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Archaeoparasitology, Karl Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

The field devoted to the identification of parasite remains in the archaeological record and the reconstruction of past human-parasite interactions. Parasitic disease has always been a major problem. Recent summaries of the prevalence of parasitic diseases in the world today show that there are 4.5 billion infections with all species of parasitic worm, 1 billion infections with giant intestinal roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), 750,000,000 infections with whipworms (Trichuris trichiura), 900,000,000 infections with hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), 657,000,000 infections with filarial worms, 200,000,000 with blood flukes (schistosome species), and 489,000,000 infections with malaria. These infections cause between 1,590,000 to 3,130,000 …

Coprolite Analysis: The Analysis Of Ancient Human Feces For Dietary Data, Karl Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

Although archaeological fieldwork is hot and dirty, the most “earthy” side of the discipline is the laboratory analysis of coprolites. Each coprolite contains the remains of one to several actual meals eaten in prehistory, and analysis of many coprolites provides a picture of ancient diet that is unique in accuracy.

The term coprolite originally referred to fossilized feces in paleontological context. In archaeology, the term broadened to refer to any formed fecal mass, including mineralized, desiccated, or frozen feces and even the intestinal contents of mummies. Coprolites contain the remains of animals (parasites) that lived in the humans, the foods …

Paleopharmacology, Karl Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

An emerging field devoted to the exploration of the archaeological record for evidence of medicinal plants.

In the future, archaeology will have a role in pharmaceutical research. In the late twentieth century, much of the world’s pharmaceutical research has been based on ethnographic documentation of tribally recognized medicinal plants. Once the active chemical compounds in the plants are identified, they are either extracted or synthesized for commercial use. The American film Medicine Man depicts this approach. As shown in the film, such pharmacological research is threatened by declining tribal populations with loss of traditional herbal knowledge coupled with declining biodiversity. …

Modulation Of The Pharmacokinetics And Pharmacodynamics Of Proteins By Polyethylene Glycol Conjugation, Reza Mehvar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

With the rapid advances in the field of biotechnology during the last decade, many peptides and proteins have been produced and evaluated for therapy of various diseases, including cancer. However, rapid clearance and the possibility of immunogenicity after the in vivo administration of these biotechnology-driven products have impeded their marketing. To circumvent these problems, synthetic and natural polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextrans, respectively, have been covalently attached to proteins, and some of these protein-polymer conjugates have shown promising therapeutic results. The conjugation of proteins with polymers usually causes a reduction in the recognition of the protein by …

Anthropological Differences Between Contraception And Natural Family Planning, Richard J. Fehring, William Kurz

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Almost twenty years ago, Pope John Paul II in his apostolic exhortation Familiaris Consortio called on scholars to study the anthropological and moral differences between the recourse to the natural rhythms of a woman’s menstrual cycle (i.e., natural family planning) and contraception (1). Although natural family planning (NFP) and contraception can both be used to prevent pregnancy, there are conspicuous differences between use of natural methods and contraception. Most people, however, have difficulty in distinguishing what the differences are and in understanding why some religious groups, health professionals, and other members of society consider contraception (but not natural family planning) …

Evaluation Of Chitosan As A Potential Medical Iron (Iii) Ion Adsorbent, Ayer Burke, Elvan Yilmaz, Nesri̇n Hasirci

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Chitosan, a derivative of the natural polysaccharide chitin, is known for its biocompatibility and metal-binding capacity. The aim of this study was to combine these two properties of chitosan and investigate its potential as a new iron (III) ion (ferric ion) adsorbing agent. The development of a safe and orally active iron chelating agent is especially important for the treatment of thalassemics. In this study, the physicochemical parameters affecting the ability of chitosan flakes to adsorb iron (III) ions were studied by complexometric titration. The results showed that the iron (III) adsorption capacity of chitosan increases with the amount of …

Estimating The Probability For Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation In Medicare Recipients After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery., Judy Lynea Bezanson

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

The Global Carbon Metabolism Regulator Crc Is A Component Of A Signal Transduction Pathway Required For Biofilm Development By Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, George A. O'Toole, Karine A. Gibbs, Paul W. Hager, Paul V. Phibbs, Roberto Kolter

