Digital Commons Network^™

A Right Of Ethical Consideration For Non-Human Animals, Michael Ray Harris

UC Law Environmental Journal

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of Microfluidic Mixers For The Optimization Of Polymeric, Gold, And Perovskite Nanomaterials Synthesis, Alexa Roberts

ETD Archive

I would like to thank Dr. Chandra Kothapalli for the opportunity to participate in this research project and the continuous guidance he has given me in all aspects of the lab work. I would like to acknowledge the entire Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Department for their assistance throughout the program, for partially supporting my tuition and stipend through teaching assistantships, and the opportunities to present and discuss my research project with other interested students and faculty. I would like to acknowledge Dr. Petru Fodor and Dr. Geyou Ao for their support as members of my defense committee. Additionally, I would …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Catalytic And Biological Activities Of A Mixed-Ligand Cobalt(Ii) Bipyridyl/Diphenylazodioxide Complex, Kylin A. Emhoff

ETD Archive

Transition metal complexes have immense importance in the pharmaceutical industry. These types of complexes can be useful catalysts in the synthesis of medicinal compounds and can act as anticancer drugs. In these pharmaceutical applications, 1st-row transition metal-containing complexes offer certain advantages compared to their 2nd and 3rd-row transition metal counterparts. Our motivation was to investigate pharmaceutical applications of transition metal complexes containing both a 1st-row transition metal and unusual ligands to expand the knowledge of a class of complexes that could potentially be beneficial in the pharmaceutical industry. A class of rare ligands that piqued our interest was that of …

Synthesis And Functionality Study Of Novel Biomimetic N-Glycan Polymers, Ka Keung Chan

ETD Archive

Cell surface carbohydrates, existing as glycoproteins, glycolipids, and proteoglycans, often serve as receptors to relay critical interactions and trigger crucial signaling events in many biological processes. Glycan recognition is deeply involved in immune surveillance, response and can provide abundant opportunities to discover the molecular mechanism and potential therapeutic or diagnostic approaches for various diseases. Many useful functionalities can be achieved by developing synthetic glycans to mimic natural carbohydrates. Over the recent decade, glycopolymers, polymers with pendant carbohydrates, have continued to prove usefulness in various applications across different scientific disciplines. For example, glycopolymers can be used as biomimetic glycoligands to study …

Subharmonic Frequencies In Guitar Spectra, Leah M. Bunnell

ETD Archive

Throughout this thesis, evidence is shown that suggests the existence of subharmonic frequencies in the Classical Spanish Acoustic Guitar and Fender Squier Electric Guitar spectra. The classic subharmonic undertone series mimics that of the harmonic overtone series, except that the fundamental frequency is divided by integer values instead of multiplied by integer values. Subharmonics that do not fit the classic subharmonic undertone series criteria are still classified as subharmonics, although subharmonics that do fit the criteria are emphasized. Throughout this manuscript, the author’s original experimental procedures and results are presented. Individual tones were recorded on both guitars on every string …

Physical Activity And Sleep Patterns During The Month Of Ramadan, Abdullah Ali Alwalweedi

ETD Archive

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the level of physical activity and sleep patterns in healthy Muslim adults during the month of Ramadan. Methods: Twelve males and seven females took part in this observational study. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess the level of physical activity. The consensus sleep diary (CSD) was used to measure sleep patterns. Assessments were a week before Ramadan, the last week of Ramadan, and the last week of the month following Ramadan. Results: The total activities decreased significantly during Ramadan compared to before and after Ramadan (P< .05). Vigorous and moderate activities were significantly lower during Ramadan (P <.05). There was no statistical differences in walking activity over the study periods. Data showed a significant postpone in bedtime and wake-up time during Ramadan. A significant decrease in wakefulness after sleep onset during Ramadan was reported. No change in total sleep time, nor quality of sleep were found. Conclusion: Data of this study revealed that Ramadan fasting is associated with postpone in bedtime and wake-up time. The total physical activities and sitting time were reduced during the month of Ramadan.

