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2011

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Articles 6271 - 6300 of 6767

Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Perspectives Of Women In Nairobi Kenya Toward Malaria Control, Catherine Kisavi-Atatah Jan 2011

Perspectives Of Women In Nairobi Kenya Toward Malaria Control, Catherine Kisavi-Atatah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria infection has been and continues to be a serious public health concern that has mystified many in the public health care industry. One area in Sub Saharan Africa that continues to feel the devastating effects of malaria is in Nairobi, Kenya. This qualitative research study explored the attitudes of women in Nairobi, Kenya and how they view intervention measures already introduced by public health care experts in fighting malaria. The phenomenological research approach used purposeful sampling to recruit 16 women from Nairobi, Kenya to participate in semi-structured, open-ended interviews. The ecological systems theory was used as a lens of …


Tdp-43 Potentiates Alpha-Synuclein Toxicity To Dopaminergic Neurons In Transgenic Mice., Tian Tian, Cao Huang, Jianbin Tong, Ming Yang, Hongxia Zhou, Xugang Xia Jan 2011

Tdp-43 Potentiates Alpha-Synuclein Toxicity To Dopaminergic Neurons In Transgenic Mice., Tian Tian, Cao Huang, Jianbin Tong, Ming Yang, Hongxia Zhou, Xugang Xia

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

TDP-43 and α-synuclein are two disease proteins involved in a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. While TDP-43 proteinopathy is considered a pathologic hallmark of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobe degeneration, α-synuclein is a major component of Lewy body characteristic of Parkinson's disease. Intriguingly, TDP-43 proteinopathy also coexists with Lewy body and with synucleinopathy in certain disease conditions. Here we reported the effects of TDP-43 on α-synuclein neurotoxicity in transgenic mice. Overexpression of mutant TDP-43 (M337V substitution) in mice caused early death in transgenic founders, but overexpression of normal TDP-43 only induced a moderate loss of cortical neurons in …


A Recombinant Myeloid-Binding Adenovirus For Targeted Pulmonary Gene Therapy, Michael O. Alberti Jan 2011

A Recombinant Myeloid-Binding Adenovirus For Targeted Pulmonary Gene Therapy, Michael O. Alberti

All ETDs from UAB

Inflammation and airway destruction are hallmarks of many debilitating lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), acute lung injury (ALI), and cancer. Gene-based therapeutic interventions that modulate this pathologic inflammatory response are likely to reduce the progressive destruction to lung airways. In this regard, a number of strategies have been evaluated for targeting the pul-monary vasculature; particularly those based on serotype 5 Adenovirus (Ad5). The ad-vantages of Ad over other vector systems include: in vivo stability, low oncogenic poten-tial, and large packaging capacity. Yet, specific and efficient gene delivery to the lung has been hampered …


Vitamin D And Insulin Sensitivity Among African American And European American Adolescents And Adults, Jessica Alejandra Alvarez Jan 2011

Vitamin D And Insulin Sensitivity Among African American And European American Adolescents And Adults, Jessica Alejandra Alvarez

All ETDs from UAB

Adequate vitamin D status is associated with a reduced risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM); the relationship may be mediated by insulin sensitizing effects of vitamin D. African Americans (AA) are at a greater risk for T2DM and insulin resistance, as well as vitamin D deficiency, compared to European Americans (EA). The primary objective of this dissertation was to investigate the independent relationships of vitamin D with various measures of insulin sensitivity. Investigations were performed in a series of studies involving adolescent and adult female cohorts. The intravenous glucose tolerance test-derived insulin sensitivity index (SI) or the oral glucose tolerance …


How Integration Of Daily Operations Leads To Success During An Emergency, David J. Wojs Jr., Chs, Cdp, Ccm Jan 2011

How Integration Of Daily Operations Leads To Success During An Emergency, David J. Wojs Jr., Chs, Cdp, Ccm

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.


