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Admixture Mapping Of Subclinical And Clinical Cardiovascular Disease Among African Americans, Aditi Shendre Jan 2016

Admixture Mapping Of Subclinical And Clinical Cardiovascular Disease Among African Americans, Aditi Shendre

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The purpose of this dissertation is to evaluate the association of local European ancestry (LEA) with subclinical and clinical cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD) among African Americans in three prospective cohorts from the United States. CVD burden is higher among African Americans compared to other racial/ethnic groups and prevention efforts have led to the evaluation of subclinical measures of CVD such as carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), and risk factors including the underlying genetic component of the disease. Admixed populations such as African Americans may have increased risk of disease as a result of the increased prevalence of a disease among …


Neurobiological Consequences Of Perinatal Ssri Exposure, Matthew Edward Glover Jan 2016

Neurobiological Consequences Of Perinatal Ssri Exposure, Matthew Edward Glover

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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been a mainstay pharmacological treatment for women experiencing depression during pregnancy and postpartum for nearly three decades. Recently, though, growing evidence indicates that early-life SSRI exposure triggers long-lasting behavioral abnormalities. Clinically, children exposed to SSRIs in early life exhibit increased internalizing behavior, reduced social behavior, and increased risk for depression in adolescence. Similarly, in rodents, perinatal SSRI exposure leads to increased traits of anxiety- and depression-like behavior. Interestingly, certain individuals are more susceptible to early-life SSRI exposure than others, suggesting that perinatal SSRI exposure poses greater risks for negative outcome within certain populations; however, …


The Matricellular Protein Ccn1 Potentiates Fibrogenic Responses To Lung Injury, Ashish Kurundkar Jan 2016

The Matricellular Protein Ccn1 Potentiates Fibrogenic Responses To Lung Injury, Ashish Kurundkar

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Normal wound healing is a well-coordinated reparative response to injury aimed at restoring the normal tissue function. The dynamic interactions between cells and ex-tracellular matrix (ECM) regulate and dictate the fate of tissue repair process. Fibrosis is a dysregulated wound healing with excessive deposition of ECM and loss of tissue func-tion. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive fibrotic disease of lung with no cure. Matricellular proteins are non-structural matrix proteins which regulates the cellular functions by directly binding to cell surface integrins and/or indirectly modulating growth factor signaling. Matricellular proteins are emerging as critical mediators of tissue injury …


14-3-3 Proteins Regulate Mutant Lrrk2 Kinase Activity And Neurite Shortening, Nicholas Lavalley Jan 2016

14-3-3 Proteins Regulate Mutant Lrrk2 Kinase Activity And Neurite Shortening, Nicholas Lavalley

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Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common known cause of inherited Parkinson’s disease (PD), and LRRK2 is a risk factor for idiopathic PD. How LRRK2 function is regulated is not well understood. Recently, the highly-conserved 14-3-3 proteins, which play a key role in many cellular functions including cell death, have been shown to interact with LRRK2. In this study, we investigated whether 14-3-3s can regulate mutant LRRK2-induced neurite shortening and kinase activity. In the presence of 14-3-3θ overexpression, neurite length of primary neurons from BAC transgenic G2019S-LRRK2 mice returned back to wildtype levels. Similarly, 14-3-3θ overexpression …


The Role Of Ppar-Delta In Regulating Cardiomyocyte Proliferation And Angiogenesis In Post-Myocardial Infarction Adult Heart, Yishu Ding Jan 2016

The Role Of Ppar-Delta In Regulating Cardiomyocyte Proliferation And Angiogenesis In Post-Myocardial Infarction Adult Heart, Yishu Ding

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Limited regeneration capacity is the main cause of heart failure following myocardial infarction (MI) in adult mammals. Emerging evidence supports that adult cardiomyocyte proliferation and myocardial angiogenesis could be enhanced, especially under MI condition. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) is a key transcriptional regulator of lipid metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant defense in the heart. PPARδ signaling is involved in cell proliferation in many cell types. However, whether PPARδ is also determined cardiomyocyte proliferation and angiogenesis in the heart is unknown. Based on a high-through-put screening hit on cultured cardiomyocytes conducted by our collaborator, I have focused on establishing …


