Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2003. / Document formatted into pages; contains 119 p. Includes bibliographical references. Abstract available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center; full text release delayed at author's request until 2005 Aug. 19.

Buckwheat ( Fagopyrum esculentum ) derives its name from the likeness of the fruit to a beech-nut (German :Buchweizen). It probably originated in the Himalayas (Stoletova, 1940). The earliest record of buckwheat cultivation was found in Germany in an old register dated 1436 (Hill, 1937; Ames, 1939). It is in no way related to wheat except that it has some importance as a "cereal" and is hence called a pseudo-cereal. [...]

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Duke University, 2007.

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: W. Robert Taylor; Committee Member: John Oshinski; Committee Member: Kathy Griendling; Committee Member: Raymond P. Vito; Committee Member: Rudolph L. Gleason.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Riverside, 2010. / Includes abstract. Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Title from first page of PDF file (viewed May 17, 2010). Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in print.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Alberta, 2009. / A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine. Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on September 16, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

The etiology of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is characterized by localized extracellular matrix remodeling and vessel dilation. Population-based studies have shown that AAA account for nearly 1% of all deaths. This thesis seeks to identify the earliest molecular and biomechanical determinants of aneurysm formation. Our initial motivator was the lack of information defining the underlying mechanisms of AAA formation. We used isolated vessel testing and histological analysis to study the mechanical and morphological evolution of AAA. These factors were measured in murine models of reproducible AAA formation. From this study, we determined 1) that molecular events precede mechanical events in AAA progression and 2) aortic circumferential mechanics are well conserved during AAA pathogenesis. Next we sought to explore the mechanistic link between oxidative stress and AAA development. To determine this relationship we used isolated vessel testing as well as measurement of aortic residual circumferential strain. To isolate the role of oxidative stress in these studies we used a line of transgenic mice with vascular smooth muscle cell-specific overexpression of the antioxidant catalase. The results of this study suggest that oxidative stress-mediated elastin degeneration within the aortic media is etiologic of altered aortic mechanics. Lastly, we sought to determine the independent mechanical contribution of the aortic adventitia and media tunica to overall aortic behavior. To accomplish this goal we compared the circumferential and axial mechanical behavior of aortas with and without collagenase treatment. The data demonstrated that the adventitia regulates the circumferential behavior of the aorta by preventing overstretch and the media regulates the axial behavior by maintaining tensile loading. This thesis demonstrates 1) that detecting early aneurysm progression in the form of mechanical or geometric changes may miss the window in which aneurysm pathology may be potentially reversed, 2) that mitigating oxidative stress within the aortic wall may provide protection against AAA, and 3) the adventitia is an important load bearing constituent of the arterial wall and plays a role in vascular adaptation to altered mechanical states. Overall our results impact understanding of early aneurysmal pathogenesis and may facilitate the development of preventative therapies for AAA progression and rupture.