Digital Commons Network^™

Who Is The Stranger Really? A Reluctant Autoethnography Of The Strange Situation Procedure, Tara Yazdani

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This paper aims to review the cross-cultural application of attachment theory as a western model of thought and practice. That is, this research aimed to recognize and question how embedded attachment theory has become in programming and education within North American academic and practical arenas. In applying the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP) to a limited sample of Eritrean dyads, important considerations and questions arose regarding the cross-cultural application of this protocol. The aims of this research shifted toward further exploring these considerations and questions, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the new research aim emphasized how to inform future …

The Impact Of Combined Flexion And Compression On The Mechanical Integrity Of The Annulus Fibrosus, Keaton Briar

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Introduction: Intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation is characterized by an expulsion of nucleus pulposus (NP) material through the annulus fibrosus (AF). The AF contains two major adhesive structures, the intralamellar matrix and the interlamellar matrix, which act to maintain the strength of the AF and prevent NP material migration. As a herniation occurs, clefts form within the intralamellar matrix, pushing the NP between adjacent collagen fibres; meanwhile, delamination of the interlamellar matrix causes the NP to pool between layers of the AF. Further, herniation more readily occurs in a combined loading scenario of both compression and flexion. Flexion, and in particular …

Centuries Of Heat Waves Over India During 20th And 21st Century, Naveena Neelam, Gubbala C. Satyanerayana, Kotla S. Rao, Nandivada Umakantha, Dharma Raju

Applied Environmental Research

An assessment of temperature extremes is made for the Indian subcontinent to identify the changes since 1951 to 2015, and for the future climate periods till 2100 for all the 21 CMIP5 (Coupled Model intercomparision Project phase 5) models and the representative concentration pathways RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 were examined for the period from 1 March to 31 May to characterize the heat waves in future climates and mean maximum and mean minimum bias were evaluated for the Indian subcontinent. Later two highest recorded temperature regions were chosen Northwest & Central India (NW&CIN) and only central India (CIN) box and the …

The Energy Transition And Mining: Reconciling The Growth Of Renewable Energy With The Need For New Mineral Development, Alexandra B. Klass, Allison J. Mitchell

Articles

Under the Paris Agreement, the global governmental signatories embraced the goal to hold global average temperature increase to “well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” while “pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.” Almost every country in the world signed on to the Paris Agreement, adopting the prevailing science that anthropocentric greenhouse gas emissions would result in rising global temperatures and catastrophic damages from climate change in the absence of immediate action. In pursuit of this goal, the signatories agreed that all member countries would work together to bring greenhouse gas emissions to zero within the …

Understanding The Relationship Between Local Environmental Changes And The Function Of The Ph Low Insertion Peptide, Violetta Burns Casamayor

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the US with over 1.7 million new cases each year. Current cancer treatments tend to also target healthy tissues due to similarities with cancerous ones, resulting in acute side effects. Early detection is the best approach towards defeating cancer, however, modern imaging techniques require sizeable samples, often implying a late stage in the disease. One common attribute of tumors is their acidic microenvironment, which can be taken advantage of.

The pH Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) is a membrane-active peptide that can take advantage of the acidic microenvironment surrounding cancer cells. pHLIP …

Development And Dynamics Of Us Welfare Policy, Liza Gordon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this dissertation I analyze the development of contemporary US welfare policy with special consideration given to the importance of race and gender. In the introductory chapter I outline how the development of the American welfare state has continuously neglected the needs of women and minorities as well as how classist, racist, and sexist appeals have been prevalent throughout US history in relation to welfare policies. The remaining chapters analyze how contemporary welfare policies including the 1996 welfare reforms and state drug-testing for welfare laws carry on these American legacies. In Chapter 1 I examine how the classist, sexist, and …