Developing A Multidisciplinary Perioperative Safety Course, William Bond Md, Ms, Hope L. Johnson Msn, Rn, Cnor, Michael Pasquale Md, Facs, Fccm, Melissa B. Walsh Bs, Deborah Arnold Msn, Rn, Cmsrn, Matthew W. Leclair, Kelly L. Lago Ms, Jeanne P. Luke Msn, Rn, Cnor Jan 2011

Developing A Multidisciplinary Perioperative Safety Course, William Bond Md, Ms, Hope L. Johnson Msn, Rn, Cnor, Michael Pasquale Md, Facs, Fccm, Melissa B. Walsh Bs, Deborah Arnold Msn, Rn, Cmsrn, Matthew W. Leclair, Kelly L. Lago Ms, Jeanne P. Luke Msn, Rn, Cnor

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.


Post-Translational Modifications, Structure And Function Of Human Lens Crystallins, Chinwe Asomugha Jan 2011

Post-Translational Modifications, Structure And Function Of Human Lens Crystallins, Chinwe Asomugha

All ETDs from UAB

Cataract is an opacification of the lens causing reduction in vision over time. It is one of the leading causes of vision loss among adults age 55 and older. The lens is a transparent structure that focuses incoming light onto the retina for visual perception. It has a high protein content, attributed mainly to water-soluble proteins known as crystallins. With age, crystallins undergo post-translational modifications (PTMs) that alter their structural and/or functional properties and, in turn, lead to cataract formation. The purpose of this research was to take a top-down approach in understanding changes in lens proteins with age, starting …


The Effect Of Sulfasalazine On Functional Recovery And Neuropathic Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury, Kelly Dunham Atkins Jan 2011

The Effect Of Sulfasalazine On Functional Recovery And Neuropathic Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury, Kelly Dunham Atkins

All ETDs from UAB

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition resulting in loss of motor function as well as sensory abnormalities. Insight into the pathophysiology of SCI progression has been gained through use of pre-clinical animal models, however these have not been successful in yielding pharmacological interventions for clinical management of SCI. One proposed reason for this discrepancy may be the use of SCI models which are not fully clinically relevant and do not assess the contribution of gray matter pathology to SCI functional outcomes. Post-SCI inflammation is well-documented and may lead to downstream loss of motor function. Additionally, inflammation is thought …


Significance And Regulation Of Cd68 Expression In The Osteoclast, Jason Waid Ashley Jan 2011

Significance And Regulation Of Cd68 Expression In The Osteoclast, Jason Waid Ashley

All ETDs from UAB

The mucin-like Lysosome Associated Membrane Protein (LAMP) family member CD68 is a primarily myeloid lineage restricted transmembrane protein that is expressed in macrophages and osteoclasts. While the existence and expression pattern of human CD68 and mouse CD68 (sometimes called macrosialin) are well-known, and these molecules are routinely used as histological markers of tissue macrophages, the functional signific-ance of CD68 expression remains an unanswered question. Our overall goal is to deter-mine the significance and characterize the function of CD68 in osteoclasts and explore the effects of Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor κB (RANK) signaling on CD68 post-translational modification. To achieve this …


Vitamin D Deficiency And Sun Avoidance Among University Students At Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Fatme Al Anouti, Justin Thomas, Laila Abdel-Wareth, Jaishen Rajah, William B. Grant, Afrozul Haq Jan 2011

Vitamin D Deficiency And Sun Avoidance Among University Students At Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Fatme Al Anouti, Justin Thomas, Laila Abdel-Wareth, Jaishen Rajah, William B. Grant, Afrozul Haq

All Works

This study offers evidence that vitamin D deficiency could be a major public health burden among young Emirati adults, mostly because of sun deprivation in a sun-blessed country. This study included a random sample of 138 females and 70 males tested for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] status. To further evaluate the predictors of vitamin D status in this population, the study examined diet, obesity and sun exposure. In summer, the mean serum 25(OH)D concentration for females was 20.9 ± 14.9 nmol/L, whereas that for males was 27.3 ± 15.7 nmol/L. Females scored significantly higher than males on the sun avoidance …


Role Of The Cardiomyocyte Circadian Clock In Modulating Myocardial Physiology And Pathophysiology, David Joseph Durgan Jan 2011

Role Of The Cardiomyocyte Circadian Clock In Modulating Myocardial Physiology And Pathophysiology, David Joseph Durgan

