Digital Commons Network^™

Integration Of Cone Photoreceptor Signals In Macaque Lgn Neurons, Paul B. Brown

All ETDs from UAB

Despite advances in the understanding of the primate visual system, much is yet to be learned about the way light signals sum to create our perception of the world. This is especially true at the simplest level of visual processing—the summation of two individual cone photoreceptor signals. How such signals combine to create visual perception has not been assessed in vivo. We used an adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope (AOSLO) to deliver binarized noise movies to identified groups of cones within the receptive fields of neurons in the macaque lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). Recordings of neural action potentials within the …

The Impact Of Redox Stress In Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1, Brianna Buchalski

All ETDs from UAB

Primary Hyperoxaluria (PH) is a family of three inborn errors of glyoxylate metabolism resulting in endogenous oxalate overproduction. PH1 is the most common and most severe form of the disorder when compared to PH2 and PH3. PH1 can result in systemic oxalosis or end stage renal disease, and there is currently no cure for this disorder. The only curative treatment is combined liver/kidney transplant. The difficulty in defining a cure for the disorder arises from poor knowledge of the sources of endogenous oxalate and a lack of understanding in the underlying pathophysiology of the disorder. For these reasons, we have …

Receptor Sialylation By St6gal-I Promotes Tumor Progression By Enhancing Tumor Cell Survival And Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition, Colleen Maeve Britain

All ETDs from UAB

The upregulation of a certain subset of glycosyltransferases was an early marker for cancer development. Specifically, ST6Gal-I, which adds an α2-6 linked sialic acid to N-glycans on proteins bound for the plasma membrane or secretion, is selectively upregulated upon malignant transformation. Our laboratory has shown that ST6Gal-I is implicated in many facets of tumor biology and is an important mediator of tumorigenesis. For example, ST6Gal-I activity promotes the survival of cells when challenged with hypoxia, FasL, or TNFα, confers resistance to chemotherapeutics, enhances tumor cell migration and invasion, and fosters a cancer stem cell phenotype. The work presented in this …

Context Fear Memory Formation Is Regulated By Hippocampal Lncrna-Mediated Histone Methylation Changes, Anderson Alan Butler

All ETDs from UAB

The post-translational modification of histones regulates gene expression and is critical for the formation and maintenance of hippocampus-dependent long-term memories. Changes in gene-specific expression of various epigenetic marks during the aging pro-cess are sufficiently consistent as to be used as an aging landmark or epigenetic clock in both humans and other species; however, the molecular mechanisms which govern the application of these marks aging are poorly explored. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated as regulators of histone methyltransferases and other chromatin-modifying enzymes (CMEs). Despite the relevance of such mechanisms to both aging and memory formation, the behavioral relevance …

Climate Change, Taylor Shalon Byas

All ETDs from UAB

The poems in this thesis function on two different levels. On one level, they explore the similarities and differences between Chicago and Birmingham, the two places in which I have spent most of my life. On another level, these poems attempt to reconcile the differences between my younger and older selves, both of which have existed in environments fraught with social and political tensions. The first half of this collection explores Chicago and more closely examines my ancestry and family history. The poems in this section also endeavor to deconstruct stereotypes about Chicago and to depict the city as a …

Design And Synthesis Of Highly-Active And Selective Catalysts For The Hydroformylation Of Styrene And Adaptations For The Inorganic Teaching Laboratory, Ethan Cory Cagle

All ETDs from UAB

The synthesis and characterization of a series of novel phosphine-, phosphinite, and phosphite-functionalized transition metal complexes are reported. These compounds have applications as alkene hydroformylation catalysts. The first chapter investigates the coordination of two tartaric acid derived ligands to cis-tetracarbonylmolybdenum(0) and pentacarbonyltungsten(0) metal centers. A cis-trans equilibrium was established for the molybdenum complexes and solid-state structures were obtained for both coordination geometries. The tungsten complexes were used to determine the electronic parameters of the donor ligands. The second chapter investigates a library of ligands derived from 1,2-O-isopropylideneglycerol as catalysts for the hydroformylation of styrene. Model complexes containing molybdenum, palladium, and …

Significance Of Acculturation, Assimilation, And Allostatic Load As Risk Factors For Obesity Among Hispanics, Yenni Elvia Cedillo Juare

