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Exploring Psychosocial And Situational Factors That Influence Female College Students' Participation In Oral Sex, Margaret Bergeron Jan 2017

Exploring Psychosocial And Situational Factors That Influence Female College Students' Participation In Oral Sex, Margaret Bergeron

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Although sexually transmitted infections (STI) are not officially reported via the route of transmission, the CDC (2016) reports that individuals who provide fellatio have the highest risk of oral transmission of a STI. Therefore, females who engage in fellatio are at risk for acquiring a STI. The majority of research studies on young adult heterosexual female sexual activities primarily focus on vaginal sex and the associated risks of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Limited research exists on the oral sex behaviors of female college students and their understanding of the risk for contracting an STI through fellatio. The purpose of …

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Hospital Purchasing Alliance: Contextual Factors And Financial Performance, William Opoku-Agyeman Opoku-Agyeman Jan 2017

Hospital Purchasing Alliance: Contextual Factors And Financial Performance, William Opoku-Agyeman Opoku-Agyeman

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Collectively, the purpose of the three papers included in this dissertation was to provide empirical evidence on the contextual factors that influence hospital utilization of services of group purchasing organizations and how utilization of group purchasing organizations impacts hospitals’ financial performance. The findings of these studies are important both to researchers and to managers as it sheds light on the relationship between hospitals and group purchasing organizations. The results of this dissertation suggest that better financial performance is associated with hospital utilization of group purchasing organizations. Additionally, some measures of environmental munificence and dynamism are associated with hospital utilization of …

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The Dietary Context Of Nut Intake Among Overweight And Obese African-American Women Living In The Rural South: An Exploratory Study, Samara Sterling Jan 2017

The Dietary Context Of Nut Intake Among Overweight And Obese African-American Women Living In The Rural South: An Exploratory Study, Samara Sterling

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Obesity has become a national epidemic over the last few decades, and lays its heaviest burden on certain populations (eg, rural residents, African-Americans, and African-American women in the Southeast). Obesity increases medical costs substantially, and is a significant risk factor for various chronic conditions, including certain cancers. There is a need to identify specific dietary behaviors that may contribute to obesity and obesity-related cancers among African-American women in the rural South, and to recommend dietary modifications that may alleviate those risks. Previous research has shown that nuts offer numerous health benefits, including weight loss and cancer protection. More research is …

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African American Child And Adolescent Obesity: The Parents Perspective, Alice Marie Austin Jan 2017

African American Child And Adolescent Obesity: The Parents Perspective, Alice Marie Austin

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Nearly 36% of African American children ages 2 to 19 are overweight or obese. Childhood obesity results in children with social and psychological disorders, chronic disease, and an increase in morbidity and mortality. Solutions have been offered but none have made a significant impact on African American children living in the Southern United States. Studies that implement life style change produce short-term reductions in African American children but few show life-long change. Parents are responsible for making lifestyle choices for children, it is imperative to understand parental perceptions of child and adolescent obesity and its relationship to lifestyle change. The …

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Reducing Acute Cardiovascular Hospitalizations With A Weight Management Program (Reach), Laura A. Graham Jan 2017

Reducing Acute Cardiovascular Hospitalizations With A Weight Management Program (Reach), Laura A. Graham

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Reducing cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors such as obesity through lifestyle and behavioral interventions like weight management programs should result in better cardiovascular health. However, there is conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions in reducing long-term CVD outcomes such as acute myocardial infarction or stroke. This reflects an important gap in our understanding about factors affecting recruitment and engagement in these programs and how these factors relate to improvement in long-term cardiovascular health. To address this gap, we will use a retrospective study with up to 11 years of follow up data from the nation’s largest health care system-associated …

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The Effects Of 6 Weeks Of High Intensity Interval Training Vs. Moderate Intensity Training On Cardiometabolic Health Markers And Mitochondrial Function In Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury, Kyle Gary Graham Jan 2017