All ETDs from UAB

It is well established that multiple parameters of cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology exhibit diurnal variations. For example, human heart rate and blood pressure peak during the morning and trough in the evening. Similarly, there is a morning prevalence for the onset of multiple adverse cardiovascular events, including myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Traditionally these rhythms have been attributed to rhythms in neurohumoral stimulation. However recent identification of the circadian clock mechanism in cardiovascular relevant cell types, including the cardiomyocyte, has prompted investigation into its role in modulating myocardial physiology and pathophysiology over the course of the day. Preliminary …


The Role Of The Classical Nf-Kb Pathway In Hsc Self-Renewal And Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Robert Jason Flynn Jan 2011

The Role Of The Classical Nf-Kb Pathway In Hsc Self-Renewal And Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Robert Jason Flynn

All ETDs from UAB

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) comprises approximately 25% of newly diagnosed cases of leukemia each year. The constitutive activation of the classical NF-κB signaling pathway has been observed in up to 70% of AML cases, and could be due to mutations upstream involving the PI3K-Akt cascade, which is also constitutively active in a majority of cases. In mice, constitutive activation of Akt either through deletion of the negative regulator of PI3K-Akt, PTEN, or by expression of Myr-Akt induces rapid stem cell loss along with a lethal, transplantable myeloproliferative disorder and AML. These studies show that constitutive Akt and NF-κB signaling distinguish …


Occupational Stress In Veterinary Support Staff, Sandra Morales Foster Jan 2011

Occupational Stress In Veterinary Support Staff, Sandra Morales Foster

All ETDs from UAB

OCCUPATIONAL STRESS IN VETERINARY SUPPORT STAFF Sandra Morales Foster DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH ABSTRACT Limited information exists about veterinary support staff and the occupational stressors of this workforce. Concern for workers in occupations of high or prolonged stress such as caregivers in hospitals and emergency situations has been noted in many studies. Occupational stress can cause harmful physical and emotional outcomes when the homeostatic balance is upset. This study explored occupational stress, health status, and coping strategies of veterinary support staff. A mixed-method collected quantitative and qualitative data. Demographic information and three validated instruments were ad-ministered using a web-based survey; …


The Study Of Intracellular Signaling Pathways In Schizophrenia, Adam Funk Jan 2011

The Study Of Intracellular Signaling Pathways In Schizophrenia, Adam Funk

All ETDs from UAB

INTRACELLULAR SIGNALING AND INTEGRATION ABNORMALITIES IN SCHIZOPHRENIA Adam J. Funk DEPARTMENT OF NEUROBIOLOGY ABSTRACT The pathophysiology of schizophrenia is complex and diverse, with many classes of receptors, neurotransmitters, and brain regions implicated in this illness. The many hypotheses proposed have yet to fully explain the heterogeneity of the genetic, postmor-tem, and clinical evidence. It is the goal of this dissertation to integrate the current hy-potheses of schizophrenia into a unified hypothesis of abnormal intracellular signaling and signal integration. Inconsistencies in genetic and postmortem findings suggest that the development of schizophrenia is multifaceted, and the heterogeneity of symptoms supports the hypothesis …


Intracellular Distribution Of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3beta In The Brain, Johanna C. Gandy Jan 2011

Intracellular Distribution Of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3beta In The Brain, Johanna C. Gandy

All ETDs from UAB

The widely distributed serine/threonine kinase glycogen synthase kinase 3beta is well known for its multiple functions in the health brain tissue, which include cell fate, neuronal growth and remodeling, synaptic plasticity, and neuroinflammation. However much of GSK3beta focuses on its abnormal functions in neurological disorders like Alzheimer's Disease and psychiatric disorders. To maintain normal GSK3beta function in the brain, this constitutively active kinase must be strictly regulated. Many factors within the cell work together to influence GSK3beta activity. Two ways to regulate GSK3beta activity are through phosphorylation by upstream kinases or the formation of protein complexes that block substrate binding. …


Human Cytomegalovirus Ul97 Kinase Activity Modifies Cell Cycle Checkpoint Regulators, Rachel Brooke Gill Jan 2011

Human Cytomegalovirus Ul97 Kinase Activity Modifies Cell Cycle Checkpoint Regulators, Rachel Brooke Gill

