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Influence Of Maternal Age On The Effects Of Organic Selenium In The Animal Model Daphnia Pulex, Jordan E. Roberts Jan 2016

Influence Of Maternal Age On The Effects Of Organic Selenium In The Animal Model Daphnia Pulex, Jordan E. Roberts

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As a necessary micronutrient, seleno-L-methionine (SeMet) exhibits a U-shaped dose-response with deficiency and toxicity leading to adverse health outcomes. Some studies suggest dietary selenium may offer protection against toxicity from other metals, but excessive dietary levels can also lead to toxicity. In addition, increased maternal age has been shown to increase the risk of adverse developmental outcomes. We hypothesize that older maternal age will increase susceptibility in offspring exposed to toxic concentrations of SeMet. The goal of this project was to evaluate the effects of SeMet treatment on lifespan and determine if the effects are altered by maternal age using …


16s Rrna Gene Sequencing To Evaluate The Effects Of Six Commonly Prescribed Antibiotics, Kendall Slaton Jan 2016

16s Rrna Gene Sequencing To Evaluate The Effects Of Six Commonly Prescribed Antibiotics, Kendall Slaton

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16s rrna gene sequencing to evaluate the effects of six commonly prescribed antibiotics kendall slaton, dmd dentistry abstract introduction: the rapid antibiotic sensitivity test (rast) is a novel in-office culture and sensitivity system for endodontic infections. the purpose of this research was to validate the rast system as a viable, in-office alternative to antibiotic sensitivity testing using turbidity, to determine antibiotic sensitivities of endodontic infections. methods: aspirates were taken from the root canals of nine necrotic human teeth at the initiation of root canal therapy. these samples were cultured in the rast medium and antibiotic sensitivity to six antibiotics was …


The Effects Of Perceived Stress, Sleep, And Stress Response On Cancer Related Fatigue In 8- To 12-Year-Old Central Nervous System Cancer Survivors, Ann Johnson Jan 2016

The Effects Of Perceived Stress, Sleep, And Stress Response On Cancer Related Fatigue In 8- To 12-Year-Old Central Nervous System Cancer Survivors, Ann Johnson

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Survivors of childhood cancer are a growing population, and knowledge of persistent cancer related fatigue (CRF) is integral to survivorship. CRF in central nervous system (CNS) cancer is multifactorial and may be unique based on treatment and stage of survival. There is a gap in evidence for school-age survivors, especially during early survivorship. Aims: The aim of this study was to examine factors that influence CRF in child CNS cancer survivors at least 6 months and less than 6 years post treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between select factors and CRF and to determine effect …


Resveratrol And Pterostilbene: A Novel Combinatorial Epigenetic Therapy In Targeting Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Rishabh Kala Jan 2016

Resveratrol And Pterostilbene: A Novel Combinatorial Epigenetic Therapy In Targeting Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Rishabh Kala

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Although the majority of breast cancers are estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, progesterone receptor (PGR)-positive and/or HER2 positive, approximately 20% of them are triple-negative and lack ER, PGR and HER2 protein expression. These cancers are robust and hard to treat with conventional hormone therapies. The plant-based dietary compounds resveratrol and pterostilbene (a dimethyl derivative of resveratrol) have been shown to modulate the growth of cancer cells individually via affecting genetic and epigenetic profiles, but none of the studies to date have addressed the effects of these two compounds in combination in targeting triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC). We have discovered a synergistic effect …


The Role Of Ppar-Delta In Regulating Cardiomyocyte Proliferation And Angiogenesis In Post-Myocardial Infarction Adult Heart, Yishu Ding Jan 2016

The Role Of Ppar-Delta In Regulating Cardiomyocyte Proliferation And Angiogenesis In Post-Myocardial Infarction Adult Heart, Yishu Ding

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immediately before, soon after, and one month after intervention. Average daily calcium


Expanding Pulmonary Rehabilitation Access With Technology, Erica Mccarron Anderson Jan 2016

