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Pao Induces Er Stress In Endothelial Cells Leading To Barrier Function Dysfunction And Inhibition Of Brd4 Prevents Lewisite-Induced Peribronchial Fibrosis, Huaxiu Zeng Sep 2025

Pao Induces Er Stress In Endothelial Cells Leading To Barrier Function Dysfunction And Inhibition Of Brd4 Prevents Lewisite-Induced Peribronchial Fibrosis, Huaxiu Zeng

All ETDs from UAB

Arsenicals are members of one of the most important global environmental vesicants and are a persistent bio accumulative carcinogen. One of the vesicants and chemical warfare agents is lewisite, which causes lung injury with pulmonary edema, hemorrhage, and respiratory failure. A single cutaneous exposure to lewisite in mice induces systemic lung injury through arsenical-mediated mechanisms. Some subjects develop Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS) where there is evidence of airway dysfunction and pathologic narrowing of the airways with extracellular protein deposition and fibroblast invasion. In vitro for human lung endothelial cells, Phenyl arsine Oxide (PAO) exposure, as surrogate of lewisite, leads to …

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Proteasome Augmentation Is Protective Against Alzheimer’S Disease And Agerelated Cognitive Decline, Kanisa Davidson Sep 2025

Proteasome Augmentation Is Protective Against Alzheimer’S Disease And Agerelated Cognitive Decline, Kanisa Davidson

All ETDs from UAB

Proteostasis is essential for the degradation of oxidized, misfolded proteins and proper function of neuronal plasticity. Proteasome inhibition has been shown to exacerbate cognitive and behavioral deficits in aging and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) models. Proteasomal activity is decreased across human and animal models of AD. We hypothesize that aging and AD markers, β-amyloid and/or hyperphosphorylated tau, impair proteasome function, thereby preventing the proteasome’s capacity to degrade critical synaptic proteins essential for memory formation. We investigated the role of pharmacological and genetic augmentation on proteasomal function, to rescue aging and AD-like cognitive deficits in cell culture, Drosophila, and mice. We demonstrate …

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Promoting Mental Health And Social-Emotional Development In Underserved Families, Brianna Paquette Sep 2025

Promoting Mental Health And Social-Emotional Development In Underserved Families, Brianna Paquette

All ETDs from UAB

The overarching goal of this dissertation was to investigate interventions that aimed to support mental health and child development in underserved families. Individuals from low-income households often experience mental health difficulties, such as higher rates of caregiver depression. Additionally, children from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to face difficulties with social and emotional development. This dissertation is comprised of three papers exploring interventions to facilitate child development and well-being in low-income families. The first paper is a systematic review and meta-analysis on home visiting interventions aimed at supporting the social-emotional development of children from birth to five years of age. …

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Identifying Functional Regional Changes In Patients With Parkinson’S Disease And Freezing Of Gait, Taylor Robin Davis Sep 2025

Identifying Functional Regional Changes In Patients With Parkinson’S Disease And Freezing Of Gait, Taylor Robin Davis

All ETDs from UAB

Freezing of gait (FOG) affects anywhere from 20-80% of those with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) with the prevalence increasing with disease severity and length. This detrimental symptom is unpredictable and poorly characterized, which adds to the negative experience of FOG as it is difficult to treat. Using resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI), we set out to determine the functional changes in those with PD-FOG and map onto regions of the brain where signal power, measured using fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), synchronicity, as measured by regional homogeneity (ReHo), and strength and direction of intra-network connections as measured by static effective connectivity, are …

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Understanding Visual Memory Encoding And The Effects Of Endurance Exercise In Healthy Adults And People With Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Brandon Steve Mitchell Sep 2025

Understanding Visual Memory Encoding And The Effects Of Endurance Exercise In Healthy Adults And People With Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Brandon Steve Mitchell

All ETDs from UAB

The visual memory encoding (VME) of indoor and outdoor scenes is a complex cognitive process that primarily utilizes the bilateral hippocampi and medial temporal lobe (MTL) structures along the parahippocampal gyrus. Alpha and theta frequency band oscillations are important in the processing of visual information and memory formation, respectively. We completed hree studies investigating the cognitive process of VME in healthy adults and people with temporal lobe epilepsy (pwTLE). The first study was cross-sectional and utilized a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-constrained magnetoencephalography (MEG) analysis in healthy adults to explore VME. The fMRI results were used as spatial priors to …

