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Interactions Between Staphylococcus Aureus And Corynebacterium Species In The Context Of Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Joshua Tucker Huffines Sep 2025

Interactions Between Staphylococcus Aureus And Corynebacterium Species In The Context Of Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Joshua Tucker Huffines

All ETDs from UAB

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a complex inflammatory disease affecting the upper respiratory tract (URT) for a large portion of the populace, leading to significant economic burdens. Staphylococcus aureus is considered as a significant contributor to CRS inflammation through the production of toxins regulated through quorum sensing (QS). Microbiome studies have characterized the microbial communities present in the healthy URT and in CRS. These studies show that the genus Corynebacterium is associated with the healthy URT, decreased in CRS, and has a negative correlation with S. aureus regardless of health status. A few studies have partially characterized a mechanism to explain …

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Leveraging Computational Modelling/Simulation, Machine Learning, And Additive Manufacturing For Customized Design Of Periodontal And Bone Tissue Scaffolds, Rakesh Pemmada Sep 2025

Leveraging Computational Modelling/Simulation, Machine Learning, And Additive Manufacturing For Customized Design Of Periodontal And Bone Tissue Scaffolds, Rakesh Pemmada

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The current dissertation presents an overarching pipeline for the development and production of custom-made scaffolds for periodontal tissue regeneration using finite element analysis (FEA), machine learning (ML), and additive manufacturing (AM).CAD anatomically realistic scaffolds were generated from CT-based maxilla and mandible models. The FEA simulation results under masticatory (100 N), parafunctional (500–550 N), and traumatic (800–850 N) loads showed region-specific distribution of stresses and strains, which guided structural reinforcement strategies. Over 1000 3D-printed PCL scaffolds were printed using various pore diameters (200–300 µm) and filament diameters. Five ML models were constructed for predicting print quality based on process factors. Classification …

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Breath Acetone As A Biomarker For Concussion, Allyn Abadie Sep 2025

Breath Acetone As A Biomarker For Concussion, Allyn Abadie

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Concussions represent a critical public health concern, affecting millions annually yet remain challenging to diagnose and manage. Concussions involve a range of often invisible signs and symptoms. Traditional assessments rely heavily on subjective symptom reporting, with limited objective data which may complicate return-to-play decisions. Objective physiological biomarkers are needed to complement traditional methods, detect subtle disruptions, and improve decision-making. Following concussion, the brain undergoes a neurometabolic cascade involving disrupted glucose utilization, ionic imbalances, neurotransmitter release, and reduced cerebral blood flow. This cascade creates a metabolic crisis, potentially shifting energy metabolism toward alternative substrates such as ketones. Breath acetone, a measurable …

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Immune And Endothelial Cell Mechanisms Of Cardiovascular And Kidney Disease Risk In Obesity, Claudia Edell Sep 2025

Immune And Endothelial Cell Mechanisms Of Cardiovascular And Kidney Disease Risk In Obesity, Claudia Edell

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Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease. Both inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are hallmark signs of adverse health outcomes in obesity. Previous data from our lab has shown that a 2-week time restricted feeding (TRF) intervention reduces kidney CD3+ (T) cells and fibrosis and improves endothelial function in a mouse model of diet induced obesity (DIO). There is little known about kidney damage and T cells in obesity. We hypothesized that TRF reduces kidney damage in obese mice through mitigating T cell inflammation. We use a 20-week DIO model, with 18 weeks of ad libitum …

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The Role Of The Glycerol Metabolism Regulator Glpr On Pseudomonas Aeruginosa’S Physiology, Nicholas Jordan Evans Sep 2025

The Role Of The Glycerol Metabolism Regulator Glpr On Pseudomonas Aeruginosa’S Physiology, Nicholas Jordan Evans

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Chronic infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with cystic fibrosis. P. aeruginosa persists in the CF lung through adaptations, including altering the expression of metabolic genes to acquire nutrients that are abundant in the CF airway. Glycerol in the airway is imported and metabolized by proteins encoded in the glp regulon, which is regulated in part by GlpR. The loss of GlpR was previously shown to increase biofilm development in a P. aeruginosa CF isolate compared to a wound isolate. In the first half of this work, we investigated the influence that …

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Investigating The Role Of Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling In The Cystic Fibrosis Airways, Meghan June Hirsch Sep 2025

