Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of The U.S. Veterinary Feed Directive Final Rule On The Prevalence Of Violative Antibiotic Residues And Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria In Animal Products, Md Shamim Sarkar

Doctoral Dissertations

Antibiotic-resistant is a public health concern. The dissertation objective was to assess the effect of the implementation of the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rule changes on the prevalence of violative antibiotic residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food-animal tissues, retail meats, and cecal samples from food animals compared to the pre-VFD rule change period in the U.S. To understand the effect of implemented VFD rule changes on violative antibiotic residues in food-animal tissues, inspector-generated sampling (IGS) data from the U.S. National Residue Surveillance Program (NRP) was analyzed. An important observation was that implementing VFD rule changes was associated with the decreased …

Ethyl Pyruvate Failed To Reduce Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Release Following In Vitro Stimulation In Dairy Calves' Whole Blood., Vincent Dore

Doctoral Dissertations

Recent developments in sepsis treatment showed that control of the late mediator of inflammation, High Mobility Box group-1 (HMGB1), improves survival in animal models of endotoxemia. Ethyl pyruvate is a small-molecule inhibitor that has been shown to reduce the systemic release of HMGB1 during experimental treatment of systemic inflammation in different species. The objectives of this body of work were 1) to explore ethyl pyruvate's ability to modulate early pro-inflammatory cytokines production and immune effector function in treated calves, 2) to evaluate the safety of an administration of ethyl pyruvate infusion in neonatal calves, and 3) to explore ethyl pyruvate's …

Tiktok Use And Body Dissatisfaction: Examining Direct, Indirect, And Moderated Relations, Danielle Leigh Mink

Doctoral Dissertations

In this study, we examined potential indirect and moderated effects in the relations between the use of TikTok, a video-based appearance-related social networking site, and body dissatisfaction among a sample of approximately 475 United States’ young adult college women residing in the Southeast. We hypothesized that TikTok use would be directly and indirectly related to body dissatisfaction through more upward appearance comparison and more body surveillance in serial. We also hypothesized that exposure to body positive media and social media literacy (both commercial and peer) would moderate or buffer both the direct and indirect links between TikTok use and body …

Acceleration Profiles Of Adolescent Soccer Players Across A Season, Jake A. Melaro

Doctoral Dissertations

The injury risk inherent to soccer can be affected by external training loads and intrinsic factors. These intrinsic factors (sex, mass, strength, coordination, etc.) in young athletes can be rapidly altered the near their peak height velocity (PHV) during puberty, modifying their movement complexity and, potentially, their injury risk. While quantification of movement complexity through multiscale entropy analysis have been used in past biomechanical investigations, no studies have incorporated this analysis on tibial accelerometry signals collected in these maturing athletes. The purpose of this study is to collect tibial acceleration data from youth soccer athletes during several discrete drills and …

Investigating The Transfer Of Learning, Psychological, And Neural Effects In Immersive Virtual Reality, Logan Taylor Markwell

Doctoral Dissertations

Achieving mastery or expertise requires a substantial amount of quality practice. Recent technological developments have introduced a novel approach to practice, virtual reality. Specifically, virtual reality offers a low-cost, customizable opportunity to practice while minimizing the risk of the individual. Given that some types of practice may not lead to the acquisition of a motor skill, or worse, lead to detriments of that skill, understanding the developing science of motor behavior in relation to virtual reality is imperative. The following literature review will begin with a brief historical account of the evolution of virtual reality. Next, some terms of virtual …

Spatial Epidemiology Of Prediabetes And Diabetes In Florida, Md Marufuzzaman Khan

Doctoral Dissertations

The burden of diabetes and diabetes-related Emergency Department (ED) visits has increased in Florida. However, Diabetes Self-management Education (DSME) Program participation remained considerably low. Little is known about disparities of DSME participation, diabetes complications, and ED use by diabetes patients in Florida and yet this information is important for guiding health programs aimed at reducing diabetes burden. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate: (a) disparities of diabetes prevalence and DSME participation; (b) disparities of diabetes-related ED visit risks; and (c) prevalence and predictors of stroke among persons with prediabetes and diabetes.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and …

