Digital Commons Network^™

3d Microtissue Model Of The Aged Ovarian Tumor Microenvironment, Peyton Clark

All ETDs from UAB

Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer deaths for women, primarily due to treatment resistant and/or recurrent disease. Most cases of ovarian cancer are not diagnosed until distant metastases have formed, which drastically reduces overall survival. The median age at diagnosis is 63 and most cases occur in patients who are peri- and post-menopausal. There is a critical gap between the clinical presentation of ovarian cancer and the preclinical models used to study the disease. Most preclinical in vivo investigations use mice who are between 6 and 12 weeks old, which corresponds to roughly a 20-year-old human. Therefore, …

Temporal And Epigenetic Mechanisms Underlying Dietary Phytochemicals In Breast Cancer Prevention, Andrew Brane

All ETDs from UAB

Breast cancer (BC) is a widespread malignancy that, despite advancements in treatments and improvements in survival, had an estimated 297,790 new cases and 43,170 mortalities in 2023. With around 1 in every 8 women in the US expected to be diagnosed with BC at some point in their lives, the economic, societal, and healthcare burdens associated with this disease cannot be understated. Because of this, treatments and preventions that are affordable, efficacious, and easily administered are in high demand. Preventive therapies have shown great promise in reducing disease burden with relatively few serious side effects. BC prevention through the consumption …

The Association Between Cardiovascular Disease Risk And Fractures In Postmenopausal Women, Rafeka Hossain

All ETDs from UAB

Background: Fragility fractures pose a significant healthcare and economic burden in the United States. While age and bone mineral density (BMD) are the primary established risk factors for fragility fractures, the relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and fractures remains underexplored. The primary objective of this analysis was to estimate the association of CVD risk with fractures in postmenopausal women. Methods: Utilizing 30 years of data from the WHI, Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) risk scores were computed using baseline age, race, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, diabetes, anti-hypertension medications, and smoking. Fracture outcomes encompassed any clinical fracture, major osteoporotic …

Comparative Enzymatic Analysis Of Different Isoforms Of Group A Streptococcal Bacteriophage H4489a Hyaluronidase, Urvi Prakash Rawal

All ETDs from UAB

The Hyaluronate Lyase derived from Group A streptococcal bacteriophage H4489A gene (HylP) is known for cleaving the glycosidic bonds of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMWHA), a substance often overexpressed in certain types of cancer cells. This enzymatic action produces HA oligosaccharides. Previous research, conducted by our team, has demonstrated that these oligosaccharides play a significant role in reducing the invasion, migration, and proliferation of breast cancer cells. This effect occurs through the disruption of Erk1/2 activation and RhoA expression. This bacteriophage hyaluronate lyase (HylP), a 40kDa protein, possesses a unique collagen-like sequence, consisting of 30 amino acids in a …

Mixed Martial Arts, Meaning, And Behavioral Peace: Examining Social Relationships In A Diverse Environment, Dana Dawson

All ETDs from UAB

This thesis investigates the manifestation of behavioral peace within the diverse subcultures of mixed martial arts (MMA) gyms, drawing from the operational definition provided by peace ethology, which encompasses more than just the absence of violence. Peace ethology investigates how behavioral peace is achieved through mutual interests, tolerance, helping, sharing, and the avoidance of aggressive confrontation. This thesis explores how behavioral peace manifests in environments characterized by controlled violence and vulnerability, focusing on three MMA gyms in Alabama. Employing an ethnographic and ethological framework, the methodology blends autoethnography with participant observations and semi-structured interviews to comprehend the cultural, environmental, and …

Investigating Impacts Of Caregiving On Cognitive Function: Role Of Social Support, Lu Tian

All ETDs from UAB

Study Aim: Using the stress process model as a framework, this dissertation aims to investigate the role of social support on the influence of informal caregiving on cognitive function of caregivers aged 50 years and older and to look at potential gender and racial differences in this association. Method: Leveraging data from the 2016 to 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this research employs Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis to examine the influence of caregiving on the cognitive function of older adults. To comprehensively understand the pathways through which caregiving impacts cognitive outcomes, I use mediation …