Improving Microbial Safety Of Food Products By Thermal And Non-Thermal Technology And Evaluate The Knowledge Of Antibiotic Resistant Issue Among Local Produce Growers, Wentao Jiang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Microbial contamination of food products is one of the main transmission routes of disease in the world today, which is responsible for about two-thirds of all food-borne disease outbreaks although the hygiene process was improved recently. Improving microbial safety and implementing a good food management system are important elements to reduce microbial contamination and improve food safety and security. To improve microbial safety, I conducted inactivation studies on food pathogens and further explored antibiotic resistant risks. Initial research evaluated the efficacy of commercial antimicrobials distribution by comparing electrostatic sprayer with conventional sanitization process. The antibiotics applied by electrostatic spraying achieved …

Nuclear Aurora-A Kinase-Induced Hypoxia Signaling Drives Dissemination And Metastasis In Breast Cancer., Kristina Marinak Whately

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Metastatic breast cancer causes the vast majority of cancer-associated deaths, especially in triple negative breast cancers (TNBC). TNBC is still poorly understood and has no effective treatment. Here we reveal that presence of Aurora-A Kinase (AURKA) in the nucleus and metastatic dissemination are molecularly connected through HIF1 (Hypoxia induced factor-1) signaling. The nuclear AURKA in the complex with constitutively expressed HIF-1β subunit activates transcription of “hypoxia induced genes” under normoxic conditions (the phenomenon called pseudohypoxia) without upregulation of oxygen-sensitive HIF-1α subunit. We uncover that AURKA preferentially binds to and phosphorylates HIF-1β, and co-localizes with HIF complex on DNA. The mass …

A Role For Endothelial Tissue-Nonspecific Alkaline Phosphatase In Blood-Tissue Barrier Health And Disease, Allison L. Brichacek

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sepsis is a disorder that targets the microcirculation with significant effects at blood-tissue barriers such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and gut-vascular barrier (GVB). Intestinal barrier dysfunction is thought to be one of the most important contributors to multi-organ dysfunction in sepsis. As a common site of infection, the impaired gut allows the dissemination of bacteria, which exacerbates the disease pathophysiology, and can lead to long-term morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms that influence altered barrier permeability in the GVB in sepsis and other inflammatory disorders are not well understood. Tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) enzyme activity, which has been shown to …

Development Of Vibrating Sharp-Edge Spray Ionization (Vssi) Methods For Mass Spectrometry Analysis And Imaging, Nandhini Ranganathan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mass Spectrometry (MS) is one of the widely used tools for chemical detection down to attomole concentrations for certain proteins. Ionization sources are a critical component for MS analysis. One of the major ionization methods is electrospray ionization (ESI), which remains a gold standard for proteins and peptides. ESI uses voltages up to ~4 kV to produce ions from solubilized molecules. Recently, a novel ionization method termed vibrating sharp-edge spray ionization (VSSI) that nebulizes liquids efficiently at the edge of a vibrating glass slide has been reported. The work in this thesis leverages the capabilities of VSSI for continuous flow-based …

Mycorrhizal Type Dictates Soil Microbial Diversity And Function And The Integrated Root-Microbial Response To Water Stress In Temperate Forests, Nanette C. Raczka

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Our understanding of the mechanisms that control the magnitude of the temperate forest carbon (C) sink and its response to global change remain uncertain. Much of this uncertainty lies in the extent to which differences between tree species in their mycorrhizal symbionts and corresponding nutrient acquisition strategies control the activity of soil microbes that mobilize nutrients and decompose soil organic matter. ECM trees allocate substantial amounts of C to ECM fungi and rhizosphere microbes to mine soil organic matter for nutrients. By contrast, AM trees invest less C belowground and rely on AM fungi to scavenge for nutrients. While these …

Quantification Of Bacterial Shedding From The Respiratory Tract Of Health Care Workers Wearing Paprs And Other Types Of Air-Purifying Respirators On Sterile Conditions In A Simulated Operating Rooms (Ors), Segun Olanrewaju Ajewole

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The role of powered air- purifying respirators (PAPRs) in healthcare settings during infectious diseases outbreaks and highly contagious pathogens (e.g., SARS, HINI, Ebola, COVID etc.) has attracted much interest based on the level of respiratory protection they provide and their many positive user features. A common practice among healthcare workers to minimize airborne contaminant exposure has been to use surgical masks or N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). Surgical masks have been shown to offer minimal respiratory protection and while N95 FFRs offer better respiratory protection, they are not comfortable to use for a prolonged period. With current PAPR designs, exhaled …