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity has increased during the last two decades in the United States (U.S.) and is considered a major risk factor for chronic diseases within the Hispanic community. The burden of obesity in Hispanics is associated with higher rates of morbidity and mortality and an increase in healthcare costs. Hispanics’ challenges after migration extend to subsequent generations, putting the population at risk for disease development. Specifically, migration can lead to the adoption of health behaviors, beliefs, values, and language of the host country, a process known as acculturation, which has been associated with changes in health behaviors. Among the Hispanic population, …

Personal, Environmental, And Behavioral Factors Of Condom Use Among African American Adolescent Males, Jessica Thames Chambliss

All ETDs from UAB

Risky sexual behaviors among adolescents increase the negative outcomes of the occurrence of an unplanned pregnancy and contracting or transmitting disease. Adoles- cents that engage in risky sexual activities are at greater risk for adverse health and social outcomes. Unfortunately, the impact of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents is far-reaching and does not only affect the immediate individuals. Despite a decline in teen pregnancy and birth rates, the diagnosis of STIs is steadily increasing among adolescents. Moreover, African American adolescent males in the United States and specifically in Alabama are disproportionally more at risk for STIs. Additionally, …

Sexual Behaviors And Non-Initiation Of The Hpv Vaccine Among Young Adult Cancer Survivors, Brooke Cherven

All ETDs from UAB

Advances in treatment for childhood cancer have led to increased survival rates. There are currently an estimated 400,000 survivors of childhood cancer living in the United States who are at risk for developing subsequent malignancies, including cancers associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection; sexual behaviors associated with increased risk for HPV acquisition include younger age at first intercourse, multiple sexual partners, and inconsistent condom use. The prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviors, and the relationship between sexual behaviors and HPV vaccine non-initiation among young adult cancer survivors is unknown. This study used data …

Examining Naloxone Access: A Spatial Asessment Of Opioid Use In Urban And Rural Contexts, Keith Chichester

All ETDs from UAB

Background: Elements of the physical environment have been shown to influence health behaviors including drug use and overdose mortality. Throughout the opioid epidemic in the United States, rural regions have been disproportionately affected by opioid overdose. Although the relationship between the urban built environment and opioid overdose has been established, little is known as to how trends may differ in rural areas. Methods: Risk terrain modeling was used as a spatial analytical approach to assess environmental features that significantly increase the risk of opioid overdose in Jefferson County, Alabama. Spatial risk assessments were conducted for urban and rural regions as …

The Strategy Of Federally Qualified Health Centers: The Influence Of Context And Performance Implications, Seongwon Choi

All ETDs from UAB

The three papers included in this dissertation attempt to provide empirical evidence on the relationship among strategies employed by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), the contextual factors and consequent performance. The findings of these studies contribute to the existing body of literature on FQHC strategies and performance. In addition, the findings also provide key practical implications to FQHC managers as well as policymakers. Overall, the results of this dissertation suggest that the FQHC strategy on spatial differentiation is associated with a set of organizational and environmental factors. However, there was little support for the relationship between Medicaid expansion and FQHC …

A Survey Of Shoulder Injuries In Commercial Truck Drivers Using A Retrospective Medical Record Review, Bryan Combs

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction: Musculoskeletal injuries in the occupational setting have significant impact on the worker, employer, and healthcare system. Commercial truck drivers (CTD) experience some of the highest rates of injury, missed days of work, and workers’ compensation costs compared with other workers. In this population, back injuries occur most commonly, followed by shoulder injuries which require 5 times more days away from work. Commercial truck drivers are significantly impacted by shoulder injuries; however, little is known about the unique mechanisms of injury, specific injuries, or possible preventative measures among this group of workers. Methods: A retrospective medical record review was completed …

The Civil Rights Struggle For Black Economic Opportunity In Birmingham, Logan Montgomery Barrett

All ETDs from UAB

This thesis examines the intersection between Birmingham, Alabama’s civil rights movement and labor history. It considers the city leadership’s exploitation of black labor and the radical resistance these oppressive conditions fostered. A long civil rights struggle in Birmingham emphasizes the movement’s pursuit of economic opportunity in securing a better quality of life for the city’s African American population. Showcasing three distinct eras of Birmingham’s black freedom struggle, this thesis argues that economic justice remained at the core of the prolonged movement. During the first half of the twentieth century, the city’s black working class embraced radical influences in combating workplace …