Three-Dimensional Age-Related Changes Of The Adult Male Face, Catherine Haynie Haynie Jan 2016

Three-Dimensional Age-Related Changes Of The Adult Male Face, Catherine Haynie Haynie

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Objectives: The adult population is a fast growing subgroup of orthodontic practices. The facial soft tissues of adults are different from adolescents, and there is significant sexual dimorphism in the aging of facial soft tissue. It is imperative for the orthodontist to understand how aging effects the soft tissues of the face, and to know how male and females differ in this process. The objectives of this study include: 1.) Identification of trends in facial aging among a Caucasian male and African American male sample utilizing three-dimensional surface imaging technology. 2.) Comparison of the aging effects between the Caucasian and …


Patient Engagement Functionalities Facilitated By Health Information Technology: An Examination Of The Adoption Rate And Financial Performance Among U.S. Hospitals, Oghale Elijah Asagbra Jan 2016

Patient Engagement Functionalities Facilitated By Health Information Technology: An Examination Of The Adoption Rate And Financial Performance Among U.S. Hospitals, Oghale Elijah Asagbra

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) meaningful use requirement, as well as documented evidence suggest that health information technology (HIT) has the potential to promote patient engagement and consequently improve quality and reduce cost. This prompts a better understanding of hospital adoption of HIT for patient engagement. The purpose of the three papers presented in this dissertation is to examine hospital adoption of health information technology (HIT) to facilitate patient engagement. Emphasis is placed on the functionalities (i.e., functions or capabilities) offered by these technologies that have been determined to allow patients be more involved in their care because …


Exploring Bacteriophage P22 As A Selective Molecular Scaffold And Molecular Sensor, Gregory Joseph Bedwell Jan 2016

Exploring Bacteriophage P22 As A Selective Molecular Scaffold And Molecular Sensor, Gregory Joseph Bedwell

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The virus capsids of many dsDNA bacteriophage are finely tuned macromolecular machines. Their functionality begins at assembly, when their capsids are built under the guidance of a class of proteins referred to as scaffolding proteins. The scaffolding protein of bacteriophage P22 is a flexible, highly elongated protein that binds to the interior surface of the P22 procapsid via its C-terminal domain. The finding that N-terminus is dispensable for procapsid binding prompted the development of chimeric scaffolding protein molecules, wherein N-terminal residues of scaffold are replaced with a variety of different peptide sequences or functional proteins that are then encapsidated within …


Retention Of Cad/Cam Crowns Luted With A Novel Biomimetic Cement, Nan Xiang Jan 2016

Retention Of Cad/Cam Crowns Luted With A Novel Biomimetic Cement, Nan Xiang

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Objectives: To measure the tensile strength of e.max copings cemented with resin, calcium silicate and calcium phosphate cements following thermocycling. Methods: 40 extracted non-carious mandibular premolar teeth were examined and selected using Keyence microscope for no carious cracks etc.were mounted in acrylic. The teeth were placed in a lathe and prepared to uniform dimensions (22° total taper) using a flat-end tapered diamond bur (846.11.025HP, Brasseler) and a 3mm preparation height. The surface area of the prepared surface was calculated with digital microscopy. The teeth were scanned with a Cerec 3 (Sirona) digital scanner. E.max crowns were milled using Cerec 3 …


The Relationship Between Hospital Interdepartmental Transfers And Patient Experience, Betty O. Mortensen Jan 2016

The Relationship Between Hospital Interdepartmental Transfers And Patient Experience, Betty O. Mortensen

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This study examined the potential relationship between interdepartmental transfers and perceptions of adult patients who were admitted and discharged from a 300-bed, not-for-profit community tertiary hospital in the Midwest. The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey is a publically reported comparative data tool measuring hospital patient experiences. As consumers, patients are more informed about their own health and are challenging the quality and service of care provided by hospitals. The value-based purchasing reimbursement model has become a new challenge for hospitals. Historically, hospitals were reimbursed through a volume driven model. Comparatively, the value-based model focuses on …


Examining The Impact Of Emergency Department (Ed) Registered Nurse (Rn) Staffing On Ed Patient Experience, Deana L. Nelson Jan 2016

