Digital Commons Network^™

Computational Analysis Of The Spin Trapping Properties Of Lipoic Acid And Dihydrolipoic Acid, Matthew Bonfield

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While the spin trapping properties of thiols have been investigated through EPR analysis and kinetics studies, few groups have studied these properties using strictly computational methods. In particular, α-lipoic acid (ALA) and its reduced form, dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA), one of the strongest endogenously produced antioxidants, show potential for being effective, naturally occurring spin traps for the trapping of reactive oxygen species. This research covers electronic structure calculations of ALA, DHLA, and their corresponding hydroxyl radical spin adducts, performed at the cc-pVDZ/B3LYP/DFT level of theory. The effects on DHLA introduced by other radicals such as ·OOH, ·OCH₃, …

Genital Chlamydia Infection Is Influenced By The Female Sex Hormones Estrogen And Progesterone In Vivo, Amy Gail Gravitte

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States and worldwide. It often goes unnoticed due to lack of symptoms and left untreated it can ascend the female genital tract to cause sequelae like pelvic inflammatory disease and irreversible tubal infertility. In reproductive-aged women, female sex hormones estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) concentrations fluctuate during the menstrual cycle and are influenced by hormonal contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy. E2 and P4 influence genital Chlamydia infection in women and mice, but these multifactorial interactions are not entirely mapped out. The complex interplay of E2 and P4 with …

Mesopredator Detection And Eastern Spotted Skunk Den Site Selection In North Carolina, Anna Siegfried

All Theses

Small carnivore assemblages have been a topic of interest for many years because of their potential top-down effect on communities. However, mesopredators are a challenge to investigate because of their small sizes and elusive behavior. Advances in technology, such as non-invasive trail cameras and smaller GPS tracking devices, have increased the success in monitoring these communities, and we are learning that some of these species’ populations have drastically declined, are currently declining, or the population status is unknown.

Adding an attractant to remote camera sites has become a popular method to increase detections of mesopredators. However, there is an ongoing …

Effect Of Long And Short Chain Fatty Acids On Methane Yield And Microbial Community Composition In Anaerobic Co-Digestion, Emmaline Spier Camposano

All Theses

Fats, oils and greases are produced from a variety of industries, including animal rendering operations, vegetable oil processing plants and the hospitality industry. These hydrophobic, COD-rich compounds are known to cause issues in municipal wastewater collection and treatment systems. Anaerobic co-digestion has been shown to be an effective way to treat FOG and presents an opportunity to produce greater quantities of biogas. However, many microorganisms are sensitive to the degradation products of FOG, including long and short chain fatty acids. Two studies were performed to address potential inhibitory effects of both.

The first study co-digested various percentages of FOG with …

Acceleration Skinning: Kinematics-Driven Cartoon Effects For Articulated Characters, Niranjan Kalyanasundaram

All Theses

Secondary effects are key to adding fluidity and style to animation. This thesis introduces the idea of “Acceleration Skinning” following a recent well-received technique, Velocity Skinning, to automatically create secondary motion in character animation by modifying the standard pipeline for skeletal rig skinning. These effects, which animators may refer to as squash and stretch or drag, attempt to create an illusion of inertia. In this thesis, I extend the Velocity Skinning technique to include acceleration for creating a wider gamut of cartoon effects. I explore three new deformers that make use of this Acceleration Skinning framework: followthrough, centripetal stretch, and …

Analysis Of Deep Learning Methods For Wired Ethernet Physical Layer Security Of Operational Technology, Lucas Torlay

All Theses

The cybersecurity of power systems is jeopardized by the threat of spoofing and man-in-the-middle style attacks due to a lack of physical layer device authentication techniques for operational technology (OT) communication networks. OT networks cannot support the active probing cybersecurity methods that are popular in information technology (IT) networks. Furthermore, both active and passive scanning techniques are susceptible to medium access control (MAC) address spoofing when operating at Layer 2 of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model. This thesis aims to analyze the role of deep learning in passively authenticating Ethernet devices by their communication signals. This method operates at …