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Measuring Emotional Well-Being Across Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Alecia Mercier Sep 2025

Measuring Emotional Well-Being Across Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Alecia Mercier

All ETDs from UAB

Emotional well-being has emerged as a crucial determinant of both physical and mental health, with implications for public health initiatives aimed at improving quality of life and reducing mortality. However, a clear and consistent understanding of emotional well-being, its components, and optimal measurement strategies remains lacking, especially for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. This dissertation investigated how emotional well-being is conceptualized and measured in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. Paper one was a scoping review that identified 20 emotional well-being measures developed or adapted for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Findings demonstrated that many existing measures do not include emotional well-being …

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Bayesian Mediation Analyses For Zero-Inflated Data, Jinhong Cui Sep 2025

Bayesian Mediation Analyses For Zero-Inflated Data, Jinhong Cui

All ETDs from UAB

Mediation analysis is a fundamental tool in causal inference, enabling researchers to disentangle the pathways through which an exposure affects an outcome via intermediate variables (mediators). It has been widely applied in social sciences, psychology, and healthcare-related studies. Traditionally, mediation analysis has been conducted within the linear structural equation modeling (LSEM) framework. However, recent advances have shifted attention toward the counterfactual framework due to its flexibility in defining causal effects and its capacity to accommodate non-linear relationships, parametric and non-parametric models. Building on this foundation, methodological developments in mediation analysis have expanded to address more complex data structures, such as …

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Differential Susceptibility: How Parenting Behaviors Predict Adolescent Antisocial Behavior In The Context Of Candidate Plasticity Genes, Amanda Moore Sep 2025

Differential Susceptibility: How Parenting Behaviors Predict Adolescent Antisocial Behavior In The Context Of Candidate Plasticity Genes, Amanda Moore

All ETDs from UAB

Adolescent antisocial behavior (ASB) has been consistently linked to parenting behaviors, yet individual variability in response to parenting remains poorly understood. Grounded in the differential susceptibility theory, this study examined how candidate plasticity genes interact with poor parenting to predict ASB in adolescents. A sample of 272 youth from the Birmingham Youth Violence Study provided genetic data and participated in two waves of behavioral and parenting assessments. Parenting behaviors were measured using a composite index of harsh, inconsistent, and low-nurturance parenting. ASB was assessed through self- and parent-reported measures of delinquency, aggression, and conduct problems. The study tested whether individual …

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Psychedelics And Psychosis: An Interdisciplinary Re-Examination, Haley Maria Dourron Sep 2025

Psychedelics And Psychosis: An Interdisciplinary Re-Examination, Haley Maria Dourron

All ETDs from UAB

Psychedelics have long been described as potential drug models of psychosis. There is also concern that psychedelics might worsen psychotic symptoms in individuals with a history of psychotic disorders. This dissertation examines the overlap between psychedelic-induced states and non-affective psychotic disorders (NAPD) from both subjective and neurological perspectives, as well as the perceived impact of psychedelic use in people with a history of NAPD. Nineteen people with a history of NAPD who had used psychedelics were interviewed about their experiences. Participants generally described psychedelic and psychotic experiences as distinct, though both affected similar experiential domains, such as sensory alterations. Altered …

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Water Absorption, Surface Roughness And Flexural Strength Assessment Of Peek With And Without Aging., Pranjal Ramchandra Daundakr Sep 2025

Water Absorption, Surface Roughness And Flexural Strength Assessment Of Peek With And Without Aging., Pranjal Ramchandra Daundakr

All ETDs from UAB

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) has been the primary material for complete denture bases since its introduction in 1936 due to its esthetics, affordability, and ease of processing. However, PMMA demonstrates well-documented shortcomings, including relatively low flexural strength, high water absorption, and susceptibility to surface wear. These limitations lead to fractures, loss of occlusal vertical dimension (OVD), frequent relines, and compromised esthetics. Even advanced formats such as CAD-CAM milled and 3D printed PMMA remain prone to dimensional instability, microbial colonization, and long-term degradation. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), a high-performance thermoplastic originally used in orthopedic and spinal implants, has recently been introduced into dentistry as …

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Policy Surveillance Of Decommissioning And Decontamination Regulations, Joshua Gary Collins Sep 2025

Policy Surveillance Of Decommissioning And Decontamination Regulations, Joshua Gary Collins