The Effects Of 6 Weeks Of High Intensity Interval Training Vs. Moderate Intensity Training On Cardiometabolic Health Markers And Mitochondrial Function In Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury, Kyle Gary Graham

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Background: Individuals with SCI fail to meet the recommended exercise guidelines due to limited time, resources, and structural or architectural limitations (e.g., accessibility of facilities and knowledgeable instructors). Therefore, a time efficient and effective exercise program is needed to reverse chronic metabolic conditions and improve health quality in individuals with SCI. A growing body of evidence from our group and others has demonstrated the potential for low volume high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to provide comparable or superior improvements in cardiometabolic health outcomes in able-bodied individuals compared to continuous moderate intensity training (MIT) that requires 60-80% greater time commitment. Purpose: To …

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Immunobiology Of The Mucosal Response To Helicobacter Pylori In Children, Kyle Brawner Jan 2017

Immunobiology Of The Mucosal Response To Helicobacter Pylori In Children, Kyle Brawner

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Helicobacter pylori colonizes the stomach of approximately one half of the world’s population. However, the vast majority of infected persons remain asymptomatic. The degree of H. pylori-induced gastric inflammation depends on a complex interaction of several factors. In this dissertation, we focus on age as a determinant of gastritis severity. Children are known to respond to H. pylori infection with a stronger T regulatory cell profile compared with infected adults, yet the reason remains unknown. The influence of the microbiota on, and the communication among, cells of the innate immune system shape the nature of the adaptive immune response to …

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Interplay Of The Circadian Clock And Growth Hormone Signaling In The Heart, Ryan Darrell Berry Jan 2017

Interplay Of The Circadian Clock And Growth Hormone Signaling In The Heart, Ryan Darrell Berry

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Growth hormone (GH) signaling plays a critical role in postnatal development and the details of its release, regulation, and influence on the development of a number of organs has been well studied. GH is released from the anterior pituitary in a pulsatile fashion with pulse amplitude being greater at night than during the day in a number of species, including humans. Once in circulation, GH binds to the GH receptor (GHR) on target tissues throughout the body altering gene expression and stimulating the local production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 primarily acts in an autocrine and paracrine fashion. …

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Increasing The Accessibility Of A Falls Prevention Intervention For Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Low Vision, Sarah Blaylock Jan 2017

Increasing The Accessibility Of A Falls Prevention Intervention For Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Low Vision, Sarah Blaylock

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Falls remain a costly problem as a leading cause of injuries and fatalities for individuals over the age of 65. Older adults with low vision, or non-correctable visual impairment, are estimated to be two times more likely to fall than those without vision loss. There appear to be limited falls prevention interventions available for older adults that have been tested on or designed specifically for individuals with visual impairment. The goals of this dissertation were to learn more about the availability of visually accessible falls prevention interventions and to develop an intervention that can be used with veterans receiving services …

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Racial Disparities In The Maintenance Of Healthy Lifestyles And Their Effect On Cumulative Blood Pressure Burden And Left Ventricular Mass In African Americans And Whites: Data From The Coronary Artery Risk Development In Young Adults (Cardia) Study, John N. Booth Jan 2017

Racial Disparities In The Maintenance Of Healthy Lifestyles And Their Effect On Cumulative Blood Pressure Burden And Left Ventricular Mass In African Americans And Whites: Data From The Coronary Artery Risk Development In Young Adults (Cardia) Study, John N. Booth

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The prevalence of healthy behaviors associated with optimal blood pressure (BP) levels and reduced risk for target-organ damage and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is lower in blacks compared with whites. Randomized controlled trials provide evidence that if healthy behaviors are maintained over the lifespan, including normal body weight, moderate physical activity, limited alcohol intake, limited sodium intake, adequate potassium intake and a rich diet of fruits and vegetables and low in high-fat dairy and saturated and total fat, then high BP may be preventable. The goal of this dissertation was to assess racial differences in the maintenance of healthy behaviors and …

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Effect Of Antihypertensive Drugs On Left Ventricular Traits In Africam American, Anh N. Do Jan 2017

