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The Relationship Between Modifiable Lifestyle Factors And Muscle Lipid Depots In Older Adults, Maja Redzic

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Muscle health declines with age, influencing both muscle strength and performance. Modifiable lifestyle factors may mitigate muscle dysfunction by altering muscle lipid depots. Vitamin D status, dietary intake, and physical activity each play a role in muscle health during aging. Low vitamin D status (measured as 25(OH)D) is prevalent among older adults and has been associated with functional limitations and impaired physical performance. Previously, 25(OH)D concentrations were inversely associated with extramyocellular lipid (EMCL) and our lab observed a significant positive relationship between 25(OH)D concentrations and IMCL. Studies have shown mixed results regarding the effects dietary fat intake interventions have on …

Protection From Aortic Aneurysm By Bmal1 Deletion From Smooth Muscle Cells, Jenny Lutshumba

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a devastating condition that occurs primarily among older people with high mortality when a rupture occurs. Currently there is no proven pharmacological therapy for AAA due to poor understanding of the underlying pathogenesis. The brain and muscle transcription factor ARNT-like (Bmal1), which is known to regulate circadian rhythm, has been implicated in vascular pathologies including atherosclerosis and vascular remodeling, but its role in AAA has not been explored.

Vascular smooth muscle is a central player in aneurysm formation and development because it is critical in all three aortic aneurysm hallmark processes including (a) degradation of …

New Insights Into Post-Sepsis Muscle Weakness Elucidated Using A Novel Animal Model, Allison M. Steele

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Sepsis is a severe life-threatening critical illness that damages multiple physiological systems. After hospital discharge, more than 70% of severe sepsis survivors report profound weakness which significantly impacts quality of life. Such weakness gives rise to new limitations of daily living, which ultimately leads to loss of independence in many patients. Despite wide recognition of this serious issue by clinicians and researchers alike, the mechanisms contributing to chronic skeletal muscle dysfunction after sepsis are not well understood. Lack of progress in this field is largely due to the absence of an appropriate animal model; current models are either too mild …

Role Of Skeletal Paracrine Signals In The Proliferation And Chondrogenic Differentiation Of Interzone Cells, Parvathy Thampi

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Articular cartilage in mammals has a limited intrinsic capacity to repair structural injuries and defects, a fact that contributes to the chronic and progressive nature of osteoarthritis. Current treatment modalities do not enable articular cartilage to achieve a complete and permanent restoration of normal structure and function with large or partial thickness lesions. In contrast to mammals, Mexican axolotl salamanders (Ambystoma mexicanum) have demonstrated the remarkable ability to spontaneously and completely repair even large joint cartilage lesions, an intrinsic healing process that involves interzone cells in the intraarticular space. Further, when interzone tissue is transplanted into critical sized …

Establishment Of American Chestnuts On Surface Mined Lands In Appalachian Coalfields Region, Michael E. French

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.) was an dominant hardwood throughout eastern North America until the introduction of an exotic fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica (Murr.) Barr) in the early 20^th century devastated American chestnut populations. Chestnuts that have been bred for blight resistance have recently become available for testing. Due to the overlap of American chestnut’s natural range and the Appalachian coalfields region, the potential establishment of founder populations of blight-resistant chestnuts on reclaimed coal surface mines has recently gained attention. This work examined chestnut establishment on a surface mine in eastern Kentucky to assess factors controlling early …

Biology And Detection Of Pregnanes During Late Gestation In The Mare, Michelle Arelia Ann Wynn

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Progesterone in the mare declines to almost undetectable concentrations in late gestation. It’s metabolized into several pregnanes, some circulating at very high concentrations. Although the function of many pregnanes remains unclear, 5α-dihydroprogesterone and allopregnanolone are bioactive. Measurements of pregnanes in late gestation are typically by immunoassay, although results are confounded by cross-reactivity with related pregnanes. Conversely, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) allows differentiation of individual pregnanes. The purposes of these studies were: 1) to evaluate the ability of a 5α-reductase inhibitor, dutasteride, to alter pregnane metabolism and pregnancy outcome, 2) to evaluate changes in target pregnanes in late gestation …