Black Bear Population Health Monitoring In The Southeast, Kathleen Elizabeth Riese

Masters Theses

Recent growth of the American black bear (Ursus americanus) population in the southeast raises concerns about the potential spread of density-dependent diseases among bears, particularly sarcoptic mange. However, research on the health of bears in this area is limited. We analyzed samples from 169 bears in the region. We performed Knotts tests, skin scrapes, fecal floats; Canine adenovirus (CAV), canine parvovirus (CPV), canine distemper virus (CDV), and Toxoplasma gondii serology, Trypanosoma, Rickettsia rickettsii, and apicomplexan PCR, and identified ecto- and endoparasites found grossly or histologically. We found that 69% (63 of 91) had microfilaria; genetic analysis identified …

Advanced Air Quality Management With Machine Learning, Cheng-Pin Kuo

Doctoral Dissertations

Air pollution has been a significant health risk factor at a regional and global scale. Although the present method can provide assessment indices like exposure risks or air pollutant concentrations for air quality management, the modeling estimations still remain non-negligible bias which could deviate from reality and limit the effectiveness of emission control strategies to reduce air pollution and derive health benefits. The current development in air quality management is still impeded by two major obstacles: (1) biased air quality concentrations from air quality models and (2) inaccurate exposure risk estimations

Inspired by more available and overwhelming data, machine learning …

Translational Models For Advancement Of Regenerative Medicine And Tissue Engineering, Kristin Marie Bowers

Doctoral Dissertations

At the root of each regenerative medicine or tissue engineering breakthrough is a simple goal, to improve quality of healing, thus improving a patient’s quality of life. Each tissue presents its own complexities and limitations to healing, whether it is the scarring nature of tendon healing or the mechanical complexity driving bone regeneration. Preclinical, translational models aim to reflect these complexities and limitations, allowing for effective development and refinement of tissue engineered therapeutics for human use. The following body of work explores several of these translational models, both utilizing them for tissue regenerative therapy development and evaluating the benefits and …

Utilizing Ultra-Performance Chromatography High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry To Investigate Fatty Acid Mediated Antibiotic Tolerance, Brittni Woodall

Doctoral Dissertations

The lipid membrane is the first component necessary to sustain life. To maintain homeostasis, segregate cellular machinery, provide protection from the environment, and reproduce, an organism must establish a boundary in which the processes can occur. Throughout the last two decades, research has propelled our knowledge of lipid membranes much beyond original hypotheses. Once thought of to be static and uniform, the understanding of the lipid membrane has evolved to encompass a structure that is responsive, unique, and intricately constructed by the organism itself. By chance or by choice, organisms adapt the lipid membrane according to the environment for which …

A Machine Learning Approach For Predicting Clinical Trial Patient Enrollment In Drug Development Portfolio Demand Planning, Ahmed Shoieb

Masters Theses

One of the biggest challenges the clinical research industry currently faces is the accurate forecasting of patient enrollment (namely if and when a clinical trial will achieve full enrollment), as the stochastic behavior of enrollment can significantly contribute to delays in the development of new drugs, increases in duration and costs of clinical trials, and the over- or under- estimation of clinical supply. This study proposes a Machine Learning model using a Fully Convolutional Network (FCN) that is trained on a dataset of 100,000 patient enrollment data points including patient age, patient gender, patient disease, investigational product, study phase, blinded …

Social Dominance Alters Stress-Induced Neural Activity And Generates Individual Differences In Stress Vulnerability, Jenna Lee Laymon

Masters Theses

Identifying the physiological and behavioral mechanisms that underlie stress vulnerability is a crucial step toward identifying novel targets for the prevention and treatment of stress-related disorders. Social status is a key environmental factor that contributes to individual variations in stress vulnerability. In particular, achieving a subordinate social status has been shown to produce susceptibility to anxiety-like and depressive-like behavior. In this project, our aim was to identify neural ensembles regulating how dominance status modulated stress-induced changes in avoidant behavior in male and female Syrian hamsters. Using a viral vector that codes for robust activity marker (RAM), we investigated whether stress-induced …