Dartmouth Scholarship

The transition from a planktonic (free-swimming) existence to growth attached to a surface in a biofilm occurs in response to environmental factors, including the availability of nutrients. We show that the catabolite repression control (Crc) protein, which plays a role in the regulation of carbon metabolism, is necessary for biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using phase-contrast microscopy, we found that a crc mutant only makes a dispersed monolayer of cells on a plastic surface but does not develop the dense monolayer punctuated by microcolonies typical of the wild-type strain. This is a phenotype identical to that observed in mutants …

Feasibility Of Inducing Overlap Immunologic Competence In Gallinaceous Birds With Ascardia Dissimilis And A. Galli, Julie Hamilton, Thomas A. Yazwinski

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Chickens and turkeys are routinely infected with the roundworms Ascaridia galli and A. dissimilis, respectively. The current study was conducted to gather basic information on these worms and to determine whether heterologous infections (chicken worms in turkeys and turkey worms in chickens) would be successful. Chickens and turkeys were obtained at day of hatch, brooded to 7 days of age, and placed in pens (25/pen) according to infection as received at 7 days of age: homologous, heterologous and control (no infection). Bird weights, mortalities, and feed efficiencies were monitored for 3 weeks postinfection, at which time all birds were killed …

Nutritional Assessment Of Rural Mossi People In Burkina Faso: A Comparison Of Pre- And Post-Harvest Status, Tamara Michelle Wood

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the nutritional status of a rural population of Mossi people in Burkina Faso during the pre- and post-harvest seasons. Comparisons were made between the sample population and the American population, between the pre- and post-harvest seasons, between males and females in the sample population and between the various age groups in the sample population.

This nutritional assessment consisted of collecting demographical information, anthropometrical measurements such as weight and height, a clinical assessment to evaluate physiological signs of nutritional deficiencies and a food frequency questionnaire to describe the dietary practices of the population. …

Alcohol And Tobacco Use In Japan Among Adolescents With Chronic Kidney Disease., Mitsue Maru

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Ice For Pain Associated With Chest Tube Removal., Jenny Lynn Sauls

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

Investigations On The Biology Of Red Mullet ( Mullus Barbatus Linnaeus, 1758) In Edremit Bay, Aegean Sea, Turkey, Özlem Çeli̇k, Hati̇ce Torcu

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, has been carried out to investigate some growth features of the red mullet ( Mullus barbatusLinnaeus, 1758) which is the important commercially species of the North Aegean Sea. Have been examined: Sex distrubution, growth in lenght and weight,condition factor, diet regimes and spawning period. The percentage of females was 68.78 % and males 31.22 % out of 474 specimens which ranged between age group I - IV. The lenght and weight differences between females and males were not statistictically significant. The lenght- weight relationship and growth equations were estimated as follows, respectively: W =0.0157 L 2.9811 , …

A Study On Blood Group Allelles Of Denizli Fowl, Fevzi̇ Tahi̇r Aksoy, Okan Ertuğrul, Fati̇h Atasoy, Şükrü Gürler, Meti̇n Erdoğan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Blood group alleles and their frequencies were estimated within a Denizli fowl flock. Sixteen full sib family groups we- re formed to facilitate the identification of segregating alleles. Immune antisera were produced by means of reciprocal immunizati- ons between the parents. Reference reagents were obtained from W. E. Briles, Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illino- is University. Reference reagents were used for the blood typing. In the flock in question, the allele genes which belong to blood group systems A, B, C, D, E and L were estimated and their frequencies calculated. In the A blood group system, A1 , …

The Molecular Epidemiology Of Rotavirus In Ireland, Fiona O'Halloran

Theses

Between 1997 and 1998, 3,136 cases of rotavirus diarrhoea were detected in Irish children less than 2 years of age. Hospital inpatients accounted for 80% of these infections, with the remainder being diagnosed in general practice. A large percentage of infections were detected in neonates, suggesting a possible inadequate maternal derived protection from existing indigenous strains. This feature suggested the possible existence of ‘novel’ strains circulating in Ireland. No data describing the epidemiology of rotavirus strains in this country currently exists. Furthermore no assessment of the potential health-economic impact or quantitation of potential disease burden was ever undertaken

Three hundred …

Applications Of Wavelet Transforms In Biomedical Optoacoustics, Zibiao Wei, Shujun Yang, Amin N. Dharamsi, Barbara Hargrave

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

We discuss the utility of wavelet transform methods in signal processing in general, and in particular, demonstrate the technique in optoacoustic applications. In several optoacoustic experiments with different samples, we have successfully enhanced the signal to noise ratios. Wavelet transforms optimize resolution by utilizing a tailored, variable time-window in different frequency regions. The technique's great advantage lies in the fact that the wavelet transform adds some redundancy to the original signal, and some desired features can be enhanced in the transformed space. In addition, proper choice of the basis set allows a sparse representation of the signal. Therefore, even when …

Origins And Development Of The Massey Cancer Center, Walter Lawrence Jr.

