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St6gal-I Mediated Sialylation Promotes Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Progression And Chemoresistance, Asmi Chakraborty Jan 2019

St6gal-I Mediated Sialylation Promotes Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Progression And Chemoresistance, Asmi Chakraborty

All ETDs from UAB

ST6Gal-I adds α2-6 sialic acids to select N-glycosylated cell surface receptors, thereby modulating receptor function and intracellular signaling. ST6Gal-I is upregulated in various carcinomas and confers cancer stem cell (CSC) properties evidenced by tumorspheroid growth, chemoresistance and tumor initiating potential. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), ST6Gal-I conferred gemcitabine resistance by abrogating DNA damage and altering expression levels of gemcitabine metabolism genes. Further, ST6Gal-I promoted resistance to chronic gemcitabine treatment. Additionally, metastatic clones of a PDAC cell line had increased ST6Gal-I expression and ST6Gal-I knockdown enhanced gemcitabine sensitivity. To investigate the physiological consequences of ST6Gal-I in PDAC, murine models were used. …


The Smile Attractiveness Of Patients Successfully Treated According To The Finishing Standards Of The American Board Of Orthodontics, Tayem Abou Saleh Jan 2019

The Smile Attractiveness Of Patients Successfully Treated According To The Finishing Standards Of The American Board Of Orthodontics, Tayem Abou Saleh

All ETDs from UAB

Smiling is the most useful way people can use to express their emotions, therefore, it is critical to build our treatment plan not just around establishing a stable functional occlusion but also to achieve beautiful harmonious smile. It has been suggested that the smile may be made up of 3 components: Gingival component, soft tissue component, and dental component, and the ultimate smile beauty can be achieved by trying to find the balance in between these components. We collected 68 smiling photos for cases were taken to American board of orthodontics clinical exam and they were considered successfully treated, all …


Determination Of The Role Of Smu_833 In The Fitness And Virulence Of Cariogenic Streptococcus Mutans, Katherine Lynn Rainey Jan 2019

Determination Of The Role Of Smu_833 In The Fitness And Virulence Of Cariogenic Streptococcus Mutans, Katherine Lynn Rainey

All ETDs from UAB

Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay, is the most common infectious disease worldwide. The main etiological agent of dental caries is Streptococcus mutans which can readily form a biofilm on the surface of teeth and produce acids through the metabolism of dietary sugars, which is largely responsible for the demineralization and subsequent destruction of tooth enamel. In addition, S. mutans synthesizes extracellular glucosyltransferases (Gtfs) capable of breaking apart dietary sucrose and polymerizing the glucose subunits into the sticky glucan matrix of the biofilm, imperative for the formation of robust, three-dimensional biofilms. Currently used caries therapies are not species-specific and …


Intracellular Compartment-Specific Abnormalities In Proteasome Expression And Activity In The Superior Temporal Gyrus In Schizophrenia, Madeline R. Scott Jan 2019

Intracellular Compartment-Specific Abnormalities In Proteasome Expression And Activity In The Superior Temporal Gyrus In Schizophrenia, Madeline R. Scott

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Protein homeostasis is an emerging component of schizophrenia (SZ) pathophysiology. Proteomic alterations in SZ are well-documented; however the underlying mechanism driving these changes remains unknown. The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is fundamental to protein homeostasis regulation, and UPS transcript abnormalities in both blood and brain have been observed in SZ. Supporting a role for UPS dysfunction in SZ, we have reported decreased protein expression of ubiquitin-associated proteins in SZ brain. However, previous work on the proteasome has been limited to transcript expression. In the following studies we sought to address this gap in knowledge by characterizing proteasome dysfunction in the …


Reported Clinical And Financial Performance Of Hospitals With Physician Ceos Compared To Those With Nonphysician Ceos, Leon Moores Jan 2019

Reported Clinical And Financial Performance Of Hospitals With Physician Ceos Compared To Those With Nonphysician Ceos, Leon Moores

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Leaders impact organizational behavior and performance, and CEOs may have greater impact via numerous proposed mechanisms. Because of this, organizations expend considerable resources recruiting and selecting CEOs and may benefit from information suggesting a positive impact on organizational performance based upon measurable CEO characteristics. Little work has been done comparing the performance of hospitals with physician CEOs versus non-physician CEOs, in spite of the ease of identification of this characteristic and extant leadership theories suggesting a relationship between technical expertise and success in leading highly technical organizations. We compared multiple measures of reported clinical and financial performance and our linear …