Validity Of Actigraph Gt3x Accelerometer In Determining Energy Expenditure, Brandon Dean Beamon

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT The purpose of this investigation was to examine estimates of energy expenditure from the Actigraph GT3X tracking device compared to that obtained by indirect calorimetry. Twenty-seven healthy Caucasian males at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (age 20-30 y) with a BMI range of 19.5 and 30 kg/m2 were asked to wear an Actigraph GT3X on the wrist, hip, and ankle while performing exercise on a treadmill, bike, and upper body ergometer in randomized order. After twelve regressions divided into two sections 4 with ankle, hip, and wrist included in the model, and 4 with the ankle site omitted) …

Social Justice On Campus: Does It Really Fight Hate? An Exploratory Study, Caitlin Elizabeth Beard

All ETDs from UAB

This exploratory study expands upon information from a previously conducted pilot study involving schools from states in two regions of the United States—the Southeast and the West Coast—which compared the number of social justice organizations at four universities from every state to the number of bias incidents in each state from 2010 through 2016. While no statistically significant relationship was found, the pilot study suggested a negative relationship between the number of social justice organizations and the occurrence of hate crimes. This thesis uses data from forty-nine states and the District of Columbia to create a larger data pool consisting …

Mechanisms Of Acute Kidney Injury: The Role Of Ferritin Heavy Chain In Renal Heme-Unology, Laurence Marie Black

All ETDs from UAB

The kidneys are complex, multi-faceted organs that are responsible for regulatory processes, such as fluid homeostasis, hormone production, blood pressure regulation, and systemic toxin removal. Sudden disruption of these processes by acute kidney injury (AKI) causes rapid decline in renal function as well as significant morbidity and mortality. AKI is a significant clinical concern, affecting up to 13.3 million people globally each year and has the propensity to progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD), though the mechanism remains undefined. One reason for this is due to the lack of understanding of models used to study both AKI and CKD, hindering …

The Relationship Between Cortical Excitability And Neuropsychological Functioning In Patients With Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsies (Iges), Lauren Bolden

All ETDs from UAB

Recent advances in neurostimulation and neuromodulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), may offer alternative treatment options to patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs). In a previous study, we utilized TMS to demonstrate a relationship between increased cortical excitability (i.e. hyperexcitability), attentional dysfunction, and mood disturbance in a sample of healthy adults. In general, patients with IGEs are found to exhibit cortical hyperexcitability, cognitive dysfunction, and mood problems; however, a relationship between these variables in IGEs has not yet been investigated. Importantly, patients with treatment-resistant IGEs (trIGEs) are shown to demonstrate greater cortical excitability, cognitive deficits, and mood problems …

Low-Cost Wastewater Treatment Using Agricultural Waste Materials, Seyma Demirci

All ETDs from UAB

Wastewater generated from human activities is one of the biggest problems polluting in the world. Currently, in order to reduce pollution and to limit the effects on the environment, researchers are investigating new methods and innovative materials for use in wastewater treatment. A goal of environmental engineers is to lower the coagulant cost and to improve the characteristics of the produced purification. This presented work investigates the role of agricultural materials (woodchips, banana fibers, and straw) to use in the treatment of municipal wastewater and to study their physicochemical characteristics (pH, COD, BOD, TSS, Conductivity, Turbidity, and Fecal Coliforms) of …

Concurrent Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma And Synovial Cfarcinoma Of The Neck In An Adult Male, Haissan Iftikhar, Shabbir Akhtar, Nasir Ud Din

Section of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery

INTRODUCTION:
Synovial sarcoma makes up 8-10% of all soft tissue sarcomas, and constitutes 3-10% of all sarcomas occurring in the head and neck region. It shows male predominance (3:2), and the mean age of presentation is 30 years. CASE REPORT:
A 51-year-old gentleman presented with right-sided neck swelling which had been progressively increasing in size for the past 2 years. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a large heterogeneously enhancing mass on the right side of the neck measuring 7.5 × 6.2 cm. Biopsy of an enlarged node revealed papillary thyroid carcinoma. The patient subsequently underwent total thyroidectomy with right …