Material Entropy, Lauren Bradshaw

All Theses

Although the sculptures of Material Entropy are not directly anthropomorphic, the corporeality of the materials is accentuated in rendering the entropic state of our ephemeral bodies. We often avoid thoughts concerning the anatomical systems that function beneath our skin as they reveal our mortality to be tangible. Clay is initially manipulated as a soft material, but once fired it gains permanence and loses the ongoing malleability of soft sculpture. Latex and fibers have been utilized in conjunction with ceramic in order to reveal the tension between dichotomies such as hard versus soft or internal versus external. The use of pantyhose …

Traditional And Non-Traditional Gender Role Stereotypes In Children’S Animated Films, Rachael Davidson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As gender stereotypes could lead to adherence to rape myths later in life, it is important to study the potential development of gender role stereotypes. Based on the theoretical approach of Bandura’s social learning, this mixed methods study sought to expand the literature on children observing gender stereotypes through film viewing. A content analysis of verbal and body language of the highest grossing animated films between 2017-2019 was conducted. The results indicated that most main characters displayed both traditional and non-traditional gender role stereotypes, which is indicative of gender role flexibility. This shows promise that there could be a moderating …

Preparation And Study Of Bacterial Membrane Models, Enoch Asimbisa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fuel molecules are organic solvents that have disruptive effects on the bacterial membrane. This is a significant barrier in biofuel production, as it limits the fuel concentration that can be achieved through fermentation. One potential way of overcoming this barrier is to identify lipid compositions that can better withstand solvent stress, for which it is important to understand how organic solvents disrupt the membrane. Use of biophysical characterization techniques to quantify physical properties like fluidity and thickness will enable us to understand the mechanism by which solvents disrupt membranes. Native membranes are very complex, and we sought to develop in-vitro …

Functional Mixed Data Clustering With Fourier Basis Smoothing, Ishmael Amartey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Clustering is an important analytical technique that has proven to affect human life positively through its application in cancer research, market segmentation, city planning etc. In this time of growing technological systems, mixed data has seen another face of longitudinal, directional and functional attributes which is worth paying attention to and analyzing. Previous research works on clustering relied largely on the inverse weight technique and B-spline in smoothing data and assessing the performance of various clustering algorithms. In 1971, Gower proposed a method of clustering for mixed variable types which has been extended to include functional and directional variables by …

Synthesis Of Phosphatidylethanolamine Lipids For Model Studies Of The Cell Membrane, John Hayford G. Teye-Kau

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Concerns about global warming have resulted in a surge of research into alternatives to fossil fuels. In recent years, biofuels have gained traction due to their low environmental impact. Biofuel production most commonly employs microorganisms to convert biomass to fuel for industrial and transportation applications. Compounds made in biofuel production, however, are toxic to cell membranes and disrupt their integrity, harming the microorganisms and limiting biofuel yield. A key to overcoming this challenge is understanding how fuels interact with microorganisms’ cell membranes, which perform a host of functions, including transport, cell recognition, transduction, and movement. Phospholipids are the cell membrane’s …

Familial Regulation Of Young Children's Tv Viewing In Ghana, Clara Puni-Nyamesem

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined familial regulation of young children's TV viewing in Ghana. Participants were families with young children four through eight years enrolled at a school in the south of Ghana. An online survey of TV regulation practices of families (restrictive, coviewing, and instructive), TV viewing hours of young children, and families' perception of TV influence on their children was completed by 158 family members (mostly parents). Results showed that restrictive regulation is the most predominately used strategy in Ghana, although all 3 regulation styles were used. College educated families were significantly more likely to use restrictive regulation than families …

Synthesis Of Phytosulfokine Analogs As Probes For Studying Plant Signaling And Molecular Trafficking, Thomas Ntim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Plants are exposed to a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses that hinder their growth and reduce crop productivity. In their adaptive response, plants use signaling molecules that are trafficked throughout the plant. This research focuses on the chemical synthesis and assessment of analogs of the plant signal phytosulfokine (PSK, a sulfated pentapeptide), its delivery to plants and its observation using a fiber-optic fluorescence microscope. PSK regulates growth, cell expansion, heat tolerance, and tissue longevity. Analogs of PSK were synthesized using solid-phase peptide synthesis. Pure PSK and TAMRA-labeled PSK were delivered into the wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 and a …