Determining The Effects Of Imidacloprid On Non-Target Soil Organisms In Hemlock Stands, Braley Burke

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), Adelges tsugae Annand (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), is an invasive insect that is causing mortality of eastern hemlock trees, Tsuga canadensis, and Carolina hemlock trees, Tsuga caroliniana, across the eastern United States. To protect these ecologically important tree species, a neonicotinoid insecticide, imidacloprid, is commonly used. Imidacloprid is an effective treatment and can remain effective against HWA for four to six years but long-term (≥ one year after application) non-target effects of imidacloprid on forest ecosystems are not well-studied. This study examined terrestrial non-target effects of imidacloprid in hemlock stands with different treatment histories to …

Mechanisms And Therapeutic Interventions For Breast Cancer-Induced Fatigue And Mitochondrial Dysfunction, David Andrew Stanton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

According to the latest statistics from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), about 1 in 8 U.S. women (~13%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. This translates to an estimated 268,600 new cases of breast cancer for the year 2019, and these diagnoses will collectively make up 15% of all new cancer cases across all cancer types. The majority of these women will experience the often-debilitating symptom of breast cancer-induced fatigue. these patients often have difficulty performing normal activities of daily living, have decreased tolerance to traditional tumor-directed therapies, and have higher rates of cancer recurrence. …

Enhancing Negative-Ion Native Mass Spectrometry With Field-Assisted Capillary Vibrating Sharp-Edge Spray Ionization (Cvssi), Kushani Udeshika Attanayake

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Although the birth of native mass spectrometry (native MS) occurred only several years after the development of electrospray ionization (ESI), it is yet considered an emerging technique for MS-based studies. This stems in part from challenges associated with efficient ionization of biopolymers. Although steady gains in ion production for native structure characterization have been secured primarily with the use of nanoelectrospray ionization (nESI), under negative polarity, the ionization efficiency can be extensively reduced due to an effect called “corona discharge”. The corona discharge occurs at the tip of ESI emitters because of free electron acceleration in the high-field region produced …

Development Of Synthetic Coal Char Simulant For Microwave Conversion Studies: A Computationally-Driven Approach, Kevin A. Hager

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Recent experimental demonstration of new reaction windows for coal char/methane reactions that are less energy-intensive, provides innovation for modular reactors. However, the correlation of the exact mechanism for the enhancement of these reaction windows is not certain. This study investigates the simplification of these experimental studies by developing a well-characterized coal char simulant. The approach involves using a computational approach to screen macroscopic composition to replicate the dielectric and compositional response of actual char. This study is focused on PRB coal char. A discrete element method (DEM) technique was used to simulate the packing of coal chars to give the …

The Comparison Of Treadmill And Overground Running With The Use Of Inertial Measurement Units (Imus), Griffin R. Moon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Treadmill running has historically been utilized in the laboratory to mimic outdoor running. Recent developments in portable technology, such as Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) allow researchers to assess runners in their natural environment. PURPOSE: The primary purpose of the study was to compare peak tibial acceleration, stance time, stride frequency, and rearfoot eversion velocity between treadmill and overground running (asphalt, track, and grass). The secondary purpose was to test the reliability of IMU-based estimations of maximum rearfoot eversion velocity during treadmill running. METHODS: Twenty subjects (Age: 22.1 ± 2.0 yrs, Mass: 70.8 ± 11.9 kg, Height: 174.5 ± 10.0 cm, …

Rania: A Framework For A Modular, Voice Enabled, Gerontechnology-Centric, Smart-Home System, Emily Francis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the United States, the proportion of senior citizens is expected to rise significantly over the next few decades. This increasing number of senior citizens combined with the increasing demand for at home healthcare workers is putting a strain on the elderly healthcare system. Smart-home healthcare technology { such as smart medication dispensers, fall detection systems, smart pantry systems, etc. { has the potential to alleviate this strain on the elderly healthcare system. Smart devices can give an individual more autonomized and personalized surveillance of their health and well-being. While these devices are beneficial as standalone devices, they would be …