Roosting Behavior, Habitat Use, And Relative Abundance Of The Northern Long-Eared Bat (Myotis Septentrionalis) Following Arrival Of White-Nose Syndrome To Mammoth Cave National Park, Marissa M. Thalken

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

White-Nose Syndrome (WNS; Pseudogymnoascus destructans) is responsible for the regional population collapse of many cave-hibernating bat species, including the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), in eastern United States and Canada. I evaluated roosting behavior, habitat selection, and landscape-scale distribution of roosts of the northern long-eared bat during spring emergence and the early maternity season in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA, from 2015 to 2016. Logistic regression analysis comparing habitat features of roosts with random plots indicated selection of roosts reflected the costs of energetic demands by sex and reproductive status. Relative abundance of local bat species …

Survival And Cause-Specific Mortality Of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) Neonates In A Southeastern Kentucky Population, Joseph R. Mcdermott

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Maintaining desired numbers of wildlife species requires an understanding of species-specific population dynamics. For ungulate species such as the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), understanding the neonatal survival rate of a population and factors that influence that survival rate, may be two of the most important factors to successful deer management. We examined neonatal survival in an eastern Kentucky population of deer living in relatively low densities (/ km²), with adequate habitat and supposedly poor population growth. Neonates (102) were captured in the summer birth periods of 2014 - 2016 and radio-monitored until the beginning of the …

An Investigation Into Specific Seminal Plasma Proteins And Their Effect On The Innate Immune Response To Breeding In The Mare, Carleigh Elizabeth Fedorka

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

The mare experiences a transient innate immune response to breeding, the resolution of which is crucial for optimal fertility. The majority of mares are able to modulate this inflammation in a timely fashion, but a subpopulation exists which fail to do so and are considered susceptible to persistent breeding-induced endometritis (PBIE). Seminal plasma has been shown to modulate aspects of this inflammation. Recently, two seminal plasma proteins have garnered interest for their immune modulating properties: cysteine-rich secretory protein-3 (CRISP-3) and lactoferrin. These proteins have been found to alter the binding between sperm and neutrophils based on sperm viability in vitro …

Analysis Of Humoral Immune Responses In Horses With Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis, Catherine-Jane Angwin

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), caused by the protozoan parasite Sarcocystis neurona, is one of the most important neurological diseases of horses in the Americas. While seroprevalence of S. neurona in horses is high, clinical manifestation of EPM occurs in less than 1% of infected horses. Factors governing the occurrence and severity of EPM are largely unknown, although horse immunity might play an important role in clinical outcome. We hypothesize that EPM occurs due to an aberrant immune response, which will be discernable in the equine IgG subisotypes a, b, and (T) that recognize S. neurona in infected diseased horses versus …

Inflammation And Insulin Dysregulation In The Horse, Sarah E. Elzinga

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Insulin dysregulation (ID) in the horse is receiving increasing attention as a serious health concern, in particular due to its association with the potentially career or life ending condition, laminitis. The role of inflammation and the immune system in ID as well as its associated health concerns has also been raised. However, the involvement of inflammation in and mechanisms behind ID in the horse remain unclear. Therefore, our overall hypothesis was that due in part to changes in their gut microbiota and plasma lipidome, horses with ID have changes in circulating proinflammatory markers, in particular in response to glycemic challenge, …

Lymphocyte-Mediated Inflamm-Aging In The Horse, Melissa Hope Siard

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Senior horses (≥20 years) exhibit inflamm-aging, or chronic, low-grade inflammation that occurs systemically with aging, similarly to humans. Inflamm-aging has previously been characterized in the horse in circulation as well as specifically being mediated by lymphocytes and monocytes. In humans, inflamm-aging has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, in the horse, relatively little about inflamm-aging is known regarding clinical effects or factors influencing severity. The contribution of lymphocytes to inflamm-aging of senior horses was examined, specifically through determining the relationships of inflamm-aging with various other health parameters, effects of seasonality, and the extent to which inflamm-aging can be …