Leptospira Seroprevalence In Companion Animals In Tennessee, Kellie Anne Mccreight

Masters Theses

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging zoonotic disease in humans and animals. The bacteria Leptospira spp. causing this disease is maintained in the kidneys of animals such as rodents and cattle as well as in the environment. Animals harboring Leptospira spp. in the kidneys frequently shed the bacteria in their urine, contaminating the environment. Contact with contaminated soil and water may result in infection. Animals and humans may develop serious life threatening disease from Leptospira infection. Approximately 1 million new human cases and over 50,000 deaths are reported worldwide. Numerous animal species including rodents, cattle, and dogs may serve as reservoir …

The Correlation Between Exercise And Burnout In Student Nurses, Drew Janes

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Examining Sex Differences In Own And Other-Race Face Processing In Infancy, Hannah E. Greene

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Skin Microbiota On Acne, Chloe A. Biggs

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Ballad Health: Understanding Appalachia's Regional Healthcare Monopoly, Meredith A. Bailey

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Healthcare Disparities And Hispanic Immigrants: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, William C. Greenman Iii

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

When The Rural Hospital Closes: An Analysis Of Acute Health Impacts Following Closure Of Rural Hospitals In Appalachia, Bret M. Berry

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Clonidine On Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Patient Outcomes, Claire E. Flatt

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Anxiety-Like Behavior In C57bl/6j Mice Is Sexually Dimorphic And Altered By Buprenorphine, Ohm Sharma

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Amputation On Muscle Structure Properties In A Rabbit Model, Roy Caleb Stubbs

Masters Theses

After amputation, muscles in the residual limb are detached from their insertion points and no longer span the missing joints. Our objective was to quantify the effect of amputation-induced disuse on residual muscle structure, an indirect indicator of muscle force-generating capacity. One hind paw was surgically removed at the ankle joint of ten rabbits. At two weeks (n=5) and 4 weeks (n=5) post-amputation and for select muscles (gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis cranialis, extensor digitorum, and flexor digitorum superficialis), we measured and computed several muscle structure properties. Additionally, we qualitatively assessed the muscle fiber appearance of histological samples at each timepoint. At …

Intra-Skeletal Variation In Stable Isotopes Through Non-Destructive Approaches: Applications Of The Patterns Of Skeletal Remodeling To Biological Anthropology, Armando Anzellini

Doctoral Dissertations

Stable isotope analysis is a well-established method in biological anthropology used to deliver data on residence, diet, and life history. Samples for these analyses are often collected from the diaphyses of long bones with an assumption of an expected rate of turnover between five and ten years, depending on the skeletal element. However, the biological foundations of this assumption are still uncertain, especially concerning the intra-skeletal and intra-element variation of isotopic signatures that may relate to patterns of remodeling. Exploring these gaps in intra-element isotopic variation requires fine-grained work using multiple bones from multiple individuals, but such work is limited …

Genealogy Tells: Informing Health And Aging Policies Using East Tennessean Older Women's Family Histories, Perceptions, And Experiences Of Health Inequity, Heather Davis

Doctoral Dissertations

Older women face unique health inequities challenges. This study aims to provide an understanding of older women’s perceptions and situated experiences regarding the gendered health inequities they face and the social determinants (SDH) thereof. It examines how these health inequities are situated in older women’s genealogical (familial) and geographical health and mortality outcomes histories and how their perceptions and experiences of health inequities and their familial mortality outcomes histories are characterized by the geopolitical and social norms in which they live. The purpose of this project is to present policy and decision-makers with insights about and recommendations from older women …

Healthcare Service Utilization And Life Satisfaction In South Africa, Tamara Chavez-Lindell