Examining The Impact Of Emergency Department (Ed) Registered Nurse (Rn) Staffing On Ed Patient Experience, Deana L. Nelson

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EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) REGISTERED NURSE (RN) STAFFING ON ED PATIENT EXPERIENCE DEANA NELSON DOCTOR OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ABSTRACT Patient experience ratings are important to healthcare organizations from both a clinical and financial perspective. Studies examining the relationship between patient experience and nurse staffing are prevalent in the inpatient setting, but not as much is known about how staffing affects these ratings in the Emergency Department (ED). This study examined the relationships between ED RN staffing, patient expectations and patient experience ratings, using a conceptual framework adapted from Donabedian’s structure/process/outcome model, and expectancy disconfirmation …


Altering Metabolism In The Tumor Microenvironment To Enhance Anti-Tumor Immunity For Lung Cancer, Cara Schafer Jan 2016

Altering Metabolism In The Tumor Microenvironment To Enhance Anti-Tumor Immunity For Lung Cancer, Cara Schafer

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Overcoming cancer cell immune escape represents a fundamental obstacle in the treatment of cancer. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)-expressing myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are known to induce oxidative stress and alter amino acid metabolism within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The tryptophan (Trp)-catabolizing action of IDO not only promotes T cell tolerance and evasion but is also associated with impaired quality of life in cancer patients. We have previously demonstrated that a novel combination therapy, consisting of MDSC-depleting gemcitabine and a superoxide dismutase mimetic, prolonged survival of tumor-bearing mice by enhancing CD8+ memory T cell metabolism. We identify that combination therapy inhibits IDO …


Methods For Measuring Individually Experienced Temperature And Food Intake In Controlled Thermal Environments, Molly Bernhard Jan 2016

Methods For Measuring Individually Experienced Temperature And Food Intake In Controlled Thermal Environments, Molly Bernhard

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The three studies to be presented assess individual-level heat exposure in free-living urban and rural environments and assess food intake in randomized controlled trials in a 2-hour exposure, and a 7-hour crossover heat exposure. The first interest was broad: examining heat exposure and its relation to potential health outcomes. To examine whether heat exposure could be measured in free-living organisms, a light and temperature monitoring device was repurposed and used in a pilot study of individual-level heat exposure in urban and rural community members. Differences between the current and most commonly accepted way of estimating heat exposure, weather station datasets, …


The Role Of Glutamate In Immune Cell Infiltration And Excitotoxic Mechanisms In Autoimmune Demyelination, Kirsten Scarlett Evonuk Jan 2016

The Role Of Glutamate In Immune Cell Infiltration And Excitotoxic Mechanisms In Autoimmune Demyelination, Kirsten Scarlett Evonuk

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Multiple sclerosis is the most common neurological disorder in young adults. Current treatments modulate the immune system, but no treatments prevent central nervous system damage. Inflammation occurs even during disease remission, contributing to ongoing damage and resulting in disease progression. The lack of neuroprotective treatments despite continued inflammatory onslaught in the central nervous system indicates the need for therapeutic discovery in this area. One potential therapeutic target is glutamate, whose dysregulation in multiple sclerosis has been implicated in excitotoxic cellular death. Herein we describe the roles of glutamate in multiple sclerosis and explore the blockade of a source of excitotoxic …


Comparing The Quality Of End Of Life Cancer Care In The Medicare Population Prior To And After The Enactment Of The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement And Modernization Act Of 2003, Rene Jooste Jan 2016

Comparing The Quality Of End Of Life Cancer Care In The Medicare Population Prior To And After The Enactment Of The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement And Modernization Act Of 2003, Rene Jooste

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Reimbursement for chemotherapy could account for two thirds of the income for oncologists in private practice. The Medicare prescription drug improvement and modernization act of 2003 (MMA) brought about a dramatic change in the way physicians were reimbursed for delivering chemotherapy in an attempt to slow the skyrocketing costs of drugs and Medicare costs for covering these drugs . The MMA reduced Medicare reimbursements for covered outpatient prescription drugs from 95% to 85% of the average wholesale price. In 2005, a new payment system was instituted that reimbursed fee-for-service providers for drugs at the national average sales price plus 6%. …