Investigating The Role Of Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling In The Cystic Fibrosis Airways, Meghan June Hirsch

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Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene which results in complications in organs such as the lung, pancreas, liver, and intestines. In the lung, defective CFTR results in thick, sticky mucus that causes susceptibility to colonization of opportunistic pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), progressive lung damage, and ultimately a decrease in life expectancy in affected individuals depending on severity of disease. Additionally, one of the characteristics of this disease, with and without PA infection, is chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation has also been associated with accelerated aging …

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Compartmentalized Antigen Presentation By Intestinal Epithelial Cells Directs Cd4 T Cell Fate, Christopher Garrett Wilson Sep 2025

Compartmentalized Antigen Presentation By Intestinal Epithelial Cells Directs Cd4 T Cell Fate, Christopher Garrett Wilson

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The intestinal epithelium maintains a complex relationship with both commensal microbiota and enteric pathogens while orchestrating local immune responses. Although intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) can express MHC class II molecules during inflammation, their functional contribution to pathogen-specific adaptive immunity and immunological memory remains poorly defined. This dissertation investigates the hypothesis that IECs actively shape CD4+ T cell responses through antigen presentation, using Citrobacter rodentium infection as a physiologically relevant model of human attaching and effacing bacterial pathogens. The C. rodentium model offers unique advantages for dissecting epithelial-immune interactions: it naturally infects mice through oral inoculation, exhibits precise anatomical tropism for …

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Air Pollution And Environmental Injustice Are Related To Respiratory Complications In Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease, Kelsey M. Maclin Sep 2025

Air Pollution And Environmental Injustice Are Related To Respiratory Complications In Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease, Kelsey M. Maclin

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Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetically inherited blood disorder affecting people of African descent. SCD is characterized by painful episodes and an acute lung injury known as acute chest syndrome (ACS). Patients with SCD have a life expectancy <19 years compared to Blacks without SCD. There is minimal research investigating air pollution and health complications in SCD. The aims of this research were to investigate whether pulmonary function is affected by exposure to ambient air pollution, whether higher air pollution concentrations are associated with hospitalizations for ACS, and whether environmental injustice impacts the respiratory health of children and young adults with SCD. Air pollution data on the criteria air pollutants (CAPs) was obtained from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Patient health data were obtained from Children’s Hospital of Alabama electronic medical records. Logistic regression, distributed lag non-linear regression, Granger Causality, and Getis-Ord Gi* hot spot analysis were used to analyze our data. The EPA’s EJScreen tool was used as a measure of exposure to environmental injustice. ArcGIS was used to map the EJScreen data. Exposure to short-term air pollution is significantly associated with a reduction in pulmonary function in children and young adults with SCD. Children and young adults exposed to a one-unit increase in the monthly average concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) experienced an increase in the odds of having abnormal pulmonary function. We observed the trends of each criteria air pollutant in our study to be closely aligned with the trends in the hospitalizations for ACS. Most of our study participants with a history of ACS lived in areas burdened by greater environmental injustices. Specifically, the hot spots for ACS overlapped with the hot spots for PM2.5. Unequal exposure to environmental injustices leads to increases in hospitalizations for respiratory complications in individuals with SCD. Reductions in air pollution could be greatly beneficial to the pulmonary function and overall respiratory health of individuals with SCD. Further research is needed to examine associations between air pollution and hospitalizations for ACS in individuals with SCD.

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Core Body Temperature (Cbt) Monitoring Among Groundskeepers Under Heat Stress, Lara Anne Parker Sep 2025

Core Body Temperature (Cbt) Monitoring Among Groundskeepers Under Heat Stress, Lara Anne Parker

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Heat is the leading cause of death for outdoor workers. In Alabama, there are an estimated 11,160 - 21,460 workers employed in the landscaping and groundskeeping industry, which are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses (HRI). In this study, core body temperature (CBT) and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index were examined as potential indicators of heat stress. A SlateSafety (SS) Band V2 wearable CBT device and a WBGT monitor were used to collect CBT and WBGT values, respectively. Sampling for the main two measurements was performed over five days for two participants. An additional CBT device option, the e-Celsius performance ingestible pill, …

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Voices From Two Secondary Newcomer Programs In Alabama: A Multiple Case Study, Carl Anthony Floyd Jr Sep 2025

