahmed

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous research suggests that writer’s block can have multiple causes and occur at any part of the writing process (Boice, 1985; Flaherty, 2015; Kaufman & Kaufman, 2013). A survey was distributed to a sample of 146 writers with experience in a variety of fiction and nonfiction genres. Research objectives concerning the causes and characteristics of writer’s block were investigated using mixed-method, qualitative and quantitative analyses. Effective solutions provided by writers were presented and described. Blocks with physiological and motivational components were the most frequently reported in general and were found to interfere with the composition process more than the creative …

Towards An Ontology For Soft Robots: What Is Soft?, Kevin Chubb, Damon Berry, Ted Burke

Articles

The advent of soft robotics represents a profound change in the forms robots will take in the future. However, this revolutionary change has already yielded such a diverse collection of robots that attempts at defining this group do not reflect many existing ‘soft’ robots. This paper aims to address this issue by scrutinising a number of descriptions of soft robots arising from a literature review with the intention of determining a coherent meaning for soft. We also present a classification of existing soft robots to initiate the development of a soft robotic ontology. Finally, discrepancies in prescribed ranges of Young’s …

Creating A Culture Of Wellness: A Call To Action For Higher Education, Igniting Change In Academic Institutions, Megan Amaya, Teresa Donegan, Debbie Conner, Julie Edwards, Christy Gipson

All Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Background: Due to the continued rise of chronic conditions and unhealthy lifestyle choices, more innovative and evidence-based practices are needed for students, faculty and staff to improve population health outcomes and enhance overall well-being. Aim: The purpose of this paper is to inform academic health promotion professionals of key strategies to consider in order to create cultures of wellness on their college campuses. Methods: A review of the existing literature was conducted. Results: The most current evidence-based practices to create a culture of wellness are discussed. Conclusions: Institutions of higher education have an opportunity to create campus cultures that foster …

Visceral Adipose Tissue Modulates Radiosensitivity In Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma, Ann Marie Mongan, Niamh Lynam-Lennon, Suzanne Doyle, Rory Casey, Eibhlin Carr, Aoife Cannon, Melissa J Conroy, Graham P Pidgeon, Lorraine Brennan, Joanne Lysaght, John V. Reynolds, Jacintha O’Sullivan

Articles

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) is an exemplar model of obesity-associated cancer. Response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NA CRT) is a clinical challenge. We examined if visceral adipose tissue and obesity status alter radiosensitivity in OAC. The radioresistant (OE33R) and radioresponsive (OE33P) OAC isogenic model was cultured with adipose tissue conditioned media from three patient cohorts: non-cancer patients, surgery only OAC patients and NA CRT OAC patients. Cell survival was characterised by clonogenic assay, metabolomic profiling by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and adipokine receptor gene expression by qPCR. A retrospective in vivo study compared tumour response to NA CRT in normal weight (n=53) …

Spotted Lanternfly [Lycorma Delicatula (White)], Lori R. Spears, Ann Mull

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes spotted lanternfly, an invasive planthopper that is native to China and first detected in the U.S. in 2014. It includes information on plant hosts, damage symptoms, life history, monitoring, and management,

Greater Sage-Grouse Translocations: The Science Behind Utah's Conservation Policy, Michel Kohl, Melissa Chelak, Terry Messmer

All Current Publications

This fact sheet discusses the history of translocating greater sage-grouse in Utah. This includes information on protocols, success rates, and genetic implications.

Spring/Summer 2019

University of Richmond Magazine

No abstract provided.

Autumn 2019

University of Richmond Magazine

No abstract provided.

Endolysosome Dysfunction And Inter-Organellar Signalling: An 'Iron-Ic' Story, Peter Halcrow

Theses and Dissertations

Endosomes and lysosomes (endolysosomes) are acidic organelles that are important both physiologically and pathologically. Implicated in the physiological and pathophysiological processes regulated by endolysosomes are readily releasable stores of cations including ferrous iron (Fe2+); an essential cofactor for the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In determining the extent to which and mechanisms by which Fe2+ released from endolysosomes affects cellular functions it was important to determine levels of Fe2+ in endolysosomes. In some cells and by other researchers, FeRhoNox-1 was found to detect Fe2+ in acidic organelles known as Golgi. Here, using U87MG astrocytoma cells and primary cultures of …

The Relationship Of Physical Activity And Perceived Fatigue In Men Receiving External Beam Radiation Therapy For Non-Metastatic Prostate Cancer, Timothy Charles Flory Fuss

Theses and Dissertations

Nature of the Problem/Study

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in the United States, with 2.9 million men diagnosed with prostate cancer alive today (American Cancer Society, 2017). Given the rate of survival and substantial number of men living with prostate cancer, addressing symptoms and quality of life in these men is increasingly important.

