Digital Commons Network^™

Left Ventricular Mass Index Is Associated With Cognitive Function In Middle-Age: Bogalusa Heart Study, Alexander C. Razavi, Camilo Fernandez, Jiang He, Tanika N. Kelly, Marie Krousel-Wood, Seamus P. Whelton, Owen T. Carmichael, Lydia A. Bazzano

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Elevated cardiovascular disease risk factor burden is a recognized contributor to poorer cognitive function; however, the physiological mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood. We sought to assess the potential mediation effect of left ventricular (LV) remodeling on the association between lifetime systolic blood pressure and cognitive function in a community-based cohort of middle-aged adults. Methods: Nine hundred sixty participants of the Bogalusa Heart Study (59.2% women, 33.8% black, aged 48.4±5.1 years) received 2-dimensional echocardiography to quantify relative wall thickness, LV mass, and diastolic and systolic LV function; and a standardized neurocognitive battery to assess memory, executive functioning, …

Using Public Databases For Genomic Prediction Of Tropical Maize Lines, Pedro Patric Pinho Morais, Deniz Akdemir, Luciano Rogério Braatz De Andrade, Jean Luc Jannink, Roberto Fritsche-Neto, Aluízio Borém, Filipe Couto Alves, Danilo Hottis Lyra, Ítalo Stefanine Correia Granato

Faculty Publications

In this paper, the aims were (a) to test the usefulness of using genomic and phenotypic information from public databases (open access) to predict genetic values for tropical maize inbred lines regarding plant and ear height; (b) to identify how the population structure, the use of optimized training sets (OTSs) and the amount of information originating from public databases affect the predictive ability. Thus, 29 training sets (TSs) were defined considering three diversity panels: the University of São Paulo (USP—validation set (VS)) and the ASSO and USDA North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS) (external public panels—predictors), which were divided …

Relationship Of Posterior Intracranial Venous Structures In Homo Sapiens And Handedness, Brianne Finley

Theses and Dissertations

The transverse sinus spans the endocranial surface of the occipital bone and ultimately transmits deoxygenated blood to the sigmoid sinus and jugular vein en route to the heart. This paired sinus tends to be more defined on either the left or right side in human crania. Left and right dominance, or the use of one side of the body more than the other, leaves traces on the human skeleton. Methods to determine handedness upon examination of various elements of the human skeleton mostly focus on the use of the extremities, while little research exists examining the skull for evidence of …

2020-2021 Undergraduate And Graduate Catalog, The University Of Alabama In Huntsville

Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Detection And Characterization Of Nanoparticles In The Surface Water: Challenges And Findings, Syed Mohammed Tareq

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Nanoscale material release (Nanoparticle of < 100 nm) in surface waters is growing concerned worldwide. Understanding the fate of Engineered Nanoparticle (ENP) in the environment is essential for accurate assessment of their aquatic toxicity. It is estimated that there are more than 1800 consumers products found in the environment, containing Nanoparticles. Due to their ultrafine invisible nature, it is very difficult and highly technical to detect them in the aquatic environment. Due to the complexity of environmental samples and the limitation of available analytical techniques, the study of the fate of the Nanoparticles in real environmental samples is challenging. Often, the detection of ENPs in surface water requires the use of multiple technologies in tandem including ultrafiltration, centrifugation and ionization techniques to identify the nano elements. As part of this thesis research, a systematic review of the procedures and techniques that researchers are currently using for detection as well as characterization of the nano contaminants in surface waters are studied. Besides, synthetic samples with standard ENPs in distilled water are used to understand the dispersion fate behavior of ENPs under the controlled matrix of aquatic chemistry. The analysis of dispersion and aggregation was carried out using DLS (direct light scattering) as well as induced coupled plasma (ICP) -atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) at discrete time of sonication. Results clearly showed that the dispersion of the ENPs is very small but increased with time of sonication. Among the metallic analytes studied, Copper had better dispersion compared to the rest of the ENPs studied. In general, aggregation of the particles increased initially, but later after 3 hours of sonication, it started decreasing.