Expanding Pulmonary Rehabilitation Access With Technology, Erica Mccarron Anderson

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ii EXPANDING PULMONARY REHABILITATION WITH TECHNOLOGY ERICA MCCARRON ANDERSON COMMUNITY HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES ABSTRACT Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States. COPD is a chronic, progressive lung disease characterized by irreversible airway obstruction. Symptoms include fatigue, chronic cough, excess mucus production and shortness of breath. These symptoms often impair quality-of-life. There are many interventions aimed at improving health related qualityof- life for patients living with COPD. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary program exercise, education and psychosocial support. Pulmonary rehabilitation is well established to decrease symptoms in all stages of …


Regulation Of Vibrio Cholerae Biofilm Formation By H-Ns Repression And Anti-Repression, Julio Cesar Ayala-Figueredo Jan 2016

Regulation Of Vibrio Cholerae Biofilm Formation By H-Ns Repression And Anti-Repression, Julio Cesar Ayala-Figueredo

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The diarrheal disease cholera is caused by the Gram-negative and motile bacterium Vibrio cholerae of serogroups O1 and O139. V. cholerae can switch between planktonic (motile) and sessile (biofilm) lifestyles. Biofilms are sessile communities encased in a self-produced extracellular matrix mainly composed of exopolysaccharide, proteins and extracellular DNA. Biofilm formation enhances the capacity of V. cholerae to persist in environmental waters and increases its infectivity. The bacterial second messenger cyclic diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP) regulates the transition between motile and biofilm lifestyles in V. cholerae. At low cell density, two c-di-GMP receptors, the LuxR-type regulator VpsT and the NtrC-type regulator VpsR …


Cardiovascular Risk Factors In Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Phenotypes, Samantha G. Bromfield Jan 2016

Cardiovascular Risk Factors In Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Phenotypes, Samantha G. Bromfield

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Hypertension and diabetes are common and are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Several blood pressure (BP) phenotypes, identified by ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), have been reported to be associated with an increased risk for CVD. However, there are few data on ABPM phenotypes among individuals with diabetes. Identifying modifiable factors that improve cardiovascular health may reduce CVD events and the prevalence of ABPM phenotypes, such as masked hypertension. Given the ability of ABPM to identify unconventional BP phenotypes that provide prognostic information beyond clinic BP, it is important to understand the optimal number of 24-hour ABPM readings necessary …


Methods For Measuring Individually Experienced Temperature And Food Intake In Controlled Thermal Environments, Molly Bernhard Jan 2016

Methods For Measuring Individually Experienced Temperature And Food Intake In Controlled Thermal Environments, Molly Bernhard

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The three studies to be presented assess individual-level heat exposure in free-living urban and rural environments and assess food intake in randomized controlled trials in a 2-hour exposure, and a 7-hour crossover heat exposure. The first interest was broad: examining heat exposure and its relation to potential health outcomes. To examine whether heat exposure could be measured in free-living organisms, a light and temperature monitoring device was repurposed and used in a pilot study of individual-level heat exposure in urban and rural community members. Differences between the current and most commonly accepted way of estimating heat exposure, weather station datasets, …


Measuring Reproductive Norms And Stigma And Examining Their Roles In Unintended Pregnancy-Related Health Behavior Among Young Adult Women, Whitney Smith Jan 2016

Measuring Reproductive Norms And Stigma And Examining Their Roles In Unintended Pregnancy-Related Health Behavior Among Young Adult Women, Whitney Smith

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Substantial disparities are observed in rates of unintended pregnancy and the health consequences of unintended pregnancy in the United States, with these events and outcomes occurring more frequently among young adult women and women in the southern region. The contribution of social norms and stigma to these disparities is unclear. This dissertation is comprised of three manuscripts examining unintended pregnancy-related norms and stigma, and their health implications among young adult women aged 18-24 in Birmingham, Alabama. The aims of the dissertation are to (1) elucidate perceptions of norms and stigma regarding unintended pregnancy and pregnancy decisions (abortion, adoption, and parenting), …