Novel Roles Of Rab35 In Development And Disease, Kelsey Ruth Clearman

All ETDs from UAB

As the largest and most dynamic family of GTPases within the mammalian cell, Rabs play an essential role as molecular switches in regulating intracellular vesicular trafficking and serve as significant signaling transducers. Over the last few decades, Rabs have been identified to regulate endocytic, transcytosis, and exocytotic pathways, and mutations in Rabs, or alterations in downstream effectors lead to embryonic lethality and diseases such as cancer and ciliopathies. Ciliopathies are a class of pathologies that result from defects in structure or function of the primary cilia. Primary cilia, found on virtually all mammalian cells, is a microtubule-derived appendage that relies …

Catecholamines And Catecholamine Resistance In Animal Models Of Metabolic Syndrome, Robert Follett Rosencrans

All ETDs from UAB

The sympathetic nervous system is a key regulator of energy homeostasis, in part, through the control of white adipose tissue lipolysis. Sympathetic nerves modulate adipose tissue physiology through the release of catecholamines, particularly norepinephrine, onto alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors (a-AR; B-AR). Lipolysis refers to the breakdown of triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids, often in response to activation of B2/3-AR. Beta adrenergic activation of lipolysis is widely known to be impaired in patients with metabolic syndrome and animal models thereof (catecholamine resistance). Recent studies have demonstrated that catecholamine regulation of adipokine release is also disrupted, suggesting that catecholamine resistance …

Fentanyl Overdoses And Use Of Randox Multistat For Investigative Purposes, Clarissa Danielle Lawen

All ETDs from UAB

The opioid epidemic started in the early 1990s with the rise of prescription overdoses. In more recent years, heroin and fentanyl use has rapidly increased. Fentanyl, specifically, is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. To keep up with the ever-evolving epidemic, the Randox MultiSTAT was validated for use in the medical examiner autopsy suite for the potential to aid medical examiners in triaging the need for a full autopsy versus an external examination with toxicology testing. The Randox MultiSTAT is a triage tool and investigatory screen designed to provide presumptive test results across multiple matrices. It can detect …

Development Of Uas And Geophysical Techniques For Agriculture And Environmental Site Characterization, Yunyi Guan

Doctoral Dissertations

"Soil properties are critical for agricultural management. Geophysical techniques such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic induction have been used to measure soil properties for agricultural applications. However, their measurements are only acquired along select traverses within a field, and the data processing can be time-consuming, the instruments can also be expensive. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are a recent advancement used for precision agriculture. Compared with geophysical data, UAVs have higher resolution and wider coverage and can quickly collect data across the whole field. The operation is also relatively simpler with a more economical acquisition cost. This research investigates …

A Lightweight Machine-Learning Framework For Enhancing Security In Iot Blockchain Networks, Charles Connor Rawlins

Doctoral Dissertations

"Blockchain is one of the fastest technologies that rivals the Internet in terms of adoption speed. This security method is applicable to data-centric environments for validating data in the presence of faults. However, traditional blockchain implementation introduces bottlenecks with computationally intense security measures to prevent malicious spam and resolve conflicts. This dissertation explores a new direction for blockchain technology that allows limited nodes, like IoT devices, to make independent decisions with compressed knowledge of past blockchain history through the use of machine-learning for active decisions (or the first machine-intelligent blockchain protocol). Proposing to introduce machine-intelligence into the rapidly evolving paradigm …

Kinetic Modeling And Simulations Of Plasma-Surface-Dust Interactions For Lunar Exploration, David Clifford Lund

