Electronic Thesis or Dissertation

Kleine-Levin Syndrome (KLS) is an extremely rare neurological disorder characterized by episodes of uncontrollable hypersomnia and various cognitive and behavioral abnormalities. There is neither a definitive etiology nor definite treatment modalities. Immunological studies for this condition are extremely limited, and this present study aims to investigate a potential autoimmune mechanism that underlies KLS. To achieve this, western blot and dot-blot assays analyzed the immunoreactivity of patients and control sera towards various brain tissue areas. Western blot did not show immunoreactivity with IgG-depleted brain tissue lysate. However, dot-blot assays revealed a significantly greater level of immunoreactivity with KLS patient sera towards the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, hypothalamus, and parieto-temporal areas compared to KLS-negative sera. These areas have previously been shown to be hypo-perfused in KLS patients. Future studies are necessary to identify the specific antibodies that may be autoreactive in KLS patients.

The intricate processes governing cellular pH and its impact on protein and cellular function have been extensively explored. However, our understanding of the pH fluctuations that occur during routine cellular activities and their potential to modulate cell function remains, particularly within the highly dynamic pH landscape of a synapse. Investigating the scale, directionality, and temporal characteristics of these activity-dependent pH fluctuations at synapses is of paramount interest, as it carries profound implications for neurotransmitter release and signal transduction. Employing both empirical and computational modeling methods, our research explores the dynamic pH environment within the synaptic cleft of Drosophila glutamatergic motor neuron Ib terminals during synaptic activity and reveals its significance in modulating neurotransmission. Contrary to popular belief, we discovered that these terminals undergo activity-dependent extracellular alkalinization in response to both single action potentials and burst stimulation. This surprising phenomenon was also observed at the mouse calyx of Held. We found activity-dependent alkalinization to be predominantly driven by Ca2+ movement across the postsynaptic membrane, and by targeting pH indicators to subcellular domains, we identified alkalinization to primarily occur within the cleft.

Hoops and Other Essays is a collection driven by form and lyricism threading themes of grief, fatherhood, joy and anxiety. I place myself within an American landscape spanning South Florida, Northern Alaska, and Montgomery County, Maryland. Anchored by non-linear structures, an exploration of trauma, and a delight for language, these essays depict the coming of age of a thirty-year-old man who seems to be still coming of age. Poop is a theme; Nature is a theme. Speaking aloud to no one is a character trait, and iguanas are a motif. Hoops and Other Essays pulls free the particulars of the universal struggle of trying to be okay when things hardly ever seem okay. The collection comments on the inevitably of dying shared among the living and the pleasure and pain that emerges from loving what has to end. The essays were written over the course of two years after the sudden loss of my brother which was quickly followed by the birth of my son. In the end, Hoops and Other Essays tries to unravel how one fits between the polar opposites of human existence, with the hope to uncover more likeness than difference in the way we enter and the way we leave it.

Delinquency is a major social and public health problem for families, young people themselves, and law enforcement agencies, and it is a threat to public safety. Juveniles often present with multiple issues during arrest, such as mental illness, substance abuse, low socio-economic status, family dysfunction, academic problems, and poor peer relationships. One of these justice-involved youths more prevalent mental health issues is conduct disorders (CD). Research has shown that 50%-90% of justice-involved youth are diagnosed with CD. Growing research supports the integration of spirituality into professional social work practice. This study aims to bring awareness that spirituality is essential to these justice-involved youths’ lives through the lived experiences of Direct Service Providers. This study aimed to understand better programming designed to meet the spiritual needs of juveniles with CD who were in juvenile residential treatment programs. This study examined the following questions: RQ1: How do DSPs describe the current spirituality programming offered to juveniles diagnosed with Conduct Disorder (CD) who are in a juvenile residential treatment facility? RQ2: What recommendations do DSPs have for enhancing programming to better meet juveniles’ spiritual needs?
A cross-sectional qualitative research study utilized a thematic analysis to explore DSP’s perceptions of the role of spirituality in the lives of juveniles diagnosed with CD and impacted by juvenile justice services. This study’s results showed spirituality was critical and impactful to the lives of justice-involved youth. It also demonstrated the usefulness of Fisher’s four-domain model in assessing spirituality in justice-involved youth. This study concluded six primary themes from the analysis. The researcher deductively coded the first two themes to explore the research questions in this manuscript. The last four themes resulted from inductive coding of the interviews: (a) programming and resources available to youth (RQ1); (b) recommendations for enhancing spirituality programming and resources for youth (RQ2); (c) viewing spirituality as religion; (d) support for religion and spirituality for youth; (e) facilitators to youths’ spiritual development; and (f) barriers to youths’ spiritual development.