Designing And Implementing Inclusive Community-Based Health Promotion Intiatives, Cassandra Herman Jan 2019

Designing And Implementing Inclusive Community-Based Health Promotion Intiatives, Cassandra Herman

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Background: People with disabilities (PWDs) have poorer health outcomes, yet are they are underserved by public health initiatives. PWDs face numerous barriers to participation in community-based health programs despite mounting evidence about these barriers along with recommendations and guidelines to become more inclusive of disability. Policy, system, and environmental (PSE) changes that are inclusive of PWDs can help create access to health promotion programs for PWDs. Systematically implementing inclusive PSE changes using implementation science principles can support effective and sustainable changes are implemented for each unique community context. The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the experiences of public …


Impact Of Environmental Exposures On Respiratory Health, Lawrence Rasmussen Jan 2019

Impact Of Environmental Exposures On Respiratory Health, Lawrence Rasmussen

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of COPD; similarly, individuals exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) are also vulnerable to COPD and other airway diseases; however, distinct molecular mechanisms involved in SHS-induced lung effects that result in COPD are poorly understood. Mucociliary clearance (MCC) is a primary lung defense against inhaled particulate matter and pathogens. Thus, understanding how inhaled irritants such as SHS disrupt MCC will promote improved scientific understanding and better public health initiatives to prevent respiratory illnesses. Using a variety of in vitro …


Acetylcholine Signaling In Glioblastoma Invasion And Peritumoral Hyperexcitability, Emily Grace Thompson Jan 2019

Acetylcholine Signaling In Glioblastoma Invasion And Peritumoral Hyperexcitability, Emily Grace Thompson

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Glioblastomas are the most common and deadly form of primary brain cancer in adults. Current treatment strategies are aggressive, including a combination of surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, median patient survival has remained stagnant at 12 to 15 months for the last several decades. This dismal patient outcome has prompted efforts to understand the unique characteristics of these tumors, since traditional therapeutics have not been efficacious. Extensive invasion is a salient feature of glioblastomas that significantly diminishes the effectiveness of current treatment strategies and is ultimately the cause of tumor recurrence within 2 years in approximately 80% of patients. …


Endothelial N-Glycan Hypoglycosylation Enhances Cd16+ Monocyte Adhesion: A Role For Alpha-Mannosidases, Kellie Regal Mcdonald Jan 2019

Endothelial N-Glycan Hypoglycosylation Enhances Cd16+ Monocyte Adhesion: A Role For Alpha-Mannosidases, Kellie Regal Mcdonald

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Monocyte extravasation through the endothelial layer is a hallmark of atherosclerotic plaque development and is mediated by heavily glycosylated surface adhesion molecules, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Human monocytes have been classified into three distinct groups: classical (anti-inflammatory; CD14+/CD16-), nonclassical (patrolling; CD14+/CD16++), and intermediate (pro-inflammatory; CD14++/CD16+). The CD16+ nonclassical / intermediate monocytes have been implicated in atherosclerosis progression and their levels positively associate with adverse cardiac events. However, there is a relative lack of understanding as to whether there are distinct mechanisms that regulate CD16+ vs. CD16- monocyte adhesion to the inflamed endothelium. Our previous data identified a high-mannose …


External Root Resorption In The Orthodontic Patients, Frank Earl Litchfield Jan 2019

External Root Resorption In The Orthodontic Patients, Frank Earl Litchfield

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External Apical Root Resorption (EARR) is a side effect of orthodontic treatment that results in root shortening in about one-third of orthodontic patients. Great variability among patients exists in their susceptibility to this multifactorial condition, and both treatment and patient specific factors contribute to EARR. Root resorption values were found to be higher in Hispanics compared to Asians and Caucasians (1). However, the prevalence of EARR is not well documented in all populations. Since African Americans represent the largest minority group in the United States, establishing the prevalence and risk factors for EARR within this ethnicity is important. Objective: To …


The Mechanism Of Glucose-Induced Trib3 Expression In Myoblasts And Myotubes, Xiaobing Liu Jan 2019

The Mechanism Of Glucose-Induced Trib3 Expression In Myoblasts And Myotubes, Xiaobing Liu