Doctoral Dissertations

"Due to the recent relevance of NASA’s focus on lunar missions, a better understanding of the lunar plasma-surface-dust environment is vital for their success. The lunar surface, devoid of an atmosphere and a global magnetic field, is directly exposed to solar radiation and solar wind plasma. This exposure leads to the electrical charging of the lunar surface due to the bombardment of solar wind plasma and the emission/collection of photoelectrons. Therefore, this research developed accurate and efficient computational models of plasma-surface-dust interactions and extend a legacy simulation code, namely the Immersed-Finite-Element Particle-in-Cell (IFE-PIC), to a parallel version: Parallel Immersed-Finite-Element Particle-in-Cell …

Analytical Methods For Monitoring Traumatic Brain Injury Biomarkers/Treatment And Pharmaceutical Residual Solvents, Olajide Philip Adetunji

Doctoral Dissertations

"The development of highly sensitive and efficient analytical methods utilizing advanced instrumentation is necessary to help improve disease diagnosis and therapeutics. A major neuro-consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is oxidative stress from the generation of reactive oxygen species and the depletion of antioxidant defenses. Alteration in concentrations of certain small molecules also occurs with the disease progression and can help understand TBI pathophysiology. Two analytical methods employing liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were developed and validated to monitor the potential small-molecule TBI biomarkers at sub-ppb levels. Subsequently, the neuroprotective effect of an antioxidant prodrug, N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA), …

Current Education Offerings On Occupational Therapy: Addressing Feeding, Eating, And Swallowing Across The Lifespan, Thilini Abeywickrema, Kate G. Barlow, Janelle Hatlevig, Cuyler Romeo, Tatiana Barcelos Pontes

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapists play a vital role in the care of individuals with feeding, eating, and swallowing (FES) disorders across the lifespan. Although there are certain standards created by the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy (ACOTE) for understanding of assessment and management practices specific to FES, there are inconsistencies in how occupational therapy programs in the United States address FES disorders within their curriculum. This cross-sectional exploratory survey study received responses from 54 Master of Occupational Therapy (MSOT) programs and 63 entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) programs. Survey questions included quantitative and qualitative information on general information regarding FES content taught …

Effective Communication With People With Dementia: An Exploratory Study Of Pre-Registration Occupational Therapy Students, Samita Kirve, Lucy Perkins

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Dementia is a major global concern, with 50 million people already affected worldwide in 2018, and this number is expected to triple by 2050. Healthcare practitioners, specifically occupational therapists, are responsible for providing care and ensuring the well-being of people with dementia. However, occupational therapy students may not always have the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively communicate and support dementia patients, which could negatively impact the quality of care they provide. To explore this issue, a study was conducted with final-year pre-registration occupational therapy students at a public university in England. The study used a qualitative methodology, with semi-structured …

The Development Of An Automated Microscope Image Tracking And Analysis System, J. Walker Orr, Lillian Mcafee, Zach Heath, Marvin Hozi, Young Bok Abraham Kang

Faculty Publications - Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Microscopy image analysis plays a crucial role in understanding cellular behavior anduncovering important insights in various biological and medical research domains.Tracking cells within the time-lapse microscopy images is a fundamental techniquethat enables the study of cell dynamics, interactions, and migration. While manual celltracking is possible, it is time-consuming and prone to subjective biases that impactresults. In order to solve this issue, we sought to create an automated software solu-tion, named cell analyzer, which is able to track cells within microscopy images withminimal input required from the user. The program of cell analyzer was written inPython utilizing the open source computer …

Fostering Entry Level Practitioner Knowledge, Confidence, And Competence In Trauma-Informed Care Application, Mollie Keyser, Mary A. Barnes

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Trauma is pervasive worldwide and is associated with poor health outcomes if left unaddressed, however, a gap in practice continues to exist in the implementation of trauma-informed care (TIC). Occupational therapy practitioners will encounter individuals, communities, and populations influenced by trauma, which warrants the need for TIC to improve overall service delivery across the lifespan. However, TIC is currently not systematically integrated into any Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) occupational therapy educational standards. The purpose of this study was to design, implement, and evaluate a TIC application-based workshop for a sample of entry-level occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) students. …

