Digital Commons Network^™

Nanoparticle Depot For Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Of Ovarian Cancer, Bo Sun

Open Access Dissertations

Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy is a promising post-surgical therapy of ovarian cancer, with the full potential yet to be proven. To facilitate IP chemotherapy of ovarian cancer, we have developed a nanoparticle depot for IP chemotherapy consisted of paclitaxel (PTX) nanocrystals (PNC) and hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel (HA gel). PNC with a size of ~310 nm was produced by nonsolvent and temperature-induced crystallization. Dissolution kinetics of PNC could be determined by the light scattering method rather than the dialysis method due to drug reprecipitation caused by diffusion barrier. PTX release profiles from PNC-gel and PTX precipitate-gel (PPT-gel) were estimated in both sink- …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of A Fingerprint Biometric And A Biometric Personal Identification Number (Bio-Pin™) When Used As A Multi-Factor Authentication Mechanism, Robert B. Batie

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

The issue of traditional user authentication methods, such as username/passwords, when accessing information systems, the Internet, and Web-based applications still pose significant vulnerabilities. The problem of user authentication including physical and logical access appears to have limited, if any, coverage in research from the perspective of biometric as ‘something the user knows.’ Previous methods of establishing ones’ identity by using a password, or presenting a token or identification (ID) card are vulnerable to circumvention by misplacement or unauthorized sharing. The need for reliable user authentication techniques has increased in the wake of heightened concerns about information security and rapid advancements …

Intrinsic Inter-Subject Variability In Functional Neuroimaging: Verification Using Blind Source Separation Features, Shruti Gopal Vij

Theses

The holy grail of brain imaging is the identification of a biomarker, which can identify an abnormality that can be used to diagnose disease and track the effectiveness of treatment and disease progression. Typically approaches that search for biomarkers start by identifying mean differences between groups of patients and healthy controls. However, combining data from different subjects and groups to be able to make meaningful inferences is not trivial. The structure of the brain in each individual is unique in size and shape as well as in the relative location of anatomical landmarks (e.g. sulci and gyri). When looking for …

Microbes And Alzheimer's Disease, Ruth Itzhaki, Richard Lathe, Brian J. Balin, Melvyn J. Ball, Elaine L. Bearer, Heiko Braak, Maria J. Bullido, Chris Carter, Mario Clerici, Et Al.

PCOM Scholarly Works

We are researchers and clinicians working on Alzheimer's disease (AD) or related topics, and we write to express our concern that one particular aspect of the disease has been neglected, even though treatment based on it might slow or arrest AD progression. We refer to the many studies, mainly on humans, implicating specific microbes in the elderly brain, notably herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), Chlamydia pneumoniae, and several types of spirochaete, in the etiology of AD. Fungal infection of AD brain has also been described, as well as abnormal microbiota in AD patient blood. The first observations of HSV1 …

Patterns In Dental Health: Investigating Dental Disease At The Archaeological Site Of Kuelap In Chachapoyas, Peru, Vu Tran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social organization influences individual well-being and overall community health, which may lead to health disparities that manifest in teeth. The research in this thesis explores social variability by analyzing patterns in dental disease at the archaeological site of Kuelap in Chachapoyas, Peru. The ancient Chachapoya (AD 900-1535) were a complex society but the nature of that complexity is not well understood based on traditional archaeological correlates. Since burials at Kuelap lack grave goods that are often used to discriminate variation in social status or identity, bioarchaeological dental proxies were tested. The dental remains of 106 individuals (7 subadults, 54 adult …

Role Of Adrenergic Neurons In Motor Control: Examination Of Cerebellar Purkinje Neurons In Mice Following Selective Adrenergic Cell Ablation In Vivo, Monica Mansour

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (Pnmt) is the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of noradrenaline to adrenaline. These catecholamines are synthesized in the medulla of the adrenal gland and by some neurons of the central nervous system. The precise location of Pnmt action in the brain and its physiological significance are unknown. Prior studies led by Aaron Owji, a graduate student in Dr. Ebert’s laboratory, showed that mice with selectively ablated Pnmt cells show signs of neurological defects such as abnormal gait, weakened grip strength, lack of balance, reduced movement, and defective reflexes during tail suspension tests.