Mathematical Modeling, Analysis, And Simulation Of Cholera Dynamics, Chayu Yang

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

We propose multiple models to investigate the transmission dynamics of cholera. At first, we consider the intrinsic growth of cholera bacteria in cholera transmission and find that the regular threshold dynamics take place if the intrinsic growth is logistic; there are multiple endemic equilibria if the growth exhibits Allee effects, which may lead to backward bifurcation and forward hysteresis. In addition, we introduce a multi-scale modeling framework. At the population level, a Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) model for the between-host transmission of cholera is employed. At the individual host level, the evolution of the pathogen within the human body is incorporated. The …

Cancel Culture: Posthuman Hauntologies In Digital Rhetoric And The Latent Values Of Virtual Community Networks, Austin M. Hooks

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study explores how modern epideictic practices enact latent community values by analyzing modern call-out culture, a form of public shaming that aims to hold individuals responsible for perceived politically incorrect behavior via social media, and cancel culture, a boycott of such behavior and a variant of call-out culture. As a result, this thesis is mainly concerned with the capacity of words, iterated within the archive of social media, to haunt us—both culturally and informatically. Through hauntology, this study hopes to understand a modern discourse community that is bound by an epideictic framework that specializes in the deconstruction of the …

Assessment Of The Groundwater Recharge Potential Areas Using Gis In Kajor Kulon Hamlet, Selopamioro, Imogiri, Bantul, Yogyakarta, Deni Rahman Saputra, Andi Renata Ade Yudono, Partoyo Partoyo

Jurnal Geografi Lingkungan Tropik (Journal of Geography of Tropical Environments)

Groundwater balance occurs in the presence of recharge and discharge. The process of entering the water in soil takes place with an infiltration-percolation to aquifers. The groundwater recharge area is identified by lithology, land use, slope, rainfall, land, and landform. Kajor Kulon Hamlet, Selopamioro Village, Imogiri Sub-district, Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta becomes an area with hilly morphology, active fault areas, and including drought-prone regions. Change of the land function in hilly areas by making settlements and un-irrigation field for farming may cause decreased ability as a recharge area. Research aim sare to assessing, determining, and analyzing the conditions …

Seasonal Distribution Of Microbial Biomass Carbon And Some Heavy Metals Around The Industrial Area Of Kano Metropolis, Northwestern-Nigeria, Mansur Abdul Mohammed, Luka Fitto Buba

Jurnal Geografi Lingkungan Tropik (Journal of Geography of Tropical Environments)

The accumulation of toxic heavy metals in excessive quantities has a detrimental effect on soil quality which interferes with key biochemical processes in soils. It is very imperative to explore soil microbial activities concerning to environmental conditions for sustainable soil management. The study aimed to assess the seasonal distribution of soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), some heavy metals and pH, and their relationship in the soil ecosystem. Field investigation and laboratory analysis were the main methods adopted as sources of generating data and analyses. Ten soil samples were collected using composite sampling techniques on seasonal bases and then analyzed in …

Neuroticism As The Intensity, Reactivity, And Variability In Day-To-Day Affect, Garrett C. Hisler, Zlatan Krizan, Tracy Dehart, Aidan G.C. Wright

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Neuroticism has been linked to typical levels of affect, affect reactivity to negative events, and variability in affect over time. However, the intercorrelations among these characteristics make it unclear whether neuroticism reflects unique variance in each of these aspects of emotional life. Data from two daily-diary samples revealed that neuroticism was associated with average levels and variability of positive and negative affect and reactivity of negative affect to stressors, but was only uniquely related to mean levels of positive and negative affect. Findings highlight the substantial overlap in affect indices, suggesting that mean levels of affect, at the very least, …

Beyond Their Hiv Status: The Occurrence Of Multiple Health Risk Behavior Among Adolescents From A Rural Setting Of Sub-Saharan Africa, Derrick Ssewanyana, Charles R. Newton, Anneloes Van Baar, Amin S. Hassan, Alan Stein, H. Gerry Taylor, Fons Van De Vijver, Gaia Scerif, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Health risk behaviors during adolescence may cluster into patterns that might be predicted by specific factors, among which HIV may have an important role.