Fostering Music Performers In The 21st Century: A Contemporary Professional Perspective Toward A New Curricular Agenda For Graduate Study In Music, Andre Januario

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

What if the core curriculum for graduate students in music performance were designed to prepare students to succeed in the world of the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

This dissertation offers a hypothetical answer: a structured and systematic academic curricular framework for music graduate students of performance of concert music (especially those in terminal degrees, such as doctoral students), along with music instructors, professional music performers, school administrators, and college professors, seeking to prepare such students for achieving and maintaining a music career more in keeping with the current work environment, especially those skills demanded by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the …

A Deep Learning Approach To Lncrna Subcellular Localization Using Inexact Q-Mer, Weijun Yi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Long non coding Ribonucleic Acids (lncRNAs) can be localized to different cellular components, such as the nucleus, exosome, cytoplasm, ribosome, etc. Their biological functions can be influenced by the region of the cell they are located. Many of these lncRNAs are associated with different challenging diseases. Thus, it is crucial to study their subcellular localization. However, compared to the vast number of lncRNAs, only relatively few have annotations in terms of their subcellular localization. Conventional computational methods use q-mer profiles from lncRNA sequences and then train machine learning models, such as support vector machines and logistic regression with the profiles. …

Design And Synthesis Of Targeted Immunotherapeutic Agents, Md Shohel Rana

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are very important tools to fight against the diseases especially in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Many immunotherapeutic antibodies are being used to treat cancer that target multiple different components of the cancer microenvironment. Cells with extracellular juxtacrine ligands [JL-cells] and extracellular juxtacrine receptors [JR-cells] form JL-cell-JR-cell interfaces that produce juxtacrine signals inside JR-cells. [76] Juxtacrine signaling unlike endocrine or paracrine signaling requires no release or cellular uptake of ligands. [76] Immune checkpoint inhibitors are soluble IgG antibodies that block juxtacrine ligand engagements with juxtacrine receptors on tumor or other immune cells. [77] Rapid Nobel Prize …

Unique Biological Applications Of Charge Transfer Dissociation Mass Spectrometry, Halle M. Edwards

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The ever-changing landscape of mass spectrometry is driven by gaps in knowledge, and one of the biggest driving forces is the desire to understand the structure and dynamics of biomolecules in living organisms. New and better methods of tandem mass spectrometry are often at the heart of technological developments. Some fragmentation methods are limited to expensive FTICR instruments, some techniques are limited multiply charged precursors, and others are limited to breaking only the weakest bonds in precursor ions; all of which support the pursuit of new activation methods. Charge transfer dissociation (CTD) addresses some of these concerns by providing structurally …

Online Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Charge Transfer Dissociation-Mass Spectrometry (Uhplc-Ctd-Ms) Of Complex Mixtures Of Oligosaccharides, Praneeth M. Mendis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Online Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Charge Transfer Dissociation-Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-CTD-MS) of Complex Mixtures of Oligosaccharides

Praneeth M. Mendis

Complex carbohydrates make up more than half the biomass on earth, and they are crucial to a wide range of processes in living organisms. When polysaccharides and glycans are enzymatically digested into manageable units called oligosaccharides, they typically consist of 2-20 linear or branched sugar units. The detailed structural analysis of oligosaccharides assists in the identification of structural and chemical properties of the polymers from which they derive. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is a key technique used in oligosaccharides structural characterization. Within …

Terrestrial Salamander And Ant Community Responses To Imidacloprid Application In Central Appalachian Eastern Hemlock Forests, Lenza E. Paul

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Imidacloprid is the most widely used insecticide in the world and has been found to impact non-target taxa in systems in which it is applied. It is used as the primary treatment method in the protection of eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) from impacts of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA; Adelges tsugae), an invasive insect in the U.S. that is causing widespread mortality of hemlock trees. In this study, we investigated whether imidacloprid applied in eastern hemlock forests is impacting woodland salamander and ant communities.