Clinical Applications Of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Based Functional And Structural Connectivity, Chengyuan Wu, Francisca Ferreira, Michael Fox, Noam Harel, Jona Hattangadi-Gluth, Andreas Horn, Saad Jbabdi, Joshua Kahan, Ashwini Oswal, Sameer A Sheth, Yanmei Tie, Vejay Vakharia, Ludvic Zrinzo, Harith Akram

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Advances in computational neuroimaging techniques have expanded the armamentarium of imaging tools available for clinical applications in clinical neuroscience. Non-invasive, in vivo brain MRI structural and functional network mapping has been used to identify therapeutic targets, define eloquent brain regions to preserve, and gain insight into pathological processes and treatments as well as prognostic biomarkers. These tools have the real potential to inform patient-specific treatment strategies. Nevertheless, a realistic appraisal of clinical utility is needed that balances the growing excitement and interest in the field with important limitations associated with these techniques. Quality of the raw data, minutiae of the …

Librarian’S Awareness On Open Educational Resources In India, M M. Bachalapur Dr., Jayaprakash G. Hugar Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Open educational resources (OER) are freely accessible, openly licensed text, media, and other digital assets that are useful for teaching, learning, and assessing, as well as for research purposes. This paper attempts to know the awareness of librarians in higher educational institution’s such as professional and academic librarians in different states of India. A survey method was adopted to collect the required primary information. Study found that, 55% of the respondents used the OER available in different websites. Further it is found that, they are using it for updating subject knowledge, teaching and learning and research work. 68% of them …

Reintegrating Biology Through The Nexus Of Energy, Information, And Matter, Kim L. Hoke, Sara L. Zimmer, Adam B. Roddy, Mary Jo Ondrechen, Craig E. Williamson, Nicole R. Buan

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Information, energy, and matter are fundamental properties of all levels of biological organization, and life emerges from the continuous flux of matter, energy, and information. This perspective piece defines and explains each of the three pillars of this nexus. We propose that a quantitative characterization of the complex interconversions between matter, energy, and information that compose this nexus will help us derive biological insights that connect phenomena across different levels of biological organization. We articulate examples from multiple biological scales that highlight how this nexus approach leads to a more complete understanding of the biological system. Metrics of energy, information, …

Narrative Review-Drug Delivery In Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Rachel Israilevich, Raziyeh Mahmoudzadeh, Mirataollah Salabati, David Xu

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

This narrative review highlights routes of ocular drug delivery for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in industrialized countries and accounts for 8.7% of blindness worldwide. Advanced AMD can be classified into two subtypes: late-stage dry AMD [known as geographic atrophy (GA)] and neovascular AMD (nAMD). GA is often bilateral and results from progressive and irreversible loss of photoreceptors and areas of the retinal pigment epithelium. Wet AMD is characterized by angiogenesis from the choroid to the normally avascular regions underneath the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) or retina, a process known as choroidal neovascularization …

Landscape Transformations Produce Favorable Roosting Conditions For Turkey Vultures And Black Vultures, Jacob E. Hill, Kenneth F. Kellner, Bryan M. Kluever, Michael L. Avery, John S. Humphrey, Eric A. Tillman, Travis L. Devault, Jerrold L. Belant

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Recent increases in turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) and black vulture (Coragyps atratus) populations in North America have been attributed in part to their success adapting to human-modified landscapes. However, the capacity for such landscapes to generate favorable roosting conditions for these species has not been thoroughly investigated. We assessed the role of anthropogenic and natural landscape elements on roosting habitat selection of 11 black and 7 turkey vultures in coastal South Carolina, USA using a GPS satellite transmitter dataset derived from previous research. Our dataset spanned 2006–2012 and contained data from 7916 nights of roosting. Landscape …

Sex And Nest Type Influence Avian Blood Parasite Prevalence In A High-Elevation Bird Community, Marina D. Rodriguez, Paul F. Doherty, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Kathryn P. Huyvaert

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background: The prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites and the factors influencing infection in the Colorado Rocky Mountains are largely unknown. With climate change expected to promote the expansion of vector and avian blood parasite distributions, baseline knowledge and continued monitoring of the prevalence and diversity of these parasites is needed.