Doctoral Dissertations

South Africa has achieved improvements in many health measures over the past 30 years, yet significant disparities in healthcare utilization and health outcomes persist. There is evidence that healthcare utilization has a strong influence on health outcomes and life satisfaction. Unfortunately, rural areas tend to have poorer accessibility and utilization of health services, leading to disparities in health outcomes. In rapidly urbanizing countries such as South Africa, identification of disparities and predictors of public healthcare utilization and life satisfaction may provide information that can be used to guide development of programs aimed at improving population health outcomes, quality-of-life, and overall …

Perinatal Health In North Dakota: Emerging Issues, Grace N. Njau

Doctoral Dissertations

Preterm birth, newborn screening refusal, and postpartum depression represent three emerging areas of concern that have not been previously investigated in North Dakota. Their potential impact creates significant social, behavioral, and economic burdens. Although various studies have investigated preterm birth and postpartum depression, to the best of my knowledge, newborn screening refusal in the United States has not been previously investigated. In alignment with the role of Title V of the Social Security Act (Maternal and Child Health) Programs to conduct ongoing statewide needs assessments, the objectives of this study was to investigate and identify predictors of preterm birth, newborn …

Sphenoidal Sinuses And Spherical Harmonics: Variation And Covariation Of The Most Morphologically Diverse And Least Understood Paranasal Sinus, Katharine Grace Josephine Ryan

Doctoral Dissertations

Understanding the shape variation of the human sphenoidal sinus is important to several areas of research. This includes clinical investigation (sinus pathology and safe endoscopic endonasal surgical practice) and paranasal sinus evolution (for which there is still no consensus). Yet, the sphenoidal sinus has high morphological variation, prohibiting its quantification through traditional geometric morphometric landmarking methods. The sphenoid body, and thus also the sinus contained within, is located directly at the developmental center of the basicranium in humans, where the three cranial fossae meet at the midline, and adjacent to the three synchondroses which are the sites of cranial base …

Predicting Immunization Status At Arrival In Tennessee Stocker Calves, Claire E. Hunkler

Masters Theses

Bovine respiratory disease is a multifaceted disease with agent, host, and environmental factors. Stocker calves are at high risk of contracting the disease through many stressors like weaning, transportation, commingling, etc. The purpose of this project was to test if externally observed physical characteristics of calves on arrival at a stocker facility can be used to predict calfhood vaccination status determined based on antibody titer levels. Knowledge of highly correlated characteristics could allow stocker operators to reduce the occurrence of BRD through targeted management strategies, thus lowering morbidity, mortality, and treatment costs. Ear notches, blood, and visual characteristics were collected …

Addressing Interprofessional Competence In Interpretation Of Electronic Fetal Monitor Tracings, Susan H. Hébert

Doctoral Dissertations

Interpretation of electronic fetal monitor (EFM) tracings is a critical clinical practice skill nurses and physicians perform during the intrapartum stage of pregnancy. However, if performed inaccurately can potentially jeopardize the well-being of the neonate. This risk is present because if concerning EFM tracings are not interpreted accurately, preventative care interventions to promote the well-being of the unborn child do not occur. The project was initiated by completing a scoping literature review on the methods for training and evaluating EFM interpretation competence, which revealed current EFM interpretation training and evaluation methods are lacking. A concept analysis defined nurse competence in …

The Lived Experience Of Losing Employment After Diagnosis With Dementia: A Phenomenological Analysis, Susan K. Blaine

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was describing the experiences of people with dementia (PWD) who lose their employment after diagnosis with dementia, but sooner than originally planned. A phenomenological approach based on tenets of Maurice Merleau-Ponty was used. Six telephone interviews were conducted, with participants sharing their experiences. Transcripts were transcribed verbatim, and subsequently analyzed via a hermeneutical analysis approach. Themes were identified within and between transcripts, considering the contextual grounds of Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology: body, others, time, and world, and the contextual ground of participants’ experience: the stigma of dementia. An overarching, central theme of “still working” was identified across …