Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2006, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects:

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2006, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects:

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2006, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects:

M.A. (Master of Arts in English), Ohio Dominican University, 2024, English

This thesis explores John Steinbeck's enduring literary legacy and his portrayal of the complex relationship between America and religion in 20th-century America. Through an analysis of To a God Unknown, East of Eden, and The Grapes of Wrath, this study delves into his examination of the American Dream and its connection to religion, particularly Christianity. In these novels, Steinbeck portrays his vision of a successful America as a nation characterized by interdependence, empathy, and equality, regularly placing these traits in a religious context and aligning them with Christian symbolism and ideology. By emphasizing the responsibility that man has for his fellow man, Steinbeck places the American everyman into a Godlike role, bypassing traditional religious beliefs that America has been founded on and centered around and introducing a new idea of religion within America that Steinbeck envisioned as leading the nation to fulfill its potential for greatness.

Committee: Imali Abala (Other); Martin Brick (Advisor) Subjects: American Literature; Literature; Religion

PHD, Kent State University, 1976, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Geography

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Committee: Erich Bordne Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Jordan Hodgkins Ph.D. (Committee Member); Surinder Bhardwaj Ph.D. (Committee Member); Charles Riley Ph.D. (Committee Member); Jamies Gidney Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Geography

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1985, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects: Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1980, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects: Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1972, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects: Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1972, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects: Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1970, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects: Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1954, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects: Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2003, Pharmacy

The primary focus of this thesis deals with understanding pathophysiological aspects of retrovirus (HIV/AIDS) and cocaine related cardiovascular complications. Central goals were to define important interactions between the cardiovascular and immune systems and involvement of oxidant related pathways in relevant animal models and in human tissues. Additional components of this dissertation were to define optimal conditions for cardiovascular performance assessments (contractility and electrophysiology) in mouse models and to develop novel mechanistic insights so that therapy could be further optimized. Using a relevant mouse model of retroviral pathogenesis (LPBM5, “murine AIDS” model) we observed time dependent cardiomyopathy and first-time evidence of reactive nitrogen species in cardiac tissue in this setting; we also corroborated these phenomena in a well-defined set of human tissues from HIV/AIDS autopsy cases. In subsequent investigations we found that a modest exposure of bacterial lipopolysaccharide amplified abnormalities in cardiac structure and function observed in the murine AIDS model, and that this synergistic effect was associated with increased cardiac prevalence of activated monocytes and cardiac myocyte expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4, an important component of cardiac innate immunity). These observations suggest that coincident infection in humans may promote HIV-related cardiac complications. In separate studies we investigated mechanistic aspects of cocaine related cardiovascular toxicity in mice. A single dose of cocaine (30mg/kg) caused acute and protracted electrical abnormalities and protracted endothelial dysfunction in mice, analogous to clinical phenomenon observed in humans. Isolated cell experiments demonstrated that cocaine induced toxicity is related to increased cellular production of oxidants (in the absence of hypoxia). In a pilot clinical study we also investigated the effects of a standardized grape product with respect (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: John Bauer (Advisor) Subjects: Health Sciences, Pharmacology