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Our previous data indicates that glucose-toxicity is dependent upon upregulation of TRIB3 expression in muscle. TRIB3 is a glucose-responsive gene and, as a pseudokinase, it blocks phosphorylation of AKT resulting in insulin resistance. The purpose of the current study was to identify the role of the differentiation process and the minimal functional sequence of TRIB3 promoter region in modulating glucose-induced TRIB3 gene expression in C2C12 myocytes. First, C2C12 myocytes were collected every 48 hours during the whole differentiation, totally 4 intervals. Before collection, cells were treated with either 5mmol glucose or 25mmol glucose for 24 hours. Under 5mmol glucose, the …


Hpv And Hsv Associated Clinical Conditions Among People Living With Hiv-1 Infection, Yuanfan Ye Jan 2019

Hpv And Hsv Associated Clinical Conditions Among People Living With Hiv-1 Infection, Yuanfan Ye

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This dissertation research focuses on investigating health burdens of HPV- and HSV- associated clinical conditions (CC) in people living with HIV-1 infection (PLWH) in the Southeastern United States. I designed a retrospective study using the UAB 1917 HIV Clinic Cohort. Electronic health records of PLWH attending the clinic for HIV-care between January 2006 and March 2019 were obtained and reviewed. I first examined incidence rates and trends of anogenital HPV- and HSV-associated CC. Then I adopted a new algorithm to group longitudinal CD4 cell counts based on their trajectories. I compared it with nadir and median CD4 cell counts in …


Associations Between Dietary Fat Intake And Waist Circumference, Phonchit Teng Soukhamneut Jan 2019

Associations Between Dietary Fat Intake And Waist Circumference, Phonchit Teng Soukhamneut

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The objective of this study was to assess: 1) trends in dietary fat intake from 2003-2016 2) the association between type of dietary fat intake and waist circumference (WC), 3) the association between type of dietary fat intake and body shape, and 4) whether these associations vary by sex and race/ethnicity. This secondary data analysis included 27,057 adults aged 19 to 65 from the National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2016. For WC, participants were categorized into high-risk (men: WC ≥ 40 in; women: WC ≥ 35 in) and low-risk (men: WC < 40 in; women: WC < 35 in). Total fat intake was categorized as high (TOTFAT ≥ 35%) and low (TOTFAT< 35%). Saturated fat intake was categorized into high (SATFAT ≥ 10%) and low (SATFAT < 10%). Unsaturated fat intake was categorized into high (UNSATFAT ≥ 25%) and low (UNSATFAT < 25%). Logistic regression was performed to assess the associations between DFI and WC and DFI and body shape, controlling for age, BMI, and total caloric intake. NHW men with high TOTFAT were found to have 1.41 (OR: 1.41, 1.19 – 1.68) times the odds of having a high-risk WC compared to men with a diet low in TOTFAT, controlling for age, BMI, and total caloric intake. NHW men with a diet high in SATFAT were at increased odds of having a high-risk WC compared to men with a diet low in SATFAT, after controlling for covariates (OR: 1.49, 1.21 -1.84). NHW men with a diet high in UNSATFAT were at increased odds of having a high-risk WC compared to men with a diet low in UNSATFAT after controlling for covariates (OR: 1.375, 1.09 – 1.74). There were no significant associations found among NWB and MA men for any type of dietary fat intake. For women, no associations were found between type of dietary fat and WC by race/ethnicity. There were no associations between DFI and body shape by race/ethnicity groups and sex. Future studies are needed to further investigate the body shape cut-off points for increased risk associated with chronic disease.


Characterization Of Chemical Uptake And Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Mutations In Zebrafish, Jaclyn Paige Souder Jan 2019

Characterization Of Chemical Uptake And Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Mutations In Zebrafish, Jaclyn Paige Souder

All ETDs from UAB

In a society driven by technology and industry, we must be increasingly aware of how changes to our environment impact our health. This is especially true concerning embryonic development, which is easily influenced by extra-embryonic factors, including environmental contaminants. Determining how exogenous compounds are absorbed, which receptors they act through, and how these receptors act endogenously is important to fully understand to what extent developmental exposures impact fetal and adult health. I have used the zebrafish model system to address these questions for two classes of environmentally-relevant chemicals—estrogens and dioxins. First, I developed an assay to measure the uptake of …