All ETDs from UAB

Policy surveillance is an analytical collection and study of regulatory action within the public health field. Due to the vastness of the United States regulatory system, large amounts of time and effort are needed for policy surveillance to be accomplished. When considering nuclear decommissioning policies, all state and local regulations should start with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) requirements, however states have the freedom to increase stringency. Policy surveillance allows for both a convenient and approachable way to reference important regulations in a timely manner while also functioning as a method to identify and manage any inconsistencies found between the …

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A Concurrent Mixed Methods Formative Process Evaluation Of A Telehealth Mental Health Awareness Program For People With Mobility Limitations, Sangeetha Mohanraj Sep 2025

A Concurrent Mixed Methods Formative Process Evaluation Of A Telehealth Mental Health Awareness Program For People With Mobility Limitations, Sangeetha Mohanraj

All ETDs from UAB

People with mobility limitations face higher levels of mental health challenges and often face barriers to accessing mental health resources to overcome them. Raising mental health awareness and providing accessible resources are essential for improving the quality of life in this population. The NCHPAD’s (National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability) GROWTH (Growing Resilience Out of Wellness and Thoughtful Habits) program is a telehealth mental health wellness program developed for individuals with mobility limitations. The primary objective of this dissertation is to conduct an process evaluation of the GROWTH pilot program using a mixed methods approach to assess its …

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In-Vitro Antimicrobial Activity, Demineralization Inhibition Potential, And Staining Effects Of Three Silver Fluoride Materials, Quiesly Torres Sep 2025

In-Vitro Antimicrobial Activity, Demineralization Inhibition Potential, And Staining Effects Of Three Silver Fluoride Materials, Quiesly Torres

All ETDs from UAB

Background: Dental caries is a worldwide preventable public health problem. It affects any individuals regardless of their gender, age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) has been extensively used for preventing cavities, but it has side effects; therefore, some other biocompatible antimicrobial and remineralization-inducing alternative materials have been developed. Purpose: This study aims to assess the in vitro antimicrobial activity, demineralization inhibition potential, and staining effect of SDF, Nano Silver Fluoride (NSF), and silver fluoride + potassium iodide (SF/KI). Methods: Three silver diamine fluoride-based materials were tested: SDF 38% (Advantage Arrest®, Elevate Oral Care, USA), 1500 ppm NSF …

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Air Pollution And Environmental Injustice Are Related To Respiratory Complications In Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease, Kelsey M. Maclin Sep 2025

Air Pollution And Environmental Injustice Are Related To Respiratory Complications In Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease, Kelsey M. Maclin

All ETDs from UAB

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetically inherited blood disorder affecting people of African descent. SCD is characterized by painful episodes and an acute lung injury known as acute chest syndrome (ACS). Patients with SCD have a life expectancy <19 years compared to Blacks without SCD. There is minimal research investigating air pollution and health complications in SCD. The aims of this research were to investigate whether pulmonary function is affected by exposure to ambient air pollution, whether higher air pollution concentrations are associated with hospitalizations for ACS, and whether environmental injustice impacts the respiratory health of children and young adults with SCD. Air pollution data on the criteria air pollutants (CAPs) was obtained from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Patient health data were obtained from Children’s Hospital of Alabama electronic medical records. Logistic regression, distributed lag non-linear regression, Granger Causality, and Getis-Ord Gi* hot spot analysis were used to analyze our data. The EPA’s EJScreen tool was used as a measure of exposure to environmental injustice. ArcGIS was used to map the EJScreen data. Exposure to short-term air pollution is significantly associated with a reduction in pulmonary function in children and young adults with SCD. Children and young adults exposed to a one-unit increase in the monthly average concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) experienced an increase in the odds of having abnormal pulmonary function. We observed the trends of each criteria air pollutant in our study to be closely aligned with the trends in the hospitalizations for ACS. Most of our study participants with a history of ACS lived in areas burdened by greater environmental injustices. Specifically, the hot spots for ACS overlapped with the hot spots for PM2.5. Unequal exposure to environmental injustices leads to increases in hospitalizations for respiratory complications in individuals with SCD. Reductions in air pollution could be greatly beneficial to the pulmonary function and overall respiratory health of individuals with SCD. Further research is needed to examine associations between air pollution and hospitalizations for ACS in individuals with SCD.