As cities respond to accelerating climate impacts, scholars have identified climate gentrification as a phenomenon exerting displacement pressures on low-income communities, including ethnic enclaves. While climate gentrification pathways literature primarily addresses economic causes and effects, an opportunity exists to better understand policy contributions and social impacts surrounding resilience and displacement.
For this dissertation project, I expanded the concept of climate gentrification pathways to examine connections between displacement, resilience strategies, and urban planning. Using an interpretive approach, I explored how an ethnic enclave experienced and responded to displacement pressures, especially regarding social impacts related to (climate) gentrification. In addition, this project compared resilience and planning policies and strategies discourse with community discourse related to climate gentrification.

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill had widespread impacts that were seen across the surface of the ocean, deep-sea, and seafloor. To assess damages, NOAA and GoMRI established the Offshore Nekton Sampling and Analysis Program (ONSAP) and the Deep Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico (DEEPEND) projects. This response effort would create a vast dataset and collection of samples to aid in understanding the deep-sea of the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Genus Melamphaes (Family Melamphaidae), are a group of minimally characterized and understudied fish. This thesis will assess vertical ecology and migratory patterns, variations in specimen size and sampling gear, and introduce species that are newly identified to inhabit the area. The findings suggest that majority of Melamphaes participate in diel vertical migration and sampling equipment has significant impacts on specimen size. Four unreported species of Melamphaes have now been documented in this region, increasing previously reported diversity.

Heart failure is a chronic cardiovascular disease that is caused due to the lack of blood supply from heart. This lack of blood supply leads to accumulation of the fluid in the thoracic region. Traditionally, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are used to treat HF and to monitor its parameters. Healthcare wearable devices (HWDs) are healthcare devices that can be worn or attached to the skin. HWD are non-invasive and low-cost means of providing healthcare at the point-of-care (POC). Herein, this dissertation discusses the development of a HWD for the monitoring of the parameters of heart failure (HF). These parameters include thoracic impedance, electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate, oxygen saturation in blood and activity status of the subject. These are similar parameters as monitored using ICD. The dissertation will discuss the development, design, and results of the HWD.

There are two types of stigmas: self-stigma and public stigma. The focus of this dissertation was public stigma. The public stigma encountered by persons with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) contributes to the isolation of families due to the effort made by AD caregivers to adjust to social challenges (Abojabel & Warner, 2019). According to the Saudi Alzheimer’s Disease Association (2022), there are 130 thousand documented cases of AD, which comprised 9% of the aged population. The severity of stigmas can vary across cultures because stigmas of disease are connected to cultural norms (Corrigan, 2014). Most studies conducted in Saudi Arabia have assessed public stigma regarding mental illnesses, but no study has been found regarding public stigma within the AD scope. Population-based approaches that attempt to clarify stigma level prevalence in representative samples are important to develop methods to address these disparities and ensure equitable access to health care within the population's cultural context.
The aim of this study was to 1) identify the relationship between public stigma and the level of AD knowledge among the Saudi population and 2) identify the potential factors that were associated with public stigma and AD knowledge levels among Saudi community members, within the context of a caring science perspective using critical caring theory and specific-situation theory.

In any experimental platform, data acquisition is the first and essential step, and occasionally the most time-consuming and costly operation. During the process of data acquisition, we conduct experiments to measure the response of the system to a set of inputs. Methods of optimal design of experiment can be used to determine the most informative measurements and avoid numerous traps that trial-and-error experimentation might cause. In this research, we have developed a general approach for designing optimal experiments, subsequently applying it to the domain of optical tomography.
Optical tomography is a vital technology that enables three-dimensional imaging by reconstructing images from two-dimensional projections. This technology has applications across various fields, including medicine and material science. The process involves two main phases: data acquisition and image reconstruction. The traditional raster scanning method has been the standard approach for data acquisition, but it presents challenges in terms of scanning speed, quality, and exposure to harmful radiations in some cases. This has prompted researchers to explore ways to optimize the scanning process.

This thesis paper is an in-depth look at two of Cormac McCarthy’s novels: Blood Meridian and No Country for Old Men, and more specifically, the villains of each story seen from a level of violence paired with philosophy. The dialogue and actions of Judge Holden and Anton Chigurh hold precedent over the novels, storylines, and other characters so much that I place a greater importance on the philosophies and actionable scenes without emphasis from outside ideals or quasi-religious sects. By looking at dialogue and philosophy, previous comparisons to both works never hold the characteristics of each villain as the centerpiece for discussion. Without the reliance of outside precepts, the Judge and Chigurh function as essential placeholders in their novels. Aspects relating to violence become the result of actions proven by speech. Consequently, the Judge and Chigurh are greater than other villains that I explore in detail with this work. I can only hope this paper sheds light on the significance of both characters.