Fatigue is reported to be the most distressing side effect of radiation therapy (RT), negatively effecting physical function and quality of life (Minton et al., 2013). Finding measures to predict, treat and help prevent fatigue can improve long term outcomes in cancer …

Relationships Between Sibling Physical Abuse And Lifetime Aggression Using Statistical Controls For Poly-Victimization, Ani Celine Mangold

Theses and Dissertations

Sibling abuse, as a potential contributor to lifetime aggression, is under-represented in the childhood maltreatment literature and minimized in American society. A contemporary survey study conducted using a large college sample (King et al., 2017) established significant relationships between sibling abuse (i.e., acts of physical abuse, threats of violence, and heated verbal conflict) and a range of lifetime aggression indicators after controlling for variance attributable to physical, sexual, intimate partner, and peer abuse. The present study examined sibling physical abuse and established these same relationships using a national sample after controlling for variance due to childhood physical abuse, observed violence …

Innovation Of Petrophysical And Geomechanical Experiment Methodologies: The Application Of 3d Printing Technology, Lingyun Kong

Theses and Dissertations

The petrophysical and geomechanical properties of rocks link the geology origin with engineering practice, which serves as the fundamental of various disciplinaries associated with subsurface porous media, including civil engineering, underground water, geological exploration, and petroleum engineering. The research methodologies can be mainly divided into three aspects: theoretical modelling, numerical simulation, and experiments, in which the last approach plays a critical role that can support, validate, calibrate, or even refute a hypothesis. Only replying on repeatable trials and consolidate analysis of precise results can the experiments be successful and convincing, though uncertainties, due to multiple factors, need to be scrutinized …

Expectations And Challenges Of Non-Native University Writers At The Outset Of Discipline-Specific Study, K. James Hartshorn, Norman W. Evans

Faculty Publications

Little is known about how best to prepare non-native students matriculated at universities in the United States to succeed in discipline-specific writing. Whilesome studies have suggested differences in the types and volumes of writing across disciplines, such studies have compared very few disciplines simultaneously and have not always examined the disciplines most commonly studied by international students. Thus, this study seeks to fill an important gap in the literature by examining the perspectives of university professors regarding their expectations and purposes for student writing as well as their observations about the greatest writing challenges their students face within five of …

Assessing The Robustness Of Time-To-Event Abundance Estimation, Kenneth E. Loonam

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Abundance estimates can inform management policies and are used to address a variety of wildlife research questions, but reliable estimates of abundance can be difficult and expensive to obtain. For low-density, difficult to detect species, such as cougars (Puma concolor), the costs and intensive field effort required to estimate abundance can make working at broad spatial and temporal scales impractical. Remote cameras have proven effective in detecting these species, but the widely applied methods of estimating abundance from remote cameras rely on some portion of the population being marked or uniquely identifiable, limiting their utility to populations with naturally occurring …

Constructing Distance, Responsibility, And Memory Management Theories: An Anthropological Approach To Death Notification Interactions, Teresa Ann 'Lilly' White

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Following a sudden or unexpected death, coroners often communicate the death to the next-of-kin. Death notifications may occur in hospitals, assisted living or dying facilities, homes, offices or workplaces, correctional facilities, schools, or other locations. A death notification has been perceived by outsiders and many researchers as a one-time, unilateral death-telling event. I argue, instead, death notifications are a series of social interactions and processes necessitating multiple actors and mechanisms. The death notification processes begin for the coroner when they are dispatched to a death scene, while the processes begin for the next-of-kin upon the death-telling event. The end is …

Environmental Law. Disrupted, David Takacs

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.