Effect Of Antihypertensive Drugs On Left Ventricular Traits In Africam American, Anh N. Do

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The purpose of this dissertation is to evaluate the association of antihypertensive treatment as well genomic variants with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) -related traits among African Americans (AAs) in five cross-sectional epidemiology cohorts from the United States. AAs especially those with hypertension, are overburdened by left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) compared to other ethnic groups. LVH is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Antihypertensive treatments have been found to improve LVH and related echocardiographic measures (i.e. LV traits) among hypertensive patients. However, the effect of antihypertensive treatments on LVH and related traits in AAs has not …

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Diabetes Risk In Women: Pschosocial And Lifestyle Determinants, Sarah Katherine Sweatt Jan 2017

Diabetes Risk In Women: Pschosocial And Lifestyle Determinants, Sarah Katherine Sweatt

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Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a major public health concern. Physical inactivity, poor diet, and psychosocial distress have emerged as factors contributing to T2D. Women may be uniquely affected by these factors as obesity, physical inactivity, and the prevalence of psychosocial distress are higher in women. Additionally, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women and increases the risk of both T2D and psychosocial distress. However, the relationship between physical activity (PA), psychosocial distress, and metabolic health is not fully understood, particularly in at risk populations such as minorities and women with PCOS. Therefore, the goal …

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Effects Of A Cooking Program On Social Skills, Adaptive Functioning, And Dietary Behavior Of Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Eva Phui Phui Trinh Jan 2017

Effects Of A Cooking Program On Social Skills, Adaptive Functioning, And Dietary Behavior Of Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Eva Phui Phui Trinh

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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by two domains: 1) deficits in social interaction and communication, and, 2) restricted and repetitive behavior, interests, or activities. Poor adaptive functioning skills is an associated feature of ASD and leads to concerns for establishing independence as adolescents with ASD transition into adults. The dietary behavior of adolescents in the United States do not meet national standards for healthy eating, which could lead to poor health outcomes. Eating and feeding problems are more prevalent in children with ASD compared to their typically developing peers. Independent skills and health are a main source of stress …

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Acute And Chronic Regulation Of Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Function, Jonathan Lund Warren Jan 2017

Acute And Chronic Regulation Of Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Function, Jonathan Lund Warren

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Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) represent a growing global burden on healthcare and financial resources. One hypothesis for the onset and exacerbation of these diseases is related to the role of mitochondria as the end users of products of the metabolism of the nutrients we consume and in mediating the oxidative state of the body through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In order to meet the demands of a metabolic challenge and prevent excessive ROS production, there appear to be adaptations to mitochondrial physiology and morphology that can occur and we hypothesize that the ability of the …

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Alternative Methodological Approaches For Quantifying Dental Caries And Non-Water Beverage Consumptions For The Improvement Of Caries Risk Analyses In Children, Kelsey Harris Jordan Jan 2017

Alternative Methodological Approaches For Quantifying Dental Caries And Non-Water Beverage Consumptions For The Improvement Of Caries Risk Analyses In Children, Kelsey Harris Jordan

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Researchers assume caries progress constantly, all crowned/extracted tooth surfaces are carious, and non-water beverage consumption (NWBC) habits are similar by relying on increments, dmfs scoring, and consumption frequencies, respectively. These assumptions are likely inaccurate. The purpose of this research was to evaluate and modify the use of 1) longitudinal caries disease assessment, 2) the dmfs score and 3) NWBC variables to more accurately estimate disease and identify risk factors. To investigate, young (8-18 months at baseline), healthy, poor, rural, African American, Alabamian children were observed annually for five years. Three calibrated dentists performed oral examinations (without radiographs), calculating the number …

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Development Of A 3d Microphysiologic Liver For Drug Toxicity Testing, Maryrose Kammer Jan 2017

Development Of A 3d Microphysiologic Liver For Drug Toxicity Testing, Maryrose Kammer