Egesta Of The Sea Urchin Lytechinus Variegatus Promote Weight Gain In The Shrimp Litopenaeus Vannamei, Karen Elizabeth Jensen Jan 2016

Egesta Of The Sea Urchin Lytechinus Variegatus Promote Weight Gain In The Shrimp Litopenaeus Vannamei, Karen Elizabeth Jensen

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Long-term economic and environmental sustainability of aquaculture will be dependent on utilization of novel nutrient sources and remediation of effluent streams. Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) is a method intended to maximize productivity and minimize waste by strategically reusing effluent from a primary, fed species in the production of one or more secondary, extractive species. Such relationships are based on the trophic role of the fed and extractive species in question. Sea urchin egesta are thought to play a role in nutrient cycling in natural habitats by providing an energy source for many coprophagous deposit feeders, suspension feeders, and microbes. The …


Malaria, Changes In Angiogenesis Factors, Cytokine Profiles And Birth Outcomes, John A. Keenan Jan 2016

Malaria, Changes In Angiogenesis Factors, Cytokine Profiles And Birth Outcomes, John A. Keenan

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Malaria remains an important public health problem, with over three billion people at risk of infection and as many as 214 million new cases each year. Of particular concern is the effect Plasmodium falciparum malaria has on reproductive health. Malaria is responsible for a wide array of adverse birth outcomes including infant death, low birth weight, preterm delivery and small for gestational age. The mechanism by which malaria influences adverse birth outcomes remains poorly understood. Cross-sectional data from 291 women delivering infants in Ghana are used to investigate whether malaria during pregnancy was associated with select cytokines or angiogenesis factors …


The Effect Of The Combination Of Low Income And Low Education, Access To Care, And Social Isolation On Chd Outcomes In The Reasons For Geographic And Racial Differences In Stroke (Regards) Cohort Study, Marquita Lewis Jan 2016

The Effect Of The Combination Of Low Income And Low Education, Access To Care, And Social Isolation On Chd Outcomes In The Reasons For Geographic And Racial Differences In Stroke (Regards) Cohort Study, Marquita Lewis

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Coronary heart disease (CHD) disparities persist for low socioeconomic populations, in spite of declines globally. In order to reduce these disparities, it is critical that investigators better understand determinants of health that exacerbate these disparities. This study investigated the association between the combination of low income and low education on CHD incidence, and the mediating effects of access to care and social isolation on this association. Data was used from participants recruited between 2003-2007 free of CHD at baseline from the national biracial prospective Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort study of participants aged >45 years. …


Cell-Specific Pgc-1Α-Dependent Transcription: Implications For Cognitive And Motor Dysfunction, Laura Mcmeekin Jan 2016

Cell-Specific Pgc-1Α-Dependent Transcription: Implications For Cognitive And Motor Dysfunction, Laura Mcmeekin

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health beliefs in young women. The Prevention of Osteoporosis in Women (POW)


A Comprehensive Investigation Of Hp1b, A Chromatin Protein, And Its Role In Aging, Benjamin Mills Mills Jan 2016

A Comprehensive Investigation Of Hp1b, A Chromatin Protein, And Its Role In Aging, Benjamin Mills Mills

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Genetic regulation determines which genes are expressed, in which tissues, at which time, and to which level. This regulation is necessary for proper organismal development, and loss of gene regulation can result in phenotypic consequences. As organisms grow older, gene regulation often begins to fail, resulting in negative phenotypic outcomes associated with aging. The exact reason for this failure of gene regulation remains unknown, but current models suggest that chromatin, and its associated proteins, plays a large role. The structure of chromatin impacts gene expression, directly affecting several phenotypes including aging. In this study, we investigate HP1B, a chromatin protein, …