All ETDs from UAB

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection results in destructive infections in neonates and immunocompromised individuals. Being the primary congenital infection in the United States, it can often result in permanent neurological deficits in infants. The current therapies for CMV infections all target the viral DNA polymerase and also have dose-limiting toxicities. Isolates resistant to ganciclovir (GCV), the therapy of choice, can sometimes overwhelm immunocompromised hosts. Better therapies for this infection are required. The CMV UL97 kinase is a key enzyme in the treatment of CMV infection because it phosphorylates GCV. Additionally, maribavir (MBV) specifically inhibits UL97 kinase activity and inhibits viral replication. …


Oxidative Stress And Xanthine Oxidase In Acute And Chronic Cardiac Volume Overload In Rats, James Douglas Gladden Jan 2011

Oxidative Stress And Xanthine Oxidase In Acute And Chronic Cardiac Volume Overload In Rats, James Douglas Gladden

All ETDs from UAB

Mechanisms of left ventricular dysfunction in cardiac volume overload (VO) are not well understood and there is no medical therapy. Cardiac VO is marked by eccentric remodeling and contractile dysfunction ultimately resulting in cardiac failure. Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathophysiology of heart failure and recent evidence suggests xanthine oxidase (XO) plays a role in VO. To study VO, we used a rat model of aortocaval fistula (ACF). ACF results in early diastolic stress on the left ventricle (LV) and recapitulates the progressive nature of heart failure with contractile function being initially maintained and then depressed by 6 weeks. …


Mitochondrial Genetics And Function In Cardiovascular Disease Susceptibility, Jessica L. Fetterman Jan 2011

Mitochondrial Genetics And Function In Cardiovascular Disease Susceptibility, Jessica L. Fetterman

All ETDs from UAB

While progress has been made in understanding the development and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the mechanisms of CVD risk and initiation are not completely understood. It is widely accepted that CVD is the result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors but it is not known why some populations with otherwise similar risk factors appear more susceptible to CVD than others. It is also known that different strains of laboratory mice have distinct susceptibilities to CVD development. For example, C3H mice are resistant to diet induced atherogenesis whereas C57 animals are susceptible. We have also found that the …


Experimental Determination Of Shielding Requirements For Pet Medical Facilities, Bradley Scott Brinkley Jan 2011

Experimental Determination Of Shielding Requirements For Pet Medical Facilities, Bradley Scott Brinkley

All ETDs from UAB

Purpose: Shielding considerations are important for designing a positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging facility, because of the high energy (511 keV) of electron-positron annihilation photons. Since radiation emitted from patients administered PET radiopharmaceuticals includes lower-energy scattered photons, a given thickness of lead attenuates more of the radiation than it would for a monoenergetic beam of 511 keV photons. A more accurate determination of the effective attenuation coefficient of lead for the spectra of photon energies emitted from PET/CT patients could reduce the shielding requirements necessary to adequately protect public health. In this work, the spectra of energies emitted from …


Identification And Characterization Of Novel Adenosine Cleavage Enzymes In Mycobacteria, Kajal Buckoreelall Jan 2011

Identification And Characterization Of Novel Adenosine Cleavage Enzymes In Mycobacteria, Kajal Buckoreelall

All ETDs from UAB

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading infectious diseases in the world. An estimated one third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative pathogen of TB. With the emergence of drug resistant strains of the mycobacterium, and the HIV-TB coinfection epidemic, TB remains a global health emergency. Purine metabolism is an essential cellular component to all living cells. Previous studies have shown that differences exist between mycobacterial and human purine metabolism. One of the differences was in the metabolism of adenosine (Ado), whose cleavage was observed in mycobacterial cells whereas Ado cleavage is inefficient in human …


Pathophysiology Of Dyt1 Dystonia: Targeted Mouse Models, Chad Christopher Cheetham Jan 2011

Pathophysiology Of Dyt1 Dystonia: Targeted Mouse Models, Chad Christopher Cheetham