High-Intensity Interval Training With Energy Restriction Preserves Lean Tissue And Improves Glucose Tolerance In Obesity, Rachel Ann Harley Jan 2016

High-Intensity Interval Training With Energy Restriction Preserves Lean Tissue And Improves Glucose Tolerance In Obesity, Rachel Ann Harley

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Calorie restriction (CR) reduces body weight (BW) and adiposity, but is often less than expected due to hypometabolism produced by reductions in lean body mass (LBM). A comparable energy deficit created by combining CR and exercise energy expenditure (EE) has been shown to attenuate the reduction in EE produced by CR. Continuous moderate-intensity training (MIT) is commonly used to sustain energy balance or expedite weight loss, but high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may produce greater results. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if HIIT preserves LBM and improves energy metabolism to a greater extent than MIT in the presence …


Cd4 Regulatory T Cells Augment Hiv-1 Expression Of Polarized M1 And M2 Monocyte Derived Macrophages, Tanya Robinson Jan 2016

Cd4 Regulatory T Cells Augment Hiv-1 Expression Of Polarized M1 And M2 Monocyte Derived Macrophages, Tanya Robinson

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Polarization of macrophages is critical for an effective host immune response against invading pathogens. However, the HIV-1 virus can alter the cytokine/chemokine profile of polarized macrophages which may ultimately lead to their increased susceptibility to viral infection. M1 monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) have been shown to suppress CCR5-tropic HIV-1 replication, while M2 MDM promote it. We generated M1 (GM-CSF + IFN-γ + LPS) and M2 (M-CSF + IL-4) MDM with predicted phenotypes and exposed them to a CCR5 (R5) “highly macrophage-tropic” viral strain, HIV-1BaL. M2 MDM had notably higher levels of HIV-1 infection than M1 MDM. We also investigated R5 HIV-1 …


Regulation Of The Mitochondrial Thiol Network With Targeted Electrohpiles, Matthew Ryan Smith Jan 2016

Regulation Of The Mitochondrial Thiol Network With Targeted Electrohpiles, Matthew Ryan Smith

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Cells possess a remarkable plasticity to alter their metabolism and change their function based on stimuli within their resident microenvironment. The mitochondria within these cells utilize a variety of sources such as pyruvate, glutamine, or fatty acids in order to generate metabolites, amino acids, and reducing equivalents needed for cellular proliferation.Many mitochondrial enzymes possess contain a cysteine which possesses a thiol group, a unique redox-signaling moiety that can be activated under specific circumstances by bio-reactive compounds forming a network of mitochondrial proteins which are responsible for mitochondrial respiration. However, it is unknown whether targeting these reactive thiol groups present a …


Analysis Of The Ciliary Genes Gas8 And Mks6 Reveal Conserved Roles In Cilia Motility And Transition Zone Function, Wesley Robert Lewis Jan 2016

Analysis Of The Ciliary Genes Gas8 And Mks6 Reveal Conserved Roles In Cilia Motility And Transition Zone Function, Wesley Robert Lewis

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Cilia are microtubule based cellular appendages that are present throughout the hierarchy of the animal kingdom. These appendages are utilized for a wide array of functions such as motility in single celled organisms to coordinating complex cellular signaling pathways in more complex organisms. Though these appendages are well conserved, the exact function of cilia in many cell types remains unknown. Recently, cilia are tied to a myriad of developmental diseases and diseases of adult homeostasis collectively referred to as ciliopathies. Dysfunction in cilia results in a wide array of phenotypes ranging from retinal degeneration to polydactyly, cystic kidney disease, and …


Examination Of 4-Hydroxy Tamoxifen- And Bh3 Mimetic-Induced Cell Death Pathways In Glioblastoma And Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells, Christopher Dillon Graham Jan 2016

Examination Of 4-Hydroxy Tamoxifen- And Bh3 Mimetic-Induced Cell Death Pathways In Glioblastoma And Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells, Christopher Dillon Graham