Optimizing Protein Expression Of An Elastin Like Polypeptidegreen Fluorescent Protein Fusion In Bacterial Systems, Blas Quiroga Iii

ETD Archive

The ability to express and purify large quantities of recombinant protein allows for biotechnological applications such as: protein characterization, usage in industrial processes, the development of commercial goods, and other advanced studies. In the classical methods of protein expression, cells are grown to the mid-log phase and are induced via a simple sugar or a chemical agent. Post-induction, the energy used for cellular growth is redirected for the production of ELPs. Samples are collected and analyzed for cell count and harvested for fluorescence spectroscopy and protein purification. Optimization of protein expression of an elastin-like-polypeptide and green fluorescence protein fusion (ELP-GFP …

Mechanical Transformations: The Active Roles Of Machines In British Industrial-Era Writings, Julia R. Halamek

ETD Archive

Industrialization defined nineteenth-century Britain, bringing large-scale changes to the social order. Observers perceived that machines stood at the heart of these changes as much as inventors, manufacturers, and operatives, if not more so. A range of writers expressed their awareness of the transformative power of technology by endowing machines with a sense of life and influence according to four broad characterizations: machines as instruments of civilizational advancement disguised as mundane tools, organic life, bringers of order, and near-mythical embodiments of power. Critics of industry coopted such lofty language and turned it on its head to depict machines as destructive, sometimes …

Dispersion, Self-Assembly, And Rheological Characterization Of Dna-Complexed Boron Nitride Nanosystems, Venkateswara Rao Kode

ETD Archive

Stable liquid dispersions and the subsequent self-assembly of boron nitride (BN) nanostructures are a vital precursor for translating their exceptional electrical, mechanical, thermal, and optical properties into large-area assemblies with controlled properties. However, achieving individually dispersed BN nanomaterials including BN nanotubes (BNNTs) and hexagonal BN nanosheets (hBN) in almost any solvent has been hindered by strong van der Waals interactions among nanomaterials. In this dissertation work, we reported a comprehensive study on developing an efficient dispersion, self-assembly, and rheological characterization of BN nanomaterials. Particularly, we reported a highly efficient dispersions of BNNTs through noncovalent complexation while exploiting the solvent-nanotube-dispersant interactions …

A Test Of Specificity Between Emotion Regulation Repertoires And Affect: A Prospective Investigation, Zachary Demoss

ETD Archive

Depression is marked by depressive affects which consists of dysphoric mood reflected by increased levels of negative affect (NA), and anhedonia which is characterized by decreased positive affect (PA). The dysregulation of affective states that characterizes depressive disorders may reflect emotion regulation deficits. Prior work has frequently linked maladaptive responses with depression, while evidence linking adaptive responses and depression has been mixed. Additionally, emerging evidence has shown a degree of specificity between emotion regulation and affect. Therefore, the present study examined whether emotion regulation responses show specificity with NA and PA across 7-day and 12-month periods within a large sample …

Is Hearing Loss Over-Diagnosed Due To Impaired Cognition In Elderly Patients?, Emilee A. Witt

ETD Archive

The prevalence of hearing loss due to old age is rapidly growing amongst the elderly population impacting over 450 million people worldwide making it the third most chronic disease (Lohler et al., 2019). While highly prevalent, hearing loss still remains one of the least studied factors, yet it has one of the greatest impacts on public health as 67% of adults age 70 and up have a hearing loss that impedes daily communication (Lin & Albert, 2014). Research has found a connection between hearing loss and cognitive deficits. People with hearing loss experience cognitive decline 30% to 40% faster than …

Age Differences In Emotional Reactivity To Subtypes Of Sadness And Anger, Ryan M. Muskin

ETD Archive

Emotional reactivity has been commonly studied through the discrete emotion approach model (DEA) that categorizes emotions as singular unique experiences (sadness, fear, disgust, anger, etc.). Reactivity to a discrete emotion is related to the contextual relevance of the emotional elicitor, and thus, may result in variable reactivity profiles across different age groups. While prior research has typically associated older age with sadness and younger age with anger, there may be contextual subtypes within these discrete categories that are more or less relevant to either age group. Characteristics of older age are associated with themes of loss (death, diminished physical ability, …

Model-Free Optimization Of Trajectory And Impedance Parameters On Exercise Robots With Applications To Human Performance And Rehabilitation, Humberto De Las Casas Zolezzi