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Development of almost all novel effective drug compounds is immensely expensive and time consuming. The process is slowed by the ineffectiveness of current toxicity testing methods, with 80% of drugs undergoing late-stage failure in clinical trials or post-market withdrawal. The leading cause of these failures and withdrawals is due to drug-induced liver injury. Much of drug metabolism occurs in the liver, but there are incredible differences among the metabolic pathways in humans, animal models, and two-dimensional testing platforms. Thus, the current methods are limited to accurately predict in vivo metabolic response of a novel compound. Three dimensional (3D) in vitro …

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The Role Of Klotho In Adult Neurogenesis, Ann Laszczyk Jan 2017

The Role Of Klotho In Adult Neurogenesis, Ann Laszczyk

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Klotho is an anti-aging protein that when upregulated, extends lifespan and enhances cognition. Klotho knockout mice age prematurely and die by ~8 weeks of life after developing cognitive impairment. Klotho function outside of the brain is well established but the protein’s action within the brain remains unknown. As klotho regulates peripheral stem cell populations, I sought to determine whether klotho contributes to cognition through a role in the maintenance of the adult hippocampal neurogenic niche. I examined adult mouse neurogenesis using global klotho-deficiency or global klotho overexpression models. Klotho knockout brains show reduced progenitor proliferation and granule cell production while …

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Circulating Mirnas And Human Insulin Resistance, Elizabeth Ma Jan 2017

Circulating Mirnas And Human Insulin Resistance, Elizabeth Ma

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Insulin resistance (IR) is central to the pathophysiology of Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms behind IR are not clear, but microRNA (miR; short, non-coding RNA strands that base-pair with mRNA to modify gene expression) have garnered interest as potential contributors. miRs have recently been shown to be detectable in the circulation, and can be taken up and regulate target genes within recipient cells. Our primary objective was to identify circulating miRs (c-miRs) that play a role in regulating systemic metabolism and participate in the pathophysiology of IR and cardiometabolic disease. Three …

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A Multi-Modal Approach To Sulforaphane-Mediated Chemoprevention Using The Epigenetic Network, Samantha Martin Jan 2017

A Multi-Modal Approach To Sulforaphane-Mediated Chemoprevention Using The Epigenetic Network, Samantha Martin

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Colon cancer is the third most common diagnosed cancer in both women and men in the United States. It is reported that dietary factors are responsible for 70-90% of colon cancer cases. While some investigators have observed a direct correlation in high fat diets and cancer initiation, other studies have observed opposite effects mediated by fruit and vegetable consumption. Recently, studies have highlighted the importance of Epigenetics as it modifies gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. Notably, several nutritive compounds have been reported to alter epigenetic profiles in many cancer forms. SFN, an isothiocyanate found in cruciferous vegetables such …

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The Ecology And Evolution Of Invertebrate-Cyanobacterial Symbioses, Kenan Matterson Jan 2017

The Ecology And Evolution Of Invertebrate-Cyanobacterial Symbioses, Kenan Matterson

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Intimate partnerships between marine invertebrates and microbial symbionts have garnered renewed interest, as advances in next generation sequencing have revealed substantial microbial diversity in tropical sponges and ascidians. These datasets have generated a suite of new questions concerning the evolutionary and ecological mechanisms that structure these microbial partnerships. The research presented herein addresses such questions by integrating in situ ecological manipulations with modern molecular techniques to characterize the interactions between the host invertebrate and microbiome and its potential role in structuring marine communities. Implementing in situ manipulative shading experiments alongside replicated bacterial clone libraries, I documented significant variation in host …

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Development Of A Psychometrically Sound Instrument To Assess Classroom Teachers' Beliefs About Movement Integration, Gina Moses Jan 2017

Development Of A Psychometrically Sound Instrument To Assess Classroom Teachers' Beliefs About Movement Integration, Gina Moses

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Children do not meet current physical activity (PA) guidelines. Movement integration (MI), which is defined as infusing PA into regularly scheduled classroom time, is an effective school-based strategy to increase children’s daily participation in PA while also supporting their academic performance. Classroom teachers (CTs) are the primary facilitators of MI. Thus, understanding CTs’ beliefs toward MI is vital to successful MI implementation. The purpose of this study was to develop a valid and reliable measure of CTs’ MI beliefs from a Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) perspective. The study used a cross-sectional design and encompassed three phases. Phase I elicited …