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Core Body Temperature (Cbt) Monitoring Among Groundskeepers Under Heat Stress, Lara Anne Parker Sep 2025

Core Body Temperature (Cbt) Monitoring Among Groundskeepers Under Heat Stress, Lara Anne Parker

All ETDs from UAB

Heat is the leading cause of death for outdoor workers. In Alabama, there are an estimated 11,160 - 21,460 workers employed in the landscaping and groundskeeping industry, which are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses (HRI). In this study, core body temperature (CBT) and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index were examined as potential indicators of heat stress. A SlateSafety (SS) Band V2 wearable CBT device and a WBGT monitor were used to collect CBT and WBGT values, respectively. Sampling for the main two measurements was performed over five days for two participants. An additional CBT device option, the e-Celsius performance ingestible pill, …

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Racial/Ethnic Heterogeneity In Women’S Aging Experiences Over Time: A Latent Transition Analysis, Joshua Christian Julian Lewis Sep 2025

Racial/Ethnic Heterogeneity In Women’S Aging Experiences Over Time: A Latent Transition Analysis, Joshua Christian Julian Lewis

All ETDs from UAB

U.S. population aging and unprecedented racial/ethnic diversity will affect the types of social and healthcare services older adults need. These projections have renewed attention to healthy aging, which refers to the physiological/functional, psychological, and social capacity to maintain well-being. Extant research finds that most are aging unwell and through binary and biomedical operationalizations—which do not account for patterns of chronic conditions, disability, intersecting race / ethnic and gender inequality, socioculturally developed resources, and social relations—reifies the exceptions, typically men and non-Hispanic Whites, as the “aging well” benchmark. Integrating theoretical considerations of the life course, cumulative inequality, stress process, and limitations …

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Understanding The Functional Consequence Of Cul3 Deletion In The Mammalian Brain, Prathibha Sekar Sep 2025

Understanding The Functional Consequence Of Cul3 Deletion In The Mammalian Brain, Prathibha Sekar

All ETDs from UAB

Polyubiquitination is a post-translational modification which often results in degradation of the ubiquitin-tagged protein. E3 ubiquitin ligases are multi-subunit protein complexes that assist in this ubiquitination process. Multiple genes that play a role in ubiquitination are implicated in autism spectrum disorder, a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder. CULLIN3 (CUL3), a scaffolding protein part of the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, is the product of a high-risk autism gene implicated across multiple large scale sequencing studies of autism patients. Additionally, CUL3 haploinsufficiency is associated with a syndromic disorder called NEDAUS (Neurodevelopmental disorder with or without autism or seizures) characterized by intellectual disability (ID), …

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Voices From Two Secondary Newcomer Programs In Alabama: A Multiple Case Study, Carl Anthony Floyd Jr Sep 2025

Voices From Two Secondary Newcomer Programs In Alabama: A Multiple Case Study, Carl Anthony Floyd Jr

All ETDs from UAB

This multiple case study investigates the design, implementation, and impact of two secondary newcomer programs in Alabama, with a focus on Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) and non-SLIFE English Learner (EL) newcomers. Grounded in Esteban-Guitart et al.’s (2023) framework of community funds of knowledge and identity, the study explores how these programs function as community educational ecosystems. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and document reviews across two school districts and analyzed using ethnographic and thematic methods. Findings reveal that when newcomer programs are intentionally designed to leverage community assets and cultural identities, they provide meaningful academic, …

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Parenting And Parental Well-Being As Risk And Resilience Factors For Mental Well-Being In Adolescents With And Without Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Wanqin Yu Sep 2025

Parenting And Parental Well-Being As Risk And Resilience Factors For Mental Well-Being In Adolescents With And Without Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Wanqin Yu

All ETDs from UAB

Parenting practices and caregiver well-being are widely recognized as key determinants of adolescent mental health. However, few studies have examined how these factors operate in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), particularly through a risk and resilience framework. This study investigated how positive and negative parenting practices, caregiver well-being, and parenting stress relate to adolescents’ emotional well-being and internalizing problems. It also explored whether these variables differed between adolescents with and without NDDs. Participants included 105 adolescents aged 11–14 years (61.9% female; 52.4% diagnosed with an NDD) and their caregivers, drawn from a larger study on adolescent socio-emotional competencies. Caregivers …

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Origin And Differentiation Of Uterine Natural Killer Cells, Morgan Elizabeth-Carolyn Greene Sep 2025