Voices From Two Secondary Newcomer Programs In Alabama: A Multiple Case Study, Carl Anthony Floyd Jr

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This multiple case study investigates the design, implementation, and impact of two secondary newcomer programs in Alabama, with a focus on Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) and non-SLIFE English Learner (EL) newcomers. Grounded in Esteban-Guitart et al.’s (2023) framework of community funds of knowledge and identity, the study explores how these programs function as community educational ecosystems. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and document reviews across two school districts and analyzed using ethnographic and thematic methods. Findings reveal that when newcomer programs are intentionally designed to leverage community assets and cultural identities, they provide meaningful academic, …

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The Impact Of Nursing Home Ownership On The Election Of Advance Care Directives, Natasha Elie Sep 2025

The Impact Of Nursing Home Ownership On The Election Of Advance Care Directives, Natasha Elie

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Approximately 1.3 million people reside in nursing homes/facilities. Annually, this population represents 25% of mortalities in the United States. The enactment of the Patient Self Determination Act (PSDA) required nursing homes/facilities to educate patients, staff, and the community on the right to advance care directives. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of nursing home ownership on the election of ACDs and end-of-life care services by examining how nursing homes ownership in New York, California, and Ohio compared regarding residents' election of ACD and whether there was a variation in the these states. This paper contributes to the literature by …

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Racial Discrimination And Inflammation In Adolescence: Ethnic/Racial Processes As Moderators, Queenisha Crichlow Sep 2025

Racial Discrimination And Inflammation In Adolescence: Ethnic/Racial Processes As Moderators, Queenisha Crichlow

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Discrimination and other psychosocial stressors contribute to chronic disease by dysregulating neuroendocrine and immune systems, which often leads to increased levels of inflammation. Given that inflammation is a key biological pathway associated with the development of chronic diseases, it has been proposed as a potential mechanism linking racial discrimination to poorer health. Most studies linking racial discrimination with inflammation have focused on adults, despite the fact that children and adolescents also experience discrimination. This dissertation explores the association between racial discrimination and inflammation, measured via salivary C-reactive protein (CRP) and proinflammatory cytokines, among Black and Hispanic adolescents. It also examines …

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Probiotic Biogeography In The Neonatal Intestine, Sierra Hansen Sep 2025

Probiotic Biogeography In The Neonatal Intestine, Sierra Hansen

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Neonatal infection remains a leading cause of both neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in preterm infants. Probiotic bacteria have been demonstrated to protect against the development of neonatal intestinal dysbiosis, however, formulations and efficacy vary substantially, highlighting a critical gap in the current understanding of the mechanisms governing probiotic efficacy in this population. This gap is exacerbated by regulatory standards which favor economic expansion over scientific rigor. Furthermore, current studies on probiotic efficacy largely rely on indirect or relative readouts of intestinal bacterial burden. Herein, we directly quantify the probiotic effects of Ligilactobacillus murinus V10 and Escherichia coli Nissle …

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Understanding Clinical Tool Adoption In Primary Care: A Case Study Of The Cmds Care Pathway, Khushbu Khatri Park Sep 2025

Understanding Clinical Tool Adoption In Primary Care: A Case Study Of The Cmds Care Pathway, Khushbu Khatri Park

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The rising prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) places increasing strain on healthcare systems and primary care providers (PCPs). In response, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) adapted the Cardiometabolic Disease Staging System (CMDS), a validated clinical decision support tool, designed to stratify patient risk and guide evidence-based treatment. Embedded within the electronic health record (EHR) as a Care Pathway, the CMDS was designed for real-time use during primary care visits. This dissertation examines utilization of the CMDS in a two-phase case study, guided by the Adult Learning Theory, Group Dynamics Theory, Force Field Theory and Change …

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Bridging The Gap: Exploring The Facilitators And Barriers In The Self-Management Of Diabetes And Pain In Rural Southern Communities, Kennedy Nicole Butler Sep 2025

Bridging The Gap: Exploring The Facilitators And Barriers In The Self-Management Of Diabetes And Pain In Rural Southern Communities, Kennedy Nicole Butler