The cerebellum is a small section of …

Developing Methods For The Estimation Of Stature And Their Use As A Proxy For Health Among The Ancient Chachapoya Of Peru, Armando Anzellini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Population mean stature and patterns of health are often linked in anthropological studies, yet few studies control for the multifactorial nature of achieving adult standing height. This thesis explores the intersection of health and stature by analyzing the skeletal remains of 161 adult individuals from the archaeological site of Kuelap, in the eastern slopes of the northern Peruvian Andes, and also tests current biometric methods for estimating stature from skeletal remains. This Chachapoya site dates to the Late Intermediate Period (AD 900 – 1470) and Late Horizon (AD 1470 – 1536) and resides in the high altitude sub-tropical forests of …

Open Educational Resources Textbook List, Zachariah Claybaugh, Chelsea Stone

Librarian Publications

Discipline specific OER textbook list for departments at SHU, compiled by Zach Claybaugh and Chelsea Stone.

Fcs 4755 : Nutrition For Physical Performance, Fcs

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Uno Website-Gened Committee-Natural And Physical Sciences, Uno General Education Assessment Committee

Student Learning

Understanding the nature of scientific inquiry and the operation of the natural, physical, and technological world is essential for making personal and public policy decisions.

To fulfill their distribution requirements, students must complete seven credit hours of coursework, representing at least two disciplines in this category, with at least one laboratory course. In addition, students must complete nine credit hours of coursework in Social Sciences, and nine credit hours in Humanities & Fine Arts towards their distribution requirements. Distribution requirements comprise 25 hours of the general education curriculum.

Detection Of Electrical Alternans In Ventricular Depolarization Phase Of Human Electrocardiogram, David R. Wasemiller

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

T-wave Alternans (TWA) in an electrocardiogram (ECG) has received considerable interest as a potential predictor of sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, large clinical trials have shown that while TWA has a very high negative predictive value, its positive predictive value is poor. Results of previous studies suggest that arrhythmia onset can be affected by the phase relationship of alternans of the depolarization and repolarization phase of the action potentials of the ventricles. To assess this relationship, one would first need to establish that depolarization alternans can be detected and then develop methods to determine its relationship with repolarization alternans, which …

Aristotle On The Metaphysics Of Emotions, Myrna Gabbe

Philosophy Faculty Publications

This article explores the nature of Aristotelian emotions and the body-soul metaphysics required to undergird them. The point of departure is an oft-cited argument that appeals to our experience of fear and anger to show the inseparability of the soul. My claim is that this argument is commonly misunderstood: that the intended target is not a separable soul, but an embodied soul.

Reinterpreted, we find that Aristotle is driven by an interest to integrate the sentient body with the intellect. And while, on this interpretation, the argument does not support a functionalist reading of Aristotle on the soul, it does …

The International Community's Response To The Hypothetical Emergence Of Superheroes, Brittany Nicole Woods

CMC Senior Theses

In a golden era for comic based media, this paper uses the hypothetical emergence of superheroes to analyze the assumptions and predictions of three international relations theories: realism, liberalism, and constructivism. Comics consistently reflect the real world, paralleling events and concepts discussed in foreign affairs dialogues. The thought experiment, and the comic genre itself, provides a vehicle for thinking broadly about the political and social ramifications of successful or failed problem solving, state interaction, and scientific advances.

Bulletin Of Yale University School Of Nursing 2016-2017, Yale School Of Nursing

Yale School of Nursing Bulletins and Catalogues

Series 112, Number 15

September 5, 2016

You Can't Catch A Fish With A Robot, R. Grant Gilmore Jr.

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Abstract

In this essay I will relate the challenges associated with deep sea ocean exploration as well as the advantages and disadvantages of today’s ocean technologies based on experience with most of these systems. After nearly five decades using robotic vehicles (Remotely Operated Vehicles = ROVs and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles = AUVs) and manned submarines for fish research, I thought it would be appropriate to briefly describe a career spent using these technologies as they were developed. Deep sea ichthyologists cannot effectively catch a swimming fish with a robot even 40 years after the development of the first ROV for …

Curriculum Development For Occupational Therapy Education: Integrating Collaboration And The Use Of Simulation Laboratories, Janine Albert, Danielle Nielsen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The Scholarly Project titled Curriculum Development for Occupational Therapy Education: Integrating Collaboration and the Use of Simulation Laboratories by Janine Albert and Danielle Nielsen and advised by Nicole Harris, MOTR/L and Breann Lamborn, MPA was developed to meet the demands of collaborative education in the field of occupational therapy. A literature review was completed to determine the need of collaborative education between Occupational Therapy education and Occupational Therapy Assistant education and the use of simulation laboratories. From the literature review there was a gap found linking the use of simulation laboratories, the occupational therapy process and occupational therapy education. Following …