The Role Of Protein Synthesis Attenuation And Eif2-Alpha Phosphorylation In Retinal Degeneration, Christopher Ryan Starr Jan 2019

The Role Of Protein Synthesis Attenuation And Eif2-Alpha Phosphorylation In Retinal Degeneration, Christopher Ryan Starr

All ETDs from UAB

Inherited retinal degeneration is a class of diseases in which there is no cure and very few treatment options available. An activated unfolded protein response has been detected in various animal models of retinal degenerative diseases. Several groups have found heightened activation of one pathway of the unfolded protein response in particular, the protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase signaling cascade, which converges on and phosphorylates the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 to transiently halt protein synthesis and allow the cell to reestablish homeostasis. Although it is widely accepted that this signaling is inherently protective, hyperactivity or …


Marcks Effector Domain: Functions In Glioblastoma Progression And Novel Cytolytic Therapy, Nicholas James Eustace Jan 2019

Marcks Effector Domain: Functions In Glioblastoma Progression And Novel Cytolytic Therapy, Nicholas James Eustace

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Glioblastoma (GBM; grade IV astrocytoma) is the most common primary adult brain malignancy and remains incurable despite tremendous advances in our understanding of this heterogeneous disease. In this dissertation, we explore the challenges encountered in the treatment of GBM and discuss a promising new therapeutic approach gleaned from studies of the phospholipid binding “effector” domain (ED) of the protein Myristoylated alanine-rich protein C kinase substrate (MARCKS). Following an introduction to central nervous system (CNS) tumors and the grading of diffuse gliomas, we explain how recent advancements to our understanding of the cellular and molecular composition of CNS tu-mors, and the …


Wear Of Orthodontic Bite Turbos And Opposing Enamel, Kyle Feagin Jan 2019

Wear Of Orthodontic Bite Turbos And Opposing Enamel, Kyle Feagin

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Orthodontic bite turbos are used to separate the maxillary and mandibular arches when disocclusion is needed for facial placement of orthodontic brackets or extrusion of teeth. The bite turbo should have adequate wear resistance to maintain the disocclusion but also avoid abrasion of the opposing enamel. The objective of this study was to measure the wear and opposing enamel wear of three materials used as bite turbos. 8 specimens (10x8x4 mm) each of Transbond LR (3M), Transbond Plus (3M) and Triad gel (Dentsply) were prepared in silicone molds and light cured for 30 seconds using an Acteon Satelec Blue Ray …


Bet Bromodomain Inhibition As An Approach For Treatment Of Cholangiocarcinoma, Samuel Charles Fehling Jan 2019

Bet Bromodomain Inhibition As An Approach For Treatment Of Cholangiocarcinoma, Samuel Charles Fehling

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Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly aggressive neoplasm which arises from the epithelial layer of the biliary tract. It is the second most common primary hepatic malignancy. As CCA is typically diagnosed at late disease stage, the current standard of care, resection followed by gemcitabine with cisplatin, is not effective. Further, up to 90% of CCA patients are ineligible for resection. Of those eligible for resection, postoperative chemotherapy does not prolong overall survival leading to a 5-year survival of ~30%. Previously, mutations have been identified in KRAS (17% of CCA cases), TP53 (44%) and SMAD4 (17%) but none have been recognized …


Identification Of Two Spop-Mediated Pathways In Prostate Cancer Progression, Joshua Fried Jan 2019

Identification Of Two Spop-Mediated Pathways In Prostate Cancer Progression, Joshua Fried

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Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies and causes of cancer related death in men. Morbidity is primarily attributed to late-stage and metastatic disease. Re-cent genomic screening studies have revealed that the Speckle type Poz Protein (SPOP) is the most frequently altered gene by missense mutations in prostate cancer. Interestingly, all of the identified mutations were located in the substrate binding domain of SPOP. Here, two pathways highlighting the impact of SPOP mutation on prostate cancer are pre-sented. First, evidence showing that one of the naturally occurring SPOP mutations, ser-ine 119 to asparagine (S119N), induces radiosensitivity and an …


Surface Treatment Effects On Shear Bond Strength And Biaxial Flexural Strength Of Three Generations Of Zirconia, Yasko A. Darkoue Jan 2019

Surface Treatment Effects On Shear Bond Strength And Biaxial Flexural Strength Of Three Generations Of Zirconia, Yasko A. Darkoue