Methods: Using an occupancy modeling framework, we conducted a survey of haemosporidian parasite species infecting an avian community in the Colorado Rocky Mountains in order to estimate the prevalence and diversity of blood parasites and to investigate species-level and individual-level characteristics that may influence infection.

Results: We estimated the prevalence …

Potential Use For Serosurveillance Of Feral Swine To Map Risk For Anthrax Exposure, Texas, Usa, Rachel M. Maison, Courtney F. Pierce, Izabela K. Ragan, Vienna R. Brown, Michael J. Bodenchuk, Richard A. Bowen, Angela M. Bosco-Lauth

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Anthrax is a disease of concern in many mammals, including humans. Management primarily consists of prevention through vaccination and tracking clinical-level observations because environmental isolation is laborious and bacterial distribution across large geographic areas diffi cult to confi rm. Feral swine (Sus scrofa) are an invasive species with an extensive range in the southern United States that rarely succumbs to anthrax. We present evidence that feral swine might serve as biosentinels based on comparative seroprevalence in swine from historically defi ned anthrax-endemic and non–anthraxendemic regions of Texas. Overall seropositivity was 43.7% (n = 478), and logistic regression revealed county endemicity …

The Use Of Ex-Vivo Liver Perfusion Circuit In Sheep Model: Preliminary Report, Mohammed I. Al-Sebayel, Yasser M. El-Sheikh, Falah H. Al-Mohanna, Ahmed Al-Jammali, Norah K. Al-Zeer, Yazeed M. Alsebayel, Hamad M. Al-Bahli

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To describe a novel animal model for ex-vivo liver perfusion. Methods: This study was carried out at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between September 2016 and January 2019. We assembled a perfusion circuit operated by a continuous pressure-driven arterial pump with continuous portal and arterial pressure and volume measurements. We used normothermic oxygenated perfusate. The livers used were retrieved from the sheep. Results: Ex-vivo continuous perfusion of the liver was achieved for up to 9 hours with stable pressure and volume in both hepatic artery and portal vein. In 4 experiments the arterial pressure …

Predicting Risk Factors For Thromboembolic Complications In Patients With Sickle Cell Anaemia - Lessons Learned For Prophylaxis, Salam Alkindi, Anwaar R Al-Ghadani, Samah R Al-Zeheimi, Said Y Alkindi, Naglaa Fawaz, Samir K. Ballas, Anil V Pathare

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

Objective: To assess the clinical and laboratory predictors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) and its relationship to morbidity and mortality.

Methods: This retrospective case-control study analysed data from patients with SCA that experienced VTE compared with matched control patients with SCA but no VTE (2:1 ratio).

Results: A total of 102 patients with SCA were enrolled (68 cases with VTE and 34 controls). Amongst the 68 cases (median age, 29.5 years), 26 (38.2%) presented with isolated pulmonary embolism (PE). A higher prevalence of splenectomy (73.5% versus 35.3%) was observed in the cases compared with …

Practical Studies Of Brand Management Based On The Factor Of Consumer Values, Ke Chen,

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

2021 will be the final year of the centenary goal of “building a moderately prosperous society in all respects”. Looking back over the past century, China has not only witnessed an increase in national income, but also ushered in abundant changes in social culture and people's spiritual world, and completed the transformation from a traditional single homogeneous cultural society to a flexible and diverse heterogeneous cultural society. In this process, brands become the product of values change and multicultural shock, and consumers shop not only to meet the needs of material functions, but also to express their personal values. To …

Engaging With The Score: Wadada Leo Smith, Graphic Notation, And The Performer’S Perspective, Kennedy Taylor Dixon

Masters Theses

As a Composer/Performer, my work exists in both realms. This thesis reflects the principle that my experience as a violist influences my compositional process and vice versa. Since identifying under both artistic skill sets, it has become evident that the two areas that exist as a creative and presentational output, thrive off one another’s success.