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Southern rural communities experience a higher prevalence of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and associated comorbidities, which increases rates of premature mortality due to socio-environmental factors, pre-existing health conditions, and economic burden in comparison to their urban counterparts. Fifty percent of individuals with T2D experience pain or chronic pain (CP); however, individuals in rural communities disproportionately experience symptoms of CP. CP is a physically debilitating condition that can inhibit mobility and reduce quality of life. T2D and the co-occurrence of CP can limit an individual's ability to engage in self-managing behaviors. While diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) programs, along with …

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Standardizing Sea Urchin Husbandry: Tank Effects, Gamete Production, And Co-Culture, Raven Amber Edwards Sep 2025

Standardizing Sea Urchin Husbandry: Tank Effects, Gamete Production, And Co-Culture, Raven Amber Edwards

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This dissertation seeks to further knowledge of sea urchin husbandry in three major areas that have so far not been investigated substantially: optimal conditions for housing sea urchins in a lab-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), impacts of repetitive spawning regimens on reproductive output, and co-culture utilizing juvenile oysters. All studies utilize a commercial recirculating aquaculture system that is relatively novel for culturing sea urchins. The first chapter investigated the influence of housing conditions on sea urchin growth outcomes. Under the conditions of this study, the size of the tank showed limited influence on growth; however, stocking density was found to …

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Wellness Perspectives Of Early Career Teachers: An Exploratory Study Of School Culture And Environment, Amy Day Carr Sep 2025

Wellness Perspectives Of Early Career Teachers: An Exploratory Study Of School Culture And Environment, Amy Day Carr

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Purpose: The purpose of this grounded theory dissertation was to explore Alabama early career teachers’ perceptions of personal wellness, the wellness culture and environment of their school system, and the impact of the culture on teacher wellness and job satisfaction. Early career teachers face unique challenges that contribute to high turnover rates, yet their wellness has not been systematically studied. This study sought to answer three primary research questions with sub-questions. Teachers were asked to describe their personal wellness, the wellness culture at their schools, and the effect of the wellness culture and environment of the school on teachers in …

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Attitudes Of Optometrists Towards Referring Patients For Nutrition And Lifestyle Changes To Treat Diabetic Retinopathy And Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Samantha Chapman Sep 2025

Attitudes Of Optometrists Towards Referring Patients For Nutrition And Lifestyle Changes To Treat Diabetic Retinopathy And Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Samantha Chapman

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Some ocular diseases, including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, have direct links to systemic diseases or the condition of the body as a whole. Specific diet and lifestyle changes have been studied in relation to these two diseases and, while it is not within the scope of optometry to prescribe these changes for patients, an optometrist may refer to a variety of specialists so that patients can receive the most holistic care available. The primary goal of this study is to assess the attitudes of currently practicing United States optometrists towards referring to nutrition and lifestyle professionals and their …

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The Unseen Struggle: Poems From The Abyss, Victor Ihechiluru Unachukwu Aug 2025

The Unseen Struggle: Poems From The Abyss, Victor Ihechiluru Unachukwu

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The Unseen Struggle: Poems from The Abyss is a collection of seventy poems. The poems cracked into the experiences of Nigerians—enduring social, political, and environmental oppression. Socially, ethnic divisions and limited education restrict opportunity; politically, corruption and repression silence dissent; environmentally, resource exploitation devastates livelihoods. Through poetry, I constructed a fictionalized Imo and Abia State, rendering these struggles visceral without requiring the reader’s physical presence. Drawing on personal experience, I employed sensory, auditory, and visual imagery to immerse readers in the systems that dictate and constrain Nigerian life. As a Nigerian living in America, I intertwine real events with familial …

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The Bone Is Not Alone: Skeletal Muscle Is A Novel Source Of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23, Kylie Heitman Jun 2025

The Bone Is Not Alone: Skeletal Muscle Is A Novel Source Of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23, Kylie Heitman

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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health issue often accompanied by various pathologies. Hyperphosphatemia contributes to a range of complications, including vascular calcification, systemic inflammation, anemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, and skeletal muscle atrophy. Phosphate homeostasis is tightly regulated through a combination of renal excretion and its storage in bones, with fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 playing a central role in this regulation. Produced primarily by osteocytes in response to elevated serum phosphate, FGF23 helps maintain phosphate balance by promoting renal phosphate excretion and inhibiting the synthesis of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone. Dysregulation of FGF23 is associated both …

