Cataclysmic variable stars (CVs) are close, interacting binary systems comprised of a white dwarf and a companion star, which is typically a late-type dwarf star. Their progenitor systems are post common envelope binaries (PCEBs) with a white dwarf...
I investigate the kinematics and space densities of the local cataclysmic variable (CV) population. CVs are close binary star systems composed of a white dwarf that accretes matter from a less compact companion star in Roche lobe overflow....
Genetic and immunological tools have been used to study two protozoan parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasma gondii provides an excellent model for the study of protozoan parasite biology. Plasmodium falciparum causes...
Cataclysmic variable stars are a broad class of close binary systems in which matter is transferred from a normal secondary star onto a white dwarf. This thesis reports spectroscopy of a number of examples, aimed mostly at clarifying the underlying...
During our fieldwork with real-world organizations---including those in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), network configuration management, and the electrical power grid---we repeatedly noticed that security policies and related security artifacts...
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. The discovery of breast tumor subtypes and the subsequent development of treatments aimed at them has allowed a reduction in the mortality of breast cancer. However, tumors with similar...
Antibodies are known to be a primary correlate of protection in almost all current vaccines, and thus evaluating the antibody response is of critical importance in attempting to predict the efficacy of novel vaccine candidates. Historically...
Acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) plays important roles in cellular cholesterol homeostasis and in early stages of atherogenesis. ACAT has been investigated as a pharmaceutical target, yet its active site(s) remain largely...
Plant MADS proteins play critical roles in vegetative and reproductive development. DNA binding and yeast three-hybrid assays suggest that plant MADS proteins function as dimers or multimers. However, little is known about how plant MADS proteins...
Monocytes and macrophages play a key role in a number of immune functions including inflammation, antigen presentation and the clearance of microorganisms and free hemoglobin. Two surface receptors which are important for these functions are CD163...
Spatial heterogeneity inherent in ecological systems impacts both diversity and community structure. However, little is known about the influence of habitat heterogeneity on temporal variability in communities. I performed several studies to...
α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) function as paracrine and autocrine receptors throughout the body. Most studies have focused on their role in fast excitatory neuronal signaling, and learning and memory. In...
Classic studies demonstrated that when cells in different cell cycle phases are fused, nuclei cohabiting in a common cytoplasm synchronize their division cycles. Cytoplasmic factors, now known to be cyclin/cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) complexes,...