Origin And Differentiation Of Uterine Natural Killer Cells, Morgan Elizabeth-Carolyn Greene

All ETDs from UAB

Uterine natural killer (uNK) cells are specialized tissue-resident lymphocytes that are essential for successful pregnancy, yet the molecular pathways governing their development remain poorly defined. This knowledge gap hinders our ability to understand and treat immunological complications of pregnancy, such as recurrent pregnancy loss and pre-eclampsia. This dissertation addresses the fundamental question of how human uNK cells arise and differentiate, first within the non-pregnant endometrium and subsequently within the decidua of early pregnancy. Using single-cell RNA sequencing of matched human blood and endometrial samples, we first delineate the developmental trajectory of endometrial NK (eNK) cells. We demonstrate that eNK cells …

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The Impact Of Nursing Home Ownership On The Election Of Advance Care Directives, Natasha Elie Sep 2025

The Impact Of Nursing Home Ownership On The Election Of Advance Care Directives, Natasha Elie

All ETDs from UAB

Approximately 1.3 million people reside in nursing homes/facilities. Annually, this population represents 25% of mortalities in the United States. The enactment of the Patient Self Determination Act (PSDA) required nursing homes/facilities to educate patients, staff, and the community on the right to advance care directives. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of nursing home ownership on the election of ACDs and end-of-life care services by examining how nursing homes ownership in New York, California, and Ohio compared regarding residents' election of ACD and whether there was a variation in the these states. This paper contributes to the literature by …

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Evaluating Relative Value Units And Its Alternatives Inradiology, Alfred Matthew Dewey Sep 2025

Evaluating Relative Value Units And Its Alternatives Inradiology, Alfred Matthew Dewey

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT Radiologist productivity in the United States is traditionally measured by thework Relative Value Unit (wRVU). However, wRVUs fail to capture several criticalaspects of radiologic work, including study complexity, patient characteristics, andfacility factors. This study evaluated the statistical significance of wRVUs as a measureof productivity and proposes an alternative model grounded in ascribable time—themeasurable duration a radiologist takes to interpret and report a study.A comprehensive literature review highlighted the inadequacy of wRVUs inaccounting for technological advances, case complexity, and workflow differences.Applying contingency theory as the guiding framework, this study posited that radiologyproductivity must be tailored to institutional and contextual variability. …

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An Analysis Of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Levels With Structural And Functional Connectivity In Antipsychotic Medication-Naïve First Episode Psychosis Patients, Genelle Dano Samson Sep 2025

An Analysis Of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Levels With Structural And Functional Connectivity In Antipsychotic Medication-Naïve First Episode Psychosis Patients, Genelle Dano Samson

All ETDs from UAB

Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and abnormalities in emotional expression, social interaction, and motivation. Cognitive deficits and alterations in perception are core features of psychosis spectrum disorders, though the neurobiological bases of these impairments are not thoroughly understood. Examination of the structures responsible for cognition, along with how their connectivity and neurochemistry are altered in psychosis, is crucial to understanding and treating schizophrenia. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and plays a crucial role in the regulation of neuronal activity. Evidence from animal models and postmortem …

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Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Socket Healing And Mronj, Yuki Arai, Chiaki Tsutsumi-Arai, Jeryl D English, Noriaki Ono, Wanida Ono Sep 2025

Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Socket Healing And Mronj, Yuki Arai, Chiaki Tsutsumi-Arai, Jeryl D English, Noriaki Ono, Wanida Ono

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This review aims to summarise the current understanding of the biological processes involved in socket healing after tooth extraction and the contribution of mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSCs) during these processes. Additionally, it seeks to explore the mechanisms underlying medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), often linked to tooth extraction, to provide insights for future research directions. Socket healing is a complex biological process consisting of three phases: inflammatory, proliferative and modelling/remodelling. MSCs, particularly those derived from periodontal ligament (PDL) cells and bone lining cells, are known to play a significant role in the initial and subsequent stages of healing. However, …

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Gun Violence Declines Came Through Strategic Planning And Community Focus (Op-Ed), Alvin Bragg Sep 2025

Gun Violence Declines Came Through Strategic Planning And Community Focus (Op-Ed), Alvin Bragg

Other Publications

No abstract provided.