Molecular Analysis Of Streptococcus Mutans Genetic Diversity For The Epidemiological Study Of Oral Disease, Stephanie Stahlbuhk Momeni Jan 2016

Molecular Analysis Of Streptococcus Mutans Genetic Diversity For The Epidemiological Study Of Oral Disease, Stephanie Stahlbuhk Momeni

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Dental caries is chronic global infectious disease. Streptococcus mutans are most frequently associated with dental caries. The goal of this work is to use molecular genotyping methods to investigate the genetic diversity and evidence for transmission of S. mutans for the epidemiological study of dental caries. It was first necessary to validate methods proposed in this study including choice of selective media, choice of multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme, and the frequency of clonality. Analysis included 13,906 S. mutans isolates obtained from oral samples collected from children and their household members in an 8-year longitudinal epidemiological study. Two genotyping methods …


Dietary Patterns, Insulin Resistance, And Cognitive Outcomes In A Cohort Of Black And White Americans, Keith Pearson Jan 2016

Dietary Patterns, Insulin Resistance, And Cognitive Outcomes In A Cohort Of Black And White Americans, Keith Pearson

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As life expectancy continues to increase and the number of elderly Americans rises, public health initiatives are seeking to identify modifiable risk factors to preserve cognitive function and increase quality of life in advanced ages. The primary objective of this dissertation was to investigate dietary patterns, carbohydrate consumption, and insulin resistance as modifiable risk factors that may contribute to the development of cognitive impairment and cognitive decline. Three separate studies were performed in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study, a prospective cohort containing 30,239 black and white participants. Cognitive impairment was defined using the Six-Item Screener. …


Early-Life Programming Of Emotional Behaviors And Cardiovascular Function, Samir Rana Jan 2016

Early-Life Programming Of Emotional Behaviors And Cardiovascular Function, Samir Rana

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Extensive evidence implicates bi-directional relationship between mood disorders and cardiovascular disorders. Early-life experience can have strong effects both on emotional development and cardiovascular function throughout life. Studies in humans are limited to correlational analyses, which are necessarily limited in terms of revealing mechanistic underpinnings of these associations. Thus, various pre-clinical models are utilized to investigate the effects of early-life experience in various domains, such as behavior and cardiovascular function, which are likely mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. Previous studies have used maternal separation and neonatal handling in developing rodents as a way to model differences in early-life experience. The effect of …


Correlating High Reliability Organization Practices With Preventable Harms Across Children’S Hospitals Participating In The Children’S Hospitals’ Solutions For Patient Safety Collaborative, Kelly H. Randall Jan 2016

Correlating High Reliability Organization Practices With Preventable Harms Across Children’S Hospitals Participating In The Children’S Hospitals’ Solutions For Patient Safety Collaborative, Kelly H. Randall

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Background: Despite significant effort, focus, and resources dedicated to reducing patient safety risk, the healthcare system continues to have high error rates. Approaches and strategies implemented to decrease human error have been marginally successful in achieving sustainable reduction in patient harm. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between high reliability and patient safety outcomes by testing the following hypotheses: Organizations exhibiting more advanced high reliability practice will have fewer hospital acquired conditions (as defined by the Serious Harm Event Index (SHE) than organizations exhibiting less advanced high reliability practices; and organizations exhibiting more advanced high …


Examining Hiv-Associated Symptom Burden And Microbial Translocation In The Veterans Aging Cohort Study: A Secondary Data Analysis, Natalie Lynn Wilson Jan 2016

Examining Hiv-Associated Symptom Burden And Microbial Translocation In The Veterans Aging Cohort Study: A Secondary Data Analysis, Natalie Lynn Wilson

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group of 50 women (group 1) received computer-tailored feedback with brief counseling.