VCU University History Books

A history of the Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University written by Director Emeritus, Walter Lawrence, Jr., M.D. The volume includes photographs and a timeline. Lawrence's signature appears on the title page.

Study Of P53 Gain Of Function Mutations In P53-Null Astrocytes, Sang H. Choi

Theses and Dissertations

A number of recent studies suggest that expression of mutant p53 with mutations in certain codons show a gain of function and some of the characteristics of an oncoprotein. In order to study gain of function mutation and eliminate the potential of a dominant negative interaction with endogenous wild type p53 protein, p53 knockout mouse astrocytes were used. A retrovirus system was used to introduce mutant p53 genes into these p53-null astrocytes. Immunohistochemical staining and western blot experiments showed the expression of mutant p53 protein in these cells after infection with the mutant p53 retroviruses. Cell growth experiment did not …

Excisional Wound Healing And The Role Of Homeobox Genes, David Allen Lanning

Theses and Dissertations

The biochemical and physiologic mechanisms responsible for excisional wound contraction have been extensively studied but are not completely understood. Furthermore, the genes that regulate these processes are unknown. As a result, there are limited treatment options available for patients with diseases or conditions characterized by abnormal tissue contraction. In an attempt to improve our understanding of these mechanisms and identify some of the putative regulatory genes, we studied excisional wound healing in the mid-gestational fetal rabbit. These wounds normally do not contract nor are they associated with inflammation, fibrosis, or scar formation. However, we have been able to induce contraction, …

Outcomes Of Pregnancy In Women With Cystic Fibrosis, Bethany Jean Geldmaker

Theses and Dissertations

Medical advances in disease management has improved quality of life for women with cystic fibrosis (CF) and now enables them to consider pregnancy. The purpose of the study was to examine women's perceptions of how the demands of having CF influenced their ability to care for their children and continue to meet their own health needs. The study design was grounded theory methodology with a complementarity research technique to incorporate qualitative and quantitative data collection. Participants were 12 women recruited over the Internet and through an adult CF newsletter who completed questionnaires for demands of illness (DOlI) and self care …

Ethical Issues In Dementia, Peter J. Whitehouse

Faculty Scholarship

The growing number of individuals affected by dementia will intensify the ethical issues that emerge in clinical practice and research, issues early in disease relate to genetic testing, use of medications in mildly affected persons, and diagnostic disclosure. Research issues relate to appropriate informed consent processes, conflict of interests, and research design issues, such as the use of placebos and the use of biological tissues. In the later stages of disease concern about appropriate therapeutic goals and end-of-life care is appropriate.

Telomerase Activity In Human Preimplantation Embryos, Diane Lynne Wright

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein, has been described as an essential component of highly proliferative cells, which stabilizes the telomeres and avoids cellular senescence. Telomerase has been identified in various embryonic cell stages, hematopoietic cells, and in >85% of tumor tissue biopsies analyzed. The ability to measure the potential to proliferate successfully could provide an objective measure of an embryo's quality. The objectives of this study were to modify the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay system for increased sensitivity to allow detection of telomerase activity in the single cell of an oocyte and embryo, obtain telomerase activity levels for the oocyte …

Detection And Modeling Of Radiation Induced Effects In Tissues By Dielectric Spectroscopy, Dorin A. Todor

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The work presented here is applied physics research in the field of radiation treatment. We address the development of a new and innovative method, in vivo and possibly non-invasive, for tumor and healthy tissues control during and after the radiation treatment. The radiation treatment is delivered in an almost standardized manner for particular classes of tumors. The large variance in the individual radio sensitivity of healthy tissues and tumors often leads to local recurrence of neoplastic growth and/or distant metastatic disease which often remains untreated. The method is based on the measurement and analysis of electrical impedance data in …

Portuguese-Americans And Mental Health Treatment Client-Therapist Ethnic Match, Ethnic Identity, And Satisfaction With Treatment, Katherine B. Gamble