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Effective Recruiting For Subgroups In The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (Sprint), Thomas Marshall Ramsey Jan 2017

Effective Recruiting For Subgroups In The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (Sprint), Thomas Marshall Ramsey

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EFFECTIVE RECRUITING FOR SUBGROUPS IN THE SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE INTERVENTION TRIAL (SPRINT) THOMAS MARSHALL RAMSEY HEALTH EDUCATION / HEALTH PROMOTION ABSTRACT Background: The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) recruitment focused on participants > 50 years old with systolic blood pressure of > 140 mm Hg (hypertension) with no evidence of diabetes or previous stroke. Priority participants were targeted in non-clinical subgroups (women and minorities) as well as three clinical subgroups (pre-existing cardiovascular disease, pre-existing chronic kidney disease, > 75 years old). Objective: The objective of this secondary analysis is to determine which of the five recruiting strategies was most effective? Which recruitment …

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Pterostilbene Inhibits The Progression Of Breast Cancer Through The Down-Regulation Of The Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (Htert) And The Akt/Mtor/P70s6k Pathway, Michael Daniel Jan 2017

Pterostilbene Inhibits The Progression Of Breast Cancer Through The Down-Regulation Of The Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (Htert) And The Akt/Mtor/P70s6k Pathway, Michael Daniel

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Breast cancer is currently the most commonly diagnosed and second most common cause of cancer related deaths among women in the United States. Although overall breast cancer death rates have dropped over the past decades, current chemotherapeutic methods often prove ineffective and result in off-target, cytotoxic effects. Recently, the use of natural, dietary compounds as agents of chemoprevention and therapy has become increasingly provocative. Pterostilbene (PT), a stilbenoid found largely in the blueberries, has been shown to exhibit both antioxidant and antiproliferative effects in a variety of cancer types. We observed that PT, at physiological concentrations, inhibits the proliferation, cell …

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The Effect Of Cultural Competency Training Programs On Expatriate Nurses' Levels Of Cultural Competence In Saudi Arabia As Measured By The Inventory For Assessing The Process Of Cultural Competence (Iapcc-R), Naof Faiz Saleem Al-Ansary Jan 2017

The Effect Of Cultural Competency Training Programs On Expatriate Nurses' Levels Of Cultural Competence In Saudi Arabia As Measured By The Inventory For Assessing The Process Of Cultural Competence (Iapcc-R), Naof Faiz Saleem Al-Ansary

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The study examined the relationship between cultural competence training programs and the levels of cultural competence among expatriate nurses in Saudi Arabia. Cultural competence training programs are believed to increase the awareness of expatriate nurses in Saudi Arabia in regards to issues that might arise from cultural differences between patients and healthcare providers. Healthcare professionals, and healthcare organizations, emphasize the importance of culturally competent healthcare environments in providing optimum healthcare services to individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Findings from the study suggested that participation in cultural competency training is associated to higher cultural competency scores. Additionally, age was positively associated …

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Comparison Of Bone Augmentation Techniques In Extraction Sockets: A Soft And Hard Tissue Wound Healing Analysis, Pragya Sharma Jan 2017

Comparison Of Bone Augmentation Techniques In Extraction Sockets: A Soft And Hard Tissue Wound Healing Analysis, Pragya Sharma

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The use of bone grafting materials in sockets after tooth extraction has become a common technique for the preservation of alveolar ridge dimensions for future dental implant placement. A number of growth factors have been used to accelerate healing and shorten the healing period between extraction and implant placement. This study presents a novel application of amniotic tissue allograft used as an adjunct to bone grafting with mineralized bone allograft after tooth extraction. Amniotic tissue contains a myriad of growth factors such as Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-β), Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), Platelet Derived Growth Factor …