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Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive human primary malignant brain tumor with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. GBM is highly invasive, rendering complete surgical resection impossible. Additionally, this tumor type is relatively insensitive to radiotherapy. Thus, effective chemotherapeutic options present the last line of defense for GBM patients. Unfortunately, nearly 50% of all GBM tumors are resistant to the current chemotherapeutic standard, temozolomide (TMZ). TMZ is a DNA alkylating agent that promotes apoptosis via DNA damage. Resistance to TMZ-induced cell death is attributed to expression of the DNA repair enzyme O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) resultant from …


Hospital-Physician Vertical Integration: The Effect Of Integration On Cardiology Compensation And Clinical Productivity, Vance Mcleod Chunn Jan 2016

Hospital-Physician Vertical Integration: The Effect Of Integration On Cardiology Compensation And Clinical Productivity, Vance Mcleod Chunn

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HOSPITAL-PHYSICIAN VERTICAL INTEGRATION: THE EFFECT OF INTEGRATION ON CARDIOLOGY COMPENSATION AND CLINICAL PRODUCTIVITY VANCE M. CHUNN ADMINISTRATION – HEALTH SERVICES ABSTRACT U.S. hospitals have begun responding to health care reform and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 by accelerating alignment with physicians. Hospital-physician vertical integration has increased considerably in the last decade. For providers, consolidation has the potential to produce economies of scale and reduced costs. For patients, integrated networks have the potential to deliver better coordinated care and improve quality. However, the current integration movement has not been compelled by clear objectives. The goals of reducing costs and …


Dietary Patterns, Insulin Resistance, And Cognitive Outcomes In A Cohort Of Black And White Americans, Keith Pearson Jan 2016

Dietary Patterns, Insulin Resistance, And Cognitive Outcomes In A Cohort Of Black And White Americans, Keith Pearson

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As life expectancy continues to increase and the number of elderly Americans rises, public health initiatives are seeking to identify modifiable risk factors to preserve cognitive function and increase quality of life in advanced ages. The primary objective of this dissertation was to investigate dietary patterns, carbohydrate consumption, and insulin resistance as modifiable risk factors that may contribute to the development of cognitive impairment and cognitive decline. Three separate studies were performed in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study, a prospective cohort containing 30,239 black and white participants. Cognitive impairment was defined using the Six-Item Screener. …


Influence Of Maternal Age On The Effects Of Organic Selenium In The Animal Model Daphnia Pulex, Jordan E. Roberts Jan 2016

Influence Of Maternal Age On The Effects Of Organic Selenium In The Animal Model Daphnia Pulex, Jordan E. Roberts

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As a necessary micronutrient, seleno-L-methionine (SeMet) exhibits a U-shaped dose-response with deficiency and toxicity leading to adverse health outcomes. Some studies suggest dietary selenium may offer protection against toxicity from other metals, but excessive dietary levels can also lead to toxicity. In addition, increased maternal age has been shown to increase the risk of adverse developmental outcomes. We hypothesize that older maternal age will increase susceptibility in offspring exposed to toxic concentrations of SeMet. The goal of this project was to evaluate the effects of SeMet treatment on lifespan and determine if the effects are altered by maternal age using …


Hiv-1 Adaptation To T-Cell Responses During Infection, Victor Yimin Du Jan 2016

Hiv-1 Adaptation To T-Cell Responses During Infection, Victor Yimin Du

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It is well known that CD8 T cells play an important role in viral control. Many viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), escape from CD8 T-cell mediated immune pressure. Increasing number of studies have suggested that CD4 T cells, usually considered as primary targets of HIV-1 infection, can also play an active antiviral role and hence can drive viral escape like their CD8 counterparts. The works presented in this dissertation examined the impact of transmitted HIV-1 escapes on CD8 T-cell responses and clinical outcomes following infection, the ability of CD8 T cells to cross-recognize viral variants during acute infection, and …


Role Of Autocrine And Paracrine Wnt Signaling In Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells, Puneet Agarwal Jan 2016

Role Of Autocrine And Paracrine Wnt Signaling In Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells, Puneet Agarwal

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Treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) fails to eradicate the leukemia stem cells (LSCs) from which the disease arises. Previously, we and others have shown that LSC persistence is related to kinase-independent mechanisms and mediated in part by signals from the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM). Specifically, we found that WNT signaling from the BMM may contribute to preservation of CML LSC following TKI treatment. Wnt secretion and activity requires their palmitoylation by the Porcupine acyltransferase (PORCN). WNT974 (formerly LGK974) is a potent PORCN inhibitor that blocks WNT signaling and demonstrates in vivo efficacy against …