All ETDs from UAB

DYT1 dystonia is an inherited movement disorder caused by a trinucleotide deletion (DeltaGAG) in the DYT1 (TOR1A) gene, which codes for the torsinA protein. Dr. Yuqing Li's laboratory previously reported the characterization of a DYT1 dystonia mouse model, a knock-in carrying DeltaGAG in Dyt1 (KI), which displays a motor learning deficit of motor skill transfer. We report here that this motor learning deficit was reversed with an anticholinergic drug, trihexyphenidyl (THP), a drug commonly used to treat movement problems in dystonia patients. We further show a potential substrate for the pathophysiology, a reduction in D2 receptors in the striatum in …


Analysis Of The Structural And Kinetic Properties Of Sult2a1 Induced By The Binding Of 3'-Phosphoadenosine-5'-Phosphosulfate, Ian Thomas Cook Jan 2011

Analysis Of The Structural And Kinetic Properties Of Sult2a1 Induced By The Binding Of 3'-Phosphoadenosine-5'-Phosphosulfate, Ian Thomas Cook

All ETDs from UAB

Sulfation is an important Phase II drug metabolism reaction catalyzed by the cytosolic sulfotransferases (SULTs). SULT2A1 is a major SULT in liver and adrenal cortex that has been reported to sulfate a wide variety of substrates including bile acids, steroids, and drugs. The crystal structures of SULT2A1 suggest that PAPS binding causes a structural change. This study examines the kinetic changes in SULT2A1 caused by PAPS binding using computer modeling, enzyme kinetics, binding studies, and mammalian cells expressing SULT2A1. The data presented clearly demonstrate that the binding of PAPS changes the affinity of some substrates to SULT2A1 resulting in different …


Differential Contributions Of C-Kit Activating Mutations To Promotion Of Aml1-Eto Associated Neoplasia, Heidi Jean Nick Jan 2011

Differential Contributions Of C-Kit Activating Mutations To Promotion Of Aml1-Eto Associated Neoplasia, Heidi Jean Nick

All ETDs from UAB

The t(8;21) translocation, which generates an AML1-ETO fusion protein (also known as RUNX1-ETO), is one of the most frequent cytogenetic abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Murine studies have demonstrated that AML1-ETO promotes the accumulation of myeloid progenitor cells with self-renewal capability and impaired differentiation capacity. However, AML1-ETO+ mice do not progress to AML in the absence of additional mutations, suggesting that expression of the translocation is insufficient for leukemogenesis. This hypothesis is supported by studies demonstrating the persistence of AML1-ETO-expressing hematopoietic progenitors obtained from patients in long-term clinical remission. Mutations affecting receptor tyrosine kinases, particularly c-KIT, are commonly detected …


Behavior Of Midbrain Vergence Cells During Stepwise Transfers Of Gaze And Oblique Tracking In Depth, Leah Corthell Jan 2011

Behavior Of Midbrain Vergence Cells During Stepwise Transfers Of Gaze And Oblique Tracking In Depth, Leah Corthell

All ETDs from UAB

A long standing debate regarding the neural organization of oculomotor control began in the late 1800's with Hering and von Helmholtz proposing two opposing ideologies. Von Helmholtz proposed a monocular structure of the oculomotor circuitry in which each eye receives separate motor commands. Hering offered his law of equal innervation, which states that all eye movements are the sum of binocular vergence and conjugate commands. As a test of Hering's binocular proposal, this project compared the behavior of midbrain vergence cells during: 1) saccade-free stepwise transfers of gaze in depth; 2) combined saccade-vergence eye movements; 3) pure vergence tracking, and …


Pediatric Obesity And Traumatic Lower Extremity Long Bone Fracture Outcomes, Ian Charles Backstrom Jan 2011

Pediatric Obesity And Traumatic Lower Extremity Long Bone Fracture Outcomes, Ian Charles Backstrom

All ETDs from UAB

Background: Pediatric obesity is associated with lower extremity injuries and poor outcomes after blunt trauma. Our aim was to determine if obese pediatric patients with femur and tibia fractures have more severe injury patterns and worse outcomes compared to non-obese patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of obese and non-obese pediatric patients with femur or tibia fractures treated at two Level-1 trauma centers from 2004-2010. Patients weighing ≥ 95th percentile for age and gender were classified as obese. Patients were compared regarding demographics, Injury Severity Score (ISS), intra-abdominal, and orthopedic injuries. Outcomes included fracture treatment, orthopedic complications, ICU …