Addressing Sexuality In Occupational Therapy Practice: A Qualitative Exploration Of Students’ Needs, Barriers, And Facilitators, Keren Shavit-Buckley, Amy J. Nwora, Renee Cadzow, Bryan M. Gee

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Disability and chronic disease can have a profound effect on individuals’ sexuality and sexual health, resulting in decreased quality of life for many. While sexuality and sexual health are identified within the domain of occupational therapy (OT), this topic is not routinely addressed in clinical practice. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the perceived needs, facilitators, and barriers to addressing sexuality in clinical practice by 10 graduate OT students recruited from one Western New York (WNY) university. Semi-structured virtual interviews were conducted utilizing a researcher developed interview guide. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) was used as the conceptual framework for the …

Gender Differences In Preschool Conduct Disorder Symptoms Across One-Year, Madeline K. Petersen

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Conduct disorder is a childhood disruptive behavior disorder that exhibits striking gender differences in prevalence, comorbidities, and associated outcomes. These gender differences, particularly symptomology, remain understudied in conduct disorder despite the growing prevalence in females. This paper seeks to examine gender differences in parent rated conduct disorder symptoms in preschoolers overrecruited for disruptive behavior problems at three different timepoints across one-year. It is hypothesized that males will exhibit higher levels of physical aggression symptoms at the initial timepoint with declining rates across a one-year period compared to females, while females will exhibit lower levels of conduct problems at the first …

World Spirit And The Apotheosis Of Artificial Superintelligence: A Speculative Design Proposal, Ian Gonsher

Scholarly Research

This essay puts forth a speculative design proposal for a device with affordances for talking to, and receiving responses from, God. We begin with an analysis and critique of the concept of God, framing this concept within an understanding of Hegelian Spirit (Geist) and technological evolution. In this context, Spirit, or World Spirit (Weltgeist), can be characterized as the aggregate consciousness of all people - as human consciousness itself: In the simplest terms, this immanent framing of the “mind of God” is culturally and socially constituted as the communication that people engage in with each other, in all the diverse …

Variables Impacting First Time Pass Rates Of Msot Students, Amy L. Brzuz, Julia M. Hawkins-Pokabla, David Prier

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

To enter practice as an occupational therapist, one must complete an occupational therapy program at an accredited institution and then pass a national certification exam. This exam is called the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Exam. Individuals can take the exam more than once to achieve a passing score but must pay a fee each time. Not passing the first time can lead to stress, increased costs, and delayed entrance into the profession. Thus, being a first-time passer is ideal. The purpose of this retrospective quantitative study was to identify variables impacting first time pass rates of …

Intentional Uses Of Music In Occupational Therapy Practice: The Effectiveness Of A Workshop, Anna B. Galloway, Alexandra K. Rodriguez

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) do not receive additional training on the physiological, emotional, mental, and physical effects of music on the body or how to improve and increase its use in occupational therapy (OT) practice. Additionally, the specific effects of the use of music within OT practice have not been fully explored. This workshop was created to develop skills related to appropriately using music as supported by the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Occupational Therapy Practice Framework-IV, and to address gaps in knowledge regarding how to use music intentionally, effectively, and safely in OT practice. This study's purpose was to evaluate …

Applying Social Bond Theory To Foster Care Instability And Justice System Contact, Therin P. Foley

Honors College Theses

While placing a child in foster care is often in an effort to protect them and their future, it does not always fully succeed. Placement in foster care has been found to be highly unstable. Additionally, it has been linked to an increase in individuals’ likelihood to engage in delinquent and criminal behavior. This thesis looks at the possibility that these two aspects may be related through Hirschi’s (1969) Social Bond theory. It examines available data from ten different states in order to explore this idea. The results of this investigation show that the instability of the foster care system …

Synthesis Of Chiral Amino Acids Via Direct Amination Of Diazo Ester With A Rhodium-Based Catalyst, Steven J. Boyles