Assessment Of Factors Affecting Quality Of Life In Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Using University Of Washington Quality Of Life Questionnaire, Syed Abbas, Muhammad Usman Tariq, Abdul Rehman, Javeria Saeed, Syed S. Hashmi, Musa Karim, Mazhar Ali

Section of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery

Introduction Post-treatment Quality of Life (QOL) is considered an important outcome in cancer patients. A number of questionnaire tools have been designed for its assessment. University of Washington Quality of Life (UW QOL) questionnaire version four is a reliable tool for assessment of post-treatment QOL in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Our aim was to identify the post-treatment problems faced by OSCC patients and to assess the impact of clinical factors affecting post-treatment QOL by using UW QOL (version four) questionnaire. Methods The study was conducted on 59 patients with OSCC who were treated with curative intent at Patel …

Randomized Controlled Trial Of Influenza Vaccine In Patients With Heart Failure To Reduce Adverse Vascular Events (Ivve): Rationale And Design, Mark Loeb, Hisham Dokainish, Antonio Dans, Lia M. Palileo-Villanueva, Ambuj Roy, Ambuj Roy, Kamilu Karaye, Jun Zhu, Yan Liang, Gerald Yonga

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Influenza is associated with an increase in the risk of cardiac and other vascular events. Observational data and small randomized trials suggest that influenza vaccination may reduce such adverse vascular events.

Research Design and Methods: In a randomized controlled trial patients with heart failure are randomized to receive either inactivated influenza vaccine or placebo annually for 3 years. Patients aged ≥18 years with a clinical diagnosis of heart failure and NYHA functional class II, III and IV are eligible. Five thousand patients from 10 countries where influenza vaccination is not common (Asia, the Middle East, and Africa) have been …

Physical Activity Promotion Among Adolescents With Pediatric Onset Multiple Sclerosis, Elizabeth Morghen Sikes

All ETDs from UAB

Pediatric onset multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and disabling disease of the central nervous system with an onset before 18 years of age. Youth with pediatric onset MS may benefit from physical activity as evidenced by past research suggestsing higher levels of physical activity are associated with reduced physical and psychosocial disease manifestations. Unfortunately, published estimates of physical activity participation among those with pediatric onset MS are very low (<10 min/day). This dissertation aimed to describe the current literature regarding physical activity among youth with pediatric MS, and to further explore experiences, patterns, correlates, and potential confounders of physical activity for the ultimate purpose of informing future behavior change interventions. Results are presented through five single study chapters. Briefly, interventions developed to promote physical activity for adolescents with pediatric onset MS should be individually tailored, include a strong social component, aim to educate regarding safety and outcomes of physical activity, and differentially target weekday and weekend day activity and sedentary behavior. Social cognitive theory (SCT) is an appropriate method for promoting physical activity behavior change among youth with pediatric onset MS, and SCT constructs including exercise goal setting, barriers self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and social support should be incorporated in the intervention as appropriate. Further, physical activity is seemingly an appropriate method for the management of functional limitations for youth with pediatric onset MS. Clinicians and researchers seeking to promote physical activity among those with pediatric onset MS may find this dissertation especially useful in providing a framework for the development of behavior change interventions.

Characterization Of Chemical Uptake And Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Mutations In Zebrafish, Jaclyn Paige Souder

All ETDs from UAB

In a society driven by technology and industry, we must be increasingly aware of how changes to our environment impact our health. This is especially true concerning embryonic development, which is easily influenced by extra-embryonic factors, including environmental contaminants. Determining how exogenous compounds are absorbed, which receptors they act through, and how these receptors act endogenously is important to fully understand to what extent developmental exposures impact fetal and adult health. I have used the zebrafish model system to address these questions for two classes of environmentally-relevant chemicals—estrogens and dioxins. First, I developed an assay to measure the uptake of …

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Leadership Styles In School Principals, James Dale Stripling

All ETDs from UAB

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND LEADERSHIP STYLES IN SCHOOL PRINCIPALS EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP ABSTRACT This quantitative research study was designed to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and leadership styles among principals and assistant principals in two districts located in central Alabama. There were 75 schools included. Seventy-two administrators participated. The surveys gauged the administrator’s emotional intelligence and leadership style. The emotional intelligence survey was designed by Daniel Goleman. The leadership style survey was designed by Peter Northouse. The participants also answered questions concerning their age, administrative experience and gender. After the surveys were returned, the data was entered into …