Physiological Changes Associated With Pregnant Or Nonpregnant Mares Grazing Pastures Of Orchardgrass-Bluegrass, Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue Infected With Epichloë Coenophiala, Or Kyfa9821 Tall Fescue Infected With The Novel Endophyte Ar584, Victoria A. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Kentucky 31 tall fescue (KY31) infected with the common toxic endophyte strains of Epichloё coenophiala produces toxic alkaloids that improve plant vigor, but cause numerous adverse effects in grazing animals. Researchers developed a variety of KY31 containing an alternative strain of E. coenophiala, termed novel endophyte (NE). Adverse health effects in mares have not been evaluated.

Experiments in this thesis tested the hypothesis that the NE pasture does not cause adverse effects typically associated with KY31. Specific aims were to: 1) compare forage ergovaline concentrations between KY31 vs NE pastures; 2) evaluate palmar artery diameters in mares grazing KY31, …

Initial Understory Response To Gap-Based Regeneration Methods For Mature Upland Oak Forests, Clinton Patrick Patterson

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Problems with oak regeneration, and concerns by environmental and conservation organizations, are driving interest in longer rotations and in reproduction methods that retain the overstory for an extended time period. Clearcutting and shelterwood regeneration methods are providing mixed results for oak seedling development and recruitment due to the increased abundance of shade tolerant midstory species. The irregular group shelterwood (Femelschlag) system has been used in Central Europe to address these issues, and may provide the basis for a gap-based system in the Central Hardwood Forest Region. This study examines the two-year effects of a gap-based regeneration method featuring …

Altitude- And Sex-Specific Variation In Roosting Ecology And Thermoregulation Of Myotis Lucifugus In Yellowstone National Park, Alexandra C. Slusher

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Fifty-nine female and six male little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) were radio-tagged during the summers of 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 in Yellowstone National Park. The grand models for daily maximum skin temperature (F_98,154 = 1.55, P = 0.007), daily minimum skin temperature (F_98,154 = 1.33, P = 0.05), and daily variation in skin temperature (F_98,154 = 1.56, P = 0.006) were significant across roost type and reproductive condition class for adult females. Roosts were classified into Types A (warmest roosts), B (roosts with largest daily temperature variance), and C (stable and cool roosts) depending …

Establishment Of Serological Reference Ranges For Elk In Kentucky And Effects Of Quarantine And Translocation On Elk, Aaron M. Hildreth

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Establishing blood serum profiles is important for understanding animal disease ecology and nutrition, the effects of capture and immobilization, and general physiological variation among individuals and populations. Elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) have been successfully translocated to several states for reintroduction or population augmentation, including most recently in Kentucky, where over the course of three years (2011-13) wild elk were captured, temporarily quarantined, and subsequently moved to Missouri and Virginia to establish populations in those states. I used this opportunity to collect a variety of biological samples, including blood from which I present and compare serological profiles for a …

Evolution Of Equine Arteritis Virus During Persistent Infection In The Reproductive Tract Of The Stallion And The Male Donkey, Bora Nam

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Equine arteritis virus (EAV) establishes persistent infection in the stallion reproductive tract, and the carrier stallion continues to shed virus in semen for weeks to years or lifelong. The objective of this study was to elucidate the intra-host evolution of EAV during persistent infection in stallions. Seven EAV seronegative stallions were experimentally infected with EAV KY84 strain and followed for 726 days post-infection, and sequential clinical samples including semen were collected for virus isolation and next-generation sequencing (NGS). In addition, archived sequential semen samples from two stallions that were naturally infected with EAV KY84 for a long-period (up to 10 …

Survival And Cause-Specific Mortality Of A Southeastern Kentucky Deer Population, Caleb Anderson Haymes

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

White-tailed deer are one of the most sought after game species in Kentucky. While much of the Commonwealth boasts high deer populations, those in southeast Kentucky are viewed as relatively low compared to other regions, even after a decade of restrictive doe harvest and multiple years of population supplementation via translocation. We studied survival and cause specific mortality of a local population of deer near the Redbird District of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Clay and Leslie County, Kentucky from January 2014 - January 2017. We estimated female annual survival at 0.89 (CI: 0.88-0.87), with an overall 3-year survival …