Method: In a cross-sectional study conducted between 2017 and 2018, clustering of HRB and its associated factors was investigated in rural Kenya among 588 adolescents (36% perinatally HIV infected; 28% perinatally HIV exposed but uninfected; and 36% HIV unexposed/uninfected). Latent class analysis of 22 behaviors followed by multinomial logistic regression were conducted. Four risk behavior classes were identified.

Results: No significant differences were found in behavioral class membership across the three HIV groups (p = …

Nanoceria Distribution And Effects Are Mouse-Strain Dependent, Robert A. Yokel, Michael T. Tseng, D. Allan Butterfield, Matthew L. Hancock, Eric A. Grulke, Jason M. Unrine, Arnold J. Stromberg, Alan K. Dozier, Uschi M. Graham

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Prior studies showed nanoparticle clearance was different in C57BL/6 versus BALB/c mice, strains prone to Th1 and Th2 immune responses, respectively. Objective: Assess nanoceria (cerium oxide, CeO₂ nanoparticle) uptake time course and organ distribution, cellular and oxidative stress, and bioprocessing as a function of mouse strain. Methods: C57BL/6 and BALB/c female mice were i.p. injected with 10 mg/kg nanoceria or vehicle and terminated 0.5 to 24 h later. Organs were collected for cerium analysis; light and electron microscopy with elemental mapping; and protein carbonyl, IL-1β, and caspase-1 determination. Results: Peripheral organ cerium significantly increased, generally more …

Basement Membrane Ligands Initiate Distinct Signalling Networks To Direct Cell Shape, Michael J Randles, Franziska Lausecker, Jonathan D Humphries, Adam Byron, Simon J Clark, Jeffrey H Miner, Roy Zent, Martin J Humphries, Rachel Lennon

Open Access Publications

Cells have evolved mechanisms to sense the composition of their adhesive microenvironment. Although much is known about general mechanisms employed by adhesion receptors to relay signals between the extracellular environment and the cytoskeleton, the nuances of ligand-specific signalling remain undefined. Here, we investigated how glomerular podocytes, and four other basement membrane-associated cell types, respond morphologically to different basement membrane ligands. We defined the composition of the respective adhesion complexes using mass spectrometry-based proteomics. On type IV collagen, all epithelial cell types adopted a round morphology, with a single lamellipodium and large adhesion complexes rich in actin-binding proteins. On laminin (511 …

Students Spread Hope During Pandemic, Steven Atkins

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Andrews President Receives Weniger Medallion, Hannah Gallant

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Leaders Report Pandemic's Impact On Church Organizations, Debbie Michel

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Does Sars-Cov-2 Infection Cause Chronic Neurological Complications?, Erin R Hascup, Kevin N Hascup

Articles

The current pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 has created an unparalleled health crisis. Besides the acute respiratory infection, CoVs are neuroinvasive causing additional inflammation and neurodegeneration. This is likely also true of SARS-CoV-2 given reports of neurological manifestations in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive patients. Older adults > 65 years of age constitute a high-risk group prone to severe infection and death. Despite the higher mortality rate, a majority of cases are expected to recover and survive from this viral outbreak. But, the long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 neuroinfection are unknown. We discuss these potential chronic changes to …

Finding International Law In Private Governance: How Codes Of Conduct In The Apparel Industry Refer To International Instruments, Phillip Paiement, Sophie Melchers

Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies

Multinational enterprises increasingly use Codes of Conduct to govern the conditions of labor and production among their suppliers' operations around the globe. These Codes of Conduct, produced unilaterally by companies as well as by multi-stakeholder bodies, often include references to public international law instruments. This article takes a closer look at thirty-eight Codes of Conduct from the global apparel industry and uses social network analysis to identify the patterns in these Codes and how they refer to international legal instruments. Although some international legal instruments stipulate rules that can be directly transposed into the private context of supply chains, this …

Joint Use Of Advanced Oxidation Process (Aop) And Advanced Reduction Process (Arp) For Alleviation Of Leachate Organic Matter (Lom), Ali Albalgane