ETD Archive

This dissertation focuses on the study and optimization of human training and its physiological effects through the use of advanced exercise machines (AEMs). These machines provide an invaluable contribution to advanced training by combining exercise physiology with technology. Unlike conventional exercise machines (CEMs), AEMs provide controllable trajectories and impedances by using electric motors and control systems. Therefore, they can produce various patterns even in the absence of gravity. Moreover, the ability of the AEMs to target multiple physiological systems makes them the best available option to improve human performance and rehabilitation. During the early stage of the research, the physiological …

When Positive And Negative Collide: Mixed Emotions In Adulthood And Old Age, Lucas J. Hamlilton

ETD Archive

Living life well is difficult to define; however, research has burgeoned over the last 40 years examining the concept of well-being. Past work has approached well-being in different ways where some emphasize feeling good in the here-and-now (i.e., subjective well-being), and others emphasize flourishing despite life’s existential challenges (i.e., eudaimonic well-being). Though age-based stereotypes are predominantly negative, older adults report living generally positive lives (i.e., higher positive feelings, more meaning in life). This phenomenon is called the “paradox of well-being” (PWB), and it remains a perplexing phenomenon in emotional aging research. Most prevailing theories assume a pro-hedonic approach where positive …

University Of Richmond Magazine, Winter 2021

University of Richmond Magazine

The University of Richmond's Alumni Magazine was first published as The Alumni Bulletin in 1936 and continues to this day as the University of Richmond Magazine.

Fish & Wildlife News: Winter 2021, Matt Trott

Fish and Wildlife News

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Drought On Groundwater-Fed Lake Areas In The Nebraska Sand Hills, N. Shrestha, A. R. Mittelstet, T. E. Gilmore, V. Zlotnik, C. Neale

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Implications Of Historical And Contemporary Processes On Genetic Differentiation Of A Declining Boreal Songbird: The Rusty Blackbird, R. E. Wilson, S. M. Matsuoka, L. L. Powell, J. A. Johnson, D. W. Demarest, D. Stralberg, S. Sonsthagen

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Pandemic Penalty: The Gendered Effects Of Covid-19 On Scientific Productivity, Molly M. King, Megan E. Frederickson

Sociology

Academia serves as a valuable case for studying the effects of social forces on workplace productivity, using a concrete measure of output: scholarly papers. Many academics, especially women, have experienced unprecedented challenges to scholarly productivity during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The authors analyze the gender composition of more than 450,000 authorships in the arXiv and bioRxiv scholarly preprint repositories from before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This analysis reveals that the underrepresentation of women scientists in the last authorship position necessary for retention and promotion in the sciences is growing more inequitable. The authors find differences between the …

Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, United States Army

United States Army: Field Manuals

Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, United States Army Field Manual FM 3-81

Brigade Combat Team, United States Army

United States Army: Field Manuals

Brigade Combat Team, United States Army Field Manual FM 3-96

Telomere Length Shortening In Microglia: Implication For Accelerated Senescence And Neurocognitive Deficits In Hiv, Alexander Khmaladze, Ting Chean Khoo, Anna V. Sharikova, Chiu-Bin Hsaio, Harneet Bedi, Raquel Gomez, Ayesha Khan, Taylor Meciszewski, Ravikumar Aalinkeel, Supriya D. Mahajan

Physics Faculty Scholarship

The widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has led to the accelerated aging of the HIV-infected population, and these patients continue to have a range of mild to moderate HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Infection results in altered mitochondrial function. The HIV-1 viral protein Tat significantly alters mtDNA content and enhances oxidative stress in immune cells. Microglia are the immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that exhibit a significant mitotic potential and are thus susceptible to telomere shortening. HIV disrupts the normal interplay between microglia and neurons, thereby inducing neurodegeneration. HIV cART contributes to the inhibition of telomerase …

Literature Review: Covid-19'S Impact On Violence, Jean Cheek, Laura Ashworth

VCU Health Nursing

Violence has been exacerbated by the pandemic, resulting in a plethora of research that can be complementary and contradictory. A preliminary thematic literature search was performed using keywords such as human trafficking, IPV, sexual assault, pandemic, covid, and child abuse. This resulted in over 100 articles between 2019 and 2021. The literature review revealed common themes such as pandemics and natural disasters increase the risk for violence in women, children, and marginalized populations. Stay-at-home orders put vulnerable populations in closer proximity to the abuser. A low socioeconomic standing increases the propensity to abuse and be abused. Calls to human trafficking …

The Rock, Winter 2020-21, Whittier College

The Rock

No abstract provided.