The Xenobiotic Transcription Factor Cap N Collar C Regulates Expression Of Multiple Insecticide Resistant Genes, Megha Kalsi

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Insecticide resistance is a global problem. Insecticide resistance management is very important, considering the time, effort, and cost of discovering and developing a new insecticide. There are diverse resistance mechanisms, but enhanced detoxification through overexpression of cytochrome P450s and target site insensitivity through mutation in insecticide binding site are the two most common mechanisms. The xenobiotic detoxification is divided into three successive phases (I, II and III), which ensures the metabolism and excretion of the detrimental toxins. Each phase comprises of a specific group of metabolizing enzymes such as P450s (phase I), GSTs (phase II) and ABC transporters (phase III). …

Exploring Predator-Prey Interactions In Agroecosystems Through Molecular Gut-Content Analysis, Kacie J. Athey

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Generalist predators can contribute to vital ecosystem services by potentially inducing trophic cascades as natural enemies of pests in agroecosystems. As the human population of the world gets larger, we need to produce more food on ever-smaller swaths of available land relying on ecosystem services, in the form of pest control, that may contribute to agricultural sustainability. Teasing apart the exact trophic linkages between predators and prey is a vital first step and essential to uncovering which predators are inducing trophic cascades and should be enhanced through conservation biological control.

Combined with ecological experimentation, the main tool used throughout my …

Evaluation Of Pyriproxyfen Applied In Barrier Sprays For Mosquito Suppression, Andrea Glenn Skiles

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Despite advances in mosquito management, mosquito-borne disease in the United States is still of relevant public health concern and vector control is a top priority in preventing transmission of pathogens. Insecticide barrier sprays have become a common tool for suppression of mosquitoes in single-homeowner backyards. The application of the synthetic pyrethroid, lambda-cyhalothrin to perimeter vegetation with a backpack sprayer has been shown to significantly suppress mosquito levels for around 6 weeks. In an attempt to lengthen the effective duration of treatment, the IGR, pyriproxyfen, was added to a backpack mist blower with lambda-cyhalothrin, as adult mosquitoes exposed to pyriproxyfen have …

Extended Family Relationships: How They Impact The Mental Health Of Young Adults, Kayla Jansen

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

This study bridges the gap in literature about the impact of extended family relationships on young adult depression and self-esteem. A sample of 304 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 21 at the University of Kentucky was recruited to complete an online survey about their immediate and extended family relationships and their mental health. The largest predictor of self-esteem and depression in early young adults is perceived social support from the family of origin, which is also moderately correlated with perceived support from extended family members. This indicates that extended family support collaborates with family of origin support …

Binding, Protection, And Rna Delivery Properties Of Porous Silica Nanoparticles In Spodoptera Frugiperda Cells, Emily Nadeau

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Traditional methods of pest control are threatened by the development of insecticide resistance, both to traditional insecticides and Bt toxins. Discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) has created opportunities to develop new insect control mechanisms. However, RNAi responses appear to be robust in coleopteran pests, but other orders, e.g. Lepidoptera and Hemiptera, present varied or ineffective RNAi responses. Current delivery strategies for double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) include microinjection, ingestion, and soaking. These approaches have benefits and problems. This study investigates the potential for porous silica nanoparticles (pSNPs) to improve the delivery of dsRNA and induce an RNAi response in Spodoptera frugiperda cells. …

Attitudes Toward Corporal Punishment: The Effects Of Sex, Ethnicity, Military Culture, And Religion, David A. Weisenhorn

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Nearly 19 out of every 20 parents with 3- or 4-year-old children report spanking their child within the past year, and in schools spanking is a legal form of discipline in 19 states (nearly a quarter-million students received corporal punishment at school at least once during the 2006–2007 academic year). Although corporal punishment is a widely accepted form of child discipline in the United States, little is known about differences concerning attitudes toward the use of corporal punishment among subcultures within the United States.