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Landfilling is the dominant municipal solid waste (MSW) management option in the United States and many other countries. Leachate management and treatment represent an essential component in sustainable management of landfills. However, leachate organic matter (LOM) present in landfill leachate challenges existing treatment practices. The long-term goal of this study is to develop innovative treatment technologies for mitigation of LOM impacts for supporting sustainability in waste management and wastewater treatment. The overall objective of this thesis research aimed to investigate technical performance of the joint use of advanced oxidation process (AOP) and advanced reduction process (ARP) for treatment of mature …

Paleoenvironment Reconstruction Of The Eocene Southeastern Tethys Using Geochemistry Of Sedimentary Rocks, Liliana CalderóN Convers

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The Early Eocene hyperthermals are a series of transient global warming events that occurred between 54.09 and 52.63 Ma, and are considered as ancient analogues for future climate change. These hyperthermal events are well studied in the deep sea sites, but have not been investigated in the eastern Tethys Ocean. Here, we report new major and trace element geochemistry and stable carbon isotope data of the Early Eocene strata deposited in a shallow marine foreland basin prior to the main stage of India-Asian continent collision at Qumiba section in the Tingri County, southern Tibet. These geochemical data are used to …

A Preliminary Investigation Of World Trade Center (Wtc) Dust Effects On Mrc-5 Lung Fibroblasts And The Cellular Inflammatory Response, Katelyn Anna Kerod

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The World Trade Center (WTC) attack on September 11th, 2001 was the biggest terrorist attack that has ever occurred in New York City. About 3,000 people died on September 11th, 2001 and more than 6,000 were injured including law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services and military personnel. The building collapse generated a huge cloud of dust and first responders have suffered from long-term lung related illnesses. The present study evaluated three questions: 1.) does WTC dust treatment of MRC-5 lung fibroblasts induce an inflammatory response as evidenced by the production of nitric oxide? 2.) Do heavy metals such as …

Determining The Relative Activities Of Wild-Type Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Indole-3-Glycerol Phosphate Synthase And Mutants E57a And E219a With An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Wild-Type Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Igps Activity And Ph, Thomas Emmanuel Candela

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The relationship between wild-type protein indole-3-glycerol phosphate synthase (IGPS) activity and pH was investigated through the formation of pH activity profiles, and the relative catalytic activities of wild-type Mycobacterium tuberculosis and mutants E57A and E219A were also deduced in this work. The activity of each enzyme variant was determined by reacting native substrate 1-(o-carboxyphenylamino)-1-deoxyribulose-5-phosphate with enzyme buffered at pH 7.5 in a cuvette and using a fluorometer to detect the increase in fluorescent signal produced by the formation of fluorescent product indole-3 glycerol phosphate. Work with wild-type IGPS showed the enzyme to have a kcat of 1.26 ± 1.75 (s …

Impacts Of The Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station On The Zooplankton Community Structure Of Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, Alyssa M. Petitdemange

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Estuaries are biologically diverse and productive marine ecosystems, but many have been degraded as a result of anthropogenic activity, which can also negatively impact sensitive aquatic organisms like zooplankton. Zooplankton represent the crucial link between phytoplankton and higher trophic-level organisms. They are sensitive to environmental variation and increasing water temperature can cause dramatic shifts in zooplankton community structure. Climate change and coastal development favor species that are more tolerant of poor water quality. Barnegat Bay, New Jersey is an eutrophied estuarine lagoon in the Mid-Atlantic Ocean region. A major stress on Barnegat Bay was the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station …

Transcriptomic Identification Of Venom Candidates In The Clinging Jellyfish Gonionemus Vertens, Alorah D. Bliese

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Gonionemus vertens appearances and stings have been increasing internationally. The medusae of this hydrozoan are small, having an average bell diameter of 2 cm, and are noted for their potent stings that can lead to systemic pain, hospitalization, and disrupted neurocognitive function. They are typically found among algae and in eelgrass beds during the summer months when the population peaks, thus posing a seasonal public health concern for those participating in recreational water activities. To explore the nature of this species’ toxic sting, transcriptome libraries were constructed from poly A⁺ mRNA isolated from mature individuals and sequenced on an …