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Multicultural issues in psychotherapy have increasingly been recognized as important in the provision of mental health services to our diverse population. Issues such as beliefs about mental health, attitudes toward authority, and even world view affect how clients access and make use of psychotherapy. Cultural views are essential to how one sees the world, and consequently there is much debate about whether clients would benefit from having therapists from the same cultural background. Ethnic identity, or the degree to which a person holds to the beliefs of their culture of origin, consequently plays an important role in psychotherapy. The Portuguese …

Development Of An Amperometric Biosensor For Lactate., Brian Lillis, Catherine M. Grogan, Helen Berney, Bill Lane

Conference Papers

A gold enzyme electrode for lactate, fabricated on silicon has been developed. Standard silicon processing and micromachining techniques have been applied to the fabrication of three sensor types.

Two planar types and a containment sensor are presented. The enzyme lactate oxidase (LOX) was immobilised in a suitable matrix and placed on a planar gold electrode or in a gold coated, KOH etched silicon cavity. Activity and stability of the enzyme LOX was assessed in a modified BSA gel and two sol gel matrices. The enzyme has shown above average stability of three months, stored dry, when immobilised in a sol …

Impairment In Dichotic Listening Following Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm, Paul Michael Evitts

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Dichotic listening involves the simultaneous presentation of stimuli binaurally and was initially a method for determining cerebral dominance or laterality of hemispheric function. Since its inception, dichotic listening has evolved into a method for assessing neurologic pathology. An interruption in the central auditory pathways will result in a detectable asymmetry of dichotic scores. Impaired dichotic listening has been well documented in numerous neurological etiologies, but dichotic listening in patients who present anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysm has yet to be documented. Due to the location of the ACoA and the substrates of innervation, central auditory pathways responsible for the transmission …

University Baccalaureate Curriculum Analysis For Safety And Health In The United States Of America (Usa) Toward A Model University Baccalaureate Curriculum, Margie L. Kolbe-Mims

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The goal of this research was to determine a model safety and health baccalaureate curriculum. A secondary target was to ascertain if safety and health practitioners and safety and health educators would concur on course offerings. To simplify this study effort, a search of literature was conducted on the Occupational Safety and Health field. There were no in-depth studies of this type for such a general population; therefore no instrument was available for this study. The perusal of literature indicated that most such studies had been conducted using a more specific target group of subjects. That is, faculties or former …

Attitudes, Practices And Knowledge Regarding Cervical Cancer Screening Among Greek Women In The Area Of Perth, Panagiota Karnaki

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this thesis is to study the attitudes, practices and knowledge of Greek women in Perth, Western Australia, regarding cervical cancer screening. This is important because no study has yet examined the cervical screening pattern of this group, despite their low participation rate in screening programs. Qualitative semi-structured interviews among 15 Greek women in Perth were used for data collection. Interviews were conducted both in English and Greek. Eight out of the 15 women interviewed did not participate in frequent screening and many had had only one Pap test in their life. Culture and religion influenced negative attitudes …

A Linkage Study Of Autism Using Multipoint Sib-Pair Analysis, Tamara Rogers

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Autism is a severe developmental disorder that was first described by Kanner in 1943. It is characterised by four major criteria: marked social deficits, delay in language development, a restricted range of stereotyped repetitive behaviours and onset of the disease within the first three years of life. The last decade of research has provided support for a strong genetic basis in the aetiology of autism. Firstly, a number of genetic conditions, such as fragile X syndrome, chromosome 15 anomalies and tuberous sclerosis, have been associated with autism. Secondly, family studies have demonstrated that the recurrence risk for autism among siblings …

Early Attachment And Eating Disorders: A Comparative Study Between Anorexia Nervosa And Bulimia Nervosa, Francoise Ringer

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this research was to study the association between adult mental representations of curly attachment relationships and eating disorders, and to compare attachment classifications between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The sample consisted of 62 women with eating disorders, divided between anorexia nervosa [restricting type (n=20) and binge-eating/purging type (n=l6)], and bulimia nervosa (n=26). The measures were (a) a structured interview based on the ''Diagnostic Survey for Eating Disorders" (Johnson and Connors, 1987) and the DSM IV criteria for the classification of eating disorders, and (b) the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) (George, Kaplan and Main, 1985). The AAI …