Comparison Of Vitamin D Supplementation Regimens In Pediatric Patients With Cystic Fibrosis, Julianna Bailey Jan 2011

Comparison Of Vitamin D Supplementation Regimens In Pediatric Patients With Cystic Fibrosis, Julianna Bailey

All ETDs from UAB

COMPARISON OF VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTATION REGIMENS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS JULIANNA BAILEY CLINICAL NUTRITION ABSTRACT The objective of this randomized prospective study was to determine the most efficacious form of vitamin D supplementation for pediatric patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). We hypothesized that 50,000 IU monthly cholecalciferol would be as effective in raising serum 25-hyrdroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations as routine daily supplementation of 1000-2000 IU cholecalciferol in pediatric patients with CF, birth to 20 years of age, over a period of 3 months. Data collected at baseline included serum 25(OH)D concentration, gender, genotype, race, age, FEV1, height, weight, …


Adsorption Characteristics Of Activated Carbon Fibers (Acfs) For Toluene, Jo Anne Goot Balanay Jan 2011

Adsorption Characteristics Of Activated Carbon Fibers (Acfs) For Toluene, Jo Anne Goot Balanay

All ETDs from UAB

Granular activated carbon (GAC) is currently the standard adsorbent in respirators against several gases and vapors because of its efficiency, low cost and available technology. However, a drawback of GAC due to its granular form is its need for containment, adding weight and bulkiness to respirators. This makes respirators uncomfortable to wear, resulting to poor compliance in its use. Activated carbon fiber (ACF) is considered a viable alternative adsorbent material for developing thinner, light-weight and efficient respirators because of their larger surface area, lighter weight and fabric form. This study aims to determine the critical bed depth and adsorption capacity …


Sensitization Of Glioma To Death Receptor 5-Mediated Apoptosis Through Genotoxic Stress And Cell Cycle Disruption: A Study Of Mechanism, Michael L. Belenky Jan 2011

Sensitization Of Glioma To Death Receptor 5-Mediated Apoptosis Through Genotoxic Stress And Cell Cycle Disruption: A Study Of Mechanism, Michael L. Belenky

All ETDs from UAB

Our laboratory reported that a combination of ionizing radiation (IR) or temozolomide (Tmz), a DNA methylating agent clinically approved against glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a type of human brain cancer, and TRA-8, an anti-DR5 monoclonal antibody produced synergistic cytotoxicity in GBM cells in culture and in mouse xenograft models through an yet unknown mechanism. I hypothesized that understanding of the synergy phenomenon can offer an insight into the nature of GBM vulnerability. The goals of this investigation were two-fold - to elucidate the mechanism of this enhancement in cytotoxicity, and to improve understanding of DR5 mediated apoptosis toward improvement of current …


Investigation Of Numerical Approaches To Analyze Flapping Wings, Nitin Bhagat Jan 2011

Investigation Of Numerical Approaches To Analyze Flapping Wings, Nitin Bhagat

All ETDs from UAB

For centuries, the agility and maneuverability of flying insects have been an inspiration to fluid dynamists. A large number of research activities have been conducted within the biological, aerodynamics, and computational science communities to understand the complex flow fields around flapping insects and their capability for rapid maneuvers. However, the understanding of these natural phenomena is still in its infancy. Recent experimental flow visualizations have shown the complex vortical structures around flapping wings and vortex interactions. Even with the advent of faster and better computer processors and improved numerical algorithms, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques to accurately predict flow features …


Hierarchical And Bayesian Approaches For Estimating Prevalence Based On Pool Screening, Thomas Birkner Jan 2011

Hierarchical And Bayesian Approaches For Estimating Prevalence Based On Pool Screening, Thomas Birkner

All ETDs from UAB

Pool screening is a method that combines individual items into pools. Each pool will either test positive (at least one of the items is positive) or negative (all items are negative). Pool screening is commonly applied to the study of tropical diseases where pools consist of vectors (e.g. black flies) that can transmit the disease. The goal is to estimate the proportion of infected vectors. In paper 1, we present a frequentist Bernoulli-Beta hierarchical model to relax the constant prevalence assumption underlying the traditional frequentist prevalence estimation approach. This assumption is called into question when sampling from a large geographic …