Honors College Theses

Amino acids are critical molecules within living organisms as they are the building blocks of proteins. In organisms, proteins serve as regulators of necessary processes, structural components in tissue, hormones, and neurotransmitters. Amino acid therapy is an emerging treatment in the medical field used to treat symptoms of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Amino acid therapies have also shown promising effects when it comes to treating mood disorders and weight management. In order to increase the number of amino acids available and increase the potential treatments for other ailments, there is a drive to increase …

The Taphonomy Of Teaching Skeletons, Emily T. Siddell

Honors College Theses

Human remains have been used in teaching contexts since the mid-1600’s and this practice still continues today. After human skeletal remains have been used in teaching contexts they are sometimes sold, repurposed, or improperly disposed of. This creates the potential for these remains to end up in forensic contexts and would need to be identified as being teaching specimens. The purpose of this research project is to understand the impacts of the methods that are used to clean and prepare skeletal teaching specimens, as well as the impacts of the subsequent use and curation of the human remains. The materials …

Enhancing Flight Delay Predictions Using Network Centrality Measures, Joseph Ajayi

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Accurate prediction of flight delays remains a formidable challenge within the aviation industry, owing to its inherent complexity and the interconnectivity of its operations. Traditional flight prediction methods frequently utilize meteorological conditions—such as temperature, humidity, and dew point—alongside flight-specific data like departure and arrival times. However, these predictors often fall short of capturing the nuanced dynamics that lead to delays. This thesis introduces network centrality measures as novel predictors for enhancing the binary classification of flight arrival delays. Furthermore, it emphasizes the application of tree-based ensemble models, which are recognized for their superior ability to model complex relationships compared to …

Transcriptional Induction Of Immune Pathway Genes And Subsequent Antibacterial Activity In The Digestive Tract Of The Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides Felis)., Katie A. Weber

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Fleas (Order Siphonaptera) are ectoparasites that serve as vectors of several human diseases (cat scratch disease, flea-borne spotted fever, murine typhus, and plague). Typically, these pathogens are acquired through the ingestion of a host-derived bloodmeal; thus, the lumen of the gut is the first barrier encountered by imbibed pathogens. During the early stages of infection, microbes come into contact with surrounding midgut epithelial cells which trigger a series of host responses to combat local infection. Specifically, pathogen recognition leads to intracellular signaling and an increase in the production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) via the IMD and Toll immune pathways. While …

Beyond The Strong Black Woman: Navigating Resilience And Mental Health Using Social Media For Culturally Tailored Resources, Muchaneta N.M. Chikawa

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Society views the strength of Black women as commendable as it shows positive qualities such as resilience and perseverance. While these traits are characterized as positive, Black women’s survival in American society has heavily depended on their strength, resulting in mental health illnesses such as anxiety and depression. The idea that Black women must exude strength and fortitude through adversity is labeled the Strong Black Woman Schema (SBWS). The SBWS is a race-gender schema that prescribes culturally-specific feminine expectations for Black women.

There are limited culturally-tailored resources for Black women to address mental health at collegiate institutions. As a result …

Allen Chapel Ame Church : Becoming A Healthy Intergenerational Twenty-First Century Church, Lorenzo Laws

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Insights Into Child Abuse And Neglect: Findings From The Minnesota Longitudinal Study Of Risk And Adaptation, Marissa D. Nivison, Madelyn H. Labella, K. Lee Raby, Jenalee R. Doom, Jodi Martin, William F. Johnson, Osnat Zamir, Michelle M. Englund, Jeffry A. Simpson, Elizabeth A. Carlson, Glennn I. Roisman

Psychology Faculty Publications

The Minnesota Longitudinal Study of Risk and Adaptation (MLSRA) is a landmark prospective, longitudinal study of human development focused on a sample of mothers experiencing poverty and their firstborn children. Although the MLSRA pioneered a number of important topics in the area of social and emotional development, it began with the more specific goal of examining the antecedents of child maltreatment. From that foundation and for more than 40 years, the study has produced a significant body of research on the origins, sequelae, and measurement of childhood abuse and neglect. The principal objectives of this report are to document the …