A Novel Magnetics And Imu Based Design For Untethered And Hands-Free Human Computer Interaction, Stephen J. Norris

Open Access Master's Theses

The current status of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) stands to develop greatly, with many new technologies offering promising new methods interacting with a computer. The goal of this project is to develop a novel device that is compatible with desktop style point-and-click interfaces designed for mice but has the unique advantages of being 'Untethered' and 'Hands-free'. The use of Electromyography (EMG) and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) was initially investigated, leading to an alternative design utilizing a series of small Hall Effect sensors and corresponding magnet(s). The cursor response was identified as the most important factor to ease of use, …

Our Will In Action: 2015-16 Report Of The President, Office Of The President, Gonzaga University

Office of the President Publications

Each year, Gonzaga University's Office of the President produces an annual Report of the President. This publication that highlights just a few of the many accomplishments over the previous academic year, and is intended to convey gratitude to our Trustees and Regents, benefactors, and many supporters.

Front Matter

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Fetal Stress And Neurogenesis In Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis, Kalera Stratton

University Honors Theses

Little is currently known about normal brain development and the growth of new nerve cells, known as neurogenesis, in most species, let alone how exposure to prenatal stress affects these processes. Using red-sided garter snakes as our animal model, we have a unique opportunity to study the impact of exposure to elevated maternal glucocorticoids, commonly known as "stress hormones", on brain development. This species is viviparous, with a proto-placental structure through which developing fetuses receive nutrients from the dam. Adult snakes also exhibit high rates of seasonal changes in neurogenesis. We captured mated female snakes and treated one-third of them …

A Sustainability-Based Project Selection Algorithm: Socio-Technical-Economic Project Selection (Steps) Algorithm, Bharathi Bhattu

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Multi-dimensional aspects play a vital role in the task of project-decision making. Environmental effects are to be considered in addition to other technical and non-technical aspects in order to avoid undue environmental damage. This current work introduces a new decision-making algorithm (Socio-Technical-Economic Project Selection or STEPS) that is demonstrated with the use of RCA (recycled concrete aggregate) as riprap for slope stabilization and erosion control which leaches chemical arsenic when in contact with water. Arsenic has long been recognized for its lethal properties. The main intention of introducing this new algorithm is to use sustainability concepts of social, technical, and …

Cross-Spectral Full And Partial Face Recognition: Preprocessing, Feature Extraction And Matching, Zhicheng Cao

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cross-spectral face recognition remains a challenge in the area of biometrics. The problem arises from some real-world application scenarios such as surveillance at night time or in harsh environments, where traditional face recognition techniques are not suitable or limited due to usage of imagery obtained in the visible light spectrum. This motivates the study conducted in the dissertation which focuses on matching infrared facial images against visible light images. The study outspreads from aspects of face recognition such as preprocessing to feature extraction and to matching.;We address the problem of cross-spectral face recognition by proposing several new operators and algorithms …

The Timing Of Fluoxetine, Simvastatin And Ascorbic Acid Administration In A Post-Ischemic Stroke Environment Affects Infarct Volume And Hemorrhagic Transformation Frequency, Neal R. Verma

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Previous animal experiments have indicated that administration of fluoxetine and simvastatin at 20-26 hours post-stroke decreases the volume of ischemic infarcts. This experiment expanded on previous experiments by adding ascorbic acid to the post-stroke regimen, initiating simvastatin pre-stroke, and adding a third initiation time frame (48-54 hours). Male retired breeder Sprague-Dawley rats were on simvastatin for 7 days prior to stroke induction. Combined medications of 5 milligrams/kilogram of fluoxetine, 1 milligram/kilogram of simvastatin and 20 milligrams/kilogram of ascorbic acid were orally administered at 6-12 hours, 20-26 hours, or 48-54 hours, respectively, following stroke induction. Adult rats that were treated 20-26 …

Parental Schooling And Child Health: Evidence From Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Udbodha Ushakar Rijal