In June 2019, I had the chance to play Wadada Leo Smith’s String Quartet No. 3: Black Church, The First World Gathering of the Spirit (1995) at the Nief-Norf Summer Festival. This encounter was the first time I interacted with graphically notated scores as a …

The Flavoprotein Rcla Is A Hypothiocyanous Acid Reductase, Irina Chapman

Masters Theses

Reactive chlorine species (RCS) - hypochlorous acid (HOCl), hypothiocyanous acid (HOSCN), and chloramines - are powerful antimicrobial oxidants generated by the innate immune system. Bacteria developed defense mechanisms against RCS, which are highly toxic for invading pathogens. One such defense system involves RclA, an enzyme from the flavin disulfide reductase family, which is massively upregulated upon exposure of Escherichia coli to RCS. Recent research suggests that RclA functions as a Cu(II) reductase to provide resistance against RCS. However, the exact mechanism used by RclA was subject to debate. In this study, we demonstrate that RclA is unlikely to function as …

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Of Muscle Perfusion May Indicate Patient Response To Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy., Lauren J. Delaney, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Maria Stanczak, Priscilla Machado, John W..C. Entwistle, Flemming Forsberg, Gordon R. Reeves

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support is associated with peripheral vascular abnormalities beyond those associated with heart failure (HF). These abnormalities are associated with persistent functional impairments that adversely impact quality of life (QoL). Methods for measuring peripheral vascular function in this population are needed.

METHODS: This pilot study investigated the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) using standardized protocols to estimate changes in peripheral (quadriceps) muscle perfusion among patients with HF (INTERMACS profile 3) undergoing LVAD implantation (n = 7). Patients were then stratified by those who did ("responders", n = 4) and did not ("nonresponders", n = 3) …

Augmentation Of Pedicle Screws Using Bone Grafting In Patients With Spinal Osteoporosis, Andrey Evgenievich Bokov, Anatoliy Bulkin, I S. Bratsev, Svetlana Ya Kalinina, Sergey G. Mlyavykh, David G. Anderson

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

The aim of the study was to develop a new method of vertebral augmentation based on autologous and allogeneic bone chips to be used in pedicle screw fixation and to compare this method with the technique based on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Materials and Methods. This prospective non-randomized study included 164 patients with degenerative pathologies or traumatic injuries of the lumbar spine and transitional thoracolumbar segments; 153 of the operated patients were followed up for 18 months. In these patients, radiodensity of the cancellous bone tissue was below 110 HU by the Hounsfield scale. Patients with degenerative spinal disorders underwent pedicle …

Modeling The Speed And Timing Of American Sign Language To Generate Realistic Animations, Sedeeq Al-Khazraji

Theses

While there are many Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals with excellent reading literacy, there are also some DHH individuals who have lower English literacy. American Sign Language (ASL) is not simply a method of representing English sentences. It is possible for an individual to be fluent in ASL, while having limited fluency in English. To overcome this barrier, we aim to make it easier to generate ASL animations for websites, through the use of motion-capture data recorded from human signers to build different predictive models for ASL animations; our goal is to automate this aspect of animation synthesis …

The Use Of Reverse Vending Machine (Rvm) For Less Plastic In Dubai, Sarah Obaid Al Shamsi

Theses

Plastic pollution is affecting negatively on the environment, it affects trees, animals, marine life, and even humans. One of the most common plastic types is plastic bags, it is widely spread due its special characteristics such as light weigh, and cheap price. In Dubai City, plastic bags are widely used especially in the supermarkets, with the increase in the population of Dubai, the number of plastic bags will increase and the impacts will be more appearance. Dubai City is a leading city in the region for its ability to change and adapt with new strategies that serves the citizen and …

Survey And Analysis Of Deepfake Media As It Applies To The New Era Of Disinformation, Jade L. Wise

Theses

The world has become a place where technology and the internet is so integrated into every-day life that people rely on the media and internet access to stay informed and connected. But, that has exposed us to a whole new world of positives and negatives, and the negatives could be catastrophic for our society. It will very soon be very difficult for the average person to distinguish between figment and reality; primarily with video, which has always been seen as a credible form of evidence. Deepfake videos are a prime example of this growing phenomenon. They are videos in which, …