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The Glutaminase Activity Of Asns Fuels Glutamine Metabolism In Leukemia, Wai-Kin Chan, Lin Tan, Sara A Martinez, Di Du, Thomas D Horvath, Michael Pontikos, Leona A Rusling, Yulun Chiu, Bao Q Tran, Susan B Rempe, Sergei Sukharev, John N Weinstein, Philip L Lorenzi Sep 2025

The Glutaminase Activity Of Asns Fuels Glutamine Metabolism In Leukemia, Wai-Kin Chan, Lin Tan, Sara A Martinez, Di Du, Thomas D Horvath, Michael Pontikos, Leona A Rusling, Yulun Chiu, Bao Q Tran, Susan B Rempe, Sergei Sukharev, John N Weinstein, Philip L Lorenzi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Not available.

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The Longitudinal Associations Between The Longitudinal Associations Between Parent Involvement And Academic Achievement In Elementary School Involvement And Academic Achievement In Elementary School, Makayla Elizabeth Warnecke Sep 2025

The Longitudinal Associations Between The Longitudinal Associations Between Parent Involvement And Academic Achievement In Elementary School Involvement And Academic Achievement In Elementary School, Makayla Elizabeth Warnecke

All ETDs from UAB

Parent involvement has been positively linked to children’s academic outcomes (e.g., Chavkin, 1993; Eccles & Harold, 1993; Epstein, 1989, 1994; Hess & Holloway, 1984; Hobbs et al, 1984; U.S Department of Education, 1994). These outcomes include higher achievement test scores (Keith et al., 1986), better grades (NCES, 1985), and increased rates of secondary school completion (Chavkin & Williams, 1993; Delgado-Gaitan, 1988, 1992; Epstein, 1986, 1995; Angiano, 2004). However, gaps remain in the current state of research when investigating longterm implications. In a recent meta-analysis, researchers stated the lack of analyses using a longitudinal cross-lagged design as a future direction (Barger …

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Adult Role Transitions And Substance Use In Black And White Young Adults, Kristina Brooke Mcmahan Sep 2025

Adult Role Transitions And Substance Use In Black And White Young Adults, Kristina Brooke Mcmahan

All ETDs from UAB

ADULT ROLE TRANSITIONS AND SUBSTANCE USE IN BLACK AND WHITE YOUNG ADULTS ABSTRACT Substance use, including alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis, often begins during adolescence and young adulthood, which is a developmental period marked by major life transitions such as graduating college, entering full-time employment, and parenthood. Adult role transition patterns may influence substance use and mental health outcomes; however, limited research has examined these associations in racially and socioeconomically diverse populations. The present study explored patterns of adult role transitions and their associations with substance use and mental health symptoms among young adults using data from Wave 4 of the …

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Randomized Control Trial Of A Novel Dental Gel As An Adjunct To Scaling And Root Planing In Subjects With Stage Ii & Iii Periodontitis, Efstratios Choreftakis Sep 2025

Randomized Control Trial Of A Novel Dental Gel As An Adjunct To Scaling And Root Planing In Subjects With Stage Ii & Iii Periodontitis, Efstratios Choreftakis

All ETDs from UAB

Scaling and root planing (ScRP) is the gold standard for non-surgical periodontal therapy, yet no dentifrice has been definitively shown to improve its outcomes. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of LivFresh Dental Gel as an adjunct to ScRP in patients with Stage II and III periodontitis. Twenty-one participants were assigned to either a test group using LivFresh Dental Gel or a control group using a standard sodium fluoride dentifrice. Clinical parameters—including probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), and bleeding on probing (BOP)—were assessed at baseline, 30, 90, and 180 days. The …

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Racial Discrimination And Inflammation In Adolescence: Ethnic/Racial Processes As Moderators, Queenisha Crichlow Sep 2025

Racial Discrimination And Inflammation In Adolescence: Ethnic/Racial Processes As Moderators, Queenisha Crichlow

All ETDs from UAB

Discrimination and other psychosocial stressors contribute to chronic disease by dysregulating neuroendocrine and immune systems, which often leads to increased levels of inflammation. Given that inflammation is a key biological pathway associated with the development of chronic diseases, it has been proposed as a potential mechanism linking racial discrimination to poorer health. Most studies linking racial discrimination with inflammation have focused on adults, despite the fact that children and adolescents also experience discrimination. This dissertation explores the association between racial discrimination and inflammation, measured via salivary C-reactive protein (CRP) and proinflammatory cytokines, among Black and Hispanic adolescents. It also examines …

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