Wayne State University Dissertations

This study applies bivariate probit models to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data set to explore the effects of parental schooling on the physical and mental health of child and the underlying mechanism of the transmission of these beneficial effects. Using the perceived physical and mental health status of child as the outcome variable, the results indicate that the benefits of parental schooling increases with levels of parental schooling; mother’s schooling has greater impacts than father’s; and the impacts of parental schooling on physical health of child is slightly larger than on mental health. For instance, relative to having No …

A Mycobacterium Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis Predicted Serine Protease Is Associated With Acid Stress And Intraphagosomal Survival, Abirami Kugadas, Elise A. Lamont, John Bannantine, Fernanda Miyagaki Shoyama, Evan Brenner, Harish K. Janagama, Srinand Sreevatsan

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The ability to maintain intra-cellular pH is crucial for bacteria and other microbes to survive in diverse environments, particularly those that undergo fluctuations in pH. Mechanisms of acid resistance remain poorly understood in mycobacteria. Although, studies investigating acid stress in M. tuberculosis are gaining traction, few center on Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), the etiological agent of chronic enteritis in ruminants. We identified a MAP acid stress response network involved in macrophage infection. The central node of this network was MAP0403, a predicted serine protease that shared an 86% amino acid identity with MarP in M. tuberculosis. Previous studies confirmed …

Embedded Option: A Common Framework, Cynthia Hudson-Vitale

WashU Libraries Publications

EXPERIENCE AND RESEARCH has shown that given the complex nature of research data services, various university units and departments must work together to provide appropriate services to create, manage, store, educate, archive, and preserve research data. Organizationally, this can prove to be a challenge. One viable option for meeting these challenges is the embedded librarian model. In the research data services sense, librarians may be embedded into a faculty-led research group, assisting in creating metadata and managing active data; into the university research office, helping with federal requirements for open data compliance; and into a campus information technology unit providing …

The Role Of Interleukin-2 In Directing Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Function And Its Implications For Understanding The Progression Of Atherosclerosis, Prakash Arumugam

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disorder of the vasculature leading to the development of plaques within vessel walls. A critical component of atherosclerosis involves migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) into the developing plaque, however, its mechanism is not yet understood. Previous studies have reported that IL-2 is deposited within the vasculature and IL-2 accumulates within atherosclerotic plaques due to secretion by infiltrating Th-1 cells. A limited number of studies suggest that VSMCs express a partial IL-2 receptor, comprising the ß and ¿ subunit. This suggests that IL-2 may elicit a physiological response in VSMCs. Considering IL-2’s proliferative …

Comparison Of The Effects Of Energy Flux On Metabolic Conditions And Satiety In Young Adults, Molly Madison Demello

Theses and Dissertations

Within the United States, 68% of all adults have been classified as overweight to obese, as defined by 25 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤ 35 kg/m2. Research has shown that overweight/obese individuals can still gain health benefits through participation in aerobic activity without losing weight. These improvements include improved glucose control, CRF, HDL and quality of life. More research is necessary to understand the health benefits associated with a chronic aerobic intervention under weight stable conditions. We therefore examined the health benefits of an aerobic 6-month intervention under weight stable conditions on body composition, cholesterol and measurements of appetite and satiety …

The Study Of The Regulon Of Oxyr In Escherichia Coli And Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Christopher K. Pham

Theses and Dissertations

The facultative anaerobe, Escherichia coli and the obligate anaerobe, Porphyromonas gingivalis are two bacteria that reside in our body. Although they reside in separate environments, they are both subject to hydrogen peroxide stress and have mechanisms to regulate the stress. OxyR is the primary transcriptional regulator/sensor of oxidative stress response caused by hydrogen peroxide. OxyR in P. gingivalis is not well-characterized compared to OxyR in E. coli. We sought to characterize and compare the two forms of OxyR in order to gain a better understanding of the protein. We determined the oligomeric state of both proteins: primarily a tetramer for …

Graphical One-Time Password Authentication, Hussain Alsaiari

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Complying with a security policy often requires users to create long and complex passwords to protect their accounts. However, remembering such passwords appears difficult for many and may lead to insecure practices, such as choosing weak passwords or writing them down. One-Time Passwords (OTPs) aim to overcome such problems; however, most implemented OTP techniques require special hardware, which not only adds costs, but also raises issues regarding availability. This type of authentication mechanism is mostly adopted by online banking systems to secure their clients’ accounts. However, carrying around authentication tokens was found to be an inconvenient experience for many customers. …