To address this gap, three studies were designed to examine attitudes toward corporal punishment in a …

Rape Myth Acceptance: A Vignette Approach, Alyssa M. Campbell

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The purpose of this study was to empirically examine the extent to which rape myth acceptance (RMA) varies according to four key contextual factors—race, the victim–perpetrator relationship, resistance strategies, and the decision to report—among those embedded within college and military cultures. Although sexual assault in a university context has been thoroughly investigated, it is typically in comparison to the general population that may not share the same high-risk elements that promote the environment for sexual assault. Therefore, comparisons of college, military, and a general population were sampled to better understand the attitudes that maintain RMA in these high risk environments. …

Hooking Up Vs. Pornography: A Vignette Approach About Acceptability, Kendall Coffman

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The purpose of this study was to examine how the intersection of gender scripts, gender identity, and sexual orientation impact perceived narratives and power hierarchies in sexual relationships. To drive participants to verbalize their underlying views about sexual scripts, two highly sexualized and controversial sexual cultures will be examined: casual sex and pornography. Feminist academics and advocates have long argued for a restructuring of sexual politics by implementing feminist principles into personal relations and public life (Connell, 1997). Therefore, competing feminist ideologies will also be assessed to gauge the campus’s feminist climate regarding self-identified feminists’ views on the exploitation and/or …

Comparing Mindfulness-Enriched Weight Management To Current Standard Practices, Teresa M. Lee

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to be effective for numerous diet-related conditions. Mindfulness skills have been theorized to be helpful in improving eating behaviors, and thereby weight management. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a mindfulness-enriched weight management program to a standard weight loss program over the course of a 12-week intervention, and weight maintenance over six months. This was a two-group randomized experimental design. One group received a standard weight loss program, while the other group received the same program with an additional mindfulness component. Follow up assessments were conducted twice at three-month intervals. …

Diagnostic Prevalence Of Diabetes Among Older Adults In Rural Appalachia, Gabriella Hodges

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Background

The rural, mountainous Appalachian region continuously has poorer health outcomes than the rest of the United States. This is true for many chronic diseases including diabetes: the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. This study assessed differences in the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes between older adults in rural, Appalachian counties and rural, non- Appalachian counties.

Methods

Data for the year 2013 was extracted from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Public Use Files for Medicare beneficiaries (September 2015), which provides county level prevalence for diabetes as well as several other conditions among Medicare fee-for-service …

Neuropathological And Genetic Correlates Of Survival And Dementia Onset In Synucleinopathies: A Retrospective Analysis, David J. Irwin, Murray Grossman, Daniel Weintraub, Howard I. Hurtig, John E. Duda, Sharon X. Xie, Edward B. Lee, Vivianna M. Van Deerlin, Oscar L. Lopez, Julia K. Kofler, Peter T. Nelson, Gregory A. Jicha, Randy Woltjer, Joseph F. Quinn, Jeffery Kaye, James B. Leverenz, Debby Tsuang, Katelan Longfellow, Dora Yearout, Walter Kukull, C. Dirk Keene, Thomas J. Montine, Cyrus P. Zabetian, John Q. Trojanowski

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Background

Great heterogeneity exists in survival and the interval between onset of motor symptoms and dementia symptoms across synucleinopathies. We aimed to identify genetic and pathological markers that have the strongest association with these features of clinical heterogeneity in synucleinopathies.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we examined symptom onset, and genetic and neuropathological data from a cohort of patients with Lewy body disorders with autopsy-confirmed α synucleinopathy (as of Oct 1, 2015) who were previously included in other studies from five academic institutions in five cities in the USA. We used histopathology techniques and markers to assess the burden of …

Novel Evidence That The Mannan-Binding Lectin Pathway Of Complement Activation Plays A Pivotal Role In Triggering Mobilization Of Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells By Activation Of Both The Complement And Coagulation Cascades, M. Adamiak, A. Abdelbaset-Ismail, M. Suszynska, Ahmed K. Abdel-Latif, J. Ratajczak, M. Z. Ratajczak

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.