Age-related maculopathy (ARM) is a leading cause of legal blindness in the elderly in the world. Currently, the physiological and ultrastructural bases for the development of ARM remain unclear. Many studies have proposed that the morphological changes, particularly the accumulations of lipids with aging, in Bruch's membrane - an extracellular...
Direct dynamics quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) calculations are performed to study the dynamics of model atom + polyatom reactions. In the first part of this thesis, we examine adiabatic dynamics of H/O reaction with simple alkanes, CD4 and C2H6. Overall good agreement with state-of-the-art experiments shows that the molecular motion is...
Development of the central nervous system requires the coordinated interplay of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. I examined the actions of an extrinsic factor, TWEAK, and an intrinsic factor, Iroquois1 (Irx1) on neural progenitor cell behavior. Embryonic day 12 (E12) and post-natal day 1 (PN1) neural progenitor cells both express Fn14,...
Gradient copolymers are novel materials that possess a gradual variation in composition along the chain, thereby forming an intermediate structure between random and block copolymers. As such, they are a model system to investigate the effect of molecular structure on fundamental properties of copolymers and may be useful in many...
Gradient copolymers are novel materials that possess a gradual variation in composition along the chain, thereby forming an intermediate structure between random and block copolymers. As such, they are a model system to investigate the effect of molecular structure on fundamental properties of copolymers and may be useful in many...
Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons comprise the final pathway through which the central nervous system exerts its control over the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. GnRH is released in a pulsatile manner, and conveyed to the anterior pituitary gland to stimulate synthesis and secretion of the gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating...
This study investigates the causes and welfare consequences of unravelling in two-sided matching markets. "Unravelling" arises when agents contract with one another at an early stage, before much of the relevant information is available. Such early matches may lead to ex-post inefficiencies and are perceived as socially harmful. This study...
This dissertation covers the synthesis and study of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), specifically, derivatives of PNA containing amine-bearing sidechains or cyclopentane portions. PNAs are non-natural nucleic acids that have far reaching potential in therapeutics and nucleic acid detection. Despite immense potential and widespread application, improving on the design and applications...
In this dissertation I examine the relationship between voter turnout and legislative representation in the United States Congress. My main contention is that political elites react to electoral participation in formulating public policies. I posit that the institutional advantages of incumbency in the House of Representative reduces turnout in congressional...
Megakaryocytic cells (Mks) are derived from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and give rise to platelets. Ex vivo culture of HSCs under conditions that promote Mk differentiation has been proposed as a method for producing Mks and platelets for cell therapies. Mk maturation involves the development of polyploid cells via endomitosis,...