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SURFACE TREATMENT EFFECTS ON SHEAR BOND STRENGTH AND BIAXIAL FLEXURAL STRENGTH OF THREE GENERATIONS OF ZIRCONIA YASKO A. DARKOUE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN DENTISTRY ABSTRACT Objectives: Mechanical and chemical surface treatments are required to achieve a durable bond to zirconia. The objective of this study is to compare the effects of particle abrasion and pressure on shear bond strength and biaxial flexural strength of Lava (Frame, Plus and Esthetic) zirconia to obtain a favorable combination of pressure and particle type to produce optimum strength and optimize the bond produced. A protocol for mechanical treatment balancing strength of the type zirconia …


A Study Of Enamel Thickness Of Permanent Maxillary Canines, Daniel Diaz Rubayo Jan 2019

A Study Of Enamel Thickness Of Permanent Maxillary Canines, Daniel Diaz Rubayo

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Introduction: Tooth agenesis is defined as the lack of development of a tooth. Maxillary lateral incisors have been reported to be missing in 2.2% of the population in the United States of America. Two treatment options are available: opening the space to restore the missing tooth with a dental prosthesis; or close the space by moving the adjacent teeth into the space and substituting the missing lateral incisor with the maxillary canine. With a wider crown and a more convex labial surface than lateral incisors, canines require a significant amount of reduction in order to achieve an adequate occlusion and …


Baf Chromatin Landscaping During Bone Formation And Maintenance, Tanner Cole Godfrey Jan 2019

Baf Chromatin Landscaping During Bone Formation And Maintenance, Tanner Cole Godfrey

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Bone loss is a worldwide problem resulting in increased risk of fracture. Osteoblasts are responsible for bone synthesis; therefore, treatments promoting osteoblast differentiation and/or activity would result in increased bone formation. The regulation of DNA accessibility is a key mechanism controlling gene expression and cellular differentiation. BAF (BRG1 Associated Factor) mediated chromatin remodeling increases DNA accessibility by sliding or ejecting nucleosomes. This process can occur in a cell type specific manner based on the composition of BAF. In many tissue types, a unique combination of BAF subunits has been identified to be responsible for the maintenance or differentiation of that …


Smile Outcome Comparison Of Orthodontic Cases Treated With Different Extraction Patterns, Gregory Long Jan 2019

Smile Outcome Comparison Of Orthodontic Cases Treated With Different Extraction Patterns, Gregory Long

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Extraction of premolar teeth for orthodontic purposes is a common treatment approach. The effects of premolar extraction on the occlusion and the face have been studied extensively in the past. To date, however, the effects of premolar extractions on the smile have not been comprehensively quantified in the literature. The purpose of this study was to compare the smile outcome of patients treated with premolar extractions. Methods: This retrospective case-control study established 4 groups of 33 patients each for comparison. Three groups of patients with the same malocclusion were treated with different premolar extraction patterns. The remaining group of patients …


Insuring Graduation: An Analysis Of The Association Between Student Health Insurance And Graduation, John Robert Lovett Jan 2019

Insuring Graduation: An Analysis Of The Association Between Student Health Insurance And Graduation, John Robert Lovett

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Most college students have access to basic health services through their campus’ college health program. Unfortunately, students who lack health insurance may be limited in their access to health services beyond the acute care provided, which may manifest in a myriad of adverse outcomes; ultimately resulting in withdrawal from college without graduating. Student health insurance plans (SHIPs) are high-quality, affordable insurance plans specially designed to meet this need. This study utilized survival analysis to examine the temporal nature of college graduation behavior, as it related to student health insurance status. The results of this study show no significant relationship between …


An Exploratory Study Of The Influence Of Perceived Organizational Support, Coworker Social Support, The Nursing Practice Environment, And Nurse Demographics On Burnout In Palliative Care Nurses, Marcia Ann Lowe Jan 2019

An Exploratory Study Of The Influence Of Perceived Organizational Support, Coworker Social Support, The Nursing Practice Environment, And Nurse Demographics On Burnout In Palliative Care Nurses, Marcia Ann Lowe