In Chapter 1, I provide an overview of the ecological importance of eastern hemlocks …

Maternal Engineered Nanomaterial Inhalation Exposure: Cardiac Molecular Reprogramming In Progeny Through Epigenetic And Epitranscriptomic Mechanisms, Amina Kunovac

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: Nano-titanium dioxide (TiO₂), a prominently utilized engineered nanomaterial (ENM), is being employed for its physiochemical properties in several fields including the food industry, manufacturing, and biomedicine. As the prevalence of this ENM, and other particulate matter grows, so does the concern for antagonistic consequences on long-term heart function in vulnerable populations, which until now have not been investigated. Due to the reliance of the heart on the ATP generating capacity of mitochondria for contraction, understanding the role of mitochondrial bioenergetics and structure is pivotal in understanding the repercussions of particulate matter exposure during gestation. As the mass …

Validation Of Shoulder Strain Index, Fabiha Islam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of shoulder are one of the most frequent and major causes of morbidity and pain among full-time workers in the USA. In 2018, shoulder disorders were the most severe type of MSDs in terms of lost workdays. Recent epidemiological studies have identified several biomechanical, organizational, and psychological factors that increase the risk of shoulder MSDs. Though multiple biomechanical studies have evaluated physical causal factors of shoulder MSDs with a goal of risk mitigation, literature lacks a standardized risk assessment tool. The main objective of this study was to validate a previously developed shoulder strain index. The strain …

Identical Twins As A Facial Similarity Benchmark For Human Facial Recognition, John Andrew Mccauley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The problem of distinguishing identical twins and non-twin look-alikes in automated facial recognition (FR) applications has become increasingly important with the widespread adoption of facial biometrics. Due to the high facial similarity of both identical twins and look-alikes, these face pairs represent the hardest cases presented to facial recognition tools. This work presents an application of one of the largest twin datasets compiled to date to address two FR challenges: 1) determining a baseline measure of facial similarity between identical twins and 2) applying this similarity measure to determine the impact of doppelgangers, or look-alikes, on FR performance for large …

Assessing Synthetic Aperture Radar (Sar)-Derived Temporal Patterns And Digital Terrain Data For Palustrine Wetland Mapping, Jaimee L. Pyron

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Palustrine wetland systems are important ecosystems and provide numerous ecosystems services to support society. Unfortunately, they remain under constant threat of devastation due to land use practices and global climate change, which underscores the need to identify, map, and monitor these landscape features. This study explores harmonic coefficients and seasonal median values derived from Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, as well as digital elevation model (DEM)-derived terrain variables, to predict palustrine wetland locations in the Vermont counties of Bennington, Chittenden, and Essex. Support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF) machine learning models were used with various combinations of …

Hands And Health: Quantifying Occupational Exposures And Implications Of Disability, Sueann R. Woods

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: Hand grip strength (HGS) has been negatively correlated with both biologic, cognitive, and mental health markers. Aim one investigated how occupational metabolic equivalents (OMETs), impacted HGS. Aim two investigated lost time from work and the association with HGS. Finally, aim three investigated the health outcomes of workers’ compensation claimants who have lost time from work, following diagnosis of CTS.

Results:HGS was positively associated with OMET (rs = 0.078, p = 0.009). Linear regression model demonstrated a statistically significant association between HGS and OMETs, F(1, 31) = 9.735, p = .001. Aim two found that all occupation groups had …

Psychometric Evaluation Of Genetic Literacy Instruments In A National Sample, Jamey T. Brumbaugh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The concept of genetic literacy continues to grow in clinical and social significance. Whether transforming current healthcare practices or raising questions about genetically-modified foods, genetic information and technologies are primed to further influence people’s lives. There is a growing need to understand how genetic literacy is currently assessed in order to inform and improve future test development. This study aimed to investigate the assessment of genetic literacy by psychometrically examining three contemporary genetic literacy instruments (i.e., Genetic Knowledge Survey, International Genetic Literacy and Attitudes Survey (iGLAS-GK), and University of North Carolina Genomic Knowledge Scale (UNC-GKS). Psychometric properties, including internal consistency …