High-Intensity Interval Training With Energy Restriction Preserves Lean Tissue And Improves Glucose Tolerance In Obesity, Rachel Ann Harley Jan 2016

High-Intensity Interval Training With Energy Restriction Preserves Lean Tissue And Improves Glucose Tolerance In Obesity, Rachel Ann Harley

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Calorie restriction (CR) reduces body weight (BW) and adiposity, but is often less than expected due to hypometabolism produced by reductions in lean body mass (LBM). A comparable energy deficit created by combining CR and exercise energy expenditure (EE) has been shown to attenuate the reduction in EE produced by CR. Continuous moderate-intensity training (MIT) is commonly used to sustain energy balance or expedite weight loss, but high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may produce greater results. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if HIIT preserves LBM and improves energy metabolism to a greater extent than MIT in the presence …


The Use Of An Open-Label Placebo To Treat Cancer-Related Fatigue In Cancer Survivors, Theresa Walker Hoenemeyer Jan 2016

The Use Of An Open-Label Placebo To Treat Cancer-Related Fatigue In Cancer Survivors, Theresa Walker Hoenemeyer

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Background: A placebo is an inert substance (e.g., sugar pill) or procedure (e.g., sham surgery) that should confer no beneficial effects. Nonetheless, typically, 30-50% of those randomized to placebos report significant benefits. New studies indicate that the use of disclosed or open-label placebos reduces self-reported symptoms among patients with irritable bowel syndrome, migraine attacks, and major depression. Methods: The investigator conducted a 7-week pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and effects of an open-labeled administration of placebo pills on patient-reported clinical and psychosocial outcomes among cancer survivors seeking relief from cancer-related fatigue. The specific aims of this study were to: …


Socioeconomic Status, Adherence To Therapy, And Health Outcomes In Pediatric Patients With Cystic Fibrosis, Gabriela R. Oates Jan 2015

Socioeconomic Status, Adherence To Therapy, And Health Outcomes In Pediatric Patients With Cystic Fibrosis, Gabriela R. Oates

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Purpose: This study aimed to determine the relationship between caregivers' socioeconomic status (SES) and adherence to therapy in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and examine the role of adherence in the correlation between SES and health outcomes in this population. Methods: Socioeconomic, demographic, clinical, and adherence data in families of pediatric CF patients (N=110) were evaluated. SES measures included maternal and paternal education and annual household income. CF outcomes included lung function, nutritional status, and pulmonary exacerbations in 12 months. Adherence to therapy was conceptualized as health lifestyle practice of the caregiver. Of all therapeutic modalities, adherence to airway …


Changes In Gene Expression During Nitrogen Starvation Are Mediated By Targeted Degradation Of Translation And Mrna Decay Factors In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Shane Patrick Kelly Jan 2015

Changes In Gene Expression During Nitrogen Starvation Are Mediated By Targeted Degradation Of Translation And Mrna Decay Factors In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Shane Patrick Kelly

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Autophagy is the cellular mechanism of recruitment and decay of cytoplasmic molecules, proteins, and organelles that are obsolete for a particular growth condition. Autophagic degradation is distinct from proteasomal degradation by the formation of a de-novo double membrane which engulfs its cargo to be delivered for degradation to the yeast vacuole. Once thought to be only a general phenomenon of bulk decay, several autophagic pathways have demonstrated selectivity. In the following work we show that during nitrogen starvation (a potent inducer of autophagy) in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a subset of translation factors are degraded selectively and rapidly. We go …


The Accuracy Of A Clinician's Assessment Of Insertion Torque At Implant Placement, Britany Fabian Matin Jan 2015

The Accuracy Of A Clinician's Assessment Of Insertion Torque At Implant Placement, Britany Fabian Matin

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Background: Primary implant stability contributes to the success of dental implant placement and affects long-term function. Factors that contribute to the primary stability and osseointegration of a dental implant include the quality and quantity of bone present at the site of placement as well as the shape and surface treatment of the implants. There are numerous methods that assist the clinician in determining implant stability during placement and to confirm osseointegration after a period of healing. Their reliability to predict implant success, however, has not been proven. Torque measurements acquired during implant placement have been used as a method for …