Crippling Rapid Evolution Of Metastasis And Drug Resistance In A549 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells With The Clinically Relevant Hsp90 Inhibitor Auy922, Nickolas Anthony Bacon

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The ability for species to evolve new features in response to changing circumstances in order to survive and propagate is a ubiquitous observation on both the macroscopic and microscopic levels of living systems. It should be no surprise, then, that diseases such as cancer utilize their own forms of adaptation to perpetuate themselves when exposed to external threats. Indeed, concepts drawn from Darwinian evolution are now widely accepted to help explain certain aspects of carcinogenesis and malignant progression, the sum of which have come to be known as the theory of tumor evolution. Since metastasis and drug resistance are features …

Clemson A&M College Class Of 1939 Reunion Program 2021, Clemson University

Reunion Programs

No abstract provided.

Magnetic Resonance Guided Radiation Therapy For Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma, Advantages, Challenges, Current Approaches, And Future Directions, William A. Hall, Christina Small, Eric Paulson, Eugene J. Koay, Christopher Crane, Martijn Intven, Lois A. Daamen, Gert J. Meijer, Hanne D. Heerkens, Michael Bassetti, Stephen A. Rosenberg, Katharine Aitken, Sten Myrehaug, Laura A. Dawson, Percy Lee, Cihan Gani, Michael D. Chuong, Parag J. Parikh, Beth A. Erickson

Radiation Oncology Articles

Introduction: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) has some of the worst treatment outcomes for any solid tumor. PAC creates substantial difficulty for effective treatment with traditional RT delivery strategies primarily secondary to its location and limited visualization using CT. Several of these challenges are uniquely addressed with MR-guided RT. We sought to summarize and place into context the currently available literature on MR-guided RT specifically for PAC.

Methods: A literature search was conducted to identify manuscript publications since September 2014 that specifically used MR-guided RT for the treatment of PAC. Clinical outcomes of these series are summarized, discussed, and placed into the …

Assessment Of Knowledge-Based Planning For Prostate Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy, Yihang Xu, Nellie Brovold, Jonathan Cyriac, Elizabeth Bossart, Kyle Padgett, Michael Butkus, Tejan Diwanj, Adam King, Alan Dal Pra, Matt Abramowitz, Alan Pollack, Nesrin Dogan

Radiation Oncology Articles

Purpose: To assess the performance of a proton-specific knowledge based planning (KBPP) model in creation of robustly optimized intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) plans for treatment of patients with prostate cancer.

Materials and Methods: Forty-five patients with localized prostate cancer, who had previously been treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy, were selected and replanned with robustly optimized IMPT. A KBPP model was generated from the results of 30 of the patients, and the remaining 15 patient results were used for validation. The KBPP model quality and accuracy were evaluated with the model-provided organ-at-risk regression plots and metrics. The KBPP quality was …

Tagtools: Software Supporting Biologging Research, Sam Fynewever, Racheal Tejevbo, Stacy L. De Ruiter

Summer Research

Observing animals in obscure habitats has long posed a challenge in biology. Biologging addresses this broad problem, obtaining data about animals like their acceleration, GPS position, etc. using electronic tags. Data from tags can lead to important knowledge of animal behavior, as DeRuiter et al. (2013) have shown1 . However, data is often shared raw, causing inconsistencies. This project maintains TagTools, software addressing this specific problem. TagToolsfunctions (in Matlab, Octave & R) calibrate data and help analyze behavior. TagTools software is traditionally taught at in-person workshops. Our old documents (practicals) were hosted online, but had bugs & were very long, …

“Runoff” With Calculations From The Curb, Evan Hsu, Julie Wildschut, Robert Hoeksema

Summer Research

Objectives

• Re-design a one page calculator system with a user manual and database system on Excel
• Research and update old values that the equations use (rainfall and soil porosities for example).