Examining Teacher Perceptions Of Professional Learning Teams And Teacher Professionalism, Rebecca Thomas Stripling

All ETDs from UAB

EXAMINING TEACHER PERCEPTIONS OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TEAMS AND TEACHER PROFESSIONALISM This study explores the perceptions of teachers’ professionalism as they participate in professional learning teams. Through a qualitative lens, teacher perceptions of how their own professionalism (as indicated by the Professionalism Index by McMahon & Hoy, 2009) is influenced or affected as a result of their participation in a PLT were examined from the perspective of teachers that fell into three categories, those teachers that scored high on the Professionalism Index, those teachers that scored low on the Professionalism Index and those teachers that had a medium score on the …

An Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Study Of The Magnesium Acceptor In Gallium Nitride In Different Crystal Field Environments, Ustun Robert Sunay

All ETDs from UAB

Non-uniform strain phenomena localized to Mg acceptor sites were investigated in Mg-doped GaN single crystals using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Samples in this study were grown either as µm thick thin film or mm thick free standing samples with the Mg concentration ranging from 3 150 x1018 cm-3. In all samples, the Mg related EPR signal was observed but the g-factor, intensity, and lineshape anisotropy characteristics varied significantly depending on the magnitude of the bi axial crystal field Δx local to the Mg acceptor. By modelling the Mg acceptor as basal atomic 2p orbitals, the angular dependent intensity could …

Deciphering The Roles Of Hopd1 In Carbon Metabolism During Pathogen Infection, Yali Sun

All ETDs from UAB

Plants are equipped with various immune responses including MAMP-triggered immunity (MTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) to fight against pathogens, while virulent pathogens release virulent proteins (effectors) and phytotoxins to compete with host immune responses. Comprehensively, plant-pathogen interactions involve multi- layered and highly coordinated processes, and dynamic regulation at both transcriptional and translational levels plays a pivotal role in plant defense. For example, NPR1, a key immune regulator, is regulated by hosts and manipulated by pathogens at different levels during different stages of plant-pathogen interaction. However, besides the competition over immune responses, bacterial pathogens also need to gain nutrients from host …

Drive-By Bridge Monitoring And Damage Detection, Chengjun Tan

All ETDs from UAB

Bridges are key components of the transportation network, and their safety is essential to maintain effective and safe operation of the transportation facilities. To maintain the structural integrity of the bridges, it is essential to estimate the extent and location of the structural damage through periodic monitoring. Therefore, there is considerable interest in bridge damage detection and considerable progress has been made in recent years. The traditional bridge health monitoring requires many sensors installed on the bridge to collect vibration data for damage assessment, which is expensive, time-consuming, and even dangerous in-site. Compared with traditional ways, the concept of indirect …

Acetylcholine Signaling In Glioblastoma Invasion And Peritumoral Hyperexcitability, Emily Grace Thompson

All ETDs from UAB

Glioblastomas are the most common and deadly form of primary brain cancer in adults. Current treatment strategies are aggressive, including a combination of surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, median patient survival has remained stagnant at 12 to 15 months for the last several decades. This dismal patient outcome has prompted efforts to understand the unique characteristics of these tumors, since traditional therapeutics have not been efficacious. Extensive invasion is a salient feature of glioblastomas that significantly diminishes the effectiveness of current treatment strategies and is ultimately the cause of tumor recurrence within 2 years in approximately 80% of patients. …

Intraocular Pressure Dynamics, Daniel Coleman Turner

All ETDs from UAB

While cataracts (the leading cause of blindness worldwide) can be reversed surgical-ly, glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, affecting over 70 million people worldwide [1]. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and age are the primary risk factors for glaucoma [2] and lowering IOP is the only proven treatment for the disease [3]. IOP and its fluctuations affect nearly every aspect of ocular physiology and homeo-stasis, as well as playing a dominant role in glaucoma pathophysiology, yet very little is known about IOP due to the current clinical standard of measuring mean IOP during infre-quent clinic visits. We use a …