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Development Of Small Molecule Inhibitors Of S. Mutans Glucosyltransferases For The Prevention Of Dental Caries, Bhavitavya Nijampatnam Jan 2017

Development Of Small Molecule Inhibitors Of S. Mutans Glucosyltransferases For The Prevention Of Dental Caries, Bhavitavya Nijampatnam

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Streptococcus mutans is the primary cariogenic agent of dental caries. This bacterium has developed numerous mechanisms to attach to tooth surfaces and initi-ate the proliferation of biofilms. In addition, S. mutans contributes to the acidification of the oral cavity, as it produces lactic acid from dietary sugars, which ensues tooth decay. Currently marketed caries therapies do not selectively kill cariogenic species, instead they disrupt the whole natural oral flora in the oral cavity including the beneficial species. In order to develop a species specific therapeutic agent, we have targeted the S. mutans glucosyltransferases (Gtfs) for our structure-based drug design. These …

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The Influences Of Exercise And Mental Work On Eating Behavior And Predictors Of These Effects, William H. Neumeier Jan 2016

The Influences Of Exercise And Mental Work On Eating Behavior And Predictors Of These Effects, William H. Neumeier

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Physical activity levels have decreased and obesity rates have increased. Individuals now primarily perform mental work while remaining sedentary. Mental work has been associated with increased calorie consumption and decreased cognitive performance. The increased energy consumption and decline in cognitive performance following mental work may be due to the brain’s utilization of limited energy resources. The brain may seek food to replenish energy sources, and increased food consumption without changes in energy expenditure may contribute to positive energy balance. Exercise is known to contribute to negative energy balance. In addition, acute exercise and physical fitness levels are positively associated with …

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The Effects Of Six Weeks Of High Intensity Interval Training (Hiit) Or Moderate Intensity Training (Mit) On Antioxidant Capacity And Metabolic Health In Obese/Overweight Males, Samuel Pierce Cauffman Jan 2016

The Effects Of Six Weeks Of High Intensity Interval Training (Hiit) Or Moderate Intensity Training (Mit) On Antioxidant Capacity And Metabolic Health In Obese/Overweight Males, Samuel Pierce Cauffman

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Background: Obesity is an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Oxidative stress or low total antioxidant capacity has been shown to be associated with decreased insulin sensitivity (SI) in overweight/obese individuals. Exercise training has been shown to improve systemic antioxidant capacity (TAC) and SI; however whether or not correlations between SI and TAC observed under untrained conditions are associated following exercise training is less clear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to determine if SI was correlated with serum TAC in a cohort of overweight/obese men at baseline and following six-weeks of exercise …

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Addressing School District Readiness For Elementary Health Education Using The Transtheoretical Model, Sarah Toth Jan 2016

Addressing School District Readiness For Elementary Health Education Using The Transtheoretical Model, Sarah Toth

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The elementary classroom offers a potentially favorable setting to impact student health. However, research indicates that elementary health education (EHE) is frequently omitted or haphazardly delivered. Traditional efforts in educational change have had limited success and lack a theoretical foundation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the organizational readiness of a public school district in Alabama for the delivery of 60 minutes of weekly EHE using constructs of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM). This study was intended to identify the stage of readiness, decisional balance, self-efficacy, the extent to which the school district was engaging in behaviors that may …

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Pay For Performance In Dentistry: Is It Worth It?, Andreea Voinea-Griffin Jan 2016

Pay For Performance In Dentistry: Is It Worth It?, Andreea Voinea-Griffin

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Introduction: The variability of dental care and the slow implementation of evidence-based dentistry point to the need for change. Pay for performance (P4P) programs may foster quality improvement if appropriately designed. This work demonstrates the use of modeling and simulation to evaluate such programs prior to deployment. An example is provided in the form of a P4P program for the treatment of occlusal early caries (EC) in permanent teeth. Research Design: The proposed P4P program evaluation consists of two steps. First step is to determine the optimal treatment. In this example, three non-invasive treatments (NTs), watchful-waiting (WW), sealants, and fluoride …

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