Factors Affecting Clutch Size In A Population Of Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon Cinereus) In Northwestern New Jersey, Veronica Lynn Puza

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The salamander family Plethodontidae is known for being an indicator of environmental health and has been labeled as the “canary in the coal mine” of forest ecosystems (Urban et al. 2014). One of the most widely distributed and commonly studied plethodontid species is the red-backed salamander (RBS, Plethodon cinereus). Populations of P. cinereus will be influenced by different variables within the environment including temperature, humidity, and leaf litter. Fundamental data on populations of P. cinereus must be gathered before we can understand how these intercorrelated variables will influence P. cinereus distribution and demographics. In this study I aimed to gather …

Characterizing Functions Of Two Regulatory Proteins In The Parasitic Nematode Brugia Malayi And Their Potential As Drug Targets In Treating Lymphatic Filariasis, Brittany Amber Hart

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a debilitating disease caused by parasitic nematodes that affect millions of people in largely tropical environments. While drugs are available for treating LF, they suffer from a lack of efficacy against adult parasites, toxicity, and emergence of resistance. Here, we describe two novel potential drug targets within the filarial parasite, Brugia malayi (B. malayi). These two proteins, bm9350, a predictive MAPK stress response protein, and bm2032, a potential histone modifying enzyme, have little or no annotation or experimental evidence of function. Using predictive analysis and tools, we examined potential functions of these proteins and their potential …

Troubling Paradise : Exploring The Sexual Identity Development Experiences Of Same-Gender Loving West Indians, Nicole A. J. Christian

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The Caribbean holds an international reputation of culturally sanctioned homophobia, which creates implications for the lived experiences of same-gender loving West Indians. However, minimal to no empirical attention has been dedicated to the sexual identity development of members of this population. The goal of this dissertation study was therefore to examine the lived experiences that inform the sexual identity development of Anglophone West Indians. Participants who identified as West Indian and same-gender loving were recruited for this study. A general qualitative study which utilized ethnographic interviewing during two semi-structured interviews was employed. Eleven same-gender loving West Indians from four different …

Water Quality And Management Challenges In Urban New Jersey, Alessandra Rossi

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Exacerbation of extreme weather events and increasing urbanization are facilitating the pathway of pollutants towards the waterbodies with freshwater ecosystems being impacted more than terrestrial and marine ecosystems by anthropogenic stressors. We addressed here the three major threats to freshwater ecosystems, pathogens, litter, and eutrophication, integrating scientific findings with management inputs at the watershed level. We evaluated the relationship between environmental variables measurements and Escherichia coli counts with the intent to develop equations capable of predicting near-real-time E. coli concentrations in two riverine ecosystems to help decision makers in assessments of recreational safety. Results showed that the cumulative rainfall for …

A Phylogenetic Assembly And Positive Selection Analysis Of The Dmp1 Gene In Aves, Testudines And Crocodilia, Nicholas Michael Morelli

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The DMP1 gene codes for proteins that play a role in the calcification of hard tissues, including dentin, in vertebrates. Deleterious mutations in the gene can cause genetic disorders such as rickets in humans. The gene function, however, has only been investigated widely within mammalian lineages, and has not been thoroughly researched within sauropsids (reptiles and birds). Birds are edentulous (toothless) and have a unique bone structure that allows a majority of species to withstand the rigors of flight. In contrast, their closest living relatives, the crocodilians, are polydontous and possess dense skeletons as an adaptation to their semi-aquatic lifestyle. …

Estimating Parasitoid Wasp Assemblages On Fragmented Land : Do Habitat And Trap Type Matter?, Matthew Charles Christopher Havers

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Parasitoid wasps are a hyper-diverse monophyletic group of Apocrita (Hymenoptera) that typically oviposit inside or on an arthropodal host, whereafter the wasp larvae obtain nutritional resources for development. Although some species are well-studied as agents in biological control, little is known about the biology of the less diverse and less abundant superfamilies; and even less about assemblages of parasitoid wasp taxa within a given habitat. The aim of the present study was twofold: to estimate parasitoid wasp assemblages within two habitats common in central and northern New Jersey, USA, and to develop a protocol to increase the yield and diversity …