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Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Persons Living With Hiv Who Are Homebound Due To One Or More Comorbidities Within A Southern State Using Photovoice, Anthony Alyn "Deek" Cunningham Jan 2025

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Persons Living With Hiv Who Are Homebound Due To One Or More Comorbidities Within A Southern State Using Photovoice, Anthony Alyn "Deek" Cunningham

All ETDs from UAB

At the end of 2022, there were 1,109,418 adults and adolescents with HIV in the United States and the six dependent areas of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Republic of Palau, and the US Virgin Islands (CDC, 2024). Due to ongoing advances in medications and treatments, people who have been diagnosed with HIV are living longer and healthier lives, making this a chronic health condition. Yet, there are gaps in the literature that focuses on this population growing older and aging in place. This dissertation investigated the lived experiences of individuals fifty years and older …

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Impacts Of Climate Change On Members Of Shallow Water Antarctic Communities, Hannah Elise Oswalt Jan 2025

Impacts Of Climate Change On Members Of Shallow Water Antarctic Communities, Hannah Elise Oswalt

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Human-derived CO2 emissions have lowered the ocean’s pH and increased global temperatures. Low seawater pH can decrease the calcification, growth, and survival of calcifying invertebrates. Furthermore, low pH changes macroalgal growth and stress, possibly altering palatability to consumers. Global warming has decreased sea ice coverage, profoundly influencing photosynthetic organisms by altering subsurface irradiance. Shallow, hard-bottom communities along the Western Antarctic Peninsula are characterized by large macroalgal forests that shelter large numbers of mesograzers. Amphipods and macroalgae have a community-wide mutualistic relationship where macroalgae provide refuge from predatory fish while amphipods remove competing epiphytes. To understand how climate change could impact …

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A Mixed Methods Approach To Understanding What Knowledge Alabama K-12 In-Service Educators Hold In Regard To School-Based Trauma-Informed Practices, Katherine Busch Jan 2025

A Mixed Methods Approach To Understanding What Knowledge Alabama K-12 In-Service Educators Hold In Regard To School-Based Trauma-Informed Practices, Katherine Busch

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Childhood trauma is prevalent in epidemic proportions, with data showing 40%-90% of individuals experiencing one or more childhood traumatic events that permanently changes neurobiology and stress response. These stress responses can manifest in behaviors that lead to problems in schools, including behavior issues, special education referrals, suspensions or expulsions, and decreased academic achievement. In adulthood, these traumatic stressors increase the odds of engaging in risky behaviors and developing chronic health conditions. Schools can be places of healing, promoting resilience and utilizing trauma-informed practices to help children and educators. Emerging studies show promise in the benefits of school-based trauma-informed practices, but …

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Targeting Streptococcus Mutans Diadenylate Cyclase For The Prevention Of Dental Caries, Edwin Miguel Rojas Jan 2025

Targeting Streptococcus Mutans Diadenylate Cyclase For The Prevention Of Dental Caries, Edwin Miguel Rojas

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Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the primary etiological agent involved in the initiation and progression of dental caries. S. mutans forms robust biofilms on the tooth surface, and current preventative treatments, such as oral rinses, eliminate both pathogenic and commensal oral species. Therefore, there is an urgent need for therapeutics which selectively inhibit S. mutans biofilms while keeping the oral microbiome intact. The diadenylate cyclase (DAC) enzyme in S. mutans plays a key role in biofilm formation. DAC converts adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into cyclic di-AMP (c-di-AMP), a secondary messenger involved in several cellular pathways. Increased levels of c-di-AMP have shown …

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Theory-Based Nutrition Education To Improve Food Security In Postsecondary Students, Tara Kelly Jan 2025

Theory-Based Nutrition Education To Improve Food Security In Postsecondary Students, Tara Kelly

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The high prevalence of food insecurity among college students is a public health concern that requires well designed interventions to address. College students experiencing food insecurity are more likely to practice diet-related behaviors that contribute to poor health, yet this population lacks the necessary knowledge and skills to make adequate behavior changes. The purpose of this present dissertation is to (1) assess preliminary data collected to inform the development of a theory-based nutrition education intervention; then (2) evaluate the feasibility of this novel intervention design and (3) its effectiveness at improving college students’ food security and factors that may impact …

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Development Of A Lifestyle Wellness Assessment For Obesity Treatment-Seeking Adults, Katie M. Ellison Jan 2025