Rural Hos[Ital Closure In Alabama - Post Aca, Dennis Otto Mccay Jan 2016

Rural Hos[Ital Closure In Alabama - Post Aca, Dennis Otto Mccay

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RURAL HOSPITAL CLOSURES IN ALABAMA: POST ACA DENNIS O. MCCAY HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ABSTRACT Rural hospitals differ from their urban counterparts with regard to two main areas. First, rural hospital patients are usually older, of lower income, and less healthy than those in urban areas. Second, their facilities tend to be smaller, older, and more prone to staff shortages than those in an urban environment. Rural hospitals have been closing at higher rates than their urban counterparts for a number of years, but more so since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. The objective of this research …


Cell-Specific Pgc-1Α-Dependent Transcription: Implications For Cognitive And Motor Dysfunction, Laura Mcmeekin Jan 2016

Cell-Specific Pgc-1Α-Dependent Transcription: Implications For Cognitive And Motor Dysfunction, Laura Mcmeekin

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Expression and/or function of transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) is reduced in a variety of both neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. However, it is difficult to determine the significance of decreased PGC-1α expression and/or function in disease without knowing 1) the localization of these changes, 2) what the normal function of PGC-1α is in that specific cell-type, and 3) how its role in one neuronal population is different from its role in another. PGC-1α is highly expressed in GABAergic interneurons, and although it plays a significant role in interneuron function, several reports suggest that it also plays …


How Well Do Hospitals Budget Operating Results? The Relationship Between Budget Variances And Operating Margin, Mark F. Slyter Jan 2016

How Well Do Hospitals Budget Operating Results? The Relationship Between Budget Variances And Operating Margin, Mark F. Slyter

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There is a near-universal assumption in both practice and literature that greater accuracy and management to the budget improves profitability (Libby & Lindsay, 2010; Umapathy, 1987). Prior to this study, this assumption has gone untested and we know little about the wisdom of such an assumption. The results of this study indicate greater accuracy in forecasting and/or tighter management to the budget, or favorably exceeding it, leads to improved profitability. More specifically, smaller unfavorable budget variances are associated with greater operating margins while greater favorable budget variances are associated with greater operating margins. A single standard deviation reduction in unfavorable …


The Role Of Mammalian Tribbles Homolog 3 (Trb3) In Macrophage Biology; Evidence For Reciprocal Regulation Of Macrophage Function In Foam Cell Formation, Dennis Steverson Jan 2016

The Role Of Mammalian Tribbles Homolog 3 (Trb3) In Macrophage Biology; Evidence For Reciprocal Regulation Of Macrophage Function In Foam Cell Formation, Dennis Steverson

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Atherosclerosis is disease characterized by dysregulated lipid metabolism and chronic inflammation. Macrophages are critical to the progression of the disease and are involved in the pathophysiology at all stages of the disease. In the early stages, macrophages are responsible for fatty streak formation by becoming foam cells through lipid uptake. In the later stages, macrophages contribute to the degradation of the fibrous cap and are largely responsible for chronic inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques. Tribbles homolog 3 (TRB3) is a pseudokinase that inhibits Akt activation by blocking its phosphorylation site. TRB3 is expressed on numerous cell types in the body (pancreatic …


The Roles Of Il-21 And Il-10 In Cellular And Humoral Immune Responses, Yuan Tian Jan 2016

The Roles Of Il-21 And Il-10 In Cellular And Humoral Immune Responses, Yuan Tian

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Protective immunity mediated by cellular and humoral immune responses relies on the ability of T cells and B cells to generate both effector cells that cooperate to eliminate antigens and memory cells that can survive for long periods with enhanced abilities to control recurring antigens. Thus, understanding the factors that regulate the development of T cell and B cell responses can improve the development of vaccines and immunotherapies against infectious diseases and cancers. Cytokines play important roles in regulating T cell and B cell responses, and in this thesis I have investigated the functions of two cytokines, interleukin (IL)-21 and …