The Interrelationships Among Obesity, Insulin Sensitivity, And Bone Phenotype In Pre-Pubertal Girls, Anna L. Newton Jan 2015

The Interrelationships Among Obesity, Insulin Sensitivity, And Bone Phenotype In Pre-Pubertal Girls, Anna L. Newton

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Impaired insulin sensitivity as a consequence of childhood obesity has been implicated as a contributor to skeletal fragility. There is a need to understand the interrelationships among insulin sensitivity and skeletal parameters (i.e. cortical, trabecular, marrow) in obesity during the pubertal transition. Further, calorie restricted weight loss to stabilize these relationships warrants investigation as well. The goal of this project was to examine the relationships among body composition, skeletal parameters, and insulin sensitivity. The first aim was to evaluate the relationships among total body fat, bone mineral content (BMC) and femoral bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) during childhood and underlying …


Mitragyna Speciosa: An Analytical Study, Jace Alan Daniels Jan 2015

Mitragyna Speciosa: An Analytical Study, Jace Alan Daniels

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Legal highs are compounds that produce the same psychoactive effects as illicit compounds, but are not legally controlled under the Controlled Substances Act. While Kratom has been used for centuries by Thai laborers, it has recently been offered as a legal high by online markets and local head shops. Kratom is an indigenous plant to Southeast Asia, and the botanical name is Mitragyna speciosa. It is a mild stimulant, and the traditional use is to chew on leaves to overcome fatigue. Kratom is unique in that it is capable of producing both stimulant and sedative effects depending on the dose …


Count Models With Multiple Inflations, Arvind Tripathi Jan 2015

Count Models With Multiple Inflations, Arvind Tripathi

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The goal of this research is to develop new statistical models for the analysis of count data even if data exhibit over dispersion or under dispersion and has multiple inflated counts. Although many statistical models are available for the analysis of count data, there is no available statistical model that can address the presence of more than expected multiple counts together with over/under dispersion. In our first paper, we develop a multiple-inflation negative binomial (MINB) model and use the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm along with a numerical optimization to obtain maximum likelihood estimates. We applied the one step smoothly clipped …


Hepatocyte Clock And Alcohol-Dependent Disruption In Glycogen Metabolism, Uduak Sunday Udoh Jan 2015

Hepatocyte Clock And Alcohol-Dependent Disruption In Glycogen Metabolism, Uduak Sunday Udoh

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Chronic alcohol consumption has been shown to significantly decrease hepatic glycogen, an important storage form of energy for the body and liver. Emerging studies indicate a link between metabolism and the molecular circadian clock. Previously, we have shown that chronic alcohol consumption disrupts the liver molecular clock mechanism. However, it is not known how this alteration impacts hepatic energy (e.g., glycogen) metabolism and contributes to alcohol hepatotoxicity. This dissertation investigates the impact chronic alcohol consumption has on time-of-day-dependent oscillations of various aspects of liver glycogen metabolism, and the importance of the liver circadian clock in these metabolic alterations. Chapter 1: …


Individual, Family, And Social Factors Associated With Adolescent Obesity: A Policy Relevant Focus, Janice Marguerite Utley Jan 2015

Individual, Family, And Social Factors Associated With Adolescent Obesity: A Policy Relevant Focus, Janice Marguerite Utley

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INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND SOCIAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ADOLESCENT OBESITY: A POLICY RELEVANT FOCUS JANICE M. UTLEY PUBLIC HEALTH ABSTRACT This dissertation is comprised of three papers that examined individual, family, and social factors associated with adolescent overweight and obesity with the aim of generating data that could inform the design of policy interventions to prevent or reverse rising prevalence. The first investigation was a type of literature review called a scoping study that examined the extent, range, and type of research activity on adolescent obesity that used a multilevel or hierarchical design to look at two or more contextual areas …