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AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF PERCEIVED ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT, COWORKER SOCIAL SUPPORT, THE NURSING PRACTICE ENVIRONMENT, AND NURSE DEMOGRAPHICS ON BURNOUT IN PALLIATIVE CARE NURSES MARCIA A. LOWE SCHOOL OF NURSING ABSTRACT Burnout, a condition characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and decreased personal accomplishment, has been studied in many disciplines in healthcare, including nursing, medicine, and social work. Working with palliative care patients and their families is innately challenging and may predispose nurses to burnout. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of perceived organizational support (POS), coworker social support, the nursing practice environment, and nurse …


Light Transmission And Wear Of Translucent Zirconia After Conventional And Fast Sintering Cycle, Anvita Maharishi Jan 2019

Light Transmission And Wear Of Translucent Zirconia After Conventional And Fast Sintering Cycle, Anvita Maharishi

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ABSTRACT Introduction: Zirconia is classified by the mole percentage of yttria contained in the zirconia. The most strong and opaque material contains 3 mol % yttria, intermediate strength and opacity contain 4 mol %, and whereas 5 mol % is the weakest but most translucent zirconia. Refined zirconia powder is pressed into a mold to form a disc which is then milled to form a restoration. Post milling of sintered zirconia restorations is necessary to obtain final mechanical and physical properties of the restoration. Traditionally conventional sintering cycles required 6-8 hours to sinter. Whereas, fast sintering cycles have been have …


Healthcare Cybersecurity: Building A Cyber Vulnerability Profile For U.S. Hospitals, Gemini O. Majkowski Jan 2019

Healthcare Cybersecurity: Building A Cyber Vulnerability Profile For U.S. Hospitals, Gemini O. Majkowski

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Digital transformation in healthcare has offered exponential advances in capabilities and efficiencies improving access, quality of care, chronic disease management, public health surveillance, and population health. However, the speed of change left security lagging, exposing cyber vulnerabilities that cost the U.S. $6.2 billion dollars annually, at an average cost of $2.2 million dollars, and 3,128 records breached per incident. Despite significant investments to close the gap on cyber vulnerabilities, cybersecurity remains a critical issue. Little research has been done to build a cyber vulnerability profile for U.S. hospitals. In this study, U.S. hospitals with reportable breach and without reportable breach …


Structural Studies Of Some Proteins Responsible For Bacterial Pathogenesis, Kartik Manne Jan 2019

Structural Studies Of Some Proteins Responsible For Bacterial Pathogenesis, Kartik Manne

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A wide range of infections is attributed to the pathogenesis of Gram-positive bacteria. The emergence of multi-drug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens has been a significant health concern and present serious therapeutic challenges globally. Some of the common Gram-positive bacterial species like Streptococcus pneumonia, Group B Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus aureus are infectious by employing several virulence factors for initial adhesion, colonization, biofilm initiation and dispersion, complement evasion, nutrient acquisition, and infection. The structural insights into these virulence factors are essential for understanding their mode of action, and also for developing a new class of antibiotics; a significant interest of many researchers. Pneumococcal adhesive …


Appropriately Timed Epigenetic Manipulation With Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors As A Platform Approach To Tumor Immunotherapy, Tyler Mccaw Jan 2019

Appropriately Timed Epigenetic Manipulation With Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors As A Platform Approach To Tumor Immunotherapy, Tyler Mccaw

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In contrast to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, immunotherapy is able to respond in proportion to tumor burden and continue to evolve in parallel with the tumor mass and metastatic sites. In this way, immune-based cancer therapies are a living drug and hold enormous potential. In this work, we enforce expression of MHCII on a murine breast cancer model to study how changes in tumor biology can drive improved T cell-mediated responses. We next use histone deacetylase inhibitors to manipulate the microenvironment through a more clinically relevant, therapeutic approach. Herein, improvements in tumor control were driven by CD8 T cells and IFNγ, …


Amyloid And White Mater Hyperintensity Burden In The Stroke Belt, Emily Carol Mckinley Jan 2019

Amyloid And White Mater Hyperintensity Burden In The Stroke Belt, Emily Carol Mckinley

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Several large cohort studies have found associations between residence in the Stroke Belt and cognitive impairment as well as dementia mortality; however, the rela-tionship between residence in the Stroke Belt and buildup of amyloid has not been estab-lished. The current project assessed the association between residence in the Stroke Belt and amyloid burden, amyloid accumulation, or white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in a large, national cohort of older US residents. The first study used linear regression models to examine the relationship between geographic residence and Centiloid values. Residence in the Stroke Belt at the time of baseline amyloid PET assessment was …