Development Of A Lifestyle Wellness Assessment For Obesity Treatment-Seeking Adults, Katie M. Ellison

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Obesity is strongly associated with, and effective at, preventing and managing cardiometabolic disease but proponents of Health at Every Size® approaches challenge the importance of weight loss for improving health. While some patients want to lose weight, there is evidence that others desire to focus on improving broader aspects of health and wellness such as metabolic, fitness, and psychosocial health. Clinicians may benefit from a comprehensive understanding of the multifactorial benefits of obesity treatments to effectively capture overall patient wellness. However, existing wellness assessments are often either not comprehensive, unreliable, or subject to time, space, or cost constraints in clinical …

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Perceptions And Preferences Of Virtual Health To Promote Exercise Among People With Physical Disabilities: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study, Madison Mintz Jan 2025

Perceptions And Preferences Of Virtual Health To Promote Exercise Among People With Physical Disabilities: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study, Madison Mintz

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People with physical disabilities and mobility limitations can greatly benefit from participating in a physically active lifestyle and adopting health-promoting strategies and behaviors. Benefits of physical activity include better sleep quality and quantity; decreased anxiety; weight loss or healthy weight maintenance; and maintained or increased balance, coordination, strength, and endurance, to name a few. However, rates of physical activity and exercise participation are disproportionate among people with disabilities (PWD). Current literature suggests a myriad of barriers and environmental inaccessibility as a leading cause of PWD not engaging or meeting physical activity guidelines. However, community-based, virtually-delivered programs have become dramatically available …

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Association Of Hospitals’ Organizational Characteristics And Market Factors Offering Integrative Medicine Services To Adult Cancer Patients, Sanober Ajani Jan 2025

Association Of Hospitals’ Organizational Characteristics And Market Factors Offering Integrative Medicine Services To Adult Cancer Patients, Sanober Ajani

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Integrative medicine (IM) plays an important role in cancer symptom management by providing patients with a range of non-pharmacological options to help manage the physical and emotional symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment. More patients are seeking IM services due in part to a more holistic or patient-centered approach to cancer care, alleviating side effects from cancer treatments, improving quality of life, and enhancing cancer treatment effectiveness. Although the demand for IM services is increasing, there is a gap in our knowledge regarding which cancer hospitals are providing IM programs and what services are offered within these programs. Therefore, …

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Evaluating The Contributions Of Nutrition Knowledge And Food Skills As Predictors Of Dietary Behavior, Diet Competence, And Diet Autonomy In Pre-Hypertensive Rural And Micropolitan Dwelling African American Adults In Alabama, Mary Catherine Robertson Lawson Jan 2025

Evaluating The Contributions Of Nutrition Knowledge And Food Skills As Predictors Of Dietary Behavior, Diet Competence, And Diet Autonomy In Pre-Hypertensive Rural And Micropolitan Dwelling African American Adults In Alabama, Mary Catherine Robertson Lawson

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Introduction: African American (AA) adults living in rural, Southeastern communities experience disproportionately high rates of obesity-related chronic diseases. Many factors contributing to this health disparity are related to negative Social Determinants of Health that have individual and community level impacts. Nutrition knowledge (NK) and food skills (FS) are forms of health literacy that have been understudied in rural-dwelling AA adults. Understanding their relationships with self-perceived diet competence, autonomy, motivations, as well as diet behaviors and health outcomes could inform the development of future health research and policy. Methods: A scoping review was conducted to identify key trends and information gaps …

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Elucidating The Impact Of Ribosome Biogenesis On Breast Cancer, Amr Rafat Elhamamsy Jan 2025

Elucidating The Impact Of Ribosome Biogenesis On Breast Cancer, Amr Rafat Elhamamsy

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Ribosome biogenesis, a complex and multi-step process that occurs predominantly in the nucleolus, plays a critical role in cellular function by mediating protein synthesis through the assembly of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and ribosomal proteins into functional ribosomes. In cancer, dysregulation of this process is linked to the development of specialized ribosomes (onco-ribosomes) that support oncogenic translation programs, enhancing tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. This dissertation explores the interplay between ribosome biogenesis and cancer, focusing particularly on the role of RNA Polymerase I (RNA Pol I) activity under hypoxic conditions and rRNA modifications in breast cancer. My first study elucidates the …

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